On The Beach (Tahira)

[Ashin Varanin]

@[member="Tahira Solo"]

A nameless waterworld, deep in the Unknown Regions, far from the Republic or Fringe space. It took many, many switchbacks and uncharted jumps to get here, which was just about perfect considering the galaxy's biggest starship was submerged just offshore. A blanket decorated a white sand beach on this tiny island, and Je'gan -- boasting long shorts and that hat -- lay on the blanket watching his wife surf above a six-kilometre battlemoon space city.

It was a good day to be alone. And it had been too fething long.

 

[Tahira Solo]

@Je'gan Olra'en

After a few wipe-outs, some graceful bailouts, and some nice rides, the pariah jedi-master decided to call it quits. Feet padded along the warm sand, water-glistened skin shined with a healthy glow in the natural light.

She paused in front of her husband, hip cocked to the side to balance the weight of the longboard, one toned-arm wrapped around the back edge. Sometimes it was as if they were never separated by space and duties. Sometimes he felt like a complete stranger. "Sure you don't want to try surfing, my love? The last time you had a different body."

 

[Ashin Varanin]

@[member="Tahira Solo"]

He found that he wanted to say no, wanted to just stay on the beach, but he could look at that desire from the outside. It had been a while since he'd done the things she loved -- surfing, healing, minding one's own business. Setting the hat beside the blanket, he rose. "You know, I think I will. Force knows picking up muscle memory all over again is a pain, but I might as well."

He paused then, beside the blanket, a heavily scarred man in incongruous swimming shorts. "I'm done, you know. Just wanted you to know that. Done playing Inquisitor, done fixing everything, done trying to change the galaxy the hard way. I...got a job. Doesn't involve killing people, and I have to change my face for it -- just illusion, no new body. But a real job, maybe even a real life. I don't know if what you're doing now could let you...have that kind of life. There's plenty of travel, don't get me wrong, but..." He shrugged helplessly and picked up the surfboard he hadn't intended to use.

 

[Tahira Solo]

@Je'gan Olra'en

Everything was forgotten: the weight of the surfboard on her hip, the sound of the crashing waves lapping against the shore, and the ca-cawing of the birds. When he spoke, she was tuned in. How could she not be when they were physically together so little these days?

Free hand didn’t hesitate. Fingers reached forward and rested on his sun-kissed arm. Chin tilted slightly upwards to make eye contact. “You don’t have to. I fell in love with you because you do what you think needs done. I don’t want you to do anything you don’t want to do. That goes for the surfing, too.”

The smallest of smiles pulled at her salted-lips. “I’m not going to lie and say it was easy being with you through flimsy and ink or encrypted comm. messages. But we’ve already survived worse. “

The two years apart was something. The wind shifted.

“Is this new job…something you want to do? I don’t remember you mentioning this in your letters.” Brow furrowed because she couldn’t picture a master-illusionist at a nine-to-five desk job. “What exactly would you be doing?”

 

[Ashin Varanin]

@[member="Tahira Solo"]

"You always could see through me," he said with a lopsided grin. Stooping, he picked up the hat and dusted sand off the brim, then settled it on his head. "Whatever I look like, whoever I become, it's nice to know someone always has a handle on the real me."

Between one heartbeat and the next, he covered himself in illusion and became someone else -- a Firrerreo woman, young. "Meet Selka Ventus," he said in Selka's voice. "Agricultural Corps washout, Vagrant Fleet veteran, dependable Silk Holdings employee. Currently the heir apparent to Jorus Merrill. The real Selka suffered brain damage when the Republic sank a third of Ahto City to kill a Sith army; Force healers can't get her out of her coma, but her identity and memories were useful enough to copy. I've got one of my funds paying for her long-term care.

"The Merrills are tired of being rich and obligated. They're getting ready to pass the legacy on to the next set of hands. I'm no starship designer or hyperspace explorer, but I do know how to run a company. Certainly better than Merrill does.

"Basically, lovely as this is, I want to be able to live in the galaxy, and my own face won't do, not just now. Gets too much attention.

