Ask Serenno Performative Art

[Nahri Nalju]

Carannia, Serenno — Carannia Celebration Fair (151 ABY)

Nahri did not make it back to her homeworld until the new year celebrations were already well-underway. In-between negotiating a deal that would see NalTech products brought to a 'wider audience' and overseeing a campaign near the Rishi Maze as Vex, it was safe to say she had been much too busy to think about much else. Still, her phone occasionally lit up with text messages from Altair. He had also called her once shortly after her negotiations with the Hutts. That was how today had become possible.

The New Year Carannia Celebration Fair was the event she had spoken to him during their previous tryst. The capital city had been transformed. Cherry blossoms were in full bloom, and buildings from the spaceport all the way to the palace Darth Andruil had once invited her to were decorated in lavish bouquets in spring colors. Closer towards the center of the city, booths from worlds all over the Sith Empire were set up. In the ancient past, they had featured cultures from across the Old Republic. Now, there were stalls dedicated to the cultures and cuisines of worlds like Dathomir, Ossus, and Felucia. Along Main Street, a parade replete with rainbow flags and banners was making its way towards the palace, celebrating love of all expressions.

Nahri found herself closer to the starport on this particular afternoon, wearing a black and silver dress that had belonged to her mother. Altair had promised to meet her there by noon, and he still had a few minutes to make their rendezvous before he was late. Gentleman that he was, Nahri expected him to be on time; but that did not prevent her from pulling out her phone and sending him a teasing text message:

There are consequences for being late to a second date, you know, she typed. In a subsequent message, she added, I'm devising a more creative punishment for each minute that you are. Then, for good measure, she sent an emoji that winked at him before stuffing her phone back into one of the interior pockets of her dress.

She regretted sending them a moment later. Did it make her look desperate to send a text like that? Was the emoji too much? These were questions she never had to ask herself before—because she had never engaged in that kind of smalltalk before—but now suddenly seemed more important than the reports she was expecting from her other missions near Rishi. She did her best to hide her embarrassment, and her anticipation, though she could not help but peak at a crow emerging from the starport to see if she could spot his shock of black hair and trademark horns. @Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Nahri wouldn’t have to look long because his horns were as prominent as ever, peeking over the sea of people milling about. He got more than a few curious glances his way, most people not used to seeing a tiefling. However, no one was outright disrespectful like he sometimes experienced in the core. He had been tremendously busy leading military missions and training recruits. On top of that, he recently got his acceptance letter for the extremely prestigious Imperial academy and war college on Ziost. Nahri had slipped into his mind a few times and he messaged her, expecting nothing to come from it. To his surprise and delight, she was responsive and she followed through on the invite to the festival.

While Altair normally dressed in super baggy clothing, he decided to go for something more dignified for a refined lady like Nahri. He chose to wear his slightly more formal uniform recently sent from the Ziost academy. He didn’t put on his rank patches, so while the average civilian may not recognize it, Sith and Imperials would.

The tiefling glanced down when her text came through, a grin appearing on his face as he responded, Don’t threaten me with a good time, followed by a similar emoji. However, he would meet her just slightly ahead of schedule, spotting her from a distance. As he expected, she was dressed to the nines, always carrying a regal air about her. With the influence she was building, he wouldn’t be surprised to see her pursue the mantle of Empress herself some day.

Altair wore no helmet, his hair neatly styled and his uniform custom fitted to his very athletic frame. He offered her a smile, closing the distance between them, “You look stunning,” He said truthfully, still getting used to seeing her fully like this. The sun kissed her smooth umber skin and her hair. Altair looked admittedly shy for a moment, unsure if he ought to hug her or kiss her hand or what. Things were always a bit different navigating around a proper and established lady.

“I uh…got you something..” He said awkwardly before he reached into a pocket and handed over a small box. If she opened it, it would reveal a bracelet decorated with fragments of kyber crystals. It wasn’t big enough to resist her, and she would feel the shards humming with a soft energy.

