Eternal Father
They danced for some time, spinning eloquently in near-perfect synchronization with the other couples dancing. Despite the size difference between husband and wife, they were nonetheless smooth and graceful in each other's arms, decades of intimacy with one another on display. When the opportunity came to disengage from the other dancers, the pair made use of that advantage and twirled away back into the conversational crowd.
"Not a single step out of place, my love. Your skill has not diminished."
The former Dark Lord of the Sith pulled up his smaller wife to lock lips, an act that only lasted the span of a few seconds before he let her down. It was a rare occurrence to see Carnifex display any form of emotion in any capacity, although this was a far more insular environment than the large parades, rallies, gatherings, and other assemblies that he had taken part in as the undisputed ruler of the Sith Empire.
To those that did not truly understand him, it would appear that Carnifex was letting his guard down since his abdication.
The truth was that this, much like everything else he publically presented of himself, was an act. A mask worn by a seasoned killer, a facade designed to deflect and misinform. The lines on his face were an unbreakable artifice, carefully calculated and practiced to perfection. That his mind was an impenetrable fortress allowed the ease of deception to cloak his countenance, for there were none in the galaxy who could discern his intentions by his thoughts as they were unreadable.
Even the smile he now, seemingly begrudgingly, to curl the edges of his mouth was another calculated move.
What wasn't calculated was
Adhira Chandra
walking right up to him and his wife and sparking conversation, though it was a welcome amusement. Bright burning eyes swiveled to meet the Chancellor's own, staring unflinchingly deep into the soft brown irises.
"Chancellor Chandra, an unexpected but welcome pleasure."
He inclined his head as a respectful gesture to the leading lady of the Revived Galactic Alliance, a strange gesture that would baffle their onlookers just as much as his cordiality with the Sovereign Imperator of the New Imperial Order just minutes earlier. A subtle application of pressure on his wive's upper back signaled her to gracefully depart, for this was to be a meeting between the head and former head of two of the most powerful nations on the galactic stage.
"Indeed, I have kept my eye on the politics of your Alliance for some time, as have many others with a keen interest in the Core Worlds. It has been quite a few many years since I last graced those worlds, not since the time where the Sith held court on Coruscant, much like your Alliance."
The thin warm smile that he had adopted previously gradually grew more predatory, another calculated move.
"I must commend you on the Alliance's successful reclamation of the Core Worlds, that region of space had been without direction for far too long. Though I disagree with your Alliance's mandate, order must be maintained in light of the dangers which plague our quaint galaxy."