[Day 1 - EE] Suitor's Mixer RP Thread

[Brannis Ulgo]

Katarzyna was fine with just observing the socialising and mingling going on, as she stood to the side with her hands folded in front of her. The noble attire made her look rather statuesque with her posture.

After a time, Bran pauses his appraising of the room to walk over to his cousin. "Cousin Kat," he says, voice low enough to be heard but not farther away than the Ulgo Jedi. "Could I impose to ask a question of your wisdom?" He looks very serious, like he's been asked to show that 2 + 3 = 6 and it's vexing him.

[Katarzyna Ulgo]

After a time, Bran pauses his appraising of the room to walk over to his cousin. "Cousin Kat," he says, voice low enough to be heard but not farther away than the Ulgo Jedi. "Could I impose to ask a question of your wisdom?" He looks very serious, like he's been asked to show that 2 + 3 = 6 and it's vexing him.

A slight bow was given to her noble cousin. "You are always free to ask, but I make no guarantees to how wise my answers are," she said with a somewhat amused smile. "What is on your mind?"

[Count Serenno]

She laughed at that lightly and then said, “I… you’re putting me on the spot here, I spent some time on Taris studying relics from the Revan era. But really I am always open to new discoveries. I guess I can’t answer that right now, what about you?”

"Thanks to the Hydian Way Taris is practically a neighbour of Serenno. I was there, of course, but Malak's destruction and the urban sprawl all over that followed make it difficult to find something more than unexploded ordnance. I had little luck there, myself." He mused. "I hope it won't sound too arrogant, but I find pre-Republic era the most worthwhile, when our galaxy was still a pristine, wild, unexplored place, full of occurrences that had no prior patterns. There was a time Xim Wars engrossed me, quite naturally given that my house traces its roots back to the renegade houses of the Tion Hegemony. But these days I am easily lured into studying anything truly primordial and ancient."

[Brannis Ulgo]

A slight bow was given to her noble cousin. "You are always free to ask, but I make no guarantees to how wise my answers are," she said with a somewhat amused smile. "What is on your mind?"

She can see Bran's face scrunch for a moment as he half-turns, looking toward Princess Jameela briefly. "Earlier today, Garth and I helped disperse a protest against the queen's speech. The princess was there and seemed rather shaken. After the crowd was dispersing I went to speak with her and... She said something that troubles me." Bran's brow is creased in thought, making the young man look exceptionally old compared to the usual. "She said that we shouldn't paint with broad strokes about the Sith. That Lana, the ambassador, isn't a 'maniacal monster.' Her words. Which..." Bran bites his lip. "I am not sure what to make of it."

[Garth Wayne Ulgo]

"What really changed me the most was fatherhood," he said with a chuckle at Layne. Not exactly something the Jedi Order was keen on for the most part. It happened, but it was not the standard.

"This is Garth Wayne Ulgo," he introduces her to his other conversation partner. "Republican naval pilot, and man of action."

Then turns to Garth. "And this is Layne Hoshin. Former Sith turned Jedi, and woman of action," he said, assuming as much since she still carried a lightsaber and she shared a last name with someone's padawan. Definitely couldn't be a coincidence.

"Ev'nin Miss Hoshin." He greeted the Jedi, interested in the concept of a reformed Jedi, and if she was former SIth, and knew Zeno....well does that mean he was Sith with a capital S as well???

[Layne Hoshin]

"I do find that hard to believe," she said, calm expression still in place as she extended her hand. "But maybe life in the republic has changed you as it has me."

But if that were the case; why not join the Jedi, instead of marrying into a noble house for political power? She wasn't convinced either way on him as of now. And it wasn't hard to imagine that her being here, looking him in the eye, was a not so subtle warning that while they weren't enemies, she *is* watching him.

"Or marriage, I suppose."

(sorry for posting out of order, wanted to make sure I didn't forget to post this in)

Garth watched the reunion with interest. There was a certain tension between them, but given Zeno's past affiliations, and even his current ones, that should really be no surprise, besides anything he could learn about the Thul patriarch might prove useful down the line.

"What really changed me the most was fatherhood," he said with a chuckle at Layne. Not exactly something the Jedi Order was keen on for the most part. It happened, but it was not the standard.

"This is Garth Wayne Ulgo," he introduces her to his other conversation partner. "Republican naval pilot, and man of action."

