Late Night Lessons (Jess)

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((After A Feast for the Vain))

Well, that was an... interesting evening, Zarene thought to herself as she returned to her room in the newly-constructed Sith Citadel. She had never been one for fancy get-togethers. She disliked large crowds, as well as most of the members of the Sith nobility. But still, it was nice to be able to dress up and try to look pretty every once in a while, and receive compliments that she would pretend were sincere, even though she knew that most of them probably weren't.

But that was over now. The dress now back in her closet, neatly folded. She probably wouldn't be wearing it again anytime soon. She now sat in her chair, dressed in plain shirt and pants, less elegant but more comfortable. I should probably get some sleep...

But she wasn't tired. As she closed her eyes, images of the battle at Thila flashed through her mind. Jumping up from the chair, she threw a few punches in the air. Much too restless for sleep right now.

Zarene walked over to the desk, picked up her comlink. "Zarander," she said. He had said his comm would be on. There was little noise in the background, so it didn't sound as if he was preoccupied with company. "Third room in the East Hallway is empty. Meet you there."

She clipper her lightsaber to her belt and stepped out into the hallway.

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Jessoin slid the black robes around his slim figure before his belt secured them to his body. His still slightly damp hair was slicked back, steam still dissipating from the shower behind him. He glanced at his reflection in the mirror, the clothes from the party lay strewn about the room now, his current attire much more comfortable. Loose pants the same color as the robes he just donned, said robes left his chest partially exposed, the long lightsaber scar across the center of it easily visible. Jess would reach up to touch the scar a moment before his green eyes slid to the figure that slept in his bed. A knowing grin slid over his lips, tempted to wake the woman up for another round. Instead he turned as his comm bleeped, indicating someone was trying to hail him. His hand raised to pull the comlink to it with the Force, and the switch was thumbed to reveal a tiny Zarene at his palm. His grin slid into a toothy smile, seems she had decided to call on him after all. Delicious.

"Zarander,"

"Good evening Z, how good of you to call..."

"Third room in the East Hallway is empty. Meet you there."

"With bells on~"

He thumbed the comm off, a light chuckle sounded from the man. Jessoin found himself excited at the prospect of exploring Zarene. She had such a cold reputation within the Sith, but he was sure she was warm where it counted. A warmth he was sure he'd feel at hand soon enough. The man had never slept with a cyborg before, he wondered if her arm had any special attachments. He didn't stir his earlier fling, instead his hand called his lightsaber to clip it to his belt, and the Zelosian sauntered out of his room within the Sith Citadel.

Moments later he had arrived at the spot, Zarene was nowhere to be seen yet. Made sense considering his room was near the East Hall. He let himself into the third room, and left the lights off. Jessoin strode over to the window, where Ziost's moonlight shone in bright. He clasped his hands behind his back, and waited for her to arrive.

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The lights were off in the room, but she could see his outline by the window in the moonlight. "I thought you plant types preferred the light," she said as she gestured toward the switch on the wall, and the lights flickered on.

"You are sober from the party by now, right?" She had forgotten to inquire earlier. Just because she had declined to consume any alcohol or other intoxicating substances at the party didn't mean that others did not, she had to remind herself.

She looked at his face, trying to see if there were any signs. You could tell with some humanoid species. Her own unscarred cheek had a tendency to blossom red with even a small amount of alcohol, which was one reason why she consumed it so seldomly. But if Zelosians showed any signs, she wasn't familiar with them. Plant people were weird.

Her lightsaber floated from her belt into her waiting hand. Her finger pressed down on the activation, the blue blade igniting with a snap-hiss.

[Dutch]

"I thought you plant types preferred the light,"

Jessoin smiled as he felt Zarene's presence.

"You are sober from the party by now, right?"

He laughed out loud at that, and peered over his shoulder still smiling. Slowly the Zelosion turned around to face her, hands still clasped behind his back. Openly his green gaze looked Zarene over, her attire much more casual now. Jess began to step closer, his gait relaxed.

"My people have a much higher tolerance to alcohol than you other humanoids."

