Alderaan - Love and Intrigue

Alysele was wearing a white Jedi robe, quite the different clothing from her usual more frilly, formal clothes she wore nowadays. Still, this was a different occaasion. Her distance from the Order has been weighing on her, and she noted several new arrivals bearing the mark of Knights (and also that former fugitive of the law and known former assassin, Layne Hoshin), so she figured it would be good to gather some news.

She glanced around, everything seemed to be in order. Tea, caf, plankton juice was all around, as well as a small bottle of Corellian wine. Besides that, some plates of nibbles and actual food (was that stuffed porgling?). Though hopefully there will be more talk and less eating. Who knows?

The first one to arrive was Knight Katarzyna, dressed in her usual brown and white garb, clean and neat.

At least Alysele was a familiar sight, as as far as she knew no one from the Order that she knew was coming.

"Lady Alysele," she greeted with her usual calm manner as she bowed. "Or perhaps Knight Alysele is more appropriate, given the circumstances. Thank you, for the initiative of this meeting."

Castle Organa... this wasn't the one she'd visited before... was it? That had just been a 'summer home'. She'd thought *that* had been a needlessly big and opulent estate. This however, was just *absurd*. It was everything she'd always hated about rich people. Of course, her time with the Jedi had allowed her to mostly let go off hate... but it wasn't entirely gone, and she certainly wasn't comfortable with such displays.

When she showed up, she would do so in her black battle armor. Not that she was expecting to have to fight her way out, but... well, she just felt naked without it. She wore it practically *everywhere*, and unless someone was going to stop her from doing so, she intended to continue doing so. Same for the two lightsabers at her sides. The same applied to the young padawan that followed her; although *she* wore the armoured robes that might be familiar to those who knew Layne back in the day. They were the ones that Layne had worn before the war; though Tyche had replaced the black robes part of the armor with grey ones. Unlike her master, Tyche had only the one lightsaber.

"I won't have to do the thing with the pinky, right master?" Tyche loudly asked Layne as they approached.

"The thing with the...?"

"I'm not a delicate flower or whatever."

"Drink your tea however you want."

And then they were there. Both of them looking very much out of place.

"Hi," Layne said after a moment of awkward silence. "Knight Hoshin and Padawan... what's your name again?"

"That's not funny master, you know it's Rendar! Tyche!"

"Both are better than Mrs. Organa, for sure." She smiled, though there was some hesitancy in the expression. "Thank you Knight Katarzyna. These are...strange and difficult times for all involved. I was hoping that those of the Order on this planet would do good to gather and discuss the Festival and the ramifications. I don't think anyone wants Alderaan to secede, especially as I can only see the Empire swooping in in that case."

She gestured towards the table and drinks. "Take whatever you'd like, until the others arrive."

And then some of the others arrived.

"What are you wearing Hoshin? What? Are you afraid of an assassin breaking into House Organa to brutalize and kill you and then run off, supposedly reform and join the Jedi Order, or what? Or is your black robe at the dryers?"

She eyed the padawan. "Oh you poor soul. You got her? Who in their right mind...." The former worst Jedi shook her head. "Are you hungry?"

Jedi Knight Lunda Mae arrived, eschewing robes for a more black bodysuit look. She gave greetings but did not sit. Instead she stood near a window and waited for this to get started.

The next to arrive was the youngest, and presumably newest to claim the title of Jedi Knight, Tarlia. Her simple robes were, for once, not the unusual sight among all the pageantry. She was led to the location of the brunch by one of the staff. A smile on her lips as she prepared to introduce herself.

"Huh..." Was all that came out as Tarlia spotted the armored Layne. "...is the situation on the planet far worse then I had been led to believe?"

Of course there was only one armored figured visible, "...oh. Your sense of fashion is unique, but if I may...it could be considered insulting to our hosts." The Jedi remarked to Layne.

She clasped her hands in front of her and made a small bow to the collected group. "Tarlia Nirazas, a pleasure to make everyone's acquaintance. And my thanks to Knight Alysele for her invitation."

"What?" Layne looked down at her armor, like the question barely even made sense to her.

Tyche meanwhile, was clearly about to say something less than flattering to Alysele, but she was cut off by a raised finger and glare from Layne, who then turned back to Alysele.

"One never knows when one is called to spring into action to defend others."

Wow. Layne *didn't* hit back with insults, or aggression of either a passive or active variety? Wow! What the hell happened? Could this be that fabled character growth in action? The mentor trying to set the right example? Something wasn't right. Was it? This was bizarro-Layne, from another dimension, maybe.

She gave a quick nod toward Lunda.

"Certainly true." Tarlia nodded in agreement, "But to be prepared to defend others at a joyous festival seems different from being prepared to fight on the battlefield. To walk clad in armor is a statement, whether meant or not, that goes beyond a willingness to fight for others. Still I will defer to your judgement on the matter."

"Oh, well, I wouldn't go that far." Alysele sighed, then gestured towards Layne. "Lose the armor. You're in my home, and it IS insulting. Besides, I thought a proper Jedi only needs the Force, no?"

