First Rule of Fight Club

[Reuben Azari]

Reuben had been trying to get extra practise in recently, he desperately wanted to improve to become a knight since he knew he was quite old in padawan standards, although the Order hadn't gained traction until about five years ago so he wasn't in a cohort of younglings and instead started training in his mid-teens.

So, he had agreed to meet another padawan for a spar and anything else they saw fit and opted for an evening session since that was when some of the Jedi would return from their day's missions if they weren't travelling too far out into the galaxy. Reuben was keen to improve on his last training session even though it was with a different person, he hoped he could at least prove to himself that he had improved.

When he arrived at the large, empty room it was dusk and his partner hadn't arrived yet so he took a couple of training lightsabers, one to give to his fellow padawan and turned to the doorway at the sound of footsteps.

@jamessour

 

[Kye Gruukran]

Dusk was falling and the evening smells emerged. It was the smell that alerted Kye that he would be running late to his scheduled evening practice, so he picked up his pace to make it to the training facility.

Kye was desperate for action. He wanted to prove himself and wanted the honor of being a knight. He wanted action, and he wanted the honor of battle. As he crossed the threshold he smelled his partner and grimaced slightly. He suspected he'd be training against a human, but always hoped deep down it would be another Bothan.

The Bothan briskly walked closer to Reuben and gave the slightest of bows.

"Excussh my tardinessh, please." Kye spoke solemnly through a heavily accented basic. The basic words felt awkward in his mouth. The use of the tongue for speaking was strange and "s" sounds were nearly impossible for him.

"You are my training opponent, correct?" He gestured for the training saber and eyed Reuben up and down. He wondered how quickly he would be able to defeat him.

@Sunfrog

 

[Reuben Azari]

"It's fine, I only just got here." He responded, holding both training sabers in one hand and holding out his free hand to offer a handshake. "Yes, my name is Reuben."

Reuben wondered how this training would work out given that his opponent was considerably shorter than himself, it could work in his own favour or against it, depending on how the Bothan played his part. He recognised his opponent as a Bothan but only because he had read about them in a book, not because he had ever met one.

He held out the other training lightsaber to Kye and ignited his own, it was hot enough to burn but not enough to scar or cause permanent injuries and depending on the force behind an attack, could cause bruises.

"Should we keep going until someone is disarmed or takes a hit that would've killed them?" He asked before taking a few steps back from his opponent and holding the saber pointed backwards, towards the floor which could easily be recognised as Makashi: Form II's opening stance.

@jamessour

 

[Kye Gruukran]

Kye looked down at the extended hand, a typical human greeting, showing that you meant no harm. Kye arched an eyebrow and sniffed deeply taking in his scent - that was the Bothan greeting with no need for foolish formalities as a touch of the hands.

With a guttural sound have way between a grunt and a growl, the Bothan extended his own hand and completed the hand shake. He didn't intend to be friends, they were here to make each other better.

"I am Kye Gruu'kran, Jedi Padawan." He said the last word with a hint of disdain that he didn't try and hide - he was over being a padawan child. He wasn't a pup anymore.

As Reuben offered the training saber, Kye grabbed it and stepped back, idly tossing it up and down in his hand, testing the balance. Having now made the distance between them just over two meters he stopped and turned to examine his opponent. He was tall. He would have a reach advantage. Perfect, Kye thought as he ignited the saber with a SNAPP-HISS. The blade was of a green color, but its feel was good, other than a bad color.

Kye huffed a bit at Reuben's question. "If this were real combat against a schiiith... we would only shtop once the opponent shurrendered or was un-able to fight any longer..." Kye's ears folded down slightly as he prepared to move, "So unless you're nervoussh, that ish what we should do."

With that he fell into an aggressive stance with his saber held out in front of him in both hands. With a quick turn of his heel, he closed the distance between them with two fast steps, launched by his strong hind-legs, and then swung low right to high left (from Rueben's left shin to right shoulder). Since Reuben was taller, Kye would use his diminutive size and speed as an advantage.

@Sunfrog

 

[Reuben Azari]

It was Kye's response that made Reuben realise he really didn't know the first thing about Bothan culture and that perhaps his handshake could have been regarded as ignorance or rudeness, but Kye shook his hand nonetheless, Reuben would just have to learn from the encounter and become more acquainted with different cultures, especially ones that were prevalent within the Jedi Order.

Though he had only just met this padawan, Reuben could sense that there was something almost haughty about his demeanour, then again he could have been looking too deeply into it. But if it were true and anything he said or did got out of hand here then Reuben wouldn't hesitate to confront the other padawan about it, better hearing it from a peer than from a Jedi master.

