Private New Hobbies

[Iris Arani]

Hobbies were a good thing. In Iris's opinion, it was as important for all Jedi to have something they can relax doing. Some did that with meditation, but meditation wasn't for everyone. Iris wasn't the best at it, not really. The colors were too constant and too swirling in most places for her to even try. But when she painted, those colors stopped being a distraction and instead added to her drawings. So yeah, usually she was painting. Now on canvas, if only because she asked a friend to come by and didn't exactly want them to get in trouble.

Last thing she wanted was for Amani to get in trouble with her painting.

She hummed, idly looking over the quick sketch she'd drawn. Unlike the abstract color art she usually did, this was a full on sketch of Picaso. The rat was lounging on a pile of colorful pillows, blissfully eating some berries. Iris let out a small giggle before turning back to her art.

Cute as always.

Amani Serys

 

[Amani Serys]

Art was something that Amani had appreciated from an early age. Whether drawing the world around her or practicing the mirialan tattoo lexicon, it had become a way for the young girl to unwind and express herself. But since becoming a Jedi, the concept of hobbies was one that had steadily faded from her life, too often replaced by work.

But talking with Alicio Organa had convinced her to look for these opportunities to relax, and put outside problems to the side if only for a little bit. And, it had reminded her of just how long it had actually been since she gave this in particular a shot. Amani was quite certain she hadn’t drawn anything for the sake of leisure in over a decade now. And painting, more specifically, would be a wholly new hobby to try her hand at.

She rapped her knuckles against the doorframe before stepping into the room proper, “Hellooo~” The sight of Iris made her smile, and the more unexpected sight of a little rat luxuriating in pillows and berries made her laugh, “Who’s this?”

Iris Arani​

 

[Iris Arani]

"Picaso. My little buddy. He doesn't bite! Just kinda lays around. Sometimes he helps me paint."

She picked him up in a food fight, ironically enough. Quite a long time ago now that she thought back to it all. She set down the pencil, motioning for Amani to come over. More art supplies were already set out, including a whole different canvas and such.

"C'mon! Lets get you started."

Amani Serys

 

[Amani Serys]

"Oh. Alright," Amani accepted the explanation as if an artistic rat buddy was a regular thing. She learned to just roll with most things around Iris. Picaso was offered a few fluttering fingers as a hello, before the mirialan turned her curiosity to the day's activities.

Amani peeked over at Iris' sketch of the rat first, "Aw, cuuute." Then at the blank white canvas in front of herself. "Okayyy…" She stared for several long seconds. The canvas felt as if it grew monolithic in size, oddly intimidating in its endless potential. Why was this so hard?

"So, what do I… do…?" As if the concept of art itself were something entirely alien to her.

Iris Arani​

 

[Iris Arani]

Iris smiled warmly before turning back to her sketch. She was content with just drawing side by side like they were. No need to talk, just.. Enjoy the art. At least until she noticed the colors around Amani. Uncertainty, nervousness. The Padawan blinked before glancing towards her, just before the question was asked. Then smiled softly. She reached out, taking up one of the brushes.

"Just pick one of your favorite colors, and go with that. Let your feelings guide the brush."

Amani Serys

 

[Amani Serys]

“Just, that? We’re not doing like- or what are you gonna-” Amani watched Iris’ hand, then squinted pensively at the canvas, “Huh.” Just go with that.

She picked up a brush of her own and studied the array of colors. Just pick one of your favorite colors. “Blue,” Amani muttered aloud. The brush was dipped into the glob of paint, then raised to the top of the canvas. It hovered there for a while longer, before she made contact. Just like that, the stark white was now marked with a streak of blue. Let your feelings guide the brush.

“Cool. Cool.” Amani nodded, and continued painting blue across the top.

Iris Arani​

 

[Iris Arani]

Iris nodded her approval, much like a proud teacher when a student picked up the first part of the lesson. Then turned her gaze back to her own drawing. She focused on the sketch, lifting her pencil. Drawing slowly, carefully. It was a far cry from the usual splatter and unfocused go with the flow she usually did. A good practice for control. Even this was going to help focus her mind, her blade.

"Just let your feelings guide everything.. Trust your instincts."

Amani Serys

 

[Amani Serys]

A snort, “Feels weird being the student again,” Amani offered Iris a pleasant smile before returning to her canvas. Eventually most of the top half was shaded blue, gradually fading around the horizon. She wasn’t even quite sure what it was supposed to be at first, merely following the padawan’s suggestion on emotion and intuition. She blinked, “Ooh,” A revelation. Orange came next. The makings of a sunset sky started to come together.

Amani’s gaze became partially distracted by Iris and her sketch. The mirialan leaned over cautiously to examine, “So, what are you doing?”

Iris Arani​

 

[Iris Arani]

"Practicing, mostly. Here the colors are so vibrant and bright, so I'm practicing being able to see through them enough to focus on something like this." Training and art, hand in hand. Iris glanced briefly to Amani, her canvas specifically. And smiled.

"See? Like riding a bike."

Amani Serys

 

[Amani Serys]

Amani spared another glance at the sketch and nodded, “Seems like you’re doing just fine so far.” More colors lent themselves to the sunset: purples, reds, and yellows, blending with the rest into something more complete.

“I uh, didn’t actually have a bike as a kid, but I get what you mean,” Amani smirked. It had been as if some long lost muscle memory was unlocked. Still shaking off rust, but budding with familiarity. “I used to do a lot of this when I was a kid, actually. Well, more like that-” She gestured to Iris’ sketch, “We didn’t ever have actual paint supplies. But I always really liked drawing things. Animals and plants, Whatever I saw around me.” The brush was cleaned off, and given a fresh coating of green next.

