Masquerade Ball

[Alize Rosenheim]

It was the first time in years since Alize had been last invited to a ball which was not unexpected due to the rumors that floated around about her. Whether there were any truth to these unsavoury rumours regarding Alize that was a topic of gossip among certain social circles in high society was something that only the young Lady Rosenheim was privy to. Although she had many opportunities to, Alize chose not to address this issue. Afterall, a lie will only breed more lies and keeping track of every lie told so that one might not accidently reveal a carefully constructed web of lies was such a chore.

With a deep breath, the young woman composed herself. She did not want her excitement to show. Slowly, her carriage came to a stop before the grandiose mansion that demonstrated the owner’s wealth and affluence. Much of the fixtures outside the mansion was gilded which complemented the antique white of the building. Gracefully, Alize picked up the wand of her delicate rose gold masquerade mask and obscured the top half of her face before exiting her carriage with the assistance of Frederick, her droid with the appearance of a conventionally attractive young man with dark hair and eyes who seemed several years her senior.

Escorted by Frederick who was dressed in black slim fit cashmere tuxedo and a mask that matched hers tied around his head with a ribbon, Alize entered the mansion. Although Federick was a droid, he was one of high quality who was able to portray realistic human emotions appropriate to the situation as well as feign experiences of being susceptible to the weather and injuries like other humans. In short, he was as close to a human a droid was able to get without allowing it to be able to experience emotions or human weaknesses - something that made him an excellent bodyguard for Alize.

“Welcome.” A well dressed servant greeted the pair as they made their way into the ballroom. Delicate chandeliers hung from the ceiling covered in fluffy white clouds on a blue sky with chubby cheeked cherubs playing around in the clouds. The walls of the room were covered in floor length windows with arched tops and three glass doors opposite to the heavy doors used to enter the room that opened into a spacious balcony that overlooked a beautiful garden with a lush green maze made of shrubbery behind it. The floor of the room was just as grand, stained with an exquisite pattern, the contrast between the lighter timber and mahogany wood was magnificent.

“Beautiful…” Alize muttered, glad that her mask hid most of her wonderment. If the princesses in the stories read to her by her nursemaid read as a child were real, this would surely be what a ballroom in their fairy tale castles would look like. Although Alize would be too embarrassed to admit it, she had, in one point of her life wanted to be a princess who would live happily ever after she married her prince on a white horse.

“Alize, we should move. We are obstructing the other guests.” Frederick’s deep voice whispered into her ear and brought her back to reality. Embarrassed by her brief loss of composure, Alize gave a small nod of agreement and allowed Frederik escort her to the side of the room where she could have a moment to relax before making the acquaintance of the other guests.

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]​

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Alize Rosenheim"]


The rich and powerful had congregated to feast, make merry and presumably bluster about important they were. Perhaps also to plot schemes and assassinate one another, if you believed the typical holovid depiction of aristocratic festivals. The owner of the mansion, the ruling lord of Serenno, had spared no expense. Thus even the servants were dressed to the nines. The Lady Siobhan Kerrigan entered the ballroom opulent mansion with great pomp and fanfare. Her head was held high, chin up and she carried herself with a commanding aura, radiating indomnitable will and aristocratic haughtiness.


She walked like a woman who thought she owned the palace and expected you to submit to her will. She was clad in a magnificient black lace dress that hugged her voluptuous curves, conveying both elegance and sensual appeal. Her long firemane was done up, her face was obscured by a red mask since it was a masquerade ball. If one were able to look beyond the mask, one would see an attractive, but viciously scarred face. Perhaps some of the aristocrats would consider her disfigurements a blemish, but Siobhan cared not, for she bore them as if they were marks of victory.


A pretty, darkhaired beauty with pointed ears and blue eyes, wearing a matching mask and a blue dress, hung upon her arms like a trophy. Her name was Lady Chesna, she was an Eldorai and one of the most precious courtesans of the Countess. She might also be a planar demigoddess, but that's another story. A well-dressed servant greeted them effusively and kissed Siobhan's hand. "Well, this is nice. It looks the same as the last time. How long ago was it?" Chesna wondered aloud once they'd entered and the servant had moved on to other guests. There was a melodic quality to her voice.


