Old Fashioned Values

[Faith Organa]

[SIZE=12pt]Make friends her mother said. Travel where you can when you can. Be the Princess of Alderaan help to build relationships that Alderaan could call on when in need.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]So Faith was doing just that she was traveling and now she was heading into the expanse, the recent investigations done by the Security council had left her in need of change, in need of a break. The farthest she could get was to Vena.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]The question that Captain Tellos asked her was, “Your Highness is this a royal visit or is this the visit of a Senator?”[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]Faith looked over at him she could see he was concerned. Ever since her husband and son had disappeared it seemed the Captain made it his business to be her protector in lieu of her husband. She felt it right now that deep loneliness they had disappeared before the rapture and now six additional years. How long was it now eight years missing.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]She spoke to no one about it, she kept the emotions bottled up relying on her family. A family that was scattered to the four corners, except now her brothers were missing, and no word of Arabella had been heard of in over a year now. That left Faith with Alyesa and now…god she wouldn’t think on that again.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“Captain can’t we just call it vacation?” She half smiled.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“Her highness may call it whatever she wishes, but security on Vena is asking who to expect.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Faith shifted, “It is something I cannot escape Captain, I am both Princess and Senator, that is who they should expect”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“Yes Mam, I will tell them. We will be landing in 10 hours perhaps some rest.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Faith nodded, “rest. Ok. Wake me in time to change and look like Faith Balor-Organa, Senator and her royal highness of Alderaan” Faith leaned back and closed her eyes.[/SIZE]

[member="Arthur d'Angele"]

 

[H3xle]

"Sir, the Princess will be landing in an hour." The majordomo told Arthur as he finished up his morning workout routine.

"Thank you. Have the guard units been put in place and inspected?" Arthur responded, pulling a towel around himself quickly to wick off the majority of his sweat.

"Yes, sir. The Ducal Guard has ensured that the units are in place, all uniforms have been inspected and the space port terminal has been cleared and secured."

"Excellent. I shall get ready, have the car prepped and brought around."

Arthur stepped into the bathroom to shower. The type of shower a person takes helps to set the image that he shows to those around him, if he were to be going into battle he'd use a hard, high intensity shower head with lots of pressure. This would ensure that he took a fast shower and got dressed and into armor, it would help to push peripheral things out into the ether and leave them there until he was ready to wind down. This morning, however, he was going to be taking a 'softer' shower. He was meeting with a dignitary from another planet, and another Senator as well. As Senators, they were on equal footing, as titled nobility, however, she ranked higher despite Arthur being the ceremonial head of state of Vena and Faith being an heir to the head of state of Alderaan. Nobility was often confusing, so Arthur decided to simply pull out all of the stops. As he was on Vena, he had the maximum amount of guard units possible, present around him. He could secure the space port with Venan police and have an honor guard five hundred strong without diminishing the strength of guard units stationed on the planet permanently.

After his shower, Arthur got dressed in his finest business suit. He could wear his military uniform, as a Reserve Major in the Republic Armed Forces he was very well decorated. However, this wasn't a military visit. He wouldn't put on a tuxedo unless they went to a black tie affair, the itinerary was startlingly open, much to the chagrin of his majordomo. The suit he wore was double breasted, a dark blue linen made from the young flowering of a specific cotton crop on Vena, woven and tailored for him specifically. He wore a lighter blue shirt underneath with a gold tie. On his lapel, he wore the heraldic shield of Vena, the stylized gold swan on a blue field.

The drive to the spaceport was quick and easy, the streets were cleared a moment before he passed and opened a moment after. He arrived roughly twenty minutes before the Princesses transport touched down, so he did a quick review of the troops. They were immaculate in their blue and gold uniforms, ceremonial swords at each of their hips. He nodded to himself and resisted the urge to rub his hands nervously. He was nervous, this was a much more experienced politician and a beautiful woman to boot. His staff had made polite insinuations about the trip, but he rebuffed them quickly. This was an official visit and not a courting.

He watched as the transport glided through the air and touched down with precision. He was impressed, the pilot got the door to line up with the carpet without any signalers, a tough maneuver he wouldn't have been able to replicate. He often judged things based on his own skills, a penchant he picked up in school. The door opened, hitting the red carpet perfectly. Arthur strode forward, half way down the red carpet, and stopped. He stood there, hands claspedbehind him and feet spread a little less than shoulder width apart.

[member="Faith Balor"]

 

[Faith Organa]

[member="Arthur d'Angele"]​

​

[SIZE=12pt]Faith had gone in to prepare for her meeting with the Senator, she looked at the clothing and felt overdressed. It seemed like a very simple pants suit it was the beading that was driving her over the edge. She never wore anything like this, but newest Organa to crawl out of the word work, Claire Organa owned a company that dressed people.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]She had given her this outfit and she had promised to wear it.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]She sat still as the droid began to twist her hair into something less tangled and wild. Faith sat quietly wincing whenever the droid pulled on the tiny knots it found in her long dark tresses. When the droid was done Faith’s hair was a crown around her, Faith gave this look to the droid, “Really.” Her tone dripped with sarcasm.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Soon she stood before a mirror and felt nothing like herself. She knew there were some in her family that would have paid good money to see this outfit, and her trussed up like some Alderaan show pony.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Faith stood in the hall and once the door opened she picked her head up gave herself a reminder, touching her family crest she walked with the Captain close behind.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“Senator d’Angele what a wonderful welcome” Faith looked out they were all so proudly properly dressed, she smiled as she neared the Senator she offered her hand to him. “I thank you for taking time from your busy schedule to show me around your home world, and teaching me the customs here.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]She felt like she just stumbled over every word. Goddess please make me more eloquent Faith prayed silently.[/SIZE]

 

[H3xle]

“Senator d’Angele what a wonderful welcome” Faith looked out they were all so proudly properly dressed, she smiled as she neared the Senator she offered her hand to him. “I thank you for taking time from your busy schedule to show me around your home world, and teaching me the customs here.”

