Private Line in the sand

[Aiden Porte]

Naboo
Theed
Blaire Sal-Soren

There was a nice cool breeze that took the people of Naboo away to a place that was enjoyable. At least for the people of Theed. He wasn't sure how things were in the other parts of the Naboo, from the deep plains to the Gallo mountains. He was going to safely assume that they were going just as well.

Today was another meeting for the Jedi Padawan, one of the many he would continue to have. As the weeks, turned to months and such, the meetings were getting smaller. While it would seem disheartening for some, for Aiden it was a very good thing. It meant people were living, they were moving on and taking that first step into their new future. Stepping out of the darkness and into the Light once more. Not a Jedi's light, but just living again. Families that were torn apart were mending and even being rebuilt.

Aiden could see it in their faces when he saw them on the streets, he had a lot to be thankful for. In one way or another, the citizens were helping him too.

He had been asked upon the dismissal of todays meeting if he would still be here should the day come that no one showed up.

"Yes, I'll still be here. Same time, same place, every week." Aiden showed a friendly smile as he glanced around to them all before standing up. "Enjoy the rest of your day my friends. If you all need anything you know how to get a hold of me."

Good fortunes were said as hugs exchanged and farewells as they began to clear out of the room. Aiden glanced over to the datapad on the desk checking the time. It was pretty close, enough time to stop by and get something for Blaire and her kiddos.

The Jedi Padawan had inquired about stopping by for a visit to catch up and say hi. While Aiden couldn't deny that he had another objective in mind, in the form of a question. However he would keep that close to him for now. Flowers for Blaire, and small stuffed animal for the kiddos would be something they would enjoy.

Good company, they could both use it he felt.

Aiden arrived at the location as gave a few small knocks at the door.

 

[Blaire Sal-Soren]

There was a knock at her door. Blaire Sal-Soren had not been expecting anyone today. She was not even certain anyone knew she was back home on Naboo, having been away for the last couple of weeks.

Then again, her siblings were all Jedi, even baby Bast! So, maybe they just knew she was back, or maybe Briana who was the big time Jedi Grandmaster on Naboo was informed of Blaire's arrival back from Malastare. It would be just like her to try and keep tabs on Blaire.

Malastare was where Blaire's work was. Technically it was where Joran Del-Finn was. Joran was the new senator for Malastare and was busy making himself known on the world. What did that have to do with Blaire? Well, it just so happened that a handful of weeks ago Blaire was made Head of Acquisitions and Investments for Fortune's Favorite limited, which was Senator Del-Finn's company.

The company did all sorts. There was a shipping division, A & I, obviously, manufacturing, agriculture, bars, restaurants, and probably more. Blaire's job was to find other companies that could either be absorbed outright by Fortune's Favorite or invested in to a degree that could allow for future gains.

She turned the nine through fifteen largest fuel distributors on Malastare, a world known for their fuel into Fortune Fuel, an investment that should yield profit in less than four years.

Blaire punched a few absent minded key strokes on the security pad, and the door opened with a woosh. Staring back at her across the threshold was not any of her family.

It was…

"Aiden!" Blaire said, surprised to see him. She beamed. It's been forever since Blaire saw Aiden, not since last life day where she had made an ass out of herself. That seemed to be the theme of her Life Day, between embarrassing herself in front of Lorn, and starting a brand new feud with Briana, which really wasn't her fault, she was only trying to help, honest.

That was all small time compared to how she was with Aiden. First she'd kissed him and disappeared on him for days until seeing him again at a grief meeting he held where she had proceeded to vomit her feelings all over him. Honestly, the fact that he was at Blaire's door now proved just how great a guy he was.

"Oh! Are those for me?" She asked, noticing the gifts in Aiden's hands.

See? What a guy.

"Don't stand out there and catch a cold! Come in," Blaire gently pulled Aiden in by the wrist. "The girls are sleeping right now, thank Shiraya."

Blaire led Aiden into the living area of her, well she wouldn't label it as lavish but a penthouse apartment in Theed really had no other applicable word to describe it.

A cool breeze drifted lightly through the open door to the balcony. Curtains kicked and danced to the tune of it. Floral smells drifted quietly through the whole of the apartment struggling to be noticed over the smell of pine scented floor polish.

