Private Staring Into The Abyss

[Aris Noble]

If there was ever a time someone might think Aris was actually a robot more than most other times, it was now as he stiff walked beside Zaiya. His heart still hadn't stopped pounding in his chest. More. The thought kept playing through his mind. What even was more? There was a brief idea, but if they weren't just best friends anymore, what did the more actually entail? What more did he even want? His mind kept racing, trying to figure it out.

He only paused as Zaiya spoke up again.

"Yeah. She's been teaching me a lot of how to measure distance and tell time on planets and the like. Useful things, outside of all the fighting I do so I can really be useful." Without the Force, there was a lot more he should be doing. Even if he didn't need the skills to survive, it'd help him keep others alive.

"What about you? How's your new master?"

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x
Interacting with: Aris Noble

The sound of Zaiya's boots on the dirt path, just before they entered the thickening bush of the jungle, broke the awkward fluttery din as the pair continued. All sorts of thoughts raced through Zaiya's mind, still trying to get her heart to calm down, not to mention now musing what Aris could be thinking.

Unable to help herself, Zaiya gave a glance back at Aris, only to give a slight twitch at the corner of her mouth at watching his stiff steps. A bemused expression on Zaiya's face bloomed as jolts of light blue flecks in humor went dancing over her mottled spots.

"Are you okay?" She asked him, gesturing at how he was walking, the embarrassment having faded to a lighter pink over her skin, a subtle flash of mirth now shimmering in her eyes. "You are walking a bit funny."

Humor would help in this situation as well, right? Just a little bit. Deciding that she shouldnt' tease him too much, her attention went back towards the iluminated path pointed by the starmap. Big fat lobbed leaves were everywhere and required her to brush them out of the way so they wouldn't smack her on the face.

"Oh, that sounds fun. I'm sure figuring out how to tell time in different planets comes in handy." Zaiya added. It was good he was learning things outside becoming a Battlemaster.

Yet the Lovalla couldn't stop the bright grin that beamed over her face thinking of Iris Arani .

"Oh, she's awesome!" Zaiya exclaimed, ducking under a particularly large frond. "She can see in colors! Well, normally and through the Force. Plus she is a healer too! I've been learning how to do really neat support skills like battle meditation and other healing techniques beyond just using the Force."

Her expression sombered a bit, but then she added.

"It's been fun... but I can tell she's been through a lot too."

 

[Aris Noble]

"Mmhmmmm. I'm good. Very good."

That wasn't necessarily true. His mind was practically racing, absolutely wild as he tried to sort out his feelings. And yet he was smiling. Smirking, even, at her tease. The rigidness of his walk had all been forgotten about as she started to fill her in on what it was like with her new master. His own expression similarly dimmed though as she mentioned the weight that she saw her master seeming to carry.

That did seem like a lot of what Jedi had to do. Carry so much.

"I'm sure she'll tell you about it, at some point. I'm glad it's fun though. Healing, support, all of that doesn't really click much in my head, but you sound incredibly interested in it so, that's a good sign to me that you're learning what you need to, right?"

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x
Interacting with: Aris Noble

Zaiya gave a small chuckle at how Aris said he was very good, glancing back at him just in time to catch that smile that had a tendency to make her belly flutter. She blushed again and turned forward. It made her giddy everytime she saw it.

So once again, Zaiya was reminded on how that foreign sense of emergence jealously had bloomed when she had caught him smiling at Azzie. Yet at the same time she couldn’t be happier that she was the only one here in this moment to see him now. A flurry of thoughtful and pensive dark amber on joyful teals, barely flecked with dark greens that vanished almost instantly went racing over her skin, the darkening canopy of the overhead jungle trees making the subtle glow effects on her skin stand out more.

Which now made her wonder; did Aris feel jealousy too? Or was that just me who felt it?

Before she ponder further, Aris drew her form her thoughts.

