Private Sketches in the Starlight

[Zaiya Ceti]

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

Zaiya let out a surprised little yelp as Aris suddenly scooped her up, her feet lifting just off the ground.

"Whoa...hey!" she squeaked, laughing as she found herself held close, now just a little taller than him thanks to his strength.

A playful giggle slipped from her lips as her hands moved instinctively, cupping his face, her fingers warm and soft against his cheeks. Her colors shimmered wildly across her skin in an ombre of bright corals and pinks, golden shimmers flitting through the edges of her stripes like sunlight on water.

"You're not playing fair," she teased, voice breathy from both laughter and something far softer...amused that she finally got to be taller than Aris but it required him to lift her up like this.

But as the seconds quietly passed, Zaiya's expression softened further. Her thumbs brushed across his cheekbones in a gentle caress, and then, after a second, and perhaps Aris would be able to tell just by the resonance she was emitting before she did it, she leaned in to kiss him.

This time, the kiss wasn't rushed or flustered. It was slow and warm, lips pressing softly to his as that happy, giddy feeling inside her bloomed brighter than any jungle flower. She lingered there, letting that moment stretch, letting him feel just how much it meant to her, to be chosen, to be trusted, to matter like that.

No interruptions. No crazy stone snakes. No Domxite's tiny, judgmental whistles.

Just them.

When she finally pulled back, her eyes sparkled and her smile stayed close to his.

"Thank you... I'd love that you want to learn about me and my people," she whispered with a humming smile, still glowing. "But maybe don't let go just yet."

 

[Aris Noble]

"I wasn't aware we were currently midgame." He rather softly responded this time around, a gentle if bright smile on his face as she cupped his cheeks. There was always such a warmth from her tough. Not physically, though he could tell what temperature her hands currently were, but all through his body and heart. Comfort and joy, the emotions she always brought out the strongest in him.

If she hadn't leaned down, he would've been the one to lean up instead. A kiss that would convey just how much joy and comfort she brought him despite the fact he knew she could feel that much already. He just laughed as she spoke up after the kiss, a little brief chuckle as she asked him not to let go yet. He wasn't going to as it was.

They couldn't just stand around though, so he did continue forward, idly carrying her in the process.

"I want to know everything I can about the person I love. Everything they're willing to share."

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

"No, we weren't, but I still like teasing you," Zaiya replied, her lips curving into a grin against his before she pulled back. Across her face, shimmers and gentle, loving pulses of gold and crimson flecked magentas and blues brightened her rosy golden skin in a mesmerizing display of kaleidoscopic swirls.

Even being in his arms, with him holding her up like this, she could feel from the inside out his joy and comfort resonating through their open bond. No mental blocks now. And it felt so warm, and soft, and fluffy, like being completely wrapped up in the best blanket ever.

More so when she heard him say that he wanted to learn everything he could about the person he loved.

The person he loved.

That sent a flurry of bioluminescence in a waterfall effect blooming over her face and down her arms. Her opal-blue eyes even seemed to glimmer with light, and around them, the moment sparked a reaction as the surrounding flora picked up on it. Bioluminescent leaves shimmered in time with hers, echoing the emotion through soft pulses of light.

"And I'm pretty much an open book…" Zaiya began, then paused as she tilted her head. "Oh… that's curious."

She'd noticed the shift just as Aris continued across the vine bridge, the sound of rushing water rumbling beneath them. She didn't doubt he could carry her across, but a little concern still flickered in her eyes.

"Be careful," she said softly, swiveling her multicolored, brightly hued head toward the island ahead. Her hand lifted as she pointed toward the massive cavern carved into the mountainside.

"There."

 

[Aris Noble]

Zaiya had always been an open book, that much was true. He didn't expect to see it ripple out across the leaves he was staring at to avoid watching her. He'd said it in passing really, testing the waters more or less without fully saying what he wanted to. It seemed he still had things even he was frightened of after all. Even now his ears were red as he tried to stabilize his heartbeat.

Thankfully Zaiya seemed to pick up on something he didn't. A smile bloomed, or was it a grin? Mischief. It was a rare glint to his eyes, but it was there none the less as he hopped a step forward. He had no issue walking here, even jumping around would be fine. Just like Zaiya, though, he liked teasing her here and there.

