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Tweak says, "nothing"

Padmé Amidala Skywalker (i_cannot_follow) wrote in makebelievelog,
@ 2012-12-05 06:16:00

Entry tags:

mara jade, padme amidala

Who: Padmé Amidala-Skywalker and Mara Jade
What: Tea, socializing, Mara meeting Sonya (Padme's cat)
When: Wednesday, December 5, 2012 - afternoon
Where: Padmé and Anakin's rooms
Rating/Warnings: Low; will update accordingly
Status: Closed / Incomplete

Padmé had set the things for tea over on the small dining table that seemed to be typical to all of the castle's shared living rooms. Padmé wasn't one who was excessive for tea, but sitting down for hot beverages, conversation, and relaxing was her goal and thus it served the purpose. Padmé and Mara weren't terribly close, of course, but Padmé knew that the other woman likely held a sense of loss over Luke's departure. Padmé's relationship with her son had been... unusual, in ways. Luke had been notably older; older than her own father. Connecting as friends had proven difficult in ways to Padmé, but she had still cared greatly for Luke's state of being and happiness. Not having him around was a loss for her as well.

Sitting in one of the chairs, Sonya took that as an invitation to request attention. The long haired cat went to rub up against Padmé's legs, purring. Anakin had picked extremely well when he had selected the cat. While skittish (due to fear) in a number of ways, Sonya wanted companionship. Padmé had quickly formed a rapport with the animal and Padmé's lap had been established as a very safe place where she generally ended up being spoiled with loving attention. The cat still could be fickle, as cats (of course) were, but she wanted attention in that moment. Right as Padmé reached to pick the cat up, there was a knock at the door. She still picked Sonya up and, carrying her over, she carefully opened the door after a moment, smiling.

"Hello, Mara. Come in; would you mind closing the door behind you? She's a little hard to balance." The cat had stiffened a little, eying the red haired woman, but wasn't trying to escape from Padmé's arms quite yet.

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marajade
2012-12-06 01:07 am UTC (link)

Mara had felt edgy and irritable since Luke's unexpected departure and really meeting with Padmé was the first socialization she had decided to under-take since the event had happened. She hadn't felt like talking with much of anyone and had mostly stayed in her quarters except for when she had gone out running, and finally, this afternoon, requested an employment application at a caf shop - coffee shop rather. It was an odd place to be employed, but it would give her something to get her out of the castle and right now that seemed like a good thing.

She straightened as she arrived at Padmé's room and when the door open managed a smile, of sorts. It wasn't as if it were Padmé's fault that Luke were gone and the other woman had been kind to Mara during the time she'd been here.

Mara noted the cat with an eyebrow raise and nodded, entering the room and closing the door fully before turning around to survey the cat. "So you got the cat then," the smile brightened slightly. "She seems like a lovely animal."

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i_cannot_follow
2012-12-07 05:13 am UTC (link)

Padmé smiled and looked down at Sonya for a moment before looking back at Mara with a smile. Sonya was someone that Padmé could have without question. While she didn't expect Anakin to leave, nor could she have handled her husband's departure, Sonya helped with the idea of friends leaving. Satine's departure had unsettled her, as had Obi-Wan's and now Luke's. While the cat could never take the place of a person, it helped give her a distraction and a sense of companionship. "We did, or rather Anakin did. He got her for me as a surprise."

"Thank you. She can be rather unpredictable at times, but that's probably half of the fun of having her around." Padmé sat the cat down after a few moments, watching Sonya bound over to the couch and take a place on the back. The cat stood there, watching them with a suspicious stare. Padmé laughed a little before indicating toward the table and the tea. "What have you been doing to occupy yourself?"

[* imgsource: here]

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marajade
2012-12-07 07:19 pm UTC (link)

"I've never had a cat," Mara looked at the animal again and offered her a bit of a smile. "Will she bite or scratch if I touch her?"

Mara realized she had no idea what to do with a pet. Her life had never really worked well for having other creatures in it - or even really other people. This wasn't to say she hadn't had friends or colleagues, but having close relationships, even with something as small as an animal, had always been challenging. This was perhaps part of the reason she'd been reluctant to jump into training as a Jedi back in her own reality. But Luke had been working on convincing her - and then when she'd come here he had and - she swallowed and pushed away thoughts of Luke. It would do none of them any good if she were to get emotional and sentimental right now.