“Hmm… yeah. I do enjoy being helpful and learning subjects like that — and perhaps in time she will let me know more, but I won’t push her. I know how hard it can be to talk about things … I’m still working through all that happened to me too back with the Sith and at Tython station…”

A pause then she added, “thank you for coming to get us — after the whole jumping space station thing Master Kahlil did. I’m glad no one was hurt or turned into one of those.. things.”

 

[Aris Noble]

Aris paused for a moment. The station. They hadn't actually talked about that at all, since it happened. He looked back to her, his expression oddly blank for a moment. Then he reached up, gently petting her head. "I'm really happy you didn't either. I- didn't want to make a scene, but seeing you had me wanting to run over and- I don't even know. I'm just really, really happy you were alright."

Having to face that, yeah. He was happy she did well, that she survived as she did. That they won, even if the battle was lost. In no small part because of her assistance. He smiled softer still as he pulled his hand away, started to walk again. "I think I see the facility this is pointing to ahead. Seems.. Real old, yeah."

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x
Interacting with: Aris Noble

The gentle pat on her head sent a shiver of turquoise and teal rippling across Zaiya's skin, painting her intricate patterns with joyful relief -- and something else, too. Knowing Aris had actually wanted to come over to her at the station but held back made her heart squeeze and her belly flip. She'd told herself at the time that it was serious, that they both needed to focus on survival. But hearing he had wanted to reach out to her then? Yeah, it made her feel warm and a little breathless.

"Oh… umm… I know. That's okay." Zaiya bit her lip, her cheeks tinting with a soft glow. It was a good thing she had her mental shields up, a good thing, she told herself, reminding herself it was a good thing.

"I knew we had to focus on making it out alive." she paused, a slight blush rising as she unconsciously leaned her head onto his palm like his firebird might do to nuzzle its feathers. "But… I wanted to hug you, too. As soon as I saw you. But.. have to be a Jedi first and make sure everyone is safe."

It was strange and confusing. They were best friends, and the hugs and hand holding had always been natural, nothing they thought twice about. Aris knew she needed affection, that her kind relied on it to feel steady and whole. And he'd always allowed it withut a second thought. But now, things felt different, and she was more aware of every moment they spent close like this.

Following Aris's gesture, Zaiya's gaze landed on a cluster of ancient stones beyond a thick wall of vines and overgrown leaves. Each one was etched with intricate sigils and symbols, some faint, others seemingly glinting with some sort of metallic sheen. Her curiosity was instantly piqued, and she took a step forward, her focus on the stones.

"Oh, that's interesting…" She stepped ahead, but the moment her foot landed, it sunk into something dark and sticky.

"Gah!" she yelped, her arms flailing as she fought for balance, only to find her right foot stuck fast in a thick layer of Koboh tar lying hidden beneath the undergrowth -- and sinking further as it now sucked up to her calf.

Yup. She was properly stuck!

And that cry went echoing throughout the area in a way that caught the attention of more than one creature, as thick nostrils sniffed the air and a growl rose from the maw of a massive Mogu more than two an a half meters tall...

The tiny hairs at the nape of Zaiya neck stood on end and her eyes went wide.

"Oh no..."

 

[Aris Noble]

They were Jedi.

Of all things Aris continued to say, it was that fact. They were Jedi, and the safety of everyone around them was the most important thing. That was the duty they accepted, the burden they let fall on their shoulders. To put the self behind the others. It was one of the early lessons taught, so they'd be aware of just what kind of life they were aiming to live.

In that moment though, had really been putting others ahead? Or was he just.. Too self conscious about his feelings?

He frowned for a moment, staring at nothing as he let the thoughts run through, right up until he saw Zaiya's glow suddenly drop a bit. He blinked, glancing to her as she sunk into the muck. He would've made a joke at that, reaching over to try and pull her up. At least he was until he heard a different heart beat. Ars's expression dipped to something far more serious as he turned to face the Mogu.

His lightsaber sprang to life as he steadied his stance.

"Find a way out Zaiya. I trust you."

