Ask Something Like a Star

[Hannibal Grayza]

Hannibal looked rather interested in how friendly Mr. Cat was toward the new arrival, sniffing at the proffered hand before graciously allowing the Sephi to pet its well-kept fur, purring all the while.

"Prrr," said Mr. Cat.

The armour it was currently sat casually atop was one of a few sets kept neatly on vaguely Hannibal-shaped mannequins. There was another near it that while not marked by lightning certainly had its own share of scars and battle damage, stitching closing some of the holes in the cloth and leather, the helmet bearing scratches and scuffs. All polished and cleaned, but not quite removed.

One set of nearly pristine armour in a different style, mainly blue and black, that clearly hadn't seen use in ages. The rack of weaponry was similar, some still even with price tags or notes attached. Across the way was a shelf of little trinkets and gifts he'd sometimes received from people out in the galaxy. Another had several leather belts hanging and some tools and other such things on a shelf below it, security spikes and rebreathers and things of that nature.

Sevrin noted his 'collection' and he turned back a little toward him, looking first at the armour and then the Sephi Jedi. He shrugged.

"Just my tools n' such," he remarked breezily, "Nothin' to be proud of."

Then he moved right along to the next area, the meditation area as the sales brochures would call it. It was certainly more of one than it had been originally but near the back there still as a hot tub. Hannibal put his glass and bottle down on a table and unclipped his belt, placing it aside.

"Mr. Cat likes you. That's a good sign, I think."

@Sreeya

 

[Sevrin Valtiere]

Sevrin may have come across aloof when it came to people, but he was very curious about collections and artifacts. He was very closely inspecting everything he saw, leaning in to look at the damage on the armor or the trinkets Hans had received as gifts. Everything had a story attached to it, and it suggested that there were many sides to the eccentric man.

The Sephi lingered for a moment longer even as Hans made a comment, though he didn’t respond. He followed after Hans after he realized the man kept walking and led to an area that was far more tranquil in nature. Sevrin felt at ease here, and he thought about the meditation he often did in cramped spaces.

Sevrin took a seat somewhere near the hot tub, quietly sipping from his wine as Hans prepared to get in. For a moment he watched with mild interest before he decided it was likely impolite. His gaze instead dropped to the notebook in his hand, which he opened to read through it all again.

“You never did answer my question earlier about whether you felt any emotions with the vision,” He said, looking up when he blindly guessed Hans was submerged and decent.

@Mr. Teatime

 

[Hannibal Grayza]

Hannibal certainly hadn't waited for Sevrin before beginning to undress himself. With care around the mechanical arm he unfolded the sleeves of his tunic and slid it off, then the undertunic. Beneath was just as colourful in its own way. Revealed were a vast array of detailed tattoos, many of them converted from scars. Across his ribs the right side there was a particularly bad scar interwoven with a rock in a flow of water, and up his right arm were dark vines flowering in many colours spreading between the other designs.

Across them all were the fractal marks of lightning that ran from his neck and all the way down to his feet, more and more of them revealed as he removed his trousers, each and every one filled into as if by gold. Cracks repaired to become something new and more beautiful than before. Further there was both what had clearly been a deep cut on his left leg that had become a flower native to Spintir, and the lack of an arm on his left side beyond the machine that directly connected to a shoulder socket.

The young Councilor stretched a little and finished undressing, leaving the bottle behind put picking his glass up with his right hand before sinking into the water. He sipped his drink. He was mostly decent by the time Sevrin looked back over at him, although just barely, most of his torso still above the water for the moment.

"I didn't, did I?" he clicked his tongue a little and leaned his head against his left hand, immediately drawing back again when it was metal instead of what he wanted and looking all the more irritated for it.

"Is warmth an emotion?" he said after a quiet moment, eyes off into space somewhere. "Or, uh, orange? White? Distant humming, rustling? Help me out here."

