Disclaimer: All characters are the sole property of Bioware and LucasArts or Disney now (good god), unless I get rich and buy them.
Chapter 3 - First Impression
As she walked along the narrow corridors back to her room after leaving the mess hall all she could think about was the encounter just less than an hour ago. It was truly bizarre. True, she did seek him out so there was nothing coincidental about it but even so it did not go at all as how she had intended. She did not expect him to react in the strange way that he did - to simply not talk, just stare at her. Did he find something about her amiss... lacking and he was just too polite to say so. Whatever the reason it made her very uncomfortable, why - she could not explain but uncomfortable none the less. What is more to the point is the fact that, for a moment, she too stared back - losing herself in those deep green eyes and for a moment they made her feel so.. so...something.
"Oh for goodness sake does it really matter, this is ridiculous. I was simply there to observe him. To get a feel of his character, the kind of person he is." she reasoned, as passed several soldiers who nodded to her in respect. She absently nodded back her mind still elsewhere but as she continued to her destination she though upon the wisdom of her decision and how it had been the right choice to seek him out.
This was her mission, it was an important mission and she had to make sure that everything was going according to plan, especially with him - nothing could be left to chance. Too much was at stake. Too many lives had already been lost and many more could be.
When she reached the door to her room she started thinking of how all this had come to pass. It all seemed to happen so quickly, frighteningly so if she was honest. To go from gifted Padawan training in the temple and fields of Dantooine where one's dangers mostly lay in the planet's wildlife or maybe even some bandits - to having an active role in shaping battles which could tip the balance of power - to finally leading one's own task group, were everyone's life depended on you all happening in little under two years was unnerving to say the least.
"So I guess you forgot the food?" spoke an amused voice, breaking the woman from her thoughts as she stepped through the door.
"Huh.. I'm sorry..pardon?" she stammered as she turned her gaze to regard the woman who was sitting crossed legged on her bed, looking at her with amused grin.
"You said you were going to get some food when you left. In fact you insisted that you go alone and that I not accompany you." she answered, the grin still not leaving her pouty lips.
"Oh! I..forgot, sorry. I have a lot on my mind you know. It's quite easy to forgot such simple things." the young woman explained evenly. "Damn! I knew I forgot something"
"Uh huh" the other woman drawled, not fooled at all by the dismissive response. "Sounds to me like you found something better to drool over and it was most definitely not on the menu." she implied cheekily as she played with a loose strand of her curly fair hair. If Deanna was honest with herself, which she was, she would love to spend time with him. Just the thought of those long, perfectly toned arms encasing her body in a safe cocoon whilst those soft forbidding lips pushed against hers was nearly overwhelming.
"Whatever are you talking about Deanna?" the young woman asked confused, she never could understand her friend's quirky innuendos.
"Ah come on Bastila, don't give me that!" Deanna whined in mock annoyance, her brown eyes betraying her enjoyment. She would get that stick out of the young woman ass even if it killed her. "Even you aren't that innocent."
When Bastila continued to give her a confused stare Deanna realised that she truly was that clueless. "Sweet Goddess Vrook what the hell are you playing at?"
"Nevermind sweetie. Did you talk to him?" she asked curiously before biting her lip to keep from laughing at the transition on Bastila's face going from one of shock to embarrassment to anger before finally settling on that even cool mask she so often showed the world which Deanna though was such a shame as it was so off putting that people did not care to delve deeper to see the gentle soul that lay beneath the hard surface.
"Yes I met him though we did not talk" Bastila replied with flippant casualness, hoping to keep her face emotionless and free of the traitous blush that was threatening to show.
"Oh ho, no words were needed then?" Deanna chirped with a sing song voice. Needling Bastila was one of the few perks she had and she loved every second she could indulge in it.
"Sorry?"
"Don't worry about it sweetie maybe it'll come to you one day. Come on let's get some dinner I'm starved." Deanna said as she rose from her bed after her stomach informed her that playtime was over and it needed some attention now. She walked over to her footlocker and retrieved a waist length white linen shirt and pulled it on covering the pink tank top which hugged her torso pushing her already noticeable breasts up.
"Deanna really, a Jedi should not be seen wearing such frivolous and inappropriate clothing" chided Bastila, frowning at her best friend's chose of attire. "She always has to stand out".
"Seriously! This coming from the woman wearing a catsuit."
"It is not a catsuit!" exclaimed Bastila in a scandalised voice, her face flushing with anger.
"Really, what would you call it then?" challenged Deanna playfully.
"It is a light weight battle suit to allow for maximum agility. "Plus I like the colour"
"That may be so sweetie but it's also very sexy and has turned many heads in its time" countered the older woman.
"What!" Bastila asked in a horrified voice, not realising the effect her clothes were having on others. What this change how they thought of her or had it already. "Is that why 'he' did not speak. What was he thinking. What would the masters think?"
Seeing her friend in such a panicked sake send Deanna into a plethora of self decided well deserved guilt as the purchase of the suit was the first real decision Bastila had made for herself. She got the suit simply because she wanted it and didn't give it a second thought and here she was having her doubt her chose.
"Hey, hey sweatie it okay I'm sorry, I was just playing with you" the older woman said in a rushed, apologetic tone.
"But if you're right about it distracting others maybe I should not..."
"Don't you dare Bastila Elise Shan!. This is first damn thing you did for yourself in your whole life regardless of what others thought and there's no way in hell I will let you second guess yourself." Deanna reprimanded in slight anger. Frustration coursed through her, not at Bastila but at the Jedi view point that she and her friend should act like damn robots and not the young women they were. It was one of the Jedi teachings that she did not believe in and she was not the only one but since Revan and Malak were of a similar mindset this popular belief was brushed aside even more strongly than before.
"What about the Masters?" she asked in a quiet voice.
"You mean what about Vrook" she snorted. She never liked the man and made no secret of it.
When no answer came Deanna had her answer.
"Listen, do you really think that by simply indulging in yourself every once in a while that it will lead to the darkside?" she asked seriously, her brown eyes locking with Bastila's cobalt ones.
"But Master Vrook...
"Is just one man but he thinks he knows everything. You've seen him, he always argues with everyone about anything that does not met his viewpoint and warns against passion and overconfidence but fails to see it in himself. But enough about that bitter old kath hound, let me tell you something; Jedi throughout the ages have added personal touches to every aspect of lives from designing custom hilts for their lightsabers with personal features to wearing armour instead of robes and so forth. Some even make life style choices depending on their role in the galaxy. So tell me, why should you 'Bastila Shan' be any different?
Author's Notes: Currently rewriting this chapter as it needs more detail but thought I should post this to give an idea of what working towards. Also sorry about the long wait but my creative time is split between this and a npc retexture mod I'm making for KotOR.
All chapters subject to change and improvement if I feel it's necessary.
