Fandom Star Wars: Demesne [Closed]

[cleopat]

Skye could’ve melted into his hold. When was the last time she had been comforted like that? Many years, at least. She looked up as Eira started to leave.

There was a light scoff. “Just don’t go off crying into some man’s arms,” she teased.

A genuine smile crossed her face. “I’m glad we fought over that pair of dice.” A reference back to when they had first met at the casino, truly because of the dice they were both trying to manipulate.

“Never hesitate to let me know if there’s anything I can do for you.” Skye felt as if they both had done so much already, and for now, she knew the only thing she could do was to play her role well. Be the bodyguard that had no personal relationship with Adlai.

~~

Cora had pinned her braid up, to keep it out of the way as she showered. She wouldn’t wash it that evening. The hair would take forever to dry, and that was something she didn’t want to deal with when she only had a towel to dry off with.

Right as she finished pinning her hair back up, Eli came out of the bathroom, just in his tank and boxers. Cora tried a little too hard to not look at Eli for too long. “Thank you. Hope you left me some hot water,” she teased.

Cora headed into the bathroom and set to her routine. The shower turned on warm, using the soap bar to wash her body, and once she rinsed off, she stepped out and towel-dried her body, hair still dry. She had put her tank and underwear back on, and after thinking about it for a minute, she decided to put her pants back on for now. Until she was ready to get into bed.

She walked out of the bathroom, letting her braid fall back down as she crossed the room.

 

[Lucyfer]

“I have gelato and a sadistic trainer for all my problems, Skye,” Eira laughed, though she knew who and what Skye meant. And she would have to navigate that carefully.

Her smile softened, with the reminder. She nodded. She was glad, too. “I won’t,” she said, and looked up to meet Adlai’s eyes, “Good night – and thank you, for your time.”

Adlai inclined his head, “It has been a pleasure,” he said, and he did not rise to see Eira to the door. He let her leave on her own, knowing that as soon as the door shut behind her, the tears would fall.

Rumor might start to spread that night, or it might spread tomorrow, after the dinner. Definitely, in force, then.

He let out a sigh, and squeezed Skye’s shoulder, “I promise this won’t be too hard,” he hoped, anyways. He supposed Skye still had a lot to learn about tact.

He shifted a bit, turned his head towards her, “How do you feel about everything?” The Rebellion. The Break-Up Plan.

Everything.

~***~

Eli nodded. “Mm.” He had left her hot water, he was sure of that, and as she left for the shower, he laid his own clothes out, before he went to sit on the bed and check things on his datapad.

No messages from Thrawn.

A message from Faro – questions about Eira being a rebel. ‘So she knows now.’ Eli rolled his eyes, but sent back a message, indicating he knew nothing for certain, before opting to start reading up a bit on the sephi, and Cartao.

Sephi culture may have made things easier – if he could examine it like Thrawn, and if Proserpina was raised in a traditional sephi environment. He didn’t know. Still, he decided to look at some artwork anyways.

He looked up when the door opened, and Cora came back out.

Apparently, he could have used the conditioner. “Was there enough hot water?”

 

[cleopat]

Her eyes followed Eira to the door, where they remained until Adlai’s voice brought her back to reality. Skye blinked. “Well, if it gets too hard, I have two wonderful pros at this game to help me out.”

Her head turned and tilted up so she could look at him. “I’m not sure. I don’t really know what I feel right now.” Maybe weird would have been an appropriate word to use? Skye did feel a bit weird about the situation, for some reason.

But also, “Maybe a little hesitation? I’m just worried that something will go wrong.” That everything will go so wrong. One wrong move, and she could be responsible for all of their deaths.

She shifted her arms and wrapped them both around Adlai, bringing her body as close as she could get to him. “What about you? How are you feeling about...all of this?”

~~

Cora noticed the datapad that Eli had been looking at. “Oh yes, there was plenty of hot water left. Thank you.” It had begun to turn lukewarm near the end of her shower, but it was no issue. She had finished her shower by then.

She walked over to the bed and sat on the bed, next to Eli. Her head motioned to his datapad, “Anything of interest? Any message from the Grand Admiral?”

And, seeing the datapad in his hand, reminded her that she may want to check her own. But it was in a pocket of her tunic, which was draped over a chair, out of reach.

Maybe in a few minutes.

 

[Lucyfer]

Not knowing was fine, and Adlai’s hand left her shoulder, only to move down her back. A slow, comforting circle, a bit of a back rub as she confessed to being uncertain. There was much to be concerned about. There were risks on all side. If they played the game wrong, his reputation would take a serious hit.

Shay was also unlikely to be happy with this.

He kept his hand on her back as she turned to embrace him with both arms. He moved his other partway around her, resting on her hip, “I’m worried, but I’m glad,” he said, “I know our…I know Shay won’t be happy about this change between myself and Eira, no matter how it means she can play up the sympathy card for Eira’s play.

Not to mention the single card.

“I think we have a good plan, though. And I’m glad to have you on board with my…less than legal activities,” truly, against the Empire. Not just running off into hiding again, but staying.

~***~

Eli shook his head, “Nothing from Thrawn,” he said, “nothing really notable at all, so I guess things are going well on Coruscant.” Not that he expected different, but he still worried sometimes. Especially given Thrawn’s mission.

And his lack of political savvy.

“I’m just trying to look into sephi culture. I’m not Thrawn, but I keep hoping I’ve picked up something to understand them a bit,” he shifted back to one of his tabs. “On the whole, the stereotype is that they’re good tinkerers. They make a lot of crafts and are into engineering – obviously that’s not true of all, but a good portion of them.”

With their ears, he couldn’t help but think of stories of small creatures from some tales he’d heard in Wild Space that used to tinker and make things. Often, good-willed and well-intentioned sorts, helping unknowing people meet deadlines by doing the work while they were asleep. Always described with pointy ears.

“They have a monarchy, and a lot of their structures and designs look delicate, but they aren’t, supposedly,” he brought up a flyer that looked almost paper-thin, but made of a red crystal native to their planet. “Although the rider couldn’t survive it – the flyer could go into lightspeed and survive.”

~***~

Eira kept her sorrow around her as she left Adlai’s home. Watery eyes, the occasional tear – it was enough. It wasn’t overdramatic, she kept her head bowed, and still fought to smile at those passing by, but it was enough to indicate that whatever happened, was impactful enough that she couldn’t fully hide it.

And it did start to feel truly real, as Eira let the fears of it crash down around her, in her mind. She played up every terrible scenario, every lost future, and was wiping at a tear as she entered her gelato place.

Two minutes to close.

“I’m—I’m sorry, I can—” she realized that the chairs were up, and they were preparing to clean.