"You were here before, sweetie?" Siobhan asked. The elf had not mentioned that. Then again, she'd been around for a very long time and...gotten around a lot. The Countess did not mind, but was curious. Both were speaking in Eldarai to avoid people being able to listen in.


"My, my, aren't you nosy. I think the Duke's great-grandmother was around. Her husband got very cross when he found us together in the garden. Things got dramatic. She was a real babe. Good kisser. Not as lovely as you, of course, Lady!" No one could troll and fawn as well as Chesna.


"Nice save. I am magnificient," Siobhan declared smugly, for her ego was considerable. "And I got where I am by working my way up. Since you've been here before, can you give me any useful tips?" she asked.


"Oh, just the usual," Chesna said airily and waved her free hand vaguely. "You know what blue bloods are like. Use the proper fork, check the food for poison and if a pretty maid makes bedroom eyes at you, make sure she's not an assassin!"


Siobhan nodded sagely. "Well, I never figured out which fork to use and since I have you around, I don't think I need a chamber maid to amuse myself with. After all, you're gourgeous," her hand travelled down Chesna's back.

 

[Alize Rosenheim]

“Be a darling and get me a drink, Frederick,"Alize smiled at the droid who sat beside her. He may have simply been a piece of technology designed to act the part of a bodyguard under the guise of a male companion but, he was the closest thing she has had to a ‘friend’ since she abandoned everything and left Panatha. Always cordial, the girl had a habit of keeping others at an arm's length fearing that someone would discover the truth of her past as the guilt ate away at her like a festering wound. Once bloodstained, no amount of washing can cleanse the hands of one who had stolen the life of others just as no amount of time could absolve of her of the guilt associated with her actions. After all, this was the cost of taking a life, the price she had chosen to pay for her freedom.

“Your drink, my lady,” said Frederick who had returned as quickly as he had left, and handed her a flute of sparkling juice. “It has been six minutes since we entered the ballroom. Shall we begin making our way around the room and introducing ourselves? It would be in your best interest to not appear unsociable, Lady Rosenheim.”

“Yes, we should,” Alize agreed as she stood up and wrapped her arm around his. Her dress, a soft peach in colour was at one time, white but had been modified several times in order to prevent its owner from the embarrassment of wearing the same dress to multiple events. Although she had departed Panatha with a handsome sum of money, the amount was only finite, and would soon no longer be able to sustain the expensive lifestyle she was accustomed to. To live as a commoner was something that Alize could not be allowed to happen, the wound to her pride would be too great.

Finding herself between a rock and a hard place, Alize took a risk and purchased a failing beauty company that had once been moderately popular among women with most of her remaining money. It would have been cheaper to start a new company but she did not have the patience for dealing with the common hurdles that plagued new ones such as establishing relationships with suppliers and instead chose to purchase an existing one to rebrand. Despite the well-received changes she had implemented to this company, Alize knew that growing it would be no simple task, and understood that another deciding factor in the success of her company would be how well she was connected socially.

“It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, I am Alize Rosenheim, and this is my fiance Frederick Ashworth.” The Epicanthix hybrid introduced herself and her partner to the other guests with a warm smile and made a bit of small talk in hope that she would leave them with the impression that they were an agreeable young couple.

Eventually, after introducing herself to a what felt like at least half of the guests, Alize reached a vibrant redhead dressed in a luxurious body-hugging black dress, her features obscured by a red mask with a dark haired, blue eyed beauty dressed in blue on her arm. Like her partner - the redhead, her face was also concealed behind a that matched her partner's. Upon locking eyes with the couple, Alize recited the lines she had repeated numerous times to others “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, I am Alize Rosenheim, and this is my fiance Frederick Ashworth," and gave the pair the same smile she had offered to many others before.

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]​

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Alize Rosenheim"]


Mistress and courtesan were approached by a young beauty wearing a rose gold masquerade mask and a peach-coloured dress. Her companion was a handsome male dressed in a tuxedo and a matching mask. It was, of course, very difficult to read facial expression with a mask on. That was one of the thrills of a masquerade ball. Siobhan had just finished exchanging platitudes with a minor noblewoman and had been feeling up Chesna's thigh when the pair approached them.


