Private A Thousand Reasons

[Darth Daiara]

"Ma-uh-wha-"

Aradia blinked. She was uneducated but she wasn't stupid. That stuff didn't just happen to normal people. You had to like. Decide it. Go to a doctor-- she didn't know the specifics. But she just knew they had done none of that.

She laughed, truly laughed, for the first time in 67 days. "That's not possible. We aren't married." She stepped around Yula and left the room, trailing to the cramped living space that had been kitchen, living room, and their... well...

Her eyes skipped over the futon where they had slept.

"I'm not pregnant."

 

[Yula Perl]

Yula's lips pulled into a cringe, and for a few moments, she was silent.

Complications atop complications.

"That'sssss…not how it works." She was trying to be as ginger as possible while struggling to reign in her disbelief. Not only at Aradia's denial, but at the fact that Zaavik, who she'd never seen express an interest in sex…had sex.

"You don't need to be married or see a doctor. If you…" Yula made a vague hand gesture here, hoping the point would get across. Her other hand massaged her temple. "…it can happen."

Poor kid.

"You probably should see a doctor, you know. To make sure everything is…"

She was getting ahead of herself, now stumbling into the realization that this pregnancy may not be wanted. She turned a sympathetic eye to the redhead, who was clearly in denial.

"Want me to get you a test?"

Darth Daiara

 

[Darth Daiara]

Aradia's features twisted into slow, realized horror.

No, no they couldn't be wrong about that.

No, no she wasn't--

No they weren't--

But he wasn't here--

She needed to find him. She shoved past Yula, towards the safehouse's holopad, and called Zaavik directly. Up until this point she hadn't tried to reach him with his own devices. Part of her figured if he wanted to pick up he'd do it for her own call, but this was serious. No more games, no more space, no more waiting.

He'd know this red flag if he saw it.

But it rang.

And it rang.

And it rang.

The message recorder beeped.

"Zaavik. Zaavik it's me. Zaavik... ... ... please," she breathed, her voice cracking with uncharacteristic fear. It spoke volumes. All the words she couldn't say, everything she knew he'd understand.

He wouldn't just leave that hanging. She sucked in a breath, her lips parting for another word-- but it beeped again. The subtle static cut off into silence. The sith was left standing there, the force rippling with the disruption her own turmoil cascaded through it.

 

[Yula Perl]

Again, Yula fell uncharacteristically silent. Aradia's panic was palpable—how else was she supposed to feel? To lose someone she cares deeply for, and to be carrying his child? Yula couldn't imagine what she'd do if Dagon were to disappear and she found herself in similar circumstances.

She let Aradia push her out of the way without a fuss, catching her footing on a backstep. The desperation in the girl's voice made her stomach lurch as she pleaded with Zaavik's voicemail box. Yula's own relationship with her cousin had grown complicated, but she couldn't help but think of him sourly. You bastard, get back here and step up.

The Force surged, almost crackled with unrest. Aradia's pain washed over her, and Yula sucked in a steady breath. Zeltronian empathy was both a blessing and a curse, and if she wasn't careful, Aradia's emotions could leech too much into her own. Nails bit red crescents into the palms of her hands as the Zeltron sought to center herself with the meditative breathing she'd learned from Dagon.

She found herself stepping forward, slowly towards Aradia. Towards the nexus of dark sided energy coiling inside the young Sith, growing unsteady from her inner turbulence. Yula knew that she couldn't begin to make things right, but when she placed her hand on Aradia's shoulder, she released as much soothing energy as she could.

Maybe it would take the edge off, maybe she'd get blown through a wall. Either way, she was running on a tension-diffusing autopilot.

Darth Daiara

 

[Darth Daiara]

Aradia's eyes widened, hidden by a curtain of hair and the shadowy corner she stood in. Warmth wrapped around her like a blanket. The sensation was so familiar, it hurt.

"You really are his cousin," she uttered, her chest aching for the right Perl to be holding her instead. She didn't need a test to know Yula was right. It had been months since she had last bled. It was terrifying. Beyond words--

For a moment she felt safe, like she could say anything about it and it would be ok. She shoved off the hand instead. "You came for Zaavik. He's not here. I think it's time you go."

 

[Yula Perl]

Yula didn't realized she'd been holding her breath. Maybe she was waiting for a red lightsaber to impale her. Instead, it looked like an immediate crisis had been averted. For the moment, at least.

Of course she'd want Yula gone. Who wants a stranger around, probing into their business after a bombshell like that? It wouldn't be responsible to leave just yet.

Responsible…? Yula? Dagon's influence was undeniable.

"You have…people? Anyone you can go to?"

Darth Daiara

 

[Darth Daiara]

A flair of agitation broke the calm. She turned sharply.

"What, because I'm a sith I can't have friends?" Ironically... she didn't. It didn't stop her indignation. This jedi loving woman had seen enough of Aradia's underbelly, she wouldn't be given any more. "Don't look at me like that. Zaavik isn't gone, he is coming back. We'll figure it out-- We will be just fine."

And yet she had never felt so alone in her life.

She ripped the door open with a yank of the force. "I'll let him know you came."

 

[Yula Perl]

Again, Yula held up both hands in defense.

"Right, yeah." Doubting that they—or at least, Yula—would see Zaavik again, she at least tried to sound hopeful.

Situations like this were delicate, and Yula was well aware of how finely she was toeing the line. Despite the nagging urge to stay, pushing Aradia further would likely make the situation worse.

Grabbing the hair dye box out of the trash, she tore a strip of cardboard from the side panel and scrawled something over it.

"Here." She offered the note to Aradia. "Contact me if you need anything. Night or day."

Darth Daiara