Then turns to Garth. "And this is Layne Hoshin. Former Sith turned Jedi, and woman of action," he said, assuming as much since she still carried a lightsaber and she shared a last name with someone's padawan. Definitely couldn't be a coincidence.

She gave Garth a nod. "I think I may have seen you around at Bankor basecamp," she said, vaguely remembering him speaking up at a briefing. Didn't know he was Alderaanian, though.

As for the mention of fatherhood; the former Sith in her thought his mention of the fact was almost certainly a tactical ploy rather than anything else. Perhaps an attempt to play on Jedi empathy. She hated the fact that her mind went to such places, but such instincts had only very rarely steered her wrong.

[Jameela Panteer]

"Thanks to the Hydian Way Taris is practically a neighbour of Serenno. I was there, of course, but Malak's destruction and the urban sprawl all over that followed make it difficult to find something more than unexploded ordnance. I had little luck there, myself." He mused. "I hope it won't sound too arrogant, but I find pre-Republic era the most worthwhile, when our galaxy was still a pristine, wild, unexplored place, full of occurrences that had no prior patterns. There was a time Xim Wars engrossed me, quite naturally given that my house traces its roots back to the renegade houses of the Tion Hegemony. But these days I am easily lured into studying anything truly primordial and ancient."

She followed along and made mental notes and then said, "You really are a rather interesting person, Count Serenno. Thank you for your kind words. It seems my mother has need of me, thank you."

She departed with a smile.

[Katarzyna Ulgo]

She can see Bran's face scrunch for a moment as he half-turns, looking toward Princess Jameela briefly. "Earlier today, Garth and I helped disperse a protest against the queen's speech. The princess was there and seemed rather shaken. After the crowd was dispersing I went to speak with her and... She said something that troubles me." Bran's brow is creased in thought, making the young man look exceptionally old compared to the usual. "She said that we shouldn't paint with broad strokes about the Sith. That Lana, the ambassador, isn't a 'maniacal monster.' Her words. Which..." Bran bites his lip. "I am not sure what to make of it."

Katarzyna blinked a few times, digesting what Brannis was saying.

"I don't think all Sith are maniacal monsters," she said at first, letting it sink in for a moment before continuing. "Do you believe all Alderaanians to be a monolith, cousin? That every Alderaanian thinks the same way, act the same way, believe the same way?"

It was of course a hypothetical question, because Alderaan would be quite peaceful right now if everyone did think the same way.

"In my travels, I have learned that people and cultures are not a monolith. There are many variations, within a society. The Chiss have a reputation for being aloof and unfriendly, yet I've once shared a meal and camp with a pair of Chiss explorers before, so it's clearly not something that applies to all Chiss. However," Kat sighed, "while there might be polite, decent, and even friendly members of the Sith Order, it doesn't change that they support a harmful ideology that promotes the domination of the strong over the weak to further one's own personal gains. This... ambassador Lana, is probably quite pleasant and well-mannered, and perhaps she isn't a strong supporter of the Sith code. But at the end of the day, she serves and promotes a society that embraces that philosophy."

[Garth Wayne Ulgo]

She gave Garth a nod. "I think I may have seen you around at Bankor basecamp," she said, vaguely remembering him speaking up at a briefing. Didn't know he was Alderaanian, though.

As for the mention of fatherhood; the former Sith in her thought his mention of the fact was almost certainly a tactical ploy rather than anything else. Perhaps an attempt to play on Jedi empathy. She hated the fact that her mind went to such places, but such instincts had only very rarely steered her wrong.

"F'rgive mah absent mind fer not recogniz'n ya from those days Miss Hoshin, it's been a while though. Glad t' see yer doin' well. Ah do see a few more Jedi here than ah'd expect, don't love 'n marriage go against yer attachment issues?"

[Brannis Ulgo]

Katarzyna blinked a few times, digesting what Brannis was saying.

"I don't think all Sith are maniacal monsters," she said at first, letting it sink in for a moment before continuing. "Do you believe all Alderaanians to be a monolith, cousin? That every Alderaanian thinks the same way, act the same way, believe the same way?"

It was of course a hypothetical question, because Alderaan would be quite peaceful right now if everyone did think the same way.

