forceblinded

[forceblinded]

REBECCA FERGUSON as LADY JESSICA DUNE (2021) dir. Denis Villeneuve

#❛ profile / rein li vale. #❛ profile / arkken palamin. #hate that this works for both of them actually !!!

[forceblinded]

Stoic, this one — that much Rein can already tell. A ripple in the Force tells her the other's in pain, or at least severe discomfort. Her fall must've bruised her, or perhaps her captor's hands administered the pain well before then. She thinks not to ask. The pain is there, and knowing its cause won't change that, for now, there's little to nothing she can do about it.

More useful to her now is the name given. The Jedi nods slowly before returning hers: ❛  Rein. I’d say “it’s a pleasure” under better circumstances.  ❜ Only the ghost of amusement touches her face, for this was ( and is ) no laughing matter. This area in its entirety does nothing but promote a sense of dourness in her, in fact, so she nods towards the entrance.

❛  Shall we leave before your captor comes back with a new group of friends, then, and get you to your ship at least? It may not be home proper, but I hope it’ll take you home so you can recover from … all of this,  ❜ she ushers with a vague flourish of her right hand. The other clips her pike onto the strap across her back in the meantime.

The offer of payment is denied and Brianne wonders if a true good samaritan stands before her — or perhaps her order simply disallows it as she hears it does much else. Not that she gives time concerning herself with the Jedi. Coruscant’s Financial District is rightfully situated far enough away from the Jedi Temple to not cross its members’ paths. In any case, she doesn’t push the subject and takes the hand offered and releasing it after hoisting her weight back up on two feet needing to trust the ground's stability once more. 

That same hand raises to the back of her neck, fingers gingerly climbing up through hair that felt like it was being yanked from her scalp. Some strands fall when she pulls it away, one causality while no doubt the others — her body's soreness — will be felt soon enough. 

“I’m quite alright, I...” Hesitation causes the banker to pause, her head shakes and the disbelief lingering sets eyes to blankly survey the dusty ground. A palm presses against the back of her hip and she winces. Yes, there’s the pain from that fall. “So very foolish of me to wander alone.” Oh dear. Her father’s contact. No doubt that meeting is considered missed. “Anyway. I really do appreciate it. Oh, I’m Brianne, by the way, and yes, I'm quite far from home.” 

#prvtocol #❛ thread / rein li vale. #❛ setting / main. #❛ timeline / fall of the republic. #SDJFJSF finally ... normal introductions. sorta #anyway sorry for taking literal months w this; #it vanished and i only found out in the middle of moving 💀

[forceblinded]

Her unease remains — despite the other's gesture, not because of it. In her permanent state of touch-deprivation, she's somehow gone from yearning for it to recoiling from it. Nevertheless, she wills herself to remain still; to not withdraw out of sheer unease, out of thinking it wrong and disobedient to indulge herself just for a moment. Has she not seen Jedi amongst themselves hold each other in moments of duress? Has she not seen them shed a tear for the lives lost during their campaigns against the forces of evil?

She has. Why, then, can she not allow herself a moment of comfort and an expression of pain without feeling like she's not only betraying herself, but the very tenets of the Order?

Arkken of all people always told her she took the Code too literally. His consequent defection only proved to her that it was he who didn't take it literally enough — and now it's all she can cling to; this rigid demand of herself to be the picture of tranquility, to be unmovable in any possible way.

Mourning Keldra was in direct defiance of that. Letting Keldra into her heart at all was even more so, in fact. Thinking of it now cements that conviction, however unfair she feels it is.

Rein sighs at length, startled from her spiralling thoughts by the mere mention of her name. She supposes now of all times would be the right moment to drop the formalities, if there ever was a right moment for such a thing. Those unspoken rules, too, she tends to obey without objection.

She quiets herself at last, and finds relief in the absence of the shaking along her shoulders and the overly audible sobs. In truth, she could remain here for hours, being held with her face turned aside and its pained expression invisible ... She won't, but she will permit herself just another moment leaning into the now tear-stained fabric along Padmé shoulder. If she must talk, she will — but she will be a coward whilst at it, and not share the discomfort on her face. She can't.

❛  Thank you — for your kindness.  ❜ The jitteriness to her voice is no longer what it was mere moments ago, but noticeable it remains. Rein tries not to think of it as a weakness she's not meant to show. ❛  I don't know which fear to discuss. There are so many ... I fear for my family; I fear for Arkken; and I fear for myself. What'll become of me when I face him, after all he's taken from me already?  ❜ She pauses, albeit only barely. ❛  That thought alone is something I'm not meant to have. We're not allowed possessions, or possessiveness. I just keep getting caught in this cycle the moment Arkken and all he's done come to mind.  ❜

it's alright, she had stated, words brought over from her tongue to rein's knowledge in a note so soft that padmé almost found herself seamlessly believing in it. and in a way what she'd said was true. circumstances considered, the 𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥 at bay for the time being, gentle breezes and pleasant sort of silence cradling them were indeed making space for much needed consolation. once the dawn would come, everything could once again turn upside down and claim whatever goodness and hope was left in them; the only stable element in these dark times was companionship that'd likely be something that couldn't be broken by anything or anyone coming from the outside. a relatively short time of the acquaintanceship between the two torchbearers had been built on solid grounds, mutual understanding and care creating a foundation so strong that it had caught the senator by surprise, admittedly. even at its current state, rein's former master who'd succumbed to eternal darkness wouldn't be able to tear it apart. this would, later on, turn into both a source of strength as well as something to lose.