"I've been doing a bit of walking," she returned to Padmé's question. It sounded better than saying she'd been in her quarters the entire time since Luke had gone. "I've been out in the town a bit. I picked up an application at a coffee shop - it isn't really something that's ideal for long term, but it seemed like the sort of place where they might need people quickly and it would give me a reason to get out of the castle." A distraction.

"I've been thinking I should do some more reading, honestly."

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i_cannot_follow
2012-12-09 09:31 am UTC (link)

"She might, but she might not. Try holding your hand for her to get your scent? If she puffs up or looks upset I can tell you." It really was up to the cat, Padmé had found. The creature was usually loving, but there were moments when it showed itself to be of obvious less awareness of the lack of malice meant toward her. "She's yet to scratch with claws, but has given me the occasional bite. She gets scared sometimes. Only once enough to break skin."

"One of the castle residents who is from earth gave me a list of 'classics' from their literature that she recommended I read. I've started in on it, but - parts are confusing. Context and whatnot. It usually requires more reading to grasp the reading." She admitted with a small smile and a shrug, watching the cat for a moment before looking to Mara. "And it can be quite helpful to have something out of the castle. Even if temporary, a goal to work toward helps the days to do something besides lump together."

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marajade
2012-12-10 10:52 pm UTC (link)

Mara reached her hand out to Sophie. She supposed it was like any animal, you approached in good faith and respect and then you could see if the animal was going to approach you likewise. She offered the cat a small smile.

"That would be a start," Mara said. "A little bit back, Buffy had mentioned the possibility of marathoning certain films that display holiday traditions here," Mara had almost forgotten about it in everything that had happened with Luke. "I'm thinking I might take her up on it. Particularly as it seems there is a holiday approaching."

Mara had never particularly enjoyed feeling as if she didn't know things, and since Luke's disappearance she'd become suddenly aware of how little she knew about this place. Perhaps it was the fact that he'd been familiar that kept her from realizing it sooner, but now she was well aware of it and even further was aware of what she hadn't known about their life together. She'd kept from studying their world further partially because she'd wanted things from Luke to be new for her, but now things were different.

"I don't suppose you've read any of the books about us?" She said quietly.

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i_cannot_follow
2012-12-12 10:22 am UTC (link)

"Buffy has been rather helpful to me in figuring out - some details about here. What some slang words mean, what words I should consider offensive if ever used in my direction." Padmé admitted with a small smile and a shrug before her mind briefly strayed to the once tried dancing outing. "She also was going to show me what they do for fun with dancing, but - I didn't enjoy it the way she did. But if she's willing, it couldn't hurt? You ought to let me know which are worth seeing. I - haven't had the best luck picking out movies."

The question about the books made Padmé pause. Sonya, meanwhile, had finally seemed to start moving and had relaxed a little with Mara. While the red haired woman would need to be gentle, it seemed the cat was content to allow her to pet it. "I haven't, but - there's a 'site' on this place's version of the holonet. It gives summaries of almost every book and - well, I've read a good deal of that. I've watched the movies as well, though they cover times when you weren't in the public eye."

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marajade
2012-12-12 10:32 pm UTC (link)

As it appeared the cat wasn't going to scratch her, Mara reached with a bit more confidence towards Sonya and gently pet her, first down her back and then a little behind her ears. There was something comforting about the cat's soft fur and despite the fact that Mara had never had a cat, nor did she think that her lifestyle really fit having a pet, she almost thought she ought to get one. Then again, if she were to be returned who would take care of the animal then? Perhaps she ought to just come and visit Padmé's cat more frequently. The animal did seem to be content enough with Mara and it was comforting. Confident that Sonya was not going to suddenly turn on her and scratch her hand off, Mara turned her attention back to the conversation at hand.

"It's nice to have someone who knows the culture a bit," Mara said. "I always dislike not knowing anything - it's uncomfortable. Usually when I get ready to go somewhere I do my research, but obviously one is not given much warning before one comes here."

She stepped over and took a seat on the sofa near Sonya so that she could reach out and continue to pet the cat so long as Sonya did not decide she wished to move elsewhere.

"I will let you know which are worth while. Perhaps if there is any that is particularly good we could watch one together."

Mara sighed and let out her breath. "Those that cover times when I wasn't in the public eye might be easier to watch, honestly." She shook her head. "It sounds as if the books would be more relevant. I don't know if I want to read them, but maybe." Maybe if she knew what was upcoming she could be less anxious at Luke's disappearance.

