Ask Stones over Sand

[Milo Corr]

Milo was, without a doubt, afraid to some extent given how on guard he was. Yet neither was he a warrior, and having played with fire more than once he knew not to push things any further. With his joke left unanswered he slowly began to back away, if Elidan wasn't willing to enter then neither was Milo. If anything this was about the extent of the courage he could muster. While the draw of the Force was tantalizing, and the thought of new discoveries just down the stairs tugged at both his ambition and his yearning to know more, his craven nature took over and he withdrew. "Y-yeah, sure. That sounds like a great idea."

While he was under no hex or illusion it was as though he realized just how stupid he was being, couldn't determine the source as to why. Internally there were a number of reasons, but of course his instinct won out. As he began to scurry away he slipped on some loose dirt and let out a fearful yelp before landing on his hands and scrambling away. Nothing adverse had happened, he merely lost his footing but that didn't stop his heart from palpitating.

Clutching his chest he waited for Elidan to take the pictures before stepping after him, picking up his feet this time, so that the two of them could depart as quickly as possible.

From above the birds just watched, each of their six alien eyes staring at them with dubious intention, beginning to scatter as they lost interest with the two of them getting further and further away. Whatever they were, the creatures appeared to be rather intelligent. Whatever lay under that mound would remain restrained, for the moment for someone else to tackle.

Slowly his breathing began to subside and his twitching return to a more normal level. The trees regained their natural curve and the sounds of the forest returned anew. The foreboding sensation was gone. After a bit of marching the vagrant eventually spoke up. "So... What was that," he began, leading them back down the path towards the temple where they could hopefully catch the bus back to the city. With how tightly he gripped his jacket it was obvious that the vagabond was still shaken. "I mean it was the Dark, obviously, but I'd... Well, I've never felt it before, never felt anything like that."

@LouJoVi

 

[Elidan]

Elidan nodded, relieved that Milo understood the risk of the situation. If the human had received proper training, the half-Annfyn would have gone with him. However, he didn’t know how to protect himself from the backlash of touching a simple neutral Force presence. If the Darkness down there was really strong as the Knight believed, he feared that his friend would go insane.

Because by this point, Elidan really considered Milo as a friend, even if the human was still reluctant to see it this way.

The half-Annfyn saw Milo panic and trip on a stone. Like last time, Elidan moved fast and put his hands on the human’s back, making him avoid hitting the ground. He also repeated the trick of the calming aura, doing it until his friend could breathe properly. Due to having suffered panic attacks several times in the past, the Knight couldn’t stand seeing someone else passing through what he had suffered.

He would always help.

After Milo calmed down, Elidan went to take pictures of the statues and carvings. He noticed that there were two different types of wings being represented. One was of a bird and the other reminded him of that of a bat. The half-Annfyn immediately concluded that it was related to the gods from early. He also photographed some runes.

Once he finished, the two returned to the temple with the purpose of picking a bus back to the city. While they walked, Elidan noticed that the birds from early on had dispersed. It was really strange. “I’m not sure.” he said, while jumping over a root. “I felt it once, in Ajan Kloss.” during the Sith attack, with the Dark Side focused in only one place. “You need training if you want to go there. Its influence can make you go crazy.”

“Besides, we could use more information about the place where we are going.” Elidan pointed to his EZPhone. “It’s better than entering there completely blind.”

@Cartoonkarl

 

[Milo Corr]

While he hadn't commented on it, Milo did not forget the way that Elidan was seemingly always there to catch him whenever he stumbled. Whether it was the Force or just quick reaction, the Jedi was always there. There was a certain oddity to it, a strangeness that while he didn't resent it, neither did he particularly enjoy it either, a mixture of both proximity but also independence. Milo didn't need a guardian, but what was he going to do, complain about it? About someone merely preventing him from getting hurt?

"I don't know if I want to go there again," he said, rubbing at his gut as though he were nursing a wound yet there was obviously none. Now that everything had passed and they no longer dwelled in the presence of the dark mixed with light, his stomach churned in the aftermath of his mixed feelings. "But I... Suppose you're right, maybe someone can translate that old stone." As luck would have it the return bus had just arrived, letting off another set of tourists. "What do you mean by crazy? You don't actually mean that right, what sort of training prevents you from going mad, how can it even drive one mad?"

