Umgul's Open Terrain

While I manage to refrain from frowning in mild concern when Atlantis mentions he sees little of Raan of late - something in his tone, non-committal shrug and smile notwithstanding, suggesting to me there may be some less than pleasant reasons he has not seen much of Raan lately though they have always seemed quite close to me those times I have seen them interact in the past - I cannot keep from smiling in amusement when he later asks whether anyone might have anything to ask before Crystal and her housemates return. "Does their absence negate the standing rules for the day? I ask Atlantis playfully with a smile. Shaking my head, I say more seriously in case Atlantis' request was sincere rather than intended to be amusing, I, speaking for myself of course, have nothing to ask at the moment, no."

Turning towards Aerandir, I say, "I think I might excuse myself shortly, explaining, I believe I would enjoy walking back to the academy, so you will have the speeder available when you and your family are ready to leave." While I have been enjoying the day, I find myself ready to begin working on the investigation that has brought us here; the fact I was raised nearly from birth as a Jedi undoubtedly responsible for my inability to remain idle for long no matter how much I might enjoy the company I find myself among when time permits me an opportunity to socialize.

*Apparently Atlantis deemed there was an open window for an opportunity for Aerandir, Michelle, or Serrin to ask questions, no doubt about the current events that had been "off-limits" during this party. Aerandir's eyebrows briefly flickered upwards, but it was the Vice-Governor who spoke first, suggesting to leave the subject alone, as there would be more time later, before getting up and taking a smoke. Serrin teased Atlantis about the "standing rules" before saying she had nothing to ask.

Which left Aerandir, who shook his head with a small smirk.* "Nah. It's probably best if we do wait for a more proper setting. There's not much on my mind to ask, anyhow." *Turning to look down at his sister, he asked,* "You?" *She shook her head in reply.

Looking towards Serrin, the Twi'lek informed him that she would be taking her leave, preferring to walk toward the Academy and leaving the speeder for the Calmcacils' use. His eyebrows raised again; perhaps she was restless, wanting to get to action. Aerandir, meanwhile, was content to remain and gather as much intel as he could simply by observing the family. Nevertheless, he asked,* "You sure? Not that I doubt you, of course."

Nodding my agreement when Atlantis playfully, and quite unnecessarily, reminds me of the fact he has little problem bending or breaking rules when he feels doing so is warranted, I tell him in an amused tone, "Oh yes, I do know you, and smile as though indulging a willful child with an equally playfully exaggerated shake of my head. Tilting my head to the side at a playful angle suggesting mild confusion, adding to the effect by arching the thin ridge of muscle over my left eye inquisitively after Atlantis asks whether I might object to him walking me out when I take my leave, I answer by asking, Why ever would I object to that? With a laugh, I add more seriously, You needn't feel obligated to walk me out, but if you feel as though you must, by all means, please feel free to do so. Resisting the urge to reply to my twin who exists solely in my mind when she opines that Atlantis more likely than not has asked to walk me out in order to inform me that he has sensed the changes within me my time on Bimmisaari have wrought, I ignore her and turn my attention instead to Crystal and her friends when they return, smiling as I echo Atlantis' greeting to them, Welcome back."

Her dark eyes, alight as ever with their incongruous mixture of cheerful amusement and suggestion of possessing a width and breadth of experience far beyond what her apparent age would make possible, move to meet and hold Atlantis' gaze as he speaks to her after overhearing a portion of her conversation with Franz. Smiling as she listens to Atlantis, with what seems to her a sincerity that is evident even beneath the humorous tone of his comments, explain that the Kiffars which had been spoken of earlier are even more circumspect or mysterious as he himself and those of his friends, Franz included, whom are present currently are. Nodding to Atlantis with a smile intended to communicate both her understanding of his comments as well as her her gratitude for his having shared them, Ayodele inwardly marvels at her good fortune; for she could not have asked to find herself a group of beings among whom she, possessing herself, by virtue of necessity and habit, a similar trait of revealing little of her past, might be more at ease or fit so well amidst.   Where others might find her tendency to talk around certain subjects, or to speak little of herself in a casual way, odd or even, as Atlantis described the Kiffars, mysterious, Ayodele feels it safe to conclude that Franz and his friends will not feel her tendency to do so out of place at all.

Returning her attention to Franz when he expands on what Atlantis has said, Ayodele holds his gaze as he speaks, and at one point tilts her head to one side with a mildly surprised expression. As with Atlantis a moment ago, Ayodele detects no jest or exaggeration in what Franz shares, and his sharing that he and many of his friends are intimidated by the Kiffars comes as a surprise to her given that it seems to her an odd thing to say, much less feel, about one's friends. Setting her thoughts on the subjects of the Kiffar and circumspect natures aside, Ayodele smiles and tells him in her lyrical, amused voice, "If I ever have any precise questions I feel I simply must have answers to, Franz, I promise to ask them. Moving on to make it evident to him that she feels there is no rush to dig into one another's feelings, pasts, or experiences as though in a race to learn all of one another they can, Ayodele shakes her head while answering his question to her in an amused and sincere tone, I am quite content with where I am, and with what I am doing now, Franz. Glancing towards the pool with a frown indicating she is giving additional thought to his question, she says after a pause, Though I may want to take another swim later."

Lakehouse - Garden

Doing her best to look as though she is deeply pondering the merit of Delaana's suggestion that they would not have been in the position they had been in had Elikapeka but allowed Delaana to help out in the kitchen, Elika rests her chin atop the fingers of her right hand, lifts her index finger to tap alongside her cheekbone, looks upwards as though seeking aid from the sky above, and finally replies, "While that may be true, my Ceesi, it would also have entailed making you work when, as a guest here, you have already helped out more than enough today. Crinkling her nose as though the idea of Delaana being put to work anymore than she already has been is abhorrent to her, Elika says, So, no I think it was best that we were in that position, looking over at Lily Elika says, Mind out of gutter beautiful, and then looks back at Delaana as she concludes with a happy grin, But I'm also glad to know you would have come to find me if I had been gone too long, my Ceesi."

Laughing when Delaana informs Elika that she hadn't missed much while toiling away in the kitchen, Elika says, "You're right, missing Atlantis trying to find trouble isn't bad at all. He does it soooo often I'm sure I'll have plenty of opportunities to see him do it again sooner or later. Shaking her head as though unsure after Delaana asks whether Lily and Crystal might have anything up their sleeves where the party's future is concerned, Elika says, They might, smiling with a shrug of her shoulders as she adds, We'll all find out soon, right?"