Ballad of the Winter Rose
A SW Rebels/Doctor Who Romance
Genre: Gothic romance, drama, hurt/comfort, dark fantasy, slight horror
Cast: Jorge Car'das- David Bowie
Pairings: None in this chapter
Chapter 41: The Return of Eli Vanto
Chapter Soundtrack: It's Hard Work! - Spirited Away OST
About a day after Thrawn and Minerva were back on the Chimaera, they received word the Captain Vanto would be returning to their fleet after Vader felt the young man was far too reminiscent of Doctor Who number 10 for his liking. That wasn't to say Eli had incurred the Sith Lord's wrath- far from it. Vader had been pleasantly surprised at the young man's grit and work ethic. He also knew when to keep his mouth shut, and this pleased Vader.
Piett had taken a shine to the lad, and had offered him a position on his flagship, but Eli turned him down. He was more at home on the Chimaera. Knowing Eli had once been head over heels for this Chiss, Piett asked him if it was more infatuation or lust. Eli had replied it had been a little of both. However, as Thrawn had no idea about social cues when it came to crushes (of either the heterosexual or homosexual variety), and only saw Eli as a friend and later on, trusted friend and brother, it took Colonel Yularen a while to explain to Thrawn what was going on with Eli.
Before the two had sat down (Yularen was Thrawn's student advisor during the latter's academy days), Thrawn had been quite concerned for Eli's mental state, unaware that he himself was the cause of it. The longing gazes, the blushing, the insistence of hand-holding, what did they mean?
Yularen had been straightforward, but kind with his explanations towards human sexuality and how it presented itself among Imperial human society. Yularen himself happened to be bisexual, and hated the Emperor's xenophobic views wholeheartedly. However, he treaded this line quite carefully. After Yularen's conversation with Thrawn, this Chiss immediately rectified the situation.
How long ago was that, Eli thought as he filled out the paperwork on his datapad in his office. Only a month had passed since his return to the Seventh Fleet, and not much had changed. Thrawn and Minerva had welcomed him back warmly, eager for news from Vader's fleet.
Eli said that there was nothing new really, except Princess Leia's sudden leave of absence from the Imperial Seante. Thrawn and Minerva figured Leia must have gone to either Dagobah or Tatooine to begin her Jedi training. Dagobah seemed safer because Kenobi and Luke were there, and history dictated that they could not meet yet.
It was around this time Governor Pryce decided to use Eli as her gofer, much to his dismay. It was a boring job, running errands and listening to Pryce practice speeches and editing her letters to Lothal's leaders of industry and philanthropic boards. However, it did give him a chance to spy on her for Thrawn and Minerva. In her office, she was much more relaxed and would gripe on end about how Thrawn and Minerva were mere stepping stones in her path to create her own Imperial fiefdom. Thankfully, she never mentioned his sexuality. For this, he was quite grateful!
One afternoon in the middle of September, Eli was awaken by an ensign. "Sir, there is an artist here." Eli was confused, why was there an artist on board? Had Thrawn commissioned a wedding portrait of himself and Minerva ahead of the wedding? No, they were attending a conference on Chandrilla regarding electromagnetic weapons and growing seasons on farming worlds. They would not be back until early October.
Pulling on a clean uniform, he left his quarters for the main hangar bay. Aside from the smaller capital ships and TIE Fighters awaiting deployment or being refueled, there was a small Nubian J-7 with a mother of pearl paint job. Extremely sophisticated for an already classic design. The original ship was sleek by nature, but such a paint job elevated the status from elegant to posh. The pilot, or who whom Eli assumed was the pilot, had just walked off the landing ramp.
He was of medium height, dark brown hair with matching eyes and fair skin. His blouse was knit shimmersilk with a leather jerkin worn over. His frock coat was fine nerf leather with fur lining. Woolen breeches and plain black boots. He was also wearing eyeshadow, blush, and lipstick. He carried himself like a well-born woman, but he was built like a top-level athlete.
Well, this is odd. A genderqueer artist, or is he androgynous, Eli inquired internally as he made his way towards the gentleman. Giving a nod, he introduced himself, "Welcome aboard the Chimaera, sir. I am Captain Eli Vanto. Who are you, and do you have business with us?"
The man nodded vigourously, "I do indeed, Captain Vanto. I am Jorj Car'das, galactically reknowned painter and artist. I have been commissioned by Governor Pryce to paint her portrait. I was informed you were to meet me here and take me to her."
