Ask Coruscant Awkwardness and Desperation

[Talak Rand]

Talak was not happy. In all his life, there were very few times when he wasn't in direct combat when he had felt as jittery and panicky as he did now. The trip from Naboo to Coruscant had been agonizing. It had taken hours, and Talak had spent most of that time pacing around the ship, muttering to himself, and trying to sort out a plan for what the next steps were.

Artee wasn't much better. Finding out that "Mistress Trys" was in danger, had nearly sent the droid into a panic that overloaded his circuits. There was no small amount of wailing about what they were going to do before Talak got him to calm down and they were airborne.

Normally, Talak would have just... gone straight to Trys's home or the coffee shop across the street, but he didn't know where she had gone in the meantime, so upon disembarking, he promptly called her on her comlink to find out where he could meet her.

Trys, it's Talak. I just landed on Coruscant, where are you? he asked, urgency clear in his voice. Oh the fun they would have if she hadn't even left her apartment...

 

[Trys Aran]

Trys was, in fact, in the same exact apartment. Her son had gone on a trip with a few friends for the weekend. She had on a drama movie and was attempting to make some food at home. Trys had decided to try and bake for once, and she was surprised that it actually turned out decent. She had just opened the oven when she got the call from Talak.

She looked confused for a moment, “Uhhhh I’m at home?” Trys asked, perplexed. What was he doing back on Coruscant? Last they parted, they had once again lost the lead on the Flower Killer. Since then, she had been promoted, had been in talks with several Jedi and...oh yes, had received the warning message from Talak. That was possibly his reason for being here.

“Look, just come by my apartment. You know where it is, I’m on the third floor, last door,” Trys switched off the comlink, entirely too distracted by her dessert overheating. Of course, this would reveal to Talak that she hadn’t moved.

It wasn’t often she invited anyone into her home, but she felt entirely too lazy to go elsewhere. Trys also trusted Talak enough to be all right with it at this point. She was in comfortable attire - a tanktop and some loose fitting pants. It was probably going to be the most at ease he had ever seen her, and it was when he was the most stressed.

 

[Talak Rand]

Talak stopped dead in his tracks as she said that she was at home. What the ever loving kriff was she thinking?! He was livid and baffled and livid. He was about to start yelling at her when she promptly hung up the comlink. His eyes went wide and he immediately took the first cab he could find and they tore off toward her apartment.

Maybe there's some rhyme or reason to her decision. Just... don't lose it, he thought, still making his way up the turbolift as quickly as he could and coming to her door at the far end of the hall.

And then she heard the most emphatic knocking that she would have ever heard in her life. Oh, and it was not going to stop until she opened the door.

The door slid open a moment later, and Talak... what was even going on? What was he seeing? She was in sweats, puttering around, and he could smell burned brownies in the background. She stood aside and he promptly walked inside.

What are you doing!? They're coming for you! he said. He intentionally kept his voice down, but he was screaming at her in his tone nonetheless. He was completely and utterly baffled, and exceedingly upset.

He didn't actually give her time to answer before continuing, betraying the concern and anxiety he was feeling.

Okay, I know you've probably had people threaten you before, but this is different. These people are the most terrifying assassins you've ever seen. You've seen what they can do! he said emphatically, feeling like he was probably getting nowhere with this.

It was only now that he paused and realized he was actually in her apartment. Oh kriff, was her son home? Had he said something he shouldn't have? This was her home?! Somehow despite all the anxieties, he managed to feel awkward

 

[Trys Aran]

Trys was alarmed at the chaotic knocking on her door. She actually grabbed her gun and then looked through the little hole before finding Talak on the other side. Rolling her eyes, she finally opened the door. He would find her standing there in her casual clothes, wearing oven mits and struggling to hold onto a blaster.

He started off dramatically, and she poked her head out to look around to see if any neighbors were watching. Trys scowled at him, stepping back, “Shut up and come inside,” She commanded. Once he stepped in, she would close the door behind him.

