Tell me a story (Ordo)

[Rianna Organa]

Rianna had Rekha reserve her a table away from the hustle of the front of the bar. She had said she would meet Ordo for a drink and she was keeping that promise, for a few reasons. She had given her word. She knew he had a story and she wanted to learn it. She missed the company of mandalorians. Perhaps all were very self serving. She smiled. Rianna had told Ordo at the end of the build that she would meet him here at the Lucky Lady, that was a few hours ago. She had since changed her clothes, and cleaned up.

She had not worn her traditional jedi robes, tonight she wore simple black slacks, with flat shoes with a black sleeveless shirt. Her own scars easy to be seen, the ones that moved up her arms, leading to the one on her upper arm. The ones that were hidden, were rarely seen. She had with her a jacket to put on, just in case she become too self conscious. She could feel all the sensations around her, she had to close them down quiet their affect on her. She smiled. She gave small smiles to those around her, they watched some appreciative, others curious. Her lightsaber was not hard to identify, and her med bag hung from the back of the chair.

Rianna had asked Rekha about the black ale, and she had it in stock. Prior arrangements made to have it brought to the table when her guest joined her.

@Ordo

 

[Ordo]

@[member="Rianna Organa"]

Ordo went to his ship after the work of the day was done and washed up. He tossed his work clothes into the clothes receptacle and grabbed a fresh set from his footlocker. It was funny he had a closet and drawers but rarely used them. He put on a pair of simple blue jeans and grabbed a pair of socks. He stood up and caught a glimpse of himself in the small mirror across from his hard cot. He wasn't quite the man he had been 10 years ago, and that was an understatement. He walked closer and inspected his face. He could remember almost every scar and where it came from. Not all were from fights or perilous events. There were scars from working on ships and working on his fathers farm. However, he couldn't help but wonder why he bothered to take off his Buy'ce at all. He moved his face from side to side in the mirror and ran a thick finger along one of the longer scars. Why in the world would anyone give him a second glance, unless they were checking to see if he were chasing them.

His thoughts quickly turned sour as he looked at is heavy hands and barrel chest and the scars that crisscrossed his skin.

"Cut up, battered, and beaten," he said to himself before shaking his head, "what am I thinking?"

He thought about his life on Corellia before Mandalore, his sisters, and of course Bria. Would they even recognize him anymore? They probably wouldn't care too now. Not like this. Maybe that was why he'd come all this way for a quick build, but only the Manda could say. He shook his head and sat on his cot resting his arms on his knees for a minute before finally pulling on a plain black T-shirt. He had serious thoughts about putting on his Beskar'gam and Buy'ce, at least then he would feel a bit of security around the Jedi healer. Security, now he knew he was being foolish. The woman had invited him for a casual drink and some small talk and here he was thinking about what kit was best for the setting. He shook his head and grabbed an old faded black pilot's jacket and stabbed his arms into the sleeves. It had been a gift from Bria one year before she was taken. He took it back off and tossed it on the cot looked at it and put it back on.

"Grow up, you old Striil." he said to himself as closed his footlocker, "Just be polite and grateful then be about your business, she is just being nice not looking for a soft spot to plant a knife"

Ordo grabbed his utility belt and buckled it over his trousers and tied the tactical holster around his thigh. Old habits...he just had to many.

He didn't catch a ride or fly to the Lucky Lady, but instead stuffed his big meat hooks into his jacket pockets and walked. He kept his eye on the ground most of the way, it was easier that way, and with out much searching he found the place he was supposed to meet Ms. Rianna. He rubbed a hand over his head of short brown hair and looked at the place for a moment as he thought hard about just going back to his ship and hunkering down with a book and some music. He wondered with a grin what his vode would think if they found out he did anything but drink and shot at stuff. he steeled his nerves after a moment with the thought that she probably wouldn't bother to show up anyway, but the butterflies came back when he realized she just didn't seem the kind of person to do that.

"Well here goes," he said as he walked through the door and saw a room full of people that looked a whole lot better dressed than him.

"Should have Worn the armor." he thought as he asked a server if they had seen the healer.

Ordo quickly spotted the pretty Jedi and even more quickly kicked himself for thinking so. He walked up to the table, looked at the chair across from her, and pulled it out enough to sit down.

