Elesse does a less-good job of avoiding falling over. The fight was- intense, and she wasn't prepared for that last blast of dark side energy.

Salacis reaches out to support her master.

She slumps into her apprentice.

Hug.

"You did it, master."

She turns her face into Salacis.

"It's - been a long time."

"And now it's over. You won."

"Yeah."

"We won."

Elesse pulls herself back to her feet.

"What next?"

"We clean up here. We regroup. We handle the inevitable fires, and we get ahold of the rest of Plagueis's little network. Then - "

"I don't know."

"We'll figure something out."

"Hopefully."

Then, to Elesse: "What do you think we should do next?"

"I don't know."

"But I want to go back to Anakin."

"...I do, too."

The rush of power thrumming in her veins tells her to seize what she wants. To set aside all other considerations, to take and take and take -

Her daughter isn't something to just - take and claim - 

But she wants to go back to Anakin.

"Sounds like a good first step to me."

Smile. "I don't want to miss her childhood."

"I think you just earned yourself some time off."

"And Starkiller can continue avoiding the baby by running my network. She makes an oddly convincing Sith."

"It's gotta be the frown. She has a killer frown."

"Can't be just that. She wears a mask when working."

"The psychic energy of the frown carries through."

"She projects extreme disappointment in everyone around her very well. I have no idea why she thinks she isn't motherly."

"...That's not a typical motherly trait."

" - So how many mothers have you actually known."

"I've been reading the literature."

"I have no idea what the 'literature' claims, but - mothers are pretty often worse than fathers, and people don't care."

"I care. And Anakin's not going to have that for her."

- Tiny smile.

"You won't allow it?"

"It might interfere with her training."

"Training isn't kind or - pleasant. It makes you strong."

"I don't know if - raising and training are the same thing."

"Anakin's training won't be like yours."

Mrrrr. She feels rubbed raw. Unstable. Like all her masks and shields and thorns have been utterly destroyed. Like the personas she's constructed to inhabit don't fit anymore. 

"You're - you're good with her." It's been months, nearly a year, and - she's seen that. Plenty. "You're not - just her teacher."

"She's not even old enough for a teacher yet."

She drags a hand down her face. "It isn't weird for a governness to be involved with kids from birth. So don't - play dumb."

"I know."

"You can't trick me into thinking you're unobservant, now."

"No, I guess not."

Smile.

"Let's get back to Anakin."

Back home.

Back to her family.

Maul is relieved to see them again, and will eagerly hand the baby off.

The baby is delighted to see them! They were having fussy emotions and she's pretty tired about screaming about how no one is fixing those.

She's going to laugh and reach for both her adults and babble very energetically about this! 'Mamamamama' is about where she is for Lylí, and by now they're pretty sure Elesse is probably 'Wewewewewe.' (Maul is Mawaawa, Danni is pretty easy at Damada, the handmaidens seem to be collectively Nanamama while Rodanthe is 'fascinated staring'.)

She's growing so fast.

She'll be a little menace when she's walking. (Or when her tendency to reach out in the Force to things she wants turns into actual successful telekinesis.)

She won't need to just rely on her native charm to get what she wants.

A good state to be in. 

For Anakin, anyway. It remains to be seen how the rest of them will handle it.

Anakin's the important one here. 

A fair point.

Grin.

Then: "In the long term - I do want to figure out a way for her to be around other kids safely..."

"Safe in what respect?"

Very, very long pause.

Then: "In the sense of - unassociated with the Senator, Naboo's royal houses, or the Sith."

"There's a lot of fucked up places in the galaxy. Some - are more fucked up than others."

"There's lots of other kinds of places."

"Yeah."

"I'm not - currently willing - to give up my position as a Senator, or my networks as a Sith and I don't want... People looking for where I went."

"We can try to find some quiet planet somewhere off the trade routes."

"Doesn't solve - keeping my influence."

"You have enough handmaidens to swap out, don't you?"

"...I suppose. I'd need to make actual appearances ever, but - my more experienced girls already run things without me a lot..."

"You probably have a year or two before it's really relevant."

"I want to spend more time with her even now, too - and that can get... Awkward, on Coruscant. I'm watched more."

Shrug. "I dunno what the best solution is, here."

"I might be able to - mostly work remotely. Only go in as needed, get a fast ship and coordinate well, use my handmaidens to stall if needed. People know I use them, and in Naboo's laws they're interchangeable with me as Senator so they have the exact same rights to cast votes and negotiate. And... Starkiller already handles nearly all of my in person appearances with our underground networks."

