Ask Sunset over the Sea

[Zessel]

Zessel filmed some more of the main hall of hotel in Lay Pa-Sidian, capital city of G’wenee, where he was going to stay. He needed good images for his video review about the planet. While his channel was mostly dominated by baking videos, the Padawan would occasionally post some about his trips to other worlds. These also had a lot of engagement, with him starting to make an entire new one only to house that type of content.

After he was satisfied, Zessel rushed back to where the group of Padawans was listening to Jedi Knight Loon Muyr, an old Rodian that was going to be their chaperone during this class visit to Lay Pa-Sidian. The Padawan was already tired of hearing the rules that they should follow during their time on the planet.

The Knight could have sent it to them in an email!

Since it wasn’t a mission, the Padawans were allowed to dress like they wanted. Zessel chose casual clothes that were still a bit stylish. Since his baking channel started to attract attention, the half-Arkanian became more conscious with his appearance. Gone was the time that his hair was like a nest of birds, now it was neatly brushed. His skin was also looking good, thanks to his skin care routine.

“...and this is why you should return to the hotel before 7pm.” the Rodian stared at them, before turning to the entrance of the hotel. “Now, we’ll form a line and get outside calmly. Our first stop is in the…” and Zessel got distracted staring at the paintings on the wall. Anything was more interesting than this dude's litany. “Let’s get outside.”

Finally! Zessel thought, before joining the line and preparing to leave.

@GABA

 

[Theia Durand]

Theia welcomed the break for a more normal trip visit to the G'wenee city. She had been here once before for an art showing, which her work had been entered, but had not been back since. Partially because of her padawan training, she had been fairly occupied elsewhere. She had already put in her EZpods and drowned out the Jedi Knight who seemed to over-emphasize the rules while they were here. Though she understood some here did not have a single social skill and couldn't navigate a conversation even if it were with themselves, she understood the request and just kept to her own.

She was relieved they could wear normal clothing, and so Theia opted for shorts, a crop tank with "Utini" written across, and her newest pair of Neki shoes. The teen wore her hair down, but carried a couple scrunchies with her in case she decided otherwise, and on top of her head, she rested her sunglasses, knowing as soon as they stepped outside, she would need them.

The padawan had noticed she knew one other here and that was Zessel, who she had met at the party, on somewhat less than ideal circumstances. She would hopefully be able to give him feedback on the types of shirts he was choosing to wear. He was standing in front of some paintings, which took her interest also, "There isn't any black paint used." she told him pointing out to the shadows of the objects before following the others outside. She smoothly tapped her sunglasses, letting them fall over her eyes and adjusting them slightly as she waited to see where they were going first.

"Did you hear what we were doing today?" she asked quietly.

@LouJoVi

 

[Zessel]

Zessel had been taking pictures of the paintings on the wall when he heard a familiar voice next to him. Turning to look, the half-Arkanian recognized the owner as Theia. The last time that they saw each other, the red-headed girl was running away from the party completely drenched due to being thrown in the lake. She also told him to use his two brain cells.

He didn’t give her a proper answer because he understood the reasons why she was pissed at the time. With Kaedan stepping in the middle her two conversations with Shaw, then throwing her in the lake. Okay, she attacked him with the pizza first, but attacking her with the Force was a bit excessive.

Kaedan could have thrown a slice of pizza on her dress. It would have been a good retaliation. However, it would still be a shame because Theia looked so pretty on her red dress.

“I didn’t notice it.” Zessel said, before filming what she was pointing at. “How did they make the shadows?” he asked, curious to know how the artist was able to do it without using black paint. This would be interesting information for his video about G’wenee. “I have a channel where I post videos about the planets that I visit. Would you like to do a collab with me for this one about G’wenee? You seem to know a lot about art.” he smiled, wondering if she would agree.

