The Stroke of Midnight (OP and Allies)

[Edric Vanyan]

[member="Felicity Mason"]

"I could, but trust me when i say wher has no intention of probably ever caring for someone that isn't part of her school or a part of the nobility as she is. Thats the problem in the end, that even if i told her everything she would simply laugh in my face and leave me standing there, or probably just punch me and then some how get me fired, that would be real fun..." He sighed and nodded. "Sorry, i still cant believe you are her cousin, you look just like her between the hair and the eyes... hell if you hadn't told me who you were by this point, i would think you were her... its probably the only reason ive told you all this, hoping you keep it a secret from her please, i don't need my life ruined because she decided i wasn't worth the time to even look at." He began to dance once more with her, his mind distant though this time, obvious he felt what he said had been utterly true down to the last letter.

 

[Felicity Mason]

Felicity placed her hand once more on his shoulder, moving in closer as the dance required. She was listening, and the more she heard, the less she liked. Was that really what he thought? Did he think she was honestly that cruel?

"I think you're wrong."

She smiled, hoping she looked more encouraging than she felt. Nobody had ever... liked her before. Not really. People would flatter her, send her 'love letters' sometimes, but she always knew they were fake. It was always when mother had to vote on some important piece if legislation that people would try to butter her up. But now, she was starting to realize.
Nobody had any room to ask anything of her. No cause to try to get on her good side. In the state Naboo was in, there was no way she could actually help. She was useless to them.

That means...
He's being genuine.

"I think if you explained yourself, she'd understand."

She was trying to ignore his comment about the similarities. She couldn't show herself to him. Not now. He had to tell her to her face. He had to tell her because he wanted to. Even if she already had feelings for someone else, she still wanted to hear it. She wanted to hear it from someone. Owain would only break her heart in the end. She knew he would.
But it would make her feel better about it all if she knew that there was someone out there who could care about her just for being herself.


[member="Glyph"]

 

[Edric Vanyan]

[member="Felicity Mason"]

He smiled and looked at her, nodding. "Well, perhaps after you help me find her then, be a bit of support then? That way if im punched atleast im not the only one." He grinned, thinking this cousin of hers was simply giving advice, not telling him that she wanted to hear him say such a thing to her face. "Hey By the way, i don't get what the point of wearing the masks are all about, you would think people would want to try and find someone they know." He touched the mask, laughing as he thought about that. If he didn't have this mask, he would never have been able to say anything, still blissfully unaware they were suppose to take them off.

 

[Felicity Mason]

Well. It was a start. She was just going to have to disappear before the end. Maybe she'd sneak out and go find Owain. She was sure he was at least in the capital somewhere. Theed was huge, but if she called his comm, surely he'd come and meet her somewhere. He did owe her a 'date' after all. She could just come back before mom realized she'd left.

"Well, only until midnight. You have to take them off for the award ceremony."

[member="Glyph"]

 

[Edric Vanyan]

He actually tripped now, blinking as she said that and trying to recover as fast as possible. "Wait... but i... oh god... i can't be seen in this place without a mask, and if she saw me dancing with you... ugh this just made things all too complicated... it did mean though that i would be able to tell her that though tonight once i find her... promise to help me find her and be there for when she punches me?"

[member="Felicity Mason"]

 

[Felicity Mason]

"Hey! Don't worry about it! I don't think she'd mind."

She gave another smile. Anything to calm him down. He was getting too worked up about this. She wished she could tell him he had nothing to worry about. His Princess wasn't even going to be around after the ceremony. Once masks came off, she was going to sneak off. Hit up a cantina, see what Owain meant when he said 'real party'.

[member="Glyph"]

 

[Edric Vanyan]

[member="Felicity Mason"]

"Ya i guess, though i have a feeling that a guard telling her that will still be cause for laughter." And like that he spilled the fact he was who he was. Not realizing that she was Felicity yet, though he did look at her as he said that, the smile back on his face. "Don't warn her though, id hate to find a trap set for me and stumble into it."

 

[Felicity Mason]

A guard. Was he...? No. He couldn't be... could he?

"Percy?"

Felicity stared at him, big blue eyes looking at his. What color were Percy's eyes? Green? Hazel? She hardly looked at his face. He was a bit too old for her though. Twenty-ish. That was too old, right?

[member="Glyph"]

 

[Edric Vanyan]

"Percy? No thats the guy that hangs out with the Queen and Felicity. Actually im kind of surprised you knew that name, sure hes a favorite of their's, i would have thought to seen you atleast once if you knew him though... No im the one she helped back to the palace after i got shot in the shoulder, thats why i mentioned her being beyond kind, anyone else would have let me lay there till the medics got there." He smiled, watching her studdy his face and doing a quick glance around to make sure no one was watching he lifted his mask for half a second to show the same, kind, carefree, and smiling face that Glyph always wore.

 

[Felicity Mason]

Bah-dum. Bah-dum. Bah-dum.
Her heart drummed loudly in her chest. too loud. Her bright blue eyes went wide behind the mask. She gasped. It was Gill! Or... was it Glit? Or was it...? No matter. She knew this face.

