Maps

[Liam Quez]

You ever do something and then ask yourself ‘why did I do this?’ or ‘why am I here?’. Well thats what I was doing right now. Usually I didn’t travel alone, I always had Ibaris and the dog, but today I decide to take a shuttle to Yavin IV. Something about that place drew me to it, I shouldn’t say something when I know exactly what drew me to it. Her name was Mira, I wanted to see her again. Everytime I close my eyes I could see her bright garnet stare, I was intrigued - she seemed interesting despite her being so quiet.

Doing a little research along with a bit of snooping I found a place she could possibly be on. Yavin IV was owned by the Mandos, which because of my birth rights I'm pretty free to travel to the worlds within the political sphere. Even with the harsh standards of security that happened after the Netherworld crisis. My face twisted in disgust as I remembered the whole thing. Father made us give away most of our crops for free because people were starving. A lot of people died, despite us giving away food to hundreds. I starved, but it was a good feeling knowing I survived and I had helped others survive. My head shook as I erased those memories from my head, the shuttle had landed and was ushering us off. I grabbed the small pack on my back and the weapons that I had stowed away were given back to me. Kamas or garden scythes were the only thing I knew how to use as weapons.

The scythes were clipped crossed on his back and he covered them with the shoulder bag. He walked through the hangers and headed towards the Temple. Night had fallen and the grounds seemed quiet, wasn’t too hard to sneak past a few of them and get towards the windows that seemed to belong to the dormitories. Hopefully with a bit of plot magic I get lucky and find the window to her room. Using a few rocks I found on the ground I throw them against the window as light pitter patters echo on the window.

[member="Mira Gyndar"]

 

[Writer]

She felt a presence – one that felt connected to her through the Force for some reason. An attachment, perhaps, a moment of blissful essence that caused her to drop her FastTurn-5 Hydrospanner and jerk up quick from underneath the Stealth-X parked out in the open air of the landing platform of the Massassi Temple. As she did so, she banged her head with a loud “THUD” that seemed to echo across the platform and she cursed in Mando’a causing Whistler to come out from behind the engines of the modified black Starfighter with curiosity.

She’d lay back down on the hoverplat which she was working on, her right hand coming to rub her forehead while her left hand searched the ground beside her for the hydrospanner. She’d snatch it up with another muttering of various curse words before her feet came off the platform and moved out from underneath the underside of the X-Wing. Her face was smudged with grease and grime and her eyes were concealed with a pair of violet colored googles to protect against any sudden flashes or sparks from working on the Incom fighter.

She wore a black pair of overalls that weren’t quite pulled up and a stained white shirt that had patches of oil and other fluids from working on the ships within her family’s arsenal. By far, the Stealth-X was her favorite – next to The Ardent, her mother’s modified YT-2400 freighter. She blinked a few times while she stared up sky for a moment and then sat up as she watched [member="Liam Quez "]pass by her – without even looking twice.

For a moment, she’d simply stare and then push off the ground as that sensation, no, that flutter feeling grew more intense as he came close to her and went in the direction of the dormitories. She’d follow, with Whistler following close behind – the guards of course wouldn’t take notice to him, as he was being sneaky and cautious but to her, she simply waved her hands and started patting the hydrospanner into her right hand in no particular beat.

She’d follow quietly, and approach closely before stopping a few meters behind him, tucking the spanner in her waistline, hands coming to her hips as she coughed really loud. “Lost?” She said with mild amusement as he continued to throw rocks at the extremely tiny window that belonged to – her.

Interesting.

 

[Liam Quez]

My arm was starting to get tired, where the hell was this girl? Maybe she was ignoring me? Frowning, I continued determined to get her attention. A cough caught my attention, turning quickly, I came face to face with the girl who I was looking for. Her face was smudged with grease along with her clothing, but still I could tell it was her. I took a couple of steps forward closing the small gap between us. Trying my best to remain cool, I ran my hand through my blonde hair and smiled my usual grin. "Of course not. I came here looking for you Mesh'la" Had she followed me from somewhere? It would make sense since I didn't see her come from the window. Mentally, I was slightly disappointed I had an elaborate plan of how I would get her attention and it would be all very holovid.

