The Cat Returns {.O.pen}

[Kitten]

It had been spread all across the holonet, "Wander Shattai, known Darksider PREGNANT and taking the crown." Everyone was talking about it, it was a scandal, it was... it was great publicity for the young queen.

It had been so long since she had been to her home planet of Imraz, it had been so long since she'd even seen half of her family, so that was saying a lot... She laughed a bit to herself as a parade of guards lead her through the streets. It was a part of her being 'accepted' by the people here to be their new queen. It made her wonder where the rest of her blood had gone, she assumed they had either killed each other or they ran away from responsibility.

The streets were lined with people, some cheering, others booing. She rolled her eyes, having seen her parents go through this before. It didn't matter what you did, if you were a royal, you were the bad guy...the one people point to when something doesn't go their way. It might have been seen as quite liberal for a Dark Jedi to rule over them, but she'd changed. She really had. She wasn't that same renegade that got herself arrested trying to protect Alucard. No, she was now a proud mother to be, with a steady job and had been supporting herself. Up until she had been given access to the family fortune she hadn't even thought of using the credits...

The kitten found herself at the gates, and there was a crow surrounding the palace. She smiled, so much had changed...she searched the crowd for any familiar faces, anyone who might be there to wish her well... She secretly hoped to see Setnos, Zowie, maybe Stella? She had all but grown up around them, from that reckless youth to the woman she now was. They had guided her on her journey of self discovery, and they would all have a place with her... she knew if she had questions about ruling she'd be asking one of them.

Then her mind switched to Varkin, she frowned a little. The last time they had spoken had been nothing less than dreadful. She had no idea who had messed with him, but she planned to find out. He was the young father of her children,she wasn't going to hide it either. The dress she wore showed off her round stomach, tiwns were growing there... She knew that her people would approve of their impending marriage; he would be a Knight before long, a Jedi. Though he had no royal blood she found that most people thought of them as the 'good guys', the paladins if you will.

Oh, if only they knew some of the hypocrites she had met in the order. At least, during her younger days. She tended to avoid most of them as of late, she truly disliked 90% of the cocky bastards. She did have Jedi friends, but she would always have the mindset that a certain Darkie had instilled in her mind when she was still quite impressionable.

Through the gates and to the large stage, at her heals her two Hyène were marching with their heads held high. She went nowhere with out Bonnie and Clyde, they'd get anxiety. She'd raised them, after all...they were her furry babies. She scratched behind their ears, their red auras signifying they weren't going to kill anyone.

As she stopped on stage a camera projected her image onto a large screen hanging behind her. She put on her most charming smile and waved to the crowd.

"Greetings, loyal subjects of Imraz... It is truly an honor to be standing here before all of you today." She paused, and shifted on one foot then the other, her cat ears drooped slightly, giving away her nerves.

"I guess I'm supposed to give a speech, huh? Well, I am a woman that gets straight to the point. With the sudden disappearance of the others in line for the throne, I have been appointed as the Queen." She paused again, people cheered. "And as such I will do what I can to show all of you that I am the right choice... that I will guide our planet and people to a bright new future."

Again, cheering. "I'm sure you've been hearing all sorts of negative things about me, but I can assure you most of it is the media trying to demonize me. My path is light and my plan of action is nothing short of fair and just." She smiled, and bowed slightly.

"I thank you all for this honor...now, lets celebrate!"

She motioned to the palace and began walking inside where the ballroom would be decorated and filled with refreshments and beautiful music. This was truly an exciting day for the Shattai...the new Queen.

[ciroco]

Cirocco looked up at the stage. He stood in the crowd, relatively close to it. Close enough for him to clearly see what was going on, but far enough into the crowd so he does not draw the attention of those on the stage. Several of his men stood in the crowd as well, in civilain clothing of course and with a very limited amount of concealed weaponry. These occasions had very strict security after all. Mind tricks helped you smuggle things through, but even with those it had been a pain for Cirocco to get any combat gear through. Still, a small success and with any luck at all, none of the items would be needed. After all, he wasn't here to cause a fuss. ... Well maybe a small one. But nothing requiring weaponry.

Normally he didn't care much for this sort of thing. Duma knew power changes happened too fast for people to keep track of on this end of the Galaxy. Hell, if you asked people in Theed who their current monarch was, half of them would probably give you the name of two or three rulers ago. Why would Imraz be much different? Still, this time it was a Dark Jedi that took the throne. Again, not unheard of, but not that common either. Especially seeing as wander was close to Zowie. At best she could be a valuable ally. At worst, she would still be a nice source of information. So it was worth showing up, if only to see exactly what she would say or do and how the crowd would react. As her speech draws to a close, he concentrates for a moment and sends a very short message to Wander through the Force. Any Force sensitives in the area would notice the small change in the activity in the ebb and flow of the Force, but the exact nature, as well as the origin would be very difficult to determine.

