Ask Kashyyyk Buckets of Water

[Clove Vanhoop]

---

Altair's entire demeanor had changed, and she could see how his smile hadn't reached his eyes. And yet she couldn't blame him because she knew she was acting differently as well, how her own eyes lacked the usual happiness they carried and how she struggled to look at him for more than a second without her chest stinging. Everything had changed, and nothing could undo what had been said. But she chose this, just as she had chosen her life as a Jedi, and she could only hope he meant what he said. So she was going to pull through.

Somehow.

Thankfully, she didn't have to look at him as she rewrapped both of her hands around the steering wheel. She had a good reason not to! She needed to drive. And the moment she let the engine roar, the Force lost hope for their stew and the starving Wookiees. "Don't worry, I'm not going to let this stew ruin my armor!"

Clove, to her credit, was genuinely trying her hardest to drive as well as she could. To someone skilled, she still looked like drunken maniac driving through Coruscant's night district, but she managed to avoid the trees in an area devoid of trees, and not turn the stew into a raging ocean. Altair's voice caused her ears to flutter slightly, suggesting that she was paying attention to him. Then they flattened, suggesting how much she regretted hearing those words.

She glanced over her shoulder at Altair with a look that could only be described as shame, anger, and amusement all rolled into one, while slightly slowing down the speeder. "YES! They decided to communicate via an open channel, so I heard the ordeal live on my commlink! Then I noticed it was being recorded and broadcasted. Live!" Clove sighed and rolled her eyes. "Being the stupid wet cabbage that I am, I decided to jump into the open channel and beg them to land or cooperate with the ISC. But, alas. You know what they said, Altair?!" If she didn't have to hold the steering wheel, she'd be throwing her arms in the air. "That they did not want to listen to a child. A child! The girl's younger than me!"

For a brief moment, she was deafeningly quiet, her gaze fixed on the path. "So, I reported them."

---

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Tag @Sreeya ​

 

[Altair Din]

Altair was a bit skeptical of her comments when she began to drive. He had to make a conscious effort to keep the stew from spilling over, and he regretted not ladling some of it out before the journey. The tiefling opened his mouth to give some suggestions on her driving, but he had the feeling that would cause her to turn to argue with him and crash them both. He focused all his energies on keeping the lid firmly placed, every little jerky turn sending some of the contents oozing out the side.

He was relieved when Clove answered his question and slowed down her driving. Altair listened to it all and he had to chew the inside of his lip a few times. He cleared his throat, his face entirely deadpan, “I mean..” He said with his gaze trained ahead innocently, “You are pretty small. I could see the confusion,” Altair had to bite down on his lip to keep from grinning. However, his thoughts went back to the Wookiee incident and he blinked a few times.

“So you mean to tell me that these Wookiees volunteered to be strapped in?” Altair asked in shock, “There was a Padawan suggesting that a Wookiee just quietly lie down and get tied to the outside of a Starfighter and the Wookiees were like ‘hmm seems legit yo’,” He looked at her, “That’s what you’re telling me?” Altair thought back to the pictures and images of the ridiculous rescue attempt. He couldn’t hold it back any longer. The tiefling tried coughing to stifle it, but he failed miserably. He began to crack up, and he couldn’t control himself. He couldn’t even cover his face with his hands.

“Fuck..” He said in between his bursts of laughter that he couldn’t contain trying to visualize the scene in his head of a Wookiee calmly laying there getting strapped to a starfighter. There were even rumors that supposedly a monkey was doing the tying, “I…this isn’t funny at all.. “ He was practically wheezing, looking away from Clove. It was carefree and lighthearted and he couldn’t help himself. Altair finally cleared his throat a few times to calm down before looking at her again, his smile melting back into an attempt at a somber expression, “I hope those Jedi were disciplined,” He said nothing more about that. Sith that messed up that bad would have been executed on the spot.

He gazed ahead of them, squinting his eyes, “....You didn’t tell me the entire place was engulfed in flames,” He said as they arrived towards the other camp, “Is it supposed to look like that? Aren’t there people in there?” Altair said highly alarmed.

@LilyNion

 

[Clove Vanhoop]

---

Clove's cheeks puffed up at his remark about her height, though in truth, it caused the corners of her lips to curl up ever so slightly. It became a small smile that grew even bigger when Altair began to laugh, a laugh that started with an innocent cough and ended in a burst of laughter. Her eyes were drawn involuntarily to Altair as he laughed freely, only to be forced back to the road. She eventually let go and began to giggle as well while chewing on her lower lip.

"Well, as far as I can tell myself, yes. Some Wookiees apparently agreed to be strapped to the ship! I can't blame those Wookiees for having to think quickly, but, dear Force, who decides to put them in a position where they have to choose between being tied to a ship and the alternative?!" Clove's ears started to move up and down as she laughed. "No, it's not funny..." She said it more solemnly before giggling again.

She genuinely didn't find it that funny; the Wookiees had died as a result of it. And a little annoying voice in her head became acutely aware that she was sitting right next to someone whose organization had caused the glassing. No, it was the relief, combined with Altair's own carefree laughter, that caused her to let go and relax as well. It felt like the first rays of sunlight after a night of darkness. "I think they got a trial! But they didn't make a big deal out of the outcome, so I don't know how it ended... But, given how furious every single person in the order was, it's safe to say they received their fair share of punishment."

Those same relaxed giggles died the moment she smelled fire and scorched fur. Sure, she'd been smelling it all day, but never as strong as this, this was fresh. Not even a minute later, the camp, engulfed in flames, came into view. "... No— Kriff!" The half-Annfyn hissed. She parked the speeder on the spot, knowing that they needed the speeder to be a safe distance away from the flames. "You are right, we have to get in there!"

