[D0] Ancient History

[Alysele Cortess]

"We certainly did." Niall said, his tone warm. He is silent a moment, looking at her. "It's really good to see you again, Aly."

After a moment, his eyebrows went up. "I don't suppose you've heard from Arsele at all, have you? I know the two of you were friends. I spent a lot of time with her after the Jedi took you away." He bit his tongue; he hadn't meant for it to sound quite like that.

"You too Ni. It's been.... too long." She shook her head as their third friend came up. "No. Mom told me rumors about her, but that's it. You?"

She slowly extended a hand to touch his. "At least you had someone." A small hint of bitterness crept into her voice. "Speaking of you and pretty girls... you're not married I hear? Did you scare everyone off? Or did I?"

[Niall Organa]

Niall's eyebrows went up at the mention of rumors, but he shook his head.

His grey eyes flickered at the touch of her hand. Without even thinking about it, he extended his fingers, lengthening the touch, his hand warm and soft.

At her suggestion, he laughed softly. "Now that would be something to scare suitors off. 'My ex-fiance is a Jedi!'" He chuckled again. "But no. There's just been no time, between training, and my military career..." He shrugged. "Unless I am scaring them off, and just don't know it. There's a thought."

[Alysele Cortess]

She smiled as they held hands, for the first time in a decade.

"Well.... you might be setting standards high. Handsome noble captain... I bet you're a decent poet too."

[Niall Organa]

One didn't go through as much etiquette training, and as much high class society, as Niall had without learning how to flirt effectively, unless one was totally uninterested in doing so. Niall was not uninterested. And so, holding hands with a young woman, who had just called him handsome, the response was automatic.

"Mmmm." Niall murmured, smiling. "That almost sounds like a request, milady Alysele." His expression flickered from smiling to dismayed and then back again in an instant. Did he... just flirt with his oldest friend? Who was a Jedi knight?

Niall laughed, only a little awkwardly. "I haven't put my mind to poetry in quite a while. Not since the one I wrote you all those years ago. It was a little silly, as I recall. I'm not sure I remember it..." He narrowed his eyes; the sparkle in them suggested that he did, in fact, remember.

[Alysele Cortess]

Unlike Niall, Aly never had much experience with flirting. She was too young at home, and with the Jedi... well, Jedi don't (officially) flirt. So when Ni brought out the guns, she started blushing.

"N-no... I... I can't." She looked away, missing his change of expression.

"Your hair is like the snowy tops of Mt. Tamuur., if I recall correctly. It wasn't exactly rhyming." She looked at her hand awkwardly, tucking away a hair that wasn't loose.

"Ni... I'm.. not who I was. And I can't be. For a while. A long while."

[Niall Organa]

"Yes, that was the one." Niall said, his voice soft. He could see just how much his words had affected Aly. He waited uncertainly for her to work it out.

"No, I know, you're right, I'm sorry." He straightened in his seat, his expression serious, although his grey eyes were soft, growing softer as they met her icy blue eyes. "I know we're two very different people now. We were just children when we knew each other. And now I'm an officer, and you're... a Jedi knight."

He smiled. "But it's difficult, because while I know that, I look at you, and I see Aly. Just as a-" He briefly bit his tongue, editing out a word, "-young woman. It's a little confusing."

[Alysele Cortess]

Aly smiled, though there was melancholy hidden behind it... well, it was obvious really.

She held his for a moment more, before withdrawing it. Slowly. Very slowly.

"Yeah. I'm a Jedi." There was no enthusiasm in her voice. "Somehow, I thought it would be more... glamorous." Her mouth curled into a forced smile. "Well, I'd like to think I'm not an old hag."

She raised her hand, to slowly touch his face. "You look the same, only older. Still a cute little boy. Playing a soldier now though. Well, not playing..." She frowned. "Why Ni? Why did you do this? Why join the fight? You had a choice."

[Niall Organa]

Niall didn't need to force a smile, even as his lips curled up to match hers. "No. Definitely not an old hag. You've... well, I suppose you were a lovely child, as much as I was aware of it at the time. It shouldn't be a surprise that you're beautiful now."

As Aly's hand grew close Niall stiffened, but he did not pull away. He kept a close shave, his face smooth to the touch, his fine cheekbones tangible under the skin. "I suppose I could have stayed on Alderaan. Helped there. It's what my parents wanted." He sighed. "But this blasted war... it would come to Alderaan sooner or later, and then what would any of my accomplishments matter? I thought perhaps that I could make a difference, joining up." He chuckled softly. "Is that arrogance, to think that I might change the course of things with my decision? I'm not sure."

