First Reply Candle in the Rain | Sacorria

[Phobos]

Candle in the Rain
Sacorria
Tags: Open

​

Rain.

Why did it have to look so pretty? Phobos was perched on a covered bench, her only sanctuary from the sudden storm that had swept through wherever this was she had wound up. The Bendu had guided her safely to a shuttle away from that strange dark cloud, so who was she to question for what purpose she had come here. Wherever she was did seem rather beautiful, and she had been enjoying the sights up until the rain had started. All she could really do was look out at it longingly, wondering what it might feel like on her skin.

Phobos knew what would happen, of course. She wasn't sure how, but she knew the flame on her head was the thing that kept her spirit in-tune with the Force. The warmth of the light was a beacon of comfort, one that she didn't want to leave her. So her vigil continued...

But she could maybe stick her hand out a little bit, right? It would only weaken her if it touched her flame in theory.

The Ashspawn slowly extended out her hand, letting a few drops land on her hand. She very quickly retrieted her hand back in, assessing the water that had now pooled up in her palm. It was... weird. Cool, refreshing... Tempting. Was it really worth weakening her connection to the Force just to go out there and run around in it?

No. Probably not. She should just stay put.

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Sacorria

Phobos

"... The Aurodium Diner...." Zaiya would mumble to herself, looking over her datapad as she looked over her list of burger joints to visit with Aris Noble . She was here on a research trip with Dr. Izok looking to assist with technology with the agri-farms. After asking if she could go look around for a bit, he gave the okay, and the Lovalla teen took some free time to go searching for burger joints for upcoming trips.

However, as she was on her way to the Hydian Melt, a sudden outpouring of rain sent the Lovalla running to find shelter.

"Gahhhh!" she squealed, big plops of water splattering on her, making her path hazy. By now, the breezy new pretty robe she had bought was starting to get soaked. After running a bit, she thought she saw a covered bench with a green light.

"Oh!" Relief filled her, and Zaiya ran over towards it, grabbing the hem of her robe to keep it from getting muddy. Out of breath, the drenched Lovalla came running under the covered bench, breathing ragged. Her hair, now a shamble of dripping, soaked multicolored tresses, fell over her face and saturated her robe.

"Oh, blast!" Zaiya uttered a rare curse. Her colors dampened in a rush of grey and lavender hues over her patterns, a soft silver glow making them stand out against the pearly rosy gold luminescence of her skin. She grabbed her thick hair with both hands, intending to squeeze out as much of the water as possible, only to pause with the length held in her hands comically.

Zaiya gave a few slow blinks. Then she blinked again, uncertain if she was seeing things. Nope, still there. A floating girl with green flames for hair, no neck, and --

"Oh wow... can I make things appear with my mind now!?" That had to be the reason why! Either she was daydreaming, hallucinating, or somehow, the Force had manifested a cool floating girl with green flames for hair.

Or maybe she really was just that hungry.

Spoiler: Gear

Robe and cool jewelry | BCA - Solid State Hologram Tool Band

 

[Phobos]

Sacorria
Tags: Zaiya Ceti

​

"Oh wow... can I make things appear with my mind now!?"

Phobos sat on the bench frozen for a moment.

Some random girl had appeared out of... well, somewhere while she was too busy paying attention to the rain. She had sat down next to her on the bench and then seemed to declare that she could make things appear with her mind. What did that even mean? The Ashspawn awkwardly reached over to rub at her shoulder.

"Is... that directed at me?" the young woman asked in a soft tone. "I don't think you caused me to exist."

That would be weird, right? She had experienced getting to this place, so it didn't make sense for her to be the figment of someone else's imagination....

Probably.

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Sacorria

Phobos

"Is... that directed at me?" the young woman asked in a soft tone. "I don't think you caused me to exist."

Zaiya's eyes immediately went wide, and a shimmer of bright orange flares danced across her mottled patterns, over her face, and down her arms.

"Whoa... and she even talks!??' As Zaiya was completely unaware of the type of being Phobos was or what Ashspawn were, the Lovalla could only assume that her progressive training on the Force and all the crazy things it could do was due to the manifestation of her imagination - and stars, did Zaiya have a crazy and overactive imagination.

