Stark Reception - Page 4 - Star Wars RP: A Galaxy At War Forum

Date: Thursday, 06 Dec 2012, 10:21 AM | Message # 46

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Clearly, his usual smooth-customer routine had crashed and burned. Between the suit and Ana practically crashing into him, Vanden's usual calm veneer had faded in the wake of nervous laughter. Dav cursed inwardly, helping Ana stabilize herself on those heels and trying to shake the embarrassment from his cheeks. Hazel eyes took a moment to trail over her, very much admiring the contours of that wedding dress. It took a moment to remind himself that she was married, and at her wedding reception no less. Davon took a step back, forcing a toothy grin, and nodded. "Congrats Ana, really." Congrats? You used to be way more eloquent than that, you wad. Almost instantly, he cast a baleful look down at his ridiculously loud choice of attire.

His father had, thankfully, left just as Dav had bumped into her. At least he was spared one incredibly awkward conversation. Between Artemis and Ana, there was enough guilt on baby Vanden's shoulders to weigh down a Star Destroyer. Oh no she mentioned the blazer. Some small part of him had managed to lie to himself and say that he totally didn't stick out like a sore thumb. He smiled, desperately trying to deflect all attire-related inquiries with what vestiges of his charm still remained. "I, uh.. I had to rent." Yeah, like anyone with half a brain thought you'd come in this.. aborted fashion statement willingly!. "How long's it been?" He asked absently, thanking the waiter with a quick nod as he grabbed several glasses of champagne and gulped them down. Ah, there it was, his fingers were numbing.

Davon "Booster" Vanden - Big Damn Hero.
For what avail the plough or sail, or land or life, if freedom fail? ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Theme ~ Wanted - Bon Jovi

Message edited by Davon_Vanden - Thursday, 06 Dec 2012, 10:33 AM

Date: Thursday, 06 Dec 2012, 4:03 PM | Message # 47

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Ana eyed him quietly as he stumbled through the few words that he had spoken to her, and then started drinking volumes of champagne (or so it seemed). "About six months." She said as she toyed with the stem of the glass in her hand. To say the moment was awkward would have been an extreme understatement. "I'm glad you came though. We didn't really get a chance to talk before Irlilia and I left and...well..." She shrugged her shoulders and smiled. "I'm sorry that I yelled at you. And I am sorry that I yelled at you that much." There was a reason for it, and she would try to explain if she could.

Over Davon's shoulder, she could see Alyn come back into the reception hall. She would have never known what happened in the hangar unless he told her, to her he just looked like her handsome and loving husband, whom she adored and would never want to hurt. "Alyn has been wanting to meet you. I saw him leave with Governor Tu'Rot a bit ago but it seems that he's back now. Have you met the man? He's....a character, for certain." She said, referring to the eccentric Archerian.

Date: Thursday, 06 Dec 2012, 5:12 PM | Message # 48

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Drinking alcohol for one of the few times in his life, Stark accepted a glass of champagne from a passing server as he stepped at last up to his wife and the younger Vanden. Shaking his head, he all but downed the glass in one gulp and Ana might well be able to discern that the smile upon his face was more false for the benefit of the guests than real. "Some days, my dear, I feel Draken Tu'Rot is quite insane. Do you know his wedding gift consisted of a rather convincing proton bomb that spat fireworks and congratulatory messages?"

Shaking his head, Stark set the empty glass down on a nearby table. "But my sincerest apologies. Mr. Vanden, it is a pleasure to meet you at last. Ana has spoken very highly of you." Stark extended a hand to the younger man, sizing him up in a fashion. He didn't know much about the younger Vanden, and that was saying something. With certain connections Stark had on Naboo, he'd done a bit of research on Artemis; after all, he didn't want someone connected in such a way with Ana harmed, but he knew precious little about the son.

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)

Date: Friday, 07 Dec 2012, 4:38 PM | Message # 49

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Oh boy... he thought to himself, the corner of his eye catching Stark as he made his way toward them. Now, Davon had no idea of if she ever told Stark about him, or them, or whatever their situation was. This entire party made him feel as though he was handling a bomb; or rather, handling a bomb blindfolded in the dark with no idea how much time there was on the countdown. His attention perked at the mention of Draken Tu'Rot, whose silly name didn't escape Vanden (he let out a quiet chuckle in response, but quickly sobered). "I've heard of 'im," he answered with a shrug, casting a glance at the retreating Senator and thanking some unknown force for the divine intervention there. He turned back to Ana, regarding her with a furrowed brow. "You invited an insane dictator to your wedding?"