"In my travels, I have learned that people and cultures are not a monolith. There are many variations, within a society. The Chiss have a reputation for being aloof and unfriendly, yet I've once shared a meal and camp with a pair of Chiss explorers before, so it's clearly not something that applies to all Chiss. However," Kat sighed, "while there might be polite, decent, and even friendly members of the Sith Order, it doesn't change that they support a harmful ideology that promotes the domination of the strong over the weak to further one's own personal gains. This... ambassador Lana, is probably quite pleasant and well-mannered, and perhaps she isn't a strong supporter of the Sith code. But at the end of the day, she serves and promotes a society that embraces that philosophy."

"All Alderaanians?" Bran chuckles at Kat's questions to him. "Even in military units, where being the same has a lot of value, we are all still our own people. No two quite alike." He shakes his head. "Of course there may be kind or gentle Sith or imperials, but as you just said, that's not the issue. It wasn't just a few of them but an entire organized army of them that nearly destroyed our world. But if she wants to excuse that..." He keeps his voice controlled but there's clear annoyance in his eyes.

[Katarzyna Ulgo]

"All Alderaanians?" Bran chuckles at Kat's questions to him. "Even in military units, where being the same has a lot of value, we are all still our own people. No two quite alike." He shakes his head. "Of course there may be kind or gentle Sith or imperials, but as you just said, that's not the issue. It wasn't just a few of them but an entire organized army of them that nearly destroyed our world. But if she wants to excuse that..." He keeps his voice controlled but there's clear annoyance in his eyes.

"If she wishes to excuse that, I would be intrigued to hear the reasoning behind it," Kat said dryly, clearly not impressed. It seemed the presence of Sith ran deeper than she was suspecting, if they were also filling the heads of the royal family with nonsense.

"I'm sure all the people who lost homes and loved ones, or their lives in defense of Alderaan and its people, would be thrilled to hear that a possible heir to the throne thinks that the Sith were just misunderstood when they went to war against us."

[Zeno Thul]

She gave Garth a nod. "I think I may have seen you around at Bankor basecamp," she said, vaguely remembering him speaking up at a briefing. Didn't know he was Alderaanian, though.

As for the mention of fatherhood; the former Sith in her thought his mention of the fact was almost certainly a tactical ploy rather than anything else. Perhaps an attempt to play on Jedi empathy. She hated the fact that her mind went to such places, but such instincts had only very rarely steered her wrong.

"F'rgive mah absent mind fer not recogniz'n ya from those days Miss Hoshin, it's been a while though. Glad t' see yer doin' well. Ah do see a few more Jedi here than ah'd expect, don't love 'n marriage go against yer attachment issues?"

"Even if it does, it's a festival. Plenty of other reasons to be here and enjoy it, no?" Zeno said with a smile. "I'm already married, but I'm not sitting it out."

He then looks at Layne. "But then again, maybe you're looking to sweep the prince off his feet and carry him off into the sunset?"

[Layne Hoshin]

"F'rgive mah absent mind fer not recogniz'n ya from those days Miss Hoshin, it's been a while though. Glad t' see yer doin' well. Ah do see a few more Jedi here than ah'd expect, don't love 'n marriage go against yer attachment issues?"

"Even if it does, it's a festival. Plenty of other reasons to be here and enjoy it, no?" Zeno said with a smile. "I'm already married, but I'm not sitting it out."

He then looks at Layne. "But then again, maybe you're looking to sweep the prince off his feet and carry him off into the sunset?"

To Garth she shrugged. "Plenty of Jedi have gotten married. Some of them are even here. Attachments are not forbidden, just discouraged. If not managed properly, they can lead one to the Dark Side. Of course, Zeno here knows all about the Dark Side."

She turned toward him. "No, I'm not here to find love. I'm just here to make sure you're not doing anything you shouldn't be."

[Tethys Carrack]

Tethys casts one last sidelong glance at the helmeted Blackguards officer before refocusing on Galen.

"Yulu Kess? I'm afraid I can't place that name." Though it tickles in her brain as though she's heard it before, somewhere.

"He was a Jedi Knight who's spirit I came into contact with." he explained. "He is one with the Force now, but the Order gave me a holocron of his lessons. One was about wooing a Dantooine princess."

"Oh." Her brows arch. "And so you're... following in his footsteps? The calling of a Jedi does bring us to places like this one, perhaps more often than you'd think. Less often to courting princesses, though."

