Public [Zinder Event] Celebrating Mutually Assured Devotion!

[Reese Helfire]

Location: Naboo
Theme: Lithium flower
Outfit: [X}
Tags: Saul Whesai

---

"Oooof" A grunt let loose from Reese as they someone bumped into them, with a quick pivot on their left foot to turn their body to the side they stumbled back a few steps but caught themselves from tumbling to the ground. Their Echani reflexes saving them from a total disaster of ruining their clothing or from falling and crushing the bed of Malreaux roses they were admiring.

Reese looked down slightly as a young man politely gave his apologies to them calling them miss. "Hmmm." Reese gave them a curious little look before giving them a slight smile. Reese never much cared what people called them miss or mister, it didn't matter. They always liked the interpretations of who they were, maybe they were right or maybe they were wrong.

"I will be fine, apology accepted." Reese said in their husky non-descript voice. Reese had to admit for the boy's size he sure had some strength behind his brisk pace he had been walking. "What has got you so distracted then, if I may ask?" They had to wonder if it was a girl, a love triangle gone wrong. Fek they needed to get this Lady Velvet crap out of their head it was infecting their thought process. Still the boy seemed to be fretting about something and Resse was curious as to what it was.

 

[Saul Whesai]

Outfit
Tag: Reese Helfire

Saul withstood the woman's curious gaze, knowing that the line What the hell is this thing was probably going through her head as she looked him over. He was a lowly mechanic pretending to be someone important. Hell, he was something not quite human and pretending to be one so he didn't judge her looks as hostile. When he heard her (or should he say their?) voice though, there was a spark in his electronic eyes that said What's in this holobook is not the same as whats on its cover. He didn't mind that of course. A person was a person and if he enjoyed their company then who cared what gender they were. As for her question, he gave a half smirk as he answered with "Just thinking about one door closing and another door opening is all."

Gesturing to the path around the colorful garden, he added another question to his own. "Would you like to take a walk together and try to do the normal thing of trying to awkwardly prove to the other person you just met that you are not a serial killer and are in fact a normal person...?" The Android left the question open-ended, hoping their new acquaintance would put their name at the end. After all, calling the interesting personality this person was Miss all day would get very tiring for the both of them.

Reese Helfire

 

[Ran Serys]

When Ran read the message she smiled. Lycus seemed sweet, and she was glad to go on a date with someone sweet. It had been years since her last date, and she was beginning to wonder if she'd ever go on one again. The life of a Jedi, or at least her life, left her little time for romance or dating.

Ran also couldn't help but find his text amusing. "Meating me," She read, holding back a chuckle. She knew what he meant but was hard pressed not to imagine what a literal interpretation would mean. Silly thoughts crossed her mind as she responded. -Coming to you now. Looking forward to meating you too!- She returned the typo in kind along with a small moving image meant to communicate her amusement.

She was upon him in a few minutes. She had taken a short detour to the manor's powder room to make sure everything was in its proper place. She had come dressed as her favorite character from her favorite novel. The loving handmaiden, a supporting character from The Nagai's Duel of Love. Ran stood behind a turned Lycus in an ornate, burnt sienna handmaiden's uniform, as he ordered himself a beverage from the bar. Her handmaiden's hood was carried in her hand and her long, wavy, black hair caressed her half exposed shoulders. A necklace hung from her neck and touched the outfits' beaded brown bodess, and the burnt sienna skirt hiked up and held in place with a golden belt lead to a pair of laced up, tan boots half covered by the skirt.

"Lycus." She called his name. "Nice to finally meet you." She said excitedly but sheepishly after their short but meaningful zinder conversation. "I love that you've decided to come in costume." She teased him playfully as he looked a bit out of place. She'd go in for a hug, if he'd let her.

Lycus Merita​

 

[Darth Nefaron]

TAGS: Corazona von Ascania , OPEN
EQUIPMENT: Finest Black Cloak, Walking Stick
​

Nefaron was quiet for a moment, considering what his new companion had asked. He did have to mentally recall just who she had identified him as, but in the end, it mattered little. he was more than happy to play along.

"Indeed" he began with a chuckle "My own poor attempt, but I do so admire ambition so I was naturally drawn to the character."

The Dark Lord tapped his walking stick on the ground a few times to bring attention to it

"Though I had to make a few modifications. I don't believe I will be stealing any galactic beauties any time soon."

He did truly laugh at the thought. To be Sith, to embrace the Dark Side, means the only love one may hold in their heart is for themselves. Nefaron had learned this long ago, even before his transformation into the horrid creature that hid beneath his cloak. When he first read the Lady Velvet series, he found himself disgusted by the notion of love, but it was then he realized that these books did not detail accounts of love's triumph over evil.

It was about passion. To revel in one's emotions.

This was the key to power.

That is why Nefaron had concluded that the series must have been crafted by a Sith, or at least one who had turned to the Dark Side. Only one so willing to embrace their own passions was capable of writing such works. The question was why this writer even bothered with the practice of crafting a mysterious identity. Did they wish to indoctrinate those safe in the Core Worlds with the beliefs of the Sith? Was this all some scheme to draw in the curious minds who sought to remake their lives by embracing the Dark Side?

Such a clever being. Nefaron would find them.

"I could not help but be drawn to the man's ambition. The moment he laid eyes on Lady Annette he knew he must have her. Though I may just be reading into things a bit too much, I see hidden meaning in the character. I would ask the author, but they have unfortunately chosen to be anonymous."

There was a hint of disappointment in the man's voice, but he took great comfort in knowing that he would one day unravel the mystery and speak with the author. Perhaps he would learn from them. Perhaps he would kill them.

