'Uhuh, it'd be troublesome, of course, to have false rumours like that floating around,' Xavier smiled, 'The admiral seducing a young woman who was just rescued and she has no other place to go. I'd be taking advantage of her predicament.' Xavier stood from the couch, stretching for a moment, 'I had a lovely evening, it's been a while since I had a chance to relax like this. Thanks keeping me company, Ulie.'
"All done? Good, let's head home then." Vizelle said with a smile as she leads her disciples to the house that was given to her with her new position. But before leaving, she sends Arnolf a telepathic message, Do try and look for better slaves.
"You will be able to meet the governor, at least." Rhaiya leads Yannika to military transport, large enough to fit her entire escort, and it lifts off, heading out of the fortress. Looking out the window, she sees other fortresses, arranged defensively around a city positioned within a crater, heated by great furnaces, with the great ice wall dulling the frozen wind. The craft lands in front of a small palace, and Yannika is led inside, through utilitarian hallways made of insulated materials, before getting within sight of a pair of double doors. "Preposterous!" A high pitched voice cries out from within. "I won't have it! I won't-" The voice goes quiet, and as Yannika nears the doors, she barely hears a lower voice saying something in response. Rhaiya announces herself through the intercom, and after a few moments, the doors slide open, revealing a large office. Looking around, Yannika sees a fat nobleman behind the desk, looking run down and haggard. Yannika doesn't even notice the next man at first, until she steps through the threshold and feels his presence behind her. "You are the emperor's representative?" The dark skinned man says in a low voice, radiating power, and Yannika realises instinctively that he's the mage. "I must tend to the Mother. See to our guest, Governor." Without another word, the mage leaves. "W-What? We're not finished! Urgh..." The fat man sighs, and Rhaiya steps between him and Yannika. "Lady Yannika, meet Baron Perrygood, the planetary governor." She gestures to the fat man. "If you have any questions, I'll be in the chapel." She bows and leaves the room. Governor Perrygood sighs, wiping his brow, before looking at Yannika. "Nice to meet you, I suppose."
"I mean, I wouldn't mind that, but I wouldn't want to impose..." Sitra smiles. "Sure." She begins to talk at length about sculpting, from artists she likes, to the pieces she herself has made.
"It's not..." She blushes. "You wouldn't be taking advantage, I just... I don't want to be known as the admiral's pet, you know?" She returns the smile, standing as well. "I, uh, I enjoyed it a lot too, sir. Any time you feel like doing this again, well, feel free to ask."
Heading back to the palace, she finds an elaborate set of stately rooms prepared for her, enough not only for her whole retinue, but several other people she might pick up.
Xavier laughed, escorting Ulie to the door, 'You as well, my door is open if you're feeling like repeating this.' 'I need to meet the Emperor tomorrow, so I won't be around much. Perhaps you should report to my XO on how to make yourself useful around here,' Xavier smiled, 'I wish you a pleasant night, Ulie. Until next time.'
"Sure thing, sir." She smiles and turns to head for the door, before stopping. She stands still for a few moments, before turning back and kissing Xavier's cheek. "Thanks, sir." She turns and leaves, fleeing before anything more can be said, and Xavier stands alone in his room once more.
Eanne listened carefully, at first out of politeness, then because Sitra managed to pick her curiosity. “I see... You seem quite knowledgeable and passionate about sculpting.” She commented during a pause in the conversation. “I myself have never tried it, but I'm pretty sure I'd be no good at it. I'll leave it to people like you, who know what they are doing.” She leaned closer to whisper in Sitra's ear. “How about I try and give you a few dancing lessons, and in return you can make a sculpture of me? I'll let you choose whether I should be clothed or naked while modeling for you...” She suggested seductively and waited to see her new friend's reaction to the offer.
Xavier had to smile at Ulie's behaviour, he had to be careful not to hurt her feelings. Alone again, he cleaned up the snacks and empty bottles and headed to bed, ending a long day.
"Feel free to choose which room you want." She said to her disciples, figuring they were old enough to organize themselves. Vizelle chooses the biggest room for herself however, taking a bath before retiring for the day.
Sitra's fair skin goes bright red at the offer. "I-uh, I mean... That sounds, um, nice. We could do that. M-Modelling, I mean."
Xavier's alarm awakens him the next morning, or at least morning relative to the planet below. Looking out his window, he sees the Centauri Fleet stretched out above the capital.
Hersillia smiled at Flasheert's bluntness. "Nothing to apologize for," she replied to Verskaya, "Beating around the bush might be fun for some but it will ultimately get us nowhere. So in the spirit of that bluntness, I shall reply in kind. First, I shall acknowledge the previous Emperor erred in appointing the... fool, who oversaw this place and any sort of alternative I suggest will bear that in mind to avoid a repeat of that mistake. That said..." She paused, taking a deep breath before exclaiming, "You have NO idea of the DIFFICULTIES you are getting into! And I'm not even talking about any potential conflicts with the Empire! Speaking as someone who's actually had to run a planet on her own for a time, you would not BELIEVE the number of the day-to-day things that you will have to run and manage yourself if you remove the Empire's support structure! Negotiating trade routes with any planets still willing to talk to you, figuring out what to do with any excess materials you will have to keep storing or even throw out once it starts to decay, fighting off raiders and other less forward thinking kingdoms who will see your defection as a moment of weakness to strike on for their own profits, and so much more even before your internal issues between the three of your groups that will inevitably crop up once you remove the immediate threat of a common enemy."
Except for the servants who draw her bath, she's left alone for the rest of the night, and allowed to sleep peacefully. Vizelle awakens the next morning amongst the splendour of the palace.
Vizelle heads to the courtyard to practice how to completely erase her psionic energies. And if any of her disciples were there, she'd teach them as well.
“Wonderful! I look forward to it!” Eanne smiled brightly as she enjoyed the sight of the blushing woman. She's cute when she's blushing... “Tell me, have you ever visited Samodiva – the planet ruled by my family?”
"Charmed I'm sure." Yannika replied flatly. Once the doors shut behind Rhaiya, Yannika introduced herself properly with a curtsy. "My Lord Perrygood. I am Yannika of House Wulfkin, Lady of the Sect of the Sapphire Hearth, Sworn Sister of the Holy Mother Church, and envoy of the Emperor." She stood upright and her tone grew stern. "As am member of His Majesty's council, I ask you what has happened on your world!"
Elena nodded her head. She would need to use her silver tongue. "I understand your situation, and I don't want to deny your people their well-deserved rewards. But take note of two things." She paused. "First, you will be leaving fellow marine men of 15th and 16th in their time of need." She tried to play on the fleet's fellowship... or rivalry. That's why she left so much unsaid in that. "Second, should the system fall, Prendergast Sector would become more endangered... The fall of the invaded system would spread the chaos." That was a long shot. The systems were not that close, but there would be droves of refugees, pirates and criminals coming to Prendergast Sector. She had one more argument... a triumph, it was not commonly used, but the prestige that came with it, was highly valued in the military.
