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WHO: Altair Kallig & You!
WHERE: Risa!
WHAT: Vacation!
WHEN: During the Risa Event
WARNINGS: None! Will update if this changes.

[A - Markets]

He had to visit eventually- searching for supplies that would be useful once they returned to Agra 10, but also searching for some items not related to survival alone. While wandering, he kept his senses reaching far, feeling the peaceful emotions of all around him while he wandered- while also keeping an eye out for anyone familiar, be it only slightly so, or very much so.

The Sith was determined to at least enjoy part of this vacation while they had it.

[B - Gardens]

Chiss were not made to handle heat- even mixed breeds like himself. Altair didn't know what his family had been before his parents, and his grandparents, but he knew they could not all be fully Chiss- logistically, it was impossible. Aloysius had been a pureblood, Altair was sure, given how the Empire had been even more anti-alien back in those days- but then, it had been nearly two-thousand years since Aloysius had died so if there was pure Sith blood in his veins, it was so diluted it might as well not be there.

Still, the Chiss in him was indeed not good with heat- and as such, he found himself down in the glowing gardens, where it was cooler.

He could be found wandering about with a sketchbook and pen- drawing the different plants he saw. Having grown quite fond of the medium of paper and pen.

Every now and then, he'd also find a bug or two, and stop to fawn over it- even picking some up to inspect the creatures more closely. One could think him insane, given that he would speak to any bug he wasn't familiar with in rather the way one would speak to something utterly adorable.

"Why hello there, aren't you a beauty..." and "Oh, look at you... Don't think I've seen one like you before... Care to hold still while I draw you?"

Even on Agra 10, he'd been a bug lover. Here, with the relative safety, he felt okay to let that show just a bit.

[C - Meditation]

Risa, being what it was, was perfect for it.

Anywhere it was nice to sit down- places with pristine nature, a somewhat less traveled path with benches, down on the beach- he could be found in deep meditation, cross-legged, and breathing.

Speaking, too, when he thought himself alone enough- reciting the Sith Code as he always did, when he felt the need to meditate, clear his head, calm himself.

"Peace is a lie, there is only passion...
Through passion, I gain strength...
Through strength, power-
Through power, victory-
Through victory, my chains are broken-
The Force shall free me..."

[D - Wildcard]

(Come up with a scenario of your own! Altair can be found here and there on Risa, just exploring, shopping, relaxing...)

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"I am from somewhere covered in ice and snow the majority of the time," Sansa agrees. "This sort of heat is always overwhelming to me even if I do rather enjoy being at the shore. I've never gotten to experience swimming and the ocean the way I do travelling with all of you. I'd never seen anything like this back in Westeros."

The water is cool and refreshing and Sansa takes a few long moments to drink the ice cold water and just press the bottle against her skin to calm down the heat. She has conceded to dressing in more comfortable, modern clothing these days but even that cannot compete with the heat here on Risa.

"I will always love the snow most of all. It reminds me of my home."

"I see. I hope you and your child will get to see many wonders together with us all then. Places like this, with enough beauty that it would take a lifetime to properly take it all in. And perhaps a place with a bit of snow as well, so you can cure any homesickness you may have."

A hope and a wish, for the both of them. Sansa was a kind woman, and Altair had faith she'd raise her child right. It was up to all of them though to help support them, at least in his opinion. And protect them from Agra 10's dangers, as well. That was what worried him the most, though he said nothing of the sort. It would be very bad form indeed to frighten a pregnant woman.

"And should you need anything, I have taken to tending the hospital back on Agra 10. I am not always there, but you can reach me over our communicators, day and night."

He was concerned in general, but with the knowledge he'd gained from the data point too, perhaps it also was a doctor's concern.

"I was hoping you'd be able to help me when the time came for me to deliver," Sansa says. It's delicate business, talking of childbirth, but she isn't nearly as shy about it as she would have been as a child. This is woman's talk, after all, and she's very much a grown woman now in every way that matters.

"My husband...his mother died in childbirth because it's very dangerous where we come from and many women die giving birth. I know that won't be the case with what we have here but I also know he'll be afraid. If you could possibly talk to Tyrion about the safety of it? I don't want him to worry about me and I have full confidence that with your help, we'll both be safe."

