Force Blooming (Solo pre-TFS Thread)

[Odric]

Force Blooming ​

The Bela Vistal area, Corellia. The home of Wa'ra and Ander Arriston with their son, Odric.
Late morning, His mother and father have the day off. ​

The teen heard whispers that morning, Odric was his name and, while getting out of bed felt aggravated. This wasn't the first time he'd felt like this so it wasn't so strange, his mother said it was because of his age, adolescence. She was mostly right by chocking it up to simple youth but, these whispers that he heard are in fact a connection to something greater than himself. Little did he realize that upon him was a change, both in himself and the path before him and as he woke to his mother calling him through to the kitchen, that change had already begun.

"Odric!, Breakfast is made so come through." there was a pause for a moment while Odric dizzily opened his eyes and groaned, "NOW!" she yelled snappily.

'Uh oh' he thought, that was his mother's angry voice which meant that she and his father were having some kind of dispute. He rolled out of the bed and swung his legs around, a big yawn again as he stood up. He was a relatively pale boy, not overly skinny but showed promise of being well built in his future. Brunette hair and blue eyes with a strong jawline like his fathers, quite a catch at his age even if you account for the abnormal greyish tinge to his skin. He stumbled down the stairs from his room, entering the lounge and then walking through the arch into the kitchen, his father was sat at the table reading a book and talking to Wa'ra.

"I said no, getting angry won't change that fact." The mother after putting the food on the table looked at him, her right eye practically twitching with frustration. "I am a terrible cook, I know that, But the least you could do! Is put in extra money for food so I can practice!" .

There was a small moment of silence where she was breathing a bit heavily, they must have been at it for a little while because she was near fuming. "Waste of money, Waste of food" He said with a big grin as he looked at Odric, the boy himself grinning a little bit.

This served nothing but the purpose of making his mother angrier, muttering under her breath as she dished a plate up to Odric's side of the table, a plate that seemed to have, Egg? on it. Odric was unsure as he sat at the table, for a moment he felt something pulling him but he was unsure what it was, shaking the feeling off. A cup filled with fruit juice was placed next to him by his mother who was still walking around with a 'huff' in her step. His father, Ander, As always seemed to be perfectly calm, Odric would expect nothing less from a former Jedi.

"Father, What's the most fun you ever had as a Jedi?" he said with an expression of curiosity and hope, Odric's father knew that his son wanted to be a Jedi despite his attempts to sway him from it. "I was not a Jedi for fun Odric, and telling you stories of the Jedi won't serve any purpose." Wa'ra sighed, rolling her eyes as she did what she could to scrape the burnt egg off the pan, wishing she'd spent as much time home with Odric as Ander has, maybe Odric wouldn't have his head in the clouds if she'd had.

Their son was starting to get a little bit annoyed, already aggravated by something he couldn't explain. He had finished the egg, it was kind of burnt which only served to lessen his mood as he tried to get rid of its taste with the fruit juice. He'd drank all of it and then near slammed it on the table, expressing his discontent with his father's reply. In doing this, both parents immediately called him out for being rude. "You're letting your emotions rule you." Was all his father said, His mother on the other hand, "Really? That's all you're going to say to him when he acts like that?" she said with a hint of disappointment in her voice while Odric was trying to walk out. "Odric back in here right now, Put your dirty dishes away cause I'll be damned if I'm playing the good 'housewife' for you too."

