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A Matter of Taste
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| Captain_Lennox | Date: Wednesday, 08 Jul 2015, 1:48 AM | Message # 16 |
 Ensign
Group: Users
Messages: 16
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| Lennox smiled as Bella handed him a glass of water, clearly knowing him all too well. Poor Bella, he thought, having to put up with his social drinking for so many years. It was funny, it occurred to him as he accepted the water gratefully, that she said he'd do fine without her. Clearly not. Without Bella, he would be without not just a glass of water, but also a friend—and the only person he could truly confide in. Violet didn't have the patience for anything more than the latest Core fashions or who married whom or who did what or whom at whose party. Obsessed with appearances, she wanted a husband who looked sharp in a Captain's uniform more than she had any particular desire for Clive personally. Neither of them knew the other especially well, and under the circumstances it was perhaps unsurprising that he'd taken to drinking socially.
He nodded in no particular disagreement with Cross, until he mentioned the tour of the Pradeux. Then he, too, rose from his chair to stretch his legs—quickly placing a hand on the table to steady himself. As was so often the case, one didn't feel the full measure of how much they'd had to drink until they stood up, but he hoped the gesture had gone unnoticed. "I, uh..." he said, thinking on his feet, "I'm still on Gall time, I'm afraid. And it's well past midnight at the Enclave. As much as I'd enjoy a tour, I may have to join you another time. Although, Bella—" he glanced in her direction, "—Captain Nelia, you're certainly free to do so if you'd like."
He really would appreciate a tour of the Pradeux, if for no other reason than to observe Cross's command style in action. But sobering up over the course of an hour or more of walking the length and breadth of an Imperial-class Star Destroyer wasn't the most enticing prospect at that moment, as Lennox felt sleep beginning to bear down on him.
Clive W. Lennox
Line Captain, Imperial 18th Heavy Attack Line
Victory II-class Star Destroyer Impavid
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| Bella_Nelia | Date: Wednesday, 08 Jul 2015, 11:47 AM | Message # 17 |
 Trainee
Group: Users
Messages: 9
Status: Offline
| It was difficult for her to be around Clive, at times, especially in such a friendly manner, and definitely alone as they were before Captain Cross arrived. His desire for her was not entirely one sided, although Bella was remiss in expressing how she felt. She always had been. Now that Violet, a wealthy Coruscanti socialite, was in the picture, Bella knew that she would never say a word to anyone about it, and nothing would ever come of her disregarded feelings, despite Clive's obvious disdain for the arranged marriage. It wasn't like she could even compete with the woman in any way, Violet was so far above her in class and station. Social obligations were not something that she entirely understood, as the military had been her entire life thus far.
That aside, it was no secret that Bella loved her career. She loved the adventure, travel, and excitement. Most of all, she loved her ship, Persephone. It had been largely rumored, that in the weeks before her first tour with Persephone, that she had lived on the ship and learned every thing that she could about her before stretching her legs in the galaxy. Persephone was Bella's ersatz relationship, and likely the only relationship she would ever have. It was rare that she ever thought much of it, because her career was so very important to her.
Clive's momentary stumble did not go unnoticed by her, though. Normally, it would have been instinct to help him, but he righted himself so quickly, that she kept her distance and let him take care of himself. "Are you sure, Clive?" Bella finally asked after he told her to go ahead with Malcolm Cross. Of course she wanted to go, there was absolutely no doubt about that, but she also wanted to be sure that he was alright first. "I thought you would have loved to have a tour of an Imperial Class." It had crossed her mind, several times, that once Clive was married he would likely be promoted into such a ship. Either that, or he would be promoted enough that he would be grounded on Coruscant- to keep up appearances with his new bride and her important family. Maybe it wouldn't happen, but money could go a long way in certain situations.
After the brief hesitation, Bella picked up both her hat and gloves before she gave a glance to Cross. "I would still very much enjoy a tour, unless you would rather wait until a day when both of us could come. Although, who knows how many more calm days we will have." She said, almost dismissively. Either way he decided, she would be just fine.
