Bathe in the Light

[Laira Darkhold]

Laira pouted a little, making her lower lip stick out. She wasn't hurt, a little too guarded since her last few romantic forays to be vulnerable so soon. "Friends," The redhead agreed. She continued her pout and laid her head on Stephanie's shoulder with a sigh.

The padawan was sweet and understanding, two traits Laira enjoyed. She also enjoyed not being the least romantically experienced of the two for once. So many others had dated and slept with many partners she always felt like she'd have far too much competition to compare to. With Stephanie, she was the first. She could be judged on her own merits alone and it gave the redhead a bit more confidence.

Wiggling in Stephanie's lap, the pilot decided she wanted to press the matter just a bit to be certain the padawan and the pilot understood each other. "Just to be clear, you don't want to keep kissing and pursuing each other? I want to, but it has to be mutual for something open-ended like this to work otherwise we'd both just be wasting our time."

[member="Stephanie Swail"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Laira could be one of the very first people since Stephanie had become a Jedi who she felt she had given some comfort to. She had accepted Stephanie for who she was, let her in a little and made her feel really good about herself. It would be foolish to lose such a person at all.

And for a while, the Padawan felt…protective over the red-head. When Laira cuddled in a little, Stephanie wrapped her arms around her and sat back in the chair cradling her and looking up at the night sky in their comfortable surroundings.

"There’s no need to stop on my account," she said. "Friends we can be, but hopefully, maybe, one day the paths will join and we will know how far we can go together. I told you, the Force will bind us if we find a way to make it. I’m not going to stand in your way if that path takes you away from me, but I hope we can stay in touch at least should that day come."

She kissed the top of her head.

"I care for you, crazy, I know. But I can see your heart is pure and, call me foolish, but I know you will be honest with me whatever happens. So, that’s all I ask. I find you very attractive and very intelligent, fun and kind. All good traits to me, Laira."

Then, another kiss atop her head, and rested her cheek gently where she had kissed.

[member="Laira Darkhold"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Laira's lip suddenly stopped sticking out and she grinned, giving Stephanie a hug as the brunette re-affirmed her desire to slowly and casually pursue one another. The redhead grinned and kissed Stephanie's neck, biting on it softly so that she would leave a small hickey on the Padawan's neck. It was a playful thing to do, and might leave her with something to explain to her superiors if she didn't cover it up with something.

"Yay." Laira said, straightening up now that she'd been accepted, granted on a few of her own conditions. "Alright, So," The teenager started, shifting around a little so she wasn't twisted so much at the waist. "Let's get the rest of this boxed up to take with us and go back to my camp. In the meantime we can talk and I can teach you some of the things I like." Laira grinned to her new friend. She knocked against the wall of the cottage to alert the cook that they needed something, who only took a second to arrive and without saying anything cleared the table to take and place in containers for the two girls.

"Let's see. I'll show you a game I like when we get back to the camp. Nothing too bad, just one person talks about themselves, what they like, what they look for in a partner while the other one tries to distract them by doing things like this." Laira ducked her head against Stephanie's sternum, pressing her lips against the Padawan's skin in short wet kisses, her hands running along the sides of padawan's pretty sequin dress.

[member="Stephanie Swail"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Stephanie smiled and squeezed Laira, actually starting to enjoy showing her emotion and feelings without worrying. This was her. Accept it and her, or not. Simple.

She blushed a little as the generous chef came to box up the rest of their food which would be good to snack on over the next few hours, and Stephanie sat up a little, listening and trying to focus on calming down and enjoying the evening. She stood, pressed her dress down and held her hands behind her back waiting. At the notion of a game, she was all for that. Light-hearted and fun.

"Well, sure, sounds go - "

The Jedi couldn't finish before Laira had moved straight into her sternum and began blowing raspberry kisses on her delicate and sensitive skin. Couple that with wandering hands, Stephanie had to take a step back to balance and gasp inwards at the shock.

