Private Witchlight

[Alicio Organa]

"I doubt sending body parts to your wife would go down well for me. Even if I mentioned that you agreed to such ridiculous terms."

Alicio snorted, covering his mouth with a hand in a futile gesture to cover it. "No, I don't think it would. Even if Amani could probably put me back together again." Just speaking her name seemed to put the Count at ease, as whatever tension in his body evaporated at the thought of her.

There was a moment before the duel that each combatant sized the other up. There was a moment of silence, where Alicio's double-vision revealed nothing. Then, a flash from the future.

The senator tensed the moment before Dreidi moved, taking a step forward even as the Jedi charged. Alicio's thin blade caught Dreidi's, even as he found a confused expression. A few strike exchanged between them, revealing the Count's style.

He leaned heavily into Makashi's quick strikes and minimal movements, a duelist and a dancer all in one. He seemed to always find the perfect footing, the closest dodges to keep him safe, and the correct angles to glance Dreidi's blade away, likely due in large part to his future-vision. He was slower than Dreidi, that was a given, but able to keep up thanks to his sight.

Alicio waited for the correct moment, before attempting to catch the Jedi's blade in a bind, and step in close, to upset her balance and leverage her lightsaber into an awkward block. As he did, he smirked, though concentration marred his face. "I've never seen someone hold it like that," he admitted.

- Dreidi Xeraic -

 

[Dreidi Xeraic]

Tag: Alicio Organa

The talk of Amani had a relaxing effect on Alicio but not something that Dreidi could notice. She was focused on figuring out how to approach the duel. It was probably something she work on, taking notice of others and not be so absorbed in her own thoughts.

Makashi form from Alicio only caused Dreidi to smirk widely. Dreidi's preferred form was Makashi so she knew how it worked well, she used reverse Shien to lure others into a false sense of security. The rapid fire successions of strikes had her curious if he wanted to be more on the defensive, which made some sense with Makashi since it was a Lightsaber form designed to fight other Lightsabers from what Dreidi had understood from it. However, Dreidi wasn't sure Soresu would be more effective in defensive terms right now.

When Alicio shifted into a strike to upset the momentum that Dreidi had been building, her instincts shifted back into Makashi, the familiarity as she parried and ensured that pushed back from such strikes. Looking at Alicio, "well, seems like I am the most unique Jedi that you have ever met then." A witty smirk was etched on her lips, her left hand splayed out and blasted at Alicio's knee. Attempting to unsteady him and force him back on the defensive.

"I must say, your Lightsaber is highly unique as well." Dreidi commented as she thought about what would be her next strike.

 

[Alicio Organa]

Alicio felt his blade get parried, but fought the instinct to wheel back on the defensive once more. Instead, he attempted to continue to press his advantage, taking another step forward to invade the Jedi's space, making any retaliatory lightsaber swings awkward enough for for him to block. He could only smile at her teasing, too focused on their bout to continue the banter.

But then, Alicio felt his stance break, a sneaky use of the Force that messed with his footwork. Seeing all the potential follow-ups Dredi could attack him with, the Count was forced back, his lightsaber swinging in wide, defensive Soresu slashes to ward off any capitalizations by the Jedi.

With a bit of distance between them, Alicio found the ability to respond. "Thank you. I made it myself," he said simply, dipping into the future to predict a few avenues of attack. He seemed to find one he liked, his face hardening with concentration as he took a few steps forward, getting back into combat with the Jedi. He barely committed at first, just a few probing jabs and swipes to draw her guard low, before making his move. An overhead slash.

But just before he would make contact with either Dreidi or her blade, he used the Force to nudge his hand a few inches to the side, drastically changing the angle of his swing at the last moment, while losing none of his momentum.

He hoped to catch her off-guard, with a technique he was developing himself.

- Dreidi Xeraic -

 

[Dreidi Xeraic]

Tag: Alicio Organa

The defensive shift in Alicio was predictable in Dreidi's eyes but it was one that she couldn't counter too strongly. Overcommit and she would have faced dire consequences of possibly being hard on the backfoot. Instead it was better for her to organise herself and assess the situation. Ensure she knew what she was going to be dealing with and how to combat this.

Setting up such an obvious overhead strike seemed suspicious in Dreidi's mind. She was never one for believing that someone would overcommit to such a tactic while leaving themselves incredibly vulnerable. Instead, she trusted in the Force, allowing that to guide her safely from anything that might be too dangerous. It was risky since she wasn't convinced that her abilities in foresight were anywhere near as strong as Alicio's but at this moment in time, she knew that she would rather play riskier and perhaps catch him off guard than safer and right into his hands.

