Private Familiar Faces in Familiar Places

[Reina Daival]

//: Valaine Valentine //:
//: Outfit //;

The snow fell around the Ersansyr as she sat amidst a field of snow. Her gaze firmly focused off in the distance as various thoughts dwelled on her mind. Thoughts of where people were. What they were doing. Possible lives she could have lived. It had been so long since she had last properly looked out amidst the open areas of Eshan. Not since she had been to Everest's enclave. She couldn't even remember where that was anymore, or if it even existed anymore. With the hostilities that the Mandalorian Empire had shown towards Jedi, it would be safe for her to assume that the Enclave was abandoned, if not destroyed. That hadn't stopped her from making small monuments when she could. To remember the lives of those who had lived at the enclave.

Why should she care, one might ask? She wasn't a Jedi. Not anymore. She wasn't truly a Sith either. What was she? A villain? A hero? No. In her eyes, Reina was no-one. No-one of importance. No-one of note. And whilst there was somewhat freeing about that thought, it also made her feel aimless. Where was her journey meant to take her next? Of course her Master would have tasks for her to do. Further ways for her to descend downwards into the abyss of the Force. It wasn't what she wanted. But she didn't quite know what she wanted anymore.

The living scared Reina. The actions they'd make. The choices they'd go with. It was all so unpredictable. There were few she could turn to when it came to this. Even fewer that she trusted not to take advantage of her concerns and worries. Sometimes she just wondered who she could have been, as the Ersansyr fell backwards into the snow, closing her eyes and just letting herself be surrounded by the cold.


​

 

[Valaine Valentine]

Tags - Reina Daival

It was just another day on Eshan, albeit a cold one due the planet going through its winter, and so Valaine had dressed appropriately for such weather. She donned a long grey coat of some kind of woolen fabric with a warm brown scarf wrapped around her neck and even boots (with the fur) to help her trudge through the blankets of snow. She had grown used to life on the planet for it was more or less now her home, and what a home it was. Long gone were the dark narrow under-streets of Jutrand, the scorching and blistering dry heat of Korriban, and the desolate wasteland of metal and rock that was Malachor V. Eshan suited her, she thought. For once it was a place that seemed like it was actually meant to promote the flourishing of life rather than snuff it out.

Today's walk was one of personal pleasantries, just a nice way to pass the time and look forward towards the future. The cold hardly bothered her as each step crunched the snow and fell deep through it, but as she made her way forward she had noticed a second set of tracks and curiosity got the better of her as she started to walk in the footfalls of someone else.

With each step she drew nearer towards the culprit of those prints in the cold snow, and as she shortened that distance her heightened senses started to pick up a familiar scent, and seldom were her senses wrong when it came to people she knew... A soft smirk played on her lips as she continued following the path and briefly did she ponder what Reina of all people was doing here on Eshan. She was certain she'd learn soon enough.

The Sangnir softened her footfalls as she drew closer towards where Reina had laid herself in the snow, and upon coming into view of the redhead she promptly kicked a good amount of snow over her. "You know, I get that snow is made of water but aren't you going to freeze laying in it like that?" came Valaine's voice as she smirked down towards the Ersansyr. "Thought I could smell something familiar. Hey Reina, how's it going?" she greeted casually with her hands in her pockets; she held a very relaxed and unguarded posture despite the fact that the two had once fought. The Sangnir in general seemed more at ease than previous encounters.

​

​

 

[Reina Daival]

//: Valaine Valentine //:
//: Outfit //;

"Mhm. I have more of a fiery nature than you realise Valaine."
​

Reina gave a small grumble from the snow, raising her hand towards the Sangnir. It was almost ironic in a way with how lazy the Ersansyr was being, compared to how Valaine used to be. Perhaps she was still as low energy as she normally was but Reina wasn't too sure. She couldn't quite recall the last time they spoke. Was it after they fought each other? Her memory wasn't as good as it used to be. Maybe she was getting old. The thought caused a small tired chuckle to escape her lips as she pushed herself up to her feet, brushing the snow off her.

