The Hapes Consortium Masquerade Ball

[Dissero]

"The Queen Mother?" Dissero perked a brow at the Lady on his arm, "I was hoping to get at least two glasses of wine in before we checked the royalty, but if that's what the Lady Lacroix wants..." the last he'd spoken to any of them, he'd been betrothed to one of the Princesses and had cancelled his own coming-of-age party out of spite towards his father. It had all gone swimmingly, especially when that Hapan brat reared her ugly face before Queen Lorelei. Never had there ever been a sounder tongue lashing by an outsider in all of Hapan history. He was sure the Queen Mother still cringed at the memory of it to this day.

Smirk hidden behind the ghoulish black matte painted mask, he steered Verie off into the line of arriving guests waiting to pay their respects to the hostess and sovereign of Hapes.

"Do you think she'll recognize me?"

[member="Verie Lacroix"]

 

[Alexandra Feanor]

[member="Darth Tsolan"]

"Well, Zarro was smart to keep you out of the way of those bullets, because it is more than a pain for me to do it and im not even an old man." She smiled at him and thought for a moment before grinning a bit wider. "Imagine if he walked in now, the shock on his face at your dancing with someone you are close too, as well as the physical Changes."

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen's grin widened significantly as he thought of the old fox. It had been a while since he and Zarro had been together and to tell the truth, there was a large part of him that missed the amaran that had raised him. "Well, I'd have a lot to explain when it comes to my body, I have to admit that. However, I wouldn't mind explaining why I'm dancing with you, so long as I'm out of range of that cane once I mention what you told me back at Veradune."

[member="Alexandra Lianne Feanor"]

 

[Sicarius]

While he wasn't sure if he'd been spotted or not, he did notice Selka coming back to the Hall and distracting Blue Boy and Blondie, along with some red-haired ragamuffin. His guess was that either they'd nearly spotted him or would have eventually. Saved by the Selka, as it were.

He took a moment to glance at the floor to double check where she was as well as the guards before moving on. Focusing became slightly harder as was normal when a man on the ceiling looked down at his female cohort in a cocktail dress on the ground, but he was able to truck through with little difficulty.

His hands and feet clung to the pipes as he moved along the ceiling. He could feel his arms and legs growing slightly tired by this point, but it was barely noticeable. Sicarius was in 'the zone' and could care less at this point. He had the heist mindset. The thieve's mind. His entire being was focused on the job and lent him strength and focus. There were only two things on his mind as he reached the third and last chandelier before his objective: The loot at the end of the job and the glimpses of Selka's décolletage he'd spotted from the ceiling.

Blinders may be an effective investment, he figured.

[member="Selka Ventus"]

 

[Illyria Skirata]

[member="Sicarius"] [member="Thalia Rist"] [member="Cryax Bane"] [member="Cross Ikon"]

A slow hum would follow as the bubbly would hit the young Duch'a's lips. The swish of heavy skirts would graze her bare legs with every slow and clipped step.

The soft strains of music would tickle the ears, and certainly delight the senses. How curious!

So this is what Hapes proper does to celebrate a party.

 

[Verie Lacroix]

Oh dear. Verie had forgotten about the Hapes Affair, for she had been away at the Academy then. Perhaps they should skip the receiving line and head for the bar now. Verie knew that she could use a drink. "I'm so sorry," she whispered to [member="Dissero"] . "I didn't realize - It's not too late to turn back, right?" Unfortunately, they had just crossed the threshold; getting back out would be awkward, to say the least.

Nervously tugging her elbow-length gloves, Verie stepped closer to her date and then slipped one hand down his inner forearm, where she laced her fingers through his, giving his hand an apologetic squeeze. She stood on her toes to rest her chin on his shoulder."Perhaps we'd better hope not, if the rumors I heard were true," Verie replied with a frown. "I'd forgotten about those whispers until now" She stepped away and her thumb stroked the back of his hand absent-mindedly as she searched her memory.

"I read somewhere that the whole thing ended in tears, at least on the Hapans side. Some business tabloid or other was sure that Mother was rather put out; she was hoping to get her hands on certain elements of the Hapans' shipbuilding and design. But I always took the tabloids with a tablespoon of salt." She glanced up the line; they were getting perilously close to monarchy now. She unlaced her fingers from his and again adjusted her gloves. "I could fake a seizure. It might be slightly less awkward."

