(Closed)

[politicallyinclined]

🧙 WHO: Padmé & Thrawn
⚔️️ WHAT: Learning magic/becoming acquainted with new world.
🕒 WHEN: Not long after her arrival (backdated).
🗺️ WHERE: Thrawn's home.
⚠️ WARNINGS: TBD? There will be uncomfortable discussions/mentions regarding giving birth and death.

Anakin's voice is loud and clear in her mind, telling her to protect herself, somehow, and to not trust Thrawn. But she has made up her mind and with the truce she and the Grand Admiral had reached - at least via writing - she is willing to take a chance. Besides, at this point, what does she have to lose? Anakin wasn't there to help her when she gave birth to their children. He wasn't there when she died.

So she is truly on her own. Donning a dark dress that served to hide her pregnancy before, she leaves for the Admiral's home, her familiar, a female Peko-Peko, soaring above her head. Her snowy owl will remain behind - he was sleeping when she left him and he felt more animal in comparison to her familiar. There is no reason to push him.

Upon arriving at Thrawn's door, she knocks, politely waiting for entry.

Comments

[admiralchiss]

Thrawn answers the door, wearing a white dress shirt and black suit pants. Not exactly what most people wear for casual days spent indoors. Thrawn just has a certain way he prefers to dress when he's not going on adventures.

"Senator," He greets her, standing aside so she may enter. Thrawn has a few pieces of art hanging on the walls, and his familiar, a ysalamiri, sits on a fake tree perch. He nods at the nearby couch, "Please, have a seat. If you wish for refreshments, I have water or tea."

[politicallyinclined]

Milla lands on her shoulder as she waits, so bright and lovely against the dark hues of her dress. Padmé raises a small hand to rub Milla's feathered chest, leaning her head towards the pretty bird.

When her knock is answered, she gives Thrawn a faint nod and walks inside. Her nerves rise the slightest bit, but she can't help smiling at his familiar.

"Water is fine." she lowers herself onto the couch and rests her hands on her lap, "Thank you for seeing me. You are my best chance at learning how this world functions - as well as how to use my magic."

[admiralchiss]

Thrawn highly doubts that, since there's plenty of helpful individuals out there who would be willing to show Senator Amidala a thing or two about this world and magic. But, he has to admit, it is nice to speak with another from his galaxy again.

He goes to the kitchen and comes back with two glasses of water, sitting on an easy chair near the couch.

"What sort of magic were you granted?"

[politicallyinclined]

He is the only other one from their galaxy. There is too much ground to cover where others are concerned. At least they have a point of familiarity. Padmé doesn't want to waste time, though she is, of course, never against making friends.

"Sit here, Milla." she urges the Peko-Peko, lowering the bird onto her lap instead, "Light and Siphon. I understand the basics of what they can do..."

Just not how to go about performing the spells.

[admiralchiss]

"How fortunate, for I also possess the power of light," Thrawn raises his hand, palm upward, and a glowing ball appears above his palm. He lets it linger for a moment, before the orb vanishes and he lowers his hand. "I also have technology-based magic."

He hasn't gotten to practice that one nearly as much, since he seems to never get into situations that require it. But, he can think of several ways in which it could be useful.

"Have you been able to cast any spells so far?"

[politicallyinclined]

"Then you can be more specific in our lessons." Padmé tilts her head curiously at the glowing ball, "Obviously it can be used to light a darkened path, but what else?"

Technology-based magic would have been useful, yet she suspects her two magic types can work well together.

Closing her eyes, she lifts a hand and small fireworks burst in the air. She had assisted in entertaining some children recently.

"That's about all I can manage."

[admiralchiss]

"I see," That gives him a good idea of her skill level and where to start from here. "Light can be used in many ways. For example, a sudden bright flash can temporarily blind an opponent, light can be bent to make yourself and others invisible, and light can be made solid to form constructs."

