Ask Naboo A Showcase of Pride

[Atris Tharen]

Atris could hardly hear Brienna's voice over the sound of the water and the engines, but as the light freighter began to pull back the Jedi knew her companion had been able to reach the saucy astromech piloting the ship. The nylon rope was pulled taught over the expanse of water that separated the boat and freighter, and the ship lurched backward.

Please hold, please hold... she thought to herself, reaching out to hold onto the ship's siding to keep her balance.

Wood splintered around the railing of the stern, breaking from the sudden pressure against the natural flow of the water, but Brienna had already warned the astromech to ease up before Atris could say a word. Slowly, the light freighter drug the boat from the edges of the waterfall and their impending deaths. Even if the nylon rope broke or the stern's railing gave away, they would have enough time to turn the boat around before floating into the rapids again.

They were out of danger, at last.

"Great work!" Atris called out, giving her partner a thumbs up as relief washed over her. She could feel it down to her very bones. While the astromech guided the boat toward shore, Atris joined Brienna at the helm.

"Just another day, right?" Brienna laughed.

Atris joined in the laughter, using her forearm to wipe the moisture that had gathered on her brow. Whether it was sweat or the water's spray was anyone's guess. She shook her head, unable to stop the smile that spread across her face. The night's adrenaline and the relief that came from not dying made that impossible.

"Yeah, just another night. Let's hope there aren't many more like this in our future. Or at least not until I've had a shower and a good night's sleep."

One aspect of the evening Atris wouldn't mind repeating was getting to work alongside Brienna again.

As soon as the Jedi could feel the bottom of the boat scraping against dry ground, Atris disappeared below deck to retrieve the unconscious Twi'lek. Taking ahold of his ankles, she struggled to drag the large twi'lek across the hull of the boat.

This is why you need to work out more, Atris, she thought to herself with a huff. Depositing the twi'lek unceremoniously on the shore, she let out a long sigh and watched Brienna tie up their disgraced hostess with rope. They'd underestimated Victoria before, but they weren't going to make that mistake again.

It was good to feel dry ground beneath her feet again, but Brienna was right. They still had one final matter to attend to. The agreement was that the necklace would be theirs after the gala was over, but in light of recent events... "We might as well just take it. I doubt our Mr. Rikil will... Speak of the devil."

Face flushed with anger and well-groomed mustache twitching with rage, Daymar Rikil was storming across the lawn of his estate toward them.

Atris rolled her eyes. Neither Jedi were in the mood to deal with that man. "Looks like we've got company."

"What is the meaning of this?" Rikil demanded as he approached the Jedi, his hand gesturing wildly in the direction of his wife. Victoria was bound on the shore, her hair and dress a mess as she began to stir. Brienna had knocked her out cold, and it was going to take her a while to recover from knock over the head. Atris was still impressed.

"First I discover my code cylinder is missing, then I discover that you've abandoned your posts and allowed the necklace to be stolen! Now you've bound my wife!"

@ModernMarvel

 

[Brienna Lanaamer]

"Yeah, just another night. Let's hope there aren't many more like this in our future. Or at least not until I've had a shower and a good night's sleep."

Definitely agree on that front. The Jedi was tired, verging on exhaustion. The word eventful was an understatement. She had chased Victoria across the Rikil estate, which included sliding down a tiled roof. Ouch, by the way. Been shot at, ran what felt like a mile through the estate grounds. Some people have way too much money. Jumped from a flying ship onto a speeding boat. Check that off the bucket list. Oh, and then had a fight on the boat and stopped it from falling to certain doom off a waterfall.

Most notably of all, was Bri's partner through the whole night. Atris. From starting the evening knowing next to nothing about the other Jedi Knight, Bri was remarkably impressed, and sincerely hoped that the other Knights in the Order were as well prepared, confident, and affable. They really hadn't had much time to get to know each other throughout the evening, and Bri hoped they'd get the chance either as the mission concluded or on another occasion in the future.

As Bri deposited the unconscious Victoria, she turned around to see Atris, rather comically, huffing the similarly unconscious Twi'lek body guard out of the boat. He too was dumped onto the shore, making a satisfying plop. Atris shortly joined Bri back on more solid ground.

"We might as well just take it. I doubt our Mr. Rikil will... Speak of the devil. Looks like we've got company."

Not for the first time in the evening Bri was surprised at what happened next. Somehow Daymar had found the two Jedi and did not look pleased. The Jedi spotted an eye roll from Atris and was tempted to do the same.

"What is the meaning of this? First I discover my code cylinder is missing, then I discover that you've abandoned your posts and allowed the necklace to be stolen! Now you've bound my wife!"

After all they had been through, Bri was tempted, oh so tempted, to react angrily at Victoria. Everything seemed quite obvious now. Victoria was just some gold digger, who no doubt was taking every opportunity to enrich herself from her 'husband' and his riches. It didn't take a genius to spot that, and either Daymar had as well, and didn't care. Or he was just an idiot. Either option seems likely at this stage.

Bri took a deep breath in to stabilize her emotions. She ran her hands through her hair a few times to try to make herself look reasonably more presentable, which was not successful. "Councilor Rikil," the Jedi used his official title. "Unfortunately, it seems it was your wife was the one who organized the heist of the necklace. With the assistance of your man over there," pointing to the Twi'lek on the beach.

"What?!" Daymar sputtered. "No absolutely not. That's preposterous. I cannot believe you Jedi would make up such lies. Just despicable. Victoria would never do something like that" the man shook his head, quite angry.

Bri interjected before Rikil could continue his tirade. "Look," she held her hand out to get the man to stop talking. Walking over to the groggy Victoria, Bri reached her hand down the woman's dress, to shocked look from Daymar. Fishing for just a moment, the blonde woman's hand rematerialized with the necklace. "Afraid not," the Jedi added, with a not so sad looking, sarcastic sideways frown.

Daymar grew even more red in the face, spluttering to try and respond. "Well! No.. that...that can't be right!"

