Private Harmony and Hope

[Jonyna Si]

​

TAG: Alicio Organa

Jonyna had not been back to Fondor in quite a while. While the planet had been made the GA captial, the jedi seldom traveled there. Much of it's function was senatorial, mostly out of fear of Imperial reprisal. The Alliance had fended off one invasion of Coruscant, and yet had yet to kick the Imperials out of the Core, away from striking range of the city-world.

Still, Jonyna had a very important person to meet. Some would argue the most important.

Amani Serys 's husband.

Who...also happened to be the Chancellor of the Alliance. But that was less important, in Jonyna's mind at least.

...maybe she was just trying to defuse the situation in her head. Jonyna hated politics. She had always told her crew 'Find someone smarter than me to do that', back in her days as a Rebel. She was a hero, not a handshaker.

Still, meeting the Chancellor would be a breeze, right? She'd met him once before, back during a lazy day on Hosnian Prime. Back then, she was a simple knight, and he was a simple senator.

Things had changed since then.

As she landed the Tenacity outside of the Senate Building, she looked up at the looming, mushroom shaped structure. Her jungle roots couldn't help but make it feel like she was meeting some sort of grand sage.

Then again, Alicio was no Master Yoda.

That would have her skill crawling.

...Perspective Jonyna, always remember perspective.

It could be worse, right?

 

[Alicio Organa]

GENERAL MINISTRY CANTON, FONDOR
HANGAR
- Jonyna Si -
​

As Jonyna exited her ship, she would see the leader of the Galactic Alliance trying to politely excuse himself from a conversation.

Alicio's mouth was a thin line, his eyes a little narrow, a barely-noticeable expression of contained annoyance, as he slowly walked further into the hangar. "Thank you Governor, but I have a meeting. We'll have t-"

"Won't take up much more of your time, I swear! Oh, and the precipitation levels have been two percent lower this year! Can you believe it?" The human man with a tailor-made suit and a neat bald spot on top of his head snickered as he spoke, hot on the Chancellor's tail. "A whole two percent! We'll have to start importing water at this rate. Ha ha!"

"Of course, I kid. My world is made of ninety-three percent water, you know." Governor Illio continued to speak, vicious in his control of the conversation. Alicio frowned. He'd hoped to be waiting for the Sentinel of Harmony when she got here, but had been held up by a regional politician trying to endear himself to the Chancellor with banter and witty humor... which in this case, meant droning on and on, trapping Alicio with social convention.

All Alicio had to do was escape gracefully... as soon as he figured out how.

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAG: Alicio Organa

And this...

This is the reason she wasn't a politician. She liked people. She hated people. She was a woman of action. A Light against the Darkness.

This?

This was small talk amongst the elite. She was a jungle cat from a planet with no actual monetary system, just a barter system and a social obligation to help one another. The concept of 'elites' was entirely foreign to her, and so...

Her courtesy was non-existant.

"Um...excuse me, sir. I had an appointment with the Chancellor, please." She said in the bluntest way possible. "I would rather not waste his time, if you'll pick this up some other time."

 

[Alicio Organa]

"Um...excuse me, sir. I had an appointment with the Chancellor, please. I would rather not waste his time, if you'll pick this up some other time."

Governor Illio turned toward the Cathar, surprise lighting his face. Alicio, in the meanwhile, contained his overwhelming relief. "Oh! Yes, of course, of course. I was just telling the Supreme Chancellor about some of our port-town humor! Speaking of..."

"Governor, you must be tired from your trip." Finally. The moment to pounce had arrived. "Jedi Master Jonyna Si has limited time on Fondor, so we really must be going. The Canton has some excellent bars, feel free to tour them. Then, you can speak with my aid, Orso, to schedule something official with me."

"O-of course, Chancellor. Thank you for your time, it was truly-"

"The honor was mine," Alicio responded before Illio could even finish, nodding to the governor. "Good day."

With purposeful steps, Alicio led Jonyna toward a nearby elevator, ever the composed, cool politician. It was only when the elevator doors closed that Alicio let the mask slip, and he let out a sigh and a chuckle.

"Thanks for the save, Master Jedi."

- Jonyna Si -

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAG: Alicio Organa

"Please, it's just Jonyna." The cathar smiled as she followed him. "I pity your position, Chancellor. Or would you prefer just Alicio?" Her tail flicked, looking to the politician with a smile. "I take it that's a normal occurance for you?"

