Private The Perils of Pride and Ignorance

[Briana Sal-Soren]

Days had passed since that disastrous council meeting, intentional in her decision of leaving the dust to settle, giving enough time for tempers to cool and the both of them the time to chew and reflect more thoroughly on what all was said, and what more still needed to be said aloud.

The battered bridges needed to be repaired and peace between them brokered — if not in perfect agreement, then in the least, some semblance of shared purpose; least the consequences of this dispute drag the entire Order into the siblings continual riptide and destroy what was being built before it had the chance to properly run.

And it was precisely that knowledge, that damning weight of responsibility, that forced Briana to swallow down the lingering sting of this latest betrayal, and her own sense of pride, to seek out her brother and ultimately make her way out to the Shore.

The late-afternoon sun cast golden streaks across the lake, the gentle breeze carrying the faint scent of wildflowers from the surrounding meadows while children's laughter spilled out of the main cottage, accompanied by an occasional squeal of delight.

Standing under a viny archway as she waited for Brandyn to appear, Briana understood, all at once, why he was so reluctant to throw himself behind the cause that'd taken root in her heart. Even she felt a pull, an urge to stand there in the gilded sunlight and forget the rest of the galaxy existed. Who wouldn't want to lose themselves in a place like this? Briana idly pondered, her gaze drifting to a tiny figure perched on the front porch, absorbed in drawing pictures with colored chalk. Her pigtails bounced as she hummed along, completely oblivious to anything else around her, unencumbered by politics or war. Unknowing of anything beyond the simple joys of a safe and warm afternoon. The sight made something in her chest, ache.

What might their lives have looked like, had they been allowed to be unencumbered? Spared the compounding pains of war, loss, and family betrayals?

She sighed and turned to face the wall, brushing off the thoughts of pointless 'what ifs'. No good ever came from dwelling on them; it only distracted focus from paths that needed walking now. The present demanded attention, not the ghosts of possibilities long past.

The sound of footsteps crunching on gravel, measured and deliberate, made Briana look up, straightening instinctively as Brandyn approached, offering a slight nod in greeting. "Thanks for meeting me," she said softly, a lack of any inflection in her tone. "I thought it was important that we talk."

TAG: Brandyn Sal-Soren

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[Brandyn Sal-Soren]

He had fallen into his work. Cybelle knew something was wrong, but she gave him room. Besides, she liked how tidy the flowerbeds were looking. Gardening was a far better way for Brandyn to take out his frustrations than options he had previously tried.

He knew that the moment would come that he would be called to talk to the Council, or Lorn would show up to try and patch things over. Perhaps Kahne would be sent. Briana might even try Lossa or Vision out if she was desperate enough. But he had to give his sister credit when he heard that she was coming to visit.

The day was winding down, and the children were avoiding going to bed. He would see to that soon though, or perhaps Gianna would be out to care for the delinquents soon. Either way, it was not his focus now. Briana was to have his full attention.

He had just come from the large, industrial looking portable worksheet that they had brought on site while something permanent could be built. Dinner was surely to be called soon, and he had begun the process of cleaning up. Though his hair was still dirty and sweaty with the days work, his hands and arms were clean save for some pesky dirt around his finger nails.

The sight that greeted Briana was one that was a Brandyn that dressed nothing like the pampered child of Nabooian aristocracy that he was. Instead, he wore simple brown work pants with grass stains on his knees, and a tan button up with his sleeves rolled up and a little water splashed on his cuffs.

He looked up at his sister while he brushed hands off. Despite the foreign attire, it was still the same eyes peering at her through the chin-length hair that hung from his head. "I feel like it is more you meeting me," he said, smirk only half forming in the left corner of his mouth, "a visit from the principal."

He lifted his hand in apology in order to silence any protest. He winced, ruing the missed opportunity at a sarcasm-free start.

"Cybelle and Gianna have enough food prepared for you," he said as an olive branch. He sincerely hoped this would go well enough that she would stay for a meal.

"But. Yes. We talk first. I am sorry for how I went about things, Bri," he said looking down. He kicked a stone aside, just as he might had done as a child, "sometimes I just don't know how to make you listen to me. You get so...Sal-Soren...about things. Maybe we need to change to mom's family name..."

| TAG: Briana Sal-Soren fyi, Cybelle Sal-Soren |

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