The Future of the Family

[Laira Darkhold]

It had been a while since Laira had been home to see her mother, too long if the redhead was being honest. She'd went on adventures as a runaway smuggler. She'd worked with the Ranger Corps for a while as an investigator, she had flown with Rogue Squadron above Skor II, and made acquaintances with many people throughout the galaxy. But she had not gone home to see her mother in far too long.

The Princess and the Queen had not seen each other in person for almost a year, and that had been Laira's choice. She had wanted to adventure and avoid her place as Princess of Alderaan and Heir to the Throne. The thought of giving up her life to become a ruler quite frankly petrified the young girl, even if she was an Organa and raised for that purpose. She wanted so much out of life that she feared she would never get from the throne. She wanted to see every planet, to visit every alien race in the cosmos.

She wanted adventure more than anything else, and her Mother was supportive of her self-imposed exile to travel the galaxy. Faith had even indirectly helped her in many ways. But Laira was still very afraid of the 'talk' she had before her. The redhead knew that the Day of Demand would be brought up, it had been put off for far too long already, and that would force the Princess to make a difficult choice.

To do what she thought was right for herself or for the people she was expected to rule one day.

The Princess had decided to wear a sleek black dress without sleeves to this meeting, paired with two inch black heels. It ended a little above her knee and the top of its around her shoulders and chest was slightly translucent. She wore it partly because she was more than a little vain and thought she looked cute in it, but also because it was a comfortable number she could move around in with a degree of modesty. She had her ring on and wore some make-up, mostly just blush, eyeliner, and red lipstick to match her fiery hair which was kept in a nice feathered look with her bangs brushed to one side of her face.

The clicking of her heels against stone echoed through the hallway as she walked through the Palace towards her mother's office. Despite everything she dreaded about what she had to say, Laira was looking forward to sharing her stories with her mother. They were quite alike in many ways, and Faith might be worried about some of her daughter's adventures, but she would likely find them all to be fascinating. They had always loved sharing stories during her youth, and now that Laira had real ones to tell about Light against Dark, zombies, and love, she was quite excited about getting some time with her mother before they became Queen and Princess. Laira always preferred it when they were just Mother and Daughter.

They had so much catching up to do and talking, it would probably be the highlight of her week up until the point she told her mother her plans.

The Princess approached the door, opening it to smell the scent of rose tips, bringing back memories from her childhood. The lake at the Mountain Palace with Theo and cookies fresh out of the oven her mother had made herself. Despite being queen, Faith had always made certain to have time to be their mother and Laira was grateful now that she was old enough to understand how difficult it must have been. "Hi mom. I'm home." She said, grey eyes looking about and a smile upon her face.

[member="Faith Organa"]

 

[Faith Organa]

It had been late when word reached Faith that Laira was home.

Her first girl but not her first born. Faith had spent many long nights looking to the stars wondering if Bud would ever come home he was heir but then again Theo her brother had also at one time been heir. How things changed.

Faith was worried that Laira was not up to the task of ruling. Focused too much on herself and what she wanted. Her focus was somewhere else always to the horizon never on what was at home. Reports had come in at first of some young girl using the Darkhold name she had hoped it was her brother but when they said a woman she put that thought away. Quickly deducing from accounts that it was Laira.

Perhaps Laira did not understand what came along with the Darkhold name. She shrugged sometimes she didn't fully understand it. But her father had told her many things and she knew there was more. More that would make her blood run cold. But even now her father wandered trying to ease his mind of the burden he carried. She did not want that for her children.

Laira Vereen she may not now her father's history either. Faith had to face it darkness ran in their family and sometimes it reared up and claimed another. What if? Ohh she couldn't think on that either right now.

Right now she had to enjoy that her daughter was home and they needed time to talk. Time to bond and remind each other of what family was. Theo her son was doing Ranger missions. He was heir to another throne one perhaps not equal to Alderaan but equal in the sights of the family Organa.

