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Feb 25, 2009 9:32:02 GMT -5
Post by Talau the Ever-Lurking on Feb 25, 2009 9:32:02 GMT -5
((okay, so I think we can milk this thread a bit longer. Vex, would you mind finishing the night / Starting off the new day? Then we can all jump in for the new day, which will bring us to the crash thread at a later date...i'm kinda hesitant to start it off so close to the time Vex has to leave for a month. If you want to start it though vex, --the crash thread-- feel free and link us))
Aunna's eyes fluttered slightly as she slept, shifting an arm slightly. Had she been awake to hear the conversation going on beside her, the woman might have blushed at Vex's first comments and left the two to their talking, seeing it as something along the lines of 'male bonding'...or bonding in general. Undoubtedly the woman would have been pleased to know that the man and droid, for once, were not only speaking civilly, but actually having a meaningful conversation that would, in the long run, help both of them...at least in her eyes. As things stood, however, the brunette remained asleep and unaware.
As Vex gently removed some of the hair from her eyes, replacing it behind her ear, she shifted again. Her head moved slightly into his touch for a moment before she curled into herself a bit more, one hand falling from her shoulder where it had been resting, to lay against his thigh lightly. Taking a deep breath in her sleep, the woman coughed, her brows furrowing from the fact that her throat still hurt at the action. After this, Aunna was still once more, allowing the two to continue their conversation unhindered and unnoticed.
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A®heim
One does not just make a dreadnought.
3,801 posts
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last online Sept 16, 2018 19:37:00 GMT -5
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Feb 25, 2009 17:30:16 GMT -5
Post by A®heim on Feb 25, 2009 17:30:16 GMT -5
What I consider as "life" is constituted by Republic Government standards. The five characteristics of lifeforms are organization (a distinct form and appearance), irritability (the ability to respond to external stimuli), metabolism (the ability to convert energy to stay alive), reproduction (the ability to create new lifeforms), and adaptation (the ability to change as their environments change). For a droid like Ayer a "philosophical" speech was basically a direct audio adaptation of the Republic Archives. His optical sensors gazed off into space as he recited this directly from his memory processors then blinked a few times and reoriented to the real world. I'm afraid for one such as myself, I tend to take such definitions fairly cold. You may have noticed I'm exactly very philosophical, even for a droid. All the same, this classification clearly shows that- Ayer stopped. He had been systematically reciting the archives without actually processing what he had said. He couldn't help but notice that Vex was staring at him in amusement. Hmm, organization. Well he certainly had a fairly distinct form. Then there was irritability. Both he and Vex knew the droid could be irritable at times. Metabolism? He converted sunlight into energy didn't he? Reproduction was a bit iffy, but maybe if he had some spare circuitry and his welding torch.... Finally there was adaptability and Ayer was pretty sure that if he couldn't adapt he wouldn't still be operational. Well Vex, it would seem that I've trapped myself. It has been proven that I've been making too much of this. Thank you for your counseling. Ayer looked up at Vex with as close to a smile as he could manage with a beak. Deep down inside, he still cared for others. Beneath the cold circuitry, he was still human and still retained many human emotions. Perhaps an example could be made of this, but it would have to wait for another time: The warning message on his visual display was starting to get dimmer. ENERGY LEVEL CRITICAL: PREPARING TO SHUTDOWN [/center] It would seem that this prolonged lack of sunlight has taken a toll on my power cells. I will conserve what I have left for now. Good night Vex Ayer laid down his head and deactivated his systems.
