Crystaall Sehefadu
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Affiliation: The New Order of the Jensaarai, GALSAF, The New Republic/Old Republic
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Post by Crystaall Sehefadu on Oct 26, 2013 20:18:47 GMT -8
Principal Authors-> Crystaall, Ali Hadrix
People allowed to write on this thread-> Crystaall, Ali Hadrix and invited others (not likely)
Critical responses-> No
Will adhere to Universe rules-> Yes
Timeframe: Weeks before the Mandolorian rebellion
Location: Naboo's capital of Theed and Crystaall's personal hideout.
This story is to better develop Crystaall and Ali's understanding of each other and their current relationship/partnership.
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Crystaall Sehefadu
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Keep pushing, and never look back
Posts: 359
Affiliation: The New Order of the Jensaarai, GALSAF, The New Republic/Old Republic
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Post by Crystaall Sehefadu on Oct 26, 2013 20:26:35 GMT -8
*She stood there, waiting. Propped left foot against the wall, swaying of the hips left to right and the constant readjusting of her shoulders kept Crystaall busy as she waited in her brown robe. The attire underneath wasn't flashy. It was just the average garb a Jedi would wear with its tan color and her brown boots painting her out to every one who entered the spaceport to realize there was a Jedi standing there. Her ponytail didn't help her cause, probably having an educated individual believe she was one who followed the old path of the Jedi Guardian. She was almost growing impatient, expecting Ali's ship to have landed sooner or later. She fiddled with her necklace and begin to speak gibberish to herself.*
"Where the kriff are you, Ali?"
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Ali Hadrix
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Post by Ali Hadrix on Oct 26, 2013 22:07:19 GMT -8
Ali Hadrix, a short Human female with pale skin, dark hair and bright eyes, stepped over the first rungs of the ladder that had been laid against the cockpit frame of the XJ-7 X-wing starfighter she had recently docked in Theed City's main spaceport. She leant against the cockpit, reaching inside to grab her comlink and datapad, the only two items not already stowed in her bag that she expected to need during her visit on Naboo. After sealing the ship, Ali took a moment to look over her reflection in the plasteel before her, tucking rouge strands of her long dark hair behind her ear. Her eyes were lightly shadowed with pale blue makeup, her lips contrast against her pale skin by way of ruby red lipstick. She looked perfect, which was just how she wanted to look for Crys during their first casual…What? Ali thought suddenly, not entirely sure what she was to call this visit. It certainly wasn't a date; the moments she had already shared with the Jensaarai woman had thrown any real chance of dating out of the viewport. Besides, Mando'ade didn't date. They simply fell in love and lived their lives for the people they found worthy of that love. Did she love Crystaall Sehefadu? Ali wondered briefly as she dropped from the ladder and onto the duracrete platform below. She certainly wanted to.
Ali tugged the arm-length fingerless gloves she wore up past her elbows. The damn things were always slipping down to her forearms and bunching up. Besides the arm-length gloves, Ali wore a form-fitting, blue shirt beneath a navy blue shortcoat that ended above her hips. She wore black knee-high utility boots below a thigh-long black skirt. When she could get away with it, Ali went braless, this thankfully being one of those times. At least the weather here is warm, Ali thought to herself, Or my nipples would be escaping me right now.
Slinging her small satchel over one shoulder, Ali made her way to the spaceport registration area to log her ship into the control database, then left the port in search of the woman she had traveled so far to meet. The walk wasn't long, though Ali knew by glancing at her chrono she would be arriving late. She knew Crys would understand, but that woman was all about punctuality. Ali strolled at an even pace through Theed's broad, stonework streets, slipping through crowds of Nubians and Gungans that filled the city. Their meeting place was not far off, Ali knew, though the walk took her longer than she would have liked, and she grew more anxious to see Crystaall with every passing step.
Some ten minutes later, Ali turned a busy corner to spot a woman garbed in traditional Jedi dress leaning against a wall down the road. She had brown hair put up in a ponytail, and was looking about anxiously, fidgeting absentmindedly with a necklace that hung from her throat. Ali found herself unable to contain a smile, and allowed her figure to melt into the crowd around her, all but disappearing as she closed the distance between her and the other woman. Not expecting to surprise Crystaall, but hoping to nonetheless, Ali kept a low profile until she had come up at the woman's side, appearing from behind a nearby column of stone. Ali crossed her arms over her chest, just below her breasts, almost hugging herself. She leant her shoulder into the column and let her head rest against the stone, her hair falling sideways across her neck.
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Crystaall Sehefadu
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Post by Crystaall Sehefadu on Oct 26, 2013 22:38:05 GMT -8
*Crystaall watched the crowd go by and felt small fragments of the force walk past her as she messed with the necklace. The only thing she could ever make was armor. And this necklace proved that. Her wait for Ali made her think about the relationship they aquired over the months and missions. She knew how to love and when she felt it, but she never understood it completely. She ignored love and focused on her goals, but it was hard to ignore the woman that made a strong impact on her life. Even if she was late.
"Hmm.... You're more subtle than you look. And you look great."
*Crystaall turned to face the woman and smiled back at her rather innocently.*
"But I sensed you when you stood on the soil a while ago. You're hard to miss in a crowd my Mando'ade friend."
