Private Oh, Something's Quiet

[Colette]

Corazona von Ascania

So balls were a big scam after all. Nothing more than a play for the gallery. Colette shook her head as she listened. Hierarchy was and always would be the plague of a free society and it was becoming more evident for each piece of the puzzle she found.

She was about to dive into the thought, but Corazona's question thankfully tore her from it.

"Huh?" Colette hummed. "Oh. Yeah, I was at this event earlier. Caught a ticket from a small pool of Jedi Order attendees."

"Originally I wasn't gonna go, but then I figured it was a chance to see what Naboo was like compared to the Alliance." Her head shook again. "Worse. You'd think the floor was covered in sewage from how far into the air their noses were."

"And for some reason… Quinn was there." Colette sighed. "I approached her, but she pretended she didn't know me."

"Won't lie, not sure why that one hurt as badly as it did."

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

"Quinn was there?"

There was a subtle note of surprise in her voice. "And she…didn't recognize you?"

Maybe it wasn't so strange, but then again, Cora didn't know the Sith Princess personally. Diplomat or not, it did seem odd to invite their heir to the Sith Empire to a social event hosted on Naboo.

Perhaps the Republic was trying to curry favor with those behind the Blackwall. Perhaps, there was something that she couldn’t see in this equation.

"I suppose that tells you about the sort of person that she is," Cora offered, shrugging very gently so as to not disturb Luciana.

"I would be upset too, if the Sith my Padawan left me for didn't recognize me."

Colette

 

[Colette]

Corazona von Ascania

Not to mention the stabbing and near killing.

"Yeah, I think if there's ever a sign to try and let go of her; that'd be it." Colette frowned. The cleaning stopped for a little bit. All things considered, it all looked decent. New-Parent decent at least.

"But hey, that's—" Her lip twitched. "That's old news. Let's talk about the present."

"Who do you think Lucy will grow up to be? Will she get raised like you did or are you and Makko trying for something…" Better. "Different?"

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Letting go could be hard, especially when someone who wronged you seemed to continually slip past the consequences. It was a testament to Colette’s growth, and Cora quietly filed away any commentary for now.

"Different?" Cora's frowned, but not because she was upset. "Makko and I were raised in…different ways."

Makko: child of neglect, drawn into the life of a criminal at an early age.

Cora: child of abuse, forced into an unwanted marriage at an early age.

Cora looked down at Luciana, permanently in silent awe that they'd managed to make something so utterly perfect.

"Neither of us want to raise her like how we were. But, she's still nobility. I don't love that society will have expectations of her, and that's part of the reason why I'm working to change Ukatian culture."

Cora looked back up to Colette.

"She'll have more choices than we did. And opportunities. And she'll know that no matter what, we love her."

Colette

 

[Colette]

Corazona von Ascania

But, she’s still nobility.

The rest kind of faded away. Colette tried her best to stave off the temptation to shut her eyes but the frustration got the best of her. She turned her head to the side, bit her lips and slowly began to nod.

“Yeah, well,” she swallowed as she turned back. “As long as she is the one who gets to choose whether she wants to be nobility or not.”

“Okay, sorry,” Colette exhaled. “You know I have to ask you why. Why would you put her into the same system that forced you to marry someone you didn’t love? That put so much weight on your shoulders that you never asked for?”

“Why would you rather change a whole culture than just not participate?”

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

It was here - in this particular question - that Cora learned how Colette had developed her blunt honesty into something more tactful.

“I mean I…have thought about it. Cried over it, even.”

Again, Cora looked down to Luciana, so small and fragile in her arms. Then, back up at Colette.

“I won’t make her participate. And I certainly won’t force her into marriage or unwanted contact with anyone. But she has my family name. That alone is enough for this world - not me - to place expectations on her.

Whatever she wants to do with that - embrace it, change it, or even withdraw from it entirely - I will support. But the culture needs to change. Not just for her sake - but for the sake of every woman and girl on Ukatis.”

Cora’s expression softened when her gaze drifted down to the bundle in her arms. Her voice, too, quieted in reverence.

“She’s part of a new generation. One that will have choices and opportunities that I didn’t have. I may not be Queen, but I can’t keep denying that I have a measure of influence on Ukatis. And for as long as that holds out, I’m going to try and do good with it.”

Colette

 

[Colette]

Corazona von Ascania

Colette couldn't fault her for that. If she had the possibility to change her own world, perhaps she would have. Hard to say given that they abandoned her the second they could.

"Just wanted to make sure." She frowned. "I know you wouldn't put her through what you were put through."

"But, there's always going to be an unspoken expectation on her. Cultural things that will weigh on her whether you want it to or not." Colette crossed her arms and leaned towards the child. "Luckily, she will have Aunt Colette around to drag her out of it when she needs it."

"Provided that I'm welcome to be part of it, of course."

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

"Of course," Cora said as Colette reiterated the important point. "You're her Aunt Colette. We’re as close as sisters. I know that you'll do your best to look out for her."

Cora's hand continued to move in slow circles over Lucy's back. Finally, the babe unlatched, deciding that she was full.

"It helps to have people in her life outside of Ukatis and Naboo’s political culture, too. Outside of the expectations," Cora explained while adjusting her top.

"I won't have to worry about you holding back on my account."

Colette