Keep Your Friends Close & Your Frenemies Closer

[Marzena Vaas]

Spoiler

The setting for the evening's event.

Marzena sat idly in her transport; even though they had arrived at her destination close to fifteen minutes prior. She was feeling in an ill mood, due to certain circumstances surrounding her date for the evening. It was a man from her past, not they had shared much of a history, but she hadn’t seen him for a number of years.

[member="Khyros Sunblade"] was one of few people that truly got under Marzena’s skin, and not in a good way. The two had met during their teenage years, and instantly struck up something of a rivalry. Their parents had been friends, and the two would often spend their time at dinner parties making jabs at each other. Who was smarter? Who had more friends? Who would become more successful? Usually the answer was always Marzena, except for when Khyros was involved. It seemed that he had an effortless way about him, success always followed close on his heels… he made it look easy, and Marzena hated that.

The last time she had seen Khyros was when he was about to start practicing law, and she was aware that much had changed since then. Marzena had been modeling full time then, and had few cares in the world at that time, but things were different now. Her father had recently passed away, and had recently been named CEO in his stead. She had received condolences from the Office of Senator Sunblade… but did not receive a personal note. Marzena’s mother still flew at the chance to get the two together again, nagging that it would have pleased her father so. Her mother had also arranged for the two to attend tonight’s charity wine tasting together.

She couldn’t deny that it could be a mutually beneficial arrangement, but she would never admit it openly. Khyros was a man of the people, and appearing on his arm would lend Marzena an air of compassion… something she lacked. Marzena was very popular among older men, the kind that had deep pockets and liked to lend their support and influence to political campaigns.

“Ummm… Excuse me, Ms. Choi?” Came the voice of her assistant. “It’s been nearly twenty minutes.”

Marzena merely heaved a heavy sigh.

“Why don’t you want to go tonight?

“Because.” Marzena snapped. “I’m not pleased with my date for the evening.”

“Why?”

“Well, he’s successful, from a good family, wealthy, and successful… but the fact remains that he annoys me.” Marzena said loftily. “I will make him wait five more minutes, that couldn’t hurt, right?”

A wicked smile appeared on her face, and her assistant shrank away with a look of terror on her face. This couldn't be the start to a good evening, could it?

 

[Khyros Sunblade]

A blustery cold wind blew past Khyros as he waited outside the exit to the terminal. He was dressed impeccably for the occasion, as was only right. His only deviation from the norm was a small pin with the crest of the Galactic Republic on his lapel. He took his position as Senator for Arkania quite seriously, and took the identity into his core, rather than wearing it like a suit, as some politicians did. Khyros's hair was done in his typical medium length pulled back with only a minor amount of product. On his face, Khyros wore a smirk. It was amusement, not at being out in the cold, but rather at the ploy his erstwhile date was currently playing.

"Sir, it's been..."

"Nineteen minutes, yes." He said without looking at his wrist chronometer. It was an affectation he only wore as a fashion accessory, as he was capable of unconsciously keeping track of the time. A trick he'd picked up during his tenure with the Senate Guard.

"You should get back in the car, sir. It's quite cold out, and it wouldn't do for you to..."

"Catch a cold?" He finished the guards statement as a question as he turned to the man and smiled genuinely. The guard coughed his laugh into his hand, then returned to scanning the area.

"We don't know how much longer she will be keeping you waiting." The guard said, amazed that he'd been able to complete the statement.

"Oh, it won't be much longer. I imagine her people have to be fretting as much, if not more, than you are." He chuckled softly and looked his guard in the eye for a moment. "I am an important Senator, you know. Not to be kept waiting for a date." He said, his voice taking on the mild reproach he'd heard assistants take with Senators while he was in the guard. He felt like he was just a normal person trying to do his job, but intellectually knew that to be fairly understating the facts. "Ms. Choi and I have...history. She'll likely remember me from my days growing up and while I was in College and practicing law. I was...frankly, I was an ass a lot of the time back then." He was quite candid with those he trusted, and why not trust your guard, he or she would be saving your life one day. Also, it was a nice distraction to have someone to talk to when you were waiting for a date.

[member="Marzena Choi"]

 

[Marzena Vaas]

Marzena’s driver exited the car and walked around to the side to pull her door open. A pair of incredibly high stilettos touched down on the pavement first, and then bare legs were next to come into view. The heiress took her driver’s gloved hand and rose gracefully to her feet. Tonight she was wearing a classic little black dress; it was strapless and left her shoulders quite exposed, but the all better to show off the jewels that adorned her neck. Her long black dresses were tied back into an elaborate bun, save for a few tresses in the front that had been strategically left out to frame her face. Marzena’s makeup was immaculate, as always, and she had finished off her look with a bold red lip.

