The Inevitable Crash

[Vuthari]

Vu’thari’s Condo – NW Corridor
Ord Mantell City
Ord Mantell

Being a Jedi was hard. It was not always intuitive, nor was it instinctual—it took hard work and discipline. Vu’thari’s grandfather warned him that the road of a Jedi was not glorious, it was not lucrative, it was not easy, and danger would always be just around the next corner—and all of things were true. Looking around his new condo, it was quite a bit bigger than the one on Nar Shaddaa, of course the one on Nar Shaddaa could have technically been classified as a “closet”. The neutral colors with accents of green was the Jedi Master’s choice of palette. There were a pair of bedrooms, a kitchen, a garage for speeders and the main room. Again, although not a large place, it was much more spacious that the one he left on the Smuggler’s Moon. For the interim, Vu’thari still paid rent on his small apartment…just in case. Caution and redundancy had been the words of the day for their settling into Ord Mantell.

But there was a certain amount of freedom that came with being relocated to Ord Mantell. First and foremost, it was not in the heart of Imperial territory. The “Bright Jewel” was neutral ground and was home to a haven of smugglers and merchants. It was a thriving economy, both on the books…and off the books. The pressure and paranoia felt on Nar Shaddaa simply wasn’t present. However, for the twi’lek, old habits die hard. Vu’thari set up the same precautionary measures he utilized on Nar Shaddaa. There was not a compelling need to tell the galaxy he was a Jedi—he was not that Jedi. Secrecy had served him well for years and that is exactly how the Jedi Covenant would be run—with security and obscurity in mind…until they were ready.

Jedi Covenant. The name was batted around as he and Ayasha discussed who they were and what they were doing. It all came back to them being a covenant of Jedi, thus the name Jedi Covenant stuck. By definition, a covenant was an agreement, an entente, an accord, a pact…in essence, it was a commitment to each other, from Jedi to Jedi. They all seemed to understand what their goal was: preserve the Jedi and prepare Jedi to fight the Sith. It really was that simple. The methodology was slightly different than the Galactic Alliance’s Jedi Order, but only in organization—there was no military oversight of the Jedi Covenant. It was Jedi working with Jedi. While Vu’thari did not believe that this arrangement was ideal, it was what it would be for the foreseeable future.

The Jedi Covenant had some immediate goals: survive, prepare for the days to come, secure space, establish security and continue training. They would be sinking their tendrils into the underbelly of Ord Mantell and rooting themselves deeply, but not so deep that they could not pack up and leave when the word was given. In fact, that was one of Vu’thari’s sticking points: settle in, but be ready to uproot in a moment’s notice. This philosophy would keep them deft and free to be mobile. Small forays into Galtea had already been undertaken by Ayasha. This was a place they would be exploring in the days to come as another place of refuge.

The deck window had a nice view of Ord Mantell City proper. It truly was a marvel in the nighttime hours, much like Nar Shaddaa. However, Ord Mantell suited Vu’thari much better. There were less people, less crime, more nature…and less Imperials. It was a win in every category. His eyes closed back as he sat in the middle of the main room on his knees meditating. There was a need for meditation now, as much since the murder of his family years ago. Such was the vulnerable state the Jedi Master was in.

Aysaha has been a trooper, acting like the mature Jedi Knight he knew she would become. She had been staying with Vu’thari in his condo. While he wanted her to go out and be on her own a bit more, deep down, he wanted her close. Near him. So no words were ever said on the matter.

His eyes opened again. Vu’thari sensed the Jedi Knight coming back to the condominium. Believing he had meditated enough this morning, he relaxed and came to his feet. Giving the Jedi Knight a smile as she entered the secure door, he sat down on the couch. He knew she could tell he was uneasy.

As Ayasha looked at him curiously, he pointed to his useless eye nestled within the scar and met her eyes with his one good one. In a quiet voice, he said, “You asked my thoughts on it once. I am numb to it. In truth, I really haven’t had time to think about it or what to do about it going forward…”

Silence. His head dipped down and back up.

“I can’t do this alone…all of this. It is my turn to lean on you, Ayasha. I hope I made the right decision—for all of our sakes…”

@Wolf

 

[Ayasha Waya]

“Thank you, Sal. I'll let you know what I think of the Jogan fruit!” Ayasha smiled at the grocer as she turned and made her way out of the small store. It had not taken the woman very long to acclimate to her new life on Ord Mantell and it seemed as though no matter where she went, making friends was easy for the Galtean native. The Knight hugged the small paper bag as she made her way back toward the condominium that she shared with Vu'thari.

The light of the blue sun overhead felt warm upon the woman's caramel skin and she breathed in deeply as her eyes followed several birds from one tree to the next. “Trees...not every aspect of change has to be negative,” she thought to herself as a smile formed on her lips. Nar Shaddaa had taken a great deal of getting used to after a lifetime on Galtea, but the Jedi's transition to this planet had been exciting.

Ayasha slowed to a stop beneath the shade of one of her bark covered friends. She looked up into the branches and admired the beauty of the beams of light peeking through. There were no trees on Nar Shaddaa, and the woman had to assume that this was why its residents often referred to it as the concrete jungle. Several quiet moments passed when suddenly a tiny blue and white bird landed upon the Knight's shoulder. She turned her head and tipped it back slightly to get a better view of the small feathered being.

“Hello, little one!” the Jedi said in quiet, excited tones. The woman did always had a way with animals; it was as if they knew she could be trusted, and so they did. Ayasha reached into the paper bag in her arms and brought out a small container of seeds. They were a variation found within a common flower and were quite a popular snack across the galaxy. “Here, I think you'll like these,” the Knight said gently as she poured some of the white oblong seeds into her hand and extended it toward the bird. Without hesitation, the creature hopped onto Ayasha's wrist and began to dig into the treat piled up in her palm.

After a few moments, the seeds had disappeared entirely and the little feathered being took off high above the Jedi into the branches of the nearby tree. She smiled and sealed the container before placing it back into the brown paper bag and then continued her walk back to the building that housed her new home. Even from outside on the ground floor, Ayasha could sense Vu'thari's presence within the undulating folds of the Force. She was excited to surprise him with his favorite apples that she had been lucky enough to find at the nearby store.

The Knight stepped through the entrance and hopped into the lift that would take her to their floor. She juggled the bag of groceries and pressed an opaque key that would send her up. A few moments later, the raven haired woman was walking down the corridor toward the condo where she would enter to find Vu'thari standing at the center of the common room. "I'm...back," she said as her golden eyes came to rest upon the twi'lek's face and he smiled before taking a seat upon the couch. Ayasha could immediately sense a bit of uneasiness emanating from the Jedi Master as she studied him curiously.

It was then that the twi'lek pointed to his damaged eye that had been rendered useless at the claws of a terentatek, the same creature that had nearly claimed Vu'thari's life upon Kashyyyk. Ayasha tilted her head to the side and her brows furrowed under the sorrow she felt for him. “You asked my thoughts on it once. I am numb to it,” he began before explaining that he had not had much time to think about it since the encounter that claimed its function. Silence fell between the pair as the twi'lek's head dipped but briefly before lifting up once again.

“I can't do this alone...all of this. It is my turn to lean on you, Ayasha. I hope I made the right decision – for all of our sakes...” Vu'thari's words were raw as he approached the Knight with the same transparency that they had promised one another long ago. Ayasha, dressed for leisure, stepped out of her black sandals and set her bare feet upon the cool floor. She crossed the room to the breakfast nook at the other side of the kitchen and set the bag of groceries down before slowly wandering back into the twi'lek's view. Her heart ached for him. Daily she could feel the burdening weight of responsibility upon his shoulders...how she had wished he would share the load with her.

Though there was silence, there was comfort exchanged between their spirits and a myriad of unspoken emotions in their shared gaze. Ayasha approached slowly and sat down beside the twi'lek. She tucked one of her legs beneath her body and turned to face him. She sat quietly for several long moments as her eyes searched his face. The Knight reached out, taking Vu'thari's strong hands in her own smaller pair. “I made you a promise...” she began in tones just above a whisper. Ayasha's eyes fell to their hands before lifting to the twi'lek's face.

“When I told you I love you, I meant more than just how I feel about you,” she continued with a warm smile upon her lips. “I've never said those words to anyone else because I could only promise to be beside one...and I chose you,” Ayasha's thoughts returned to the first moment she had confessed her feelings to Vu'thari. In the woman's heart, she had said so much more than a simple sentiment that these days was carelessly thrown around the galaxy. Her promise to him hinged on nothing, it was unconditional even if unrequited.

She gently squeezed the twi'lek's hands and shook her head. “You don't have to be strong all the time, Vu'thari. You're never alone...lean on me, I've carried you before,” she added with a wink. Ayasha fell quiet, opening the floor to the Jedi Master. There was nothing he could say or do that would ever cause her to change her mind and she hoped that he would see her as his soft place to land.


@Mithias

 

[Vuthari]

Vu’thari’s Condo – NW Corridor
Ord Mantell City
Ord Mantell

“…lean on me, I've carried you before.”

He smiled at her following this comment.

“Indeed you have…”

She had literally carried him twice before. Saving his life…twice. Ayasha had been there for him every time without fail…and the beautiful Galtean woman was here for him again. The galaxy was a big place and he never really stopped to consider the scope of his actions and who it affected besides the Alliance Council...especially the padawans who trusted him and Ayasha. It was a hard pill to swallow that he may have been a mistake to embark on self-imposed exile. But that was his mistake to endure and suffer through. What tore him up inside was the idea that he may have substantially weakened the Galactic Alliance with his actions, and truly, at its lowest point. Which in turn endangered those Jedi. But isn’t that why he left, for the Jedi? Or was if because of the Alliance Council that functioned as a singular voice—Leah’s, which in turn could lead to ruin...or the dark side.

She squeezed his hands and reminded him of the love she had for him..it was too much. The emotions were cascading down. Ayasha was right, he had been strong at every turn. In the Council room, around Ayasha during their times of tension, in front of Kae’Leigh and Prax, during every mission...he forced his emotions down. Control and self-discipline had guided the Jedi Master’s actions at every turn, all the while never allowing an outlet for bottled up emotion. The twi’lek leaned into her shoulder at the top of her chest and with barely a sound, his body wracked from the raw emotion that was within him. A sharp intake of air and perhaps a twinge of moisture on her tunic were the indications that emotion had overtaken him with tears free falling from his tear ducts. While there were only a modicum amount of tears from his non-functioning eye, it was a literal stream of salt water coming from his good eye.

Leaning into Ayasha, the twi’lek completely lost himself in his grief, allowing himself to completely release all the tension, pain, stress, fear, uncertainty, and love washed away without restraint…

@Wolf

 

[Ayasha Waya]

Almost as quickly as the words left Ayasha's lips, Vu'thari leaned in and let go. “Oh love...” she whispered as the tears began to spill out of his eyes. The woman was subjected to the array of emotions that accompanied the salty little reminders that he was not a droid. Grief, tension, pain, stress, fear, uncertainty and love poured out of the Jedi Master...all of which came crashing over the empath as if she were feeling those sensations herself. The raven haired woman closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath, leveling herself against the onslaught of emotions. She was strong enough to bear them and as they passed through her via the coursing river of the Force, the Knight took them captive and pushed them down flat.

Ayasha drew deeply upon the Force, allowing it to fill her and flow out of her in gentle waves of peace and tranquility. She slowly removed her hands from Vu'thari's and slipped her arms around the twi'lek, pulling his body closer to hers, enveloping him in love. “I know your heart...” the woman's alto voice began softly as she she gently ran a hand over his lekku before it came to rest upon his back. “You are led by conviction and everything you do is selfless.” Her thoughts moved to the difficult decisions that the Jedi Master had been faced with and she reflected on how much they had weighed upon him.

It was something to behold - years of bottled up emotions being released all at once. Ayasha had always viewed Vu'thari as a pillar of silent strength, of unwavering peace and control and while that would never change, she suddenly felt guilty knowing why. The twi'lek had kept everything in and the magnitude of the content of his internal bottle was overwhelming. The Knight's mind moved back to his words while he pondered if a mistake had been made by his decision to leave the Galactic Alliance. “I believe that the only mistake you could have made, would have been to do nothing at all.”

The Jedi turned her face and placed a gentle kiss upon Vu'thari's temple. Though not present in the council chambers while decisions were made changing the course of the Jedi Order for the foreseeable future, Ayasha knew that emotions ran high in that place where there was no room for them. The Jedi Master had weighed his options and had made the best choice possible at the moment. “Time can heal even the deepest wounds,” the Knight whispered as she tightened her embrace around Vu'thari.

Though the woman could not predict what the future held, whether or not the exiled group of Jedi would ever join forces with the Galactic Alliance or the floundering Order at another time, she would not completely write the possibility off. There were many things that would need to change for such an event to occur, but Ayasha believed that with the Force, all things were possible.

The Knight continued holding Vu'thari close. She slowly moved her hand over his back in a comforting manner, allowing him to continue spilling his bottled emotions onto her. Ayasha wished there was something more she could do or say to help ease the twi'lek's pain. The pair had spent a great deal of time working through the feelings that existed between them to the point where the woman had felt inclined to approach their relationship in a 'hands off' manner...but now she could not see herself letting him go. Her heart ached for him and she loved him too much to allow him to hurt.

“I'm right here...everything will be okay...I promise,” Ayasha whispered as she rested her chin against the twi'lek's head while holding him against her chest.


@Mithias

 

[Vuthari]

Vu’thari’s Condo – NW Corridor
Ord Mantell City
Ord Mantell

In the back of his mind, Vu’thari realized that he had not truly grieved for anything that had happened to him: the loss of his grandfather, the loss of his wife, the loss of his two children or the loss of Eli…none of it. The minutes in emotional despair had been built up for years, even over a decade for some. It all came crashing down in tears and wracking sorrow. For many minutes, the twi’lek let it all out. Slowly, the wracking of his body subsided and the Jedi Master could not manage to bring another tear to bare. For many moments, he just stayed close to Ayasha, listening to her heartbeat. Slowly, but surely, Vu’thari gained control of his grieving. When he felt ready, he lifted himself off her chest and shoulder, shifting to wrap her in a hugging embrace. Squeezing her lovingly, the twi’lek whispered in her ear, “I choose you, Ayasha. Know that...”

The embrace lingered for a long time. It was a safe place, a comfortable place for the twi’lek. But as always, duty and responsibility to the galaxy always beckoned. Slowly, he unfurled his arms from the Galtean. Never tiring of looking at the beautiful Jedi Knight. As he separated, he returned the gesture, kissing her on her forehead and eyeing her as they sat on the couch. Clearing his throat somewhat to prepare for words to come out of his mouth, he said quietly, “Thank you…I have never really stopped to grieve or express any emotion at all, for anything. It has been…well, years. “

Looking down and back up, wiping away the last vestiges of tears from his cheeks, he eyed her and said quietly, “I can see how the slide to the dark side can come quickly with such emotion. I even see how Leah came to make the decisions she made. Of course they were wrong, but I understand them…”

@Wolf

 

[Ayasha Waya]

It was difficult for Ayasha to watch the one she loved so much wracked with such grief. Tears stung at the corners of her eyes but she clenched her jaw and fought them off, resolving to remain strong for Vu'thari. Grieving was a natural process and it was apparent in the twi'lek's shaking body that he had not been afforded the opportunity to mourn. The Jedi Master had lost a great deal in the past decade alone, never mind the sudden way in which friends and fellow freedom fighters had been removed from his life as he walked out of the Council chambers just weeks ago.

Several minutes passed in silence as Vu'thari's bottle of pent up sorrows dripped its last drops onto the woman's caramel skin and contrasting white halter top. Ayasha held the twi'lek close as he reined in his grief and regained control of his emotions. It was moments like these that reminded the Knight of her convictions regarding attachments. When she had told the Jedi Master on Ryloth that she did not agree with him on the subject, she was speaking from her heart and even after all this time, her belief on the matter had not changed. If not for the one they shared, where would Vu'thari have turned to release the hurt?

