Private Ready to Run

[Persephone Dashiell]

​

Persephone escaped into the night air from the massive structure, feet taking the steps quickly. It was only when she was half way down did she realize the wineglass was still tight in her hand. Head craned back and forth, as if deciding what to do. No way she was going back into the grand halls.

Great, now I'm stealing.

Thinking quick, she carefully descended down the stairs in her heels once more, impressed at her own speed in the back of her mind. As she approached the end of the steps, the teenager approached a valet standing in the circle drive, awaiting for patrons to exit the gala. Throwing on a smile, Persephone did her best ditzy socialite impression.

"Here." Hand thrust the wine glass toward the valet, the poor kid barely older than herself looking confused. "I was just drinking and drinking and looks like this one tried to come with me. You know how it is, start gossiping with the girls and next thing you know..."

Persephone gave a very fake laugh, one that hurt her ears to hear. Yet the valet was so stunned he just looked at her then the wineglass then back up the expansive of steps. At this point she was using that little dumbfounded look as an escape route. Heels clicked against cobblestone as she ushered herself away from the scene of the crime. Really she should have waited near the steps for a ride but that was unwise.

Kiran Arlos may have come upon her.

Instead Persie thought it wise to walk down the sidewalk, knowing she saw a small cafe on the way in to the gala. From there she could arrange for Zee to meet her and get the speeder they arrived in on. A perfect plan.

Not that she didn't like Kiran. Maybe that was the problem. He completely violated her trust on Life Day and she had been upset ever since. The idiot knew the rules, knew she had already stretched to bring him to the event, and then acted brazen. It was a complete violation of her trust and the effort she put in to even get her adoptive parents to be comfortable allowing anything regarding a boy.

More than anything it hurt. Hurt to realize Kiran was no different from the others. Hurt to know he completely disrespected their relationship. Yet she would cry later, alone. For now she was focused on leaving here and going to Kalinda.

 

[Kiran Arlos]

Persephone Dashiell
​

Kiran Arlos stood at the edge of the archway, his eyes following Persephone as she slipped out of the palace like the marble itself had finally become too heavy to breathe under.

He waited a few seconds longer than he meant to.

He was not even sure why. Maybe it was because he was working, because there were protocols and assignments and the part of him that still tried to be responsible even when his heart was sprinting. Maybe it was because he was afraid she would look at him with that same panic again, and he would not know how to survive it.

But he was not going to let duty become an excuse.

Not this time.

Kiran moved, weaving through the last of the doorway traffic and into the cool Naboo night. The air smelled like canal water and stone warmed by lantern light. His steps were quick but controlled, eyes scanning the circle drive, the stairs, the sidewalk that curved away toward the cafes.

He caught the valet first, because the valet was holding a wineglass and looking like he had just been handed a mystery with no instructions.

Kiran slowed just enough to keep his voice calm. "Did you see a really beautiful girl come by this way?"

The valet blinked, then pointed down the sidewalk. "I think she went that way."

"Thanks." Kiran was already moving before the word finished leaving his mouth.

He followed the direction indicated, picking up pace as the palace receded behind him. He could see her ahead, a slim silhouette cutting through lantern lit cobblestone like she had a destination that was more important than pride. She did not look back. She did not slow down. Every click of her heels sounded like a decision.

"Persephone!" Kiran called, voice carrying just enough to reach her without turning heads in the circle drive. "Hey!"

There was no reaction or pause. He swallowed hard and pushed faster.

"Please," he added, and he hated how raw that sounded. "Look, I'm sorry. It was stupid. I mean not kissing you, not that, but doing it how I did."

Kiran's chest tightened. He jogged forward, taking a slight shortcut to get ahead of her, and then he stepped into her path at a safe distance, not touching her, not trying to trap her, just making it so she would have to see him if she wanted to pass.

He lifted both hands a little, palms open. "Please! Just give me a moment!" He said earnestly.

"Okay," he said, breath uneven, eyes fixed on hers. "I'm an idiot, okay."

The words came out with a shaky half laugh that did not match the seriousness in his face.

"I don't really know how to do this," Kiran admitted. "I mean, I have some idea. I just...." He swallowed, forcing himself not to fill the silence with excuses.