Of course her attempt to not burden the poor clerk was dismissed when they looked up and saw her. “No! It’s okay – I was just pre-cleaning! What’s wrong? What do you need?”

The rush of gratitude was sincere, and Eira stepped hesitantly to the counter, the selection. “One pint of blumfruit with the chocolate, and another of stracciatella, please.”

The clerk nodded, and made a guess, “Break-up?” Ice cream was the standard go-to for events like these.

Eira managed a wane smile, and a nod.

“Do you want a blumfruit shake, too?”

Eira laughed, but nodded. Yes, yes she did. She could drink that on the way home and be distracted.

 

[cleopat]

Skye allowed herself to melt further into Adlai’s warmth with his gentle rubbing. For the first time in years, she allowed herself to relax in another’s embrace, as her worries slowly fled her mind.

She nodded and let out a small laugh. “I’m glad too.” Glad for the exploration of their new relationship. Glad for the chance to fight the Empire with allies, some she’s known for years.

“I spent nearly half my life dealing with less than legal activities.” They still knew nothing of her years after the Purge, but she opened the door for Adlai. If he wanted to ask, Skye decided that she would answer. “It honestly just adds to your total attraction package,” she teased.

“It just goes so well with your cape and sword look.”

~~

Cora didn’t know Thrawn as well as Eli, so she thought that no message from Thrawn was a good thing, unlike Eli’s own silent worry that Thrawn may be doing something wrong. So she left that subject as Eli discussed what he was looking into in regards to the Sephi.

She leaned in closer to get a better look at the pictures Eli showed her. “Crafting?” she reiterated, moreso to herself in thought. She scanned the picture he brought up of the flyer; it’s red, paper-thin appearance didn’t look like much, and yet it was.

“That’s pretty impressive.” Cora would call that less tinkering and more into engineering. “Can they make something out of nothing?” She thought about the jungle, and if a sephi was indeed conducting illicit activities there, she wondered how much of the jungle the sephi could use.

“What I mean by that, is, are they known to use the nature around them in their tinkering? Could a jungle be used to their advantage in this way?” If that was the case, they would need to be even more cautious in the jungle, in case the sephi created a trap to deter people like them, or anything else.




~~

“It was so nice to meet you, Grand Admiral. And again, I am so sorry for what happened at the National Gallery. We will be sure to not let it happen again.” The governor kept shaking Thrawn’s hand as the Chiss made it apparent he was slowly inching away from the threshold of the penthouse.

“Yes, well, the upgrade in security should surely fix that. Now, if you excuse me, I have other matters I must attend to this evening.”

The governor finally let go of his hand, and bowed slightly in apology. “Of course. You must be so busy nowadays. Thank you for entertaining my invitation to dinner. Have a pleasant evening.”

“You as well.” Thrawn inclined his head, and turned to walk away before the man could find another reason to continue their conversation. To a trained eye, they may have noticed the way Thrawn’s shoulder relaxed as he put distance between himself and the governor’s place.

A sudden invitation, and no great excuse to turn it down. He had to work on his political image after all, but somehow Thrawn felt like that did not help him at all.

A headache forming, he sought out for something that would temporarily help him feel better. And, given the district he was currently walking through, Thrawn remembered that place Eira had shown him. The gelato place.

Store hours didn’t even cross his mind.

Not until he entered their little shop and noticed how the chairs were up, and the employees were beginning to clean up their stations.

“Oh, I apologize, I-” he paused at the sight of Eira. What a strange coincidence. “Good evening, Eira. I did not realize you would be here.” He took a few steps toward her and paused.

Her distress was evident on her face, and instantly, worry twisted in his gut that something bad happened. More worry than he knew was appropriate. “Is something the matter? What happened?”

 

[Lucyfer]

Adlai laughed a little, “You know, no one’s ever told me something they don’t go well with,” people liked the cape and sword. It was aristocratic. Noble. Enviable. There were probably things it didn’t go well with, but he would be hard pressed to find it.

He had a cape, and a sword, for everything.

“What…were you doing before?” He did hesitate a moment in asking. “It seems…a little strange that someone who wants to be in hiding, would be doing illegal activity.” It seemed like the surest way to get the Empire on their trail.

Even a little gambling was dangerous nowadays, if the hosts didn’t pay proper fees to the Empire overseers who kept it all quiet. And even then…there were no guarantees.

~***~

There wasn’t any mention of sephi using such things, but he tapped the craft, “This is all crystal native from their homeworld, so I’d say they’re pretty good at using their environment to make what they need.”

He felt like reiterating that it couldn’t be true of all Sephi everywhere.

That it didn’t mean Prosperina had these skills.

He didn’t, though. They needed to be aware of the generalization, and even more on their toes. If she didn’t have these skills, that was good – but if they did, they needed to be careful. A little extra caution wouldn’t be a terrible thing. “Do you know how some of the things here could be used?”

~***~

Eira tensed as she saw Mitth’raw’nuruodo, quite unable to hide the surprise, before she looked away, gaze and head dropping. Skye’s words came back to haunt her, paired along with the many truths she had acknowledged.

He was a friend, now.

It would be strange not to tell him what happened, and yet the consequences of it rang in her head like warning bells. Not that it stopped her from speaking, from looking back up as it was apparent he already saw enough to know that she wasn’t okay.

She still tried for that pathetic, reassuring smile. It was weak, and unconvincing. “Adlai and I…I knew…I just didn’t…,” the distress in trying to explain the odd situation, that she knew they weren’t cut for the long-term, but hoped, still hoped in spite of the signs, in spite of the knowledge, left her to just say, “we broke up.”

A chuckle. As unconvincing as the smile in trying to reassure, even herself, that it was all okay now that Mitth’raw’nuruodo was there. “Amicable, but…it still hurts losing a dream. I knew it was just that…I was stupid.” Two pints were set on the counter. The clerk silently went to make the shake.

 

[cleopat]

“Just like it seems a little strange that someone in hiding would be a holostar?” Skye countered, but with no malice. Just her observation.

She paused, and sighed. Her arms drew back to rest at her side, but only so Skye could get a better angle to look up at Adlai. “I devoted myself to whatever I could do to stay alive. I did everything to wipe away my former self, and I figured, who would look for a Jedi in the middle of a crime syndicate?”

She shrugged. “Not that I was ever a part of one. I did odd jobs for everyone, but I always made it clear that it would only be one job. Very rarely did I use the same name twice when I jumped between jobs.” It was easier to leave without a trace that way.

“Mainly I stole for others. Art work, supplies, resources, personal items with some long, complicated backstory, I rarely asked. I taught myself to not care why they wanted those items.” It had bothered her in the beginning, but the more she tuned out her Jedi training, the easier it became.