She wouldn't be able to stand it. She'd probably challenge a senator to an honor duel after the third day.

This was why she didn't do politics.

She didn't have the patience for it.

 

[Alicio Organa]

So that hadn't changed from their first meeting, at least.

Alicio nodded, stony eyes sparkling. "Alicio is fine, Jonyna. Thank you." Then, he pondered the Jedi's question. "I've managed to... stay off the floor, for the most part. So it isn't common, per se... But it happens enough to be expected."

"Politicians get help for their worlds by convincing the right people to like them. I don't blame him for trying."

Finally, the elevator slowed and stopped, depositing them on the floor of the Chancellor's office. Alicio led the way out, his humor having drained a little. The traffic here was considerably less than the hangar, with Alicio's personal staff and aides taking up nearly the whole floor. At the corners of his perception, he could feel the presence of his guards. Out of eyesight, but never far from his side, just in case. No doubt, the Sentinel of Harmony would also be able to sense the Honor Guard shadowing them.

"I imagine the Order's Sentinel of Harmony gets recognized plenty herself. Neither of us are anonymous anymore." They'd both come a long way since their garden meeting. "How many padawans pester you for training on a weekly basis, you think?"

- Jonyna Si -

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAG: Alicio Organa

"More than I'd like to admit." Jonyna chuckled "But hey, dream job. I'll take dealing with padawans over fighting stormtroopers. And my public persona I'd like to think is pretty well curated. My modeling career has taken off."

It was something to lighten the mood, but Jonyna tried her best not to make things awkward. A jedi master talking to the Chancellor, yet neither seemed to act as if they were in the positions of power they were in.

"How's the wife doing?" It was a question she didn't need to answer to, given she saw Amani Serys every other day around the temple, but she was curious how Alicio saw it.

 

[Alicio Organa]

"You model?" Alicio was smiling now, though the expression barely reached his rainy-day grey eyes. "I feel like I'd heard about that from someone. I had a blast imagining the Jedi Councils of old strutting their stuff on the catwalk." Sure, it was a break from tradition... but so was a Council-Member being married to the Supreme Chancellor. Both were welcome changes, in his book.

"I've barely seen Amani, in recent weeks." His smile was gone, as he walked towards the large door to his office. "Or the children. The Alliance... demands much of my time, at the moment. We escape it all when we can, but..." He leaned in, a tired smirk returning to him as he opened the door. "...between you and me, the end of my term can't come soon enough."

Despite finally having time to decorate, Alicio's office felt no more like home than when he'd first moved in.

The large, open-concept room had once been completely stark, with nothing but a conference table, a few seats, and the enormous, overly-gilded Chair of the Chancellor. Now, he'd added his old wooden desk from Sanctuary City, royal blue curtains, vibrant flowers in hanging pots, and a vase with artwork of a beautiful Alderaanian bird with long feathers encircling it. All that, combined with the small area in the corner he'd set up with a burner and tea set, meant that this place he spent most of his time had everything he needed to make him feel at ease.

It hadn't worked thus far.

But he appreciated his meetings with Jedi. His fellow politicians rarely came to him without ulterior motive. Corporation heads were nothing but ulterior motives. But of all the Jedi he'd spoken with in his time as a city manager, as a Senator, as a Chancellor... not one had hidden their true intentions. They'd been honest, fair, compassionate. The Alliance needed that.

He needed that. Which was likely one of the many reasons he'd married one.

"I have to say, Jonyna, I was surprised when I heard you wanted a meeting. So... what business do you have with me? Sentinel business? Si Tech business? Modeling business?"

- Jonyna Si -

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAG: Alicio Organa

Jonyna chuckled as she followed the chancellor into his office. The cathar's hair seemed to stand up upon entering. The room felt so...impersonal, though it seemed even it's owner was acutely aware of that based on his body language. Still, the Cathar was quick to take a seat opposite the desk, rolling her shoulders slightly to ring out her own discomfort. "Little bit of everything. You helped fund the Shield Core when Jasper had my position, yeah? I was thinking about...expanding it. Making a Relief Fleet, something to act as a base of operations for rebuilding worlds. Si Tech has all the equipment for it, but building something like that...it requires more funds than I'd be willing to commit from my own purse, if you catch my meaning. Some funds from you would not only lighten the load on me, but would be a good endorsement. Something for the GA to show that we're still willing to rebuild even after tragedy."