@llamallove

 

[Atris Tharen]

Slowly, something akin to realization spread across Daymar Rikil's face, but it was gone the very next moment. In its place, indignation and fury found a home. The man's face turned an even deeper shade of scarlet, something Atris would've claimed was impossible if she did not witness the event with her own eyes. His groomed mustache twitched uncontrollably, his chest swelling to its full size and testing the limits of his clothes.

He quite literally looked like he was about to pop a button and not so literally blow a fuse.

Good thing he can afford a personal tailor, Atris thought to herself, crossing her arms. She wanted to let any number of articulated retorts roll off her tongue, but she held them back. Bouncing around her head would have to suffice.

Brienna didn't look any less annoyed, and it was obvious that the frown she offered Rikil wasn't the least bit sincere.

Already the two Jedi were on the defensive, and who could blame them? The man's conduct and behavior toward the two women had been nothing even close to what you might call civil. Begrudgingly, he had allowed them to supervise the necklace, verbally undermining them the entire time. Now he would blame them for the theft of the artifact, when it was his own wife who pocketed the code cylinder and absconded with it? All under his nose and "the best security money could buy?"

Had Rikil exhibited even the smallest sign of betrayal or sorrow, Atris could have mustered some sympathy for the man. Any normal man would feel utterly betrayed under these circumstances. To discover that his wife had been using him this entire time, that she had no more feelings for him than she did for the next passing Gungan. It would be a blow to any man, a blow he might never recover from if he were truly in love with his wife.

Any normal man that is, but not Daymar Rikil.

Daymar Rikil was one of the most respected noblemen of Theed, a member of Naboo's Royal Advisory Council. He was rich, famous, and loved by the people of Theed. He advised the Queen of Naboo herself, he made planetary decisions, and it was undeniable that his collection of treasures and priceless artifacts was impressive, possibly even unrivaled on Naboo.

This collection, however, paled in comparison to his pride. Tonight, it was his pride that was on full display.

More than anything, Daymar Rikil was a proud man. The scandal of his wife's true nature could not and would not be borne, and he would never allow it to see the light of day. His pride was hurt more than his feelings, and Atris had to assume that he cared no more for his wife than she did for him.

All he wanted out of Victoria was to win over the affections of the Naboo people and to look beautiful while doing it. To be everything that the wife of a Naboo Royal Advisor should be, perhaps to even illicit jealousy at his fortunate choice in a wife. Victoria was an attractive woman, and Atris was sure that, if properly motivated, she could actually be quite charming. So long as you didn't know the real character that lurked beneath that perfect façade.

"That can't be right," Rikil continued to protest, waving his arms violently. He chose to overlook the evidence around Victoria's neck, clearly pointed out by Brienna. "Victoria is my wife. She would never do such a thing, and to have the two of you attempt to soil her good name simply to cover up your own indiscretion is—is absolutely preposterous! It's true what they say about the Jedi, after all!"

Atris set her jaw. Angering the the dark haired Jedi was not an easy task, but Rikil had managed to do it. After everything we've been through tonight... They hadn't chased Victoria on rooftops, across the grounds, in a racing speedboat, gotten shot at, hit, and almost fallen to their deaths just to be called a liar for it all. Both women were wet, sore, tired, and officially annoyed.

Rikil marched over to his wife, the red haired thief beginning to show signs of life again. "You've thought of everything... Planting the necklace on her and binding her. It's despicable! Absolutely despicable!" Unclasping the necklace around her neck, he shoved it further into Brienna's outstretched hand. "There! Take it to your precious Jedi Council! It's yours!"

Loosing the rope around her hands, he seized Victoria by the wrist and pulled her to her feet. The woman was still out of it, barely even able to stand on her own two feet. Brienna had really knocked her out cold. "If you don't mind, I will take my wife home now. I trust the two of you can find your way off my property, never to return." He pulled—or drug, really— Victoria across the lawn, back toward his estate and the dwindling party.

"You can trust the Jedi Council will be hearing about this from me!" the two Jedi would hear him call back to them as he slowly shrunk into the distance.

Victoria should have been headed to jail for what she had pulled tonight, but perhaps she was en route to another kind of prison. No doubt Rikil would keep an annoyingly tight watch and grip on her from now on, and if he was unwilling to press charges against Victoria, there really was nothing the two Jedi could do. Victoria had attempted to kill them both repeatedly over the course of the evening, but being at the source of a scandal, at odds with a Royal Advisor in ISC space wasn't the best idea. As tempting as it was.

Daymar Rikil would be forced to watch his wife's every movement, always worried that she might expose him to another scandal and damage his pride. Victoria would be forced to play the role of the doting, beautiful wife that she despised. If she ever did step another toe out of line, perhaps word would get back to the two Jedi.

Atris almost felt sorry for the two of them. Almost.

Atris let out a low, slow sigh and attempted to let all of her anger roll off of her shoulders. It was an infuriating situation and a total disregard for justice, but she would try to come to terms with the turn of events. The two Jedi now had what they'd come for. Their mission was a success, even if it didn't have the satisfying ending they'd both hoped for.

She turned toward Brienna. "Well, I guess that's that."

@ModernMarvel

 

[Brienna Lanaamer]

"Victoria is my wife. She would never do such a thing, and to have the two of you attempt to soil her good name simply to cover up your own indiscretion is—is absolutely preposterous! It's true what they say about the Jedi, after all!"

Bri maintained stoic silence as Daymar launched into his own interpretation of the evening's events. In a way, the Jedi wished she was surprised but the rotund man's actions and comments. But she wasn't. Throughout the whole evening he had barely tolerated the two Jedi's presence, and now faced with what he may have actually known to be true the entire time (that his marriage to Victoria was a sham), he was now taking his anger out on the two most available subjects, Bri and Atris. The blonde Jedi caught a glance at her partner and could easily read that she had a few choice words to share as well, but was also holding her tongue.

"You've thought of everything... Planting the necklace on her and binding her. It's despicable! Absolutely despicable! There! Take it to your precious Jedi Council! It's yours!"

