and when you close your tired eyes

[ladyofthesands.livejournal.com]

Arha was not at the pink bus, she was not in the X-Wing simulation, either, nor was she helping Roxie with something, or with Obi-Wan, training.  Instead, she was standing in the middle of a clearing in a place that looked very much like Felucia from Obi-Wan's Universe.  The air was drier, but the plants glowed in the darkness, casting light around the clearing she'd created.  Arha stretched out and murmured for music.

Any music.

Her eyebrows arched slightly when the beat rang out and the lush music spilled around her.  A delighted laugh bubbled free.  This she could dance to, mostly definitely.  In fact...she lowered the gravity just a touch and restarted the song before beginning to dance.  It was so easy to surrender to the music and let it sweep her tension away.  After the dreams, the horrible, horrible dreams, she needed this far more than she had realized.  Leaps were fun, spins were elegant, interpretation was challenging, and Arha loved it all so much that she completely lost track of time.

The same song had been on repeat far longer than she cared to admit.

 

Comments

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

While she was preparing to go back to the WITCH bus (she hoped the turnout would be better, but she would see) Katara had wandered and for a few minutes to clear her head. She may have been able to deal with freezing her "mother" in the dream, but the concerns for the crew and all the things she had done the last few days made her nervous. But she scolded that part of herself that knew it was Aang she was also trying to save, and hoped that this need wouldn't overpower her concern for everyone. In any case, she wanted a place where she wouldn't feel quite so anxious about everything, where she could at least take a moment to have a breather.

When she popped into the Sensorium and saw the tranquil place, she actually didn't feel like over thinking anything or pondering the bigger mysteries of what was happening on the ship. The music was also pretty, but after it being on repeat (and she hadn't seen Arha yet) she decided to change it a little. She wanted something softer, more flowing somehow. She closed her eyes, and now the music changed to this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7Wg6hFDf6U&feature=PlayList&p=A1FA6663463DBF5E&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=15), she smiled, then got into stance. Without thinking about it, she started to stream the water she had in her pouch with the music: it was one of the few times she'd been able to just play with her skill this way, to use it as a kind of meditation tool, and she started to move a little with the music, lightly on her feet, shifting her weight and then moving smoothly back.

[ladyofthesands.livejournal.com]

When the song changed, Arha glanced up mid-turn as she caught sight of Katara and smiled. Apparently, she wasn't the only one needing the meditation. Arha moved with the music, shifting to change and sink into it. It was as good as the other with the same sort of energy.

There was no imposition when it came down to it.

There's no reason for this icon, but its cute and new so I use it anyway!

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

Katara continued to shift her moves until the song ended, and then she felt a familiar presence in the Sensorium. She looked up and saw her friend and fellow Bene Gesserit Arha. She gave her a smile, allowing the water to flow back into the pouch, and straightened herself up. The music changed to something a little less wistful and a bit softer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdjrqW-F6ro) with singing.

"It's good to see you Sister," Katara said, "And I like what you've done with the place! Where is it?"

All I haz is leather.

[ladyofthesands.livejournal.com]

"It could possibly be the world of Felucia, minus the things that will eat you," she said with a grin as she stretched at what were seemingly impossible angles. "It is from Obi-Wan, Luke, Mara, and Wedge's universe. And it is good to see you as well. How goes your training?"

I LOVE that icon.

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

"Oh, the Jedi's, right?" Katara said, smiling. "I've talked with Luke a little while, he actually sounds like he's full of wisdom. I haven;t gotten to speak with Obi Wan for an extended time, as he had that fight with Bella then."

Katara smiled. "Well. My body is starting to respond to things before my mind can even process them. I mean, its what I wanted, but I never knew it would happen so quickly. Part of me wants to know more, and the other wonders if I'm going to lose a part of mys4elf if I keep going."

[yubyubcommander.livejournal.com]

Wedge slipped into the sensoriums and came to an abrupt stop, watching Arha dance for a moment. He smiled, crossing his arms as he leaned against a virtual tree of some sort, content to remain quiet for now. No need to disturb the woman, after all.

[ladyofthesands.livejournal.com]

The best thing about dance was how absorbed one could become in it. But still, both Bene Gesserit and Jed-Eye trained senses snapped on when Wedged entered. Arha didn't mind having an audience, in fact it was a pleasant thing. The music changed (http://www.box.net/shared/iro03syq7f) and she let herself flow into the slow strings as the song began to build in a swell. The arch of her back, caught the crescent glimmer of a flower, the lines of her body shimmered in soft luminescent greens, and a shower of bright red-gold fireflies skimmed out from the foliage like an explosion as she let out a bright laugh while the vocals soared around her.

