Ask Coruscant People Make the Party

[Korre Belasi]

Korre had traveled around the galaxy quite a bit in recent months, going to a myriad of political-related meetings, events, and the likes of such. Today wasn't really any different, though this was a more casual event. The Senator of Norkronia had invited various politicians in the nearby area to attend his little banquet on Coruscant, for the reason of "jovial activities." The Belascan woman figured he probably intended to find and make connections; after all, Norkronia was a little nobody of a planet sitting in Coruscant shadow.

And yet, he still got to enjoy the luxury and wealth of being a Core world.

"Thank you for the invite Senator Fourk." Korre made polite small talk with the senator, smiling in spite of his drunken words. When given the chance she excused herself to one of the tables bearing finger foods off to the side. She regretted coming already. The room was filled with uninspired men, few women, and the hiss of political talk. She'd come because she'd been close by, so it might've been a bit rude not to. The Belascan didn't plan to stay long, that's for sure.

The table was in front of a mirrored wall, so as she popped a dressed cracker into her mouth, Korre ran her eyes up and down the dress she wore. It was probably one of her favorite she'd worn so far. Too bad it had come off the hanger for this.

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[Alexander Xerxes]

Senator Fourk, seemed to like to splash the cash it seemed. This had been the third party the Senator had thrown in a little over five weeks, maybe he was polling for some new position within the government, or perhaps he was just lonely. Whatever the Senator’s reasoning, Alexander was happy to allow Fourk’s cash to advance his own political agenda within the unofficial capital of the New Republic.

Alexander had arrived early and had gotten the polite ‘I have to talk to the host’ part out of the way quickly so he could move on to more interesting people. “Senator Prandor, I believe your agenda is just and should be brought forward at the next meeting. You of course have the backing of myself and Hynestia.” He said with a smile, it was a small bill, one he doubted would actually get through and putting his name on it would not make him any enemies. But it would hopefully make one friend.

The Hynestian Prince excused himself from the Senator and made his way towards the drinks table. At first he was just thirsty but after seeing who else was at the table, how could he not. “Prime Minister Belasi, it is a pleasure to see you again.” Alexander said with a smile and a small bow of the head, as he moved up alongside her, picking up a small glass of Arkanian Champagne. The colour of the liquid exquisitely matching the waistcoat he wore.

@lizziie

 

[Korre Belasi]

"Senator Xerxes! You as well." Korre shot the Hynestian a smile, turning her body to face him once he spoke. She knew virtually nothing about the senator, other than he'd recently broken into the public's attention and she's briefly met him back at Moore's meet and greet of sorts.

"What brings you here?" She wondered if he was here simply because he was in the area, or if he had some sort of business with Fourk. If it were the latter, she pitied him a bit.

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[Alexander Xerxes]

He smiled and raised his glass towards the Prime Minister as she returned his greeting, taking a small sip of the tart liquid before replying to her question. “Work, as always, Prime Minister. Myself and Senator Prandor are looking at putting forward a new bill at the next New Republic meeting.” Alexander looked over at the Senator whose ears perked up at the sound of his name, raising his glass again slightly towards him. “He was hoping Fourk would also co back it, but so far the pampering has not been enough for The Senator of Norkronia.” He finished with a smile.

“And yourself? Tales of Fourk’s bottomless brunch?”

@lizziie

 

[Korre Belasi]

"I just happened to be in the area. I would feel rude if I didn't accept the invitation," the Belascan admitted with a smile. She had nothing against the Norkronian senator, but she would much rather spend her free time hidden away in a lab somewhere. For all his pompous and grand parties, he spoke with the tarnished silver-tongue of every uninspired politician. "The little snacks are good though."

Korre popped another into her mouth and allowed her eyes to survey the room while she chewed. She thought for a moment too, trying to remember anything she knew about Xerxes at all. There wasn't anything she could recall about his politics. With a galaxy this big, it was difficult to keep track of every name and face, especially when they were of a different government.

"Will the Republic Senate be meeting soon?" Korre was under the impression that it had not met since Ro's death. The investigation looking into his killer was still ongoing too, which worried her for two reasons. Firstly, she worried for the state of the Republic's intelligence agency if they could not track down the killer. Secondly, if the agency was fine, the murderer must have been the cream of the crop. As for her own health, she didn't worry much. The IIA had her back and with the Jedi dealing with the cult, perhaps they would stumble upon imperial intel in the meantime.

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[Alexander Xerxes]

He gave her a smile as she popped one of the small canapes that Fourk had made for the little gathering. Alexander had already spent a little time prousing over the selection, there was a number which were exquisite and a few a little out there. He eyed over a vegetarian one that had a sweet and spicy flavour before popping one into his own mouth.

He was still chewing when she asked about the senate, so he hurried slightly, not allowing him to fully savour the taste. A little sip of the champagne to clean his palette and he was good. “It keeps being put back for some little reason or another.” He began, a little irritation slipping into his voice. “It has been too long now since Chancellor Ro’s death and we have done little in that time, both to honour his memory or avenge his death.” He knew little of the ongoing investigation, being kept behind the tight doors of the Sector rangers. The long winded investigation was perhaps the only thing which kept them being absorbed into the larger Republican Military.

“But I hope with a number of us here on Courscant at the moment we may be able to push past any blockers and finally meet.” There were too many things which needed to be done, that he doubted one meeting would resolve the crisis that the Republic was falling into. But at least one meeting will help.

