Open Press Conference: President Thorne

[Emryc Thorne]

OOC: Open to journalists/reporters only....and I guess the fan club.​

Emryc despised these, but he knew it was far more tactical to get ahead of the speculations that would no doubt come out in tabloids. The sanctions against the Sith was a vote that threw the galaxy for a spin. He received overwhelming support and praise from the citizens in the FWA and New Republic worlds, but there were also concerns from citizens within his own worlds that feared moving into strikes against the Sith. The half Sephi had to tread this carefully, especially as the vultures would swoop in with accusations that the ISC was split with him against everyone else.

Emryc smoked two cigarras in succession after he stepped out of the Senate chambers, exhaustion beginning to set in after the very long and bitter session. He knew the shipyard Senators were absolutely fuming about his vote. They had all been banking on him being the fall guy for this motion not passing. The half Sephi leaned against the wall of an alley, blowing out clouds of smoke as he considered the economic aftermath that would follow. The Core would feel the pressure the most economically, and there would be outrage especially amidst the shipyard planets like Kuat and Fondor. ISC worlds were largely agricultural, and in truth despite the logistics implications, they weren’t going to be impacted nearly as much as the rich Core.

The half Sephi put out his second cigarra and made his way over towards the podium waiting for him. He decided to entertain the press as soon as possible to get ahead of the narrative. If a story was going to come out, he wanted to help shape it.

The half Sephi set his hair in place and stood behind the podium, gazing out at a sea of reporters already gathered there. He didn’t have any dramatic statements or speeches to make.

“Fifteen minutes for questions,” Emryc said after a moment of silence. The crowd went wild.

 

[Voren Dhur]

These self entitled freaks just love the sound of their own voice. But hey, 'spose that's their gig no? Talk a lot of shit and pray people believe it. At least this one's easy on the eye.

---

Voren had arrived at the press conference as one of the first attendees, he'd been shooting up in the loo of the center when someone had buzzed him to let him know what was going on.

Day ruined.

He took his seat fast, ignoring the hushed murmurs of some of the other journalists present, half of whom hated him, the other half wanted to be him.

"President, Voren here from the Herald. Thanks for giving us fifteen minutes out of your busy schedule, I imagine the rest of your days filling up. My first question - could you explain why you voted a different way to the ISC Governors, who unanamously opposed this motion today? Do you think you still have the confidence of your government?"

"Secondly, what sort of changes are you looking for to these sanctions? You mentioned exceptions for the ISC on the senate floor."

"And thirdly, what message do you think this sends to the Sith Empire, that you vote yo sanction them, but your Governors don't - and to the FWA and NR, when you vote to stop arms being sent to their enemies, but your Governors vote to continue that trade?"

 

[Emryc Thorne]

“I will be answering your questions in descending order if that’s all right,” Emryc began, “To your question around the message being sent to the Sith empire and the concerns around Governors continuing the trade - I’d like to state that, to my knowledge, the ISC has no dealings with the Sith. As I stated in the last Senate session, the ISC firmly believes in trade amongst itself. We are on a path to prioritize our economy and make it a thriving ecosystem that will not collapse without a reliance on foreign governments. While it has been an uphill battle, it confirms that even from back then, based on our principles, we do not have dealings with Sith,” Emryc was even tempered as he spoke, though exhaustion was clear on his face, “This leads very nicely to your question number 2.”

Emryc paused there before he continued, “The reasons the Governors would have voted against it is not because they favor Sith and would suddenly begin trading with them, but because the worlds in the Outer Rim simply do not have the same infrastructures and supply chains set up like the Core and Free Worlds. There are a lot of planets within our borders that are still just now working to set up basic logistics around tracking and monitoring goods. The sanctions add a whole layer of complexity to the ISC worlds that most of the NR and FWA worlds simply do not have to contend with. The sanctions could have been against anyone - Syndicates, Corporate Sector, any group - and the governors would face the same logistical nightmare of instilling an infrastructure where there isn’t one in many places. That has been a goal for us from the beginning, but these sanctions force that process to be expedited so we have to rapidly bolster our Ranger and auditing capacities along with ensuring a lot of the less economically advanced planets know how to implement these laws,” Emryc thought back to his comments on the Senate floor, “By exceptions, I would like for there to be extra time allowed to build up the processes necessary to support the sanctions and enhance better recordkeeping diligence. Quite frankly, it doesn’t exist in a lot of our worlds right now like it does in the Core and FWA as Senator Starros had assumed. I will be leaning on the FWA and NR Senators to be transparent about their practices so we can learn from them on the best approach to execute on these sanctions and vice versa. Unfortunately, many times proposals are brought to the Galactic Senate that are very tailored to serve FWA and NR agendas and don't factor in the additional, unique challenges many ISC worlds face."

