{log} and yes they'll ask you where you've been

[cailisairgid]

Though Nuada has approved (if grudgingly) of the belongings that Nuala acquired from Luke and Lilia, with Lilia preempting her with a visit, she hasn't used the pinpoint herself yet. Instead, it's sat mostly untouched on the dresser in their room - until today, when she collects it as she breezes out of the inn to run her errands.

It still takes her a few minutes to properly figure out how to make it do what she wants it to, but she was paying close attention to Luke's explanation and shortly after she's taken care of the rest of what she needed to do (there is always busywork to be done, and she's without handmaidens or servants here), she's waiting for the jarring ring to reach him. While she waits, she meanders towards the gazebo where they'd first met.

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[knightbalanced.livejournal.com]

Luke is pleased to hear from Nuala - he's told Leia about her, of course, though she's always the same about his new interdimensional friends (somewhat bemused, if happy he's not brooding away somewhere, like he could be). He's dressed up a bit nicer this time, having been spending the last two days in endless meetings. He says he's bad at being a diplomat, but the truth is, he's a sharp, intuitive military planner and his serene nature puts people at ease. It works, as long as he doesn't have to play any hardball politics.

"Hi!" he greets with a smile, gloved hand raised in greeting.

[cailisairgid]

"Hello again," Nuala beams warmly as she joins him (in a new properly tailored gown and with more certainty to her step, if not much less weighted than she was the last time they spoke). She's carrying a bag with her, presumably to take what she collects from the nexus back to her inn. "It's wonderful to see you looking well," she says, approvingly, holding her skirts in one hand and coming up the few stairs into the gazebo.

[knightbalanced.livejournal.com]

"You as well, Princess Nuala." He offers her his hand as she steps up into the gazebo, polite-- "You look like you're getting the hang of this place!" He's genuinely pleased. Her fragility is still present, but she seems much further from the brittle edge of breaking, and her smile suits her.

[cailisairgid]

With another smile in thanks as she takes his hand to step, "I believe that I am! I celebrated, recently - and I have something for you, from that, a small thing."

'Delicate' and 'fragile' are words that will likely always follow Nuala, but it's easier to see how she perseveres when she's not so close to slipping again.

[knightbalanced.livejournal.com]

Luke knows very well not to judge a being based on apparent delicateness; he himself is small (shorter and a bit slighter than Nuala, even), and often underestimated that way, amongst a thousand other examples.

"Oh? You didn't have to get me anything!" it's sincere, though definitely not ungrateful. It's clear he's not the sort of person who does things to get payback.

[cailisairgid]

Debts repaid can be extremely serious business, Luke Skywalker - but Nuala really only wanted to say 'thank you' in a concrete way. She waves a hand, sitting down and taking her bag in her lap and picking through it to find Luke's gift. "It is my own work - I was already seeing to something for Lilia."

Nuala produces two small matching down pillows, deep blue with discreetly embroidered constellations (of course), adding her explanation shyly, "The other is for your sister. They'll give you only good dreams."

[knightbalanced.livejournal.com]

He sits on the same bench with her, angled far enough away to be polite and not encroach on her space, (that diplomatic bootcamp he got run through is coming in handy after all) conceding not unpleasantly with a nod.

"Wow!" sometimes he's just a dork, too. He takes one, running the fingers of his left hand over the detail work. "You made these?" he grins.

[cailisairgid]

Properly glad that he's pleased with them, Nuala nods, setting her bag down to one side now and clasping her hands. "Such skills should come in very useful soon," she says, with a touch of wryness, "as we're rather without funds here."

She might not be used to fending for herself quite so much, but she doesn't complain about it, and Nuada's been wandering this way for thousands of years without her. For the time being, she puts her faith in their ability to thrive if they set their minds to it.

[knightbalanced.livejournal.com]

"They're beautiful. Thank you." He smiles. "Leia will love, too, I know it." Actually Leia will probably look at him like he's insane, but whatever.

"That's not a bad living," he says, of craftsmanship. "Before the war I did a lot of mechanics work to earn money."

[cailisairgid]

Nuala inclines her head with a warm expression, turning a little intrigued. "My brother is a little more familiar with it than I am-" she pauses, briefly, quickly clarifying, "I did find him." And let's just move past that, now, "You have not always been a warrior, then?" She thought as much, and it's nice to collect these details about a person she can't read like another.

[knightbalanced.livejournal.com]

Luke catches that, of course, and she probably notices his eyebrows go up - but he's going to be polite and let her lead the conversation.

"No," he admits. "I was given to my aunt and uncle when I was a baby, and raised on a farm- a moisture farm, I understand not many other places have those, but Tatooine is such an arid planet that without it, we'd go without water entirely."

[cailisairgid]

While she doesn't falter, she does avert her eyes when he raises his eyebrows. Instead of dwelling, Nuala tries to envision a place like that - it's certainly nothing like the places she prefers to go. "I had thought you seemed different, but - so much here is different to what I know."

[knightbalanced.livejournal.com]

And now it's Luke's turn to flicker his gaze away. "I am different, I guess." Sore spot, apparently. He looks back at her: "What's your home like?"