"O-oh!"

She didn;t know what to say. She'd stopped dead in the middle of the dance floor. Her face was burning. Too hot. Too hot! She let go, bowed quickly. Embarrassment had taken over entirely.

"I need to... to..."

Go.

[member="Glyph"]

 

[Edric Vanyan]

[member="Felicity Mason"]

"Uh..." He watched as she left him standing there, confused and a bit saddened that she responded in such a way. With a Sigh he left the floor and sat down, something bugging him about how she reacted... those blue eyes... She can't be FElicity, he thought she was at first, but she didn't so much as punch him, she had even encouraged him... that wasn't like Felicity at all. Then she ran and he was left standing there.

 

[Felicity Mason]

Glyph. That was his name. By the time she remembered it, she had already picked up the hem of her skirt and was on her way out to the courtyard. Running away. That was not like her at all. What was her problem? Here she was with a perfect first romance handed right to her. She needed to just lift her mask, show her face. Smile.

It was all exactly how she dreamed it would be. The party, the dance, the boy was cute too. He was no prince, but he behaved like one. He could be her Prince if she wanted him too. But something was wrong with it. Something was off.

Could it be she just wasn't ready for that yet? Or was it Owain in the back of her mind that stopped her? Owain the idiot. Owain the jerk. Owain the only friend she really had. And he didn't like her. Not that way. She didn't even know if he liked her in any way. He was terrible. He would be an awful first love. She really needed to just take a deep breath and just walk back inside.

I can't.

She sighed, frustrated with herself. She sunk into a clean white bench beside a rose bush. All around were those low trees that those pretty white and silver sing birds liked to sit in. And in front of her was a well decorated chrono. The time was 11:45. Soon it would be midnight. Soon mom would give her speech. Soon masks would come off. And soon, Felicity would need to make her exit.

 

[Cambry Owens]

Location | Theed Spaceport, Just down the cliff beside the Palace.​

Objective | Well, ship's refueled. Might as well leave these people to their reconstruction efforts.​

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The Spaceport was kind of a mess. It's long duracrete terraces and runways stretched out of the central hub, but the central hub itself housed more than it's share of wreckage, emergency vehicles, and the occasionally cluster of body bags. Personnel bustled around, organizing repair efforts and doing their best to service the still functioning parts of the port.
For his part, Cambry had only come by Naboo on his way to Tatooine, and only to refuel. He had witnessed the invasion from Orbit, but had spent the majority of it sleeping, rather than jumping into a fight between the Protectorate and the Systems Authority that he had no place in. ​

Luckily, by now the battle was over, and just in time. Lassie was about out. Was. She'd since been refueled, with plenty of supplies to make it to it's next stop, and then some.​

Cambry was satisfied. It was a pleasant evening. Typically was on Naboo; it was one of the prettier planets out there, even when it had been torn by war not too many hours earlier.​

He took in a deep breath of night air. Hundreds of feet above, Theed Palace was a shining monument, filled no doubt with happy nobles, gruff soldier types, guilty Gungans considering resignation, and awkward young people flirting from behind masks. Typical. ​

Ah, the security official was staring again. ​

He couldn't really blame the man - the Lassie was nothing short of heavily modified, and had more than a few unconcealed weapons, and they'd just seen a battle here. His highly distinctive armor style didn't help, despite the lack of markings and his own casual manner. ​

With a grunt, he hopped off the storage container he had been sitting on, helmet under his arm. After clearing his departure and his ID, he ascended the ramp.
There was a rapid series of beeps and noises from Verne, up front. His brown astromech droid reported that supplies were in good condition, and they were clear to take their leave. He addressed him as he listened to the hiss and the sound of the hydraulics lifting the boarding ramp.​

"Thanks. Don't suppose you wanted to attend the party...?"
He didn't expect an answer, and sure enough, the droid sat silent, it's head rotating with a soft whir every few seconds. He gave a small sigh and an endeared smile, before heaving into the pilots chair, leaving the helmet beside him. Reaching above, he began to ran checks, though he wasn't worried. After about a half minute, sure enough, everything was reported clear.​

The freighter gave a soft boom and a roar as it pulled itself up from the landing pad, and it's landing gear pulled up into itself as if hovered over the terrace. And as handles were pulled and joysticks manipulated, it sped away, up towards the twinkling blackness of Naboo's atmosphere.
​

 

[VlPER]

When Viper had received the invitation to the victory celebration, he was delighted. He wasn't able to stay and help with the rebuild effort, as he had a duty to return to Ossus and face the music for having left. However, with this formal invitation to attend a victory party being held by the queen herself, Viper couldn't resist. He did manage to get permission this time, though. The ball was supposed to be a masquerade. But Viper didn't have the resources to get a costume. So instead he would just "go as a Jedi". The irony made him chuckle.

