Private Take On Me!!!

[Zaiya Ceti]

The Prosperity - Training Dojo
Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x | Weapons: x x
Interacting with: Aris Noble

-

"Okay, so... I tried to spar with your sister, but of course, it was pretty evident that I didn't know what I was doing with the training saber." Zaiya began to explain to Aris, her hands coming up to gather her thick, colorful waves of hair to tie it up into a messy topknot at the top of her head. The entire length of it was pretty heavy, but it was faster to do that than braid it into a thick plait. It was more important to keep her hair off of her eyes.

The Lovalla teen stood with her feet slightly braced apart in the middle of the training dojo. She had asked the Epicanthix to help her get some basic training in with the training saber or whatever would be best to get started. Honestly, she needed some basics on defense and attacks. The two people she knew she could ask off the bat were Aris and Braze , and since Aris was now her new roommate, it was easier to ask him than the Half-Echani; although Zaiya was going to ask him to help her too. Both Aris and Braze had strengths and different perspectives when it came to fighting, and both would be able to help her find a fighting style or methodology that would be best suited for her willow frame and lack of strength. At least until Zaiya figured out how to use the Force to enhance her body, and she also began a training workout regimen to strengthen naturally and tone her body.

She wore one of her training outfits today, baring her shoulders and allowing a greater ease of movement. Plus the blue fabric was super pretty and comfortable. Comfy leather shoes completed the look, but as always, she had her half dozen bangles and bracelets on each wrist; some of which were actual tools or weapons that were made to look like jewelry.

"So -- " A big flash of a grin and a ripple of light blue would dance over her rosy golden skin in amusement, just a hit of citrine tones to indicate her curiosity and excitement. She finished tying up her hair and dropped her hands to her side, arms spreading out in a small playful shrug as she asked, "Where do we begin?"

 

[Aris Noble]

Aris was the teacher this time.

It wasn't something he'd expected, nor was he that prepared for it either, if he was honest. It was an innocent enough request of course. Zaiya was now part of the Jedi and wanted to make sure she could help them. All of them. Defend herself even. As an Epicanthix it made sense to her to at least help those willing to learn how to fight. But what if he messed up? What if what he showed her she couldn't actually use? What if what she learned ended up getting her hurt?

There was doubt, there, in the back of his mind. Doubt that he was the right person to help her. Doubt that he would in fact help at all. But the moment he saw her all prepared and smiling and just.. Glowing, those doubts went away. Even if what he showed her wasn't enough, it was a good enough starting point for her. That's what he could focus on.

"We start with what you want to do."

He reached down for his own lightsaber, paused, then glanced to the Bokken's that lined the wall. He stepped over to them, taking up two. One for himself, one to hand to her. "I can show you the basics, but that won't matter too much if we don't know what you want to do. What your goal is. This is a lot of hard work, you won't get it in one day. I'm sure you know, from your studying before. But a goal is needed. So.. What do you want to do with this blade, Zaiya?"

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Zaiya flashed another wide grin as she took the Bokken from Aris Noble , her fingers curling around its hilt as she felt the grain.

"Umm... honestly?" the Lovalla teen began, tentatively swinging the bokken in front of her in a haphazard manner. "I don't know. What are examples of some goals? Let's pretend that I have no idea where this all starts from - even if it is true - and give me ideas. I know I'm not as strong or powerful as you. Nor can I move as fast. I certainly don't have the endurance of normal humans... so, what options are there?"

It was at this moment she began to stretch, holding one end of the Bokken with her right hand and the other end with her left, bringing the wooden sword up over her head in a really nice full body stretch.

Her lips curled into a soft 'o' shape. Ooo, that felt good!

 

[Aris Noble]

"I don't mean how to use a lightsaber. I meant more.. Why you do. To protect? To stop evil? That sort of thing." Aris thought he sounded philosophical, but his meaning had been lost, it seemed. He chuckled nervously as he scratched his cheek, but didn't linger on it. The question was still there, and it was still important for her to answer. He kept a light grip on his own bokken, deciding it might be best to at least show her a stance.

