Ask To Coruscant.. and Beyond!

[Drastus Drahr]

Hyperspace, somewhere between Yavin and Coruscant
​

The Council had been notified, and the trip was underway. So they weren't at any point unchaperoned, Rupert had agreed to escort the young Padawans to Coruscant. And, since he couldn't fly, he used his now recent usual means of transporation: Captain Daboka and his freighter "Ayy Lloue'au" the Star Jammer. With a minimal crew and their uneasiness around Space Wizards, the real cargo of this adventure would come in the package of two Padawans: Drastus and Lani.

Xiann had been busy, but if she got cleared, Rupert had promised to bring her to Coruscant later on. Now, the old Knight was likely deep in the throes of a nap and Drastus and Lani were left to their own devices in the main part of the hold. Drast had packed what he had, which wasn't much, along with his battle armor, just in case anything happened. He had his lightsaber, beskad, and various other weapons and tools for the trip.

The young man had been lounging on the small padded mattress he received from the Captain, that they each had received, while Rupert got his luxurious quarters. He had made them some food from the kitchen aboard the ship, some roasted meat and vegetables that ranged in the spicier side of flavor, and some tisane. He was currently just carving the meat and getting the plates set. "Lani, want some of this? I gotta warn you, it's gonna be a little spicy."

@Catbert

​

 

[Lani Tallis]

Galania's cargo was bigger than Drast's. With her were some of the Kori's possessions that had been left on Yavin: the memory crystal and the swoop bike that Kori had brought long before from Krownest; the leather jacket that Lani had taken from Coruscant what seemed like eternity ago; and a half of Kori's split-saber, in addition to all of Lani's own gear. The Zeltron's purpose simple: to return or replace some of the things she had taken from the apartment on Coruscant. An opportunity to honor Kori's memory before whatever came next.

Drast's offer would catch Galania on her mattress, staring at the floor. Ever since the mishap on Ajan Kloss and a subsequent prolonged stay in a bacta tank, Lani found herself enjoying the solitude and the company of her own thoughts more and more. This was a sort of "casual meditation" for the Padawan, without looking too Jedi about it.

"Huh?" the Zeltron turned her head towards the food being portioned. "Yeah, sure, why not," she sat up, picking up one of her feet onto the mattress as her back leaned against the wall. "I don't mind spicy."

@Rhogar

 

[Drastus Drahr]

He had watched her a little bit as he worked, mystified by some of the changes. He was positive she would eventually overtake him in training. Jedi bloodlines had proved to be a thing, and he was sure hers would help her.

When she responded he'd begin to portion a good size helping onto the plate and then took both plates over to where she sat. "Here, asa." He'd say with a smirk as he set the plates down. He would then make his way back to the counter and pour them various drinks: water, chilled tisane, even his flask of mixed drink.

Returning back to her, he'd set the tray down and pass the drinks out. "This is something I remember watching my dad make. Hopefully, its good." Hed say with a laugh. "So, what was on your mind?" He asked as he slid the water and tisane her way.

@Catbert

 

[Lani Tallis]

The Zeltron nodded, accepting the plate and putting it on her knees, while Drastus returned for the tray with drinks. "Asa?" She asked the man while inspecting what Drast had brought her. Roasted meat and vegetables smelled inviting, so when Drastus set the tray, it's the fork that Galania first went for. The drinks would have to wait until after the meal. "Sure, I'll give it a try once I'm done with the meal."

Drast's question though... It evoked a frown on Lani's face as she tried to put abstract mood and images to words. What was on her mind? "I don't know," she said the first thing that came to mind; meanwhile, the purple palm reached for the fork. It bought Lani some extra moments to think, as she took the first bite, her mind shifting from a rather resigned mood to the there and then, and the spicy taste that tickled her tongue and throat. "Hmmm, that stuff is good, by the way," the Zeltron admitted, using the excuse to go for another bite.

