Private Lab Rats

[Resh]

Vonnuvi Jedi Enclave
Aris Noble - Zaiya Ceti - Mahsa​

---

The longer Resh spent aboard the Vonnuvi, the more he began to realize just how little interaction he had with his peers outside of an educational setting. Back on Coruscant there was usually enough going on to keep him busy anyway, but out here, students like him were stuck in a waiting game. He had Master Harth around to train him now, but there were still moments like this, where there was nothing between Resh and his brooding.

Perhaps he ought to go outside of the Enclave for once. The herdship had a whole entire city to explore, and he had only spent time in this one little compound here. But going out on his own was a step he wasn't quite sure he was ready to take yet. So rather than make a meaningful decision, he was sitting on the stairs to the entrance of the Enclave, stuck in an eternal question of staying or going…

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

​

"Have you been here before?" Zaiya asked in curiosity, walking hand in hand with Aris Noble as the quartet wandered from the hanger into the corridor that would lead them to the different areas of the Vonnuvi. They had decided to go on a trip to the ship to learn from other Masters in the area. With their Masters being focused on the situation on Coruscant, it was deemed that it would be safer and more prudent for the Padawans to focus on their training.

Mahsa and Ayhan were coming with them as well, since it made sense to go as a group. Either way, she was happy to spend time with them and Aris and see someplace new!

Besides, it was nice to be able to relax a bit before they got into training again. Zaiya had been extremely busy, not only trying to catch up on her studies but also building up her body's endurance and strength to be able to train with the Bokken for longer periods of time. Her willowy body as a Lovalla meant she didn't have the robust nature of a human, so she had to work extra hard at building up and toning what muscle she had. One could even see a bit of tone to her arm muscles in the bare shoulder grey training robe she wore.

After all, she had to make sure His Highness was well protected by his personal Knight, teehee.

Resh

 

[Mahsa]

It had escaped her attention at first, perhaps because the time she’d spent with them before had been in classes and the like, but Mahsa had come to learn that Zaiya was a very touch driven individual—especially when Aris was concerned. Her gaze was currently focused on the linked hands as the pair walked ahead, her own steps having fallen slightly behind the Epicanthix and Lovalla naturally as she followed their lead.

"N-not really," she answered back, her gaze finally tearing itself away from the hand holding pair to take in their surroundings. How they’d managed to rope Ayhan into coming she still wasn’t sure, but the Kazelrrian wasn’t about to look a gifted equus in the mouth… or anywhere really, unwilling to risk upsetting the Firronthix in some manner and bring their unexpected outing to an early end.

"W-What about you, Aris?" Despite the nervousness in her voice it was impossible to miss the sun kissed tips that colored the ends of her hair. The Kazelrrian was happy to be out and about with her roommates, and she had been curious to see what treasures were hidden within the Enclave.

---

Aris Noble | Ayhan | Resh | Zaiya Ceti ​

 

[Aris Noble]

Handholding was normal as ever for Aris by now. He looked about curiously, his green eyes filled with that unspoken desire to eventually explore. He wanted to learn and know so much more of this galaxy the stronger he got. It'd be plenty obvious to Zaiya, at least, given the connection. He glanced back to Mahsa and Ayhan as the prior spoke, shrugging his shoulders. "No, I haven't. This is all new to me. We should find a local."

That'd be the smart thing to do, right?

Ayhan | Resh | Zaiya Ceti | Mahsa

 

[Ayhan]

Ayhan walked beside Mahsa, just behind Zaiya and Aris. The fact they'd managed to get him to come at all was impressive, but the fact that he hadn't sniped at Mahsa yet probably gave cause for celebration. Or despair as it might indicate imminent galactic annihilation. Whichever it was, it could wait until Ayhan got his promised food. Because why else would the hormonal meat slab come along to socialize, something he adamantly avoided at all costs.

Sadly his stomachs controlled him more than his brain did half the time.

