Private The Guide in The Dark

[Reina Daival]

Location: Arkania
Objective: Find some resources
Tags: Serina Calis
Outfit​

Reina finally had goals. Something she wanted to do with herself. All thanks to her encounter with a stranger on Mon Cala. She needed to try and find herself. Find what it meant to be herself. What it meant to be a Jedi. Of course, no Jedi would be found without a lightsaber. Which is why Reina was here on Arkania. She kne wit was a planet that did a lot of mining, so perhaps she'd be able to find some materials she'd want to use for the lightsaber. The Order probably had plenty of possible choices back at the Temples but Reina was the kind of person who wanted to get all of it herself. Every part of that lightsaber she was going to earn with her own two hands. There was always the possibility that she could melt down her harpoon but that was one thing she wasn't ready to give up. Not yet. Even as she reached towards her shoulder to make sure it was wrapped around her shoulder.

Would you look at that? One little heart to heart and you think you're all better. Don't you think for a second that I'm gone Reina. I'll say it as many times I need to. I will always be there. Inside of you.

Well. The good times couldn't last forever. The girl sighing to herself as she pressed her hand to her face for a moment. She could still feel the pressure where that alternate version of herself had pressed their harpoon against her chest. It was like some kind of sickness had been put inside of her. Festering and growing. Playing off Reina's negative thoughts. Of course that meant it was easier to push away with positive thoughts. Her new friendship, her realisation that she wasn't alone. Those had been helpful in keeping the voice at bay. Even if she still saw them in nearly everything reflection she looked in.

It was something she'd have to deal with sooner rather than later. But for now she was going to focus on the task at hand. Running a hand through her hair, Reina moved through one of the cities on Arkania. Searching for the right parts to add for her lightsaber. She was letting the Spirit guide her. Letting it pull and weave her through the crowd as it guided her. Guided her through the streets, past the people and straight...through to bumping into a person!

"Oh! Sorry. I wasn't...looking where I was going."

 

[Serina Calis]

Tag: Reina Daival ​

Serina Calis did not believe in coincidences.

Every moment, every encounter, was a thread in the great weave of fate. The girl who had just bumped into her—a girl who carried a wound she did not yet understand, a mind that flickered with uncertainty and resolve alike—was no exception. Serina had felt the disturbance before she had even seen her, like a whisper in the Force, a ripple touching upon the edge of her awareness.

And now, here she was.

Serina's piercing blue eyes lowered to Reina, a glimmer of amusement curling at the edges of her lips as she tilted her head ever so slightly. Oh, what do we have here?

Her robes, dark and finely tailored, barely shifted as she took a slow, measured step back, giving the illusion of deference—but it was only that. An illusion. The true nature of her stance was that of a predator allowing its prey to settle before the strike. Her gaze flickered, just for a moment, up and down Reina's form, dissecting her with an almost clinical curiosity. The hand that had instinctively checked for her harpoon. The weight in her eyes, burdened by something unseen. The subtle tension in her shoulders, as though she was fighting something inside.

Ah, yes. A fractured mind. A soul divided. That, I can use.

A breath passed between them before Serina finally spoke, her voice smooth and lilting, carrying just the right balance of warmth and intrigue.

"How fortunate," she mused, letting the words sink in like honey laced with poison. "I was just thinking that the Force had been rather quiet today. And then you arrive—like a whisper carried on the wind."

She watched for the reaction, the way Reina's expression might shift at the suggestion that their meeting was meant to be. People with fractured minds clung to meaning, to patterns. Serina knew this. And she would make herself a part of Reina's narrative before the girl even realized it.

"You're looking for something, aren't you?" Serina continued, stepping around Reina as though orbiting her, her presence just on the edge of unsettling, just close enough to be felt. "No—seeking. But you don't want to be handed it. No, you want to earn it."

She let the silence stretch for a moment, just long enough to make Reina wonder. Just long enough to make her question how Serina could know. Then, with an indulgent smile, she leaned in slightly.

"A lightsaber."

She didn't ask. She simply stated it.

And there it was. The carefully planted moment of dissonance. That flicker of unease, of how does she know? That was what Serina thrived on. The cracks, the splinters. That was where she could slip inside.

"You carry another weapon, don't you?" she asked, her tone almost thoughtful, but with a sharp edge beneath it. "Something precious. Something you're not ready to give up. And yet..." Her voice dipped slightly, conspiratorial now, just between the two of them. "You already know it weighs you down."

Her gaze flicked meaningfully toward Reina's shoulder, toward where the harpoon rested. Serina could feel it—the significance, the attachment, the conflict.

She smiled.

"I can help you, if you let me."

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Arkania
Objective: Find some resources
Tags: Serina Calis
Outfit​

Reina stared for a moment at the woman in front of her. Something was strange about this situation. But she couldn't quite put her finger on it. There was something somewhat familiar about the woman but she also couldn't quite narrow it down. It wasn't necessarily something about the woman...but something connected to her. A connection that felt familiar to her. But before Reina could focus on it any longer, the woman spoke up. Her voice was soft. Warm. It was enough to catch Reina's attention as she tilted her head.

"I was just thinking that the Force had been rather quiet today. And then you arrive—like a whisper carried on the wind."

"Oh. Yes. The Spirit likes to have things like that happen. Some people like to think it's luck or coincidence. I just think it is the will of the Spirit."
Perhaps it wasn't the reaction Serina had been expecting. Though she did have Reina's interest at the very least. She couldn't help but smile at part of the comparison. Like a whisper on the wind. The skipper always used to call her wee wind. Even if Serina hadn't meant it, it just made her think of that.

Though some of the comfort she was feeling faded away as she could see Serina starting to pace around herself. It was strange to hear someone who seemed to know so much about her. It was unnatural in a way. Especially when Reina didn't know these things about herself. How did Serina know all of this about her? Reina opened her mouth to ask...before Serina revealed that she knew she was looking for. The lightsaber.