@Sreeya

 

[Sevrin Valtiere]

When Sevrin looked up, his gaze pointedly only met the emeralds. It was almost comical how much of an effort he made to ensure his line of sight never dropped below the neck out of an overabundance of courtesy. Sevrin knew Hans was not shy in the least, and he had no qualms about disrobing in front of him, but the Sephi was far more modest.

“Warmth can be, yes,” He mused quietly as he glanced down at the notes again, “Some Jedi interpret the colors as well with cool colors as more negative emotions and the warmer colors as positive,” Sevrin shrugged a bit, “Depends on what you believe. Doesn’t sound like this was very..enlightening.”

Sevrin set the notebook down and went back to sipping from his wine, looking up at Hans again.

“The Order looks to you now more than ever,” He stated, thinking of the more passive members of the council that had always relied on a leader to follow. After the very bold exchange of dialogue they had downstairs, he felt open enough to ask what had been on his mind for some time, “Did...you ever wish to be a Councilor?”

@Mr. Teatime

 

[Hannibal Grayza]

Hannibal was visibly more than a little amused about Sevrin's stark insistence on looking him in the face and not a centimeter lower than his neck. He made no comment on it and honestly it was almost endearing, if comical after the suggestive exchange earlier.

His face became more thoughtful as Sevrin spoke and was immediately struck with the idea that he may, as usual, not be explaining exactly how these things might translate. Even Hannibal didn't always know and he was far from used to receiving premonitions about things beyond vague sensations in the moment. How was he supposed to put this thing he'd seen to words?

The young Councilor blinked, having been looking off somewhere else, gaze shifting back to the Sephi. He grimaced a little.

"It all feels blurred or clouded, like I need a lens to see it. Or be closer." He shrugged again. Perhaps he would find clarity on Tython in the green temple. "But I know every instinct tells me to follow it and that's something I've learned to do."

Hannibal heard the next few words and visibly tensed a little before he took a breath, that tenseness flowing out into nothing once more. He shook his head slowly left to right, looking away for a couple seconds before emeralds returned to find silver.

"Never," he said evenly, "Didn't expect it to happen." He smiled, but it was strained and a little sad this time. "Never much thought I was the best Jedi, y'know? Just want to help where I can. If that's on the Council then that's where I'll be."

@Sreeya

 

[Sevrin Valtiere]

Sevrin finished his wine and moved to pour himself another glass, deciding that he quite favored the taste. He nodded in response to Hans mentioning that he simply intended to follow the call without much more thought into it. Sevrin tilted his glass in cheers, “Ah, the Jedi way,” He stated, “What can possibly go wrong?” He mused as he took a sip.

The Sephi didn’t miss the way Hans tensed at his question, and he opened his mouth to withdraw it. Perhaps it had been too personal of a question - Sevrin did have a habit of being too blunt sometimes. To his surprise, Hans answered truthfully and with pain lacing the words. It was as he had suspected, though Hans had shown he was more than capable for the role.

Sevrin sipped again from his wine and looked away for a while, “It’s never about being the best Jedi. It’s about being what the Order needs. The Order doesn’t need more pacifists right now,” He stated flatly, making his line of thinking abundantly clear. Sevrin eyed him for a moment, poker face on as always, “Though I suppose this means I have to listen to you,” There was an amused glint in his eye before he took another sip.

@Mr. Teatime

 

[Hannibal Grayza]

Hannibal almost snorted the wine he was sipping when Sevrin mentioned the "Jedi way." Technically following his instincts is what got him fried on Sullust and down an arm on Spintir, but at the same time following those same urges lead him to good things for someone at least. When he was a younger Jedi he didn't always trust those instincts, but now?

It was almost automatic, especially after the uh... Experience, with Trys. Mechanical fingers of his left hand slowly closed and opened again several times out of reflex, even though the new limb would never shake the way the original had.

"Oh, plenty could, I'm sure," he answered wryly with a matching expression all the while looking somewhat uncomfortable. In truth he was and he had much more trouble hiding that sort of thing than he'd used to, keeping it all locked up behind a grin and a wink. But now he laughed sometimes so maybe it wasn't all bad. His therapist had said that was a good sign.

