White Reflection

[Lucian Volante]

Theme​

Chandrila Military Academy.

This was where it had all started for Lucian, where he had stared down the path to become the man he was today. And today he had been invited back to attend a gala being thrown celebrating the Alumnus of the academy and the graduation of a new class of officers. It was said that it was to promote healthy relationships between the recent graduates and those who had graduated long before them.

It was an outright lie, of course.

The purpose of this Gala was twofold; to provide the Academy with large donations from privately wealthy individuals and to provide an excuse as to why some of these recent graduates would be getting commissions way beyond their skill level. It would be passed off as them impressing alumni who were already highly positioned within the military, to disguise the blatant nepotism.

Maybe it was only now that he was returning as a Jedi that he understood that the nepotism had always been there and had always been a problem...

But that was an issue for another day.

The Jedi Order had received a pair of invitations to the event in an attempt to try and have the officers of tomorrow interact with Jedi... who they may very well either be fighting with or against in the near future, depending how the Galaxy began to take shape and they had selected himself (as a graduate) and a Jedi by the name of Sigal Adi Chume’da.

He had heard... mixed things about his partner for this Gala but as he waited for her to arrive near the entrance to the Gala in his white uniform, he knew he would be the perfect gentleman.

@Esther Nyx

 

[Sigal Adi Chume'da]

Chandrila: a jewel amongst the core worlds. What a laughable notion. To Sigal, the only jewel within the whole galaxy was that of her own homeworld. Hapes. How she misted its crystalline skies and radiant suns, the abundance of art and glorious culture. Nothing could ever compare to that pearl, especially not the servitude of the Jedi Order; it was no secret Sigal wasn't the most ideal Knight. She embodied nearly all of the -negative- aspects of her people: Vanity. Pride. Arrogance. Bigotry. To make matters worse, she apologised for none of them.

Of course, Sigal was skilled enough to hide these less desirable traits, with nothing but charm and disarming smile. Perhaps that's why the Jedi hierarchy had 'suggested' she attend this event; not only would it serve a greater purpose, it would also expunge Sigal's prior transgressions. Instead, rather cunningly, they decided to use not only Sigal's experience in diplomacy, but also her bewitching beauty. Like a fine porcelain doll, she was angelic in appearance.

Truth be told, the female was a breath-taking specimen for the Hapan race; metallic gold hair, amassed in bounty curls. For the purpose of this gala, they had been primed and styled into an elegant fashion; it matched her glittering gown. In all honestly, this was the only reason Sigal agreed to attend the gala. Not for duty or fealty. Just purely so she could enjoy the decadence of luxury once more, even if it was only for a night.

Deep down, the Hapan mourned for her lost inheritance. It was never her intent to join the Jedi, rather she had been ordered to do so by her overbearing mother, the matriarch of her family. Her wish was Sigal's command. There was no refusing her. After all, Sigal was a lesser daughter, fourth in line of her birth; she'd never inherit the matriarchy from her mother. Instead, she could bring honour to the family with her 'sacrifice', becoming one of the few rare Hapan women serving as Jedi.

Some honour... She scoffed to herself. Her family got all the glory and Sigal got cheated out of her legacy.

Feeling embittered, Sigal continued her measured steps towards the gala's entrance. She needed a drink. Something to lessen the sting of the gala's tedious proceedings. Her amethyst eyes were so far cast, she almost missed the impressive male waiting to greet her.

Spoiler

​

 

[Lucian Volante]

If Lucian had to guess what the Jedi partner he was paired with was going to look like? Well he wouldn't have gone with the golden woman who came stepping down to meet him. It was odd that she was so well put together considering that the two of them were Jedi - they weren't supposed to be this materialistic and the only reason he was was because he had joined the Jedi later in life, after having experienced life as an officer-in-training for the Chandrilian Military for most of his life.

Perhaps she had a similar experience? It would certainly explain how she cut such an impress figure in the dress... not to mention why she even had a dress like that in the first place.

Moving forwards, he presented himself to her once it became clear that she was keeping an eye out for him. Standing in front of her, he met her eyes before bowing with one arm tucked in front of himself,

"Sigal Adi Chume'da I presume?" he greeted her as he smoothly stood from his bow and held out his left arm for her to take as they strode towards the Gala itself, "Lucian Volante. A pleasure to meet you."

And so far? It had been a pleasure... hopefully one to continue.

"Shall we catch a server of the Alderaanian White wine before we enter the mass of the 'great and the good' of Chandrila's high society?"