"I hope I didn't make you wait long," He said as his stomach did backflips. He had no idea how to be conversational and sociable. He smiled and sat with his back a stiff as Corellian whiskey while his big hands rested on the table. "I wasn't sure what to wear." He let the poor joke hang as he waited for her reaction.
'Now your a comedian?' He scolded himself silently as he smiled and avoided eye contact.

 

[Rianna Organa]

Rianna had seen him come through the doors, actually he rather filled the doors. Rianna could see from the fluctuations of color in his aura that he was going through a myriad of emotions. She looked down at herself, did she look odd? She looked around had anyone given him a look that would have been insulting, as they would now be looking away or watching him as he approached.

Oh there were those that did watch as he approached. She smiled rather foolishly as he walked to the table. Mandalorians are a proud people she reminded herself, many of them honor bound to others. She had seen many families take in orphans, young and old into their clans giving them the peace of mind they needed. She had witnessed transformations of the weak into the strong because of family, and clan life. So what was there to know about Ordo. This time when she smiled, it was the warm welcoming, inviting him to sit rather than be nervous.

"I have not waited long at all, barely got here." She noticed he was sitting stiff as a board she wondered was that hurting his back? But then he lightened the mood, he didn't know what to wear. She reached over and put her hand on his arm, carefully, as she tried to hide the smile, she looked up at him. How long had it been since he had been out socially? "I like this look, it suits you." She leaned back to her chair, "I promise not to bite you" she said with a playful hint to her voice as she tried to get him to relax.

"So hungry, or thirsty, or both?" Breaking bread with someone always created a bond, least in her mind it did. Ancient times when someone was your guest, and once you broke bread with them there could be no war, no insults unless in good humor.

@[member="Ordo"]

 

[Ordo]

@[member="Rianna Organa"]

A warm smile and a hand on an arm and the signal finally got through. Ordo grined as she tried to ease his mind. He must have been acting like a 13 year old school boy. He patted her hand gently.

'Be honest or play it tough.' He thought to himself. 'Honest'

"Sorry Ms. Rianna," he said slightly embarasssed, "I haven't really been out much socially lately."

He smiled and thought about her question. When you meet some one as friends on Mandalore it was expected that you eat together. She either knew or should be commended for being the rare good hearted aruetise.

"And both, I haven't had dinner yet." He said, "besides if we were on Mandalore I would have cooked a big meal as a wecome."

Ordo relaxed as best he could and decided to just take off his jacket and enjoy his chance to socialize with out worry. He placed his jacket on his chair Turned around a bit more at ease.

"So how did the construction go?" He asked as he tried to be conversational. He hadn't sat alone at a table with someone to do something other business for nearly twn years. It was kind of hard to believe looking back, but then again he'd been busy and lost. He smiled warmly. He really did like the company and he hoped she could tell.

 

[Rianna Organa]

"if we were on Mandalore would you make me shatual?" She had not had any of that particular game as it was indigenous to Mandalore, least she had not found it on any other planet. Rianna motioned for one of the waitresses to come over so they could order dinner.

She did not make mention of his not being out for sometime. She wondered if he was in mourning, or just found it easier to not put himself in such large groups.

"The build went very well, the structure is complete now it is just a matter of putting all the medical supplies away, and moving a few patients" She did not mention the secure chamber with the healing crystals. She assumed that many already knew of that hidden away within the temple. "You seem to like to build things, is it something you do for Mandalore?" She knew the planet always had something going on, was he one of their engineers.

@[member="Ordo"]

 

[Ordo]

@[member="Rianna Organa"]

"Shatual roast, likely as not and roasted vegetable." He said with a chuckle, "You know your stuff."

He couldn't help but smile broadly. With the one comment he felt a little less out of place. She at least understood something about Mandalorians. She asked about building. He liked working with his hands it was cleansing in a way. A trait he picked up in youth. His father had said the best thing for the soil was a farmers own footsteps on it. Since then Ordo had always liked building and fixing things.

"For Mandalore I'm a Field Marshal. Which is kind of like one of your Jedi Masters." He said in his warm Buir way. "The building is more for me. I graduated from the Corellian science academy at 17 and have been tinkering every since."