@lizziie

 

[Korre Belasi]

Korre nodded as he spoke, acknowledging his words. The Republic still being without a leader was something she'd taken into mind recently.

"Hopefully things will start to look a bit brighter for the Republic in the coming months," she would say in response to his comment about the number of politicians on Coruscant. She was even here, and she'd wasn't an NR citizen.

"You're from Hynestia. What's your world like?" She'd never been before, so she was curious to hear what he had to say about it.

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[Alexander Xerxes]

“I do hope so.” He replied, taking another sip of his drink. “And I hope that relations between the Republic and Alliance can be strengthened in the future.” A strong and united front is what was needed between the three democracies, the Consortium was already started to pull away from them both. He hoped that a strong Republic could help pull them back.

“Cold Prime Minister, very cold.” He began. “We mostly live underground because of it, though we have a suitable area near the equator which we can use for harvest. I would say if you would like to visit, you must come to the Hot Springs.” It was there most sought after tourist destination after all.

 

[Korre Belasi]

Cold and underground. That sounded unpleasant to the Belascan, coming from a temperate works covered in forest, tropical islands, and oceans. But at the same time, there was something oddly serene about the deathly cold of a tundra. Korre recalled paintings of Hoth she'd seen in Senta's National Art Museum. The endless white of snow and the icy winds might be dangerous, but they looked peaceful all the same.

"If I find time to take a vacation, I'll consider it then," she hummed in response. But the topic of a stronger alliance between the New Republic and the Free Worlds Alliance was much more interesting to her than small talk about vacations and homeworlds.

"Once a new Chancellor is elected, it would be my goal to establish stronger relationships between us. Trade between us is as important as ever, especially with the decrease in value of the credit." The less they could rely on the economy of the ISC, the more secure their own economy would be. Ideally it would be done without slandering the rising nation, as her senators seemed so apt to do.

"Have any senators spoke of running?"

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[Alexander Xerxes]

“Well if you do, please let me know. I can of course set up some personal passes to the royal baths.” He replied with a smile, the hot springs belonging to the Royal Family were perhaps the best on the entire planet.

“Trade is indeed extremely important for everyone involved. This war has taken a toll on both the credits we have and how much they are worth. Strengthening both its worth and amount is paramount to our longevity as a government. I will back any motion to increase trade with the Alliance, I can assure you that.” Hynestia had struggled with the aftermath of AMS and the ongoing war, population was decreasing, yields droppings, tourism shrinking; it was a dire time for his home planet. Trade was the first thing it needed but not the last.

“None that I am aware of, most of the Senatorial College is more determined to make sure their individual planets are not ruined, to seemingly care about a greater republic. Though I hear factions are quietly beginning to form around our stance with the Jedi and this war. The Anti-force user groups are increasing daily.”

@lizziie

 

[Korre Belasi]

"Belasco has begun talks of reopening our borders. Once they do, I recommend the island resorts, if you don't find the weather too warm." She gave him a smile, responding to his offer with one of her own. If he liked seafood, he'd be in for an even bigger treat.

The Prime Minister listened as he continued to speak, noting his desire to foster trade. "An assurance," she repeated, nodding when he said it.

The New Republic though, seemed to be suffering from the same ailment as the Free Worlds at the moment. "Planets only caring about themselves?" Check. The comment about Force users though worried her. "Anti-Force user groups..." Korre murmured the words, repeating them in a tone that indicated her worry. "And what is your stance on the issue?" Her voice was curious, and the raising of her eyebrows indicated this plainly. The Belascan wouldn't lie; his answer would be major in solidifying her opinion of the man.

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[Alexander Xerxes]

“Heat has never sat well with me, but I am sure with the correct company I can make an exception.” He replied with a cheeky smile. This was politics after all compliments and flattery was always needed. “Yes, many already saw this war as only a war between the Sith and the Jedi that the rest of the galaxy has been pulled into as it has a dozen times before throughout history.” He placed down his empty glass on the table before continuing. “War only brings pain, loss of loved ones, jobs and homes. The sanctions on Imperial space have hit a lot of pockets within the Republic very hard. So people naturally look to place blame on someone, usually that someone is a minority such as the Jedi.”

“You add in Empress Andruil’s consistent statements that her war is only with the Jedi and Grandmaster Voran’s actions in the Republic Senate. You have a growing section of the population that believe that Force Users only bring trouble to the population.” Alexander finished, his tone was purposefully flat, trying not to give away any of his personal opinions to the Prime Minister.

“My stance on the Jedi or the War? With the Jedi I cannot help but be a little concerned especially after what happened in the Senate between Voran and Ro. As for the War, let us say I am not a fan of the wanton destruction of planets nor the slaying of millions of people.”

@lizziie

 

[Korre Belasi]

She meant more for his stance on the anti-Force user groups, but the answer was satisfactory enough. They disagreed on a few points, but she appreciated that he actually answered her question.

"A fairly neutral stance," she would comment before setting her now-empty drink down on a tray. "I would stay and chat, but I have a few other places I need to appear at before I return home."

Korre would move away from the table but turn back at the last second to add, "If you ever visit Belasco, let me know. The northern islands aren't usually open to foreigners, but they're quite a bit cooler." With the same cheeky smile he'd given her before, she would then excuse herself to the host and part from the party.

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