“Ms. Choi, your coat!” Came her assistant’s worried voice, as she ran up behind Marzena, attempting to lay the coat over her shoulders.

Marzena dismissed her assistant with a casual wave of her hand, it was highly impractical to step out into the cold night with so much skin showing, but it was her way. Sometimes she had to suffer to look her best, but she would never show weakness. After all, there was no cold tonight that could match Marzena’s stare. Her steps were brisk, and the clicking sound of her heels against the ground echoed through the terminal. Marzena spotted Khyros almost instantly, even though she’d not seen his face in a long time. After a quick appraisal, she decided that his looks hadn’t changed all that much. However, age had changed him favorably it seemed, as was usually the case for men.

“You’re still here.” Marzena said in a cool tone of voice, a hint of disappointment lacing her words. Though, she wasn't surprised, he wasn't the sort to break his word.

She could see the shocked look on the face of Khyros’ aid, and she merely smiled. “It’s been a long time.” Marzena leaned in and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, not that she was attempting to be affectionate, it was more for appearances.

Her dark eyes fell upon the small pin on his label, and graceful fingers reached out to touch it.

“Isn’t that cute?” Marzena’s head tilted to the side.

[member="Khyros Sunblade"]

 

[Khyros Sunblade]

His grin grew into a smile as his date for the evening exited her car and walked towards him. She looked stunning tonight, though stunning was something that Marzena had always done with effortless grace. The sight of her sent Khyros back to their childhood, and all the years since. Were his parents still around he was sure his Mother would be fretting and calling his assistant for updates every five minutes. Both his parents had pushed for this match, though Khyros had been against any match as a young man. He wanted to live irresponsibly as only the disgustingly wealthy could, and he had.

Of course, that all changed when his parents had gone missing. Years spent in the military had taken the professional playboy and turned him into a man, then into a soldier, and then the soldier and the lawyer became a politician. Through it all, making a match and settling into a family life had never been on his mind, but seeing Marzena, his parents wishes came back.

His eyes met hers, and he saw the coldness there. The warm humor in his stayed the same, though deep inside he wondered if he had ever actually offended her so much, or if she was testing him. He would see, as the evening wound on.

“You’re still here.”

Khyros simply nodded, though his guards mouth dropped open for a minute at the brusqueness of the statement.

“It’s been a long time.”

"Far too long, Marzena." He said, returning her cheek kiss with his own.

Her dark eyes fell upon the small pin on his lapel, and graceful fingers reached out to touch it. “Isn’t that cute?” Marzena’s head tilted to the side.

Khyros smiled and let her touch the pin. He glanced down at it, then back to her.

"It is part of my identity now, so why hide it." He said with humor in his deep voice. Not cruel humor, rather it was mildly self-deprecating. A definite change from the nearly callous young man he had been. "How have you been, Marzena?" He asked, taking a first step towards the door of their venue, his arm automatically being held out for her.

[member="Marzena Choi"]

 

[Marzena Vaas]

Marzena was slightly surprised by the warmth and lightness in Khyros’ voice. Pleasantries had been exchanged, yet there had been no passive aggressive remarks, or smug undertones. What kind of game was that? Perhaps they had outgrown the need for competition that they had seen in their youth, perhaps she was just holding onto the bitterness for the sake of their past. She suddenly felt a bit silly for acting so cold, after all she wasn't looking to push him away completely. As Khyros offered his arm, she let her own wind daintily around his and started off towards the tasting room. She matched his strides with ease, each movement fluid and with a practiced grace.

After all these years, she couldn’t say thoughts of how it could have been hadn’t crossed her mind. It was something that she pondered on the occasion. Both of their parents had been supported of a match, but it hadn’t worked out in their favor. Marzena had gone on to take accept the proposal of a local businessman, but that had ended in ruin and humiliation. She had accepted no other matches to date, deeming each to be below her standards. It was a way of protecting herself, and there was a chance that deep inside she had been waiting for Khyros. Even with their disagreements and rivalries, she knew that she could have loved him. Perhaps she still could, but she pushed the thought from her mind.

“I have been doing well enough.” She started; some of the chill in her voice had melted away. “However, my mother would say that I’ve been working too much. Not taking the time for social events… hence this evening.” A small smile but genuine smile found her lips. “I do hope that she didn’t pressure you into coming.” Marzena was curious to see whether or not he had been interested in seeing her, or if he had chosen to attend as a friendly gesture.

“And how have you been, Khyros?” She gave his arm a playful squeeze. “Or would you prefer that I call you Senator Sunblade?” Even Marzena had to admit that it had a nice ring to it.

[member="Khyros Sunblade"]