Jonyna wasn't one to futz around with money. Her culture didn't have the concept to begin with. But she wasn't one to pass up an opportunity. She knew the GA needed good looks like this, and she wanted to help people.

"And uh..." She let out a cough, trying to shift to her more normal, lighthearted self. "If you are interested in modeling, I know a guy who's got a good reputation, and might be willing to give you and Amani a day away from the desk. Just a heads up though, he's very....eccentric."

 

[Alicio Organa]

"I did. Master Kai'el did a lot of good for the galaxy with the Shield Core." Alicio sat down at his chair. He'd been doing a lot of sitting in it, in recent weeks. The extravagant design was supposed to inspire confidence, control... but it usually made him feel much the opposite.

"I hope you didn't come here expecting a fight, because you won't have it." His mouth screwed to the side. "You want funds, you have them. More than ever, people need to see the Alliance and the Jedi, working together to make good on our promises." Then, Alicio sighed. Since when had he started thinking about optics first?

"I don't know how much you know about my background, but relief is... well, it's everything to me. I truly believe the Galactic Alliance is a just body... but too often, people are left behind, and forgotten. We need people who care in a position to help them. And if that's you, Jonyna, I'll do everything I can to help you succeed."

- Jonyna Si -

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAG: Alicio Organa

Jonyna suddenly felt a lot more comfortable sitting in this chair. It was...strange. She didn't watch the news, as all it seemed to do was rile up those who watched it, and she didn't follow the Holonet, as her ability to read was...still growing.

But she heard plenty. Mostly bad.

But to hear the chancellor believe what she also did, it was...refreshing.

"I come from a time where the Empire cared nothing about it's citizens. Regardless of the opinions of Senators, of populous, or of anyone else...The Alliance is a miracle to someone like me. I'm glad it's in good hands." Jonyna smiled. "I'll get my engineers to lay out of the plans for the fleet. We'll get to work right away, ready for whenever the next crisis hits."

She paused, smirking slightly. "And I mean it about that modeling job. Wouldn't it be nice to have a picture of you in the papers that isn't taken from an angle that always seems to be made to look ugly? It's fun, and I think both you and Amani could use the time off."

 

[Alicio Organa]

"The Alliance is a miracle to someone like me. I'm glad it's in good hands."

It was obvious Alicio tried for a polite smile, and didn't quite make it. "I... hope it is." His follow-up smile was thin, and not all that enthusiastic. "Knowing the galaxy we live in... The Jedi will be needed sooner, rather than later. I'm glad the Shield Core in good hands, too."

Then, Alicio returned the Cathar's smirk, to a lesser degree. Jonyna was right, he had assumed she was kidding. "I won't be the Chancellor that abandoned a wounded Alliance to go voguing for a day." He leaned back in his seat. He'd had exactly one day off since becoming Supreme Chancellor, and he even felt guilty about that. "No offense, but... I don't have the time, and the tabloids would eviscerate me."

"But if you'd like to help me, I'm currently in the market for gift ideas for Amani. To... apologize, for being so busy." He chewed his lip a little. "I'm open to ideas."

- Jonyna Si -

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAG: Alicio Organa

"I can think of a few things." Jonyna leaned back herself, finding herself much more comfortable. "Barring a vacation spot, I know quite a few floral arrangements from my homeworld that might make for a nice present. I do think you need a day off though, both of you. You look...tired."

Jonyna worried for all of their health. Not just Alicio, but Amani, Valery, Kahlil. She tried her best to take days off herself when she could, and her habit of clubbing on the weekends was one she kept out of mental necessity.

 

[Alicio Organa]

"You look...tired."

That made him chuckle. "Ah. You flatter me." To be fair, his workload had diminished since his chaotic first few weeks in office. Not that he'd pumped the brakes since then. "Another reason not to go modeling right now."

"I... don't rest until the people of the Alliance can rest." If he was leading a project, he had to be it's hardest worker. That devotion had been a part of him since his city-building days on Alderaan, something he'd never quite been able to shake. "Or until they decide someone else should shoulder the weight."

"Amani does like flowers." Alicio glanced up at the hanging pots in his office. They were sunpetals, vibrant orange and yellow like a setting star. Amani had pointed them out on a date once, and since then... they reminded him of her. "You'll have to send me some recommendations."

"Anything else I can do for you, Master Si?"

