Entertaining a Senator.

[Edric Vanyan]

Edric whistled as he waited for the Senator being brought from her ship to his palace. He had gotten news that a woman from the Sovereignty was looking to meet with her people's allies, to which Edric had offered to host her as an admiral of the CIS. Sadly he did not have any place that was fitting of a Senator on the other worlds of the CIS, so he drew her to his home of Kesh, an autonomous planet within ORC space. It was not unusual for him to hose people at his home as it was, but he would have preferred it been in CIS space.

It was too late now to change the place of their meeting anyways, so he put it out of his mind and went back to setting a place in the garden he so loved and tended to. His staff looked at him as he personally set up the tea and drew a flame under the pot, heating the tea himself. He took meetings like this seriously and always prepared things himself, especially things like the tea he served his guests.

He would not welcome the woman himself, he would be waiting here for her. Instead when Nilia arrived she would be greeted by his trusted guard and general, Nida Vaal. She was a Keshiri woman that had more or less helped raise and adjust Edric to his place as an heir to the planet years ago and now advised him as a king over the peoples that had come to live in his father's creation. It was alot but the woman was more than capable of such tasks, which made escorting the Senator to the garden when she arrived a simple task.

In the meantime, Edric would lean back as he sat there, looking over the different colors around him and finally drawing his head up to look out at the sky above. Uvak flew above, free to be used in Tahv as the capital was not a common place for vehicles or shuttles to be, even to get to the palace one needed to walk or take a carriage up to its gates. Edric made certain the city retained its old feeling, not wanting to change it if Solan had chosen not to. It created an air of mysticism to see a feudal like city, but with power and defenses that matched the most modern of cities. For flying creatures to soar above, riders using them to get across the city while below carriages were pulled by beasts of burden. Great glass sculptures lining the streets while people moved about open air markets and bought and sold items without conflict rising.

He liked his home that way.

 

[Nilia Saavilin]

Kesh, Tahv, Undetermined Time

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Nilia's trip had been long, and she had been direly hoping it'd be worth it.

She had never been to Kesh before, which made this all the more daunting and exciting. Departing from Eadu alone for this diplomatic visit, she had to admit it all made her a bit nervous. It wasn't directly an ally-controlled planet, per se, but it's ruler was. How terribly complicated. The impressive fleet surrounding the planet was certainly a bit intimidating, they could blow the Sovereignty out of Wild Space if they truly wished to... At least she had heard something before of how lovely their cities would be.

It was clear they weren't exaggerated either. Upon landing and being escorted from the landing pad to the gardens Nilia experienced a constant state of awe. Truly, this was a different place than the storm-torn Eadu where she had been born. The Senator had even been offered a carriage, like in a fairytale, but she had declined -- It would be far more mystical to simply walk through the town at least once to reach their meeting point.

Besides, exercise was good for the soul. And every new thing around the corner gave her all the more reason to do it again. Besides the escort she had been given to ensure her safety, the young Senator had relative freedom to tear up and down the city before reaching the meeting location. Whether or not this was a good or bad thing remained to be seen.

So she toured at her leisure, but didn't tarry too much; she had people waiting for her, after all. Nilia still arrived on time, though a little undone from the obviously happy experience of exploring Tahv. She had peeked down alleys and blatantly observed the markets, struggling to contain her excitement at these new and beautiful experiences. But she still managed to pull together a brief bow to Edric Vanyan, her gracious host, once she had drawn close enough for it to be appropriate. Her almost childlike romp through the capital had not made her forget her duties and manners.

"I'm very grateful for you agreeing to host me, Admiral. Thank you. Your city has been quite entertaining even for my brief visit." That was an understatement.

---

Spoiler: Interacting With

[member="Edric Vanyan"]

 

[Edric Vanyan]

Edric had been told by the woman who brought [member="Nilia Saavilin"] to the palace. He couldn't help but look at the woman as she was a short distance away now, a slight bit of humour touching his face then. He had to admit the thought of this senator running around like a child made him laugh on the inside and he soon bowed in response to her own actions. He held it for but a moment, one hand crossed behind him, and the second over his chest. It was a common way to bow for Edric, and he was certain to hold it out of respect for the woman. As far as he cared the bow itself towards him had been nothing more than a formality done for diplomatic purposes and his own had been done out of respect for the woman.

