The Count recalling his childhood made Amani smile warmly. The two of them had similar dreams, they already knew as much from their discussion on Tython. Yet just when it seemed like they couldn’t be any closer, that bond seemed to tighten a little more.
“They are pretty cool,” She chuckled, agreeing with the young Alicio’s opinion on lightsabers.
As he began constructing the mental image, Amani leaned in intently, offering a few
ooh’s and
ahh’s in approval. She could envision it herself, placing him and her in the spot in front of the fireplace. There was no denying the appeal.
Shortly after, their waiter returned, breaking the illusion but placating with the offer of food,
“Thank youuu~” Amani grinned and waited for them to leave before turning back to Alicio. She took the first bite of her noodles, using the time to think,
“Alright. I’ve got a few ideas, actually, but let’s go with a retreat onnn… Naboo. Rustic, cozy, nestled beside a small pond. Maybe a stream. No, a pond sounds cuter. There’d be fish, and birds would come to swim, too. It’d be surrounded by nature; On one side, a peaceful grove of trees. On the other, rolling green fields, dotted by a rainbow of flowers and other plants.” Amani nodded, finding some satisfaction in the thought. She leaned in a little closer, fluttering her eyelashes,
"Buuut I might just have to change my answer..." His Alderaanian villa sounded like an equally enchanting escape.
“As for family…” She quieted, looking a little more introspective as she idly twirled noodles onto her fork,
“My parents passed away when I was eight. Illness.” The mirialan shrugged in resignation.
“Probably would’ve taken me too, but by then a Jedi healer showed up and helped fix me up. That’s when I found out I was Force-sensitive. I guess something about that helped me fight it off a little longer, too.” There was solemness in her tone, but the question hadn’t upset her. Amani had years to process this, even if there would always be a pain that came with it. As if to assure the Count as much, she ended on a higher note,
“For a long time I thought that was it. But maybe in the last year or so I made my first trip to Mirial, where I met another new visitor, Ran. Found out at a tattooing ceremony later that we were cousins.” Amani smiled at the thought. She and
Ran Serys
both had no one else in their lives to fill that gap. It was a beautiful moment for them to both share in.
“She’s actually a Jedi, too. But she’s been pretty busy lately, haven’t had the chance to see her in a while.” Aside from a few facial similarities, the two couldn’t appear more different physically. Amani was the modestly sized, blue eyed, younger of the two. Meanwhile Ran was a 6’4” titan of a woman, with piercing yellow irises. Amani found it an amusing contrast.
She wanted to ask him about his family next, but something Alicio mentioned earlier had her curious first. Though in a sense they were connected topics.
“You said you… didn’t have a lot growing up? Not what I expected, considering the whole…” She gestured at his frame,
“Organa: Alderaanian royalty thing.”