Her first clubbing ever.
Yes.
Ever since she moved to the barracks, she had been busy with missions and jobs. But she also had the freedom to try different things without having to go home with a worried family.
She heard of a club nearby and had been wanting to go there. Tonight was the night to try clubbing. Humming to herself, she fixed up her hair by braiding the sides of her head and back to combine into a half-ponytail. Turned off the light, she walked to her bed. The Mirialan slightly cringed at the clothes that rested on her bed. The woman at the store said women of her taste wear it but… it looked and even felt uncomfortable.
It’s just one time. How bad can it be?
She put on the top first. It was long sleeve and soft pastel color. The front was laced in. The mini-skirt was more of a soft natural brown. Even when she put it in, she found herself constantly pulling at the ends slightly when she walks.
She left the barracks and paused.
“Wait, what did that woman mean when she said women of my taste….” Her brows furrowed in confusion as she made her way over to the club. Pulling down the skirt every half step.
She got this. She got this. She learned to squeeze her thighs together and walk with her legs as if they were glued. The off-duty Mandalorian entered the club, the music was so loud! It vibrated every part of her body. The energy! It was hopping! Oh yes! Just like that, she had forgotten the awkwardness of the mini skirt and joined in on the dancing with no hesitation.
While this Mirialan cannot sing to save her life or anyone’s, she can dance.
A cream-colored landspeeder came to a gentle stop in front of the nightclub dubbed “The Velvet Room.” The door swang open and out stepped Savran Has, who was dressed in a pair of olive-green cargo pants and a matching reverse-v croptop. Their mane of multicolored feathers was pulled into a high ponytail, leaving the longest of them to cascade downward like a waterfall of cinnamon, canary yellow, obsidian, and sherbert green. Their white, red, and black kicks were the first to touch the ground, and they turned around to take Kerissa’s hand to lead her out of their ride. They held a pebbled leather handbag in their other hand.
“Ready, schutta?” they said with a playful wink, taking another moment to look the kessurian-ryn over when she exited the vehicle.
Kerissa took the hand though didn’t really put any weight on Savi as she stepped out. She was wearing a black mini skirt with a matching black long sleeved shirt that showed off her stomach and cleavage, as well as a small choker built in. Some belts and a thin chain were decoratively secured across the skirt to break up the black. Her tail was visible but it was tied around her thigh and secured with the golden ribbon she usually used to decorate it. The skirt mostly covered up the job, but without tights on today there was nothing to cover it more sufficently.
“No, not at all. I think I need to get dressed still.” Kerissa shook her head, amused but leading the way into the club. She pushed her hair back, white roots peeking out from underneath the pink. It was down loose, falling in carefully secured waves on her shoulders.
Savi waved their hand to dismiss Kerissa’s concerns. “Nonsense. You look amazing,” they said, sounding sure enough for them both. Stepping past the trandoshan bouncer and through the front door, Savi and Kerissa were greeted with the sound of music with a fast tempo blaring over the club’s speakers. Bright lights flashed overhead painted the room and all its occupants with a red glow.
The shani flicked their tongue out a few times to sample the air. It smelled of tabacc, alcohol, and sweat. Not to mention of a myriad of different species that Savi didn’t care to tease apart right now. One hand found its place on their hip as the duo stopped just inside the doors, earning them a long look from a muscly epicanthix as he walked by.
They turned their head to Kerissa again and asked, “Drinks first? Or dancing?”
“Hm… Can’t we do both? Grab a drink and head onto the floor with it. Or just grab some shots. I’m.. not picky about what starting drinks are.” The Kessurian mix chuckled, leading them at least out of the entrance area.
Best to not remain in one place too long while just hovering
“Sure, why not?” Savi answered with a smile, “I’m going to get something tall. That way I won’t have to keep coming back to the bar.”
They led Kerissa over to the bar and nodded to the chagrian woman taking orders. “Mark of the Huntress in the biggest glass you can find,” the shani said before looking to Kerissa, “What are you having?”
While waiting for their drinks, Savran looked around the club and stopped when they spotted a familiar face. Were their eyes playing tricks on them? No… it couldn’t be. “Sagitta?” they muttered to themselves, squinting a bit to ensure they were seeing clearly. It was Sagitta. And she looked hot, too. Not dressed in that stuffy-looking Mandalorian armor that there was no way it didn’t chafe.
“Well, well, well…” they said with a grin, thinking aloud more than anything, “Looks like I have someone for you to meet, Kerissa.”
“Tatooine sunrise.” Kerissa had informed, leaning on the bar and not really interested in looking around yet as Savi was. It wans’t until the Shani spoke that she looked round, noticing the Mirilain.
“Oh? You two know each other?”
She smiled, remaining leant on the bar and accepting her drink once it was offered to her.
Savran raised an eyebrow when Sagitta led by asking about her potentially being on a mission. They rolled their eyes, hard. “I’m capable of enjoying myself, you know,” they informed her, “But I could ask you the same thing. Didn’t peg you as the clubbing type.”
Shifting their attention to Kerissa, they smiled while taking their own drink. “Good choice,” they began, “And yes, we know each other from work.”
They took a sip of their drink before gesturing back and forth between them. “Kerissa, this is Sagitta. Sagitta, this is Kerissa.”
Sagitta leaned back with her arms across her chest. “Really?” She smirked, “With how serious you were, I didn’t think you were capable of fun” Sagitta teased as she went to beside Kerissa and ordered a drink.
A virgin drink.
This Mirialan was not drinking ever again. Then she pouted, “Come on, you really didn’t think I was the clubbing type? I’m insulted!” Then her pink hues glanced over at Kerissa. A warm smile as she gave her a little wave, “Hi! It’s so nice to meet you!”
She grabbed her drink and let out a soft sigh of relief when that cold drink hit. “You both look amazing!”
Kerissa nodded to Sagitta as she was introduced, noting the fact she ordered the non-alcoholic version but not commenting.
“Could say the same about you, nice to meet you Sagitta.”
She resisted the instinct to put out a hand to shake, but that was odd for the context here. Grey eyes glanced between the colourful pair and she sipped her drink as she straightened up. “Soo.. is this a friendly snarky relationship or should we be seperating into the night to avoid conflict here?”
Savi regarded Sagitta for a moment with unwavering eyes. Their tongue, forked at the tip, lightly flicked outward to sample the air between them. “Keep that up and I’ll show you exactly how much fun I can be,” they said in a casual tone, their eyes drifting down to their attire again. “Likewise.”
They averted their gaze and looked to Kerissa while taking another sip of their drink. “Nothing so dramatic, dear,” they replied, “Sagitta just likes to tease, is all, but there’s no bad blood between us.”
Sagitta felt the heat returned to her cheeks at Savi’s wondering eyes. Whew. Was it hot in here or was it because they were at the club? Her eyebrow rose and wanted to challenge Savi but she wasn’t sure of Kerissa’s and Savi’s relationship.
She a ho, but she ain’t a homewrecker.
Sagitta laughed as she shook her head. Savi explained first, “Right! Missions are missions. This is fun! This is life! This is a breath from who or what we are out there on missions.” She grinned from ear to ear. “Actually I am on a mission if you think about it. But none of them fit right now.” She groaned loudly as she took another cool sip from her drink. “So! What’s the story with you two?!”
“Well I’m glad to hear im not going to have pretend i don’t know either of you so i don’t get booted to.” The Kessurian mix joked, sipping her drink, “We met in a club. Kicked some kriffers where it hurt.. fucked. And then uh.. met each other in the gym on arx, sparred, fucked…” Kerissa laughed as she looked over at Savi, “We should stop doing that or we’ll have a pattern.”
A mischieveous grin appeared on the shani’s face when an all-too-noticeable flush appeared on Sagitta’s face. They enjoyed getting under the woman’s skin, and this was a far more amusing method of doing so than getting on their nerves, as they undoubtedly had in their previous encounters. They made a note to continue doing so throughout the night. Who knew? Maybe the woman would even find herself accompanying Kerissa and themselves back to one of their places after all this was over? A thought that amused the shani to no end.
