Wind and Flower

[Akabane Jarvik]

[member="Zesiro"]

The flow of the air on Naboo was so enjoyable. Akabane knew this feeling was unique to this planet. That's why he stayed on it and planned on remaining there forever. Back on his homeworld, all of the clans fought each other and used their powers for that purpose. He too had to partake in those battles. But when he arrived here on Naboo it all changed. No more intense fights with his brothers, just relaxation and all the time in the world to do whatever he wanted. However money was an issue.

Akabane spent yet again another day doing odd jobs to get by. The work he did was really rewarding in the end and always kept him busy. He always could just get a full-time job but he had more fun taking on these small jobs. Sometimes if he helped farmers, they'd give him some fruit or vegetables. That really helped him in return by him not having to pay for food that day. It was really a cycle he repeated daily and he enjoyed every minute of it.

After completing his last job for the day, Akabane made his way over to his favorite hill on Naboo. He traveled by air and when he got there, he climbed a tree. Akabane carried a satchel with him that contained his belongings, besides his blade that rested on his side. He sat on a branch and leaned his back against the trunk of the tree. Then he pulled out a sack with apples in it. Akabane grabbed an apple and started to eat it while watching many people in the village for some entertainment. He soon finished the apple and fell asleep slowly. Somehow he didn't fall but his satchel and apples did.

 

[Zesiro]

After a few adventures on her own that had gotten her into trouble with her master, she had been behaving herself as well as she could and he had sent her on her first solo mission. It lead her to Naboo and she was searching for clues that could lead her to a potential discovery that interested both her and her master. The only stipulation was she needed to wear her assassin garb including the mask.

Zesiro secured landing and brought her ship into the spaceport. She had avoided Theed and instead landed at one of the smaller villages. Walking out of the spaceport, she scanned the people and area around. Somewhere here out in that countryside were clues to what she was looking for. Naboo was just the first stop among a trail that would lead her many places before she would find what she was looking for.

Grumbling under her breath about having to wear the mask that hid her face, she still moved with lithe grace. This is actually the first time she had been outside of the castle wearing the full outfit he had given her. The effect on the people was shocking and surprised her. Nobody approached her making lewd suggestions that at one time she might have taken them up on. If they didn't find a way to move out of her way, the people at least appeared to be busy with something and not looking at her. Under her mask, Zesiro gazed around the people and actually felt more confident in the training her master had provided.

Having a few hours before night would fall, Zesiro struck out in the surrounding lands of the village. She neared a tree and saw some apples and a pack fall out of it. Looking up at the tree, she found it wasn't an apple tree and wondered whose pack it was. Picking up one of the apples, she brushed it off and took a bite out of it as she thought about how the pack could have gotten up the tree in the first place.

She looked up into the tree and near to the top she saw a form sleeping. Nodding, she picked up one of the other apples and with the Force to enhance her aim and throwing strength, she tossed it in the direction of the man's head.

[member="Akabane Jarvik"]

 

[Akabane Jarvik]

[member="Zesiro"]

Akabane falling asleep, a defenseless state, was most likely a mistake. Not that he had any pursuers or the last he checked he didn't. Thief's is what worried him. They are sneaky and silent, he defiantly wouldn't hear them while asleep. If they attacked him he'd be able to know thanks to his connection with nature however.

In his sleep he had a dream. The dream was about when he got his foot cut off. It wasn't the best thing to dream of but it also wasn't his worst memory. He actually learned a lot that day. Most importantly: don't trust your friend when training. His friend was the one who cut off his foot. There was no hard feelings in the end because he got this cooler robotic foot. But still, lesson learned.

Something ended the dream and his body was laying face into the ground. "Ow." he let out with his face still in the ground. "I've been shot. Tell my wife I love her." he said trying to get up but fell on his back. His eyes were blurry but seen a figure near him. Akabane thought it was an attacker especially when he got his vision back. He saw a masked person standing by the tree.

He stood up quickly to analyze it. From what he could see, the person was shorter than him. So it was a girl or a short guy. "Are you trying to steal my apples, thief?"

 

[Zesiro]

Her well aimed throw to his head hit causing him to fall out of the tree and to the ground. Zesiro actually winced when he landed waking him from his sleep. His exclamation of "ow" made her smile inwardly and she almost wanted to laugh at his next words. He tried to stand up, but ended up just rolling over onto his back and looked over at her.

Zesiro still held his satchel and the apple she had been eating. He wouldn't be able to see her face and she let out a mental growl at the demands on her master. This was her first mission and he made the rules for it.

