Private Hazard Pay

[Joa Sodi]

HAZARD PAY
Theed, Naboo

Ultralight material padded Senator Sodi’s footfalls as she made her way through the halls of the Senate building. She preferred soft leather and comfortable soles to the sharp click-clack of heels. Flats did little to aid her stature, but height very rarely equaled political acuity in her experience. Besides that, her meeting was of an unofficial nature. Comfort was warranted.

Word spread fast about the bankers from Hutt Space—even faster, reports of Aurelian’s injuries during the blockade that gripped Wielu. Thank the Stone he survived without any major complications to speak of, but he might not be so lucky next time. And mark her words, there would certainly be a next time. Bullies and criminals rarely stop at the first sign of resistance. In fact, Aurelian’s survival might prompt an even fiercer attack in the future. Joa knew firsthand how bitter and longstanding the desire for revenge could be.

The Kage suffered terribly at the hands of the angry and vengeful Belugans. Even today, though peace had been won and life had moved on, the bitterness of spite and unsettled grudges still haunted the halls of Quarzite’s subterranean cities.

There were many lessons to be learned and lectures she could deliver, but Aurelian—hardened as he was on the outside—needed a softer touch. He’d likely spent hours debriefing with the RIS, fielding questions from hungry Herald reporters, and putting out invisible Royal fires within Naboo’s legislative body. Joa thought he could use a friend for a change.

She arrived at the door to his offices much faster than her wandering mind realized; the briefcase in her hand thudded against the polished wood, which he would surely notice. If somehow he missed it, the soft giggle of a woman amused by her own distracted state would certainly get his attention. But should he ignore her boisterous arrival still, she’d resort to a simple knock.

That was how most decent senators announced their arrival, after all.

Tags: Aurelian Veruna​

 

[Aurelian Veruna]

X | X​

Aurelian sank deep into the office couch cushions, one arm draped lazily over the back, the other holding a half-drained glass of whiskey. Outside the wide window, Theed's night life blurred. His body still ached from Wielu, despite the physicians' assurances that the worst had passed. He doubted they truly understood that some wounds weren't visible.

The days since had been merciless. Briefings, endless questions, and strategy sessions, with every admiral, aide, and opportunist demanding his time as though he hadn't nearly died on a blasted tourist planet. His office had become a revolving door, a constant stream of voices feeding the relentless hunger of politics and conflict. He hadn't left much, nor slept much. The whiskey was his sole rebellion, a small act of defiance against the constant grind.

He set the glass down on the low table, leaned his head back, and let his eyes fall shut, just for a moment. The silence pressed in, the kind that often pulled him into half-dreams of flashing lightsabers and the sting of it too close to his ribs. Then came a sharp, solid thump at the door. His eyes shot open, heart kicking as if he'd been caught again on Wielu again. For a moment, he thought it a trick of his restless mind, but the clear, polite rhythm of a knock repeated.

Aurelian exhaled sharply, a sound caught between annoyance and resignation. "Come in," he called, his voice carrying that effortless nobility which never seemed to tire, even when he did.

The door opened, and to his mild surprise, it wasn't another aide or commander waiting with datapads stacked to the ceiling. It was Senator Sodi.

He offered a dangerous smile with practiced ease. "Joa," he said, warmth threading through the syllables. "What a pleasant surprise." His gaze flicked to the briefcase she carried, an amused glint sparking in his eyes. "I do hope you haven't brought me more work."

Joa Sodi​

 

[Joa Sodi]

HAZARD PAY
Theed, Naboo

“Aurelian,” she said. The soft inflection she spoke with made the name double as an unspoken greeting. She followed his eyes to the briefcase and gave it a jostle, snickering a bit at the thought of piling paperwork on the senator.

She did have a half-dozen drafts living on a datapad in her office, but that’s not what she came here for. Perhaps next time.

“Oh, only a little work,” she admitted playfully. “But I’ll be doing most of it. I want to talk, though, if you’re up to it?”

