Ask [Trenwyth] Like Fine Wine

[Xyla Teresi]

For the first time in over a century, Trenwyth had an ambassador. And now, for the first time in even longer, foreign diplomats had been invited to the mountainous planet by said political figure. Celeste Stythani and Victoria Winterblaze, to be specific about it. Both had been present at the Ruusan diplomatic summit, or what they thought had been a diplomatic summit. The evening had gone from order to chaos at a moment's notice, and now the galaxy was dealing with something that rivaled the force of the AMS virus.

Upon their arrival, both Celeste and Victoria would be greeted by members of the Teresian Guard. The Guardians would politely ask that they relinquish any weaponry they had on their person, then lead them down to the lavish room where Xyla sat waiting.

"Her Royal Highness, Princess Xyla Irene Olympia Dionne Teresi tou Trenwyth," announced one Guardian as she opened the door, bowed and held her free hand to her abdomen in a respectful gesture to those entering. Xyla could be seen lounging on a plush love seat opposite to a low table, dressed in a long, black gown with a sweetheart neckline and diamonds glittering down from her neck. She sat with one leg resting on the other, and a richly-colored glass of red wine was held in the fingers of one hand. Her personal bodyguard, Thea, stood quietly off to the side. Though she certainly did, the Guardian showed no sign of recognizing the two. Upon their entrance, she would greet them.

"Welcome, senators. I trust the journey was easy?" Both of their planets were just a short hyperspace jump away. How convenient! "Would we like some wine?"

At the mention of it, and once the two of them were seated, servants would appear from behind curtained doors to present both Celeste and Victoria with a few different Trenwythian wines. They would be free to take their pick or request water instead.

"Take your pick. These are four of my favorite Trenwythian wines, pulled from our cellars. I believe the oldest of them has been aged for three hundred years."

Once they chose a glass, Xyla would wave her hand and dismiss the servants from the room. Thea remained at her side, of course, but the Guardians at the door disappeared behind its closing doors. The princess was the epitome of regality and nobility at the moment, but she was eager and curious to learn more about the two senators sitting to her sides.

tags: @LadyRen @Xorism

 

[Celeste Stythani]

Trenwyth seemed like the opposite of Rattatak. The planet was mostly urban and so...packed in a way. Not the nicest place in the Galaxy...Celeste enjoyed the tranquility of the forest moon of Endor or sometimes even the vast deserts of Rattatak, because even if the latter terrain was hostile, it was at least quiet.

Still, Celeste was positively excited for her little trip. Trenwyth wasn't far and so it only took her one jump until she was already entering the planet's atmosphere. She was happy to see her fellow FWA senator @Victoria again, but she was just as happy to see the ambassador of Trenwyth, princess @Xyla Teresi again.

After what had happened on Ruusan, Celeste had gained some very important insights. Most politicians and diplomats were not trained, neither to defend themselves nor defend someone else and she was convinced that this had to change as soon as possible. She had made her own experience with assassinations and ambushes a couple of times, and it was just a question of time until someone else would, so she intended on bringing change to the horizon.

The only problem was, however, the baby that was now rapidly starting to grow inside her. The first trimester was almost over and even if her dark dress was yet again concealing the small bump, she knew that she had to be careful, not only with what she ate and drank, but also with what she did.

She had left her lightsaber on board her ship, but she had also brought a collection of easy, yet efficient weapons like vibroblades and daggers, minor yet deadly weapons she wanted to give the other ladies. Of course she left them outside for now, especially because the other two didn't know about her plan yet.

They were not just here to discuss business and socialize, but Celeste wanted to help them. She knew that Xyla was always accompanied by a very capable guard as she had fought along side her on Ruusan, yet she wanted to have both ladies in a more capable state as well. They didn't need to be skilled combatants, but pretty faces were always more valuable if something feisty was concealed behind the fassade.

"Senator Winterblaze" she politely greeted the other senator with a warm smile as they were both approaching the princesses chamber, "I hope you have gotten some well deserved rest after that madness on Ruusan". They were welcomed by the Xyla's guards before they were allowed to enter and join the princess in her beautifully lavish room. "Your Highness" she politely greeted the blonde with a respectful bow of her head as she gracefully took her seat. "The journey was very pleasant. Thank you. As for the wine, I unfortunately have to decline your kind offering but I do suffer from an upset stomach". That was no lie. She was regularly suffering from nausea, even though she left the detail about her pregnancy out for now. She was convinced thatcthe wines were surely amazing, but there was no way she could have tried them now. She was dearly hoping that the princess wouldn't be offended by her declining as she didn't know too much about the princess yet.

