Private Polish and Roughcut

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Naboo - Theed

Equipment:
Training Jumpsuit | Lightsaber | Modified DL-27 | Tic

The Flickerfox came in low over Theed's spires, its paint-scarred hull cutting a crooked silhouette against skies too bright and too clean for his liking. Naboo looked like something out of a dream. Waterfalls, glassy lakes, stone streets polished enough to see your reflection in. People like him didn't belong in places like this.

The ship touched down at the spaceport with a hiss and the ramp clanged open. Ace lingered at the top for a second, shoulders squared but jaw tight. Naboo was beautiful, sure. It was also the kind of beautiful that made him feel dirty just for standing in it.

Tic chirped at his heel, scampering forward until the little droid paused at the sunlight beyond. A flicker of static cut across its lens as it tilted its head back at him, questioning. Ace smirked faintly and crouched to tap its dented casing.

"Yeah, I know. Don't look at me like that. I don't belong here either."

For once there wasn't blasterfire waiting, no lightsabers lit, no mad scramble for survival. Just stillness. He'd been getting more of that recently, and he still didn't know what to do with it. It left him awkward, like he was supposed to be doing something still.

Then he remembered why he'd come. Sibylla Abrantes . His chest gave this weird little kick, and for half a second his stomach flipped. Butterflies? Ace blinked, rubbed at the back of his neck, and immediately scowled at himself. He'd fought stormtroopers, bounty hunters, even gone blade-to-blade with a Sith Lord. He didn't flinch a single time then. But one Naboo noble and suddenly he was nervous? Ridiculous.

He blew out a breath, squared his shoulders, and started down the ramp. Time to find her.​

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

Acier Moonbound ​

It was a beautiful late summer day, the sun warming Theed's Spaceport with a softened glow as Sibylla stepped from the shade of the portico. Two guards flanked her at a respectful distance, their presence now a quiet necessity rather than choice, but she paid them little mind. Today was not about politics, nor precaution.

It was about enjoying the company and having a relaxing time.

She had set aside both her ambassador's attire and the stately gowns of court. Instead, she wore a simple summer gown of soft taupe, its flowing line comfortable yet graceful, catching the breeze as she moved. It felt right. Not the Ambassador of Mandalore, nor the candidate in the Royal Court, but Sibylla Abrantes of Naboo.

Her hazel eyes lifted at the sound of boots on the landing ramp, and there he was, Acier Moonbound, a tall figure against the bustle of the port. A smile softened her features as she took a step forward, voice warm with welcome.

"It is good to see you Acier," She beamed, coming up to a slow stop in front of him before giving him an incline of her head in greeting.

"I hope your trip wasn't too troublesome," she inquired, her hazel eyes panning up to trace over the Flickerfox.

"Is this your ship?"

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Naboo - Theed

Equipment:
Training Jumpsuit | Lightsaber | Modified DL-27 | Tic

His eyes quickly found her. Sibylla was stood just ahead, the breeze caught the soft taupe gown she wore, simple but still carrying that quiet elegance she couldn't seem to shake no matter what she put on.

Two guards flanked her at a respectful distance, eyes scanning the port. Ace clocked them out of habit, the way their hands hovered a little too close to their weapons. Standard detail. But he couldn't help the thought that slipped in anyway: she'd probably be safer with just him alone.

A sharp chirp snapped him out of it. Tic shuffled down the ramp behind him, lens flickering as the little droid scanned the sunlit spaceport before hurrying to his heel. Ace dragged in a breath, smoothed his face into something closer to neutral, and dipped his head back at her greeting.

"Good to see you too, Ambassador." He said, voice low but steady. At her question, his eyes flicked over his shoulder to the Flickerfox.

"Trip wasn't bad." His smirk was brief, almost hidden. "Yeah. She's mine. Modified YT freighter I... picked up on Bonadan."

There was no nicer way to say "I claimed this ship from the Trandoshan crime boss I killed after he had put a bounty out on me." Hopefully Sibylla wouldn't read too much into it.

His gaze cut back to her again, catching the way the gown shifted in the breeze. He glanced down at his teal jumpsuit, at the boots scuffed from too many runs, and tugged absently at his collar.

"…Feel like I'm overdressed." He muttered, the words dry, almost careless. But the faintest grin edged at his mouth before he dropped his eyes.

