The Menagerie [SJO Dominion of Amar, Z-28]

[Valae Heavenshield]

Nodding at T-4, Inaya smiled up at the tall droid. Yes, perhaps brother was on his way right this very moment. Standing on tip-toes, Inaya took a glance down the walkway. There were other bird displays, though one of them appeared to be closed today. Instead of moving on, she continued to talk to the bird that had come to perch nearby.

“What’s your name?” Inaya asked, but was met with silence. However, the bird canted its head to the side, as if listening intently to the girl. “My name Inaya,” She pointed at her nose to punctuate her point.

This time, the bird turned away, flapping to another branch. The Kiros bird had discovered that there were no treats to be given by Inaya, therefore, it had decided to wait for another opportunity to present itself. Inaya was determined not to be discouraged, but it felt as though she’d just been shunned by another potential friend.

“Bye,” She said quietly, turning to walk away from the display. “Bye, bird!” Inaya called with a wave, a small but desperate attempt to draw the bird’s eye. Once more, the Kiros bird failed to look. Shrugging, she looked back to her droid companion.

“Oh well… we go back –” Inaya said, but stopped short. Standing up straight, she held her nose to the wind and closed her eyes. A familiar sensation rippled through her, something that was fleeting but definitely there. Somehow, she knew… she felt that Cassius was near.

Without another word, the young girl took off through the crowd, heading back the way they had come. There were still quite a few people filtering through the area, most taking a detour to the gift shot, a the petting zoo was closed for the day. Her eyes searched, but were unable to pick Cassius from the sea of people.

Maybe it was just her imagination.

A shiver of panic – she’d run off without T-4. Realizing her mistake, she rooted herself to the spot and decided to wait, he would surely catch up.

[member="Cassius Droma"]

 

[Samka Derith]

Beyond the Loth-Cat feasting at her table, someone shuffled nearby to take a seat. On second glance she recognised the girl. It was enough to give Sam pause, her gaze passing back downwards to avoid her as she considered the next move. It was Charlie, the teenager whom she'd fooled into helping her before attempting to murder the girl. The events of the shrine felt like so long ago now. Despite everything, there had been an odd bond between them. It was almost a shame to cast her aside. Almost.

The Loth-Cat continued to guzzle its share of the ice cream so Sam spared a look over at the Padawan who... was also guzzling her share of the ice cream. In spite of everything, a smirk crept onto the Ren's face as she watched the pair mirror one another. Perhaps she'd have a name for the animal after all.

It seemed Charlie had sat nearby for a reason. The girl was probably curious, the events of the Shrine had had no closure for her as far as she knew. What Jyoti may have told her Padawan remained a mystery.

"Hello," The Ren softly called across from her table, smiling as best she could with an almost apologetic look in her eyes. This was the part where she'd be disguising her irises, flickering them to their natural brown but the collar deprived her of all Force ability. Instead Charlie saw them for what they were, a corrupted blood red. "I'm... glad you're okay, Charlie," her head motioned to the free seat opposite her if the Jedi was so inclined to take it.

[member="Charlie Nooran"]

 

[Charlie Nooran]

[SIZE=10pt]Charlie shook her empty cup of ice cream upside down sadly. She looked around and noticed that everyone had gotten their share already. Before her dreams of getting more ice cream came true, the person she wanted to talk to, but also wanted to avoid had taken notice she was there. Still with an ice cream and chocolate stain on her upper lip she stared back at Elizah with a blank look. Charlie was told to stay away, but she was called for ice cream by her Master. Was this a test? Was this something that she had to deal with and prove that she was capable of obeying orders or that she could handle the sweet words of the Dark sider? [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]The small internal war of what Charlie wanted to do and what Charlie should be doing raged as the blank stare continued to meet Elizah’s gaze. She broke the stare as she looked at Jyoti who was being distracted by Jason and Josh, so if she was going to move over and talk to Elizah right now would be a good time – though she was told to stay away. Yet, she was invited here with the knowledge that Elizah would be here as well. Once again Charlie found herself in the predicament she mulled over just moments ago. Frustration took over the teenager as she shook her head quickly and then attempted to fix her shoulder length black hair. Lips pouted as her own desire to speak to the red eyed wench girl began to beat out what she was told. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Standing, she wandered over towards the counter and got another helping of vanilla ice cream and chocolate. Whipped cream was finished on top with some peanuts. Then she hesitated for just a moment and made sure no one was looking. The coast was clear, and Charlie brought the ice cream cup to her face and inhaled the mound of whipped cream in one bite. At least when she walked over she wouldn’t say anything stupid to Elizah. Footsteps pattered across the floor as Charlie took her seat, the one offered by the other girl. Her ice cream set down and her bag set aside. Charlie didn’t know what to say to the comment of her being okay, an eye brow raised as Charlie took a spoonful of ice cream and ate it, buying herself time to think about her remark. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]A smile spread across her face as she swallowed and shrugged. “Glad you’re doing alright as well. Your pride doesn’t seem to injured from our last meeting.” [/SIZE]