@Mockingjay

 

[Nahri Nalju]

Nahri let her gaze linger on him a moment before turning to the box he had brought her. He was every bit as stunning as he said she was. His uniform added a degree of authority and maturity to him that caused her breath to briefly catch. The way he had styled his hair, the way the light struck his eyes, all of it together made him look and feel powerful to her. And with all that power came an attraction that settled deep and warm in her belly.

"You don't look so bad yourself, handsome," she said. She sensed his hesitation. His desire cut between hugging her, kissing her, or treating her like the heiress of House Nalju that she was. In all honesty, she was fine with him just treating her like 'Nahri.' But she was also fine with teasing him with the possibilities until he eventually chose something. "And a gift?" She took the box, opening to reveal the bracelet inside. Again, she found her breath robbed. "Altair," she breathed, transfixed by the way the kyber caught the light and sparkled brilliantly. "You shouldn't have. It's absolutely beautiful."

And handmade.

She didn't miss that detail, but somehow that made it all the more touching. When she touched the smooth stones, the Force pulsed out of them and into her like a heartbeat. Once around her wrist, the sensation was continuous and she discovered something else. It felt like him. Almost as if the crystals had absorbed some small impression of what he felt like in the Force and trapped it inside them. Now, his presence could be with her, even when he couldn't be. She couldn't imagine a sweeter gift.

Nahri smiled at him. "Thank you," she said, taking one of his larger hands into hers and squeezing. And then she suddenly felt ashamed. She hadn't gotten him anything. "I should have brought something for you," she confessed, then turned, eyeing the festival. "But maybe there is something we can do about that." There were lots of stalls across the city. Nothing she won from them could match the worth of what he had gotten her, but it might tide him over until she could craft a gift that matched. Already, she had ideas.

Still holding his hand, she pulled him away from the starport and towards a fountain surrounded on all sides by stalls and festival-goers. Some of the stalls had games with stuffed prizes, others had virtual reality pods that she had heard were a riot, and yet others had food that made her stomach rumble. "Have you ever been to something like this?" she asked as they walked. "Back on Abelor, perhaps? Unless you're from somewhere else, of course." @Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair’s face flushed when she complimented him, and he glanced down briefly at his own attire as a result. It was very different from his normal wardrobe of pants that hung low and baggy shirts. He wanted to look a bit more adult around Nahri, though he wouldn’t admit that aloud. The tiefling smiled at her reaction to the gift, fidgeting a bit, “Hey, I’m just happy to be here with ya,” He said with a grin, flushing again when she grasped his hand.

He allowed her to lead him along, the simple gesture of holding hands causing little flutters in his chest. His tail betrayed him the most, swaying from side to side to reveal his contentment. He glanced around them, his amethyst eyes taking note of the stalls and the little performances taking place. Altair turned to regard her curiously when she asked her questions.

“You know about Abelor?” He asked, genuinely impressed. He hadn’t met many others that knew about tieflings let alone the planet they were from, “Naw, I’m just from a farm on Bandomeer. My family emigrated over many generations ago,” They had been on that farmland for centuries now. He entwined his fingers with hers as they walked. She would notice a few startled glances thrown his way, gazes flicking up to his horns or tail followed by a sudden look of dread. Altair largely ignored it, but she would be witnessing this all for the first time.

“I come to festivals like these in the Core or other planets,” Altair looked over at her again, clearly finding her more interesting than their surroundings, “I actually bring my guitars and perform sometimes for extra cash. That or do one of my breakdance routines,” He chuckled to himself - she likely found those types of dances silly or juvenile, “Have my instruments back on my ship," Altair blinked for a second, "Actually, what kinda music do you like?"

Altair gazed ahead briefly for a moment after she would answer, “Sooo, we’re calling this a date, huh?” He asked sheepishly.

@Mockingjay

 

[Nahri Nalju]

Her gamble paid off. In truth, she had heard conflicting reports about the origins of the Tieflings. The most obvious guess was Devaron, since they were clearly an off-shoot Devaronian speices. Those horns that she so liked crowning Altair's head were proof of that. But she had done some research in preparation for their date. She refused to look foolish in front of him, and at least this little bit of information would help her with that. Plus, the way it made him light up to see that she had taken an interest in his homeworld was... endearing. She liked seeing him happy, she had to admit.

