Ask Naboo To Lose One's Head

[Sola Zappal]

Sola listened to Quin quietly, watching Nyssa. She felt a strange sense of comfort standing here with the gualama and Quin- she didn't know what she would call him; she had never had a friend before. It also did not pass unnoticed that Quin made a subtle metaphor, and she wondered if he did it because she hadn't explained herself.

Suddenly feeling awkwards, Sola looked around the hangar, looking at anything but Quin.

@Sicadorito

 

[Quin Leonkri]

Sola was being awfully quiet again, and Quin had no idea what she was feeling or thinking at the moment. Once again he found himself looking at her, trying to get a read, but he couldn’t find anything except for how she seemed to be doing the exact opposite of what he was doing and was actively avoiding his gaze.

“Sola…” He moved in front of her, not too quickly as to potentially startle her or cause her to think that he was doing anything but trying to talk. Instead, he only wanted her to look at him, to tell him what was going on. Nyssa, unaware of what was going on in front of her, brushed against his leg as he did and he couldn’t help a small smile before looking back at his friend.

“How are you feeling? About… all this, I mean? I want to hear what you think. It’s fine if you don’t like Nyssa, or- or if you would rather be doing something else. I just…” He fidgeted on his feet. “Don’t be afraid to share your thoughts. I won’t judge. I promise.”

@Reylo4evr

 

[Sola Zappal]

In some part of her mind, Sola realized she would not be able to just stay silent in these sorts of situations anymore, at least not around Quin. "It's not Nyssa, I like Nyssa," she said. She was about to say more when she noticed Quin seemed almost nervous, shifting his feet.

She finally met his eyes. "What about you?" she asked. Both of them knew she wasn't talking about Nyssa.

@Sicadorito

 

[Quin Leonkri]

It wasn’t about Nyssa… but Quin knew that already. There was something else on Sola’s mind that she wasn’t telling him. She’ll reveal it when she’s ready, he assured himself, but he couldn’t help wondering when that would be. He stifled a sigh.

“I’m… fine. I just wish I could help you more is all.” He gave her a small smile. “And hear what you have to say.” Transitioning from being a Sith to a Jedi wasn’t an easy task, and as the one who’d convinced Sola to take it on… he felt partially responsible for her well-being. And that included communicating with her. Maybe it would help if he opened up a little bit, first.

“The past few weeks have been different. I’m sure you know what I mean.” He absent-mindedly scratched the gualama’s chin. “Normally when I come back to Naboo, it’s for a break from everything going on in the galaxy, between the Jedi and the Sith. It’s… kind of overwhelming at times, and sometimes I wonder when it’s going to end. But then I met you.” The Padawan looked into Sola’s eyes just then.

“You’ve shown that peace is possible. We get along pretty well, I would say.” He grinned. “Maybe others can too.”

@Reylo4evr

 

[Sola Zappal]

Sola felt as if a knife had been plunged into her stomach and twisted for good measure. Her mouth fell slightly open as Quin spoke. She closed it after a second and then it was her turn to shift her feet. She had the sudden urge to be completely honest, but she knew if she wanted this to succeed, she couldn't do that. "Everyone is different, what makes you think the other Sith would be like me? The Jedi and the Sith have always been at odds and peace has never lasted long, how do you know it will be any different this time?" she said in a sudden rush. "No matter which side I'm on, people will always hate me," she said in a softer tone, shifting her gaze downwards to look at her feet. In doing so, she met Nyssa's soul-piercing eyes and the knife in her gut dug a little deeper and twisted a little harder.

@Sicadorito

 

[Quin Leonkri]

“It will be. You have to believe it will. If no one does, then it definitely won’t happen,” he responded. At her next remark, Quin couldn’t help a frown from appearing on his face.

“That’s not true. You’re a good person, Sola. If other beings can’t see that, they’re— they’re blinded by their own prejudice.” Not really thinking, he reached out to cup one her hands in both of his own. “I don’t hate you.”

He looked into her eyes, wanting her to see that he was being genuine. Then he realized what he was doing and quickly let go of her hand, hoping that she didn’t take it the wrong way.

“What I mean is, I consider you a friend. Sith or not.” He smiled.

@Reylo4evr

 

[Sola Zappal]

Sola was just thinking that Quin's logic made sense when he said she was a good person. She froze, barely breathing. Sola Zappal, a good person? She hadn't been a good person in any moral sense since she watched her mother get slaughtered. When presented with horrible death at such a young age, she had never had the choice to resist her father and when it was too late, she had already immersed herself so immensely in the dark side it was near impossible to come back from that.

