Wake Up

[Soliath Devin Talith]

“Possibly.” Soliael said deadpan. “That or my blood is finally returning to the areas of my body that were cut off by a tiny blond woman laying.”

He smiled as he said it.

Noticeably however, his skin, his lips, and everything else had long since returned to normal from their earlier foray into the snowy balcony. In fact, he seemed better than before. There was a brightness to him, an interest, a show of near satisfaction. Perhaps a piece of his curiosity had finally been sated, or perhaps he found something even more curious.

“Are you hungry?” She hadn't eaten in quite some time, and it was about time to get some food. He himself found a gnawing sensation within his stomach.

 

[Kira Talith]

That caught her attention, and she'd suddenly half rise onto her elbow to look at him in concern. Her brows would knit, "Are you o--" that's when the mention of food would suddenly bring a distinct gurgling sound of approval from Kira's belly, rumbling in hunger.

Her eyes would bulge, and have the sort of expression of a younglin caught with their hand in the cookie jar. "Ahh... okay.. maybe ..." she'd get shifty eyed for a moment before returning her attention to him.

"How are you doing?" both hands would rise up to cup his cheeks, and her fingers would slide up as if to test his head for anything out of place.

"You hit your head pretty hard there." she'd say.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

Soliael smiled. The concern she showed was sweet really, but then she didn't really know what other species lived inside of him. His Mothers side of the family not only provided him with the unique capability of producing pheromones, but also with his near immortality regenerative properties. He couldn't heal a severed arm or a major slash in a day, but a slight concussion and a bit of falling? His physiology cleared that up in a matter of hours.

Of course, the Force also helped.

His hands came up and grabbed her own, enclosing her tiny palms and gently removing them from his stubbly face and placing them to her sides beneath the blankets.

“I'm fine. I heal rather quickly.” As he moved her hands back beneath the blankets he caught a glimpse of her body. The scars were still there of course, but he also caught quick glimpses of big blue and purple blotches, bruises formed by their fall. “You?”

He forced his eyes away from her body, and settled them on her face once again.

They would have to see about food.

 

[Kira Talith]

He was right. He did heal rather quickly. His own bruises that he must have collected mere hours ago were already fading into faint yellowed bruises. She'd frown. There was no way he could have used the Force to heal himself that quickly. He'd been knocked out.

How did he do that? The question would bloom over her face as she looked at him. "...that you do." time for her own questions, "How did you manage that?"

Well he at least was trying to be considerate. Or at least that is how he was coming off as Kira noticed the trail of his eyes back to her face. She would fluff the blankets around her, a bit awkwardly aware more now of her own ills. Indeed, she had bruises that would mar over a right shoulder, one hip, scattered across her back, one knee, and her elbow. A medley of purple, and fading yellow green constellation of bruises.

"I'll be fine," she'd tell him, pushing her hair away from her face. "... I'll win the next battle with your refresher." She wasn't so prone to them, she was hardier than that. But even then, with the tumbles they took and her body still trying to heal, the beating she gave it yesterday was certainly not helping.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

He gave her a nod, then slowly rolled away from her in an almost comical fashion. He moved beneath the covers to the edge of the bed, then proceeded to fall off the bed onto his feet, standing up in one quick liquid motion that looked like it had been pre-planned all along.

The cold of the room struck him almost immediately, prickling against his skin and touching his very core. Goosebumps rose on his flesh, a reaction to the cold air that was entirely involuntary. Without any further hesitation though Soliael made his way to a large closet in the corner of the room. Pulling the doors open, Soliael took out a large fluffy robe that looked like it was meant for a slightly bigger person than Kira, though it would still fit her.

“I am a mongrel.” Soliael said as he walked back over towards the bed, kicking along a pair of slippers until he stepped up to Kira's side of it and opened up the robe for her to split into. “Genetically speaking I hail from four different species. One of them has a far more dominant set of genes, they are what give me the ability to heal so fast, as well as many other things.”

He waited for her to get out of bed, smiling at the thought of her fighting with the shower once more. “I'll help you next time.”

It was said with a wink.

 

[Kira Talith]

"Fancy," she'd say, scootching herself to the edge of the bed where she'd slide her legs over. They'd peek out from under the blanket, and goosebumps would rise at the cold. A visible shiver would wrack her body, and she would stand with the blankets still wrapped around her as he offered the robe.

