Private Make Like the Tide

[Damsy Callat]

The next time Rio checked his personal communicator, he'd see a notification for a new voice memo from Damsy.

Their rate of correspondence had slowed to less than a monthly basis or late. Neither had done anything to anger the other; the only reason for the lag was their respective responsibilities. Life had begun to demand more of them both around the same time—him on Jutrand and her in Naneti.

Their last virtual conversation had run its course some months ago. Now, it seemed like Damsy wanted to start up another thread.

Hey.​

Her raspy voice was also light in a way that he had never heard it before.

Don't want you to think that I'm coming outta the woodwork to ask for somethin'. That ain't what this is. Was just thinkin' o' you, hopin' that you okay.​

​

I am.​

​

...Not to brag if you aren't.​

​

Shit.​

That last word was hissed under her breath.

'M really bad at this. Sorry.​

​

As always, my life stays off record, especially yours 'cause it's so damn meticulous, but I will say that things are finally lookin' up in ways they haven't for a long time. I mean, some bad shit's happened too, but, really, when don't it?​

​

Anyway, I hope things are likewise good or comin' together for you an' yours.​

Damsy's pause was a moment long enough that it might have convinced Rio that the audio was either buffering or the comm had shut off on her.

Then she sighed heavily.

Hit me back when ya can, aight? 'Til then, take care.​

Riordan Catlow​

 

[Riordan Catlow]

Damsy Callat

He had listened back to that message a number of times.

It soothed him.

Damy was everything he was not.

Wild, where he was disciplined. Free, where he was guarded.

Passionate, creative, an inspiration. While he was within his ledgers, she was making a difference out there. The first time they had met, was the first time he had decided to walk out of his office and get involved in the meat and bones of the Empire. It had been... incredible and afterwards Rio had made sure to do more of it.

Riordan responded soon after receiving the message.

No fronting with him. No waiting for a few hours, just to not seem eager. It didn't even occur to him as an option.

Hello miss Callat,​

​

Good to hear from you, even better to hear you are doing well.​

​

Been busy here as well, you know how it is. The nation keeps growing and with it the responsibilities. But lately it has been calmer, which is nice, it lets me catch up on some reading I have been meaning to do.​

​

And you are doing just fine as far as I am concerned. No apologies needed. Our conversations are, as always, strictly off the record. There will be no change in that moving forward, I assure you.​

​

You sounded almost proud in your message. Care to share with the class what you have been up to?​

​

Signing off, hit me back, as you say when you can.​

​

He leaned back with a smile and send the message forward without thinking to listen back to it again. What would the point be? Rio had said everything he wished to say in the moment.

If he wanted to say more, he'd add it to his next reply.

 

[Damsy Callat]

Her response came the next day, in the afternoon Kesh time, which was when she next had the time to sit down at her desk again.

Good. Great.​

​

It ain't that I don't trust you. I don't trust the Sith Order. Your Order. And that makes this awkward. Always has, prolly always will.​

​

She shrugged.

​

But you still 'bout it. I'm thankful, but don't get that.​

​

Rio's willingness to keep her secret wasn't the extent of the ways he confounded her either. The next mystery was how he got along with her at all. Sure, she was a self-proclaimed Darth and approximately as powerful as a proper one, but she was a Spawn. He respected her power, she supposed, and could do that no matter what she was—but was that all there was to it?

A smile broke onto her face. She didn't try to keep the urge to tease him contained and instead let it break like a bubble on the water's surface.

​

Wow. What kinda strong-as-shit pheromones am I givin' off? Yeah, I'm plenty proud. Careful too. You're just gonna haveta come by if you really that curious.​

​

He smile turned sweeter, serious. Genuinely welcoming. Not that she was the type to extend an invitation if she didn't want it to be taken.

​

If you'd like, lemme know, an' I'll arrange somethin'. ​

​

Kezi and Jarsa miss ya.​

With that and a couple more moments to spare, Damsy stopped the recording. Even after it was on its electronic way, the words that she had not said sat heavy on her tongue. She caught the side of her lower lip in her teeth while her gaze slid out onto and then beyond the balcony off of her office. Naneti's cityscape stretched as far as she could see.

She didn't want to tell him that she missed him too until she knew why she missed him.

Riordan Catlow​