Faith was lost in all of these thoughts her tea cup sitting in her hand as she stared at the mountains. How much they loved the Mountain Palace. House Organa on the Apalis Coast, and the cabin on Aldera. She was almost ready to retire there herself. Draco had retired from all things except official duties for sometime. She was the holdout. The tapping of heels on the floor drew Faith from her thoughts as she looked over to see her daughter.

Oh my look how grown she is. What young man in his right mind wouldn't want to be with her? Faith smiled she had done something that she swore she wouldn't. A greater understanding of her own mother's motives became clearer. Even if she Faith didn't listen.

Faith sat the cup down and walked around the desk. Were her children so grown up? "Welcome home Laira" Faith opened her arms as she continued to cross to her daughter. "its about time you came home" Faith and Draco missed their children running around getting into everything and being so stubborn..

[member="Laira Darkhold"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Laira didn't bother to stand around and wait for an offered hug, she wasn't one for holding back. The redhead walked forward with a smile and embraced her mother in a tight hug with both arms, squeezing the older woman for several seconds. "I missed you so much." She said as she released her mother, "I've got so many adventures to tell you about!" The redhead was incredibly excited to get to tell her mother about her adventures on Manaan, Terax, the escapade on the Queen of the Core with the Eldorai noblewomen she had met and fought with losing her arm in the process, how her replaced limb was holding up, that she had helped the Alliance on Skor and Kaeshana, how she had met so many interesting people over the last year of her life.

"You are looking good, did you get a tan?" She asked, looking her mother over and noticing a fresh glow and slight darkening of her skin, indicative that she had laid out in the sun for awhile, or had gotten one sprayed on. While that might have been something Laira would consider before an important day, and only if she didn't have time to go sunbathing, her mother was simply not that vain as far as the Princess was concerned. Faith exuded only natural beauty and wisdom, never manufactured.

With a grin she started looking for a seat, "So, I came home to tell you how everything was going and see how you were doing, I'm a little hungry though. We could talk over dinner maybe. I've been looking forward to some home-style cooking. Meals out of a food processor isn't half as good as real food," She smiled, holding her arms up to flex, and turn around so her mother could see how well fed she had been and how she had been keeping up her exercise to stay fit and trim, "Even if it keeps me nice and lean."

[member="Faith Organa"]

 

[Faith Organa]

Wistful that's how she felt right then listening to Laira talk and regretful knowing that there was a possibility that one day responsibility might take that spark of life from her. However heavy the thoughts were though Faith smiled and held her daughter perhaps a little longer than usual when she finally let go she coudn't help but admire the young woman before her. "i've missed you too you shouldn't torture your poor mother so much" Faith teased her daughter. It was not her intent to make her feel guilty just a poke to make her realize her mother missed her.

"Yes you must tell me everything, well maybe not everything." There were some things that Faith knew she as a mother could live without knowing. "Dinner...yes dinner" Should she tell her about dinner now, "Yes dinner unfortunately it wont' be just a private family dinner. So..save some of your best stories for there but tell me the others ."

Her tan yes she was tan, "the tan your father and I went on holiday not long enough but plenty of sunshine and togetherness." She took Laira's hand leading her towards one of the couches, "I'll have to change for dinner and we have to talk about that one subject that you know is there looming on the horizon and must be done Laira." It was a tradition and the one that would endear Laira to the people was following traditions.

Yes they were proud their Princess wasn't sitting around eating bonbon in the palace but they also liked to see her, and know that she was interested in them. They accepted that her absence might be in their best interest but the traditionalists the older Nobles called for proof.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Laira grinned, pleased to be home and healthy, to see her mother in such good health as well. Their atrisian blood would keep them naturally youthful for a long time, and the redhead had doubts about not being immortal. She often acted like she wouldn't have to worry about the consequences of her actions and other than one or two close calls had been right. She could tell she had been missed, and that pleased her. Sometimes she worried her mother and father sat around lamenting she was running off through the galaxy like a trollop or something. "Well, I visited home a couple times, just not long enough to pop in and say hi. I've been busy going and visiting the Jedi Temples and Enclaves as of late." Hopefully that would make her mother feel better about what she had been up to.

