Private Why Are You Here?

[Aris Noble]

Aris blinked at the shattering glass before he smiled softly. He reached over to the shards, carefully picking them up. They wouldn't cut him, and really. And, well. He started to just, heat his hands and mold the glass with them. There was a lot suddenly happening, and he caught Zaiya's gaze, but this was something he could do at least.

"What makes her a handful?"

Ayhan | Mahsa | Zaiya Ceti

 

[Ayhan]

Something as basic as 'the domino effect' wasn't lost on Ayhan. But still, he hoped that for once the cosmos might have some mercy on him. Not make him feel like he stood out like a wookiee in a room of humans. "-Oh, you mean that Pav—!" Mahsa was in the midst of speaking just as the cracks in the glass Ayhan held continued to spiderweb all along its surface until it eventually burst, leaving behind a pool of yellow liquid across the table, going over the edge and dripping right onto his lap.

Ayhan's jaw stiffened, his fists clenching again. Whatever tiny shards of glass that had been left behind, stuck to his skin, dug into his flesh. "Let me get you a new glass," the Lovalla said. Ayhan stood abruptly, before Zaiya had a chance. His chair screeched over the floor, nearly falling over. "It's fine. I'll do it," the Firronthix said through clenched teeth, turning towards what he gathered was a kitchen.

He returned to the table a moment later with a towel instead, to wipe up the mess he'd made. The shards of glass were gone though, save the ones still embedded in his skin, pockmarking the towel with his mongrel blood. The heat and faint glow between Aris' fingers indicated where the glass had gone, drawing Ayhan's gaze beneath his deeply knitted brows. He turned back towards the still dripping pool of juice, and began to wipe. "She's impulsive. Reckless. Finds it amusing to annoy me. Hardly takes anything seriously. As hardly fit to be a Jedi as I am."

Mahsa | Zaiya Ceti | Aris Noble

 

[Mahsa]

Half a year ago she wouldn’t have hesitated to reach out and help clean the mess Ayhan found himself with, her help undoubtedly accompanied by scolding words that would’ve lacked any bite as she would giggle through them. A different time, a different place—one filled with countless misfortune, though all of it had been bearable with him at her side.

A far cry from the stillness that seemed to take hold of her, and the faraway look in those golden eyes.

The scrape of a chair snapped her back into the present, a cautious glance given towards the Firronthix as he moved towards the kitchen, before Zaiya’s words broke the quiet tension surrounding them. "Are you okay Mahsa?" The concern felt by the Lovalla was almost palpable as Mahsa looked in her direction, an awkward smile on her lips as she gave a shaky nod in response.

"N-No it’s okay—it’s a r-really good juice…. " The glass was brought closer to herself almost as if to add validity to her words, though she didn’t trust herself enough to lift it for a sip. "T-Thanks, Zaiya."

The bigger pieces on the table had been picked up by Aris in that brief moment, the Epicanthix’s hands glowing softly as his palms heated up to mold the glass. Ayhan was back by then, a kitchen towel now in hand as he began to wipe out the citrusy pool from the table.

"Y-your hand—the s-shards…" Even now, despite how different things were, she couldn’t help but worry over him—unneeded as it was given his body’s natural aptitude to heal most wounds. "D-Don’t forget to take them o-out…"

---

Aris Noble | Ayhan | Zaiya Ceti ​

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

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Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x | Weapons: x x x
Interacting with: Mahsa | Ayhan | Aris Noble

Oh, things just got serious! Ayhan's hand was bleeding. Concern rippled over Zaiya's skin, her bioluminescent spots flashing in shades of worried pale yellows and bronze. Without a second thought, she jumped to her feet, her focus shifting entirely.

"Wait, let me grab something for your cut!" she called, already heading for her room. She barely noticed Aris taking the glass or the way his hand seemed to heat up -- wait, what was he doing? No, no, stay focused on Ayhan right now.