"I had d-dreamt that having f-flames for h-hair was s-super cool with all the p-pretty colors it can h-have, but I didn't t-think that the F-force would m-manifest it into a p-pretty lady!" Zaiya responded to the Ashspawn, although she was now starting to tremble in the cold from soaking wet and wearing a thin robe. Even her lips were beginning to turn a faint blue.

"W-wait... I d-didn't?" now the Lovalla was confused. If she didn't manifest the pretty lady up, then who did? How did she get here?

Spoiler: Gear

Robe and cool jewelry | BCA - Solid State Hologram Tool Band

 

[Phobos]

Sacorria
Tags: Zaiya Ceti

​

"P-pretty?"

This was a really weird interaction. It didn't help that it was her second conversation since waking up, the first one being with an etherial voice that came to her from who knows where. Phobos ran a nervous hand through her whispy hair as she tried to wrap her already foggy head around whatever this situation she had just found herself in was.

"W-wait... I d-didn't?"

"No, I'm... I'm real," Phobos told her softly, almost needing to confirm it for herself. "I... am I really that weird?"

She was so strange to the eye that it was shocking that she was even real? That certainly wasn't going to help her any time soon. Now she had to start conversations by convincing people she actually existed?

"Uh...." she began to mutter, thinking silently to herself. "Oh."

Phobos had an idea. She extended her hand, gently poking the girl's shoulder before very quickly retracting it.

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Sacorria

Phobos

Oh, she’s real?

Zaiya blinked a few times, by now hugging herself as she trembled in the cold, little silver rivulets of water trickling down her face, neck, and arms. Tiny drops of water stuck on the tips of her long lashes, and every second that passed seemed to blanche her vibrant hues until her skin was a silvery sheen.

Zaiya barely felt the poke on her cold numb shoulder, then her eyes went wide. The barest flicker of golden bioluminescence went rippling across her skin in surprise.

“O-oh! Y-you are!” Zaiya exclaimed, teeth chattering now. The Lovalla didn’t know tapas or how to regulate her temperature, so she was now actively shivering.

“S-sorry. I j-just learned a-about the F-Force so I t-thought maybe I M-made you up w-with my m-mind cause of t-the pretty f-flame hair.” Zaiya stammered out.

Then she gave a wobbly smile.

“Y-yes. Pretty. Y-you are v-very pretty.”

Spoiler: Gear

Robe and cool jewelry | BCA - Solid State Hologram Tool Band

 

[Phobos]

Sacorria
Tags: Zaiya Ceti

​

"You're... cold."

Phobos gave a pout of sympathy as she assessed the younger woman. No wonder she seemed so delerious about if the person she was talking to was even real. It must have been terribly hard to think with her insides all cold and teeth chattering like that. Phobos reached up to her hair, swiping her hand through the flames and grabbing some. She took her free hand and brought the colorful teen's hand closer.

"Here..." she began gently, coming off almost like how one might expect an older sibling to be. "Hold this."

She placed the flame in the girl's hands. It didn't burn at all, instead spreading a harm, rejuvenating sensation throughout the Lovalla's body. Phobos did her best to muster a warm smile, though she was clearly still very confused. Still, it felt good to use the strange gifts she found herself with to help someone out.

"How's that?"

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Sacorria

Phobos

"W-whoa!" Zaiya's surprise was palpable, her eyes widening as she cautiously cradled the tiny green flame in her hands. It didn't burn her, instead emitting a gentle warmth that seeped into her very being. Iridescent blue eyes shimmered with awe as she turned her attention to Phobos .

"O-oh wow! H-how did you d-do that!?" she exclaimed, still trembling but feeling the intensity of it start to wane.

"It feels so nice. Warm... c-comforting." Waves of cerulean hues danced over her patterns, their edges aglow with a golden light that seemed to grow brighter with each passing moment as the soothing energy of the flame enveloped her.

"L-like an e-energizing hug," she continued with a wobbly but growing smile, her lips tinged with a faint pink. "M-my name is Z-zaiya. What's y-ours?"

Spoiler: Gear

Robe and cool jewelry | BCA - Solid State Hologram Tool Band

 

[Phobos]

Sacorria
Tags: Zaiya Ceti

​

"O-oh wow! H-how did you d-do that!?"

