A promised piece (day 10 Mid Evening Three drinks Closed))

[Zanebry Varliss]

It was hard being on his ship, especially the common room. Mere hours ago he had spent time with O'nera here, Cleaning her up as well as he could, and wrapping her in sheets. The blood was long gone, though he swore he could still smell it on the air, feel it on his fingers. It was more then a little disturbing.

Still he had made a promise, a private show for Yslane, and he intended to honor it. So Zan sat on his couch tuning his guitar and waiting for her arrival. She should be here any minute, hopefully.

[Yslane Tssilla]

Zane's alert panel lit up, letting him know the Jedi had arrived.

Yslane wore when of her casual outfits for this...her lightsaber was stashed away as always. She looked exhausted, physically and emotionally from all the events of this week...especially those of yesterday and today.

[Zanebry Varliss]

"Hey good looking." He greeted her as he opened the door, her appearance encouraging him to try and add some levity to the situation.

"Come on in." He offered a moment later, his smile warm. This was no time for him to be wallowing in his guilt. Not after he had a look at her.

[Yslane Tssilla]

"Hello Zane," Yslane smiled, "I'm glad you made it back."

Then a frown mars her features, "...thank you for bringing back O'nera."

[Zanebry Varliss]

"A man needs to keep his promises." The man in black replied as he reached out to take Yslane's hand and lead her inside.

"That was the least I could do. She died doing what I asked of her after all" He smiled slightly. "My only wish was I got to know Hood Girl a bit better."

[Yslane Tssilla]

"I wished much the same....all the Order is my only real family." Zane was probably surprised as Yslane seemed to refuse his hand, stepping into the ship to fully embrace him. She held him like that for a moment, before finally letting go. Her hand wiped some tears from her eyes, "It's selfish of me...but...." She walked past him and sat down. "Your alive....that means a lot to me....in ways it shouldn't."

[Zanebry Varliss]

It was a surprise, but he returned the hug, not really wanting to let go as she parted. He'd close the door and follow her inside taking a seat on the couch beside her. He sat there in silence for a moment before replying. "I know... I've felt this starting to build between us and I should of stepped away..." He looked towards her his eyes seeking hers. "I couldn't though... What I wanted got the better of me."

"What should we do about it?"

[Yslane Tssilla]

"..." Yslane delayed by looking around the spaceship. "We're are both weak and vulnerable. Tired from all this. I can't keep my emotions in check today, all the carnage outside....so pointless."

She finally settled her eyes on him then took out her lightsaber and placed it on the table, "Tomorrow I'll be a Jedi Yslane Tssilla....who can't love you. Tonight I just want to be Yslane and let the night play out free of that burden."

[Zanebry Varliss]

He nodded, for the moment not feeling the need for words, instead leaning in his hand coming up to her neck, his thumb caressing her cheek, before their lips met. The kiss lingered and held none of the reservations he had before.

As he broke away, he offered her a small smile. "Alright Yslane, we'll see where things go." He reached over to grasp the guitar he had left leaning nearby. "For the moment though, I believe I promised you music."

[Yslane Tssilla]

There was hesitation, though it was now as their lips parted. She watched him step back, "...yes." Her smile returned, "I....don't see a piano though."

[Zanebry Varliss]

"It's this tonight." He replied as he showed her the guitar he held in his hands. "Sadly I can't fit a piano of my ship."

"I hope you don't mind?" He asked before settling into a seat beside her once again.

[Yslane Tssilla]

Yslane laid her head on his shoulder. "It's fine...in truth the company is more valuable than the playing right now." She pulled her feet up and just let herself relax...

[Zanebry Varliss]

He closed his eyes for a few moments, enjoying the feeling of her body against his, before leaning into her for a short while, his head resting against hers.

Eventually he would straighten though, letting a soft sigh escape his lips, before setting his fingers to the strings. It wasn't a song he played, at least not one he knew. He just went with the flow, letting his emotions guide the music. It touched on sadness, anger, and pain, as well as several lighter things. Happiness, courage, and love, all of the various emotions he had felt over the last several days.

[Yslane Tssilla]

Yslane didn't move much as he played, her eyes remained closed and her breathing slowed. It almost seems like she had fallen asleep. Until at last she spoke, "What is the name of the song?"

[Zanebry Varliss]

"Hmm?" He was so absorbed in his playing he had only half heard her question, but he managed to put it together as he let the tempo slow.

"It doesn't really have one honestly." His lips curled into a half smile. "You can say it's just pieces of me I suppose. What I've thought, what I've felt over the last week."

[Yslane Tssilla]

Yslane smiled, "It's beautiful." She felt calm, calmer than she had been. Not since the Jedi dinner and the vision had she felt so relieved. Her mind floated free as the music filled the room.

[Zanebry Varliss]

"You're beautiful." He replied simply. "And I don't just mean your looks." His gloveless fingers continued to move across the strings. "Still I'm glad you like it, music means a lot to me. I think It heals me, at least a little bit."

[Yslane Tssilla]

"Did you play before leaving the Republic?" Yslane asked then paused...."Matthias died in the explosion." She let the comment linger, the only concession to the outside she would make tonight.

[Zanebry Varliss]

"I learned piano because mother insisted, the guitar I picked up after a couple years in the military. It lent a little color to our lives." His fingers left the strings for a moment to lend a few percussive taps to the song.

"This was a gift from Tae." At the mention of Matthias the music stopped for a moment before picking back up. "Dead, huh? That's far too easy a way out for him."

[Yslane Tssilla]

Yslane kissed his cheek, "I thought you should know.... one less shard tearing at you." She rested her head again. "Tae?"

[Zanebry Varliss]

He let the music slowly come to a halt, turning his head to kiss her lips before speaking. "Tae, short for Taewrrhirr, I spent my last year, with Noth and he, behind enemy lines. We all became quite close."

Setting the guitar to the side, he shifted and slowly pulled for his sheathed vibro knife. "This is the last thing Noth left me." There waa a faint smile on his lips as he said it. "I've got a few other things as well, but these are the two I most often carry with me."

[Yslane Tssilla]

Yslane eyed both items, "It's good you remember them. There is no death, Only the Force." She said quietly. "But I can't imagine anyone wishing to be an old wound for a friend."

"Are you at peace with the loss?"

[Zanebry Varliss]

"Probably not." He replied honestly. "But, I'll have to be now, with Matthias gone there is nothing more I can do for them."

"I suppose my biggest regret in all of this, is I was never able to bring them home."

[Yslane Tssilla]

Yslane was silent for a long moment. "Zane..." She shifted to look him in the eyes. "They would not want to cause you continued pain. Never forget them and learn from the experience. The best way to honor their memory is to keep moving forward."

[Zanebry Varliss]

"I know Yslane." He offered softly, a hand reaching up to cup her cheek, his eyes not leaving hers.

"And moving forward is what I plan to do..... It's just hard... it feels as if I'm leaving them behind again...." He blinked and looked away, a tear rolling down his cheek.