Private A Whisper in the Waves

[Ayra Lowe]

// Padawan Lowe //
// Objective // Find the Song //
// Focus // Reina Daival //

---

---

The Academy on Eshan hadn't been Ayra's home for long, staying during the rallying against the Galactic Empire and their new super weapon. Nerves still ran along the body of the young Echani, still unable to muster the courage to ride out diligently along with the rest of the Jedi. Even among them, and after Master Everest Vale's training, she felt fraudulent amongst such strong warriors.

Doubt never left her mind as the date to mobilise crawled nearer and nearer, like a hand grasping for her throat. The girl would wake in a cold sweat in the middle of the night, lightsaber clenched tightly in her palm. Her breaths fell heavy and panicked as the others sharing her room slept calmly, confidence and solidarity helping strengthen their rest.

Ayra felt alone, fighting with a cowardice that she knew the others didn't hold.

She silently dragged her robe over her figure and exit the domicile, careful not to wake any of the other padawans from their slumber. Just because she couldn't find any peace in sleep didn't mean that they shouldn't. The melancholic figure wandered the halls quietly, her arms clenching herself for comfort as she tried to understand quite why she was feeling this way. She knew she wasn't the most powerful Jedi, of course, Kito had already had to save her life on two occasions.

If the girl was here now then perhaps the Echani wouldn't be as afraid. Part of her was annoyed that her thoughts turned to the K'paur, but mostly she just craved any semblance of comfort. The ability to summon some small courage in order to fight a war that needed to be fought. Perhaps Master Everest Vale was right, maybe she should stick to the backlines of the war to not endanger any of the others.

As she wandered the lowly halls something strange caught Ayra in her steps, a sweetness that lightly caressed her ears. Melancholy exit its stage to allow for curiosity to take the spotlight, a song hanging low on the floor of the temple as the Echani sought its source. The halls were unlit as Ayra moved forward, following the shanty to where it came from, turning corners as she eagerly sought its source.

There it was.

A girl, sat upon the edge of the waterfall that crest the temple. It was a secluded area, safe from the hustle and bustle of masters and knights preparing for war. A calm garden terrace that shied away from the rest of the world. Perhaps that is why the girl had come here, and perhaps that was why Ayra was guided to it. She looked over the girl, silently listening to the song she hummed. The tune took grip of her heart, unsure how it hung so delicately in the girl's grasp. She radiated as she sung, orange hair illuminated by the water in front of her.

She seemed almost an angel sent to lift Ayra away from this, perhaps that was why the Echani was so hesitant to speak.

"Ummm..." The voice came quiet, not breaking the trance of the song. "Hi there, I didn't think anyone else would be awake."

 

[Reina Daival]

Tag: Ayra Lowe

Her gaze was firmly fixed upon her own reflection in the water ahead of herself, listening to the roars of the waterfall that helped to somewhat try and ease her heart. It was like a living replication of her Reina's emotions, rushing and roaring through her mind before settling into a calm ripples. There was far too much on her mind, and very few for her to talk to. Most of those she trusted were busy. With matters far more important than Reina which she had accepted. And so she did what she did best in these cases. When she couldn't get out her frustrations through her fists, she released them through song.

"Oh, the River knows my name tonight. She calls me soft, she calls me low. She takes the rage I cannot fight and drowns it deep down below."

Even before becoming an Ersansyr, Reina was a competent singer. Now? It had far more of a mystical feel to it. Her voice carrying on the wind like a gentle embrace. Carrying her emotions with the breeze, under the assumption there was none to hear her. Loneliness was the only time Reina was truly herself it appeared. With most, she came off as angry, aggressive, a problem waiting to happen. With others, she put on a brave face, acted as if she knew best. But at the root of it all, Reina was terrified. Alone. And only the water could keep her company.

"They say the strong don't ever break, but strength is just a brittle lie. I've seen it crack, I've heard it crack. Look at me and you'll see why..."

Strength. She had been told that she was strong, and that she targeted the weak. That she hurt them. But that was far the opposite for Reina. She was not someone strong preying on the weak. She was someone weak pretending to be strong. Hiding her weaknesses and fears through anger and frustrations as opposed to letting herself be seen.

"I'll sing until the night forgives, for all the pain means the same. This is the song that lives, by the river that knows my name."

