It's Quiet Uptown

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Tulas'enan could hardly believe her eyes when she laid eyes on her homeworld. The multicolored surface of Ryloth was an unbelievable sight; a funny statement coming from a Twi'lek. A sigh of disbelief escaped her mouth as tears formed. Her body became tense yet relaxed. She was restless yet ready to succumb to the fatigue of her mental state. After so long of fighting and being abused in ways she dare not utter, Tula was finally home. So many of her kin were taken from Ryloth not knowing that it would be their final moments ever seeing home again. She was one of the very few that made it back.

When they reached the surface, Tula was almost afraid to step off. It seemed almost like a lucid dream. Maybe Rhackam got to her while she was on the road and hit her on the head? Perhaps she died and this was her entrance into heaven? [member="Tristram Senan"] could have been her guardian angel. No, he was too much of a trouble maker to be a servant of the Goddess. He wasn't even a Twi'lek. This had to be real.

Tula was the last passenger to step off of the ship, looking intently between the metal ramp below her feet and the rocky ground of Ryloth. This was it. She was home. On this day, she was officially free and would be reunited with her family. What motivated her to eventually move was Tristram's outstretched arm, offering a hand to her as he sported his signature smirk. Taking his hand, Tula laughed a bit and finally stepped off. She squeezed his hand tightly and looked around at her surroundings. It was Ryloth. The sky, the ground, the air; it was all Ryloth. Tula was so in-tune with her homeworld that she hardly realized that she was running around and nearly twirling in circles around the port. The port swarmed with her kin and other visitors. Ryl was spoken all around her. Two Twi'lek younglings nearly crashed into her and laughed as they chased a small furry animal. She was drawing a bit of attention to herself, but it was short-lived. Not only was she a rare color of Twi'lek, but she was acting as if she'd never been to Ryloth before.

Well, Tula had been here before, but it had been years. It was interesting to know that so many people would see her and not know what she had been through. Her hands were brought up to her face to cover her mouth as she was finally able to stand still, looking in the direction of the city of Lessu. There, Tulahi'rani was born and raised. It was where her family resided. Her mother, father, and two sisters. The thought of her family's reaction when she showed up left her worried, yet terribly excited. She wanted to get to them as soon as possible.

Tula started running in the direction of the holo-bridge without a second thought to her husband. It was unintentional, but Tula was so overcome by the sense of home. The feeling of the sun soaking into her skin was a welcome feeling and almost felt like a hug from the Goddess, welcoming her home at last.

 

[Tristram Senan]

The entire trip to Ryloth for Tristram was exhausting. And the reason for that was entirely because of his wife [member="Tulas'enan"] . She had started off excited then would get nervous then go back to excited only to go back to nervous in an endless cycle. The entire time as well he was just trying to calm her down or cheer her up. They got looks from other passengers because of the strange little scene, but he didn't care personally about it. His focus was on Tula and seeing things through to the end. Actually freeing a slave from their bonds required more than physically removing their chains. You also needed to get them adjust and find their new identity. It was half assing it to just ditch them after freeing them, and he planned to full ass things with Tula. He wanted it to be as full as her ass, and chest, was.

Once they arrived at Ryloth, Tula was even more overcome and overwhelmed than Tristram thought she would be. She was the first one to the ramp but the last off. He held out his arm for her and gave her a smile to go with it. It had turned from a smile into a smirk though as he caught sight of his new wife's pretty wife and naughty thoughts began to flutter around in his head. That was something he was going to need to get under control or the two might end up with kids within a year no matter how slim the chances might be. Actually on the surface though, he watched her literally spin around taking everything in. Ryl was being spoken, but outside of recognizing that it was the language he couldn't make out a word of it. He should learn it for Tula's sake. No, he was going to learn it for her. As that thought brought an affectionate smile to his lips, she suddenly took off running towards the city. With an exhausted sigh, he took off after his wife.

It did not take Tristram long to catch up to her, the man was far more use to being physically active than she was in this fashion after all. He dropped his pace to match her own and glanced over at her. She was so excited he just couldn't help but feel the same way. With a smile he said, " So Honey Bee, what are you going to tell your parents when we met them? 'Mom, dad. This is my husband Tristram. Don't worry, I plan to divorce him as soon as a fine, young twi'lek woman comes along.'" A smirk replaced his smile as he finished. He was having fun teasing her, but a little pang of sorrow hit his heart. She probably would rather be with one of her own kind, no matter their gender, rather than some mixed blood human. Was this where she was going to end their marriage since she wouldn't need him anymore?

