Fwurg

[Senator Zalyass al-Chak'zya Azara-ya]

Zalyass realized that there had been no response from Ajava. She had expected much, even feared Ajava laughing in her face, but she hadn't expected silence. With tear-filled eyes, Zalyass looked up at Ajava and noticed that she seemed rather... Angry.

...Enraged would be a better description...

As Ajava's eyes turned red and lightning started to rush from her hands, Zalyass yelped slightly and took a step back. When the telepathic pressure hit, Zalyass quickly stumbled backwards, tripped over her own feet and fell down on her butt.

"Ow... A.. Ajava? It's.. It's not that bad.... Really"

Another bad lie, but Zalyass was seriously concerned about Ajava now.

[Shebi Ajava (mask of Shebi Ajava)]

Zalyass' bad cover-up barely reached Ajava. But even though Ajava immediately recognized it as a bad lie, it did calm her down a little. She then realized that she was the cause of Zalyass' distress.

After taking a moment to collect herself, Ajava visibly calms down. The lightning stops, and her eyes stop glowing. As she had become accustomed to, as soon as she stopped the chemical reaction in her eyes, her sight deteriorates to the point of not seeing anything but a haze. She knows that this will only take a minute or so to go away, but it is still an annoyance.

Not daring to move, lest she trip over something, Ajava remained standing where she was.

"I'm sorry that I did that", she said with an almost apolegetic tone, "I'm not going to hurt you Zalyass."

"Come here and put your hands on my waist", Ajava invoked the little ritual she was trying to get Zalyass accustomed to. Incidentally, it didn't require her to walk around.Shebi Ajava

[Senator Zalyass al-Chak'zya Azara-ya]

It took some time for Zalyass to calm down herself. She had not expected Ajava to lose it so completely after her confession. Had she really become that enraged just because of Zalyass telling what happened to her back on Nest? Did that mean Ajava was actually concerned about her?

Zalyass got up from the ground and slowly moved closer to Ajava. She was half expecting Ajava to shock her on contact with all the lightning that had appeared, but as she touched Ajava's side, nothing spectacular happened. Slowly, she looked up at Ajava.

"Really... It wasn't that bad. I was just slow, is all."

[Shebi Ajava (mask of Shebi Ajava)]

Feeling the senator's hands on her waist grounded her feelings even better. Ajava knew that she can't afford to lose control like that, even if it was in private. Since the moment she decided to determine her own path, during her knight's trial, she had problems consciously controlling her feelings. Almost hurting Zalyass at last offered her the clarity to decide to search for better meditation techniques.

"Though you might not be the perfect physical specimen from an Azaryan point of view, I find you very appealing. And so will a lot of other humanoids."

Ajava gently moved her hands to Zalyass' waist, and pulls her a little closer.

"You should have the scars removed, to leave behind that part of your past", she looked at the azaryan intently, mainly because she had to peer through the receding red haze. "Besides, without those scars, you would look even better."
Shebi Ajava

[Senator Zalyass al-Chak'zya Azara-ya]

Zalyass shook her head

"No.. I do not want them removed. They are part of who I am. I feel like I would be running away from my past if I would just have them cleaned up. They also remind me that, despite everything, I am still here. Well until recently anyway. Lately it seemed like I had lost all will. And I did, I guess. The way the Mandalorians controlled us, I just couldn't deal with it. They violated our minds in ways I cannot describe. Almost as if they pushed out parts of my mind and I have not been able to regain it. It felt empty, it still does, but I can't figure out what is missing..."

Zalyass instinctively moved closer to Ajava and put her head on the Veolian's chest.

"I couldn't handle the emptiness, the loneliness. As I told you yesterday: I don't really think I wanted to be rescued back then. I just wanted to forget. I wanted to end it all, but was too scared to do so by myself..."

[Shebi Ajava (mask of Shebi Ajava)]

Ajava wasn't very happy with Zalyass' reply, but the reason she gave was something that Ajava can understand. She won't accept it, but she does understand it.

Ajava wrapped her arms around the slightly smaller woman to embrace her. She bends over slightly, so she could whisper into Zalyass' ear.

"I understand. I don't want you to feel like you are running away. Maybe I should replace the scars...", Ajava let the sentence linger for a bit.

"Now that you have me, you won't need to be scarred to remember who you are. We can replace the scars with something better, something that helps you remember that you are bound to me. That, no matter where you are, or what happens to you, I will always be there to find you and protect you. Even if you want to forget everything."

"You accepted my protection, Zalyass. Let me protect you from your past as well."
Shebi Ajava

[Senator Zalyass al-Chak'zya Azara-ya]

'What did she mean, replace?'

Zalyass sighed. The embrace of the Veolian somehow calmed her down. She had almost forgotten that it was the same woman who seemed to have completely different intentions for the better part of yesterday. Almost.

"I... I don't even understand why I am telling all this to you... I have never even once told anyone about all of this. I must admit that you're frightening me, but... I have the feeling you're the only one who will be able to help me and I don't even understand why I feel that way. I know you are planning on using me to gain power, but even so... You could have done so much worse things to me than you did yesterday..."