The necklace was shoved back into Bri's hand, as the temper-tantrum continued. She looked down at it for a brief moment, before turning her gaze back to Rikil. Despite his actions, the Jedi knew the Royal Councilor was no fool. Egotistical? probably. Narcissistic? definitely. But he couldn't have risen to his station by being an idiot. All signs pointed to Rikil wanting to preserve his own obviously fragile sense of self as the two Jedi had rather crudely brought the charade to a rather quick end.

"If you don't mind, I will take my wife home now. I trust the two of you can find your way off my property, never to return. You can trust the Jedi Council will be hearing about this from me!"

The telling off concluded, it seemed that a return visit to the Rikil estate was not in the cards. Well, it was nice for the first fifteen minutes. An additional scene manifested itself into Bri's mind, as the two Knights attempted to explain their version of events to the Jedi Council. The dry and serious face of Councilor Alexandria Voran (@Valen Pelora ) staring straight through Bri. And then you kicked her in the head....? Oh well. The blonde Jedi felt they had acted with as much professionalism as possible, and turning her eyes back to the necklace, was eager to learn more about the artifact that had caused such a fuss in the first place.

"Well, I guess that's that."

Bri sighed with a smile and turned back to Atris. "Guess so!" trying to sound more cheerful than she actually felt. "Can I give you a ride back to wherever you need to go?" she pointed with a thumb to her freighter that was still parked on the estate grounds. Bri wasn't sure what else Atris had in mind for the evening, but she felt the need to decompress after all that they'd been through.

@llamallove

 

[Atris Tharen]

Rikil lashed out at the two Jedi, berating them with his words and threatening them, but Brienna had remained stoic the entire time. The blonde Jedi never flinched, no matter how much the man waved his arms, and she never backed down.

Both of the Jedi were on the same page when it came to Daymar Rikil: thoroughly annoyed and over he man. Unlike him, however, they had the good sense to keep their mouths shut. He might speak whatever came to his mind, but they would not stoop to his level. Nor did they have the privilege to speak whatever they wanted. A Jedi's words were to be tempered.

Atris' brown eyes drifted toward the necklace clutched within Brienna's hand, raking her eyes over the detailed craftmanship of the piece. It was even more beautiful now that it wasn't tucked away behind a glass display, and the moonlight that played across its stones was mesmerizing. It was no wonder Victoria had gone to such lengths to steal it.

"That'd be nice, actually," Atris replied, taking Brienna up on her offer of a ride. The brunette did not have her own ship, something she'd probably need to remedy one of these days. If she could ever learn to fly, that is.

On second thought... maybe I should leave the flying up to the experienced, she thought to herself, recalling the last time she had attempted to fly a ship. An amused smile passed over her lips.

"I could use a ride. Thank you."

Atris followed the blonde Jedi Kight up the boarding ramp of her light freighter, glancing over her shoulder once to watch the scene that unfollowed behind them.

One of Rikil's private security had picked up the unconscious Twi'lek, throwing him over his shoulder. Slowly and unsteadily, the man carried the Twi'lek back toward the estate. Undoubtedly, this whole mess would be pinned on the Twi'lek. He would be held responsible for the plan Victoria had hatched, and he would be the one sentenced to jail time. Although guilty, it was not fair that he alone should pay for the sins carried out by two.

But Daymar Rikil had to place the blame somewhere, and he couldn't very well accuse the Jedi. Even if he might have wanted to.

Turning to Brienna, she laughed. "Some evening, huh? I don't know which amazed me more—Rikil's collection or his pride."

@ModernMarvel

 

[Brienna Lanaamer]

"That'd be nice, actually. I could use a ride. Thank you."

Bri smiled, gesturing for Atris to follow her up the ramp on her ship. For the briefest of moments, the Jedi worried about the cleanliness of the ship - wondering if she had left anything out - not having expected to bring a guest back with her, when she had first left earlier in the evening. Wait, no, I'm good, it's tidy. The ship was brightly lit as they entered, with the entry ramp depositing them in a tubular hallway. The cockpit was obviously to their left, while Bri's residential quarters were to the right.

NL greeted the two Jedi upon entry. "Thanks for the assist, buddy" Bri smilled, patting the droid on its head. Despite not having any facial features, the droid was evidently pleased with its work. It once again started telling off Bri about the dangers of what she had done, jumping from a moving ship to a moving boat, nearly falling off a waterfall. "Ok ok, I get it. Won't happen again," Bri said, semi-seriously, but made a sarcastic face to Atris that said, 'It'll probably end up happening again.'

"Some evening, huh? I don't know which amazed me more—Rikil's collection or his pride."

The blonde Jedi chuckled at Atris' comparison. "That's pretty accurate. I'm a little surprised that his big house was able to even fit the size of his ego." Unfortunately, Bri was familiar with the type of person. Her family operated in similar social circles on Chandrila. Her parents weren't like Daymar Rikil, but she family friends who were. The thought lingered in her mind as she slid into the captains chair in the cockpit, gesturing for Atris to take the co-pilot's seat. "So, where are we headed?" Bri looked over with a smile.

Waiting for the answer, Bri began the pre-flight procedures, flipping a few switches, and pressing a few buttons as the ship once more hummed to life. Pivoting the chair from her left to her right, the blonde Jedi caught sight of her shoes. The bulky leather boots. "Oh! My heels!" In the hectic rush of the evening, Bri had completely forgotten about the heels that she had thrown off to chase after Victoria. They were likely still sitting under the windowsill that Bri had hurdled over.

"So...should I like forget about them?" Bri wondered aloud. "Or maybe this is now a heist of our own," she laughed at her own joke. "Daymar was very clear that we are no longer welcome at his estate...."

@llamallove

 

[Atris Tharen]

Inside the ship, Brienna's spunky NM-series Astromech Droid awaited them at the top of the boarding ramp. After a serious scolding by the opinionated droid, the blonde Jedi Knight assured the droid that the night's exploits would not be repeated, but Atris did not miss the subtle It'll probably end up happening again thrown her way.

Brienna slid into the captain's seat of the cockpit and offered the co-pilot's seat to her partner. Atris didn't hesitate, falling into the seat and letting out a small, contended sigh. Her limbs practically melted into the chair, and its comfort highlighted just how uncomfortable the whole night had been.