And in turn, he hoped she trusted him. He took a step forward to the roaring beast as it stepped forward, then another. It full on charged, claws up as it went to strike out against the shorter boy. But he didn't move, refused to at that as he brought a hand up to catch the first claw on his forearm. There was a screech as it pulled back it's claws, or what was left of them. They'd splintered and broken on his skin. He didn't chase after it, let it stumble as he calmly lifted his blade.

It wasn't going to get past him.

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x
Interacting with:

The snap-hiss of Aris's blade ignited a distinct glow around him as the teenager swung towards Mogu.

Oh the Mogu was big! Even bigger and larger than Aris, and that was saying something!

A sharp intake of breath and an "Aris!" barely burst through Zaiya's lips before she frantically began to tug at her leg, trying to get it out of the sticky pit of tar it had trapped her in. But she couldn't get it out no matter how hard she tugged.

"Blast, blast, blast!" She cursed under her breath, taking quick glances back and forth between her leg and Aris as he dealt with the beast. How it howled in pain and screeched at his broken claws as he fought Aris told her that perhaps the Mogu had discovered firsthand that Aris was not like any other being it had come across.

Even she gave a wince, an empathetic wave of bronze sailing amidst the alarmed ombre of dove greys and pale yellows etching her skin.

"Come on!" Zaiya gave a grunt, this time channeling the Force down her arms through her grip along her upper calf to try and pull her foot out. She succeeded but forgot to use soft to solid on her leg to strengthen it from the damage her hands would now deal as she tugged hard.

A cry of pain lanced and errupted from her mouth, stumbling back as a flashing pulse of white and brown light flared from her mottled spots. She landed on her back, rolling on the thick jungle leaves as her now tar coated foot picked up all sorts of debris, clinging and making her movements awkward.

She could feel the throb along her muscles along her thigh, already grimacing as she knew the mottled purple bruising was quickly blooming where she had gripped herself. Lesson learned.

Meanwhile, the Mogu howled back at Aris, massive sharp teeth snapping at him. With his spare hand, he reached over to grab thick fallen tree trunk. It snapped under its grip, sending debris flying as he threw the trunk right at Aris's direction, hoping that it would distract him as he went in once more to try and attack him once again.

 

[Aris Noble]

Aris caught the stump. There was no movement on his part other than just lifting a hand to catch the wood in his palm. The stump cracked as his fingers bit into the wood, but he simply dropped it in front of him as a physical barrier to stop the Mogu. Make it think twice, even. He spoke calm, despite knowing the Mogu likely wouldn't understand anything he was saying.

"Find different prey. You won't survive this intact."

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x
Interacting with: Aris Noble

The warning would go unheeded, as the Moag was determined to best the tall Padawan. It instead gave a massive roar, tearing through the trunk of the tree that Aris had slammed down to try to provide a physical barrier to stop it. Sharp fragments of debris went flying everywhere, wooden shards that could easily impale as the Moag charged at Aris.

Zaiya's eyes widened in alarm, and she blanched momentarily before her hand came up, immediately summoning the Force to grab a telekinetic handful of that sticky tar she'd been stuck in, only to fling it straight towards the Moag's face. It landed with a heavy splat as he continued to charge forward, but now he was blinded, and even more aggravated by the incapciting effects.

It didn't stop him from charging, still heading straight to Aris only this time trying but failing to whip the tar out of its eyes.

"Watch out!" Zaiya cried out, trying to get herself up on her feet only to wince at the pain on her thigh. UGH! With a grunt, she got up, pushing past the pain to try and hobble over and get close enough to help.

 

[Aris Noble]

"Don't worry."

Aris spoke calmly, even as the tree splintered and shattered before him. The Mogu was already blind, flailing in panic and pain. His saber extinguished in that moment before the blade remerged, silent and cold. A quick cut was brought through, but no mark was left. The only thing was a heavy thud as the beast hit the ground. Not dead, just unconscious.