“Though, there are two things from my Jedi days that stuck with me. One, I never killed, unless it was in self-defense.” Which had happened a few times, but Skye wouldn’t mention that. “And two,” she started as she shifted her body to reach down to the bottom of one of her pant legs, “was to always treat my weapon as if it was an extension of my own body.”

She removed the lightsaber from its strap and pulled it out. Straightening up, Skye remained focus on the hilt now clutched in both hands. “I couldn’t get rid of it, no matter how hard I tried, no matter how much I wanted to.”

~~

Cora made a hum of interest. A resourceful species, but when it came down to it, weren’t all species resourceful in their own ways, when faced with perilous odds? And there would always be the odd individuals to stray from that path.

Everyone had their own unique personality and skill set, no matter the species.

She shrugged her shoulders. “I’m not familiar with all of the flora of the planet, but off the top of my head, I know a jungle would provide ample wood and sturdy vines, obviously. With those materials, and a sharp tool, one could easily create shelter, other weapons, a raft, traps, basically anything one would need to survive out there.”

A hand reached up to rub the back of her neck. “Beyond that, that could explain more of our Prosperpina? That I’m not sure, but maybe I’ll be able to figure out something more once we’re out there.”

~~

Thrawn caught the flicker of surprise, before she turned her gaze away. Frowning, he approached her. Her body language had definitely suggested something happened to her that evening. His worry first suggested that she was attacked, but Thrawn couldn’t see any visible injuries on her.

The employee had asked him what he wanted, but Thrawn brushed them aside for the moment.

Her smile is forced and only half of how she usually smiles. Her eyes indicate tiredness. Eira didn’t pretend that everything was alright, and she easily told him the truth of what happened.

When the news reached his ears, he felt some sort of satisfaction at the break-up, which he immediately brushed away. That was not something appropriate to be feeling at a moment like that, no matter how much he didn’t like Adlai. Or how much he did like Eira’s genuine smile.

“Oh, I’m...sorry to hear that.” Awkward was the best way to describe how Thrawn felt in trying to comfort Eira. Human relationships were messy, and he did not know how to console anyone crying. “But you weren’t stupid.”

He almost wanted to chastise her for saying something like that about herself. “You took a risk, and you learned from it. If you hadn’t taken that risk, that dream would have remained an unknown variable.”

Well, he wasn’t making things worse.

 

[Lucyfer]

Although Adlai could not claim to understand the attachment – when attachments were forbidden – that Jedi had to their lightsaber, he knew the same was true of Eira. It was not often on her person, but she had them. He had seen them, and he’d seen her use them, in sparring. It wasn’t often.

He didn’t know if she practiced much on her own with them. They’d practiced together with fencing blades, but he knew, that wasn’t the same.

“Oh no, Eira isn’t what I’d call normal. Somehow I would have thought just taking a job somewhere in the Outer Rim, like a moisture farmer, would be…you know…better.” It wouldn’t draw attention. It was boring. It was hiding at its finest, really.

But then again, who was he to say that?

Skye had done well up until now, “Then again, I can’t judge. You and Eira both have avoided being found, in your ways,” he noted, “that’s what matters, in the end. And that it continues, of course.” He had drawn the hand on her back away, but he let the one that had been on her hip, move to rest on her leg, retaining the contact as she leaned back. “How did you…even find these kinds of things to get involved with?”

~***~

Wood, vines, and a sharp tool.

Eli had no idea all that could be done with it, but he could imagine. Cora listed out some things, and he knew there could be plenty more, “An entire hideout built in the trees,” he murmured, thinking of how difficult this could get, if Proserpina was that skilled.

“Hopefully she strays a bit from the stereotype,” Eli chuckled. “We don’t know if she was born on their home planet, or influenced by some other culture, anyways.” It was possible. At this point, he was hoping it was true.

“I guess I should consider the art and culture here a bit more,” he flicked off his current tab, to start bringing up Cartao information. Art. Anything.

“Oh—I guess—if you want to go ahead and sleep, I can go sit elsewhere and try to uh, shield the light.”

~***~

Eira could not fault Mitth’raw’nuruodo for his reaction in the least. It was sprung on him unexpectedly, and if Adlai didn’t much care for him, she was certain that Mitth’raw’nuruodo wasn’t a much bigger fan. Their previous conversations hinted as much.

He followed standards. Reassured her of the risk. And of course, in any standard relationship, so much of that would be true.

It was good, to learn, to be certain, of some things. And while it hadn’t been a real relationship, there was much about Adlai she had enjoyed. His company was dear. And he had ever been a gentleman. “Well, you’re not wrong,” although still sad, there was a touch of amusement, appreciation, at his attempt.

It came from a good place. “And I know I learned more of what I want. And so did he. I’m glad I’ll still have his friendship for a bit…it just hurts.” The shake was put down, and the pints bagged. Eira idly offered her credit chip, not caring at all about the price. “I appreciate the reminder, though.”

 

[cleopat]

Skye laughed at Adlai’s assumption. Her? A farmer? “Oh, I think that life would drive me crazy. I know you haven’t known me that long, but can you see me in such a boring life like a moisture farmer?”

Her need for excitement would get her into more trouble in some unassuming town.

Her hands carefully toyed with the double-ended lightsaber hilt in her palms. Skye then set it to the side before she turned back to Adlai. “Most of the time, I learned through overhearing.”

In a crowded cantina, much could be easily overheard if someone wasn’t paying attention to who was nearby.

“I’m small, just add a hood over my head and stay quiet? It’s amazing how few people will pay attention to me.” It was also how she got out of trouble - she could easily slip away. “Of course, when I first approached these people about the help they need, many didn’t believe I could do it. I was this small girl, they had no reason to believe me.”

But she had proved herself to them. One instant involved breaking a guy’s arm when he made a less-than-savory comment to her.

~~

“Either way, I think we shouldn’t underestimate her since she’s proving to be a nuisance for us. We know she’s resourceful and she’s smart.” No matter what Proserpina was doing on the planet, they shouldn’t let down their guards for one moment, or there could be a major slip-up.

Cora looked up at him. “Oh no, I’m good. I’m not tired yet. Besides,” she smiled, “two minds on this task is better than one.”

It may have been cliched, but the statement still held true. They each could catch a detail the other didn’t.

“Now,” Cora leaned back down to look at the tab Eli brought up. “What do you know about Cartao art?”

~~

Thrawn could see his words, while they may have helped some, Eira was still visibly upset. He knew he wouldn’t be able to cheer her up completely, but he was completely out of his element. Eli, what do I do?

Eira offered her credit chip, but Thrawn stepped in. “No, let me get this, and I won’t take no for an answer.” He pulled out his credit chip and handed it to the cashier, who looked a bit startled by the abrupt change, but she wouldn’t dare to upset the admiral in his pristine uniform.