Speaking of his brain, for once it was actually being used for the right thing, rubbing two of it's cells together to finally form a thought. "Are you two mated?" Ayhan asked Zaiya and Aris rather bluntly. Courting wasn't exactly a foreign concept to Firronthix, although their version was rarely...nice. Any significant amount of emotion was rare for his species, but the idea of physical touch being used to express both interest and affection had managed to find it's way to Ayhan via other padawans, holos and books.

Handholding = physical touch = possibly affection? = mated.

To be fair to the boy, it was a very reasonable conclusion to make given what little he knew and understood, don't judge him too harshly.

Resh | Zaiya Ceti | Mahsa | Aris Noble

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

​

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x | Weapons: x x x
Interacting with: Mahsa Ayhan Aris Noble

Their wandering seemed to start like any teenage group outing. Looking around and then asking if anyone else had been there before. Responses went round-robin until it came to Ayhan. Leave it to the tall, broody padawan to come out and ask a question that could potentially cause varying degrees of embarrassment.

In Zaiya's case, the question took her mildly by surprise. Honestly she was a bit uncertain if she heard Ayhan correctly until she turned to look at him, watching his pensive gaze bore down at Aris and her joined hands.

A brief flush darkened Zaiya's mottled spots into a coral hue in mild embarrassment, and she peeked over towards Aris, hoping he wouldn't be bothered by the question. Wait, would he? He told her before to not overthink it, but when it came to Aris, it was hard to not overthink when she was concerned about what he thought of her.

Deciding to nip the issue in the bud so that Aris wouldn't feel embarrassed, Zaiya shook her head, "Oh, no. We are best friends." She began to explain, suddenly feeling the slight flustered sensation the blunt question may have given Braze when Zaiya had asked Loomi and him about their unique and special bond.

"My kind are very social creatures, and we like to convey our affection by touching, grooming, or feeding one another. Aris said he was okay with it... so...." She gave a swing of their hands in emphasis and flashed a smile, "I'm taking advantage."

The empathic resonance and intimacy was something Zaiya desperately craved, being able to do this with Aris made her feel better. Closer. Happy. Safe.

"It takes my kind a while to find a mate though, and finding a mate is very rare. My parents said that it will be clear when I find a potential mate, but they didn't really go into the specifics and there isn't another Lovalla I can ask about it." A mild bit of annoyance replaced the pink with tinges of lavender, along with traces of longing. She really did want to find a mate one day though. To have a family. Be connected in the loving way she had felt her parents convey. See the shimmering resonance of the colorshifting.

"It's hard enough finding information on my species so I'm kinda learning as I go." She looked over at Ayhan then Mahsa, "Why? Do either of you have one?"

She wasn't sure how things worked with Ayhan or Mahsa. Aris briefly mentioned how Epicanthix generally had several mates, although his parents seemed to be the exception to the rule because they chose to be with each other only. How did it work with Mahsa and Ayhan if they were clones? What culture and process for finding a mate work for them?

Curiousity would spark in vibrant citrine hues over Zaiya's patterns, expectantly waiting for and answer from Ayhan.

 

[Mahsa]

It sounded like this was a first for everyone present, and the voice of logic chimed in through Aris as he suggested they should try to find a local. It made sense, someone already familiar with this place would be able to point them towards interesting places—or perhaps guide them if they had nothing more pressing in their schedule planned.

"Yeah, t-that’s probably a good idea—"
"Are you two mated?"

The question had come from so far into the left field that it had caught both girls by surprise, hues of apricot and pumpkin rippling through her hair as the Kazelrrian instinctively jerked her elbow right into that tender spot below the ribs of the Firronthix’s side. "A-Ayhan…!" She’d be a liar if Mahsa ever said the question didn’t pop into her mind often too, though at least the younger girl had the common sense of not voicing it out loud so far.

Whatever Aris and Zaiya were to one another didn’t change anything after all, they were the first true friends she’d made after joining the Order—and she’d always support them, and their happiness, whenever she could.

Zaiya was the first to give his question a proper answer, the colorful girl explaining how certain social aspects worked on their kind. Some of these things the Lovalla had mentioned before in passing, and Mahsa couldn’t help but nod in understanding. The want to touch and feel close to another, to care for someone that was important in her heart, wasn’t foreign to Mahsa—and if she hadn’t known any better the girl would’ve wondered if Glorii Te might’ve slipped some Lovalla DNA into her sample by mistake.

