[D7EA] Chance Sighting

[Luth Khalan]

It surprises her that her takes what she says so easily. When he talks about her being in his unity, she breaks into a laugh. "I'm sorry... I'm not laughing at you, I promise. Just the ironies of life." Right now, I wish that, too... Damn Matthias.

"I wish it was. I don't know all their personal opinions or reasons, but I don't think so. I'm not in a position to try to convince anyone either, arguments aside." She shrugs and sighs.

[Niall Organa]

Niall tilted his head curiously at her laugh, but didn't seem offended. Indeed, he chuckled as she explained. "Oh, yes. Those. I'm familiar, believe me, although doubtless with an entirely different set of ironies."

He shook his head. "The Sith code begins with 'Peace is a lie'. That's a difficult starting point." He smiled at her. "And it's true, it's difficult for one person to change attitudes that widely, arguing down one person at a time. Although... I supposed I hoped I might be that person, on my side. Hubris?" He chuckled. "That's the other thing nobility means in the Republic."

[Luth Khalan]

She sighs, leaning her head back. "It makes a very difficult starting point. I suppose my hope is just for some of the more level-headed Sith I know to be able to make it to the top. I don't know if it'll last forever, then, but it gives everyone a little more time. A few more lives that aren't destroyed." She lifts her head and smiled toward him, looking amused. "Between you and me, your worship, I think that's a universal trait of the noble class."

[Niall Organa]

"Your worship?" Niall echoed. He laughed suddenly, his handsomely aristocratic features lighting up noticeably. "I haven't heard that one before. Perhaps I should encourage it to spread." He shook his head, still laughing."

"But I'm not surprised. Someone who finds themselves in such a rarefied position is going to want to try to explain it. Many... explain it poorly." He sighed. "I just try to honor those who put me there, if I can." His lips twist. "Still working at it."

[Luth Khalan]

She laughed, as well. "You're cute." She nods at the last. "You seem like a stand-up sort of person, Niall. I think you'll do it. They say you're your own worst critic."

[Niall Organa]

Niall grinned. "Why, thank you Asra." He leaned forward, his voice dropping lower. "Ah, let's just keep that between us, though, if you could? I don't want talk spreading in the Imperial ranks that Captain Alderaan is cute."

He gave her a look, his grey eyes serious. "Asra... if you ever do get the chance to visit the Republic peacefully... I hope you will take it as a compliment when I say that you would fit in well on Alderaan. It makes a good home."

[Luth Khalan]

"'Captain Alderaan', eh?" She chuckles. "Well, I'll think about it. I don't know, you might have to convince me. It'll be awfully hard to keep it to myself." She grins at that, but looks serious yet curious as he speaks next.

"I have more reasons to hope for peace, then. Though my skills are really suited to it." She shakes her head and smiles ruefully. "I think I'm one of those people who wants a peaceful world, but couldn't live in one."

[Niall Organa]

Niall's eyebrows went up, and he laughed softly. There was a moment of hesitation before he spoke. "Well, I shall have to see what I can do to convince you, then." He smiled, his grey eyes glinting, although there was just a hint of guardedness about them.

"Oh." He said, giving her a sad look. "Well... I think it's the wanting that's the most important. I hope that all these old warriors can learn how to do peace." He smiled. "Alderaan has free education, you know." He said, his tone lightly teasing.

[Luth Khalan]

She looks over toward him and shook her head with a chuckle. "Very good then. Though, uh, just for clarity, I am teasing, I wouldn't actually do anything to embarrass you on purpose." She looks down at herself. "Old warriors? Dang, I'm only 22..." She looks over at him. "I'm going to have to find a cane to shake at all these darn kids."

[Niall Organa]

Smiling, Niall gave a seated bow, well-practiced. "My apologies, milady." He said, the corners of his lips twitching with suppressed laughter. "When I said old, I certainly didn't mean you. I mean those who have been fighting since before I was born. You were the furthest thing from my mind when I said that, I assure you."

