Her First Kiss

Her First Kiss
Date of Scene:	16 September 2025
Location:	Kublop Springs - Tenoo - Outer Rim
Synopsis:	Zetha meets a mysterious Mandalorian calling himself 'Jasper'.
Cast of Characters:	159, Zetha Rumir

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Athena (159) has posed:
It's evening at the convent, and as the sun sets, the blazing hot temperatures of the afternoon heat begin to subside.

The young Twi'lek may have found ways to entertain herself since the night before, but might found herself disappointed when Thaarin had contacted her earlier that morning, requesting that they push their meeting to the evening. Now she's probably sitting outside, wondering if he's even going to show.

He'd promised, after all...

Zetha Rumir has posed:
At this point Zetha's thought process is that promises are only made to be broken. She had broken a promise to Wiis. Which in turn will break a promise to Thaarin. She does sit outside, on a bench near the convent so that she can enjoy the outer courtyard area but maybe -not- the sprinkler system. Holding her holoreader as she skims through another book. She's wearing cargo pants, a tank top and her backpack sits nestled beneath her. As if she's either ready to grab it and run or maybe she just finds comfort in keeping it close...

Regardless if Thaarin shows up or not, she's content. And will just go inside in an hour or so if he's a full no show.

Athena (159) has posed:
Maybe she'll be surprised when he actually shows up, on time. Maybe she won't.

However, she probably will be surprised to see that he's dressed to impress? Or maybe that's just how he always looks when he's not working. Either way, he looks... extra nice.

"Zetha," he says, approaching quickly. "I'm so sorry I had to reschedule. I'm here now, though." He sits down on the bench next to her. "Forgive me if I'm being presumptuous, but you seem... better. Are you?"

Zetha Rumir has posed:
"I have a place to sleep, clothes to wear and food to eat." Zetha says simply. "I'm fine." She turns her holoreader off and shifts to slip it into her backpack. This is when she looks over to notice he's all dressed up. "You're looking a bit more spiffy than normal." Commenting as much before she shifts her gaze forward. "Please tell me you heard me and didn't go talk to Wiis..."

Athena (159) has posed:
He stands up and offers her his hand, giving her a faint smile. "I thought we could go somewhere... different," he says, "Somewhere nice. If you'd like to, anyway," he says.

"I haven't had time to talk to her, but I still would like to," he says, "Why don't you want me to? You don't want to reconcile?"

Zetha Rumir has posed:
Zetha glances to his hand and, while initially reluctant, she stands and places her hand into his. She does also grab her backpack to shoulder it on her other arm. "I'm not really dressed for nice...but sure..."

When he mentions he still wants to talk to her, Zetha shrugs. "If you feel inclined to, go ahead I guess. I messed up and she's angry. She normally doesn't take back final decisions...obviously. So I don't see the point." This much more is said in a voice that sounds a little more sad and defeated than her body language is giving off.

Athena (159) has posed:
"I should make an attempt, at least, don't you think?" he says, "besides, this can't be the only time she may have regretted doing or saying something." Well, he's right about that, at least.

"Please," he says, "I needed to at least try to look as good as you if we're going out," he says playfully. "Now, you're a local - if you want to pick, then you should. Otherwise, I'll make an attempt."

Zetha Rumir has posed:
"I don't know what to think anymore, Thaarin. You weren't there you did hear her...didn't see her..." Zetha then sighs and resigns a little. "If you think you can talk to her, then sure. Try. But don't say I didn't warn you." Is all she says next and then she decidedly changes the subject.

"I mean I may be a local but I don't really know many places except the junkyard, the spaceport and Hap's." She actually chuckles at this. "Besides, I'd like to see what a non-local's attempt looks like for nice.." There's a smile then, and it actually reaches her eyes. "What's had you around these parts so much anyway lately?"

Athena (159) has posed:
"Well, I've been told that many times," he says. "it's never stopped me." He squeezes her hand and winks.

He tilts his head curiously to one side. "Why not?" he asks, as they start walking away from the convent and towards the plaza, where most of all of Kublop's restaurants are located. "Alright, hopefully it won't be a bad try," he says. When she asks him what's had him around Kublop so much, he just offers her another faint smile and says vaguely, "Work."