"Ah," she said, leaning over the nearby fountain to drag the tips the fingers of her free hand through the cool water. A habit she had picked up as a little girl and never quite kicked. "A musician and a dancer, and a VIP Huttball player?" For once, her tone wasn't challenging or bordering on playful sarcasm. She was genuinely impressed. "And you're leading campaigns for the Empire too? I'm beginning to think there's not a lot you can't do."

And she meant it. Were he not so damn handsome, he would make a formidable Sith rival. His charming disposition hid a ruthlessly efficient Sith. Some small part of her was glad he was so carefree and laid back. If he ever became as unforgiving and menacing as her Master had been, becoming a Sith Lord would be no challenge for him at all.

"It would probably not surprise you at all to know that I'm an alternative rock type of girl," she said about her favorite kind of music. "Give me a good guitar riff and leave me emotionally raw any day. I find it helps me evoke the right kind of emotions when I meditate—it centers me." Nearby, a plump, blue elephant-like alien was playing on an instrument that only vaguely resembled a piano. Around him were a pair of Bith on the saxaphones. Her expression immediately crumpled. "Anything but jizz."

They came to the edge of the square, where it branched off into a new street. At once, she noticed a vendor who belonged to she and her mother's tribe. Refugees who had come to Serenno long ago. She smiled, looking up at him. He looked so bashful, so afraid that she might not want to call this a date. "Yes," she said after a moment of reflection. "We're calling this a date." And then she pointed with her free hand to the vendor she had just seen. "You should mark the occasion by getting a lock of your hair braided. My mother's people believed that braids marked significant moments in a person's life."

She walked ahead, pulling him along with her through their linked hands. "Come on," she continued. "You can tell me all about your favorite musics to play on our way over." @Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair thought he was going to melt on the spot when she rattled off his accomplishments. He shifted from one foot to the other, awkwardly running a hand through his hair, “I mean, I ain’t no CEO and technical genius and also on the path to become a Sith Lord at the same time,” He quipped back with a smile. He genuinely believed she was one of the most capable people in the Empire and she had the chops to actually back her ambitions. There were lots of people that were all talk, but she was not one of them.

The tiefling’s expression brightened when she admitted her style of music - especially the part about guitars. He filed that thought away for now, glancing over to where the Bith were playing. Altair chuckled a bit, “Aw c’mon, a solid sax solo can unravel even you,” He grinned at her before nudging her playfully, “I play a lot of flamenco style music, but been venturing into other styles the past few years.”

Altair walked with her towards the vendor, “Well in that case, you better be joinin’ me,” He quipped back at her about marking the special occasion. He ran his fingers through his thick locks of hair, “It’ll be temporary sadly, ‘cause I gotta buzz it down for the academy,” Altair was clearly mopey about the topic, having a lot of pride in his hair.

Nevertheless, he had a little braid woven into a few strands of his hair, the look actually complementing his piercings and other appearance. Altair looked up towards a live band that had been performing that was not exactly gathering a crowd. The lead singer and guitarist was mediocre, though the rest of them were okay. Altair stepped away while Nahri got her own braid done, disappearing temporarily into the crowds. He came across the band, waving his hand to influence the main singer to step aside. Altair told the rest of the band what to play - a classic song - and he put the guitar over himself, adjusting the amp.

After a moment, the song began and Altair joined in with his playing, his fingers expertly traveling across the strings. He opened up with a slow, sensual solo before he leaned in towards the microphone, his voice projecting as he began to sing. If Nahri looked up, she would see him eyeing her from a distance as he sang.

Song​

“Got a black magic woman,
Got a black magic woman,
I’ve got a black magic woman,
Got me so blind I can’t see
That she’s a black magic woman
She’s trying to make a devil out of me,”

And he went back into a slow, passionate guitar riff as he played. By now a crowd began to gather around, witnessing a huge shift from what was playing before. Altair took command of the stage, his voice echoing and projecting powerfully over the crowds and his fingers working expertly across the guitar as if he had owned the instrument for decades. However, his gaze always found Nahri, a teasing smile playing across his lips whenever he paused to play.