Blaire, before Aiden's sudden arrival and after finally mercifully getting her twins down for a nap had taken the time for some tidying, so to say she was woefully underdressed for visitors was selling it drastically short. Almost as short as the shorts she was wearing,

which judging by their fit were probably Bastilia's. Her top was hers though for sure…or maybe this one was Briana's or actually come to think of it, this one was Lossa's…maybe. Didn't matter now, stained and worn in as it was. Gosh, and her hair was a mess too, hastily thrown up in the most mediocre attempt at a bun ever witnessed on Naboo. Here Aiden was looking like…that…with gifts and flowers and she looked like a bar matron who had a rough night.

Blaire guided him to a couch to sit.

"How are you?"

Aiden Porte

 

[Aiden Porte]

"Aiden!"

Her reaction was all that he needed as it settled his nerves. Granted his usually didn't come over to places unannounced, he always made it a good habit to let the other person know and such. But to this he wanted to surprise Blaire and hopefully provide a good surprise. And based on her reaction he definitely succeeded in that.

"Oh! Are those for me?"

He chuckled lightly. "Of course they are. Well, the flowers are for you and the animals are for the young ones." He was whisked in as he followed her inside her home. "I hope I didn't catch you at a bad time, in truth I should've probably gave you a holocall before." The cool breeze from the balcony had ushered tossed the fresh scent of the floors around.

"Thank you for having me." Well, unexpectedly you moron.... Aiden thought as the guilty thought ran through his mind before he dismissed it and joined her on the couch.

"I'm doing pretty well all things considered. A lot has happened in the past week and half." While he didn't want to get into the details of the fact that his home had been burned to the ground and that he had killed several dark warriors in the past week. Probably wasn't something to open with, in truth he was more concerned about her and how she was. If the conversation happened to lean towards his home and such, he would of course give the details of such. One of the biggest things that he had learned during the weekly meetings he would hold for those that were having trouble forgetting and letting go. He had to be honest with those he cared about.

"You look well, It's good to see you. Have the little ones been resting easy?" Aiden asked curiously and genuinely. He heard stories especially from his own parents that young children would tend to be quite fussy in the middle of the night. He hoped when he was a young child he didn't cause them too much trouble.

He did muse at the thought though.

Blaire Sal-Soren

 

[Blaire Sal-Soren]

"Hush," she dismissed his concerns about not calling first "if it was a bad time, you coming over solved it believe me. I'm just lucky I was able to get the place cleaned."

Just like Aiden. He was a Jedi, well, a Padawaan but still, and he couldn't just sense how glad she was to see him. He was so worried to be imposing that he failed to notice that it was her that was pulling him inside, very clearly not upset in the slightest.

There was something in his tone that was clear to Blaire that something big had happened over the last week or more for Aiden. Blaire was no Jedi. Had no talent in the Force, except for…well, that was for another time.

No, Blaire was no Jedi but she'd had a lifetime of practice reading people's emotions and learning to hear what they didn't say. That's what growing up in the aristocracy got you, hardly anyone ever said what they truly meant, every barb and thorn was hidden in the bouquet. Then there was her second life as an agent for The New Way, a life she had hidden from practically everyone, daddy didn't know until the end and as far as Blaire knew, her siblings still didn't know. Living a lie made one acutely aware of when they were given half-truths.

"Shiraya's Blessing Aiden, I am a frickin mess, but thank you. For the compliment and the flowers." She gave his hand a squeeze. "Oh the girls sleep pretty well, as well as can be hoped for, I think. I've got a Korunai woman who helps around here, she has two littles of her own, she has been a life saver."

Keela had the day off so Aiden would not be meeting her today.

"Now tell me about this week you had,"

Aiden Porte

 

[Aiden Porte]

"Well, I'm glad I solved it then, I take back my apologies." He said with small chuckle as he gave her and gentle squeeze in return. He listened to her talk about the girls and the woman that comes around to help.

"And stop, you look great." He laughed, squeezing her hand, reassuring her that he didn't care that she looked how she did. It was real, and wasn't something fake.

"I'm glad they are doing well. You know, if you need any help with anything at all. Don't hesitate to ask." Aiden said with a smile and she mentioned about the week. As he felt she would ask. Perhaps part of him was hoping that she would. That portion of his heart wanting to explain what happened, and what he did.

