First Order; First Steps

[Connor Harrison]

Thinking on his own thoughts, and what Ara interjected, Connor tapped his chin and toyed with his beard slightly, lost in the moment. A small grunt of acknowledgement would fill the gap for a few seconds until he came back to her.

"No, I know. I’ll keep it as is for now, and when I get someone to mentor me or whatnot I’ll mention it then. I don’t want it impeding on my standing here and what I can give.”

He threw a disarming smile and followed her out, stopping slighty to see the halls and other Ren – everyday people, men and women, going about their business. It was the one thing both admirable and solemn to see; the faces behind the masks.

Stormtroopers were the same, and it made sense why the Ren were too. They had no identity, no leverage, no emotional attachment to their foes. They were one fighting force, the trooper standing before you indifferent from the one down the way.

"Those Jagged Stones sound interesting…hey, you want to get something to eat? You hungry?”

He reached out and placed his hand on her arm to slow her stride.

[member="Ara Ren"]

 

[Ara Zambrano]

She nodded agreement. Hiding the connection would be a bad idea for all parties involved. She highly doubted the First Order would take well to someone hiding a relationship like that for long. Ara knew there were Sith Lords working in conjunction with the Order but they were not Knights of Ren. The disciple wondered if he’d be allowed to continue both paths or if he’d be forced to choose.

She glanced side-long at him as they walked. She wondered which path he would pick if it came down to it.

His hand on her arm and his suggestion of food stopped her, a quick glance back at the mess hall they’d just passed. She raised an eyebrow, amused by the idea of food before a sparring match, but she supposed they still had the rest of the Bastion to tour in the meantime. She’d just eat light and hope he didn’t.

”Not particularly, but a bite or two couldn’t hurt”

She lead them into the mess hall, grabbing a plate of who-knows what and a mug of tea. She waited for Connor to do the same and raised an eyebrow, allowing him to pick a location to sit and eat.

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

With a content smile, he backtracked and led her into the mess, keeping his head down, but his content smile there. He didn't stick out too much...but he'd have to get some of those Ren robes at least.

He took a plate and followed Ara, and managed to get some plain milk and a slice of sweet cake. That would do to settle his sweet tooth. He glanced at whatever Ara had and shrugged.

"Sit here,” he indicated with his hand to a table near the entrance.

He took his seat and looked at the cake and rubbed his hands.

"I bet you're getting fed up with my company. You can admit it. First in the city, then the ball, then the lounge...” he glanced up and raised his brow.

Then, a thought crossed his head about a conversation he'd had earlier in the week.

"OH - I spoke to Kaalia the other day. I met her on my morning jog and, I have to say, she is besotted with you. It's so nice to see a couple so lucky to have each other.”

He started to take his cake apart in bite size chunks innocently.

[member="Ara Ren"]

 

[Ara Zambrano]

Ara sat where directed, with a soft chuckle. Pushing the plate of food away, some sort of potato and meat mixture that was definitely too heavy to eat before a spar, and sipped contently at the mug of tea. She met his gaze with a soft smile. It was true, they had seen quite a bit of each other in the week since their first introduction. Granted two of those meetings had been business, in a way.

She raised an eyebrow of her own, casting her eyes downward, taking another sip of warm tea. Let him make from that response what he would. At the mention of [member="Kaalia Voldaren"], her grin grew, mostly hidden behind the mug.

They sat for a moment, Ara sipping her tea, Connor tearing at his cake. Both of them in a stalemate of wills.

She applauded him for calling her out on the ruse. After all, she knew they'd met and her friend had hardly kept it a secret that she had spoiled the game. Her brow furrowed as she thought back to that conversation. Her friend had been upfront about parts of the conversation but surprisingly secretive about others. The Disciple idly thought she should have pushed harder for details but the moment was passed now.

"Kaalia..." She sighed and shook her head slightly, keeping her eyes downcast to hid the mischievous glint she knew was present. "She mentioned meeting you, but was rather quiet on the specifics."

She raised her gaze, meeting his, one eyebrow raised in a facsimile of concerned anger. "I hope there is nothing I should be concerned about. I should hate to have another reason to kick your ass later."

She glanced at his plate and held a hand out. A simple thought and a small piece of cake floated up to her waiting fingers. With a self-satisfied smile, she popped the piece into her mouth, wondering how long he'd play the game.