“Got your spell on me baby,
You got your spell on me, baby
Yes, you got your spell on me, baby
Turnin’ my heart into stone,
I need you so bad, magic woman,
I can’t leave you alone,”

Altair glanced over to the rest of the bandmates to nod at them before the grand finale of the song which was a very long guitar solo and the build towards a crescendo with the other instruments. The tiefling was the king of his domain right then, the crowds getting even bigger and people cheering and screaming in support. Altair was unfazed by it all, making that guitar sing and completely come to life as if he had it entirely tamed and dancing to his every whim. There was passion in the way he played and sang, finding a beautiful harmony of sensuality and fire in the way he projected the song. And through it all, his eyes kept returning to Nahri's even through the sea of people standing before him.

@Mockingjay

 

[Nahri Nalju]

He used the Force to sing for her.

Nahri wasn't sure what was happening. One second, he was next to her, watching as she got her own braid after he got his. Then he was gone. She expected him to return with drinks or food, but when he used the Force to influence the band members, the kyber crystals in the bracelet he gave her sang and warmed against her skin. Somehow, she knew just where to look. And there he was, in all his glory, playing just as good as she imagined him to be. But it wasn't just the guitar riff that got her. It was his voice.

He had always had a sweet voice, but hearing him sing with it was even better. By the time her braid was done, she had forgotten what she was doing. The stall owner actually had to shoo her out of the chair so that the next customer could get their own braids done. So, she wandered, half-aware of her surroundings, until she was at the foot of the stage, her eyes irrevocably linked to his. And once again, she wasn't sure what was happening.

This was the type of thing that happened in a holo-drama. Not to her. Not to any living woman for that matter. Except, it was happening. It was just as real as he was. By the time he was done, she was genuinely at a loss for words, because 'thank you, that was so sweet' seemed a completely inadequate way of summing up what she felt. So, their gazes still linked, she did the only thing she knew to do and opened herself up in the Force so he could see for himself the way he had made her feel.

The crowd around her surged and roared with delight at his performance, and she was suddenly reminded that were people around her. Hundreds, at least, maybe more. She reached her hand up to guide him down from the stage. At the same time, she flicked her other hand, casting the subtlest spell to get the crowd to part for them and let them go. So many were eager to see Altair up close. "Altair, I- I don't know what to say," she blanched when they were further from the crowd and could hear themselves speak. "That was incredible! I didn't know you could sing like that! I'm pretty sure that band wanted you to stay instead of their actual lead guitarist! Did you come up with that song on the spot?" She was gushing like a rock band fan. She half-chuckled, mostly at herself. "I gave you a discount on my products, and you've since given me this beautiful bracelet and a song."

Then, slowly, an idea came to her. His hair! It was hardly a gift that would make up for the stunning things he had done for her today, but she had seen the way his face had fallen at the idea of shaving his head for the Academy. She knew something that could help him get around that, if only for a little while. Her eyes blazed to life, gaze scanning for another stall. She found one still within hearing-range of the music on stage. Beckoning him to follow her, she approached the wrinkled old woman running the stall and quickly purchased a discreet necklace. Something he could tuck under his Academy robes.

The object in hand, Vex looked up at him wickedly. "Do you want to break the rules?" she asked him, her eyes sparkling. "What if I told you I knew a way to save your hair that ridiculous buzzcut the Academy always expects?" She tapped the necklace at her own neck. "After all, how do you think I sneak around without being noticed? I can't wear armor everywhere I go." She clutched the necklace she had just purchased in her hand, running back through the lessons Darth Andruil had given her months ago. "I would just need to know exactly the haircut the Academy expects of you. Then, any time you wore this, it could change your appearance. Make you look how you are expected to look." @Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

The crowds begged for him to stay on stage, but he gently placated them and made his way down towards Nahri. Altair had to extract himself from several women trying to reach for him or asking him his name. He casually handed the guitar back to the original performer that looked completely dumbfounded. There was a chorus of ‘boo’s as the man once again stepped onto the stage and even his bandmates looked crestfallen.

