[Day 1 - Late Evening] Salon of Hidden Delights

[Lord Jo'ren Rath]

"Yeah. I've got that covered." He raised his glass. "Glad our paths crossed Lucinia Malveaux. Tomorrow then. I see a few folks here that I should speak to before the night's out."

[Alister Dravvad]

She frowned and said, “Normally I would simply have my soldiers sieze my target and then subject them to Imperial sanctioned forms of torture… typically fourteen to seventeen hours of moderate torture should loosen their lips.”

“Of course after that is done one could then relieve pressure play the role of compassion and ease them back to trust, and then compare stories to see changes and find the truth somewhere in the middle.”

She then finished, “I do not think that would be an available option in most instances.”

"At parties like this, likely not." Alister agreed with a small smile. "Though from the sound of it, you would use these sorts of gatherings as a means to root out dissidents in the empire." An interesting idea.

"Do you think you would have much success?"

[Remmington Thalalas]

"I'm an alchemist." he answered. "I dabble in other sciences, but that is my focus. What about yourself?"

"I prefer machines and computers myself. Hmm... our focuses do not seem to overlap. Though maybe there is something that we both may be interested in?" Remmington ponders.

[Dapper Dog]

"At parties like this, likely not." Alister agreed with a small smile. "Though from the sound of it, you would use these sorts of gatherings as a means to root out dissidents in the empire." An interesting idea.

"Do you think you would have much success?"

"I have no baseline, so I am unsure," she said honestly.

[Xal Kimlya]

"I prefer machines and computers myself. Hmm... our focuses do not seem to overlap. Though maybe there is something that we both may be interested in?" Remmington ponders.

"There's always goggles." he chuckled. "It doesn't hurt to simply have an extra pair of eyes on some projects."

[Lucinia Malveaux]

"Yeah. I've got that covered." He raised his glass. "Glad our paths crossed Lucinia Malveaux. Tomorrow then. I see a few folks here that I should speak to before the night's out."

"Indeed." Lucinia raised her cup as well, giving another of her tiny smiles. "And I shall look forward to them crossing again."

With a nod of farewell, she turned just far enough away to signal a polite end to the conversation.

[Shelzais Sek]

"Well, the shit isn't likely to go down here." Shelzais chuckled to herself, a purring sort of sound. "One hears the Emperor himself may be in attendance."

At that thought she felt something like a cold finger running down her spine, and her face went uncharacteristically still and cool for just a moment. She knocked back another generous swallow of wine to recover her levity.

"Isn't there anything at all here you'd care to partake of in the meantime? Or else Darth Tayana may think you don't appreciate her hospitality. And her cellars really are... diverse." She waved her free hand playfully in the direction of the nearest refreshments table.

“No,” Tyr agreed openly, “but when it does, I will not say I did not see this coming. I will be prepared.” He sounded confident that something, somewhere, sometime was going to go down.

The shistavanen narrowed his eyes and glared at the free-flowing drinks, “I do not pollute my body with such things. I maintain a very strict diet.” He snorted at the folly of others, loading themselves with empty carbs. Not that he’d never partaken, but his requirements to allow such nonsense into his system were exacting.

"Oh, my dear Tyr, I'd hardly call this pollution." Shelzais deftly snatched a fresh glass from the tray carried by a passing servitor--organic, of course, not a droid, Darth Tayana was old-school--depositing her empty one just as neatly. "Leavening, at the very worst. I find it goes rather well with your other hobbies, personally." She shrugged. "But if you insist... how very like a Malgus trainee. Though some of them do break the mold."

[Alister Dravvad]

"I have no baseline, so I am unsure," she said honestly.

"I suppose that's a given." He murmured before taking another sip of his wine. "Have you ever considered using these gatherings as a way to meet potential allies?"

[Sinea Okatesh]

"We all can gain from a more stable Empire, but if it is a concession you desire, something that I would grant you, I fear I can make no such promises. Until I sit upon that seat any words I might offer you, promises I might make, are meaningless."

"Know simply that my allies benefit greatly from my friendship, and serving the Empire is duly rewarded."

