Ask Sullust Through Shadow and Flame

[Dr Ilana Morata]

Once again, he called her out, and she felt her spine stiffen. This time, it was she who looked away. She focused her gaze to the left corner of the table, mulling over her own words. It was the metaphorical door slammed in her face that made her gaze flash back. The frigidness of that stare was met, and she understood.

I can't stay here. There needs to be distance.

Shoulders firming, she felt the light brush again, but this time he wasn't looking away. She wasn't sure if it was a deliberate touch or not, but she didn't flinch away, nor did her own features react. But amber eyes burned in that direct stare, meeting the silvery gaze. Her hand tingled, and she crushed the reflex to clench her palm, leaning back instead However, her other hand lightly brushed over where that touch had been, still watching him for a beat longer. She closed her own side of the Bond quietly, allowing him his own privacy. She hadn't realized she was projecting so much, and she fought the flush that threatened to rise.

She hadn't even noticed the room was empty when she stood. At his words, she could feel that old stubbornness struggling to rise, and she stood firm. "What about the rest of my people?" she asked quietly, hands settling on her hips. "If there's so much danger, I can't risk them nor our patients staying in our camps. I don't need an executive suite to be comfortable, either." There were times she resented special treatment. As her mother's daughter, she was only granted courtesy by birthright. And now, it was the same thing. Courtesy simply because of status. In truth, she missed the days that she was simply Dr. Morata.

And he hadn't answered her question. True, it was asked partially in jest, but his reaction was clue enough. She was overstepping her boundaries, perhaps making him uncomfortable. She would have to put distance. Still... that brush again. It was only after that thought that she realized the place was empty, but she still hadn't budged.

@Sreeya

 

[Sevrin Valtiere]

Sevrin felt her withdraw slightly, and he was convinced it was because he was overstepping. He blinked at her, internally kicking himself for acting less than proper. He prided himself in the dignified way he carried himself, and he had obviously been too bold. His direct nature conflicted against the situation and it was a constant tug and pull.

The Sephi blinked at her when she spoke, and he didn’t miss the way her hands went to her hips. There was defiance in her posture and he knew she intended to be stubborn. Sevrin exhaled softly, silvers gazing at ambers. The cutting frost was missing from his gaze.

“The executive suite is located far from the shared barracks where the others are sleeping,” He stated quietly, “I thought it appropriate simply so you can truly rest without the constant emotional influx of a massive crowd around you. It was not for the luxury of the suite but its location. You appear as if you have not rested in days.”

Sevrin glanced away from her and towards where he knew the MorataCorp set up was.

“I was planning on patrolling around the clinics you have set up,” He paused for a moment before looking back at her, “I...can focus easier when you are not near me,” He admitted quietly. It was loud enough for her to hear but just barely.

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

The flush definitely rose now, tinging cheeks and tips of ears a soft pink as what he intended was spoken, instantly the hard line of shoulders and spine easing. Of course, it would make sense for him to consider her empathic abilities; relief soon followed, and she exhaled quietly, raising her hand to rub the heel of it into the bridge of her nose, grimacing slightly. "Of course. I... didn't think about that."

Thank goodness for that consideration. Now that he mentioned that, the idea of being surrounded by the mistrust of the Order continually peppered with curiosity and perhaps derision. She knew she should apologize, but not yet. Instead, he mentioned patrols. Lambent golden eyes watched, then widened slightly at his words, quietly muttered.

This time, she didn't hesitate.

Fingers lightly grazed against his wrist as she closed the distance, a touch that was light as a brush of snowfall before it withdrew. There was a slight nod, looking up into silver eyes. "...All right. Thank you. Though," she also glanced back, to where they came from, "I should probably finish my rotation if K'tarka doesn't scold me for it first." There was a quiet sigh, then a bemused small smile. "I just can't rest until I know things are stable. I doubt you've rested well either," and she cocked her head at him.

"What do you do when you can't rest?"

@Sreeya

 

[Sevrin Valtiere]

Sevrin’s eyebrows both rose when he saw her face flush. He had a feeling she wasn’t used to admitting when she had misunderstood something. The Sephi was too polite to make any jokes about it, but he certainly enjoyed the rare moment.

