Most students, Knights, and Padawans alike had left the cafeteria some time ago, it was later in the evening after the dinner rush and it was quiet. Which is exactly what he was looking for. Beside him sat a steaming cup of tea and a half eaten jogan lay on a napkin. In front of him was his datapad along with scattered medical texts that he had picked up from the archive. In truth he could have just downloaded the files and scrolled through them on his datapad but there was something about having them all present in front of him that allowed him to easily move from one to the next without closing a screen or going back and forth. It was highly organized chaos for him and to the casual observer it would just look organized, but Luka was pouring over different diseases of different species and how it was theoretical possible for a illness to jump from one species to the next without any apparent rhyme or reason. He took a breath and smiled at the absurdity of it all, this was actually his free time, time he was supposed to spend resting and relaxing, which he did not often skip, but there was that refugee in the service facility that had a mix of what appeared to be a bacterial infection normally only found in Hutts and a rare variant of the same virus thought to be only present in Kamonians and yet patient was Twi'lek. He was of course out of danger but the odd variety of symptoms had baffled just about everyone for awhile and there had been talk of quarantining him and in a normal hospital setting they might have just done that, but when you're a Jedi you can cheat those things with the Force...on some occasions.
He took another bite of his jogan, the satisfying crunch and sweet flavor settled him back more into the present versus lightyears away in his studies. The blue eyed pointed eared half-sephi looked up and saw her. Now in the moment he was aware of his physiological response he had felt his heart rate increase slightly and his eyes seemed to be letting in more light than normal as his pupils dilated a bit. What that meant he wasn't entirely sure for him, of course he knew that those tended to be the responses one had when they were attracted to someone, but Luka hadn't done a lot of thinking about that at all. In fact now that he thought about Luka had not even really taken the time to understand what his sexuality might be. The nineteen year old Padawan smirked to himself and thought how absurd it was that he had made it this far into adolescence and hadn't bothered to even really think about anything of the sort for more than a few seconds, he was reasonably sure he liked girls...maybe? He tapped his fingers on the table and took a sip of his tea. The warm liquid refreshed his thoughts as he sat there for another brief moment, he had realized he had noticed her before in this way and that her presence brought a warm almost cozy feeling to his aura.
He raised his head and waved.
"I could use some company if you'd like, Master Karriime says I spend too much time studying anyway."
I suppose I'm Part Human
Re: I suppose I'm Part Human
The mental impression of someone calling for her caught her attention, along with a flicker or two of some bright and cozy mood that added to the spring in her step even though she politely shifted her thoughts elsewhere. Ashlin glanced across the dining space from her place in line and returned the slightly older Padawan’s wave with a cheerful grin. For all that she ran into Luka often enough in the infirmary, they only occasionally got around to actually visiting. “Mkay; be right there.”
She made her way to the Consular student’s table after collecting a meal for herself. The slim Sentinel Padawan had spent a fair amount of her time outside in recent months. She was a bit tanner than her natural human-Sephi paleness and it showed in the faded splash of human freckles across her nose and cheekbones.
Ashlin slung her backpack neatly down to floor and set her tray on the table in the space that Luka cleared of his study texts. She’d had another shift with RSF this morning and wore mid-level Coruscant civilian clothes that placed her as a teen in no particular social strata, with her lightsaber on her person, but tucked away. Her hair was a mix of browns that tended to shift between tones depending on the light, wavy and mostly down, pulled back with a headband. The length hit a bit past her shoulders. Whatever the overall effect was, the pointed tips of her ears weren’t especially hidden, but even without the influence of any illusion or suggestion they weren’t on the top seven traits that most who glanced at her would actually remember. Unless they were professional or cared about such things, or they were Sephi.
“She's probably right. It's good to give your memory a break, too. Jarod always says to jump up and take a walk in the middle. Hi Luka. How are you doing?”
Ashlin slid into her seat across from him and glanced at his homework with interest. She had a mug of steeping red tea on her tray with a cinnamon stick in it, a bowl of mixed berries, a little chicken, and a chocolate cookie.
She made her way to the Consular student’s table after collecting a meal for herself. The slim Sentinel Padawan had spent a fair amount of her time outside in recent months. She was a bit tanner than her natural human-Sephi paleness and it showed in the faded splash of human freckles across her nose and cheekbones.