"Wouldn't want to go too far off the beaten track, then."

"We can find somewhere far enough, I bet."

"Somewhere in the wide galaxy."

"Are you able to do the initial sorting?"

"Yeah, I can take a look."

Tiny smile. "I'll handle coordinating the cleanup, then."

"Sounds like a fair division of labor."

"Play to our strengths."

To work, then?

To work.

Elesse spends the next few weeks sorting through potential places to live, sorting by distance from Coruscant and local political history and amount of trade and cost of living and density and general feel of the population so as to have enough options to present.

It's a good activity to do with Anakin, even if her active contributions are not precisely helpful. Introduce her to different species of people and plants and animals, different ways biomes can look and different ways seasonal patterns can play out and different ways houses and communities can be constructed. (And Elesse feels Anakin should have some input on where she lives, since they're choosing anyway. They can revisit the topic once she's older.)

Her opinions mostly seem to be 'is frustrated she cannot grab objects in pictures or holos, keeps trying anyways.' Also a common opinion of 'is Elesse's hair edible? Experts disagree.' She's maybe possibly noticing some words that aren't names of people she knows? Hard to tell. Though she'll gamely attempt to repeat sounds, especially ones Elesse produces, or calls of assorted animals if Elesse plays any audio. She really likes bird noises and cat noises. Those are extremely excellent noises. Especially from that one planet with '''domesticated''' great cats and apparently some kind of on-lists-of-most-this diversity of songbirds. She can RAWR. And SING. (This mostly sounds like screaming.)

Well. It's a start.

Elesse will take her list of final candidates to Lyli to make her selection.

"These are all fairly good..." she says. "Though we might stand out too much here," shuffle, "And the Black Sun has some contacts here - it's a minor smuggler's haven," shuffle. This gets them down to three. Then, more quietly, about one with large ice caps and a temperate equator: "This one - I don't like winters." Shuffle.

Down to two - one of them the birds-and-cats world Anakin liked the animals from, a world covered in dense forests and numerous fragmentary inland seas but little ocean. The other is an archipelago world with the land masses concentrated in the rain bands, and would be a vacation magnet if it there were more than a few islands where it didn't lightly rain nearly every day, and if it wasn't well off the popular and safe hyperspace lanes. "Opinion between these?"

"Rain is going to get tiresome to deal with constantly. I'd prefer not that one. Which just leaves this. I'd recommend paying for extra soundproofing in the house, though. The animals are loud, and Anakin wants to grow up to be one."

She laughs. "And some well-protected gardens she can scream at them from?" Anakin already likes to join the morning chorus of Naboo's birds. Their sound proofing hasn't been entirely up to the task.

"I think she'd appreciate it."

"Then consider it done."

"Cool. I'll let Anakin know the good news."

"And then you can liaise with Kaishrí and Zodí about moving."

"I'll let them know."

"Thanks."

And off to do that.

Elesse will offer thoughts about what houses/qualities of houses are suitable, but is otherwise planning to leave the actual logistics of the move to the professionals.

They end up pulling in Salí - the manager of the Naboo estate and the handmaiden primarily responsible for their networks on planet - for that, as the one with the most experience establishing an estate. Kaishrí does transport and mobile security logistics, Zodí knows the most about Anakin's probable needs as she grows - but running a household is complicated, they both agree. 

Salí is of the opinion that selecting a suitable site on the planet can and should take time, that they should have begun planning this earlier, and that they'll be better served constructing their own complex which will also take time to arrange non-suspiciously, and she can't run both the new estate and the Naboo estate, and it isn't a central skillset for anyone else, so they'll need to train up someone new.

"You could take that job," she says to Elesse. "I'm uncomfortable giving it to anyone who isn't one of Us, of course - but We trust you with Our child, so We must too trust you with Our house. Though I believe Sidious's newest apprentice would serve better there, if she would release him to Us."

"I don't think it should be me. Anakin keeps me busy enough that I'd wind up neglecting the house in favor of her."

"That is part of why I would prefer someone else, yes," Salí says, voice remarkably dry behind the mask.

"I'll ask her about Maul then, shall I?"

She inclines her head. "If you wish. Or I may speak to her, as she and I are both part of Us, and then We may speak to Maul together."

