Summer Day

[Adelia Nerofi]

Naboo, Lake Country, Nerofi's Summer Estate
When her eyes opened, all they met was darkness. She blinked a few times but nothing changed. Lips pursed, she realized that it was still nighttime. She had hoped she would sleep in, for her time away from her political duties in the city of Moenia, where she served as the Princess's principal advisor. Rolling to her side, she slowly sat the edge of her bed. Born and raised on Naboo, she was half Hapan through her father, and she had inherited the night blindness, much to her displeasure. She had learned to live with it as she had grown up. It wasn't as if she had much choice in the matter.

Reaching out to get her sand colored robes, which she kept next to her bed, she got to her feet and wrapped herself in it. She padded barefoot to the window, her hand keeping herself steady in the room. She could benefit from the aid of the service personnel, but she had always enjoyed doing things on her own. Her independence had always been visceral to her. She opened the curtains. She groaned for there was still only darkness. She couldn't wait for dawn to break. She took a seat by the window, hands falling on her lap. She liked feeling the regaining of her sight.

***

Two hours later, the sun had risen and she was ready for the day. She headed downstairs, going directly to the kitchens, where the family's maids and cook were already preparing breakfast. She took hers on the terrace, with the gorgeous view on the gardens. Her parents and a few other relatives were to arrive within a few days. Festivities were planned for her twenty-second birthday. It seemed such a low number with all the years she had studied and participated to the political life of her home world, as it was possible and even encouraged. She also hoped to become Princess of Moenia when the time of elections came in the next months.

After her meal, she pondered on what to do for the rest of the morning. She made up her mind and left the estate, going for a stroll in the green plains of the region, and possibly stopping by one of the water falls.

[Torgeir DeHaan]

First time to the rolling green hills of Naboo, Torgeir pushed the speeder to it's limits. Sloping green fields full of flowers and herds of some odd, globular creature with tiny legs scattered as the Corellian roared passed, glancing to them and wondered why the gods had been so cruel, then turned his attention back to the upcoming ridgeline. Cresting the rugged lip, the scene below was as beautiful as everything else that he had just seen during his morning ride. A majestic waterfall prompted the mechanic to slow the bike and brake to his left, spinning the back end around as he released the accelerator and allowed the sleek craft to glide. Taking out his comlink, the newly accepted dark jedi raised the slender device and captured the moment for later.

Amelia would appreciate this, he mused.

Taking in the serene setting, he let his arms drop and just took it all in. Steel-blue eyes misted slightly as he thought about his family, left behind on Corellia and having no idea where Torgeir had ended up. Glancing down, he slipped the comlink back into his jacket pocket and turned the bike around, then hit the accelerator. In the distance, the large city perched upon a wide and high bluff. His mind then eased and he instead lowered the bike to the ground and shut it off. The tall grass enveloping his dark boots and pants up to his knee as Torgeir swung off of the vehicle, leaving it behind. Time for a walk, he mused.

Taking one of the flowers into his right hand, the flesh felt things that his prosthetic never would again, now enshrouded in a black glove. His nose was assaulted by the fragrance that rose from each of the flowers around him, represented by a host of colors and shapes. Jacob had taught him a lot about the Force and being here was teaching the dark jedi even more. Reaching the edge of the river, water rushing over dark stones all smoothed by the constant barrage. Crouching, he picked up several stones and casually began throwing them across the undulating waves, lost in thought...

[Adelia Nerofi]

She had traveled a couple times off world but she didn't mind spending most of her life on Naboo. She loved her home world and felt that a life time of exploration wouldn't be enough to discover all the beauty it possessed. The calm breeze made all the fragrances of the blooming flowers more potent. She stopped in her walk for a moment, closing her eyes, feeling the warmth of the sun on her skin. The winters of Naboo weren't harsh, but summer time was still her favorite moment of the year.

Resuming her stroll, she hummed a traditional tune. Upon reaching the waterfall area, she saw a speeder bike parked further away. She was surprised, having expected to be on her own. She continued nevertheless.

Her eyes fell upon a man crouching on the river banks. She observed him for a moment, before picking a few stones as well, and sending them ricochet on the water with a faint smile.

[Torgeir DeHaan]

Throwing a rock and watching it skip across the waves, the second that nearly intercepted it initially didn't surprise him. Then once he realized what he had just witnessed, steel-blue eyes turned as he stood, taking in the beautiful woman standing not forty yards from him. A silly grin arced upon his lightly tanned features as he turned to face her more squarely.

"Sorry, didn't realize anyone was out here. Usually don't get surprised that easily," he chuckled.

[Adelia Nerofi]

She had thrown stones, sending them skipping across the lakes and waterfalls since she was a young child. She was good at this and it had seemed a playful and less intrusive way to let the stranger know he wasn't alone.

She smiled warmly as he looked at her. I didn't mean to startle you. She sent another stone ricochet on the water, before taking a few steps towards him. This is touristic season but we rarely see many people in this particular area. The main one visitors went to was more to the East.

My name is Adelia. She introduced herself, her good manners deeply woven into her being.

[Torgeir DeHaan]

Nodding, he wasn't totally worried about anyone arresting him for being out here, he had seen plenty of hikers and those out for an afternoon ride as they disappeared in the distance, allowing Torgeir his privacy with the weird wildlife. Though, this female wasn't expected and he grinned as she introduced herself, the name close to his ex-girlfriend.