She knows. She knows everything before you do. She knows you better than you do.

That damned voice. It was speaking up again. The comfort and familiar feeling she had felt was vastly fading away. Could she trust Serina? No. No. Just breathe. She had to stay calm, even as she could feel Serina slipping into the cracks. Whereas she had let Alana in willingly, and had let her walls down for the woman. Serina was worming her way into whatever cracks she could find in the wall and it was as if she was going to find her way in no matter what.

Her hand went to the harpoon as soon as Serina spoke about it. Not in a threatening manner, or even as if she was going to use it. It was protective. As if she was afraid that Serina would take it away from her. It was her's. It was one of the few things she had left from the ship and she wasn't going to give it up.

"...What's the catch? I learned from my...friend, Alana, that help isn't given up for free. So what do you want from me?"

 

[Serina Calis]

Tag: Reina Daival | Mention: Alana Calloway
​

Serina's smile widened, slow and indulgent, like a cat watching a bird that had just realized it was in danger. Oh, this was delightful. The way Reina's body tensed, the flicker of distrust, the way her fingers curled around her precious harpoon like a child clutching a treasured relic. How fragile. How utterly delicious.

And then—Alana.

Oh, now she was truly intrigued. Her mind worked quickly, piecing together the web that had been spun. Alana was the one who had reached her first, had cracked her open just enough. Serina was no fool—she could see it in the way Reina hesitated, in the way she measured her words. She was trying not to be swayed. Trying, desperately, to stand her ground.

Serina loved it when they fought back.

The moment stretched between them, thick with something electric, unseen but palpable in the air. Then Serina let out a breath of laughter—soft, knowing, indulgent.

"Alana," she purred, the name rolling off her tongue with a slow, honeyed drawl, dripping with something that was affection, but also something deeper. Something far more wicked. "Now, that is a name I didn't expect to hear today."

She took a single step closer, her presence looming despite the softness of her expression.

"I know her well," Serina murmured, her voice shifting—deepening, sultry and teasing, dripping with dark amusement. "Intimately, you could say."

The implication was unmistakable. The way Serina's lips curved as she spoke, the way her fingers brushed lightly, absentmindedly, along her collarbone as if reminiscing. She didn't need to spell it out—she wanted Reina to imagine it.

She wanted to see the moment doubt took root in her mind.

"She has such... fascinating taste, doesn't she?" Serina mused, tilting her head as if sizing Reina up in a way that felt far too personal, far too deep. Her eyes swept over Reina—not just analyzing now, but undressing, peeling away everything layer by layer. The cracks in her armor. The war within her.

Serina leaned in, just slightly, her voice now an intimate whisper, velvet-soft.

"And you trust her, don't you?" A pause. Let the words sink in. "You let her in. You let her see you." Her smile widened, eyes gleaming. "So tell me, little wind—why do you hesitate with me?"

She reached out then, slow and deliberate, her fingers tracing the air just near Reina's hand on the harpoon—not touching, but close enough to feel. The ghost of a caress, lingering in the space between them.

"You asked for the catch," Serina continued, her voice barely above a murmur now, intoxicating in its closeness. "But tell me... would you have asked her that?"

Her lips curled, her tone dipping further into that low, sultry murmur—the kind that slithered past walls and slipped into the spaces she knew Reina was trying to protect.

"I wonder..." she purred, watching Reina with almost mocking fascination. "Would you be so guarded... if I had been the one to find you first?"

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Arkania
Objective: Find some resources
Tags: Serina Calis
Outfit​

She could feel it. Feel the gaze as Serina was watching every little flicker of movement from Reina. Was she meant to be afraid of the sensation? She'd be lying to herself if she said she hated it. It felt like someone was trying to see her. Who she was. Instead of looking at the surface. It was...welcoming in a twisted way. Though she wasn't sure how to wrap her head around the fact that Alana and this woman seemed to know each other. Blinking ever so slightly when Serina said that Alana and her knew each other intimately. It was clear at first that Reina didn't figure out what she meant. Oh. Oh. Oh. That...wasn't something Reina had expected to be told. An actual blush coming to her cheeks as she stuttered, holding out her hands defensively.

"I-I don't...think I have...any need to hear that...Who Alana spends...her time with is her business. I mean...her taste is fine...but she's not the greatest cook."

An awkward chuckle. Humour. Reina's way of deflection. Though she doubted it would work as well against Serina as it did against Alana. It would give her more reason to pry. More reason to try and get to the core of Reina. The core that was fighting with each other. The slowly growing flame of light against the festering sea of dark murky oil. Reina clenched her eyes shut for a moment as the voice started to speak up in her head.

Oh. I like this one. I like her a lot. She knows things about us that not even you do! Go on. Answer her. Let her in, inch by inch. You know you can't push her out! You want to answer. You want to know why she knows the things she does. How she knows.

"Shut up!"

Reina hissed out loud. Clenching her fists tightly. Trying to force the voice out of her mind so she could focus on Serina. Reina knew she had to be careful about the answers she gave. This was a mental battle alongside an emotional one. It felt like Serina was tugging at the perfect strings to make Reina sing and Reina didn't want to accept that. The question was...did she have a choice?

"I did ask her...The same way I've asked you. She said all I had to do was...pay with some of my trust. So I did."

So why couldn't she do the same for Serina? What was it that made this woman so different? The way she talked? The way she looked at Reina? Or was it the way the Spirit was reacting to her. It wasn't...a familiar feeling yet at the same time it was. It felt like Reina was out at sea on a storm. Every moment threatening to sweep her away if she wasn't careful.

"So-So...I will trust...just because you know Alana."

 

[Serina Calis]

Tag: Reina Daival | Mention: Alana Calloway
​

Serina stilled.