Odric felt weird, his emotions out of control as if driven by something, panting as he just stood there, his mother was getting increasingly angry as he did nothing. "Did you hear what I just said!?" his mother snapped again, Ander was watching Odric a little closer this time, sensing something was off despite him cutting himself off from the force. Odric turned around, a face that was holding back his rage, his mother went instantly from angry to concerned, motherly instinct kicking in. "Honey...what's the matter?" she said, endearingly as a mother should when they are worried. Odric saw this and despite knowing his mother was worried, he snapped back "Whatever, FINE!, You want the dishes done!" the teenager said while stamping his feet towards the table, reaching out to grab the cup but, he wanted so much to just throw it, to smash it to make a statement, that cup... *SMASH!!*

The cup was smashed against the ground having been pushed off the table, Odric didn't really recognise what had happened, thinking he must have shoved it off the table in anger. He looked at his hand, an expression of shock and shame mixed in one, a tear almost forming in his eyes as he looked at his parents. ""I'm sorr-..." He cut himself off in a pause, hesitating to talk "Odric...calm down" His father said, having seen what his son had done. His mother was unable to talk as she just looked in shock too, a drop in her jaw. Odric looked at his mother and father, both looking at him in not anger but, surprise as if they were more shocked than he was. "I didn't mean, t-to do that..I'm sorry.." Odric said while unable to cope with their looks, turning around and running upstairs into his room, "Odric no!, It's not your-!" the slam of the door that made Ander stop talking, Odric went over to his bed and sat down. He was fourteen and yet still so childish and naive, he loved his father so much and he just did that to them.

Odric's face was in his hands feeling sorry for himself, after pushing past it with what little maturity he had he reached out, grabbing and sliding in a couple of earpieces, just, listening to music to drown the thoughts out.

"You saw it didn't you." Wa'ra said to Ander, looking at him with a look of worry and anger over her child, their son. "Yes, The cup flew." Ander replied with a calm reply to which coaxed anger from Wa'ra, "It didn't just fly Ander! It was pushed without him touching it!" , Ander took a deep breathe in through his nose. "I know." He said, coaxing an even louder and angrier statement from his wife, "He hadn't TOUCHED IT!" .

Ander himself was starting to get angry and for the first time in a long time, he too shouted. "I KNOW, WA'RA!" , standing up in a loss of his own temper, "YOUR SON JUST USED THE FORCE AND THAT'S ALL YOU SAY!" . Ander slammed his book on the table after closing it, "HE DIDN'T USE THE FORCE, ... His emotions did, They ruled him for a split moment..." Her husband said, his voice descending in pitch as he trailed, worry coming over him. "You know what he needs... Like it or not, Honey, you have to teach him now." Ander's face curled up as he perished the thought, but he knew she was right. "It's not that simple... I'm not..." . Wa'ra could see her husband struggling with what he had to do, she went to him, locking her arms around him in an embrace, pulling his head to her shoulder to rest. "I know Sweetie, You cut yourself off, but he needs a teacher right now and you need to be strong." She lifted his head off her so that he could look into her eyes, sorrow in his.

"We need to be strong, Together, ok?" Ander dreaded that this day would come but, Wa'ra made anything seem possible if given the chance. "Ok, I will do it not just for him, but for you too love."

With the outburst over and the new obstacle to face, Ander set out on a trip up the mountain to the tallest part of the range, the highest rock. Meanwhile, back at the house, Wa'ra had gone to comfort her son.​

Odric raised his head at the knock at the door, turning his head away as he sat in silence, already under the impression that his father left because of how mad he was. "Honey? Open the door it's me, your mother." she said in an almost too endearing way, Odric could tell she was playing the 'I'm your loving mother' card. "Go away!" Odric said without meaning it, conflicted from being in his room for an hour with nothing but his thoughts. "Come now, Your father and I are not mad at you, we're just worried, please open the door?"

Odric looked defeated, as if won over by the need to seek affection and forgiveness. He opened the door to let his mother in and then sat back down on the bed, Wa'ra walked in and looked at the state of her son's room, electing not to bring it up at this point in time. "How ya doing lil-ric" she said, teasing at his childhood nickname, he paid not much mind and actually found it a little bit comforting. "I didn't mean to break the glass..." he mumbled trying to remain 'cool' while giving his mother an apology. She sat down beside him and gave him a big hug, squeezing a little too tightly for his liking. "I know sweetheart, your father knows too." She said reassuringly, releasing her grip on him. "Really?" he said in an attempt to be further assured. "Really." his mother said in reply with a warm, inviting smile on her face.