Then, they entered the line to leave the hotel. "I didn’t pay attention, but Knight Muyr sent a chronogram. Dude is a controller, wanting everything to be perfect and organized.” Zessel said, while searching for it in his mailbox. “We are going to visit Lay Pa-Sidian College and have a lecture about the colonization of G’wenee.” it seemed so boring. The half-Arkanian was sure that he would sleep during the entire thing.

“Do you know, there is a museum of art right next to this hotel.” he had discovered it ahortly after they had arrived on the planet. “I was planning to slip away and go there to film some stuff. Would you like to go with me? I would need the help of a person that understands art.” Zessel smiled, while waiting for her answer.

@GABA

 

[Theia Durand]

"The color's complement, so basically, if you have red you would mix the desired amount of green to get the darkness value you would want." Theia explained, pointing out where this was done in the painting, "If you look closely, its never quite just black, and you can create the illusion of it being darker by placing specific colors beside it." She grinned, taking a step back to admire the painting while the rest of the jedi group seemed to exit. Zessel spoke of making videos and Theia's grin widened to a big smile, "Yeah! That would be cool!" she said not even to need to think about it.

"Yeah, I guess I do know a lot about art, I'm studying it while also doing my training." Theia added as they lined up with the others. Zessel was paying enough attention to know where they were to be going next and the girl frowned. The teen had a hard time understanding why she was continued to be placed in these groups, everything was boring and it almost wished she was less smart so it seemed somewhat interesting.

However, as soon as Zessel mentioned something about a museum nearby, Theia was on board, nodding to indicate she was already sold on the idea. As the group continued to file through the city with the Knight, the two would eventually have their opening, Theia slowing her own steps before slipping around the corner with Zessel. Last time she was in the city here she didn't have much time to look at everything. She felt herself relax a bit as she took in the different stands in the market, "You ever been here before?" she asked the half-Arkanian.

@LouJoVi

 

[Zessel]

”Interesting.” Zessel said, after Theia finished her explanation about the painting. “It isn’t much different from a technique to decorate cakes. A baker can mix food colorings of different colors to make shades that aren’t sold or too expensive.” the half-Arkanian had done it before, being one of the first things that he learned. At the time, he didn’t have a lot of credits to spend in bakery shops.

“This is very cool! I’m studying to become a professional baker. I even won the latest edition of the Teens Baker All Stars.” he said, before moving to retrieve a plastic container from his backpack. “Do you want a chocolate bar? They are homemade.” he offered the sweets, having already picked one for himself.

“Nice. I didn't want to ditch it alone.” Zessel whispered, before a smiling at Theia. He was happy for having company to skip that boring trip. He wondered how someone could turn a visit to a tropical paradise like G’wenee into something so tedious. Muyr, like many of the old Jedi, really needed to learn how to have fun.

Once they were outside, Zessel would wait for Knight Muyr to get distracted. When the Rodian went in another long speech about the necessity of the Padawan needing to stay in the line, the half-Arkanian would slip from the group with Theia.

“No, I never visited G’wenee.” he said, when they were already in a good distance from the group. “But I heard that local music, food and beaches are amazing. I want to review some of it for my channel.” he turned his attention to look at a stand that was selling magazines. A large smile appeared on his lips when he saw the newest edition of the Bakers Magazine. “It’s already being sold.” the half-Arkanian said, stopping briefly to pick it from there.

On the cover of the magazine was a picture of Zessel, dressed like a master patissier. He turned to show it to Theia. “One of the prizes of the contest was my picture on the cover and an interview. Do you mind if I buy it right now? We’ll go to the museum shortly after.” depending on Theia’s answer, the Padawan would give the credits to the owner.

@GABA

 

[Theia Durand]

Theia had never watched Teen Baker All Stars, but she had heard of the show and was star-struck when he mentioned his placing in the competition, "That's so cool!" she grinned, and accepted one of the chocolate bars he had made. "I loved baking things when I was a kid, my mother knew had to make some killer berry tarts." explained the redhead as she carefully opened the wrapper on the chocolate bar, taking a small piece to taste. Instantly she was smitten with the chocolate.