He didn't exactly like bowing to people as it was, and hated people bowing to him, too many memories from before he had been rescued. He was happy though when she said Admiral, either blissfully unaware of the other title or choosing to say the one that he was connected to within the CIS. Either way that was a title he had actually earned, even if by mostly the reputation his father had built up. It was still something that was to be earned, rather than inherited.

"It was my pleasure to host you here, and I am more than happy to hear that you have enjoyed my home. It took alot to rebuild this place and prepare it to be worth its place in the universe, which it appears to have paid off completely." He drew his hands behind his back, waiting for the guards to retake their place after ensuring any that had come with the senator were of no threat.

It was then that Edric would offer the senator a hand out of habit. The action was more out of tradition than anything else, and to Edric meant nothing more nor would there be any reason for it to. He was more interested in learning about this woman's home as well as the nation she belonged to.

 

[Nilia Saavilin]

Kesh, Tahv, Undetermined Time

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She gave Edric her hand easily, a smile crossing Nilia's face as he brought up her frolic through the streets and sights, "I would agree. You have a beautiful city, one I hope to see more of." She almost looked embarrassed, a little redfaced (Though that could pass as being from the exercise, perhaps) as she recalled how truly immature she had begun to act, glancing to the gardens as if they were a second thought that quickly drew her attention, "Oh..." At once Nilia lost her focus on the Admiral, eagerly devouring the various plants and sights with her eyes, "This place is beautiful. I'm afraid Eadu has nothing that could compare to all this." Indeed, it seemed as though the only thing she knew of Edric was that he served the Confederacy as an Admiral. Anything else was quite lost on her. It put her at a bit of an disadvantage when it came to knowledge, but that could be twisted into a good thing.

It was then she looked past Edric to the set-up of tea, nodding her head towards it with an even brighter expression, "I wasn't aware there would be refreshments. This is all very kind of you to supply." Her own entourage looked to be a small - A Togruta girl stood off to the side, inspecting some flowers curiously but mostly remained with the two guards who had accompanied Nilia aboard their transport. Her own staff seemed to be giving their Senator a wide berth, probably by request -- She certainly did not come as a person who enjoyed being hovered over.

---

Spoiler: Interacting With

[member="Edric Vanyan"]

 

[Edric Vanyan]

[member="Nilia Saavilin"] was very obviously losing herself in the garden so he just moved on to the glasses. Drawing his hand in a quick circular motion he snapped, a flame sprouting in his hand and with it he let it leave his hand like a snake. It slowly wrapped its way around the pot, warming the liquid inside while Edric took his place behind one of the chairs. Pulling it open, he waited for Nilia to take a seat. It was a basic of customs and courtesies for the host to attend to his guests, so he did so without hesitation.

Once she was seated, Edric would take his own seat before reaching out with his hand and drawing the fire back to his palm, letting it collect into a sphere. Slowly he closed his hand around it until the flame was gone and they were left sitting there. He reached out then to grab at the pot, not so much as flinching to grab it and pouring it quickly into the two cups that waited. Once done the pot would be returned to its place and Edric would take hold of his cup, unharmed and unmarked.

"So, it would appear you are a tad bit entranced by my home. I must say that your wonder more than honors me. I always thought it was nice myself, but your praise is more than I could have asked for to tell you the truth. I am happy you are further enjoying yourself. Might I ask what your home is like though now that you have brought up the difference in how mine appears to you."

 

[Nilia Saavilin]

Kesh, Tahv, Undetermined Time

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"Eadu? Nothing like this..." Briefly, Nilia looked around at the gardens again, nodding her head in agreement with herself. Truly, her home could not compare, "It's always raining, for one. Violent thunderstorms. So we have shelters that let us view the natural wonders, but keep us safe from them." She glanced down to the tea, reaching out with her fingers and briefly flinching at the heat. Cradling it in her hands, she looked up to her host with a neutral but pleased expression continuing to describe the world she clearly held affection for, "That's really it. Eadu has some mines, my father used to work in them, but we don't have anything else beyond our weather. Which is more than enough for me."

The brief mention of her father seemed to briefly sully her mood but she knew better than to let much of that show, simply putting on a mask of contentment as she affixed yet another smile to her face, letting her drink cool as she asked a question of him, almost appearing genuinely curious despite clearly trying to move on, "What of your planet? You must tell me more as well."