For a couple of seconds, Zalyass remained silent, just listening to the heartbeat of Ajava. This soothed her more than it should. Part of her was still screaming at her to run, to not trust this woman.

But what would happen if she ran?

"Okay, if I got the scars removed, what did you have in mind as a replacement?"

Zalyass whispered, almost as if she did not want Ajava to hear her. Quite frankly she could not believe herself for continuing this.

[Shebi Ajava (mask of Shebi Ajava)]

Ajava felt a warm feeling spread into her starting at the contact surface between her and Zalyass. She was glad that the azaryan woman wasn't resisting, it increased her options.

"Something that doesn't mar your beauty like a scar does. A silver-green tattoo that matches your eye colour would do well."
Shebi Ajava

[Senator Zalyass al-Chak'zya Azara-ya]

Now she hadn't thought of that...

"A.. Tattoo? l... dunnow actually. I never thought tattoos fit me as a person, you know..."

Though she had to hand it to Ajava that a tattoo was about as permanent as her scars were...

[Shebi Ajava (mask of Shebi Ajava)]

Still embracing, Ajava still whispered softly.

"If you think they don't fit you as a person, this one will be all the more special. It will look good on you, though very few people will get to see it."
Shebi Ajava

[Senator Zalyass al-Chak'zya Azara-ya]

Zalyass remained silent for another while. What was she thinking, even considering an 'ownership' tattoo from someone she just met? Zalyass knew she somewhat owed her life to Ajava though.

"I... Do I have to decide now?"

[Shebi Ajava (mask of Shebi Ajava)]

"No. But you should have decided by the end of the day."

Still standing there, she listened to the breathing and heartbeat of the azaryan woman pressed against her.

"Shall we talk about politics and your work, or do you want to be held a little longer?", Ajava's voice sounded a little concerned.
Shebi Ajava

[Senator Zalyass al-Chak'zya Azara-ya]

Zalyass decided it would be better for her if they would remain like that for a while. She needed some more calming down before she would be able to talk about work. After she finally managed to switch her mindset, she let go of Ajava.

"Well then, where do I start... I guess with how a reject like me actually got this job. I assume you know about our civil war and our revolt against our former Empress, right? And about the fact that our race is not known for being subtle... I guess the reason Mother chose me for this job was because I lack the aggressiveness my people usually have. Most people see it as a sign of extreme weakness. To be honest, most people back home still do. Even so, most issues here cannot be solved by punching someone in the face."

Zalyass actually had to smile a bit from her own remark there.

"So, yeah. Back then, before the revolt, my father somehow got me a job as a scribe at one of the local houses. I worked my way up to the rank of personal scribe of the headmistress of the house. From the start it was quite clear that she was not content with the way things were going and decided to take matters into her own hand. Take a guess at who our Empress is right now? I owe this chance to our Empress, our Mother. If she would not personally had appointed me, I wouldn't have been able to get this job. Back then I didn't think I was ready. I still don't think I am ready, but at least I am not punching other senators in the face, right?"

[Shebi Ajava (mask of Shebi Ajava)]

"Well... From what I've heard, some of them wouldn't mind some of the others being on the receiving end."

It was a lame reply, and Ajava knew it. But she was slightly taken aback by the sudden information that the current empress of the whole Azaryan empire had hand picked this woman from the scribes of her then local house. Not because of the hand picking part, that stood to reason. The 'from the scribes' part was what made her think.

Ajava made a mental note to check some facts on this empress, for example the size of her house before she ascended, though she already knew that her hold on power was not as absolute as it should be. She had done some digging after news of a botched military exercise reached her, and found some very interesting classified mission reports on the Prasikana training.

"Don't worry Zalyass. With me behind you, I'm sure that you will be ready when you need to be."
Shebi Ajava

[Senator Zalyass al-Chak'zya Azara-ya]

Now that the history of how she had become a Senator was out of the way, Zalyass continued talking about her job.

She talked about her everyday job at the embassy, how she generally actually did like doing her job even if she really didn't feel like she was up to it. She also talked about her colleagues and how some of them were being rather rude at her, but also that there were actually some of them she considered acquaintances.

Zalyass then continued talking about the senate meetings and the meetings with members of the parliament of the UEAC. She had always been really nervous before either talking to the Union senate or the Parliament at home. The situation in the senate seemed to improve (albeit slowly) but back at Nest there were still quite a lot of people who did not take her seriously because of the way she was.

In the end, however, she was still there and she hadn't lost her optimism until the Mandalorians arrived and took over her race.

[Shebi Ajava (mask of Shebi Ajava)]

Ajava listened patiently, taking mental notes on some of the people Zalyass talked about.

As the day passed by, Ajava kept Zalyass talking about her work, those working with or against her, and what kinds of barriers she experienced. As Zalyass explained things, Ajava gave a few pointers on how she could act. But by now she knew that it would take a lot more work before Zalyass would really believe what she would have to say.

Toward the end of the afternoon, Ajava informed Zalyass that she had to go out for a bit but that she would be back with an hour. She continued to tell the azaryan that she should have changed her clothes by then, with the same restrictions as before.
Shebi Ajava

[Senator Zalyass al-Chak'zya Azara-ya]

Zalyass was a bit hesitant to actually tell Ajava any names, but in the end gave in and mentioned some people who had been exceptionally mean to her on an almost daily basis and had almost made it their daily job to dissuade her to continue her work as a senator.

