[Catch-All] I'm still standing

[unetrustworthy]

Characters: Midii Une, Aya, Zatanna, & OPEN
Date: The Merry, Merry month of May
Location: All over
Situation: Various; specified in Starters
Warnings/Rating: none (so far); will indicate in headers if this changes....


I. - Open

a. - Midii

[The choice had practically been made for her; after being contacted by Suheit and subsequently accepting the role of student in Healing and Herbalism, coupled with her previous experience in basic first aid, she felt it was only natural for her to join the Healers' Guild.]

[Combined with her studies with Sherlock, and her usual job, and the young girl was starting to look a little weary.  Not enough to slow her down, of course.  Deliveries were still made on time.  Her studies were still kept up with.  Promises and prior agreements were always met to the best of her ability.  But anyone coming across her--either out on the street, where she could be found riding her bike, or on her way to one of her lessons--might notice a slight deepening in the shadows beneath her eyes.  And the occasional muffled yawn whenever she allowed herself a moment of public downtime.]

b. - Aya

[For Aya, it had simply seemed a logical decision to join the Board of Science.  She knew of few individuals who would argue the decision.]

[The majority of her work would still be at Stark Industries, where she continued to reside, although these days Aya could be seen venturing more frequently to the College.  Making new inquiries about the roles of these new Guild, and how she may be of better service to her fellow members.]

[What may be of most interest to those who have known Aya the longest is the fact that her normally vibrant green skin (or rather, construct of skin) appeared to be a bit...deeper lately.  With the slightest hue of dark blue.]

[Of course, that could always just be a trick of light.  Maybe.]

c - Zatanna

[The majority of Zatanna's time this month would end up being devoted to the Foreigners' Guild, of which she publicly declared herself a member.  As such, she set to work making the Welcome Center as a (possibly temporary) home base for meeting and as a sort of home base for the Guild.]

[While not quite taking on a leadership position, she seemed very alert and prepared with suggestions, if not answers, to a number of questions.  Maybe its because she knew their funding was still secured for the time being.  Maybe it was the effect of being one of the longest-tenured Foreigners in Keelai.]

[Or maybe the fact that she was turning 20 on the 20th had something to do with it.  We all have to grow up and mature some time, don't we?]

[no we don't]

II. - Closed

a. - (For Kylo)

[As per their agreement, Aya flew outside the city area, to a more secluded place.  It was quiet.  The air registered as significantly purer in quality, with a higher concentration of both nitrogen and oxygen compared to foreign particles.  For a breathing organism, it might have even been described as fresh.]

[Most importantly, however, it was vacant of any living or nonliving influences that could potentially disrupt their training.  Or, worse, serve as inadvertent collateral damage.]

[After all...learning the Dark Side of the Force was a true exercise in Control, and a side of herself that Aya had little experience with.  Until now.]

b. - (For Sherlock)

[She wasn't concerned.]

[Not really.]

[But out of habit, Midii took note of the things that went on around her, wether they affected her directly, indirectly, or not at all.  And Sherlock was one of those strange categories that somehow found a place in all three.  She knew of his living situation, and she also knew that Dr. Watson had since disappeared.  Combined with the underlying gratitude she held for him for offering to accept her as a pupil, and Midii felt she needed to do something.]

[Even if that something was a simple, home cooked meal.  Very simple.  Only half a dozen ingredients in all, though combined with enough experience as to make for a satisfying and--in her opinion--somewhat tasty meal.]

[She even brought the ingredients with her in a small bag as she came upon the residents, knocking lightly on the door and waiting several seconds before verbally announcing herself.  Just in case that affected whether or not he would answer.]

Comments

II a

[no_light]

[ They had had a few talks about the theories behind the use of the Force and simple meditation exercises, but today Kylo still found himself particularly impatient, antsy even as he waited for Aya to join him. They'd agreed to meet well outside the city for what would be a far more hands-on session, and thus likely to get destructive.

They'd chosen a large clearing, large enough for them to move freely, but trees around in case they did need something convenient to destroy. Kylo had even gone to the trouble to levitate a stack of stones here. They were nothing like the boulders that would normally be used, but they had to make do with what was easily available.

He had taught Aya what the Force was, but to use it, to feel it... It would be the first time he would make her experience the Dark Side of the Force, when he would know if she truly didn't shy away from it.

He had come far too early, and was restlessly pacing when she arrived. His hand was on his unlit lightsaber. ]

Are you ready to get angry?

[looksfine]

I am ready to make the attempt.

[Getting angry was not something she could force upon herself. For all Aya had learned of herself and her emotions throughout the years, her control was limited to maintaining neutrality in the face of tense situations. What Kylo was expecting of her was...precisely the opposite of that.]

[She stood a few feet away from him. Her posture impeccable as always, eyes focused. He was fidgeting. Perhaps having already worked himself up in preparation for what was to come. She could not accurately predict the next few minutes, but a second of processing allowed her to calculate multiple scenarios in which she could prepare herself for.]

[no_light]

[ Maybe not the reply he would have liked, but certainly better than what he had expected. Kylo nodded. ] That's good enough, we can work with that.

[ He considered her; her stance, her facial expression. To teach her as you normally taught adepts of the Dark Side didn't seem right here, but that left him floundering. ] Normally I would throw everything I have at you, and torture you until pain and anger permit you to reach for the Dark Side, and fight me off. It is how we teach. With cruelty. But I don't want to break you.

[ He lifted a hand, raising a handful of stones into the air. They're regular cobblestone, taken from a construction site. ] But it can't hurt to make you a little angry before we start for real. Catch! [ And the stones went flying her way. ]

[looksfine]

["...torture until pain and anger..."]