Ashlin slung her backpack neatly down to floor and set her tray on the table in the space that Luka cleared of his study texts. She’d had another shift with RSF this morning and wore mid-level Coruscant civilian clothes that placed her as a teen in no particular social strata, with her lightsaber on her person, but tucked away. Her hair was a mix of browns that tended to shift between tones depending on the light, wavy and mostly down, pulled back with a headband. The length hit a bit past her shoulders. Whatever the overall effect was, the pointed tips of her ears weren’t especially hidden, but even without the influence of any illusion or suggestion they weren’t on the top seven traits that most who glanced at her would actually remember. Unless they were professional or cared about such things, or they were Sephi.
“She's probably right. It's good to give your memory a break, too. Jarod always says to jump up and take a walk in the middle. Hi Luka. How are you doing?”
Ashlin slid into her seat across from him and glanced at his homework with interest. She had a mug of steeping red tea on her tray with a cinnamon stick in it, a bowl of mixed berries, a little chicken, and a chocolate cookie.
Don't let your lights go down. Don't let your fire burn out. Because somewhere, somebody needs a reason to believe.
Sometimes, it's still the smallest things that matter.
Sometimes, it's still the smallest things that matter.
-
Luka Balmore
- Posts: 82
- Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2020 2:24 pm
Re: I suppose I'm Part Human
He eyed her tray as she set it down in front of him, his inner physician was satisfied that whatever the meal was checked most of the boxes for nutritional benefits. Why he was doing this he didn't really know if he asked himself that question, it was just who he was, inquisitive and perceptive. The slightly older Padawan was in his traditional Jedi robes, his white medical overcoat was returned to his room before he headed down here, he had day more or less to himself tomorrow, those were important he supposed and he was a hard worker so it wasn't exactly something that wasn't needed.
He glanced up at her, sipped his tea once more and smiled at her.
"I am well Ashlin, we had an interesting day in the service facility. New and fascinating patients whose conditions may well take away your appetite so I dare not elaborate further."
He briefly eyed the remainder of his jogan but decided it would be somewhat rude to sink his teeth into it when he still had questions to answer and perhaps to ask. He liked Ashlin, he knew he did, but what he couldn't tell so much was whether his like was that of the romantic variety or not. For a brief moment which felt like ages to him, but was just a second or two in reality he pondered this as his eyes took in the way she was dressed and her beautiful hair and tanned skin tone that seemed absolutely radiant. In that same moment he cracked a chuckle in his own head, yes those adjectives did indeed indicate he did like her physical appearance in a romantic way. The personality however, that was not a question, already knew that he adored her personality so what was there to do about it?
"I'll say this though, there was one gentleman from on world who had somehow felt it would be a good idea to work on the wiring of his home during the rain this morning. He's okay now but we sent him on his way with some pamphlets..."
Luka chuckled a bit, people were fascinating and while he recognized that the patient was not particularly of the intelligent variety of people, he surely had other things going for him that he was far more talented at than even Luka.
"Master Jarod is wise indeed, but I must point out Ashlin that if I get up and take a walk right now, I'd miss out on your company and with the way our schedules are who knows when we'd bump into each other again. Likely at the Knighting ceremonies of our own Padawans with the way these things work. In all seriousness though, how have you been Ashlin?"
Luka smiled and took a small bite of his jogan, conscious not to chew overly loudly or let the juice of the delicious fruit fly across the table.
He glanced up at her, sipped his tea once more and smiled at her.
"I am well Ashlin, we had an interesting day in the service facility. New and fascinating patients whose conditions may well take away your appetite so I dare not elaborate further."
He briefly eyed the remainder of his jogan but decided it would be somewhat rude to sink his teeth into it when he still had questions to answer and perhaps to ask. He liked Ashlin, he knew he did, but what he couldn't tell so much was whether his like was that of the romantic variety or not. For a brief moment which felt like ages to him, but was just a second or two in reality he pondered this as his eyes took in the way she was dressed and her beautiful hair and tanned skin tone that seemed absolutely radiant. In that same moment he cracked a chuckle in his own head, yes those adjectives did indeed indicate he did like her physical appearance in a romantic way. The personality however, that was not a question, already knew that he adored her personality so what was there to do about it?
"I'll say this though, there was one gentleman from on world who had somehow felt it would be a good idea to work on the wiring of his home during the rain this morning. He's okay now but we sent him on his way with some pamphlets..."
Luka chuckled a bit, people were fascinating and while he recognized that the patient was not particularly of the intelligent variety of people, he surely had other things going for him that he was far more talented at than even Luka.
"Master Jarod is wise indeed, but I must point out Ashlin that if I get up and take a walk right now, I'd miss out on your company and with the way our schedules are who knows when we'd bump into each other again. Likely at the Knighting ceremonies of our own Padawans with the way these things work. In all seriousness though, how have you been Ashlin?"
