Ask Shakin' Off The Rust

[Dr Ilana Morata]

She caved.

At the price of pride, at the price of needing, no, craving to hear him again beyond an occasional voice in her head, she reached out. She Called through the distance, a simple request. Not sure if he was even hearing her anymore, unsure if he had closed her off, and somehow that silence nettled more than anything. Had he left her on read?

Silence reigned in the room she stood in. Arms behind her back in a parade rest stance, a long wooden baton in her hand, idly tapping it against her hip. He would come eventually... or if he didn't, she would wait anyways. Freshly showered, changed, she now stood in bare feet, black leggings and a plain dark grey tee. Hair slung down in a low ponytail. So she used more conventional methods. A comm text, and coordinates. A simple request.

Spoiler: Ping!

'Bring a light outfit.'

She didn't know why, but she was annoyed. No, beyond that. But for now, she kept her emotions carefully subdued and concealed, waiting, patiently waiting. She was retired, she had all the time in the galaxy.

@Sreeya

 

[Sevrin Valtiere]

Sevrin couldn’t deny that he had distanced himself from her. While she may have thought he only made excuses, the reality was that his job as a Shadow meant he was behind enemy lines all the time. With the recent examples of Shadows disappearing off the radar, his job became more critical than ever. He was also tasked with vetting Shadow prospects to make sure only the best were getting in. However, he would never deny that he actively didn't seek her out either.

The Sephi saw the text and he contemplated for a bit, even meditated on it. Eventually, he got dressed (light and casual civilian clothing) and made his way over. His hair was tied in a neat ponytail, his appearance always pristine as usual. There were several aspects of his life as royalty that stayed with him even today.

The Jedi arrived at the requested location, not spotting Amariel quite yet. He wasn’t the type to hold grudges or feel anxiety, so he calmly waited for her.

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

She spotted him first.

She knew she shouldn't feel it, but a small part of her still warmed to see him--no.

Her hand clenched around the wooden baton, and she gritted her jaw. She was Doctor Ilana Morata, galaxy-renowned physician and creator of a galaxy-saving vaccine. She knew of his work-- what little he explained--, but it still frustrated that there had been such a long time with no word, nothing at all.

He may not have held any grudges, but she was petty enough to hold one.

Reaching over to grab another baton, she twirled it in her hand, eyeing him. The dojo wasn't very big; it would take minimal effort to do what she wanted to do. Pacing across the mats, her voice was light, cool, and calm.

"So. You're still alive." Once she caught his attention, she would throw the baton to him, enhancing its' speed in the Force. Though her face remained neutral, he'd be able to see it; annoyance, flickering in pale amber eyes, like gold.

"Not that I would know." Twirling her own baton lazily in her hands, her face once more cooled to neutrality. But then she paused, cocking her head. "No wait, I would know."

She lunged forward with the baton, aiming to strike his left shoulder with her right hand. An easy beginning, a warm-up to a sparring prelude. She knew he could kick her ass still, but damn it, he pissed her off with the silence. And the more she thought about it, the more it pissed her off.

@Sreeya

 

[Sevrin Valtiere]

Sevrin didn’t need to be a Jedi to sense she was furious. It was all in her eyes and tone. Like he could read her, so could she him. His icy silver eyes softened at the sight of her, a crack in his stoic features. The other was the way his ears twitched and swiveled the slightest bit. The Jedi Master prided himself in self control and restraint, but he couldn’t control everything when it came to Amariel.

“You look well,” Sevrin stated calmly as he snatched the tossed baton from the air in his right hand, very aware of the force she applied to it. The Sephi said nothing in response to her quips. As she flew at his shoulder, he thrust his own baton up diagonally to block it, swiftly angling the bottom half to spin and hit towards the left side of her torso if she didn’t move in time.

“You know the nature of my work,” He said quietly as he launched his counterattack, his frosty gaze never leaving hers.

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

She disliked the fact that even now, even when she wanted to hold onto her petty anger and vent out her frustration, a small piece of her still melted a little at the briefest warmth in his gaze. She could remember a time they were as frigid as a snowstorm on Hoth, and his ears doing the little twitch--

She scowled when he replied, grunting at his words and the counterattack. She had to move fast, but it was awkward, clacking against his block and having to scramble when he rotated it to hit her. It had been so long since she had the luxury of training with something that wasn't a droid; it was clear she was rusty.

Backpedaling, she attempted to jerk the baton up to block it, but it still knocked into her upper thigh. However, despite her mounting frustration...

She managed a wry grin.

