Private Looking Towards the Future

[Katherine Holt]

Sometime after the Festival of Stars…​

Even as the night had drawn on, and the festivities had winded down, the streets of Dee’ja Peak were still bustling with a fair amount of activity. Katherine had enjoyed her time, but now she just wanted to experience some peace and quiet, to try and collect her thoughts.

She had found a spot atop one of the taller buildings, far enough away that she could look over a good majority of Dee’ja Peak. Katherine sat along the edge, her hoverchair sitting within reach to her side. Below, many vendors and attractions were packing things up, with the majority of festival goers mostly lingering on the streets.

Katherine imagined a good number of them were in some state of drunk.

But the people of Naboo had good reasons to celebrate, not just because of it being Life Day. In turn however, it had gotten the Padawan to dwell on what had been heavy on her mind as of late.

There are so many people I want to visit, but there’s so little time left…

Something told her that it wouldn’t be much longer until the Aing-Tii would be in contact with her about the ritual. Katherine had approached the crossroad and taken the path she wanted. Her only hope was that it wouldn’t lead to an end.

The Padawan was so caught up in her thoughts, she didn’t hear the sounds of someone approaching.

Lorn Reingard​

 

[Lorn Reingard]

Tags: Katherine Holt

​

The cold night air nipped at Lorn's cheeks as he meandered through the thinning crowds of Dee'ja Peak. He'd been delayed at the Queen's retreat, missing the vibrant bustle of the Life Day market earlier. Now, the stalls were mostly closed, the vendors packing away their wares with weary sighs. A single stall, however, still held his attention. A display of exquisitely crafted knives gleamed under the dim lights, each blade a work of art. One, in particular, called to him. After a brief haggle, the knife was his, nestled safely in its sheath.

He unsheathed it now, the blade reflecting the starlight. The blade was impeccably balanced, the weight perfect in his hand. It felt…right. A tool, yes, but something more. As he admired the craftsmanship, his gaze drifted upwards. Atop one of the taller buildings, a familiar silhouette stood out against the night sky – fiery red hair unmistakable against the dark cityscape. Katherine Holt. He'd assumed she'd already left.

A few minutes later, Lorn found himself on the rooftop, the quiet hum of the city in the background.. He approached cautiously, surprised to find her sitting on the edge of the building, her legs dangling, the hoverchair abandoned nearby.

"Good evening, Ms. Holt," he said, his voice soft, the words a counterpoint to the city's low thrum. He settled beside her, mimicking her pose, his own feet dangling precariously over the edge. "I'm surprised to see you. I thought you had left already."

He regarded her for a moment, the city lights painting her face in shifting hues. Then, he removed his thick fur coat, the scent of woodsmoke and warmth clinging to the fabric. He offered it to her with a gentle, almost hesitant movement. Lorn had spent enough nights shivering in the cold to know how uncomfortable it could be, there was no reason Katherine should endure it tonight. He would be fine.

His gaze fell to the festive throngs winding their way through the streets below. The night was still alive with the echoes of celebration, but the distant sounds were softened by the distance. He spoke softly, his voice a gentle query in the vast expanse of the night. "What's on your mind, up here all alone?"

 

[Katherine Holt]

It took a few moments, but finally Katherine heard the footsteps. And for a moment she wondered who else had wandered up onto the rooftop. But as she turned her head around, spotting Lorn, she smiled.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Reingard.” She replied, putting on a little ‘fancy accent’ in a teasing manner. Katherine was never one for formalities, but given where she suspected Lorn had been, she felt it fitting to tease him a bit. “I just wanted to take in the scenery before I left.”

The truth however, was that Katherine had been a bit disappointed she hadn’t run into any familiar faces. Sure, it was never a bad thing to meet new people, but with everything going on she really hoped to try and catch up with those she knew.

So her mind had wandered, and having been amidst the hustle and bustle of the festival, the Padawan wanted to get a better look of everything, to meditate in a way.

Katherine was surprised when she suddenly felt something being draped over her. When she realized what Lorn had done, she smiled, her cheeks burning red a little.

In part out of embarrassment. She didn’t have the heart to tell him she wasn’t too affected by the cold. Shivering still yes, but not nearly as much as one would expect.

A silver living I suppose, of the endurance training the Sith Valkyries put me through…

“I’ve just been thinking…” she said quietly. Immediately debating whether she should bring up what had happened since they had last spoken. “Like for instance, I didn’t see you at the festivities tonight. I’m guessing you were occupied up in the Queen’s retreat? Being all fancy and proper?” She glanced over at him, a small teasing grin on her face.

Lorn Reingard​

 

[Lorn Reingard]

Tags: Katherine Holt

​

Lorn chuckled softly at her playful reply, a genuine warmth spreading through him at her teasing tone. He looked down at the streets below, watching the festival goers move about in a drunken daze, their joyous energy a stark contrast to the quiet contemplation he had been experiencing. He looked back at her as she began to speak again.

"I was," he said with a warm smile, a hint of amusement playing on his lips. "Although, I don't know if I could be considered fancy or proper." he added, gesturing to his less than stellar attire for the evening, a simple tunic and trousers that hardly qualified as formal. He thought back to the evening, the Order had welcomed him, but he still couldn't help but feel out of place, adrift in a world with strangers. He had felt like a phantom, walking through the halls, an unwanted relic in something far too grandiose.

Lorn struggled for a moment to find the right words, the vulnerability of his feelings making him hesitate. "I've spent so much time away from Naboo, it doesn't feel like home anymore..." he began, his voice softening, a hint of melancholy creeping in. "I was trying to expand my horizons." he added, still feeling the overwhelming sense of loss from being away from the people he had known his whole life. The desire for something more, a desire that had led him away from the familiar, was now a bitter taste in the back of his throat.

His hands instinctively fiddled with his newly purchased knife, the cool metal a grounding presence amidst the turmoil of emotions. He shook off the oversharing, not wanting to burden her with his own internal struggles. He didn't want to upset the girl. "Maybe I should have just skipped the invitation and messaged you to enjoy the evening." he teased her, a playful glint in his eyes. Surely it would have been a less awkward night for him if he had spent it with someone he at least had had a conversation with before.

"How was your afternoon though?" he asked, his voice gentle, probing for some sort of information as to why she would be up here all alone. Lorn felt something weighed heavily on her, a subtle shift in her demeanor he couldn't quite pinpoint. He wouldn't push her, though. He understood not wanting to speak on how he was feeling. It was something he was still getting used to himself.