Savi didn’t break eye contact with Sagitta when Kerissa explained the nature of their last two outings, not even when the woman erupted into a coughing fit from nearly choking on their drink. Two lips found their place on the brim of their glass and lingered there for a moment or two before they sipped again. Then, they looked to Kerissa with a giggle.
“That’s a tradition I wouldn’t mind sticking to,” they said while sticking out their tongue.
Sagitta was looking at the crowd while she drank and listened to Kerissa. It was an attempt to avoid Savi’s glare.
Then the drink caught at her gasp, sending her into a coughing fit. She waved to the bartender before her fingers tapped at her throat, “Water.” She gasped softly between the coughs as she started to laugh as well. “I mean…” Sagitta paused as she got some water and drank it down. “I’m with Savi on this. it’s not a bad way to meet. Especially if you go for it again, there’s something memorable about the first time that you just got to do it again.” Sagitta cleared her throat softly to help with the tingling. “Glad it worked out for you two. Sadly for me, I noticed it’s all talk and just…” Her eyebrow rose while her pink hues scanned at the crowd. “Boring.”
Well. Save for a select few. Sagitta mused mentally. Huh. Maybe she should try to keep some of the amazing one-night stand numbers just to call for a booty call. ‘No. That’s a risk. No strings.’
“This is my first time at the club. I LOVE the energy here.” She smiled at the pair, “I’m going back to dancing! You two should join if you want!” Sagitta grinned and winked at them both. With a skip in her step, she went straight back to the dance floor.
“I definitely didn’t say it was bad.” Kerissa laughed, glancing to the side at Savi. Well. That was that.
She wasn’t going to complain.
“Oh your first time? And you’re alone?” While she still smiled, Kerissa did straighten, letting Sagitta head back to the dance floor and only hesistating long enough to speak directly to Savi first, “First time on her own, we should probably keep an eye on her. Even if she isn’t drinking.”
With that, she knocked back her drink and headed after Sagitta onto the dance floor.
…there’s something memborable about the first time that you just got to do it again.
“Definitely accurate in my experience,” they said with a wink at Kerissa. When Sagitta turned to return to the dance floor, Savi watched her hurry off for a moment before leaning over to their kessurian-ryn companion.
“Agreed. And she said it’s been boring so far. Let’s show her a good time, hm?”
Following Kerissa’s lead, Savi quickly downed the rest of her drink. With how fast their species’ metabolism was, the drink would do little more than loosen them up a bit, but that was all they needed for now. They stepped forward, placing a hand on the small of Kerissa’s back as the duo headed to the dance, always careful not to touch her tail without her expressed permission.
Once they’d arrived and a new song began to play, Savi let their body move to the rhythm of that blared from the nightclub speakers. Their feet traced invisible lines across the marble tile floor, lightly tapping and pivoting while their hips popped and roll to the song’s upbeat tempo. With a laugh, they took reached out to grab Kerissa’s hands so they could pull her closer, inviting her to follow their lead. “Move those hips, girl.”
If she obliged, Savi would continue moving backward, never missing a beat in their dancing, until the two of them were closer to Sagitta, whom they acknowledged with a sly wink.
Sagitta was dancing with a male Nagai this time. When she turned around, she noticed Savi and Kerissa and gave them a smirk back before turning back around and continuing to dance with the Nagai.
“Water, please!” She asked the bartender as she smiled and leaned over the bar a bit to get the weight off of her feet. The Nagai didn’t work out either. Shame. His voice was so soothing. When the water was passed to her, she sighed with relief. Ah. Water.
Though alcohol was a bit tempting, she had been avoiding it since the one time she got drunk and hadn’t touched a drop since then. The fact that she doesn’t remember anything that night had her more wary. She wanted to remember things. Not that she can always remember everything. Her pink hues scanned the crowd. Maybe it was time for her to go home.
Or she could go train. She had gotten used to this outfit and it wouldn’t be that hard to train.
Kerissa certainly moved those hips. The dancing was fun, and she made sure the pair were never too far from Sagitta as her and Savi danced. Not necessarily just as those two. After all it was a club, but they’d always return as a pair after a pause.
Noticing Sagitta’s departure from the dance floor, Kerissa waited for the end of the song before giving Savi’s hand a tug and heading toward the bar as well. The Kessurian mix leant on the bar beside the Mirialan, breathing heavily but with laughter colouring it.
“You’re staying dry huh?”
Savi frowned a bit when they were pulled from the dance floor. But an agreement was an agreement, and they didn’t intend to go back on their word. Taking a spot next to Kerissa, they shifted their gaze first to Sagitta’s drink, then to the mirialan herself.
“Not a fan of alcohol, Sagitta?” they asked, watching to see how they reacted.
Sagitta heard Kerissa as she glanced over at her. “Well-”
Then Savi arrived as Sagitta pouted. Different questions, same meaning. “Wow, both of you.” Then she laughed, “One time I did drink I remember nothing about that night. I still don’t know if I did anything or what.” She frowned, “I didn’t like that. I want to remember. So yes, I’m staying dry and I am a fan of alcohol, tastes VERY good but alas.” Then she grinned at the two, “Satisfied with the answers, ladies?”
“Well, you don’t drink as much as you did that night then.” Kerissa laughed slightly, “Don’t learn your limits if you don’t beat them!”
The Kessurian mix swayed past Sagitta and ordered another drink from the bar, leaning forward onto it.
A part of Savi wished they could relate. “Many shani are known for their accelerated metabolism,” they noted, “I’ve yet to discover the limits of my tolerance.” And Savi didn’t have any intention of testing it tonight, either. Only enough to take the edge off a bit. Savi gave Kerissa a gentle nudge and a smile. “And where do your limits lie, Kerissa?”
The shani held her gaze for a moment but something changed. The smile faded. “I … need to use the refresher,” they said, giving both women an apologetic nod before pushing away from the bar counter. “If you’ll excuse me.”
Savi turned without saying another word and hurried off to the nearest refresher. By the time they made it through the door, their head was spinning. Their vision blurred and no amount of rubbing their eyes helped it. An incessant pounding forced Savi to lean their head against their forearms, which were folded across the sink’s granite counter. They didn’t sense what followed coming. Two blows landed on the back of Savi’s head and then the world went black.
Sagitta considered it for a moment. “You know what, you’re right.” With that, she also ordered a drink from the bar. When the drinks are handed, she grabbed hers and took a sip. Made sure to drink carefully this time.
Sagitta pouted slightly, “It would be nice to have that. You won’t have to worry so much after all.” Then her expression changed after nudging Kerissa. Her brows furrowed, “Are you-”
‘I need to use the refresher’
Savi left them before Sagitta could protest. Her pink eyes glanced over at Kerissa. “Should we check on her?” Sagitta asked. Not too long after, a large Trandoshan was moving through the crowd.
Kerissa watched Savi go, frowning. That was kinda sudden.
Maybe it was just the anxiety of her friend disappearing on them, or maybe it was luck, but the Kessurian mix was still paying attention when someone walked past with another someone on their shoulder.
Savi!
Kerissa went from relaxed and leant against the bar so suddenly pushing through the crowd of people. Being taller than most and in kitten heels as well, it made it easy to keep an eye on the also quite tall target. “HEY!”
She yelled, pushing her hand out but failing to really grasp the Force. She grimaced, hissing through her teeth but continued to just try and run, assuming Sagitta would either stay safe at the bar or be right behind her to help.
Sagitta was a bit startled to see Kerissa run off and was after the tall Trandoshan as she also followed.
She tried to use the Force to jump into the air but it failed her. With a frustrated hiss, she practically started to tackle people out of the way to make her way to the Trandosahn. Her eyes were focused as she wiggled through the crowd. “Move!”
As the two women forced their way past the crowds of people, the voices of people they pushed past began to ring out.
“Hey, watch it!”
“What’s your problem?”
“My drink!”
Both Kerissa and Sagitta manage to push through the crowd and exit the door. They see the large trandoshan man walking toward a speeder while carrying Savi over his shoulder.
Kerissa growled to herself, ignoring the yells and protests as she pressed through the crowd. Once clear and with eyes on the back of the Trandoshan she swiped her hand, uncaring of the eyes watching her and whipped the Force into action.
