Private The Future Is Behind Us

[Zaavik Perl]

Please just sit back...
​

They all gave Zaavik weird looks for declining wine. Thankfully, their misgivings ceased once they had time to drink their own. As was normally the case. Interactions became infinitely easier once even slightest tinge of inebriation came over his hosts. Zaavik was doing his best to lock away his contempt for drinkers. He hadn't come here to be judgmental over the contents of someone's cup. Although, being the only one maintaining an unaltered state was something hard not be painfully aware of. A darker corner of his mind tried to list all the things that would be much easier to get away with around impaired observers. A quick shake of his head had expelled those notions.

Introductions were exhausting. Several times, he wrongly assumed there wouldn't be any more guests. Each time he was incorrect was even more internally exasperating than the last. Small smiles and an affable façade hid the paranoia that clawed his throat. It was easier to feel safe when only a handful of people knew he was here, but the Pavanos family was enormous. So large that at least half of them didn't even share the name. The chances that even just one of these people could give him away grew with every pod of guests that showed up. Odds became less and less favorable by the minute.

Dinner concluded without incident. Somehow. Every moment felt like it could be the one SIA broke through the door. Zaavik even thought he had one of the guests pegged as the betrayer. Yet, nothing happened. Nothing aside from having a good meal, voraciously devoured with little tact after more than a week of not eating properly. Aradia's behavior was mirror, practically out-eating him in volume and speed. The looks he got from that were worse than the ones about water over wine.

Zaavik found himself mostly at ease once he had a full stomach. Possibilities of a rat still poked at his vestigial anxieties, but it no longer infested the front of his mind. Gideon had seemingly took some kind of odd interested in him. No surprise, perhaps, that a boy with four older sisters and two mothers would want to befriend another male. Zaavik was admittedly not receptive at first, but warmed up to the kid eventually. Zaavik told him obviously bogus stories when furtively asked, "What happened to your arm?" Soon enough they were goofing around like a younger and older brother. Without the bickering, of course.

There was rarely any room in his childhood for that kind of ridiculousness. Kids were a soft spot on his heart which Zaavik didn't advertise. Not unlike unspent up goofballish demeanor left over from a repressed childhood he displayed while they interacted. It was all rather shortlived. A motherly call pulled Gideon away from some post-dinner chore. Guests lingered. Talking, reminiscing, laughing, and the like. Hands slid in his jacket pockets, Zaavik returned to the eyes-down, quiet mask he'd kept on for all but that small back and forth. Remnants of a smile lingered for a few seconds even after it was over.

In an out-of-the-way corner of the large interiors, Zaavik sat onto the arm of a sofa that lay away yet still in view of what remained of the other guests. Being here at all still felt odd, the friendly atmosphere juxtaposed by the secret, murderous conspiracy whispered just hours earlier within these very walls. Aradia was properly seated on one of the cushions to his right. There was relief in making distance from all the rabble. The corner almost felt hidden.

"You never mentioned how big this family was," he prodded wryly. A slight grin cracked across his face as he said, "That sure beat the hell out of noodles and field rations, though." The very thought of dehydrated foods could have made him vomit right then and there. That was one thing to miss about the Core; adequate meals. The sonic rabble of the family in their equidistance permeated the pause and silence the pair shared for several seconds. "They all seemed really happy to see you."

Darth Daiara​

 

[Darth Daiara]

Aradia sat tucked into a cushioned bench, bare feet wrapped under a blanket as a late sunset began to descend on the beach beyond the gardens. It was nothing like the estate back on Droma Kas. Even as an apprentice she had lived on the outskirts of it. It was the closest place she had to home. She wasn't there for the family's evacuation, but they had gotten out before the Imperials could reach them.

She wondered now what had come of the place... what stranger occupied her room... her bed. Even the air smelt different here.

It made it easy to stay away, but it would be a lie to say she wasn't happy being back. You just wouldn't catch her saying it out loud. Her comfort was marked by the little things-- the way she sat with shoes off her feet, or with a glass of wine in hand. Her cheeks were flushed with the rosey glow of alcohol.

Zaavik would have never seen her drink it before. It had only been just a glass, but her smile came easily when he sat besides her. His comment earned a nose crinkle. She fell into his gravity, the silence enveloping them as her body weight leaaaaaned over and rested into his side. Her head laid against his arm, until his his final comment broke the silence.

She sighed, deep and heavy. "Yeah. Well. They're stupid," she dismissed, running her finger along the dregs of her glass.

"Gideon's never going to leave you alone now." Clearly, she thought Zaavik was stupid too. You don't encourage them.