however, the only thing either of them could lose here and now would be sleep. hours had flown by fast and daytime simply seemed to be too short for their ambitions, observant minds unable to embrace the sparse moments of rest. in a long run this could launch a kind of 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐥 that would make them both easy targets. in this very moment padmé couldn't even imagine scolding the one whose entire being appeared to be held in the grasp of unspoken sadness, but instead focused on holding her close and running her hand soothingly up and down along the jedi's back. after all, sleep wouldn't come easy before emotions so strong would be softened.

it had quickly become clear that the woman in her arms wasn't used to being held this way; she hadn't moved in a way that'd suggested discomfort, but leaning into the touch took enough time for the senator to understand how much meaning and importance the embrace could have later on, as a memory.

eventually rein's lips parted and the sadness in her voice was almost enough to bring a lump in padmé's throat. finally her kindred spirit leaned into the touch and voiced more reasons behind long silenced vulnerability — there was hesitation and the kind of desperation she couldn't be able to describe in any known word. closing her eyes, padmé took a calming breath, relieved by the knowledge of finding 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 through layers of conflicting thoughts. ❝ i would have come along whether or not you'd asked me to, rein, and i surely could've left at any time, had i so desired ❞, she assured softly, ❝ i want to be here. ❞ ever rebellious. ❝ this isn't about me, it's about you. please talk to me, you can't keep bleeding on the inside. put your fears into words. ❞

#alootus #❛ thread / rein li vale. #❛ setting / main. #❛ timeline / clone wars. #oop sorry this took a min! the move to italy took everything out of me LMAO #and now i'm technically without internet so ... hotspot pls pull through for the gals here

[forceblinded]

She was ready to sweep it under the rug again. She'd had her moment, her gale of emotion, and it passed — or she would've made it, at least. That was and is Rein's idea of relinquishing her emotions in favour of that sought-after tranquillity she and her peers must master. She realises well enough that this doesn't mean she must never feel a single thing; may never shed a tear — and if it does mean that, then she feels that it shouldn't. Agree to disagree, as far as that's possible when arguing with something as all-encompassing as the tenets of the Code.

Either way, she knows what awaits when she lets in all that stirs her to tears. The enormity of her grief won't come for her softly. It'll crash down on her like a sandstorm, a rockslide, a tidal wave and an avalanche all at once — a natural disaster of a scale she can't possibly weather again. It took her months to climb out of the darkest recesses of the aftermath last time and, in truth, she knows she isn't in the clear yet, either. For the only light at the end of the tunnel to be the mere possibility of crushing the root of all her problems ... no, that doesn't suggest she's doing fine now.

She's not fine. She may never be again. In a way, she's at least reconciled herself with that fact — and that, in itself, is fine. She has work to do; a purpose to fulfil, larger than she is.

But still it takes all but a touch, all but a 'hush,' to undo the patchwork plastered across her pain. Grief indeed doesn't come to her softly, but the senator does — and in the face of that, Rein finds herself utterly defenceless. For all its simplicity, the impact of the gesture is profound, shaking the walls she's built around herself down to its very foundations. It splits, cracks, and crumbles and, ipso facto, so does she.

It's all right. Is it? She doesn't think it is, but she doesn't have it in herself to fight her companion on it. Instead she simply sits in her unease and her sorrow, both sensations swelling within her as that hand touches her face. She can't rightfully remember the last time she was touched in any capacity beyond what required self-defence; beyond what would leave her flesh tender and bruised for weeks to come.

She has half a mind to lean into it, but doesn't. She couldn't. It'd leave her and the particular type of starvation she's survived so far even more painfully exposed than it already is. All the more convenient, then, that she's pulled into an embrace — and one where her face isn't visible. It's then and there that she realises she's ashamed of feeling anything at all, even in the presence of one she's come to realise is so wonderfully human; someone she feels would accept her grief, rather than condemn it.

She inhales sharply, choking back a convulsive gasp and attempting to still her breathing. A deep inhale of the fragrance of the other's hair soothes her by virtue of distraction, but it's no match for what comes pouring through the recently opened floodgates. ❛  I can't.  ❜ Her arms, heavier than rolled sheets of durasteel, sluggishly lift from her side, where they'd hung sedately so far, just for her hands to find purchase on the senator's upper arms. ❛  If I start, I'll ... I'll —  ❜ She lowers her forehead to the jut of her companion's shoulder, turning her tear-stained face away. ❛  I shouldn't have brought you here and ... dragged you into this. I'm so sorry.  ❜

swallowing down the sounds of sobs was a skill like any other; it required practice in order to become a permanent part of one's repertoire, which meant that 𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰 would have to often visit a person who'd yearn to wield such power. or at least that's what the senator had found herself thinking whenever inexplicable sadness conquered her each and every cell, which was more often than she'd ever been willing to admit out loud. hoping that no tear would roll to waste, that something useful would come out of it. then again, she was quite an emotional soul, taking more matters to the heart than what was healthy. there were some moments she could remember when she'd unexpectedly managed to replace the sorrow and frustration with another mood, but whether or not those minutes spent by successfully holding back the watery vision had actually made a foundation for something more grand, she couldn't tell.

so yes, almost anyone could learn how to push aside the natural urge to relieve potential stress by fighting against tears — but concealing everything else that such strong emotion often did come with was easier said than done. breathes, shivers, shifts in tones of voice... the list could easily turn endless. whether or not rein had ever tried to 𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 the secrets that'd lead her towards the mask that'd hide a saddened face from every other being, padmé didn't know, but what she did know was that the sound that'd just now reached her ears was an unapologetic sob. weeping was humane, and so was her answer to a wordless call of consoling the mourner.

quiet steps brought her closer to the figure she'd come very familiar with during the past few weeks. a sound breath was drawn as an attempt to make sure she wouldn't startle rein, and gently placed the palm of her hand on the jedi's shoulder. it had taken a while for her to find the other woman; abandoning logical way of thinking and solely relying on feeling is what had eventually led her here. 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 oriented mindset had no room in this moment, that much was clear. what she was here for was to not offer potential answers , but to simply be there for rein and hold her ever softly as she deserved nothing less.

taking a seat next to the saddened one, a worried frown bringing a crease between her brows, padmé shook her head. ❝ hush ❞, she mused almost huskily, ❝ it's alright. ❞ the warmth of her hand left rein's shoulder and moved to cup her cheek instead. her thumb brushed gently over it, not to wipe away a tear since the jedi had already tried to hide them, but to simply prove there was still something good in this day that'd clearly 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 a part of her companion's heart. more or less unexpectedly she then opened her arms and wrapped them around rein's shoulder line, pulling her closer to warmth and the faint scent of her floral shampoo. ❝ do you wish to talk about it ? ❞

#alootus #❛ thread / rein li vale. #❛ setting / main. #❛ timeline / clone wars. #well. uh. i'll be over here curled up in a corner after this monstrosity of a reply aJSDFJASDJ

[forceblinded]

@alootus / some meme i can't find anymore 🥴: [ 𝐒𝐎𝐑𝐑𝐎𝐖 ] ― sender hears receiver crying and approaches comfort them

She can't recall when last she shed any tears over this man, or the personalised torture he's exposed her to. In truth, she's begun thinking herself insensitive to it; numb to the lashes of his whip. It was the only way to shoulder the constant threat not only her life is under, but the precious few loved ones she has left.

And despite that, she simmers in the guilt she feels for putting those very same people in danger. Her own life she holds in low regard these days — she's expendable and needs no protection, but her family? Her parents, her brother, the innocents in the equation they've been inserted into? She's responsible for the repercussions they might suffer for her refusal to hand herself over to Arkken.

So she considers it for the first time, really considers it. Keldra already paid for her dogged determination with her life, and that's one person too many in Rein's eyes already. She can't push herself to ponder the matter with more feeling — at least not any feeling other than frustration, anger, even. If she does that, she'll never recover from it. She knows that much, at least.

But the alternative isn't much better. She's watching herself slide down a slippery slope now, leaning into the perception that it's solely injustice she's found in this life of late, and for what? What purpose does it serve, refusing to 'stoop to his level' — refusing to take the fight to him, to end it once and for all, one way or another ( either by letting the arms of her ire sweep her away at the expense of his life and her dedication to being good, or by losing that fight, and surrendering to his will )?

The Jedi mires in her doubt for minutes, or perhaps even hours — long enough to dissolve her resolution to never again shed a single tear for him and the hurt he's dealt her. She thinks of her demise, whether in the literal or figurative sense, for the price she'll have had to pay for it. No matter which path she takes, her current form of stasis is unviable; she must move in some direction and end his reign of terror over her once and for all.

Rein is sat there, kneeling along the edge from the waterfall-dotted outcrop overlooking the spaceport. She thought listening to the ships coming in and departing again would provide her with some tranquillity by means of distraction, but she's had no such fortune.

Instead, in the pit of unfiltered emotion where her repose should sit, she finds only more of the former — and notwithstanding her resolve to abolish her sorrow especially, it's precisely that which returns with a vengeance. It washes over her like a wave across the shore at high tide, and in this moment, where she thinks herself alone, she sheds a tear.

And then another, another, another — and then a sob, try as she might to mute it.

She recognises the depth of her downward spiral only once a hand on her shoulder startles her out of it abruptly. Her left forearm hastily dries her eyes and her unfocussed gaze instantly falls from the source of said touch — jarring as it is. She feels a fool for appearing this way in front of the senator of all people. Was she not meant to be the picture of composure, circumstances be damned?