"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Rosenheim. I am Countess Siobhan Kerrigan of Firemane Industries. This is my companion, Lady Chesna. I must say that's a lovely dress," Siobhan spoke. There was genuine warmth in her tone. Her blood-red lips curled into a smile.


"My Lady has an eye for beautiful dresses...and beauty in general. Mr Ashworth, that's a fabulous tuxedo." Chesna piped in. She might have been trolling just a little bit! However, she was also subtly using her gifts as a mentalist.


To the outward observer, Chesna was just a pretty ornament, a trophy hanging on Firemane's arm. This was true, but there was more to her, for she was actually a strong mentalist, though due to being a pacifist she never used her gifts to hurt anyone. So she tried to stretch out with her senses. The mental probe was very brief and noninvasive. I believe he is a machine. I sense no real emotion from him, it's just a simulation. I don't believe he's made by Archangel though, so don't worry! I've heard rumours about the girl though. Fun gossip! She has a strong mind, she broadcast to Siobhan via the telepathic radio.


Outwardly there was no change in Siobhan's stance and expression. The young woman's Force aura did not escape her attention. However, she could not assess whether Alice was aware of her gift or not. "I think I've heard about your company, my dear. Quaints Gardens Beauty, am I correct?" Siobhan took skincare very seriously.

 

[Alize Rosenheim]

“Thank you, but I’m not the only one who is dressed well. Countess Kerrigan and Lady Chesna, you both are dressed in such exquisite dresses and make such a beautiful pair.” Alize maintained her smile as she returned the women’s compliments. “And yes, you are correct; I am the new proprietor of Quaint Gardens Beauty which I have only procured recently. Before acquiring the company, I used to think that running a business would be quite easy, but it is harder than it seemed. To be able to run such an impressive corporation, you have my utmost admiration.”

“Indeed, that is quite a remarkable feat, Countess Kerrigan.” Frederick agreed with a slight nod, his face mimicking a friendly expression as he spoke.

Although Alize had introduced Frederick to new acquaintances as her fiancé, to those who had experienced love before, the pair did not seem like they were in love much less lovers. Beyond wrapping her arms around his, there was no discernible sense of intimacy one could tell between the two in their interactions with each other. When other women flirted with her 'fiancé' Alize displayed no signs of jealousy or even discomfort at the situation. In fact, at times, Frederick seemed more like her servant than her lover. Unfortunately, that was not something Alize who was inexperienced on the subject of love and relationships realized.

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]​

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Alize Rosenheim"]


Siobhan had stopped feeling up Chesna's thigh since they had company now. Instead, she wrapped her arm around Chesna's waist. The Eldorai enchantress did not seem to mind her Lady's slightly possessive streak and leaned against the woman's body, resting her head on Sio's strong shoulder.


Siobhan grinned broadly when she heard the compliments. The Countess was very vain and so it was easy to put her in a good mood by flattering her beauty, fashion sense or prowess as a warrior or businesswoman. Well, let's be honest, she loved being fawned over in general.


"Aww. Thank you, my dear," she said happily. "I understand that running your own business and getting your feet wet in the business world can be a bit daunting at first. It was the same for me. Luckily I had a lot of support."


"I do my utmost to lighten my Lady's burdens when she navigates the stormy seas of bureaucracy and corporate wars," Chesna could not resist trolling. Somehow she managed to do so while keeping a straight face and looking completely innocent. "Siobhan is very experienced. You could not possibly find a better teacher. Besides, she takes good skin care very seriously." Her skin was as smooth as silk, just disregard all the scars.


However, despite the trolling Chesna had steered the conversation towards a productive direction. "Perhaps we can find somewhere more private to sit down, have a few drinks and you can tell me a bit more about your company and products. It would be my pleasure to offer advice. Maybe even come to a business arrangement."

