Ask [Endor] A Nest in the Forest

[Kyosuke Yamato]

Gremlin let out a whine while squirming in See-See's grip. Then paused and calmed himself for a moment before he hooted lovingly and nuzzled her violently. A soft pop and hiss came from the bacta tank as it unsealed and opened slowly. Grem tried to support his lavender bestie in the process, trying to steady her and keep her from getting spooked by the machine.

"Seela...?" Kyo groggily groaned as he lifted the top of the tank with his right hand. One eye remained closed as he adjusted to the faint golden rays that poked through the long and narrow window. He slightly leaned out of the tank, his gaze lingering on Seela and Gremlin.

"It's alright..."


@Ahryia

 

[Seela]

Getting head-bonked by a loving droid was just enough to pull Seela from the abyss of her own mind, giving her a chance to get a grip on reality.
She came to like a drowning person breaching the surface, jerkily sitting back up, heart still thundering and dizzy, but her breaths starting to get easier.
She hurriedly lightened her grip on Gremlin, but nuzzled him back, grounding herself in the physical world.
Scooting herself to the side, to give space for Kyosuke to get off the machine, Seela shook off the fog in her mind, berating herself for overreacting.
Clearing her throat, blinking back tears, she shakily adressed Kyosuke.

"S-sorry, I'm fine..."

@AdventCore

 

[Kyosuke Yamato]

The cushy mat and discreet drains along it collected the excess droplets that dripped from the tank and from Kyo's body as he slowly swung his feet down. He let himself sit on the edge for the moment while he calmly reached over and plucked a towel off a rod connected to the end of the machine. He then began to pat his head and hair with the towel, gradually making his way down.

"Take as much time as you need... This won't be easy for either of us..." Kyo's voice trailed off. He clearly didn't feel too good about the idea of abandoning Seela, but he also wasn't trying to change their minds either. Gremlin let out a curious whirl of beeps as he looked between his two besties, unsure of what exactly was going on between the two of them.


@Ahryia

 

[Seela]

Seela nodded, then held Gremlin up to Kyosuke.

"You had someone very worried, here. Kept watch over you from the beginning. Your things are in your room, your bloody shirt in the tub, wasn't sure if you would want to try and repair it... I'll uh... just... go finish packing my things."

Seela needed some time hidden to gather herself, so she hurriedly stood up, eyes on the floor, and headed for the door, head down.

@AdventCore

 

[Kyosuke Yamato]

"Oh... Okay..." Kyosuke's head was down, gaze on the floor as Seela began to walk away.

Gremlin hooted worriedly with a hint of shock. "Packing?!" The little scout exclaimed with a distraught tone. Then another pair of beeps would follow as Grem took a couple tiny steps toward the lavender twi while whining more. "See-See leaving?!"

"No buddy..." Kyo shook his head and closed his eyes. Then he let out a heavy sigh and looked over at the little droid. "We're leaving. She's staying."

Grem cried out and hopped in place in protest. "No!!!" The little scout took a few more steps toward See-See while he kept his faceplate pointed up at her. If the droid could shed tears, they'd be crashing around him.


@Ahryia

 

[Seela]

Seela's heart clenched in her chest, at hearing Gremlin's distress, and very much wanted to turn back and comfort him, but she needed time to get back from her latest panic attack, before she could even think of interacting with others. Gritting her teeth, she hobbled to "her" room, and closed the door behind her.
She slumped against the door for a moment, head in her hands, gathering herself. When she didn't feel like she was 30 seconds away from dying, she gave a look to the space that had been hers, giving herself a few seconds to mourn, before putting her emotions back in a locked box, to be dealt with later.
Steeling herself, she quickly put the few remaining miscellanous things she had in a satchel, shock gloves, vibroblade, stun glow rod, phone, rebreather, translator mask, macrobinoculars...
Then, she stood looking at her blaster and grappling pistol, and the black shock collar with its remote, and her electrostaff, hesitating.
Sighing, she slung the staff across her back, slipping it in the leathery straps she wore for exactly that purpose, then threw the collar and the remote in the satchel, planning to dismantle them, or even just purposefully leave them buried under a tree somewhere soon.
As reluctant as she was to use the blasters, she couldn't deny that she might need them if she was to stay alone for a while in this place, so she made sure they were off, and slung them in the satchel.
Hauling the small bag on her shoulder, she gave a last once over to the room, before going out.
She wasn't sure she would be able to keep Rabbit with her... she wouldn't have anything to recharge them... Maybe Kyosuke would accept to keep them, since Imp and Rabbit got along quite well...
Maybe she could trade with the ewoks to make enough ressource that she would be able to trade for power cells at the space port that was a few days hike from here... Maybe Sacha would accept to take her there...