Self-chastisement aside, there is one thing Rein can't deny: she welcomes the approach, the broaching of her otherwise carefully guarded personal space. So she doesn't shirk the subtle squeeze to her shoulder; doesn't even try to get up. She even feels an urge to lean in towards it, somehow, but she remains still instead, kneeling still. Her eyes shut as she straightens her posture, facing the spaceport far below and ahead of her. ❛  I'm sorry, senator. I didn't think you'd find me here. I just ... needed a moment. A long one, I suppose.  ❜

#alootus #query / ic. #❛ thread / rein li vale. #well. that got away from me didn't it JADSJFJ #i am just so very !!!!!!! about this! them! AAAA

[forceblinded]

3 years later and my heart still aches for her.

reshop, heda.

#❛ portrait / rein li vale: the ace up your sleeve.

[forceblinded]

Senator Amidala has a point, indeed. Rein's eyebrows knit together in a thoughtful frown, her eyes pinned on the datapad as she considers their options. She fears they'll either end up wasting time by going, or missing crucial information by not doing so — likewise with any other leads they might come across. In an errant attempt at shaking off the increase of tension it yields in her, she shrugs off her obi and drapes it across the far end of their table. A quick finger at the collar of her tunic loosens the fabric there a moment later.

❛  No, you're right. We might miss something important if we skip our first lead. Maybe that's what he was trying to achieve with his ... antics, anyway.  ❜ Antics — the understatement of the century, but there isn't a single word in existence that could capture the sheer outrageous impertinence of his gesture effectively.

Wringing her hands, the Jedi sits back in her seat, heaving a sigh. It's at that moment that a waiter stops at their table. 'Ready to order?' The evident answer to that would be 'no', seeing as neither of them had touched the menu of yet, but in the interest of sticking to some loose semblance of a schedule, she leads: ❛  Jeru tea, please, and ... whatever you'd recommend on the lunch menu. Surprise me.  ❜ She's not a fan of surprises, actually, but apathy's forced her hand.

Only once her companion's ordered, does Rein speak up again. ❛  Perhaps – and I can't believe I'm saying it – we should speak of something else entirely, just for a few minutes, to ... create some breathing room.  ❜

the pause lingered and padmé realized she had been holding in a breath; she exhaled quietly, gaze shifting from the screen back to her companion who surely had 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 restless a heartbeat ago, but now even more so. with anxiousness being as contagious as the smile they had changed back in her office some hours ago, she took it upon herself to remain calm and reasonable. no good would come from letting the sense of panic conquer their each and every cell, there was no time for falling in despair no matter how desperate the overall situation might now feel. this man had obviously proven being much more cunning than what the senator had anticipated. a pair of orange eyes, a mocking gaze directed towards the camera had told more than any possible word could have. one step ahead.

as rein spoke, padmé's attention drifted back to the screen. ❝ yes, he went inside. if he has a tendency for these kind of... stunts, then maybe we'd notice the same pattern repeating itself in other recordings. he might be bluffing ❞, she suggested, a displeased crease appearing between her brows. they could only guess what was the truth here, but figuring out arkken would indeed have toyed with rein this way in multiple occasions 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧'𝐭 come as surprise. ❝ since you had a feeling about this place, i'd suggest we should pay a visit there in any case. it'd be foolish to leave the place unchecked considering how dangerous he is. we might learn something. ❞

a risky task, but what wouldn't be ? their destinies had already been spun in a plot orchestrated by a 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧 jedi. ❝ unless you suggest otherwise, of course. i know my solution-oriented take isn't to everybody's liking, ❞ padmé offered in a softer tone. ❝ and you know him better than i do. ❞

#alootus #❛ thread / rein li vale. #❛ setting / main. #❛ timeline / clone wars. #the MESS they're getting into !!! DSFJSFJ

[forceblinded]

Perfect timing. As the Weequay scurries off. Rein considers lobbing some particularly sour parting words his way before he's out of sight ( in a sense ... ), but she bites her tongue. His goading was nothing if not the dying breaths of his ego — crushed beneath the boot of one he'd not expected to come for him, bite down, and persist. She knows she shouldn't generalise but, really, all pirates are the same.

Once his presence is no longer felt, the Jedi's attention turns to the other stranger — the victim in and of this whole ordeal. Her expression is difficult to read, but Rein senses enough to make up for it. A trifecta of relief, bewilderment and fear are at play here. ❛ Pay me? ❜ Oh, she would think a rescue on a planet as this one would merit that. Infested with the scum of the galaxy it may be, but the she remains a mere passing element on it — and a Jedi, at that. What a poor one she would be for seeking a material reward for doing her duty.

❛ That won't be necessary. ❜ With that said, she outstretches a hand towards the other. Her calm has returned — for better or for worse. At least that age-old numbness hasn't quite set in yet; some measure of contented relief persists. ❛ You'll get back to your ship, don't worry — but first tell me: are you all right? Did he manage to hurt you in the scuffle? ❜

As if the fight might spill over into her lap, Brianne keeps her back uncomfortably pressed to the wall. Focus shifts and a clear thought breaks from the shake of her nerves. Run for it, leave behind both just in case the odds do not tip in her favor. Luck would have that the fight is fortuitously over before her body can even attempt to shift its weight back to her feet. 

