//: WINTER

[wintcrs]

‘ a bug flew up my nose. ’

&&. Winter 

               HIS CONFESSION GOT A HOPELESS SIGH from winter -- the woman sitting him down and tilting his head back to look into his nostril. he might have been twenty six, but jacen truly never grew out of his child-like mind. ❝ how did you get a bug up your nose? were you shoving them up there again? ❞ a tease of course, but she couldn’t resist. her mother-like instincts just had to kick in she supposed. after taking a quick look, winter ruffled his hair while she looked back up at his eyes. ❝ i think you’re clear, jacen. maybe you swallowed it... kriff bless your future girlfriend honestly. ❞

[wintcrs]

&&. SARISSA

        If there was anyone that knew Seyah well enough to push her buttons, it would have either been Winter or Leia. In truth, she was thankful that she was able to remember the two of them so fondly —- though it wouldn’t shield them from her quips. ❝ First of all, I swear to the stars that you needed most of those showers. ❞ She winked, allowing a wide grin to crack across her face. ❝ Second, that was before I became a Jedi ! But nice try. ❞ Seyah continued, pausing in her place to observe the prison from a distance. Assuming that their intelligence had been correct, there were about ten guards posted around the perimeter, and a lot more inside. ❝ Pft —- and skimp out on the opportunity for you to buy me a free drink? I think not. ❞ She smiled as she began her approach to the entrance. 

       ❝ Don’t be so mean !  ❞ Seyah chuckled over the communications line. ❝ I’m sure there’s a Sarlacc out there that wouldn’t mind going on a first date with these fools. ❞ She continued, bringing herself to a gradual stop in front of the prison. The question then became the nature of how she would distract the guards —- but whatever it was, she was sure it would be incredibly stupid. 

❝ Hey boys ! This isn’t where I parked my speeder right … ? ❞  

               WINTER HAD THOSE BLUEPRINTS ALREADY memorized inside and out. of course guards would be stationed at the perimeter -- it was a damn prison. the silver lining was that it was first order guards who were notorious for their stupidity. winter’s fought them -- she’s had them shoot at her. and each time she was missed by at least a foot. pathetic. ❝ are you really that desperate for a free drink? kriff, men are pigs, riss, you know that. all you need is a tight dress to have a group of them at uscru buy you a keg. use that brain of yours, i know it’s gotta be in there, ❞ winter grinned, nudging her shoulder playfully. ❝ but i promise i’ll buy... only one round though, i don’t have all the credits i had before all of this. this whole revival thing doesn’t revive your credit account as well. ❞

               once they approached the prison, winter left her friend’s side to find that rear exit which was less secured by the guards. a quick shot with her blaster ( silenced, of course ), was enough to have her in the prison within a matter of minutes. it was true. all of them swarmed to sarissa. sneaking past the guards inside was easier -- the cells seemed neglected but she had to be careful about the camera system. the first thing she did was head to the security room where she took out the guards before studying the control panel and setting off an alarm on the opposite side of where the prisoners were held. 

[wintcrs]

&&. JACEN

He let a small smile crack when Winter looked back at him. Sure he felt a little bad…but the look on her face was a bit amusing. She clearly was ready to tell him off like she had when he was a kid. Besides that… her scolding was no less embarrassing as an adult. No- it was more embarrassing for certain. He glanced around briefly, then back at her when she mentioned his sister, “Do you remember Jaina? She’s the same way… only worse because she’s allowed to use weapons now,” he quirked an eyebrow up at her. Even if she did find her. Well, there wasn’t going to be anyone stopping Jaina.

Pulling his hand back towards him, hesitance started to make it’s way into Jacen’s mind. He knew this was a bad idea. He knew it was reckless but… he had the ability to help. Sheepishly smiling at the passer-bys, he looked at Winter with a slightly stunned expression on his face. Her…accepting it wasn’t what he expected. He didn’t want Winter to come with… worried that she might get hurt, but also he didn’t want to argue the point,” …You grow up with someone you start to adopt their traits? She’s inside here.” 