---

Spoiler: Interacting With

[member="Edric Vanyan"]

 

[Edric Vanyan]

[member="Nilia Saavilin"] soon asked him a question that he was more than able to answer. He had lived on Kesh long enough to know its wonders, and been introduced to it late enough to know how it felt to see the planet for the first time. It was alot to take in during one visit, and he had the benefit of coming to live in this home of his. She would possibly only see this place once and it was his burden to see it leave an impact on the woman who was his guest. With as little effort though, it would appear that she had already been marked by the sights.

"My home? Unlike yours mine is a tad more diverse, containing jungles, tundras, seas, and many mountains. Its hard to explain such a diverse place in a short time without eventually boring you as you are certain have seen such areas in your other travels. I will say though, nothing is more exciting than getting the chance to fly through the clouds and between mountains on an Uvak, or to see the Ice Mirrors left behind by an ancient group that protected this planet. Seeing the sunrise while resting in the eastern mountains is perhaps one of the better sights though, that is without any question."

He smiled as he talked about his home, drinking from his own cup now without hesitation once more.

"I apologize if I speak on too long about my home. I take great pride in what its become and what it took to create it. This place was the treasure of my father and what I hope becomes the pride of my future. So do forgive me."

 

[Nilia Saavilin]

Kesh, Tahv, Undetermined Time

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The Senator listened with all attentiveness as he spoke of his planet, taking a polite sip simultaneously with him. The tea was good, and left a rather pleasant smile on her face afterwards from the warmth it brought. But once Edric began to apologize for his elaborating, Nilia shook her head, bowing it briefly in a humble gesture of deference, "No, don't apologize. You speak as someone who is dedicated, and I can sympathize." There was a pause, before she continued -- Her gaze now at the gardens, a shadow of the smile from before remaining as it seemed she was seeing a million years away, "The dedication to your people and your home is admirable."

A few more pauses and her attention returned to her, looking back to Edric with a more genuinely pleased expression, "Now... You simply must explain. Are the Uvak those large beasts overhead? They rivaled the size of my ship, though just barely." And it had given her pilot a hell of a fright upon picking one up on their scanners during landing, but she had been dazzled for the entire brief encounter. And you ride them? Her eyebrow rose as she waited for his answer, almost hanging his on every word.

---

Spoiler: Interacting With

[member="Edric Vanyan"]

 

[Edric Vanyan]

[member="Nilia Saavilin"] soon asked about the Uvak and he found himself grinning. He knew only one way to explain what the creatures were and with a glance to Nida, she soon diappeared to go fetch something for him. For now he simply leaned back and looked off towards the open garden. Edric had alot of room in his palace, the place had after all hidden a frigate at one point meant to transport a sith war force. The area he had kept clear for his garden was more than large enough with plenty of open spaces still there to expand into. He could always repair what was damaged as well, considering the garden served as both a training area and a place to entertain guests. It was more of a small park in all honesty and with that he stood, leaving his glass on the table.

"If you don't mind madam, would you walk with me while I explain what the creatures are? I find it easier to explain from within the garden." He wore a knowing smile, his hand extended out to the woman as another act that he was all too used to. This was merely part of being a nobleman hosting a diplomatic envoy. It was why there was not a single instance of hesitation for the otherwise awkward and nerdy young man. He would understand though if she wished to walk without making physical contact to him, he was certain though she might be a tad surprised by what he had to show her, and by what Nida was fetching for him.

 

[Nilia Saavilin]

Kesh, Tahv, Undetermined Time

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As Edric offered her his hand Nilia took it easily, standing with his help. Admittedly, she was thrilled with the idea of getting to go deeper into the beautiful gardens and was blissfully ignorant of what he could be truly showing her. But his vague sentence made her extremely curious, and now there was no stopping her -- Another smile and she nodded, "Well, you have me intrigued. I wanted to see more of this beautiful place anyways, so this feels like a win/win."

And just as she said, she did want to see more. Even as Edric led her on to their destination she would often stop to admire a species of flower or a particularly impressive arrangement, her entourage walking a few paces back and admittedly doing the same thing. The only gardens Eadu could hold were greenhouses, as the terrain didn't support any pretty foliage. One had to be tough to lay down roots on the dangerous world, but it was best to do that root-laying behind the shelter of glass in a warm atmosphere controlled by droids. After experiencing Eadu's artificial gardens and then the magnificence of Tahv's park-sized garden, Nilia was almost certain nothing on her homeworld could top this.