@Xorism @lizziie

 

[Victoria]

Trenwyth impressed Victoria from the moment she exited the shuttle. Her homeworld of Gannaria had a small population by galactic standards and none of the large industry that other FWA worlds boasted. Although briefly acquainted on the planet Ruusan, Victoria felt a sense of relief for the opportunity to leave politics behind and enjoy a brief respite, making new friends.

The previous terrifying events had led Victoria to be a tad more proactive, although how much of a difference it would make was anyone's guess. So far she'd amassed a small collection of civvy clothes and a knife to be hidden on a thigh belt, which seemed ridiculous as she felt it was uncomfortable to wear. Leaving all of that in her shuttle, Victoria enjoyed the warm sunlight on her face. Her white gown fit comfortably to her bodyline, and had a smooth chiffon skirt with a split and adorned with a lace belt.

Shortly after arriving, she caught the attention of her fellow Senator, smiling and extending her arms out to embrace her. "Senator Stythani, I have, thank you. I can only speak for myself, but assuredly I do not see how that day would have gone the way it would have without your intervention, and for that I am truly in your debt."

Following Celeste's' lead, Victoria respectfully bowed and repeated her words "Your Highness" before taking a seat also.

Nodding politely, "It was, thank you." Victoria wasn't typically a wine connoisseur, but in light of recent events, she was more willing to explore new things. Eyeing up the various glasses of wine on offer, and, she selected one of the middle and brought the rim of the glass to her nose to take in its scent before returning her excited gaze back to @Xyla Teresi .

@lizziie @LadyRen

 

[Xyla Teresi]

Xyla did her best not to be offended that Celeste had declined her offering of wine. After all, drinking on an upset stomach was far from ideal. She couldn't help but feel a tinge of disappointment at not being able to share her planet's finest wines, but she decided not to entertain it. "Of course, it is of no issue. Would you like a glass of mineral water, perhaps?" The carbonation in bubbly water was always her go-to when her stomach pained her. Before Celeste could answer though, Xyla glanced over at one of her servants and said, "Fetch the senator a glass of mineral water."

Victoria, on the other hand, gladly accepted a glass of wine. Recognizing the particular hue of the wine, Xyla piped up to say, "That particular wine comes from a bottle I opened just this morning. It was bottled on my five-times-great-grandfather's birthday."

Once the mineral water arrived, Xyla waved all but Thea out of the room, crossed her legs, and reclined further into the plush loveseat. The room, though not unnecessarily large, was still quite roomy, with two large glass doors leading out to a balcony on the South side of the room. Tapestries and paintings hung on every wall, depicting various scenes of royal figures in various scenes. The room was supported by simple doric pillars, and colorful, translucent fabrics were loosely draped around them. In short, it was a taste of the luxury the Teresi's enjoyed.

There was a lot in the room to look at, but Xyla had seen it all a million times, so her eyes remained on her two visitors.

First was @Celeste Stythani. She had a pretty smile, honey blonde hair, warm blue eyes, and was noticeably toned. "She has nice shoulders..." Celeste was perfectly suited for politics too, in Xyla's opinion. She had the personality for it - strong-willed, an intelligent mind (and visage), and persuasive words. The senator of Rattatak was also a former Sith, which meant she had training in the Force. "Training superior to that of the Guardians," Xyla noted, glancing over at Thea in the peripheral of her vision. Celeste's former connection to the Sith could potentially make her a great asset, but it would have its cons. Xyla would be keeping an eye on her, that was for sure.

Next was @Victoria. Like all three of them, she was blonde, but she shared Xyla's platinum color rather than Celeste's honeyed one. She was also the tallest woman in the room, though she wasn't all that so. Her pouty lips and full brows gave her a serious, but not unattractive, visage that melted away when she smiled. Xyla didn't know much about her or her planet, but she fully intended to change that. The woman seemed pleasant, certainly friendly, and perhaps easily manipulated. She'd like to get to know her, that was for sure.