The tiefling only focused on Nahri, having felt a rush of excitement coming from her when she allowed him to feel the sensations she did during the performance. It wasn’t often that she seemed slightly flustered, and Altair soaked it all in as she quickly spoke like a fan, “I wish!” He said with a chuckle as she asked if he made it up on the spot, “It’s an older classic, but one I thought was fitting,” Altair flashed her a wink as they walked away from the crowds.

He was silent as she mentioned the product discounts, following her towards the stall. Altair heard her out, briefly glancing down at the necklace before looking at her again. When she was done speaking, he stepped towards her. His hand came over hers, the one holding the necklace, as he gently lowered her hand. He tilted his head slightly as he stared at her for a moment. He said nothing for a second or two before he finally found his voice again.

“I ain’t doing things to get things outta you in return, Nahri,” He said gently, “I’m doin’ ‘em ‘cause..’cause I like you,” He said quietly. Altair’s tail flicked almost erratically from side to side. He opened his mouth as if to continue speaking, but his courage failed him beyond that. She probably thought this was stupid and he half expected a ‘aw that’s cute’ type of response in return. She would feel the kyber necklace react stronger than ever right then, growing cozily warm against her skin and almost swirling hues of different colors.

@Mockingjay

 

[Nahri Nalju]

The kyber at her wrist grew warm and Nahri stopped what she was doing for a moment to feel the cool stones, tracing over them one-by-one with her fingertips. She still held the necklace she had just purchased for him in her free hand, but she was no longer considering what to do with it. She was instead looking up at him, reflecting on his words. "I'm sorry," she said, a half smile lingering along the corners of her mouth. "I'm not very good at this."

She motioned for him to follow and led him away from the prying ears and eyes of the stall owner and any nearby onlookers. Not that she thought she had anything 'secret' to offer him. She simply felt 'looked-at' suddenly. Like eyes were drawn to her, everyone aware of how awkward she was being, or the cues she was failing to catch. It was not the first time she had made such a mistake. "I don't know how to navigate these types of things," Nahri confessed when they were a safe distance. "You're not the first man to ask me on a date. But to say it's been awhile would be... an understatement. And I turned him down." She added the last line matter-of-factly. It had been in her early apprenticeship, and she had been too busy dealing with the loss of her family to focus on anything like that. "Gifting giving, who gives who what and when, how to balance these things, show affection properly at the right time. It's all such a confusing mess."

Her heart was in the right place. She knew he saw that. But she felt she owned him an explanation. The last person she tried to make friends with, get close to, ran out of a tomb on her thinking her some sort of witch. She wasn't sure Varyn would ever forgive her for that, and she did not want to make the same mistakes with Altair. "I like you, Altair," she said, honestly. "In the short time I've known you, you've proven yourself to be the biggest heart I've ever met in the Empire. But I wasn't taught to have a big heart," Here, she broke his gaze. It wandered down to the necklace in her hands, then to the warm stones against her skin. "I wasn't given space to figure this all out. So, I might be awkward for a bit." Nahri forced herself to pry her gaze off of the kyber and focus back on him. She didn't want to look like she was cowering. "Unless you help me, of course." @Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair only smiled at her as she apologized, clearly out of her element. In many ways it was a testament to how vulnerable she was around him. He followed her to somewhere a bit more private, though he wasn’t concerned about being seen. He heard her out, patiently listening to her concerns. When she admitted she liked him, his tail swished back and forth of its own accord. There was that flutter in his chest again and heat rising to his face. Even then he remained silent until she was done speaking.

