Donna walked quickly down the hallway and towards the gardens. She could not find Rua anywhere and she was really hoping he was not getting into any trouble. Most importantly, she hoped he was safe and not hurt somewhere. Not everyone was overly amused with having the fox run around King’s Landing, but Donna couldn’t force Rua to do anything. He would do as he pleased. She had already tried sending him to the wild, but he would always sneak back into King’s Landing.
Donna caught side of a bushy red tail going down the steps and she started running after it. She quickly hopped down the steps and deeper into the gardens, when she caught sight of Rua, standing up, his front paws on Hea’s legs.
“Your Grace! Is Rua bothering you?” she immediately moved forward towards Rua. “Come Rua, come here. Stop cuddling up to Her Grace.”
Send me a ◊ and my character will react to yours kissing them in the sheer excitement of a moment.
Well, that was certainly a surprise. Kyle understood the celebration; Oa was safe and they were alive. There wasn't much better than that.
What really caught him off guard was the alien girl hadn't seemed very interested in him at all. Not even a slight "oh look, another Lantern" sort of interest.
He didn't have the heart to push her away, though, with everyone celebrating around him, but he certainly didn't encourage her.
As she originally thought, the disturbance was nothing more than low level pirating. Because of the time in the solar cycle of the particular system they were in, piracy was at its peak at the moment. Once the summer trade began to dwindle toward the approach of autumn, so would the pirating. There would still be some to stir up trouble, but there would be far less than there currently were.
“The last of them have been secured,” Hea announced drifting closer to where her mentor was observing the area. She had been quiet, more so than usual, as of late. The young Seyonian couldn’t help but wonder if everything was all right. Such conversations were not best to be held in the field, though. She’d approach the subject at a later time. “Shall we be on our way back home?”
For a beat, Laira let the silence stretch between them. Then, with a sigh, she said, “Start the journey ahead of me. I would like to do one last sweep of the area before I return to Jayd.”
“I can linger with you,” Hea insisted. “There is nothing urgent that I need to return to at the moment.”
Laira shook her head, already drifting out in the direction she planned to venture. “Return home, Hea. I am just doing one final check. I will be fine.”
Hea knew better than to argue, even if she greatly wished to do so. Perhaps her mentor simply needed time to herself. The stars could provide a wonderful place to muse over matters when they were plaguing the mind. With a nod, Hea turned to do as she was instructed. Before she departed, she turned back to look at Laira. “If you require any aid, you know to contact me.”
Laira nodded and waved her away without ever turning to look back at her. She just needed a little longer to herself. Perhaps the darkness could help her understand what was amiss with her.
She hadn’t meant to let her thoughts consume her the way they had. Distraction when one was out in space only could lead to death, a fact that she’d made sure to constantly remind Hea of when she was initially instructing her. Her thoughts had driven her to the brink, though, and before she had time to properly register the warning her ring was sounding in her mind, she was being hit from the side by a beam of crimson.
She’d had enough time to throw up a hasty shield before the beam struck. However, it did very little good and splintered underneath the force of the assault. Righting herself, Laira was able to get a look at her attacked. Of all the things that could have found her, a Red Lantern had stumbled across her. Or perhaps she had stumbled across him. It looked as if the being wasn’t one of the ones Atrocitus had seen fit to restore cognition to. He seemed as bestial and rabid as she had been when the red light had initially claimed her. Such an existence was no way to live.
There was very little time to think of a proper plan of action. The Red Lantern came at her again, utilizing his plasma this time in an attempt to be rid of her. Another construct ceased the volatile substance from reaching her. It was quickly eaten away, though, and some of the plasma splashed against her arms and stomach. Her uniform was quickly dissolved in the places the plasma hit and her skin paid the price for it. She clenched her teeth against the burning and made for the nearest planet. She was losing power fast and needed to end this before she was without a means to defend herself.
