I can't tell you what it really is

[Corey's OOC]

Marek Starchaser was still not quite sure what got his mind moving this way. Sure, he had lead the crusade out to that snow world, and then there were those Dark Siders, not quite Sith, but not quite not, and their slave girl. That was something else. And being the seemingly responsible Templar, despite his training in the ways of the Sith with Master Van Derveld, Marek wasn’t going to throw her to the wolves. Nope, he uprooted her, just stood that he should try to fix her mind.

Or whatever.

He wasn’t sure.

The one thing he did know was that she was very attractive. And that was going to cause problems, wasn’t it? He wasn’t sure how to handle it all. Marek was a loner, and with his outlashes, this would get interesting for sure. This wasn’t a side most people saw of him. He really tried to keep a lid on it, and most of the time he was able to. It was something good to being how he was. Without people getting close, no one kept tabs on him.

He was going to figure this out, but he knew that when he let his emotions shine through, something the Zeison Sha warned against, and his father did as well, his Force powers were a bit stronger. He might not be able to shoot for poodoo but he could feel the strength elsewhere.

After a quick detour to Confederate space, Marek and his new companion were on a straight course for Corellia. His extended family did have a place there. With the CrossCurrent set in for the hyperspace jump, simple, down the Corellian run, he walked to the back of the ship, and called out for her. “Irri? You alright?”

Right, how long had it been since they made a trip like this?

The scary thing was that they’d taken these trips alone, scary and awesome, he supposed.

@[member="Irridia Solensis"]

 

[Irridia Solensis]

It had been over two years, since she'd had to try to be normal. Since she'd had to have a voice and a thought of her own. Long enough for her to have mostly forgotten what independent thought was even like.

Irridia sighed and pressed her forehead to the glasteel of the viewport, watching the stars streak by in little molten rivers of light. Arms wrapped around herself, fingers absently tracing the patterns embroidered into the arms of her blouse, she stared sightlessly. It had been...an interesting time, to say the least, since they found her chained in the dungeon. Since they'd cut her down and carried her out, weak and almost dead from the lack of water.

She didn't really want to think about it much, but she couldn't help it. There she was , alone on a ship with Marek, and going back to Corellia. Going home. At least, she mused, she'd talked him into landing at a quieter, out of the way spaceport well on the outskirts of the capital. Anything closer would be monitored by CorSec and she didn't want her family knowing she was back, yet. She wanted the time to herself, first. Selfish, but there you have it.

Well, time with him, too...but that was neither here nor there just then.

Faint though it was, a smile curled her lips as she heard him call her name. She peered around the corner and nodded to him. "I'm ok." Irri replied softly, watching him.

 

[Corey's OOC]

Marek could totally understand the need to have time to oneself. He was worried about the woman who was in the ship with him. He did have a few things he could work on while at his homeworld, but his primary focus was going to be her. Really, that was regardless of what she wanted. Bad of him? Maybe, or responsible. He was the one who pointed that specific planet out, so she was under his watch now.

Look at him. Just over a year ago, what, he was a Corellian wandering the galaxy. Not a care in the world aside from making his own way. Really, it was more simple. Then he found himself approaching the Templar to learn how to use the Force that he was able to command. And the whole whirlwind came, helping the Xi Char like his father promoted him to CEO of Haor Chall, and with that he found himself working as the Foreman of the Techno Union for the Confederacy. Then he impressed the right people, moved himself to a Templar Knight, a Crusader, a Seeker, and general guru of all things ranged for the Force using arm of the government he was now working and fighting for.

Follow that up with meeting Irri, and trying to do his best to both get to know her, and assist her however he could. Right now it was getting her back to the homeworld, getting her some time in and on the water. Maybe rent a boat, they could stay away from everyone that way. Might do them both well. Sure, he was going to show up like a walking arsenal, and he was here to make a purchase of a CEC freighter, but that was secondary.

“You sure?” He wasn’t really clued into her yet, he figured that might come, or it might not. But still, he approached her. Putting a hand lightly on her back, he tipped his head. “We’ll be touching down soon.” It was always nice to see the homeworld, he just hoped that the other side of his line wasn’t here.

@[member="Irridia Solensis"]

 

[Irridia Solensis]

Her expression warmed, steel blue eyes traveling over his features slowly, his steps carrying him to the spot beside her.

"Yeah...I'm sure." Irridia wasn't certain she believed her own words, and Marek didn't look overly convinced either. But they were still in the awkward stages of figuring one another out in so many ways, that she also couldn't be sure. There might have been something there, but there also might not have been. Her senses, which had been burgeoning and useful to her survival had been burned down to a tiny stub within her mind. She'd have had trouble sensing a rancor breathing down her neck, but knew somehow that things would return to normal in time.

