Faction [Jedi] A Knighting - Zaiya Ceti

[Colette]

Aris Noble

That's a bird, right?

Colette nodded as she continued to tickle the skin of her forearm with her brush. Large red spots of color had taken shape along her arm but quite frankly she enjoyed the sensation. There was something to the feeling of dirt or color covering up your skin. Something in the way it muted the skin's touch to the world.

She looked at the v-shaped abstraction of a bird on her canvas.

"Only seems fitting that a painting on Zaiya's knighting has one." She wrapped her arms around her younger brother with a tight squeeze. He was taller than her now. He had been for a while, but it was far more prominent now. "Missed you."

She rubbed parts of the red paint off on his back before she let him go and turned back to her painting.

"You know how it is. One day at a time." She sighed and glanced over at Zaiya and then Aris. "I applied to be quartermaster for the Jedi Order in the New Republic. Wasn't sure I'd get that role, buuut…"

"I did. And I've been doing good, I think. What about you? What have you been up to?"

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

"This," Cora gestured to the infant as she was lifted from her pram, "is Luciana. Our daughter."

She didn't miss the quiet tenderness in Iris' gaze, nor Zaiya's bright curiosity. The latter of which was mirrored by Lucy's wide blue eyes, staring at the pair of women in that unabashed way babies do. Even placed on the mat, her head swiveled around to keep them in her sights.

Cora joined Makko in the grass, not wanting to crowd the pair of Jedi. She offered Iris a smile before reaching to slip an errant dark curl beneath Luciana's hat.

"You've done well. I'm proud of Zaiya. And you.”

Makko Vyres Zaiya Ceti Iris Arani @All

 

[Aris Noble]

Aris returned the hug with a single arm, which was much more casual than the rigidity he'd had before with showing emotion. He still wasn't the best at it, but he'd been improving more than he'd ever realize. "Missed you too." He let her go, idly leaning back on his hands again to let her paint and observe as much as she'd let him, curious as ever.

"Quartermaster? Congratulations on that." That was a bit of a surprise, given the lift of his eyebrows before he smiled. "I've been up to soul searching, really. Mostly building the house on Midvinter, but there's a surprising number of places I've found just attuned to the Force to let me think and clear my head. It's been good to, since everything."

Colette

 

[Colette]

Zaiya Ceti Aris Noble

She nodded and returned to the painting. It needed something but she wasn't quite sure what.

"I soul searched for a bit after Coruscant and Eshan. Wandered around as a skeptic before I resettled into the Jedi Order on Naboo." She turned to him with a grin. "It's… Certainly different from how Valery runs things, but… I suppose I don't mind. She deserves to take a break after all the things that's happened."

Her eyes set on Zaiya. She looked happy, proud of her accomplishments as she should be. It was almost funny to think about how much time had passed since that evening at the sushi bar on Coruscant.

"She's grown a lot." Colette mused to Aris. "I mean, you both have."

"I'm proud of you."

 

[Aris Noble]

"I'll have to look into them, when I feel ready to come back at least." He wasn't quite ready for that yet, but maybe it'd be good to work alongside Colette again. He smiled, though. A grin as he glanced to his sister to nudge her with his elbow. "Course I grew. I'm not even that tall among those on Niv Hani though." Aris knew what she meant, but he was still just smiling.

"Thanks. I'm proud of you too."

Colette

 

[Lily Decoria]

Outfit: Jedi Attire
Equipment: Arwr Da, Hydrangea Moonblade (concealed)
Tag: Zaiya Ceti | Shan | @everyone else

Lily was glad to see that Shan felt more comfortable and confident turning up to see Zaiya getting knighted. She knew that her partner struggled a lot with how the training and consistency he was with Zaiya but everything he did and everything he offered Zaiya helped define the Jedi that she was going to be moving forward. It was important that Shan celebrate that and see the impact he had on her training. Lily was also glad to see so many familiar faces around the ceremony. A lot of the people that Lily grew up with or had gotten to know as she became a Jedi Knight were attending the ceremony.

