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Two Queens, a Representative and a Love Child.
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| Naboo_Queen | Date: Saturday, 02 Jul 2011, 9:51 PM | Message # 1 |
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| It was a beautiful, mild summer day on Naboo as Kylantha stood in front of one of the large arched windows within the throne room looking out at the small, quiet capital city of Theed. Things had been very quiet for Naboo as of late especially in the Senate. It seemed that even though Representative Vanden often voted against measures supported by the vast majority of hardcore Imperial supporters that no one truly noticed, not like they recently had with Garos IV. A small frown would crease Kylantha’s lips as she thought of Garos and more importantly their Queen. She could not imagine the stress she was under but she was bringing too much attention to herself, to Garos. Naboo was a small planet and did not want to depend on its friends or allies but at times like these, one could never have enough allies and Garos was a strong one. Their queen would stand by anyone who would pledge to do the same for her. It was not only that but it was helpful that the two women shared a bond that most did not know about, they kept their distance by talked often about life in general. If Kylantha had to have a best friend in this galaxy, it would be Ja’nar Cerra, even with all of the problems the other queen could bring with her. This was one of the reasons she had called a meeting with Representative Vanden this afternoon, she wanted to make sure that everything within the senate would continue to way it has, with Naboo staying out of the spotlight and she was hopeful that Vanden could reign Ja’nar in a bit more within the Senate chambers.
Queen Kylantha of Naboo
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| Artemis_Vanden | Date: Sunday, 03 Jul 2011, 1:50 AM | Message # 2 |
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| In the Senate, Naboo had indeed a low profile in recent weeks. So too did Artemis, though he remained busy on Coruscant negotiating trade deals for Naboo and, as always, making sure that Senator Binks did nothing to embarrass himself, or Artemis, or even for that matter her highness, the Queen. Artemis had a low profile even on Naboo, though, since his wife Moira had passed away. They had been socialites once, and the parlor at Vanden's townhouse in Theed had been the host of many of Naboo's finest writers, artists, and philosophes. Moira was a warm and welcoming person, and Artemis himself was open minded and enjoyed the company and conversation. But since she had passed, and since Artemis's son Davon had run away, the townhouse had fallen silent. Artemis buried himself in his work, remaining on Coruscant most of the time and, when on Naboo, sequestering himself in his Lake Country retreat.
He was grateful to her highness, in a way, for this occasion to be out and about—Theed was for him, after all, a place of many memories, and many friends, too. Sometimes, though, he found their sympathy difficult to bear; he didn't like being reminded. But today, he was at the palace for business. He was partial to Queen Kylantha, found her to be pragmatic and enjoyed a good professional relationship with her. He was quite comfortable throughout the meeting, throughout which he brought her highness up to speed on Naboo's recent legislative endeavors in the Senate. He was comfortable enough in her presence that he had discarded his ceremonial robe and dressed simply, in black trousers and boots, a white shirt with its sleeves rolled up, and a forest green button vest. "... and I expect we'll have a similar arrangement with New Holstice finalized this week and submitted for your approval on Satunda," he concluded his summary, consulting a datapad as he did so.
"Also," he added, "I hope it's all right, I used the expense account to purchase tickets for a week to the Holographic Museum of Extinct Animals, for Senator Binks. I had a lot to do that week and Jar Jar..." he paused for a moment, considering how to phrase this delicately. "He needed to not be there. You know how he is." Indeed, Artemis, the poor man, had noted before that half of his job was keeping Senator Binks out of the way, and out of the Senate. Thus, in Jar Jar's absence, Artemis usually acted as Senator and cast most of Naboo's votes. It was unfortunate that Binks, as a close but clueless 'friend' of Emperor Palpatine, couldn't be easily removed as Senator, but as long as Artemis succeeded in keeping him busy, or entertained, he was satisfied with the arrangement, he supposed. That Jar Jar was the bane of his existence was a small price to pay to represent his beloved homeworld in the Senate.
"What else would you like to discuss, Your Highness?" Artemis asked, setting his datapad down on the chair beside which he stood in the majestic, marble throne room, then clasped both his hands behind his back.