*Crystaall then began to move, with an easy pace that made her act as if she was giving a tour of a new house to someone who wanted to rent. Unfortunately she didnt own the spaceport, but it would come in handy if she did. They would exit the place in a timely fashion and Crystaall knew Ali expected her to say something better than 'I can sense you a mile away' type stuff.*
"I'm glad you came. I'm just not used to walking this path with someone else. If I'm not alone I normally have a four man clone squad walk behind me, so this is...... different. And I'm not one to talk much on my trips, but It can't hurt to leave my comfort zone."
*She looked at Ali, expecting some kind of look. They were similar in many ways. The way they handeled their problems, the way they executed their attacks, the way they thought and the way they act. The only difference was their voices. Crystaall was trained a warrior, like Ali, but her experiences criss-crossed many different life styles within the galaxy. It was hard to tell what really made Crystaall go from a clear head to a heated temper in less than a minute. (Ali wants to talk normally and you decide to bring up silence? You're a genius aern't you?) She thought as she continued walking. Hopefully Ali would say something to break the weird feeling in her gut.*
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Ali Hadrix
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Post by Ali Hadrix on Oct 27, 2013 14:02:43 GMT -8
As easy as it had been for Crystaall Sehefadu to pick up on Ali's presence in the spaceport through the Force, it was easy for Ali to pick up on how nervous and awkward Crys was feeling. Normally, the Jensaarai woman was always in her element, fighting the good fight. This lent a particular precision in her movements, in her manner of speak. She was comfortable fighting the good fight, and it showed in how she walked, how she talked. Her movements were not so much fluid as they were precise. Intentional. But now she looked stiff, unsure, out of her element, so to speak.
Ali's smile grew slightly as Crys told her how good she looked. The words seemed to come easily to Crystaall, which told Ali just how sincere she meant them to be. But before she could reply, the other woman pushed herself away from the wall and made off down the street, her steps brusque. Ali caught up with her quickly, matching her pace as Crystaall continued speaking, this time her words seemed to spill from her lips rather than flow smoothly."It's Mando'ad, Crys." Ali replied, politely correcting Crystaall's verbiage. "Adding the aye sound to the end of the word makes it plural. I'd be happy to teach you some while we're here." Ali looped her right arm through Crystaall's left, forcing the woman to slow to a more gentle pace. Ali wasn't surprised that Crystaall had managed to sense her presence, though her tactical mind made a mental note to find some way for a non-Force User to mitigate such instances.
Crystaall continued forward with Ali hanging comfortably on her arm, strolling through the streets as the crowds began to thin, leaving the pair with fewer natives to navigate. Crystaall looked over at her expectantly, though Ali did little more for the moment than smile up at her. Ali was enjoying herself already. As comfortable as she was on her missions with GALSAF, Ali reveled in the down time she had, and intended on making the most of her visit on Naboo.
Suddenly, Ali slowed their pace to a halt, her free hand reaching for Crystaall's right, gripping it gently. She slowly turned the woman towards herself, unlinking their arms and touching her fingertips to Crystaall's cheek. "Relax, Crys. That's what this is all about. Just enjoy it. Enjoy me." Ali kissed Crystaall's lips softly, then pulled away and smiled, linking arms with the Jensaarai woman once more and continuing on at a slow pace."We don't have to do anything while we're here, no responsibilities." Ali murmured, looking around the city streets at the extravagant architecture of the Naboo people. "I'm here, on a beautiful world, with a beautiful woman, wanting nothing more than to have a beautiful time."Ali looked over at Crystaall, her smiling feeling permanent, until certain rumors throughout the GALSAF ranks came to mind and causing her smile to falter. "There may be some news, however, that I need to share with you, that would best be done so in private."
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Crystaall Sehefadu
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Keep pushing, and never look back
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Post by Crystaall Sehefadu on Oct 27, 2013 14:37:26 GMT -8
*Crystaall listened closely as Ali spoke to her and she blushed at the kiss she was given which made her smile reapeer for a moment. It began to fade when Ali became more serious. (Private info? Seems like we both will have a learning experience.) At the slow pace they were walking, it would take a while for them to reach the hideout.*
"Well... if it is truly important, I suggest a more speedy pace. And I wouldn't mind a few lessons of speaking like an average citizen of Mandalore. My history isn't a secret I like to keep, so I'll tell you one thing about myself before we reach my place. I was born before Order 66."
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Ali Hadrix
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Post by Ali Hadrix on Oct 27, 2013 19:44:13 GMT -8
Ali squeezed a gloved hand over the arm she had draped lazily over her own. "Crys, I'll wait. It'll be nice to have some time with you before I say what I have to say and ruin it all." She knew the cryptic nature of her words would be of no help to Crystaall's nerves, but Ali truly could say no more on the subject at the moment. Nor did she want to rush to share the information, knowing full well the implications it would bring and the impact it would have on their time together. Ali was in no hurry to darken the mood with ill begotten news.
Ali lightened her grip on Crystaall's arm, squeezing it affectionately. Crystaall spoke once more, revealing more openly her age. For some reason the information didn't surprise her. She merely looked on at the city through which they walked, replying casually. "Someone with your experience and talent does not learn such things in a season, Crys. And the age of Force Users is always hard to guess at, considering the general lengths to which you lot tend to live." Ali carried on pleasantly, resting her head against the other woman's shoulder. Her woman, Ali began to see her as. She could only hope the feeling would be reciprocated in time.