Ordo smiled again. If he kept it up hos face would start to hurt. This was the most he had talked to a lady to talk in a long time. He usually talked to them like they were his kids or sisters, rarely as friends.

"How about you?" He said not wanting to bore her too much. Besides she had earned his curiosity and appreciation he should find out more about her too. "Have you always been a healer?"

 

[Rianna Organa]

A roast oh she loved a good roast the smell of it cooking the warmth it lent a house. Yes that would have been wonderful even in her diet was meat was a temptation and a rarity for her to have. She nodded at the compliment that he gave her about knowing her stuff.

She saw his smile, he needed to feel at home and the talk of Mandalore had given him a touch of that. It was good to have traveled some to meet so many. She tried to understand, she tried to befriend everyone. Sometimes that did not work out well. She listened though, to the sounds of his voice, the deep timber that resonated within his large chest. "A Field Marshall" He was a leader among his people then, she whispered and repeated things he said so that she would remember them. He was a man who liked to work with his hands, "The Science Academy at 17!" She was impressed many of the graduates she knew did not make it out until their 19th birthday.

He was smiling more, and his aura more blue with contentment then shimmering into the unknown. How about her. Oh that was a question she had not really expected, how about her.

"No I have not always been a healer" No she had not been, she had fallen into this quite by accident. "I started out a diplomat, you know the kind that shows up and says, don't worry we'll find an accord" She had lowered her voice to sound very official. She smiled when she finished though laughing at her own silliness. "I wasn't very good at it, during one war I was just helping with the wounded." She shook her head some as she remembered, "I remembered that feeling I was really doing something, so when I got back to the temple I switched vocations, and attended school to become a doctor."

She then looked over at him, her dark eyes smiling, "And here I am sometime later and now I'm doing what gives me satisfaction, and helps people" She left out everything prior to her that as well, losing her parents, her sister the civil war, but lately she had been remembering little things about growing up, not just at the temple, but at home.

"I'm from Alderaan, which you may have guessed, have you ever been to Alderaan?" She was talking about different things, as they learned one from the other.

@[member="Ordo"]

 

[Ordo]

"Alderaan? I passed through once a long time ago now. I remember the Thantra, or tantra flying in the distance. I was just setting out after becoming a Mandalorian." He remembered his armor back then, the grey and gold, mourning and vengence. He had been on fire then. His heart and mind burned with a passionate blaze. A flicker of that feeling welled up in him. He had been on a trail. Searching for his first and only love. He couldn't help but look at the ceiling and lean forward.

"I was younger a full of fire at the time." He said with a laugh more because he felt like an open book to the Woman and her dark eyes, than from humor. "I'm afraid I didn't stay long."

He looked at her and wondered why hewas boring the poor kind woman with details. Would Bria want him to do this? She may but he didn't know.

 

[Rianna Organa]

Rianna could see flashes of red spike through his aura then strong emotions he was having, she wasn't one to really flirt but she couldn't help but try to remind him that he was still very much alive, "I bet you're still full of fire, just perhaps it is tempered with wisdom now" She nodded slightly and then leaned forward as well, "you know, we ride the thranta, and hunt manka cats on Alderaan."

She looked up, "You should go again, it is beautiful there. The mountains are snow capped, the valleys lush and green, and the land the House Organa has is out on the coast. Alderaan may not be Mandalore but it has its own uniqueness"

Finally the droid waitress came over interrupting their talk Rianna leaned back looking at the droid, and then Ordo. How strange that a chance encounter would bring them to this point to where they were sitting and sharing stories. Rianna told the droid what she wanted, a black and bleu salad with warm biscuits and a bottle of black ale and a cup of hot tea. She looked at Ordo, she hoped he would order whatever he wanted.

Rianna was going to do something that she did not do with many, "I can see around you this imagery of colors, when you spoke of Alderaan it flicked with strong emotions. May I ask what else you were thinking at the time, it seems to affect you greatly." She half smiled, "maybe I can help" He had helped her, she if possible would help him.

@[member="Ordo"]

 

[Ordo]

Opleasese, Some could read you others could feel you and some had to ask. He knew that coming in though and surprisingly it didn't bother him that she asked.

