Beautiful Like Diamonds (D1, EE)

[Lord Tenebrous]

Since tonight was going to kick off a week and a half of politics and crazy, Shaisha figured it would be best to start it with some very serious pampering. She'd hate it if her rise to power started with bad skin and tense back muscles.

So she let the word out to some people who'd make such a visit entertaining, and proceeded to book time at one of the more luxurious spas at Varas Point.

In the waiting lounge, she waited for the others to join.

[Lucinia Malveaux]

Lucinia had tried to arrive fashionably late. Unfortunately, it seemed that others had the same idea, and were a bit better at it than her.

Stepping into the waiting lounge, she glanced around with a frown. Dayana was supposed to be there. In fact, that was the reason that she'd agreed to come; she'd much rather someone else handle the introductions.

But it seemed there was no hope for it. After a moment to smooth the front of her dress with a sigh, Lucinia approached the only other person in the lounge, managing just a bit of a smile. "Good evening." Her voice was a soft alto. "You must be Lord Tenebrous. Lucinia Malveaux." She offered a hand."

[Lord Tenebrous]

"Ah," she looked up at the pale woman, rising from her seat because that was the polite thing to do. "Good to put a face to the name. Or rather, in person. A pleasure, as I've heard about you."

The Sith Lord gave an easy smile. Sometimes it was clear to tell that she was the apprentice of the biggest party-goer on the council; she did seem to enjoy this lap of luxury.

"Ready for Tayana's salon tonight? Can't wait to see what everyone will be wearing."

[Lucinia Malveaux]

"Indeed." Lucinia said, her red lips quirking. "It's always interesting to see who will be wearing red, and who will be wearing black."

She gave a vague wave of her fingers. "In truth, I've been rather absent from the social scene as of late, on Ziost or otherwise. Perhaps an evening spent at the spa is just what I need to prepare myself for a return."

[Shelzais Sek]

Shelzais strolled in, bypassing the receptionist with no more than a friendly wave--it seemed her face was known here already. Even in this casual mode she was sleek and Sithstagram-ready, in heeled boots and a wrapped tunic that hugged her curves. "Lord Tenebrous, good evening." She flashed Shaisha a smooth smile before glancing curiously at Lucinia.

[Lord Tenebrous]

"No better way to make a return than as a rejuvenated being," her dark lips smirked warmly, and then her attention turned to Shelzais. "Ah, my favorite party-lady in all of Imperial-space. So good to know you too had some time before tonight's salon."

Shaisha gestured to Lucinia. "Lucinia Malveaux, an acquaintance of an acquaintance. A lovely lady by all accounts." And then a gesture towards Shel. "And Shelzais Sek, the life of the party."

[Lucinia Malveaux]

"The life of the party." Lucinia echoed, greeting the newcomer with raised eyebrows. "What a fine nickname to have. I can only hope that I might someday achieve similar stature." It was hard to tell if she was joking, and in which direction.

She looked back to Lord Tenebrous. "Are we still expecting Dayana to join us? It's polite, but I've learned that it's sometimes better not to wait for her. She tends to come and go as she pleases."

[Lord Tenebrous]

"True, true... we shall have to go on without her charming presence for now," Shaisha said with a nod. They were all Sith, all things considered, so the possibility of Dayana suddenly being caught up in something else wasn't out of the picture.

"Well then, I've booked some of their time here for us to enjoy. Mani, pedi, massages, facials, whatever you ladies feel like you might need before tonight's entertainment."

[Lucinia Malveaux]

Lucinia frowned. "Where shall we begin, then? It's been so long since I've indulged."

A hesitation, and then she added: "Perhaps the facials? It sounds as though that involves, ah..." she pursed her lips, "-fewer people touching me."

[Shelzais Sek]

"I've worked hard to get where I am, Lady Malveaux," Shelzais said with an ironic half-bow and a smile tinged with mischief. She wasn't quite sure how she felt about being declared Shaisha's 'favorite' anything--the woman radiated ambition like a Gallinore gemstone did light, and Shel usually considered the long-term company of such people about as safe as hanging around an unstable space station reactor. On the other hand, unlike most Sith in that category, Shaisha was fun. Dead Sith kings knew Shel had done many unwise things in the name of fun, and hoped to live long enough to do many more.

"My dear Shaisha, I don't know about you, but I expect to need all the fortification I can get to survive this thing with my sanity in one piece. I doubt even Tayana's good taste can completely leaven the dead weight of high society that's about to come crashing down on New Adasta this season..."

She raised a bejeweled eyebrow ridge at Lucinia. "But isn't that half the fun?"

[Lord Tenebrous]

"The face does sound like a good start," the Sith Lord graciously let Lucinia's suggestion be the deciding one on where they'd begin. Besides, wouldn't faces be the most important part for tonight, since that was the one they'd all be showing off somehow.

She laughed warmly at Shelz' words. "Ah, darling, you're absolutely right that it will be quite the stoic party of hob-nobbing and social dancing around eachother with pretty veiled words. At least Tayana hosts some of the better salons on Ziost... at least good drinks will be flowing."

