First Order: A Rose In Her Hand

[Roderik von Brinkerhoff]

Roderik's grin intensified at [member="Pierce Fortan III"] and [member="Sioux Chambers"].

"I swear it's the first thing he does after duty hours, every single day."

He turned back to face the assembled members of the premier squadron in the First Order's Starfighter Corps, [member="Nils Brenner"], [member="Greta Kohler"].

"No more babysitting. I think its safe to say we're dismissed from here on out. Stir up hell, starting with the good Sergeant here," He indicated to [member="Rolf Amsel"], who he offered a bigger grin, and gesture towards the bottle he carried.

His attention turned back to [member="Pierce Fortan III"], "Make sure they stir up the right kind of trouble." As if to pawn him off on the others to entertain for the moment, like a puppy shoo'd away.

Roderik smiled now to Sioux, nodding, "Dancing was never my strong suit, but I know enough not to step on toes."

 

[Progflaw99]

Rolf had finished pouring the first round, the amber liquid in his own glass washing down most, if any reservations he might have had about the evening. The Corellians, in all their ineptitude did make excellent liquor. At least, they had. All that was left now were fringe pockets living in re-appropriated areas like "Little Corellia" on Nar Shaddaa. It appeared he'd caught them all as they were about to split, each to their own 'conquests'. He nodded towards the mustachio'd Captain as he and his date continued on for the evening.

They seemed like a pretty wild bunch. He'd made his introductions, gotten to meet a few of the famed pilots of the First Order, some of them quite favorable to look at. Rolf smiled, wondering if soon a smoke would be warranted, he recognized the telltale signs of a fellow smoker in one of the pilots, Pierce Fortan III. He was obviously related to Natasi Fortan... her brother most likely, maybe a cousin? If he remembered correctly. He was about to suggest a brief interlude, a smoke perhaps?

It was at that moment his eyes locked onto another friendly wave sent in his direction, the shiny pin on her uniform identifying her as part of the FIMS. A medical officer, and an attractive one to boot. Such beautiful people here, not like many of the other world's he'd have the privilege of visiting. As she approached, Rolf shifted slightly, facing her and allowing her a space in the small circle. He'd noted the pristine condition of her uniform, a favorable first impression. He grinned, addressing the newest arrival near the little group.

"You're not interrupting in the least bit Major. Care for a drink?"

Their attention had been diverted temporarily as the Admiral entered, entourage in tow. Rolf set the bottle down on the small table. He stifled a laugh as the Major commented on "Ironpants" and her arrival. As the woman turned around she posed a question. Forward, he liked that. The two hadn't even truly been introduced, at least not formally. A dance? Why not? He could grab a smoke break later on in the evening. He turned briefly to the Grand Moff's relative, nodding.

"Rain check on a smoke break?" He turned back to the Major, catching her eye with his own. "It looks like the Major and I have a dance floor to break in."

Rolf reached down to hold the woman's hand, shooting a sly wink towards Pierce. He'd have to catch up with them later, right now he had important 'business' to attend to. He motioned towards the dance floor.

"It's a pleasure Major, but I fear we haven't been introduced and if we are to dance... however will I whisper sweet nothings in your ear forthwith? I'm Sergeant Amsel, but please, call me Rolf."

He grinned. It was a little bit forward, even for him but that could have been the strong Corellian Amber speaking.

[member="Valessia Brentioch"] | [member="Greta Kohler"] | [member="Pierce Fortan III"]​

 

[Natasi Fortan]

Pierce raised his eyebrows, as if incredulous that he was being sent away like a stray cat. What was the space equivalent of 'bros before hoes' anyway? "All right, well, if that's your choice -- oh, there's Natasi," he said distractedly. "Really ought to go over and say hello." He touched his hap and bowed to [member="Greta Kohler"] and [member="Sioux Chambers"], then nodded to the men in the group before excusing himself and strolling around the perimeter of the dance floor. He stopped at the bar first, ordered himself a gin martini on the rocks before moving over to where his cousin [member="Natasi Fortan"] stood like a column in a crimson dress, talking to a man that he recognized as [member="Darell Irani"]. It seemed like he was arriving just as Natasi was asking Irani to dance.

