Umgul's Open Terrain

Imitating Franz's earlier thoughtful expression as she looks at him after he has named those worlds he has been to in the course of his life, and the reasons he had for being on those worlds, Ayodele does not comment at first; adding what Franz has said with other things he has shared with her to see what might be revealed of him, or his nature. Ayodele was not always in the habit of cultivating a practiced disinterest in the larger picture or in the many players on the larger stage; there was a time such things were of great interest to her, and so she knows enough of the Jedi and their philosophy to understand that Franz's pronounced attachment to his friends and family would more likely than not be considered atypical for one belonging to an Order that asks its members to set such things aside in order to better serve the so-called greater good. Taken at face value, all that Franz has shared seems to suggest that he either holds to a more narrow view of what constitutes the "greater good", or has simply surrendered his self-agency to his friends as though trusting that remaining loyal to them ensures that he fulfills the duties demanded of him by his calling. While she feels that she has been given a clear understanding of what ultimately drives him, Ayodele also feels, overall, that she has been allowed to see less of who Franz is, of what he enjoys and wants for himself alone, and more of who Franz feels, or has felt, he must be or must pursue by virtue of his overwhelming loyalty to his friends and family. Or perhaps, Ayodele considers, Franz has become his loyalty and duty in the way that she was once little more than her drive to sate the biological imperative that drives the vast majority of her species; for has she not seen, after winning her freedom from the drive that defined her for so long, that many beings in the universe, no matter their species, fall prey to surrendering more and more of themselves in the service of the roles they chose or that are thrust upon them until they are little more than the embodiment of those roles, what individuality they might have been possessed of cast aside and forgotten. Not, Ayodele reminds herself, that she herself is, even now, necessarily free from such a fate; biology has simply given her longer to see what lay outside of the cage birth, socialization, and biological drives had backed her into. Seeing the bars and slipping from them are not at all the same thing, Ayodele knows, and even stepping from a cage does not always mean one is free from it, or might not find themselves forced back into the cage.

Her head tilting to the side as the reflective expression is overcome by her more familiar amusement, Ayodele smiles as she slowly repeats some of Franz's words without any hint of mockery, "For a friend, because you were needed, and then asks with a genuine curiosity that is without any sense of judgement, Has there been nothing, nowhere, or no one, Franz, in your life that you sought out or undertook for yourself rather than out of your loyalty to your friends and family or in the course of fulfilling the duties of your calling?"

Lakehouse — Guest Bedroom



After she and Ares had showered, Ali pulled on the t-shirt she had worn over her bikini while Ares dressed and left the room to go see if he could find her spare bikini in her bag out by the pool. While he was gone she had stripped the bed and remade it with a clean set of sheets she had found in a cabinet in the room. When she was done with the bed she put the sheets they had used in the hamper in the bathroom then she hung up the towels they had used after their shower so they could dry before she began tidying up the rest of the bathroom and bedroom.

When Ares returned, he placed the swimwear on the bed explaining that he couldn't find the spare bikini in her bag but Crystal had been nearby. He ended with mentioning Aerandirs, along with some other peoples, arrival, asking if she perhaps knew them. Arching an amused eyebrow, Ali removed the t-shirt and began putting on the borrowed swimwear. "It's fine, chéri. See? It fits perfectly, and it's even the same color." She grinned holding out her arms to her sides for him to see before dropping them to adjust the top a bit more. Stepping forward, she gave him a quick kiss before continuing to speak. "And yes, I know Aerandir and his daughter, Morgan. I haven't seen them in a while. It'll be nice to talk to them again."

She quickly put the t-shirt on again over the bikini then grabbed the pieces of her torn swimwear and turned to him again with a smile. "Shall we go join the others again? Also, do you need to put any finishing touches on the cake before we mingle?"

Chuckling lightly, Ice inclined her head in understanding when Aerandir answered stating that he thought just saying the reason would break the 'drama free' rule before adding that he had just answered a call for help. Raising an eyebrow, she wondered if that call for help had anything to do with what she had read about Andros Vyridian upon their arrival to Umgul. She was contemplative for a moment as her gaze flickered over to Andros, very briefly, then back to Aerandir when he asked about Jena, saying that he needed to thank her for agreeing to train Jake in the healing arts.

Pushing her sunglasses up on her nose, Ice smiled slightly. "Jena's doing well and Jake seems to be very eager to learn all he can. I think this is good for both of them. It's good for Jena because she has someone new to pass her knowledge on to and it's good for Jake because he's young and energetic enough to keep up with her teachings."

She paused for a moment looking over to Lukas and Morgan, happy that they both seemed to be having fun in the water. Morgan was asking him if he wanted her to make a water ball or if he just wanted to swim. Lukas eyed Morgan for a moment, a look of thoughtfulness on his face then he splashed his hands down in the water in front of him. "Water ball!" He exclaimed with glee.

Ice shook her head, laughing at his enthusiasm then brought her gaze back to Aerandir. "So how are Cassie and little Lucina doing? Well I hope?"