The first thing she did was go to check back on the brownies, and she was relieved to see only a few were burned. Next, she glanced up at the Holomovie and quickly found the remote to pause it. Lastly, she realized she should probably take the mittens off.

“I’m not going to uproot my life anytime some comic book villain wants to hunt me down,” Trys turned to look at Talak, staring at him blankly, “I knew what I signed up for when I got into this job, and I know the risks I take every day,” Had he truly come here just because of this?

“Well you certainly look better,” She remarked as she took note of him compared to their last meeting. Trys gestured around her small apartment, “Welcome to my humble abode. Hardly a step up from ship living, but I like it,” It was clear that Trys wasn’t going to panic like him, nor would she be shaken from the threat. Her stubbornness shined through like a beacon.

 

[Talak Rand]

Talak was just completely floored. She was too smart to be this dumb. Did she have any idea what these people were like? What they would do to her if she was captured alive as the Eternal had ordered. He realized what he was going to have to do if that happened... oh kriff. His mind was already racing through ways to sow unparalleled chaos and death if he couldn't...

He stopped the thought short and refocused on this moment here and now. He was trying to keep her from being tortured and she was... watching movies and showing him around her house. If Trys looked at him she would be wondering if he was actually going to burst an aneurysm.

He looked around her apartment and thought it was cosy enough. She was probably right, it was a step up from living on the Nomad, but he was used to living there and it was home. But he wasn't going to be so easily distracted by the thing that was really bothering him and had been for hours.

Do you at least have a plan for when they show up? Or when they go after your son? he asked. Because they would. Some of these people were quite unsavory. He was still hoping there was a Sector Ranger SWAT team outside or something and that was why her son wasn't here. Oh no... am I her plan? he suddenly thought. This wasn't going to go well, was it?

 

[Trys Aran]

Trys couldn’t help but be amused by the sheer amount of panic he was displaying. She went over to prod at one of the brownies, picking one out and popping it into her mouth. To her surprise, it was actually quite delicious. Trys glanced up at Talak when he asked her the question, walking over to hand him a brownie.

“Look, if they show up, I’ll improvise,” She rolled her eyes, “I’m sure your leader was just having a knee jerk moment. He probably has better things to do than go across the galaxy after little old me,” Trys bit into another brownie, once again surprised at the flavor.

“Anyway did you come here just to hyperventilate about this?” She quirked an eyebrow at him. It was quite a long way to travel, and she wasn’t actively chasing down a case. She had to wonder why he came all this way. One thing was clear - Trys wasn’t going to budge.

“I met with more Jedi,” She explained, “They’re not so bad. The one I arrested was an idiot, but they otherwise seem pretty decent.”

 

[Talak Rand]

Talak couldn't believe this. The entire Sith Eternal was coming down on her and she was eating brownies. He just stood there, blinking, and giving her an extremely judgmental face.

No, but there are plenty of other people who don't have anything better to do, he said, but it was falling on deaf ears. In all the time they'd known each other, he'd never really wanted to try to use the Force to influence her, but he was wanting to right now for her own good. Of course, he wouldn't because he knew how absolutely, irrevocable, unfathomably furious she would have been, but wow was there a part of him that wanted to.

He realized that she wasn't going to go anywhere no matter how hard he tried, so he started looking around at the apartment that was going to be his new home for the next few days, whether she wanted it or not.

Well then I'm staying here. Because "improvising" is going to get you killed. Or in a neighbors house or something, he said, not knowing that her son was gone and realizing that would have probably been difficult to explain. He looked at the brownies she was chomping down like a fatty, already on her second brownie. He glanced around for the first time and he was... quite surprised to see a kid on the wall who was... not at all what he had pictured her son looking like. Well, that was unexpected... he thought before moving over to stand awkwardly in the middle of the room.

I think Jedi are a mixed bag. A bit narrow minded and dumb sometimes, but I think they mean well, he said, continuing to stand awkwardly.