The sensation of the kisses at such close proximity send a current through her body, another sensory overload. Her eyes rolled back a little, and her mouth opened in silent protest that never came out.

Her hand rested on Laira's shoulder and she found it hard to focus, and had to break away with a forced smile to compose her self.

"Okay - " legs like jelly, " - ok I'm...not going to be good at that...wow... no fair. Let's just...walk, and no touching you just yet!"

Then she burst into a giggle and held her hand to her brow feeling silly and giddy. Just HOW much did she knock back during dinner? One, or three??

[member="Laira Darkhold"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Laira giggled again, straightening up when the padawan forced her to break her connection to her, though in honesty she didn't mind too much. Teasing the padawan was at least half the fun she was having at the moment, but it couldn't last forever. At some point they were going to have to actually talk about more important things. "Well, you can always try to distract me first once we settle in. The game is when you get distracted, you have to swap roles so its really a win-win."

The redhead frowned a little and accepted the box of their leftovers as she finally stood off Stephanie's lap and let her up. She was certainly putting the moves on the innocent padawan and Laira needed to remember not to press her too much. She wasn't willing to take things much further herself and had to keep reminding herself not to get too attached to the brunette. Maybe one day.

"Alright," Laira said with a defeated sigh and pout, as though the request to keep her hands to herself was torture. The redhead liked closeness and touching, she enjoyed her flirty games, but all it took to keep her interested was just compassion and talk. "I can do a walk, but we at least have to hold hands. I can't just be there and have my hands to myself."

The pilot took Stephanie's hand in her own and pulled on her, "So, you tell me about what you really want out of life. What you want when you look back and think of it. Not what you are supposed to do, or hope will happen for the galaxy. What accomplishments and adventures do you want to remember doing, and what kind of person do you want to do them with?" A very difficult question, one Laira had had to ask herself many times since she'd left home and started adventuring, but one she could answer now once it was her turn.

[member="Stephanie Swail"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

A curious look was on Stephanie's face as Laira seemed to back away a little - a little chink in her flirtatious armour? She wasn't sure, but it suddenly all felt very amusing.

The two held hands, one carton of food under each arm, and walked away from the settlement cottage back to the camp site as Laira talked. Night hung over them, but oil lamps lit the fringes of the small camp left burning by her droid, and insects seemed to line the way with their chirping and squeaking.

"I want to lead others. It's a long way off, I know, but I want to become...to become an inspiration. A beacon to follow. One that never runs out of energy, never wavers and never falters. I live for the Light Side, it's all I've known, and the people I've met through my journey mean the world to me. Even you, dear pilot."

She gave a little tug and squeeze of the hand.

"Before Midvinter, I studied so much lore about Jedi and Sith. Famous names of past and present. Their adventures and daring escapades to liberate worlds, free cities and repel villains. Call me a dreamer but I want to have my name within the archives of great Jedi of the past one day. To teach others, to enjoy my journey and to feel I have given all I can." She glanced to Laira. "The galaxy will not be saved by what I can do in my lifetime, but people may live a little easier by what I do while I'm here. And if I can do it with the sort of people I have met, then the galaxy looks pretty darn good to me."

Padawan Swail smiled to herself and nodded in agreement with her own brain. She felt a little more at peace.

"You? Same question. And don't hide being flirty eyelids and cheeky, teasing words. What does Laira want. The real Laira. Who do YOU want to be, and how do you want to live."

[member="Laira Darkhold"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

The redhead grinned, repeating a series of words found in an old journal from her ancestor. "A blazing brand to your enemies and a brilliant torch to your friends. Taking comfort that others find shelter in the shadow you cast." Those particular words pertained the the Sword of the Jedi, which seemed to be the kind of person Stephanie wanted to be. Aaralyn Rekali and Jaina Solo had worn that mantle and both maintained decent relationships after a long time off and on with someone they cared about.