He shifted his weight, thumb brushing against the worn leather of his belt. Naboo stretched out in polished stone and sunlit arches all around them, a world that felt too perfect. He gave a small shrug and met her gaze again.

"So… where do you want to start?"

Sibylla Abrantes ​

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

Acier Moonbound ​

Even Sibylla could not quite suppress the upward twitch at the corners of her mouth as Acier remarked that he had picked up the ship on Bonadan.

"Ah, then it seems you have secured yourself quite the bargain," she replied with a light playful jest, a rare sparkle of amusement in her hazel eyes. Whatever circumstances had led him to claim the vessel were his own, she had little doubt he possessed the proper transponder codes and registry.

And really, what Bonadan considered notable was hardly Naboo's concern, lying as it did beyond Republic space.

HEr gaze shifted to Tic, her smile softening as she inclined her head in greeting.

"And wonderful to see you as well, Tic," she said warmly, rewarded at once by the droid's cheerful trill of acknowledgment.

When her eyes returned to Acier, the smile lingered, brighter now.

"You must be proud. Your own ship, it must feel wonderfully freeing," she continued, gesturing for him and Tic to fall into step beside her. The guards followed suit just as Acier had clocked them to do.

"I confess, I am a little envious of such liberty," she admitted, before leaning in just enough to let her words carry a conspiratorial lilt.

"But come, you are perfectly presentable, let me show you the charms of Theed."

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Naboo - Theed

Equipment:
Training Jumpsuit | Lightsaber | Modified DL-27 | Tic

Ace fell into step beside her, Tic trilling smugly like he had just won something by getting singled out for attention. The droid lingered near her side for a moment before scuttling back to Ace's heel, and he shook his head with a faint exhale that might have been a laugh.

"Yeah." He admitted, glancing back at the Flickerfox. "Well, I wouldn't call it 'proud'. But, it's freedom. Freedom I can steer with my own hands."

There was weight in the words, though he said them flatly, like he wasn't sure how much he wanted to reveal. For a moment, his lips parted to say something else but he hesitated, gently nipping at his lower lip. Then he gave her a side long look.

Y'know, Ambassador... you don't have to keep calling me Acier. Sounds too formal. 'Ace' is good." His mouth twitched faintly, caught somewhere between a smirk and something more honest. "Figured it makes sense. You already know more about me than most people ever do."

It was true, him being Aether's younger brother wasn't common knowledge. A few people within the Hidden Path knew and even less were aware of his upbringing on Bonadan. And yet? Sibylla was aware of both these facts which Ace kept closely guarded.

For a second, his eyes tracked the Theed skyline, pale towers rising over waterfalls, sunlight glinting off every curve. Then he remembered what she'd said a second ago. When she admitted to being envious. Ace had caught Sibylla's slip of court formality, an admission that, maybe, she wouldn't give anyone else. His brow ticked faintly, the smallest flash of surprise in his eyes before he hid it again.

"Tell you what," he said, voice rough but steady, "Today, you show me Naboo, and one day I'll show you the galaxy. Not the clean parts either; the real thing. Stars, dirt, and all."

The words were direct, plain, and yet the grin lingered just a heartbeat longer than usual - a flash of charm that came with the confidence he'd been growing into. Then he gestured toward the city ahead, casual again and voice even.

"But for now... Show me what I'm missing."

Sibylla Abrantes ​

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

Acier Moonbound ​

"Well, that is a kind of freedom most never have the luxury to claim," Sibylla replied, her voice cordial, though there was the faintest note that suggested the thought was more personal than she intended to admit.

Truth be told, the idea of moving about the galaxy at one's own choosing, unburdened by House, title, and courtly expectation, stirred something wistful in her.

The corner of her mouth twitched upward as she glanced at him, a soft chuckle escaping.

"Ace, then? Very well. But you must forgive me if, in more formal company, I slip into habit." She leaned forward ever so slightly, humor brightening her eyes.

"So tell me... what do you think so far?" she asked, having caught the way his gaze lingered on the skyline and the falls cascading beyond.

When he countered with his own offer, Sibylla's smile spread wide, teeth flashing as her brow arched.

"The real galaxy. Now that is quite the temptation, Ace. I cannot help but wonder what picture you would paint of it." Her grin softened into a nod as she gestured for them to follow toward the lifts set beside the waterfalls.