[Alysele Cortess]

Niall didn't need to force a smile, even as his lips curled up to match hers. "No. Definitely not an old hag. You've... well, I suppose you were a lovely child, as much as I was aware of it at the time. It shouldn't be a surprise that you're beautiful now."

As Aly's hand grew close Niall stiffened, but he did not pull away. He kept a close shave, his face smooth to the touch, his fine cheekbones tangible under the skin. "I suppose I could have stayed on Alderaan. Helped there. It's what my parents wanted." He sighed. "But this blasted war... it would come to Alderaan sooner or later, and then what would any of my accomplishments matter? I thought perhaps that I could make a difference, joining up." He chuckled softly. "Is that arrogance, to think that I might change the course of things with my decision? I'm not sure."

She slowly withdrew her hand. "Thanks. That.. means a lot. Coming from you." She smiled shyly, before leaning back on the bed.

"I suppose you're right... but bet you could have beaten back the whole Empire from Alderaan. You were always fearless." Or stupid, as some of their nannies liked to say.

"But you were always responsible as well." She sighed. He was. And dependable. "You are making a difference, don't think otherwise. You're smart, kind, tough... you matter. What you do matters. More than most."

[Niall Organa]

Niall laughed softly. "I did face down that swan, didn't I? Although I thought the bite marks would never fade. I do appreciate the vote of confidence."

His expression softened further, his blue-grey eyes glinting in the dim light. "Aly..." He said. Swallowing, he smiled. "You're very kind to say those things. Your good opinion matters a great deal to me. If you say what I do matters, I'll believe you."

His smile returned in full force, blossoming into a grin. "I hope you'll believe me, then, when I say that the same goes for you, too. You've always amazed me. And besides, I didn't face down that swan alone. I had you with me."

[Alysele Cortess]

Niall laughed softly. "I did face down that swan, didn't I? Although I thought the bite marks would never fade. I do appreciate the vote of confidence."

His expression softened further, his blue-grey eyes glinting in the dim light. "Aly..." He said. Swallowing, he smiled. "You're very kind to say those things. Your good opinion matters a great deal to me. If you say what I do matters, I'll believe you."

His smile returned in full force, blossoming into a grin. "I hope you'll believe me, then, when I say that the same goes for you, too. You've always amazed me. And besides, I didn't face down that swan alone. I had you with me."

"You were a real hero there. I mean.. I may have promised you'd get my slice of cake if you do, but... details."

She giggled, and leaned closer. "Oh? The bite marks are gone? The kolto's doing, I assume. If anyone asked, did you say it was made by a rancor?"

Her pale face was blushing deeply, as she leaned back again, to put some distance between them. "Thank you. I'm. happy to hear that. I always try to help others, or inspire them." She smiled thinly. "Of course... not everyone appreciates me butting into their business."

[Niall Organa]

Niall found himself unconsciously mirroring Alysele's movements, leaning forward as she did, closing the distance between them. "Rancor bites? That would be quite the picture. But no one besides my doctors have seen the scars that I do have, now." Again, his fingers lightly touched his own chest.

And, just as he'd leaned forward with her, so did he lean back with her, the gulf between them widening. "Good! That's good." His eyebrows went up, his expression politely inquisitive. "Although... I daresay it sounds like there's a story, there."

[Alysele Cortess]

Aly withheld a giggle at his mirroring. So cute.

"No one since the doctor?" So no company apparently?

"No story... I'm a boring person, you know me. Just like to tell others how to do things, when I know better. That's not a good way to express yourself, hold your saber lower, opposite leg back, don't spread the legs too wide... some people don't appreciate my help."

[Niall Organa]

Niall hesitated a moment, then shook his head. "I don't think so. One of the benefits of rank is that I get my own shower. So yeah, no one else."

"I remember that." Niall said, smiling. "I remember at first, it bothered me to have a girl younger than me be correcting me. But I'm a quick learner. Once I realized how often you were right, I began to listen." His lips twisted. "Doesn't mean you're always right, of course." He let that hang there, teasingly, a few moments. "But enough that, if you told me something now, I'd still listen."

"It sounds like you really know what you're doing with that, then." He nodded towards her lightsaber.

[Alysele Cortess]

Niall hesitated a moment, then shook his head. "I don't think so. One of the benefits of rank is that I get my own shower. So yeah, no one else."