 

[GREG]

GREG HAD BEEN ON HIATUS FOR DOING **** FOR A WHILE, BECAUSE **** IT.


HE WORE HIS SPECIAL HEADBAND- AND POLISHED HIS ABS FOR THE OCCASION. SUITS WERE FOR PUSSIES. AND POLITICIANS. AND BUSINESSMAN. AND FUNERALS. AND WEDDINGS. AND FORMAL GET TOGETHERS. AND SUNDAY AFTERNOON BRUNCHES. AND FOR MEETING YOUR GIRLFRIENDS PARENTS IN CERTAIN SETTINGS. FORMAL DINNERS. BUT NOT FOR FANCY PARTIES. THAT'S JUST ******* DUMB. SERIOUSLY WHY THE **** WOULD YOU DRESS UP WHEN YOU WERE ******* DRINKING I MEAN COME ON **** IT.


ANYWAY.


GREG SAUNTERED AROUND, TOWERING EVERYONE AT A MASSIVE, IMPOSING 5'4 STATURE.


HE GRABBED A WAITER-


by the throat!


AND GRABBED A GLASS OF HIS FINEST BEVERAGE, AND BEGAN TO VIGOROUSLY DRINK THE BEVERAGE.



BECAUSE.
HE.
WAS.
THIRSTY.

 

[Alexandra Feanor]

[member="Darth Tsolan"]

"Oh, im sorry, did our certain predicament cause a bit of a strange nature." She smiled and moved about and started to dance a bit more closely to him as she leaned her head against his shoulder. "I wonder if there are any familiar faces that we don't even realize are around us... How many Jedi or Sith had come and are in this place at the time."

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Cryax Bane"] [member="Cross Ikon"] [member="Anastasia Rade"]

After recovering from her quote-unquote cousin's vigorous hug, she began to lead him and his associates down another gallery of the Hall of Masters, one champagne flute suspended in each hand. "Sounds like a plan to me," she said agreeably. "Two galleries down this way, past a Force-null ysalamir field, is our ride out of here -- the Queen Mother's yacht, in the royal hangar. If you can waltz off with that yacht, the payoff will be...astronomical, and you'll get your answers. And plenty of tour time -- there's centuries of history between here and there, if you have the right guide."

 

[Sicarius]

Now was the hard part. Along the pipes and into the next area. Sure, it looked easy in the movies, but in real life you didn't have wires and safety nets below.

He shifted from the third chandelier and along the hallway. So far, so good. None of the guards had spotted him and the security cameras still didn't have the angle to see him. With a quiet shift, he was at the last of the pipes and at the threshold. Here was the tricky part.

The pipes disappeared into the wall ahead and the archway to the Royal Quarters where the target lay was about a good four or so feet below him. He was upside down on the ceiling and the lintel was perhaps an inch or so wide. There weren't any good handholds to really shift from one spot to the other, so he was left with two options. Sit and think or ballsy.

Sit and think was really out of the question. He was exposed on the ceiling and vulnerable, which meant that he couldn't sit much longer at all. Ballsy was the only option here, he just hoped he could do it quietly.

With a last gauge of the lintel, he braced himself and launched himself forward and down. His left hand gripped the lintel while his right foot braced. His right hand and foot had nowhere to grip, but he felt his fall halt as soon as he'd hit. A slight shift and he slid down the arched entry way a slight bit and reassessed everything.

The archway was huge and grand, as befit the Hapan palace. That meant he was a fair distance up and out of the standard line of view. Fortunately, the walls were also thin enough for him to move around and the like, so with a slight swing, he managed to grip the other side of the archway with his right hand and foot and transfer into the room. From there, it was a simple matter to find the appropriate handholds and footholds to scurry up and onto the slight ledge that ran around the edges of the room. It was only two or three feet tall, but it would do.

He crouched there, out of sight, as he gazed at the Royal Quarters' Foyer. There, suspended on beams that crossed the room, was the target.

The only thing left to do was to figure out how to get the wind crystals off the bloody chandelier...

[member="Selka Ventus"]

 

[Maya Carrick]

Wrong account..