"Ok." He agreed. Unless you're nervous, did that almost sound like a threat? "No, I'm not nervous." He replied.

With graceful one-handed swings, Reuben met the attack towards his leg with his green lightsaber and the high attack quickly after. One disadvantage, he had discovered, was that there was a lot more of himself to protect.

Reuben chose to stick to defence for a while before making an attack since Kye was using a much more aggressive and less energy-saving fighting style. He defended himself from attacks for a while, meeting his opponent's green lightsaber with his own in a low hiss of energy. Reuben attempted to get an attack in, aiming for Kye's lightsaber hilt in what would be an attempt to disarm, a move which aimed to sever the lightsaber hilt and make it unusable in a real duel.

@jamessour

 

[Kye Gruukran]

Kye wanted to break the other student's defensive. He struck several times in quick succession, only to have Reuben defend each and every one. Kye's aggressive style would wear on both himself and his opponent, it was just a matter of who would break first.

Reuben struck out, aiming for Kye's saber hilt - the first attack back Kye registered. Instead of trying to block it, Kye rolled to the back and to the right, dodging the strike by going low again, and putting some distance between the two students.

Standing, again, in a ready stance Kye grinned with his fangs bared. Perhaps an all-out assault wouldn't work on this one. Shifting slightly, Kye moved from a two-handed stance to a one-handed stance, something like the start of Soresu. Instead of charging in, this time he slowly closed the distance.

As soon as he was in range he'd begin several orbital strikes designed to look for holes in Reuben's guard. Should he find one, he'd jump up and stab towards Reuben's chest.

@Sunfrog

 

[Reuben Azari]

Reuben had to admit he was impressed by Kye's somewhat unorthodox manoeuvre and took a step away from his opponent when he noticed him gaining distance. He was careful with footwork since it was an important part of form II's fighting style. It was expected that the pair would adapt their fighting style to their opponent and eventually become well acquainted with the others' fighting style that they could notice the others' weaknesses or begin to predict their next move.

It seemed like Kye was doing just that, he appeared to be changing his stance and given that he was holding the saber in one hand it didn't look like a very aggressive stance which was further emphasised by the slow approach.

Reuben met his opponent in the middle and the pair defended themselves well against the other but Kye made an attempt for his chest when there was an opportunity to do so which Reuben didn't expect but just about managed to deflect before putting a second hand on his lightsaber to give himself more strength behind his next series of attacks which included aiming for Kye's shoulder and and arm in quick succession and since Reuben was above Kye's shoulder he could get more downwards power in his attack.

@jamessour

 

[Kye Gruukran]

"Grahhg!" Kye grunted as his strike was blocked just to the side. As he landed from his small leap he was forced to backpedal away as Reuben brought his saber at Kye in a two-handed onslaught. Thankful he was in Soresu, he did his best to flick away the impending strikes, taking small steps back as he blocked.

But Reuben was stronger and taller. Kye couldn't keep this up. Reuben's blade came down toward Kye's shoulder, and Kye moved his blade up to block it, but his strength pushed through the guard. Knowing he was about to be hit, Kye went with it, and as the blade nicked his shoulder, he dropped, swinging his left leg around to sweep Reuben's legs out from under him.

@Sunfrog

 

[Reuben Azari]

His opponent was definitely determined, that much he could tell, if not from what he could see then from what he could feel. He was good at defending too, as most padawans their age had to be if they were to stand a chance in the field.

The moment he felt the blade come into contact with Kye's shoulder the other padawan dropped and swept towards Reuben's legs, an unexpected move which Reuben tried to move out of the way for but instead inadvertently left one leg exposed to the attack which allowed him to get knocked backwards onto the floor with a grunt.


@jamessour

 

[Kye Gruukran]

Kye's nose filled with the smell of burnt fur and he furrowed his brow. He would have lived had that been a live blade.... so he pressed his attack instead of giving Reuben a break. Kye's right shoulder was now hurt, but his left was fine, so still crouched, his feet found their groundings, and he leapt forward with a savage two handed strike toward the now knocked down, Reuben.

He may be small, but he was scrappy, and fast.

Deep within, Kye felt a wierd mixture of anger, resolve, and... admiration? Kye thought he was going to dominate his opponent, but this human was more than a fair opponent. However, he was no Bothan. Kye needed to prove himself to the masters. He was ready.

The green blade swung toward Reuben.

