Not Milliways Continuity :Aftermath, here be spoilers.

[last_kallig]

Ibani feels....well, she's not sure how to describe what she feels. She comes through the door to Milliways looking shaken and pale, vulnerable. She hates being vulnerable.

Darth Zash tried to steal her body, her identity, her power, her legacy, and was within a hair's breadth of success. Ibani is trying not to think about it, because she's afraid that if she starts to fall apart in here there will be no getting herself back together.

She has her hands wrapped around a mug of something intensely alcoholic, but she hasn't drunk any of it yet. Her hands are shaking, you see, and they never shake.

Comments

[iprotectyou]

"Oh, Ibani," Baze says with a soft sigh. He abandons the kneading and wraps his arms around her again, holding her close. "I'm so sorry. Do you think that will fade in time? It had better."

[last_kallig]

"I hope it will, it has to," she says, leaning into Baze. "Right now it hurts to use the Force to actively DO anything."

And that would be a death sentence, in her position.

[iprotectyou]

"It hurts to use the Force?" Baze says, shuddering. He buries his nose in her hair, squeezing her tight. "I can't even imagine what that must be like. You can stay here until it fades, right? Until you recover?"

[last_kallig]

Ibani nods, hugging him tight. "I plan to. I'm not going back until I'm at 100%."

"It's like my soul is bruised," she explains. "I don't know how else to describe the sensation."

[iprotectyou]

"Good," Baze says, caging her in his massive, meaty arms. He cuddles her close, tucking her into that one comfortable spot in his armor between his arm and his chest. Chirrut's spot. "A bruised soul sounds awful. And bruises are tender for a long, long time. I hope you recover quickly. Is there anything we can do to help?"

[last_kallig]

This feels nice, no wonder Chirrut is so fond of cuddling up to Baze like this!

"So do I. I don't think there's anything you can do, other than what you already are. I wouldn't even know where to start with fixing bruises to the soul."

[iprotectyou]

"Well, you can get blisteringly drunk," Baze says, his voice vibrating through his armored chest. "I'm teasing, of course. But it is an option."

[last_kallig]

Ibani chuckles at that. "Not sure that's a good idea, with my nerves like this. Not taking that option off the table for the entirety of my stay though."

[iprotectyou]

"You can stay with us, if you want to," Baze says, snuggling closely. "We'll protect you."

[last_kallig]

"Thank you," Ibani replies. "I'm more worried about being a threat to myself than outside threats, so long as I have my lightsabers. My ability to sense things through the Force doesn't hurt, which means I should know if there are threats about."

"I haven't really lost control since I was a child, but I've never had anything like this happen either. Hopefully, I won't accidentally break or electrocute anything."

[iprotectyou]

Baze isn't sure how she'd be a threat to herself--or him and Chirrut--until she continues speaking. Then he nods. "I can't even picture you losing control, honestly."

As if Baze is ever not honest.

"I hope you won't, though I can't imagine how a bruise to the soul would cause you to. I don't want you to test your lightning if using your Force powers hurts you, but it would be good to know," Baze says, carding his fingers through her hair. "I am not afraid."

[last_kallig]

"Perhaps you're right and I'm being overly anxious," Ibani admits. "I'm glad you're not afraid." Even if she's not sure how wise it is for him to be unafraid of her.

[iprotectyou]

"Well, even if you zapped me, I would know that you didn't mean to," Baze says, embracing her tightly and swaying a little. "So, there's no reason for me to be afraid. I don't blame you at all for being anxious. If you were completely calm, I'd be really worried."

[last_kallig]

"If I were completely calm, it wouldn't be me, but her wearing my body," Ibani replies wryly. She shudders. "Force, it might have given her access to Milliways!" THERE'S a terrifying thought.

[iprotectyou]

"I hadn't thought of that," Baze says, shuddering again. He frowns, as if the corners of his mouth are tugged down by tiny hooks. "We'd be able to tell that it wasn't you. I'm not sure what we'd be able to do about it, but we'd be able to tell."

[last_kallig]

"I know Chirrut would have been able to tell," Ibani replies. "But are you sure you would have known? She's...cunning, and good at deception."

[iprotectyou]

Baze wilts. "Oh, Ibani, have a little faith," he says, his brow creased. "Maybe I wouldn't have been able to tell at first, but I could eventually. I know you."

[last_kallig]

"It's the eventually that would worry me," Ibani replies, hugging him tightly. "If she thought you were catching on...she'd remove you as a possible threat."

"But it didn't happen," Ibani reassures herself. "Won't happen. You're all safe from her."

[iprotectyou]

"Yes, we are, and you're never going to be in that position again," Baze says, squeezing her close. "Now all you need to do is recover, and we can help with that."

[last_kallig]

Baze is just going to have to deal with a clingy Ibani for a bit. "Thank you. I, I don't know that I could stand being alone right now. Too much time to remember, for my thoughts to go in circles."

[iprotectyou]

Baze can deal with a clingy Ibani! While he wants her back to normal, he'll take the opportunity to cuddle her as much as she lets him.

"I can understand completely," he says warmly, caging her in with his massive arms, providing a shelter from the bar at large. "I wouldn't want to be alone after that either. And you won't have to be. Chirrut and I will be there for you."

[last_kallig]

"Again, thank you. Both of you." Cuddling is good, comforting. "Force, I'm not sure I want to think about what I must 'feel' like in the Force right now."

She grins wryly. "If he wasn't already dead, I might frighten years off his life."

[iprotectyou]

Baze laughs, full and hearty. Dark humor is the best humor. "You very well might! He's described the Force as 'roiling' before. I bet it would be around you, with your soul bruise. I'm... I'm glad I can't feel it. I'll make sure Chirrut is sitting down when you approach--though he'll probably stand up and come to you anyway, to offer comfort."

[last_kallig]

Ibani chuckles. "And use that strident tone he did when I came in with blood on my gauntlet," Ibani adds. "And I'm sure I'll get the 'check for injury' pat down too."

Ibani finds that the thought of those things doesn't bother her a bit.

"I feel like I could sleep for a week, but I know I won't be able to sleep at all right now if I try."

[iprotectyou]

"Absolutely," Baze says, still smiling a little. His smile fades at her next statements, and he nods. "Of course. I don't blame you at all for not wanting to sleep just yet. Maybe we'll have to spar, and wear you out?"