I should stop watching romantic comedies, Ibaris said it would plague my brain and its obvious it has.

"So what have you been up too? Its also interesting that you'd be on Yavin IV. A lot of books here or something?" I teased her, remembering the book she was reading back when I watched the other girl put away a few plates of ribs. She was interesting as well, but [member="Mira Gyndar"] was the biggest mystery. I could tell my presence made her blush, well it did back when I saved her and at that restaurant. Here though, I wasn't too sure - her face was covered with grime and other messy things. My foot moved on its own, stepping forward. The crunch of the dirt and gravel shifted under my boot. I dropped my back at my feet and continued to move forward till I was directly in front of her. Her eyes glowed in the moonlight, that bright garnet color. Face muscles started to strain, but I enjoyed smiling.

"Happy to see me?"

 

[Writer]

Mira laughed - almost a bit harshly as she gestured to herself. "For starters, I've been doing what I love doing the most...working on mechanical stuff." She'd move to his left, keeping her eyes on him through the violet tinted goggles. She'd gesture towards the jungles surrounding the dormitories and the massive Massassi Temple behind them. "This is my home, well - I was born here." She turned and gestured towards the Massassi Temple. "There to be exact..." She chuckled again, this time a bit more polite before turning to face the dirty blonde hair boy who was, well, stalking her - but in a cute way. Could stalking be cute? What would [member="Falcon Gyndar"] say about this? Or even her twin [member="Aton Gyndar"]? She'd ignore the book comment - probably trying to pry information about what that book was and who it might have belonged to before she got ahold of it. Not out of malice but curiosity and that was something she didn't desire to share for now.

Oh those reactions would be quite amusing and probably embarrassing. Best hide him from both of them....for now, just like her tattoo. The one that [member="Spencer Jacobs"] encouraged her to get on Nar Shaddaa.

She felt the flutter in her emotions, she felt the rise in her body temperature and almost certainly in her cheeks but it didn't show like before. Here, well...here she felt confident and comfortable. Mesh'la? That almost did her in as she let off a girlish giggle before covering her mouth with a gloved hand. "That's...well, cute." She whispered and brought her hand down, gesturing to his form before her. "Especially coming from a copikla evaar-jag such as yourself." Such words, but it had to be such considering the dialect of the Mandalorians. She'd pull her goggles up and place them firmly on her head and then put her hands over her chest as she raised an eyebrow and cocked a smile, tilting her head slightly.

"Maybe I am, maybe I'm not..." She mused softly.

[member="Liam Quez"]

 

[Liam Quez]

She was quick and that made me smile, but my smile widened as she spoke about working on machines and the like. A girl that enjoyed the things that I enjoyed, a rarity indeed. My fingers moved quickly because I didn’t know what else to do - there was excitement filling my heart. “You like mechanical things?”Kneeling, I dug through my bag and pulled out a tattered notebook. My hands shook as I handed it to her, inside it was filled with drawings of different ships and other mechanical devices. There were no words and I wondered if she would pick up on that. I didn’t know how to read or write.

A farmer’s boy never needs to know how to do that. I never learned - despite wanting to. I was suddenly embarrassed. I wanted to pull the book away, but I didn’t. I left it in her care for the time being wondering what she would say about it. “Its everything I’ve seen, different guns...and ships -- I can name them all. I loved watching them take off.” I thought and remembered what she had said and it caught me off guard. I could feel my face red and hot, my heart raced and I couldn’t remember feeling this any time before. My lips moved but nothing came out, that confidence that I had moments ago disappeared.

Getting a hold of myself, I stood back up and challenged myself to get closer. There was barely any space between us and reached forward and ran my thumb against a soot mark on her cheek. “You shouldn’t lie to yourself my Cyar’ika. Because I’m quite happy to see you.”
Boy, I’m smooth.


