Now and Then (Ali)

[Professor Mors]

Sa'ato was utterly speechless as Aliclair deftly reoriented herself to float at his back, and proceeded to pour out the innermost contents of her heart. His mind and thoughts, meanwhile, were very much abuzz and caught in their own tide of emotion. In truth, he had acted impulsively, both in interrupting Radrom's advances and by proposing this aquatic exercise. Of course there was some nuance beneath the surface- but it was the Neti who had clearly been blind to his own emotions. He smirked, remembering the old adage: the master indeed learns just as much from the student.

Exhaling a small stream of bubbles, the Neti placed a hand on one of the feline's own, and turned his head slightly to glance back at her, "There is nothing to forgive. It is my own weakness- my fixation, my ego, that has brought us here. You are not to blame, least of all for the allure of a few trinkets. There is still much of this galaxy for you to see and experience". The professor paused once more, and contemplated what came next. That they should share a moment like this, embark on a new journey in such a mundane place as a shallow pool- the Neti would have laughed if not for the profundity of the situation.

The risk- the danger was endless, unceasing. But then again, was this not what it meant to be Sith? The Force had brought this unlikely pair together, and together it promised to shatter their chains. The Neti had laboured to unshackle the Felidae from a fearful and uncertain future, and now, it seemed she had taken the first step to free Sa'ato from his past. "I will handle Radrom", the retired lecturer continued at last, "I will not suffer you to know his poisonous hands again". Another, lingering pause. Then, the professor made his decision, "If this is wrong- if you are to fall into sin, you will not do so alone-".

As soon as the thought had left the Neti's mind and entered Aliclair's own, the professor spun about in a watery whorl, catching the feline hybrid's upper back and lower torso in his arms. In an instant, their lips met, and two remained locked in embrace for what felt like an age- the academic's natural production of oxygen and oaken anatomy easily allowing him to breath for the pair unimpeded. What had been intended as a failsafe should his companion falter had become something more: a statement, a declaration. Now, only time would tell what would become of the Dark Side duo.

For the immediate present however, Sa'ato's mission remained. When he finally did elect to decouple from Aliclair, he regarded her with an additional hand on her cheek, before telepathically explaining, "Leave Radrom to me- I believe I can resolve this without bloodshed or further impropriety–". With that, the Neti kicked off the bottom of the pool, and quickly emerged from the water's surface. "If you're done blowing bubbles, I'm about to plate", a still-irritated Radrom called from out the dining room window". "Perfect timing", Sa'ato called back in the friendliest tone of the day, "Can I fetch something from the cellar? What is your pleasure, red or white?".

The Chiss, taken off-guard by this sudden civility, blinked thrice, before flashing his usual sour smile, "White is paramount for this dish- the cooler is just around back". Sa'ato smirked and bowed courteously, before turning to shoot another smile in the Felidae's direction and heading off to retrieve the dinner spirits…