Private Sun-Soaked Studies

[Kirie]

SUN-SOAKED STUDIES​

Jutrand Academy Library,
Jutrand
Alana Calloway

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Kirie rubbed her temples as she leaned over the flimsiplast pages of the thick book. None of this made any sense. She had started with Runes and Symbols - An Introduction to Ur-Kittat, which had been genuinely incomprehensible. Then, once that had bested her, she trawled the shelves and data racks searching for something on healing, eventually finding a battered tome imprinted with faded lettering reading Forgotten Secrets of Dark Healing, which had turned out to be a series of ranting diary entries about a man who had eschewed the teachings of the Jedi in favour of a life of bloodletting and sacrifices. She'd given up after the second page.

"Oh this is terrible." Kirie murmured hopelessly.

Overall, her research was going poorly. While Kirie enjoyed learning, she was finding herself easily distracted being alone at the Academy all day. She knew studying the history of the Sith could be important, and memorising the Code would be vital in giving her a foundational knowledge. But her mind still wandered when she sat down to read. She daydreamed about Quinn, and the life they would lead now that Kirie had settled in the Empire, of Kaila and what the Sith might have to teach her, and of the Empire itself, and her place in it. Those thoughts would inevitably spiral into anxiety, and then she couldn't concentrate.

Sometimes, Kirie wouldn't even bother to go through the motions. She'd just find a sunny spot in the library and curl up, dozing until the hour grew late enough for her to go home. Just the usual. Kirie would say with a shrug when Quinn asked what she'd been up to. She didn't have the heart to tell her she was too undisciplined to even read up on the basics.

It was no matter. Classes would start soon, and Kirie was considering enrolling properly. Maybe that rigidity would do her some good. Quinn had stressed to her that she didn't necessarily have to become a Sith. She could learn and take what she wanted. Kirie understood that well enough, but she also kind of didn't understand the difference between Kaila, a Sith through and through, Serina Calis, a Dark Jedi, and Quinn, who seemed to be something else entirely. It was all rather confusing for her. Several times it had occurred to her that maybe it would be better to just stay a servant.

With a sigh, Kirie rose from her plush chair by the window. The sun had moved since she'd sat down and left her in shade, so she stood and stretched, and lazily wandered out the library's grand entrance and onto the common, where she unceremoniously flopped down on the grass in a patch of sun and closed her eyes.

 

[Alana Calloway]

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Sun Soaked Studies​

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Location: Training Yard outside Library​

Tag: Kirie​

Gear: N/A​

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Alana moved with practiced ease, balancing atop the narrow training post as if it were solid ground. The wind tugged at the brim of her hat, but she ignored it, shifting her weight, rolling into a backflip, and landing lightly on the balls of her feet. This was routine, a rhythm she had carved into muscle and bone. One wrong move meant a hard fall, but that was part of the thrill. Her abilities were being supported without the use of the force. She still hadn’t worked out how to augment herself to that degree, or if she even could.

Alana bent her knees, readying for another leap—then caught something out of the corner of her eye. A figure moving just beyond the posts.

Her focus wavered for a fraction of a second.

The fraction was all it took to lose concentration.

Her foot slipped. Gravity yanked her down, and before she could twist into a controlled landing, her shoulder slammed against the post on the way down, her jacket caught hold of a railing, jerking her for a moment before the fabric tore, sending her sprawling into the dirt below.

Several feet from Kirie.

The impact rattled her teeth. For a moment, she just lay there, face down into the dirt, feeling the stinging of the landing across her body and the various arches that followed.

Ow.

With a grunt, she slowly set herself upright, and inspected the damage to her jacket. "You have to be kidding me…" She muttered to herself, finding the entire right side had torn. She rolled her shoulder, testing for damage, before wincing at a new pain that brushed along her side. She was sore, but nothing serious.

Her gaze shifted to the new arrival that had caused her downfall, now concerned if she was about to be mocked for her tumble.

 

[Kirie]

SUN-SOAKED STUDIES

Jutrand Academy Training Area,
Jutrand
Alana Calloway

​

Kirie heard the sounds of exertion and looked up curiously. A lithe woman was working her way across one of the courses in the training area, which was otherwise quiet at this hour. Her leaps along the course were as good as any travelling aerialist Kirie had seen on Weik, combined with impressive feats of gymnastics and balance, not to mention strength. Kirie sat up, momentarily distracted from her nap, and watched awhile, the sun shining down on her, making her a little sleepy. The woman performed a little flip as she jumped between posts, and Kirie raised her hands to give her a polite little clap.

This time, as the girl leaped, Kirie's eyes met those of the acrobat mid-leap. She hadn't meant to distract her, but following that barest moment of connection, of acknowledgement, the acrobat's balance had wavered. Too late to stop herself from jumping and too little time to recover.

Instead she fell. Hard, smacking into thing on her way down.

She ate dirt, to be exact.

Kirie felt an immediate pang of guilt, and she rose and ran over to see if the girl had been badly hurt. Concern was written all over her face.

