Open Serenno Golden Age of the Empire

[The Storyteller]

// OOC: Open to all Sith. Formal event.

It was about time for a formal ball like this.

A castle by one of Serenno's seas had been rented, and the ballroom had a lovely wall of windows leading out to a balcony that overlooked the sunset waters. The dark, tumulous waters crashed against the cliffside hundreds of feet below, filling the air with the distant sound of the water. As the sun set lower on the horizon, lights turned on one by one to shower the balcony in a golden light.

Inside, the ballroom was dressed up to the nines in the spirit of the night's theme: the golden age of the Empire. Tapestries of red, black, and gold lined the walls, and golden, fizzy champagne (in addition to stronger drinks) was abundant about the room. Finger food could be found anywhere, and partygoers had already arrived dressed in sparkling gowns and sharp suits. Music was already playing in the background too, just above the chatter of the socializing guests, and some had already taken to the dance floor to sway to the music.

So, let the night begin.

 

[Imani Din]

Imani had never ever been to a fancy sort of event like this, so it was very much an understatement to say she was excited. She was delighted - elated even! - that she not only had the chance to go and bump shoulders with the upper echelons of the Empire, but that she finally had an excuse to pick out a fancy dress and get all dolled up. Growing up on Bandomeer, she never even had the chance to experience something like this. The Korriban proms were pretty nice, but she didn't have the money then to buy much more than a plain dress. Imani felt she deserved to splurge a bit.

The woman arrived in a glittering, gold floor-length gown that showed off both a bit of leg and a bit of cleavage. Her horns were adorned with gold and bejeweled rings, and she had opted for a dark smoky eye and lip. She felt great, and the Tiefling woman oozed every bit of confidence as she made her way into the party. Imani was sparkling, even.

Of course, the first thing she did was head for a table where flukes of champagne had been set out for guests to pluck up and drink as they pleased.

 

[Darth Tempest]

Vahliri couldn’t deny being more than a bit excited for upon receiving the invitation to Serenno. It had been ages since the half-Annfyn had last had an opportunity to properly get dolled up - more than her usual - for a formal event. Not since she had left home for Dromund Kaas years ago, and she certainly wasn’t going to miss that opportunity now. Moreover, it was a chance for her to socialize and rub shoulders with many of the high-ranking individuals within the Empire.

She stepped through the entrance of the castle, the air around her lightly scented with her perfume. Naturally, Vahliri had come dressed to the nines - opting for something a bit more formal and harkening to her Induparan upbringing. She wore a dazzling silver lehenga, alongside a matching white dupatta draped around her arms. Her black hair was styled loosely and left to cascade down to her shoulders, while her outfit was accessorized with a diamond necklace and matching set of earrings, alongside a few bangles glinting on her wrists.

The half-Annfyn didn’t linger near the entrance for too long - allowing her eyes to drift for a split second longer before proceeding to make her way towards the table of drinks at the far end of the room. Of course, it didn’t take her more than a moment or two to recognize a familiar pair of horns already there.

“Imani!” Vahliri said warmly, her lips tugging upwards and towards a smile as she glanced over the other woman’s dress. Even if the two had only worked together on a limited basis in the past, they were friendly enough for the half-Annfyn to naturally gravitate towards the Tiefling first of all. “Damn, you look like a million crowns.” The half-Annfyn reached for a flute off the table, her smile tugging wider as she leaned it forward to clink against the Tieflings.
@lizziie

 

[Darth Tiamat]

There was a bit of relief from the redheaded woman hearing the next big social was going to be a more formal occasion. This meant she wouldn't need to babysit acolytes and hopefully not find herself needing to beat the shit out of lords who lack any common sense. Still after all the socials she had attended, she was still not looking forward to going to this one; in fact, she never enjoyed going, but always did to keep up face and get the latest empire gossip that one would not get when they stayed in their labs... like herself.

It would be interesting since the last formal social she attended was when she was adorning the mask of the Eternal. Thank the stars she was rid of that abomination of an artifact despite how it was disposed. She'd rather let the Jedi deal with it anyways, it was bound to come back and bit them in some way, they seemed to have a track record for that. Regardless, she would go, and she would try to go with her best behavior and more socially inept instead of being pretentious.

