Little Talks

[Kori Buor]

Sundari, Mandalore
​

It was a warm day in the capital city of Mandalore, the sun was shining and the wind wasn't too strong. Though, that looked as though that might change soon as dark storm clouds were gathering on the horizon. Looking up at the clouds on one side of the sky, and then turning to face the still brightly shining sun on the other, the armored Mandalorian smirked. Turning to his friend and companion he said, "Looks like the gathering storm is poised to crash against us and yet the sun casts its bright rays over us. That's the truth of it, isn't it? Let's hope that this storm is only a small squall, and that it passes quickly... though, I'm sure we would be capable of weathering it if it's not. We excel enduring such hardships."

Ral Vizsla had been talking to his friend about his adventures in the outer rim and what stories he brought with him. Such things were fascinating, and they helped give Ral some insight into the state of the Galaxy beyond the confines of Dominion Space. They were currently on one of the promenades that criss-crossed the city of Sundari between its numerous shopping plazas, financial towers, and other large commercial or industrial businesses. It was good to finally catch up with the man; they didn't get a chance to talk at the Celebration before Ral chose to step out, which led to a wild night he hadn't prepared for, but was still impossibly glad had happened. Now that he had some time, he chose to catch up with some friends and handle his business.

Ral's armored form stood by his battle-brother for a moment as the two Mandalorians looked out over Sundari, placing a hand on his shoulder, he said. "It's good to have you back, vod. Be sure to get your eye checked. Our techs have come up with a lot in the last five years!"

One of his Protectors approached at that moment and alerted the Mand'alor of his next meeting. Sighing, Ral nodded his acknowledgment back. "Now I have to clean up the mess you and the rest of you fools threw me in during the party. Just be glad something came of that debacle, otherwise I'd be in a far sour mood right now. Wish me luck, vod."

Turning now, Ral took a few steps away from the other man to where Evelyn Tenebris was waiting for him. It was enough to give them a semblance of privacy, and as a handful of Protectors maintained a cordon around them no one would be able to interrupt them. He had a lot of explaining and apologising to do, and he looked forward to none of it, but it was the right thing to do. "Evelyn," he said, smiling softly, "I'm glad you could make it."

 

[EmilyHuene]

The past few days had been an emotional pitfall for Evelyn. She was angry. She was sad. She was furious. She was depressed. Evelyn's emotions were all over the place and her mind was even more cluttered. The party had been an awful experience. It made Evelyn truly question her possible future on Mandalore...and with Ral. To her, she felt like she didn't fit in here. Maybe he deserved someone closer to home who knew his ways and traditions. Someone like Talia...

As she sulked in her private room Ral had clearly been doing other things. Eventually he got around to sending a messenger her way. Evelyn was tempted to slam the door in the man's face. But she listened to Ral's request and gave it some thought. He'd receive word from her the following morning saying she'd accept to meet him to hear what he had to say. If she didn't like what his excuses were, she told herself she would leave him. Ral was unaware of this. But Evelyn couldn't stop herself from doubting her own worth. Maybe Ral just wasn't meant to be with her...

So she waited at their meeting place. She was dressed in casual clothes, nothing too fancy. A white shirt with a collar under a black leather jacket. Her hair was pulled to one side and then braided in a long tail. She waited patiently on one of the benches for her boyfriend's shuttle to arrive. When she felt his aura coming closer she would stand and hesitantly hold her purse in front of her. She looked so timid and afraid of the world. When he walked up to her, she could barely give him a smile, something very unlike her.

"Evelyn, I'm glad you could make it."

"Hey," she would say at first. A moment of silence before she continued, "How are you feeling?"

 

[Kori Buor]

Seeing Evelyn there, Ral felt the guilt of everything wash over him again. He didn't like seeing weakness in people he was close to; it made him feel like he needed to protect them. It was simply his nature to protect perceived weakness, even if he knew that Evelyn could handle herself. As he stood before her, he set his jaw, and gave a nod, smiling faintly at her words. "I am doing well... How have you been? A lot has happened. A lot." He emphasized as he looked away sadly.

Bringing his gaze back to Evelyn, he held her brilliant green eyes then looked down at her feet. "I never planned for things to go the way they did, but they did anyways. And now... well..." The words got choked up in his throat. This was a peculiarity for Ral; normally the man was good with words and he could work his way around them like he was some fancy senator. But here today he could feel the guilt of everything starting to crush him. "I... I'm afraid I'm not a very good man. At least for you. I made..." He wouldn't call it a mistake, as he didn't believe it was, but it was an error of some sort. "I made a choice, I gave in to feelings, and I did you wrong."

 

[EmilyHuene]

"I am doing well... How have you been? A lot has happened. A lot."

"I've been better," she responded honestly. There was a side of her that wanted to say everything was fine. But they both knew it wasn't

"I never planned for things to go the way they did, but they did anyways. And now... well...I... I'm afraid I'm not a very good man. At least for you. I made...I made a choice, I gave in to feelings, and I did you wrong."

Her throat began to tighten. Her hands would shake. Evelyn felt herself choking up at his words. He wasn't good enough for her? This was not at all what she wanted to hear. What about the last five years? Didn't he enjoy seeing her when he did? Was he afraid of commitment?

"So....what does that mean....for us?"

 

[Kori Buor]

A lump started to form in the throat of the Mandalorian as he looked down at the tiny woman who was trembling before him. Swallowing, he forced the lump down and suppressed his guilt and emotions over the matter. Ral had to be honest with Evelyn; she deserved that much. Clenching his jaw and hardening his eyes, Ral dazed at the petite woman standing before him. With a sigh, he brought a hand up and ran it through his short sandy hair.

"You're a beautiful woman, Evelyn. I can't deny that, and you've been a consistent friend and companion over the last five years. I've enjoyed your company immensely, and am more than grateful for the time we had together, but the events of a few nights ago... What was said to you, what I said and did... you don't... you shouldn't be with me. I'm not the man you think I am. The truth is... the truth is I can't give you what you want. I realized that at the Celebration. You deserve someone who can love you and who can give you their heart. I can't do that. It belongs to someone else, I only remembered that at the Celebration, and reaffirmed that truth later that night." The words that had been spoken and the actions that had been taken that night came flooding back to him. It felt good, but it also reminded him of the guilt he was feeling now. Not guilt over what he did, but over the fact he knew he was hitting someone he considered a friend by doing admitting to it.

 

[EmilyHuene]

"You're a beautiful woman, Evelyn. I can't deny that, and you've been a consistent friend and companion over the last five years. I've enjoyed your company immensely, and am more than grateful for the time we had together, but the events of a few nights ago... What was said to you, what I said and did... you don't... you shouldn't be with me. I'm not the man you think I am. The truth is... the truth is I can't give you what you want. I realized that at the Celebration. You deserve someone who can love you and who can give you their heart. I can't do that. It belongs to someone else, I only remembered that at the Celebration, and reaffirmed that truth later that night."

Silent tears poured down her face. The lump in her chest blocked any sound or noise she could have made. So this was it then. Five years. Five years down the drain. And for what? She'd loved someone who couldn't love her back. Lesson learned, she supposed. She nodded and tried to say something, but the words just weren't there. She turned around and started to walk away from him. This was it. She was single. She was single and alone and on a planet where she knew no one. Well, there was one person she could trust. She'd head there, to her sisters house, and cry until there were no tears....

~END THREAD~​