It followed her hand, crashing into the legs of the man. Savi hit the ground hard but it was a better fate than whatever the kriff was being pulled here. She kept moving, trying to get in between her friend and these schuttas. There was another, a glint at his waist drawing her attention. That could be a problem. Kriff. Kriff.
For Sagitta, the swell in the force was sudden and sickening. There was no light, only the honeyed grasp of the dark filling the space around Kerissa. It moved with her, as if clinging on before it allowed itself to be thrown out to the enemy.
Sagitta gritted her teeth. Her pink hues glanced around and there were people. Would they? “They are trying to take our friend! Help us!”
People got closer and one of them pulled out a datapad. That was NOT what she meant. Kriff.
Sagitta gasped when she saw that glint. “By me,” quickly said the Mirialan. She had her hand out and tried to use the Force. Instead, she was met with a surprise. The Force was sickening and dark, it took the breath out of her. She was unable to focus to summon a barrier.
Another trandoshan stepped out hopped out of the landspeeder after the first one fell. Reaching to his waistband, he pulled a DL-44 blaster and pointed it at Sagitta and Kerissa. “Don’t karkin’ move or you’ll wake up with a few more holes in you,” he said.
Once he pulled the blaster out, the fledgling crowd scattered.
The trandoshan shouted something to the other one that was now starting to get to his feet, prompting the latter to begin lifting Savi off the ground.
Kerissa didn’t stop running, flinching as the gun went off but breaking into the space between Savi and the Trandoshans. The one who had carried the Shani wasn’t exactly on the best side of her, she’d be surrounded, but she wasn’t allowing this to happen.
Fear clutched at her heart but all it did was fuel her reaction, the Force reacting as she slammed her palm to the ground and sent the pair flying back.
She looked around, stepping back face to face with the Trandoshan grabbing Savi.
“You’ll have to hit us first you ugly crumb!” Shouted Sagitta as she dodged the bullet as well and ran over to him in attempt to kick the gun out of his hands but was surprised at the Force which was tainted with darkness as she grimaced and held her footing.
There she was.
Standing face to face with the trandoshan.
“….Hi?”
One of the trandoshans went flying backward but the other maintained his footing. Staring Kerissa and Sagitta down with an unflinching expression. Then, he lashed out with a punch, throwing a blow for the kessurian’s face.
Meanwhile, some movement could be seen from the unconscious Savi. THey weren’t awake yet, but moving.
Kerissa felt it coming a moment before it did but it wasn’t quite enough.
The blow caught her, sending her stumbling to the side but definitely not out in any regard. She bore her teeth as she regained balance and pushed her hand toward the Trandoshan, lightning crackling and reaching from her fingers across the gap between them at the enemy.
Black veins crawled up her fingers.
Sagitta didn’t have time to react when the punch went for Kerissa. She froze and inhaled sharply when the Force Lightning came out of her. Her hair stood on all ends. Her heart thumped loudly against her ribcage. She watched the poor shabuir drop down and writhed in pain.
Savi.
Right.
Sagitta jumped over the body and squatted down to grab Savi and carried her bridal style.
The trandoshan that landed the blow on Kerissa’s face screamed in pain when the lightning struck him, causing him to hit the ground and writhe in agony produced by the woman’s attack. Loud gasps rang out from the small crowd of people who remained, who had backed away even farther, now.
“Someone alert the authorities!”
“This is getting out of hand. What is happening?”
When the lightning ceased, the second trandoshan took one look at the two women and b-lined toward the landcruiser they had arrived in, intent on making his escape.
With the first on the ground and likely to stay put if he had any sense, Kerissa tried to quell her rage. Savi was safe now but the darkness beckoned. It clung to her- to her anger. Drawing it out, holding it close. She’d not let slip like this in years, an old addiction coming back to haunt her but damn it felt good. It bolstered her, encouraged her. Be angry, let it out. They deserve it, they were going to hurt her friend. They already did dammit!
Let the authorities have this.
Her hand struck out toward the speeder, the lightning crackling again as the blackness crawled up its path, the tendrils creeping over her knuckles. It struck the speeder. She wouldn’t kill them. That was one thing the dark could never make her do again but they weren’t escaping that easily. Let the authorities find them.
It didn’t occur to her in that moment how she was just as guilty as the Trandoshans.
Sagitta saw the hand reach out, “Don-” She was too late as she cringed. Her arms brought Savi’s body tighter to hers out of reflex. Her heart pounded against her chest and she took a step back. They should get out. Goosebumps formed on her arms. Getting out while she was distracted was a good idea.
But she was Savi’s friend.
She’s a kriffin sith.
‘Who the kriff are you…’ Her pink hues glanced down at Savi out of fear. Mustered up what courage she had, she was trembling but kept her distance from Kerissa, hoping to reason with her. “We should go. Find a hotel and make some calls.”
The second use of Force lightning was enough to stir Savran awake. Groggy and disoriented from whatever was slipped in their drink, they strained their eyes to bring the figure looming over them into clear view. It was Sagitta. And she was holding her! “What the kriff happened,” they said, voice groggy. “And why are you carrying me, Sagitta?”
Looking around, they felt their breath catch when they saw the scene before them. One trandoshan on the ground, writhing in pain; a partially destroyed landspeeder, and Kerissa, standing there with an intense energy lingering around her. They could feel the presence of the Dark Side looming over her, not unlike what they’d felt during their spar a few weeks prior, but this was different. Unrestrained.
One hand found its place on Sagitta’s forearm, giving it a gentle squeeze while Savi returned their gaze to her. “Are you okay?” they asked, feeling the trembling of her arm. “Take a breath.”
They wanted to ensure Sagitta was okay before getting down and heading over to where Kerissa was standing. “‘Rissa? What’s going on, girl?” they called out to her, paying no mind to the small group of people watching the scene unfold. “Focus on my voice.”
“You almost got kidnapped…” Sagitta murmured and nodded when she took a breath. “Y-yea I-I’m f-fine.” But her eyes were focused on Kerissa, almost as if she was wary of her. Sagitta lets Savi down when she hinted to do so. When Savi went over to Kerissa, Sagitta slightly flinched as she remained where she was.
Kerissa was breathing heavily. She wanted to strike out again, she’d stopped the vehicle but the dark called for more.
Sagitta’s call had stopped her from another attack, the words registering slowly. By the time Savi spoke, the realisation of what she’d done was settling in. The Kessurian mix took the moment to focus, the Shani’s voice working well as an anchor. Kist. She took a step back and looked down at her hands. It wasn’t the worst she’d seen it but she grasped the edge of her skirt with them, as if trying to hide the evidence she bore on her skin before glancing over. Her gaze was far less wild than what Sagitta had witnessed moments before but Kerissa had enough adrenaline to not feel afraid yet. Instead, just an urgent need for away. “We need to go. I- I’m sorry but- Yeah.”
She let out a slightly shaky breath, looking over at the people. They cringed away from her gaze. The street was open still though and she started in a direction, hoping the other two would follow.
“Let’s get out of here,” Savi said, lifting a hand to massage their temple. Their head was still foggy, and they didn’t know how much help they would be if they encountered anyone else who wanted to do them harm. “We can go to the hotel I’ve been staying at while taking missions on Selen. It isn’t far from here.”
One hand moved to touch Kerissa’s cheek, and they did the same for Sagitta before hurriedly dipping down the street Kerissa began walking down.
It didn’t take them long to get there, not at the pace they kept. It seemed that Savi had no problem moving quickly from street-to-street. Once they arrived, Savi unlocked the door to their hotel room and stepped aside to let them in. Once they were both inside, they gave the scenery outside the hotel a quick once-over to make sure they weren’t followed. Then, they shut the door and locked it.
Turning to face the two women, Savi folded their arms in front of their chest and just … looked at them, unable to muster any words at first. Eventually, they asked the only thing they thought was appropriate at the moment. “Are you two okay?” they asked. They scrunched their face at the splitting headache they felt coming on.
Sagitta frowned as she watched them. Should she follow them? Stay here when the officials arrive? She could give her statement. But Kerissa wanted to leave.
She didn’t exactly trust Kerissa at the moment but Savi seems to do. Her pink hues glanced around. This was a mess. Then she was suddenly uncomfortable in her mini-skirt. With a soft hiss, she gripped the edges and pulled down a bit. Not that it helped any.