Luka smiled and took a small bite of his jogan, conscious not to chew overly loudly or let the juice of the delicious fruit fly across the table.
Re: I suppose I'm Part Human
The seventeen year old ate the meat and berries from her meal while they chatted, neatly but without any particular worry about chewing or anything. Eating and chatting were fine; she was perfectly comfortable being polite, and it wasn’t like she had occasional seed spitting contests or anything except for at home or with Jarod or in a shuttle. She’d last eaten anything between lunch and dinner time earlier, but that was hours ago and then she’d followed her own suggestion to go for a run and gotten some training time in after 5 hours of security work. So, she was currently more than ready for a quick supper.
When Luka said something about interesting and unpleasant med stories making her lose her appetite, Ashlin barely managed to tame her reaction into a grin and a flared-nose exhale. Sorry, what?!
She glanced at his collection of fungus and bacterial med texts, but let Luka finish his thought. She even took a patient drink of her tea mug in a perfectly Li family mannerism, but…
“Ugh. Sorry, go back… Sorry, what?!” Ashlin popped another two berries in her mouth and stared at the slightly older teen, her stormcloud blue eyes suddenly more incredulous and demanding. “Luka Balmore, I believe you’ve encountered my mother.” —That was the amusing understatement of the year; he’d started helping carry Kaytren’s medical bag around for her when he was... what, four? And it was still too big for Ashlin to drag around— “Right. Anyway; you are very good. You’re levels of Healer talent above me, and it’s good. We’re—Mama, is very proud of all your work. But Luka I’m going to spit the last three berries at you and throw in a dozen illusionary ones if you think my sensibilities are so fragile. You’re not going to freak me out talking normally about skin infections or tissue debridement practices or fungal decay… or torture, or rotting wound smells, or amputations, or whatever. Believe me. I have a lifetime of practice and exposure. Don’t turn overly sheltering Healer about it.”
Ashlin shrugged and broke apart her cookie. She took one of the halves and companionably broke it again into quarters, setting one at the edge of Luka’s plate if he wanted it and neatly eating the other. Sorry; didn’t necessarily mean to pounce on you. “Other than that, I’ve been fine. Always busy now, but you know. The usual things.”
When Luka said something about interesting and unpleasant med stories making her lose her appetite, Ashlin barely managed to tame her reaction into a grin and a flared-nose exhale. Sorry, what?!
She glanced at his collection of fungus and bacterial med texts, but let Luka finish his thought. She even took a patient drink of her tea mug in a perfectly Li family mannerism, but…
“Ugh. Sorry, go back… Sorry, what?!” Ashlin popped another two berries in her mouth and stared at the slightly older teen, her stormcloud blue eyes suddenly more incredulous and demanding. “Luka Balmore, I believe you’ve encountered my mother.” —That was the amusing understatement of the year; he’d started helping carry Kaytren’s medical bag around for her when he was... what, four? And it was still too big for Ashlin to drag around— “Right. Anyway; you are very good. You’re levels of Healer talent above me, and it’s good. We’re—Mama, is very proud of all your work. But Luka I’m going to spit the last three berries at you and throw in a dozen illusionary ones if you think my sensibilities are so fragile. You’re not going to freak me out talking normally about skin infections or tissue debridement practices or fungal decay… or torture, or rotting wound smells, or amputations, or whatever. Believe me. I have a lifetime of practice and exposure. Don’t turn overly sheltering Healer about it.”
Ashlin shrugged and broke apart her cookie. She took one of the halves and companionably broke it again into quarters, setting one at the edge of Luka’s plate if he wanted it and neatly eating the other. Sorry; didn’t necessarily mean to pounce on you. “Other than that, I’ve been fine. Always busy now, but you know. The usual things.”
Don't let your lights go down. Don't let your fire burn out. Because somewhere, somebody needs a reason to believe.
Sometimes, it's still the smallest things that matter.
Sometimes, it's still the smallest things that matter.
-
Luka Balmore
- Posts: 82
- Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2020 2:24 pm
Re: I suppose I'm Part Human
Luka's eyes widened and his ears twitched a bit at Ashlin's reaction to his suggestion that she might lose her appetite. Now while trying to appear taken aback, in all the other ways he couldn't help stop the wry grin that tugged on the corner of his lips. Of course she was used to it, he knew that, he also knew that his comment was going to earn the reaction that it did. He chuckled a bit and snatched the half of the cookie that she had laid on the edge of the plate for him. He popped it into his mouth but couldn't stop the rest of his expression from turning into what the corners of his lips already said.