The drums and the strings wanted leaping, gravity defying leaps that she used the Force and her own training to make possible, the softer parts were hushed, flowing movements that made her seem as boneless as the flips and curves did. When the last notes filtered away, she was breathing hard, flushed with the fun and pleasure of the session, and her bright laughter echoed in the clearing as she stretched, touching her nose her knees.

It had been a long time since she'd danced anywhere near that much. Perhaps it wasn't a planned show but it had bee quite long enough...and daring.

[yubyubcommander.livejournal.com]

Wedge grinned and pushed off the tree, clapping politely. She was a natural pilot, and he could see why just by watching her dance. Arhas seemed to have such a grace and ease, a poise and balance that was conveyed in her every moment. She felt at home with body, and once she had gotten the hang of i, it was clear she had the hang of an x-wing as well.

"Bravo! Well done, Arha. Very impressive."

[ladyofthesands.livejournal.com]

"Thank you," she said, genuine warmth lighting her words. "I'm glad you enjoyed it. I figured I needed some proper release. The last few nights have been rather rough. Did you wish to use the Sensorium to fly at present?" Arha's eyes lit up at the prospect, which since she felt no need, she didn't bother to hide from Wedge. The dance itself had done little to tire her and the warmup had been good for her muscles. The glowing night scene flicked to the gunmetal gray interior of the flight deck they used for practice and Arha let out a laugh.

"Apparently I wish to fly more than I knew," she said, grinning. Arha found herself clad in the orage and white shipsuit she usually wore when flying. Her helmet sat on the bottom run of a nearby X-Wing and she glanced at it, the corners of her eyes crinkling with mirth.

[worm-dancer.livejournal.com]

Sheeana entered just as the last strains of quietly happy, Postal Service-style music ended. Stacy automatically adjusted for the second mind and new music (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enSvqSjUPp8) transitioned on. It was still 'modern' (though strange sounding to the two women from many thousands of years after its composition) but wilder now. Sheeana's continually roiling mind that was only somewhat calmed by her Bene Gesserit training forced Stacy to adjust her readings from a minute ago with relatively well adjusted, stable Arha.

"Ah, to dance, to release inhibition and allow the primal human free reign. Do you mind if I join you, Sister?"

[ladyofthesands.livejournal.com]

"Of course you may," and her smile lit her face as she cocked her head, listening for a moment. "This calls for a different scene." The air crackled with heat as a vast desert appeared, and beneath their feet came the sturdy rock and sand of a desert bluff even as the growl of an unbroken storm rumbled in the distance.

[worm-dancer.livejournal.com]

"Careful. You're going to make me homesick." Sheeana said, but with a real smile instead of the vicious one she'd given to Alia a few days earlier with the same phrase.

Sheeana danced wildly, rarely repeating the same motion twice, circling Arha and spinning her, leaping, flipping over to catch her from the other side. She felt as if she were a young girl on the sands again, dancing her siaynoq.

Gods below did she have inhibition to release.

[ladyofthesands.livejournal.com]

Arha grinned and moved with Sheeana, smooth and graceful as ever, a steady compliment to her Sister's wildness. Sheeana was the desert storm and Arha was the sand caught in it, blown and twirled...it mattered not. This was release and it felt good.

[twelvevoltman.livejournal.com]

Well, turns out carving isn't the only thing Arha does that is enjoyable to watch. Allen is on a walk to clear his head in between Engineering work, and he pauses in the doorway of the sensorium to appreciate the show.

[ladyofthesands.livejournal.com]

Observation had never surprised Arha and so she continued to dance even as the music shifted (http://www.box.net/shared/l8tqasursp). It launched Arha into moves that were both powerful and very reminiscent of fighting katas as she propelled herself into backflips and used the lesser gravity to achieve twists a heavier gravity prevented.

Her plantsuit caught the colors around her as she sprung high and twisted mid-air, appearing for one moment as if she simply had no spine before a crack of thunder lanced out just as she touched down and the piece ended. The flash of her blue-within-blue eyes caught Allen's and she flashed a sharp, almost primal grin before she straightened and gave a little wave.

[twelvevoltman.livejournal.com]

He applauds. "Nice. Very nice. But I should expect you to be good at pretty much everything I see you doing by now, right?"