 

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Tula stopped running once she was under the shade of the entry gate, huffing slightly as she looked into the bustling city. An out of breath laugh escaped her as she jogged a bit more to officially enter the city, looking around at the tall buildings that were at the city's edge. Other Twi'lek citizens roamed around, living their daily life without much of a care in the world. It was peaceful. Tula walked more, afraid to blink in fear that it would all go away. It was home. Everything looked exactly the same as she remembered it, from the cracks in the ground to the way the shadows were cast on the sides of buildings. Nothing had changed much in Lessu except her presence.

At [member="Tristram Senan"] 's question, she stopped walking. The buzzing thoughts in her head stopped momentarily, long enough to consider her husband's feelings about the entire thing. She almost felt betrayed that he had asked her this question after all they had done and been through together. Despite it not being much, their journey so far meant a lot to her. Her face contorted slightly to showcase her discomfort and sadness.

"Tristram," she started softly. "You truly think so low of me..? That I would abandon you the moment I set foot on Ryloth again?" Tula's feelings were a little hurt. The Twi'lek stood there at a distance for a moment, her gaze falling from his form to the ground. She thought about what to say next. The doubts she had about their relationship were long gone. Nonexistent. That much she knew. Tula wanted to choose her next words with care. Stepping closer to Tristram, her pink hands reached out to hold his. Her gaze was still not on him, but through him in an absent-minded blear. Her hands brought his own close to her lips, absent of lipstick for once, where she placed a soft kiss on his knuckles. Her next words were spoken softly, as if she were making an intimate prayer.

"I showed you how I felt back on Nar Shaddaa. I remember it very clearly." Tula's eyes lifted to take in his appearance, leaning her head in closer by habit. She wanted to be near him. Always. Just the simple thought of the night they shared together was enough to get her to blush, though she tried to hide her shyness, along with the effect it had on her. "I also remember making a vow to you. No one can make me revoke my vow except you. Not my parents. Not my sisters. Not my catty old neighbor who is most likely long dead. I do not care for what anyone says about our marriage, except you. If you find yourself wanting to be rid of me, then I will let you go... But I hope that will not be the case."

 

[Tristram Senan]

The two of them were finally in the city of Lessu. It was Tristram's first time to the planet, but he was not in nearly as much wonder over it all as his wife was. He had been traveled all over the galaxy, had taken a flag ship using nothing more than a shuttle and rag tag group of drunks, and had managed to marry himself off to the pink skinned beauty that was getting looks from everyone around them. The site of the city was impressive, but it just didn't have that raw impact for him as it did for her. No, the sight that was impacting him was the sight of her face as she looked around. It just made it impossible for him to not smile and feel endeared to the woman. He had only met her not that long ago but he was finding himself caring more and more for her with every moment they spent together.

When [member="Tulas'enan"] replied to him, Tristram felt his heart sink deep into his chest. It was making him feel guilty and dirty for making her feel even remotely unwanted. She took his hands in her own and then spoke more words that cut him deeper than any saber or blade could hope to. It was showing on his face. He knew it was and didn't want it to, but he couldn't stop it. All he could do was mule over everything she had said in his head over and over in a flurry of vigorous activity. She misunderstood him and what he meant. Why wouldn't she? He had been free for many years now of the Jedi order and its rules, but she was newly freed from her own shackles. She must have been feeling insecure about what his intentions were and her own worth to him. He was an idiot that deserved a good punch in the groin.

It took Tristram a moment, but he finally had something he felt he could share with her. Smiling to her as best he could through the shame and guilt, he said, " Tula, you can do far better than me. You deserve far better than me. I can't do any better than you. I swore to you that I was your's loyally until you were done with me. I meant that. Back on Nar Shaddaa I couldn't stop myself from being with you. It won't be the last time I can promise you that either, but I'm very much aware in light of that that you still deserve better. So if you ever, ever, find someone you like who is better than me do not stop yourself because of me. Please." He squeezed her hand and gave her a pleading look. He didn't want her to be shackled to him. He didn't want her to feel shackled to him. It wasn't that he thought lowly of her but rather didn't want her to lower herself because she thought she had to.