"How have recent events affected your worlds?"

tags: @LadyRen @Xorism

 

[Celeste Stythani]

Celeste never let her smile fade while she was hoping that none of the ladies would get suspicious. Was declining wine suspicious? Well, definitely...especially in this setting. But her excuse was quite solid and Celeste was very versed in the arts of manipulation and persuasion...it was still a good thing that the princess didn't even question it.

Perfect. So no need for more excuses. "Mineral water sounds perfect, thank you" she replied politely, her voice soft and her smile warm as she gracefully leaned back. The princess already ordered water anyway and this amused Celeste as she knew that nobility could be...interesting from time to time.

She was happy that at least Victoria got the chance to taste the delicious wine...Celeste just knew that it was probably fantastic, but sadly, she wouldn't even get to try the tiniest bit. It was okay though. Sooner or later she would have that chance again. It would have probably been a great idea to socialize if all three would get the tiniest bit of drunk, but unfortunately she wouldn't be able to participate.

After all, she hadn't come her just to socialize. She wanted to make friends, yes definitely, and the two ladies were super interesting anyway, but this was also about something even more interesting. "Fortunately, Rattatak didn't suffer under the current events. We've made it out vastly unscathed. We are surely busy as there is a whole defensive and humanitarian fleet to build..." she replied softly as she thankfully grabbed the glass from one of her servants and took a sip. She was being completely honest with everything and even of Xyla was not direct involved with the FWA, Celeste wouldn't keep any secrets. Thr FWA was just trying to do better. She would wait for Victoria to share her part, attentively listening to her fellow senator before she would direct her gaze back at Xyla. "How about Trenwyth, your Highness? I hope you made it out alright as well?".

@Xorism @lizziie

 

[Victoria]

Victoria gently swirled the red liquid like something she had seen on a holo while listening to the conversation, taking a polite sip and savoured its taste as the princess explained its historic heritage.

"It's lovely, thank you." shuffling slightly in the seat, Victoria tried to find the right words to describe the exquisite gift despite her inexperience.

"If I do say, it has a lovely sweet, earthy flavour. Oh, the mildness is perfect." Victoria hoped she wouldn't say the wrong thing, but she genuinely enjoyed the glass of wine and would continue to sip as they conversed.

Victoria was hesitant to acknowledge the deep down pang of inferiority that she began feeling. Both Celeste and Xyla were exceptionally beautiful, intelligent and well-spoken women - not that Victoria felt she wasn't, but she did somewhat feel a step behind the pair. Still, if anyone could help her improve, it would be these two she considered.

Waiting for the right moment to speak, she added, "I surely would love to see Rattatak for myself to assess how Gannaria can support your efforts. And," she added with a warm smile, "If we have time, to see the sights you've told me about."

In response to the Princess' question, Victoria sat up in the seat as if thinking on the matter seriously. "Our small people have little, but work hard. Our little corner of the galaxy relies on productive trade and the sale of our raw resources, which conflict both grows and declines, in this, as the ebb and flow of things move between factions."

Victoria quietly finished the glass of wine, briefly the images of recent events crossing her mind.

"A consolation of Ruusan, if any, would be the raw material for ship building is in higher demand than usual, I suppose."

@lizziie @LadyRen

 

[Xyla Teresi]

"I'll send you home with a couple of bottles then," the ambassador declared with a happy clasping of her hands. She loved sending guests back with Trenwythian wines.

Xyla nodded as Celeste spoke. Rattatak, as she'd heard, was undergoing operations to finance and build a fleet that their senator described for "defensive" and "humanitarian" purposes. "Good on them..." Trenwyth lacked such a thing, which was far from ideal and wholly unsafe considering the event state of the Galaxy. "What with the Killiks and all, not to mention the war between the Jedi and the Sith." Thus far, however, the leaders of the Trenwythian government (her father, her brother) had procrastinated on building defensive measures. Xyla suspected that they believed the Guardians would be sufficient to protect them.

"Trenwyth has not yet been targeted by the Killiks," Xyla answered. They'd taken precautionary measures and severely restricted travel on and off the planet, but the risk remained high while Joiners could continue to fly under the radar. "I'm glad to hear that Rattatak has been safe thus far and that you made it out yourself. I suffer a minor injury to my shoulder, but thanks to Thea here-" Xyla paused to gesture to the quiet woman present in the room. "-I made it out alive. Oh, and to the Sith as well. We were able to make it onto one of their transports and get off the planet that way."