Pleased that he got his way, Thrawn took his credit chip back. “I find that when something is bothering me, I often engage in a hobby to distract me. Normally, I turn to sparring if that emotion I’m experiencing is anger or frustration.”

He took the bag that the pints were in, but held them in a way that Eira could grab them if she wanted to carry them. “Do you have a hobby you like to turn to when you need an outlet?”

 

[Lucyfer]

Adlai chuckled as he shook his head, “No, I can’t picture you as a farmer,” to be fair it was a little hard picturing her as a Jedi, but most of his experience with that was Eira. He wasn’t sure which of them would have been more typical in the Order. Eira was more like he thought Jedi were, but she left.

“That is one good way,” he admitted. It was a bit harder for him. Something he could do, even if he dressed down.

People knew his face, and he was always told he had a presence about himself, too. “You didn’t just Jedi mind trick people?” He asked, lifting his hand, and doing the wave, “You want to hire me.”

Perhaps it wasn’t her forte, but he was mostly teasing.

~***~

“Mm.” Eli agreed with that much. Underestimating Proserpina could lead to all of their deaths, or at least, some harm. He would try not to, but not knowing what he was walking in to, certainly kept things tense.

“Okay, if you’re sure,” he said as Cora mentioned she wasn’t tired yet, and he brought up the tab about art. “I know nothing about it,” he had no reason to know anything about it, and he knew it would take him a while to figure out trends.

Not to mention to narrow it down to more recent works, at least within the century, outside of influential ones. “Thrawn tries to teach me, and I try to understand it, but I’m still not what I’d call good at this.” Just as numbers could sometimes elude Thrawn’s understanding, even if Eli could make sense of them.

Usually.

The art of Cartao made little sense to him. They seemed to use split wood as a medium for a lot, though.

~***~

Eira pursed her lips together as Mitth’raw’nuruodo insisted on paying, but she hardly had the energy to argue with him over the petty cost of two pints and a shake. So she put her own credit chip away, and picked up her shake, sipping down a good portion of it immediately.

She did reach for her bag from Mitth’raw’nuruodo, after he had picked it up. He spoke of hobbies, of distractions. He was practical, as ever.

“Mm. Meditation. Music.” The two often went hand in hand, “though the physical release is good – I’m already planning on making sure my trainer has tomorrow’s session be extra difficult.” She had to make up for the pints, for the shake, and…well, physical soreness and exertion would keep her from thinking about it. “I have to get through a dinner with him tomorrow and my manager as we figure out how to handle this with the public,” a sigh, a bitter laugh.

The downfalls of this life. “Were you wanting to get something?” She didn’t want to leave, if Mitth’raw’nuruodo still needed his own gelato.

 

[cleopat]

The mimic hand wave Adlai attempted drew forth genuine laughter from Skye. “To be fair,” Skye said as she settled from the good laugh, “if you said that to me, your charms may be enough of their own Jedi trick to work.”

A hand settled on his leg, nearly mirroring his on her leg. “But no, I didn’t Jedi mind trick people. Or, well, I didn’t unless it was absolutely necessary.” Skye had encountered a few sticky situations, and as she would rather have not left not leave behind a body count, the Jedi mind trick was the next best option.

“I did my best to not use the Force, as it could have left behind a trail if I wasn’t careful enough. So it was just easier to pretend I was just like everyone else, even when I knew I wasn’t.” It had been a hard adjustment, but it was a necessary one that her life had depended on.

Fortunately, she could still fight without use of the Force.

~~

“I know very little about their art as well, but I can try.” Cora wasn’t as good as art analyzing as Thrawn, but she had some experience in that field. Mainly through her visits to gallery openings and dinner parties and of that sort. Not by actually studying art like Thrawn did.

“Maybe you should take more notes,” she teased, not serious in the least. She probably would be just as lost as Eli, unless they were talking about art of the Core Worlds. And maybe some mid rim planets.

Cora looked down at the images Eli had brought up. She leaned closer, her arms brushing against his, as she tried to look for patterns. As if she was Thrawn, studying a new culture. “Well, it’s obvious wood is used in a lot of their art. That was expected. Split wood though, it gives the art a certain distinction. Fracture?”

She sighed and shifted her head to look at Eli. “What about you? What are you seeing?”

~~

He could tell Eira wanted to object to his paying, but she didn’t. That, to him, signalled how upset she was. That she wouldn’t even insist that she has more than enough credits to pay for some gelato.

Well, so did he, and he wanted to treat...a friend? Is that who she was? A friend? Or a mission?

That was a question he didn’t want to answer right then.

“Just be sure the session isn’t too difficult. I wouldn’t want to see you injured.” He allowed a hint of a smile to appear, as he gently teased her. No, he didn’t want her hurt, but he knew she could take care of herself.

She did it well enough at the gallery. Too well, which he hadn’t forgotten about, but he wouldn’t ask about that now.

And she had to deal with a dinner with her now ex. Thrawn already had the urge to punch Adlai, but now? Now it was greater. “Well, if you need to let off any aggression after the dinner, let me know. I have been known to run a brutal sparring session.”

The offer came out before he could think about it. Thrawn could hear Tarkin already, chastising him for being easily distracted by pretty eyes.

But he wanted to see those pretty eyes happy again.

Thrawn looked back at the cashier, who looked like she was ready to go home, then back at Eira. “I was going to get something, but I didn’t realize they were closing. It can wait until another day.”

He nodded to her bag. “Would you like for me to accompany you? I don’t have anything else planned for the evening.”

 

[Lucyfer]

Adlai beamed as Skye laughed at his attempt to do the Jedi trick. Obviously, he couldn’t do it like a Jedi, but, “I’ll take that,” charm got him through much, after all. Charm was how he’d solved a lot of problems.

Charm was going to have to help him in light of this recent change, as well.

“Eira’s mentioned that,” he said, “that it’s traceable. I don’t understand it,” he confessed, eyes briefly following the lightsaber, before returning to Skye. “I don’t doubt it, but how much of a ripple in the Force does it make? Does it leave an…echo of itself on those impacted by it?”

He’d seen Eira tell people to forget.

He assumed that meant the trail was covered, but Eira never seemed to think so. Not entirely, anyways.

She likely still used that trick more than Skye did. “Was it hard, to stop using the Force?”

~***~

“Trust me, I’ve taken notes,” Eli said as he shook his head. He had a file, somewhere, of all the things Thrawn had said about art.

When he looked at the images, and the split wood, formed into panels of art, he didn’t see fracture. Not as obvious as it had been with Mygeeto’s art, so he wasn’t certain that this was reminiscent of that idea.

Still, he also didn’t know art. And he knew Mygeeto used glass and crystal, so he could be wrong in sensing doubt.

He shrugged, “Maybe?” He wouldn’t dismiss her idea, “It reminds me more of panels, though. Joined together.”