He glanced down when her fingers brushed against his wrist. He didn’t pull away, his expression softening when she did the gesture. She would see it as much on his face before he looked up again to find ambers staring back at him. He followed her gaze when she looked away towards her encampment, nodding in response to her words.

Sevrin glanced back at her when she posed her question. The Sephi pondered for a moment before answering, “If I’m not patrolling, I meditate or explore the area around me. While Sullust is not pleasant on the surface, there are beautiful caverns below full of crystals and cenotes,” The Sephi remarked as he stared off in the distance, “I wander around down there and don’t need a mask.”

The Sephi led her through the compound and past the barracks with the other soldiers and Jedi. Though she would feel a blast of emotions on the spectrums of rage and fear, she would also hear banter and laughter. It was as if people found little rays of hope even through despair.

As he walked up the stairs and towards the corridors above, the emotional barrage quieted down significantly. It was peaceful and quiet up here and the Sephi was tempered with his own emotions so it wouldn’t affect her too much.

He drew out a keycard and opened the door to the suite, allowing her to step through. The room was neat and clean with a large bed, a couch, a desk and a refresher nearby no one else had access to. Sevrin remained at the doorway, handing her the keycard.

The Sephi glanced at her for a moment. His gaze flicked past her and then back to her, “Well, make yourself comfortable. Do you need anything else?"

He stood there awkwardly for a beat before clearing his throat and stepping back.

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

Crystals and caves... her mind sang of a different place, where her life had changed. A cave malevolent with the Force, singing to the Ranger Rook and her with the Dark Side. But this sounded different. Peaceful, almost, especially without a mask.

With the softer gaze in his eyes, she wanted nothing more than to see that look again. There was a queer lightness in her throat, and she nodded along, following with light steps.

"I spar."

Her lips twitched into a faint smile, faintly amused. "Or garden. Being around plants... it's peaceful. I'm sure the crystals are beautiful as well."

The rest of the walk remained silent, but she kept herself open to the emotions of others. To feel what the rest of the Order here felt, curious against the rumors of Jedi. And she could say with certainty the Jedi weren't above feeling rage, pain, fear, even measures of grief. And yet this was countered with a symphony of light, sweetness, joy, and curiosity, Sevrin's own thread tangling into this web of emotions as well. His was subdued, but it was a silvery thread twining amongst all the rest, like a cool underground river she could sink into if she stood still long enough.

Still, in the room, she noted with some relief there was little interference. She closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. This had been the first real break she had taken since arriving here; she was almost worn thin, but seeing Sevrin well was a lightening of a load she hadn't realized she had been carrying.

She opened her eyes at his words, and put the bag down, turning to look at him to answer. But he was already stepping back. Again, the want to do something impulsive. The desire to close the distance. But was that gratitude, or something more? She wasn't sure, but she was too tired to check it.

She acted as though to sidle past him, instead one hand slid over his own, the other clasping it to hold it firmly.

"This is more than enough. Thank you Sevrin. I'll find a way to repay your thoughtfulness," and there was a brief smile there, worn, thin, but there.

But she had patients who needed her. People who had to have her around.

She couldn't keep them waiting.

Releasing his hand, she forced herself to step away. Every step away was somehow a bit difficult; perhaps it was the bed calling out to her, the refresher, or silver eyes. But she had to finish her work. She never did anything half-assed.

---

The last three hours both flew and dragged by. She ignored stares and the pointed suggestions of her staff until the last minute ticked off. "Let second shift take over," she ordered to the remaining staff. "I need everyone rested and fresh for the day shift. Idria, keep me in contact if there are any changes in status. We're nearing the end, people."

Turning away before anyone else could offer applause or words, she could only think of the refresher and sleep. However, after a long cleansing and splayed out on the bed, her mind was churning. Thoughts of Corran, of Silvi, of the vaccine, of all the casualties and crises going on. Buzzing and needling until she couldn't take it anymore.

Standing, she shrugged into a black tank top and leggings, pulling her hair into a low ponytail. The air was still cooler against hair and skin that was still slightly damp; it would keep her cool until warming up, at least. And since this was a corporate building, surely there would be a gym somewhere with the basics.