Though that may be asking too much of herself.

Tiamat arrived in a dark blue gown with embellishments that reminded her of the very stars she enjoyed studying. Her hair was gathered in the back, gold bands wrapped around her locks to keep it in place with an ornate dragon hair pin tucked at the base. Silver ornate earrings crawled up her ears, and she wore a thick silver cuff engraved with an organic design on her left wrist. Entering the hall, she was greeted with a tray of champagne and she happily took her glass as she went to mingle among others who would be present that evening.

 

[Celeste Stythani]

It had felt like ages since Celeste had last attended a formal event like this ball on Serreno. It surely had its reasons. Despite her training and her upbringing there weren't many points of contact left between her and the Empire. However, after all that had happened on Rattatak, she felt like she could use some time to reconnect with old friends and additionally she had decided to use the event as a short escape from her duties as a senator.

Celeste arrived at the castle's ballroom wearing her newly bought champagne golden dress which sparkled in the beautiful light of remarkably decorated room. She let her gaze wander across the room, trying to spot familiar faces amongst the crowd while the first glass of champagne was already placed into her hands. The charming smile that graced her lips was honest and not a simple fassade this time. She was looking forward to this evening, hoping that the ball would not only be a welcomed distraction but also actual fun.

 

[Emryc Thorne]

It had been some time since Emryc bothered to show up at one of these things. The last few sounded like daycare sessions with mainly the acolytes present, so when he heard this one was a bit more classy, he opted to join. The half Sephi borrowed the little trinket from Renfry that allowed for slight alterations in his appearance. As a result, his ears appeared to be normal human instead of pointed. He was adorned in a sharp suit and a black mask that covered the top hemisphere of his face to reveal his jawline. His hair was perfectly styled and he wore an expensive, signature cologne.

The half Sephi strode into the room towering over everyone, his large frame always cutting an imposing figure. The Dark Lord of the Sith had an unmistakable presence and the aura about him that could be felt the moment he stepped into the chambers. However, it was obvious he was aloof as usual and not too concerned with disciplining anyone or actively playing his role. He was here to relax just like anyone else. A part of him was slightly curious about the Sith present and surveying the next stock of leadership.

To the Sith he was Darth Raze, and he was fully prepared for whatever that entailed. Regardless, he would dance with anyone that was bold enough. The half Sephi made his way towards the drinks table, picking up a whiskey. He was near the attractive tiefling woman and a younger Sith (@lizziie , @Altaris ). Emryc didn’t say anything beyond lifting his drink and giving them a nod before he took a sip. Even through the mask, the frigid silver gaze was apparent. His demeanor was always imposing and intimidating, and he didn’t feel the need to pile atop that by putting anyone on the spot.

Emryc glanced briefly away to spot Tiamat in her beautiful gown but he didn't take any steps towards her just yet.

 

[Imani Din]

She didn't go long before a familiar voice called out her name. Imani turned, caught sight of the acolyte Vahliri, and returned her smile. "Vahliri, hi! You look lovely!" She looked expensive too. "Are those diamonds?" There were so many! "I like your necklace," she added. "Gee, wonder when I'll be able to afford somethin' like that?"

It was then, like most everyone else, that Imani noticed the presence of none other than Darth Raze entering the room. He brought with him such a very specific aura that she could only figure as the mark of such a powerful Sith. In any other situation, Imani might've been put at unease, but since this was a party, she didn't feel on edge. Instead, the Tiefling lifted her fluke of champagne back up to him as he did towards her and Vahliri, giving him a smile as she acknowledged his presence. He was quite good-looking in that suit too, so that didn't hurt the situation at all. "I wonder what he looks like beneath the mask?"

Though she had come hoping to meet those in the higher ranks of the Sith, there was a specific one she was specifically hoping would arrive. A quick scan of the crowd came back empty of the Zabrak she'd met at her younger brother's birthday party, but he had plenty of time to arrive if he planned to do so.