Meanwhile back in the pool, Lukas was giggling happily, enthralled with what Morgan was doing in her attempt to create a water ball. It was then that Crystal came over to them and asked what kind of saucing they wanted on their meat. Lukas gazed up at her with a perplexed look on his face before calling out to Ice. "Mommy?!"

Ice, who had heard Crystals question to the children, grinned affectionately at Lukas before meeting Crystals gaze with a warm smile. "Since I'll share a plate with him, we'd better go with salty. He's not fond of sweeter meat sauces just yet. Our last experience with a sweet sauce didn't go over so well and I don't want him wasting it, especially when you've all be gracious enough to invite us into your home." She glanced down to a giggling Lukas again who had already turned his attention back to Morgan and the shimmering water of the pool.

*As he spoke with Ice, Aerandir did overhear the mention of him in conversation between Atlantis and Serrin, though it seemed it as merely to discuss how they were acquainted. Aerandir gave them a small smile and a nod, returning his attention to Ice, saying Jena was doing well, and that Jake had been very eager. Aerandir smiled knowingly; the boy certainly couldn't be stopped once he put his mind to something, which was a good quality to have for sure.

He along with Ice briefly looked towards the pool as Morgan and Lukas played, then he looked back to Ice as she asked about Cassie and Lucina. Aerandir nodded, replying,* "Both well. Cassie's fully-recovered and Lucy's very active. Kayla won't keep away from her most of the time; if only she'd change diapers I would like that even more," *he joked, looking towards the water again when Crystal approached the children, asking about their preferred saucing.

Something that confused poor Lukas, who looked to Ice for help answering. After Ice answered for him, Morgan gave a simple response asking for salty as well. After a moment, Lily asked the family how they preferred their meat, Morgan seeming to take a moment before answering medium; perhaps she was trying to compare it to how the Felucians cooked their meat, which Aerandir had to admit, if anyone could make rancor taste good, it was the Felucians.*

"Medium's fine for me as well, thanks," *Aerandir replied next.

Michelle, from the pool, nodded and replied,* "That's fine, please." *She seemed to be floating a little closer to where Morgan and Lukas were, but otherwise was keeping to herself.

Glancing at the tailring on his shoulder, Aerandir chuckled and explained,* "Morgan'll feed this little guy off her own plate, so you don't have to worry about him." *"Feed" was a word the tailring understood, as he began to pad his feet excitedly. "Lokay the Hungry," Aerandir occasionally jokingly called him in his thoughts...*

My lekku swish idly behind my back and then resettle as I nod to agree that there is a chance that I may be able to interact with Aerandir more than circumstance has allowed in the past; though given that today may be the last relatively peaceful and free moments that we will have with the reasons we are here, I am not entirely confident that there will be time for anything outside of the pursuit of the individual or individuals responsible for the attack that has been mistakenly lain at Andros' feet by the media. Laughing when Atlantis correctly guesses that Crystal had made me aware of the rule for the day, I nod once again before telling him, "That she did, yes. Turning to look at everyone gathered outside, I smile as I say, It is a good rule, I believe. I'm sure, at least, that you, your brother and your friends appreciate the break. To say more on the subject would take us perilously close towards breaking the rule for the day, and so I move on quickly, pursing my lips as I consider how best to answer Atlantis' question about whether or not I've had moments where a simple life seemed inviting, the question making me wonder if he is actually expressing his own occasional desire - fleeting as it may ultimately be - to have a life other than that which he has that has none of the complications that come along with it. The answer that comes immediately to mind is an unequivocal no; for I can truly say that I do not often spend time thinking of such existential questions as I find such exercises to be without any great merit unless they are being conducted for the purpose of . . .

"Are you always so resoundingly boring? I hear myself ask, glancing back towards Atlantis to see my other me leaning over his shoulder with an exasperated expression to match the tone of her voice. It's just a fun question, not a request for a dissertation or something."

As Atlantis does not react to the other me's words or presence, I know she is not a doppleganger, just another annoying visitation of the me that had been with me for much of my time on Bimmisaarai, and so I simply ignore her, reaching up to rub my right temple as I smile and tell Atlantis, "Once or twice, maybe. When I was younger, I add, frowning as I consider answering more completely; which would involve sharing things I do not often speak of. I am about to explain that there was a time that I needed to contemplate the possibility of having a different life than the one I have made for myself since, but Lily's arrival provides an opportunity to reconsider, and I realize that to bring up my past would probably be a heavier topic than might be welcome. Rare, please, I tell Lily, smiling as I add, Thank you, Lily. Returning my attention to Atlantis after Lily has gone to ask the others how they would like their meat cooked, I say as though it were what I was going to say all along, I have no regrets about not having a simpler life, if that is what you were asking. I laugh softly, not in amusement so much as at the realization I give voice to when I add, Even with all that I have seen and been through, I do not wish I had not been born with the gift Ashla gave me, or the responsibilities that came with it. Taking a sip of water, I set the bottle down, resting my hands on either side of it as I give Atlantis' question back to him, And what about you, Atlantis? Do you ever wish you had a different life, or that you could step away from the one you have now to make a simpler one? You do, I point out to him as I glance past him towards Crystal, have the ability to choose to make such a life for yourself after all."