He stepped onto the vehicle and took a seat towards the back and opposite of Elidan, rubbing his temple. The vagrant hadn't felt crazy as he drew nearer to the mound, just afraid. "Still, I wanted to go in there, well I didn't- but I did," he failed to describe just quite what he meant, the tugging that Elidan had referred to just earlier in the day, albeit slightly different. Something had called to him the moment he touched the beacon, yet which source it was remained to be seen. Not that Milo really knew much of a difference, his fundamental understanding of the Force came from books written by either conservative Jedi or non-force users. Historians and observers, or those who felt that details were better left to the inducted.

The trip back was, as before, easy and relatively peaceful. Free of any sort of bumps in the road. Before long they found themselves back in the outskirts of the city with the sun lower in the sky than where it had been a few hours previously. More individuals crowded the street, returning home from work or seeking some form of entertainment before the day's end. While Milo had an atlas on his datapad he referred to Elidan's guidance when it came to finding an Arandu focused museum, he was after all more knowledgeable about the city and the planet.

@LouJoVi

 

[Elidan]

”You don’t need to go back if you don’t want to. It’s your choice.” Elidan said, leaving the situation clear. He wasn’t going to force Millo back into a situation that left him on the verge of having a panic attack. “And I’ll not judge you. I also didn’t like the vibes of that place. Even with the Light covering most of the Darkness, I could still feel something powerful there.”

The half-Annfyn bit his lips, he should have been more careful with his words. It wasn’t going to help Milo’s anxiety. “The influence of the Dark Side can make people that aren’t ready to face go crazy. You need to create a shield around your mind, but it takes time to learn how to do it.” he didn’t elaborate on the details of how this madness could happen.

Elidan used the fact that the bus was already there to evade any other questions on that matter and also remained in silence during their trip back to the city. The half-Annfyn knew tales of madness that he could tell to Milo, some even involving trained Jedi. However, he didn’t want to leave the human traumatized.

“You have time to think about it. Never do something that you aren’t sure about.” Elidan said, before turning to look at the window. Soon the vehicle started to move and the trees outside became only blurs. His mind traveled back to the clearing in the jungle and how the Darkness was struggling against the Light there. Then, he immediately remembered Ajan Kloss, where he felt something similar, but the Light had been snuffed that day.

Sometimes he wanted to forget what had happened here.

After a peaceful trip, they arrived in the city. Lay Pa-Sidian was a great metropolis, with tall buildings, beaches and forested areas. There was even a small tropical forest that grew in part of it and was connected to a botanical garden. “The museum isn’t far away from here. We can go walking.” Elidan said, gesturing for Milo to follow him. “Are you feeling better?” he asked, concerned with the panic attack from early.

@Cartoonkarl

 

[Milo Corr]

"The vibe," Milo echoed, finding some sort of humor in how Elidan described the feeling. Similarly, however, Milo remained silent on the ride back to Lay Pa-Sidian, his mind working over what the Jedi had shared with him. Dark Side induced insanity, and while it was obvious that one shouldn't play with it, that certainly did sound like a good thing. He knew nothing about shielding himself, or anything of that sort, hell he didn't know how to do anything where the Force was concerned. It had only appeared while he was in a state of panic.

When they finally returned to civilization the vagrant let out a relieved sigh, this was his home. Perhaps not this city itself but the environment, he knew nothing but duracrete and durasteel. They were comforts to him far more than any kind of verdant growth. It wasn't that he was afraid of such things but there was something to be said about the security buildings provided just by their footprint.

He took the opportunity to draw out one of his nutrition bars and unwrap it, hoping that it would calm his upset stomach despite the fact that he was far more placid. Its stale, uninteresting texture was a strange sort of comfort. He offered one to Elidan while nodding along. "Yeah, I'm alright. Been far worse, trust me. I can walk. You want one, it's vanilla flavored." Vanilla flavored, not vanilla, sort of sterile, chemical, vanilla. At least it possessed all the nutrients one needed for a singular meal in a cheap package. They didn't have a reputation for being all that pleasant.

"Maybe you can send some of your Jedi friends after it, once we figure out what it says. Seems like the thing you folks would deal with, especially those fighting ones." He shrugged, ignorant of the inner complexity to Jedi politics, just whatever the news had shared. They never painted them in a good light, just another group of foolish Jedi, but it was clear that Milo didn't subscribe to that line of thinking.

After a few bites he cleared his throat, suddenly growing a bit nervous as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Also... I- Well with what we saw, I wouldn't mind being..." It was clear he had a bit of pride and struggled to properly word the sentence in a way that wouldn't make him look weak or foolish, a sentiment that was in itself foolish. "Taught a few things. If you're willing, and there are no strings attached, of course. If you want, I mean. After." He'd come to the ruins to try and learn something, anything, about his talents. best not pass up the first opportunity that came his way.