Just for a fraction of a second.

Then—that smile.

It stretched slow and knowing, a serpent curling around its prey. Oh, she had her now.

It wasn't about the words themselves—though Reina's awkward attempts to deflect were delicious, the stumbling embarrassment, the way she tried to pretend she wasn't unraveling under Serina's gaze. No, it was about the hesitation. The cracks forming. The voice in her head whispering, urging her closer to the abyss. Serina didn't need to force her way in—Reina was already opening the door herself.

And then she said it.

"So-So...I will trust...just because you know Alana."

Oh, sweetling, you make this too easy.

Serina let a soft breath escape her lips, eyes half-lidded with something unreadable. Something intimate. A knowing look, a gaze that promised things Reina couldn't yet comprehend.

"How very generous of you," she murmured, voice warm, velvet-wrapped steel.

She moved then—fluidly, effortlessly—closing the distance between them, slow and deliberate. Her hand lifted—not touching, not yet, just hovering near Reina's shoulder, near the harpoon she clung to like a lifeline. Close enough to feel the heat between them, to make Reina wonder if she wanted that touch.

"Trust is such a precious thing," Serina continued, voice dipping into that low, sensuous whisper—not lustful, no, but something deeper, something more dangerous. "And once given… well, it cannot be taken back so easily, can it?"

Her head tilted, the gleam in her eyes both soft and razor-sharp.

"Alana asked for a little trust," Serina mused, her tone almost purring now. "And look what she gave you in return. Comfort. Understanding. Something you could hold onto. A light in the dark."

Her gaze flickered, tracking every shift in Reina's expression, every twitch of emotion she tried to suppress.

"But tell me, Reina… what if I can give you something she never could?"

She let the words linger. Let them sink in.

She could see it now—the war inside Reina. The flickering flame of light, the festering oil of shadow. Serina was neither wind nor tide—she was the storm itself, the hand that guided the waves. She could drown Reina in it, if she wanted. Make her something more.

But she wouldn't rush it.

No, she would let Reina step into the deep herself.

Serina's lips curled ever so slightly.

"You trust me," she repeated, savoring the words. "Good. Then let's not waste it, shall we?"

And finally—finally—she moved.

Her fingers brushed against Reina's hand, the one still gripping her harpoon, featherlight and lingering, a touch that barely was—but there, undeniable.

"Come," Serina said, her voice smooth, coaxing. "Let's find you a lightsaber."

And oh, wasn't that just the perfect metaphor?

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Arkania
Objective: Find some resources
Tags: Serina Calis
Outfit​

Even now, Reina's body was all tensed up. She was trusting Serina, yes. But not physically. Emotionally she was. But even now she was physically a closed book...

But sometimes you can see an entire book's story and contents by it's cover. By it's back. Reina's entire story was written all over her face. The way she was standing. The way she was clutching onto her harpoon like her life depended on it. It was a part of who she was. Part of who she wanted to go back to being, even if she knew that wasn't possible anymore.

Though in the blink of an eye, Serina was closer. Reina was holding her head back more, trying to create some form of distance, even as her feet were firmly stood in place. Unbudging. A part of her believing that stepping back would be admitting that she was...intimidated by Serina. Another part not wanting to move whatsoever. The curious part of her. Unfortunately both of those parts beat out her self-preservation instincts. The instincts that were telling her to leave. Now. Find a different planet to get materials from...Though a small spark of stubbornness lit up in her eyes for a moment as Reina tried to stare Serina down.

"...Alana gave me what I needed the most. A friend. Someone to trust. Anymore than that is greed. Nothing I need."

Reina was not someone who wanted. Not in the physical sense at least. She wanted to feel less alone. Alana had aided in that endeavour. As much as she could at least. She wouldn't admit it, not yet at least, but she felt the same way towards Alana as she felt towards the Crew. The closest thing she had to a family. Of course, Reina didn't realise that was the connection she had to the crew. Mostly since she had no clue what a family was meant to be like. Parents. Siblings. Uncles. All of those were lost on her. The emotional meaning at least...That was common with Reina. She understood what a word meant, in the literal sense. But not figuratively. Emotionally.

She opened her mouth to say something else. About how she wasn't fully trusting Reina, before her voice got caught in her throat. Feeling Serina's fingers brushing against her hand. It was...hard to explain how it felt. It tingled. If it wasn't for the tingling, Reina would have thought she imagined it. It was only after Serina started moving that Reina realised.

...She could have stabbed me then there.

And you would have thanked her for it. You best keep your guard up.

The taunting from the voice in the head was clear to Reina who scrunched her face up in frustration. She needed to be more aware of her personal space. Though a part of her felt like it wasn't her physical space that she needed to be wary of.

 

[Serina Calis]

Tag: Reina Daival | Mention: Alana Calloway
​

Serina savored this moment.

Every flicker of emotion playing across Reina's face—the tension in her muscles, the way she held herself, clung to that harpoon like it was the last tether to a life she knew was slipping away.

The way she stared her down, stubborn and unyielding.

Oh, how utterly delightful.

Serina didn't need to push. Not yet. No, she would let Reina stand there, let her believe she had control. That she wasn't already sinking, inch by inch, into Serina's grasp.

"Alana gave me what I needed the most. A friend. Someone to trust. Anymore than that is greed. Nothing I need."

Serina's smile was slow, almost lazy.

"Oh, my dear," she murmured, voice like silk, like the slow drag of velvet over bare skin. Soft, but heavy. Intimate. "Now, that is a lie if I've ever heard one."

She didn't challenge her outright. No. That wasn't how you unraveled someone like Reina. That wasn't how you peeled them open. You agreed—but you made them question it themselves.

Serina took a step then, her movements measured, her body language shifting—less predatory, more indulgent. She tilted her head slightly, letting her gaze soften just enough.