 

[Alize Rosenheim]

“That sounds like an excellent idea, [SIZE=14.6667px]Countess.[/SIZE]” Alize grinned as her eyes lit up with excitement not at the prospect of a potential business arrangement but, because of her love of skincare and cosmetics. As frivolous as it seemed, one of Alize’s many ambitions in life was to be able to retain her youthful appearance for as long as she was able to.

For as long as she could remember, both her grandmother and her governess had emphasised the importance of youth and beauty to her and by the time she was twelve years of age, had an [SIZE=14.6667px]eight step[/SIZE] skincare routine to follow every morning and night. “Since you're not a pure-blood, what you lack in genetics must be compensated for in your appearance so that finding a house of decent status to offload you onto would not be so troublesome,” was something that her grandmother would say to her from time to time reminding her of the importance of her appearance with a not so subtle jab at her lineage.

“This way,” Frederick gestured as he directed the small group to an unoccupied crystal table with a small floral arrangement that matched the decor of the room. “I’ll get us something to drink. What would you ladies like?”

“Any sparkling juice will do, my [SIZE=14.6667px]dear.[/SIZE]” Alize replied to her companion before turning her attention to the women. “As of now, Quaint Gardens Beauty is quite a small company that has nothing to offer in the way of merchandise as I have since discontinued all its previous lines when I acquired it. A risky move, I know but I liked the idea of starting anew.”

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]​

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Alize Rosenheim"]


"Naboo wine for Chesna and me please," Siobhan said politely. She was nice enough to pull up a chair for Chesna when Alize's robotic man-servant/companion/bodyguard directed them to the shiny crystal table.


"How polite. I see chivalry isn't dead," Chesna said sweetly with a beatific smile and sat down.


Siobhan sat down alongside her lover and crossed one toned leg over the other. Her feet were aching a bit because although high heels were sexy and made her look taller than she actually was, they were quite uncomfortable, but it would be bad form to take them off.


However, she suddenly felt the pain recede when Chesna touched her hand and threaded their fingers together. Instead she could feel herself relaxing...and becoming more lightheaded. Chesna, darling, don't embarrass me. She really did not want to suddenly feel inappropriate thoughts! You know I'd never do that, my fair queen. Well, only a little bit.


Siobhan nodded towards Alice. "A rather risky move, but a fresh start allows you to put your own stamp on the company," she said tactfully. She would've probably continued the old production lines for a while to get credits, but it wasn't her company. Besides, her view was an outside one.


"How are you doing with funding and personnel right now? If the company doesn't have any merchandise on the market right now, perhaps you can tell me what products you have in mind. I'd be very interested to know. After all, it's important for a lady to look her very best," she smirked.

 

[Alize Rosenheim]

[SIZE=14.6667px]Frederick let go of Alize’s arm and moved to pull out a chair for the young lady. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.6667px]“Thank you, dear,” she said as she took a seat, facing Countess Kerrigan. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.6667px]“I will return with the drinks momentarily,” Frederick excused himself with a slight nod and made his way towards the bar, leaving the women to continue their conversation.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.6667px]“I suppose you would not be surprised if I told you that you were not the first person to have that opinion of my business decision. However, a fresh start is what I desire and I am prepared to face the consequences of my actions.” Alize answered confidently. “[/SIZE][SIZE=14.6667px]Funding wise[/SIZE][SIZE=14.6667px], I believe I should have enough to last me until at least the launch of our upcoming line. There should not be an issue as long as the products sell well. And in regards to our the company's upcoming products, the information is on my HoloPad mini.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.6667px]Upon finishing the sentence, Alize withdrew the device from her purse as an expression that was akin to one a child who was [/SIZE][SIZE=14.6667px]excited for show[/SIZE][SIZE=14.6667px] and tell might have spread across her face. “Our first fully developed item is an anti-aging day cream that also doubles as a primer with bee venom as the active ingredient. When applied, the bee venom fools the skin into thinking that it has been stung thus resulting in the skin producing more collagen as well as improve circulation to the face.” With her excitement rising as she spoke about the product, she had lost most of her lady like composure and seemed more and more like an excited child.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.6667px]“After much testing, results have shown that the product [/SIZE][SIZE=14.6667px]decrease[/SIZE][SIZE=14.6667px] the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles temporarily and, if used constantly over a period of at least three months, a majority of our test subjects have seen a decrease in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It’s not a drastic change but enough to be noticeable. Here are the before and after pictures of our test subjects." Alize grinned feeling proud as she offered the device to the woman opposite her so that she could see the effects of the product.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.6667px][member="Siobhan Kerrigan"][/SIZE]​