************************************************************​

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Back on Naboo, his home, Viper gave a soft kiss to his fingers and then placed them to the ground. No matter where he would roam, this would always be home. He was simply glad they were able to save it from the invaders. After checking in with security, Viper headed on into the palace, hood over his head to at least look like he tried to come disguised. Yet another first, and something he never thought he'd get to do. His life as a Jedi had thus far, been quite the exciting one.

Viper spent as long as he could mingling in the crowded palace. He was a solitary soul by nature. Never very comfortable in crowds. He preferred open spaces. The time was nearing midnight now, and the Queen was sure to give a speech.

Before he couldn't get a moment to himself, Viper retreated to the courtyard to get some air. When he got out, he stopped in the middle, and took a deep breath of the fresh air. His eyes closed as he felt relief being away from all the crowds. He hadn't even noticed the young beauty sitting on the bench off to the side. Viper opened his eyes and removed his hood as he just looked out at the amazing view this spot afforded.

 

[Azula Tindara]

"Sir, I beg your pardon."
The Queen smiled as she tapped one of the gungans on his shoulder from behind. He wouldn't know her through the mask, and she was certain she had not met him regardless. Feena knew very few gungans. Still, after the loss at Otoh Gunga, she truly wanted to speak to one.

"I hope you don't think me rude, but I get to see so few Gungans in the capital."


[member="Jaani Doosun"]

Jaani half turned his head to the side as someone tapped him on the shoulder, his eyes swivelling on their stalks to take in the woman behind him. When she introduced herself politely he turned to face her and gave a half-bow.

"Nosa problem," he replied in his deep, gravely voice. "Wesa been ourselves to ourselves for longer time now," he said with an apologetic shrug. Ever since the Gulag plague the Gungans had retreated back from the connections they had started to form with the outside world. They had regressed, becoming as isolationist as they once had. It would be a slow way back to becoming the active citizens of the Republic they had once been in the time before the Empire.

 

[Felicity Mason]

"Space wizard?"
Her voice broke across the quiet courtyard like glass on marble tile. She couldn't believe it. She stood up, looking at her, well, her savior during the invasion. She never would have made it and gotten her message out without his help. She pulled her mask off, shaking her blond curls at the same time.

"I don't believe it! I'm so glad to see you! Tonight has just been exhausting."

She set the mask down on the bench, forgetting it for the time being.

[member="VlPER"]

 

[Feena]

"Yes, I can see that."

She smiled politely, taking a slow sip of her wine. No matter how far they had gone, the Queen was still concerned. The gungans were still people of Naboo.

"How have the gungan people been getting on? I... became aware of the trouble at Otoh Gunga only after the invasion."

She looked sadly down at her wine. The time was ticking away. Soon she would have to give her speech. Soon, but not now. She had time to learn more about what she could do for these people, if anything at all.

[member="Jaani Doosun"]

 

[VlPER]

The sudden, flurry of words from behind him, startled Viper some. He admittedly, hadn't been paying attention. Had been to focused on the relief that came from being away from the crowds. Shooting a glance toward the spot where the sound came from, he stared a moment. "Fe...Felicity? Is that you?"

A broad smile flashed across his face and he quickly made his way across the courtyard to her. He reached out for her and gave her a big hug as she stood.

"Oh my god. I can't believe it's you. I didn't think I was going to see anyone I recognized all night." He paused a moment as he stepped back to look at her dress. "You look beautiful! And yes...it has been rather exhausting. How have you been otherwise!?"

He could hardly contain his excitement as seeing a friendly and more familiar face.

 

[Felicity Mason]

She returned the embrace gladly, smiling more than she had that entire night. At the word 'beautiful', she blushed.

"I've been... adjusting" she answered carefully, one hand shyly tucking a lock of blond behind her torn ear, "Better than the last time you saw me, that's for sure."

The last time... she couldn't even remember saying goodbye to him, honestly. She'd been kinda lost in her own head until Owain snapped her out of it. She wondered if he noticed a difference in her now.

"Things have been busy around here. Mother has been working almost non stop. We've raised a lot of credits to restore the cities. Slowly but surely..."

[member="VlPER"]

 

[VlPER]

As he pulled away from their embrace, he still held on to her hands. It was strange. But although he wasn't even thinking of the action, subconsciously, he didn't want to let go for fear of losing the one person he knew here. The thought was ridiculous of course, and maybe a little juvenile. But it was there. "It's just good that we still have our city. Not only our city, but your parents as well. It was quite the relief to hear the palace had never been breached."

His mind raced through all they had been through in that short span of time. She had been so strong spirited when he first heard her voice. By the end of the day though, it was obvious the ugliness of war had changed the young woman. She did seem to have improved from the last time he saw her. But her hesitation to answer the question had him wondering if she was really as "adjusted" as she tried to make out.

"But anyway. What did your parents think about your exploits? How you braved the vast armies of the ASA to bring the galaxy the truth about what they were all about." His voice had become dramatic as he retold her story. "I bet they were proud. You did your family, and your people credit that day." He smiled warmly as he stared into her eyes. He meant every word of it, and hoped she wouldn't find it condescending.