Corellia: Rik
Timeframe: Life Day, in the weeks following the Winter Gala
For
Rik Perris
, It was good to see his siblings and parents all gathered together to celebrate what was, for many, the most joyous time of the year, when he had by and large seen them apart, if at all in the case of Kelly T. Perris, over the past many years. This togetherness had been rare; it felt like a promise for the times ahead, but Rik was hesitant to see it as anything more than something to be cherished, an isolated thing, uncertain as to how long this respite would last.
That brought up other matters. As Rik spent this time with his folks, indulging in fond mutual ribbing and teasing of his brothers and sisters, as they caught up with each others’ lives, it slowly began to set in that this might be what he had missed the most, the cocoon of family. That witnessing the still-strong and loving relationship of his parents over these past many weeks stirred something in him that had been all but buried by the ravages of time.
Tied into that subtle desire, was that his thoughts had drifted often to that night on Naboo, a collection of heady moments that had him feeling a little - as Ivalyn had put it - crazy. When he was left with himself again, left to replay it all, it slowly brought to him some stark realisations about just what he might be getting himself into with an older woman who had an assistant and anyone elses that screened her calls… but as sobering as that was, it wasn't as sobering as where she had come from, and her family background. Her heritage.
Looking into Dosuun, curiously querying his parents who had flown with the Alliance when they were young, prior to its dissolution and reorganisation into its current state, getting the perspective of his teenage brother Toby who had a head for the past… his enlightenment had parked his rear and pulled him into some long considerations, day in and day out. Long ones. But after all that, for all that being a Yvarro might mean, and despite her familial ties, he hadn't gotten a single lick of the sense that she was the same as that. He felt no greater truth than what he knew definitively - that Ivalyn Yvarro was a charming, intelligent, beautiful woman who had left such a wholly distinct impression on him that he couldn't shake. An impression that came back around and reminded him, daily, of just how it felt to have her in his arms, when his thoughts and attention were utterly elsewhere.
Maybe he was crazy, but he might also be kicking himself for years if he didn't take the chance. Snapped out of his most recent episode of wandering introspection to be asked about if he'd take dessert, he looked up at his mother, asked how long until dessert was ready, then excused himself to step outside and make a call. With the door shut behind him, he wandered out onto the footpath for some semblance of privacy, pulled out his comm, and brought up the contact that Ivalyn had impressed upon him was direct - hers alone - and stared at it for some moments before loosing a loaded breath.
“Well, could be the good kind of crazy,” he uttered with a short laugh, giving his head a little shake, “Here goes something...” then he tapped the contact to initiate the call, and waited for it to patch through.
For
Rik Perris
, It was good to see his siblings and parents all gathered together to celebrate what was, for many, the most joyous time of the year, when he had by and large seen them apart, if at all in the case of Kelly T. Perris, over the past many years. This togetherness had been rare; it felt like a promise for the times ahead, but Rik was hesitant to see it as anything more than something to be cherished, an isolated thing, uncertain as to how long this respite would last.That brought up other matters. As Rik spent this time with his folks, indulging in fond mutual ribbing and teasing of his brothers and sisters, as they caught up with each others’ lives, it slowly began to set in that this might be what he had missed the most, the cocoon of family. That witnessing the still-strong and loving relationship of his parents over these past many weeks stirred something in him that had been all but buried by the ravages of time.
Tied into that subtle desire, was that his thoughts had drifted often to that night on Naboo, a collection of heady moments that had him feeling a little - as Ivalyn had put it - crazy. When he was left with himself again, left to replay it all, it slowly brought to him some stark realisations about just what he might be getting himself into with an older woman who had an assistant and anyone elses that screened her calls… but as sobering as that was, it wasn't as sobering as where she had come from, and her family background. Her heritage.
