Objective: Back to the Noble Life
Location: Junko’s Palace, Atrisia
Outfit:Casual Palace Attire
Tags:
Junko Ike
"Twenty-two?" Supisy came to a complete stop for half a second. Not because the bamboo forest was confusing. Because that number was.
She stared at Junko. Then held up both hands as though attempting to physically count hidden villages.
"Twenty-two secret settlements." A beat.
"Princess, at what point does it stop being a hidden fortress and become an entire hidden civilization?"
She resumed walking, shaking her head with amused disbelief.
"I thought I was getting a tour of an island." Her eyes narrowed dramatically.
"Instead I've apparently been dating a small nation." The moment the words left her mouth she blinked. A beat. Then another.
"...Visiting." Her grin became absolutely shameless.
"I meant visiting." Not a hint of remorse accompanied the correction.
The explanation of the White Current earned a thoughtful hum.
"So not enchanted." Supisy gestured vaguely at the bamboo surrounding them.
"Just reality being politely persuaded to stand somewhere else."
She nodded.
"That's somehow worse." A laugh escaped her as she carefully followed the markers.
"One day I'm going to learn enough about Atrisia to stop being surprised."
A glance toward Junko.
"Today is clearly not that day." As Junko continued, however, Supisy found herself listening more closely. The joking quieted. Not vanished. Just softened.
Her people. The Twi'leks. The refugees. The Chiss. The Zeltrons. Worlds that had been given room to become something more than survivors. She knew what survival looked like. She had spent most of her life in its shadow.
"You know," she said after a moment, her voice quieter than before,
"most places that take refugees talk about what they can get from them."
Her fingers brushed one of the bamboo stalks as they passed.
"Labor." A small shrug.
"Taxes." Another few steps.
"Population numbers."
Her blue eyes shifted back toward Junko.
"You talk about what they can build." The smile that followed was small but genuine.
"I think that's why it works."
Then, because she was Supisy Blen and sincerity could only survive so long without being rescued by mischief—She pointed accusingly at Junko.
"For the record, I am deeply suspicious of your answer." A brow rose.
"Twenty-two hidden settlements and not one dedicated entirely to silk?"
Her gaze dropped briefly to Junko's clothing again. Then climbed back up.
"Statistically impossible." She moved a little closer as they followed the path through the bamboo.
"I refuse to believe those miraculous fabrics simply appear." Another step.
"They're either woven by an elite order of silk artisans..." A grin.
"...or they're harvested from some rare Atrisian moon-spider that only emerges beneath starlight."
She tilted her head.
"Honestly?" A thoughtful pause.
"Both sound equally plausible at this point."
Her shoulder brushed lightly against Junko's as they walked.
"And if there is a secret silk village, you should just tell me now." Supisy's smile widened.
"It'll save me the trouble of eventually trying to sneak off and find it myself."