She stepped closer to where Aurelian was draped over the couch like a worn blanket. From the way he nursed a whiskey glass to the tender movements he made to avoid feeling the soreness, Joa could tell he wasn’t at his best. Hopefully her little gift would help him relax a little.

The briefcase came up to the coffee table between the chair Joa had taken and Aurelian. If he tried to sit upright or stand, she’d hold a hand up to halt him. She unclipped the aruodium latches on the case and opened it gingerly. One would have expected datapads, a holoprojector, maybe even a comlink—all the tools of an active senator like Joa, who was known for working on her colleagues’ coffee tables more than her own desk.

But that was not what lay inside at all. Instead, Aurelian would see an ornate teapot with matching cups and saucers. It appeared to be blown from some kind of volcanic glass that gave it a soft aubergine color, save for a crack running along its surface—a crack that had been mended by a vein of aurodium. Also in the briefcase, affixed to the inner lid by small leather loops, were several glass vials. They contained what appeared to be a variety of dried herbs, flowers, and even powdered minerals that had an opalescent hue.

Without any real explanation of what she was making, Joa set up a small heater and placed the pot atop it. She filled it with a flask of water, all the while making small conversation. “The leaves are changing,” she said, nodding to the large window. “I love Theed in fall. The trees turn orange and say goodbye to their chlorophyll.”

She smiled. “The seasons change much less spectacularly on Quarzite. I know that many would prefer to look at gems and stone formations than orange leaves drifting on the city street, but when they realize the caves do not change when the seasons do, I imagine they wish to come back home.”

It didn’t take long for the water to reach a boiling point, and when it did, Joa began filling a pair of small woven pouches with pinches of various herbs and spices. She gave him a small, almost mischievous smirk as she pinched the opal dust and dropped it in. Then she pulled the drawstrings tight and let both pouches fall into the teapot. She closed the lid and turned to face her colleague—friend?—properly.

“Can I ask you something, Aurelian?” Her voice was calm and measured, but her tone was a bit flatter than her usual cadence. That melodic Kage accent sounded odd under the pressure of serious conversation.

Tags: Aurelian Veruna​

 

[Aurelian Veruna]

X | X​

Aurelian watched her sweep in, all quick words and quicker hands. The room seemed to belong to her the moment she crossed the threshold. He wasn't sure how to entirely take Joa, possessing the kind of presence that could set a man at ease and unsettle him in the same breath.

His gaze drifted toward the window as she spoke of Theed's leaves turning. Aurelian realized, that he hadn't noticed the change at all. Perhaps that was the curse of being born on Naboo, you took the little beauties for granted, assuming they'd always be there. The way she described it almost made him want to look again. Yet he found himself more intrigued by her mention of Quarzite's unchanging caverns, of gem and stone formations untouched by time. He imagined he wouldn't mind seeing that, if only to know what eternal felt like.

His eyes slid back toward her little ritual, sharp with curiosity, though edged with suspicion. She unlatched the case with the same deliberate confidence she showed in debate, revealing a teapot fit for a museum, instead of datapads. Aurelian leaned forward slightly. He watched her measure powders and herbs like a practiced alchemist, dropping iridescent dust into the mix with a smirk that matched his own. He arched a brow, skeptical.

He certainly hadn't forgotten surviving a Sith attempt to gut him like a fish. A thought flickered, a brief but present worry, that perhaps she was on some shadow payroll, sent to finish what others had failed. But no. That would be too simple, too unimaginative. She was a friend. Wasn't she?

When she asked her question, his eyes narrowed with interest, not hostility. He let the silence hang just long enough to measure the weight of her tone.

Finally, he let a smile slip across his face, both dangerous and amused. "You may," his voice smooth, though the faintest thread of intrigue wound through it. "Though with all this theater," he gestured loosely toward the glowing pot, the dust, and the steam beginning to rise, "you've got me expecting something more than small talk."