"I would love to take the time we have now to teach you a thing or two," Ali continued softly. "The rules of Mando'a are simple enough to understand, it's the cultural paradigm most people end up having a difficult time grasping." Ali took a moment to clear her throat lightly before pressing on. "Firstly, the language is gender neutral. We have words for boys and girls, but they are only used when needed, rather than to denote gender in common context. The words we have for 'father' and 'mother,' for example, are the same: buir. Likewise, the word for child is the same regardless of whether it is a boy or girl: ad'ika. The ending 'ika means 'little', it's a diminutive we use in Mando'a to identify something as small. Often times it is added to a name as a term of endearment. Like: Crys'ika as I might use for you, or Al'ika, as you might use for me."
Ali's eyes strayed across the scenery, curious where this hideout of Crystaall's might be. For some reason, she hoped it was a secluded place, filled with trees and flowers and streams, and ringing with the sounds of exotic wildlife she would hear, but might never see. She knew Naboo had no shortage of such pleasantries.
"Most of our language depends on context." She continued. "We avoid using words to provide details that are unnecessary, such as gender. So, rather than say bic cuyi jate, meaning 'it is good,' we'll simply say jate, or 'good.' Gender is such an absent theme in Mando'a because it has no inherent value to Mandalorians. Men and women both are viewed as equally capable, unlike in most sentient cultures, where males are considered dominant or more capable than females, purely because they are male. That's why our words for warriors and leaders have no gender forms: being male or female has nothing to do with your ability to be a soldier, or lead an army." Ali smiled gently, glancing up at Crystaall as they strolled along. "Much of our language is rooted in our culture. We have no word for 'hero,' because the qualities that make someone a hero in most societies are qualities that we expect of any Mando'ad, making such a word unnecessary...Though we have about a dozen words for stab." Ali giggled suddenly at her own words. "Simple enough so far?" She asked. It felt good to share a part of her culture with Crystaall. Her life with GALSAF left her with no real opportunity to share such things with outsiders, or aruetiise because she lived it everyday with the Commandos she served with. The majority of GALSAF's personnel lived at least partially under the umbrella of Mandalorian culture.
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Crystaall Sehefadu
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Keep pushing, and never look back
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Affiliation: The New Order of the Jensaarai, GALSAF, The New Republic/Old Republic
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Post by Crystaall Sehefadu on Oct 28, 2013 7:57:40 GMT -8
*Crystaall nodded in understanding as Ali spoke here and there. It was true that even some humans from the previous Jedi Order in the Old Repblic could heighten their own lifespan. She continued to listen as Ali began to teach her on the basics of speaking like an average Mando'ad. She could clearly understand this and didn't wish to interrupt or stop her. She just listened.*
*Now she could see it. the dirt path that lead out of Theed and into the swampy forest land. Ali might hate her. They continued to walk and Crystaall felt her friend, her person, cling to her arm. The connection she felt was not ignorable. Even with her arms being prosthetic, she could feel the warmth coming from her partner. She looked at Ali and then looked away to see the Theed Palace. She stopped in her steps. and rose her free arm, placing it against her head in a form of a two finger salute. (So many years....) Crystaall looked back at Ali and jerked her head toward the dirt path.*
"This lesson is intriguing. I'm sorry if I seem lost with something else. I have a bad habit of observing everything. We need to take this dirt path to get to the place. Are you going to fine walking in there? Because I can go and get us a landspeeder."
*(So focused on wanting to tell her? Take it easy. You were never this desperate. Of course you never are with someone who feels for you and you feel the same.) Crystaall shook her head slightly as she tried to regrasp her surrounding quickly. She was trying to take this too fast. But someone had to know. She looked at Ali for a response for her to continue walking, or to wait here, while Crystaall would go and 'grab' one.*
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Ali Hadrix
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Post by Ali Hadrix on Oct 28, 2013 14:08:17 GMT -8
Ali had been going on about the conjugation of Mando'an verb forms, excited to share how simple they were. She delighted in sharing her language and culture with another person, as busy as she was living it all when she was back in the rear with GALSAF. Crystaall Sehefadu had been nodding politely along as Ali spoke throughout the duration of their walk, eventually pausing to raise her free hand in a two-fingered salute towards Theed's grand Palace, off in the nearby distance. Ali halted her words for the moment, giving Crys the time to think on a memory that the structure seemed to bring to mind. The pair continued on in comfortable silence for a time, leaving the cobblestone road that curved onward to their left and onto a dirt path that wound through trees and bushes along the bottom of a steep, rocky hill.
As they left the road, Ali could glimpse the Palace off in the distance, and was amazed by the view she was afforded. They were already some ways out from the spaceport, but Ali hadn't noticed how far they'd walked by that point. The landscape that was exposed to her now was breathtaking. It was a sight Ali could only appreciate outside of a tactical environment. Had she been on a mission, Ali would have seen only covered positions, recon sites, sniper perches, or choke points for ambushes. But here, now, with Crystaall, Ali saw only waterfalls and sheer cliffs, Nubian architecture that had stood for years beyond count. She saw the beauty of the world on which Crystaall maintained her home, and she was incalculably glad to be sharing such a view with the Jensaarai woman.