 

[Zaavik Perl]

A half-hidden, teasing eyeroll disagreed with her first sentiment. "Probably not," Zaavik replied, agreeing with the second, unbothered. He was well aware of what he had inadvertently gotten himself into. "Doesn't matter," he dismissed. They weren't supposed to be sticking around much longer, anyhow. A quick visit born of a motive still secret between co-conspirators Kaalia and himself.

Peering around, Zaavik caught the sight of the outside through a sliding door. There was still some light left. So much of their time had been spent cramped into a saferoom or ship interior barreling through hyperspace. That fact, and the sheer density of guests prompted a proposal. He gestured widely with metallic fingers toward the sliding door.

"We still have time before we have to go. You wanna walk around?" What was left of illumination should last them long enough that most of the extended members would clear out. He hoped. At the very least it would get them some air, and save them from anyone looking to drag them into the center of attention. Being the guest of a rarely seen member of the family was grounds to make people curious.

There wouldn't be a better opportunity to get the hell out for a few minutes.

 

[Darth Daiara]

Rowdy laughter echoed through the space, followed by the undefined noise of children running with loud, unadulterated steps.

"Yup," she agreed, popping the p as she moved to untangle limbs from blankets. Aradia was always trying to escape, even when she was present. Gideon had gotten very good at finding her, so much so that he thought it was a game. Best to break out while they were distracted. She fumbled onto her feet, handing him the glass as she fussed with the laces of her boots.

They were meant for hard use, not beaches, but she shoved the laces into the flaps all the same and sliiiiiinked out of the door.

Who needed invisibility, anyway.

She sucked in the fresh air, the world opening up to her again. "I'm so full," she lamented, her belt dangling open as she walked. Her fingers reached for his, the usual gesture slowly growing until she enveloped his whole arm in hug. Her head rested back on his shoulder. Her steps dragged eeeever so slightly to the right. A light sigh befell her lips.

"You're comfy."

 

[Zaavik Perl]

The smell on her breath made his face pucker slightly. Zaavik's head turned slightly away for clearance from the scent. "You're canned," he observed. As if her behavior wasn't enough of a giveaway. She wasn't ever this feely. In contrast, Zaavik was sober as a boulder. Probably the only sentient organism for miles that was still shooting entirely straight, really.

He sighed, obliging the handhold regardless. Hopes were that she wouldn't be inhibited for the idea he wanted to throw her way. Sure, it'd likely be much easier to get his way now that she was, but that didn't really feel fair. Not like they were going to get the opportunity otherwise, though. "I was thinking, since we're in the Core anyway, I might as well take care of a few things."

Ironic coming from the living mass of paranoia that had been on edge all night. "I know we didn't plan to stick around, but I doubt we're gonna come running back any time soon."

 

[Darth Daiara]

"I am not," she protested, shaking his arm as she did so. She could feel the rigidity in his body, her gut telling her it was something beyond the paranoia that protected them both.

His very muscles seems to strain away, even as he let her hold his hand.

Let being the operative word, nagging at the back of her mind. She blinked, her frown disrupted by the bomb shell he dropped next.

"What? U-" She struggled for words, her hand leaving his. She turned to face him. "Take care of? What do you have to take care of-- we need to get you safe." She was more confused than anything. They had plans. She might not be able to spell them out with complete clarity but this was entirely off base.

Her eyes sharpened on his.

"Did something come up?"

 

[Zaavik Perl]

Zaavik stopped as she did. His contrite expression took the brunt of her interrogation like a brick. "It's nothing, just loose ends." Vague answers hid lies well when employed properly. Truth still hid within his words, rounding off the mendacious edges. It would have sounded like the usual retroactive Shadow problem-solving to anyone who understood that kind of thing. He counted on the fact that she did.

Stepping forward, he cradled a cold, burnished limb around her waist and slowly stepped, trying to coax her into walking along. "Nothing big," he lied. "Just an in and out sort of errand, you know? Clandestine." Tone of voice measured between routine and delicate. He was obviously aware of the reservations she'd probably have.

"We'd have to stay here, though. For a day, maybe two. If you think they'd welcome it?"

 

[Darth Daiara]

It wasn't to plan, so naturally she loathed it.

She didn't like being in this deep either-- mark that as another reason that always kept her away. But it wasn't the location or the sudden hiccup that left her groaning as he pulled her along. She had been so close to getting him back under Vesta's protective bubble.

An hour at most, she could have let the little knot in her chest unravel. He would have been safe. They should have already gone back.

"You're procrastinating," she accused, her steps falling hard in a pout. The simple warmth of the couch was now far behind. They could never get far from hard truths, and she thought she was seeing this one a mile away.

