Smile
In Common.
"Would you like some?"
Ahsoka turned away from the wide window. Senator Amidala was standing just within the sitting area of the apartments she'd been assigned for the course of the symposium, a tray in her hands. There was a plate of croissants covered in powdered sugar, an elaborate pot, and three mugs resting on it. Ahsoka's stomach didn't growl, but it rumbled just enough to remind her that she had yet to eat breakfast.
"Sure. Thanks." She glanced out over the Chandrilan sunrise one last time, the day steadily fading from daybreak scarlet to daytime blue. Chandrila was a nice place, full of nature, if also full of politics. Still, the atmosphere here – both natural and political – was far more relaxed than it was on Coruscant. She could do with working security for peace conferences more often, if they could be held places like this.
As Senator Amidala set the tray down on a caf table, Ahsoka perched herself on the edge of one of the plush chairs and tried not to fidget. The Senator seemed nice enough, she supposed. Master Skywalker seemed to like her a lot, making sure checking on her was the first thing they did that morning. She hadn't entirely understood his eagerness to see her, until he'd explained he knew Senator Amidala since he was a child, even before coming to the Temple where he belonged. She'd been there when he'd found out he was to become a Jedi.
Still, she was a Senator, and Ahsoka was supposed to be guarding her while Master Skywalker got any morning updates from security forces. That, and she was…well, intimidating wasn't the right word, but for a padawan just barely out of the Temple, the sheer opulence that surrounded the Senator and former queen of Naboo was just a tiny bit more impressive than she was really comfortable with. So she sat stiffly, and tried not to fidget.
Senator Amidala poured liquid into two of the mugs, and made a small, inviting gesture with her hand. Ahsoka picked up the mug, noticing the brownish mixture was too thick for caf, even with a bit of creamer in it. She blinked at it once, trying to remember why the drink looked familiar, then her face lit. "This is hot chocolate!"
Senator Amidala chuckled, sipping her own delicately. "Have you not had it before?"
Ahsoka smiled. "Yes, but it's been ages. The crèche masters used to bring it in for the younglings on one of the Coruscanti holidays. Sort of a special treat."
The Senator continued to smile, and Ahsoka relaxed a little. It couldn't hurt to be friendly with one of her Master's oldest friends. She drank another mouthful, trying to imitate Senator Amidala a bit, taking smaller sips instead of drinking quickly. The liquid was at just the right temperature; not hot enough to burn her mouth, but not so cool that it was growing tasteless. It was rich, sweet and dark, and it made her smile. It was thoughtful of Senator Amidala, especially since cocoa powder was hard come by. Ahsoka looked around the lush furnishings and eyed the Senator's elegant gown. She could probably afford it, even if it was expensive.
As they sat, sipping quietly, Ahsoka tried to think of something to say. She wasn't a politician, thank goodness, but she should be able to spend ten minutes making small talk with the Senator. The only thing they had in common, other than both serving the Republic, was Master Skywalker. "I hope Master Skywalker likes it too. He usually drinks caf."
Senator Amidala made a strange face for a moment, her brows drawing together and her lips puckering. For a second, Ahsoka worried she said something so inane it was wrong, but then Senator Amidala broke into unexpected laughter. She said, warmly, "I know. He's as cranky as an underfed rancor if he doesn't get it, too. I have a pot started in the other room."
She wasn't sure what it was: the idea of Master Skywalker as a cranky rancor, or the Senator's lighthearted attitude towards Master Skywalker. She grinned in return, and the two looked at each other a long moment across the table, before breaking into a fresh fit of giggles.
The door chimed, and Senator Amidala called, cheerfully, "Come in."
A moment later, Master Skywalker rounded the corner to enter the sitting area, freezing as he got a look at the two already at breakfast, both looking up at him with what appeared to be barely suppressed grins.
"What?" he said.
It was enough. Ahsoka burst back into giggles, setting her chocolate back down on the tray to keep from spilling it as she bent over, arms around her waist as she laughed. Senator Amidala only made it a few seconds longer, turning aside and pressing a hand to her mouth as she tried to stop giggling.
"Should I have a bad feeling about this?" Anakin asked, mock frowning as he folded his arms over his chest.
"Probably, Skyguy."
Anakin sighed, and Padme stopped laughing long enough to manage, "'Skyguy'?"
"Don't you start calling me that too," he griped, frowning more seriously this time, at Padme as well as Ahsoka. For some reason, that set them off again, Ahsoka with a hand over her face, while Padme was practically facing the other direction in her chair.
"There's a pot of caf on in the next room, Master Skywalker," Padme said with excessive formality, grinning as she emphasized his title and name.
"Thank you, Senator Amidala," he shot back with the same amused exaggeration placed on her name as he headed towards the kitchenette. The moment he was out of sight, though, he heard even more laughter from the sitting room.
Anakin sighed, but as he poured himself his first cup of morning caf, he couldn't help but smile, just a little.
Padme and Ahsoka had gotten to be friends.
'Cause you know Anakin would totally be a java junkie.
This is a vague reference to my "Chocolate" chapter in Nothing Against Looking. Apparently, I like to make Padme a closet chocoholic. They do have hot chocolate in the Star Wars galaxy, but it's considered a rare, rather exotic treat.
~Queen