Between Time and Space

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

She had no idea how long it had been since that day she had come upon Sietch Tabr with her Sister Sheeana. Part of her had been worried it would be gone, although she knew that was a fairly baseless fear: the place was hidden well, much like, as Sheena would have told her, anyway Sietch built by a Fremen. It was still here, next to the building that looked like a precursor to a skyscraper: the same limestone build, the same precarious steps to reach it. This was, as Sheeana had told her, the place where the original Muad'dib had hidden, where the Fremen had taken shelter before the days of the Tyrant.

It was where she went now, to reclaim a piece of herself.

The Tarot card reading had not been her first indication. After the death of Ozai, she had thought long and hard about where she'd been not long ago: she had accepted that there were people who lent themselves to chaos, to discord, and that they signed their own death warrant when they infringed themselves on others. It had been here Sheeana had attempted to have her delve into the mysteries of the Bene Gesserit, here where she had first partaken of Spice.

One cautious step, two, and then the caution was gone once she remembered that day: the Nightmare King had had her in his grip, or at least her fears were getting the best of her then. Somehow Sheeana had picked the right time to bring her down this hallway, past the treasure hunter bodies to the chamber. There she entered the place where the water was drained, all moisture kept, and she felt herself stumble only a little. It had been Sheeana's second time coming here too, and one mistake would keep her lost.

Quickly she made her way through each trap, just as easily as Sheena had the first time, since Kaya had been itching for a chance to use her limbs again, to dart quickly around a corner or to sidestep another obstacle before coming to THE chamber, where the ancient writing had been before. She could already smell the cinnamon waft that was the remainder of the Spice, the drug the Fremen used to travel through space, to heighten their awareness, to give them the ability to see the future.

Here, Kaya remembered, she had strengthened her mind against the Nightmare King once. Now, in this familiar place where many had gathered in celebration, in orgies, in reverence to the one that would triumph over the Harkkonans in time, for a time.

Kaya, however, was not here to get misty eyed about the loss of her teacher and many like her over time. Nor had she come here to take Spice to enjoy herself. She was here, mainly, to reclaim that part of her she had bravely taken a time before, when she had traveled the stars and seen the future, seen herself. This was a journey she knew she had to take again, if she thought she would be the girl she had strove to be once before.

She took the Spice from the floor, sniffed, then took it into her mouth again, and once again, tasted bitter cinnamon.

Kaya remembered herself, and regained. She endured, and she pulled into herself. She was here a long time.


Several hours would past before she emerged from the Sietch, but those that saw he would say she looked different: she stood straighter somehow, but she looked in a trance, one induced, and her eyes were bluer than they had ever been in the time they knew her. Her hair was loose around her, her feet bare, her clothes dusty and smelling faintly sweet, What was unmistakable was the look on her face: it was silent, accepting, but with a reserved joy that only one who asked would know.

Comments

[burnedbrighter.livejournal.com]

Azula was on another one of her downward spirals.

The important difference from the last time it had happened was she was well aware that she was losing her grip again. The noise was back in full force, the voices of those who were not around were hissing in her ears and she couldn't be sure she could fight it off with her meditations on the dancing dragons.

And so she had attempted to vanish into the city, but part of her up and down sliding scale of sanity was she wasn't sure how she got to where she was. She hated feeling so unsure...hated her perfect mind being wasted because of this sickness this...disease that plagued her.

Barefoot with her hair wild once more she was walking down an lonely empty street muttering to herself...well to the voices really.

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

And who would Kaya meet, muttering to herself, but Azula, who seemed to be in a state. She didn't know what had caused her to be in this state, but it only reminded her that the Council had been foolish to let her go as she pleased.

She also knew, now, she could finish what Mai had started. She had accepted death for a tyrant and killer was necessary, she got that, but Azula? Even she knew how wrong it was to murder someone who was out of their head and, for that matter, not doing anything. She had delved into introspection enough to accept when she should and should not fight.

"Azula?" Her voice sounded different, almost huskier. "Are you all right?"