The Dark Side?

Ayasha was aware that there were Jedi in the galaxy that had made the gradual fall into the embrace of darkness because of attachment...but just as Vu'thari had taught her early on, they were sentient beings, not droids and they needed to lean on one another. On this merit alone it could be argued that a Jedi was encouraged to love. Still, the woman had been careful to continue honoring the twi'lek by loving him from a distance. There were countless ways that she had found to express her affection for him outside of a physical connection...but when they did touch, it set fire to her heart. The chemistry between them was undeniable and though Vu'thari had raised a valid concern that a bond like the one they shared could cloud their judgement, Ayasha remained confident in each of their ability to resist jeopardizing the greater good for the other.

Slowly the twi'lek lifted his head, wrapped his arms around the woman's torso and pulled her close to his body. She slipped her arms beneath Vu'thari's lekku as he lovingly squeezed her. “I choose you, Ayasha. Know that...” he whispered into her ear. Though she did know, nothing compared to hearing it from him. The Knight closed her eyes and allowed her heart to speak where words failed her. Love, devotion, honor, joy and a plethora of other emotions passed between the pair through their Force Bond. The embrace lasted longer than any they had previously shared, but sadness began to creep in as Ayasha was reminded that there would be a moment when Vu'thari would pull away...and they would return to the status quo. The woman was thankful that she could serve as the twi'lek's safe place and he, a tower she could run to for shelter.

The dreaded moment finally arrived when the Jedi Master slowly pulled away from the Knight and gently placed a kiss upon her forehead. Each and every time he had done this, it felt as though he was crowning the woman with a pure love draped in respect and admiration. A broad smile appeared upon Ayasha's lips as her eyes fluttered open and her golden gaze came to rest upon Vu'thari's handsome face. Even in spite of the graphic vertical scar that had now become a prominent feature of the twi'lek's visage, the raven haired woman was content to look into his eyes alone for the rest of her life.

The Jedi Master cleared his throat as he silently studied Ayasha for several moments. “Thank you...” he began before explaining what she already knew. He had not stopped to properly grieve or express a bit of emotion over anything for years. In doing so, Vu'thari had endangered himself and those around him by keeping the volatile sensations bottled up within like a dormant volcano, ready to erupt without notice. This, above all else, caused Ayasha the greatest sorrow for the twi'lek. Healing came by way of grieving, and in the places where only scars should remain were bruised and bleeding wounds sustained years beforehand.

Vu'thari's eyes briefly fell from the Knight's gaze and then returned as he began to wipe the tears from his face. Ayasha reached out and placed a hand upon the Master's cheek, sweeping away a few stray droplets as she did. Her head tilted to the side as her hand slowly fell to take one of Vu'thari's as before. Touch was incredibly important to the empath as it was a direct pathway of emotions. Simple hand to hand contact allowed her to relay a myriad of emotions without saying a word. She often used this ability to bring comfort and peace to others. Vu'thari began speaking quietly, acknowledging how quickly a slide to the Dark Side could occur under the internal pressure of his bottled up feelings.

“I even see how Leah came to make the decisions she made. Of course they were wrong, but I understand them...” the Jedi Master admitted. Ayasha nodded in agreement. After having spent the past few weeks meditating and seeking answers in regard to the events that had occurred within the Council chambers, the woman had come to a realization. More so than attachments causing a fall to the darkness was the condition of being a sentient creature. Anyone with the ability to think, reason and feel had to face the reality that giving into the Dark Side was a real and persistent threat.

The Knight smiled as she silently took the Master's words in. What he had just done had taken a great deal of courage, and though he may have felt weak for allowing the barrage of emotions to come spilling out of him as they had, he was the strongest of anyone the woman knew. “Thank you for being vulnerable with me...for trusting me with your deepest heartache...” she paused and glanced down at the twi'lek's hand in her own. “...for not being afraid to touch me.” Ayasha's eyes slowly traced their way up Vu'thari's body before returning to rest within his gaze.