He stood still, giving her plenty of space. "I'm not going to pretend I didn't mess up," he continued, voice softer now. "I violated your trust. I did." His jaw tightened as he accepted it fully, finally saying the part he had been avoiding. "It was where it happened. How it happened. What it put on you, not me."

His eyes flicked down to her hands,, then back up to her face. "I realized what it did to you," he said, quieter. "And I hate that I did that because I had a moment of selfishness." He took a careful step back, not forward, like he was proving he meant it.

"I'm not asking you to forget," Kiran said. "I'm not asking you to forgive me tonight. I'm just asking for another chance. One chance to do this the right way. Completely."

He hesitated, then added, almost pleading but still gentle, "If you tell me you want me to go, I will. I'll step aside and I won't follow you again." His throat worked around the next words, and when they came, they sounded like the simplest truth he had.

"But I'm here because I care about you, Persie. I don't want to lose you. I'm....so sorry."

Goodness, how many times could one say he was sorry, it sounded pathetic at this point. But he didn't care, she was for all intents and purpose, she was all he had. He didn't want to lose that.

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

Stepping along the cobblestones, it took a small moment to realize she was being followed. Being in a city, she expected the sounds of others. The night was young after all. Yet when Kiran called her name she was certain it was just a figment of her imagination - until he popped out of the bushes in front of her, looking as if he was trying to herd a frightened nerf back into a pen.

Crossing her arms across her chest, the teenager fell quiet. The worst she could do was merely listen to his pleas. Currently less of a plea and more of a a string of 'sorry' at nearly every other sentence. Even more pathetic was the fact it was in the street on her way to the cafe, a fairly active street at that. Someone stared as they walked by with a shopping bag, eyebrow raised.

Persephone was upset, but at least willing to entertain giving Kiran another chance. She didn't want to dismiss him because she did care about him but in her mind a line had been crossed. If he didn't respect her wishes then what was to say he wouldn't in the future? Possibilities swirled in her head, both negative and positive, as Kiran stood there pleading.

"Why did you even do it in the first place? You already knew I was on thin ice inviting you."

Kiran Arlos ​

 

[Kiran Arlos]

Persephone Dashiell
​

Kiran's throat tightened as Persephone's question sat between them, sharp and deserved.

He did not try to dodge it. He did not try to smooth it over with charm. He stood there on the cobblestones under the lantern light, shoulders squared but hands loose at his sides, and forced himself to tell her the truth even if it made him look worse.

"You seemed like you were a bit down during the Life Day dinner," he said quietly, voice steady but careful. "You just seemed distracted. Like something was sitting on your chest. I kept thinking maybe someone said something, or you heard something, and you were trying to act like it did not matter."

He swallowed, eyes flicking over her face as if he could still read the answer there. His expression softened, the kind of softness that came from concern and guilt tangled together.

"And I wanted to fix it," Kiran continued. "Not in a smart way. Not in the way you actually needed. Just… in the way I knew. I wanted to make you feel better. I wanted to remind you that you were not alone in that house."

His jaw tightened and he shook his head lightly, frustration aimed at himself.

"And yes," he said, the words more deliberate now, "I was being selfish. Because I wanted to kiss you."

He held her gaze, not flinching.

"I let my want completely disregard your boundaries and violated your trust.," Kiran admitted. "I knew the situation you were in. I knew what it cost you to bring me. And I still chose what I wanted in the moment."

A small pause followed, and his voice dropped another notch, quieter and more sincere.

He spoke just as a simple statement of fact. "I do not want to be that person to you, Persie."

"I'm just an idiot sometimes."

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

"So instead of opening your mouth and asking, you decided to just kiss these perceived problems away? Yeah, you are an idiot."

Persephone couldn't believe the words coming from Kiran's mouth. No thoughts at all, just vibes. Lips thinned as she mulled this revelation over. Was he just incredibly stupid? Seemed like it. Did she want to put up with something like that long term? Difficult to tell at this stage in her life. It was fine for now but not so acceptable in several years time when she was older and moving to the next stage of her life. Even now she was moving forward, moving to Kalinda and settling in for a new adventure.

