This post has the following content warnings:
So you know how getting Fate Anakin to become Vader when her Ellie is a Jedi is annoyingly hard -
Next Post »
« Previous Post
Permalink

Anakin has a date.

(She shouldn't think of it like that, Elesse is the Chancellor and can't have her relationship with Anakin seen as inappropriate, which Anakin hates, Elesse should have everything she wants - )

But it's past her midday lessons, and Anakin's free for the day - and her teacher sent her off with a smile and a 'don't stay up too late,' so nothing should come up - and this is scheduled, anyways, and the Jedi won't want to interrupt the Chancellor's plans except for an emergency, which shouldn't happen. Probably. Nothing has ever since their first date meeting after Anakin helped save Naboo eight years ago, even as their meetings have gotten to be as close to monthly as their schedules allow. (Anakin can protect Elesse if something happens to them, anyways. She's not a Knight yet, but - her teacher thinks she's not more than two or three years out, and Anakin knows that she's mostly lagging at being sensible, not being strong.)

(...She always gets the worst nerves before their not-dates. She spends a few minutes - a few minutes more - meditating, centering herself the way the Jedi taught her, which mostly works, before her nerves spike again as she starts worrying about her clothes, at which point she falls back on the redirection techniques Elesse's been talking about with her. They work a lot better, honestly, channel her nerves into something useful.)

It's a bit of a flight to the opera house, made more convenient since Anakin got her own speeder. She spends it balancing her anxiety with her frustration, soothing her jagged mind, preparing it - 

So when she sees Elesse standing in a shadowed alcove near the door, there's only Anakin's admiration and eagerness left to wash over her. She weaves over with a soft smile, barely remembering to say, "Chancellor Elesse. I hope I didn't keep you waiting," rather than just staring like a preteen in puppy love.

Total: 636
Posts Per Page:
Permalink

"Not at all, my dear." Elesse Vendar, Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic, favors Anakin with a smile. Her clothes are muted in color but finely tailored, and her bearing and manner is impeccable. "I am glad you could make it. My sources backstage tell me that the technicians have at last brought the flame projectors up to the new code and the third act will not need to make do with holoprojections. Tonight's performance promises to be exciting." She takes Anakin's shoulder and starts gently steering her along. "But come, let us away to the box. A side entrance tonight, I do not feel like smiling for the press," with another grin for Anakin.

Permalink

She grins back and happily lets herself be steered. "It'd be a bit wasted on them," she says, teasingly. "And live fire does sound fun."

To the box! Just them, as usual, until the end of the show - Anakin's been happy to handle getting Elesse any refreshments or the like ever since she was old enough to sit still through actually watching a play. She glances around at what's already been placed for them, reaching out in the Force to make sure there's no dangers half out of habit, then glances over at Elesse. "Do you want me to get you something, ma'am?"

Permalink

"Just a drink, my dear." She flicks a hand in the direction of the minibar.

Permalink

She nods. "Alright." She heads over, preparing drinks for both Elesse and herself with a light hum, before heading back to sit with Elesse. 

Permalink

She takes her drink and settles back, one arm across the back of Anakin's chair.

"To your continued good health," she toasts to Anakin. "And many happy returns."

Permalink

She raises her glass back, grinning and ducking her head and leaning only a little into Elesse. "Thank you, Elesse," she says, softly, shyly. Then: "To your good health, and success in all you do."

Permalink

"Naturally." She takes a sip.

"Now, this piece being performed tonight is considered one of Orvied's more accessible works, but I am, as always, of the opinion the full context ought to be considered. Have you covered Jel Orvied in your cultural studies?"

Permalink

She takes a somewhat longer sip, humming. "Only in passing."

Permalink

"Then if you will indulge me," smile, "I would be pleased to provide a more focused overview."

Permalink

"I think my brain has enough room for another lesson today."

Permalink

"Excellent."

Then they can spend the rest of the time before the show starts discussing the life and times of playwright and composer Jel Orvied, his variety of works, and the reconstructed Chellish legendarium this particular one derives from (with a brief digression into the historiography thereof).

Permalink

Anakin has fun with it, only reluctantly wrapping the conversation up as the show starts. She's fascinated by old tales in general - mythologies, legends - and she finds artists' lives interesting. 

She meters out her drink enough that she only has to get a second one - checking if Elesse also wants a refill - as they're close to show start, though she's embarrassingly sensitive to alcohol so Anakin probably shouldn't have a third...

Permalink

Elesse has heard that some Jedi have a trick for filtering poisons out of their bloodstream. Perhaps Anakin could use a similar technique to keep her intoxication to a manageable level.

Permalink

Giggle. "I'll try it, ma'am. Might be best to before drinking more..."

Permalink

"That seems likely," she laughs.

Permalink

Shiver.

Then she closes her eyes a bit, humming - she's warm and content and glowing, which usually isn't how she meditates... But it seems to be helping the kind of focus she needs to actually turn her mind to her body without it skittering away, and she clears a bit of the toxin out as the lights go down.

Not too much. She does really like the soft buzz alcohol gives her before she goes all silly with it.

Anakin opens her eyes and smiles at Elesse just before the curtains open. "Think I'm good," she murmurs.

Permalink

"Well done, dear."

Permalink

She ducks her head and blushes, then makes herself go quiet as the opening monologue begins, instead simply leaning happily into Elesse.

Permalink

The play starts somewhat slowly, introducing character and setting details with lots of subtle political maneuvering. It picks up by the end of the second act as the various plots being crashing into each other and the overarching theme is revealed.

At the intermission, hovering servitors bring a dinner into the box for Elesse and Anakin to eat. Chellish cuisine, to fit the theme of the evening.

Permalink

It's delicious. (And Anakin takes care of actually serving the food.)

She's been loving the play, which she chatters about excitedly as they eat, picking apart characterization, various secrets and mysteries, what she thinks is going on here or there, who she thinks knows what...

Permalink

Elesse encourages her theorizing while coyly declining to confirm or deny any specifics.

After they've eaten, another servitor brings in a tray bearing a cake covered in blood-red icing. "Happy birthday, Anakin," Elesse says.

Permalink

She beams.

"Thank you!" she says, eyeing the cake with undisguised interest. "It looks delicious, Elesse - thank you for remembering..." Small giggle - "I'd forgotten that was today..."

Permalink

"Lucky for you that I remembered, then. Would you like to cut it?"

Permalink

"Yes, ma'am." Knife, knife, where's the knife...

Permalink

Over to the side of the tray, next to the plates. Elesse takes it and hands it to Anakin. "Here you are, dear."

Total: 636
Posts Per Page: