Cel stood there watching everyone walk in and depart from her. She didn't quite mind as she turned to Rask as he spoke. She gave him a smile as he said goodbye and she waved at him. [color=cyan] "See ya around, space cowboy" [/color] she would say teasingly as she watched him walk away. [I] That was strange, that wasn't just strange that was a little fun. I haven't had that much fun since I was in Chandrilla. [/i] She watched Rask walk away as the door slowly closed behind her. She had no interest or need to go into the Mandalore Tower, she had just brought everyone here in hope that they'd bring about a bit of excitement in her life, something to make her feel more alive. [I] Don't be so shocked Cel, of course they just all left you. You merely were a person for them to get what and where they wanted. Everyone leaves, this isn't new. [/i] She began to walk again, this time almost absent mindedly. After walking down the streets of Mandalore, she noticed a window to a messy apartment where two children were throwing clothes at each other while their parent laughed. She seemed to start to space out for a moment as she wasn't focused on the kids but rather the clothes everywhere. ------------------- [i][b] 20 years ago[/b][/i] "CLEAN IT UP! CLEAN IT UP! YOU FILTHY LITTLE BRAT!" Cel stood I the middle of her room as her nanny, Esmeralda stood at the door screaming at her. She had just been playing with her dolls and hadn't cleaned her room like she was supposed to... by 10 am exactly. Esmeralda stormed into the room as Cel was grabbed by her hair and shoved against the post of her big luxurious bed. "I promise you if you don't clean it up, I will burn everything you have. Then I'll tell your dad that you did it, and guess what? He will believe me! Filthy, filthy child." She would slam young Cel's head against the post, the already tearing up child now was in a full-out sob as her head was hurting. "Stop your crying, you don't know hardship, you don't know a reason to cry," Esmeralda said as she threw Cel to the ground by her hair. Cel would hit the carpeted ground with a thud as she continued to sob uncontrollably but slowly started picking up her things, her room was by no means a mess. In fact, it just looked like a kid's room, with a few toys here and there. A couple of dirty clothes on the ground and maybe the occasional clean clothes folded and put in the wrong area. "Good, now you clean you dirty rotten brat and hear me when I say this. I know your type, growing up rich and without worry. You just leave everywhere else a mess for others to deal with. Just know that at the end of the day you deserve this. And you'll deserve it when everyone leaves you and you find yourself all alone. And you'll have nothing other than your absolute filth to blame" ----------------- [i][b]Current day Mandalore [/b][/i] Cel realized she had been staring into this apartment for some time when the mom walked over to the curtains staring a death glare at Cel and closed the blinds. [I] Be more careful, you are on Mandalore, it wouldn't be insane to think that anyone could be armed and ready to fire and kill you. [/i] She sighed as she continued to walk as she slowly went back into her thoughts. ---------------- [i][b]10 years ago, Coruscant [/b][/i] Cel quickly ran up the flights of stairs as she had just heard the news about what happened. She swung open a door to see her friend, a trandoshan, packing a bag. [color=cyan] "Claire, I'm so happy for you!! It's your dream job, right?! A junior diplomat for Corellia! " [/color] Cel ran over and gave her a hug and her friend hugged her back. "Cel, I'm so happy and excited, I leave literally tonight!" [color=cyan] "Tonight?! But that's so soon! [/color] "Yes, but Cel, listen, when I become a full-fledged diplomat I will finally get to travel the universe going to all the awesome and unique planets that are out there. Meeting so many people! It's going to be a blast!" Claire hugged Cel back tightly before looking at the ground. "But, I hear the training program is pretty intense. It's three weeks without contact with anyone outside of the class." [color=cyan] "That's okay Claire! Let's go out and paint the town then!" [/color] "Cel, I don't think we can, especially with The Night Stalker still at large" Cel frowned, she had forgotten about that. She had forgotten that there was someone going around and preying on people late at night, it made her sick to her stomach just hiking about it. "Listen, we will stay in, watch a movie and then how about you take me to the jump station tomorrow morning, and when I get to Corellia I'll let you know!" -------------------- [i][b]Current day, Mandalore [/b][/i] Claire had definitely made it to the jump station but she never did call, or call back. In fact, the one time she finally got a hold of Claire, Claire had told her to leave her alone and let go of the past. [I] "They always leave. [/i] Cel began to think about the last time she saw Claire, and Claire acted