[member="Samka Derith"]

 

[Samka Derith]

She watched the teenager rise to leave without a word, only a pout and a shake of her head. Assuming rejection, Samka's attention returned to the creature on her table, by now finished with his portion and turning back towards Sam's remainder of the ice cream.

"Um. No, no, what did I just say?" She admonished the animal whose ears drooped as the Ren waggled her finger.

Footsteps grew closer again. Sam looked up to see Charlie had returned to her. She watched the girl sit and scoff her second portion while Sam still ate her first. She didn't say anything, clearly the girl was deep in thought. She could wait, so long as the other Jedi didn't step in. Her kindly smile returned to her lips to reassure the girl. Things were.... odd between them but she held no grudges and wanted Charlie to see that. If the bond between herself and Charlie made at the Shrine could be replicated, it might well be her ticket out of this mess.

The smiled faded, only momentarily, at Charlie's words. The Ren was unsure if it was meant to be an insult or if the teenager was being ineptly blunt.

"Your concern has been duly noted," she responded drily and took another lick of the ice cream. The animal at the table turned to Charlie now, sniffing the air as it picked up on another being with more food and hoping this one would be more receptive. "Oh this is a friend of mine, I suppose," Sam explained as the Loth-Cat drew closer to Charlie. "I'm not sure what to make of him yet but he seems quite fond of me. Do you like him?"

[member="Charlie Nooran"]

 

[Charlie Nooran]

[SIZE=10pt]The Loth-Cat drew Charlie’s attention as it made its way over to her and her ice cream. At first, she wanted to protect her ice cream from the creature who seemed more interested in it than into her. Yet, the little thing was so cute and cuddly – she couldn’t deny it what it wanted. A smile spread across the Padawan’s face as she plopped a good portion of her ice cream onto the table in front of the creature who in turn began to devour it quickly. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Elizah’s somewhat introduced the loth-cat and Charlie nodded. “I like him he’s really sweet. I’ve always wanted a pet.” Hesitantly she reached out and petting the animal as it ate. Her hand pulled back as she returned to her ice cream and tried to not look like she was somewhat excited to be talking to the other woman again. “Do you have a name for him yet?” She took a bite of her ice cream and stared back at the loth-cat. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]“I didn’t know you could have pets down uh where they were holding you or something.” Realizing that Elizah got to experience the Zoo, popped the wind from Charlie’s sails, who had to do work while everyone enjoyed the day. The back of her hand wiped away some of the vanilla ice cream that clung to her face, “How was the Zoo?” [/SIZE]


[member="Samka Derith"]

 

[Samka Derith]

Sam watched the girl eat. A messy eater apparently. There didn't seem to be any napkins she could pass over to the Padawan, a pity. She'd have to stay messy. A contrast to the still pristine woman opposite her.

"I might have a name," an amused smirk settling onto the Ren's face as she watched both the girl and the animal eagerly feast with bottomless stomachs. "Charlie is a unisex name, isn't it?"

Taking another bite of her ice cream, now almost finished, Samka shrugged. "I didn't think so either. You weren't wrong before, your Master is an interesting woman." She spared a glance back at Jyoti, the Jedi Master apparently distracted by her friends. Samka wasn't so sure. Jyoti was attentive towards both girls for entirely different reasons. She was probably permitting this and not looking like she was deliberately permitting it.