@LouJoVi

 

[Elidan]

Differently of Milo, Elidan felt more comfortable in the forest. Perhaps it was because of the calmness, lacking the sound of vehicles and people. Or perhaps it was because he lived most of his childhood in worlds that were covered by forests. Another possibility was that part of his heritage, the Annfyn one, had a great affinity with the natural world.

Whatever the answer, the fact was that the Knight really disliked cities. Especially loud metropolises like Lay Pa-Sidian. He only visited them because he had a duty with those that needed help from Jedi.

“I know that you can walk.” Elidan said, before accepting the vanilla bar. All that walking through the jungle left him really hungry. “But, I’m still concerned with you. It’s something that happens between friends.” he said, before biting the bar. It wasn’t bad, but there things were better than it. The half-Annfyn wondered if Milo had to eat only that stuff everyday.

“I wish that I could ask them for help. These days, all Jedi that are more combat-oriented are busy with the Crusade.” the only Jedi with some free time were those that devoted themselves to study the Force or heal people, like him. “Besides, I think that it would need to be a Jedi Master to deal with Darkness there and all the ones that I know are dead or can’t be contacted.”

He still wondered where the Council went. They couldn’t have vanished in thin air, right?

After some time walking, the two arrived in front of the large steel gate of an arborized area. On a small hill in the distance, there was the museum, a building from the time that G’wenee was starting to be colonized by humans from Humbarine.

Elidan stopped walking and slowly turned to look at Milo. “I'll happily do it, but are you sure about?” he asked, looking at the human with a serious expression. “Since you aren’t a Jedi, I’ll only be able to teach the basics. Anything more can only be taught if you join the Order, but even the basics can take a lot of time to be properly understood. So, I ask again. Are you sure?”

@Cartoonkarl

 

[Milo Corr]

Milo tsked at Elidan's words, as though he were being patronized, but didn't seem overly annoyed. Instead he just continued to chew on the stale food bar as he listened and walked. "Wait, aren't the Jedi led by the Masters? Where did they all go? You can't exactly have an organization without leaders- Or... Or is that why everyone is apart of this crusade?" That said history had taught him that the Jedi were made up of more than just their leaders. The general body was just as important as any master, failings happened both at the roots and in the canopy.

When they arrived at the museum Milo stared at it from below, despite the age and difference in architecture, he didn't appear wholly impressed. He was used to seeing giant durasteel towers lined in gold and opulent spires. This small building, by his determination, while not unappealing, wasn't exactly special either. It was historical but it wasn't exactly an ancient ruin either.

Elidan's shift in tone caught him off guard. "How long are we talking? And that is fine, just the basics should be fine, as long as there are no other strings attached. I don't want to be a Jedi, nor do I like being tied down for long. I was only planning on being here for maybe a couple days." He began to mumble. "I can't stay in one place too long."

"Unless you plan on taxiing me around," he offered joking, not one to ask such a thing seriously. But he couldn't stay still, stagnancy led to routine, and routine resulted in a return to his addiction. Thus why he spent just about every credit he had beyond enough to get to the next planet. Whenever he had extra he either blew it on nutrition bars or, in desperation, stimulants.

"And why do you look like that?" He said in reference to the half-Anfynn's expression. "It's not that serious, just a few tricks."

@LouJoVi

 

[Elidan]

”I ask myself that question everyday.” Elidan said, while crossing the gate. No one knows where the Council went, they simply vanished. As far as the half-Annfyn know, they could be at the Council Chambers as a pile of bones or living on different planets with new IDs. Neither of the options was appealing to him.

The only certainty was that they weren’t going to help the Order.

“It’s only one of the reasons why the Crusade was formed.” the half-Annfyn believed that even if they were still around, some of the Jedi would have still split. Their leadership wasn’t working in the last years. The Order had more losses than they could afford, at least now there were some victories.

“I think that it would take at least a month.” even if it was basic, Elidan would need to see how Milo evolved while learning. Depending on it, the training could even take a bit longer. The fact that the human wanted to travel constantly made it a bit problematic, but his joke could be the solution.

“I have a ship and I also don’t stay too long on the same planet. If you don’t feel uncomfortable, we could travel together for the next month for me to train you.” this could be a good compromise between them.

The half-Annfyn stared at Milo as if the human had developed a third eye in his forehead. “Not serious? What I want to teach you will protect you from things like what happened in the ruins. These techniques can be basic, but they can still save your life and help you identify places that are full with the Dark Side. This way you’ll not end up corrupted.”

