Open Yavin IV Get Over Yourself!

[Lani Tallis]

"Yeah, Coruscant could be a good place for it." When Drastus asked her about the Wookiee blade and getting hurt, Lani just shrugged: "Not too much; it's all bygones now..." After a while, she did add reluctantly: "They had me fight in the arena against two Wookiees with dull blades and bowcasters."

At first it seemed like it wouldn't work out: Drast dialed Izel, and nobody seemed to be picking up. Pointless. Yet right before Galaina could share her observation and opinion with Drast, Izel picked up the comm. She simply observed a the conversation, until Drastus pointed the device at her and went all "Say hello". The Zeltron's eyes widened in surprise; she wasn't prepared for that, and didn't even know what she'd say to Izel.

Luckily, the Vratix herself was quick to reply first. "Yes, Master... Got back from a mission to Kashyyyk not so long ago." Luckily, the Jedi Master had already done the hardest part for Galania: she told the Padawans where she expected them to be. If a Master requested their presence, that was all that Lani needed to know.

So far, it was proving far easier than Galania had anticipated. A large part of her still felt like she was embarking on a wild goose chase, not worth the effort, and even too risky. But the other part of her told that it was the same thing that had drawn her to Ajan Kloss back in the day. "Very well, Master. We shall take the first ship to the Core that we can."

@Rhogar @Reyn

 

[Drastus Drahr]

She was -already- on Coruscant? What were the odds? And he happened to catch the look in Lani's eyes despite not knowing the reasoning behind it, but he could guess. And then when she was surprised? He lived for that. Just something about keeping her on her toes.

He let the ladies exchange pleasantries before interjecting. "Alrighty, Master. We'll be right there!" Drast said before cutting the comm and giving Lani an osik eating grin. "See? I told you, I would make sure it was all kosher." Boy, he really got lucky. And he knew she knew it too. "So, I guess we should take a few hours, get packed, then head out in the morning?" he asked, deciding to lower himself to a sitting position. He hadn't the slightest idea about any feelings or whatnot, but he did know it was pretty fortuitous that the Jedi Master had been on Coruscant. Maybe if he was actually assigned to the Mercy missions, he would have known, but... alas, he wasn't.

He'd pat the ground beside him. "So, tell me how you bravely beat those Wookies to a pulp, yeah?"

@Catbert @Reyn @SlagathorTheUnknown

 

[Lani Tallis]

Has Drastus just really hung up on a Jedi Master? Galania shook her head in disbelief. First the whole "Say hello" thing without even letting her prepare, and now this. However, one thing Lani couldn't deny: Drast did get them a permission to go to Coruscant, while making it look easy. "A few hours? Sounds like a plan."

Unlike Drastus, the Zeltron didn't sit down, and even shook her head when the man patted the ground beside him. "Ain't ruining the jacket on the first day," she would reply with a rather serious tone. "As for the Wookiees... It was the other way around. I lost." Being faced with uneven odds, getting a couple of slashing wounds... For the sake of "proving oneself", it was excessive for a city-dwelling Zeltron. Admitting her own defeat and reliving those moments felt even worse, especially while they were so fresh in the memory.

She spread her arms in a resigned "whatever" gesture, before letting them fall limply. "We'd really better talk about something else. Whatever you've been up to, the Jedi Order, the weather on Tattoine... Anything."

@Reyn, @Rhogar, @SlagathorTheUnknown

 

[Izel Thral]

Izel stared dumbly at her comlink as the call was abruptly cut off. Her antennae twitched again. Did he actually... She started to think, and chittered with mounting indignation. Under normal circumstances she would have just let that one slip, something to politely correct the next time she met him, maybe even make a teasing joke about it. But because he had chosen to wake her up in the middle of the night, at a time when she was feeling increasingly stressed over transpiring events, she was feeling much less merciful. The Vratix clicked angrily as she hit the call button again.

Lani and Drast's conversation would again be interrupted once more as he received a call from the Jedi master he had just hung up on. Were Drast to answer it, she would immediately start speaking before he would have and chance to reply. "Did you hear me say 'goodbye' Padawan?" She snapped angrily. "Honestly, if you're going to come to someone asking for favors the least you can show is some common courtesy! You don't do that to a regular person, let alone your superior! Think before you go around acting like an ignorant child! AND CHECK WHAT TIME IT IS ON A PLANET BEFORE YOU CALL THE PERSON STAYING THERE!" With that she would abruptly end the call and slam her comlink back on the end table, rolling over with a frustrated growl as she tried to go back to sleep.