Zetha Rumir has posed:
Zetha actually smiles at that squeeze to her hand and then thinks on an answer to his question. "Part of it might be due to fear. I grew up in these alley ways, on these corners. Begging for credits or even scraps. So I'm afraid people will remember me and tell me to kriff of. Most of it is due to...well...I'm not flushed with credits. There's not a lot of wealth with working on junk." Which is the truth. She likely has twenty credits that she scraped up and shoved into her backpack before leaving Wiis' and a bit of that has been spent a couple times at Hap's until 'Crane' fed her at the convent.

Speaking of. "Convents nice, by the by. Quiet. Which is somehow relaxing...it's been kinda weird not hearing the droids from the junkyard but it's also...nice." Yes. That's the word she'll settle on.

Athena (159) has posed:
Thaarin arches a brow at her. "No one here is rich, Zetha. Well, except for Lady Graf, and she's not even from here. They likely aren't too much better off themselves, if I'm being honest," he says.

"But perhaps that's just the opinion of a filthy bureaucrat," he says, with a faint chuckle.

"The convent should be a temporary solution," Thaarin says, "you're not a Disciple, and they might say they don't mind you staying there, but it's not really your place. You should either find a way to go back to the junkyard, or take up occupation elsewhere in town. I'd offer you a position at the colony, but that's above my paygrade, and I'm not sure you'd want to, anyway."

He then stops in front of the only white tablecloth establishment in Kublop - the elite grav-ball club. "How about here?"

Zetha Rumir has posed:
"Maybe I'm not a Disciple but I could be..." Zetha says this much, thinking back on 'Crane' actually offering such a thing to her. She actually lets go of his hand and takes a step back from him. "And who the kriff are you to tell me where my place is or isn't? I just lost the only job and home I've known for seventeen years and this is what I'm getting lectured about? Temporary placing? New job? Another place to stay?" She looks to the grav-ball club and then blinks. Looks back to Thaarin. Blinks again.

"They aren't going to let some riffraff like me into that place." The look of defeat and sadness finally fills her body language as she sort of sinks. "I get that you're just a working spaceship away from going back to your home...but this is my home...you made it sound so amazing that regardless of whatever misfortune happened to you, you'll be welcomed back in open arms. Like you were never gone. That won't happen to me."

She sighs then, pulling up her other backpack strap so it sits properly balanced on both her shoulders. "I think...I think I'm going to go back. I'm sorry, Thaarin..." To which she turns, intending on walking away.

Athena (159) has posed:
"Wait!" he says, hurrying after her. "Zetha, look, I'm sorry. I'm concerned for you. Ideally, you could reconcile with Wiis and go back to the junkyard. It's nothing personal, I just don't think anyone who isn't a Disciple should be staying there, long term. if you want to be a Disciple, then become one. You could be good at that, if that's what you really want."

He sighs. "It's... not true, actually. There are people who care for me in the Ascendancy, but I disobeyed a direct order from my senior captain, which led to both myself and another of my kind being taken hostage. He's ... dead, now, and going back is a risk. I may be dishonorably dismissed from the Defense Force entirely, or honored. I don't know. It's a risk I'm willing to take."

"Please don't go. I wasn't trying to offend. You're not riffraff. Don't say that about yourself."

Zetha Rumir has posed:
"Why? Why are you concerned for me? Why is everyone so concerned for me. I'm NOTHING." Zetha says this, turning back to him with tears forming in those purple eyes. "I lied to Wiis, okay? I lied to her, and then she tried to sell the stupid cortosis anyway and when I went back she said she had sold it and...I don't know... I snapped. I snapped and she got more mad and Cayde was there and now everything is falling apart and it's all my fault..." There's a breath taken then before she shakes her head.

When he begins to speak on how he could actually -not- be welcomed back as openly as he made it seem before she sniffles, wipes at her eyes and then tilts her head at him. "You're a better person than I if you're willing to do that in the face of certain demise. I can't even go tell Wiis I'm sorry..." Which, somehow, some way, actually makes Zetha laugh. It's not a happy laugh though.