"Yeah, tell that to your head and bubblebutt, Sparky." came her muffled voice as she would do a makeshift dance from the blankets over to the robe. One arm would slip into the armhole followed by the next until the blankets fell and she stood with her back to him, shivering and wiggling nine toes.

She'd search for those slippers he'd kicked over. "I think they protested a bit too much," she'd tease, "Ah-hah!" she found one slipper under the blankets that had spilled on the floor. She sat down to put it on.

"I'm just your average near-human," she'd tell him. "... well human." there came a small shrug. She'd glance up at him through a veil of blonde hair, and suddenly she'd grin. That's when she would show she had her own nifty abilities. She'd scrunch her face, rocking her jaw a bit, then gave a small humming noise.

The penny rises.

"I've a few tricks of my own though." it appeared as she was testing out different tones, until finally...

The penny drops.

“Genetically speaking I hail from your standard human stock, with just a bit of a twist." it would be as if hearing a voice recording of the False God himself. A perfect imitation of his voice. An example of how Lorrdians were among the galaxy's best mimics, able to imitate a wide variety of mannerisms and voices (even those of many non-Humans).

"It is what gives me the ability to mimic, as well as many other things."

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

For a moment he was stunned, then he understood.

That was a talent worth its weight in gold, at least in certain circles. Often when posing as someone appearance was easy to change, the voice, not so much. It appeared that Kira was as deep an ocean as he...well, perhaps not as deep, he had about two centuries on her after all and thus knew a little more. Yet, she was still carrying surprises, something he rather liked.

“At least your voice will never get boring.” Soliael said to her with a sly grin. Then he offered her a hand to get up off the bed. When she took it, Soliael gently pulled her up, but did not let go. Instead he began to lead her out the door of the room, her slippers creating an odd sort of noise on the stone flooring. Their journey didn't take long, and a few minutes later the two of them were standing inside of Soliaels incredibly bare room.

Oddly enough, as soon as they walked into the room, on the bed lay what could only be described as comfortable clothes, what one might call pajamas.

Soliael walked over to the odd little pile of clothing, raising an eyebrow slightly. Either the servants were developing a sense of humor, or their odd warping personality had sensed the need for comfort and warmth, rather than functionality.

“So you're a Lorrdian?” Soliael said as she slowly began to pull on the clothes.

 

[Kira Talith]

"Hmm?" Kira would be drawn from her inquisitive survey of the room. It was bare, with very little artifice or luxury compared to the room they'd just departed from.

For modesty's sake, she kept her gaze away from him, her attention drawn to the sparsity of the quarters. At his question, she'd blink at him for a few minutes, keeping her eyes to his face as he stood by his bed.

"Oh... mhm," she'd nod, confirming that. "Aye." she would glance away, giving him his privacy. "... I take it this is your room?" she'd ask, starting to walk round the perimeter. It reminded her a bit of her own room. Granted, a Jedi didn't have many personal possessions. Her's may be bare, but it would be filled with little knick-knacks she'd found along her travels. The cheap kind. Like a pretty shell, an interesting looking rock, or a handmade tassel that would be tied along that of her padawan's braid.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

Soliael finished putting on the clothes. Oddly enough they were rather warm and fluffy, the pants made out of some sort of fleece and the shirt being of nearly the same material. He wondered for a moment how long it had been since he'd worn clothes like this. Years? Decades? Centuries? A long time, longer than he could remember. This was the first time he had relaxed in perhaps the same amount of time.

Odd.

“Yes.” He answered her suddenly, as if snapping his own thoughts back into the realm of reality. This was indeed where he slept and stayed, where he mediated, and where he had mutilated himself in order to remove the Vir from his body. Unconsciously Soliael thanked the force that Kira was not a Kiffar, were she, a single step into the bathroom would bring her visions of horror and blood.

Shaking his head Soliael dispelled the images of what had happened that night, and instead focused on Kira exploring the room. Aside from them and the bed, the only other noteworthy thing within the room was the painting of Onderon and Dxun, somewhat easily identifiable by the two planetoids closeness, as well as the detailed flock of Drexl flying between the two worlds.

That had always been one of his favorite events.