"Oh, Theo having someone join us?" Her brother had always been much more successful in the romance department than she. Not only was Laira terribly picky about her partners, she was also very chaste with them which had resulted in her having gone a very long time without a steady boyfriend. Almost to the point she couldn't remember if any of the ones she had briefly courted technically counted. "I guess I'll have to tell her how I lost my arm and about the time I helped kill a leviathan." Laira held out her left arm for her mother to inspect, flesh again with only a thin white scar to denote there had ever been anything missing from the limb just below the elbow. "One more scar removal treatment and you won't be able to tell at all."

The princess was actually glad to hear that her mother and father had managed a vacation amidst all the turmoil of what was being called the Great Galactic War. There had been numerous battles and skirmishes across the galaxy and many had been rendered homeless or oppressed as the war continued to rage on. It was a welcome thought that for the time being Alderaan was still a place of refuge and peace enough that its monarch could afford to spend a day off the throne.

Then came the talk of the Day of Demand. Laira had been expecting it to crop up eventually, but hoped to push it off until after she had eaten. Sheepishly, she clutched her arm to herself, looking towards the ground in the hopes of appearing bashful and adorable, "Can we please put that off until after dinner. I promise to stick around long enough to talk about it though."

[member="Faith Organa"]

 

[Faith Organa]

"I get some reports when you've glided through home." She wondered if she should tell her about using the Darkhold name. Had her Grandfather told her about his days as a Sith...second thought it wasn't days it was years, hundreds of them. How much is anger had burned against others, the things he had done, the things that someone might recall and then what if? What if they took their revenge on Laira? So many ghosts in the closet suddenly, and what of Draco's past as a Sith. Faith was concerned in many ways.

She reached over to inspect the arm, like any mother would, "well your father would probably say if you leave a tiny scar it will give you an in for telling a grand story." Faith had a feeling it wasn't a story she wanted to hear more than once loss of a limb how close had she been to losing her life? She wouldn't think about that either. No.

They had to talk about the Day of Demand.

Faith watched Laira noting that the subject made her uncomfortable enough to want to hold herself protectively. It wasn't as if Faith was asking Laira to planet her feel on Alderaan. Good grief. Faith shook her head, "We have to discuss it, you're already 2 years older than tradition calls for. " She wanted to be considerate of her feelings, "Laira if you leave without discussing it with me I will be very displeased." Faith couldn't send her to her room on this, or take away her credit cards for Laira was self sufficient.

It became difficult to discipline someone once they were an adult. Another reason why children should not grow up. She nodded.

"So tell me about the leviathan." She smiled hoping to encourage her.

[member="Laira Darkhold"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

"Yes, but that's because girls dig scars on big tough men. Boys don't like scars on hot young princesses." Laira grinned widely at her mother, wondering what all she should divulge about her life and what she had been doing. Some of it would worry her parent's, some would probably make her laugh if told the right way.

Faith was stern in her tone regarding the Day of Demand, which Laira knew she would be. The Princess had managed to wiggle out of it for two years almost three for one technicality or another, slipping through the cracks only to run off as soon as she was able. "I'll stick around for a few days so we can talk about it. I'm," she paused, "I'm just going to need some help coming up with trials." Stories of her ancestors had helped instill a sense of adventure and rebelliousness in the redhead, and in truth, Laira couldn't imagine her life on the throne. While normally incredibly self-confident and stubborn, when it came to talk of the throne she knew she could not handle such a monumental task. Certainly not with the grace and confidence her mother had managed.

