Ask Corporate Vandel-ism

[Ashla Ti]

Metalsmith's Guild Headquarters, Vandelhelm​

The world of Vandelhelm had caught Ashla attention a long time ago during a Cadre assignment. At the time she had simply visited the planet to secure funds for her Cadre-master, but had noticed what he had missed, the potential the planet offered. Now that she finally had the authority to do so, she had returned to tap that potential. The Metalsmith's Guid welded tremendous power over the planet, and their leaders, the Vandel and Helm families after whom the planet was named, were royalty on the planet. If she could get her in her pocket then the planet would likewise follow.

The plan was simple, get close to the leaders of the two houses, win their favor, and convince them of the benefits of working for the Sith. And claiming the planet was vital for her grander schemes, plans that if brought to fruition would give birth to a new shipyard that the Sith could call their own. But this, this was step one. She had managed to procure invites to the annual ball thrown by the Metalsmith's Guild, an event where Prince Eadwulf and Princess Kiara, heirs to Houses Helm and Vandel respectively, would be present. All she needed to do was win their favor. But of course such high brow events weren't her speciality, so she had brought along an expert, someone who had grown up surrounded by such opulence.

"How do I look? She asked Vahliri with a sideways glance as they rode the turbolift up to the ballroom, adjusting her own dress one last time. There had been a time, what seemed a long time ago, when she would have refused to dress like this. Pragmatism she had called it, but now she knew it to be nothing but her own attempts at childish rebellion. The graceful gown she wore might not be something she would have normally worn, but it was something the Lady Alia would wear, the alias under which she had been invited. The wealthy heir of a shipping conglomerate, the Lady Alia and her similarly wealthy friend were just the sort of person the Vandelhelm elite would swoon over, and while the identity ISB had helped build for her would stand up to any scrutiny, it would amount for nothing if she couldn't play the role herself.

@Altaris

 

[Darth Tempest]

Vahliri couldn’t deny feeling a tad bit nervous as she rode within the turbolift, rapidly climbing the floors of the skyscraper up towards the penthouse suite where the ball was taking place. While the half-Sephi had some limited field experience thus far, this marked her first time going on a more ‘diplomatic’ mission for the Empire.

The half-Sephi glanced over at Ashla, flashing her friend a smile. The Togruta was moving up in their order - having been recently promoted to Champion - and Vahliri was exceptionally pleased to be have Ashla by her side for this mission.

“Like a billion crowns, as per usual.” Vahliri said confidently to the Togruta, reaching over to smooth out the surface of the graceful gown. She took a step back, giving another nod while flashing the togruta a smile. “Total stunner.”

Vahliri gestured down to her own gown, giving a bit of a half-turn as she did so. “How do I look?” She asked with a smirk. She wore a crimson sequin gown that fell off her shoulders, a jeweled bracelet and matching necklace adorning her wrist and throat. The half-Sephi’s hair was pulled up into a bun and styled elegantly - a far cry from the way she typically allowed the thick waves to cascade down her shoulders.

It was exactly the type of elegant attire that matched her persona as the wealthy socialite Lady Ravella, and would enable her to blend right in with the crowds that packed into the ballroom.

Vahliri waited until the turbolift neared the penthouse suite before glancing back towards Ashla. “Shouldn’t be too difficult, right? Go in, sweet talk some royalty, and we're golden." There was undoubtedly going to be more to it than that, but that was the basic jist of it all.

@Wit

 

[Ashla Ti]

Vahl's words re-assured her, and she smiled in response, before taking look at her own outfit. "Very ladylike," she replied with a nod, switching to analysis mode, "you'll fit right in. Graceful as always!" She meant it as a compliment, because Vahliri was definitely much more graceful and ladylike than her, but the thought that given her tendency for flareups she might consider the words to be in lined with sarcasm was lost on the Togruta.

"Yeah, she said as the turbolift began opening, with confidence that she didn't entirely share, "piece of cake." Being a champion came with certain responsibilities, certain expectations. And one of them was not showing her doubts, even in front of a friend. She took one last deep breath as the turbolift fully opened up, and put on a smile as some party goers nearby turned to look at the new arrivals.

Stepping out, she nodded to an elderly couple they walked past, and was about to wave down a server to get a drink but remembered her research. A lady doesn't flag down drinks a teenager at a bar, drinks came to her. And as if on cue, a server walked up to them, and offered both of them a drink. Drink in hand, she was about to turn to Vahl to tell her to keep an eye out for their targets when a voice drew her attention.

"Lady Aaliyah," Ashla turned around, reacting to the mention like it was really her name, and spotting a slimy looking human in his middle years approaching them, "it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance." He reached out with a hand, and with a smile she offered him hers, which he gently grabbed and pecked with his lips. "Varamir Falkar at your service." Ashla had to bite her tongue to keep herself from laughing, the way he had pronounced his name had been too close to something else. It seemed like all the time spent with Vahl, Altair, and Cairo had started to rub off one her, because she could not imagine herself having such a reaction a few years ago.

"Lord Falkar," she instead replied with a measured smile, "it is a pleasure."

Before she could say more though, his eyes were drawn to Vahl, and almost seemed to be glued to her. "And who might your lovely companion be?"

@Altaris