Pregame - The First Sally [Closed]

[Desilijic Keyhote]

"Can't you smell it Pantha?"
Keyhote rears up slightly on his tail, nostrils flaring widely as his eyes close for a moment
"The sheer love...the romance! Is it not a grand spectacle?"
Pantha looks up from his commlink for a moment
"Those are Erredonian Roses yer liege, they just smell like that."

Keyhote opens an eye and sees his inhalation has sucked a bouquet to his nostril from a nearby table
"Ah I see! Then perhaps these roses are the smell of love itself?...That or..." The hutt takes the bouquet and chomps down on the flowers "...Hmmm, no, I do not think this is the taste of love, much too thorny."
"Sometimes love hurts."
Keyhote looks over with mild annoyance "Yes well, not pure love. Now, come, there is much to see before the festival begins proper."

The two continue deeper into the fairgrounds with Pantha deftly maneuvering bystanders out of the way whenever his master became distracted. The less run over Alderaani, the better.
The knight was clearly enjoying himself but seemed to be looking for something.

"Hmmmm" This deep pondering resonated so loudly a few nearby cups vibrated off shelves.

[Dapper Dog]

The grounds are in a chaotic state most here are workers diligently preparing the many buildings and stages in time for the opening ceremony.

Though the Hutt does draw lots of odd stares.

[Niall Organa]

How many times had he been to this festival? A dozen? That seemed too many. He hadn't gone most of the years he'd been in the military. And though his parents had encouraged him in his later boarding school years to bring a girl friend (who they'd clearly hoped would become a girlfriend), but Niall had resisted. He'd last come when he was twelve, perhaps, and he doubted he'd gone as a small child. Distant memories...

And then last year. Actually, that would count as his most recent.

Major Niall Organa, commander of the Revan's Blade Mandalorian Irregular forces, heir to Rhys Organa, wandered idly though the crowd, a slightly dreamy smile on his lips. Yes, now it was coming back to him. The familiar sights and smells... the excited atmosphere, the sense of romance... the Hutt...

Wait, what?

Niall came to a sudden stop, his fine military boots clicking on the paved ground. Even if he'd somehow been struck blind, and incapable of seeing the massive sentient, he would have heard the bone-rattling hum. Frowning gently, Niall turned to the unfamiliar being.

"Excuse me." He said firmly, his Core accent especially strong. "May I help you?"

[Desilijic Keyhote]

How many times had he been to this festival? A dozen? That seemed too many. He hadn't gone most of the years he'd been in the military. And though his parents had encouraged him in his later boarding school years to bring a girl friend (who they'd clearly hoped would become a girlfriend), but Niall had resisted. He'd last come when he was twelve, perhaps, and he doubted he'd gone as a small child. Distant memories...

And then last year. Actually, that would count as his most recent.

Major Niall Organa, commander of the Revan's Blade Mandalorian Irregular forces, heir to Rhys Organa, wandered idly though the crowd, a slightly dreamy smile on his lips. Yes, now it was coming back to him. The familiar sights and smells... the excited atmosphere, the sense of romance... the Hutt...

Wait, what?

Niall came to a sudden stop, his fine military boots clicking on the paved ground. Even if he'd somehow been struck blind, and incapable of seeing the massive sentient, he would have heard the bone-rattling hum. Frowning gently, Niall turned to the unfamiliar being.

"Excuse me." He said firmly, his Core accent especially strong. "May I help you?"

The huge creature turns
"HMMMMMMMM?"
Before Pantha hurriedly steps forward to make introductions

"You are addressing his excellency, the chivalrous one, scion of the Desilijic cartel..."
Keyhote makes a 'get on with it motion'
"..saviourofEndorhisbulkinessordainedmarriagecelebrantandhero Keyhote of the Desilijic"
Keyhote bows, the repulsors in his armoured suit whirring slightly as he bens forward and slams a fist to his chest.
"Well met indeed!....Pantha who is this human?"
Pantha gives the hutt a 'how should I know?' look before his eyebrows raise suddenly
"Yer liege, I believe this is Niall Organa"
Keyhote blinks, unmoved
"Captain Alderaan."
"He's wearing a Major's uniform."
"I assure you, he's Captain Alderaan, the guy on all the posters....really loves Alderaan."