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last online Jun 4, 2023 4:58:38 GMT -5
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Mar 3, 2009 14:46:12 GMT -5
Post by Talau the Ever-Lurking on Mar 3, 2009 14:46:12 GMT -5
((okay Vex, since you don't know what to post, i'll make the transition, but in return you'll just have to live with him being in the same place and awake Lyrics: Aquarius by Within Temptation --who else would it be? lol--)) The dark sounds of the music lingered in her mind even as she rose back toward awareness... I long for you Aquarius I need to be with you again I fear you, Aquarius My destiny 'till the end
They say I'm seeking out the danger That one day you won't let me go (I'll drown, you'll take me down)
I need you Aquarius Enchanted I will have to stay. I feel you Aquarius 'cause you the sea, set me free You call to me Aquarius (You call to me, you set me free)Groaning slightly at the song's message, she opened one eye to see that it was...once again...covered in hair. Well, she couldn't say that it was completely unexpected. Opening her other eye, she flipped the offending hair to the other side of her shoulders with a well practiced movement as she lifted herself up on her bandaged arm, resting on her forearm. The area was dimly lit with the light of day, filtering in from somewhere above them. Beside her, Ayer appeared to be in his power-save mode, and Vex seemed to be reclined rather casually against the wall. Aunna wondered if he'd slept at all that night....hell, she wondered if he EVER slept. Snickering at the thought, she shook her head and grinned over at him, stifling another snicker of laughter. Wondering what time it was, she decided that by the cool temperature and the stale smell of the air, that it was still fairly early in the morning. Good...they needed to get out of here and get moving. Good morning...assuming it IS still morning anyway.She stated and sat up fully, noting the rolled robe once again. Picking it up from the ground, she rested it on her lap as she brushed the dust and dirt off it, gazing at it thoughtfully. He was such an odd man...one moment he was killing without remorse and the next he was treating her like she were about to break and making her as comfortable as he could. Sighing, she handed over the robes to him after a moment and shook her head a bit. Aunna doubted she'd EVER be able to fully puzzle the man out, there were just too many layers to him. We need to get moving Vex, if we're going to get off this planet without any more hassle. We have two days to cover quite a bit of ground.Her throat was still sore, but at least she was able to speak now without overly hurting herself by the act. She blinked blue eyes at the man, waiting for any sign that he had heard or understood her...or if he had any OTHER plans. Hopefully not...since this was their best bet to get off Coruscant without drawing attention to themselves. That was when she remembered the belt. Huffing slightly she wondered if she should even mention it right now. Well...he would most likely be wanting it back, and she could replace the wire connector for the comlink on Veera's ship. This is yours....thank you for letting me use it Vex. I'll have to replace one of the connectors in your com, but other than that it's intact.She added, as she took off the belt, and readjusted it to where it had obviously been for many years and holding it out for him to take back. Once again the song nagged at the back of her mind and she gave a mildly irritated look for a moment before shoving the song away once again. That was the problem with connecting to that power again...whatever it was...the songs buzzed in the back of her mind constantly and could be a source of distraction if not sung or dealt with, and after a certain amount of time even trying to bury them in her mind stopped working and she HAD to sing the song...it was like a compulsion that after so long she just couldn't stop any longer. It proved troublesome at the best of times...she needed to find a better way of reigning in those songs or she could end up in very BIG trouble.
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Vex
A Self-styled computer geek that moonlights as a G.I. Joe.
1,014 posts
2 likes
Proud bearer of the "Polish Stalker Badge".
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last online May 21, 2018 17:30:54 GMT -5
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Mar 7, 2009 12:29:27 GMT -5
Post by Vex on Mar 7, 2009 12:29:27 GMT -5
Vex smirked beneath his mask, having watched the little automaton work everything out, refuting his own logic with other logic before apparently finally coming to a conclusion. The little droid acted far more alive than it realized He simply inclined his head a bit at the statement from the thing before it powered down to conserve energy.
Much as he may be loathe to admit it, the robot was not as annoying as he had first concluded.
As she slept and the droid stayed in stasis, Vex drew himself into a seated position for meditation. In this state, he didn't need the mask and had removed it. He couldn't sleep, someone had to remain awake and alert in case something happened or someone was on their trail. He'd spent many a time using the meditation to rest while keeping mentally alert and prepared..and he had conditioned himself to be able to run on it at peak efficiency for a while when need be.
As such, he was aware when she began to stir, though he made no effort to show that or even move as he stayed there in that state. Only once she handed that robe to him did he slip out of it, his hands taking it from her own. Those black eyes blinked open after that and he'd look to her.
He'd take the belt from her, but only to resize it back to the proper length for her. Then, he reached back around her waist. His head was close to her shoulder, his breath warm against her throat while those pale hands wrapped the belt back around her waist and secured it there.
"You may keep it, Aunna. I can get another and it is my hope that, if you have something of mine, perhaps the Force will keep you out of trouble more often. You are right, however, we do need to leave soon."
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last online Jun 4, 2023 4:58:38 GMT -5
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Mar 7, 2009 13:37:34 GMT -5
Post by Talau the Ever-Lurking on Mar 7, 2009 13:37:34 GMT -5
He had been sitting erect, nearly statue like, as she had awoken. His mask was off and she had only briefly pondered why. It was obvious he’d not slept, but she figured that someone had to keep watch and it obviously hadn’t been her. He’d taken the robe without a word, and the belt as well, but the latter he simply had readjusted and fitted it back around her waist. In doing so, he’d had to bend near to her shoulder, his face coming close to the skin of her neck there, his warm breath washing against her, as he wrapped it around before fastening it once more. This time it was her turn to feel uncomfortable at his closeness. Aunna had been sure to put up her mental barriers to shield what few thoughts she had at the moment, but she’d not yet learned to shield her emotions as well as she had learned to shield her thoughts. No doubt he would feel the odd, almost expectant, unease and tension plus the mild confusion at his actions.
As he spoke, however, the feelings of unease and confusion passed, even if the tension didn’t. Despite this, Aunna smiled warmly at him and chuckled a little, a ray of what Aunna had been before all of this drama returning, and perhaps a bit more of her true nature coming through…something Vex had never really seen before. The former major was, by all accounts, a rather warm and caring person once you got to know her and had earned her trust. Vex, despite everything, had done just that…earned her trust, even if it wasn’t complete. His words had made her smile, not so much at the fact that he was allowing her to keep the belt, but rather WHY he was allowing her to keep it. He cared more than he let on it seemed, and she was starting to figure this out. Typically, with a friend who showed such concern, Aunna would have kissed him on the cheek and said her ‘thank you’ and been done with it, but she firmly stopped herself from doing so with Vex. Even a hug was pushing it for him it seemed, so she would simply stick to the words.
Thank you Vex. I hope it does, since I seem to have a penchant for attracting trouble recently.
The words were kept light and carefree, her smile still bright, but it didn’t fully reach her eyes. To anyone who wasn’t paying close attention, however, it would have seemed genuine enough. Gazing around, she wondered, then, how in the galaxy they’d gotten INTO the place. The door was bolted and barred, the walls solid, the only thing she could see was a hole in the wall big enough to fit through nearly ten feet off the ground. Sighing, she decided that must have been it. Studying it, she figured that there were enough places in the wall where it was cracked and crumbling that she could make it to the top with a bit of work.
I take it we got in through that?
Aunna asked, still gazing at the hole for another moment before picking up the pack and scooping up Ayer. Settling the little droid inside, she closed the pack once again and shouldered it as she headed toward the wall, not waiting for him until she came up to the bottom of it and had one hand on her fist hold.
Shall we? No use in sticking around here.
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Vex
A Self-styled computer geek that moonlights as a G.I. Joe.
1,014 posts
2 likes
Proud bearer of the "Polish Stalker Badge".
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last online May 21, 2018 17:30:54 GMT -5
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Mar 8, 2009 14:36:58 GMT -5
Post by Vex on Mar 8, 2009 14:36:58 GMT -5
"I could let you clamber up there and make it eventually...but I do not think you are still one hundred percent recovered from your ordeal. You'd probably be better off not exerting yourself if you don't have to." He spoke to her as he shouldered on those robes once more before regarding her thoughtfully.
He blurred with the Force-induced speed that he let pour into him. She'd hear the gravel beneath his feet crunch moments before she'd feel her feet swept out from underneath her. Next thing she'd know, she was cradled in his arms. Like a kath hound, he hopped effortlessly from one miniscule foothold to another, bounding up to that hole she'd seen and landing almost effortlessly along the ledge there.
"Don't you agree?"
Then he'd drop, knees flexing as he absorbed the impact with his legs. He'd straighten then, setting her back on her feet. They were now back outside.
