What's to become of tomorrow? (Lady Kay).

[WolfMortum]

Veiere frowned at the prospect of their Children being left without he nor [member="Lady Kay"] there to support them in their lives; "Yes, I suppose you're right..." He agreed though not without reluctance in the thought. His first consideration went back to Loreena's training and who might fulfill her path should anything become of him. Presently, Veiere resided over her future as a Jedi, yet whether or not that was something his daughter truly wished to be, he hadn't yet asked her. They'd talked about many qualities that were required of Jedi, and broached some of the subjects that Veiere himself was taught as a young boy, yet there were still a great deal that he had to teach her and just how deep he went into these matters would depend on whether or not she wished to be a fully fledged Jedi Knight.

Caedyn on the other hand, it wasn't so much his training that Veiere was concerned about but the thought of dying and never having regained the lad's forgiveness and trust. The boy was stubborn, like Veiere often could be in matters of character and integrity, something that his father had severely unearthed during his mental and emotional decline back during the darker days he had lived. "With all that we've accomplished, atleast we will know the Children will want for nothing..." He spoke up softly; something that was assured for both of the Twins as well as [member="Bradshaw Ku"] and [member="Rae-Anna Ku"], individual accounts full of credits, set aside over the many years he and his wife had been in power.

"We should also consider the possibility that the Twins may not wish to reside on the throne of Commenor, that it may fall to their elder siblings..." Veiere's voice trailed off for a moment as he looked to gauge how Kay was feeling in the moment, soon to bring up something he had been considering for a while now, "...-Or that it may be best to encourage the House of Lords to rule over Commenor as a Democratic body and do away with the Monarchy entirely".

 

[Kay-Larr]

Fall to their elder siblings? Both [member="Bradshaw Ku"] and [member="Rae-Anna Ku"] were missing. They couldn't rule if they weren't found. Brad wasn't much to stick around anyways. He tended to run from his responsibilities. Life was all about fun for him, which was all well and good. But the man needed to grow up. He wasn't a youngling anymore.

As for the twins and the fact that they might not want to have any part in the leadership of Commenor, Kay was of two minds with that. What sort of legacy were they leaving behind if it couldn't be fulfilled?

"Commenor was democratic before....I suppose that it is something for them all to decide when the time comes. We won't have a say in it, of course. But we should speak with the twins and the House of Lords on that issue. The survivors will get to dictate the future of Commenor. We can only direct the here and now."

Death could be the only vacation from political life that the two would have. It wasn't the kind of life that Veiere had wanted, nor did she aim to throw it all into his lap. But he chose to do it, chose to help, just as he chose to marry her. And that at least was something.

[member="Veiere Arenais"]

 

[WolfMortum]

"With such little choice, what is there to discuss then?".

Veiere wanted to force a chuckle, though the prospect of being so out of control over who were to follow in their footsteps didn't sit well with him. [member="Lady Kay"] was right in that a democratic leadership had been attempted by them both in the past, and it had always been something that they wished to see for Commenor. After all, there was no other way to balance fairness and freedom across a world like housing a group, representatives of the people that could vote and voice their opinions on what was right for their future. With himself and Kay at the head, they could do their best to see their dreams for the people fulfilled, but then even Veiere understood that the position of King and Queen was an elevated one, placing oneself atop all other peoples regardless of the intent. It wasn't a position that the Jedi Order would have approved of.

"We still have time to write our wills, our wishes to be carried out in the event of our deaths. I'm not so certain I would ask our Children to give their lives for Commenor like we have. Playing the part of King or Queen isn't just a job, it's a life sentence for those who do not wish it..." Veiere knew this well and true, for he had never intended on becoming King. It was only by marriage to Kay, that he had been forced to step into the role. The fact was that he distrusted politicians, and knew politics to be a game of lies when it came to one side seeking to benefit over another. Trade deals were one thing, as both parties received and benefited from them, yet alliances had proven to be fickle and those they had trusted before, had turned out to be snakes.

 

[Kay-Larr]

"...A life sentence..." Her words were quietly spoken. Years ago one of her bodyguards, [member="Macoda Haberon"] , had told her that she was a slave to her position. And for the longest time she had disagreed with his opinion. But then later she had discovered that he was right.

Politics was a slave driver like no other. And in the current structure of the Galaxy, it had tricked people into believing that it was needed, and so they served willingly; almost blindly. Perhaps that was why it attracted so many that served the Darkside. It gave them power.

Kay broke away from [member="Veiere Arenais"] then and refreshed her cup of tea, once again feeling guilty for the life that he was forced to live. Would he of been happier otherwise? If she had never hired him from the start? All of that was in the past and the answers would never be known.