Now standing a few feet away, Jess grinned knowingly at Zarene. The room was sparse, looks like he'd be taking her either on the floor or against the wall. Or perhaps the window, another moon for those outside the Citadel to see. His eyebrows rose as her lightsaber flipped to her hand and ignited. Jess chuckled lightly and tilted his head slightly.

"Mmm a little foreplay is it then? Love a spar before hand, gets the blood pumping wonderfully..."

His long fingers retrieved his own lightsaber, the cobbled together looking handle cool to the touch. Jessoin activated it, the red light of his weapon clashed well with the blue of Zarene's. He did not offer the traditional Makashi salute, long had he abandoned the habit of showing his enemy respect before fighting. The dead deserved none. Jess held his weapon pointed towards the ground and angled towards Zarene slightly.

"Shall we then?"

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"My people have a much higher tolerance to alcohol than you other humanoids."

The corner of her mouth rose upward slightly in a thin smile. "Good. Wouldn't want your performance to suffer because of it."

She held the saber in her left hand. The tip of the blade drew a small circle in the air as she rotated her wrist, before lowering down towards the ground. She walked towards him, her blade angled downwards like his.

Her eyebrow arched upwards slightly. "Before hand? Before what?"

There was a crackling sound as the red and blue blades almost touched.

"Let's begin then."

Her blue blade swept upwards and to the side, pushing the red blade along with it before changing direction into a horizontal belly-level slash.

[Dutch]

"Don't you worry Z, my performance never suffers..."

Purred Jessoin as she approached. His eyes never left hers as she came nearer, ready to defend himself. He didn't know quite what to expect from Zarene, what her style would be. As she mimicked his stance though, he would almost assume Makashi. Except her grip wasn't right.

"Before hand? Before what?"

"No need to be coy Z, we're two consenting adults." Jess chuckled and shook his head slightly. His grin never left as Zarene began her attack, his wrist angling slightly to keep her blue blade away with his red. The sparks that rained from their blades were hued in purple. Jessoin slid backwards to avoid her horizontal slash, his long arm dipped low to jab a couple times upwards towards her chest as he slid towards her once more. He had reach on Zarene, something he planned to use to his full advantage.

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Zarene had never been a particularly good swordsman. Her performance with a blade as a padawan had generally been considered adequate but unremarkable. She had a good knowledge of Shii-cho, although she had never officially completed her training in the form, as well as rudiments some of the other forms. The basics. But she was as tall as most men and as strong, and with speed and endurance those basics had managed to get her through a dozen fights. But she needed more practice and training. She knew it. That was what this meeting was for.

She sidestepped quickly to avoid his thrust. Her own blade, having struck empty, continued its swing as she brought it up and over her head in a two-handed grip. Continuing over her shoulder, she brought it down in a diagonal slash.

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Jess laughed as Zarene did not respond to his comment. Smoothly his blade snapped close to his body and he spun in the opposite direction of her slash. His arm unfolded to hold the saber parallel to the floor, and his teeth shone in the red light of his weapon. Her technique was lacking, Jessoin could detect that almost right away. Pride swelled in his chest, given her cyborg additions, and her techniques with a lightsaber: He could slay her right then and there. That avoided slash would have led to a slashed throat, or a blast of lightning to overload her circuitry...

"Now now Z, have I left you speechless?"

He chortled as he rotated his wrist around to flourish his blade. A few shuffling steps forward led to two quick feints towards her head with his saber, before he would dip low to sweep wide in the direction of Zarene's knees.

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He backed up again. He was avoiding engaging her saber directly. Jerk.

But there was only so much space for him to retreat. He had begun the bout already standing near the window. A few more steps and he'd have to stop and face her attacks or else take the long drop off the side of the Citadel. She answered his latest quip with a dismissive "Pfft."

Her body tilted to the side to avoid his first thrust at her head, and back again to avoid the second. Her saber swung downwards to intercept his as she took another step forward. There was a crackling of sparks as their blades crossed. If she could force a saber lock, make it a contest of brute strength, she could win.

