Kessel Run Week Eight Challenge: Write a story of at least 400 words from the POV of a character you hate/dislike and make them sympathetic.

The Ballet (Borsk Fey'lya, Corissa Jade, Mara Jade Skywalker, Leia Organa Solo; approximately 12 ABY)

It was as New Republic councilor Borsk Fey'lya took the final step down the crimson-carpeted grand staircase to the gold-swirled ivory marble floor of the Coruscant Ballet Theater's lobby that he heard the voice.

"This new director leans too much on the Ba'lan style." It was a female voice, young, but surprisingly confident. "It's smooth, sure, but the composition isn't nearly as harmonious as it should be."

Shocked, Borsk spun toward the speaker before he realized it. "But no, I assure you! The Ba'lan style is essential for all proper ballet performances!"

The speaker and her companions, all Human females, turned to him, and Borsk felt his fur ripple involuntarily. He hadn't known that Councilor Organa Solo would be attending this performance, let alone her sister-in-law.

Mara Jade Skywalker raised an eyebrow at him, so very slightly that if it hadn't been for his many years dealing with Humans, he wouldn't have noticed it. "Councilor Fey'lya. I didn't know you were a ballet aficionado."

The young woman beside her—the speaker, since Borsk certainly would have recognized either Organa Solo or Jade Skywalker's voice and not gotten himself into this particular social quagmire—looked as shocked as he himself had felt upon her earlier declaration. "Mara! The Bothans have a long tradition of classical dance!"

Jade Skywalker turned her customary cool look on the other woman, who appeared not at all cowed by it. "Yes, I know. That doesn't mean every individual Bothan is knowledgeable about dance, any more than every individual Human is, or any other race."

The younger woman sighed heavily. "Yes, but come on, play the odds. He'd have to know something."

Organa Solo wore an expression of open amusement. "By that logic, I'd have to know something about it too, and I don't."

"Well, you will if you finish listening to me," the young woman informed her, without a hint of the respect most would show a high government official such as Organa Solo. Borsk's interest was well and truly piqued now. "And," the young woman continued, looking back at Borsk appraisingly, "apparently Councilor Fey'lya as well. It was Fey'lya, right?"

"Councilor," Jade Skywalker said, still cool. "You remember my sister, Corissa."

"Of course," Borsk said. It was even true, though he hadn't remembered her until Jade Skywalker's introduction. But now he did indeed remember meeting Jade Skywalker's family at some point. Her sister had, at the time, seemed—not indifferent, exactly. Vaguely distracted, perhaps. Certainly not very interested in the fact that she was being introduced to a New Republic councilor, which, Borsk readily admitted to himself, was rather irritating. He'd worked long and hard to attain such a position and the respect that went along with it. Now, though, Jade Skywalker's young sister was watching him with all the intensity of a prowling nexu.

It was fascinating and slightly unsettling, and Borsk had to concentrate on not letting his fur ripple again. "A pleasure to meet you again, Mistress Jade."

"Yes, never mind that," Mistress Jade said. The three of them were clustered around one of the standing tables that dotted the edges of the lobby, where patrons could enjoy a drink and conversation at intermission, or after the performance. Now she set her champagne flute down on the table, all her attention on the discussion at hand. "The Ba'lan style has its merits, to be sure, but artistically, it can be pretty sterile."

"Nonsense," Borsk replied, again shocked into engaging in a more casual level of conversation than he normally would with anyone but his very closest allies. "It is well known that the Ba'lan method of training gives the dancers a greater lightness in the performance itself, not to mention the speed of the dance!"

"It's true that Ba'lan offers a syncopated musicality, and I can appreciate the effect of the performance's asymmetry," Mistress Jade said, leaning forward, her eyes alight. "I'm all for an unconventional approach when it's done right. But the Vanova method gives a dancer an intuitive anticipation for how to use every part of the body to achieve breathtakingly elegant results onstage."

"And yet," Borsk countered, "it can be mundane, even hidebound, compared to the modernity of the Ba'lan-influenced troupe."

"Hidebound is a simply ridiculous characterization," Mistress Jade responded dismissively. "It's traditional, yes, but from the earliest training on, a dancer taught the Vanova method learns to be precise without sacrificing artistic integrity. You start with a strong classical dance foundation, and, with extreme attention to detail and precision, the individual performer learns to execute positions with ease, thus actually giving themselves more room for individual creativity within the requirements of the role and the narrative."

"I cannot argue with the inherent nobility and even tranquil feel of a Vanova performance," Borsk allowed. "But truly, Mistress Jade, you cannot wish for all troupes to adhere to tradition at the expense of innovation!"