"Of course."

It was the only answer he could give. While the storm had been awful, he had initially been thinking of going back to work in the greenhouse afterwards. But it had become obvious that a doctor would be necessary going forward- not only for Sansa and the baby's sake, but for everyone's sake.

"As things stand just now, both you and the baby feel very healthy- I can feel such things. Not an ability common in my species, but..."

He shrugged a shoulder. When he'd met her when he was a child he'd been very secretive about it. As an adult, and at least around someone who wasn't his same species, he didn't mind mentioning it- it just was, after all.

"And of course. I assume you don't want him present when you have the child? In my world it isn't entirely uncommon for the father to be present, but I imagine it's more uncommon in yours? Or perhaps unheard of?"

"Men usually don't attend their wives in childbirth," Sansa agrees. "And I don't know if it would help Tyrion to be there or make him feel worse. I'll allow him to be there if he wishes to be. I would like to keep mostly to just Tyrion, though. I'm rather private when it comes to these things."

Altair doesn't know her full story and she doesn't know how much of it he could have deduced from his ability to feel things. She doesn't want to burden him with that heavy knowledge but it does affect how she feels about others seeing her body - especially when she's so vulnerable there.

"I would request, though, that Wanda Maximoff were there if she wished it. She's become a sister to me and I want her there. I will ask her myself, of course, but I just wanted to make you aware."

"Of course. It's important that you have someone there who makes you feel at ease."

Tyrion if he wished to be present, and Wanda if she wished so as well. Just two other people would be quite fine. Any of Sansa's other friends- Altair imagined she had many, given how pleasant she was- would have to make do with waiting outside.

Altair figured he should do some shopping while they were on Risa- things that were necessary for the hospital back on Agra 10.

"It's important to me, too, that you have someone with you who makes you feel safe."

That was something he was incapable of making her feel, after all. She'd known him as a boy, but she barely knew him as an adult. Short and thin as he was, he was sure he wasn't intimidating exactly, but still. It would be good if she had someone with her who could bring her more comfort than he could.

Sansa feels a kinship with Altair even though this is the first time she's met him as an adult, mostly because she knows he'd had a tender heart as a boy and he had been good, if a bit serious. She has full trust in his ability to help her give birth and it takes a good bit of worry off her shoulders.

"Thank you for being so understanding. I've never had a child before. I'm not...I'm less worried about it being here than I might be back home but I'm still afraid of the unknown. I just don't know what it will feel like or if I can bear the pain. I've gone through a lot of pain in my life but this is something new."

"It's natural to feel apprehensive or even afraid of something new. I am a man, so I cannot understand the pain of childbirth, but... Well, you never know how things will be until they happen. Anyone would worry."

He was a bit of a worrier himself. Always concerned about the future. He couldn't understand what Sansa was going through exactly, but he could do his best to alleviate her concerns- to talk with her, and reassure her that he'd be there every step of the way.

With Tyrion and Wanda possibly being present as well, they might be able to help her even more than he could.

"I'm just happy that your child will be born to such a loving mother. I was hated by my own, so... I'm always happy to see unconditional love for one's child."

The sort of upbringing he'd had was one he wouldn't wish on anyone. So it made him happy when children were born to loving parents and had a good childhood ahead of them.

Sansa's mouth curves into a smile. There's no one she'd trust more than Altair to help bring her son into the world and she's glad that he's willing to help. He has a kind heart.

"I could never hate my child. I love him and I've not even met him properly yet. Thank you for agreeing to help me. I had hoped you would - I wouldn't trust anyone else to help."

"I'm glad to hear it."

Agra 10 was a dangerous place and they never knew what the Agrii might throw them into. But Altair was confident that Sansa would be the best mother she could be, and she would have the friends she'd made helping keeping the child safe. He would, too.

"I've been preparing for it, after starting my work at the hospital. I wasn't sure you'd want my help, but... I was still preparing for it in case you would."

Even here, he'd been looking into supplies for the hospital back on Agra 10, and putting in what he saw as necessary work to ensure he was as prepared as he could be. Of course, he wouldn't worry her with the many details that was going into it, wanting her to be able to look forward to the birth of her child with as few concerns as possible.