@Esther Nyx

 

[Sigal Adi Chume'da]

The only evidence of Sigal's Jedi affiliation was the lightsaber attached to a discrete holster on her leg. Under the billowing material of her dress, it was barely noticeable; the Hapan dagger -however- was proudly on display. It was a family heirloom, made from illustrious songsteel. It was an exquisite metal, extraordinarily light and durable; adding to its beauty were fine jewelled adornments. Whilst not a practical weapon, it was a courtly tool. Whilst Hapes was a cradle of luxury and elegance, it also a hot bed for merciless family feuds. Duels were common and so families often carried recognisable daggers and blades. Sigal fought hard to keep hers; it was all she had left, tying her back to that previous life of nobility. Her title and inheritance might have been taken but she'd be damned if someone tried to rob her of this.

The Hapan glided to a halt before the human, her brow arching delicately at his formal greeting. He was...a rather fetching specimen. For a male, that is. He had the light features Hapans so valuable desired; at first glance, he might have been mistaken for a Hapan himself. Still, Sigal kept her expression pleasant, cantering her head in a subtle greeting.

"You are correct. And you must be Lucian Volante."

She accepted his offered arm, falling in step with him as they made their advance, "The pleasure is all mine."

He was attentive enough, polite. Pleasant even. Though rather thorny with most males, Sigal felt she could tolerate this one. Whilst, they wandered, the Hapan made some mental assessments; this male, he wasn't nobility, that much was clear. His manners were too disciplined, too regimented. A military background perhaps? No doubt an officer affiliated with this very academy. Sigal sniffed, unsure whether such factor warranted her courtesy. Still, the offer of refreshments was well received.

"I usually prefer something sweeter; blossom wine would be better," it was typical, a Hapan thirsting for the rarest of things. She felt she'd need it, something strong, especially if she'd have to suffer through Chandrila's laughable excuse for 'high society'.

​

 

[Lucian Volante]

Lucian had noted her very visible dagger... and ignored it.

He was, after all, currently sporting his lightsaber attached at his right hip and a vibro-rapier strapped to his left hip. The rapier was a holdover from his days as a student here and something that was expected of him to wear for ceremonial reasons. As a Jedi Knight, a true warrior, it wasn't a purely ceremonial model like many of the blades that hung at people's waists tonight. As for the woman herself?

She seemed pleasant enough.

Stepping into the Gala with her at his arm did make him the envy of many he could tell - but that was something he didn't really want to focus on. The jealousy of those who didn't know better was of little concern to him. He nodded to a few of the instructors he still remembered as they approached one of the servers and had the wine presented to them.

As was polite, he took a glass and presented it to her first before accepting his own glass.

"Blossom wine would make this event rather interesting." he admitted with a ghost of a smile, "Unless they have removed the restrictions on alcohol, we would see all of the graduates truly making a mockery of themselves."

He raised his glass to his companion,

"To a Jedi assignment that does not revolve around the odious Sith?" he proposed the small toast before raising an eyebrow, "Unless you have a better toast?"

@Esther Nyx

 

[Sigal Adi Chume'da]

Boredom was fast infecting Sigal's amethyst eyes; despite the gala's regal decorum, it compared very little the opulence of Hapes. The militaristic hierarchy in attendance were cumbersome with their gaze; there was blatant admirable in their eyes, and why wouldn't there be? With each passing year, Sigal grew into womanhood. Generations of selective breeding ensured her family's beauty. Not even Zeltrons or Twi'Leks could rival the near human species of Hapes. Unfortunately, this vanity bred ugly persona; being a matriarchal society, Hapans fostered a less than appreciative view on those they considered 'lesser'. This label extended nearly to everyone, males in particular.

That facet of mentally was more than evident when Sigal made an off handed remark, "Mockery amongst men? Hardly a rare occurrence." She accepted the glass, momentarily assessing its depths and sharp aroma.

The mere mention of Sith soured Sigal's expression; she had no love for those dregs. Their very existence was a blight on the galaxy. They should have been dealt with whilst they were still 'exiles'. The Jedi should have drowned them like the vermin they were; now, there was an infestation of them, a laughable 'Empire'. How embarrassing. The Jedi would never live down the shame, nor should they for their negligence. Because of their oversight, serious threats had begun to surface; one face came to mind, one that had haunted Sigal for numerous nights. The beast called him Leviticus...

Pushing the memories from her mind, Sigal absently raised her glass, humouring Lucian's toast. But of course, she could easily think of a better one, "To an assignment that does not revolve around being deprived by the Jedi." With a delicate clink of the glass, Sigal sauntered ahead.

