Enough Days in the Shade [Misha]

[Matsu Xiangu]

​

Annaj was a strange planet. It seemed rather polarizing - you loved it or you hated it. The percentage that hated it was in the majority but Matsu had never been one to knock a planet simply because it's primary feature was fog. She had been far and wide and there were far less appealing places than the Fringe's capital. And she felt she'd thoroughly explored its main cities in the weeks she'd been Apprentice to Jared Ovmar, it's Governor. (But let's not remind the man of his holdings, even if he's not looking or listening. He hardly needs a reason for his head to grow larger. It's a wonder he doesn't need supports to hold his massive cranium as it is.)

Matsu strolled slowly along one of its main ports, an eerie lack of expression on her delicate features. She could have used some of the transportation lent to her as a member of the Fringe to get to where she was going but sometimes she liked to be out among the people. She'd seen many changes in her life over the past few months and sometimes it felt good just to slip in to a place as busy as Annaj's spaceports and remember what it had been to be anonymous...when she'd first struck out in the Galaxy. And Annaj was busy. At the intersection of the only two trade routes that connected Fringe space with the rest of the Galaxy, it was often the first place visitors saw.

She reached out with one metal finger, piercing a piece of fruit with a claw and dropping credits from the same palm in one fluid motion. She ate slowly as she walked.

Sometimes she felt as if she was looking for something when she had moments like this. It was a wandering, a sway along currents she'd just decided to leave to the Force. But still the promise that she felt never seemed to pan out. But she was having another one of those feelings and she'd long since learned that ignoring them was folly. Running her tongue over one sharp canine she walked along the edges of the crowd as she returned to the quarters she called - for now - home on Annaj, restless and watching.

[member="Misha Alkaev"]​

 

[Misha Alkaev]

The fog that had settled around Annaj did not bother Misha, nor did she pay it any mind. She got used to it quickly and the thick air felt comfortable around her. When Misha left home, she left with the sole purpose of finding someone, anyone, who knew more of the Force than she did, someone who could teach her how to control what was brewing inside of her.

Her green eyes scanned the crowd of people around her. She wasn’t looking for anyone in particular, rather, just someone that caught her interest. She relied on the tug of the Force for most things and this was no different.

The metal was what caught her eye first, the glimmer in the steel. Misha’s eyes followed slowly, up the length of the fingers, trailing over the hand, delicate looking, though something caught in her mind, telling her that it was anything but, that it could inflict more damage than her mind could process. She forced her eyes up, to continue on, it was rude after all, to stare. Noting that the entire arm was made of this metal, Misha let her mind wander, for a moment, to all the possibilities it could think of, of how it could have happened. She was a naturally curious person, and this peaked her interest more.

For once, Misha was thankful for her tiny frame, including her height. She weaved through the people pushing past her, her eyes stuck on the woman with the cybernetic arm. She watched as the woman pierced a piece of fruit with one of the claws, and swallowed hard.

Was she sure she wanted to do this? What was she even going to say?

Misha paused, stopping there, in the middle of the crowd, mentally debating her options. On one hand, this woman could be very beneficial to her, help her reach her full potential. But she didn’t know her, and the woman looked dangerous, would she be upset with herself if she let the opportunity slip?

The answer came to her mind quickly, a solid yes, and she knew that she had to do this. Continuing on, she made a bee-line for the woman, and came to a stop in front of her.

Green eyes meeting dark, almost pitch black, she stared. She righted herself slightly, the words running through her mind, exactly what she wanted to say, but still nothing came out.

What in the hell was she doing?

[member="Matsu Xiangu"]​

 

[Matsu Xiangu]

She sensed the stranger before she saw her, a languid brush of the Force over her skin that alerted her. It did not feel inherently threatening but Matsu’s features changed almost imperceptibly unless one was looking, her pupils widening and jaw setting in watchfulness. She’d learned from more than one stranger – and even from her own Master – that a seeming lack of intention meant nothing, even if the stranger in question looked sweet as candy. After all, wasn’t there a time other beings had viewed Matsu the same way, as a short and delicate little girl who didn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things? That time had passed for her. Few looked at her – fangs, dark eyes, the arm, a wrongness in the set of her face – and saw something innocent now. She compensated by keeping her potential quiet but the girl staring Matsu down had the ability to get close to people simply by looking so innocent.

