Alderaan - Love and Intrigue

Standing before one of the large panorama windows that looked out over most of the fortress and its surrounding environs, the Jedi Knight kept her posture straight with her hands linked behind her back.

This particular spot had the fortress' best scenic view, barring the lord's private quarters, and currently a pot of tea was steeping on the nearby table surrounded by comfortable chairs. Though Katarzyna was keeping her attention at the world outside the glass as she let her mind drift, almost like in meditation.

"Do all y'all Jedi got such p'rfect posture? They teach classes fer that?" Garth enquires as he steps across the threshold, the heels of his riding boots clacking against the polished stone floor.

"Nice t' see y' again Cuz." He adds as he looks past Kat and out the window, sharing an appreciation for the view.

"Garth, good afternoon," she greeted properly, directing her attention to the man whom she had learned in more recent times was a cousin in the family. She hadn't pried into the details personally.

"There are no special lessons really, I think I owe this more to being raised here on Alderaan. Besides, spend enough time meditating, you find that proper postures help with the breathing, the movement of your internal energies." A brief smirk. "Also lessens back and neck pains."

"Mebbe ah should try a li'l harder then. Some o' those cockpits 're mighty cramped. Ye'd think th' Republic could've sprung fer some extra leg room in those Spitfires." He replies with little of his usual sarcasm.

"Not long now." He adds as his gaze turns from the direction of the festival towards Kat. "Any pointers f'r a first timer at one o' these Festivals?"

"I imagine they try to save costs where they can. In my experience, that tends to be comfortable leg-space, at least judging from the times I've taken public shuttles," she chuckled briefly and turned away from the window, feeling that the tea should probably be ready soon.

"Pointers for a first timer? Hmmm..." Kat mused, moving to sit by the table. She pulled out a chair first for Garth, a silent invitation for him to join her. Then pulled out a chair for herself. The plain brown-garb smoothed out easily as she sat down. "It's... not that different from any other formal event, in many ways. You mingle, socialise, try to impress the right people, try to avoid the wrong people, don't double-dip in the chocolate fountain, and don't get so drunk you cause a scene? I think that about summarizes the basics."

"Makes sense, ah guess it's 'spensive to wage war. Above mah pay grade thankf'lly." He spins the chair around and straddles it leaning his arms over the tall back.

"Right people good, wrong people bad. At least' ah'm not much of a drinker, least not since ah drunk'nly pranged m'kite right int' Jenkins' how's yer father that one time." Garth semi mumbles that last bit.

"Ah hear Uncle B 's goin' all out t' make up fer the whole Gaul thing? All ah c'n say is ah met Lady Yula twice now, damn sure ah wouldn't want t' ahve crossed her like that."

Kat looked at Garth with a perplexed blink for a brief moment, then focused herself on pouring tea for them. It was a local Alderaanian black tea, with a rounded taste.

"You shouldn't adress the duke so casually. This is home, so it's alright, but he is a well-respected and popular man. In public, it's important to adress him properly. At the very least uncle Bouris." With a gentle push forward from her fingers, a cup of tea was in front of Garth now.

"But yes... you could say that. Prince Gaul and Lady Yulastranza were betrothed a good while ago, and it pleased many of the Houses to see House Ulgo honored with such a match, considering his lordship's heroism in defense of Alderaan. The actions of the prince has jeopardized peace and stability on Alderaan, allowing the Empire's sock-puppets, the Thuls, to wiggle their way into the good graces of her majesty. While ensuring a match between Panteer and Ulgo will do much to calm the tensions, I personally consider it almost equally important to cut away Thul."

In an almost herculean effort, Garth slows his speaking down and concentrates very carefully. "Of course...cousin Katarzyna...one must," gulp, deep breath "cultivate the proper...and correct image in public..."

He lets out a breath. "But 'tis a might diff'cult fer some 'f us t' maintain. Ah think tha's why Lord Ulgo, di'n put me on the princesses dance card, so t' speak."

"Well, we all have our strengths, and Uncle Bouris is most adept at using them," Brannis Ulgo says as he walks into the middle of the conversation. He's dressed very well, perhaps having come directly from parliamentary business, and his smartly dressed and highly alert assistant is just one step behind him. Although the soldier-politician takes fairly rapid and purposeful steps, the young Bothan shows no trouble keeping pace.

"Cousin Kat, it's good to see you again. Cousin... Garth," he says, voice obviously still getting used to arranging the words that way. "Have you both met my chief of staff, Kaleena? Kaleena, my good cousins." The Bothan smiles and nods politely to both.

Kat had been considering her reply as Brannis arrived. Calm as ever, she rose and offered a brief bow to the pair. "Cousin Brannis. And miss Kaleena. Good afternoon. I've only had the pleasure in passing, so it's good to have a proper meeting. There is tea, if you like," she said, gesturing for them to join them by the table.

"But yes, as Brannis said, we each have our strengths. Just... remember that even if you are not to court the princess, appearances can be important, on Alderaan."

Garth offers a tip of his non existent cap to Kaleena. "Miss Kaleena bein' hard t' miss around here, an' as welcome as a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day."

He grins good naturedly at Brannis as he greets his other cousin. "An' you Brannis, how's th' day treatin' the second finest, but snappiest dressed Ulgo pilot of this gen'ration?"

Dipping his head at Kat's thoughts Garth reaches for his cup and agrees. "Ah'll do m'best not t' embarass y'all."