A soft chuckle came from the Ren upon Charlie's question. "A new experience shall we say," she didn't dare mention just how pear shaped it had gone to Charlie just yet. "You'd probably be glad you missed it in all honesty. You should get to go next time," she nodded in approval.

The conversation lulled. This was odd. The pair had sat down and talked as though nothing had happened. Charlie was cautious, sure, but she wasn't angry or upset. It made Samka question if their last meeting should even be mentioned but the weight of the topic was heavy in the air.

"Hey," She said softly. "I'm... sorry. About before. You do seem like a sweet girl. I just... I had a job to do," each pause in her speech calculated to make her seem more sympathetic and unsure. "I hope you can understand in the future. Just a little."

[member="Charlie Nooran"]

 

[Cassius Droma]

​

T-4D4’s head cocked to the side as his internal sensors registered the Stardust Melody approaching the animal exhibit. Then, a short transmission from Cassius informing him on his arrival. Confirming he had received, the droid looked around for the small girl, and didn’t see her immediately. Luckily, he had a very tall frame, so he spotted her quite quickly. She was stood in the middle of the corridor, completely still.

She had run off in the direction of the landing pads. Did she hear the Stardust’s engines? While possible, would Inaya know that was what signified ‘Big Brother’s’ personal vessel? Cassius had also mentioned that she was sensitive to the Force, just like she was. Perhaps she had gotten a ‘feeling’, as Cassius so aptly put it.

His servos whirred and his metal feet tapped on the metal floor as he moved forward, coming up behind Inaya. “Go on towards the landing pads,” he urged her on. “Cassius should be there.”

Indeed, Cassius was there, waiting patiently by his YT-1000 freighter. He’d had confidence that Inaya would sense his presence and come for him. Looking off into the distance briefly, Cassius watched golden hues take hold of the sky as the sun was starting to set. It had been an eventful day, and he briefly mused that if someone had told him five years ago he’d be going on all of these harrowing adventures as a Jedi and becoming the guardian of a small child… he would have thought them crazy.

Head turning back to the zoo entrance, once he saw Inaya through the crowd of departing patrons, he smiled and knelt down so he could be eye level with her. Once she got close enough, Cassius would take his hand out from behind his back. Sitting on his hand was a small porg, with big black eyes and a gaping mouth giving a constant look of wonderment. It cawed weakly, reaching out to Inaya with its small flipper-wings.

[member="Inaya"]

 

[Charlie Nooran]

Objective: Ice cream social
Interaction: [member="Samka Derith"]

Charlie scooped another bit of ice cream for the loth-cat as she listened to Elizah. Her body language started to relax as she started to feel comfortable around the woman – with help of the loth-cat. The animal started to lap up the ice cream again and Charlie started to play with the melted ice cream in her cup. An eyebrow raised as she listened to Elizah mention her name being unisex. The Padawan wasn’t quite sure what that meant, so she shrugged. “I guess so. I—” Charlie paused seeing that it wouldn’t be wise to share what she was going to say to Elizah.

Listening to how the Zoo went, despite the woman mentioning that it was a new experience and that she should be glad she missed it didn’t make the Padawan feel happy about it. She would rather have had the experience and then say that she wish she didn’t.

Charlie took a bite of the ice cream and stared at Elizah as she spoke. She apologized for what had happened between them. She remained quiet as she pondered and listened to the apology. Elizah had a job to do and as much as Charlie didn’t want to understand, she did. “I do understand it.” Charlie took another bite and nodded. “I’m sorry for beating you up, but you –“Brown eyes moved away from the red hues that Charlie couldn’t stop staring at. The spoon hung from her mouth as she shifted slightly not knowing what to do or react to the sympathetic tone from Elizah.

“You seem sweet yourself…” She removed the spoon and stuck it into her ice cream. “Was anything that happened at the Shrine real?”

 

[Samka Derith]

Her fingers drummed on the empty bowl as she watched the pair bond, a smile creeping onto the edges of her face. The girl didn't seem to see the connection yet. There was a lot Charlie didn't seem to get. She stared back at Sam, spoon hanging from her mouth and chocolate stain on her lip. She didn't seem unintelligent but perhaps naive.