His hand on her back elicited a soft sigh of pleasure. A simple gesture, one meant to comfort, and yet, it meant just a little more to the young woman who hadn't been touched with anything less than rage and stark purpose in over two years. Irridia had come to accept it, and yes, at times, even enjoy some of what her captors had done to her. But this was wholly different. What remained of her senses wasn't twitching in alarm, but instead remained silent.

So Irri scooted a little closer, his hand sliding around to rest on her hip as she leaned into him. Forward, perhaps, but she couldn't help herself just then.

"How soon?" she asked softly, tilting her head to look up at him. "And...I know you have other things to do while we're here...but...when do you think we'll have time to get to the water?"

 

[Corey's OOC]

It really didn’t take the Force to read what was going on in Marek’s mind, most of the time. He was never much of a sabacc player, but he could lie his face off when the situation called for it. Probably not the best thing, but it kept him alive, that was for sure. Right here, though? Here he didn’t need to lie, he could be straightforward and let everything happen as it would. It was a relief. Not that he felt the need to cover his feelings within the CIS, but still, he was used to it.

Just as she was used to surviving with her abilities, he was used to making it alone, and getting distance between himself and those around him. Being part of the group still wasn’t sitting as normal for the Corellian, but really, what was? He was now a Templar, and in charge of one of the largest collaborations of corporations in the galaxy. He could surely handle helping this woman out.

Wherever that would take them.

Not quite expecting her reaction to be quite so needy, his hand slid down to her hip, and he did his best to keep himself in a polite stance. As she adjusted close, he nodded to her. “We’ll be there shortly, and we’ll go to the water first thing. Nothing else is time sensitive.” He smiled, not knowing why, but he leaned in to kiss the top of her head.

@[member="Irridia Solensis"]

 

[Irridia Solensis]

A soft, almost ethereal smile settled across her lips as he kissed the top of her head, his face pressing briefly into her copper curls. That...was a decidedly sweet gesture that made her stomach do a marvelously interesting flip. Huh.

“You’re sure?” Irri said softly, feeling him nod more than seeing it. “Sounds like a lovely plan. Been so long...” she breathed, a mix of longing and desire in her tone. That much, she could not help. She loved the water – needed it, in fact, to survive – and was far more comfortable in it than out of it.

Eyes closed, she borrowed his shoulder for a moment and rested there, until she heard a nearby control panel chime. She resisted the urge to toss an orb of water at it, both because she was so depleted it would knock her unconscious, but also, water and electronics did not generally do well together. Last thing Irri needed to do was ruin something she had no hope of being able to repair or pay for the repair of.

Standing straight, she smiled and absently brushed off his shoulders, fingers smoothing out his shirt before stuffing themselves into her pockets. “Alright, you go fly. I’ll strap in back here again...unless you don’t mind if I come with you?”

 

[Corey's OOC]

It was definitely an oddity for him to do such an action. Still, it didn’t feel wrong. Hell, he’d almost go so far as to say it felt correct, just an instinct, and like he should be doing it. Or doing it more, really. Looking at her, with her concern, he nodded. “Of course I’m sure. Its purchasing and receiving, besides anything else can be done over the holonet, if it really needs to.” He smiled at her.

He wouldn’t mind getting into the Corellian seas anyway. The last time was… when was it? Really? When he found his lightsaber crystal? See, this needed to be remedied. And he figured they would do it here. The CrossCurrent was a lovely ship, and Marek was going to be sad to see her go, but maybe he could work something out with the Techno Union and whatever ship he had them create, so he could fly a product from a company he represented, modified to take on water. That would be something.

Running his hand down her back, he moved it from her back, slowly to her hip as he descended the curve of her body. Right, don’t get too out of place yet, Starchaser. Feeling her thoughts, or feeling her intention, one or another, he grinned and nodded. Let’s not damage the ship, even if it could potentially survive most aquatic situations. He was going to need to have a ship retrofitted…

Looking at her he shook his head. “If you want, you can come up, either way is fine by me.” Whatever suited her, they were going to be touching down in one of the smaller sub tropical locations, sure it was quiet and run down, but it was quiet, so that was definitely the reason he was heading there.

@[member="Irridia Solensis"]

 

[Irridia Solensis]

Perched in the co-pilot's seat, steel blue eyes watched Marek's fingers brush over the controls. Her chin resting atop the knee she had her arms wrapped around, she alternated between watching him at the controls and watching the planet grow larger in the viewport. Her smile warmed as they broke atmosphere and she could almost taste the salt air already. It had been two years...two blessed years since she'd been on her homeworld, and though apprehensive about seeing her family at any point, the siren call of the ocean already pulled at her senses.