"The leviathan. So, I went to vacation on Manaan months ago and decided to get myself a nice little swimsuit, hang out by the beach and have a panini by myself. While I was eating I met a girl, another redhead like me, and she was just the sweetest, nicest person so we decided to hit the beach together." The Princess broke into the story, her hands fairly animated and her voice excited as she recounted the story, "So she and I were kissing in the shallows when this Leviathan attacked the beach we were at. I'm glad you weren't there, so many wounded people and I never asked how many died, but the beach was colored red for days afterwards. It was pretty awful." Laira didn't even realize she had mentioned what she and Elpsis had been doing in the shallows, it was just part of the story and it didn't even occur to the princess. "But Elpsis and I loaded up some of dad's hunting gear and went after it. She is a master Pyromancer and empath, so she was able to distract it and burn it while I shot at it a couple times while it fired some kind of bio-electrical pulse in the water, and its wake was enough that it knocked us around. It hit me once in my legs with its electrical pulse, almost paralyzed me in the water. Eventually I trapped it in a cryoban burst and she was able to get it in the roof of its mouth. She was incredible, I had no idea there were people like her in the galaxy. I mean, I knew there were Force Masters like dad, but I'd never seen any of them actually go all out. Then we just celebrated and relaxed in her suite for a while."

After her story, which admittedly the princess rambled through rather quickly and animatedly, the Princess rubbed her stomach. "I'm actually really hungry, can we go eat and I'll tell stories over dinner, too. I've got tons."

[member="Faith Organa"]

 

[Faith Organa]

"Oh yes dinner." Faith slowly stood up, "walk me to my rooms so I can change." She looked over at [member="Laira Darkhold"] ,"So let me see if I have this straight. ok..you were on Manaan, kissing a girl, and got attacked by a Leviathan."

This could easily have been a story Draco told her. Not so much about kissing a girl but that he was innocently doing nothing and suddenly there he was in the middle of trouble. "Pyromancer...someone who handles fire?" She was asking not sure, "and empath oh well you should know about that just about every woman of our house has some form of empath ability." Her Aunt Tia specifically. But this story was about Laira and [member="Elpsis Kerrigan-Alcori"] , "Elpsis. I know this name...and a redhead."

Faith paused wasn't she at one of their parties? The dinner party ? Faith looked over at Laira hadn't Laira also been seen with a young zeltron [member="Joza Perl"] at another palace party? Faith arched a brow what was her daughter up to?

"Your father will be quite proud that you took out a leviathan." Faith remembered the one that had been under the palace it was terrible, huge and dangerous. For a moment apprehension swept over Faith a need to protect her daughter bubbled up and for a moment she lost herself reaching over to pull Laira to her. For a moment stroking her hair, "You need to be careful." She couldn't say the other words the ones lingering there in the back of her mind.

I can't lose another child

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Laira followed her mother, a little pep in her step, long legs placed one foot deliberately in front of the other to add a little sway to her sauntering gate. "Well," Laira blushed at the mention of her escapades leading up to the Leviathan's attack, "She kept telling me how cute and adorable I was and we had already spent the day together. It just felt right, you know?" Surprisingly enough that had been how it had occurred, the redhead entirely innocent in her intentions when suddenly she found herself in trouble.

"Yes, fire shaper like me. She's a lot better than I am though." Elpsis was a lot better than Laira at a lot of things, but Laira tried to bring enthusiasm for her part. Laira's empathic abilities weren't as strong as some of her other skills, but she had them. It could have been one of the reasons she had gravitated towards the fiery witch. "How do you know Elpsis? Have you been checking up on me?" There was some accusation in her tone, but Laira was more or less still joking, "Listen, we've just been on a couple of dates, its not all that serious." Not for Laira's lack of wanting, but that relationship wasn't everything she had dreamed, even if she had her first crush budding over the blind redhead.

As for Joza, well, Laira was merely fond of her mentor and dance instructor, though Faith would probably not whole-heartedly support her daughter being taught exotic zeltron dances, Laira found it to be an enjoyable down time activity. Faith took Laira's arm, drawing the teenager close to warn her about her risk taking nature. The redhead smiled broadly, grinning and raising her chin. "You know me mom, I'll be fine." Though now twice in her life, Laira had doubted her own immortality, once against the zombies on the Queen of the Core and once when she had encountered a Krayt Dragon with Elpsis, she still hadn't bothered to embrace the cold truth that she could die.

[member="Faith Organa"]

 

[Faith Organa]

"No Elpsis it is such a rare name she was at the Mountain Palace with someone" Faith laughed, "your father referred to as 'the booty'" yeah they had a long discussion about that didn't they.

