The Start of Something Bad

The Start of Something Bad
Date of Scene:	21 January 2025
Location:
Synopsis:	Cayde and Mal share a forbidden romantic connection.
Cast of Characters:	159, Cayde Alexis

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Athena (159) has posed:
It's evening at the colony site, and Cayde might be in the middle of heading back to his quarters when he notices that there's some tracks leading away from the colony site and into the woods at the bottom of the ridge.

But who would have wandered away from the site, at such an hour, and alone...?

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Cayde actually isn't heading back to his quarters. In fact, quite the opposite. He hasn't been able to sleep tonight, so he'd decided to take a walk.

    The padawan notices the tracks leading away into the woods but doesn't think much of them. Sure, maybe he isn't the only one who needed some air. It wouldn't come as a surprise. He starts heading toward a small clearing just outside the settlement.

Athena (159) has posed:
He may or may not notice that the tracks run adjacent to where he's heading, and once he arrives in the small clearly just outside the settlement, he'll find a lost and discombobulated Mal staring at all the trees around her. She looks anxious and scared.

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Cayde sits down on some rocks near the edge of the clearing, and that's when he spots the Dathomirian girl. He wonders if she remembers him this time, as he tries to reach out to her mind and calm her fears. <...Mal>

Athena (159) has posed:
She whirls, eyes wide, startled.

She tilts her head to one side, and studies Cayde, as if trying to determine whether she knows him or not. But after a few moments, her eyes light up as she seems to recognize him.

<Cayde!> She runs to him, tackling him in a bear hug. <Thank goodness you're here....>

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Oh, well that was progress. She hadn't remembered him before. <You remember me> he remarks, patting her on the back as she tackle-hugs him and he tries to maintain his balance.

Athena (159) has posed:
<Yes!> she says. <I've been working with the doctor, and he's helped me to remember more these days> she says.

She doesn't let go of him, instead, gives him doe eyes. <What are you doing out here?>

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Cayde sighs and shrugs. <Nothing> he replies. <Can't sleep...> He starts to gently move away from her, hopefully she'll get the hint that she should let go of him now...

Athena (159) has posed:
She doesn't get the hint, and still clings to him. <Me too> she says hastily. <me too>

<So what are you going to do, then?>

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    He finally just pushes her off of himself and flops down into the grass, staring up at the sky. <I don't know> he admits.

Athena (159) has posed:
She giggles and crawls over to him, lying down in the grass next to him.

<Let's go exploring> she says. <I can teleport, remember?>

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Cayde sighs, shaking his head. <No...> People keep reprimanding him for straying too far. She might be able to sense that he isn't exactly in high spirits, and that's why he couldn't sleep. <I'm going away...for a while>

Athena (159) has posed:
Her expression falls immediately <Oh>

<Why> she says, sitting up. <You're sad. What's wrong? You don't want to go wherever it is you're going?>

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    <No I want to go> Cayde answers.

    <Nothing...I'm okay...I'm not sad> he insists. She shouldn't worry about his problems, after all she has enough of her own.

Athena (159) has posed:
<Then what is it> she says, her expression softening and becoming sad. She reaches over and starts toying with his padawan braid.

<you know that I know when you're lying> she says. <I'm likely going to forget later anyway, so you might as well tell me>

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    He turns onto his side, facing her and propping his head up on a hand. But then he shakes his head again. It would only burden her unnecessarily. And besides that...<I don't know how...>

Athena (159) has posed:
She laughs. <it's okay> she says, touching the tip of his nose playfully.

<You can just show me. And it won't bother me, I'll forget, remember?> she sounds sad. <It's why no one will tell me anything, anymore. Because I always forget> She flops down in the grass again, fiddling with a blade of grass idly.

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    <You will be better soon> Cayde encourages her, patting her on the arm. He doesn't agree that it won't bother her just because she won't remember later. She definitely doesn't need his burdens. Not now, anyway.

    He sits up again, drawing his knees up against his chest and resting his chin on top of them. He looks so...forlorn.

Athena (159) has posed:
But him not telling her seems to distress her even more. <Tell me> she says, shaking his arm.

Tears start to form in her eyes. <You look so sad...please... the doctor says it isn't good for you to not tell people when you're sad...>

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Cayde stares at her as her eyes well up with tears. Suddenly, he puts his hand behind her head and pushes her toward himself gently until their lips touch and he kisses her lightly.

    Then he stands up, smoothing out his robes uncomfortably. <...I should go>

Athena (159) has posed:
Mal doesn't say anything for a moment. She seems rather confused when he kisses her briefly, but that quickly dissolves into elation.

But then she gets up, reaching for his wrist. <No, don't go yet> she says, giving him a doe eyed look again.

Then she suddenly leans forward and kisses him, and not just briefly...

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Somehow though, Cayde finds himself not resisting her. Not -wanting- to, either. He really shouldn't have let this happen, but it feels so -good-.

    Oh, kriff....what has he gotten himself into?

    His face flushes hot, and he eventually pulls away from her, suddenly feeling incredibly guilty and uncomfortable. <I have to go...> Then he quickly turns around and starts hurrying back toward the settlement. However, before he reaches it, he begins to feel extremely dizzy and nauseous and ends up passed out in a pile of leaves.

Athena (159) has posed:
After a second or so, Cayde will find them floating a few feet off the ground, the young Dathomirian girl's arms around his neck as she continues kissing him.

But then suddenly he pulls away, and they both tumble to the ground.

Mal seems upset and confused. "Wait!" she calls after him as he runs off. She follows him, but then finds him collapsed on the ground in a pile of leaves...