That seemed to get the Hutt's attention as he turned to regard the newcomer
"Ahhhhh a war hero? And a patriot? Do you truly love your planet?"

[Niall Organa]

Niall waited patiently, very patiently. He even managed to sigh only the tiniest bit at the all too familiar nickname. How had it caught on so thoroughly, anyway? He had the distinct feeling that if he traveled to the far end of the galaxy, someone would recognize him as Captain Alderaan. "Yes, well... if it helps, the soldiers in my command are thoroughly confused as well." He put in drily.

His chin tilted upwards; he stood with arms behind his back, almost as though on parade. "I do." Niall's tone was still firm. "I love my planet, and I love the Republic. I've spent most of my life trying to make both of them a better place." A moment, and he smiled. "I might wish more people knew me for that than for the recruitment posters, but I help how I can." The calendar might have been too far, though.

Clearing his throat, Niall gave the Hutt a curious look. "May I ask, are you here for the festival. Are you looking for..." one eyebrow arched upwards, "...love?"

[Desilijic Keyhote]

Niall waited patiently, very patiently. He even managed to sigh only the tiniest bit at the all too familiar nickname. How had it caught on so thoroughly, anyway? He had the distinct feeling that if he traveled to the far end of the galaxy, someone would recognize him as Captain Alderaan. "Yes, well... if it helps, the soldiers in my command are thoroughly confused as well." He put in drily.

His chin tilted upwards; he stood with arms behind his back, almost as though on parade. "I do." Niall's tone was still firm. "I love my planet, and I love the Republic. I've spent most of my life trying to make both of them a better place." A moment, and he smiled. "I might wish more people knew me for that than for the recruitment posters, but I help how I can." The calendar might have been too far, though.

Clearing his throat, Niall gave the Hutt a curious look. "May I ask, are you here for the festival. Are you looking for..." one eyebrow arched upwards, "...love?"

His voice booming "Of course I am looking for love!"
Sando jumps up onto the hutt and whispers something his hear as Keyhote nods
"My squire informs me that my response my indicate I am looking for personal romance, which could not be farther from the truth! No! I search for true love between inhabitants of the galaxy, not for something so crass as personal gain."

Sando jumps back down, looking relieved as Keyhote continues
"So Captain....Major...Human Organa Male. To you love is to improve another?"
The Hutt starts hovering in a large and ponderous circle around Niall
"Do you apply this approach to your personal romance? And if so, has this been successful?"

[Niall Organa]

"Oh. Of course. Naturally." What? Niall managed to avoid asking that out loud. As conversations he'd had went, this was one of the stranger ones.

"Niall is fine." Niall put in, frowning thoughtfully. "But that's not how I'd put it. When you love something, you want it to be the best version of it that it can be. I love Alderaan, so I want the best for it, so I want it to be the best." He smiled, a bit of that dreamy look returning to his grey eyes. "I suppose I might say the same about my wife. And she certainly wants me to be my best."

Suddenly, he shook his head. Talking about his wife, the love of his wife, with a Hutt! "I'm sorry, but what are you searching for, exactly?" Niall asked, frowning again. "Are you looking for, I don't know, the perfect couple?"

[Desilijic Keyhote]

"Oh. Of course. Naturally." What? Niall managed to avoid asking that out loud. As conversations he'd had went, this was one of the stranger ones.

"Niall is fine." Niall put in, frowning thoughtfully. "But that's not how I'd put it. When you love something, you want it to be the best version of it that it can be. I love Alderaan, so I want the best for it, so I want it to be the best." He smiled, a bit of that dreamy look returning to his grey eyes. "I suppose I might say the same about my wife. And she certainly wants me to be my best."