"I've never been to an event like this," the Tiefling woman admitted to Vahliri as she clinked her drink against the younger girl's. "I've heard there's never want for entertainment, though," she laughed, her Bandomeerian accent slipping through in her amusement. Would the night go smoothly, or would the Sith yet again find a way to cause a ruckus? If it were the latter, she hoped to get a few dances in first.

tags: @Sreeya @Altaris

 

[Soleil Altan]

Soleil couldn't for the life of him understand the principal differences between suits, and he'd had to study up stuff about dances and etiquette. He'd never been to one off the more upper-echelon parties, nor owned or even worn a suit. While he felt out of place and element, damn if he wasn't going to try his best. These parties didn't happen that often and were one of the few chances to see some of the most powerful and influential Sith in the Empire. Besides, there'd been a string of rough times lately, and he could use a major distraction.

Dressed in a formal suit he'd rented from some fancy Serenno tailor shop with advice from others, the Wrean acolyte walked into the ballroom with his cat-shaped droid, Clover, beside him. A sense that his nerves were electrically charged pervaded him. Red coral studs replaced his usual, and he had an expensive watch on of all things. Even his hair was slickly styled back, nice and neat. In short, Soleil was totally out of his element here. Hopefully it all looked good 'cause Sol had no goddamn idea, unused to these things.

From the entrance he could see some familiar lady faces among the crowd, all dressed up in sparkly stuff and looking beautiful. He wandered over toward the drink table in the hopes of soothing his nerves before finding something fancy to do. He gave a friendly wave to Vahliri and the Tiefling woman with her then another more polite one to Tiamat. "Hello there! You look great," translated Clover. Oh, and there was also-

Holy hell that was absolutely Darth Raze standing near the drink table, looming there in his bespoke suit like the latest winner of Galaxy's Next Top Terror. Not only did the Dark Lord tower above all others, but the sheer depth of power he could wield also bled off him in frosty waves that momentarily stopped Soleil in place. Sol looked down to re-confirm he was wearing dress socks- he was- before continuing forward. He grabbed a whiskey near the table's end away from everyone else.

After a healthy gulp, Soleil dug up some extra courage from his ordinarily bottomless supply and approached the imposing figure of Raze, robocat in tow. He remembered the deep bow the academy taught for when supreme higher-ups showed up. Soleil took in the large man's stern, sterling eyes looking out from his masked, strong-jawed face when he straightened again. "My Lord. I'm Soleil Altan, an acolyte. It's amazing to meet you in person, I've read lots about your achievements. I like your tie. Sir." Clover, who was forced to translate this rambling mess of sign language, surreptitiously swatted Sol's ankle for his awkward introduction.

@Altaris @lizziie @Sreeya @GABA

 

[Varyn Atrix]

Varyn had heard about Sith social events before. Rumors and reports had come to him in the past about bloodshed at such events and it put him more on edge than he might have expected. Was he allowed to bring a lightsaber to this sort of thing? He imagined he could - it was the Sith, after all - but he certainly didn't want to stand out either.

In the end, he'd settled on one of his larger pocket knives and a tactical stylus both of which would be nicely out of sight, and called it good. It was a better option, and still made him feel like he wasn't naked. He never went anywhere without a lightsaber!

But tonight wasn't technically a night for missions or armor but unlike everyone else, he wasn't actually here to party. He was here to watch the gatherings of some of the Imperial elite. To get his first glimpses of the habits, how they acted, and what they felt like. Sith Masters and Lords were the main target tonight for the Jedi Knight, disguised as anything but a Jedi this evening.

At least he had the good sense to actually wear some stylish clothes when he arrived. He took in everyone else that was there, most of whom he didn't recognize. He'd met Sol before and he recognized... oh wow. Oh wow, yeah, he recognized Vahliri, and she was looking absolutely... nope, task at hand. Task. At. Hand.

He forced his eyes past her to the other people in the room before he spotted the man that could only be Raze. He just about gasped at the sight of the absolutely massive man. He knew his reputation for... mental... things, and realized that while this was a great way to observe the man, he absolutely didn't want him poking around inside his mind.

So... uh... what was the solution here? He seemed way too nervous for a Sith party. Oh, I know! I'll ask Vahliri for a dance and then he'll just think I'm really nervous about that! Yeah! That's... yeah, it's totally just business. All about keeping my cover, yup.

