Ask Ajan Kloss Hitting the Books

[Nashyr Ris]

Unbeknownst to many, Nashyr was the type of woman that loved a good book.

In particular, she loved reading historic documents, watching historic holovids... she just loved a good tale to tell, and in the long hours when she worked as owner of the Slicer's Vice, she spent her downtime reading or doing light research. When Oren Zapan mentioned a library... it was as if every door was finally open for her, and all the knowledge she would ever need was right there at her fingertips.

She had spent several hours training in meditation, and had just finished her sparring round in the small exercise room they had there. Perhaps it was mainly meant for sparring, but she couldn't normally find another partner...

She still felt a bit unbalanced, but perhaps being surrounded by literature would ease some of that ache. She had showered, and dressed in something a little more appropriate than her old regular attire; black leggings and a sleeveless tunic of off-white with her usual boots. Her hair was slightly damp, but thankfully her fur was dry with the walking brisk pace she maintained.

Now to see what this Knight had to offer her in this rendezvous of information. She couldn't explain why, beyond reading... but she was really looking forward to this meeting, and learning.

@TWD26

 

[Oren Zapan]

It had been a few weeks since the light festival and Oren had been on cloud nine, he couldn't lie, he found himself thinking about Nash quite a bit. But, that wasn't the only thing that had happened, his investigations into these supposed darkside killers had taken him to Naboo where he came across his first one in the flesh.

Her bright blonde hair and cold eyes, the emotions and the pain that she felt still lingered with him, part of him wondered if she herself was still thinking about that day, the things he had said. The Jedi had kept everything a secret, even from his apprentice. The damage he had taken to the right side of his face was heavy around the cheek and along his eye.

But, any of that damage was hidden away behind a series of bandages that he had wrapped to cover the right portion of his face and his blind eye. He could feel a presence approaching from the other end of the hall, he would turn catching the familiar curves of the Cathar. A small smile would form on his half visible face. "Nash.."

tag: @Killa Ree

 

[Nashyr Ris]

She had to admit... she wasn't one to like the idea of being close to anyone. It was already stressful enough being a friend and Padawan to Max; the Temple on Lothal, Nar Shaddaa's underbelly, clearing out debris from an earthquaked metropolis...

She hadn't taken into account that Oren would have ranked along with Max on that qualifier, but it should have been a dead giveaway with one hand burned and one hand missing.

She heard the shortened version of her name, and smiled, prepared to say something teasing...

And was cut short when she saw the bandages.

"What the hell?!"

She flinched when she realized that they were in a library, but... concern flashed in her eyes as she stalked closer, all previous events she faced before forgotten. "What..." She cut herself short, biting her lower lip. She was about to ask what happened, or touch him, or something... all things that she couldn't understand why she wanted to do. They were just friends, it was fine to be concerned about friends.

...Right?

She couldn't understand these mixed emotions, and it irritated her. She wasn't supposed to let emotion cloud her judgement. So she took a deep breath... then exhaled, closing her eyes.

"...Just don't be missing a leg the next time I see you, please. I'd hate to try to teach you to dance one-legged." The joke was weak, she knew... but she opened her eyes, giving a thin smile. "I... like the look? Very dashing rogue." She gave a faint laugh, then rubbed her forehead as though to stave off a brewing headache.

@TWD26

 

[Oren Zapan]

If she was trying to hide any of her emotion, then the Cathar had done a terrible job at it. The way her eyes widened and her breath skipped as she processed his look, was enough to show that she at least cared about him a little bit. His soft smile formed quickly into a frown as he saw how hard she took it.

His eye had been repaired, but he was still recovering from it all, the once brown eye had taken a milky white color and they said it would never be as good as it once was. He would hold up his robotic hand, twirling the fingers slightly, "Well..I couldn't let Saul outpace me with the body modifications." He'd think of the other knight, "So maybe I will lose my leg next.." He'd chuckle as he pulled himself up from the seat.

He may have been joking, but the circumstances were grave and dangerous, "..I encountered one, in the flesh...A young girl." He'd say with a soft tone. His eye shifting towards the hall of the library.

tag: @Killa Ree

 

[Nashyr Ris]

One brow slowly rose when he joked about Saul, arms crossing beneath her bust and hip cocking slightly. "...Mhmm…" she hummed out, then sighed, shaking her head. She didn't know Saul personally; the closest comparison she could draw to was Ash, but he had a certain acidic wit that Oren lacked, thankfully. But if the Jedi were always that high-risk, then surely she would have to start stocking up on her research of limb cybernetics.

...A grimly amusing thought she would have to dwell on later.

But then he mentioned a girl... and she tilted her head to stare at where his bandages were. "A girl rogue did this to you?" she asked quizzically, head cocked to one side slightly. "How in the name of the Force did she manage that?" But... there was a feeling. She gazed at him, greenish-yellow eyes thoughtful... then she shook her head. "Don't tell me if you don't want to, I'm sure it's none of my business."

"...Are you alright?" she asked, arms dropping from beneath her bust to place her hands on her hips. "Should we hold off on this? Bit hard to look up information with one eye, you know."