Kung fu space nuns have the best training.

[ladyofthesands.livejournal.com]

"Possibly," she said a bit cheekily. "But I have noto tried my hand at many things. I enjoy dancing and have since I was a small child. It is freedom, Allen. One should always enjoy such things."

[bonnypiperlad]

Jamie's headed down to use the sensoriums for a project of his own. Caught up in the process of trying to firmly fix the scene he wants in his mind, he doesn't realize at first that he's wandered into one of the occupied pods - that is, until the lower gravity catches him mid-step and propels him further into the air than he had originally planned on going.

He lets out a rather surprised-sounding noise, then the music starts and a big grin stretches across his face. With a whoop, he bounds back into the air. He's not dancing, as the music's a little too unfamiliar to him, but he's still enjoying it all the same. He bounces around happily until a longer-than-normal leap brings him into sight of Arha.

Feeling slightly chagrined for taking advantage of her session, he settles down, and would leave - except that the dance has caught his attention. Surely it can't hurt to watch for a few minutes?

[ladyofthesands.livejournal.com]

As it was always, Arha had no fear of audiences (any fear of that had gone under the heavy scrutiny of her mentors and Proctor Superior long ago as she was shaped and molded as a child), and lent herself wholly to the music in wild, death-defying acrobatics that set her blood singing and her laughter bubbling out as the music came to a close and she landed.

Her bright blue-within-blue eyes snagged Jamie's and she tilted her head with a little gin.

[bonnypiperlad]

He watches wide-eyed, completely enthralled now. The first time Jamie was in a low-grav environment, he managed to crash into a building and knock himself unconscious. While he's learned a little from that (and is fairly certain he won't repeat that painful mistake), he's very impressed by her level of control. The sheer joy she seems to be experiencing in those death-defying acrobatics certainly is making an impression, as well.

When she finally settles down to the ground, he gives her a positively beaming grin. "Och, Arha, that was grand."

[ladyofthesands.livejournal.com]

"Ah, thank you. It was quite fun," she said with a breathless laugh. "Next time I shall do that in normal gravity and we shall see if it is so impressive. How are you, Jamie?"

[jedimacguyver.livejournal.com]

Obi-Wan had never much appreciation for writing poetry. He was a man of words, and of diplomacy, but sometimes even he was baffled by the ways things came together. He could read it, and enjoy the art, but creation was somehow beyond him.

This, the bend and rhythm of Arha's body, the strong movements were poetry. He watched her move without speaking. She was, after all, beautiful.

[ladyofthesands.livejournal.com]

Arha knew he was coming long before he got there and when the first song faded and flowed into something completely different (http://www.box.net/shared/feqyq0f4p8), she was no longer dancing just for herself, but for Obi-Wan.  Words had always been useless.  They lacked translation, they lacked depth.  One could write a pretty paragraph, heartfelt and emotional, but in the end, what did it mean?  She found her joy in movement, the same as she always did.  Whatever was between the two of them it was never referred to, but simply expressed.  It was there as sure as anything, sure and constant.

She was smooth, all curve and motion, weaving bits of him into her moves with Soresu, with the elegant mirroring of his own meditative practice she had seen him do countless times.  The spaces between one moment to the next were full of them as she pushed herself into the air, springing high only to twist bonelessly, arcing high as the music took off.  This required touches of the Force to augment the athletic display and the sheer joy of it was as bright as the song itself. 

When she came down in that final move, she was right in front of him, her blue-within-blue eyes locked on his own with all the intensity of the midday sun.  And she didn't say a word.

[jedimacguyver.livejournal.com]

And what was there to say? Obi-Wan just smiled and held out an open hand for hers. When he had it he drew her close, and kissed her, long and sweetly. Not chaste, but neither was it heated or purposeful. An appreciation, the applause from an audience well-pleased and sated on an excellent performance. A declaration of love.

And when it was done, there was still time, and room, for words, "I would like to spar with you."

[ladyofthesands.livejournal.com]

Arha's fingers laced with his as she kissed him back, the warmth and fire that she always had as bright as ever. Her eyes fairly sparkled as her lips curved into a broad smile. Sparring with Obi-Wan was a joy in itself, especially now that she could do so properly. Her fingers trailed down his cheeks and her thumb across his bottom lip, her touch gentle as kissed him once more, briefly, before she pulled away.

"Mm," Arha said, dipping her head in a slight nod, "I would enjoy such a thing very much."