With the lightsaber pressed uncomfortably close to his neck, the Weequay stays motionless where he fell. The mercy shown is perhaps an insult but internalized as another day to make a living. “Kriff. Fine.” Annoyed, he gruffly huffs, his hands raising in defeat as he tries to keep his whiskers from getting singed. “Kriffin’ jedi scum, putting your nose where it doesn’t belong. Just, loosen up eh? I’ll go.” Ungracefully, the lumbering pirate lifts himself up from the floor, hands held high as he walks backward towards the entry lobby. Before out of sight, a fleeting look of disgust is lobbed at what he lost still on the floor. So much for that paycheck.

Wide eyes hold onto the disbelief culled by the lack of time to process everything. They shift to her company, who stands resolute in accomplishment. A second passes and only then does she let the breath she’s been unknowingly holding onto release, but it’s shaky and destabilizing, forcing her palms to brace her against the dirty floor in a half-thought to get up. That was too close. "I'm so terribly sorry about this," her small voice barely manages, trying to not lose it. Hold it together, Brianne. "What an inconvenience this all is. But thank you. I can repay you, I just...I need to get back to my ship."

#prvtocol #❛ thread / rein li vale. #❛ setting / main. #❛ timeline / fall of the republic. #toodlepip u ugly pirate!!! u were taking up too much space SDFSF

[forceblinded]

She hears something's off about the senator's observation. Surely, her eyes didn't cheat her — maybe the screen glitched, or the camera had malfunctioned? Rein waits a moment, considering her own discomfort now that it's sunk in that the Arkken's presence is confirmed beyond any doubt. Between the unease and the eagerness to learn of what's caused her companion's tone to shift towards the end, her mind already charges off towards preliminary conclusions.

Arkken was never the type to get into anything ill-prepared. He would've known he'd be observed by the city's surveillance systems — so what if this is all a trick? What if, somehow, he thought so far ahead, that he knew she'd assume Kul's Speeder Works would be his first stop? Her mind's about to spiral when the senator suddenly wedged a shard of ice between her racing thoughts.

Rein can see him, somehow, just in the confines of her mind. She remembers how his slow fall had darkened his eyes, turned those warm browns to a shade nearer to flaming orange. She can vividly imagine them looking straight into the camera overhead.

Her attention snaps towards her companion. Before speaking, Rein deeply inhales. ❛ The bast — man is one step ahead of us. Does he go inside Kul's Speeder Works at all? If not, we'll need to broaden our search. He'll have been smart enough to know our next stop would be the shop to question Kul. ❜

evil could take many shapes and forms, and from many the underlying maliciousness didn't radiate so clearly, if at all. with a deepening crease between her brows, the senator studied the 𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐞 before her, holding the offered datapad tightly in her hands. on the outside, arkken could have been just another person under the countless suns and moons. he appeared normal — just a soul among the others. had padmé not been granted with the kind of information she now had about this person, the smile in the picture could've easily been contagious enough to bring one on her lips as well. now there was simply a frown to be seen, still lingering on her features as she tilted her chin and nodded to arkken's former padawan with an understanding hum. no unnecessary commentary was being made here, simply a sign of acknowledgement. a face for a name that'd soon haunt on them both.

tucking a curl of her hair behind her ear while eyeing her companion, padmé remained silent, taking a note of each word rolling from rein's lips. soon her attention shifted back to the material obtained form the more or less reluctant security forces, browsing through the files in order to find those they might potentially benefit from based on hunches ( which in this case were just as valuable as any other means ), unviewed 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 opening before them. ❝ pinnacle passage... just a moment. ❞ mere seconds of searching passed until reels of interest were found and padmé began viewing them.

it took a while but it appeared they were lucky; or as much could be expected as a familiar-looking person stepped into the frames. the senator was about to speak, her frown only becoming more clear, and then a 𝐰𝐚𝐯𝐞 of discomfort washed over her. ❝ he was there. last night, i can see him ❞, she spoke, a shift in her tone acting as a prelude for what was to come. ❝ he's looking into the camera, rein. ❞

#alootus #❛ thread / rein li vale. #❛ setting / main. #❛ timeline / clone wars. #the way you caught me SO off-guard with that last line 💀

[forceblinded]

Clarice Lispector, tr. by Ronald W. Sousa, The Passion According to G.H.

#❛ profile / rein li vale. #🫤

[forceblinded]

finally catching up w ahsoka on disney+ and i'm screaming abt sabine having to train blind ... it's giving major rein vibes during her early days of training w her miralukan mentor ( my darling aurelia fenn 💞 )

#ooc. #i'm vibing hard to this scene rn

[forceblinded]

The task before them could prove insurmountable. Rein’s aware of that, and the dark cloud overhead only deepens in shade as the realisation sinks in further. Nevertheless, they have two minds between them. Only one pair of eyes that can make do with any of the visual information, unfortunately, but two minds nonetheless. To that end, hers instantly prompts her to actually familiarise the senator with the image she should be looking for. Out comes a datapad — the somewhat dated kind with physical buttons. She uses those to navigate to a particularly well-hidden folder in her gallery by sheer force of muscle memory, and pulls up a picture of Arkken.