"Are you okay?" Kirie asked, voice wavering slightly. She looked the woman upside down. She looked roughed-up, but there were no immediate signs of any breaks. Besides, she was on her feet already. That was a good sign right? Realising she hadn't killed or permanently injured the woman her heartrate began to slow slightly, panic fading to mere worry.

"Your jacket..." Kirie said, her voice pained. She frowned at the shredded material. She hoped it wasn't expensive. Or sentimental. Stars, what if she'd caused this girl to destroy some sentimental heirloom.

Then again, she probably would be practicing in something like that, so, hopefully not.

Kirie looked past the torn jacket, at the girl's bloodied side. The dirt that now caked her made it difficult to make out the severity, but she'd obviously sustained some sort of injury on her way down.

"Oh." Kirie said with concern. "You've been hurt."

The young servants eyes welled with tears that threatened to overwhelm her.

"I'm so sorry..."

 

[Alana Calloway]

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Sun Soaked Studies​

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Location: Training Yard outside Library​

Tag: Kirie​

Gear: N/A​

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Alana blinked. Then blinked again.

She'd been expecting a smirk, maybe a snide remark—hells, even just an awkward silence while she dusted herself off. What she hadn't expected was wide, tear-filled eyes and genuine distress.

That threw her off far more than the fall did.

She let out a breath, shaking her head as she swiped a hand down her torn jacket. "It's fine. Just a jacket," She muttered, brushing past the topic before Kirie could spiral over it. She did like this jacket though.

Then came the oh—that soft, startled note of concern as the girl's gaze landed on the scrape along Alana's side. The growing guilt, the way her expression crumpled slightly. Oh, no.

Why the hell was she feeling bad? She was the injured one here.

Alana sighed, running a hand over her bruised face. Then winced. Why did she do that? "It's nothing," She said, her tone a little firmer this time. "I've had worse stumbles getting out of bed."

She softened the words with a lopsided grin, hoping to ease the worry before Kirie fully dissolved into apologies. "You didn't throw me off, I just got careless." She tilted her head, voice dropping into something drier. "You are very distracting, though."

A beat. If she could make the woman smile, then she’d probably be able to shake the guilt too.

Her grin twitched wider, teasing. "Maybe just…try not to look so…uhhhh…cute next time. It uhhh throws me off. Yea."

Smooth Alana. Smooth.

She…used to be good at this…didn’t she?

 

[Kirie]

The acrobat brushed off Kirie's concern. She seemed tough, and insisted that it was no bother. The words made her feel a little better, but Kirie could see her wincing when she brushed her cheek, the stiffness with which she straightened up. Still, she decided to let it lie for now. If the girl said she was fine, then she was fine. Nobody had really bothered to have a conversation with her in the week or so that she'd been visiting the library, and she had also spent some time gazing out at the training area wondering how she might use it. Kirie wasn't keen on scaring away someone who was both willing to chat to her and maybe even show her the ropes.

"You are very distracting, though."

Kirie opened her mouth to say something insightful and equally charming, but the wheels in her mind spun without traction. Some sort of recognition sparked in the acrobat's eye. Like a duelist catching her on the back foot, the woman went on.

"Maybe just…try not to look so…uhhhh…cute next time. It uhhh throws me off. Yea."

"You think I look cute?" Kirie asked. She looked away bashfully. This woman was the one who had fallen off the training course, but it was Kirie who felt entirely off balance. Most of the conversations with people who weren't Quinn had revolved around dark topics and grim truths about life in the Sith. This was, refreshingly, not that. Plus, it also felt pretty good to get complimented. "Thanks." Kirie said with a wide and genuine smile. Her welling tears were forgotten, blinked away and replaced by a slight blush. "You are too. Cute, I mean. Apart from the dirt and the blood." She gave a little laugh. Wow, in the months since she'd crashed amongst the Sith she'd got pretty awful at talking like a regular person.

"I'm Kirie, by the way." she said, giving a little wave which she immediately regretted.

"I know a place where we can get a first aid kit." She anticipated the woman's protest before it came. "No fuss. I promise." Kirie didn't want to press too much, but she was conscious the girl was still covered in muck, and her blood was starting to drip down her legs.

Alana Calloway ​

 

[Alana Calloway]

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Sun Soaked Studies​

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Location: Training Yard outside Library​

Tag: Kirie​

Gear: N/A​

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Alana chuckled, shaking her head slightly as she wiped some of the dirt off her cheek with the back of her hand—only managing to smear it worse. "Cute, huh? Well, I'll take the compliment, even if I look like I crawled out of a scrap heap." Her red eyes flicked over Kirie, noting the way she fidgeted, the awkward wave, the quick backtrack. It was endearing. Not something she came across often in a place like this.

It brought something back-

"If the guys ever ask you what it felt like when you fell from heaven, think back to this moment."

That voice….

”Funny, feel like it'd be more apt to you. Usually you're supposed to be all pretty and what not when you fall from the sky, not scrapped and limping."

She shook off the voices, looking no worse for wear.

When Kirie offered the first aid kit, Alana opened her mouth to protest—because of course she did—but paused when she saw the look on her face. This wasn't a push. It wasn't a demand. Just a quiet insistence.