A small nod to encourage her to follow, and he steadied his stance. Neutral, feet apart, blade in both hands held before him. It was as neutral as neutral got for a lightsaber stance. He wasn't going to teach her any advanced forms. Just the basics. Those were what he drilled the most, after all.

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

“Oh! Okay,” Zaiya exclaimed in revelation, still working on the stretch before she brought her arms down.

“Then the goal is to protect. I’m not aiming to be a great battle master or anything. I just want to make sure I can do my best to keep others safe.” The Lovall explained, watching with curious opal blue eyes as Aris Noble took a stance, bright orange dancing over her patterns followed by a joyful excited blue glow.

She decided to mirror his stance, holding the Bokken as he was. That had been her issue before not knowing how to grip — no wait actually.

“Am I the only one who thinks it’s weird that the only weight I felt with the saber is the hilt when activated? I think that threw me off.” She admitted, ready to learn from Aris on what would be next.

The endless questions would always be a thing with Zaiya. This wouldn’t be a quiet session.

​

 

[Aris Noble]

"It's not weightless, not fully. It is weird, to have all the balance be in the wrist rather than in the blade itself. But," Aris lifted the Bokken, and struck. At the air, of course. "It's something you can get used to. We'll start with the basics. Shii-Cho. I suggest reading up on it when you have a chance to, but right now we'll focus on strike zones." The purest basics. He couldn't feel the Force, so he'd never be able to properly teach the philosophy behind it, but he could teach the zones. Just as he had been by Valery Noble .

"Vertical and horizontal are the basics. You strike at each zone, and the idea is to practice it until you can efficiently strike at a zone just hearing the number. One is the head, two is the right shoulder, three is left shoulder, four is back, five is right leg, and six is left leg. We'll-" He paused as he realized that, maybe, visualization wasn't going to be enough. He stepped away, found one of the training dummies, picked it up despite just how heavy it was, and rather easily set it down in the middle of the room.

"Don't worry about speed. Just focus on a good, solid strike. Step into it. Balance your weight on your front leg so you put more power into the strike. Turn, it's not just your arms that aid it. You're whole body is part of the blade. When there's no weight in it, it'll be even more important to use all your strength."

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

”Oh is this what your sister was talking about?” Zaiya asked more rhetorically than literally at Aris Noble , walking over to him where he set the training dummy, watching him as he explained each zone. Understanding dawned and rippled over her skin in a quick kaliscopic swirl of colors.

“She mentioned doing sequences while sparring but I had no clue what she even meant. I felt pretty dumb.” She admitted, but perked up now that Aris explained it. It was going to be hard for her, catching up and understanding all of this that others likely had years to learn compared to Zaiya. More intense studying hours are going to need to be scheduled if she wanted to feel at all competent. It was so different from university. There she was ahead. Here, she knew practically nothing.

Determined none the less, Zaiya set her brows and a dark orange ripple with a brief flash of a blue glow darted across her mottled blue spots. Just had to tackle it directly. No need to feel overwhelmed. I’m good at studying.

“Okay. So you’ll call the number and I’ll either try to hit the zones with a horizontal or vertical hit?” Zaiya confirmed, mimicking the strikes slowly with a horizontal strike then a vertical one over her head.

“Like this?” She asked to be sure if she was holding and directing her Bokken correctly, twisting her body as instructed in an example before they got to the next step. If not her could always show her how to and guide her.

​

 

[Aris Noble]

"Most likely, yes."

If it was during the sparring, it was likely too chaotic for Vera to get into detail. But it was just them now, so they could go as deep into the details as they needed so Zaiya could start practicing and studying on her own. "We'll go through it a couple times just to make sure. When you've learned the zones enough to know, I can make you some recordings and you can train it on your own. It's what I do, actually. I've got a program to just shout out the numbers at random."

It wasn't a complex, but, still. It helped him a lot. And now it could help her. He watched her stance, nodding once. "Don't rush through it. We'll work on speed and the like as we go. But that works fine. Try striking one."

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

”okay great!l” Zaiya exclaimed, sending a dazzle of happy joyful tones of light blue edged in gold dancing over her face and arms. This felt a lot better once it could be explained to her. Thinking about finally learning some good basics made her think of her new friend, Astri, who said she’d teach her some Echani moves. Did Aris know those to?