 

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"I do not want anyone else!" Tula exclaimed, her usually leveled tone raising as she got heated. If there was one thing she hated about her husband, it was his low sense of self worth. This bad habit was becoming an unhealthy cycle. He hated him self some days. She would comfort him. Tristram would always keep it quiet, but she would notice whenever he drank even a little bit. Deciding not to pry and risk touching on a bad subject, Tula decided that he would confide in her in his own time. And likewise, she would hate herself some days. He would comfort her. There were days where she felt terrible about herself to the point she got physically sick. Tula felt used, undesirable, like a piece of meat. There were times before where Tula thought about darker escapes, but the thought of her freedom would keep her alive. Then she met this man. This idiotic, goofy, hard-headed, clown of a man, who continues to help her find her self-esteem while struggling with his own.

Her hands, releasing his own, found themselves on his shoulders. The couple usually found themselves in this position, standing close together with their foreheads gently rested together. There was something so connecting about it, a conduit for the electricity of the emotion they felt for each other. This new feeling scared Tula. It was foreign to her. How was she supposed to act when she felt like this? What was this feeling called? All she wanted was the answers, but she was only met with more questions. "Why is it so difficult for you to understand? You kriffing idiot..."

It was true that she didn't know what the future had in store. What if someone else did cross her path? Tula mentally slapped herself. How dare she think such things with her husband right in front of her? Ugh, if only she could ask somebody for the answers. In any case, the pink Twi'lek could hardly imagine herself without [member="Tristram Senan"] at her side. She wouldn't allow herself to believe that anyone else would have such a claim to her heart. To some, they may not have a real marriage, but she was determined to make it work between them. Golden eyes opened to study the man who practically had her wrapped around his little finger. She felt such a fondness for him, she couldn't really place it, and she didn't want to throw the L-word around just yet. Not until she was sure.

"I am taking you to meet my parents. That is an indication that I care about you, is it not?"

 

[Tristram Senan]

His new wife sure liked to call Tristram an idiot a lot. She wasn't wrong about that he had to admit, but it was never in a hurtful way that she said it. It felt more as if she just couldn't find a better word or couldn't say the word she really thought. No matter what, it just always got a bit of a smile from him and eased some of his worries about her. Despite her protests about him being good enough, he knew she would listen to him. She had her freedom now after all and he doubted she would actually let him be the shackle that bound her once again. Even with that thought on his mind, he couldn't help wanting that better person to never show up. Deep down he wanted his wife and not just in a physical kind of way. It was more than that. She made that loneliness he felt all the time able to be bared.

Tula studied him over and Tristram wondered if she was evaluating her husband's worth finally. He didn't want to be some kind of knight in shining armor to her. He had gotten plenty of that treatment from others he had helped, and he didn't like it. What they saw was a flawless figure of their dreams, but in reality he was just a drunk with authority issues. There was no delusion on his part about what he was. He knew well he was nothing more than a lonely drunk who was trying to recapture some sense of self again by helping others. Not the most attractive quality in a person. He knew that too because the moment those dreamers woke up and saw him for who he was they always left. He hoped his wife didn't dream for too long.

With [member="Tulas'enan"] mentioning meeting her parents, Tristram smiled at her. It was time to get back into the moment and less the inevitable future. He squeezed her hands and said, " I think you wanting to meet your parents is proof that you care about family Honey Bee. It is one of the most attractive things about you along with that pretty face of yours." He looked into her amber eyes. They were deep and beautiful pools. " As for bringing me along, I'm guessing you just don't want me getting drunk in a bar somewhere and embarrassing you in public." He smirked a bit to her as he let go on her hands. A naughty idea had come to his mind on how he could tease his wife. " Maybe you are worried some other pink skinned twi'lek woman will try to steal me away? Don't Honey Bee. The only ass I want is yours." A slap of her rear followed and he chuckled a bit. As usual, his antics got noticed by the people around them.

 

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Tula yelped as she felt a smack to her behind, her arms immediately going behind her to protect the area from further assault. Her face turned a shade of lilac as it usually did. Although she was used to her husbands antics by now, she never failed to follow his hit by one of her own. The back of her hand whacked his broad chest, doing no damage really, but the consequences were there. The pink Twi'lek began to walk ahead of her husband, eagerly wanting to get out of the area of embarrassment. The area was becoming more familiar as they traveled, Tula leading them down streets, corners, crossroads, and stairs. As much as Tula wanted to visit all the places she had been before and all the people she had once known, she would come for them later. Right now, she wanted to let her family know that she wasn't a lost cause.

