Twisting Words

[Darth Inheris]

Dice Thread​

To forge the evidence she intended to make, Saorise needed one thing: The Voice of the Lord of House Kuat. A clear voice sample, anyhow, with the right words to make it sound like he was supporting her rebuilding project. A little bit of editing, some subtle manipulation and extrapolation, and she'd have it as clearly spelled out as if he'd actually said it.

Trouble was, a voice wasn't easy to just catch.

But she had a chance. A ball, at House Kuat. Perhaps in bad taste given the recent attacks, but one that House Kuat was nevertheless staging, with invites for more than just the Ten sent out across the planet. That included herself, and a companion, of course. A fortuitous opportunity it seemed. One she wouldn't dare pass up.

Dressed in a fine, dark purple gown, Saorise entered the party, her friend on her arm, ready for the night,

"Well" she began, going over the details of the plan one final time. Best to be direct, she thought,

"We need to find Lord Kuat, and get him talking. Keep him talking at that. If we get enough words we can extrapolate a voice sample, but if we can get him saying the right words then we can edit those together too, make it all go much more smoothly. Not that he'll be easy to get a hold of so, let's schmooze a little shall we?" she said to Eddard with a hint of playfullness as the pair joined the party,

"And... have a little fun while you're at it"

@Nefieslab

 

[Eddard Thul Drast]

Eddard wasn't exactly in the best of moods but he supposed most people never saw him in anything but a foul mood so he wouldn't hold it against them for imagining that there was no difference between his current mood and the mood he usually had. Here he was playing the good politician and oh how it sickened him to be doing such.

He wasn't in the mood to be dancing or pretending to be having fun talking to fools about their inane little issues. He was here because someone he viewed as useful would be more useful if he went ahead and attended. Dressed in an expensive, fitted, suit, he looked the part he was sure. He sighed a little bit as he stood beside Saorise.

"... I despise parties like this." he admitted to her honestly, "I despise people like these and I honestly want to leave right now. But yes... let's get on with this."

He adjusted his bow tie.

"How do I look?"

Bow tie was probably a bit much.

@Nightfall

 

[Darth Inheris]

"Like the Belle of the Ball. Shall we?" she returned, though a little less playfully than before. Though to some extent she sympathised. The people were miserable, but the politics still held her interest enough to make it all a little fun. But, sometimes one had to suffer in pursuit of their ends. Tonight though that seemed to be Eddard. Poor thing, perhaps someone like Rowan would have fit the bill of the ball better. But nights like this could bring surprises, she knew that much from experience. Perhaps he'd have a chance to enjoy himself yet?

Coming down the stairs and into the main hall where the event was being held, the manor was every bit of style that a family like the Kuat's could afford to own. Resolutely modern, uncompromising in its straight edges and sleek steels and wooden finish, it sung of wealth and taste. Whether that was the taste of the owners or their designers was a question she knew to avoid though. Canape's and drink ferried past, a sharp and haunting sculpture sat in the centre of an interior water feature, cutting a striking figure in the room. And even more so before it did the figure of Lord Kuat, engaged in some idle conversation as he welcomed another pair into the party. Slick hair that had retained its colour far longer than most mens his age. Solidly built, fit, he was every image of a powerful Lord, and one that Soarise had yet to deal with on a personal level. This was her chance to impress,

"Ms Kallig" he spoke out to her from across the way, clearly he had done his research. Approaching him with a confident smile, Soarise readied herself for every effort to parlay "Your father and I were good friends. And this invitation was extended when he was still the Lord of House Dalaigh. I don't wish to see you at this event".

It took every effort on her part to deny her shock outwardly,

"My Lord" was all she could get out before turning away. Perhaps the man knew more of how events in her family had transpired than she had expected. This wasn't good.

@Nefieslab

 

[Pierre Lindegaard]

Something came up for Eddard, he had to leave.

Pierre Lindegaard wasn't very far away, he noticed what appears to be the Sith Crusader Saorise Kallig come to the ball as well. Pierre would join her before she be conversing with the Lord of Kuat. Pierre was dressed in a nice and fit suit that flattered his looks. A person like Mr. Lindegaard could have easily been living the high life and be invited to all these kinds of balls all the time. But like for most Corulag citizens, duty calls and he was more than happy to answer that call. The Sith Acolyte would have a blaster pistol in his pants pocket, as well as his two lightsabers hidden on his person. He could have just let them at home, but a Sith is always cautious. And he didn't see them checking for weapons at the front door so why not? He was also holding a glass of fine wine in his right hand. Another good thing about these kinds of things: Free drinks.