[burnedbrighter.livejournal.com]

Azula didn't acknowledge her at first but then let out a bitter shaky laugh, "Are any of us really alright anymore?" She seemed to rise up for a minute like a puppet who's strings were being pulled and her unsteady gaze landed on Kaya, "Oh, what are you doing here." Not that she really knew where here was.

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

"It's the city, anyone can walk here," Kaya said, looking hard at the girl. It didn't take a genius to see that Azula was very much out of sorts: even the idea of her asking such a question was just out of character.

"I doubt you can say that about anyone, but you seem agitated," Kaya said. "Is there something specifically wrong with you?"

[burnedbrighter.livejournal.com]

"No more then usual." She grumbled and then in a louder voice, "But you're right, anyone can walk here, so I'm doing nothing wrong either."

And then a flash of something in her eyes...she seemed confused at first as if unsure of what to make of it, but then her face went placid.

"There's something different about you." somewhere, under the madness and the free flowing emotions the perceptive and calculating Azula was stirring again.

[morphitudinous]

Billy was on one of his daily walks around the place when he spotted a strange sight. It was Kaya, but she was...different. She had been in thought for a long time, hadn't she?

He waved as he passed, giving her the option to ignore him. From the look on her face, he thought she might have more pressing matters to attend to at the moment.

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

In this state, Kaya definitely knew it was Billy, and the last thing she was going to do was ignore him. What he would be feeling now, though, is the heightened state of awareness that Kaya was still feeling. Luckily, he wouldn't feel the time slow like she did, so all the better.

"Billy." She said this with a smile, again, her eyes much bluer than he had likely ever seen. "What are you up to?"

[morphitudinous]

So she did want to talk. Billy turned to face her, unable to avoid noticing the shine to her eyes. That merited investigation.

"I was walking back home after a shift, sorting out my thoughts. The same as usual. But you haven't been following a routine, have you? Something's new about you today."

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

"A routine?" Kaya looked amused. "No, I guess you could say I haven't, not really. I needed to go back to a place that I'd been before, awhile back when Sheeana was still here. And I think...things are a lot clearer to me now. I definitely feel enlightened."

Kaya held out her arms. "I could show you if you want. I'll go slowly too: it almost overwhelmed me, the first time I visited the Sietch."

[nokosi.livejournal.com]

As usual, Nokosi was mulling around the city. This time he was laying back against his wolf companion and they were 'sunning' themselves near a thick patch of grass, though he wasn't truly asleep. The odd smell that barely clung to the air caused him to crack one eye open, just a tad, and when he saw who it was he was already on his feet.

He almost decided to tackle her. Almost. Quickly thinking better of it, he instead darted up behind Kaya and slid an arm around her waist to walk beside her.

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

Kaya blinked a moment, and then a slow smile formed on her face. For a moment, she wondered what Sheeana would have thought of Nokosi: she figured she would have liked him better than Aang because of the way Nokosi held himself. And, in fact, that was likely why Kaya had been attracted to Nokosi anyway: he had an indomitable spirit and a way about him that drew her to him, even now.

"Nokosi," she said, reaching over and hugging him. "And i see Fontaine is out here too. Are you both just enjoying the artificial sun?"

Her voice sounded a little different, as if she hadn't had anything to drink in hours. Truthfully, she hadn't.

[nokosi.livejournal.com]

He returned the hug and threw in a smile for good measure. "Yes. It is a slightly different feel than Hydroponics and I have grown fond of the buildings out here. And you?" Nokosi leaned closer to Kaya, his nose wriggling as he sniffed her.

"Where have you come from? You sound as if you have run a mile nonstop but," he pinched her cheek. "Your face shows no sign of such an activity."

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

"I rather like the buildings too," Kaya said. "But then. I've seen a lot of them come and then become empty. There was a place once where I first learned to travel a dreamscape. It was a rather interesting girl named Roxie then. But now there's nothing left of her old shop or temple."

After all she had done, she could't help but think about the past.