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Alize Rosenheim"]


Alize's excitement was rather cute. A bit like an excited child. It reminded Siobhan of her daughters. It struck her how young the girl was. Time would well how far she could go in the cutthroat corporate world. Of course, Siobhan didn't know about her grim, dark past. She waited for Alize to finish while the girl described her product, making mental notes.


It sounded promising to her, but Siobhan was no researcher and felt like getting a second opinion. Chesna was no scientist but she had...hidden depths. "Sounds intriguing, my dear," Siobhan responded. "What do you think, Chesna?" she idly stroked the woman's pointed ear, knowing elves enjoyed that.


"I believe it has a lot potential, Sio. You can wear it under your makeup to help prevent wrinkles or temporarily reverse their appearance. Prime makes makeup stay better, and lasts longer in general. Bee venom's already been used in plumping lipglosses and such to make them look bigger I suppose there would be less of it in the cream, so it would be more subtle. Just don't be allergic to bees."



Siobhan raised a delicate eyebrow. "You sure know a lot about this," she commented with a smile. However, Chesna only gave her one of her enigmatic smiles in response.


"Well...I have been around and served many beautiful ladies who like to stay young and pretty and there was no fountain of eternal youth for them!" she spoke cheerfully.


Siobhan looked over the images Alize had shown her and nodded. "This does look promising, Lady Rosenheim. I'd be interested in getting some samples of the product to test myself." She'd probably let servants try them first.


"Perhaps we can get a partnership going. Your company could become a Firemane subsidiary. We wouldn't want an arduous degree of control. You're clearly passionate about your work and we're very generous. Alternately, we could offer you a loan to help you with your projects in return for stock in your company."

 

[Alize Rosenheim]

Returning with the requested drinks, Frederick quietly set the drinks in front of each woman careful to not disturb the ongoing conversation between them. Naboo wine for the Countess her lady companion, a sparkling apple juice for Lady Rosenheim and a flute of champagne for himself.

However, Alize who was rather taken aback by the Countess’ generous offer did not take notice of his return or the beverage that had been placed in front of her. Out of the few offers that she had received so far, Countess Kerrigan’s was generosity was unrivaled.

'To become a subsidy of [SIZE=14.6667px]Firemane[/SIZE] or to take out a loan' the young woman pondered, as she played with a loose lock of hair. 'To not have to worry about repaying a loan would make this experience a less stressful one but then again, having to work towards paying off what was owed might be valuable experience and be a good motivator.'

After several minutes of contemplation, Alize was finally ready to give her reply. “Before I inform you of my decision, I must first begin by thanking you for offering me such an excellent opportunity,” she began. “I would like to take you up on your generous offer of a loan and as the company’s benefactor, you are free to take what you wish from our inventory. In regards to samples, I will have a jar sent to you promptly. Additionally, may I ask, what aspects of skincare or cosmetics is of the most interest to you?”

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]​

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Alize Rosenheim"]


It could be argued that Siobhan was being impulsive by making such an offer after having known the girl for less than hour. However, although Alize was young and inexperienced, she clearly had passion and drive. Moreover, her youth probably brought out the mother in Siobhan. "Excellent, I'm glad you agree, dear. I look forward to a beneficial partnership and friendship between us. I'd ask for about 10-15% of the stock in your company so that Firemane has a stake in it."


This was significantly less than what Siobhan would've asked for if Alize's company had become a subsidiary. It gave Firemane a stake, but Alize would still have majority control and not be tied to the corporate giant, which would enable her to chart an independen course. "I look forward to testing your products myself. I am friends with many nobles, some of them royals, so it would be my pleasure to point them in your direction and give you some name recognition. As for your question, general skincare is what matters to me. I don't mind the scars, they show I fought to get where I am, but I like my skin to be soft and smooth. Especially since it dries quite easily. A pleasant scent and lovely nails are also very important to me." Siobhan had a bit of a fixation about her nails looking perfect.


