(Unified Coruscant Party) The journey of a thousand light-years...

[Mattia Borgias]

"Begins with a single step."​

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Location: Coruscant; The Kiffel District, Jaster Firr Community Center​

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[Tonight: All Welcome! Unified Coruscant Party dinner - Meet Mr. Kane!]​

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The large marquee in the front of the building glimmered brightly in the evening air. The holographic letters, in Galactic Basic, advertised an evening event to-which all of Coruscant were invited. The United Coruscant Party, one of the largest pro-diplomacy political groups on the Planet, was holding a very special meet-&-greet; Devlyn Kane, Gubernatorial Hopeful for Mayor of Coruscant, would be attending the gala and would be available to speak with donors, well-wishers, and the public. At every entrance & exit, black-suited beings of the most common races stood, silent sentinels, checking each person for weapons thoroughly. Within the building, similar officers would be present in the crowd, each of them armed & each a professional bodyguard... hand-chosen by Kane's head of security for their loyalty. ​

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There would be a buffet available with a number of foods from a number of worlds, each a delicacy. Quiet music, champagne, and pleasant conversation were available to all. The affair would be small, intimate; not at all a great gathering of the minds, but a night of pleasant discussion of the future of Coruscant. ​

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All are invited. ​

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"Sir, it's time."

Devlyn turned his attention from the mirror, glancing over his left shoulder & across the sparsely decorated antechamber. The man at the door, a powerfully built blonde mountain of a man with cold blue eyes and a jagged cicatrix tugging at his upper lip, had peered in without entering; looking through the portal at his boss.

Devlyn stood, dressed in a fine suit and tie, with his hands at his throat - he'd been adjusting his collar when Vic had entered and had paused mid-motion.

"Thank you, Vic. I'll be right out." Devlyn replied. His head of security disappeared without another word.

Turning back to the mirror, the handsome Mr. Kane completed his ritual, assuring to himself he was ready for the evening. Steadily, he held his own gaze in the mirror... for a few heartbeats longer than needed.

Then, as-if turning on a switch, his face blossomed into a radiant smile.

"It's showtime."

 

[Alexander Sannes]

Alexander had come with the interest of meeting the new Mayoral hopeful, knowing that this might be the man the Republic would one day deal with in concerns for Trade, and maybe even membership. It was something that he could not ignore and would not stop without having achieved his purpose.

He was not surprised the winds of change had shifted once more and that there was a chance of coruscant opening itself to the greater galaxy once more. The Coruscant First Party, the one in charge was little more than an imperial shadow government in Alexander's mind. One that stood with the same authoritarian methods and practices that the Empires of the galaxy used on the species and peoples they conquered.

This man seemed to want to change that though.

So Alexander stood with his hands straightening out the suit he wore, smiling as he was back in his element. The only thing missing was the violin he carried with him at all times and the blade that he carried, both having been taken by those who were organizing this gettogether. He did not blame them, considering how a simple holdout blaster could change the course of the Galaxy and the world in particular. It was a danger than any politician's faces and Alexander's eyes were always open to the chance of it coming to pass.

He wondered what others he might meet here while he was at it, curious to see who else might find their way to the home of the man that resided here. He wondered who else would seek his support or peer into his mind to find out what he believes. He had to see what was going on, had to know what was coming from this man who would stand for coruscant.

 

[Rozalyne Kurganova]

Needless to say, the Silver Order had become alarmed by the radical shift Coruscant had taken under Zeradias Mant and Coruscant First, that regime even going as far as to dabble with the Sith Empire. Fortunately, hope had appeared on the horizon, in the form of Mr. Kane and the UCP, promising a return to classic liberal policies and Coruscant's traditional place as a leader in galactic affairs.

That was the pitch, anyway.

The UCP's dinner party presented a perfect opportunity to meet with party leaders and get a better feel for the organization, to see if they were worth collaborating with in the future. The last thing the Silver Order wanted was another CF with a paint job.

She arrived shortly after the start of the event, sporting a simple black cocktail dress. After check in, she quietly roamed the floor, icy blue eyes scanning the room for the man of the hour.

[member="Alexander Sannes"] [member="Devlyn Kane"]

 

[Sal Valentino]

Formal events were not the type of place one would usually find Sal Valentino. Perhaps in an earlier life, but not anymore. His current enterprise was occupying his complete attention and left little time for social events such as this. Today was different however, today there was there was a new opportunity arising. And Sal hoped to exploit this opportunity in the near future.