Looking into Dosuun, curiously querying his parents who had flown with the Alliance when they were young, prior to its dissolution and reorganisation into its current state, getting the perspective of his teenage brother Toby who had a head for the past… his enlightenment had parked his rear and pulled him into some long considerations, day in and day out. Long ones. But after all that, for all that being a Yvarro might mean, and despite her familial ties, he hadn't gotten a single lick of the sense that she was the same as that. He felt no greater truth than what he knew definitively - that Ivalyn Yvarro was a charming, intelligent, beautiful woman who had left such a wholly distinct impression on him that he couldn't shake. An impression that came back around and reminded him, daily, of just how it felt to have her in his arms, when his thoughts and attention were utterly elsewhere.
Maybe he was crazy, but he might also be kicking himself for years if he didn't take the chance. Snapped out of his most recent episode of wandering introspection to be asked about if he'd take dessert, he looked up at his mother, asked how long until dessert was ready, then excused himself to step outside and make a call. With the door shut behind him, he wandered out onto the footpath for some semblance of privacy, pulled out his comm, and brought up the contact that Ivalyn had impressed upon him was direct - hers alone - and stared at it for some moments before loosing a loaded breath.
“Well, could be the good kind of crazy,” he uttered with a short laugh, giving his head a little shake, “Here goes something...” then he tapped the contact to initiate the call, and waited for it to patch through.
Dosuun: Ivalyn
Timeframe: Life Day, in the weeks following the Winter Gala
Ivalyn Yvarro had settled back home; Avalonia was always beautiful in the winter. Her droids were kept preoccupied by however many cousins had shown up to her great aunt Lucinyia’s manor. Part of her mind lingered back to the gala on Naboo and the other part told that there’d be no way she’d get a call back. Setting those thoughts aside, Ivalyn settled into routine. Helping cousins Josephine and Ethanael with setting up the tree, making sure Matthias and her brother Drianos didn’t destroy the manor’s decorations with their rather ‘loud’ altercations.
The two were highly competitive and that sometimes meant they got into arguments... Ivalyn sighed and directed Iskendyr to grab a garland and help her place them up in the hallway. Her mother, Ariel would be arriving from the Starport with aunt Ryssa and cousin Raqos. It had taken, apparently, according to mother, for Ryssa to have Raqos, for her to even consider spending time with family. She absolutely abhorred it when they were being raised by their cousin, the Grand Moff.
Ivalyn on her part simply rolled her eyes when her mother called, talking about it. She left the holo on speaker and had Iskendyr acknowledge his grandmother. The two had managed to get the left side of the hallway done and were working on the right, when Josephine waltzed in. She perched at the edge of an end table, “Iskey tells me that there was someone at the gala on Naboo.”
Ivalyn’s eyes went wide and she shot her nephew a look.
“Uh... I’m gonna go see what uncle Cal is doing, bye!” Iskendyr ran off faster than the Millennium Falcon at the Kessel Run, and Ivalyn simply stared in his direction before turning her attention to Josephine, still holding the garland, “Do make yourself useful, Josie.”
Josephine let out a sigh and moved to assist with the garland, and added, “So tell me about him.”
“Not... much to tell,” began Ivalyn while also thinking of how to get back at her nephew. “He was... there? Y’know, I didn’t even want to go to this thing.”
“You’re deflecting, spill it, Ivy.” Josephine cut through, she wanted the details not Ivalyn beating around the proverbial bush about it.
“I heard he was an Alliance bloke,” mentioned one of the maids as she passed through, causing Ivalyn to flush several shades of red.
Josephine started laughing, “An Alliance bloke? Well, aren’t we tempting fate.”
“Yes,” Ivalyn conceded, “an Alliance fellow, quite handsome, clever, agreeable.”
She cleared her throat, and Josephine just laughed some more then somewhere in between added, “Cannot wait to hear what dad will say about it.”
“Oh, yes, I am... thrilled at whatever lecture uncle Calvin will have for me,” her tone dripping with sarcasm, “now if we’re all done here, I’m going up for a-”
“Wait, hang on, Ivalyn Ariel Yvarro, what do you mean an Alliance bloke, WHO IS HE?” Ariel, Ivalyn’s mother demanded, and Ivalyn cursed herself not realizing the holo was still active. She grabbed it from the table and hung up on her mother.