The dictatorial implications (which weren't ever really validated, but he can read people) aside; Dav might have had a few choice words to say about her own husband, were he asked in a private setting. But when Stark approached them, waxing on about Tu'Rot bringing a proton bomb to a wedding reception, his attitude cooled. Stark extended a hand; and for a moment the younger Vanden simply stared—eyes trailing from the offered limb and over to Ana—before he offered a shaky smile and firmly grasped Alyn's hand. "It's just Davon," he replied with a grin. He perhaps clenched a bit too-tightly to Stark's hand for a moment before releasing. He was an opinionated young man, and he'd seen firsthand the fruits of weapons dealers like himself. Merchants of death, really, but that was a political discussion for another time.

"You're taller in your ads," he mused, smiling over at Ana as he finished off his champagne.

Davon "Booster" Vanden - Big Damn Hero.
For what avail the plough or sail, or land or life, if freedom fail? ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Theme ~ Wanted - Bon Jovi

Message edited by Davon_Vanden - Friday, 07 Dec 2012, 5:05 PM

Date: Saturday, 08 Dec 2012, 5:45 AM | Message # 50

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She glanced up at Alyn when he approached. "A....proton bomb. Well....I am not sure why that doesn't surprise me one bit. Is Tarin alright?" She asked, concerned for the heart of the poor Shadowguard that had accompanied her husband to the hangar. After a quick glance about the room, she didn't notice the man anywhere.

But no, Ana had never mentioned the brief interlude between her and Davon to Stark. It had been several years prior and she honestly hadn't thought to share that bit of information. If he asked, she would gladly tell. Her anger towards Davon had dissipated, though when she saw him on her last trip home, her reasoning for hauling off on him the way she had wasn't because of how he had left -her-, rather how he had treated Artemis.

While she couldn't say that she really understood the complex emotions of a sullen young man, she understood one thing perfectly clear; he had a father that loved him, and threw it away without even a second regard. Ana didn't have that in her life, and seeing Artemis hurt had angered her to an extreme.

For the moment though, she snapped out of her own thoughts and smiled. "You know ads, Davon." She offered a shrug and took another small sip from her glass. "You never really know until you meet the person, right?"

Date: Saturday, 08 Dec 2012, 6:42 AM | Message # 51

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"He almost shot the Governor," Stark said with a brief chuckle. "If nothing else, restraint prevailed and Tu'Rot survives to shout another day. As for having an insane dictator? The man is an extreme Imperial loyalist, Davon, and a customer of Vigilance Technologies and Lorrd Engineering. It would be simply rude to not have him at the wedding." Kinetic communication was an art form to Stark, and he missed very little up close, at least from what could be inferred. From Davon's too-firm handshake, a gesture given back by Stark in that momentary testosterone-fueled contest of strength, to the glance he'd given to Ana just before taking Stark's hand, the Lord of the Kinyov Province felt there was much he could infer, or at least speculate on, but it would be pointless to do so.

In a sense, Davon's consideration of Stark being a merchant of death was more true in ways than the man could know, as the good people of Tralfin could attest to. Tralfin and a dozen other worlds, but that was another life and, much like Davon's own past that was unknown to Stark and Ana, the same remained of Stark's life to Davon, as well as Stark's own wife.

"One must appear larger than life, at times," Stark mused as his hand was released. "It gives the overall impression that one is all-seeing and knowing, ready with a hand to shelter and protect the innocent while dealing out justice to the wicked. While my ego isn't so large that I'd consider myself a superman to the galaxy, I do my best to help those in need. All this talk of me selling death about the galaxy; everyone seems to forget that GalacticAid was implemented at my behest. Ah, well. A man's present often overshadows his past. Tell me, Davon, what do you do for work at present?"

Date: Saturday, 08 Dec 2012, 9:46 AM | Message # 52

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Yeah, that's what you do, shelter, he thought to himself. He was somewhat biased, and he struggled to not say the words outright. Years spent among the criminal element had certainly tempered his wit, but he knew that these high-society types woudn't take to sarcasm well. He hadn't even noticed the hard squeeze he was giving Stark's hand, and when the man-of-a-thousand-titles returned the gesture he cocked a head in pleasant surprise. Vanden was no Lorrdian, so naturally his ability to pick up on every minute twitch of the eye paled in comparison to Stark's, but he did notice that the man liked to prattle on. That hadn't just been a byproduct of the advertisements, then; in Stark Dav saw a man almost as full of himself as he was. He couldn't tell whether he should be impressed or disgusted.