It was a demonstration of how many lives Zaiya touched and made a lasting effect. Something that Lily always admired seeing. Linking arms with Shan, she walked with him to the ceremony. "I wouldn't have missed this for anything... Well, many if the Sith attacked Naboo... Or there was a galactic ending threat that suddenly appeared... Basically, nothing but worse case scenarios could get me to miss this." Lily grinned a little silly, but was thrilled to spend some time with Shan again.

"You really should have let me wash those before putting them on you know." Commenting on the Jedi robes that Shan was wearing. "Could have made sure that you looked your best this." Lily kissed his cheek gently, "still as handsome as ever though." She winked to him before seeing Zaiya and giving a bow to the Jedi.

"Congratulations for today, Zaiya. From what I have heard, this is a long time coming and hopefully we can get to know each other better moving forward." Lily politely stated, with a smile on her lips.

 

[Aiden Porte]

Zaiya Ceti​

The emotions were enough, he just smiled. Aiden took a deep breath, leaning back against the wall. He was at the back admiring the ascension of another Jedi to the rank of Knight. He hadn't worked with Zaiya too much, but he heard good things about her. He wasn't going to intrude, just simply watch from afar, and in that brief moment that he caught her gaze. He showed a small smile and an small nod of his head.

A motion that said everything in between 'congratulations' and 'you deserve this'

Because she truly did, now more than ever she could let the galaxy see her bright colors. They could be that guiding path for those, away from the shadows and into the light.

 

[Katherine Holt]

​

“Thank you, Zaiya.” She replied, smiling at the compliment towards her wings. “It’s great to see you too, wouldn’t have dared to miss this.”

Katherine watched as the Lovalla seemed to practically buzz with excitement and happiness, as her focus shifted over towards Cora, Makko and a…baby? The redhead blinked, wondering for a moment when in the Force they had a kid. But just as quickly, Katherine remembered just how long she had been away.

Feeling a swell of melancholy, Katherine brushed it aside and instead focused on finding an easel that wasn’t already occupied.

It had been a while since she had last drawn or painted. The former having taken up a lot of her free time as a Padawan. Whether it had been in her room in the Noble’s residence, or at one of the Jedi Temples, it was often that the young Katherine was found hyper fixated on her sketchpad.

The winged Jedi glanced around, catching a few more familiar faces showing up. She caught sight of the red mane before even registering Aris’ voice. Katherine couldn’t help but smile as she watched the two siblings catch up.

Returning her attention to her easel, Katherine grabbed a pencil rather than a brush. She began to sketch out a very rough outline of a view she had gotten accustomed to seeing during her time away.

Iris Arani | Zaiya Ceti | Makko Vyres | Feng Huang | Connel Vanagor | Shan | Caelian Tane | Michael Angellus | Corazona von Ascania | Lily Rhodes | Aris Noble | Jax Thio | Lily Decoria | Aiden Porte​

 

[Shan]

Tags: Lily Decoria Zaiya Ceti
----------------------

Shan gave a small shrug as Lily suggested the things that would have stopped her from being here. It was all mostly jokes, with her going over worst case scenarios that were unlikely to ever happen. And even if that was the case, Shan doubted the idea that Zaiya would have her knighting during an incident like that. It didn't stop a slight grin coming to his face however.

"And you really should know that people will think I'm sick or something, if I start trying to look my best, instead of looking comfortable. These could be worse at least. I made sure to give them an ironing."

His grin only seemed to grow at that, as he returned the little peck to Lily's cheek, before looking over towards Zaiya, coming on over as he raised his hand in her direction. Zaiya was one of the most important people in Shan's life, so he was going to make sure he had managed to come here, no matter what other duties he might have had.

"Hey little one. Long time no see."

Shan reached his hand down to ruffle Zaiya's hair for a moment, breaking out into a little grin. Even if he hadn't been master of a master or a teacher recently, he had never felt more proud of himself than when he had been teaching the Lovalla. He was as proud as he could possibly be in this moment, even if he felt like he hadn't had much of a part of it all.

