Private Holo the Fun Be With You

[Zaiya Ceti]

Aris Noble

Zaiya's holoblaster was steady in her hands as she rounded the corner, ready to catch him off guard. as she moved silently -- or so she thought -- through the holographic maze. The Force whispered in her mind, guiding her closer to Aris. She could feel him. He was just ahead. She was so-o close.
But instead of an unsuspecting Aris, she found his trademark grin waiting for her, his weapon already raised.

The faintest ripple in the Force pricked at her awareness, and her heart sank. Her patterns flickered lavender in annoyance at herself -- she'd forgotten how sharp his hearing was!

Before she could react, a flash of light tagged her square in the chest. Her skin flared a vibrant orange with startled amusement as she stumbled back, laughing despite herself.

"Hey! " she yelped out, her voice a mix of indignation and laughter, but not before she did her best to try and tag him right back!

 

[Aris Noble]

There was a good number of seconds before he could fire again and have it count, but that didn't matter. Zaiya knew right where he was, and while he might've gotten the first shot, she clipped him in turn as he tried to get back behind cover. He laughed before he rushed off, gun low and ready as he sought a different spot to hide within and prepare.

"I can hear you you know! You won't be able to sneak up on me."

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Aris Noble

“Just you wait!” Zaiya cried out, trying to shoot a few light rounds at his quickly vanishing back as he ducked for cover. Granted, he was right. Talking meant he could use his excellent hearing to know where she was! Her parting shot likely didn’t help her, but now she had to be smart about this!

Strategic! It all came down to the next two shots and who got all three hits!

Holo loth ears just you wait! Aris will wear them!

Zaiya had to stifle her giggle, moving behind some cover as well. While she could still sense him, it now came down to being able to shoot him without him catching on how close she was.

She did her best to stifle her giggle, trying to focus. Okay. She should be able to use the Force to dampen her movements.

Maybe she could sneak up at him. Very carefully, the Lovalla began the attempt, crouching down while holding her holo light blaster up as she did her best to back away and swivel to find Aris through a new direction.

 

[Aris Noble]

He stayed calm, breathing steady as he listened. Or tried to. The thrum of music made it difficult for sure, especially now that she was trying to be quiet. It was good she was, otherwise this really would be once sided. And yet, she seemed to be better at sneaking than he thought. He'd lost track of her somewhere. He scanned around, lifting the blaster as he tried to catch wind, see if he could find her.

And he did. Literally. Her scent on the air. He blinked as he noticed just how familiar he was with her scent. Fresh, warm. Comforting.

It froze him up. A blush burned on his ears, easily hidden in the lights of this place. But he was open.

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Aris Noble

Zaiya could feel Aris -- not far now -- a steady ember glowing against the chaos of the maze. She pressed on, her skin briefly rippling with amber as a flicker of doubt crept in.

Could he hear my heartbeat? The thought made her pause, forcing her colors back to neutral before she edged forward again. He was so good at using his senses, but would this overwhelm him too?

A sharp turn brought her into the glow of a hot pink holo barrier, the light painting her in neon hues. For once, the bright hololights worked in her favor. She was close now, her grip tightening on the holoblaster as she peered around the next corner.

And there he was.

But Aris wasn't scanning for her. In fact, he didn't seem to notice her at all. His stance was focused, but his attention elsewhere.

What's got you distracted, Aris? Zaiya tilted her head, bemused.

Guess even Epicanthix can get distracted too! She thought to herself as she grinned, her patterns flashing mischievous cyan.

Silently, she crept closer, the music masking her steps as she raised her holoblaster. Aris seemed too lost in his own thoughts to react, giving Zaiya the perfect opening.

She rounded the corner and fired. A barrage of holo light bolts streaked toward him, lighting up the air.

"HAH! Payback!" she crowed, her voice ringing with triumph as her stripes flared a brilliant cyan.

 

[Aris Noble]

Aris just about jumped as he heard Zaiya's exclamation. He got shot square before he could dive to cover, and dive he did. She didn't see it right? Him blushing? She didn't know that he'd just tried to sniff her out right? The last time they talked about scents she started hyper fixating on brushing her teeth because he didn't word it right. No, there was no way she could tell. They were under the dancing lights of the arena that made his white hair glow almost green. Black lights.

He fired back blindly from around the corner, hoping to hear her try to rush away before he'd follow after.

He needed to get his head back in the game. He couldn't loose, right? Right! He dove right back out, gun leveled as he rushed low. "You're not going to get me again!"

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Aris Noble

"EEk!" Zaiya cried out in a half giggle, sparks of teal and cyan biolumiencnece shimmering over her skin in a crashing wave of mischevious delight. She had to duck quickly, or end up getti --

Oh BLAST it!

The flash of blue over her chest plate alerted that Aris had managed to strike her while she had ducked for cover. A pout twisted her lips but determination flared in her opal blue eyes as she low crawled through a small holo graphic tunnel. Okay, she was down two, but if she could get Aris again...

I can still win!

"You're not going to get me again!"

