Private Mastering... Makeup?

[Braze]

TAGS: Zaiya Ceti

"Makeup can help one feel pretty and confident, yes," "But it isn't the be-all and end-all." "I don't think that is what's going to help you feel accepted. You need to figure out why you don't feel accepted first before attempting to change anything on the outside."

"You're already outside a lot, so getting a tan is natural if you want to be less pale," "While I can help you with the makeup and how to hide the scars, I think you should talk to your Master or someone who can help you find out what's really going on that makes you feel that way."
"I'm happy to talk to you about it, but an adult may be able to help you better because I don't know everything."

Braze listened quietly to Zaiya, his interest apparent as she spoke. However, when she mentioned talking to an adult, a series of emotions flickered across his face before he abruptly shut them down, slamming his mental shields into place. It was clear something Zaiya said had struck a sensitive chord. With a noticeable withdrawal, he moved to scoop up the small kitten, Soot, and began petting her, attempting to distract himself from the negative thoughts rushing through his mind.

The suggestion of talking to an adult made him feel dismissed and condescended to. It felt as though his feelings, thoughts, and ideas were being swept aside, deemed unworthy of open and free discussion simply because of his age. He hated the idea of censorship and the implication that he needed permission to express himself. He felt hurt and invalidated.

Braze, was a developing empath, and could sense others' emotions bleeding into his own, making him adept at reading Zaiya's colors. He disliked it when others sensed his emotional auras, especially when upset, and constantly worked on his mental shields. His cues were more in the form of body language and creating physical barriers when uneasy. His expressions were being trained to convey a harsh neutrality.

He had a different approach to emotions, preferring not to display his feelings openly. In Zaiya's case, her species didn't give her a choice; her emotions were always visible through her changing colors.

Despite his empathy, Braze felt it might be disrespectful to read Zaiya's colors. This belief stemmed from his own discomfort with others sensing his emotions, projecting his feelings onto her situation. He valued personal boundaries and privacy, which made him wary of invading Zaiya's emotional space, even though her emotions were visible.

"If you're unsure about the kind of relationship Shan had, how do you know his feelings about it?" "Did he tell you he was no longer with [IMG alt="Colette"]https://www.starwarsrp.net/data/avatars/s/32/32652.jpg?1719864494[/IMG] Colette , or did you hear it from somewhere else and assume?"
"If it's the former, then it would be one thing if Shan had indicated he wanted help finding the will to move on his own. However, it's another if you only heard it in passing and acted without checking if it was okay."
That would be, in my mind, disrespectful. Especially if someone is grieving the loss of a partner." "It's important to respect their space and feelings, and to offer support only when they're ready for it."

"I spoke to Shan about it, It seemed like a mutual thing from both of them from what I was told. I'm pretty sure they are still good friends." Braze offered simply keeping his voice devoid of any semblance of emotion presently keeping to a soft low neutral tone. He'd made a silent decisive choice for how he would handle such sentiments in the future, especially in regards to Shan. He didn't talk about his own actions further nor did he try to justify them verbally to Zaiya.

He drew a soft quiet Breath as he pet Soot more listening.

"As for my kind," "when someone finds a mate, they start syncing their hormones and cycles by being close to each other. It's like becoming so attuned that they feel each other's emotions and their skin shifts to the same hues at the same time."

"There isn't a way to not feel the other person having a bad day or feeling bad. If your mate ever felt troubled, you'd sense it instantly. You'd notice the colors shifting, the emotions behind them. Having your mate tell you they no longer wanted to be with you out of the blue wouldn't be possible because you would have felt the initial stirrings that something was bothering them. You'd have the opportunity to talk about it way before any thoughts of separating came into play."

Braze remained silent as he listened to her petting the small fuzzy creature he held in his lap keeping his eyes downwards. There were a lot of questions he could pose to her about many things with her people that just didn't make sense to him. What she explained only really covered one main idea of a type of very specific relationship and he supposed it would be un fair of him to ask her a ton of questions about a topic that was probably sensitive to her. He could only feel a mixture of sadness, empathy, and compassion towards her in this regard. She maybe had harder problems to solve than he did.

It was evident he'd become withdrawn with how quiet he'd been and how introspective he'd become.

