State of the Union [Open to Invitation]

[Faith Organa]

[member="Veiere Arenais"] / [member="Drystan Marakos"]

She didnt know what to say. She offered help there wasn't much else she could do. She turned her head looking for [member="Riamah"] wondering how her evening was progressing.

She turned back and smiled at those she stood with. She could add nothing more at the moment. Her thoughts wandered then she decided to ask. "Master Marakos were you at the battle of Coruscant?"

 

[Placeholder 0128]

"I'm starting to feel the same," Cedric murmured as the bartender denied Aes'ona's currency. The Jedi Master could understand the man's trepidation in serving what he saw as the enemy - in times past when Cedric was far less wise he might have regarded Aes'ona in the same way - but he still felt his humors darkening at the way he chose to speak to her.

It was fortunate that the Chancellor had a mind to make things right. Cedric held his tongue as the cider was set on the counter, and found himself expelling a deep breath he hadn't known he was holding.

"The scars from the last war are still fresh doctor," Cedric spoke quietly, "They can still heal though," he added as an afterthought.

He gave [member="Dak"] a slight nod, evidently pleased with the droid's observation. It was one that Cedric had come to time and again himself, though he could not deny that something had continually begun to feel off when he did so.

"They'll come around. They just have to get to know you like I have," Cedric said as he turned to meet Aes'ona's gaze. It was a small attempt at comfort, though Cedric did truly believe it.

An intrusive thought wormed its way into the back of Cedric's mind then, and it was one he could not ignore. Abruptly, he turned to Dak. "What kind of entertainment settings do you have? Can I load a program to make you drunk?"

[member="Dak"], [member="Tobias Dracks"], [member="Dr. Aes'ona Terrani"]

 

[Tobias Dracks]

Tobias turned back to face the Chancellor, things in this first year of officer were going to be difficult for the both of them. Not only were they force to check every process and procedure that they approved through the senate. They had the Mandalorains on one side and the Silver Jedi on the other. The two neighboring nations were already at each others throats with the invasion of Umbara recently. However, the outbreak of war was already on the minds of all within the New Republic and that they would have no choice but to join one of the sides of the combat.

Walking through the party the two political leaders sipped their drinks, "Now with the interruptions ended, have you decided on my proposal Vice Chancellor?"

His train of thought stopped by the interruption of the Chancellor, thinking back to what they were talking about earlier. "Expansion is the top of our priority currently Munnu, and currently the people happy that we place their safety above the petty grudges of the past." He looked around at the party member, "The Mandalorians have reformed and assisted with the Arkania incident, the people support peace over siding with the Silvers in recent months, and keeping to the purpose of the people is our job, not to poke our noses in a fight that does not concern us any longer."

The Chancellor was about to speak when one of the Officers of the New Republic they exchanged greetings and congratulations before splitting, "Where were we," He continued to walk, "The Mandos have always been a threat to the Core Worlds, for years past they have supported the Sith Empire as well as the destruction of the Alliance and the Silvers, they are methods are bar-"

Tobias stopped and looked at the Chancellor, "Choose your words carefully Munnu, you forget my mentor and the man who saved your life was Mando, not all are bad."

They just stood there for a second, then Munnu Fati nodded, continuing the walk. "Jaster was a rare few, but even the Republic is not blind to the threat they pose if their conflict with the Silvers continue, we will be dragged into it one way or another." Tobias had no chose but to follow, politics was not meant to get personal and he broke character for that second. He nodded in agreement, "But you are right we need to focus on moving towards the Core Worlds and secure a base of security and safety, without it, the conflict of the future will be decided for us, not by us."

The two leaders continued to walk alone through the party.

 

[Prennis Keeoli]

/ [member="Cedric Grayson"] | [member="Dak"] \
†††
Right. No. Of course they were. But could they heal? Aes'ona found that hard to believe at the moment.