She was far from an unblemished beauty, for vicious scars marred her face. One of the more prominent ones was a harsh line that lay over and below her lower eye, cutting across her cheek. There were even more scars when you got to see the rest of her body. "What about you?"

 

[Alize Rosenheim]

[SIZE=14.6667px]Alize beamed with delight upon hearing Countess Kerrigan mention that she would recommend the brand to her [/SIZE][SIZE=14.6667px]high-born[/SIZE][SIZE=14.6667px] friends and acquaintances. “Fifteen percent of the company's stock is more than reasonable.” She agreed cheerfully - pleasantly surprised as she was unused to such an act of kindness. As someone who had grown up in a cold and stern household, kindness was rather foreign to her and while she was pleased when others treated her kindly, it also caused her to feel a bit odd.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.6667px]When the Countess mentioned her issue with dry skin, Alize understood the annoyance it entailed as it was[/SIZE][SIZE=14.6667px] a condition the young woman had become well acquainted with throughout the years and neglecting even a single day of skincare during the cold seasons would leave her skin flaky and itchy the day after. “I too suffer from dry skin [/SIZE][SIZE=14.6667px]and understand the annoyance associated with the condition so I hope you will be pleased to hear that one of our upcoming releases is a hyaluronic acid lotion. As you may know, hyaluronic acid is known for its moisture retaining properties and although I am no expert, I have been told that one gram of the hyaluronan can retain a thousand millimeters of liquids as well as having the benefit of plumping skin and diminishing the appearance of wrinkles. The formulation has since been perfected - in fact, I have even tested out the product on my face and will personally ensure that a bottle is sent to you once production commences.” The young woman disclosed to Countess Kerrigan speaking with a fervent passion.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.6667px]“Personally, I am most invested in anti-aging products as I wish to maintain my youthful appearance for as long as I am able and makeup wise, I prefer a natural look. However, unlike you Countess, my nails are not an area of my appearance that I enjoy focusing on and will only do the basics, never using nail polish since the pungent smell of the product tends to give me a headache.” Alize paused and wrinkled her nose in disgust as she remembered the distinctive odor of nail polish before continuing. “In an attempt to remedy this annoying issue, our laboratory has been hard at work formulating a nail polish with a less offensive and cloying scent. Whilst there has been success masking the distinctive scent of nail polish, u[/SIZE][SIZE=14.6667px]nfortunately, it does not completely mask that headache provoking scent. Since we are on the topic of scents, may I ask the kind [/SIZE][SIZE=14.6667px]of scent are you partial to? I, myself favour the scent of Earl Grey tea in combination with lavender.”[/SIZE]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]​

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Alize Rosenheim"]


"That's very kind of you. I'll be eager to put the bottle to the test," Siobhan said with a smile, taking a sip from her wine. Dry, itchy skin was truly a bother. "I love the smell of flowers, especially of Serenno roses and Velanie flowers. Velanie have such a delightful scent, without being too strong. I grow them in my garden. I also love the herbs from Atrisian green tea." She blamed [member="Mirien Valdier"] for getting her hooked on Atrisian delights.


"If I may ask, dear, how did you get into the business world? You are rather young, after all," she gently raised her hand. "I mean no offence by mentioning your age. Passion and drive are more important than that and I know all about people looking down on you because you do not meet their artificial standards. Speaking plainly, I was born into poverty and had to work my way up, so I'd say I can empathise if the corporate world seems a bit daunting right now."


Presumably there some rumours about Alize's family and her own past, especially in the light of their...explosive end. However, Siobhan lived half a galaxy away from Panatha, so she might be less in the know than aristocrats more used to gossiping.


"My Lady has daughters who are your age...so forgive her if she gets too motherly. She just can't help it," Chesna could not resist interjecting because, well, being a troll was in her job description.

