Things wouldn’t be so bad if there hadn’t been all those looks... Damas Ryner had been brought in for questioning after Mon Mothma’s ousting, and though he had proven himself loyal to the Empire, the rumor mill wouldn’t stop for a while still. Sadly for Adoven, it seemed the “sins of the father” trickled down to him and that the Ryner family name was not as strong as it once was.

Adoven was avoiding trying the dining commons, but knew that she might be in there. After trying her office (5 times) and various other locations that proved unsuccessful, he resigned himself to enter the room. He’d just drop in, see if she was there and then leave really quickly. No harm done in that, right? Bracing himself, he made to enter and was almost bowled over by a haughty looking man who didn’t appear to be much older than he was. Cambrist, or something, he thought he was called. “Good gracious... So sorry... Should have been looking”, he blurted out as he clutched his chest. What a great start this was.

Making his way inside, he glanced around really quickly looking at the various occupants as he inquired from the vestibule if “...anyone has seen Senator Thanatos of Chandrila?” Crap. Crap, crap, crap... He could feel himself reddening as a few of them turned around to look at him as though he was some insignificant gnat. He turned an even deeper shade of red as he spotted that Lord Gemmell was there. Goodness that man gave him the creeps... Always had since the first time he had seen him at Palpatine’s court. Hoping that he hadn’t appeared as though he had been starring at him, he continued his sweep of the room. Sadly for him, Ilanah was not in here, which made it all the more awkward for him. “No? Then... I’ll just...” he motioned towards the exit as he mumbled and fumbled his response. He stood there on the spot, as though petrified, before turning around and attempted to leave with as much dignity he could still salvage. And he feared he’d fail at that too.

She glanced to the occupants of the commons with her cobalt blue eyes, pausing briefly on each for no more than a moment. "Although I am sure that I will at the party that I received an invitation to." Ilanah commented casually.

Lana turned then, in order to be heading in the direction that he seemed to be. "I assume that you need me for something. Would you care to speak in my office?" Ilanah lowered her voice then. "Actually....do you know where my office is?" Her cheeks turned rosy. "I admit, only to you, that I found it this morning only to lose it when I went to find a cup of tea." The place was large, and very new, and easy to get lost in.

Although still blushing, Adoven definitely looked relieved to be out of the commons for the time being. This first venture in there hadn't been the greatest introduction of himself to the people he would be working with as an aide to Senator Thanatos, that much was certain. "Your office? Oh, er, yes... I'll show you the way from here, Senator. As for why I wanted to talk to you..." This was a bit embarrassing for him. He knew the Senate buildings were probably rigged and bugged to the point of intercepting or hearing any messages or conversations, no matter where one was. And the information he wanted to share, though not capital, could probably be used against either of them should anyone been listening in. He'd have to lie. "Good gracious, is this the time?" he said glancing at his pocket watch, trying to sound a bit astounded and surprised to find that it was later than he had anticipated. Hopefully it would make it appear as though it were nothing. "It was about the party. But you already know of it! I received word of it and wanted to make sure you knew as soon as possible. But you probably heard about it before I did... Rather obvious now that I think of it." He felt completely stupid. Talk about making himself look like an inadequate political greenhorn. "If I may ask, are there any arrangements you would need me to do? Call a suitor to confirm the time and date? Make sure your ensemble is picked up from the cleaning? Arrange transportation?" How he just sounded too eager. Joy!

"Yes of course...." Ilanah started, but she stopped short. 'These are all....yes, would you arrange all of that for me. But as for a dress...I have no idea yet. Although the remainder of my clothes should have been delivered to my condo by now, so there is likely something suitable. Unless you know of a good dressmaker. I had a lovely girl back home, but you know, that is no longer an option. " It was not as if she had a stylist. She just generally chose what she like. And of course the dressmaker she had used previously was very, very good.

"And a suitor, well....no. I know no one here, so I am not sure that is necessary." Her gaze met Adoven's again. "Is it necessary? Would it be inappropriate to bring just a friend? Maybe an assistant? Someone from...Chandrila?" She hinted, though she indicated nothing more than the desire to be around someone from her home world.

Veritas nodded to Gemmell in his physical reaction, giving a concerned smile. "He is...well. Let the city get to his head too much, but adjusting." he said. It wasn't common for a Veritas to speak of family problems. With that however, he stood. "Gentlemen...have a pleasant evening together." he said to Ryuun and Gemmell. With that, he left, not far behind Cambrist in his stride. Leaving the Commons however, he would take a different path to a different place, far away from Imperial Center.

"That's her." He said immediately as Ja'nar emerged through the doors.

His pace remained quite collected, arms tucked neatly behind his back. It took only a few moments for the small group to assemble infront of her, barring her from further advance down the hallway.