She reluctantly put her credits away and picked up her drink. With both hands, she cradled it as she led the trio away from the bar and settled in an unoccupied spot on the ballroom floor. When Cedric spoke again, she gave him a small but sincere smile. She didn't think that she would have been here with him and his droid when he had first come into the OR: either here physically or finding herself considering the Jedi Master her friend.

"I, uh," she began softly, but then stopped herself before she could complain about not being a combatant. A year ago, maybe that would have remained true, but now? Now she had taken part in an armed medical evacuation and had played security agent multiples times. Surely, she wasn't a storm or deathtrooper, or a Ren, but her hands were not completely clean anymore.

Aes'ona began sipping on her drink, making much fewer faces of disgust than she had expected to. She was pleasantly surprised at the flavor, but the alcohol was too strong for her unresistant palate.

As Cedric and Dak conversed, she was only idly listening, staring past rather than watching them. It was probably rather obvious that she was lost in thought.

 

[Alexander Kalden]

Outfit:

Spoiler

Alexander walked through stuffy looking party, if you could even call it that, at least there was a bar, and a potential job waiting for him here so the prospect of some good booze and some credits kept his mood up so that was nice. Alexander quickly ordered a drink, a Corellian Speeder Bomb, before turning out to the rest of the ball and looking for the man who might be hiring him, having seen a holo of him it shouldn't be too hard to find Cedric Grayson from amongst the crowd, around here a plain black suit would stick out pretty well between the fancy uniforms and other displays of wealth or power. Spotting him Alex started making his way over to the Jedi when he heard the comment about loading a program to make the droid drunk and had to stifle a laugh at that.

"I don't think It works like that bosmang, dam droid felota don't like it when they can't operate at one hundred percent."

[member="Cedric Grayson"] [member="Dr. Aes'ona Terrani"] [member="Dak"]

 

[Dak]

"Entertainment settings, Master?" Dak questions, seemingly bewildered by the Cedric's odd inquiry. "If I must remind you; was designed primarily for security and possess integrated protocol functions," he pauses, allowing time for the organic to grasp the notion "neither of which stand to benefit from simulated intoxication."

As he finishes his words an unrecognised speaks up, prompting him to turn his head toward [member="Alexander Kalden"]. His red receptors assess the man on the approach, searching for signs of weaponry or aggression in his movements.

[member="Cedric Grayson"] | [member="Dr. Aes'ona Terrani"]
​

 

[Placeholder 0128]

The joke went right over the droid's head, as Cedric had expected it might. Even still, he found himself amused at the droid's bewildered tone, and allowed himself a small smile to show it. "It seems my ancestors never gave you any kind of humor protocols," the Jedi Master mused as his gaze shifted back to Aes'ona.

The doctor's presence within the empyrean had thankfully calmed once more, though he could still feel a bit of an edge to her. There were those here that might have very well seen her dead for the place she'd been born in, and that was reason enough to maintain a slight healthy paranoia. He doubted anyone would be so foolish as to actually try anything, but he knew such worries didn't simply go away when surrounded by what one could perceive to be the enemy.

"I'm not asking if your primary functions would benefit from doing so, I'm asking if you can do it." Cedric added as he turned back to Dak, only to have a vaguely familiar voice steal his attentions.

He regarded the scoundrel with quiet curiosity. He'd sent out a request for information on the Holocron of Eshe a month ago, and the scoundrel had been one of a handful to take up the request.

"Mister Kalden," the Jedi lofted a brow, "I take it you've not come all this way for a social call?"

[member="Dak"], [member="Alexander Kalden"], [member="Dr. Aes'ona Terrani"]

 

[Alexander Kalden]

"Nah 'fraid not mi kopeng. The bar here sure is good enough for it, but they took my gun at the door an' they won't let me smoke in here niether. I heard you had a job an this was gonna be the best place to find you bosmang,"

Alexander said to Cedric as the shot glass within the pint glass clinked against the side as he took a drink.