Could Kiran keep up?

"Yes, you did violate my trust. In fact you shattered it. Remember I stated my trust percentage to you? Its not even there any more - you have no idea how long it even took me to try to convince myself to trust you. That you were different. Now you're showing me I was right all along, I shouldn't even bothered."

Harsh but it was the truth. When she had thought things were different only to have them be the same it was shattering. Especially after she promised herself not to be so stupid, here was was being stupid. Taking a deep breath, bright blue eyes bore into Kiran.

"My trust in you is nonexistent. Don't dare try to kiss me again." A small pause. "We can continue to be friends but your expectations should be minimal. I can't risk getting hurt yet again."

Taking a deep breath, Persephone allowed herself to be disappointed for a long moment until she flipped a switch. No time to wallow in her feelings while she was standing in the street like an idiot. The time to process would be well away from Kiran and his explanations. Arms uncrossed and her shoulders squared, focusing back on the moment.

"Did you want a caf before I leave the planet?"

Kiran Arlos​

 

[Kiran Arlos]

Persephone Dashiell
​

Kiran felt every word like it had been placed carefully against his ribs and pressed inward. It hurt, but it was honest hurt, the kind that did not come from cruelty. It came from consequences. From Persephone choosing to protect herself because he had given her reason to.

He nodded once, slow, letting the weight settle instead of trying to shake it off.

"I understand," he said quietly. "And I won't." There was no flourish to it. No bargaining. Just a promise stated plainly, because she deserved at least that much. When she offered the caf, Kiran's expression softened, a flicker of gratitude crossing his features before he caught it and kept it contained. He did not mistake it for forgiveness. He took it for what it was: a moment of mercy, a chance to end this with something steady instead of something sharp.

"I'd love to get a caf," he said. "Shall we?"

He turned and started toward the small shop, keeping his pace measured so she could walk beside him without feeling hurried or followed. Lantern light spilled across the sidewalk. The palace behind them glowed like a distant performance that no longer mattered.

Kiran kept his hands to himself, kept his posture calm, and kept his attention where it belonged. Rebuilding was not a dramatic gesture. Repair was not something you forced in one night. It was time, and consistency, and respect repeated until it became believable again.

He would get it right one day. Not by taking, but by earning.

He had too, he couldn't afford to lose her.

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

Starting down the street, Persephone knew how ridiculous she looked going to get caf in a ballgown. Not so crazy in her eyes - she had wanted to escape Kiran and besides, the ball didn't have any caf available. It may had been too early in the evening, some of these things didn't roll out until the last hour of festivities. Perhaps if she had stayed.

Gaze didn't even bother to flit over to Kiran Arlos . She was pissed. Livid. Yet all that was trying to just stay simmering under the surface. While she was upset, he didn't mean any real harm. He had been selfish, which still made her upset due to the effort it had taken to even get Kiran to Joiol during a family event.

"So, why were you at this party? Wanted to see the Chancellor?"

 

[Kiran Arlos]

Persephone Dashiell
​

Kiran kept his gaze forward as they walked, matching his pace to hers and giving her the space her silence demanded. When she finally asked why he had been at the party, he did not bother dressing it up.

"Nah," Kiran said, a faint edge of humor trying and failing to fully land. "I wasn't there to see the Chancellor. I was working. A few credits. Naboo pays on time and the clientele here do not usually start blaster fights in the middle of a ballroom, so it seemed like a decent gig."

He glanced at her profile for a brief second and then looked away again, careful not to push.

"Besides," he added, quieter, "I know you like these things, so I was hoping to see you as well."

He did not linger on that. He did not turn it into a speech. He knew she was pissed at him, and he also knew she had every right to be. The fact she was still walking beside him at all felt like something he needed to handle with care, not entitlement.

The café came into view like a small pocket of warmth carved out of the Naboo night. Light spilled through the windows, soft and amber, and the air smelled like roasted beans and sugar instead of polished marble and politics.

Kiran held the door for her without comment, then stepped in behind her.

At the counter, he ordered first, keeping it simple. Strong and sweet, the way he liked it, the way it kept his hands busy and his head from spiraling. He waited for Persephone to order hers, eyes on the menu board rather than on her face, letting her have control over the moment.