"As for Aris, yes I like his personality. I like all of my friends personalities as long as they are nice. "
"I like his hair. I think it's pretty. I also think he looked pretty when we went shopping for clothing and he wore robes that complemented his tan and physique."But I also thought the same about you and Loomi. I like pretty things. I like shiny things."

"Do you have friends outside of the order?" Braze asked curiously. Maybe he and Zaiya had a similar problem in one regard.

"I know I'm not as beautiful as other Lovalla because my colors do not get as bright or as vibrant as theirs. That's because I lost my connection with my parents, and I haven't found a mate yet."

"So I try to make myself as pretty and colorful as I can in other ways," "Like dyeing my hair."

"Looking a specific way is very important to you. " He stated simply perhaps just speaking the obvious. "Does it help?" He asked plainly and openly.

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

​

As Zaiya was not in direct contact or had a bond with Braze like Loomi had, she could not read the subtle nuances regarding how he felt regarding their conversation. While Zaiya was incredibly empathetic, there was a limit to what she could do, and the Force could only provide so much regarding the senses of others. The Half-Echani had several years of practicing his mental shields, so there wasn't a way for it to even leak out emphatically. Only his quiet, withdrawn stance provided any input, as did his action of grabbing Soot to pet the cat over and over. It was a self-soothing action.

Ultimately, if Braze wanted to talk, it was up to him. Zaiya wouldn't force him, nor would she touch him without permission to find out more.

"I spoke to Shan about it, It seemed like a mutual thing from both of them from what I was told. I'm pretty sure they are still good friends."

"Okay. Ultimately, it isn't any of my business regarding Shan's relationship, but if that is the case, then I'm glad he is fine, " She still thought it was way too early and unheard of simply moving on so fast after separating. If they separated, then why would they still be good friends? How could they break up if that was the case? Did they even really genuinely love each other to begin with? Again, it just seemed odd. A reference regarding how other species outside of Lovalla were so quick for physical pleasure than a lasting commitment came to mind. It was one of the reasons why Lovalla were not the sort to sleep or date around; their physiology and need for emotional bonds made it impossible.

How could two people get into a loving relationship only to decide it wasn't meant to be? It made no sense. How can someone fall out of love? Especially with how Shan had spoken about his girlfriend before. It had seriously sounded as if they were mates.

Something to consider and discuss with others later.

"Do you have friends outside of the order?"

Zaiya took another sip of her Juma Juice before setting the bottle down, then moved to look for another type of setting powder. "I have classmates from University, but nothing like you, Aris, or Loomi, who like to hang out and spend time together outside of class." That was likely due mainly to the age differences.

"But I am always open to meeting new people and trying new things."

"Looking a specific way is very important to you. " He stated simply perhaps just speaking the obvious. "Does it help?"

"For me, it does. I know why I feel like this -- because I lack a bonding connection with family or a mate. Without those social connections, I can't learn my kind's intricacies." Zaiya's voice trembled slightly as she spoke, her mottled spots and stripes shifting to a muted stormy grey, tinged with sorrow. "There are color combinations that I don't even know what they mean when I show them off. Emotions that don't make sense would have normally been easy to discuss with my parents to understand them. I can't do that with anyone right now. Even if I had the rare chance to meet and befriend another Lovalla, it wouldn't be the same."

She explained while grabbing a berry eyeliner to contrast with Braze's green eyes. The gentle act of selecting makeup seemed to ground her, offering a sense of normalcy in her otherwise tumultuous world.

"I know I can't be as colorful without bonds. So I am making up for it by being as colorful as I can with dyeing my hair, bright clothing, and lots of bracelets and jewelry." Her skin shimmered slightly, hints of brighter hues battling against the muted tones, reflecting her determination to create beauty and vibrancy in her life.

"Maybe one day that will change, and I won't have to use bright clothing to help. For now... " Zaiya gave a shrug, her skin shimmering with a mix of pale hues and muted pastels, a silent testament to her inner struggle.

"I just take it day by day, and if I have questions, I ask as many trusted adults I know so they can help me understand how things all work." In Zaiya's mind, there was a reason why these trusted adults would know more due to their experience. That is who her parents were to Zaiya before they died: trusted adults. Now she was learning from others.

With a nod at her small collection of makeup, Zaiya was pleased. They were ready. She grabbed a large mirror that popped up and turned on the lights, allowing a natural light to shine and then directed towards Braze's direction so he could see himself.