[Garth Wayne Ulgo]

Garth's eyes light up slightly at Layne's words, despite his futile efforts to control his response.

"Then ah hope y' manage t' find some fun alongside fulfillin' yer duty then." Garth answers Layne as he tips his glass in her general direction.

"An' ah hope this one lives up t' yer expectations. He's proved a quite friendly and civil ind'vidual so far, t' me at least."

[Brannis Ulgo]

"If she wishes to excuse that, I would be intrigued to hear the reasoning behind it," Kat said dryly, clearly not impressed. It seemed the presence of Sith ran deeper than she was suspecting, if they were also filling the heads of the royal family with nonsense.

"I'm sure all the people who lost homes and loved ones, or their lives in defense of Alderaan and its people, would be thrilled to hear that a possible heir to the throne thinks that the Sith were just misunderstood when they went to war against us."

"Yes," Bran says quietly, bowing his head. "It is... most troubling. And has the unfortunate effect of making the nonsense from those protesters seem more accurate than it should..." Bran's fist comes up under his chin as he considers.

[Katarzyna Ulgo]

"Yes," Bran says quietly, bowing his head. "It is... most troubling. And has the unfortunate effect of making the nonsense from those protesters seem more accurate than it should..." Bran's fist comes up under his chin as he considers.

Kat was silent as she carefully considered her words, as she rarely spoke with haste or without giving her words due consideration. "It is not impossible for a skilled user of the Force to manipulate someone's thoughts and impressions... however, I don't want to throw around baseless accusations," she remarked quietly, looking in the direction of the royal family with concern.

Would they have to rescue the royal family from the clutches of evil as well?

"Just... something to keep in mind. Our enemy is a sly one, and has no honor."

[Zeno Thul]

To Garth she shrugged. "Plenty of Jedi have gotten married. Some of them are even here. Attachments are not forbidden, just discouraged. If not managed properly, they can lead one to the Dark Side. Of course, Zeno here knows all about the Dark Side."

She turned toward him. "No, I'm not here to find love. I'm just here to make sure you're not doing anything you shouldn't be."

Garth's eyes light up slightly at Layne's words, despite his futile efforts to control his response.

"Then ah hope y' manage t' find some fun alongside fulfillin' yer duty then." Garth answers Layne as he tips his glass in her general direction.

"An' ah hope this one lives up t' yer expectations. He's proved a quite friendly and civil ind'vidual so far, t' me at least."

"I'm not the only one here that knows all about the Dark Side," he replies to Layne, with a smirk. "But it seems a waste that you're here for me. I've gotten along fine for years without a babysitter, and have caused none of the upheavals on Alderaan."

"It's still mostly the way you left it since you left, isn't it?" he asks Garth, with a smile. "I don't think I've blown it up." He checks under his feet to make sure Alderaan is still there.

[Garth Wayne Ulgo]

"It's still mostly the way you left it since you left, isn't it?" he asks Garth, with a smile. "I don't think I've blown it up." He checks under his feet to make sure Alderaan is still there.

"Sad t'say ah dunno, Duke. First time ah've been here, I may have the name 'f an Ulgo, but ah were raised offworld." There's a certain wistfulness in his voice as he speaks of his past.

"If y' were tryna blow it up though, y'sure ain't doin a real good job. She sure is one o' the prettiest planets ah ever did see."

[Riss]

He watched her a moment while she inspected her glass he sort of inspected her but not for long enough to become uncomfortable "Well I'd think you'd know better than most how carried away I can get." He said teasingly.

"My sister called me back home, I'm obsentibly involved as a suitor but I doubt I really have much if a chance there." He chuckled "I've got a couple other irons in the fire too though. There are a lot of moving pieces here on Alderaan these days. I'll save talking about those until we're in a more private venue."

"Funny.. I've got something I could bring up with you later too, private venue and all," she says with a brief smirk, but focuses once more on the glass. One second, two, her eyes flit away from it with a purpose like she was running from the thought and took a long sip of the contents, and then it was longer, and longer, until it was gone and the glass was empty.

In the moment following she looks thoughtful, pensive, and her gaze seems to search around for the nearest place she can find another drink but another look at the glass and she discards the idea entirely. Setting the empty glass down on a nearby table without thought or care.