"We will head up toward the City. If you like, we can walk the palace grounds together."

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Naboo - Theed

Equipment:
Training Jumpsuit | Lightsaber | Modified DL-27 | Tic

Ace's mouth twitched when she said his name. He didn't point it out, but the faintest flicker of satisfaction tugged behind his eyes before he looked back toward the skyline.

Sibylla had asked him what he thought of Naboo so far. His gaze lingered on the waterfalls spilling over marble cliffs, the way the sunlight caught every polished stone. "Well... it's no Bonadan. Everything is nice, pretty... calm. Can't imagine growing up here."

Her words about temptation pulled a grin from him, sharp and crooked. Ace pondered on her words for a moment, of how Ace pictured the galaxy.

"Don't think a picture would do it justice. Half the time it's stars that make you forget you're small. Other half it's smoke and dirt. That's the galaxy to me, I guess." He shrugged.

He fell into step as she led toward the lifts, Tic clattering along at his heel with a curious chirp. The palace rose in the distance, white spires gleaming against the sky, and Ace's brows drew faintly together. Then he cast Sibylla a glance.

"Yeah, okay. If you think I'd like it." He flashed her a softer smile than normal.

After a small stretch of silence, his gaze flicked to the two guards shadowing them at a careful distance.

"That always been a thing?" He asked, voice even but curious. "Or just recent?"

Sibylla Abrantes ​

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

Acier Moonbound ​

Sibylla's smile deepened at hearing Acier describe Theed as pretty and calm. Her hands folded lightly before her as she walked, skirts swishing softly with each step.

"It sounds as though the galaxy you picture is still very beautiful, especially if its stars can make you feel small," she mused, then added with a wry note, "Though I should confess, Naboo has its fair share of smoke and dirt... only we balance it out with swamps."

The mention drew a fleeting melancholy across her expression, thinking about Lysander. However, she quickly smoothed it away beneath a practice adjustment of her composure.

When she caught Acier's gaze flick toward the guards trailing discreetly behind them, Sibylla offered a small, cordial smile.

"Ah. Yes." A pause, then more plainly, "Ever since the attack, and after the events on Wielu, my father has been rather insistent on precautions, even here in Theed."

She drew a steadying breath and tried to soften the moment with another smile.

"So they accompany me, to ensure my safety. And by extension, yours as well." Her eyes glimmered faintly with humor as she added, unaware that Acier was also a Force user as well, "Not that I imagine you have any need for additional protection. I am quite aware Mandalorians are trained to defend themselves."

They reached the lifts and the clear transparasteel doors slid open with a hiss. Stepping inside, they'd be able to see the entire view of the lakes, waterfalls, and the space port as the door closed shut. Quietly without a hum, it began to ascend, allowing that breathtaking view to be displayed nearly 360 degrees.

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Naboo - Theed

Equipment:
Training Jumpsuit | Lightsaber | Modified DL-27 | Tic

Ace's mouth twitched faintly at Sibylla's remark about swamps, but he didn't fire back with a quip. Truth was, he couldn't imagine thinking of them as unpleasant. He hadn't grown up around waterfalls or forests, not even grass. Bonadan had given him factories, smoke, the Vergeworks' steel bones stretching into the sky. Compared to that, even a swamp sounded like paradise.

But when she mentioned the attack, his expression shifted. His gaze cut back to her, sharper now, voice rougher. Ace wasn't privy to galactic events, except for what happened on Coruscant. So, the news came as a shock.

"Attack?" he echoed, concern plain in the word. He studied her a second longer, the guards in his periphery. "You alright?"

The question was blunt, but behind it something heavier stirred. He didn't like the thought of her being caught up in something violent, of blades and blasterfire close enough that she now needed an escort in her own city. He was sure the guards at her side were competent, but some stubborn part of him bristled anyway, convinced she'd be safer if it were just him. Or with Aether and the other Mandalorians.

However, her jest about Mandalorians drew a sharper look, and this time the corner of his lip tugged upward.

"Yeah, well." He muttered, "I'm really only a Mandalorian in blood only... if that's even a thing. Wasn't raised with beskar and war chants." His voice roughened, but he shrugged it off just as quickly. "Most of what I know about fighting came from growing up on Bonadan... and the Jedi that trained me."