Clove slammed her door open and jumped out of the speeder, the adrenaline coursing through her veins numbing the strains in her legs and spine. "Can you shield me, Altair? I can't... handle flames like you. But I can guide you through the flames, I can hear them!" Clove had already thrown the leather strap off her shoulder while planning. She didn't have her usual Jedi gear on her belt, so she had to make do with whatever she had in her bag. Fortunately, her bag was always full, and she pulled a bottle of water and a scarf from it. Clove opened the bottle and poured the majority of it over her own body, leaving the remainder on top of the scarf. Once it was soaked she wrapped the scarf around her mouth and nose as a makeshift filter for breathing. It was clear she was going in there, regardless of what Altair did.

---

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Tag @Sreeya ​

 

[Altair Din]

Altair was already struggling not to laugh the entire ride over, but seeing her ears flapping sent him completely over the edge. Both of them laughed their heads off, both repeating how none of it was funny all the same. The lighthearted and liberating moment was short lived as soon as they arrived at the horrific campsite.

The tieling just barely managed to leave the giant cauldron in the speeder before he rushed towards the site. He paused when Clove talked about going in. He turned to glared at her, “Are you fucking crazy?” He practically yelled at her, “You’ll burn alive! I can just walk in until I see people!” Altair knew that wouldn’t be as timely as her just knowing where to go based on her hearing. As furious as he was with her, he knew she was just as stubborn. She would shove him aside and go in anyway. He grunted in frustration, rapidly tossing his shirt off. He snatched the water from her and soaked his hair and pants in it. Normally he would have taken the pants off as well, but he wasn’t too keen on Clove seeing his underwear burn off.

“Just… stay behind me okay?” Altair said in a dejected voice, “Don’t be a parachute Jedi,” He warned her before he walked towards the fire. At once it was obvious the fire had no impact on him as the tiefling casually strode through it. As he did so, he used the Force to push the flames aside around him, creating a small makeshift path as he walked. The heat was absolutely intense and Clove would have a very tough time. The smoke was very thick.

Ahead of them were a few shacks with falling debris. Clove would be able to hear the cries of survivors ahead. They were a mixture of Wookiees and other humanoids. As Altair emerged from the flames to the nearest spot with some survivors, one of them burst into tears.

“WE ARE LOST! IT’S A DEMON! WE HAVE DIED AND GONE TO HELL!”

Altair rolled his eyes, “Seriously?” He grumbled to himself, making his way towards the huddled group of survivors to help them. However, they actually got up and ran in the opposite direction towards danger just because of how he looked. The tiefling stood there with a stiff jaw, staring blankly as the group fled.

“Go,” He said calmly to Clove, “Help them,” Altair said as he worked on clearing the flames with the Force and dispersing the thick smoke. There was a change in his attitude then, an icy demeanor replacing the genuine concern and care that had been there before.

@LilyNion

 

[Clove Vanhoop]

---

"No parachute Jedi, I'll stay behind you, promise." Clove agreed. And when she finally followed in his footsteps into the flames, she knew she'd be able to keep her promise just fine. The heat engulfed her almost instantly, while black smoke fought its way through the cloth and into her lungs. Within less than a minute she had already begun to cough. But she pushed on, ignoring her own body as much as possible, stifling any cough she could, and focusing on the sounds.

"There! Keep going forwards, you're heading in the right direction!" The half-Annfyn called out as soon as she heard the cries of the survivors. Clove clung to Altair's back as they got closer to the shacks, her forehead almost pressing against him. While his body was blocking some of the heat and smoke, it also meant she couldn't rely on her vision; all she saw were his back muscles. And while that sight would have made her blush on any other day, it was now just part of the mission.

She hadn't seen the survivors, but she sure had heard them scream at Altair. Seriously? They just assumed they died because he had horns? Clove sighed, peering around Altair's side to see if it was safe to approach them. Thankfully, Altair's natural abilities with fire meant that he was incredibly effective at what he was doing, and a relatively safe path carved its way through the flames very quickly.

"Okay!" She replied as she took a step around him. Whereas Altair looked to them as a demon, ready to capture souls and cast them into hell, Clove looked to them as an angel, ready to lift them up. As a result, the sight of the small girl appearing behind his back, as if by magic, clearly caused some confusion as the group came to a stop. "We, are here to help. My friend is moving the flames away, but you have to trust us. We can guide you to safety." Clove spoke in a calm tone to the group when she finally approached them, while trying to make sure they understood Altair was there to save them, not tear their soul apart.

The group murmured and cast suspicious glances at the Tiefling. But they realized there was no other option, so they began to take the same steps Clove had taken, returning to the circle of safety Altair had created. Clove lingered behind them, her Force channeling through her own body. She let it build for a second or two before releasing it, allowing the Lightside to swirl and wave across the burning floor in search of life. She couldn't detect any. As far as she could tell, the flames had consumed everything in its path, leaving only the survivors who had been discovered just in time.

She finally joined the rest of the group, her ears flattened on her head. Clove's gaze danced back to Altair, who, understandably, looked less than amused. "That's all."

She cast a long glance over her shoulder at the blazing shacks. Despite having scanned the area, it felt wrong to leave; what if she was wrong and missed something? Sure, Altair was extinguishing the flames, but any trapped survivor would die without immediate first aid. "Think it's safe to go?" She eventually asked Altair after another round of coughs.