"Why good evening, Senator." Aethyr breathed, his green eyes, though warm and welcoming. Held a legacy of terror and true evil. "If you'd accompany me to your Office, I'd quite like to have a small word with you in regards to something that, I myself, and my superiors in Imperial Intelligence, find quite troubling."

“Oh, I wouldn’t say a suitor is necessary to bring to such an event, but even seating is always preferable and you could always…“ he rather blushed as she interrupted him and asked if she could bring a friend, or an assistant, to the party. “I hope I am not being presumptuous in assuming you are referring to… me?” How he absolutely loved parties despite the fact that he abhorred the often too militaristic nature of those held on Imperial Center. All those men in uniforms… Many would see it as a turn on, but he rather felt it was a looming menace. Still, he wasn’t about to refuse his Senator, especially not for a party! “It would be an honor to accompany you to the party as a friend—or assistant—whichever you would rather I be referred to as.”

On that note, he led the way to her office and settled down at his own desk to work away. He’d definitely ensure the Chandrilan Senator and her guest would be the epitome of grace and style.

Ja’nar had never liked weapons. They made her uncomfortable, of course that was what they were suppose to do but not within these halls. Oh how have the times changed. Ja’nar was a small petite woman. She would never be precieved a threat to men as large as the ones that were currently standing in front of her. She had secret strengths but none of them would help her in a moment like this. Ja’nar would look past the three men when she heard a familiar voice, Vanden. She would take in a deep breath, the hallway seemed to have gotten hotter as her face flushed red for a moment as she tried to quickly regain herself as she smiled past the two guards and Aethyr to Artemis. “No, it just seems that these gentleman wish to speak to me about something Vanden.”

How long had it been since they had last spoken? It had to have been the last time she was on Coruscant. The last time she served as Senator for her planet. They had a small affair. It had only last a few months and she had always kept Vanden at a distance. She had fallen in love with him and that had scared her. She had left for a reason, actually more than one reason and now seeing him standing there. To see him coming to her aid made her want to run into his arms, to pick up where she had left him. But she would never be able to do that. He knew nothing of her. She had kept her past a secret, kept everything bottled up inside. It was why she had ran. She ran away from his love, for what she was feeling.

His eyes studied the young Senator's face for but a moment, taking a mental note on the sudden rose colour hue her otherwise quite delicate features flushed with. He knew already that these two had shared in a very non-professional relationship before, no matter how short it may have been. But could they have managed to effectively evade the all-knowing eyes of Imperial Intelligence even further? Unlikely. But if secrets were indeed being kept, who better than he to unravel them.

With a sharp about-face on the heel of a very well polished boot, Aethyr moved forward upon Vanden. A single gloved hand lifting upwards, only it's slender index finger extended. "And as for you, Representative Vanden, " he began, giving the mans chest a simple, yet assertive tap with the tip of his finger. "As it happens to be, I have a small number of questions for you also."

From this perspective Aethyr was no more recognizable. Dark hair, rather handsome features. Intense, green eyes. Several medals and awards from his various duties throughout the Galaxy pinned neatly in place upon the uniform that shrouded his strong frame. But alas, nothing spoke to his identity.

"I suggest that you accompany myself, and the lovely Senator. We wouldn't want to cause a scene here, nor raise suspicions. Or. . . would we?"

The silence between the two men seemed to last an eternity, Aethyr didn't budge. Atleast, not until Senator Cerra's soft words had finally been spoken. "Aethyr Dakkari, Bureau of Operations, Destabilization." He finally offered, a small smile tugging the left corner of his lips. "I must say Representative, you do seem quite combative." He continued that same finger coming to prod once more on the side of Vanden's chest.

"It's. . " he paused for a moment, eyes never once leaving the man that stood before him. "It's almost as if you don't want me to continue with my inquiry. And I must say, " Once more he paused, offering a rather knowing chuckle. "I find this entire little episode to be quite. . . curious."

Gesturing his gloved hands upwards, palms out. Aethyr sighed heavily. His front returning to face Ja'nar. "Perhaps it is best we bring Vizier Gemmell in, afterall I'm quite sure he himself would be awkwardly surprised that two of his very own were not only suspects of treason to this -great- Empire! But that they have shared less-than-innocent relations in the past, and appear to still be engaging said relations up to this very moment." Again he turned back to Vanden, smile nowhere to be found now.

"Yes, I'm sure he'd be curious also. Just as we in Imperial Intelligence are, that both you and the Senator here seem to have quite the suspicious knack of stacking each others votes, and lobbying against all Imperial motions and proposals." Though the words came out calm, there was definetely a certain harshness behind each and every syllable uttered.