Then she looks at Thaarin. Really looks at him. Which perhaps makes her take an even longer pause and she sighs. "I'm sorry. I'm really out of my mind right now. And that place scares me. I've never been there before...but...if you think it'd be okay. I trust you." And she holds out her hand to him again. "Let's try again?"

Athena (159) has posed:
"Because you're a person?" Thaarin says, as if its something everyone should know and agree upon. "You should be treated like one. And people lie, make mistakes, cheat, and break promises, that's just what being mortal entails. You're not worse than anyone else, and anyone who says they are better and don't do any of those things is ironically, lying and therefore categorically among those they say they aren't among."

He hugs her. "And that's fine. Maybe one day you will be ready to. She owes you an apology too, anyway." When he releases her, he motions for her to follow him inside the grav-ball club. "I'm not even supposed to technically be allowed in there either, but Xera has some special privileges which she's extended to me. And now I'll extend them to you."

Zetha Rumir has posed:
"You never know. I could really be some immortal being from the planet Deku who's just inhabiting a Twi'lek body..." Zetha says this, trying to joke. Or is she? There's actually a grin on her lips at this point and then she sighs. But it's one of those, letting everything sort of go sighs that relaxes the mind. "I've not really met someone who has said they don't lie...I have met some people who seem to -think- they're better than anyone else..." She offers, and then she's being hugged.

The hug is returned and once he releases her, she begins to follow him. "Remind me who Xera is? I feel like I've met so many people recently I can only keep a few of them in mind." Actually she may not have met Xera. Or she may have. Who knows. "Is it also work that's been causing you to run away and be late for dates?"

Athena (159) has posed:
He smile faintly at her jokes. "She's the colony's coin purse," Thaarin says, "very well networked, but not exactly reputable among the colonists," he says. "and well, yes and no." He doesn't offer more on that.

As soon as they go inside, Thaarin practically gets mobbed. Everyone seems to know and love him. Not just the girls. Boys, children, old men, old women...

Whoever had said he was a hot item on the town wasn't kidding. He doesn't act overwhelmed, but he doesn't leave her side, either. She might feel small anyway, though. Everyone here looks so rich...

Zetha Rumir has posed:
It was implied that Thaarin was a hot item indeed, but until this very moment Zetha had no idea what that really entailed. When he explains about era, before hand, there had been a nod. Maybe. Then there's just people. A mob of people. Zetha may actually cling a little closer to Thaarin in the moment.

Of course, the presence of 'rich' doesn't escape her either. She feels like she's very out of place and is going to stick out like a sore thumb. Oh Thaarin. What have you gotten poor Zetha into?

Athena (159) has posed:
At some point, he whispers to her. "I'm so sorry about this..."

They eventually make their way to the bar and the bartender there greets him heartily and takes both their orders for drinks and food. Thaarin turns to her after, and is about to say something when that beautiful auburn haired woman she'd seen him with before appears. She says something about needing to talk to him about 'colony matters' urgently, before giving Zetha a disdainful look.

"I hate to do this," he says, "but I can't tell her off. She almost got Navi and Cayde sent all the way back to Coruscant that one time she wasn't happy. If the marauder hadn't showed up with the prime murder suspect in hand...." he trails off. "It's not going to be more than five minutes," he promises. He kisses her hand and then slips away. Again.

Zetha Rumir has posed:
"It's..it's fine.." Zetha replies trying to seem wholly not like she feels out of place completely.

When they get to the bar, she orders something fruity to drink and random to eat. Perhaps even mimicking his own food order. Then that woman shows up and it's not the fact that she's telling Thaarin she needs to talk to him. It's the look that she gives Zetha that makes the Twi'lek sink in her chair a little more.

"It's fine. Go. I'll be here." And she will be. Staring off behind the bar at the wall that's likely full of random bottles of colorful liquids. She moves her backpack from her back to her front, setting it down between her legs but keeping hold of it with one hand at least.

Athena (159) has posed:
As soon as Thaarin leaves, a cloaked stranger wearing a hood and a glossy black helmet slides into the stool, taking his place.