"Is it so wrong to want more, Reina?" Her voice was low, dipped in something warm. Something that felt like understanding. "Is it greed... or is it simply being alive?"

She let the words settle between them, hanging there, begging to take root.

Serina watched her, felt the storm warring inside her. The conflict. The fear. The voice slithering through her mind, whispering things she didn't want to acknowledge.

Serina knew that voice well.

And that was when she truly struck.

She moved closer again—not aggressively, no. Not forcefully. Effortlessly. Like they had already been standing this close all along. Like the space between them was simply meant to disappear.

"You think I don't see it?" Serina's voice was softer now, almost a whisper. "The way you hesitate? The way you second-guess yourself?" Her head tilted ever so slightly, her gaze unwavering. "You think I don't know what it's like? To have that little voice in the back of your mind—"

Her fingers lifted again.

This time, they did not hover.

They touched.

Barely.

A brush of fingertips, featherlight against Reina's wrist, against the hand that gripped her harpoon. A touch meant to be felt. Not invasive, not forceful—just there. A whisper of connection. A sensation that lingered.

Serina had dealt with the voices her entire life, the fact she never had control. She knew, she understood, she empathized with her.

"You fight it," Serina continued, voice dipping, dark and intimate. "You try so hard to ignore it. To pretend you are whole."

A pause. A breath.

Then—a smile that was both understanding and damning all at once.

"But darling," Serina murmured, leaning in just enough that Reina could feel the warmth of her breath against her skin, "you and I both know... you've never been whole a day in your life."

And oh—wasn't that the truth of it?

Serina let the silence hang. Let Reina feel it. Let her think about it.

Then—gracefully, effortlessly, she stepped away.

Back into her own space. Giving Reina just enough room to breathe, to think.

But not enough to escape.

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Arkania
Objective: Find some resources
Tags: Serina Calis
Outfit​

"It's not a lie. You don't take more than you need. You keep a balance. Excess leads to destruction. I don't plan on destroying myself. Or Alana."

Reina said bluntly. Her stubbornness coming more and more. Alana had given her enough. It was enough to give Reina that push she needed to keep moving. To not doubt herself. And Serina was threatening to bring that all crumbling down. Reina was trying to fight that doubt. She might not have been good at dealing with the mental side of things...the emotional side...but she was stubborn. She was headstrong. Reina wasn't going to give up from a few words and touches...

"You...don't know. You don't know how it feels to look in a reflection and not see yourself anymore. To see a fake version of yourself. Those damned glowing eyes...The blood covering her face...To have your own voice, whispering in the back of your mind, telling you to enjoy hurting others. Telling you that you're hiding how you feel."

She was hesitating still. It only grew as she felt the fingertips against her wrist. Once again, every fibre of her being telling her to be careful. That this was like a spider weaving its web. If Reina wasn't careful, the spider would drag her under into the darkness. She didn't want darkness. It scared her. Not the physical darkness. The absence of the sun or a source of light. No. The metaphorical darkness. That was what scared Reina. Made her terrified of wanting to hurt people. Enjoying hurting people.

Darling. That was meant to be a term of endearment right? So why did it feel anything but endearing from Serina? It was more like a taunt. A tease. Trying to make Reina react as her cheeks flush a bright red. No. That was exactly what she wanted. She was in Reina's personal space again. She had to move. Do something to defend herself. And so she tried. Reina reached her hand up to try and grab Serina's wrist...but by the time Reina had managed to move, Serina had already taken a step back.

"You're...wrong. I have felt whole. Back on my ship. Diving. Being surrounded by the ocean. Those are moments I've felt whole. Felt alive."

Don't forget about the time you killed the Mandalorian. The time you felt their blood on your hands. The time you felt your own blood when that monster plunged its claws through your shoulder.

She missed for the days when she didn't have to worry about things. Where she could just work on the ship. Just taking one day at a time. Not worrying about what the future would entail. But now that was different. She had to look after herself. Considering the fact she was still talking to Serina, the fact Reina hadn't left...It was obvious she wasn't doing a good job at looking after herself. It was some kind of game to Serina. Reina knew that. She knew it but couldn't do anything about it. Her eyes just staring into Serina's. Thinking things over in her head. Breathe. Keep control of herself. After a few more moments, Reina closed her eyes, letting out a long sigh.

"...If you are trying to get something out of me...Just tell me already. I don't like playing games where it feels like the other person has already won."

It was a demand. A fruitless one perhaps. But it was Reina's own sign of defiance. It was pointless in a way. If she truly wanted to show some form of defiance, she'd have walked away. But she couldn't bring herself to do it.

 

[Serina Calis]

Tag: Reina Daival | Mention: Alana Calloway
​

Serina's smile didn't waver.

Oh, this was exquisite.

The fight in her. The way she pushed back, trying to hold her ground, trying to keep from slipping. Serina loved this part. The tension, the resistance—it was what made the unraveling so much sweeter.

And yet…

There was something about Reina that made Serina tilt her head ever so slightly, just enough to feign curiosity. Not mockery, not yet. No, this moment was something deeper.

She listened. Truly listened.

"You don't know. You don't know how it feels to look in a reflection and not see yourself anymore. To see a fake version of yourself. Those damned glowing eyes... The blood covering her face..."

Oh, but Serina did know.

She knew what it was to see a stranger in the mirror. To hear a voice that wasn't your own, whispering secrets you weren't ready to face.

For the first time, her gaze flickered. Just for a moment. Something unreadable passed through it—not pity, no, never that. But something close.

Reina wasn't wrong. The game was obvious now, wasn't it? Reina could see it.

But she was still playing.

Serina let a soft breath escape her lips, a ghost of a chuckle, warm and laced with something almost… regretful.