So many exciting possibilities.

"Forgive me for asking, but I can't help but notice you declined a copy of the newest entry in the series. They are a hot commodity, so I ask why you would turn it down. Clearly, you are a dedicated fan, you went through all the trouble to be here after all."

It was then that Nefaron tiled his head up just a bit to reveal a bit of his face and eyes, but this allowed him to more closely scrutinize the woman he had been speaking with. She seemed... familiar. But the Dark Lord could not place her, surely she was not another Dark Lord in disguise? It was rare that Nefaron spoke to anyone outside of the Sith Empire or his collection of slaves.

She stank. Not in a literal sense.

But of the light. Like a flame in the dark. ​

"Might I ask your name, my lady?"​

 

[Eira Dyn]

​

Location: Naboo
Outfit: Dress
Equipment: Hidden daggers
Tag: Quinn Varanin | Serina Calis | Kaila Irons | Tamsin Graves | Kirie

Everyone seemed to be dressed impressively for the event. From what she could gather in terms of conversations, Kirie had borrowed a dress from Quinn. Eira was not surprised, since the handmaiden was very close with Quinn. Though, Eira had thought their relationship was more secretive than Quinn was putting on, being so attached to Kirie for the moment before she found her way to Kaila.

Eira silently groaned, watching her Master. It seemed that she would need to be the sober one tonight.

Looking to Serina, she gave a warm smile and nodded her head. "Much appreciated. I wasn't too sure on it since it accentuates my figure quite a bit. But I enjoy the gothic styling." Eira admitted, she was pleased to be complimented on her dress. It was a sign that she had selected a good outfit to wear.

"Your armour is a great pick as well. Definitely has that bold knight that seems to be a favourite of Lady Velvet's." Eira mentioned.

Eira's gaze fixed on her Master, who was discussing Lady Velvet with Tamsin and Kaila. Eira groaned slightly, <<Please pace yourself Master. Your secretive paramours are not seeming that secretive right now.>> Her tone slightly scolding since Eira was not impressed with the drastic changes in behaviour.

Especially since Eira seriously doubted that anyone would be surprised by an announcement that Kaila and Quinn were intimate. Kaila was not very far from Quinn for long.

Looking away from her Master and the disaster brewing there, Eira smiled to Kirie and Serina. Both someone Eira had not really interacted with before. "Are either of you fans of Lady Velvet? I am not a massive fan of the romance genre myself but apparently she is very popular." Curious to see who else might be a fan of the works, and why that might be.

 

[Tigris]

Objective: BYOO
Location: Main Ballroom
Outfit: Dress
Tag; Everest Vale

​

The droid showed them a preview of the image. She liked that it seemed real, and not posed. The two women chuckled. Tigris sensed how her unashamed gestures of affection affected her date. Eve's small gasps, sharp breaths and the lovely blush of her ivory cheeks brought a mischievous joy to the otherwise brooding Recopian. It painted Everest as so innocent, and Tigris wasn't sure why that pleased her so much. She knew that Eve was not innocent. Perhaps she was in the matters of love, but not of life. Tigris knew what she had seen on Jedha, a baptism of sorts into the harsh realities of life that was once the food and drink of a certain Seyugi Dervish. But that woman was dead. Or so Tigris wanted to believe. It seemed she from time to time had to kill that 'her' of the past again.

But there, with the charming Echani on her arm, in the midst of a party, it was easier to walk in the 'new' Tigris. That was almost entirely due to the silver-haired woman at her side. A server came by with champagne and Tigris took a glass, her eyes catching Eve's. Did the girl even drink? Tigris gave her a complicit smirk and took up the glass, encouraging Eve with a subtle tilt of her head to do the same.

Their eyes met again and Tigris saw a sort of hesitant expectancy in Eve's gaze. She smiled more warmly, and Everest took a stab at an impromptu toast. It was simple and poignant. "To us." The girl offered. Tigris' small grin turned to a genuine smile. "To us." she replied much more confident. After all , that evening wasn't about two Lady Velvet fans, it was about two people becoming more entwined with one another. It was about them. Tigris sipped.

The champagne was of good quality. Tigris was not a drinker, but she had to partake from time to time while undercover in the past. She watched to see Eve's reaction. Maybe a drink or two would help Everest lose her nervousness. The Echani had grown less timid around Tigris since they first met. But they had come a long way to attend the party together, and Tigris wanted Eve to enjoy it for all it was worth.

The sound of music drifted from the ballroom. "Lets go see whats going on in there." Tigris suggested, her eyes shifting to the distant entrance to the dancing room, her dark haired head nodding slightly. She took Eve's pale hand in her own bronzed one again and began to move through the crowd.

 

[Kaila Irons]

Wearing: Suit + Tie
Tag: Tamsin Graves Quinn Varanin Eira Dyn Serina Calis Kirie

The princess and her squealing brought a little smile to the young Darth's face despite to whom her greeting was voiced, and so she decided to leave them to it rather than ruin such a cheery reunion with her old habits. Eira had proven the authenticity of her intentions towards Quinn, and was was in good hands with the echani. She hoped that Quinn's tutorship would smooth some of those rough edges, and all would be well.

The order needed more people like Quinn, especially in the empire they would build.

She turned then to spot dear Tamsin settling into her role well. While it was certainly frustrating that she was again mistaken for a child, on account of the young woman's short stature more than her maturity, it was a pleasure to watch the girl stand her ground and force the recognition which she deserved. The Gravedigger was sith. She'd always been a threat worthy of fear and respect. It was good to see her student realize the woman she was always meant to be.