"What's there?"

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

He was blushing again.

Zaiya could tell because his ears were turning bright red. She gave a giggle, even as she felt the rapid thump thump thump of his heartbeat and resonating sensations of flustered embarrassment.

Unable to help herself, the Lovalla took her hands from his face and instead, one rested on his shoulder while the other began to lightly play with the lobe of his ear, especially as she felt a measure of mischief coming from the Epicanthix that had her narrowing her opal blue eyes at him, a shimmer of teal mischief dancing over her mottle spots in an irridecent display of colorful hues.

"Hmmm... not sure," As they drew closer, but she could feel a stronger type of resonance.

"But I can ... " She gave a pause, tilting her head to the side, trying to describe it. While she tried that, Aris would sense an even stronger enhancement to their resonance. Perhaps that was what she was referencing

"It seems to be making me feel things with more ...strength? Vibrancy?" How did one explain it?

As they would finish crossing the bridge and head towards the dark cavern, they would realize it wasn't dark at all. Instead a beautiful spread of bioluminescence seemed to cover the damp walls. It was the moss and the mushrooms along with these pretty, tendril-like flowers. So much that one didn't need a light to see.

 

[Aris Noble]

Aris hummed in thought. The sensation was.. New? Not new. Stronger. He'd always been able to feel through Zaiya with their connection, but for it to feel this vivid wasn't what he'd expected to find out here in the middle of nowhere. If it helped with this, then- His smile widened a bit as he hurried his step. Curiosity, yes, but just as much hope had filled his mind. "Me too."

Was his almost quiet response. He hopped the last bit of the distance, into the cavern as he looked over the bioluminescence.

"Something here is reacting to us both."

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

Zaiya nodded slowly, her expression soft but focused.

"Yeah… I feel it too," she murmured in a low hush of wonder.

With every step closer to the cave, the feeling grew stronger, not just in her chest, but through her whole body. It wasn't just the Force humming anymore. It was something else entirely, almost as if the cave itself was watching, or maybe welcoming them.

Her skin shimmered more brightly with each step, the rosy gold deepening into an iridescent pearly sheen. The bioluminescent patterns across her stripes pulsed in bright, swirling waves of pinks, blues, and soft golds like sunlight filtering through water. It spread through her like a shimmering, gentle pulse, enhancing her senses far beyond her body and onto Aris as well.

And as soon as they stepped into the cave, Zaiya's breath caught in awe.

The walls gleamed in layers of brilliant purples, greens, and coppers. Glowing veins ran through them, pulsing slowly with light. The veins twisted through the stone like the living threads of some ancient power, reacting softly to their presence with a quiet, steady rhythm.

Urging Aris to get close to one side of the cavern wall, Zaiya reached out, brushing her fingers along one glowing path.

"It's not Kyber," she murmured, awe in her voice. "But it's close... definitely some sort of ore."

A pause, and then she swiveled her head over to Aris, giving a wide, silly grin.

"Are you going to put me down, or are you going to carry me everywhere, even while we collect this?"

 

[Aris Noble]

Through Zaiya Aris could feel so much. How the cave itself seemed alive and inviting them within wasn't something Aris was sure on how to feel. Mistrust? Cautious interest? Joyful curiosity? Likely more a mix of them all, but it didn't stop him from stepping in. His reaction was much more subtle than Zaiya's, but wonderment still filled his eyes as he watched the colors ripple across.

He moved closer to one of the walls, enough for Zaiya to reach out and touch the stone. Far enough that he could be ready to run just in case. All eventualities to be prepared for. Nature was as beautiful as it was dangerous after all. But it wasn't a plant. An ore, that reacted as the plants did? His eyes practically lit up as he stepped closer, already trying to study it. Not kyber, but something that reacted to the Lovalla? To this world?

"Should we take some? I could break off a piece."

There was a pause before he looked towards Zaiya, brow raised. ".. Should I put you down?"

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

Zaiya laughed, the sound bright and echoing softly off the glowing cavern walls.

"Well, we probably should so we can start collecting some of this ore," she said, though her grin only widened.

"Buuut… I do like it when you hold me, so… I guess it depends."

Leaning down, she gave him a playful brush of her nose against his, giggling at her own silliness before glancing back at the shimmering wall.

