Alderaan - Love and Intrigue

Three days in a row, but after the exploding cafe last night, Garth figured even more people would be in need of the services of the soup kitchen, so here he was. Volunteering again, this time with ladle in hand and a look of stoicism on his face, he was reassuring the people of Alderaan that the Ulgo would continue to support them through these difficult times.

And, there would be others there to help.

"What kind of soup today?" Galen asked.

"Mostly leftovers fr'm yesterday, but th' flatbread's fresh baked. Apparently they make huge batches 'f the stuff." Garth replies as he doles out portions to hungry civilians.

"The meat 'n veg soup is fillin' though. They've padded it out wi' some grain ah don't recognize, but it's good."

"It looks pretty good." he said as he handed out the bread. "I'm glad we could still do this."

"Yeah, ah'm used t' the communal mindset after the last few years. When ev'ryobe pitches in, makes it better fer all."

Garth shrugs his shoulders slightly. "But ye've seen it in action too, in yer time in the Sea, ah'm sure."

"We work as a community, survive as a community, thrive as a community." he nodded. "I never expected to find a home."

"Home's important, 'n we each define it different. 'N we all realize when a place is n' longer home." Garth fills another few bowls and slides them down the line.

"Ah think mah def'nition may be changin' from a where to who with."

"Oh?" He smiled. "Is it going that well?"

"Ah think so, but wouldn' be th' first time ah've been mistaken." Garth admitted with a self deprecating smirk.

"Big diff'rence 'tween three days 'n rest o' yer life though. How bout you? Ah saw you up in th' box wi' the Princess during the Huttball."

"I'm still trying to figure it out." he admitted. "I didn't expect that, either. It's gotta be the longest shot I've ever tried."

He was quiet as a larger group passed through the line.

"I'm out of place here. This isn't my world, in more ways then one."

"Then ah guess y' gotta ask yerself, if y' want it t' be your world?" Garth asked thoughtfully.

"Better t' figure it out now 'fore y' walk too far down th' wrong path."

"I don't gain anything by walking away." he shook his head. "Even if I miss and come away with nothing, which is very possible, I have to take the shot. At least I'll have had the experience."

"Maybe not, but what's tha' saying? Don' hunt whatcha can' kill?"

Garth tilts his head away from the crowds to try and stifle his words a little.

"What ya plannin' if yer shot should act'ly hit? Could y' be happy here?"

"I think so." he nodded. "The politics of it all aren't my thing. But, things like what we're doing now are. I think I can adapt. Honestly, I'm a bit more concerned about how happy she'll be here."

Garth looked at Galen curiously. "This is her homeworld, why wouldn' she be happy 'ere?"

"You said it yourself. How we define home can change." he shrugged. "I just wonder if she's comfortable in her role here, not that I know her well enough to guess at anything like that."

"She doesn't really know me, either." he added. "There's a lot in my past that could trouble her."

That definitely grabbed Garth's attention. "Ye can always ask her what she plans fer her future, but ah 'magine much is in th' air right now. No one knows how this'll all wash out."

"But yer past can't be that bad right? No genocide 'r stuff ah'm sure."

"No. Nothing like that." he shook his head. "But, there are some things that aren't pretty. I promised I'd tell about what happened to my master. That's the big one."

"It just kind of came up. I mentioned Janus and she asked who he was. It really bothered her when I said he had owned me. So, I explained that he couldn't hurt anyone anymore. She wanted to know why. I'm more open about that now, but I wasn't going to tell that story in front of the queen."



"Have some bread." he offered the next person in line.