"He'll be out for a bit. We should move on before he gets up. You alright?"

He looked back to her, blinking as she hobbled. Concern was clear, but he did his best not to just scoop her up and bring her back to the ship. They were both Jedi, and he didn't want to make her feel weak. What was he supposed to do? He sort of just stood there, watching her before he let out a breath finally. "If you are, we can get going? .. But only if you're alright."

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x
Interacting with: Aris Noble

Thankfully, Aris managed to knock out the Moag with one precise strike. The relief was immediate, rippling through Zaiya's skin in a shifting kaleidoscope of soft hues of turquoise fading to warm yellows. She let out a shaky sigh, her body visibly relaxing even as she hobbled to a stop in front of him.

Her eyes caught the blue blade in his hand, the one he had used to bring the Moag down without killing it. She remembered the first day they met at the Bazaar of Colors, and how he had explained the blade's unique properties to knock people safely unconcious. It immediately reminded her of what happened back on Coruscant when the sinkhole appeared, and she had to team up with Vera Noble to clear out the section of the tunnel.

"… You'll need to let me know where to get a crystal like that," Zaiya said, her voice tinged with awe despite her discomfort. Even with the ache in her thigh, she couldn't help frowning as she reached up to check him over for any injuries of his own. She knew how difficult it was to even bruise him, but her concern was apparent for him regardless.

"Were you hurt? It swung at you pretty hard…" Her voice softened, her hands moving with purposeful focus over his shoulders and arms, searching for any sign of injury, although it didn't take long for the warmth of his body under her fingertips to make her flush again.

"I was on a mission with Vera," Zaiya began, a need to fill the silence bubbling up. "We had to fight these creatures, they just kept coming at us. I didn't like using my lightsaber on them, but Vera said we didn't have a choice." She glanced down, her mottled spots shifting into empathetic bronze and amber tones. The memory clearly still troubled her.

"So I tried to incapacitate them instead… but then I worried that might've hurt them more than ... well you know killing them." She bit her lip, the confession tumbling out as she frowned. "Maybe Vera was right, but it still feels wrong."

Her hands hesitated on his wrist as her brow furrowed deeper. She sighed and let her arms drop back to her sides, wincing as her injured thigh shifted under her weight.

"I'll be fine. I can accelerate my healing and dull the ache if I focus." Her tone was light, but her grimace betrayed the lingering sting of her mistake.

"It was stupid of me," Zaiya admitted with a small, self deprecating laugh.

"I enhanced my strength to pull myself foot off the tar but forgot to reinforce my leg -- I know you told me before to make sure to do that when we were on Aldhani." giving a bit of a sheepish expression and then a half shrug. She didn't want to stop seraching for the catalyst on account of her own mistake.

"Lesson learned," she added, giving Aris a faint smile.

 

[Aris Noble]

"Yeah, poor thing." Aris glanced down to the now slumbering mogu, a somber expression on his face. He wasn't even worried about the damage he could've received, instead, he was worried about it's shattered claws. They'd heal, eventually, but in the mean time it was limited, disabled even. He turned his gaze to Zaiya again, blinking as he listened.

That's right.

He reached a hand out, gently touching her shoulder again. Comfort. Killing things, no matter what they were, was never easy. It should never be easier, nor should it ever get easy. By all accounts, she'd never have had to kill anything if he hadn't brought her to the Jedi. He didn't regret that fact, though. She was one of the best Jedi he knew, and she was still a Padawan.

But he really hoped she wouldn't have to face killing so soon, or at all.

"It's not stupid. Don't push yourself to not make mistakes. That's how we learn, right?" Aris gave a smile, bright as ever. "We can take a moment for you to heal up enough to walk normal, yeah? It'll be out long enough I think for us to do that." The Entropite should keep them down for a while, at least.

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x
Interacting with: Aris Noble

Zaiya gave Aris a grateful smile, comforted that he understood what she meant. It reminded her of when he told her how he felt having to kill someone protecting his family from intruders and how he felt afterward. Not upset that he had to do it, but at the loss of life.