Kaila rose her glass at Tamsin's approach, a congratulatory smirk about her face for a moment, before settling into her glass.

So, I should ask who is this Lady Velvet we are celebrating? My Ma….Darth…Ka….Sis…." Chit what was she supposed to call her in this situation. "Her" She pointed to Kaila not sure what the proper protocol was in this moment for what name to use. "Reads them all the time but hides them from me, is this Lady Velvet some renowned sith with lots of secrets of the dark arts?"

And then she choked on her champaign.

She looked on in horror as her own apprentice betrayed one of her most damning— or at least embarrassing secrets.

"Tamsin please I-" she pleaded.

But she no defense to make, no evidence to prove her innocence. The former apprentice of the twice-emperor, serpent of Echnos, sith knight and blade of the princess, was an avid consumer of trashy romance novels.

Guilty as charged.

"Oh, she does?" the Princess responded with a soft melody to her voice. "Well, Tamsin, let me enlighten you of the secrets your Master has decided to keep from you."

"Quinn..." her shoulders dropped in defeat.

"Lady Velvet is a sorceress that weaves scandal and romance tales. They're quite detailed and make the most lascivious Jedi blush."

"Quinn please..." she groaned, face becoming a bit redder.

"They are secrets she has mastered and has become quite good at Lady Velvet's practice."

"Quiiinnn!" she pouted.

But there was nothing she could do but mope as the princess approached, giggling fiendishly at the exposure of both their secrets. Kaila however was not entirely sober herself even if her Mandalorian background had given her a greater tolerance than Quinn, and so her handling of their secrets was also...

Less than effective.

"You, princess, are a fiend."

"And-"

She paused as the princess neared, leaning against her, tugging her knight's shirt. Her knight's. That is truly what Kaila had become. Even if she wanted to be anything else— which she certainly did not, Kaila felt powerless to run away, nor fight what they had become since Susevfi.

Kaila swallowed, staring into those hazel eyes looking up at her, wavering only to glimpse that sweet, if mischievous smile.

"M-my little devil..." she added in a faint whisper.

She swallowed, fighting the urge to kiss her then and there, to throw away their pesky secret, to simply be hers, uninterrupted and unafraid of the consequences.

But she knew it was not meant to be. It was too dangerous.

"Be careful, my lady... please."

She let go, having only now realized that the warm feeling in her hand was due to that backless dress.

The young Darth looked up at the others, her face quite red and for entirely new reasons as she realized most were surely staring. But she would try to salvage the lie in which Quinn would have them live, choosing to play off her blush as a thing of embarrassment, and not the secret love it belied.

"I... yes, I read Lady Velvet." she confessed, catching her breath.

"A lot of Lady Velvet, actually. So much Lady Velvet. But please, that knowledge does not leave this ballroom. The assembly is enough of a headache as is."

"Tamsin if you must know, I... I'll lend you-" she hid her face in her hands.



"Pleeease, somebody get me another drink."

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Tags | Darth Nefaron​

Cora's gaze flicked to the walking stick. She made a brief hum of satisfaction. "Rarely do secondary characters get that sort of appreciation. Well done for your efforts."

A servant bedecked in traditional attire befitting of the time period drifted from patron to patron, offering them glasses of champagne. They visibly reeled from Nefaron's imposing appearance, but extended their tray regardless. Cora noted how it trembled slightly as she accepted a flute.

"What I love about reading," she paused to take a sip of her drink. The bubbles fizzed and popped their way down her throat. "Is how we can find our own meanings in the story. Where you see a man's ambition as worthy of praise, I see it as a weakness which blinded him and lead to his downfall."

She drew the glass of champagne away from her lips, holding it out to observe the droplets of air suspended in pale liquid.

"That is to say, I did enjoy the character. I just did not root for him."

Cora tilted her head to the side, once again bringing the glass in for a sip. So he'd been watching her? Interesting. Perhaps he'd simply caught an idle glimpse of her interaction while waiting in line. "I've purchased my copy earlier. Only the signed editions are kept behind the counter, and I'd rather not fight any of the ladies here for one," she mused, waving a hand towards the counter.

A moment of silence settled between them, and as Nefaron's head shifted back, Cora peered curiously at the slivered shadow of his eyes. A familiar sensation, an ichor curled around her like tendrils of smoke on the wind.

Ah. New Cov.

Burgundy was not a color she wore often on her lips. It was too deep, too sultry, but it was true to the character. Her painted mouth curled into a little smile, and she tapped the guard of her decorative fan against berry-stained lips.

"You may call me Countess. And what do I call you?"

 

[Darth Nefaron]

TAGS: Corazona von Ascania
EQUIPMENT: Finest Black Robe, Walking Stick​

"Countess?"

​

The Sith Lord pondered the name for a moment before offering a quiet chuckle.

"Ah, still committed to the character. I admire the dedication."

Nefaron had taken the glass of champagne from the disturbed attendant, though he refrained from drinking from it. It was mere decoration, he played his part just as the Countess did.

"You may call me Lord in that case. Titles beget titles."

This was a test. Clearly, he was dealing with someone who hid their true selves just as he did. Her burgundy-shaded lips and golden adornment were an act, but why bother? The rest of the Ladies who had taken to such elaborate costumes quickly broke character when engaged in conversation or when they partook of the various liquors available. Nefaron began to believe this was a sort of game, a duel of words to see which would break their ruse first.

"It appears they are taking some time to retrieve my copy. I trust they shall hold one in reserve for me, but I believe that a walk in the gardens may be in order"

He swirled the glass of champagne for a moment, considering taking a sip if only to unnerve his opponent but in the end he decided against it, setting it back on the tray of a passing attendant.