She could hear the sound of the Lantern pursuing her, the wild growls and hisses close behind her. Red Lanterns were strong in there bestial state. However, they were also stupid. She paused just outside the planet’s gravitational field and waited. She’d have to time it perfectly. She waited until the absolute final second before darting out of the way of the approaching Red Lantern. He turned in an attempt to pursue her, but it was too late by then. He was already caught in the planet’s pull like an insect within the web of a spider. She used his confusion to her advantage and struck a fatal blow. It was a merciful end, in her eyes.
The fight, coupled with the confrontation with the pirates earlier, had left her with little charge left in her ring. She didn’t have enough to return back home. Sighing, she headed down onto the planet below her. She could power down there and use her charm to transport herself back to her home.
Landing, Laira had to shield her eyes in order to gaze around her. There was nothing on the planet but a vast desert landscape. The sun was bright and the heat practically unbearable. She couldn’t linger there for long. Powering down, Laira immediately reached for the chain that normally resided around her neck. She tensed when her fingers brushed nothing but smooth flesh. Where was her necklace?
Panic surged thought her then as a thought struck her. She’d pulled her necklace off when she had been at Hal’s and tucked it into her coat pocket. Her coat, she had left back in her bedroom after she’d returned home.
She couldn’t let the panic take her. She had to think clearly or else she would die on this world. Exhaustion was already beginning to seep into her bones because of the high temperature. Taking a breath, she debated her options. In the end, she knew the only thing she could do was send out a distress call. Hea could not have been too far away. She knew, at the very least, she had not yet reached Seyonus. The distress call would have her coordinates and it was likely that her partner was the only Lantern close enough to get to her in a reasonable time.
Sighing, Laira used more of her remaining charge to send out the signal. What was left, she kept in case she stumbled across something she needed to defend herself against. The ring showed no signs of other life on the world, but that did not mean something else from off the world couldn’t stumble across her. Her confrontation with the Red Lantern was proof enough of that.
Glancing about her, she attempted to spy something she could possibly use to seek shelter in. If she lingered in the sun for long, she would not last to see her partner arrive. In the distance, there looked to be an outcropping of rocks clustered together. Perhaps there would be something there that could keep her alive until Hea reached her. She could only hope that there was. If not, she did not know what she was going to do.
I love reading your threads and how you play Laira. You've given her way more depth than the comics did. I wanted to ask if there is anyone that Laira trusts outside of Hal? Or that she trusts on the same level as him.
First and foremost, thank you for reading my threads and enjoying my portrayal of Laira! That’s always a wonderful compliment to read. As I’ve told other people in passing before, Laira had the potential to be a good character when she was still alive in the comics. Unfortunately, she wasn’t given anything that I would label as true decent development. What she was given was so cliched and utterly disrespectful to her character that it made me want to say not nice things. I won’t get on that soapbox, though.
I keep Laira as a generally “distrusting” individual for a number of reasons. Some of them include (**starred items are personal headcanons developed by myself):
Her father massacring her mother’s family to take power for himself and then taking her mother as a hostage**
Her brother being aware of what their father had done and keeping his secrets for him**
The remaining Lost Lanterns testifying against her after she struck down Amon Sur
A great deal of the Corps still viewing her as a traitor because of her time as a Red Lantern**
Again, those are only SOME of the instances that have helped to foster the feelings of distrust that Laira all too often harbors around others. There are other things as well that could be mentioned, but the ones listed above are the things that stick out in my version of her.
Also, I do consider Laira being left for dead when she faced Hal when he was Parallax as one of the instances that has contributed to her distrust in others. However, since she has moved past that and been able to forgive Hal on her own terms, I’m not going to list it as one of the big reasons. However, I believe that it is important to note that, at a point in her life, it was a highly contributing factor to her mistrust of others.
After everything that Laira has been put through in her life, it’s only natural that she would build walls to protect herself with. A person can only be hurt so much before they decide to close themselves off to the world (be it short term or long term). Eventually, it simply becomes easier to shut the world away than risk the possibility of being hurt once again.