"Torgeir DeHaan, pleasure." He turned and tossed another smooth stone across the waves, gurgling as the river rushed passed them. A thought suddenly hit him as steel-blue eyes glanced back to the girl. "This land privately owned or something?" It would be his luck her dad had Torgeir in his scope's sights right now.

[Adelia Nerofi]

She bowed her head when the stranger introduced himself. Likewise. She chuckled softly when he inquired whether the land was privately owned. Not the waterfall and its immediate proximity. She gestured towards a patch of woods further away. My family's lands begin at these trees, so you are on public territory here.

She plucked a flower from a nearby bush and placed it in her hair, an habit she had had since a child. There is a great choice of quieter places like this one during the touristic season, though many visitors don't think about them, leaving us some peaceful locations while they're here. She spoke with no ill intentions about the tourists, glad that people liked her home world, but she appreciated the quiet regardless.

[Torgeir DeHaan]

He was glad to hear that at least. It wasn't in the cards to be arrested while he was here, there was enough of that back on Corellia when he was running with his friends and usually fighting their battles while they were drunk. She had an allure about her and he had trouble not staring at her now, especially once she delicately put the flower in her curly, dark hair. There had to be a boyfriend, he mused.

"Nice not to have to be tripping over foreigners, I guess," he grinned and stepped closer as he finally dropped the stones in his hand. "Dad pretty influential then," he queried, glancing back towards the city on the high bluff, then back. "He going to be ****** that I'm out here talking to his little girl?"

[Adelia Nerofi]

She had caught how he was staring at her but it didn't bother her. It wasn't uncommon after all. Tourism brings many good things to Naboo but I do enjoy the quiet indeed. She folded her hands before her, not in a rush to go. She hadn't expected to stumble into someone though she appreciated the surprising company.

My family has been well established on Naboo, this is true. My current position is about as influential as my father's though. She didn't elaborate, unless he'd directly asked. It was no mystery but she felt no need to throw her personal and familial achievements in people' faces.

She couldn't help laughing at Torgeir's words about her father being annoyed for her speaking with him. We grow up young on this world. She grinned a little mischievously. I am flattered you think I am so young that my father would keep watch, but it has been years since he has done as such. He trusts me to keep care of myself.

[Torgeir DeHaan]

Noting the obvious maturity about her, he could tell that this girl could probably hold her own. She was out here all by herself, miles from anyone else - except him - and she had no fear of strangers. That was either incredibly brave or naive. He wasn't sure yet, but Torgeir intended to find out. Chuckling at her confirmation that daddy wasn't eyeing him at range, the dark jedi eased a bit more.

The only thing he didn't know about her was whether or not she had a weapon under that dress. He had underestimated one girl already and nearly got his head taken off, but she was also a dark jedi and had been training at the palace for years, so that was different.

"Sounds like Corellia," he stated, having some familiar ground to start from. "I had to avoid a lot of drifters looking for work as well as being around them spending their hard earned money at the bar or casino. Be amazed how stupid some get when they've had a drink or two in them."

[Adelia Nerofi]

I never saw Corellia but did hear about it, especially as this is New Republic territory, like Naboo. She mused aloud. She had been off world a couple of times, but not to this Core planet. People can be stupid when intoxicated for sure. I saw that every once in a while during festivities of different kinds.

She took a few more steps until she could sit on a large and flat rock by the bank. What brought you here if I may be so curious? It is rare to see visitors head off for the less traveled paths.

[Torgeir DeHaan]

She closed a bit more and sat down, prompting him to join her on the large, bare rock and relax a bit more. "Needed a break for a while," he began and stretched his legs out, then crossed his left ankle over right. "I work as a ship's mechanic. Got a gig from the Archbishop of Ruusan helping out in the palace's private hangars. Pretty nice job so far; can't complain."

[Adelia Nerofi]

A ship's mechanics? You must be busy then, especially for helping at a palace. She looked around for a moment, her mind drifting away. I'm on a break as well. I work as the Princess of Moenia's principal advisor. I miss the lake region so I always return when I have some days off.

She didn't remember having heard of Ruusan before, so it intrigued her. Where is this planet you live on? The name doesn't sound familiar to me.

[Torgeir DeHaan]

He grinned at her not recognizing the new home. Until Jacob had taken him there, Torgeir hadn't either. "It's a quiet, Mid Rim world. Galacticly west of the Trax Tube, if you're at all familiar with that trade route." He gave her a moment, "I had never heard of the place, but the galaxy's pretty big, so." Being a principal advisor to a princess made him realize that she was indeed a high ranking official and someone that he would probably have to settle for just an acquaintance from this point on. Few girls like her dated a scruffy looking mechanic, he mused.

"Seriously doubt Her Highness gives you many breaks, huh?"

[Adelia Nerofi]

Ah, the Trax Tube... She frowned a little as she was trying to recall something. I know of Darenell's Point in the Trax Sector, as commerce happened with them, but it is as far as my knowledge of this sector goes.

She chuckled softly to his observation about the vastness of their galaxy. I have mostly kept to Naboo, but it is no surprise as I have been involved in local politics since I was a teenager. It was common to people to work from an early age, in between continuing their education.

Breaks are rare though I love what I am doing. Being of service to the people runs in the family. At least, I am lucky to have a few days off for my birthday. The timing is on my side you could say.