"And you know the nature of mine. So," she released one hand to Push at his chest, trying to once again gain some small amount of distance. Her wrist throbbed, and she flexed it slightly. "I'm not well. I missed you." Blunt words, spoken almost carelessly, but he of all people knew better. He would feel it; the echo of it in her words rife with tension, the anxiety, the doubts that crept behind her words that almost voiced, but never spoke up. That you vanished like others had.

She wanted to keep talking, but she kept silent for now, trying to prepare for his response or his retaliation.

@Sreeya

 

[Sevrin Valtiere]

Sevrin felt his strike find purchase, but his gaze never shifted from hers. They were the same icy, silver eyes she had grown to know over time. Just as tempered, with the just slightest hints of emotions that surfaced rarely. His ears swiveled slightly at her words, his weapon lowering to the side as he skidded back from the unexpected push. It wasn’t enough to drop him on his back, but he calmly stared at her from the newly created distance.

He was man that followed his own path even among the Jedi. He stopped counting how many times the Grandmaster asked about his whereabouts, how many times she had wanted him to take up more important roles within the Order. If he wanted titles or glory, he would never have turned his back on his royal life.

Sevrin exhaled slowly, letting the baton drop from his hand with a clatter. Was he even afforded the luxury of missing anyone as a Jedi? With the path he had chosen? He had stepped past his own boundaries with her. The Sephi said nothing, poised as a statue once more.

After a moment, without warning, the Force gently coiled around her to tug her towards him. She would stop the same distance she had been before she pushed him back. Sevrin met her gaze, “If you wish to embrace me, I will not stop you,” He said simply, his tone always as calm as ever.

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

When the baton clattered to the ground, at first she was about to scold him. The words died on her lips at his look, his pose. And when she was pulled closer, she stiffened but didn't fight back, merely scowling up. She kept her grip on the baton... but slowly, it too clattered to the ground.

...I will not stop you.

That phrase brought her up short, and she regarded him warily. It somehow stung, as though he was once again putting up walls. Walls she scaled before, but not easy ones to cross. For another few beats, she merely looked up at him, before closing the distance to wrap her arms around him. With the height difference, her arms merely came at his lower waist, but she didn't care.

"I'm not a Jedi. I cannot protect you, even though I want to. I thought..." she paused, then closed her eyes. Swallowed down all the words that would have come spilling out. The anger, the hurt, the regret for not pushing, for not looking for him. Loathing herself for clinging so much, for wanting another even with his roles within his Order. They flickered out from her mind, before she buried them. He wouldn't stop her, he said. But it was her who had to close the distance she made.

"It doesn't matter. I'm just grateful you're here, Sevrin."

 

[Sevrin Valtiere]

He stood as a rigid statue carved of stone when she first held him. However, within moments, he eased in her grip, noticeably relaxing. His arms slowly came up to wrap around her, enveloping her against his much taller frame. Sevrin closed his eyes and simply stayed like that for a while, his senses hit all at once with her touch, her scent, the sound of her breathing, the familiarity of it all. The way it sometimes felt like a home away from home.

“You would know if something happened,” Sevrin said, answering concerns she didn’t give voice to. He drew back to look at her, his face tired and his eyes betraying the constant strain he was under. The Jedi were being dragged through the mud in the media and everyday they felt more alone. The Sith were relentless in their assault and the latest Senate session was a huge blow against the Jedi.

“I cannot stay long,” He said, though it wouldn’t surprise her. Sevrin rarely ever stayed more than a few days in one place. His duty ranked above all, something that would always get in the way of him forming long term meaningful relationships.

“But I wish to spend whatever time I have here with you,” He said as he looked at her, “Is there anything you desire?”

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

She wasn't aware she was holding her breath until his arms wrapped around her in return; exhaling quietly, she tilted her chin to look up, and frowned at seeing the exhaustion there. Reaching up on her toes, she placed a hand against his cheek, stroking her thumb against the bridge of his nose.

"The last way I would want to find out is to Feel it if anything happened," she answered quietly, lowering and withdrawing her hand. "But... this is what I get for loving you," she gave him a small smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. Stepping back a little, she still kept one of his arms around her, nodding when he mentioned not staying long. She always knew it... but didn't bother to hide the pang of disappointment that barbed the back of her throat and the pit of her stomach. "I know."

Anything she desired... this was much.

She thought of the object she had in a drawer that she wanted to give him as soon as she saw it. Of going out to Coruscant, Rithis, a place of sand and sun. Or of her other apartments, in Kuat or Arkania. Paqualis III, overlooking the ocean. Tugging on his hand, amber eyes softened slightly. "You. I want you... even the parts of you that are Jedi. As much of you as you can give me, as I can give to you. If you can handle it." A slight smile touched her eyes, this time, and tugged at her lips.

"I'd ask for other things, if that isn't too selfish of me. Can I be a little selfish?"

@Sreeya