In the Darkness (Open)

[kreyopresny]

Better find some control quick, though, or you won't be goin' anywhere.

Terest was immediately tempted to ask him to teach her, and her heart began to race again as she imagined the prospect. She knew he was right, she was severely lacking self control, and she'd already made progress in rectifying that. There had been a time when going into the Force Rage would have guaranteed Nirisi's death, and likely her own as she would have attacked the stronger Nieraan head on. She hadn't then known any way else to stop the Force Rage than to exhaust all it's possible targets. However, this lack of control had for a long time been the source of her power, and controlling it seemed to limit her severely.

Still, she also recognized the strange effect the Firrerreo had on her.

He's getting under your skin...

She was wracked with internal conflict, the strong and fierce warrior side of her balking at the small part that was perfectly happy to spend her time just chatting at him, staring into his eyes.

DAMN IT STOP STARING INTO HIS EYES!

Marshaling herself once again, she instead turned away to face the door, hoping her internal dialogue had not translated into an awkwardly long amount of time outside the little world inside her head. Hoping to reclaim whatever pride she had left, and desperate to get away before the part of her that so desperately wanted to stay took over again she said,

Oh really? Because I think I'm going somewhere right now.

With that she walked away, unable to keep the slight wiggle from her hips, or the smirk that hoped he noticed.


((OOC: I am having far more fun than a straight male should have playing a female character flirting with a (presumably) straight male. Hope I don't come off offensive somehow...))

[Rugs]

{Ha, no worries, it's perfectly fine. Not the first time it's happened, won't be the last. Just playing a role, after all. Also, sent you a PM earlier today, just as a heads up}

Nieraan looked at Terest, waiting for her to say... well, something. Anything. He'd expected that she'd have some sort of retort ready to go, but not this time. It could be that she was considering what he'd said.

But, as he looked at her, he wasn't quite sure that was the case.

Truth be told, he almost thought he was making up things in his mind to feel the somewhat-award gap that was starting to stretch on. But he could have sworn she was looking at him, and not just observing him. Looking at him. One of his dark brows lifted slightly at the thought. Is she? That might explain some things...

It was surprising, really. Sure, he'd been handsome enough back when he was young, before the fall and blossoming of the anger that turned his skin from its natural golden tan to its present silvery color. He was fit, certainly, muscular and athletic, but she'd not seen him unclothed.

So could it really be that she was looking at him the way he thought she was. And if she was, what would he do about it?

Instinctively, he looked her over again. She wasn't so bad herself, he thought, arriving at the same conclusion as earlier. Her strength showed in her build, but it was nice, he supposed. As was the way her corset left the top of her chest bare or the way her hips shifted when she turned toward the door...

Interesting... he thought, looking back up at her face, or the side of it now. The smirk touched his face again as she spoke and made to leave.

"So you are." Yes, her hips definitely caught his eye now. But she hadn't moved them like that earlier. Is she doing that on purpose?

For once, he didn't have much more to say as he watched her go; his mind was preoccupied turning over what he thought he'd seen in her and what ramifications there might be to it. He had to admit--and was surprised to do so--that it felt good to be noticed and to know someone else found him attractive.

Not that he'd say that aloud.

If she'd really been looking at him like that.

With a chuckle and shake of the head that ruffled his shaggy hair, Nieraan dropped his arms to his side and pushed off of the wall so he could leave; wasn't any point just staying in the room by himself, after all. It just so happened the way out had him trailing Terest and her wriggling hips. Not that he minded. Not that he'd show. But there could be some fun with this most recent development.

Maybe he'd even follow her for a little bit to mess with her before he peeled off to head to his room.

[kreyopresny]

Terest heard him following her, simultaneously thrilled and annoyed. She supposed it was possible he simply also needed to go this direction, but from what she'd gathered of his personality, she'd have bet her horns he was doing it just to get on her nerves. Either way it kept her cheeks flush and a grin on her face. She shifted her weight forward to her toes and walked with her feet in a straight line, increasing the swing of her hips.

Needless to say she was furious with herself. Instead, she made herself imagine her lightsabers slicing through him, killing him a dozen different ways. Stab, slice, dice, dismember, decapitate... The smile stayed on her face, but became considerably more vicious, her dimples fading as her nose crinkled slightly and she bared far more teeth. This was where she needed to focus, on becoming stronger and defeating him. Though... the thought suddenly crossed her mind, perhaps her two conflicting desires didn't have to conflict. While perhaps the oldest ruse in history, her mind which had known nothing but the structured combat of the gladiator rings and the behind the scenes brawls that accompanied that life found the entire concept completely novel. Pondering this concept, Terest eventually decided she found it distasteful, and while she could likely bring herself to use it at some point, it would be counter productive in her goal of making herself stronger. Her mind flashed to memories of the high-born "gladiators" who would face drug-maddened slaves for "sport".