"Should we talk to Cae and Lori first and see what they would like before we secure their future in our wills? Or should we include options for them to cover either decision that they would make?" Just the thought of not being around for their children gave her a deeper sense of her own mortality than anything else had. Hopefully she still had a long life ahead of her. But nothing was ever guaranteed.

 

[WolfMortum]

"Perhaps it's best that we speak to them first" Veiere replied thoughtfully, "With the credits that we will leave them when we are gone, they will have the ability to go wherever they wish and do whatever they like...-But I'm not sure how we could direct Commenor's future without first knowing what they wish to do with their lives". Discussing their Will and the Children's inheritance hadn't exactly been something that he had seen coming, but these were crucial matters both for the security of the Twins as much so as the future of Commenor's present Governing body.

"We have achieved so much together for the people of this World..." Veiere soon spoke up again, this time reflecting upon the past. He could remember a time where the [member="Lady Kay"] had been nervous and doubting her being voted into the presidency of the small trade world, one that back then had never really shared a place in the Galactic spotlight for quite a number of years. "I have often wondered of the end-game though, those times where we used to dream of stepping away into a quiet and normal life..-A peaceful life. I find I ask myself whether we've given Commenor the strength to endure after we're no longer here, and if the answer is in doubt, then perhaps that needs to be our focus looking ahead. I do not want all that we have worked so hard to build, to be for nothing in the end...".

 

[Kay-Larr]

She sipped her tea, listening quietly to [member="Veiere Arenais"] as he spoke of both the future and the past. Every point that he made was a great one. Were they going to leave Commenor to it's own devices? Or were they leaving a true legacy that the people and their family could look back on and smile? Kay hoped for the latter.

"Retirement...We sort of had that after the twins were born. I think that it gave you too little to do..." It was during that time that he had gone dark. She worried that such a thing would happen again; that staying still for too long might take it's toll on him once more. Of course they could always travel together, but would that help him in any way? Would it make him feel as though he had a purpose?

"What about Lori's training? Do you have someone in mind to take over in case something happened soon?" Knowing the luck of their family, anything could happen. It made her glad that she wasn't training her at the moment. Although neither of them had been trained in politics. That was something that she needed to rectify. They needed to know the basics. If not to lead the planet, it would help them in life too.

 

[WolfMortum]

Veiere didn't exactly plan on dying any time soon, though [member="Lady Kay"] had asked about Lori's future were he to ever fail to be there to complete her training. "I'm in contact with a good number of Jedi still. Only recently I've reconnected with the New Jedi Order of the Former Galactic Alliance, as well as the Silver Jedi and subsequent smaller pockets of Jedi across the Galaxy. They've been allowed to establish a temple here on Commenor". [member="Romi Jade"] was no longer an option, where future mentors were concerned for their Daughter though there were many others that could fill the role if the worst were to occur. Fortunately, the Jedi were never alone, for their path was always guided by the Force itself. Veiere, ever a man of faith, differed from his wife on that aspect. Kay never having been taught the theoretical lessons behind the living and the unifying Force.

"At the end of the Day, at least we can be assured that the Twins will have plenty of support" Veiere soon offered something of a shrug, not all too comfortable with the subject at hand though speaking what he felt was the truth all the same; "The People of Commenor are behind our Family and whether or not we remain in leadership, I'm sure Caedyn and Loreena will have plenty of friends to be there for them". Friends and Family, those like [member="Jairdain"] and [member="Darlyn Excron"] for example. Extended Family that he and Kay had come to grow close to, and to rely upon them for their loyalty and integrity in all things that they did for Commenor and for their loved ones.

 

[Kay-Larr]

"You may be in contact with them, but is she?" From what little Kay knew about what was going on in Lori's life, hanging around with the Jedi wasn't one of them. That was more of Cae's thing. But she could be wrong about that too.

For someone that was presumed to be on the Galactic stage and in the spotlight, she knew so little about what was going on outside of her home, if anything. And getting out there wasn't so easy as there wasn't much trust to be had for her, plus the other officials were too busy with war and growing their families.

Kay sipped her tea, nodding her head in agreement with his secondary points. "That's one thing that we've done well and is a more promising legacy that we'll leave them than anything else.
They'll have a great support base and people that will watch over them." And that would never change. Both [member="Veiere Arenais"] and herself saw to that. Maybe that's all the legacy that they'll ever need.

"Well, I suppose that that concludes the official side of things." She took another sip of her tea, and then just stood there for a moment, unsure of how to just be herself. "Maybe we could go to dinner some time? Just the two of us?"