Though riskier fighting was mostly how she was.

As predicted the overhead slash shifted at the last moment into a different attack, Dreidi felt her body react, spinning away from the attack and allowing her more breathing room. It was very lucky and if she hadn't been able to avoid the strike then the match would have ended sooner. She panted hard, it was sending a load of adrenaline through her body as she thought how close defeat had been. She could feel the nerves of losing biting at the back of her mind as the dark voice at the back of her mind warned her that she was never going to win against someone who could see the future.

"Nice move, not seen something like that before." Dreidi commented, she couldn't deny him praise just because she felt like she was going to lose the fight.

She held her ground, curious to see where Alicio was going to strike next.

 

[Alicio Organa]

Dreidi seemed to flow out of the way of his trick, which had in fact caught Alicio off-guard. His eyes widened just a little, though he recovered quickly, putting up a guard and watching as the Jedi Witch backed up, taking a more conservative fighting style, similar to him.

His visions were never set in stone. The Future was an ever-changing sea, after all. In that moment, he must have seen what he wanted to, rather than what would actually happen. A weakness he would have to work on eliminating.

"Nice move, not seen something like that before."

"Thank you. I made it myself," he said, a cheeky smile overcoming his features as he parroted his previous comment, breathing a little heavy himself. "You surprised me there. Good job."

Slowly, Alicio advanced once more, blade held loosely at his side. He took a few sluggish steps, before his footwork suddenly tightened, and he executed a few practiced jabs, probing the edges of Dreidi's defenses, not committing to a full exchange, staying just out of both of their effective ranges. An inexperienced duelist might think he was searching for an opening.

Dreidi would be able to tell he was waiting for her to make one for him.

- Dreidi Xeraic -

 

[Dreidi Xeraic]

Tag: Alicio Organa

It was good to see Alicio off guard, she had found that his visions were concrete truths of the future. A step that could be helpful for him and his underlying issue with the constant Force Visions as well.

A technique he devised himself was curious and impressive, few ventured far from the traditions of the Lightsaber Forms. "I will have to keep that in mind." Dreidi commented back, "can't let you win too early. Gotta 'trust in the Force' I believe the saying goes." Dreidi offered a wide smirk as he approached. The calculated steps and jabs, Dreidi was able to tell that he was seeking an opening and unless she did something bold, he would find one before she could counter all this.

Creating a subtle but clear opening, she didn't want to be too obvious in her trap, she allowed him to take advantage of the opportunity that presented itself. When the strike came, it would only be the last possible second that Dreidi would reveal her trap, vanishing into smoke. Her voice chuckling deeply, seemingly everywhere around Alicio before she reformed behind him. Charging forward, she took the opportunity and attempted to catch him off guard by striking from behind.

 

[Alicio Organa]

"Can't let you win too early. Gotta 'trust in the Force' I believe the saying goes."

Alicio seemed to pause at that, some of his good mood mellowing into neutral conversation. "Then trust away," he said, as he advanced slowly. She could do the trusting for the both of them.

He couldn't trust the Force. Not anymore.

The series of jabs seemed to open an opportunity for the Count. And of course, he took it. But there was a glint of knowing in his eye, like a glittering gemstone. His guard was up again, and he was being careful. So he saw what was about to happen. Tasted it in the air.

So as Alicio ran his blade through where Dreidi had been only moments before, he flicked off his lightsaber, a quick twist of his body bringing him face-to-face with her reincorporating form. Instead of bringing up his blade to block, he simply pointed his unlit hilt towards Dreidi's midsection, making no move to defend himself. Hopefully, Dreidi would stop short of hitting him, or this was going to hurt.

She'd been too quick for him to keep up with. The best he could do was offer the draw.

- Dreidi Xeraic -

 

[Dreidi Xeraic]

Tag: Alicio Organa

It appeared that the Force had been able to guide him in predicting her moves.

He was able to shift around and hold his blade to pierce her stomach were she to step too far. The commitment meant that she was able to match with a hovering strike at his throat. However, there was clear disappointment in her face, she had hoped for something more decisive or the chance to beat him, to demonstrate that she could overcome his abilities to see the future.

"Well, seems we managed to work out to a draw." Dreidi commented, she let out a sigh. "Perhaps we should train more often, see if I can overcome that Force Vision ability of yours." Dreidi switched her Lightsaber off and placed it back on her hip.