Shrug. "Easier for you to just do it, then."

"Then one of Us will inform you of his and Our decision when it is made."

"Sounds good to me."

"Very well." And she's off.

It isn't hard for her to talk Sidious around. 

And so, shortly after, they both approach Maul.

"My lord?"

"Apprentice," she says with a smile. "My handmaiden has proposed a mission we believe will fit your skills well."

The young boy straightens. "I'm ready, my lord."

Awwwwww.

She inclines her head to Salí.

Extremely matter of factly, with the oddly military bearing that sets her apart from the other handmaidens even though her signature in the Force is constantly muffled: "We are establishing a second permanent base of 'home operations,' to serve primarily as a safehouse for Our child, for future endeavors which will benefit from secrecy and remoteness, and for Lylí to centralize her commanding role in operations while remaining with Our child. It cannot be fully remote, because Our child must have other children around for optimal development, and it cannot be operated openly as a Royal Household nor in a way that will draw suspicion from Our enemies."

"Currently, I am the only one of Us or Our allies adequately trained in the management and security of a royal estate, let alone when secrecy must be maintained. I cannot run both estates, but your talents are uniquely well suited to managing and protecting Our new estate. I will train you, if you accept the position."

A pause, then: 

"Furthermore - Sidious has wished time for your true self to unfold before We approach you with an offer to be one of Us. One cannot be commanded to be a handmaiden, by long tradition," her tone implies someone who thinks contravening this tradition is probably a capital crime, "And one must choose to forgo their selfhood with full knowledge of what it entails. But you have those rare traits We seek in those who might join Us. You need not decide now, but We would be honored if you took up Our mask during the course of your training."

-A handmaiden? Him?

Yes. He wants that. To be- close to her. As for the estate...

"I will learn. If you teach me. Please."

Firm nod. "I will. It is the duty of all handmaidens to contribute to Our whole."

"I will be in your care, handmaiden."

There's almost a smile in her voice. "I will take good care of you, handmaiden."

When do they start?

As soon as he's ready. 

He's ready now.

Good.

The first matter of business is getting him oriented to the estate on Naboo from her perspective, and to the traditional duties and expectations of a handmaiden...

Of note: he may be addressed as handmaiden as a candidate, but he is not formally a handmaiden until he takes the mask and identity of one, which requires a good bit of training and ceremony. (The training mostly ensures that the candidate understands the true meaning of what she will become, what she will give up.)

He's a diligent student.

(This is probably the first time he's actively wanted and pursued something since joining Sidious's service.)

(She very much approves, and lets him know as such - as Sidious, sure, but as a fellow handmaiden more than that. All of the handmaidens are honored to have him joining, Lylí included.)

Oh, that's so good.

"Do you enjoy your training, handmaiden?"

"I do."

They're in the inner chambers of the estate, now, so she slips her mask off and sets it by her desk.

"Good."

"You know, I don't think it'll take much longer for you to be ready to take up our mask."

"Really?"

Excite.

"Really."

"You've blossomed here."

"I've- had good teachers."

"That matters a lot."

"Salí's going to be the main one evaluating when you're ready, but - she's impressed, and I've never seen that before." (Salí has been quite the taskmaster in teaching Maul how to run an estate. No one's saying that her previous self was military, but her previous self was definitely military.)

"How many of the handmaidens were inducted after her?"

"All of them - except me, of course."

"Oh."

"You're a rare sort, handmaiden."

"I do my best."

"I know."

"You make me the best."

Heeeeeee.

"You make it easy."

Smile.

"So what have you learned lately?"

Maul is happy to talk!

And she's happy to listen.

Salí takes him with her to select the site for the new estate, and has him acquire it with her supervision - involves him heavily in the physical and systems design of the estate - and she leaves the Naboo estate under the care of another handmaiden for a time so she can assist him in establishing the estate, but once they're actually ready to move the family - 

"You're ready to take up the mask," she informs him. "I will continue to mentor you and lend my aid, but this estate is yours."

"Thank you, handmaiden. I will strive to be worthy of it."

"See that you do."

"It will be Palpatine who names you."

Let's go see her now, then.

"Salí has told me you're ready, handmaiden."

"Yes, Mistress."

"Then come, and kneel, and recite your oaths."

He does so, speaking in a low, fervent voice.

She watches with a heavy gaze.

At the end: "Your oaths are accepted. Rise, and take up your mask, Handmaiden Bastí."