“Hey..” He said quietly at last, a hand coming up to cup the side of her face as he gingerly felt her smooth skin under his touch, “You ain’t gotta play by any set of rules with any of this. I just want you to be you, Nahri,” Altair said as he gazed into her eyes, “What do you want totally unrelated to the Empire or your work? And… what are you afraid of?” He stepped a bit closer to her, almost forgetting about the rest of the festival right then. His tail came around to affectionately brush against her side before very loosely coiling around her hip. His every touch was light and feathery, far more tender than it was carnal. He didn’t know when he began to see her this way, and at this point he didn’t care. It was both exhilarating and terrifying at once, a rush of anticipation into the unknown.

A part of him wondered if it would bite him in the end. It was no secret she had ambition within the Sith, and he had his own as well. Would this all come to a head one day? Such were the rumors that surrounded Raze and Darth Stolas. Ultimately one had to destroy the other.

@Mockingjay

 

[Nahri Nalju]

How appropriate that Altair asked the very question that she had been afraid to face, afraid to answer, her whole career as a Sith. She had let the dark side consume her. Made it her being, the thing she woke up to, ate, and slept. The Empire was her life, even in her double-persona as Nahri, the rich-girl CEO. Everything she did was for it—but it was because she was trying to compensate for something she lost. And she didn't know if anyone would ever be able to give it back to her, or if she would be able to take it for herself.

Nahri leaned into his touch. It was grounding in a moment when she was suddenly beginning to feel untethered. "I had everything ripped away from me when I was young," she confessed. It was the tame version of the story, and even in this version, the last images of her sister's face swam behind her eyes like a ghost refusing not to haunt her. "Truthfully, I've always fantasized about getting it back some day. Stability. Loved ones to come home to after a rough day or when the whole galaxy seemed to be turned up on its head." The skin of cheeks heated. She felt embarrassed admitting this. "But nothing can bring them back. Not even all the magic in the Force. So, I did the only thing I knew to do. Threw myself into work. The order it brought to my life felt like stability."

"But even that's had consequences," she added with a huff-like laugh. "You see how awkward I am. Faking charisma as part of my disguise is easy. But the real thing?" Her mind surfed to memories of her first meeting with Darth Andruil. How her inability to put work away had nearly killed the seeds of a good friendship. One she still hoped to water. "Well, let's just say it's not easy." Her eyes traveled up to meet his. The world had long since bled away. She had truthfully forgotten where they were they were at for a moment. "I think I want to be with you too," she said. "I don't want to pressure you or put undue expectations on a result. But... just to see where things go. Where the Force leads us. I'll never get my old life back. But maybe I can build a new one. And I would very much like you to be part of it."

She really hoped this didn't bite her. This was the most she had borne herself to another in some time. If this backfired, if something happened down the road and this turned out to be another betrayal or dead end, she didn't know what she would do. What she would become. The dark side was already knocking at the door. The power she had gain in recent months tempting her to give all the way in. And she had resisted, because she knew what those who stepped through became. She just hoped she had made the right choice. @Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

It was strange hearing her story and the glimpses into her past. His life had been largely uneventful and it was filled with love and joy. His entire family was alive and he still called his mother frequently or she got fired up. He couldn’t imagine living a life bereft of any of that and finding purposely only in work. However, he could relate to coming clean about shortcomings and flaws, and it surprised him to see it from someone like her.

When she mentioned wanting to be with him or him being a part of her life, his tail began to sway subconsciously. Even then, he felt the trepidation in her that he felt in himself. However, he also couldn’t deny the other moments where they simply enjoyed one another’s company and it had nothing to do with the empire or the roles they played. It had nothing to do with their destinies or some grand plan set out for them. Her words rang throughout his mind repeatedly - did she truly want to be with him and try this? Had he misheard? He decided not to linger on that too much.

Altair smiled at her before he reached a hand up to gently cup her face, “I ain’t ever gonna ask anything of you that you ain’t ready to give,” He said simply before he leaned in to kiss her. It was a light, feathery kiss and he would respect her desire for privacy. Altair drew back after a moment and grasped her hand, entwining their fingers.