"Okay, let me grab some of this real quick. I don't think we'll need much," she added, reaching out toward the ore. The colors danced beneath her touch, and she couldn't help but breathe out, "Wow… it really is pretty."

"So, you said you wanted a necklace right? Did you want it to just be the metal or have any jewels in it?"

 

[Aris Noble]

Aris paused and blinked at first before his own lighthearted laugh joined hers. He hadn't expected to have their noses touch like that of all things. If anything, he'd been researching too much on how to properly kiss and avoid bumping noses together to even consider it being endearing. It was, though, to the point even he couldn't hide the bright smile now on his face.

He reached out after her, casually carrying her in one arm now to touch the stone above her hand. Just to trace over the colors curiously.

"I want it to be what you design. Whether it's of your people or not, so long as it's a Zaiya original that's all I care."

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

Hearing Aris say that sent a warm bloom through Zaiya's chest, and she couldn't stop the soft shimmer of emotion from rippling and dancing across her skin. With him touching the ore and still holding her close, the feeling only grew stronger, echoing back and forth between them. It was just like she'd guessed, and now it felt certain.

It was cool… and a little strange, especially in that looping connection they shared.

"Well, I can guarantee it'll be a Zaiya original," she beamed, before giving a small shiver as the sensation swelled again, the resonance bouncing between them and the ore like it was alive.

"That's such an odd feeling," she laughed. "Almost tickles. What's it feel like for you?"

 

[Aris Noble]

"Bright and warm. Like you." Aris tightened his fingers on the rock, idly breaking it to pry a piece free. A larger piece, one they could shape easily into two. One for each of them. He held it up before them, idly watching as the colors shifted and shimmered. Was this something widely known about? Or was it something they'd just happened to fine?

Or was it just something that outsiders weren't told about?

He looked back to Zaiya, smiling brighter than ever. "Should we finally get to seeing your people? Or did you want to seclude me away for something else?"

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


Zaiya's face not only flushed but brightened instantly, her skin shifting into soft coral and gold as little flickers of light danced along her markings. What he admitted not only had her glowing, but the question that followed…that made her heart give a little skip.

To be honest, being here with him meant so much already, and the thought of finally seeing her people only added to it. However, this was the first time in a while they'd been truly alone together, without interruptions.

Or judgmental droids even if they meant well.

"I… I'd like to spend some time with you first," she admitted with a shy little smile.

"We haven't really been able to. Maybe we could camp out here tonight… just us… and then go looking for the village in the morning?"

 

[Aris Noble]

Aris stared at her now, seeming to let the gears in his head churn. In reality, he was hard breaking whatever thoughts were creeping in the back of his mind. After a moment the softer smile formed as he nodded his head. When was the last time they'd just spent time together? Under the Eye, perhaps? He looked around the cave for a moment, clicking his tongue.

"I think this would work for a camp site, yeah. I bet I could find something for us to eat, unless you have an inkling already?" Like fruit, or even nuts. Mushrooms. With how connected this world seemed to be, he figured she might just be able to feel out the different edible plants before he'd be able to scent them out.

"We didn't bring much for camping supplies, so we'll have to scrounge up some firewood if we get anything we have to cook."

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

Zaiya's grin brightened at his answer, her skin shimmering with warm gold and soft pink as the excitement bubbled up.

"Yeah… I think it'll work perfectly," she said, glancing around the glowing cave. The way the light from the ore danced across the walls made it feel almost cozy already.

"I can definitely help with the food," she added, her eyes glinting playfully. "Between your nose and my 'edible plant radar,' we'll be fine. I bet there's fruit nearby… maybe even something sweet. I am sure I can run a diagnostic on identifying edible fruit with my sensors. I also have some travel rations."

She let her fingers trail along the ore one last time before turning her head to peer out at the jungle beyond.

"You can collect firewood while I do that," she said with a little bounce in his arms, only to give him an amused expression.

"But that means you'd have to set me down first."

 

[Aris Noble]

"Mmm. Tempting as it is to keep carrying you, I can't just always do that right?" Was it a genuine question? Maybe sort of. He didn't linger long with it though, instead smiling just a bit more as he would set her down. After a quick peck on her cheek. Soon as she was on her own feet again he turned right to the entrance of the cave, practically hurrying away.