 

[Alize Rosenheim]

[SIZE=14.6667px]Alize nodded as she mentally took note of the scents that Countess Kerrigan listed as ones she enjoyed to potentially use them as ingredients for fragrances in future lines. Considering the generosity the Countess showed her, it was only natural that she wanted to do something to acknowledge it somehow.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.6667px]Brushing her hair off her face and behind her ear, she continued to listen to the Countess. However, when the subject of her entrance into the business world was brought up, she grimaced slightly at the memory of her past and looked down at the drink that Frederick had placed before her earlier. Her long, raven hair fell forward onto her face, slightly concealing her facial features, however, it did not conceal the expression of shame that had appeared across her flawless visage. After a minute or two of silence, Alize looked up, having composed herself enough to answer but not enough to mask the sadness and shame in her eyes.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.6667px]“Money can only last one for so long if an effort is not made to earn more, but, seeking employment would have injured my pride so instead, I choose to purchase and rebrand a company that produces something I am passionate about,” Alize replied, omitting the reason she had taken leave from her home planet to travel across the galaxy. “To be able to work your way out of poverty and into high society is no easy feat so I have nothing but admiration for you.” She continued hoping that she was successful in changing the subject of conversation and that Countess Kerrigan's motherly nature - a concept that was foreign to her - would not continue to inquire further into her past. She did not wish for her sole benefactor to learn what a deplorable and selfish creature she was.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.6667px][member="Siobhan Kerrigan"][/SIZE]​

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Alize Rosenheim"]


There's more to the story. Her aura radiates a lot of pain, shame and regret. Her life has been harsh. Something is haunting her. I'd suggest not prodding her more for now, Chesna communed to Siobhan through the Force, brushing against her mind.


Siobhan prided herself on being good at reading people, though admittedly that might also be her ego talking. However, Chesna's words confirmed her suspicions, but she chose not to pry. Perhaps she did not have the heart for it after seeing the expression of shame on Alize's features. Siobhan had dark, shameful secrets of her own.


So she smiled encouragingly. "Thank you, my dear. It was quite a change for me after having spent most of my life fighting for survival. Literally in many cases. The frontlines and trenches were my home. I was a Jedi for a while, but their order never suited me. Too many hypocrisies, too much time spent meditating while worlds burnt," she said honestly. "I still don't know which fork to use though," she joked self-deprecatingly. By now Siobhan had sensed the Force inside Alize, though she could not tell whether the girl was aware of her gift.


"Perhaps you could come visit my home some time. I'm sure my wife would love to meet you," she added after taking another sip from her wine. It was truly exquisite and so she savoured the taste.

 

[Alize Rosenheim]

[SIZE=14.6667px]A strong sense of relief washed over Alize when Countess Kerrigan did not enquire further into her past. That was one subject she would have preferred to avoid altogether if possible. Chuckling at the [/SIZE][SIZE=14.6667px]self-depreciating[/SIZE][SIZE=14.6667px] joke the Countess had made, her demeanor relaxed. “Remembering to use the correct cutlery is quite troublesome and it is not uncommon for one to accidentally use the wrong one on occasion.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.6667px]With the smile returning to her face after feeling like she dodged a bullet, Alize responded to the Countess’ invitation. “Thank you for the kind invitation. It would be a pleasure for us to pay you and your wife a visit in the near future. However, as what I know about you is only limited to what is written in the tabloids, I do not know the location of your residence. Do you call [/SIZE][SIZE=14.6667px]Serenno[/SIZE][SIZE=14.6667px] home or did you travel to this planet to attend the event like Frederick and I did?” Alize placed her hand on Frederick’s as she mentioned his name. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.6667px]Acting the role of a woman in love was not her strong suit since she had never experienced romantic nor familial love thus making it a difficult role for her to perform and even more so for her to convince others of their ‘love’. In fact, her failure at performing this facade had been to the extent where she had mostly neglected Frederick's presence during much if not all of the conversation - something she hoped that Countess Kerrigan and Lady Chesna would not pick up on. [/SIZE]

​

[SIZE=14.6667px][member="Siobhan Kerrigan"][/SIZE]​

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Alize Rosenheim"]


"No, I don't live on Serenno. I'm just here for the soiree," Siobhan admitted, giving Chesna's hand a squeeze. The Countess happened to be a very touchey-feely woman who was quite affectionate with people she liked.