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Rolling a piece of cake in his hand, he watched simply as Ara took a piece without even touching and popped it in her mouth. Cute.

"Kick my ass? That's a bit of an assumption isn't it. And no,” he popped his piece in, "nothing to be concerned about.”

He gave her a sly look as they both ate, and he washed it down with a sip of cold milk, before looking intently for the next piece. It was a nice soft cake, a layer of lemon frosting over the top and what tasted like a jam of some kind.

"Nothing you want to get off your chest about it all is there?” he said without looking up.

It was evident he was having another little bit of fun as their two wily ways clashed.

Connor lifted the next piece with the Force, and guided it to his fingers and ate it, flashing his brow up at her as he did.

"Mm, good cake, no?”

[member="Ara Ren"]

 

[Ara Zambrano]

She chuckled and took another swallow of the liquid in her cup. The light flavor floated over her mouth, complementing the small bite of cake nicely. She had to give it to the cooks at the Bastion, they knew their way around baked goods.

"Then prove me wrong."

She tilted her head, her smile challenging. She watched in amusement as he mimicked her trick with her cake, eyes narrowing in laughter.

"Delicious."

She purred as she repeated the movement, stealing another piece of cake. Her own sly smile growing. She leaned back against the chair, head lolling back just enough to casually stare at the ceiling, her grin never changing.

"Get off my chest, hmm? Let's see. One, she was my date to the ball." She ticked the first statement she'd made that night in the lounge off on her index finger. It was true, just not a romantic date. "Two, she was waiting for me at the transport, since I'd sent it to bring her here for the ball." This was marked off on her middle finger.

She leaned forward, raising one eyebrow of her own.

"Three, I never confirmed we were a couple, merely said she'd be pissed. And that I should buy flowers."

Marking the final statement she'd made that evening off on her ring finger she lowered her hand to her mug and took a final sip. She chuckled, thinking about the embarrassment she'd put the poor girl through that evening. Yes, she probably should have bought flowers after all of it was said and done.

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

A couple more pieces of cake when Ara was talking hit the spot, and washing it down with the milk was a perfect little pit-stop. The Ren did a good sweet treat, so he'd have to be careful not putting on a few pounds here.

"Well, you buy her some flowers then and be nice to her because if she WAS your date, she'd be a lucky one. And so would you. So...behave.”

With a questioning look out the corner of his eye, he caressed the glass in his hands and finished the milk, wiping away the token milk mustache with a wave of his finger. He rubbed his hands together and pushed away the plate, noting she hadn't touched hers.

"You done?” Connor stood and assumed she was more than ready to keep on their walk rather than eat. "Anywhere else you care to show me, or shall we go for a soak in one of those inviting pools I saw on the way in. They look lovely, don't they?”

Pushing his chair in, he smiled, extended the gentleman's hand for her to lead on.

[member="Ara Ren"]

 

[Ara Zambrano]

Spoiler

Ara toyed with the now empty mug, a coy grin directed at the table. A pointed glance and tip of the glass she was holding, the only response to his directions. She shook her head, chuckling as he took a moment to remove the evidence of his drink with a swipe of the finger. She set her own mug down and eyed the full plate in front of her with a soft sigh.

It seemed she was making a habit of leaving large amounts of food untouched, a sin practically unheard of in the twenty-two years before joining the Ren. A few weeks of comfort was already showing in her habits and behaviors, something she wasn't sure was a good thing. She took the offered hand and rose, leaving everything on the table where it rested.

"They are lovely, but you own me a spar before I let you relax."

She smiled and cast a side-long glance at him, one eyebrow raised. As they passed, she reached down and swiped another piece of cake, popping it into her mouth with a satisfied smile. Since they were already on the same level as the Disciple and Knights Quarters, she decided to start there.

The long hallway was lined with doors, equally spaced from one another, no other features to distinguish one room from another.

"These are our chambers, the Disciples. I'm assuming they have one prepared for you as well, but it is up to you if you would like to use it."

She shrugged lightly and continued walking, not even glancing at the door that opened into hers. Further down the corridor and around a corner was another wing of rooms, the door spread further apart, reflecting the added space of a kitchenette and living area.

"The knights live in this wing. Although we rarely see them outside of training, they have a tendency to spend quite a significant bit of time in the field."

She waved a hand down the opposite direction. "The bathing pools are down that way, as well as one set of meditation chambers."

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Matching her smile, he shook his head at her cheek and left the mess hall to continue the tour.