It was time to train Braze how to apply things himself.

"Okay. The first step would be to put on a smoothing balm over any areas that need to be smoothed out over your skin. You can do that over your scars, and it allows a good base for any concealer and foundation to adhere to. "

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Zaiya Ceti

Braze was quiet as he listened to her speak.

He offered a noncommittal shrug. "Part of me wonders if it will help... part of me wonders if I worry too much or try too much... I'm happy to hear you have so many trustworthy people in your life," he said lightly when she explained her situation. "I'm sorry if I made you feel uneasy or upset by any of this. I'll stop talking about this kind of stuff with you," he stated simply. "I've, uh, brought a few different palettes of makeup. I'm not sure if they will help," he added, taking off the small backpack he had with him. He took out several different kinds of makeup that covered everything needed for a full coverage glamour look. He had four different large palettes for eye-shadow, lip balm, and more. He even had some supplies for dramatic and high-graphic looks. All of it was new and unopened, and he had three shades of foundation, most of which looked like they matched his pale skin. "If there's anything here you might like to keep, you're welcome to it. I think I went a little overboard."

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

​

Zaiya listened to Braze reveal that he was worried if he worried too much over things. A slight confused frown would perk her dark brows forward when he apologized if the conversation made her uneasy or upset. It hadn't, it was just confusing because she was viewing it from the perspective of a Lovalla.

"I'm not upset. It is just confusing." The Lovalla admitted, adding, "You gave me a lot of information so it is more overwhelming than anything else, so I had to focus on a few bits that bothered me the most."

She gave a shrug, Soot purring and enjoying the Half-Echani's pets.

"It isn't that I have a lot of trustworthy adults in my life; it is more that I'm pretty open at discussing what bothers me, and if there seems to be an adult that I met that is trustworthy, I just ask the questions I have. But i also have a bad tendency of being a bit too personal and upfront off the get go." that had turned out bad on some instances, where she had made other uncomfortable.

"So i guess it is just about getting a feel for things. I rather ask than not know or be confused." She admitted.

"Feel free to keep talking about it. I don't mind." Zaiya added, then peered at the kits. They were all really nice. "Oh these are all pretty. And no, it is okay, I got plenty. You got lots of options here to use depending if you want a glamorous look or something light. "

Zaiya then went over the differences between a glamorous look and a natural look, explaining with each kit what you would use to enhance Braze's best features, like his eyes.

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Zaiya Ceti

"Thanks, Zaiya. I really appreciate you being open about how you feel. I didn't mean to overwhelm you; sometimes I just get caught up in my thoughts and worries. It's comforting to know you're willing to listen and help. Your advice on the makeup kits means a lot, and I can't wait to try enhancing my eyes."

He nervously fussed with his hair, looking down for a moment. "So, um, how's it going with Knight Shan Pavond ? What have you been studying? I'd love to hear about your Jedi training and how you're feeling about everything... if you don't mind sharing."

Braze glanced up, "Do you get nervous about your training too? Or maybe excited? And, uh, what's been the most interesting thing you've learned so far?" He shifted slightly, trying to appear more relaxed. "I bet you have some pretty cool stories."

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

"Of course, any time!" Zaiya replied with a broad grin, joyful blue overtones painting over her mottled spots and stripes. They continued on, with Zaiya providing some guidance while Braze continued to apply make up. All the while, the Lovalla teen would provide updates on what had been going on with her Master, Shan.

"Shan has been taking me around for some practical application on short trips while I've been catching up with my required reading, history, and all the knowledge in need to catch up with. So I've been very, very busy." there was a lot of hours deep in holovideos and datacrons regarding the history of the Jedi, the Force, the different paths, aspects, and everything that Zaiya had absolutely no clue of before she met Aris Noble .

It was honestly taking the bulk of her time, which meant she either spent a lot of time in the Archives, Library, or hanging out in her room or Aris's room to study quietly beside him when it seemed as if she hadn't had enough time to hang out with him lately.

"Shan also taught me the basics for piloting, so I'm trying to get some practise hours in too." Honestly, between all the classes and training, there was very little time to enjoy outside anymore.

"I am enjoying traveling with other Knights and Masters. I met Knight von Ascania, and Knight Aureus. I got to learn a few more things from them too. "

"So really, everything is interesting and exciting for me."