The thoughts all flashed through his head in a seocnd and Varyn had decided that it was absolutely foolproof and absolutely professional as he made his way over to Vahliri.

Vahl, good to see you! You look absolutely gorgeous tonight, she said with a smile. I don't believe I've met your friend before, he said. I'm Varyn! he added. And as he stood there, his heart started to pound juuuuust a bit harder.

@Altaris @lizziie

 

[Darth Draugr]

An invitation to the Sith Ball had arrived in Master Draugr's holonet mail box. Not always hit forte but it was always good to show face. Though he wasn't a Lord anymore, he was still a Master and would still have that leadership role. His subordinates come and socialize as well as his superiors so why not come and have a few drinks and a few dances? What's the worst that could happen?

Arriving in style, Draugr would be dressed for the occasion with a fashionable suit. He had been sure to not wear any brown loafers once more. Dark Lord of the Sith wasn't a fan of brown with nonmatching colors. The room was filled with a decent amount of Sith personnel. More and more entering by the moment. Scanning the room he noticed few familiar faces, a couple he hadn't seen before either but as expected. The Sith numbers were always growing. The cold chill in the room could only mean Darth Raze was around. Speaking with him or being around him was always nerve racking but of course Draugr learned to keep composure and professionalism around the man.

Deciding where he would first go, he made way to the nearest server walking by with champagne and would take one off the tray and begin to sip. The drinking had to begin early as always. Next would be socializing. He began to make his way by Imani, Darth Raze, Vahliri, and some other young Sith. Seemed like a good place to begin the night.

"Good evening everyone. A good taste in music wouldn't you all say?"

@lizziie @Altaris @Phoenix

 

[Darth Tempest]

Within a split second, the smile on Vahliri’s face tripled in size at Imani’s compliment - practically beaming with confidence as her lehenga and necklace glinted against the ballroom lights. “You’re too sweet! I haven’t gotten a chance to wear it in ages.” It had been forever since she last had an opportunity to wear anything this fancy - certainly not at the last few Acolyte parties - and it was clear she enjoyed every second of it. “Let’s just hope the entertainment doesn’t involve someone getting yeeted off a balcony.”

Despite the smile, that was.. Actually a concern.

Her eyes didn’t linger on Imani for long, though. The half-Annfyn’s amber gaze promptly shifted over to Varyn when the fellow Acolyte approached, and she couldn’t help the way her eyes widened as she finally got a good look at the Acolyte’s attire for the evening. “Varyn, you look.. Wow.” Her gaze lingered there for a few seconds more, and the girl hardly even noticed the way she almost subconsciously reached up to idly twirl a loose strand of her black hair - coiling it around her finger before tucking it behind her ear.

“Thanks,” She finally said - her cheeks shifting the faintest bit in color as he complimented her own dress. “You look amazing.. You should dress like that more often.” She said a bit quieter, clearing her throat, eyes lingering on him for a long moment before she actually.. Recognized what he said, and turned to look at Imani again. “This is Imani Din.” She gestured to the Tiefling.

Just like everyone else in the room, Vahliri’s attention was promptly drawn away from Varyn and Imani as a very distinct figure entered the room - the presence of the Dark Lord unmistakable and palpable within the very air. Her gaze lingered on the imposing Sith Lord, and she couldn’t help but note the fit of his stylish suit and the edge of his jawline that was revealed by the dark mask - a sight that caused her eyes to remain fixed for just a few moments longer than necessary. When his gaze turned their way, Vahliri immediately dipped her head towards respectfully and bent at the knees ever-so-slightly, dipping into a courtesy before her superior and the second in command within the Empire.

Vahliri lingered in place for a few seconds more - long enough to promptly make a decision and commit herself to it without a second thought. The half-Annfyn glanced back at Varyn and Imani, flashing them both a smile as she tilted back the rest of her glass. “If you’ll both excuse me for a moment,” She said, amber eyes flicking over to Varyn a bit longer than the Tiefling. She promptly turned on a heel and strode ahead - amber eyes fixed onto Darth Raze and, in that moment, no one else in the room - save for a smile and nod of acknowledgement towards Sol.