"So, where he headed?" the Jedi Knight asked, her fingers expertly maneuvering each button, panel, and lever scattered across the control panel. Atris wouldn't have even known where to begin.

Good thing she offered me a ride, she thought to herself, amused. I'd hate to have to wait for the next public transport off of Naboo.

Before Atris could answer the question, Brienna had swiveled around in her chair and looked down at her shoes, realization spreading across her face. "Oh! My heels!"

Atris' brown eyes moved followed her line of sight, inspecting the wet boots. They were a far cry from the elegant shoes Brienna had worn at the start of the evening. More practical, yes, but clearly well-used. Personally, Atris liked the boots better, but Brienna would probably need those heels again. Jedi weren't loaded with credits, after all.

The brunette's body protested at the thought of movement, of leaving the comfort of this seat, but Atris had something else in mind. She laughed along with Brienna and then replied, "I think we should go back and get them. I doubt Victoria needs them. She probably has a closet full of nothing but shoes. They'll just be thrown out."

Atris stood, a mischievous smile spreading across her lips. "Besides, we could swing by the buffet table on our way out."

All of that running had made her hungry, and she hadn't eaten anything since lunch. The least Daymar Rikil could do was provide them with a free meal, unbeknownst to him of course. "I'm sure it will be no trouble for two Jedi to go unnoticed by the honorable Mr. Rikil."

@ModernMarvel

 

[Brienna Lanaamer]

"I think we should go back and get them. I doubt Victoria needs them. She probably has a closet full of nothing but shoes. They'll just be thrown out."

Bri smirked at the comment. "I think I'd rather have them end up in an incinerator, than have than have that woman have them," she replied, purposefully not using Victoria's name. The shoes were nice, and in Bri's closet of mainly tans and beiges, she didn't have too many items that could be classified as 'nice clothes', or shoes for that matter.

The Knight caught Atris' grin at the next comment, "Besides, we could swing by the buffet table on our way out."

It wasn't until Atris had said something that Bri had realized how hungry she actually was. They never had a chance to sample any of the food before the evening had gone completely sideways. Unsurprisingly, running across rooftops and through elaborate gardens was a decent way to build one's appetite. The blonde Jedi turned her head towards her colleague. "I'm with you on that," with a grin. She turned the steering of the ship on a sharp bank to her left heading back towards the Rikil estate.

Bri looked back down at her ripped outfit. If they were going to go back into the party, she'd need a change of clothes. The Jedi wasn't exactly up to date with the latest on Naboo fashions, but she had a decent assumption that ripped jumpsuits were not in vogue. She pushed the captains seat back and asked, "NL, can you take over for a sec?"

Atris' clothes were not at the same level of disrepair, but Bri still offered, "my bathroom us back here if you want to clean up real quick?" The blonde Jedi hoped that Atris didn't take the offer as if she needed to fix her appearance. She still looked perfectly presentable, if a little soggy. Bri walked down the corners of her ship towards her personal quarters, and as she reached her bedroom, she removed the jumpsuit. She got a full look at the damage that was done, "Ugh, how am I going to fix that,"

Bri turned to her closet and pulled out a simple black top and pants, finding a matching brown coat. Though it didn't look as formal as the previous outfit, it would be more than suitable for a quick search of the heels, and a swing by the buffet table. A quick wash of her hands and face, and Bri was back to being presentable, her hair now in an 'up-do.' Bri vacated her bedroom and accompanying bathroom for Atris' use, should she need to make use of it.

"So, we're thinking entering from the back door?" she asked, planning their route.

@llamallove

 

[Atris Tharen]

Atris laughed again. As the evening had worn on, it had become clear that the blonde Jedi was far more laid back than many of the Jedi Atris had come across. Held responsible and blamed for the war that raged on against the Sith, the Jedi Order found themselves in a difficult spot in history.

The Order was not as popular as they had once been, or perhaps it was more accurate to say that they weren't as popular as they'd believed themselves to be. Not everyone saw the Jedi as the peacekeepers of the galaxy. Daymar Rikil was proof enough of that. Many within the Order, from the lowest Padawan to members of the Jedi Council, found it difficult to shake the events of the past and their worries for the future.

Atris had her own concerns, but these concerns did not cause her hope to waiver. Hope that the Jedi would persevere, belief in their mission to protect the galaxy. The Jedi had faced dark times before, doubtless they would face them again, but they would always rise to face the challenge head on with dignity and virtue. To be lost to despair would be to give in to defeat.

Clearly, Brienna had not lost hope. The galaxy had not hardened her, and she'd managed to keep her sense of humor throughout the challenges life had thrown her way. Atris could appreciate that, and the brunette looked forward to the friendship that would hopefully blossom from this night forward.

These days, Jedi could use all the friends they could get.

While Brienna disappeared into her personal quarters, Atris watched NL navigate the light freighter back toward the Rikil estate, hoping to learn a thing or two. It wasn't long until Brienna reappeared, now in dry clothing and her hair pulled up out of her face.

Side by side, the two of them descended the familiar boarding ramp and moved toward the estate. Brienna had offered her bathroom for Atris to freshen up, but the Jedi Knight had politely declined. Dry clothing would be something to look forward to at the end of this mission. Then she could curl up under the blankets and fall asleep.

"It makes the most sense," she replied as they neared the estate, the sounds of a dying party echoing in the night air. "We're less likely to be spotted entering through the back. Maybe we could even find our way to the kitchen instead of the buffet table."

Atris had a feeling Daymar Rikil was the sort of man that did not dare frequent the service rooms.

@ModernMarvel

 

[Brienna Lanaamer]

"It makes the most sense, we're less likely to be spotted entering through the back. Maybe we could even find our way to the kitchen instead of the buffet table."

Bri nodded in agreement as they walked. NL had dropped the two Jedi off a reasonable distance away from the Estate, so the noise of the freighter wouldn't alert any one to their presence. However, as they approached, the blonde woman wasn't sure if anyone would have noticed. The party was winding down, and Bri saw and heard a few smaller shuttles picking up likely inebriated guests after a night of frivolity. I wonder if anyone actually recognized what happened? The dramatic scene of their departure, chasing the hostess out a window followed by being shot at on a roof was high octane and intense, but for those who weren't near the necklace display, probably had no idea. It didn't seem likely that Rikil would make that sort of announcement to his guests.