[member="Mira Gyndar"]

 

[Writer]

Mira blinked a few times as she took the book within her hands and opened it up to glance at the scribblings and drawings within. She'd raise an eyebrow and glance through a few pages as she listened to him for a moment, sensations changing through the Force as she felt him move closer. She could feel his emotions charging and the raw energy coming from his being was - overwhelming. It wasn't a type of energy that could be harnessed but felt. He was compassionate about mechanical things, but he also was very anxious around her. It was a type of anxiety that brought about other emotions - desire? Even a sense of overwhelming joy and comfort.

She could feel it, and it made her cheeks flush a red that would only be described as a hot, fiery color as if she were coming down with some sickness. She'd continue to blink as he got closer, and then grazed her cheek with his hand, causing her to lightly flinch. She'd stammer and almost let off yet another laugh - maybe even it was a giggle of sorts before she stepped back and raised the notebook between them. "Uh, I, There..." She'd stop for a brief second, taking a deep breath as she stared down into the notebook, composing herself. "There aren't any words in here." She looked at him and gently closed it, holding it close to her chest for a moment - wrapping both arms around it.

"How come?" She tilted her head inquisitively.

[member="Liam Quez"]

 

[Liam Quez]

Well old boy you've been discovered. "I can't read or write. I'm a farmer's son, no reason for it. So I just never learned. I'm good at drawing so that was always enough for me" I nervously laughed, my confidence fading away. Most girls when they find out this usually make fun of me or lose interest. Good looks can only get you so far I guess. A sigh escaped my lips as I took a step back giving her distance again. She was very pretty, but she was highly educated and a Jedi from the looks of it. A farmer's son going after a Jedi, I am quite the fool.

"I know you know how to read and write. I'm kind of jealous, but it can't be helped. When Ibaris the Princess I pilot for found out haha, she put me under the intelligence of her dog. That brat." I smiled though, I enjoyed the bickering Ibby and I participated in, she was so temperamental I enjoyed bothering her. Though that damn dog was a different story. I looked back into those beautiful garnet eyes and smiled gently. In my mind I wrote her off to be the one that got away, the one that was too good for me, and the one that was so far out of my league that I'm the fool of the Galaxy.

Oh well, at least I tried and I got to kiss her there's always that.

"Ah yeah, so that's it. I'm a Mando born farmer's son. I can't read or write but I can rebuild anything and I'm a decent pilot. That's all I got nothing more, nothing less." I waited for her response, mostly one that mocked me like the others.

[member="Mira Gyndar"]

 

[Writer]

Mira blinked a few more times - something that apparently became quite common in this interaction with Liam at this point. She'd chuckle softly and bring her left hand out from the notebook which he coveted so much and wave it infront of her. "That's ok, it's not like I'm some Alderaanian Princess or something." She'd laugh and move over to a place on the ground and motion for Liam to take a seat next to her. "How about we start with the basics, you know...I can teach you?" The comments about [member="Ibaris Varanin-Jacobs"] were quite amusing to say the least, considering their last encounter at that one eatery. "I'm sure the Princess won't mind and to be honest..." She'd point to herself and then to Liam. "Between us, I don't think you're dumber than her dog - she just sounds like a bit of a control freak actually."

Perhaps, that was her secret way of jabbing back at that girl - perhaps not. One could tell that the future between the trio might be filled with jealousy and turmoil and constant fighting about what Liam did until Varanin-Jacobs found a new pet...that didn't slobber everywhere.

[member="Liam Quez"] | [member="Aton Gyndar"]

 

[Liam Quez]

I couldn’t help but laugh. Ibaris was a good girl and she was kind to me when I did what she wanted, but the fact that she was cruel to me made me want to be around her more. Silly concept eh? I shouldn’t be thinking about Ibaris at this moment and time. I was with Mira and she was offering to teach me to read. I followed her to where she sat down and nodded about the basics. I watched her lips move as she spoke and I couldn't help but smile. The knowledge that books had was soon going to be mine! A stupid grin spread across my face as I thought about how I'm going to surprise Ibaris with what I can do. The seat was cold, but it was nice sitting next to her.