Savi can take care of herself. Sagitta doesn’t need to follow them. Someone has to stay to give statement anyways. Savi’s a grown-ass-
Sagitta stopped as a hand touched her cheek. Savi’s. This… was out of the world for her. Especially after what they had been through with Narcos and Snares. It snapped her back into reality and she obediently nodded. They got to the hotel and her eyebrow rose. Were they okay? Now she doesn’t know about Kerissa and honestly, Sagitta was a bit nervous to be in an enclosed room with a Sith but there was a friend in need and if Savi finds her as a friend then Kerissa, was a friend as well.
What a galaxy!
“Are we- Savi, really?” Sagitta started, “You nearly got kidnapped and I’m guessing drugged ‘cause I don’t see any bruises on you if he sucker punched you. My stars what is going on?!” Her hues went to Kerissa as well to see if there were any hints either one of them knows. “And I’m trying not to get out because-” She stopped. She didn’t want to accidentally hurt any feelings. Even Savi knows she’s not talking as much as she usually was.
Her body shifted and leaned slightly away from them both.
Kerissa saw the face scrunch so as Sagitta began talking she stepped into the bathroom and got one of the plastic cups, filling it with water. Her hands were shaking. The veins were receding now but the blackness was still visible. It’d be okay.
She stepped back out, meeting Sagitta’s gaze for a moment before crossing to Savi and pressing the cup into their hand before walking past to sit in a chair. There wasn’t a response she could give that would make anything better without just lying. And it’d be bloody obvious if she did lie. So Kerissa just remianed quiet, pressing her hands between her thighs to try and ease them. Healing wouldn’t help with this.
The walk back had given her enough time to consider the consequences. Hell it was bad enough she used it on someone but that was good reason. What the kriff was she thinking going after the speeder? There were cameras.
She was supposed to be better at resisting it now.
Kerissa bit her lip. In trying to save a friend she may have just karked up her safety here.
Savran lifted their shoulders in a shrug. They looked tired. Whatever it was that they slipped her, it certainly packed a punch. “It’s not the first time I’ve been kidnapped, Sagitta,” they said, “I’m fine. Thanks to you two.” They took a step back and leaned against the dresser to get a good look at them both. Neither of them looked like their normal selves. How could they, given what they had just experienced? Savi cursed themselves in their mind. How the kriff could they let themselves be drugged? Almost kidnapped? Maybe, they had been having too much fun lately.
Savi took the cup with a thankful nod, and brushed the tips of Kerissa’s fingertips when she handed it off. They took a sip and let the cool water rest in their mouth for a moment before swallowing.
“I think everyone should speak what’s on their minds right now,” they advised, “It’ll ease the all-too palpable tension in the room.”
“I don’t have any problems with either of you. Happy.. Well I’m okay to answer questions. I know there’ll be questions.”
Sagitta’s behaviour was obvious and familiar. It had been a while since she’d openly used the lightning like that but it was hard to forget it when someone looked at you with fear written across their face. More so when you were the cause. Kerissa’s voice was steady, despite her posture. She knew what she’d done, this was probably a better way to face it than it had been in the past.
‘…not the first time I’ve been kidnapped Sagitta.’
Might’ve as well slap Sagitta. Her jaw dropped as she glared at Savi. Then her hues went to Kerissa. She wouldn’t even look at either of them in the eyes. Then back to Savi.
‘Speak what’s on their minds’
“Oh. I will,” started the Mirialan as she started trembling. “Just because you been kidnapped before doesn’t make it okay for kriff sake! I’ve been kidnapped and let me tell you I don’t want it happen again and I sure as hell wouldn’t just shrug it off so causally as if it was the same daily occurrence as brushing my teeth!” She stopped to take a breath. “My stars.”
Her head turned to Kerissa, “And you. What. The. Kriff.” Her eyes glanced down at the black veins as she grimaced. “They were not there before. We would get Savi, I don’t give up easily and I have connections. What were you thinking? That Dark side isn’t something to be messed with! It’s toxic, addit-“ she stopped when it hit her about Kerissa’s posture and her face softened.
“I-“ she paused for a moment. Should she?
“I’m petrified of the Dark Side and electricity.” Then she bitterly laughed, “Kriff, going to be real here, I hate that have connections with the Force.”
“But I’m fine,” they said frankly. “I didn’t say it was okay. I would have killed them myself if I could. Made them pay for getting bold and failing to finish the job.” Sagitta may not have shrugged it off if they were in the same situation, but they did. “When you do as many missions as I have, this kind of druk doesn’t bother you as much.”
They took a moment to let their words settle for a moment. “That’s why I asked if you were okay,” they turned to Kerissa and gave her a concerned look, an emotion they seldom showed. Usually for them, it was joy, mischievousness, or desire. “And you.”
Kerissa didn’t look up to meet Savi’s eye, but instead met Sagitta’s.
“Well good for you that you were taught in the ways of the light. I was thinking about preventing my friend from being kidnapped. Not rescuing them.” She deadpanned before looking away again. In repsonse to Savi she just raised a hand and waved it, “These will go away by morning. They were over my knuckles when I stopped, already half way gone. I’ll be fine.”
Sagitta bit her cheek over Savi’s words. Was she serious? Savi doesn’t really joke. Of course she was serious.
But then Kerissa spoke as she scowled at her. She didn’t like the tone at all. “Listen, she-akk, I haven’t been trained either ones but to stay the kriff away. Maybe you should learn how to fight without depending on the Force.”
Savran rolled their eyes. “If you have gifts, you should use them,” they said matter of factly. “The Force is a tool. Distinctions between light and dark are arbitrary and limiting.”
They finished off the rest of the water before placing the cup behind them. “Like any tool, it can be dangerous without proper training. You both did what you felt you had to do to protect me, and I appreciate that.”
Kerissa narrowed her eyes, keeping her gaze averted but there was visible tension in the woman’s jaw and after a moment of trying to resist, even as Savi’s words worked to calm the tide, she snapped.
“Some of us didn’t want to learn to fight in the first kriffing place! I’m using what I have when I have to.”
Sagitta scoffed. Gift. Good joke. But she doesn’t say anything as she sighed and calmed down. “Of course, Savi.”
Sagitta opened her mouth but quickly closed it. She was using what she had when she had to.
Asani.
The day she got hurt.
And they both couldn’t do anything.
“I’m sorry.”
It sounded short and unbelievable. Until she took a deeper sigh, her shoulders dropped, “I’m sorry.” The Mirialan sounded more sincere.
Kerissa scoffed, too high strung to actually pay attention to the woman enough to see the truth to it. Too many thoughts racing through her head. If the Mirilan had targetted her over how obvious it was, or how over the top, she’d have accepted it. But the dark was all she had, for all its consequences, and she wasn’t keen to let Sagitta act as if she was better just because she didn’t use it.
Her leg was still bouncing, Kerissa finally noticed it and pressed a hand to her knee and forcibly hid the nervous tic.
Sagitta’s comm went off wildly. She looked down and groaned. She put her fingers to her lips and then answered. “Hiya Buir! Yes, I’m fine. Oh. They did? A video huh?” Then her tone changed to slightly more professional. “I can go ahead and give you my report. Sir. At 0800 I was at a club on my day off. Met a friend from past missions and another friend there. One of them got drugged and taken. My friend and I gave chase, sir. Yes, sir. Yes, sir.” Then she paused for a moment. “Sir, she had no choice. I didn’t have my weapons with me. Yes, sir.” Then another roll of eyes, “I’m fiiiiinnnneeee, Buir. I promise to bring my weapons every time I go out.” Then a smile as they disconnected.
“That’s done. He’s not happy with me for not waiting for them to show up to give the report but… it’s fine.”
Kerissa had visibly paled at the beginning of the call. A video?
The rest of the call was drowned out by the sheer panic. She could hear her blood rushing, her heartbeat. Her grey eyes stared off across the room still but were unfocussed, as if no longer actually looking at anything that was ahead of herself.
Savran shook their head and moved to sit on the bed, gesturing for both of them to sit on either side of her. “Come sit, both of you.”