 

[Kira Talith]

"Did you run out of credits decorating the rest of this place?" she'd tease in lighthearted humor, glancing back at him over her shoulder. Much to her relief, he was now fully clothed. Although granted, seeing him standing in what could only be considered pajamas on such a man would be enough to bring an upward curve on any lips.

"Comfy, eh?" she'd ask, giving him a brief smile before returning to her object of attention; a painting. Her slippers would make a soft padding noise as she'd amble forward, arms crossing in front of her chest just as she came to a halt in front of it. This held the only distinguishable streak of color to the room. Her eyes would take the detail in. A painting, not a hologram. That told plenty. It meant something, that it was important.

"I like this though..." she'd turn to look at him, gesturing at the planet with familiarity. She might have not been the best student, but the planetoids distinguishing features made it easier to narrow down.

"Onderon and Dxun, right?"

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

“Home” Soliael said the word as if in confirmation of her question.

Onderon was the planet that he had always considered to be his home. It was where most of his childhood years had been spent, and where his mother had claimed a seat of power. That was where he had learned to ride Skreeve, to train Drexl, and to do what he needed to do. There were many fond memories of both Onderon, and its moon, Dxun. Soliael looked fondly at the painting, then down at Kira.

As far as he knew she had always been with the Jedi, had been born and trained there. That was the custom, ninety percent of Jedi were raised that way, with only a few handful being brought in when they were a little older. Soliael knew this, most people in the galaxy did.

Did Kira have a home?

He walked over to her, noticeably wearing no shoes or slippers. Stopping besides her he looked up at the painting, clearly longing to eventually return to what he in part still considered home. With a smile he turned to Kira. “Lets go get some food.”

The Kitches here were separated into a few different sections. There was the communal kitchens manned by the servants, the private kitchens which were meant for the Gods, then there were a few small ones dotting the residential floor. Sometimes people enjoyed cooking their own meals, Soliael himself, and it was to one of these smaller kitchens two floors below that Soliael lead Kira to.

 

[Kira Talith]

Food was an excellent idea. One she wasn't about to argue. Nonetheless, his answer would pique her curiosity.

"Home?" Kira would repeat softly in surprise. As he'd turn to leave, she'd recall one of the first questions he'd asked when she first came to. If she knew where she was, and how in her haze, had only reached to the conclusion that his was his home.

Just by the longing that she could read from his face, from the way he turned to give that painting a lingering look, she could tell that she'd been wrong. No, Exocron wasn't his home. She'd glance back towards the painting as she would start to follow him.

Onderan was.

As they made their way, she'd be the one to ask questions now. Following just a few steps behind, she first asked,"Is that where you were born?"

"Where your family is?" she'd rush to keep up, slowing down only when she came to his side. They'd come to another stairwell, this time, less grandiose than the one that had led towards the grand hall. However, the intricate carved wood railings would give evidence that no amount of quality or care had been denied.

Her hand would hold onto the railing as she'd take a few quick steps down so as to be in front of him, allowing her to read his expressions. Granted, her knees offered a heavy protest, as a shot of pain from the internal bruising would remind her to take it slow.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

Soliael watched her with a bemused grin, not quite sure what to make of her. He kept his peace though, and did not say anything. The Intensity in his eyes however told that he was watching her, if Kira took another fall, Soliael would be ready to swoop in and catch her at a moments notice. His gaze followed her exactly, his smile looking down at her and his eyes locking with her own as they started down the steps.

“Some.” He said vaguely. “My family is far reaching and well traveled. Both sides are spread across the galaxy, on different worlds, in different factions.”

He explained softly to her.

It really was true, both sides of his family were spread across the galaxy like a plague. One Sith, Fringe, Moross, hell even the Republic. Talith and Shamalian dotted the galaxy, each with their own plans, each with their own plots, all working together on some level...well, at least his mothers side. There were only two Taliths left now, three if he counted his sister in law.

That made him smirk, though it quickly disappeared as his attention returned to Kira. “Onderon is where I spent much of my childhood.”

The Kitchen wasn't far now.

 

[Kira Talith]

Kira would slow her descent, catching the intensity in his eyes that would relay that he was keeping an eye on her. What a strange enigma he was, a man of unfathomable depths. Even with her abilities, it wasn't easy reading him completely. Nothing was simply black and white. No, there were shades of gray in between...

