Lives. Lived. Will Live.

[The Major]

Location: Coruscant, at the First Battle Memorial​

Thick, rolling skies threatened this sector of the ecumenopolis with rain soon coming. It was for the best, because a certain agent of a certain organization wasn't in the mindset for company. The objectives changed often, and in the last few months she had learned so much about the big bad galaxy. A crazy, violent, often merciless place was the reality the Major currently inhabited. Machinery proved kinder, ruthless lords of the dark side proved rational, and every galactic unit saw another calamity.

♪"Welcome to your life,​

there's no turning back​

even while you sleep​

we will find you​

acting on your best behavior.​

Turn your back on mother nature."♫​

Feeling glum while peering at the massive wall of number designations, "people," provoked her to sing slowly in a register barely audible. Truly, she wanted to make an effort to shed this sour mood and continue onwards; but it was as though the collected maligned ichor and miasma from all her recent activities was wearing down on her psyche. Weeks of pretending to be this or that; weeks of shifting her presentation to hide all her supermassive dreams and nightmares.

It would be nice to see her family now, talk to them -but it was too premature.

Thus, in front of this wall full of number designations, these faceless clones now forgotten, she felt a strange kinship with their sordid plight. Would it be too much to touch the wall? Nobody but very distant security guards were in the vicinity. Perhaps this small comfort would be enough. In the cool night, it felt unlikely. The Major stepped to the monolith and began to reach out, something inscrutable and dark splayed upon her face.

 

[Tez Bola]

On days like today, Tez Bola would come to the Clone Wars Memorial to just be alone with her thoughts. Being a humanoid of average height and appearance she felt she could easily blend in with both those visiting the monument and those it was built for. It was a somber place to pay respects to beings long gone who were as dispensable and underappreciated as protocol droids. Tez wasn't a native of Coruscant, and found this location upon chance. When she first arrived on this planet three months ago, she felt daunted by the sheer number of people and had a difficult time settling in. After just a few short days, she had already believed it to be an incredible waste of time and resources uprooting herself to chase a phantasm. Eventually things seemed to line up in her favor (to an extent) and was comfortable enough to go exploring on her days off. She favored the memorial in particular because the pushing and rudeness was considerably less than what she became accustomed to in CoCo Town.

Today, however, felt inexplicably different than usual. She had awoken from a blurry and confusing nightmare well before sunrise, but that wasn't what made today feel different. It was akin to the dreams she usually had, this time with an unexpected urgency...

It was night on this plane. A formless smudge of darkness rapidly blanketed the light hazy sky. Tez walked cautiously, alone, anticipating what was to come. The ground began to quiver, and the piercing sound of scraping metal could be heard several meters away. She turned around. Tall windowless monoliths shot up, ripping the ground asunder. She ran. She weaved through the chaos, nearly fumbling over chunks of rock and asphalt. As beams of light shot down from the sky, a set of deep blue orbs appeared. They silently followed Tez's movements. When she thought she found a safe place to take cover, the orbs revealed themselves and turned into eyes. Tez asked the entity what this was all about. Its response sounded like the whirring blades of a chainsaw. Tez took a step back; she tripped and landed hard. The floor was slicked with various viscous fluids of myriad colors. Littered everywhere were many different types of helmets caked with blood, broken blasters, and... shell casings? She picked what looked like a bullet covered in soot- a small heavy round one unlike any she had ever seen. A wind picked up and the ground began to tremble again. Tez looked up. One of the eyes winked, then she was sucked into the ground.

The nightmares first began about three years ago. At first they were mild, infused with symbolic imagery she didn't bother to decipher. Steadily they became more uncomfortable, filled with faces and voices she had never seen or heard before. The faces weren't always consistent, and the voices were rarely coherent. It wasn't until she had one particular dream on loop about a sprawling city-planet did she finally begin to think of the deeper meanings. It took some time, but after she was able to properly identify the planet she kept seeing, she made it her mission to finally seek any meanings. She hoped that these dreams would stop if she could go to Coruscant. She didn't know what to look for, but knew it would be a step in the right direction.