She does so. donning it carefully.

"How does it feel?"

"It feels correct, Mistress."

"You wear it well, handmaiden."

"Thank you."

There's a smile underneath the mask.

Wonderful.

"We're ready to move my family to the estate," she says. 

"It stands ready for us."

"Good."

Then: logistics?

Logistics.

Moving a kid firmly in the back half of Being A Toddler is probably the most logistically interesting part of that. (Anakin had NOT wanted to PACK or get on a SHIP or leave her ROOM.)

Fortunately for Basti, handling that had been firmly Elesse's job, and Anakin's now calmed down and switched into 'asking five million questions about space.' Also she's been reminded that the Cool Animals that Elesse shows her pictures of sometimes are what they're going to see, and she sometimes gets into tangents about that. Also space cats. Elesse are there cats in space??? Can Anakin have a kitty? They're going to cat planet and she's being very good (now), she thinks she should get a kitty, that seems only fair -

There are occasionally cats in space, but only in spaceships. There are not, to her knowledge, vacuum-adapted cats. Anakin is being very good (right now), but there are no cats on this spaceship, and given the aforementioned lack of naturally-occuring cats outside in space, any acquisition of a kitty will have to wait until at least their arrival at their new home. And given that a kitty is a long-term investment, Anakin shouldn't get a kitty if she's going to get bored of it quickly and stop paying attention to it and taking care of it. So if Anakin's still interested in kitty-acquisition by the end of the trip, they can revisit the question. They could investigate what sorts of things a cat needs to be happy in the meantime, if she wants.

She needs that broken down and re-explained a few times (the future is weird and possibly fake, still; she kind of has an understanding of 'after' or 'later' now but she's still struggling a lot with the difference between 'five minutes later' and 'a day later' (a week later is basically never, she's pretty sure)).

"I want kitty forever," she assures Elesse. (She also hasn't figured out tenses yet. Has Basic considered being less complicated?) "Happy kitty." 

"Well, like the old saying goes, 'trust, but verify'. We'll see, Anakin." For now, cat pictures, and talking about things Anakin would have to do for a cat.

She can get Anakin's attention pretty thoroughly with that, at least until they're approaching where they'll be leaving hyperspace, which Anakin wants to watch.

To the observation blister, then.

Stars!!!!!!!!!!! Planet!!!!!!!!! (And, once they land on the outskirts of the compound: PLANTS. NOISES. Are there CATS. Can Anakin RAWR at them?)

The cats are probably all hiding from the noise of the move-in, but Anakin and Elesse can go for a walk while everyone's busy to try to find some.

Definitely!!!

Elesse will let Palpatine know they're going, then.

"Have fun, you two."

"Mama come too?"

"Mama has work, sweatheart." Hair ruffle?

Okay. Hair ruffle. She guesses.

"Awwww..."

"Find some cool things with Elesse and bring them back to mama, okay?"

Hm. "Okay!"

Off to explore then!

Off to explore.

Anakin has so much energy pent up! And there's birds here! And they'll make noises when she does! And she hears a cat roaring in the distance! She tries roaring back, but tragically this doesn't summon any cats (yet) though might've gotten some return calls?

(Anakin still wants a cat. So much.)

They'll talk with Basti once she's got everything settled in.

Good!!!

Yeah.

In the meantime:

She'll need Elesse's help carrying some of the Cool Stuff back to mama.

Maybe they can pare back slightly on some of the cool stuff. For instance, holos of the entire fallen half-tree with the claw marks instead of the whole thing.

But Elesse can float stuff!

Consider: if she's floating the tree, then she can't float Anakin.

!!! She should definitely float Anakin!!!

Hup! Midairakin.

Weeeeee!!!

Anakin wants to ZOOM.

Elesse can't do ZOOM, but up and down and round and round is doable.

Hm... Good enough. (As communicated by her excited shrieking. (Especially if Elesse pretends to drop her. (Mama pretends to drop her a lot and it's always the funnest.)))

(Operation: don't take a whole damn tree home- great success.)

Hopefully Anakin can still appreciate the scenery from her new perspective.

She can! And now Elesse can float her up to look at higher things!

A little taste of growing up.

Heee.

Anakin's gonna grow up SO FAST.

Elesse is gonna turn around one day and boom, Anakin'll be too big to float.

Naw-aw. Elesse can float anything.

She'll have to make sure to keep up with her practice as Anakin grows.