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Crystaall Sehefadu
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Post by Crystaall Sehefadu on Oct 28, 2013 14:54:53 GMT -8
*Crystaall silently watched Ali go in awe of the remarkable view they saw and made a short grin before they began to walk again. She laughed at herself when Ali decided to remind her that she was wearing boots as well. (I guess I can't pay attention to everything)
She thought to herself as they walked into the forest. She had seen it a lot in her travels and wasn't impressed by the shrubbery they passed. She noticed a large grey rock that had been hit by many things over the years. She shook her head as she pointed to it to show Ali that's where they were headed. She paused, when Ali asked her to release what was on her mind.(Even she knows I'm eager to begin talking.)When they reached the rock, she moved a branch aside, revealing a 9 digit code lock planted on it.*
"This isn't the first time some one tried teaching me your language. But this time I actually listened."
*She hit in three numbers on the pad and stood back from the formation as it racked and separated, with rubble and dirt spilling off in many directions. As it finally stopped moving, one would notice a long set of stairs going down for quite a ways.*
"I plan to tell you my past, but its not the sob/adventure story I tell everyone else. The truth is hard to tell when you don't understand your own history."
*Crystaall did a hand motion to Ali, directing her to follow her down as she began to descend the stairway*
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Ali Hadrix
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Post by Ali Hadrix on Oct 28, 2013 19:35:28 GMT -8
Crystaall Sehefadu pointed out the large rock ahead, which drew Ali's eyes towards it. Plain as could be, but scored with years of abuse from indeterminate sources, the rock proved to contain a keypad in which Crystaall input a 3-digit code with deft fingers. Ali subconsciously logged the code in her memory in case it proved to be needed by her later. She felt a sudden twinge of shame at the act, viewing it as somewhat invasive of Crystaall's privacy. Ali had no eidetic memory, but she couldn't very well forget things at will, either. All she could hope was that Crystaall cycled through access codes regularly.
After a moment of quiet, the rock began to split into several distinct pieces, revealing a stone-hewn staircase that was not steep, but quite long. Crystaall looked at her and confessed her plans for their visit, admitting to Ali that she intended on teaching her a history drastically different from what could be considered common knowledge about her past. Ali dwelt on the idea, but only briefly. As strong as the attraction between them was, Ali readily accepted the fact that she knew little about Crystaall's past, or her person. All she truly knew was that she liked the way Crystaall looked at her, much differently from how any other woman had before. It was a pleasant feeling, a comfortable knowledge that warmed her soul. Maybe it was because Ali had gone so long without knowing intimacy with another woman, and this relationship was both new and exciting. Ali liked to think differently. She liked to think it was a special relationship, a special bond she was developing with Crystaall. One that would continue to be new and exciting for quite some time.
Crystaall started down the stone staircase, Ali following closely behind. The rocky entranceway closed behind them, bathing the pair in darkness to which Ali's eyes quickly began to adjust. As they continued on down the stairs, Ali couldn't help but wonder how different Crystaall's hideaway might look in relation to the rest of the city's architecture. For whatever reason, Ali imagined it would be plain in fashion, with the focus being on functionality. After brief consideration, Ali dismissed the thought, reminding herself that what she had glimpsed of Crystaall already had been under drastically different circumstances, and that she truly could not expect anything as of yet. For all she knew, Crystaall's home was draped in bright colors, expansive viewports, and all the comforts one could wish for. Whatever designs ended up expressing themselves within Crystaall's home, Ali knew she would enjoy her stay, and the time she would have there.
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Crystaall Sehefadu
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Post by Crystaall Sehefadu on Oct 28, 2013 21:35:38 GMT -8
"Well... its not pretty, but its my home away from home. Be in awe if you wish."
*Crystaall said this in a proud tone, indicating she felt this place to be of her own design. It was a large courtyard of stone wall, but what the walls contained was everything almost any soldier would want. Several jedi starfighters were hung above the ceiling in different colors, many had the looks of the ones used near the end of the previous Republic. Scattered around the place was a few workbenches and scrap metal. One wall had an two open arch ways leading into seperate rooms, which could be seen directly. Its opposite had many different rifles set up against the wall and a whole lot of others hung all the way to the ceiling. One of the rifles was a Verpine which was sitting in a previously vacant spot. Crystaall looked at it questioningly but waved her hand and ignored the thought. She directly pointed out 6 sets of armor standing up against the wall as trophies. All were made of beskar. The first was fit for a child, and protrayed a lighter red than Crystaall's mandatory armor and had no helmet. The second was painted in black and had the Rebel Alliance insignia printed on the left breast, but the helmet had a hole in its visor and the armor was scratched up by what seemed to be claws. The third was grey and had a more squarish look to it. Its white striped design could tell that this was not something Crystaall would wear, mainly from how wider the legs, crotch and arms were for that peice. Its helmet had what looked like a dent in it upon its forehead. The fourth set was pure white and had an attached neck support to it. Its clone like helmet indicated that she was interested in anything about the war that determined her past. The fifth and sixth peices were both in Crystaall's average dark maroon color, but one had a headset visor clipped to its neck, while the other had scorch marks across the armor and the number nine written twice across the whole body. Next to every peice of armor was a specific weapon. Crystaall placed each main weapon she used in that armor next to each other so she would never forget what she was skilled with. The smaller armor had no weapon and the scorched set had a lighsaber, while every other peice had a dual pair of DC-17 pistols next to them. On that opposite wall lay a set of weapons similar to grenade launchers with a banner above them saying: EXTREMELY KRIFFING DANGEROUS. There was two couches in the center, along with a table in between and a holoprojector set in the middle of the table. Now each archway had a different purpose. One was brightly lit and you could hear the sparkles of crystals come from it. It held many different crystals in this circular upon its higher set of the wall while the wall had ancient sith inscription on it. It also had a circular pad for which one would meditate on. The last peice of the place was a dark room which made a person have to look closely to see the 3 luxurious bunk-beds placed inside. She expected Ali to be rather impressed with the place, even with its bareness.*
"So what do you want me to tell you about? I have a separate peice of armor I could hand you, but its a prototype and it has something that mine does not. That thing being lightsaber blade that comes out of the wrist."
