You are sitting on the floor reading up on the planet Sosa and its politics when Mira walks into your room to help you get ready for dinner.
While studying, you had learned that the current King of Sosa was named Drystan, and his wife the queen was named Marzena. Drystan was a burly man, with a strong face. He had a well-built jaw and a slightly overly large nose. His skin was dark, like all the people on Sosa. The people's skin had been turned nearly black by constant exposure to the sun.
By all accounts, the king was fair and just but tended to be stubborn. He held to their planet's ancient traditions, often resisting change. He was reluctant to welcome new religions and technology, thinking that their planet would be stronger if they did things as they always had.
King Drystan had three children. The oldest and his heir was named Quillion, he was 27. Quillion was more flexible than his father, seeing the reason in doing was best for the planet rather than holding on to outdated tradition. The crown prince had more angular features than his father, and in recent years had grown a goatee. You liked him slightly better without it. Krys was three years younger than his older brother and took more after his father both in looks and political views.
The youngest child was a daughter. Her name was Suri, she was 19. She also happened to be gorgeous. Suri's skin was flawless and dark, her hair was cut to end just above her shoulders, and sported metallic gold highlights among the dark black. You decided you didn't like her very much.
As Mira did your hair and makeup for the welcome dinner later that evening, she tried to convince you to wear the skimpy clothes she had packed for you.
"They make it look like I'm trying way too hard," you protest. "I'm not trying to win anyone over, I'm already engaged."
"That's no reason to dress in boring clothes," protested Mira. "And anyway, if you don't wear them, why did I pack them?"
You turn in your seat to look at your maid. "You know, I don't have the slightest idea why you packed a bunch of bikinis. I'm certainly not going to wear them."
"Ok, maybe nothing too forward for your first day here," said Mira. "How about these flowy robes, they're red with white and gold accents, so you won't be matching Thrawn's Grand Admiral uniform perfectly, but you certainly won't be clashing."
You study the clothing Mira holds up, it's modest, covering you down to your ankles. It is a beautiful garment, and you nod your head in agreement. "That's what I'm talking about."
After you are dressed and Mira has done your hair, you hear a knock on your door signifying that Thrawn has come to escort you to dinner.
You open the door tentatively, realizing that you genuinely care what Thrawn thinks of your outfit. The Chiss general stands in your open doorway for a few moments, studying you, before holding out his arm. "Let us depart."
You study him out of the corner of your eye. You're not used to being this close to Thrawn, but you find that you don't mind. You can feel Thrawn's well-muscled arm through his uniform and idly wonder what it would be like to be held by those arms. You imagine you would feel safe, those strong blue arms would protect you.
You mentally shake yourself, if you're not careful you're going to end up as bad as Mira.
Thrawn pauses momentarily in his measured strides, tugging on your arm slightly to bring you to a stop as well. He then points out a mosaic on the wall. The mosaic is made out of broken glass and pottery. It depicts a desert of red sand, most likely the desert just outside the palace. There is a small caravan of dark-skinned people riding horned beasts.
"Tell me what you see," says Thrawn.
"Well, it looks like people native to this planet are traveling across the desert," you reply. Not entirely sure where he might be going with this.
"What else?" asks Thrawn, still studying the mosaic himself. "Note the medium of the piece."
You tilt your head to the side. "It's made out of glass and pottery. Just random broken pieces, as if someone accidentally dropped their dishes and decided to make art out of the pieces. Broken pieces coming together to make one beautiful work of art."
Thrawn nods encouragingly. "And what could that represent?"
You rack your brain, not sure what Thrawn is getting at, but not wanting to disappoint him either.
"Is Sosa a wealthy planet?" you ask Thrawn.
The Chiss seems to consider the question. "Sosa is a wealthy planet, but this is a fairly recent development.
75 years ago a vein of very durable and costly metal was discovered. The entire planet prospered. Most alive today will not remember a time before this wealth."
"But their art styles might still reflect it," you murmur. "Or this could be more than 75 years old. Maybe the art represents that. The glass looks randomly broken because originally that's what it was. People weren't wealthy, so they made do with what they had. If you broke something made of glass, you could give the pieces to an artist so they could do something useful with it."
"Interesting observation," said Thrawn. "Let us continue to dinner, we wouldn't want to be late."
You notice that he never told you what he thought of the mosaic, or if your theory was right. It seemed like a bit of a stretch to you, but it was the best you could come up with.