---

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Tag @Sreeya ​

 

[Altair Din]

As Clove was practically welcomed with open arms, Altair tried to ignore this fact entirely. He was used to being seen as some sort of monster and in many ways he liked the Sith because they embraced it. He could fully own it instead of having his every move questioned. The tiefling glanced over when Clove did her best to introduce him as a good guy, but he certainly didn’t help matters with the moody scowl on his face. He gave a vague grunt as his intro before returning to what he was doing, walking casually through the flames before dispersing them. He was getting drained from taking this on, his Force reserves depleting rapidly.

After all the survivors were seemingly gathered and out of immediate danger, Altair glanced over at Clove. He watched her coughing and sputtering, a pang of guilt hitting him. But he remembered what he had said about her spine. At the end of the day, she chose to do these things. That didn’t make it any easier to see her like this. Altair’s eyes grew wide for a moment as he took in sight of her.

“Shit!” He called out as he moved to her and rapidly patted down a small flame against her thigh. Altair forgot that even though she could walk, her nerves were still slowly repairing themselves. He put out the small fire she couldn’t feel and heaved a sigh of relief, “You…are such a pain, Clove,” He muttered as he shook his head before looking at her, “And where is your stupid cane? You’re standing like my great granny Tess right now..”

He looked back towards the shacks, “I’ll do one last sweep. I… just have a feeling,” He said vaguely before he ran back in where the flames were the worst.

A few minutes passed before he emerged, and he looked entirely displeased. Hanging off him were two small Wookiee children that clung to him for dear life. Miraculously they avoided severe burns or injuries. Both were comically using his horns as handles, and Altair had a deadpan look on his face as he made his way back. He barely set the kids down before their mother burst into the scene to scoop them up. As she did so, she pulled Altair into a powerful hug, screeching in Shyriiwook which he couldn’t understand. His face was buried in her sweaty armpit as she sobbed and thanked him, his arms flailing as he tried to escape.

Altair pulled back at once, wiping his face off and drawing in a gulp of air. He was exhausted, sweaty and now he smelled like Wookiee armpit. He didn’t even bother putting his shirt back on, walking back towards the speeder to get the cauldron. Altair set the food out for the others, glancing back at the thick smoke that plumed from the damage. It was quiet now, and he was left with the aftermath of what he had just done.

Did he actually give a shit? Or had it just been for Clove?

The tiefling didn’t want to know the answer. Instead, he silently watched the survivors as they hugged one another, some needing medical attention. Healing was not his area of expertise, so he focused on doling out food.

“I’m so thankful for you Jedi,” One of the survivors excitedly told Clove, looking from her to Altair, “We would have been lost without you!”

Altair winced at being called a Jedi, but he didn’t react otherwise, keeping his focus on what he was doing.

@LilyNion

 

[Clove Vanhoop]

---

Huh? Why was Altair staring at Clove in that way? As he began to approach her, she batted her eyelashes, staring up at him. Was he going to embrace her? After everything that has happened today, a nice warm hug would be nice. But instead of extending his arm to signal a hug, he began to pat her thigh down. It took her a moment to realize he wasn't just patting her thigh; he was extinguishing a flame that had sneaked onto her pants and caught fire. Clove let out a yelp and froze in place, not daring to move until the flames were snuffed out. Only after the flames went out Clove finally dare to take a breathe.

"Thank you-" she stopped, hearing his mutter. Clove's brows furrowed and the corner of her left lip lifted in an unamused scowl. She looked like she was about to open her mouth and launch a barrage of protests, but she decided this wasn't the place for it. Instead, she became quiet. That was probably for the best, because Altair abruptly turned around and walked straight into the flames towards the shack.

At the very least, he shared her concern about missing something. Clove looked down at her thigh after Altair left, puzzled as to how she hadn't noticed the burning against her skin. She knew her nerves were still healing, but to miss the flames? Oh well, she could at least still walk.

Clove's eyes were drawn upwards by the sound of footsteps. Altair emerged from the flames, looking like a shirtless fallen Angel with two incredibly young Wookiees clinging to his horns. All she could do was stare, her already troubled breathing stocking even more. The flames lit up his body, revealing every inch of muscle on his bare chest. The sight that followed, on the other hand, was enough to snap her out of it; poor Altair, getting a face full of armpit fur. Clove cleared her throat awkwardly and brushed her blushing cheeks with her hand.

Without a word Clove began to make her way out of the still-smoldering forest and into the open fresh air. As fresh Kashyyyk's air could be, anyway. She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths of air, coughing out whatever smoke had gotten into her lungs. After she felt confident she regained some control over her breathing, Clove straightened her back and looked around at the survivors.

Despite feeling a little self-conscious about performing incredibly Lightsided Force feats, Clove began to Force Heal the worst of the burns, scaling them down to a size where the body could take over the natural healing process with the help of some medicines like bacta. And, while she was careful to only do this on the most severe burns, she quickly began to burn through her pool of energy. Healing was draining, and no matter how often she did it, it always came with a strain. After the Force Healing was done, she began to treat the Wookiees and humanoids with Bacta, a specific anti-burn salve, and bandages.

Clove raised her head from a roll of bandages as a woman approached them, thanking the Jedi. All the while looking at Altair. She looked away for a moment, biting the inside of her cheek to keep a laugh from escaping her lips, before returning her gaze to the lady. "Of course, I'm just glad we found you in time. Feel free to take a cup of stew; I've heard it's delicious." Clove smiled at the woman before returning her attention to the bandage.