Oh just you wait! Zaiya thought to herself, trying to think of what would be the best way to move forward. Oh! Maybe she could make some distant sound to distract him? Make him think she was somewhere else? Looking around, she popped out of the tunnel and tried to see if there was a way she could push something to make him think there was someone else. Maybe throwing off a sensor? She attempted that, causing the flare of a holographic barrier off to the left when she was really to the right.

Of course, Zaiya hadn't thought about that the reason Aris had been distracted earlier was because he could smell her...

 

[Aris Noble]

He scooted to rush after her once he was certain the gunfire had stopped. Determination was now in his mind, a need to prove he was going to be the winner. That he wasn't distracted. That he wasn't smelling her. His eyes were wide, watching for a sign intently despite the flashing lights. He saw it. A flash to the left. Aris didn't hesitate, near sprinting into a slide as he took aim down the left.

"Got ya!"

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Aris Noble

He went left! It worked!

Zaiya didn’t gave time to preen at the success of her trick. No she had to act fast as Aris darted at full speed to the left, determined to find her and get the final shot for the game.

A flare of dark orange flecked with cobalt bioluminescence in her own determination went flashing over her mottled spots as she moved after him, using his own fierce determination to find her against him to come up behind him crouched low. She took aim and sent a volley of shots at Aris’s back, hoping to get hits she needed to win!

Maybe just maybe, by the time he heard her or realize, it would be too late!

 

[Aris Noble]

Aris tried to turn the moment he realized she wasn't there. The light had been a distraction, to play on his senses in a way he hadn't predicted. Behind him. He knew it was coming, that she was going to be there. That he needed to act immediately and shoot back. The moment he did finally turn though to see the determination in her expression and the shots already hitting his armor sensors, he knew.

He'd lost.

A soft chuckle into a full on laugh escaped him as he lowered his blaster to his side, grinning from ear to ear. ".. Well, I guess that means I get the ears huh?"

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Aris Noble

"I did it!!" Zaiya squealed, practically bouncing on her toes as her bioluminescence flared in bright, joyful bursts. The glow raced across her stripes in excited waves, her giddy energy infectious

"I won!" she declared, her voice high with triumph. She'd actually done it, she'd won at something combat related with Aris. Sure, it was just a holo light tag game, but it still counted! Without a second thought, she threw her arms around him, giving him a big, squishy hug despite their ridiculous holo tag gear.

"Yup! You are the ones who gets to wear them!" she teased, tipping her head back with a victorious grin and giving a celebratory shimmy. Her excitement rippled through the contact, the bright energy looping into him like a warm, electrifying pulse.

"Dont' worry... I'll keep the holo picture to myself!"

 

[Aris Noble]

He did his best not to pout about it, but there was a little pout at the mention of a picture. A pout, and a sign of acceptance as he nodded his head. Then she hugged him. Aris paused for a moment before he chuckled a bit more, returning the hug himself as he glanced down towards her with a bright, warm smile. One that lasted only for a couple moments before heat rushed over the back of his neck as he looked away.

".. We shouldn't keep this place locked off for too long. Since you won, we should head out. Get those cat ears for me, yeah?"

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Aris Noble

Seeing Aris pout just so was enough for Zaiya to think it was adorable, especially since he so very rarely showed such expressions. It made the Lovalla teenager giddy that she was slowly able to see all these little facets of Aris; bits and pieces of him that she held dear and with a bit of guilty pleasure, hoped that perhaps she would be one of the few to ever see them all.

With an amused wrinkle of her nose and then a laugh, she pulled back a bit and poked at the corner of his mouth to get his attention as he turned his head away, where that pout still lingered with a ghost of his grin.

"Hey, don't be pouty! You won the dance bet. I just won this one." She reminded him, "Besides, I'm sure there will be another competition between both of us soon."

Her skin gave a flair of cyan and light blue tones in amused mischief, "And maybe... I'll put the Loth ears on for a bit just so you can see how they look like on me!" she added this with a teasing quip but the teenager was also now blushing as well. It was more to see if Aris really thought she'd look cute in them or not. Would he tell her if they were?

"Come on, your turn next to pick a ride or game to do!" she told him, taking a step back but still moving her free hand to grab at his own. Without hesitation, she interlocked her fingers with his, giving him a little affectionate and giddy squeeze.

This was nice. So very, very awesome and nice!

 

[Aris Noble]

"Oh there will be."

Aris smirked just a bit as Zaiya poked his cheek, his eyes focused on her own all over again. These bets, these challenges for one another, he practically lived for them. He absolutely wanted more, win or loose. He did blink curiously though as she mentioned her trying on the ears. Was that something he actually wanted to see? Now faced with the reality he could still he really seemed to mull it over, even as they left hand in hand.

"I mean, first are the ears right? You gotta make good on winning the bet."

He glanced down to her, smirking just a bit more. If she wasn't going to, he wouldn't push her on it. "Then maybe we can get to the ferris wheel."

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Aris Noble

Well it was time to pay up.