"My family lives on a planet called Tygara. It's on the edge of Silver Coalition space. The natives only recently made first contact with the rest of the Galaxy. The indigenous people are various races of elves who have not discovered spaceflight yet. How we came across Tygara is a bit of a long story. You may have heard that Kaeshana was devastated by a massive asteroid?"


It had been over the news for a while, before being forgotten because of new tragedies. "Its people, the Eldorai, carried out an exodus with Firemane's support and settled on Tygara. They're related to the natives there, but far more advanced. It's a matriarchal, very proud culture. We work closely with them and our native allies to develop the planet whilst making sure they don't get exploited by foreign powers. My villa is located in the Eldorai capital, New Santaissa. We're part of the local nobility." And probably had more power than anyone except the Star Queen of the Eldorai.

 

[Alize Rosenheim]

[SIZE=14.6667px]‘A planet whose natives have only recently made contact with the galaxy, how interesting,[/SIZE][SIZE=14.6667px]’ Alize thought to herself. “[/SIZE][SIZE=14.6667px]Tygara seems like quite a fascinating planet. I am intrigued by it and will be excited to pay it, and your family, a visit in the near future.” Alize smiled as she filled with excitement at the prospect of travelling to a planet that seemed to have many curiosities for her to experience. However, despite her excitement, as someone with a guilty conscience, she had a tendency to be overly cautious and felt the need to first inquire about the organization whose space in which the planet[/SIZE][SIZE=14.6667px] resided in.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.6667px]“As one who has spent much of their time on the opposite side of the galaxy with [/SIZE][SIZE=14.6667px]Serenno[/SIZE][SIZE=14.6667px] being the farthest I’ve travelled, I do not know much about the Silver Sanctum Coalition. I am more familiar with organizations such as the One Sith, the Galactic Alliance, the Republic and other organizations within that region so I wish to learn more about the Silver Sanctum Coalition before I travel into its territory.” Although she was unfamiliar with the Silver Sanctum Coalition, she had heard a bit about the organization in her travels but whether there was any truth to what she had heard had yet to be determined.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.6667px]To Alize, the Silver Sanctum Coalition seemed like an interesting organization. They were unlike the Sith who were obsessed with chaos and destruction or the Galactic Alliance who were hellbent on the [/SIZE][SIZE=14.6667px]expulsion of dark siders[/SIZE][SIZE=14.6667px], like her, from the galaxy and was undoubtedly more powerful than the Republic who were only a shell of its former self. Since her purchase of the company, her desire to settle down had only grown. Living a nomad’s life, travelling from place to place, only ever having what she considered temporary locations for her company wore on her and was a source of stress for her. After having travelled for so long, running from place to place with a droid as her only companion, she yearned to finally have some security and stability in her life.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.6667px][member="Siobhan Kerrigan"][/SIZE]​

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Alize Rosenheim"]


"The Silver Coalition is essentially a loose confederation of worlds that have banded together for trade and protection. It's fairly decentralised and the members are free to govern themselves unless they commit atrocities and so on," Siobhan elaborated.


"There's a group called the Silver Jedi who act as its protectors, along with federal and planetary defence forces. They're less dogmatic than the GA's Jedi and more tolerant. They'd consider me a darksider, but let me go about my business since I'm not breaking any laws. The governmental structure is a bit odd since the Sanctum Assembly is headed by the Silver's Grand Master and most of the members are Jedi, but they don't meddle in one's internal affairs. I'm not happy with their foreign and defence policy because they're too passive and have insufficient martial spirit, but it's refreshing to be somewhere where I won't get stuck in a magma cell because a sanctimonious Jedi dislikes my colour scheme."


She took a sip from her glass, finishing it. "The Silvers are based on Voss. Firemane builds most of the Coalition's warships. Our HQ is on Mon Cal, so I spend a lot of time communiting between it and Tygara. New Santaissa itself has a growing expat community."