Josie was left in stitches.
“I’m going to go for a shower...” Ivalyn muttered beneath her breath and went down the hall and through the great room and up the stairs. She handed Cecil her protocol droid the phone, telling him not to answer it if her mother called back.
Ivalyn Yvarro had settled back home; Avalonia was always beautiful in the winter. Her droids were kept preoccupied by however many cousins had shown up to her great aunt Lucinyia’s manor. Part of her mind lingered back to the gala on Naboo and the other part told that there’d be no way she’d get a call back. Setting those thoughts aside, Ivalyn settled into routine. Helping cousins Josephine and Ethanael with setting up the tree, making sure Matthias and her brother Drianos didn’t destroy the manor’s decorations with their rather ‘loud’ altercations.
The two were highly competitive and that sometimes meant they got into arguments... Ivalyn sighed and directed Iskendyr to grab a garland and help her place them up in the hallway. Her mother, Ariel would be arriving from the Starport with aunt Ryssa and cousin Raqos. It had taken, apparently, according to mother, for Ryssa to have Raqos, for her to even consider spending time with family. She absolutely abhorred it when they were being raised by their cousin, the Grand Moff.
Ivalyn on her part simply rolled her eyes when her mother called, talking about it. She left the holo on speaker and had Iskendyr acknowledge his grandmother. The two had managed to get the left side of the hallway done and were working on the right, when Josephine waltzed in. She perched at the edge of an end table, “Iskey tells me that there was someone at the gala on Naboo.”
Ivalyn’s eyes went wide and she shot her nephew a look.
“Uh... I’m gonna go see what uncle Cal is doing, bye!” Iskendyr ran off faster than the Millennium Falcon at the Kessel Run, and Ivalyn simply stared in his direction before turning her attention to Josephine, still holding the garland, “Do make yourself useful, Josie.”
Josephine let out a sigh and moved to assist with the garland, and added, “So tell me about him.”
“Not... much to tell,” began Ivalyn while also thinking of how to get back at her nephew. “He was... there? Y’know, I didn’t even want to go to this thing.”
“You’re deflecting, spill it, Ivy.” Josephine cut through, she wanted the details not Ivalyn beating around the proverbial bush about it.
“I heard he was an Alliance bloke,” mentioned one of the maids as she passed through, causing Ivalyn to flush several shades of red.
Josephine started laughing, “An Alliance bloke? Well, aren’t we tempting fate.”
“Yes,” Ivalyn conceded, “an Alliance fellow, quite handsome, clever, agreeable.”
She cleared her throat, and Josephine just laughed some more then somewhere in between added, “Cannot wait to hear what dad will say about it.”
“Oh, yes, I am... thrilled at whatever lecture uncle Calvin will have for me,” her tone dripping with sarcasm, “now if we’re all done here, I’m going up for a-”
“Wait, hang on, Ivalyn Ariel Yvarro, what do you mean an Alliance bloke, WHO IS HE?” Ariel, Ivalyn’s mother demanded, and Ivalyn cursed herself not realizing the holo was still active. She grabbed it from the table and hung up on her mother.
Josie was left in stitches.
“I’m going to go for a shower...” Ivalyn muttered beneath her breath and went down the hall and through the great room and up the stairs. She handed Cecil her protocol droid the phone, telling him not to answer it if her mother called back.
The Holocall, Part 1
Timeframe: Life Day, in the weeks following the Winter Gala
Sometime later, while Ivalyn was in the shower, Cecil came in after knocking of course, “Miss, there’s a Rik Perris for you.”
“Put it through!” She shouted over the steam and water, the smart mirror in the bathroom picked up the call and she answered, “Hello, Rik! I’m glad to see you’ve called, but you’ve caught me rather off guard. You see, I’m in the shower at the moment.”
