Ask Part Of Your World

[Prani Shalrazi]

Unlike the last few times, Prani didn’t protest when he effortlessly took her heavy bag. She still gave him that same fond smile whenever he did it. It was one of those little swoon-worthy things he always did that made her feel as if she was prancing on clouds. Who needed A Court of Vines and Daisies when Shaw made her feel like she was living a romantic fantasy every day.

Her daydreaming as she stared at him was interrupted when she felt him vigorously fight to wipe the soot off her face. Prani shook out of her reverie, giggling to herself, “You know there’s gonna be a test on that next week, right? I’ll help ya study if you want,” She said. Of course, since it was Prani, she actually did mean studying.

When Shaw asked about the fair, Prani nodded enthusiastically. When Alina said no, she didn’t exactly try to make her go. Prani rolled her eyes and laughed as she walked away, “Maybe if you learn that soda doesn’t work on plants!” She called out.

Prani turned back to Shaw, “Let me go change!” She said excitedly, walking with him to her dorm. Once there, she had him wait outside while she took her bag and ducked inside.

She emerged a bit later, wearing a dress that was her style but with just a tad more chest. Alina had insisted on Prani buying it for her next date with Shaw, and the fair counted as a date, right? Wait, what if it didn’t count as- No! Prani actively stopped the spiral this time, holding a straw hat in her hand that completed her outfit. She was definitely nervous about wearing something even remotely revealing, even though she was still dressed like a nun compared to most girls at the temple that went out on the town.

“I’m ready!” She said as she looked at Shaw, getting on her tip-toes to give him a quick kiss on the cheek, “And we’ll be sure to avoid any of the animal-related stuff they got there,” Prani said with a giggle.

@throwitintothefire

 

[Shaw Amaris]

"A test?" Prani would probably be able to tell by the look on his face that Shaw had completely forgotten about the upcoming test. It wasn't that he wasn't applying himself. Master Valtiere had pushed him, challenged him to do better. He was studying harder now than he ever had in his entire life, but it was just so easy to get distracted. Shaw was gonna have to kick the lifetime habit of mediocracy and kick it into overdrive instead. To go on x games mode. "Uhhhh," he faltered, but Prani came to his rescue like she always did. "For real? You sure you don't mind?" he asked, just to make sure. Between this and the offer to clean his room, which he had turned down, he didn't want her to start feeling like she was his mom or his maid or something. He wanted her to feel like Prani, his girlfriend.

Shaw stood outside in the hallway while Prani disappeared inside her dorm room to change clothes and probably to wash off the rest of the soot which Shaw hadn't been able to wipe away. Normally he would've scrolled his dataphone to pass the time, but he couldn't get his mind off of Prani and the fair. Whatever distractions his dataphone held weren't gonna cut it. Only a message from Master Valtiere himself could have prompted the teenager to pull the device out of his pocket, and he knew that wasn't going to happen.

Bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet, Shaw was impatient. Shaw was excited. The door flew open. Shaw was turned on? Prani stood there in a low cut floral dress. Shaw just stood there staring at her with a dumb look on his face, somehow a combination of two different expressions at once. The teenager was so out of it that he didn't register the kiss she leaned up and planted on his cheek until red hot heat crept up his neck and settled in his face.

The last time Shaw had picked Prani up for a formal date he had actually been able to come up with something sort of romantic to say. At least Prani had seemed to like it, which was all that mattered. He had told her that she looked like summer. What could he possibly say now? That she looked like a hot summer's day? This time Shaw could barely string together two syllables much less multiple words.

Realizing that he had just been openly staring at her for several prolonged seconds like a total creep, Shaw panicked and closed the tabs in his brain and cleared his throat. "Soooo," he fumbled, breathless before they had even started walking. "You uhhh excited for the fair?" he started to ask but gulped unintentionally midsentence. He forgot that they had already talked about that. The warmth that had flooded his face had overtaken his whole body now, and he had to force himself just to put one foot in front of the other without stumbling over them. "Animals are okay..." Animals are okay? What did that even mean?

Had he ever told her she looked h—nice? He hadn't, had he? Shaw dared to look over at her, and his heart skipped a beat. "You look real—real—" He averted his gaze again, desperately trying to figure out where to look. "Looking real snatched tonight."
He knew her face would probably scrunch up because she didn't know what it meant, but it was the best he could come up with on the spot. @Sreeya

 

[Prani Shalrazi]

Shaw was staring at her and for a moment she thought there was something wrong. Prani glanced down at her attire and then back up at him. A moment of studying his face reminded her that this was his good vacantly staring face. He had several modes of vacant staring, and this one made her blush furiously. When he finally spoke, Prani began to giggle, looking away, “Yes, Shaw, I’m very..hyped about this fair,” She kept laughing, using one of his favorite terms.

