Locked And Loaded

Locke returned to his party. The numbers had increased, and he made a mental note of that, but it was what he expected. There was a certain calculus to arriving at a party. If you come too early you look too eager, as if not important enough to be needed elsewhere. Locke usually rolled his eyes as such game-playing. He began to mingle. The first person that looked worth talking to caught his eye. "Hello, I'm Locke Fluzhi, welcome to my party."

Linora blinked turning from the window she had been starting out. " Hello I'm Linora it's a lovely party." She said politely.

"Thank you." Locke smiled thinking how he'd actually had nothing to do with it.

"What planet do you represent... your highness?" He clearly wasn't sure on the protocol.

She blinked it had been a few days since she had been refunded to so formally. " Baklid... and it's ok to drop my title for now this is a party after all" She said.

"I must admit ignorance, I have not left Cantonica for other worlds much at all. Ironic you might say to be thrust among so many politicians from so many places. Please, tell me about Baklid." Locke replied.

" It's alright our home is not well known we are on the very edge of the outer rim. It's mostly jungles and mountains. There are several religious groups centered around the force. We are honestly a peaceful people. I would love to know more about Cantonica I’ve only traveled between my home and Coruscant." She said.

"People typically think of Cantonica for either its endless sands, the largest artificial body of water, or more likely the city of Canto Bight. It's a place solely focused on making people happy...for a price. People seem to be willing to pay it, so we've turned what could have been a forgotten world into a first-class travel destination. If you've never been, think of the most decadent, pleasure-filled experiences possible...that's what we have to offer. Anyway, as I alluded to, I'm quite new here, well, you knew that, that's the point of all this," He gestured to the party going on around them. "How long have you been working in the Senate?"

"A few years, how new are you to the senate?" She asked. She doubted that Canto bight had much to offer for her but her people may find the place a great travel destination. " it's alot at once to get use to. You find times were you are home sick" She said her gaze returning to the window. She was quiet a moment. " The position we hold carries a great weight" She added softly.

"Well, I've been on planet for less than a week. I haven't even gotten all my security clearances yet. I am hoping they arrive soon, as I would like to sit in and experience the next session." Locke noted the truth in her words about being homesick. For some reason, it hadn't occurred to him that others might feel the same way as he did. Even if people wanted to be on Coruscant, that didn't mean part of them didn't want to be elsewhere too.

"This is very important to me," Locke paused to try and add weight to his question, "Did you ever meet to talk with the previous Senator from Cantonica?"

" No I'm afraid not he was shall we say my staff deemed him a security threat and since his interest and mine never cross often I never really got much opportunity to meet him. Why do you ask" She said with a puzzled look. " I could ask my staff to dig further into your predecessors' information" She offered trying to be helpful.

"I ask because I know only there must have been a previous Senator, but now that you've given me a gender that is something." Locke realized his drink was empty. "Yes, any data you have would be appreciated. Now, this is a party after all. Let's do something fun. What do you do for fun?"

" fun umm... honestly I have not had time for fun in a long time. Being a princess has its cons" she said with a bright grin. It was not the full truth . " What do you do for fun. I use to play music" She said more truthfully.

"Music?" Locke smiled broadly. "THAT we have. Let's go, I have an idea. What this party needs is some FizzyBliss and I have several bottles of that in my personal collection, some better music, and a serious game of sabacc. I hope you brought some credits with you."

" that sounds lovely " She said with a grin as she followed him.