She was funny, her comment about Ibaris made me chuckle. Waving my hand slightly, I defended the Princess. "Ah she's a good person. I'm sure she'll warm up to you and everyone else eventually. She's a bit closed off a lot has happened to her." I paused blinked a bit as I stared at her. Before I could stop myself, I leaned in and captured her lips as she finished speaking. My hand rested on hers and held it, just seemed like the right thing to do.
Wonder if I’ll get my reading lessons after this?

[member="Mira Gyndar"] [member="Aton Gyndar"]

 

[Asher]

Their connection was a two-way mirror. With the familial bond between them there was no doubt that Aton felt everything that went on inside the mind of one [member="Mira Gyndar"]. The surprise, the small amount of joy that eventually flustered into a full-blown sense of excitement. She had met someone around the temple grounds, that much was certain, but who?

There was no point in trying to call it early when there was joy to quell. Getting out of his bed he got dressed. The discarded robes on his floor would have to do as the boy practically thrust every part of him into a classic set of brown garments. Without hesitation he set off to find this great disturbance in the force. His quest required focus. What he needed was to find that small tendril in the force that was his sister. Granted, the boy was about as good at using the force as a bucket of apples but sensing and the likes had seemingly always been his forté.

The sounds of his boots were muted by the creeping approach. He could hear them talking about something. His head poked around the corner like something out of a movie. The first thing to besmirch his eyes was Mira and... Crashy? [member="Liam Quez "]was here? And they were... Kissing?

Name property of her diary, of course. A name that came at the cost of a black eye but for what it was worth, it gave him excellent leverage over her as he could recite everything about how the ‘dreamy blonde’ that she had met during the ‘worst disaster of her life so far’ and had treated her and how ‘when their lips met she could forget about the pain from the crash.’ Aton rolled his eyes as he leaned back around the corner.

This whole thing was sweet enough to make even her twin gag. If the ‘fluttery little girl’ thought this ‘boy with golden locks’ was going to keep Aton from messing with them she’d be wrong. Dead wrong. It was the one thing he still had while she was out with her Rat Pack or whatever. Because much like promised Aton had soldiered on with his training at the temple.

In any case he did what any other brother would and poked his nose in their business. Unsubtle footsteps emanated around the two

“Good evening, Mira.” He crossed his arms and leaned back. “Liam.”

“Oh I hope I’m not interrupting anything. Am I?”

 

[Writer]

Mira’s eyes went wide in surprise as she was caught off-guard with the sudden kissing and a hand that touched her leg. She embraced it, a gloved hand coming up to touch his cheek as she pressed against his own lips, her mouth would open to intertwine their tongues together in a passionate kiss that would make the holovid actors jealous? Nah, it was a bit on the nervous side as she’d retreat to just locking lips, eyes closing for a brief moment.

In that moment – her heart would flutter, and something within her would ignite and then fizzle at the sound of her brothers voice. Her eyes would shoot open and wider than a bantha caught in the middle of a pod-race. She’d jerk away from [member="Liam Quez "]suddenly and stand up abruptly, dropping his notebook before him – yelling out at [member="Aton Gyndar"]. “Aton! Are you serious!” Her face was a dark shade of crimson, and despite the grease and grim, it shined through the black splotchy parts. She’d look down at Liam and then back to Aton before rushing off into the brush and back towards the landing platform.

“You’re such a jerk!” She’d yell back at her brother, passing the guards on her way.

 

[Asher]

Oh the embarrassment, oh the joy he found in messing with her. He withheld the extreme urge to drop dead and laugh it up but he had to save himself the trouble of losing his dignity. Oh he loved to be a jerk. They did that to one another like all the time, she would get over it. Without doubt she would repay the favor when she got the chance, but that didn’t feel very likely at all. Mostly because, well, there were some slight difficulties between him and what one might call the opposite gender.