The raven haired woman squeezed the hand of her companion and sighed. “Emotions are a fickle thing, but we can't ignore them,” she began as a warm smile returned to her lips. “Please don't let yourself get like this again...I'm always here for you.” Ayasha's free hand found Vu'thari's empty one and took it as before. “There's no reason to keep things locked away any longer...let me be your hideaway,” she whispered softly in the solitude of the moment.


@Mithias

 

[Vuthari]

Vu’thari’s Condo – NW Corridor
Ord Mantell City
Ord Mantell

Vu’thari’s hands continued resting in Ayasha’s as they sat together on the couch, talking quietly. She thanked him for opening up to her and for not being fearful about touching her. There was a time when the twi’lek was not comfortable being that close to her. It was the rise of feelings that were conjured from her touch, but as their transparency continued, so too did the comfort with one another. Looking at her with a wry grin, he replied, “I trust you implicitly. Our contact with one another? I assure you, that there is no fear in such close contact any longer. There will be time to ‘converse’ on what this means at a later date…”

A playful smile crept to the twi’lek’s face as he finished his sentence. Returning his smile, she continued to speak on the emotions and feelings Vu’thari was having. Her wisdom was showing as she referenced to the Jedi Master’s own folly in keeping his emotions locked away and unexpressed. For a Jedi, they both understood the double-edged sword that it was. The twi’lek knew they both were keenly aware of attachment and how it could cause dangerous results. While their attachment bordered on the “unhealthy” kind, it was still measured in a commitment to the “greater good”. The question they posed to one another on Ryloth—would they be willing to sacrifice the other for the greater good. Though they both committed to this choice, he was not so sure how well either could live up to it. It was another question for another day. When she became a Jedi Master, these matters would come up again. They would make their choice on attachment and figure out how to deal with it from there…

He looked around the apartment and out of the window and never really spoke to Ayasha about lodging logistics since they moved here. His apartment was spacious enough and though she had been staying here in the second bedroom, he never really even spoke to her about it. With a grin, he volunteered, “It goes without saying that you are welcome to stay here with me…I would like that.”

@Wolf

 

[Ayasha Waya]

“I trust you implicitly. Our contact with one another?” Vu'thari began as they sat close upon the couch, his hands resting in Ayasha's. “I assure you, that there is no fear in such close contact any longer,” the twi'lek continued. The Knight smiled, though she could not forget how broken he looked just moments beforehand, and it sapped the joy she should have felt for this admission. The woman hurt with Vu'thari in his pain. She was concerned that his natural tendency would be to continue keeping his emotions in, when a conversation to express them in a healthy manner would be a far safer road to walk.

The woman's eyes shifted to their hands and rested there as Vu'thari continued speaking. “There will be a time to 'converse' on what this means at a later date...” he added as a playful smile crept onto his lips. The meaning of his words was lost on Ayasha but as her eyes moved back to his face, she nodded and smiled in return. The twi'lek looked around the apartment and out of the window before shifting his gaze back to the Knight. “It goes without saying that you are welcome to stay here with me...I would like that,” he said gently.

The thought had not crossed the woman's mind about other living arrangements. She was gone a fair deal and had been staying aboard the Ash Angel when traveling, but wherever Vu'thari was she considered that her home. “I would like that too...” the Knight added quietly. Though Ayasha enjoyed having her own space in the condominium, there were times when she found herself lonely. Sitting in her room by herself while Vu'thari was in his quarters just across the hall had left her longing for his companionship when they parted ways to sleep. The nights were long and her arms were empty, but she had reconciled herself to the fact that this was a necessary aspect of their arrangement.

Still, Ayasha knew that this was the choice they had made...for the greater good. The Knight remained chaste and pure, admittedly a bit naive regarding deeper levels of relationship and intimacy. All she knew was that she could imagine nothing better than to be held by Vu'thari as they drifted off to sleep. Several moments had passed in silence as the woman became lost in her daydream, only to suddenly remember the conversation occurring between them. Her cheeks warmed to a crimson color and she looked down and laughed at herself out of embarrassment.

“I really like it here...there are trees,” Ayasha added quickly as she pushed the previous thoughts from her mind and attempted to move past the noticeably awkward moment. “Oh!” she suddenly remembered the bag of groceries on the counter and gave Vu'thari's hands a squeeze as she pulled hers away and got up from her spot on the couch. The Knight collected her hair in a bundle over her shoulder as she bounded toward the kitchen. “I got you something!”