"Yeah, you're right." Hannibal took a deep breath and then exhaled slowly afterward, sinking deeper until the steaming water was up to his mid-chest. His face softened then, not even a smirk in sight. Nothing beyond angled features and a sense of melancholy he had held his whole life. It was a weight he was simply used to by now.

"Just wish it did, Sevrin, that's all."

He grinned a little and looked at the Sephi from the side, an eyebrow raising up as some of that life came back into him.

"I suppose it does, huh? How d'you feel about me bein' in charge?"


The grin widened.

@Sreeya

 

[Sevrin Valtiere]

Sevrin watched the series of expressions and borderline theatrics play out before him. It began with Hans almost choking on his wine, followed by a series of smiles and other nuances that very openly displayed on his face and the way he moved. It was almost difficult for the Sephi, who almost always had the same look on his face, to keep up with. Nevertheless, he found himself staring with vested interest at the consistent stream of expressions.

He was about to offer more thoughts on the subject of the Jedi Order when Hans shot back with a question that slightly caught him off guard. The Sephi froze for a moment, considering the question for a moment as he took another drink.

“Could be far worse, I suppose,” He quipped as silvers met emeralds, “What would you have me do?” Sevrin asked with mild curiosity. While he didn’t smile nor grin, his gaze never left the greens he looked into.

@Mr. Teatime

 

[Hannibal Grayza]

Hannibal pursed his lips slightly in thought, seriously considering Sevrin's reply. Even if it was jest or teasing or whatever this thing they tossed back and forth was, authority over another was something the young Councilor always took very seriously. No less for the kinds of things they'd been so subtly implying just earlier and what they seemed to be implying at at now.

Emeralds looked somewhere off into empty space near the other Jedi for a little while. His expression evened out and he moved in the hot tub, taking his wine glass with him, and settled himself so most of himself was hidden beneath the bubbling waters with only things above his scarred and tattooed shoulders visible.

His lips slowly curled and shifted into a smile. It was warm in the same way as those very first sunbeams of spring that melted snow and called out for all little living things to wake up and begin to grow. Neither blindingly bright or forced and strained, simply an expression that came into being as easily as could be, the most natural thing in the galaxy.

Lively green never left staring silvers.

"First, I would ask what you want." His right hand came up holding his glass.

"And if you wouldn't mind pouring more wine."

@Sreeya

 

[Sevrin Valtiere]

Sevrin could feel the heat from the hot tub even from where he sat, and it was comfortable against his body. He could see moisture against his skin where it was visible, and he wiped some of it off. The Sephi glanced up to spot the smile on the Councilor’s face. Like his question earlier, this had caught him off guard. It wasn’t a formal, polite smile but a genuine one. It didn’t feel as if they were two Jedi on a ship, but two individuals spending time and sharing company. The Sephi couldn’t recall the last time he had done this. Hans' request of what he wanted gave Sevrin a slight pause, amusement briefly glinting in the silvers.

"Oh? You're granting wishes now?"

He rose from his seat and walked over to pour more wine into the glass, crouching next to the hot tub. Sevrin glanced down at the frothing bubbles, reaching a hand down so his fingers traced the water. It was perfectly warm and inviting, but the Sephi kept his musings to himself.

“I desire many things, but act on few,” He said plainly, his fingers still idly dipping into the water, “Or perhaps I desire few things and act on many,” Sevrin glanced up to look at Hans, his face even more difficult to read if that were even possible.

“I’m going to take the fight to the Sith,” He said, knowing fully it was a shift to the tone. He also knew fully well how dangerous the words were, “And I’d like you by my side when I do.”

@Mr. Teatime

 

[Hannibal Grayza]

An eyebrow rose a little at the concept of granting wishes. Oddly enough it sent the young Councilor's thoughts a-wandering to the things he could with the Force if he really tried. Certainly some of it was miraculous by ordinary standards, especially in recent times, but wishes? He thought back to his time on Chandrilla trying to help Trys escape the coma she'd been placed in and the defiant attitude she displayed toward the whole thing, to her defiance about the whole thing and the relief on the faces of Crix and Talak when they were told.

"What am I, a genie?" Hannibal said with obvious amusement, green eyes watching the other man move from where he was and refill the young Councilor's glass. Curiosity and perhaps a little anticipation crossed his face when fingers tested the warm water, watching the motion of gentle waves for a moment before he looked up again at Sevrin.

Sevrin got himself a flat and furrow-browed look of disappointment. Yeah he brought up something important, but right then? Really? A deep and exasperated sigh resounded and he sunk a little further down into the water, rolling his eyes.

Well if Sevrin could kill Sith as well as the mood they'd be set!

"That's what you want, huh?" Hannibal clicked his tongue and without warning he lifted partly up out of the water by his arms until the surface was more or less at waist level, still looking Sevrin directly in the eyes from what would now be rather close.

"Y'think you can handle carrying the weight of war, silver?"

@Sreeya

 

[Sevrin Valtiere]

Sevrin knew there was a tone shift, but he hadn’t been expecting such a look of disappointment or the rolling of eyes. The Sephi had thought his request had been genuine and meaningful - the man wasn’t in the habit of asking anyone for help. His eyes were slightly wide and his eyebrows rose slightly as he took in Hans’ reaction.

The Sephi could barely answer when Hans abruptly rose from the tub. While his gaze had been eye level, the sudden move meant his line of sight was instead on a torso that was perfectly carved and was a vibrant tapestry of art and colors. Sevrin had a deep appreciation for art, and he didn’t look away immediately. Silver eyes lingered over the remnants of lighting, over the patterns of color, over the scars.

Sevrin didn’t meet Hans’ gaze this time when he spoke, his eyes pointedly looking away. He took a comically large gulp of his wine as he stared off at nothing. Sevrin eased into a seat where he was crouching, crossing his legs in a meditation pose.

He shifted his gaze, but he still only just looked down at some vague bubbles instead of the man in front of him. A few seconds passed before he quickly looked at him again, now looking solely into his eyes.

“Why?” He asked calmly, “Do you have doubts about what I can handle?” Sevrin asked quite flatly to where it was impossible to tell which topic of conversation he was on.

@Mr. Teatime

 

[Hannibal Grayza]

Hannibal well caught the lingering gaze across his torso, a thing as colourful and personalized as any choice of clothing worn or words spoken. Despite his relative youth, especially for a member of the Jedi Council, the collection of marks become tattoos was expansive. Half-healed injuries and wounds left behind intentionally as reminders of the weight he chose to carry accepted and turned into something far more beautiful.

Remembered, and let go.

Nor did he miss that loud gulp of wine and the eyes that wandered elsewhere even as his remained on the Sephi's face. By the time Sevrin saw Hannibal's face again it was rather more serious and searching, brows furrowed and face set. A brow raised when the return question came and a smirk slightly curled at the man's lips.

"Oh no, I suspect you can handle quite a bit."

Hannibal sank back down into the water after a few seconds to sit atop a side seat beneath the water. A solid drink of wine was taken from the refilled glass, as if to keep things fair, and waved his cybernetic arm casually through the steamy air. The young Councilor's face softened again into the prior warmth with hints of that playful mischievousness.

"Just wondering if you agree is all."

@Sreeya

 

[Sevrin Valtiere]

Sevrin kept his gaze fixed on the emeralds as Hans sank back into the hot tub. Though he was inwardly disappointed at the adjustment, his face betrayed none of it. He watched the big gulp of wine Hans took, amusement glinting in Sevrin’s eyes when he did so as if to mock him. The Sephi remained silent after Hans spoke.

“We carry the weight of war every day,” He said as he looked away for a moment, “And we go forth each day never knowing if we will see our brethren again. Never knowing if each day is our last,” Sevrin took another sip while gazing off still, “That becomes inevitably easier when things remain nothing more than cordial,” He admitted aloud before he slowly turned to regard Hans again.