"Marek...will you teach me to fly?" she added softly, smiling in spite of her warm cheeks, as the ship finally touched down. She was out of her crash webbing in a flash and hurriedly stuffed her things back into the small duffel that held..well...everything she owned.

A sheepish smile curled her lips as she glanced at him over her shoulder, through a veil of copper curls, having not waited for his response to her question. The ramp lowered and her feet slid forward almost of their own accord, her hand reaching reflexively for his. Huh, she noted, something to think about.

-----

The mid-day sun was hot, and the air thick with the smell of the ocean. Irri balanced with more grace than usual on the railing surrounding the boat's main deck, eyes closed as she took a deep breath. The hair at her temples had already begun to lighten while her skin had begun to tint itself blue from the touch of the spray of the waves alone. Fingers slid the robe off her form and let it pool on the deck at her feet, leaving herself clad in a delicate, floral-print bikini. She'd rather have gone without, but...perhaps right then wasn't the right time for...that.

Blinking at the bright light as she opened her eyes, she met Marek's gaze and smiled before diving in. She breathed in deep once she was under, letting the salt water replenish her inside and out. It was...an indescribable feeling of rightness...of pure, unalloyed pleasure. Of...of more things than she could think of with her still-addled mind. She lost herself in the water for what felt like an eternity, but was more likely the span of about an hour, before she broke the surface beside the boat, idly treading water and looking up. Thick streaks of silver wove through her copper curls and her skin was a soft, irridescent blue.

Dark blue-black eyes found Marek and remained there, her mind reaching for his and nudging gently. Blinking, Irri realized how comfortable and natural that already felt. It was startling and amazing all at once, and she found a tentative smile curling her lips. "You going to come in?" she asked softly, knowing that he'd hear the question one way or the other.

@[member="Marek Starchaser"]

 

[Corey's OOC]

Flying was second nature to him. It was survival, after all. Or it had been. Survival and a job. He knew what it meant to fly, and being able to make people not so nervous with a shuttle or freighter was important, meant you could get a lot of work. And that was how Marek had funded his life while he was between… lives, really. From one job to the next, he always had a ship to get him there, and get him paid. It was kind of sad, in a way, that a ship, any ship, and the view of hyperspace was home for him.

Just as much as Corellia was.

“When you’re not in such a hurry to get off the ship, sure!” Couldn’t hurt, after all. Besides, giving her another skill would probably be good. Help her learn a few things, reconnect with the galaxy, figure out who she was. Smiling, he took her hand in his as they left his ship.


-----


These were the kinds of days he missed when he was off working, or traveling. A day with a watercraft, some drinks, a bikini clad girl and the sunshine. This was probably what life should be like all the time. He really needed to get to work on finding a world where he could just live aboard a ship all the time. He could use the tan, really, and just the vitamin D. That was important, after all.

Watching Irri dive in, he felt himself looking up to check every so often. Sure, he knew she fine in the water, but it was still… unsettling? Just that someone could be gone that long. Soon, he’d have to go looking for her, maybe with the Force, at first. She did seem pretty easy for him to find.

Standing up when he heard her surface, he smiled. “You bet!” Taking a second, he ran and dove off the deck of the craft and into the water. It really was refreshing, wasn’t it? Felt nice. Felt alive!

@[member="Irridia Solensis"]

 

[Irridia Solensis]

She laughed brightly as he dove in, spinning about in a circle as he came up beside her in the warm water. The streaks of silver in her hair were a little bit thicker than they had been moments ago, and she knew as she glanced down as the nimbus of curls floating around her that this was going to be one of the rare times where her hair would go completely silver. It had happened before, on occasions when being out of the water had lasted longer than they should have, but this? This had been longer than she ever thought she’d be able to survive.

With a shake of her head, she pushed the thoughts away and reached out to cup Marek’s face in her fingers, treading water with the effortless grace of one born to be in it. Her head tilted as she gazed at him, her steel blue eyes having darkened to the deep blue-black of the ocean depths. Her gaze flicked between his eyes and his lips, something nameless stirring in their depths as the same warm sensation coursed over her senses as had done so while they were standing together aboard the Cross Current.

“Glad to see you know how to swim! Come on…dive with me. It’s not that deep…” Irri said softly, biting her lower lip as she gently withdrew her hands, only barely resisting the urge to lean in and kiss him.