That at least boded well for the Padawan, there was a precedent already established that the someone like that could succeed and still have their own identity, even if the lifestyle eventually claimed them. Laira actually didn't know how she felt about the cute brunette, who had been so bashful and nervous with her, would manage stepping up like that but matters of leadership and of the heart were very different ordeals.

"Me? I want to see every star and visit every planet. I wanna travel and explore places no one has ever seen before. I want to know I've made good people's lives a little easier and evil people's a little harder." There was so much more to the galaxy than fighting, but it was necessary, "I want to feel like I've lived my own life and not something others have determined for me, which is turning out to be a lot harder than I thought." She sighed, and pulled herself close to Stephanie, resting against the Padawan with their fingers intertwined. "Everyone pushes me to lead and take more responsibility, and I know that I have to and that I can't run from it forever. I'm just terrified I'll get everyone killed or enslaved, or worse I just want have what it takes and there will be a long slow decline and everyone loses faith."

Then she sighed once more, "As for the kind of person I want to share that with. Well, independence is necessary. I won't just stop travelling so they will either have to come with or be able to spend time without me. At the same time I want someone who would send me love notes while we were far away, call me randomly to see how I was or put my favorite sweets in my luggage for me to find when I arrived just so I'd think of them." The redhead was a romantic, a little needy and more than a little clingy when she got attached to someone. "Sweet, kind, adorable doesn't hurt someone's case, neither does being a pretty bashful brunette."

"Now, for the game?"

[member="Stephanie Swail"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

"A blazing brand to your enemies and a brilliant torch to your friends. Taking comfort that others find shelter in the shadow you cast."

And just like that, the words Laira spoke resonated with Stephanie in an instant. She nodded, turned her head and pictured herself being that person. A blazing brand against the Dark Side, whilst shining like the torch for the Light. She would stand asunder and be the one to protect others to be safe in her wake. That was it. That was her destiny.

She squeezed Laira’s hand, committing the words to memory and listening to her dreams of travel and romance. All beautiful things, laced with a little sadness at never living up to expectation.

"That sounds wonderful. I think you will be able to see many worlds and stars in your journeys, and, truthfully? I think you have the courage and the strength to lead. Be it one person, ten or an entire unit – you have that inside you. Don’t cover it up trying to distract others from supporting and praising you. Don’t ever – EVER – try to be someone else for anyone else. Be you. Be that leader who can live her own destiny as well as guiding others. That is something I think we can both do and be better for."

Stephanie kissed the side of her head as they walked, a nonchalant stroll to the camp with no signs of stress or worry upon them.

But, yes, the game.

"The game. The game. "

Stephanie set her box of food down, glancing at the mighty X-Wing still there and the droid who seemed to have powered down. She stopped Laira in her tracks, and walked behind her. There, she could afford to grin to herself, shake her head and pull up that confidence that was somewhere under that sequin dress and nervous body.

"Tell me about that other person in your life. Who is she? What is she like? How did you meet? But, don’t get distracted, remember."

Then, after a moment’s hesitation, she pressed herself close, placed her right hand on Laira’s right shoulder and drew small circles with her fingers, tracing around to her collar-bone and the nape of her neck. At the same time she began to kiss the left shoulder gently, working her way up to the left side of her neck, brushing wisps of red-hair as she did – and did a good job to stem the giggles that nearly came out at the way she was acting.

Her Master would have a fit!

[member="Laira Darkhold"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Her master could have all the fits they wanted, Laira was loving it. The redhead leaned her head back at the touch from the brunette, accepting of the affections the Padawan was pouring upon her with a gentle sigh and slight gasp. "Well, she was my first crush and you know how it goes. You have expectations about it and it never quite works out the way you wanted it."