"Of course not," Mistress Jade replied, actually taking a step forward, so caught up in the discussion was she. "There's room to meld the styles, and even take both of them further. But if an artistic director is going to go entirely with one style or the other, then I admit I prefer Vanova." She turned back to her sister, who now wore the tiniest of ruefully amused smiles. "Don't you think so, Mara?"

"You're just fishing for automatic support now," Jade Skywalker answered, taking a sip of her own champagne. "You already know perfectly well that I prefer Vanova."

"What do you think, Leia?" Mistress Jade spun on Organa Solo with all the speed of the night's prima ballerina.

Organa Solo glanced past her to Jade Skywalker, who said, "Vanova emphasizes soft and artistic precision. More formal and traditional. Ba'lan is faster and more technical, with pared-down aesthetics."

"Ah," Organa Solo said. Her politician's facade was firmly in place, and yet Borsk saw the tiniest crack in it, and felt a moment of self-satisfaction. For all her expertise in the political realm, clearly she was out of her depth in the artistic one. "Vanova, I suppose."

"There!" Mistress Jade spun back toward him in triumph. "Three to one, Councilor. Vanova wins the night."

"So it seems," Borsk said, amused despite himself. "Though I, for one, enjoyed tonight's performance greatly for all that."

"Oh, so did I," Mistress Jade said, lifting her glass to take a sip of champagne. "This was an excellent example of the Ba'lan style used effectively. But I liked last year's director better. If I ever choreograph," this to Jade Skywalker, whose usual implacable expression warmed perceptibly when turned upon her sister, "I'll definitely draw more on Vanova. But maybe with some of the Bournon method thrown in."

"I approve of this approach," Jade Skywalker said, with another tiny smile. "Don't you, Leia?"

Organa Solo gave her an exasperated look, which turned smoothly into a gracious smile as Mistress Jade looked to see her response. "Corissa's taste is impeccable. Clearly Vanova mixed with Bournon would be the superior choice."

Mistress Jade laughed, a clear, bell-like sound. "You only say that to be supportive, but it's still true. You'll see."

"You are studying choreography?" Borsk asked politely, yet with more than a modicum of genuine interest. "I would indeed appreciate seeing such insights as yours played out upon the stage, Mistress Jade."

She tilted her head at him, the red hair so like her sister's gleaming in the soft light that dominated the lobby. "I'm a dancer, myself. But I might get into choreography later."

"Or teach," Jade Skywalker murmured, taking another sip of champagne. "Or found your own troupe."

"Or all of the above," Mistress Jade retorted. "Unless you think I can't do it?"

Jade Skywalker gave her sister a broader smile than Borsk thought he'd ever seen her give anyone. "I think that you can do anything you set your mind to."

"As do I," Borsk said, sweeping her a formal bow. "It was an unexpected pleasure to be able to discuss the subject of dance with one as knowledgeable as yourself, Mistress Jade. Do please keep me informed of your sister's career, Mistress Skywalker. I greatly look forward to enjoying her performances in the future." He turned to Organa Solo, who swiftly lowered her raised brows and put on a politely composed expression. "I congratulate you, Councilor, on your good fortune in having not one, but two rather remarkable sisters-in-law."

The brilliant smile Mistress Jade gave him was nearly as satisfying as the bewildered look Organa Solo and Jade Skywalker exchanged behind her back. "I hope we see you here again, Councilor. Are you attending the performance of One Summer Afternoon in three months' time? Perhaps we could discuss it afterward."

"Corissa," Jade Skywalker said, a bit too swiftly, "We really should go. Luke said he'd have dinner ready for us half an hour after the performance, and it's almost that late already."

"Oh, yeah," Mistress Jade agreed. "I almost forgot."

"Good evening, Councilor Fey'lya," Organa Solo said, with exquisite courtesy.

"Good evening, Councilor Organa Solo," Borsk replied, bowing again. "Mistress Skywalker; Mistress Jade."

The three of them nodded, Mistress Jade favoring him with another bright smile as she did so, and walked off.

Borsk smiled to himself as he headed out of the lobby in the opposite direction, toward the parking facility that currently held his own speeder. Organa Solo was far from his favorite person; nor was Jade Skywalker high on the list of people he personally esteemed (remarkable, after all, had more than one shade of meaning), but Jade Skywalker's sister, now—

Well, it wasn't every Human who appreciated the Bothans' cultural contributions to the galaxy, nor every ballet attendee who truly knew what they were watching. It had indeed been a rare diversion to have a proper discussion on the subject.

Even if Ba'lan was still clearly the superior style.