Eli nodded, he had heard that name before and now he could put a name to the face. Thrawn had several of Car'das's miniature pictures in his apartment on Coruscant, and liked his work. If nothing else, the man was flamboyant, with his ship and personal style screaming "Look at me!"
Making their way towards to the elevators that would take them up to where Imperial High Command had their offices and quarters, all of the officers and troopers would stop and stare at Vanto and Jorj. It was at last they made their way to Governor Pryce's office.
She was expecting them, and she greeted them. "Jorj, so wonderful to see you. Please sit down, I made us some tea. Captain Vanto, please join us. As we agreed, you will paint my portrait here on ship instead of down on Lothal. The populace has been restless lately, so I have had to install a mandatory curfew. Was the trip difficult? For someone as flamboyant as yourself, you were not harassed by Konstantine's crew?"
"I assure you, Governor, I was not. To the contrary, I have been treated as a king."
Pryce nodded, eager to get the consultation underway. Part of her bedroom had already been configured into the scene she wished painted. Watching Car'das made sketches, Vanto decided Pryce was truly an ugly woman. It's wasn't her soul, it was the deadness of her eyes, the ill pallor of her skin, her perpetual scowl and that huge nose. Of course, plenty of people had large noses and good looking, but Pryce was not attractive. There was nothing of a natural beauty to her. Lynette Kai'ckul was a natural beauty, as was Minerva. Princess Leia of Alderaan was the Ur-example he could think of. At her best, Arihnda Pryce was plain. At her worst, something short of harridan.
Showing Pryce the initial sketches, she hummed and eyed the pencil marks critically. She made suggestions about her chin and eyebrows, the shade of her irisies, and what shade of pink her lips should be. "You need to tone down my cheek bones, they are not that pronounced," she stated.
Gesturing towards Vanto, "Study him for a second." Dragging the young man forwards, she sat him down on the stool, and Car'das commented, "You're a handsome bloke, now aren't you? Not many officers I have painted have bright eyes, very expressive. A widow's peak- now that's interesting. Fair skinned and a healthy pallor," he stroked his free thumb down Eli's right cheek, making him blush.
Jorj chuckled, he had that effect on many people. He informed Pryce he would tone down her cheek bones, and to expect her portrait within a month. In between, he would need to visit twice a week. She was keen to this, and she told Eli to schedule the appointments.
Confused about what was going on, Eli wrote to Thrawn and was thrilled upon getting a response the following morning:
17 September, IY 18
Dear Eli,
I received your letter last night, are you all right? Certainly, Car'das's behaviour towards you was too forward and could be considered borderline harassment. Pryce is pushing her boundaries here, if she allows this sort of thing to happen, please contact Captain Paelleon or myself immediately. We will see to it that whatever is going on stops immediately.
Minerva and I are doing fine, thanks for asking. Minerva found a wedding dress, and it looks stunning on her. (I am enclosing photos.) The weather has been dreadful, thunderstorms all month long. The food at the Governor's mansion is barely edible. The fish they serve us is overcooked, and the Romanesco is never pan fried to the point of being brown. Minerva has had to start cooking for the two of us, and the quality has gone up exponentially. I have cooked some meals myself, and now everyone wants to eat what we are having.
Sending you all our love and support,
Thrawn
P.S. Everyone keeps talking about my upcoming 'stag night'. What does a male dear have to do with the night before I marry Minerva?
P.P.S. From what I have learned about Jorj Car'das, he is genderfluid. I hope that helps.
In between reading the letter and Jorj's next appointment, Eli went to Yularen AND Piett. They agreed with Thrawn's advice, and spoke scathingly to Pryce about the unprofessional breach of decorum. Not only did she have to pay a six figure fine to Eli for 'emotional distress', Yularen registered her as a Level 6 Sex Offender. Level 6 was the lowest level for sex offenders, and not only was she registered all over Imperial space on ISB and COMPNOR lists, she was banned from hosting third parties on board Imperial ships without an ISB agent or the fleet's head officer present. In her case, that meant Thrawn and Konstantine.
Car'das did finish Pryce's portrait, but it shipped to the Chimaera via currier. It was an ambitious piece to tackle, Thrawn told Eli and Minerva when they saw it when they returned at the beginning of October. While not as horrible as first thought, it did not do Pryce any favors. At the end of a day, she was a plain woman whose cruelty and ambition shone through, no matter they medium.