"I suppose fish is a familiar smell. I've been...better. But we both know I don't like to talk about myself. How have you been? And...erh...Kito? I haven't seen her for a while. Though I feel like that's perhaps a good thing for my safety."
​

She waved her hand through the air somewhat dismissively, letting the Force push back some of the snow out of habit. Whilst Valaine was one of the people Reina trusted, she was more concerned with catching up with an old friend than she was about approaching her own problems. Distractions were amazing in that aspect. The Ersansyr kicked out the snow, letting chunks fly up into the air and fall back down to the planet as she closed her eyes, enjoying the cold all around her.

"How's your whole...training going as well? You seem more confident. It's nice to see."
​

More irony, in Reina's eyes. The more training she experienced, the less confident she was in herself. Less sure of who she was meant to be. She shook her head to dismiss that thought from her mind as snow continued to fall around the pair. There was part of Reina that wanted to try and continue talking, to just let the words flow out of her mouth but that wasn't her. Reina was always quiet and part of her felt that the more she talked, the more she'd give away that something was wrong

​

 

[Valaine Valentine]

Tags - Reina Daival

"Oh? Do you? Fire's real bad for me you know?" hummed Valaine in light amusement as she casually stroked a hand through her dark long hair, brushing away the pale flakes of snow that had landed upon it and become painfully obvious in its contrast. In general Valaine seemed in good spirits, perhaps that was why she came off as having higher energy than she'd previously displayed in the past. But she had good reason for being happy, considering all that has happened since the last time she was on Jutrand.

Her ash grey eyes glanced away in thought as she listened to Reina speak, a soft smile pulling at the corner of her lips. "I guess things have been fine. I like this planet, it's nice. Landed a really good Master this time." she replied before turning back to regard the Ersansyr. "Aha, Kito's doing fine, she visits a lot. Heard about that little scrap you two had. Don't worry about it though, I ain't mad, she came back after all." she answered as she crossed her arms over her chest. "You'd have only to worry if you killed or maimed her, then I'd be pretty mad. I spoke to her about it too, explained to her that you can't really help it when you end up on different sides. Most you can do is make sure you both walk away from it." she spoke before pacing around in the snow idly, kicking at it with her feet as she walked lazily.

It was a part of Valaine that was perhaps the most departed from the group she belonged to; her empathy and willingness to not hold grudges, to not just view the opposing factions as her foe. Some might view it as a weakness but personally Valaine didn't much care, it was more important to her to not end up as a machine for killing. She wanted to remain a person that could feel and understand, and to cast that away was to become more of a monster than she'd already been turned into physically. The thought had her grimace for a moment before she smirked and glanced back towards Reina.

"Training is going well. I'm learning some pretty neat stuff. You know that uh... Tuta-whatever? The... I think she explained it was kinda like controlling heat? Yeah, I'm learning that. Pretty cool huh?" she asked, entirely unaware of how far Reina herself had progressed in her own training, perhaps even at this point the Ersansyr far outpaced her in such regards, but she wouldn't ask of it because of the redhead's insistence on not talking about herself. "But... If I seem more confident, it's because I always was. It just tends to get me into trouble more than anything though, so I'm trying to keep it reigned in a little more. Won't be much use to my Master if I run off and get killed by some super Jedi Grandmaster that's actually a Padawan or something." she jested with a huff of amusement as she kicked at more snow, digging her foot deeper to send a larger amount into the air in front of her (though thankfully not directed at Reina this time).

​

​

 

[Reina Daival]

//: Valaine Valentine //:
//: Outfit //;

"Well. I did always say I'm a bad friend. Maybe I'm bad for you as well."

