We are brave- {OPEN}

[decoyqueen]

WHO: Sabé + You??
WHERE: Nonah, De Chima
WHEN: Mid May
WHAT: Sabé's just figuring out her way around here.
WARNINGS: None?? Except probably some angst.

a. Nonah

It's not Tatooine. The thought soothes her in a way that she immediately feels guilty for. It's been years since she lived on that planet, but the harsh weather and conditions of the Outer Rim planet was firmly embedded on her 'never again' list.

No, this place was more like Coruscant, and that thought was only marginally better. The metallic, electronic hum of an industrial city troubled her- but not so much that she was entirely uncomfortable. She's avoiding her housing assignment at the moment, the thought of facing strangers in a unit where she could only hope to find some sense of peace seemed to worry her more than the loud rumblings of the train.

Caf, or what the locals refer to as coffee, is possibly the worst choice she could make with her nerves on edge as they were. But she needed something comforting- no matter the edge it might give her later.

She sits in the coffee shop, out of the way in a corner where she's noticed others are less likely to look at, and watches life happen around her. The couple on a date in an even more secluded corner than hers, the stressed mother wrangling her children, the person now standing directly in front of her table-

Wait. Sabé blinks as she looks up at them, canting her head to the side before speaking.

"Can I help you?"



b. De Chima

This was a city that soothed Sabé. She finds herself peaceful without the anxious bustle of Nonah buzzing around her. It's still a city, but it's much quieter, which has her longing for Theed. For a home that no longer felt like home for all that it was missing.

She knows why this city has her longing- she knows the exact reason... And although her reason for visiting wasn't just to see Padmé, that doesn't stop her from keeping her eyes peeled as she makes her way through the city. She stops to check some shops here and there, mentally noting the styles of many locals in order to further craft her persona for this world. How would Sabé the Self Defense Instructor differ from the many Sabé's that had preceded her? Did she need to differ?

And just how long has she been standing outside these shop fronts trying to figure out the answer to that question?


c. wildcard

[ Sabé really is just gathering her bearings, so if there's an idea you have and want to toss my way, I'm super open to it. ]

Comments

b

[iminthebook]

Harry had been wandering, and thinking, and trying to put his brain together. Wanda had been sent away, and it made him feel helpless and full of rage and fear. Would she come back? Would she remember this place and him if she did?

He felt impotent about those questions, and so he wanders. His eyes are caught by storefronts and he lets himself wander down them. Maybe he will change his style while Wanda is gone. Maybe he will find a new style entirely. Probably not, but it is something to occupy him as he walks.

Until he realizes the next step will thrust him against someone who is staring into one particular storefront. He stops, looking at the storefront, and the goods in it, and then at her. His voice is gentle as he slides his foot deliberately loudly across the pavement, and speaks.

"The white one there, might look good on you." He is not sure why he says it, really, other than because it is something.

[decoyqueen]

Lost in thought as she is, Sabé was aware that someone was nearing- it isn't until she hears the deliberate scrape of his foot that she realizes just how near he was. She presses her lips together and sizes up the white piece. It could- but white was always a hassle to wash.

"It might," she agrees, her tone carefully even. Her lips tug in a half sort of smile. "You don't think white is impractical?"

[iminthebook]

"In the age of washing machines and aids to care for such fabrics, I think it is as practical as any other color, and white delivers a certain heft to it. I've always thought so, anyway."

He offers her a half-smile as he examines the outfit.

Then he gestures. "Though the red one is nice and dark, and has the benefit of being if a material that is easy to clean." He has seen that one before.

[decoyqueen]

There's another long, discerning look at the white outfit- it stands out too much. "A certain confidence- I can see that."

Harder to blend in with the masses- and perhaps that's where her hesitation sits. The red one, however... There's a larger smile at that as she nods. "I have a feeling that one is more my style," she replies with a short laugh, turning to raise an eyebrow at him. "Do you often offer fashion advice to complete strangers?"

[iminthebook]

"Helping people is what I do." His words are quiet, but sure and he nods.

"I'm still new to fashion, though. My brother and his family tried to teach me, but they gave up after a while." He grins lopsidedly.

"It took me finding someone here who captured my imagination to really make me want to know more."

[decoyqueen]

Sabé can easily detect the truth to his answer- even if he doesn't mean he helps people with fashion... She knows the tone and the look- she's seen it in the mirror and heard it from her own lips.

"Fashion is an art form in its own," she replies, her grin carrying over from the comment about his brother giving up on him. "It really shapes how you're perceived- it's like a mask or shield to put on... a way to tell the world how to see and judge you before you even speak."

