Meet the Parent

[Ayda Elisantra]

"Would there be snow up near the mountain palace?" She asked, looking over to Maeve's cousin.

Ayda had only experienced snow for like maybe a day on Dagobah. Yes, Dagobah. It were rare for such a swamp like planet to get snow, but snow it did one day up in the Northern Hemisphere. Ayda and another stranded soul took to bunker down for a spell before they found the means to escape that old planet.

Ayda had taken to snow upon her first experience. It were something previously imagined, something which she had felt before but never in physical form. That early morning on Dagobah when she emerged out of their makeshift hut, she thought she were in spirit form, for before her eyes there was purity all around her...like light everlasting. The trees, the ground, the air were as serene as heaven itself. But only for a moment as the life emanating through the blankets of pure snow, like the very spirits of all living things brought her back to reality.
Her very exhale, a happy revelation as to experience light everlasting on earth escaped her. This was what man and his kind too took in awe...a wonderland, a vision of purity that could only exist in light everlasting. It were the Creator's gift upon mortal man and his kind, a preview of what should be bestowed upon them if their spirit were not to wander off into darkness.
This winter wonderland were always a preview, as it would not last long.
But it's awe inspiring vision would. And many mortal souls kept that inspiration throughout their lifetime. It were what bound faith, hope and charity to those whom understood the gift of inspiration...

"I would like to feel snow again.." She said. Yes, snow were soft, pure and white. Here in the physical living world it were also cold, so she knew enough to layer up. Ayda experienced all that man and his kind could, while in her physical form. And that included the wonderment of snow...as most of man and his kind enjoyed it to varying degrees.

She hoped there would be snow...it reflected in her eyes, the anticipation, the excitement to make snow angel impressions upon it again. And to top it off, even Maeve and her cousin Theo could put their spiritual impressions in the form of snow angels in the snow...

She'd have to leave her baby cacti inside the mountain palace though...hopefully it were warm inside for them to not feel the bitter cold of what made it possible for snow to exist outside.





[member="Theo Vereen"] [member="Rianna Organa-Ar'klim"] [member="Maeve Ar'klim"]

 

[Theo Vereen]

Snow?

He had to think, "there is some snow in the higher elevations and maybe at this time of year near the mountain palace. I..." he thought a bit, "can't remember actually."

Rianna gave a sagely nod to the group, "I have to see to a young man in the kitchen. But you should all head to the mountain palace go while there is still some light." Going in the light would give Ayda a chance to see the mountains, the snow, and the surrounding area. It was beautiful but then was there a part of Alderaan that wasn't.

Rianna stood up, "children" Maeve got up and kissed her mother's cheek, "lunch tomorrow?" A soft smile, "of course." She then turned towards Ayda, "Enjoy your evening we will talk more tomorrow".

Maeve exhaled, "Theo."

"Yep" He got up and headed to the door to get them an air speeder. Maeve looked to Ayda, "Ready to fly some?"

[member="Ayda Elisantra"]

 

[Ayda Elisantra]

Of course Maeve agreed for them to have lunch again with her mother. It were why she were here on leave.
Ayda nodded as she did quite enjoy her hearty stew. It were delicious.

It took no time at all for them to gather their belongings, with Ayda carefully stowing the geranium in her bag. Somehow Maeve's mom outwitted her nephew who tried reaching for the bill. Only that it wasn't a bill, but a receipt. Maeve's mom had somehow already paid for their dinner to Theo's surprise.

Ayda nevertheless thanked Rianna for the meal before everyone got up to leave. Of course Rianna would stay behind to see about the cook she had spoke of earlier.
Maybe next time, Ayda would get to meet him too.

Outside it had gotten a bit cooler, more comfortable really as Maeve and Ayda waited for Theo to bring the speeder about.
In no time at all with everyone comfortably seated inside, they took off toward the mountain range.

Ayda looked out and over where Theo was piloting the speeder. Alderaan was very beautiful and pretty much all green below them. At least where they were flying over. Ayda didn't see anything which resembled industry. She so disliked heavy industrialized systems. They didn't seem to have any soul.

"I noticed you didn't mention your desire to visit Mandalore to your mom." Ayda said to Maeve, not thinking that Theo may have an opinion similar to Maeve's mom about her thinking of going there.