"Will you accompany me, Countess? I have much enjoyed our conversation so far."

Jedi.

Yes. She must be. Her radiant light could only belong to one of that dying order.

But of what sort was she?

He would know. She cannot hide forever.​

 

[Orion Pavond]

NABOO – BALLROOM – UPPER FLOOR
@Anyone | Open

Events like these rarely held Orion's interest. Maybe once upon a time during his con artist days, he might have charmed a wealthy young woman or two—the richer, the better. There was a certain art to the persuasion—a balance of charm and manipulation to coax open their pockets and purses. And he did all of that without an ounce of the Force. Imagine what he could do now.

But, alas, his old habits were turned around to being a force for good. A champion of the people. A real hero. Looking out for the little guy and all that fancy jazz.

The little guy, in this case, happened to be none other than certain partygoers milling about at this lavish event. People who might be conned or hurt at these types of events. Each and every attendee here was a mark waiting to be manipulated and taken for all their worth, if not worse. There were always those with less than noble intentions. Nursing a glass of champagne between his fingers, Orion leaned against a windowsill. His gaze drifted past the large upper-floor glass pane and into the gardens. Disguising spy gear as the costumed suit's accessories he wore and muffling his force signature remained mere child's play as always.

Someone recognizing him would be the only real threat to the operation. That's where the mask and the Lady Velvet book came into play. Trashy romance novels were not exactly his go-to for leisure reading, but it served its purpose here. If anyone spared a glance his direction that lingered a little too long, all they would see is a costumed guest enjoying such a scandalous novel in a small measure of privacy found on this second floor, nose buried between the pages. Besides, who knew? Perhaps he would piece the identity of this anonymous author. Stranger things have happened.

And just in case someone did recognize him, there was one last trick up his sleeve. Orion thumbed the device in his pocket before letting go. He glanced for a moment at the book, skimming another page before flipping through it.

I can see the ending coming a mile away.

The literature in hand might not have been mystery novels or the like, but Orion could count on one hand the amount of times a book surprised him or left him guessing. The curse of his previous occupation.

His eyes briefly flitted towards the gardens before flicking across the ballroom, scanning for faces of interest, before returning his attention to the garden. A careful balancing act, dividing his attention like this, but nothing he could not handle.

Love might be in the air, but so were heartache and danger. This whole event was built upon a scam of an app, and it stood to reason that where there was deception, there was also risk. Especially for anyone he may call ally.

And that is why he was here. Who could deceive him?

 

[Everest Vale]

Objective: BYOO
Location: Ballroom
Outfit: Dress & Necklace
Tag: Tigris

Tigris' look gave her all the confidence she needed, and Eve took a sip in sync with her of the sparkling glass. As she did, her eyes widened with surprise. It was... spicy? No, not spicy. Sharp? Maybe. Why did it have so many bubbles in it? She wasn't sure what to think of it, but... she liked it, and she took another gulp. Immediately, a tiny hiccup escaped her, and she blushed from the embarrassment, a delicate hand covering her mouth and eyes darting about sheepishly in search of anyone who may have heard her. But then a small grin could be seen growing behind her fingers as she looked again to her date.

Tigris' hand again took hers. The newly familiar sense of safety washed over her like the soft lapping of an ocean over rock, as she squeezed softly in response. She allowed her to guide Eve through the swarm of people and towards the next room where a piano and string quartet played the delicate, soothing music one would expect at such an extravagant gathering.

Sipping more of her champaign, realising she was certainly developing a taste for it, she watched as the large floor was occupied by a dozen couples lavishly dressed and moving in sync with the flow of the musicians. It was a sight to behold. Eve had never imagined at any point in her life would she bear witness to such a display of elegance and class. They watched a while longer as the champaign seemed to disappear faster than she would care to admit, and the threat of an unfamiliar wooziness hinted above her lightly.

What would Mama think~

A chuckle found its way to the surface as a waiter came to collect her empty glass. She moved a little closer to her date, locking her arm with hers, and with her free hand rested it against her arm as she leaned into her, feeling suddenly so safe and happy. She watched the dancers moving merrily about, as the music hypnotised her.

But then the music stopped, and a sense of expectation arose.

Eve watched as some of the couples decided to leave the floor to attend other parts of the party, leaving space for the two of them to take a position themselves. But... she didn't know how to dance. Her heart rate rose at the thought of being so close to Tigris in such a way. No amount of preparation Master Noble could have given her for something like this would have ever been enough, and she blushed this time out of shyness.

She looked to Tigris, suddenly timid again, her eyes wanting her desperately to say something, timidly wanting her to invite her, since she herself had suddenly felt so out of sorts.

Her face was warm.

 

[Kirie]

Naboo
Quinn Varanin | Serina Calis | Kaila Irons | Tamsin Graves | Eira Dyn
~ Girl's Night ~

​

Kirie swayed in time with Quinn to the music, enjoying the sensation of being pulled in close, of Quinn's hip tucked up against her body. Several glasses of wine meant Kirie wasn't even worried about the eyes of their companions. Kirie was usually quiet by choice, but alcohol tended to make her walls come down, and as always, she longed for the sensation of touch. She let herself be turned, and placed her hands on Quinn as they danced.

"You really should raid my closet more often. Remind me to drag you shopping when we get a moment's peace."

Kirie grinned. In reality, when they were on Jutrand she poked through Quinn's collection of fine clothes nearly every other day. Though, she supposed it would be nice to own some stuff for herself, so she wouldn't mind a shopping trip.