Laira, bit her lip and moved a little, her breathing getting a little sharper as Stephanie teased her skin with soft lips and warm passions. "She's another redhead pyromancer like me, just even more of a siren and a lot wilder than me. We met at a sandwich shop in Ahto City and decided to spent the day together at the beach. Beaches are my favorite date spots by the way. While we were there the beach was attacked by a sea serpent and the two of us went to go kill it together. Bonded over the hunt and combat. We met up again, and I wanted it to work out so badly. But what I want, and what I need just wasn't who she was. We still hang out, and I still care about her a lot, but it's not going to work out between us long term. And long term is what I'm hoping to find. If she wanted to, I'd settle down with her without hesitation, that's just not what she wants to do and I can't wait around hoping she'll change her mind and that she'd pick me from all her other suitors."

Despite Stephanie's inexperience she was doing pretty good at distracting the redhead, who was having to close her eyes and bite her lip between every sentence, short gasps and subtle moans escaped her lips as the Padawan went about doing her best. Her body began shifting back and forth, pressing against the Padawan as she tried to concentrate on talking. "That's about all I want to talk about her. I've. And. " Laira said through ragged breath, dipping her head towards Stephanie, unable to think clearly as her cheeks blushed a deeper shade of red. The redhead stopped talking, brow furrowing as she tried to keep playing her own game. Hopefully she'd be as good as Stephanie was.

"Alright, you win." She finally announced after several long seconds of trying to speak a sentence. With her hands she gently brushed the brunette away while grinning widely. "You were a lot better at that than I thought you would be, making me lose like that. Now you tell me about your ideal date night. Everything, outfits, location, activity, menu. You can tell me to stop whenever, don't let me do anything you aren't comfortable with."

Grey eyes turned to the brunette's dress, her arms wrapping around Stephanie and drifting low. Laira knew what she liked, and she was a fan of backsides. Her hands found Stephanie's rear-end and gripped it tightly through the sequin dress, dripping her head to start kissing against the Padawan's neck hoping to leave hickeys for the morning.

[member="Stephanie Swail"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

This was getting more and more out of hand by the second! It was crazy, it was naughty, it was so out of character, but somehow it felt like the release she needed and the wake-up call to accept herself.

Laughing and hiding her face behind hands when Laira gave up and presented more compliments, the Padawan knew it was her turn and felt that nervousness in her stomach again. Putting a hand on her stomach to calm herself, and touching her brow for a second to stop the giggles, she inhaled.

"Okay...okay...."

With the question, came her mis-matched answer, not helped by how close Laira was. A date night? She had never thought about dates until today.

"Well...a date. Um..." she shivered at the touch almost straight away, "...goodness, I think just sitting together under stars, or walking hand in hand..." she stopped and held Laira for a second, trying to focus.

It was a brilliant test of resilience to be fair. A learning curve.

"I don't know....for them to be themselves, and to accept....ME!" That was close. "To accept me for who I am....and for them to be honest and pure, and selfess too...but who can appreciate love and be loved in return, pro...protected and cared for and proud..."

Stephanie gasped and jumped again, resting her head on Laira's for a second, before opening her eyes and pushing away with her hands. It was too much.

"Okay! Okay...that was bad...you win that one....sorry..." she blew out a breath and laughed, "...behave yourself. I hope my answer was ok? Not as in-depth as yours."

And, without warning, a face popped into her head. One she hadn't seen for a long, long time. One that, at one point, she would have liked to share this moment with but would have no idea how to even suggest it. Everything had changed, and Stephanie had to work out just where she stood in the scheme of things, not just with Laira, but with the haunting face of the Sith, Srina. Her face fell for a second, and she tried to mask it with a forced smile and shake of the finger as she composed herself.

[member="Laira Darkhold"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Laira wasn't exactly the tried and true veteran of this particular game either, but she enjoyed the closeness and sense of honesty that came with it. Eventually you just had to give in and admit the other person had a power over you because you let them.

In Stephanie's defense, her answer had been pretty satisfactory for the redhead, both acceptable activities if they were being suggested. "Alright," Laira grinned, moving her hands to a more chaste position on the Padawan's hips.