When he finally commented on her appearance, Prani couldn’t help but laugh again, “I don’t know what that means, but…thanks,” She said with a smile. She grasped his hand and started walking down the hall, “And don’t worry, I um…likewhenyoulookatme,” Prani blurted out all as one word so fast she wasn’t sure he understood. Her face was bright red and hot and she was not going to repeat herself.

The shuttle ride to the fair was uneventful, but she was ecstatic the moment they arrived. Prani practically dragged Shaw off the shuttle, almost making him trip because she was so excited to go, “Look at that Ferris wheel!” She cried out, pointing, “That’s one of the biggest ones I’ve seen!” Prani said cheerfully, wondering if Shaw had ever seen one before.

The entire place was bustling with people, large tents set up for different activities, and a variety of rides. The delicious aroma of food drifted through the air and the ambience was cheerful. Live music erupted from stages at different corners. Prani already had credits out to cover them both, earning them each a wristband for their entrance. If Shaw tried to pay, she'd physically bat his hand away.

“There’s sooo much to do!” Prani said, a skip in her step as she looked around, “You wanna try some games?” She asked with a smile, leading him towards a booth that was set up for archery. The top prize row had giant stuffed animals that gradually got smaller with how well the guest scored. It was a bowcaster with a harmless bolt to shoot at rows of balloons moving back and forth.

@throwitintothefire

 

[Shaw Amaris]

Shaw hadn't realized just how severely he wanted to touch and be touched by Prani until she slid her hand in his and the ache in his fingers subsided. He just hoped she didn't realize how clammy his palms were at that moment. His whole body felt like it was on fire, and they hadn't even made it out of the air conditioning yet. Prani really was like a summer day. A hot summer day. Red hot. Scorching—

"So did you make the dress?" he asked before he could stop himself. He regretted the question as soon as he said it. Way to make it obvious what he was thinking about! He thought he had closed that tab, but who was he kidding? The tabs just kept multiplying, and it was really making him lag. The teenager cleared his throat and looked away. It took him a few seconds to process what Prani had blurted out, gaze pointedly avoiding her so he could concentrate. "And I like looking at you," he mumbled back once he had pieced it together, unconsciously squeezing her hand a little tighter for courage.

Walking through the entrance gates to the fair was liking walking into a childhood dream. There was no end to the rides, the attractions, the sights and lights, and the food. Shaw's eyes bounced from one attraction to the next like a child in a candy store. This was unlike anything he had ever seen before. The kind of stuff you saw in movies but never experienced in real life. He didn't know where to look, didn't know what to do first. Luckily Prani helped him out with both, and he followed her line of sight to the ferris wheel in the distance. "Whoa!" he grinned, glancing over at her. "Think we could ride it later?"

As for what to do first, Shaw was always up for games. Their first stop was a archery booth. "Step right up! Step right up!" the carnie behind the booth shouted, a practiced smile on his lips as he ushered the two teenagers closer. He looked the part, with suspenders and a lopsided bowtie and a half smoked cigarra sticking out the side of his mouth. "Trying to win a prize for the little lady?" he winked at Shaw, shoving two bowcaster's into the waiting hands of both teenagers. He pointed to a prize on the top row, one of the oversized stuffed animals. "Those little dokmas are always a hit! Rules are simple. Three shots! Three chances!"

Shaw grinned over at Prani and then took aim. He had never used a bowcaster in his life, and it showed. The first two shots missed the balloons by several inches. The third shot struck the booth operator's piping hot cup of coffee, which toppled and spilled all over the ground. Shaw cringed.

"Hey! Watch it! Sheeeeeesh!" the carnie growled before he could stop himself, muttering something under his breath about working an all night shift without his caf. By the time his attention turned to Prani that practiced smile had returned. "Looks like it's up to you, little lady!" @Sreeya

6/20

 

[Prani Shalrazi]

Prani grinned at his question, “I didn’t make it…but I know what kinda stuff to make next,” She said with a smirk, giving him a playful nudge with her elbow. Prani was clueless about a lot of things, but she wasn’t oblivious to when her boyfriend liked something. In fact, it was only then that she realized he had a similar reaction to when they were doing their roleplaying and she was posing as the mischievous ranger. Prani was entirely too nervous to ask about that, but she filed the thought away for now.

