Jaina Solo Fel (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
solo_sword) wrote2015-02-19 09:52 am
solo_sword) wrote2015-02-19 09:52 am
Entry tags:
Jag's quarters- Coruscant- Thursday
It was one thing that Jag had come to Kenth's funeral. That sent a message, but people could- and would- read into it however they wanted. But when he actually said on camera that he supported the Jedi in taking Daala out of office, he'd probably gone a step too far.
Jaina hadn't even bothered to finish watching the rest of the report before she'd gone to get her speeder and headed over to the Imperial residences and up to Jag's quarters. Outside, Ashik actually seemed to be waiting for her, though he acted exactly the same as he always did. "Jedi Solo," he said with a nod. "Would you like to-"
"Just tell him I'm here," she cut him off. Sometimes she felt bad that Ashik tended to see her agitated side, because she really did like him just fine. But he was usually the hurdle in getting to see her fiance and that deserved agitation sometimes.
Ashik didn't seem bothered, and pressed a button to activate his comm. "Jedi Solo to see you, sir." He paused to let Jag respond, and then looked back at Jaina. "He says he expected you six seconds ago. You can go in."
Sometimes Jaina also thought Ashik probably secretly enjoyed doing things like that a little too much.
The door slide open, and Jaina stepped inside, closing it behind her. "That's not funny."
“I timed it from the moment my press conference was broadcast," Jag said, looking a little too pleased with himself.
“Maybe I was caught up in speeder traffic," Jaina said, perching herself on the arm of the chair he was sitting in.
“Of course.”
“Jag, what do you think you’re doing?" she asked, cutting to the chase. "Speaking out in support of the Jedi? Now you’ve got the entire Moff Council jumping down your throat, and the participants in the reunification effort, who’d been looking for some guidance, are scurrying away from you in all directions.”
Jag sighed. “What I’m doing is my job. Some response on the part of the Head of State’s office was called for, especially since I’m here at the moment, not back in Imperial space. And what kind of response am I going to give? How about the truth? That Daala was dangerously out of control and that the Jedi action was the only reasonable one.”
Jaina made a noise like a strangled Ewok. “How about playing politics so that you don’t get even more people pointing blasters your way?”
That was what really worried her. She didn't care that much about the politics stuff. Sure, it affected them, but they could deal with it… as long as he stayed alive.
He sighed again and sat back, looking tired. "Playing politics. I’m not all that good at it, Jaina. Truth isn’t enough, being fair isn’t enough, picking and choosing among sensible precedents isn’t enough. You also have to play politics, which is like piloting an unarmored shuttle through the worst meteor shower in history, and just as productive. I think sometimes that the only reason I’m not as unhinged as Daala is because I’m younger.”
“My mother isn’t unhinged,” Jaina pointed out.
“No, but she left the Chief of State’s office and took up a profession where she could cut people in half when she got annoyed.”
“Point.”
“I have a couple more points to make,” Jag said, reaching over to pull her into his lap. Seriously, Jaina rarely used furniture as intended- if at all- around him. "First, I must point out the unfairness of the situation. When I decide against the Jedi, you’re angry with me. And when I speak out in favor of the Jedi, you’re angry at me.”
“Of course. You’re a man, so you’re always wrong.”
He did not seem to appreciate that. “Second, you’re missing the bigger picture. It’s clear to me that you knew about the Jedi plan to oust Daala from early on, and didn’t even give me a hint about it... and I’m not angry. You did what you had to do. In telling the public that the Jedi did the right thing, I did what I had to do. Don’t give me grief for it.”
He was right, of course. Though her not telling him about the plan was part of the new engagement contract, he was right about the rest. “I’m giving you grief because I can’t be here to give you support, to keep an eye out for you. I have an assignment.”
“Where?”
"Can’t say."
He laughed, then wrapped her up in his arms. "Stang. When do you leave?"