Seven floors later, she found it tucked in a small corner, seemingly empty of all but the essentials, including a curiously empty space that reminded her of a dojo mat and a punching bag.

She began to warm up with stretches, eyeing the bag in contemplation.

It would be a minute later when the air would be filled with the sounds of rhythmic punching and kicking.

Thmp, thmp. Clnk. Thmp thmp, clnk. She began losing herself into the rhythm, amber eyes narrowed in focus. Blind to almost everything else around her.

@Sreeya

 

[Sevrin Valtiere]

Sevrin wasn’t the nagging type. When they parted ways and he saw Amariel get right back to her shifts despite being tired, he kept to his patrols. Every now and then his thoughts wandered and lingered during the quiet hours. Silver gaze stared up at the smog-filled atmosphere, his face hidden behind a mask. He glanced down at his wrist and hand, recalling every touch and brush. His eyes narrowed as he quickly looked away, chiding himself for thinking like some idiotic teenager.

Luckily the patrol was uneventful and there had been no attacks. At some point he did a rotation down in the tunnels again, putting another Jedi on patrol near the clinic. The hours passed by quickly enough and Sevrin emerged from the tunnels again. He had been on the later shifts today and decided he would unwind before retiring for the night.

Sevrin needed to clear his thoughts and training and meditation usually allowed that. The Sephi changed and dressed into comfortable clothing, hearing nothing but silence all around him. He knew almost everyone else was asleep save for the Jedi or soldiers taking shifts on patrol.

The Sephi grabbed his water and saber before making his way down to the exercise area. Sensitive ears could hear the rhythmic sounds of a punching bag being hit repeatedly. Sevrin’s eyebrows furrowed slightly but he kept walking.

“Back at it again, Kartos?” He called out as he rounded the corner to step into the doorway. His eyes widened in visible shock as he realized it wasn’t his usual late night training Jedi friend. Sevrin blinked a few times.

The Sephi was adorned in a black tank that revealed sinewy arms and formed over the corded muscles of his torso. The pants were also black, but more loose fitting. His hair was tied up in a neat bun. He was normally not in the habit of dressing down around others. It had taken him a while to do so even around Kartos. His gaze flicked over Amariel’s state of attire as well. Sevrin turned away as if to leave, but he paused.

He stepped into the room and set the bottle of water down, looking at Amariel with a glint in his eye, “Care for a spar?”

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

Vaguely, she was aware someone else had spoken up when entering the room, and she felt a flicker of disappointment in her chest. She relished having the space to herself, especially since she could better focus on her problems without someone approaching her and disrupting her rhythm. However, the shock and surprise gave her a moment's pause, before she continued.

However, it was when the voice came closer that it prickled her back into awareness. This time she did stop, turning on one heel with visible surprise also flaring to life in her eyes. The surprised look quickly vanished, until her own eyes filtered what he was wearing. She recalled his reticence in Vidalis of removing clothing, and how careful he was with his own appearance. Her gaze panned over him for a moment, before meeting silver eyes. This wasn't like Starfall. This man had likely trained far longer than she had. Still, the challenge was tantalizing, and it would give her the distraction she needed to keep her mind off the massive galactic troubles. She didn't miss the glint in his eye, and a quiet voice whispered in the back of her mind if it was a wise idea.

She nodded once, instead picking up her water bottle to take a quick swig. It also gave her the excuse to pause, taking in more details of him before replying.

"Certainly. You've arrived at the right time, any later and I would have left for the night." Though her lips hadn't twitched nor her features shift especially, there was no denying there was an answering glimmer in amber eyes.

Setting the bottle down, she padded over to the empty space. Likely, Jedi either meditated or trained here, but she wasn't going to turn down an offer to a spar. She was intrigued and curious.

Once they got to standing and preparing, she didn't wait. Lashing forward with a light jab to the left ribs, she would leave her body angled to prevent being a larger target, prepared to move back should he try to grab at her in retaliation or hit.

@Sreeya

 

[Sevrin Valtiere]

Sevrin almost considered telling her to go to sleep instead if she were tired. However, he saw that glint in her eye and knew there was no going back now. He flexed his fingers and tightened up the glove wrappings, taking care to be gentle over the burns. Sevrin came to stand before her, pushing all distracting thoughts aside.

