Ask can't think of a title

[Altair Din]

It was a few days since the beach, and he knew this was inevitable. As shy as Altair could be, he wouldn’t back down from a situation involving his friends. Despite what happened between them, despite all the lines they had crossed, Vahliri was still one of Altair’s closest friends. He had taken a few days, and he wasn’t surprised she hadn’t spoken to him really since. The tiefling was prepared with a note in case she didn’t bother answering her door at all. A part of him didn't understand it, especially as he had seen her making eyes with another guy already. Nonetheless, Altair decided he wouldn't bring that up.

After pacing a bit, Altair finally knocked on her door. He had in his hand some snacks he handmade that were a staple on her planet, complete with a chutney he painstakingly made from scratch. Altair half expected her to throw it in his face, but he was prepared for whatever she may throw at him. In his other hand was a plastic bag with some of Vahliri’s things she had left scattered around in his dorm.

The tiefling nervously chewed the inside of his lip, which only caused him to taste a bit of copper thanks to his sharp teeth. Altair fidgeted as he stood outside the door, shifting from one foot to the other and occasionally fiddling with his horns or hair.


@Altaris

 

[Darth Tempest]

In the days immediately following Altair’s birthday party, Vahliri had largely avoided reaching out to the Tiefling or anyone else - and it would be much of a secret why that had been the case. The half-Annfyn had seen the relationship between Altair and Aadya on full display back on the beach, and she couldn’t deny the way in which the sight of it cut her deeply and pained her worse than anything physical. Clear as day, she saw the tender affection shared between the two of them, and more importantly, the way that Altair openly embraced something deeper and more meaningful with the Firrerreo. Something he had consistently avoided embracing with her.

Vahliri had only managed to stew within her own emotions further since leaving the beach. She felt the dull-yet-ever-present sensations of pain and discomfort that settled into her stomach the more she thought about it and she couldn’t help the way she felt almost inadequate next to the Firrerreo - a woman who had the heart of the man she wanted. She felt the anger and frustration that bubbled to the surface, and a small part of Vahliri wanted to resent the Tiefling for it. She wanted to be angry at him for making it clear he wasn’t interested in that kind of relationship at all, only to pursue it with Aadya shortly thereafter. And yet she never could.

Days had passed, and Vahliri had largely spent those days confined within her dorm room - mopping and going about her daily studies out of sight. She expected today would be no different, up until a knock at the door snapped the girl back to reality. She knew that her roommate wouldn’t be home any time soon. Altair would hear a bit of shuffling behind the door before the knob finally turned, swinging open to reveal Vahliri on the other side of it. The half-Annfyn was dressed in a pair of ripped jeans and a black, long-sleeve crop top - her black hair left to flow down past her shoulders. It was clear that she wasn’t expecting him, and the half-Annfyn couldn’t help but stare up at him for several seconds - fluted ears making subtly little downward movements. “..Hey,” She finally said after a moment with a faint smile, turning to gesture the Tiefling inside. “Come on in,” She stepped out of the way, allowing Altair to step inside before closing the door behind him.

Almost immediately, the Tiefling would see that Vahliri’s side of the room was a bit more messy than usual - a far cry from the immaculate way that the half-Annfyn usually kept her things. She stepped over and idly stacked up some of the books that were scattered across her mattress almost subconsciously the moment he was in the room.

Vahliri finally glanced back at Altair, her attention drawn to what he was carrying. She couldn’t help but go wide eyed a bit - the familiar aroma taking her right back home, and keyed her in on exactly what he had brought. “You made these?” She asked, her amber eyes finally rising up to meet his own.

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair had to fight not to grimace when he saw her. He knew when she was upset, and this was different than her usual. In many ways, this bothered him more than any outburst of hers ever had. He stood there in silence until she gestured him in and he stepped inside. Right away he could tell her room was a bit of a mess, and that was also out of character for her.

He glanced over and mock pouted, “Of course I made these. You expect me to go the cheap store bought route?” Altair followed up with a warm smile, walking over to set the dish down and opening the lid. The room filled with the delicious aroma of the snacks, “I even added a few extra peppers to the chutney for ya,” He said proudly, having picked up on her tastes by now.

After a few moments, however, Altair turned to look at her. He idly toyed with one of his horns, his tail shifting slightly. He cleared his throat, “Vahl…” He began, preparing to ask how she had been or some other smalltalk. Instead, words spilled out before he could stop them, “Why ain’t you hitting or punching me?” He asked point blank, “Why ain’t you trynna break my ankle? I just… fuck, I’ll take that over…over seeing you down like this. Why…why ain’t you angry at me?”