At that, Reina let the singing trail off for a moment, returning to a small little hum as she rested her tail amidst the water. The chill biting at her skin yet she did not flinch as her gaze turned off to the Moons above. How she wished she could be as bright as them. Yet her thoughts were brought to a halting stop at the sound of a voice, causing Reina to spin her head round behind herself, her hair flicking around at the same time.

"Oh. I was...of the same thought...Are you okay?"

For a moment, Reina's speech still carried the same melodic tones of her song, whistling through the wind but as she carried on, it slowly came to the "tone" that Reina preferred. It was still ever so slightly song-like, but there was more of a conscious effort to restrain the "siren's song".

"You can sit if you want. I don't bite."

Well. She did. But only when she was fighting people. Either way, Reina swung her tail out of the water to face the Echani,, her tail slowly shifting and morphing in front of the stranger, turning into a pair of...well, human legs. The process causing Reina to break out into a grin. She was getting better at this whole shapeshifting thing she could do now.

Spoiler: OOC Notes

: Means written/typed communication : < Means Sign Language communication >

 

[Ayra Lowe]

// Padawan Lowe //
// Objective // Find the Song //
// Focus // Reina Daival //

---

---

Pale blue eyes watched silently as the girl in front of Ayra appeared to radiate, the song coming from her enchanting the girl unexpectedly. She clenched the sleeves of her hoodie as she listened, the song cascading to a finale as she broke the girl's concentration. A part of her lamented that it had ended, yet the wonder remained on her face.

"I didn't expect anyone to be singing here... You have a really beautiful voice." The words felt ashamed as they fled from her lips, not quite sure how the girl would take them.

The wonder on her face stayed stained upon her lips as the girl revealed the tail of a mermaid, delicate scales shimmering and decorating the length of the girl. Ayra had heard tales of women like this in stories, but to see one in front of her was so much different. The transfixion didn't lapse as the beautiful tail of the girl morphed into an equally beautiful pair of legs. Her gaze lingered upon the limbs longer than it should have, enchanted by the transformation she just witnessed.

"Oh... No I'm alright."

A blush crossed her cheeks as her eyes darted away, a bit of embarrassment as Ayra caught herself staring.

"And thanks for promising not to bite, that's been more of an issue than I ever really thought it would be."

Her mind turned back to that dark night in the forest, the wound upon her neck still aching as a hand unintentionally raised itself to caress the injury. Fortunately, Ayra suspected that vampires and mermaids were very different creatures, and that one would hardly be in the ranks of the Jedi. The Echani meekly moved towards the girl, finding courage to look her in the eyes once again.

"I just can't sleep, how about you?" A soft smile parted her lips as she spoke, hoping a kindred spirit had been found. "Stuck awake like I am?"

 

[Reina Daival]

Tag: Ayra Lowe

For a moment, a flicker of...discomfort came over Reina's face at being told she had a beautiful voice. It vanished as quickly as it came but Reina's eyes settled on the Echani in front of her, as Reina spoke once more.

"I...Thank you. Are you...feeling alright? You aren't...dazed or anything, right?"

It was something she wanted to reassure for herself. The Echani didn't seem to be reacting to how Valaine did when Reina had used her voice (by accident) to enchant the Sangnir. It was also around this time that Reina noticed the staring. The gaze lingering that caused a sudden warmth to come to Reina's cheeks. She still wasn't used to people looking at her like she was some kind of beauty. In a way she was, but she didn't want to let the ego go to her head. Either way, she decided to try and hide her embarrassment with a joke.

"Trust me. I get how much of an issue getting bitten can be. It's a bit of a pain in the neck."

She kept a smile on her face...Up until she saw the Echani's hand go towards her neck. Reina's glowing gaze squinting for a moment as she pushed herself up to her feet and made her way closer towards the Echani, slowly of course. It seems like the comment was more literal than Reina had been expecting. There was a part of her, a despairing part that thought it was an injury inflicted by Valaine. She felt horrible for assuming it, but she didn't know how badly Serina had...infected Valaine's morals.

"I haven't been able to have a restful night of sleep...for a while. Maybe if I tried sleeping in the water I'd feel better but..."

Reina shrugged her shoulders. It could be comforting but at the same time, it wasn't exactly safe like it was to sleep in your own bed. Either way, the Ersansyr held her hand out, keeping a small smile on her face, even as there were still a few specks of scales on her skin, shimmering in the moonlight.