               HIS SMILE WAS ALWAYS SOMETHING SHE LOVED and it made her believe that he was still that same child she’d raised all those years ago... and winter wanted to know how he had died, but the woman knew that she wouldn’t be able to handle it. winter still smiled fondly when he had asked about jaina. of course she remembered how reckless jaina was, but now she was only trying to prepare how to predict just how terrible she’s become. ❝ i’ve never been so scared about her, ❞ she teased -- but it was partially true. she’d be more scared if winter thought she couldn’t take her. 

               winter watched as he pulled his hand back, winter sighing quietly as she pushed a hand through her light blonde locks. ❝ i would have really preferred you not to have adopted her traits. really. ❞ she continued, eyes watching his. ❝ but anyway-... i know i’m not your babysitter any more. and i know i can’t tell you what to do like when you were six, but you’re like my own kid, jace. i’m worried about you. both of you. ❞

[camp-it-up]

[wintcrs]

&&. EZRA

“Staying silent is supporting the oppressor, hmph, alright.” Ezra chuckled humorlessly. If only this woman knew what he had gone through throughout his life, she wouldn’t have said that. He had lost so much fighting, it was hard to find motivation to do so again. “No idea where Uscru is, sorry.”

               IT WAS CLEAR TO SEE THAT HE had been through enough to make him bitter towards the whole situation. however, winter never thought that it was right to stay silent in such crucial times. biting her bottom lip, winter looked at him with a small tilt of her head -- pale blonde curls falling over her shoulder. ❝ you disagree? why is that? you stay silent and the first order continues to kill. they continue to abuse their powers. without people standing up to them, how would you expect change? ❞

[wintcrs]

&&. SEYAH 

There’s a sense of relief that warms her chest when the other smiles, and Seyah can’t get enough of it. If anything, it was reassurance that those bygone years served no other purpose than to allow both of them to go their separate ways. But that’s how it was in the past as well —- Leia, Winter, and herself re-discovering the Organa Castle on a daily basis and keeping themselves entertained through imagination alone. Then the war broke out, and in a flash Seyah found herself being whisked away from the life that she knew and thrust into the livelihood of many that came before her —- Jedi. It had been too sudden, and though her life became a blur of challenges and obstacles, the only thing that mattered was that the two of them were here now. 

❝ Well, if their aim is anything like the Empire’s Stormtroopers, then I don’t think I’ll be needing this. ❞ Seyah chuckled, patting the left side of her hip where the lightsaber was concealed. ❝ You do realize that you’re asking me to assault an enemy. That is not the Jedi way. ❞  She shoots a stern look towards Winter’s direction before trying to conceal her laughter. ❝ Nah, I’m just kidding —- they have my friends. But the first round is on you for making me do all the hard work. ❞ Seyah continued to muse as she began her approach towards the prison, and though she didn’t show it, for their sake, she really hoped that Winter was correct.

               THAT GRIN OF HERS SEEMED TO BE PERMANENT IN the presence of seyah. those childhood memories were still making winter smile stupidly to herself even after all these years. the three of them were like family -- a family winter always wanted and had when she was with those two girls. early childhood now that she thought back on it seemed far too idyllic. compared to now, nearly everything seemed better than the current climate though. but how couldn’t living in a castle seem amazing? three little girls running through the decorated halls of the organa castle during holidays was like a dream. the memories were held fondly in winter’s heart. they were memories she thought back on especially during these trying times. 

               seyah’s response was enough to pull a teasing roll of the eyes from winter as she looked over to her. ❝ the jedi way you speak so highly of probably wouldn’t agree with the way you used to shove me into ponds wither, huh? ❞ the quip was followed by a chuckle as they rounded the corner -- now only a few more blocks away from their destination. ❝ hey, if you think facing the guards is too difficult for you, i’d be happy to take over - ❞ winter’s words were laced with a challenging grin, brows raised as she knew seyah would never give in to that. ❝ but seriously, it shouldn’t be hard at all. no one wants to date a first order guard, have you seen them? the first sight of a woman will have them eating from your hand. ❞

[wintcrs]

&&. LEIA

                    SHOCK SEEMED TO BE A RUNNING THEME, DIDN’T IT? Leia still wasn’t entirely sure if she was taking it all in stride or simply tucking it all away so it could hit her all at once when she finally allowed it ( or, probably more likely, when she least expected it ). It still felt strange to be talking about children — her children — children who she had been (re)made to miss out on their childhoods as a whole. Another piece to compartmentalize. So instead she shrugged a little, letting her shoulders bob with a sigh. “I don’t suppose I ever had high expectations of being taller —- ” at least not for very long. It’s funny to try and guess at what age they all eclipsed her, but with Han in the mix, it was nothing if not inevitable. “Only Anakin, really. Things have been frantic since —-”

Just as Winter said. The fire. And her subsequent collaring alongside Han and getting tossed into a series of cells.