Practice is fun!

It will be for Anakin.

That's what she said.

Elesse is glad they're in agreement.

Uh huh!

(Anakin's starting to flag some, energy-wise. Elesse's increasingly well-honed instincts say she might get over-stimmed soonish.)

Time to head home, then. They should be done enough that Anakin has a place to stay by now.

They are! She has her own little suite, sharing a larger suite with Elesse's rooms. The bedroom is small, with space!!! murals like Anakin's been asking for lately, and the main focus of the suite is a play room/ library, with a nice big window seat and lots of shelves and cat wallpaper, already packed with Anakin's books and toys. They've brought some of the furniture Anakin's more attached to, too, as well as her normal bedding, and she still has her own private courtyard - bigger than the one at the Naboo estate, with a large number of bird houses and feeders that have been up long enough to have already attracted a few birds. (Also set well out of a toddler's reach.)

This is exciting! But also Anakin is probably ready to be put down for a nap. Tragic.

The rooms will still be here when she wakes up.

Fiiiine. (That Sounds Fake, but Elesse's pretty good at reassuring her.)

All in all, not a bad start to their time here.

Not at all. 

Anakin grows quickly. Her vocabulary explodes, and she starts reading early (though she still wants her Elesse to read her bedtime stories). She gets just enough ability to calm down to start early Force training, and pretty quickly figures out floating stuff to her. She makes friends among the local children (and manages to avoid outing their family as Force-users; she seems to feel a nearly instinctive urge to hide her powers). 

(She successfully talks her mama into a big cat, and then two house cats, and then into keeping a forest cat she brings back with her one day. She also successfully cares for them, though.)

Elesse settles into her role on the new planet, taking care of Anakin and guiding her training. Going through the very basics and explaining them to someone else proves to be illuminating, providing Elesse plenty of inspiration to continue working on her own mastery. (Steady access to Palpatine's library also helps.) She's proud of Anakin's progress, both in the Force and her growth as a person. Continuing to take care of all the cats is a big step, and a good one.

(For Elesse's sixteenth birthday, Salacis takes her out on what is, in retrospect, a date. It went fine, but after some thinking, Elesse informs her that next time they could just skip to the end. There are several next times, whenever Salacis swings by for a visit.)

And, a bit over three years after their arrival on the planet - a bit over five years since Palpatine recruited Elesse and Maul - 

The handmaiden Kaishrí approaches Bastí. She's been one of Bastí's more common companions among the handmaidens since she took on her role as estate manager, given that she travels with Palpatine more often than not. She's quieter than the others, more watchful.

"Is there something you need?"

"Not quite need," she says, tone soft. "But there's something I wanted to ask you."

"...What is it?"

"I know you've noticed the handmaidens often have sex, including with our Mistress - you haven't asked to join, but I was wondering if that was out of a lack of interest, or some other reservation."

"Ah."

"I- hadn't known that was an option."

She feels fond and amused in the Force. 

"It is, if you do not object."

"I... am not sure."

"You do not have to decide right away," she says, gently. "And you can change your mind later, if you discover your decision is sitting poorly with you."

"And you would be welcome to speak to our Mistress, and I suspect to more closely watch us together."

Basti is kind of glad for the mask right now.

"I'll do that. -Speak to her, I mean."

Yeah she's definitely amused. 

"As you wish."

Um. Yeah.

Yeah.

Next time Palpatine isn't too busy, Basti goes to find her.

That's pretty soon - her schedule has gotten a lot lighter over the past few years, and the vast majority of her work is administration or remotely going over reports. 

"Good afternoon."

"Good afternoon, Mistress."

Wow this is awkward.

"Um."

She raises an eyebrow and gestures for Bastí to approach. 

"Is anything wrong?"

"Not- wrong, as such, no."

"It's just. I was recently... invited to- had it pointed out to me that I am a handmaiden and sometimes the handmaidenshavesexwitheachotherandalsowithyou." Basti says this last bit in somewhat of a rush.

- Tiny smile. 

"That surprised you?"

"A little bit."

"Does it bother you?"

"I'm... uncertain."

"That's alright. Better to think than to jump without looking where you're going."

"Does it interest you?"

"I..."

"Mostly I'm interested with you."

"You don't have to do anything with the other handmaidens," she murmurs. "You can be just mine."

"I'd like that. A lot."