To demonstrate, he casts another spell, this one making him invisible for a few seconds. Once he's visible again, he creates an energy construct, creating a glowing replica of a buzz droid. The droid unfolds and skitters across the floor before it vanishes.

"As a tech mage, I can also send spells through computers and phones."

[politicallyinclined]

"That...last...part is what confuses me. How can light be made into something solid?" Padmé has been through enough to realize the use of a shield. For herself and others.

The manipulation of light is just as useful as the shield she quickly realizes - thanks to his display. Unless someone (or something) doesn't rely on their eyes.

"And the spells are unchanged?" she can't keep the marvel out of her voice and she doesn't try. He has clearly put a lot of practice into his skills.

[admiralchiss]

"Consider this. A laser is made of light, and it can affect physical objects. Or to use another example, a lightsaber. Such a weapon is made of light, and it is no less sharp or deadly as any other blade." Thrawn doesn't know exactly how a lightsaber works, since he's never had a chance to study one, nor has he found any databases of lightsabers. It seems that the Jedi guarded such knowledge well. But he knows that they're basically a laser made into a blade.

"Any spell that I can do, you can learn to do as well. It takes practice, and your familiar is there to assist you with your magic."

[politicallyinclined]

"Anakin's lightsaber used a special crystal. A...kyber crystal? He said Obi-Wan took him to a special place to choose it." Padmé has held that weapon and she knows the power of it. She also has a fair idea of how many Anakin broke. Too many.

"She can assist me?"

That surprises her and she blinks at her Peko-Peko.

"Can light magic be as powerful as a lightsaber?"

[admiralchiss]

Thrawn knows that the Empire mines those crystals, including for a certain Project Stardust. He's not about to indulge that particular bit of future history to her at the moment. Interesting that those crystals are what powers the lightsabers.

"I don't see why not." Thrawn holds out his hand and a glowing dagger appears in his hand. "I have not tried to replicate a lightsaber, but theoretically, it should be possible." The dagger fades from existence.

"There was a Jedi here, and he had a lightsaber, but he has since left and taken his weapon with him. A shame, since we could have used it as a baseline."

[politicallyinclined]

A Jedi...? Padmé stiffens and tries to control her racing heart with deep breaths. A Jedi was here? So...it is...possible. Anakin could come here. Obi-Wan could too. Her fingers curl against her skirt and the color leaves her cheeks.

"Their...name? Do you recall it?" she forces herself to focus on the dagger and the irony that she could have a lightsaber of her own. A senator with a lightsaber. Anakin would have made some joke about her being the scariest thing in the universe.

[admiralchiss]

Thrawn wasn't expecting that reaction, but perhaps he should have. Her husband was a Jedi, and it was likely that she had friends among the Jedi.

He considers brushing her question aside and getting back to the topic at hand. No, she deserves the truth.

"His name was Luke Skywalker."

[politicallyinclined]

Luke. Luke Skywalker. Her heart clenches and skips a beat, her breath catches and she bends forward, closing her eyes. All she can see is his little face, so fragile, so innocent, and she never held him.

Her baby becomes a Jedi? She is afraid for him.

"Luke." she says the name with love - she can't hide it, "What...was he like?"

[admiralchiss]

Thrawn allows her to emote, sitting stoically in his seat, unsure of what to say to her. He's not very good at offering words of comfort, especially when he's still getting to know someone. Part of him can relate to what she's feeling, though. He too has his share of sadness, even if he's careful to never show it.

His voice remains calm and anchoring. "He was a warrior. He told me that he fought against Palpatine's Empire, though he never gave me a full list of his accomplishments." Blowing up the Death Star sounded like quite the accomplishment, though. He can't help but wonder if Erso intentionally put in a weakness that would allow it to be destroyed so easily.

"He was also compassionate. He held no malice towards his father, and was quite sad at his passing. While I do not entirely know what happened between them, I believe that if anyone could have pulled Anakin Skywalker back from the Emperor's side, it would be your son."