Private This Can Be Your Home Now

[Braze]

TAGS: Pitie

Ever since Braze had met Pitie, he had been wondering how to help someone like her. He figured she would be a good person to start practicing with. She didn't know him the way his other peers did, and if he wanted to learn how to show more kindness, she seemed like an excellent person to try with. He knew he would have to be exceptionally patient with her, and he also knew she wasn't to blame for that.

He was delighted to show her to her very own bedroom within the Veridian Jedi Academy. The rooms here were spacious, with ensuite baths and balconies offering relaxing vistas of the countryside and skyline. There wasn't much in the room besides a large, cozy bed, and Braze wondered if she might be interested in making her new space as comfortable as she liked. Picking out new clothes and fun things to decorate her room with or add creature comforts seemed like a big step in the right direction. Her closet had been filled with several different colors of uniform robes, but she still needed some other nice clothes—particularly something nice to sleep in.

After seeing to it that she got a proper bath, Braze was more than happy to donate some of his nice clothes for her to wear, even letting her pick out things from his own closet. He had left her for a little while to get acquainted with her bed and the room's layout, heading off to fetch tea for the two of them before embarking on their little shopping trip. When he returned, he knocked gently on her door and smiled, waiting patiently.

"Hey, Pitie? Are you ready to go?"

​

 

[Pitie]

If Braze had paid attention to the body language she was showing him, it would indicate she trusted him. While Pitie continued to look and glance around as if expecting an attack, she did allow her back to be turned to her new friend. He had given her food and clothes, explained how to bathe, and then given her time to explore her bedroom.

This was all new to the woman, and it took her some extra time to realize that nothing would jump out of her closet or dash out from under her bed. Feeling like this was a new start in her long life, she threw her old clothes in a pile and looked through the robes Braze had given her.

Having spent the last several decades in the woods of Veradune, the girl was used to wearing dark and dirty clothes. She had long worn out her socks and shoes, and she kept her feet bare. Pulling on some dark brown pants, she fastened them and knew with her tail, they would need to be altered. Holding a dark green robe out when Braze returned with the tea, she put one arm in and moved to open the door. With a bit of a hurried motion, she quickly put her other arm into the robe and closed it, but he might have noticed the scars on her back.

Tilting her head as she held her door open, she blinked at him as she tried to answer his question.

"Go where?"

Her voice clearly stated that it was a question, even if it wasn't a whole one. After her bath, her ashen-colored hair had turned blond and didn't look dirty anymore.

Braze

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Pitie

​

"We're going to check out the shops, look for a few things that might help make your room feel cozier—something that'll make you feel more at home," he said warmly, offering a small, reassuring smile. As he spoke, his gaze softened when he caught a glimpse of her scars. He had his own, some deep and rough, even a few visible on his face, and he understood how they could bring about nervousness or anxiety. He decided not to comment or draw attention to something that might be a source of uneasiness.

"I brought some tea," he added cheerfully, handing her a cup with a gentle movement. "Do you need a hand with securing things, making sure they'll stay put?" he asked, ready to help however he could.

​

 

[Pitie]

She listened to his answer and shuddered slightly at the mention of her home. While it was a familiar place, Pitie was glad not to live there anymore.

"Home is dangerous. Animals, trees, and any other beast will eat you more often than like you."

Her language improved each day, and she was putting more words together than she had before. Feeling Braze's genuine warmth, she returned his smile and tilted her head at his question. Taking the tea from him, she sipped the hot beverage before answering him.

"You look, but Pitie thinks they are secure."

When she finished turning for him, an item at his side caught her eye. Curiosity lit up her eyes brighter, and she pointed at it with her empty hand.

"What is that? What does it do? Pitie has never seen anything that looks like that before."

Lifting the cup to her mouth again, she took another sip of the tea and looked brightly at her friend.

Braze

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Pitie

Braze's hands moved with a careful gentleness as he helped Pitie adjust her clothing, treating her with the same care he might show to a young ling but with semblance of respect in the gesture. He made sure each fold was secure, ensuring she felt dignified and comfortable, just as he had once helped Zaiya Ceti with his hakamas, guiding her through each fasten with patient attention.

Once he finished, Braze looked down and offered her a soft smile. "Do you like it?" he asked, not immediately answering her question but instead watching her reaction. With a quiet pride, he unclipped the object from his belt, turning it over in his hands before holding it up. "I made this," he said simply, as though sharing a part of himself.

"If you go to school and train as a Jedi, you'll be able to make your own someday," he added gently. "We call it a lightsaber. Mine's customized a bit for the style of fighting I prefer."

He carefully adjusted the settings, setting it to training mode before extending his arm and igniting it. The blade sprang to life in a chalcedony-teal hue, humming as it tapered to a sharp point, resembling the sleek elegance of a lightfoil. "In this mode, it can leave burns and welts, but at full power, it can sever ... uh... take away limbs. I've set it to safe mode, though it can still sting."

With deliberate caution, Braze deactivated the blade, holding it out for her to inspect. "You can take a closer look if you'd like," he offered, his voice soft, inviting her into his world.

​

 

[Pitie]

Pitie didn't pull away from his touch and silently observed how he folded or tucked things in differently than she had. When he finished and asked if she liked it, she was confused for just a moment. Then, it dawned on her exactly what he meant. Nodding in excitement, the feral girl was oddly calm for the moment. In the solitude of her room, where she was told she could call it home, the wildness in her faded slightly.

Glancing between the hilt and her friend, she somehow picked up on how much of an honor it was to view this item. As Braze continued to speak, her glowing eyes stared at the lightsaber. Keeping her mouth closed rather tightly as he ignited it, a bit of concern might have passed across her face. It wasn't quite fear but borderline. One thing she didn't do was pull away from him or the lightsaber.

Visibly relaxing when he turned it off, her head tilted when he offered it to her to examine.

"I would like that."

Reaching out with her empty hand, the tea had been forgotten in the other but she kept her hold on the cup. She was feeling it as it rested in the palm of her hand. The two were almost the same size, so it fit almost as well in her hand as in his. Running her thumb across the ignition button, she did not press it, and the lightsaber remained off. By the time Pitie had finished examining it, she was far less wild than she had been when Braze knocked on her door. That still simmered under her skin, but she was calm and tame for the moment.

Not wanting to let go, the girl knew it wasn't hers, and she held it out to her friend to take back.

"Thank you."

Braze

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Pitie

Braze smiled at that. "You're welcome," he replied, gently taking it back and clipping it onto his belt. He looked over at her, his eyes softening. "Are you ready to go?"

As they prepared, Braze found his mind wandering to what kind of nice things they could pick up for her. He was thinking about getting a big, really nice, fluffy comforter—one of those soft, plush ones that practically begged you to sink into them. Something cozy, something warm. Sleep was important, and he figured that for someone like her, a blanket like that might offer a sense of comfort, something to help her settle in and relax.

He knew how much he loved curling up with an extra soft pillow, burying himself under his favorite blanket. Maybe she would too. The thought made him smile a little more, already picturing her finding that kind of warmth and security. It was a small thing, but sometimes the small things mattered the most.