Private One On One

[Aris Noble]

"I can't think of anything, actually, is what I meant."

Seeing the ripple of curiosity across Zaiya's skin only made it clearer to him. No such thing had crossed her mind yet. They were in the clear to just cuddle without any issue or intrusive thoughts on either of their parts looping between them as their other emotions tended to when they let all the walls down.

Then, danger. All at once he was suddenly faced with the reality that while those kinds of thoughts might not loop between them, he still very much had them as Zaiya was now very pressed against him. He was suddenly leaning back on both hands again, as if supporting both their weight in his slightly leaned up position. The reality was he suddenly felt very aware of how close she was.

".. That sounds cute, yeah. That's something we should watch."

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Aris Noble

Zaiya tilted her head, the soft curiosity on her face mirrored in the rippling shimmer of her skin. Her mottled spots brightened into gentle waves of turquoise and pink, the hues flickering a little more vividly than before.

The resonance through their necklaces pulsed in a distracting humming rhythm as it fed off the quiet thrum of shared excitement that neither of them seemed brave enough to name.

"Cute, huh?" she echoed, a grin tugging at her lips as she shifted just slightly closer, enough that her hair brushed his shoulder. She bent closer and nuzzled his cheek with the tip of her nose.

"You sure you're not just saying that because I suggested it?" she asked, the warmth of her breath tickling his cheek even as she laughed that silly, light musical laugh, the melodic sound bubbling between them.

"Though, fair warning," she added, teasingly, "if it's a scary holo, I'm stealing your arm."

Zaiya leaned in even more closer, this time giving him a peck on the lips, thos opal blue eyes bright and full of that same shy, but affectionate and giddy rushed filled sparkling warmth.

"And maybe your popcorn too," she said with a grin. "You know, for balance."

 

[Aris Noble]

Oh this was way more dangerous than Aris had thought. He remained utterly still for a moment, processing through his mind the logical side that so much of himself wanted to throw aside. He was still smiling, still watching her, but even the slightest movement threatened to have him take more than he should. To take what he wanted.

".. It's going to have to be a scary movie." He nodded once, affirmative before he near chased after the peck she gave. He caught himself, just enough to lay back out on the ground, arms splayed out to the side as he watched her eyes, then stared up past her to not get lost in them. "You've already stolen my heart. Popcorn and an arm is more than alright. Should we go now?" His eyes turned back to her, watching for a moment.

Then he rolled. Just a casual shift of the hips so he was instead over her, hands on either side of her head. Reason didn't want to win out, that much was obvious. "That, or we could stay out here for a bit more. You don't look cold."

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Aris Noble

"Hey... why aren't you looking at me?" she teased him, only to laugh as the world spun and Zaiya found herself flat on her back now. The length of her colorful cobalt, teal, and magenta hair spilled from her ponytail onto the floor, and her flushed, sweaty, colorful skin danced with an opal-like radiance as she stared up at him.

This close and with him hovering overhead, the long length of his crimson hair fell over one shoulder, dangling over her and tempting her to reach up to play with it. It shone and reflected like Corseca gems even under the training room lights.

It was pretty. Oh, so very pretty.

A soft pulse of attraction spiked through the Lovalla, and as Aris told her that she had already stolen his heart, Zaiya's wide grin softened as she looked up at him. Really, really, looked up at him.

He was close. So very close. Oh.

That's when awareness dribbled over her senses in a way she'd been catching herself observing Aris more and more. It went past just admiration of how he fought and trained; it was how he stood, how he stretched, how he --

A soft, mesmerizing ripple went dancing over her skin. This time, soft shimmering crimson etched in white pearly edges shimmered over her mottled spots as her breath gave a soft hitch, and she stared up at him.

"...no...not cold," she admitted, even as she felt a nice warmth bloom over her. Opal blue eyes then flickered down to his lips again and then back to his green eyes.

So her hand came up, letting go of the silky strands of his crimson hair, only to slide up to cup his cheek.

"Stay. A bit longer." She asked in a soft whisper as she smiled up at him.

"I want to kiss you." Zaiya told him. But she didn't mean just as a peak. No. She wanted something more.