/Exit Thread
@Rhogar @Catbert

 

[Drastus Drahr]

Drast was about to respond to Lani when his comm started to beep. He'd check the numbers with a semi-blank expression, having not even saved the Vratix's number. He didn't know it, so he silenced the chirping. For about ten seconds when it dawned on him who it could have been.

"New comm, who this?" It wasn't even a lie, he had bought it on Coruscant after that merc blasted him and dragged him to the station. And that's when it got weird. He wasn't sure if he was having a stroke or if Master Thral was chittering in anger. He really hoped she didn't speak bug, because that was not on the list of approved Skippy the Jedi Robot languages. All he knew was she got some frequency, so much so, he would turn the comm down. After all, she couldn't see him. "Yes Master. Sorry Master." He knew he should have checked the time there.

When she ended the comm, he tucked it into his vest laughing. "Note to self, do not wake her up. Remind me to pick her up some flowers or something when we land on Coruscant." Though Lani chose to not sit, he'd look her way. "Well, one thing I have been starting to consider was.. maybe trying to find my dads Clan.."

@Reyn @Catbert

 

[Ruzaan Kai]

Ruzaan hurried along the halls of the Jedi temple on Yavin IV, refreshed from his shower and excited about the possibility of helping the older Padawans with their mystery. He reached the edge of the doorway just as the Zeltron finished speaking. The weather on Tattoine? Ruzaan had just come from there! Taking a deep breath, he prepared to step into view when a comlink tone sounded from inside the room. Ruzaan couldn't make out the specifics, but whoever was on the other side sounded angry.

That's awkward. Ruzaan quickly considered his options. He could continue on his current plan and involve himself in whatever this was. As tempting as that was, he was aware that he didn't have anything other than an extra set of eyes to offer in a very large galaxy. If they wanted my help, they would've asked for it earlier, Ruzaan reasoned, remembering how the older padawans had clammed up before when he'd accidentally crashed their conversation. Best if you sit this one out, Ruzaan. Trouble will find you, no sense in seeking it out.

Turning slowly, he made his way down towards the main floor where the scent of something delicious cooking wafted up to him. The Founding!

Spoiler: OOC Note

Great writing! I'm looking forward to seeing what comes of this storyline, but I didn't see a good way to justify involving myself/Ruzaan at this point.

/ThrExit

@Catbert @Rhogar

 

[Lani Tallis]

Before Drastus could reply, he got a call. At first, Galania wasn't even sure who'd be calling him. Only once she heard a familiar chitter, did the Padawan realise who was calling Drast. And the things the caller said... Lani had never heard a Jedi Master talk like that. Let alone Izel, whom she had met twice and who exemplified—to Galania at least—what a Jedi Master should be like. Except that this time, Master Thral forgot the very first line of the Jedi Code: "Emotion, yet peace."

Despite that Drastus didn't seem too concerned outwardly, Lani couldn't but sense a degree of remorse behind the carefree facade. And yet, a part of her just wanted to joke. "I don't think Izel eats flowers, Drast," the Zeltron shrugged, with a faint smile forming. Most likely, the joke would be too bad or complex, so the Zeltron would elaborate more seriously: "It's unlikely that Jedi Masters have use of something like flowers. Could be considered a waste of life and whatnot. And the Jedi do move around a lot. But I remember she once visited us on Coruscant and brought some Vratix soup... Made of an insect."

Then the talk shifted towards a more serious one, and Lani obliged. When Drastus brought up inding his dad's clan, the Zeltron propped up her chin with a fist for a moment. "That sounds like a good thing to do." Then something occurred to Lani; something that Drast might've brought up in the past, before the mishap. "Wait... Have you ever met your father? Or would you know where to look?"

@Rhogar

 

[Drastus Drahr]

He'd frown at Lani's joke. "Well damn, if she don't eat em, what good are they huh?" he asked with a broad grin. "Yeah, moreso just as something nice, but I get that reasoning." then she said something really disturbing: A bug soup. He could make that, sure. Yeah. Maybe. Make her some bug soup then boom, peace town.