"You mistake me," she murmured, voice softer now. Not teasing. Not taunting. Not yet. "You think I'm playing with you. That I want to manipulate you."

Her fingers twitched, as if considering reaching out again, but she didn't. Not yet. Instead, she tilted her chin, her gaze locked onto Reina's, unwavering.

"What if I told you the truth is far simpler than that?"

Serina let a pause stretch between them. Let Reina feel it. Let her think she had a choice in what came next.

Then—her voice dipped, gentler than before.

"I want to understand you."

Not break you. Not twist you. Not pull you into her web.

Serina let those words linger, wrapping around Reina like a whisper of silk.

"I see you, Reina." Her head tilted slightly. "Not the reflection, not the doubts, not the things you fear will consume you."

She let her gaze soften, just enough to make it seem real.

"I see you."

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Arkania
Objective: Find some resources
Tags: Serina Calis
Outfit​

Reina still tried to keep her ground. Stare Serina down. Even if it was a foolish endeavour, Reina wouldn't back down. She never thought she was smart after all. Being foolish was just part of her life. Yet Reina raised an eyebrow at Serina's movements. Her expressions weren't what Reina was expecting. She found it hard to believe that she was mistaken about Serina trying to play with her. Try to manipulate her. Serina was smart. Intelligent. That was clear to Reina. What was also clear to Reina was that she wasn't smart or intelligent. The perfect person to try and manipulate.

"I wouldn't believe you. It's simple to say things. To make people believe you want what's best for them. To make them believe you know what's best for them..."

She mumbled. Her confidence was slowly faltering. There was a part that wanted to believe Serina. That wanted to believe Serina did want what was best for her. But Reina knew that it wasn't that easy. It couldn't be that easy. Even as the hair was still stood up on the back of her neck. She couldn't trust Serina. As much as there was a small part of her that wanted the attention.

Does it really matter if it's not real for her? As long as it feels real for you. As long as she's good enough at acting, do you really have to care?

"I see you, Reina."

She froze. The fisherwoman's eyes going wide for a precious few seconds as her breath got caught in her throat. Run. Every fibre of her being at this point was telling Reina to run. This was Serina casting out a net. Trying to catch Reina with it and get her to stay. Don't try to talk back. Don't try to entertain Serina. Just run...but Reina's legs wouldn't move. Instead she folded her arms along her front, her eyes narrowing again as she stared directly at Serina. Trying to judge the woman.

"...Do you see me, or the version of me you want to see?"

No-one knew Reina. Not fully at least. Not even Reina knew it. She didn't know who she was fully. It was hard to know that when you don't have any parents. Any family. She didn't know anything about her blood.

 

[Serina Calis]

Tag: Reina Daival
​

Serina breathed in the moment.

The faltering confidence. The hesitation. The sharp inhale that betrayed the way her words had landed. The way Reina's body froze, even if her mind screamed at her to run.

And yet—she stayed.

Serina knew she had already won.

But she wouldn't show it. Not yet.

Instead, she let the silence stretch, studying Reina with something unreadable in those piercing blue eyes. Letting her squirm under her gaze—not from force, not from intimidation, but from something far more insidious. Understanding.

Because that was the real trap, wasn't it?

Reina expected cruelty. Expected lies. Expected manipulation.

But what if Serina gave her something else?

"Do you see me, or the version of me you want to see?"

Oh, darling.

Serina's lips parted, and for the first time, there was no smirk. No teasing lilt.

Just a slow, steady exhale.

Her voice came quieter this time, softer, closer.

"I see the parts of you that you try to bury."

A pause. A heartbeat.

"The parts that whisper in the dark when no one else is listening."

Her head tilted slightly, the motion slow, deliberate, as she watched Reina with something that almost seemed like... pity.

"You don't even know yourself, do you?" Serina mused, her voice dipped in something gentle, something that brushed against the raw, exposed nerves Reina had just begun to realize were there.

She let the question linger, sinking into Reina's skin like an ember that refused to fade.

Serina wasn't in a hurry. She didn't need to be.

Instead, she took one last step closer—not touching, not invading, just existing within the space that Reina was too stubborn to move from. Close enough to breathe the same air.

"I could show you," she whispered then, so quiet it was almost a secret between them.

Not a demand. Not a threat.

An offer.

Serina watched, waiting for it to sink in, waiting for Reina's own mind to turn against her.

Because she already knew.

Reina would think about it. Even if she said no, she would think about it.

And Serina would still be there when she did.

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Arkania
Objective: Find some resources
Tags: Serina Calis
Outfit​

She carried on to stay her ground. Even as the silence stretched between them, the voice in Reina's head would just not shut up.

Come on. Stop standing there. Do something. Either go with her or walk away. Stop acting like standing still is something tough

Reina clenched her fists. It was hard. To stay calm with this voice and the feeling that Serina was still playing with her. Trying to wrap her web around Reina. Talking about parts of Reina that she was trying to bury. There wasn't much that she was trying to bury about herself...At least she thought as much. Sure, she had buried who she was but that's because...she was a baby when she was abandoned at sea. There was no way she'd be able to remember anything about that. But the offer...Was there a chance Serina could show her that? Show Reina who she was meant to be...

Slowly she raised her hand. Extending an open palm in Serina's direction. The offer was tempting. But at the same time...what would it cost? What was it that Alana said? Relationships had to go both way. Communication was key. Whatever was going on right now didn't feel like it was going both ways. Serina was getting more enjoyment out of it. She had all the cards in her hand. Wiggling her way into Reina's head.

Do it. Take the offer. You don't know if you'll let get another chance. Are you willing to ignore your past?

Was she? That was an important question. Her hand hesitated for a moment. What if Reina's family would make it so that she'd never have to worry about another thing in her life? She wouldn't have to live like she was. Fighting for the Jedi...No. That would be the same as quitting. Giving up. Reina didn't give up. A soft sigh escaped her mouth before she brought her hand back, running it through her hair for a moment.

