video : locked to the Heron

[diplomacme]

Who: padme amidala & you
Broadcast: video to the Heron
Action: on the Heron
When: right now

[ Padme is sitting at her desk when the feed opens. Her manner is businesslike but still approachable. ]

Good afternoon, everyone. For those of you who don't know me, my name is Padme and I've recently been promoted to first mate of the Heron. If you have any concerns or suggestions for the operation of the Heron, my door is always open. I'm also available as a counselor-- or just someone to talk to.

[ If anyone happens to be looking for her, Padme will be in her office most of the day, usually scribbling notes or reading. But her door is open. ]

Comments

[diplomacme]

[ She smiles, gesturing him into the office. ]

It's nice, actually. It's a little closer to what I do back home.

[reconstitution]

People are more likely to come to you for problems.

[ You at least don't look like you could murder someone at any given moment. ]

[diplomacme]

[ She laughs lightly. ]

I'm a politician by trade. I'm used to it, trust me.

[reconstitution]

[ He finally moves into her office, sitting in one of the empty chairs. ]

You don't look like a politician.

[diplomacme]

I hear that a lot. I'm never quite sure what that means.

[reconstitution]

All the ones that I've seen are old; and not very nice.

[ Understatement, but the truth. ]

[diplomacme]

There are politicians like that on the Senate as well. [ Or, you know, Palpatine. ] But there's a wide variety of people from different cultures and of different ages on the Galactic Senate. Though, admittedly, I am one of the youngest.

[reconstitution]

How many are there in your senate? You said 'Galactic', so it must be big.

[diplomacme]

Over a thousand, though the number changes as systems enter [ a brief pause, but one laden with sadness. ] or leave the Republic.

[reconstitution]

Do they do that often? [ There are so many questions, he's not sure what to ask, first. ]

[diplomacme]

More often than they used to. [ She sounds a little sad. ]

[reconstitution]

What does it mean.. when they leave the Republic? [ He has an idea, he just doesn't want to be right. ]

[diplomacme]

They usually join the Separatists.

[ She can tell that he's already piecing it together. ]

Our galaxy is at war with itself. The Separatists split from the Republic and created their own governing body. Any attempt at negotiation has been halfhearted. [ A beat. ] There are people who don't want the war to end.

[reconstitution]

There's always someone who doesn't want the war to end. War profits the stronger party.

[ It doesn't matter which world or galaxy, someone is always trying to conquer another place they deem weaker. Entitled sons of bitches. ]

[diplomacme]

It profits those who win no matter what.

[ Her expression darkens. An image of Palpatine surfaces. A face she'd trusted. A mentor. Her mind still can't connect him to the Sith. But she knows now. ]

[reconstitution]

It does. It doesn't make it right.

[ It's almost always a face you thought you could trust. ]

[diplomacme]

[ Darkly: ] No. It doesn't.

To be honest, being on the Fleet has been an adjustment.

[ No Senate meetings, no bills or motions to support or stop. No scanning for names of people she knows in the casualty reports.

But the Fleet gives her a sense of drifting, a lack of purpose she hasn't had in, well, ever. ]

[reconstitution]

It's..different. Feeling stagnant like this.

[ He knows better than some how useless the Fleet can make someone feel. There's no purpose or greater good. No missions or handlers or people to answer to. ]

But I don't think it's wholly a bad place.

[diplomacme]

[ A small smile spreads across her face. ]

No, it's not. I've had experiences here that I wouldn't have had back home.

[ Dancing with Anakin without worrying about appearances, for instance. ]

[reconstitution]

Me too.

[ Being a person, having friends.. Living without orders. It's all odd, but these places that they've gone wouldn't be found back home. ]

I'm glad for it.

[diplomacme]

I'm glad for the others too. [ People like Koala and Takeshi. Children from cruel worlds. ]

Have you ever been in space before?

[reconstitution]

This is my first time. In space or in one of these 'games'.

[diplomacme]

I can't say I've been in a Holonet show either.

[ Though she has been put in life-or-death situations for the entertainment of others, but that's neither here nor there. ]