---

Spoiler: Interacting With

[member="Edric Vanyan"]

 

[Edric Vanyan]

[member="Nilia Saavilin"] didn't exactly know what it was that Edric had been leading her to go see. She was too entranced by the garden to likely see or hear the creature coming when Nida had reached it and led it to the. Honestly he was surprised by the quiet way the beast moved, it wasn't silent, but it was in no way a lumbering oaf that thrashed about.

He eventually stopped leading the woman beside him and separated enough for him to move towards the more open area, waiting with a glance to the side and a wider smile growing on his face. With one quick snap of his fingers, a very clear sound shook the trees and the air, vibrating like ripples in an ocean. It was a cry from the Uvak that Edric enjoyed riding so much, its scaled form moving forward and staring at the woman as it appeared. It did not walk to her though, instead it kept on it's path to Edric.

"Miss Nilia, I believe you had an interest in these beings. This is one of my personal Uvak, and my favorite." He reached up and waited for the creature to bow it's head. Soon Edric would place his hand on the top of it's beak and look at Nilia with a smile. "Perhaps you would like to touch it?"

 

[Nilia Saavilin]

Kesh, Tahv, Undetermined Time

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The poor Senator, for a moment, seemed utterly shell-shocked as she came face-to-face with the Uvak. It was though for the briefest moment the curtain of sophisticated politeness had been torn back and Nilia's very truest reaction was bared to the world.

"Does.. Does it have a name?"

You're an idiot, something chided teasingly, that's what you ask? She approached slow and wary, raising a hand with clear caution; half-expecting it to reach over and gnaw her arm off, but with Edric there perhaps it'd be more inclined to gentleness. Soon she had her hand pressed flat on the smooth surface, a slow and genuine smile growing. Briefly stroking the Uvak's beak, she nodded her head a few times and looked over to Edric past the beast's mouth, "It's very... Gentle. I wasn't sure what to expect."

---

Spoiler: Interacting With

[member="Edric Vanyan"]

 

[Edric Vanyan]

[member="Nilia Saavilin"] was clearly scared at first and Edric half wished he had apologized to her before the creature had been brought out to be shown to the woman, but her first comment eased him. She may have been terrified, or atleast looked like it, but soon enough she had asked for its name and was coming closer. She was either quick to realize that the creature was not a danger, or she was simply putting on a brave face and trusting Edric to keep it from harming her. Either way as she began to stroke it's beak, he started walking out of her sight, leaving only the Uvak within her sight and him standing no where near its head. He trusted the creature not to harm her, but would have a small bit of fun after disappearing, tapping on the Uvak's side, a small gesture he had practiced with the creature.

During the nights, when he stayed out and watched the stars, he had made certain that he would be sheltered from the weather and from the sights of others, and the way he would do that was a quick tap on the creature's side. It would then move it's way around the person until creating a crescent like shape around them, and using one of its wings as a shield against others. Which is why when he did that the Uvak pushed against Nilia's hand, inching past her and soon turning, curling around the woman and providing its wing as a canopy, shading a spot of grass as it laid down, the action likely to be mistaken for the creature trying to attack her as it came to rest on the ground of the garden.

Only once done would Edric appear again, walking out from behind its now resting body and going to sit on the ground, resting against it and reaching up to pat it's side.

"I like to call him Dreypa. Its a name that is rather famous on this planet. Though this guy does not share the temperment of his namesake. As for Gentle, I would hope so. The last senator I fed him wasn't quite the sight you are my lady, I doubt Dreypa would enjoy robbing people of the sight." Edric soon rested his eyes and leaned back against the creature's body a bit more, as if taking a nap on the creature. Knowing his words might shock her, he opened one eye enough to look at her and smile. "He also might be less inclined to have a snack if you were to relax a bit Senator, I tire of all the formality and now it is a certain fact your staff will not see you, so take a load off."

 

[Nilia Saavilin]

Kesh, Tahv, Undetermined Time

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"Hah, yeah, the formality..." At once it seemed like tension left the Senator as Edric suggested they drop the pretence of a diplomat and her willing host. Though, of course, that tension had previously spiked when the massive monster had lumbered down. She'd taken Dreypa's movement as expected, clearly freezing up and expecting it all to go downhill from there. But once Nilia realized that what the Uvak was doing was not a hostile action, she noticeably relaxed, physically dropping her shoulders in a sign of relief.