[member="Marek Starchaser"]

 

[Corey's OOC]

See, the water was the best way to make things feel whole again. Even for Marek, who didn’t need the water that way. He just craved it. It reset him, made him feel whole again. It helped him sort through things, the swimming, the diving, the surfing, the wading and bathing. Water was in each and every human, and it was just as important as the fire inside everyone, the fire that kept Sith going, and kept humans doing their thing.

He was noticing the change in Irri, but he wans’t sure if it was something for him to point out. Feeling her fingers on his skin, he lifted a hand to carress hers on his cheek. Smiling into her eyes, he was reaching out to her in the Force, feeling what she wanted, trying to discern where her mind was and where it was going.

“Of course I know how to swim!” His parents wouldn’t have allowed it. The Starchaser estate was based around the water, so traditionally, he was going to be swimming. But even with the estate belonging to the Imperial Starchasers, they made sure he was going to be fit to take over, should it happen. Smiling at her, watching her bite her lip, he nodded. “Lead the way!”

[member="Irridia Solensis"]

 

[Irridia Solensis]

There was a small outcropping of bedrock some thirty feet below the surface, covered in bright sea flora and fauna. It was a decidedly warm section of the ocean to support such a colorful array of life, and she wondered how the seasons affected it, if at all. But that thought was neither here nor there, she mused, her smile warm as she nodded to Marek and smoothly dove under the water's surface.

Irri waited a moment for him to follow, pointing down to the outcropping as they swam side by side. Out of pure joy at being in her 'home ocean' as she thought of it, she swam circles around him, spun about, and somersaulted - she couldn't help herself. She paused as they reached the bottom, not quite touching the sand that ringed the outcropping in delicate ripples. Her fingers trailed through a school of tiny silver fish that seemed enchanted by her silver skin, as it shimmered much like their own scales.

She knew he'd have to surface quickly, tilting her head as she tried to gauge how much oxygen he'd used on the swim down. Before he could move, however, she cupped his face in her hands once more, copper locks floating in a nimbus around her as she kissed him.

But only to breathe for him, of course...though she may have lingered for a moment or three.

[member="Marek Starchaser"]

 

[Corey's OOC]

The swimming was never a bad thing. He enjoyed it, it just was… now he didn’t have any of his gear. He could go to shore and get some, why didn’t he think to load any up? He was going to have to throw some of those into all his ships. Especially CrossCurrent, a Mon Cal shuttle without scuba gear? That was a smart move.

He followed after the girl, keeping his breath calm and waiting to see what was going to happen. She was too much, smiling at her, he let some air out, so that he didn’t screw up his lungs. Right, the pain was starting to kick in. He was so out of shape for skindiving it wasn’t funny. He was going to have to remember this. And work on it.

Maybe he could design a yacht with a pool.

When she came up to him, he was all for kissing, but then she was breathing? That was new. She could probably feel his surprise in the way his body moved and then he smiled. Not what he was expecting, but both would be good.

[member="Irridia Solensis"]

 

[Irridia Solensis]

//You need to be more careful, handsome...let me know when you need another breath, hmm?// she said softly into his mind, biting her lower lip as she floated there in front of him. It was perhaps a little forward of her, but she'd never had anyone swim with her before.

Well, that wasn't entirely true, but a silly teenage crush hardly seemed to compare to the way the Force drew her to Marek.

Irri blinked and moved to turn away from him, internally cursing at the SIth and her burned out senses as she wondered if he'd even heard her. Or if she'd been hallucinating while they'd been aboard the Cross Current. Things were...improving, with the water suffusing her body, but not rapidly enough to make the uncertainty and confusion resolve itself.

Perhaps, she mused, when they returned to Confederacy space, she'd see about finding a Master to take her on for lessons. That and another visit to the Curates, she hoped, would have her well on her way to being useful.

And less confused about the man within arm's reach.

 

[Corey's OOC]

Marek couldn’t help but smirk to himself and outwardly when he heard her thoughts in his mind. Was it that bad that they were at this stage so quickly? He wasn’t sure. There was definitely something going on with the pair of them, and the way their Force signatures seemed to reflect one another. It could be bad, or it could be very good, depending. Maybe he shouldn’t bring up his Sith schooling.

This was something new and different for him, the swimming and not having to carry the self contained gear with him. It was nice.

Plus the scenary wasn’t anything to scoff at. He could feel his eyes checking her out, and just hoped she couldn’t read his mind that easily. Unless she liked it, then really, whatever, all bets were off. He was going to need to discuss with the Masters what was going on here.

Some of it was good, other parts, not so much. Or they could be dangerous. Still, he kicked and swam after her.

[member="Irridia Solensis"]