@Sunfrog

 

[Reuben Azari]

Reuben defended himself with both hands on his lightsaber as not to be overpowered, especially since his opponent was above him so it would be easier to push an attack downwards than to defend one upwards. He pushed back with all the strength that he had so it gave him a moment to scramble back onto his feet.

It was all good and well training against other padawans but Reuben had never fought a Sith and he wondered to what standard Sith acolytes fought at but training with his peers certainly made him believe the Sith had something to contend with.

He met the lightsaber with his own again, returning to holding the saber in his dominant hand to defend against Kye while looking for gaps in the other padawan's form in which he could make a quick jab at his abdomen.

@jamessour

 

[Kye Gruukran]

The pair were now locked into a dance of blades and Kye was enjoying himself. He felt that he was getting a true work out for the first time in a long time. It was stuff like this that would help him become a Knight.

It reminded him of what his father used to say about conditioning. If you didn't increase the resistance with time, muscles failed to gain strength. It took constant work. Constant effort. Constant determination. That was the word his father used to use all the time. Determination. "Be determined, Kye." He could almost hear his fathers voice -

ZZZzzap Reuben's blade stabbed at Kye's abdomen singeing through his tunic and fur. Kye yelped and jumped back, deactivating his blade and doubling over.

He had been distracted. He lost focus.... focus was part of being determined. His father would have been displeased. The masters would have been displeased. And, perhaps greater than all, had this been a real fight, Kye would have been dead.

Kye's head sagged slightly, "Kriff..." He swore under his voice. He had been beaten by a human.

Looking up slightly, his off-hand still on his stomach. "You win, Padawan Reuben." There was a resigned tone to Kye's gruff voice.

@Sunfrog

 

[Reuben Azari]

Reuben smiled to himself after managing to hit Kye, pleased that he had won but hid the smile as he approached Kye as he didn't want it being misinterpreted as smugness. He was not very competitive so it wasn't the winning that mattered, it was the principles, it meant he was improving.

Since the other padawan was clutching his stomach Reuben asked, "Are you ok?" as he deactivated his own lightsaber. Kye had been a worthy adversary, maybe he just needed more practice on people of different sizes.

Having experienced a losing blow in lightsaber training with another padawan, Reuben knew all too well how disheartening it can be if you let it but as it shows, you win some, you lose some, you just have to learn and come back stronger next time.

"Good duel." He said with a small bow of the head rather than a handshake. "Don't worry, it happens to all of us, I took a similar blow in a training session last week." He tried to offer support if the other padawan was feeling disheartened by the encounter.

@jamessour

 

[Kye Gruukran]

Kye shrugged at Reuben's question about his health and grunted, slowly standing. "I'm fine. Getting shtabbed ish never pleashurable."


Shaking off the pain and the emotion, Kye stood as tall as the Bothan could and returned the small bow that Reuben offered. It was a fine duel, but he had gotten distracted. Why? What was weighing on him so heavily to distract during a duel?

Kye's expression turned slightly sour upon hearing Reuben's attempt to empathize with the Bothan. "It may happen to many, but it shhhouldn't happen to me! It doeshn't happen to me. If it had in combat I would have died! There is NO honor in death." The volume of his voice had turned from a pleasant conversation to a bellowing half-yell. Kye's teeth were bared, but he wasn't angry at Reuben, he was angry at himself.

After a small awkward silence, Kye's shoulder's sagged, and his ears mimicked the motion. No longer looking proud, or angry, Kye looked up, his blue eyes meeting Reuben's gaze.

"I apologizhe Padawan Reuben. I shpoke out of turn... out of anger. It was, indeed, a fair fight." If Reuben was observent he could tell that there was more Kye wanted - no needed - to say, but likely wouldn't without careful questions.

@Sunfrog

 

[Reuben Azari]

"Yeah." Reuben agreed quietly, unsure what other help he could offer. The other padawan would get over his injury pretty quickly, that was the point of training lightsabers after all.

Reuben was surprised by Kye's outburst and was at first annoyed by the arrogance his peer seemed to display but he could sense that the anger was not directed at him but rather Kye was feeling frustrated with himself, understandably, but seemed to be dealing with it in quite a negative way.

He let Kye say what he had to say before trying to reason with him, listening to him calmly and patiently until he apologised. He could argue to disagree that there was no honour in death but maybe now wasn't the best time.

"Hey." He said gently, putting a hand on Kye's shoulder. "It's okay, I know it's frustrating but we all have to make mistakes to learn." He said with empathy, being able to understand the frustration himself though it had not come out quite as sideways as Kye's frustration. "Why do you put so much pressure on yourself?" He asked.