Clearly, she had no intent of furthering the Jedi's ideology; she purely came to this gala to enjoy herself, to reminisce in muted recollections. She would not waste her breath trying to convince those in attendance of the Order's righteousness. Instead, she would content herself with absent musings and marginal wine.

​

 

[Lucian Volante]

Oh lovely.

He knew that she couldn't be all sweetness and smiles but he had hoped that she would at least not be too bad to get to know once you got past her initial standoffish nature... and yet here was the first sign that the outside was a crust and the inside was somewhat...

Well, rotten.

"Depends on the men." he countered smoothly before adding, "But I'll admit that men their age...? Have a certain proclivity towards stupidity."

That much he couldn't deny.

But one the other hand - her visible reaction to the Sith was actually rather good to see. There were far too many Jedi, in Lucian's opinion, who were happy enough to just let the Sith be. Those who believed that conflict with the Sith was avoidable were, in his opinion, foolish in the extreme. He hummed a little bit upon noticing her reaction but otherwise made no comment on it at all.

Another ghost of a smile,

"Being a monk all day every day does get rather tiresome if you've had a taste of a life without such... minimalist charms." he observed drily as he frowned slightly, walking alongside her as music began to play, "Would you care to dance? I do believe they will only talk if we do not."

@Esther Nyx

 

[Sigal Adi Chume'da]

Sigal glanced at the human, somewhat impressed with his neutral responses; it took a particular degree of skill to negotiate thorny conversations. And Sigal was a flower with many thorns. Savouring a sip of her drink, the Hapan began toying with an amusing idea; how many barbs could the male tolerate? How long before that well mannered exterior cracked? Everyone had their breaking points, and Sigal indulged in finding them. It was a guilty pleasure of hers and none were spared, not even her fellow Jedi.

Still, the Hapan took a moment to observe her surroundings. There were delegates, honoured guests and -of course- graduating officers; the variety in mediocre physicality was sickening. Even males on Hapes were held to a certain standard. Undesirables were...disposed of, out of sight. Amongst the Hapans, beauty was valued above all else; it was a symbol of pedigree, an essential facet of status. Physical deformity and deviations were considered shameful, be it a scar or freckle. Even piercings were frowned upon, hence the absence of earrings.

A number of the gala's attendants were watching the pair of them closely. Some were wary, perhaps of their Jedi affiliations. Other looked appreciative, no doubt bewitched by their combined beauty. A trio of socialites giggled and whispered, cooing for Lucian's attention, all whilst recent graduates stumbled and muttered, summoning up enough courage approach Sigal. No doubt a misguided attempted at fraternisation. A well practiced glare soon halted the young man in his steps.

Her sister, Kelila, might have bedded lovers for their youth, but Sigal detested the inexperience. There was no sport, no excitement, not when the quarry was so timid and weak.

Opting for the lesser of the two evils, Sigal handed her glass over to a service droid, thereby accepting Lucian's offer. Whilst other couples paired off, Sigal sashayed to the centre of the dancefloor, beckoning at Lucian with a canter on her head.

"On Hapes, it is customary for the women to lead..."

It was a challenge. A harmless, veiled challenge. Still, she waited for his response, keen to decide whether or not this human would keep her amused for the rest of the evening.

​

 

[Lucian Volante]

She seemed to be a tad disappointed in him - or more accurately, disappointed in the lack of reaction she had gotten from him in relation to her last comment. So she was one of those kind of women was she? Lucian had spent enough of his life surrounded by the women of high society to recognise certain behaviours cropped up again and again.

And it seemed that Sigal was one of the women who enjoyed getting reactions out of people, making their hackles rise to something she had said or done. Most of the time it was just to amuse themselves and he didn't doubt that was the reason his fellow Jedi did it to be honest. It certainly couldn't be to help advance her station - she was a Jedi like he was, advancement in the Jedi came only through hard work and dedication.

He spotted the attention he was receiving from the young women at the event and nodded his head to a small group of graduating female officers, who seemed to redden and hurry away at the motion. Lucian wanted to roll his eyes and only managed to hold off doing so through a concentrated effort of will.

The officers of the future was not what he had expected of them.

Following Sigal to the dancefloor, Lucian raised an eyebrow at her comment before moving in closer. Initially he moved as though he was going to agree and hold her in a position that would allow her to take the lead... and then he changed his footing on a dime and held her in the position for himself to lead the waltz just as the music started.

He began to lead her in the waltz but couldn't resist a ghost of a smile as he added,

"And were we on Hapes you would lead. But this is Chandrila - and this is how we dance here."