As Celeste and Victoria spoke, Xyla took the chance to lean back and nurse her wine glass for a minute until the senator from Gannaria spoke up about the trade of raw materials. "That's a good point," the woman noted. A thoughtful expression would wash over her delicate features while she debated whether or not she should bring such a thing up to her brother. Perhaps Trenwyth could capitalize on such a deficit too.

"Thea, could you have a crate of wine prepared for Senator Winterblaze, please?" Thea would nod and walk off immediately, leaving the three of them seated alone in the lavishly decorated chambers. The princess then re-crossed her legs, flipping the leg which was over and the leg which was under, and brought up a new topic of conversation to her fellow politicians. "May I ask what got you all into politics?"

tags: @LadyRen @Xorism

 

[Celeste Stythani]

Celeste was indeed relieved to see that the Princess had recovered from her fainting on Ruusan and that Trenwyth was also still fine. "Oh I'm super glad to hear" she genuinely remarked with a smile in the ambassadors direction, however wondering whether she should already use that as a transition to her other concern about the self defense.

She decided against it for now, not wanting to rush anything because they were not on a tight schedule today and it was also pleasant to just sit and chat for a while. "I do hope our worlds will stay safe...since it's so hard to tell whether someone was joined or not, I'm afraid those terrible bugs could easily infiltrate our systems without having anyone notice a thing..." she was not trying to worry them, yet it was a hard truth they all had to face sooner or later. It was better for all of them to stay on their guard.

Celeste was slightly surprised that Xyla sent her bodyguard out, but she was assuming that she wanted to switch to more private topics. "Sure. I'm always interested to exchange stories anyway" she began with a smile, her gaze lingering on the princess before she glanced over to her friend and fellow FWA senator. "I've started in the diplomatic core of the Empire so I've started with diplomatic missions quite a while ago" she then replied, not leaving out the details about her past after all.

"I was always driven by high ambitions...I've always wanted to change things for thr good and to really have a positive impact on the galaxy. My vision had always been peace and I'm still trying everything to make this galaxy more peaceful". She was convinced especially Xyla had a different story about how she had started getting involved with politics. She was patiently waiting for Victoria to share her story and her beliefs, before her gaze flicked back to the princess. "May I return that question?". She was truly curious whether she had slid into that because her parents had done the same or whether she had been driven by something else as well.

@Xorism @lizziie

 

[Victoria]

It was turning out to be a delightful day in the company of two very lovely ladies, with everything seemingly going swimmingly. It didn't feel like three representatives meeting in some kind of dreadful, boring, political scheme, but instead three old friends catching up after a long period away. It was a nice distraction away from the woes of office and the dramas of the galaxy, although she didn't feel too stressed talking about it with present company.

Victoria happily listened along to Celeste speaking about her experiences, there was such a large void of information around her background and where she came from, so anything that filled in these gaps was welcome. She hoped that the change away from the empire hadn't been too stressful on her, no doubt it was a momentous decision and one filled with danger and immense risk.

After a short while it fell to Victoria to speak of her own experiences, which admittedly were in short supply compared to Celeste, but in no less importance. A wave of appreciation showered from her face as Xyla offered a crate of fine wines to be prepared for her, "Thank you, your gift is much appreciated."

After thinking about how to answer the next question, she started slowly. "There were a number of reasons that drew me towards this course of career, one such reason I suppose was that I wanted to make my family proud and serve my community, as funny as that might sound. I've certainly found the role to be much harder and pressure than I expected, but I think I'm doing okay so far."

"I also felt that I'd always tried to stand up for people, which is a trait that seems to be in short supply in this galaxy. Perhaps I'd hoped that I could protect more people by joining politics than by staying home."

Victoria thought about some of the other reasons that she wasn't so proud of, there had been some mistakes that she had made and ran afoul of trusting the wrong people. An ever building pile of credits owed, with no chance of repayment, working for her folks. It was shameful, but her own problem to fix, somehow. Biting her lip, she held back a tear for the moment and hoped the conversation slipped by.

@lizziie @LadyRen