Being around them? Okay. Talking to them? Terror.

Nonetheless he eventually turned to look at Liam once more. “So, you’re the one who saved my sister, huh?”

Blunt and to the point. That’s what his tutor had taught him. There was no point in dilly dallying, at least not most of the time. The more time you spent skirting around a subject the longer it took to actually get something useful from it. Master Boora had been quite quick to point that one out.

“I have to admit, I expected someone... Well, no, I actually had no expectations at all.” Aton nodded his head in a greeting. “I’m Aton. Mira’s brother. It’s good to meet you.”

[member="Mira Gyndar"] / [member="Liam Quez"]​

 

[Liam Quez]

Unlike Forcers, I felt no one around me but Mira. Don’t know if it was because I was currently sucking on her face and enjoying it quite a bit or if it was because my other senses were going haywire as my fingertips pressed into her leg doing my best to hold her where she was. She seemed to like it as I felt the texture of her glove against my cheek, a part of me hoped there wasn’t any grease on it and it wouldn’t get on my face - but those were matters I could deal with later. Something in my stomach burned and it forced me to adjust my seating. Though before anything went farther a voice said my name and then I was on my back side looking up at the stars.

I knocked my head so everything became fuzzy as I looked up hearing Mira yell at someone. Sitting up, I rubbed the back of my head and looked towards her as she stomped through the brush and off she went. I didn’t chase her for the moment, mostly because I was admiring her adorable little back side. I tended to do this to Ibby as well, but she always caught me and beat my face in or Adas bit me on my adorable little back side. Once my senses came back to me I stood up and rubbed my face. A bit of the girl’s soot and grease clung to my face. My attention was now on the boy that remained - someone that Mira knew.

Before I could say anything he introduced himself. “Ah okay. You know my name already, but yeah Liam.” I didn’t know if him saying he didn’t have expectations for me was a good thing or a bad thing, but I just took it for what it was. “Hey you think she’ll come back?” Frowning, I was enjoying what I was doing along with the prosperity for reading lessons. I shouted after her. “MIRA COME BACK!” I grumbled under my breathe. “...you were gonna teach me how to read…”



[member="Aton Gyndar"] [member="Mira Gyndar"]

 

[Asher]

“No, it’s okay.” Aton shook his head. “She’ll be back in a few minutes to punch me once most of the embarrassment has settled down.”

He checked his arm as if to see what time it is. “Any second now...”

“Look, I’m sorry if I disturbed something important, but do you have any idea what it’s like to live in a house where your sister can outmatch you at every turn? I’ll take any chance I can to bring her down a notch. Even if they are kinda, you know, cheap.”

[member="Liam Quez "]/ [member="Mira Gyndar"]

 

[Liam Quez]

I nodded and then looked back at Aton. I smiled and shrugged. "I know the feeling. I have two older sisters and of course they're the pride and joy. Why do you think I do things on my own? I feel yeah, next time she gets on your case just rip open her mattress and shove something gross in there. Sew it up and she'll never know where the smell is coming from." I grinned. "I used to do it to my sisters all the time. Its perfect." [member="Aton Gyndar"] Giving the guy a nod I decided it was time to go get the girl. She was probably more embarrassed than I was.

"Don't give her too much trouble" Giving him a grin and a wave I continued back tracking my way towards the landing pad. I saw her frustrated little form stomping away and I couldn't help but laugh under my breath. There was so many theatrics when they were upset - sometimes it was worth getting them mad.