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last online Jun 4, 2023 4:58:38 GMT -5
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Mar 8, 2009 15:36:30 GMT -5
Post by Talau the Ever-Lurking on Mar 8, 2009 15:36:30 GMT -5
Aunna tilted her head to the side slightly. She had been about to question his words, when his form blurred and her eyes lost sight of him, the only sound being that of the gravel under his feet as he moved. Before she knew it, Aunna felt herself caught up in his arms and, unbidden, she let out a yelp as she wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her face into his shoulder. As if it wasn't bad enough that she'd not had good experiences with being picked up! No...she'd just been picked up by a man she could barely see at the speed he was moving, who then proceeded to leap from one foothold to the next up a WALL at said high speeds, out of a hole in aforementioned wall, and then landing outside.
Even once he put her down, she didn't let go of him, her face still pressed against his shoulder. Only after a moment did it register that they were no longer moving, and she slowly let go, pulling away from him, her hands sliding over his shoulders lightly. She seemed almost hesitant to let go of him, yet too awkward and uncertain to stay close. Aunna turned her face away from him as that distance between them lengthened, that waterfall of hair shielding her face from view for a moment as she seemed to be trying to gain her bearings. Finally, she folded her arms across her chest and seemed more stubborn and prideful than previously...a bit of protection and safety from the uncomfortable feelings she felt. At last she looked up at him again, her eyes determined, though there was a new sort of gentleness in them that she couldn't hide...nor did she even know it was there.
Alright...well...I'm not fond of being picked up, but I suppose that was the easiest way. Either way, we need to head south west to get there.
She stated simply, both in reply to his earlier question, and just for general direction reference. With that, she glanced around again. There weren't many out and around, especially after the episode last night...the better for them...so she now headed in the direction of the nearest cover. There was a decided lack of good places to keep out of sight completely, but the building she headed toward was one of the better ones.
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A®heim
One does not just make a dreadnought.
3,801 posts
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last online Sept 16, 2018 19:37:00 GMT -5
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Mar 8, 2009 22:20:21 GMT -5
Post by A®heim on Mar 8, 2009 22:20:21 GMT -5
CRITICAL GRAVITATIONAL FLUX EMERGENCY FULL SCALE SYSTEM REBOOT [/center] One of the small droid's fail safes was to automatically respond to extreme changes in altitude, even in times of dormancy. It existed to prevent the device from taking a fatal fall while shutdown if it were to plummet or be dropped. It was tested with varying results, some models activating mere feet from the ground while others taking several hundred, but one thing was sure: the sudden actions of Vex sure set it off. Ayer's optical sensors snapped open as his wings stretched to their full length almost instantaneously. Inside his central processor a automatic signal to initiate full repulsors flitted through his circuitry. The message was clear and straightforward. Fly. The signal whipped through the wires to the repulsor engines where the hit hard on some obstruction. There was a loose circuit diverting the power. Though a minute bit of copper not 1/100 of an inch thick, the signal could not pass. The processor was unphased. Fueled by primal commands of NOW, it sent stronger and stronger pulses of energy, each one battering itself against the circuit delivering its minuscule energy into it. With a final effort, a final singal pulsed through the circuits and dashed itself into the obstacle. There was a great spark and the wire melted. FLIGHT SYSTEMS ONLINE [/center] The wing covers folded back and several razor "feathers" slashed through the bulging pack, the little sunlight refracting brilliantly from their surface. Moments after Vex landed and set down Aunna, Ayer erupted from the pack darting straight into the sky. After a few seconds of quick circles the droid's processors calmed enough for Ayer's personality matrix to override the fail safe program. His first thought was how wonderful it was to be flying again. He hadn't realized how much a burden it had been to hop everywhere until it was removed and now he felt free once more. Ayer did a few more barrel rolls for the fun of it and landed before Aunna and Vex. The wings folded back along the chassis as the bird droid as it looked up at the pair blissfully. Sorry about that, you set off one of my fail safe systems. So how are the fugitives of injustice doing this morn- His optical sensors drifted over the tattered top of Aunna's pack, the canvas hanging loose where the feathers had gashed it in the droid's "panic". Oh my.... I give my fullest apologies Aunna! Oh dear, oh dear, I do hope it can be mended.