It finally dawned on Drast that he'd never talked to her of his family, at least not fully. But he did have a good laugh. "Just because I'm some Corellian from the slums doesn't mean I never met my dad." he said good naturedly. "I know-knew him. We were actually happy until the Jedi arrived for me. I ran away, he.. bought me time to. Distracted the Jedi. I assumed my parents would never want me back so I stayed gone. Then I found out that something happened and my family was killed. Both parents, both sisters." he sighed, before touching one of the tattoos visible on his neck. "This.. was his Clans sigil. I remember it was on his armor. I just need to know where they are. He used to mention Concord Dawn a lot, but.. I've never been. Not like any of the Jedi would take me, so.. I will just have to wait until I am a Knight. Maybe.. I'll return his beskad to them or something, I dunno.. It would just be nice to have family again, you know?"

@Catbert

 

[Lani Tallis]

Instead of sitting down, the Zeltron stood near the seated man, her palm leaning against the wall of the temple. Looking down on Drat as he told what had transpired. Throughout it, Lani had nothing to say, so she just listened instead. "Don't the Jedi take people only voluntarily now?" she asked, a genuine surprise in her eyes. But perhaps, Drast's parents didn't know that. After all, the Jedi were still a rather mysterious Order.

Still standing, she also looked at the tattoo that Drastus had pointed at. Concord Dawn. The chance of reuniting with the family... Galania nodded: "Yes, I guess it would be nice. Though I think you misjudge the Jedi. If you asked Izel, explained why it was important to you..." Galania paused for a moment, as if checking the verity of her own words. "I think Izel might listen or help. Or at least... I hope she would."

@Rhogar

 

[Drastus Drahr]

"Yeah, but we didn't know that. My father grew up hating the Jedi based on old wars and my mother wasn't one with much of an education. So we didn't really know anything. We just.. reacted." he'd say with a shrug. "All my dad knew was that I couldn't go with them.. but at the same time, he was also finding out his son had something he hated. I didn't want to risk that damage, that pain. So I stayed away. I shouldn't have." he said somberly.

His gaze would lift back up to her. "Oh it's not that I don't think they wouldn't if I asked.. They just might think its too dangerous, given the history, or given the war.. Might be the last thing on the list of important items. So.. maybe you'd go with me once I'm Knighted? If I ever get there? Xi, too."

He would look away, briefly, staring out over Yavin. "There's something I want to talk to you about.. But.. I don't know if it should wait til later, or what." he'd say, his tone more serious, though still gentle. "It's good, at least, I think it is.."

@Catbert

 

[Lani Tallis]

It felt like a sad irony, a cruel twist of fate. A teen finding out he could be something his parents despised. The very same people arriving for him. A misunderstanding, resulting in the boy parting ways with his family, never to return. Compared to that, Lani's family was almost idyllic. A faint smile made way onto her lips, mixing up with the serious expression the Zeltron had: "Who knows, maybe I'll hit Knight before you and bring you and Xi along? All that you described about the Jedi and Mandos are past grievances anyway."

As Drastus mentioned something else to talk about, Galania simply shrugged. "Well, it's up to you. If you think it should wait til later, it can wait... Somehow, I've got a feeling that I've subscribed for one hell of a long trip."

@Rhogar

 

[Drastus Drahr]

He'd laugh a bit at that "Yeah, maybe you will. But while we're gone, we're going to work on that martial prowess, yeah?" he teased. "Regardless of who takes who, I'd like that. History is very important to my people, it's one of the few things they have left.. It may be harder for them, then others. Though I did see a Mandalorian with Master Voran on Coruscant. Who knows, maybe Maiko will get a Mandodaddy." he'd continue laughing at the thought.

His gaze drifted back to Lani. "You uh.. We never got time to talk about certain things.. There was your accident.. then mine.. A lot of time lost, but plenty of time to ponder.. You ever think.." he was normally a confident guy, it was something that had followed him everywhere he went within the Order. So it was a surprise, at least to him, that he was struggling with this. He would briefly close his eyes before taking three calming breaths, something Master Sati had coached him on, and after the third those eyes would open and focus on the Zeltron. "We keep.. doing the same dance.. I know before, at least it felt like you were worried about dosing me. But.. after months of waiting for you to wake up, I know for a fact that that's not what happened."

He would pause to push himself to his feet. "I guess want I'm saying is.. Lani, I care for you. More than as just friends. And I know that there is a lot we need to figure out and work through.. But it doesn't have to be today, or tomorrow.. But one day I would like to take you on a date. And as exciting as tramping around the galaxy has been with you, maybe something with less lightsabers and explosions." on his feet, his eyes would have locked with hers the moment he began to speak again and he would just offer a smile, a smile tinged by the scars of his mistakes.