Reina responded in kind, a little cheeky grin coming to her face for a second before it was wiped away. Nodding along slowly as she listened to Valaine speak. It was nice to hear someone she cared about talking once more. She had isolated herself away from most people for far too long. Even with her "allies" amongst the Sith, and her "family" amongst the Mandalorians, Reina had mostly kept her to her own thoughts for company. A danger situation to be in some may say.

"As much as my old Jedi Master might believe I'm some heartless killer, I try not to kill those I know or care about. It's only strangers who are trying to kill me that need to worry. I didn't want to fight her, y'know? I almost let her kill me. But there was a part of me that refused to die. That wanted to live for someone. That desire and want...isn't as strong anymore."
​

Did that mean if the situation was to happen again, Reina would let herself fall? She didn't quite know herself if she was being honest. No-one ever knew until they were in that situation. When it was them versus someone else. Reina had decided to take a...leave of the recent wars and battles that the Sith had been getting involved in. It wasn't as if she'd have been missed from either the Order or the Covenant. It also let her try and keep a control of the more corrupting nature of surrounding herself with the Darkness. Her gaze flicked over towards Valaine as she spoke about her training, breaking out into a small grin once more.

"Tutaminis. It helps to manipulate different types of energy. Was one of the first thing they taught me at with the Jedi. There were others as well, curato salva for healing. I was never too good at that. Altus sopor helped with focusing on the Force. I took to that pretty well, it helped me use the Force to hide myself from others. There's a lot more, but I'm not gonna bore you with Jedi lectures."​

She waved her hand somewhat dismissively through the air. For all intents and purposes with what Reina had known and learned from the Jedi, she had basically all but considered herself on the level of a Knight. It had been the philosophical and moral components of being a Jedi that had held her back. Or maybe it had been her master who held her back. She wasn't too sure anymore.

"Confidence is a good trait to have Valaine. To show. But you're right in also keeping it under control. All of that nonsense about controlling your emotions, not letting them control you."​

For someone who said Valaine was right, Reina was perhaps a bit more dismissive about the idea of controlling your emotions. If anything, it was out of a sense of jealousy since she couldn't do the same...but it wasn't something she'd focus on.

​

 

[Valaine Valentine]

Tags - Reina Daival

"Well apparently I've got a bad habit of being close with people that are bad for me. Kito's entire like, 'thing', is controlling and manipulating fire. You'd think she'd be the last person I wanna be around right?" she huffed in amusement at the thought of the unlikely relationship she had formed with the Shaper before glancing back towards Reina with a smirk. "But you know, you shouldn't just let her try to kill you either. I'd have been just as upset with her about that. Honestly some of you are way too awkward with stuff like this, it's like you all forget you can talk." she clarified before she turned and started to walk slowly through the snow, though it seemed she expected Reina to join her at least.

As her steps fell through the snow she turned her gaze skyward as flecks of snow continued to land in her dark hair, smattering it with specks of silver against obsidian. She didn't seem to particularly mind it though as she just kept trudging along. Her destination wasn't anywhere in particular, it was more just a desire to continue her stroll, but this time alongside a friend at least.

She peered over her shoulder back at Reina as she continued, "You seem to be at odds with all this jedi and sith business. Ever thought about putting the sword down and opening up a bakery or something?" she smirked smugly, though there was a genuine suggestion behind her words. If war and battle was wearing one down so much, then why not find some quiet planet to live the comfortable life on? "I think about it a lot, but right now I've got a lot of good will to pay back. My master took me to this nice planet, gave me my own home here, and now I get to live a better life than I've ever known. I want to pay that back in some way before I cut and run. But what about you? Do you owe anyone anything at this point?" she asked before turning her gaze forward once more. She walked by a small mound of snow and couldn't contain the reflexive desire to just kick it over with a foot before carrying on like nothing happened.

"Also wow, you learned that much? My technique with the Force still sucks. I can barely push things over still." she huffed in feigned annoyance.