~***~

Sparring session with Grand Admiral Mitth’raw’nuruodo?

Eira knew she shouldn’t take him up on it. Besides the actual intimacy involved in a fight, sparring, or real (and stars knew that thought came from her Master – that as much as he loved combat, he insisted on it being intimate – every face, every foe, mattered), there was the problem that he would soon realize she had training.

She had stories crafted to cover it, of course, but he wasn’t just some surprised set-trainer. He was a Grand Admiral in the Empire, and he could undo her. Besides, what if it was a trap? ‘Does it feel like that?’

No. As he claimed he would be fine without gelato, it didn’t feel like a trap. His concern felt real with just a brush of the Force. “I would like you to, but it wouldn’t be good now. For you.” When the news came out, if people knew he had walked her home – and stars knew they would, Shay would sink her to sink Mitth’raw’nuruodo – then she would be the one accused of cheating on Adlai.

There was also the fact she simply didn’t need him getting so much as a glance inside her home.

She took out one pint, and offered it to him. She didn’t know which flavor it was. “But I’ll keep your offer in mind for tomorrow. I know I’ll be frustrated after that.”

 

[cleopat]

“I don’t blame you for not understanding the Force. Sometimes, it can confuse me as well,” Skye chuckled. She spent almost the first two decades of her life training and learning the ways of the Force, and yet how much was there for her to still learn?

Way too much.

“In a way, yes. Let’s say I were to use my Jedi mind trick on you. That mind trick, no matter what I made you do, or if I erased it from your memories, would still leave an imprint on your memories. While that wouldn’t be noticeable to you or to any other non-Force sensitives, those trained in the Force would be able to sense it if they had reason to look into you.”

If someone were to interrogate him who could use the Force, but Skye hoped he would never be put in that position.

Going on to his next question, she nodded. “It was at first. I mean, I had spent my entire life up to that point training and using the Force nearly every hour of every day, and then suddenly my survival depended on my ability to not use it.” She sighed and leaned her head on him once again.

“Naturally I messed up a few times in the beginning. No one seemed to notice though, thankfully, and I made sure I didn’t make those mistakes again. It was quite hard, and I spent many nights wide awake, wondering if I was going to slip-up soon and be caught.”

~~

Cora almost felt sympathy for Eli. She could imagine the frustration he felt when Thrawn was trying to teach him something, but the lesson failed. And thus he must have felt that failure. But they all had their strengths and weaknesses, and Eli’s strength was numbers.

He was scary good at memorizing numbers.

“Joined together,” she repeated, looking at the art with that mindset. “Maybe the wood could represent strength? And although the villages are quite isolated from one another, with the few exceptions, maybe they still feel this connection through shared experiences living on Cartao.”

It had all been a guess, and if Thrawn were there, she could imagine him saying she was completely wrong.

But she cared more about what Eli thought.

~~

Another one of those situations that Thrawn didn’t understand, that’s what was going on. He didn’t understand the gossip and tabloids concerning celebrities, but he could piece together how it would look for Eira if he were seen escorting her home right after a major break-up.

A break-up he was secretly pleased about.

But oh to imagine Tarkin’s words to him if that news story came out.

“Of course, I understand,” he nodded his head. “I think I am starting to understand how paparazzi work after the last few days.” It was a slight tease, to indicate to Eira he held no ill will or regrets to the rumors that surrounded their hanging out.

Thrawn looked down at the sudden offer of gelato, and all he could think of was to accept it. “Please do so. I don’t have much scheduled for tomorrow, so it’s a rather free day for me.” He was still reading into everything from the gallery, while keeping Tarkin’s mission of her on the back-burner, but he could easily set that aside for a few hours helping her release pent-up aggression.

“And, I’m sorry again to hear what happened.” He allowed sorrow to seep into his words. “You have my condolences.”

 

[Lucyfer]

Adlai canted his head at the explanation. He knew he’d heard something different that had made less sense than that, from Eira. Perhaps he had just misunderstood what Eira was trying to tell him? Well…rather, he didn’t understand it at all.

“I’m just going to assume you two know what you’re doing.”

Trying to wrap his head around something he had no way of testing, or using, seemed like an endeavor in futility.

At least with Skye’s next explanation, he was able to follow it better, because he could at least imagine what it would be like to hide a talent one trained in for years. A talent that had been like an extension of themselves, more of an arm, than a sword.

He reached his hand back up to the back of her head.

“At least no one found you.”

That wasn’t true of all Jedi.

“No one’s identified you.”

And now she had new guides for this new world without Jedi.

~***~

Again, Eli just shook his head, and realized belatedly that, as with his numbers, he preferred to look at things alone, first, before seeking insight. He didn’t have the answers. This was the first time he was looking at the artwork. He hardly had enough to compare it to, or even consider. The fact he also just didn't know, didn't help his desire to want to engage it, when it was all terrible guesswork. What if the artstyle he brought up wasn't even the norm?

Besides, would it mean anything to contradict strength and unity, that the hues used were all fairly muted? Or would that strengthen the argument.

“I don’t know,” his frustration was in his voice.

He wouldn’t be able to just look at it on his own, since he hadn’t taken the opportunity to leave the bed earlier. It felt as if it would be rude to say ‘I appreciate your insight but I want to just stare at the work in silence’. No one liked to hear they weren’t helping.

So, instead, he just moved off it. “I think I’ll just confuse myself more at this point, honestly.” Which was probably true. He’d start to overthink, to wonder if maybe it did mean fractures and that was just how it would appear in this culture, with their materials, or if it meant something he couldn’t even fathom.

~***~

Despite the tease in Mitth’raw’nuruodo’s tone, Eira could only feel more embarrassed that he had gotten to learn about that world. More guilt. Her gaze dipped again, not wanting to try and fail dismally at seeming to take the tease well. She knew he was trying to show it didn’t bother him.

Perhaps it didn’t.

The gelato left her hands. Her trainer would be glad for that, even if she suspected she wouldn’t eat two pints by herself, at least now she couldn’t eat two pints by herself.

She looked up once more at his words of condolences, and there the smile was a bit more sincere. At least, glad, for the understanding, if nothing else. “Thank you,” she’d debate the matter of a spar through the night, she knew. “I hope you enjoy the gelato, Mitth’raw’nuruodo. I may see you tomorrow.”

That was as much hope as she’d allow, because in truth she didn’t yet know how very frustrated, or annoyed, she would end up being with everything. She knew for the moment, she needed to go home, and tell Shay what had happened, and listen to her trying to quickly do damage control while complaining about whoever ‘Skye’ was.

Skye wouldn’t be making a good first impression.

It was better Skye not know that.

