The Hapes Consortium Masquerade Ball

[Avalore Eden]

A tingling shiver ran up her spine at those words and Avalore was certain that were her hair not tied in a bun it likely would be standing on end right about now. Instead, that jitter found its way into her expression where it lodged itself in a widening gaze and a jaw now hanging agape.

Did he just say...what she thought he said?

"Stali," the Healer shot at at him, tone hushed, retort failing to form. She was stuck between the want to chastise him ... for starting so early in the evening - they'd only just arrived - and the want verbalize a desire to repeat their introduction in the jungle without sounding needy or, perhaps, that she only kept his company for such reasons. This was truthfully new territory for Avalore, doing these sorts of things backwards.

People were supposed to meet and date before ... well, before getting to the point that they were at.

So how did one go from Z to A while still minding their P's and Q's?

Avalore felt his tail climbing up the length of her dress skirt and suddenly closed her mouth, drawn abruptly from the daze of emotional quandaries. She swallowed and gently cleared her throat, "It's warm in here ... I need a drink. Something dry, with olives. Lots of olives. Like at least three olives."

[member="Meeristali Peradun"]

 

[Ozmeri Gitana'ti]

Ozmeri would turn to see a smartly dressed security officer sent by [member="Caid Centurion"]. Granted, the young Princess of Velmor would have no knowledge from whom this particular request had been sent from.

Twin brows of sable would arch high under her mask, her finger starting to tap an idle beat against the small plate of sweetmeats she'd collected.

"Is that so?" the young Princess would say in query. Her lips would twist into a small hidden smile. "Does perchance your overseer grace the invitation with a name?"

 

[Caid Centurion]

Caid's eyes drifted to the interaction occurring between one of his security officers and [member="Ozmeri Gitana'ti"]. When an entirely different security officer approached him to relay the question from the unidentified woman, Caid looked at the man and rolled his eyes before waving him away. He was...definitely still learning how normal society interacted with women. His interactions were either with the proud women of Dathomir, proud businesswomen, or, honestly, paid women that did whatever he asked during his days as a Pirate. In short, he'd very little conception of how to properly initiate a conversation when not prompted by some other interaction.

Coming to his feet, he approached Ozmeri from her blind spot. The security officer she'd asked the question to peeled away and returned to his post just before Caid's large frame drew beside the woman. "I did not include my name in the instructions. You may refer to me as Caid Centurion." Shifting his intense silver-green gaze down to the woman, he made an inquiry of his own. "How is it you prefer to be addressed, ma'am?"

 

[Sicarius]

Lean down, get to work, lean up, place the work in the bag. Repetition, repetition, repetition. It was wearying and dull work, but the results were worth it. Each crystal was worth a fortune, easily landing the thieves in more credits than they could transport with a shuttle. The trick was, however, getting the crystals in the first place.

He was on the third tier with two, full tiers of crystals in the bag with him. Each crystal was wrapped in soft cloth, each crystal was muffled. Sicarius made sure to muffle the further crystals as he took them, each quietly held within a cloth square of soft fabric. It was the only way to take them and, as he muffled and detached yet another crystal from the chandelier, the processes involved made him wish that there was a better method of doing so.

In the end, though, he was almost done with this part of the plan. From here, it was the escape and the foil. The trick was, how to escape and who to foil? As the first half of the third tier of the chandelier's crystals entered his bag, Sicarius pondered those very questions...

[member="Selka Ventus"]

 

[Verie Lacroix]

Verie reached down to adjust her napkin, laid across her lap, when a tiny furry paw grabbed at her hand. She had the presence of mind not to scream, instead only gasping and recoiling. She stood from her seat and held her napkin to her chest as she looked down at the little critter who had accosted her.

"Yes," she answered, feeling rather foolish. "Yes, I am a ballerina. Or I was." She took a breath and resumed her seat, gesturing for the Ewok to take a seat in a nearby free seat. "Would you, um, like to join us?" The one-time ballerina glanced at [member="Dissero"], who appeared to be enjoying the spectacle, and raised an eyebrow at him before turning back to [member="Warok the Defiler"]. "What, um, do you do?"

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Sicarius"] needn't have worried; the escaping and the foiling were Selka's department -- at least right up until one or the other required his superior physicality. If it came time to run, really run, she wouldn't keep up with him for long, whether or not he'd been hanging from a ceiling for the last (insert very precise number) minutes. With [member="Dissero"] and his ladylove ensconced in each other's company, whatever joys that provided, Selka was free to concentrate on pre-greasing the wheels.