"Hey where are you going?!" I shouted at her as she continued to move rather quickly away from me and her brother. [member="Mira Gyndar"]

 

[Writer]

Mira would hear the voice of Liam call after her, disgruntled and dismayed - she'd stop in her tracks and stare down at the ground before her, allowing him to catch up. She was upset, but more so at her brother [member="Aton Gyndar"] for embarrassing her in such a way that words couldn't describe. She'd turn to look at [member="Liam Quez "]with eyes filled with a bit of tears of anger and otherwise teenage angst that her arms came up to wrap around her chest in defiance, closing off any type of chance he had of embracing her form.

"What?" She'd say bluntly as he approached, her gaze diverting from his azure stare.

 

[Asher]

Mira stormed off, as did Liam. Perhaps deep down he felt a small tint of regret soar through his body as the girl seemed to suddenly shun the approaches of his newfound friend. Perhaps it was a bit too early in the relationship to assume thing but damnit if Aton didn’t have a good connection with the guy. Liam and Aton just being guys doing... Well, whatever it is that normal guys do. Training and such felt like something that could happen!

“Too much trouble is to give her trouble in the first place.” Aton would shrug before setting off behind [member="Liam"] Quez. “She don’t like it when I oppose her, debate with her or outsmart her.”

That was not to say they didn’t get along. They did, but most of the time they both saw the whole ‘mess with one another’ thing as a lot more interesting. Well, that and it felt like a competition at this rate.

“Mira, I’m sorry! I’ll leave you two be, if you want!” He looked to Liam again. “Or well, you know.”

Eventually they caught up with her. “Attachments. Keep it in mind, Mira.”

Because clearly he needed to teach the one and only [member="Mira Gyndar"] about things that Jedi used to believe in before, right? Because they were not the result of attachments at all!

Okay, they were, they totally were but that didn’t mean they shouldn’t at least strive to keep emotions in check, something that was hard to do with a love of your life. Probably. Aton wouldn’t really know that one either.

 

[Writer]

Mira would suddenly outburst and point over [member="Liam"] Quez's shoulder and point at [member="Aton Gyndar"]. "Oh don't give me that! You and I are an example of what love and attachments can provide! Are we not!? What about Rhyen!?" She'd push against Liam and move closer towards her brother, threatening him with a menacing look. "You wanna tell Mom and Dad that attachments are forbidden and we should simply cast away our feelings as beings of emotion and be an empty shell driven by loneliness and apathy?" She'd fire back in a loud voice. "Don't feed me that! Why don't you just go be some Republic Jedi, you'd fit right into their strictest of codes!"

 

[Liam Quez]

When I had caught up to Mira I looked at her, she wanted to cry and something inside of me wanted to prevent that. Though before I could do anything or say anything Aton came through the brush and caught up to us. I looked over my shoulder as Mira shouted and pushed through me towards him. They spoke of attachments and I didn’t understand what that meant, but it sounded like something bad.

I stood there and let them talk about me and these attachments like I didn’t exist, which frustrated me a bit. I reached out and placed my hand on Mira’s shoulder. I spoke to her and then looked at Aton. “Attachments? What are these and why do they pertain towards me and you?” It hit me and I wondered if me being around Mira got in the way of what she was trying to become. I remember some old Jedi that would talk and gossip while I was working a local cantina back home. They spoke of the old rules and I looked at Mira and gave her a slight smile. My hand withdrew from her shoulder and ran against her cheek. I took a few steps back towards the launch pad.

“I’m in the way huh? I don’t want to be an attachment, I want to mean something.”


[member="Mira Gyndar"] [member="Aton Gyndar"]

 

[Writer]

Mira took a brief step back and looked at Liam with a hurtful glance as she brushed off him and brought her arms across her chest. "You have no idea what I'm talking about do you?" She narrowed her ruby colored eyes in both anger and disbelief. "An attachment isn't something like a toy or a possession - it's a means of affection or even love..." She tried to swallow but ended up choking on her words as she burst out suddenly. "Why don't you ask before you assume that you're just some play thing, huh!?" She turned away quickly and ran towards the landing pad, more specifically her Stealth-X. "Just leave me alone, both of you!"

[member="Liam Quez"] | [member="Aton Gyndar"]