Private Anger Management

[Ghruna]

Aris Noble Zaiya Ceti

Ghruna looked forward to training more than anything else. She wasn't in a small cell any more. Weeks had passed since Ghruna first agreed to train under Aris.

Her own room with its private shower was still strange, no locks on the door but the constant weight of an ankle monitor a cold reminder that she was not truly free. Still, it was far better than the cell.

The training hall had become her favourite place. She lived for these long, brutal sessions, pushing herself until every muscle burned and her body ached with honest effort. Nothing else made the blood sing in her veins quite like this.

Ghruna rolled her broad shoulders, crimson braids tied back tightly, sweat already glistening on her pale skin as she faced Aris in the centre of the mat. The training blade felt good in her grip. She dropped into a ready stance, blue eyes bright with challenge and a fierce grin pulling at her lips.

"Come on then, pretty Jedi," she called.

"Hit me like you mean it now. I want to ache properly."

 

[Aris Noble]

She'd been smiling more every day, even if it was accompanied by the desire to hit and break things. Aris stood opposite of her, blade in hand as he watched. Unmarred, untired. His practically droid body made it easy for him to keep moving. They were basic drills now, the fundamentals of Jedi swordsmanship, to try and show Ghruna some form of discipline that a Jedi needed in some form.

Not that Aris thought she'd understand any time soon.

"Very well." He flashed a bit of a smile before stepping forward suddenly. Both hands on the hilt of his blade, and an overhead slash all in the blink of an eye. All to try and catch her off guard right away.

Ghruna

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x | Companion: Domxite
Interacting with: Aris Noble Ghruna

Hit me like you mean it now. I want to ache properly!

Of all the strangest phrases to hear coming from someone's mouth, that likely was one of the top phrases Zaiya ever heard. The Lovalla knight slowed as she neared the section of the training area she felt Aris's presence draw her to. There was never a day Aris would stop training. In fact, because he loved to spar and learn as many fighting styles and techniques, plus his love of sparring, it was normal for her beloved to spar and train his body to be the best it could be.

Tie it with his Epicanthix culture and an appreciation for others when they fight, the young man was always down to fight.

So who was telling Aris to hit them like he meant it to the point of wanting to ache properly?

It wasn't long before she spotted Aris, the Lovalla brightening as the edges of her mottled spots shone with a golden iridescence and her smile grew wider.

That was when she registered who Aris was sparring.

OH! It was Ghruna.

Smile widening, the Jedi Knight drew near, and when she got close enough, she brought her hand up and gave a big wave of hello.

"Hi!" She beamed, even as Aris moved to strike at Ghruna. "Oh looks like you finally are getting that fight you wanted!" she quipped to Ghruna -- oh hopefully Zaiya didn't distract her... right?

 

[Ghruna]

Aris Noble Zaiya Ceti

Ghruna barely registered the newcomer at first. Sweat clung to her pale freckled skin, her crimson braids sticking to her neck, but the grin on her face was fierce and genuine. This was what she lived for, pushing until her body screamed.

Then the bright, colourful voice cut through the clash of blades.

She barely caught Aris’s overhead slash with a heavy parry, the impact jarring up her arms and sending a satisfying ache through her shoulders. The tip of the training blade caught her forearm. That stung.

Ghruna’s head snapped toward Zaiya, blue eyes narrowing for a split second. The same tricky little Jedi who had caught her in that forcefield. She forced the irritation down and answered with a rough grunt, blade still locked against Aris’s.

"Yes. Finally a proper fight," she called back, accent thick and a little breathless. She shoved Aris’s blade aside and stepped back, rolling her shoulders.

"He hits hard enough. I will ache nicely tonight."

Her gaze flicked back to Aris, lingering a moment longer than necessary on his steady stance and that small smile of his. The warmth in her chest annoyed her almost as much as the interruption. She dropped back into stance, tail giving an impatient flick.

"Don’t stop on her account," she muttered, half to Aris and half under her breath. "Again. Harder."

