A Few Drinks for Business - Star Wars RP: A Galaxy At War Forum

A Few Drinks for Business

Avadrie_volFyr

Date: Saturday, 26 Nov 2011, 0:17 AM | Message # 1

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The Clarendox was an upscale establishment on Imperial Center that Avadrie made it a point to frequent when she was in town. She had made arrangements to meet a one Lord Alyn Stark of Kinyov here tonight for "a few drinks" and to discuss "Senate business." To be perfectly honest with herself, she couldn't say that she had recently heard of Kinyov. She'd had Dandric, her assistant look it up and he had informed her that it was actually just a province on the world of Llord. Of course, it must be a planetary title. She smiled at the thought, men of power and position always intrigued her. Perhaps she had more of mother in her than she thought.

She had several new objectives and tasks before her in the Senate and back home in the Empress Teta sector, and so it behooved her to start building a coalition of her own within the Senate, and where better to start than with newer Senators like herself? She smiled, so far she had kept herself to a relatively conservative, pro Imperial bent which at times drove her made - not because she didn't agree with most of what the Empire did, but that because it was an Empire based around Imperial Center, not one based on her own homeworld of Koros Major, ah, yet another world with an identity problem.

She was wearing a form fitting little black dress and sitting at the bar, where the maitre'd would direct Alyn when he arrived. Some might not approve of it, but this Lord Stark was a man, wasn't he? She had little doubt he'd approve of her attire and figure, she wasn't out to bed a man tonight, but what a man might never get wouldn't necessarily not influence his thinking. A lot of men were the same in that respect. She wanted to find out more about this Lord Stark, why he was so quick to invite the Senate to his home, what did he have to offer? How could Avadrie use him? Perhaps he could simply be a counted on vote, or perhaps more depending on the resources available to him. Only the power could tell. She smiled, as she swirled her drink with a thin little straw, waiting for the good Lord Stark to arrive.

Lady Avadrie volFyr
Senator of Empress Teta
Defense Committee Member

Alyn_Stark

Date: Saturday, 26 Nov 2011, 0:34 AM | Message # 2

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Slightly past the appointed time, for it was often said to be fashionable to arrive a little late, Alyn Stark arrived at the Clarendox. It had been nearly half a week since his time with the Senator and Queen of Garos IV (sorry, played with the timeline a bit to make it doable) and this latest meeting promised pleasant conversation, especially from the senator who'd put out some controversial and curious points in the Senate. Stark, after all, had done his reading on the beautiful Avadrie volFyr and the night was likely to be quite interesting. inquiring at the door about the volFyr party, he straightened slightly his dark blue military-cut waistcoat over black trousers and then was led without further ado by the helpful maitre'd to where Avadrie resided at the bar.

Stark may have been many things; cruel, calculating, charming among them, but he, like his father, had a taste for beautiful women, and so it was for a long moment that he gazed at the bare skin of the Senator's back and followed her form downwards before stepping forwards, taking him to her right at the bar. "Senator volFyr, a pleasure to meet you in the flesh." He offered her his most charming smile as he bowed briefly, then took a seat beside her. "The great lights of Imperial Center dim before your beauty, Senator. I feel almost a ruffian in this place."

Alyn Stark
Lord of Kinyov
Senior Captain, Retired, Republic Navy
Head of House Malos (former)
Licensed bounty hunter
Majority shareholder, Lorrd Engineering
Owner, Stark Defense Conglomerate
Civilian Medal of Honor recipient
Representative, Lorrd (10 BBY-9 BBY)

Avadrie_volFyr

Date: Saturday, 26 Nov 2011, 0:46 AM | Message # 3

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Her usual retinue was around but not in sight. She didn't feel the need for tightened security when on Imperial Center, at least among the kind of crowd that usually frequented the Clarendox. Most of the riffraff that would cause trouble couldn't afford the cover, and with the good Moff Brandt running things on Imperial Center, an upstanding Imperial Citizen like Avadrie had little to fear here. Of course, dutiful Dandric, her intern from the Koros Major University was waiting outside in the airspeeder like he had been instructed; albeit that was the extent of her personal security tonight.