Suddenly, he shook his head. Talking about his wife, the love of his wife, with a Hutt! "I'm sorry, but what are you searching for, exactly?" Niall asked, frowning again. "Are you looking for, I don't know, the perfect couple?"

"The perfect couple? Pantha, I thought we already found the perfect couple"
The Drall sighs, bringing up his commlink. 'Mia and Mio Drak-Thrallah. The two Mon Calamari who met when they were donating organs to sick children before beginning a whirlwind 30 year romance."
Keyhote nods "Yes, the truest example of love we have thus far encountered. Perhaps I will one day find better. But for now...Niall...I am more interested in uncovering the nature of love as well as promoting it. If two people are already a perfect couple what need they for Ser Disilijic Keyhote? You for instance appear to be happily married, so unless there is some polyamorous Alderaan tradition I am unaware of-"
Sando shrugs, it was possible
"-Then I more interested in what loves means to you and the people here."

Swinging a massive arm to gesture out to the under construction festival
"We can start with the flowers. Why do flowers mean love to you people? Is it because they grow into better versions of themselves over time?"

[Niall Organa]

"No." Niall said firmly. "There isn't." He cleared his throat. "Or not among the Organas, anyway. I've heard of Houses where one puts one's signet ring into a bowl... but nevermind that." He waved a hand.

Frowning, he turned to look at the flowers. "I think it is rather more simple than that. Flowers are pretty. And they smell nice. They put one in a romantic mood." Yes, he remembered placing one in Aly's hair not long ago.

Reddening slightly, Niall turned back to the Hutt. "Do your fellow Hutts have anything to say about it? Or Mia and Mio?"

[Desilijic Keyhote]

"No." Niall said firmly. "There isn't." He cleared his throat. "Or not among the Organas, anyway. I've heard of Houses where one puts one's signet ring into a bowl... but nevermind that." He waved a hand.

Frowning, he turned to look at the flowers. "I think it is rather more simple than that. Flowers are pretty. And they smell nice. They put one in a romantic mood." Yes, he remembered placing one in Aly's hair not long ago.

Reddening slightly, Niall turned back to the Hutt. "Do your fellow Hutts have anything to say about it? Or Mia and Mio?"

Still looking at the flowers
"But a Vexan pie is both pretty and smells nice, but it is not used as a romantic symbol on that world, on the contrary, they are baked as death threats."
Flowers....truly there was a mystery there
"Hutt writings on romance are limited, my people are hermaphrodites and we can give birth to young without outside interference. You can perhaps see why this would limit romantic dalliances."
Sando pipes up "Don't forget the egomaniacal sense of self!"
Keyhote sighs quietly "And the egomaniacal sense of self. Although given we are near perfect beings it is perhaps to be expected. As for Mia and Mio they professed the secret was 'hard work every day' which was not unhelpful, but many in the galaxy work hard every day without it amounting to true love...."

Another deep "HMMMM"
"Your people must have some well known romantic fables? Ones where the villain attempts to kidnap someone and time them to grav-train tracks?"

[Niall Organa]

"Pie can be a sort of romantic symbol." Niall said absently, still frowning. "In truth, I think Mia and Mio may have been onto something. It is hard work every day... but then, it's also the easiest thing in the world." Again, that dreamy look; while Niall wasn't quite a newlywed, he nearly was, and the Festival was romantic, after all.

The eyebrow went up again. "Something like that." He cleared his throat. "Ah, Keyhote, was it? Or, Sir Keyhote? Those tales are more in the line of entertainment. Just as you wouldn't watch Galactic Commando and use it as an example of good soldiering, would you?" He paused, briefly stroking his chin. "Although they are enjoyable vids..."

[Desilijic Keyhote]

"Pie can be a sort of romantic symbol." Niall said absently, still frowning. "In truth, I think Mia and Mio may have been onto something. It is hard work every day... but then, it's also the easiest thing in the world." Again, that dreamy look; while Niall wasn't quite a newlywed, he nearly was, and the Festival was romantic, after all.