@Altaris

 

[Darth Tempest]

Vahliri’s expression immediately brightened a bit when Altair spoke - the combination of his mock pout and warm smile enough to cause the half-Annfyn’s own lips to tug upwards in return. As they stepped further into the room, Vahliri absentmindedly straightened up a few other things around the room - tossing a few empty microwave meal boxes and stashing away a few other items in drawers. “Extra spicy?” She asked with a wide smile, amber eyes shifting from the clutter and back to the samosas and chutney he had made from scratch. The half-Annfyn’s ears immediately twitched the faintest bit when Altair lifted the lid off the dish - a mixture of hunger and nostalgia hitting her at once. The Tiefling knew by now how often Vahliri got homesick at the academy, and the fact he had gone out of his way to make the samosas was a gesture that touched her more than he likely realized.

“This is really sweet, Altair. Thank you.”

Vahliri took a step forward - eyes lingering on the samosas for a moment longer before shifting to fixate onto Altair. She clearly noted the way his tail shifted around and he toyed with his horns, and it immediately caused her own fluted ears to tilt downward ever-so-slightly. She knew the conversation that was coming, even if she had tried to avoid it over the past few days, and even now considered making some kind of small talk to dance around it. Her eyes went slightly wide when Altair suddenly spoke, the words spilling out and catching the half-Annfyn off-guard completely. She felt a dull ache in her chest when the Tiefling stated he would rather see her outbursts than.. However she felt now.

“I..” The words stuck in her throat when he questioned why she wasn’t just angry with him. A part of her wanted to be. A part of the half-Annfyn wanted to be angry - to punch him or break his ankle or throw him through a wall, and to just leave it at that. Because being angry was so much easier and less complicated than how she felt now. “Altair I..” She hesitated for a long moment, leaning her rear against the end table as she looked up at him. “I don’t want to do that, Altair.. I don’t want to hurt you, even now..” The words slowly but surely passed from her lips, her gaze never leaving his. “I care about you, and I don’t know if I could forgive myself if I did.” Her shoulders sunk a little as he glanced down, watching the steam rise up from the dish be brought.

She brought a hand up to grasp at her opposing bicep absentmindedly, silent for a moment before looking back up to Altair. “..And, I saw how you looked. I saw.. How happy you were, with Aadya.” She chewed on her bottom lip, fluted ears flicking ever-so-slightly. “I just.. I thought that wasn’t something you wanted.”

Or maybe it had always been you, he didn't want..

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair was silent for a few moments after she spoke. It truly did bother him to see her like this, and a part of him wondered if he blew it by crossing that line with her. Perhaps this wouldn’t have happened if they only remained friends and never took it further than that. There was no going back now, and everything that happened between them had happened. The tiefling fidgeted for a moment before he sighed.

“I…didn’t think I wanted it,” He said quietly, looking away, “And a part of me is still a lil’ sketch,” He admitted, though he never elaborated on his heartbreak in the past, “But I just… like her like that, I guess,” He had no other explanation or excuse, “I just don’t wanna lose you as a friend,” He looked up to meet her gaze, “I care a lot about ya, and you’re one of my closest friends, Vahl.”

Altair managed a faint smile after that, “Besides, you were already makin’ eyes at that Finn dude,” He nudged her a bit. He turned to reach for the snacks, offering her one, “Try one before it’s too cold.”

@Altaris

 

[Darth Tempest]

Vahliri was silent for a long moment after she finished speaking, allowing her honeyed gaze to linger on the Tiefling the entire time. She was almost surprised by her own words as they poured out of her, and a small voice in the half-Annfyn’s mind simply wanted to close the door on the entire conversation. Avoid addressing her complex feelings or the relationship that now existed between Aadya and Altair. But deep down, she knew better than that. She knew the way that it would eat her up inside, and would only cause resentment to bubble up within her. And she cared for Altair far too much for that to happen.

She idly ran a hand across her bicep, listening as Altair spoke. She didn’t miss the revelation that the Tiefling didn’t expect things to unfold the way they did, nor the fact that a part of him was still apprehensive about it. The half-Annfyn knew well enough that Altair was cautious of entering into any deeper relationship, though she hadn’t ever pressed the issue or questioned why that was the case.

