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Imperial City, Coruscant
Lainey threaded her way through the crowded ballroom, without paying particular attention to where she was going. Her mind was racing in the aftermath of her encounter with Armand. She barely knew him, yet had kissed him, not once but twice. She had been so caught up in the moment she hadn't stopped to think about what she was doing. Kissing changed things. It made the girl more attached to the guy, and the guy... only wanting more. According to Miranda, anyway. Lainey couldn't be sure what Armand wanted, since he had broken off the kiss so abruptly. She wondered if she did something wrong. Was she a bad kisser? Maybe he had second thoughts about their relationship.
Relationship, what relationship? Lainey chided herself. They hadn't even been on a date yet! What was she thinking?
She wasn't. When they first met at the Spaceport, Armand's dark eyes and thick accent had taken her breath away. Tonight, his gentle kisses and sweet words had taken her heart away. Lainey shook her head, wondering if she had fallen for him. He seemed to like her a lot, but then he had broken off that kiss.... Lainey clenched her fists in frustration. Not that line of thought again.
Lainey bumped into something hard, knocking her out of her thoughts.
"Hello," a deep voice said, vaguely reminiscent of Armand's accent.
Looking up, Lainey noticed she had run into a tall man, his dark hair shocked with lines of gray. "Sorry," she said flushed, casting her eyes down. "I um, didn't you see you there."
"That's alright," he assured her, resting his hand on her shoulder. "I guess I am hard to notice in a crowd of people." He bent down so that he could peer into her face, and froze.
Lainey's dark blue eyes met his, and the sixty-seventy year old man vanished into a young man, staring wide eyed at her as they met for the first time on the crowded street of Imperial City.
"What did you say your name was?" he asked, excitement bubbling out of his voice.
Lainey blinked, her answer still on her tongue. The image of the young man faded back into the old, and he stared at her through curious eyes.
"Have we met before, Miss..."
"Lainey," she replied quickly. "And I wouldn't know, Mr.-"
"Lunceford, Taren Lunceford." He gave her a warm smile. "You know, I have this very distinct feeling that we've met before." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Have you ever stayed at the Mayan?" Lainey shook her head. "Dated my grandson?"
Lainey blushed and shook her head again. "I honestly wouldn't know." She responded, though she knew they had met before, when he was much younger. But that didn't make any sense; he was at least forty years older than her.
"Well that's strange," Taren said, cocking his head. "I never forget a face."
Lainey shrugged her shoulders, trying to figure out what to say, when she felt her Master's approach. Saved from having to answer, Lainey turned to greet Corran. "Master Horn." She inclined her head.
"Lainey," Corran said, resting his arm around her shoulders. "Where have you been?"
"Talking to Mr. Lunceford." Lainey nodded to Taren.
Corran shook Taren's hand. "You two must have a lot to say. being gone so long." He raised an eyebrow at Lainey. He turned to Taren. "I was surprised to see your grandson at the Temple, Taren. Does Force sensitivity run in your family?"
Taren clasped his hands behind his back. "Yes, I believe my son had it."
Corran frowned slightly. "But he didn't train."
"Nope, but then I didn't encourage him either way." Taren sighed, "I've always thought Jedi training was rather...dangerous."
"Dangerous, why?" Lainey asked, then quickly added. "Besides the obvious."
"Well, my younger sister, Helaine, trained in the Old Republic. She was killed in the purges when she was only sixteen. My parents soon followed."
"I'm sorry," Corran said, then pressed for more information. "Do you remember anything about her?"
Taren shook his head. "I met her just once. Actually, I have been meaning to give Skywalker a letter and medallion she sent to our family."
Corran blinked. "You have an actual letter?" He asked, shocked. "You should probably keep it in the family."
"Perhaps, but it would be nothing more than an heirloom. I believe you Jedi could make some greater use of it." He sighed. "Not to mention that if I do not give it to Skywalker, Durron will probably come for it. And from what I hear of the diplomatic ways he acquires artifacts, I would have no choice in the matter."
"I'm afraid you are probably right about that," Corran said gravely. "You think Kyp will be coming to Coruscant soon?"
"No." Taren looked around, then lowered his voice. "I know he will be here," He paused, "Tonight."
***
"So, Cianna." Julya leaned forward across the table, her dark eyes sparkling. "What were you and Master Rhysode doing alone in the garden?" She waggled her eyebrows.
Cianna flushed. "Nothing. He's my Master."
"And that's supposed to mean..."
"That nothing can or should happen," Cianna said firmly. "You don't see anything happening between other Masters and Apprentices."
"No other Masters are so young and," Julya lowered her tone. "Dashingly handsome."
