Private Coreward Bound

[Joa Sodi]

COREWARD BOUND
Quarzite Orbital Skyhook

The Quarzite Orbital Skyhook shimmered like a jeweled needle against a canvas of stars, tethered delicately to the world below. Senator Joa Sodi stood by the viewport of the reception lounge, her hands folded neatly at her waist, watching the slow, measured drift of cargo haulers and diplomatic shuttles. She turned as the doors hissed open, offering a warm, welcoming smile to Junior Representative Sibylla Abrantes. Joa's robes, tailored in muted greys and blues drawn from Quarzite's deep-crust mines, caught the sterile light and softened it, giving her the grounded, reassuring air she often carried into her work. "Representative Abrantes," she greeted smoothly, gesturing to the low seating arranged near a spread of caf and sweetbread. "I'm grateful you could make the journey. I thought a face-to-face would do better than a hundred holocalls."

As they settled, Joa slid a slim datapad toward her guest. The draft of the Refugee Repatriation and Naturalization Act glinted on its surface. She spoke as Sibylla took it in, her voice steady yet suffused with a quiet urgency. "This bill has the chance to reshape how displaced peoples are handled across our sector," Joa explained, her words carefully measured. "Not simply by granting sanctuary, but by offering them a true, structured path home… or toward a new one, here in the Republic."

She shifted the tone after a moment of quiet, allowing a softer, almost conspiratorial note to enter her voice. "Tell me, Representative," she said, tilting her head thoughtfully, "what does a home mean to you?" It was an innocent question on the surface, but as with all things Joa Sodi, there was an invitation beneath it—an offer to connect not as mere colleagues, but as individuals determined to craft something lasting together.

Tags: Sibylla Abrantes

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

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Interacting with: Joa Sodi

Sibylla stepped into the reception lounge, her hazel eyes enjoying the sight before her. The view of the Quarzite Orbital Skyhook was impressive, though she had no intention of letting the sight distract her from the more important matter at hand: meeting Senator Joa Sodi. She had read enough about the woman to know that a careful mind and a certain level of diplomacy would be required to navigate this conversation.

Senator Sodi's warm greeting was met with a measured smile from Sibylla, the young Junior Senatorial Assistant reaching out with a hand to greet her.

"Senator Sodi, it is a pleasure. Quarzite has long been a symbol of resilience in our sector, though I must admit, I had not anticipated such a stunning view of the Orbital Skyhook. It is my first time seeing one in person."

She allowed the slightest pause before continuing, her voice light but sharp, the way she had seen her mother speak to unfamiliar faces at court and as the former Cultural Minister of Naboo. Sinylla was still learning how to manage foreign affairs and it came with specific differences that a commonality of Naboo culture would normally assist with. When discussing different worlds, they of course would have their own priorities.

"It is, indeed, refreshing to meet face to face. So much of diplomacy is lost in transmission, wouldn't you agree?"

Sibylla moved to the table, her gaze briefly flitting over the draft of the Refugee Repatriation and Naturalization Act before settling back on Sodi.

"The bill," she mused, taking a seat before continuing in a carefully thought of manner. She had done her best to consider the Act as she assisted Senator Sarn.

"Indeed, the act will do much to shape the future of displaced peoples, but, as with any political endeavor, I suspect there will be... nuances to consider." Her lips curled into a polite smile.

Sibylla's gaze flickered from the datapad to Senator Sodi, her expression still and composed.

"A home, you say?" She glanced toward the viewport, where the stars stretched endlessly as if contemplating the expanse of the question.

"I imagine it can mean many things, depending on one's perspective. For some, it is the land beneath their feet, the foundation of their lineage," She allowed a slight pause, a playful flicker of a smile. "And for others, it is a matter of strategic alliances and how one positions themselves within a given constellation of power."

Sibylla's smile deepened, though it remained cool. "But if you are asking what it means to me, Senator Sodi… well, I suppose it is a blend of duty and belonging. To carry the weight of one's heritage while ensuring that the future is shaped, not simply inherited."

Her gaze met Sodi's, sharp yet calm, before she added with a curious hint in her tone, her fingers gently adjusting the datapad, setting it just so.

"I imagine your definition of home is tied closely to the bill you offer. A sense of protection for those who have none, and perhaps a new path for those who would rather not rely on the kindness of others. Am I correct in that assumption?"

 

[Joa Sodi]

COREWARD BOUND
Quarzite Orbital Skyhook

Joa listened with careful attention, her expression unreadable save for the slight tilt of her head—a subtle gesture of interest that mirrored Sibylla's own poise. The junior representative's words were well-measured, but more than that, Joa could hear the echo of something deeper: legacy, ambition, and perhaps a cautious willingness to trust. She let a breath linger between them before replying, her voice soft, but steady, like a melody grounded in stone. "You're more right than most would be brave enough to suggest, Representative Abrantes," she said with a faint, approving smile. "There are too many who've learned to survive by clinging to charity… when what they need is a stake in something of their own. A future that isn't borrowed."

She shifted in her seat slightly, folding one leg over the other, allowing the light from the viewport to illuminate the side of her face. "I've seen what it does to people—being left adrift between systems, told they'll be taken care of but never truly welcomed. The bill is about grounding them again. Not just with shelter and status, but with dignity. With roots." Joa reached toward the datapad, tapping the corner as she spoke.

"The nuances are always the puzzling part," she admitted. "Economic tensions, regional hesitations… the quiet, persistent resistance to change."

Tags: Sibylla Abrantes

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

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Location
Interacting with: Joa Sodi

Sibylla watched Senator Sodi with quiet attention, her eyes reflecting a mixture of respect and calculated interest. The discussion had already shifted from formality to substance, and though the subject of the bill was not one she had personally championed, it was clear that Sodi's commitment to it was far more than political maneuvering.

"A future that isn't borrowed," Sibylla echoed, her voice thoughtful but not without a hint of quiet approval. "A sentiment I can appreciate. It is one thing to offer temporary aid, but quite another to offer the foundations of something lasting. I am well aware that the measure of a society is often found in how it treats those without, whether they stand as equals or remain forever as subjects of its mercy."

She allowed her gaze to flicker toward the datapad briefly, though her attention remained focused on Joa, feeling the subtle undercurrent in Sodi's words.

"It's not unlike the politics we find back home in Naboo. Change is often seen as a challenge to established order, even when that order has long since ceased to serve the needs of the people." Her tone shifted, warm with the acknowledgment of shared understanding.

"Though, I do wonder, if this bill passes, what will it mean for those who resist? Will they be brought along, or left to watch from the sidelines as the Royal Republic moves forward?"

Sibylla tilted her head, as if considering the implications of her own words: "After all, it is not just the displaced who need a home. Some might say the entire system could use one due to the sudden convergence... the sudden thrust of worlds, cultures, and outlooks that they never expected to change, much less governments they are beholden to. The term requires three years for the application, yet we are still suffering in the wake of the systems clashing not a month ago. "