Alderaan - Love and Intrigue

The area around Castle Organa was more busy than he could ever remember seeing it. Yet another unfamiliar thing. And yet, Niall still managed to find a quiet corner behind it. Private, only family and those serving the family would be allowed there. It was a pleasant place a garden, carefully tended and lovely.

Hands clasped behind his back, he quietly studied the garden as he waited for his cousin to arrive.

It takes a couple of minutes, but said cousin soon arrives, waving with a big smile and dressed in a plain white tank top and well-worn khaki colored pants. She apparently wasn't planning to get ready for the mixer later just yet. "Hey, Niall! Long time no see!"

For his part, Niall already seemed ready, dressed in both Republic uniform and fine cape. But he was known as an early riser.

He smiled, even as he turned, his expression lighting further as he saw how cheerful she looked. "Ashlin. It has been a long time." He pursed his lips a moment, then exhaled into a rueful smile. "Goodness. Years."

He tilted his head, looking at her. "How is your family? I haven't seen your sister in ages, either."

"Way too long! I've just been hearing stories about you, you need to write sometimes!" She's taller than she was since he last saw her, and the tattoo under her left eye was new. "They're doing well. Rhian's offworld doing exciting diplomatic things, so Dad's got me representing on the homefront. He's doing well, as much of a kind-hearted nostalgic type as ever."

Niall's smile shifted to fond. "Good. I'm glad. Give them all my best, would you."

With open palm, he gestured along a path, inviting her to walk with him. "I should write more. It's just..." He sighed. "There's always more to do. My work for the Republic. Another war. Getting shot, again. Aly and Vera both tell me I need to learn how to duck better." He chuckled drily.

Glancing at her, he smiled again. "Representing on the homefront? How are you finding that?" His tone offered a touch of sympathy; he knew her, after all.

"Of course I will. Rhian will be sad she missed you."

"That's a super bad habit of yours," she jokingly chided, then shook her finger. "Get less shot! Not that I'm in much position to talk."

"Oh, you know. Going as well as expected. Looking forward to the mixer this evening with muted terror.

"It is a bad habit of mine." Niall grinned back at her. "I should have picked up deathsticks instead. Ah, well." He shook his head. "I hope your line of work doesn't have too many dangers." He looked at her a moment, then smiled. Hopefully no need to mention that researchers and engineers tended to be at least moderate value targets in war.

"Hah. Yes. I rather expected you might. If you need to make a quick escape, I'll cover for you." Once more, his look grew sympathetic. "But you should know a few people there, at least. I'll be there." He tilted his head thoughtfully. "How often have you been to this sort of thing with the royal family before?"

"Well, enough that I nearly lost an eye! Our ships are way too prone to explosions," she said, shaking her her grumpily. Indeed, if he looks closer, he can see that the tattoo covers a raised bit of skin that seems to split her eyelid.

"Aww... You're the best. Not often, and Brand was usually my human shield the few times I did. But... I mean, I'm nervous, but at the same time, I could end up making some friends even if I'm not some sort of perfect princess. So it's kinda anticipation, too."

"Your eye?" Niall said, eyebrows going up. "What happened?" He leaned closer, frowning in a very older brother sort of way at the scar.

"I'm sure you could." Niall said, still studying the old injury with a frown. "Anticipation, that sounds like the right way to approach it. Yes, good." Eyes narrowed. "Goodness, that was rather close, wasn't it? Two centimeters higher..."

"Super close. Couldn't really close my eye right after it happened, but I couldn't see much anyway."

"Explosion in the engine room over Hoth as we were taking fire. Got a near direct hit by a torpedo, but we had to hold things together," she replied with a smile. "We did it, and they managed to save the eye, though, so all's well that ends well, as far as I'm concerned."

"Goodness." Niall said. After a moment, his worried older brother frown finally faded, and he stepped back, giving her some space.

He sighed. "A bleak reminder of just how far war reaches." After a moment, he smiled at her. "Had you been working on that ship? If so, well, good job having it hold together, eh?"

"I made engineering team lead on a cruiser! I'm pretty proud of that, honestly, especially with what ended up happening," she replied, then shook her head with a small frown. "I didn't get the worst of it in the explosion, so I have to take something positive from it."

"Yes..." Niall was silent for a few moments, and then he smiled again. "You should. Congratulations."

Idly, he glanced around at the garden; he'd set a slow walking pace, giving plenty of time to look around. "Ah..." He cleared his throat. "Do you have any hopes for the Festival?" He asked her. "Of any sort." He added.

"Um... not screw up?" She said with a shrug. "I don't know... maybe..." A long sigh followed. "How did you and Alysele end up getting together? You two seemed like practically a foregone conclusion."

"Well..." Niall's grey eyes went distant as he considered. "Yes and no. Even as a foregone conclusion, it was a lot of work."

He took a breath as he thought back. "For a while, we saw each other once or twice a year. That was... difficult." The slight frown became a smile. "But then, we managed to be together for some time, and there was the Festival... and that was it. Even with everything else that was going on, we knew what we wanted."

He looked at Ashlin. "But of course, we'd always known. We just needed the time for it. Perhaps... you'll know, too."

She nodded, listening to him quietly. "That sounds rough. I think I can kind of imagine it - like being stuck planetside except for once or twice a year." If Ashlin had a true love at the moment, it wasn't anything human.

"I hope I will. I haven't met anyone I feel that kind of connection with."

That made Niall grin. "Something like that, yes." He sighed, mixed nostalgia. "Each time we saw each other, it was like we'd never been apart. It was like that from the very first time I saw her after she became a Jedi. But if the time together was easy, it made the time apart that much harder..." He shook his head. "Well. Hopefully that's behind us."

He gave her a sudden look. "I'm sure you will." Niall spoke with confidence. "That's what the Festival is all about, isn't it? Finding someone like that?"

He grinned again. "Would you like me to play the part of the over-protective older brother? I'm quite good at that, you know." A brief flicker of pain behind the grin; Rayne had been gone many years now, but never forgotten.

"Yeah, hopefully. Maybe there's someone out there who likes ships and being out there close to as much as I do," she mused. "Or at least won't think I'm too weird."

She put a hand on his forearm - she wasn't family, but Rayne had been a good friend. Her death had hit her hard, as well, so she wanted to lighten things for him a little. "You'll have to fill be in on the job of an overprotective big brother. I only have a very fancy big sister."

"I'm sure there's someone who comes close, anyway." Niall's smile was warm, both for the sentiment, and her touch on his forearm.

He let her hand linger a few moments more before very gently drawing away. "Hah, yes, well, I can't quite compete with her on fanciness. There's only so fancy the Republic uniform can get, after all. Although the cape helps, doesn't it?" He grinned at her. "Have you tried a cape? Perhaps that's the real key to finding someone."

"Well, as long as they're not jealous about it, we'll be good. I've seen some people who are really weird when someone has an intense interest," she said, shaking her head.

"The cape does help. Adds an air of fancitude. Fanciferousness. I'll have to make sure my dress for later has one."