Faction An Evening at The Crystal Rose

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x
Interacting with: Mahsa

Zaiya was now starting to sway as if to the tune of her mental melody, and the sangria was really starting to hit her. She felt great! Amazing! And now, thinking of what to make or give Aris for Lifeday, making her giddy in wondering what he might like or find useful. Sure, she had made him the aurel dampeners and the helm, so she could give him something else that would be similar in helping him... but what else would he like? Was there anything in particular he wanted?

How could she find out?

A faint smile curved over Lovalla's lips as she listened to Mahsa's words. Mahsa had relayed to her about the adventure back on Coruscant, about the man who had saved her and then taught her all kinds of things. Zaiya had been so relieved it had been someone who didn't have bad intentions—although the result once Aris and Ayhan found her was that Ayhan lost his arm. She still didn't know the entire story, but that was why Ayhan now had a prosthetic cybernetic arm.

"Ohhh that sounds pretty cool!" Zaiya exclaimed, and a thougth came to her.

"I think I heard a rumor that there might be a class on Force Imbuement soon. I was thinking of joining it. Maybe that can give you some more ideas for the ring?" Zaiya offered, only to pause and go, "Wait. Like a ring one gives to their mate? Isn't that something some cultures do?"

 

[Mahsa]

Location: The Crystal Rose | Attire:【✶】

"You t-think so…?" There was a hopeful cautiousness to her voice, golden eyes focusing back on her friend as Zaiya offered a suggestion of her own. "I see…. I’ll sign up for it then."

Drifter had given her a good foundation in the short time they’d shared together, and Mahsa had been diligent with her own studies in the time since… but nothing could beat first hand experience from a Master. Perhaps the class would give her a better idea of how to combine her materials together in order to benefit Ayhan—

"Wait. Like a ring one gives to their mate?" She could almost feel her brain cells as they short circuited, and it took a moment before the meaning behind Zaiya’s words fully registered. "Ah, n-no!"

A mixture of pinks, lavenders, and corals shimmered through her hair at the thought—a colorful display as the Kazelrrian shook her head repeatedly. "It’s n-not like t-that at all…!" She didn’t need a mirror to show her how reddish her cheeks and ears currently were, the heat radiating off ehr skin almost unbearable as she tried to dispel that idea.

His mate? The thought alone caused her chest to flutter, before reality washed over her like a sobering bucket of cold water. Ayhan would never see her like that. "I just don’t want him getting hurt..."

---

Zaiya Ceti ​

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x
Interacting with: Mahsa

Already in a happy floaty state because of the Sangria, Zaiya slowly relaxed her mental shields so that it was easy to feel her giddy bubbliness again, even if now there was a sort of ethereal mesmerizing quality to the way her color shifting seemed to swirl and dance over her skin.

It was more thoughtful contemplation that would paint the luminance of her rosy golden skin than any amusement at Mahsa's reply.

"Oh. Okay. So, something to protect him. Wait, you can do that with rings?" Zaiya asked; even if she was a bit tipsy, she still was curious how that all worked.

Hmm... well I did do that with my Kyber crystal hairpin and bracelets so that would make sense....

 

[Mahsa]

Location: The Crystal Rose | Attire:【✶】

The shift had been subtle, her own disposition naturally relaxing as her subconscious picked up the emotions of the Lovalla at her side when Zaiya’s mental walls finally receded. Her friend's bubbliness was contagious, the familiarity of it allowing the remaining citrine shades to slowly fade away from Mahsa's hair as their conversation continued.

"I dunno…" The words came easier to her now, almost as if they’d been back in the comfort of their shared dorm instead of an unknown place with a multitude of people.

It was an idea that had first hit her one night as she stared at the bracelets Zaiya had gifted her a while back now, before remembering the hairpin the Lovalla often wore in her hair. "The wood is said to help amplify healing, so I thought maybe it could boost Ayhan’s natural ability t-too…?" The Firronthix certainly possessed impressive regenerative powers, though she had come to understand they weren’t quite to the same level as those of the parent species their genomes had been plucked from.

---

Zaiya Ceti ​

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x
Interacting with: Mahsa

"Wait, there is a type of wood that can help amplify healing?!" Zaiya exclaimed, even through her slight effervescent floaty feelings she was going through, that immediately sparked a level of interest from the Lovalla.

"So there are materials that can provide different benefits? I didn't know that!" she added, amazed. "I wonder where I can find out more about that."

No wait. Stop, this isn't about you, Zaiya told herself, but Mahsa.

Zaiya gave another smile and leaned forward to give Mahsa's shoulder a gentle, comforting squeeze.

"I think that sounds great! I'm sure Ayhan would like it. " There was a pause, and then the most random quip, "Maybe that way he won't lose another arm randomly again. I didn't think he could." She added haphazardly, recalling when Ayhan suddenly came back with no arm.

"... wait, would it grow back?" okay, now the Sangria was causing Zaiya to think of very silly thoughts.

"Never mind. Okay, sorry. My mind is feeling a bit fuzzy," the Lovalla giggled.

 

[Casaana]

"Oh," she said mildly as she realized her mistake, her cheeks flushing as she felt event eh tips of her ears heating up. Her eyes darted away, unable to look Braze in the face for a moment as she composed herself. "That's uhhh, that's good. Yeah."

Casaana finished the rest of her tea, the condensation wetting her hand before she crumpled the napkin from her lap to dry it again. Limited pocket money from the temple wasn't anything new to her. She'd been taking extra jobs and missions while thrift shopping non-issue clothes just to save up for the Skyhopper she'd told Braze about. Family, found or otherwise, was novel to her though. Many found love in some form among the Jedi, but other than knowing she belonged, Casaana hadn't. Besides, she was fourteen, maaaybe fifteen? What would she do with love?