As they approached the Estate, Bri and Atris poked around, finding the rear entrance where some of the wait staff were congregating on break after an evening of work. The blonde Jedi was reminded of a phrase from her old Master. If you look like you know what you're doing, no one is going to stop you. Bri put on her best confident face, flashing a winning smile as she walked through the back door. One of the staff raised an eyebrow in slight confusion, but quickly shrugged as they realized stopping the two Jedi was not worth the effort.

Bri turned back to Atris, and gave a slight shrug and mischievous smile at their success. The party was not yet over, but was slowly burning out into an ember. Behind the scenes of the elaborate ballrooms and balconies, the hallways were still filled with paintings and marble, but had been taken over into a staging area for the staff to prepare the trays of hors d'oeuvres and cocktails. The Jedi maintained her confident composure and found a few trays of not used finger foods. Bri grinned at Atris.

She picked up a mini-beef wellington and popped it in her mouth, chewing hungrily. Bri got another sense of how big of an appetite she had worked up as the food touched her tongue. "This is definitely a first for me," she laughed towards Atris. Attending a fancy party? No. Sneaking back in and eating the leftovers? Yes. The Jedi took the initiative to get to know her partner a little better as she ate. "You've got some seriously impressive skills, how long have you been with the Order?"

Atris had performed more than admirably during their evening activities. Running, jumping, fighting, she seemed to be able to do it all, and at the same time, maintain her composed demeanor. Like Bri, she seemed to possess a healthy sense of humor, which, subconsciously, was one of the quickest ways to make friends with the blonde Jedi.

@llamallove

 

[Atris Tharen]

Atris had assumed the pair of Jedi would find an open window or scale the vines lining the estates to an open balcony and sneak inside. She did not expect to waltz in through the back door, but that was exactly what Brienna did. Head held high and shoulders straight, the blonde Jedi Knight entered the backdoor as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Atris followed her, observing the confused but passing looks the staff shot their way.

Success did depend a great deal on confidence, and Brienna definitely exuded confidence. In the best way possible.

Like the rest of the mansion, the kitchen and back hallways were elaborate and ornate but nothing like the front half of the house. Boxes were piled high, tables shoved into every nook and cranny available to hold the excess of food. The kitchen counters were covered with dirty dishes and pans, and a lone girl stood at the sink, dutifully scrubbing one dish after another. Part of her looked as if she was ready to collapse on the floor, and the other half looked like she wanted to dart for the back door.

Rounding a corner, Brienna came to a stop in front of a table full of finger foods. She picked up some kind of pastry with meat in the middle, popping the food into her mouth and chewing. Waiting a moment for a verdict, Atris decided to try one herself. She was hungry enough to try anything, even if she had no idea what it was.

You could feed half of Mos Eisley with all this food, Atris couldn't help but think to herself, her eyes wandering over the trays and trays of food. Talk about excessive.

Swallowing, she picked up another. Whatever this was, it was delicious. That came as no surprise. Daymar Rikil could afford and would only settle for the best. He was the sort of man that demanded perfection in every aspect of his life.

This was a first for Atris, too. A first time attending a lavish party, and definitely the first time sneaking around the back to swipe food.

"I think tonight's been full of a lot of firsts," Atris replied, laughing along with Brienna as she recalled the night's excitement. If they were lucky, some of those firsts would also be their last. A soft smile settled on her lips. "And thank you. I've been with the Order for about eleven years. Since I was fifteen."

It struck Atris that Brienna had probably been with the Order longer than herself. Brienna handled herself like a real pro, and the younger Jedi was glad that the two of them were getting to know each other better. They had only met tonight, but Atris already held the blonde Jedi Knight in high regard. "What about you? How long have you been with the Order?"

@ModernMarvel

 

[Brienna Lanaamer]

"I think tonight's been full of a lot of firsts,"

Bri looked over, in between bites of food, raising an eyebrow. "You mean you don't normally jump out of ships on to moving boats? Could've fooled me." A sarcastic grin accompanied her comment. It was true, of course. All that they had undertaken over the course of the evening were definitely new items that the Jedi could add to her resume of skills. The ship jumping was a little more exciting than the roof sliding. Nevertheless, it was all apart of what it meant to be a Jedi. Bri had left the necklace back on her ship and was highly curious to study it further, wondering if it was worth all of the effort they had put in to acquire it.

"And thank you. I've been with the Order for about eleven years. Since I was fifteen. What about you? How long have you been with the Order?"

The Jedi pondered on the mental arithmetic as she took a flute of champagne and sipped it. "Uh, let's see. I joined when I was thirteen, and that was about sixteen years ago," Bri spoke slowly, making sure she had her math right. The blonde woman had spent more of her life in the Jedi than not. It was a fact that she had remarked more and more upon recently. On a few instances, Bri had become more reflective on her past, and indeed future with the Order. She enjoyed being a Jedi, and learning through the Force, helping others, and discovering the mysteries of the Galaxy. But, she didn't want to get ahead of herself. There was a peaceful serenity in 'living in the moment.'

Like the one she was currently experiencing with Atris. For the most part she was often on solo adventures, not teaming up with another Jedi colleague. Atris was more than an able partner, and Bri knew that she'd go on to do bigger and better things for the Jedi. The blonde grabbed a few more small food items, feeling her appetite slowly subside. The main course having been completed, Bri looked around expectantly. "There's got to be some dessert ones around here somewhere...."

@llamallove

 

[Atris Tharen]

Atris laughed, quickly chewing and swallowing her mouthful of food before offering a reply of her own. "Believe it or not, there's not a lot of opportunities to jump onto speeding boats on Tatooine. Something about the lack of water. Who would've thought?"

She offered her Jedi companion an impish smile, brushing her hands off on her pants. Her clothes couldn’t have looked any worse after the night’s escapades than they already did, so she might as well put them to good use. There was no need to stand on ceremony now.