"Well I'm sure the people are glad to have their harbinger of justice," he replied after a moment as he forced a wide, white smile. It may have felt alien to him at first, but he was starting to fall into the old routine that took precedence at gatherings like this. A senator's son grew up knowing that every friendly word amongst these people was said with a dagger in the other hand. And when the shock of Stark's inquiry had worn off after a moment, he grabbed another glass of champagne from a passing waiter and held up his glass, swishing the contents. "As for me? I'm freelancing right now. Was a navigator on a spice freighter for a few years."

Dav offered up a smirk, followed by a quiet chuckle as he gulped down what he assumed was his eighth or ninth glass of alcohol in the last ten minutes. Never let it be said that these people didn't know good booze, hoo boy. "It was easy work," he added, looking between the two of them. "Kept me busy, at least. Not as busy as a tycoon such as yourself, but we all have our burdens."

Davon "Booster" Vanden - Big Damn Hero.
For what avail the plough or sail, or land or life, if freedom fail? ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Theme ~ Wanted - Bon Jovi

Date: Saturday, 08 Dec 2012, 10:38 AM | Message # 53

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Ana had noticed the tension, brief as it was. In hindsight, this was perhaps a bad idea and she shouldn't have invited Davon Vanden. Socially, however, it would have been rude. But now standing in the presence of her new husband and former flame, she began to regret it, if only momentarily.

"Davon has a tendency to.....not stay in one place for long, Alyn. He's always seemed to me like a bit of a free spirit....going where the wind make take him." Her dark chestnut gaze went to Davon for the moment. "Or am I mistaken?" She asked him, her gaze not leaving him. The words weren't unkind in the least, but to her they seemed true.

While they spoke, Ana slipped her hand into Alyn's and squeezed it gently.

Date: Saturday, 08 Dec 2012, 10:59 AM | Message # 54

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Stark was full of himself, to an extent. It was whether or not people knew to what extent and how much was an act for the public face and how much he actually extended beyond to increase his arrogance in the sight of others, while utilizing it as a tool; the left hand isn't watching the right hand and so forth. In this case though, his left hand squeezed Ana's back gently and affectionately as he glanced to his wife, giving her a slight smile.

"That's a true shame you say that Ana. With experience on a spice freighter, a dangerous job to be sure, what with pirates and raiders, I was almost tempted to offer your young friend a commission within the Stark Defense Conglomerate Security Corps." Appraising Davon, Stark pursed his lips slightly. "As an up-and-coming private security organization, it needs people of character who have the bravery and the will to see things through." There was a point to stressing those particular words; Davon could either take them as qualities he had, or if not, could see them as a mild jab from Stark if Davon simply turned the offer down out of hand.

"It must be nice, though, to have a break from such physically dangerous work. As you say, Davon, we each have our burdens. I fear the days of my physical danger are quite done with the time of the Clone Wars' end. Now, it's simply profits and losses and tallies. Ah, well."

Date: Saturday, 08 Dec 2012, 11:13 AM | Message # 55

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He eyed the two with a furrowed brow, and he bit back an acidic retort. He knew well enough the machinations of the corporate oligarchy; SDC's 'Security Corps' was not exempt from this, in his eyes. Sure, they needed people with bravery and will; they needed them to do what private security firms did. Evict people from houses, put down worker strikes, lap up the sweat and tears of the morally-bankrupt. "Well you know what they say, Alyn," he retorted, sipping idly at his champagne and turning to regard the pistol-peddler with a smile. "Those who can't do, teach. And I guess those that can't teach send others to do and teach for them." He sighed, finishing his drink and setting it down on a nearby table. "But what do I know, I'm just a navigator. Certainly not the brave or the willful sort."

He looked out over the assembled boot-lickers, watching them mill about and exchange pleasantries. He turned his attention back to them, cocking a thumb at Ana. "And like your lovely wife here says, I'm a free-bird. Offer's very much obliged, don't get me wrong, but I'll have to pass." The grin remained, almost aggravating in how he managed to hold it despite the subtle jabs. He fiddled with one of the lapels of his cherry-red blazer, fawning slightly when he noticed that a button had come loose. "You're looking better, by the way." He added as an aside, his hazel eyes unflinching as he locked gazes with Stark. "Last time I saw you you looked like, well... death."