[member="Theo Vereen"] [member="Maeve Ar'klim"]

 

[Maeve Ar'klim]

Theo looked over, "Mandalore?"

Maeve smiled at Ayda, "No I didn't it didn't feel like the right timing on it. I will at some point" Course she could go and then just say she was there. No drama, no lamentations, no warnings about being careful around them all. Maeve looked away back outside, "Look..the Glarus Valley, and over there the mountains. We'll be going that way."

Theo caught that Maeve didn't want to talk about it and he was now sworn to keep a secret that she wanted to go. He wondered if she had let it all go or if she was still harboring ill will towards them all.

Theo looked ahead, "yes the mountains. We've done a lot up here, walking in snow shoes, snow ball fights and even an igloo" Some of it part of survival training some of it because their parents insisted. Something about cousin Faith crashing.

"What do you think Ayda?"

[member="Ayda Elisantra"]

 

[Ayda Elisantra]

She didn't need intuition nor insight to realize Maeve's cousin were not only surprised but had some opposition to her going to visit family on Mandalore.
Ayda were about to apologize, before Maeve took to change the subject..indicative to her not wanting to start a debate with Theo.
Still, remorse were in Ayda's eyes as she had not intended to cause a rift between them two. Sometimes she realized it were best to not speak one's mind without weighing in the factors that could result in spiritual abrasion...differences of will.

She had also learned through experience to also follow through with those whom were affected, their will to not debate over differences. She would have to approach Maeve privately and apologize for her mindfulness.

The sun were starting to set as they started to cross over a valley. Theo pointed out it were named Glarus Valley. it were beautiful as the rays of the setting sun bronzed over the valley creating long shadows that made the trees seem taller laying down than standing up. The mountain range was quickly approaching and a smile adorned Ayda's features. The golden shimmer of snow reflecting the sun made the mountain range seem it were made of gold...shiny gold.

"I think it is beautiful..." She answered Theo.
And beautiful it were at that particular moment, where they caught the light of Alderaan's star changing the hues and contrasts of both valley and mountains. The sky too became a plethora of paints...it were truly the Creator's pallet that Ayda was seeing.


[member="Maeve Ar'klim"]

 

[Theo Vereen]

"It is" he answered he knew that sometimes they took it all for granted everything here on Alderaan. But then there were moments like this where a gentle reminder from someone who got to see it for the first time.

"The desert is beautiful all the colors they play out on the sands. Not many people see it that way because well when you can choose why not choose your favorite. Most prefer the jungle, the valley, or the mountains." The mountains, the silent sentinels that stood watch over the palace, and the cities.

MNoble families built their homes at the base of mountains knowing the fortification that having a mountain at your back was certainly enticing when the enemy is at the front gate.

He moved the speeder over, "There" Slowly the grounds of the mountain retreat came into view. It was big but not so big that it couldn't feel like home. "My mother has the journal of Princess Leia and she talked about how much she loved the mountain palace. So they rebuilt it. I hope you like it here."

They began to descend onto the landing pad set up for visitors. "Ok. let's head inside first." He needed to get the security system to recognize them as friendly and not set off alarms. Then they could settle in, walk about...then he'd have to head out.

[member="Ayda Elisantra"]

 

[Maeve Ar'klim]

Maeve looked at the palace. She had not grown up in them, she had been a visitor this was a treat. She looked at Ayda, "We will be comfortable at least"

She slipped out of the speeder watching as Theo lead the way to the door. He had grown up here he knew all the rooms, all the staff...everything. She wasn't sure that was good or bad. She knew one thing he didn't always come off as a spoiled brat that any prince in the galaxy could easily do.

[member="Ayda Elisantra"]

 

[Ayda Elisantra]

Princess Leia Organa?..why yes, she remembered reading about the twins.
Luke...
Luke were her twin brother...and...and Padme Amidala were their mother, she recited silently remembering the tales. That then also triggered her recall of the wretched soul of Anakin.
And her heart sank.

Yes Ayda had once read of the tragedy upon which a human heart can wrap itself around. And of Leia's mother, Padme, it had bonded with that of incarnate evil...

Ayda had not thought of that unfortunate soul of Leia's mother for quite some time, until Theo spoke of it. At least not for many years now since she along with classmates at the orphanage were given to study the most prominent people in history. Leia, her brother and their parents were among them. Although much could be said of prominence concerning Anakin after his fall.