While reflecting on that, Seela got herself to the lounge, where she would have to make her last preparations, namely saying goodbye to Gremlin, Imp, maybe to Rabbit, and to her brief mentor.

@AdventCore

 

[Kyosuke Yamato]

"Why?!" Gremlin cried up at his bestie while poking the young man's shin relentlessly. Kyo looked off to the corner, shook his head, and shrugged.

"...well..."

Memories of Seela began to flicker through Kyosuke's mind.
The first time they met, when he first locked on to her pearl eyes.
Them helping each other escape Nar Shaddaa, swinging across the skyway.
Setting her free, then being paralyzed in her arms while she took him to heal.
Racing through Coruscant to rescue her after she'd been taken...
And then the last couple months they spent together on Endor, training and bonding.

Her smile flashed. Her laugh echoed. And then they were gone, replaced by her pain and sorrow. The one person he'd gotten to actually spend time with since the loss of his master, and he blew it. Maybe he'd been too rough with Seela, or too stern, but either way he'd misunderstood her, and shamefully ended up mistreating the poor girl.

Kyo felt his chest sink, like something breaking deep inside.
His palms went to his face, and his elbows dug into his thighs.
He thought he would've been able to take good care of her. To treat her well. But in the end, he just let that all slip away. She might've accidently gotten him physically hurt several times, but he hurt her in a different way. A way he didn't understand.

Gremlin faintly cooed up at his bestie, who he'd stopped pestering with his tiny footpad after the young man's gloomy pause. Then the little scout droid flicked his gaze over to the hall when he heard See-See emerge from her room. After a moment of hesitation he looked back up at Kyo, who remained silent and unmoving.

The scout glanced back and forth between the doorway and his bestie, unsure if See-See was on her way out or not. So instead he waited, listening for one of the ways out of the Shinigami to open. If he was able to sense her going to leave then he'd run out to her, even if Kyo was lost and didn't move.


@Ahryia

 

[Seela]

Seela put her satchel on the ground near the cargo lift platform, then leaned her electrostaff against the wall beside. Seeing as Kyosuke didn't seem to be joining her in the lounge, she got her dapa phone, and started slicing in shini's settings.
With a melancholic half smile, she silently set a few things up for her mentor to find in the future.
Small harmless things like having Shini play a certain jingle when Kyosuke said "bantha", play public service announcements about safe flying when he piloted manually, reminders to eat, drink and sleep at least once every 24 hours, "party lights" starting when he entered the meditation chamber, along with small added safety features, etc.
With that, she just hoped that the man would remember her at least a little, and that maybe he would eventually come back to this place.
Hopping back to the room where she slept, she snickered, as she got out a soft blue cushion and a warm blue fuzzy blanket from a hidden compartment. She had gotten those when they went on Cantonica, while he was busy resupplying, and she had kept them hidden ever since. She felt now was definitely the time to reveal the items, so she slipped back to the lounge, and draped the blanket on the back of the couch, with the cushion nicely centered in the middle of the seat.
Then, not knowing what else she could do, Seela just... stood near the wall beside the couch, and waited.

@AdventCore

 

[Kyosuke Yamato]

"Alright..." Kyosuke gave himself a couple soft slaps on the cheeks to perk himself up, followed by a sharp breath and a tense sigh. "I can do this... Just gotta say goodbye... It'll only be for a little while anyway, alright buddy?" Kyo nodded down to Gremlin, who slightly cheered and nodded back.

After a couple moments later of explaining the situation to the little scout, the both of them would finally emerge back at the lounge. "Sorry for keeping you waiting. Looks like you're already ready to go?"