The two talked for a bit there in his room, she went downstairs first and started finishing up the dishes, Odric gave in and came downstairs to give his mother a hand. After the dishes were done the two sat down in the lounge across from the window, looking out at the mountain, it was after a minute of silence that Wa'ra began to speak. "When you broke the cup, did you feel anything?" she said in a straight to the point fashion. Odric was confused by the question, his knack for always being the smartest person in the room made this question feel all the more nerve-wracking as if taking a test. "Angry, But I felt sorry straight away!" he said in an abrupt and awkward manner. "Not what I meant, I meant did you 'feel' anything?" she said again, this time with new emphasis.

"Yeah, it was weird." Odric said, now actually thinking about it, wondering about it. It seems as good as he was in his physical activities his wisdom was still greatly lacking, he couldn't work out that it was a manifestation of the force. Not having ever felt it would be an excuse this time, his mother couldn't help just look at him while he sits there, puzzled. "Next time you are getting that angry, Just tell us ok, We spoil you and we baby you but, we love you and we care for you. So you need to tell us when you're like this otherwise we can't help." He thought about what she said, her words were comforting, so much so that he was a little angry at himself for not telling them how aggravated he was, but it was ok now. "Ok."

He was looking out the window, It was just after midday, the sun was just passing over the center of the sky. "Can I go out with friends?" He said in honesty as if everything that had happened today was just a small quarrel. She felt it wise though, Normally no but, this time yes, he'd need to get some fun in before his father got back. "Alright but be back before dark. I don't care how much your father taught you, it's dangerous to be out alone at night. Besides, I have some work stuff to do."

His mood changed almost instantly, "Thank you!" he said, the boy standing up and rushing to his room to get ready leaving his mother there. "Aaaaand there he goes." She said rolling her eyes as she went to do her own thing, compiling information over at her work desk, she worked as a go-between for many important companies. Odric had washed up, changed his clothes and fixed his bed hair before leaving through the front door. "Goodbye mom!" he yelled, her hand up in the air doing a half-assed wave for him to see before he shut the door.

Odric ran down the hill across the metal road and further until he hit another similar looking property to his, knocking on the front door. The door was opened by a Twi'lek woman and at first glance she would seem nice, but, being the 'bad influence' on her children that Odric was, this woman didn't much approve of their friendship. Minn Yon and Keer Yon, his two friends were brother and sister, Keer being the male and Minn being the female. "ODDY!" , Minn said, practically crash tackling him though not that Odric minded, Keer stepping out the front door with a laugh. "To be taken down so easily by my sister, Shameful!" Keer said smugly. Odric didn't mind, in truth, he had a crush on Minn Yon, though the two have never gone out. When considering his penchant for being a show-off or 'never back down' one would question it but, the truth wasn't that he feared rejection, it was much more pathetic than that. He'd already asked and been rejected many times by Minn, thinking that a show off like him was just joking in order to tease her, she never thought of him like that.

The three friends played in the sun for the majority of the day, while atop the mountain peak Ander was reconnecting himself with the force. While it is not as strong as when he was a Jedi, his connection, all the same, remained powerful. While his father polished off years of rust from his abilities, Odric had returned home before dark, he and his mother enjoyed a nice dinner before she instructed Odric to go to bed early, insisted more like. Despite numerous objections Odric finally gave in and went to sleep in the early night, now morning, it was time. ​

Odric felt a shake, his father had both hands on him gripping his shoulders to wake him up. Odric nearly jumped in his bead but as he woke he open and closed his eyes to fix their focus, setting his sights on his dad. "Father? What is it, did I oversleep?" Odric said drowsily, Ander walked over to the door that was open, beckoning him a request as he stepped down the stairs. "Training uniform then come downstairs." His father said leaving Odric confused. Odric looked outside to see that it wasn't even that bright out but because his father had come at such a time, it was probably serious. Many thoughts went through his head as he got into his physical training gear, thoughts like 'Is he mad about yesterday?' or 'Is he worried and wants to train me to let off steam?', Thoughts that would do nothing but speculate as he headed down the stairs.