“I won’t cheat,” He said simply, amusement in both his eyes and tone.

She began at once, swinging in towards his left and at the ribs. The Sephi moved quickly, his right arm coming up to swipe clockwise to shove the incoming strike out of the way. This allowed him a pivot on his right foot and for his left hand to come in to strike towards her own right ribs under the arm he swiped.

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

A light huff of amusement slipped past her lips at his own words; almost without conscious thought, amber eyes glinted with the faintest touch of a smile on her lips at the easy block. She allowed her arm to be shoved to the side, leaving her right side relatively open.

Sliding forward with her left leg past the right, instead of batting his blow aside as most would, she turned her center of mass to the left to avoid most of the power with the strike, instead allowing her left hand to lightly grip his wrist and guide his own forward momentum against him, in aim to propel him forward and perhaps off balance. However, some of the strike did hit, earning a faint grunt as she moved. As she suspected, he held strength coiled within that build that was more than the Force.

However, amber eyes glittered with amusement. Even if she lost, it was a game, a dance of back and forth, and she was intrigued what she would learn from the Jedi next.

@Sreeya

 

[Sevrin Valtiere]

Sevrin was genuinely impressed by her quick reaction, and he felt his strike only brush against her instead of a full hit. He felt her tug him towards his trajectory, attempting to shove him off balance. He planted his left foot forward to keep from toppling.

However, he whirled around and attempted to sweep her with his leg while yanking his own arm towards himself. The result would be her torso moving forward while his foot swept hers from beneath her. At the same time, he tilted his wrist so the side of it faced where her thumb layered above her other fingers.

If the attempt worked, she would topple down on her face and his wrist would be yanked free at the same time.

Like her, it was clear he was genuinely enjoying this. He took care not to use the Force to enhance him in any way.

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

One of the many things she had to learn when she first started to spar for survival was how to fall. Landing on her face could be painful, and at times it could even be disorienting. She had no problem with losing or falling; you learned. Her natural instinct would have been to simply release her grip and backpedal a step, however, something made her pause a moment.

From him, she felt a genuine surge of emotion, perhaps not quite surprise, but... was he impressed? Amber eyes widened a moment before she felt her legs swept out from under her, his arm yanking her forward. Releasing his wrist, she tucked down into her right shoulder and instead rolled, legs lashing out to also sweep his own feet out from under him as she would attempt to alight back on her own feet.

Most would have been chagrined at losing their feet, but a quiet spark of excitement rose, glittering in her eyes and mouth, through their Bond. She was enjoying this just as much, excited at the challenge and the next step. As before, the rest of the world faded away. It was just her and him, and the next blows, the next natural step in the dance.

@Sreeya

 

[Sevrin Valtiere]

Sevrin had been expecting her to get caught off guard or scramble something to quickly catch herself from falling. However, she instead decided to weaponize that fall. Her legs swept in as she took that tumble and looped around his own to sweep him. There was a flash of surprise as he moved, but he acted purely on instinct and without thinking.

His arm was freed now and he felt himself losing his footing. He quickly jutted that arm out as he fell, looping around Amariel’s torso to get a hold on her. Sevrin twisted his body as he fell, bodily whirling Amariel around as she fell to slam her to the mat on her back. He had done exactly what he would have done if he and Kartos had been sparring.

Their legs were still caught from her tripping him and this was intended to completely throw off her attempt at a recovery from the sweep to her legs.

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

A quiet gasp caught in her throat at an arm around her waist, and she would have let out a soft laugh but the impact to the mat forced her to expel breath from her lungs hard to attempt to avoid the air being knocked out of her lungs. Her ribs ached with the impact, and it was hard to catch her breath.

She attempted to buck to disentangle her legs, her right hand lashing palm out to his left shoulder while the left jammed hard towards the solar plexus. The intent was to hopefully wrap her legs around his waist and get the advantage once again, forcing him to move so she could roll to being on top.

However, a smile hovered on full lips, and amber eyes glittered brightly.

@Sreeya

 

[Sevrin Valtiere]

Sevrin had just begun to open his mouth to apologize for the rough way he acted on instinct. However, she paid him back in kind by lashing out with a counter of her own. The strike at his shoulder wouldn’t have been enough to make him budge, but it was combined with a strike to the solar plexus. It resulted in a sharp exhale and allowed her the leverage needed to roll him over.