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i_cannot_follow
2012-12-14 08:21 am UTC (link)

Sonya arched her back and rubbed against Mara's hand, before too long, and even went so far as to purr. Padmé watched with a blatant smile at that point, relaxing enough to be convinced that she could turn her attention away from the cat. Scared as she was at times, Sonya really had just needed a loving family. Anakin and Anakin weren't terribly fond of the cat, and it was her cat, so Padmé was happy to have someone else interacting with Sonya.

"There's so much and while there's parts that cross over with familiar cultures, it's such a blending - and then there's always something new, too, to add to it." Padmé stated, agreeing completely. Usually she hadn't been the one to do the research, but she had always read and been told a good deal about a planet, locals, and cultures even if she knew the basics of the planet before she went there to do anything relating to politics, Senatorial, or ambassador-style work. "It's adjusting to a culture that thinks our culture, our universe, is fictional."

She nodded at the mention that she would let her know. "I would like that."

"And-" Padmé knew this was the hard part. She was hardly in a position to give advice on this and, even if she could, she doubted she would. She could only think to relay her experiences and let Mara make up her own mind because, while Padmé would be supportive if the other woman wanted the support of a friend, it wasn't Padmé's future that was the topic. It was Mara's future. "For me, it was watching my future unfold. Even if I had knowledge of what would happen due to being told, it was - unsettling. I wanted to know if those I cared for had good lives, had - long lives, or if they were cut short. I know I had to. But there were also betrayals that I couldn't conceive of from people I thought to be some of the most trustworthy around. And no matter how I wanted it to unfold, there were people who died in ways they shouldn't have... that I didn't want to die. It was relief, sorrow, joy, and disappointment all at once. I could see the appeal and why you might want to stay away from the books."

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marajade
2012-12-18 04:02 am UTC (link)

Mara nodded as Padmé spoke. To be honest she couldn't quite decide what she wished to do. She didn't know if it would make that much difference now. Oh, she supposed it might make a difference if someone showed up that she knew, or knew something about, but it wasn't as if she was going to be living it here. But then, presumably she made it back to her own galaxy because Luke had memories with her.

"Luke has already shared some of it with me," she said finally. "So it would not be all unknown. I do know some of the things that happen in our future. But he didn't give me all of the details and so it's difficult to know just how it would affect me. I suppose it would be a mixture of good and bad, but then life is too. Even right now..."

She sighed and shook her head. "It has been on my mind since Luke's departure. I suppose because I cannot help but think there might be some comfort in knowing what is yet to come. I know enough to know we get... some time together... and reading those adventures might be comforting. It's difficult to say. It might also just be painful. Particularly if it is not how I might have hoped it to be."

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i_cannot_follow
2012-12-27 08:50 pm UTC (link)

Padmé smiled a little and nodded, thinking through Mara's words. She knew that her own future hadn't turned out as she would've hoped. Especially with the second chance in the Land of Make Believe, there was no denying that detail; the first chance they got ended up destroyed, in no small part due to a person she had trusted. The very thought of Palpatine still made Padmé's stomach churn, along with that of former-Captain Panaka. She hoped neither would ever turn up there. She could only imagine the resulting clashes.

"From my experience, there's a certain dissatisfaction in not being able to experience in good parts for yourself, while you know of the bad parts and have such an - inability to change them. Especially when private moments of positive note aren't well-documented and the 'conflict' and 'action' is documented since that's the 'exciting' part, it can leave it feeling unbalanced. Incomplete. What good there is - wonderful, but the 'movies' don't document everything. While the books can be more thorough, I doubt they document everything either. It really would be the unpredictable question of how much they document of what you would want to read." Padmé answered with a great deal of thought after a few moments had passed. She didn't want to encourage or discourage Mara for or against; she mostly wanted to offer up what little she could to help. Even with her experience in political office, Padmé wanted to keep a sense of humility about herself and didn't believe she had all the answers by any means. She saw no point in acting otherwise.

"Know, if you decide to read it and it's you want to know or not, you have a few friendly faces in this room you can come and see if you need." Padmé suggested with a smile, then laughed a little as Sonya started to make her way down from the back of the couch to try and set herself up on Mara's lap. The cat really did just want attention and love, though she was aptly wary. "And since the secret of how friendly Sonya is when she's not scared is out..."

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