[sleaairgid.livejournal.com]

Well, that certainly was interesting.

The pace remains casual as they leave the gazebo's general vicinity. Nuada walks with his chin raised and his arm bent beneath his sister's fine hand, his other hand gently, but firmly, holding hers in place. To the passing observer, however few there may be, this appears to be nothing more than a relaxed stroll through one of the Nexus's many parks—and so it is. Mostly.

"You seem to have settled neatly into these new surroundings."

[cailisairgid]

Interesting is certainly a word that Nuala would tactfully use to describe that encounter; she steals a glance at Nuada when he speaks, humming thoughtfully as she chooses her response. "I suppose I have," she murmurs an agreement, looking ahead. "I had an idea - to speak of settling - that I'd like very much to discuss with you. Unless there was something-?"

Understandably, she's rather hoping to derail him with her own topic of choice.

[sleaairgid.livejournal.com]

"Ah, do you?" He passes her a mild look... well, mild in that he's not openly scowling. "Tell me, then, I would gladly hear it."

Yes. 'Gladly'. The prince isn't so easily derailed, not really, but perhaps this a testament to his efforts not to get up his sister's nose about every little thing. He's still thinking about it, though—especially their hands, hers and Luke's—and smouldering quietly about the seeming secrecy of their meeting. As though Nuala is somehow obligated to tell him about everything she does before she does it.
(Well, she should be.)

[cailisairgid]

Nuala hasn't quite decided yet if carefully not specifying the nature of all her errands was actually a bad idea or even a possible miscalculation. Maybe it's better to ask forgiveness than permission. Maybe she shouldn't have to ask for either. This very instant, at least, she pretends not to notice his mood and instead warms to her subject.

"Well, we cannot go on as we are forever-" talk fast, Nuala, before he gets the wrong idea, "-and I thought perhaps we might consider the notion of opening a store, here? You were always so very clever with your tools, and I have my handicrafts - in this place there simply must be those we could employ for the storefront." She adds, a little shyly, "I think I would like it, and such an endeavour would be a wonderful thing for us."

[sleaairgid.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, the beginning does immediately cause a moment of deep suspicion, but before the quick breath he draws can be used to protest, she goes on, and the subject becomes clearer. Still, now he wears a slight frown, as such moments are always quick to form and slow to dissipate; the feeling lingers like a lump of ice in his belly, and so chills the tone of his voice.

"Would it, now." See?

[cailisairgid]

"It would," she says, firmly, faltering only for a very brief instant, tipping her head to regard him almost anxiously. Perhaps she should have waited until he was in a better mood to raise the subject - but at least they're discussing this, instead of Luke Skywalker.

Thus, she rallies and goes on, transitioning smoothly into their own language, {It would do well for us to have some manner of occupation.}

[sleaairgid.livejournal.com]

«Mmm, perhaps so. But a shop...» So much menial labour involved, even to manage it. He's more than accustomed to working, of course, but striking out in the world, fending for oneself, with a noble purpose and a goal in mind (however slaughterrific), is to him a far cry from opening a stall in a market somewhere. And he is, in many respects, an enormous snob...especially when it comes to his sister. «No, I think not.»

[cailisairgid]

{Nuada,} she protests, disappointed. She rethinks her immediate query - does he have a better idea - in case he takes it as an invitation to argue, and debates her next move for a moment, putting her free hand over where he's still holding hers to his elbow. {Even we must begin somewhere, my brother, and why not a shop?}

Because, Nuala, you are a princess and your brother has Opinions taller than he is. Still, she's refusing to be entirely discouraged just yet.

[sleaairgid.livejournal.com]

«No. Serving the common people does not at all befit you.» He walks in silence for a time, looks up at the sky without changing the tilt of his head, glances sideways at his sister. His gaze drops to their hands, and his dark lips tighten. Finally, Nuada sighs. «What, or who, put this idea in your mind?»

[cailisairgid]

Caught out, Nuala thins her lips and stares ahead of them without answering for a time, tapping her fingers agitatedly against the back of his hand. {I needn't serve,} she says, only not sulkily due to many centuries practise at comporting herself. Finally, {It was my own idea, only Lilia made a few little suggestions that I might consider when I brought it to you.}

[sleaairgid.livejournal.com]

Lilia. Right. The...stitches and honey girl. This doesn't particularly help Nuala's argument, but, as usual, she chooses her words so carefully that slipping past the dark barbs of his mood becomes easier for her than anyone. Voluntarily touching his hand doesn't hurt, either.

He is silent for a time, and frowning either in agitation or thought (or a combination of both; he's good for that). «What suggestions?»

[cailisairgid]

{She suggested that we could include books - perhaps old books well-restored - and that we ought to have hardwood flooring and warm lights. Wide windows, to display.} She thinks, recalling the other things Lilia said. {I'd like the books, even if only for myself. It'd be a pleasant occupation and I do so enjoy them. I didn't want to get too far ahead of myself, of course.}

She has an explanation - a true one, even - if he asks after her speaking to Lilia, which may or may not help matters any.