Clove finally made her way towards Altair and the stew after almost all of the wounds had been patched and she had exhausted all of her supplies, remembering to grab her cane with her so he wouldn't complain about it again. Plus, she could barely stand on her feet anyway. "Hey, thank you for what you did back there..." Her voice trailed off for a moment. "Is there any stew left, by chance? I'm starving."

---

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Tag @Sreeya ​

 

[Altair Din]

Altair reached up and realized he was missing bits of his hair, his eyes narrowing. This was always the downside of being fireproof - his hair was never spared. He would have to get a buzzcut and chop the rest of his hair off to make it look even. The tiefling was grumpy as hell as he walked around handing out the food, barely listening to the survivors that thanked him or the ones that still eyed him suspiciously with fear.

At the end of it, he went to grab himself a bowl of the stew, looking up when Clove approached. His scowl softened and his expression changed at once, “Well I did say I came to help,” He gave her a tired smile. Altair was exhausted, and he could tell she was too. He wasn’t capable of healing, but he knew it was a very taxing power. He nodded at her question, scooping some stew into a bowl to hand to her.

The tiefling walked over to sit on a nearby log and there was room for Clove to sit next to him. Altair ate the delicious stew while watching the survivors. He still didn’t know what to make of everything that happened.

“Is this what you do all the time?” He asked quietly as he looked out at the survivors, “Risk your life…put yourself in harm’s way… all for people that expect it as an obligation just because you are a Jedi?” Altair looked at her after a moment, “Never putting yourself first. Is this what makes you....happy?”

@LilyNion

 

[Clove Vanhoop]

---

Clove returned the exhausted smile, her ears perking up just a tad. "Yeh, you did. Still." While holding the warm bowl of stew in her hand, she couldn't help but notice how tired he looked, as well as the scorched hair. While she wasn't going to mention it and risk addressing a sensitive topic, she was well aware of how upsetting it was to lose your hair during such an event. Her gaze quickly lowered to the bowl before following him to the log.

She sat down next to Altair with a huff, her legs extending outwards to rest in the mixture of dirt and ashes. The stew was indeed incredibly delicious, and she was resisting the urge to devour it like an animal, all at once, as she had done with the cupcakes earlier. If Altair hadn't been there, there's a good chance she would've caved. But she didn't want to look like a freak, so she ate as neatly as she could.

Her chocolate brown eyes danced to Altair's violet's as he asked quietly, noticing his gaze lingering on the survivors. "Yeah... this pretty much sums up the majority of my work. It's not always as dangerous; medbay duties hold no danger other than stabbing myself with a needle. But field work..." Clove looked away for a moment, her fingers tracing the rim of the bowl. "It's not something you do to make yourself happy. Don't get me wrong: seeing those survivors makes me happy and makes the effort worthwhile, but that isn't the goal." She returned her gaze to Altair with a slight frown, her voice softening. "It's just... someone has to do it. Obviously, this is the result of a war, a war for which both sides bear some responsibility. But even if the Jedi and Sith weren't fighting endlessly, there'd be another war somewhere," she paused, "there will always be a light that casts a shadow. And someone needs to be there for the innocent people who have become entangled in this mess. Whether it's through fighting or through building and healing."

"Woah. That went places, I'm sorry. To actually answer your question, I suppose I do miss putting myself first sometimes." Clove admitted, a timid smile on her face. As a thought crossed her mind, her timid smile grew even shyer. "Do you mind if I ask why you decided to join the Sith? Or is that information you'd rather not share with me?"

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Tag @Sreeya ​

 

[Altair Din]

Altair listened to her speak, his body language making it abundantly clear that he was listening to every word. He quietly ate his stew, hearing her describe how ‘someone had to do it’. The tiefling didn’t answer her question immediately, drawing in a deep breath and exhaling as he thought about everything else she said.

“Why wouldn’t you do what makes you happy?” Altair asked as he looked right at her, “It takes you away from what makes you truly happy… things like dancing,” He glanced down at her legs. Even though she had her spine back, she would likely never truly be able to dance again, “People can fuck you over and you just have to accept it. People can hurt you and you can’t lash out or do anything about it. The galaxy watches your every move and waits to put you on blast first chance it gets. You get punished for loving someone or putting them first,” Altair shook his head, “It sounds like living in a prison, Clove. You can heal others and be a civilian without ever being a Jedi and still be a normal person that can do whatever she wants.”

Altair looked away for a moment, “I joined the Sith not long after Bandomeer, my home planet, came under Imperial rule. Honestly, life is better there since… the Sith established a bunch o’ factories and warehouses that got people jobs. Before that I had nowhere to go but be a farmer just like my siblings. With the Sith I was able to apply to get into an academy and put my Matukai to use and be a part of something larger.”

He looked at her again, “But I can still be who I want. I don’t gotta be obligated to help people that don’t want my help, that think I just look like a demon, that..” His gaze fell then, looking down to where his hand rested inches away from her own, “...that recoil at the mere thought of me touchin’ them,” Altair thought in silence for a while, “I can do whatever I’m passionate about, I can still put myself first and I can love or hate whoever I want. I don’t gotta walk on thin ice all the time.”

“The people the Jedi help today could be the same that turn on them tomorrow,” Altair knew she would hate hearing that, but it was exactly how the sentiment had played out thus far, “You can stubbornly tell me the fight still gotta be fought, but answer me…You gonna keep at it till there’s no more you left? Till you ain’t Clove no more, but just Jedi? Till you nothin' more than the sum of what you’re obligated to do for the galaxy because someone has to?”

@LilyNion

 

[Clove Vanhoop]

---

Despite the fact that the dancing bit had clearly hit a sensitive spot, causing her to look away for a moment, she listened to every word Altair had to say with a relatively relaxed expression on her face. Her lips had curled into a soft and gentle smile by the time he finished, her head tilted to the right.