"I found part a yer ting you were looking for, it's onna station called Erstwhile, it's jus outsida First Order space, some deep space station, that I just happened to find the coordinates for, but there's a catch bosmang, we're probably only gonna get one chance at it, I don't know who's waiting for us there, so you should make sure you have everything you need before we do the smash an grab."

[member="Cedric Grayson"] [member="Dak"]

 

[Prennis Keeoli]

/ [member="Alexander Kalden"] | [member="Dak"] | [member="Cedric Grayson"] \
†††
Quan...-Lo? Aes'ona thought, trying to remember the rebellious Atrisian city that her deathtrooper escort had warned her about when they parted ways as Grand Admiral Rausgeber's shuttle was preparing for takeoff from the Xiaolang Place.

"Keep your head on a swivel, Doc," he had said. "Last time I was in a field hospital, the scum had no qualms with pretending to be wounded and kil--" He had just barely stopped himself, pausing before correcting, "Taking hostages."

Aes'ona was suddenly pulled out of her thoughts by an unfamiliar voice. At the mention of a job, she glanced over at Cedric quickly, quizzically, before her attention was called back to the newcomer. Outside of First Order space? Inside or outside, that spelled probably trouble--for all of them, but specifically for her.

She looked over at the Jedi Master again, not sure what to say. If she had been walking the fine line between treason and what could be considered--but wasn't--FOSB espionage up until now, this development seemed ready to push her into the former's territory.

...Or, at least that would be what the Order might assume. From the little she had seen, the Bureau's agents were very much arrest-and-charge-now-ask-questions-later kind of people.

 

[Dak]

"I would remind you that your predecessors had more important things to worry about," Dak responds to [member="Cedric Grayson"]'s comment on humour protocols. At a surface level the droid's answer sounded brash, but the Jedi Master knew the truth behind it. The memories were lost to him, but he had witnessed a part of the Great Galactic War, and in the service of House Grayson the New Sith Wars and Clone Wars. Things were much different for him then.

Cedric and [member="Alexander Kalden"] begin speaking before the unit can reply to Cedric's second comment, so instead Dak stands idly. He shifts his focus between the stranger and his Master, listening without interruption as the two discuss the upcoming endeavour.

[member="Dr. Aes'ona Terrani"]​

 

[Placeholder 0128]

For a moment, Cedric found himself wishing that he did not have the company of his companions. This was a conversation better had in private, but now that they had both heard he knew that their curiosity would need to be sated. It was better to have the air clean anyway.

"Of course it would be there," Cedric grumbled as his brow furrowed. Traveling out to First Order space was not high list of things he wanted to do, but if that was where the holocron was then there was no other option available to him. The Jedi Master breathed a heavy sigh.

"You'll receive half of your payment once the ball is finished. The second will come once we have the artifact." His tone lightened, "We'll head out the day after tomorrow. The sooner I can secure the artifact the better."

He paused, turning toward his companions. "It seems we'll be taking a trip after this Dak," he said, though Cedric's attentions were half on the droid and half on the doctor. No doubt she had heard the mention of the First Order. "It's not any kind of business that interferes with your people. I'm just retrieving an heirloom."

[member="Dak"], [member="Dr. Aes'ona Terrani"], [member="Alexander Kalden"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

"I'd expect nothing less from you." Truning to face Josh as the Jedi came to join them, Vulpesen allowed his smile to persist, his eyes following the master's hand. As Josh poured out the new drinks, Vulpesen's persisting smile widened to show the fang like teeth that were more commonly concealed by his lips. Either the jedi had failed to realzie that Vulpesen had beat him to the punch,or he was far more entertaining than the Valde gave him credit for.

Lifting his own glass to his lips, Vulpesen quickly drank down the entire contents of the containor. Setting his now empty glass aside, he plucked the new one from Josh;s hand and started with a happy sip, a look of contentment spreading across his face. "Oh yes, forgetting why you're at whatever party you're at, one of my favorite past times back home..."