Tez jotted down a brief description of the previous night's stupor in the journal next to her bed before getting dressed. After a quick cup of instant caf (not the best tasting stuff, but it does the job) she headed out. She went at her usual quick pace and would arrive at her favorite locale in no time.

The sky, grey and hazy, promised rain, which made her glad. The tourists would scatter once the heavens opened to save their expensive robes and coifs."Tools," she scoffed internally. As she looked up at the buildings surrounding the pathway towards the memorial, a chill wind began to blow.

 

[The Major]

Torrid days, these were. Punctuating the queer atmosphere was a vigorous chill as the night wore on. Moisture rolled about the air, oppressing those on the memorial platform with the threat of something momentarily annoying. Soon the riffraff and noble chaff began their squawking complaints. One asked to head to a cantina, another home, and yet another made the impressive suggestion of visiting a local cabaret house. Following the innate herd instinct of most humanoid species, they proceed out. Quickly, the tacked on attitude and presentation of somberly consternation wears away. Discarded like clones, these normal people move on. Even the Major would leave here and smile eventually. She knew it. Thus, she was no better than any pretender. To bother with the delusion of depth was ultimately a very human thing. Why, to bother at all in the face of total irrelevance was the well where the Fallanassi drew their greatest power. So then she was normal. In the process. Growing. Panging for more but getting somewhere.

Therein laid the problem.​

That damnable ambition.​

From whence does it spring forth?​

The ego. ​

​

As usual, she was thinking too much, too rapidly, and sprinting forward: a cobweb of intellect playing out paranoia and contradiction. Thinking so much, in fact, that when the Major realized she had her left hand gripping -as best it could on a flat marble- against the wall there was something ghastly reflecting back at her: a chainsaw toothed grin of brilliant white pearlessence, violently slicing wider than humanly possible, split across a black mirror. Glowing orbs hung where eyes should be, glowering with contempt. Upon this spider like parody of a human curled out black clumps that radiated like tendrils. The woman's very fiber of being shakes at the image. This shifting black reflection beckoned.

​

Sybil refused.​

And it was gone a blink later. The highly polished marble was just that: highly polished marble etched with number designations. It was a chilly night, and although the Major was filled with a fluttering of fear-tingling butterflies most of all she was curious. Reflexively, her fingers trace the numbers, as if pressing and pushing them in the correct pattern would reveal the truth and purpose of her existence, doing this action while completely obvious to the anyone near by, engrossed fully by her visage reflecting in the wall. Auburn, black hair, dark blue eyes, and inquisitive features. Musing, the Major thought:

That is me.​

​

[member="Tez Bola"]

 

[Tez Bola]

Definition of déjà vu
1. 1a : the illusion of remembering scenes and events when experienced for the first time 1b : a feeling that one has seen or heard something before
2. 2: something overly or unpleasantly familiar

By the time Tez arrived at the memorial, the sky had already dimmed to a lovely shade of grey. Light pitter-patterings of rain began to fall and the overpaid sheep began to prance away. The beginnings of a perfect evening. Tez slowed her pace to avoid being elbowed by the oncoming herd and moved as far to the side as she could. "Good timing," she mused, taking out a long white ribbon from within her pocket. She tied back her mid-length raven colored hair, and added a bow for whimsy. She walked along one side of the wall, lightly brushing her finger over along the series of numbers. It was a pity that the wall didn't also include the monikers the Clones had given themselves and their brothers. Unfortunately there were too many of them, and too few people who actually cared about their humanity or took the time to find out more about them. Tez had once entertained the idea of becoming a historian specializing in the lives and culture of the Clone armies and their impact on the galaxy (both during and after the wars). But as chance would have it, that wasn't meant to be.