When they reached the museum, Elidan asked a receptionist where they could find a specialist of the Arandu because they had some information to show them. The woman at first wondered what the two were doing there. After all, it was nearly night and Milo looked like an inhabitant of the slums and the half-Annfyn had the appearance of a madman, since the humidity of the jungle destroyed his hair.

She calmed down after he identified himself as a Jedi. “Second floor, room 42.” the woman said, pointing at an elevator. Now they could proceed and perhaps find some answers for what they had found.

@Cartoonkarl

 

[Milo Corr]

"A month," he gaped, clearly not happy with the idea of being bogged down for that amount of time. Elidan's suggestion of joining him on his ship also earned a scowl, though not quite as deep as one would expect. There were still plenty of logistics to figure out, Milo had few credits to his name and wasn't worth much beyond dumb labor. Then there was discussion of just where they would be going, for one reason or another the vagrant had his mind set upon the Outer Rim.

"Right, yeah. Not being corrupted would be good," he commented idly, not fully understanding the depth of it but recalling rather well the chilling sensation which had seized him not long ago, determining that avoiding such things in the future were probably in his best interest. "I'll think about it, don't know if I can spare a month, but... It does seem useful, at least. Are we even going the to the same places, and don't you have other people to help? No need for you to waste much time on me when there are way more worse off. I can take care of myself." As was his way, Milo was quick to jump to the negatives, and shoot down ideas, a habit of his which had evolved from his need to distance himself from others for safety. He had survived on his own for much of his life, he valued that independence. Yet it wasn't independence that had gotten him off of Empress Teta, and it hadn't gotten him all that far where his sensitivity was concerned either. Maybe it was worth the time spent, or maybe it was a waste of time. There was no way to tell, best to push off that decision for later.

Milo acted sheepish around the receptionist, remaining silent as the half-Anfynn handled everything. While the exterior had not interested the transient, the displays and exhibitions of the interior were a far different story. Once they had been given directions Milo meandered a bit, taking in the sights and scenes of G'wenee's rich history, both related to the Arandu, the descendants of the human colonizers, and of events of ancient and recent. It was clear by how his eyes glimmered that he had a fondness for museums.

They had places to be, however, and after a time he shuffled into the elevator. "Hopefully whatever is on that slab is insightful. I'd hate for all that walking to have been for nothing. Not that it could have, at least. You like museums?" It seemed like an easy topic to fill the air as they walked to Room Forty-Two. "Growing up we had an amazing museum about the colonization era of Empress Teta, as well as her many feats in an ancient war. Think that is when I first fell in love with history, actually. I may, or may not, have broken in." There was a light chuckle as he scratched at his forearm. "Completely different this time, eh?"

@LouJoVi

 

[Elidan]

Elidan understood Milo’s reluctance completely. They had known each other only for a day and the half-Annfyn was already offering to take him for training during an entire month. By this point, the Jedi had understood that the other man’s past also didn’t help him in trusting him. The Knight would be suspicious if it happened with him. However, he had no other idea of how to help the human.

“I’ll be traveling around the Outer Rim for a while.” he said, while silently reflecting how this part of the Galaxy was shrill forgotten by nearly everyone. “If you want a ride to other worlds, then I could train you this way. However, I’ll understand if you don’t want to do that.”

After talking with the receptionist, the two would walk toward the elevator. Before reaching it, they crossed an exposition that showed some of G’wenee’s history, including the Arandu. There were even some dioramas of ancient cities, including what once was Lay Pa-Sidian before the arrival of the human colonizers.

A small smile appeared on his lips when he saw Milo looking around. The human really liked history, he would have been a good Jedi Historian.

“Yes, and this time you are going to talk with a specialist.” Elidan told him while they entered the elevator. He tried to not feel appalled with the fact that this was the first time that Milo was properly visiting a museum. “I never visited Empress Teta. Maybe I should go there someday, to heal people.”

Once the door of the elevator opened, they walked through a corridor. It took some time until they finally found room 42. After knocking, the door was opened by a male human with white hair and beard. “Yes? I’m Professor Jirofanes Udylion. You two must be the ones with information about the Arandu. Enter! I'd love to see it.”

After they entered, Elidan would show the professor the pictures that he took and wait for his explanation.

@Cartoonkarl

 

[Milo Corr]

Well flying around the Outer Rim was his plan so it would be convenient, but the idea of being in the general proximity of another for an extended amount of time, especially given what happened last time, didn't sit well with him. Either way he provided no response for the moment, having already stated his need to contemplate after they were done with this affair.