"It's a date." Kirie whispered, just loud enough for Quinn to hear. She gave the Echani one last grin and then raised her hand, at once twirling Quinn in time to the music and allowing her to extricate herself from Kirie and go talk to the other guests. When Quinn moved along, Kirie turned back to the group to say hello to the new arrivals to their little squad.

She gave Serina a smile in response to her words and dipped her head. The armoured Sith was a little intimidating, but she was charming too, and Kirie was grateful for the compliment. Once the rest of their group had joined them, Kirie also took the opportunity to give Eira a little wave. She understood her to be Quinn's apprentice, but this was the first time they had ever shared a room.

"Nice to finally put a face to a name." Kirie told Eira. She listened and nodded along to Serina's compliments on Eira's outfit, and her modest response. "It's very nice." Kirie agreed. She opened her mouth to say something else, but was distracted by the arrival of Tamsin with her drink.

"I... yes, I read Lady Velvet.

Kirie's eyes widened in delight. She hadn't know that about Kaila. In fact, she was pretty sure that she had feigned only a mild interest in the Lady Velvet themed event. Kirie could see that Kaila was embarassed, so she didn't press, but she made a mental note to ask the young Sith about her reading habits later.

"They are secrets she has mastered and has become quite good at."

There was an audible gasp. Kirie's jaw dropped, the words having left her genuinely gobsmacked. Then, Kirie couldn't help herself, she burst out laughing and gave a little snort, her expression full of warmth. The joke had taken her by surprise. Kaila was somehow even redder than she had been after Tamsin's comment, but it was cute to see her flustered. Kirie met Kaila's eye, saw her embarassment, and strangely she felt a blush creep across her own cheeks. Kirie looked away and gave Quinn a playful smack on the arm. Then, she caught sight of Serina off to the side. Kirie saw something in her face change, and her smile fell. Serina's mask was back a moment later, but Kirie knew what she had seen.

But what had she seen? Kirie took a long sip from her drink, giving Serina a questioning look over the top of her glass. A moment later, her attention was dragged back to Eira.

"Are either of you fans of Lady Velvet? I am not a massive fan of the romance genre myself but apparently she is very popular."

"Oh thank the Stars you didn't see what I was originally wearing." said Kirie mournfully. She tilted her wine flute upwards, draining the last of the golden liquid. "I thought since this was a costume party..." Kirie shook her head ruefully and trailed off.

"Anyway, yes, I'm quite the avid reader." she said tactfully.

 

[Trayze Tesar]

---

CURRENT MISSION - Love Drives All Men M.A.D.
Immediate Goals -
1: Show your partner a good time.
1.1: Get under Lirka Ka 's skin.
2: Have yourself some fun despite the circumstances.

BLUFOR - Darth Malum of House Marr

OPFOR - No enemies, just annoyances...

TARGETING ACTION(S) - Lirka Ka || OPEN FREQUENCY

---

The two's ambitions could not be any more diametrically opposed - yet somehow it is in that opposition the two strands of destiny helixed themselves around one another. Being yanked like a disobedient youngling was one thing, but after a surprised grimace and a touch of the Force to restore a comfortable pace to walk astride with his Sephi compatriot - his mischievous and Bogan damned grin told Lirka that not only would the Kiffar tilt his lance in this metaphorical joust, he was happy to.

"Desperate? Me?!" he gave a mock gasp, complete with scandalized hand to his chest before a chuckle and resigned sigh. "Suppose Ah am, since a Sephi such as yerself sought me out twice." He leaned close and up, the cold and clammy walking with the warm and stalwart, burgundy eyes twinkling with mischief up at the Slavecatcher's own visage. "Suppose Ah must be a desperate case... truly, your concern moves me."

Despite playing the "fool in love", Trayze was precisely none of them, and he knew where the Sephi was dragging him. "Function begets form, and it seems there was one kernel of truth-" he leaned close, and in a hushed, conspiratorial declaration revealed one of the Sephi's more sappy lines in her catfishing attempt. "Ya'd "let limb, an': limberness be our language in th' ring"." he parted, a silent laugh nearly breaking his face with one part genuine mirth, one part schadenfreude "It was rather cute! But in all seriousness, didya get all dolled up ta' throw down in the ring? Or..." he gave one last impish look to one far greater than him in stature and proximity to the movers and shakers of the galaxy. "Perhaps you were hopin' Ah'd wager somethin'."

 

[Lirka Ka]

In a sense, it was the way of the Galaxy to force opposites to collide. Like the eternal struggle of the Sith and Jedi, Light and Dark, localized into the childish, emotional, antics of a Kainite abomination and a smooth talking Sith.

The Galaxy was a funny place.

Lirka frowned as he finally found his pace. The Force? That was simply unfair. Such was the problem with Sith she supposed, much harder to through her literal weight around when there were magical powers to help. She had half a mind to trip him before deciding to let decorum win. Answering him with a cadence almost as cold as a droid.

“ Trayze Tesar , I seek you out for my own masochism. You disgust me, truly, and deeply. Everything about you is repulsive, your very existence is proof of the rot that dwells within our Empire: you would be more becoming of a Jedi, your very existence an affront to the grand work I have done for longer than you have been alive, before you were but an embryo in your mothers womb.”

But, Lirka knew how to joke sometimes. As shocking a fact as that could be, her moods a coin that flipped constantly and never truly dwelled on one for long.

“Or perhaps I am simply having a midlife crisis.”

An ironic thought to consider 200 years midlife, but such were the nature of the odder species of the Galaxy. The sparring rings neared, and Lirka couldn’t help but frown. That was it? She had expected more, her mind had gone to the gladiatorial arenas of her youth: where the killer in her had truly awoken. And sparring circles simply didn’t compare.