"So it's getting late, sweetie." The redhead noted as the sky was now only illuminated by the moon, already stretching upwards on its arc. Laira bit her lip, "You can spend the night, we can snuggle and kiss, watch a holomovie or something, but I don't think we are ready for anything more intimate that kissing." It was Laira who wasn't ready, but she wouldn't mind keeping Stephanie around. "Or I can sleep in the cockpit and you on the cot if you would prefer that." Laira would be sad to give up her evening and her bed for the night since she would be stuck in that cockpit for two straight days flying back to the fleet to report in, but if it's what Stephanie wanted she could relent.

"In the morning, we'll pack up and I can drop you with your masters. Next date we can try me showing you a dance I learned a while back, you'll love it and maybe it'll be able to convince you to dance with me," The redhead released Stephanie, pullin her dress off in one fluid motion, her black lace top and bottom exposed, thick cords of muscle on her hips, arms and legs glistening in the dim oil lamp, her stomach with the slight lines of abdominal muscles. "So am I getting into bed or the cockpit?" The siren asked with a devilish smile.

[member="Stephanie Swail"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Stephanie focused herself, actually lambasting herself for being so silly and so carefree. If there was one thing this day had taught her, it was to be more confident but more careful with how she presented herself to others.

"The hours fly when you're enjoying yourself, that's for sure."

She trailed down Laira's arm with her hand and granted the pilot some privacy to change - not that she needed it, or she used it. Walking around the camp site, she looked back and smiled to Laira. She was a good woman. A kind woman. Strong, supportive and very pretty. Laira Darkhold was not a name or face Stephanie would forget. She went back behind the shower unit to get out of her dress, holding it up and admiring it. There, she slipped her tunic top over to give her some more modesty, and walked back out as if at a slumber party.

Hair a little messy, bare feet, long legs, cream tunic top and baggy sleeves. She couldn't get more relaxed.

"Share with me. Just...hold me and talk to me until we fall asleep and make me feel that we can make a difference to this galaxy. We are the ones who will make it good again and safe for everyone. You're not sleeping in a crunched up cockpit, I'm not that rude!"

She brought down one of the oil-lamps to place on the ground and indicated for Laira to settle herself.

"I hope to see you again, after tomorrow."

[member="Laira Darkhold"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Laira pulled on an old tank top and pulled the black lace top off underneath it as she got comfortable, getting settled in the cot underneath the soft fuzzy blankets. As the night fell it began to grow cold across the camp and the crisp air tickled at her legs and arms which had been largely uncovered the entire evening. The bristle of goosebumps brushed against Stephanie as the brunette joined her under the blanket in her cream colored tunic.

Holding wasn't something Laira had much issue with, she was a hugger by day and a snuggler by night, more than happy to wrap herself around the Padawan to get comfortable. "Well, you'll have my contact so anytime you wanna call or text me I'd appreciate it. Even if its just to tell me how your day was and ask about mine." She slipped one hand underneath the brunette's ribs to wrap around her and snuggled closely on the cot so that she pressed against the young woman. The princess was quite pleased with this arrangement, and a soft purr escaped her throat as she closed her soft grey eyes.

"You let me know when you want to hang out again and I'll be there. If you need me to fight beside you, just give me a heads up. Need an extraction, hit me with an S.O.S. and I'll come save your booty." She yawned and her breathing slowed down, all the excitement from their adventure and all the adrenaline from the evening wearing off on the teenager's body. She smiled, eyes still closed. "The best part about spring, its warm enough for pretty outfits, but cold enough for cuddling without sweating like crazy."

[member="Stephanie Swail"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Laying down after a surreal day and a whilwind of emotion, Stephanie shuffled into the makeshift bed and lay on one arm rested behind her head and looped the other around Laira.

She could see the sky above through the netting above the tent and the oil-lamp provided some low light, enough to keep them cozy but not enough to keep them awake for long.