@Ahryia

 

[Seela]

Seela had no clue how to react, nor what to do.
She didn't want the man to leave, but she knew if he stayed, they would end up hindering each other, and hurting. She knew she would be just fine surviving in the forest by herself, and she was looking forward to exploring the place even more, training, and experimenting with her abilities, but doing so alone wasn't as appealing...
Still, she had to do what she had to do!
Turning towards Kyosuke, she slightly bowed her head in a nod, before looking towards Gremlin.

"No worries, it gave me time to finish packing my stuff... I just have Rabbit left, but I'm not sure about taking them... Endor isn't really a fun place to be for that type of droid, even for one with terrain mods... plus, Imp and Rabbit really get along, so I'd feel bad for separating them... still, I could take Rabbit anyway, I'll just have to get to the space port to recharge them, I guess... Do you mind if I give them the choice?"

Seela knew she was just rambling at this point, mainly due to nerves, and stalling for time, but she couldn't help it...

@AdventCore

 

[Kyosuke Yamato]

"Yeah... It's only fair you two get to make that deci-" There was a momentary pause after Kyo had let his gaze wander over to the lounge's couch, where he incidentally spotted the colorful new blanket and cushion that had magically appeared since the last time he was here. "-sion..." He took a quick sharp inhale. "Seela-"

He then turned his curious expression back to her and pointed at the blue items. Hesitation lingered as he considered what to say to her. What could he say? Everything that usually came out of his mouth when spoke to her always seemed so... Bossy.

That wasn't what she needed. She needed the support he'd given her when they first met. The support he'd failed to give her once he gave himself the role of her mentor. His expression shifted a few moments later, adjusting to show that he was trying to be more understanding and accepting of her youthful nature.

"Thank you." He dropped the point, nodded, and even let a small smile tip at the corner of his lips. He could feel the emotions begin to swell as he wondered whether or not he'd ever make it back, and if she'd even still be here when he returned.

"I'm gonna miss you..."


@Ahryia

 

[Seela]

Seela couldn't help the slight smirk that tugged on the corner of her lips, when she saw just how much the new blue items distracted her mentor. If it was in a less serious context, she would probably have giggled, and teased him about it. Right now, his reaction only broke her out of her nervous rambling.
Seeing him think about how to react, from slightly bristling to exasperated resignation, then slightly reluctant acceptance, strenghtened her belief that despite their issues, there was still hope for them. Now to reward it...

"You're welcome! I made sure it would match the lighting and your scarf! Plus, they're really comfy!"

Clearing her throat and getting back to the serious matter at hand, Seela shifted on her feet, looking down, before nodding at his admission.

"I will miss you too... And Gremlin, and Imp... I will still have my comms, so you know... let me know you're still alive sometimes, okay? I'll probably stay here for a bit too... I know it's like asking a bantha not to shit, but try to be reasonably safe? The galaxy is going to shit out there..."

Masking her limp as much as she could, Seela then approached the man, on her way to the lift, giving his shoulder a soft squeeze, before shouldering her stuff, and strapping in her staff.

@AdventCore

 

[Kyosuke Yamato]

"Yeah..."
There was a brief pause from Kyo as he looked into Seela's enchanting pearl eyes.
He wanted her to stay.
He didn't want to go.

The whole thing seemed wrong. If he hadn't have been so stupid, and would've been more nurturing then perhaps this could've been avoided, but then again he knew he was going to have to leave her at some point anyway. He wasn't really sure if the Jedi even needed him, and wasn't sure if he should come out of hiding either. The galaxy was a mess, he'd be better off in isolation -- with her.

The only thing he was sure of, was that leaving Seela behind felt bad. Almost unbearable. He was already beginning to regret the decision. Guilt built and festered, leaving a sickening feeling in his gut like he was making a terrible mistake. That he should just stay with her.

The emotions overwhelmed him.

Kyo reached forward to Seela, placing a hand back on her shoulder before his expression nearly broke, and then his body moved against hers as he softly pulled the two of them together in a tight embrace. The bottom half of his face buried into her shoulder as the side of his head rested between hers and one of her lekku. His arms wrapped tightly around her as he squeezed her like he might not get the chance to do so ever again.