Even he got flustered. Even he didn't want to let it show too much. The red tinged on his ears was clear as day even as he seemed to rush off.

"Let's see who gets done first. Same bet as always?"

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

"No," Zaiya giggled back, the Lovalla Padawan beaming at Aris as he set her down, only to flush in pleasure and joy at the press of his lips against her cheek before he left. The small acts of affections meant a lot for the Lovalla, so keen on touch and showing affection through not only acts, but by touching each other.

Although she couldn't help but notice just how quickly Aris seemed to dart away, prompting a slight tilt of her head in avid curiosity but also amusement. Even she couldn't help but notice the way the tips of his ears turned a bright red.

It was cute.

"Okay." Zaiya began, bringing her hands together in a clap to look around. She took stock of the area they were in within the cavern. The question was, if it was safe to spend the night here, and if so, what was around that could be of use, and what should be avoided?

While she hadn't been born on Volik, there certainly was a pull here among the flora...would that also be for anything else in here?

Time to find out.

Zaiya slipped off her satchel and set it to the ground. Without further ado, she began to set up camp.

 

[Aris Noble]

Aris took a breath once he was outside of the cave, idly rubbing at the back of his neck. A whole night just sleeping in the cave was the plan now, and he couldn't help but feel nervous with it. They were going to eat of course, sleep, wake up the next morning to go to the town and learn what they could about the Lovalla, but what else was going to happen? Maybe pazaak?

".. Maybe cuddle?"

He spoke that thought aloud, which only made the red on his ears brighten. They'd held hands a lot, even kissed here and there, but actual cuddling? That had never been a thing. He grumbled, now rubbing his cheeks before he turned his gaze to the forest nearby. He didn't want to be this nervous. He shouldn't be, right?

Deep breath.

He closed his eyes, breathed, then started to look for the firewood needed. It was easy enough to find. Older, dead wood didn't glow, but it was apparent as he walked without Zaiya that it didn't react to him being there. To each other, sure. He could trace the reactions between the plants and the other life that was darting around.

It was like he was a ghost here. His expression thinned a bit. Hopefully that's not how it'd remain.

He wasn't gone for much longer, returning with a stack and a half of dried wood. He paused outside the cave, more again just clearing his mind. It was Zaiya, he didn't have to be so nervous, right? "Got the wood. You all set?"

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

ZAiya had kept herself busy while Aris was gone, humming softly as she worked. Clearing a spot in the cave wasn't too hard, and she'd stretched her senses wide, checking for anything that might sneak up on them. So far, nothing seemed to be out there wanting to eat them or annoyed at their presence. Just the quiet thrum of the ore, and the curious way that the biolumicent lichen and mushrooms seemed to react to her proximity, activating in a ripple glow effect that radiated in gentle waves.

It was pretty cool.

By the time Aris came back in with the wood, she'd already set out their little bedrolls side by side and picked a good spot for the fire. She had packed the smaller vacuum pack versions just in case, the same with a standard tent if weather got too messy. When she felt him getting closer, her colors bloomed, her skin shimmering with soft, starry flecks along her cheeks and arms that lit up the cave like a night sky.

"Yeah, got a basic set up," she said brightly, grinning at him as he stepped in. But after a second, the Lovalla Padawan gave a tilt of her head, a curious look washing over her face as she studied Aris.

"Everything okay?" she asked curiously, even as the soft iridescent glow of her opal blue eyes searched his.

 

[Aris Noble]

He stepped right by the firepit, already taking the time to make the flame that would likely keep them warm. Cook their food. Other such uses of fire that he was focusing on and not the fact their bedrolls were right beside each other. It made sense, naturally. Even just him approaching back to the cave had the colors within brighten. Closeness was just how the Lovalla were.

For Aris though it was something he'd been hearing about among the Epicathix far too much. His ears hadn't stopped burning, and it seemed Zaiya noticed when she spoke up. He stayed staring at the fire, idly tending to it as he furrowed his brow in thought on just how to answer her question. "I guess I'm still much more worried about making you uncomfortable than I thought. Being so close to you like this, or later tonight even, has me very much in my head. I like you, a lot. But also how you look and- That kind of attraction feels too new to me, I suppose."

Zaiya Ceti