“We’ll see if my concern can move you to show me you can fight like a real warrior.”

She couldn’t help but cringe slightly as he repeated her sappy gibberish back to her. Those had all been infinitely more funny when she was alone typing away in a dimly lit room.

“Of course I got “dolled up”, as you speak, to fight. Do you have no idea how to present yourself for combat, Boy? Shine before the grime muddies it down.”

Her annoyance grew, and as his other suggestion hit her ears. Lirka stopped dead in her tracks, masked face slowly turning to face him as she leaned so they would finally be level.

“What you imply is as repulsive as it is uncouth, the gibberish idiocies of a hormonal child.”

She let her words hang in the air, a thick wrath behind them. Before she leaned back up, a grin growing across her face as she quickly went in for another stab.

“Besides, you should know the women of the Kainite are just all over Carnifex. And unfortunately Trayze Tesar, you’re a little too flabby to match his physique. Now why don’t we work on fixing that?”

And she could punch that obnoxious grin off his face, just one good hit: that’s all she needed.

 

[Zahari Kaan]

Wearing: Dress
Tag: Serina Calis
Nearby: Quinn Varanin Eira Dyn Kirie Tamsin Graves

Tap tap tap went the finger.

Her claw-like nails continued to clink against the stem of a glass whilst the lone Togruta waited at the edge of the crowd, leaned up against the wall, the back of her other hand draped over her forehead as she played the part of a damsel in distress.

It wasn't working...

Ugh. Why wasn't it working?! Nobody had approached her this evening, certainly not the rich lady she thought she'd seduced into coming with her. The pretty one. The one that was supposed to be her ticket off this planet and away from those Royal Republic Jedi who brought her here in the first place. Escaping a dusty old cell was one thing, escaping jail twice? They were already getting a little too happy with the force suppressants and the acolyte was not going back without a fight.

Maybe she'd come on a little too strong in her desperation. Also stealing one of her dresses, which wasn't actually as low cut as it appeared, it just didn't fit so well and her belt was the only thing hiding this fact, probably didn't help her case.

"Chit..." she sighed, scanning the crowd with her little red eyes.

"...she's not coming."

Which means she needed to charm someone else into getting her as far from the authorities as possible.

Her frustration shifted into the most lost but not too lost expression she could manage, eyes widened the faintest inch, brows subtly raised, gaze never lingering too long in the same place as she wandered the edge of the crowd as if she were looking for something but did not understand what exactly.

One man looked too rich, likely to having ample resources to track her down if her antics angered him, the woman across from him didn't look rich enough for her plans, and the rodian in the cute dress behind him, well, her huttese was too rusty to communicate with that one. It wasn't until a large group entered that her gaze lingered a little longer than before. There was blonde in the suit who was definitely in love with the crowned echani in her arm and was looked too loyal to tempt and swindle. There were a few others; the timid one with the brown hair looked adorable but too sweet to involve herself with the togruta's antics, and the others-

Oh?

The blonde in the armor was a curious sight. Definitely a noble, judging by her fluid movements and the way her expressions seemed to shift almost at will with a practiced charm.

The Acolyte stopped in her tracks, glancing off to the side as if looking for something, but as she closed her eyes, the fog of emotions not her own overtook her senses momentarily. Love, things which might pass for love to the uninitiated, jealousy, greed, these parties were full of such delectable flavors. But the little group behind her, a few of them were purposefully flavorless...

Someone was hiding something, and that intrigued her.

The armored one especially.

Zahari opened her eyes and made her way towards them until she was but a few paces from Serina Calis , turning around at just the wrong moment as if her attention had been momentarily stolen in the poor little thing's search, and she bumped right into the armor figure, nearly jumping out of her blue skin as the amber liquid in both their glasses tipped and spilt over the woman's blackened armor, knocked aside by her deceptively clumsy elbow.

"Oh!" she gasped, her red eyes wide with feigned horror.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry...!"

"I- uhm-" she stammered, tightening her chest to sound that much more convincing.

"Agh, I've ruined your dashing outfit too... I should have been looking where I was going!"

"Let me get you another? It's the least I can do." she said, almost pleadingly.

​

 

[Lycus Merita]

Slightly surprised that she had gotten here so fast, he flinched somewhat at her voice. The last time someone had snuck behind him, Merita had ended up with a vibroblade in the liver.

Turning around and seeing Ran for the first time in person made him keenly aware of how ill-dressed he was. His eyes traced across her golden belt all the way up to a necklace, both likely costing more credits that he had made in his decade of service. But it wasn't expensive in a tacky or gaudy way. Just... subtle elegance that he surprised himself by noticing. Maybe Lady Velvet had taught him something useful after all that didn't relate to the ways of war.

"It's a pleasure to meet you too, Ran," he chuckled and ruffled the back of his hair, trying to put on a smile. "I, uh, came as the country peasant from Love is Blind for a Miraluka. I totally didn't just put on whatever I could dig out from my luggage..."

He didn't really expect the hug but allowed it to happen. A moment of contact. One that wasn't of brutal hand-to-hand violence in the close quarters of coruscant or of him putting up a machismo front before the men. Just a second of connection that didn't demand emotional or physical strength from the Major.

When was the last time he had allowed himself to feel something like that?

The year since he had last seen his daughter?

Had it already been a year?

"So, uh, Ran," he barely hid his blush by glancing away into the ballroom where pairs were starting a waltz, "How did you get into Lady Velvet?"