Joa Sodi​

 

[Joa Sodi]

HAZARD PAY
Theed, Naboo

Joa smiled with the kind of warmth that melted icy demeanors. “I actually have two somethings to ask,” she admitted. She hoped he wouldn’t mind the nature of her curiosity. Aurelian was probably used to prying questions, but that didn’t mean she wanted to make a habit of asking them.

“People have undoubtedly asked you hundreds of times, ‘what happened on Wielu?’—but I should like to know… after whatever it is that truly happened there… are you okay?” Joa asked without fanfare.

And without skipping a beat, she followed with a second (and far less important) query: “Sugar, or honey?”

She wouldn’t offer the tea without one sweetener or the other. The particular blend of herbs and additives she brewed had amazing qualities that soothed the mind and body, but those effects were difficult to appreciate behind the bitter taste. But if Aurelian insisted, she’d pour him a cup and pass it straight along. She’d never seen him grimace in disgust before. It’d be quite funny!

In the moment of contemplation that followed, Joa leaned over to procure her sweets. A vial of golden liquid and a covered dish full of fine sugar perfect for stirring into one’s beverages. Aurelian would certainly come to realize that this was not the first time Senator Sodi had brought a cafe to one of her acquaintances. She was far too practiced for this to be a one-off display.

What could she say? Joa loved hot beverages almost as much as a well-written bill.

Tags: Aurelian Veruna​

 

[Aurelian Veruna]

X | X​

Aurelian blinked at her for a moment, as if her questions had completely thrown off his usual calm. His dangerous smile faltered, softening as though even he wasn't sure how to play this game. He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, his gaze drawn to the little vials of sugar and honey glinting in the lamplight.

"Honey," he said first, the word escaping him a little too quickly, too easily. His gaze clung to the glass vial, as if it offered safer ground than the woman sitting opposite him.

Her first question hung heavier in the air. No one had truly asked him that after they had returned, save for one. Everyone else focused on reports, symptoms, or productivity. But "Are you okay?" He had found that a rarity. Aurelian found himself watching her hands as she moved with practiced motions, buying time he didn't quite know how to use.

When he finally spoke, his voice was quieter than usual, lacking its typical swagger, as if he wasn't sure whether to let her hear the truth. "I'm... tired," he admitted at last. His fingers drummed against his thigh. The injuries would heal, new plans would be made, and another battle would inevitably follow.

He stopped, his jaw tightening, before the words edged out of him anyway. "But I have never been so close to the end before, Joa. If it hadn't been for Sibylla's maddening insistence on layered protections, I'd be dead. Simple as that."

The admission left a bitter taste in his mouth, one that even honey wouldn't soften. He leaned back again, covering his vulnerability with a crooked smirk that didn't quite reach his eyes. "You going to go tell the Herald now?" he asked, half-teasing, half-serious. "'Young Lord Veruna admits to fear and fatigue. Exclusive, front page.' I can already see the headline."

Joa Sodi​

 

[Joa Sodi]

HAZARD PAY
Theed, Naboo

Juxtaposed against Aurelian’s jaded remark, Joa giggled. She used a small wooden honey wand to add the floral liquid to both cups, gave them each a stir, and passed one to the wounded senator before taking her own to hand.

“Tell them what, that you prefer honey?” Her thin-lipped smile and half-squinted eyes were playfully smug, but even as jovial a spirit as Joa knew that were was a time and place for humor. “Or you mean, tell them that you’re human? That you bleed and hurt, the same as any other person?”

She shook her head, blowing her tea. She took a sip and allowed the warm liquid to rest on her palette a moment as the earthiness of the herbs and the sweet undertones of fresh Naboo honey danced over her tastebuds. In a way, the layers of flavor were quite similar to the two of them: Aurelian was dark and rich, full-bodied and established; Joa was quaint and poise, perhaps a bit unpredictable in full bloom but delicate nonetheless.

“I’m not here to make a tabloid out of a friend, Aurelian. I asked because I care—I suspect you answered truthfully because you know that I do.”

Joa smiled warmly, gesturing at him with her cup and saucer. “Do you like it?” she asked.