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x | Companion: Domxite
Interacting with: Iris Arani Shan Katherine Holt Aiden Porte Lily Decoria Aris Noble Colette Corazona von Ascania Makko Vyres Jax Thio Lily Rhodes Michael Angellus Caelian Tane Connel Vanagor Feng Huang

Zaiya's glow softened the moment Iris spoke -- not dimmer, but warmer, like sunlight settling into skin. Her opal-blue eyes flickered toward Luciana as Cora introduced her, and she immediately lit up in gentle gold and soft teal.

"Oh… hello, Luciana," she whispered, crouching slightly. "You're very new… but you already feel so bright."

She glanced up at Cora with a soft smile. "She's beautiful!"

And she was! Already Zaiya could see the connections little Lucy had with her parents, and for that moment, a soft warmth pooled within the Lovalla's chest, thinking that if her own parents were alive, they'd be super proud of her now as well right?

Lily's voice drew her attention next, and Zaiya perked, colors dancing brighter.

"Oh! Yes, we should absolutely get to know each other! Especially if it is Shan's mate!" Zaiya of course, assumed, seeing as how Shan and Lily were being super affectionate. Nevermind that it wasn't exactly the case!

"Time is relative. I am just happy to see you." Zaiya added to Shan, only for her attention to flicker briefly to Aiden at the back, her glow warming in quiet acknowledgment, before landing on Katherine with a cheerful nod. Just so many people who came and that made her extra super happy!

Especially as she caught sight of the very familiar redhair that was her own beloved -- Aris!

She saw him sitting there next to Colette, and she gave them a quick wave.

"Okay okay.. thank you everyone once again for being here! We welcome you to paint with us if you like! Just enjoy the moment and paint and feel what is in your heart."

Or as Iris had told her -- Let yourself be guided.

Zaiya gave a little bounce then and stilled.

"…okay," she murmured, turning to the canvas. Every emotion around her brushed gently against her senses. Like being surrounded by a hundred tiny lanterns, each glowing with its own feeling. Her grip on her brush tightened, and then her bioluminescence gave a soft ripple, white-edged with gold, the hues flickering like a heartbeat finding its rhythm.

And then she painted.

At first, it came out in soft swirls. Light blues, warm ambers, little touches of pink that felt like laughter. The brush moved almost before she thought to guide it, her hand following whatever intangible Force was guiding her.

The Lovalla's strokes grew quicker and brighter as joy bubbled through her -- not just hers. Everyone's. Pride. Warmth. Even the softer, quieter feelings at the edges -- watching, supporting, being there.

It all slipped into the paint.

Color spread across the canvas with each brushstroke, each layer vibrant and alive... and then… it shifted.

Without thinking, Zaiya drew a darker space. But it wasn't harsh or frightening... just... night. A deep, open dark that stretched gently across the background.

For a second, her hand paused.

But then as she cleaned her brush and dabbed at more paint... the light returned.

Small at first. Tiny points and soft glows.

One… two… then many.

Each one different. Some flickering. Some steady. Some bright, some faint.

But all of them shining.

Zaiya's breath caught, just a little and then her brush slowed, then lifted. She took a step back, her glow now a radiant blue white edged in gold and amber that pulsed softly.

"They're… people," she said quietly, almost in awe. Those opal blue eyes panned back across the gathering, then back to the painting.

"Even when it's dark… they're still there."

A small smile curved across her lips.

"And even if one is small…"

Those colorful fingers curled lightly around the brush.

"…it still shines."

Just like hope.

That light in the dark.

 

[Colette]

Aris Noble

Thanks, I'm proud of you too.

Colette didn't say a word. She simply pulled her brother in for another sidehug and squeezed him as firm as a single arm could muster. She let go when she caught Zaiya's gaze and gently waved back.

Okay okay. Thank you everyone once again for being here! We welcome you to paint with us if you like! Just enjoy the moment and paint and feel what is in your heart.

"One day I'll have someone who looks at me like that." She mused to her brother and laughed. "Once I feel like I've done my part for others, you know?"

 

[Iris Arani]

​

"I figured with who our master was I should at least do it right once." Iris gave a brief smile to Cora. Humor, or at least an attempt, she wasn't the best at it. Her gaze didn't linger though. Instead she looked to Zaiya, watching her Padawan paint with the grace of any who could take up a brush and paint with their heart. She was quiet now, both her and Domxite watching. A night sky, dotted with lights.