It's several years old, dating back to one of many times they'd been sent after Sith artefacts. He stands below the wing of his ship in the captured shot, its shadow casting a sharp line across his face. He's smiling, too — not the sardonic, humourless kind she last remembers seeing on his face before he took his sight, but a charming, satisfied one. She remembers it well as she holds out the datapad for the senator to take. ❛  I figured it would be good to know the face we're looking for, to start.  ❜ A ghost of amusement sweeps across her face in recognition of the obviousness of her statement.

❛  But to actually answer your question,  ❜ she preambles, gazing past the rim of the other's hood in passing, ❛  let's try out a couple of hunches first. Hopefully, it'll save us time, rather than cost us more of it.  ❜ Again she pauses, bringing her hands together in the wide sleeves of her obi. ❛  I'm assuming he wouldn't have brought his ship to my parents' home, or close to it. Their neighbourhood is too quiet for such a large ship not to tip them or anyone else off. So ... if I were him, and thinking like him, he'd have made for a speeder rental service. Do we have any eyes on ... Kul's Speeder Works, by the southern border of Kaadara? Kul's fleet of speeders is kept out back, where the sand dunes start; the entrance, I think, is on ... Pinnacle Passage? ❜

a mortal shell could only carry the person so far; should they keep brushing aside necessities such as eating and resting, no good could come in result. with the 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 of rein's beloved ones now secured in the best way possible, it was a perfect timing to take care of oneself before diving even deeper into the matter at hand, search for the roots that'd rather lead them to arkken and not the other way around. he surely wasn't the very first monster ever walked underneath these stars, no, but admittedly the senator hadn't quite realized the true capacity of the maliciousness this man had been storing for many moons — how far he would go in order to have the final word and seal the fates of those who had become targets of his most twisted obsessions. the picture painted of him inside of her mind was, after all, solely based on what she'd heard so far.

a fresh breath of wind would be highly appreciated after the negotiations despite the easily achieved mutual understanding between all parties. padmé offered a nod, ❝ agreed. ❞ the hood of her 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 cloak was soon lifted to rest on top of her curls, ❝ i think i know just the place. ❞ but oh, how strange it was to be here now, not to visit home, to see those lovely nieces she'd missed dearly, but to simply pass by before standing up against injustices. to let her mind dwell on homesickness any longer than necessary would be out of the question.

one recording at the time could easily make one feel as though the pile of work would never reduce. it could take much longer than expected yes, but at the same time any piece of information would be not only of great help, but educational as well. arkken must've been here in multiple occasions and they could learn some 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 information by going through the offered data, frame by frame. ❝ i would rely on your instincts in this one. shall we begin analyzing the recordings chronologically or do you perhaps have some... feelings we should follow instead ? ❞

#alootus #❛ thread / rein li vale. #❛ setting / main. #❛ timeline / clone wars. #time for a trip down memory lane before all else i guess !!! JDSFJS #(celine dion vc) it's all coming back to me

[forceblinded]

Cathy Park Hong, Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning

#❛ profile / rein li vale. #oof

[forceblinded]

Rein dodges the blow, albeit only barely. She can feel the rush of wind generated by the blow overhead, tousling the strands that had come undone during the scuffle outside. Instead of instantly rising to her full height again, she spins around her axis while crouched, extending one leg to sweep the pirate off his feet before he can think of kicking her in the chin. In the flash of that moment, she recalls how slow she'd been after being blinded — both due to the disorienting lack of sight as well as her own persistent lack of confidence in any of her movements. That could've yielded her a fractured jaw in a moment like this.

As it stands now, however, she hears the thump of dead weight falling to the floor before she sees it. Up she jumps, pike in hand and once more alight. She decisively swings the plasma towards the man's neck. ❛  I won't say it again. Let her go, and I'll let you scurry off to regroup in your little rats' nest and lick your wounds while you're still able to.  ❜

Her patience is wearing thin, she feels. It's a treacherous thing to become aware of. She drops her shoulders some, willing herself to take a deep breath and release the tension accumulated in her muscles. ❛  This needn't end poorly. Get up, and run along.  ❜

The Jedi’s curt reply results in the pirate’s large hand pressing harder against the bottom half of her face. With it, Brianne’s head gets pinned firmer to his broad chest that the back of her wavy hair sticks to the weaving of his thick vest. With his palm and thick digits’ covering her mouth and occluding her nostrils, it becomes difficult to breathe, causing her to turn her chin upward for air. Likewise, no slack is given to the blaster pointed at the side of her head. Brianne is frightfully aware that this already dreadful situation grew more dire; that the Weequay is threatening to kill her if this do-gooder doesn’t depart.

A fool not to believe him. 

And so, compliant she stays, putting up no struggle, making no sound except her breaths that become laborious. Despite a turned vantage point, she can tell he’s weighing his options, shifting her weight with him to peek down the corridor and perhaps thinking to depart through the same door of entry. It is then that the terror of it all breaks from her already gloss-ridden eyes. Tears well over and drip down her cheeks and over his hand, further blurring her sight as her heart shudders amid its desperate beats. He's going to kill her.

