Private Liquid Assets

[Colette]

The warm breeze brushed against the duo and brought with it a sense of ease. It had been a few days longer than planned, but what mattered was that they had made it here so that training could continue.

Colette sat by Reina to take in the beauty of Naboo’s lake country. It was still surreal to her every time she saw the sun glisten on the surface of the water. Not to mention the sound of the waves as they lapped onto shore with a steady pace. The dryness of the desert was nowhere to be found. If anything it was the polar opposite.

Funny how that worked.

“You ready to begin?” Colette asked and snapped herself from staring out into the void with a shiver. “Should be fine. Water’s almost eerily clear.”

Reina Daival

 

[Reina Daival]

Tag: Colette
Location: Naboo

Alright. Time for the uncomfortable feeling. Reina had her legs dipped in the water for now, focusing on the shifting. Letting her legs form into one full tail before pushing herself up to get ready to head into the water. Of course, the claws and fangs had already formed in, with the sunlight of Naboo reflecting off some of Reina's exposed scales. Even now though, she continued to wear her diving suit. Or at least...the parts of it that she could wear. They didn't exactly work very well with a tail at the end of the day

"Even if it wasn't clear water, I'd be fine. I saw it on a mission once when I was with an Ersansyr. She dumped into a stormy ocean to save me after a Quarren we were trying to capture dragged me."

By this point, Reina was basically wriggling herself into the lake. Okay. Note to self, it would have been easier for her if she just stepped into water and shifted then. Well. It was a good thing to note for a later mission at least as she turned herself around to face Colette, whilst floating amidst the water. And as much as Reina might have been trying to hide it, the colour and energy was slowly coming back to her face, instictually breaking out into a fangy grin.

"...Oh yeah. I never told you about that. Well. I'm fine now. I got to stab the Quarren with my leg. Well, the harpoon leg. Didn't think I'd miss that thing..."

Spoiler: OOC Notes

: Means written/typed communication : < Means Sign Language communication >

 

[Colette]

Reina Daival

"Oh yeah, I never told you about that." Reina had said, and the parts after that just faded to the wind as Colette stared at her apprentice. She had forgotten to mention she had encountered this other ersanyr before and much less the Quarren.

The silence lasted for a while longer. Colette blinked a few times as she tried not to think about how she had failed to protect her apprentice in that particular situation as well. Not that she would allow herself to show such worries. She owed it to her student to be stronger than that.

Owed it to a lot more other people too, come to think of it.

Still, it was good to see Reina smile again. That alone was enough to make Colette try and hide her doubts behind a warm smile. It didn't feel like much, but it was all that she felt like she could muster for a moment. It meant that Reina was taking to her new reality and doing her best to adapt, and that was as good of a reason as any other to at least try and enjoy herself.

"We often miss the things we never knew we, well, missed." Colette sighed and chuckled to herself. Mostly to try and snap out of her maudlin mind yet again. "You'll be fine. Maybe even better once we get all this under control."

And the water was cold. At least colder than Colette had expected. She let out a sharp and wavering exhale. Each step she took felt like a blizzard against her thighs as she forced herself deeper until eventually she began to float.

"Okay!" She shivered and laughed at herself and her clear discomfort. "I have set up a small t-t-..." Colette began to stammer. She closed her eyes and let the force help her find warmth and comfort.

"A small training field. Seven targets, each for you to use your voice at. Make them resurface and they will sink back down again. Like a moving target."

"Any questions?"

 

[Reina Daival]

Tag: Colette
Location: Naboo

To add what could technically be called insult to injury, Reina had said the entire thing about the Ersansyr and Quarren completely normally. As if it was a regular day. Not to mention the fact there had been another Ersansyr Reina had met that she hadn't told Colette about. But that wasn't even on Reina's mind. There was a lot of...meetings that Reina hadn't told Colette about. But they obviously couldn't be that important if she hadn't brought them up!

For now, Reina just floated in the water, raising an eyebrow at the way Colette seemed to be acting. It wasn't that cold was it? Then again Reina had always been used to cold and wet conditions...Though she shook her head to stay focused on the task at hand. She had to try and get more comfortable with what she was. To find the usefulness of what she was, instead of dwelling on the curse of everything. Yet she blinked at the request asked of her, as Reina's eyes dipped towards the water before looking back over towards Colette.

"...You know...that if I scream too much...I can rupture my vocal chords, right? Or at least...cause me to lose my voice."

Sure, the situation kinda fit. It wasn't like Reina was going to need her voice if she lost it. But then again, she never knew what might be awaiting her the next day, or even the next hour. Was it smart of her to risk her health like that?...At the very least, it did show that Reina was thinking about her health first. She wasn't as self sacrificing and willing to go through punishment anymore, unless there was a proper reason.