"If you're not...overly busy, making a new face and name for yourself and signing on might be something you'd enjoy."

 

[Tahira Solo]

@Je'gan Olra'en

She released his/her arm like it had burned. Her fiberglass longboard dropped to the sand as her emotions rose. "I built the clinics on the outer rim so they could be self run and run well without me. But that's not the problem..."

The woman in a coma aside. If other healers had already tried, who was she to think she could provide a different outcome?

Arms crossed as she tried to get a handle on her frustration and disappointment. Marriages were about compromise and so far she felt like she was on the losing end.

"How is this going to work? Of all the people, you picked a woman. You might as well have chosen a wookie...or another Ithorian!" Yeah, she went there. Gaze snapped back to Je'gan. Maybe she was overestimating how much they would be in the public eye together, maybe not. If her assumptions were true she wouldn't be able to act herself around him most of the time.

A few feet or a thousand miles would be just as difficult.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

@[member="Tahira Solo"]

His eyes widened, and he grinned, hands up and open. "Hey, no, it's not another body, it's certainly not going to be a face I wear twenty-four-seven. You know me, I can be two people at once, even in the same room, easy as breathing." The illusory woman sidestepped, splitting away from and revealing the man in the hat. She walked away down the beach; he didn't even need to glance her way. "We'll have plenty of time to be together as us, in public even. As you and me, we can do whatever we need to, go wherever we want."

 

[Tahira Solo]

@Je'gan Olra'en

She couldn’t hide the flickering glare that passed across her gaze as she watched the illusionary woman walk away. “Stars, Je’gan, you're killing me,” exhaling, she sunk down onto the towel, hands trembling as she cradled her head for a moment. All the pent-up stress and anticipation for confrontation released by his simple smile.

She took a deep breath of the salty-air and looked up, unable to stand for the moment. “I’m used to wearing masks since the witch attacks on Kashyyyk. I’m hoping it’ll be easier living with a master illusionist again. Even if said master illusionist has enough hubris for the both of us.” She flashed him a weak smile.

“Where do we start; do we need to meet up with the Merrills?”

 

[Ashin Varanin]

@[member="Tahira Solo"]

He sank down next to her, storm averted, and laid his hat down on the sand. Leaning back on his elbows, he stared up at the sky. "The Merrills are bailing, and I mean done. It wasn't the life for them. All they wanted was to salvage wrecks and see uncharted worlds, and have that matter for more than just a hobby. They've already taken a step back, they're signing everything over to the new administration. Stars, far as I know they're halfway to the Rishi Maze by now.

"No, first step is figuring out where you want to live. The Oneiromancer's been nice and all, but it's too unique, too recognizable, and too fancy. Unless you've picked up a ship of your own you're attached to, I think it's time to go shopping, for ships and for mods. If you're...alright with going shopping, that is," he said, deadpan.

 

[Tahira Solo]

@Je'gan Olra'en

“Sounds like us, a long time ago. Exploring. It would be nice to do that again. Remember the tu’kata?” Grinning, she twisted over and pinned him to the ground, a forearm resting lazily across his chest and her other hand keeping a touch of her weight off him, pressed into the sandy-blanket by his side.

“And you had me at new ship. I guess I won’t miss getting on the Oneiromancer and wondering where those scorch marks came from and why. No ties here. We’ll need something junky looking enough to not stand out and something fast. Can we go today? Please?”

Mirth reflected in her myrtle-ellipses as she stole a kiss.

“Please?”

 

[Ashin Varanin]

@[member="Tahira Solo"]

"We can go today. There's nothing for me here." He grinned up at her. "And yes, I remember the tuk'ata, on the cruise ship, in the dark, with the table leg. My third-to-last body had some good scars from that. I miss those scars. Not enough to go hunting for more tuk'ata, though."

He stole a moment or two of his own before, eventually, pulling himself out and standing, and pulling her with him. "So a ship. A home. Apparently I've got my pick of ships, and modification specialists, so we can get...well, anything you like. Let's get out of here, see what we can find in civilized space. I know a ship salesman that'll have one of anything."