[Day 5 - LA] Ithorian Opera (Closed)

[Solara Panteer]

“Our daughter is a priority, and we value military service but we also see that some things can be learned but a kind and supportive heart is not something people learn overnight. Galen was born into slavery, a practice we abhor, and yet has risen far above that and even saw fit to bring a token of his devotion to our daughter,” she said.

“That seems the kind of man that understands not only nobility but shows ambition, or do you disagree Lord Ulgo, Count Serenno... Lord Frayus?” she offered. “We appreciate honesty, we would not ask if we did not wish to hear your answers.”

[Count Serenno]

"Then I shall answer in the most honest way, Your Highness. In my view, ambition should always be constrained by obligation that is derived from noblesse. A good, devoted heart might not be enough. One's life is a service to one's people, not a pathway to personal achievement. I can personally admire Master Galen's ability to transcend his circumstances, but it begs the question - to what end, and by what principles? This is not to deny that Master Galen may be able to manifest responsibility corresponding with whatever station he may still ascend to, but to underscore the insufficiency of merely striving to break ceilings."

[Solara Panteer]

"We are sure Galen can answer for himself," she said before sipping more water.

[Galen Sol]

"I admire you for your service, Lord Ulgo." Galen began. "The battles I fought on Bankor did much to forge me into who I am now. They were instrumental in deciding that I wanted more of my life than simple survival. I did many things in my younger years for the sake of survival. I am not proud of some of that past."

"But, after Bankor, I stayed to help with recovery. I rebuilt homes. I fed families. I became part of a community. I've been happy there, but they no longer need me. My ambitions are to serve. That's one aspect of my childhood that I have retained. I'm just fortunate that I now have a choice."

[Jameela Panteer]

Jameela listened quietly allowing her mother to dominate the talks.

[Brannis Ulgo]

"Your Highness, if I may," Bran interjects again. "I don't believe there is any shortage of good and caring hearts in this group. We all want what is best for Princess Jameela and we all want what is best for Alderaan -- and Serenno," he adds for the Count's benefit, "and the Republic. I do not believe any of us would seriously debate that."

"Yet we all come from different backgrounds and bring different perspectives that may be useful to a partner for Princess Jameela. And, we would all generate different reactions among the Alderaan's nobles and common people. Those reactions will determine much about how easy or difficult it is for a future queen," he bows his head slightly and gestures to Jameela, "to protect this world and move us into a better era. We may all want to help her equally, but I honestly believe that only one can help her, and Alderaan, the most."

[Blai Frayus]

After his less than ideal statement about the Opera, Blai kept looking from one to another of the other suitors, stopping to take a sip of the drink offered as a refreshment now and again.

He had answers to the conversation in his mind, and thought of speaking out when his name was mentioned, but he seemed a bit unsure after his earlier blunder.

His eyes strayed to Jameela often... and then set on Galen. After the hunter's words, he felt a pang of uncertainty. His interest here in the planet had not been in Jameela from the start. He was rather playing a role. But his interest had grown day after day as he saw her and her actions. He hoped to see her reach her potential, listen to her as well. He wanted to learn from her, show her the things and places it seemed she'd like to see. Learn with her.

His eyes turned to Galen again. He was definitely They had been comrades the day before in the field, and would be again. It was really hard to think of him as a competitor.

He shook his head as he saw first Count Serenno, then Brannis defend the superiority of their claim to the princess' hand. Both seemed like decent men to Blai - Brannis even more so. But both, in their own way, staked their claims based on lineage. No shortage of good and caring hearts; no lack of skill; no lack of good intentions. So it comes down to blood.

The Frayus finally gathered some courage to speak, his eyes wandering first to the Count and the Ulgo, then to Jameela, Galen, and lastly to the Queen's own eyes.

"Your Majesty... I feel I have little right to add more on my own behalf than what Mr Sol said. In fact, I have similarly kind words to share of him. To answer your Majesty's first question... The times I've shared with Mr Sol while investigating here have revealed a kind man whose responsibility and character owe nothing to many of noble birth I've known. Ser Ulgo and Ser Serenno I cannot claim to know well enough... but I guess their words on their accomplishments speak more than anything I could possibly add", he says honestly with a smile to them both - only later noticing that might have sounded somewhat ambiguous... but then shaking his head slightly letting it stay that way.

"As for me...much of my experience comes from the outdoors, much like Mr Sol's, although my interest in the wilderness is more tied to scholarly pursuit than to any military experience. And now I have the luck of having exploring and researching interwoven in my responsibilities as lecturer and researcher at the University. I like to believe that speaks to some competence, at least!", he says with a grin, although a gentle one. "I also know it's a somewhat unlikely place for a noble - away from Alderaan itself, from courts and battlefields for most of the year. And likewise... I know it's a place many equally competent folks in Alderaan would like to be in... and some cannot due to their birth."

He takes a breath as his voice cracks a bit, then takes a look at Jameela and speaks again.