He looked up at the Droid.

"A nerf stew please, and Netra gal." He said using the time to gather his thoughts. Where should he start a story like that?

He waited for the droid to leave and met the womans eyes. He hadn't missed her subtle flirting, it felt strange to be on the recieving end of a nice comment but not bad strange in the least.

"A girl," he said softly as the old emotions came flooding back. "I was thinking about a girl."

Why did he want to tell her? Why should he hold back? The Jedi wasn't that different from Bria. Same dark hair and sun kissed skin. Same kind understanding eyes with that patient demeanor that just made you think everything would be ok. He looked down so she wouldn't feel uncomfortable under his gaze and he suddenly felt like he needed his armor.

'You're getting old boy'o.' he thought 'out flanked by a memory again.'

"When I went to Alderaan I waa looking for a girl named...named Bria." He said as his life began to replay in his mind. It was a long story and no where near a happy one but stories rarely were in this galaxy.

 

[Rianna Organa]

This time Rianna felt bad for who, and what she was she watched how his face played through a memory. Pain. Her empathy reeled from it, she could feel tears welling up in her eyes as emotions unsaid reached out and rippled across her senses.

She looked away, "I'm sorry" she whispered, she closed her eyes as she reached for one of his hands, her hands were small soft from lack of physical labor, his larger rougher. Rianna pushed the emotions away knowing they were not hers but feeling the sadness associated with it. She felt a tremble as her body shook for a moment.

"A pretty name" She inhaled hard as her control was regained, "you didn't find her, did you?" Finally able to look at him, she felt that single tear escaping that she had hoped she swallowed. "I'm too sensitive for my own good, if ever you are uncomfortable you should tell me, I take liberties that other may not."

Oh gosh this was terrible, she was asking him to relive memories of hurt, and that's not what this was suppose to be. This was a celebration of friendship, and completion.

@[member="Ordo"]

 

[Ordo]

@[member="Rianna Organa"]

He felt her hand in his and looked down and squeezed it gently but not letting go. It was hard, hard to feel it on his sobered nerves but it was harder to know she could feel it too.

He could feel her shudder as he held her soft hand and watched Her as she gathered herself. He couldn't sense her but he'd been around, picked up a few tricks and her eyes looked how his felt.

He steeled himself then and concentrated on her hand.

"It was a pretty name for a beautiful woman, alot like you." He said as he tried to smile, "but she was taken by some people but why I don't know." he looked up as if trying to see the stars through the ceiling, "I searched for 7 years and followed every lead every trace but its been 8 years 3 months 10 days and 16 hours now and I think I may have to face the facts. She was my only love...and I never looked at anyone after her."

He paused as the droid brought their drinks and set them down.

"After my parents and my sister died, Bria was all I had." He closed his grey-green eyes as a tear finally won out over his will. "I'm sorry Ms. Rianna, I have literally never told anyone this and until recently I had tried drinking the pain away. I hope I didn't ruin your night."

 

[Rianna Organa]

Rianna could only listen, the pain in his words coupled with the love that he felt for his love she could not smile at such anguish. Seven years what love and dedication he had for her oh to have such devotion from a man. It was what any woman would want the dedication and love of one man willing to go to great lengths and Ordo had only all of his efforts were not rewarded he did not have the happy ending that he deserved.

His story was breaking her heart, she found she was squeezing his hand harder trying to offer some kind of comfort through the contact. She tried hard not to bite her lip, she tried harder not to let her emotions run away.

The droid broke in between them, Rianna was not sure whether to be greatful or to blow the thing up. Rianna whispered very softly so that others around them would have to strain to hear, "You have not ruined my evening. In fact you have renewed my faith in what love should be." Rianna's chest hurt from the ache she thought of home. Family. Everything that as a Jedi she was not suppose to have, and yet there were times it was what she wanted very much.

"Perhaps it was just time that you shared it with someone, to not carry a burden alone. Thank you for sharing that with me" She looked up into the grey-green eyes and fought the urge to wipe the tear away. She thought for a moment, "And besides is it not said Verd Ori'shya beskar'gam?" She hoped that she had remembered it properly, many often did not see beyond the armor. They only saw the armor. But Ordo was definitely more than just his armor.