Vanden's smile faded, he ruffled a hand through his russet hair and occasionally flitted his eyes about the room. He wasn't used to being this exposed, this in the open. Without a wall to your back, there was a good chance someone might stick a knife in it.

Davon "Booster" Vanden - Big Damn Hero.
For what avail the plough or sail, or land or life, if freedom fail? ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Theme ~ Wanted - Bon Jovi

Date: Saturday, 08 Dec 2012, 11:20 AM | Message # 56

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Ana looked between the two of them and gave Davon a small frown. She knew his subtle snark and understood why he was posturing as he did, but resented that he was doing it. "That's kind of you , Alyn." She replied when he offered Davon a job. Inwardly, she was panicked even though she knew deep down that Dav would never take such an offer and if he did, he would certainly be kept far from her.

When the moment of refusal came, she was quite relieved and went as far as giving him a smile. She did, eventually, want a moment alone with Vanden (certainly not to slap him stupid again), but just to talk, though now was not the time and she would allow the men to finish speaking before dragging him off.

Date: Saturday, 08 Dec 2012, 12:21 PM | Message # 57

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"Those who don't have the time to do and teach everyone must send others in their stead," Stark countered easily. "Between three major companies, a province to run and of course, the most important of all, my family, I can hardly be in dozens of places at once." Davon's assessment of the SDCSC was, in part, incorrect; it's primary directive was to safeguard SDC production sites, transports and facilities. Once it grew, though, Stark fully intended it to branch out into private security for worlds that needed it. How they put the soldiers to use was up to them and therefore, left Stark's conscience quite clear.

"A shame though," he added with a sigh. "I feel you have much potential." At Davon's return jab, Stark chuckled and waved a hand. "You'd be surprised what getting out into the sun more will do for you. Though I can't quite argue with your statement; enough people have named me a merchant of death, but I daresay any of the major corporations that deal in armaments suffer the same. I can't quite picture myself with the skeletal face and scythe, though. Far, far too dramatic for me.

"One of these days, though, you must regale me with some of the stranger sights you may have seen as a navigator. There are places you've been that are likely far, far too dangerous for someone like me to travel, and I do love to hear interesting stories." Ana would know some of this statement to be a lie; after all, she was one of the few who was privy to the knowledge that Stark had fought off and 'killed' the assassin Cassia Darcy.

Date: Saturday, 08 Dec 2012, 1:03 PM | Message # 58

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He shouldn't sell Davon short; beneath the self-effacing charm and obfuscating ignorance lay a rather intelligent, observant young man. Stark's exploits weren't exactly the greatest-kept secret in the world (the incident during the droid rebellion came to mind) and feigning a sheltered life to a young man that had seen the worst a galaxy like theirs had to offer was an exercise in futility. He nodded to the pair, listening to Stark justify the life he led with a wry grin. "Perhaps a busy man such as yourself might not notice, but it's not good to pile on so much work, s'not good for the mind." A part of him almost commented on perhaps a need to compensate for something, but he pushed the thought from his mind, best not to go down that road.

"Sure, I'll 'regale' you," he answered with a smirk. In spite of the quiet distaste he'd felt pooling in the pit of his stomach, his expression remained outwardly friendly. "Another time." He added after a moment, casting a glance over at Ana to gauge her reaction to all this male posturing.

Davon "Booster" Vanden - Big Damn Hero.
For what avail the plough or sail, or land or life, if freedom fail? ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Theme ~ Wanted - Bon Jovi

Date: Saturday, 08 Dec 2012, 1:43 PM | Message # 59

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It was at that point that Ana Stark had enough. She smiled politely and put herself between Alyn and Davon and she looked up at her darling husband. "Sweetheart, you wouldn't mind if Davon and I spoke alone for a few moments, do you? I just need some....well....we need to talk." She took the moment and kissed Alyn, perhaps deeper than she should have, before she turned and grabbed Davon by the shoulder of his electric rented blazer and dragged him from the hall.

Once safely out of guest range and in a side hall, she turned to face him. "What is wrong with you? And that....what was that?" Ana gestured back towards the reception hall and sighed. "You don't like him, I know, it's obvious." Ana softened considerably and sighed. "I'm sorry. It's been a busy day." She forced a smile and leaned back against the corridor wall briefly and closed her eyes.

"You really wouldn't consider taking the job? It might make your father proud. He's a good man."