“I won’t be offended if the taste is too oppressive. I thought you might enjoy a more robust drink, but I’m comfortable with being incorrect.”

Tags: Aurelian Veruna​

 

[Aurelian Veruna]

X | X​

Aurelian let out a quiet exhale, almost a laugh, but softer, like tension he hadn't realized he was holding finally releasing. His shoulders eased against the couch cushions, the first time they had since Joa walked in. Here, there was no hidden agenda, no Herald's prying eyes lurking behind hers. Just Joa, with her teapot and her gentle warmth.

He looked up, a sly, playful curve to his lips. "No," he said, his voice dropping into that teasing charm again. "I'd prefer they believe I don't bleed or break, and certainly don't fear. Let them think me invincible. It saves me the trouble of proving it every time." The smirk lingered, but softened now, with more humor than bite. "Though, I suppose it wouldn't be the worst thing if a few knew otherwise."

His expression softened further, the dangerous edge of his smile fading into something gentler. "Thank you," he added, sincere warmth in his tone. "For asking. For being here."

He leaned forward, a small wince catching in his ribs, which he ignored. His hand closed around the delicate cup. Steam curled up to meet him as he took the first sip, savoring the flavor with a contemplative pause. A small nod followed. "No, it isn't too oppressive," he murmured, glancing at her. "I like it."

Settling back into the couch, he let the warmth spread through him. "This is a nice reprieve," he admitted, swirling the tea gently in his cup. "Honestly, it's the first time I've stopped moving long enough to breathe in days."

His jaw set, a flicker of steel returning to his eyes. "More than anything, though, I'm angry. Angry about what happened on Wielu, angry that I was caught off guard and wasn't ready. I don't like being made to feel... mortal." He let out a slow breath, then tipped his cup toward her with a faint, appreciative smile. "But this helps. More than you probably realize."

Joa Sodi​

 

[Joa Sodi]

HAZARD PAY
Theed, Naboo

Joa nodded thoughtfully. She understood his position, even if only distantly. She’d never been as close to death as Aurelian had, but the stinging realization of one’s own mortality was an inescapable feeling for all life forms of human or near-human life expectancy. Fear was understandable. So was anger, even. Though Joa did feel as though Aurelian’s anger was focused on the wrong facet of the situation.

“The galaxy is a dangerous place,” Joa remarked between sips. “Your anger is not unwarranted. I feel angry, too; not at a lack of preparedness, but with the state of the galaxy we live in. Senators are not warriors. At least, not in the conventional sense.”

Joa could wield a pen and datapad like a lightsaber or blaster. A politician may fight their battles in the Senate rotunda instead of a war-torn battleground, but they were battles nonetheless.

“I hope to see the day when senators can represent their constituents without mortal danger. We are voices of the people, not swords. Naive, perhaps, but life grows dull without dreams to hold onto, no?”

She wouldn’t go so far as to say this wasn’t what she signed up for—Joa would do anything to protect her people. But she’d be a liar if she didn’t admit it was saddening to know that “anything” could very well mean her very life. She sighed, feeling as though the weight of the conversation was pressing the air from her lungs. They were soon due for a change of topic, but not before Joa finished sharing her sentiments.

“I dont think you’re weak because of what happened. Lesser men would have resigned after surviving what you did—assuming the allure of credits didn’t sway their good judgment. You resisted both temptation and foul play. In my book, that places you among the strongest men I know.” A faint rosiness played at her cheeks, proof that she meant what she said.

She nudged a runaway curtain of pale-blonde hair from her face, tucking it neatly behind her ear. Time for a segue.

“I hear House Veruna has intentions of running for the monarchy,” Joa said softly. She sipped tea to dampen the knowing smile forming on her lips. “Can you represent Plooriod III and sit the throne? I’m afraid I’m unaware of the intricacies of Naboo royal culture in regards to the greater Republic.”

