[SIZE=11pt]As Ara ([member="Ara Ren"]) smiled Pharazon smiled as their elegant waltz continued, their conversation and the music inflecting a magnificent and all encompassing quality to the shared experience of these two figures who would otherwise be two relatively unimportant dancers in a hall filled with some of the most important people in the galaxy. Her laughter filled his ears, her smile commanded his gaze, and the knowledge that she was at the least as capable as Pharazon was in the social arena and was probing him for information consumed his mind. Yet, even knowing this, even knowing that she was clearly enjoying his compliments and trying to use her looks and flirtatious actions to her advantage against him, Pharazon no longer cared. It had been at least a year since he had felt as comfortable talking about Hapes like this to anyone, and he did not care what she was learning about him from it. The feeling of liberation and the glint of a glorious possibility that she understood [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]was all Pharazon cared about. Of course, a part of his mind was still running, keeping him from saying too much, choosing which words to use carefully and ensure she did not learn enough to be able to betray him to his enemies back on Hapes. However, Pharazon was just happy to find a small moment of peace, whether genuine or carefully constructed, Pharazon seized it.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]“I most certainly do flatter, my dear, I would be a rather poor Hapan if I did not, and likely a dead one” Pharazon admitted with a chuckle and a grin, he was flattering her, but that did not mean he also did not think she was beautiful. “But I could never lie or exaggerate about true beauty[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]He appreciated her minor frowns and furrowing brows when he told her of Hapes and at least a part of his long and sordid tale from his youth. The slight movements and squeezes of her hands he noticed as well, she knew how to play the game, but so did he. He also saw for an instant in her eyes that she had noticed his slight shifts in tone during his account, where his emotions had spilled through. Most impressive… but you shan't have everything from me that easily [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]Pharazon mused, most amused, he had not even mentioned his mother or his conniving other sister yet, he would keep those and other decidedly more sensitive and dangerous details far more secret than his anger and his illegitimate birth.[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt] [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]She was also quite good at keeping her own feelings and true thoughts and reactions to herself, Pharazon knew that she likely would not have survived had she not learned these behaviours, just as Pharazon had been forced to do with death lurking behind every twitch of an eyebrow or hint of a scowl.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]As she told him of her own past, however, Pharazon knew that they had grown in many similar ways though in entirely different contexts. He also knew something of how horrific life on the street of the galaxy’s Ecumenopolis’ could be. He had lived for months as a thug, hired gun, smuggler, and underworld killer. However, he knew that being raised, or more accurately as he listened to her description of her life, raising herself, would have been an entirely different and altogether more terrible experience. However, the look of kindness and real [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]understanding he gave her as he listened did not need to be fabricated. The parallels between their lives were also evident to his mind as well, and he noted these for his own reference, as well as some initial thoughts as to how these may have influenced her personality.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]“I am not the first nor the greatest man that Hapes has attempted to destroy, nor shall I be the last, I am, however, one of the few that has had the chance to escape it, and I will not waste that chance Lady Ara, I will make my mark” Pharazon said, determination, ambition, and an unstoppable desire for perfection and triumph shining through his words and eyes. She can know those things about me for free… [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]Pharazon joked to himself internally.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]“I can only imagine the hardships you must have endured and risen above in your life, all I can offer you is that in someway I understand, I have known desperation and fear, the feeling to have nothing while surrounded by opulence as well as true poverty” Pharazon said, once again true understanding and empathy evident in his words as their movements in the dance became merely an afterthought in their practiced skill and grace between them. The music sustained them, guided them, almost played them like a brilliant and exceedingly smooth marionette performance. The two figures were distinct in appearance, his immaculate uniform and her magnificent dress complimenting and contrasting, but one in movement, each one influencing the other with their own elegance and poise.