"I don't know," Phobos admitted. "It's... a part of me, I think. I kinda just woke up like this."

Yeah, that made sense. Well, not really, but it's how she had experienced it. Phobos didn't really know what she was, or what had caused her to exist in this state. She certainly didn't feel like a child, but she clearly didn't have any sort of idea if she had been a child at all. It was certainly strange. Yeah, strange was how she would describe it.

"Oh, I'm Phobos," the Ashspawn greeted. "It's lovely to meet you."

A faint smile would spread across her face.

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Sacorria

Phobos

She just woke up like this? Oh wow, Zaiya marveled silently to herself, still cradling the beautiful green flame between her palms. It danced and shimmered, casting a mesmerizing glow that seemed to sway to an invisible tune.

"N-nice to meet you, @Phobos," Zaiya greeted with a genuine smile, her curiosity piqued by the Ashspawn's mysterious appearance. Tilting her head slightly, she pondered over Phobos's situation.

"Were you s-sick then that you don't remember?" she inquired, her concern evident in her voice.

"Well, where did you wake up?" Zaiya continued, eager to offer assistance to her newfound acquaintance. As she spoke, she couldn't help but wonder about the source of Phobos's abilities. Was it a racial trait or something else entirely? Perhaps Phobos had a connection to the Force?

"Are you lost? I can try to help you if you are," she offered kindly, her skin shimmering in a kaleidoscopic array of gold-flecked blues, her willingness to assist shining through.

Spoiler: Gear

Robe and cool jewelry | BCA - Solid State Hologram Tool Band

 

[Phobos]

Sacorria
Tags: Zaiya Ceti

​

"I'm not sure," Phobos shrugged. "I sort of just... existed. Does that sound weird? It kind of feels like it is."

She had to come from somewhere, but that where really didn't make much sense to her at all. Perhaps she really had just spontaniously come about through the Force. It was really not that crazy considering what she was. At least, she seemed supernatural if the reaction of this girl was anything to go off of, so she was certainly an odd occurance, right?

"I... am lost," she admitted, "But I don't really thing I had been found in the first place. But it would be nice to know where I am. I sort of just... wandered onto a spaceship and wound up here."

Phobos gives a pout as she looks back out at the rain.

"Isn't it beautiful?" the Ashspawn noted. "I... wish I could feel it on my face, but if my fire goes out I'll lose my connection to the lifeline. I think it would be scarry not to have it..."

Her mind seemed to shift immediately. Perhaps Phobos was a little scatterbrained at the current moment. She was experiencing a lot of new forms of stimulation, and this was only the second person she had interacted with since waking up. The young woman had a great deal on her mind.

"Are you from here?"

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Sacorria

Phobos

"Sort of just existed?" Zaiya echoed, her expression one of puzzlement. For someone who typically dealt with tangible concepts and had only recently delved into the mysteries of the Force, the idea of someone simply coming into existence seemed surreal.

But then again, considering all the extraordinary things she'd witnessed since meeting Aris Noble , Zaiya couldn't help but wonder if this phenomenon was yet another aspect of the Force.

"Umm... well, if you were not born and just existed, maybe it's because of the Force?" Zaiya pondered aloud, her voice filled with curiosity. "Apparently, it's something that everyone and everything has, and it can allow people to do really neat and mystical things with it."

Zaiya was starting to feel more comfortable now. At the mention of how pretty the rain was, Zaiya turned to look out at it.

"It is pretty..." The Lovalla murmured, only to frown, "If the rain hits you, your fire goes out?" a pause, it would be scary if she lost her connection to her life line, if that is exactly what Zaiya thought it meant, "What about a mist? It isn't rain and the drops aren't big, but you can at least feel the moisture without it affecting your flames I think?" Zaiya wasn't sure, she was just theorizing, as she wasn't aware of just how Phobos 's flame worked.

"Oh, no, I'm not. I'm from Commenor. I'm here visiting with my guardian while he works on a project. I was looking to try one of the burger joints to see if it would be a good place to bring my friend Aris to." Zaiya explained.

"Well, you are on Saccoria, it is one of the agri-worlds within the Corellian Sector."

Spoiler: Gear

Robe and cool jewelry | BCA - Solid State Hologram Tool Band

 

[Phobos]

Sacorria
Tags: Zaiya Ceti

​

"The Force!"