Gremlin cooed up at the pair sadly, letting See-See know that he'd miss her too. Then he took a couple tiny steps forward, and rested his bulky little head between both of his besties' shins as he joined their deep heartfelt hug.


@Ahryia

 

[Seela]

Seela froze in place when the man hugged her, not flinching, but maybe stiffening for a fraction of second, totally blindsided by it. She had not expected the hug, and she honestly didn't know how to react! Not wanting to make it too awkward, she patted his back, before using Telekinesis to bring Gremlin up to where she could embrace him with her free arm.

"I know it's not really what we want, but right now, we both have things to deal with, we can't help the other heal, if we are busy healing ourselves... so, just for now, let's work on our issues. I've found a few promising professionals for that, Shini can show you later..."

Stepping back half a step, Seela brought the adorable bot to her eye level, before adopting a very serious face.

"Agent G, I am counting on you to let him know when he's planning to do something stupid! I know you'll do your best!"

@AdventCore

 

[Kyosuke Yamato]

The little droid hooted happily when the Twi'lek added him to the hug. His metal head gently nuzzled between them, until he was addressed and commanded. He then grunted affirmatively and gave See-See a solid nod while Kyo slowly pulled away.

"Yeah. I'll try to remember to look into all that. Maybe it'll help..." There were a couple soft and hesitant nods from Kyo while he took a couple steps back from the cargo lift.

"Dunno if you plan to fix the courses or not while I'm gone, but-" He shook his head back and forth in a lightly jesting yet serious manner. "-think you could check to see if the dagger is still out there? Maybe you could hold onto it for me until I come back?"


@Ahryia

 

[Seela]

Seela plopped Gremlin on the man's head, hoping to lighten the mood a bit, then shrugged at the course's mention.

"I'll have to see the state it ended up in, but probably, yeah... or I could have the ewoks help... I'll definitely hang onto your blade, just means you gotta come back here to get it sometime!"

Not wanting to lenghten the goodbyes longer, Seela cleared her throat, and made a show of peeking at a window.

"Anyway! I'll let you be on your way, I'd like to get a few things settled before it's too dark outside..."

On that note, she pushed the down button of the lift.

Once in the cargo space, she headed to a vent entrance, and tapped on it a few times, using a little code she came up with Imp and Rabbit.

"Hey, Rabbit! The ship is wheels up soon, but I'm staying here, wanna stay with them?"

Getting a few colorful and interesting beeps, which could be understood as "ya crazy, purple snatch? That kid with a stick up his arse couldn't handle me!"
Seela could hear the mouse droid zooming to her, happily grumbling away.
Seela shrugged, and waited for the droid to follow her, already planning her trek to the space port in the next few days.

"Alright Shini, put the safe flying protocols on, and let them know when I'm out, so they can go!"

Then Seela walked out, using her staff as a walking stick, headed to her nest, with Rabbit in tow.

@AdventCore

 

[Kyosuke Yamato]

"Goodbye. Seela..." Kyo quietly spoke under his breath as his friend gradually descended from view. Gremlin cooed softly, and lowered his frame on top of his bestie's head. Neither one moved for awhile after that.

A pressure built up in his eyes again, but he couldn't let his emotions render him inert. Once the lift had taken her and Rabbit to the ground he waited a few more moments before Shini would eventually chime in, "Sea-Luh has left the lift."

"ah..." His voice was swallowed, then followed by a clearing of the throat as he turned with the little scout droid still balancing on his head. "Shini, prep the ship for take off. Set a course for-" Kyo paused. He wasn't sure where to go. He'd gotten so used to Seela and Endor that returning to the Order felt like accepting defeat and running away, but this was the path before him. This was the way. "-Yavin Four."

"Affirmative, Key-Oh. Course set for, Yavin - Four." The Shinigami's powerful engine whirled up, bright azure light kicked out from the back of the wings' thrusters, and a few seconds later the lift was sealed back into the ship's sleek hull.

Kyo and Gremlin stood by the long narrow window, watching Seela and Rabbit slowly disappear as Shini carefully lifted the ship off the ground, and gradually ascended through the forest moon's atmosphere.

"We'll meet again. I promise..."


/ End Thread /
@Ahryia