Mira felt decisively uncomfortable.
The burgundy dress she wore felt extremely flimsy, not to mention that it was uncomfortably tight around her hips and legs...how was she supposed to run in this thing? At least Olmark's guy had managed to find her something he had called a...'false heel'...whatever that meant, at least it made her look fancy in her red shoes without wobbling about like a drunken weequay.
While her shoulders were bare the dress at least didn't show the least amount of cleavage, something she had been very firm about, there was no way she was going to show any skin before that horn dog Atton. The white pearl earrings and necklace completed the ensemble, though Mira had only agreed on it after much prompting of Olmark. If she got mugged she would be so pissed...
The only thing somewhat soothing had been the little hidden pocket along the length of her leg, with a little fold in both sides of the dress one didn't even notice it, which was great since it meant she could at least bring her lightsaber.
Not that she was really worried about getting attacked, she was more worried about being made a fool...which seemed very likely considering Atton was around. Not to mention that that was most likely the aim of every senator in the opposition, who had all shown up according to Olmark...the butterflies in Mira's stomach just got worse at the thought.
To top it all off there was no more time to calm herself down. Standing beside the aged senator, arm hooked into his as if she needed assistance in walking of all things...force she hated this...they were mere moments from entering the ball in the senate building. The small elevator they stood in didn't make any sounds either, giving her plenty of time to focus on her shallow breathing.
"Don't worry." Olmark, despite obviously having spent a lot of political power into this whole escapade was surprisingly calm, his whole being radiating serenity. "They can smell if you're uncomfortable."
"That's really comforting." Mira snorted, mentally reminding herself not to grimace like that after leaving the elevator.
The man chuckled. "Sorry, think it like this then...they are all men and women ready to stab you in the back..."
"Been there."
"But they won't dare if you show yourself strong and don't hesitate."
"You want me to think of senators as a bunch of thugs?"
Olmark shrugged. "That's what we are, thugs with money."
Mira shook her head, vainly holding back her smile. "Well...I know how to do that at least... Thank you for enlighten me of republic politics. Why am I trying to help you again? Perhaps I should throw my lot in with the sith instead?" Olmark laughed politely.
Then the elevator stopped, the door silently slipping open. Still laughing Olmark gently pushed Mira before him, putting both of them into a massive room.
The room was spacious and so decorated it put the jedi temple to shame. There was a long line of glowing globes along the middle of the ceiling, almost resembling a line of stars... From the corners of the ceiling jagged arches of dark stone came down to the middle of the walls, at their ends red tapestries emblazoned by the yellow symbol of the republic hung, resting lightly against beige walls with a red mosaic at the bottom.
A few clusters of chairs in dark wood lined the edge of the large room, but it was otherwise quite unfurnished. Sixty feet away and to the left there seemed to be a few tables where appetizers were served...further off at the end of the room there was a stage cramped by Biths and twi'lek's plying their usual profession. Though at least they seemed to have more decency then on the usual cantina, the twi'lek's even had proper clothing while the Bith's were content to play more soothing tunes then those they were famous for.
The majority of space was reserved for the small army of guests. Uniformed soldiers stood along the length of the room, practically invisible among the colours of the thousands of guests, Mira noticed that the frozen soldiers were well aware of what was happening around them though. A good sign probably...
There were twi'leks, Zabraks, trandoshans, rodians...all imaginable species along with a horde of humans. All dressed in a variety of clothes that clashed against the usual neutral colours the senators seemed to wear. Force there seemed to be many senators...Mira hadn't really understood how big the senate was. Sure it represented every planet but...she had underestimated the numbers by quite a margin.
Was everyone looking at her? It felt like it...oh man.
Forcing herself not to swallow Mira let Olmark lead her down the small set of stairs leading down from the elevator. She let her gaze sweep across the room, quickly trying to identify people without alerting too much attention. Quite a few were eyeing her, for what purpose she wasn't sure though, their impressions were mixed, many seemed dulled, either by alcohol or experience in suppressing them...she didn't know which.
Man...she felt like a morsel being led before a pack of krayt dragons. Suddenly the arm under hers felt very necessary.
Olmark's grip tightened on her a little as they descended the last step, a reassuring presence telling her that he wouldn't leave her to the wolves. She forced down the flush about to break out over her cheeks at the many pair of scrutinizing eyes following her movement...this was worse then the thugs in a cantina, these eyes held the venomous power she had only seen in huts.
Already she could see several figures approach, many of them in different senatorial gowns. She couldn't help but notice the way they moved through the crowds, the slow but confident way of their walk...parting those in their way without a word...they were in their element, and dangerous. It reminded her of kath hounds circling in on their prey...
Then she saw Atton.