Tez let her finger linger over the name RC-113. She tried to recall which trooper that number was designated to and what his "real name" was. Just then, the floor lights in front of the memorial illuminated, temporarily blinding her. She rubbed her eyes and stepped back. Unexpectedly she collided with a rushing passerby, lost her footing, and slipped upon the smooth wet asphalt. She landed hard upon the ground. When the faceless assailant made no attempt to help her up she shouted, "You near-sighted scrap pile!" to no avail. She pushed herself off the ground, and wiped off her backside as best she could. Tez audibly grumbled and started to wrap around to the other side of the wall, not facing the immense public walkway.

The wind blew harder, infused with a crisp chill. An intense gust hit Tez from behind, making loose strands of thick hair come undone from its bindings. Tez gathered it as best she could and became distracted by a dull brattling noise. She looked up at the buildings around her, but didn't see any sign of construction or last-minute maintenance. Maybe someone's communicator was on too loud? She looked over her shoulder- there weren't many people left around, so whose could it even be? No one else had seemed to hear it and were going on as normal. How vexing.

After much delay and distraction, Tez was able to compose herself. But it seemed all for nought when she turned the corner. Her eyes were instantly drawn to the tall, strange looking creature in her immediate path. Instantly her head harbored a deep dull ache and her body felt an inexplicable weakness. Somehow, this feeling wasn't new or different; like she had felt this before for a similar reason. She knew she had never seen this person before in her life, and yet had a reason to fear her. To avoid her. To loathe her. Though her conscience told her to run, her feet disobeyed.

 

[The Major]

Musings continued, only lifting at the sound of an expletive -or in this case a substitution. It caused the Victorian inclined woman to break focus on the reflection in the memorial wall and peer over instinctively to the sound of the disturbance. Her long coat ruffled in the wind and whisked softly about her calves.

Those ocean blue eyes slowly angle. From this distance, one cannot fathom their depth. Eons innumerable had dulled such intelligent eyes into observing the universe as an unknowable, uninteresting place. For a moment something within their spirit kindles the fondest memories that were never experienced, and dreams that never formed, and well being that never materialized.

Briefly, as casual as the cold breeze, a forlorn, wistful glance overtakes coordination or presentation.

Thought served little purpose in this realm.

Futility grips. It was hopeless. Nothing changed, but everything lost meaning. And despite the grand unknowing horror of true insignificance, there was a radiance underlying all. So many details registered, but what would they do to help in this life. Regardless, despite the nagging creep of splitting emotions that left her mouth dry, something surfaces.

In her mind a swell of noise accompanies what feels like death:​

♪Ahhhhhhhhhhhh​

Ahhhhhhhh♫​

♪Ahhhhhhhhhhhh​

Oooooohhhh♫​

♪ahhhhhhhhh​

oooooooh.♫​

In the end all that remained was a chorus.​

All "the Major" had left to do was smile. She smiled earnestly.​

Happily.​

She felt sublime.​

Somehow, her hands drift into her pockets,​

never looking away.​

. . .Smile. . .​

​

[member="Tez Bola"]​

 

[Tez Bola]

It was as if the world had fallen silent- the average everyday sounds of life had ceased. Tez could no longer hear the snippets of conversations in various languages, the rain bouncing off of the buildings or the low-pitched singing of whisper birds. The only thing Tez could hear was the humming of the lights to her immediate right. Tez continued to walk toward the bespectacled woman, mouth pursed in determination. So much emotion swelled in her chest for reasons she couldn't understand. She didn't know what to do with her hands, and awkwardly rolled them into tight fists. She stopped, shy by a dozen footsteps and unrolled her hands. Her breathing quickened. What does one say in these types of situations? "Hello?" "Have we met?" "What is your name?" "STOP LOOKING AT ME"? She opted for the most simple choice-

"Lovely evening, isn't it?" These words came out more husky than usual, sounding strange to her. Slowly, her heart rate returned to normal. The rain picked up. The coolness of the drops cooled her flushed cheeks and braced herself for the other woman's response.