When it was Cecil, rather than the woman he had been trying to reach that had answered his call, Rik was a bit taken aback. He hadn’t expected those anyone elses to include droids… but it was hardly a surprise. Rik chuckled softly, “I can see that,” and the vague shadow of her, behind the steam, burrowing into his imagination - that could give a man all sorts of ideas, “you could have let me leave a message, Ivalyn.” Nothing in his voice indicated that would have been preferable. “You could have called me back.”
A vague tease in an otherwise direct tone.
“No, it’s quite alright,” Ivalyn responded not having quite caught onto the tease just yet, but when it did she chuckled. “I wouldn’t want to leave you out to dry, so to speak.” The water stopped and the door swung open blocking the mirror. She grabbed a robe from the rack nearby and a towel. Moments later, she emerged with her robe tied around her waist and hair up in the towel. “I was just getting ready for supper, hope the holidays are treating you well?”
“Better than,” Rik confirmed. He glanced away from the screen, looking down the street, devoid of people as it always was on this day of the year, families all pulled together in their homes to celebrate. He wound back to looking at her through this distance half-a-moment later. “Just finished dinner, waiting on dessert. Figured I'd make good use of that time.”
Ivalyn let her hair down and began to tussle it dry, “I am happy you called, I was starting to think you wouldn’t.” Not that she would’ve blamed him, most men fled once they figured out where she came from and who she was. Not many were brave enough to mingle with the Snake’s daughter.
Rik shifted from one foot to the other, adjusting his feet in the sandals he'd quickly slipped on to get outside. Or perhaps in slight unease, given he’d made her wait for as long as he had. And other more perilous reasons that had everything to do with who they both were. “Won't lie--” he drew out, while watching her through video, “--you've given me a lot to think about,” he admitted, frankly; she had given him a great deal to ruminate on, directly and indirectly, “but I get the sense that shoe doesn't quite fit.” He went on to elaborate. “I think your name doesn't tell me everything about you, Miss Yvarro… any more than the colour of that suit I wore on Naboo says much about me.”
Ivalyn moved to grab a partition in the bathroom and set it behind her, and replied matter-of-factly, to Rik, “I am grateful that you are able to look past a family name.” A more appreciative tone could be heard when she went on, “and you’re right, it doesn’t.” She turned back toward the mirror and brushed out her hair, “so I believe we are on equal footing in that regard.”
But she’d agree that the blues did, in fact, look damn fine on him.
Rik continued on. “And I'd be kicking myself for a long time if I didn't take the chance to know you, see how far that intuition carries,” he leveled his gaze at her, freshly showered and not yet made up, different but no less alluring from the dolled up vision that he'd become enamoured with, within the space of less than an evening, a couple of weeks prior, “call me crazy, Ivalyn, but putting you out of my mind hasn't been that easy.”
She had stepped behind a partition and summoned Cecil to bring her clothing, whilst she listened to him. Ivalyn held an inner smirk as she slipped into her dress and spoke to Rik whilst Cecil aided her. “I suppose the feeling is quite mutual. Attempting to keep you off my mind hasn’t exactly been, as you said, easy,” she responded. “Although, I should tell you, it isn’t so much my name that sends most running the other way,” she cautiously added, “it’s my father, Djorn Bline.”
A fly in the ointment. Fathers would always be a roadblock, or a gate that needed oiling, and Rik would be no different in the same position, but Djorn Bline was another sort entirely. A bigger fly. “Maybe you'll tell me about him.” Bline wasn't an unknown quantity, a matter of record, but her perspective and feelings toward her father were. “One day.” Now was far from the time to be getting into talking about family in detail.
Sometime later, while Ivalyn was in the shower, Cecil came in after knocking of course, “Miss, there’s a Rik Perris for you.”
“Put it through!” She shouted over the steam and water, the smart mirror in the bathroom picked up the call and she answered, “Hello, Rik! I’m glad to see you’ve called, but you’ve caught me rather off guard. You see, I’m in the shower at the moment.”
