Arani Korden said:
She turns, and looks very seriously at Dorn. "You and I - our destinies have already been planned out for us. You will be a Jedi Knight, and some day a great Jedi Master. I'm going to finish my studies, marry a nobleman from a slightly better family than mine, and spend the rest of my life as a moderately successful politician and mother of enough children to ensure the continuation of the family line. That's my future."
Arani turns back to look at the sunset. "My family invites eligible young men over, sometimes. Nothing ever comes of it. My mother thinks it's because I'm too wrapped up in machines and school and my friends, but she's wrong. At least mostly wrong. I just never felt anything for the men she introduces me to. I never felt that way about anybody, until -"
Dorn watches Arani for a moment, letting her words sink in. The very fact that she is saying this much to him in the first place is amazing to him. After she had spent so much time avoiding him, he now feels almost like a parched man who had been wandering the desert for weeks before finally coming upon an oasis. He shakes his head slightly at that thought and smiles to himself as he leans forward against the railing.
"No, you aren't a Jedi, but when you talk about things like destiny you sound an awful lot like one."
He sighs, pausing as he watches the last glimmers of faded sunlight disappearing beneath the darkening sky.
"You know, I've never felt...that way...about anybody before either. I'd never even given it much thought until recently. I was always so consumed by my training, so busy trying to live up to my own destiny. But that all seems smaller now...less significant. I mean, it's still important, very much so...but it's not everything anymore."
He looks at Arani again, his hand gently, almost tentatively reaching out to touch hers. His touch is so light that it's barely perceptible, but the warmth behind it is evident.
"I feel almost like I'm taking my first steps into a larger world. A world where destiny doesn't matter as much. Does that make any sense? I know these kinds of things probably sound silly coming from a Jedi..."
Dorn smiles at Arani and then looks away, laughing softly, almost as if he is a little embarrassed.
"I don't know, Arani...am I making any sense at all? Or should I just be quiet now before I completely ruin this lovely evening?"
Dorn grins casually, but his hand still rests lightly against hers, and his eyes betray his emotions despite dusk's darkening light.