 

[Aris Noble]

"You certainly don't look cold." Her colors were too warm and bright to suggest anything else. For a brief moment his eyes were wandering, following the shifts in color on her skin. They were mesmerizing, as they'd always been, but some of these patterns were new. Warmer, brighter. A warmth spread through the back of his mind. From- Her.

He met her gaze as he felt her fingers brush over his cheek. The playful joy in his eyes wasn't gone, but overshadowed by an intensity. A desire he'd been shrugging off as unnecessary. Sparring, cuddling, eating dinner and lunch and snacks, every little thing they'd done almost all their lives together had been more than enough to make him happy. To feel close to to the girl he loved.

Aris leaned down. He didn't respond, didn't say another word, just pressed a gentle peck to her lips. Then again, and again. He leaned further, turning what was a gentle kiss into something deeper, hungrier. The thought he'd suppressed was clear as day. He wanted her.

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Interacting with: Aris Noble

Zaiya's breath hitched softly, the warmth of his touch as he kissed her rippling through her in waves that shimmered across her skin. Those colors bloomed brighter than ever, rich golds and pinks melting into deep blues that glowed faintly etched with gold. The pulse through their necklaces thrummed in sync with their racing hearts in a steady, heady and intoxicating sensation of connection and feeling that left no space for thought.

"Aris…" she breathed as she pulled back a bit, her voice barely above a whisper, full of wonder and something unspoken. She could feel everything -- his excitement, his affection, his longing all echoing through her own chest until it was impossible to tell whose it was anymore.

So she kissed her again, returning it without hesitation, the spark between them flaring into warmth that felt like home. A small, breathless laugh escaped her between kisses as she glew, soft and radiant in a flush of pleasure and excitement and just...something new. She wanted him. To touch him to kiss him, to get as close as she possibly could.

"You're definitely not cold either," she murmured against his lips, teasing, even as her glow gave her away completely, breathless and flushed and giddy all at once.

"I like this." she told him, honest in that honest way Zaiya could never hid anything.

"Want to do more?"

 

[Aris Noble]

Oh.

He was used to her using his name. There wasn't anything special there, but how she whispered his name of all things, with that expression, with the flow of colors across his skin? It showed just how much of an effect it had with how much more he kissed her, held her close with a hand on her cheek.

The feedback between them, the sparks of joy mixed with just the want to be close. It was a feeling he hadn't properly experienced before. The flashes of the feeling had been there in the later parts of their lives, the later part of their teenage years. When she'd gotten drunk and pulled him down there'd been that flash. It'd come with uncertainty, guilt even.

The actual experience, though? To feel her wanting the same? He felt like such a fool for overthinking it as long as he had. The bubbling laugh, the amusement that flashed through as she leaned up to kiss him in return, where he held her cheek just to hold her that much longer in their kiss. Her question, though, had what was a little chuckle turn into a full on laugh.

"You can feel clear enough I want to do more, can't you?" He teased with quite the grin. The feedback loop between them had always made it clear just how he was feeling in a way he couldn't share with others. The hand on her cheek slipped away, tracing down her side before smoothing over her hip. "You have to tell me what more is to you, though. Maybe whisper how you had with my name just a bit ago."

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Interacting with: Aris Noble

Zaiya's grin bloomed bright, the flush on her cheeks deepening as the colors along her skin grew even more vibrant. What was usually a soft shimmer now burned with intensity. Her stripes brightened into warm amber bands, and her mottled spots rippled in waves of crimson gold that chased each other across her rosy golden skin like living light.

None of it embarrassed her. Not with Aris.

There was nothing to hide from him. He accepted every part of her, the silly bits, the strange bits, the pieces she sometimes feared were too different. He loved her. Wanted her.

And she felt the same. Only now… it was more.

"I can," she murmured softly, letting her fingertips trace slowly along the curve of his cheek. She leaned into the hand that cradled hers, nuzzling his palm with a small, content sound. The simple warmth of him sent tiny electric sparks racing beneath her skin, little shivers of delight she couldn't contain. She laughed, quiet and breathy. Was that her trembling... or him?