She gestures for Bastí to sit next to her. "To be mine in that way, too? My lovely, loyal handmaiden..."

Basti sits.

"Yes. Yours."

She gently pulls aside Bastí's mask and tilts her chin up. 

Kiss time?

Kiss time!

Kisses: considered good.

Palpatine's gotten a lot of experience over the years.

Basti hopes to learn from her in this, as well.

She's always delighted to educate future generations. 

Yeah, this is good.

"My lovely handmaiden..." Kiss, and she slides her hand into Bastí's robes.

Shiver!

What a wonderful reaction. 

She unwraps her handmaiden painfully slowly (or, well, painfully slowly for Bastí; she's clearly enjoying herself).

He's having fun.

One of her goals, here. (Another seems to be making him squirm.)

As usual, she's achieving both.

She's very good at getting what she wants, true.

One of her best traits.

And Bastí is very good at giving her what she wants.

Anything and everything he has.

And everything he can claim for her.

Absolutely.

Rather a lot, all told.

He does his best.

Rather more than a lot, there.

Mhm.

More kisses! And touches now, too.

Ooh, touches.

And education on how to touch her back...

Exciting.

She'll even permit him to undress her - part of a handmaiden's privileged access to her Mistress's body.

He'll make sure to properly appreciate the privilege.

Clever boy.

He tries.

He's doing well - at everything, and at undressing her. 

And you know, at her station Palpatine really should have an attendant dressing her every time...

He could make time for that, in his duties.

Combine it with his reports to her. 

That would be efficient.

A good quality in the manager of her estate.

Indeed.

And a good manager deserves good rewards.

Keep the incentives all lined up.

Keep her loyal servants at the top of their game.

Where they need to be, to keep up with her.

To meet her demands. 

An excellent way to pass the afternoon. 

Though, alas, their respective duties will eventually come calling...

This can be an ongoing thing, though.

Part of their routine.

That's very agreeable.

She thought it might be. 

Basti will make it happen.

Good boy.

Then back to her duties.

And Anakin keeps growing bigger - she makes so many friends, quickly becomes the most sociable kid in their community, manages to secure enough of a leadership role that the other kids listen to her about being nice to each other. She grows in the Force, too, and in her studies, and in her emotional control (...comparatively; she's still a seven year old). She talks the ear off of anyone who'll stand still long enough about her day, her latest special interest - spaceships have been a strong feature lately - and asks an equally endless stream of questions. 

And, one day soon after her seventh birthday - it seems the question right now is:

"Elesse, are you and mama married?"

"Uh. No, we aren't."

Confusion! "But you're both my moms?"

"Well. Yes. But not like that."

"But Ita's got two moms and they're married. And Kapt has two moms who were married but are divorced now and don't talk to each other. And Tryn has three moms and two dads and not all of his moms are married to each other but all of his parents are or were married to another of his parents so his parents are really all married. And you and mama are my only parents, and you talk to each other. Though Qlon's parents didn't get married until ze was three..." Squint. "Are you going to get married?"

(It's Logic.)

"We don't have any plans in that direction, no. Our relationship, mine and your mama's, isn't romantic like your friends' parents. I'm afraid, Anakin, that you might have to add some more models to the way parents can work."

"But you guys should marry." Obviously some people's parents are unmarried. But these are Anakin's moms. They're different. 

"Oh, really?"

"Uh-huh! You're my moms. Not just like, mom one and mom two."

"I think you're going to have to break that down a little more for me, Anakin. I'm not quite following you."

"So like, Vivi had a mom and her mom was married to two guys? Who're Vivi's dad one and dad two. And then Vivi's mom died, but Vivi still has her dad one and dad two. But even though they live together, they're not gonna marry each other and they shouldn't. But you and mama should be married to each other." Anakin only kind of knows Vivi, who's like basically an adult (she's thirteen), so maybe there's parts to the story Anakin's missing, but, the dad thing seems pretty straightforward. 

"Uh huh."

"I'm right, aren't I?"

"I don't think so. Your mama and I- we're like Vivi's dads, not Ita's moms. I respect and like your mama, but not like that."

Skeptical face!

"You don't trust me to know my own mind, Anakin?"

"Everyone's silly sometimes."

"Yes, granted, but not really the case here, I think."

"How do you know for sure?"

"I'll tell you what, if you can get all your exercises for today done by dinner, I'll spend the evening meditating on the topic, how's that?"

"Okay!!"