Seemed sort of backwards to Pierce, but to each his own, he supposed.

"So, this is the Mr. Irani I've heard so little about," Pierce announced himself, and Natasi turned, the smile dying on her lips. Pierce narrowed his eyes a little, but leaned in to kiss Natasi on both cheeks.

"Pierce, this is my -- this is [member="Darell Irani"], my, ah, gentleman friend." Natasi turned to Irani. "Irani, this is my cousin, Pierce Fortan, Baron Chiltenham."

Pierce extended his free hand to the Duke of Derellium. "How do you do, Your Grace?"

 

[Natasi Fortan]

As Sioux and [member="Roderik von Brinkerhoff"] stepped out onto the dance floor and began to dance together, Sioux watched Pierce walk off. "You know he's going to take that as a challenge accepted, right?" she asked with a smirk. "We'll be lucky to have this place still standing by the time they're done with it." They circled the floor in time with the music, and Sioux turned her attention back to Roderik as they moved together. "You take awfully good care of them, Captain," she said quietly, referring to the men and women under his command. "They're lucky to have you."

They continued the waltz, and Sioux was impressed by Roderik's abilities on the dance floor. "You've underestimated your skill on the floor," she observed as he spun her under his arm. With a grin, she returned to their default position and they continued along the way. "Tell me about you," she asked."Where did you learn to dance, first of all?"

 

[Ria Misrani]

Fashionably late as always, Ranulph thought to himself as he made a donation, registered for the raffle and entered the ballroom. Looking down at his uniform he adjusted it, pulling it down and making sure it was wrinkle free. The ballroom was crowded, of course, and he felt - odd, well misplaced really. Functions such as these were not his forte, still. He was a Tarkin after all, and there was a foundation named for his family. The Tarkin Naval Foundation, which sought to ensure the Tarkin legacy - in whatever form that might take. Quietly he made his way toward the bar and looked about. He spotted several beautiful women, [member="Greta Kohler"] among them, as well as another woman, who was dancing with another man. [member="Natasi Fortan"], he smiled, not knowing or caring if she saw him or not.

He turned his attention away from her and onto that of [member="Lady Kay"], he recognised her. Ah, the new President of Commenor, lovely. Still, he thought to himself if he was going to find a suitable wife. No better place than here he supposed, well mannered, well bred, and of course, she must have some sort of social station. Taking a flute of champagne from one of the roaming trays he began to trek toward the dance floor.

​

 

[Natasi Fortan]

[[Disregard]]

 

[Viktor DuSang]

Yellow eyes focused on [member="Lady Kay"] as he approached her. "You don't say? I'll have to give it a try." Picking up the hor d'oeuvre, he tried a small bite. It wasn't terrible. Finishing it in another bite, he chewed quietly and swallowed a few times before addressing.

"I had actually came over to apologize. My actions earlier were unprofessional and brash. It goes without saying that I was not a gentleman. And I hope you can forgive me. It was a foolish mistake. Perhaps we could share another dance and enjoy the rest of our evening?"

 

[Roderik von Brinkerhoff]

"It takes a certain kind of person to be a starfighter pilot." He responded to [member="Sioux Chambers"] with a smile, his attention switching to [member="Pierce Fortan III"] not too far away for a split second, before turning his gaze fully back to his partner in dancing crime. "It takes a delicate touch to manage that kind of person correctly, but when done right. Well, you've seen the results." His smile broadened a bit with his prideful boasting of his squadron's statistics - which he knew Sioux had heard or read dozens of times before.

"It helps when the people we work with are as good as they are." He said, alluding to both of their career placements currently. She worked with the Grand Moff, and quite possibly the most efficiently run office of a head of state from any region of the galaxy. He worked with pilots he knew would some day go down in the First Order's history books. The 100th Fighter Squadron was a breeding ground for the Starfighter Corps' top talent.

He drifted away from talking about his chosen career and intensified his focus on performing the ongoing waltz. Smiling more, but this time a bit more embarrassingly than before, as Sioux complimented his dancing skills, and inquired after them.