Tags: Aurelian Veruna​

 

[Aurelian Veruna]

X | X​

Aurelian listened to Joa, his head tilted slightly. He balanced his delicate cup in one hand, the other resting across the couch armrest. He studied her through the gentle steam, lamplight glinting on the aubergine teapot and her pale hair. Her words had a steady conviction, soft yet sharp as glass beneath velvet.

He realized her anger was different from his own. His often turned inward, a relentless hunger for invincibility. Hers, however, was directed outwards, at the galaxy, at the madness of senators dodging blades in a universe where words should have been enough. For a moment, he envied that wider view, that ability to look past the blood and see something worth hoping for.

Aurelian let her words settle in silence, until her next statement nearly startled him.

"I don't think you're weak," she said. "In my book, that places you among the strongest men I know."

He noticed a faint blush coloring her pale cheeks, and it drew out an unexpected reaction in him. His dangerous smile softened, becoming warmer, quieter, touched by surprise. He wasn't sure he'd ever heard words quite like that from someone not bound to him by blood, loyalty, or necessity. Senate compliments were currency, traded like credits. Her words, however, carried an earnestness that disarmed him more than any vibroblade ever had.

He let the silence hang, then tipped his head, his voice low, almost amused. "Careful, Joa. Words like that might make me believe them."

When she shifted the topic, he followed easily, though the warmth of her sincerity still clung to him like a second ache. Her knowing smile at the mention of House Veruna's ambitions drew a sharper smirk from him, back on familiar ground.

"Yes," he said finally, sitting forward to set his cup down with deliberate care. His eyes met hers, glinting with that dangerous mix of charm and conviction. "I've declared. I intend to be Naboo's next King. In doing so, I've stepped down from my senatorial seat."

"Plooriod III can weather my absence... they'll hardly miss me." He gave a small shrug, pride and mischief threading his tone. "My one true love has always been Naboo. I know I can make a difference there."

Aurelian leaned back again, his smirk faltering just enough for a ghost of weariness to show. "If I don't get assassinated before the coronation, that is." His short, poorly timed chuckle fell flat even to his own ears. He covered it with another sip of tea, the steam veiling his expression briefly before he lowered the cup.

His gaze lingered on her then, a bit of vulnerability seeping through. "Do you think I will make a worthy King?"

Joa Sodi​

 

[Joa Sodi]

HAZARD PAY
Theed, Naboo

"I wish I could say with certainty, but I fear I lack the same reverence for monarchies and nobility." Joa's head dipped into a nod that carried equal parts sincerity and honesty. The Kage were not known to appreciate the ins and outs of systems of government where absolute power is levied to an individual, but she was wise enough to know that the truth was not always the best course of action . Sometimes, it was better to infuse a bit of hope.

"I believe that you will be great at anything you set your mind to, Aurelian," she said. A kind smile tugged at her lips. "Especially if you're doing it for the right reasons; to lead as example, to unify and protect. If you do those things, then yes. You will make a fine king."

She hoped that her reservations wouldn't offend Aurelian. Joa was quite fond of his work and appreciated him as both a colleague and friend. Perhaps she allowed the knowledge that they would no longer be working in such close proximity cloud her otherwise supportive nature, but she couldn't help it. Polished senators with wit and intentionality were a rare stock these days; Naboo's parliament seemed so... elementary compared to the broader Senate. But who was she to judge?

"Can I ask what draws you so closely to Naboo and its government? Does it differ much from Plooriod's?"

Tags: Aurelian Veruna​

 

[Aurelian Veruna]

X | X​

He didn't bristle at her honesty. If anything, his expression softened, hinting at gratitude. He leaned into the back of the couch, cradling the delicate cup, letting her words settle in the quiet space between them. Most people told him what he wanted to hear, careful and flattering. Joa was different. She gave him the truth, even when it was tempered with kindness. He realized that meant more to him than the sound of applause ever could.