[Luth Khalan]

"Milady?" She asked with eyebrows raised. "No, no, Niall. You're the noble." To emphasize her point, she gestured at him with both hands, barely and poorly concealing a grin. She puts them down to rest on her knees and shakes her head. "Though some things wear on you more than others. Obviously I can't go into it, but you can get an idea."

[Niall Organa]

At her gesture, Niall gave another bow, more dramatic than before.

Her words made his smile fade, though. "Yes... I think I know what you mean. Can I ask..." He pursed his lips for a moment. "Things you done, things you've seen, or things that have happened to you? And if you don't want to answer, that's okay." He nodded.

[Luth Khalan]

She gave a long pause before finally settling on, "Yes."

[Niall Organa]

"Oh." Niall said.

After a few moments, he cleared his throat. "For myself, I'm mostly managed to keep the first one clear. Perhaps instead of things I've done, there's a few things that I didn't do. But perhaps you have those as well."

He sighed. "In that case, for your sake, I'll hope for peace even more. There comes a point where there must be enough. Surely we're there by now, at least for some of us."

[Luth Khalan]

She shakes her head. "Sorry for bringing down the mood. That's impressive. War tends to make people jaded," she says with a nod. "A few of those, too." She smiles a little. "I appreciate it. And yes... we're definitely there right now."

[Niall Organa]

"Hmmm." Niall said, smiling. "You're making me reconsider my thoughts on a temporary peace. I want to make things better for the future, but when I think of those who have fought all their lives..." His smile turned into a grimace.

"So... if there was peace..." He spread his hands. "What do you think you would want to try doing?"

[Luth Khalan]

"Also consider the opportunities even a temporary peace can provide... both diplomatic and strategic. Just because fighting isn't happening doesn't mean you're not accomplishing anything," she posits. At the question, she lets out a long breath. "I don't know. I was raised to fight for my master. When he died, I went into the military out of obligation to my saviors. I don't really have any other skills. The only thing I've found I can do well is bounty hunting, so I guess that. It's not that different, but at least I could choose the job and how to go about it."

"Anything else... I don't know. I've never really done anything else to have an idea."

[Niall Organa]

"That is something I've thought about a lot." He said. "How best to serve during peace, or when my military career is over. So yes, you're quite right there."

He frowned, his lips pressing together. "Surely there's a point at which you've paid your dues. Your obligation isn't infinite, surely." He said. Of course, he felt differently about his own

"Still, bounty hunting, I suppose you control your own fate there. What about law enforcement? Help to keep the peace?" He frowned. "I'm not actually sure what sort of law enforcement the Empire has."

[Luth Khalan]

She closes her eyes and exhales. "It is infinite. But there's only so much that can be paid before it destroys you, body or soul," she replies. "There's some overlap with my particular focus on the bounty hunting angle. Law enforcement... I hadn't considered that."

[Niall Organa]

"Infinite." Niall's lips twisted. "I cannot fault you for thinking that. I think the same thing about my own."

He brightened a little as she went on, though. "Yes, law enforcement. It may not pay as well as bounty hunting, but on the other hand, you probably don't have to make as many hard choices. And if it's freedom you want, you could set up in a more remote system. Be your own boss, so to speak."

[Luth Khalan]

"I guess that's true," she mused. "You're giving me a lot to think about."

[Niall Organa]

"Likewise, Asra." Niall said. "I'm glad you joined me today. Thank you."

He smiled again, wider than he had before. "If there is peace, and you find yourself on Alderaan, look me up. You're not the first person from the Empire that I've said that to, but I think, in this case, I have the greatest hope that it will come to be."

[Luth Khalan]

"My pleasure," she says with a smile. "I hope there is. I'd like to come visit. I'm flattered by your confidence."

[Niall Organa]

"We can only hope." Niall rose to his feet, leaving his empty mug behind. He inclined his head, not quite a bow. "It really has been a pleasure meeting you, Asra. I hope we will meet again. Possibly under even better circumstances than these."

[Luth Khalan]

She rose and returned the nod with a smile. "You as well. I certainly hope so. I'd love another opportunity to talk again."