She watched Shaw step up and aim the bowcaster, “You got this!” She cheered, though it didn’t do much good. Prani winced when he hit the coffee with the last one. She watched in silence before gently patting him on the arm, “Not bad for a first try..” Prani said, not unlike when he played the hallikset for the first time.

She stared at him for a moment before she broke into a grin, “I’m kiddin’,” She said suddenly, “Boy you ate and left all the crumbs,” Prani added before she burst into giggles, unable to help herself. She gave him a smile that let him know she was giving him a hard time, feeling comfortable enough to crack jokes at his expense once in a while.

Prani took the bowcaster from Shaw, loading it up with the bolts. The first she missed by half an inch, but the next two she landed perfectly. She clapped and cheered, ecstatic at her performance. The carnie gave a look. Prani pointed up at one of the adorable stuffed porgs, “I’ll be takin’ one of them prizes for my big fella,” She told the carnie with a grin, answering his earlier question.

The carnie grabbed it and handed it Prani. She took it and handed it to Shaw with a smirk, “For you, boo,” She said with pure amusement.

@throwitintothefire

 

[Shaw Amaris]

Shaw blinked, a grin gradually building and spreading across his lips as he realized that Prani was making fun of him. Actually making fun of him. "Did... did you just roast me?" he laughed, actually impressed. It was cute the way she tried to use some of the slang she had picked up from him. Even cuter when she got it mixed up. "Okay, okay. I left all the crumbs." And spilled the coffee. "Let's see how you do!" he challenged, grin only growing as he stepped aside to give her extra room.

How did Prani do? A lot freakin better than he did, that was for sure! Even the carnie was impressed, edged out only by Shaw who gave a sharp whistle. "Alright, alright—I see you over there, Legolas! How many other secret talents you been hiding from me?" There were so many parts of her that he didn't know yet. So much left to discover about her talents and her hopes and her fears and her disappointments, and he couldn't wait for every piece of the puzzle of Prani Shalrazi to eventually fall into place.

There was a smirk on her lips when she handed Shaw the stuffed porg, and he could feel the carnie worker's gaze burning a hole through him. He reveled in her attention, drinking in the smug look on her face. It was a new look. A new look for Prani anyway. The ranger was another matter. "What? You think I'm too insecure to carry around a big porg? Real mean aren't afraid of stuffed animals." Or 'big fellas' for that matter. This wouldn't be the first time Shaw had carried a stuffed animal around. It would just be the first time it was his stuffed animal and not his sister's. And they had never been quite this big either... No matter. Shaw ran a hand along one of the porg's big flippers. "His name is.... Crumble! Crumbs for short." So his naming wasn't quite as original as Prani's but he was new to this.

A carousel was the attraction that caught Shaw's eye next. This one he was actually familiar with. His little sister was obsessed with carousels and insisted they ride one every time they had visited the mall back on Coruscant. "Come on!" he grinned excitedly, grabbing Prani by the hand and pulling her along. They hopped onto the carousel right before it began to spin, and Shaw didn't waste a second slipping one arm around Prani's waist, lifting her onto the saddle of of a fathier to ride. He didn't even think about it, caught up in the moment and the excitement. If he had thought about it he probably would have gotten embarrassed and started apologizing. Instead he just wrapped his free hand around the pole and stood next to Prani, grinning down at her. "My little sister loves these things." He had forgotten they were called fathiers, but Prani would probably know. "I think it's the long, pointy ears that she likes."

A little boy on a nearby tauntaun snickered at Shaw, still clutching the massive stuffed porg. Shaw looked over at Prani, expecting to see that same smug look on her face. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?" he chuckled. @Sreeya

 

[Prani Shalrazi]

Prani smiled at him, “Shaw,” She said, tapping the colorful bracelets on his wrist, “You are the least insecure boy I know,” Prani said, “It’s always been one of my favorite things about ya,” If Shaw had his fears, he didn’t make a show of pretending he didn’t have any. That, in her book, was a sign of a guy that wasn’t insecure.

“Crumbs!” She said cheerfully, scratching the top of the porg’s head, “He’s almost as cute as you,” She said as she looked at Shaw fondly.

Prani was surprised when Shaw picked her up to help her on the fathier, but she didn’t mind it. The sensation of his arm gripping her waist, however, sent her mind into a frenzy. How did he scoop her up so easily? Was he always that tough? How buff was he actually? “Wow..you’re real strong…” She blurted out flustered before she could help it. WHO SAID SOMETHING LIKE THAT? Prani cleared her throat, “Fathiers,” She said quickly, her voice a pitch higher for some reason, “They’re called fathiers..”