“My Lord,” Vahliri said respectfully, once more dipping before the Dark Lord as she came to a stop in front of him. “Vahliri Kahtal,” It was almost comical the height difference between them - as Raze quite literally towered over the half-Annfyn to the point of the girl having to crane her neck upwards to look at him properly. Nevertheless, the smile and confidence didn’t fade in that moment.

Without a second more of hesitation, Vahliri extended a hand towards Raze - eyes fixating onto those haunting silvers. “Would you do me the honor of a dance?”

@Phoenix @Sreeya @lizziie

 

[Varyn Atrix]

Varyn didn't miss the way Vahl seemed to get just a bit more giddy at seeing him, and he couldn't help smiling as she mentioned he should dress like this more often.

Oh, would you like that? he asked back quietly. She went on to introduce Imani, and Varyn turned to her with a smile.

Nice to meet you, he said. You look lovely tonight as well, if I may say. As he was about to turn back to ask Vahliri for a dance, she wandered over to Raze aaaand he wasn't going to touch that. The disappointment didn't show on his face, and he made a mental note that it would need to be remedied before the night was out.

Master Draugr, he said to the Sith Master that approached moments later. A pleasure to meet you, he said, knowing the man by reputation.

Still he was left standing there with another gorgeous woman, so there was hardly anything to mourn about. A genuine and warm smile spread across his face as the next step seemed quite obvious to him.

I hope you won't hold it against me if I ask this gorgeous lady to dance, he said.

Would you like to dance? he asked, extending a hand and bowing ever so slightly. That was how it was done, right?

@Altaris @lizziie

 

[Emryc Thorne]

Emryc was sipping from his drink when a young Sith approached him. He eyed the acolyte, his gaze flicking from him to the curiously shaped droid, and back to him. The Sith Lord said nothing as the boy greeted him, though he was always impressed when acolytes had the spine to approach him at all. He took another sip before he answered. When he did so, Sol (@Mr. Teatime ) wouldn’t hear the speech out loud but deep within his mind.

“Why do you not communicate through the Force?” Emryc asked curiously. As he did so, Sol would have an interesting swirl of things taking place in his mind just then. This included hearing himself underwater and the slow transition to how it sounded out loud, but slowly contorting in the plane of the Force. All of it flashed within seconds, but for Sol it would feel as if he were suspended in eternity. Emryc withdrew from his mind a moment later, simply giving him a curt nod as he raised his drink in cheers before sipping again.

He gazed briefly at Draugr (@Scoobert ), a faint grin playing across his lips, “I see you’ve finally learned to dress yourself for these occasions,” That rich baritone rang out, though the inflection was slightly different than what he used in Holo. Draugr was perhaps one of the only few he would vocally address or greet right off the bat. The Dark Lord was selective about his interactions, after all. Emryc floated over a glass of champagne for the Sith Master to enjoy.

Emryc was next greeted by the female acolyte (@Altaris) from earlier. He was going to brush her off with a quick greeting just as he would most of her rank, but she surprised him by asking for a dance. The Dark Lord stood in silence for a few seconds making her wonder if she had just made a grave mistake. In the end, he tossed his drink back, wiped off the rim and set it aside. While he was amused at her diminutive size compared to his, he would never turn down a dance.

The Sith reached out and casually grasped her hand, but he gave her no real opportunity to lead. He tugged her towards the dance floor as a song began. Emryc placed a hand near her hip - though with their height difference it ended up resting against the bare side of her waist. He nudged with his knee to get her to step backwards, moving fluidly as he led her back before grasping her hand to twirl her under his hand. She was a blur of motions, the skirt of her dress flaring and spinning as he effortlessly switched her from hand to the other to the rhythm and the flow of the music.

Emryc spun around and tugged her close before sliding his foot out back into sweeping tango. He twirled her till she fell backwards into the crook of his folded elbow. She was suspended at an angle backwards and he briefly leaned in just enough for a lazy grin and a glint in the silvers before he drew her back up and switched her to his other hand.

With one particular spin, he casually slipped her dupatta off her, playfully swinging it in his hand as he circled her on the dance floor. After a moment, he tossed it back around her with both his hands, using it to skid her across the floor back towards him till their bodies were a hair’s breadth away from colliding. The amusement was clear on his face the entire time, every move precise and exactly the way he intended. There were no sloppy gestures, no mistakes, no missteps.