"I'm glad you trust me enough to let me help you."

"You're a good person. I know I am biased, having met you as a small child, but you are good and I've met enough terrible people in my life to know the difference. I would want no one else to help bring my son into the world and I am better for having met you, Altair."

It's strange, meeting those of so many races, but Sansa has been here with this motley group for so long that it feels welcome to her and in no way unusual. "Not to mention, you're quite a bit smarter than the midwives in Westeros."

"I... Hope I am, yes."

He'd done so many bad things in his life. But he'd worked hard to avoid becoming the monster life had tried so hard to make him into. He was glad he came across as good, despite the mistakes he'd made.

"And I should hope so. I was a slave once, so I wasn't always so educated... But then I became a politician and had to step up my game, so to speak. And it's more important than ever now, for me to collect all kinds of knowledge."

As a member of the Dark Council, he'd only really needed to care about his own Sphere, had only needed to care about his own business, though even then he'd sought knowledge and wisdom. Now though, now he was something more than a mere Councilor and truly poked his nose into any business he could.

"Not too long ago, I became Emperor. Not necessarily because I wanted to stand above others, but because the galaxy needed stability after a long war. Not too long ago at all, we actually welcomed new life to our capital planet, too. Children I hope will only know stability and prosperity under my rule."

He hoped he could manage that. He really did.

"I hope yours will know the same. Should you need anything at all, you can call on me, as well. Day or night."

"Heavy is the head that bears the crown. Being a queen myself, I know how hard it is to have every decision left to you, every thing that could affect your people or their children or their grandchildren. I have faith that you'll do well in it. You've kindness in you and I've known cruel kings and cruel queens. You seem to be the sort who has compassion and kindness. You need to have that."

The more Sansa learns, the better she feels about Altair delivering her child and, aside from that, being her friend. "If you ever need to talk about it, I'm quite open to be a confidante. You don't often get these in your life, at least not in my experience."

"I knew the man who sat on the throne before me," Altair said, softly. How could he not after all, when the man had been a parasite in his mind for so long. How could he not, when that very man had thrown the Sith Empire aside like a child tired of their toy. Altair didn't fear Valkorion, but he feared the throne that had belonged to him, that was now his, "I'm afraid that his corruption will one day take me, too."

Altair wouldn't say he was kind. And he wouldn't say he had wanted to rule. He simply hadn't seen any way around it, wanted to ensure that the galaxy wouldn't suffer after such a long war. Had wanted to ensure that there would be no children starving in ruins, people fighting each other for every scrap left.

"For now though, my worries about home hardly matter. Once your son has been born though, I may take you up on your offer."

Sansa's health, physical and mental, mattered more than Altair's concerns about whether or not he'd be a good Emperor. So they could wait.

"Well, we'll focus on this problem now and talk about others later, then, but the offer is still open. I never mind being counsel to someone, especially in matters such as these."

Sansa smiles softly and her next question is more personal than the previous business related things.

"Did anyone from your home come with you? Or are you here alone, Altair? I know sometimes people come alone and some come with many of their friends."

"None of my companions, no, though there are people from my world- even my time. I was alone in the beginning. But I've made friends here, including a man I've come to see as a brother to me. And I've fallen in love with a man who is much too good for me- he's patient, understanding, honorable, and dignified. And it seems he sees something in me, too. Though I'm still trying to figure out what."

He smiled slightly, giving a slight shrug of a shoulder, "Things haven't been easy for any of us, but I've been luckier than most. Too lucky, almost."

Things hadn't been easy when he first arrived. He'd spent months hidden behind his veil, caged by fear. Things were better now. And though he worried about home, he was the last person who had any right to complain.

"I have been lucky here as well. It seems some of us do better with that than others. You know, when I first came to the Fleet, the idea of two men together was foreign to me. I knew it existed, naturally, but men choosing to do so openly was strange. I was in the Fleet for two years and now I've come to Agra 10 and I understand it to be no different than any other relationship. I think it's been a good thing for me."

Sansa has learned many things in these worlds, things she'd never have learned in Westeros, but she's glad she's seen different kinds of love and how they work.

"So I am very glad you have someone to love. I should like to meet him someday."

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