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Ali Hadrix
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Post by Ali Hadrix on Oct 28, 2013 22:36:32 GMT -8
Ali followed Crystaall Sehefadu to the bottom of the staircase, stepping into a large courtyard lit with a dozen different shades of light. The chamber was large, both in height and in area, filled from top to bottom with weapons and armor and…starfighters? Ali cocked her head sideways, a lock of dark hair falling across her face. She blew it away from the corner of her mouth with a pffft of air, lost in a trance at the sight before her. Nearly a squadron of starfighters from the last several Galactic eras hung suspended from the ceiling, which was hewn from stone. Half a dozen sets of beskar'gam lined the far wall, each accompanied by a particular weapon. Racks of small arms and melee weapons strafed the walls from floor to ceiling within the courtyard.
Archways led to smaller rooms, equally filled with such treasures of war. Ali felt her booted feet carry her from the entranceway towards the center of the courtyard, bumping her knee against the table in front of the couch along the way. She regained her footing and approached the closest set of beskar'gam, the one that looked least like it fit Crystaall. The buy'ce had a large dent in the forehead, but from what Ali couldn't begin to guess. She expected Crystaall would enlighten her at some point during their time together.
Ali reached up and ran her hands along the armor's breastplate, feeling the cold Mandalorian iron beneath her bare fingertips. It reminded her of her mother's armor, not by its coloring, but simply by what it was: A representation of another's strength.
Dumbstruck, Ali took several moments to collect her thoughts, her eyes wide in amazement and searching the rest of the courtyard, taking in every stone, every weapon, every crystal adorning the archways. After several long minutes, Ali let her hands fall from the armor breastplate and she turned to catch Crystaall's gaze upon her. Crystaall looked pleased at Ali's reaction to her home, which in turn pleased Ali herself. The Jensaarai woman offered to answer whatever questions she had, but as Ali caught sight of the bedroom beyond, only one question came to mind."Bunk beds?" Ali asked, arching an eyebrow slightly. She took a step towards the other woman, one hand grasping the other wrist in front of her as she shrugged innocently. "And I hoped you might have one to fit us both…" She teased pleasantly, stopping just before Crystaall, her eyes looking up at the other woman's face. "In all seriousness," Ali continued, looking back to the room beyond the archway. "It seems as if this place was made not just for you in the beginning, but for others as well." The Mandalorian woman nodded once towards the bedroom. "Bunk beds aren't often found in homes without children or friends."Were Crystaall to have no true explanation for her inquiry, Ali wouldn't mind. She pecked the other woman on the lips with her own before turning away once more and strolling around the courtyard, looking up at the starfighters suspended from the ceiling. Crystaall's home felt like a home for any soldier, as if Ali could come running at need and always have a place of her own. It was the same feeling she had with GALSAF, being part of a family, living and working together for a cause greater than their own, and by doing so, fulfilling their private, fundamental needs as individuals.
Ali leaned against one arm of the couch and let her self fall backward onto its cushions. She left her legs to dangle over the edge of the furniture, her resting above her head as she continued to look up at the starfighters overhead. "I have no words for this place, Crys." Ali muttered, rolling onto her side suddenly and propping herself up on one elbow. She brushed her hair out of her eyes, tucking it behind her ear as she looked up at the other woman. "I can't think of a single word of Mando'a that would do this place justice." She murmured, her eyes continuing to strafe about the courtyard, taking it all in."Everything on the Hand is made for function, for purpose," Ali confessed, referring to GALSAF's flagship and the "home" it provided for the commandos of the 1st IBCT. A slight frown touching her red lips. "None of it is about beauty, none of it is about the non-rational, simply doing something for the sake of enjoying doing it." She casually waved her hand through the air, gesturing to the courtyard as a whole. "But this…this is what a home is." Ali allowed herself to fall onto her back once more, lacing her fingers together over her stomach as she looked around Crystaall's home."Tell me everything. Every piece of armor, every weapon and what they mean to you, why they're here. My mother used to tell me 'If you want to understand a person, learn about how they fight.'" She almost whispered, knowing Crystaall would hear her.
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Crystaall Sehefadu
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Post by Crystaall Sehefadu on Oct 29, 2013 8:24:30 GMT -8
*Crystaall continued to watch Ali's reaction and noticed her walk over the the wider set of armor, which instantly Crystaall closex her eyes and felt a tear fall down her left cheek. She was completely silenced when Ali walked up to her and pecked her lips, gently waking her from her sadness. She fell down on the couch across from Ali and let the couch's frame support the weight as she eventually leaned forward.*
"I suppose I can start with the grey armor set. It was never mine to begin with. This set of armor belonged to a good friend of mine, who understood why I did what I did as a young bounty hunter. But we were never hunters, we were assassins and we took each target down with lethal force. No if ands or buts about it. I never really talk about who trained me, but I suppose its no harm to tell you. I still don't know his name. But we called him Captain. From what my old friend told me after I was trained, he said he was an exile of Death Watch. My old friend felt responsible for me everytime I screwed up in front of that guy. And when I first met him I swore I'd be the cause of his death."