His armor gleams in that way - is that beskar? But she hadn't seen him at the spaceport that one day.

It takes him a moment to notice her, but after a moment he says, "Well hello there. What's a pair of beautiful lonely eyes like yours doing staring into space whilst you sit alone?"

Zetha Rumir has posed:
Zetha's grip on her backpack tightens with instinct and she doesn't stop staring into space even though she's noticed this one out of her periphreal. "Waiting on my friend to come back. He had to take care of some business." It wasn't a lie. She just isn't wholly sure Thaarin is coming back. Not with the way that woman looked at her. Such disdain. And for why? "..You're actually in his seat..."

Athena (159) has posed:
"Some business? While out with someone like -you-? Why I can hardly believe that. He must think you like wasting time."

"I, however, on the other hand..." he chuckles softly. "Only if he's coming back. Is ... he?" He leans towards her and then suddenly backs off. "Im sorry if I'm being too forward. It's just that I couldn't help but notice that we're not like anyone else in this wretched establishment. I know what that feels like. To be an outcast."

Zetha Rumir has posed:
"Uhm. Y-yes?" Zetha stammers and then takes a slow breath before realizing the man is leaning in some. That hood makes it hard to see any details but just as quick as he's leaned in, he's settling back again.

"Oh that..heh..that's fine. I just..." She finally shifts her gaze to look around the room a moment, perhaps trying to find Thaarin if she could even make him out amongst the crowd. "I mean...it's not too bad really. This place. Though...this is my first time here to be honest and...well I know I don't look the part at all." There's a feeling that she might need to bail on Thaarin if he's not back soon.

Athena (159) has posed:
"You don't sound sure."

He laughs then. "Oh please. No need to try to fool me. Or yourself. Look at these people! They're spending credits as if the galaxy is ending tomorrow, and on what? Cheap wine? Front row seats to a grav ball game ninety nine percent of the galaxy doesn't care about? They haven't noticed you. They haven't noticed me. And they won't. They don't care to. You don't need to like these people, or be like them. They couldn't care less about you. Just like your 'friend,' who's most -certainly- coming back."

"By the way, you're worth noticing. These people are all just self absorbed pricks." He stands. "We should leave them to their hedonism, don't you think? Come with me. I'll hold a mirror up to you, yes?" He extends a hand towards her.

Zetha Rumir has posed:
There's a moment where Zetha would defend Thaarin. But he's left her in the lurch a couple times already. And then tonight...couldn't tell someone else to wait. He had shown up, but just as soon he leaves her. Then again, if she disappeared, he might worry where she'd gone. And this hooded man. Well...

The grip on her backpack tightens until her blue skin turns white at the knuckles. "...I don't even know your name..." She offers, as if this would buy time. Even another minute. Another moment for Thaarin to appear. If he doesn't, she might just go...

Athena (159) has posed:
Well, granted, it's been four minutes. That could be too long in Zetha's mind, or too short.

The stranger is taking her wrist gently tugging,. "You can call me Jasper," he says. "Wouldn't you like to see how the moons look from above the clouds?" he says. "I'll even show you my face. We don't, normally, but for you my lady, I can make an exception."

Zetha Rumir has posed:
"A space pirate what's come to take me away..." Zetha mutters and then looks down at the hand holding her wrist. She knows the look of that armor. Jorn had been wearing the same. "You're a mandalorian..." She whispers and then looks up at the hooded figure's...hood. Her gaze scans the crowd looking. A split second longer to make a choice between the stars and Thaarin.

Force save her.

"Alright. Let's go." This said as she picks up her backpack and slings it over a shoulder.

Athena (159) has posed:
"A space pirate? Please. I have more honor than that," he says.

When she acquieses, he smiles beneath his beskar. "Indeed," he says. "There's little I can't protect you from, my love," he says.

He takes her hand after she slings it over her shoulder, and leads her outside to the top of a hill. "Are you ready?" he asks.

Zetha Rumir has posed:
Zetha forces a chuckle. "Oh it's...an old inside joke..." She explains about the space pirate comment. Then he's got her by the hand, leading her out and to the top of a hill. "Is this where I find out this was a really bad idea and you're just going to push me down the hill hoping I break my neck?" Asking this even as she does take one moment to glance back.