Iris Arani​

 

[Iris Arani]

"I didn't know what a bike was until a couple years ago." Iris shrugged. She didn't need to know what a bike was to at least say the line. Better, at least Amani understood her intention. She nodded a little, looking over her sketch again before glancing to Amani's painting.

"You paint really well for someone who's never done it before."

Amani Serys

 

[Amani Serys]

Amani scoffed a chuckle. Guess neither of them quite got that experience in their youth. Although even then Amani still knew what a bike was.

Iris’ compliment got a genuine, broad smile out of her, “Thanks. I’m just… going where my feelings take me. Like you said.” It was still only just now coming together, and Amani had some doubts about just how good it really would turn out, but she was never one to avoid self-criticism anyways. The green formed a grassy valley beneath the setting sun and the foothills of mountains that were now beginning to take a shape of their own.

“How long have you been painting, Iris?”

Iris Arani​

 

[Iris Arani]

"All my life. Before I learned to talk, color was how I communicated. Even after I learned to talk. Seeing the colors like I do all the time is.. Overwhelming. Before I met Master Valery I really couldn't talk to people. Hold conversations. Make friends. Just.. Paint, and hope I bring life and light to people's lives." She smiled. Sadly.

"It was really lonely, I just never realized it before."

Amani Serys

 

[Amani Serys]

Amani offered a sad smile of her own. She couldn't claim to know what it was like to see the world through Iris' eyes… or rather, she could. The memory of their first meeting on Jabiim suddenly replayed. When Iris had forged a meld between them, the surge of the Force returning to Amani's life, and with it a sea of colors. It was beautiful, but fleeting. Seeing that always, she could only imagine it was as overwhelming as the padawan described.

The thought of a young Iris struggling to make friends or even talk to people for years made her sad. "Well… you're really good at it." She offered, "And… at least you've got people now, right?" Or, hopefully she felt that way. Iris giving her the sisterhood seal of approval last time they talked was still something that pulled at Amani's heartstrings. In turn she pulled for something a little deeper form the heart, "...I'm really glad I met you, Iris." Simple, but genuine.

Iris Arani​

 

[Iris Arani]

"Yeah. Some who annoy me. Some I don't want to live without. Some that are family. .. I don't remember really anything of my childhood, but I don't regret being here."

Iris nodded a little. Then blinked. A smile crested her lips as she looked back to Amani and nodded.

"I'm really glad I met you too."

Amani Serys

 

[Amani Serys]

She listened with a smile, still painting away at her canvas as the final few pieces came together. Iris had found a little bit of everything here, and in Amani's opinion, that was better than nothing at all. Even the annoying ones, sometimes.

Most of the landscape had taken shape now. Amani then dipped her brush into a dark brown, marking out the walls of what appeared to be a house in the middle of the valley, "Things been going okay for you lately?" She asked idly, but made an effort to not bring up anything in particular, especially given their last conversation. They were here to relax, after all. Still she couldn't help at least checking in.

Iris Arani​

 

[Iris Arani]

"I've been-" A vigilante. Stressed from having to take over training Silas and Cailen while Valery finished her own training as the new Sword. Dropped out of college. trying to help Kai with the fact he wanted to kill himself while also turning down his desire for them to be a couple. She tensed a smile, turning her gaze back to the drawing.

"I've been good."

Amani Serys

 

[Amani Serys]

Amani stared at Iris for just a second, faint signs of worry and suspicion creasing her brow. She knew there was likely more to it than that, given everything that had been going on as of late. "Mkay. Just remember you can always talk to me, or ask me for help if you ever need to, yeah?"

It was basically just the two of them working as the primary healers for the entire Order right now, and that could be heavy enough burden on its own. Amani was too protective of people she cared about to stand by as things got harder. But she didn't push further, content to let Iris keep their free time devoid of distractions as long as she chose to.

The mirialan eventually stepped back with a sigh, and studied her art pensively. The scene was complete: a grassy valley nestled into a mountain range at sunset. In the middle of it was a small brown farmhouse, peaceful and sleepy. It was her home, in fact. On Tython. The sort of thing she might have drawn as a child, coming back to her now years later. It was simple and quick, perhaps lacking some of the finer details and nuances of a more experienced painter. But overall, not a bad return to form. "...What do you think?"

Iris Arani​

 

[Iris Arani]

"There's just.. A lot. That's all. I don't want to overwhelm you with it all."

Iris shrugged. She didn't even know where to start when it came to.. Any of it. Asides, Amani was really into the painting. And relaxing was so much better than stressing. She set down her pencil, taking the chance to move over and look at what Amani had painted. She smiled, warm and bright as always.

"It's beautiful."

Amani Serys

 

[Amani Serys]

Amani frowned at Iris’ excuse, admitting as much that there was some underlying stress she’d rather not trouble her with. But first she let the art critique take precedence. The mirialan watched with genuine curiosity as the padawan gave it a look over, and smiled at the response.

She exhaled through her nose, and reached over to squeeze Iris’ far shoulder, “Thanks, girl.” She wasn’t sure how much of it was sincere beauty, or just Iris being nice, but the fact that Amani herself could find some pride in it was a good sign. Besides, she doubted that Iris’ niceness was lacking in any sincerity of its own.

The knight then turned to Iris herself, with a more serious, though still warm look, “You are never a burden to me, Iris. A little or a lot, I’m here, even if you just need another chance to vent.” They both had a lot on their plates, but Amani wanted to be as clear as possible that she could always make room for more when Iris was involved. That’s what the whole big sister shtick is for, right? She craned to peek at the girl's own sketch, "How's yours coming along?"

Iris Arani​