that afternoon felt like a dream. she managed to get out of the house earlier than usual and was able to spend the entire afternoon with luke - - wandering the city and going to their favorite spots and viewpoints together while never running out of things to talk about. everything was so easy with him in ways that eisley had never expected or thought was possible. her usual interactions were so... mundane. but luke was spectacular. after going to watch the array of northern lights waving through the night sky, she followed him back to his place and continued their conversation in bed together - - eisley laying on her side to look into those eyes of his. they reminded her of hoth... not hostile or barren, but warm in a way because that was her home. regardless, eisley had clearly lost track of time but she didn’t worry too badly about it because she was enjoying her night with him more than anything. besides, her master had been rather absent as of late. no one would notice she was gone. the girl pressed closer - - lithe fingers drifting over to hold his hand as she mulled over the consequences of sleeping over... because she did want to. fingers smoothed over the back of his hand as she thought it through, her eyes flickering down to notice the difference in the sizes of their palms. but what the hell, she wanted this. so with a small nod, she leaned in closer and comfortably rested her head just between his jaw and shoulder. ❝ i’d love to... i’ve got to wake up early though, alright? ❞

she moaned - - squeezing her eyes shut and just curling into luke’s side with her face hidden on his lap as she stayed in his bed. she had felt a raging cold come on just the night before that had worsened overnight, but she still had to power through her chores that same morning. it wasn’t until she got to luke that she was able to actually lay down. but still, the thought of eating even make her sick no matter how sweet luke’s gesture was. ❝ i just need to lay down for a bit longer if that’s okay...❞ eisley mumbled, finally blinking her eyes open to look up at him. cheeks were pink amidst a flushed face - - her forehead burning up even though his room was cold. ❝ i’m sorry, i shouldn’t have come over. i don’t want you getting sick too... ❞ 

her head was tilted down at her wounded leg though she glanced up at the man before her. the one she was tasked to kill - - now asking her if she needed bandages... he was caring for her and yet she still had no reservations about carrying through with her plan. she was posed as an informant so her position wouldn’t be given away, but kriff was it difficult to keep her cover at a time like this. but mara knew that she was in no place to fight, and she did need assistance. pale pink lips huffed a sigh and she focused back on the blood spilling from her calf. ❝ just go get those bandages, ❞ mara spoke, covering the wound with her palm while she waited. however, she definitely wouldn’t stop fussing about it. 

eisley looked up at him - -  a small, knowing gleam in her eye as she gave a hint of a grin. of course she was flirting with him, the two were well past that initial stage of nervousness and careful touches. ❝ i mean... i don’t really ask just anyone what the view looks like from their bedroom window, you know- ❞ a sure way to get him to invite her to his. she was still confident in that, but eisley did love this playful banter they had going on as well. ❝ well? are you going to show me? ❞

❝ you make me happy- ❞ it was the obvious answer, but eisley couldn’t help it. it was the truth. he was the best thing that had happened to her, and she was more positive of that than anything else. her bright star in the midst of all this darkness. she leaned against his shoulder while the both of them sat on that bench where they’d met many times before. ❝ really, i’m-... still taken by all of this still. sometimes i wonder if you’re real. ❞ she had to shut herself up - - eisley knew she was saying too much. the last thing she needed was to scare him off. 

she shrugged a shoulder, taking a long sip from her bottle as she sat back down on her kitchen counter. ❝ stayed because you were there. wanted to see what you were up to, is that not allowed? ❞ zen teased, grinning over at him. ❝ you always get yourself into the strangest situations. i didn’t expect you to be waiting around for a girl though- ❞ zen’s eyes twinkled - - eager to learn. more so she could poke fun at luke’s little crush he apparently had. ❝ wanna tell me more? ❞