Salvatore was void of any of his security detail tonight. They would be outside the venue; awaiting his return later in the night. It was to the knowledge of Sal that there would be high security at the dinner. His dwellings into the Coruscant underworld were still greatly unknown to the planet-wide city, and so Sal thought it best not to be seen with members of his crime family, as to not raise speculation among others. The lone, ageing man would wear an expensive 3-piece pinstripe suit and a solid gold watch would weigh down his wrist. Many of those at the dinner would undoubtedly recognise him and he felt it was best to maintain his image as being the owner of one of the largest accounting firms only months prior.

As he walked through the doors and entered the venue he was greeted by various members of staff and those who had once known him either socially or through business. He kept conversations short and sweet as he searched for someone that was worth his time.

This event felt like his former life. He almost got lost in this feeling, before a cough originating from the cancerous tumour within his body, brought him back to where he was.


[member="Devlyn Kane"] [member="Alexander Sannes"] [member="Rozalyne Kurganova"]

 

[Tara Creel]

Tara was excited. This was her first gala of significance. Oh, she'd been to a few here and there, but they were much less formal - and much less political.
As a young person who had basically just left home, she was trying to find her place in society. But Coruscant was dear to her heart, as she'd grown up there.
She supported Devlyn Kane. At least he would bring hope to people like her family. Of course, there would always be the possibility he would not follow through with his promises, as he was still a politician. But he was her parent's best shot at prosperity.
Tara went through security, somehow simultaneously bored yet excited. This was her first step into the world of diplomacy. Her hopes and dreams for the future were coming true! How could she be bored?
Finally, they stopped checking the person in front of her. They frisked her for weapons, and she walked through the metal detectors.
Wow. There were high-ranking people here. She hoped and prayed that she would be able to fit in with everyone here!

 

[Mattia Borgias]

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The dinner was underway, and much of the crowd had filed in. Many were dressed for the evening's event, while others had come wearing their best - beings from across the Galaxy were among them, though humans were the majority. Quiet music, played by a live band on a small dais on one side of the room, pleasantly set the tone for an intimate, if somewhat informal affair. Spaced throughout the entry hall into the Center's main ballroom, and conservatively sprinkled amongst the gathering, were the UCP's security detail, prepared but unexpecting of trouble.​

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The man of the hour was greeted by murmurs of delight as he appeared from upstairs, giving a wave to the small group of reporters who'd been given exclusive rights to cover the event. His broad, handsome, genuine smile was a beloved sight, and he was nearly mobbed by a small group of wellwishers. "Thank you! Thank you! Wonderful to see you all here." He chuckled, slipping through the small crowd and entering the ballroom like any other attendee. Though Vic, his head of security, had counseled it would be safer to make his appearance through a secured hallway or under guard, Devlyn had outright refused.​

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As he entered the room, he passed a lovely young woman who seemed a bit nervous... a tad out of place, which made Devlyn stop and turn, offering a pleasant smile toward [member="Tara Creel"]. "Good evening, miss... Welcome." He said, bowing his head.​

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~​

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[member="Rozalyne Kurganova"] [member="Sal Valentino"] [member="Alexander Sannes"]​

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The sudden hum of commotion toward the main entrance into the ballroom would have easily drawn the attention of those in attendance. Devlyn Kane was now present in the room, and would be walking about, available for conversation. A brief glimpse at the evening's itinerary would have indicated that a speech by the candidate was forthcoming, taking place before the evening's meal would be served.​

 

[Malcoma Hesse]

{[member="Devlyn Kane"]} {[member="Tara Creel"]} {[member="Sal Valentino"]} {[member="Rozalyne Kurganova"]} {[member="Alexander Sannes"]}
. . .

The rise of the United Coruscant Party had come as as much of a shock to Malcoma that it had to the news outlets. Maybe even more. In her own way, she was like Gubernatorial Hopeful Kane, scrambling for some sort of power in the politically turbulent wake left by former Mayor Zeradias Mant. Only, she didn't plan to do any amount of good with whatever she could manage--or, at least, not for anyone that wasn't her or her Family.

Quite, actually, on the contrary. Tonight, she sought the purified imagine of her agency, for the purpose of attracting more unsuspecting patrons. As far as the general, law-abiding Coruscanti public was concerned, there was absolutely nothing illegal about Eve Escorts: no exploitation, no extortion, no kidnapping or slavery, and certainly not a possibility of prostitution. But what they were known to do--offer companionship of the non-intimate variety--was considered a slippery slope that caused people to suspect that Eve Escorts provided the other kind, too. True or untrue, the imagined taboo, though legal, had begun to shrink her market sustainably.