She did not see the Jedi’s swift entry nor did the pirate. His wrist snaps with the hit, and the blaster falls to the floor, relieving one point of contact on her head and slackening the other hand from her mouth. “Kriff!” The pirate mutters, flinging his dead weight ( Brianne ) aside as his good fist swings at the Jedi to take her down. And down Brianne goes, her knees wobbly, her hip hitting the floor. Wincing, she attempts to crawl away, her back ending up fastened to the room's back wall lest she be caught in the scruffle.

#prvtocol #❛ thread / rein li vale. #❛ setting / main. #❛ timeline / fall of the republic. #oop i dropped small font btw – i admittedly need to get my eyes measured jisdfjs but for now this is just easier to read for me SJDFJ #i'm also kinda powerplaying bc lbr who wants this dude around ... not me !!!

[forceblinded]

A wry chuckle leaves the Jedi. It's not entirely void of amusement, but it dies swiftly under the heavy burden blanketing the entire occasion that is their joining of forces. ❛ Well, asking was the least I could do. I wouldn't want to stake more of a claim on your time than deemed proper. But thank you ... again. ❜ Oh, to be proper — well-mannered around those she holds in high esteem or otherwise cares for — is a staple of her character that the senator will soon come to recognise as being typically Rein's. Nevertheless, she's in no position to decline the help she herself asked for, no less. Had she not, and had she not trusted the senator to be as genuine as she does appear, perhaps it would've been a different story.

Such as it is now, though, Rein welcomes the undertone of relief diluting the banging drums of anxiety deafening her from within. Although senator Amidala's optimism doesn't quite change the silent dread she tries so hard to subdue ( as fear must find no purchase in a Jedi ), her note of confidence is appreciated. Perhaps it can do the heavy lifting on both their behalves in that respect.

The mention of food does nothing to her empty stomach other than upset it. She hasn't eaten since last night — which should surprise no one if she were to only share it, given that she'd received Arkken's threat the second her alarm stopped ringing. Instinctively, a hand reaches towards her abdomen, as if that'll rouse a sense of appetite in her. It doesn't. Nevertheless, the senator herself should eat. There's an opportunity for it now, and Force knows how often she might find herself to busy for it. Rein's also not about to deny the other their late lunch after the help she'd provided so far. ❛  Of course. I don't assume the canteen here would have much appetising on offer ... Perhaps somewhere outside, towards the commercial district?  ❜

considering how much there was still to be done in order to secure the safety of the knight's beloved ones, a thank you seemed somewhat undeserved at this point in time. all the while they indeed had managed to persuade the 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 forces to lend a helping hand to those who truly needed it, the threat was still just as real as it had been before their landing; arkken's obsessions and inexplicable wrath towards his former padawan learner still existed, looming in the shadows around them even now, weaving dark webs in wherever the daylight couldn't quite reach. the access to some valuable data as well as the promise of protection could soothe a wounded soul only so much. after a lingering touch, both of padmé's hands found their way clasped in her front, gaze still set on the woman beside her.

❝ yes, of course. you wouldn't have needed to ask, ❞ she hummed in response. they were in this together now, after all — padmé would never leave something so important 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐟𝐰𝐚𝐲 done, not if she could decide for herself and most often she could. no other matter weighed as much on her inner scale than their current mission and she intended to keep the promises made back on coruscant. ❝ we will find him. ❞ one might deem her overly optimistic, and perhaps she was as the threat so far was but a collection of stories bound into an image of a person she had not met ( and once she would, she'd likely find herself hoping she hadn't ), but allowing herself to fall in the trap consisting of all that could possibly go wrong wouldn't bring them any closer to victory. it had become very clear how 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐬 the person they were tracking was, and he'd only gain more and more confidence, should no counterattacks occur.

❝ how about we take this to a place with less hassle ? i am sure one of the meeting rooms would be available upon request. and we must have something to eat too, it's been a long day. our work won't be efficient if we both simply keep going to a point of exhaustion, no ? ❞

#alootus #❛ thread / rein li vale. #❛ setting / main. #❛ timeline / clone wars. #u don't realise how stoked i am for them to REALLY get caught up #in an utter shitstorm💀

[forceblinded]

Rein remains in the background for most of it — visible, but quiet. It makes more sense for the senator to do the talking her; to address the people she once herself led as their queen, and therefore their direct superior. It's a lesson in diplomacy, in a sense, and one in negotiation. As someone who more often than not works alone and chases inanimate artifacts, she doesn't oft have a need for those skills — but her interest remains piqued all the same.

Come the end of that talk, she senses some measure of relief through sheer knowledge that her parents will not be left unguarded. A retinue will be dispatched within the hour, and in total secrecy at that. Their protectors will be near, but invisibly so. Nevertheless, that brings her no nearer to knowing where Arkken is now. And so she does chime in at length, daring now to insist they grant her access to the data concerning the comings and goings of those who'd arrived on Naboo in the last forty-eight hours. Under the senator's watchful eye, the officers caved, albeit on the condition that she view the data only under their supervision. Never has a ping from her comm sounded as comforting as it did in the moment after that conclusion, signalling the arrival of her temporary access codes.