Gripping her saber with both hands, she pushed his blade back, the sparks intensifying as she did so.

[Dutch]

Jessoin pedaled backwards as Zarene began her push, his grin never faltering. He was aware of the closing space behind him, any trained duelist knew to stay aware of their surroundings. And he was more than aware. Jess could sense her intentions. Corner him, overpower him with her two handed style, and have her victory. He laughed to himself at the thought of the woman beating him. However he still played along, letting her lead him backwards.

Once her grip seemed rigid enough he took the opportunity. Blades still locked he whipped his wrist around in a Makashi flourish, the blue of her blade shorting out as it was spun out and away from her hand. In a single fluid motion Jessoin followed through with a blended in Ataru maneuver to flip over Zarene's shoulder. Now positioned directly behind her he snarled with victory. Long fingers snapped up to grab her jaw, forcing her head back as his lightsaber snapped up to hover just next to her head. The red glow bathed the scar across her face in light, and Jess turned her to examine it better. His breath would be light against her skin as he breathed, green eyes appraising the mark.

"I'm glad to see you left the mask behind Z..."

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One moment their blades were locked, and the next they weren't. Something burned her wrist, and her saber spun out from her hand, landing across the room with a metallic clunk.

In a flash, he had leaped behind her, grabbing her chin with one hand to pull her head back, while holding his saber to her cheek with the other. She grabbed his wrist with her metallic hand as he lowered her face to be closer to hers.

"You're breathing on my face. You can let go now."

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Jess growled at the feeling of her prosthetic hand as it clasped his wrist. He did not like the feeling of it on his skin, and the man fought the urge to disable it with a bolt of electricity. That wouldn't be conducive to their blossoming relationship though, so he opted not to.

"I surely can." Jessoin started, his grip instead tightened on her jaw and the Zelosian pulled Zarene back against his body roughly. "Will I? Well that is an entirely different story... So tell me Z, what is it exactly you desire from me?"

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"That wasn't a request," she whispered. She noticed his eyes drift towards her hand, and a contemplative look on his face. It's going to take a little more than one fingerful of lightning, she thought, and unless you want it to close permanently with your wrist inside, I wouldn't try more.

His hand seemed to tighten, fingers pressing down uncomfortably on her cheek. "You just have to over-dramatize everything don't you? Even a simple sparring session." For a moment, she contemplated slamming her elbow back into his solarplexis. This wasn't a very pleasant position to be standing in, with her head tilted back and his hand on her face.

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Jess laughed softly, Zarene's discomfort felt easily just by how she held herself. After another moment his lightsaber was switched off, and his grip let up. He slid around Zarene, lightsaber still at hand. His grin never once faltered as he stood before her, though his head tilted curiously.

"A simple sparring session? Please Z. The night after our little party, you leave alone, with no one to help warm your bed. Before the night even ends, my comm rings to have the wilted flower herself on the other line. What does she ask of him? To meet somewhere public? No no, she chooses the empty room within the emptiest wing in the Citadel..." Jessoin chuckled and wagged a finger at Zarene.

"One does not simply call me for a mere spar, Z."

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She sucked on the burn on her wrist, while calling her lightsaber back to her other hand, which she then clipped back on her belt.

"Wait, what? You seriously thought...?" Zarene arched an eyebrow as she crossed her arms in front of her chest. "It hasn't occurred to you that if I actually wanted someone to, as you say, 'warm my bed,' that I'd ask them to my room, instead of, say, a training room?" She grimaced and shook her head. Wilted flower?! Seriously? Coming from plant-man himself... "So yes, I called you to an empty training room in order to spar, because I need the practice and I need an opponent who actually knows what he's doing."

"One does not simply call me for a mere spar, Z."

"Looks like I just did. If Renata called you right now, would you assume it was because she wants to sleep with you? What about Maskarr? Or Onin? No? So what makes you think that's what I want?"

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"And risk having someone see me entering your bed chambers? Reputation is everything Z."