"I was back at a place where my teacher first showed me how to conquer my fears," Kaya said, which was actually all true. "I needed to go back there and remember some of my old lessons. It was actually pretty freeing: I felt like she was there with me again."

[kungfu-sexnun.livejournal.com]

"Kaya!"

It was an age since Nima had seen the girl, busy as they both kept themselves. Nima, flying overhead, folded her glider and dropped into a landing, her delighted expression giving way to one of more sober interest as she got a better look at Kaya.

"You look so different." She held Kaya's bluer-than-before gaze with her own dark grey eyes and didn't let it go. Her expression was somewhere between bewildered and entranced. "You are different."

She let go of her staff, reaching out to take Kaya's hands.

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

Kaya felt a thrill of happiness in her. She had never gotten to hang out and have one with Nima as she wished, having had her duties in the med bay, but she hadn't give up hope they would see each other again. As it turned out, she met her now, after reaching a point where she found herself in a happier stronger place.

"Yes," she said, smiling, "you could say that. I'm finally starting to let some things go. Where have you been, Nima? I hardly get to see you!"

She took her hands willingly, transferring (unbeknownst to her)some of that feeling of lowered inhibition to her airbender friend.

[kungfu-sexnun.livejournal.com]

"I know. It seems like there's so much to do, I never have enough time to see everyone I want."

As a woman very in touch with her emotions and very conscious of her own lack of inhibitions, Nima immediately identifies that the rush of elation that overcomes her is not hers. For a moment she looks dazed - then she decides to go with it anyway. She leans in to kiss Kaya gently on the lips, giving the girl ample time to turn her cheek instead.

For some reason I had this particular icon which I've never been able to use until now

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

"Me neither, Kaya admitted, but not with the usual melancholy. "But I know what I need to do to make sure I do have the time. I'll wait a day, and then I'll start to get my affairs in order. I feel like I've neglected some things for too long."

So she was able to feel it, all on her own? Kaya was envious of the airbenders, or at least Nima's sect. she had so rarely gotten to see Nima in action, to find her able to do this was a great surprise, and made her wish the two had more time to talk with each other.

The kiss that came, however, was slow enough that Kaya could have moved away, or gone to the cheek, but Kaya did not. This was, after all, likely some way airbenders might communicate their feelings. It wasn't too dissimilar from Starfire, after all.

I am so sorry / I hope this is okay.

[thewunderkind]

Lash, on the other hand, saw a huge building made out of limestone that day. One that could perhaps hold salvaged parts of for one of her many inventions. She had no importance to the Atreides, Harkonnen and the Ordos and wasn't on a soul searching quest either.

All she saw is limestone...and perhaps a place to plunder. The Sietch went completely unnoticed, as she began to climb the tall building using only her hands.

"Hmmm...."

It is...for me. Kaya on the other hand...

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

It was safe to say, for the most part, that Kaya tended to be as non-confrontational as possible. Fights, she thought, could be avoided in an effort of peace and understanding. But these beliefs could be amended, particularly when it acme to her still being influenced by the Spice, and this being the only thing she had to remember Sheeana by.

When she heard the approach, someone coming to do something to the place, the water in her satchel became hardened ice, and was now directed at whoever was coming.

"Who is it?!" There was a trace of the Voice there without her realizing it.

Hahaha most excellent.

[thewunderkind]

"It's La---" Like a strange nagging voice in the back of her head, the Voice had worked somewhat on her, before Lash's own training - not in the same field but having been taught to resist interrogation at a young age, allowed her to stop midway. Had Kaya been a master of it, she would have gone all the way, but right now it left the connection suddenly severed and made her angry. She bit down her lip, confused and frowned her eyebrows, letting out a little "Ow!" from her perch. It felt like a tiny nagging headache and she sweated a bit.

"Hrrgh, who did that?!"

She looked downwards, moving her entire body to hang upside down, her eyes darting nearby. "I swear whoever did, I'm gonna punch your face in!"

Lash, the master of suitability. At least her Angry Voice™ was very loud, Lashlike, and had absolutely no effect unless you were in Wars World and a soldier under her command.

