Accismus⋆౨ৎ˚⟡.• Anakin Skywalker⋆౨ৎ˚⟡.•

30.

The elevator echoed a continuous hum as it ascended through the many apartments in the building. Sol watched the lights move up the numbers that displayed symbols in Aurebash, as well as Twi'leki. With her hands clasped in front of her, Sol waited for the doors to slide open once the light rested on the highest number.

A sense of familiarity washed over the Jedi as she was greeted by the penthouse. The early morning light streamed in from the large windows, and the living space was as neat as it always was. Sol took a few steps out of the elevator and into the lobby, where she peered through to the bedroom that was around a corner. She didn't need to call out or venture further into the apartment to have her presence known, as its owner appeared from the bedroom in a light purple dress.

'Sol! Come in, come in!' Padme Amidala cheered. The senator quickened her step as she made it through the living space to greet her friend. With arms out, Padme embraced Sol as the Jedi met her halfway.

'It's so nice to see you, again,' Padme said with her arms hooked underneath Sol's. 'I heard about your knighthood! Congratulations!'

'Thank you. It's hard to believe I haven't seen you since I was a Padawan,' Sol pulled away from the embrace and smiled at the woman of equal height. She noticed how the senator hadn't changed in the year they had been apart, with her brown hair still long in its curls down her back, and her slender figure was in the most beautiful of dresses. The sheer drapes of purple hung over Padme's biceps and the skirt of the dress flowed to cover her feet. It was strange to think that Padme owned more outfits than Sol had ever owned in her life at any given time.

'Come sit! I'll call for some tea, or would you prefer ardees?' Padme went to her transmitter that connected to the kitchen of the building.

'It's not even midday, Padme,' Sol laughed.

'It is on some planets!'

While Padme called for beverages, Sol settled onto one of the sofas. On the coffee table, was a tablet that the senator had been looking at before she ventured to her bedroom to freshen up for the Jedi's arrival. From a quick glance, Sol saw rows of writing that she assumed were some reports for Padme's work with the senate. But she didn't try to read the details, as it wasn't her place to delve into politics.

'I've been swamped with work,' Padme threw herself down on the opposite sofa with a sigh. Her feet were tucked underneath her dress, and she leaned her head against her fist that was propped up on her knee.

'I can imagine. The Order have signed some agreement with the republic about sifting out these separatist colonies. They're popping up everywhere,' Sol said, and Padme blinked at the Jedi.

'That was the chancellor's idea. It might seem strange for the republic to need the fighting power, but the chancellor's afraid that we'll be overrun without it. But personally, I think it's unfair to have you Jedi running into battle while we bicker in meetings. Maybe the chancellor should go out on the battlefield and see what it's truly like.'

'And those are the opinions of a senator?' Sol raised a joking eyebrow and Padme scoffed playfully.

'Senator, shmenator, everyone thinks the same. The chancellor can be naïve, sometimes.'

Sol chuckled as Padme threw her hand around as she spoke. The elevator doors dinged as a server arrived with some tea on a tray. Padme babbled about her work as the server lowered their drinks onto the coffee table, which the two women thanked politely before the server left down to the kitchen. The tea's steam joined the conversation and Sol remembered that Padme was one to have her tea pipping hot. This was to ensure that no poisons or foreign objects had been slipped into her cup. She could never be too careful when knowing that Count Dooku and other separatists were loose in the galaxy.