Emryc released the dupatta, letting it fall back against her elbows, allowing her a chance to lead.

 

[Ronan Carduel]

Ronan walked into the ballroom, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. His dark silver hair was pulled into a ponytail at the nape of his neck and he wore a black suit with a white open collared shirt, the top buttons undone. His face was impassive as he meandered through the crowd. He recognized a few fellow Sith, none really that peaked his interest. Until he saw Darth Draugr. Draugr reminded him of his old master, so Ronan turned and walked away from the group of people he was talking to.

He had only come because he had received an invitation and had hoped he could make a good impression on higher ups. He took a flute of champagne and stood near a wall, watching everyone that came and went in all their finery.

 

[Ashla Ti]

The explosion on Dormund Kass had brought her back from the the Imperial outskirts, and the relief she had felt on meeting Altair and Vahl had helped reduce some of the tension she had been carrying all this while. An invitation to a ball, arriving just as she was beginning to question her next move, had offered an opportunity to further destress and convinced her to stick around.

Walking into the ballroom, fashionably late, dressed in a golden gown from which she could easily tear off the tail to allow for easier maneuverability, she scooped up a flute from a passing server and scanned the room till she spotted a familiar face. Or rather half a face. Her master always tended to stand out, and tonight was no different. She started drifting towards him, gliding through the ballroom as she observed Raze interact with , but she was halfway there when she noticed him move to dance, with Vahl of all people.

Interesting, she thought to herself, wondering just how much had changed while she was gone. She had spotted another familiar face where Raze had been, and with a fond smile on her face she drifted over to the figure. It was a face she knew, a little older, maybe a bit more mature, yet beneath it all she still saw the child who had called out to her from atop a branch in the middle of nowhere.

"Don't worry," she said as she walked up to Sol, having seen some of what had happened with Raze, "it's almost always like like that with him." She gave him a once over, still smiling, and to her own surprise almost considered pulling him into a hug. She hadn't realized just how lonely she had been these past few months, it was good to see familiar faces, friendly faces, again.

"How've you been Sol?"

@Mr. Teatime

 

[Nova Trent]

Nova had accepted the invitation, but right now, she questioned why she had actually done that. She wanted to socialize at first, but once she had entered the crowded ballroom, that idea left her faster than it had actually come up. One thing was however positive: She could show off her new hot golden dress and she was surely looking forward to that part.

A waiter put a glass of champagne in her hand with a wide smile on his lips and once she had gulped it down, she felt at least a trace of relief. Alcohol would clearly help her today and it seemed as though they had plenty of those here. That was good. Or at least so good that she could swallow her rage for now. She let her gaze wander across the decorated room while starting to spy some familiar faces. So far, she didn't feel like talking to anyone of them, but maybe this would change sooner or later. When the next waiter passed by, she handed him her empty glass and made her way towards the bar where she wanted to grab herself a fancier drink, but before she had reached her destination, someone suddenly caught her attention. Ronan (@Reylo4evr). What was he doing here? She didn't expect him to follow the invitation but if she was being honest she would have never thought that she would be here either, so she couldn't actually hold on to that thought. She thought of ignoring him first, but she knew that sooner or later they would probably cross each other's path and she might actually owe him an explanation for what has happened on Dantooine. Sighting, she turned in his direction, pretty aware of the fact that this could also be a mistake. "Well, look who we have here" she greeted him with a smirk, hoping that he was not the type for holding grudges.

@Reylo4evr

 

[Ronan Carduel]

Ronan returned the smirk Nova gave him, looking her up and down. She cleaned up nicely; she looked much nicer than she had on Dantooine. More composed too, as she greeted him with her usual sass, almost as if it had never happened. "I do have a life, you know," he said, pushing off the wall he had been leaning his back on. The Force seemed to be repaying him; Nova had started the conversation first. "Didn't think you would have taken the invitation, and yet here I am," he said. For once, his words were not filled with animosity. "Do you plan on getting drunk again? More drunk this time, perhaps?" he continued. It would be quite amusing to see her a drunk mess in such a nice gown.