While she was contemplating this, Zaiya did as Aris instructed and positioned herself in front of the training dummy. One was the head. Okay so that would be either a vertical or horizontal strike? Maybe it just depended on the circumstance? Zaiya decided to attempt a horizontal strike to the top of the dummy’s head, bringing her Bokken up and over her colorful head, only to strike back down using her body’s strength to power as much momentum and oomph to the strike. It struck the dummy with a thwaph!

Ok not so bad right?

“Does it matter if it should be a hortizonal or vertical strike on the zones?” The Lovalla teen asked, iridescent blue eyes darting over to Aris Noble . Then, just as nonchalantly, with a perk of her head as she recalled what else Astri Elyse asked her.

“Oh, and I’ve been wondering,” as she attempted a horizontal swipe at zone one again.

Thwaph!

“Aris do you like me and love me? Or is it more you like like me or love love me?” once again, those large opal blue eyes leveled at the Epicanthix, bright citrine hues swirling over her patterns in avid curiousity.

​

 

[Aris Noble]

"When you're sparring with someone else, it does. The idea is to perfectly meet someone's strike at exactly perpendicular. It's to teach you discipline and control." And, ironically, the more focus that was put on such control, the easier it would be for it to be instinct. At least, that's what he was taught. He nodded to her strike, though. She did well, considering this was the first time by her own admission.

"For this, I guess, alternate with every strike."

Then, he paused. And blinked. He stared at Zaiya for a moment, thinking through just what she'd asked. Like like? Love love? Love in general?

"I.. Don't think I understand what you're asking. What is like like? Or love love? What is love? Like how I love my family?"

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

”Alternate. Okay!” Zaiya nodded at Aris Noble then proceeded to do so, moving from zone one now to zone two: right shoulder.

Although not before observing Aris to see his expression when he answered her other question. Evidently, as relief went melting over her skin in thinking she wasn’t dumb for not understanding what Colette or Astri Elyse
relayed to her about liking someone and loving. Colette had told her it was evident Zaiya loved Aris, in that she cared about him a lot, but not love love. Astri had mentioned that it would be best to know if Aris like liked her the way a boyfriend did. It was all confusing and she was glad she could at least see someone else was too. It had been Astro who told her to just ask Aris, and that made sense. It was better to ask than wonder.

“Well a friend I met at the temple told me that it was obvious that I love you, not just like you. Cause of course I like you, you are my friend, but I also love you because you mean a lot to me and you’re my best friend.”

This time she did a horizontal thwaph at mid shoulder. Her body twist needed a bit of remediation as she stepped forward but it wasn’t too bad.

Zaiya was going to explain more, however, she suddenly stopped as if alarmed, pale yellow darting over her face,” Wait, you are my best friend right?”

That scared her more. That she’s been wrong about that.

​

 

[Aris Noble]

"Don't force yourself to twist. Lean into it. Flow with it. If you overextend you'll loose power and leave yourself vulnerable."

He could do both, at least, in terms of making sure her form was alright and.. Trying to figure out what she was getting at. Sort through what she was saying. There were far too many emotions he still didn't know the proper definition of, or even if he was feeling them. If he could feel them. But, well, she seemed just as unsure on things as he was. Aris blinked in surprise. They hadn't talked about that before, had they?

"You're my closest friend. So, if that means best friend, then, yes without a doubt."

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Needless to say, hearing Aris Noble say that she was his best friend made her immediately glow. Bright, golden bioluminescence with vibrant blue colors rippling in delighted pleasure, Zaiya shinning a massively large grin.

“Okay! Good.” Hearing that from Epicanthix made her feel so much better. It was funny how the confirmation just settled things. There is no need to overthink or worry about that now.

Taking his advice, Zaiya leaned into her next swing. This time, it was to zone three, the left shoulder. As she leaned into her strike with the Bokken, her form was better and a bit stronger.

Thwack!