Ran Serys​

 

[Serina Calis]

Location 1.
Tags: Kaila Irons Quinn Varanin Tamsin Graves Eira Dyn Kirie Zahari Kaan ​

Serina maintained her careful facade as the night unfolded around her. Every interaction, every glance, every word spoken was a carefully curated performance, designed to maintain the illusion that she was just another guest at this extravagant event, laughing and drinking and celebrating alongside the others.

Eira's compliment on her armor had been unexpected, though not unwelcome. Serina let her lips curl into a soft, confident smirk as she glanced down at her polished plates.

"A bold knight?" she echoed, voice carrying that familiar playful lilt. "I suppose I can see it. Lady Velvet does have a habit of romanticizing them, doesn't she?" Her golden eyes flickered with amusement, though deep down, the irony was suffocating. If only Eira knew the truth—that the woman standing before her was no noble protector. No gallant figure deserving of admiration. Serina had never been a knight. She had been the dragon, the architect of nightmares, the one who made the real monsters look small.

But none of them would ever know that.

Instead, she inclined her head toward Eira. "And for what it's worth, you wear that dress well. The style suit you." Her gaze lingered for just a moment longer, acknowledging the young woman's confidence, before shifting away.

Kaila had always been difficult for Serina to read, even before their paths had twisted into something unrecognizable. But tonight, it was almost too easy. The flustered way she handled Quinn's teasing, the way her entire demeanor changed when the princess leaned against her, the way her voice wavered when she whispered "my little devil."

Serina felt something coil inside her chest, something ugly, something she despised. A reminder of something lost.

There had been a time when she could of unlocked that side of Kaila—no, Kaila Solus—better than anyone. When the walls might had been thinner, when there might had been something unspoken yet understood between them.

But that was gone now.

And it was her own fault.

So she simply smiled, as though the moment meant nothing at all, as though it didn't carve another piece out of her already fractured soul.

"You should be proud, Kaila," she said smoothly, as if this were nothing more than idle conversation. "Reading Lady Velvet so much? I think Quinn might need to make you an honorary expert." Her words were teasing, lighthearted, but there was something buried deep beneath them—an ache she could never afford to acknowledge.

She turned to Kirie next, catching the subtle look the handmaiden had given her earlier. She had seen it—that flicker of recognition, that moment where the mask had almost cracked. Serina's instinct was to dismiss it, to pretend it had never happened, to assure herself that Kirie couldn't possibly have seen anything.

But Kirie was perceptive. And that was dangerous.

Still, Serina played her role flawlessly, flashing a grin in response to Kirie's tactful answer about Lady Velvet. "Avid reader, hmm? That's good to know. Maybe you and Kaila can compare notes."

She took another sip of her drink, letting the warmth dull the edge of her thoughts, before shifting her attention to Tamsin. The young Sith carried herself with an energy that was impossible to ignore, and Serina had to admit, she was beginning to admire the way Tamsin handled herself. There was a confidence there, a growing force of nature that demanded respect.

"You're in for an experience," Serina told her, swirling the liquid in her glass. "Lady Velvet's works are… let's just say they know how to leave an impression."

Then, the moment shifted.

She sensed the approach before it happened, the subtle presence threading through the room, different from the others. Serina had spent too long around deception to not recognize it when it entered her orbit.

She turned just as the Togruta collided with her.

Amber liquid sloshed over her armor, staining the dark plates, though Serina barely reacted beyond the faintest narrowing of her eyes. She stood firm as the Togruta gasped, her feigned horror so perfectly executed that Serina might have believed it if she hadn't seen countless performances just like it before.

She knew this game.

Serina's lips twitched, not quite a smile, not quite a frown.

"Oh," she mused, tilting her head slightly as if considering the situation. "You certainly did pick the worst target to bump into, didn't you?"

Her voice was smooth, poised, but there was something unreadable in her golden gaze as she studied the woman before her.

She was watching. Calculating.

And waiting.

"I haven't seen you before." Serina continued, her voice never losing that casual, almost teasing edge. "What lovely name can I expect from you?"

Her words were careful, layered. A test.

Because something about this woman was out of place.

And Serina never ignored things that were out of place.

 

[Tamsin Graves]

Theme: Girls Just Want to Have Fun
Dress: Here
Tags: Quinn Varanin | Kaila Irons | Eira Dyn | Kirie | Serina Calis | Zahari Kaan

The conversation went quickly from who this Lady Velvet was to something else entirely. From what Tamsin could gather this Lady Velvet was a Sith sorceress who wrote about seductive magicks. She watched as her sister became flustered and red in the cheeks at the topic at hand. Tamsin had never seen her sister so embarrassed before, but that embarrassment turned quickly into foreplay of words and innuendo.


The embarrassment made her chuckle lightly, but she stifled it by taking a drink of her wine, as Kaila pleaded with her. Her eyes going wide and she gave a small shrug of condolence for calling Kaila out like that, in front of all her friends. Even if the demon inside her was at this very moment trying to get her to keep going with it. She could feel it's prodding at the back of her mind trying to get her to push more and harder.


"Thank you for the offer, Princess. I will have to browse and see if there is anything that interests me." Smiling to offer of buying her a Lady Velvet book, as words appeared in her head The Nagai's Duel of Love . An odd look crossing Tamsin's face for a moment not sure what exactly the demon was trying to say to her also a bit of dread that might know the magicks of this Lady Velvet.


Serina Calis then spoke up telling her to take her up on the offer. It was then Tamsin really took in the woman dressed in armor. As did the demon inside, Tamsin same nothing really amiss other then she wore armor to this event. However, the Demon saw what others did not, a woman broken inside ravaged by the demons of self. Someone hiding their more callous and cold nature. One destroyer of lives and worlds to another destruction left scars so deep they could never be cleansed from the soul. To the Demon the woman that was Serina Callis could put on a face but they were not handling their choices well. Tmasin smiled at the woman. "Oh I definitely will."


