“That’s exactly what I was thinking,” he agreed, grinning brightly as they walked. There were so many terrible things going on, it’d be a lot better to think about things like this. At least for a little bit. And, hey, he got a laugh out of her! He could at least do that much. Keep her cheered up, until he could figure out some long-term way to help her move past… Whatever was bothering her, before. It might do to find out exactly what was bothering her, before he made any more detailed plans. But, it was good to see her so happy, again. It was nice to feel like a normal padawan again. The constant fighting had worn down his understanding of what ‘normal’ was, so the reminder was much appreciated. He let his shoulders roll back as he entered the gardens. A deep breath was drawn as they walked into the gardens. He sighed through his nose. The air was crisp and clean, filtered through hundreds of growing things that filled the Force around them with a similarly fresh presence. So hugely different from the city outside, and even more so from the battlefields that they found themselves caught up in. Just one of the many reasons that the gardens were his favourite place to be.
He plopped himself down on the grass, folding his legs neatly underneath him. He laughed when she asked him to cover his eyes. But, he complied (contemplated peeking between his fingers, but did not. No need to be a poor sport about it). Then, a touch on his knee. Permission to look? Granted.
“Oh, wow, Phral!” He looked over the spread with a bright smile. He could smell the tea already, fragrant and warm, and he helped himself to a cookie as he picked his cup with his free hand. “Did you really put this all together yourself? It looks amazing!”
“YOU BET I DID!” phral affirmed, her voice a joyous chirp. “ahh, thank you so much, braig. i’m so happy you like it. i -- i don’t know why, but i was nervous that you wouldn’t.” an unspoken: i want, so bad, to be the relief of all your burdens. i want, so bad, to give you a slice of the happiness that i, too, have never had. i want so bad to be your light, even if it’s the only thing in life i ever succeed in doing! smile almost too wide for her face, she took a sip of tea. “for a while, i wasn’t sure what cookies to make or what tea to brew --” she giggled, suddenly, as a memory flew to the surface: “i even enlisted hardcase’s help in baking the cookies, and we ended up with two whole batches of burnt cookies? oh, they looked like coal! and hardcase still ate one! i ended up kicking him off our two-person team, it was so disastrous. i was just worried nothing would turn out right, but ..” she nodded in satisfaction at her success. almost teasingly, she exclaimed: “... i think it did. i got you to smile, so! mission accomplished, braiggo.”
after a moment, phralmah took another little sip of her tea before saying: “i would’ve done something like this sooner, but really ... mmm, i hate to dampen the mood or anything like that, but ... master ‘beru hasn’t been doing well lately. he’s sort of a priority, and all. not that it’s a drag, but!! -- i’m not, not saying he’s a drag.” her lips almost threaten to clarify: i do love him! but she stops herself short, giggling a bit nervously. “it’s just been busy. that’s all. i wish i could’ve done more for all this, truly -- more for you. i always wish we that we had more time than we do.” antennae, along with wide ears, seem to droop a little as she brings the cup back up to her face, sorrow once more peeking through. oh, baby atlas, don’t carry so much!