Kriff it.

"I am."

Athena (159) has posed:
Zetha will glance back, but it's just way too crowded in here to even see a foot past her own face. If Thaarin is back, she'd never be able to tell. Soon, they're on a hill in a wooded grove. It's private, and the way the stars and moon shine through the leaves is... romantic.

He chuckles softly. "I see."

"Of course not," he says softly, "In fact--" He lifts off his hood. The black, glossy beskar is very pretty in the moonlight. He starts to lift the helmet off and lean towards her, his right hand going behind her neck.

He's going to kiss her, if she lets him.

Zetha Rumir has posed:
There's so much that could happen in this moment. Jasper could wind up stabbing her in the back - though that doesn't seem the Mando way. Thaarin could find her missing and go looking for her. That'd be interesting. What is actually happening, is there is a man in beskar with his helmet off leaning in to kiss Zetha. The Twi'lek who has gone through the ringer multiple times in as many days and is ready to just throw everything to the wind.

The hand on the back of her neck is felt and she watches as he leans in. Tightens whatever hold she might have either on his arm or on her own backpack strap. The kiss? It's accepted.

Athena (159) has posed:
Perhaps she's been kissed before, perhaps this is a first. Either way, it will feel ... good. He's a good kisser (best she doesn't think about that too much. However, if this is a first...)

But before she can think too much about anything, she'll suddenly hear someone calling her name.

"Zetha? Zetha!"

It's Thaarin.

And then suddenly, it's all over, and she may be left with a horrible horrible feeling in her gut, as she sees Thaarin standing there, in between the trees, the slightest hint of anger coming over his expression for the briefest second. And Jasper? He's gone. Gone with the wind. Quick as he'd come, he'd left.

She'd gone back on her word, again. She'd told Thaarin she'd be there, waiting, but she hadn't. Instead...

Zetha Rumir has posed:
Unfortunately or not - it is Zetha's first kiss. Though it doesn't seem to last long enough to really enjoy it as hearing her name draws her attention. Then suddenly Jasper is gone and replaced by the looming form of Thaarin. Her heart and stomach do that flip flop thing they seem to love doing lately. Course, it's brief, as she sees that anger in Thaarin's gaze as he stands there.

"Hey. You found me." No, it's not said in a joking form. It's just stated. Like fact. Cause it is a fact. He did find her. But man is this likely going to cause problems real soon.

"You look upset..."

Athena (159) has posed:
"I...was ten seconds late."

His mildly angry look dissolves into one of complete remorse. "I'm so sorry, Zetha. I shouldn't have left you. I shouldn't have rescheduled our meeting earlier. I should have paid more attention to you, when you needed emotional support the most. I've wasted your time, and I shouldn't have. I hope you'll forgive me, but if you'd prefer to walk home without me, I... completely understand. I've been a selfish, inattentive narcissist towards you, and you don't deserve that." He kisses her cheek briefly, and then turns to leave.

Zetha Rumir has posed:
Zetha is baffled. Thaarin just apologized for all the things that were running through her head of why he doesn't have the right to be upset with her. Though as he turns to leave, she takes a step forward. "Thaarin. Wait!" And she'll even try to step further towards him to gently grab his arm. "You say these things like there's been something between us... and I..." She pauses. Trying to find the words to say. "I have to make sure that this isn't just because Wiis said nice things or..." There's a lot of assumption there, Zetha. "You're wrong. Sort of. I should have waited. If you haven't noticed, I tend to be a bit impulsive and I'm sorry for that. I'm young and I'm careless but that's because I normally figure I don't have anything going for me but then you come along and you make me think like maybe I am worth something. But then your friend looks at me like I'm nothing but bantha fodder, and I've broken so many promises and I've lied and I..." She finally releases the hold she may or may not have had on his arm and takes a step back. "I'm sorry. I'll...I'll let you go..."

Athena (159) has posed:
"I'm not," Thaarin says, "I've never been more certain about being right, Zetha. I'm not the person you want, or the person you need, right now. Nor am I certain about anything when it comes to you," he says softly.