The carousel began to turn and Prani was overjoyed at riding on it. Shaw didn’t get on one, but she found she actually liked him standing so close. She heard the kid snickering at Shaw, glancing back down at her boyfriend. Prani leaned down to steal a kiss while she was closer, drawing back only when her ride rose, “Definitely enjoyin’ it,” She added with a smile, surprised at her boldness. She had always felt comfortable around him, whether it was playing a song, telling him about Genassa, confessing to her fears, and now, just plain showing affection. It always came easy with him and she began to stop letting her own head get in the way.

Eventually, the ride ended, and she slipped off, grasping his hand to keep walking. Prani heard some catchy live music and began to walk in that direction. She could see several people dancing already before she glanced at Shaw, “You better be up for some dancin’,” Prani said with a quirked brow. She didn’t say it out loud, but there was definitely some underlying salt and jealousy about having provided the background music for him dancing with another girl at that ill-fated party.

@throwitintothefire

 

[Shaw Amaris]

Glancing down at the friendship bracelet and the boo bracelet around his wrist, Shaw smiled to himself. How come everything meant so much more coming from Prani? Every admission, every compliment, and every admonishment too? "You know what one of my favorite things about you is?" Fair was fair after all. Prani didn't hype herself up half as much as she should, so it was up to Shaw when she didn't.

"You're the most selfless person I've ever known. Always thinking about everyone else. Always putting everyone else first. You're the first one to build me up." Even when he didn't deserve it. "And you're the first one to call me out when I screw everything up." He smiled and shrugged playfully. "Which is pretty often." He would never forget that they wouldn't even be here now enjoying this moment together without that second chance she had given him. "Just don't forget to look after Prani too, okay?" Master Valtiere would be here in a couple of weeks to pick him up, and the distance was gonna kill him. Being so far away from her, unable to be there for her.

Prani's comment about him being strong made him perk up. He thought back to just a few days ago, when she had traced a finger up his arm and commented on how much he had been working out. It had surprised him then, since he'd never really thought that Prani noticed or cared about stuff like that. Now he knew that she definitely did. And it definitely was a boost to his confidence. The first response that came to mind was something about letting him show her just how strong he could be, but he quickly—and luckily—killed that sentence in his throat. He didn't just kill it. He strangled it. "You know I'd send you a gym pic if I thought you'd check your phone," he dared to tease, grinning from ear to ear but also gauging her reaction. Too much? He wasn't sure. But he knew that she could make him feel like a million credits with the simplest compliment and the barest touch.

Once the carousel ride was over, Prani drifted toward the live music. Shaw wasn't surprised since Prani loved music. His heart skipped a beat when she suggested they dance. "So long as you know I'm not a very good dancer," he couldn't help but be honest, posture open and welcoming as they reached the center of the dance floor where there was an opening. "Shaw Tours is many things, but excellent dancers is not one of them."

This time Shaw slipped both arms around her waist and pulled her close, the stuffed porg floating a few inches to their left, suspended in place by the force. "Hope you don't mind if I don't leave room for Crumbs," he smiled. He felt the familiar, relaxed pull of his shoulders now that they were so close. Prani really centered him. He wondered if she realized that.

One of the porg's flippers raised and waved at Prani. "I think he's jealous," Shaw whispered in a playful tone. @Sreeya

 

[Prani Shalrazi]

It was incredible how good Shaw was at saying just the perfect things. People teased her for being too nice or weak, but he always reminded her of the strength in kindness. Through him, she could see the value of how her family raised her and it anchored her back whenever she began to falter in her faith.

All of that was disrupted by his next comment, her eyes suddenly wide. Her mind exploded with images of Shaw all muscular and slick with sweat in a gym tanktop. Prani’s face burned hot and she was pretty sure she was going to pass out, “I always look when it’s from you so send me whatever!” She blurted out quickly, fiddling with her hair as she spoke, “I got…a ring tone just for you..” She admitted shyly. Her dataphone habits remained unchanged, but she made an effort solely for him.

When she felt his arms wrap around her waist, her heart began to pound. Prani looked up at him, gingerly wrapping her arms around his neck. They had kissed and stared at one another many times, but it always took her breath away when she gazed into his eyes and gave him her undivided attention.

“Sometimes I still can’t believe you’re my boyfriend,” Prani said quietly with her face still flushed as they moved to an easy tune, “I feel like the luckiest girl in the galaxy,” She said with a smile.

Her gaze flicked over to the floating porg, watching the little wave, “You know that’s some real complex Force use, right?” Prani asked, wondering if he even realized how much skill it took to do that, “I’m proud of ya,” She said, stepping a bit closer to him.

@throwitintothefire