She exhaled through her nose, rolling her shoulders in a way that said fine, you win.

"Alright, alright. No fuss," She conceded, holding up her hands in surrender. "I'll let you patch me up—only because you asked so nicely." She gave Kirie a lopsided grin, then nodded for her to lead the way. She carefully removed her torn jacket, revealing the full sleeve of tattoos on both arms. Several of them appeared to be from gang affiliations, prison, and some were of bounty hunter guild markings. Alana slung her jacket over her shoulder, and finally took notice of the gashes on her legs. She merely sighed and shrugged it off, smiling to Kirie.

"Name's Alana, by the way."

 

[Kirie]

"Alana." Kirie said, committing the name to memory. "It's great to meet you." It was true. With the warnings she had heard from Kaila about the Academy, she'd been somewhat nervous to talk to any of the students or staff besides Quinn. She didn't know if Alana was one of those, or a visitor, but either way her fall had disarmed Kirie somewhat, and it was nice to have somebody to talk to instead of staying isolated in the library too nervous to talk about anyone else.

"Name's Alana, by the way."

"Okay." said Kirie. "This way then." She took Alana by the arm and let her back across the common towards the faculty offices across from the library. As they strolled across the lawns, Kirie regarded the red-eyed woman, her slightly rough appearance, her tattoos. She didn't know what they meant exactly, but she understood in a way what they symbolised: Alliegances, ownership, belonging. They showed her history, Kirie just didn't know how to read it.

They looked nice though, wrapping around her arms and shoulders. They made the young woman appear tough and confident, maybe threatening, if she didn't have such a charming smile.

"So." Kirie said politely as they walked. "Are you... A student here, Alana?" Kirie didn't think so, Alana didn't really seem the type. But, the academy was an unusual place, and appearances were deceiving. That was true in the Empire even more than other places. They continued down the path, eventually leaving the direct light of the afternoon sun on the common for a passageway with a slatted roof, through which the light filtered and cast dappled shadows over their skin. The air was pleasantly cooler, and Kirie looked over to Alana for any sign of hesitation. This was the faculty wing, after all, and few students deigned to bother their betters without an invitation.

Not Kirie though. She was not a student, not yet, and she knew exactly where she was going.

They slipped in through a doorway, making their way down a short hallway and into an office. Kirie leaned down to examine the keypad beside the door, which was affixed with a sign reading 'Professor Quinn Varanin.' She absentmindedly bit her thumb and gazed at the keypad, obviously trying to remember the code. Eventually, it occurred to her, and her fingers danced across the keys, and the door answered with an affirmative chime, sliding open to reveal a well appointed office space.

Without hesitation, Kirie strode in, gesturing for Alana to follow her and take a seat on one of the chairs opposite the large desk. She went to a cupboard off to the side and retrieved a black plasteel case. Grunting with effort, she carried it over, setting it down beside Alana with a thunk.

"I'm not the most experienced at first aid." Kirie admitted. "But, you said you were fine, so I reckon we'll both be alright."

Alana Calloway ​

 

[Alana Calloway]

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Sun Soaked Studies​

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Location: Training Yard outside Library​

Tag: Kirie​

Gear: N/A​

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The young woman seemed rather nice from what Alana could tell. She kept a kind smile, nodding to her. “It’s a pleasure, ma’am.”

Alana let Kirie lead her, letting the younger woman set the pace. She could feel the weight of her gaze, the way her eyes lingered on the tattoos winding around her skin. It wasn't the first time someone had tried to read her like a book, trying to decipher the meaning behind the ink. Ownership. Belonging. Maybe once. Now they were just ghosts of a past herself couldn’t explain.

The academy was a strange place, but Kirie's question still made her chuckle. "A student? Nah," she said, flashing that same easy grin. "Never had the patience for sitting in a classroom. Wouldn't know what to do with a lecture if it hit me in the head."

She followed Kirie through the hall, keeping her steps light despite the aches creeping through her limbs. The shift in temperature was a welcome relief, the cool shadows brushing over her skin as they moved. She barely spared the faculty wing a glance. Places like this always felt... distant. Like they belonged to another life, another version of her that never existed.

As the door slid open, she stepped inside and lowered herself into the chair Kirie gestured to, leaning back with a slow exhale. The thunk of the case drew her attention, and she glanced down at it before looking back up at Kirie with a lopsided smirk.

"Good thing I don't need patching up, then. But hey, appreciate the concern." She let the words settle before adding, more lightly, "If you do try, just don't stick me with anything sharp unless I start looking half-dead." Then she blinked, remembering that one time someone tried to use medical aid as a way to flirt with her. But then again….the woman had declined to give aid.

But…Alana was also really bad at reading signs.

"Well ain't you just five scoops of sugar in a half cup of tea."

She had said that to someone, once and it seemed to work out. Yea, she’ll just throw that out there and- “Ain’t you just five scoops of sugar in a half cup of tea?”

Flawless Alana. She eased into the chair and opened up the the case, curious as to wait laid in store. “What brings you to this place anyhow? I’m just a drifter I guess, no one took no time to mentor me.”