"Yeah... you are right. This is how we learn... I'll make sure to keep practicing to use both skills at the same time so this doesn't happen again," She said, only to ruefully add in afterward, "That way, you can see I can take one of your punches and still keep going to knock you out flat!"

That would be the day! It is certainly something to look forward to.

"Okay, yeah, let me find a place to sit down. I'll use the Force on myself to speed up my healing, and we can then get going afterward." Zaiya agreed, although looking down at her boot, she grimaced at the way the tar was stuck on the leather, bits of leaves and sticks clinging to it.

"Ugh, this is going to be annoying... " she muttered.

"I should have brought an extra set of clothes," Oh well, enough of that.

Glancing back at the Moag, Zaiya paused and added, "Maybe I should also heal as much of his paw as possible so he won't be defenseless?"

 

[Aris Noble]

Knock him out flat?

Aris blinked slowly at the thought. And for a moment? He blushed. The idea of actually fighting Zaiya without needing restraint, with her beating him up in turn, he couldn't help but blush. It made him happy. Incredibly happy. The fact that she actually wanted to meant more to him than she'd likely realized. For her, sharing food was how Lovalla bonded.

For the Epicanthix, it was fighting.

Not that he was thinking on it long. He glanced to her boots, smiling softer now. "Maybe, but- yeah no that's a good idea. It could help them in the long run, spare them a lot of trouble." Zaiya could heal the claws. He would never not be amazed by what Zaiya could do with the Force. He stepped beside the Mogu, crouching to gently set a hand on it's back.

Restraining it, really, with his raw strength.

"I've got him, so, go ahead?"

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x
Interacting with: Aris Noble


It was a good thing Zaiya had placed down her shields; if she had perhaps felt how much Aris liked hearing what she'd said, she just might have flushed even more in embarrassment but also fueled her desire, even more, to get herself fit to train to fight Aris.

As it was, the smile he shone at her was enough to cause another joyful skipbeat of her heart, but she told herself to focus on what needed to be done instead. Right, healing the Moag's paw.

"Okay, I don't think this will take long. I can't completely cure him, but I can perhaps stabilize him to the point where it can encourage faster healing so he isn't defenseless for too long," She explained, following behind Aris with a slight hobble. Best to do the Moag first and then herself, that way she could make sure that was done before they can look for a safe location to work on herself.

Aris bent down, restraining the Moag just in case and Zaiya smiled at him in gratitude, murmuring, "Thanks!"

She bent down with her good knee before reaching out to grab the Moag's shattered paw in between her hands. Just like Iris Arani taught her, Zaiya used the Force to identify the different colors and auras where pain, muscle tears, and the like could be identified. She was so very glad that her Master had taught her this method, as now it was a lot easier to determine what needed to be done.

It took a few minutes, but a while later, Zaiya opened her eyes and flashed Aris a small tired smile, "Okay, that should be good."

Ever so slowly, she tried to get herself up again, only to give a faint grimace. She was attempting curato salva in the background with her own injury, but her muscles were still sore, and it showed as she weaved a bit.

"Okay, we should find a safe place for us to rest for a bit so I can work on myself."

 

[Aris Noble]

Aris watched in idle amusement as Zaiya immediately went over to the Mogu first as he restrained it and immediately started to heal it. The idea that she'd heal the claw before her own calf, it was just.. Who she was. Kind, caring. Always putting people ahead of herself. He ended up chuckling by the time the claws had at least healed over enough to stop bleeding.

When she stood and stumbled some? Aris let out a sigh before reaching out. He plucked her up in his arms princess style before he jumped. One of the abandoned buildings, near the top. He didn't hear any heart beats up there, so it made it safe in his mind. "Here will work, I think. Thoughts?" He smirked down to Zaiya, still holding her.

Not that he would for long. He'd blink after a moment before his cheeks flushed a bit red as he set her down carefully.