Cianna laughed. "Master Rhysode is definitely that, and he knows it too."
Smoothing the red satin of her dress, Julya grinned and nodded. "Men are always a pain when they're aware of their good looks."
"Nic certainly knows it." Cianna prodded Julya with a grin. "He and that senator’s daughter, Alia, are certainly hitting it off, don't you think?"
Julya turned her head, noticing Nic and Jariath both chatting with a red haired girl garbed in a rather low cut black shimmering dress. Her face was kind of plain, her pale green eyes barely sparkling when she smiled. Nic caught Julya looking at him, gave her an infuriating wink, and rested his hand on Alia's arm.
"You're much prettier than her," Cianna said, touching her arm. "You know, I almost think he is trying to make you jealous."
Julya folded her arms, her cheeks growing red. "Well, it's not working!"
Cianna raised an eyebrow. "Right..."
A protest stilled on her tongue with the approach of a young man in a rather tattered suit. If it hadn't been for the crisp walk, raised chin, and warm smile that reached his eyes when he caught sight of her, Julya almost wouldn't have recognized her cousin, Armand. "Julya!" He rushed to meet her, pulling her from her chair into a big wookiee hug. "How are you doing?" he asked, drawing back so he could meet her eyes. "Pavol told me you were here."
"I'm good, Armand," Julya replied, shocked at the informality of his greeting. "I take it you're doing well?"
"Wonderful." His dark eyes sparkled. He released her from his arms and nodded toward Cianna. "Aren't you going to introduce me to your lovely friend?" Without waiting for Julya to respond, he bowed formally to Cianna. "I am Armand Naberr," he said, taking her hand and kissing it.
Julya gave him a weird look, was that his alias? Any person with half a brain could guess he was a Naberrie... if they were versed in Naboo's monarchy. She held back a snicker.
"Cianna Darklighter," Cianna said, a faint blush touching her cheeks. She gave Julya a Who is this guy kind of look.
"Alright," Julya said, pushing Armand into the chair beside her. "Who is she?"
"What do you mean?" Armand asked evasively, a small smile never quite leaving his lips.
"You only act this annoyingly happy when you’re falling for some girl," Julya stated, irritation bleeding through her tone.
Armand raised an eyebrow. "And you're only this frustrated when you like a guy, who is clearly oblivious to it, or too stupid to realize how wonderful you are." He touched her hand, "Want me to talk to him?"
"No!" Julya exclaimed, throwing a cautious glance at Nic, who was staring at them with clenched fists and hard eyes. Julya's lip quirked. Was he jealous? Of Armand? Her own cousin... but he didn't know that. A sly grin tugged at the corners of her mouth as she grabbed Armand's hand. "Dance with me."
Armand allowed her to lead him to the dance floor, taking over only when the first bars of a waltz filtered through the room. Lowering his body, he slid forward with his knees, and rose up onto his left toes. "Julya," Armand said, sliding his left heel across the floor. "Who are we making jealous?"
"Julie," she corrected him. "And maybe I just wanted to dance with my cousin." Her right foot slid forward as she pushed on her left foot from heel to toe.
Smiling, Armand replied, "You usually wait for me to ask first."
Julie raised an eyebrow, peering over Armand’s shoulder as they rose up onto their toes, and swayed back down to the left. "Are you saying I was being 'improper?'" She asked in a somewhat high pitched, snooty tone.
Armand laughed. "I wouldn't have cared if you were."
"That's a welcome change." Julie winked at him, then frowned as she caught sight of Nic leading Alia onto the dance floor. "You see that girl in the black dress, and the tall guy with light brown hair?"
"I see them," Armand said, once again lowering his body to slide forward with his knees and raise up on his toes. "That's a nice dress she almost has on."
Julie laughed out loud. "Do you think she's pretty?" she asked after a moment, noting how close Nic was holding Alia, seeming to make sure Julie noticed.
"I do," Armand replied, steering Julie closer to Nic.
"Really?" Julie wrinkled her nose. "You don't think she has a kind of plain face? Or that her top teeth jut out too forward?"
"Her face is fine," Armand said, moving even closer towards Nic and Alia. "In fact, I wouldn't mind dancing with her."
Julie froze, realizing his intentions. "No..." She clung to his arm, but they had already reached Nic and Alia.
Armand gave them a warm smile, resting his hand on Nic's shoulder. "Mind if I cut in?"
Nic looked at Alia, who eyed Armand, then gave Nic an approving nod. "Not at all," Nic said, smiling at Julie whose already rosy cheeks turned a shade darker. I'm going to kill Armand, she thought to herself as Armand led Alia away from them, and Nic took her into his arms.
Copyright 2002 by Luney.
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