When the total came up, Kiran paid without making it a production. Not out of obligation. Not as an apology, just because.

And if he really needed a reason, he had one. He wanted to do something right, even if it was small.

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

"Oh yeah....High Republic tends to frown on turning these things into a nightly brawl. Now if we were out somewhere with the Black Sun...I would expect anything and everything to happen. Haven't been out that way in awhile."

No reason too. She had tried to enter a facility to grab some artifacts but was stopped by some idiots who treated her like small child. Persephone had decided it wasn't worth it and left. Best to just move forward and set her sights on other ventures.

"I don't really like these things. Just one of the activities I'm allowed to do."

Entering the cafe, Persephone let Kiran Arlos order first before getting her own. Something on the sweeter side with cream but still a strong caf taste. A balance. She wanted to protest when Kiran paid but it wasn't worth it. She was tired of trying to knock some sense in to him - if he wanted to pay let him.

"I'll be heading to Kalinda for a bit after this. Not sure what I'll be doing after, just letting you know."

 

[Kiran Arlos]

Persephone Dashiell
​

"Yeah," he said, keeping his tone light without turning it into banter she had not invited. "Black Sun does not exactly do dress code and decorum."

​

Kiran's brows lifted slightly at her admission, and for a moment his expression held something like surprise mixed with quiet regret. He had built a whole assumption on her liking these events, and now it felt obvious that he had been projecting what he thought made sense onto her instead of actually listening.

"Ah, okay," Kiran said softly, voice genuine. "I didn't know you didn't like them."

He nodded once, the pieces sliding into place in his head. One of the things she was allowed to do. That made more sense now. It was not enjoyment. It was permission. It was a narrow lane she was permitted to walk in public without raising alarms, and he had treated it like a playground.

Kiran's gaze stayed on his cup for a second before he looked back up, keeping his tone careful, respectful.

"How long is a bit?" he asked, honest and practical even though it carried a quiet weight. He did not want to pry, but he also did not want to be caught off guard and react badly later.

He hesitated, then added, cautiously, "If it ends up being a long time…would you be opposed to watching a movie sometime, or going for caf again while you are there? Or after, whenever you're back"

He let the words hang without pressure. It was an invitation, not a tug. Kiran smiled faintly as he took a small sip of his drink, letting the warmth ground him. When he set the cup down, his expression softened, sincerity settling in where nerves had been.

"I hope Kalinda is good to you," he said.

He held her gaze for a brief moment, then looked away again, giving her space to breathe.

"And you can call me if you want," Kiran added gently. "I know. Friends. Minimal expectations. But we can still talk to each other."

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

Shoulders lifted in a shrug as Kiran Arlos went through the revelation that she didn't appreciate galas or balls. They were droll, often attended by the same people, and followed a set of unwritten rules. Yet they were the only real type of 'party' deemed acceptable.

"You never asked to be fair."

When he asked again about Kalinda, Persephone also had no answer there either. Her parents had bought an apartment within very short walking distance to Kalinda University and it was being completely gutted and renovated. A consolation gift for having to back out of her dream university and head elsewhere. Persephone was headed to look over fixtures and tile and paint, having her hand in every decision. She was after all, going to be on planet for some time during her education.

"Maybe two weeks or so. Uh yeah, we can go to a holo or something. I'll have some downtime so come visit."

Mad she may be but Kiran was still her friend. She had wanted him to be something more but that had proved to be incredibly short sighted. Considering she had minimal friendships, Persephone thought it was best to bite the bullet and at least give Kiran another chance.

Sipping her caf quietly, Persephone heard a jingle of the door opening and Zee striding through.

[ Apologies for my tardiness Miss Persephone, it was a nightmare trying to leave. ]

 

[Kiran Arlos]

Persephone Dashiell
​

Kiran took Persephone's point without trying to wriggle out of it. The truth was simple, and it deserved a simple answer.

"True" he said, voice steady. "I should have asked, though." A small, earnest nod followed, and his expression held something optimistic instead of defensive. "I will do more of that in the future. I'm going to ask instead of guess."