 

[cleopat]

Skye chuckled at Adlai’s assumption. “Don’t worry, we know what we’re doing.” She hadn’t yet been able to see Eira in action, but there was a glimpse of it at the gallery. I need to ask her if she wants to spar one day.

She sighed in contentment when she felt his hand. “Yet,” she whispered. While the Empire still lived, Skye would always live with that word, yet. “No one has found me yet, and no one who’s against me has identified me.”

There was that man at the Organa’s party who had recognized her, but said nothing, and then Bail himself, who pretended to not know her at all, if he did remember her.

“But,” she said, grabbing her lightsaber and standing up, “we will take this one day at a time.” Skye crossed the room to the dresser, where she placed her lightsaber in the second drawer.

~~

Sensing his mounting frustration, Cora frowned. She had wanted to suggest asking Thrawn for advice, if he hadn’t already done so, but she had the suspicion that Eli wouldn’t want to do that. He wanted to figure it out for himself, to prove that he had learned something from Thrawn.

“Maybe so,” she simply agreed, moving off the bed to where her tunic still draped over the chair. She pulled out her datapad from one of its pockets and walked over to her side of the bed. “It’s been a long day, you should let yourself rest and start fresh tomorrow.”

And since Thrawn wasn’t with them, what good was it to try and analyze their culture if they weren’t sure of the answer?

Cora sat down and shifted her attention to her datapad. There were a few new messages, but nothing of importance, and nothing that required an immediate reply.

~~

Avoidance at eye contact. Thrawn could only surmise that Eira was feeling either embarrassment or guilt at his words, so he wouldn’t bring them back up. While he didn’t care about the rumors that were spread of him, she may have felt some guilt in bringing him into the mess in the first place.

She looked back up at him. Ah, there’s a more sincere smile. Thrawn felt pleased at that small accomplishment. “You’re welcome, Eira.” He glanced down at the gelato in his hand, and just as soon turned his focus back on her.

He didn’t want to leave her, but Eira had been right, that they shouldn’t be seen walking together. Not immediately after a break-up. It would look bad for all of them.

“And I do hope you take me up on my offer if you find yourself needing it.” His eyes softened. “I wish you the best for tomorrow.”

 

[Lucyfer]

Yet.

Even though Adlai would have loved to protest the word, he did not. He knew it was true. Yet. If. He lived with those words himself as a rebel. If he was caught. If they weren’t successful. It was a matter of time.

Either the Empire would be overthrown, or he would be caught. He couldn’t imagine living to old age under the Empire.

She moved away, and set the lightsaber aside, and Adlai rose after a moment, “We will,” he agreed, “And I would advise preparing yourself mentally, at least, for tomorrow’s meeting.” Shay, he knew, was going to be immensely displeased with all of them.

“We’ll do what we can to mitigate the anger of our, ah, Imperator,” he chuckled, but despite the fact he knew they’d get away with it, there was guilt and concern in his tone. They followed Shay and Eira for good reasons.

Upsetting either of them meant things had gone wrong.

“I should leave you to get settled in. You’ve taken in a lot today.”

~***~

Eli knew that tomorrow, he’d likely just begin by making sure they had supplies, and considering any last minute stops for questions, before trekking into the jungle. Although he had little reason to actually believe there was anything in the jungle, it seemed the best way to avoid Imperial notice.

Although now the thought of being wrong about that, and Thrawn finding out he’d neglected to try more severe questioning tactics, bothered him.

What if Proserpina was just the next town over?

He sighed. “You’re right.” He moved to set his datapad aside.

He wouldn’t get anywhere right now, at least.

He got up just enough to walk to the side of the bed, and slip beneath the covers. “I’ll see ya in the morning,” he knew he wouldn’t be too bothered by the lights or noises if she stayed up a bit longer, as he turned his back, and shut his eyes.

Hopefully, sleep would help.

~***~

Eira inclined her head with his well wishes, “Thank you,” what else was there to say? Plenty, of course. It was only too easy to sense Mitth’raw’nuruodo’s desire to linger, but even that – more than a chance meeting – would have its difficulties to explain away.

She could make no promise about tomorrow. Wouldn’t make any promises about tomorrow, rather.

And so she could only step back, “I hope the rest of your evening is peaceful. I’m sure I will see you soon, no matter.” She wouldn’t linger after the farewell, smile already faltering on her lips, only turn away, to leave him, to head back to her home…the long way.

Just in case she was followed by more than the usual paparazzi she tended to ignore. At least no one really got in her face any longer. Shay and Amita had seen to the end of that a long time ago.

 

[cleopat]

“Well I hope I won’t be grilled too much,” Skye said with a smile. She heard some things about Shay, none proved to be too promising to a newcomer. She would have to do her best to make a good first impression.

Skye turned back to face Adlai and strolled over to him. “Maybe if she’s too angry, I can,” she paused, mimicking Adlai’s early hand motion when he was asking about the Jedi mind trick, “convince her otherwise.”

When she stood in front of him, Skye reached up to wrap her arms around his neck. “But before you leave, maybe I could get a goodnight kiss?” She had been half tempted to ask something more, hint at something further than a kiss, but she decided against it.

Adlai had been right. She had taken in a lot that day, and she needed to prepare herself for tomorrow.

~~

Cora frowned, looking down at Eli after he slipped beneath the covers and closed his eyes. “Good night,” she whispered. Her eyes returned to look at her datapad, and she shifted through a few more messages before she powered it down and set it aside.

Carefully, as to not jostle Eli, she stood from the bed in order to remove her pants, then she slipped back in and turned on her side.

Cora did not know how she would easily fall asleep with being hyper-aware of the man sleeping by her side. All she could think of was the warmth that radiated from him, but eventually she fell asleep.

Never aware of how her sleeping body turned to seek out the warmth further into the night.

~~

“You’re welcome.” Thrawn inclined his head, one hand fidgeting with the pint container of the mystery flavored gelato. That slight awkward tension settled over him, as he entered into a social situation he did not know how to deal with.

“And I hope...that your treat cheers you up,” he finished rather lamely, he thought. His head motioned to her other pint and milkshake as he mentioned them. While Thrawn didn’t turn to desserts very often when he was in need of cheering, alcohol was typically his choice of poison, he did recognize how pleasant their cold sweetness could aid in a sour mood.

Thrawn took a step back himself, but he didn’t turn to go in his own direction just yet. Crimson eyes followed Eira until she disappeared from his view. Only then he turned on his heel to make his way back to his ship, the gelato warming slightly in his palm.

His pilot had looked curiously at the pint in Thrawn’s hand, but the Chiss just glared slightly before he searched for a spoon on the ship. He would have to finish it before he returned to the ship, unless he wanted other people to question.