“Sixteen years ago,” Atris echoed, mulling it over. Sixteen years was a long time. If Brienna had joined the Jedi Order at the young age of thirteen, that meant the majority of her lifetime had been dedicated to the Order. Atris wondered if Brienna’s identity had been lost to the Jedi Order or if the Jedi Code or if it had molded her identity. To many, being a Jedi was their identity. Silently, she wondered the same about herself. What would she be like—who would she be had she never become a Jedi?

“Have you ever regretted it?” she asked suddenly. “Joining the Order I mean… Have you ever looked back and wished you’d made a different decision?”

The question was sudden, a stark contrast to the light-hearted conversation they'd been carrying on before, but Atris was curious. Brienna could always choose not to answer that particular question, and the brunette Jedi would not hold it against her. They'd only met tonight, after all.

It wasn't until Brienna mentioned dessert that Atris realized the two of them had singlehandedly cleared the whole platter of finger food. They had made short work of it, too. We really were hungry, she thought to herself, her eyes scanning the table for something sweet to eat.

Her eyes landed on a tray of chocolate covered strawberries. "Here's something." She picked the tray up and placed it between them.

@ModernMarvel

 

[Brienna Lanaamer]

"Believe it or not, there's not a lot of opportunities to jump onto speeding boats on Tatooine. Something about the lack of water. Who would've thought?"

Bri nodded in understanding. "Ah. Yeah, that'll probably do it." The blonde Jedi had been to Tatooine a few times. She didn't like to admit it, but mainly as a tourist to see where Luke Skywalker had grown up. Otherwise, the desert world was not really high on her list of places to return to. She imagined that her and Atris had experienced very different childhoods, yet the Force had brought them together on this particular evening. Interesting.

“Have you ever regretted it? Joining the Order I mean… Have you ever looked back and wished you’d made a different decision?”

The Jedi looked over with a raised eyebrow, slightly curious at the sudden change in questioning. It wasn't necessarily more serious than the the others, but it raised a few questions of its own. Namely, was Atris feeling something similar? Bri paused for a moment, with a slight sigh and thought about her response.

"Not any time recently, no. When I was much younger, I think I did. Back in my Padawan days," she clarified. "I'm not sure how you felt, but it was a challenging transition." Bri shared a little bit more about her background, "I grew up in places like this," she looked around the ornate hallways, "back on Chandrilla. So heading to Ajan Kloss, and the sparseness of my new life was something to get used to." Bri tried to adjust her tone to make it not sound that bad. She hated coming across as the 'poor little rich girl.' "But nowadays? Definitely not. I'm quite glad I made the choice to join the Order. Continuing my journey in the Force, travelling the Galaxy, helping others. I love it. When I joined I was just a child, well technically teenager, but I can't imagine what my life would be like if I hadn't. Probably hosting some party like this," another sigh, with a slight exasperated laugh.

A comical thought occured. Oh god, would I have ended up like Victoria? No definitely not. Bri eagerly turned her attention to the chocolate covered strawberries, grabbing a few. "How about you?" she asked in return, mouth rather impolitely full of food.

@llamallove

 

[Atris Tharen]

Atris listened carefully to the blonde Jedi Knight's response, hanging on each word as she silently chewed on one of the chocolate strawberries she'd picked up.

If it hadn't been evident before, it was clear now that Brienna and Atris came from very different backgrounds and had experienced childhoods that could be compared to night and day.

Perhaps some people would have let these past differences get in the way of a blossoming friendship, but Atris held no such prejudices. To judge Brienna based on her past would be wrong and unfair, and to begrudge the blonde Jedi the friendship that had naturally evolved between them throughout the evening would be snobbery of the highest level.

Those blessed to have their bank accounts and pockets lined with credits were often accused of being proud, but more often than not Atris had witnessed pride take root within those with hardly a credit to their names. Anyone could be proud, regardless of their class and position. Often times, the poor begrudged the wealthy simply because they were wealthy, judging them and condemning them purely because they were more fortunate. Atris judged people on their character, not their bank accounts.

Brienna had come from wealth, and Atris had come from the streets of Mos Eisley, but none of that mattered anymore and would hold no influence over Atris' opinion of her fellow Jedi Knight. They were both Jedi, and that was what mattered. Not where they were born.

Brienna could have been the Queen of Naboo for all Atris cared. She'd still want to explore their friendship.

If anything, Brienna was to be commended. She had walked away from her life of luxury to live the humble, often thankless job of a Jedi. Atris had joined the Jedi Order in search of a better life. Brienna had left a better life for the Jedi Order. Atris respected the blonde Jedi all the more for that.

"I'm glad you joined the Jedi Order," Atris said once Brienna had finished, a soft smile settling on her lips as she stared at Brienna with nothing but admiration. "Otherwise I never would have met you." She chuckled, holding up another strawberry. "And if you were hosting parties instead, that would mean someone was stealing your leftovers."

She bit into the strawberry and chewed a few times, hesitating before offering her own answer. She admitted in a quiet tone, "I do. Sometimes... I do regret joining the Order."

Atris didn't usually admit that to people, especially people she'd just met. But somehow Brienna was different, and the brunette believed wholeheartedly that she could trust the Jedi standing across from her. Atris could be open and honest about her struggle without fear of judgement, just as Brienna had been.

"I wonder if I made the right choice. Admittedly, my choice to join the Order was born from... selfish motives." Her gaze fell to the strawberry within her hands, her fingers picking away at the green stem as a distraction. "I hated Mos Eisley, and I wanted to get away from it all. I wanted to escape. My sister didn't want me to go, but I went anyway."

I abandoned her, were the words left unspoken.

@ModernMarvel

 

[Brienna Lanaamer]

About the same time that Atris was realizing that they two Jedi had drastically different upbringings, Bri was coming to the same conclusion. It was a feeling that had taken a while to reconcile. Many Jedi that Bri had encountered had nearly opposite upbringings. Very few were as fortunate as she had been. It wasn't that she felt guilty but where she came from, but that the adversity that others had faced, was not something she had experienced. Everyone that she had met in the Order had been more than welcoming upon her arrival, but her journey in the Force had not started the same way. Nevertheless, it was a journey that she had been called on all the same, and she had not chosen the life she was born in.