Spoiler: OOC Notes

: Means written/typed communication : < Means Sign Language communication >

 

[Colette]

Reina Daival

The curiosity of her apprentice was not unnoticed. Colette had never quite explained her past other than that she wasn't wanted back home. What she hadn't mentioned was the fact that she grew up in a desert. And not a cold or temperate desert, but one very similar to the dunes of Tatooine. She had known water from a select few sources. On good days, some of it was even clean!

Despite that, Colette still had a lot to learn about swimming.

"Well," she said and chuckled at her apprentice's question. She gave Reina a grin. "Try not to scream too loudly then."

"Keep it short, get a feel for where your limit is, and stay within it."

Inexperience was hard to mask, and her motions betrayed her. While Colette managed to stay above water it was clear that it wasn't with ease.

The first target slipped beneath the surface, vanishing into the clear water just out of sight.

"That's your cue." Colette said, tilting her head over to where it had disappeared.

 

[Reina Daival]

Tag: Colette
Location: Naboo

At first, Reina just kept her focus on Colette, making sure that her master was comfortable...and capable. Whilst Colette might have been the ultimate master when it came to teaching the Force and helping Reina on her path to becoming a Jedi, Reina was far more the master when it came to the water. She didn't want to risk anything happening to Colette. But she wasn't going to stick around keeping an eye on her forever. Reina needed to work on her skills.

So in the blink of an eye, she flipped and went straight into the water, diving into the depths to watch the target, various small bubbles flickering up from her gills as she looked around, trying to lock onto the target as she also focused on her throat.

And that's when she spotted it. Off in the distance slowly but surely floating deeper and deeper into the lake. Well. It was going to be time for her to try and work this new voice of her's, as she built up the force in her throat...before letting out a sudden concussive wave of sound through the water, rippling off towards the target.

Though Reina's hand almost went straight up to her throat as she felt the recoil of the sonic attack, causing her to wince in pain. It wasn't something she was used to. But that was good. The more she got used to the pain, the more likely she'd be able to push through the pain. That she'd be able to get through it. Find your limits and push through it.

Spoiler: OOC Notes

: Means written/typed communication : < Means Sign Language communication >

 

[Colette]

Reina Daival
The slight ripple in the waves told Colette all that she needed to know. The fact that she could see Reina grip ever so slightly at her throat as if it had hurt told her the rest. A disappointed sigh blew from her nose and she shook her head, waiting for the student to resurface.

"Good job," she said and continued to shake her head. "But I told you to stay within your limit for now. We're going for control, not strength."

"I don't know how this works, but I know how throats and voices work." Colette said with a calm hum under her voice. "Can't just skip straight to the good part. Always, always, always need a warm up."

"I want you to try and let out as soft of a scream as you can for the next one. I know you have that in you."

Instead of waiting for Reina to argue back, Colette motioned her hand to sink the second target for her student to chase.

 

[Reina Daival]

Tag: Colette
Location: Naboo

She hadn't even tried to scream. She wasn't dumb. Reina wasn't going to go full blast. But she wasn't even given a chance to respond as the second target to sink. All Reina could do was clench her fists in frustration.

Why does everyone think I'll go for the most dumb choice? I'm trying to hold back. And no-one believes.

Reina was slowly starting to feel like it was better for her to keep her mouth shut. No-one wanted to hear her problems and just wanted her to stick to the job. Stick to what she was told. And so that's what she did as she went back under the water, trying to figure out how to do this softer. Every ounce of her wanted to scream her head. To ignore the pain it would give her and just release it all out...but she didn't. She was controlling herself.

And so she just let out a soft sigh that rippled through the water. A faint pulse moving through the water as Reina winced somewhat in pain once again. But she just stayed under the water this time. There was no reason for her to raise her head out the surface.

Spoiler: OOC Notes

: Means written/typed communication : < Means Sign Language communication >

 

[Colette]

Reina Daival

Reina didn't resurface. Colette bit her lip, her brows rising for a moment before they sunk again. She wanted to force her student to resurface but that felt pointless. The two of them were far too similar for that to do anything but get in their way. Instead Colette sighed, curled her fingers towards the next target and let it sink without any further delay.

And after a few seconds more another target would start sinking too.

"I can't stop you from hurting yourself." Colette sighed and shook her head. Reina would have to resurface at some point. She would continue her lesson once she did. "Tell me more about what it feels like. How does the voice thing… Work?"

Colette swam in place for a moment before she asked, "Is it all or nothing?"