Her drink was a glowing pink one, it apparently had something luminescent in its dye. She would think later that she had seen him in come in the door and recognized him, but in reality she had merely felt his attention and stare as he came to the bar from the door. Her gifts in the Force were after all not too highly developed. She shifted just enough where she sat, her right leg crossed over the left, the cut of her dress coming just a few inches below mid thigh, revealing smooth just barely tan skin. A small black clutch sat in front of her at the bar next to her glowing drink, she smiled at his greeting and compliment as her hands smoothed the front of her dress down. She then offered him her hand palm down, fingers dangling in the manner that any other noble woman might. She expected a gentleman's greeting, after all.

She laughed away his comment about being a ruffian,

"Hardly a ruffian. Lord Stark I presume? I'm so pleased that you were able to come."

Lady Avadrie volFyr
Senator of Empress Teta
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Alyn_Stark

Date: Saturday, 26 Nov 2011, 1:02 AM | Message # 4

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Avadrie was security-minded, which was a good regardless of one's station or location. The driver of Stark's speeder was a female; one of his Shadowguard who'd remained unobtrusive in the vehicle. The man who had unobtrusively followed Stark into the Clarendox, wearing a button-up jacket and sporting long gray hair tastefully pulled back in a ponytail and secured by a silver ring was a second Shadowguard; it was rare for Stark to make an appearance without them. He was still little known enough on Imperial Center though, that he could get away with such and have people not notice.

Taking the proffered hand, he lowered his head, still keeping his eyes on hers, and lightly kissed the back before relinquishing the limb to its owner. Of course, his eyes had not failed to miss the flash of thigh. Nonetheless, he was able to keep his eyes off her chest (which was quite a sight) and onto her face (which was also quite attractive as well). "You presume correctly, Senator. I am most pleased to be here as well, though do forgo the 'lord' part. A man comes from a political family and they attach all sorts of titles to his name. No, no, I am more of a small overseer and sheriff of a rather sparsely inhabited desert."

Settling himself in his chair, he signaled the tender and ordered a fine Corellian brandy; something to be sipped at, for Stark was not a heavy drinker in the best of times and he preferred to keep his wits about him, especially when engaged with such a beautiful woman as sat to his side.

Avadrie_volFyr

Date: Saturday, 26 Nov 2011, 1:16 AM | Message # 5

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She put her hand back in her lap as her left hand raised her glass to her lips and she took a sip of the glowing pink drink. She turned her eyes back to Stark and graced him with another smile at his explanation that he was just a sheriff. The term just seemed so, Outer Rim. For a moment she allowed herself to wonder whether outlandish worlds like Dantooine had a sheriff or not. She made a mental note to have Dandric look it up for her, perhaps even look up all of the worlds that had a position such a sheriff. The notion had caught her fancy. Perhaps Empress Teta needed a sheriff, even.

"Well, Sheriff Stark." She paused a moment to let her small joke sink in,

"What brings the overseer of a small and sparsely inhabited desert to lovely Imperial Center? I assume you're here representing your world? I must confess, I feel months behind the times spending so much of the last few months back in Cinnagar." Cinnagar being the common name for the ecumenopolis that dominated the majority of Empress Teta, her homeworld. She curled her fingers loosely around the stem of her drink again and brought it to her lips, sipping again. She'd taken note of his drink of choice and found it typical. She'd never been to the Corellia, but she remembered from university the headaches she'd always seemed to have when Corellian brandy was involved.

Lady Avadrie volFyr
Senator of Empress Teta
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Alyn_Stark

Date: Saturday, 26 Nov 2011, 1:31 AM | Message # 6

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"Sheriff Stark." He took a sip of the brandy and chuckled, settling the glass down with a deftness that prevented it from making the annoying 'clunk' that so many drinkers gave off when they handled their glassware with inelegance. "Not all of Lorrd is so sparse, Senator. It is a world rich in culture and wealth in many ways, yet overlooked because it is not a Core World. Some would call this a blessing, by and far." It was a subtle reminder to the Senator that, although she hailed from a rich world; an ecumenopolis even, there were other worlds beyond the center of the Empire that pulled more than their fair share and were in some cases just as wealthy as those worlds in the vaunted Core. The Corellian brandy, though, was a common choice. It was easy to find, plentiful and refined enough for high-class company. Stark's own personal tastes lay more towards Lorrd's fine wines and scotches; this was a taste of something outside his norm, if nothing else.