"I'm Reina. It's nice to meet you. I don't think I've seen you around."

Spoiler: OOC Notes

: Means written/typed communication : < Means Sign Language communication >

 

[Ayra Lowe]

// Padawan Lowe //
// Objective // Find the Song //
// Focus // Reina Daival //

---

---

The concern out of the girl was welcome, a bit too much Ayra thought to herself. It was a bit worrying how much comfort the Echani felt when others showed concern for her wellbeing, worrying that it could be construed as weakness. Still, it was nice of the mermaid to ask if she was alright, though she tried to hide the fact she wasn't with a soft smile. Her lips slowly shifted, but the melancholy behind the movement was clear.

"I think so, your song is still stuck in my head though." The tune lulled itself in the depths of Ayra's mind, the fogginess passed as a symptom of her restlessness. "It's nothing you wouldn't expect after a few days being unable to sleep, at least." But the look in her eyes could tell Reina that her enchantment had an affect on the girl, though it's efficacy muffled by the thick walls of the temple.

The Echani let out a weak chuckle as Reina made her joke, more of a pitying laugh than anything but in her tiredness Ayra had managed to find the amusement. But it was clear that she had made the red head uncomfortable by revealing her wound, and eagerly sought to change the subject. A part of her mind wondered why she was such an expert at making other girl's uncomfortable, but quickly passed it in her head.

"Sleeping in the water?" It sounded deeply awful to the girl, as much as she enjoyed a good bath, falling asleep in it was a terrible thought. "I mean there was one time I passed out in the shower after a night out when I-" The words suddenly cut themselves as Ayra realised the story she was about to say, cutting it off before revealing.

"But yeah, I've been finding it hard to sleep." Pale eyes hit the floor as she spoke, meekly hoping to avoid explaining the reason why. "My name is Ayra Lowe, padawan of the New Jedi Order. Decentralisation has been a difficult transition for our order, so we've been spread across our territory. Not too many of us these days, so we're looking to support everyone else in the wars to come."

A boot rubbed the back of Ayra's calf as she spoke, clearly speaking about stuff she didn't fully understand. The girl hadn't thought she would be sent to war so early, but perhaps that was the path that all Jedi ended up upon.

"It's nice to meet you, though. Perhaps if I had earlier you could have sung me to sleep."

 

[Reina Daival]

Tag: Ayra Lowe

Still stuck in her mind. That was the last thing Reina had wanted to hear. At least they seemed conscious enough. At the same time, Reina was able to completely look through the fake smile that attempted to hide how Ayra felt. It was a familiar smile, one that Reina had tried to do plenty of times herself. A small frown coming over Reina's own face before she shook her head. It wasn't entirely that she was uncomfortable about it. It was just...strange for her to see someone who acted somewhat similar to her when it came to hiding how they truly felt.

"Well, it makes sense for me to sleep in the water. Ersansyr are both land and water based."

At that, Reina jabbed her finger at the direction of her neck, showing off some of the faint gills that were there. Yet Reina's eyebrow raised at Ayra's story that the Echani had left Reina hanging on.

"...Come on. You can't tell a story and leave a girl hanging. I have a fair few stories of my own I can tell...Though most are violent as opposed to interesting."

With that however, Reina listened to Ayra introduce herself. The frown on Reina's face growing more and more evident as the Echani spoke. More concerned than uncomfortable still. It was strange to hear someone else who was struggling amongst the Order. Though it was technically a difference reason to Reina's.

"I'm a Padawan as well. Was part of the New Jedi Order but...I kinda bailed after the Coruscant fiasco. One of my masters went missing and the other wasn't...She doesn't think highly of me. I don't have a Master anymore. Don't think I fit in with the Jedi much. I'm a fighter...A monster."

The Ersansyr rubbed her arm carefully, rubbing her thumb over one of her scales. She was still getting used to all of this. Being something other than a human. Instead she was some kind of "monster" in her eyes. She wasn't a natural Ersanyr. No. No. She had been artificially made, but of course she wasn't going to traumadump all of that on Ayra.

"It's nice to meet you as well Ayra. Though...I have a feeling if I sang, you'd be doing your best to stay up to listen to me."