"So... I trust it's important to recognise those that have ventured beyond what was expected for their birth. It provides a different experience and a different view - and I know that in itself is frowned upon, at times. But I trust that may be a blessing instead. There are many in the nobility of Alderaan who know the courts, the ways of the noblesse - and battlefields. That knowledge is important for the Princess' future, of course. But as one of the Royal Family, she has always had the best possible environment to learn all that, and the best support she could for that in her family. And... I believe the Princess herself understands that."

He continues speaking in the third person, but now looks at Jameela.

"I... believe that's why she's always striving to be among her people. Help them, understand them. And..." This part is definitely harder to say. "She strives for understanding and friendship even with those most wouldn't trust".

A moment of silence. He seems a bit uncertain for a while, but soon takes up some courage again.

"I would hope the proper suitor would watch Her Royal Highness Jameela realise her potential, share ideas and opinions, comfort her, scaffold and celebrate her success, as Mr Sol said. And also support her... in that which she doesn't already excel in. In the unexpected."

He looks at the queen again. "I know this coming from a noble may be shadowed by Mr Sol's kind, honest words before. But... I'm also here due only to a growing interest in your daughter - an interest that grows as I see her ways, her worries and her dedication to the common folk of Alderaan."
Another moment of silence.

"I would like to commit to your daughter's success. To learn from her Royal Highness Jameela, learn from what she learnt on her studies and experience, from her commitment to the people. I would like to support her in all, however I can. Coming from a matriarchal family, with Jedi as mother and sister, supporting and learning from strong women is something I learned early and hope for my future. I hope to show her Royal Highness new things and new places she has not had the chance to know before. And I hope to help her apply whatever we can learn together to her endeavours. To the good of Alderaan... and especially its people."

He takes a sip of the water, looks at Galen, then at the queen again.

"I know this is, in one way or another, the hope of all here. And I believe there is something important each one of us would contribute. But again... I trust the path less travelled might be best to support her Royal Highness."

[Solara Panteer]

The queen listened, and listened and never waivered from giving the man her full attention. At the end she just sipped her water and waited to see what the others would say or react.

[Galen Sol]

Galen smiled. "I agree with Lord Frayus. We shouldn't be so concerned with how we might help who the princess will become. What's important is what we can do for the woman before us now, and how we can grow with her. What we might become."

[Count Serenno]

"Arguably, it would be less becoming of me than of the younger gentlemen here to speak of affection and commitments residing therein. So far, the Princess and I haven't had enough time and opportunity to develop special rapport on a personal level. In my mind, however, the actions speak, and Princess Jameela's consistent and unswerving dedication to the betterment of her people greatly endears her to me because of my own experience of the very sense of great responsibility. My own, perhaps faulty, understanding is that true closeness is born between people not when they keep looking at each other, but when they look in the same direction."

He paused. "But in the end, I'd rather not presume what the Princess would expect of her husband. I'd rather hear it from her." He looked at Jameela. "What I wouldn't like is my own life experience to be misrepresented today as a man of entitlement. For most of my life I travelled the galaxy as an exile, and only my last attempt at freeing my planet was successful, and in circumstances of a war that was such a plight for many. Whatever glories and distinctions of planetary rule followed, I couldn't have been taken them for granted at any point before the time of liberation, and they are invested in me at the pleasure of my peers and my people. Humility the life taught me leads me against truly partaking in discussion about ambitions and unique personal merits. If there is the kind of virtue in me Princess Jameela can appreciate, may it shine on its own, through my actions, rather than through commentary."

[Jameela Panteer]

"You are all very kind, thank you," Jameela offered at the outpouring of support. "I , uh, wanted to thank everyone for their help earlier with the children."

[Galen Sol]

"The children are important." Galen said simply.

[Blai Frayus]

Blai nodded at Galen's words, a wide smile on his face as he remembered the children - and Jameela - happily trying one after another of the treats the various guests brought.

"The children are the future of Alderaan, in a very real way, eh?", he added cheerfully.

[Solara Panteer]

"We agree," the Queen said. "Thank you for your insights. Do not tarry long, daughter."

The Queen returned to her seat.

[Lana Beniko]

Jameela looked around nervously as Lana took her side and whispered in her ear and she relaxed slightly.

[Jameela Panteer]

Jameela then said, "Thanks everyone for coming, this has been an interesting experience so far. Better than exploitative Huttball at least."

[Galen Sol]

"What did you think if the performance so far, Jameela?" Galen asked.

[Jameela Panteer]

“It’s really nice, the trio are originally from Coruscant and are quite famous or I am told they are. They specialize in reinterpreting folk music of various cultures into Ithorian Opera style, I got turned onto it during University. I was surprised when Mother booked them for the trip, it’s not really her ting but it was really nice. It’s okay if you guys think it’s lame, it’s not Wookiee synth-rock or Neimodian spoken word Jizz, but I like it,” she admitted.

[Galen Sol]

"I look forward to experiencing and learning more." he smiled.

[Count Serenno]

"I must admit my ignorance about much of the current trends in music. But I do dabble on saxophone."