Ziost - Crown of the Sith Empire

The grim, cold weather of the old home rock was hardly suitable for sunbathing, but with the Wild Ride's upper-deck weather shields shimmering against the chilly breeze and a heat lamp running, Shelzais was giving it a go regardless, flicking through the 'pages' of a magazine on her datapad with idle, perfectly manicured fingertips.

The hoverbarge was docked in its usual berth in the marina, so stopping by for a visit would be as simple as (optionally) pinging the intercom and then walking up the boarding ramp.

Ordinarily, a walk along a beach was a perfect way to relax. Even one who utilized the Dark Side needed some way to release stress. And yet, the both physical and metaphysical chill of this planet made such an effort fruitless..

However, there was a certain barge lying in wait. Dayana remembered it coming to her planet. It was perhaps out of place, the luxury contrasting with the utilitarianism lauded by House Valthren.

Dayana wondered if the owner was truly as she seemed. It was an excellent ploy if it indeed was one. She pressed the intercom, announcing her presence like a proper noble.

((The barge isn't space-capable so I wasn't picturing it leaving Ziost... Dayana might have 'seen' her freighter, though? Which would have a similar sort of decor.))



A shiny droid responded to Dayana's summons, whistling at her as it deployed a manipulator claw to pop open the boarding gate. "Come on up," Shelzais's voice drawled casually through the intercom speaker. Either she'd gotten the identity of her visitor already (perhaps from the droid's description?) or she wasn't particularly fussed about who it was.

When she came on board, Dayana would find her hostess lounging on one of the various mismatched bohemian couches scattered across the exposed upper deck of the barge, dressed in a short, silky white jumpsuit under an open robe that distinctly called to mind a high-end beach cover-up.

Perhaps it had been her mood. This barge was certainly different from the one she remembered. If it were not for my prior encounter with her, I'd assume she was insulting me. Perhaps she still is. Dayana approached her host regardless, a pleasant smile plastered on her face. "Now then, how long has it been?" she announced, as if they had been the closest of friends.

"Dayana!" Shelzais popped to her feet and beamed, full lips parting in a toothy smile. "Sweetie, it's been too long. A year? Two? What are you doing on this miserable frozen rock?"

Silks fluttering about her, she glided toward Dayana rather like an ancient ship in full sail. "Come in, come have a drink with me. Ziost is the most wretched planet, isn't it?"

How could anyone forget that smile? That damned smile.

Dayana curtsied, not something she often did. It was an action meant to catch the pureblood off-guard. "How could we deem it wretched if our beloved Emperor has blessed us with his presence?" The woman rubbed her arms, still a bit chilly from the weather. "That is why I am here, by the way. I assume the same is true for you?"

The formality of the curtsey did make Shelzais pause for a beat, quirking a bejeweled brow ridge. "Maybe it needs the 'blessing' that much more, then" she suggested, dryly. "But, no, my dear, total coincidence. I'd a few things to check up on in the neighborhood, is all. No idea the Emperor had resurfaced until I made Ziost orbit. I always have had the most peculiar luck." She smiled warmly again, hovering a hand just short of taking Dayana's arm to guide her to a couch under the heat lamps.

"Don't tell me you're crazy enough to sign up for that dance of death? The Council, I mean. You seem like one of the sane ones, Dayana sweetie."

"A coincidence. Color me surprised," Dayana remarked with a shrug. It was a completely honest reaction, and afterwards she wondered if this pureblood was lying to her. She'd have to be the most competent actress in the galaxy to be able to fool me for so long.

The thought of being fallible perturbed her. "That peculiar luck did lead us to being reunited," she added with a smile. She then shook her head, waving off the very idea of competing for a seat on the Dark Council. "Such an escapade serves me no purpose right now. There is much else for me to attend to."

"That is true," Shelzais agreed with a purring chuckle, settling herself into a comfortable seat and tucking her robe around her with more of the performance of modesty than the genuine article. "And what fun it is to see you again, too. Now you'll get to experience all the excitement of a real Ziost social season." Her orange gold-eyes rolled a bit at that; apparently it wasn't a prospect she herself viewed with purely happy anticipation.

"Will it be your first time? It might be one like no other in years."

"I have been here before. Here, Dromund Kaas, Korriban," Dayana replied, the last planet drawn out as a bitter memory. It was difficult even then for her to conceal her disdain for the Academy. "I'm certain there will be many parties here. Too many, perhaps."

"No such thing!" Shelzais smirked. "Too many of the wrong kind of party, though, that is a serious danger. Ziost society has such an awful taste for the grand and dull, even worse than Dromund Kaas if you ask me. One has to make one's own fun here."

"Yes, yes, I did mean the wrong sort," Dayana said with an exasperated tone. She still smiled after a few moments, though, as it was only cordial to do so. "Where are the best parties then? In terms of planets, of course. So much depends on the host, after all."

"Oh, well, the scene on Ord Mantell is nothing to sneeze at... there's Cantonica, of course... but really, my dear, though it might surprise you, some of the greatest fun I've had has been on little nowhere planets you've never heard of. The right company truly is the most important thing. I should dearly love to dance on Corellia some day, though, if this peace holds... I suppose you have already?" Shelzais added with an envious sigh.

The shiny black droid reappeared towing what was clearly a drinks cart. "B-nine, you're a perfect gentlebeing." Shelzais cooed. "Dayana dear, shall I pour you something?"

"The little nowhere planets may have little else to do. Without politics to serve as a distraction, what other purpose do parties serve them?" Dayana then shrugged. "I've had some dances on Corellia, if only out of obligation. I've yet to find anyone truly worthy of holding my hand in a ballroom there."

The masked Sith Lord waved a dismissive hand. "That won't be necessary this time. After all, I've barged onto your barge, as it were."

"Now, you know there's no need to be shy," Shel purred, pouring herself a finger or two of something... with a splash of carbonated water and some ice, in vague deference to the fact the sun was still up. "If you change your mind..."

She swirled her drink. "No one on all of Corellia? I should've thought you'd be an exotic commodity. People outside the Empire might be a little frightened of Sith, but they do find us exciting." Her grin was more than vaguely predatory.

Dayana let the offer slip away unspoken of. Drinking any poison here would leave her completely and utterly dead. She wasn't even sure Camilla knew she was on this boat.

"Oh there were surely potential suitors. Just none of them garnered my interest."

"Hmmph. I would have had higher hopes for Corellia, I must say. Ever since the peace, I've been hoping things might cool down far enough to chance the club circuit on some of those Republic worlds... Corellia, Brentaal, Coruscant..." Shel sighed behind the rim of her glass and took a large drink. "Over on that side they say democracy makes for a livelier public sphere... now, all I really long for is a livelier public watering hole, but who knows."

Surely she cannot be serious.

The masked Sith Lord ran a hand through her hair. "Surely you could secure a position among the ambassadors sent over to these worlds if you wished."

"I suppose so, but I don't wish. Not at all." Shel took another drink. "Would you do it over again for another few years, the ambassador gig? You certainly don't make it sound much fun."

"It was not enjoyable, no thanks to Lady Cortess. One would think a Jedi would be more agreeable." Dayana shrugged. "Politics, as it were." Her head turned towards the sky and she pursed her lips. "I sense that the hours have passed more quickly than I had anticipated. I imagine we will see each other in the near future."