"We had a deal, I come here and then we go-- this was your idea. I warned you they were crazy." Actually, she hadn't spoken of them at all. She stopped and turned on him again, a hand on his chest to block his path.

"Why are you doing this-- and don't give me that sith crap. We're all sith here and you're comfortable enough."

 

[Zaavik Perl]

"I'm not!" he contended. "It doesn't have anything to do with Sith." Though the object of conversation may have been steeped in deception, those two statements were truthful. Lingering wasn't exactly ideal, but there were things that needed to be done. The most important one, a blemish on his psyche from the day he'd considered it. Mentioning a planned confrontation with his former Master wouldn't be a great play.

Aradia cared about Allyson in some hidden way, after all. Just like Vesta, though, something had to be done about her. Taking Vesta out of the picture wasn't his sole motivation for convincing Aradia to see her family, although he pretended as if trying to convince himself otherwise. Part of him still didn't want to do it.

"I know it wasn't part of the deal, I'm sorry." Said the man still lying through his teeth. "If you let me do this, give me some time, I can send SIA in circles for a least a month. Plus it-" Hard stop. Long, low sigh. "Look, why don't we find a bench for this?" She was teetering. A sideways nod of his head gestured down the path as he offered and arm.

 

[Darth Daiara]

Aradia took the arm without a thought, played so easily by the offer of affection. She was having a perfectly good moment with him before he ruined it. Now everything felt wrong and thick-- like sweaters on her teeth. Perhaps she did want to sit down...

She felt weird.

She let him guide her to the bench, her thoughts swirling in quips and convos that hadn't beed said. Her body lowered onto the bench, the world turning solid again. "We're so close," she told him, eyes trained down on her untied shoelace. She'd ... get that later.

"I don't want to lose the cabin. Or... boat. Whatever, " she uttered, finally looking up at him. "I- ... they're so happy here." And they were meant to build that themselves. The point was sloppy, but a glance over her shoulder should her the warm light of the house through the foliage.

"Yanno?"

 

[Zaavik Perl]

"I noticed."

Leaves rattled along with a marginally chilled wind. It offered an almost miraculous respite from Balmorra's heat. The nights must be colder here. For a while, all they could hear were the bugs and the birds. "We won't lose anything," he finally assured after a few moments. "It's low risk. I'll be careful." A lie and a fact. More insistent this time, pleading, but not demanding. Yet.

"Just one day. We'll stay here tonight, I'll get what I need done, and we'll leave tomorrow afternoon."

 

[Darth Daiara]

Aradia sighed, the breeze bringing goose bumps across her skin.

"Fine, we'll tie up your stuff in the morning, but then we're out of here. Don't think I don't know why you did this-- its not working," she grumbled, pushing into his shoulder for a bit of warmth. She could still hear the family's chatter drifting through the trees. It wasn't like any of them had to go home. They all lived here with each other. She swallowed hard and tuned it out.

"What time do you want to leave-- Should I scope it out tonight?" We, us. It didn't dawn on her he intended to leave her behind. They just didn't do that, especially not in the core.

Despite her characteristic grumbles her fingers snaked their way through his.

 

[Zaavik Perl]

"You can pretend all you want," Zaavik teased. He sensed that at least part of her had to be happy to see them all again. It was hard to imagine why she wouldn't be. What more could someone ask for? The way he saw it, she was lucky. No breath would be wasted trying to poke and prod her about her feelings on it all. The last thing she needed was an interrogation.

"No I-" have to do this on my own. Liar's filter caught the thorn before it embedded itself into the plan. "I don't wanna worry about it anymore tonight." She hadn't drawn the conclusion herself, as he hoped she would. Agreement had already been reached, compromising it wouldn't be the right move. "Eight-hundred tomorrow morning," he declared. Although his plan had been, and still was, to get out hours earlier than that. Whatever problems that might cause would be bridges for another road.

"Gives us about twelve hours to kill until then."

It occurred to him that they still hadn't asked about staying. No one likely expected it. Even one of them was, in some sense, the family progeny, they were adults. Thus everyone probably came to the conclusion they had their own business once the night was concluded. Worst case? Sleep in the ship. Same difference, aside from not being nearly as safe.

"You think anyone will object to us staying?"

 

[Darth Daiara]

Aradia snorted.

"They'd throw a party. A true party, this was just dinner," she grumbled. Not a positive word had been said towards the kin beyond the walls. Not a smile had been freely given or hug leveled out. Aradia's behavior towards them was painfully similar towards how she had treated him back in the day, only with him she had softened.

They took it all in stride, too patient with the way they embraced her in. They deserved better than her contempt. Aradia had never spoken about them. It was almost as if they didn't exist.

...At any moment, that could be true.