like she hardly even knew her. She began to wring her hands a little as she thought about it. Cel continued to walk now as she found herself going in a circle, not really sure where to go. She seemed to look down at her hands as she looked at how smooth they looked. She thought about how hard it was at times to keep them looking that smooth and keep herself sane. ------------------- [i][b]17 Years ago Eschann[/b][/i] "Oh you think you are so smart, don't you? Then tell me how do you plan to fix this?" Esmerelda would hold up a broken tiny droid that seemed to be powered down. Cel walked over and looked at it. [color=cyan] "Oh... Its operating capacitor is just low if you take a screwdriver and direct energy from its ability to speak to it's operating system, it should be able to work and then you can take it to a repair shop! [/color] She smiled as she began to walk away. "You think your so smart don't you, did you c-" [color=Cyan] "Yes Esmerelda, I cleaned my room, washed the dishes, watered the flowers and mopped the floor all before 10. My homework is completely finished and has been notated and turned in, I have waxed the floors and bleached the bathroom as well as re-painted the outside wall. All before 2pm as you requested." [/color] She turned back away with a grin, she had finally gotten one over on her. "You think you are so smart don't you, you brat?" Esmeralda said as she crossed her arms. Cel would turn around feeling a little brave. [color=cyan] "Permit me to assert that I possess an exceptional level of intellectual acuity, surpassing mere intelligence, thereby prompting your apparent misconception, for it seems that the profound disparity in our cognitive capacities eludes your comprehension."[/color] Esmeralda looked at her confused as she spoke "What?" she said. [color=cyan] "Oh let me simplify, I said: Smart? No, I think I'm brilliant, you just think I'm smart because you can't grasp the gap in our intellect." [/color] Cel turned back around defiant and feeling like she had just taken down a giant. "YOU BRAT!" Esmeralda yelled as she stood there not sure what to do. She looked around and grabbed the pan of heating water, she was going to boil the water to make some tea. The water had yet to start boiling but was already steaming and obviously hot. She walked briskly and grabbed Cel by the hair and threw her on the ground. "You want to insult me?!" [color=Cyan] "I didn't do anything wrong, I did everything you asked before you even expected me to finish it! [/color] Cel said looking at the ground before looking up to see the pan in Esmeralda's hand and her eyes widened. Her head screaming at her she was in danger. As she got up to run Esmaralda grabbed her again this time by her throat. Cel brought a fist back before Esmerlada started yelling. "Remember what happened last time you fought back! Remember how your father believed me and not you?! Remember how you left a mark and I never do!?" Cel stopped and lowered her fist in defeat as she was shoved against a cabinet. Esmaralda set the pan down and grabbed a hanging mug nearby that was hanging from a hook next to the cabinet and dipped it into the pan before pushing the hot water at the lips of Cel. "You want to talk back, you want to rebel! I'll teach you really quickly why you don't talk back to me!" ----------------- [i][b]Modern Day, Mandalore [/b][/i] Cel grabbed at her throat as she made a frustrated face. She was so happy to be out of that position and out of that abuse. She thought about how wonderful the day was that Esmaralda got what was coming to her. She smiled to herself as she continued to walk, her life hasn't been all bad though. She has made quite a few friends between the planets that she's worked and now she's working ON Mandalore. Certainly it was a dream for many bureaucrats. She walked back up to the tower, she had gone in a full circle and sat on a bench nearby. Giving a soft smile to a mother and her daughter as they walked by. She remembered what her dad said "Everyone deserves a second chance, if you can pull someone out of a bad position you should." She smiled, she missed her dad as she looked up and thought about how he ought to be proud of her if he was still alive. [color=cyan] "What a journey, I shouldn't act like I'm alone. After all, I often get tired of being around people too much. They just don't usually get me or understand me... that space cowboy though, he read me pretty well. I should keep an eye on that and be careful.[/color] She would think about it for a moment and chuckle to herself. [I] Well if I do see him again, I hope he's not so hard on himself, after all, he seemed nice, and so did the Tuskens oddly enough... and the imperial, it's odd, I almost feel like I miss them. I wonder if we will ever get to see each other again.[/i] She shrugged and pulled out her book, she looked at it and once more began reading. But there was a hope inside of her that someone, anyone, that was interesting would interrupt her.