 

[Aris Noble]

He had stopped on Zaiya's account. Just for a moment Aris was distracted by the only person who could distract him, even just with a fleeting glance to the door. Aris smiled faintly, the kind that was genuine. The kind filled with an emotion ever rarer to see. He didn't linger too much longer though, just a fleeting moment of joy to see her before his gaze was refocused on Ghruna.

"With a healer present, very well."

Bruises and cuts would be no issue with Zaiya here. So the training blade came back around, biting and slashing as he leaned fully into the offensive. Pushing her, and yet very clearly targeting the differing zones he was teaching her to defend.

Ghruna | Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x | Companion: Domxite
Interacting with: Ghruna Aris Noble

A proper fight, she says...

"Ohhh... I see-ee-ee." Zaiya replied, her brows raising in mild amusement even as a ripple of cyan went dancing over her rosy golden skin. Aris would be able to sense the impish humor, even as the Lovalla internally beamed at the smile Aris shone at her direction.

She gave him a waggle of her brows in hello as much as a subtle flirt -- well as subtle as a glowing Lovalla can be as delighted as she was.

Before, she may have been super jealous of how Azurine and Aris got super into their sparring, but now Zaiya was a bit more confident in knowing that Aris loved her and that sparring was just one of the ways he could shine bright and feel alive.

"Yes! I'll be here to heal so ache as much as you want! Have at it! Don't hold back!" she chanted and encouraged with a pump of her fist, even as the Lovalla plopped herself down to watch them fight.

This was as much of a study on Ghruna as it was on Aris, especially since the Sith Acolyte was still under detainment. It made Zaiya wonder, though, what would Ghruna's path lead her to?

She studied Ghruna, observing the way the colors of the Force flowed over her. Oh, curious. Yes, it seemed the beserker really did enjoy sparring!

"Enjoying yourself? Aris is the best to spar with. He has all kind of nifty skills to get you pinned down."

 

[Ghruna]

Aris Noble Zaiya Ceti

She was forced to give ground. Her saber was drawn back and forth in tight movements. She had never been forced to truly learn her defensive routines, but Aris had given her painful lessons over and over.

Ghruna saw the opening the instant Aris’s gaze flicked toward Zaiya. That small, genuine smile he gave the colourful Jedi made something sharp twist in her chest, but she did not waste it. She surged forward. A thrust forward changed direction into a heavy swing to knock his saber upwards.

Ghruna stepped into the space, sweeping her leg low and hard behind his ankle while shoving her shoulder into his chest.

The big Epicanthix went down with a satisfying thud. Ghruna followed instantly, dropping her full weight on top of him and pinning his sword arm beneath one knee while her other hand pressed firmly against his throat.

She straddled the Jedi, rising over him. Her saber deactivated with a sharp hiss. Her tail gave an involuntary quiver of excitement behind her, the tip flicking rapidly.

A rough, breathless laugh escaped her, cheeks warming despite herself. The solid feel of him beneath her sent that annoying flutter through her stomach again.

"Pinned," she growled triumphantly

Sweat glistened on her pale skin, crimson braids hanging down towards Aris. She looked down at Aris with a fierce grin. Her heart was beating far too fast for just the fight.

"Got you," she muttered, quieter, almost forgetting that Zaiya was present.

 

[Aris Noble]

Aris was a calm, collected individual who rarely showed emotion. In a spar though, his emotions were clear as day. Grinning like a fool, happily bringing his blade around to fight. To win. He was mostly tempered by the desire to help Ghurna learn more, perhaps even see more than the Sith or her people. If she could be a Jedi, perhaps she could be more than just her father's daughter.

The side effect with it though was just how open his emotions were in the heat of battle.

"Enjoying yourself? Aris is the best to spar with. He has all kind of nifty skills to get you pinned down."

Ah. Aris blinked, glancing to Zaiya. Before he could even properly think through what she'd said though the ceiling was no longer the ceiling.

"Pinned,"

He laid flat, turning his eyes to Ghruna before chuckling. He'd let himself be distracted. It was her win, without a doubt. "That you did. Clever to get into someone's guard and grapple them down."

Zaiya Ceti | Ghruna

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x | Companion: Domxite
Interacting with: Aris Noble Ghruna

Honestly, it was a really interesting spar to watch.

