Ask Outer Peace

[Maxims Tionson]

Max was trying his best to appear "Not like a Jedi" but he did have a minor advantage in that he hadn't repaired his lightsaber or replaced it yet. He had the parts available to do so but he just hadn't felt the need so far and this mission probably didn't require it at all. It was a mission gone terribly wrong if they suddenly needed lightsabers in the middle of a diplomatic mission to meet the leader of a free world.

Though it was also something that happened a lot within their time as Jedi so he didn't discount the chance that it might happen.

The waiting room he was currently cooling his heels in was rather nicely appointed it had to be said though it was a bit... large for his tastes. Art on the walls at regular intervals and some lovely chairs he didn't think anyone had ever actually sat in for decades at least. Furniture that was more of a decoration than a utility item was the symbol of class across the Galaxy in his experience.

Currently he was waiting alone but he knew that the Order had sent a couple others with him - but it made sense for them to arrive in a staggered manner to make it harder for someone to try and pin down that they were Jedi. So he waited and while he waited? He judged the choice in art.

"... awful lot of reds."

He didn't study art at college.

Spoiler: Mission Brief

With ongoing talks with the FWA regarding a more formal alliance, it is the Devaronians who must decide what happens on their world. Having already helped the locals while the temple was being explored, a delegation of Jedi meets with the local leaders to ensure they are on board with the Jedi having a secret presence on the planet.

@Logan @Corbeau

 

[Fiach Dubh]

Fiach had negotiated before. As a Padawan she was forced to speak on behalf of the Order when her Master was removed from the conversation. With the benefit of hindsight, she suspected they felt she would reveal any dark secrets the Jedi were harbouring. What the powers that be hadn’t realised was that Fiach only spoke the truth. Or at least, she never lied. Which was not precisely the same thing – as anyone who has had to agree terms with the Hutt would tell you.

So, she knew her presence was not to be lead in the conversations – but an able deputy should the need arise.

She noted she was second to arrive and was taken to a room that already housed a Jedi – one whose Force presence she recognised before she saw him.

She gave a brief nod as she joined Max. She was wearing her usual garb – and her saber and shoto well hidden. In her experience, the more mundane the mission was on the briefing, the greater the need to bring them along.

Given her disposition, she saw what she always saw in such circumstances – a room. Her own quarters were spartan to say the least. Growing up impoverished meant she believed that credits were to be spent on necessities. Chairs were to sit on. Anything hanging on the wall was to hide a hole, or stain or similar.

But she noted Max was taking interest in the wall hangings and so, as she approached him, she took notice of them.

“They’re very…red,” she shared. It was the best she could offer.

@Nefieslab @Logan

 

[Ahri Vos]

Of all the missions she could have been assigned, Ahri couldn't help but find herself just ever-so-slightly annoyed by it being not but boring diplomacy. It was probably the most insufferable part of being a Jedi if she were being honest, but she understood its importance and necessity. She just wished it didn't have to be so kriffing boring.

Ahri arrived several skips behind Fiach, noticing the other two Jedi admiring a work of art as she approached behind them. Eyeing the piece of art, Ahri actually found it.. not bad. I could see hanging that up in my apartment, She said, cracking a smile. I need a better paying job.

Before she could say much more, a protocol droid.. who was also colored red for some reason, approached them with a stiff wave of its arm. At first, Ahri's eyes widened in suspicion, but that quickly faded as she realized she just hadn't recognized the droid at first because of the red arm.

Greetings, I am R-3PO, diplomatic relations. Unless you have any questions, I am here to escort you to your meeting.

Shrugging her shoulders, Ahri looked towards either of her compatriots to take point on this one. Lead with your best foot forward and all that.

@Nefieslab @Corbeau

 

[Maxims Tionson]

Max nodded to both of the newly arrived Jedi and he would admit that the art probably would look good somewhere. He had been staring at it long enough that he was reasonably sure that it was actually supposed to be a sunset made entirely out of thin lines of paint. Reds and oranges turning to yellows… if he didn’t have such terrible experiences with the colour red he would have called it calming.

“You’d need a bigger apartment.” He joked back to Ahri, “Even a Master’s apartment isn’t big enough for this one… maybe the Council have rooms big enough?”

He’d seen Hannibal’s new quarters once or twice and they were slightly bigger but still nothing to say was impressively large. Raising an eyebrow at the droid as it appeared, he nodded his head in understanding and followed without a word. He did, however, have to admit that a thought stuck in his head.

So much red.

Max led the Jedi delegation behind the droid, large doors opening ahead of the droid to reveal another large room. This time it was dominated by a long table which had been covered with a fine array of foods and drink. Across the table from the three Jedi sat three Devaronians all dressed in fine clothing and wearing different expressions. The one in the centre was a Devaronian male wearing a broad smile, the one to the right a female with a scowl and the one to the left another female with a bored expression.

Max almost didn’t need the Force to know that one of them was slightly excited to see them while another was weakly opposed to them on some principle and the other… didn’t care much at all. The central Devaronian smiled and gestured.

“Jedi! Please sit and ease yourselves! We have much to discuss and none of it should be done on an empty belly or without a drink in hand!”

A welcome Max could get behind – the Master bowed his head and pulled out a seat opposite the Devaronians.

“Your generosity is heart-warming, thank you very much.” He answered as he took his seat, “But we come with an offer for a shared future.”