Take my advice – stay that way.

Matsu tilted her head slightly, blinking as she studied the girl studying her, raising the fruit hooked to one claw to her mouth again and taking a bite.

She felt the steady pulse of the Force from the woman, but it felt untapped. Matsu could sometimes pick up on another’s predilections and strengths, a skill she attributed to working so thoroughly on the ability to tap in to someone else’s mind. It wasn’t something she wielded when it was unnecessary but reading others seemed an unconscious habit. Whether born of survival or interest or both she couldn’t say but it had gotten to be almost an obsession to pick someone apart and understand them, especially after…Krius. (She found it amusing, a fleeting thought, that the man who’d been so intent on seeing her dead had ingrained skills in her that only extended her life.)

Perhaps some would have been irritated by the strange girl’s gaze so intent on them, but Matsu often did the same thing to others. It felt nice to understand their squeamishness for once.

She had only taken a bite or two out of the fruit and extended her arm forward, the whirr and click of gears spinning to allow the movement hushing softly in the air between the two women. She doubted it was the food the stranger was after as she appeared well-fed and healthy but Matsu wasn’t going to be rude. “Do I have something on my face?” she asked, though there wasn’t a trace of humor in her tone.

[member="Misha Alkaev"]​

 

[Misha Alkaev]

Misha was curious, as to why the woman was offering her the fruit from which she was eating. She raised an eyebrow as she watched the woman extend her arm, her curiosity apparent on her face.

Did she think that was what she was here for? The fruit? Misha rationalized, that it would make sense. She had, after all, spotted the woman in the process of grabbing the fruit. Misha almost laughed then, not at the woman in front of her, but at herself.

Did she look pathetic? Like she was begging for food? Her mind immediately thought, wonderful, this was not the impression she had wanted to give off, shaking her head lightly, she refused the fruit.

Focusing then, on the words the woman was saying, Misha shook her head. “No, no there’s not.”

She had to stop herself from cringing. Her voice was girly, and soft, and she was tiny, and in contrast to her, the woman was beautiful, confident, and had that strong allure of danger, and she knew, just knew that this woman was powerful. All Misha felt she had going for her was how she knew how to get what she wanted, how to get people to trust her, but she didn’t know her full potential with the Force, and she desperately wanted to know. She trusted within the Force to help her. It’s gotten her this far in life, after all.

“I need your help...”

Did she sound as stupid as she thought she just did? Misha figured it was because she was, admittedly nervous, and so overly critical of herself. She wasn’t one to ask for help, but she knew she’d get nowhere if she didn’t. Rolling her shoulders she made sure her posture stood straight, watching the woman with the curious black eyes.

Please don’t say no.

[member="Matsu Xiangu"]​

 

[Matsu Xiangu]

[SIZE=12pt] Matsu could almost see the girl thinking, watching the feminine lines of her face shifting and dancing with her calculations. She didn’t get the impression she was stupid, far from it – perhaps too smart really, too smart with nowhere to put all that brainpower. That was an intriguing thought and one Matsu couldn’t put down. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt] When the girl refused the fruit the Sith Knight narrowed her eyes, affecting offense though truly she felt none. It wasn’t that she was cruel, but she merely wanted to watch more of that calculating. It reminded her, in some ways, of herself – though she was willing to bet she cared far less about the consequences of whatever this girl was contemplating. There was a seriousness in the way she answered, a deliberate laying down of her feelings that once more reminded the Knight of herself. In the beginning she’d been the same, and perhaps most Acolytes were. Of course there were those that barreled brashly in to their training, spoke to their Masters with tongues dancing the dangerous border of being cut out. But most, even if they hadn’t realized exactly what they were chasing, felt something sick and deadly coming from those who promised to teach them.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt] It was sobering.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt] The girl had desire. Determination. She did not err under Matsu’s unwavering gaze, and the Knight was still standing there. This strange little dirty-blonde slip had her chance. Matsu did not know what she wanted, but she was in no hurry and why not play a little game to pass the time?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt] With eyes still narrowed she tilted her head, appraising the stranger. She did not move her mouth but instead reached out with an almost lazy hand, speaking to the girl through her mind. It was a power most in tune with the Force could use if shown the way, if they heard it first and could emulate the effort. Some were better than others but with sufficient effort it could be done. And if this strange couldn’t? Matsu would know if she were worth the effort of giving her ‘help’.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“What kind of help?”[/SIZE]​

​

[SIZE=12pt] She smiled a little, just the tips of her fangs peeking out as she lifted her durasteel arm and pointed to her skull. Comes from up here, push.[/SIZE]

[member="Misha Alkaev"]​

 

[Misha Alkaev]

Misha stood, unwavering, calculating. She watched as the woman’s face before her turned to that of offense, but she couldn’t pick up on any offense, not even an ounce. She felt as the woman was testing her, both women standing there, both analyzing each other’s actions, and Misha could almost smirk.

