Alderaan - Love and Intrigue

A speeder stopped in front of the entrance to the main Rist castle, the sprawling estates certainly grand and lavish compared to many places in the galaxy but somehow seeming subdued compared to the ostentatious nature of the other houses. It was comparatively humble.

The man that emerged from the speeder stood of average height with think black hair, curly and unruly hung long past his cheeks. Said cheeks were covered with a thick, untamed beard. Standing there in his plain brown and tan clothes perfectly suited for moving through jungles and slums but stood out rather glaringly here. The man standing before the gates here scarcely resembled Omandri Rist who had last stepped foot in the house almost six years ago.

A metallic clinking sound came from behind him as a large robotic canine jumped from the speeder and sidled up next to its owner coming up to Omandri's waste. Omandri placed a hand on the droid's head as if it were an actual dog and then advanced toward the gates for entry into the estate.

His entrance was easy and respectful as he entered the grounds of House Rist.

He walked through the halls stopping to ask a servant where he could find his sister. After being told where to go he headed toward the explained destination. Looking about at the halls he grew up in being in that strange space between familiar and alien.

"Yeah Alpha this is a whole different kind of jungle we have to deal with." He said to his metallic companion as they approached their destination asking a servant if his sister was busy.

The protocol droid responded that his sister was waiting for him in the family room, which also doubled as a trophy room; many creatures across the galaxy stuffed and mounted for the vanity and glory of House Rist.

Omandri walked into the trophy room looking about the walls with a soft frown which shifted to a more neutral smile as his eyes fell upon his sister.

"Long time no see sis. How's running things going?" He asked running a hand through his unruly loose curls getting the worst of it out of his eyes.

"Welcome home," she said to him as she put the datapad face down on the table next to her. She rose and said, "Things are good, besides House Ulgo steaming to fight everyone and anything, things are good."

Omamdri shrugged off the big military style bag off his shoulder and set it down rolling his shoulder a bit "So that's the horse our cart is tied to these days. Makes a certain sense Ulgo being the military force it is. They always lacked subtlety though in my opinion." He said walking more towards her.

glancing to the data pad he rose a questioning eyebrow "I hope I'm not interrupting."

"You look well, more rugged," she said shrugging off his concerns.

"Tell me about your time off-world, I find it hard to believe that you went on this freewilling adventure."

He smirked "more like mom then when I left." He said noticing her deflection.

He moved on quickly though, taking a breath "yeah sorry about that, probably should have made a pit stop to freshen up. Money for supplies was getting tight and most of Wild Space isnt big on barbers."

He looked out a window for a second and back to her "Well after the military I decided I wanted to help people. I'd been a lot of places. Seen people in some shit conditions and knew I had skills to help. So I took my end of commission credits bought a ship and did just that."

He shrugged "spent some time hoping around core world slums setting bones treating infections. Wasn't much I could do for the chronically ill but the acute and temporary I could help treat and give advice." He moved around looking at the trophies as he spoke "eventually left the core for the outer rim, hitting up industrial centers and under developed worlds a like. Almost every planet despite its level of wealth had people in need. I offered what I could before leaving again. Spent a few months in certain places like Eshan learned a lot from the Echani. Spent some time among the Aznuri, the Voss mystics, Halsoun monks. Exchanging knowledge for wisdom."

He took a breath and smiled "The past six years have been busy theres a lot more but what about you? How's running the family going? We still killing rich people for other rich people?"

Omandri Rist wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 14, 2021 1:42 pm

He took a breath and smiled "The past six years have been busy theres a lot more but what about you? How's running the family going? We still killing rich people for other rich people?"

She was pleasant until the end when he said the bit about their role and responded, “We don’t just kill people for other rich people we provide a sanctioned method of mortality and problem resolution for other Houses and I take pride in that. I am not going to insult our agents by downplaying their important work.”

She sighed and said, “I am not going to let you get to me, this should be a happy moment.”

Omandri's brow furrowed and a frown fell on his lips. He opened his mouth to retort but stopped himself short and took a breath and chuckled lightly "You're right, it should be. I don't agree with what we do but that can be a conversation for another time."

He looked to her "Im sorry Giandra. I promise that'll be my last jab, for today at least." He said with an apologetic smile.

He took a breath "so things are 'good is pretty vague its been six years sis surely you have more going on than just Ulgo being Ulgo."

"Vague is good when things are uncertain. It might come a time we reassess our position with Ulgo, whatever happens we don't want to end up on the wrong side of a conflict. War is an idiot's game, and if that means removing key pieces from the Game for greater enjoyment well... that's what we do best," she responded.

"I wish I had more than vague to offer."

"So wait and see is the name of the game then? Make sure you're betting on the right thranta? Seems about par for the course then." He said looking back out the window to the view from the trophy room.

There was a pause for a moment before he spoke up again quieter "Strange how much things change but ultimately stay the same."

“Yep we play the game, and make sure the right people win and we can go back to doing what we do best,” she said with a nod.

“But yeah, things change and after all that change, it’s still the same. Gaul really kriffed everything up, but, well Thul has a plan and it’s one I like if things go well they might be the thranta to back. Heard that Duchess Thul is backing Princess Jameela, and I am not sure I disagree. People will love her and she will stay out of our way.”

Omandri turned to his sister with a grimace "You want to get in bed with Thul?" He said with some incredulity "at least Ulgo backs the Republic. Everyone knows Thul is just an Imperial lackey. Hell they have a kriffing Sith lord in their house."

He shook his head "and Jameela was always a nice kind girl but she's far too friendly with Imperial emissary or whatever she is, Lana." Exasperation clear in his demeanor "for force sake I disagreed with what we did but I always clung to the hope that in the end its what you all thought was best for Aldeeran and the Republic."

“We do what’s best for House Rist, and if they are Imperial lackeys then yes you are right, but that isn’t the story I am hearing from the Duchess, not that I trust her either way but I do think she’s the kind of worm that will do anything to win and that kind of naked ambition is what I am banking on,” she responded.

“Ulgo wants war, they will burn down the whole planet just to get what they want. Bouris wants blood and the Crown, this little distraction won’t satisfy him and frankly I prefer the devil we know to one we don’t. Panteer will keep things steady.”

He gave her a skeptical look "Yes do anything to win like get as many allies however they can until they are in power. They know they need to hide their political ties to the Empire. Even if they're doing it poorly."

He took a breath again "No one besides Ulgo wants war, including me. Alderaan has seen enough of it but....." He frowned "Just can't believe you're thinking of working with Thul."

"Business is business, never take politics personally," she replied.

He sighed a little "Yes business is business but if you're not fighting for anything but yourself what's the point? What do you believe in Giandra? Besides wealth and survival?"

Omandri Rist wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 14, 2021 5:57 pm

He sighed a little "Yes business is business but if you're not fighting for anything but yourself what's the point? What do you believe in Giandra? Besides wealth and survival?"

"You're joking, I believe in House Rist," she said looking at him incredulously.

"We leave the fighting to Organa or Ulgo, we survive. You want to be a part of the solution then prove me wrong, find out just what Thul is up to."