"Okay, so, from what Colette told me, love love is the type of love you have for a mate." The Lovalla still hadn't put two and two together that Colette was Aris's older sister. Corsucant was a massive world with so many people in the Jedi Temple. Who would have figured the one Colette she met would be the adopted Noble daughter?

"And when I was talking to Astri, she said that if you hold hands and the boy who is doing it likes it and such, then maybe they like like, you... which I guess is the same as love love? Or a bit less? She said its for a boyfriend, but I told her that you are my boy friend, cause you are a boy and my friend, well best friend." Zaiya explained, hoping it made sense on what Astri Elyse told her. Honestly she was still trying to figure out it, that's why she was asking everyone she knew how did they know if someone liked you.

Thwack! Zone four.

"But she said that the difference, I guess, is if the person wants to kiss you." Zaiya gave a confused frown, a bit of sweat forming over her brow. Pausing her strike, she turned to Aris and canted her head to the side. A hot puff of hair would blow upward to push the wayward strands of hair from her sweaty face.

"So I guess, maybe the question is, do you want to kiss me?"

 

[Aris Noble]

Colette was behind this? Aris frowned faintly. Not in disappointment, but thought. Maybe he should talk to her too about all of this? It'd certainly be better than trying to ask Astri Elyse , if only so it wasn't too awkward. Colette was his sister after all, she should have lots of information to help him piece this all together. He was focused on her form, though, making sure she was doing well, that each strike was solid, rather than rushed.

At least until,

"So I guess, maybe the question is, do you want to kiss me?"

Aris stared blankly for a moment. Actually blank. It wasn't a thought that had crossed his mind at all. Why would it have? He hadn't actually kissed anyone, ever, in his life. Hugs? Absolutely, but the thought of it even for family hadn't crossed his mind at all. Now, here was the question, right in his face. Right where he couldn't help but think of it. It was.. Embarrassing. He cleared his throat and looked away as he blushed.

"No. That's- Gross. Mom and dad kiss and that's- It's very unsanitary."

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

"No. That's- Gross. Mom and dad kiss and that's- It's very unsanitary."

It was the combination of the blank look on his face, then the way Aris Noble cleared his throat and looked away after saying how gross the concept of kissing was that pretty much sealed the confirmation that Aris did not like like her at all, much the less, love love her.

In the months she'd known him, he'd never had such a reaction to anything to this degree to call something gross, much less unsanitary. Now Zaiya felt a rush of heat flood her face, something that didn't have anything to do with training with the sequences and more with the embarrassment that such a question held such distaste for Aris. So much so that the thought of kissing her made him think it was gross and unsanitary.

Am I gross and unsanitary?

Now doubts swarmed her head as vibrant pink tones deepened into coral over her mottled spots and stripes, the Lovalla teen now doubting that anyone would want to kiss her then if her best friend thought the act would be unsanitary and gross with her. Was the thought really that bad?

Clearing her throat and looking away from the training dummy, Zaiya did her best to try to focus on the sequences again. Zones five and six, right and Left leg.

"Oh—okay. That's... that's what I thought." She swallowed, feeling a bit awkward and embarrassed. Knowing that all her emotions were on display for Aris to read in her colorshifting, she tried her best to just work on the strikes.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

The strikes were harder now, as she leaned her body into it, emotion lacing the swings as she added more oomph.

"Umm... how do I look now?" she asked, intending on bringing the conversation back to her form.

Besides unsanitary and gross.

 

[Aris Noble]

It was a blessing in disguise that Aris avoided looking in her direction entirely. Or curse, really. there was a chance to clear up a lot of the misunderstandings here, but he was too flustered by the question to even think straight. Why had she asked him that? Was that something he actually wanted? Thinking about it all he could think of was his parents and that brought a grimace. He didn't like thinking about them kissing.

The thwacks of her hitting the dummy pulled his attention back.

He watched her form, choosing to push those thoughts away. He still felt.. Conflicted. Very conflicted. He didn't know what that meant, and he wasn't going to figure it out here and now. His eyes narrowed in focus. Her colors were still shifting.

That wasn't good.

"Not so good. You're putting emotion in them. You shouldn't let your emotions bleed into your strikes. For this, clear thoughts. Focus, and move. With purpose, but not emotion."