With a broad smile upon her face, Ayasha returned to the common room with her hands behind her back. “Oh right, you know what it is...” she laughed, remembering that keeping surprises from a Jedi Master was nearly, if not completely, impossible. Without further hesitation, the raven haired woman's hands emerged with a big, beautiful piece of fruit. “I know how much you love these Nubian Apples. They're so hard to find, but the store in town gets them now and again...” she beamed with excitement before returning to sit beside the twi'lek. Ayasha handed the Jedi Master the treat, hoping it would restore a bit of happiness to him after such a difficult morning.

@Mithias

 

[Vuthari]

Vu’thari’s Condo – NW Corridor
Ord Mantell City
Ord Mantell

“I really like it here...there are trees,”

The twi’lek chuckled. Vu’thari had to agree. The Force was always stronger when it was among the natural world, at least from the twi’lek’s experience. On Ord Mantell, there were plenty of areas that weren’t settled and were a true wilderness. The Jedi Master was thankful that he did not have to leave the planet for such access to nature. There was a lot to explore on Ord Mantell. Vu’thari was determined to explore the planet a bit more and try to enjoy life a bit. That task was made much easier with Ayasha…

Her eyes sparkled as she seemed to remember something from her trip to the store. The Jedi surprised him with Nubian apples and presented him one as she plopped back down on the couch beside him.

He took the apple with a smile and said in a conspiring voice, “You know, Nubian apples are considered one of the most addictive foods In the galaxy…rumor has it that twi’leks have died from the withdrawal of not having access to them every few days. I really hope that doesn’t happen to me…”

Concern wrinkled his face. He could feel Ayasha’s confused look, which suddenly brought a broad grin to the twi’lek’s face and he started laughing. It felt good to laugh. It had been some time since he could laugh about, well, anything. It was a small one, but it felt good.

Holding the apple up, he smiled at Ayasha and then proceeded to take a bite. After chewing on his bite, he said, “Thank you for this! But now that I am firmly addicted to them…this may mean you will have to find more soon…”

The twi’lek gave her a playful wink and took another bite, feeling altogether better, especially after being able to express his emotions. While the burden of responsibility was still there, the weight did not feel as heavy…

@Wolf

 

[Ayasha Waya]

As Vu'thari took the apple, a mischievous smile developed upon his lips. “You know, Nubian apples are considered one of the most addictive foods in the galaxy...” the Jedi Master continued explaining how twi'lek's have died from the withdrawl associated with the inability to eat them every few days. “I hope that doesn't happen to me...” he added with concern upon his face.

Ayasha raised a brow as she tilted her head to the side, a hint of confusion upon her face. Vu'thari grinned and started laughing. The Knight playfully pushed his shoulder and joined in the cacophony of giggles. A moment later, the twi'lek held the apple up and took a bite out of the side. He chewed it rapidly, enjoyment clear in his expression. He thanked Ayasha and the woman nodded with a grin. “But now that I am firmly addicted to them...this may mean you will have to find more soon...”

The Jedi Master winked and the raven haired woman smiled. “You're in luck – there's a whole bag in the kitchen just for you,” she gestured toward the adjoining room.

Ayasha sighed as she leaned against the back of the couch, her eyes tracing the subtle features of Vu'thari's face. If this was what life could be like with the twi'lek, she would be content every day for as long as she lived.

“You know...I could really use this to my advantage...” the woman said as she placed a hand to her chin, pretending to plot against the Jedi. She shot him a sideways glance and then lifted her finger in the air as if a brilliant idea had suddenly come upon her. “They're yours...only on the days you do the dishes.”

Mirth danced in the woman's eyes as the pair erupted in a fit of laughter once again. It was nice to be normal for a change...to forget, if even for a moment, the pressures of their calling. Ayasha was thankful for the conversation that they had shared and for Vu'thari's ability to be vulnerable with her. She hoped, for his sake, that he would continue to seek her out as his place to crash.

THE END​

@Mithias