Laira does trust Hal in every way possible. It was not an easy thing for her to come by. In the beginning of their relationship, in fact, a lack of trust from Laira made things quite difficult for Hal and for her for some time. However, if she did not trust Hal entirely or if there was even the slightest bit of uncertainty in her mind, she wouldn’t have agreed to marry him.
As far as other individuals go, the only other person aside from Hal that Laira currently speaks openly with is Hea Imai, her sector partner. A bond has formed between the two since they have become partners with one another, one that has allowed Laira to develop a bond of trust with the other that she currently only has with Hal.
"We should have those tended to," Laira stated, motioning to the lacerations on the younger woman's face. They were not life threatening, not by any means, and the ring would help to speed up the healing process. However, Laira thought it best to at least see that they were properly cleaned at least.
Hea reached up to gingerly touch the deep gash running along her cheek. She winced a bit at the light touch, though made no sound of discomfort. "I suppose a trip to the infirmary is needed," Hea relented. She looked up at the princess, "Would it be possible for you to direct me there? I am still attempting to learn my way around this planet."
"Your ring can guide you," Laira told her. "However, I do not think believe that a visit to the infirmary is required for such injuries. I can tend to them myself back in my own quarters."
"Oh," Hea looked back down upon hearing that, slightly embarrassed at not being aware of such a function within the ring. "I was unaware of such a thing," she finally admitted. "I apologize."
Laira gave her a soft smile, though the gesture was lost with Hea's gaze being directed at the ground. "You are still in the process of learning. That is what training is for. There is no need for an apology."
The younger woman nodded, "Yes, Lantern Laira."
"Just Laira, Hea. You will find that I am not one for such formalities.
"Of course," she paused for a moment before she finished, "Laira."
"Good," Laira nodded. "Now, come with me. We will see to your wounds." It would be quicker to fly back to her quarters, so she took to the air without warning. Her pace was not as quick as it normally was, a shift to insure that the younger girl could properly keep pace with her. Logic suggested that if Hea was already in combat training that Kilowog had already covered the basis of flight with her and the other Lanterns in her group. She wanted to see just what the younger girl knew, though.
Hea gave a silent nod and followed the princess when she took to the skies. Flying was her favorite skill that she'd learned thus far in her training. She'd fantasized about being able to fly since she was a young child. Finally being able to do something such as that was like a dream come true for her.
Laira spared only a minor glance back to make sure that Hea was staying with her. She didn't seem to be having any problems, something that Laira liked to see. Training would be easier if she had been able to pick up on some of the easier skills early on.
It was a short trip to the room she occasionally used during her visits. Oa had never felt like another home to her, especially since her return. The room that she used every so often was more or less as it had been when she had been assigned to it. It was an impersonal space. In a way, Laira preferred to keep it that way.
"Take a seat," Laira instructed, motioning to the chair that was in front of a small desk. "I will get some supplies to tend to you wounds. Make yourself comfortable," she said, turning to enter into her washroom.
Hea pulled the chair from away from the desk and took a seat with a quiet sigh. It had been a long day and tomorrow would be yet another repeat. She was closing in on the completion of training, though. That was what kept her going.
While Laira rummaged for things in her washroom, Hea took a moment to examine the contents that were laid out in front of her on the desk. It was clearly the place that the princess spent the most time while occupying her room. There were various pads scattered across the surface along with several books. Hea didn't recognize the language, but she assumed that it was Jaydian. What intrigued her the most was a golden colored egg-shaped object that was on the corner of the princess' desk. Leaning forward to inspect it a little closer, she startled when the top fanned open and a holographic video appeared above the open top.
She recognized Laira in the hologram, though she could not tell who the other individual was. It was a male, clearly, and he was taller than the princess. He did not look to be a member of her species. It was difficult to determine what, or who, he might be.
Hea was startled yet again when Laira put down the supplies. "I am sorry," she apologized. "I was not attempting to pry, it simply," she stopped when Laira held a hand up to silence her, a small smile on her face.
