Alderaan - Love and Intrigue

As most people were used to seeing Katarzyna in her usual Jedi-browns and whites, it was a bit of a surprise that she wore a simple but elegant dress with a loose-fitting skirt that allowed for easy movement. A pretty belt around her waist had the holster of her lightsaber, which also seemed closed like it had been at the beach. It seemed like you couldn't completely get away from the Jedi-ness of her.

So a little bit dressed up, Kat showed up for her "date", with a bottle of wine in her hand.

A droid attendant brought Kataryzna to a private area for the Crown with a balcony overlooking the festivities and giving a great view of the curve of Alderaan below and space beyond and the hazy area of atmosphere in between.

He wore a sharp tailored suit with a white flower pinned to his right breast pocket. He smiled and said, “Master Jedi, is that Jedi Order approved?”

"We are allowed to wear other clothes other than our robes," she said with some amusement. "... A friend of mine really insisted I dress up for this cruise. I compromised by still keeping my lightsaber."

He smiled easily and said, “And you look wonderful, master Jedi. Some guests may be a little incensed to be outshone by a Jedi. I love the feel of a good suit, I know some men hate them but it just gives one confidence and command of the room.”

“So you said you had something to share?” he said directing her to a table set up for two on a veranda made clear material to give an unobstructed view of the wonderful sights around them. A droid pulled out their respective chairs.

"Thank you," a slight bow, and then she realised bowing was a little odd in a dress. Maybe she should curtsy instead? "You look very good in a suit, if I may say so. Certainly not giving the impression like some men that you are not comfortable in such formal wear."

She herself wasn't uncomfortable in the dress, as it was rather comfortable and loose fitting. Though she missed the sturdiness of her usual clothes.

"Yes," stepping over to the table, she placed the bottle on it and took the offered seat as the droid pulled her chair out. "I found this recently on a little archaelogical expedition. I'm not an expert on wine, but I was told it was a sought-after vintage by professor Kellen Rist. It seemed like something you would like."

He picked it up and read over the faded label and said, “Where did you find this? My sister would love this for the historical significance, but not tonight sweet Jameela. Tonight we are going to imbibe this and honor the… is there a word for a person that makes wine? I really should know this.”

He smiled and laughed, “Anyway, shall I do the honors or you?”

"An old abandoned outpost in Ulgo territories. My fellow Knight Tethys Carrack and I, along with professor Rist, were looking into some of the history of the Blackguard and found it in one of the abandoned storages there." She hadn't thought that the princess would like it, but Kat liked that Gaul thought of his siblings' interests like that. He really did seem to care a lot for his family.

"I'm sure the bottle will be of interest to her. I can probably speak with professor Rist to show her our findings once he is finished with the analysis of it all." Though she made a mental note of maybe speaking to Jameela about the Blackguard's history, as she assumed Tethys would share it with the leader of the guard. "A winemaker is called a vintner, but winemaker is fine too."

Kat chuckled. "Go ahead, it is your gift, your highness."

He popped the cork and poured and said, "You are filled with wisdom, master Jedi. How are you finding the pleasure cruise?"

"Please, Katarzyna is fine. Or Kat as most people call me. I don't feel much like 'Master Jedi' in this outfit," she said with a small laugh.

"The cruise is quite nice, but I think I liked Beach Club better? More relaxed, a bit less formal. Though you seem equally at ease with both, but I guess you prefer Beach Club too?"

“I like hanging out with good people, Kat. Beach club was hopefully a chance for people to forget that half of them are competing with the other half… or that half of them despise the other half. You know just be people and not symbols and such,” he responded.

Picking up the glass of wine, she gave it a sniff to get some sense of what it was going to be like. And hopefully not poison in a bottle labeled wine!

"I think people might get too caught up in the competition aspect of it all, and forget the spirit of the Festival. I... really do not envy your siblings, in the position they're in. If I were a prize in a competition to be won like that, I think I would've gone hiding in the wilderness to live with the vorn tigers." While there was some humour to her tone, she really sympathized with the twins.

"How are they holding up?"

“Jameela hates it on principle and Joran loves it… so overall it’s okay. I think neither was prepared for it completely, but they have each other. The twins will cope, it is a Panteer trait. I don’t envy them, but I think they will manage and learn something ab0out themselves. Maybe,” he said in reply.

"It's a Panteer trait to learn to cope in difficult situations? Sounds like an important gift to have, considering the challenges that come with being the royal family."

Having sniffed the wine, she took a small sip to taste if it actually was any good.

"What about you and your brother Unther though? You're not being put through the wranger, but you probably have a lot to do with the Festival and everything. Are you keeping tabs on everyone trying to woo your siblings?" she asked with a smirk, wondering if Gaul was reporting back to the twins on people at Beach Club.

“Mostly just try and stay out of Mother’s way but if I see something troubling or important, of course I let them know. We have each other’s back even Unther, especially Unther. He is running the security detail. So everything is keeping him busy,” Gaul admitted.

"Yes, I noticed him taking an interest in the matter regarding the giant Kath Hound, Black Tooth. He was probably relieved yesterday to hear that one is one less worry to have on his shoulders." It was nice, seeing how close they were.

If anything, the royal family seemed like a very nice bunch.

"... You are avoiding your mother you said? Hmm... I had thought she had invited you back home, for the Festival and the upcoming engagements of your siblings." She seemed a little surprised by this.

He laughed sharply and said, “No, technically I am supposed to be banished it’s not an official decree more of a highly encouraged to be elsewhere so as not to draw attention to the obvious. But my siblings need me, and mother needs someone to blame if things go sideways. I can gladly carry both burdens with ease.”

“Unther knew I was coming back, but just barely and it was amusing watching him feign surprise at my arrival. He’s a terrible liar.”

Kat imagined what Unther must've looked like as he feigned his surpise, and snorted a brief laugh at the mental image.

"Well... I'm glad you came back. I wouldn't have had the chance to meet you otherwise. And, I think it's good for your family, and for Alderaan that you're here... I think that's the only way that things can perhaps be mended, and we can move on from what happened."

"You might be the only person that thinks I can mend things," he said with a chuckle as he sipped the tasty wine.

"Sometimes all it takes is for one person to believe in you to help turn things around. And I do believe in you, Gaul." Kat sipped her wine as well once more, a bit surprised with herself to use his name in such a personal manner!

The wine at least was very good.

"Are you intending to stay on Alderaan after the festival too?"

Gaul listened and then responded, “It depends on how things shake out, I might eb better used elsewhere in the Republic. Plenty of work to be done to set to right what the Sith Empire tried to tear down on top of the usual issues; I can only imagine what my office looks like on Coruscant.”

“Plus I am still an advocate for Alderaan and a number of Social Improvement projects. I am sure a Jedi can relate that we never have enough hours for everything we wish to do.”