[Aya barely had a chance to open her mouth and comment on that statement before Kylo suddenly used his abilities to lift the few stones. It was far the from the first time a projectile had been tossed her way, and her instincts allowed her to dodge some of them. Two, however, glanced harshly off her metal form, one on the right side of her helmet and the other clipping her leg with enough force to leave a streak of dust behind.]

[Something which...garnered almost no reaction from her. No cry of pain, no shout. Nothing.]

Perhaps I should have brought this to your attention sooner.

My physical form in its current state is not capable of feeling pain.

[Pressure, yes, but nothing in the way of what he was attempting.]

[no_light]

[ In the first moment Aya's lack of response had Kylo scowling, but that was quickly replaced by a look of intrigue. ]

Interesting. That makes things... harder. Maybe. [ He couldn't hide his uncertainty about it. But still, he unceremoniously dropped the next wave of stones he had already lifted, and took few steps towards her. ]

We will have to get more creative then to gain a response.

[ If physical pain was out, that left mental anguish. Fortunately, he was well-suited to causing it, though it wasn't a pleasant sensation for him either. To be inside a mind soaked with terror and hate wasn't exactly comfortable, and you learned a lot more than you wanted to know. ]

I could try to invade your mind... or we could start with meditation exercises, I could help you feel the Force.

[looksfine]

[He could certainly try, although Aya had never had much luck with telepathy. It was one of the many mysteries surrounding her being; why her mind, though at least partially organic in and or itself, was nearly impenetrable to those with a psychic ability. Nearly.]

[However, not wanting to turn down another of her teacher's suggestions--he was doing this for her, after all--she instead chose to focus on the latter suggestion, and nodded her agreement.]

Meditation would be best. Although I am unfamiliar with the practice experientially, I have witnessed and gained knowledge of theoretical techniques with which to employ.

[no_light]

[ He would not be displeased to learn of her skill, actually, while it made things more inconvenient for him he did want a strong student to make him proud. And a nearly impenetrable mind was a formidable strength.

But for now his thoughts were on meditation. ] Very well, let's start simple then. [ He sat down in the grass to meditate and waited for Aya to copy him while he shoved away his own unease. For sure, he did meditate regularly, but doing it with another, teaching it to another... That reminded him far too much of the Jedi training he sought to forget. ]

It'll be harder since you aren't in a turmoil already, but it's doable. Close your eyes and focus on strong emotions you have felt in the past. Focus on moments when you sensed the Force within you before, try to remember how that felt... how you felt.

[looksfine]

[Aya mimicked his movements with great fluidity and grace, folding herself into a similar position. She did not breathe, so that was out as a calm-down method. Instead, her entire body went still. Rigid. Not the slightest flicker. At first, the construct lids of her eyes appeared to close.]

[Then, they started to glow. A soft, light green shade that appeared almost blue from some angles.]

Accessing moments now.

[Focus on strong emotions you have felt in the past...Focus on the moment you sensed the Force within you...]

[So she did.]

[And it was then that something...different happened. Simultaneously touching upon those emotions--as a being made of Green Energy construct responding to her Will--and the Force...created a small beam of light to form in front of her. That light, whether Aya could see it right then or not, began to twist and form and take shape into the very memories Aya was seeing. Enough that Kylo could now see them too.]

I recall...a feeling of strong....happiness...

[Images of Hal Jordan sitting at the helm of the Interceptor Appeared. Kilowog behind him. Razer off to the side, scowling intently but clearly focused on whatever task on the consoles. To his right, the form of Aya sat, pleased and content with her position as navigator and fellow Lantern.]

[But that image soon melted away to a shot of just Aya and Hal. He was smiling down at her, a hand placed on her shoulder. His lips moved, and although no sound could be made out, to the trained reader, he was saying that Aya was No Longer a Rookie. Words that evoked the warmest of smiles from the young robot.]

[no_light]

[ If he had thought of the specific needs of a robot he might have tried to think of something to take the place of breathing exercises, but it wasn't until her eyes started to glow through the lids that he was reminded how very different she was. She was doing just fine on her own following his instructions, anyway.

Kylo watched, fascinated by her glow, and then as she sank deeper into her meditation by the beam of light. It was like a hologram, but something he had never seen before. He could only gape, and observe, and quietly marvel at what had to be the result of different universes coming together to create something new.

There were people he had never met before. People from her world, for sure. Kylo watched, simply fascinated before he tore himself out of it. ]

Happiness is good. Feel it. Submerge yourself in it. But now go farther back. Did they ever make you sad? [ His voice is low, pitched to a soothing murmur. ] Remember when they made you sad. When they made you angry. Remember.

[looksfine]

[She did not respond at first, though it was evident she was listening. And trying.]

[The images faded away...but no new ones appeared to replace them.]

I...do not possess such memories of Hal Jordan or Sargent Kilowog.

[Very specifically highlighting those names, as those were two of the individuals she has been associating her emotions with the moment prior. Perhaps there had been one or two memories that were less than pleasant, but none that evoked such sadness as she presumed Kylo was looking for.]

[However...]

[Before Kylo would have a chance to respond, another image did, in fact, appear. Of Razer. It was an older memory. One of her first. He was sitting down, and an eyeball-like mechanism was hovering over him.]

["I am not about to debate this with a computer.]

[The memory itself was fleeting enough, despite it carrying enough significance to warrant an appearance. As it faded out, a second vision appeared. This one also involving Razer. He was on his knees. She was in her physical form, being restrained. The beings restraining her barely warranted faces, as the sole focus of the image was on him and her. And the anger on his face.]

["You stole the image of Ilana!]

[But it took faded as Aya herself gave the equivalent of a robotic gasp, eyes widening as the glow around her faded, surprised by what her own visions had led to with regards to Kylo's request.]