 

[Trys Aran]

Trys’s eyebrows rose at his words, “Excuse me?” She crossed her arms over her chest, “You are most certainly not staying here. You should be flattered I even let you in here,” She gave him a dirty look. Was he seriously just planning to come by and park himself in her house?

She couldn’t help but tilt her head to observe him for a moment. They had arrived at a strange impasse - he was dead set on ensuring that he be there in case anyone came to attack, and she was dead set on remaining where she was.

At last, a faint smile graced her face, “Talak,” She said softly, “I’m not one of those girls from the slaving ring. I can take care of myself,” Trys knew he would remain stubborn, “You have so many other things to worry about. You have people actually depending on you,” Trys hadn’t forgotten those he spoke about that he ‘led down a path’.

“There are others that need you more than I do.”

 

[Talak Rand]

Talak couldn't believe that she wasn't getting this. Did she think he was lying to her? That was the only conceivable reason he could think of that she would be acting like this. She just simply didn't believe that anyone was actually coming after her.

Do you think I'm lying to you? he finally just blurted out. Because there's no one in my life that's in more danger than you right now, he said, just standing there and staring at her with intensity. His fingers were passively brushing across the hilt of his lightsaber that was beneath his robes. It was a gesture she may have seen him do before when he was nervous.

He realized he was picking here and now. Someone would come for her. He would defend her, and his role in the Sith Eternal would come to an end. Kriff. The realization hit him like a punch in the gut and he almost felt short of breath for a moment.

He put both of his hands to his face, but felt like he wasn't getting anywhere. If she didn't let him stay here he would promptly walk across the hall to her neighbor's apartment and invite himself inside.

If I walk out and they come for you, I'll never forgive myself, he said. There was so much certainty in his mind that someone would come for her, but maybe they wouldn't? Maybe she was right and on one would care.

 

[Trys Aran]

Trys was going from relaxed to progressively more irritated. His theatrics were beginning to get on her nerves. She lived a life of danger at all times in her line of profession. The fact that he was acting like this only made her feel weak, and that fueled her rage. He would be able to sense the spike in anger in her, both of them exceedingly stubborn in their beliefs and unwilling to budge.

He buried his face in his hands, and she could tell he was just as frustrated. He had powers he could normally use to get his way, and he simply couldn’t do that now. He had to be ordinarily human and face ordinary human problems and obstacles. It was a challenge she couldn’t relate to, but she could see it unraveling in front of her.

“You’re not kriffing responsible for me,” Trys said, her tone harsh as she glared at him, still fuming from seeing him act like this, “I’ve taken care of myself probably since before you were in primary school,” Her tone was ice then, “And now you come in acting like I’m suddenly your problem. What the kriff do you think I am to you?”

 

[Talak Rand]

This was just all around going poorly. He could feel how angry she was getting, and he wasn't getting anywhere. It was like senselessly throwing his head against a door hoping it would open. He was just going to end up giving himself a concussion.

Her words were laced with venom, and he didn't even know how to respond. He suddenly felt very out of place... again. But where he would normally have just up and left, this time he didn't. He couldn't.

You're right, I'm not responsible for you, he admitted after a moment. His tone was surprisingly neutral and almost distant. He was quiet for a moment. He didn't have an answer for her last question, and if he could do anything to avoid it, he wasn't going to answer it. Now certainly wasn't the moment.

It'd be easier for me to just walk out. That's what I normally do, but that's not what friends do, he said. And they were friends in their own very weird way.

Sink or swim, we're in this together, aren't we? Isn't that what friends do? he asked. And, of course, he hoped she wouldn't simply say that they weren't friends and he should get out. It was a distinct possibility as he'd evidently managed to piss her off quite nicely. He seemed to have a way of doing that.