Phobos lit up a little. She knew that. That was her lifeline.

"I do feel it, yes," she nodded. "But... well, I suppose it could have made me. I'm not really sure how, but existing is something I think is new. Well, actually it doesn't feel new. I'm not sure. I don't understand, and you don't seem to know either, so I feel like we're just gonna wind up talking in circles."

It was probably best that they focused on other things, right? It was her second conversation after all. She didn't want to make it a miserable experience for the person she was talking to. A faint pout came to her face at the suggestions of how to experience water on her face.

"That... would work, I guess," she sigh. "But it isn't the real thing..."

There was a longing in her tone, like someone unable to reunite with an old friend. Why was the water so familiar to her if she couldn't touch it without losing her connection to the force? It made no sense.

"Oh, no, I'm not. I'm from Commenor. I'm here visiting with my guardian while he works on a project. I was looking to try one of the burger joints to see if it would be a good place to bring my friend Aris to." Zaiya explained.

"Well, you are on Saccoria, it is one of the agri-worlds within the Corellian Sector."

"Oh," Phobos reacted with wide eyes. "I don't know what any of those places are."

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Sacorria

The way Phobos seemed to light up and show excitement at the mention of the Force gave Zaiya a glimmer of hope that her theory was on the right track. Joy sparked across the young Lovalla's features, her mottled patterns aglow with curiosity, painted in vibrant hues of vibrant citrine orange and cerulean.

"Okay, well then, that's a start! That you can feel the Force," Zaiya remarked, her voice filled with optimism. However, she couldn't shake the feeling of uncertainty. She was still learning about the Force herself, relying on the teachings of her friends Aris, Braze, and Loomi.

"Well, how about you come with me?" Zaiya suggested her eagerness to help evident in her tone. "I have a few friends who know more about the Force than I do. Maybe we can find out where you came from, if you were born, or if perhaps the Force had something to do with it?"

She flashed Phobos a reassuring smile. "And maybe we can see if we can find a way for you to feel the rain on your face without your flame going out?"

Spoiler: Gear

Robe and cool jewelry | BCA - Solid State Hologram Tool Band

 

[Phobos]

Sacorria
Tags: Zaiya Ceti

​

"I would like that," Phobos decided.

The Ashspawn glanced out at the rain, her face morphing into a pout as she thought about leaving with this person she just met. There was, of course, a very pressing issue that made that difficult at the present moment, one that just so happened to be looming above them and pouring water down onto the earth around them. She shifted nervously on the bench as she looked out at the storm, her eyes dancing about as they tried to follow the individual droplets.

"So..." she began, "How do I leave the bench? I-I'll survive, but... I don't want to lose my connection."

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Sacorria

"Great!" Zaiya beamed, her excitement palpable as she considered her next steps. Depending on who she could get in contact with, perhaps she could take Phobos to talk with Aris Noble or Braze ? Zaiya wasn't certain if either of them was on a mission or available, so she would have to call them on the holo and find out. Getting permission from Dr. Izak to leave was another possibility, or maybe Aris or Braze could provide guidance on where to take Phobos.

As Phobos displayed a worried and anxious concern over the rain, Zaiya glanced outside and burst into laughter. If Phobos looked at her in confusion, Zaiya would raise her hand, causing the little green flame she held to flutter, while her bangles and bracelets emitted a musical jingle. With her other hand, Zaiya tapped on a wide bangle.

"Sorry, not laughing at you," Zaiya clarified between giggles. "I'm laughing at myself for being such a silly head. I forgot that I have this!" She gestured to her bangles. "I can program a solid-state umbrella that you can use to block the rain. It's something I should have done when it started raining myself so I wouldn't get soaked... but I was too busy trying to get out of the rain to remember I could do so."

Normally, Zaiya wasn't so absent-minded. Maybe it was the will of the Force? Zaiya gave a soft, musing smile, "Maybe the Force wanted me to meet you here, and that's why I forgot?"

"Here, thank you for the flame; it's really neat. I wish I could do the same if I ever get cold," Zaiya told Phobos warmly, gently offering the flame back. Once done, Zaiya accessed her bangle and started swiping through the programs until she found the one she wanted.