 

[Ariella Garon]

[member="Mr. Ash"]

Grinning but for other reason as she like this change of pace. Finding herself taking the arm even if he was made of metal it didn't matter, but they was here to mingle then anything to see other and with Mr. Ash it was always to expane the business they was in. With the mask on those around wouldn't know who they were which was the beauty of this as the others they wouldn't know either unless someone was carrying a scanner of sorts. With the way everyone was dress that was highly improvable.

[member="Darth Tsolan"] [member="Cross Ikon"] [member="Kharen Promethien"] [member="Thalia Rist"] [member="Aiden Merritt"] [member="Alexandra Lianne Feanor"] [member="Mr. Ash"] [member="Erela Annan"] [member="Selka Ventus"] [member="Anastasia Rade"] [member="Cryax Bane"] @Sicarius @Verie Lacroix

 

[Cryax Bane]

Cryax contined to watch the suspcious hooded figure climb around on the ceilings even though the Chiss had been bribed to keep quiet. The fellow was quite acrobatic.

As his female associate escorted them through the halls, she seemed hellbent on getting Cross involved in some sort of scheme involving their getaway ship. The Chiss was only loosely following the conversation because he'd had too much champagne.

He grinned at Anastasia. It seemed like she hadn't noticed the man on the ceiling. Too busy admiring all the antiquities. "Let's just say we made alot of credits for very little work." He wrapped his arms around her and gave her a quick kiss.

He studied the paintings and sculptures. As a guy who spent most of his time at a computer, Cryax knew nothing about shopping or decorating, but he wanted to make his girl happy. The Chiss turned towards Ana with a smile. "When we get back to Antecedent let's go antique shopping. I'll buy you something like this." He gestured to an ornately trimmed vase.

By 'antique shopping,' he really meant black market trading but Ana didn't have to know that part of it.

[member="Selka Ventus"] [member="Lady Devereux"] [member="Anastasia Rade"] [member="Ariella"] [member="Sicarius"] [member="Cross Ikon"]

 

[Cross Ikon]

I looked down at the woman, and nodded slowly, grinning.

"Strolled off with the royal yacht before. Let's just hope the palace hasn't changed too much in 900 years."

So saying, I put on my hat, and my mask, and unfolded my collar to hide my hair. I laughed at the prospect of a tour.

"Don't worry, I know more than my share of Hapan history. And I know this hall very well."

I grinned even wider, and the plot in my brain came to a satisfactory conclusion.

[member="Sicarius"] [member="Selka Ventus"]

 

[Lana Carde]

[member="Cross Ikon"] [member="Cryax Bane"] @Ariella @Sicarius @Selka Ventus [member="Dissero"]

Persephone would have a cordial smile plastered upon her face, her delicate fan waving fresh air over her mask as aquamarine eyes would watch the ongoing spectacle.

The Queen Mother would be to her right, doing her precious duty that she was regaled for. Plots and ambition would abound within the young Duch'a, but a time and place. Time and place. Her time as the Senator of Hapes and the silent encouragement to the Queen to open the doors of the Consortium to the public for one night only was a risk.

A risk she was willing to take -- good and bad, because it would make a point. Whatever would happen, it was a night that would be known with infamy if she had anything to do with it.

Now, for those who hadn't been to the Palace before, it would be to their surprise to find out that the palace layout did indeed change. That was largely in part to two Sith terms of occupation before the Hapes Consortium had managed to untangle itself with the aid of the Republic.

And needless to say, men were still looked upon as mere ornaments -- with no power whatsoever. Elite security would watch with careful eyes at the guests along each door, the outside perimeter, as well as inside. Those security cameras were not just for show.

By all accounts, it would appear that the ongoing warning was this 'woe to anyone who would attempt any unscrupulous actions against the Queen Mother and the Consortium that night...'

 

[Dissero]

Dissero gave a gravelly chuckle into Verie's ear, giving her hand a squeeze back, "We're trying to draw less attention," words muttered beneath his mask, frigid blues peering down at her through the eyelets. It had been twelve years. Any normal sort of person would have likely given up the grief after two, but these were Hapans and Hapans were so far beyond normal as to be considered their own race.

They weren't.

What they were, however, he kept to himself.