The transparisteel doors slid open and Ace followed her inside, Tic hopping in at the last second before the doors hissed shut. The lift began to rise in silence, and the city unfurled before them - waterfalls, white towers, lakes shining under the sun.

Ace exhaled, the sound slipping out before he realized it. His dark eyes widened a fraction, his posture easing as he stepped to the railing. For a moment, all the grit and sharpness in him gave way to something unguarded. Awe flickered openly across his face; uncharacteristic, but impossible to hide with the panorama spilling out on every side.

"Whoa..." He muttered, more to himself "This is something else, Sibylla."

Sibylla Abrantes ​

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

Acier Moonbound ​

Ah, perhaps that should have been worded a bit more carefully, Sibylla mused, keeping a soft smile on her lips that she used to show that things were going to be okay, and it wasn't anything to be concerned about.

"Things have been getting rather tense with the campaigns," She admitted, her hazel eyes drifting past towards the expanding view of the lakes as the lift ascended.

"Then, after the attacks by Black Sun Syndicate on the High Republic Representatives...it was determined it would be best to ensure a constant detail is provided at all times. It isn't just me, but also to other Senators as well during official meetings." These were Abrantes' guards, but nonetheless, being used to ensure she didn't come to any harm.

"Not only that, I've taken it upon myself to learn more self-defense courses. Wielu taught me that the odds are that any situation could arise where my colleagues and I may come into harm's way. I would rather be ready and prepared just in case," she explained, only to smile warmly at Ace's reaction to the view.

"indeed... Naboo is beautiful," she murmured, as the lift began to slow to a stop.

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Naboo - Theed

Equipment:
Training Jumpsuit | Lightsaber | Modified DL-27 | Tic

Ace's brow furrowed at the name Black Sun, his jaw clenching. His hands curled slightly at his sides, the ghost of fists. "Black Sun." He echoed.

As the anger burned hot, another feeling coiled low in his chest. Shame. He knew those kinds of syndicates too well, had run with their sort when he was a kid, leaned on smugglers and scum when he had no other choice. Even worked with Black Sun itself at one point. For half a second, he wondered if the dirt on his own hands made him any better. He shook the thought off, anger flashing plain in his eyes before he tore them from the view to settle on her.

"Doesn't sit right. Having a target painted on you because some syndicate wants to make a statement. They should've been put down before it got this far."A thought struck him then, sharper, unfiltered. "Does Aether know about this? Maybe he can help. Protect you."

The words came quick, matter-of-fact, without a second's pause for what that might mean - Mandalorian warriors stepping into Republic politics. Ramifications didn't cross his mind, and if they had, he wouldn't have cared.

However, his worries slightly eased when she mentioned self-defense, his gaze stayed on her, a little longer than before. A beat passed before he gave a short nod, voice lower, grittier.

"Good. You're smart to train. Half the time it isn't about winning... just surviving long enough to make it out. Most nobles don't bother with that kind of thing." The respect there was rough-edged, but it was real.

The lift gave a soft chime as it slowed, the transparisteel view widening to show the expanse of the palace grounds beyond. Sunlight spilled across manicured gardens and wide stone walkways, it looked like something from a painting. Ace shifted at Sibylla's side, brow ticking as his gaze lingered on the green spread below.

"Gotta say... you know how to make a guy feel special." He quipped dryly "This your go-to for every tour you give?" he muttered, dry but not without a hint of curiosity.

Tic chirped at the sight, pressing his lens against the transparisteel as if he couldn't wait for the doors to open.

Sibylla Abrantes​

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

​

Acier Moonbound

Sibylla's gaze lingered on Ace as he spoke, reading the tension in the clench of his jaw along with the rough edge of his words. She did not flinch from hearing him name Black Sun, nor from the shadows it stirred in him. Instead, she inclined her head with quiet gravity as the lift came to a stop.

"… I have not relayed these attempts to Mand'alor Verd, no. ," she answered simply, although a thought came to her that may she should have?

The agreement between the Mandalorian Empire and the High Republic did state that the Mandalorian would provide additional security services to members of State… but honestly Sibylla hadn't even considered herself as one of them. At least within Naboo soil to need Mandalorian protection.

But maybe she should inquire for official Assembly duties outside of it?

"Anytime I am working within Mandalorian Space he has already offered more protection than I could have asked. But Naboo must walk carefully. Too much Mandalorian Beskar in Theed and suddenly the Assembly whispers of occupation." Her lips curved faintly, not unkindly as that was the annoying aspect of perception that Sibylla was working on mediating.