After the man's vision cleared from waking up and taking the fall from the tree, he stood up and asked if she was trying to steal his apples.

"They had already fallen by the time I got here, so fair game. Not stealing anything. This yours?"

She held the satchel out and waited for his answer before she would toss it in his direction.

[member="Akabane Jarvik"]

 

[Akabane Jarvik]

[member="Zesiro"]

Akabane seen his satchel and one of his apples in the masked one's hands. When it spoke, he heard the sound of a feminine voice. "Yes, I'd appreciate if I could get it back." he would wait for it to be tossed to him.

When she gave it back, he apologized. "I apologize for my rudeness." he said with a smile, losing it seconds later. "Your appearance caught me off guard. Thiefs usually wear a mask so I figured that's what you were." he paused to breathe. "So what's up with that mask anyways?"

The remaining apples on the ground, Akabane picked up and placed into the sack. He wasn't too fond of getting near the masked figure. A mask didn't bother him or anything but he didn't see anyone wearing one on Naboo. So he thought it was a little odd.

 

[Zesiro]

Zesiro tossed the pack to the man who caught it deftly and then proceeded to pick up the rest of the apples that were on the ground. He had apologized for being rude in accusing her of being a thief and she shrugged it off. She had been called worse in her time. Then he asked about the mask and she realized she wasn't intimidating this man at all. Unlike the villiagers, it didn't seem to bother him or he was hiding his fear well.

"I'm on a mission for something and instead of allowing people to know who I am, keep it a secret."

Hopefully that didn't sound as lame and stupid to him as it did to her. In the future she would have to think of something more intimidating...to fit the outfit.

"How did you get up that tree anyway? There aren't any branches low enough to climb with."

[member="Akabane Jarvik"]

 

[Akabane Jarvik]

[member="Zesiro"]

Akabane tied a knot in the sack and set it by the tree. The lady said her purpose for wearing a mask was for secrecy, for a mission. He thought it was funny and laughed. "Unless I'm the target of your mission you can take that thing off." he said putting his satchel back on himself.

The masked one's asked how he managed to get to the branch where he slept. "I'm able to harness the wind." he was sure that she wouldn't believe him. "To elaborate on that, I can fly. It's actually similar to how birds glide but instead of flapping wings I manipulate the wind." even with his explanation he wondered if she'd believe him.

He was surprisingly open about his ability with a stranger. People didn't really care about shapers in the galaxy, there was many men and women with more interesting abilities anyways. Just because he could control one of the elements didn't make him any more special, of course not everyone could do it. On his planet it was vital for survival, it was natural selection. But here it's not needed, he's not needed. Akabane looked at the masked one.

"I could try and lift you up with wind but you might want to take off any extra gear." he said with excitement in his eyes. Akabane smirked. "I promise you that it's more fun than a little mission."

 

[Zesiro]

Zesiro watched as the man tied his pack shut and set it by the tree he had just fallen from. He then laughed at what she said and for a moment she was offended and thought about slapping him. Instead she growled slightly and shook her head. Whoever he was mentioned she could take off her mask unless he was her target.

"No, not here to kill anybody."

Forgetting she had the mask on for a moment, he answered her question, she raised an eyebrow and gave him if he could see an look that indicated she didn't believe him fully.

"You can fly? I mean I could lift you with the Force and get you up there, but I don't think I could get me up there. As for removing any extra gear," she turned around in a circle to show she had nothing else on, "what you see is all there is."

What she was here searching for the clues weren't going anywhere, if there were any to begin with.

"Yeah sure, maybe you could try and teach me?"

[member="Akabane Jarvik"]

 

[Akabane Jarvik]

[member="Zesiro"]

When she growled at him he felt the urge to laugh again but held back. The woman stated she wasn't after anyone's life, he hesitated on believing what she said. He played along however. "Well that's relieving." Akabane wasn't concerned about her killing anyone but the mask was strange. It didn't seem like she was going to take it off.

Akabane heard her say she could use the force. "Yeah... please don't do that." he said sounding a little concerned now. "But yes. I can also fight using the wind if I ever get into one." he added to explain it a little more. She turned her body around completely in a circle showing nothing extra on her. Though small objects wouldn't matter with weight, he still recommended it.

The masked one accepted his offer while also asking for him to teach her how to harness the wind. "I'd have no problem doing that. Although, it would take quite a while and you probably wouldn't need it. Since you can use the force."

 

[Zesiro]

He appeared relieved she wasn't there to kill him or anybody else, but he probably didn't believe her. If some masked stranger appeared out of nowhere to her, she would think the same thing. Giving a shrug, she pushed the thought away and gave him a curious look, even he couldn't see it.