"Lorrd is represented jointly by Houses Malos, Garth and Volmen. I believed that, given my past, it was better to distance myself from House Malos and allow someone else; someone better suited, to take my place in the political arena. As such, I retired to the Kinyov Province to make my humble home and enjoy my time in relative peace and quiet. The Clone Wars, after all, offered little of that.

"It would seem we both are strangers in some ways to Imperial Center. One of the last times I was here, the Invisible Hand was overhead and our good Emperor, then Chancellor, had been kidnapped. A dark day. But my purpose here is simply to feel things out, perhaps make a few alliances and business deals. One never knows where useful business can be found. What of you though, Senator? After such an absence, how do you plan to make your name shine over all the other Senators?"

Avadrie_volFyr

Date: Saturday, 26 Nov 2011, 1:46 AM | Message # 7

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She wasn't unaware of the reminder he laced into his words, that indeed there were Outer Rim worlds worthy of note. From a world that rivaled Imperial Center herself, in fashion and wealth perhaps if not militarily like it seemed Alsakan was content to do, there was a whole different outlook someone such as herself from the Deep Core had on the galaxy that those from outside the politics of the Core might not appreciate. This one before her at least seemed personally aware of how he felt about it all, and it was a good sign that he was proud of his world. It did raise some questions as to why he was on Imperial Center, given that he had retired to his little province for 'relative peace and quiet'. He was living a bit of a contradiction it seemed. What need did he have for allies and business deals if he was living in relative peace? Perhaps it was just a financial thing, needed more to retire on perhaps. She wondered in the space of a few moments as he spoke of the Battle of Coruscant from the Clone Wars. She had been much younger then.

"Well, I wouldn't say that I have any real intent to make myself shine over other Senators. We're all citizens of the same Empire after all, Sheriff." She had decided she liked her new nickname for this man and would continue to use it unless he protested it as well. Her intuition(as she thought of it) gave her the vague impression that there was far more to Alyn Stark than met the eye and it intrigued her and she wanted to know more. Perhaps this would be a useful night, after the forced abortion of her last clandestine endeavors.

"You're a veteran of the Clone Wars? You must have served at a young age. The captain of my transport, is almost sixty and he served with my father in the Clone Wars." She asked/commented.

Lady Avadrie volFyr
Senator of Empress Teta
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Alyn_Stark

Date: Saturday, 26 Nov 2011, 1:58 AM | Message # 8

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While she was speaking, Stark took a brief glance back over his shoulder towards the door area, where the man in the button-down shirt was relaxing at a table, eating some appetizer, Stark presumed. Stark froze though, completely froze, as the man made a barely perceptible hand gesture. Hopefully the Senator hadn't noticed it. Keeping the smile on his face, he turned back to her. Indeed, he was wealthy beyond the dreams of most men; she was sure to see that much when she attended the dinner at his personal home. Between vast, ancient wealth and a controlling share of over two dozen wealthy companies in the Outer Rim and even Core, albeit not the name brands such as Sienar, KDY or even the mining conglomerates, he was indeed well-financed, and well-tied to a number of other wealthy folk. As for living quietly, he was doing anything but in his own way. Words did not always match action, and one action often covered another to cover a third in his web.

He did not mind the nickname, and he raised his glass in mock salute as he spoke. "We are all citizens, Senator, but even though they say all beings are created equal, it lies in each of us to become great. After all, you became Senator of Empress Teta, not somebody else. I believe you have it in you to shine, if I may use such a coarse term.

"I was twenty-two when I was commissioned in the then-Republic Navy, yes. Young to command, some might say, but I believe I helped in my own small part to sweep out the trash of the Confederacy. There were men and women who did far greater deeds than I, though."

