Capturing the Old Times (Feena)

[Keter]

Keter smiled, glad to see the woman agreeing with him. It sounded...a tad off for some reason, but he brushed past that. "An actual walk would be a good idea, enjoy the actual climate you find yourself in. Being able to go outside is a luxury after all," he suggested, offering her an arm. It would be a compromise of sorts then. "I don't mind where we go, so lead the way Queen. After that...well, you've always boasted of the lakes here, so a swim would be nice. And then an evening meal, and I'll be gone from your hair," he said.

Though he loved his wife, he knew what her work meant to her. Best not demand too much of her time and attention. Just enough to keep her human. To keep her grounded.

[member="Feena Mason"]

 

[Feena]

Maybe age really was starting to catch up with them. If she didn't keep dying her hair, she knew she would have a nice streak of grey in there already. She felt so calm now. She should be resisting, insisting she needed to get back to work at once, but she saw so little of her husband. If he came all the way here just to see her, well, the least she could do was go on a walk with him.

"The Palace gardens are lovely. I spend a lot of my free time out there. Let's go."

She had so much to tell him. So much to talk about. Her promotion was one such subject. If she was being honest, she was not very pleased about it. She'd planned to retire when her term was up, but with the promotion, she was expected to stay in government much longer. Keter would either be proud of her, or terribly disappointed.

"Why don't you at least stay the night?" she asked suddenly, "You can't be that busy that you have to leave right away. It would be nice to have you beside me at night. It gets a bit lonely here."

[member="Keter"]

 

[Keter]

He nodded and the pair headed out of the Queen's personal chambers. The gardens...he had dropped in there to find Felicity, but he had never been one for greenery. Growing up on Hutta had instilled a mild distrust of outdoor spaces in him, which persisted to this day. Maybe that's why he was so fond of Immeria - it had a harsh climate, much like Hutta. Still, his wife loved natural beauty, though he himself couldn't figure it out, and it was only right that he indulge her.

"Oh? But my dear, we both know you need to be well rested. And if I'm here...well, you certainly won't get much rest," the blond teased with a sly grin.

[member="Feena Mason"]

 

[Feena]

"I've gone with less sleep," she countered immediately, taking her husbands arm, "It will be good for me. It's been a while."

That was putting it mildly. Her and her husband had not been intimate in a few months. For her, that was a long time. Difficult to keep up a marriage when you only saw each other once in a great while. Long distance was very frustrating.

"Have you heard anything from Felicity yet?" she asked, as they made their way outside, "I know she arrived safely at the temple with Cyril, but other than that, I really know nothing else."

She knew her daughter was more likely to communicate with her father than she was with her. The sad truth of being a busy working mother. She'd come to just accept it now.

[member="Keter"]

 

[Keter]

"Mmm, duly noted Queen," Keter replied, easily making his way to the gardens with his wife in hand. Oh tonight was going to be so much fun. Still, no need to rush.

"I got the message that she arrived as well. I planned on giving her a month or so to settle down before going to visit," the blond answered, looking at his wife as they spoke, his red eyes fixed on her silvery ones. "You know, let her make some first impressions before embarrassing her."

It was his duty as a father after all.

[member="Feena Mason"]

 

[Feena]

Feena really wished she had the freedom to visit her girl any time she wished. No. Such things were impossible at the moment. She had far too much to do as it was. Felicity was just going to have to get on without her Mother snooping. Well, Cyril would take good care of her, at least. And if not Cyril, then Keter would keep an eye on her. She truly did pity anyone stupid enough to mess with Keters little girl.

"Well, make sure you embarrass her extra for me," she replied with a smile, "I have some news about the new Lord Protector also, now that I think about it. Would you like to hear?"

[member="Keter"]

 

[Keter]

"Oh I'll make sure," he laughed as they passed through another hall, a crystal chandelier hanging far above. "Can't let out little Princess' ego get too big now can we?" Keter said, shaking his head. Actually, the girl could do with some building up. She had always seemed desperate to prove herself, taking Feena's absence in her life personally. It had hurt. But now she would get to prove herself, and earn some recognition from someone apart of her family.

But those exposed to something new could easily overdose. And Keter would make sure that didn't happen to his eldest.

[member="Feena Mason"]

 

[Feena]

...No answer. Well, she was just going to have to keep talking like he did answer.

"The new Lord Protector asked me to serve as Exarch," she announced, "And after much negotiation, I've accepted."

How would he take this? It was likely to sour his mood. She knew how he hated her work, or at least he hated how busy it made her. Now she's agreed to spend the next few years watching over a dozen planets in the system and control the boarders between the ASA. Still, when he heard what she received in exchange, maybe it would soften the blow some.

[member="Keter"]

 

[Keter]

"Oh," he replied, his thoughts halting their meandering as he focused. "And will you be doing as Exarch?" he asked, keeping his tone light. So she wouldn't even retire. He had joked once that Feena would work until her dying day. It was somewhat disheartening to see it becoming a reality. She was too selfless. Always trying to save the galaxy. He loved that about her. But she got nothing back from it. Her own daughters barely knew her. She kept away from her family. She worked and stressed day and night. And to her, it was all worth it. How could he argue with that?