​

​

 

[Reina Daival]

//: Valaine Valentine //:
//: Outfit //;

"Technically, we can't talk about it. You're lucky to have had a master that's more accepting of that. But at least with a fair few Jedi, it's massively looked down upon to even discuss things with a Sith. Not saying that I am a Sith. But you know Jedi aren't exactly going to see a difference. A red lightsaber is a red lightsaber to them."
​

A small sigh escaped the Ersansyr's lips as she lazily threw her hand in the air, letting a few snowflakes land on her palm as she kicked herself off to walk alongside Valaine. Like the Sangnir, Reina had no particular destination in mind. It was just fun to be able to walk alongside a friend and converse with them. Though the suggestion that Reina should try to settle down caused the Ersansyr to break out into a slight scowl, looking down at her feet instead.

"I can't. No-where will accept me. The family who raised me died. I'd put my birth family in too much danger if I lived with them. Their home got conquered by the Sith. My birth world got conquered by the Imperials. The only other family I have are the Mandalorians. And if they knew I was a member of the Sith, they'd crucify me like they are the Jedi. I'll die by the sword eventually. It's just a matter of time. There will be no peaceful end for me. Just a cold and lonely one, at the end of another person's blade."
​

It was far easier said than done. Taking herself out of this life. Where would she even go? Would Carnifex even let her have a peaceful life? It was possible her name was out there. She could get hunted down. By Jedi, Sith, Bounty Hunter. Any of them. They could go after her. Her family. She needed to keep fighting. She had to protect them no matter what. Even if it meant she couldn't rest. That she could never experience peace. She had to carry on for them.

Either way, she turned her attention back over towards Valaine, raising an eyebrow at her comment about the Force. Fighting the urge to let out a small snicker at the idea of being further along in training than Valaine was. But in the same avenue of thought, she had been ahead of other people and they had left her behind so she couldn't get too smug.

"I've had many teachers at the end of the day. The Grandmaster of the Jedi taught me a bit. A Jedi Shadow. My Ex-Master, for what she's worth. A Dark Lord of the Sith currently. You'll get there eventually."

​

 

[Valaine Valentine]

Tags - Reina Daival

"Hmm...? Maybe I can't talk about it either? I didn't really ask if I could or not..." she answered in return. In truth her Master had seemingly, at least for now, let her do as she pleased outside of the training she received on most mornings. Perhaps in truth Valaine was a terrible apprentice as a result of that, but the most she'd been instructed to do was to act in a fashion that might befit her status as an apprentice to her Master. "... I mean, it's probably fine, right...?" she hummed in thought.

The Sangnir pondered upon Reina's words about having nowhere she could go as they continued to walk, and lightly did Valaine bob her head from left to right in thought as her dark hair swayed with the movement. "Do you think they'd care enough to hunt you down if you left...? They've got a lot to do, chasing one person seems silly right?" she asked plainly. "The Order is a big group, and people like me are practically invisible within it. Nobody pays much attention to an acolyte, even if her Master is rather important. I'm a nobody, and I kind of prefer it that way, but Reina..." she began as she glanced over her shoulder. "Do you consider yourself a somebody worth hunting down through the galaxy just because you left? Your answer can either be that you've got an ego or you're a nobody like me. Both pretty harsh I know, but well, you gotta put these things into perspective you know? How much trouble is too much trouble for them to bother with?" she asked before turning forward again.

The two passed under a few solitary trees that lined the snowy path they walked, snow gently falling from the branches into steadily building mounds at the roots. Valaine glanced towards them briefly as she pressed on. "If nobody will accept you... Then go to a place with nobody? You're gonna have to forgive the assumption but... You don't exactly seem like you're much a people person to begin with right? I know some prefer solitude and stuff... But just think about it? Might be what you need, you never know." she answered.

She considered her advise somewhat rough and harsh, but she believed that sometimes that's what people needed. "As for my own training... I think I'm in good hands with my current Master. Who knows, maybe you'll see me suddenly take off and become a Knight?" she smirked in amusement at the thought. To her that was a path still far ahead in the distance.