"You're going to find someone who will validate and support you in all the ways you need, I'm sure. And Wiis will like them too, and she'll forgive you, because I'm going to talk to her for you, it's very least I can do after all the wrongs I've committed against you. Please. I want whatever's best for you, and currently, it's not me." He averts his gaze, and then offers her a faint smile. Somehow it feels a little forced. "Goodnight, Zetha. Maybe at a different time, in a different place, under better circumstances, I could have loved you." And then he's gone. He's disappeared into the thronging crowd in the club.

Zetha should probably go back to the convent. Because if she doesn't start moving now, she'll find herself elbowed by some apparently mindless club goer.

Zetha Rumir has posed:
Not certain about anything that comes to her. Well that's a blow. Which is only further enforced by the elbow that connects to her stomach just as she turns to leave. She winces, but it doesn't stop her. It might just slow her down a little. But she can see Thaarin leaving and something inside her just boils over. "Are you kidding me right now!?" She calls after him, and then she follows him. "How can you say that? How can you do this? And if all of that is true, every little bit of it, then what about me ISN'T worth fighting for? Huh? You think you can waltz in and become my savior and then walk out just like that?" She pauses and then scoffs. "You know what you are? It's not narcissm. It's not strength. It's not even pride. You're a coward."

She's too far into it now. Too much of being kicked out, told she's not good enough, not doing anything with her life, not settling down and being the best she can be. "You can forget it. You don't have to talk to Wiis. Cause I won't even be around by tomorrow when you get to go talking to her. I'm done. With all of this." She grits her teeth and then just stops in her walking. "People say they care but then all I ever see are their backs turning against me. Soon there won't be a me to turn a back to anymore." And then she turns. Not towards the convent or the junkyard. Not towards the colony or the club. She'll go into the forest. Become a meal for something. "...could have loved me...you had to have been capable of love to begin with you bantha fodding nerf herder.." Muttered as she goes in that general direction.

Athena (159) has posed:
When the apparently unintentional elbow meets her flesh, a human girl with a bun tied up tightly, carrying a drink, spills it on her. She smirks. "Oops..." she whispers, but it will no longer seem like an accident anymore.

Thaarin doesn't say anything when she starts insulting him, he's just wearing that unreadable look on his face. She won't be able to tell if he's insulted, relieved, or enraged. Damn his passiveness. He keeps walking, not saying anything.

But when it becomes clear she's not heading back towards the convent, he immediately goes to stand directly in front of her. "I never said that," he says with infuriating calm. "This isn't about your worth, or value. It's about the fact that we are incompatible right now. I cannot give you time. I cannot provide the love, support, intimacy and validation you desire. I cannot help guide you towards healing. I have to take care of Cayde. I have to be available for Navi. They were thrust unfairly into a leadership role they were neither ready for or explicitly wanted without Rykard as a guiding hand of leadership. I owe them, for I am alive today, because of them. I made a vow, once we'd returned to Tenoo, that I'd be indebted to them until it was clear they didn't need me anymore. And above all of that I cannot stand by while the Republic's colony is railroaded for disaster without a course correction."

His expression softens. "You deserve all of those things, Zetha. Attention, intentionality, emotional support, physically closeness. You deserve to be embraced daily, constantly, and reminded that you're someone's someone over and over again without you ever having to doubt it or wonder if they're going to tell you that the dinner planned for tonight has to happen tomorrow. You shouldn't be starved of those things, and I won't actively help you destroy yourself by attaching yourself to someone like me who can, at best on any given day, give you fifty percent of my attention and time."

"Now, you're going to go back to the convent, and I'm going to watch you walk through those doors. Do you understand?"

Zetha Rumir has posed:
Force be damned. Why does that hurt worse than anything else? Zetha listens, forcing her face to remain stoic while he talks. Isn't that what a relationship is? Giving and getting? Taking and receiving? Finally, she swallows back the lump in her throat and then takes a breath. "On one condition." She begins. "You don't go talk to Wiis. And I mean it, Thaarin. That's not your battle to fight, nor your relationship to save. It's mine. No one should fight that for me. I need to be the one to go talk to Wiis, and I will, when I know what I'm going to say and ready to take it if she still has it on her mind to not welcome me back." This is said all while whatever drink that human girl was drinking soaks into her clothes. She doesn't care. Not now.