Whilst thinking she had allowed her feet to lead her towards the medical wing, hoping to find Nirisi again. The girl had fought well, and she could use a sparring partner near her own level, especially to expel Him from her thoughts. Perhaps they could help each other, Terest showing her the in's and out's of combat in exchange for lessons in controlling the Force.

Come to think of it, why hadn't the human used the Force more in their duel? Terest was sure Nirisi was more skilled in these arts than she was, nearly every other Initiate here must be, it surely could have turned the fight in her favor... She'd have to ask her about that. Reaching the hallway just outside the medical wing the Zabrak paused, was she once again making some awkward social mistake? She stood outside the door frozen with indecision...

[.:Falcon:.]

Nirisi had found her way to the rather rudimentary medical wing of the Temple quickly, motivated by the aching burn in her shoulder. She could have performed a healing trance back in her chambers, but that was a Jedi trick, and she was unwilling to expose herself to more scrutiny now. Not with their observer already breathing down her neck. She didn't need any more bad stories to start circulating through the informal gossip chain of the Temple.

She stepped into the brightly-lit medbay and looked about for a med droid. With a hiss of servomotors, a droid came from an alcove to her side and moved in front of her. "What do you require?"

Apparently, some tinkerer had removed its more personable personality circuits. In any case, the voice that spoke to her was harsh and almost rude. Stupid droid. "I cut my shoulder and need a bacta patch."

With a blatted reply, the droid motioned her towards an exam table and trundled off to find the equipment it would need. As Nirisi sat down, she felt it--indecision, unease, a simmering sort of presence that she recognized. For some reason, Terest was hanging around the door. Had the Zabrak followed her here? Fear shot through Nirisi at the thought that, perhaps, their observer had stoked her fury so much that the larger woman had come to finish the job she'd begun, and with it Nirisi's life. But no. She sensed no such purpose. Instead, there was the subtle hint of caution, distrust, indecision, and something else, too...desire.

"You can come in, you know," Nirisi said, loudly enough to be heard on the other side of the door.

[Rugs]

Nieraan's familiar smirk grew as he felt annoyance grow in the Zabrak when she realized he was following her. Now that he knew what to look for, he could feel something else, though. She was thrilled. She liked it; he had to admit, she did a decent job of hiding it beneath the disdain for him she tried to project, but he was good at reading people through the Force.

And honestly, it was pretty hard to believe she was making her hips sway more as she walked because she didn't want him looking at her.

He trailed her for a little while, amused at her reaction and enjoying the little display she'd decided to put on for him. The last he hid, of course--compressed it and held it deep down below his other emotions. But it was still there, and he knew it was. Especially once he noticed how the ever-shifting light and shadow emphasized different aspects of her as they moved through the dim corridors...

Finally, he shook his head and pulled himself out of it. Without warning, he turned at an intersection to finally head to his room. Still, even as he walked, he found his thoughts were on Terest, and what to make of things.

Quite simply, he wasn't sure. There was a part of him--one that was often repressed--that enjoyed her signs of attraction, and wanted more. But truthfully, he was wary. He had to be, among the Sith. He didn't know how she really felt about him, but she had seemed annoyed--and rightfully so--when he interfered with her fighitng.

At the same time, she'd seemed to be alright enough with him when they'd been talking once she defeated Nirisi.

I'll keep an eye on her, he mulled as he stopped before his door and put his hand up to the small reader above a numbered keypad. It could be a trick. The lock clicked softly and the door slid open. Nieraan was already unzipping and pulling off his jacket as he stepped inside.

Then again, it might be real. And he might not mind it, he supposed as the door closed and locked behind him.

Time would tell, though. He had a feeling he would be seeing her again.

[kreyopresny]

You can come in, you know

Terest heard Nirisi call, and pausing a moment to master herself strode into the medbay, shoving her indecision aside. Projecting an air of superiority and accusation as best she could, she stopped a few paces away from the exam table where Nirisi sat and stared at her for a long moment, studying her face as if trying to read something there. Finally, the moment having built a a heavy tension she asked,

Did you hold back?

Standing, hands on her hips, she stood peering at the girl, carefully watching her expression for any sign of deceit. She'd heard of people with the ability to peer into peoples minds using the Force, but this was just another on the long list of abilities she'd never explored. This kind of trick always seemed irrelevant to her, only desiring to fight, to take want she wanted by force of arms. Since coming here though, she'd begun to realize that true power was about more than just might. To gain true freedom through her own power she'd need to delve into these mysteries. After a moment she continued, spitting her words like an accusation,

Simply looking at the two of us, the outcome of a test purely of strength should have been obvious. Why didn't you use the Force against me?

[.:Falcon:.]

The Zabrak woman came in, and Nirisi watched her approach. The woman stopped and stared at her for a minute, her face unreadable and impassive. Nirisi waited, trusting her to reveal her reason for being there--for following her--soon enough. Nevertheless, the question was unexpected. She considered it for a moment, turning it around and around in her mind to consider it from every angle.