This was definitely not a person who simply gave up, Dreidi could sense a challenge and she was locked on to do her hardest to overcome the odds. It was why she trained so hard in as a Jedi and as a Witch.

 

[Alicio Organa]

"Well, seems we managed to work out to a draw."

Alicio shrugged cheekily, his lightsaber hilt bobbing up and down with his shoulders. "Seems that way," he agreed, sensing in the air and in Dreidi's face that she was dissatisfied with the outcome. Of course, he knew his weaknesses with the ability, and knew exactly how close he'd come to defeat today.

But she didn't have to know that.

Alicio replaced his own lightsaber at his side, enjoying the afterglow of the duel. For a man of peace, he seemed to enjoy sparring a little too much. "Any time, Dreidi. Well... Not any time. I do have senatorial duties to attend to." He twisted his lip. "Sadly, I can't fight away all my issues in the Senate with a ligthsaber." As much as he would like that.

"How did you... teleport?" Alicio reconsidered what he saw, what he felt. "Become mist?," he amended.

- Dreidi Xeraic -

 

[Dreidi Xeraic]

Tag: Alicio Organa

Dreidi nodded her head, she understood there were other duties one had, her training and developing her own skills took plenty of her own time so she was not always available to do sparring with others. She smiled, reining in her disappointment of the fight, "of course, I also have my Jedi duties as well as practicing my spells. I can offer my number so we can organise things easily?" Dreidi suggested.

"Oh, the teleporting?" Dreidi paused then thought about how best to describe the sensation to someone who might never truly understand. "At first, it felt like my body was being burnt to ash, painful but also a numbness as my body was just too overwhelmed and the mind gave up trying to understand the feeling. I always sense that it is less mist and more a smoky presence that is left behind. Been working on being able to use my voice and project it so it sounds like it is coming from all directions to disorient my opponents. Also reforming feels odd since it feels like one's body solidifying after being nothing more than air. It's tricky to connect the sensations to words."

Dreidi paused then looked around, "if there was fire, I would be able to demonstrate some other skills I have. Been trying to develop the ability to create fire from nothing but taking some time to master at the moment."

 

[Alicio Organa]

"Sure," Alicio said nonchalantly, returning to his seat on the cushion, and returning his hilt to his side. Not only was Dreidi a new friend, but a Jedi and a Witch, too. She was certainly someone to stay in contact with. Especially since they needed a rematch.

Her description of what it felt like to... turn smoky, was a puzzling one to Alicio. He tried to imagine what it might feel like, to burn up and appear elsewhere, and be able to laugh about it, but he couldn't. "Is that magick? Or some secret Jedi technique I haven't heard of?"

Alicio glanced around the room, as if he'd magically spot a fire appear out of nowhere. "Well... I don't have a lighter. I suppose we could try starting a blaze with our sabers, but... not sure if that would work." The Count looked back at Dreidi, a smile on his face, and a question in his eye.

"Would someone like me be able to learn how to turn to ash?" Much like her, Alicio tried to learn from multiple traditions of the Force. But this tradition was far removed from the others he'd studied.

- Dreidi Xeraic -

 

[Dreidi Xeraic]

Tag: Alicio Organa

Dreidi nodded her head, "definitely Magick. My Magick is focused on pyromancy skills, teleportation and developing some taming beast skills and illusion based things. I did dabble in healing but it isn't the strongest skill I have, definitely something that one has to dedicate themselves to. I am also not touching the necromancy skills that some witches have displayed. Mostly because it feels too dark for me." While she has what some charitably call a goth aesthetic, Dreidi found undead and zombie stuff that other witches have done send shivers all the way up and down her spine. Definitely too spooky.

At the mention of a lighter, Dreidi slapped her forehead, of course a lighter would work and she usually carried one. Checking her pockets, Dreidi found her lighter and ignited it. A small flame, Dreidi muttered a silent incantation as her fingers wriggled. The flame grew larger and larger, shifting from the lighter into her palm. Keeping herself composed, the fire did grow then flickered and shifted. She worked her skills in fire manipulation to move two humanoid looking beings from the flames to fight and clash until she extinguished the flames with a clenched fist. The use of magick then hit her like a freighter, giving her a cold sweat as she took a sit down and caught her breath.