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last online Jun 4, 2023 4:58:38 GMT -5
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Mar 9, 2009 17:08:08 GMT -5
Post by Talau the Ever-Lurking on Mar 9, 2009 17:08:08 GMT -5
Aun had only taken two steps away from Vex when she felt the pack shudder slightly. Pausing, she furrowed her brows and pulled the pack off her back, about to see if it was Ayer causing the movement. It was lucky she had pulled it off. No sooner had she done so than several sharp, metallic, feathers had sliced through the material where her back would have been. Her eyes widening slightly in surprise, Aunna instinctively held the pack away from her just as Ayer shot out of the new opening in it, sending some of the supplies scattering to the ground in his wake.
Too shocked to care at the time, a hand flew to her mouth as she watched the droid shoot up and away for a moment only to return and land before them. Blinking at him as he started talking, then noticed the pack, the woman dropped her hand as she struggled to not laugh at the absurdity of it all...a fact that showed in those dancing of her eyes. Her eyes moved to Ayer, then to Vex to see his reaction to the whole thing, then to the pack, before finally bursting into laughter. Much like she had laughed at the mental image of herself cuddling Ayer while sleeping, Aunna laughed until there were tears in her eyes.
Really....my life has to be some giant cosmic joke! Who else is running around with a dark jedi that saves people and recon droid that shocks guards and destroys packs after all of the things that have happened? Of all the absurdity...If those blasted nobles could see...their faces would be priceless!
This thought only caused her to laugh harder, nearly falling over once, but she managed to silence it by pressing her lips together, only a slight snickering sound coming from her. She managed to get enough of a hold on herself that she could finally start breathing again, which allowed her to calm down mostly. Holding up the pack for inspection she gazed studiously at the damage done to it, catching a kolto pack that had been about to fall out, with only a mild fit of giggling. It seemed there wasn't TOO much damage. It would be a good idea to get a new one, but for now she could make due with it. Waving a hand at Ayer vaguely as she picked up the items that had been dropped, she dismissed his apology.
Don't worry about it Ayer...you weren't the only one caught off guard by Vex's actions...as for the pack...I can make due with it...but I do hope you can continue your flying since there's really not going to be room for you in here now with the way I'll have to tie it off.
With that said, and a few things balanced on one arm, she motioned for Vex and the droid to follow her into the shadows of the building she'd been headed toward, still chuckling from time to time at the idiocy of the situation. Slipping within them, she put her back to it out of habit for protection and slid down it into a crouched position, allowing the few items on her arm to drop into her lap. She trusted Vex to keep an eye out for anyone they wouldn't want to see them and let her know if they needed to move or not, but for now there was still no one around this part of the underworld. She swiftly reached into the pack and began shifting things about into an organized manner once again, allowing there to be more room. Fitting the items in her lap back into the pack, keeping out only a small bottle of water, she pulled the cord from the top, gathered the material and tied it closed that way. Standing once again, Aunna shouldered the pack again and offered Vex the water first. She was thirsty, sure, but she'd had easy access to the items in the pack, he hadn't.
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Vex
A Self-styled computer geek that moonlights as a G.I. Joe.
1,014 posts
2 likes
Proud bearer of the "Polish Stalker Badge".
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last online May 21, 2018 17:30:54 GMT -5
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May 17, 2009 8:30:10 GMT -5
Post by Vex on May 17, 2009 8:30:10 GMT -5
The fear that had welled up inside of her, coupled with her shock at the sudden actions he made, was easily felt. She wasn't even trying to veil them from his senses. It would have been fairly obvious even without his connection to the Force, simply by the way her skin paled abruptly, along with the death-grip she held him with and the squeal from her lips. It was amusing, honestly, but his expression was hidden beneath that mask as they alighted back down on solid ground, unscathed.
That smirk threatened to travel up to his eyes at the way she held onto him even once they were still once more. His hand had slipped up, his arm cradling her shoulders while his fingers pressed against her nape through that chocolate skein of hair. The other had moved to curl behind her knees as he held her, but upon reaching the ground, he'd let with it, the hand moving to the small of her back. Gradually, she drifted farther away from him, seemingly embarrassed by her reactions and hiding behind her hair. He shook his head as she crossed her arms in front of her and threw up that pride as a barrier to her own feelings of vulnerability.