The half Sephi really wanted another smoke at this point, “This leads nicely to your very first question - I voted differently because I do not wish to remain silent on the topic of the Sith. While my reasons were largely because I would like to see better monitoring and bookkeeping practices implemented within our worlds, I know that there is the sentiment that being near Sith space puts us at risk of inviting a war on our doorsteps when we are already at conflict with the Syndicates if we vote on anything against them. That was also a factor in how the Governors voted, and it is a sentiment that can be, as I hope you can understand, justifiable when conflict does not exist today,” Emryc paused there for a bit, “I am hoping to change that perception beginning with me. I am confident that once we deliberate as a collective group, we will address any concerns they may share. As a reminder, the ISC prides itself in the voice of the individual governors. I do not speak for them and we will have disagreements as we have before. However, we remain united as a governing body and I am confident I will continue to have their support and backing, along with the citizens of the ISC that have placed their faith and trust in me since I took office.”

@Nor'baal

 

[Pootalina]

Pootalina is approaching...​

A certain odor would begin to manifest amongst the excited crowd of reporters as someone far in the back began to push their way forward. The figure, as it got closer and closer, only got bigger and bigger. By the time it pushed well enough through the crowd that details could be made out, the alien creature was standing well over six feet in height. A bright blonde wig was plopped onto their wrinkly head, and wispy bangs brushed the eyelashes on the one eye they had.

Pootalina, as many might recognize, was the unstoppable force which had just split the crowd of reporters in two with both her size and stench. Those behind her would not have even a moment to raise their voice or fists to retaliate against her intrusion, because a nearly silent squeal would escape from behind her.

She tended to fart when she was excited... but she couldn't help it! Oh, how excited she was to see her Emy-poo in public! How wonderful was it that she could gaze into his mysterious and handsome silver eyes? It was a blessing to even be in his presence, and thus she could feel the electricity of excitement coursing through her veins and out her behind.

"Emryc! Emryc~!"

Her voice, though her throat was perfectly lubricated, called out like the voice of a woman who had been smoking for over 60 years. It wasn't particularly loud in the crowd of reporters coughing, hacking, and dry-heaving from her stench or shouting questions in the ISC President's general direction, but it was there.

If he didn't notice her futile attempt at calling over the crowd, he would certainly see her figure (and maybe even smell her first) as she came barreling all the way up, stopping only when she was unable to get any closer. Whether it be the rise of the stage or security personal, she would make little hops in place. With each landing, another puff of gas might escape from her rear.

"Here! Here! Emryc~~!" Her voice permeated the air, as did her gas. "HowdoyouthinkthefinancialimpactofthisresolutionontheCorewillimpacttheISC, and if it does so negatively, is it true that you plan to do a photoshoot for the men's underwear company Bashful in Boxers to raise money for unemployed families? Is Bashful in Boxers truly your preferred underwear brand, or do you prefer the more tight-fitting Hunks n' Chunks boxer line that was founded in the ISC three years ago after its CEO was inspired by your physique?" She spoke quickly to get through the political stuff so she could hopefully get an answer to his favorite underwear brand. Pootalina could feel her heart begin to race and her eyes widened as she stared up at him with the utmost intensity. 'Wow! He's so handsome! I'm so close to him!'

As she awaited an answer, she took a whiff of the air. His cologne filled her olfactory glands and caused her to feel light headed. 'He smells so good...' What a dreamy man!

tag: @Sreeya

// If you have encountered Pootalina, you may be entitled to financial compensation.

 

[Elora Trevino]

"Watch where you're going, you son of a bantha!" Elora screamed at the Twi'lek seated behind the wheel of the hovercraft that had almost run her over. The reporter stared down at her pressed shirt, now stained from collar to hem with hot, fresh caf.

"Blast," she muttered to herself, depositing the remaining caf atop the hovercraft's hood as she hurried across the street.

Already late to the press conference, this morning simply could not get any worse. Her yellow eyes spotted the all too familiar face of Voren Dhur through the crowd of gathered reporters. Or maybe it could get worse.

Of course he's already here, she huffed to herself, tucking a strand of loose hair behind her light blue ear. Not a patient woman, Elora waded through the group of reporters, intent on reaching the front.

Maybe her morning could get a whole lot worse.

A foul, pungent odor hung in the air. So prominent and protuberant that it nearly clung to your clothing—to your very soul.

Elora gagged once. Twice. Three times. Her hand clutched her chest as a coughing fit overtook her, her entire body violently protesting the repugnant air that had filled her lungs.