If she was truly offended by her refusal of the fruit, there was no doubt in her mind that the woman would have done something, made a comment, anything. She was still standing there. She felt grounded, and felt slowly, the pin prickling of her nerves relax, she had intrigued her, this she knew.
The confidence bubbled up within her, letting her eyes run over her once more.

This is my chance.

And suddenly it had all come to a screeching halt. The woman’s voice danced around in her head, as plain as day, but her lips didn’t move. Misha suddenly felt that she had chosen the perfect individual to ask for help. But how did she respond? She had no idea. Would this woman laugh at her if her attempt failed? She was drawn, to the fang like teeth poking out past the woman’s lips, her eyes getting caught up in watching as she raised her arm and pointed at her skull.

It clicked, and without the woman realizing it, she was helping Misha already.

She steadied herself, concentration clear on her face. She was determined, she wanted to prove her worth to this woman. Part of her brain screamed at her that this was important, this connection.

She pushed, her eyes closing before opening once more, staring hard into the woman’s eyes, and felt her lips pull up in a smile as, she surprisingly had successfully spoke with her mind, it reaching out towards the woman. Every nerve that was pin-pricking before standing on edge, with a bit of pride.

​

“Help controlling the Force.”​

​

[member="Matsu Xiangu"]​

 

[Matsu Xiangu]

[SIZE=9pt] Matsu narrowed her eyes when she heard the girl’s voice inside her head. It had taken a moment – the kind of moment taken by someone who knew little of controlling their gift, perfectly moldable, a prize in the right hands and a disaster in the wrong – but she had accomplished that which Matsu wanted to see: determination ending in success. The elation and pride on her face made Matsu smile – she may not have had anything against the Jedi, but this girl would have what they couldn’t. Passion, feeling without end. The way her heart was on her sleeve was evidence enough of that.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt] But was she worth Matsu’s time?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt] There was something decidedly bendable about the girl and Matsu had the impression that if she pushed too hard the delicate thing might at best wilt and at worst break. She had two apprentices already and though she felt comfortable with another, was this stranger the one she wanted to take that place?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt] “What is your name?” she asked aloud, showing no recognition as to whether or not she heard what the girl had sent out.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt] Hmm…even the name was elegant, flowering – the more time passed the more sour the taste was in her mouth. Uncertainty was one of those things that infuriated Matsu as she’d only felt it once (in all those times she’d opened her mouth to tell Krius ‘no, this isn’t right’ only to shut it again, unsure of herself) and it was up there with the most unpleasant human emotions she could think of. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt] “I can take you on, if that’s what you want. But it must really be what you want,” she said, finishing the fruit and tossing the core over her shoulder in to the bin behind her. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt] Think carefully.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt] There is no turning back once you've started.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt][member="Misha Alkaev"][/SIZE]​

 

[Misha Alkaev]

“Misha Alkaev…”

Her name ran off her tongue and filled the space between the two women, as easy as if she had conversed with her on a daily occasion. She felt a bit more relaxed now, though she didn’t let this show, she couldn’t let this show, she was, after all, still wary.

She could sense the uncertainty waving off the woman towards her, and this started something within Misha. She hated the feeling of uncertainty. It drove her crazy. To Misha, it had always been easier when she could figure out something, when the answer came to her, and it was no different when someone else was uncertain, especially of her. She wanted to prove her worth. Her strength.

She had her answer then, and knew, that without a doubt, there was no turning back after the words slipped past her lips.

“I want you to take me on.”

And with that, a part of her mind dabbled on the idea of what was in store for her now. Marveling at the fact that she wasn’t as worried as she was before, she realized it was because it was settled.

She had after all, sealed her fate.

[member="Matsu Xiangu"]​