"I-It’d be nice if a manual for each species existed…" They were in a similar boat to the Lovalla after all, lacking the knowledge or the proper guidance than an older member of their species would have provided them as they continued to learn and grow… even if the circumstances behind it greatly deferred between the three of them—

"Why? Do either of you have one?" The reverse UNO by Zaiya had caught her by surprise, golden eyes finally noticing that Zaiya’s gaze had eventually drifted from Ayhan and into her own as the question lingered in the air unanswered.

"A-Ah…" Her eyes instinctively sought out the presence of the Firronthix for a split second, the colors on her hair shifting to deep amber and honey hues, before the Kazelrrian closed them as she shook her head from side to side. "N-No, of course n-not…!"

---

Aris Noble | Ayhan | Resh | Zaiya Ceti ​

 

[Aris Noble]

Aris was quiet. The question wasn't something he expected at all, from Ayhan of all people. He stared at the other boy, but.. There wasn't much of an emotion to be seen. He didn't pull away from Zaiya, either. He just, didn't understand the question. He sort of did, on a factual level, but it certainly hadn't been a thought to cross his mind at all. He glanced to Zaiya herself.

She seemed to have. But not of him, just in general. For her species. He nodded once before looking back to Mahsa and Ayhan.

"You two.. Are not?"

Mahsa | Ayhan | Zaiya Ceti

 

[Ayhan]

Well, that question turned the Lovalla and Kazelrrian into bonafide light shows and contemporary art pieces. Who would have expected that to happen? The answer was everyone, except Ayhan. Despite the displays of color though, no one seemed too bothered question, and Zaiya managed a rather in-depth explanation, though Ayhan was about to say that it just sounded as if they were mated anyways. But he didn't understand Lovalla culture. Or Epicanthix culture, for that matter.

He nodded to the sentiment of wanting for a manual to his own species however. For all he and Mahsa knew, Glorii Te had tucked away some documents exactly like that, somewhere in his lab, now forgotten and abandoned.

As to whether or not he or Mahsa had mates, Ayhan replied the same as he would most yes-or-no questions. "No." Straightforward as ever. When Aris gave him a confused look, however, and asked if he and Mahsa were mates, Ayhan glowered at the boy. "No."

Mahsa | Aris Noble | Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

​

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x | Weapons: x x x
Interacting with: Ayhan Aris Noble Mahsa

Zaiya felt like her eyes were grav balls bouncing back and forth between Ayhan and Mahsa. The tension in the air between them was impossible to ignore, and Mahsa's hair had begun to shift with her emotions -- something Zaiya had been trying to decipher for some time now. Every time Mahsa's hair changed color, Zaiya made mental notes, but she still hadn't cracked the code completely.

Aris was better at it than she.

Right now, Mahsa's hair had an ombre of deep amber to honey -- a beautiful gradient that had Zaiya staring a little too long before her focus snapped back to the conversation. Mahsa's gaze was sharp, aimed at Ayhan like she was searching for cues and clues, when she suddenly looked away, stammering as she stated that, no, they didn't have mates.

They weren't? Aris voiced the exact thought running through Zaiya's mind, and she wasn't surprised when Ayhan vehemently denied it, insisting neither he nor Mahsa had mates -- and that they weren't each other's.

Zaiya blinked rapidly, startled. "Oh."

She paused, unsure where to go from here. Then, unable to resist her own curiosity, she blurted out, "So how do you know when you find one, then?"

It wasn't the first time she'd asked this question. Zaiya had always been fascinated by relationships -- how people found each other, connected in ways she couldn't quite understand. Maybe because she didn't seem to feel things the same way others did. Or maybe because she was trying to figure out if she should feel them.

She knew it was a bold question, but Zaiya had never been one to shy away from asking. Besides, who knew what kind of interesting information she'd uncover this time?

Like, when would Aris know when he'd find one himself?