Admittedly, she didn't really know what she expected from Kane. Though Malcoma certainly understood his popularity rankings--

--and, Goddess, just look at all of those reporters. Sat on a loveseat across from Larena, Eve's most senior escort after herself, and watching the candidate entering the ballroom, the blonde fought the urge to roll her eyes. She was unable to see herself in their shoes if she wasn't making some large amount of money.

Malcoma smoothed her palms down the tops of her tights, though no wrinkles existed in her dress, as she stood. "I vill try not to swoon," she said with a side smirk.

Larena stood as well. "Good luck," she joked as her boss walked away without her usual purpose. Maybe after a conversation or two, the admirers around Kane would thin and allow for a semi-private audience.

 

[Alexander Sannes]

Alexander watched with interest to see what faces would greet his eyes, trying to figure out who might be the best to approach and who might be the worst. The things on his mind soon changed to the music though and he looked on with interest, seeing what might be enjoyed. They played with a flow that made him happy and he watched for those moments until his eyes were drawn away by the man he was looking for making his entrance.

[member="Devlyn Kane"] was of all things interesting, someone that Alexander kept an eye on for going against the main party on Coruscant, one with suspected ties to Sith and Imperial alike. If it was true, Alexander had half expected some kind of assassination attempt on Kane a long time ago but it was amusing how life worked against expectations. So instead Alexander had been given the chance to entertain a meeting with the man.

His feet started to move but by the time his second step landed, Kane was busy talking to another already, leaving Alexander to hold off for now. They had the whole night and there was other things he could occupy himself with. Instead he sighed and looked to his right, seeing another looking in Kane's direction and raising a brow at the woman. With a smile his eyes traced to the other side and two glasses floated to his hand and through the crowd.

It was only when they touched his hand that he cleared his throat and spoke up, aiming the question towards [member="Malcoma Hesse"].

"Another of the man's admirer's I see?" He smiled at her, his eyes soft but still holding a hint of caution while he handed her a glass.

"Can I interest you in a drink?"

 

[Sal Valentino]

The murmuring present in the room would increase as [member="Devlyn Kane"] entered the room, and a small group of people would make their way to him in hopes of introducing themselves to the man of the hour. Salvatore was already close to entrance that Devlyn had used to enter the dining hall and so he did not need to move to be in close proximity to the politician.

At the present time, Devlyn was already conversing with a younger female woman. Although some considered him a monster, Sal Valentino was well equipped with good manners. Interrupting conversations was a rude gesture and would not be a good way to make a positive first impression.

Instead the former accountant would remain on his own, showing that he was open to conversation with Devlyn if he wished to speak.


[member="Alexander Sannes"] [member="Malcoma Hesse"] [member="Devlyn Kane"]

 

[Malcoma Hesse]

{[member="Alexander Sannes"]} {[member="Devlyn Kane"]}
. . .
But Malcoma was not expecting to find one so soon. She stopped dead when she saw the two glasses floated into her peripherals and a surprised expression spread across her face as they drifted past her in the air. She followed them with her gaze, deep blue eyes fixing on the man whose hands they settled into.

When he asked his question, holding out one of the flutes, Malcoma gave a radiant smile and stepped closer.

"Ah, always, dahlink. You are too sveet," she commented before accepting his offering. "Who? Zhe Hopeful? Guilty as charged, mister..." With that, she trailed off, giving space for an introduction. As she waited, she rose her drink to her lips and took a delicate sip.

 

[Mattia Borgias]

[member="Malcoma Hesse"][member="Sal Valentino"] [member="Alexander Sannes"] [member="Tara Creel"] @Rosalyne Kurganova

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After a brief conversation with the young woman, Devlyn left her with a gentle bow, inviting her to remain so they might speak again later in the evening. Even during his conversation, he'd kept his eyes moving... balancing easily between showing attention and remaining aware. It was a skill he'd developed after watching his own security staff conduct business, and he'd taken personal cues from his head of security - namely, that situational awareness was the one skill he needed, even beyond knowledge of defensive tactics. So, Devlyn had easily identified the older gentleman standing patiently nearby.

The man's fine pinstripe suit and golden wrist-chron gave him quite the regal air; as-if he belonged at one of these functions. Devlyn did not immediately recognize him, and, taking his leave from [member="Tara Creel"], approached [member="Sal Valentino"]. The two men were close to the same age.

"Good evening, sir... I hope you're enjoying yourself. My name is Devlyn Kane." The politician offered his right hand, and his grip would be firm; steady, showing strength of character. "May I ask your name?"