Had they given up on her? Perhaps they thought her dead. Was there a funeral? Did they even bother trying to look for her? All these questions bubbled around in her head, causing her to bite her bottom lip anxiously. They probably weren't worried. They had two other daughters surviving to worry about. But, what if they had been taken too? Then where were her parents? The Twi'lek sighed in dismay, but brushed it off as not to worry [member="Tristram Senan"] . He was a big goof, but he never ceased to amaze her with how much he actually cared about her feelings. Tula decided to change the subject.

"Lessu has no shortage of beautiful women, and I have two older sisters, if you require other options." Tula said with a roll of her eyes. Their surroundings began to become very familiar to her as they walked, her legs leading her to her home by simple muscle memory now. "Tewon is the oldest, and Aula is my twin. I expect Tewon to be married by now. She was very eager to be a housewife back then, though I suspect this will not stop you should you decide to pursue." A laugh left the Twi'lek this time. Of course this was a tease, and in truth she did not think Tristram would be the type to have no sense of honor when it came to marriage. Her heart decided to feel very heavy now at the thought of Tristram pursuing other women. To hell with the fact that they had just made an 'I-Will-Let-You-Leave-If-You-Want' pact. As a wife, she has the right to be jealous.

Tula didn't want their marriage to have just been a tool to her escape, but she knew she had no right to keep Tristram here on Ryloth. If by some cruel joke of fate that Tristram found a better partner, she would stay true to her word and let him live his best life, even if it didn't have her in it.

As the couple approached a more open area, Tula's walk began to slow until she halted. Located in this district of Lessu were more homes than businesses. She was born here. She grew up here. They were the same shade of silver that the rest of the buildings were and maintained the basic rectangle shape of a building, though the one they were standing in front of was vastly different than those around it. Swallowing a lump in her throat, Tula approached a window that she was all too familiar with. As an overly rambunctious child, she had broken this same window multiple times. A soft laugh erupted from Tula and her eyes began to well. Pink fingers touched the clean glass. It had been cleaned this morning, like it was every morning, by her mother.

Except, Tula wasn't touching the glass just to touch the glass. Pasted from the inside, there was an average sized picture of herself. It seemed aged, but well kept. In the photograph, she was years younger. Scrawny, undeveloped, a gap between her two front teeth. Photographed without a care in the world. Her full name - maiden name, now - was in bold letters above the photograph, and underneath it was a simple message about her. It read:

TULAHI'RANI​

KIDNAPPED AND MISSING!​

Please help us bring our Tula home. Any information is helpful.​

​

"They never stopped looking for me." Tula weeped, her tears freely falling down her cheeks. With haste, Tula moved in front of the door and began to frantically knock. In seconds, she had reverted back into the young daughter she was before she was taken, yearning for her mother, father, and sisters. "Tislera! Tisla! Aula, Tewon! Do fic rayao!"

Mother! Father! Aula, Tewon! I have returned!

 

[Tristram Senan]

There was plenty of emotions pouring out of Tristram's pink skinned beauty of a wife as they walked further into the city. Recognition, anxiety, excitement, and everything in between. The force was as much a curse as a gift when someone was as unprotected as [member="Tulas'enan"] was with her emotions right now. He could feel it all in its intensity, and it was one of the reasons he couldn't take his golden eyes off of her. As lovely of a sight as she was, he was just worried about what might come next for her, for them.

Tula began to tease Tristram back as she tried to cover up her fears. No wait, he wasn't feel fear from her so much as... jealousy? Was his Honey Bee jealous at the thought of her own teasing? An affectionate smirk crossed his lips. He couldn't help but wrap his arm around her waist as they walked and keep her pulled in close to him. She was free to find a better man than him at any time she wanted, but after that feeling from her he was laying some claim to his wife. The next man in her life was just going to have to wait longer as he was feeling too much adoration for the former slave woman right now. In his head he vowed he would protect her if it cost him his life.

As they approached what had to be Tula's house, Tristram let her slip from his arm. Her fingers went up to glass and she looked at something in the window. A picture of a girl or young woman with wording under it. It was in the twi'lek language so he didn't know what it said, but could guess that it was about his wife. But something was off about it. Why was it in the window and so well maintained? If they were looking for her then wouldn't it be better off somewhere away from the house? That was how those things usually happened. It was giving him a bad feeling, but he couldn't say anything. Tula was already knocking on the door with tears in her eyes and speaking in her native tongue. All he could do was stand back and keep a watchful vigil over her. He prayed to the goddess that his fears were unfounded right now.