The Sith Acolyte would then see the Kuati bigshot call her over. Pierre didn't know who he was like Saorise did. But that guy sure was blunt about him not wanting to see her before turning away. This left Saorise more or less speechless. Pierre took one sip of his drink after he watched that 'conversation' go down, seemingly not bothered. There probably wasn't anything Pierre could do about it either at the moment. After the Kuat Lord went off, Pierre turned and asked Saorise "What was that all about?" Pierre asked her. Really, he knows little about Kuat (other than the fact it has shipyards), or it's politics (besides that it's shipyards are Kuat's government) or happenings (besides a terrorist attack on Kuat's shipyards). "What now?" he would ask before he would take one more swig of his drink.

@Nightfall

 

[Darth Inheris]

Saorise returned to the crowd in a huff, so briskly blown off by the Lord. She dared not stand for it, but there was no use in causing a scene now, not when there was still a chance,

“Pierre” she said, spotting an ally in the crowd as she moved through, taking a moment to regain her composure and try to figure out an alternative plan. Perhaps for now the direct approach would still work, it simply meant she couldn’t be the one to do it,

“Pleasant as this evening is, it seems I’m not the guest of honour” she replied dryly, taking a glass of wine from a tray,

“No chance you want to give him a shot? Ask him about the attack, or reconstruction, or hell any topic you like I just need to get a recording. If you keep him chatting I can get in close, pick up every word he uses. Get enough, and we can build a decent voiceprint” she explained,

“Worth a try?” Saorise said, slipping into the crowd. In a moment she’d been gone, lost in a dazzle of dresses and dinner jackets. More than used to taking her time in such company, Saorise approached the Lord without drawing a spot of attention. Recording device ready behind, she hoped Pierre could get the stuck-up gentleman chatting, and soon. As much as she could indulge in the frivolity, she meant to get to work.

@Faster Than Light

 

[Pierre Lindegaard]

"Easy" Pierre then smirked as he walked off towards the Kuati Lord. Pierre understands how rich people work, he will get him talking and that Kuati lady will get what she wants. As he would approach the man, the Sith Acolyte would take one sip of his drink as he would approach the man as he is talking some random topics with other presumably affluent people. "Hey there. Mind if I join you guys?" he in a casual manner said as the idle chatter quieted down to where he could say something without interuprted somewhile speaking. He would getting the attention of the Kuat Lord.

The Kuati lord saw him with Saorise, who the Lord doesn't like very much. "Pierre Lindegaard. Nice to meet you" he would extend his hand for a handshake to the Lord with his free hand "I must say, nice event you have going on here" he confidently said as he looked around at the scenery. The Lord didn't seem very impressed, especially given who he is with. "I'm sorry. If you are with Ms. Kallig then I'd rather not speak to you" the Lord bluntly said. Pierre was annoyed. His currently company then glanced at each other. Pierre isn't completely kicked out of the circle yet, but this is no doubt delaying things. He might have to try harder here. It only sunk in that the people of Corulag are different from those on Kuat, different culture.

That and maybe all the drinks Pierre had may have loosened him up a little too much.

@Nightfall

 

[Darth Inheris]

Lurking round the crowd, Saorise watched from the sides, following Pierre as he parted the way through the crowd and approached Lord Kuat and the little entourage the man had gathered. While Pierre's grand smile and open posture seemed to indicate success, the dour expression of Lord Kuat signalled her rather quickly that this was going nowhere, fast, and it kriffing well felt like it was her fault for it from all she could tell.

Saorise huffed into her glass and downed her sparkling. This was not quite the party she'd hoped, and she couldn't even pretend to enjoy herself with all this. She had a purpose in being here, and she damn well wasn't going to let it go that easily. Passing round the back of the group, looking as if she was investigating the great water feature in the centre, Saorise kept the recording device directed at the Lord, hoping she'd at least get some sort of usable voice sample from it all.

It was not to be however. She could hear the problem even from where she stood. A heavyset man in a rather garish suit and sash bellowed over every word the Lord damn well said, coughing, spluttering, laughing, shouting. There wasn't a good word in the damn thing, and all the while she'd apparently looked a little suspicious, a guard offering glances at her before she moved away, back to find Pierre,

"Kriff. Give it a shot, I'm getting nothing on this. I'll get you a drink in the meantime" Saorise set the recording device into the mans hands while giving a sympathetic smile. She needed something stiff before she gave this plan another try.