There was a small, involuntary flick of the half-Annfyn’s ears when Altair simply stated that he liked Aadya. There was no further explanation, but there didn’t need to be for Vahliri to understand. And there was no small part of her that was irritated that out of anyone, it was Aadya that Altair had fallen for. It was no secret that she didn’t like the Firrerreo - and while the jealousy surrounding Altair had been the originating cause of the bad blood.. It was more than that, by now. And she couldn’t help but wonder what that meant for the friendship between herself and Altair. Perhaps she would be capable of putting aside her dislike for Aadya, now that her and Altair were together. Or perhaps it was a relationship that would ultimately - slowly but surely - drive a wedge between them. Vahliri didn’t want to believe the latter, and more importantly, simply didn’t want to think that far ahead.

“Altair..” She began quietly, her eyes rising to meet his gaze once more. “I told you before I don’t want to lose you, and I meant it.” The half-Annfyn stated, bringing a hand to gingerly lay over the top of his forearm. “You’re one of my closest friends, and the person I’ve known the longest here. I care about you.. And I’m not willing to lose you as a friend.” Even now. Even if the door on something more intimate between them was closed. She offered him a small, genuine smile with that. Her eyes widened ever-so-slightly when the Tiefling mentioned Finn - her fluted ears swiveling a bit as her face went a bit red. Of all things, she wasn’t expecting to get called out on it - especially after his own reaction at the beach. “I..” She smiled a bit wider as he nudged her. “Whatever.” She left it at that, though the movements of her ears were indication enough.

She returned the playful nudge before turning her attention to the snacks, accepting one as it was passed over from the Tiefling. She ran the samosa through the chutney before taking a bite, a satisfied hum escaping from her as she chewed. “These are really good,” She said between chews. Vahliri paused for a long moment after swallowing the first time, chewing on her bottom lip a bit. “You said you were sketched out by the relationship,” She started almost cautiously, unsure if this was a topic that was wise to brooch. “Why?”

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair walked over to sit on the edge of Vahl’s bed. He tried to ignore the fact that he had been there only a week prior doing some very interesting things with her. He helped himself to one of the snacks, relieved that the danger of being thrown through a wall by her was alleviated for now. He thought about everything she said, and it softened his expression. There was no denying that the two were close, and he wouldn’t allow anything to change that. He knew Aadya and Vahliri didn’t get along, but he also didn’t see Aadya as the type to dictate who he could or couldn’t befriend. It was one of the benefits of dating someone older.

The tiefling was caught off guard when she asked why he was sketched. Altair blinked a few times, processing the question. He knew what she was really asking - what happened to make him so closed off and apprehensive to relationships in general. Altair bit into his snack to buy himself more time. He half considered just giving some cop out answer, but he knew he couldn’t do that with her.

“Back home…” Altair began quietly, “My brothers were popular and cool and I was kind of a loser, honestly,” It felt weird admitting all this, but he knew she wouldn’t judge, “I followed them around like a puppy. I was real chubby and just didn’t look that great. Girls wouldn’t even look at me. I already get that shit for being a tiefling, but it was double time when I was a fat fuckin’ demon,” He had no shame in being blunt describing himself, “But there was this one girl I really liked. And..” He shook his head, laughing bitterly, “She didn’t know I existed. One day we got paired up for a group project and she actually talked to me. Fuck, I was slain. Kaput. Just shot dead. I was head over heels, man. I would kiss the ground this chick walked on,” He gave her a grin, “I know, what a loser, right?”

Altair looked away for a moment, “I did everything I could to impress her. She was in the Emryc Thorne fanclub, so I started doing his fitness routine. I didn’t give a fuck about the dude or fitness before that. She finally gave me the time of day and I turned into the biggest simp. I’d do her homework, cook her food, run errands for her. She was my first time and I loved her, even said it and everything.”

Altair paused for a long moment, his jaw tightening a bit. He cleared his throat and kept going, “Long story short, turns out she was screwing at least five other guys around that time. I overheard her giving her friends the ‘deets on the freak’ and they asked if my dick worked like a normal dude’s or if it was demon forked like my tail. I heard them laugh about it and watched her friends hand over some cash. They gave her bonus money for the bet because she got the ‘fat fuck to shed some pounds’.”