"I remember that." Niall said, smiling. "I remember at first, it bothered me to have a girl younger than me be correcting me. But I'm a quick learner. Once I realized how often you were right, I began to listen." His lips twisted. "Doesn't mean you're always right, of course." He let that hang there, teasingly, a few moments. "But enough that, if you told me something now, I'd still listen."

"It sounds like you really know what you're doing with that, then." He nodded towards her lightsaber.

"It was my main focus during my training... my sole focus, barring a few things. It is what I am good at. Makash, my style of combat, is focused on single opponent dueling. It's also said to be the most elegant style." She smiled with some pride.

"Maybe... but I won't know if I'm right until we try it. You were always a good learner." She stuck out her tongue at him. "That's one of the reasons you were my favorite. Oh, and your own shower? Wow, I'm jealous. Communal showers. For ten years. Well, except when there were no showers. Like in the jungle."

[Niall Organa]

Niall grinned at the word 'elegant'. "Somehow I'm not surprised." He murmured dryly. Still, his eyes seemed bright, shining with shared pride at her accomplishments.

He laughed softly as she stuck out her tongue. "Communal? Really?" His eyebrows went up. "I knew the order was rather austere, but I didn't realize it quite to that extent. You're right though, on campaign it's different." His eyes narrowed. "When were you in a jungle?"

[Alysele Cortess]

Niall grinned at the word 'elegant'. "Somehow I'm not surprised." He murmured dryly. Still, his eyes seemed bright, shining with shared pride at her accomplishments.

He laughed softly as she stuck out her tongue. "Communal? Really?" His eyebrows went up. "I knew the order was rather austere, but I didn't realize it quite to that extent. You're right though, on campaign it's different." His eyes narrowed. "When were you in a jungle?"

Her own eyes smiled back at him. "It builds character, and a sense of community." She raised her arms, stretching her body. Her day was long... or short. That was the curse of hyperspace. She had trouble finding her balance.

"Soon after graduation. I was tasked with fighting down inconveniant Sith, who could obstruct the war effort. Scouts and spies, found them, I met them, dueled them, you know, the usual. My first was a giant of a Zabrak on a jungle world... don't even know the name. It was a blur."

[Niall Organa]

Niall watched her stretch. Any troubles she was having, his eyes couldn't detect, appearing to him to be the very form of graceful elegance.

"Really. Goodness." Niall murmured, his eyes wide. After a few moments, he looked directly at her, the expression on his handsome features deathly serious. "Aly. There's a favor that I would ask of you." He swallowed, appearing suddenly nervous, tense.

[Alysele Cortess]

She smiled at him.

"Anything Ni. Name it."

[Niall Organa]

The instant response briefly brought a smile back to Niall's face, bright and earnest. "Thank you, Aly."

The serious look came back. "It's about the man who killed Rayne. He's still here, on Nar Shaddaa. And... the Mandalorians put a bounty on him." His eyes sought hers. "I was planning on going after it." He left it there, for her to fill in the rest.

[Alysele Cortess]

Aly's face turned serious. "You have me Ni. Don't worry." Her face hardened. "Dead or alive?"

[Niall Organa]

Niall's eyes closed, and he nodded. After a moment, a smile touched his lips. "I think I knew it. Once we started talking again." His eyes opened, his smile growing. "Thank you, Aly."

The smile faded. "I would intend to take him alive. It.. would be better that way, I think. Returned to Alderaan for trial. I think it's the best way to see justice served." His tone was a little hesitant as he spoke.

[Alysele Cortess]

Aly smiled, and reached towards to touch his forearm. "Always Ni. Always."

She frowned, before her expression turned more serious. "It is the lawful way to do things... but we should be prepared for when things go wrong. He might not be willing to come quietly."

[Niall Organa]

"Yes." Niall looked away. "Things could very well go wrong. And this man-" His lips twisted at the word, "-is a killer. He has no regard for the lives of others, And that's why Rayne... is gone." He swallowed again.

His gaze met Aly's again. "So... if it does come to that, we shouldn't take any chances. We put him down, as quickly as possible. I don't want him going free, and I won't have any more families suffer as mine has."

[Alysele Cortess]

Her lips became a thin line of determination, as she withdrew her saber, gazing at it. "No need to worry. I've handled Sith. I can handle one lone man with terrible life choices." She raised her saber, but didn't ignite it. "He's not getting away. A bounty you say? A Jedi Knight and Republic Captain hunting bounties on their first day on Nar Shaddaa. Never figured that is how it would all start."