"Alright, here we go," Zaiya announced, pressing a final button. From her wristband, a large solid-state holographic umbrella materialized.

"Let me just adjust the width so we both can be under it." Focusing intently, she adjusted the settings until the umbrella was wide enough to provide cover for both Phobos and herself. The soft, cerulean translucent material of the hologram caught the rain, allowing Phobos to watch the water droplets bounce off as Zaiya tested it out.

"There we go!" Zaiya exclaimed, beaming and practically glowing once more in joyful delight that she managed to troubleshoot this out.

"Your escort is ready, Lady Phobos..." the Lovalla teen giggled out, even giving a little curtsey towards Phobos.

Spoiler: Gear

Robe and cool jewelry | BCA - Solid State Hologram Tool Band

 

[Phobos]

Sacorria
Tags: Zaiya Ceti

​

"I can program a solid-state umbrella that you can use to block the rain. It's something I should have done when it started raining myself so I wouldn't get soaked... but I was too busy trying to get out of the rain to remember I could do so."

"Oh."

She didn't know what that meant. But it was certainly interesting to see an umbrella materialize, one which could change shape and accomodate for the both of them. Zaiya mused that perhaps the Force had lead them together, which perhaps made some sense. The Bendu had lead her hear after all, and they seemed rather keen on the nature of the force. When the teen offered, Phobos slipped under the umbrella to join her, a warm smile present on her face.

"Thank you," Phobos nodded, mirroring the curtsey. "Where is it that we're going?"

There wasn't any hesitation in her tone, more an inate trust that she was where she needed to be. The Force was guiding her after all. She had nothing to fear.

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Sacorria

"Well, first, to the research ship. We can finish getting dry there and be a bit more comfortable. Then I'll start sending out holo-calls to my friends to see who would be the best person to talk to. I only know a little bit about the Force, so it would be best to talk to the ones who know a lot more than me, " Zaiya explained, starting to walk and leading Phobos carefully away from the bench so that the rain wouldn't land on her.

"I just found out that I can use the Force myself," the Lovalla teen continued, turning into the chatterbox she was. "Apparently it helps me make connections with others through the Force, similar to what my kind can do with their family and mates. That got me really excited because it would be so nice to have connections again," Zaiya didn't want to feel alone, and being able to forge those connections with her new friends was so very, very special to her.

They ambled along, the rain a soothing pitter as it fell around them, "So what do you know? I mean, once you woke up? We can start trouble shooting if we retrace your steps on what you do remember."

Spoiler: Gear

Robe and cool jewelry | BCA - Solid State Hologram Tool Band

 

[Phobos]

Sacorria
Tags: Zaiya Ceti

​

"What do I know..."

Phobos echoed this to herself as she pondered the question, walking next to Zaiya underneat the umbrella she had made with her bangle. She didn't quite know what she knew. She felt the Force around her, she felt the ground beneath her feet, how to walk and talk, how her body seemed to function... but there was really only that surface level understanding. The details? They were lost on her. There seemed to be so much more that she didn't grasp.

"I'm not sure," she shrugged. "I feel like I know everything and nothing at all. It feels... strange. Confusing. I'm not sure if anyone else would know what to tell me."

A more determined look did come to her face, however. She wasn't down in the dumps. Phobos had a fresh slate to work with, one she planned to use.

"But I want to meet people," Phobos decided. "That feels important. So I will go."

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Sacorria
Interacting with Phobos

Knowing everything and nothing? That was such a curious thought. It made Zaiya ponder.

“Hmm, that would feel strange. So it’s just a sense that you’re feeling or is it more that you recognize items but at the same time that they feel familiar they also feel strange?”

Zaiya wasn’t one to presume what another felt, but she was willing to ask questions as long as the other was willing to answer.

“That’s good that you want to help people. I do too. I’m just trying to figure out what’s the best way for me to do so,” Zaiya replied, ambling along the path that would lead them to the space port. There weren’t many other people due to the rain, so it was a comfortable relaxing walk without probing looks. Zaiya knew how uncomfortable that would feel and she didn’t want Phobos to have to deal with that.

“You can perhaps help people with your flames. It felt as if it was really rejuvinizing. Can it do anything else?”

Spoiler: Gear

Robe and cool jewelry | BCA - Solid State Hologram Tool Band