"That's a big family," she say, sounding appreciative of the fact. Hers was a family of one. She didn't know if she had family out in the galaxy, much the less if any were surviving or knew about her at all. That brought up a nagging thought, and she couldn't help but ask. In the back of her mind, a voice would nag at her.

"Still living?" came her query, her blonde messy hair swaying at her shoulders and back as she kept moving down the stairs. A dull protesting ache would rear along her right hip, where a bruise had grown to almost the size of her fist. Okay, so maybe moving this fast wasn't the best of ideas. Thankfully, they would reach the foot of the stairs soon enough.

Once there, she'd turn, hands moving to clasp at the small of her back. There was a flicker of the playful Jedi Master in the way she'd start to slowly walk backwards, watching him walk towards her.

She had no clue where she was going, but in this big hallway, she'd figure she was good enough to do this for a bit. At least, until he gave her directions otherwise.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

Soliael kept his eyes on her the entire time. These halls he knew well enough that he didn't really need to pay attention to where they were going. Kira was managing remarkably well to walk backwards, faltering only slightly when she reached the bottom step. He watched her, raising an eyebrow, but then simply smiled when she steadied herself and continued to walk. He didn't hesitate at the bottom of the steps and simply kept on with the same pace.

“Most on my mothers side.” Soliael said calmly. “My fathers is not so lucky.”

Anwen, Nemene, Moridin himself had all passed. He had a direct hand in one of their deaths, he wished he had a hand in the two others. That thought cropped up rather darkly in the back of his head, but he did not silence it.

As for everyone else.

His mothers side of the family was alive and well, Amorella, Dissero, Silencia, Quietus, even Vascious, distantly related as he was, were all kicking and mucking about the galaxy. Amorella was close to him of course, being one of the other false Gods within the Moross Pantheon.

Soliael Shrugged and pointed Kira to his right, directing her where to go in the upcoming fork in the road.

 

[Kira Talith]

At the urging, Kira would give a slight twist of her torso, giving a quarter turn on the pad of her slipper to turn towards the appropriate direction. Here there would be more evidence of just what a large sum of credits could buy. As her eyes would drift over the decadent upholstery, the hand carved ornate furniture where upon a marvelous collection of pre-gulag vases sat on, she could see that this home, this fortress would be the envy of many.

Yet for her, it just seemed so terribly quiet. Such a large home, with enough rooms to fill hundreds... no thousands --- yet silent as a grave. Where were the workers? Where were the staff required to maintain such a keep? This disturbed her.

Blue eyes would meet his own, and she'd nibble her lower lip. The more she would walk, the more the bruises would protest. Whatever. Stretching would do them some good.

She would continue her slow backward walk, moving down the hall towards a set of heavy doors. They would pass large heavy pillars, decorated with verdant flora that one would be surprised to see this deep into winter -- if it was even winter? Maybe Exocron was an ice planet like Csilla?

"That's good though..." she'd say, "That some are still alive." a few more steps back and she would close the distance to the door soon.

"You must cherish them so." it would make sense for her, because for her, having family was something to be cherished. Blood or not.

Her fingers would soon brush the hard wall of the door behind her, and she'd continue until her back was flushed against it.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

Soliael stopped right in front of the Kira, his eyes meeting her own. He had to strain a bit to meet her gaze this often, she was considerably shorter than him, and looking down got tiring, though looking at her never did.

He smiled at her comment, one that he would expect from a Jedi. They were not supposed to have attachments, not supposed to feel or remember their family. The Order was Supposed to be their home. For Kira, he guessed that she had always wanted more, had always wanted a family. Her love of Children was a great indicator of that, the fact that she cared so deeply for Oliver, a boy she had only really met once was a great tell.

For a moment he found himself saddened by what he had learned this morning, but quickly he pressed on.

When Kira pressed herself flush against the door Soliael smiled slightly, leaning down in a fluid motion. He moved incredibly close to her, his body nearly pressing up against hers, his face only a few inches from hers. His breath smelled sweet but minty, and his eyes seemed to take on an interesting sheen this close to her face. He smiled, and gripped the doorknob to her side.

“Cherish is the wrong word.” He turned the knob and pushed the door open.