Zaiya couldn't seem to drag her gaze away, the Lovalla Jedi Knight plucked at her satchel and took out a small back of apple crisps to snack on. Obviously, if one was going to watch a pretty hands on spar, it was always good to have some yummy snacks -- Err, well at least that was what Zaiya was thinking when everything seemed to suddenly switch in mere seconds.

It all happened rather comically -- Aris, smiling, cute, handsome, utterly distracted for a moment as he stared at her and then Ghruna went for the advantage and before anyone knew what happened, the teenager had Aris pinned!

Pinned!!

Zaiya felt the confusion as much as the resounding amusing Zaiya felt that for once, Aris had been distracted to keep proper attention in a fight. That shouldn't make her feel mischievously smug, but it did.

Well, at least until the empath caught the rather curious rush of victory and pleasure of success from Ghruna.

"Yup! You got him good. Point to Ghruna. " Zaiya called out, although the longer Ghruna stayed on top of Aris the more that little bit of lavender and green started to color the edges of her mottled spots in mild annoyance and maybe a little bit of jealousy. No, Lovalla liked having their significant other pinned too long by someone, and Zaiya was just telling herself that this was just a spar.

"Best of three tries then for the final winner?"

 

[Ghruna]

Aris Noble Zaiya Ceti


Ghruna stayed right where she was for several long seconds, her full weight pressing Aris into the mat. She could feel the heat of his body under hers, the solid muscle of his chest rising and falling against her, and it sent a raw, hungry rush through her that had nothing to do with the fight.

Her tail quivered again, the tip flicking rapidly with clear excitement. A slow, breathless grin spread across her face as she stared down at him, blue eyes dark.

“Mm,” she murmured.

Ghruna didn't truly under what she felt, but her body did on its knShe shifted her hips just slightly, not quite ready to let him up.

The annoying voice cut through everything. It was like an annoying knife through pleasantly warm butter.

Only then did she finally push herself off him, rising to her feet with a satisfied roll of her broad shoulders. Her cheeks were noticeably flushed, pale skin warm, and she made no effort to hide the way her gaze dragged over his body as he lay there.

She shot Zaiya a quick, sharp look, almost challenging, before turning back to Aris with that same fierce, slightly too-intense grin.

"Water first," she said plainly. Ghruna decided she needed a moment to cool down.

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x | Companion: Domxite
Interacting with: Aris Noble Ghruna

Zaiya was doing her best to be the best girlfriend ever.

The sort that only would support Aris and his joy of sparring. The one who would be happy to cheer and tell him it was great he found a good sparring partner that could take as much as he could give. Aris had always been concerned that he would hurt his sparring partner with the immense amount of strength he had, and while he had been getting better at realizing that it was okay to go full out, there was still a bit of recognition over the responsibility he had to keep himself from hurting someone.

And they had discussed before that Aris only loved her, and while it was nice to spar with others, Aris really, really, really liked it the best when he sparred with Zaiya. Especially now that they were adults and learning about each other in ways that made it all the more curious and delicious and --

A wash of overly excited emotions hit Zaiya like a hover train. Wait. That wasn't me -- well yes, thinking back on Aris and their spars did get Zaiya all excited, but this was different. This was --

Wait a minute.

Those opal blue eyes narrowed down at Ghruna, her straddling position, and how she seemed to linger a little tooo long.

Zaiya of course, responded in a way any Lovalla would. She cleared her throat VERY loudly and met the annoyed look from Ghruna with her own wary stare, the edges of her mottled spots becoming a more vibrant lavender and jade green hue.

"Yeah. Water. Focus on that!" she took a bottle from her satchel and tossed it at Ghruna.

And okay maybe she tossed it a little too hard once she saw how Ghruna glanced back at Aris with a little too broad of a grin.

"Catch!"

 

[Aris Noble]

Aris remained where he was, calm a ever, though there was a hint of a frown for those who knew him well enough to pick up on it. He'd spent too long ignoring what he plainly could see, if only because he figured it was just a childish crush that would fade as quick as it had formed. That was, much too clearly now, not the case.