[member="The Major"]

 

[The Major]

Thoughts continued to flood Sybil's brain at breakneck speed. Warmth, love, tenderness, they were right there on the precipice. The singing chorus egged her on; pushed her to act and say everything that needed to be said. Solid gold. Great friend. Psycho love, don't you know. Oh, you know.

It was a dream now alive, and a solution to the dull ache in her chest.​

But then this woman standing a few paces away revealed something in those dark eyes.​

Contempt. Loathing.​

It was a stare for but a moment before the husky voice floated across the mural in the drizzling mist.​

And the illusion crashed.​

In this chaotic galaxy, there was no quick solution or long awaited salvation. There was only insanity -hubris fueled by a delusional need to be significant. Sybil wasn't significant. Never would be either. A wandering mind eviscerated the warmth and hope of only a moment ago, and it was clearly showing upon Sybil's pale face. Anguish didn't splay across her face, nor did malice. It was apathy, cold and steeled as the realization defeated and deflated her chest, scrunched up her spine, and pulled those limbs away from the question.

"Clearly. . ." She croaked in response. A shake of the head removed the lump in her throat, and now everything could proceed as normal. As typical. As expected of another night in front of Memorial Wall.

"Am I in your way? Excuse me, I'll move." Robotic, measured, monotone. Without waiting for a response Sybil's right hand motions for the mysterious civilian to pass. Complimenting the polite gesture, the Major steps backward a few paces from the Wall.

[member="Tez Bola"]​

 

[Tez Bola]

Like a mighty ch'hala tree, Tez was rooted right where she stood. She was taken aback by darkly clad woman's curt response and rigid gesture. She was at the very least expecting a conversation to ensue in some sort of modern verse (be it courteous or otherwise was another matter). How unfitting this encounter would be if it merely ended here- exchanging a handful of empty words and glances, then walking away. Somehow, somewhere, there was a reason for this beyond the simple explanation of "the Force" willing it to be. There was no other time in Tez's life where a single person, especially not a stranger, made her feel so much emotion in such an intensely short burst. Not since when her sister [redacted] Wait, who?

Unexpectedly, Tez felt her mind slip into another consciousness...

Darkness illuminated by the overhead white flash; bright lights shining in my face. Labored breathing. Two sets. Three sets. Four? Intense pain-it's throbbing-PAIN. Did the lights go out again? Why are you watching? I CAN'T SEE. My eyes are open, I know they're open, I'm watching myself open my eyes, but why can't I see?! No, not me, not mine; hers, it's hers. No longer mine? Where is she? Who is she now? What happened to her?! What is that sound? Who's...laughing...? Wait, what happened to my---

Snapping sharply back to reality, Tez felt a twitch in her left finger's pinky finger. She opened her mouth to speak but was afraid to let slip the wrong thing to have the woman retreat back into the shell she seemed to have recently come out from. Something in her body language gave off the aura of stubborn sheepishness and the desire of intelligent discourse- an interesting duality. "No, you're not in my way," Tez replied simply. She ran her hand through her mist-covered wavy hair, removing the weighted stray fly-aways from her face. Her dark green eyes focused on the soon-to-to-be foggy spectacles upon the taller woman's face, trying to find the eyes behind them. "This might sound like such a brash and cliche question, but should I know you from somewhere?"

[member="The Major"]

 

[The Major]

It was indeed cliché to say such things aloud, and the Major would have candidly liked to discuss the hows and whys they both apparently felt a sense of familiarity. The loathing in this stranger's eyes was just not something that could be forgotten so easily, however. Defenses were up. In fact, the vagueness of it all suddenly had the taller woman's heart pounding as though a blaster was going to fly up from this civilian's hands. Instinctively, the morbid First Order agent began thumbing the injector end of a paralyzing neural toxin. After all, this "civilian" could be an assassin assigned by the Galactic Alliance or another rival faction.

If the woman tried to jump her, then Sybil would ensure she felt excruciating, momentary pain -and then nothing forever more.