 

[Mahsa]

Lively highlights of coral and terracotta mixed into the existing rich amber shades as Aris turned to them, the confusion evident in his face as he’d dropped a question of his own. She’d felt the heat rush towards her face, the tip of her ears now keenly aware of the cool breeze that quietly fluttered around them, and it took a second before Mahsa finally found her voice.

"I d-don’t think s-so—"
"No."

His voice felt like a bucket of iced water being dumped over her, dulling the vibrant hues that had colored the bottom parts of her hair with muted grays. Her lips pressed into thin lines as a pressure pushed against her chest, one the Kazelrrian forced herself to ignore as her gaze sought refuge in the other two—specifically Zaiya as the Lovalla blurted a new question.

How would they know?

It was a question that had become more prominent in her mind as the Kazelrrian had grown older, especially after being introduced to so many holo dramas and shows by Zaiya and Vera Noble alike. In them the characters always seemed to gravitate to one another and, eventually, discovered they were meant to be together… though Mahsa still hadn’t come to understand how they came to know.

"We’d f-feel it…?" The uncertainty that coated her voice had also returned some color to the washed out shades, the deep ambers joined by coppery highlights as Mahsa tore her attention away from the dulled ache still nestled beside her heart.

"Our—my kind is able to feel emotions deeply too… kinda like Lovallas, I g-guess." She quickly corrected herself before a misunderstanding could arise, the last thing Mahsa wanted was for them—or Ayhan himself—to think she was speaking for both species instead of just her own. "I think—maybe—t-that’s how we find our m-mates…?"

In the end, deprived of a detailed manual or an adult member of their species, all any Kazelrrian like Mahsa could do was take a well-educated guess about how such things might work.

---

Aris Noble | Ayhan | Zaiya Ceti ​

 

[Aris Noble]

Oh this was getting to a complicated topic. He glanced only briefly to Zaiya, frowning softly as he looked away. They'd feel it, huh? How would they know what it was, though? What were those feelings? Was that what he felt whenever he looked at Zaiya? It was all just.. confusing now. Too much so for the Padawan, who now just stared off at whatever he could to try and stop his mind from racing. While listening to the conversation, at least.

Ayhan | Zaiya Ceti | Mahsa

 

[Ayhan]

A lot of questions were being thrown at the cage-children today, it seemed. Ayhan frowned at that, unsurprisingly. And at that the fact that Mahsa's explanation was insufficient for both their species (though that was no fault of her own, and Ayhan did not blame her for it either). Their people were just too different to answer in a joint manner. Complete opposites, in fact.

At least Mahsa might be able to take some cues from Zaiya and her Lovalla.

"We've not existed long enough for our peoples to develop mating habits," Ayhan said. "I don't know how it was for Mahsa, or her people, but Firronthix rarely mated for affection," Ayhan explained. "That's not to say it did not occur. I can think of maybe one or two mated pairs, over the four odd years we were stuck in the Cage, but it might've been preference rather than emotion, and it was rare. Usually someone lost a duel, and gave what was owed. Sometimes it was for comfort, maybe that's the closest to affection we ever got."

'Love' wasn't exactly a word in the lexicon of a people who habitually fought and died everyday, with others and each other. Survival was usually the more immediate concern.

As to how they would know, Ayhan shrugged. "Maybe its like Mahsa said, and we 'know' when we've found a mate. I doubt it though. I've never known my vat-siblings to be particularly emotional, let alone loving...whatever that means."

Mahsa | Zaiya Ceti | Aris Noble

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

​

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x | Weapons: x x x
Interacting with: Aris Noble Mahsa Ayhan

"But how do you know what you're supposed to feel?" The question tumbled out of Zaiya's mouth before she could stop it, her curiosity getting the better of her. As soon as the words left her lips, a blush crept up her cheeks, turning her mottled skin a soft coral that shimmered in the dim light.

"Sorry, I don't mean to pry if it's a bother. Just... curious," she added quickly, hoping Ayhan wouldn't mind. She listened closely as he explained, genuinely intrigued. But then something he said clicked in her mind. Ayhan mentioned his kind hadn't existed long enough to develop mating habits, and that Firronthix mated for affection -- or because they lost a duel? And something about comfort, too? The concept rippled across her thoughts, mirrored by a flicker of curious orange that danced over her skin.