​

​

 

[Reina Daival]

//: Valaine Valentine //:
//: Outfit //;

"You'll be fine. Your master seems to be one of the good ones. For what that's worth amongst the Sith."

Reina gave a small shrug of her shoulders as they continued to walk, her gaze on the bits of snow gently falling. Though it was then that Valaine started to talk about the thing that aggrevated Reina the most. The thing she tried not to think about. Even now, she believed she was being belittled by her friend. Even if in reality Valaine was more than likely referring to herself about the Acolyte comment, the words were already twisting in the Ersansyr's head. No matter what, she would never be seen for what she wanted to be. Her "friends" amongst the Jedi didn't believe she could be anything more. Her friend amongst the Sith believed Reina was nothing more than Acolyte. She was nothing. No-one. When all she wanted was to be someone.

"I don't need you to remind me that I'm nothing Valaine. Every person I've cared about in this life has made that perfectly clear to me. Though thank you for pointing out the obvious, I suppose."

Harshness. That was all anyone showed her anymore. If it was meant to be some kind of realisation Reina needed, it had far the opposite effect. The joy and companionship she had felt being reunited with a friend had been torn away instead. Once again replaced with that empty feeling in her chest. That cold sensation that continued to creep into her bones that could only be abated by her anger. Anger that she had always tried to hide when she had been part of the Jedi. Anger that had gotten her Jedi master to abandon her. Everything about her caused people to abandon her. Again. And again. Those thoughts were spiralling within her mind as she clenched her fists as tightly as she could.

"Mhm. I'm sure you'll soar off into the sky. Everyone around me always does."

Perhaps she was beginning to be too harsh herself but Reina found herself no longer caring. What was the point in it all when all she seemed to be shown was tough love, harshness or abandoned on the side of the path when people got bored of. For now, she just let silence fill the air as she stared ahead of herself as they walked.

​

 

[Valaine Valentine]

Tags - Reina Daival

"I think so too!" exclaimed Valaine with a smile as she walked on. "At least, she has to be right? Look at how nice this planet is after all. Certainly doesn't seem like a place that'd be ruled by someone bad." she replied. She listened to Reina's words in turn as she pressed on, glancing over her shoulder with a light hum of thought. "Hey, what's wrong with being nothing? I love it." she pouted and answered in turn, it seemed to her that Reina had misunderstood where she was coming from.

A gentle sigh escaped her lips, "I'd rather be nothing than something. If I was something I'd probably get ripped apart by all those assholes out there in the galaxy. But being nothing? I get to do my own thing, I get to move unnoticed, like a mouse in the shadows. Isn't that way better?" she asked in turn. Her words were genuine, the Sangnir genuinely believed it was better to be nobody than somebody, it was after all how she had survived her upbringing on Jutrand so it was a way of life she was very assured of.

"I ain't picking on you Reina, if that's what you're thinking. Just being candid. We can be like that right? Candid with one another? I'd like to think so at least." she added as she turned forward again, this time passing a frozen lake, though so much snow had fallen that you couldn't really tell it was a lake unless you knew what to look for. In this case? A perfectly flat floor of snow that extended to the other far bank. She paused in front of the lake to look out over it, holding her hands behind her back in a casual manner as she breathed in the cool air.

"You're way too hard on yourself, you know that right?" she asked as she turned to the Ersansyr. "I know you might have a lot of reason to be, but you sound like you're in a bit of a bout of isolation right now, so I got something else to ask you. You're saying other people are basically putting you down, right? Does that mean you gotta put yourself down too? If you can't love yourself Reina, who can? It's all that uh, hell what is it called..." she hummed. "Self-love-...? No, that sounds really weird, uh, self acceptance? I'm sure the Jedi probably teach something about that right? At least that sounds like their shtick..." she asked curiously as ash grey eyes glanced over the redhead.

​

​