 

[Trys Aran]

Trys sighed when he finished, rubbing her temples. She started pacing back and forth, running her fingers through her hair, “Look, there has to be some tact to this,” She paused and looked at him, “Us being buddies is great and all, but what’re you expecting here? Just chill out here and stay for days just waiting for something to happen? There’s no rhyme or reason to what can happen or if it even does. That’s just how life works, Talak.”

She knew he was fretting over this, but she simply couldn’t follow the logic of panicking and letting it cripple her way of life. Trys could tell it wasn’t often that he worried about others, and this was almost overwhelming him. She shook her head and walked over to plop down on the couch, at a loss for what to do. She felt too cruel tossing him out, but it also made no sense for him to simply crash here.

“My son comes back tomorrow evening,” She said quietly, “I’m not ready for him to see anyone else staying here. You can crash here today, but I can almost promise you that your big bad cult leader won’t jump out from the bushes to attack me tonight,” Trys rolled her eyes and looked back at her Holoscreen, “But if it’ll make you stop shitting a brick, then fine.”

 

[Talak Rand]

Talak seemed placated for the moment. He might have to reconsider what to do after today, but at least he'd be here if there was an issue. And now... he wasn't really sure what to do. He hadn't really planned for this at all. He thought he'd get her to go somewhere, not be having a sleepover. What did people even... do when they "hung out?"

After several moments of awkwardly standing in the middle of her room, he finally realized that she had consented to him staying here, so it was probably safe to sit down. He moved over and sat on... the very edge of the couch. Somehow he felt like if he made himself too comfortable he was going to be doing something wrong. Trys would likely notice this and either laugh at him or roll her eyes. It was up in the air.

So... what were you doing before I rudely barged in and made a scene? he asked. Do you bake a lot? he asked. He didn't know why he felt so awkward and out of place, but without anything to chase or anywhere he had to be, acting like a regular human was... difficult sometimes. Kriff, I need some wine...

 

[Trys Aran]

Trys switched the movie she was watching back on, entirely unconcerned with him there. She had a laidback personality when she wasn’t working, and he would be getting the full fledged perspective on that. Trys ignored him standing around in the middle of her living room, and she didn’t even look over when he gingerly sat down at the corner of her couch.

She happily popped another brownie into her mouth, though this one was sort of burnt. Trys quirked an eyebrow and looked at him as he asked his question, “No, I don’t bake a lot,” She stared at him, “There’s beer in the fridge and some pizza probably. Go help yourself,” Trys still couldn’t believe he was actually wanting to crash here, but she wasn’t going to act any differently than she normally would in her home.

She held out the plate of brownies towards him if he wanted it. Her focus was back on the Holomovie, which now switched over to an emotional scene. The entire situation was much more comical than intended - Trys watching a drama movie with Talak sitting there completely uncomfortable and perplexed.

“I was going to eat brownies, feel guilty and then go for a run tonight,” She tilted her head to scowl at him, “But who knows, I might get jumped by your fearless leader while I pass the refueling station, so maybe I’ll play it safe and stay in.”

 

[Talak Rand]

Talak hadn't ever really thought of himself as a "fidgety" person, but now that he was sitting here, doing nothing but fidgeting uncomfortably, he realized he might need to reevaluate. At least when she offered him a brownie it was something for him to do instead of just sit there and think about how he wasn't doing anything. Or worse, think about her....

Thanks, he said, taking one of the offered brownies and starting to munch on it. Ah yes, maybe beer would help his current situation. After a moment, he asked if she wanted one and headed over to try to find something. He wasn't normally a timid person either, but somehow he felt like he was completely intruding. Well, kriff stick, it's because you are intruding, he thought to himself.

He came back and as he did, she mentioned running, and that idea sounded amazing right up until she pointed out that the Eternal might be out there. Right... couldn't do that either.

He sat back down on the couch and promptly began to guzzle down the beer. It was the same thing he'd done with his wine in any given situation he felt uncomfortable in. But she probably wasn't paying any attention anyway.