"Yes, yes. We will go get them now," Zaiya replied, shaking her head in humor as she grinned at him

"Have to enjoy my win!" she told him, the pair moving to remove their holo light tag gear. "Don't worry, you'll get your turn when you finally tell me what you're calling in for the dance bet."

With everything put away, Zaiya shone Aris another bright grin, this time once again, hooking her own arm along his. "So.. have to find the perfect hololight Loth-cat ears for you.... maybe a specific color?" She teased, giving her nose a silly scrunch.

"And yeah, let's do the Ferris wheel after!" as she led them towards the direction where she saw the first few vendors. They should have the ears there!

 

[Aris Noble]

He was, sooner than she probably knew. The sudden realization of it had his mind.. Blank. Flustered. He didn't linger on it long, couldn't with them holding hands. He didn't want to give it away. To keep it a surprise? To keep himself from knowing whether she thought it was a good or bad thing? Probably a mix of those and more. Instead he brought a grin back. They walked through the park again, him pointing out various things he happened to see and thought was interesting until they finally made it to one of the lothcat ear stalls.

He hummed for a moment before picking up a pair that seemed to change color. According to the label, mood sensing. He grinned as he put them on.

"What do you think?"

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Aris Noble

For a second, Zaiya forgot how to breathe.

Not because the holo light Loth Cat ears were silly, though they absolutely were, but because of him.

Aris, standing there with that impossibly bright grin, green eyes glittering with mischief, looking down at her like this was the funniest thing in the galaxy. And stars, maybe it was. Maybe it would have been, if her heart hadn't just flipped so hard she was worried it might not settle back into place.

Too cute. Way too cute.

Heat crept up her neck, and before she could stop it, her markings shimmered in a soft bloom of coral and gold in flustered giddiness, betraying her completely. She bit the inside of her cheek, willing herself to play it cool. Normal. Casual. Like she wasn't two seconds away from combusting.

Oh why did he constantly make her feel like this? Would it continue? It was equal parts flustering as it was thrilling to feel like this for him.

The holo ears flickered, shifting colors, and Zaiya snatched at the distraction, latching onto the legend color key as if it could save her. Oh! Happy. Great. So now they were both broadcasting their emotions in neon.

She cleared her throat, forcing a teasing lilt into her voice as she inspected the tag.

"They look really good on you… super cute…" She winced the second the words left her mouth but pushed forward, scrambling for recovery.

"Uh -- looks like these change colors with mood. So I guess you get to broadcast your feelings just like me now! Bonus!"

She grinned, lifting the tag with exaggerated interest. "At least this comes with a cheat sheet. I don't even get that luxury."

And Force help her, Aris just kept grinning.

 

[Aris Noble]

Aris was pretty good at keeping his expressions tame. It was how he was grown. Droids didn't read his emotions, and he didn't have those kinds of emotions to replicate. Spending time with his family, with Zaiya and the others, had really helped him to learn what smiles truly meant. But the ears; they absolutely showed a lot of the emotions that were otherwise difficult for even Zaiya to read.

And right now? Flusteredness. He kept grinning and smiling, but the emotion he was hiding behind it was sheer fluster. Nerves, excitement, but actual embarrassment at her calling him cute. "Cheat sheets do help." Ignoring the fact he'd mentally mapped out a lot of what her colors meant. He reached down to take her hand, squeezing it as they started to make their way to the last destination of the park for the day.

Nerves and joy were still flashing in full force, unknown to him. "Shall we get to the last part of the part for the day?"

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Aris Noble

Needless to say, it was a surreal but awesome feeling to be able to read what emotions were going through Aris's mind because of the holo light Lothcat ears. To an extent, it made her wonder if this was how it was like for others when they saw her color shifting. Then another thought that made her smile and ripple in bashful hues as she thought that it was almost as if Aris were a Lovalla for a bit. not that she wanted to be anything but himself...but it was nice.

"Well this only has basic colors so i think your secrets are safe," she teased him, returning the squeeze of his hand with her own. While the mental block filtered her emotions, the nervous excitement and giddy joy were still there to sense and see paint over her rosy golden skin, giving off golden edged glowing highlights that gave fluttered pulses now and then.

"Yeah let's go!" she agreed, flashing him a grin. The Ferris wheel would be fun, plus allow them to catch their breath.

"Don't worry, Your Highness, " She added, as they wove their way through the crowd towards the direction where the giant glowing holographic Ferris Wheel was. There was no missing it -- it was huge!

"I won't ask you to wear those holographic Loth Cat ears back at the temple." a pause then a giggle, "Maybe around your younger siblings though!"

 

[Aris Noble]

"Around them, huh?" His siblings of all people? He tilted his head at the thought, the ears shifting to whatever color represented deep thought. Aurora would be all over them, he knew. Would the twins care? Maybe. They'd probably want their own. Should he get them some? He was really deep in his thoughts before he blinked. Embarrassment filled the ears again as he looked back to Zaiya. He didn't mean to get in his own head.

"Right, so. Shall we see how big of a park this really is?"

Another grin, though his ears betrayed just now nervous he was. They were stepping into the pod now. There was no going back. He really hoped he wouldn't mess this up.

Zaiya Ceti