@Esther Nyx

 

[Sigal Adi Chume'da]

Sigal practically bristled at Lucian's words, her charming façade faltering for a mere moment or two. How dare he be so candid with her. Did he have no respect? Though her sickeningly sweet smile had returned, the pleasantry in her eyes most certainly hadn't. Instead, the pair of purple gems have turned into daggers, and they were pointedly focused on the steely eyed male.

Though the pair danced with deceptive grace, Sigal found herself stiff with indignation. The notion of being lead by a man; how utterly ludicrous. And to have him speak in such an unapologetic tone. It made the Hapan scoff, longing for the comforts home once more.

"Then you should consider yourself profoundly grateful; such insolence would have earnt you the removal of your tongue."

Despite the gruesome topic of bodily mutilation, Sigal spoke with unfazed composure. And why shouldn't she? Such displays were not uncommon amongst the reigning noble families. Males were little more than second class citizens. Physical chastisement was to be expected, especially with the female wished to make her authority known.

Yet she humoured Lucian, playing his little game. Without missing a step, she followed the motions of the music, in tandem with him. But soon her displeasure began to surface again."Hmhp. This is indeed a most primitive of custom." Her gaze flickered across the sea of other couples, all being lead by the men. She then gently shook her head, unable to grasp comprehend of Chandrila's alien way of life. "Completely without logic."

The Hapan readied herself to steal the lead, but something stole her attention. There was a whisper in the force, albeit brief and fleeting. No sooner had it surface did it then disappear again. Its emergence was so trivial, Sigal barely had time to decipher it intent. Suspicious, the beautiful blonde cast her gaze outwards towards the surrounding crowds, her painted smile masking any signs of unease. After yet another rotation round the dance floor, Sigal finally yielded and dismissed the tremor. For now at least.

Instead, she turned her attention back to Lucian, a delicate brow cantering up at him "How do you stand it? Existing without a woman's guidance?"

With a seamless shift in feet, Sigal took the lead, her soft steps masterfully in sequence with the soft tempo of the music. Then A cattish grin spread across her lips, "Men are so flawed by nature. They need a firm hand to correct them."

​

 

[Lucian Volante]

There it was... there was the chink in her armour, in her mask. Everyone had one and this young lady was no exception. He had found the nerve, the 'button', that she didn't want anyone to press and he wasn't above pressing that button, touching that nerve. Not because he wanted to annoy her so much as it was to remind her that she needed to work on it. She was a Jedi Knight, like he was, and yet she had such an obvious weakness, an emotional spot, that he couldn't help but lean on it.

She may even grow away from this weakness and thank him for it in the future - though he doubted it.

Raising an eyebrow at her casual threat of removing his tongue... his doubt increased, but so did his doubt that she would ever make it as a Jedi Master.

"Hmm... but then I wouldn't make for very good company." he countered smoothly before adding, "But again - this isn't Hapes. So I suppose my tongue is safe."

The dance continued but there was an undercurrent of tension... and only some of it was because of the conversation. Lucian's mind was elsewhere, eyes roaming around the crowd.

"Yes well, you'll excuse me if I find that the best qualities of leadership are not based on gender." he quipped back distractedly not, "Something is off..."

He was distracted enough that he didn't spot her move to take the lead until she was already leader. Displeased, he fell into step however, his eyes widening as he realised what was off.

"Where are the guards?"

There had been guards and now he couldn't see any of them... the Force screamed at him and Lucian grabbed hold of Sigal, taking the two of them to the ground to avoid two stun blasts that would have hit them in the upper body had they remained standing. As it was they were no on the ground behind a table and a group of thieves appeared around the room,

"Ladies and gentlemen!" a voice announced, "We are here for your credits, your jewellery and you dignity! We are NOT here for your lives... so let's no one try anything stupid like being a hero, alright?"

Lucian frowned down at Sigal, who he had landed atop of,

"This is why we can't have nice things..."

Spoiler: Dice Rolls

How many party-crashers
Levels of equipment

Spoiler: Enemy weapons and armour

Armour
Melee Weapon
Ranged Weapon

@Esther Nyx

 

[Sigal Adi Chume'da]

The Hapan had little time to savour her small victory. No sooner had she stolen the lead had Lucian so crudely taken her ground. At first, she was outraged. But that fury was soon directed elsewhere. Her earlier feeling of unease had been well founded, it seemed the gala was now under threat from cretins of some sorts, no doubt looking for an easy score. Where else would they have such ample opportunity? This was a substantial gathering of Chandrila's finest high society, decked out in their finest luxuries. An easy target for any opportunistic thief. But this wasn't some stand alone assailant. There were multiple threats, heavily armed with intent to use excessive force. A precarious situation indeed. For a moment, the Hapan simply lay stunned, pinned under Lucian's mass, almost as if he were a protective shield. But soon her amethyst gaze hardened and she hastily pushed at the human to roll away from her. "What nice things? Now, kindly remove your excessive weight before you crush me to death, you human Hutt."