As Laira moved her hand across her ribs, she flinched slightly and become self-conscious - the Sith rune Laira had yet to see. Hopefully she wouldn't feel the slightly skewed skin where the scar was. Nothing as yet, probably too sleepy to take note of skin texture. So, the Padawan relaxed a little and rubbed her free around up and down Laira's back, now and then brushing fingers gently across her hair.

"I will, Laira. I will. You too. If you need my help, professionally or personally, you call me. I'll be there to help you." She turned her head and kissed Laira's head. "I'll be here for you."

It wasn't what she had come here looking for, but Stephanie was glad she took the assignment to the unknown planet because she was going to leave a very different, if somewhat confused, person to the one who arrived.

Stephanie wasn't sure who fell asleep first, but they didn't let go of their embrace all night.

[member="Laira Darkhold"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Laira was a gentle sleeper, but was fairly clingy in her pleasant slumber, entangling her legs with Stephanie's and keeping herself held against one another with a soft smile.

When the redhead did awake in the morning, one of her hands was pushed up under Stephanie's tunic and upon her backside, gripping it firmly. The her other arm was pinned beneath the brunette and numb, but uninjured. Stephanie was much more modest than the redhead, her arms around Laira comfortably. The pilot blinked awake, leaning her head forward to kiss the brunette's neck. "Morning sweetie," she whispered, beginning to remove herself from the embrace for her morning routine.

Her morning routine always started with stretching, and so she bent at the waist beginning her day by pulling her leg muscles taunt, clutching her legs with her arms and pulling her chest to her shins. Laira made sure to face away from the brunette as she started, swapping to a lunge position and twisting at the hips to pull her back and legs at the same time. "So I figure we can snack on leftovers for breakfast after we get cleaned up, then take you back to your masters. I know they'll worry if I keep you to myself for too long." And she did need to leave today to report back what she had found.

Once she stretched out, she went about tossing her stuff back into the cargo pod she kept her equipment and personal effects in. "But, if you want we can play another round of that game, or I can show you how to dance."

[member="Stephanie Swail"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Stephanie slept well, but was restless. Tossing and turning a little – the whole day whirling in her mind and what she had done, what she had said, how she had been, the Force she had discovered.

The natural alarm of the outside wilderness woke her, with Laira gently moving around and packing her gear. The Silver transport had left a message on Stephanie’s wrist com to confirm they had returned to Kashyyyk following her instructions the night before, and she had found shelter with some local settlers. A little fib, but she couldn’t let on what had happened. It would probably make her seem reckless and she wasn’t ready for casting glances.

She sat up and stretched, shuffling to the mouth of the tent to see the red-head packing up, and then welcomed her with a warm smile.

"Morning," she rubbed her eyes, sitting there a little dopey for a second. "Just some rice and veg will be fine, not much though. I’m ok. And I think I’m a little out of sorts for more of…that game, and dancing. I don’t know where you find your energy."

All being said, Stephanie had slept well and it hit her now waking up. Too MUCH sleep.

"Where are you going after Kashyyyk?"

The concern was suddenly evident in her voice.

[member="Laira Darkhold"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Kashyyyk? Laira hadn't been planning on going all the way to the primary temple of the Silver Jedi when she suggested flying Stephanie back herself, but was ultimately more than willing to spend a little more time with the Padawan. Plus it would mean she'd be able to drop the Padawan off with a good joke.

"I find the energy from how pretty the person I'm with is. Can't be the lazy wallflower around a gorgeous padawan for very long without getting judged." The redhead grinned, tossing some of her equipment into the large container that would be bolted onto the underbelly of the X-Wing when she was done packing. For now she was just clearing out all the small things and would grab the sensor-mesh leanto, cot, heater, and refresher only when the girls were done with it.

"Well, the ship I report to is based near Boz Pity, so I'll have to head there for a little while. Give my report, get the next set of orders. Showers first though. You can go get the first of the morning while I pack up. Hurry though, its a little brisk for me to be walking around with no pants on and if you take too long I'll have to join you." The redhead gestured at her bare legs, last nights black lace bottoms still the only thing around her waist. Her threat was a bluff, one she hoped the Padawan didn't call her on, but she said it with a grin shifting her weight to the side with one hand on her hip.

