fee

ASLIHAN MALBORA  //  have you met ZARAFET “FEE SOLVI” yet?  SHE/THEY is now TWENTY-EIGHT years old DEMIWOMAN HALF-DATHOMIRIAN NIGHTSISTER, originally from DATHOMIR but typically reside on THE REDACTOR ONDERON.  after everything they've gone through, she shows loyalty to THE FIRST ORDER THE RESISTANCE.  they are best known for being a SPY MEDIC & THERAPIST, & i hear they’re grown pretty INTUITIVE yet also MANIPULATIVE at times; i hope she survives the galactic war. (APRIL)

“Not so many that are like us, no?”  Third Sister gave the nightsister a knowing smile — the Empire had always been dominated by humans, and it seemed that the First Order would be no different. She lowered her voice and took a step forward into Zarafet’s space.  “Fewer still who do not retreat from an Inquisitor.”

Third’s red and yellow gaze locked onto the nightsister’s as she gauged their reaction. Then they stepped back just far enough for a sardonic curtsy.  “Third Sister. Though I’ve no doubt you already know that. Tell me, dear, which of your superiors has sent you scurrying to spy on me? The Grand Admiral, perhaps? Or that vexatious little red-headed pet of hers?”

their head gave an innocent tilt at the remark about them having some kind of shared quality, as though zarafet was ready to play dumb. their differences from the primarily human-centric empire were less noticeable than third sister’s. “we’re on the same side, are we not? we should have nothing to fear from each other.” there was no telling if that was true, but it at least sounded appropriate.

“it’s still flattery.” rey smiled and looked down, nudging fee slightly with her shoulder. she loved how easy it was to talk to fee – and fee seemed so natural with her. no expectations or predispositions. “but thank you.” that little smile fell as fee gently touched her hair. for a moment she turned her cheek into the touch, grateful for the show of affection, grateful for the feeling of someone else’s skin on hers – but she turned away. “i’m not that important,” she said, all too aware of the stubbornness in her voice. “not like they keep saying i am. the jedi aren’t extinct anymore. instead of bringing down the first order i just paved the path for its new leader. i’m not a hero, i’m just…” she sighed. just me, she wanted to say, but it sounded stupid. she looked up at them again, eyebrows creased, determined. “but i can fight. the fact that they’re not welcoming is all the more reason for me to go with you. it would be reckless to go alone.” it was a losing battle, she knew, even as she argued. fee had a way of making everything make sense. “please. once you go, while the holonet is down… if i’m there, i can make sure you’re safe. i’m strong enough to do that at least.”

   “Oh, it infuriates me, sitting around and debating on such important things for so long. Espeically when you know some of the people who are doing the negotiating are doing it to protect their monetary interests rather than for the good of the people, but hey, that’s Democracy I guess. It could be worse, it could be the Empire where they just did whatever was bad for everyone except for like five or six guys.”

He shook his head, as frustrated as he could get with the system he knew it was one of the best systems they had, and the alternative that he had fought against was so much worse. “Sometimes I wonder if I’m not cut out for this whole being a Senator thing, and I should just go back to the New Republic military in some like advisory capacity, where I just help them make strategies, win fights that sort of thing.” 

it really wouldn’t have been the worst thing if tevus ended up out of all of this –– it certainly would have ended any kind of the specific usefulness that they had been hoping to get out of him at some point. she had no shortage of connections with those involved in the new republic’s defense force, after all. “yeah, it could definitely be worse,” she agreed with a sigh, pushing her hair back behind her ears.

“it’s nice.” she agreed, nodding at the other in agreement. “I mean, we get on each other’s nerves sometime. but I don’t think they get that I’m a full-grown adult at this point. I’m always their little youngling, I guess.” but she didn’t mind that too much. not enough to leave and find a new ship over it, anyway. she loved her family. she did.

“what about you, what do you do?”

.

the talk about family did nothing short of fry their nerves though zarafet was careful to ensure that such a thing did not actually risk appearing on their features, her mouth remaining a still line. “i’ve always heard parents are like that,” they remarked with a shrug. she’d had her mother, of course, most of her youth. but she was well aware her culture was exceptionally unique.

At least this one had a sense of humor. Adni was beginning to think shoving a rod up your ass was a requirement for joining the first order at this point.

She considered letting the mistake go uncorrected. Perhaps if this other person had a tendency to snitch, it wouldn’t be a bad idea for them to have the wrong information. However, as with most situations, Adni’s pride overcame her rationality.

—”It’s Adni,” she replied curtly, not concerned with asking in return. Maybe later on, if they saw fit; if having this connection might be of use sometime down the line. “It’s degrading. At one point in time Kylo and I were children together. Due to a technicality, my training starts over and he’s the leader of the knights.” Once the flood gates were opened, it was hard to keep her true feelings from rushing out. Adni was even tempered, but hot headed, and the words, despite being spoken at a lingering tone, were seething. “There are even some things I’ve surpassed his knowledge in, but I’m not qualified for my title due to this kriffing rift.” 

And then a pause. A slight shift in their posture as they regained control of the fire behind their eyes. “It’s nothing Ren hasn’t heard. Feel free to report back to him if that’s your aim.” It’d likely result in some sort of admonishing punishment if he knew adni was still undermining the choices of the knights, but nothing they hadn’t already handled many times since rejoining. Speaking too much, then getting told to reign back in, was routine back and forth by now,

.

the correction was taken with nothing more than a polite smile offered in return to the knight of ren. there was more than enough irritation that radiated off of her, which was no surprise. despite their loyalty to the first order, zarafet was well aware that on a more individual level... most of the people here happened to be rather insufferable. she was certain that people thought that about her, the same that she did as them, and was not bothered by that in the slightest. they’d never cared what others thought of them.