"I will look through the archives, maybe there is a report there that could help to find you an answer first as to why she was taken, and second is it possible she still lives" The very least she could do for a friend. Rianna realized she was still holding his hand. "Would you be willing to share that information with me?"

@[member="Ordo"]

 

[Ordo]

A flicker a shift of her dark eyes and Ordo knew there was more hurting her than just being sensitive to the feelings of others. She had her own pains her own story.

Her small hand squeeze his tightly and he felt stronger for it and he would remember.

She finished speaking and Ordo wiped his lone tear. He would tell her everything he could but if she was alive he wasn't so sure it would be the ending he wanted. However, if there was a chance he would take it.

"It's a long story, Ri'ika," he said as he moved his other hand to hold hers between them. He called her Ri'ika and he wished he could have called the words back. He didn't want her to think him presumptuous or forward but between her kindness and the stirring emotions he felt close enough to use the phrase. "But if it can stitch the wound I'll tell you what you everything I can. However, if I tell you and you search I don't want you to feel bad for whatever you find."

He looked at her face, she had an agelessness that all Jedi seemed to have but mixed with a fragility that made her beautiful. The scars on her arms disapeared under her short sleeves were evidence she was no strsnger to troubles and pains. He smiled and reddened. It was the emotion and adrenalin from refeeling memories he had spent so much of his time hiding. He didn't mean to stare at her and looked away. It was just the pain telling his mind to seek comfort, he knew that. He wasn't getting attached to her and when she had done her search she would likely forget in time and they would be acquaintances. At least that's what he told himself but then he would have to wait for a clearer time to think. Until then he stamped his straying thoughts down hard and started his account of the events that had seen the death of Jasper Ar'klim and the birth of "Ordo".

"After my parents died I quickly tested out for early graduation from the Academy and went home to take care of my sisters. After a few months of trying to take care of the farm my youngest sister was killed by a sandpanther. My other sister blamed me and ran away with an imperial scientist but she left him and moved to Coruscant. She works in the government district somewhere as a Secretary but she won't see me even now." He shook his head slightly and thought what a fool he was, "I tell that part because after that I sold the farm and took a job as a resident pilot at the local starport. Bria ran a garage not far from the starport and thats where we met. I had one speeder I parked outside and she rented me a small room above her shop."
He paused allowing Rianna a chance to take it in as he patted her hand between his gently to try and show he was ok.

"Anyway, in time as happens, I began to notice her more. Those deep radiant eyes. I wanted to drown in them every time I looked in them. Her smile when I would clumsily fumble out an attempt to flirt. She made a terrible mess of me and I loved it." He paused again but this time with a laugh at the memory it was his happiest time and it lifted his big heart to talk about it. "She would reach up with her little hand and pat my cheek saying 'It's ok flyboy your still cute.' and I would stand there looking confused."

"Oh The Manda take me, you need the important bits." He said bringinf his mind back to what she had asked for, "one day after we had decided to get married I was offered a job that would take me away for two weeks to pick up some cargo for a rich off worlder. They offered 100,000 credits and I said I would do it. She asked me too stay but I told her it would set us up for life and we could spend the rest of our years just enjoying each others company. She finally gave in and I was off. We talked every day but about three days from Corellia the security that joined me to protect me cargo tried to kill me and take it for their own. I resisted and my desire to get back to my Bria was stronger than their greed for the cargo. I made it back to find my boss had set me up. I locked him in the cargo bay tied to the security team and called CorSec. I had not heard from Bria in those thtee days and I rushed home to find the garage shot up and Bria gone." He let go of her hand with one of his and took a drink.

"The report from the neighborhood was that two rodians and a human came and tore up the garage. Bria faught back but they stunned her and ran off. Then two Mandalorians gave chase and both parties tore out of the starport and left the planet. I later found out one of the Mando's was Bria's father and he had come to see her married. After a week of hiring investigators and bounty hunters her father came back to find me. He was dying. He took me to Mandalore where I trained and promptly left with all the data her father had given me. He nicknamed me Ordo before he died and I spent the next 7 years on the trail. The trail led me deep into the unknown regions where I finally found the ship the kidnappers eacaped with and one of the Rodians but nothing else. The Rodian shot himself when he saw me coming and the trail went cold."