Zaiya was always an inspiration. This only showed that much more proof that she was ready. She sat beside Zaiya as the painting was left to dry. "No matter how distant a light may be, it still shines and illuminates." That was more personal than she'd meant it to be. Her smile dipped for a moment before she stood again. Her hand reached up towards the droid on her shoulder, who then opened. Domxite had always been a lightsaber, tucked away within a droid chassis to give them mobility. The rainbow colored blade sprang into existence, pulsing and shimmering with different colors. They mirrored Zaiya's own colors, flickering with joy and pride in how far the Lovalla had come.

"You are a light this galaxy needs, Zaiya." She stood straighter, holding the blade carefully before her. For once, Iris followed ceremony. Once Zaiya had knelt, the blade hovered over her shoulders.

"By the will of the Force, I dub thee Knight of the Jedi."

Zaiya Ceti | Corazona von Ascania

 

[Lily Rhodes]

Lily let out a small huff of a laugh as Zaiya’s skin flickered with colour, she bit the inside of her cheek nervously before nodding and slowly making her way forward at the Lovalla’s suggestion, careful not to intrude on anyone’s space watching them from the edge. This was new, the love, care and enthusiasm they all moved with seemed as easy as breathing. None of them were second guessing one another, there was no hidden agenda, they just enjoyed each other's company.

Her eyes moved to the canvases and paints available for everyone to use as Zaiya asked them all to join them in painting. Lily had never held a paintbrush before, let alone drawn anything, she wouldn’t even know where to start…

So Lily watched instead, settling herself onto the grass, her legs folding beneath her as she let her gaze settle on Zaiya’s brush. She took a breath, exhaling slowly trying to let the tension coiled in her shoulders fall away as the brush began to move in a pattern she couldn’t quite see, building layers of colour as the Lovalla slipped into it like a meditation.

Lily was fascinated by the skill and beauty of it and by the ease with which she felt safe enough to slip into such a state with these people around her. Her eyes shifted from the brush to the Zaiya herself, the colours of her skin shifting and settling into something bright and beautiful, before she stepped back from the painting,

The ceremony moved with quiet words filled with hope and Lily couldn’t decide whether it was strength that made these people able to lean so reliantly on hope and light, or whether they were simply ignorant to the darkness. She wanted it to be the former.

“Congratulations, Zaiya.” she said softly.

 

[Aris Noble]

Aris chuckled softly. His eyes found Zaiya, watching her as she painted again, watched as the colors flickered over her skin. He did his best to not just stare, though he did for a moment. ".. I'm sure you will, if that's truly something you want. I've never known you to do otherwise." Grant it, he didn't expect Colette to say something like that. He glanced to her.

".. Is that something you want?"

Colette

 

[Lily Decoria]

Outfit: Jedi Attire
Equipment: Arwr Da, Hydrangea Moonblade (concealed)
Tag: Shan | Zaiya Ceti

Lily smirked, "sick or just worn down in listening to my common sense, hmm?" She teased with a grin on her lips as she sighed dramatically, letting him get away with the scruffier look than she would have liked for now. "Worse? Sure, but they could also have been better, and why settle for anything less than the best something can be." Lily winked to him.

When Zaiya called Lily Shan's mate, she thought about it for a moment, it was not a term for a relationship that Lily had come across before today but it was not something she would question. It was clear that Zaiya was thrilled to have Shan attend and even more clear that she was keen to get to know Lily which was something the Echani felt some relief for. Lily did fear that she would be either not the right fit or too strong of a personality for some close to Shan to truly accept or be comfortable around.

"I look forward to finding the time in the future." Lily grinned, before stepping back and allowing Zaiya to interact more with those who knew her best. Turning back to Shan, "I am your mate, it seems. A new term for me, how about you? Ever heard of a romantic partner being called a mate?" Perhaps it was a term more common outside of Eshan, Lily considered for a moment, wanting to make sure that she did not offend anyone in the future or make any confusing statements.

 

[Colette]

".. Is that something you want?"

"Maybe someday." Colette admitted with a shrug. "When I feel like I've done my part. When the force tells me to."