Slowly, he started to actually sit back on the couch a bit more and watch the movie as well. The more he thought about this situation, the more absurd he found it. His brooding over it, however, slowly turned to him actually watching the movie. Particularly when the starship - a massive capital ship sized luxury ship - started to break up from impact with an asteroid. He watched a crew member being sucked into space, but not before the negative pressure slammed him at high speed into a piece of metal.

Oof, he said, face scrunching up a bit. He hadn't expected to actually start... enjoying the movie. Or pay any attention to it at all.

When they reached a lulling point in the movie, he finally all but blurted out. I'm sorry I barged in all... well, like I was, he said. He wasn't even sure if she'd wanna hear it or simply tell him to shhh and go back to watching her movie, but it probably needed saying.

 

[Trys Aran]

Trys was perfectly happy just watching the movie and eating her brownies. She could tell Talak was easing up a bit as well, and he even helped himself to a beer, and she joined him in having one. They watched the movie for a bit, which she found hilarious. She was quite literally sitting here watching a movie with a potential terrorist. Trys shook her head, keeping her thoughts to herself.

When he finally spoke again, Trys didn’t even look at him, “I’m used to your bizarre antics by now,” She muttered quietly. She looked at him for a moment, appearing as if she had more to say. However, she remained silent in the end, turning to finish up the movie.

As the credits rolled, she stood up and stretched, “Oh look, it’s almost midnight and still no sign of your glorious overlord,” Trys said theatrically. She walked away for a moment and came out with a pillow and some extra blankets, plopping them down on the couch, “Enjoy your bed for the night, weirdo,” Trys said, still entertained by how stubborn he was being.

With that, she bid him goodnight and disappeared into her room, still in disbelief that he was actually going through with this.

 

[Talak Rand]

It was a good thing Talak's default clothes were robes so that he could sleep in them. Not that he was going to be doing any sleeping tonight. At least not more than the hour or two he usually got each night. So at midnight, she went to bed, and Talak's night began.

First it was the pacing. He paced around the room, deep in thought until he'd figured out how he was going to handle this... situation. After he'd mulled over every possible scenario he looked at the chrono and realized it was only 1am, and he rolled his eyes.

Second he tried to sleep. It took almost an hour of tossing and turning before he managed to get even a moment's sleep. That didn't last long before he was awoken by the nightmares... always the nightmares. He sat bolt upright with a loud gasp and hoped Trys hadn't heard him if he'd been calling out in his sleep. He rolled over to the edge of the couch and rubbed the sleep from his eyes.

Meditations took the next hour after that. He let the Force flow into him to intentionally rejuvenate his body, but his mind was... as conflicted as ever. Being so near to Trys and still feeling so far from her had him in a mess. But still, there was something in his mind that felt... warmer than normal. The conflict wasn't so much at odds with himself as confusion and indecision.

This lead him to what he knew he needed to do. When it was dark thoughts swirling within his mind, he exorcised them onto canvas. Perhaps clarity would be reached with more positive thoughts as well.

It wasn't entirely clear where he had gotten the small canvas and paints (it definitely hadn't involved paying someone on the street an exorbitant amount of credits (this would have normally been something he would have used a mental trick for, but if Trys did ask him, he didn't want to have that argument)), but he spent the remaining hours of the night at the small canvas, centered in the Force, and letting it guide the strokes.

When Trys's door swished open, he was just laying the finishing touches.

Since I barged in on you, I thought I'd give you something to pay you back, he said. She wouldn't be able to really see what he was doing yet, but as she came closer it would be more clear.

You don't have to tell people it's us if it make you uncomfortable... he said. Or you know... put it up... if you don't want to, he said, suddenly feeling very awkward. Somehow he felt like a child who had brought his favorite stuffed animal to show and tell and was afraid everyone was going to laugh at him.