Sinea nodded idly. "Pretty words from a pretty woman. I will not rule out your pillar for the benefit of our Empire, but soon we will have to discus more concrete exchanges." She smiled lightly. "Who do you believe is in your camp now, dear Valkyrie?"

[Dayana Valthren]

"Mm," Shaisha nodded at that, and remained quietly contemplative as Dayana spoke of Corellian fashion. It sounded overall pretty dull.

"It is like an interesting duality in the galaxy - the more the dark grows, the brighter the light shines. At least, that might be what drives the Jedi on so."

"I had a very similar conversation about this. These Jedi, they speak of forsaking attachment and love but I have found that to be the opposite. Perhaps they have done so on an individual level but they adore their Republic." Dayana shook her head, a faint smile on her lips. "And that is why they are so resistant."

[Tyr]

"Oh, my dear Tyr, I'd hardly call this pollution." Shelzais deftly snatched a fresh glass from the tray carried by a passing servitor--organic, of course, not a droid, Darth Tayana was old-school--depositing her empty one just as neatly. "Leavening, at the very worst. I find it goes rather well with your other hobbies, personally." She shrugged. "But if you insist... how very like a Malgus trainee. Though some of them do break the mold."

“Bah,” he declared dismissively, “I require proteins, fats, vitamins. Carbohydrates,” he pronounced the word with significant disdain, “are a waste of time and resources.” Indicating to his large self, “this is no accident. This is the product of careful breeding, hard work, and dedication.”

[Dapper Dog]

"I suppose that is another possibility. I will have to consider that," she said with a straight face.

Then a small smile crept into view on her face as she added, "Yes... obviously I have considered that."

[Lord Tenebrous]

"I had a very similar conversation about this. These Jedi, they speak of forsaking attachment and love but I have found that to be the opposite. Perhaps they have done so on an individual level but they adore their Republic." Dayana shook her head, a faint smile on her lips. "And that is why they are so resistant."

"They are almost like pests in that regard. Resistance, that is," the pureblood chuckled mockingly. "No matter what happens, even when the Jedi order is purged through infighting, which is hilarious in itself, they always seem to crawl out of some hidey-hole to start all over again."

[Remmington Thalalas]

Remmington chuckles along with that. "I guess there is always that. Are there any projects that you are working on that I may chance observe or offer my input on? Albeit I may not know much about the subject of alchemy."

[Xal Kimlya]

"You are welcome to observe." he nodded. "I am working on a new formula intended to temporarily increase one's vigor. It is something I've made before, but I am continuing to refine it and improve it. My only other current project would be with the military, though I've yet to begin that."

[Alister Dravvad]

"I suppose that is another possibility. I will have to consider that," she said with a straight face.

Then a small smile crept into view on her face as she added, "Yes... obviously I have considered that."

That brought a soft chuckle to his lips. "I was beginning to wonder about that, Lady Beniko. No offense intended."

"Going through seventeen or so hours of torture to be considered something of a friend sounded rather uncomfortable." He lifted his glass to his lips to take a sip. "I mean, it'd certainly put me behind on my projects."

[Dapper Dog]

"I will be mindful to schedule any such torture around your schedule," she said politely.

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"Looking for as many partners as I can scrounge up. If you come across individuals interested in the well-being of the Empire rather than these proceedings concerning the Dark Council... Let me know." He said with refined poise.

"I'm not sure who is actively involved in the Council politicking, but if I hear something I will say something," she replied affirmatively, "Is there anything else I may help you with my lord?"

[Kristal Serasai]

Sinea nodded idly. "Pretty words from a pretty woman. I will not rule out your pillar for the benefit of our Empire, but soon we will have to discus more concrete exchanges." She smiled lightly. "Who do you believe is in your camp now, dear Valkyrie?"

"A early question to ask, given that I have yet to deliver my pledge," she said crossing her arms over her dress. "However, I am supported to the seat by Darth Marr himself, and Sylvain Torsin is a sure bet to support me for my position."

[Alister Dravvad]

"I will be mindful to schedule any such torture around your schedule," she said politely.

"Oh? Cute and conscientious." A slight smile was on his lips. "I'm not quite sure what I'd do if all the ladies in the Empire indulged me so." He paused thoughtfully, pursing his lips. "Likely become a bit full of myself at the very least."