Still, the question needed an answer. "I don't know," Galania repeated, chewing on the meat and vegetables. "I guess I'm just still figuring out my place. You know, in all this. At first, it was all about finding Kori," she let out a soft resigned sigh. "My every choice and every decision was driven by that purpose. And now..." she shrugged, turning her head to the young man and giving him a brief glance before returning the attention to her plate. "Now I'm just going with the flow."

@Rhogar

 

[Drastus Drahr]

He looked over his shoulder with a smirk. "Its a Mandalorian term of endearment.. You use it for someone you like." he'd say honestly. Once he rejoined Lani, he took quick note of her response to his question and he resigned to not pushing her, at least unless she started a conversation up on it. So he would start to eat slowly, he had sort of lost his appetite since Denon and at this point only ate to keep up his strength. At her praise of the dish he would look up and smile at her. "Thanks, glad ya like it."

He would take a drink of his tisane, deep in thought until her voice once more pulled him back. He listened patiently as she spoke, understanding her feelings more than she would think. "Kriff, now that's a mood. But, I don't know if it helps but I have been in the Order for a few years now and I still don't know my place. All I know, is that there are parts of my time here that make sense or just.. feel right. And this, is one of them. Going on our adventures has been one of them.. But truthfully, I think I just wing it ninety percent of the time." he added with a laugh.

He would return to his food for a bit before washing down the recent forkful with some tisane. "Something I do want you to know though, about this meeting with Corran and Nara. They think Kori is alive.. I do too. So after your check-in with the cop, I'll take you back to the Temple.. but then I plan on searching." he set down his fork. "As much as I would love for us to continue the initial DLX adventure together, I won't ever put you in a spot where you feel like you're breaking Order rules. Not again, and definitely not where you feel uncomfortable. So, we'll go to Coruscant return this stuff to her apartment, meet Velt, Nara, and I guess Izel.. and after that, back to Yavin. I don't know if they're going to try to convince you to come with, I only promised I'd let them have their check-in with you.. But whatever you decide, I will back one hundred percent." As he spoke, his voice would remain gentle, level. And his eyes would focus on hers the whole while. "So maybe, after the cop talk we can squeeze in a stop for what we discussed." he'd say with a grin.

@Catbert

 

[Lani Tallis]

When Drastus spoke, Galania forgot about her meal for a moment and turned her attention to him. Curiously, a lot of his thoughts mirrored her own. She had to remind herself that Drast too had gone though some messed-up shit as well; the scars and burns from Denon would forever be the evidence of that. And yet, he found it in himself to grin and laugh as he always did. "Yeah, good to know," the Zeltron nodded. "That makes me feel a little better about this entire thing."

She didn't interrupt Drast as he spoke; and yet... When he mentioned the prospect of Kori being alive, and the plans to search for her, Lani simply closed her eyes and shook her head, a faint smile forcing its way on her lips. They believe Kori is alive. Drastus believes that too. Against all the evidence to the contrary. And plans on searching for her too. If it weren't Kori they were talking about, Lani would've laughed. But even then, there was a certain amusement to the unfounded hopes that Drastus shared with Izel; and apparently with Nara and that Corran Velt.

"Izel is a master," Galania replied flatly, finishing her meal and putting the plate on the tray. "So if she thinks that it's worth a shot, I'll go along with it..." the Zeltron shrugged, only the corners of her lips being up a little, in a smile that didn't express any hope. "Even if I myself think that it's a pointless endeavor." The mention of the date elicited an absent-minded nod—given the nature of what they had been discussing just prior, it seemed out of place. "Yeah, we'll see what Coruscant yields, I guess."

With the meal finished, Lani finally picked up a cup of tisane and took a sip, staring blankly at the opposite wall, apparently deep in thought.

@Rhogar

 

[Drastus Drahr]

Drast sighed as he watched her. She came in waves, sometimes being there, sometimes not. Whether she knew it or not, she was an anchor for his sanity and one of the reasons he was able to live or function normally. He could have taken some baths in the bacta tank to erase the scars on his face, but the young man had chosen to live with them, mindful of his mistake as if he were forcing himself to suffer. "Probably won't find ourselves, our place, until Knighthood." he mused "If we decide to go for it."