"But she and Tary'c yes that was her name stayed at the palace that night. If it is the same woman I've met her." Thinking back Faith tried to remember, flaming red hair brighter than Laira's a soft gentle voice and a fierce sense of her own presence. That is what Faith remembered. If it was the same woman. Girl.

Faith had spoken to many people that night she was in a position where remembering names and faces gained her brownie points. Forgetting could be an insult to the wrong person and she prided herself on being able to remember names.

"Check up on you..." She laughed, "sometimes.." seriously yes sometimes.

there was nothing uncomfortable about Laira saying she was going to be fine. Faith had gotten past uncomfortable but it was the fear that lived in her that had a life of its own. She felt certain Draco would understand it better than Laira. Lose everything and see what it does.

"Ok I need to change...

Caleb Panteer had arrived early tugging on his coat trying to make sure it was straight. His Cousin, Ana Panteer and the Queen had met coming up with a plan for Caleb to meet with the Princess Laira. He stared at the mirror his shoulder length dark brown hair had been pulled back to reveal his ears. His cousin had been shocked to see that he had a single tiny rainbow gem for an earring. He liked it and had managed to keep it a secret for 6 months he laughed and when he did his eyes laughed to. The flecks of silver in his stone gray eyes a look he had inherited from his father sparkled with life.

What was the Princess like? Was she going to be one of those that had their nose so high in the air they couldn't seen their own short comings/ If that was her he was so out of here. In the meantime he just stood there waiting...wishing he had something to drink.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

"Oh, I know Taryc too. She and I had met on the outer rim and spent some time doing some adventuring." Laira grinned widely, but her time with Taryc had been much more professional and much less emotionally involved. Taryc and her had only spent time running down leads about her ties with the Primeval which had ended up going dead before they parted ways. Elpsis was another matter. "Yes, its the same Elpsis then. She's pretty cute, right?"

Laira knew better than to assume her parents didn't check up on her every now and again. They probably had some sort of hidden beacon aboard her ship so they would know where she was when they wanted to check on her, but she had started using one of the Resistance's X-90 StealthX's more often to conserve fuel. She wondered if her mother had heard about her escapades on Kothlis from the Bothans, that would be difficult to explain if it came up.

"Okay, go then." Laira said, shooing her mother towards the closet while she decided to relax on the love seat while she waited, making sure to keep her short dress before taking her seat and sweeping her legs up underneath herself. Her mother had been a little quiet about dinner, other than to tell her Theo might be bringing a new girlfriend around. That boy brought more women around than the number of men Laira had even met, but that was part of her choice. She had decided to be picky about the personality types she enjoyed and be reserved with her genuine affections. Sure she would flirt with anyone, but she rarely actually developed a relationship with anyone. Most teenage boys weren't interested in the same things she was, and most of the Alderaanian types weren't excited about a girl that could beat them up.

[member="Faith Organa"]

 

[Faith Organa]

She had not lied but she had not come outright and said who would be at dinner. This could be bad. She had never misled [member="Laira Darkhold"] on anything. But this was just a meeting it wasn't like she had promised her to House Panteer.

House Panteer one of the oldest Noble Houses on Alderaan. They had produced more Kings and Queens of Alderaan than any other house. They did not need an alliance with them. But they had a young man around Laira's age who seem to know his place and wasn't bad looking. But she did not know if they would get along if they were just introduced as friends perhaps but all remained to be seen.

Faith chose the blue she emerged from her closet almost completely dressed. "What do you think good for dinner?" Not quite one of Draco's favorites but the color did Faith justice and it did not take away from the little black dress Laira wore.

"No jewels except earrings and I'm ready...think our guests will be suitably impressed?" She smiled.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

"Hmm, well its certainly nice." But it wasn't a headturner like some of her mother's dresses that clung to all the right places. Perhaps she was trying to promote modesty for Theo's guest, or subtly trying to influence Laira to wear something else. But it was still a very pretty dress, and without jewels. Maybe the Queen was trying to make a show of her modest life-style. "I'm sure they will be quite impressed."