Dark brows lifted, a hand coming to one of his sabers as the droid erupted out, making a right mess of the backpack he'd been in. She seemed as shocked as him before the robot began to apologize profusely and she seemed on the verge of collapsing in laughter. He was thankful that his own mask hid his physical reaction to the absurdity of the entire event.
He remained silent while she and the bird spoke and she tended to what was left of the pack, trying to make it workable. Surprisingly, she succeeded. When she offered him the water, he accepted, his fingers trailing against the back of her hand before he took the bottle from her without him even realizing it. He removed that rebreather, opening the bottle and tilting his head back to take a draught. He'd done nothing but keep vigil last night and while the Force and his training allowed him to push himself physically far beyond the average norms, it never hurt to try and keep himself properly hydrated and fed. Once he'd drank enough, he replaced his mask and handed the bottle back to her.
"Thank you."
He then tilted his head to the South West, silently intoning that they should be on their way then.
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last online Jun 4, 2023 4:58:38 GMT -5
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May 17, 2009 23:02:09 GMT -5
Post by Talau the Ever-Lurking on May 17, 2009 23:02:09 GMT -5
((thank GOD you're not dead. >_< *huff* getting me all worried... anyway, last round here. Link to the new thread: Crashing the Party and to Aun/Ayer thread: Listen to the Mockingbird You should read Vex ^_^ you might find some of her views on events interesting ))It had been difficult to do, but she'd ignored...well, tried to ignore...the fact that his arms had wrapped about her, one hand coming to rest against her lower back, the other arm wrapping about her shoulders and other hand and fingers pressing against the back of her neck. The action had not only surprised her further, but had also succeeded in utterly confusing the woman and sending a rush of heat to pass through her, which she swiftly suppressed. The confusion, however, could not be...that's just how strong it had been. What in the galaxy is THIS about?! "I've always made my intentions and desires clear" he says....hmph. Yes, they're about as clear as mud NOW, Vex. After the fiasco with the pack, her curiosity and confusion had been forgotten in her laughter at the utterly strange circumstances she found herself in at that moment in time and had her completely missing any reaction he might have shown. Only when those dexterous fingers of his brushed along the back of her hand as he took the water she offered did she blink, the confusion and curiosity returning to gnaw at the back of her mind like an itch that couldn't be scratched. Just what DID he want from her? What would happen when they finally got off Coruscant? Would they go their separate ways? Inwardly she flinched at the idea, a jolt of...she wasn't sure what emotion it was...running the length of her as she moved to pick Ayer up, settling him in one arm before returning to Vex's side. Now, of all times, it seemed she would need to put her past to good use. Aunna very nearly groaned at the idea. Leaning against the wall again she rifled through a mental list of potential sources who had enough clout to get Vex into the Jedi Temple. Sighing, she shook her head. Donald Kail, he might help....maybe...he'd been closer to Jade than herself, but she'd worked with the man and he was a friend of the family, so he might...MIGHT...be willing. The rest of the people she knew were either military contacts, or those idiot nobles from Corellia. Only one name among them stood out, but...she'd rather not go that route if she could help it. True, she and Rook had "clicked" so to speak, but things hadn't ended well then, and she very much would rather leave the past right where it was...the past. She'd already had one encounter with it recently, in the form of Andrew, and she'd really prefer if the rest of her former suitors stayed well away from her. Besides, the woman had a rather...testy...jedi with her now, who seemed quite possessive of her. Not that she minded that fact one bit, but it would simply make things worse to have yet another part of her past show up at an inopportune time. Vex's words shook the former major and songstress from her musings temporarily and she nodded, smiling slightly and taking the water back from him. Her mind still wrestled with that troubling line of thought even as she tipped her own head back, allowing the clear liquid to slide down her own throat, cooling and soothing it. Setting down the bottle, she crushed the thing easily and picked it up again. Nodding again to his motion, she followed along with him, Ayer still settled in one arm, the other hand carrying the crushed bottle until she was able to toss it into a near by...and oft unused it seemed...waste bin. It was going to be a good long walk no doubt, but with Vex around she had an extra set of eyes to keep a look out for trouble, not to mention his ability to sense potential trouble through the force....and honestly, she was just happy to have him around again.
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