Avadrie_volFyr

Date: Saturday, 26 Nov 2011, 2:06 AM | Message # 9

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"Perhaps. But I was born to a well off aristocratic family and afforded the best schools and opportunities money could buy in the Empress Teta system, and had things not been quite as turbulent then I would have likely attended university here on Imperial Center itself." She answered briefly, as she imagined for a moment that something had stilled in his features. Her intuition seemed to be tingling with something, but she wasn't sure if it was something new or the same general sense she had that there was more to him than met the eye. With another sip of her drink she banished the thought, it had been nothing.

"But..I'm not one to refuse a compliment. So thank you sir, for your belief in me." She smiled easily then as any politician worth their salt can then looked briefly to her half empty glass. The pink glowing drink always amused her, and its somewhat bitter taste kept her drinking to a minimum as she usually would only have one a night when out in public.

"Humility is an admirable trait in a man, and I applaud you for it. Command you say? Were you a ship's captain?"

Lady Avadrie volFyr
Senator of Empress Teta
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Alyn_Stark

Date: Saturday, 26 Nov 2011, 2:21 AM | Message # 10

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Stark could view her in a new light now; oh, this was simply delicious. Almost exquisite; nearly better than the thought of her between the sheets. This senator could indeed become a powerful friend. Of course, it was also a matter of not letting on what he knew while discovering what she knew. That was the great catch twenty-two that sat at the crux of the matter. Nonetheless, Stark figured he had plenty of time to sort such things out in the future. Tonight... tonight would simply be a night of enjoyment. He had to admit to himself that the spot she'd picked was rather excellent in tastes of decor, music and lighting.

"Indeed, a captain. Once of an Acclamator and once of a Venator. Trivial ships as compared to the naval might of the Empire, but good ships with good crews. A few battles won, a few battles lost. I was neither a great hero nor a great failure, and for that, I am pleased. I had the option to continue my service, but my grandfather, Lord Malos, had passed on and my mother was in ill health. With a scoundrel for a brother, I had no choice but to depart the navy and take up the mantle of Lord Malos."

Avadrie_volFyr

Date: Saturday, 26 Nov 2011, 2:31 AM | Message # 11

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She took notice that there was no mention of a father in his brief family tree he gave in explanation of his return to Llord and the title of Lord Malos. He had mentioned the three families that ruled his world, and that was the one he had been from. A trained aristocrat and politician, she had the better sense to not ask about the unmentioned father. Had his father been of note somehow in the tale, he would have mentioned it - and after all, she had staff, namely Dandric, that would be forced to research it later if it still suited her fancy to discover the meaning of that.

She had half a thought to ask the man what he knew of naval vessels, their various merits and such. It was of course an unnecessary question - surely Captain Tiyr or someone else she had access to on the merit of her position could answer any technical questions she had about ships, but this was a man outside of the usual channels that perhaps might prove useful. Either way, it wouldn't be prudent to ask such questions in a public forum like this, you never knew what manner of political or corporate spy made it their business to know her business.

She also had no intent of leaving the Clarendox with him, it simply wouldn't be proper (one, to be seen leaving any such establishment with a man that had walked in after her would appear unbecoming) and two - it wouldn't be safe, she hardly knew him after all.

"So tell me about Llord, what about it is so amazing that you have invited so many Senators to it?" She smiled as she asked the question, to give the impression that she expected that there were indeed valid reasons for so many Senators to visit the world, rather than not.

Lady Avadrie volFyr
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Alyn_Stark

Date: Saturday, 26 Nov 2011, 2:47 AM | Message # 12

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Indeed, Stark did not often mention his father, who was, after all, something of a disgrace. Nonetheless, he had taken the man's last name after so many years almost as a slap in the face of said disgrace; to clean the name, one might say. While Stark knew enough of ships to run one, certainly, and to note the differences between military classes and observe which might be better suited to one role or another, but he was no extreme expert and while he might indeed be able to answer certain questions, Avadrie was sure to have someone better suited for it in her own staff.

"Lorrd... Lorrd if you must know, has a goodly number of cultural attractions, as well as being the birthplace of kinetic communication. For the part of Lorrd you will be seeing directly though; my humble abode, well, that is more of what I wish to speak to the Senators of and less of Lorrd directly, though I am more than confident Lorrd will back me in this choice. You see, my dear Senator, the galaxy is largely losing touch with aiding people. The disaster at Aeeq, a number of other tragedies that could have been prevented, all of it alterable. You will see, Senator. I have concocted a bit of this and a bit of that. It is my hope that all Senators will agree to my idea, but if even a fourth do, then a difference can be made."