~ Zowie says hello ~

[Kitten]

Wander had just taken her first step off of the stage when she heard him through the force. 'Zowie says hello'... It made her big brown eyes falter for a moment, then turned her head to look at where he was...she'd spot him in the crowd, but look away soon after, no attention drawn to him. She sent him a reply with the force. She started wondering why on earth he was there, why she hadn't yet seen Zowie or perhaps Setnos? Perhaps it was for the best...but then again she had been meaning to speak to them both.

~Zowie huh?... And just how do you know of her?~

The voice she'd send would be filled with low purrs as she finally stepped off the platform and began towards the palace. The crowd would follow her in, a grand party in the ballroom could be seen. Most of the guests were nobles and naturally, of the same race as she. The queen made her way over to settle on the throne they had sat out for her, taking a seat and crossing her legs. Her two pets laying down at her feet as a guard handed her a glass of something sparkley...but of course it had no alcohol in it. She was allergic of course. She took a long drink then set the glass aside.

~Come and speak with me if you'd like...I could use the pleasant conversation.~

[ciroco]

Cirocco grins as he and his men go with the flow of the crowd and enter the ballroom. His men take up position as near to the throne as they can without arousing suspicion. Cirocco himself sends a message to Wander before walking up to the throne.

~ask your guards not to stop me when I approach you?~

((OOC: I'm assuming they won't for the rest of the post. otherwise this post would be rather short ))

As Cirocco approaches wander, he stops and makes a very, very small bow pro forma. The nobles nearby clearly disapprove of Coco's arrogant behaviour, but refrain from commenting.

"I suppose I should be adressing you as 'your highness' these days then? I am Master Cirocco, at your service... Well not really, you have your servants for that, but it's what people say, yes? And to answer your previous question: I used to be Zowie's teacher. Now, I am her commander. But only because she herself chose to stick around."

His grin widens slightly as he waits for Wander's reaction.

[Kitten]

Naturally, upon his request she settled her guards an waited. She drank him in carefully as he approached her throne. The clearly sarcastic bow and his arrogant tone made the girl, well, woman chortle with glee. Handing her drink off to a servent she turned her gaze back on him, hands griping the arms of her seat, claws tapping at the hardwood slowly. Taking a deep breath to keep her nerves in check she spoke to him.

"A friend of my Zowie then?" She purred the words 'my Zowie', she didn't own the girl but she had...well, the two had an interesting thing going. "How very interesting, Master Cirocco...A friend of hers is certainly one of mine."

She cracked the whip of her new metal tail, the light drawing attention to its gleaming. "Just call me Wander, anything else makes me feel old." She nearly sneered then tilted her head to the side, cat like ears perking slightly. "And what brings you here then? Surely you must have more pressing things to attend to than my little party."

[ciroco]

Cirocco nods and goes to stand next to the seated wander. Out of force of habit, he assumes the stance so typical for guards: hands clasped behind the back, feet shoulder-width apart, gaze straight forward. He keeps overlooking the hall while adressing Wander.

"Very well miss Wander. I normally set great store by titles -at least when they are rightfully earned- but I can let the "highness" slide. I'm not sure wether you should call me a friend of zowie's though. Our kind isn't known for their long lasting friendships, so I try not to get into them in the first place. Besides, relations can be exploited. The closer you get to someone, the more vulnerable you become. I am Zowie's commander and former teacher, that is all.

As for why I am here: because it isn't very common for a Dark Jedi to ascend a throne. Not unheard of, certainly, but uncommon nonetheless. I came to see what your people's reaction would be and if perhaps you and I had matters of mutual interest. After all, as a Master I have a significant amount of power and wisdom that could benefit you, while you in turn have an entire planet worth of resources you can draw on. I of course have additional reasons for being here, but you will understand if I prefer to keep those to myself."

As coco speaks, the nobles near him start to shuffle away, leaving coco and Wander isolated in an open circle in the middle of the buzzing crowd. It was one thing to have a Dark Jedi queen, but at least she was of the royal lineage. Coco was an outsider, a Darkside Master and an admitted murderer to boot. Not to mention he often kept a low-level Aura of Unease up. After all, he did have a reputation to uphold.