"But I like to confirm it too," she admitted with a pearly smile, "For so long, I was afraid you were just feeling what I wanted you to feel, instead of what was truly yours."

Those opal-blue irridecent eyes lifted, meeting his green ones. Up close, they looked softer, almost like polished jade. Gorgeous.

"Touch me," she whispered the words faintly but full of trust. "I like it when you do."

 

[Aris Noble]

"Truthfully I like feeling how you feel. Especially right now. The thrum of your heartbeat, the tingle over your skin. I can see the effect just by how your colors shimmer, but feeling it is a thrill." New sensations, new feelings. Trust only made that feel so much safer to explore fully, to let his mind wander rather than analyze. To let emotion guide, rather than logic. The whisper of her voice alone sent a shiver straight down his spine. Neither of them got cold in the weather of Midvinter, yet there were clear goosebumps all along his skin.

"Good. I'm glad." His voice lowered to a whisper of his own, as if speaking any louder would shatter the moment. He smiled bright as ever before leaning back down to steal her lips for his own.

---

"You sure it's not too bad?" It was some time later, with Aris now sitting behind Zaiya. He had a bacta patch in hand, idly placing it over a mark on her shoulder carefully. He wasn't entirely sure when he'd left the mark, but now that the thrill had faded to a pleasant warmth of closeness, he felt far too aware of such a silly thing to do. What if he'd actually hurt her? They both were a bit too distracted to think on it then, but certainly it ached now, right?

"It is- very noticeable. Sorry."

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Interacting with: Aris Noble

Zaiya shined a reassuring smile at Aris, even as she felt him carefully set the bacta patch along her shoulder. Honestly, she didn’t recall how it happened either, but when he’d paid particular attention to that side of her collar, the Lovalla had all but curled her toes and found it hard to breathe.

Whatever he did, it had felt good. And Zaiya was more than happy to tell him that and reassure him.

“I liked it. All we did. Didn’t you?” She asked him, opal blue eyes staring at him as she wondered what he say.

“It doesn’t hurt and I don’t mind it.” Zaiya added, only to follow up with, “I mean… we can try more and see what happens again to find out what did it if you want to?”

 

[Aris Noble]

"I liked it quite a bit. I just didn't expect to leave a mark like this. .. Or maybe I should've, if I was going to bite like that." There was a pause as he smoothed out the patch before he let out a sigh and leaned forward, resting his chin on her opposite shoulder and just hugged her from behind. "You can't offer something like that to me. I'll keep you forever to try everything we both can think of. We already spent a few hours like this."

He was incredibly greedy, and he knew it. Even now he was tempted to kiss her shoulder again- Oh that wasn't a temptation he had. A chuckle escaped before he leaned over to kiss her cheek instead.

"Why don't we actually go watch a movie again before I end up stealing you away once more?"

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Interacting with: Aris Noble

Zaiya couldn't help but laugh again at Aris's earnestness. She cupped his face between her hands and gave him a quick peck on the lips, still grinning wildly.

"I liked it when you did it," she told him, honestly, genuinely, "I think you felt exactly how much I liked it too," the Lovalla added, even as a pleased flush of pink and gold with giddy mischievous cyans went rippling over her mottled spots and skin.

"Well... " Zaiya began, her voice trailing off a bit at what he said regarding keeping her forever to try everything they could both think of.

"Why don't we do that?" She offered, beaming at him with an excited shimmer of curious ambers, daring crimsons flecked with white again, the flurry of color combinations of a Lovalla interested in her mate.

"I mean... how else does one know what they like or not? What feels good or not. It's just testing out the scientific method." Totally logical. Even Aris's super logical mind couldn't argue that.

"But if you want to go watch the movie, I am happy to do that too!" She told him, giving a delighted scrunch of her nose at him as she used her finger to give the tips of his nose a gentle boop.

 

[Aris Noble]

"I did, for certain. I'm already eager enough to see how whatever I can think of will make you feel." Testing the scientific method, though? Now she was trying to appease his more logical side. It wasn't a good idea, not if they actually wanted to watch the movie. He was churning through all manner of thoughts now, clear as day as his eyes scanned between hers. Intensity, heat. Desire. Amusement.

The boop got a nip of her finger instead, his grin back and growing once more.