"Wouldn't you agree?"

Sevrin finished up his second glass of wine.

@Mr. Teatime

 

[Hannibal Grayza]

Hannibal looked thoughtful, considering the Sephi's words. Metal fingers rose and dropped in sequence along the edge of the hot tub, a remnant of an old habit made mechanical by the replacement. He also looked away, gaze turning down toward the cybernetic limb. The wrist slowly turned and he closed and opened the fingers as if he carefully observing how all the little pieces came together.

"That we do." Friends of Hannibal's had been lost in the fights against the Sith. Talak, Max, Nash. Even Oota and Sada-Nau had been influences on the young Councilor for a long time. Although they perhaps weren't quite friends he still looked up to them in his weird way. The loss of anyone close to him was a form of suffering all it's own.

"I would agree, yeah." Certainly it would be easier if things were only cordial, pure business, and he kept people away just like he'd used to. Grins and jokes and attitude, that was Hannibal. It still was of course as anyone who'd seen him for more than twenty seconds could figure out.

His eyes remained on the arm for a few seconds after Sevrin turned back to him, smiling a smile that was both warm and touched by a sense of melancholy.

"But if I wanted to live an easy life I wouldn't be a Jedi, right?" He looked up at the Sephi with that same open look on his face, an expression he just couldn't properly hide these days, his arm dropping down to lean against the edge off the tub.

"To live is to suffer, Sevrin. Still worth living, though, don't you think?"

Hannibal finished his drink in mirror of the other man and looked over at the nearly empty bottle of wine, the gesture making clear he was getting a buzz off the alcohol, before looking back to Sevrin.

"Feel like finishing the bottle with me?"

@Sreeya

 

[Sevrin Valtiere]

Sevrin heard him out, at first hearing agreement and then something else. The Sephi considered the words as he looked at Hans, a man that had perhaps lost more than most Jedi in the Order. He was one of the last Jedi standing that had extensively faced the Sith and their upper echelon. Despite it all, Sevrin had a difficult time so brazenly welcoming others into his sphere. It was always simpler without it.

He broke out of his thoughts when Hans mentioned finishing the bottle. Sevrin looked down at his glass, “I fear I may display conduct that is.. “ His gaze flicked down towards Hans’ painted torso again before quickly flashing up to his eyes, “Unbecoming if I continue to drink,” There was a polite almost smile on his face. He floated the bottle over with the Force and filled up Hans’ glass, pouring none for himself. He didn’t partake in drinking often and had a poor tolerance.

Sevrin rose from where he sat then, walking over to set his glass down on the nearby table. He turned to regard Hans from where stood, “Will you come with me?” He paused before tilting his head slightly, “And not simply because you find me pleasing to look at.”

@Mr. Teatime

 

[Hannibal Grayza]

Hannibal's inclined his head slightly and raised his hands to indicate he accepted Sevrin's refusal to drink another glass, holding out his own when the bottle was retrieved to refill his own. The young Councilor watched his face while the Sephi poured and found he recognized that look as one he'd often seen on Naboo. It was from that kind of expression he'd learned to keep a grin on his face.

A brow did raise a little, though.

"Your choice, natch," Hannibal said breezily, "Don't think I'd mind, though."

He sipped at the refilled wine, eyes continuing to look at the space Sevrin left behind as went off to table his glass. The Sephi spoke again and he blinked before looking at him, brows raising a bit over his eyes in curiosity. His expression shifted to something contemplative and he leaned forward a little, making a show of looking at the Jedi Knight standing before him with mechanical finger and thumb on his chin.

"I see a man who handles challenges with dignity, poise, and quick wit. I think you are neither over-eager nor lethargic, but thoughtful and measured."

Hannibal grinned at Sevrin then and straightened up where he sat, tilting his wine glass slightly toward him. Still that hint of melancholy reflected behind that strange light behind his eyes along with a sense of determination, but he made no effort to hide it.