"Also. Understand this. I never asked you for all of your time. I never expected it either. But I understand what you're saying and I respect it." Doesn't mean she has to like it, but there it is. "So. You don't talk to Wiis for me, I'll go back to the convent. Deal?"

Athena (159) has posed:
"No," he says, "I'm still going to talk to her. You don't get to dictate what I will or won't do for your sake. I don't care if you don't like it, Zetha. I'm going to fight to do what's right for you, even if it hurts like hell for the both of us."

"You never asked for it, but you needed it. You want it, even if you can't admit you do. If you didn't, you wouldn't have found an attractively mysterious stranger and let him kiss you after five minutes."

Zetha Rumir has posed:
Zetha sighs. "But it's not your fight, Thaarin. It really isn't. What is it going to look like that everyone on Tenoo we've interacted with are the ones who are walking back into the junkyard -except- me?" She puts it that way then. "If you really want to talk to her...I can't stop you. I won't even try. But she's probably not going to like it and think I'm sending everyone to her because I won't face her myself."

That last bit has Zetha giving a squeak and looking to the ground. "I don't even know what that was. He said all the right things that my brain wanted to hear...but I...I honestly didn't expect him to kiss me. For goodness sakes that is NOT how I pictured my first kiss to be like. But I can't take it back. And you're right. To be honest I really wish it had been you standing in that spot instead of him."

Athena (159) has posed:
"Then you're not understanding the concept of loyalty, and the importance of keeping one's word, whether it be private or public. It doesn't have to be my fight. The vow I made when I landed on Tenoo included doing right by everyone the Jedi wanted me to do right by. Wiis is one of those people. You are one of those people. And she told you stay away, so you are. She can't blame you for doing exactly what she asked you to do, and I'm going to make that -very- known to her. She doesn't have to like it. She'll listen to me, or she'll have herself to blame for alienating the only family she has left on this planet."

His brows furrow, and he sighs. "You see my point then. For five minutes, he gave you everything I failed to give you. Undivided attention, validation, physical intimacy on the level that you wanted. So you caved."

"It's getting late. You should get back to the convent. Soon." He glances at her briefly, and then looks in that direction, his crimson gaze piercing.

Zetha Rumir has posed:
Zetha feels so very small in the moment and all she can do is nod. Point taken. So she shifts and begins walking towards the convent. She doesn't say anything else, and in truth, there's nothing left in her to give. At this point, she'll stay low. What Thaarin says about seeing his point breaks her heart, but she won't show it. She's screwed up everything so she really has no one but herself to blame. Hopefully the walk to the convent is quick, and she'll simply keep walking until she's through the doors. Not stopping to say good bye or even good night. Wishing there was a door to shut and lock so she could just keep the world outside for a little while.

Athena (159) has posed:
Thaarin doesn't even say goodnight either. He keeps his distance, making sure she gets to the convent, and is through the doors. Then he's gone.

And when she gets back to 'Crane's' room, she'll find the room arranged similar to how it had been arranged the night before, with a few extra perks. Pillows fluffed, bed made, hot tea in a pot on a coaster. A robe hanging on the hooks on the wall. The holobook she'd been reading yesterday, on the hovertable next to the hammock. And the fish? Fed.

Zetha Rumir has posed:
Zetha looks around the room. 'Crane' is being too good to her. She doesn't want fluffed pillows and bedside tea. She wants her lousy mattress on the floor, her hammock in the junkyard. She doesn't want her holoreader all ready for her to cozy up with. She wants to hear Twozee on the bend again, needing her to tighten a few bolts and screws. She wants Wiis and her irritating wisdom grouching at her to do better. Learn something. Be somebody.

So she grabs a pillow and throws it into a corner, setting her backpack down beside an adjacent wall nearby. The lights get turned off and she shifts to lay down on the floor, in the corner, curled up into a ball. And she silently cries herself to sleep.