You and Thrawn enter a dining room of some sort. It's very large, with one entire wall being made entirely of glass. There was a table with chairs along one side, the other side presumably being for the servants to serve the food. In the center of the table was a large, throne-like chair. Presumably where King Drystan would sit.
"Note how the sun can be seen through the glass," says Thrawn. "Dinner has been timed so that we will be able to observe the setting sun as we dine."
You saw that the sun was indeed nearing the horizon, and estimated that it would be setting in a few minutes.
"Welcome honored guests!" boomed a loud voice.
You turned your head to face the speaker. You recognized King Drystan from the images on the holonet. He was shorter than you had expected him to be. The king wasn't obesely overweight, but you could tell by his husky figure that he enjoyed the food on his table. Possibly too much.
The King was dressed in red robes, matching the red gems set into his crown.
"It is always an honor to host our Imperial friends!" King Drystan proclaimed as he strode towards you and Thrawn.
Thrawn inclined his head. "The honor is all ours, King Drystan."
"Let me introduce my family!" the King said boisterously as he swept an arm out to gesture to the Royal Family of Sosa, standing along one wall. As each member's name was called, they would step forward and incline their head to you and Thrawn.
"My wife, Queen Marzena." A woman stepped forward. She was a few years younger than the king. Her hair was blond, but since everyone on this planet you had seen thus far was dark-haired, you assumed she dyed it. She was gorgeous, and you assumed that was part of the reason King Drystan had married her.
"Crown Prince Quillion." The crown prince was slightly taller than his father and much thinner. He had finer features, long dark hair pulled into a ponytail at the base of his neck, and a goatee.
Prince Kyle had long hair as well, reaching to the nape of his neck. Kyle had half of his hair pulled up into a bun at the top of his head.
"And finally, my only daughter. Princess Suri." The princess was somehow even more stunning in real life than on the holonet. Suri had a beautiful figure, which she showed off to the best of its advantage. She was dressed in a green shirt that had long flowing sleeves and hung off her smooth shoulders. The Princess was wearing a long, flowing green skirt that had a slit up the side, revealing the dark, smooth skin of her leg as she walked.
When she was introduced, Princess Suri seemed to bow her entire upper body rather than just her head, showing off her ample cleavage. To your surprise, you were overcome by a feeling of… jealousy.
As you all sat down to eat the meal, you tried to focus on the conversation, the new spices and foods, and the gorgeous sunset just outside, but you find that all you could focus on was the beautiful Princess Suri.
When she had stepped forward and bowed, you had noticed Thrawn scanning her from the corner of your eye, those glowing red eyes of his silently studying her. You tried to tell yourself that that was no indication that he was studying her figure. After all, Thrawn studied everyone like that, especially when he first met them. But still. In the back of your head, you couldn't help wondering if Thrawn found her more beautiful than you. After all, who wouldn't? She was a gorgeous, exotic princess and you were just you. He hadn't even wanted to marry you.
You tried to push away your insecurities. You didn't know if Thrawn found Suri more attractive than you. Stars, you didn't even know if he found humans attractive in the first place. But that didn't make you any less nervous whenever Thrawn looked at the princess.
Princess Suri would say something to Thrawn or make some joke from where she was seated a few seats down the table from him, and you would feel your blood boil. Every little giggle, every wink. You were sure that if she were seated next to Thrawn instead of you she would 'accidentally' brush his hand. Or whisper something into his ear. She certainly seemed confident enough to.
You knew you were making too big a deal out of it. After all, Suri was talking and interacting with everyone at the table, not just Thrawn. But that didn't change the fact that when she said 'Grand Admiral' in that sultry voice of hers it made you want to get up and shove her face in the deliciously spiced soup.
After the dinner, as you and Thrawn walked back to your room in silence, you could feel the Chiss's red eyes studying you. When the two of you finally arrived back at your door, Thrawn spoke.
"Are you all right?"
You glance up. "I'm fine."
Thrawn narrows his eyes. "Are you certain? You seemed nervous during dinner. Your face was flushed and you were agitated and restless."
You shrug. "It must have just been the heat."
Thrawn eyes you, impassive as ever. "Well, if you are certain you are well then I shall leave you here. However, if you should require anything, just send word."
You nod, not meeting Thrawn's eyes as you duck into your room.
"How was it?" demanded Mira as soon as you shut your door.
You groan and walk over to the bed to collapse onto it. "Oh, it was horrible. I swear that princess of theirs was eyeing Thrawn the whole time."