Once free, Sigal glanced about the gala. The entire situation was chaotic; a majority of the thieves enforced the perimeter, whilst the rest systematically moved from one victim to another, collecting jewels, credits and anything else of value. Anyone who resisted was swiftly forced into submission. They knew exactly what they were doing, clearly these were seasoned criminals; no doubt they had this heist planned months in advance. Did they know about the Jedi's presence? Time would tell.

As much as the Hapan hated placing herself within dangerous situation -and risk her physical beauty-, she had no choice. She'd try to defuse the situation; if that failed, then she'd resort to more heavy handed tactics She stepped forward, not yet retrieving her saber from her thigh holster. "Gentlemen, I must insist you reconsider your chosen course of action. This endeavour will not be fruitful." She spoke confidently, as one would expect a Hapan to speak.

The two thieves closest to her found it charming, cackling at her. "Brave words. Pretty face," They stepped towards her, yet Sigal remained undaunted. "How about we steal you instead?"

The mockery in his companion's voice was equally as infuriating. "Yeah, bet the Zygerrians would pay well for someone like her." The fool then made the worst mistake of his life. He reached his hand outwards and grasped Sigal's chin, yanking it aside as if to inspect her for sale.

Fury erupted within her. Not only had the cur touched her, he talked of selling her, as if she were a common slave. The utter shame. She was a Jedi Knight. More importantly, she was a noble daughter of the Chume'da House. She would not suffer such slander. With unexpected strength and speed, Sigal latched her hand onto the thief's wrist and twisted it until it threatened to snap. The unnatural angle forced his entire to turn. In a single, swift motion, she then pivoted and flung the offensive male over her shoulder, sending him crashing into a nearby refreshment table. Glass and crockery shattered from the impact and for the most part, the thief stayed down.

Only then did the Hapan turn her attention towards the other male, a Twi'Lek, from the looks of his exposed lekku. "Little Schutta!" He gave her the most trouble, ditching his sack of stolen loot in order to ready his weapon. He began firing stunning bolts at Sigal, forcing her dodge none to gracefully. As beautiful as her dress was, it was none than less cumbersome, limiting her usual fluid movements. Still the jewelled eyed female was far too incensed to yield. She ducked in and out of the crowd, unconcerned whether innocent bystanders were struck instead of her; they were only stunned, she reasoned. Nothing fatal. Though by the time she was through with the Twi'Lek, he might have wished otherwise.

Unwilling to use her saber just yet, Sigal opted far something less subtle. Flinging her hands outwards, she sent a volley of tables forward through the air. The thief must have recognised her use in the force instantly, as he began to shout, "Jedi! Jed-Omph!" He soon sound himself buried under the mass of tables.

It was enough to rally the rest of the criminal gang. They focused their attention on Sigal, some aiming blaster fire towards her whilst others moved in on her location. She dived for cover, silently cursing. It was then she remembered Lucian, "Feel free to make yourself useful!" She hissed over the cacophony of shots, wondering if the human could even hear her. By now people had begun to scream, hitting the floor for cover. Whilst not the smartest choice of action, Sigal's antics must have certainly created an opening for Lucian. Now she only hoped he was able to make use of it.

​

 

[Lucian Volante]

Lucian wanted to roll his eyes but he honestly didn't care too much.

So she was offended that he had fallen atop of her while pushing her over to save her life? Well boo hoo. He wasn't about to apologise for saving her from getting hit by a stun blast to the chest. With how they were dressed, neither of them actually had armour which meant just one stun post to the chest or head would be enough to knock them out instantly and he would really rather not be captured.

Lucian ignored what Sigal had to say.

...

Why did he have the feeling he would be doing a lot of that in the future?

Irrelevant.

Surging to his feet with his lightsaber in hand, he ignited it as he stood, blocking a stun blast from the closest of the attackers with the blade before lashing out with the Force, slamming a Force push (concentrated over a small area) right up between the man's legs. The man screamed soundlessly before dropping to the ground.

Lucian had to suppress a wince... he might have ruptured something with that attack.