Or completely look past you. Misjudge you. Underestimate your strength and give you the advantage.

[iminthebook]

Harry looks down at his long coat and boots, and white shirt and black pants. "People always say I look like a cross between a conductor and a cowboy." It doesn't bother him, but it amuses him.

"I assume that means you know a lot about it?" Because it sounds that way to him. Her confidence is impressive to his lack of it. Harry, unknowingly, except for his height, tends to blend in, and just not be spotted a lot. He has black hair, and average looks and his clothing is neither great nor bad.,

b, of course

[senateur]

Padmé is restless. In the days since the strange string of dreams, everything has slowly been piling up, pressing down against her spirit and trying to pull her into a deep melancholy. It's something she's done her best to resist, though there are moments when she simply can't stand being alone with herself and she has to go. Her volunteer efforts have served her well enough most days, but on this particular day...

Well, she's more than a little grateful to see Sabé standing there on the street, her dearest friend so conveniently arrived to save her for perhaps the thousandth time. Taking in a deep breath, Padmé pulls herself together as much as possible (knowing full well that the other woman will undoubtedly see right through the façade) and crosses the street during a lull in traffic.

[decoyqueen]

There's a fine line of never wanting to leave Padmé's side, and trying to remember that she's capable of taking care of herself. Sabé finds that it's hard not to cross that line, that she shouldn't constantly hover around her dearest friend just because she can't back home.

The reflection in the window catches her eye, even as she finds herself drifting in and out of focus- and as soon as Padmé's across the street, she's turning to greet her. She smiles gently and crosses the sidewalk to meet her closer to curbside. "Imagine running into you here."

[senateur]

Padmé might be completely capable of taking care of herself, but that certainly doesn't mean she wouldn't welcome a little hovering. From anyone else, it might be a problem, but with Sabé? Never. Especially not when they're both aware that this is all the time they have left.

"It's a very pleasant surprise," she replies with a smile, immediately linking her arm with Sabé's. "And on such a lovely day." The sun is shining and they are both of them alive and well. And more than that, they are together.

[decoyqueen]

Of course Sabé chose De Chima knowing her chance of running into Padmé was greater here. Sabé held her friend's arm close to her as soon as they linked. "Every day with you is lovely," she teases.

It was easy enough to suggest, if only because it's the truth. "Are you running errands?"

[senateur]

Sabé's comment makes Padmé's smile widen, everything about her seeming a little brighter in that moment. Everything these past weeks has been so stressful and overwhelming, but having her friend there has made things a bit more bearable. She'd always been able to stand a little stronger knowing Sabé was at her side.

With a shake of her head, she explained, "Just out for a walk. Care to join me?"

[decoyqueen]

Padmé's brighter smile is enough- knowing that she can still make things just a little easier for her helps ease her pain. She tilts her head a little before nodding.

"A walk sounds perfect," she replies. "It'll help me understand the lay of this city better, I think."

But mostly it'll give her the chance to spend time with Padmé more. And that's the only excuse she needs.

a

[hadthehighground]

It wasn't Tatooine, and she was not the only one who was glad for that. He, on the other hand, had the unfortunate fate to be living there before he came here. That would be a planet he would live out almost the entire remaining years of his life. Not something he would wish on anyone.

Nonah had its own charm though, and a certain man found himself liking it much better than Maurtia Falls. He had lived in that city the last time he had been in this world. With the fencing school he instructed at being just down the street, the Jedi was beginning to make a habit of coming to this little shop when his classes were done for the day. The baristas were even recognizing him by now and knew his name.

Normally he would get his cup and head home, or sit for awhile if he felt like it. But today, something caught his attention. It was his robed figure that came to stand in front of a young handmaiden's table.

"Actually, I was wondering if I could help you."

There was a warm smile on the bearded face of one Obi-Wan Kenobi as he held his coffee cup in hand, which was almost obscured by the large sleeves of his cloak.

"Welcome to Earth, Miss Sabe."

[decoyqueen]

Sabé paled as she realized just who was standing in front of her table. There were several faces she never imagined she'd see again back home- one she'd already encountered... and now another standing in front of her.

She didn't even realize she was slouching until she made the effort to sit up, fixing her posture. "Obi-Wan..."

She nearly kicked herself for the familiarity with the Jedi Master- but she couldn't stop herself. The funny thing about seeing ghosts from your past was it kind of threw you for a loop. She smiled at him and gestured to the seat across from her. "Would you care to join me?"