"...Thanks. But no. I'm here to find lightsaber parts. Not to go soul searching."

Even at that statement though, Reina stayed stood in front of Serina. Serina had offered to help find lightsaber parts...so Reina was going to at least trust her on that side of things.

 

[Serina Calis]

Tag: Reina Daival
​

Serina didn't move.

Didn't speak.

She just… watched.

Watched as Reina's hand hovered between them, trembling slightly—hesitating. The offer was there, so close, so tempting. The way Reina's fingers flexed, the way her breath caught, the way her thoughts raced behind those sharp, defiant eyes.

Oh, you're thinking about it, aren't you?

And then—

"Thanks. But no."

Serina blinked. Slowly.

Then—she laughed.

Soft, breathy, a warm ripple of amusement, as if Reina had just done something adorable. As if she were indulging a child who thought themselves clever.

"Ahhh…"

She shook her head, a lazy, knowing smile playing at her lips as she took a step back—giving Reina her space, but only because she allowed it. Only because it was her choice to retreat, not Reina's victory.

"Soul searching?" Serina mused, her voice rich with amusement, but underneath it—underneath it was something else. Something calculated. "Is that what you think I was offering?"

She let the question linger. Let Reina stew in it.

Then she smiled again—not mocking, not taunting. No, far more dangerous than that.

She smiled like she knew something Reina didn't.

"Very well," she said smoothly, as if she hadn't just spent the past few moments unraveling her. "Lightsaber parts it is, come."

Then—Serina turned.

Not hurried. Not dismissive. Simply moving forward, expecting Reina to follow.

And oh, wasn't that the best part?

Reina would.

She had already chosen to stay.

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Arkania
Objective: Find some resources
Tags: Serina Calis
Outfit​

Reina's eye twitched for a moment at the laughter. A small glint in her eye of...something. Anger? Frustration? She wasn't sure herself.

Are you just going to let her laugh at you? Bite back at her. Say something. Do something.

She didn't answer the voice. She didn't even give it a single thought. Because Reina had found something that played with her patience more than the voice. Serina. There was just something about the woman that both frustrated Reina but also meant she couldn't just walk away.

"Is that what you think I was offering?"

"No. I don't think you were offering. Whether I like it or not, I'm going to be shown who I am...or at least a version of him."

Reina was back to being blunt. She knew that Serina's words weren't going to leave her mind. They had weaseled their way in. Planted small little seeds in her thoughts. She took in a deep breath, trying to keep herself steady. To try and keep herself firm from temptation. Because that's what Serina was trying to do. Tempt Reina. At least that was how the fisherwoman saw it.

"...What are your suggestions? For parts. I mean."

She had a crystal...or well a pearl at least. It didn't have any colour but she'd put it into her saber when she had it anyway. To remind herself of her connections. Her friendships. She had gotten the pearl whilst fishing with Alana after all.

Either way. This was Reina's attempt at a normal conversation. One that didn't feel like she was being inspected. Examined.

Do you honestly think you can have a normal conversation with her?

 

[Serina Calis]

Tag: Reina Daival
​

Serina hummed, low in her throat, as if savoring Reina's words. Oh, wasn't this delightful? The little burst of anger in her eye, the way she tried so desperately to keep herself steady. The way she knew Serina had already planted herself in her mind—and hated it.

"No. I don't think you were offering."

Serina's lips curled.

Good girl.

She didn't say it, but it was there. In the way her eyes gleamed, the way she allowed Reina that small victory of recognition.

Serina didn't need to keep pulling—Reina was already tangled in the net.

And then, just like that, Reina was trying to pull things back to normalcy.

Oh, how adorable.

Serina let out a small, amused exhale before tilting her head slightly, her gaze flickering with something unreadable.

"What are your suggestions? For parts, I mean."

Now that was a topic Serina could sink her teeth into.

And oh, did she ever.

"Ah." Serina's entire demeanor shifted. Her eyes brightened with something genuine, something that burned with knowledge and passion.

She lived for moments like this.

"You must be particular about the hilt," she murmured, slipping into something like excitement, her voice still smooth but now touched with something far more indulgent. "Not just in form, but in feel. The weight. The way it belongs in your hand."

She turned slightly, walking ahead just a pace—not rushing, but as if she were already curating possibilities in her mind.

"Durasteel?" She waved a dismissive hand. "Too common. Too industrial. It lacks a soul."

"I have seen a couple nerfherders try Cortosis." A thoughtful hum. "Mmm. Interesting, but impractical. It can short out sabers, yes, but it's brittle. Unstable. Hardly worth the effort unless you're really into theatrics."

Then—

Then, her eyes truly lit up.

And the way she spoke next—oh, it was almost sinful.

"But Phrik?"

A slow inhale, as if she were savoring the very idea.

"Ohh, Phrik."

Serina turned back toward Reina, her expression practically glowing with enthusiasm, the sultry smoothness of her voice mixing now with something raw, indulgent.

"It is perfection. A metal so light—so effortless—yet capable of standing against anything." She exhaled, shaking her head slightly, as if the sheer thought of it was too much. "Resilient. Refined. Rare. It sings in your hands, becomes an extension of you."

Her fingers traced air as if she could already feel the perfect hilt, the contours, the balance.

"Phrik isn't just metal." She looked directly at Reina now, and there was something... real in her gaze. "It's legacy. It's a statement. It's proof that you will never be broken. Never be shattered. I have never actually seen a Phrik Lightsaber before but I am sure it can be done."

A breath, a pause—then her lips curled again, a slow, knowing smirk.

"If you want to know who you are, Reina," she purred, voice dipping low once more, "start with what you hold in your hands."

