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Riyo had often felt uncomfortable since arriving on Coruscant, really, very often.
People here were louder, less sincere and honourable, not very respectful or scrupulous either. Generally speaking, the Pantoran parliament was guided by a moral code that advocated certain values that had enabled her to be elected Senator, but as time went by she discovered how different it was elsewhere and why her people had a reputation for being sickeningly naive.
Hardly anyone in the Senate of the Republic was there on merit, she was a rare exception, the others were chosen by the executive powers or had paid their way to the position of representative, so she did not fit in with the values that circulated within the imposing walls of this never resting anthill.
Nor was she in tune with her surroundings here, in a "clone bar", having accepted the invitation of Padawan Tano, with whom she had befriended by chance. The clones were just so big, so numerous and so unblue that she could not really feel comfortable, especially in one of the only five dresses in her wardrobe that she had selected for the occasion.
She did not like wearing such flowing dresses, it always felt like the fabric was going to blow away. She had only done it because the Jedi would do the same and was genuinely excited by the idea, she had looked so genuinely happy when Riyo had lent her a blue dress the colour of her eyes that she had decided to make an effort tonight. There were just so few girls who were around her age who understood her position and were fun to be around, she usually took every opportunity she had to see her friends.
Meeting the soldiers of the 501st in a more informal setting would be a better opportunity to get to know them, when they had escorted her to Pantora she had been so stressed and preoccupied that she had isolated herself every second she was not needed to represent her people or the Republic.
"Hi there."
Riyo moved to let the person pass, looking again to see if a little Togruta had arrived.
"Hey, little lady?"
Riyo looked up when she heard "lady", not seeing who else it might apply to, and met the gaze of a smiling clone with a more attentive look than his open face and relaxed body might suggest. She did not know him, what did he want with her?
"Good evening", she greeted back, keeping a tight rein on her face and voice. "How can I help you?"
"We were wondering if you might like to join us", he explained gently, pointing to a table where other clones were talking, those facing her looking at them curiously.
"I'm waiting for someone", she explained cautiously, not exactly comfortable with an unfamiliar man in her space.
"You can wait with us. No pressure of course, you just looked a bit..."
... pathetic?
"Lost", the other finished before recovering his brilliant smile.
"That's because I've never been here before", she explained, finally choosing to accompany him.
He deserved the benefit of the doubt and what's more, the entrance was visible from this table. She was probably in no danger, just because she had always lived protected and in very secure places did not mean she was in danger in a public place densely populated by men. Keep your cool, Riyo.
"Are you meeting a guy?"
"A Jedi. Ahsoka Tano, do you-"
"I don't know who that is, guys, do you know a Jedi named Ahsoka Tano?"
A grouped "no" was their unanimous response, which one of the clones softened by gesturing in the direction of the only empty seat.
"We're not under the command of a Jedi though, so we don't know many of them. What does he look like?"
"It's a girl. She's a Togruta, ochre skin, white and blue leks and montrals."
"Isn't that Rex's Commander? They're from the 501st if I'm not mistaken. Sorry, I'm Thire."
"Stone."
"Fox."
"Thorn", the one who had come to see her first, added last.
"… you didn't you introduce yourself?" Fox asked with the demeanour of someone making a serious value judgement.
"I was a little busy trying not to scare her off."
"Introducing yourself is usually the first step, any Natborn would be uncomfortable with someone who didn't introduce themselves."
"You're not helping, Stone."
"Are you sure? I'm sorry."
Riyo let slip a small laugh that drew attention to herself again, yet she was noticeably reassured and relaxed now. There was nothing frightening about them. She had never been around clones before but in public they were not at all as sensitive and did not express that vitality, and for that reason alone she was glad she had come tonight. It was always good for a Senator to have her own prejudices challenged. She had never known how to regard clones before, but now she knew how she would vote on future legislation concerning them.
They were people, pure and simple, and anyone who watched them interact for a minute could see that. It also helped that they behaved exactly like Riyo's brothers and cousins.
"501st, yes. We'd agreed to meet here, but it's... a lot of people."
"She's probably shorter than us too, and you're pretty short yourself."
"Am I really that small?" Riyo asked with false naivety, curious to see if she would be teased like the others or if they were more reserved for civilians.
"Absolutely."
"Too right!"
"There's no question about it."
"You're barely making it to our shoulders!"
"You'll learn that I'm an average-sized woman for a Pantoran, it's you who are much too big."
"Ah, I'm delighted to be the improved clone of a human and not a Pantoran then", Fox said with a scornful relief that froze on his face before disappearing when he saw the reactions of his comrades.
He did not seem to have much delicacy, it was amusing.
"If you were a Pantoran, you'd have better resistance to the cold. My skin can withstand much harsher temperatures and climates than your soft, fragile skins."
"From where I'm standing, your skin looks quite soft and fragile too", the man replied with a smirk. "And we have heat suits".
"A Pantoran doesn't depend on equipment, I guess we're just made of a different material", she concluded with a superior air that earned her applause.
"Bravo, it's rare to see someone respond like that to the Commander!"
"Oh, you are a Commander?"
"Nothing impressive, we're all Commanders here."
"Oh, really? Do you all work in the same place then? I mean, in the same unit?"
"Yes, we're stationed in the same place if that's what you're asking."
"In fact", Thorn began before Fox abruptly cut him off.
"There she is, the Togruta. Ahsoka Tano!" He then shouted, loudly, so loudly that half the room seemed to look in their direction, making Riyo blush.
Then she saw Tano approaching with a blond clone trooper with very short hair. Probably one of her comrades from the 501st. Her step was fast and she was bouncing, brimming with an excited and joyful energy that made Riyo smile perhaps a little more sincerely. She was looking forward to seeing her little sister again.
"Hello S-"
"Ahsoka!" Riyo exclaimed abruptly, interrupting her just in time before her title was pronounced.
It was better for her not to be a "Senator" here.
She just hoped her imploring look would be enough.
"This is Rex, a fellow of the GAR. Rex, this is Riyo."
"Ma'am. Guys."
"Rex."
"I'll leave you to it, have a nice evening", Rex wished them with a slightly frozen but friendly smile.
"Thank you."
"Come on, you can order some booze!" The young woman exclaimed with eyes shining with mischief as she took her hand. "Good evening to you all!"
"What the-?! Just a second!"
"Have a good evening, darling, see you next time."
"See ya!"
"See you around."
"Don't drink too much, I don't want to take you home drunk tonight."
Riyo smiles brightly, so much like brothers.
"That's a promise! Have a good evening!"