Private Midvinter and Adulting

[Zaiya Ceti]

Midvinter
Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x | Companion: Domxite
Interacting with: Aris Noble

Zaiya tucked herself closer to Aris's side, the white fur trim of her cloak brushing his shoulder as the datapad glowed between them. Her rosygolden skin shimmered faintly in the light, the mottled stripes pulsing with a soft teal as she scrolled through the saved listings. Midvinter homes. All shapes and sizes. Each one a small spark of possibility.

She leaned in, opal blue eyes flicking over the screen before lifting to catch his profile, a little smile tugging her lips.

"Hmm, okay, so, what did your Grandpa Thurion say were some options for you?" she asked curiously as a citrine flash of color rippled over her cheeks. He was going to ask Thurion Heavenshield what options were available for Aris's first foray into adulthood and finding his own place. Maybe, one day, her stepping through that same door when her path as a Knight gave her the same independence.

But for now, the Lovalla Padawan tilted the datapad so he had the better view, soft golden bioluminienence tracing the edge of her stripes as she teased with a twist of her lips, "As for budgeting, think we should factor in the important things, you know. Like budgeting for shuttle repairs, fuel, food....and snacks."

The corner of her mouth quirked, the cloak pooling around her as the snowy Midvinter air bit against them. Cold never really bothered her, but a pretty cloak made everything better.

 

[Aris Noble]

"Actually, he hasn't yet." Aris turned his eyes down the list, scanning quick as ever with each as he calculated which was objectively the best by fact alone. That's all he could do with the listings, but once they actually started heading to these places, that'd be the best way to finalize at least his own place. Their place, possibly. He let himself smile just a bit as he looked over some of the homes, letting his mind actually wander at the thought of just having a home to share with Zaiya.

Not yet, though. Not until they were both ready.

He finally looked up from the scrolling, only to find Zaiya had very much been looking at him. With a teasing smile no less. A brow raised before his own smirk formed. Without a word he just leaned over, idly pecking her cheek before he stood up straight to look around. "Budgeting will be important. First though, I think it's about time I introduce you and Grandpa. He should be here any moment now, to help us look around.

Zaiya Ceti | Thurion Heavenshield

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

M I D V I N T E R
CITY OF HEAVENHEIM​

"What news from below," the High King turned to the Duergar ambassador, newly set up following back channel talks directly with the Archon of Dwarrowdelf, bypassing the Grand Cleric and the Church. The stout dwarf groomed his long beard, the gold of his many rings gleaming.

"Unchanged, last I heard," he stated grimly. "Word does not get passed along swiftly when cloaked in secrecy. Our armies hold the line, yet our enemies are numberless. The Archon is being besieged from without and within, for the Grand Cleric has spies everywhere. The sooner yer able to march to our relief, the better."

Thurion took stock of the various maps scattered across the round table, each depicting a different region of the vast super continent. His index finger traced the parchment to the northern regions. "What of the undead?" His son's liason leaned over the table. "They still scour the mountain crags to the north-west, but have not crossed the river. The treaty yet holds, Your Grace."

He then turned to a rugged, more clandestine member of the Council. He needed not speak his question. "The Great Wolf sends word: the Prowl has commenced. The Ulfhednar are investigating a series of rumoured hideouts. If agents of the Blood are there, they will be no more." The High King plucked the piece carved in the shape of a wolf from the table, running his thumb over its face. "Tell my son to take as many live prisoners as he can. Make certain they talk."

A heavy sigh, and the King set down his crown, marking the end of the session. He grabbed his fur cloak off his seat, then gave them all a sharp nod.

"Forgive me, my friends, but I am off to see my grandson. I trust you to see yourselves out." He turned and left then, a sudden pep in his step.

Thurion found them shortly after, sensing Aris' presence long before laying eyes on him. As he drew near however, his gaze instead fell upon the girl by his side, and his heart soared when realising who it must be.