Ander was at the front door, also open, as soon as Odric was in view he walked out without looking back, his demeanour was starting to scare Odric a little bit. "Come with me." his father requested, the thoughts and questions becoming too much for Odric to stay silent. "Why? What's wrong, Father where are we going!" Odric said while hurriedly exiting the house, closing the door behind him as a sort of scared adrenaline began to wake him fully. Odric followed his father as they descended down the hill towards the mountains, quickening into a jog to attempt to catch up to his father who was already way ahead of him. "Father, Where are we going?" He asked, "Father?" he said again, slowly catching up with him. "Dad!" he said, shortening the distance between the two as Ander walked down the hill at the speed of a power walk. "Is this about yesterday! I didn't mean to break the cup it was an accident, Mother already said that you weren't mad at me, was she wrong!"

He managed to catch up and was now walking alongside his father, panting "Dad, Seriously." he said between breaths, at this point, he figured his father would reply in his own time, Odric reluctantly becoming quiet. The two, Odric following his father walked through some passes, staying close but, his father didn't speak and so neither did he. They walked for about an hour until, through the passages, slants and some walkways, came out onto a plateau of sorts between some of the mountainsides. Odric couldn't see past the stone sides of the surrounding mountains, one or two ships here or there in the sky but mostly clear. For a well-populated planet, this was a very unpopulated area?. "This is a very dangerous place, unstable, landslides occur here often which is why I chose it."

"Chose it for what, how could such a dangerous place be chosen for something." Odric said letting his wit get the better of him, standing some space behind his father. "This place is like your emotions, emotions too can be dangerous." his father said which lead Odric to roll his eyes. "I knew it, you're mad about the cup, I promise I won't do it again now can we go back home." , said with a very obnoxious ring to it but ultimately pacified by Ander. "I'm not mad about the cup, now please come sit down, legs crossed."

Oddly that seemed pretty specific, Odric's eyebrow raised in confusion. The boy walked over and sat next to his father, legs crossed with his hands in his lap. 'This is so degrading' Odric thought, thinking that he was seen as immature or being belittled for his actions yesterday, made to sit down in such a manner while his father just stood there. "Ok I get it, control my emotions, I will talk to you guys more about-" prattling on as Odric was he was cut off, "Eyes closed." Ander said, loudly cutting Odric off. "But this kind of treatment is so, Patroni-" Odric said while being cut off again, an equally toned calmness from Ander again. "Eyes, Closed." his father said, as if his word was final.

Humiliated but curious, Odric complied with the request. Ander stepped out and away from Odric, speaking in a calm voice that would allow Odric to focus on what he was about to do "Now breathe and remain still, do not speak."

Odric did as such, breathing in and out, not much different from what his father taught him to do before in training to fight, always breathe and maintain focus. "This place is dangerous Odric, like emotions if it gives into it, it will crumble." Odric continued to breathe and found himself reliant on what his father was saying. "Rage is a river, torrential and can be strong, if you let yourself, you will be swept up by it." Ander said, reminding Odric which brought shame; shame for what he'd done the day before. "If that water was to remain still, calm, peaceful and reflective, then emotions could not sway. This place is dangerous, like your emotions if it crumbles, it will cause destruction." Odric felt that his father was repeating himself. Was it for a reason though? Was it to enforce to Odric to not give in to his emotions? "If this place was to remain calm, peaceful, unmoved by the world around it, untapped by emotion or rage, then this place would never be dangerous. Think of this place, you are like it and unlike it."

Odric felt a strange sense of understanding at the contradictive statement, he is like it in that his emotions will cause destruction, but he is unlike it because, if he learns to be calm, peaceful, then this place will be nothing like him. "I think I understand, father."