“technicality?” a smooth brow arched, not quite hidden by the messy, unregulated bangs that framed her face. “what, the rift, or something else?” she wasn’t quite sure yet what angle would be best to play with her, but she was more than willing to give a few different ones a shot. see if there was any way that they could crack past the surface and get a little closer, a little more information than what they already had readily available.

His   lips   lingered   on   the   glass   of   the   bottle,   but   when   she   spoke,   Poe’s   eyes   flickered   towards   them.   This   seemed   too   deep   for   something   that   wasn’t   supposed   to   be   a   therapy   session.   “   You   gonna   ask   me   to   close   my   eyes   and   think   about   the   past   too   ?   “   she’s   a   better   therapist   than   that.   A   lot   of   his   focus   had   been   to   stop   living   in   the   past,   but   he   can’t   help   letting   the   snark   out.   “   Can   we   just…..   Not   tonight   ?   Please   ?   “   it   takes   them   more   time   than   they   want   to   admit   to   realize   that   maybe….   Just   maybe….   This   isn’t   all   about   Poe.   “   Unless   there’s   uh…   Something   you   want   to   talk   about   ?   “   ​

-

merrin’s expression stayed tense, neutral. she did not trust the stranger, despite what history she bore. she was not of her clan, and right now, merrin wasn’t sure if she could trust anyone. not even herself. 

❝ there is always violence, somewhere, on dathomir. that is its nature. but no violent invaders have dared attempted an attack in this sector. ❞ they could tell there was more than just curiosity prompting this trip to such a harsh place. 

remember what cal taught you. strangers are not always against you. sometimes they are with you, and you don’t know it yet.

❝ you… wish to see more, don’t you. ❞ merrin never was very good with social situations. ❝ you may see more. i will be a guide to you. then, you will leave when you are satisfied. ❞ ugh. not so good. but better than violence, right? they gestured to the temple, the massive zeffo statues looming.

.

it was not as though zarafet expected any kind of friendliness in this detour to their home planet, but... most of their adult life, she had felt somewhat disconnected from her home and culture. they were survivors, meant to rebuild it into greatness, meant to make sure that it would carry on. that was why she had served the first order. it was still why. but what was that home to her, who had been away for so long?

“it may not be that way for long. it would be wise to prepare. communications across much of the galaxy have been affected.” emotion is removed from her own voice, carefully so. the last thing that she needed to do was slip up.

Hux couldn’t pinpoint exactly what Zarafet meant to imply by that accusation, but he knew he did not like it.  “Good for enemies, yes, but it is not generally considered a desirable trait when applied to one’s colleagues. Unless Ren thinks—”  that I am his enemy, Hux stopped himself from adding.   (Well, Ren would be a fool not to realize that.)   (Even if they had arrived at an unspoken ceasefire.)   (Temporarily!)   “Well, who knows what’s going on under that preposterous helmet of his. Enough about Ren. We are not here to talk about what he thinks.”

“Yes. I suppose. I am rarely without the prosthetic.”  The barest hint of amusement crossed his features. Hux had never in his life taken enough time from work to meet the recommended amount of sleep.  “Perfectly well,”  he lied.  “I do not dream.”  Realizing his answer had come too quickly, he added, “Often. That is, I do not often remember dreams. I recently woke with vague memories of my teeth falling out—”  He was reciting from a textbook now; he needed to add some verisimilitude.  “—and I was choking.”  Hux swallowed.   (He’d had no intention of telling the truth.)

hux was the kind of man who wanted to ensure that his voice was heard. how severely often had it been ignored? yet he had to know rationally that now was the time to say less, not more. still, he opened up with far more than he should have. zarafet withheld their own smirk. “no, we’re not, but i’m sure you can imagine how your opinion on him might be relevant.” it wasn’t exactly a box to check off on the form in front of her so much as it was her own personal desire. but hopefully that was not an issue that he would press upon.

“flattery won’t work on me this time, fee.” rey offered a small smile, but her stomach was twisted into a knot. she forced herself to look up at fee, brown eyes more gentle with the other than with most. fee had been a constant since her arrival into this timeline, someone she could trust, rely on, someone who made her feel safe. nothing could cure the displacement rey felt here, but if anything ( or anyone ) could get close, it was fee. “that’s smart,” she said reluctantly. dangerous, of course, but smart. without outside communication, how else could they be sure of what was happening in the galaxy? and though she could tell by the look on fee’s face alone that they would never let her, she said anyway, “i’ll go with you.”

   “I have no idea. Whatever they have, its a massive threat to all of us. I just hope we’re able to find a way to stop them before too much more death and destruction occurs. It seems like every time we’re on the verge of reshaping the galaxy to be a better place something horrible like this happens.” Furrowing his brows together, Tevus rubbed at them, glad that she at least didn’t mind he had so carelessly brought up wha that taken place. Though when she said she was sure she would be fine, as nothing happened on Dathomir, he couldn’t help but chuckle, her blunt honesty about her home was relieving to say the least. “Yeah, yeah I’m sure Iloh is in the same position, I mean what are the Yuuzhan Vong going to do? Seek to destroy the tourist industry of the galaxy?” Moving his hand to rub at his forehead, he shook his head. “It’s just so frustrating, being a Senator, I have to sit here and debate when I just wanna, hope in an x-wing and blow something up.”