​

"Admittedly, my gut feeling is saying that you're a celebrity I've seen on the holo-net."​

Suddenly, Sybil was intensely ashamed that her mind even drifted to lethal thoughts. No, something else was at work here: a dark presence perverting and taking advantage of a misunderstood perspective. She stopped playing with the case in her pocket and turned to properly face the stranger.

"You're so. . . prepossessing, if I may be so bold. Are you an actor?"​

​

[member="Tez Bola"]​

 

[Tez Bola]

[SIZE=10.5pt]Admittingly, that was not the reply Tez was expecting. She asked a sincere and simple enough question, but quickly replayed the scene from mere moments ago in her head. She thought on whether or not her delivery may have come out as belligerent or sarcastic. What else could have spurred such a deflective response? Unless she [/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt]had[/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt] met this woman before and had completely forgotten. Then in this case, she is in the process of making a complete fool of herself. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]No, that couldn't be likely. Tez only just came to Coruscant and didn't spend much time in places where folk the mystery woman’s sort could normally be found (well dressed, well polished- definitely a government type). Maybe this encounter [/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt]was[/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt] chance. And in that case, maybe it was doomed to fail. Was this potential relationship (or fight to the death) over before it ever began? [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]“[/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt]Not the time for melodramatics[/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt],” Tez thought to herself. What if this woman was connected to her in ways she didn’t yet understand? She couldn’t deny the sensation she felt when she first came across her. And here, of all places! A place she has been coming to for so many weeks! This sensation was akin to how she felt when she awoke from the countless whirlwind dreams she has been having. What if… she’s the thing Tez was meant to find? Though, characteristically, she was unrecognizable, her aura screamed volumes. As odd as this all sounded, Tez knew she had to press on. Sway this pro/an-tagonist to her side to the best of her abilities. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]“I’m not of the acting variety,” Tez said, with a grin, trying to sound as level as possible. “I couldn’t act my way out of a smuggler’s den. You, on the other hand, have the posture of someone very important. I’m just ashamed that I don’t remember your name. If, of course, I [/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt]should[/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt] know your name.”[/SIZE]


[SIZE=10.5pt][member="The Major"][/SIZE]

 

[The Major]

As soon as the Major's characteristically deflective answer to a question shot out of her mouth she almost immediately regretted such a useless addition to the conversation. It was something of a trademark of the agent, and not something most "co-workers" generally called her out upon. But as the four-eyed freak watched the stranger process the comment she could detect the pregnant beats of silence before the cut back. This woman was being analytical, this much was certain. Those eyes of the stranger's twitched in a specific tell of most people: not of nervousness or some drug addled spike in blood flow, but of pure and simple discernment.

What a regretful tack she used.​

​

An excellent response, and one that denoted a certain tolerance for the taller woman's cryptic irritating demeanor -though the stranger did not betray that fact.

​

No!​

No, this was the second time the Major felt a distinct familiarity in the universe, and something that evoked something too positive to simply evict. Realizing her mistake, her guard comes down and that bitterness from earlier in the night colors her diction in shades of nihility.

"No. I'm nobody important. In fact, I'm the galaxy's most insignificant, irrelevant, immaterial nobody. I'm. . . just. . . stupid. . . " This sentence started out strong, but it warped into something with less conviction; hoarse near its conclusion. Her glasses had steamed up, but it didn't seem to bother her, even though it was obviously obscuring her vision.

"I'm sorry. It's just that. . . there is something so familiar about standing in front of you in the rain. Comforting, even. Is it just me sensing this?"

Saying it aloud was even stupider than feeling it.​

​

Safe bet was that this haunting woman would assume Sybil was a drug addict and leave right about now. Deciding to go all in, the elusive Major steps into range and extends her right hand in an offer to shake as polite greeting. Her expression was unfathomably, uncomfortably perturbed in concentration.