"Wait-- Feeding him sena--" Her voice abruptly cut off, a slow and crooked grin graced her face as she caught his joke, "Ah. Very funny." Moving to sit down next to him, it was an awkwardly achieved feat, especially in her get-up of proper clothing. But she took it slowly and soon sat cross-legged, clearly enjoying the shade the Uvak brought with his massive wings, "So, you really ride them? Through the air? And you're not afraid of falling." Nilia's tone had taken a lighter, interested lilt to it, like after dropping her mask of diplomacy she was simply a curious girl.

---

Spoiler: Interacting With

[member="Edric Vanyan"]

 

[Edric Vanyan]

[member="Nilia Saavilin"]

He smiled as he sat there, his head hanging back and against the creature as his hand came up and ran along the scales on it's side. He knew that this creature would not let him fall to his death even if he did fall, but that was no danger either. The Keshiri had long ago learned how to train and ride these creatures, so much so that the movements and use of them was almost as instinctive as any other animal that was used as a mount. It was natural even for the animals at this point, trained young so that the creatures would be able to quickly adjust to their riders and so that people were never fearful of climbing on top of the beasts.

With that his hand stopped and he started to answer her, no longer joking around or trying to scare the woman.

"To be honest, they would never even think about trying to knock you free, and the training to ride them is very careful. But one could ride it without that training, it would just require care and you cannot do some of the more interesting things that they are able to do. There is this forest of stone spires on the western edge of the continent that is far too fun to fly among, but one wrong turn and you might soon find yourself flying at high speeds right into one..." While he could escape such a situation, he knew that the creature would not be able to and die from such an impact, which is something he would hate to happen to it.

"Why do you ask if you do not mind my asking Miss, could it be that you wished for a myself to give you a ride on Dreypa?" He grinned at her with a bit of an impish grin, obviously teasing now and expecting the woman to respond in kind. That was atleast how the people he normally was around responded.

 

[Nilia Saavilin]

Kesh, Tahv, Undetermined Time

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Nilia listened with the same practised manner she had previously, clearly intrigued with what Edric had to say on these fantastical beasts but knowing when not to interrupt. Her eyebrows rose in momentarily comic alarm as he mentioned smacking into stones at high speeds, clearly, her mind produced a rather unpleasant, yet probably realistic image of what that looked like. Certainly bloody. And messy. Must be terribly hard to clean up.

"Well, I was just curious--... A-a ride?" Admittedly, she seemed to perk up at such an idea, and there was a lilt of excitement in her voice. It did sound terribly enchanting, and very tempting, and it was another excuse to see the city again. This time from the air, too, and it wasn't the same as looking out the shuttle's window.

Swallowing down a brief lump she put on a rather brave smile, nodding her head, "If you're offering, I'd be delighted to try at least once."

---

Spoiler: Interacting With

[member="Edric Vanyan"]

 

[Edric Vanyan]

[member="Nilia Saavilin"]

Edric shot up, his feet bringing him up iinfront of the woman before holding out a hand to help her up. If it was a ride she so wanted, he would give the Senator a bit of a show. There wasn't much to do about the city to tell the truth, but there was something he could do that would be far more interesting. That was to show the woman just how quick the Uvak were and why the creatures were so invaluable. Most would compare the winged creatures to something like the Arkanian Dragons, and to do so would be a bit of a far comparison in how it glided across Kesh's skies.

He looked up at the creature, walking to its side and patting one hand against the creature before bending his knees for but a moment. Soon he was in the air, carefully dropping onto its back and stabilizing himself. It was then that he patted the creature on the side of the neck again, waiting for it to lower its body enough for him to reach down his hand and hold it out for the woman.

"Well then Senator, I do hope that you are not afraid of heights because it has been a while since Dreypa has had the chance to get out and about. He might be a bit more active than normal." He smiled as his other hand gripped onto the scales of the Uvak, normally a rather weak hold but there would be time to strengthen his hold on the creature once the senator was on it's back.

Once she was up though, both hands would be grasping onto what ever hold her could find, and with a quick turn of his head, he smiled a bit wider at her. "I would suggest holding on, the first part is the worst part."

And on command, he kicked the creature, launching them up into the air with a few strong swipes of the creature's wings.