Private Overtime

[Aiden Porte]

Sanctuary
Colette​

The halls of the sanctuary were busy this mid-morning. Studends moving along to their classes, and various Knights and Masters moving about to conduct their business as normal. The Jedi Knight walked at a good pace, hands behind his back as he nodded to those that passed. He had a destination in mind, one that was long overdue. Colette had been placed into the Council as their quartermaster. A true and noble task, one of great importance. He was definitely proud of her, granted he hadn't spoken with her much since her elevation. It was quite the busy job, and not to mention Aiden had his own internal battles that were going on.

It was far past time for a visit to his old friend.

As he approached the Quartermasters office, there were many going in and out, and many moving through to check supplies, weapons and such out. For various reasons of course, and he smiled as he watched her move about, at her desk and around her desk.

"If I knew you were going to be this busy, I would've called." The Jedi Knight said, leaning against the doorway, a rougish smile on his face. Teasing nature in his eyes, giving a small nod of his head.

 

[Colette]

Aiden Porte

Three padawans sent to pick up resources in the Chommel Sector, two in the Bajic Sector. The Sith were encroaching on several sectors and requests for co-operation weren't about to die down anytime soon. Kastolar Sector, and the belt between Kattada and Mandalorian Space were possible locations too. Mechis III had turned up blank and so had Aruza. No need to send people in that particular direction.

Colette went over the manifests one more time while taking a deep sip from her canteen. At this rate she should have gone into some other kind of business, the Shadows perhaps, but no that still required her to give up a part of her she refused to.

Her brows sunk only to rise in surprise when an unseen presence made itself heard. Colette choked on her drink for a moment and let out a violent coughing fit before sealing her canteen and placing it on her desk, arm swiping away at the spittle and water that had poured down the wrong throat.

Aiden was here? What?

Colette let out one final exhale to ensure she was still standing before she demonstratively took a seat on her desk and crossed her arms.

"If you'd called I'd've told you not to come." She huffed. The tug of a grin on her lips betrayed the joy she felt at seeing her friend. "What are you doing here, Aiden?" Her brow rose. "I thought you were retired."

"... Or worse."

Not so much dead as the other kind of worse.

 

[Aiden Porte]

Colette​

She was busy, incredibly busy. Aiden.....almost felt guilty.

Almost.....

Because he was about to pull her away from all the gallantry and for some much needed friend time.

If you'd called I'd've told you not to come." She huffed. The tug of a grin on her lips betrayed the joy she felt at seeing her friend. "What are you doing here, Aiden?" Her brow rose. "I thought you were retired."

The grin that began to show, just made Aiden laugh, a hearty full laugh. It was good to see her, as he knew she felt the same. "I'm here to see a friend." When she mentioned retired. Aiden scoffed and shook his head.

"Retired?!" Aiden said as he moved next to her, giving her a gentle nudge with his arm. "Do I look like, the the kind of Jedi who needs to retire? Even now, I've got Jedi coming to my doorstep, looking for advice, or even a cup of tea and a good conversation."

Aiden wrapped his arm around her, giving her a gentle and affection squeeze. "Oh Colette. I wouldn't call it retirement, I wouldn't even say vacation. Truthfully I don't know what to call it. But I've always been here, you know that. I think you just don't want to admit the truth."

Aiden let out a small sigh....

"That you missed me...." Aiden voiced with a tease, showing her a small smile.

 

[Colette]

Aiden Porte

Yes, retired. Colette chuckled and accepted the hug. All things considered it was good to see Aiden again. Insufferable as his happy-go-lucky was, it made for a welcome distraction from the monotony of trying to triangulate the Vanguard's location with what few resources she had.

"Yeahhh, I've missed you." She admitted warmly. "No-one else has ever made me join an organization only to ditch it the second I was admitted."

She closed her eyes and rubbed her fingers against her brows.

"What a flickin' mess…" Her head leaned against the man's shoulder for a moment before she let out a deep sigh and pushed back into her usual composed posture again. Back straight as an arrow and all that.

"Don't suppose you would tell me where the Vanguard are?" She mock scoffed at the idea. "Make Ala's life a lot easier and all that."

"I believe there were promises for arrests. I mean, you were there, right?"

 

[Aiden Porte]

Colette
​

"Yeahhh, I've missed you." She admitted warmly. "No-one else has ever made me join an organization only to ditch it the second I was admitted."