"You still want me to touch you, then? You're starting to sound greedier for this than I am. All I really want is just to spend time with you, like I know you do. But you do realize that unlike the Lovalla, my people can feel attraction like this at any moment." There was a pause as he watched her unfamiliar colors. The unfamiliar ripples of reds. He wasn't sure of that color, but he had a feeling, considering everything already, that she had started to feel something. His brow furrowed a bit.

"This- is a red day isn't it?"

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Interacting with: Aris Noble

"At any moment. Huh." Zaiya mused a bit aloud to herself, then she frowned, curious as she looked up at Aris. What they did didn't feel bad. "Well... is that... Bad?"

Zaiya's thoughts tripped over themselves as she sat there, blinking at the warm ripples of color still blooming across her skin.

Wait… is this… could it be… a Red Day?

Is that how one knows? With sparkly colors and heart-thump feelings and wanting to kiss him again??

Those mottled spots and stripes over her face and down her shoulders were glowing a soft amber, her mottled spots rippling in shades of crimson and gold she didn't recognize at all. That only made her more suspicious.

"Oh… maybe I should look up more about it first," she muttered under her breath, suddenly feeling like she desperately needed a holobook titled So You Are A Lovalla Experiencing Feelings.

What the Lovalla Padawan didn't realize was that this wasn't a true Red Day at all, but her biometrics responding to Aris's emotional resonance. After years of bonding with him as a friend, a best friend, and now as her partner, her body was simply displaying the color patterns of a Lovalla showing interest in a mate. It wasn't a Red Day per se, but it meant one was likely approaching soon.

Either way, Zaiya shook her colorful head, pushing up to her feet with a determined bounce, then held out her hand to Aris with a bright, reassuring grin.

"Okay, we can wait on things then," she said, as if she hadn't just spiraled internally for a solid ten seconds, but even then her colors still shimmered like living confetti.

"But cuddling and a movie is still on the menu, right?"

The hopeful lilt in her voice made the glow across her skin brighten even more.

 

[Aris Noble]

"Only if it's inappropriate, or makes you uncomfortable really." He watched for a second, as the thoughts went through her mind, as she sorted something out. From what he knew of a red day, it was supposedly very intense. Was it to the point of little control? Was it this? So much to figure out.

The only thing he had was he didn't like seeing her brow knit in worry and the smile turn to a frown of thought. He took her hand as she offered it, sparkled and glowing as it was, idly standing before pulling her close, then right up in his arms to casually cradle to his chest. "Whatever is comfortable is what's on the menu. Cuddle, kiss." There was a pause, a blush that burned in the backs of his ears even as he tried not to be visibly flustered. "Touch. But only touch, I think. Nothing past that. You're still a Padawan. Older than me you might be, but that's not a line I want to cross."

His blush worsened as he glanced off. ".. And I want that more special than a spar. I want it as special as I can make it."

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Interacting with: Aris Noble

Zaiya could feel the sense of worry come from Aris, and she gave a slight flicker of concern as soft greys melded with flecks of deep amber. By then, however, he had pulled her into his arms, feeling his warmth as much as the strength of his embrace there.

She smiled, wrapping her arms around his waist and snuggling in close, even if they both likely were still a little stinky from the sweat of sparring. Not that they had cared when they were enjoying kissing earlier.

A rush of flustered emotions came flowing over her then, and she took a moment to realize it was coming from Aris.

"Haha... Well, that's always on the table. Whatever both of us are comfortable with." She assured him, giving him a loving squeeze even as she tipped her head up to look at him, pressing her chin to his chest as her skin gave a playful, teasing ripple.

"Okay. All the touching! Nothing further than that." she agreed, but then couldn't help herself as she added as his blush turned a brighter red.

"You know... it's nice to see you can change colors too," She teased, trying to make him laugh, even as she also flushed in turn, realizing that he was imagining just what more than touching could be and that he wanted it to be even more special that just a spar.

As special as they could both make it.

"I love you, Aris." She told him, voice softening. "Any time with you is super special to me... but I like it that you want our most intimate moments to be extra special."

She pushed up on her tippy toes and gave him a kiss on his hot blushing cheek.