When she was finished eating, he would clear the plates and any empty glasses. While she was lost in her own thoughts, he just wanted to find something to pull her all the way back. It was almost worrying to him, that where she could ground him, he couldn't do the same for her. At least, nothing consistent enough. Though he would never give up trying, it didn't mean that thoughts would often accompany such a knowledge. He just hoped that if he couldn't, maybe time would.

After some silence, he'd speak up. "Like I said, if you want nothing to do with it, I'll make sure you get back to Yavin." he'd say warmly, returning from setting the dishes into the dish washer. Lowering back down, he would this time, sit against the wall beside her, arms crossed over his knees as he brought them closer to his chest. "You know, you can always talk to me, right? About the real shit. I will always be here, whether I'm at your side or halfway across the galaxy."

He would pull his glass to him with the force and take a sip of the tisane. "Just don't do what I did after Ajan Kloss.." he said gently. "I saw my friends, my Master.. all of them slain. I got full of fear, hate, anger.. I just shut myself out. Lost myself. It took two people for me to find grounding, one far more effective than the other. Master Sati taught me to get back up..." His freehand would take hers and give it a gentle squeeze. ".. but you reminded me to live." he'd release her hand to get hop back to his feet unless stopped.

@Catbert

 

[Lani Tallis]

If we decide to go for Knighthood... A curious choice of words.

A smirk crossed her lips at Drast's remark. Was she really hoping to go against a Master's wishes? And would a Master even ask Lani to do something that she wouldn't want to? The memory of Kashyyyk came into mind. If a Jedi Knight could send her into the arena up against two adult Wookiees, then what would stop a Jedi Master from insisting on something? And better yet, how could a Padawan stop it? The idea was slightly amusing.

"Thanks, Drast," she replied quietly to his promise of support. He had always been there for her. From the moment when she met the Jedi who had recovered Kori's saber. Then during Lani's search for her sister, and an attempt to reclaim some possessions from Coruscant. And now too, even though there was little he could do. "I'm okay though. I really am."

And what he had to say about his past... It served as a reminder that Drastus had it much worse than her. And yet, despite all that he had been through, he remained... himself. But then again, Galania had only met him like he was after Ajan Kloss.

When his hand reached for hers, purple fingers wrapped around his thumb as well. Even when he let go, she wouldn't; preventing him from standing up. "You speak too highly of me," the Zeltron looked at their hands, still holding on; she shifted on her head a little to rest her head on his shoulder. "If any one of us knows how to live, it'd be you... or Xi." She closed her eyes, reminiscing: "Whatever happens, whatever knocks you down, the two of you seem to get back up."

@Rhogar

 

[Drastus Drahr]

There it was, that smirk. He had missed its presence from her daily use. It was one of the things that caught his eye. "No problem, Lani.. Anything for you." He would reply just as quietly. Her insistence that that she was okay would be met with a single nod of the head as if he were just taking her at her word. And he was. She had never had a need to lie to him, there would never be a whole lot to gain from it.

She said nothing of his past experiences, though he didn't really expect her to, he had just hoped she would contemplate it in the quiet of the day and maybe use it as a way to bolster her own resolve. And his gaze would grow distant for the slightest of seconds as he thought on his experiences, though it was short-lived and he quickly banished the thoughts.

When her fingers wrapped around his thumb, he'd set down the glass of tisane and ease against her. The newly free hand, would move to take her hand and interlock their fingers, freeing up the hand she had captured. As her head rested against the shoulder, the newly free hand would stretch to reach around her shoulders and pull her a little closer. "I don't think I do.. and besides.. Xi can live on her own.. I think you can too.. But me? I needed something.. someone.. I wanted to give into the darkness so many times but one thought kept me from doing it.. What would you think? What would you say?" he would look down, almost ashamed. "Lani.. when you got hurt.. I was so lost.." his head would rest against hers.

