functusofficio | ic contact. mask or menace.

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ic contact. mask or menace.

"You've reached Ambassador Amidala. Office hours are between 9 am and 7 pm each day, but if those hours do not work for you I am happy to set up an appointment outside of them whenever is convenient for you. Please leave a message with your name, means of contact and details of our business and I will ensure that it is attended to as promptly as possible."

voice. video. text. drop by her office.

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[It comes with the mail that day: a pot of beautiful white orchids, with note attached.]

It's belated, but I meant to offer my congratulations for becoming ambassador! I imagine you've settled into the post by now, and look forward to seeing what further work you do in that position. Best wishes, Z. Hange

Your gift was so thoughtful and a wonderful surprise! While I have quite a few more pressing matters to take care of, I admit having the office feel like home helps, and these flowers will certainly provide aid towards that. I've always loved flowers.

I hope you're doing well, and continuing to settle in here.

[She's totally happy to receive this return text. Hange liked Padme and found her surprisingly genuine for a politician. What's more, perhaps they'll eventually be useful allies to each other, as politician and hybrid soldier/scientist.]

I've had a very interesting time! It's been enjoyable, often enough, I've learned a lot and seen many new things, as well as escaping the brunt of the troubles. I'm sure you heard all the fuss about plants taking over Maurtia Falls. I tried to take some samples of those creatures but would you believe they all died and crumbled away to nothing once the action was over! I'm glad you like the flowers! I think it's psychologically beneficial for humans to have green and growing things around. Hopefully they'll provide a little peace in busy days. Orchids are new to me, and I'm told they can be picky, but let me know should they ever start to wilt and I'll fix them up like new.

[ Padme liked Hange simply from their conversation, and after this gift that liking has been thoroughly cemented. ]

Ah, yes, the difficulty with the plants was certainly a very interesting experience to have as one of my first in office, but thankfully things were able to be returned to normal fairly quickly. The vanishing of the plants helped in that, though I'm sorry you were unable to acquire any samples. Knowledge of them could prove quite useful.

I have to agree with that idea. My homeworld was filled with greenery, and I always missed it when I was on Coruscant and surrounded by nothing but city.

Did you grow these yourself?

I did! Botanokinesis is the power granted to me by the Porter so one might say I cheated, but it's been a great deal of fun experimenting with that. Quickly growing or forcing plants to wither is easy enough, and I hybridized some tomatoes from store-bought varieties that will hopefully prove more flavorful and juicy than their forebears. Forgiving to beginning gardeners too! Lest you worry, these orchids are completely normal, other than the rate of their growth and exceptional good health. [This is the truth.]

Nothing but city? Our capital city is located in the center of the walls, and even there they have parks and gardens, though much of the space is wasted on grass when it could be growing vegetables. I can't imagine if it were all stone and street, it would be quite oppressive! What kind of surroundings did you grow up in, at home?

It's very beautiful, and as long as it won't poison me accidentally I'm hardly going to question the methods with which it was grown. Indeed, it seems like you were given an ability that suits you quite well.

My homeworld Naboo was what is known as a garden world. Full of flowers and lakes and green meadows and swamps. I loved growing up there a great deal, and it is still the place in the galaxy I would most like to return to if there was such a chance. Even our cities had gardens at every turn.

Oh there's no chance of it poisoning you by mistake!! You could probably even eat it, some orchids are edible, but I don't advise that honestly. Still, simply touching it should not cause any harm. A city full of gardens... that sounds completely beautiful! I suppose were I to imagine your home, where people leap from planet to planet with ease, I wouldn't imagine something as simple as a garden holding much appeal. But perhaps human preferences remain the same even as our abilities grow. I'm glad that there are people who still appreciate a beautiful garden.

I felt that I could rely on you to send me something safe.

I think no matter what species, all people desire some beauty in their life. My planet is simply more suited to it than many others. Tatooine is a desert world. Very little grows there at all. My husband was raised there - when he first saw Naboo it was almost overwhelming.

I do not suppose there is much space for gardens in your city. Are you enjoying being able to grow flowers, here?

I'm flattered that you have a high regard for my skills. [And, Hange thinks, for a high regard for Hange's integrity. The impulse to tell Padme to be warier, harder, is immediately present, but Hange lets it pass. She isn't dangerous to Padme, and it's really not her place to lecture this woman.]

In my city, there are some pleasure gardens and lawns and such. We have only one great city, the Royal Capital within the central walls which are named Sina. It may not surprise you to hear that in this city the wealthiest of our people live and though our people are in dire straits, they like to flaunt their wealth. Cultivated areas that don't produce food are markers of wealth, and that is mostly why you find such beautiful places in Sina. Flowers are great fun, but I am personally more concerned with food crops and medicinal plants. I believe that this area might be where my power can find the greatest utility.

Edited 2018-03-28 05:31 (UTC)

You have seemed very talented, so far. Your curiosity is quite impressive as well.

[ Padme is, it's true, sometimes too trusting of others, but she prefers to think well of people who have shown her no reason to feel otherwise. ]

It is a shame that even in a place such as yours, the wealthy still feel a need to flaunt their wealth above the need to help others and ensure the safety of everyone.

That makes sense, and they are certainly a more necessary skill in many places. Are you finding plenty to work with, here?

[Curiosity is the joy of her life, Padme isn't wrong.]

I would love to say that all my people had come together as one force for the betterment of the whole... but it just wouldn't be true. Even in our dire circumstances, we have some scared rabbits who'd rather jump down in their holes than face reality and fight for their people. Of course, some of them have given up completely, and only hope to enjoy debauched lives before they die. I haven't even begun to work with my powers, I think! I feel as though I am only beginning to test what I can do. I can't wait to experiment more and see where I can take this. If I could take this ability home, even better -- I'd have to be careful with it there, but it could mean a relief from the deprivations of hunger for my people.

That's unfortunate, but not unfamiliar. If only we could convince everyone of the necessity to work together.

I wish you could take it home with you. I feel certain you would do great good for your peopl with it.

You'll find people everywhere who are too afraid to contribute to the progress of others, who are too fearful to even be neutral in the battles others fight. It's a shame, but it's our reality. Perhaps circumstances will change here. The Porter brought us in under one set of circumstances, but it's theoretically possible to influence those circumstances, and ultimately change them, don't you think?

It is unfortunate. I have seen variations on this before.

I certainly hope it is, and I know it is the hope of many. Those of us who wish to remain, and those of us who wish to return but with our experiences intact. It has not been possible so far, but I do not believe that makes it impossible.

I thought you might have. And I'm glad you understand those ambitions. I worry for my people and our chances of surviving the war without some kind of leg up, to be honest.

I think most of us who have seen war have seen that.

A sentiment I likewise understand. I sincerely hope that your people will be able to emerge from this conflict safely, in the end.

Speaking of that possibility, have you ever met Lachesis?

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ic contact. mask or menace.

a parcel arrives!

a text back because ??? these are beautiful thanks

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