With one man down and the others reacting in shock to their friend's brutal take down, Lucian took up a heavy serving tray and threw it like the disk that it, essentially, was. Guiding it and adding speed using the Force, Lucian slammed it into the exposed throats of the enemies. Whenever someone raised their weapon as though to shoot, they were the next one in the path of the silver serving tray and their throats would be assaulted at such speed that they closed up, stopping them from breathing.

Was it temporary? In some cases.

He couldn't take the time to care if they lived or died right now.

Finally, after the sixth man's throat had been collapsed by the tray, one of the three remaining party crashers was able to shoot the tray out of the air and Lucian was once again just a man with a lightsaber... this time staring down the three remaining men, who had huddled together,

"Certainly Sigal - I shall dispatch these cretins just as readily as the last seven." he assured her, using the Force to pull his blaster pistol to his left hand while he held his lightsaber in his right, "Unless, these gentlemen wish to realise the futility of their struggle and end it now by disarming themselves?"

Spoiler: Dice Rolls

How many enemies + Difficulty

@Esther Nyx

 

[Sigal Adi Chume'da]

Sigal would be lying if she said she wasn't impressed. The human moved with surprising efficiency and speed. Whilst she dealt with her own pair of criminals, Lucian had seamlessly dealt with many of them himself; within moment, numerous assailants littered the floor. The Hapan was not to openly share her admiration, especially if its intendant was a male. Still, not even she could fault Lucian's skills. Dare she say it, she almost respected them. Struck by the sudden -and foreign- notion, Sigal shook herself, banishing such thoughts from her mind. Acknowledging a man's achievement was virtually unheard of on Hapes and the blonde beauty wouldn't be one to break tradition now. Evidently, the crowd which had now gathered had on qualms on the matter.

A rapturous applause broke out amongst the guests of the gala; they clapped and cheered in jubilant admiration. Clearly ,they were impressed with the two Jedi, Lucian more than Sigal, after all he had made more of a show out of it. He had made quite an impression, especially seeing as he was once counted about the Chandrila social society. His reputation now would no doubt flourish. And arguably, that was a good thing. His efforts would no doubt reflect well on the Jedi, in that Sigal could moderately appreciate. Better than making them look like a pair of fools. If Lucian had proved himself incompetent then he would have only earnt more of Sigal's bemusement. ​

Coughing in an attempt to clear her throat, the Hapan made a half hearted sniff towards Lucian, "Praise the force. You're more useful than you look." It was the best attempt at a compliment she could muster. And it just felt...awkward.

Deciding to oversee the arrest of the felons, Sigal sauntered away. She felt flushed in the cheeks, though for what reason she couldn't be sure. She had exerted herself during the brief altercation. She wasn't assailed with sickness. Perhaps it was Chandrila's climate, its temperate atmosphere forming a hazy sway.

Regardless, Sigal persevered. The authorities were swift on arrival, detaining the cretins and reclaiming their stolen plunder. One thing could be said though, it was certainly proving to be an interesting evening. Not exactly how Sigal expected it to play out. She thought she'd be bored witless. Instead...instead, she was rather content, strange as it seemed. With a renewed glass of wine and a tentative smile, she stepped out onto the balcony, eager for air. The gala had resumed for the time being, and Lucian seemed to be the centre of attention. That was fine. Let the valiant hero have his moment. They'd be few and far between, that she was certain of.

 

[Lucian Volante]

Lucian had to admit that he had performed uncharacteristically well here.

He was typically a pilot and, on occasion, he acted the part of an officer and a gentleman. He wasn't the greatest warrior in the history of the Order and he had never claimed that he was and yet, it seemed, that the force had been with his this day for he had triumphed over their foes in quite a quick fashion. He was rather pleased with himself but pride was a failing in a Jedi, something that could lead to the Dark Side rather easily.

So he accepted the praise with grace but didn't enjoy it too much, quickly managing to get himself away from the well-wishers so that he was able to speak to Sigal. The Hapan spoke first.

"Considering it's from you? Thank you." he joked back with a small, genuine, smile, "Luck I assure you. I'm entirely certain that you could have done the same given the chance."

He wasn't even being false either - he honestly believed that.

Taking a glass, he was swept away for some photos but he managed to duck away fairly quickly to arrive on the same balcony as Sigal. He didn't say anything. He just leaned against the balcony railing beside her. Lucian met her gaze for a moment before looking back out over the view with her.

Humming, he raised his glass in the distance between the two of them,

"To us." he declared the toast, "We look damn good and we still managed to take down the villains in said style."