[member="Tez Bola"]​

 

[Tez Bola]

Seemingly losing control of her facial features, Tez barely noticed the sudden arch of her left brow. Everything so far out of this woman's mouth was inexplicably amusing and, dare Tez think, naive? It was as if this woman rarely had any social interactions outside of the ones she was required to have as part of whatever position she seemed to hold. This long haired wonder also was an apparent, yet-to-be-convicted liar. For example:

Exhibit A: "I'm nobody important." An unimportant person wouldn't go through such lengths as meticulous grooming. Nor would one feeling so unimportant wear such noble, exotically exquisite articles of clothing, and stand out so much as she did.

Exhibit B: "In fact, I'm the galaxy's most insignificant, irrelevant, immaterial nobody." Where are the citations for this claim? How can one speak for the entire galaxy and the numerous star systems and aliens that dwell within them?

Exhibit C: "I'm. . . just. . . stupid. . . " Please refer back to Exhibit B as there is no reason to dwell on such vapid statements.

More than the woman could ever know, Tez felt an immediate solace when she had remarked about the familiarity of this scene. Thank goodness that it wasn't just her, otherwise, well. Let's not dwell on that. As if on cue, the rain began to pick up. The drops became slightly heavier and colder. The flags surrounding the memorial continued to flap in the wind, their sounds reminiscent to ocean waves slapping against rock. The remaining stragglers in the immediate area picked up their paces to escape the impending storm. Too bad the moon was hiding; it would have aided the ambiance.

"I'm very glad you said that," Tez said with a sheepish smile. "This might sound strange, but I feel the same way. If you hadn't mentioned something about how... familiar, this all was, I would have thought I was hallucinating." Tez reached out and put her hand in the pale one being offered to her. "My name is Tez."

[member="The Major"]

 

[The Major]

"Tez. . . a pleasure. My name is Sybil," said the operative with more determination than whimsy. It took conscious thought to not squeeze over-hard upon Tez's hand. Something had the agent expecting to feel a rush of energy as their skin contacted along with experiencing a psychogenic delusion -but this would perhaps be a tad exaggerated. Instead, there was nothing but soft, life affirming flesh to clasp unto. In some nebulous way this was an even better result. Perhaps they both weren't completely insane. After a few moments in silence the Major let her hand drop away back to her side.

So entranced was the taller woman by this "familiarity" that the rain did not seem to bother her at all.​

"Is this familiarity a welcome or disturbing thing? It is hard to say." There were so many things the Victorian inclined woman could ask of her counterpoint. Things like: why are you here, from where do you hail, where do you plan to trapeze off unto. Ultimately those were contrite topics, and none of Sybil's business. What applied pressure to her brain was to ask Tez if she ever felt like she didn't belong in this place. If she felt like an outsider who stared too long upon an anthill, sucked into a chaotic universe that was just a little bit too different to be called home.

"At least the Memorial is an excellent place to meet a kindred spirit, if I may be so presumptuous."
At this point she did a quarter turn to peer back towards the monolith. Tiny puffs of warm breath were beginning to wisp out of her nose, her body somehow more silent than what seemed natural.

[member="Tez Bola"]​

 

[Tez Bola]

"Sybil?" Tez repeated, with a whimsical inflection. "That's a name you don't hear very often. Or, in may case, at all." The rain continued to fall. Unsure of how to proceed, Tez surveyed the plaza with a faint smile. It was turning out to be a perfect evening enhanced with an ideal atmosphere- it was finally dark, cold, and presumably void of sentient life for a handful of meters all around. The long since deactivated turrets that were stationed here were the only figures in site casting their quaint shadows. There may be a guard or two stationed in the vicinity somewhere, but it was very likely that they had retreated inside their sheltered post either out of boredom or to watch a broadcasted game of get'shuk on the Holonet.

Tez's mind was now in overdrive. There were myriad ways in which this scenario would end. Many of which would end in embarrassment, several in disappointment, so many more in guilt, and one or two in elation. She didn't, naturally, want this scenario to end in regret, so she had to try to make these moments count for something. She didn't yet know what this "something" was, but she'd be damned to not try to find out.