When they were done and Zalyass was left alone for a while, she had some time to fall down onto the bed and reflect on what had happened up to now. She still had no idea whether or not this had been a good idea, but things seemed to be looking up for now.

Zalyass was so caught up in her thoughts that she had completely forgotten about changing her clothes, right up to when Ajava returned. As soon as Zalyass heard the hover car returning, she realized that she still had to change into a different set of clothing. She got out of her current clothing as rapidly as she could and quickly changed into the first one-piece dress she could find.

The dress she now was wearing was rather daring though and certainly not something Zalyass would have chosen if she had thought of it earlier.

[Shebi Ajava (mask of Shebi Ajava)]

Ajava was rather happy with her new purchases, and quickly made her way into the apartment when she set down. She puts the boxes in the living room and hung her cloak at the coat rack. After she placed the food on the table, she goes looking for Zalyass.

When she finds the azaryan in the bed room, wearing one of the one-piece dresses she bought this night, she couldn't help but wait as she took in the sight.

"You look beautiful in that, Zalyass.", she said after clearly doing a visual inspection. "Now come to the living room, and have something to eat. You can tell me about your private life while we eat, I'm very interested in hearing about your friends and romantic entanglements."

Ajava held open the door for the azaryan senator, and lead her to the well-stocked dinner table in the living room. On it were dishes from both the azaryan cuisine and the veolian cuisine, and Ajava had dimmed the lights a bit to make the room more cosy.
Shebi Ajava

[Senator Zalyass al-Chak'zya Azara-ya]

Zalyass had kind of expected Ajava's response to her wearing these clothes, but that didn't make her any more comfortable with it. The fact that Ajava took her sweet time to take in the looks didn't help either.

Fortunately, it was dinner time and Ajava gestured Zalyass to head towards the living room. Zalyass sighed of relief (perhaps a slight bit too loud) as the awkward situation finally ended.

"Th-thank you, I guess. Yeah.. I would like some dinner, though I..."

Zalyass was unable to finish her sentence as Ajava led her into the living room where she was distracted by the food. Now she realized that she actually was rather hungry so she gladly sat down. Then she realized Ajava was still expecting her to talk more. Zalyass figured she might as well get it over with this part.

"So... well. Ehm. Actually. I don't really have or had any people I consider friends. My mother has been mostly friendly to me, so has the Empress, I guess. That is about it, I guess. Pathetic, isn't it?"

[Shebi Ajava (mask of Shebi Ajava)]

Ajava listened to what little was said, not offering any reply. She simply ate a few pieces of food.

After a while of eating in silence, she spoke.

"That sounds lonely. And, you didn't talk about the second part of my interests.", Ajava didn't expect anything of interest, but making sure was a good plan.
Shebi Ajava

[Senator Zalyass al-Chak'zya Azara-ya]

Zalyass blushed a bit and grew silent as soon as Ajava mentioned that Zalyass had not answered all of her questions. It was a subject she didn't really want to talk about, especially with someone who apparently was rather attracted to her.

"Well. Ehm. There's not much to tell about it.. I have never... been with someone. So that's it, really."

[Shebi Ajava (mask of Shebi Ajava)]

"I see.", was Ajava's reply.

Then she simply continued eating, and remained silent. She plans on discussing clothing and accesories after the dinner. For now though, she would just let Zalyass' own words do the work for her.

After the dinner, Ajava started to clear up the left overs. Once that was done, she gestured for Zalyass to sit down on the couch. Ajava sat down on another couch, so they could talk some more.

"So, have you made a decision yet?"
Shebi Ajava

[Senator Zalyass al-Chak'zya Azara-ya]

"Hmmm..."

Zalyas uneasily shifted in her seat as the various thoughts ran through her head. She felt kind of lost here. Some part of her really didn't want to go through with the tattoo, but somehow Ajava's reasoning had seemed logical. That and it would look better on her than the scars on her back. Perhaps the idea of Ajava 'branding' her scared Zalyass as well. Ajava had been acting rather possessive of her for a woman she had only met yesterday. Still... Apart from that, it really wasn't such a bad idea. An idea she hadn't even considered until today.

"Well, if I were to get a tattoo... where should I put it in your opinion?"

[Shebi Ajava (mask of Shebi Ajava)]

Ajava smiled at Zalyass.

"That depends. To have the greatest impact, you shouldn't have it some place easily visible. It should remind you of our bond, to do that, it doesn't need to be visible for others. Neither should it be on the back of your body. You should be able to look at it without a mirror."

Ajava looked over the senator once more.

"Remember where I pressed my hands on you yesterday night? One of those places."

Shebi Ajava

[Senator Zalyass al-Chak'zya Azara-ya]

Zalyass had almost forgotten, but now she remembered it all too well. It brought back some rather confusing emotions together with a rush of blood to her face. She could have known that Ajava would come up with places like those.

"I... Well.. Isn't that a little..."