Artemis Vanden
Representative of the Naboo
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| Naboo_Queen | Date: Sunday, 03 Jul 2011, 7:39 PM | Message # 3 |
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| Kylantha listened to Artemis’ report back on the happenings within the Senate, she did get daily updates from an aide in the senator/representative’s office sent to her on Naboo but it was much nicer to speak with Artemis in person for once, he was one of the few people she felt she could trust fully. She would listen to his update thoughtfully, taking in his views on certain pieces of legislation. Kylantha herself was dressed down for this meeting, she was not wearing the ceremonial full face make-up that many of the Queens of Naboo would wear into meetings such as these. But this was the only true meeting she had on this day and felt it to be a waste of time to put all of that on and to have her hair put up into one the intricate hair pieces. Instead her hair was done in a simple braid the fell down the middle of her back. She wore a Grecian style gown, in a pale lavender color, one of her favorites actually, as she turned to face him once more as he approached the subject of Senator Binks “Of course, anything that you need to make your job easier on the Imperial Center is seen as a necessity in my eyes.” Kyla knew that Senator Binks was a burden on Artemis but there was not much that she could do to help relieve that burden than to allow Artemis to find ways to keep him entertained and away from the senate chambers. “It seems that all is in order within the senate. I am glad that I have you on the Imperial Center to keep an eye on things and to make sure we do not make too many waves.” She would take in a deep breath as her deep blue eyes look into his for a moment “Speaking of waves, I am getting reports that the Senator from Garos IV is causing a bit of trouble for herself.” A little smile does touch her lips though.
Queen Kylantha of Naboo
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| Artemis_Vanden | Date: Wednesday, 06 Jul 2011, 8:06 PM | Message # 4 |
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| Artemis met her gaze for a moment but looked away, out one of the throne room's expansive windows, as she mentioned Senator Cerra. His guard went up, not only because of his past with the Senator but also because he knew, as did most on Naboo, that Kylantha was close with her and thus a certain caution was needed in speaking of the Senator. But it was mostly his relationship with Ja'nar Cerra that inhibited him; he had shared a moment of intimacy and vulnerability with her some months after his wife had passed. Then, for reasons unknown, Ja'nar became cold and distant, and this led Artemis to the firm and lasting conviction that the night had been a mistake. He had retreated deeper into himself and his work and hadn't spoken with her since (nothing more than formalities, at least; 'Senator Cerra's and 'Senator Vanden's). It did pain him to see her beleaguered in the Senate, though, and he damned the honesty that seemed so often to land her in trouble. Artemis had strong feelings about the Empire too, and had even conspired against it. But he kept these things to himself; he didn't think he had the nerve to do otherwise.
"Yes," he said diplomatically, "It's unfortunate the Senate is no longer as open a forum as it once was, nor as welcoming to those of Senator Cerra's disposition."
Artemis Vanden
Representative of the Naboo
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| Naboo_Queen | Date: Wednesday, 06 Jul 2011, 10:00 PM | Message # 5 |
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| Kyla was watching Artemis very carefully as she brought up the Senator of Garos. Though she would not let him know she knew far too much. It was not her place to know and Artemis always did what was expected of him and more. She would push back a few stray strands of hair, "It is very unfortunate, but she is very predictable which will make my request quite simple for you. I wish for you to keep a close eye on her and attempt to reign in her in, in order to keep a friendly and loyal face within the Senate Chambers, in return I will ask Senator Binks to return to Naboo to help mediate between the Gungans and the General Relius' forces." She would smile, it was not as if he could refuse her if he really wanted to but it was a fair deal. If Senator Cerra said something within the Imperial Senate it would only reflect poorly upon herself and her planet not on Naboo one bit. Kyla was unsure when they may need someone who was fiercely loyal to come to Naboo's aid. Perhaps not at all but she was not going to attempt to save as many 'friends' as possible from hanging themselves.
Queen Kylantha of Naboo
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| Artemis_Vanden | Date: Sunday, 10 Jul 2011, 8:00 PM | Message # 6 |
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| Artemis bowed his head to her cordially. "I'd be happy to," he said. While he would be glad to be rid of Senator Binks for a month or so, his demeanor was a bit misleading; he was hesitant to speak to Ja'nar again. Not prohibitively so, but aside from his personal reservations he also wasn't sure how useful he could be as a voice of restraint when he couldn't restrain himself in the Senator's presence on that night. But moreover, it was clear that she felt strongly about the Empire and just as strongly about speaking out, too. Appealing to prudence over principle wasn't something Artemis wanted to do, but he was as concerned about her as Kylantha, and would do what he must. "Yes, General Relius," Artemis mused, changing the subject, "I would be careful of him, Your Highness. I think his friendly demeanor is deceptive—he is here to pacify the Gungans, and if he says otherwise I don't think he can be believed."
