"I can keep myself entertained."

"You'd be useful to us," she says, somewhat firmly. "I didn't want a large, intrusive team - but you're skilled in ways most aren't, you can integrate into our routines more easily than an entire extra team, and I am concerned about challenges to my security."

"But not concerned enough to push for a more experienced Jedi?"

"I know you already. You're intelligent and perceptive, and you've worked well with us for your investigations."

"I'd think you know Knight Kim a little better."

"Things are - awkward with him, sometimes."

Long pause. 

"I failed his sister."

Elesse does not immediately recognize what Lyli is referring to here.

Sigh. 

"You would've been - what, six? I suppose all the gossip has faded by now, or else the tabloids didn't come up in your digging."

"After my mentor Senator Vidar Kim's wife and two of his sons died, he became - horrifically depressed. He had two surviving children. Ronhar was one, and - he was a Jedi. He was fine."

"I adopted the other in all but name. She was too young to take care of herself, and - her father wasn't there."

"...He died, didn't he? In a spacewreck."

Her emotions are - weirdly muted. Dark, though, from the wounded edges Elesse can see.

"In a botched rescue after he and his daughter were kidnapped for ransom," she says, voice flat and tight.

"I'm sorry."

"Anyways, I don't talk to Knight Kim about - families."

"Right."

Well, now things are awkward.

Yup. Very.

She sighs. "So, I want protection for my child - and someone I know would be reliable with that." She snorts. "Ronhar also isn't particularly observant, even if he's a Knight on other merits."

"I'm sure the Council wouldn't promote someone entirely incompetent."

"Probably not."

"But there's different areas of competence one can have, and - I don't think he'd add much in terms of situational awareness to our team."

"Maybe not. But still, you must have met some other Jedi during your years in the Senate?"

"None that particularly stood out to me."

"You're thorough, and clever, and observant, and you're willing to let my security team take the lead - that last is rare with experienced Jedi."

"Taking advantage while you can."

"Securing an asset - things like overriding local security teams rather than working with them is a bad habit, but one that's very easy to fall into when you have power, and knowledge, and wisdom, that you think others don't. You'd be a powerful ally, and I would like to encourage you towards good habits."

Small smile.

"I'm not sure I should encourage you to think of specific Jedi as assets."

"Is the word ally better?"

"More in line with our charter, at least."

"I apologize if I impinged on your honor as a Jedi," she teases.

Tiny giggle.