Corellia. It wasn't a planet that Reina felt any particular attachment to, yet she had came here to visit once more. Her birthday had been enjoyable on the beach, watching the ebb and flow of the tide moving back and forth. She sat amongst the beachgoers, letting herself sink into the sand for a moment. It turns out Allyson Locke had been right. Corellian Hotdogs were pretty good down here. They could have been much worse if she was honest to herself as she ate away at the snack.
Her eyes were settled on the horizon, a quaint smile on her face. Reina didn't deal well with the peace and quiet. It was why she liked being here. It was somewhat chaotic and loud as people ran amongst the beach, building castles or going out to surf. It was alive. This was what Reina lived for. Not being couped in some Temple on a Jungle Planet far, far away. This was where she felt truly alive. A small sigh escaping her lips as her smile couldn't help but grow. Today, Reina wasn't a Jedi Padawan. She was just a regular woman enjoying a day out at the beach, as she lowered herself down to rest amongst the sand and take some time to bathe amongst the sun.
"Oh! Hey! You're back here!"
For some reason, this voice amongst the cacophony of the sounds around Reina stood out to her. It sent a small jolt down her back as the redhead lifted her head up, squinting as she raised a hand to cover her eyes. And that's when Reina saw her. The same woman she had seen on her birthday. The one that had seemed strangely familiar. And up close...She seemed even more familiar. Reina couldn't quite put her finger on it however. She hadn't met this woman before in her life, at least she couldn't remember them. Yet before Reina couldn't even say anything, the new arrival practically threw herself down next to Reina, kicking up sand.
"Saw ya a while back. Ya were with those others. Seemed like some big shindig."
They were talking as if Reina and them were old friends. Who in the Spirit's name was this woman?
"It...was my birthday. I'm Reina..."
"Ah. Makes sense, makes sense. Oh, I should be introducin' myself. I'm 'Lexis. Well, Alexis if ya wanna be pedantic."
Alexis held her hand out towards Reina, giving a large toothy grin for a moment as she waited for the Padawan to shake her hand...and waited. And waited. Before Reina eventually crumbled, reaching her hand up to shake the other woman's hand. It was strange. Something...still felt familiar about her. What was it?
"I wanted to talk to ya when I last saw ya, but ya seemed busy. Didn't want to bother ya when you had all of your pals around. Thought I'd be able to find ya another day...and I did! Sure, it took a few but ya back."
Reina blinked once more. Apparently this woman had been thinking about her plenty. That was...creepy? At least it felt like it should be creepy but Reina couldn't quite wrap her head around any of it. Why would some stranger be that interested with her? Was it something Serina had done? Got someone to spy on Reina? No. Alexis wouldn't have been waiting here if that was the case. If it was someone who was trying to search her down, they wouldn't be staying on the planet...
"Ye don't mind if I smoke, do you?"
Before Reina could even get an answer, Alexis was lighting up a deathstick, staring out amongst the waves ahead of the pair. It was in this moment of silence that Reina finally managed to find her voice.
"...Why are you bothering me? I don't even know you."
A soft chuckle escaped the other woman's lips as she kept her attention on the horizon. Yet she didn't answer. Not straight away. Instead she took a few puffs of the deathstick before Alexis spoke once more.
"Ya see, I had a little sister when I was young. 'Round...Hwat is it now? Twenty two years ago now. My Ma and Da went out on some cruise tour with her. I wasn't allowed to come. Had to stay with my aunt and uncle and focus on my homework...Next thing I knew, they got some holo-call from my parents. It was urgent. I was meant to be in bed...but I heard them. Apparently my sister had gotten knocked overboard...Crew refused to go find her. She was just a baby."
Wait. Reina was slowly starting to put two and two together. Some baby had went overboard on a ship...on an aquatic world. Twenty two years ago.
"See, her name was called Raini. Bit similar to yours, huh? Some might say it was just a coincidence."
Of course it was a coincidence. It had to be. Reina's gaze was shaking for a moment. She had just came here for a relaxing trip. Not for some weird story time with some stranger as she looked up towards Alexis, taking in the woman for a moment. At first, Reina had thought Alexis had seemed somewhat familiar, but with recent events, and the scars that were covering Reina's own face...They seemed even more alike. Almost like...sisters. Sure...their eyes were somewhat different, but it wasn't like they were meant to be identical.
"See. I spent a while trying to find her. Ma and Da did as well but...it hurt them too much to think about her. But I never gave up on her. And y'know hwat?""
Alexis turned her gaze over towards Reina, giving the Padawan a bright grin, before she raised her hand, ruffling Reina's hair. It should have felt strange. It should have felt wrong. But...it felt nice. Comforting.
"I think I've found my sister."