Re: Hahaha most excellent.

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

Even Kaya was surprised the Voice had come out of her: but this sort of situation had raised her ire, and when it came to the Sietch, she was prepared to defend it to the death. When she heard the voice yelling about punching someone in the face though, she blinked, something sounding very familiar about this. She rushed over to see who it was, and looked startled. She'd had the water ready to attack, but her stance was breaking once she saw the culprit.

"Lash? What on earth are you doing?"

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

Kaya watched Fontaine, hoping she didn't sound like some human talking down to him, but you could never really tell, particularly when the bond was between Nokosi and Fontaine to begin with. If Zhin had been around though, she would have politely reminded Kaya that they were not lesser creatures and would not sit and gawk while the two of them did their thing. After all, humans certainly didn't sit and watch animals mating, did they?

Even with Spice, Kaya was not free from being a bit of an idiot.

"Thanks," she said brightly, then turned to Nokosi. "Ok, so you're obviously ready. Do you mind, um, looking away, just a moment. I'm going to undress, so we're at least both comfortable."

She turned a moment, undoing the wrappings. This would be the first time she would ever do this with anyone that wasn't just about bathing. But she would be careful, undoing her hair and letting it fall freely. She descended into the water a moment, then came up, flipping her hair back.

Kaya turned to Nokosi, biting her lip. "Well?"

[nokosi.livejournal.com]

If the wolf was bothered by it at all, he didn't show it. He simply barked twice, then faded from view. Once Fontaine was fully into his spirit walk, he took his leave and decided that he would find some nicer, shaded place to sleep away the afternoon.

Nokosi followed the sound of his companion's footsteps as he departed, but turned his attention back to Kaya when he was spoken to. A laugh almost escaped him then, at the idea that she was going to be naked, which he would see, but she didn't want him to view her before that, while she still had strips of clothing on. Modesty was an interesting thing.

As requested, he averted his gaze and instead watched a leaf flutter from a nearby tree and land on the surface of the spring. It floated along, spinning gently as it went until it hit an outcrop of smooth rocks and became stuck. He was engrossed in the little journey of that leaf by now, so when she spoke again, he turned to look at her in surprise.

"Well," he repeated. He hoped she wasn't the type to shy away, because once she stood before him his gaze was focused on her form. His eyes started from her face and worked their way down with a meticulous slowness. He was silent for a substantial amount of time as he observed and studied her form as if he were creating a mental map. She wasn't a tall, slender Night Elf, no, but it didn't mean she wasn't attractive.

"Should I tell you what you must already be aware of, I wonder?" he mused aloud. "If ever you are able to speak with your world's nature god, be kind enough to give it thanks in my stead."

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

No, Kaya was definitely not going to be shying away this time. The Spice had made her brazen, and even if it hadn't she wasn't about to play coquettish, not when it came to Nokosi. When it was him, who she knew appreciated beauty wherever he found it, his opinion mattered to her most.

And lo and behold, he was watching a leaf before he turned around, which lightened her mood considerably. That was so Nokosi, to be marveling at something that would be small to someone else but fascinated him. It was one of the traits she liked about him most: what she thought f the ship, he thought about nature in general, in everything around him. In fact, as he turned to her, that nervousness was replaced by a gentle smile.

So of course, the compliment of his just made her beam all the more. "I don't exactly have people admiring me or anything, but thank you. If I didn't make it clear to you already, looking at you is a treasure in itself too. It took all the feminine modesty I had not to keep staring."

[nokosi.livejournal.com]

"I can say the same about admiration but that is neither her nor there at the moment," he added, pushing himself out of the shallow water and closing the distance between the two of them. The elf shivered a bit as the cool air hit the portions of his body that had been submerged underwater, but he quickly shook it off.

Nokosi coiled an arm around her waist and pulled her close, then nuzzled his cheek against hers. Ah, she was nice, warm and cozy. He probably could have simply snuggled up with her and fallen asleep.