She sped down the corridor, her thoughts racing just as quickly. As she reached her door, it slid open with a soft hiss, revealing her room. It was cozy, a perfect blend of tidy and comfortable. Her bed was a massive, inviting pile of blankets and pillows, like a nest she could burrow into after a long day. Trinkets she'd picked up from different planets sparkled here and there, nestled among the indoor plants she meticulously cared for. Everything had its place, a sharp contrast to the clutter of emotions she was feeling inside.

Zaiya darted to her drawer, yanking it open to grab the medkit. She didn't waste any time, bolting back toward the main area with a determined expression, her colors now a mix of focused orange and blue with anxious daffodil yellow.

"I've got the med-kit!" she announced as she re-entered the room in a flurry of shimmering hues. Her eyes zeroed in on Ayhan's hand, her worry flaring again.

"Ayhan, we should check for any glass shards! They have to come out before it gets worse." She quickly set down the kit on the table, panning her attention towards the tall teenage boy. Her mind raced with what she'd learned in first aid training. In moments like these, Zaiya's usually scatterbrained energy funneled into a singular purpose -- making sure everyone was okay.

 

[Aris Noble]

Oh everything was getting crazier. Aris let out a sigh as he set down the glass, after cooling it of course. It looked nothing like the others, and certainly had the appearance of being hand shaped. But his mind was still far too quick for it's own good to process how to handle things. It looked hand made, yet, also machine made. Every side was the same thickness, same length.

Fake hand made, perhaps.

But the problem now was that everyone was tense. He frowned, looking between the other three as he instead sipped his own drink. He wasn't sure what to say or do to help with this, but at least Zaiya was ready to help fix up Ayhan's hand.

Ayhan | Zaiya Ceti | Mahsa

 

[Ayhan]

Despite the great effort Ayhan was putting into keeping things calm, things continued to spiral. Well, mostly Zaiya was just frantically dashing from her chair, but the force with which she'd stood shook the table, the juice in the others' glasses rippling until Aris placed the reformed glass he'd repaired on the table, seemingly absorbed the vibrations. True calm, compared to the anxiety of the others.

Ayhan exhaled sharply as Zaiya called from the other room. Instinct, or maybe it was just habit, bade Ayhan to reject any offer of help she gave, especially as she returned with her medkit and set it on the table with the same frantic, worried look she had when she'd initially exitted. But Hera's reminder to try and make the best of the situation rang in the Firronthix's ears, and the outburst he could feel building would only make things worse later. He didn't know much about interacting with other, more well-adjusted members of society, but he knew that much. So he choked down his instinct to snap at the Lovalla, and instead sat back down in his chair, and laid his hand out on the table, palm up, a small number of tiny cuts still leaking blood.

Though he let Zaiya pry the glass shards from his flesh, his eyes fixed on her fiercely, watching for any unexpected movement, for anything that might sign danger. None would come of course, and his wounds would visibly begin to heal and close as the glass was removed.

Zaiya Ceti | Mahsa | Aris Noble

 

[Mahsa]

"I've got the med-kit!" The Lovalla had been quick to respond as it became clear Ayhan’s hand was injured and, after a moment of apparent thought, the Firronthix had finally sat down and presented his hand to the girl. She wasn’t sure why, but something about it caused her chest to ache as her lips pressed into a thin line, before Mahsa’s gaze finally shifted away from the duo.

Her gaze landed on the mended glass Aris had set back onto the table, rustic and different from the three others present, but charming in its own way.

A faint smile was given to the Epicanthix as she tried to silently convey her appreciation of his work, but for the most part Mahsa remained silent and still in her chair—unsure of what she could do to help, and worried that any involvement on her part caused Ayhan’s mood to shift for the worst.

---

Aris Noble | Ayhan | Zaiya Ceti ​

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

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Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x | Weapons: x x x
Interacting with: Mahsa Ayhan Aris Noble

Zaiya noticed the way Ayhan was watching her, his gaze intense and unyielding as she carefully removed the glass shards from his hand. It made her feel a little flustered, a swirl of soft coral and dove grey flickering across her skin, but she kept her focus, determined to stay calm. She wasn't sure why he was staring so hard -- maybe he wasn't used to someone helping him? Whatever it was, it made her feel like there was more beneath the surface than he was letting on.