@LadyRen

 

[Darth Tempest]

Split seconds ticked by, and Vahliri could only bask in the silence that immediately followed her request to dance. Her head tilted upwards gazed up into those haunting silvers, and the half-Annfyn began to wonder if she had gravely miscalculated in making such a request and approaching the Dark Lord of the Sith as she did - the drumming of her heart beating just a touch faster than normal.

Nevertheless, the half-Annfyn’s split second of worry died away and was replaced by a sideways smile when Raze casually threw back his drink and grasped her hand, tugging her towards the dance floor. The Dark Lord left the woman with no opportunity to lead, and instead Vahliri began to fall into step with the tango - one hand intertwining with Raze’s own while the other came to lay across his arm - positioned a bit lower then normal for the dance, given their height difference and lack of reach.

She felt the hand that came to rest against her bare hip, and she couldn’t quite help the spiderweb of volts that ran beneath her skin at the touch - goosebumps beginning to fan out across her body. Her body moved fluidly as she kept pace with the Dark Lord - the glittering skirt of her lehenga and her loosely-styled hair flaring and whipping around with every rotation on the balls of her feet. Her hips swayed fluidly and the smirk never faded from her lips as she switch from each of his hands, her body turning in sharp, half-turn pivots before snapping back to face him once again.

The half-Annfyn stared up at Raze as he dipped her low, her body suspended in that dip as she gazed upwards. There was a refinement to every movement and step the man took, and it was entirely different from the way she had danced with Altair or any other - bereft of the skin-against-skin movements or the openly lavacious gestures, and yet Vahliri could feel her heart pounding in her chest all the same. The amusement in Raze’s eyes was reciprocated as he used her own Dupatta to pull their bodies back together, a bit of sheepishness bleeding into her expression as she came to stop within a hairs distance of the man.

Despite the way that the Dark Lord towered over her, Vahliri didn’t shrink beneath the imposing presence of the man. In that moment, all notions of being on edge had vanished away, and on that dancefloor, the half-Annfyn stood as tall as the rest of them. The moment that he released her Dupatta and gave her an opportunity to lead their dance, Vahliri reaffirmed her grab on his hand and arm and began to step backwards to the music - guiding them as she saw fit.

Long, sweeping steps carried the two of them across the dance floor in a counter-clockwise arc - her eyes remaining firmly fixed onto Raze as they passed other partygoers and dancers on the floor. As they moved, Vahliri briefly released her grasp on the Dark Lord - her arms tucking close to her body as she spun on the balls of her feet - twirling and still moving forward in perfect sync with every step that Raze took. Her hand came back to grasp once more a split second later, continuing their journey across the room. She lifted her arms, and the faintest manipulation of the Force brought the Dupatta around her elbows to drape around the back of the man’s neck - the fabric hanging freely as she committed herself to the dance.

As they reached the end of their backwards steps, Vahliri pulled the Dark Lord close and spun their conjoined forms - swinging around before hooking her calf against the inside of his own - the grip on his leg allowing her to tilt backwards and dip back towards the floor - her hair spilling backwards to brush against the ground while her arm flourished out to her side.

After only a moment, the half-Annfyn rose back up from the dip - snapping up to face the Dark Lord once more as they continued their routine. She finally reached up to pull the fabric of her dupatta free from around the Dark Lord - allowing it once more to rest against the crook of her arms.

“I have to admit, I wasn’t so sure you would take me up on the offer,” Vahliri said candidly, briefly thinking back to that moment of pause as she waited his answer to dance. She glanced up at the Dark Lord at the end of a spin - her body coming once more to face him directly - eyes of amber fixed onto his own. “I am pleased that you did.” Her smile tugged a bit wider.

@Sreeya

 

[Aralan Delste]

Serenno, it was home to Aralan despite what his mother had always pushed upon him. The half Annfyn had returned to the world he had grown up on for as much business as pleasure. The Sith were holding a formal gala, it was an opportunity to meet the influential, the rich, and the powerful within the Empire. It was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up. Aralan was always looking for create new opportunities to meet potential sponsors to finance his endeavors, he was a scholar by choice and an archaeologist by necessity. And Aralan believed he had found his next expedition.

The Consiliul de Sapte.