"It is motion activated, Hea," she assured, reaching out to swipe her hand in front of the object. The image that had been playing above it immediately disappeared and the top that had fanned open closed. "You were not in the wrong," she chuckled, reaching out to twist a small dial on the side of the projector. It would keep it from opening again at the detection of motion.
"Regardless," Hea murmured, eyes turning down to her hands, "my apologies for viewing your private things."
"There has been no harm done," Laira spoke, picking up a cloth the she doused in antiseptic. "Lift your head, please," she said. When the girl complied, she warned, "This might sting initially. It will help numb the pain and reduce the swelling and bruising of the area." She then carefully dabbed at the laceration that was running along the girl's cheek.
Hea flinched at the initial contact of the cloth to her skin. As the princess had warned, the solution did sting when it was dabbed on her skin. After a moment or so, the stinging subsided and her skin began to simply tingle. Eventually, the pain was gone entirely.
"Not so horrid, yes?" Laira asked, moving the cloth over the wound with soft dabs.
"No, not at all," Hea replied, staying still so that the princess could work in peace. She had never been one to put much faith in the rumors she heard. In this first meeting with Laira, it seemed that all the rumors she'd heard about her, the bad ones at least, had been proven to be false. She was not as harsh a person as Hea had been led to believe. Quite the opposite, in fact. For all she could see, Laira seemed to be a very nurturing person. She was quiet, yes, and there was a definite air of seriousness around her. But she did not seem cruel or cold at all.
Why the other Lanterns seemed to hate her so much just because she'd lost control and fell to the influence of the red light was a mystery.
"You have been previously trained in the art of combat, am I correct?" Laira questioned, putting the cloth down on her desk. Taking a moment to examine the wound once more, she then picked up a round canister and twisted the top off of it. She dabbed her fingers lightly in a white colored salve and applied it to the cut.
"All priestesses of Adarea are required to have training in defensive arts," Hea supplied.
Laira's fingers ceased their movements at her answer. She gave the girl a somewhat surprised look. "You are a servant to the war goddess of Seyonus?"
Hea nodded, smiling at the fact that the princess was familiar with the deity that she served. "I have been since I was fourteen cycles of age. It is believed that anyone who serves Adarea should be able to properly defend themselves and others if the occasion ever presented itself. Adarea protects the soldiers during battles. It would not be proper for those that serve her to be unable to do the same to the innocents that do not enter battle."
"You have a good basis for combat," Laira said after Hea had finished explaining things to her. "You should easily be able to pick up techniques that will be better suited for you."
"Better suited?"
"Yes," Laira nodded. "The techniques that you know are good ones and quite effective. They are more suited for a larger individual who relies on pure strength. I can teach you ones that will be better for your body type. They will rely more on your agility and your speed, both of which are quite impressive from what I saw today during your sparring session." Finishing applying the salve to the cut, Laira reached to grab a piece of pre-cut gauze and placed it over the cut. Then, she secured it with tape. "There, that one is finished," she announces while she sealed the canister containing the salve once more.
"It does feel better," Hea commented with a smile, reaching up to lightly press at the covered skin. "Thank you."
"No need for thanks," she insisted. "There is not much I can do for your lip, aside from clean away the blood," she started, leaning in with a different cloth soaked in warm water and starting work on the last injury. "If you would like some of the antiseptic to numb the pain, I can apply some of it."
"It is not too painful," Hea mumbled while Laira kept dabbing the cloth. "This will be more than sufficient," she insisted once it seemed that the princess was finished tending to her. "You are quite knowledgeable of fighting techniques. Have you learned them all from your time as a Lantern?" The stories she'd heard about the princess' skills in combat were vague in detail. She didn't know when she'd learned to fight.
"I was trained in combat at a young age," Laira answered. "I had been fighting long before I was ever recruited into the Corps."
"Has it aided you?"
"I believe that it has," Laira admitted. "Learning to control a ring is something entirely new, of course, but I believe that my training helped in some ways. It certainly helped in the physical strain. I have seen a great deal of promise in you from today alone. I believe given the proper amount of time, you will develop into a fine Lantern."