"Right! well we'll go parts picking sometime. You know, once I've got a handle on flying and the ship and am done embarrassing myself." She rubbed her forehead. Yeah, maybe she should just go. At least Braze didn't seem upset about it. Maybe he was feeling better.

Braze

 

[Mahsa]

Location: The Crystal Rose | Attire:【✶】

A wave of amber rippled through her hair from the unexpectedly loud response of the Lovalla, before Mahsa chuckled softly as Zaiya continued to muse about materials and the like.

"Y-Yeah, I was really surprised when I read about it too." She would’ve never thought that plant life could’ve been sensitive to the Force too, or that the methods used to grow and nurture then could actually create such benefits down the line. "I wonder if there’s other trees similar to ankarres…?"

Perhaps something to ask Corazona von Ascania about in the future…

"You t-think so…?" She had debated over her choice again and again, unsure if Ayhan would actually like it in the first place, but hearing Zaiya’s encouraging words made her think that maybe it wasn’t a bad idea after all—"Maybe that way he won't lose another arm randomly again."

Even the sweet and tarty notes of the sangría couldn’t prevail against the bitter taste that flooded her mouth upon hearing those words. It didn’t take long for the vibrant pastel shades dancing through her hair to rapidly darken, the memory of that day—and the guilt she carried from it—crisp and raw as if it’d been just yesterday.

---

Zaiya Ceti ​

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x
Interacting with: Mahsa

"There might be!" Zaiya exclaimed, practically bouncing on her heels. Her skin shimmered with vibrant streaks of gold and blue as excitement bubbled up inside her.

"Let's check the archives and find out! That would be so neat to see if there's anything like that. Maybe I could even make something for myself, like a focus for healing!"

Her enthusiasm was infectious, a bright grin stretching across her face as she let her imagination run wild. She was already picturing the possibilities -- artifacts, crystals, or ancient techniques that could enhance her connection to the Force.

But when Zaiya turned to Mahsa, her grin faltered. The way the other Padawan seemed to shrink into herself, her posture closed off, made Zaiya's heart pang with concern. Even Mahsa's hair, which usually carried a vibrant shimmer, darkened and dulled, like shadows had crept in to dim her light.

"Hey," Zaiya said gently, her voice softening. Her skin shifted with muted streaks of dove grey, laced with flickers of glowing yellow that pulsed like a gentle heartbeat. "Is everything okay?"

She leaned in slightly, her glowing eyes scanning Mahsa's face for any hint of what might be wrong. Whatever it was, Zaiya was ready to help -- whether that meant diving into the archives or finding a quiet spot in the party to sit and listen.

 

[Mahsa]

Location: The Crystal Rose | Attire:【✶】

The silence that had suddenly reigned was undoubtedly the first thing to tip her friend that something was wrong. It wasn’t uncommon for the girls to lose an hour or three to some silly thought that crossed one of their minds, excitedly building upon it as their curious little minds entertained it—usually over some snacks in either the common area or one of their rooms back at the dorms.

Second to that would’ve been the shifts in her hair. Like ink drops on paper the darkness slowly spread against the ends of her strands, drowning out the vibrant colors that had adorned it moments before. The shades that did remain had dulled in their vibrancy, withered and withdrawn just like the posture of the young Kazelrrian by Zaiya’s side.

"Hey," Her voice was soft now, a sharp contrast to the bubbly tones that had colored it before. "Is everything okay?"

"Y-Ye—" She wanted to assure her friend that everything was fine, but the words caught in her throat as she peered into those vibrant blues—the concern Zaiya felt reflected back for her to see as she gave a shaky nod instead.

Here they were, prettily dressed and excited to see what other secrets and mysteries were hidden in the Crystal Rose, and she had suddenly dragged down the mood. "It’s n-nothing, I just got a bit… overwhelmed." She did her best to swallow the better part of her guilt down as old habits quickly kicked in, shoving it back to the dark little recess at the back of her mind as the inky tips slowly shifted into deep amber hues.

"W-We should check the archives." It was easier to do when there was something else she could focus on, a longer swig taken from her cup as Mahsa tried to steer their conversation back to better things. She didn’t wish to waste all the time and effort Zaiya had invested when getting them ready earlier today.

"Could even ask Cora too, I bet she’d know… r-right?"

---

Zaiya Ceti ​

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x
Interacting with: Mahsa

Zaiya's head felt like it was full of fizzy, floating bubbles, but she wasn't entirely convinced Mahsa was being totally honest. Then again, had Zaiya been totally upfront earlier? No, she hadn't. She had tried to keep it close and push it out of her mind. And honestly? That was fine. If Mahsa didn't want to talk about it, Zaiya wasn't going to push.

"Yeah! We can ask her -- " Zaiya started, only to glance over and spot Cora deep in conversation with Knight Vyres again. She tilted her head, reconsidering. "Umm... maybe not tonight, though. We can try tomorrow?"

Around them, the crowd was shifting, more people grabbing food and drinks or heading off to enjoy the lanterns that now dotted the tea party's space. The warm glow of the lights bathed the area in a soft, golden hue that felt like something out of a dream.

Zaiya perked up, her mottled spots glowing faintly with soft shades of aquamarine and gold. "Want to get another drink and check out the lanterns?" she offered, her enthusiasm bubbling back to the surface.

"We still have the rest of the night -- it'd be fun to just... enjoy it, y'know? No missions, no training. Just us."

She didn't wait too long for an answer, taking Mahsa's hand and gently tugging her toward one of the snack stands.

"Come on! We'll grab some treats to go and have some fun!"

The idea of exploring the lanterns, drinks, and snacks in hand felt like the perfect way to soak up the tea party's magic. A break like this didn't come often, and Zaiya was determined to make the most of it.