The Sephi glanced up in surprise as she looked down at him from her new perch, “Surely they don't teach this in med school,” He quipped, that amused glint still in his eye. Instead of rolling to the side, with her legs around his waist, he pushed off with the legs he had planted on the mat. He flipped them both entirely in a backwards somersault that ended with her once again pinned on the mat.

Sevrin looked down at her, a few strands of his hair having come loose. Silver eyes were alive and vibrant, the corners of his lips upturned slightly towards a smile, “I’d say we’re even now,” He stated smugly from where he was.

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

She could only savor the success for so long, but the view was certainly nice. His quip made her chuckle, a rare, quiet sound. "No--" she managed, bracing herself for the inevitable. He had longer legs and further reach. This close, he had the better advantage, but at this point, she didn't care.

Once more, she was pinned and better prepared. The breath left with less force, and her continued words. "This was necessary to keep thugs from pinning me," she murmured, but at his smug words, a challenge glinted in amber eyes. Tsk, his hair was coming undone. A mental image she would recall for a long time, and that elicited a quirk of her lips. Still, a flicker of mischief flared to life.

Surrendering was possibly wise, but the Arkanian offshoot didn't really grasp the concept of surrender easily. She had to change tactics. "Oh, are we?" came the quietly amused reply. "I suppose so..."

One leg disengaged, she pressed her knee against his stomach, not hard enough to bruise, but hard enough to create some distance once again, and attempt to scoot away to regain some distance again. It wasn't graceful, but it would do. A few strands of white had also started to come undone, a light sheen of sweat dusting her nose and forehead and a tinge on her cheeks from the effort. It had been a while since she'd had a sparring partner that didn't swing from the ceiling and talked back. She wasn't ready to just quit just yet, this was getting fun.

@Sreeya

 

[Sevrin Valtiere]

There was a flicker of anger the moment she mentioned thugs attempting to pin her. It was enough to cut through the shared thread they had and it escaped him before he could stop it. The Sephi could only hope that she would be too engrossed in the spar to notice. He had been distracted by the sound of her chuckle earlier and lowered his mental defenses as a result.

Sevrin noticed that her hair was also coming undone, reminding him briefly of how he preferred it. The Sephi forced his thoughts back to the fight, feeling a rush of adrenaline from the exercise. He heard her utter words that sounded like conceding, and he prepared to gloat in response.

She moved quickly after and he could feel her shift beneath him. The knee barely managed to come up before he hooked an arm beneath it to lock her leg in place at his side with him positioned inside of it. This meant she was effectively stuck with his arm keeping her leg hooked and her beneath him. He held himself up with his other arm.

Sevrin flashed a half grin down at her, “Think I’m going to let you try the same trick twice?” He didn’t forget the pain from the blow to the solar plexus earlier. He wasn’t going to let any jabs come easily to his center torso. Sevrin stared down at her, all too keenly aware of the way her face flushed “Give up yet?”

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

She considered struggling, but that would be a waste of energy. She had been entirely engrossed in the tangle, in trying to get the upper hand to notice the compromising position they were locked into. However, the anger flickered, and its' echo hummed along the strings of her awareness. An echo that sang of the inner thoughts of the Sephi that loomed over her.

For a moment, a flicker of heat sparked to life.

He looked ready to gloat, triumphant in his victory. The half-smile burned into memory, the warmth of silver eyes burning into memory as bright as the sun flash against a Nubian ship. "Wouldn't have hurt to try," she replied quietly, quirking a white brow. Still... being in this position, she became acutely aware that if anyone walked in, how it would look. Instead, she made as though to relax against his grip.

Her fingers slid against his arm, lightly resting on his shoulder. Admitting defeat would be the easier way out.

"I concede, Sevrin. You've got me."

This was dangerous. She hadn't denied an attraction before; in a previous life, she would have leaped for the opportunity, she wouldn't have hesitated. Amber eyes, for a moment, flicked down to his lips, to the half-grin before back up...