*Crystaall paused for a moment, then she got up and walked to the small armor set and stroke her hand across the arm.*
"I killed him, but when we broke apart, Vex watched my every move. He wanted to make sure I was safe. He was the only one who died protecting me. I attracted the attention of Imperials and they wanted me dead. They destroyed my favorite bar and then had a traitor there all along!!!"
"........ Vex was shot point blank in the head. I was given his armor 3 months ago and that is where it will stay. I presume he is dead... but that man surprised anyone."
*Crystaall pointed at the Alliance imprinted armor and sighed as she stepped back and admired it.*
"I never wore this set. It was all set and ready.... and then, my arms dissapear."
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Ali Hadrix
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Post by Ali Hadrix on Oct 29, 2013 13:08:23 GMT -8
Ali laid back on the couch, her legs still hanging over the arm of it as she listened to Crystaall Sehefadu's voice. She let her eyes close after a moment, focusing on the other woman's words and trying to envision the faces of the people of her past. She imagined the Captain as being rugged and weary-faced, his years corroded away by decades of fighting and war. It was how Ali hoped to look one day, wizened in her old age by her life as a warrior of Mandalore. It was a look every true Mando'ad strived for. Vex was harder for Ali to imagine in her mind's eye, the Captain was easier due to the clarity of his relationship with Crystaall. He had been a mentor, a teacher, and it seemed at one time an enemy of sorts. Not the kind of enemy a person pours their hatred into, one they seek to achieve as a rite of passage.
The concept struck Ali suddenly, it felt very much like the Sith practice of an apprentice becoming a master by slaying his mentor and becoming the embodiment of the Dark Side of the Force. Ali knew snippets of Crystaall's past as a Dark Side Force User, though not enough to truly formulate a hypothesis around. She logged the connection she had made mentally, reminding herself to ask Crystaall about it sometime.
By the time Crystaall had ceased speaking, Ali still had failed to create a mental image of the man she had called "Vex." Was he a brother? A comrade? A lover? Ali herself had always enjoyed the pleasure of woman over that of men, hairy and brutish as they were, each always thinking they had the most to offer to a woman like herself. The arrogance disgusted her more than the bits that dangled between their legs, if she were to be honest about it. Ali couldn't speak for Crystaall's own viewpoints, Ali's first experience as a young woman had been with a girl who later renounced her, affirming that her true attractions lay in men. Plenty of beings in the Galaxy lived this way, shifting from one end of the spectrum to another, where others never moved at all. Ali was comfortable and happy with who she was, and could only hope Crystaall felt the same.
As she lay there on Crystaall's couch, Vex continued to…"vex" her, and even as Ali tilted her chin up to look at Crystaall upside-down, she couldn't grasp at what the man might have looked like, or perhaps still did, were he to be alive. Ali turned onto her side, drawing her legs from over the arm of the couch and tucking them beneath her. She sidled towards Crystaall quietly, resting her head on the other woman's thigh, enjoying the feel of the scratchy Jedi cloak against her cheek. With a gentle hand, Ali took Crystaall's closest arm and draped it over her own shoulder, hugging it against her breast with both hands."I've never lost a limb, but I know those who have. It never seemed like a big deal to me, you know?" Ali muttered, softly running a finger across the back of Crystaall's metallic hand. She tilted her head just far enough to look up at Crystaall's face, just now catching the tear that had leaked one eye."I don't mean to sound presumptuous, but couldn't the armor simply have been modified to accommodate your prosthetics?" Ali asked, looking down at the hand held against her breast. She took the appendage in both hands, turning it over and pulling apart Crystaall's fingers, until her hand was open and her palm upright. Ali stroked Crystaall's palm, feeling the hard material beneath her fingertips. She felt over each digit, the joints and struts, enjoying the sensation of something so strong and safe. Most others might have found Crystaall's prosthetics cold and forbidding, hard and incapable of feeling. But Ali didn't mind it, in fact she enjoyed it. Crystaall's arms were stronger than anyone else's she knew. They could lift more weight, punch harder, move faster, they simply were…better. Ali felt safe with them wrapped around her, despite the dangerous strength they contained. It was that dangerous strength that made her feel so protected.
Ali glanced back at the row of armor pieces lining the wall in front of them as she waited for Crystaall to reply. Learning the woman's past was proving to be a pleasant experience, especially considering how few people Ali met in life that she actually cared to hear such things about. Most beings carried on conversations only waiting for their next turn to speak, Crystaall was different. She made Ali want to listen, and she could let the Jensaarai woman go on for hours about her life, which was considerably longer than Ali's own, and therefore bound to be more interesting. Crystaall's age was also coupled with the fact that Ali had already lived her own past, so talking about it wasn't very exciting at all. But learning new things, especially from someone who had lived through them, was fascinating to her. Ali had only met one other person who had lived through the Clone Wars, GALSAF's Black Ops commander, Delmani Altic, and that man was not much for words. Over 80 years old, and his lips were sewn up tighter than a Neimoidian's pursestrings. Ali didn't understand it. She had suffered and endured a lot in her life, on the battlefield and off, but she didn't sit about keeping it all to herself. Terrible experiences had only one benefit: They could be shared with others, to help them avoid making the same mistakes, ending up in the same situations, and experiencing the same terrible things. Delmani did no one in GALSAF any good by keeping so quiet about it all, no matter what he suffered on Kamino, or Geonosis, or the thousand other battlefields he'd crossed in his lifetime. Ali respected the man for his skill and abilities, his tactical knowledge and his leadership. But she hated him for his refusal to share what he knew about the universe, about life.