Rather than the disapproving one speaking, it was the one who appeared slightly disinterested. She sipped at a glass of wine before speaking.

“A shared future… and why should we wish such a thing?”

@Corbeau @Logan

 

[Fiach Dubh]

Fiach raised an eyebrow at the concept of owning any artwork, let alone this. But she understood the concept of beauty being in the eyes of the beholder, so she reserved judgment on anyone owning such a piece. What she struggled to understand was the price that works of art fetched – credits that would build a hospital…or two.

But before they could begin a conversation in earnest, a droid arrived and Fiach shook her head softly at the request for any questions.

She fell into step behind Max as they followed the droid, and remained silent as they walked, instead focusing her attention on her surroundings – checking for security, escape routes etc. Some habits died hard.

Finally, they reached their destination and it should not have been a surprise that it was another large room – and a further display of opulence. Given her frugal upbringing and spartan existence, she actually found it distasteful and she mused how many villages could be fed for a week on the spread that was laid out.

Fiach took a seat once Max did and kept her usual soft smile on her lips. Unlike usual, this was not natural, but she believed it was necessary. She was finding the whole process uncomfortable and hoped Max could not only take the lead, but resolve matters swiftly.

Clearly Max was versed in the art of diplomacy – and she hoped to learn from him. So, unless directly addressed, she resolved to remain calm, polite, friendly and above all silent.

@Nefieslab @Logan

 

[Ahri Vos]

It seemed that just as Ahri got settled into her chair that the negotiations started up and, almost unsurprisingly, they hit their first roadblock. She supposed it was possible that the Devaronian diplomat was just doing her due diligence, but based on her attitude, Ahri figured it might be more than that.

Sith love the color red, you know, Ahri said with just a hint of a smirk before partaking in some of the wine available on the table. It was also red, but that was fine. White wine was for rich women on diets. Having committed allies in these trying times can be invaluable.

The diplomat with the scowl spoke up now, their mood somehow seeming to worsen. And what do you know of Devaron's allies? They said, coming oh-so-close to hitting the table with their fist. We are fully capable of defending ourselves from even the Sith.

Placing her glass back on the table, Ahri looked at the diplomat and gave them a reassuring look. I meant no disrespect, of course. Sort of lie.. but not totally a lie? I meant only to stress the concern that the Sith are becoming more bold and more aggressive. History tells us that the only way of defeating them is for as many of us as possible to work together.

The scowling diplomat's face softened a bit as she mulled over what Ahri had said. The shadow of the Empire still had reach even so far removed. A galaxy shrouded in darkness was something no one wanted, no matter how proud.

So my question would be, why wouldn't you want such a thing?

Ahri hoped that either Max or Fiach would pick up the diplomacy from here. She really just wanted to get at some more of that wine.

@Nefieslab @Corbeau

 

[Maxims Tionson]

Fiach wasn't saying anything and if the unease he was sensing from her was any indication it might have been a good idea for her to relax slightly first. Speaking from experience, Max was aware that the first instinctive reaction was usually the wrong one to follow. That she hadn't done so was reassuring and he gave her a slight smile.

Ahri was far more forceful - in just the right ways.

"Oh let me think." the scowling diplomat responded sarcastically, "Why would we not want to ally ourselves with a group of Force Users currently at war with another? Hmm shall we have a very hard think about that for a moment?"

Max raised his hand for peace just as the other Devaronians did to their own diplomat. Tempers might flare up but the whole point of having the meeting was to see it, somehow, resolved in a way that both parties benefited from.

"While our Order might openly stand against the Sith - they haven't made any bones about attacking neutrals before." he reasoned with a small frown, "Ryloth is a good example of it being repelled but still."

The more measured diplomat spoke up at that point.

"Neutrality may well be foreign to the Sith but it is not to us - how do we know we will not be targeted more than a neutral world if you side with us? Would your presence by covert or overt?"

@Logan @Corbeau

 

[Fiach Dubh]

Fiach took a glass of water. She was not a teetotaller by design, but by circumstance. She’d joined the Jedi at a relatively early age, from an impoverished background – and from a desert planet. Drinking anything that dehydrated was not only wasteful but foolish.

So, alcohol was not something she even considered drinking – and given she saw nourishment as fuel and fuel alone, her glass of water was both practical and sensible under the circumstances.

Ahri opened the dialogue and Fiach kept her face as neutral as can be. Clearly the Jedi believed in being honest to the point of being confrontational. It was a bold tactic and Fiach eserved judgement on its effectiveness until she saw how the conversation played out.

If nothing else, it by-passed the pointless pleasantries that often delay the real talk – and for that, Fiach was truly grateful.

In a form of tag-team, Max spoke next.

Finally, Fiach felt obliged to add something to the debate that was unfolding. Her voice was calm and measured, her face passive.

“History has many flaws,” she responded to the last comment, “such as being written by the victor. But a longer-term viewpoint can identify traits. And behaviours that last millennia are not to be ignored. The Sith are self-seeking, that much is clear to an historian. They seek power and will stop at nothing to gain power. They have never sought to carve up the galaxy based upon enemies, allies and neutrals. To the Sith, everyone else is unworthy and shall be subjugated. The Sith seek to rule the galaxy, no more and no less. That much has been evident since they came into existence.”

@Nefieslab @Logan