Then, as if the moment hadn't just been dripping with layered meaning, Serina casually turned back ahead.

"Now then," she mused, a lazy hum in her throat. "Shall we find you some?"

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Arkania
Objective: Find some resources
Tags: Serina Calis
Outfit​

Well. This was a somewhat normal conversation. Even if it seemed like Serina was inspired by the conversation of metals. Maybe she was some kind of smith or metal worker. After all, Reina could talk for hours about fishing. Though as her eyes narrowed at Serina's hands...She felt like Serina didn't seem like the type of person who would be a metal worker.

She listened as Serina listed off the different types of metal. Their different uses. It was clear to Reina that Serina cared deeply about Phrik. The description of it causing Reina's head to go down a rabbit hole as she held her chin between her index finger and thumb, furrowing her brows in thought.

"...Not sure if I want a phrik hilt for my lightsaber. But I do want a shield made out of one."

A shield. To go with her dream of being a Knight. To protect. It would work for what she wanted to be. It was like what Serina had just said. If you want to know who you are, you have to look at what is in your hands. It was why she probably didn't feel like a Jedi yet. She didn't have a lightsaber. When she used her harpoon as a weapon, she felt like herself. Her old self. The fisherwoman. Reina hated to admit that Serina had a point with this.

"...But I also want a strong handle. I want to be able to hold my lightsaber with two hands, or one depending on the circumstance. A guard for it as well."

Yet another way for it to link into being a Knight. A Sword-like Lightsaber to go with a shield. This childish dream of her's was something that Serina would probably laugh at or find amusement in. But Reina wouldn't care either way. She finally had a chance to live out a dream of her's. A childish one, after she had been denied the chance to have a...pleasant childhood.

Reina debated to herself. Walking with Serina was...nice when she wasn't trying to analyze Reina. Well. That was a lie actually. Serina was probably always analyzing Reina. Her every move. Her every word. It just felt nice when Serina wasn't vocalizing her analysis. Part of her even wanted to make a joke. To try and ease her own worries but she shook her head at that.

"You seem to...really like Phrik though. Is there any specific reason? Like do you have family that deals with it or something? Are you trying to make me into a Phrik fanatic so that they'll get more credits or?"

With that, Reina stepped forward. Gently placing her hand on Serina's shoulder as the fisherwoman gave a smile. It was just her attempt to be friendly. Trying to get to know Serina, even if every fibre of her being was telling her not to. To get what she wanted and leave. But she thought this was better. If Serina was going to try and know who Reina was, it was only fair if she tried to do the same.

 

[Serina Calis]

Tag: Reina Daival
​

Serina felt the touch before she fully registered it.

It wasn't that she was unprepared—Serina was never unprepared—it was that Reina had done something few ever attempted. She had closed the distance willingly. Not because she had been led, not because she had been coaxed, but because she had chosen to.

That, in itself, was fascinating.

Serina's mind moved like a well-oiled machine, turning over every detail with meticulous precision. The way Reina's fingers pressed against her shoulder—firm, but not forceful. Not claiming, not demanding, but offering. A simple gesture of connection. A sign that, despite everything, despite her better judgment, Reina wanted to understand her.

And oh, wasn't that just precious?

Serina's lips curled, but only slightly. Not the indulgent smirk she often wore when pulling someone deeper into her orbit. No, this was something more measured. More intentional.

Reina was testing something.

Not her, necessarily. Not in the way one tested an enemy or an obstacle. She was testing herself. Her own boundaries.

Serina could feel it, see it in the way Reina spoke, the way she thought her words over carefully but still let them spill from her lips like she wasn't quite sure what she was doing. This was a woman who operated on instinct, on gut feeling, and yet—here she was, deliberately pushing past that instinct. Reaching out.

Was it bravery? Was it foolishness?

Serina didn't believe in such simple distinctions.

"You seem to... really like Phrik though. Is there any specific reason? Like do you have family that deals with it or something? Are you trying to make me into a Phrik fanatic so that they'll get more credits or?"

Serina laughed, but this time it was different.

Not the teasing, knowing laughter that had sent a flicker of frustration across Reina's face earlier. No, this was something richer, something almost genuine—a soft, amused chuckle as she tilted her head slightly, just enough that her gaze met Reina's more directly.

"How very pragmatic of you," Serina murmured, a purr of approval in her tone. "Thinking in terms of motive. Of intent. As if I must have some agenda beyond simple appreciation."

She let her gaze linger, not analyzing—no, not anymore. Not so obviously. But instead, something softer. Something that suggested interest, yes, but also amusement.

Then, finally, she exhaled, a slow, measured breath before she answered.

"Phrik is not just metal," she said, her voice smoothing into something deliberate, something with weight. "It is a symbol. An idea. A thing that is unbreakable, no matter what forces work against it. No matter how much pressure, how much heat, how much force is applied to it—it remains."

She let that sit.

She knew Reina would make the connection.

The idea of something indestructible. Of something holding firm no matter what tried to shatter it.

Just as she knew why Reina wanted a shield, why she wanted a sword.

Reina longed to protect. That was obvious. But more than that—she longed for something steady. Something unchanging. Something that would not be stripped from her, that would not be taken, that would not be left behind like she was.

Reina was reaching for something eternal.

Something stronger than herself.

And oh, Serina felt it.

A slow smile played at her lips, but this time, she wasn't teasing.

She was offering.

"You ask if I have family in the industry," she said smoothly, watching Reina carefully. "No. But I admire things that endure. That do not bend to the will of others. That stand unshaken in the face of all who would see them broken."

She took a step forward then, slow, deliberate, her presence once again looming—not threatening, not predatory, but simply there.

"You say you want a shield of Phrik." Her voice softened, her tone dipping into something almost intimate. "And what is a shield, if not the promise of protection?"