      “No such thing as the wrong time. You came right when we needed you.”

As for their briefings, the fact that they weren’t always as informative as they could be was nothing new ——- how many times had she stood across from Dodonna or Mon Mothma knowing there was more to the story? “What did they tell you?” Versus the word on the street as it were; the word amongst those who had been on the ground. “I’ve heard the fire was our fault, that it wasn’t —-” not that she wouldn’t put it past them. Guerilla tactics against the Empire went well back to before their days when Leia was still in the Senate. “I suppose it doesn’t really matter in the end, they’re going to believe what they want to regardless.” // @wintcrs

               A LIGHTHEARTED SMILE GRACED PLUSH PINK LIPS though the violence and danger of the situation they were in still masked it with an air of concern. ❝ you have always been short, i never had many hopes of you being taller than your kids - ❞ winter teased, the corners on her eyes creasing as that smile grew. but there were more pressing matters to talk about. so she’s only seen anakin whereas winter’s only seen jacen and jaina. where the hell was ben? he had always been a bit different from the others -- winter could only hope that he turned out okay. and with the fire, she hoped he was safe as well; from what she’s heard there have been dozens of casualties from the fire. 

               oh, the briefings. her feelings towards the potency of those briefings could be figured out by how winter rolled her eyes just at the mention. ❝ i might as well have not been briefed at all, leia, ❞ she began, arms crossing over her chest. ❝ they did not tell me who started the fire, only that we’re blamed for it. and they’ve instructed me to attempt to break into the prison to assist the captive situation come nightfall. other than that... well, they gave me directions to my quarters and that is all. i believe they are just as ill informed as the rest of us if they give us near nothing. ❞ no, she didn’t think the resistance did it. why launch an attack during a time of peace? it wasn’t the resistance. ❝ what do you know of this first order? have you any idea of how many fighters they have? of their artillery? ❞

[wintcrs]

&&. SEYAH

❆ ❆ WINTER

She bolts through the Federal District as inconspicuously as possible, avoiding common First Order patrol routes so as to not attract attention to herself. The choice to shed her robes certainly aided her in remaining undetected — which was exactly what she needed given the nature of the task at hand. Besides, if she remembered Winter correctly, she was sure that neither excuses nor explanations for tardiness would suffice — even if it came from and old friend like her. 

Since the First Order had begun to round up Resistance members after the incident involving the Federal Towers, ( wherefore Seyah would refuse to acknowledge any active Resistance involvement ), a daring initiative was undertaken to free captured Resistance members from their less-than-friendly counterparts. Though it might have been hasty, it was by their complete design that Seyah and Winter comprise one such team responsible for such a bold act — despite not having done so since the Galactic Civil War. 

❝ I’m not late! ❞ Seyah panted aloud as she approached the rendezvous point. ❝ So, should we get this show on the road? Like old times? ❞ 

@stcrdvsx·

               SHE HAD DRESSED AS LEIA FOR CERTAIN MISSIONS where she had to go undetectable, but tonight it would be seyah doing all the distractions while winter unlocked the heavy metal bars of the cells. and of course winter didn’t mind -- in fact, she was more excited than anything to see seyah once again. all those years ago as little girls sprinting around in the gardens and hallways definitely bonded the two only to have the war tear them apart quite violently and abruptly for that matter. lake blue hues scanned their surroundings for her partner while she waited in their meeting point -- an inconspicuous and public spot near a building a few blocks from the prison as to not draw any unwanted attention or odd looks. 

               and finally a friendly face was seen accompanied by that giant smile of hers -- winter grinning ear to ear herself as she moved to the other. ❝ you’re not! all that and a few more seconds to spare, ❞ the spy teased, nodding in the direction of the prison before beginning their brief walk. ❝ i’ve heard the first order has dull witted guards with no aim, so this should be simple for us. i’ve brought my things for picking locks but it would be easier if you could somehow grab the keys in the mean time. ❞ winter then took a moment to look over to her friend -- a sentimental smile taking the place of her grin. ❝ it’s good to see you. we should get some celebratory drinks after all of this. besides, it shouldn’t take too long. ❞

[wintcrs]

&&. JAINA

Sometimes it was hard to believe that Jaina had a head on her shoulders- sometimes she walked around doing stupid crap like a chicken with their head cut off and that never really bothered her- she got stuff done, though sometimes in extremely stupid and death defying ways. She really hadn’t thought out what she was doing a day in her life and it seemed to work just fine for her, much to her brother’s disdain (and the rest of her family, but to a lesser extent. She could swear her dad was always proud of her for that).