"Tonight." Really, had it been like this for her parents? Always doubting whether you were both doing the right thing and wondering if those choices were going to cause more trouble?
"Dinner first?"
"Dinner first."
[You know the drill! Most of the dialogue from Conviction by Aaron Allston.]
Jaina hadn't even bothered to finish watching the rest of the report before she'd gone to get her speeder and headed over to the Imperial residences and up to Jag's quarters. Outside, Ashik actually seemed to be waiting for her, though he acted exactly the same as he always did. "Jedi Solo," he said with a nod. "Would you like to-"
"Just tell him I'm here," she cut him off. Sometimes she felt bad that Ashik tended to see her agitated side, because she really did like him just fine. But he was usually the hurdle in getting to see her fiance and that deserved agitation sometimes.
Ashik didn't seem bothered, and pressed a button to activate his comm. "Jedi Solo to see you, sir." He paused to let Jag respond, and then looked back at Jaina. "He says he expected you six seconds ago. You can go in."
Sometimes Jaina also thought Ashik probably secretly enjoyed doing things like that a little too much.
The door slide open, and Jaina stepped inside, closing it behind her. "That's not funny."
“I timed it from the moment my press conference was broadcast," Jag said, looking a little too pleased with himself.
“Maybe I was caught up in speeder traffic," Jaina said, perching herself on the arm of the chair he was sitting in.
“Of course.”
“Jag, what do you think you’re doing?" she asked, cutting to the chase. "Speaking out in support of the Jedi? Now you’ve got the entire Moff Council jumping down your throat, and the participants in the reunification effort, who’d been looking for some guidance, are scurrying away from you in all directions.”
Jag sighed. “What I’m doing is my job. Some response on the part of the Head of State’s office was called for, especially since I’m here at the moment, not back in Imperial space. And what kind of response am I going to give? How about the truth? That Daala was dangerously out of control and that the Jedi action was the only reasonable one.”
Jaina made a noise like a strangled Ewok. “How about playing politics so that you don’t get even more people pointing blasters your way?”
That was what really worried her. She didn't care that much about the politics stuff. Sure, it affected them, but they could deal with it… as long as he stayed alive.
He sighed again and sat back, looking tired. "Playing politics. I’m not all that good at it, Jaina. Truth isn’t enough, being fair isn’t enough, picking and choosing among sensible precedents isn’t enough. You also have to play politics, which is like piloting an unarmored shuttle through the worst meteor shower in history, and just as productive. I think sometimes that the only reason I’m not as unhinged as Daala is because I’m younger.”
“My mother isn’t unhinged,” Jaina pointed out.
“No, but she left the Chief of State’s office and took up a profession where she could cut people in half when she got annoyed.”
“Point.”
“I have a couple more points to make,” Jag said, reaching over to pull her into his lap. Seriously, Jaina rarely used furniture as intended- if at all- around him. "First, I must point out the unfairness of the situation. When I decide against the Jedi, you’re angry with me. And when I speak out in favor of the Jedi, you’re angry at me.”
“Of course. You’re a man, so you’re always wrong.”
He did not seem to appreciate that. “Second, you’re missing the bigger picture. It’s clear to me that you knew about the Jedi plan to oust Daala from early on, and didn’t even give me a hint about it... and I’m not angry. You did what you had to do. In telling the public that the Jedi did the right thing, I did what I had to do. Don’t give me grief for it.”
He was right, of course. Though her not telling him about the plan was part of the new engagement contract, he was right about the rest. “I’m giving you grief because I can’t be here to give you support, to keep an eye out for you. I have an assignment.”
“Where?”
"Can’t say."
He laughed, then wrapped her up in his arms. "Stang. When do you leave?"
"Tonight." Really, had it been like this for her parents? Always doubting whether you were both doing the right thing and wondering if those choices were going to cause more trouble?
"Dinner first?"
"Dinner first."
[You know the drill! Most of the dialogue from Conviction by Aaron Allston.]