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The sentence remains uncompleted. Hanging the between you. Like an unspoken secret you both are privy to. Life surrounds you in this populated bar: people at their tables sharing old and new stories to new and old friends, queues of beings shoving and waving to catch the eye of one of the short-staffed bartenders hurrying about, a mass of humanoids dance, embrace and kiss. But you do not see them, you do not hear their loud ruckus, you do not even feel them in the Force; there is nothing outside this little private world you and Claire have carved out together.
Claire’s soft, wide eyes gaze up at you waiting, unblinking despite the sudden, sharp colour changes spewed by harsh lights painting the bar. You know this is wrong. That you shouldn’t do this. That this is not the path of the Jedi or the way of the Jedi or however you want to phrase the dogmatic term. But how can something that feels so natural, that feels so unequivocally right, be wrong? Who would even know? And if someone did, no one would even blame you for the action, you’ve drank far past any point of rationality and clear thought. But you would know, and you are still the master of your own mind. Fastening your eyes closed, you bow your head into a deep stoop and release a deep exhale filled with an already burgeoning regret.
“I am very drunk,” You paraphrase her earlier words, shattering the moment.
“Me too,” Claire replies, now resting her cheek on your chest.
“I think we should go.”
“Okay,” She muffles her words into your chest.
You take the young Ramdar girl by her hand and lead her out of the building into the warm night outside. She gives your hand a slight squeeze and interlaces your fingers with hers. Each step you take is a battle to stay upright on your wobbly legs; your only support is each other. It isn’t long before you manage to make it back to the building you’ve been using as a home these last years. With a finger to your lips, you motion for silence as you open the door. It is late, far past the time any Master retires for the night, but you do not want to risk a chance of them catching you in this state.
With a beckoning finger, you noiselessly motion for your fellow Padawan to quietly follow you through the spinning building. You climb each step on all fours, thinking it will suppress any loud footfalls and stop you from stumbling over. Meanwhile, Claire follows you upright on her feet, trying and failing to smother a girlish giggle at your bizarre stance. As you crawl up the stairs, managing to avoid falling over with a crash loud enough to wake up all the sleepers. Claire gives you a soft tug of your clothes as you continue up the stairs past the level of your rooms, still avoiding breaking the silence, all you do is nod to the steps rising towards the roof.