"Oh…" Zaiya replied thoughtfully, trying to wrap her head around the idea. This was the most Ayhan had spoken in... months, really. Let alone in one sitting. He was usually so quiet. The last thing she wanted was to ask something that would make him shut down again. She felt like she was getting a rare glimpse into his world, and she didn't want to lose it.

"So part of it is fighting, then?" Zaiya mused, the idea sounding so foreign to her. As a Lovalla, her species rarely engaged in any sort of violence, so the concept was... odd. She glanced over at Aris, who was standing nearby, his arms crossed but listening.

"Hey, Aris," she said, the curious expression continuing as she asked, "didn't you mention that Epicanthix also duel each other for their mates? Guess you and Ayhan have something in common there."

She wasn't sure why she brought it up, but it felt like a connection, something to ease the weirdness in the air. Maybe comparing the two cultures would help Ayhan feel more comfortable -- and give her a better idea of how other species approached relationships. She was still figuring it out herself, after all.

Plus maybe get some insight from Aris. He was being rather quiet.

 

[Mahsa]

Were her eyes playing tricks on her, or had the frown in Ayhan’s face grown in intensity? She wasn’t sure which was true, and the unease she felt was quietly channeled towards the hem of her outfit. Fingers carefully picked at the edge, seeking to keep themselves busy somehow, as she listened to what Ayhan had to say about the matter.

At some point her eyes had strayed away from the Firronthix’ face, staring at something and nothing at the same time as her lips pressed into a thin line. She couldn’t understand why but the words he spoke stung in her chest.

They really were like oil and water…

"But how do you know what you're supposed to feel?" Zaiya’s curiosity seemed to have no bounds today, though the Kazelrrian couldn’t find it in herself to be upset about it—not when her friend was so cute. "T-That’s a good question… maybe we’ll find out one day?"

She gave the Lovalla a faint smile as she spoke, though her own curiosity slowly began to return when Zaiya revealed Aris’ species also dueled for their mates. "R-Really…?" Although she’d spent some time in Niv Hani there was still much about the Epicanthix culture that Mahsa didn’t know.

---

Aris Noble | Ayhan | Zaiya Ceti ​

 

[Aris Noble]

"Strength is as important as beauty in Epicanthic culture. More often than not, the head of the household is the strongest. Not just through fighting. The strongest often take multiple spouses, but often they strive to find those who can keep up." Aris nodded once as he spoke, very clearly reciting a lesson he'd been taught. He'd go on, even, if he felt it was appropriate. It wasn't, though. It did explain a lot of why Ayhan was so aggressive towards Mahsa at least. He knew some of what they were raised by. How they were raised.

"A culture has it's tendencies. But people are unique. No two people will ever follow the exact same path, after all. It's just.. Whatever you decide, at the end of the day. Not what people decide for you."

Zaiya Ceti | Mahsa | Ayhan

 

[Ayhan]

"It's not just fighting. It's winning," Ayhan added to his explanation, responding to Zaiya first, before listening to what Aris had to say about Epicanthix culture, nodding in agreement. Epicanthix culture seemed shockingly similar to what the Firronthix had developed, though it made some sense.

"I suppose we have you and yours to thank for our martial nature then," Ayhan said. It would've sounded accusatory were it not for the lack of usual aggressiveness in Ayhan's voice. "Our DNA was constructed from Epicanthix, Ferrerreo and Zeltron genomes, from what I understand. Heavily modified, obviously." For all the hate Ayhan bore towards Glorii Te, he could not deny that the Kaminoan had been brilliant. Even if only a few of his subjects had survived through infancy and childhood, the fact that any of them had not succumbed to the perils of genetic modification was a testament to the Kaminoan's intellect.

"Do your people not experience affection then?" Ayhan asked. The Zeltrons surely did, from what Ayhan had learned about them from his travels. They experienced a whole host of emotions in spades. It explained the Kazellerian disposition at least. But it was also the only common thread between them and the Firronthix, so perhaps it was the Epicanthix, or the Firrereo that was responsible for the lack of love, affection, and others.