With their successful getaway from the rest of the group, he further explained having yet visited G'wenee; things he listed, Theia had visited before in some circumstances, though she had a feeling this would be different since she was hanging out with someone she could consider a friend.

"What's being sold?" she asked confused, not realizing at first he was looking at the magazine stand; but as he explained further, it clicked for the teen as she looked to where he was watching, "No way!" she started, "You? On a cover? Of course!" she said slightly a bit too loud, eyes turning to the teens before carrying onward. "Dude, you're like really super famous!" she awed as she picked up a magazine for herself to look at the picture and then back to Zessel, "Definitely you." Theia smiled.

@LouJoVi

 

[Zessel]

”Nice! I have yet to try making berry tarts.” Zessel said, before taking a bite of his chocolate bar. “Do you still bake? We could do it together some day. I learned that doing it with a friend is a lot of fun.” the half-Arkanian would invite his friends to bake with him, but sometimes it would end in disaster and nothing edible would come out of the oven.

However, it was still a lot of fun.

A large smile appeared on Zessel’s lips when he saw Theia’s reaction to his picture on the cover of the magazine. For the first time in his life, the half-Arkanian felt proud. It was good to know that other people across the Galaxy were going to learn about his work and how he won even with his ADHD. As a Jedi, pride was frowned upon, but he would be careful.

It would not become arrogance.

“Yep! This is me!” he said, while giving the credits to the stand owner. “But I don’t think that I’m that famous.” Zessel’s cheeks got a faint red with the idea of being super famous. “Although, I received an invitation to participate in a baking show. The owner of the company that sponsored me in the competition, Grizelda Goode, arranged an interview in the Kitchen Show of the Food Net channel. Honestly, I don’t know if I should accept it.”

@GABA

 

[Theia Durand]

"I have baked for a long time." she said, her tone hinting with somber as she tried to remember the last time she was able to even spend time like that with her mother. However, when he suggested the two of them doing it together and her mood brightened. "Absolutely! I would love to bake some things with you! I can show you what I know and you can just laugh at how wrong I am." she grinned, feeling a giddiness bubble in her chest.

Theia was flipping through the pages of the magazine before setting down a couple credits so she could have a copy of her own. He continued to share about his opportunities and a puzzled look came over her as he debated on actually participating in something that he absolutely loved to do. "What are you talking about?" her voice nearly raised an octave in her disbelief he was even considering to not join the interview. "You don't know when something like this is going to come along again! You gotta! And, if you end up don't liking what they do or say, then later on decline it." she said.

"But like, you gotta do it, I would watch your interview!" she encouraged him, feeling like this was really important to him and his work so far.

@LouJoVi

 

[Zessel]

Zessel noticed Theia's change when the girl said that she didn’t bake for a long time. He considered that it could be related to her mother. Since they were Jedi, it would not be strange if she barely saw her mom these days. Once again the half-Arkanian thought that it must be comforting to have a family somewhere, even if he couldn’t see them everyday.

He laughed with her comment about doing everything wrong in the kitchen. “Hey! Give yourself a bit more credit! If someone like me, with ADHD and amnesia, could learn how to bake, a cute girl like you will be fine!” he said, before smiling at Theia. “Besides, I'll be there to help. You’ll be baking partners.”

The half-Arkanian listened to her opinion about the interview. His reluctance about participating in it was because Jedi, in theory, shouldn’t attract a lot of attention to themselves because it could lead to arrogance. Having his face in a magazine was one thing, but being interviewed in the Holonet could be considered too much.

However, the white-haired boy couldn’t avoid thinking about the great impact that he would cause by doing it. How many children with ADHD would see that they could follow their dreams like him did. He also could use it to attract more attention from the Galactic population to the Jedi.

“You are right! I'll do it.” Zessel picked his EZPhone and sent a message to the organization of the show. “When she told me about the interview, Ms. Goode told me that I could bring someone for the coffee-break after the show. Would you like to go with me?” he smiled, hopeful that Theia would accept the invitation.

@GABA