Alderaan - Love and Intrigue

Taking what time she could manage Riss just went clothes shopping rather than all the way back to her ship. Getting her things taken care of, held onto, while she freshened up once more in a bathroom mirror some minutes away from the the official meeting place. With everything going on this felt more and yet less important. It was hectic, and her nerves were frayed. Closing her eyes she saw his again and startled herself back to wakefulness and just finds herself looking back at her in the mirror. Locking eyes she steadies her breathing, calming until she regains her cool.

One more touchup of her makeup she activates the cascader to hide the wear of the exhaustion in her features and strides back out of the bathroom. Finding Kat outside she gives a quick "Thank you," before attaching herself to Kat's arm and the two walked to the official meet.

Kat waited patiently for Riss as she freshened up. The day had so far been... tumultuous. It was important that she kept her center, her balance, and be the support that Riss and others relied on.

She gave a supportive smile to Riss as she came out, and let her lean on her arm. "It will be alright, Riss." She didn't specify if she meant this meeting, or everything else that was going down, but she gave her those words in her best reassuring tone.

The Queen and Duchess Thul are waiting on a balcony with a light lunch prepared for the group.

Riss didn't answer, just kept her eyes facing forward as they would head toward their destination. It was, of course, very unlike her but she was trying her best to stay focused and keep her eyes open.

As they arrived Riss gives Kat a gentle squeeze before letting go of her arm, but reaching down and taking a hand as she walks just a step or two ahead. Approaching the balcony proper she gives a glance around to figure out the situation, to address or wait to be addressed, and just figure out generally what she was working with here.

Kat's hand was warm to the touch, as if there was a power there underneath the skin. A warm strength.

As they approach, she stopped and bowed deeply to the monarch and duchess both.

The Queen said, “Please join us, Jedi Knight Ulgo and Lady Lanar. We have spoken with the Duchess and she has assured us that old animosities can be put aside. But in so doing we think it best that, your houses be joined in marriage.”

“We are curious, is this something that House Lanar would accept?”

Ziandra sipped her water and waited.

Riss, strained as she was, took a bit longer than she normally would have to let the thought settle. Brow slowly furrowing as the thought came together. Focusing on Ziandra for a moment, the furrow deepening, and then softening as she looks back to the queen. "I'm.. surprised by the idea. Are we.. working with a specific consideration?" she asks, looking between the two.

"We could build toward the future, your House will need a new generation," Ziandra said softly. "Children will have to come, by birth or adoption."

"Feels a bit like rushing ahead a thousand steps in one," she chuckles, there's more nerve to it than mirth. A quick glance to Kat gave her a little bit more support as she focuses back on Ziandra. Inhaling deep she blows out slow to calm herself a little, focus, "Okay. I'm.. willing to talk this out, but I would prefer it if there was another option. I'm a getting my cards set on the table kind of gal," she says, glancing briefly to the queen, a brief smile.

"Go ahead," Ziandra said. "Though keep in mind we are well within out right to simply have your house destroyed... or severely curtailed."

"Was hoping you'd have some ideas," she gives a put-on chuckle which was mostly convincing for the genuine thing. Crossing her arms she lays them across her hip, "But- maybe I could help you with some of your current troubles. That could at least be a good start. Something like clearing your name of the murder of-" she hesitates, eyes going distant a moment, and she swallows. "Clearing your names of the murder of Bryson Rist, for example. I.. might not be able to prove it so clearly that your enemies would believe me, but I can offer enough truth to cast enough doubt that would at least clear you in the eyes of those in the middle."

"As we had nothing to do with that we welcome such aid," she responded.

"I- I know," she hesitates a moment, shakes her head. "Or at least, I believe you. When I came back to Alderaan I was in a bind," she glances up at Ziandra, "One related to you, naturally," she frowns a bit, but shakes her head. Not the reason she's talking right now, "Getting out of it seemed.. impossible, and my wonderful little brother," she says with all the fake praise one can muster, "actually came up the suggestion to go to this Cunning Man for help. A dear friend of mine," she glances to Kat, gives a quick put-on smile, "suggested I don't do that because the guys bad news and folk who make deals with him end up.. worse off, in the end."

"Bryson trusted me, talked to me, car-" the word catches in her throat, the cascader masks the sound a bit but the facial expression of the strain is still there. Settling, "Bryson would, and was willing to tell me everything he was doing. That his last message.. the one he sent to come to me after his death spoke of not trusting the Cunning Man? I'm- I know that it was him. Considering everything else that's been going on," she gives a glance from Kat to the queen, "it's.. all a bit too coincidental not to be connected."

"Not sure how much proof there is to it.. but- but I was there when he died. I don't believe a Thul did it. Gotta figure my word is worth.. something there?" she says, focusing back on Ziandra.

The Queen said, “You have our condolences on the loss of your friend, Lady Lanar.”

“Still that is a momentary thing, we need something that could bury such bad feelings and be a more formal statement of ceased hostilities. I suggested the marriage for symbolic and practical reasons, it can be years in the making but laying the ground work now would be a powerful statement,” Ziandra offered.

“It would show we have buried the vibro-hatchet, so to speak.”

Well so far this was going much better than she had expected. Kat had come prepared to argue and lay down the facts, but this seemed very... amiable. Which was good. So for the moment she was mostly a support for Riss until there was a need for her to speak up.

The matter of marriage to a Thul woul be something she'd have to decide herself.

With the offer of condolences from the queen there's a subtle flash of a mournful smile as she averts her eyes a moment. Regaining some more of that composure as she looks to Ziandra, "I.. understand," she says, nodding her head. "I'm not unwilling to consider it, but it would be a sacrifice.. one I've... one I've avoided since I was a little girl. Last thing I've ever wanted was to marry someone I didn't know, or like, or.." she shakes her head.

"I know, I know," she raises her hand to stave off the usual comments about nobles, and marriages. "I- I don't know what else to offer than my help in some way. There's still just that part of me that wants to try, that hopes to try, to avoid having left Alderaan and gone through all these hardships just to- to wind up right back here doing the one thing I didn't want," she says, her smirk rising with a sardonic tinge to it. With an intake of breath she breaths out slow, "I'm not saying no. I could really just use any other idea someone might have right now," she chuckles, there's a little hopelessness to it.

“Oh my sweet summer child, we don’t want you, your children of course, my word you thought we meant you?” she responded with delightful laughter.

"I've had a long- loooong kriffing day.. yes, yes I thought you meant me," she says, bringing her hand up to the bridge of her nose and gripping it hard enough it turns paler. Inhaling very deep, breathing out very slow, "Kriff. Yea, no- that. Kriff, I can do something with that. Seems.. a bit hopeful down the line, but yes," she says, letting her hand back down and looking between them both. "Yea, I can do something like that. One condition is that I give my kids a chance to choose it for themselves. If my siblings are any good measure one of them will be.. willing."