 

[Sal Valentino]

"I'm glad to of made your acquaintance tonight Devlyn. And it is quite a venue you have picked for tonight's dinner." As Sal spoke to the politician, he would meet the outstretched hand with his own. The grip of Devlyn's was strong, however Sal's would be weaker - almost feeble in comparison. This was all apart of the deceptive facade he was displaying to the public eye.

Devlyn had asked for the name of Sal. The old Sal would've taken offence to this, but this new character he employed did not care. The public limelight hadn't seen Salvatore Valentino in a long time. He would speak again to introduce himself, releasing his gentle grip as he did so. "My name Salvatore Valentino. I was the founder of Coruscant Financial, but I am currently enjoying my retirement."

Sal hoped to build a relationship with Devlyn. Although their plans of the future could not differ more so, it could be useful having a character witness held in such high regard in the future. Either way, it would be best to keep up to date with the changing politics of his home planet.


[member="Devlyn Kane"] [member="Malcoma Hesse"] [member="Alexander Sannes"]

 

[Tara Creel]

Tara stood stock still. Someone had noticed her. Notably, Devlyn Kane had noticed her. You know, the big politician everyone was here to meet? She had been expecting to meet him, but she didn't expect him to notice her until she went up to him.
She politely smiled, and then he took his leave.
That was, well, cool, for lack of a better word.
She sat down at one of the tables. The music was nice. Not too overwhelming, yet not boring. Pleasant.
She wondered what they were having for dinner. She said hello to the person sitting next to her, asking where the food was.
"It's up at the front of the room, miss."
"Ok." She got up from her seat to get some dinner.

[member="Devlyn Kane"]
[member="Rozalyne Kurganova"]

 

[Mattia Borgias]

Devlyn shook [member="Sal Valentino"]'s hand, finding the older man's grip somewhat weaker than his own. He would match the man's strength, seeking not to overpower him, but to show restraint and compassion for what he'd immediately assumed was a man in poor health. Sal cut quite the figure, appearing in such fine apparel but also bearing secrets... which Devlyn caught, but knowing nothing, forgot within moments.

"I do hope you enjoy the evening... it's quite the place, certainly." The politician smiled. "Coruscant Financial? I'm familiar with your firm, in fact - I've seen the..." Recognition dawned in Devlyn's eyes and he shifted, snapping his fingers with a soft laugh. "That's right... I recognize you now. Mr. Valentino, it's a pleasure to meet you. Retirement should be a time for rest... and for pursuing one's hobbies. How is the firm holding up, following your departure?"

 

[Rozalyne Kurganova]

Looking around the room, most of the other VIPs were mostly foreign to her, but she did recognize a certain Echani in the mix. Senator Sannes, who now represented her home system. The Princess still wasn't ecstatic about the Caridans welcoming the Republicans into the system, but better they than the Mandalorians. As long as they respected the autonomy of her principality, then she could deal.

What really mattered at this was that the Republic also seemed to have a keen interest in the UCP. A path for finally bringing Coruscant into the fold.

The monarch loved a good competition.

Finally, she spotted Mr. Kane, currently speaking with another fellow she didn't recognize. She wasted little time approaching the Coruscanti, plucking a glass of champagne from a server's platter along the way. Once near, she afforded the two men space to keep speaking without interruption, but from the way she kept glancing over at Kane, that she wanted a turn at introducing herself. To both of them, in fact.

It didn't hurt to use this gathering to network.

[member="Devlyn Kane"] [member="Tara Creel"] [member="Sal Valentino"] [member="Malcoma Hesse"] [member="Alexander Sannes"]

 

[Sal Valentino]

A small part of Salvatore was glad that [member="Devlyn Kane"] knew who he was. Not only did it appease his ego, but it would also make it easier for him to maintain his disguise as an innocent old man in retirement. He let out a soft sigh as the politician mentioned his old firm, "When I hung up the boots for good I decided it would be best to sell the firm. Its now apart of the one of the larger financial groups." It was disappointing day when Sal sold the business he spent so many years building, however the credits he made that day would allow him to pursue his new career in the Coruscant underworld.

As he spoke he noticed a lady approach and stand nearby. Sal guessed she was here for Devlyn - as everyone was - and so he would invited her over. "Please, come over and speak. I have not reserved the good man for myself." The ageing man let out a small chuckle as he did this.

Many people at this dinner were influential figures and Sal hoped that he could use as many of them as he could to influence his future business endeavours. Perhaps this newcomer would prove to be useful as well.


[member="Devlyn Kane"][member="Rozalyne Kurganova"]