It wouldn't be so long, the little astromech was helping clean up and most of the camp was pretty easy to put up. Laira had an outfit picked out and laid out for herself, and assumed Stephanie would wear her own Jedi clothes from yesterday. They could be up and out in about an hour, including their showers.

[member="Stephanie Swail"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

She yawned, stretched out again with a little yelp and stood up out of the tent, bringing out her thin blanket and folding it up, not wanting to make a mess or ruin Laira’s system. She saluted as the order was given for the shower, and she ambled across, still half-asleep, to the shower unit.

"You don’t have to go to Kashyyyk if you don’t want to," Stephanie called out as she activated it, "neighbouring systems will be able to get me back there so don’t go out of your way."

Minutes later, her clothes were laid out and she was in the shower, but only as a wake-up call to revitalise the sense and warm her up. A few minutes more and she was out.

Stephanie patted her skin down, and glanced at the run on her torso. It always made her heart sink, because sometimes she just forgot about it. It didn’t cause her pain now, at all, and there was no physical side-effect bar the scar. It was just the mental side-effect that was the lingering problem. She rad a finger over it and sighed.

Time to get dressed.

The Padawan walked out to the X-Wing in her attire again, tying the brown belt across her waist and feeling more awake.

"All yours, pilot.”

[member="Laira Darkhold"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

"Oh no, I'm good to drop you directly at school." Laira grinned, not at all embarrassed for her part in their little foray off the grid together. The redhead rather enjoyed running around on her own time and doing what she wanted, and right now she wanted to spend a little more time with the Padawan. "I just didn't know I'd be getting that much time with you, sweetie."

Laira tossed a few things at the cargo pod while Stephanie showered, cleaning up all the small bits and pieces of her camp with her astromech until the only things that needed to get packed up were her cot, space heater, portable refresher, and the lean-to itself. "Alright, I'm gonna go grab one of my own. You don't have to put anything up if you don't want to," The redhead grabbed a small bag and began walking towards the shower, stopping to plant a short kiss on Stephanie's cheek as she walked past the brunette.

The princess spent her shower thinking about what all she was getting herself into with the Padawan, keeping herself reserved and guarded wouldn't last with all the touching and affection they were doing. Maybe that was a good thing, it was a hard thing to open up to someone but it was necessary. It was what Laira wanted in the long run.

Once she was finished, Laira dressed in a black, skin-tight bodysuit that was probably a size too small for the redhead which accenuated her svelte figure and womanly curves. She pulled a tan scarf around her neck and sarong around her waist with the utility belt and weapon holsters, completing the outfit with functionable, yet fashionable boots with a two inch heel in them.

And then she was back, helping to finish packing up the larger items and stow them away in the cargo pod before they could leave the peaceful planet. "Steph, I have one question before we go." The redhead put on hand on her hip and regarded the woman in front of her, "You ever been through the Thornhedge Nebula?"

[member="Stephanie Swail"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Amusing herself in the company of the cute little droid teetering around the camp, Stephanie helped where she could; tidying this, piling up that, taking down the other. Just so she wasn't looking super lazy and rude.

When Laira returned, Stephanie gave her a sly once-over out the corner of her eye, admiring the unique dress sense and how it suited her. She also noted the weaponry and the more "professional" way she looked now she was dressed and armed. It would be amusing to see if she could have the same reaction when kitted out in her Silver Jedi finest.

"You look good,” she said, wiping her hands and looking around.

She noticed Laira wasn't doing much, except looking a little serious especially coupled with the question that got Stephanie's attention.

"Thornhedge Nubula? I've never heard of it....what is it?” She was intrigued. "Is it dangerous? Have you been there?"

[member="Laira Darkhold"]