He began with the story of the dark exchange and the dark one known as Sion. Cast all anger, hate and darkness upon his family. And within the last few weeks they launched their plan. His families home burned to the ground, and he was forced to do what was necessary.

"I had a mix of emotions, sadness, relief, compassion....." Aiden let her hand go for a moment as he turned on the couch to face her a bit more. "....and anger." Aiden took a deep breath, while it was a short while ago, he found his ability to let go had grown. Yet as he remembered it again, it would always leave a wound in him. That wouldn't ever heal....

"I killed those that came for me and my family. And she came back, Esme." Aiden looked over to Blaire. "Someone who I loved a few years ago. She died during a New way attack. And by some dark design by my enemies meant to torment me." Aiden chuckled lightly, as he shook his head. It wasn't something he found funny, just crazy. That this all happened, he glanced down to his hands.

"She was trying to get me to join her again in darkness, and to free her I had to kill her." Aiden remembered the sight of her spirit leaving, truly joining the light once more. It was by Sion's dark design that she had returned, and thus by the Jedi Padawan's hand she had returned to light.

Aiden looked back to her. "I hope I didn't bring sorrow to your day. I was told it would be easier to talk about this stuff and to let those I care about truly in." He wasn't the type to spill out his problems, which is what lead to his breakdown on New Life Day.

Aiden wanted to apologize again but he thought better of it.

"Am I a good person, Blaire?" The young man inquired, looking to her. Perhaps seeking an answer, whether it be one he wanted to hear or didn't.

Blaire Sal-Soren

 

[Blaire Sal-Soren]

Aiden let go her hand has he began he story of loss and grief and evil things being done to people who did not deserve it. She had taken his hand back when he spoke of Esme. Even before he explained who she was to him, she could sense his despair for her thanks to Blaire's new connection to The Force.

"Am I a good person, Blaire?"

"Aiden," she pulled her hand from his. Not for anything that he had done. No, none of that bothered her. Not his confession of anger nor the fact that he had killed people. Bad people but still people. It was nothing to do with the return of his former love, well, that wasn't true m. Her reaction was very much due to that but not because of anything Aiden had to do. "I am not the right person to ask that sort of thing." She told him "if you knew…" she began but could not finish. "I'm sorry," she told him through a smile, as tears ran silently down her cheeks. She tasted the salt.

For not the first time Blaire was filled with regret for her choice to come back to Naboo. This was her place, her family's place, but she did not belong here surrounded by people who loved her, who tried to care for her, not when all she had done was hurt them. Hurt them in ways she did not know and in ways they would never recover.

The New Way. They had hurt so many people. Tortured Cybelle, imprisoned Brandyn, taken Lossa's daughter and now Blaire found out they had killed Aiden's Esme as well. Blaire was more than the daughter of the man who had started the organization. She had been a part of it herself. She'd helped them, lied for them, stole for them, killed for them. Now she lived that lie yet. Surrounded by people she had a hand in hurting, never revealing that she had done the things she had, afraid now that she had them, they would cast her out again or worse, they may even forgive her.

"I'm so sorry you had to deal with all that, Aiden." It was a very weak cover but she did not know what else to say. "It all sounds so awful," Blaire had some experience with losing her family home and loved ones as well.

"If there's anything I can…"

| Outfit: xxx | Tag: Aiden Porte | Equipment: xxx |​

 

[Aiden Porte]

"if you knew…"

"I'm sorry,"

Why am I always doing this?

The Jedi padawan inquired, as she began to cry. His hand raised against her cheek briefly to wipe the few tears away. It wasn't his intention to get her upset, but he seemed with his openings about his life. That seemed to happen more and more often than not. But this was what he wanted to do, this was his deal. He chose over and over again to be that person that everyone could count on, to be able to bear his friends pain and even sadness without breaking himself.

Aiden felt her pain, regret and.....fear? He wasn't sure what was all going on, but the emotions were there. "You don't have to apologize, you haven't done anything to me." Aiden's hand rested on her shoulder before he began to pull her in, if she allowed it. "Come here..." He would pull her into a strong hug, letting her know it was going to be okay.

"I'm so sorry you had to deal with all that, Aiden."

"It all sounds so awful,"

"It was awful, but I'm still here. I'm doing okay, you know? Tell me what's bothering you?" He asked as he pulled back to look at her. He wasn't sure what it was, but her tears and her face said it all. It was something she felt incredibly bad about.