It was Zaiya's surge of emotions that really cemented the failure on his part. He pushed himself up, glancing to Zaiya with a rather apologetic smile. His goal was only to help Ghruna escape the shadow of her father and her people, not become an object of interest. It was likely really telling that he had no idea how to properly handle it either. He looked back to Ghruna's grin. How was he going to broach this topic exactly?

At least right up until the bottle was thrown. He blinked in surprise, way more surprise.

Oh this really wasn't good.

Ghruna | Zaiya Ceti

 

[Ghruna]

Aris Noble Zaiya Ceti

Ghruna caught the water bottle with a startled grunt as it smacked hard against her chest. Cold water sloshed inside, and the sudden jolt made her cheeks burn even hotter. She was still breathing hard from the pin, from the solid warmth of Aris beneath her only moments ago, and now this colourful little Jedi was staring at her like she had done something wrong.

Her tail flicked once, then curled tightly against her leg in embarrassment. She had never felt anything like this before. The hot, restless pull in her stomach every time Aris grinned they ended up fighting close up. On Malthyl such things were simple. You fought. You won. You took what you wanted.

But here, with him, she did not know what she was doing. She only knew she liked being close to him far too much, and that made her feel stupid and young and exposed.

"I-" she started, voice rougher than usual, the thick Maldrani accent stumbling. Her blue eyes darted between Aris and Zaiya, uncertain for once. "I was only sparring."

She took a quick step back, clutching the bottle tightly in both hands. Her pale cheeks were flushed dark, and she could not quite meet Aris’s gaze anymore. The confident grin from earlier had faltered, replaced by something more awkward and unsure.

"Sorry," she muttered, barely loud enough to hear. "I did not mean… I just…" She trailed off, shoulders hunching slightly as she unscrewed the cap and took a long drink.

She took a deep breath and closed the water bottle. Her gaze darted from Zaiya to Aris and back again. She would observe how they interacted together.

"Wait..." she muttered under her breath. "No..."

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x |
Interacting with: Aris Noble Ghruna

Zaiya was able to tell right away from the feedback loop between Aris and her that he finally understood what was going on. Well, enough to show concern and his apology through their resonance as much as his expression.

Seeing that he was ever so patient with her and wasn't upset over her very slight flash of jealousy, Zaiya felt a little sheepish then.

It only got worse when she could tell that Ghruna was confused and wasn't sure what to do besides give an apology.

"Ahh, it is okay! I totally get getting all riled up sparring Aris. He's pretty fun to spar with." Zaiya admitted, coming over to walk down and pass a bottle of water to Aris. She flashed him a loving smile as she looked up at him then, her affection obvious.

The Lovalla Knight then turned to Ghruna, trying to tell herself that she was a Jedi Knight and in a position to be in better control of her emotions. She'd done her best to train all this time.

But biology was hard to fight against when Lovalla females were typically a bit more possessive than most.

"You did well Ghruna! Not many get a one up on Aris. He has a lot of strength and skill in footwork and using the space around him. Buuutt," She continued adding, "He has trained in different styles of fighting! So could try a round two and see if you can think on your feet on how to fight with a different style?"

Zaiya was trying to do her best to focus on the spar. If a convesation had to be had regarding expectations and boundries, it should be one done in private without her hanging about....

Not just because for privacy but becuase Zaiya knew that emotions were delicate things and Ghruna was just working through her own emotions and rage since her detainment.

 

[Aris Noble]

Aris was relatively quiet as he glanced between the two. Listened as they spoke, watched how they carried themselves. He was much more aware of Zaiya's emotions. He felt it through their bond, through the necklace around his neck. This had affected her a lot more than he'd expected, and yet, she was calm. Smiling and bubbly as ever. Trying to bridge the gap and keep things as calm as she could.

He smiled faintly.

"Trying something else could be good. I've been showing you a lot of the basics of how lightsaber combat was formed, but there's plenty more advanced forms. Different styles, different paths. Have you found one you've thought on from the readings I've given?"