Ayda was around 12 when she came upon Princess Leia Organa's tragic story of her beautiful mother. It greatly saddened her that as pure as Padme's soul was, her spirit became wrapped around the very wretched soul that caused so much suffering and destruction...that of Anakin.
Ayda's heart at the time pained her for weeks reading and even bearing witness to old recordings...especially the butchering of jedi children...children of pure hearts as young as 6.

The sadness of it all were that even with the revelation of what Anakin had done her love for him were undying. Upon Padme's last dying breath she had hope for his salvation...that there were some good left in his wicked heart. And then Padme's spirit journeyed to everlasting light, leaving Leia and Luke behind.

Ayda herself were not the one to have guided the soul of Padme to everlasting light, for Ayda had not been born to life then. But she knew Padme's spirit dwelled among the heavens and were in the presence of the Creator...this much she knew.

And of the wicked soul?... Ayda would not have it atone for the suffering it had caused. She would have devoured it to exist nevermore. But she were not created and given sight a Millennium past. If the spirit of Anakin were to exist this day, departing the living...Ayda knew it would mean disobedience/breaking covenant with the Creator on her part. She would not allow atonement, but devour/destroy that soul and forever be cursed herself. It were her feelings on Anakin.
A small tear had formed in her eye as Theo spoke of the princess' journal, the daughter of Padme, for it brought back the pain Ayda had felt as a little girl of the million souls that suffered under Anakin...including the pure soul of Padme herself that broke her heart to die...

Ayda were looking out over the approaching palace, quiet for a moment as she thought of the tragic life of Padme whose spirit had remained pure to the end. Little did Ayda know of the relationship Maeve and her family had with Leia's mother. She had not pieced together the maiden name of Maeve's own mother...Organa.

She knew that it all happened nearly a Millennium past, but the pain, the souls of the suffering still echoed throughout the galaxy still.
She realized her eyes were tearing and she quickly thought of something else. She would continue to pray for those lost, maybe later. Now she were among the living and it were they who mattered at this time. Ayda wiped her tear, thought of the first time she came upon Maeve and her face lit up with a smile once more. She then turned to Theo and nodded.

"Yes, I would like to see such wonders over the plains of sands as you describe. I've never felt sand..wet or dry between my toes."..she chuckled. it were true. She only dreamed of such things...visiting places such as beaches and deserts in other's dreams. But she never physically had been to either places before.

The speeder took to landing, just as the last rays of the sun dipped behind the mountain range... the soft glow of twilight seemed to reflect the warm welcome of the palace.
Ayda disembarked off the speeder along with Maeve and followed Theo up the front steps of the palace.
It's marble took on a most welcome warm shimmer in the glow of twilight.

Magical, if she were to describe it in a journal herself.






[member="Theo Vereen"] / [member="Maeve Ar'klim"]

 

[Theo Vereen]

"No sand ever, you grow up under a rock?" He looked back, "I mean...how come no sand?" It sounded foreign to him he had grown up on a world that had everything and his parents made sure they experienced everything cause..who knew when it would come in handy, ya know like skiing.

He looked at Maeve who shrugged, "She been a student her whole life, grew up in a hospital"

Theo looked back again to Ayda he...well didn't know what to say to that. He decided it would be best to wait and see what she said. And ya know if she wanted to experience the other places on Alderaan...well...he'd be happy to show her.

"We could have went to the place in New Crevasse...desert..." He was one of those kind of people who wanted folks to see all of Alderaan. This magical place he grew up on that was always a surprise to him.

Cloud Falls, the jungles...oh gosh the places there were to see.

Then he had this other thought what was it about his family always bringing home folks who hadn't seen much or done much.

Course...he thought...not everyone had the advantages he had.

He may have just stuck his foot in his big mouth. He'd wait and see.

[member="Ayda Elisantra"]

 

[Ayda Elisantra]

She turned to look at Theo a moment. Her large orbs blinked twice as she were taking in what he were saying.
It were a rather strange question...one she were not used to. Sarcasm.

The corners of her lips then widened... " On a rock actually." She replied, getting his tempo.