"Why don't you want me to use the Force?"

The tone of his voice changed, like he was worried about her doing something.

"Fighting is the farthest thing from my mind."

Now that the conversation had been started with him, Zesiro took the time to look at the man. He was a few inches taller than her and rather attractive. Giving herself a mental boot to the head, she attempted to steer herself way from her mind was wondering.

"Well, look at it this way, just because I have the Force doesn't mean it's everything."

Taking steps closer to him, she stopped an arms length away and looked up at him.

"New skills and abilities are always useful to know."

[member="Akabane Jarvik"]

 

[Akabane Jarvik]

[member="Zesiro"]

Akabane didn't care for her to use the force, just not on him. Though in truth his kind didn't like the force due to its invisibility to the eye, the shapers. He wasn't like them so it didn't trouble him if someone were to use it. "I don't really mind if you use the force. Just don't use it on me. It's kinda like if I send a blast of wind your way without your permission." he hoped she understood that. The woman seemed reasonable so he didnt expect her to do that anyways.

She let him know conflict wasn't on her agenda, that was good to know. It wasn't on his either so it seemed like they were good to go. A nice casual conversation between two strangers. "That's good news. I try not to fight anyone unless it's really required." he said being honest. The last fight he had was in a bar when he ordered some orange juice. Some guy thought the order was stupid and swung at him, the results weren't pretty. Why orange juice? He doesn't drink.

He sat down on the grass and crossed his legs. "You can do a lot with the force. Maybe you can't fly with it but when is flying practical on a daily basis for a human?" he said this like he didn't have a practical use for it when he did. The woman said it's useful to know new skills and abilities. He couldn't argue with that. "Alright. Come here. I can't teach you in an hour or even a day but I want to test something." he held out his hands face up. "Sit down and hold my hands with your eyes closed. Tell me what you feel."

 

[Zesiro]

Zesiro would laugh at his words about not using the Force on him.

"What if you gave me permission?"

They both agreed conflicts weren't their interest and that appeared to be settled. Her last real fight had been against a Sith knight...who ended up actually being her sister. They hadn't known it at the time though. The confrontation between them ended when a Jedi knight showed up that Zesiro thought she had killed already. The whole situation was messed up and confusing.

"No, neither one of us want a fight."

Of course that lead her thoughts other directions and was glad to be wearing the mask. It would hide her features and her tells. She watched as he sat down and invited her to join him so he could start teaching her his skill. If she could even learn it.

"It may not be practical on a daily basis, but it would come in useful at times."

She hesitated for just a moment before sitting down, taking her gloves off and extending her hands to touch his. Closing her eyes as she did this and trying to put into words what she felt.

Clearing her throat before speaking, "I feel your warm, strong hands that are used to working and not just sitting around doing nothing. You requested I not use the Force on you so that rather limits what I can feel."

[member="Akabane Jarvik"]

 

[Akabane Jarvik]

[member="Zesiro"]

Akabane cracked a grin when she asked if she could use the force on him with his permission. Eyes closed and locking hands with the masked one, he answered her question. "You are quite bold for a lady." he said this before losing the grin. "I say no. Mainly because I dont know you and I'm not sure if you can control your powers. You probably aware of this... but killing someone isn't hard with the force. So that's that."

The masked seemed like she was interested in learning new things. For Akabane, he didn't mind attempting to teach someone a new thing. His people spent their whole lives doing just that. This made him think of his trainer in his village. Everyone called him 'Great One'. He was a master of all four elements and often taught the teenagers in the village. The Great One ultimately died along with everyone else.

He realized what he asked her wasn't exactly specific. The reply she gave him almost made him laugh. Akabane didn't though as it was his mistake for not asking a more detailed question. "I don't mean with your hands." he said shaking his head. "You don't need to use the force to be one with nature."

 

[Zesiro]

The grin lit up Akabane's face and Zesiro had to give herself another mental boot to the head, told herself to focus on the lesson not the man giving it to her. Telling her she was a bold woman, she shook her head. This man had no idea just how bold she could be. He also said no to her using the Force but only because it was so easy to kill with it. Rolling her eyes at him, she took a hold of his hands and closed them.

"You know if I wanted you dead, we wouldn't be holding hands right now."

When she spoke her observation on the feel of his hands, he then said she didn't need the Force to be one with nature. At those words, Zesiro opened her eyes and looked at him with a slightly dirty look. Only her eyes could be seen though.

"One with nature? If I do that, then my own nature would take hold and while it would be quite enjoyable...I'm sure that's not what you're after."