The edges of her vision darkened, and for a moment she felt as if she were dying. The Pantoran wasn't ready to die. There was still so much to see, still so much to do. Was this really how it would end? Was it really her time to go?

She reached out to the person nearest her for support, withdrawing her hand the next moment in disgust. She stared in disbelief, her yellow eyes widening as she looked at her hand, now coated in a shimmering, glistening mystery goo. Warm, sloshy slime dripped from her fingers.

"What the..."

Slowly, her yellow eyes traveled upward, tracing the massive, bulbous frame of a monster. Nay, something worse than a monster. A small, terrified shriek escaped the Pantoran's lips before she pressed her eyes shut as if that could cleanse her memory. No, she would need therapy for that. Lots and lots of therapy. Maybe electric shock therapy.

Retreating a few steps backward, she felt her way through the crowd until she was closer to the front. Only then did she allow herself to reopen her eyes, staring from a safe distance at the humungous creature that towered above the crowd.

She... it... whatever it was waved a Emryc Thorne flag as it spoke directly to the ISC President. Apparently they were on a first name basis. Late and thoroughly distracted, Elora only picked up the last few words the creature spoke.

"President Thorne," Elora began, attempting to turn her recorder on with a slimy finger. "Do you expect open war between the Sith and the ISC now that you have sanctioned the Sith Empire?"

The Pantoran's yellow eyes darted toward the slimy creature every few seconds, just to make sure it had not moved any closer. If it did, the reporter would have no choice but to make a run for it. She pointed toward the creature, daring to acknowledge its presence. "And can you confirm or deny that this is your fiancé?"

@Sreeya @Nor'baal @lizziie​

 

[Emryc Thorne]

Emryc could smell her long before she arrived, though her massive frame cut through the crowd like a saber through butter. It was a testament to his years of training that he kept a perfectly measured demeanor as the chaos erupted before him. The half Sephi felt the guard droids shift and move closer to him as they clearly began to register Pootalina as a threat. Though his face revealed nothing, his ears almost began to flatten as the disgusting stench assailed his nostrils.

He could hear and see other reporters in the crowds coughing, hacking and dryheaving. He was sure he could see one of them lying on the ground, presumably unconscious or perhaps even dead. Emryc looked at the behemoth of a wermal, silently pondering on why she was so obscenely large. Then again, he too was large for no good reason. Was this how others perceived him? Wondering why he was so massive for no real purpose other than to fill up space? Emryc stood in silence as he analyzed this curious creature before him, actually rather fascinated as she managed to make him pose questions against himself.

What was Pootalina? What did she represent? What got her out of bed every morning? He did. Emryc wanted to understand what he had done to inspire this kind of fanatical loyalty. What could he do to inspire entire groups of people to be like this? Entire civilizations? Unquestionable love and devotion. It was something the greatest Sith Lords could only dream of. He didn’t care too much for her stench or her appearance, but Pootalina was someone he wanted to study more than she would ever know.

The first part of her question was all but vomited out and Emryc’s brows rose slightly as he failed to make out what was said. However, the question about the type of underwear drew out some blinking in response. His aide began to step in to remark on inappropriate questions but Emryc raised a hand to wave her away.

“Actually,” Emryc began with a polite smile, “I’m very partial to Green Gents. It’s an eco-friendly, vegan product line that does not do any kind of animal testing and uses only natural and recyclable ingredients with a percentage of their profit margins going towards efforts to reduce our carbon footprint. You can follow my endorsements on my vegan fitness Galaxygram.”

The half Sephi next glanced over at the Pantoran reporter, “It would be foolish of the Sith to risk open war on three potential fronts,” Emryc said confidently, “However, that does not mean we will grow complacent. Our defenses are stronger and more prepared than ever should the Sith seek to retaliate in any way.”

Her second question resulted in a blank expression from Emryc. He checked his chrono and still had a few minutes left, and he did promise them this time. With a sigh, he leaned forth towards the mic to answer again, “I would ask that you treat Miss Pootalina with respect and direct your questions to her in a private interview if you wish. And no, we are not engaged. I wish her all the best and I support the work she and her club members do. The fanclub has raised millions of credits for clean water to be supplied to impoverished regions among several other charitable causes I support. In fact, let’s have a round of applause for Miss Pootalina,” With that, Emryc began to clap as he gazed back at the Wermal and nodded. He looked across at the sea of reporters that stared at him in shock, half of them passed out, some vomiting in the corner, others wiping tears from their eyes at the noxious fumes. The half Sephi was unfazed, enthusiastically clapping.


@lizziie @llamallove