It was a council of ancient dark lords that had recently been discovered by a Sith Champion named Malou. It was absolutely fascinating to Aralan and had consumed all of his attentions. In fact, he stared intently at a dataslate that contained what scant few reports on the council he could find, his eyes flicked across the screen as he subconsciously mouthed the words he had read for the seventeenth time today.

For a time, he had grown lost to his newfound obsession and lost track of time. It was only when a lock of his shock white hair fell across his vision that he was momentarily pulled from his impassioned reading to recognize the time listed in the top left corner of the slate. His eyes grew wide with shock as he gazed at the time, the gala was starting, he was going to be late.

“Kriff” he cursed as he brushed the loose lock of hair back into place.

Aralan slid the data slate into one of his pant pockets and gently picked up the pace. His outfit was rather spartan but appropriately “in style” for Serenno formal wear, or so he believed. While it lacked the tapestry that many Serenno nobles would have, depicting a range of things from rank, to house, to titles held. Aralan’s garb had none of these, outside of the crest showing his status as a Sith, his clothes were bare and for good reason; he was no noble.

Before his ascension to the Sith, Aralan had been a librarian’s aide. A poor gutter rat that was beneath the notice of the nobles. There was some measure of pride in him for now being able to even potentially brush shoulders with the most influential beings within the Empire but stroking his ego wasn’t his purpose. Aralan took a deep breath and focused on the passion he felt for this new endeavor, he allowed the excitement he felt for the unknown fuel his confidence before walking into the gala.

He immediately felt underdressed.

Aralan gawked at the sheer opulence of his peers. Many wore clothes that he could have never dreamed of owning personally, a vain expression of the vast resources they horded unto themselves. He blinked several times before putting on a smile that reeked of faux confidence and took a step within the ball.

“A good taste in music wouldn’t you all say?” A Zabrak asked as Aralan passed by.

He mistook the question being posed at him.

“Yes, quite -“ He paused part of the way through his response, his cheeks grew flush as he realized he had intruded upon a conversation.

@Scoobert

 

[Soleil Altan]

Soleil's brows steadily rose with curiosity, just watching the Dark Lord watch him. Raze's demeanor was difficult for the Wrean to gauge. It was like the large man was so calm and controlled that he never moved a muscle unless he had to, silver eyes taking in things with a kind of habitual precision.

Sol's eyebrows shot up from the unexpected contact, thinking of an answer, but what followed next was a whirlwind of sensation and experience drawn in part from his own memory. The touch was leagues more precise than what Sol could do, an unfathomable gap in skill, and Raze used it to warp even the perception of time with all the effort of breathing. Deep in that frosty sea, a silent voice rang.

When he surfaced he blinked several times, glancing around to confirm where he was and looking kinda dazed. His eyes found the silver gaze again, still processing the whole experience. He concentrated for a moment and attempted to mimic the process he'd been shown. The immediate result took a fraction of a second to form words and was fairly monotone, but as it sent Soleil's face lit up like a sunrise.

'Thank you.' Raze's nod and raised drink were answered with an enthusiastic bow and a cheery cheers of his own, finishing his drink. He curiously watched the exchange with Vahl and Raze. Sol hadn't thought to ask after a dance, partly because he had little practice and was reasonably concerned about fucking up and finding out what stain-glass window tastes like. Sol looked in awe of how perfectly precise their movements were while retaining the sense of smoothness.

Then Ashla arrived and Soleil fully shifted his attention to her instead, lips curling into a smile. The encounter with Raze had wiped out much of his earlier discomfort. Soleil hadn't really met up with the Togruta since the party on Taris, and he'd certainly grown since then. They'd known one another since he was still a wary little kid climbing trees to keep away from others, and it was always great to see her. Sol stepped forward to offer a hug, then took in her glittery outfit. "It's been forever. You're beautiful!" the RoboCat piped up on Sol's behalf. "Usually like what?"

His face fell when his friend asked about how he'd been, his stance shifting from foot to foot and his eyes finding something else to glance at. He shrugged noncommittally, then gestured at her instead. "What about you?" asked Clover. Sol looked thoughtful for a short while, grinned playfully, turned his right hand palm-up toward Ashla, and focused to project a one-word question.

'Dance?'

@Sreeya @Wit