"Yes, in fact over on Lianna system...near the former Allied Tion sector..." Ayda then replied when Maeve took to interject. It weren't because her cousin were being mean, just maybe because she knew Ayda better and had picked up that she weren't up to par with people using sarcasm. But it were harmless and in a play fashion so to speak.
"That's where the hospital took it's name from, by the way." Ok, it were a descent playback of that sarcasm. But hey, she were new at this playfulness with words.

"I read about the deserts on Lianna, just never had the opportunity to travel there, as my studies kept me close to the university's hospital." She then added.
Yes, of course Lianna had deserts. She just never set foot on one.
Lianna had at one time been quite a dry arid planet. Not like Tatooine or similar dust bowls, but it had it's share of dunes and desolation at one time. Only that in the last Millenium with Terra-forming technologies following the Gulac plague, Lianna's deserts had become remote regions, not often visited by many..especially med students like Ayda.

"But here..." She looked over the mountains silhouetted against the darkening sky, slowly loosing their orange tinge. "...here in the crisp mountain air is where I don't mind staying awhile..."
She answered to Theo's suggestion of perhaps making it over to New Crevasse.

She were here now... they were here now and the night were bringing upon with it a chill, beckoning them to go inside the palace. In many ways, it were perhaps the earth's spirit bidding her/them to stay.
Ayda had seen a most glorious sunset...she hopped to awaken to a sunrise over the valley. The valley they had come from had been beautiful..farms..orchards...homesteads...all seemingly beautiful in Ayda's eyes. She could feel the spiritual love the people had for this earth. It were what fueled it and it the people. There was a sort of symbiotic relationship between this earth and Alderaanii. She most certainly felt it strong in Maeve's cousin Theo. Ayda were getting the feeling he would die for this earth if he had too. This saddened her to sense, but she did her best to not show it.
Death to her had to come in a natural form..by the Will of the Creator preferably...when it were time to cross over after a long life experienced. Life were the means of achieving everlasting existence.
But more often than not, life for many were snubbed out by other spirits..vile, tormented ones unfortunately.

"I've much enjoyed the sunset...perhaps I could see the sun rise from up here in the mountains tomorrow."



[member="Theo Vereen"] / [member="Maeve Ar'klim"]

 

[Theo Vereen]

He had words forming quickly in his mind when she came back at him. He thought for a moment...well he wouldn't have it said that he didn't give as good as he got.

"So how come it's not called Hospital on the Rock?" He smiled then looked at Maeve who was already rolling her eyes. She wasn't getting into it with him she would just let him dig that hole or put that big foot in his mouth. "Yep..." she looked up to the skies..."nice night"

She wondered towards the doors...she wanted...she didn't know.

"Sun rise..."Theo already moving along sensing Maeve wasn't happy.."yes best to do it from the balconies on the east side." He turned back quickly as they approached the doors he entered his code. The doors slowly opened for effect more than anything else.

Inside the lights were coming up to dim, a night time setting. "Ok...so..Dr. E you need to come here, and just wave your hand over this sensor, then Maeve you do the same..." Theo began coding the security system to accept the presence of the two women. He made sure to disarm whatever needed..except.."need to set the codes for the perimeter before I go."

He still had not made plans to stay there with them. They were safe enough for certain.

[member="Ayda Elisantra"]

 

[Ayda Elisantra]

"Uhm...noo...
Because they named it-...Haha.." Yea, she got it in time...almost.
Tit-for-tat weren't her forte so to speak in many ways, yet she understood it's play-by. Theo were teasing. But yes, it were harmless and kinda fun. just that she weren't too well versed yet in this kind of interactions...not with boys especially, no. They were definitely on a much different wavelength than girls. And she were just recently discovering the meaning as to why. Berkana (her understanding of God) at times made it as difficult as she made it easy for opposite sexes to traverse those differences. Perhaps it were the Creator's design to have one check like so the other.
She didn't say much more, picking up that her friend Maeve were curtailing her cousin to ease up with his teasing.

The warm glow of lights came on to compliment the palace's ambiance which itself were made to have occupants feel at home. The white marble had a pinkish tint tot them, that carried it to the earth tones alabaster columns. This palace were fashioned out of natural stones from the planet itself. The palace were only generations old, as the original palace had been destroyed along with millions of Alderaanii, nearly 900 years ago.