Aiden scoffed, and gave a laugh. "Are you kidding me?" Aiden voiced, with a teasing offensiveness. "Last I heard, you were happy that I was gone. 'I never want to see his face around here again' I believe those where the words that were heard from your mouth." The Jedi Knight said, with a straight face, for a few moments, then he started laughing again. "Okay maybe not. But Hey, I didn't force you to join, that was of your own volition. And me, well....." Aiden trailed off, taking a deep breath.

"That was the best choice for me at the time. But, its not like I'm truly gone...."

He glanced over as she leaned her head on his shoulder and he just smirked. "Oh there there, its not all so bad."

"Don't suppose you would tell me where the Vanguard are?" She mock scoffed at the idea. "Make Ala's life a lot easier and all that."

"I believe there were promises for arrests. I mean, you were there, right?"

"I have no idea, or I think I have no idea." Aiden said with a small chuckle, very amused with himself.

"Oh yes, the arrests. And here I stand unguarded, and willing to come quietly. Does this mean you plan to arrest me too?"

 

[Colette]

Aiden Porte

The lighthearted banter continued. Colette withdrew her pad again and began to issue a few more orders. Hapes Cluster, Kastolar Sector, and…

There were orders for arrest, would Colette arrest Aiden?

"No." She chuckled and put the pad back in her bag. "The Vanguard might be led by an idiot, but they still have a purpose."

Colette pushed off her desk and approached the door to usher Aiden out.

"Now, I believe you said you were dragging me out of here? Well, go on then. Drag me."

 

[Aiden Porte]

Colette​

"The Vanguard might be led by an idiot, but they still have a purpose."

"Hey!" Aiden said, not really in offense, but some way to at least defend Lorn. "That idiot is still my friend, Just like I"m sure he's your friend too." He chuckled lightly. "So I guess calling him an idiot is okay." He shook his head, with the smallest smirk on his face.

"Alright, come on!" He said with a laugh, as he gently grabbed her by the arm, pulling her along.

"We are heading to my home, get away from this place for a bit. You are going to have the most relaxing day of your life! I guarantee you, you won't regret it!"

Aiden knew that she needed to unwind, and that was what he was going to have her do.

"You have anything that's on your mind? Talk to me!"

 

[Colette]

Aiden Porte

Colette wanted to laugh at that but she couldn't. Friend or not, Lorn was still an idiot and he was still driving a wedge between the Jedi and his zealots. He was the reason her job had gotten a lot more frustrating, and that alone was reason not to laugh.

She grabbed her satchel and threw it over her shoulder to follow along with Aiden.

"I doubt you could make me feel better, but I'll give it a shot." She said and let the growing bags under her eyes do the speaking. "Just don't expect me to be unreachable for this."

"Still a councilor, my duty to the Order still comes first. Now, where's your ship? Where do you live these days?"

 

[Aiden Porte]

Colette
​

"I doubt you could make me feel better, but I'll give it a shot." She said and let the growing bags under her eyes do the speaking. "Just don't expect me to be unreachable for this."

"My friend, you underestimate my abilities and skills." Aiden said with a laugh, as he gave her a nudge. "This way." He motioned, leading towards the main enterance. It didn't take the force, for Aiden to know that Colette was troubled, stress, all the above perhaps. It was enough to weigh on anyone. But she didn't need to be here drowning in this, she had friend she could lean on. It was time he reminded her of that.

"I understand that, but you don't have to drive yourself to complete exhaustion, its not healthy." Aiden voiced sincerely, while he had no right to tell her what to do, but he would offer some advice.

"I'm still in the same place, several miles on the family homestead outside of Theed. The kiddo keeps me on my toes a lot, especially lately."

The ship was near, they were soon aboard and making the short trip to his home.

 

[Colette]

Aiden Porte

"It's not complete exhaustion." Colette objected while Aiden pushed her through the door. "It's just hard to stop."

Always one more fire to put out. Some clue or the other to seek out in the hunt for the Vanguard. Half-truths to divulge so that the council kept off her back about it. Things that nobody needed to know because they would just get in her way.

Still, Colette acquiesced and let herself be led away for a short while.

"How old is she now anyway?" She asked and turned to Aiden. "Has she kept up with her shooting lessons or did someone talk her out of it?"