"I'm genuinely happy for you that the Sith has improved the lives of the people on Bandomeer, and with it yours. I can see why they became your safe haven when everyone else rejected you." While she was obviously not amused with how he enrolled in the academy, she couldn't deny a single word of what he said. "And, obviously... I envy your... freedom." She let out a genuine chuckle before turning her gaze to the grey sky ahead of them.

"And you aren't wrong. I saw the holonet and read some of the articles. Two Jedi and a ship of Wookiees were all that was needed for a large group of the galaxy to decide that the Jedi order is rotten, with rumors of a large-scale Jedi ban. We are putting our lives in danger for people who are willing to abandon us in an instant." Clove's free hand started fiddling with some of the moss on the trunk they were sitting on, oblivious to how close their hands were. "But, like you and the Sith, they've become my family, my safe haven. I know I can do most of my job as a civilian, but let's face it, a Force Sensitive running around healing people left and right and fighting criminals is bound to cause trouble." The galaxy had not been kind to Force Users, and the Sith would not accept some random stranger repairing the damage they'd caused. "So I might as well stick with the people who teach me how to defend myself while I'm at it. Plus, it also allows me to be part of something bigger, because I believe in what they are doing. For the most part, anyway. And it's no longer as prison-like as the media portrays it to be. In theory, I can date whoever I want... as long as I don't sacrifice an entire planet for them. And I'm studying for a college degree on the side, which is a bit of my own personal life!"

Clove finally returned her gaze to Altair. "Altair, I'm not going to lose myself. I've... already seen a lot of messed-up things, and here I am. But if it were to happen... Well." She knew she didn't have an answer, and how Altair was most likely well aware of it as well. And it would've been so easy to counter the question with a simple; how about you? Because, while she'd lose her life as a Jedi, bound to sacrificing herself over and over again, he'd eventually become a murderer with blood on his hands as a Sith Warrior, bound to fight and kill innocents for his Empire. Committing crimes and losing his moral compass.

It would've been so easy, but she couldn't do it. She couldn't even accept, let alone speak, those words.

She shook her head as she finished the last bite of stew. "By the way, you're a fantastic chef." She said, clearly in an attempt to change the subject. "Like, you made this in some crisis tent. I can't imagine how this would taste in a proper kitchen!"

---

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Tag @Sreeya ​

 

[Altair Din]

He couldn’t fault her for where she found her home, because in truth it was no different than where he found his. He wanted to keep arguing, and he wanted to tell her she was foolish for ever signing up to be on the losing side of the war, to help those that would never give a shit about her. But none of those words passed his lips. She wouldn’t be who she was if she didn’t believe in doing the right thing, no matter where it took her. She would go through those flames and set herself ablaze to save as many others as possible, and she would do it till every last bit of her was gone. But her soul would remain nevertheless and become a part of the Force.

Altair didn’t miss how she trailed off when speaking about losing herself. The tiefling looked right at her, catching clearly in her eyes all the words unsaid. Words he knew she was thinking. However, his jaw tightened slightly, “...If it were to happen, you’d see me stripped of the Force,” He finished for her, looking away again, “If it comes down to it, I’d rather die,” Altair said bitterly. He knew his history and he knew how the first Empress came to be. There were rumors about the parachute Jedi also meeting a similar fate. It was a fate more horrific than death.

“I don’t want you to be afraid of me, Clove,” Altair said quietly after a long moment, looking down at his feet. He knew it was inevitable. They both knew. She didn’t have to say a single thing when her eyes betrayed her. There would come a day when she would see him as nothing more than a monster. It was as likely as her transformation into a Jedi that transcended above any attachments and put the cause above all.

But that day was not today.

“Look..” He said after a while, “If you’re gonna keep bein’ stupid and goin' into places where you ain’t welcome,” Altair reached into his baggy pockets, “You’ll need ways to defend yourself and fight that don’t need you wavin’ a lightsaber around,” He held out perhaps one of his most prized possessions, something that was exceptionally difficult to come by for those that didn’t practice the discipline - his Matukai gauntlets, “It can be resized for your baby hands,” Altair said, managing a small smile, “I had these since I was a kid and adjusted them as I grew. They saved my life many times and I know they’ll keep you safe,” He extended them to her.

Altair thought back to what she said about his cooking, realizing she was keen on changing topics. He didn’t stop her, finishing up his stew and setting his bowl aside, “This ain’t nothin’,” He said smugly, “It’s my pies that are famous. Sweet pies or meat pies, you name it, it’ll be the best you’ve ever had.”

He eyed her curiously, “What’s your favorite food, anyway? You only eat lettuce and bread as a Jedi?” He grinned.


@LilyNion

 

[Clove Vanhoop]

---

"I'd never see you stripped from your Force." Clove almost completely turned around, staring at him with widened eyes. "Regardless of what happens. Losing a sense, a part of your soul, is almost worse than death." She hadn't heard about the Jedi rumors, which was probably for the best. Because it was one of those things she wasn't sure she could support.

"And I'm not scared of you! And I don't think I'll ever be able to." Where her eyes had previously betrayed her concerns about their future, they now glowed like a flame with the confidence she felt in her statement. Only a few months after becoming Crix's Padawan, she'd witnessed some of the worst Sith. And she was certain that Altair, being the man he was, would not fall that far.