Ayda were awestruck and ran her hands along the marble as she followed Theo and her friend in. The stone were as smooth as glass, only it emanated the spirit and soul of the planet itself...being the stone had come from it's mountains.
She sensed this earth had another name...an older name lost forgotten in time. It had been abandoned and lost...
Then re-awakened.
Terra-formed into what it was now...Alderaan revived.
And the earth embraced the new children who took her as their mother planet.

Ayda smiled in heart, as this earth came to love her new children. far too long had it slept in darkness empty. ...abandoned....forgotten.
But now it was teeming with children who loved her, and she them, accepting her name given her. The symbiotic relationship between the Alderaanii and their new planet established itself very quickly. The planet rewarded her children with fruitful bounties, gentle seas and fair winds and blue skies. Ayda felt this through her touch, the air she breathed and the warmth that she felt, despite the chill in the air that ushered them inside.
Perhaps it were Alderaan herself who wished these three young children to sleep in the cathedral (palace) their ancestors built atop this mountain generation ago.

With the great entrance doors secured for the night... the fireplaces all came to life on their own it seemed. In reality, they were set to come on during occupancy on cooler days/nights. Theo had triggered the palace's built in AI/security for three occupants upon registering.
As long as the palace sensed their presence, it would provide them with gentle warmth.

Ayda liked relaxing by a fire, be it from a pit, a place or camp. Fire itself gave off a nice warm feeling.
"You think maybe there is some hot chocolate that we can make here too?" She then spoke, asking in general, as she had quite enjoyed the cocoa that Maeve's mother had made for them before.



[member="Theo Vereen"] / [member="Maeve Ar'klim"]

 

[Theo Vereen]

Theo having set all the protocols it gave him a sense of relief knowing all was in place. He looked over at Maeve who was staring up at the pictures of old Organa's. Some distant cousin so many times removed by now he looked up too it should have filled him with some sense of pride but all he knew was the stories nothing more.

He heard the voice of Ayda, he slowly took his glance of the painting of Leia and her father Bail. "Chocolate..oh I'm sure there is, come on I'll show you the kitchen. Maeve?"

Maeve turned, "I'll go into the family area make sure the beds are turned down." She smiled. It was good to see Ayda interact with her cousin Theo, heck with anyone that wasn't a doctor. There was always something about Theo that made people talk or want to be near. She didn't have it must be something that came from his father Draco.

Theo waved for Ayda to follow, "So you like your chocolate strong, or just chocolatey enough...and then of course..marshmellows or whip cream?"

It was an important question.

[member="Ayda Elisantra"]

 

[Ayda Elisantra]

She had a choice? Ayda knew about the whip cream and chocolate milk. Had even overheard at one time in the orphanage from one of her classmates talking about missing marshmallows... toasted marshmallow over open flames. But never had she sampled any of them together...

She curiously tagged after Theo as he lead her into the kitchens... Yes, a palace to Ayda's surprise had quite a few she discovered...bakery, skillets, roasters and other sections that performed different tasks for different types of meals. All of them were for the most part were neatly arranged and ready for cooks...or as some called them, kitchen staff and chefs. She knew about them as they had them at both the orphanage and in all the hospitals she had served at. only these kitchens were much cleaner..spotless. Yes, she ran her finger along one of the counters as she tagged behind Maeve's cousin.

"Uhm..." Yes, theo laid her the question again...marshmallows or whip cream with her hot chocolate. And there were more than one way to make chocolate? How about that!

"I...
I don't know really. I only had it once... the hot chocolate, with Maeve.... at her mother's house. I really liked it." She just didn't know how to explain it to Theo that she were curious...no no, that she were wanting to try hot chocolate in many forms, like he just revealed to her. It were that good.

She stood there a moment looking back at him, with no definitive answer. Actually, she really didn't know how Maeve's mother had made it... weak, strong, chocolaty?.. She just didn't really know how it were made as she had no other to compare it to.
No, she weren't embarrassed or anything of the sort. She just didn't know how to answer what she never had the opportunity of tasting before.
It were obvious Ayda were not privileged at all. Well, she were raised in an orphanage and they only provided the basics...and then some treats once in a while around some traditional holidays. But they were limited and not plentiful for all the children to try everything...just small treats.