Ander couldn't help but feel proud, it was also a bit funny that despite being told not to speak, his son spoke, but he would let it go. "Good, Now son, Go back to that feeling, the raging river and the calm pond, The sliding land and the still ground, tell me, what do you feel." Ander was very concerned at this point but, controlled his emotions to allow his son the freedom. He wanted to know what path his son's feelings would take him. "Stretch out, what do you feel." Ander said again, bringing his son closer to a reply. Odric's eyes remained closed and he was almost entranced, feeling the ground underneath him, the air and breeze, he could feel so much just by breathing like this, the river and the pond, the land and the ground. "They are the same, but different, all part of the same thing..." . Ander could sense some struggle in his sons understanding and so, guided him further into his reach. "And inside it, and around it, and through it, not a thing, stretch out and search your feelings."

Odric felt a sense of clarity, inside them, inside everything, around everything, through everything, one with everything... "A force..." he said, his father smiling but with some shame on his face. "Yes, Now close it out, push that force out, let it leave you completely." Ander said, trying to get his son to cut himself off. Odric's understanding, this feeling felt, like it should have always been there and then his father, 'what, push it out!'. Odric immediately snapped out of it, looking at his father with anger again but this time he controlled it. "What, Why! Why am must I push the force out of my life!" Odric said standing up, walking over to his father ready to shove him but, remembering the cup, did not. "Because you aren't ready for it son, Because it will destroy you if you let it, and I can't let that happen."

Odric stared at his Dad, rage building up but, pushed back again by self-control. "No, I'm going to be a Jedi, a better one than you ever were!!" His hurtful words stung his father as he ran off, Ander just looked down at the ground, thinking. Odric had run most of the way to his families home, he didn't want to see the face of his father or his mother. Odric decided at that time to run off, to go somewhere he could hide, somewhere he could think, somewhere he could make sense of things.

Odric had initially gone to his friend's house but, their mother turned him away at this time of the morning. With his thoughts causing a storm in his head, Odric headed towards a park and sat, leaning against a tree as he pondered what everything meant. Ander had made his way back home to his wife and is just now opening the door. ​

"Where's Odric?" Wa'ra said looking worrisome, having been up ever since Odric left with her husband in the morning, sitting on the lounge chair. "He isn't home already?" he sighed, breathing in through his nose, out through his mouth. "He'll be back, He needs his ID to go to the transport terminal if he wants to run away." Ander said with a low tone, a voice that showed both frustration and anger at himself. "What? Why would he run away, ... What happened?" his wife said with a dissatisfied expression. "I helped him to feel the force." Ander said, not wanting to say what happened next.

"And then?" Wa'ra, with a desperate inquiry. "And then I asked him to cut himself off from it"

Ander looked ashamed, defeated, opening himself back up to the force had left him prey to all of his emotions and it had been so long since he was in tune with it, he could feel the conflict within himself. Wa'ra got up, walked over to an old chest of drawers and pulled a drawer open, from it she took a wrapped item, cylindrical in shape. She closed the drawer approached Ander, holding it out for him as he stood in the doorway. "Take it, I don't care about your old order, I care about our son and right now he's lost." His eyes on the cloth wrapping, knowing full well what it was. "Take it." she said one more time while inching it closer, a mother and father who cared for their son, he took it in hand.

She stood back and watched as he unwrapped it, the shine of its outer casing, the emitter at its top, the weapon of a Jedi, Ander's lightsaber. Holding it in his hand Ander felt nostalgic, activating it he could feel a connection with it again as the light blue energy ignited from its top creating the saber. It hummed as he held it, that very hum louder and faster as he moved it from side to side smoothly, left to right. He de-activated it and then looked at his wife, opening the door and closing it behind him.

Ander searched for a while, Tracking his son through the force, feeling the conflict inside his son now that his own conflict was calm. He approached the park, lightsaber tethered to his belt as he walked across the grass of the park, "Son." he said warmly, approaching his son with a smile, eager to see the happy face of Odric when he would tell him that he'd train him to be a Jedi. That...is when it all changed.

Thread Complete