The princess stood, straightening out her own little black dress and making sure everything was suitably in its proper place with a slight shimmy. She hadn't bothered with jewels, but she did have a pair of simple silver earrings and a bracelet that were brushed to match the shimmering grey color of Laira's eyes. With a smile, Laira led the way down the corridors towards the dining room.

She wondered what exactly her mother was up to with this new girl of Theo's. Perhaps he actually appreciated this particular concubine. And then as the door opened Laira understood why her mother had been so cryptic. Though a bit surprised, the Princess hide it fairly well.

Inside the dining hall stood not a woman latched to her brother's arm, but a tall young man with stormy grey eyes, long dark locks, and tanned skin in a light colored suit to make his skin tone and dark hair contrast more. At first glance he was quite the handsome young man, which could only mean a few things. Laira smiled wide, turning to cast her mother a dark glare before returning her attention to the young nobleman. She considered making sure everyone in the room knew she was displeased about the sudden arrangement and unexpected meeting, but a thought occurred to her.

If the redhead was rude now, it would ruin any chances she had if this young man turned out to be someone she appreciated, and so she resolved to start the night rather pleased. He was handsome after all. She curtsied as she entered the room, bending at the knees a little and pulling on the hem of her skirt with a grin and a shine in her eyes. "Please mother, introduce me to our handsome guest." She pressured, gesturing to him with a nod of her head.

[member="Faith Organa"]

 

[Faith Organa]

[member="Laira Darkhold"]

The reaction could have been worse but that initial look that said 'how could you' that struck a nerve inside Faith. She just knew that was the same look she had given Arianna when she started inviting eligible young men over for dinner. Feth was she becoming her mother after everything that had happen. She hoped not.

"Laira this is Caleb Panteer cousin to the Duchess of House Panteer. Caleb this is Laira." Not that she wanted them to run off get married and start a family. She wanted them to get along at least be friends. Was that possible?

She looked from one to the other not sure what to expect. "Caleb's cousin Ana was once very interested in your Uncle Theo." That was back before everything went badly for the men in the Organa household. Back when. Well. Faith smiled though.

"Your Royal High it is a pleasure" He nodded and bowed slightly, "Yes my Cousin speaks of Theo often I think she still has a crush on him." He looked at Laira she wasn't bad to look at better than he thought. The little black dress did her justice and the red hair couldn't miss that if you wanted. Not at all bad for a princess.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Laira's mood seemed to be upbeat and she seemed to be rather pleased with meeting the young Nobleman. "A pleasure to meet you Caleb, please just call me Laira." He was tall, with darkened skin, and a handsome face. Athletic physique from the look of it, nothing any normal woman might complain about. The redhead had decided to simply let her normally bubbly personality take over rather than try to grandstand and make a point of her mother respecting her privacy.

She looked a little bashful, ducking her head away and smiling, looking down at her shoes before making eye contact with him again, blushing a little. At this point her actions weren't even forced or practiced, it was just her natural presence around people, prefering to be bubbly and flirty with anyone and everyone. She liked the attention, and other people normally appreciated her antics. "Well, I wish I had known I was going to be having lunch with someone so handsome, I might have put some effort to look presentable." The Princess was well aware she was still quite attractive and wearing a slinky black cocktail dress, but she hadn't bothered with much makeup or throwing on any gems. The young man's single earring had already caught her eye, and so he was wearing more riches than she had in her possession. Laira struggled, but she succeeded in keeping her inner voice from drawing any undo conclusions until after she knew about the young boy a little. He could be who she was looking for, however unlikely.

The princess sauntered over to him with a slight sway of her hips and wrapped her arms around one of his, giving his bicep a gentle squeeze with an amused giggle as she guided Caleb towards the table. "Please come sit with me, I'm famished and we can get to know one another over lunch. I was just telling my mother some stories about my adventures in the Outer RIm." This was where she was going to have to be careful, since if she was too boastful or started with her more dangerous stories the young man might bottle up. She waved back at her mother to join them, since this wasn't exactly a dinner date Laira didn't want her time with her mother cut so abruptly.