"You didn't beat-" Samka frowned but then shook her head to cut herself off. "Never mind."

"Of course it was real," the Ren replied instantly. "Some of it." She sighed, shuffling awkwardly in her seat like a teenager struggling to confess to their parents. "It's still me, it's always been me. Things are just more complicated than they seem." None of that was a lie technically. She had told Charlie some truths during their initial encounter. It was easier to cover your tracks that way.

The Loth-Cat stirred again, leaning up to lick at Charlie's face. Sam was somewhat grateful for the distraction, the air had been cleared, she'd ascertained Charlie's attitude and better yet, the teenager still seemed somewhat enamoured with Elizah. Positive signs for the future but the longer the topic lingered, the more it allowed Charlie to pick it apart. A confused Charlie worked better for her.

"You really can't figure it out yet?" Sam smirked nodding to the animal. "I think I'll call him Charlie." A teasing grin settled on the Ren's face as she leaned forwards to probe for a reaction.

[member="Charlie Nooran"]

 

[Charlie Nooran]

[SIZE=10pt]Charlie paused as she held another bite of ice cream in front of her face. Elizah mentioned what she was naming the cat who was now licking the remnants of the ice cream from Charlie’s face. The padawan didn’t blink as she looked at the Ren trying to figure out what she was playing. Part of her wondered if it as to get under her skin, to do something to irk her and get a rise. Another part of her felt somewhat elated to hear that her name was liked so much that Elizah would name her pet the same name. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Another internal war ragged as Charlie remained quiet. She quickly stood up and scooped the Loth-Cat into her arms and it took the opportunity to devour whatever was left in Charlie’s cup. Not saying a word, the Padawan wandered away from her seat, but moved to the other side of the table and sat next to Elizah and placed, fuzzy Charlie onto the table with the ice cream which was now lost and all over its face. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Her hands remained in her lap as she played with the hem of her skirt and pondered what to say. She was never in this situation before and Jyoti had decided to keep them apart for the time being. Once again, Charlie felt the urge to strangle Elizah, but that feeling was fading faster than the Loth-Cat could eat the ice cream. There had to be a reason why Elizah was given some free time out of the cell, which meant there had been some progress possibly. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Finally looking at Elizah, who was beside her she shrugged. “It shouldn’t be complicated anymore. I brought you to the Rest, to Jyoti. That means things should get better for you and you don’t have to go back. You could stay here with Charlie.” The girl picked up the loth cat who was now white in the face from the vanilla. The animal hung from Charlie’s hold and meowed and purred happily seemingly alright with his name. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt][member="Samka Derith"] [/SIZE]

 

[Valae Heavenshield]

Much to Inaya’s relief, T4 was easy to pick out of the crowd. She nodded when he allowed her to go on ahead to find big brother. And as she made her way back towards the landing pad, she paused again upon seeing the familiar form of [member="Cassius Droma"] there. Other patrons passed by, momentarily obscuring him from sight, but Inaya saw as he knelt down.

Grinning, she sprinted over to him, weaving her way through the other people.

Inaya skidded to a halt before the Jedi pilot and blinked as he drew his hand from behind his back. There in his palm was a tiny little porg. Young eyes widened upon seeing the little bird, small wings stretching out towards her.

“A real live porg,” Inaya whispered, an excited glance shifted to Cassius. “You found one!”

Reaching out, she gave the porg a gentle pat and then stroked its downy soft feathers.

“It’s very cute,” She said, “Cuter than the stuffed porgs in the gift shop.”

Cupping her hands together, she reached out to let the porg hop into them. Inaya brought the small avian creature up towards her face, looking into its black eyes. A moment of silence passed, and then Inaya gently brought the porg in for a gentle embrace, letting it nestle against the side of her neck.

Inaya’s eyes were drawn momentarily towards the petting zoo and then shifted back to Cassius.

“Did you bring it here to stay?” She clutched it just a bit closer. “Or… is it for me?” Inaya blinked hopefully. Indeed, if she was allowed to keep it… she would certainly need to learn how to care for the porg.

