Bril was at the gates of the Citadel, chatting with two of the guards posted while waiting for approval to enter.
“Look, all I’m saying is that if we trained the porgs to do reconnaissance for us, we’d probably get a lot more done. Everyone expects spy droids, but a porg with a miniature comlink on its ankle? They’d be none the wiser.”
Before approval came through the routes, the Consul herself came charging down the way. Zuza waved, coming to a stop a few steps behind the guards. “Let him in!”
Once they stepped aside, she opened her arms for a hug, “Bril it’s been too karkin’ long. How are you?”
She looked almost exactly the same as when he left, a bit thinner perhaps, eyes more strained. Yet her smile was as set as ever.
Bril’s face lit up upon seeing Zuza, and he mirrored the gesture to greet her with a warm hug. “It really has,” he replied with a chuckle, “And I’m great. Just getting back from traveling with Minnie. Catching up on things we never got to do while …” he took a step back and gestured toward the Citadel looming in the background, then to the military-issue air cruiser that passed over head, “well, you know.
"How are you?”
Zuza squeezed him a little before releasing the Zabrak. She followed his gesture, the ship zipping off toward the exit point provided by the shield generator.
“Oh you know, it’s going. No wars going on, the government is calm for once, we’re still working out exact terms of alliance with Naga Sadow but if i think about that again right now I might actually explode. Diy should be somewhere inside come on.”
She started walking, using turning around to take a good inhale.
“We helped Taldryan out a bit, they’re having issues out on Kaisya. Or, well, I helped. It’s more me helping Cassandra than Arcona helping Taldryan but, y'know. You just missed her being on planet actually, she was recovering most of it but, she was out and about for a couple of weeks toward the end.”
(Somewhere on Port Ol'Val, Atyiru giggled about Consular Wives and Sickfic Tropes.)
“Peace is good,” he replied, “We deserve it. But most of all, the people of the system deserve it,” he replied – a brief moment of seriousness punctuating an otherwise jovial and lighthearted reunion. The thought of how long that peace would last came to him, but he brushed it away in favor of dwelling in the happy moment for a bit longer.
“Oh? It’ll be good to see her, too! I’ve missed you both.”
He was happy to hear that the alliances with Naga Sadow and Taldrya had persisted. One could never have too many allies, after all.
“I know! It’s been way too long.” Zuza responded, smiling. “What have you been up to? Yknow, in general. No point saying it twice but, well.”
It wasn’t long before the pair found Diyrian, who no doubt was going to inquire the same question. As soon as they stepped into the Citadel, there was the green-haired Kiffar conversing with a couple of aids. Her gaze darted past the pair towards the open doors and met theirs, a small grin tugging on the somewhat strained smile she held. The sort of smile one wore when they were done with an exchange and rather be anywhere else.
“Right, okay. Go ahead and do that, make sure the report gets to my desk. Thanks. Keep up the good work, bye,” Diy uttered the exchange to a close, waving them off before pivoting on her heel and briskly closing to meet the human and Zabrak.
“Bril! Welcome back! Good to see you, Brileeno,” she called. Halting beside them, she presented a golden-hued hand for their signature handshake, a short series of slaps, bumps and clasps. She let go with her wide grin, “Ayy~ You need to drop by the homestead sometime, have some Tatooine reaper chilis with your name on them.”
“So, what have you been up to?” There it was, the second ask.
He cracked a grin upon hearing Zuza’s response. Her casual demeanor belied the fact that she was the leader of their entire clan; in this moment, at least, she felt like the same friend whom he’d confided in what felt like ages ago. The brightness of his smile, like the rising suns of Iridonia, shone to Diyrian next when she announced herself.
“Heeey!” he exclaimed while falling into the intricate handshake with practiced ease. To their shared question, he just shrugged his shoulders coolly while taking a step back to keep them both in his sights, “You know, just chilling. Finally taking a proper vacation with Minnie. Taking more time to focus on ourselves and our relationship and family, you know?”
<@432543120635461643> <@244244400488710155>
Zuza had waved, flashing Diy a grin when the woman came into view. She slipped her hands into her pockets once they settle in the courtyard.
She nodded aloong to Bril, “Yea no that makes sense. I’m glad you’ve been taking care of yaself!”
“And I hope you’ve been doing the same, my friend,” Bril took a step forward to place a hand on Zuza’s shoulder, holding her gaze for a moment. “Many of us have the nasty habit of being much kinder to others than we are to ourselves.”
There was a knowing look in his eye.
Zuza smiled, the enthusiasm there yet… dimmed. The brightness wasn’t as vibrant as it had been in the few encounters they’d have previously.
“I’ve been busy, but yea when I can. I’ve got Diy, Zig and Frond and everyone.” She waved a hand dismissively of the point, pausing before sticking her tongue out at Bril, “You’ve only missed about a million meetings since you left, I’ve had it under wraps.”
“Good, good,” he replied, “you’ll have to catch me up with everything that’s happened since I left. Over lunch, maybe? I picked up a few recipes during my travels that I want you to try.”
“Got to update the brill book, eh? Nice. Maybe we can set up another cookout out of it?” Diy offered up after giving Zuza a light smile in light of the support squad.
“Hey so long as i have a mouth afterwards I’m down for another cook out.” Zuza laughed.
She wasn’t a spice light weight by any means, but Diy and Bril had found her limit before. She shuddered slightly, remembering the experience.
Being at the head of Arcona’s summit certainly had its perks. The Citadel’s kitchen was stocked with some of the finest ingredients Selen had to offer – more than enough for the young Zabrak to prepare a delicious meal for two of his oldest friends in the Brotherhood. They spent the better part of the evening catching up and sharing stories with one another, giving each other much needed laughs for those who had seen so many trials and tribulations.