Color Coded (Day 9 Early Evening The Root)

[Aphr Ahaya]

"Very good" Aphr nodded "I've worked with many Sith before, and only one stands out as a bad example. The rest have been welcome company, and far less judgemental of me than I expected."

[Zanebry Varliss]

"Which is why they're dangerous." Zane said seriously. "Most hide who they are under a veil of civility. Jo'ren Rath for example. Do you know he offered to rip my spine out, because I got in his way during a conversation?"

"Im not saying they are bad people, but they all have within them a lust for power that lets little stand in their way."

[Aphr Ahaya]

"And the Jedi, whose masters see no issue with drugging, are innocent in all actions?" Aphr frowned "I'm under no false pretense that the Sith are all as good and nice as they appear, but you shouldn't believe that all Jedi are as they appear either. Neither side is truly honest, and both are as troublesome as each other. These peace talks are a good example of the damage they do."

[Zanebry Varliss]

"I'm not." He offered softly. "Also you are right, there are plenty of examples of the wrong the jedi have done here, no one is a saint in this." He paused for a moment. "Also I mean no disrespect to your friends, I'm sure they are generally fine people?"

"Have you seen the Empire though? I have. It's a Utopia almost, at least if you're human or sith. Most of the rest of the species are slaves." He took a sip of his wine. "Even then, the normal civilians are never safe. I've seen a sith kill a man, merely because the man objected to the fact the sith cut in line."

"That's not to mention the blood operas, where slaves go to die, for the simple sake of entertainment. Perhaps we should mention the private sanctum of some of the sith, where you realize the dark stains in the chalice are the blood on sentients"

He sighed softly. "I'm sorry Aphr, I shouldn't be trying to influence your decision. I just want you to know what you might be getting in to."

[Aphr Ahaya]

Aphr shook her head, taking both of Zanes hands in hers as she looks to his eyes. "I'm facing a Crime boss with Galen in a few hours. I don't want to spend what might be the last moments with you arguing over Jedi and Sith. Let's enjoy the upcoming food and then dancing instead."

[Zanebry Varliss]

"Alright, I just wanted you to know if you go down that path, you might end up tasting the blood of someone you could of talked to." With that he let the conversation drop. A large portion of him knew that she was already lost. Doing all the wrong things for all the right reasons, this might be the last night the could truly be called friends. After all she already avoided any advice from him.


He let the silence lie between them until their meal arrived. Upon which he offered her a smile. "It looks good doesn't it."

[Aphr Ahaya]

She sighed, looking down at the food. His silence said more than any words. Everyone had placed so much weight on her choice, it felt like it was only the choice that mattered, not who she was.

Just focus on having fun she told herself, pushing the the feeling of crying away and looking at the food. "Yeah it does" she said quietly, nodding and beginning to eat.

[Zanebry Varliss]

There was a short silence as they began to eat, though he spoke up a moment later. "I'm sorry Aphr if I'm putting pressure on you, I didn't mean to. I'm just worried, I care for you after all."

He sighed and shook his head. "That's not what this day is about though. It's to teach you a bit about dating." He lifted his glass and sought her eyes. "Here's to you Aphr, my adorable little hat thief."

[Aphr Ahaya]

Aphr shook her head. "You're not. I just...I hate that since this Force stuff happened, nobody see's Aphr anymore. They see Jedi Aphr, or Sith Aphr, and what she will do. It's like since I discovered my Force sensitivity, I stopped being a person and just became another Force user."

She looked up from her food, and he could see a few tears in her eyes. She didn't raise her glass.

"Am I no longer the girl you care about because I'm a Force user?"

[Zanebry Varliss]

He set his glass back down, rising to his feet and rounding the table he crouched beside her, reaching a hand up to cradle her cheek. "It's not that I don't care about you Aphr, I always will, force powers or not." He looked down for a moment thoughtfully, trying to think of how best to say what he wanted to.

"It's just you have changed aphr, even if you haven't noticed it. You talk of strength, you keep things from me, hell I didn't even know you were force sensitive until two days ago. It's felt like you have been trying to keep me at a distance, at least a little bit."

He looked up into her eyes once again. "I've said it once, and I'll say it again, you can always rely on me if you need me Aphr, I might not be around but I'll always come to help if you call. There's not a single other person in the galaxy I'll let wear my hate after all, and that hasn't changed either."

[Aphr Ahaya]

"But I'm not!" She said, a few tears finally escaping "I haven't talked about the Force with you because you don't like it. I haven't avoided you...i've been busy. Yes I talk of strength, but that's because I nearly died after being weak. I just want to be able to look out for my friends, and be more than just a voice. More than just a smile. What's wrong with that?" she buried her head into his neck, hugging him and starting to cry.

[Zanebry Varliss]

There was more he wanted to say, to ask. That wasn't in the cards though, Z gently enfolded the twi'lek girl in his arms in an attempt to comfort her. "Hush now, it will be alright. You're right, there is nothing wrong with wanting to protect your friends. I just don't want you to end up like me. You won't though will you? You're stronger then that."

[Aphr Ahaya]

"Like you? But you're amazing..." Aphr said, squeezing Zane gently "you're so lovely."

[Zanebry Varliss]

"Perhaps on the surface." He replied softly. "I'm a complete mess underneath." He paused thoughtfully before adding. "I've killed a lot of people Aphr, for my friends, my family, the Republic. With no hesitation and very few regrets.... It breaks off bits and pieces of you."

[Aphr Ahaya]

"You don't show it though" Aphr moved back slightly, to see Zanes face "you are an amazing, lovely man. A kind man, a caring man. I see the good in you, the gentleness in your heart. Even if you only see the worst in you, never forget that others can see the beauty in you."

[Zanebry Varliss]

"I'll try." He replied with a smile, before leaning forward to kiss Aphr on the cheek. "Thanks Babe." He released her from the hug, an offered her another smile.

"We should eat before it gets cold."

[Aphr Ahaya]

Her smile was a little more shy, but she nodded and turned to the food. Eating it but not as sadly as she seemed before. She watched Zane, adding "ah...you were toasting something before I got all emotional, right?"

[Zanebry Varliss]

Zane returned his seat, watching her eat. As she pointed out the toast her gently smiled. "Aye, the beautiful young woman across from me." He raised his glass in her direction. "May your future shine as bright as the stars my dear."

[Aphr Ahaya]

Aphr smiled a little more at that, and she raised her glass. "And to the charming man across from me who makes me smile" she brought her glass over to chink with his before sipping.

[Zanebry Varliss]

Zane smirked and took a sip from his own glass before sitting it back on the table and beginning to eat. ".... I forget what we were doing." He offered after a moment, perhaps a little teasing in his tone.

[Aphr Ahaya]

"Well, we were eating and drinking, then after this dancing" Aphr said with a chuckle "are you getting to the age where your memory goes?"

[Zanebry Varliss]

"not quite..." He replied with a light chuckle. " I thought I was tea chin you about this type of dating..." Zane's lips curled into a playful smile... How to talk to a man, how to bend him to your desires..."

"Wasn't that the lesson we were on?"