 

[Lucyfer]

“Please do not mind trick Shay, I think Eira would take offense,” Adlai chuckled. He also wasn’t certain it would work. He knew Eira had told him it worked on the weak minded. He didn’t know if there was a scale for that, or if it just meant ‘weaker mind’ than the person performing the act.

In either case, Shay had a strong mind. No question.

And he welcomed Skye into his arms without question, as well, and bent his head down a bit even before her request. He was hardly going to turn away any last gesture for the night. He smiled, indulgent, before he leaned the rest of the way down to place his lips to hers, and he drew a hand into her hair, while the other remained firmly placed on the middle of her back.

His intent wasn’t to linger into a longer session, even if he would have wanted to, but he hardly intended to leave her with a mere peck to sleep on.

Or to let himself sleep on.

It’d been only too long since his hands got to curl into soft hair, or truly press into obliging lips.

~***~

Eli rested well, and slept through the night, which he would find unusual later. Although he didn’t suffer debilitating insomnia when not in a bed of his own, he still was rarely too comfortable in that situation.

He woke warmer than anticipated.

And with more pressure tangled around him. “Mmphr?” There was hair in his face. He shook his head a bit and blinked open his eyes to find that in the night, apparently, he and Cora had entangled themselves in each other, and the sheets.

The momentary pleasantness of it was shaken from him as he realized that, for one, he and Cora weren’t together. And she knew of his interest. She could think he did this and was being creepy. He flushed crimson, and tried to figure out a decent way to remove his arms from around her, and also unwrap the sheets, without waking her.

Without pulling hair.

Without – ‘Oh, she’s not wearing pants.’ Of course. That just deepened his flush and he rolled out, abandoning the mission of a quiet escape.

~***~

Shay was definitely not happy.

Eira spoke to her through the holo for at least an hour, eating her gelato, and mostly nodding as Shay grew increasingly frustrated with Adlai hooking up with some ‘blonde bimbo’ he hadn’t known longer than a week, and that they wanted to just let this ‘blonde bimbo’ into their group.

Eira let Shay rage.

She needed it.

She would come around when they met, but her world had been turned upside down that night by Ahsoka finding things out, learning Holdo said too much, and now this. So Eira could at least be a sympathetic ear.

When the rage passed, and Shay was prepared to go about this professionally, they agreed on a time, and a spot, and Eira sent a message on to both Adlai and Skye, expecting they’d be asleep or otherwise engaged.

She wasn’t expecting a response, in any case, and left her datapad after sending a message to her trainer about her dietary sins and crisis in her personal life.

Eira should have gone to sleep after that, but she didn’t. No, with the gelato finished, she went to indulge one of her hobbies – music.

It wasn’t sorrow that spilled forth in the strings, though. Perhaps at first, but after a while, Eira simply let her fingers play out a melody they were trying to learn – the song, the vibe, that she got from Mitth’raw’nuruodo.

 

[cleopat]

“Okay, fine, I won’t mind trick Shay,” Skye chuckled, not having been serious in the least about the threat. “For you and for Eira.”

She had the distinct impression Shay could be scary if she wanted to. She didn’t need to add fuel to the fire.

Her body curled into his as they kissed, and one hand brushed into his hair. As much as she wanted things to continue, she knew the importance of tomorrow, and with much regret, she slowly pulled away, but her arms remained wrapped around his neck.

“Now I don’t know if I’m going to have an amazing sleep or a very frustrated one,” Skye teased with a sly smile. Slowly then did she lower her arms.

She breathed an exaggerated sigh. “Oh, what a shame, but perhaps one night soon.”

~~

Cora didn’t recognize the warmth she felt when she first woke up, but the sudden jostle forced her to quickly regain her senses. She looked over in time to see Eli moving from the bed, and it didn’t take her long to figure out what had happened.

The tangled bedsheets, her position in the middle of the bed, it was easy to see that they had somehow moved together in the night. And neither of them had pants on.

Flushing just as much as Eli, Cora turned away and shifted to the edge of the bed, grabbing her pants and sliding them on as she stood up. “Did you have a good sleep?” she asked, her voice a bit higher and faster than normal in her embarrassment.

One hand brushed over her braided hair, and she discovered that some strands escaped their confinement during the night. That was typical, but Cora frowned at the slight frizziness her escaped strands took on, thanks to the humidity of the planet.

Of course.

 

[Lucyfer]

Adlai would let her start to draw away, lingering close, moving with a bit into the pull, before allowing that separation to take place. Even if she hadn’t yet released him, and he hadn’t yet let go of her, either. Her warmth was a pleasant promise of what the future could hold, and he knew he was getting far too ahead of himself with his thoughts.

But he’d told her, he’d prefer something long-term, and she’d agreed.

He could at least dream, as he learned more about her, and wove that information into imaginations of a future without the Empire. Without secrecy.

“Either way, I think it shall be worth it,” he said as her arms moved, and he drew his hand away, gliding over the clothing of her back, fingers trailing around her side, before leaving her entirely. “I am certain we will have that discussion soon.”

They weren’t exactly nervous teenagers. She wasn’t the chaste Jedi and he was far from some virginal Lord waiting for marriage – if such a thing ever, truly, existed.

~***~

Eli Vanto kept himself turned away as he worked himself out of the sheets he’d pulled off the bed, with himself. He knew he was a deep crimson. His entire body felt way too warm. He wanted to jump into the shower and douse himself in cold water, but instead he settled for walking towards the door of the bathroom stiffly.

“Y—yeah, great sleep, very, uh, very good bed.” Very warm was what he almost said but he suspected that was just going to make things much more awkward than they needed to be.

He splashed his face with cold water once. Twice.

He took a breath, and with his head down, walked out of the bathroom. He didn’t know if Cora was decent, but he wasn’t going to risk it as he went stiffly about the motions of pulling on his own attire, keeping his back to Cora as much as possible.

“You? Sleep well, that is?”

Faro would laugh her ass off if she knew about this.

 

[cleopat]

Skye had missed the warmth of Adlai’s body as they parted for the evening. She was half-tempted to seek him out or send a message, but she behaved and remembered her lessons of patience.

She was never great at those particular lessons.

The next day had been filled with apprehension for the dinner. Skye’s impression of Shay wasn’t a delightful one, and if she wanted to help them, she needed Shay to at least be able to tolerate her.

And so Skye glanced over herself in a body-length mirror, critical of every little detail. A flowing one-piece, it nearly looked like a dress at first glance, but she was acting as the role of Adlai’s bodyguard. She needed to make sure she looked like she could still protect someone.

Just a few moments ago, she had sent a message to Adlai.

I may be as ready as I’ll ever be.​

‘Oh what did I get myself into.’

~~

Cora looked at Eli as he walked into the bathroom, her eyebrows furrowed in some confusion and concern. Very good bed?