@Esther Nyx

 

[Sigal Adi Chume'da]

Many would have enjoyed such fevered attention. Sigal certainly would have, to a certain extent. Yet Lucian was strange humble about it; the action should have spurned the Hapan and yet she found it surprisingly...endearing? An arrogant male was cumbersome to deal with. Though Lucian had his witty quips, he was still tolerable, more so than any male Sigal had suffered thus far. Again, this would not be something she acknowledged aloud. He even took her backhanded compliments with a smile.

Compliance with an adorable amount of sass. A most acceptable combination for a Hapan's companion.

Smiling at the notion, Sigal's purple eyed gaze once more rivetted onto the Human, yet now it was more assessing in its purpose. He was a handsome specimen, none could contest that. Strong, regal features tempered with exotic colouration of hair and eyes. Indeed, Lucian was pleasing enough to the eye, it should come as no surprise many women within the gala mewed for his attention. Sigal often found herself to be the object of desire, given her natural ethereal beauty. She was used the covetous stares, the longing desire she ignited amongst most sentient males. It was such a common occurrence now she barely acknowledged it and the Hapan had no qualms with brushing off undesirable suitors. She relished in it actually, watching the spark of disappointment flicker within her admirer's eyes, especially at the point of rejection.

Ah yes, despite her loss of familial status, Sigal could still enjoy the simple pleasures.

Feeling uncharacteristically courteous, the blonde Jedi relented with a subtle nod of her head. She raised her glass to his, the flukes lightly kissing to create a chime of contact. "Well said..."

Once more, the vixen turned her gaze outwards towards the darkened skyline; Hapans were notoriously blind at night, given their homeworld near constant daylight. All Sigal could see was the transcending lights of the surrounding city. The orbs were almost otherworldly, simply existing in the blanket of night; they danced and glided through nothingness, or at least, that's how it appeared to Sigal.

"What brought you to the Jedi?" She asked, rather unexpectedly. Perhaps she was feeling nostalgic, hoping to reminiscence as to grandeur she herself had once had. Whilst perhaps not nobility, Lucian was certainly a product of upper class breeding, that much was clear. It made Sigal wonder, why had the male surrendered such entitlement? She herself had been forced to do by family duty. Was he similarly afflicted as well?

 

[Lucian Volante]

Sigal didn't seem to be all that bad.

He had heard some stories amongst the male Jedi that she was insufferable, that she was so arrogant that she tried the patience of every Master in the Order. But she wasn't nearly as bad as all the stories made her out to be. Sure, she wasn't the nicest woman around but that could hardly be held against her.

It took all kinds for the Galaxy to be as interesting as it was.

And she didn't seem to be nearly as snappish as some of the other men had made her seem. Either she had, somehow, taken a liking to him or they had gone in with a terrible tone. Probably the latter to be fair.

He had expected them to just drift off to their rooms after the toast if he was honest but she asked him a question. A rather personal question he would admit... but it wasn't a story he had any issues sharing. He wasn't shamed of any part of it after all. He gestured to the academy behind them,

"I was born to a family of military officers for generations and I was enrolled here as an officer cadet. Flying was... is... my passion and I won a lot of races. Got a lot of attention." he sighed a little bit, "Some of my opponents decided it couldn't just be skill and I was arrogant enough to believe it was. I took a test to prove I wasn't Force sensitive... and I was."

Lucian set his glass down, suddenly not feeling like drinking the wine. Instead he waved a server over and ordered some brandy and two glasses instead, should she wish to partake,

"Pride led me to the Jedi. Foolish pride." he admitted simply before looking her in the eyes, "Would you mind terribly if I asked you the same question? How did you come to be a part of the Order?"

@Esther Nyx

 

[Sigal Adi Chume'da]

Whilst not marginally invested in the trivial tribulations of others, Sigal was surprisingly attentive towards Lucian, generally taking an active interest in the Human. She found his tale oddly intriguing. Pride was a common trait amongst the Hapan female population and rightfully so given their otherworldly beauty. Men were not expected to hold such esteem. Yet Lucian exhibited this noble trait. It was quite a phenomena to consider.

"A military officer and a pilot. Impressive." She raised her glass in apparent praise. "No wonder those naïve Chandrila ladies fawn over you."

Yet when Lucian asked for her own backstory, the Hapan's expression soured heavily. Clearly it was a sore spot for the blonde beauty. But she had courted this on herself. She couldn't ask for information and then withhold it from others. So grudgingly, with a force lipped smile, Sigal candidly sipped at her dink, finishing it before deciding to reveal her past. "I never had a choice in the matter." She thought back to that terrible day, the day her mother had essentially disowned her in the name of duty. "I am the...youngest daughter of my family. My mother considered my expendable enough to offer me to the Order as a sacrificial pawn."