- Jonyna Si -

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAG: Alicio Organa

"At the moment? No. All I have left to talk to my engineers and get this fleet built. Just...take a day off. Spend some time with your kids. If being a Councilwoman has taught me anything, is that the galaxy will only fall apart faster if you aren't ready to take on the threats that come your way. Sometimes that means taking a day, finding someone you trust, and allowing them to cover your shift for a day."

Jonyna didn't want Alicio to be a passing fad. Someone like him in charge meant good things for the Alliance, but it also meant that whoever came next needed to be just as good.

She wanted her miracle to last as long as she lived.

 

[Alicio Organa]

"Just...take a day off. Spend some time with your kids. If being a Councilwoman has taught me anything, is that the galaxy will only fall apart faster if you aren't ready to take on the threats that come your way. Sometimes that means taking a day, finding someone you trust, and allowing them to cover your shift for a day."

Alicio's lip twisted, his raincloud eyes narrowing as he felt stab of mild annoyance. Many had tried to teach him this lesson before, and it had never stuck. But instead of throwing back a hasty, knee-jerk retort about 'responsibility'...

He tried his best to find the wisdom in Jonyna's words.

"I don't... like when people tell me I should take a break. Usually because they're right." An attempt at humor, even if his inflection, and his expression, never traveled beyond muted introspection. "I... will try."

Alicio let a tired puff of air out of his nose. "When Amani and I had the twins, I vowed that I would be in their lives. That I wouldn't let work rob my children of their father. I also made a vow to the Alliance when I took office, that I would devote every part of myself to the people. No matter what I do... I'm letting someone down."

Alicio stood from his extravagant chair, moving to open the door for the Cathar. "Well, I suppose that's very politician of me, to make promises I can't keep." He skewed a half-smile her way.

- Jonyna Si -

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAG: Alicio Organa

As Jonyna made her way to the door, she pouted slightly. "The Alliance shouldn't be more important than your family, no offense. There's plenty of senators who can carry your burden, your kids will only ever have one father."

To her, that was it. Her Cathar upbringing meant that family was more important than anything, regardless of responsibility.

 

[Alicio Organa]

"...You're right. I will make time." Was that... a hint of guilt?

Alicio seemed to fall into himself for a few long moments, his gaze fading into the middle distance. Jonyna was absolutely correct- Amani, August, and Liana came before everything. Work had consumed almost every thought of his, in recent weeks... But that was a promise he'd made, too. When he held the twins in his arms for the first time.

When Alicio was August and Liana's age, his father had toiled night and day to lift his family off the streets... but Alicio would've been happier to have Simon Organa in his life instead.

But who could he trust to pick up the slack?

Alicio refocused, his ironic smile tinted with a bit of blue. "Would you like me to walk you down to your ship? I'd rather not open myself to more small talk from my fellow politicians, but I'm willing to take that risk."

- Jonyna Si -

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAG: Alicio Organa

That got Jonyna smiling again. "I'd appreciate it. I wouldn't curse you with more smalltalk if it can be avoided. I've heard Corellia has some nice beaches this time of year, if you're looking for a getaway with the wife and kids."

It was a small offer, but she figured it would be nice. After all, it was where she met the love of her life Jenn Kryze .

"Maybe I can teach you the Language of the Flowers sometime. It's an old Outer Rim tradition, one of the few things I learned when I was a rebel."

Lucky for him, her ship wasn't too far. Just another elevator ride down, and a small walk.

 

[Alicio Organa]

"Corellia isn't usually what I'd imagine for a relaxing getaway." With practiced movements, Alicio pressed a few buttons on the door controls, opening the way for them. He walked out first, then fell in step with Jonyna again. "But the beach does sound nice. And I know the Diktat of Corellia. So... it's a possibility." Of course, they'd have to find an empty stretch of sand, and his security detail would have to be on patrol...

Alicio sighed. He missed the days that he could go somewhere with his family without their safety being pivotal to the Galactic Alliance.

At the mention of flower languages, Alicio snickered. "If the symbolism is from your rebel days, I fear the meaning might get lost in translation. But that would be fun. Sure." He seemed more excited at the idea of picking flowers than he did lazing at the beach. Alicio would always prefer taking on a project over relaxation.

"Thank you, Jonyna. I didn't mean to... burden you with my private thoughts. But your advice is truly appreciated."

- Jonyna Si -