Captain Bella Nelia
Message edited by Bella_Nelia - Wednesday, 08 Jul 2015, 7:32 PM |
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| Captain_Cross | Date: Friday, 10 Jul 2015, 3:00 PM | Message # 18 |
 Ensign
Group: Users
Messages: 10
Status: Offline
| He sat in silence in his seat, observing the both of them. Lennox was a bit shaky when standing, although not blatantly. It was enough however to make him smile. He may have been a harsh man at times, but he understood the need to relax and unwind at times; especially lately. He took no issue with Lennox enjoying himself, as it did not interfere with his duty. He had never let himself reach the point Lennox was at now, however that likely had something to do with the men he served under for most of his career. Tarkin was a hard man to please, and let his displeasure be known when one was the cause of it. Serving under him lead to an existence in which one spent as much time fulfilling one's duty as ensuring one did not end up causing Tarkin displeasure.
After some thought, he rose as well. He glanced at both of them for a moment before speaking.
"I would prefer to give the tour to both of you, but I understand Captain Lennox if you are not feeling up to it at this time; I've found myself in similar circumstances before," he said, with a nod to Lennox.
"Captain Nelia, we can go now if you like."
Line Captain Malcolm Cross
Imperial Navy
Commanding Officer, Star Destroyer Pradeux
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| Captain_Lennox | Date: Thursday, 30 Jul 2015, 3:16 PM | Message # 19 |
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Ensign
Group: Users
Messages: 16
Status: Offline
| Lennox smiled a well-practiced smile he'd had to show at many social functions. Even drunk, he still had the muscle memory to execute it perfectly. "By all means," he waved a hand dismissively, "please do enjoy the tour. I have no doubt it will be most instructive—Captain Cross, you're certain to learn a thing or two from Captain Nelia about how to run a truly tight ship." The one last reference to the rumors of Cross's stern command style would probably not go unappreciated by Bella nor perhaps unnoticed by Cross. But, as Lennox watched the two of them leave, particularly Bella, he couldn't help but reflect that Cross seemed a far more benign man than he'd assumed—in the presence of his fellow officers, at least. One couldn't succeed under Tarkin as Cross had without a certain amount of ruthlessness, but even if Lennox suspected that there was another side to the man they hadn't seen tonight, and additionally that he knew things about the Death Star that he wasn't willing to divulge, ultimately he had only his suspicions.
He wondered what Bella thought of Captain Cross. Lennox had made a suitable-enough ass of himself that Cross had probably come across as genteel merely by comparison. She probably would be genuinely interested in the tour of the Pradeux, though. She had a patience—in fact, an enthusiasm—for such things that Clive simply did not. Perhaps it was because Bella had worked so much harder for her command of the Persephone, she appreciated it and other Imperial ships down to their every nut and bolt. Clive had been given everything he had, sometimes against his will. In this respect, he and Bella would probably always be different. But hopefully, he thought to himself, not irreconcilably so.
There wasn't much of the wine left. Lennox drank the remainder directly from the bottle, then smoothed the creases out of his tunic, gathered his gloves and hat and ran a hand through his sandy brown hair as he left the officer's mess en route to his private quarters.
Clive W. Lennox
Line Captain, Imperial 18th Heavy Attack Line
Victory II-class Star Destroyer Impavid
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| Bella_Nelia | Date: Friday, 31 Jul 2015, 8:25 AM | Message # 20 |
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Trainee
Group: Users
Messages: 9
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| Bella Nelia never handled awkward silences very well, so as the walked down the corridor with Malcolm Cross, she finally decided to break the ice. "Captain, I...wonder if you would permit me to apologize for Captain Lennox. He is not usually so...forward with his questions and I would hate to think that his questions may have made you uncomfortable. I understand that there are certain classified things that you cannot discuss." She started, though she wasn't quite finished.
"Although, we are all very curious about the Death Star, I will not lie about that. It is a fascinating, well, was...a fascinating..." She stopped, furrowing her brow as she thought. "Impressive piece of military equipment."
She he cleared her throat and turned her eyes forward again, feeling a bit awkward once more. Bella should have felt at ease with someone who, at least on the surface, appeared to be as like-minded as she. While Clive was her best friend, she knew his feelings on the Empire on occasion, and she did not feel the same.
Captain Bella Nelia
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| Captain_Cross | Date: Friday, 07 Aug 2015, 4:06 AM | Message # 21 |
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Ensign
Group: Users
Messages: 10
Status: Offline
| ((I should be able to get a post up Saturday. I ran out steam tonight, sorry.))
Line Captain Malcolm Cross
Imperial Navy
Commanding Officer, Star Destroyer Pradeux
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