Ordo finished finally and looked back at his kind and very patient new friend. His thoughts strayed to her beauty again and the similarity in her and Bria's eyes but once again stampes it down ashamed of his foolishness.

"Sorry again, Ri'ika...I mean, Rianna. I guess I should just remember 'Mishuk gotal'u meshuroke, pako kyore.' Thank you for your overwhelming kindness."

@[member="Rianna Organa"]

 

[Rianna Organa]

She had wanted him to tell her and each word only made everything he had been dealing with more real. No one had called her Ri'ika for a very long time she didn't mind the name at all, she squeezed his hand again "Vor entye" Her dark eyes continued to look into his gray green. "You've shared something very personal very hurtful, I will treasure your trust" Her hand seemed so small beneath his. Stories like these made people closer, how close were they going to get, did she want to get closer?

She had to remember he was hurting, he was mandalorian, and she was a Jedi....umhmmm she blinked a few more times as she thought, "I don't mind that you call me Ri'ika it doesn't offend me" She whispered. She still had his hand.

"Let us eat, and talk. First what do we know about rodians?" She half smiled, she would think about this like the old investigations, maybe someone in the GIA would know something. Slowly she withdrew her hand there were hints in there, first the shipment must have been more than what it appeared to be. Second important enough to involve more than one team to acquire it, and then the unknown regions, why did everyone hiding decide to go there. Rianna saw a trip coming...least she thought it was a trip or was it change she couldn't tell.

@[member="Ordo"]

Spoiler

Vor entye means thank you

 

[Ordo]

His big heart already felt a little lighter having someone to open it to. He felt like a fool, a dikut, usless, but the weight had lessened and she'd done that. She thanked him and it was genuine, he didn't need the force to tell that. What did she have to thank him for? Maybe she just appreciated his trust. Maybe because he wasn't made from the beskar his armor was and she didn't want to see what the break would bring.

"I should thank you Ri...Ri'ika." He said his deep voice still soft, "For doing more for me in a few hours today than I have done for these many years." He meant it and he felt no shame in telling her.

He couldn't help but hold her hand and squeeze it again gently. What was a Mandalorian doing holding a Jedi's hand? He was being more than a Mandalorian, he was being a man and he was holding the tender hand of a woman. Maybe he was just hurting but he'd hurt before and he had had chances to feel in the past but he had let those chances go. No he had made them go. This was something but could ahe ever care for him? Could she forgive him if he went to war? Would she be hurt because of him? What would the Jedi do if he did have feelings for her? Her hand right now would be all he could hope for but not all he would hope for.

'Not now Ordo,' he thought to himself.

"Rodians," He began, "are a hunter society. The ones that leave often become hunters or bounty hunters. I learned rodian so I could find out more from them. The cargo was some kind of artifacts heading for coruscant. I had picked them up on Mygeeto. Not sure but the GIA may be able to find something."

Slowly she removed her hand to attend he food and Ordo felt sorry for the loss but he could still fell it's warmth and the tenderness lingered. He sipped his drink and savored the taste of Manda'yaim before addressing her again.

"You don't have to do this," he said tge feelings of attraction had grown and he didn't want her to feel obligated to him. He looked down to hide what is eyes must have been saying. He began eating. "But vor entye."

@[member="Rianna Organa"]

 

[Rianna Organa]

'An artifact for Coruscant" Now this intrigued Rianna, it could be anything, jedi, sith, separatist, celestial the list was endless. Mygeeto the only thing she could remember is that the Jedi had wanted to go to Mygeeto to look for crystals, and they had been denied. Unless this new order had been there. She was thinking on the puzzle as she poked and ate at her salad.

She heard the deep timber of his voice again, soft, "I don't have to do what?" she looked at him, of course she had to do this. One he had come and helped her when she needed it, this what she was doing was nothing, nothing but some time. There was a look in his eyes, she looked away for a moment the way he had begun to look at her it made her feel butterflies inside, it made her smile. She realized there was a danger to all of this, the more time they spent together, the deeper their bonds of friendship would go, and then.....then what would happen........