 

[WolfMortum]

"No she isn't...-At-least, she isn't yet" Veiere replied plainly, though he didn't require Lori to know of the Jedi that came to mind, those well capable of tracking her down of their own means were the King of Commenor to make such a request. "[member="Coren Starchaser"] of the New Jedi Order under the former Galactic Alliance and The Jedi Academy Network has recently reached out to me, through him there seems to be a calling to the Force and a revival of the Order's strongest. I'm not yet certain whether they wish to bring the fight back on the Sith, or whether their focus is purely on aiding the Galaxy in it's attempt to better fend them off...-But regardless, He's asked for my assistance and I've agreed to do what I can", it was difficult to tell whether or not [member="Lady Kay"] believed in the good of the Jedi, whether or not she agreed with their purpose or otherwise. They both had seen many a good man or woman resort to horrible actions in an attempt to best evil forces...The Jedi weren't excused from this experience, in their case. Veiere himself was a testament to how someone of the Light could fall so far into Darkness.

"...But I am not yet dead, and my Daughters future within the Jedi Path remains firmly within my grasp. I have every intention of shaping her into a strong Force User, whether or not she chooses to remain with the Jedi when all is said and done, at-least I will know she has grown into her power with the integrity we can be certain of" In Veiere's mind, it would quite probably be the last student that he would take under his tutelage, however also the most meaningful both to himself and to their Family for the legacy of House Arenais would continue on long after he and Kay were gone from this life..

Kay's demeanor seemed to change however, a noticeable shift in her attitude as she sought to find some personal space away from the typical business mind that they often shared these days. So much of their time had been stolen away in Commenor's greater interests since recovering the World from the Sith Empire. So much has been required of them to repair the damage done to the Cities, the people and the resources they shipped for trade and income.

"We are well overdue for some personal time...-Home isn't exactly what it used to be. Not after [member="Koda Fett"] wiped half of it out trying to return me to the Emperor during the Siege. Perhaps we could reconsider our choice of residence. Share the coming weekend and plan for something new for us and the Kids....-Though away from the Palace" He concluded with a half smile, "Please" he added to emphasis his wish to distance himself from the center of Commenor's governance.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay nodded as [member="Veiere Arenais"] spoke of another Jedi Order rising that has asked for his help. They tend to do that. And as always he was quick to answer. That was his calling moreso than ruling over Commenor. She knew that and at times it tore her up inside. "They'll be in good hands with your guidance and help. You've got a lot of experience under your belt that they can learn from."

She wanted to just release him then. Release him from his duties as King and everything that bound him here. She always felt responsible for his downfall and it was without her that he was redeemed. It was without her that he had his most purpose-filled moments. Kay felt more married to her position than anything else. It was difficult to try to pretend otherwise.

"A weekend away?
That could be nice. We could go to Brelor or some other place of your choosing. I could use a vacation..."

 

[WolfMortum]

Veiere nodded firmly in quick approval, "Brelor could give us a nice change of scenery...-It's been far too long since you and I last felt like more than a mantle-piece for which Commenor relies upon. I do miss the days where we roamed the Galaxy looking at getting after those old pirates and Slavers. The freedom and personal time spent together, even though it was before our marriage, it was nice to take on new adventures with you" he smiled as he spoke, the memories they shared aboard The Free Lady were those that Veiere felt rather fondly of.

"The Jedi will rise and fall in volumes of power in expense and consequence to every Sith Conquest..." Veiere soon commented, feeling the time for matters outside of their relationship to be at an end; "I'm not certain where my part in it all will take me, but our marriage and our bond is steadfast and undying. We've had so little chance to remember to enjoy the company of one another lately. We should make this vacation of sorts, our first priority" Commenor was changing once more, it's strength rebuilding and through the House Arenais and the many states and countries across the lone Trade World, he and his wife, the [member="Lady Kay"], were once more reaching a time where such vacations were more affordable. Commenor would survive without them for a couple of weeks.

"Brelor is fine enough, though we could also choose some place outside of our sector. We spend so much time focusing on the going-on's in Commenori Space...-I'd rather like to be somewhere that we're less likely to be recognized and more likely to be given the leisure to do as we see fit".

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay liked those times of rescuing slaves too. But back then she didn't have to worry much about anything but herself. Now she had a big family and a planet to look after. Whatever she did could have consequences on all of them. They didn't have the ability to protect themselves from another war. Their military might had been greatly diminished since their alliance broke. And it was all her fault.

Getting away from home seemed to be all that [member="Veiere Arenais"] could think of. Yet he was never the sort to stay anywhere for too long. His exile when he was younger was a different story. But in all of her time with him, it was hard to get him to stay put. And when she did, after the twins were born, Veiere had gone dark soon after. She had blamed herself for that too, even though it had nothing to do with her.

"I'll have a look and see what I can find. I'm sure that there's something out there. Bakura is still in First Order space, so that's kinda out of the question." Bakura was always one of her favourite places to visit. Now the neutral stance between the First Order and Commenor was no longer there. They weren't quite enemies, but they were no longer allies either.