Through their touch, she could sense the storm inside him, the emotions he was trying so hard to suppress. And, in turn, Ayhan would feel her own emotions -- gentle waves of concern, empathy, and a deep desire to ease his pain. She didn't want to make him uncomfortable, so Zaiya decided to stay quiet, letting her actions speak for her.

"Sorry if it hurts. I've got some pain stim spray that'll help once I'm done," she murmured softly, focused entirely on her task. She didn't even notice Aris in the background, using his abilities to reshape the glass into a rugged new cup. All her attention was on Ayhan and making sure she didn't cause him more pain.

"Almost there," she reassured him, carefully pulling out the last shard. Reaching out with the Force, she gently scanned his hand for anything else that might be lingering beneath the surface, but it seemed clear. "Okay," she added, spraying the antiseptic and applying a bactapatch over the wound.

"That should feel better now," she said, a hopeful shimmer lighting up her skin. She looked up, her opal blue eyes searching his for some kind of response, hoping he'd see she was just trying to help.

 

[Aris Noble]

It was getting more and more obvious now. His gaze settled on Ayhan, watching as he continued to sip his drink. The other boy was.. Upset. Or, just generally angry? Aris wasn't sure what the word was, but given how Mahsa couldn't bring herself to look at him, how Zaiya was so focused and yet still warry herself, that there had to be something done. The glass didn't just break on it's own, either.

Problem was, Aris had absolutely no clue what to do to help. Another sip, and he looked to Zaiya. Of all of them, she was the one who could figure this out. Probably. Hopefully. Maybe.

Zaiya Ceti | Mahsa | Ayhan

 

[Ayhan]

The tweezers dug as gently as was physically possible into his flesh, digging out the glass shards, despite his enhanced healing attempting to close around the shards. With his hand laid out on the table, Ayhan hardly reacted, his eyes never wavering from the Lovalla as she worked. She took his hand in hers, moving it to get a better angle, and a rush of unfamiliar sensations swept through Ayhan's mind.

A storm of discomfort. The unease he felt, knowing he was out of place, or something else was, a hundred times stronger than anything he'd experienced. Ayhan jerked his hand back. The look on his face had shifted in the brief span in which their hands had touched. To cautious shock. "What did you just do?" he asked, voice bordering a threatening growl.

Zaiya's answer must've been sufficient, because he surrendered his hand back to Zaiya, haltingly. A difficult task, given the white knuckled fist resting on the table beside Mahsa.

"Almost there. Okay." The Lovalla sprayed an antiseptic and applied a bandage, despite there being no need. "That should feel better now."
Ayhan's hand retreated to his lap, the other visibly relaxing from the tightly coiled fist. It took a moment for Ayhan to muster any voice. The emotions, that's what they were, that swept through his head, overwhelming, lingered for just a moment. "T-thank you," he said, quieter, before wordlessly standing, walking into his room, and shutting the door.

Zaiya Ceti | Aris Noble | Mahsa

 

[Mahsa]

She remained silent as Zaiya treated Ayhan’s hand, her golden eyes observant as they shifted from the balled fist and white knuckles to his face and back. Instinct called for her to reach out, to offer the same gentle touch she’d given Dara a long time ago in the Cage as she’d whispered to the smaller Kazelrrian that things would be better one day.

The growled undertones in Ayhan’s voice as he spoke had quickly silenced that idea however, certain that her touch would’ve only made things worse and harder for Zaiya as the Lovalla focused on plucking every shard of glass out of the skin in his palm.

The white around his knuckles finally disappeared when he loosened its grip, the last piece finally removed and the wound properly dressed.The light stutter in his voice had caught her attention the most, new and unexpected as he’d thanked Zaiya for her help, before she’d watched as Ayhan stood up and headed for what Mahsa could only assume was his room.