 

[Reina Daival]

Tag: Colette
Location: Naboo

Another target set down. Another target hit. Yet another series of spasming pain through her throat. Of course, it might have seemed like Reina had been doing it on purpose, but as she finally resurfaced, it seemed like things were about to come clear as her head breached the surface, and the red-head went to speak...though her voice came out raw, scratchy. Like she was starting to lose her voice, and every word was digging into her neck.

"I don't know."

A series of coughing came from Reina's lips as she held a hand to her throat, grimacing as her gills flared up at the same time. She had to breathe. Speak slower. More quietly. Even though that statement had been short and to the point.

"I don't know...how it works. It's just...a build up of pressure...and then it pops."

The Ersansyr used her hand almost like a small little prop, clenching a fist before flicking her fingers out to emulate the pop. Like a balloon under pressure, no matter how hard she tried to gently released it out.

"It hurts."

Spoiler: OOC Notes

: Means written/typed communication : < Means Sign Language communication >

 

[Colette]

Reina Daival

Reina eventually resurfaced, sounding worse for wear. Colette’s brows knitted for a moment before she began to swim backwards towards the shore again. She urged her apprentice to do the same until they reached a part where they could both sit down in the water’s lapping embrace.

Colette lifted her hand to her cheek, letting it linger for a moment before brushing it away as if dismissing words she no longer needed. She shook her head, fingers splayed, and turned her hands outward toward the lake, the motion sharp and deliberate. Another shake of her head accompanied a firm tap to her chest, the gesture arcing naturally toward Reina. Then, with two raised fingers, she traced small circles in the air, first with one hand, then the other, repeating the motion with a quiet insistence.

< Talk finished, we sign again. >

Her eyes wandered for a moment. Colette looked upon the stillness of the water and let out a small sigh.

Her index finger brushed briefly against her chest, then rose to tap her forehead before pointing firmly at Reina. Her brows furrowed as her pointed hand curled around her fist, pushing it away in a small, deliberate motion, and then she gave a thumbs-up with an enthusiastic nod.

<I know you try your best.>

Colette touched her chest, letting her hand swell outward as if the feeling itself expanded from within, before pointing directly at Reina.

<I’m proud of you.>

The teacher placed her hand on her chest, casting an apologetic glance at her student. She rubbed it gently in a small circle, then pointed back at Reina. With a feigned wince, she crossed her index fingers at her throat, conveying the sting of the moment.

<Sorry you’re hurt.>

 

[Reina Daival]

Tag: Colette
Location: Naboo

She didn't try to speak. Not yet at least. Reina just rested against the shore carefully, letting her tail swish beneath the water as her gaze was focused on the horizon. Past everything that was going on right now. It was like there was a goal she had set for herself...though she did tear her gaze away to focus on Colette as her master signed away to Reina.

The redhead gave a dismissive wave at Colette's apology. It wasn't just on her shoulders for pushing Reina. Reina could have stopped anytime she wanted to. But she felt like she had to prove herself. That was what the redhead was coming to a realisation. She had a drive to prove herself. To show that she could be competent. That she didn't need to be protected. But all she had been doing was prove the opposite. Prove that she was just a child out of her depth.

She lifted both hands to her chest, fingertips brushing against her collarbones before her arms sagged downward, shoulders slumping with them. The gesture carried the weight of exhaustion, her face drooping as if every ounce of energy had slipped away.

<I'm tired.>

It was a simple statement, but she was. Reina was tired of so much. The redhead was even tired of resting. She had sat around for too much. Reina had to get herself going once more but she didn't know how to do it in a healthy way

Spoiler: OOC Notes

: Means written/typed communication : < Means Sign Language communication >

 

[Colette]

Reina Daival

<I'm tired.>

A quick but amused breath burst through Colette's nostrils. A smile spread on her lips as she wrapped her arm around her student and pulled them into a gentle sidehug. There was silence between them and yet she felt like just enough was being said for the time being.

"Guess you better get used to that." Colette said and let go of her student. "World likes to keep people down if it can, but you're stronger than that."

She caught her student's movements and gently grabbed Reina's arms to make her stop.

"No, just listen for now." Colette said and looked out across the lakes to think about her next few words very carefully. "What you survived was something that would break most people, and I don't expect you to be any different than them."

"The difference is that when you could have chosen to take it all out on the rest of the world, you still chose to remain. To be right here, right now." Colette turned to look at her apprentice. "That says a lot."

"You're going to feel broken, and tired, for a very long time." Her eyes wandered back to the way the waves on the water slowly moved towards the shore. "I've—..."

Colette felt her eyes fall for a moment. Silence lingered as she tried not to succumb to the comfort of merely staring at the shimmering light right in front of her and the small pebbles and shells next to her in the water.