 

[Cassius Droma]

A warm smile pulled at the edge of Cassius’s mouth as he watched Inaya’s delight in the small creature he had brought her. And to think, he had been absolutely mortified at the prospect of taking care of a child. He’d be lying if he’d said that his extended period of training on Ando Prime was conveniently timed after he had rescued her from Circumtore. It had been desperately needed for his training, yes, but another part of him needed to get his head sorted. He knew he wasn’t great with children, and yet this one had expected some sort of guardianship from him.

He was glad to have been proven wrong.

Inaya asked the question – was the little one for her to keep? On the whole way over here, Cassius was dead-set on giving the porg to her as a present. Yet, as they were here on the landing pad, actually face-to-face with her, he had to give pause. Inaya was a very young girl, and was still learning things about the world at large. Was she ready for such a big responsibility?

The last time she was so smitten with a creature, it had grown to over two meters tall and wanted to eat them.

She would have to learn how to take care of things at some point. It could very well be her first lesson in her Force training. Plus, he remembered reading somewhere that porgs were relatively low-maintenance. Finally, Cassius nodded. “Yes, he’s for you,” he smiled.

“But,” he held up a finger to make sure he had her attention. “You need to take care of it. Feed him, clean up after him. He’ll be your little friend, and you’ll want to make sure your friend is in good shape.”

Cassius stood back up to full height. “Now, come on. I think the little guy’s hungry.”

[member="Inaya"]

 

[Samka Derith]

She didn't say a word as Charlie stared back at her. Not when she stood up and shuffled over and not when she sat besides her.

She'd give the Jedi Padawan time to think in peace, only watching her from the corner of her eye and offering a sweet and sheepish smile as Charlie took her seat. There was much troubling her, girl was obviously a big eater and the fact that she'd allowed the Loth-Cat to devour her treats without batting an eye was a clear indication of such. She didn't need the Force to sense the mix of emotions emitting from the teenager awkwardly picking at her skirt. She'd wait.

Finally the girl spoke, scooping the animal back up again who finally seemed content in his feeding.

"You want me to stay?" The Ren gave a soft chuckle in disbelief, "After all that happened?" She reached out to pet the lesser Charlie held by the Jedi Charlie. "Things are never so simple, Charlie," she explained, a hint of sadness in her tone, "There are several among your number who'd rather have my head than my companionship. I assume Master Nooran protects me for now, the gentle soul that she is, but the overall atmosphere is not entirely welcoming." She leaned forwards closer to the girl ever so slightly, "Working with others has not gone so smoothly in the past. Sometimes it's better to try and make it on your own, less people to look out for that way."

But you could come with me, words almost left her mouth. This was not the time nor the place to start to tempt the girl. Their relationship still premature and the eyes and ears of Jyoti and the other Jedi close by. For the time being, there was trust to rebuild.

[member="Charlie Nooran"]

 

[Charlie Nooran]

[SIZE=10pt]The fuzzy Charlie began to clean his face the best he could as he was held by the Jedi. Elizah seemed to be entertained by the girl’s comment about staying. To her understanding, the things that they had shared in the shrine were true even if partially. Hearing the cruelty of Elizah’s masters, she assumed the girl would be wanting to stay. Charlie glanced towards Jyoti who seemed to be still talking to Master Dragonsflame, it meant that the Master wouldn’t be stepping in any time soon. Brown eyes returned to the woman as she leaned in closer. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Working with others was difficult, Charlie found herself struggling at times with that. There were some she didn’t get along with quite as well within the Order, but that was to be expected. Not everyone was going to like everyone, the important thing was that they were civil and could function as a group if necessary. Everything for the greater good. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Charlie didn’t lean away when Elizah remained close, she looked at the girl and shrugged. Her eyes peeled away from the other girl and looked at the Loth-Cat that had curled up and fallen asleep. The creature purred with its ice cream covered face, belly up happily. He seemed content with his new surroundings, why couldn’t Elizah? [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Quietly, since they were close Charlie spoke. “I’ll protect you from everyone too.” She looked up from her fuzzy name sake and shrugged. “Maybe you’ve been working with the wrong people, from what you said of your old Masters, they didn’t seem very nice.” Charlie sighed softly, “I do want you to stay, I don’t know why – but I do. Why don’t you want to stay? Despite the beginning – things must be better than where you were before this."[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt][member="Samka Derith"][/SIZE]

 

[Samka Derith]

Her eyes followed Charlie's across to the animal now curling up.