She'd spent the bulk of the last (very precise number) surreptitiously evaluating every publicly available room and every associated potential exit -- all those that she could reasonably reach, anyway. Each exit had a handful of deeply ambiguous possibilities attached, some of them promising. A dessert table that she could bring down with minimal telekinesis; a crystal champagne fountain that could easily become a slick on the floor; a drape or a tablecloth that could become a barrier, if only for a moment; a set of genuine glass doors overlooking a garden via a balcony, a place where Dissero's better half had lingered briefly.

Many options, none of them good. She very much hoped Sicarius hurried.

 

[Ozmeri Gitana'ti]

Ozmeri would upturn her masked visage towards the newest arrival; the overseer it would appear. Under the simple black mask gilded with silver, those aquamarine eyes would flicker apparent demure surprise. Or was it intrigue? It was so fleeting it would be difficult to discern.

All proper decorum and cordial greetings would follow suit, her voice holding a whimsical note as she'd say, "Lady Gray." humor would lit the pseudomona, a small gesture of the laced gloved hand sweeping over her slate gray gown. She would then offer her hand in greeting, at least the one not holding the small platter of sweetmeats.

"Fitting, in a Masque." she'd say sprightly, and one would wonder if it was because it was a masque.

"So, [member="Caid Centurion"]... Just how may I address you?" came the cheeky query in reference to perchance a title that may prefix his surname.

 

[Caid Centurion]

Caid afforded the alluring woman an easy smile as she offered a name and her hand. Fortunately, he was aware of very general methods of discourse in formal settings courtesy of the officer training he attended with the Galactic Republic. The Admiral could not deny there had been various benefits in insight and expansion of skill offered by the deal afforded him by the sprawling galactic government in its time of need.

Taking [member="Ozmeri Gitana'ti"]'s hand in his, Caid bent down slightly as he brought the back of her gloved hand to his lips briefly. Releasing the hand gently, Caid's silver-green gaze focused intently on the aquamarine of Lady Gray. "Lady Gray. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Standing back to his full height, Caid smirked at Ozmeri's...implicating request. "I dare not endeavor to dictate how someone of a noble station might set their mouth to purpose in attempt to address a simple man such as myself, Lady Gray." Caid was exquisitely aware he had portrayed little other than a familiarity with typical courtesies in formal encounters. That would, at least, indicate some amount of training for one not raised in such a lifestyle. Caid Centurion was clearly no noble by birth, yet he carried himself with the air of someone that knew how to interact with the rich and powerful...walk in their world without living in such.

 

[Dissero]

Chuckling over a glass of brandy, Dissero listened to his date to speak her mind. Expecting that this sort of thing was all very new to [member="Verie Lacroix"] - the traveling to faraway planets and an otherwise very isolated people and culture - seemed only fitting that it should excite her to a degree. He'd no sooner disagree with her musings than he would miss the oppotunity for a bit of curious intrigue.

And there it came in the form of a diminuitive ewok.

Curious. The man propped a brow as it moved to take his date's hand, smirk spreading across his face.

Ballerina indeed. Blue eyes wryly traveled the length of her seated figure as she ... attended to their new company. Ewoks.

[member="Warok the Defiler"]

 

[Ozmeri Gitana'ti]

"A simple man?" would come the titling sound of her voice, a faint glow of amusement lingering therein. Her eyes would sweep over [member="Caid Centurion"] in an appraisal.

"Why do I believe otherwise, Mister Centurion?" for a fleeting second the overhead light would shimmer just so over her aquamarine eyes so as to give it a silver glow. It was there as quickly as it left, perhaps just a trick of the music, the ambiance, and the light.

"Yet the pleasure is all mine," the right corner of her mouth would lift just so. Then, as if mulling over a thought, she would present him her small plate.

"Hungry?"

 

[Caid Centurion]

The corners of Caid's mouth curled upwards just enough to convey an amusement that matched the fallacy of describing him as a simple man. Were there any simple men truly left in the galaxy? Caid tended to think not.

If the abrupt shifting of lighting was enough to draw forth Caid's confusion or intrigue, he did not show it. In fact, to him it looked more like her eyes had simply twinkled briefly. Fortunately, he wasn't so romantic as to suggest to himself that he was the glimmer in her eye. His own silver-green eyes had a tendency to phase heavily towards one side of the mixture or another dependent upon mood. "I surmise that is because you are no fool, Lady Gray. I hope you will not condemn me a fraud, permitting the brief respite of truly being a simple man, talking to a beautiful woman." No experience talking to women yet he...seemed to do better the less he thought on it. Perhaps there was some genetic affinity. Thanks pops.