When it was Cecil, rather than the woman he had been trying to reach that had answered his call, Rik was a bit taken aback. He hadn’t expected those anyone elses to include droids… but it was hardly a surprise. Rik chuckled softly, “I can see that,” and the vague shadow of her, behind the steam, burrowing into his imagination - that could give a man all sorts of ideas, “you could have let me leave a message, Ivalyn.” Nothing in his voice indicated that would have been preferable. “You could have called me back.”
A vague tease in an otherwise direct tone.
“No, it’s quite alright,” Ivalyn responded not having quite caught onto the tease just yet, but when it did she chuckled. “I wouldn’t want to leave you out to dry, so to speak.” The water stopped and the door swung open blocking the mirror. She grabbed a robe from the rack nearby and a towel. Moments later, she emerged with her robe tied around her waist and hair up in the towel. “I was just getting ready for supper, hope the holidays are treating you well?”
“Better than,” Rik confirmed. He glanced away from the screen, looking down the street, devoid of people as it always was on this day of the year, families all pulled together in their homes to celebrate. He wound back to looking at her through this distance half-a-moment later. “Just finished dinner, waiting on dessert. Figured I'd make good use of that time.”
Ivalyn let her hair down and began to tussle it dry, “I am happy you called, I was starting to think you wouldn’t.” Not that she would’ve blamed him, most men fled once they figured out where she came from and who she was. Not many were brave enough to mingle with the Snake’s daughter.
Rik shifted from one foot to the other, adjusting his feet in the sandals he'd quickly slipped on to get outside. Or perhaps in slight unease, given he’d made her wait for as long as he had. And other more perilous reasons that had everything to do with who they both were. “Won't lie--” he drew out, while watching her through video, “--you've given me a lot to think about,” he admitted, frankly; she had given him a great deal to ruminate on, directly and indirectly, “but I get the sense that shoe doesn't quite fit.” He went on to elaborate. “I think your name doesn't tell me everything about you, Miss Yvarro… any more than the colour of that suit I wore on Naboo says much about me.”
Ivalyn moved to grab a partition in the bathroom and set it behind her, and replied matter-of-factly, to Rik, “I am grateful that you are able to look past a family name.” A more appreciative tone could be heard when she went on, “and you’re right, it doesn’t.” She turned back toward the mirror and brushed out her hair, “so I believe we are on equal footing in that regard.”
But she’d agree that the blues did, in fact, look damn fine on him.
Rik continued on. “And I'd be kicking myself for a long time if I didn't take the chance to know you, see how far that intuition carries,” he leveled his gaze at her, freshly showered and not yet made up, different but no less alluring from the dolled up vision that he'd become enamoured with, within the space of less than an evening, a couple of weeks prior, “call me crazy, Ivalyn, but putting you out of my mind hasn't been that easy.”
She had stepped behind a partition and summoned Cecil to bring her clothing, whilst she listened to him. Ivalyn held an inner smirk as she slipped into her dress and spoke to Rik whilst Cecil aided her. “I suppose the feeling is quite mutual. Attempting to keep you off my mind hasn’t exactly been, as you said, easy,” she responded. “Although, I should tell you, it isn’t so much my name that sends most running the other way,” she cautiously added, “it’s my father, Djorn Bline.”
A fly in the ointment. Fathers would always be a roadblock, or a gate that needed oiling, and Rik would be no different in the same position, but Djorn Bline was another sort entirely. A bigger fly. “Maybe you'll tell me about him.” Bline wasn't an unknown quantity, a matter of record, but her perspective and feelings toward her father were. “One day.” Now was far from the time to be getting into talking about family in detail.
The Holocall, Part 2
Timeframe: Life Day, in the weeks following the Winter Gala
Ivalyn stepped out and around the partition in a beautiful emerald gown, and Cecil brought forward a high stool for her to sit on. The Imperial protocol droid carefully moved the partition away as Ivalyn continued to speak. “I have been wondering, however, if you would be ever so inclined to meet back on Naboo?”