He was happy with the reaction he got from her.
"Alright alright. So you know Tian right? The Twi'lek youngling who is going to be a Padawan any day now? He's been working in the service facility and shadowing me quite a bit and I've been showing him what he could expect if he did decide he wanted to become a healer. He is skilled and certainly has the talent for it, all in all he is a good student. Anyway he was with me today, with this patient who had an abnormal bacterial infection that seemed to be eating away at his flesh and causing plenty of infections and abscesses all over his body. Poor man, it was incredibly painful. Anyway this crossed with something else we're still trying to identify and they seemed to be co-existing on his flesh in symbiosis which was good for the bacteria but bad for the patient. I digress. I was palpating one of the larger abscesses trying to gauge what to expect if I let Tian take the reigns for a moment. It seemed fine, all my years of training did not prepare me for what happened next."
Luka swallowed a bit of the cookie and sipped his tea quickly.
"Tian stepped up to the table and palpated the abscess like he had been doing it for years. Then as he was going to lance it as that is a good technique to learn and this was a teachable moment, all of the sudden before he the scalpel was even close, the abscess burst open and sprayed blood and puss all over Tian's face. The smell was unimaginable. I was surprised and moved back in quickly, even Master Erril was shocked. Erril and I went to work on fixing this now open wound and then I saw Erril look up quickly. I turned my head just in time to see Tian's eyes roll back in his head and watch him fall over like a sack of rocks. He slammed his head on the supply table, thankfully missing his Lekuu, and one of the other healers had to tend to him."
Luka took another bite and swallowed the last of the cookiee. He watched Ashlin's face for a reaction, but in truth even he was still a bit overwhelmed by the scent that filled the room. He had been doing this for awhile and he had seen and smelled the worst things imaginable, but as far as odors were concerned this one certainly moved into first place and it wasn't even close.
"Tian is okay now, a cut on his head and a bit of nausea, the patient is too, but that took the majority of the day and four of us working on him. Are you going to spit stuff at me now or did I get out of that?"
He leaned back casually in his chair for a moment. He didn't get much time with friends, especially ones of the same species and today had been a stressful enough day that Luka was in rare form. He was most always in a good mood, but rarely did that good mood translate to teasing and joking with friends. Was this flirting? Surely he didn't know.
"Ahh the usual things? What tales do you have?"
He was happy with the reaction he got from her.
"Alright alright. So you know Tian right? The Twi'lek youngling who is going to be a Padawan any day now? He's been working in the service facility and shadowing me quite a bit and I've been showing him what he could expect if he did decide he wanted to become a healer. He is skilled and certainly has the talent for it, all in all he is a good student. Anyway he was with me today, with this patient who had an abnormal bacterial infection that seemed to be eating away at his flesh and causing plenty of infections and abscesses all over his body. Poor man, it was incredibly painful. Anyway this crossed with something else we're still trying to identify and they seemed to be co-existing on his flesh in symbiosis which was good for the bacteria but bad for the patient. I digress. I was palpating one of the larger abscesses trying to gauge what to expect if I let Tian take the reigns for a moment. It seemed fine, all my years of training did not prepare me for what happened next."
Luka swallowed a bit of the cookie and sipped his tea quickly.
"Tian stepped up to the table and palpated the abscess like he had been doing it for years. Then as he was going to lance it as that is a good technique to learn and this was a teachable moment, all of the sudden before he the scalpel was even close, the abscess burst open and sprayed blood and puss all over Tian's face. The smell was unimaginable. I was surprised and moved back in quickly, even Master Erril was shocked. Erril and I went to work on fixing this now open wound and then I saw Erril look up quickly. I turned my head just in time to see Tian's eyes roll back in his head and watch him fall over like a sack of rocks. He slammed his head on the supply table, thankfully missing his Lekuu, and one of the other healers had to tend to him."
Luka took another bite and swallowed the last of the cookiee. He watched Ashlin's face for a reaction, but in truth even he was still a bit overwhelmed by the scent that filled the room. He had been doing this for awhile and he had seen and smelled the worst things imaginable, but as far as odors were concerned this one certainly moved into first place and it wasn't even close.
"Tian is okay now, a cut on his head and a bit of nausea, the patient is too, but that took the majority of the day and four of us working on him. Are you going to spit stuff at me now or did I get out of that?"
He leaned back casually in his chair for a moment. He didn't get much time with friends, especially ones of the same species and today had been a stressful enough day that Luka was in rare form. He was most always in a good mood, but rarely did that good mood translate to teasing and joking with friends. Was this flirting? Surely he didn't know.