"Better hop to, kiddo."

"'Kay!" Off to tasks!!!

(...Which she does not finish by dinner. Boo.)

Perhaps Anakin has a little more work to do in the self-improvement department before she moves on to other people.

Doesn't mean Elesse doesn't have any work, though!

They're all always striving for improvement.

So she should think about marrying mama anyways. It'd be an improvement.

Sure, Elesse will consider it.

Good.

(Elesse does not consider the idea for very long. That's- really not the relationship she has with Palpatine, not the relationship she's looking for with Palpatine, and she's gotten no hints Palpatine has any desire to change things in that direction either. (It mightn't be so bad. Palpatine's- mellowed, a lot, since Plagueis's death.) So yeah. Just another instance of Anakin being Anakin.)

She will mention it to Palpatine the next time they talk, though, just offhand.

"Your daughter thinks we should get married, by the way."

"Does she now?" She laughs a bit. "She hasn't brought it up with me yet."

"She seemed pretty insistent about it today, but I'm not sure if it's a new interest or just a passing thought."

"Did you shoot her down?"

"Gently. Some of her friends have caretakers who aren't married, she knows the concept exists."

"She might be re-planning her approach before bringing her concerns to me, then."

"Good luck with that," Elesse snickers.

"She could use the practice with making persuasive arguments."

"Not too persuasive, I hope. I mean..."

She raises an eyebrow.

"-That's not really part of our arrangement, you know."

"Try to avoid pointing that out where Anakin can hear you. She might realize things can be renegotiated."

"My lips are sealed."

"Good."

"Otherwise, her training has been going pretty well..." Elesse will go on to give one of her usual reports.

"She's growing up quickly."

"Time really feels like it's just been flying by."

"I'm increasingly glad you all bullied me into working remotely," she teases. "I'd hate to have missed this."

"Shame not to take advantage of your handmaidens, since you have them."

Soft smile.

"It was hard to realize - to accept - back then exactly how much of my strength rested in other people."

"You've grown as a person."

"A lot of that going around."

"I guess so."

"You've grown too, you know."

"Mm. Probably not exactly in the way the Order would like. But maybe that's for the best."

"As I said."

Pff. "Fair enough."

"Growing past what we were taught."

"With effort."

"It's a long, dark road out."

"But we're not alone."

"No. We aren't."

Smile.

And of course, there's other things to talk about than just Anakin - such as Elesse and Palpatine's own studies and investigations...

(Elesse's grown intellectually, too, Palpatine's noticed. She had a sharp wit as a preteen. She's a very serious challenge, now.)

Elesse has been charting her own path in the field of Force studies. She's getting closer to perfecting something that might be called light side sorcery, based on her Jedi teachings and some of Palpatine's esoteric texts.

Speaking of... Some of Palpatine's own investigations have uncovered a few avenues that might be of interest to her there.

She's always willing to accept notes.

There's a few texts, too, and some hints of ruins to explore - "I can point Salacis towards investigating those... Though some might be safe to take Anakin on a field trip for."

"I think I'd rather Salacis clear them at least, before taking Anakin."

"My general intent - she still doesn't always have the patience for the more meticulous sides of archaeology..."

Nod. "I'm not sure Anakin will either. Might depend some on the context."

"She's getting better at focusing for long stretches, and I think she'll do okay if she's helping you in bursts, or doing a couple different things, or if you have other things to distract her with. I'd suspect she'd get lonely before she got very bored..."

"Mm, yeah. It would take some planning, but that's doable."

"It'd be unfortunately complicated to take her friends along. But she might like a chance to properly meet some of the handmaidens she doesn't interact with as much..."

"Ravri, maybe?"

Hum. "You two are friends as well, aren't you?"

"Yeah."

"Maybe that'll give Anakin a new area to focus her match-making energy on."

"I'm not sure that would be better."

"Might at least split her efforts."

"Try slowing her down that way?"

"At least try giving her new challenges."

"Fair enough."

Heh.

"As far as the actual ruins and texts - "

"Part of why this is interesting is I think it might be a lead on travel other universes."

"That vision I had of the other Anakin?"

"Yes."

"It's been - bothering me."

Slow nod.

" - Have you had any other insights about that?"

"Not really."

Nod.

"I feel closer to a solution than we were, at least..."

"We'll see what comes of your ruins."

"And our other investigations..."

"Right."

"Anything you want to poke beyond that?"