She raised an eyebrow, but was clearly not letting this one go.

"Also, consider how your past reflects on your present when viewed through the lens of others' sight."

Maybe Aly also changed?

''I do believe the proper etiquette would be to ignore small insults when they are made without knowledge or intent, no?'' it seemed that would be Baesal's first line to Alderaan's impromptu conclave.

Unlike Layne she she was not dressed in obvious armor...but she was not dressed in her jedi robes either. Instead she wore what looked like street attire: overalls, white tube top, running shoes and sun glasses. The only piece that could draw the eye was the elegant golden togruta head piece that held a beautiful amber at it's center.

If she had her lightsabers with her, they were hidden.

''Good morning everyone. I am Knight Baesal Zyn, happy to meet you.'' she said with a wide grin

Kat sighed. It was way too early in the day for this drama. Still she offered a bow to her fellow Jedi. "Jedi Knight Katarzyna Ulgo. An honor," her smile was sincere but weary.

"Knight Alysele is correct and this is not a war zone. The people of Alderaan don't need to see reminders of the recent conflict - as Knights of the Jedi Order, it's important that we appear as guardians of peace here, not aggressors," she offered in her calm tone.

"Given our Order's close ties to the Republic, we must carefully consider how we act on Alderaan in the coming days, as anti-Republic sentiments are brewing. Our actions ripple out further than just ourselves."

“It’s ya boi chat, alright I gotta sign off, but I will be live with more first hand footage of Alderaan from the Jedi with the Eye on the pulse… so smash that like button like it stole something and if we get to fifty thousand subscribers I’ll show you the real darksaber, the one that inspired Boob-Knight! So hit that subscribe, click the notifications, ya boi Daz is out,” Daz said as he entered and turned off the camera drone.

“Master, Knight Mae… Layne. Plus the rest of the gang, Jedi gang.”

"You expect me and my padawan to just strip naked?" She finally allowed herself a roll of the eyes.

Whereas Tyche just glared at everyone. It seems they were getting ganged up on.

Layne *wanted* to stand her ground on this. Tell them they were all wrong and shortsighted, along with a bunch of expletives. But that was the old Layne... the one that she'd been trying so desperately to get rid off. It hadn't been easy with recent events, but she was still going to try. For as long as she could manage it.

She raised both hands up. "Fine, I assume you have a place where we can change into whatever's available?"

"OF course not. Your padawan's fine, he's at least not wearing obvious armor." She sighed, then controlled herself. "There's a room inside, pick whatever suits you. I promise your armor won't be touched, but if it's better feel free to bring it out here. At least you won't be wearing it."

Compromise!!

She eyed Baesal and her padawan. "Is that the future of our Order?" She asked, a small note of horror creeping into her voice.

''Perhaps is would be wiser to keep your judgment to yourself unless you wish to be the rude one here, Miss Organa.'' replied the knight softly but sternly

''We all serve the force differently''

"It's *she*," Tyche said, glaring at Alysele when she was referred to as a 'he'. And might've said more if not for a look from Layne. If nothing else, they'd gotten to the point where they understood one another without having to waste many words.

"It's fitted to me anyway," Layne said with a sigh and a shrug as she turned back to Alysele, "no one else can comfortably wear it."

This brunch reminded her of those high society parties at Korriban. The ones she had to *crash* because nobody would invite her. The ones where everyone was looking to murder each other with words. Maybe it was just a rich people's thing.

She then went to get changed, leaving behind Tyche who started to look around for the booze. Her master had joked about getting to drink booze at brunch, and she was determined to find out if she could manage the feat despite being too young.

Lunda said, "Can we focus, we are Jedi not backstabbing nobility."

Kat stifled an eyeroll, but nodded along to Lunda's words.

"As Knight Lunda said, yes, let us focus. I trust everyone here was briefed by the Council on the current state of affairs on Alderaan, before being sent here?"

"My apologies Padawan." She gave an actual bow to Thryce.

"Thank you Knight Hoshin." She offered in the end.

Her gesture was towards the tables once again. "I know we are waiting for a few more people, but nonetheless, thank you all for coming. This time is difficult, both for my dear home planet, and for our Order as well. I know not all of us are in agreement with the current vision, but we all agree on our mission. Protect the innocent, fight against evil, keep the balance."

She raised a toast of...plankton juice. "And that is why we're here. Alderaan is at a crux, there are rumors of secession, something which I dread, as I fear the Empire would swoop her up in an instant. Besides that, we have a former sith on the planet and as part of the nobility." She glanced towards Baesal and Layne. "Would you two know of him more? I met him briefly during the Peace talks, but that was it."

''Zeno Deathwright? Yes, we knew him. He was in the same class as us on Korriban.'' the Togruta did not sit yet, instead choosing to walk around the room to collect her thoughs

''Apprentice to Darth Zash and one of those responsible for the massacre of Dantooine's temple that happened before the talks on Nar Shadaa. I have no doubt his status as an ex-sith is a temporary thing.''