"I.. I mean. Yeah. Here, uh. .. Right?"

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x
Interacting with: Aris Noble

Zaiya had expected Aris to point out a place for them to go to; not that he would actually pick her up, much the less princess style to where they needed to go.

Her breathing hitched as he grabbed her in his arms, easily lifting her up and holding her against him right before he jumped. Her arms immediately went curling around his shoulder and neck to hold onto him tight, and there was no stopping the way the edges of her mottled spots and stripes began to glow a vibrant gold and coral, a rush of emotions picking up at the fact he was carrying her like this.

It was the first time he had ever done so -- every other time he'd thrown her over his shoulder like a sack of potato tubers, leaving her bottom up in the air and her only sight his --

Nevermind.

The air fluttered as he hopped from one place to another, and her grip tightened. Not because she was scared, but because it felt... nice. Thrilling even.

Nope, keep your shields up, Zaiya!

When he finally set her down and asked if this was okay, Zaiya's face was a vibrant coral with flecks of gold and teal, with brief flecks of crimson. Okay, there may not be another heartbeat Aris might hear nearby, but there was no denying the rapid pulse fluttering at her throat.

"Umm. Yeah. Here," Zaiya couldn't help but pat the area he had set her down at, not realizing that it could convey that he should sit down as well.

"Thank you..." she told him, feeling utterly bashful and silly again. "You're really strong." Oh, Zaiya, of all things to say? Really?

Okay, focus on your injury, Zaiya told herself.

"Right.. umm... I'll get on it then." she stammered briefly, brushing the wayward strands of hair back behind her ears in a flustered gesture.

"Feel free to rest or umm... scout the area if you like. It will just take me a bit."

 

[Aris Noble]

He'd of though he'd scared her. He did, at first. The rush of her heartbeat as he just jumped with her in his arms. It wasn't a normal jump, even for Jedi. So naturally, fear was the assumption. At least until he saw her skin, the ripple of colors. She'd kept her block up to keep him from feeling her emotions directly, but he knew all too well what those colors were now.

The fact he did had his face that much more red.

"You're really strong."

"I work out."

What. A. Dump. Response.

For a moment he full on died, his expression turning to pure terror. Except it didn't, given his stoic nature. Zaiya would pick up the horror at his answer though. She knew his emotions better than he did at times. And, in that terror, he just took the seat beside her that she patted. Only to realize moments later that that wasn't exactly what she was suggesting.

That he could've been scouting. He just cleared his throat, staring off.

"I.. can hear everything from here, so, no need to scout."

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x
Interacting with: Aris Noble

The giggle snort escaped before Zaiya could even think about stopping it.

Oh my stars!

The moment it left her, she clamped a hand over her mouth, wide eyed with embarrassment. But honestly, could anyone blame her? Aris's expression was priceless, a mix of realization and horror as if he'd just stumbled into a trap he'd set for himself.

And then, to make matters worse -- or better?-- he sat down right next to her. That simple act made her own guilt bubble up, tangled with a lingering sense of hilarity she couldn't quite shake.

"I'm sorry. I'm not laughing at you, I swear!" Zaiya managed, her voice muffled behind her hands as she buried her face in them, trying to hide the warm glow of coral and silvery hues now dancing across her bioluminescent spots. She rubbed at her cheeks, willing the heat to subside, but her patterns gave her away. A chaotic swirl of hues betrayed the mix of amusement, guilt, and mortification she felt.

Finally, she peeked out from behind her hands with a dramatic sigh.

"Sorry. I feel like I'm saying stupid things more and more lately… I really don't mean to." Her hands dropped, and she took a steadying breath, her colors starting to shift into a calmer palette, though a faint shimmer of pink lingered.

"I don't want you to think I'm dumb or silly…" Her voice softened before she added, with a little self-deprecating laugh, "Or that I have bad breath." Okay, so that had already been cleared up, but humor was a defense mechanism, right? Humor was safe.