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Not so good.

Those words ran through Zaiya's head, unfortunately clashing with her conflict of emotions and internal crisis that she just might be gross and unsanitary to Aris. Nevermind that it wouldn't make sense. He held her hand and hugged her; if he thought she was gross and unsanitary then he wouldn't hold her hand or hug her. Then perhaps, it was just the concept of kissing her specifically that made him think it was gross and very unsanitary. To which case, the answer was very clear -- Aris Noble did not think or feel for her in the way a boy liked a girl as more than a best friend.

Not if he thought kissing her was gross.

You're putting emotion in them. You shouldn't let your emotions bleed into your strikes. For this, clear thoughts. Focus, and move. With purpose, but not emotion.

While Aris was being very helpful and was correct that Zaiya was in fact, putting her emotions into the hits, Zaiya couldn't help but reply with a bit of annoyance, lavender sweeping over the dark coral tones, trying her best not to look at Aris because she felt she might get even more self-concious if she did. Thwack!

"I communicate with emotions, Aris. It is all over my face and body. I can't help it."

Thwack!

She was correct; even her bare arms were starting to sparkle and shimmer in color as she swung and hit the training dummy as she said it, a silvery glow sweeping over them like a bioluminescent wave rippling over her skin.

Biting her lower lip, she tightened her grip around the Bokken, telling herself it was wrong to act like this. She asked a question, and Aris answered. That was that.

But why did it bother her so much?

"Sorry, okay, let me focus."

​

 

[Aris Noble]

Aris was once more stunned into silence. Had she.. Did Zaiya snap at him?

He'd never seen her frustrated before. What had changed? Did the question really upset her this much? There was no ignoring that now, as he watched the colors ripple across her skin. She was frustrated and annoyed. And the only change was the question. Was his answer. He frowned a bit in thought, no longer focusing on the actual lesson. She seemed to be, but.. It defeated the purpose if she was upset. She needed a clear mind for this. They both did.

"What's going on? What changed? You were doing well at controlling your emotions before the question. Was there something wrong with my answer?"

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Was there something wrong with Aris Noble ’s answer?

No. He had answered it honestly by what came to mind when she asked him. Zaiya couldn’t fault him for saying that no, he didn’t think so, and that the thought was gross. Or the act is gross.

Whatever.

Attempting her best to control her emotions as well as her color shifting, Zaiya closed her eyes and took a deep breath. After a heavy exhale she opened her eyes and stared once again at the dummy. The vibrancy along her skin had dulled and her markings turned a dark orange again in contemplation.

“No.” She answered Aris, moving to line up and start with zone one again. She couldn’t quite look at him or risk feeling embarrassed and showing that all on her face again.

“I asked the question. You answered honestly. It’s fine. Now I know. “ that was all there was to it, Zaiya told herself, despite the nagging voice once again repeating the gross comment all over again in her head.

What made him think that would be gross? Would anyone think it’s gross to kiss me?

As much as Zaiya wanted to ask, she didn’t. She didn’t want to be mortified and told how she’d be gross to kiss. Aris wouldn’t sugar coat it either. A blessing and a curse.

No. Just focusing on how they normally acted as best friends is fine.

But maybe I should brush my teeth more?

This time, there was less emotion in her swings, but more determination, the dark orange rippling with a blue glow. There was no avoiding the warmth she still felt on her face but nothing to do about it. Had to push those thoughts aside.

That’s the thing about questions. Gotta be ready to handle the answers.

“How is that now?”

 

[Aris Noble]

And that only answered that there was something wrong with his answer.

Aris.. Was not equipped enough to figure this out. He watched her as she renewed her strikes, and clearly she'd at least stopped letting the emotion come through it. Maybe.. That was a good sign? Maybe he was the one overthinking it. Except, he knew he wasn't. He frowned just a little as he watched her strikes. They were good. Solid. Purposeful but without emotion as he'd said. Still didn't help him shake off that there was something wrong.

"Better. .. But not where they were originally. Something is very clearly going on. What is it?"

Zaiya Ceti