He took in the quarters of Disciples and Knights, and it was nice to know he may have a place to call his own. While he was looking on Avalonia now for a more personal residence, having a quarter to focus just on his training and time with the Ren would be beneficial.

Looking left to right, up the halls and down walkways that led into the sprawling Bastion, he turned at the direction of the bathing pools and stopped at the junction.

"Another spar? Well, alright.”

Connor walked past her with a gentle nudge towards where they had passed earlier with the training rooms.

"I'll see how a cross-guard handles, and then we can really let of some steam.”

[member="Ara Ren"]

 

[Ara Zambrano]

The disciple raised her eyebrow, matching his pace.

”You did mention training after I gave you a tour of the Bastion. Unless you had a different kind of training in mind.”

She shot him a seductive glanced turned obligingly in the direction he nudged. She’d walked this path, from her room to the training rooms so many times it was nearly automatic. She found her mind wandering to their last spar, t the dirty tricks and sly moves he’d used.

No doubt this time she’d have to contend with his growing force powers now that his connection had been reestablished. Her grin grew predatory as she considered. Yes, she definitely needed to let off a bit of steam and the opportunity to test the extent of his skills.

She led them to the same room she’d been using earlier, satisfied that it, and most of the training wing, was empty. Crossing to one of the alcoves, her robe was discarded and folded, followed quickly the outer, heavier layers. She much preferred movement over protection when sparring.

Turning and raising an eyebrow, she unclipped both blade from her belt, setting her personal blade on the pile of clothing. Her mouth quirked up into a smile as she realized that the room looked exactly the same as it had an hour or so ago when he’d interrupted her session.

”Same rules as before? First to kill their saber loses?

She pulled her long hair back into a quick braid while she talked, tying it off with a strip of leather.

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

He said nothing, just looked at her as he walked a few steps and then followed on back the way they came.

There was a certain amount of pride at stake here. Not for any reason except for Connor to feel he wasn't totally inept and out of the game just yet. His flexed his hands gently as they walked back down to the room Ara had been in when they met an hour or so ago.

Standing on the other side of the room, he watched her get prepared as he took off his cloak, laid it down and unbuttoned his top layer of the tunic to fold beside it. The training vest showed more of the scars and marks over his body, but it was part of him, and it was only Ara. He didn't care what she saw because she knew the meaning of a battle wound.

Kneeling, he took both hilts in his hand, the training blade and cross-guard. His eyes looked to both as she fronted the question.

"First to kill the blade.”

He set the cross-guard down and opted for the one he was more agile with and stood.

Turning, he looked at Ara, at the shallow pool across the way and the layout of the room itself, rolling his shoulders.

"At least we can't leave too much of a mark on each other.” With a flick of the wrist down he activated the pale white training blade. "Not yet anyway.”

Taking a two handed grip, body angled slightly, he stood for a second looking at her before taking two steps and lunging the blade forward into her torso to bring the dance to life.

[member="Ara Ren"]

 

[Ara Zambrano]

Ara raised an eyebrow and chuckled as he mentioned leaving a mark. She rolled her shoulders back and grinned wickedly at him.

”A shame really, since I owe you one.”

If she was bothered by his scars and battle wounds, it never showed. She watched as he activated his saber, the white light of the blade lighting the room with an eerie glow. The curved hilt of her training blade still tucked in her right hand, she stood still as he readied himself and lunged

Her eyes narrowed, her smile still predatory as his blade came for her torso. At the last moment she turned sideways, activating her blade and bringing it up to meet his attack, parrying the blade away.

Without waiting, she snapped her right leg out in a side-kick aimed for his rib cage. Last time she’d made the mistake of assuming the ex-Jedi would fight fair. This time she wasn’t taking any chances.

[member="Connor Harrison"]

This is how we'll dance when,
When they try to take us down.
This is what will be oh glory

 

[Connor Harrison]

Ara ignited her blade and met his quickly, and the two were near side by side. She launched her kick to the ribs, and it impacted, and he took the brunt of it without a grunt or gasp.

The hit was solid and resonated through his torso, and as soon as it hit, he shoulder barged her back a few steps for distance.

He looked at her, blade up, and moved for a series of powerful hits - one, two, three - in quick succession to make her work at blocking and using energy, a careful dance of timing and perception.

[member="Ara Ren"]

 

[Ara Zambrano]

Mildly disappointed that he took the blow without reacting, she stumbled back, her quick footwork the only thing keeping her upright.