The eyebrow went up again. "Something like that." He cleared his throat. "Ah, Keyhote, was it? Or, Sir Keyhote? Those tales are more in the line of entertainment. Just as you wouldn't watch Galactic Commando and use it as an example of good soldiering, would you?" He paused, briefly stroking his chin. "Although they are enjoyable vids..."

Sando clears his throat "Ser Keyhote is the preferred term of address for his excellency, the chivalrous one, scion of the Desilijic cartel...etcetera, etcetera."
Keyhote waves idly

"Indeed. But this is interesting to me."
Shifting his bulk closer to the human
"Hard work, but also easy. This is because of the motivation? Love is the power to make hard work easy."
Behind them, the squire grumbles that a good hydrospanner could so the same thing.

"As for Galactic Commando I may have caught an episode or two during transit. Is that the one with the rag-tag squad of conventionally attractive heroes defeating Sith adjacent villainy? I only recall it because of that intriguing love triangle with the sniper, the explosives expert and the ambassador who of course turned out to be a spy."

[Niall Organa]

"Ser Keyhote, then." Niall smiled, a touch wryly. "But perhaps there's something to that. Love does make hard work easy. Or..." He frowned, "-at least easier. Some challenges are never easy, but love still drives us to do them."

Niall nodded. "That sounds like the second one. Perhaps better than the first. The fifth one was where they started to go off the rails a bit. I... enjoyed the seventh." Niall cleared his throat. "The ninth came out recently. I'm going to try watching it, but they changed actors again." He shook his head.

Another moment, and he cleared his throat, looking at Keyhote. "Ah... but you asked about romantic fables?"

[Desilijic Keyhote]

"Ser Keyhote, then." Niall smiled, a touch wryly. "But perhaps there's something to that. Love does make hard work easy. Or..." He frowned, "-at least easier. Some challenges are never easy, but love still drives us to do them."

Niall nodded. "That sounds like the second one. Perhaps better than the first. The fifth one was where they started to go off the rails a bit. I... enjoyed the seventh." Niall cleared his throat. "The ninth came out recently. I'm going to try watching it, but they changed actors again." He shook his head.

Another moment, and he cleared his throat, looking at Keyhote. "Ah... but you asked about romantic fables?"

The knight nods gravely
"I did, they are a rare passion of mine. It was from reading through such fables that I grew to have an appreciation for chivalry and romance and then began my long quest. I believe that every such tale has a hint of insight into the nature of love. Whether that be the egg laying customs of the Kartonians or the Song of Fire and Fire they tell on Mustafar."

Pantha pipes up
"That one had a shocking ending."
Keyhote just appears to ignore him, continuing on
"I am not familiar with the fables of Alderaan though, are there any you recall? And if there are do you believe they have shaped your approach to love?"

[Niall Organa]

"I don't know that one." Niall said blandly.

He nodded. "But of course. Alderaan has more than one could count. Many famous writers come from Alderaan, and artists. Can you look for love in a painting, or a sculpture?" It was a rhetorical question.

He frowned considering. "I would perhaps say that love on Alderaan is idealized. An ideal to aspire to, containing the best of passion and giving. Perhaps I have been influenced by it; I'm not sure." Niall shook his head. "If I were to recommend a work, perhaps try Pride and Prejudice and Killiks. It's said to be based off of an older work, but that one has been lost to time."

[Desilijic Keyhote]

"I don't know that one." Niall said blandly.

He nodded. "But of course. Alderaan has more than one could count. Many famous writers come from Alderaan, and artists. Can you look for love in a painting, or a sculpture?" It was a rhetorical question.

He frowned considering. "I would perhaps say that love on Alderaan is idealized. An ideal to aspire to, containing the best of passion and giving. Perhaps I have been influenced by it; I'm not sure." Niall shook his head. "If I were to recommend a work, perhaps try Pride and Prejudice and Killiks. It's said to be based off of an older work, but that one has been lost to time."

