Alderaan - Love and Intrigue

The mixer was almost entirely over. Most of the guests had gone home. Household staff were beginning to clean up.

Still, Niall lingered after, frowning as he looked this way and that, searching the mixer area, as well as nearby. There was one individual he'd hoped to speak to at the party, but he'd missed his chance. Surely she must be somewhere around...

She was not hard to find she had just finished speaking with Joran before making her way down the hall.

Ah, there she was. How had he failed to spot her at the party? Probably too stiff and embarrassed still. Inwardly, Niall winced, even as he approached.

"Lady Yulastranza." He greeted her, bowing in the proper Alderaanian manner. And signalling the manner of conversation; technically, they were both Republic officers, but he wasn't greeting her as such. "I was hoping I might run into you this evening. May I walk with you to your destination?" His tone was polite.

"Of course anything for a hero of Alderaan, how can I be of service to you or House Organa," she responded.

Niall smiled, turning to walk the same direction she was going. "My record is no more distinguished than yours." He said.

He looked at her as they walked. "It's no secret that your father Duke Bouris feels that he was slighted by the Panteer family. And I can't deny it. And he seeks to have that wrong righted." He frowned thoughtfully. "How do you feel about all of this? Rank off, one soldier to another." He said, nodding respectfully to her.

OOC: Charm or Leadership at Hard with a Destiny flip, so 1 red and two purple.

Charm vs Yula D1ME, bad destiny, jewelry, cape, manual, cascader: 4eP+1eC+2eD 0 successes, 3 advantage


With other things, that's 5 advantage. Other info? She won't be straight, but we're friends now?

"It's complicated, dad... my father feels he is owed something for all he has sacrificed for Alderaan," she responded hesitantly.

"I am not sure I disagree with him, he has bled for this world on many an occasion almost to death."

"Yes..." Niall said, frowning. "It is complicated. And I certainly wouldn't diminish his sacrifices."

Still frowning, he considered her. "And so... you seek to be matched to Joran." It was only partially a question.

“Being a thirty-six year old woman fawning over a near child is not my idea of a well rounded adult social life, but tradition demands. I am not terribly thrilled with Joran, but he is just a means to an end and we both know it,” she responded.

"Mmm." Niall acknowledged that with a vague sort of grimace.

After a few moments, he looked at her again. "I feel you and I have some things in common. We are both heirs in Alderaanian houses. And we both serve the Republic. Speaking for myself, it's a challenge to balance my duty to House Organa, to Alderaan, to the Republic..." He shook his head. "At any point, I could be speaking as any one, or all three, or just as myself."

Again, he smiled wryly. "It was simpler, fighting the Sith. Perhaps not better, but simpler."

“Yeah we knew who exactly our enemies were and rivalries of the past faded away. How do you balance all of those responsibilities. I used to think what was good for Ulgo was good for Alderaan and thus good for Republic, but maybe it isn't always so simple,” she offered.

“I am not sure we are allowed to just speak for ourselves given who we are.”

"Now we just cast barbs at Thul." Niall said, chuckling softly. But with a quick sidelong glance.

He shrugged. "I try to keep them all in alignment. A strong, unified Alderaan that treats its people justly is good for the Republic. And Organa. And for Ulgo, with its history." He paused a moment. "If they grow out of alignment, I do my best to put them back into alignment. Or one has to fall behind."

A moment of thoughtful silence, and then Niall shook his head. "I speak for myself to my wife. Or sometimes to my XO, Vera. You ever had an XO like that?"

She smiled at his words and then grew somber at the mention of an XO, and said, “Yes, I had a good one but well things happen in the thick of combat. Losing a team member is never easy and I have lost quite a few in the last few years. It comes with the work, but still.”

"I'm sorry." Niall said, bowing his head. "In the last war against the Sith Empire? It's always hard losing someone under your command. Especially someone that you depend on like that. If Vera died..."

After a moment, Niall shook his head. "Well, I suppose I would go on. That's what we have to do, isn't it? Continue to do right by the Republic for those who can't do so anymore."

"Soldier's burden, we don't get much time to mourn in the field and then too much time to mourn at home," she said solemnly.

"Too true." Niall said, chuckling dryly. "The longest two times I've spent on Alderaan since I became an officer was the two times I was injured enough to be placed on medical leave. Shot in the chest both times. Gave me a lot of time to lie about and think."

He nodded to her. "You know, a former Jedi is setting up some sort of martial arts dojo on the Organa estate. I'm going to encourage some of my unit to visit. Do you think you might like to stop by sometime?"

"I would like to see this, don't meet too many ex-Jedi who have not become monstrous terrors," she joked.

"Maybe if it meets our standards we might want one as well."

"Hardly monstrous. Perhaps a little flighty. I think we can forgive that." Niall deadpanned.

He nodded. "Very well. Shall we exchange comm info? I'll send you the info. I'm not sure if Vera can make it, but perhaps some of the other Republic Mandalorians. They guarantee a strenuous workout."

She gave her comm details and said, "I can bring a few soldiers with me."

"Give them something to do besides sitting around and getting fat."