The raven haired woman turned and faced her new found acquaintance. She smiled widely, exposing her ivory teeth. "Can you enlighten me, prophet? What tidings does this meeting bring us?" Tez asked, adding to the previous statement in another shade of whimsy. "Shall it continue in this fortunately timed rainfall or is it destined to relocate in another locale? Say, in a house of nourishment?"

 

[The Major]

Sybil peered upwards and allowed the growing droplets to thump upon the lenses of her fog stricken glasses. Her hand extends, palm upwards, fingers lazily spread.

"It is so nice to be softly doused by the rain like this. . ." Truly it was an relaxing haze which clouded the walls of the mural as high clouds rolled across the platform. With the horizon blurred as an even thicker fog clung to the massive platform, the lines of reality and phantasmagoria swirled and entwined in indistinct, shapeless eddies. The Major grinned politely, naturally, at being jokingly called a prophet. Clearly, this Tez was not going to let a single syllable slip without scrutiny. Great. Such attention to detail would elevate them both. "But a little refreshment sounds great. Unfortunately I'll have to reveal an ugly truth: I'm a tourist to this planet. Are you a little more versed in this place? It's like a labyrinth to look at on the holo-net. . . " Testing her hand at gathering more information on any given person she spoke to, Sybil framed that question in a way that would hopefully encourage the wavy, raven haired one to expound upon her background.

[member="Tez Bola"]​

 

[Tez Bola]

"A Tourist? Well, that's a shame," Tez nefariously sighed. "We have only just started getting along but now I know you'll just up and leave any moment now- what a buzz kill! If we do go anywhere how do I know you won't just desert me for someone else that catches your interest?"

A lukewarm shiver internally coursed through Tez. Why was she talking in this fashion? Where had this boldness originated? Oddly enough, this all seemed natural. More importantly, why was this stranger allowing their conversation to escalate in such a way? Has she not noticed any ounce of flippancy, or was she too polite to say anything? Or... what if she was amused by the sharp remarks of a height-challenged older woman?

Tez took a mental step backwards. She needed to readjust her approach and phrase the next fusion of words out of her mouth more strategically. "Erm, what I meant to say was, if you'd like to join me, we could relocate to Manarai. It's a restaurant a few minutes away by foot that's rather exquisite. Their plicto steak is to die for, but it costs a week's worth of credits. They also make decent fleek eel and stuffed yams."

[member="The Major"]

 

[The Major]

Brilliant. As one watched Sybil she seemed to grow more and more enchanted with the witty commentary offered by Tez with every faux-sarcastic word uttered. Her eyes closed naturally as a reaction to this mirth twinkling within her chest. What a treat. What a delight. Now here was someone able to hold a bright and cutting candle in a conversation. Of course, being realistic, the Major was drawn here for an impromptu break from the chaos abroad -ironically deep within enemy territory. This interaction being so different from the heavy consequences of the hum and drum was in and of itself the relief any sane person would need from time to time. It just so happened this relief was also attached to a monumental amount of predestination.

Now came Tez’s suggestion: Dinner.

“I only have three words for your request:
Wonderful! Wonderful! Wonderful!”

Sybil said this with her hands as well, simulating fireworks blowing up with alternating right and left gestures. Internally, she ignored analyzing the comment made about a dish costing an average weekly salary. Such wording could be used to place Tez into a certain kind of bracket negatively.

“Let’s go. We can talk along the way.”

Almost making a mistake with a technical stranger, the Agent had to check herself from wrapping her arm around about Tez’s to lead her on. In and of itself it was odd for Sybil. She could barely tolerate even the idea of touching another person, nevermind walking about like a pair of Victorian era school children. It was an awkward stop, but the Major transitioned the motion into waving her opposite hand in the general direction of the restaurant.