Avadrie_volFyr

Date: Saturday, 26 Nov 2011, 2:58 AM | Message # 13

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"Oh, so you are surely a man on some kind of mission. Humble veteran of the Clone Wars, disillusioned aristocrat, and now you are on Imperial Center, inviting Senators to your home to present some grand idea?" She tilted her head to the side in a coy fashion as she brought her shimmering pink drink to her lips, finishing it off and setting it back down on the bar for the bartender to replace.

"I'm a Senator, and I'll admit I'm curious about the bit of this, and bit of that you have concocted Sheriff Stark. I've myself made several efforts to help others and keep the peace and general good will in the galaxy." She sighed, shaking her head and thinking of the debacle that had become Monor II. And now her daily briefing this morning had caught her up on the development that Druckenwell and Monor II now had come to alliance like terms, and Monor II was making secular adjustments to their way of life. How quickly things change....

Her gaze had gone up and to the side as she had reminisced over past events, but she smoothly returned her bright green eyes to focus on Alyn.

"So what are you going to present to the Senators on Llord, perhaps a Senator such as myself could be of some assistance? If you'd like to keep this conversation more private, I am a member of the V I P section here." She offered, gesturing with her right hand to a stairwell that led from the bar to the ostensible VIP section upstairs.

Lady Avadrie volFyr
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Alyn_Stark

Date: Saturday, 26 Nov 2011, 5:27 AM | Message # 14

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"A mission of sorts, one might say, but so many politicians see any such disillusioned aristocrats, especially those of us who served in the Clone Wars," he laughed and took another sip of the fine, fine brandy, "As pointless relics, or perhaps as those who meddle in the affairs of things best left not meddled in. As you say, of course, you have done your best to keep the peace and the general good will of the galaxy, yet you step away for two minutes and what happens? Deralia tries to invade Dantooine. Druckenwell, Alsakan, Acherin all try to throw ships in Dantooine's defense and Alsakan even goes so far as to threaten a blockade of Deralia. At the end of the day, nobody is helped and no justice is served.

"The V I P section indeed? It's is good that you are so well connected, Senator, for I would gladly have a chance to talk to you in private. It would assist me greatly if at least one Senator knew my plan before I opened it up before all and sundry on Lorrd. May I escort you to the V I P section then, Senator?

Avadrie_volFyr

Date: Saturday, 26 Nov 2011, 9:52 AM | Message # 15

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"I don't consider myself quite so important that I think my active presence in galactic affairs might have prevented recent events. It is a tense time in the galaxy, and people solve problems the way they know how. Its the way the galaxy has been for ages, but I also don't think its all quite so black and white. After all, we almost never know the entire story of things. Who really knows what happened between Dantooine and Deralia?" She stood when he did and offered to escort her to the VIP escort,

"Of course you may, Sheriff Stark." She said, taking the man's proffered elbow her hand and allowing him to escort her from the bar and up the steps. She had a regular tab at the Clarendox, which her drink would be put on. It almost made her smile to see him grab his bottle of Corellian brandy as they left the bar. Up the stairs, the entire atmosphere of the Clarendox seemed to change - it was quieter, subdued even. The music from below was just enough to be heard, but low enough to speak comfortably at a whisper and be heard. There was one other party in the VIP section currently, but they are in the far opposite corner from the corner table that Avadrie pointed to once they were upstairs.

She released his arm and slid smoothly into a chair at the table, setting her clutch on the table. It was a testament to her frequency of patronage that one of the VIP waitresses had already came by and dropped off a new shimmering pink drink to replace the first she had finished downstairs. Once Alyn had taken a seat, the Senator leaned against the back of her chair with her hands comfortably in her lap.

"So, Sheriff, what is your mission of sorts?" She asked, a bright smile on her face.

Lady Avadrie volFyr
Senator of Empress Teta
Defense Committee Member