[member="Feena Mason"]

 

[Feena]

"Basically, instead of just running one single world, I will control Naboo and every other planet in the system. I've also been put in charge of the boarder between the ASA and the Protectorate."

That was the simple explanation, but the reality was a good bit more complicated. She was going to have to hire and go through each an every position available. She was going to have to purchase additional security, possibly see about negotiating a treaty with the very people that invaded her home. That was going to be a good few sleepless nights right there.

"In exchange though, I will receive two weeks paid vacation for every six months I serve, additional funds to restore Naboo, a solid retirement plan, and the best possible life insurance policy available. So, if anything happens, at least I know you and the girls are taken care of."

[member="Keter"]

 

[Keter]

Keter walked on in silence for a moment, thinking over his wife's words. "So you'll be doing even more work," he sighed, feeling his shoulders slump before he corrected his posture. "And what good is a vacation if you never take one? There is always something to keep you busy, something important happening that warrants putting aside your rest," the blond sighed. "And me and the girls are taken care of. What the girls need is their mother. Felicity is joining the Jedi to impress you, and Force knows what Celeste will try to do to outdo her," he pointed out.

[member="Feena Mason"]

 

[Feena]

Yeah, she figured his reaction would be something like this. Feena grasped his arm even tighter, keeping her eyes focused on the ground.
"The difference here is that I will be taking my vacations. As Queen there was no time off for me, but as Exarch, I can afford to hire more people to cover for me," she explained, "I did not want to take this job, Keter. But after what the ASA did to Naboo? How could I not agree to help when asked?"

Keter did not seem to understand loyalty to anything other than a specific person. Feena could understand that. It was sensible to only care for the people you can see and hear and touch. She wished she could work that way. Unfortunately, she was cursed to imagine all the terrible things that could happen to the people she did not know. She used to say 'a stranger is just a friend you haven't met yet'. She did still believe that.

[member="Keter"]

 

[Keter]

He continued to walk, letting his wife speak, battling his own want to argue with her. That would achieve nothing. No, reign in the emotions for now and think. Keter had never been one for politics. He was a simple soul like that. "So it's because there is continual risk from the ASA that you take this duty?" he asked her, letting his gaze drop somewhat as they reached the gardens. "Feena...I fear Celeste may forget who you even are if you continue like this. At least...let her come too. If your position is that safe, it should be alright, correct?" he suggested, an idea already forming in his mind.

[member="Feena Mason"]

 

[Feena]

Let Celeste come with her? She was so young. What would be the point of taking a child with her? She didn't have time to baby sit. But Keter did have a point. As this rate, she was going to lose her youngest child.

"Well..." She shook her head with a sigh, "What did you have in mind, Keter? I better hear you out before I say no."

[member="Keter"]

 

[Keter]

"Just have her with you, as you did with Felicity. Celeste is a clever girl, I'm sure she'd love to see more of the galaxy than just Immeria. And with Felicity gone, you're going to need Percy to do something," the blond pointed out. "Besides, with Celeste here, you could see her right after coming home, rather than having to travel to Imerria to see her," he added. All good reasons. Plus, it would leave Dis with no one reliant on him.

He would be gone soon, probably. To make sure Feena wouldn't need to be Exarch for long.

[member="Feena Mason"]

 

[Feena]

Take Celeste. Teach her like she'd been teaching felicity. It made sense. She'd planned on doing it anyway, when the girl was a bit older. But so young?

"But won't you be lonely?" She asked "Dis will be so empty. Won't you get bored?"

The easiest solution of course would be for him to just live with her here. He could be with his Wife and daughter all the time then. The others could come too. Barnabus and his nephew. There was more than enough room. But somehow she doubted he had that in mind.

[member="Keter"]

 

[Keter]

Keter smiled and leaned over to give his wife a quick comforting kiss. "It'll be alright. Besides, I think I should have a little time away from everything too," he laughed. "Besides, maybe me and Barnabus should take a trip, for old times sakes. None of us are getting younger, so it would be good to have one more adventure for old time's sake. Maybe we'll take his nephew along..." the blond pondered, tapping his chin.

"Besides, I'm sure Celeste will be wanting to live with you too. I think she's had enough of daddy for now, eh?" he added with another smile.

[member="Feena Mason"]

 

[Feena]

Feena nodded as they walked. A trip. Just he and his old crew. She supposed that was alright. could be a lot of fun for him, He deserved fun again. After marrying her, she supposed he must be quite bored with life. Didn't exactly made her feel very good about herself, honestly.

"Just stay safe, alright? And visit me often. With Celeste here, you have no excuse not to."

[member="Keter"]

 

[Keter]

"Why of course," he replied, stopping and taking her hand, raising it to his lips to grace it with a kiss. "How could I ever stay away from my Queen for long?" the blond added. "That is of course if I'm still capable of walking after tonight~" he teased with a smirk.

[member="Feena Mason"]

 

[Feena]

Even after all these years, he still knew how to make her blush. She never felt her age around him, and she never did feel that spark fade. It was likely only because she saw so little of him, but it was still very helpful in maintaining a successful marriage. She was never tempted to stray. Not once in all these years. For her that was truly a miracle.

"We'll see," she giggled, nuzzling his shoulder, "I make no promises to be gentle with you."

[member="Keter"]