"I partly joined the service to get away from these sorts of festivities. Dancing and carrying on, like a good little Baron." He spoke the last bit in a hushed but jovial manner. Roderik was unsure if the news would come as a shock to Sioux, though she was resourceful in her own ways, and it was very possible the Grand Moff could have spoiled the secret to her at any point in the past few months.

"From a little world not far from here. Nothing too extravagant, but, well enough to do. Formalities are the only way to have fun for some people, you know?" Roderik continued to smile as she moved through the next phase of the dance, more overtly conscientious about stepping on Sioux's feet now - overthinking his actions now.

"If that's news to you, please keep it on the down low. I think Pierce is the only one that really knows. He can keep a secret when his life depends on it, you know." He added in hastily a moment later.

"I don't like it interfering with my style any more than it has to." He said with playful sarcasm as he spun Sioux under his arm again.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay stood there in an almost uncomfortable silence as [member="Viktor DuSang"] ate. It was clear that he had something on his mind and she had a feeling that she knew what it was. His words spoken soon after confirmed her suspicions.

She nodded, accepting his apology. It wasn't entirely his fault, of course. She just isn't as forward as most. Pretty much everyone that she knew were quick to jump into someone's arms. But Kay didn't want to be used. And in her current position, it was all too easy. Although if one of her Ministers had his way, like he said he had wanted, he would have the Elders assassinated and install a monarchy, making her an Empress. It was a little hard to tell if he was just joking or not....Kay hoped that he was.

"You're forgiven, Viktor. And I apologize if I had led you on somehow. You are a fine gentleman and I hope that you don't lose that trait. Only a gentleman would risk his toes to have another dance with me."

She smiled and finished her punch, catching [member="Ranulph Tarkin"] looking at her before he headed to the dance floor. Hopefully her conversation with [member="Samka Derith"] and Viktor weren't causing a scene. Afterall, this evening wasn't about her or Commenor at all. That would be later, when the Embassies were opened.

Kay excused herself from Sam and headed over to the dance floor herself, assuming that Viktor would follow.

 

[Tanomas Graf]

The amount of times in his life that Tanomas Graf had been late was an ever growing list, but that day had to be one of his worst. During a routine patrol near Vassek on the border of the Outer Rim and the Mid Rim, the Retribution-class Star Destroyer Reprisal, his ship, had encountered a small pirate fleet that would've been particularly easy to dispatch if one of the frigates hadn't decided to try to ram the Reprisal, the ship impacted the shields and created a massive shockwave, causing consoles to explode and sending operators flying, Tanomas himself had been hit by a falling piece of rebar.

It was a dark day for the Reprisal, as it slowly trudged its way into the dockyard, being tugged by other ships due to most of the ship being damaged during the ensuring hyperspace transit. Having learned of the ball that was currently going on on Dosuun during his medical examination and treatment, Graf had decided last minute to attend for the alcohol and the company of his fellow naval officers.

And so, Captain Graf now stood in front of grand hall hosting the ball in his best dress uniform, but his battle was still evident as his arm was still in a sling after having been relocated and healthy amounts of bacta applied, and his face was covered in a few battle scars that hadn't bothered to go away yet. Tanomas straightened his rank bars and tunic before heading up the steps into the hall where music was emanating from.

The first place that Graf visited was of course the bar, to get a drink. The med-droid had outright refused to give the captain their strongest pain killers, so instead he was left to let his pain recede under the influence of hard liquor.

After all, it was a tradition that naval commanders had been practicing for millennia.

Spoiler

[member="Asharad Graush"] | [member="Roderik von Brinkerhoff"] | [member="Marzena Choi"] | [member="Natasi Fortan"] | [member="Sioux Chambers"] | [member="Ludolf Vaas"] | [member="Darell Irani"] | [member="Pierce Fortan III"] | [member="Ranulph Tarkin"] | [member="Rolf Amsel"] | [member="Val Kordova"] | [member="Nils Brenner"] | [member="Dunames Lopez"] | [member="Valessia Brentioch"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Pierce Fortan III"] | [member="Natasi Fortan"]

Irani saw Natasi approaching from the corner of his eye. This was a notable sign for him to wrap up his conversation with the Dosuun labor representative -- it was quite important for Iron Crown to maintain their relationship with the various officials that maintained the eventual bureaucracy of the First Order.