Rik blinked, but kept himself from gawking. She really knew how to put on a look, and hell, if how that gown hung on her didn't make him nearly reconsider his response, “Wouldn't be my first choice,” he admitted; going back to Naboo so soon? He didn't see the appeal, even if the world in question was a beautiful one. All the beauty he was truly interested in right now was on the other end of this call. And his preferences favoured smaller gatherings.
Ivalyn sat in front of the mirror working on her hair; her astromech droid, Tav, brought her bag of makeup. She pressed further: “I hear there is to be something of a New Year’s celebration, my family can watch my nephew so that the two of us are able to have a little more time together.” Ivalyn set the bag on the sink’s counter.
Rik found the idea hard to say no to when she put it like that, when watching her get ready was a kind of light intimacy he hadn't even thought he’d encounter so soon. It was as damn sexy as the end result was bound to be, and mildly frustrating that it was all behind a screen, worlds away. He had to see her, whatever form that took. The start of a light smirk pulled at a corner of Rik's mouth, his own expression betraying the shift in his thoughts, “You drive a hard bargain, Miss Yvarro,” he said, “I would have you to myself for the entire evening, if I could.”
“Most excellent,” Ivalyn remarked in the most agreeable manner. Her attention turned to him finally, and she admitted he looked rather dashing even if he had only just stepped out before desserts were served. She studied him a moment or two, perhaps envisioning things she could do. “As for daddy dearest, that conversation can be had later on.” She was sure he’d learn more about Rik before she had an opportunity to have someone bring her his file.
Rik was glad she saw it the same way he did; that was a point in their mutual favour, common ground. There was a time for everything, and the subject of family in this case was… delicate, on both sides. He had to wonder how many more times he would ask himself what he was getting into, despite now knowing full well just what.
Ivalyn didn’t attempt to hide the smile on her face as she rummaged through her bag for lipstick and eyeliner. “I don’t want to keep you from what I assume is to be a delicious dessert, but I’ll send you details on where we can meet?” She squinted in the mirror making sure not to make a single mistake. “I’m still a little unsure as to who all will be there, but if this is to be one of the bigger parties… Well, while I trust you to keep my safety as your priority,” never let it be said that an Imperial went anywhere without backup, “whether it is my calling, or my mother’s, I can assure you security will be provided.” It would most certainly be her mother’s doing. “So do not be alarmed if some rather interestingly armoured men showed up.”
[ Interestingly armoured men? ] The thought made Rik’s brows raise just a smidge; the extra security shouldn't be surprising, given just who she was, but his being subject to it, rather than, well, less interestingly armoured persons trying to gun him down as had been par for the course for most of the past decade? That was new. The thought made him bristle, within… but he’d cope. "You have my contact, now." He was bound to be just as alert if the invitation was more open on this upcoming event than the last one, at any rate. "Keep me updated."
[ Or get ahold of me for any other reason. ] He thought. He wouldn't mind that at. all.
Popping her lips after applying lipstick, Ivalyn gave her face a once over and then stepped off the stool. “It has been a pleasure, as mentioned, but I’m sure your rather mouth-watering desserts are awaiting you, and I must go and endure my family’s interrogations. Until we see each other again, be well and stay safe, Rik.”
“Happy Life Day, Ivalyn,” he replied, taking one last good look at her, “Until then.” He had to will himself to end the call, but even after the connection was severed, he still found himself staring at the screen where her face had been. Feeling just a little more out of his depth, and as maddeningly drawn to her.
He could already tell this was going to be a long, hard wait.
Ivalyn stepped out and around the partition in a beautiful emerald gown, and Cecil brought forward a high stool for her to sit on. The Imperial protocol droid carefully moved the partition away as Ivalyn continued to speak. “I have been wondering, however, if you would be ever so inclined to meet back on Naboo?”