"Yet the pleasure is all mine."

Caid opened his mouth to retort, but he was stopped short by her offer of food. Damn her...the one thing that held supreme control over Caid in any situation. Glancing down at the plate, his eyes soon found those of [member="Ozmeri Gitana'ti"] as his lips settled into a thin, mischievous expression. "Hmm. I see the pleasure certainly does belong to you at this juncture." Casually, Caid reached out and selected a single piece. As he brought it to his mouth, he offered a definitive truth. "I'm always hungry for that which just might...kill...me one day."

That would be a pleasant death, at least.

 

[Ozmeri Gitana'ti]

What a charmer, came Ozmeri's silent thought over [member="Caid Centurion"] 's natural born flattery. A small sugar dusted biscuit would rise to delve between her pale pink lips, enjoying the party favor in turn. A few thoughtful chews and the corner of her mouth would deepen.

She caught the devilry in his viridian eyes, "Is that so?" a pause, searching his expression, almost as if seeing through him for a moment. "Hmm...no, a nutbutter biscuit allergy will not best you tonight."

"You have an air about you, Mister Centurion." she'd say, smiling a seemingly cordial smile. "I am certain the Fates will be kind."

The orchestra picked up their instruments, and the first strains of a waltz went floating through the air.

 

[Caid Centurion]

Caid gave a low chuckle at [member="Ozmeri Gitana'ti"]'s comment as he chewed his food in a closed mouth. Manners and all. Once he'd swallowed the admittedly delicious selection, his ghastly gaze reluctantly tore from Lady Gray's face back to the plate of food.

However, the Dathomir native managed a feat of impressive resistance and returned his attention to a much more enticing sight. The woman's comment was met with a warm smile and a shallow incline of his head. "Let us hope that includes this evening."

The sound of music resuming touched Caid's ears before his mostly innocuous comment could be converted into anything more. Briefly, he stole a glance towards the dance floor where a small handful of individuals were already approaching to engage in a display of grace and finesse with an individual of their choosing.

Glancing back at Ozmeri out the corner of his eye, the Admiral extended a hand to reach for her plate. As he did so, his other hand reached forward, palm facing the ceiling. "Might you do me the honor of a dance, Lady Gray?" He would set the collected plate on the table behind him...should she relinquish hold of the delicacies.

 

[Isar]

Warok happily waddled into a seat, feet dangling unceremoniously off the edge. He spotted a glass of wine and seized it in both paws. He knocked it back while gleefully swinging his feet.

Sighing contentedly, he plunked the glass back onto the table and licked his lips.

"Mmm, I speak to dead people."

[member="Dissero"] [member="Verie Lacroix"]

 

[Ozmeri Gitana'ti]

[member="Caid Centurion"]


The lady did in fact relinquish the hold to the collection of sweetmeats. The corner of her mouth would perk in a hidden smile. Just like a woman, what thoughts lay behind that aquamarine gaze? It was difficult to discern beyond the subtle nuances of mild amusement under that black mask.

“Another piece of the puzzle it would seem, Mister Centurion, if you know the waltz,” she’d say in a playful manner. Her gloved hand would come to rest upon his upturned palm.

“Pray care that the dance will not reveal more,” she’d say as she took a step closer, allowing him to lead her towards the open ballroom where the other revelers would follow suit.

“Lest perchance I learn all of your secrets.”

 

[Caid Centurion]

Caid could only smile at [member="Ozmeri Gitana'ti"]'s comment about learning all of his secrets. After setting down the plate, Caid gracefully turned to transfer Ozmeri's hand from his own to his left bicep. Linked at the arms, he guided the soft-spoken woman onto the dance floor.

As they reached the floor and began to dance in sync with the classical beat of the music, Caid was keenly aware of the number of eyes that fe upon them. Though he'd not completely identified himself to Lady Gray, there were many at the party that knew all too well who the large, dark-skinned Admiral was.

When other couples drifted close to the two of them, Caid's security advanced a little closer to the dance floor. Whatever discretion he'd cared about earlier, it was shattered now. The Waltz continued as the pair circled around the dance floor.

Suddenly...a change... The beat of the music increased substantially. Several couples departed the floor, but others, like Caid, rose to the new challenge. Tightening his grip around Lady Gray's body ever so slightly as he pulled her tighter against him, the Admiral smiled. "Hopefully you do not feel...unequaled to the task of a more...spirited dance."

Ozmeri had little chance to respond as Caid, stepped back and twirled her to his right until they were both facing the opposite direction. A simple tug at her hand indicated his desire for her to return to her original proximity. Once she was back in his arms, he dipped her low, tracing his right index finger down the line connecting the bottom of her chin with the top of her breasts before pulling her back to her feet.