"Aris, my boy," he marched up and threw his arms around the young Noble, much too tall to his liking. "How blessed a grandfather am I! I trust your journey went well?"

He then turned to the young lady, fairest of them all, and knelt in the snow. He reached for her hand ever-so-gently, and placed a most tender kiss upon it. "Welcome to Midvinter, my lady. How I've longed to finally meet you, dear girl."

Aris Noble Zaiya Ceti ​

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x | Companion: Domxite
Interacting with:


"Oh he hasn't?" Zaiya inquired, curious, only to blush a delightful medley of bright colors as she felt Aris give her a little peck on the cheek. The little physical display of affection just warmed her from the inside out, making her bounce in giddy joy as she realized that Thurion Heavenshield was going to meet them.

Sure enough, the tall, broad shouldered King soon arrived and Zaiya was in awe. He was huge and his aura just had this lovely, comforting, solid feeling that simply saturated the area he stood in.

He was so bright and steady in his light. It was so very pretty.

When Thurion bent low over her hand to kiss it, Zaiya's mottled stripes lit up in bright, happy hues of teal and peach, a ripple of bioluminescence flickering brightly across her rosy, golden skin. Her opal blue eyes widened, then the corners crinkled with delight and she gave a little joyful laugh that made her cheeks tint a soft pink.

"Oh! So you're Grandpa Thurion!" she exclaimed joyfully in greeting. Her cloak gave a swish as she dipped a little curtsy of her own, though the grin on her face kept it far from formal.

"I've heard so-o much about you. I'm so, so happy to finally meet you!" she beamed, adding, "Thank you for welcoming me. Midvinter's beautiful"

Then that's when it registered that Thurion had said how he'd longed to finally meet her.

"Oh, did Aris talk about me then?"

 

[Aris Noble]

There were precious few outside his immediate family that Aris showed any visible affection for, and as Thurion arrived it was very clear to any who saw him just how important his grandfather was to him. He was quick to return the hug, fully showing his affection even with a smile. "It's good to see you, Grandpa." Then he stepped back to let Thurion and Zaiya speak properly.

He'd finally made good on his promise.

Grant it, red crept over his ears as the question lingered in the air. He wasn't one to ramble, but he couldn't help to when he spoke about Zaiya to others. Still, he smiled. Embarrassed as he might be, it was certainly something he wasn't ashamed of.

"As often as I can and could, yes."

Thurion Heavenshield | Zaiya Ceti

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

"Only good things, I assure you," Grandpa jested and huffed as he stood, stunned at the way Zaiya's whole being shifted hue and changed colour on a whim, complete with markings and patterns. He had never met a Lovallan in person before, and he now fully understood and appreciated his grandson's wish for her.

He watched them interact for a moment, unable to wipe the proud smile off his face. Above all, he was so sincerely happy for them and the life they would one day share. Nothing stirred greater emotion in him than young love, for he knew true love when he saw it. He'd lived it, once.

"Forgive me, but... I look at the two of you now, and I must say..." he placed a massive hand on their shoulders. "No two beings in the history of this galaxy have ever glowed the way you do this very moment." He looked to Aris especially, recalling their heart-to-heart atop the Blessed Peak. How the poor lad had poured out his feelings of guilt, believing he was not who Zaiya needed in order to glow.

By all accounts, she was positively incandescent.

Thurion felt compelled to pull both of them into another embrace, he was so overtaken with the sheer beauty of their love. "Bless your souls, little ones, for they are most beautiful to behold." He kissed each of them on the forehead before wiping a tear from the corner of his eye.

"Now then, I hear you're looking for a place of your own?"

As if he'd not been told in advance.

Aris Noble Zaiya Ceti ​

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x | Companion: Domxite
Interacting with: Aris Noble Thurion Heavenshield

Zaiya's cheeks flushed warm beneath her mottled spots, the colors fluttering in soft bursts of gold and rose as she ducked her head with a sheepish grin.