Clove returned her gaze to the grey sky after a brief moment of silence, only to refocus on Altair as he broke the silence by digging in his pockets. The sight of the gauntlets initially confused her, because the way he held them suggested that they were far more important than ordinary gauntlets. But then he started explaining, and she realized how valuable they were. "I-" She wanted to refuse; such a valuable gift was not something she could just simply accept. But he wanted her to have them so he could be sure she was safe. "... Thank you so much, Altair. I promise I'll treasure them and put them to good use. I'll practice with them as soon as I get home with my baby hands!" She said softly as she took the gauntlets in her hands. "I'm sorry, but I don't have anything to give back right now, unless you want some killer heels..."

She had no idea what they actually were or what their purpose was, but it had to be powerful if it had kept Altair safe for so long.

Clove bit her lower lip, her eyes straying into the dangerous territory of moments before stinging. She cleared her throat awkwardly before swiping her closest arm around his back for a sideways hug. Normally, she'd pull him into a big hug, but after all the confessions and slip-ups, she wasn't sure where the lines were drawn. So she played it safe for the time being until she figured out how to navigate the ice.

Food. Right. Thank the Force, he picked up on her hint and changed the subject. "Pies? Hmmmmm..." She smiled, her nose slightly lifted, as if imagining the scent of a freshly baked pie. "You can't say that and not expect me to want a piece!"

"My favorite food?" Clove's head tilted to the right, her brows furrowed as she pondered. "It depends on the day! But you can always wake me up for a good fluffy croissant with bacon and an egg." She hummed for a few seconds. "Pastries and sweet bakes in general are my go-to? Like egg tarts, for example. But the sweet version of course, with custard! Oorrr... those cupcakes you made!" She returned his smile. "Pffshh! We eat plenty of stuff! Yesterday, I had a fish stew!" Clove gave him a playful scowl before burst out giggling. "How about you? What's your favorite?"

---

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Tag @Sreeya ​

 

[Altair Din]

Altair looked at Clove as she accepted the gift, seeing a moment of confusion before appreciation. It was then that it dawned on him that most people didn’t likely know what the heck Matukai gauntlets were. He couldn’t help but smile as Clove looked at him and wrapped an arm around him. He had no qualms with giving her a full hug, and he turned his torso to tug her close into an embrace. She may have been subjected to his extremely warm skin from going through the fire and Wookiee sweat, but the sentiment was there all the same. Altair lingered there for a bit before he drew back, that familiar tenderness returning to his violet gaze as he looked down at her. It was then that he realized that his face was rather close to hers, and he quickly cleared his throat and drew back, his own face heating up when it had nothing to do with the fire.

“Matukai gauntlets,” He began as he looked at what he gave her, “Serve as weapons. They can block blaster bolts, sabers, fend off against vibroblades. Think of it as having a saber in each hand, but your own hands are your weapons. They also provide an extra surge of energy when you hit your enemies. You can train in any hand to hand combat, and this gives you that edge you need to really take on any kind of enemy. I never carried a lightsaber and I probably never will,” Altair reached down to show her how to activate the magnetic fields around the gauntlets. It was when he noticed ‘A. Din’ was crudely written on the gloves from when he was a child. Altair chuckled sheepishly, “You may need to cross that off and write your name in,” He said, his gaze fondly lingering on his name. He had sketched that when he was little, the memory of getting the gauntlets for the first time fresh in his mind.

Altair listened as she listed off her favorite foods, most of it sounded like sweets and breakfasts. Desserts were his specialty, and he thought of all the creative pies and cakes he had learned to make from his family. Altair smiled when she giggled, the little gesture entirely too infectious to keep him from reacting, “I like spicy dishes. I make this spicy seafood gumbo I love from back home and it’s probably my favorite. It's called the Din Family Gumbo! But I like tryin’ foods from different planets - weird foods that most humanoids probably can’t eat. Being a tiefling has some perks,” He grinned. He could tolerate foods that could be considered poisonous or harmful to others.

“Well, I’ll be sure to bake you somethin’ real nice for your birthday,” Altair’s smile fell after a moment as he shrugged, “If I’m invited that is,” He figured it would be some gathering with her Jedi friends, and they would all likely throw him out the second they saw him.

He looked ahead at the survivors, some shuttles arriving to take them back to the main camps. Others arrived to help clean up the wreckage from the fire.

“So what should we do now?” Altair asked, glancing at the sun that was beginning to lower over the horizon. In truth he had never been to Kashyyyk before. Did every bit of it look so miserable?

@LilyNion

 

[Clove Vanhoop]

---

Clove blinked in surprise as he turned and swung both arms around her back, especially after the 'incidents' in the sea of flames where she also expected him to embrace her. His warm skin reminded her of a roaring campfire on a cold winter night. So, even if the scent and sweat were a little unpleasant, she lingered in the hug, her head resting on top of his shoulder. Clove quickly drew her own arms back once the Tiefling drew back, catching the tender look in his eyes and how close his face was. Her own eyes widened slightly, and a flush crept up her cheeks. While her free hand reached up to fiddle with one of her many curls, Clove drew further as well, her gaze fixed on the gauntlets.

Matukai gauntlets, a weapon and a shield at the same time. Throughout his explanation, her ears flicked ever so slightly with each new exciting detail, such as how it turned the user's hands into a weapon. "This is... perfect. It turns out that I'm not the best at lightsaber stuff, but I've always been much more confident with hand-related stuff. I just lacked strength! But with the proper training..." She activated the gauntlet once or twice on her own after he demonstrated how to do it, not noticing Altair's initials until he pointed it out with an awkward chuckle. Clove looked up at Altair, noticing the fond look in his eyes. It was clear how much these meant to him. "Hmm. We'll see. It would be a shame to remove the original owner's name! I can always add my name beneath it."