The Rodians would have been hired that much is evident, and something he had figured out long ago, that was nothing new. Work the problem backwards Rianna, start with the artifact. She brightened further up, as the realization of what the path was hit her, "we need to see the artifact" She said with such purpose, such conviction.

@[member="Ordo"]

 

[Ordo]

@[member="Rianna Organa"]

He sipped the broth of his stew and took several bites as he tried in vain nkt to cast glances at her as she ate. His stomach had skipped butterflies and moved on to backflips. He was wrong for all of this. He should be ashamed of himself for putting her in this kind of situation. His chewing slowed as he thought of what she would have to endure if she became attached to someone like him.

For 8 years he had not even held a hand and the one woman he had touched gently was a Chiss buisness woman who had been shot. He tried to save her but was too late.

Could he allow himself to be selfish now after so long? He glanced up from his stew. She was beautiful with delicate features and soft tan skin. He could love her, of that he was sure, but should he? Would she benefit from his affection? That was what mattered. That and if his Bria was alive and needed him could he live with a heart split between two women.

She asked him what she didn't have to do and his heart rose to his throat stopping his reply. He wanted to leave and not hurt her. She deserved a man but Ordo was a beast. Had this been a cockpit he would have reached for the force. He would have felt the motions of the Manda's will and reacted as well as any Jedi but this was a dinner table and he was a scar riddled war horse.

She spoke again, the sound of her sweet voice full of conviction, full of purpose. Her voice cut a hard line passed his ears and straight to his heart. Her strength, her beauty, her kindness and conviction. It was all over for him. He would be hers for the taking, but he could never act in selfishness. He would be loyal, gentle and tender but not without her wanting him too. His reflexes kicked in as the beskar he had built around his heart crumbled. He began counting, it was a simple exercise to keep his surface thoughts busy while his deeper thoughts were in a tumult. He smiled a kind smile that was genuine and that filled his grey-green eyes, but he kept counting. She had her own feelings to consider and it wasn't fair for him to put her in such a situation against her will. She had offered kindness to him and he would let her choose without his influence.

"The artifact or artifacts," he said weakly as he tried to keep his mind active on anything but her, "Are something I never could get information on. CorSec and the GIA didn't really jump to help an angry Mandalorian at the time. Maybe you'll fair better."

 

[Rianna Organa]

It was taboo short and simple. She was a Jedi the code had always been clear. She had strayed to that path once before and paid for it with a period of exile and her heart hurting. She glanced over at him as he ate. She smiled taking delight in such simple revelation that the taste of something made one smile.


She'd have to remember to tell Rekha. But. Her actions was she being self serving? She stabbed her salad gathering greens together for a single bite. And what would it do for her to become attached if they found his beloved Bria would she be able to smile then. If she continued to spend time with him. Growing closer. Could she?

And then what of war. What if the republic decided to go against the mandalorians where would she stand? Could she raise her weapon against him? NO. No. She couldn't. She looked at him again. He was strong enough to protect her. Gentle enough to understand her concerns. Oh God she thought. What to do?

"Whatever the cargo was. We need to know" She knew no one in GIA but perhaps she could find one. She looked down. , "have you some that can offer assistance..to me?

..@[member="Ordo"]

 

[Ordo]

Was it the warmth of the stew or the feeling of her eyes upon him that reddened his face. Jedi he was told could love and marry, but could they pick whosoever they wanted or were there conditions? What was he even thinking it for? He had to resist the idea of she and him.

He would do what it took to make it work. Move to Coruscant? Yes. Alderaan? Yes. He would bunk on the Temple steps if he had to but he was making assumptions. She couldn't be intetested in him, could she? He finished his meal as his thoughts wandered over the idea of her in his arms forever.

He realized he had stopped counting again and started up again. If she felt nothing for him he didn't want his thoughts drifting to her heart.

"I don't know many in the Republic." He admitted to her. "But to be honest my thoughts aren't as clear as I had hoped to keep them."

It was time for honesty, but he always preferred things to be honest. Was he going to tell her his feelings and concerns? Maybe, but not yet. He took a drink of his Ne'tra gal.

"I was thinking," he said wanted to get his thoughts in focus and his feelings clear and untangled. "Would you come with me for a walk?"

@[member="Rianna Organa"]