"He is sweet isn't he?" A soft smirk on the Ren's lips. "Rather like his namesake." More things said to catch Charlie off guard.

"You'll protect me?" She repeated the teenager's words in surprise. Charlie really was the pure type, there was something admirable about it in its simple morality. She'd been expecting to have to work on rebuilding the relationship they had at the Shrine for months, perhaps years, but here she was pledging to protect the woman who had tried to kill her when they had last met. It was sweet. Unfortunately Samka knew the galaxy didn't function like that. She almost felt bad for the girl, she'd be eaten alive if she ever left Jedi space.

"They weren't nice," Sam agreed, nodding along with Charlie's remarks. "Which is why I'm no longer with them. I also told you I ran away but I'm sure they'll be looking for me. If I spend too long in one place, they'll find me. Even here. I can only hope your people are ready for that. It's just another reason staying is a bad idea. You all might suffer if I do."

She drummed her fingers on the table to think over Charlie's last remark and then tapped the collar around her neck, giving the Padawan a pointed gaze as she did. "I want my freedom, Charlie. Until today, I spent an entire month caged in one room with very little stimuli and even here you and your Master and the only ones to treat me with the minuscule amount of respect I deserve." The Ren sighed, crossing her arms and pulling away from Charlie slightly. "Things are far from better here."

[member="Charlie Nooran"]

 

[Eugen Aker]

Josh was about the first one through the line with Jason, securing ice cream for the small toddler. Jason probably needed it more than anyone else (aside from Leah) considering all that had transpired that day. After they got some ice cream, Josh came to her, thanking her.

"Josh, it's no trouble. I figured we'd try to end the day on a good note."

Jason came forward to say thanks after some coaxing from his father. In response, she took a squat to ruffle his hair. "You're very welcome."

While enjoying a tender moment with two of the most important males in her life, out of the corner of her eye she still was still monitoring Elizah, now joined by Charlie.

Predictably - and unfortunately - Charlie made a B-line straight for Elizah without even so much as a hint of hesitation. Then Jyoti was treated to a show of Elizah stringing her apprentice right along with all the right words and gestures. Many of her concerns about the two interacting again were confirmed.

However, she let them talk, taking advantage of Charlie's gullible nature for her own ends. Lying was difficult, especially among several people, because one had to keep their story consistent. It was easy at first, but over time, as the baggage grew and the story became more complicated, it became harder to juggle it all. There was bound to be a slip up here and there.

Elizah had just made hers.

"I'll be right back," she told Josh as she stood up. "I need to hit up Charlie for a sec. I haven't seen her all day." Without waiting for a response, she pulled away to head toward her apprentice.

"I don't have a kind," Jyoti said as she got close to the pair, keeping her voice low enough to make it hard for anyone else nearby to hear. "Nobody is coming to save me nor kill me because I work alone, I always have done."

No one present would know the source of that statement unless they had been sitting in the security room during her initial interrogation of the woman. For those who had, they would understand how Elizah had just been caught in a bald face lie.

Hopefully, Charlie would remember.

"How's the ice cream?" Jyoti asked at a much louder volume, patting both women on the shoulder like nothing had just happened. "I was told it was the best the city had to offer. The consistency seems more akin to custard though, wouldn't you say?"

[member="Samka Derith"] [member="Charlie Nooran"] [member="Josh DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

"I still appreciate what you did, you didn't have to, after all."

The last thing that Josh wanted to do was have Jason leave what was supposed to be a day of fun, in tears. The fact was, Jyoti had brought a smile to Jason's face, and Josh was grateful for that. He was grateful for a lot that Jyoti did, really. Including babysitting and constantly spending time with Jason, knitting him crochets, and everything else she did.

She had honestly been more of a mother to Jason than his actual mother had been, for a long time now.

But whatever Josh was priorly thinking of doing, it would be too late now. Jyoti's attention would be taken to her adopted daughter and Padawan, and that darksider she had brought along. So he simply smiled and went to go find a place for them to sit down and enjoy their ice cream.