Bran smiles at Kat's invitation and steps up to one of the chairs. He turns his head to look at Kaleena, who's standing dutifully behind and to one side of him. "This isn't a political meeting and you're not staffing me. I'm not sitting 'til you do," he says in a soft voice but still with a tone of command. There's a flicker of eyes rolling but the young woman takes a seat, then casts a slightly glaring sideways glance at her boss. Bran smiles like all is right with the world and sits down himself.

"I'm sure you'll do fine, Garth," Brannis says patiently, his tone warm. "And if anyone's entitled to some understanding these days, it's the people who defended Alderaan and the Republic, right? Don't use Cousin Kat's example as a goal: none of us will measure up when it comes to fighting and propriety with the Jedi champion of Alderaan." He gives Garth an encouraging smile and nod, then turns the smile to Kat and gives a slower, respectful bow of his head.

"I'm not the only Jedi who has fought for and on Alderaan, cousin. You praise me too much," Kat corrected, using that fabled Jedi Humility as defense, smiling a little as her hands were occupied with pouring tea for Brannis and Kaleena. "But yes, I am certain it will be fine, Garth. It is best not to worry too much, and instead focus on the present."

"Perhaps cousin Brannis can tell you more about what this Festival is usually like? As a Jedi who's rarely been here to observe it, I'm hardly the expert opinion on the matter."

The tea wasn't as earthy as most that Garth had tried before, almost as if the generally more peaceful attitude of Alderaan had infused its essence, but it was pleasant and warming.

"Livin' in th' moment is cert'nly someth'n' ah can do. Ah'll try t' play nice with th' others, can't be that hard all y'all Alderaanian's ah've dealt with seem such nice people. Even if y' do discrim'nate 'gainst mechanical transports in favour them flappy thrantas."

The fancy-dressed cousin laughs gently at Garth's irritation. "They wouldn't be much use for bombing or in a dogfight, you're right, but thrantas have their place. Lots of grumpy nobles around here, so the last thing we want is more things puting them on edge," he says with a thoughtful look out the window.

"For the festival, though, I definitely recommend falling in love if you get the chance," Brannis says with a smile, no hint of joking in his voice, although Kaleena starts to giggle and looks at him like he's being ridiculous.

"What? The festival is about being the kindest and best versions of ourselves that we can -- nobles serving common folk, peace and fun to reign for a week -- what better time to fall in love?" He keeps smiling, but he's clearly serious. "After what Alderaan has been through, we need all the love we can find. So I recommend that. And being patient, because the crowds around the festival will be like a planetary landing force getting ready to drop," at that he chuckles, maybe remembering a particular scene from his off-world military service.

"Ah think ah side wi' Miss Kaleena here Brannis, ah d'nna think love works lahk that. Least not in th' 'sperience of any ah've talked to."

An observant eye would notice a slight whitening of the fingertips resting on the delicate porcelain teacup. "It is or isn't, sometahm' it grows lahk a flower, but ah've never met someone who willed 'emselves int'ah fallin' fer another."

Brannis Ulgo wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 13, 2021 10:41 pm

"What? The festival is about being the kindest and best versions of ourselves that we can -- nobles serving common folk, peace and fun to reign for a week -- what better time to fall in love?" He keeps smiling, but he's clearly serious. "After what Alderaan has been through, we need all the love we can find. So I recommend that. And being patient, because the crowds around the festival will be like a planetary landing force getting ready to drop," at that he chuckles, maybe remembering a particular scene from his off-world military service.

Loud hard boot steps announced her entry as she passed through the doors, she had heard some folks talking and figured this was as good a place as any to do her business. A droid cleared a table for her as she entered carrying some dead prey creature over her shoulders, quadruped with large horns and four eyes with twin tails and light gray fur she pulled out her hunting blade and began dressing the creature casually speaking aloud, “You’re an idiot Brannis, but a good natured idiot. Fall in love if you like, but this is just business.”

“Like this unfortunate soul, I don't see the appeal of hunting, but if it impresses the Panteer then I’ll smile and enjoy it,” she offered as she started dressing the creature on the table. “That’s what matters, fall in love all you like but at the end of the day this is just business. Family business.”

Brannis fights back the instinct to call 'officer on deck' and rise as his cut-happy cousin arrives. His hands flex on the edge of the table, a heartbeat from pushing him to stand, then they relax and he reaches for a tea cup. Smile still on his face, though a bit forced now, he says, "Good afternoon, Cousin Yula. You're quite right, there's no love in my future, but I think those on whom duty falls more lightly ought to at least enjoy what freedom they can." He takes a sip of the tea, registering no expression from it, then formally continues, "And, if I may present my dedicated chief of staff, Ms. Kaleena Soff to my distinguished cousin, Lady Yulastranza Ulgo." Without prompting, Kaleena rises and bows almost as deeply as possible with a table in front of her. "My lady," the Bothan says with appropriate awe.

"Just bus'ness" Garth echoes almost silently, seeming to draw strength from Yulastranza's declaration before belatedly rising to greet the lady as she entered the room - his ma had taught him some modicum of manners after all.

"In th' spirit of creatin' a business plan then, don' suppose any of th' assembled maht know much about..." he flicks through his data pad for a moment.

"...Miss Miyi Thul? Lord Bouris asked that I attempt to provide 'er a distraction from th' Panteer Prince."

"She's a Thul, what else is there to know," Yula responded.

She added to Brannis and his staff, "Pleasure, at ease. There's probably lots of love in your future Brannis, your future spouse could be out there right now, picking lillies ready to crown you. Just don't forget the mission."