"Oh, please do share Laira," Caleb said, almost purposefully trying to add a little timber and depth to his voice as she took an interest in him. He even seemed to flex his arm when she squeezed on his biceps in an attempt to put his best foot forward. She was certainly an attractive young woman, and was being touchy, always a good sign for young men.

The Princess took a seat at the table near the head of the table with Caleb holding the chair for her like such a gentleman, Faith's chair at the head of the table to her left and Caleb taking a seat to her right. With a lovely smile, Laira fiddled with her hair making a show of looking him over with a pleased expression. Boys loved that, and it would be fun to see her mother's reaction. "So yes, my adventure on the Queen of the Core. Well, you see the Ranger Corp sent me and my partner to investigate a possible biological attack on the ship, however we couldn't find it in time. Terrible thing, as the biological agent was turning people into mindless flesh-eating ghouls."

[member="Faith Organa"]

 

[Faith Organa]

[member="Laira Darkhold"]

Oh that was a lovely lunch topic flesh eating zombies what were they having again, some tartar preparation from the Apalis Coast. Oh that wouldn't do right now would it. Oh my the first plate arrived and Faith looked at it woefully.

"Flesh eating Laira, isn't that something that we all use to watch on the holo vids. Scary. If I remember right Theo would have nightmares about it for days. Whatever did you do?" She smiled pushing her plate back just a little until her appetite returned.

Young Caleb however seemed quite enamored by the thought, "Flesh eating ghouls well feth." Startled he looked at the Queen, "apologies" he had not meant to swear in front of her but damn listening to Laira talk about ghouls that was like every ones top ten right now.

"Yeah what did you do?" The plate arrived and he without hesitation immediately dipped a spoon into the raw mixture and spread it on his toast he was ready to devour the meal while hanging on every word she spoke about her adventure.

He began to think his cousin was right he needed a tour with the Rangers to widen his horizons and yeah he'd like to see some flesh eating ghouls!

 

[Laira Darkhold]

The plates came and Laira mixed the salad absent-mindedly with one hand while intertwining her other arm with Caleb's, her eyes however remained turned to Faith. "Well, of course my partner and I had to fight our way out. We ended up meeting a pair of Eldorai who we helped come with us. They were quite helpful though." She took a bite from the salad, it was just as good as she had hoped it would be. Pepper, honey mustard, oil and vinegar over the mixed greens. God how she missed good food.

"So, the four of us had to fight our way through some of them." She squeezed Caleb's arm, "And my partner, one of the Knights of Alderaan, held the forefront while the two Eldorai and I took out stragglers as we tried to fight through a horde of the creautres, but," Laira suddenly jerked Caleb's arm and snapped her teeth towards him. "I WAS BITTEN!" She said loudly amidst giggles of amusement. Caleb, to his credit hadn't jumped out of his skin or been too surprised.

"Bitten?" He asked with some surprise, looking at her a bit closer with a smile. He seemed to be enjoying her teasing and playing with him, which Laira didn't mind at all.

"Yes, my arm was bitten while we escaped into the ventilation shafts. As we crawled, I held one of the Eldorai with my injured arm to keep her from falling to her death. When my partner noticed, she and the eldorai duchess amputated my arm." The redhead pointed out the thin white scare that was the only evidence she had a replacement appendage just below her elbow. At a glance it was easily missed, but upon inspection the single white line all the way around her arm. "They, whack, cut it off in one swipe of the sword." Laira liked to think her actions during the escape made her into a certifiable hero who sacrificed her own well being for a stranger's life, but in truth she was bitten accidentally and it was no one's fault but her own that she was trying to show off without giving the very dangerous creatures the respect they had deserved.

Caleb inspected the line on the arm wrapped around his own, squinting at it so as not to act like it was particularly horrifying. He was hanging on her each and every word. "And the rest is a bit of a blur, as I had went into shock, but I remember shooting some more of the ghouls and helping one of the Eldorai start my ship. So, what do you think?"