She buried her head in his shoulder, struggling to keep her foggy thoughts straight. "I think they poisoned me. See'its a con. To s'make us stay. -- Kaalia wasn't mean to you, right?" She pulled her head back up, corned pinching into her eyes.

 

[Zaavik Perl]

"Man, you really are canned." His previous observation now emphasized. "But I guess that answers my question." Kind of. There was still doubt about what feelings they would have about a grungy-looking stranger on an extended stay under their roof. Aradia was clearly convinced they wanted it. An oddly optimistic thing to be convinced of due to her own pessimism. Did she see the irony in it too?

A metal limb snaked between the bench and lumbar curve. Low, half embrace giving her traction for the subsequent face-burying. He nearly zoned out with the breeze. Zaavik's eventual reply to the Kaalia inquiry was more than slightly delayed, "She wasn't, by the way."

"I'm choosing to trust you..."

"She said she trusts me." It came out in a tone as if it weren't any big deal at all, just fact. That surprised him, even. Zaavik would have expected some severity in his tone with that revelation. Maybe it just felt right. Something had finally gone his way for once. He'd take even the small victories at this point.

 

[Darth Daiara]

"I am not, I had one--" she stopped short, her eyes squinting. "...Maybe two." Didn't you have to chug to get impaired? She didn't know, she had never tried before. When people talked about alcohol making things easier, she hadn't thought they meant fuzzier .

She crinkled her nose at him, trying to shut down a further quip.

"Doesn't sound like her. Kaalias only trusts herself, or --" She snorted. "Blood. So either you're my cousin and we got problems or she wants something." Maybe they should stay in the ship.

"...What'd she say to you?"

 

[Zaavik Perl]

Zaavik would have found it hard to believe himself had he not heard it for himself. There wasn't any notion of deception that he could sense. Then again, this was a former dark councilor he was dealing with. "Nothing, really." Another lie. "I think she just figures that us showing up was my idea." Anyone could have probably figured that out, though.

There was a promise he'd kept, even if he hadn't done it for her.

"Keep my daughter safe."

How much of a part did it play? "Plus, you aren't dead. Hard sell to say I have bad intentions." If they ignored the murderer part, at least. His fugitive status never came up in the conversation, but something told him she knew. Kaalia knew a lot of things, come to think of it. Zaavik nearly found himself envious of her insight. Zaavik alluded to their relationship without spelling it out, "She knows, by the way."

Not that it should have been any of her business. They weren't incompetent teenagers anymore. Maybe it was a motherly thing. Zaavik wouldn't know anything about that. Vexing nevertheless.

 

[Darth Daiara]

Aradia groaned.

"Great, I'm gonna get an earful. Again." Because dating a wayward jedi was comparable to attaching yourself to a sith lord.

Well. 3 years ago it might have been. Everything was different and yet she felt the same. Just as powerless, just as small, and just as scoffed at as ever. Her muscles coiled, bracing for the confrontation that had not yet occurred. She had done a good job at scuttling around Kaalia, but if they were to stay the night...

Which they needed to stay safe...

She groaned again and tossed her legs around him next, unconsciously clinging. "Let's just sleep out here."

 

[Zaavik Perl]

"Probably not," he postulated. Kaalia hadn't seemed perturbed about it. Then again, she wasn't his Mother. But she trusted him, or so she claimed. That had to be some indicator of approval. Not that he needed it. Had Kaalia revealed her insight with unkind words, it wouldn't have changed anything. Still, the trust was reassuring.

"Too hot, and I sense its gonna chill later," he mock-contended to her proposal. "C'mon." Zaavik rose, sliding her legs off of him and pulling her up by a hand. "Let's head back, figure out what we're doing." His neck craned to glance over towards the lit estate in the distance. "It's quieter now," he observed. Dissonant chatter in the distance had vanished.

"Maybe they're waiting to ambush you," he teased.

 

[Darth Daiara]

"Not funny!" Aradia complained, hoisted to her feet whether or not she liked it. While the family had done nothing by try to show her love, their large greetings and loud affection often mimicked the chaos of an attack. Nothing was predictable. She did not like that.

"...They probably are..." She walked with him regardless, her pass slow and meandering as she tried to delay their return. As much as she hated to admit it, there was a certain relief that being here brought about. There were no Masters, no agents, no key codes, no threats. The Pavanos estate wasn't untouchable, but it was as close to it as it could be in the middle of enemy space.

It was nice to see him relax. It was nice to see the stars.

The estate light warmed them, their pleasent troll coming to an end. Her fingers tightened on his, stress keeping her in place. "...Meet up with you after..." She offered, as she sucked in a breath... and left to find Kaalia Pavanos to finally.... talk.