@jamessour

 

[Kye Gruukran]

Kye's whiskers bristled slightly as Reuben touched his shoulder. Touch was always a bit off for Kye, especially with non-Bothans, but he understood what Kye was meaning to communicate.

His body language oozed embarrassment, with one arm subconsciously crossing in front of his chest as if to protect his wounded heart.

"It's not any mistake... but thish shpecific mishtake." Kye gestured with his other hand, his eyes avoiding Reuben's now, "You likely wouldn't undershtand as a human - but for ush Bothansh, honor ish everything. To lose a battle, even a training battle, this late into my training, when I am no longer a youngling, but an adult is humiliating enough, but how I losht..... the reashon I losht would have brought great dishonor to my family. My mind wandered, as though I was shtill a pup... I made a fatal, and shtupid error losing focus, and determination. That ish why I'm angry.

Doesh your kind undershtand familial honor?"

Kye rarely opened up, but as he had already embarrassed himself, he felt he had nothing to lose. Reuben had bested him and deserved to know the truth. On top of that, Kye smelled sincerity off of him.


@Sunfrog

 

[Reuben Azari]

As Reuben listened to Kye, he realised the cultural challenges other people joining the Jedi might face which he had never thought about before. He thought about his home planet and how family was definitely valued there but he never thought it had anything to do with honour but it seemed to be different for Bothans.

"I know it's not ideal but being a Jedi is risky and everyone makes mistakes, even the most accomplished Jedi." He tried to offer some comfort to his fellow padawan. "Don't be angry- learn." He said in response.

"Yeah, I don't think it's quite as important to all of us as it is to Bothans though. On my planet we strongly believe in the importance of family but we don't believe so much in familial honour but I can understand what you mean." Reuben could sense the embarrassment in Kye as well as see it in his body language. "You will always be learning, you won't ever stop, just like you'll always be making mistakes, hopefully ones that won't be fatal in the future, but if you think of everything else you'll achieve then surely your family would be honoured by that?"

@jamessour

 

[Kye Gruukran]

Kye shrugged non-committally. What Reuben said made sense, in as much as a human could, and Kye felt like a child. He made a mistake during the fight and only made it worse by his outburst. Shaking his head, he straightened slightly.

With a small laugh, he looked up and met Reuben's eyes, "Perhaps they would. You never know, Bothan parents desire strange things from their children. They were excited to have a child in the newly founded Jedi."

With a small pause, Kye extended his hand to shake Reuben's hand again. "Padawan Reuben, I want to apologize again. I made mistake after mistake, only making it worse. In my effort to prove myself worthy of Knighthood, I've only solidified my need to still be a padawan. It's a humiliation, but perhaps a good one. Will you forgive my rudeness and my outbursht? I shtrugle with interacting with non-bothans, and don't know quite what'sh appropriate at times - the masters have helped with jedi skills, but not others."

@Sunfrog

 

[Reuben Azari]

"Oh really? My aunt and uncle weren't exactly excited but they were supportive of me and my cousin coming here." He replied. Though he didn't know his father personally, from what he had been told by his aunt and uncle he thought his father would definitely approve of him joining the Jedi, if not be proud of him.

Reuben shook Kye's hand. "I have to admit, I don't know a lot about Bothan culture, I apologise, you must think me ignorant." He said truthfully. "But I'm willing to learn." He added.

"I understand, we all want to be knights but a lot of us started training much later than the Jedi before us, it'll take patience -a virtue the Jedi value no doubt. Of course I will, you were angry at yourself, not me, I think you need to forgive yourself, you seem to be too hard on yourself." He tried offering some advice. "I'd love to learn about your culture and help you adjust to human culture at the same time... if you wouldn't mind?" He offered.

@jamessour

 

[Kye Gruukran]

"You shpeak truth, Padawan Reuben, and you honor me with your words."

Kye considered the other student's offer or helping each other learn their respective cultures. It would be nice to have someone here that knew Kye and his thought process. Also, knowing more human culture would be immensely helpful, as humans made up a large part of the galactic population.

With a firm and practiced bow Kye spoke, "I would enjoy that Padawan Reuben..."Then scratching the back of his head with a crooked smile snarl and throaty laugh, "I need it. We musht better ourselvesh to better the galaxy. It is in need, and we are what the Forcshe has chosen to make the way."

After a long beat, he added, "It alsho wouldn't hurt to have a... friend."

@Sunfrog