"It's got lots of people who could use the help, but let me think about it," he remarked in that distracted manner as they rode up to the next floor. Up here the whole place smelled older, but not musty, like aged paper or perhaps that was just his imagination. Idly, Milo stood off to the side as the half-Anfynn revealed the photos to the professor who briefly took the device to look it over before requesting copies. "I'm actually a bit excited, I've never met an 'expert'. Should have laundered my jacket," he lightly lamented. A good cleaning wouldn't fix that stained old thing.

"Let's see," he began, picking up a book and flipping through its pages. It appeared to be some sort of dictionary of sorts for the museum's personal use. "We know a surprising amount about the Arandu language because of its connection to Sil-Cale, but not as much as people might think. Given the passage of time and the natural change to language that comes with it, much was lost. Grammatical shifts, word definitions, so on." He idly commented, seemingly more than happy to have some conversation while searching for something.

The vagrant peered over the historian's shoulder, as if trying to glean something from the book and not quite caring if he was caught, which he was when the man glanced back but didn't seem to care all too much. The pages were turned far too quickly for him to pick up anything so eventually he just returned to his spot.

"Ah-hah!" He said tapping the book before drawing out a sheet of paper to draw out the word and form what could be read. "Much of the inscription is far too gone to be legible, at least without a thorough scan, but..." He finished writing down the last word before flipping the page and pushing it towards the two of them.

The script was simple but neat, showing both the Arandu word and its translated form in parenthesis directly below. Almost every word possessed more than one meaning.

'(Bound, held, kept, protect from) in (joy, calm, peace, seclusion)... (Anger, gloom, rebellious, pain) with (foul, bad, evil) (purpose, reason, logic)... (Forever, end of time, death.)...'

"There's more, but as I said, unreadable. Seems like some sort of explanation or warning, a lot of these words are often reused in relation to their religious practices." He said tapping the second and third word in particular. "I imagine this is talking about something or someone which the Arandu decided to restrain, for whatever reason. Where did you find this?"

The translation at least seemed to corroborate the feeling of the area, of the Dark Side tempered by the Light, though the duration of time was of course lacking. It felt as the Light's strength was dwindling as more of the corruption seeped into the surrounding area. Whatever Milo had done would likely only hasten the process.

Now knowing how to quite answer the question, Milo glanced at Elidan. The ruins didn't quite seem like the kind of place that should have researchers poking around at, at least not of the mundane variety. The half-Anfynn already spoke of the unlikelihood of summoning any other Jedi, likely more capable of handling the ruin, to help them tackle whatever lay within. "We- Just kind of... Found it," he started, unhelpfully.

@LouJoVi

 

[Elidan]

Elidan nodded at Milo’s answer. The choice that the human was going to make would have a great impact on his future. Even if what the half-Annfyn wanted to teach him were only the basics, it would still open the other man’s life to the mysteries of the Force. Who knows if it would not lead him to the Jedi Order?

He would wait for the moment that Milo would finally decide what he was going to do.

“You are fine. I bet that the Professor would be more interested in the Arandu than in what we are wearing.” Elidan said, before smiling at Milo. If they were able to pass through the receptionist without problems, the Knight was sure that the same would happen when they talked with the specialist.

And Elidan was right. Professor Udylion was so interested in the pictures that he didn’t even notice how the two were dressed. The man must be a great specialist in the subject, only one would have a room for himself in an institution like this museum. The half-Annfyn could see several books about the Arandu in the shelves.

There were even some written by Udylion.

The Knight watched the Professor translate the words. The result wasn’t exactly what he expected, with the phrase still not being completely clear. Elidan should have been expected. As Udylion said, even if the Arandu language had given origin to the Sil-Cale, both weren’t the same and many things were still different between them. However, the translation had been enough to leave clear the fact that there was something sealed in these ruins.

When the Professor asked where they had taken the pictures, Elidan exchanged a glance with Milo. It was going to be a problem. If they told the man the truth, it could mean that there would be an expedition to here and whatever was sealed in the ruins could be free. The Knight was pretty sure that it wasn’t going to be good. There was also the fact that the searchers could be killed here and the half-Annfyn wasn’t going to allow that.

“In reality, I found it while doing a Jedi training, close to a river. Unfortunately, the storm of two days ago carried away the stones. I had been waiting for my friend to arrive so we could come here because he likes history.” Elidan lied, while feeling terrible about doing it. He hoped that the Professor would at least believe on some of it.