[member="Riamah"] [member="Josh DragonsFlame"]

At the approach of Josh and Madalena, she turned to face them slightly with a nod as his comment. Her eyes traveled back to Krest and then Cedric before returning to Josh. Finishing off the drink Vulps had given her, she accepted the one from Josh and smiled in thanks.

"I'll be fine. Two people I never expected to see again are here."

Having made a distance between them, she started to relax and it would show. Her stance became more open and her eyes friendlier. Shaking her head slightly, she hoped Josh would get the message that now was not the place to ask about what was troubling her. In another time and place, she would tell him if he wanted.

In the past, Ra would have been a light drinker, but her metabolism now allowed her to drink more. Not yet having put it to the test, she didn't think she would tonight either. She took a sip of the new drink and looked back at Vulps when he spoke.

Letting out a small mental groan at what Vulps said, she gave no outward sign of her feelings nor did she react much. These two men just didn't seem to get along well, but that was a part of life she assumed. More due to their shared past than anything she had done or the present.

[member="Vulpesen"] @Josh DragonsFlame [member="Scherezade deWinter"]

Josh did not miss the tone behind the words of [member="Vulpesen"] and he stared at him a moment. Josh's expression, and then his toned, remained calm and collected regardless. "If you have something on your mind, Vulpesen, do speak up. We're not in Sith country, as far as I know. Freedom of speech is both allowed and encouraged!"

He had never gotten the feeling that the fox man had liked him much. Josh had been hard on him and Alexandra once upon a time for their own issues, though Josh had long admitted since it had been his own failings that had brought his attitude along. But Vulpesen had changed, too. He could tell, even just by looking at him. He was a far more bitter man now. And one that didn't seem to take very well to someone intruding on what Josh was beginning to think the fox felt belonged to him. Not that the "thing" he was thinking about "belonged" to anyone. But there seemed to be a bit of insecurity in places depending on where others paid attention to, and Josh picked up on it and the way his tone and words changed to match. Josh was not daft, he could sense hostility when it was there. But aside from leaving the forum open for him to speak if he wished, he did not confront him further.

Ra seemed to indicate she did not wish to speak of what was ailing her. He would ask her later, it was fine, and he gave a simple smile and nod in turn. He held the next drink out to [member="Scherezade deWinter"] once he had finished pouring it, and there was the toast to follow.

"You remember the dear Lady Antares, right Ra? It's been some time since we've all missioned together, after all" He spoke warmly. "I believe we'll be sent out for the next step on Emergoop in time. It'll be fun to travel with the lot of you again."

[member="Riamah"]

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

Madalena openly stared at [member="Vulpesen"], eyes narrowing as she considered her options. She did not like the tone he’d taken with Josh. She also had no clue what he was referring to, but frankly, she did not care. If he was going to provoke her best friend that just got promoted, she’d be more than happy to show him how easily a man could lose his teeth at the end of a well-placed punch. For the moment though, the Sithling opted to do nothing. The pleasant expression returned to her face, and as Josh turned away from the dude, she joined him.

Offering [member="Riamah"] another warm smile, the Sithling waved at her. “It definitely will,” she nodded. “This time you guys might be a less worried that I’m around and maybe recognize my amazing ability to kick behinds!” with that she added a playful wink. All the missions with her were always fun. She made sure of that.

[member="Josh DragonsFlame"]

 

[Aithne Charr]

[member="Abigail Meredydd"] would be greeted with a smile, though not as wide from Aithne as she settled into the place she stood.

She would let Abigail talk and listened all the while, curious where the words would go and finding her outfit questioned quite quickly. It was not unusual of a question to hear and to tell Abigail the truth would be to mention the fact she was still on duty rather than off as most in the room were. She was always on duty though, her place was as Solan's daughter, and as such his shadow. So she kept an eye on the people here, those including the Chancellor and his Vice.

Though, Abigail was a welcome distraction for the short time that she had been allowed. When abigail showed her the dress, Aithne couldn't help but smile and laugh a bit, the girl seeming to be a bit awkward and weird, though she couldn't say this was the first time she had seen someone like this. Her own brother was a bit strange but not like this, this was his opposite, someone far more excited than Aithne was used too.