@Catbert

 

[Lani Tallis]

Lani nodded at the mention of martial prowess. Even though the Zeltron still believed that she'd have no chance against a Sith, no matter how hard she trained, it didn't mean that training in its entirety was useless. The joke about Maiko also hit home. Wasn't he the sweet kid from the previous celebration who had baked cookies? "Maiko the Mandalorian," the Zeltron replied to Drast's chuckle with that of her own. "Bringing up a bunch of cookies and saying 'This is the tray' or something along those lines."

Then the discussion went serious again. It just seemed as if Drastus had trouble articulating what he wanted. First a certain indecisiveness about his family; then reminiscing about the past. Closed eyes, another awkward break... And a confession. Something that Galania had heard on Coruscant and New Alderaan multiple times before. Something that she had got accustomed to, and learn to accept. Her head tilted as Drastus mentioned dosing him with pheromones. The corners of her lips curled up in a smile.

She listened to everything that Drast had to say. Thinking it over. Weighing it up. Only once averting her gaze to check if there were any onlookers. The coast seemed to be clear, so the Zeltron turned her head back to face Drastus. "Careful what you wish for," the Zeltron replied in a manner that was more befitting Xiann than her. A slow and decisive step towards Drast. Then another one. Then standing up on her toes to reach the man's cheek and plant a quick kiss. Just a little touch of pheromones: to make the moment better, and hopefully to keep Drast in a semi-stunned state. "I might agree."

With that, Lani would turn around and take a few steps towards the exit, before turning to Drastus again. "Just need to get that Ranger thing out of the way first."

@Rhogar

 

[Drastus Drahr]

Something about the delivery about the corny Maiko joke, really made him laugh harder. "Oh gods, I can see that happening." When she looked away, he thought that was it, and then she looked back at him and her first words, in a tone she never used before would make his heart skip a beat. She then took two tentative steps and kissed him.

Sure, he could have turned his face, kissed her lips. But he didn't. They already shared a kiss at one of the parties, and that was nothing in comparison to this kiss, even if she hadn't dosed him with the pheromones. Her plan though, worked. He was stunned and all he could do was grin. She kissed him. And, she agreed to the date.

For one who played shy or unskilled, she was doing everything right. And the normally cool and collected Drastus, the one normally making the moves, was now the one stunned on the rooftop. "Might agree?" he finally said, his voice full of hope. "Ranger thing? Oh yeah, we'll power through that and then we'll get going." He was excited and he was now walking after her. "So, you leave the transportation to me and you just pack your stuff, yeah?"

@Catbert

 

[Lani Tallis]

Galania's lips culred up in a wry grin as she caught on to the effect that her move made on Drastus. His own emotions reverberated in the Zeltron, and it felt satisfying. Furthermore, it seemed like Drast was gushing with enthusiasm. "Power through that, huh?" Lani half-turned her face towards Drastus with a faint smirk. "You sound quite confident."

The Zeltron wouldn't reject the offer of transportation being handled by someone else. All the more time for her to pack up her things... Along with some of Nykoria's things as well. "But sure, sounds like a plan." She extended her hand to take Kori's old leather jacket from Drastus: "I'll handle the transportation of that to all my other stuff in the meantime."

Somehow, she had a feeling that it was going to become one long trip...

// Exit thread

 

[Drastus Drahr]

Drastus hit her with one of his trademark grins, walking on her left side so that his undamaged side was in view of the Zeltron. "Lani, there hasn't been a thing we haven't accomplished when we work together. I'll even ask Xi." and for now, that record was untarnished, as their little foray to Kloss had been without him, and his foray to Denon had been without them.

However, still riding the high of the dosing and just the overall exchange, he totally misread the hand and took her hand in his. "Glad you ag-" his own laughter would cut off what he was gonna say next, having realized what the hand was for. He paused to lift her hand to his lips and kiss her palm gently. "Nah, I think I'll walk it. After all, gotta walk past the dorms to get to the Coucillors." He didn't, but he would go well out of his way to spend a little more time with her. Giving her hand a squeeze, he'd let her hand go as they re-entered the Temple.

He wasn't sure what lie ahead, he just knew that he felt as if he was finally walking the right path.

//Exit Thread

@Catbert