"Being easy on the eyes is a nice bonus, though. I'll be by your side when you go to fight, Sevrin. Count on it."

@Sreeya

 

[Sevrin Valtiere]

Sevrin looked down and away as Hans openly admitted he wouldn’t mind. The corner of his lips tugged at a half smile then, something that looked quite pleasing on the normally stoic face. It faded as soon as it appeared, though when the silvers looked up it was clear the thoughts lingered.

He watched Hans lean forth and rest a chin on the cybernetic hand, appraising him as if he were a work of art. And perhaps he was, though he had no paintings on his body. No markings that were visible anyway. Sevrin didn’t break the gaze, idly running his fingers gracefully through his long, silky ponytail under heat of the emerald fires cast his way.

“You are certainly skilled with honeyed words,” Sevrin mused aloud as he eyed the man, “I’m sure it almost always gets you your way,” He said smoothly with a slight glint in his eye.

His thoughts then drifted towards Hans agreeing to join him. He was silent for a while, thinking about his borderline insane plan for infiltrating Sullust and bringing down the base. Sevrin grabbed the Tython notes again, “If you don’t mind, I’ll be downstairs to study up further on the planet.”

With that, he made his way back downstairs. Far too polite to ever impose, he had even taken out a neatly packed box of food he had prepared for himself. He found a table to sit at while he studied the notes, compared it to his own and took bites of food in between. He had prepared himself a spicy bantha stir fry of sorts with an assortment of vegetables and a fiery sauce.

@Mr. Teatime

 

[Hannibal Grayza]

The barest inkling of a smile drew had caught the young Councilor's attention after he'd spoken. It was much closer than the earlier example, softening the Sephi's features just the tiniest amount. A look in silver eyes drew even more, though Hannibal said nothing more of the subject of unbecoming conduct and wine decanters just yet.

Sevrin ran fingers through his black hair and an eyebrow raised further with obvious interest, lips turning up up at the edges into that breezy grin of his. The other Jedi was almost posing for him and any sane person could appreciate the way the dark strands shined in the light as fingers combed through the tied locks.

"Almost always," he agreed with a chuckle, thinking back to the memory of a noodle shop. Some things just couldn't be charmed into or out of. Emeralds looked back at Sevrin as he made the decision to head downstairs, picking up his notes in the process. He obviously appreciated them which Hannibal found gratifying.

"Sure, sure. Be here for a bit." He sipped at the wine as Sevrin left, giving a side-eyed look toward him as he walked out the door, and then sighed. This was going to be an interesting trip.

Hannibal would appear back downstairs some time later in what basically amounted to kitten pajamas, the little baby animals of varying colours plastered over black pants and T-shirt. The comfy slippers he wore were also kitten-shaped and very fluffy looking.

He wandered out of the turbolift and back into the main area to find Sevrin studying the notes and eating.

"Oh yeah, good idea," said the kitten-clad Councilor before he turned on his heels to head into the kitchen and make himself something.

@Sreeya

 

[Sevrin Valtiere]

Sevrin was almost finished with his meal by the time Hans arrived. If there was shock at seeing the state of attire, it certainly didn’t manifest on his face. The Sephi knew Hans was quite eccentric, and this fit the bill perfectly. Admittedly, the slippers did look mighty comfortable and his eyes lingered there for a moment.

“Think I preferred your previous state of clothing more,” Sevrin said casually as his eyes returned to the notes, though it was a gamble to say such a thing around a man capricious enough to make it happen right then. He had his own notebook out this time and was writing things down to cover for any gaps that Hans’ notes had. The Sephi had to marvel at the Councilor's breezy attitude about the whole thing. He didn't appear to be concerned at all about doing prep work. Then again, Sevrin tended to go a little overboard with his organization.

“It will be difficult for us to even land the ship,” Sevrin said with his gaze still on the pages. He heard Hans shuffling about in the kitchen so he talked slightly louder so the man could hear, “Apparently there is a perpetual storm or something in the lower atmosphere.”

@Mr. Teatime