If they obliged, they would begin by placing a hand on top of Kerissa’s own in the hopes of grounding her a bit more. They’d noticed the fidgeting, of course, and they gave her an encouraging nod. “The abilities you use feed on your emotions, right? Gives you more power faster, but it’s difficult to control. You did a good thing tonight. Just lost control this time, and I can tell that bothers you.” And it bothered her a lot. They would have to speak about that later, in private. Savi wasn’t normally one to pry, but they felt like the way things had unfolded tonight warranted asking for answers.
Then, they looked to Sagitta. “The Force can be scary, you’re right. That’s why it needs to be taken seriously. And I think we all do,” they reasoned, reaching up to brush a strand of hair out of the mirialan’s face. “But you don’t have anything to fear with m–” Savran cut their sentence short when the Sagitta’s comlink chimed. She answered it. And even worse, it was a video call. They instinctively recoiled when the holoprojector flared to life, standing up from the bed to ensure they were well outside of its visual field. The once affectionate energy they showed had run its course.
“Don’t do that again,” they said, sternly. “I don’t care if it’s your buir or Ashla and Bogan themselves. You don’t just take holovideo calls in a situation like this. Especially around people who may have enemies who could intercept the feed.”
They shifted their gaze to Kerissa, and sighed when they noticed the anxious energy she exuded. They stepped forward and knelt in front of her. “Can I help calm you down?” they asked, placing a hand on their knee again. “Remember what I did when we got food that time?”
Kerissa had remained in her chair but it was still close enough. Not that the closeness helped as she shook her head, eyes returning to focus but any calm that had begun, as reasonable as Savi had been being, had all been lost.
Kerissa didn’t have words for this one, she shook her head. Just.. needed a minute. That was all probably. Then she’d probably need to.. do something. Dammit.
Pink irises started at Savi for a moment then she sat down, her hand slightly pulling down the kriffin’ mini skirt. Again. The Mirialan made a mental note to never wear one after this. Sagitta’s jaw remained tight when the Shani talked to Kerissa. She said nothing, it was obvious that they were going to have a disagreement on the Force. Her body tensed when Savi was being affectionate to her. What the kriff? Since when Savi was like this? Then her comm went off.
After she was done, she scowled at Savi. Any gentleness she had with her was gone when Savi criticized her. “If you were paying attention, I was standing where he would only see me and,” Sagitta aggressively gestured to the wall behind her, “Wall. I was not born yesterday, Savi. And Buir happened to be a high ranking, so I got him off of our backs. It helped that it was shown to be clearly self-defense.” Then her pink irises glanced over to Kerissa. Then back to Savi. She shrugged and sighed, “He said the video is confiscated. They are using it to try to find the kidnappers. Afterward, they are going to discard it. Buir mentioned that they had enough eyewitness reports and my report. Whether Savi presses charges or not, there’s no need for video. If that helps you Savi, from getting kidnapped again.” She wasn’t sure if it would help either of them.
“Did they- was i in the video? Using the lightning? Did they get to it before it got uploaded?” Kerissa blurted out suddenly, her knee bouncing again.
She didn’t care if some cop saw her but if the video… kist. They were going to find her. Maybe not soon. But- they would. An image of her face was one thing, but the fact she’d used the lightning. That couldn’t be faked. They’d follow it. They’d use it.
The panic turned more into fear as the seconds ticked by, even as Kerissa tried to maintain composure.
I was not born yesterday, Savi. The shani rolled their eyes at the comment. She may as well have been, a thought that made a small grin appear across her face. “I don’t press charges, Sagitta. I’ll just find them later and kill them.”
Savran shifted their attention to Kerissa, who seemed to be the most perturbed out of the three. They’d never seen her like this before. “Kerissa, what is going on?” they asked, reaching out a hand to touch her hand. “I can understand myself, but why are you so bothered by the possibility of this video getting out?”
The Mirialan was prepared to argue with Savi about leaving it to their hands. It would cause more problems with the law if Savi does that. Then Kerissa blurted, more about the video.
Sagitta was honestly surprised about the blurt from Kerissa. Maybe herself or Savi since apparently, the Shani had a target on their back, but Kerissa? What was she hiding?
“Well, if their majesty allows me, I - uh - I can call Buir back and ask him?” Her brows were furrowed in confusion. “I would look more but I don’t have my datapad, it’s at home, I’m not exactly…” She gestured to her rather skimpy outfit, “Well equipped for today’s events.” Then she paused for a moment then sighed, “If it does get uploaded, Buir will do what he can to remove it, because I - eeeee -” She trailed off a bit. Wondered if she should tell them. She doesn’t know who they were and Savi was a merc, after credits. Surely, they wouldn’t deliver her to her father, wouldn’t they? “I have a target on my back and Buir is doing what he can to keep me on the down low.”
Even though I have the tendency to avoid that somehow.
Kerissa withdrew her hands toward her stomach when Savi reached out. Nothing Sagitta said answered the questions she’d asked. Which meant it was most likely yes. That she was in the video electrocuting a Trandoshan. That while it might not be shared yet, that their going to try to take it down. Well. If she was the daughter of a kriffing cop or whatever it made sense he’d take it down for her.
Though it’d probably be too late before copies were made. Shared. It looks like they were all screwed then.
“Looks like we’re all someone’s target.” Kerissa finally answered, swallowing hard after and avoiding both of their gazes.
This was supposed to be a fun night out, a way to unwind after all the druk that had been happening for the last few weeks. Savi should have known better than to lower their guard that much, especially in a place they were still learning. They hadn’t learned nearly enough about Selen’s major players to warrant the level of comfort they showed. Was their age and skill getting to their head? Making them too comfortable? No. They were just a pair of trandoshan thugs, likely hired by one of the gangs Savi had run afoul of since their arrival on Selen. There was no reason, no evidence, to suspect that it was anything more serious than that.
When Kerissa withdrew her hands, Savi hesitated and pulled her hand back and tucked it away behind their back with a cough. Had she been too liberal with her touches? Too open? They shook their head to dismiss the embarrassing thought, and straightened their posture before addressing both of them.
“It looks like we’re all going to need to lay low for a bit, then,” Savran said. They turned on ther heels and approached the small fridge to the left of the dresser. Fetching a case of six wine coolers filled with a lemonade-flavored drink, they popped one of the bottles open and took a large swig. “Might as well try to enjoy ourselves while her buir does what he can on his end.”
They didn’t say anything about Kerissa avoiding their question. That would be a conversation for another time, when they were alone. They had spoken about getting to know one another better before but Savi wasn’t expecting that to happen like this.
Sagitta grimaced thinking about her own father had placed a target on her back. What was Kerissa’s story? What was Savi’s? Sagitta’s eyebrow rose when Savi seemed to be more affectionate towards Kerissa than she had ever seen her.
Savi looked at both of them and mentioned they should be laying low. Sagitta glanced over to the door. Should.. she leave? Leave them alone? Maybe Kerissa was pulling away from Savi’s affection because she was here?
Neither of them had asked her to call her Buir. So she doesn’t.
‘Enjoy ourselves.’
Sagitta looked around the hotel room and gave her a pointed stare as if saying ‘with what?’
Instead, she looked back at Kerissa with a kindly smile, “It’ll be okay. You really handled yourself out there.” She was trying to cheer her up but it didn’t help that she didn’t know her enough. “This reminds me of a story that I read in Adventures of Sagitta. So! She’s this chickadee that has this awesome ship, not like the ships we have here mind you, but one of those old-timey ones. Actually, now that I think about it, there’s no reason for those sails… I guess she like decoration. ANYWAYS, so she has this enemy named Captain Crux, he’s a jerk and a meanie. Besides the point, so he had a bounty on her head, a really good bounty. I’m talking about being able to buy hundreds of ships and star destroyers and employ a lot of people kind of bounty. All because Sagitta, yes I know, I’m named after her, which is why we suggested calling me Gitta. Oh kriff, I’m going off track-”
She took a breath and tried to remember where she was at. “Oh yea, bounty! Okay! So Sagitta found out about this, and she and her small crew went into the holo world! It was SO cool! I’m talking about they could see the coding, the speed everything! It was WICKED. So they tracked down the bounty by using webs of connections, traveled through many datapads and comms and holos and managed to thrawt Captain Crux’s plan by taking down the bounty and reversing it to his head. It… didn’t end pretty for him.” Sagitta laughed before she cleared her throat.