Next in line, the attending Herald stepped up to Dissero. Typically names at such grandesque events were announced upon arrival of the great hall, but given the theme it seemed only right to keep identities discreet. Where would be the fun of a masque if not for the secrets? The Prince leaned over to give the Herald their names and titles.

"We are most pleased to have the presence of Kuatian Royalty at the Masque. If you will both remove your masks to pay your respects, I will announce you to the Queen Mother."

Dissero suppressed a groan, hopeful for a quick hello-and-go. The longer the mask stayed off, the higher the chances were of trouble finding him tonight. He reached up and swept the ghastly thing back off his head to the immediate announcement of his Force presence at large. Anyone who had any ability to pick up on such things, even those of little training but good instinct like [member="Selka Ventus"], would notice. Thank the Force he at least didn't stink immediately of Sith.

"The Crown Prince Amadeus Darke of Kuat and the Lady Verie Lacroix, Queen Mother," the Herald motioned them forward with a graceful sweep of an arm.

Looking to his date with an easy smile, Dissero offered [member="Verie Lacroix"] his hand again and took it firmly within his own. Dressed to the tens, and with the apple of his eye at his side, the man's confidence never wavered as he approached the Queen, [member="Persephone Callas"] and the remaining royal Hapan retinue, "Queen Mother," the Prince drawled in his deep voice, "it's been quite some time."

 

[Anastasia Rade]

"Ooo, yes let's go shopping. I have a few other ideas of what we could do with the money as well. Perhaps something for the bedroom." She grinned winking at him lightly kissing his cheek. Ana's ideas were no were near appropriate so she decided to keep them to herself. It was also more fun to let him chew on the little hint that she had given him.

Taking her eyes off the vase she looked up to see the man on the ceiling and shrugged. If not saying a word gave her a bunch of credits she was happy to keep her mouth shut.

"Come on there is a lot more to see this place is huge." She would sneak off with Cryax a little later. They would lose the group at some point she was sure.

[member="Cryax Bane"]@Ariella@Persephone Callas

 

[Verie Lacroix]

Verie, who was only dressed to the nines, reached up and reached back to untie her mask's black silk cords, gathering them up in her mask before she swept a low curtsy to the Queen Mother. The Hapans in the royal retinue were as breathtakingly beautiful as Verie had always heard Hapans were. In fact, basking in their reflected glory, Verie felt rather shabby herself, despite wearing several thousand credits worth of tasteful couture, understated makeup, and wearing an elegant coiffure. She flushed as she rose, clutching her mask in front of her.

"Lady?" Verie whispered to [member="Dissero"] in a barely-audible tone. The Lacroixes had never been ones for titles, believing more in the aristocracy of merit and money than of birth. She supposed it was rather disloyal to find herself... attached to a member of the hated upper classes. She was convinced, though she had no way of knowing for sure, that his family would have viewed their friendship with the same level of suspicion and distrust that the cold and calculating Avadreia Lacroix would have, if she were alive to consider it.

Verie turned her attention back to the royal retinue (including [member="Persephone Callas"], and tried to look a lot more serene and peaceful than she felt.

 

[Nefertari Sovint]

Nefertari arrived, wearing an elegant dress. The cool teal color complimented the warm gold color of her artificial hand. There were so many faces she'd never seen before. Taking a glass of champagne to be polite, she felt another force-sensitive's presence. Aside from that, she decided to try her best at socializing.

 

[Cryax Bane]

Cryax grinned widely at his girlfriend's mention of bedroom games. Suddenly paintings and monuments seemed much less interesting to the Chiss. Kark those stuffy antiques. He was going to find a private place where they could entertain more prurient thoughts. Cryax looked to Cross Ikon who just said he knew the palace like the back of his hand. Maybe he could show them where the Hapan private quarters were. But Cross looked to be engaged in conversation with the pretty charlatan who had just paid them off.

They would just have to find them on their own. "You've got the right idea, my ch'an'he'at," he whispered in her ear, adding a few words of sweet talk in Cheuhn. The tipsy Chiss then downed the rest of his champagne and took her hand, stealing her up the spiral staircase so they could explore the second floor of the palace.

[member="Anastasia Rade"] [member="Persephone Callas"]