When she finally gave him an answer about Kalinda, the tightness in his chest eased a fraction. Two weeks. That was manageable. That was not a disappearance into the unknown. Still, he kept his face calm, refusing to let relief look like expectation.

"Two weeks," Kiran repeated softly, just to anchor it.

When she said he could come visit, his mouth curved into a small, careful smile. Not triumphant. Not eager in a way that would crowd her. Just grateful that she was offering him any place in her life at all.

"Okay," he said gently. "A holo sounds good. I'll come by when you've got downtime. You tell me when, and I'll work around it."

The bell over the café door jingled, and Kiran's attention flicked toward the entrance on instinct.

Zee strode in with purpose, looking absurdly formal for a place that smelled like sugar and roasted beans. Kiran could practically feel the droid's self satisfaction from across the room, even before it spoke.

[ Apologies for my tardiness Miss Persephone, it was a nightmare trying to leave. ]

Kiran's eyebrows lifted. He glanced from Zee to Persephone, then back to Zee.

"You made it," Kiran said with a small smile., then he straightened slightly and addressed the droid with more politeness than he felt. "Everything all right?"

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

"It's not that big of a deal."

The subject of parties had never come up. Tonight Persephone was the face of the Dashiells just in case someone had a question about one of the charities. Lucky for her no one had seemed interested in speaking to her beyond the buy who was obsessed with shrimp. An interesting fellow. Hopefully the man was still enjoying his sea bugs.

"I can be free any time during those two weeks. Just stop by."

Persephone was headed to look over her new apartment. Pick the fixtures. Settle things the way she wanted. All small items she didn't want to focus on while trying to study and since her courses hadn't started yet, what better way to spend her time. Her credcard hadn't gotten a workout in awhile, and certainly not for an entire apartment.

[ Of course Mister Arlos. Many were trying to leave and as usual, a droid must wait their turn. It delayed my following Miss Persephone.]

Kiran Arlos​

 

[Kiran Arlos]

Persephone Dashiell
​

Kiran's shoulders eased at Persephone's dismissal, though he did not let it become an excuse to shrug the lesson off. He gave a small nod anyway, quiet acceptance paired with the kind of optimism he was trying to practice.

"Maybe not," he said softly, "But I still should have asked."

When she said she could be free any time during the two weeks, the relief he had been holding back loosened into something warmer. He kept it contained, but his expression softened, a careful brightness showing at the edges.

"Okay," Kiran said, and this time the smile that came was simple, sincere. "I'll stop by."

He hesitated, then added with gentle practicality, "I'll send a message first, so I'm not just showing up at your door like a stray took a wrong turn."

Zee's voice cut in with its usual formality, and Kiran's eyes flicked toward the droid. Kiran's mouth twitched, amusement tugging at him despite everything. He kept it mild, not trying to turn the moment into jokes at Persephone's expense.

"That sounds tragic, Zee," Kiran said, "I'm glad you made it though!"

"Have you got your apartment settled yet, what all are you needing?" Kiran inquired as he took another sip from his.

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

"I invited you, so how would you be a stray?"

A standing invitation was still an invitation in her eyes. Kiran Arlos had been acting weird though ever since he had a bright idea to kiss her. Maybe a lack of oxygen from trying to lock lips with her constantly. Who knew. Boys were odd little creatures and this was just cementing that fact.

[ Is that sarcasm, Mister Arlos? ]

If Zee was offended, he didn't show it. Instead Persephone answered the question on her apartment.

"Everything. Floors. Fixtures. Paint colors. I get the feeling my parents feel bad I couldn't go to the university I really wanted to attend. They are making up for it without saying as much."

 

[Kiran Arlos]

Persephone Dashiell
​

Kiran's smile flickered at Persephone's question, the corner of his mouth lifting like he had been caught trying to be too careful.

"I meant it more like I did not want to be inconsiderate," he said, voice gentle. "You invited me, yes. I just do not want to show up at a bad moment, or when you have your hands full."

[ Is that sarcasm, Mister Arlos? ]

"I was actually being very sincere Zee." Kiran said with a small smirk and nod. "Thanks for getting caf with me, Persie. I'm looking forward to hanging out again soon."

-Thread End-​