Private Sprouts

[Auteme]

She found Amos first, bounding down the hall right into her arms, like he knew she had a treat for him, which she did. Next came the staff -- they'd been trying to trap the cat to make sure he didn't shed everywhere. They backed down after her assurance that she'd keep an eye on him, but in that way that grated at her, the way that her titles and such afforded her a particular sort of respect. She would have let him roam free, if she didn't also respect the appropriate hospital sanitation protocols.

And then the waiting room, and there she was, and Auteme saw the problem immediately. A paper takeout bag was thrust into Tansu's hands: pork buns and gyoza, easy and filling, somehow still warm. "Eat."

She sat next to her, giving Amos a few scritches, just long enough for Tansu to have dug in properly, before snagging a bun for herself. A treat from Coruscant; it'd be a while before she tasted it again.

"Y'know, I didn't know bacta allergy was a thing until I was like, a week from actually getting my degree," she said. "Very embarrassing for my supervisor. I thought it was something made up by people who did holodramas so they could have more dramatic hospital scenes, where you can, you know, touch the person without getting in the bath with them. I have a bacta allergy in TRAA. Sometimes, anyways. They did let Tithe in the bath one time."

She shifted Amos to be better in reach for pets from Su.

"So. Tell me about him."

Tansu Treicolt ​

 

[Tansu Treicolt]

​

Tansu had been staring at the floor, entirely unexpectant of any attention. She was so tired after so many sleepless hours that she jumped when the bag was suddenly thrust into her lap, the aroma the first thing to startle her senses, the sound of a familiar voice second.

"Wh—" What had her parents always told her about looking a gift horse in the mouth? "Aunteme!" She didn't know whether to hug her aunt or open the bag and rifle through it first. She opted for the bag rifling, given her elder's command.

She hadn't realized how hungry she was until the smell completely took over, and the soft press of her fingers to gooey tops gave way to perfectly roasted delights. She definitely drooled, and wiped it away with the back of her hand.

Auteme had the grace to regale her with an anecdotal reflection while she took her first few bites, giving her time to listen and not respond. She made a vaugely disgusted expression when she swallowed though, offended by the insinuation of the anti-bacta scenario in scripts. And shuddered rightfully at the idea of Tithe in a bath. That man had never not had white hair, right?

"Amy," she intoned, erring to sound disciplinary, "How'd ja get out?" The cat, of course, was complacent and unwilling to share any secrets.

"So. Tell me about him."

The suddenness of the question struck her. She didn't expect the ache that came with such simple, pointed interest. An ache born of a connection lost — she'd expected to giggle girlishly over crushes and boys with her sister after Atrisia but..that was no longer an option.

Regardless, Tansu still blushed.

"Talsin's wonderful." And set her half-eaten bun in her lap, leaning back in her seat and kicking out her legs to look at her toes for a moment. "He was one of the first people I met on Coruscant way back when, y'know. We hated each other at first. I accidentally bloodied his nose the first time we met." Her head tilted back, emphasizing the disdain and staring at the ceiling as if watching the memory of their heated collision like a holo.

"He wasn't wonderful then. He was an arrogant, pretentious, prick. Everything opposite from any boy back home, 'xcept for bein' well-mannered. And beautiful. He was the prettiest boy I'd ever seen.

But we hung out a bunch, all of us, and his edges smoothed down. He was still an ass time to time but his earnestness came through more 'n more.

Did I say his edges got less rough? I think it's probably better to say his walls came down. He was so used to keeping that side of him closed off because of the courts y'see, so," her toes tapped together "—I guess he got more comfy and showed more sides. And those sides were so great, Auntie." She rotated now, tucking her legs up and tucking them beneath her to face the former Chancellor to the side, all dreamy-eyed. The Tetan laid up in the hospital bed was her favourite subject, and she could have gone on and on. But she tried to keep it relevant and not give into her belly's warm flutter.

"He's brave, always steps into danger so others don't have to, lives by a strict moral code, stubbourn to a fault but I think that's something Pa would like, and he cares." Tansu fiddled with the bun. "He cares so much. About me, about —" And she knew why Auteme was here. She had to suspect it. "He cares about Talin. He really does."

Her eyes dropped.

"Even still."

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Auteme
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​

 

[Auteme]

Auteme smiled. “As a lover of some stubborn men, I approve.”

She let Tansu sit in that, for a while. That her sister was in her thoughts, even still, was a good sign — especially given the advice she’d given to Talin a few days before. There were things she wanted to say now, stories she could tell; she kept it simple.

“Have you talked to her yet?” She knew they hadn’t spoken since — the why remained unspoken.

Tansu Treicolt ​

 

[Tansu Treicolt]

​

Commiserative approval made her smile, broad, white and happy. All dimples and delight.

And then it fell.

"No." The answer came quickly, thoughtlessly. The why carried much more thought, and there were several beats before Tansu spoke aloud again. "No. I don't think I can. At least until Talsin walks out of here."

She didn't look away from Auteme, but her eyes became vacant and distant. Her mind travelled back to Atrisia, the memory of her sister ready to draw her pistol on her lover. Talin had been ready to kill him. To take his life. Tansu wouldn't have him anymore, nobody would — and for what? Talin's projections of Talsin's inception?

"She was ready to kill him, Aunty."

Another life taken thoughtlessly. Like aboard that space station over Coruscant. Tansu felt her lip curl back in disgust.

"She didn't feel like herself. I don't know who I'd be talking to, or what to say."

____________________________________________________________
Auteme
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[Auteme]

"Oh," but speech was overrated sometimes. She set down the bun in favour of a hug, the kind that enveloped body and soul alike; a kiss on the head, a back rub for good measure. She stayed there a little while, or maybe an hour, however long Tansu needed.

Perhaps it was ill advised to dig into another difficult topic so soon, but it'd serve as a distraction -- a bridge, a catalyst. She let Su start to eat again, if she still had the appetite, or a canteen for her thirst.

"What did you, ah, learn from Ta- Tilon," there were too many of them now, "that night. I know a lot happened, but- if anything stuck out to you."

Tansu Treicolt ​