There was a short pause where Colette let in a deep breath.

"It's still my calling to be there for others before myself. I can't let that go yet."

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x | Companion: Domxite
Interacting with: Iris Arani Shan Aris Noble Colette Corazona von Ascania Makko Vyres Katherine Holt Lily Decoria Lily Rhodes Connel Vanagor Everyone!

For a moment, Zaiya could only kneel there. Utterly still, softly glowing, and feeling everything.

She could hear the light hum of the lightsaber above her shoulder. The sheer warmth of the gathered people around her. The quiet, steady presence of Iris… of Shan… of everyone who had ever reached out to her when she had been full of doubts, overthinking thoughts, and full of fears of affecting and unintentionally influencing others with her empathic bonds and connections.

There was such a crashing, rolling wave of emotion...and then there was light.

Not from the blade.

From her.

It bloomed outward over her mottled spots and stripes from her head and cascaded down across her rosy-gold skin in a breathtaking display of color. Iridescent blues, radiant golds, soft pinks, and shimmering teals were all ebbing and flowing into one another over the Lovalla in a living, shifting kaleidoscopic tapestry of feeling, of joy so vast it refused to be contained.

Ever so slowly, Zaiya rose to her feet, and those opal blue iridescent eyes of hers found Iris first. And for once in her every busy, bouncy mind, there was no tumble of thoughts racing ahead of her words.

Just the utterly joyful and steady hopeful presence that was the newly knighted Lovalla Jedi.

"Thank you… Master Iris Arani," she said softly, using the full name with care, with meaning. "I wanted to say it properly… at least once."

Her lips curved into a small, warm smile.

"And… thank you for believing I could get here."

Her gaze drifted then, moving towards Shan, to Cora and Luciana and Makko, to Lily, Katherine, Aiden, Colette, to everyone, her glow pulsing gently with each name and memory... only for her thoughts to wander back as her attention settled upon Aris.

Then to the memory of the Bazaar of Four Winds, when she had first met him and started on this journey. She could almost see it again -- the colors, the noise, the endless swirl of people and possibilities... she had been fourteen. Curious and lonely. Feeling bright... but dimmed.

She hadn't known what the Force was. Hadn't understood Jedi or Sith or anything beyond the simple, overwhelming wonder of feeling someone else for the first time.

She remembered how she met Aris Noble then, the adorably pretty tall boy with the silvery hair and bright jade green eyes -- and how upon the discovery that she was Force Sensative, he hadn't told her what she should become -- Just that she should learn.

To explore, to choose for herself which path of the Force she wanted to take. To make that decision wholly informed on the pros and the cons, the risks and the benefits, the needs of others and her own as well.

And she had.

Through every lesson. Every misstep. Every moment of doubt and discovery with Aris, Braze, Mahsa, Cora, Shan, Colette, Vera, Loomi, Iris… and even Domxite in their own quiet, watchful way.

Each of them had been a light, and together… they had all shown her how to shine.

Zaiya blinked, returning to the present, her glow brightening again in a way that it had never been before.

"I didn't know what I would become," she admitted softly, voice carrying just enough for those gathered. "But I knew I wanted to understand… to help… to connect."

Her smile grew, radiant and unguarded.

"And the Jedi… felt right."

It wasn't perfect. Nor was it at all easy. But it had felt right.

Those paint splattered hands clasped lightly in front of her as she looked at them all, her opal blue eyes shimmering.

"You all helped me become who I am," she said, voice warm and full. "Every single one of you."

"...and I'm really, really glad I didn't stay at the Bazaar wondering what might happen if I tried," she added with a half laugh, the Lovalla taking them all in, looking at them all once more, committing the moment to memory. To the feeling. To the Force.

"I'll do my best," she said simply. "To be a light… like you all were for me." And then, softer still, with an utter joy that could not be dimmed, "…so thank you for being here."

The colors along her skin shimmered one last time, a quiet, brilliant celebration. And in that moment, surrounded by those who had shaped her, the Zaiya, a Lovalla so far from her homeworld and kind, stood not as a Padawan…but as a Jedi Knight.

Bright. Hopeful. And utterly, beautifully and colorfully happy.