@TWD26

 

[Oren Zapan]

His lone eye focused on Nash, taking in the curls of her black hair, the stripes that lined her fur, her wide golden eyes and thick lashes. It was strange, to see her and the world in one perspective, but he couldn't take his eye off of her, he wanted to remember, to soak in--losing one had showed him how cruel and quick your senses could go.

He would motion her towards the quiet library, though secretly he wanted to melt into her arms, to return back to the lights and the castle, to run away from it all--to be with her. That's the darkside, you can't run..not now. His eye would turn towards her direction as they walked, "She said she was the apprentice of that masked man, I felt her emotions, I let my guard down and she fried my face." He'd say with a gentle voice, "I can still sense good in her."

tag: @Killa Ree

 

[Nashyr Ris]

She couldn't explain it, but he had this look on his face, and she felt like he was seeing her from a new perspective. And... she wasn't sure if this was good or not. But when he spoke, she tilted her head his way... and exhaled softly, shaking her head. She stepped around him, and didn't really wait to think if this was a good idea or not.

She just wrapped her arms around him, and gave the Knight a firm hug, making sure her voice was low in his ear.

"You can't save everyone, Oren. If she wants to be saved, she'll come her own way." She felt her face heat, however... and pulled away, clearing her throat.

"That's all I have to say, handsome. I like you; it would be a shame if something happened to you." She tried pulling herself back, to be flirty and friendly and cheerful. She didn't understand emotions that went beyond simply caring, and couldn't pick through them right now. She gave him a wink, and padded ahead, head held high as she scanned the stacks.

A wistful smile touched her lips, as she stared at all the databanks. "Where have you been all my life, you beauties?" she almost crooned, exhaling happily.

"This is... unbelievable. So much in one space, and so much to process. Do you have any favorites?"

@TWD26

 

[Oren Zapan]

His knees buckled slightly as he felt her approach him, his lone eye peering down as he felt her hands slowly slip around his waist and then towards his back, pulling him into an embrace. His spine would slightly stiffen as his hands angled themselves somewhat awkwardly as he placed them on her back. Her presence was calming, but visions of the rain and then the lightning. His face would flinch slightly as he felt a burning tingling sensation on the right side of his cheek.

He felt frozen in fear, in self-doubt, but Nash provided a calming sensation, one that he wished he could completely melt away in. His head would lower slightly, resting against her shoulder for a few moments as she spoke, "I know.." He'd whisper, "I preached that people should have the strength to fight, to stop the darkness, but I tried to heal her to save her.." He'd say all of this into her shoulder, "What if trillions die because of it..because didn't have the strength to cut down a young girl?"

He felt her pull away and head towards the aisles within the library, her old self kicking in. Oren couldn't tell if it was a defense mechanism or what it was, maybe she was scared--He was never the best at picking that up. So when she turned the subject to a lighter situation, any lingering fears he held he would push to the back of his mind as he forced himself to smile on his half face. "Well, you couldn't find them, because I had them all in my office at one point or the other."

tag: @Killa Ree

 

[Nashyr Ris]

She sighed, dropping her shoulders.

She couldn't hide behind the mask of cheerfulness; it was getting harder and harder to keep herself from feeling something. A twinge in her chest she didn't want to feel, and something like regret for keeping distance. Green-gold eyes glanced up at him, and she sighed again... then gave him a grin, and a light thump to his shoulder.

"You idiot."

Her arms crossed beneath her bust, and the smile remained, tilting her head to gaze at him with the same kindness he had shown her. "You don't have to carry things alone, you know. My Master taught me things happen for a reason... and you met for a reason. You got hurt, for a reason. Let the lesson there teach you, and stop carrying things alone. You have friends all around you, people willing to share burdens and failures. And those lives... yes, they're blood on your hands." The smile faded, but the kind look remained.

"But that's the cost of balance. You learn from your mistakes... and you move on. Now..." she stepped closer, placing her hand on his unbandaged cheek.

"Wake up. It's time to face the music... and have faith. You've never been alone. And when there's a time you might feel the sun on your face again.. I look forward to you showing me your favorites."

On Ajan Kloss, Nashyr dozed on a narrow cot alone. When she finally woke... she didn't remember her dreams.

All she could remember was a feeling of warmth... and of dread. Perhaps watching something on the news channel on her datapad would help ease her nerves...

@TWD26

 

[Oren Zapan]

"You idiot.."

His lone eye would peer towards Nashyr, the room around them slowly morphing and twisting. Was this some sort of dream... He thought to himself as he watched her. He thought of his loneliness, the things he placed on himself, the standards he placed on only himself and no one else. The faces of all the Jedi he interacted with came into view, the ones he had given so much of himself to save. He was only one man, she was correct, but he couldn't fight back the feeling or urge not to. He would try to save every damn person in this galaxy if he could and deep down he knew he'd give up his life if it meant that Nash, Nara, Mila, Maxims, any of them a peaceful life.

"I..I don't know," his hand would waiver, "I don't know if I can be the Jedi that you or everyone wants me to be."

Slowly she would begin to fade, and the comfort of the temple would slowly fade, his lone eye opening as he found himself staring up at the bunk above him, the sound of his fellow inmate snoring away through the night. His robotic hand would cling to the craters of twisted flesh that covered the right side of his face. Please don't come for me...

/End Thread

tag: @Killa Ree