@Cartoonkarl

 

[Milo Corr]

Milo furrowed his brow, staring at Elidan with flinty lies as he not only didn't tell the truth but fabricated a far better cover than the vagrant could have. Weren't Jedi the sort to only tell the truth, or say nothing at all?

"Ah, such a shame. Perhaps I'll have a team scour the water, but if it turned up once it shall again. History has a way of revealing itself does it not? Either way I will keep a copy of the picture and share it with the researchers, perhaps they can glean something from them if they can't find it themselves. Is there anything else I can do for the two of you?" He looked at them expectantly.

"Uh- No- No, that should be everything. We were just curious as to what it said is all, thought maybe you could learn something from it. Thank you, uh, Professor." Milo dipped his head in a respectful manner, only to be waved off by the older gentleman.

"This is my job, and while we have learned something. There is something out there, and that is always worth searching for." Shutting the book of translations he slipped it back into its place. "But if you do find something again, please let us know as soon as you can."

"Of course, we will," Milo called, moving towards the door and stepping out. "Thank you again for seeing us, we'll get out of your hair. You must be very busy."

"Oh I am, but distractions are always welcome. Goodbye now!" He called after as Milo slipped out, almost disappointed by the man's reluctance to stick around but Milo wasn't the sort to take up anyone's time. A habit of being a vagrant. There were a number of questions he could have asked, how their society worked, more concerning their deities and religion, but he suspected that anything the Professor could share would also be in the museum below them. On top of that he was shooting the Jedi strange looks and only once the half-Anfynn was out the door did he begin to speak, in a low enough whisper to not be heard.

"Aren't you Jedi supposed to be an honest sort? Could have sworn I read that somewhere, I mean I know he probably shouldn't know about where we found it but also you could have just told him no, couldn't you?" There was a slouch to his head as he inquired, it wasn't exactly accusatory but curious, as could be expected from an addict who likely lied as often as not. "Hopefully they don't look too thoroughly..."

@LouJoVi

 

[Elidan]

Elidan felt relieved when the Professor believed his lie, without even questioning any detail of it. The half-Annfyn hated lying, but it was necessary to keep Udylion and other people away from the place that they discovered. He was nearly sure that whatever was in these ruins should only be dealt by the Jedi.

The half-Annfyn watched Udylion make copies of the pictures, not being able to avoid feeling apprehensive that the Professor could still find information there that would guide him to the ruins. However, being against it could really make the man question why he wanted to maintain it as a secret.

In the end, he could only hope that nothing bad would happen.

He let Milo talk with the Professor, remaining in silence during all that. Elidan couldn’t stop feeling a lump in his throat, contemplating that these pictures could lead an entire team of searchers to their death. The half-Annfyn couldn’t stand the idea of being responsible for it.

Milo’s question pulled Elidan out of his thoughts and back to reality. “I don’t like lying. However,” he bit his lips, wondering if what he did was right. “I couldn’t let them discover that place. There is something dangerous there that could kill them, I'm sure of that.” the idea of bringing more Jedi to investigate it seemed to be the right thing to do.

“This type of person would not stop with a simple no. He was a search and would seek answers even with a simple negative word. At least now he believes that it was destroyed.” Elidan said, while they entered the elevator. At this moment, his stomach decided to complain about the lack of food. “Do you want to have dinner? I think that it’s already time for it.” he offered, believing that Milo must be hungrier than him.

@Cartoonkarl

 

[Milo Corr]

"I guess you're right, I mean I almost went in even with your warnings. If it were my job I know I'd be chomping at the bit for anything new," he said with a shrug before laughing suddenly at Elidan's groaning stomach. "It sounds like you're hungrier than I am," he said, getting into the elevator. Yet the very thought of food caused his own to let out an echoing noise of its own which only drew another snort from the vagrant.

The sandwich earlier had tided him over for a few hours but it was clear by his sunken cheeks that one sandwich was far from enough to sate him. Calories were spent as they came, and never was there enough to fill him out, not that he was complaining. "I could eat, know of any good joints around here? Also, ah, I can't pay."

The second time they passed through the main level the vagrant stuffed his hands into his pockets and fell into a more casual stance, only glancing this time at the attractions they had passed. "What sorts of places do you go to? In the Outer Rim I mean. Like Lay Pa-Sidian, with folk down on their luck? That the only sort of life you live, endless charity?" It was an honest question without much judgment, but while Milo believed in a healthy amount of charity he also had none to give. It appeared as though he were pondering the thought of taking up Elidan on his offer.