"I'm glad you joined the Jedi Order. Otherwise I never would have met you. And if you were hosting parties instead, that would mean someone was stealing your leftovers."

Bri turned a sideways smile at the reception of Atris' compliment. "Likewise," the blonde Jedi smiled in return. Despite their differing origins, the Force had brought them together. The more serious-leaning moment was upended by Bri's default back to sarcasm. "Though, I think you mean in spite of me. I'm such a ringing endorsement of what it means to be a Jedi," she tossed a strawberry up in the air with her left hand, before catching it. Realizing the rather abrupt change in tone, Bri adjusted a following comment. "But, yeah. I always find it fascinating how the Force guides us to new places, meeting new people," offering a knowing smile and nod of her head in Atris' direction.

"I do. Sometimes... I do regret joining the Order."

The conversation continued, but at a lower tone in voice, matching the more introspective nature of Atris' comment. Bri shifted her posture and leaned towards the brunette. It was clear that Atris was speaking from a place in her heart that was not open very often. And the fact that she was choosing to share the feelings with Bri, spoke to the connection that they had developed over the course of the evening. Bri stayed quiet as Atris continued.

"I wonder if I made the right choice. Admittedly, my choice to join the Order was born from... selfish motives. I hated Mos Eisley, and I wanted to get away from it all. I wanted to escape. My sister didn't want me to go, but I went anyway."

A brief moment of quiet elapsed before Bri responded. "Atris," the woman started, bright blue eyes looking directly into the brown of the younger Jedi. Her tone of voice had a newfound seriousness that had not been present during their more jovial conversations. "I know we haven't known each other long, but listen to me on this. It's not selfish for feeling a call from the Force. Its not selfish for wanting to use your extraordinary gifts to help other people. Your choice has brought you here, right now," she pointed down with her finger. "I'm sure your eleven years with the Order has been filled with doing good. Bringing light to the Galaxy." Bri wasn't one for regrets, and felt sorry that Atris had a more complicated view of her time with the Jedi.

There was a hint that Atris wanted to say something more, but didn't. "The Force chose you," Bri added, with a nod, then repeated with finality, almost to herself, "the Force chose you." The blonde woman was a little unsure how to follow up on what Atris had left unsaid. There were obviously complex emotions at play, and Bri didn't want to minimize what the younger Jedi was feeling, but she felt strongly in her own connection to the Force. She wanted others to feel the same connection that she did. Especially friends, both new or old.

@llamallove

 

[Atris Tharen]

Atris laughed, something that came easily around the blonde Jedi Knight she had befriended so quickly. Brienna was one of those people that a part of you felt as if you had known her your while life, despite having only known her for one evening. Her I'm such a ringing endorsement of what it means to be a Jedi was said in jest, but Atris believed that statement wholeheartedly.

"You say that jokingly, but I'm pretty sure you could be the poster child for the Jedi Order," she replied, shaking her head with a genuine smile.

Like Brienna, Atris found the nature of the Force to be fascinating. There was no doubt that it had a will and a way of its own. It had a way of bringing people together and a way of tearing them apart. The Force had brought the two Jedi Knights together tonight, and perhaps one of the reasons was how well they clicked.

Atris was in need of a friend, and it was possible this was the Force's way of facilitating that. It was anyone's guess, but with the Force there were rarely coincidences. As Brienna had said, the Force guided them. Who was to say that it hadn't guided them toward one another?

A moment of silence passed between the two Jedi Knights following Atris' confession, and the brunette wondered if she had borne her soul too soon and spoken out of turn. Brienna was a dedicated and hard-working Jedi Knight, and Atris had no desire to lose her respect after only one night of acquaintance. These fears were quickly banished from her mind, however, as Brienna leaned closer to her. Atris breathed a sigh of relief at the supportive gesture, not realizing she'd been holding her breath until now.

The sound of her name was enough to tear her gaze away from the half-eaten strawberry still in her hands. Her brown eyes moved up, settling on Brienna to give her her full attention.

Brienna's wisdom was far beyond her years, and Atris took her words to heart. Her words and her genuine tone were like a breath of fresh air, consoling Atris' doubts and bringing much needed validation to her choices, but there was still a part of her mind that insisted it wasn't true. That Brienna spoke well of her simply because she didn't know what was truly in Atris' heart. If she actually knew... well, that would change everything.

"Thank you, Brienna. You don't know how much that means to me," Atris finally responded, struggling to maintain eye contact. She cleared her throat and continued, her voice growing smaller. "Sometimes I think that the good I do is simply to atone for my mistakes. I wonder if I'm motivated by guilt brought on by own selfish desires or an actual desire to help others."

More than anything, Atris feared that the former was her true motivation. The Jedi Knight bit her lip, ashamed and still surprised that she was actually sharing all of this with Brienna. She had never spoken of this to anyone but her old master, and he had passed away several years ago. Since then, she had kept these emotions to herself under lock and key. Now she was sharing them with a woman she'd only met that night.

"If it's guilt... then I haven't really changed. I'm still being guided by self. Good deeds don't change a wrong."

@ModernMarvel

 

[Brienna Lanaamer]

"You say that jokingly, but I'm pretty sure you could be the poster child for the Jedi Order,"

Bri couldn't help but scoff, followed by a loud chortle at Atris' evaluation of her standing in the Order. "Yeah, I'm really not so sure about that." A series of flashbacks meandered through the Jedi's mind, where she had acted decidedly un-Jedi like in her formative Padawan years. It was humorous, but also a little more serious than Atris could probably imagine. Bri was of the opinion that every Jedi had bumps in the road in their Force journey. Herself included. Bri grinned at her partner, and struck a comical pose, placing her hands on her hips, "I want you to join the Jedi!" with a proclamating voice.

The blonde Jedi could see Atris chewing on her thoughts, and was smiled warmly when the brunette returned with a heartfelt thanks, though her eyes wandered from direct contact. Bri wanted to make Atris feel better, and hopefully provide a bit of perspective. She didn't know Atris' history and from what the young woman from Tatooine had told her, there were still facts left out. Indeed, Atris' voice grew a little smaller as she spoke.

