Alderaan - Love and Intrigue

Omandri was busy blindingly busy but he felt he needed to make time to have a real discussion with someone who had deserved a little more attention this past week. He had been so caught up in everything going on he hadn't checked in with Jameela in a long time. Of course the festival was at an end but he had a few things to tell the princess.

He had sent word ahead but arrived at castle Panteer seeking audience with the princess sporting his now oft seen suit in Rist colors. He was understandably, thoroughly searched upon arrival as he waited to hear if Jameela would receive him.

The princess meets him and said, "Duke Rist, how can I help you?"

Omandri smiles "Princess Panteer." He says with a respectful bow "please Omandri is fine, I am not yet used to the whole Duke thing." He says with a light chuckle.

"I just wanted to come and check in, see how you are holding up. Also I wanted to thank you for showing up after the coup and helping it meant a lot for people to see their leaders coming together after that day." He says with a sincere smile as he looks to the Princess.

"I just did what I could, everyone else did the heavy lifting so to speak. Our guests and fellow Alderaanians did the real work," she admitted. "Though my mother says, now comes the hard work, though I am not entirely sure what she means."

"I am just glad we had so many step to our defense."

Omandri nodded "Yes seeing so many come together in the defense of Alderaan was moving. Though we now have the task of rebuilding and healing things slower than physical Wounds. My house and house Ulgo have more work than most. To repair our reputatuons. But all of Alderaan will need time to heal and reflect on how we got here in the first place." He said weighing in on what he thought the Queen had meant.

Omandri took time to look out a window for a moment observing the surroundings before looking back to Jameela "I have few regrets about how things happened this week or at least what I did and one of them is that I did not have more time to spend with you Princess. My loss truly though I suspect you and Mr. Sol will be quite happy together." He says with a smile.

"I suppose that is to say I do hope we can become closer friends now that I am sticking around. You have a wonderful mind and I would greatly enjoy having someone on planet that has the same love for learning that I do."

She smiled awkwardly and said, “I am not sure it is a wonderful mind but I will take the compliment as given. I am not a person that faced down Bouris Ulgo in one breath and then tended to so many critically wounded in the other. I think Alderaan and House Rist are in good hands with people like you standing on their behalf.”

“It’s going to be a relief for things to settle into a normal routine, I am not sure I could survive more of the festival.”

He shook his head "I only did what needed doing according to the skills I possessed." He paused as if about to try and deflect more but ended up smiling and shaking his head "but I will also just accept the compliment."

He looked a little uncertain a somewhat bashful smile "Well I appreciate the vote of confidence. I've honestly felt like a fish out of water but hopefully it will all come together with time."

At her commentary on the festival he laughed a little "I can understand, all of that attention must have been hard on you. You seem like a more private person." He said smiling as he reached into his jacket "I did however bring you a gift." He withdrew a weathered book bound in simple brown leather, it had clearly seen plenty of action.

"This is my journal from the past 6 years, details much about what I observed on my journey from staying with the Echani people, to my time with the wookies, and even some observations about a tribal community of Zabrak I encountered in Wild Space." He extended the book to her "I will not be needing it for the foreseeable future and I couldn't think of anyone better to share it with who might appreciate it." He said smiling softly looking at the journal and then coming up to meet her eyes.

She was taken aback, "Are you sure, Duke Rist... Omandri?"

His smile grew a bit "Yes of course Jameela. There is a lot of first hand observation in here. My original plan when I came here I figured I'd be back out there in a week or two." He chuckled "I don't think that will be the case."

He gently lifted it towards her "If I keep it, it will only sit in a drawer somewhere. It deserves to be somewhere it will be enjoyed."

"If it is okay with you Omandri, after I finish would you be adverse to it being placed in the archives of the museum, something like this should be preserved for the future," she offered.

Omandri shrugged "It is my gift to you Jameela, a way for you to get to see the galaxy through the eyes of another and by that get to know me a little better. Maybe make up for lost time this week. After you're done with it, it is yours to do with as you wish." he chuckled a little "but maybe give it a read first before you decide if its worthy for a muesum eh?" he asked in a light and slightly playful tone.

"I promise, I will read it, thank you, this is a rather kind gesture," she said warmly.

Omandri inclined his head in a small bow "Of course, I figure it best to start a friendship off on the right foot." He returns her warm smile. If he hadn't been so caught up they might have been something different but one cannot go through life thinking about what could have been.

"Well I am sure you have a lot to do yourself. I should let you get back to it." He said "feel free to reach out if you want to discuss anything from the journal, or just chat."