And then she tapped her hand to his chest, and a wicked smirk touched the corners of her lips. "Is what I would have said, but you left yourself open. You would have been dead if I was armed." However, even through the Force, he would know there was no heat to the words. She was teasing him. He won fair and square, but she had to have her brief bit of fun before the weight of the galaxy would come rushing back in again.

@Sreeya

 

[Sevrin Valtiere]

Sevrin was prepared to hear the surrender, but he was caught off guard by the brush of her fingers against his arm and shoulder. The chilling touch on the surface of his warm, bare skin was fire that streaked deep below and channeled through his body in one giant pulse. Externally he kept his calm demeanor save for the way his ears twitched.

He heard her concede, and that fire from the touch still burned in him and ignited back behind the silvers. It was easier to see with him so close, a burn that was unique to the frosty way his gaze bore into hers. It was intense in its own way, it just required reading him to see it.

Sevrin had been gazing into the amber eyes and caught them flicking down towards his lips and then back up. For a moment he didn’t care how she intended her words as he abruptly flipped over so she was on top again. He released her leg, but the Force tugged away at the tie that kept her hair up. This released the silvery strands like a cascade as she would come up in that straddled position.

“I believe I can think of ways to disarm you,” His baritone voice rumbled as he gazed up at her, hair just how he liked it. His hand came up to press against her spine and almost moved up, applying just the right amount of pressure to where it was clear this had nothing to do with the spar. However, that was when he realized what he was doing. Sevrin’s eyes widened and he quickly withdrew his hand away.

“I…” He looked away and decided to let her get up as it would have been worse if he tried to help, “I’m so sorry. I'm truly ashamed for being out of line,” He muttered awkwardly. He reached over, grabbed her hair tie and extended his hand to give it to her while his head was tilted to stare at the opposite wall. He had likely made her incredibly uncomfortable and was internally kicking himself a million times over.

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

The spark of heat that answered in him might not have been noticed, but spending this amount of time seeing Sevrin, learning, meant some cues were picked up over time of his true emotional state, regardless of the Bond. His ears twitching gave away, as well as the warmth of his hand sliding over her spine. She leaned over him, lips parting at the words. Her palm pressed against his chest, feeling the warmth, the pulse through the thin fabric.

I believe I can think of ways to disarm you.

Quiet words, that she would have leaned into to close the distance... but his sudden reaction was like a dose of cold water. She hadn't even noticed her hair had been slipped of her ponytail. Her hand reached up, and she blinked.

He looked away. For some reason, she felt a flicker of frustration flare to life, before she could really temper it. One hand planted on the ground next to his head. The other lightly touched his chin, a suggestion to stare at her, to meet her eyes levelly. She wasn't shy, flinching back. He was already beating himself up for their circumstances before she could react, but it had to stop.

When his gaze would lock on her own, her voice was low, intense.

"Don't apologize for being honest," she spoke quietly, amber eyes blazing. "You're fine. If you had gone too far, I would have stopped you."

With that, she released him, but instead of stepping away, she stood and offered down her hand to him. "How about a round two? Perhaps this old physician can try to kick your ass." Though she was no longer smiling, her eyes weren't condemning nor punishing. He would do that for himself, but she couldn't deny it...

She wasn't entirely sure if she could say no. She was both slightly relieved, and bitterly disappointed.

@Sreeya

 

[Sevrin Valtiere]

Sevrin was surprised to feel the touch against his chin, but his head tilted back to face the ambers again. Silver gaze was more prominent than ever, a fire gleaming in the normally placid and cold gaze. He had to keep his eyes on hers, though he also wanted to take in sight of the way those silvery strands fell over her shoulders. The very tips of her hair brushed against his skin, and he was all too aware of her weight pressed atop him.

He remained silent as he saw the flux of emotions arrive and leave from her face. There was intensity, and then abruptly disappointment, frustration and other things that only somewhat poked at the thread they shared. Sevrin took the proffered hand but used his other hand to push himself up. The Sephi was back to towering over her again.

Sevrin brought his water over to take a sip from it as she asked about round two. He put the top of the bottle back on before setting it aside, tilting his head to look at her. Several strands of his hair hung loosely at the sides of his face now, that same fire still in his eyes though he tempered it.

“Would you?” He asked quietly as he remained standing where he was, “Would you stop me?”

@Killa Ree