He didn't know her nature, it was something she tried hard to control. It was getting easier, but there were times she couldn't stop herself. This man was certainly attractive enough and if she was honest with herself, without her current control, she would have found a much more secluded location. There she would have let nature take its course and give into her passion.

[member="Akabane Jarvik"]

 

[Akabane Jarvik]

[member="Zesiro"]

The woman told him she wouldn't be holding hands if she wanted him dead. He opened his eyes after she said that. "I can't argue with that. Although, you could be hiding your intentions." he noticed she gave him a weird look, so he closed his eyes again and sat in silence.

Akabane wasn't sure if the masked one really understood what he was trying to get her to do. The woman then said something that interested him. He thought of a scheme to get her mask off. Not too sure if it would work and eager to know, he went with it. His curiosity is what urged him to go through with it. Akabane just wanted to know what she looked like, nothing else was in his mind.

"You don't know that unless you try it, right?" he was swift in his action and pulled the woman over his way so she would lean forward. If she didn't resist, they'd be only a few inches face to face. The plan was simple enough, pretend he was interested in her and then snatch the mask. He would wait to reach for it until the right moment. Something that worried him is how she would react after if it were successful. "I love this spot mainly because it's not very populated. No one's watching." he went on with the act.

 

[Zesiro]

For a moment their eyes locked and he said he couldn't argue with her logic, but that she might still be hiding her intentions.

"My actual intentions are to search for a lost ship. If I can learn how to fly, it'll make searching that much easier. And I certainly know my nature far better than you do."

The last part of what she said her voice would display a touch of humor. Attempting to try and do as the man requested though, Zesiro closed her eyes again. When she did that, he suddenly pulled her forward and with a small squeak, their faces were inches apart and her eyes wide open.

"What was that for?"

His comment about nobody watching pretty much went past her unheard in her own surprised.

[member="Akabane Jarvik"]

 

[Akabane Jarvik]

[member="Zesiro"]

It was revealed that the masked one was in a search for a lost ship. That was convincing since she was dressed up and everything for such an adventure. The only thing he would comment on is her nature she spoke of. "Okay. I'll choose to believe you for now." he said. Akabane noticed she was being pretty open about things, well, there was the mask.

What he did next would embarrass him a little, he'd try his best not to show it. Akabane leaned in and whispered into her ear. "I want you to be yourself. You don't have to hold back." he said smiling slightly. Akabane waited for her next reaction before acting on his plan. I can't believe I just did that he thought with a barely red face.

 

[Zesiro]

The man kept his hold on her and they were still just a few inches apart. He said he chose to believe her and in a way it made her relax, but only a little. They still held hands and he leaned over to whisper in her ear. He wanted her to be herself and not hold back.

"If you wanted to hold me, all you had to do was say something."

Zesiro kept her hold on his hands and did her best to keep her humor at the whole situation in check. At the moment it appeared he was blushing and she wondered why.

"In choosing to believe me, then trust me to know that you don't want me to let go, be myself. You're going to want me to hold back. It's that anything BAD would happen, just..."

Her eyes and he could see them would look at him from the top of his head to his lap.

[member="Akabane Jarvik"]

 

[Akabane Jarvik]

[member="Zesiro"]

The woman said he just needed to ask if he wanted to hold her, which appeared to be a joke. This made him grin after but he lost it before speaking. "You should be glad my friend. The great Akabane decided to hold hands with you." he was of course joking, Akabane could never have that much pride in himself.

Akabane listened as she talked about her nature. From what he was hearing and looking at where her eyes went, he thought he pretty much figured out what she meant by it. He didn't plan on going through with it at all, but he really wanted to see her face. The plan called for him going through with it just until he can snatch the mask.

"Will you grant me one request?" he asked trying to get her to take her mask off. "Please remove your mask. I'm sure a lovely lady is being locked away right now because of a silly mission. Don't worry, your identity is safe with me." he hadn't properly met her yet because of the mask. Akabane realized he didn't know her name yet so he asked that as well. "I haven't even asked what your name is. May I get that too?"

 

[Zesiro]

The man grinned at her first words and then said she should be glad he had decided to hold hands with her. It was all in a joking manner or it appeared that way to Zesiro. At least he provided her with a name which had been lacking since they started conversing.

He asked for her to grant him one request and that was take her mask off, saying that it was locking her away. In answer, she shook her head. Akabane then also asked for her name.

"Which do you want more, my dear Akabane."

A small smile appeared on her lips that were invisible to him, but it might show in her blue eyes.

[member="Akabane Jarvik"]