Private Home is the Place

[Juliana Alderdice]

Juliana took the newspaper back and studied the picture minutely, her eyes narrowing intently at the ankles. A finely manicured eyebrow arched and she frowned thoughtfully. "I didn't notice at first," she said, "but since you mention it -- I'm surprised you're on the list at all. Those are the most hideous socks I've ever seen. What kind of socks are you wearing today?" She leaned over to look down at Orson's ankles beneath the table, then straightened.

"Having seen those socks, I'm now not entirely surprised to learn that your mother dresses you," she said dryly before raising her coffee to her lips for another drink.

"I'm allowed to smoke," said Juliana, "but I don't. But I don't mind if you do. Feel free."

The young woman returned to the newspaper, flipping back to the front page. She held it up to Orson again. "I don't remember the city having this much crime when I was here before," she observed. "Should I be worried about my people still living here?"

Orson Keto​

 

[Orson Keto]

Juliana Alderdice

When Juliana looked down he pulled his skinny jeans up a fraction.

Enough to showcase a whole rainbow of colors and Orson grinned.

"Ah, well, you can't be surprised. With parents like ours and the amount of control they want, it's surprising they let us out of their sights for even a moment." A wink there. "Hell, I am amazed your parents allowed you off Teta for even a day, much less letting you build a new life out there in the Unknown Regions."

A yawn before he dragged on his cigarette and blew out some more smoke.

"I figure they wanted to cater goodwill with my parents. Or my mother anyway." The crime was a concern, yes, but if only Juliana knew just how funny her question really was.

But they barely knew each other.

Pleasant enough, but what did Orson really know about her?

"Your parents? I very much doubt it. The crime is mostly a problem for Other People, you know?" A shrug there as he studied the paper with her. "The weak and the vulnerable. The ones who already don't have a lot. Us rich folk, we will be fine." Hell, if played right, they'd even profit off of it, much like his parents were doing right now.

"The Guard can't - or won't - do shit about it, of course. Too busy taking bribes left and right to look in the right direction."

 

[Juliana Alderdice]

The errant First Imperial Knight frowned thoughtfully. "If there's anything I've learned during my time in the First Order," she said gently, her tone not as judgmental as the words might imply, "it's that there are no 'other people.' Just people. And the people who think they're above the petty concerns of those less fortunate often suffer the most when the shield of privilege is stripped away -- usually violently." She sighed and reached up to scratch the side of her neck, her dark eyes sweeping the coffee shop.

Perhaps it was hypocrisy. Juliana had lived a life of enormous privilege before moving to the First Order, and her connection to the Force granted her yet more privileges on top of that, however difficult she found using those talents. But since her awakening to the plight of the people who had suffered under the collapse of the First Order, she had learned that it was important to use whatever she had to benefit others. Even privilege. Especially privilege.

"Sorry," she muttered over the rim of her coffee cup with an apologetic smile. "I suppose I'm not much good in a social setting after my crusading years in the Unknown Regions. I don't mean to preach and of course it's not your responsibility but -- hang on," she said, her eyebrows raising as a sudden thought struck her. "The Guard are on the take?"

She pressed her lips together thoughtfully, all thoughts of taking a sip of coffee evaporating although she continued to hold the cup close to her mouth. "Who's got the money to pay off the Guard? And if they're paying off the Guard to look the other way, then why?"

Orson Keto​