 

[Kira Talith]

Kira couldn't help herself as her breath caught in her throat when he drew close. Having been unused to such a bold act of entering her personal space, it was a bit flustering to the Lorrdian and it showed. What she'd give for a heavier robe that would hide the subtle hitch of her quickening breath. That didn't help matters, not when his scent would tickle the senses this close.

Although he but loomed over her but for a moment, there was no denying the thrum of masculine power that would emanate from him. Was it her imagination or was his gaze predatory?

Okay, maybe I'm getting a little paranoid. It had been a long, odd day after an odder night.

Thankfully, as soon as the door would slide open, she would duck and dart under his arm inside. A few quickened steps would bring her into a different room altogether. This was a bit more...

".. quaint." she'd say, the surprised but pleased confusion settling over her face as she'd turn to look at him, the robe whispering against her bare legs in her half turn. Unlike the opulent choice in decor beyond the threshold, what would pass as a personal kitchen would be decorated in warm and comforting hues. Polished weathered stone would line the walls, and upon closer inspection one could see the intricate lines of copper that would streak across its surface. While the layout was simple, it was still contemporary, but with a welcoming environment that she immediately enjoyed more.

Returning her attention to explore, she'd ask over her shoulder. " ...Then what is the right word? Tolerate?" she'd tease, thinking that perhaps it had something to do much like the playful banter and battles the younger kids would get into when she was at the orphanage.

"Tease?" her hand would reach out to skim over the counter top, fingers tracing the line of the granite top.

"Tattle on?"

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

Soliael stepped into the kitchen after Kira.

He had never actually been down here before, the fortress was large, and he quite honestly could not be bothered to visit every single facet of the place, he perused the kitchens for a few moments, spotting food stores and a refrigerator. He slowly paced over to one of the ice boxes and opened it, finding it stuffed with meats and other ingredients.

Briefly he wondered if it had been stocked on their way down by his creatures, or if it was always kept this way. The cunning little servants were likely becoming more intelligent, beginning to sense the needs of their Master, hence his current clothing.

“Hardly.” Soliael said quietly as he grabbed a few ingredients and spread them onto the counter behind him. “I had three siblings, two of them from a Jedi Woman, one from a Kiffari tribal, and myself from my own mother.”

Soliael turned and gathered up a pan as well as a pot from overhead where they hung in place, looking at Kira with an odd expression. “I was born two hundred years before the other three and even then my mother knew that my father could not be trusted. She kept me away from him, and for the first two hundreds years I thought him dead. This of course meant that I didn't learn about my siblings until they were already well grown. By the time i met them, two of them were full grown adults and the third was a young woman about to come into her prime.”

He was speaking of his siblings for now, though there were other members of his family he was far closer to, Quietus, Dissero, Amorella. They were who he considered his true family, though in an odd way he did care for Sven, and his wife he supposed.

 

[Kira Talith]

There was something about the way Soliael would move around the kitchen, gathering up ingredients as he'd spoke that Kira would find fascinating. There was purpose in it, regardless on what he would do. An assurity.

Oh, there was no denying that he had a hefty dose of arrogance about him. But there was more to him than that. It would pique her interest, drawing her closer as she would round the island counter to move opposite from him. Her interest would only spike the more he would reveal about his family, about himself. She knew that she was but just one speck in the galaxy, and that there were many species and sapients out there who would view her tiny lifespan would seem a mere blink in time. Did he also view things that way? Does being long lived make one just see the galaxy a bit more differently? How did that figure into their sense of morality? Values?

What was important to a man who already had outlived her average lifespan twice over -- and maybe could very well still do so another three or four times.

It made her wonder.

"I see," she'd say, letting that percolate in her mind. Maybe it was because she had no living family that she'd imagined that he would have that iconic model. A bit optimistic, but that is just how she saw things. "Sounds very... dissociative." or lonely. Where was the fun?

"So you grew up by yourself?"

The Lorrdian would watch him as he would continue to move and gather a couple of vials. Inquisitiveness would prompt her to circle round and draw near, following his steps every so often to pick up a vial, pop the lid open, and take a curious sniff. Her nose would immediately wrinkle, the heady scent of pepper prompting a sudden sneeze.

"Acchoo!"