Jaina was ready to dive headfirst into whatever crazy scheme she thought out next, having to trouble helping implement whatever orders were given, to push the soldiers and such to fulfill whatever mission was given. So today Jaina was fully armed, explosives in her bag, a blaster strapped to her waist on one side and a lightsaber on the other, ready to take whatever was thrown at her. Ready for anything, except her nanny it seemed.

“Winter?” Of course Jaina had never forgotten the woman- she practically raised her and her brother but it was a shock nonetheless. The woman looked exactly the same as in her memories, not having aged a day and that threw her off. What was she doing here? Did her mom send her? She better not have, Jaina was 26 and really didn’t need someone taking care of her. Still she couldn’t help but stare at her in shock and confusion.

              WINTER ALWAYS KNEW THAT JAINA SHOULD’VE BEEN on a leash for most of her life. she adored the girl, but she got into far too much trouble and each time it nearly gave winter -- a spy and fighter, a heart attack. but something about seeing a child nearly fall headfirst off a large drop did that to nearly anyone. on top of that, jaina was leia and solo’s daughter.... leia was far more scarier that han -- his only weapon was really that hair of his, but leia was winter’s childhood friend -- basically her sister. they were raised as such in their home planet and nothing since then had changed in regards to their relationship. 

               when winter was first asked to watch over the children it was easy to say that she was surprised. people like her didn’t watch kids much, but the woman would do anything for those kids the moment she held them as an infant in her arms... jaina was obviously the fussiest. and now here she was trying to blow things up or something of the sort. the reaction jaina gave her compared to jacen was very different. jacen was hugging her and jaina looked more inconvenienced than anything. ❝ you heard me, what are you doing?! kriff, you’ll get yourself killed, you know that? ❞ but again, the kids were adults now... winter couldn’t really do this sort of thing anymore. ❝ do you even have a plan? ❞

[wintcrs]

&&. JACEN

Jacen didn’t want to be here. He really didn’t…but, he was already here and not about to leave his sister at the headquarters without back up. He raised his eyebrows up a bit at Winters suggestion. He loved and respected her almost as much as his mother- but he wasn’t leaving now, he wanted to help if he could since he was already here. “I’m not leaving Jaina in there alone. She may be acting stupid but someone has to balance it out-” As for his mother? He wasn’t even sure where she was.”I can handle my mom. Winter, I’m not leaving,” he clarified again. 

Even though her light scolding was having an affect on Jacen, making him feel like he was five all over again, he had a need to protect his family- so being dragged wasn’t exactly making Jacen feel more inclined to leave. “Winter- wait, no. I’ll be fine.. I can guarantee Jaina’s fine too,” he said, stopping in the street so she can’t pull him anymore- Something that was surprisingly difficult despite the fact that he was a head taller. He couldn’t let his sister get into the hands of the First Order, and the two of them together had enough training to actually help. “We’ve done things like this more times than I can count- they didn’t being us back to sit around,” How was he now starting to sound like his sister?

               ONCE HE STOPPED, WINTER GAVE HIM ONE more tug to at least try to get him to move... but jacen really had grown. the act itself had her looking both surprised and angry to hear him oppose, but she supposed that adults were allowed to do that. however his next words broke that stern gaze -- lips quirking into a small smirk. jacen thought he could handle his mom? leia organa? were they thinking about the same person. leia might be smaller, but she could kick anyone’s ass -- including her son’s. ❝ jaina will be fine, i’ll find her! ❞ he was a tower compared to her... how did that little kid grow up so fast? some things never changed though -- like her scolding at him in the middle of s street. 

               winter couldn’t help but wonder what sort of lives they had led if jacen was here saying that they did this regularly. kriff... should she allow this? he was twenty six, it was his own life... yet she couldn’t help but still see him as a toddler wobbling all over the place. with a sigh, she hesitantly let go of him and crossed her arms over her chest just as she saw a few people give them looks. ❝ ... you are being reckless, jacen solo. you sound like jaina and it’s worrying... but i suppose i can’t say no to you now... either way, i’ll be coming along. ❞