She barely noticed it when Quin dropped her hand as quickly as he had taken it and she wondered if he felt the sudden surge of panic and fear that rose within her, soon followed by anger. Anger usually led to hatred, but more recently, that hatred had been directed not at Quin but at herself. She had never doubted herself this much, or wished she had been different.

"You don't know me," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

@Sicadorito

 

[Quin Leonkri]

Quin sensed a change in the atmosphere of the room, and it didn’t come from him. Sola seemed to be drawing further and further into herself, and he realized that it was because of what he’d said.

Thinking about it now… she had a point. They’d only met a few weeks ago, that was all, and it was hardly enough time to get to know someone. But even in that short time, she’d shown him so much. In his wildest dreams, he’d never thought that he’d end up becoming friends with a Sith, let alone be saved by one. They were evil, he was told, and he’d believed it. Sola had proven the sentiment wrong.

“You’re right. I don’t know you,” he admitted, letting his hands rest at his sides. “Not everything. But I know enough.” His smile flickered. “You saved my life. That’s not something a bad person would have done.”

@Reylo4evr

 

[Sola Zappal]

Sola did not say that she had taken more lives than she had saved, and it would take her another fourteen years to repay the debt. She gave a weak smile and stood there awkwardly. The two of them were rather strange, Sola thought. They were either pouring out their hearts or they were standing awkwardly in each other's presence. It seemed this time, it was the latter once more.

For a minute, she wondered why she had saved Quin's life. She had barely thought about it when she did it, as if on instinct. Some small part of her found it slightly reassuring she wasn't entirely a monster.

@Sicadorito

 

[Quin Leonkri]

Sola smiled again, but this time Quin had the feeling it was a little more genuine than the last… even if she doubted it herself. Not knowing what to say after that, he would return to looking at Nyssa, giving her a smile as she looked back at him.

“You’ve been patient,” he said quietly. She nuzzled his hand again, walking forward as she did, and he realized that she’d been asking to be brushed this entire time. He went over to the table, found the brush, and made his way back. He could practically see the gualama’s eyes light up.

“Sorry for the wait.” He glanced at Sola too. “So. Anything else you fancy doing before I have to leave Naboo? We only have…” He checked the time. “A few hours left.” It was more than enough time for a little something else, maybe a nearby place she wanted to visit, some food she wanted to try. If not, he could start packing and enjoy the rest of the time they had together.

@Reylo4evr

 

[Sola Zappal]

The strange spell over them was broken when Quin walked away to tend to Nyssa. Sola blinked and swallowed. For the first time since she killed her father, she realized she wanted human contact, despite her better judgment. She took a deep breath and lied straight through her teeth. "I'd like to rest; I haven't gotten good sleep in a while," she said softly.

"Will- will I come with you to Yavin IV when you leave Naboo?" she asked nervously.

@Sicadorito

 

[Quin Leonkri]

Nyssa didn’t need the brushing for long thanks to the groomer, and pretty soon she walked off to her own bed towards the back of the room. Quin turned his attention back to Sola, who also seemed to want some rest. He could understand that— after the attack, he honestly didn’t feel perfectly comfortable going out again either. Some sleep would be nice, though unfortunately he didn’t have the time.

“Alright.” He nodded in her direction before putting the brush back where he’d found it. Her next question made him pause, his hand just above the table. Of course he wanted her to come, and she’d said she would, but it was only now that he wondered just how he was supposed to explain this to the Council, or even the Grandmaster. He’d brushed it off before while trying to convince her, but he couldn’t ignore it anymore.

“You can.” He looked at her. “But maybe not today.” He had a mission coming up, and he wouldn’t technically be going straight to Yavin. “I’ll let you know when, if that’s okay?” He hoped she wouldn’t change her mind because of this. It was just a matter of bad timing.

@Reylo4evr

 

[Sola Zappal]

No, it wasn't ok. What would she do for however long it would take for Quin to make up his mind whether he wanted her with him or not? She couldn't go back to her master for a while, and the idea of roaming the streets of Naboo by herself, even if there wasn't the risk of exposing herself to any would-be attackers, was not a good one.

Sola put on a tense smile. "Yeah," she said, before turning and leaving the barn, heading back up to her borrowed room in Quin's house.

/Exit thread/

@Sicadorito

 

[Quin Leonkri]

Quin noticed that Sola didn’t seem to be completely happy with his answer. Heck, even he wasn’t happy with it. But as much as he would have liked to, he couldn’t involve anyone else in his next mission on Thila, especially since he’d already been assigned a partner.

“I’m sorry.” He gazed at Sola, hoping that she hadn’t taken it personally. He always found a way to ruin things, didn’t he? With a sigh, he would head out of Nyssa’s room, on the way to his own to pack up. When the time was right, he’d get back to Sola and bring her to Yavin. He promised himself.

@Reylo4evr

//End thread