Ghruna | Zaiya Ceti

 

[Ghruna]

Ghruna clutched the water bottle tightly, her knuckles pale. Her cheeks still burned hot under Zaiya’s gaze, and the Lovalla’s kind words only made her feel more exposed, like a clumsy youngling who had just been caught doing something stupid.

She had never felt this way before. Didn't recognise this restless, fluttering heat whenever Aris was close. On Malthyl no one explained these things. You simply took what you wanted. She had witnessed the most explicit acts and learned nothing for herself. Here everything felt confusing and messy, and she hated how young and foolish it made her feel.

She stole another quick glance at Aris, then looked away just as fast, tail curling tightly against her leg.

“Thank you,” she muttered. “For the water. And… for not being angry.”

She took a long drink, trying to steady herself, before straightening up. Training was safer. Training she understood.

“I do not enjoy reading. I have read some of the forms you gave me,” she said, turning toward Aris.

Her blue eyes lingered on him a second longer than necessary, tracing the line of his shoulders before she forced them back to his face.

“Djem So feels… right. Strong and direct. Like breaking your enemy instead of dancing around them.”

She rolled her broad shoulders, trying to shake off the lingering embarrassment. Of all the people why did it have to be the most annoying one? She tried not to picture them. She did.

“Perhaps that is...enough fighting for today," she offered quietly, looking at the floor.

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x | Companion: Domxite
Interacting with: Aris Noble Ghruna

For a moment, Zaiya's gaze flicked between them. Ghruna's emotions still felt tangled and confusing, but beneath it all was the steady reassurance of her bond with Aris, which helped ease the knot in her chest.

Besides...

Aris had already made it very clear who his favorite sparring partner was.
The thought hit her unexpectedly and pink immediately bloomed across her mottled spots.

"Ah." The Lovalla Knight added as she cleared her throat. Totally, and wholly professionally, of course.

"No, it is okay," she said quickly, waving a colorful hand. "You can keep sparring. It is good to practice," her mottled spots gave a delightful shift toward bright orange in curiosity.

"How else does one improve if one does not?" Zaiya wandered over, peering first at Aris, then at Ghruna.

"Oh!" she exclaimed, her face brightening as she gave a wider smile. She was trying her best to show her support and trust.

"How about I provide some healing, and then you both can continue?" It was her version of an olive branch, one that at least could allow the pair to continue sparring while she kept her observations to herself. This wasn't the time, and she certainly didn't want to embarrass herself, Aris, or Ghurna at all.

 

[Aris Noble]

Aris glanced between the two. This was, ultimately, awkward for them all. And yet, even Ghruna was trying to keep the peace. Keep from the awkwardness, and not through violence. When they first met, would she have done the same? He nodded once to Zaiya. Silent agreement to her idea. He nodded again towards Ghruna before he stepped over to take up a pair of training lightsabers. Tossed one her way.

"Then let's see if Djem So is something you can properly use."

Zaiya Ceti | Ghruna

 

[Ghruna]

Zaiya Ceti Aris Noble


Ghruna caught the training lightsaber one-handed, the familiar weight settling into her palm.

For a moment she just stood there, staring at the blade as it hummed to life with a low, steady snap-hiss. Her cheeks were still burning. The memory of being on top of Aris, of the solid heat of him beneath her and the way her tail had quivered with excitement, refused to leave her mind.

She hated how obvious it must have been. Hated how young and stupid it made her feel.

Her blue eyes flicked up to Aris, lingering on the calm line of his shoulders and the small, genuine smile he sometimes wore during spars. Then she quickly looked away again, tail still curled tight against her leg.

"I… can try," she said. She rolled her broad shoulders, trying to shake off the lingering embarrassment.

"I have only tried the stances and one pattern," she explained, "on my own."

She took a slow breath, then stepped into a ready stance, blade held in both hands.

Her gaze drifted back to him for a second longer than it should have.

She didn’t look at Zaiya, but she could feel the other woman’s presence. The offer of healing still hung in the air. Ghruna’s grip tightened on the hilt.

Seriously? She thought to herself. Some of the embarrassment turned to anger. Her?

"Whenever you are ready."