As she did, Terest continued, her words laden with an accusatory tone. Still, she paused, thinking over her answer. Finally, she opened her mouth and said, "In a way, yes, I held back. I didn't use the Force against you, so I suppose I was holding back. Then again," she paused, her brow wrinkling as she stared into space. "I was working very hard, all the same."

"I wanted to test my physical strength. I know where I stand with my Force abilities," she continued. "But not precisely with my physical ones. Would you prefer that I slam you against a wall with the Force?" She ended her last question with a wry lift of her voice, indicating that it was something approaching a joke.

She had to admit to herself that she didn't understand why the woman was so upset. She'd won, hadn't she? Certainly it didn't matter, one way or the other, how she had won or why, or whether Nirisi had "let" her win. She had won, fair and square, and Nirisi had done everything physically possible--along with a few amplifications through the Force--to keep her from winning. Despite that, Terest had still won. What was there to complain about?

[kreyopresny]

Terest stared at her a moment longer, but as far as she could tell that was the truth. Wasn't quite what she'd wanted to hear, but close enough. She exhaled loudly, her face and posture softening. She loudly and slowly exhaled. So, I really did defeat her... just on her own terms. It sat strangely with the Zabrak, who had a deep distrust of anything being handed to her, but she could respect that the other woman had been training herself. Looking more relaxed, she replied

Perhaps I would have, still... I'm trying to test and push myself too. Being given a victory I didn't earn is meaningless. Next time you'll have to go all out.

She paused, thinking to herself... Next time? Yes, she wanted there to be a next time, she needed it. Needed to prove to herself that she could defeat the girl still, Force power and all.

[.:Falcon:.]

Nirisi's eyes never left Terest as the woman let out a heavy sigh. Extending her Force senses, Nirisi felt out the woman. There was relief...a bit of irritation, distrust, caution. Respect. Withdrawing back into herself, Nirisi let the woman speak, a tiny smile flickering across her face at the condition the Zabrak made.

"Well, then. Next time, I'll hurl you into a wall?" She almost made the comment seem insulting...but then, with the ache in her arm still fresh, the memory of her defeat smarting, changed her mind and turned it into an innocent, almost joking question. Just a tinge of hope, as if she were looking forward to a second sparring match.

Nirisi's eyes skimmed over the other woman's body again, taking in the bunched muscles, the easy power that radiated from the woman. But the power was all physical, she could feel that now. It was nothing but raw muscle, able only to be aided by the raw, unmanageable mindlessness of a Force Rage. Terest had little fine-tuned control over the Force, none of the careful methods that the Jedi had so successfully drummed into Nirisi's head.

Sometimes, the Jedi were almost useful. Not often, but sometimes.

The droid returned just then, giving a glance to Terest as it ascertained nothing was wrong with her, then turning to Nirisi and binding a bacta patch over the wound on her shoulder, followed by a shot of painkillers. "Keep it covered. Come in tomorrow," it instructed blandly, then turned and went away again, leaving Nirisi alone with Terest again.

"So, next time?" She said conversationally, jumping down from the exam table. The other woman was much taller than she, and it was a disconcerting feeling. Quite disconcerting indeed.

[kreyopresny]

Terest nodded, pivoting a bit to allow the droid to pass her. She watched it patch her most recent victim with casual interest, remembering the near medieval medical practices in the slave pits. The scar on her left hip itched a bit in memory of the coarse stitches that had woven it shut. Finally she responded,

Yes, definitely next time. Don't expect me to go down to easily though.

She paused before continuing, unsure of how to say the next bit. The feeling of awkwardness started to creep up her spine again and she forcibly shoved it down. Admitting weakness was never her strong suit, and asking for help was even more alien, but practicing what she knew herself would only push her deeper into her own niche and expound her weakness in other areas. Finally she spoke slowly, trying to pick her words carefully.

I thought maybe in the meantime we could help each other. You show me some of the... more subtle aspects of the Force, and I could improve your fighting style. Your defense is full of holes you know, the only thing saving you is your speed.

She had thrown on the last comment mostly for her own benefit, hoping to regain some level of dignity and the air of superiority that shielded her emotions, allowing her to remain confident despite her own insecurities.

[.:Falcon:.]

Terest paused after she responded to Nirisi's 'joke'. She could feel something in the Force, though, rolling off the woman. She had something more to say, something that she was loathe to say, but at the same time eager to get out. Something awkward, something the strong Zabrak wasn't used to saying.

When it came, Nirisi saw why. It couldn't be easy for such a strong, confident person to admit she needed help from someone so...inferior. Nirisi considered that with a bemused confidence of her own. She had no doubt that was how the Zabrak viewed her. She would have viewed Terest in much the same light if she'd gotten the upper hand. She thought over the proposition for a moment--and the other's summation of her skills.

She was right. Only speed and nimble agility had kept Nirisi alive in the training room. She should have died a hundred times over, but hadn't, because she was fast, and knew how to use it to her advantage. "Why?" She asked after a moment. "Why should I enter into such an alliance with you? Why do you want me to teach you? I could mislead you, and then simply kill you."