"I am not sure if you can. Normally witches using Magick are connected to Dathomir. While I don't know why I can, bar suspecting that my father has some Dathomirian connection he never knew about, I am not sure if you can. Also, witches on Dathomir from what I have encountered are all female, so it might not be a connection a male like yourself would have." Dreidi mentioned, not wishing to disappoint, "I know that there is a thing not too dissimilar that the Sith use, Sith Magic, but that is deeply connected to pure Dark Side powers. Dathomir Magick, it can be seen like that but it is more a connection of emotions, that our emotions and ties to the planet and ancestors, that is what fuels our Magick."

Looking at Alicio, "sorry if that disappoints you. I would feel a lot of disappointment if I was unable to learn Magick and it took a long time to get to where I am now."

 

[Alicio Organa]

As Dreidi continued to expand upon the nature of her skillset, Alicio felt his jaw slowly slacking, though he reined in his surprise as much as he could. He'd heard legends of 'necromancy', witches calling upon their deceased sisters to attack their enemies, but he'd thought it was hyperbole, or simply tall tales. To think that it was not only true, but possible for Dreidi, made Alicio consider the possibilities.

As the Witch showed off her abilities with the lighter, Alicio couldn't help but stare into the flames, the subtle light flickering off his grey irises.

"I certainly don't have that wide of a portfolio," the Count said, perhaps trying to placate Dreidi's frustrations towards their duel. "I can barely move things with the Force. Much less teleport and conflagrate and... illuse." He shrugged, resigning himself to being a one-trick fathier.

The fact that he likely couldn't learn how to control the Force the same way she did wasn't surprising, even if it was a little disappointing. He tried not to let it get to him, instead inclining his head. "I think I'd know if I were Dathomiri. So... probably not an option for me. Which is alright." He shrugged again. One-trick fathier. "We're lucky to have the Force at all. Not everyone can connect to it like we can."

"I don't think our duel helped my visions, but... I do feel better. So... thanks."

- Dreidi Xeraic -

 

[Dreidi Xeraic]

Tag: Alicio Organa

Dreidi nodded her head, "while I might have more skills in the Force. Your combat skills are nothing to be ashamed of and I am sure you have much more patience and diplomatic skills and strategy than I ever would. The Force guides and helps mold us into the people that we are today. While you do not possess the skills that I have, there was many that you have that I would never be able to obtain." She shrugged, hoping to offer a small level of comfort to the man.

"I would not like to comment. I can only guess at my origins, my father was a slave on Nar Shaddaa, abandoned as a baby. So, the family history down that entire branch is difficult to know what origins I might have." Lily confessed, there was only a small voice at the back of her mind that help such suspicions. She nodded her head in agreement, "this is why we must work to protect those that cannot look after themselves with the Force."

"Feeling better is a step towards the right direction. I always find that to be the case when troubled."

 

[Alicio Organa]

"Well, thank you," Alicio offered, a smile shading his features. He didn't like comparing his success to others, but knowing that everyone had their own strengths and weaknesses was a comforting thought to be reminded of, every once in a while.

"This is why we must work to protect those that cannot look after themselves with the Force."

One of the Count's eyebrow's quirked up. "Everyone has their strengths. Perhaps they can help protect you, too, one day."

"Yes, I also find that feeling better is the first step to feeling better, too." He smirked. "Thank you for your time today. I'm sure you have more important things to do than spar with a senator."

- Dreidi Xeraic -

 

[Dreidi Xeraic]

Tag: Alicio Organa

Dreidi nodded her head, "well, we'll see. I tend to struggle in accepting help or depending on others. My skills are things I earned and learnt my limits, I do not that in others so feels like a lot of risk." Dreidi shrugged her shoulders since she was super cautious about who she would let keep her safe.

"It is fine." Dreidi smiled politely, "I am not too busy at the moments but I am happy to let you get on with your day. I am sure you have a busy day planned yourself." Nodding her head gently before rising to her feet and stretching her limbs, there was a little tiredness in her limbs but nothing a good, big meal that would help fade that away.

"Hopefully I see you around again soon to spar again." Dreidi turned to the door to leave.

 

[Alicio Organa]

"No one is above help," Alicio offered, though he didn't expound further. He'd once been the same. He'd learned, only through experience, that being helped was as important as being helpful.

On her next point, Alicio nodded once. He was rather busy with Assembly matters. He'd likely already spent too much time here anyways. But he would stay, for at least a few minutes more.

"Thank you for your help, Dreidi." With a quiet smile and a subtle wave, Alicio observed as Dreidi departed, already falling deep into thought once more.

- Dreidi Xeraic -