And so. The sensual dance continued.

 

[Ozmeri Gitana'ti]

There was something to say about a man and the way he danced. The ballroom floor was every much a display of strength, grace, and some might say depending on the dance, virility.

[member="Caid Centurion"] certainly was much as the saying goes, still waters run deep.

There was more to him than met the eye, and as the melodic strings of the far more passionate dance took hold of them both, another layer would slip away. There was passion in there. Ambition. Confidence. Yess.. So much more than a mere simple man.

Pale pink lips would turn into sinuous smile as the dance would come to an end, her heart hammering a furious beat in her ears and blood pumping in an adrenaline rush.

So much for staying a wallflower, she'd muse, casting a lingering glance at the man from under her mask. They would slip from the rather intimate position, and she would take a step back in a rustle of skirts.

"Well Mister Centurion, " she'd say as she would catch her breath as delicately as she could; had to keep up proper appearances and all.

"Not a single toe stepped on," came her lighthearted tease, "Well done."

 

[Caid Centurion]

There was a purpose behind Caid's typical silent nature. The former pirate fully understood the subtleties of various forms of communication. Specifically - the fact that action and body language spoke louder than any sweet whisperings into the ear of another. What has just occurred between himself and [member="Ozmeri Gitana'ti"] on the dance floor spoke volumes to all those present. More importantly it conveyed many realities of his existence and general approach to life.

As he released Lady Gray from their passionate embrace, Caid afforded a thin smile from beneath the black and silver mask. His large chest heaved slowly as he took deep, measured breaths to slow his heart rate.

"Caid," he politely corrected to her term of address. Really - it was more of an invitation for her to refer to him in a slightly more casual manner. "And you are too kind, Mi'lady." The dark-skinned Dathomiri offered a polite half-bow. Turning, he offered the woman his arm once more. "I could stand for a touch of fresh air. While I'm sure you are nearing a point of exhaustion with my constant presence, I would be much appreciative should you grace me with the quality of your company and beauty just a touch longer."

 

[Ozmeri Gitana'ti]

[member="Caid Centurion"]

"Caid..." there would flicker a hidden knowing within the depths of those aquamarine eyes. Ah, but what were women but the biggest galactic mystery? She said his name with only a hint of an accent, but it was hard to discern from where exactly. It had a throaty quality to it, soft and just a touch of a husky note to paint an image of exotic worlds dusted with sultry summers.

It was no High Galactic Basic, no -- that was not her mother tongue. Certainly would stir the imagination on just who this young seemingly simple woman was.

Her gloved hand would come to rest upon his own, "Well, I do find myself having a parched throat and a need for fresh air." she'd seemingly admit, the shift of silk skirts rustling with every step she took.

"Perhaps a drink would do us well before we take to the Hapan twilight?" With seven moons, Hapes never new true dark. No the wash of silvery moonlight would swath the landscape with silver white glints.

 

[Caid Centurion]

Caid's own thoughts only touched lightly on the origin of [member="Ozmeri Gitana'ti"]'s exotic accent. The depth of her aquamarine eyes and the subtle aroma of her natural scent both pulled most of the Admiral's...focus and attention. He spared perhaps a touch wondering what the tender fullness of her lips tasted like as well.

"A drink..." Caid casually stepped forward with Lady Gray. From a distance, his security detail shifted their positions to maintain a loose coverage. "...sounds almost as delicious as your company beneath the Hapan Sky." A mischievous grin framed Caid's features briefly as they arrived near a waiter carrying champagne flutes.

After handing one to Lady Gray, the Republic officer selected one for himself and guided the woman outside. Stepping into an expansive, marble veranda, Caid stopped the pair near an ornately decorated railing as his silver-green gaze reluctantly tore from the presence of his company to the horizon.

Following a brief sip of his champagne, he made an idle comment. "You would almost never know the galaxy was continuously steeped in conflict. Even this party perfectly represents the reality of the lives we lead...hidden behind masks. Yet..."

Caid's pause was followed by him setting down his drink and turning to face Lady Gray. In one deft motion he removed the black and silver mask he had been wearing. "...it's almost unnecessary. We are all born with natural masks, matching the contour of the rest of our body. Varied exteriors that hide just as varied cores." Stepping closer to Lady Gray ever so slightly, Caid gave air not to a question but a statement. "You intrigue me, Lady Gray. Such a thing is rare in my life. Like a warm Hapan evening, I wonder if you ever lose the light of your radiance and allure."