"My family, the one back home, disowned me. Or rather, it disbanded and I'm no longer welcome." She sighed, lips curling into a frown for a moment as her eyebrows gently rose as if to try and pull herself out of the pit by their hairs alone.

"I spent months in a hospital because I failed to protect my friends on Woostri." She tilted her head towards her apprentice. "And then I failed to protect you too."

"But, I also managed to get you back. And my family, well…" Colette shrugged, tried to ply that particular beast off her back. "My family never truly cared. I've always been an outsider."

"I guess what I mean to say is that at the end of the day it's a mindset. The bad will come and the bad will go, just like all the good. Just have to be mindful, try to enjoy the good when it comes around. And endure the bad when it's there, you know?"

 

[Reina Daival]

Tag: Colette
Location: Naboo

Even when Colette took her arm away from Reina, the redhead still rested her head against her master's shoulder, listening to Colette's story slowly but surely. There was plenty of anger in Reina's heart at the story. That Colette wasn't welcome with her own family, whereas Reina had found her birth family. And whilst they were her birth family, they didn't feel like her actual family. No. She cleared her throat for a moment, wincing in pain before she started to speak. Quietly. Softly. But surely at the end of the day. This was something she had to say.

"I feel like an outsider. A lot. Anger. Frustrations. On the ship I was raised. With the Jedi. With my blood family. I am...an angry person. A wrathful person."

It was no surprise. It wasn't a lie from Reina. She truly believed that was who she was. But...that wasn't who she had to be in her eyes. As her gaze fell upon the water, gently brushing her hand through it before lifting her hand up to let the droplets fall onto her tail.

"But...that's not who...I'll always be...I want my mercy to prevail...I want to be able...to spare people. To not want revenge...I need to find something...to fuel me...apart from my anger."

That was what had pushed Reina at first. When she had first joined the Jedi. All the wrath, anger, the fury she had. She used that to keep herself moving. One foot in front of the other. But as she spent longer with the Jedi, and realised more and more that type of life was "wrong"...She had found herself faltering. Her stubborness. Her refusal to give up. It had all be fading. She had needed to figure out a new purpose but it was all such a struggle for her. In the past, she had needed to come to love herself, and she had managed to do that...but now? She didn't know what she had to do.

"We're family."

A simple statement. That also felt heavy at the same time. But Reina had meant it. Her gaze still focused on the water, wincing ever so slightly. She knew Colette would give her a load of chit for talking whilst she was like this...but Reina didn't care.

"Not blood, obviously. And you aren't like a mother to me...But you believe in me. You see who I can be. Not what I am now. And...I am grateful for that Colette."

Spoiler: OOC Notes

: Means written/typed communication : < Means Sign Language communication >

 

[Colette]

Reina Daival

Family. Colette didn't know whether or not Reina was the most or least likely to understand how difficult of a concept it was. How would someone even describe what it felt like to see everyone around you feel a warmth and belonging that you'd never really know. Colette had no mother, no father. She was just a child raised out of necessity more than desire.

And yet, despite all of that, Colette blew a small chuckle from her nose again. She turned her head ever so slightly to smile at her apprentice before looking out at the water again.

"Yeah," she said and nodded. "I guess we are."

And no, Colette wouldn't give Reina a mouthful for talking at this moment. At the end of the day it was up to her apprentice if she wanted to speak or not. Colette just preferred that she was mindful of it. It fell in line with the part Reina mentioned about having faith.

"Sometimes a little faith is all people need." she said, eyes scanning the waves to take in the beauty around them. "And it can be a selfish thing too, if you want. Seeing someone you've helped rise from the ashes is one of the strongest feelings in the world."

The sun had started to set on the horizon. Colette pulled away from her student with a small yawn before she stretched her arms and legs.

"Life doesn't have to be a big thing. Skywalker and Vader were great people in their own way, but simply being a good person to those around you is enough."

 

[Reina Daival]

Tag: Colette
Location: Naboo

Reina blinked for a moment at Colette's statement about great people. She had never heard of them before. And those names sounded ridiculous to her. Skywalker and Vader? What was next? Landcrawler and Mutter? Of course Reina didn't comment on that. It was clear that Colette was trying to impart some form of wisdom on Reina. And well...Reina was somewhat a good person to those people who were near her. She did her best to try and help them out where she could, as opposed to just insulting them like she used to. It even translated to the way she dealt with Dark Siders!...Actually, maybe that wasn't as good a thing...

"Being selfish is something I'm too familiar with. I'm...trying not to be like that anymore. I used to think solely about myself too much...but I need to try and think about other people..."