"Politics and perception are their own battlefield… but I will speak to him of it. Thank you, for bringing that up."

The lift chimed, sunlight spilling through the transparisteel as the city unfurled in green and gold below. Sibylla's expression softened as she caught his dry remark, her mouth tugging into an amused smile.

"Special? Perhaps. But not every guest earns the view," she teased lightly, stepping forward as the doors parted. The gardens lay open before them, fountains catching the light, blossoms drifting on the breeze. Even the air smelled sweet.

She turned her head toward him, hazel eyes bright in the sun.

"I also hope the training does help. I've come to learn firsthand that there will be times where I will need to depend on myself to figure out situations. I can't expect to just stay still and hope for assistance. That could very well be the difference between life and death… either for me or others around me."

Just like when she had stepped in front of the slug meant for Aurelian's head. Had the pilot not stepped in to use that barrier… well… she wouldn't be here today.

Tic's eager trills drew her from her reverie, and she asked Ace," So what sort of training do you do then?"

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Naboo - Theed

Equipment:
Training Jumpsuit | Lightsaber | Modified DL-27 | Tic

Ace followed the ambassador out of the lift, her words about Aether still lingering in his mind. She'd actually considered it, asking his brother for help. The thought stirred something he couldn't quite pin down. Relief, maybe? Gratitude? Maybe even a faint pulse of pride.

"Yeah, politics." He shook his head. "Doesn't matter to me how it looks. If you're in danger, you should have the best protection. My brother's good at that. One of the best." There was no hesitation in his voice, the consequences didn't matter, only the outcome.

The gardens opened wide before them in sunlight and color. He slowed without meaning to, taking in the fountains, the smell of blossoms, the way everything felt alive. For a second, he had no words, just the faint tug of awe still breaking across his face before he caught it and smothered it with a scoff.

"Oh, so it's gotta be earned?" he muttered, dry but playful. "Wonder what I could've possibly done to earn it." He flashed her a grin.

When Sibylla continued to discuss her training, his eyes lingered on her. Watching the steadiness in her eyes, before giving a small nod. The more she spoke, the more he learned about her - Ace felt the respect continue to grow, as well as the draw he felt toward her. He didn't like Nobles but there was something about her that made him feel at ease, she was quite unlike anyone he'd met before.

"Training helps... but sometimes it means nothing without experience." Ace paused, letting his statement hang before continuing "But it sounds like you're already speaking from it."

Ace left his statement open, not wanting to pry but showing her that he saw her. Understood her. If she wanted to pick up on it, it was her choice to make. In the meantime, he moved on - answering her question regarding his own training. His lips pulled faintly, almost a smirk.

"As cliche as it sounds. Life. Life gave me the foundation to fight, then a Jedi saw me with a lightsaber and decided it'd be smart to teach me to noy accidentally kill myself. Or someone else."

He rubbed the back of his neck, averting his gaze briefly before letting out a low and dry chuckle.

"Now? I guess war is my training." The words left him too quick, heavier than he'd meant, and his jaw tightened before he added, "Figuratively." It sounded flimsy even to him.

He looked at her then, longer than he meant to. His gaze lingered on her eyes, on the sunlight catching in them, before he forced himself to look away with a sharp exhale

Tic chirped loudly at a drifting blossom, hopping close to the fountain's edge like he was about to topple in. Ace shot the droid a flat look before letting out a joyful chuckle.

Sibylla Abrantes ​

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

​

Acier Moonbound

Sibylla let his words about the Jedi settle as they walked, the warmth of the gardens brushing against her skin like a balm. Yet beneath the sunlight her thoughts strayed unbidden to another. A Jedi once, though he had turned from that path.

Lysander.

The ache was duller now, no longer the raw wound it had been, but it was still there. She missed him. Missed the sound of his voice on the comm. Missed reading his quips. Missed talking to him. Once, even the faintest buzz had set her heart racing, bracing for his name. Lately she had almost stopped expecting it. Almost. But not entirely. She still caught herself hoping. Wondering if he was safe. Wondering if things would ever be as they once had been.

The thought flickered across her face before she could stop it, softening her eyes with something wistful. She quickly drew a breath, pulling her composure back around her like a veil.