Hea smiled again at the praise, head ducking when she felt the rise of a subtle blush.
"I must give you a warning, though," Laira began again. "I will not be an easy mentor. My expectations are high and will remain so. The training that I will put you through will not be simple. I will, however, watch your back in the field when we reach that stage. I hope that I can expect the same for you."
Hea looked up once Laira was finished, expression solemn, and nodded. "I want to be a capable Lantern. I will do my best to live up to your expectations."
She was small. That was the first thing that Laira noticed about her. The second was that she'd had previous training before being recruited into the Corps. Normal individuals could not take the blows she'd been taking and simply return to their feet with a few grimaces. She knew how to move and deflect the strikes so that they did less damage, a tactic that Laira remembered learning all too well during her youth as well as in her initial training days as a Lantern.
The third, and last, thing was her spirit. She was a quiet thing. Laira had yet to hear her speak a word, but there was a fire behind her gaze that the princess could make out even from where she was currently supervising. There was defiance there, a silent determination to stand her ground and not give in despite the beating her sparring partner was giving her.
Laira liked what she saw a great deal. There was promise in the recruit, something she couldn't say for the others at that moment.
"That is enough," she called when the small recruit was dealt a savage looking blow to her midsection and sent flying back a good few feet. She stayed down that time, only managing to push herself halfway off the ground before collapsing back into the dirt.
The other recruit seemed to not hear her, or either paid no attention to her order, and continued stalking toward the downed girl. It didn't take much to catch the offender and halt him in his tracks. A simple tendril of light around a raised arm did the trick. "I said that is enough," she snapped out, construct tightening for emphasis around the held arm. The recruit gave her a look, one that she'd seen all too often since her return to the Corps. Then, he tugged his arm in an attempt to free it from her hold.
This was not her job to do, and she was only doing so because Kilowog had asked her to monitor them while he was occupied with other matters. She'd tell him about this one and his inability to follow a simple order from a veteran Lantern. The light around his arm gave another squeeze before forcing his arm out and back at an awkward angle. The force of the push wasn't enough to break the limb, but it was enough to bring a sharp sense of pain and, hopefully, the realization that her orders were meant to be followed while she was in command.
"You are dismissed," she told him, using the construct to push him back across the training area where three other recruits were standing. They scattered after that, fleeing away from the area and from her with hushed murmurs. She caught the majority of the whispers and scoffed. She'd been called worse by far better.
Her attention turned then to the remaining figure in the area. Floating to where she was attempting to stand again, Laira landed softly in front of her and knelt to offer her hands to the other.
"That was quite impressive," she complimented. "I have seen very few take such blows and continue to return to their feet."
When the smaller female took her hands, Laira helped her to her feet. She was indeed a great deal smaller than Laira, the female barely reaching the princess' shoulder. She was petite as well. Her hair was white and her skin was a pale pink hue. The sclera of her eyes, like many other species she'd encountered, were black while her irises were a bright gray. Her features looked familiar, though Laira could not immediately place them.
"Thank you," the other murmured, eyes fixated on the ground. "That is a great compliment coming from someone such as yourself." Reaching up, she tucked a wild piece of white hair behind her ear. "I have heard about you," she admitted.
Laira frowned. The stories that circulated about her, especially on Oa, were ones that were not decent in nature. "Is that so? And what have you heard of me?"
"Stories," she shrugged. "A great many have been about your fighting skills and your rule of your home planet. Jayd has a fascinating history."
"You know a great deal of Jayd?"
Again, another shrug. "My home planet trades a great deal with your own. We are known for our silks. You visited our capital once some years ago. I remember seeing you."
Laira's brow lifted at the mention of silks. Jayd only conducted trade with one planet that dealt with silks. "You are from Seyonus?"
"Yes, Princess."
"Laira, please," she insisted. "Please, tell me your name."
The Seyonian looked up at her for the first time since they'd started their conversation. Her lip was split from her fight and there was a gash running along her left cheek. "Hea Imai. I am to be your sector partner."