Mire purses her lips in concern. "She is quite the looker."
You nod from where you're sprawled out on your back on the bed. "She's gorgeous. Why would Thrawn look at me twice with her around?"
"Ooh, so you're finally admitting that you want our esteemed Grand Admiral to look at you?" Mira cooed.
You groan and throw an arm over your eyes. "Fine, fine. I like him. He's handsome and brilliant. I want him to look at me, just me. Not that slimy little princess."
Mira brushes her hands together. "Well, in that case, I think I can be of assistance."
You look over at your maid. "Really?"
Mira nods firmly. "Really. You can outclass that Princess Suri any day. All bust and booty on that one, nothing behind the eyes. Besides, you don't have a bad thing going for you. We just need to showcase the goods a little. Good thing I packed those gorgeous clothes that you hate so much."
Thrawn stood, straight-backed with his hands clasped behind his back. He was looking out the window to his rooms, surveying the rolling red dunes of Sosa, located outside the window of his rooms. The alliance was progressing, very wll. King Drystan had been welcoming and had shown the Imperial delegation respect and hospitality. However, there was one thing that had seemed out of place during the welcoming dinner.
Thrawn turned away from the window to face Eli Vanto. "I have a question to ask you, Commander."
Eli looked up from where he was typing something on his datapad. "What's that?"
"Tonight at dinner my fiance was... agitated. She seemed nervous and angry," said Thrawn thoughtfully. "Her anger seemed directed at Princess Suri, but the princess didn't do anything to antagonize her. Do you know why she was upset?"
Eli looked at Thrawn in exasperation. "When you met the princess, did you do that staring thing you normally do?"
"I studied Princess Suri, yes."
Eli set down his datapad with a huff. "Let me get this straight. You met a gorgeous princess, eyed her up and down in front of your fiance, then sat there at dinner as she proceeded to flirt with you the entire evening, and you're wondering why the girl you're betrothed to is upset?"
Thrawn cocked his head to the side, contemplating Eli's words. "You're saying that she is jealous?"
Eli nodded his head in confirmation. "That's exactly what I'm saying."
"My betrothed thinks that I would be unfaithful? She thinks I would allow myself to be seduced by a woman I hardly know and dishonor our engagement?" asked Thrawn with a small from on his face.
Eli shook his head. "She probably doesn't think that. It's just that, I don't know. She doesn't want you thinking about other girls at all."
"That seems rather demanding," mused Thrawn.
"Let me put it this way," said Eli. "How would you like it if she was flirting with another man. Talking and laughing, touching his arm lightly, shoving him a little whispering something in his ear. Maybe dancing, looking deep into his eyes as they sway back and forth. See her in someone else's arms. How would you feel?"
Thrawn felt a small stirring of anger at the thought. "I think I see. You are telling me that she wants me to herself. She.. cares about me?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying."
Thrawn was taken aback by the thought. Their engagement had been a purely political one, to secure an alliance. Did she truly care for him?
"Do you have any experience with women?" asked Thrawn.
"A little," said Eli with a shrug.
"Do you know what I might do to strengthen the bond between us?"
"You mean, what should you do so the two of you are in an actual relationship instead of the awkward hardly friendship you two have going on right now?" asked Eli with a smirk.
"If that is how you wish to phrase it."
Eli nodded. "Good, it's painful to watch you two. What you need to do is start doing things with her. Ask her on dates, spend time together."
"We dine together regularly," Thrawn pointed out.
"Yes, but you need to do more than that," said Eli. "Adventurous things so that you will have shared experiences."
Thrawn nodded his understanding.
"Next, move on to physical contact. A hug, maybe a dance. Brush her face. See if she likes it. From there, you can kiss the back of her hand. Girls love that."
"I suppose I see the reason in that," said Thrawn.
"After the hand, you can move on to the forehead. Just a light peck, nothing major. From there you can go in for the main prize. Full send. Go for the lips."
Thrawn eyed Eli dubiously. "You're saying that to have a better relationship, I need to kiss her."
"Yes!" cried Eli. "First woo her, then kiss er'. After that, you should be golden. She'll love you. As long as you're a good kisser."
"Very well," said Thrawn. "I shall try it your way. There is nothing scheduled for tomorrow, I shall invite her to accompany me in traversing the town in the evening."
"That's perfect," said Eli. "The light will be perfect at sunset, very romantic. Just make sure to invite her in person."
"Very well," repeated Thrawn. "I shall do my best to be romantic."