But not to think about them so much that she was useless without them. Because at the moment that was how Reina saw herself. Without the help of others, she was useless. She couldn't help anyone. She couldn't help herself. And if she couldn't help herself, no-one would feel comfortable leaving her alone. She had to prove to others and more importantly to herself that she wasn't weak. Yet she shook her head, trying not to focus on it. Instead since Colette seemed to be getting tired, Reina focused on shifting her tail back into legs. That way they'll be able to get going.

Spoiler: OOC Notes

: Means written/typed communication : < Means Sign Language communication >

 

[Colette]

Reina Daival

Being selfish didn't exactly make Reina all that different from the rest of the people around them. If anything Colette would have argued that it made her fall within the norm. It would seem that on most levels people in the galaxy cared most about their own needs and then others. Colette raised her brows to try and swallow the disdain she held for the fact. There was nothing she alone could do about it, but that didn't mean she wouldn't try.

"That… Wasn't quite what I meant." Colette said and looked over at Reina. "I mean more…" She exhaled for a moment to think on how to phrase this. "Being good for the sake of feeling good is still good. It's not the reason that matters. The result does. Make others feel like they can be better without tearing them down."

Colette gently pushed herself out of her seated position and extended her hand to help Reina up once her tail had turned back into legs once again. She grunted under the weight and then brushed her wet hands against the sides of her waist.

"Just keep it within reason." she said and began to wade out of the water. "You'll hear a lot of idiots claim that the ends justify the means. Just remember that once you start taking lives, you've already stepped out of realm of 'good' and into the realm of 'not as bad.'"

Once back on the pebbled shore, Colette turned around to face her apprentice once more.

"Does that make sense to you?"

 

[Reina Daival]

Tag: Colette
Location: Naboo

The redhead turned over towards Colette for a moment, tilting her head in confusion as she took in what her master had been saying before Reina held both her hands out flat, almost as if using them like a set of scales.

"...On one hand, you've just said it's not the reason that matters. That it's the results. On the other hand, you've just said not to be someone who says the ends justify the means. Does that not clash against each other?"

With that, Reina brushed off some of the dirt and dust off her body for a moment, frowning as she was trying her hardest to wrap her head around the statement. Reina was getting to a more thoughtful side of herself which more often than not she didn't like because...well, when a stubborn person started to get thoughtful, they focused on small details that sometimes didn't matter.

"Taking lives is still a natural thing. It shouldn't be something that's easy. But holding back from it for the case of our own morals gives us a handicap that those willing to hurt us don't have. It makes it more likely that we'll hesitate or fail."

Curious...Reina shook her head afterwards, trying to figure out what the right answer was. If there was even a right answer to it...Who knows.

Spoiler: OOC Notes

: Means written/typed communication : < Means Sign Language communication >

 

[Colette]

Reina Daival

Life wasn't as simple as something either being or not being. Results mattered, but context mattered too. Colette cleared her throat and gave her apprentice an approving nod. It was a good catch and one Colette would have to rethink for future lessons.

As far as taking lives being 'natural' went however, Colette slowly shifted from a nod to a shake of her head.

"No." she said plainly. "I'm not saying hold back. See the person behind the act. The promises they cling to. The lies they've been told."

Colette stopped herself for a moment to look around them. Philosophy wasn't her thing, and hypotheticals often felt useless. Still, sometimes they proved a point better than any other method. She covered her mouth, her brows furrowing while she gathered her thoughts.

Eventually Colette crossed her arms and slowly leant back from her student. "If you take a life, you also take their chance to change. No closure. No justice. And you prove them right."

 

[Reina Daival]

Tag: Colette
Location: Naboo

This all sounded wrong to Reina. When it came down to it, in a fight, when it was you or them, Reina would choose herself. Every time. If someone was willing to kill her, they best be ready for the same treatment. You shouldn't try to kill unless you were ready to be killed yourself. It's why there were fights that she did hold back. Like against Valaine. She wasn't willing to kill her friend, and so she hadn't went into the fight with that intention.

"And if I spare a life, I put the chance into the universe that more people will die and be hurt. Death is closure. Death is justice."

Complete and utter erasure was Justice in Reina's eyes. Was it any surprise? With what Serina had done, was it even a surprise that Reina wanted the woman completely removed from the Galaxy. Every last trace of her. But Reina could feel her frustrations bubbling up to the surface as the redhead focused on her breathing. Flexing her hands out for a moment. Colette might believe that it removed the chance for someone to change...but to Reina?

Some people didn't deserve to change.

Spoiler: OOC Notes

: Means written/typed communication : < Means Sign Language communication >