Artemis Vanden
Representative of the Naboo
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| Naboo_Queen | Date: Tuesday, 12 Jul 2011, 5:00 PM | Message # 7 |
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| Kyla would smile to Artemis and would just nod "You worry far too much about the wrong things Artemis, We will just need to keep him entertained and his mind off of our Gungan friends, I think that would be best for everyone involved, perhaps I could have our new governor take care of that. I am sure he would enjoy entertaining a man such as Relius." She would smile again "There is one other matter I would like to speak with you about before you leave, I have found..." Kyla's sentence was interrupted by the throne room doors flying open as a little boy zoomed across the marble floors attaching himself to Kyla's legs "Kyla!" that little voice would shout out.
The boy was Remus Cerra, the son of Ja'nar Cerra, heir to the Garosian Throne and the only thing that kept Ja'nar sane most days. He was a darling little thing, with brown hair just like his mother, but his eyes, his eyes were an icy blue just like his father. He hadn't even taken notice of Vanden.
Kyla would smile as she bends down to pick up the little one, lifting him into her arms, resting him on her hip as she gives Artemis an apologizing smile, "So who let you in here?"
Remus would just smile "I slipped past the guards while they were talking to mommy, they didn't even notice, you should really get better guards, what if I was a bad person?" The boy seemed to very concerned about Kyla's well being, before he took notice of Artemis. His eyes would stare at the man, looking him over. "Who is that?"
Queen Kylantha of Naboo
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| Artemis_Vanden | Date: Tuesday, 12 Jul 2011, 5:30 PM | Message # 8 |
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| Artemis didn't know who the child was and wondered whether he should excuse himself and allow Kylantha to be alone. He looked at the child disinterestedly and then to Kylantha. "Should we continue this another time, Your Highness?" he asked her, respectfully.
Artemis Vanden
Representative of the Naboo
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| Naboo_Queen | Date: Tuesday, 12 Jul 2011, 6:06 PM | Message # 9 |
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| Kyla would smile to Remus "This is Representative Artemis Vanden, he works in the Senate with your mother." She would then look to Artemis "You can stay if you wish Artemis, I'm just watching this little one for his mother for a few days."
Remus would wiggle his way out of Kyla's arms and lands on the ground. He was wearing his traveling clothes, dark colored pants and a white button up shirt. He would look to Artemis and would circle around him, studying him, as he taps his lips with his finger, as if he was trying to figure this man out, as if he was judging him. "I do not know about him."
Kyla would just smile "well trust me Remus, he is a very nice man"
Remus would stop in front of Artemis as he extends a little hand out to him "Well if Miss Kyla says you are nice, than you must be nice" he would smile up to Artemis "Remus, Remus Cerra" the little one would introduce himself. Just then, Ja'nar would appear in the door way to the throne room. She looked tired, rings around her eyes from lack of sleep and she looked as if she could fall over from exhaustion. As she saw her little boy introducing himself to Artemis, she paled even more as she looks to her friend Kyla for a moment, before looking to Artemis. She tried to take in deep breaths, to appear to be fine, to appear as if she was not freaking out on the inside that he was so near to her son, to their son. Oh by the gods, someone save her, would he figure it out? Would he know that he was the boys father?
Queen Kylantha of Naboo
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| Artemis_Vanden | Date: Thursday, 14 Jul 2011, 0:10 AM | Message # 10 |
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| Artemis wasn't made of stone, and he kneeled to the boy's height and shook his hand. But he had been a father once and it hadn't turned out well for him, emotionally. His paternal instincts had passed away with Moira and were laid to rest when his son, Davon, abandoned him. With the benefit of hindsight, Artemis understood why; once his mother had passed away, Davon was all that Artemis had left. He had become too possessive of the boy, and during a period of self-discovery for him, too. To Davon, it must have seemed his father was smothering him with his expectations; to remain on Naboo (where he was safe), be educated there and become a public servant. To have his father's life imposed on him when he needed to find himself must have been frustrating for the boy. But Artemis, who had just lost the love of his life, had been self-absorbed, emotionally, and he hadn't understood—not until it was too late, when harsh words were said and couldn't be unsaid, and Davon had run away.
How much of this Artemis understood even now wasn't clear, but he did know that children no longer brightened his day as they once had, and he wasn't able to keep up with their boundless energy and enthusiasm. When the boy introduced himself as Remus Cerra, however, all of this vanished from his mind. His expression turned grim. So Ja'nar was here now, he realized, and wondered whether this could possibly be a coincidence. All the more reason to excuse himself, he thought. "Your highness," he said to Kylantha, bowing his head to her respectfully. Then he stood and, without another thought for the boy, turned and made his way to the door. Ja'nar was there on his way out. Artemis still had a grim expression on his face, but he forced a smile. "Senator," he said politely, bowing his head to her too, "A pleasure to see you on our world, and so... unexpectedly. We must get together for lunch perhaps before you leave."