He was embarrassed. Nervous. She wasn’t much better, but she could finish dressing for the day without having the feeling of needing a cold shower.

Cora would rather be back in bed, relaxing in the warmth of Eli wrapped around her.

Her cheeks warmed again. She moved to finish putting on her tunic, then she took out her braid, only to wrap it back in a bun.

Eli’s back remained facing her, but Cora had turned to look at him. “Yeah, I slept very well. Maybe one of my better nights of sleep in some time.” After she said that, Cora turned to locate her boots, and kept herself busy with putting them on.

It really was a mercy no one would ever hear about this.

 

[Lucyfer]

Although the break-up was, in reality, a good thing, Adlai did not dress as if it were. There were small cues. Serenno had its mourning colors like many colors. Black. Traditional. He made a point of wearing more of it than usual, and his cape entirely black, with hints of the darker green of his family.

He was as put-together as he would be that evening, and he knew he shouldn’t look too put together, either.

Even with plenty of time, his hair seemed slightly askew.

His shirt seemed a bit off-center.

Mutual, or not, it was still a loss he had to mourn publicly. Small details would speak larger than anything else. A small touch of careful carelessness in his appearance would make journalists write him as distracted – and distracted was easy to translate to grief.

He saw Skye’s text as he was finishing up, and chuckled.

I’ll see you in the foyer when you’re ready.​

He said, tucking his datapad into a pocket as he left for the foyer to meet her. He had already called for a speeder to take them to the diner. They would not be going with Eira and Shay, but meeting them there, instead.

~***~

The water helped a bit, and Eli was able to start to focus as he layered on his clothes. Cora had slept well, which was also good. He was pretty sure he didn’t need to ask ‘so we never mention this, right?’.

Although he might mention it to Cora, even with the consequences, so she could tell him how he fucked all of this up. Perhaps she’d buy him a sympathy drink.

Eli could hear her putting on boots, so he assumed that meant it was safe to turn himself a bit. Thankfully, he was right. She was much more decent now. “So, I’m gonna get cleaned up, then I’ll go get some breakfast. You think you can check on Tobias and Ortell?”

Direction would help them move beyond this moment.

He didn’t know if Ortell and Tobias needed checking on, but it was something to do, and it would get them started on preparing to leave the hotel and getting back to the mission. Quickly.

 

[cleopat]

Skye smoothed her hands over the fabric of her outfit, a smooth blend of dark blues that had reminded her of the night sky. Obviously she had to get it.

She received Adlai’s text and didn’t respond. Skye put the datapad away and left her bedroom, making her way to the foyer.

“There’s something different about your hair that I just love.” She smiled upon seeing Adlai already there. Once they left, there would be no smiles allowed. Nothing to convey positive emotion. Breakups aren’t supposed to be fun.

“Are they on their way to the restaurant yet?” Oh kriff, what if she and Adlai arrived first? Were they to try not to make eye contact, or do anything that could suggest a friendship? How the hell do they navigate this life.

~~

Cora straightened up once she was done with her boots. “Oh, okay.” That had come out more lame than she expected.

The awkwardness was still palpable, and Cora could only think of what Faro told her about Eli. Was that why he acted so nervous? Of course, she did as well. But that redness still lingered on Eli.

“Oh, well, I can.” She stood up, as her hands tugged at invisible wrinkles in her uniform. “But I was thinking we can grab that breakfast together, while we let Tobias and Ortell have a little bit more time to get ready.”

Would Eli not want to? Was there perhaps regret, or too much embarrassment that he needed a moment alone? If he rejected her offer, then Cora would simply continue to go on as if nothing happened between them. Nothing at all.

 

[Lucyfer]

Adlai allowed a slight smirk and a roll of his eyes at the comment, “Well I’m glad you like it. It’s driving me insane,” he knew what it was. The slightly mussed look. He always got comments from women over it, but he didn’t personally enjoy it. The hair always stood at the edges of his vision, and it bothered him to no end. “Your dress does look lovely on you. It’s a good color on you.” The dark contrast with her hair and skin.

He nodded, “So far as I know,” he hadn’t checked in, but he knew he could trust Eira and Shay to be fairly timely.

They strode out of the Serenno home, and the speeder was waiting for them, a slick, black vehicle. Adlai was first to it, and in spite of Skye being his bodyguard, he still opened the door to let her in first. It wasn’t unusual.

It was something he’d been seen doing with many, even other men. Noblesse Oblige was not merely chivalry towards women, but all, in his opinion.

~***~

Eli shook his head, not thinking it would be good to go wandering off to find breakfast with Cora for a few reasons. The first being that his head wouldn’t get clear. Nevermind the fact that distance might add undo stress to things. That was a risk he’d take.

There was also the fact he didn’t want to give Ortell or Tobias a moment. If he came back with breakfast and they weren’t up, that would just delay things even further than necessary, and they were on mission.

“If you have any preferences for breakfast, though, I can try to find them.” He wasn’t sure what kind of options would exist in the area, but he figured everyone would prefer food. They’d be in woods soon, and probably eating rations unless Cora had some ideas about what they could eat while roaming the jungle.

Not to mention the stress of watching for Sephi traps.

 

[cleopat]

Skye beamed at the compliment. “Thank you.” She heard similar comments from other guys before, but none of them held her interest like Adlai did.

She followed behind him to their speeder. He opened the door for her, to which Skye blinked in mild surprise. “Oh, thank you,” she said with full gratitude. The interior proved to be just as nice as the exterior, Skye noted as she slid in.

It didn’t help her apprehension.

The trip to the restaurant might as well have been an eternity. What am I even nervous about? Meeting this Shay? The idea of being a part of a rebel group? Come on, Skye. This is nothing.

The speeder slowed down as they approached the restaurant. “So, no looking happy, right?” It was partly a light joke to herself, but Skye knew that the evening was still happening under the guise of a break-up. Not much smiling or laughing should be done.

~~

Cora could feel herself deflate. Had she been reading the situation all wrong? Was Faro wrong? “Oh, okay,” she tried to not sound disappointed. He gave a reason. It was a logical reason.

It was still too early for much logic.

“You can just get me whatever you’re getting.” Cora stood from the bed, as she deemed herself ready for the day. “I’ll go see if the other two are ready.” She crossed the room and opened the door, making sure to close it behind her.

A rapid knock on the door. “Coming!” called a muffled voice from the other side. Tobias was the one to open the door, fully clothed, though his tunic wasn’t fully buttoned, and his hair was still messed from sleep.

“Oh, I was just coming to check on you two, see if you two were awake or not.” Cora could see into the room, and Ortell was already dressed, sans boots.

“Oh yeah, we woke up not too long ago. Are we leaving soon?”

“Eli’s searching for breakfast, but after that, yeah, I think we’re leaving.”