 

[Trys Aran]

Trys was up early the next morning as was her normal routine. She was in an exercise tank top and athletic pants, ready to go out for a jog and then lift. She wasn’t going to let someone crashing at her place throw off her schedule, after all. By the time she came out, she was surprised to find Talak up. Moreover, he appeared to be…painting? Where did he even get a canvas? She eyed him curiously as she came out, listening as he spoke up.

He spun the canvas for her to see and her eyebrows rose, and she quietly studied it for a moment. She had no idea when he got the supplies for all this, and she was even more impressed that her apartment was completely spotless. Most of all, she was surprised by how good it looked, “Wow..” She said quietly, tilting her head to look at the abstract way he even referenced her tattoos, “I didn’t know you painted,” Trys stepped closer to take it all in, looking at the details he remembered of her dress and the plethora of colors around them, “Looks like two….friends,” She couldn’t help but chuckle softly, pulling back from the painting, “I’ll hang it up,” She looked over at her otherwise boring walls. Trys walked over to where there was a rather generic painting and removed it, replacing it with the one Talak made. It actually livened up the room quite a bit, and she paused to admire it.

“So,” She tilted her head to look at him, “Looks like your overlord was a no show,” She couldn’t help the amused grin, “What’re you going to do now?”

 

[Talak Rand]

Talak smiled as she seemed impressed by his night's work. It was a productive night for him, and all without any incident. He watched as she moved over to hang it on the wall, and flinched as she mentioned two "friends." Fine, so maybe he should have been more up front, but he was... scared. He didn't want her to turn him away and lead this to its very end.

If there was ever a moment to do something, though, it was now. How many times now had the two of them nearly been killed? How many medcenter visits? The reality that their lives hung by a thread so often was... clarifying. Maybe he would die fighting an assassin coming to kill her or maybe he would die fighting the Syndicates. But if he died waiting for the galaxy to turn over and open a door that he needed to just open himself... no, that wasn't okay.

She asked what he was going to do now, and he barely even heard her, suddenly blinking and looking at her as he realized she'd said something.

I probably shouldn't sit in your house with your son coming back, he said, almost absentmindedly. But I'll stay around Coruscant for a few days or weeks, he said. He was staring at the painting still as if lost in thought. It vibrated in the Force because of the nature of how he created it. He wished she could have felt it and felt what he felt.

I've painted a lot of things, and usually it's things I'm conflicted about. I think this is the first painting I've ever made that I loved, he said. He didn't let the implications of his word choice linger for too long before he turned to her.

He put his left hand against the side of her face and leaned in to kiss her, letting his lips linger against hers and pulling her up against him if she would let him. He didn't want to pull back. He didn't want the moment to end. He could have stayed here, with her forever if fate would have allowed it. He was more content in that moment than perhaps ever before.

 

[Trys Aran]

Trys wasn’t surprised that he wasn’t going to leave Coruscant. He was lost in gazing at the painting, and she felt a pang of guilt for not sharing in his fears. Perhaps the threat of the man that was the leader of this organization was far worse than she was making it out to be. There was a trickle of fear as she thought about her son - what if he were in danger? These were people with powers she didn’t understand, and unlike Talak, others would show no restraint.

She didn’t think too much about what Talak said next, her gaze following his onto the painting. It had certainly been done with care, and he truly took his time with each detail. Trys turned and Talak was closer to her this time, and she could see the soft, honeyed hues of his eyes up close. The yellow was less prominent, but it was always there and lingering.

Her eyes went wide when he leaned in, not holding back. Trys was rooted in place, surprised by the kiss. However, she didn’t really fight it, remembering the last time they did this. She hadn’t known what came over her then, just that she wanted it. That underlying desire didn’t completely go away. She leaned into the kiss, forgetting for a moment all her little rules and walls.

Trys felt his warmth as he pulled her closer. She knew it wasn’t like last time where she told herself she’d never see him again. Trys felt him pull back slightly, and she opened her eyes, her gaze lowered, “Is this why you’re really here?” She could feel her heart beating rapidly, and she despised that he could probably sense the fluctuating emotions in her then.