Mahsa | Aris Noble | Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

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Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x
Interacting with: Aris Noble Ayhan Mahsa

Listening to the others discuss mates, courtships, and relationships was a neat thing. She leaned in, eyes wide and rapt, soaking in every word -- not just out of personal curiosity, but because the whole thing fascinated her.

Mahsa's uncertainty about her own species and what they were supposed to feel when attracted to someone caught Zaiya's attention first. It was strange to think that attraction could be so different for other species. And then Aris chimed in, explaining the Epicanthix way of things -- how they valued strength and beauty, and how it was normal for them to have polyamorous relationships. So strange, but again, not an area that Zaiya felt she should judge. Besides, Aris had mentioned before that his parents were different. They'd chosen to be monogamous, preferring that kind of connection even if it wasn't the cultural norm. It was a reminder that relationships, like people, could shift and change depending on what felt right for them.

Then Ayhan spoke, emphasizing that it wasn't just about fighting -- it was about winning. Proving yourself capable and victorious. Zaiya's head tilted as she thought about that, a shimmer of thoughtful ambers dancing over her mottled spots. Coming from a culture that valued conversation and peaceful resolution over violence, it felt so foreign to her. Winning wasn't really something she had ever considered a priority when it came to forming bonds. But still, it was fascinating to see how different cultures approached these things.

And then, there was Ayhan's revelation about the different strains of species in his genetics. It was another surprise, and it only added to Zaiya's curiosity. Some of the species he mentioned were completely unfamiliar to her, leaving her with even more questions.

When the conversation once again turned to affection and the question aimed at Aris, Zaiya's gaze quickly shifted to him. She realized they were still holding hands, their shared resonance allowing her to be hyper-aware of everything he was feeling. The same went for him -- he could probably sense the eager curiosity swirling inside her.

Aris had spoken before about his parents, how they loved each other deeply -- sometimes showing it in public too much, in a way that made him cringe with embarrassment. So, surely, affection wasn't lacking in Epicanthix culture. Zaiya found herself wondering what his take on it was now, especially after all this talk about strength, winning, and cultural norms.

She didn't say anything, just listened, her skin rippling with soft colors of interest and curiosity, waiting for his answer.

 

[Mahsa]

It was fascinating to hear about the cultural differences that existed between the Lovalla and Epicanthix species that her friends were part of, though the conversation also served to highlight all of the unknowns that existed when it came to Ayhan and her… or, well, mostly just her really considering the many similarities between Ayhan’s kin and the Epicanthix.

Surprise rippled through Zaiya’s skin when Ayhan had revealed the mix of DNA that made up the Firronthix species, and she couldn’t help but chuckle softly upon seeing the curiosity that shone behind those bright blue eyes. "Kazelrrians are also a m-mix… in our case he used Kage, Zeltron, and Zygerrian genomes." One would think that, given the shared Zeltron ancestry between them, there would be some similarities to be found between the Firronthix and the Kazelrrians… but, aside from their doubled livers and increased metabolism, it seemed everything else between them was as opposite as it could be.

"Do your people not experience affection then?"

The question, directed towards Aris, had captured the attention of both girls too. Her eyes drifted for a moment to the linked hands between him and Zaiya, her jaw subconsciously clenching as an emotion she couldn’t name nestled against her chest. It lasted but a moment before Mahsa finally noticed, a lingering trace of confusion highlighted in faint apricot shades, and her expression finally softened as she focused on the conversation instead.

---

Aris Noble | Ayhan | Zaiya Ceti ​

 

[Aris Noble]

"Epicanthix revere family first and foremost. Affection plays a big part in that. I'm.. An odd one, who doesn't really get what affection is. But I know it's not about winning. It's the thrill of the fight, of learning something new and being surprised when usually we're not." As for why Ayhan didn't? Aris had a couple guesses for it, but none he'd voice aloud yet. He knew of where Ayhan had come from, how he was made.

What would happen to people made in such ways.

"As far as I'm aware, I'm only Epicanthix. But clearly not unaltered."

Ayhan | Mahsa | Zaiya Ceti