Having heard that the ladies had decided on facials to start with, the neat and uniformed workers gestured for them to follow into the more private parts of the spa where the three Sith ladies could relax in private and enjoy all the services they could offer.

[Lucinia Malveaux]

Lucinia sighed. "I suppose these people are experts... very well." She followed along to the next room with only a little hesitation.

The comment on the drinks brought a smile to her lips. "I've heard that Tayana's parties do have a very good wine selection. If the company proves too unpleasant, perhaps the three of us can congregate around the refreshment table.

[Shelzais Sek]

"It isn't just the company, Lucinia--I can call you Lucinia, can't I?--it's the context." Shelzais stretched as she trailed the attendants into the treatment room. She stepped up to a mirror and began removing her jewelry--earrings, brow piercing, nose stud--dropping each piece into a velvet-lined bowl held by one of the workers. "Politics makes anybody duller. No offense, Lord Tenebrous." Her full lips quirked as she deliberately deployed Shaisha's title.

[Lucinia Malveaux]

At the moment, at least, Lucinia wore only a necklace for jewelry. In some circles, less was more, and she was all too happy to not have to fuss with wearing bits and baubles that weren't bringing her real ultimate power. Following Shelz's example, she removed her necklace, dropping it into a bowl of her own. "Of course you can, my dear. I only insist on it when dealing with exceptionally tiresome proles." Even then, it was more of a prelude to throwing them against the nearest wall.

Lucinia regarded her own reflection almost curiously, tilting her head this way and that. One hand came up, pointer finger extended to trace a line. I think I may be even paler than last year.

The last comment drew her attention away, though; she sighed softly. "I suppose I recognize the necessity for playing politics." She gave a tiny, exasperated shake of her head, setting more than a few blonde hairs scattering about her face. "But I sometimes wonder, if some took half the time they spent on politics, and applied it to proper study instead..." She trailed off with a shrug.

[Lord Tenebrous]

Shaisha finished removing her own jewelry and let down her hair from the half-up do.

"Oh, no offense taken, Shelzais. After all, I consider it part of my agenda on the council when I take my place to cut down on the stupid amounts of politics." Her calloused hands with trimmed nails brushed over her face now that all the jewelry was gone, letting her feel the small imperceptible bumps on the skin.

"What would you prefer them to study though, Lucinia?"

[Lucinia Malveaux]

Lucinia gave Shaisha a curious sidelong glance. Even as insulated as she was from gossip, she'd heard things about Lord Tenebrous. Someone from long long ago...

But the question caused Lucinia to turn more fully towards Shaisha. One hand came up to the corner of her mouth as she laughed musically. "What would I prefer?" A shorter chuckle. "It makes no difference to me what they study. But I think that they might do better for themselves if they focused on developing their connection to the Dark Side."

[Lord Tenebrous]

"Ah, I see," she nodded with understanding and donned one of the luxurious white bath-robes offered to all customers, allowing for comfort and decency during the stay.

"It's not something everyone can handle, alas. Some I've seen can't seem to cope with the price of power - and some think they are revelling in the dark side when they're actually only pursuing what they believe to be the true ideology of the dark side. Which is rather silly; the dark side doesn't have an ideology - it just is." She scoffed softly, but gave Lucinia an approving smile.

[Lucinia Malveaux]

"Mmm." Lucinia's murmur was almost a purr. She gave Shaisha a smile. "Very insightful. Lord Tenebrous, I think we shall get along very well.

She, too, slipped into one of the bathrobes. In it, it was more clear just how pale she was, and how thin, right on the border between fit and emaciated.

Tightening the sash around her waist, Lucinia turned to the other two. "But do I understand correctly that you are seeking a seat on the council?"

[Shelzais Sek]

"It so often looks to me like chasing power in one sphere inevitably ends up with chasing it in the other one too," Shelzais commented with the sort of sigh that suggested she found this observed reality tiresome. Of course, she herself did her studious best to avoid both.

She slipped back into view in her own robe and soft slippers, having lost a few centimeters of height when she traded in her boots. "That is what I heard through the emerald-grape vine, my dear Shaisha... so the rumors are quite true?"

[Dayana Valthren]

Dayana 'looked' into the mirror, her body completely nude. She hadn't bothered to put on a bathrobe yet; it didn't bother her at all to be bare save for one exception. Her vision was focused on the mask that still covered much of her face. Beneath it she knew it was still the same: no eyes there at all. Just blank vestiges where people would expect them.

The miraluka scowled and picked up a hand towel. You are not a child, her mind raged as she tossed off her mask and wrapped the cloth around where her eyes would be, if she was like everyone else. Her shoulders tensed at the thought of it slipping off. Last time, Santana had done it for her with those soft, sensual hands of hers. Indeed, Santana was the only person Dayana had willingly shown her deformity to.

It was a deformity to her, at least. Dayana practiced her smile, the one she had rehearsed countless times before, until she was satisfied. She then donned a bathrobe and followed where the Force said the other Sith would be.

"How many individuals do you think a bachelor would murder to be here at this moment?" Dayana mused as soon as she made her appearance, "Of course, he'd still have to be worthy of our presence."