---

Aris Noble | Ayhan | Zaiya Ceti ​

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

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Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x | Weapons: x x x
Interacting with: Mahsa Aris Noble Ayhan

Unfortunately, Zaiya didn't have all the answers. She found herself at a loss, especially when Ayhan departed. The Lovalla was still trying to sort over the perplexing emotions that had resonated from Ayhan when she was tendng his wound. He was certainly unlike anyone else she had met before.

As he made his way out, Zaiya's voice called out to him, "If you ever need anything or feel like eating, don't hesitate to ask!" She hoped he would take the offer.

Whether or not he would was another story.

Turning towards Aris and Mahsa, she gave them both a quizzing look, a ripple of confused curiousity painting her rosy golden skin in arcs of vibrant orange and lumiecent dove greys. It seemed both of them were looking at her with their own bit of confusion, but the expression from Mahsa's face said she likely was more impacted by it.

"So... you both seem to know him better than me. Is he really okay?"

Otherwise, it seemed like the group was just going to eat in awkward silence or conversation until their next training session.

 

[Aris Noble]

"He's like me, but I think while I just didn't get a chance to learn emotion, he doesn't have them." Was his best guess. Aris watched the door Ayhan had closed for a moment longer before letting out a sigh and glanced to Mahsa. They were always together. She would know best, that much was for sure. "He is okay, right?"

Zaiya Ceti | Mahsa

 

[Mahsa]

She couldn’t remember the last time any form of gratitude had slipped past his lips, and a bothersome thought gnawed in the very back of her mind. Faint tints of jade colored the very tips of her hair as the feeling took hold, before it dissipated just as quickly when Zaiya called out behind the retreating form of the Firronthix.

I shouldn't think like that… Guilt weighted heavily against her chest as the Kazelrrian realized the direction her thoughts had been heading for, two tiny and unseen fists tightening as they rested on her lap. She should’ve been happy to witness such progress, little as it might seem in the eyes of others, regardless of who had been the source of it.

The quiet shift in colors as Zaiya turned towards them finally had mahsa look back at her, though the reassuring half smile she tried to give lacked any conviction behind itself.

"M-Maybe…" It was almost unsettling how eerily accurate Aris’ guess had been, a reminder of how observant the boy could be. She’d heard the claims from Ayhan himself many times before, that Glorii Te had made sure to nip any bit of budding emotions from the Firronthix as a whole… and yet she always hoped it wasn’t true.

"He’s—" The words died in her throat before she could voice them, thrusted into the spotlight as both pairs of eyes fixated on her. She might’ve known Ayhan the longest, but that version of him hadn’t come to the Temple with her. "I… I d-don’t know."

---

Aris Noble | Zaiya Ceti ​

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

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Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x
Interacting with: Mahsa Aris Noble Ayhan

So, Ayhan was a bit like Aris due to his upbringing? Guess that meant that he wasn't socialized with others so perhaps that is why he was broody. Maybe that's why he seemed so distant. She couldn't really blame him for it; after all, she knew what it felt like to be awkward around others. Only, in her case, she was too eager -- too forward, too desperate to be liked, with a tendency to be clingy. That only felt contradictory because she also grew over anxious at the thought of being a bother. Ayhan was the opposite, withdrawn into himself. Maybe he needed to just get used to being around people and opening up more like Aris had been to feel more comfortable?

And Mahsa… well, she seemed unsure too. There was something complicated between her and Ayhan. Zaiya could sense it. The older girl clearly had feelings about him, though Zaiya wasn't sure if they were good or bad. Maybe a bit of both.

Interesting.

"Well," Zaiya said, her voice soft but decisive, "let's give him some space. I'll leave out some food and drinks for him, maybe stick a little note to let him know it's there. We've got to get settled into our new rooms anyway, right?"

The trio quietly finished their meal -- well, as quietly as anyone could be around Zaiya. Questions abounded, and the glowing girl was quick to offer assistance or flop onto a bed to chit-chat as the afternoon wore on.