"I can only presume that a Jedi's balance can be a gift," she said quietly, as if completing a thought, "and that sometimes it costs more than it gives."

Her gaze broke away, alighting on Tic tottering near the fountain's edge, and she seized the distraction gratefully. A clear laugh escaped her as the droid trilled at the drifting blossoms.

"Careful, Tic. Naboo's fountains are meant for flowers, not for droids."

Her smile lingered as she turned back to Ace, though there was still a faint echo of that earlier shadow in it.

"I am sorry, Ace, that war is now the training you are expected to practice for. " she murmured quietly.

"But perhaps it is better to be prepared than caught unaware to begin with. "

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Naboo - Theed

Equipment:
Training Jumpsuit | Lightsaber | Modified DL-27 | Tic

Ace caught it. Not just the flicker across her features, but the ripple beneath. The Force brushed against him, faint but steady. Like a shadow of something she carried deep, smoothed over with courtly poise. He didn't know the details, but he knew the weight. Loss. Ache. It pressed faintly at his chest until he forced himself to let it go. Almost.

When Sibylla spoke of balance, a shadow cast over his already dark eyes. Like he was reliving a difficult memory of his own.

"I… wouldn't know about that." He muttered. "Was only ever taught the basics. Enough to swing a lightsaber, feel someone's emotions. Balance, though..." He shook his head faintly. "I still struggle with it. Every day."

His voice roughened, the words dragging out of him slower. "Truth is, I don't even know if I've got it in me. Some days it feels like I'm just… one step away from--"

Falling. He was going to say 'falling' but Ace caught himself again before saying too much. The ambassador had a strange knack for being able to get him to lower his guard. His walls. Luckily Tic managed to save the atmosphere from growing too heavy.

Ace smiled "He really likes you, y'know." A chuckle followed "Think it's 'cause you give him as much attention as I do."

The ashen haired teenager's smile faltered when Sibylla apologized for the circumstances of his training. Ace shook his head, as if to tell her not to put too much thought into it - then he looked forward.

"Better me than someone who isn't ready for it."

He glanced at her, his gaze lingering a little longer than he meant to again. There was an intensity to it, yes, but it was tempered by something else: tenderness and empathy, the kind of look that said he saw more than her polished composure. Tic's trill at the fountain tugged him back, but he didn't look away this time. Instead, his voice dropped, quieter, edged with that hesitation that came whenever he risked prying.

"…That ache you were feeling back there, whatever it was. " He said, the words rough but careful. "You don't have to carry it alone."

The words sat between them, heavier than he'd meant, but he didn't snatch them back this time. No deflection. No sarcasm to soften the edge. For once, Ace let the truth stand bare: an offer of compassion, plain and unguarded, in a way he almost never allowed himself.

Sibylla Abrantes ​

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

​

Acier Moonbound

Sibylla did not miss the shift in Ace's tone. She understood it more than she cared to admit. Doubt had a way of clawing its way into the mind, festering like worms in the dark. Was that not why she herself still wrestled with the question of where her own path truly led? Where she was meant to go?

So when the conversation turned, she was grateful. Her lips twitched faintly upward at his remark about Tic's fondness for her.

"Mmm… well, he is also a distinguished guest," she quipped softly.

But the levity faltered when Ace added, almost offhand, that whatever ache she carried did not need to be borne alone.

She slowed to a stop among the fountains, her gaze fixed on the water bubbling and frothing in the sunlight. To anyone else, she might have looked simply contemplative. In truth, she was chastising herself. She had let her guard slip too easily.

A Jedi's training made it difficult to keep such things hidden. To feel another's emotions was like tugging away the veil she so carefully held in place. She did not blame Ace for noticing, but it left her unsettled, as though under the scrutiny of a magnifier.

"We all have burdens we carry, Ace," she murmured, her words careful, quiet. "Duty. Responsibility. Expectations. And all that comes between."

The ache beneath remained hers alone, too private to share. Not yet.

When she turned back to him, her smile had shifted into the polished warmth of a practiced diplomat. But there was something else there too, a softness at the edges of her hazel eyes, a trace of sincerity that slipped through despite her best efforts.

"Thank you for checking on me," she said gently. "I am all right."

It would just take time.

And for a moment, Sibylla almost believed it.