In truth that was where the real power resided more often than not.

Oh, a particularly well-placed Moff could aid in certain matters, but at the end of the day it was the vast bureaucratic system that handled all the little issues... and it was those little issues that could pile up into larger issues, until it started a snowball effect. If there was anything Irani didn't enjoy, it were issues, little or otherwise.

"A dance?" Darell sipped from his own glass, while pondering before giving a free shrug. "Why not, we have come this fa-"

And that's when Pierce hooked himself into the conversation.

Blue eyes studied the Fortan scion without much in the way of emotion. It was like reading dry literature, checking spreadsheets or observing as a cow was led to the slaughter - little to any recognition rising up in those eyes.

"Charmed," Irani responded after a moment. His free hand accepted the extended hand; it was squeezed, not too tight, not too soft, just hard enough to stipulate the message he was conveying during the process.

Then the cold demeanor slipped, right as his other hand slipped and rested easily on Natasi's back, bringing her in just a touch closer.

"My dear, please. This is family, no?" Again a study, but this time warmer. "I am her suitor and she has been graceful enough with my attempts to woo her, isn't that right?"

 

[Viktor DuSang]

An exhale of relief left his nostrils as [member="Lady Kay"] accepted his apology. "No, Kay. You didn't lead me on at all. That whole situation rests solely on me." He couldn't help but chuckle. "I meant what I said when I called you a good dancer. You're much better than you lead on."

Following her out onto the dance floor, yellow eyes rested on [member="Ranulph Tarkin"], flashing the man a cool smile. Reaching the edge of the dance floor, his hand rested on her hip as the other became entwined with her own. "Relax. Let's enjoy the evening." With that, he lead her back onto the dance floor as before.

With [member="Natasi Fortan"], his moves were stiff, proper. He was to dance as the nobility do. It's more routine than enjoyment. But, with Kay, he could loosen up a bit. Have a bit of fun with the dance. A smooth smile spread across his lips. "Would it be a faux pas if I said that I'd like to see you again, after tonight? Simply curious."

 

[Natasi Fortan]

Sioux was a simple girl; she hadn't grown up wealthy or privileged like, it seemed, everyone else at this ball. She hadn't been poor, by any means, but ordinary. "You might find it difficult to conceive of this, Captain. Or should I say, Baron?" She looked up into his face, smirking a little. "But for every member of the noble classes that's just bored to sobs with this kind of frivolity, there's about ten thousand people like me -- middle class, or lower -- who would leap at the chance to dance and carry on. "I didn't pry because you asked me to come to this ball, by the way. I do all right in the Grand Moff's office. The Grand Moff asked me to look into your background when she was vetting you for promotion."

It wouldn't do for [member="Roderik von Brinkerhoff"] to think of Sioux as a gold-digger of some variety.

"I never discuss this sort of thing outside of work," Sioux assured him. "And I don't think Pierce would ever say anything. I don't know that he'd want to have anyone competing with him when it comes to the ladies -- and among some of these ladies, a term I use loosely, would find a title to be -- well, you know." She spun around again, then returned to her original position as the song came to a halt. She applauded with the rest of the dancers and smiled up at Roderik. "You're not so bad."

 

[Ria Misrani]

Aria arrived in the middle of a waltz, figured. She purchased two raffle tickets for herself and then another two for her father [member="Avicus DuSang"]. Smiling to the man behind the booth she showed him her ticket and walked into the ballroom. It didn't take her too long to spot her brother [member="Viktor DuSang"]. The family's golden eyes were always the dead giveaway but then - it would be hard for her to not spot her family members. The eldest DuSang daughter made her way through the crowd, she spotted her brother with [member="Lady Kay"], and gave a nod to them.

She also noted the Grand Moff [member="Natasi Fortan"], with the Duke of Derellium, [member="Darell Irani"]. Raising her brows, she passed on the flutes of champagne and went for the sparkling water. Aria did her best to get through the crowds and actually find her dad, it looked as if he was with someone, [member="Lorelei Darke"]? Huh. Well, she wasn't going to interrupt them and put the raffle tickets into her clutch and wondered what it took to grab a table around these parts. Checking the time she was hoping to catch the benefit concert before having to shuffle back home and get ready for work.