His lips curved, not in that sharp, practiced smirk of his Senate days, but in a quieter, softer way. He let her see it. "You don't tell me what I want to hear," he murmured. "You tell me what you believe. That is rarer than you know." His gaze dropped momentarily to the tea, watching the steam fade. He knew he was laying himself bare for this position. The knives would come for him; failure was unforgiving. But he held no doubt. Her hesitant, sincere words only cemented that certainty. When he looked back up, the dangerous gleam in his eye was softened by sincerity. "If you believe in me even a little, Joa, that means more than you know."

Her question made him pause, but only to gather his thoughts. He set the cup down and leaned forward, resting his elbows lightly on his knees. "Does Naboo differ much from Plooriod?" He let out a quiet, weighted laugh. "To most, no. A throne, a council, people to serve. But to me, yes. Vastly. Plooriod was a necessary predecessor. I gave them what I could, and I served them well. But Naboo is where my blood runs, where my people are, where my culture breathes. It is not just duty that binds me to it, Joa. It is love. It is legacy."

He met her gaze, steady and searching. "I want to see it flourish. I want to dedicate my life to it. Plooriod was just a chapter. Naboo is the whole book." Aurelian straightened again, one arm draping back over the couch. His soft smile held a familiar flicker of mischief as he tilted his head. "I imagine it's the same for you with Quarzite, isn't it? That's why we do what we do. No matter how far the galaxy stretches, some places never leave us."

Joa Sodi​

 

[Joa Sodi]

HAZARD PAY
Theed, Naboo

Joa nodded thoughtfully, resonating with Aurelian's show of sentiment. Even as they'd gotten closer in recent months, she'd never believed she would see a softer, introspective side of the noble senator. It was quite rewarding.

"It's very similar, yes," she said after he finished his thoughts. "Quarzite is my home. Even more so to the Kage; we aren't enthusiastic spacefarers, you see. No true colonies on other worlds or moons. We may spread like autumn leaves in the breeze, but Quarzite is always in our minds."

She imagined the crystalline caverns and all the shades of gemstone that encrusted the halls. The way the stone felt so warm against her skin. It hummed with an unearthly melody—the Stonesong—which her coven understood to be the very currents of like; what the Naboo called Shiraya and the Jedi called the Living Force.

Her eyes drifted back to Aurelian, a small shadow of worry in them.

"I hope I didn't offend you with my ignorance," she said apologetically. Asking what the difference was between Naboo and Plooriod was likely insensitive, she realized. What was the difference between Naboo and Quarzite? Everything. And at the same time... not very many things.

Tags: Aurelian Veruna​

 

[Aurelian Veruna]

Aurelian's gaze softened, noticing the faint worry across her face. Her apology stirred something in him, an odd mix of protectiveness and amusement. His lips curved slowly, the usual dangerous edge softening into something gentler. He leaned back against the couch cushions, stretching as if her presence finally allowed him to relax.

"Offend me?" he repeated, a quiet laugh escaping him. His voice was light and reassuring, completely free of the sharp tone his moods often held. "Joa, no. I prefer questions like yours. They're genuine and direct. You asked because you truly wanted to understand, and that makes all the difference."

He lifted the delicate cup again, letting the steam warm his face before taking a thoughtful sip. His gaze met hers over the rim, steady and searching, as if weighing something deeper than her words. When he lowered the cup, his voice softened, a true sincerity easing through his usual charm. "This," he said, gesturing faintly to the teapot and the quiet moment they shared, "was unexpected. It's done more for me than all the meetings this past week."

Aurelian leaned forward, placing his cup down. His amber eyes caught hers, carrying a glint of promise. "Thank you," he said. "For the tea, for your company, and for reminding me I don't always have to wear armor."

That dangerous smile returned, now persuasive and almost conspiratorial, rather than sharp. He leaned into it, as if sharing a secret. "You should know, Joa, you can count on me. If you ever need anything, I'll make sure it reaches the Assembly floor. I can be very persuasive when helping my friends."

One brow arched, the mischievous glimmer in his eyes softening the weight of his pledge. "Consider that my promise."

Joa Sodi​