Aiden just wanted to help her, like he was trying to help everyone else.

Blaire Sal-Soren

 

[Blaire Sal-Soren]

Blaire leaned into the rough comfort of Aiden's work worn hands as he wiped away the silent tears that had rolled down her face when she was forced to confront the truth of what her actions had caused. She could feel her cheeks flush from the embarrassment and wondered if Aiden too could feel the warmth rise in her face.

She was not necessarily embarrassed to be crying in front of Aiden. It wouldn't exactly be the first time, but regret was such a childish thing to waste tears on. She was Baros Sal-Soren's daughter and she'd made all her choices knowing that they came with consequences and it did no good to mourn those choices now.

Blaire did not fight his embrace. She welcomed it gladly as he pulled her into a tight hug.

"It was awful, but I'm still here. I'm doing okay, you know? Tell me what's bothering you?" He asked as he pulled back to look at her.

"Too much talking," she told him softly staring into his eyes. Blaire stroked his cheek with her hand and she leaned in to kiss him. To really kiss him, hard and with real passion.

| Outfit: xxx | Tag: Aiden Porte | Equipment: xxx |​

 

[Aiden Porte]

If one was to ask what was going on at the current moment. The young wouldn't have been able to tell you. From the moment he placed his hand on cheek, there was a series of things that went into motion. Physically and mentally, first thing was he felt the warmth against his hand, as she leaned into it. He always wondered why she seemed sad some of the time? Was it just as he was, carrying pain from past events that she wouldn't talk about? Aiden didn't want to push to hard, however as they embraced and he began to feel a strong sense of comfort, and even vulnerability on his part.

And it magnified a bit, in many ways as her hand was placed against his cheek. He didn't want to lie, he retracted every slightly, as if he was afraid of her touch. His eyes glanced to her hand awkwardly before he relaxed into the embrace of her hand and thus his sight fell on her.

It wasn't her beauty, what she was wearing....

It was just...her. Her soul, as if his eyes were staring at her entire life. It felt as if a several life spans had passed and perhaps he had trained for a thousand generations and still couldn't have been enough time to see. He realized at then that her heart was big, and he hoped that she would experience the greatest of things in this galaxy. Then came her words. Words that confused him for a fraction of a second.

"Too much talking,"

It was sudden at first, taking the first step into deep pool, and the the ease came. The Jedi kissed her back, his arms wrapping around her, as he pulled her in close to him. Not risking any gap between them, lest they be pulled apart by some unseen force.

Several moments had passed as the kiss broke, breathless and truly in awe at what just happened. He moved into to kiss her again, but then he stopped as he heard the faint light cry. His eyes staring down the hall....

It was one of the children. His own protective nature kicking in, he looked back to Blaire. The Padawan's own nature showing as he would want to make sure they were okay. Which, they were most likely were.

Aiden was well.....Aiden....

"Are they okay?"

Blaire Sal-Soren

 

[Blaire Sal-Soren]

A small gasp escaped from her as their kiss was broken. It was not a word and yet it was a plea, she did not want to stop, did not want to go back to thinking, to feeling, to talking. There was so much between the two of them. Pain, loss, longing. She wanted none of that. She didn't want to think about what consequences her actions had brought on others, she didn't want to worry about the son she never held that was lost to her, she didn't want to think about why she felt so alone despite being surrounded by family, or why she felt so unwelcome in her own home.

She only wanted him, for as long as she could have him, just to herself, not forever but just for now.

He moved just slightly to connect with her again. The look in her eye was ravenous. He stopped.

"Are they okay?"

Blaire's cheeks flushed a deep red with embarrassment as she untangled herself from Aiden and stood.

"I'll go check," she said, her bare feet pattering across the floor before Aiden had a chance to say anything.

Blaire didn't go into the girl's room. She knew they were fine. After a moment the noises stopped but Blaire did not return to Aiden, choosing instead to sit alone in the dark of her own room.

"I should not have done that," she said softly to herself as she sat on the bed. "He's hurting. It wouldn't be right to take advantage."

Maybe he needs the distraction. Shiraya knows we do.

A voice justified in her mind.

"He cares for me,"

Then he will be happy.