Serina could see the way Reina was trying to fit herself into the shape of something greater—a Knight. A protector. A warrior bound by duty, by code, by honor.

But Serina saw deeper.

Reina was not just someone who wanted to protect. She was someone who was terrified of what would happen if she couldn't.

And that fear? That fear ruled her.

Serina would not call it out—not yet. She didn't need to.

Because Reina already knew.

Instead, she smiled, slow and knowing.

"Come," she murmured, turning on her heel, letting her presence pull Reina with her. "Let's find your shield."

Because in the end, Serina knew one simple truth:

Reina was not looking for a weapon.

She was looking for armor.

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Arkania
Objective: Find some resources
Tags: Serina Calis
Outfit​

The laughter. It was different to last time. Reina wasn't sure how to feel about it, as she just frowned in thought. What was she even doing? She should have just ran away. But she couldn't. There was some just that had her attention. Reina couldn't put her finger on it as she took her hand away from Serina's shoulder and shoved it into her own pockets instead, listening to Serina talk.

"Thinking in terms of motive. Of intent. As if I must have some agenda beyond simple appreciation."

"You don't seem like the kind of person to waste their time on learning something that isn't important to you. You seem practical to me."

Reina was practical. She didn't enjoy trying to learn about stuff that she didn't think was important for herself. It's why meditation was difficult for her back at the Temple. How could she just sit there and do something she didn't feel like she was progressing in? She had to get better. Make progress. Sitting around wasn't going to do that. But Reina shook her head. She had to stay focused. If she let her mind wander too much, who knows how much Serina would be able to analyze her.

She blinked for a moment as Serina suggested the idea of what a shield could be. It could be many things, that was true. A weapon. A promise of protection. A fashion piece. Of course, the only one that applied to Reina was the promise. Perhaps even the way she'd be able to use it as a weapon. An alternative to using her harpoon, or her soon-to-be-made lightsaber. Reina took in a deep breath. Now seemed like a good time to make an attempt at humour at the very least.

"Oh. I just thought a shield was something I could punch people in the face with. Less risk of breaking my hand."

An awkward chuckle. Reina tugged at her collar as she started to follow Serina through the market. Her eyes scanning over some of the products, frowning to herself at the same time. She could have done a better job than most of these people selling their products. They weren't making enough of an effort in her eyes. She had always tried to put her goods out there when she was selling fish...Though maybe it wasn't so much her trying to bring attention to herself, and more the stink of fish...

"...Don't take this as an insult by the way, but you're strange. I've never met someone like you before. Even the Jedi I've met aren't this strange..."

Well. Reina did nearly slap a Jedi when she first met them. But she had realised that was wrong after talking to Alana. People deal with things in different ways. Reina had just been numb to her emotions which is how she had dealt with her problems. Now that the numbness was thawing...That was part of Reina's main issues.

 

[Serina Calis]

Tag: Reina Daival
​

Serina let out a soft, almost amused hum at Reina's remark about practicality.

Ah, yes. Practical. A word that so often meant different things to different people. To Reina, it was about usefulness—about doing what mattered, what had an immediate, tangible result. She was someone who had worked for everything she had, and because of that, she struggled with anything that didn't show clear progress. Anything that felt like it was just… wasting time.

Serina tucked that little fact away for later.

But for now, she smiled.

"Oh. I just thought a shield was something I could punch people in the face with. Less risk of breaking my hand."

That laugh—that was genuine. A quiet chuckle, short and sharp, as she tilted her head slightly toward Reina, watching her with something different now. Less indulgence, less amusement at her expense, and more… appreciation.

"Now that is practical," Serina murmured, smirking slightly. "Efficient. Brutal. You are rather single-minded when you set yourself on something, aren't you?"

It was not a dig. Not a taunt. It was… almost a compliment?

Serina did admire that about Reina. That stubbornness. That persistence.

Of course, it made her easier to manipulate in some ways—but in others, it made her fascinating.

And then—

"You're strange. I've never met someone like you before. Even the Jedi I've met aren't this strange..."

Serina stopped.

For a moment, she simply breathed in the words.

Strange.

Yes, she supposed she was.

Slowly, she exhaled, her smirk fading into something softer. She turned slightly, facing Reina fully, as if considering her words with genuine weight.

"That's not an insult," Serina said after a moment, her voice lower now. Quieter. "It's honest."

She let her gaze drift away, as if considering something she normally wouldn't voice. As if letting Reina in.

"I've been called many things," she admitted, rolling her shoulders slightly, as if shaking off some unseen weight. "Cold. Manipulative. Calculated." Her lips pressed together in a brief, wry smirk. "But rarely strange."

She let that sit between them for a moment.

Then, she glanced back at Reina, and there was something… real in her gaze. Something that wasn't sharp, wasn't teasing.

Something that looked almost human.

"I think it's because I don't believe in pretending," Serina continued, her voice softer now. "People lie to themselves all the time, Reina. They convince themselves they're one thing when really, they're another. They tell themselves they are good when they are selfish. They tell themselves they are selfless when they crave recognition. They tell themselves they are whole when they are fractured."

Her gaze locked onto Reina's.

She let the words sit. Let them soak in.

Then—Serina took a step forward.

"Maybe I am strange," she said, her voice almost… warm. "Or maybe I'm just not afraid to look at the world for what it is."

She let a small, almost tired breath slip past her lips, as if this was something she didn't normally share.

And then—she smiled again.

It was not the sharp smirk from before. Not the indulgent amusement.

It was... softer.

Almost kind.

"You're strange, too, you know," Serina murmured, tilting her head slightly. "I wonder if you realize that."

And oh—wasn't that the most dangerous thing of all?

Because this was how Serina operated.

She could be sharp, she could be overwhelming, she could be temptation incarnate.

But she could also be this.

Understanding.

Genuine.

And that—that was how you truly got inside someone's head.