Clove carefully began to tuck the gloves into her leather bag while listening to the Tiefling talk about his own favorite dishes, her ears and body language indicating that she was still paying close attention to what he was saying. A spicy seafood gumbo. She wasn't the best cook in the world, but she made a mental note of that dish, just in case! The half-Annfyn was about to try and make a joke regarding the Tiefling perks when he mentioned her birthday.

"Of course you're invited, you silly bird!" She pushed her shoulder against his gently but playfully before sitting straight again. "It'll be a small thing, held just as Clove. There will be a few Jedi, but they will come as my friends. Plus, my mum will be there as well and she doesn't care much for the Jedi and Sith stuff. So anyone who brings it up during the birthday will have problems!" With the threat of the Jedi getting banished left and right, she had made sure to invite her family to an FWA planet for her birthday. "So, yes, I'd like for you to be there, just as Altair." She smiled brightly at the Tiefling.

Her gaze was drawn back to the survivors as the shuttles arrived. The sight of the Wookiees and humanoids climbing the ship and heading to a safer location curled her lips and filled her with relief. They could finally begin to heal.

"... Good question." She frowned for a moment. "Normally, after days like these, I go back to the shuttles, find a bed, and collapse." Clove let out a chuckle. "Is there anything you'd like to do? There isn't much here, but there are some forests on the other side of the planet, but..." She paused, her face turning rather grim. "Kashyyyk is terrifying. I'm not sure how the Wookiees do it. Altair, have you ever seen a Kashyyyk spider? It's horrid!"

---

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Tag @Sreeya ​

 

[Altair Din]

Altair eyed her curiously as she idly fiddled with one of her curls. He had seen Vahliri and other girls do something similar. What the hell did it mean? It must have been some kind of secret girl code he simply didn’t understand. The tiefling realized he was stupidly staring before explaining about the gauntlets to her. He snickered a bit as she admitted to not being the best with sabers.

“Well, most people struggle with weapons taller than them,” He grinned and gave her a wink, "I can teach you some basic Matukai moves if you want," Altair cheered up when she revealed he would be invited to her birthday, even more surprised when she explained her mother didn’t care for Jedi or Sith. In some ways it was similar to the sentiment his own mother shared. Just Altair. He liked that idea, where he could simply be that without any labels or allegiances.

Since the stew had the healing herbs in it, his energy was rapidly returning. Already he could feel his Force reserves filling up again from the exhaustion he felt earlier. Altair looked at her as she described Kashyyyk spiders, his eyes growing wide, “Whoa!” He said excitedly, “Are they big? I wanna go find some!” Altair said cheerfully as he rose to his feet, suddenly determined to go explore the Kashyyyk forests. Despite his horrible experiences with the giant spiders on Zakuul, he didn't find them any less fascinating. He even considered bringing back an egg to add to Cairo's collection. They had a speeder at their disposal, after all.

“I can drop you off at the main camp if you’d like,” He said with a smile, “Get your beauty sleep and all, grandma,” Altair extended a hand to help Clove up if she needed it and made his way over to the speeder. He purposely plopped into the driver’s seat this time, subtly implying he had no desire to let her drive again. Altair would wait for her to get in as he started up the engines.

“I heard there are a lot of old ruins and temples that aren’t open to the public,” He said with a glint in his eye, “Definitely gonna go check that out and see if something tries to eat me,” Altair said happily, “Hopefully I see one of these spiders!”

With that, he would begin driving her back to the camp to drop her off unless she suggested otherwise.

@LilyNion

 

[Clove Vanhoop]

---

Clove smiled brightly and nodded eagerly when he offered to teach her some basic Matukai moves. She noticed his wink, and how he cheered right back up when she almost literally threw the birthday invitation in his face. A grin that wouldn't go away crept up on her lips, and she almost wondered if it wouldn't be a good idea to just stay on that log for another hour or two.

Then she mentioned the spiders. Why did she have to mention the spiders?

"... I- They're huge, but-" She began to stumble over her words as she watched his eyes widen and jump off the log. Obviously, she couldn't just forbid him from going, but she also had a gut feeling that him going to the forests alone with the massive Spiders wasn't the best idea. Clove, unsure of what to say or do, nodded sheepishly and followed him to the speeder, where she sat in the passenger seat without complaint. Her fingers tapped against her lap as her brain worked overhours.

Then, as they almost reached the camp, Clove made up her mind. She shifted abruptly in her chair, her brown eyes locked on Altair's violets. "I'll come with you. To the ruins and temples, I mean. I'd like to join you. I know Animal Friendship, and I've been training it!"

---

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Tag @Sreeya ​

 

[Altair Din]

Truth be told, Altair was a little disappointed to say goodbye and part ways. However, he couldn’t deny his own adventurous spirit and he fully intended to investigate anything he could in the Kashyyyk forests. He had even heard about some psychedelic shrooms that were more potent here than anywhere else, and he fully intended to have a nice little trip. The journey towards base camp was mostly silent. They were almost there when Clove abruptly spoke up, mentioning she wanted to join him. He glanced over with raised brows.

“Really?” He asked with a mixture of surprise and joy. Altair smiled briefly before casually turning the speeder around and driving in the opposite direction. He drove for a moment before his face scrunched up a bit, “The hell’s animal friendship? Do you talk to squirrels or somethin’?” Altair heard about animal influencing and taming but friendship? Sounded like some hippie Jedi magic. They made idle conversation the rest of the way, the signs of civilization fading away rapidly.

