Prompts: Fancy Dress Event & Soulmate AU
In another universe of many, Leia was finding that she had sorely missed fine parties.
She'd had to attend numerous ones growing up on Alderaan. Her parents always seemed so effortlessly regal and it was a chore to try to live up to their elegant, dignified image, but by her teenage years she'd grown to love it. Her mother had taught her how to braid her hair in various elaborate styles that set Alderaanians apart, and her maids had helped doll them up with pearls, crystals, nets that glittered under the lights of their ballroom. Choosing the right outfit had been equally as important and interesting. Different cultures associated cuts and colours with different things, and different occasions would call for different moods, so the preparation would always be as much work as the event itself. Ensuring it hit home every time was her duty as the Princess, and she'd learned to enjoy it.
She couldn't do any of that now.
The Rebels had limited reserves of necessities. Luxuries were even scarcer. No stunning ballgown or diamond necklace could be found on base. They'd ended up acquiring her a dark red gown secondhand from one of Han's contacts on Takodana. It fit her well enough after Luke turned out to have some tailoring skills taught to him by his aunt, but she was still uncomfortable as she squeezed into it.
Red was a colour of excitement, drama, passion on Alderaan. Violence, sometimes. She didn't want these talks to be exciting. She wanted them smooth.
Though, considering they were meeting with Crimson Dawn, a red dress with a sun-themed necklace may be appropriate, if a bit on the nose…
She'd done up her hair alone in her bunkroom, as she had since she'd lost all her maids on Alderaan. Han had flown her here, citing history with Crimson Dawn as the reason he couldn't stay, and Luke was at her elbow in neutral black clothing. They were only a few months out from Yavin; no one should recognise him yet.
Now, they were here.
"I don't think the drinks are tampered with," Luke murmured as he passed her a flute. She gave him a tight smile.
"The Force?"
"And a few chemical tests Han taught me."
She nearly laughed at that. Luke was trusting, and perhaps a little naïve, but he was cannier than most made of him. "I don't suppose any of those methods tell you which of these dazzling Dawn dignitaries is in charge, and which I should approach?"
Luke glanced over her shoulder and quirked a nervous smile. "The woman in red with the syndicate symbol in a gold necklace."
"How do you know?"
"She's approaching you right now."
Leia carefully didn't stiffen at the news, and instead gracefully turned her head to greet her. The woman had her hair up in a clean bun, attractive but not as intricate as Leia's. Chunky gold jewellery adorned her wrists—chunky enough to fit a poison, spike or datachip in, she noted—and neck, and her dress…
It had a tightly fitted bodice, gold constellations picked out at the hems and sleeves against the deep red velvet, with a low neckline to show off her necklace.
It was almost identical to Leia's.
The woman's eyebrows went up when she saw Leia's dress, her surprise so smooth and charming Leia had to wonder if it was genuine. Especially as it melted into a friendly smile and a teasing, "I like your outfit."
Luke snorted; he clearly found this funny. Leia shot him a look and he shut up, wandering away to give them some space while still being in earshot.
"Likewise," Leia said, her hard stare for Luke melting into a friendly, conversational expression. "Your jewellery is exquisite. And useful, I imagine."
The woman laughed at her blatant words and didn't deny it. "Indeed." She held out her hand. "I'm Qi'ra, the current public leader of Crimson Dawn."
Leia took a moment to assess if she had any bad feelings about her; she didn't. She shook her hand.
"Princess Leia Organa," she replied shortly.
"I know." Qi'ra dropped her hand. "We've been following you. You're a talented speaker and leader."
Leia smiled at that. "Talented enough to know when I'm being flattered." Qi'ra laughed. "But thank you. I find you very charming as well, and imagine you must be effective to have gained your position."
"Ruthless, you mean? I am. We have much to gain, but much to lose as well. Whatever bargain the Alliance wants," she warned, "I will not tolerate anything that threatens our interests."
Leia gritted her teeth. She'd had a lot of lose once, too. And she'd lost it.
"I have no intention of walking away from a good deal," she said. "And I think we have a common enemy in the Empire. As it sought to vanquish our power, so will it yours."
"Syndicates will survive. We always do. But we would prefer the bureaucracy of a Republic over the brutality of an Empire."
Leia kept her mouth shut. In another life she would have screamed at the prospect of bartering with syndicates like this, trading away morality and credibility for more fuel and credits. But they were desperate, and she was dedicated to her cause… even if her cause opposed this just as strongly as she did.
She did not want to promise an ineffectual Republic in order to dethrone an inhumane Empire.
"Then we have things we can offer each other," she lied gracefully.
Han had suggested they reach out to more distant Rebel cells—Nest's Cloud-Riders, or Syndulla's Free Ryloth movement. And, loathe as she was to agree with him, he'd been in the right. But they weren't the richest of their options.
She looked at Qi'ra's beautiful face, the clever, enticing twist of her words, and wondered why her instincts drew her to her so strongly while also screaming not to trust her.
Syndicates. Criminals. Gangs. Kidnappings. Backstabbing. Murder. Exploitation. Slavery.
"Excellent! Would you like to come with me and begin to negotiate the specifics? We can return to the party," she gestured around, at the Alliance guests, the Crimson Dawn guests, and everyone in between, "later. But it's always good to start with a good chat and a clear understanding of what can be sacrificed," she looked Leia up and down, clad in a syndicate's colours, "and what can be gained."
This wouldn't work.
Leia had lost enough already for her cause—her ideals. She wouldn't sacrifice them now. And Qi'ra, with her syndicate focused on profit, seemed too intent of defending what she had to ever take the risks Leia found so irrelevant.
Even as Qi'ra offered her a hand to lead her to the table.
Even as her smile and wit made Leia want to rise to the challenge, to smile and quip back.
Even as a powerful part of her wished that things could work out, anyway.