Yes, she just stood there looking back at the young man...
She could do that for a while and not feel the oddity of the silence between them.
Her eyes were like that of a curious child waiting for a surprise.



[member="Theo Vereen"] / [member="Maeve Ar'klim"]

 

[Theo Vereen]

Theo stood in the center of the kitchen looking at Ayda who....welll.....it seemed wasn't sure. "OK....well I'll make it the way I like it and we can modify from there."

He remembered everything about this kitchen, stealing cookies his mother had made, mid night snacks, coming in here after long swims in the lake and raiding the fridge. It wasn't really a palace to Theo it was a home a place of comfort, safety. He nodded..

"So we take a bunch of milk" He walked to the fridge getting a container of whole white milk, "See..then we get a pot." He leaned over opened a door grabbed he guessed was a sauce pan..."Then...we pour milk into pot and let it start to bubble.."

He smiled this had purpose this felt good. He went to the cupboard, grabbed up a couple of cup paying no particular attention to color, size..or anything set them on the counter. "We add chocolate." Another cupboard and a bottle of Chewie's Chocolate syrup, pouring liberally into both cups..."I like chocolately chocolate."

The milk began to sizzle, which led Theo a few steps over and a few back to pour the milk into a cup, while working a drawer for a couple of spoons. Dropping one into each...a dash to get the pot to the sink, pushed one cup to Ayda, "Stir till the milk turns all chocolate."

Theo worked his cup..."Have to know how to make chocolate its like a sin not to." As he mixed the spoon hit the sides of the cup making a clink sound, "Tia Rianna makes great chocolate, great tea...and is a kind soul. I know my mother loves her dearly." That wasn't to say he did not but he knew Tia held a warm spot in his mother's heart.

[member="Ayda Elisantra"]

 

[Ayda Elisantra]

She giggled. Chocolately chocolate sounded silly but somehow quite fitting for the sweet beverage that it were.
It were easy to make too. Ayda had not seen how Maeve's mother had made it, had just accepted the offer of the hot chocolate, never having had it before. She hadn't known what to expect, but upon putting her lips to it, her taste buds had immediately exploded . She had discovered she readily took to hot chocolate. it made her feel...warm...

Now she observed Theo and seen how simple it were for something so delicious to make. Milk, and-
Ayda picked up the squeeze bottle, and read the label...'Chewie's Chocolate Syrup...the original chocolate mix, grandma can call her own '
Yes, it said that on the label.

"Hmm.." She placed it back down and picked up her spoon, stirring as Theo had instructed. It were darker, richer looking than the one she had over at Rianna's house. It smelled the same though...it's aroma tantalizing her olfactories, making her salivate in anticipation.

And boy were it good too. It were more pronounced..sweeter. She took two good sips, it were still too hot to drink it quick. but somehow like in Rianna's house, it seemed to be wanting to drink it slow and flood her taste buds with the chocolate. yes...yes, it seemed to be a kind to sip at ease...to make the sensation last longer.
"What's that?" She inquired as to the small chilled pressurized cylinder that Theo drew out of the cold box. It were whipped cream. 'Sweet whipped cream' the label on it said.

Again Ayda found herself short of what it was for, as she never had whipped cream before either.
How were hot chocolate and whip cream to be served? Were she to get some plates?..saucers? Theo had gotten the cups and made the hot chocolate.
"Should I get some plates?" She asked, not knowing as to how the sweet cream were to be served.



[member="Theo Vereen"]

 

[Theo Vereen]

He watched her making sure she mixed it up well didn't want to leave a puddle of chocolate in the bottom of the cup. He almost reached over to grab her cup from her hand not wanting her to burn herself. Hmm...nope she didn't ok. Good.

He smiled.

Hot chocolate at any time was comforting. It was a reminder of a time when he did not have to fret over the condition of people, equipment or worry what lay beyond the next parsec. Nope this..was peaceful.

He was ready to add the whip cream, "yes its cold and sweet. Plates?" He cocked his head looking trying to solve why she thought.......oh...maybe.."Um no to the plates." He took the contain turned it upside down pressed, white cream filled the top of his cup.

He held it out to Ayda...."you try it."

Maybe orphans didn't make chocolate..or have whip cream.....it was... a puzzlement.