"Not exactly, this is my uniform. My job permits me to remain in such dress so that I can respond should anything happen and I need to report in." She gave a half truth, not explaining further than that and watched as the woman took in the words.

"You seem to be enjoying yourself though, and I must say the dress definitely fits you. You almost look as if you should be some noble or princess rather than the Jedi that you are. But that seems to be true for alot of Jedi these days, you especially." Aithne replied, looking to occupy Abigail with the words and see the woman have her fun.

 

[Alexandra Feanor]

@Coren Stachaser, and [member="Jyoti Nooran"].

Two people that Alexandra knew extensively, and had been interested in meeting with tonight but had not gotten much of a chance to approach them until now. She didn't have much to say and the chance the three had left Alexandra with a smile. The glass in her hand tilted to the side slightly and she looked at each as they spoke, Jyoti with her mention of the Coincidence making Alexandra's smile grow.

This could be interesting.

"It would seem that we are finally all able to talk. If you do not mind though, I would prefer to have this conversation in a place with a bit more air, such conversations can become quite stuffy." Alexandra was never one for shop talk, even when she taught students, it was in a relaxed and informal way in a place she held dear.

If they accepted though, that was good. Alexandra would lead them out to the balcony and ensure that there was no one here before taking her place and sitting against the banister in her silver colored dress. She drank from the glass and looked at the two who would be with her, debating on how to begin but instead she would hand that duty over to Starchaser. He was their senior and had been the one to draw them together so to speak.

"After you Starchaser, what is it you wished to discuss?"

 

[Coren Starchaser]

Meeting with other leaders of the Jedi was important. Sure, the Silvers and NJO had a lot in common, and the Republic were sometimes seen as an outlier to the three, but this wasn’t one of those useless talks that some Jedi tended to think would work. A way to bridge the gap and create one order. No. That was not anything that these three had felt could work. With Feanor and Nooran, Coren Starchaser knew he was around allies, almost family if he was ever asked. But what he did know was that while allies, the three would never form one cohesive Jedi Order.

But cohesive efforts were all the same. And for him, one Jedi, many Orders was the way to go. Now he wasn’t the most senior of Jedi, but he had been on the front lines a long time, with these around him. “I feel we can cut to the chase. Coincidence or not, the three of us lead the biggest factions of Jedi. All I want to know, if one goes to war, or is jumped on by the Sith or Ren, will the rest stand together? I am working on gathering allies for us. The Sith and First Order are ingraining themselves in the galaxy more and more.”

They were going to need the Jedi.

“We all have our strengths. We should capitalize on them.”

[member="Alexandra Feanor"]
[member="Jyoti Nooran"]

 

[Abigail Meredydd]

[member="Aithne Charr"]

"Oh, really?", Abigail asked as Aithne explained her choice of clothing. "You're not... responding to something right now are you?", she joked. "I don't think I'm equipped for a proper fight right now", she added with a smile as she looked at the other girl. It was nice to talk to Aithne again. She had thought about the girl... a few times since Balmorra, and had been quite curious how she had been doing. And now she saw her again!

Abigail chuckled lightly as Aithne mentioned that Abby almost looked like a princess. "Oh come on," she laughed," I'm not some helpless little princess, you've seen me work back on Balmorra after all. And don't expect me to be wearing these... things often. You have the luxury of witnessing the very rare event where Abigail wears a dress", she joked with an exaggerated smile. Then her expression turned more sincere as she lowered her voice a bit again. "But thanks for the compliment. I'm really glad you think it fits me", she then said softly, sounding sweeter than she had intended to. She looked at Aithne for a little while, but then she started to feel a bit strange. There was some... well... she couldn't exactly explain it, but she felt like her cheeks were... burning? It was a strange feeling for sure, so to avert her attention, Abigail quickly asked Aithne another question.