"And I think you are super cute that your ears get all red." as she gave a nuzzle to him.

"Come on. Let's go take a shower, get something yummy to eat and plan our holomovie night!"

 

[Aris Noble]

His blush actually worsened as she picked it out, spoke on it. It brought a smile none the less, but he didn't quite look her way as he carried her inside his part of the home they'd built. His home, for now. Eventually theirs. He'd set her down eventually, mostly so he could walk to the kitchen to start to cook. Kind of. He was reheating food that she'd made, since he still wasn't able to grasp how food worked.

Still blushing, but focusing. Right up until she kissed his cheek anyway. He blinked before glancing down to her again. Blinked once more. He was super cute? He ended up laughing, reaching a hand out to boop her nose. "There's nothing about me that's super cute. Super hot, maybe." He teased, right before picking her up all over again, though this time he just tossed her over his shoulder.

"Shower seems like a good idea. I approve." Zaiya wasn't going to get away with this slander, it seemed. He grinned toothily, heading right to the bath. "We'll see how 'super cute' I am."

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Interacting with: Aris Noble

Zaiya gave a happy, giddy squeal again as Aris picked her up and threw her over his shoulder, the length of her colorful hair flopping down as her head was now held upside down and she got a good view of Aris's butt.

A laugh and then she gave his butt a playful smack.

"I don't know. This butt seems super cute!" she teased, opal blue eyes dancing as she tried to look up, but he was so tall, and even if she used her core strength to pull herself up, Aris had her held in a tight grip.

She felt his flustered but amused response, and a teasing ripple of bioluminescence swept over her rosy golden skin as Aris carried her towards the refresher.

"There is nothing wrong with being super cute!" she still defended her claim, even as he finally entered the refresher and slung her back down onto her feet.

The blood had rushed to her head, so her cheeks were a brighter rosy pink, and her glow beautifully shone off her.

"So, you gonna join me then? I could scrub your back you know!" she even brought her hands up, making a mock silly scrubbing motion.

It was quite the dare, and while there was a slight flusteredness that lingered, truly, she didn't mind. At this point, did it really matter? With Aris's Epicanthix culture clothing was limited and flowy as it is, and she enjoyed showing off as much of her patterns as she could.

"I would need some help washing my hair....make sure I don't drown... that sort of thing." Really, the mischeiviousnes in her opal blue eyes just made her into an impish menance!

 

[Aris Noble]

Aris laughed. Couldn't help himself once he felt Zaiya slap his butt. It was vastly unexpected, given the joyful smile on his face. He idly shifted her on his shoulder, more tossing her a bit just to jostle her around. He watched her colors shimmering around as she stood on her own feet again, set down only for a moment before the mischief had come in force.

He grinned, ever so faintly, before stepping past her to turn on the refresher. "Sounds like you need my help washing all of you. No shame in that, I suppose. Gotta make sure we're both clean, yeah?" Mischief had filled his own tone at this point. He glanced back towards Zaiya, his grin never fading. There was little doubt on what was being suggested now.

"Do you need help undressing? Or you got that handled?"

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Interacting with: Aris Noble

"Mmmhmm! Both clean. Squeaky clean! Super clean!" Zaiya chimed back, laughing as her mottled spots glimmered in bright, mischievous teal edged with gold.

But oh… that question.

Do I need help undressing?

The Lovalla let out a delighted chuckle, tilting her head to the side as she smirked up at the Epicanthix. Just looking at him, all red hair and wide grin and those ridiculously pretty green eyes, sent warm fuzzies fluttering through her chest and tingles racing down her spine.

Help undressing....Aris helping me undress.

Zaiya's brain made a tiny excited noise.

Without missing a beat, Zaiya rose up on her tippy toes and looped her arms around his neck, the refresher humming calmly behind them.

"Oh, totally. Need all the help," she teased, her opal-blue eyes sparkling with barely contained mischief even as the shift in color over her rosy golden skin became even more vibrant and the glow intensified.

And before Aris could even process the danger, she tugged him backward with her as she pushed him into the refresher, laughter bubbling from her chest and echoing around them just as the spray of water hit them both.