A faint muddy red blush appeared on her cheeks. Great. Way to go and looking ultra nerdy in front of those two. “Uh, I think my point was that everything will always be okay. The Dajorran are on it, they are finding those two to put them to trial. As for if it’s been leaked or not, I really don’t know. You’re not… the first one to use Force Lightning. I’m sure there are more interesting videos with young… Siths,” It was obvious she was getting uncomfortable but she was trying to help, “Playing with the Force Lightning, so the video, if shared, may not get that much attention if any.”
Kerissa had mostly zoned the inane chatter out but looked up toward the end. Before looking away again.
“It’s not really that simple. I’ve been.. on the run for a while. Normal people can’t run away into another world to escape their problems. Sounds like a fun story but… Yeah.”
Kerissa got up, walking over to grab a drink as well before sitting down again, popping it open and taking a sip.
Sagitta’s cheeks puffed into a pout. Did she not get any of that?! Okay the story, she gets it. Kerissa has a good point but she was trying to talk about the last one and how the video may not even be popular enough. So what? It was just a Force Lightning against someone. Surely, there’s worse one including Siths Gone Wild using it as a kriffin foreplay for kriff’s sake
Not that she had seen all of it, huge turn off
“Listen here, Miss Pessimissy-”
“I prefer miss, on the run for ten years cause my family wants to mind kark me into a minion but yeah sure that works.” Kerissa hissed back, before taking a deep shuddering breath and sinking into the chair, putting a hand over her face.
Savi blinked. At first, Sagitta’s mention of the “Adventures of … Sagitta” made them wonder if she’d written a children’s novel, but the relevance became clear. Eventually. The girl sure could talk. In Savi’s mind, the notion that things would always be okay was a fantasy better suited for children’s stories. They’d lived long enough to see firsthand how badly things were for most people, how the galaxy had the tendency to break people. But they kept that opinion to themselves; it would serve neither Sagitta nor Kerissa to hear that.
Listen here, Miss Pessimissy
Savi had heard enough. they instinctively lifted a hand to place their finger on Sagitta’s lips. “Quiet,” they said with a commanding tone, and reached back to grab a drink so they could place it in Sagitta’s hands. “Drink.”
They turned their attention to Kerissa when she mentioned her family and their … plans for her. So, that’s why she was so worried. “I wish I would’ve known,” they said, “I would have picked somewhere less public for us to go. But don’t worry. As long as you’re with me, no one is going to touch you.”
Sagitta jumped at Savi’s finger at her lips, her cheeks flushed and she could feel her ears getting hot. Then Sagitta muffled a surprised yell as something cold touched her thighs. It was the can that Savi was trying to give her. “Kriff, Savi!” Then the said cold can was pushed against her hands. She held it.
Begrudgingly.
With a grumpy grumble and an obedient sigh, she popped the can open, tilted her head back, and drank half of it down.
Because kriff today.
“Youre the one who we just had to save.” Kerissa didn’t lower her hand for a few seconds, taking a slow breath. She had to calm down. This was ridiculous.
“I’m sorry. I’m just- I’m sorry. To the both of you. I didn’t say anything cause I thought that maybe I’d be safer here. And well. We haven’t really talked about that kind of thing.”
When Sagitta cursed, Savi’s eyes flicked down to her thighs. They hadn’t intended to brush the cold drink across them, but what was done was done. They gave her a grin and wink before turning to Kerissa when she began speaking.
Something about that comment made their face twitch, a momentary glimpse beyond the mask the shani had crafted for themselves. After finishing the last of their drink and setting it on the dresser with an audible clink, they narrowed their eyes at the kessurian-ryn.
“I would have woken up and killed both of them,” they informed her, tone biting. “I survived the Great Jedi Purge, you think I can’t deal wi–”
They had said too much. Dank ferrik. Savi grabbed another wine cooler, opened it, and took another swig.
“I know, Kerissa. And normally, that would’ve been find. But maybe we should talk about it. So, we can all know what we’re potentially dealing with.”
Kerissa frowned, looking at Savi. It was a small movement, a turn of the head and a glint of recognition in her eyes.
The great Jedi purge?
A moment later her eyes glanced to Sagitta, deciding to not pick pn that yet. Maybe whenever they spoke about this properly. It was a subtle reaction, but one all the same.
“Are we all gonna dump our shit then? Or just me?”
Savi shook their head. It was hardly a dump on her part, but they would at least share as much as she had. “I’ve lived a long time. Made a lot of enemies. So many that getting into the specifics isn’t going to help anyone,” they said with a sigh. “But since we’re apparently sharing our past, I’ll just say that I was a Jedi once.”
“You can’t leave yet, not until things settle down,” they said to Sagitta.
Kerissa looked to Sagitta. She’d said enough that more didn’t matter.
“And I am a Sith. Or at least was. I’m not sure if I still count. My family are cultists. They want me back to have the piece of their little game back. You’ve seen what I can do. I was always good with the lightning, even if I hated it. I was sixteen when I finally broke free of the tricks and illusions. Enough to get away at least. It took years to sort everything.”
She swirled what little liquid was in the can before downing it. “Both parents, a sister and three brothers. They’ve shown up more than once in places I’ve recently visited.”
Sagitta looked over to Savi with slight surprise. So she was a Jedi. Though she wasn’t that surprised. It was more of…. wasn’t Jedi more on the light side? Savi didn’t give out light-side vibes to her.
Then Kerissa started talking. Sagitta paused in her movements and wanted to be at least respectful to her. She felt bad. She just wanted to go up and hug Kerissa tightly but judging how she pulled away from Savi a few times who was someone she knew, she wouldn’t certainly accept a hug from a complete stranger.
Here she was. Someone who avoids the Force and in a room with a Sith and…. what was Savi now? Was there even such thing as ex-Jedi?
Kriffin’ Sands.
Kerissa’s family was after her too. The Mirialan knew how that felt though both had different reasons. Sagitta cleared her throat, “Ah uh… I’m sorry.” Then a small smile. Guess she should share something. “My parents are after me too along with three brothers.” Then she frowned, “Not sure about the sister…” She sighed as she was going to head out, “I’ll give you two the privacy you need.”
Then Savi chimed in and mentioned something about her not leaving until things settled down. Sagitta scoffed, “Make me.”
Savi despised those looks. Those looks of shock, of pity. Like they were something more fragile than they actually were. At this rate, they were going to break out another case of wine coolers so they could forget the big karking mistake they’d made by letting that information slip. Savran huffed.
“I’m glad you got away from them, Kerissa,” they said, “You didn’t deserve to live under conditions like that.”
Especially as a child. The thought of what her upbringing must have been like living under a bunch of deranged cultists made their blood boil. They were Jedi no longer but their disdain for certain flavors of … aberrant Force worship remained. “Well, if they show up here, then they’re in for a rude awakening.”
Sagitta’s parents were pieces of druk, too? They shook their head. “Same goes for you, Sagitta. They’ll have to see me if they want to kriff with you.”
When the mirialan fired back with a comment daring them to “make her”, Savi looked back at her with a look that could stop a rancor in its tracks. Then, a grin followed. “Would you like that, Gitta?”
Sagitta wasn’t sure how to respond about Savi threatening her parents. Kerissa? Sure. Sagitta assumed they know each other better. But hers? Just because they had two missions together doesn’t make them that close.
Sagitta saw the look as she glared right back and didn’t back down.
That was, until they grinned. It was that kind of look and she had seen it before. And Savi’s words after did not help.
Blood rushed to her face rapidly and quickly. She could feel her cheeks and ears getting hot.
She opened her jaw. Then closed it. Opened again, then closed and cleared her throat. How the kriff was she supposed to respond to that?! Were they coming onto her or…was this a trick to get her to stay.
Kerissa had shrugged to their responses, though her brow creased at Sagitta’s story the Kessurian mix had little to say in response to it.
Then.. Savi propositioned the Mirilian.
“Is this how you get all the girls Savi?”