She wasn't sure she would be. Aiden was just such a good man. He didn't look at Blaire and see the many flaws that she bothered to stop hiding. He didn't see the ones she hid either, thank Shiraya.

He saw the good in her. He thought her a good person, someone worth saving, sorting valuing, worth…no that was probably a step too far.

Blaire was struck with a pang of anger and guilt both.

He doesn't see you. Only what he wishes too.

Blaire sat in the dark, unable to bring herself to confront him again, and worried about what she'd do if he found her here on the bed.

| Outfit: xxx | Tag: Aiden Porte | Equipment: xxx |​

 

[Aiden Porte]

"I'll go check,"

"Okay." He watched she moved down the hallway, however his gaze returned forward, as he glanced around the living area for a few moments. The scent still as fresh as ever, it was a pleasant smell. Aiden placed his hands together as his mind drifted to what just happened between the two. He couldn't help but smile, it was close to the first time he had let his worries go. Almost anything and everything that had happened up until then was moot, and it was just them two in this moment. He was a Jedi though, he could sense something else at work.

She seemed.....sad?

He wasn't too sure and he glanced down the hallways. It was quiet for a few minutes, he wondered if he should go check on them. But as he opened up his mind more, he could feel the presence of the little ones, they were sleeping soundly it seemed. Aiden stood up, as he slowly moved down the hallway, not trying to make too much noise as to not disturbed the little ones, but also he wondered where Blaire had gone.

It was a mixture of emotions he was feeling, and given Aiden's nature. It hurt him to see her like this.

Perhaps it was his own happiness at what just happened, giving he had come over to check on her and the children, and potentially ask her...well...out.

Yet, that got pushed to the side as he felt her presence and the emotions swirling within. He peered into the doorway, and she was sitting on the bed. He didn't announce himself, she would probably know he was there.

Aiden was about to say her name, yet he refrained for the time being. He didn't sit on the bed next to her, he knelt down directly in front of her. His hand rosed to caress her cheek gently. He wasn't sure what was going on, but it was something significant. He wanted to help her, show her that she was a good person.

It wasn't what he saw, its what he knew.

Aiden had made his fare share of mistakes in the past, and the most recent one, was that night his home burned down. It was in smallest of moments, but it seemed like an entire lifetime for him. There was a moment when Esme asked him, he was going to go with her. Join her in darkness, abandon everyone and everything he knew for that chance to be with her again. He felt such shame that he even thought about that for the briefest of moments.

That wasn't who he was

He wasn't dark, he wasn't filled with this dread. He wanted to show people the light, that it was strong and true.

"Blaire...." He said just above a whisper, he leaned in and gave her a small kiss before leaning back to look her in the eyes. "Tell me, whatever it is. I want to help you. Let me...."

Blaire Sal-Soren

 

[Blaire Sal-Soren]

Aiden did find her after a fashion. He approached her silently, whether they was for her benefit or an attempt to not wake the girls…well, it wasn't that important was it? All the same she ignored his presence until he was kneeling in front of her as she sat in the bed. Even then she did not look at him there.

Wordless he reached a hand to her cheek again. There were no tears this time. She didn't pull away from his touch but neither did she lean into it as she had before. She simply allowed it.

It's what he needs

She thought as he spoke her name and kissed her. both were nothing more than a whisper, soft and secret, yet both were pleading.

"Tell me, whatever it is. I want to help you. Let me...."

And there it was. Blaire smiled softly back at him. Aiden was nothing short of a hero and heroes needed someone to rescue. She could be that for him if that's what it took. She was no victim, no damsel, but for him, for now, she would be what he needed.

"I'm sorry for not coming back," she told him. "The dark was soothing." She placed a hand of her own on his neck, and began to twirl his hair between her fingers.

"I wish you didn't see me like this." She told him truthfully, "I'm just still so worried about my son and the lengths being taken by others to see him safely back to me. I keep losing people and now I could lose my siblings or my boy, if he isn't lost to me already. Who knows what has been done to him since they took him from me?"

Her concerns were half-truths, perhaps two-thirds truths at best. She was in fact worried about all those things she mentioned, but they were not what had stirred the emotion in her this day, yet they would do well enough as cover and serve just fine as dragons for Aiden to slay.

| Outfit: xxx | Tag: Aiden Porte | Equipment: xxx |​

 

[Aiden Porte]

"I'm sorry for not coming back,"

"The dark was soothing."