The sun had disappeared over the horizon as they arrived towards the dark forests. Already everything looked ominous, and he wasn’t entirely surprised. There was a thick fog as the weather began to cool. Altair had to reach over to put his shirt back on, the warmth from walking through fire slowly wearing off.

He parked the speeder and stepped out, doing the polite thing of opening the door for Clove. Altair handed her her cane as well before glancing over at the woods. The trees were massive and taller than anything he had seen before. The tiefling craned his neck, feeling tiny compared to everything around him.

“Damn… I finally know what it’s like bein’ you,” Altair remarked before he began to eagerly walk into the creepy forest. He glanced back to ensure Clove was keeping up all right, the terrain rough and uneven.

“Apparently there are some ruins deeper down this path. Legend says that some Wookiees were exiled from a tribe and found refuge near here, but they went missing. Apparently they found nothing but tents and a campsite torn apart and no explanation for where the Wookiees went or what happened to them. There were rumors about some ruins nearby that supposedly have the answer,” Altair told the story quietly, unable to mask the excitement in his voice.

“You excited?!” He said cheerfully before marching on ahead.

@LilyNion

 

[Clove Vanhoop]

---

"Hmmm, no. It's more like taming them, but without actually forcing them to do so? You basically connect with the animal and calm it down by allowing it to feel your emotions. You can then send suggestions or commands once it has calmed down." She said with a grin. "It's the same as feeding a wild animal a piece of meat every day, but it's done in minutes instead." It was easily one of her favorite abilities to use. Connecting with an animal and sensing what they are feeling while attempting to gain their trust was a one-of-a-kind experience she would almost describe as otherworldly.

Clove was visibly growing more nervous during their small talk, and the sun had set beneath the horizon, leaving them completely in the dark except for the speeder's headlights. Still! She kept up a smile and a cheerful spirit.

_____​

After Altair had parked the speeder the half-large Annfyn's eyes arose to the pitch-black forest ahead of them, its many trees looming threateningly over them. It reminded her of the strange planet where she and her friends were stranded a year or two ago, but much taller and larger. She smiled gratefully at the Tiefling as he opened the door and handed her her cane. "Why, thank you." She said as she climbed out of her chair. "Isn't it a good neck workout? Always having to look something up!" She tried to joke about the height comment before staring at the entrance to the woods they were about to enter, swallowing nervously.

Despite relying heavily on her cane and obviously being slower than Altair, she managed to keep up fairly well. Whatever Altair had put in the stew was strangely effective, energizing her. Or maybe the adrenaline and creeping fear crawling up her spine gave her a boost of energy. Regardless, it made the trip through the eerie forest a lot easier.

Clove's jaws tightened as Altair began to softly tell her a story about a group of exiled Wookiees who went missing. The end was enough to make the hair on her arms stand straight. But, as terrified as she was, she'd been in scarier situations: Raze's illusions, the Haunted Manor, Aadya's fighting style. All of it made the creepy story look like child's play. So, while she took a few steps closer to Altair, who was beaming excitedly, she looked determined to keep going.

"Yeh! I'm... sure we'll find an answer to their disappearance! Maybe put an end to the rumor once and for all!" She was honest, for the most part. The potential of solving a mystery like that of missing Wookiees sounded fascinating, and ever since visiting some ruined Jedi Temple she grew a liking for history. She was less excited about the location, or the darkness, or the footsteps in the distance that her sensitive ears had picked up, but Altair didn't need to know that. She didn't want to ruin his good mood!

Wait. Footsteps?

Another little branch in the distance snapped, causing Clove's ears to wiggle. While it was far away, and most likely just some local animal, it made her jumpy. "Hey, Altair? Think we are close to the ruins? I'm hearing something walk around." Clove said softly, her arms crossing her chest.

---

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Tag @Sreeya ​

 

[Altair Din]

Altair purposely walked a bit slower to ensure that Clove had no problem keeping up. He was, however, largely oblivious to her nervousness. The tiefling stopped every now and then to inspect the ground for psychedelic shrooms, squinting in the darkness. He rose up again when Clove spoke, and he turned to her with confusion on his face, “I don’t think we’re anywhere near it. And I don’t hear-” He paused, thinking back to Vahliri. He recalled at once how the half Annfyn always had super hearing and Clove was no different. Altair grimaced, “There…shouldn’t be anyone else out here. Sure you don’t hear an animal?” He asked hopefully, not entirely sure if that was better or worse.

The closer he walked towards the site, the more darkness he felt around him. It felt oddly familiar in some ways, the way he felt Korriban around him when he went there. Altair paused for a moment, looking at Clove to tell her something. However, for Clove she would suddenly see the tiefling’s face begin to melt away. All of a sudden she would feel a prickling chill crawl up her skin. Her mind would suddenly explode with sounds of a distant laugh, Hannibal’s voice from that fateful day. She would see glimpses and flashes of the Ajan Kloss corridors being formed from the looming trees of the forest, and she would see the vivid crimson of Darth Raze’s visor gazing right at her. The red from the visor slowly melted back into the violet eyes that Altair had, giving her that horrific feeling that he was briefly standing in her presence seconds prior.

“-and then we could just collect some plants, you know, for science,” Altair finished what he was saying, giving Clove a dorky smile. He had no clue what just happened to her, and he had been talking to her the entire time, "...Wheels?" The dark presence lingered throughout this patch in the woods, the atmosphere cold and uninviting. However, Altair hardly noticed it beyond feeling suddenly more empowered than when he first entered the forest. For someone like Clove, it was almost suffocating.

@LilyNion