Jessoin relished in her sass, even if it was true she just wanted a good fight, he would continue to press her buttons. Perhaps quite literally if her cybernetics had any. His eyebrows raised as she spoke more, laughing lightly. He held up a hand, and began to raise a finger for each name he said.

"Renata is my Mistress, she has... ways to curb my desires towards her. Not to say that I wouldn't do anything for her. Maskrr is far too feeble, she'd die from a night with me. And everyone knows Onin only has eyes for Makura- they make a great couple, don't you think?"

Jess chuckled and began to walk closer.

"Now you on the other hand, fascinate me. You put on this 'ice queen' persona, never seeming to want anyone to get close. Yet how could you not? Is it not our nature to seek company? How often have you laid in bed, with nothing to give you company besides your hands? Surely even you want to feel like a woman every now and then, and not a machine..."

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She waited until he was done talking, her brow furrowing visibly when he referred to her as a machine.

"Oh, great." Zarene replied flatly. "I guess that makes you the charming Casanova here to save me from a life of chastity. You'll forgive me if I don't exactly start swooning."

Funny part though, she had to admit to herself, was that there had been a time when words like those might have actually worked on her. A time when she had been down and desperate, and probably would have fallen for any handsome boy who smiled her way. And she couldn't deny that Jessoin Zarander was not a bad-looking fellow. Not nearly as pretty as a certain red-headed mandalorian, but still.... But that had been before her joining of the Sith Order. With the Sith Order, she had purpose. And with purpose, came confidence. She wasn't about to fall for that sort of thing anymore.

"Let's just say that I'm not one of those Initiates who for some reason thinks that sleeping with Renata's apprentice will help her climb up the ladder quicker. And I'm really not that eager another step in your little quest to get over killing your ex-girlfriend. Yeah, I saw that, remember? We all knew you were trouble when you walked in."

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Jessoin chortled.

"Oh no, my dear flower. I'm merely a man who knows what he wants." He replied, hands held out in an unapologetic gesture. Now less than a foot away from Zarene, the Zelosian was stopped in his tracks at her last words. His smile never faltered, even as the urge to backhand Zarene only got stronger.

"True... you are no wanting Initiate. Those are mere playthings, meant to be used and tossed aside. I truly take no real satisfaction in conquering them, but if given the option between my hands and an eager hole: I will choose the hole every time." Jessoin laughed and shrugged nonchalantly. He wondered how much further he could push the woman. "And trust me, my Lady has been more than capable of helping me 'get over' Mephesa. Through her death, my chains were broken."

His hand reached out to grab the bottom of Zarene's chin. Firm, but not painfully so Jessoin loomed in closer to stare Zarene down.

"You all knew... and yet I was still welcomed with open arms. Open legs in some cases. So tell me then, Z, what does open that frigid heart of yours? You say you are not eager, but surely you must wonder..."

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"Heh... wow... all your talk..." She leaned forward slightly, so that their faces were only inches apart. "... of holes and conquering..."

Her hand moved towards his chest, fingertips lightly brushing against the cloth of his robes. "... it's just so..."

"... so..."

Her eyes narrowed and her expression hardened. Her arm suddenly lashed forward, the base of her palm slamming into his chest, with enough force to cause him to stumble back. "Get real, sap-for-brains," she growled. "It seems your so-called conquests are thanks to the position that Renata has handed to you, and not to any charm you might possess, if you think that sort of line ever had a chance of working."

She turned to leave. "We're done here. Thank you for the spar. I'll find someone else to spar with next time. Someone who isn't a total lech."

[Dutch]

Jessoin's moment of mistaken victory was cut short by the strike from Zarene. The attack near knocked the wind from his chest, and Jess coughed violently. His eyes watched Zarene pass him, unable to talk for a moment. With her back to him, Jessoin straightened his posture and ignited his lightsaber again.

"Take up your weapon, Z. I'm not through with you yet. You may be able to fight with your hands, but your saber skills are shoddy at best. What will you do when the Jedi come for you, and you can't defend from their favorite weapon?"

His arm held his weapon up in a Makashi stance, green eyes staring down at Zarene.

"Take up your weapon, or you don't leave this room alive."