Rik blinked, but kept himself from gawking. She really knew how to put on a look, and hell, if how that gown hung on her didn't make him nearly reconsider his response, “Wouldn't be my first choice,” he admitted; going back to Naboo so soon? He didn't see the appeal, even if the world in question was a beautiful one. All the beauty he was truly interested in right now was on the other end of this call. And his preferences favoured smaller gatherings.
Ivalyn sat in front of the mirror working on her hair; her astromech droid, Tav, brought her bag of makeup. She pressed further: “I hear there is to be something of a New Year’s celebration, my family can watch my nephew so that the two of us are able to have a little more time together.” Ivalyn set the bag on the sink’s counter.
Rik found the idea hard to say no to when she put it like that, when watching her get ready was a kind of light intimacy he hadn't even thought he’d encounter so soon. It was as damn sexy as the end result was bound to be, and mildly frustrating that it was all behind a screen, worlds away. He had to see her, whatever form that took. The start of a light smirk pulled at a corner of Rik's mouth, his own expression betraying the shift in his thoughts, “You drive a hard bargain, Miss Yvarro,” he said, “I would have you to myself for the entire evening, if I could.”
“Most excellent,” Ivalyn remarked in the most agreeable manner. Her attention turned to him finally, and she admitted he looked rather dashing even if he had only just stepped out before desserts were served. She studied him a moment or two, perhaps envisioning things she could do. “As for daddy dearest, that conversation can be had later on.” She was sure he’d learn more about Rik before she had an opportunity to have someone bring her his file.
Rik was glad she saw it the same way he did; that was a point in their mutual favour, common ground. There was a time for everything, and the subject of family in this case was… delicate, on both sides. He had to wonder how many more times he would ask himself what he was getting into, despite now knowing full well just what.
Ivalyn didn’t attempt to hide the smile on her face as she rummaged through her bag for lipstick and eyeliner. “I don’t want to keep you from what I assume is to be a delicious dessert, but I’ll send you details on where we can meet?” She squinted in the mirror making sure not to make a single mistake. “I’m still a little unsure as to who all will be there, but if this is to be one of the bigger parties… Well, while I trust you to keep my safety as your priority,” never let it be said that an Imperial went anywhere without backup, “whether it is my calling, or my mother’s, I can assure you security will be provided.” It would most certainly be her mother’s doing. “So do not be alarmed if some rather interestingly armoured men showed up.”
[ Interestingly armoured men? ] The thought made Rik’s brows raise just a smidge; the extra security shouldn't be surprising, given just who she was, but his being subject to it, rather than, well, less interestingly armoured persons trying to gun him down as had been par for the course for most of the past decade? That was new. The thought made him bristle, within… but he’d cope. "You have my contact, now." He was bound to be just as alert if the invitation was more open on this upcoming event than the last one, at any rate. "Keep me updated."
[ Or get ahold of me for any other reason. ] He thought. He wouldn't mind that at. all.
Popping her lips after applying lipstick, Ivalyn gave her face a once over and then stepped off the stool. “It has been a pleasure, as mentioned, but I’m sure your rather mouth-watering desserts are awaiting you, and I must go and endure my family’s interrogations. Until we see each other again, be well and stay safe, Rik.”
“Happy Life Day, Ivalyn,” he replied, taking one last good look at her, “Until then.” He had to will himself to end the call, but even after the connection was severed, he still found himself staring at the screen where her face had been. Feeling just a little more out of his depth, and as maddeningly drawn to her.
He could already tell this was going to be a long, hard wait.
Corellia: Speaking of Interrogation...
Timeframe: Life Day, in the weeks following the Winter Gala
“Sooo--” came a voice that could only be one of his sisters, padding towards him from behind, “--who's ‘Ivalyn’?”