Pushing her lips to the side, she crossed toward the bar in the back and grabbed a stool. More sparkling water, a bowl of pretzels and probably her mini-tablet so she could work while at the ball. The lawyer wasn't going to put anything off that she could now, she set her clutch beside her on the counter top of the bar as she got to work.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay couldn't help but laugh quietly to herself when [member="Viktor DuSang"] said that she was a good dancer, for she still didn't believe it. A good dancer would not struggle when it came to twirls, getting confused over which way to turn, and then of course there was the occasional stepping on toes. No, a good dancer would be near perfect.

She spotted [member="Aria DuSang"] as they moved past her during the dance. Catching the nod, Kay nodded in return. She figured that they must be family.

And then Viktor asked to see her again. She raised a brow. "See me again? Well...with the opening of the Embassies, I'm sure that many will be there, including us of course..." Was he trying again to get a date with her? Her secrets had to be kept safe and being alone with him wouldn't make keeping them easy, especially as he was one of the Knights of Ren. "My duties keep me quite busy. I'm on call for every minute of the day. There is little to no spare time for me. I am still adjusting to my newest position."

 

[Komo]

It all happened rather quickly. Greta was never really too good at these kind of parties. One moment, the Sergeant, [member="Rolf Amsel"] was coming over and offering expensive Corellian Amber to everyone in her group, and the next moment, her commander, [member="Roderik von Brinkerhoff"] had dismissed the small little group of fellow pilots that had gathered here tonight. Apparently, Captain Moustache was done babysitting and would now have the time to have a dance with his date.

[member="Pierce Fortan III"] was no exception as well as he too went off with his date, and so did the rest, dispersing to head to the dance floor. And then it was two. Rolf and her were the only ones left, and just as she was about to raise her hand and say something, another officer caught his attention with a wave, and Greta quickly raised her hand back down, embarrassed at being a little too slow there to achieve anything. It was pretty ironic how she could be so quick and responsive on the battlefield, be it on the ground or in the cockpit of a starfighter, but when it came to these matters, she was slow bumbling mess. Geez.

Rolf soon went off with the other officer, a Major, and Greta was left all by her lonesome. Unsurprisingly, really. Taking off her cap, the lieutenant headed for the bar, ordering herself a stiff drink as she began munching nosily on a bowl of bite-sized pretzels. The rest were dancing, and she was not. She could sure as hell do whatever she wanted.

 

[Jaron Lesan]

[ooc: sorry guys work got crazy busy and I finally made my second post]

Jaron had sat in the shadows of at that bar for most of the night. The dancing would have once called to him, but his days of giving in to sucj frivolities were over. There had been a time when near any of the women in the room could convince him to do so, but he had had exposed himself too many times. The last time he had done so the woman had not been who Jaron had thought. He had ordered a glass of whiskey and had not touched it all night.

Tonight was a celebration of the conquests the First Order had made, but all of them in his absence. The only one he could take real sanitary for his part in was Dosuun. He had scouted the world. His involvement had made it possible for the First Order to systematically establish their headquarters and capitol without any danger to their forces. In a way that could carry over to the rest of their victories, but that was a hollow consolation. At the end of it all he had been gone for far too long, and the fact he had not recognized a single face, save one, told him so.

It seemed the larger group of individuals who had been socializing had paired off. Women, or men, dragging their dates off to the dance floor. It was a ball after all. One of the women was the odd one out and she had made her way to the bar and sat down. Jaron looked her way for a moment before finally taking a sip of whiskey. His eyes turned upward toward her again as he spoke.

"Long night?"

[member="Greta Kohler"]

 

[Natasi Fortan]

Natasi swirled her champagne glass a little as her cousin and her suitor chatted amicably. Suitor may have been the right word for Irani at the moment. Natasi didn't like the term 'boyfriend' because she felt it was childish. 'Significant other' seemed overly technical, and though by this point they were sharing the penthouse of the Dosuun Grand in Avalonia when she wasn't touring the First Order and he wasn't running one of the largest corporate conglomerates in the galaxy, she didn't quite know if it was the proper term. Neither was he a 'gentleman caller' -- the description summoning in Natasi's mind some sort of yokel wandering up a dewy lawn with a large hat in his hands to encounter a geriatric swilling a mint julep on the porch. And 'lover' was definitely out of the question.