Artemis Vanden
Representative of the Naboo
Message edited by Artemis_Vanden - Thursday, 14 Jul 2011, 0:14 AM |
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| Janar_Cerra | Date: Thursday, 14 Jul 2011, 7:13 AM | Message # 11 |
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| Remus would smile up to Artemis as he shook the man's hand, but he still was not sure about him. Kylantha seemed to like him and he worked in the senate, but he even knew that not everyone in the senate was a friend. And there was something dark about him that did not sit well with Remus at the moment.
Ja'nar would look to Artemis and force a small smile to him, "Artemis" she said softly, as she bowed her head to him in return, "I would love to, but I will be leaving this evening. There's never any rest for the wicked." Ja'nar could barely remain standing, or hold onto her emotions. To see Artemis with Remus was enough to send her off of the emotionally ledge, and then to see him disregard the boy the way he did broke her heart. But what had she truly expected of him? For him to just get it, to just know the secret she kept from him? He had never been good at reading her emotions or thoughts, perhaps it was because their time together had been so short. She wanted to collapse into his arms, they were one of the few places where she felt safe and could forget about everything for a moment.
They both could hear Remus chattering away with Kylantha behind them, his voice was cheerful and excited. He loved coming to Naboo because it was different than Garos and he could see his friends and cousins. "So I thought we could explore by the caves and waterfalls this time. But we can't let mom know because she will get all worried." Kylantha would just smile and nod her head "Well that sounds like a plan but remember you are going to be spending a lot of time with your Uncle and cousins in the lake district too." Remus would just nod his head "I get to help fix speeders there, because my hands are so little they can get into the parts and I can get all dirty and no one yells at me."
Kylantha would glance to the pair "why don't you two go have lunch together now, I can talk to you later Ja'nar before you leave." Kylantha wouldn't look directly at either of them, both of their suspicions were correct that Kylantha had this all planned out and oddly enough everything was going to plan. Artemis met Remus, his son by the out-spoken Queen, she had hoped though that he had felt something for the boy, that something would make him question who his father was, since it was truly one of the best kept secrets in the galaxy at this point.
Ja'nar Cerra
Queen of Garos IV
Acting Senator to the Republic, Garos IV
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| Artemis_Vanden | Date: Sunday, 17 Jul 2011, 10:27 PM | Message # 12 |
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| Artemis had a flash of agitation as it seemed all the more that Kylantha had arranged this 'chance encounter' on purpose. It occurred to him that if she was as close to Ja'nar as she was rumored to be, it was possible she knew about his relationship with her and went through with this charade despite it, or because of it. If this was the case, no matter how well-intentioned she was, Vanden's personal estimation of Kylantha would be damaged. His personal life was his and—since his falling out with Ja'nar—his alone. It belonged to neither Queen.
From his glance at Ja'nar he couldn't tell if she felt the same way. Something was troubling her, clearly. But she was right that Artemis wasn't good at reading her. That is, not since she had become so conflicted in the days and weeks that followed their encounter. It was as if she was caught in the throes of a war inside of her between some great aspiration of hers and some great fear. Artemis had wondered about this for a long time and then, eventually, he'd stopped wondering. He moved on. "I'm afraid I have a prior engagement," he said, turning his head far enough in Kylantha's direction to be heard. He didn't elaborate on what this 'prior engagement' was, but there was a finality about it in his voice. He then glanced to Senator Cerra once more, "But I'll look forward to meeting with you on Imperial Center," he offered, "And I do hope you and your son enjoy your time here, however short."
Artemis Vanden
Representative of the Naboo
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| Janar_Cerra | Date: Monday, 18 Jul 2011, 1:27 PM | Message # 13 |
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| Ja'nar would smile to him as she spoke, an expression of relief flooding over her as he declined, but if anyone looked to her eyes, they could see a bit of sadness, she had much to explain to him, and while she had written it all down in a letter that was sealed away in a vault on Garos, she felt like she should tell him, she would explain it to him in person, herself. "as do I, but you really should stop by my office sometime on Coruscant when you are free, I have some things I would like to discuss with you." she would force a smile, "We always do." she stopped talking, she wanted to say something else to him, but thought better of it as she moved away from where they stood to go get the little one, scooping him up into her arms.
Kylantha would glance to Artemis "I will send you a message with the other points I wished to discuss with you this evening."
Ja'nar Cerra
Queen of Garos IV
Acting Senator to the Republic, Garos IV
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