“Why don’t you take me to places here that make you happy?” He asked, “Or places you go to just to be you?” He was more curious about her than ever, “Maybe places you go to hide..” He said with a faint smile. He was too nervous to outright ask about her past or family, especially when it was clearly a sore subject. However, he was always taught that every part of someone’s past shaped them - good or bad. He couldn’t truly know her if he didn’t know anything about her life on Serenno.

@Mockingjay

 

[Nahri Nalju]

Nahri was surprised herself. She hadn't even considered that she could take Altair away from the festival. Nothing bound them to it. It was her day off, his too, else he wouldn't be here; they could go anywhere on Serenno. And it didn't take any prodding for her to come up with where to go. "I know just the place," she said, smiling at the memory. "Give me just a moment."

Then her phone was out and in hand as she arranged their travel. Minutes passed, but a taxi speeder was soon there to pick them up. As it whisked them away from the city, Nahri felt a pang watching the festivities fade behind her. From this altitude, the capital city as a splendor; but where they were going was unmatched in her view. As they flew, Nahri did her best to fill the silence with at least a little bit of chatter. "The place we're going... It's not as exciting or loud as the festival, and there certainly isn't as much to do, but it is a place of importance to me. A place to hide, I suppose." She had spoken of it with only one other outsider. Darth Andruil, in their moments of small talk during their last lab experiment. But to actually show it to somebody was thrilling.

The speeder passed over Nalju Manor, settling onto the far edge of the grounds, where the trees formed a manicured border for the property. The rest of the journey was on foot. Fortunately, it didn't take them long to get where she was going. The trees opened up onto the banks of a wide, babbling creek. A glade open to the violet hues of the Serennian sky. The air was deliciously cool, the glade silent, but for the water. "Beautiful, isn't it?" Nahri asked absentmindedly. "The are arguably more beautiful places in the galaxy, but for me? This is it." And, because being back here made her feel warm inside, she decided to spill just a little more. "I found it while hunting with my father as a girl. My younger sister was a slow learner. I was impatient, eager to get on with it. So, one time, I snuck off on my own. Got badly turned around, but I ended up here." She knelt, dragging the tips of her fingers through the cool water, then looked back at him and smiled ruefully. "Ever since then, I would come here to get away. It was the one place my sister could never find. My mother, though, she knew. If she needed me, she knew where to go. But that was rare. Whenever I was out here, she usually let me be — even covered for me a few times."

It occurred to her that she had been speaking about herself for awhile. And while it was cathartic, she was also curious about him. "Do you have a place like that anywhere? Back home perhaps?" @Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair was both surprised and thrilled when she immediately had a place in mind. The journey didn’t take them long, and he glanced back at the festival as they passed. He waved it off as Nahri expressed concerns about their destination not being as spectacular as the festival, “If it’s important to you, I wanna see it,” He said simply, giving her hand a firm squeeze as he waited for them to arrive.

Truthfully, he had expected some luxurious building or palatial courtyard. When it turned out to be something far more modest and a glade in the woods, he was genuinely pleased. He kept glancing over at her as they made their way through, her dress certainly not well suited for trekking through nature. She didn’t appear to care and he walked with her, inhaling the fresh air that was already different from the smog around the festival and main cities.

Altair’s brows rose when she mentioned hunting and sneaking out. A lot of it sounded like his own life as a child and brought a smile to his face from the memories. He could sense the shift in her emotions as she spoke, and she sounded far more human than she ever had before. She was about as far away from Vex as he had ever seen her.

“You know, you sound like you were a troublemaker as a kid,” He said with a grin, reflecting on her question to him, “I got nine siblings, I definitely had a lot of hiding spots. I wanna take you to Bandomeer sometime to show you. It…ain’t much over there,” He shrugged, “Definitely not as dazzling as Serenno. But we do have annual harvest festivals. I bake a mean pie, if I do say so myself, ‘cause I’ve won a ribbon every year I competed,” Altair said with pride.

He glanced over at the water and then back at her with a mischievous smile, “So, you ever been brave enough to take a dip in there?” Altair asked as he absentmindedly began to unbutton a few buttons on his uniform.

