"With many more still to go."

"Shall we take our leadership to the dance floor?"

She holds out her hand. "Lead the way."

Time to get this party started!

They're nearly immediately the center of attention, of course, even more than they were already. (They were already pretty much the center of attention.)

Leia is fully willing to hog the space next to the Imperial Princess here it seems, especially any more partnered dances, even if it gets her huffy looks from assorted actresses. (She's willing to let herself be introduced to people, though, and - yeah Leia is definitely weaving herself into the webs of politics being constantly played around Dalia. She's acting silly when she talks to people other than Dalia, a bit airheaded, in stark contrast to her usual sharp wit.) (She was acting a bit airheaded with the politicians too, actually.)

Of course, she's having fun, too, and most of her focus is legitimately on Dalia.

Dalia's perfectly willing to keep Leia by her side. (It's interesting to see her tactics here. Not too dissimilar to Dalia's own approach, actually.)

They can keep dancing long into the night, as the party slowly dies down and the music switches to more low-key, slow dancey selections. She has her comm set on silent, so she misses both the first and second alarms she set for herself about spending time with mom. The third she catches but dismisses. She's got time for one more dance. At least.

Many of Dalia's invitees are the sort to stay well past midnight if they can, and the party's calmer but not fully dead, and the next song always comes on quick and it's always something Dalia's going to want to dance with Leia, a chance she can't miss...

It's less than an hour until midnight when nearly all Dalia's guests very suddenly go still, the wave of alarm rippling through what's left of the crowd from the main door, those near other exits discreetly leaving, those not near exits edging towards whatever's nearest.

There's a shadow on the threshold.

Darth Vader isn't very visible under dance floor lights, and the hiss and rasp of her life support isn't audible over the music - but it's impossible not to notice her. 

She seems nearly ready to leave, herself, posture closed in and unsure and unhappy to Dalia's eyes. (Though everyone else probably thinks she's angry, holding herself threateningly)

-Oops.

"One sec," she says to Leia, and pads over to her mom.

Leia stays where Dalia left her, posture guarded despite her attempts to look relaxed. She doesn't look inclined to avoid Vader, though, not like anyone else.

"Dalia," her mom says, tone unreadable through the deep hum of her vocorder. "I apologize for - interrupting."

"You're not interrupting. I told you that you were invited, didn't I?"

"Uh, I didn't tell anyone else, though. So. That's why they're all so awkward. You can still be here if you want, though. Or I can wrap things up and we can go find somewhere else to be."

"...I would like to go somewhere else."

"Okay. Hang on for just two seconds, I'll make a little announcement and be right back."

She inclines her head and then fades back a bit into the shadows.

She heads back over to Leia. "Hey, so I forgot about a thing I have to do."

She gives Dalia a considering look and nods - then glances extremely quickly back at Vader. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah, just-" She leans in to whisper in Leia's ear. "Gotta spend some time with my mama."

" - Vader's also your mother?" she whispers back.

"Yep."

(Her brain whirs. And...)

"I should apologize to her for keeping you," she says.

((Leia's very good at spotting opportunities.))

"If you want. She's not very, um, socially graceful, just to warn you. I'm gonna let everyone know I'm leaving, so I'll join you in a minute."

"Part of being a princess is having social grace to spare." She kisses Dalia on the cheek. "See you in a minute."

"Kay."

Dalia heads over to the DJ's booth to commandeer a mic, thank everyone for coming, announce she's retiring for the evening, and say that they can keep partying if they want but after midnight they'll need to find a new venue.

And Leia walks over to Darth Vader, head high.