[hadthehighground]

The use of his first name didn’t bother the Jedi Master in the least. He had been but a Padawan when they first met, and such a long time acquaintance was allowed that familiarity. Plus Padme is a dear friend of his, something he knows they share in common. If it wasn’t for Sabe, Padme could have had her life cut even shorter than it had been.

“I would, thank you.”

Pulling out the chair with a wave of his hand, he then sat, placing his cup on the table before them.

“So tell me, how are you settling? Are you living here in Nonah as well?”

[decoyqueen]

Sabé tapped her nails on her mug as he sat down, her lips pressed firmly together. It wasn't until he asked her the few questions he had that she realized she was even holding her breath.

"I'm living in Nonah, yes. They assigned me to some government housing-" That she's definitely been avoiding going back to for long periods of time. She smiled again before addressing the other question, answering with half a laugh. "I'm not really someone who settles in anywhere, you know. So I guess that's going as well as it can."

She's only ever settled in short term bursts- never really intending on staying somewhere for more than a few months at a time. But something told her this would be a longer stay. She wouldn't have the luxury of packing up and changing who she was. "So you live in Nonah? How long have you been here?"

[hadthehighground]

Picking up his coffee cup again, Obi-Wan took a sip. His eyes still on Sabe to show that he was listening to her. It’s then followed by a nod of understanding.

“That is normal. Everyone is assigned to government housing, at least at first.”

Including him, though it had been rather short lived thus tile around. A smile also touched his face at the fact that she wasnt one to settle down. How true that was. He could also relate seeing how he was always on the move during the war. Though he’s been forced to stay in one place since then, both here and back home.

“If you find you don’t like your accommodations you can request a change. And yes, I do. I share an apartment with Anakin. So far I’ve been here about two months.”

[decoyqueen]

"I haven't been around there much yet... It could surprise me and be better than I'm expecting." She's not counting on that.

Of course he shares an apartment with Anakin- when she'd visited Padmé's apartment it was clear her friend was living alone. This was really the only other answer that made sense. "I might have to look into that in the future, though."

She allowed him another smile, finding it hard to deny the simplest of emotions after all that's happened back home. "I'm glad the two of you are here together... It must make the transition simpler. How have these two months treated you, if I may?"

b

[eloquentness]

Errand day was, frankly, one of Iris's least favorite kinds of days. When she was shopping for pleasure, she could linger and take some time to really enjoy downtown - her favorite part of De Chima. When she was shopping for some work-related things, however, she had to hurry it up.

As she enters the store, intent on purchasing gift bags for an upcoming fundraiser, she notes a young woman standing by the store front, peering at all it had to offer. She also notes the same young woman standing when she leaves, and well -

Iris stands beside her, giving her an sympathetic look. "There's a lot more inside, if you want to look around."

[decoyqueen]

Sabé had seen the woman enter- though she was lost in thought, she was still ever present of her surroundings. However, she wasn't so present that she realized just how long she was standing in front of the same shop.

She glances over at the other woman as soon as she stops beside her and huffs out a small laugh. "I'm not sure what I'm looking for," she admits. "I might be even more overwhelmed if I go in."

[eloquentness]

"Hey, it happens to the best of us."

Even on her busiest days, Iris can feel her brain clicking off at the most inopportune moments. She isn't particularly surprised, and hey - she's finished most of her errands. She can afford to linger, she thinks.

Iris laughs, blinking back surprise only when she realizes - "Are you new around here? I swear, De Chima only feels bigger than it is."

[decoyqueen]

"I am-"

Sabé hates to admit things like this, but right now it feels important. Especially as she's still trying to craft the self the people here will know. She smiles slowly. "That's a relief to hear."

De Chima wasn't her biggest concern, but it is one that she'll have to learn how to deal with eventually. "How long have you been here, if it's not too bold of me to ask?"

[eloquentness]

"Almost two years now," Iris admits, her expression turning wistful.

It hadn't felt like two years - and she's not sure if that's a good or bad thing. Just that time had felt both too long and too short at the same time, and that she had learned so much about herself in the process.

"I'm an imPort, though, so my frame of reference is completely different from say, someone who's just moved from halfway across the country."

[decoyqueen]

"Two years?"

Sabé's brows raise a little at that. Padmé has been here for nearly one year, if her memory serves her correct... but to meet someone whose time is double that. "I can't even fathom being here that long."

Still- all opinions are valid and even though Sabé doesn't know the particular frame of reference for this woman... She smiles, a practiced grin that she's taken the time to curate for experiences just like this: where she's more uncomfortable than she'd readily admit. "The last place I lived was quiet- and more on the outskirts of places like this. I'll just have to relearn how to cope with cities in general."