Spoiler: OOC Notes

: Means written/typed communication : < Means Sign Language communication >

 

[Ayra Lowe]

// Padawan Lowe //
// Objective // Find the Song //
// Focus // Reina Daival //

---

---

A blush took the cheeks of the Echani as Reina asked her to finish the story, hoping that it would just be allowed to pass. Her foot dug into the ground as she struggled to decide if she would share the embarrassment.

"Well it's not exactly violent, moreso embarrassing." She spoke weakly as she assented to telling the story. "I'm sure you've heard it before, a couple padawans manage to find a master's liquor cabinet. Just because we're Jedi doesn't mean we don't like a good drink of course." Ayra strained to look Reina in the eyes as she spoke, hoping the girl wouldn't think less of her. "To make a long story short, I had one too many Coruscanti drinks and passed out quickly... In the shower."

She waited the reaction, either a laugh or a look of disappointment on the girl's face.

"With my clothes on, though I'm not honestly sure if that makes it better or worse."

She quietly took a seat on the ledge beside the mermaid, listening as she spoke. Ayra hadn't been there for the whatever happened on Coruscant, but she could assume it tied closely with the New Jedi Order's decision to decentralise. It had hurt the padawans above all else, both girls sat here without anyone to train them.

"I also don't have a master, but the others her have been nice in helping me learn. The skills help, but I still don't feel like enough. You know what I mean?" She continued to listen as the girl spoke, face shifting to pity as she heard a tale similar to her own. Ayra had never been something that she could consider a monster.

Worse, she was a coward.

"You're not a monster, Reina." The sweet words came low, but sure. It was true that the pair had just met, but the Echani felt confidence in her words. "Something as beautiful as you could never be. If I had the ability to sing like you, or to wade in the water as if it were my home, I may never shut up or come home."

The words were wistful, though ignorant of Reina's situation. As much as she hoped to encourage the girl, she may have done more bag than good.

"Maybe, but I don't see a way I could complain if you lulled me to sleep with that voice of yours. Not that I would ever try to waste a private concert."

A chuckle escaped her lips as she spoke, finding levity in their situation. Two padawans, stuck awake in the middle of the night and pitying themselves. What an inspiring pair they make, Ayra thought to herself, a soft smile sticking to her lips.

 

[Reina Daival]

Tag: Ayra Lowe

"Oh trust me. I know that very well. I used to drink like a sailor. Which...makes sense. I used to be a sailor before I joined the Jedi. Joined up to learn how to use the Spirit of the Ocean...or well, Force. Stayed to help people. Don't feel like I've been doing a lot of helping though..."

Her gaze fell for a moment at that, before swiftly looking back up at Ayra, where instead of a laugh or a look of disappointment, Reina instead gave a smile of reassurance. She wasn't going to judge someone for getting drunk. By the Spirit, there were plenty of times she wished she could drink as much as she used to.

"I'd say for most people, getting your clothes wet probably sucks. Unless like, you're trying to show yourself off which you obviously weren't."

She nodded away as Ayra spoke. The sense of feeling like you weren't good enough was one that Reina was quite familiar with. Yet in a way it was different to the experience Ayra was going through as Reina's eyes drifted off to look towards the moons.

"I get what you mean perfectly. I feel like...I'm not good enough to be a Jedi. I get too angry. Too frustrated. My master thought I'd become a killer who used anything she could to justify herself. She doesn't understand. Sometimes feels like no-one does."

Reina's gaze was firmly fixed on the moon as Ayra continued on talking. A small frown flickering across her face as Ayra said she wasn't a monster. Talking about how she was beautiful. The way she could sing. How Reina could wade through the waves like it was her home. In the past, she'd have snapped. Let her anger get the better of her. But Ayra didn't know better...

"...I wasn't always like this. It was forced on me Ayra. I was...a regular human, not too long ago. A Sith captured me. Experimented on me. She wanted to make me into what she thought was the "Best" version of me. Which is...this. You've only seen me when I'm focused on being human-like. The teeth I can get. The claws. I can look beautiful...but I can also be a monster. My voice? It's meant to seduce people. Enthral them. It's...why I don't sing around people. Sorry...if that was too much for you."

It wouldn't have came as a surprise to her if Ayra moved away. It was more than likely a shock to have all of that just dropped on you out of nowhere. But in a way, it was Reina showing trust in Ayra.