"Don't apologize, you have nothing to apologize for." Aiden smiled as her hand moved to his neck, twirling his hair. It was a welcoming and comforting move. "I understand how the dark can be soothing. No one sees you, or at least how it was for me. When I was on Tatooine on the verge of well, you know. I wasn't seen, no one could see my broken or even crying. I feel it's moments like these that reveal the most about us. I don't think its weakness, at least not anymore."

Aiden held her other hand in both of his, as he still kept his position as he looked up at her, in the dark. Both of them barely seen, but he could see her, feel her presence.

"I wish you didn't see me like this."

"I'm just still so worried about my son and the lengths being taken by others to see him safely back to me. I keep losing people and now I could lose my siblings or my boy, if he isn't lost to me already. Who knows what has been done to him since they took him from me?"

"You are strong, Blaire." Aiden said with a small comforting smile, which he wasn't sure if she could see it or not. "The fact that you are still here shows so much. And I don't believe Briana or Brandyn would have things any other way. They love you, you are family. That means they will do whatever they can to help you."

Aiden glanced down for a moment, before looking back up. He sat on the bed next to her, his hand still holding hers.

"I don't know what sort of strength I carry, but I know from my own faith in hope and light. We will get your son back, we all will."

He will come back, and everything will be right, and good.

It had to be...

Aiden took a deep breath, before anything else came up. He had to ask the question he came over here for.

"Maybe, um, when all of this is over. I could take you out for dinner?" Aiden inquired as he glanced over to her, however the moment he said that.

Stupid, idiotic timing.....

If he got slapped at the current moment, he wouldn't be surprised. But he was into her, and he cared about her. All that she was.....everything she was.

"I can leave if you want me to....." Aiden asked as he took a deep breath from the aftermath of his question.


Blaire Sal-Soren

 

[Blaire Sal-Soren]

"Don't." Was all she said when Aiden suggested that he leave.

Blaire wasn't exactly sure how she felt at the whiplash of Aiden asking her out and then nearly immediately thinking he needed to be excused for doing so. She did not find that sort of timidity enchanting at all. Like at all. Never had. As a matter of fact she'd ended things with guys for this very thing but somehow Aiden came off as endearing. Maybe it was because he was so sincere or perhaps it was because she just watched him work so hard to make her feel better.

Whatever the reason. All Blaire knew was that she wanted him to stay. She swung a leg over like an experienced farthier rider, looking right in his eyes while sitting on his lap.

"Aiden, I would love to go to dinner with you." She told him. Her tone was soft but serious, her hands ran through his hair and she never broke eye contact with him as she spoke.

"Don't leave. Not yet." Blaire leaned to him, lips parted to meet his.

She was eager to continue what they'd started on the couch. To go further until they were again interrupted by crying. Not one but both girls had woken.

"Chit," she cursed, pushing herself off of Aiden to stand. "Raincheck, okay?"

| Outfit: xxx | Tag: Aiden Porte | Equipment: xxx |​

 

[Aiden Porte]

"Don't."

Sometimes, which was probably all of the time. He was indeed his own worst enemy. That essentially in all aspects of his life. Perhaps it was past trauma, from everything that had happened to him. But if there was a glimmer of hope on the horizon. Wouldn't it be good to embrace it, or at least embrace the possibility of it.

Her actions had shredded all doubt that he had, as she climbed on his lap. Her hands ran through his hair and their eye contact never broke. And she answered his question, which was a yes. And before he could even response her lips were on his again. Their dance from early had continued once more, for the briefest of moments it seemed. Until he heard the sound of crying once more, and they broke apart.

"Chit,"

"Raincheck, okay?"

"That would be great." Aiden spoke in a sweet voice and a smile that accompanied it, however he didn't want to just leave now. He would stay for a good part of the day, talking, helping with the littles ones. If necessary he would hold them for the first time, take a look in their eyes and just smile. His actions genuine and with great care. He would show them the toy animals that were brought for them all. Not try to be anything more than a new presence, a new friend in their lives.

He would look at Blaire Sal-Soren with a smile. A true gem, not something to be possessed. But something to be a part of.

He was just happy, if even for just today. That she allowed him to be apart of her life.