"I guess what I am saying is.. at the end of the day, I can fight, do all the crazy osik in the galaxy.. but all that really matters to me.. is you. You could tell me we should leave the Order tomorrow, and I would." He almost felt wrong saying it aloud.. but at the same time, it was as if some hidden weight, some burden had lifted from his shoulders. From the moment they met to now, he had pushed aside his own greed, his own desires, his own goals, in the pursuit of helping her. He didn't know what to classify it as and he wasn't exactly looking to give it a title. They may have been on a ship with a dozen other people, but he only noticed her.

@Catbert

 

[Lani Tallis]

Anything for you, Did she really even deserve it? It didn't take a Zeltron to see that Drastus had been hopelessly infatuated with her. Lani allowed herself to get carried away in the calm moment, even though she realized she probably shouldn't have done that. But what was done, was done: their fingers interlocked, and Lani's head remained rested against Drast's shoulder.

He was dramatic. Perhaps overly so, when speaking about "giving into the darkness", whatever that meant. Overly reliant on just one person. It almost sounded like something that you'd hear in a cheap HoloNet melodrama series... except that Lani could sense that Drastus meant what he said. At least the next part was much less cringeworthy; even if that level of sincere attachment was kind of... scary?

"I'd never ask you to do something like that, Drast," the Zeltron replied quietly: her eyes closed, and everything else forgotten. "Just... promise me not to go too far on my word, and stand for an opinion of your own," she continued with an undertone of mischief in her voice. However, it soon vanished, replaced with relaxed seriousness: "Either way, we'll get through this whole thing."

@Rhogar

 

[Drastus Drahr]

Drast still couldn't believe how open he was being. But then again, this was a trip that had no real plan. No end date. And once it began, he doubted they would ever have a moment again. And the longer he waited the less focused he knew he would be. And for the first time there was just the slightest hint of worry. That she would turn him away, rebuke him. He knew what he said sounded like, what it meant. He had been more concerned in this moment then when he thought he was going to die on Denon.

His shoulders would shake gently in a silent laugh as she spoke. "I know you wouldn't I was just using the first big example that came to mind Lani.." his thumb would caress the back of her hand. "I still have my beliefs and values that I won't let you blemish.. But I can say I'm fairly confident that you would never push those boundaries. Not in your nature." he'd say softly. "Though, I'm not above another chase in Coruscant." he'd say with a wry smile.

The tonal shift wasn't lost on him. And for a moment he wasn't sure if she meant them, or the mission that lay ahead. But what he did know, is that he was prepared for anything. No matter what evils lie ahead he had made peace with the most important truths of his life, with the most important person in his life. Riding the high of his boldness, he would take one more step forward, trying to overcome whatever mental blocks he carried. "Hey.." he'd say before turning to press his lips against hers gently, holding the kiss for as long or as brief as she'd want it.

He would sit there, holding her for as long as she would let him, just taking solace in the feeling of both of them, together. It was a feeling he would try to memorize, to imprint on his mind so that in the days ahead, when the darkness called he would deny it with renewed vigor.

Eventually, the ships comm would ping, they had arrived on Coruscant. But that didn't matter, the path ahead was starting to clear.

@Catbert

 

[Lani Tallis]

A chase on Coruscant. A memory of a happier time. An almost perfect time, if Kori hadn't been missing. But back then, Lani Back when everything seemed possible, and Galania hadn't yet faced the ugly truths of the galaxy. "Yeah, could always insult that cop and see how fur we can get away with it," Galannia replied with a weary joke.

And then Drastus leaned in for a kiss. Given the circumstances, it wasn't a passionate one. Galania's mind had been mostly dwelling on the gloomier things and prospects. What Drast offered her was a calm and quiet reassurance: come what might, he'd be there for her. The pace and the intensity matched that mood; and a certain indecisiveness was a perfect fit.

Lani kissed him back; for a moment, the purple palm touched his right cheek, the one not scarred by the burns of Denon. The Zeltron allowed herself to melt into the mood: not escalating it, but enjoying the moment for what it was. As the comm pinged, the lips parted. The corners of Lani's lips curled up, as she somewhat copied Drastus with a more confident "Hey" of her own.

Because why not?

// End thread