"Oh stars," she laughed lightly, blushing coral glowing iridescence as she gave a big grin, flashing that bubbly, happy note she couldn't hold back. "You're going to make me glow even more if you keep saying things like that."

She peeked up at Thurion through her lashes, eyes shining, then cast a quick if teasing glance at Aris as if to say, see what you started? But it made her feel good to hear Aris had been talking about her fondly. Her fingers fiddled with the edge of her cloak before she clasped her hands together, smile spreading wide again.

"Thank you, really. That means more than I can even say." She let the words tumble out in a rush, heart too full to be still.

"And yes! We were just looking at some of the listings. Though I think we might need your wisdom, because all the budgeting stuff is…" she wrinkled her nose playfully, "requires us figuring out how to make enough to begin with."

She leaned forward adding sheepishly.

"We are used to having the Jedi Order assign us things. So adulting will be new to us. Well Aris. He's the one looking for a place."

 

[Aris Noble]

If Aris could beam a smile or grin like a fool, this was the closest he'd ever gotten. To hear that she was glowing so bright from another was the type of joy that brought such a smile to his face. Thurion knew, Aris knew, and he couldn't hide how happy it made him to hear.

He even leaned down to let Thurion kiss his forehead. The joy from his grandfather was infectious, but the topic changed and he nodded in agreement with what Zaiya said. "I want to make sure I'm making money to pay for my own place. And I'd like there to be a place close by that when Zaiya is ready she can get her own. We're not in a rush to live together right away, being able to live alone is important." He paused, smiling towards Zaiya for a moment before looking back to Thurion.

"Should that be closer to the city?"

Zaiya Ceti | Thurion Heavenshield

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

"Let me see that," he asked for the datapad with furrowed brows. "I wasn't aware of any listings..." Reaching into his pocket for a pair of spectacles, he proceeded to scroll through the list of available abodes, each priced in credits.

"Well, I don't know where you found these listings, but I can tell you this: you are being swindled. Nowhere on this iceball will you find one credit. Midvinter does not have a currency, and we certainly don't adhere to some galactic standard." He handed back the datapad and removed his glasses, folded them neatly, then lightly bopped Aris on the noggin' with them before stuffing them back into his pocket. "You think there's a Valkyri word for 'rent', or 'mortgage'? Look around you, lad."

He pointed at some of the nearby houses as he spoke.

"Life's hard enough as it is without tax collectors knocking on your door. Our currency is hard work, usefulness, and our word. These homes you see were all built by hand by the people who dwell within. If you did not work for it, you didn't earn it. Lucky for you, you already know a decent carpenter."

Thurion patted Aris on the back.

"Pick your plot, son. You and I have a home to build."

He made a mental note to keep a lookout for any other would-be 'real estate brokers' moving forward. The gall!

Aris Noble Zaiya Ceti ​

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x | Companion: Domxite
Interacting with: Aris Noble Thurion Heavenshield

The Lovalla Padwan's colors shifted in gentle waves, ebbing and flowing in tune with the joy she felt through the necklaces. The edges of her mottled spots shimmered with an iridescent golden glow against her rosy skin, while a soft ombre of teal and pale blue rippled through her in her own happiness.

Zaiya nodded earnestly at what Aris told his grandfather, fully supporting the idea of him finding independence first before they ever considered living together. It made sense and she was still a Padawan, after all, and it was good for Aris to explore his own options before their paths joined more permanently.

But when she realized she had been duped about real estate agents and listings, her glow faltered. The rosy golden warmth drained from her face, turning silver for a heartbeat before a flustered wave of coral flushed across her spots and stripes.

"Oh... my stars! I am so sorry, I... I didn't realize," she blurted, sheepish laughter breaking through her words. Having grown up in bustling cities, it hadn't even occurred to her that such things wouldn't exist on Midvinter.

"I feel so silly now."

Quickly tucking her datapad away, she straightened and tried to recover, her voice soft but bright.

"Yes, let's go look at plots then... Where would be best?"