The truth was, Natasi mused as she watched Pierce try to be charming to Irani by introducing his beautiful date, the Dowager Duchess of Something-or-Other, Natasi had every intention of marrying [member="Darell Irani"]. He probably knew this by now, but he didn't let on, so it was difficult to be sure. Natasi eased a little closer at Irani's subtle movement.

"Brave enough to take on Natasi Fortan -- you're a better man than I am, Gunga Din," said Pierce with a smirk before he turned to Natasi, silently toasting her with his drink. "Have you got a thing for Dukes, now, m'lady? Wasn't that fellow you were engaged to before Uncle Frejrik passed? What was his name, again?" Pierce's eyes rolled back as he considered. "He was -- oh, golly -- it was a Talbot, wasn't it?"

Natasi smirked sidelong at Irani. "Don't meddle, Pierce. My suitor here doesn't have a jealous bone in his body." Natasi rested her hand on Darell's shoulder. "I don't remember if I told you about Talbot. There's not much to tell. On Galidraan -- at least, in our class of people -- marriages are usually arranged. My father was working on untying the entail, and the idea was that Talbot and I would unite the two neighboring estates, but when my father died before the entail could be smashed and Cousin Maximilian inherited the estate, the Talbots decided he could do better -- and of course, he could -- so it was all called off. Thank the Balance, Talbot was dull as paint." The same could not be said for Irani.

"Speaking of Cousin Maximilian -- have you met him yet, Irani? Suppose you'll have to if things get serious." Natasi glared at Pierce; Maximilian Jens was not on the top of her list of favorite people. A minor noble who had been propelled into high society on Galidraan by the death of Natasi's Father. Due to complex Galidraani legal relations, Jens had inherited the title Earl of Herevan and the estate at Herevan Hold, and was thus, at least legally, head of the Fortan family.

"We're not doing that," said Natasi firmly. "Now, or ever."

 

[Matthias Hux]

Late as per usual.

Matthias, entered the Ball, hurrying quickly into the crowds as to not be noticed by any of his superiors in the form of [member="Roderik von Brinkerhoff"]. Instead of looking for them to make his apologies for being late, he immediately bee lined towards one of the numerous bar counters, away from anyone who appeared to be wearing a pilot's dress uniform. Mostly, he just kept his head down so he wouldn't be noticed coming in late, usually messy hair combed back for once.

Just this one time.

It was supposed to be an important event.

All the way to the back he went and plopped himself onto a stool. After making sure that he had gone through unseen, he sighed before shooting a glance in the direction of the person beside him. It was [member="Aria DuSang"], but of course, he didn't know who she was, so he just blinked at her once, before looking away.

She looks busy. Probably didn't notice.

"Busy night?"

Oops.

"What I meant to say..."

What did I mean to say?

 

[Roderik von Brinkerhoff]

"The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. An apt saying that I've heard before." Roderik flashed a smile again, always with the smiling. "Your confidence is appreciated. Oh - and just Roderik - Captain is what I make Pierce call me when I'm angry with him."

He listened to [member="Sioux Chambers"] before being interrupted by the completion of the song and dance. He joined her in clapping, smiling in return. "Just took my cues from a good leader." His smile morphing into a grin, seeming never to give up a chance to slip in a Starfighter Corps pun, reference, or otherwise appropriated joke. The implication being that their dance element consisted of a leader and wingman, much like the basic tactical starfighter unit - with Sioux as leader, and Roderik as wingman, in this particular instance.

"Care to continue, or should we get you another drink?" Not that Roderik needed to liquor her up before he started asking questions pertaining to what exactly 'vetting him for promotion' entailed. This was the absolute first he was hearing of such a thing, but he wanted to play it cool with the equally measured Sioux Chambers - and that meant not immediately dropping everything and inquiring about when he was going to be pinning on some shiny new rank emblems. Excitement at all the rushing thoughts caused his grin to intensify further.