Sigal avoided the term 'lesser daughter'. There was no need for Lucian to know of that intimate detail. Lesser children were the progeny of consorts, no husbands; more often than not, they never became heiresses. Instead they were used in political marriages, intertwining one house with the other. Not a single moment passed without Sigal being reminded of her status; Kelila, the eldest, was the favoured daughter. She was heiress to the family matriarch and despite being force sensitive herself, her mother refused to hand her over to the Jedi. So, instead, she offered Sigal. She pandered the betrayal off as an opportunity, a chance for their family to exceed in public glory.

Understandably, the adolescent blonde was outraged. She felt as if she had been cheated, cast aside without remorse. Now everyday she had to suffer with that humiliation.

Whilst not usually a brandy drinker, Sigal accepted it, needing something strong to wash away the bitterness. "My mother's parting words were simple; this is your duty now. Don't bother coming back."

​

 

[Lucian Volante]

He had to admit that he found it rather intriguing that Sigal actually listened to him when he mentioned his issues, his problems, and his move onward. She hadn't struck him as the type of woman to care about the trials and tribulations of others but he was glad that he was wrong - glad that there were hidden depths to this young woman. Naturally he did also find it rather amusing that she pointed out the reactions of some of the ladies in attendance.

Lucian cast a glance at some of them before rolling his eyes, his smirk tugging at his lips,

"Yes, I seem to fit their idealised view of 'taboo' rather well - someone they can never have." he joked lightly as he shook his head, "I much prefer any potential partners not to fawn."

She... hadn't had a choice.

Now, normally? This was pretty standard. Jedi recruiters would go out and collect young children for their own good as well as the good of those around them. It was better that they were trained, after all. But that normally never carried bitterness with it because it became the only life they had ever known. He was an exception - and it appeared that he wasn't the only one.

Accepting the brandy, Lucian frowned slightly as he took a sip from the glass as he listened. He didn't know much about Hapan society but what he was learning didn't exactly fill him with happy feelings. He looked her in the eyes for a moment before humming and looking out at the skyline again.

"Excuse me if I step over a line but... your mother sounds like an abject fool." he declared firmly, bluntly, turning to look her in the eyes again, "You are a woman of talent, skill and conviction - that much I could see from our dance and battle alone. For your mother to miss that, to miss the value of yourself? She is a Fool."

He expected a slap for that to be honest.

@Esther Nyx

 

[Sigal Adi Chume'da]

Sigal stared at the steely eyed human for quite some time. One might have thought Lucian's careless words had caused offense, given the nature and intent of which he spoke. Hapans were notorious for their sense of pride and honour; even the simplest error in manners could be cause for conflict. Duels were as common as they were vicious, and sometimes, they were started over the simplest of words. Sigal's family had ties to the reigning monarchy; her mother was a not too distant cousin. Had they been on Hapes, Lucian would have been severely reprimanded for his slanderous words. Only fools challenged the greatness of matriarchs and Sigal was not one to suffer fools. In rapid succession, she sauntered closer towards Lucian, soon coming within lethal striking distance.

With the taste of brandy fresh upon her lips, the blonde beauty kissed him; fiercely and passionately.

Arms laced about his strapping shoulder, levering her just enough so that she tug the human downwards to meet her carnal act. Sigal wasn't short by any means, but Lucian was admittedly taller. And admittedly a satisfying kisser. Velvet lips soon to respond in earnest, allowing her to savour the rather pleasant sensation. Never, in a singular moment, had a male been so desirable. He didn't quaking under the reputation of a matriarch, nor did he cower under Sigal's verbal barbs. Whilst normally this would infuriate the Hapan Jedi, she found it profoundly endearing in this case. Charming, even. Not that she would ever admit to it.

No sooner had the kiss began did it then end, with Sigal stepping away, fearing she'd lose herself to completely the tempting morsel before her.

"Come," she cooed, finding herself somewhat breathless from the experience. It had been some till since Sigal had allowed herself a lover; perhaps the human would be willing to cavort. She then chuckle to herself, dismissing any notions of refusal. As if the Chandrilan would deny her. Her beauty was presently rivalled by none and here she was openly offering her affections. Lesser men would have clambered for such opportunity.

Taking Lucian's hand, Sigal edged them down towards the gala's gardens. There, there were no prying eyes. If any luck, they could slip away under the cover of the night before the noble guests were none the wiser.

​