She recovered quickly, planting her feet and facing him as he advanced. His strength matched with his size advantage would be lethal if she attempted to meet his blows straight on. She dodged the first strike with an easy step to the side and a turn, bringing her blade up to meet the second blow with a flourish.

Using the angle of her blade and momentum of his, she aimed the parried blade downward, taking two quick steps backwards as the third blow came. A quick spin of the hilt had her blade back in position to meet his final strike.

Her arm reverberated with the force or the blow and she flicked her wrist, sending both blades off to the side. A small forward step into his guard followed by two quick shiim strikes to his upper and lower abdomen to test his defenses. She danced back, spinning with her blade held low, aiming for his ankles, but also turning the fight to avoid being cornered by her larger opponent.

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Looking in in the eye with each hit of the sabers, Connor kept his stance firm and his wrists tight.

When she flicked her wrist to part the blades away, he had a split-second to reel it back in quickly, and did so just to catch her strike for the top of the abdomen, but failed to move to catch the lower.

He hissed and convulsed as it stung his side through the vest and he used her break away to push back also, gaining more distance between the pair.

Twisting his body a little as the burn tingled and dull ache kicked in, he kept his face straight and stern, holding the saber down.

With a figure of 8 spin of the blade, he stalked towards her, spinning 360 for a momentum fueled strike sideways to the arms to push her back more to pin her in.

[member="Ara Ren"]

 

[Ara Zambrano]

Behind her and to the left was wall. Still quite a distance away, but a nasty trap if she fell into it. Off to her right was the shallow pool. Another nasty option, but one she could use to her advantage if needed.

The jarring clash of blade on blade echoed through the chamber as she stepped forward and met his blade full on, rather than with the traditional parry of the Makashi style. Both hands on the hilt for added strength, she skidded backwards a step with the force of impact.

With a quick duck to avoid a follow up strike, she spun in place, reversing the direction of her blade and jabbing backwards. Sweeping one foot out, she completed the 360-degree spin with an attempt to trip the man up or at least slow his advance.

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor rolled with her moves, and arched back to avoid her blade, and stepped back to avoid the spin, so she forced him back two steps. But he had to be relentless.

Side stepping, he span the blade in another fast figure 8 and brought it up hard to force her back more, pushing his strength and firm stance to pack her in the wall.

As the blade came up with a violent swipe through the air, he pushed his left hand out, palm first, with his strongest blast of energy to continue the barrage - something he hadn't used since the ritual at Dxun, so whether it worked or not would be another story.

[member="Ara Ren"]

 

[Ara Zambrano]

His blade came up too fast to block, her only option to dodge. Two quick steps to the side had her out of range of the strike, her eyes flashing to his hand as it came up.

The wall of energy slamming into her and pushing her back even as her blade flashed up, aiming for his outstretched appendage in a sweeping blow. Her back hit the wall, her blade coming up in a vertical block.

Before he could move in and pin her, her left hand flashed out and up, her connection with the Force instantaneous, meeting his force push with her own. Moving away from the wall, a few quick steps to the side, she brought her own blade slicing down at an angle towards his torso.

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

The blast from her Force push leveled his nearly, and as she dodged the attack, Connor kept going with his momentum and jumped into the wall with his right foot, twisted and then pushed out in an accelerated attack.

His blade came jabbing down from above as he landed, like a skewer, and then he pushed her back with another flurry of strikes - one two three.

He couldn't help let himself grin; it felt good to be getting back into the swing of things as their blades lit up the room and they started to move in a perfect ballet of wits and strikes.

[member="Ara Ren"]

 

[Ara Zambrano]

Spinning to keep track of her opponent, she raised an eyebrow at his grin. Getting cocky, hmm? She thought, a plan forming in her mind. She met his overhead strike with a quick parry.

His flurry of attacks pushed her back, rapid footwork keeping her just out of range of his more powerful attacks. Each strike was met with a parry, taking all her skill and speed to keep up. She stumbled once, his third strike breaking through her defense.

A hissed curse pulled from her as the blade collided with the bare flesh of her upper arm. Recovering quickly, she dashed in, a feint to the right followed by a sweeping blow to the head.

It was a similar attack to one she'd used last time they'd fought and she hoped he'd recognize it. Complacency was a key factor in her success again a more experienced, better skilled, opponent.

[member="Connor Harrison"]