"Sometimes I think that the good I do is simply to atone for my mistakes. I wonder if I'm motivated by guilt brought on by own selfish desires or an actual desire to help others."

Oof, that was a deep comment. Almost surprisingly so, nearly catching Bri off guard. The Jedi looked down, trying to think how best to formulate a response. As she pondered, Atris followed up with another comment.

"If it's guilt... then I haven't really changed. I'm still being guided by self. Good deeds don't change a wrong."

Bri sighed once more. Being a fairly skilled practitioner in the Force, the blonde Jedi could often search the feelings of others. However, she did not want to do so with Atris; it seemed almost invasive or intrusive.

"I can't tell you what to feel or not to feel, but, I do know that what I've seen tonight is not the actions of someone driven by guilt. Why do you think that?" Bri didn't want to sound patronizing, but dug a little deeper. "Everyone makes mistakes, everyone," she repeated, swiping her hand out flatly in front of her. "What we can't do is let those mistakes hang over us, like a shadow, holding us back from potential. No one is perfect, and as we learn from what've done wrong, we improve and grow. Both in the Force, but, also as a person. Like everyone battles to balance the light and dark within them, so to do we balance our past. They're like the building blocks that've gotten us to where we are today."

Bri looked back to make eye contact with her Jedi colleague. "Guilt is a motivator, sure. But so is kindness, and generosity. Goodwill and decency. I think most of those outweigh any of the negative thoughts you might have," the Jedi added, with a friendly smile. She shared a little bit further about her own history. "I chose to leave my parents, my life, to join the Jedi. Because I felt unfulfilled, because I felt like I was made for more. Is there a part of that, that was selfish? I think probably," she conceded, but then raised a finger to counter her own thought, "But, there's a balance, there's always a balance."

@llamallove

 

[Atris Tharen]

Atris continued to laugh, doubling over as Brienna struck a comical pose and threw her hand into the air. "Joke all you want, but I still stand by what I said."

Brienna took a moment to consider following Atris' second admittance, probably mulling over her words and trying to decide on the best reply. Atris ought to have been ashamed dumping her internal struggles onto someone she'd only met that night and expecting her to offer insight or consolation or advice, but somehow she just couldn't bring herself to feel ashamed.

It felt good to get these thoughts off of her chest, to speak them and get them out in the open. The guilt and the struggle still followed her, tainting her mind, but just telling someone else about them lifted a weight from her shoulders.

The fact that Brienna didn't seem to be bothered by this abrupt change in topic helped to ease her conscious as well. She hoped that now Brienna would feel comfortable enough to come to her with any of her own problems in the future, whatever they might be.

When Brienna found the desired words, Atris looked at her again and gave the older Jedi her full attention. She was eager to listen to the blonde Jedi Knight's advice or criticism, hoping to learn and grow from it.

"Thank you," she replied once Brienna had finished, offering her a small smile of appreciation. She wiped a few unshed tears from her eyes and let out a long sigh, allowing her shoulders to relax. The confidence Brienna had in her after only one night of acquaintance was moving, and Atris had only to hope that she was worthy of Brienna's confidence and trust.

If she wasn't already, she would certainly continue to endeavor to be.

Willing herself to take the plunge and be completely honest, she began, "After I left Tatooine and traveled to Ajan Kloss with my new master—"

"Isn't that what I pay you for?" Daymar Rykil's voice boomed from somewhere in the house, his voice echoing off the walls. "And you can't even clear the drinks table without spilling the punch all over the floor?"

Atris cringed. "I think that's our cue to go find your shoes," she whispered.

@ModernMarvel

 

[Brienna Lanaamer]

"Thank you,"

Despite the simple offer of thanks, Bri could feel the sincerity behind Atris' words. The blonde Jedi would be the first to concede that she was no expert in emotions. Likewise, she didn't pretend to feel like she had the entirety of her own feelings under control. Progress was made, sure, but there was always further to go, just like learning new skills. As long as I can help someone else with what I've learned, then its time well spent.

The brunette Jedi followed by wiping her eyes, though it didn't look like she was crying. It seemed like Atris needed a hug, but Bri was awkward with physical comfort, and instead opted for a slow pat on the woman's shoulder. She was better with her words. "I've learned that you should never be afraid to confront the fears and anxieties inside you. Talking always helps. Usually," she amended her own assertation, allowing for a few variables. It often helped that Bri was a talkative person herself.

Just as Atris was about to start a new chapter of her story, the annoying ringing voice of Daymar reverberated around the hallway. Bri's eyes went slightly wider, and she ceased the chewing of a chocolate strawberry in her mouth. The Jedi had completely forgotten about their main purpose of returning to the estate, which was to pick up her heels. "Snap! I completely forgot about my shoes!" the Jedi exclaimed, grabbing two more chocolate covered fruits, and stuffing them in her mouth. "Look what happens when I get distracted with food!" she added, mouth obviously still full.

Bri jogged off in the opposite direction of where Daymar's voice had sounded from, trusting that Atris would follow along her side. The end of the ornate hallway deposited them in a larger room, which looked similarly unfamiliar. "Uhh," Bri turned her head, looking around, wishing that she had studied the estate more before their elaborate departure. "Think its this way?" she guessed, sounding unsure, pointing towards another hallway. This particular hallway curved, and Bri hustled along, not wanting to delay any more than was necessary. "Oh, ok, here we go," the Jedi nodded as they returned to the large entryway once more. Luckily, the two Jedi had not run into anymore members of the staff, and Bri decided to completely bypass the stairs, with a Force assisted jump up to the balcony. She landed following an elegant flip in the air.

"Ah-ha!" An exclamation of success. Bri's aqua colored heels were still resting underneath the broken windowsill. She turned to Atris. "I'm actually a little surprised they're still here," she followed up, hooking the straps through her index and middle fingers of her left hand. "Up for another window escape?" Bri looked over towards Atris with a grin.

@llamallove