Spoiler: OOC Notes

: Means written/typed communication : < Means Sign Language communication >

 

[Ayra Lowe]

// Padawan Lowe //
// Objective // Find the Song //
// Focus // Reina Daival //

---

---

It was nice being honest with some, Ayra had never thought she'd tell that story to anyone. It was a chapter better left in the past along with the rest of the stupidity of youth, but maybe there was a bond to be shared there. If Reina wouldn't laugh at her, then Ayra thought it alright to give herself a small giggle.

"You're not trying to get me into a pool right to show off for you, are you?" A shoulder lightly pushed against Reina as she teased the girl.

But as Reina spoke of her trauma, the smile faded. Her pale eyes looked on as the girl spoke, attempting to understand and empathise with her so shame didn't catch with the words. The Echani felt stupid for fighting with being a coward, though she knew Reina would tell her that it's just as valid as her own shame.

But it wasn't.

The mermaid didn't choose to become what she was, and there was no way to change back. To revert what had been unjustly forced upon her. The padawan bit her lip as she realised what she said earlier, probably only jabbing at scars that threatened to open up if they were poked too hard.

"Anger." Her eyes fell downwards as she spoke, trying her best to empathise without denying Reina's chance to open up. "I only recently felt what true anger was. It scares me, but unlike the masters and other Jedi, I won't blame you for feeling that way. As much as they teach us to move past it, when we're victimised..." The words choked, remembering the vampire's teeth clenching around her throat. "When we're attacked and told only to fight back with passivity and goodness, it only further serves that anger."

A hand fell upon the redhead's, clenching it tightly as she looked into her eyes.

"This isn't the Jedi way, and perhaps it's shouldn't be uttered into words, but your anger is justified. There is a righteousness that must be used when fighting against those that seek to twist the world in their hands." A fire illuminated her pale eyes. Even if what she was saying was against the Jedi code, it was clear that the belief was held deep within her. "As long as that righteousness is aimed in the right direction, then I'll happily dispense that justice."

Ayra allowed the words to pour from her lips, hoping that they remained in the silent seclusion of the pair. She would be in trouble if some of the masters heard her, but what she said right now was what she believed Reina needed to hear.

"And if enthralling me is what needs to happen to hear that beautiful voice of yours, then seduce away."

Her head fell against the shoulder of the fellow padawan, her eyes closing restfully as she hoped the teasing wasn't enough for the girl.

 

[Reina Daival]

Tag: Ayra Lowe

"If I was trying to get you in the pool, I'd have done it by now."

And with that, Reina raised an eyebrow. Listening to Ayra talk about anger. She could already say that it was a relief to not have someone instantly smacking her down with her frustrations. That was what she had needed this entire time. Someone to listen. Not to tell her that it was wrong. Sure, she didn't need to be told it was right either...but the words from the Echani helped. They helped Reina a lot. To feel seen and heard.

"Anger and frustration is all I knew when I was young. Abandoned on the ocean by my parents...I found out it had been an accident later on but at the same time...I felt unwanted. Raised by a bunch of fishermen. Never felt like I belonged. I closed my heart off to people."

Her eyes darted off to look at the hand resting atop of hers. A small flinch in response to it. Physical touch was still something she struggled with in a casual setting. But she was getting there as she ended up relaxing.

"I'm already a pretty karking bad Jedi. I've killed. With ease. A bunch of slavers to save kids. I ended up...losing my leg because of it. It came back when I was changed...but it was still a lesson I tried to learn from. But I don't kill because...I think I'm right. I rarely am right. It's just...I don't know how to word it. I'm not a healer. I'm not a teacher. I can't make things. The only thing I can contribute to the Galaxy is that I can fight. That's all I can do to protect people..."

Of course, there were flaws in Reina's own logic. She could teach. Just not in the way she thought was suitable. She could teach people how to fish. How to sail. She couldn't make things, but she could fish. She could contribute to getting food for people. But in her eyes, that wasn't big. She couldn't do anything worthwhile...

Then came the comment from Ayra. She could seduce away with her voice if she wanted. For once, she was grateful to be out late at night. It hopefully made it harder to see the bright blush creeping onto her cheeks as Ayra leaned against the redhead's shoulder...and Reina lifted her arm up to wrap it around Ayra in a side-embrace.

"I-I...don't do...seducing. But...thanks. I think?"

Spoiler: OOC Notes

: Means written/typed communication : < Means Sign Language communication >