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]“I too know the struggles Hapan mothers can pose, the life of wealth and opulence is something I suspect neither of our parents know how to maintain well in their own ways” Pharazon said quietly and simply, she could have that knowledge freely too he decided, he had seen her smile that time, and he [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]knew [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]it was real in this instance, she [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]understood[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]. So as she had shared with him so he had shared with her, the general knowledge of his family troubles was quite evident anyway from his previous words. With some interest as well, Pharazon carefully noted and remembered that she had not mentioned her father, just as he had not. [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]I see we are both keeping a similar secret, or both hiding our shared ignorance [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]Pharazon thought with great interest. He knew nothing of his father beyond his name and his family name that Pharazon now carried. He had never been able to learn anything about him, not even from his uncle and his maternal grandfather, the two people in his family Pharazon genuinely trusted and loved.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]“As you say, what I have found here in the First Order has transcended everything I had ever hoped for when I left Hapes, I would never have thought I would ever find myself a Stormtrooper in the Outer Rim, what would my mother and grandmother say” Pharazon concurred with Ara, smiling at the end at the thought of it.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]“It truly is glorious to belong, to know that at least here, one can rise above birth, and that one can master themselves and truly and completely to become something more” Pharazon said, he believed it in part as he knew it to be true. However, he had not completely bought into this First Order’s philosophy, as he of all people, being a stormtrooper, knew what happened to those that refused to become a part of this greater whole if the First Order had determined to encompass them. Despite this, given his own experiences Pharazon did believe in the First Order and its potential, but he was not blind to the consequences of its lofty ambitions.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]As their dance drew to its natural end, their once elegantly entwined bodies separated and their gracefully coordinated feet drew apart. He only discovered as it ended how much he had enjoyed that dance, he generally hated dancing even if when he had learnt how to he had pushed himself to the limits of perfection as he did with everything. But this time, this time it had not feel like an effort. So, even if that was the only real thing from their interactions, which he knew it was most definitely not, he would have been satisfied.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]Pharazon returned Ara’s bow with the traditional and needlessly extravagant bow of a Hapan gentleman.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]“Do not apologise, I suspect we both began thinking our interaction would be of a decidedly different character and we both certainly began that dance thinking very differently about the other, people such as us have learnt that to do otherwise is… unwise, I most certainly did not expect to meet one such as you here” Pharazon said, raising himself back up to his full height.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]“I also know that both of us have much more to talk of to each other about a great many things, but understanding is far more valuable to us than anything many of the other guests will share tonight” Pharazon said, ensuring his voice was not overheard by anyone else. His tone was more familiar now, less calculated and crafted, he was no fool and knew he could not let his guard down completely, but he had shared something real with this woman, no matter how small or initial in nature, Pharazon was willing to admit he wanted to see and know more of her not just for pragmatic reasons. He was not a beauty blinded fool however, he had not fallen madly in love with her or been bewitched by her looks, but he knew at the very least they could share an understanding. To Pharazon, this meant more than anything other considerations or feelings at this time. He dared to harbour the small ember of hope that she might be one that he could actually share his true thoughts and feelings with, sometime, someway, and at some point in the future without having fear the consequences of his words, thoughts, and beliefs. Not now, but not never either.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]“It was also a most excellent dance, shared with a most beautiful woman beautifully dressed” Pharazon said, great mirth equally evident in his own eyes and expression. He may have just had his thoughts full of meaningful considerations and hopes, but he still knew how to have fun. [/SIZE]“A drink would be quite nice, as I seem to have misplaced my last one” Pharazon answered, following her gaze to the bar. “Corellian Brandy sounds an excellent choice, if you would accompany me of course” Pharazon said, as he extended his arm and a grin to her.
[SIZE=11pt]Pharazon also decided to look out across the crowd, to see just what had happened to Joan ( [member="FN-888"] ) and Ara’s companion, [member="Kaalia Voldaren"] [/SIZE]. He had quite lost track of them during the dance and his discovery of this most curious half Hapan rather similar to himself.