[member="Faith Organa"]

 

[Faith Organa]

[member="Laira Darkhold"]

There was no other chatter to distract Faith from watching Laira with Caleb. For once she wished that instead of private luncheon that this had been a gathering of nobles and friends for some insane reason but it wasn't. Faith watched her daughter.

There was no being self conscious about her dress, or her manner. It was her manner that was bothering Faith, her daughter was a flirt. She was using her sex to...what? Lure men? Lure women?....why? Certainly she wasn't over looked as a child. So where did this manner come from?

Without thinking she lifted her fork slowly taking another bite. The conversation seemed to flow easily enough the story inviting and with her skill as story teller she had lured them in. Hopefully this skill of story telling would transfer over to her abilities to speak to leaders across the galaxy. Faith tried to focus on the food.

Was it prepared right was it...tasty...but each time she tried her brown eyes rested upon Laira and Caleb.

Caleb laughed, "I think everyone should be cautious around you. You look all innocent but you're not. You're probably more a rebel princess than anything else right now" He laughed again, "Majesty did not know I would be so entertained today"

Faith smiled and nodded, "Neither had I. Bitten clean off....and...only a small scar left thank goodness. What will you be doing after this visit home Laira?"

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Laira smiled, "I don't think I'm that rebellious, quite the innocent princess in fact. I just prefer a little excitement every now and again." She cozied up against Caleb's shoulder, batting her eyes a little at the handsome young man as she took another few bites of her salad. She was a flirt, its just the way she was, meaning no harm or having any intention to act upon her own suggestiveness unless she was very involved with a person. For now Caleb was just the victim of Laira's flirtatious manner with no one else to distract her. "I like getting out and experiencing the galaxy, though I'm often dreadfully lonely."

"I haven't quite decided. I know you'd like for me to stay around for a few days mother, so I don't have to decide right away." She had no idea where her path would take her, but Laira knew well that it would take her away from home again. Far away from home, leaving everything she had known behind in order to go defend the galaxy alongside the men and women who were volunteering to join the Resistance. They needed people like her, well, they needed people like her Father and Jorus Merrill, but they weren't going to turn anyone away.

"I was hoping I could convince you to take a day off and ride thrantas in the Juran Mountains with me, mom." She smiled, a sincere request from a daughter hoping to spend time with her mother, and she wanted to have a few serious conversations. They needed to talk about the Day of Demand and her trials, how the family would deal with her joining the Resistance. They could also use a casual conversation about her love life, which had remained void so far.

"I suppose I could try and convinced Caleb to keep me company for a few hours while you're busy, maybe a few hours each day while I'm still home but for now I'd just love to know about you and some of your adventures, Caleb."

[member="Faith Organa"]

 

[Faith Organa]

Umhmm Faith thought, lay it on thick dear. This was difficult to watch as a mother she felt like her daughter was pimping herself out. It hurt her heart flirting was one thing but this petting and touching intimated other things.

Faith pushed her plate away she just wasn't hungry anymore. She smiled though trying not to show her feelings. "Riding I would love to ride. It's one of the true freedoms we enjoy on Alderaan that so few get to do anywhere else." It was true thranta were only on Alderaan and Bespin last she knew. There were other creatures to ride for certain but there was nothing like the elegance of a thranta.

Caleb of course was enjoying the Princess touching him and being flirty with him. What man wouldn't want it?!

"Oh my adventures are not quite so lively. I helped to fend of some of the raiders from our phrik mine few months back but they didn't bring flesh eating monsters with them. Maybe sometime we can go on an adventure together." He smiled he didn't want to tell her that his family protected him since he was their last male heir of their line. There were other Panteers but they were cousins. Why bring up something sad.

"Maybe you'd like to go to Cloud Shape Falls with me, if you have time that is." He just wanted to see her away from the palace was she still like this or was it all show for her family.

Faith liked that they seemed to get along it was a good sign. It was an introduction not a proposal so she could live with it.

She might not once she hears what Laira has to say, but at least it was a start.

[member="Laira Darkhold"]