“That wasn’t a no,” they said, voice softening as their gaze lingered on Sagitta for a bit longer, taking in the sight of a blush spreading across her pretty face. One hand moved to the woman’s cheek so they could feel the warmth across it. They turned their head just enough to see Kerissa from the corner of their eye. “I’ve found that directness works well for me,” they said with a wink. They paused to slowly roll their hips to an imagined tune. “Other times, nothing needs to be said.”
Sagitta’s buzzed brain was slowly processing everything. She slightly flinched at the touch and smirked at hearing Kerissa. Well. That was more direct and obvious. Sagitta wasn’t the one to turn that down.
Savi’s head turned to slightly glance at Kerissa as Sagitta’s hand went to her hips and grasped tightly. She felt the roll.
“Mmmm. Not bad.” Sagitta stepped forward and closed the gap between them. Leaned down slightly, her lips gently kissed the side of Savi’s neck.
The Mirialan chuckled at both of them. Her eyebrow rose, “I’m not that easy to tame,” purred Sagitta.
“I needed to shower anyway.”
Kerissa got up, smiling despite her mood at how quickly Sagitta went from petulant and angry to.. well. This. Quite a switch. The Kessurian mix did not have that kind of speed dial for downstairs. She stepped into the little en-suite to enjoy a nice long shower and hopefully finally relax.
The hand on Savi’s hip and the kiss on the kiss on their neck sealed the deal. Admittedly, they hadn’t expected Sagitta to take the offer at face value, but this was a development they could get behind, in one manner of speaking. Two hands reached back to caress the mirialan’s face and play with her hair while Kerissa made her way to the refresher. They all needed to relax, and Kerissa seemed like she needed her space. Although Savi would have preferred for her to join them, they respected Kerissa’s boundaries and her desire to be alone for a bit.
“Better make that a long shower, darling,” Savi cooed, continuing to whine their hips.
Sagitta exhaled softly and woke up quickly. Oh. Right. She was at the hotel. Her hues looked at her surroundings for a moment and she saw Kerissa sleeping on the couch. A frown formed on her lips. Kriff. Was she rude? Possibly.
“Ah. Kriff.” whispered to herself. Slipped out of bed, Sagitta started to get dressed. Struggled with the mini-skirt again, “I’m going to burn this when I get home…” She muttered before the Mirialan headed over to Kerissa.
Hopefully, she doesn’t mind being woken up. Her hand rested on Kerissa’s arm as she gently and slightly shook her. “H-hey uh-” Her face went slightly muddy red. Kriff. “I’m going home… so if you want something more comfortable, there’s the bed.”
When she awoke, one of the first things Sagitta noticed was the sound of rushing water from the refresher coming to a stop. A few moments later, Savran stepped through the door. They were wrapped in a towel, as was their feathery hair. They tilted their head at Sagitta upon noticing her. “Leaving so soon?” they called, shaping their features into a playful pout belied by a mischievous look in their eyes. “And without a proper goodbye.”
Kerissa groaned slowly, raising her arms over her eyes and shifting to press her back into the cushions.
“g'waaaaeey.” A series of grumbles followed, Savi’s voice drawing her further from sleep and after a few moments groggy grey eyes opened to glare around the room. “Could ya say goodbye withou’ me.”
Her voice lilted, in a far more Ryn like accent than what she usually spoke in.
Sagitta blinked at the accent. Well. She tried! Then she heard Savi’s voice as she laughed, “honestly with us randomly meeting up out of all places many times, I have a feeling we’ll see each other again, Savi.”
Her lips curved into a small smile, “So this is see you later.” She laughed gently at Kerissa’s comment.
“Yes we can say goodbye without you.” Kriff. Sleeping in sounded good but she has work. “Bye!” She opened the door and grimaced at the rising Sun. Kriff. At least home wasn’t far. The Mirialan stepped out and closed the door behind her.
Savi raised an eyebrow in surprise upon hearing Kerissa speak. Was that a different accent they heard? They stepped over to her and poked her in the shoulder with a playful grin. “I’ve never heard that before, Kerissa,” they said, “Been holding out on me, huh?”
They rose to their feet and walked toward the door to see Sagitta out, placing a hand on the doorframe while watching her leave. “I think you’re right,” they replied, nodding. “We will see each other again.” A final wave signaled the end of their time together, leaving Savi to close the door and turn around to face Kerissa.
“Now then, let’s talk about this accent.:
Kerissa groaned, “Nuuah. It’s nuthin’.”
She turned to faceplant the couch cushion again. The Kessurian was not awake enough for this. Her tail lashed in annoyance, coming to a hopeless halt over the edge of the couch.
Savi chuckled and brought their hand to rest on the kessurian’s back, gently caressing it as they hummed. “It’s definitely something,” they said, “I think it’s cute.”
There was the sound of her clearing her throat, though the lilt sustained despite the words losing the clipped effect.
“I’ll throw you again.”
A playful frown appeared on the shani’s face when the accent disappeared. “Don’t threaten me with a kid time, darling,” they quipped.
“A.. kid time?” Kerissa mumbled, raising her head slightly enough to peer up at the Shani.
“…I didn’t know you could do a towel hat.”
“… I meant a good time,” they said, sounding a little defeated at the slip of the tongue. “Maybe whatever those kriffers put in my drink is still affecting me. Let’s go with that.”
Once it was mentioned, they instinctively reached up to touch the towel on their head. “Wet feathers are a lot easier to bunch together. Just give it a few minutes, it’ll be back to its proper form.”
Kerissa giggled sleepily, “Does it defeat the hat?”
“That’s one way of putting it,” they said with a shrug. “It’s a good thing I don’t mind having one hairstyle because attempts to change it have been unsuccessful so far.”
They took a seat on the beside her and gently lifted her legs to place them across her lap.
Kerissa shifted, using Savi as an anchoring point to get comfier and hugging a couch cusion to her chest.
“It’s ok. It’s pretty. Changing it is effort. I dye my hair. It’s a lot of effort.”
Savi shifted their attention to Kerissa’s hair and ran their fingers through it. “You do a great job, then, because I can’t tell by looking at it,” they said. “But I can imagine that it’s a tedious thing to do. Why do you dye it? Just like the color?”
Kerissa melted slightly at the touch, somehow managing to sink more into the couch. The tip of her tail waved happily.
“It can be but it’s cute. I did it recently. Doesn’t take long because I don’t have to bleach it or anything. It’s white, naturally. You’ll probably see my roots someday.” She yawned, “I think it’d be worse to try and dye feathers.”
Kerissa’s response brought a smile to Savran’s face, prompting them to begin gently massaging her scalp with the tips of their fingers in between combing motions. “It is cute. The color suits you well. I don’t imagine dyeing them would be easy, no.” Savi wasn’t even sure if their feathers could even take artificial color well. Luckily, they had plenty of color in their hair, already.
Now that she was beginning to feel more relaxed, Savi decided now was a good time to address what had happened last night. “So, we learned a bit more about each other last night,” they began, keeping a casual tone while massaging the kessurian’s scalp. “Never really had much reason to divulge our history with each other before, given the nature of our friendship, but that needs to change if we’re going to continue hanging out. It doesn’t have to be now, but it should probably be soon if we’re going to, you know, not endanger each other.”
Kerissa sighed softly at the topic change. Even while the Shani’s fingers made her scalp tingle in a rather pleasant way, it was overridden by the thought of discussing it.
“I’d like to keep hanging out though usually.. Well. I should probably be leaving, honestly. I don’t want to bring my family here, not when I’m actually here for them to cause a problem over.” There was regret tarnishing her tone, a sadness there. “I’m happy to talk about it but I’m not sure how much it’ll change about that.”
Savi shook their head. “I won’t stop you if that’s really what you want to do, but you don’t have to leave.”
They moved both hands down to begin massage her shoulders, hopefully to relieve any tension that may build up as they spoke. “I don’t want you to leave,” they said, tone softening.
“I don’t want to either.” Kerissa said softly, “But it’s a risk if I stay. I…”
She sighed, “I’ll have to talk to someone about it. I’m in Arcona. I can’t leave as simply as I usually can. Maybe they’ll have a solution… I hope so. I..”