The tiefling was silent for a long moment, “Several girls since then also hooked up with me ‘cause they wanted to know what it was like being with a ‘demon’ or a freak like me. It was clockwork and each time the girls were never actually into me despite saying they were. So then I stopped giving a fuck. I used ‘em like they used me and didn’t think beyond that. I didn’t wanna go beyond that and I was content. I threw myself into Matukai and realized I loved the discipline and rigor of the Emryc Thorne routine so I began to follow the dude.”

Altair reached for another snack, “So chicks will always sketch me out. I’m always one foot in, one foot out. I like Aadya, but I ain’t got every wall down and I dunno if I ever will,” He shrugged as he took a bite, “So now I got chicks lining up for me ‘cause I’m buff or famous for Huttball, and I know it’s all bullshit. I just don’t fuckin’ buy anything else. Aadya will probably ditch my ass too and I’ll move right on. 'Cause I know I'm hot shit no matter what some girl thinks of me."

@Altaris

 

[Darth Tempest]

Vahliri kept her eyes on Altair, watching as the Tiefling shifted to take a seat on the edge of her bed. The half-Annfyn didn’t miss the way that he immediately blinked and took another large bite of food when she asked the question, and a part of the half-Annfyn immediately regretted digging for answers. While she had never once inquired by the Tiefling was as apprehensive about relationships in the past, it wasn’t hard to guess that something had occurred and Vahliri knew that it was bound not to be a pleasant memory. Thus, the moment that Altair began speaking, Vahliri set down the samosas and turned her gaze strictly onto the Tiefling.

She knew that this wasn’t something he was likely keen on discussing, and the half-Annfyn gave his story every bit of her attention in that moment - not for a moment judging any aspect of what was said.

She listened quietly as Altair described himself all those years ago on Bandomeer, and began to elaborate on just how deeply he felt for the girl back at his village - the fact that she had been his first, and someone he had grown to care for enough to call it love. Vahliri didn’t miss the way that Altair’s jaw tightened before he continued the story. The moment the Tiefling went into more detail, her eyes immediately narrowed at the revelation. The mere utterance of the phrase ‘deets on the freak’ was enough to cause Vahliri’s fluted ears to flatten against the sides of her skull, flicking rapidly with mounting irritation. She had seen the kind of bullshit that Altair had to deal with on a regular basis, and it set the half-Annfyn off each and every time.

The idea of hearing it from someone the Tiefling had trusted deeply - someone he had gone so far as to profess his love for - sent a distinct spike of anger through every fiber of the half-Annfyn’s being.

She was silent as Altair continued on - a distinct tightening of her jaw visible when it was revealed that the girl had gotten paid for it all in the end. As if it was all just some sick, cruel dare being played out. She listened as Altair described every experience he had since that point, and why it had led him to be as sketched out by relationships as he was. In truth, Vahliri couldn’t blame the Tiefling for it in the slightest. In more ways than one, Altair had been her first - both intimately, but also the first person she had developed a deeper attachment to.

The very thought of being spurred by someone she was attached to in just a way caused a sickening knot to twist in her stomach.

She was silent for a few seconds after Altair finished speaking, though she never turned her gaze off of the Tiefling. Without a word, Vahliri pushed off from the end-table where she had semi-taken a seat, stepping over towards the edge of the bed where Altair was sitting. She plopped down right next to him on the mattress, turning her body to face him - honeyed eye staring right up to meet the Tiefling’s violet gaze. She took in a breath before she spoke. “Well fuck her,” She said flatly. “And fuck all the fake, superficial bitches just like her. Because whatever any of them think of you, whatever 'demon' bullshit they spew, you are hot shit - and not just because you're buff or you kicked ass in Huttball." The half-Annfyn said, her tone entirely genuine and without any hint of exaggeration. “You’re a sweet, talented, fantastic guy - and you are worth so much better than that. And.. I’m sorry you even had to put up with bullshit like that to begin with. It's fucked up.” The fact that it was even an experience to begin with was infuriating.

She placed a hand over the top of Altair’s, giving his hand a gentle and affectionate squeeze. Vahliri offered him a genuine as she looked up at him, the sensations of hurt and heartache banished for the moment. No matter what deeper feelings she had, and no matter what emotions she was dealing with, Altair was someone she deeply cared about - and that wouldn't change. "After all that, I don't blame you for keeping your walls up with anyone. Until you know its legit. Until you know it is worth letting your guard down completely." She said. "Because you deserve to be with someone who cares about you, just as much as you care about them. Whether that is Aadya, or any other chick out there waiting."

@Sreeya