It beat drifting as he was, alone and more lost now than when he had departed from Empress Teta with a Zira, having traded some of that ambitious luster in his eyes for nothing. He may not be on his homeworld but he was nearly in the exact same position, beyond the freedom to come and go as he pleased. How long would it be until his next run in with the stims turned into a bender, or worse? He had no friends out here and had the habit of losing them as quickly as he made them. Though the half-Anfynn was well meaning, he was also a Jedi. That sort of thing was expected out of them, at least the good ones Milo had read about, but that didn't quite prevent Elidan from being a friend.

But distance was its own sort of safety, familiar like an old blanket. Let someone close and one is liable to get hurt again. Sharing his experience with the Force with Elidan was logical, for a Jedi knew far more about those matters than he did, he'd kept everything else rather shallow.

@LouJoVi

 

[Elidan]

”Really?” Elidan dramatically raised an eyebrow when he heard Milo’s stomach complain far louder than his own did. One of the benefits of having a keen hearing was that he could catch Up these details and give replies back. “I would say that you are the one hungrier there. Unless it's the Monster of the Black Lagoon that is approaching.”

In fact, the half-Annfyn was really hungry. One sandwich wasn’t enough to satisfy him for an entire day, with this being the reason why he had made two. However, he doesn't regret having given one of them to Milo. The human really needed some food. Elidan could see that the other man was emaciated.

“Yeah, I know a place.” Elidan said, when the elevator started to move. “It's one of those self-service restaurants where you can pick a lot of food for a fixed price. It's simple, but the food is good. It's part of the place where I'm staying.”

When they arrived at the main level, the two walked toward the exit. The receptionist from early was still there and she glanced at them one last time, still unsure about their presence. Through the windows of the building, Elidan could see that the sky had already become completely dark. Night had now fallen over the city.

He turned his attention back to Milo when he heard the human talk to him. He didn’t sound judgmental and the Jedi felt completely at easy with the question. “I visit planets that have people living in desperate conditions. I try to help them. Sometimes I also help local governments deal with their problems and even aid when there are natural disasters, but these two require an invitation from the chief of state. Due to that, I end up helping the poor most of the time.”

“Being a Jedi is to embrace a life of selflessness. Be it healing others or fighting against the Darkness to maintain the Galaxy safe.” Elidan explained, his voice was serious. “Even the most studious members of the Order, they'll stop their studies and help others when necessary.” many thought that the Jedi spent all their time in meditation seeking secrets of the Force and waving their lightsabers, but it wasn’t right. “We seek to bring peace and justice, even if it’s an endless mission.”

@Cartoonkarl

 

[Milo Corr]

"No monster here, beyond the monster of starvation, but he can be tamed rather easily," the man snorted, following Elidan as they passed through the streets. This had always been his favorite time as the artificial lights of the city turned into a cascade of stars to match the ones which hung in the sky above. If only he were atop one of the taller buildings to see it. "Sounds like my kind of place. I haven't eaten at a place like that in a long time."

As much as he appreciated the Jedi's goodwill he saw it more as an opportunity to put on some calories. It would take many more meals for him to fill himself out, but he would enjoy every second it, and if Elidan was truly sincere about training him he suspected that there would be more meals in his future. The thought sat like a stone in his stomach, however, as though he were using the Jedi who up until this point had been kind. In essence he was, but only whatever the half-Anfynn deigned to offer, but what did Milo have to give beyond diligence and some stale nutrition bars? Despite what he had read he wasn't cut out for the life of a Jedi, they were peerless ascetics. Milo was a dirty washup, his fantasies concerning the Force did not encapsulate the idea of becoming a Jedi or a Sith, or really anything, it was half-formed. Poorly understood, yet the fuel that kept his legs moving.

For once the man's shoulders relaxed, letting the tension and knots from be washed away by the cool breeze which caused his dirty industrial garb to flutter in the wind. While he still resisted trusting the Jedi, beyond the respect his station and actions earned, he had no reason to fear the half-Anfynn either. "That's… Honestly nice, having a calling like that. Do you feel fulfilled, and does the Order give you the funds for all of this?" That was the most important question, and the reason why Milo had left his homeworld. Years of addiction and poverty left him wanting, ashamed, and in the endless torpor that was depression. Those things still clung to him like a bad smell but doing something, anything, helped distract him. His goals were simple, beyond learning: Food, drink, shelter, travel, with a relapse once per trip.

Then his thoughts drifted elsewhere, a familiar scowl crossing his visage. "What about slavery, do you do anything to combat that?" While the comment could have been taken as just mere curiosity, especially from a man who knew the history of the Order and their many attempts at ending the institution, it was clear that there were other emotions bundled with it though he did not elaborate.