[member="Ayda Elisantra"]

 

[Ayda Elisantra]

It were always a wonder, new things to discover.
And one whom had been brought up with just basics took to new tastes and treats like a child, despite her cresting from adolescence and into adulthood.

She didn't know what to make of the cream floating on the hot beverage.
Although...
Although it weren't out of the realm of possibilities that the two could well go together, by the way she discovered her saliva glands readying for the treat. So she smiled and took to observing Theo as to how he were to attack such a treat.

Ahh...so that's simple enough. She thought so, but weren't certain. Ayda had dived into new ventures in the past and had gotten it wrong, much to the delight of her peers. But she never felt ridiculed, even if she had been. Ayda simply seemed to squash that as she too would follow suit and accompany their laughter.

She took the hot chocolate with the floating cream to her lips like Theo had done.
Hmm... yes, it were better...sweeter..more enjoyable with the cream. She even mimicked licking her lips, seeing how Theo did in recovering the sweet cream which remained...looking like a mustache...she almost laughed at it before he removed it. As well, she figured to remove hers too, if it were there too. One more etiquette learned of human behavior. She knew now from now on how to not only make hot chocolate but how to serve it and drink it in a few forms. This one lesson was a treat.

She held on to her cup after a sip..then two. All of the small sample of cream that Theo had her try were gone.
"It's very good..." She looked over to the canister.

"Can I put more on my hot chocolate now?"


[member="Theo Vereen"]

 

[Theo Vereen]

He handed her the canister, "have as much as you like. Its addictive my sister [member="Laira Darkhold"] and I use to shoot shots of it into our mouths when were we younger...course...now that I think of it." He paused as he remembered the last time he and Laira were in the mountain palace sitting up all night talking about the galaxy.

"we did it the last time we met here." Laira had taken to sneaking on Alderaan to avoid detection she came under the beacon Theo used for his ship it helped to avoid detection and allowed a bit more freedom.

"I"m glad you like it Dr. E."

Theo walked over to the windows looking out, "My parents have always loved this place because of the lake. They honeymooned at one of the cabins kept on another mountain by another lake more secluded and protected. Seems water draws my family together. Remind me again, do you swim?"

He wasn't planning on taking her swimming he was just making conversation while they shared chocolate.

[member="Ayda Elisantra"]

 

[Ayda Elisantra]

She didn't quite get it at first, but realized he meant eating the whipped cream directly from the canister. Yea..she could see that.
She nevertheless reached for it and dispensed a hefty portion, almost resembling an ice cream cone about to topple over...only it were on her hot chocolate.
Oops...she had never used such dispenser, foregoing letting go of the nozzle as she pulled away at the rising cream.
"Haha..." She chuckled before consuming the top of the leaning tower of whipped cream. Hmm..it were as good as Theo described it.
Ayda didn't know who Theo were reminiscing about. But it did seem like another close family member. Odd that Maeve had many family members that they rarely saw regularly. But to inquire were not her place. She had learned not to press people about their personal affairs. When they wished to divulge, they would do it on their own initiative. Although being among mortals, Ayda had picked up a lot of their habits and behaviors...one was curiosity concerning families. She really never had one of her own that she knew or could recall...

She looked over to where Theo were gesturing..the adjacent peaks coming under the light of endless stars.
So there were lakes this far up the mountains...interesting she thought.
Geo-thermals maybe? Ayda read about them...had seen clips of people bathing in warm steamy pools with snow and ice all around them. How interesting that were.
But that were not what Theo were perhaps describing as he asked her if she knew how to swim.
Ayda looked over to him a moment...why would he ask that? She and every man-like entity instinctively were swimmers...by birth.

Ahh...did he mean if she still remembered how to swim? Ayda knew that at birth all humans were swimmers, but many would loose that ability in a matter of months..weeks even if they were out of the water too long.
"Yes...I haven't forgotten how, if that is what you are asking." She replied.

No, she hadn't forgotten. She enjoyed swimming whenever she got a chance. It...it were like flying...the feeling of weightlessness in the media. The only other feeling that came close was actually taking flight. Only she weren't able to..not in this form. Well, in her calling as a Reaper she could fly. But Ayda cast that thought aside for it were too dark for such an enlightening moment that she were sharing with Theo and Maeve.

"Are the lake waters up here all cold?"


[member="Theo Vereen"]