The hand on her shoulder grounds her. ❛ I feel ... somewhat more at ease. You've bought me some time. Thank you, ❜ she professes, nodding once. For the sake of reciprocation and the sudden need she feels for it, she braces her hand atop her companion's forearm whilst her hand still sits on her shoulder. ❛ I have some data to get through now. Recordings, too. Would you ... feel inclined to help me? ❜ Her touch is relinquished as she vaguely gestures towards her eyes. ❛ I know having a pair of better eyes will help me pin Arkken's location down a lot faster. The details on video are always ... somewhat lost to me. ❜

as ready as we'll ever be would have been something padmé could've easily found herself stating, had the question been presented to her instead. convincing the security forces and providing them with 𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 concerning enough wouldn't be a problem, she mused in confidence — the matter at hand was not only serious but threatening as well, especially when eyeing the foreseeable future. though arkken was now targeting a singular person's family members, who was to say he wouldn't take a leap further, should he succeed in his devious plots ? it was a risk that naboo as a whole simply couldn't and shouldn't take.

preparing herself for the upcoming trial of wits, padmé studied potential signs of nervousness and general anxiety from rein's features, ❝ we will not rest until the desired promise of protection is given. ❞ a pause. ❝ yes. i believe in our success without major difficulties. ❞

though some persistent words and cleverly formed sentences had indeed been a necessity when 𝐧𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 with the captain second to queen neyutnee ( or one of the new, doubtful advisors padmé had not met before, to be more exact ), one could say the meeting had been wrapped up in good terms. the relief on the senator's face was much more apparent than it'd been to her liking, had there been something near for her to see her own reflection through; having most vivid and layered emotional life often threatened to reveal her true feelings, which hadn't been a problem when she'd been a decade younger, in all irony. then again, expressing joy regarding their success was only natural and there wasn't a malicious pair of eyes following their every move, not now, not here.

an empathetic smile tugged at tinted lips as padmé raised one hand, only to place her palm gently on rein's shoulder, offering it a 𝐬𝐨𝐟𝐭 squeeze. ❝ the fight may not be over yet, but this should offer some peace of mind, ❞ she spoke, ❝ how are you feeling ? ❞

#alootus #❛ thread / rein li vale. #❛ setting / main. #❛ timeline / clone wars. #word !!! #but now the real hands-on challenge for rein begins 🌚 pain inbound!!!

[forceblinded]

Rein takes comfort in the senator's promise — if she has a right to consider it that. Such assurances do come across as vows in a way. Semantics aside, she has faith in her companion's intentions. She radiates a sense of goodness that sets the Force astir around her in a manner most welcome. She fully expects it to turn away from its gentle thrum and into a deafening beat once she nears Arkken. Last time she saw him ( quite literally at this ), his effect on the Force's flow around her was overwhelming. Though stronger now, she wonders what it might do to her this time.

The thought spontaneously scatters after a while, as the landing pad came in sight. She wishes she could take in the sights fully; to see the green hills rolling off into the distance, and the sandy structures with their large windows. She sees only silhouettes now, all in a tint of grey bordering on blue. She can hardly remember the last time she felt quite so bothered by the limitations of Force Sight — by what Arkken inflicted upon her.

When prompted, Rein gets up, pulling her tabard straight. Now there's work to be done, she regains her stone-faced self and nods firmly. ❛ As ready as we'll ever be, I believe. ❜ Her voice almost tremors. Almost. ❛ Let's have a chat with ... whatever captain is second or third to queen Neyutnee. I'm hoping we needn't climb higher up the hierarchical ladder than that. ❜

in the moment it felt as though the bond between the two would only grow. it was impossible to foretell how long it would last, how long their souls would remain in this 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 before moving onto the next one, or whatever they may believe in, but stars, if padmé was grateful to have met this person. even though it was pressing, urgent matters that'd made their fates entwine, all of it had turned oddly comforting. it felt like there was something larger than life that'd guided them both here, something the senator couldn't quite explain, but appreciated it nevertheless. there was this warmth and determination about rein that seemed to go well together with the qualities padmé herself had. it was likely they would keep cooperating in the future as well.

a gentle hum left the senator's lips, ❝ you could say that, yes. never one without the other. ❞ all of it was a part of human life, she mused to herself. with a silent exhale she left the 𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 aspects behind and focused on what was waiting ahead of them. even though padmé believed firmly in the goodness of those they were soon about to meet, there admittedly was some tension lurking in the shadows, rousing questions of the kind they didn't need answers to.

the situation rein's family had been unwillingly pulled into was everything but ideal, everything but natural. no time to be wasted, yet there was no denying how big of an impact setting one's foot back on naboo's soils would have especially for a person who'd never thought to feel it again. ❝ it won't be easy. but we'll do everything in our power to make sure they're safe ❞, she spoke with 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, ❝ you're not alone in this. ❞ soon they reached the familiar atmosphere and after a smooth landing padmé rose from her seat and adjusted her clothing, ❝ are we ready ? ❞

#alootus #❛ thread / rein li vale. #❛ setting / main. #❛ timeline / clone wars. #ur honour i love them ...