"Pride and Prejudice and-"
Sando nods "-And Killiks yer liege. They're uh, giant bugs."
"-and Killiks...who are giant bugs." Keyhote tucks this away "Usually I am called upon to slay giant bugs, I am curious as to the whether that is what Pride and Prejudice do in your fable. But now you have told me one of yours allow me to impart a Hutt tale of romance"
Keyhote clears his throat with a sound like a truck backfiring
"Once there was Leartra the Hutt, he loved himself and had 3 huttlings. One day he decided to divide his kingdom up amongst them. Two of his huttlings said yes, one said no, so he disowned the one who disagreed. But the other two huttlings, they treated him poorly and slowly the kingdom descended into strife. So Leartra had them assassinated and reinstated the loyal huttling. In my culture, refusing to take advantage of someone is the highest form of love and that is what she had displayed."

Leaning forward
"I am sure that is very clear."

[Niall Organa]

"Yes." Niall frowned. "But wait, no, Pride and Prejudice are the sins, not the names of the characters. The characters need to overcome them in order to find love with each other." He cleared his throat. "And also Kiliks. Overcome them, I mean."

He listened to the, uh, story, his expression bland. "I gather you are seeking a rather broader idea of love than found in your culture." He said diplomatically. "Perhaps something between 'hard work every day' and 'not taking advantage of someone can be found'."

After a moment, he smiled wryly, gesturing around with both hands. "Perhaps Alderaan, and the Festival will be where you can find an answer. Courtly love can be pure, or political. Or purely political, I suppose."

[Desilijic Keyhote]

"Yes." Niall frowned. "But wait, no, Pride and Prejudice are the sins, not the names of the characters. The characters need to overcome them in order to find love with each other." He cleared his throat. "And also Kiliks. Overcome them, I mean."

He listened to the, uh, story, his expression bland. "I gather you are seeking a rather broader idea of love than found in your culture." He said diplomatically. "Perhaps something between 'hard work every day' and 'not taking advantage of someone can be found'."

After a moment, he smiled wryly, gesturing around with both hands. "Perhaps Alderaan, and the Festival will be where you can find an answer. Courtly love can be pure, or political. Or purely political, I suppose."

"Ah, so it is a saga of war? The characters first become humble, then they become accepting and then they...kill giant bugs? An interesting view of romance...but it would certainly be a bonding experience. I shall have to acquire some Kiliks for my estate and begin tests."

In contrast to Niall Keyhote's expression was particularly animated as giant wrinkles swiftly formed and disappeared with every expression.
"I am concerned at this notion of purely political love...it sounds like a business deal, the kind I have made many times before. Only instead of selling weapons to ter- to freedom fighters you are selling someone to someone else to close the negotiations. I find it distasteful from a romantic perspective."

[Niall Organa]

"I wouldn't recommend that." Niall said mildly. "Kiliks can be very dangerous." Of course, so could Hutts.

Niall shook his head. "In fact, I don't care for it either." He said. "But I was fortunate enough to marry for love. Others... aren't. Instead, perhaps they marry for love of house, or planet." Again, Niall shook his head. "I am hesitant to judge those who aren't fortunate enough to have the freedom to choose."

[Desilijic Keyhote]

"I wouldn't recommend that." Niall said mildly. "Kiliks can be very dangerous." Of course, so could Hutts.

Niall shook his head. "In fact, I don't care for it either." He said. "But I was fortunate enough to marry for love. Others... aren't. Instead, perhaps they marry for love of house, or planet." Again, Niall shook his head. "I am hesitant to judge those who aren't fortunate enough to have the freedom to choose."

"Very dangerous? Well that is even more attractive! It shall be a struggle to acquire some no doubt, but I will be prepared."
Keyhote listens politely

"Iiiiiinteresting. So they are marrying for duty, not love...but if they love their duty...Pantha, you are taking this down?"
Sando nods having typed 'duty? love? bugs?'
"To make the ultimate sacrifice, to be stuck in a loveless relationship...for love. It is very poetic. Why were you able to choose Niall? I am told you produced images for some date recording hardware. Was that a factor?"