Rik rounded on her in sharp surprise, “For force sakes!” He exclaimed. How did he not hear the door? Did he not shut it properly? “Not a word, Els,” he growled, jabbing a finger at the eldest of his younger half-siblings, four years his junior. “Or I swear to the old gods I'll…”
Elsabetta ‘Elsie’ Perris stopped in her tracks, folding one arm over the other, one eyebrow perking, “...or you'll what?” Smug all over. Rik frowned, pocketing his comm, “Or I'll tickle you to death.” And it sounded like a threat, as he stepped menacingly toward her. “Or until you piss yourself, whichever comes first.”
So he wasn't joking. Elsie threw up her hands, “Aight, big guy, aight,” she grinned, tipping her head toward the door, “dessert's ready, though.” She turned and started to head towards the door. Rik caught up quickly and dropped an arm over Elsie's shoulders, walking back to the house together, “Not a word, Els,” he reiterated quietly, without the intimidation of moments prior, “I mean it. We only just met.”
Last thing he wanted right now was his mother’s curiosity before he was ready for it. Before there was even a relationship. Especially before he had figured out how, exactly, to broach the matter of the subject of his pursuit being a woman from a family with strong ties to the old First Order. The Perris Family were staunch patriots of the Republic, and each Galactic Alliance since, and tied to no less than two Alderaanian houses through marriage and descent. Only time would tell if the situation could be less incongruent than it appeared… but Rik meant to see it through as far as it could go.
Elsie mouthed a near-silent oh, then drew pinched fingers across her lips, as if to seal them, and dropped the invisible key on the ground, as Rik released her and opened the door. They both drew in a deep breath through their noses as the smell of fresh baked dessert wafted down the hall to greet them.
“Oh,” Rik’s eyes fluttered shut, blissfully, “Just me, or does that smell even better every year?”
Elsie peered up at him, knowing he was missed last year… but just patted him on the shoulder and walked forward with a little laugh.
“Welcome home, Rik.”
“Sooo--” came a voice that could only be one of his sisters, padding towards him from behind, “--who's ‘Ivalyn’?”
Rik rounded on her in sharp surprise, “For force sakes!” He exclaimed. How did he not hear the door? Did he not shut it properly? “Not a word, Els,” he growled, jabbing a finger at the eldest of his younger half-siblings, four years his junior. “Or I swear to the old gods I'll…”
Elsabetta ‘Elsie’ Perris stopped in her tracks, folding one arm over the other, one eyebrow perking, “...or you'll what?” Smug all over. Rik frowned, pocketing his comm, “Or I'll tickle you to death.” And it sounded like a threat, as he stepped menacingly toward her. “Or until you piss yourself, whichever comes first.”
So he wasn't joking. Elsie threw up her hands, “Aight, big guy, aight,” she grinned, tipping her head toward the door, “dessert's ready, though.” She turned and started to head towards the door. Rik caught up quickly and dropped an arm over Elsie's shoulders, walking back to the house together, “Not a word, Els,” he reiterated quietly, without the intimidation of moments prior, “I mean it. We only just met.”
Last thing he wanted right now was his mother’s curiosity before he was ready for it. Before there was even a relationship. Especially before he had figured out how, exactly, to broach the matter of the subject of his pursuit being a woman from a family with strong ties to the old First Order. The Perris Family were staunch patriots of the Republic, and each Galactic Alliance since, and tied to no less than two Alderaanian houses through marriage and descent. Only time would tell if the situation could be less incongruent than it appeared… but Rik meant to see it through as far as it could go.
Elsie mouthed a near-silent oh, then drew pinched fingers across her lips, as if to seal them, and dropped the invisible key on the ground, as Rik released her and opened the door. They both drew in a deep breath through their noses as the smell of fresh baked dessert wafted down the hall to greet them.
“Oh,” Rik’s eyes fluttered shut, blissfully, “Just me, or does that smell even better every year?”
Elsie peered up at him, knowing he was missed last year… but just patted him on the shoulder and walked forward with a little laugh.
“Welcome home, Rik.”