Her eyes shifted to Eira asking if Serina or Kirie were into this Dark Lord Velvet teaching revealing they were teachings of romance. With Kirie admitting to being an avid reader like Kaila.


She start taking another drink as she saw her sister flirting with the Princess in a gut churning way. Kaila was her sister and master seeing her happy and in love was a wonderful thing. However, seeing the PDA right in front of her, that was weird to her. She knew Kaila as a harden badass, sometimes way to serious for her own good but she also had her vices. Seeing her all melty and squishy lovy dovey, was well just like holotv said like walking in on your parents doing the tango. You knew they loved each other; you just didn't want to see them loving each other in front of you.


"Thank you….master." As Kaila told her she would lend her some of the books, the word master came off the tongue and it felt a little strange. It wasn't a term she used often but it seemed the most neutral given the setting and who was around. "These magicks seem important if they have so many followers." She looked around at the people in the ballroom for a moment.


Just as she turned back she saw a Togruta bump into Serina and spill her drink on the armor. Tamsin's first thought was this was how the chaos started, a spilt drink a fight and then droids in the rafters. She instinctively looked up but there was nothing there. The demon cackling in the back of her mind at the paranoia. "Thank God." She said under her breath as she looked at the others in their conversations on this Dark Lord Lady Velvet. That voice creeped up in the back of her head.

"Yes, you should thank me child. I'm not ready to play yet!"​

Tamsin noticeably tried to avert her gaze looking down, as her sister flirted with Quinn continuing to she listened to others talk. She took a few more sips of her wine, a thought came to her mind maybe she should try something else tonight was about experimenting after all.

 

[Eivii]

Outfit: Dress

"Hey. Hey. Eivii. No need to glare at people like that. Just...relax. Okay? Stop acting like I'm going to vanish into thin air. I'm not."

Eivii relaxed... A little. "Are you sure that's not one of your Jedi tricks?" She tried to make light of it, before offering a silent apology through with her scarlet eyes.

"Just so you know...erh...I have two left feet. Not literally. Not sure how I'd be a Jedi if I had two left feet...I mean, maybe the Force would help me with my balance but I don't know how to use the Force for that..."

"So you're telling me I have a Jedi at a disadvantage?" She said with a predatory smirk. "In that case, you're definitely not getting away from me without a dance"

Entering the Ballroom, Eivii was so focused on playfully teasing the Jedi that she failed to notice an already inconspicuous man on the bannister overlooking the event, much considering the possibility of a relative of Shan ( Orion Pavond ) being present.

Eivii sped up a few steps, separating her arm from Shan, twirled with her dress once over and extended a hand to Shan "So, Dr. Knight Pavond, is there something you'd like to ask me?" She grinned whilst she asked the leading question.

She hoped her hint was clear enough.
Ask me for a dance you green lug

Shan Pavond | Orion Pavond​

 

[Tigris]

Objective: BYOO
Location: Main Ballroom
Outfit: Dress
Tag; Everest Vale

Tigris sipped at the champagne, measured swallows to pace the alcohol's effects. She wished to stay sharp. Not only so she might enjoy Eve with her full faculties, but because there was undeniably dark elements on the premises. The former darksider sensed the disturbances in the Force, vague, unspecific, probably veiled. Tigris kept vigilant, but would not allow the discovery to taint the evening. Not when she was finally doing something for herself, with someone she cared about. She had never had someone like that before.

She also kept an eye on Everest and her glass. The Echani was clearly new to such drinks, and drank her first one more quickly that she probably should of. But everyone had to learn that lesson for themselves. When the waiter came by and Eve put her glass on his tray, Tigris placed her partially consumed drink next to it. She was drinking in something much more enjoyable that evening. Her dark gaze fell again on Eve as she watched the dancing couples.

A warm pleasure washed over Tigris as Eve casually laced her arm around the older padawan's, her hand placed comfortably on the the slender, muscular, tattooed arm of the Recopian. Tigris knew the song would end soon. She wondered if Eve would dance with her, or if she even knew how. Tigris was a bit surprised at herself for even considering it. Her modus operandi was to lurk, to linger on the fringes where she would see everything going on. But again, that night was about her and Eve, and diving into something the dark-haired woman had never experienced before...with anyone.

The song ended and space cleared on the dance floor. Tigris looked over at Eve, finding herself admiring the girl's beauty once again before speaking. "Let's dance." She said with a small smile. Tigris knew how to dance. Those missions that took her to parties like this also required at times more elaborate ruses. Playing a part meant knowing how to fit in. Dancing was part of the ploy.

Squeezing Eve's hand, Tigris didn't really give the girl a chance to reply. She knew the Echani would want to try, but needed a push to get her courage up. Tigris lead Eve onto the floor, finding a place and stopping, releasing Everest and gently turning the girl towards her with a hand on her slender waist. "Just follow me." She encouraged. It would be a simple dance, one that would not distract from one another. Tigris took one of Eve's hand and places it on her own shoulder. The other she took up in her own, palm to palm, arms held out to the side and bent up at the elbow. Finally, Tigris's free hand laid again against Eve's waist.

The music started and Tigris used gently movements of her body and her hands to guide Everest to move in a small circle. Feet moved in small steps to the melody. Tigris' entire body seemed to respond to the rhythm in tiny, subtle movements of her hips and spine. Her entire body, corded muscle and strong sinew honed for the purpose of combat, now moved more sensually but discreetly, controlled so easily as it guided Everest in their dance.