@Mockingjay

 

[Nahri Nalju]

Bandomeer.

For someone as well-traveled as Nahri, she couldn't recall ever visiting Bandomeer. She'd heard of it, of course. For centuries, it had been one of the most prolific farming and mining worlds in the galaxy. Which explained his accent, if nothing else. She slightly suspected he was underselling the beauty of his homeworld. Or, rather, underestimating how much she appreciated simplicity. If she were ever to retire one day, when she was much older, it would be to a world like Bandomeer where she could rest in peace.

"Sith's spit," she cursed, laughing. "You bake now, too? Don't ever trust me in a kitchen. The closest I came to a baking was a birthday cake for my mother when I was twelve." She grimaced as the image of the charred confection leaped from the pages of her memories to the forefront of her mind. "When I was done, it wasn't edible, but my father did offer to use it as charcoal."

Nahri's eyes wandered to the water where he suggested they swim. It wouldn't be the first time she had swam in it. The source of the stream was a spring further up in the mountains, which meant the water was blisteringly cold. But he was already unbuttoning his uniform, and the jolt of exhilaration she felt at sharing her secret spot with someone had her feeling suddenly mischievous.

The dress was hard to come out of, but she was a Sith witch who had unapologetically used her magic more than once to dress—so, would it really matter if she did the same to undress? The Force undid the zippers and clasps. If she were not in such a rush to beat him into the water, she might have tempted him to undo her dress for her. But it was too late for that now. Soon, her clothes were a puddle on the shore of the creek. Ranami was going to kill her when she saw the stains on the dress.

She splashed into the creek completely naked, bursting to the surface a moment later to gasp for air. The water was unbelievably cold, and yet, the sudden ice in her veins filled her with new life and energy. She whirled around to face Altair. "Your move, farmer boy," she teased, and then, as if that were not enough, reeled her hand back, called on the Force, and sent a wave of water rippling across the creek surface towards him. @Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair laughed at her recollection of baking a cake. Baking was perhaps the easiest method of cooking in his opinion, “Leave it to me then,” He said confidently. He genuinely enjoyed making food, especially when it was for others. He normally cooked for his closest friends or his roommates, but now everyone was scattered so he didn’t do it as much.

The tiefling winced a bit as he stepped into the water after he shrugged his uniform off. It was certainly colder than it looked, but he wouldn’t pansy out after challenging her. He made a point to angle his body so she couldn’t see what the water was doing to certain parts of his body, his muscled frame sinking into the water down to his chest. Altair spun to face her, watching as she shrugged off her dress. He shamelessly drank in sight of her nude body in the light as if seeing it for the first time. He admired her beautiful skin, the curves and the confident way she carried herself.

Altair was opening his mouth to say something when she splashed him with water. He yelped a bit and shook his head, giving a look of mock hurt before he dove towards her. He wrapped his arms around her and easily scooped her up before tossing her bodily back into the water with a huge splash. If she intended to keep her hair dry, that was out the window now.

He laughed and was clearly having a good time, playfully chasing after her or tugging her close in the water. At a certain point, he pulled her closer to himself so her arms were around his shoulders and he gazed into her eyes. It was just the two of them here surrounded by nothing but nature, and he couldn’t think of anywhere else to be.

“Thanks for showing me this place,” He said with a smile as he held her tightly, savoring her warm skin with goosebumps lining both their bodies. Altair was going to lean in for a kiss when he saw something glinting behind her. The tiefling drew back, swimming towards the edge of the water. He spotted what looked like a glass bottle half submerged. The tiefling shook his head, “Damn, do I gotta teach you about not littering in the woods too?” He quipped teasingly as he swam to pick up the bottle. To his surprise, there was a rolled up bit of parchment inside with some sort of seal. It appeared as if the bottle had been there for a while and just recently washed up.

Altair swam back towards Nahri, handing it to her, “You said only you know about this place?” He mentioned, eyebrows furrowing.

If she opened the letter, it was addressed directly to Nahri and it would be instantly clear it was written by an immediate family member.

@Mockingjay