@Faster Than Light

 

[Pierre Lindegaard]

As Saorise appeared to walk by, keeping her voice down and discretely passing along the recording device, before she maybe moves along so Pierre can continue trying to sweet talk the Lord, Pierre's eyes have only momentarily left the Lord and now he is turning his eyes back on him, rolling his eyes after having been in close proximity of Saorise again, just to make it look like he is annoyed with her. He kind of is really.

Pierre Lindegaard then smiles at the Lord, confidently. He minded his body language and kept his cool, not overgesturing or anything, just playing it off cool. "Oh that woman? Meh. I don't know her. Just another woman to me." the Corulagi native would shrug his shoulders and then afterwards take another sip from his drink. The Lord would then smile, looks like he's buying the Sith Acolyte's words. Heh.

With the recorder close to the Lord, it should be able to capture the man in audio even with all the commotion and even that fat person who was fustrating Saorise a bit ago. "I am with the Corulagi branch of the Holonet News Network. I was just hoping to catch an informal word with you and enjoy the party. The Corulagi people are interested in what you are doing, what all plans you have for Kuat and her shipyards. Have anything you'd like to say" he would raise his glass close to him, about to go for another drink.

With that, the Lord isn't asking him to leave, he is infact inclined to answer without problems, believing his intent to be genuine.

@Nightfall

 

[Darth Inheris]

Stalking round the edges of the conversation, Saorise tried to listen in on what was being said. Pierre had done a good job, Lord Kuat was certainly talking, though maybe the wine had gotten to him or some such, because whatever ability he had to stay on topic seemed to have rapidly run out,

"... and of course Corulag is of vital importance to us, a good and valued friend, just as we hope we are to them, of course. And that, if you weren't aware, was established long ago, back when my fathers father married a Ms Henrietta of Corulag, alongside a rather large financing contract, made sure our worlds were bound by many things my friend, many things..." and so the man droned on. While he didn't avoid the reconstruction effort so much as talk around it, it felt as if perhaps his PR team had told him to avoid addressing the topic, and the man was sticking to his words.

Saorise wasn't bloody well going to let him.

Snatching another glass, she shifted herself through the crowd and found a group of wealthy looking patrons standing directly across from the Lord, joining in their conversation. Hopefully the Lord saw her, it would bring the topic to mind, make addressing it unavoidable. If Pierre could capitalise on this they'd be home free.

@Faster Than Light

 

[Pierre Lindegaard]

Pierre's smile continued as he was getting the Kuat Lord to talk. He would take a sip of his drink and then hear the man's words. First about the relationship between Kuat and Corulag and then he was becoming apparent he wasn't talking about what he wanted him to talk about. Just about his grandfather. Pierre tried to keep a warm expression but he couldn't help by have his eyes glance at Saorise.

Not wanting to hear any more of this, the Corulagi native has a idea that just might work. No one other than that woman seems to be force-sensitive. Not in their immediate vicinity anyway. Pierre, when the guy would take even the shortest of pause through the guy's speech, would then interrupt him before he could say anything else. "Excuse me sir. Sorry, but any chance you can tell me more about the reconstruction efforts?" The force stared pouring through Pierre's voice, combining his natural charm with the alluring power of the dark side to entice him into giving him what he wants. "I really would like to know" he said slowly as he commanded with the force.

His voice and tone might have sounded weird to the other people in the social circle, but it wouldn't appear anything more than that. The Lord wouldn't know what hit him as he is now successfully compelled to give him what he wants.

Hopefully this will be over soon.

@Nightfall

 

[Darth Inheris]

Saorise could see Pierre work his magic, even from a distance the change in the Lords demeanour was clear to someone looking out for it. Which was exactly what she’d needed,

“While I respect the efforts being made, there’s something about a minor house doing it that is less noble, more desperate. To me anyhow. While I’d be happy to assist on the efforts, I do have plans of my own. But we’ll see, I doubt it wil amount to much”

It wasn’t supper for the plan, Saorise knew it was never going to be. But all the ingredients were there to make it sound like he did, and that was all she could ask for. And with Pierre in so close, every word would’ve been caught clear as a bell.

She couldn’t help but smirk, knowing the stuck up Lord wouldn’t ever be able to stop what had happened today, and hopefully never even know.

A victory then. One on the way to more.

With a polite exit and a flourish of her dress, Saorise began to leave, catching Pierre’s eyes and making her way out of the main hall. Mission accomplished.

Perhaps they could celebrate somewhere away from all the pomp and circumstance after it was all done.

@Faster Than Light

/EndThread