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Crystaall Sehefadu
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Post by Crystaall Sehefadu on Oct 29, 2013 15:48:49 GMT -8
"Yes, I could remake the arms, but I prefer to keep this as a relic, and we couldn't get beskar off Mandalore in time to fix it and put me on the field as a soldier. So I was drafted into Blue Squadron as a pilot."
*Crystaall smiled softly and kept the grin on her face as Ali ran over the metal hand's digits, and she could sense that Ali felt safe with her. It was a nice feeling. A great feeling, but her past was not completely explained.*
"I am known as a princess, to the throne of Naboo. Of course I dare not to challenge the current queen or even attempt to run for the position. I don't belong in politics. But my mother did.... whatever good that did. She ruled when I came to Naboo for my first time to see if I truly was royal blood. I stayed for a week as I slowly discovered my power with the force. But that is all it took. The Empire was sick of my mother refusing to give up the throne. So they struck with sheer force. My mother died in the conflict and I barely escaped with a friendly smuggler. This is what drove me to join the Alliance. This sense of revenge and hatred that boiled within me is what I used almost my whole life to make myself stronger. On my off time in the Alliance I trained with pistols and swords, developing my combat styles I use today." My past is all screwed up. I'll think about one thing and I'll have another blurt out of my mouth."
*Crystaall sighed and looked at the ceiling to see the black starfighter above them. Its scratches were distinct and she could see that guns had a small over heat. (That needs to be fixed)*
"When the Alliance was on the brink of winning the war is when I felt my darker side begin to take control. Of course this feeling was amplified because I possessed a legendary saber meant to be myth. It corrupted me and I lost control and my AI decided to rule over my actions. She decimated innocents and my past enemies that had tried to kill me. These enemies were Imperial generals that had participated in the attack on Naboo. I almost felt myself lose grasp of my sanity. I almost didn't make it out with my soul intact. Luckily I tried meditating for the first time before the AI could realize and regained control, pushing the AI back in to the lower depths of my brain. Not literraly."
"
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Ali Hadrix
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Post by Ali Hadrix on Oct 30, 2013 15:49:22 GMT -8
Ali hugged Crystaall Sehefadu's arm to her breast tightly, and giggled with smiling eyes. She shrugged her shoulders upwards. "I had no idea I was getting cozy with a princess!" Ali cooed, before letting Crys continue her story, which grew much darker than stories about princesses usually did within the cultures that created them. Ali could care less if Crystaall was Nubian royalty or born in the slums of Corellia. The fact remained that Crystaall was hers, and that meant the world to her. She had no idea where their relationship was going, or where she wanted it to go, just like she didn't know where Crystaall's life story was going as she told it. But the two were every bit as exciting as one another and Ali was exhilarated to see how they both evolved. Love was a powerful concept to Mandalorians, the typical outlook that her people were brutish war-mongers couldn't be further from the truth. Clan and family, both called aliit in Mando'a, were the most important aspects of their culture. It was everyone else, the aruetiise that they could care less about. Crystaall was not a foreigner, nor was she an enemy. She was becoming family, and Ali couldn't be happier about that fact.
Ali kept her attention focused on the rest of Crystaall's story, which took drastically darker turns that tugged at Ali's compassion for the other woman. Having to suffer such a lack of control was something she likewise lived with; her anger often got the better of her and she lacked the ability to properly judge and react when it did. She had hurt a good deal of people in her life as a result of losing such control, though Ali had yet to find a way to better herself in that regard. She constantly worried about hurting more people, emotionally as well as physically. Quite frankly, she was terrified of herself.
But for the moment, she was content, happy to simply listen to Crystaall's stories and learn more about the woman she was carving out a portion of her heart for.
Crystaall fell silent after several minutes, her story seeming to come to a close for the time being. Ali looked up at her once more and smiled softly, the other woman's arm still held against her chest. Ali gently drew the arm away from her and sat up, draping her own over the back of the couch, behind Crystaall. Looking over at Crystaall, Ali couldn't help wonder how a person suffered so much and continued to come out on top. It took a great strength, emotional and physical to survive all that. Ali was glad she had come to Naboo to meet Crystaall, even more glad that they had met in the first place. "I'd stopped looking for someone like you quite some time ago," Ali murmured, letting her free hand rest in her lap. She glanced around the courtyard once more, her eyes drifting as much as her thoughts. She shook her head, mostly to herself. "I don't know why, it just…seemed like something I could live without. My work became more important, mostly because it is. It's far bigger than just me, and I guess I decided at some point that it was my responsibility to live without someone else, so I could always focus on that work and the other people that we help."Her voice trailed off, and she just kept looking around the chamber, lost in thought. "I hadn't had time in so long to just…be with someone, you know?" She turned her eyes back towards Crystaall, taking in that beautiful face. "If I'm important, if I value myself, then that's one other person I'm not valuing." Ali groaned, rubbing her eyes with the heels of her hands. "I'm sorry, Crys, I know I'm not making any sense…"
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Crystaall Sehefadu
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Post by Crystaall Sehefadu on Oct 30, 2013 17:07:03 GMT -8
*Crystaall lifted her hand from Ali's lap and slowly placed it on her shoulder, somewhat feeling the cloth she wore.*
"It's alright. I have the same issue where I believe I don't make sense. Everyone feels it at least once in their life. Its always difficult to explain an emotion deeply, no matter how hard you try. And I'm glad I you joined the mission on Bespin. Fate had something for us to learn from each other."