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Naboo - Theed

Equipment:
Training Jumpsuit | Lightsaber | Modified DL-27 | Tic

Ace noticed when she slowed among the fountains. The way her gaze fixed on the water instead of him, shoulders set just so. Body language that told him he'd nudged too close to something she didn't want touched. His chest tightened, a flicker of regret slipping in.

He'd overstepped. Not only that, he read her feelings without consent.

"I'm sorry." He said, voice low, rougher than before. His hand dragged over the back of his neck, eyes slipping away from hers. "That was invasive. I didn't mean to… sometimes I just catch things. Can't always shut it out."

He let the silence hang for half a breath before glancing back at her, steadier now. Sibylla was right - about bearing your own burdens. It was something he knew better than most.

"I hear you. Just… you ever need someone to talk to, someone that doesn't hide behind fake smiles and all that?" Ace's brow ticked, the faintest flash of a wry grin, "I can be a good ear."

The words lingered between them, heavier than he'd intended. He could feel the quiet stretch, pressing in on his ribs. What he'd just said sounded like a line from a cheesy holodrama. Embrassing. Still, some part of him meant it, more than he cared to admit.

Ace exhaled sharply, forcing the tension out with the breath, and dragged his gaze across the gardens. "Anyway…" he muttered, his tone shifting lighter, "This is beautiful and all, but, think you can show me what you Nabooians do for fun? Don't tell me it's all polished stone and fountains here."

Sibylla Abrantes ​

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

​

Acier Moonbound

Sibylla listened, her expression softening at Ace's apology. She inclined her head slightly, a quiet gesture of acceptance.

"I know it is not easy to keep such things at bay," she murmured. "And I will keep in mind your offer."

When he shifted the subject, she allowed it, her lips curving into a small smile.

"Fun, you ask? Well, that depends on what one considers fun. There are museums, gardens, and a walk through Theed's cafes if you are inclined toward something tame."

Hazel eyes would then flick toward the sunlight glimmering across the palace lake, and her smile curved into something wry with a note of mischief.

"But truth be told, I prefer the water. The lake is beautiful when you cross it... especially if you go fast."

She looked back at him, a hint of mischief brightening her hazel eyes.

"Think you could keep up with that, Ace?"

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Naboo - Theed

Equipment:
Training Jumpsuit | Lightsaber | Modified DL-27 | Tic

Ace's brow arched at her list - museums, gardens, cafes. His mouth pulled faintly, not quite a frown, but enough to show the thought. Passive. Pretty. Too still. Fun like that wasn't built for someone like him.

Tic, though, Ace caught the little droid trilling at the mention of gardens, lens tilting like he was already picturing himself scuttling through flowerbeds. Of course Tic would fit right in. He'd fit in anywhere. Explorer droid and all.

Then she mentioned the water. His eyes tracked toward the lake, sunlight glinting across the surface, and the shift was instant. The deflation eased, replaced by a crooked grin that mirrored Sibylla's mischevious smile.

"Keep up?" He echoed, voice carrying its usual dry edge. "Think I like this side of you, Sibylla.

The grin lingered a moment longer before he shook his head, tone flattening back into something closer to neutral. "Question is, though… how exactly are we testing this? Nabooan luxury skiffs? Or do you plan on throwing me straight into the water and seeing if I drown?"

He gave a low chuckle, the sound carrying a rough edge of amusement. "Either way, I'll play. Just don't act surprised when you end up losing."

Sibylla Abrantes ​

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

Acier Moonbound ​

Sibylla's expression softened for a moment before a spark lit in her hazel eyes, the flecks of gold catching in the sun. Competition suited her.

She glanced back at her guards, then back at Ace as if weighing her options.

"Hmm... touring skiffs, perhaps. Not quite as thrilling as racing skiffs, but they can still move at a satisfying pace." Her lips curved into a mischievous grin. "Come on then, let us see what we can find."

Tic chirped excitedly, trundling ahead as though he had already chosen his champion, his trills making it perfectly clear where his bet lay. Sibylla's skirts swirled as she led Ace toward the waiting airspeeders, one already set aside for her use.

She gestured for him to join her, slipping inside. The guards took their places at the front, separated by a transparisteel barrier, leaving Ace and Sibylla in the back with the luxury of privacy.

Settling into her seat, she turned toward him, her smile lingering with playful curiosity.

"So tell me, Ace... what do you like to do for fun?"