[member="Tez Bola"]​

 

[Tez Bola]

Sybil's bizarre and awkward gesture was rather amusing. Tez had noticed its occurrence in her peripheral vision, but decided to not remark upon it. She had already introduced a self perceived aspect of uncomfortability into the conversation and it wouldn't be polite to highlight her companion's momentary (to be determined) quirk that may lead to more.

"Manarai is this way," Tez said instead, beginning to lead the way. "It was built within, and conveniently named for, the twin mountains near the Great Western Sea. There is a lot of dark history surrounding this area, but if we get into that we'll never eat." Tez added a chuckle to sound lighthearted and hoped it didn't come off as false.

In the silence that followed, Tez winced as she felt a sharp pain erupt on the left side of her head. It wasn't uncommon for this to happen, spontaneous migraine-like symptoms, but it certainly was inconveniently timed. She rubbed her temple to assuage the pressure, but it was done in vain. She continued to walk, doing her best to give the impression that all was well. It wasn't long before she fell behind several paces, slowly coming to a stop. She felt the hot liquid trickle from her nose. A drop fell, landing on the front of her shirt. She frantically patted her pockets in search of her kerchief because any second now---

blood.
life source, life force. life.
drip. drip. drip.
beautiful crimson, deep hues of divine pigment.
more.
need it. want it. crave it. lust for it.
i can take more because i caaaaaan

The sound of Tez's gasp echoed in the plaza. She had regained focus of her thoughts and wiped the blood from her face and shirt as quickly as she could. As she seemed to merely smear the thick substance, the pain in her head intensified. "Keep walking in that direction," she instructed to Sybil, weakly pointing. "Keep going east. I'll...I'll catch up. Don't worry."

[member="The Major"]

 

[The Major]

Life’s little adventures always had a tendency to take deviations at the most opportune of moments. Sybil considered this briefly as her new potential partner in crime went from a charming example of mystery and conversation to nearly doubling over on the pathway. Tez was looking bad -even appearing to be on the verge of fainting.

“Are you okay?”

It had to be embarrassing to be sure. Breaking apart physically in front of complete stranger was a mortifying prospect. Luckily for Tez, she so happened to be interacting with what might be considered a strange person. Compassionate at times, true. But very strange.

Sybil wrapped her arm the gasping one’s shoulders, face perhaps a little too stoic in expression for the situation. “I’m not going to leave you alone. Don’t be ashamed: do you need help?” She was not going to trivialize the situation by asking if Tez wanted to go to a hospital. Inquisitive at all times, the Major closely watched what appeared to be blood coming away from her companion. Though, in this type of lighting it was difficult to determine if it wasn't just a black, viscous plasma.

​

[member="Tez Bola"]​

 

[Tez Bola]

Tez removed a plain looking cotton kerchief from her jacket pocket and brought it to her face. She steadied herself against her newly acquired companion, firmly planting her feet on the ground. As she squeezed the bridge of her nose she muttered, "I am not ashamed. I am inconvenienced, per ush." It was difficult to ascertain whether she was saying this to herself or to Sybil.

As the pair stood in the rain soaked plaza, Tez was trying to think of an excuse. An excuse for what happened, an excuse to run, anything. What should she say? Better yet, what could she say that could help her maintain even a slight sense of normalcy? Would that even matter at this point, considering how much of a bizarre specimen she already made herself appear to be? She continued to breathe until she was able to produce a steady rhythm.

*In*
*Out*
*In*
*Think*
*THINK*
*Out*
*In*
*Out*
*OUT*
*THINK*

"I'll be fine," Tez said. She regained her upright stance and pulled away from Sybil. She removed the kerchief and looked down; the bleeding had subsided. "I must look a mess," she breathed, adding a sheepish smile. She hoped her acting skills were still on par. "I couldn't possibly go anywhere with you looking like this- the maitre d' would think I'm some common spice addict. Let's just go together another day. On a nicer day. When we can look at he mountains straight on instead of through a haze of smog. Rain on Coruscant really is murky and disgusting. We can just exchange comlink information and go from there, yeah?"

[member="The Major"]