*Crystaall put her hand down and sighed. Her darker past was something that made her always feel depressed, but Ali seemed to understand the loss of control issue. (At least she understood.)*
"I was never social in my journeys. I kept a quiet life, even through the hell, even if a friend or my mother died. I kept quiet, planning to make myself stronger, to take revenge on those who stood in my way. If I met a friend, I would welcome them with open arms.... if they were to be my enemy, I would not hesitate to kill them. My sarcastic and somewhat odd commentary would keep my self confidence going while I powered through my life. There are parts of my story I do not wish to discuss, mainly for personal reasons. But I want to hank you for helping the Jensaarai and myself on those missions. It helped me through the loss of my daughter, to see your face and know I had a good team watching my back."
*Tears dripped down Crystaall's face as she finished speaking. She was happy and sad all the same. She didn't want to explain it, so she turned and kissed Ali on the cheek and walked over to the massive gun rack. She took an E-11 rifle off from the top with a small application of the force and pulled the Verpine AR off the bottom shelf. She walked back to Ali and handed her the Verpine.*
"I believe it's time we see who is more accurate. And I promise not to use the force to perfect my shots."
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Ali Hadrix
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Post by Ali Hadrix on Oct 31, 2013 14:37:40 GMT -8
Ali smiled frankly as she leaned back against the couch, listening to Crystaall Sehefadu speak. The Jensaarai woman sympathized with Ali's frustration at her own verbal clarity, which she appreciated greatly. She placed a hand on Crystaall's thigh as she spoke in response, "I do have deep emotions for you, and for us, Crys. I want you to know that." Ali let her hand rest on Crystaall's leg as the other woman fidgeted briefly with the cloth of her top before continuing with her story. Her tales now were geared less towards actual events of the past, and more to expressions of her character. Ali listened, content, until her heart was shaken with the knowledge of Crystaall's deceased daughter."I didn't know…Crys, I'm…" Ali's words died before as they left her lips and Crystaall pressed her own against Ali's cheek for a brief moment, wetting her skin with her sadness. Ali's eyes followed the tears on Crystaall's face as the woman stood, reaching for her own cheek and feeling the remains of Crystaall's sadness on her skin. Crystaall's attitude shifted suddenly as she made for one of the extensive weapon racks on the wall by the couch, utilizing a minor application of the Force two draw a pair of rifles.
Crystaall handed a Verpine rifle to Ali, who grasped the upper receiver as if it were an extension of her body. For herself, Crystaall took an E-11 blaster rifle, the model made famous by Imperial Stormtroopers. The Jensaarai woman's visage seemed to lighten as she challenge Ali to a shooting match, which drew an expression of doubt from Ali. She stood slowly, resting the butt of the Verpine against her hip, cradling the weapon in one arm. She planted her opposite fist on her waist, arching an eyebrow.
Ali knew there would be more to say regarding Crystaall's past during her visit on Naboo, though it was made clear with the sudden change in subject that Crys had no desire to speak more of it for the moment. Ali considered what it must feel like to lose a child, she herself had none, adopted or of her own womb. To a Mandalorian, blood meant nothing to family, which was founded solely on common desires and mutual love. Children were children, regardless of whether they were of your blood or not. Still, Ali knew that to Crystaall, losing a child to which she had given birth would destroy her far more deeply than one adopted. Ali might not feel the same, but the emotions were powerful nonetheless.
Setting such thoughts aside for the time being, Ali hefted the Verpine rifle, checking the magazine for ammunition. She found it loaded, which didn't surprise her one bit. Cocking the weapon's charging handle, Ali checked the safety and followed Crystaall out of the courtyard, leaving her bag inside. "I'm sure you're a great shot, Crys," Ali called after her as they left the chamber. "But you must know the accuracy of a Verp would turn a di'kut1 into a master sniper. You'll be hard-pressed to outshoot me with an Ee-Eleven." Ali had trained with as extensive an arsenal as she could ever hope for, GALSAF focused on ubiquitous tactics and combat knowledge. Things had been similar with the Yavin 4 Defense Force, which GALSAF's Lord Commander Ander Tagira had also founded and led for many years. But E-11 blaster rifles were designed for little more than medium-range engagements, and fired high-powered, bolts charged with a gain medium that provided their destructive energy. The weapon was effective, but compared to a Verpine rifle, which fired solid-matter slugs, it was far outclassed. Round velocity was visibly less in a blaster bolt than a projectile round, and accuracy gained from a projectiles rifling couldn't be matched by any energy weapon in atmosphere.
Unless Crystaall had modified her particular E-11 to an extreme, Ali had little doubt the Verpine could outshoot her all on its own.1: Idiot
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Crystaall Sehefadu
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Post by Crystaall Sehefadu on Oct 31, 2013 19:12:42 GMT -8
*Crystaall smiled and nodded. She proceeded to find a target for them both to try and hit. She soon saw the banner and decided it was a reasonable target. She pointed at the banner and grinned.*
"I know the Ee-eleven isn't meant for long range., but I bet I can make as good a shot as you. So I want you to hit the banner's corner.. Oh, and you can shoot first."
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