Whatever Kerissa was going to say next was lost, she shook her head, shifting to turn over and sit up, her legs still in Savi’s lap. “Are you safe?”
“Then, don’t,” said Savi simply. It sounded so easy when they said it, but they knew it was likely more complicated than that for her–to be pulled in two directions. “I’m sure they will. If the clan has measures for protect its members against its own enemies, I’m sure it won’t be difficult for them to help you deal with your own. And I’ll help, too.”
When Kerissa shifted so she was facing them, Savi met her gaze with a serious expression, amber eyes searching the kessurian’s face for what she was feeling.
“Yes, I’m safe,” they assured her, “It’ll take a lot more than kidnappers and a few cultists to change that.”
They paused–a brief moment of hesitation as they contemplated sharing more. “I’ve lived a very long time, Kerissa. Longer than you’d guess. You’re already somewhat aware of my work as a mercenary and the dangers that entails, but I’ve been through so much more. I saw the rise and fall of the Empire. Of the Sith. Lived through them both. I was hunted by the Inquisitorius … the original ones, and I lived. And that isn’t even the half of it.”
Kerissa frowned. It made sense considering they mentioned the purge earlier but… She couldn’t imagine living that long.
“I.. I’m glad you’re alive still but it doesn’t mean you’re safe. You aren’t immortal. If they’d have cut your throat rather than trying to kidnap you, no one would have been able to save you.” She spoke quietly, not quite meeting Savi’s eyes.
“You’re right,” they admitted, allowing a hint of remorse to ring in their voice to let her know that they understood the severity of the matter. “I let my guard down. Got sloppy. It won’t happen again.”
Tilting their head to the side in an attempt to catch Kerissa’s gaze, Savi moved a hand to her cheek. “I can’t promise that I won’t ever get hurt, but I’m safe. I’m a survivor. Okay?”
Kerissa sighed, still avoiding their eyes but leaning into their touch. Her hand came up, placed over the top of Savi’s. The blackened veins were completely gone, as if they’d never been there. When they asked okay, she did look up finally for a moment, nodding. It wasn’t much but at least they weren’t being cocky about it.
“Good. I don’t want to see you hurt either.”
Savi grinned and leaned forward to place a kiss on her lips, lingering there for a moment. “I didn’t know you cared so much, ‘Rissa. Here I thought I was just a friendly face and good lay,” they teased.
“So did I and yet, you’re worried about me too.” Kerissa pointed out, “You’re my friend. I think you could say the same about me.”
“I don’t give that title out to just anyone but yes, I can. I’ve been trying to be more … open to making friends lately. More than two hundred years of keeping people at arm’s length is tiring.”
And the truth was that they didn’t want to be alone anymore. They knew Master Jal wouldn’t want that for them. And they could have friends without letting them all the way in. Right?
“Two hundred?” Kerissa looked a little shocked. Obviously she’d known it was a long time but damn, “It’s a good you’re a Shani isn’t it, or this would be kinda weird.”
She chuckled with a nod. “Yeah, it would be. 281 years old. If it makes you feel better, I’m the equivalent of being in my early twenties for say, a human or similarly aged species.”
“Early twenties. If that’s the equivalent then I guess I’d be older than you in terms of.. biology? At least. Not by much. I’m 26.” Kerissa mused, trying her hardest to make a big deal out of it but definitely.. shocked. She was doing her best.
Savi nodded. “That’s correct.” They watched her careful with the same intense gaze they usually used, though not to intimidate as it was usually used for, but out of genuine curiosity toward how she was taking this information. “You can be honest about what you’re feeling, Kerissa. I’m sure it comes as a shock.”
“It is. But logically it makes sense. I’ll get over it before long.” She chuckled, “It’s not like its the biggest piece of our histories either of us have heard in the last day.”
“Hah, yeah,” Savi trailed off. It certainly wasn’t the biggest piece of their history that they could share. But they weren’t ready to speak about that with anyone. Not for a long time.
“It’s a bit ironic, isn’t it?” they asked, moving to twirl a strand of Kerissa’s hair around their finger. “A former Jedi and Sith, in a tryst? Sounds like something you’d see on a holodrama.”
Kerissa laughed ever so slightly, “It does doesn’t it? Though… I was taught. But I wasn’t…” She paused, gathering her thoughts.
“By the time they had me, I’m not sure why exactly but they didn’t do.. as much initiating. If I asked questions they’d just.. make me forget that I had. Or make me believe their answers even if I didn’t. It left enough gaps that I did work it out eventually. I was a Sith. You saw what I did yesterday. But I never really bought into the teachings of my own regard. I don’t think one of my brothers did either but he never resisted.”
Savran listened intently as Kerissa explained some of the details of her … upbringing. Indoctrination was more like it. Vacillating between anger that someone had done such a thing to their friend and relief that she’d escaped them, Savi felt the aloof mask they wore on their face beginning to crack. That wouldn’t do. They averted their gaze for a moment and took a breath to steady themselves. “I’m glad you didn’t,” they said, “The Sith are bad enough, but Sith cultists are even more twisted. Sorry about your brother. ”
“I think it worked for him. He never really keyed into it but they also left him alone. He’s the only one I.. wouldn’t worry about. Not fully. Though it’s been a long time so maybe I should be. I don’t know.” Kerissa sighed, “It is what it is. I’ll be fine, have been for a while and I’m in a better place here than anywhere else.”
“Do you think there’s hope for him?” Savran asked, continuing to twirl their hair around their finger. “Do you think he can be freed from them?”
They knew that if there was a chance that her brother could be wrestled from the control of the cult, it would likely take a lot of work and patience to rewrite the programming that kept him there in the first place. Freeing him the body was easy but freeing the mind was where the real challenge lay.
“It’s good that you’ve found a place that works for you.”
“I think there could be but its been 10 years. He.. was barely an adult when I ran. I was only sixteen. I wouldn’t say anything for certain.”
Kerissa sighed softly, looking up to meet Savi’s gaze, “Really opposite sides of the field aren’t we? Though it seems we still both ended up hunted so.. not as different as some would think.”
Savran nodded. They didn’t really know what to say nor did they feel it was their place to say more than they had already. Her business with her family was her own and, although Savi was more than happy to help if she requested it, they also didn’t think pressing the matter was appropriate. If she decided to go the route of trying to pull her brother from the cult’s clutches, then they’d help, without question.
“It’s an amusing juxtaposition,” they agreed, lips pulling into a soft smile. “Though, your reasons for having a target on your back are due to no fault of your own. You were just born into an unfortunate set of circumstances. Any enemy I’ve made is because of the profession I chose.”
The devil-may-care manner in which the shani discussed something as serious as having enemies with malicious intentions suggested a level of desensitization to violence that most people fortunately never developed. In truth, since as long as they could remember, they had always known violence in some form. Even their earliest memories on Tamoat, their homeworld, involved violence. It was as much a part of them as the Force was.
“…Which is why I said you didn’t deserve the hand you’re dealt. No one wants to be born into a cult, after all. But it does amuse me that we’ve managed to become … whatever we are,” they mused aloud, “Friends with benefits? That’s too crass a term for my liking. But the point remains. Perhaps the Force wanted us to meet for some obscure reason.”
“Its crass but not inaccurate.” Kerissa noted, smiling slightly, “They do say the Force moves in mysterious ways don’t they. I’m certainly not complaining this time. Who wants immortality when you can have kriffing happiness.”
She glanced over yoward the bed, considering before looking to Savran, “I don’t know about you, but I could do with more sleep.”
Kerissa’s words brought a smile to Savran’s face. They hadn’t thought of it in those terms before, but she was right; they were happy here. With her. The shani brushed her cheek with the back of their hand while stirring in their seat. “Yeah, let’s go to bed,” they said before looping one arm beneath Kerissa’s thighs, and the other around her back so they could lift her into the air when they stood from the couch.
They stepped over to the bed and laid her atop it, giving her the time to go beneath the sheets before doing the same. Savran released a content sigh while looking up at the ceiling and extended one arm for the kessurian-ryn to snuggle up next to them if she wanted.
“Sleep well, Kerissa,” they said, the last comment they made before eventually drifting off to sleep.