"The pleasure is mine, Senator Balor, and please, call me Arthur." He said as he took her hand and shook it. Despite himself, he was surprised at the firm handshake, but approved. He offered her his arm and walked her down the aisle made by the soldiers now standing at attention. At the end of the aisle were the convoy of land cars that Arthur had taken here, all of them were painted a bright blue with the Venan symbol on the hoods. In what some would see as a strange turn, there was no valet waiting to open the door, rather Arthur opened it for Faith and would follow her into the car. One of her guards would go in as well, along with one of his. The other guards and parts of her entourage would be in the rest of the convoys vehicles.

Once they were seated in the car and en route back to the Ducal estate, Arthur would smile and pour himself a glass of water from a carafe set into the wall of the car.

"Would either of you like anything to drink?" He asked, clearly intending to serve them himself.

[member="Faith Balor"]

 

[Faith Organa]

[SIZE=12pt]Faith smiled “Arthur, then please call me Faith.” He had shaken her hand in greeting not unusual she had thought the custom was to kiss the hand but perhaps here on Vena it was not the same, she would make a note of it. She was learning after all.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Now it was not unusual for Faith to drive herself when she could but at times it was mandated that someone else drive. So, when Arthur opened the door she smiled she had a thought, he is unpretentious I like that.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=12pt]Captain Tellos and one of Arthur’s guards joined them as was fitting and proper.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=12pt]Faith was sitting next to Arthur while Captain Tellos looked out the window, she knew he was watching.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“Water is perfect” Too many times she would be offered wine, or stimcaf. Stimcaf she hated wine she liked depending on the variety, tea her favorite next to water.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“Your guards are very polished Arthur I did not see one of them flinch as they stood at attention waiting for us to pass. They do your family proud.” She looked at the Captain Tellos who only did a little nod.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“So Arthur what should I see while here, is there something that when I look at it tells me everything I need to know about your home?”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]What is it that people looked at on Alderaan, it depended actually. When she had guests she took them to the shores, then to the heights of the mountains on the back of the Thranta, then they’d dine at House Organa. Alderaan was nature and peace. And would be again one day.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]So..what was it that Arthur showed his guests?[/SIZE]

[member="Arthur d'Angele"]​

 

[H3xle]

Arthur poured her some ice water and replaced the carafe in it's spot in the wall of the car. He handed her the glass, then sat back into the seat to sip his own water. Times like these were one of the greatest risks in Arthur's opinion. As a matter of protocol, the car was stocked with top shelf alcohol and water. It was very tempting to have a glass of corellian whiskey, especially as it was practically an endangered liquor now, but he'd spent too long trying to get off that wagon to chance getting back on. He was careful to not even look at the small door where it was kept and thanked whatever force compelled [member="Faith Balor"] to ask for water as well. He'd been worrying about it so much that he hadn't even thought until they got in the car about protocol and how he'd gaffed it up. She wasn't just a senator, she was royalty and so should have received either a kiss on the hand or on the cheeks depending on how close their planets were. Arthur knew he would take himself to task in private for that screw up, but now was not the time.

“Your guards are very polished Arthur I did not see one of them flinch as they stood at attention waiting for us to pass. They do your family proud.”

"Thank you. They are a source of pride for me, every one of them is a retired Republic soldier or officer with at least some active duty experience." He smiled, they were a source of pride, partially because he trained with them whenever he could and learned everything they learned.

“So Arthur what should I see while here, is there something that when I look at it tells me everything I need to know about your home?”

"Ahhh, well that would depend on how you would like to spend your trip. Vena has an excellent Galactic History museum with a section on the history of Vena all the way back to when the first Hapan settlers came to our world. We have a Venan war memorial, since the Duchy replaced the previous Barony that had held the planet in it's egomaniacal grasp, we have endeavored to honor every fallen soldier or civilian. The Gulag plague is a time period where our records are spotty, however." He paused to take a drink, Vena wasn't just a military world, but since the Duchy took over it had been more geared towards defending itself than previously. "Or, if you would like to see the natural side of our world, Vena has a large expanse of preserved land, similar to Alderaan's from what I hear. We have the Orcrist Mountains to the west of Valla (the Capital city) we have a set of dormant volcanoes in the eastern tropical sea that are host to a wide variety of unique flora and fauna, and the plains of Horan are beautiful this time of year. As part of Ducal privilege, there are estates bordering each of the preserves that offer magnificent views. Depending on the length of your visit and how busy you want to be, we could conceivably take in most of the sites."

 

[Faith Organa]

[member="Arthur d'Angele"]​

​

[SIZE=12pt]He had said they had wide open plains similar to Alderaan. Faith suddenly had a terribly longing for home she looked over at the Senator. “I was raised on Alderaan I take great pleasure in the natural world. You must know that Alderaan always seeks to do what is environmentally best.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]She remembered riding the thranta on the high winds laughing so hard her sides her. “I would love to see the Mountains, and plains and all the views you can spare” Her voice was filled with a great longing for something she felt she had lost. She looked at her glass of water and couldn’t help it she remembered the house by the ocean.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“Do you have a creature that you ride? On Alderaan we could ride a thranta. I miss riding” She missed a lot of things this was supposed to be a diplomatic mission now Faith running down memory lane, but she couldn’t help it she really missed home.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“that is if it is not too much trouble Arthur” She did not want to be an inconvenience and all too late she caught the look from Captain Tellos. She smiled at him in the I’m sorry but I couldn’t help myself look.[/SIZE]