@LouJoVi

 

[Elidan]

”You'll like it. The restaurant is owned by the same people that own the pension where I'm staying. They also open it for people that isn’t staying there.” Elidan said, while guiding Milo through the streets. He wanted to ask the human how long it was that he didn’t eat in a decent place, but controlled himself to not do it. The half-Annfyn was still avoiding being too invasive with the other man, especially because he could see that the other wasn’t feeling completely comfortable around him yet.

Milo's past was an enigma and Elidan hoped that the human would reveal it to him eventually. He wasn’t so sure why he wanted to know it, since it wasn’t necessary for him to help the human. Perhaps it was because of his desire to comfort the pain of those with trauma. Himself had been traumatized in the past, he couldn’t stand watching others with similar pain.

And it was obvious to him that Milo was hurting because of something.
It took Elidan less than a second to answer Milo’s question, the answer was obvious to him. “Yes. It’s good to be able to help others, especially when I can help them avoid suffering what I suffered years ago.” he didn’t elaborate that his suffering was the trauma and depression from the death of his friends by the Sith hands.

The half-Annfyn noticed Milo's scow when he talked about slavery. He had the feeling that it could be related to how the human was feeling. Once again a question formed on his mouth, but he swallowed it, choosing to answer him. “We occasionally do operations against slave traders, but we can't declare war against slavery while also fighting the Sith.” he explained, wondering if there would be a moment when they would be able to do that. “Did you have problems with slavers?”

@Cartoonkarl

 

[Milo Corr]

"The Sith." Of course, there was something more important than the slave trade, as there were things bigger than him and all of the vagrants of the galaxy. The bigger picture was larger than their plight and, despite the passing of thousands of years, hardly anything had changed. Polities rose and fell yet poverty remained, inequality was rife, and he was just a soul lost in the tide. A grain of sand amidst the waves.

Were Elidan not tending to the very people Milo would call his own he might have sworn off the organization in its entirety, but he knew that was an irrational thought. The Jedi were warriors, as much as they were anything else, and the Sith had a long history of terror and destruction which far outweighed lesser evils, which they often also participated in. Sometimes a flower must be sacrificed to save the garden.

The half-Anfynn's question nearly stole the answer right from him, yet Milo caught himself before speaking and cleared his throat. "Not me personally," he said simply, reinforcing that wall between himself and the world. "There aren't many slavers in the Core Worlds, hasn't been for a long time. But a... Friend of mine was a slave." He tugged on his jacket, pulling it tighter so that he might better weather the wind, distracting himself.

"How long do you plan on staying here on G'wenee?" An innocuous question, though another in that mental algorithm he was creating as to whether or not he would join the half-Anfynn. While Milo tended to spend a few days on a world, that familiar need was returning. Whenever he thought that Elidan wasn't looking, the vagrant would rub and scratch at his forearm, his right middle finger twitching when the Jedi was. Between the stress and activity of the day the call of his addiction began to ring. "And what sort of food does this place have, local stuff?"

@LouJoVi

 

[Elidan]

”Yeah, the Sith.” Elidan said, his voice lacking any amusement because of the Dark Siders' existence. Some decades ago, before the Sith had returned, the Jedi mission had been to help the people and bring peace to the Galaxy. They had no idea that only some years later they would be entangled in an endless war against their worst enemies. If it wasn’t for their return, the Jedi would still be able to deal with the slavery.

The half-Annfyn wondered when the Jedi would be able to return back to the time when they could help the Galaxy in a way that wasn’t simply fighting against the Sith. He had no hope that they would ever crush the Dark Siders, but he still thought that the Order could give some attention to other matters too. Some were as important as fighting the Darkness.

The half-Annfyn nodded while Milo explained his concerns regarding slavery. He would not ask more details about his friend, since he didn’t want to pressure the human. This revelation showed that he was starting to trust in Elidan and the Jedi would wait for it to continue happening naturally.

“Do you know the planet where they are? If they are in one where slavery is considered illegal, I could give the tip for other Jedi and maybe they could go there and crack down these criminals. Perhaps he could free your friend.” he offered, leaving clear that there was no certainty that Milo’s friend would be found. However, they could still try.

“I'll stay for two more days. I’ll visit Celanon next.” he would make a brief stop on the planet before going elsewhere. “The restaurant has local food. I think that I'll miss it. G'weenen food is good.” he smiled at Milo. By this point, they had arrived in the place. The restaurant was small and connected to the building where the pension hosted its guests. It once was a large house that had been modified to its new purpose.

@Cartoonkarl