We May Have All Come on Different Ships, But We're in the Same Boat Now (ZAY)

[Gar]

Ni skipped lightly next to Zay as they made they way onto Bay's ship, a happy smile beaming from her face. The dress she wore was very uncharacteristic of her usual attire; long, frumpy, and covering all but her hands and face. She didn't seem conscious of her appearance, though. All of her attention centered on the unique clone person.

"So! Now that all the bad stuff is behind you," the Zeltron says cheerfully, "What would you like to do for your first act as a free citizen of the Republic?!" She spread her arms out wide, "There are so many experiences out there just waiting to be explored! What is your favorite food? Oh! Your favorite drink? Oh! What are your hobbies?!" Ni spun around in front of Zay, lightly hopping as she eagerly awaited her response.

[Akirapryde]

Zay looked up from her data pad with a confused look on her face. Her face covered in grease that had even reached in to her hair. The fine clothing that Unna had bought for her was just as dirty and torn. Zay leaned back in her chair and thought for a moment after the assault of questions ended. There was great care on her face as she thought carefully about these questions.

Finally Zay nodded, "its terrifying," she said plainly and with little doubt in her voice.

[Gar]

Ni frowned, the confusion apparrent in her eyes as she studied the clone's face. "Terrifying? Are you talking about your freedom? I'd think that living with that awful man would be more terrifying than this." The Zeltron pinched the hem of her dress and gently tried to clean off some of the grease.

[Akirapryde]

Zag thought for a moment before answering. "To you this life is normal. You wake up and decide what you will eat for breakfast." Zay slowly lowered head in shame, "I set in the kitchen, well whatn
would be a kitchen, for almost an hour just waiting. For the longest time, I really didn't know what it was I was waiting for. Then it dawned on me. I realized I couldn't just go and take what I wanted. My food has always been laid out for me. The portions, and my drink was always waiting on me. I knew what I was going to eat each and every day cause it was laid out for me."

She fell silent, "I am sorry. I am rambling. It is all so terrifying to me."

[Gar]

Ni pulled up a chair to sit in front of Zay and gently took her hands, telling her emphatically, "No, Zay, listen--you don't owe any apologies to anyone!" She studied the clone's face, "I understand that new experiences can be scary sometimes. But when you try things and find out what you like, it's a lot of fun!" Ni tenderly brushed the stray strands of hair behind Zays' ears and tried to lighten the mood with a giggle and, "No pun intended, but feel free to any food or public utilities! And if you need help getting used to these new sensations, that's what I'm here for!" She offered a positive smile.

[Akirapryde]

Zag drew in a deep breath, "it's not that simple," she said plainly. Ni's highly toned senses detected Zay's anxiety and fear growing. "Each morning I would wake up with my day already planned out. Each and everything that needed to be done and when it must be done."

She started to shake as her fear and anxiety continued to grow. "Just three days ago, my world was in prefect order. Okay I get what everyone has said that I didn't have to expect the beatings. But how will I know if...." she started to tear up, "if I did something wrong. How will I know what I need to do?"

[Gar]

Ni became very quiet for a moment, the silence almost palpable. She took up the clone's hands again and squeezed lightly. "You will know because you will decide. You will also get opinions from friends that care about you. But you don't need beatings to show you how to live," she answered quietly, "That's how the rest of us do it. We dont need to be beaten to know how to act, and neither do you. Bugsie figured out how to live independently, after all, so you can, too..." She paused to reflect for a moment. "Zay, what do you feel you need to do right now?"

[Akirapryde]

Her eyes glazed over with a hint of red as she fought back the tears. "I...I....I" she stuttered. "I" she said looking, searching desperately for any indication of what answer Ni wanted to hear. An emotional wave of panic washed over her, "I...." the emotions ran so powerful that Ni couldn't help but sense then. "I...." she dropped her face in her hands and started to cry, "I don't know......"

She lifted her head as tears washed down her face, "please tell me what I want to do.....please....."

[Gar]

Ni panicked when she saw the tears. "Oh no no no," she said with dismay, wringing her hands, "please, please don't cry! Things will get better, I promise they will!"

The Zeltron was at a loss for how to comfort her. She moved her chair next to Zay and brought the distraught clone into a warm side hug, gently stroking her cheeks to dry her tears. "Dont you have things you like? What are your favorite things?" Ni asked with a tinge of desperation, pulling away slightly to study Zay's face again.

[Akirapryde]

The clone softened up a bit to the hug and made no effort to resist. "I am sorry that my crying brought you distress," she said softly in to Ni's ear.

Zay appeared confused as she desperately sought any sign from Ni of the 'Right' answers. "I enjoy working on Mast...um....on the Pod Racers." Her anxiety gave way to genuine concern, "Oh NO, he has a race this weekend and the Racer wont be ready...."

The moment of honesty passed as Zay glanced in to Ni's eyes. She tilted her head a moment almost as if to mentally face palming herself. Her hands moved with purpose as her face relaxed in to a smile. For Ni, it was something wondrous to behold. Or horrifying. She could see right through the clone's actions and saw Zay dawn an emotional mask. "I am sorry," she said softly. "I have seen how you act and I didn't realize." her hands moved to her buttons as her eyes locked in to Ni's. With each word, she undid a button, "Of course, what I like, is to be with you...."

Despite the perfection in her emotional mask and the complete lack of tells, it was a lie and Ni knew it.