[member="Jyoti Nooran"]

 

[Charlie Nooran]

[SIZE=10pt]Charlie smiled slightly as she nodded. What happened at the shrine she couldn’t fault Elizah for, she was working for people that probably threatened her life from the sound of it. There was sympathy from the padawan and she looked at the collar, maybe it was unnecessary. Her thought process continued as she continued to let herself get close to Elizah. They just needed to clear the air, they weren’t that much different really. Two different sides to the same coin. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]She ran her fingers through the fluffy fur of the Loth-Cat that was sleeping her lap, Charlie went to respond to Elizah, finally feeling like the air was clear between them and something more could develop. It was then she felt Jyoti hovering near them, Charlie had taken her eye off the Master for far too long. The young padawan tensed, wondering what the Echani Master was going to say or do. Jyoti’s words lingered as message for the three to hear. Charlie remembered instantly, the words that Elizah had said while in the interrogation room. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Charlie didn’t look at Elizah or Jyoti for the moment. The feeling of her world crumbling tightened her chest, she had fallen victim to the dark woman’s words yet again. To think she was starting to believe that Elizah was innocent in this entire matter, that there was someone else pulling her strings and it was not the case. She continued to pet the loth-cat and her brown eyes that had been so happily looking towards Elizah had narrowed. “Liar.” She spoke under her breath, an indication to both Elizah and Jyoti she had remembered. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Seeing that they couldn’t alert the others to what was happening, Charlie grabbed the Loth-Cat and put it up towards Jyoti, its ice cream covered face yawned with a sleepy ‘meow’ followed by purrs. “Elizah found a loth-cat and named him Charlie” The smile on Charlie’s face towards her Master was heavily forced, the shadow in training hadn’t fully learned how to hide her emotions fully. “Can I get a pet too one day?” [/SIZE]

[member="Jyoti Nooran"] [member="Samka Derith"] [member="Josh DragonsFlame"]

 

[Samka Derith]

Samka gave a noticeable shudder on the Jedi Master's approach. She cast the woman a pointed glance as the formerly amiable Charlie shut herself off.

"So you were listening in," she gave a brief nod at Charlie. There was more she wanted to say, how both stories had truth to them, how she expected execution on her arrival and to give her enemies the full story within hours of captivity would be foolish, But there wasn't time for anything else she had time for as Jyoti moved the topic on, the touch on her shoulder causing the Ren to grimace.

"It was delicious, thank you Master Nooran," she bowed her head slightly politely "Although I don't know what custard is."

She watched Charlie swing her cat around. The Loth-Cat belonged to her. Charlie was getting too close to her pet. "It's more accurate to say he found me," Sam continued to smile pleasantly, the pretty young woman's demeanour as warm as it had been before. "He's quite the friendly fellow, hence the name."

[member="Charlie Nooran"] [member="Jyoti Nooran"]

 

[Eugen Aker]

Charlie quietly muttered "liar" under her breath, which was music to her ears. The Shadow wasn't personally phased by the woman lying, she figured Elizah would say whatever she needed to get out of trouble, but Charlie needed to be burst from her bubble before she really got herself in trouble.

Her apprentice tried smiling everything off, but forced manner of it all spoke of her anger and embarrassment falling for Elizah's stories yet again.

"You don't have to ask me about getting a pet, but take care in choosing a good name."

It was clear that Elizah was more than a bit peeved with Jyoti showing up to ruin her little act, then touch on her, but the woman played along, too, continuing the conversation like everything was fine.

"He does seem pretty sweet," she agreed. "Hopefully some of Charlie will rub off on you for the better."

Sabotage complete, she pulled away from both women and returned to Josh, leaving the pair to stew in their collective awkwardness.

"Looks like Charlie is doing just fine," she reported Josh as she joined him and Jason. "Like I said, it was no trouble. I did this for myself as much as the rest of you."

As if to highlight her point, she summoned a whole tub of mint chocolate ice cream and a spoon to the table with a smooth application of telekinesis. "So, where's Scherezade? I got a whole vat of cream just for her."

[member="Josh DragonsFlame"] [member="Samka Derith"] [member="Charlie Nooran"] [member="Scherezade deWinter"]