"So, what brought you here? The party? A certain somebody? Or maybe you're on duty here as... security?", she asked, smiling again. For a brief moment she wanted to add the little joke, 'or are you here for me', but she refrained from doing so as she still felt the strange burning sensation.

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen rose a brow as Josh seemed to bristle at his words. For a moment, he simply looked at the man and his companion, a brow raised in curiosity. While not a telepath, he knew how to recognize someone who felt attacked. "All I have on my mind is the lovely company, this delicious drink, and the possibility that at any moment, an enterprising sith is gonna bust through those doors, only to be fried alive by the collective power of those within this place." He lifted his glass up for another sip. "Sorry if it seemed insulting, but I was serious. My advisors push me into so many balls and political functions, that half the time they have to whisper to me what exactly I'm about to toast to." He had to admit that things between himself and the Jedi often got somewhat tense. A long ago divergence of belief had led to a few reoccuring issues, though he trusted that both himself and the Master before him would be able to get over it for the sake of tonights entertainment, if not the women that were accompanying them.

Finally, his eyes turned to the woman who chirped and bubbled up at [member="Riamah"], a slight smile curling on his lips as he listened to her. "Speaking of lovely company, I don't think we've met, miss." The valde flashed [member="Scherezade deWinter"] a fanged tip grin alongside a slight bow of his head. "Vulpesen Torrevaso, Valde of the Vitae and Veradune, at your service."

[member="Josh DragonsFlame"]

 

[Riamah]

There was nothing physcially wrong with Ra, but she just did not feel like telling Josh in public what was bothering her. That was until he made the comment that he did to Vulps. It may not have been directed at her exactly, but it could still apply. Sipping this second drink, Ra considered her words and then decided to still keep quiet.

It seemed there was certainly some additional sense of tenseness around Vulps and she didn't know how to calm the situation down. Josh seemed to tak it in stride though and she hoped Vulps would continue to stay calm. When Josh mentioned Madalena and asked if Ra remembered her, she nodded.

"Indeed, it is nice to see you again and I look forward to another mission with you. Provided you're not the one driving."

She said this with a smile and was all teasing. That had been an interesting mission, but it turned out well enough and now it seemed there was an additional chance for it continue.

"Would all the same people be coming? It was quite an interesting group certainly."

Giving Madalena another nod, she curtailed her smile slightly. Not entirely unfriendly or anything, she kept things professional with her. She was happy with how the other woman responded to Vulps and hoped everything stayed this way.

When Vulps did respond, what he said was true. Ra knew he wasn't one to want to come these kinds of things, but was here at her request.

"You're better at these kinds of things than I am Vulps. Same for the rest of you, I'm sure. Me and this just don't mix very often."

Her free hand motioned to the gathering around them and she shrugged slightly. Taking a sip of her drink, she noticed it was empty again right after and her stomach growled slightly. Letting out a sigh, she shook her head a little.

"Man these changes are odd. I am so hungry now. You think there's food here or should we go someplace?"

@Vulpesen @Scherezade deWinter [member="Josh DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

"Ra is driving" Josh remarked first up toward [member="Scherezade deWinter"] and [member="Riamah"] without hesitation. "Or some rotation of myself, Ra, and Asaraa. The drivers not guaranteed to crash us, at least. Asaraa's only a 50% chance."

He noticed that the tone of [member="Vulpesen"] would change immediately when he noticed Madalena. His tune changed so quick, it was almost unbelievable, and Josh just stared at him a moment with a look that could be attested to a simple "really?"

Either way, he would shrug off Vulpesen's response to his offer of an open forum in a way that indicated it was fine, no problem, if he didn't want to speak his mind on anything, that was cool. When Ra would ask her question of if the same people would be coming, he nodded his head. "Aye, I believe so. So long as they're all up for it" Josh would explain. Josh needed to remind himself a moment on what Ra meant by "changes"... He still didn't know what else was in store for them. He'd have to ask when they found time alone.