"Ahh the usual things? What tales do you have?"
Re: I suppose I'm Part Human
The slim Padawan polished off the last of her cookie while she listened attentively to Luka’s story of the events, her slowly grinning expression a combination sympathy for the Twi’lek’s unfortunate adventure and her cheerful appreciation for today’s kitchen staff and their really delicious use of chocolate, and something like tang bark. Companionable contact was one thing, but as for the rest of her senses, Ashlin took a distinct bit of care to keep her mind to herself for the time being because Luka was obviously recoiling from the gross scent, and she didn’t really care to mess with her dessert memory for the moment. Not to mention that Luka seemed a little different today, but she wasn’t going to worry much about that either.
“Oh… yes! Gosh. Poor Tian.”
Grinning all over again at the healer story and her berry threats, Ashlin finished her fruit without resorting to seed spitting.
“You know. Everything with the city security team is going as good as you’d expect—I intercepted a trafficking ring this morning; it’s just not as funny as yours. But it was smooth; no significant injuries and I got the leader recorded before we moved him to custody, so I’m proud of that report—oh, and I was actually home all yesterday and I beat Boss—you know the officer in Jarod’s troopers—at a strategy drill yesterday and at least that part of the day was amazing! I’m so proud. We’re leaving for Kalarba tomorrow; there’s a safe house I’m finally getting the access info for… Though I’m pretty sure I’m familiar already, but you know. It’s nice to have the actual location instead of just having to track it down and improvise at some random time.”
Reaching for her backpack, she slung a strap comfortably over her shoulder and started to gather up her empty dishes.
“Do you want to go take that walk?”
“Oh… yes! Gosh. Poor Tian.”
Grinning all over again at the healer story and her berry threats, Ashlin finished her fruit without resorting to seed spitting.
“You know. Everything with the city security team is going as good as you’d expect—I intercepted a trafficking ring this morning; it’s just not as funny as yours. But it was smooth; no significant injuries and I got the leader recorded before we moved him to custody, so I’m proud of that report—oh, and I was actually home all yesterday and I beat Boss—you know the officer in Jarod’s troopers—at a strategy drill yesterday and at least that part of the day was amazing! I’m so proud. We’re leaving for Kalarba tomorrow; there’s a safe house I’m finally getting the access info for… Though I’m pretty sure I’m familiar already, but you know. It’s nice to have the actual location instead of just having to track it down and improvise at some random time.”
Reaching for her backpack, she slung a strap comfortably over her shoulder and started to gather up her empty dishes.
“Do you want to go take that walk?”
Don't let your lights go down. Don't let your fire burn out. Because somewhere, somebody needs a reason to believe.
Sometimes, it's still the smallest things that matter.
Sometimes, it's still the smallest things that matter.
-
Luka Balmore
- Posts: 82
- Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2020 2:24 pm
Re: I suppose I'm Part Human
Luka listened intently to Ashlin's story and while it wasn't as slapstick funny as his was it was most certainly interesting and the young healer's warm expression could make anyone feel that their story was important to him. He was good at actively showing he was listening to every word and he always seemed to be interested in what anyone had to say. With Ashlin, this was amplified a bit, again maybe it was the fact that she was one of him, a half-Sephi, there certainly wasn't a shortage of them at the temple, but there weren't many his own age or close like she was. So in truth she could have been talking about which shade of paint dries the quickest on which planet under what condition and he would have found it interesting. Or maybe there was more to it then that, he kept his thoughts close to his chest as he knew that she was keenly adept at understanding what people were thinking, but he definitely liked being around her a lot.
"That sounds exciting, safe house and all. I must confess though, I am jealous of it being on Kalabra. I hear the beauty is indescribable there, I'd love to go myself sometime if I had an excuse. My only concern is that with the growth in tourism there some of the natural beauty will be overshadowed by the inevitable rise of commerce."
Luka shrugged at the thought, commerce wasn't all that bad, it did of course provide the people of the planet a way to earn a living but one could argue whether that was a good thing or a bad thing. If they relied entirely on commerce then in the event of massive war or natural disaster that disrupted the tourism market they would find themselves helpless. The very fruit that fed them and sustained them for so long would be the poison that led to their untimely demise.
A Walk? That sounded spectacular, maybe he was flirting with her, but he was quite sure that flirting did not involve talking about the scenic beauty of a planet parsecs away unless it was the talk of a getaway of some kind he surmised.
"Sure, I could use to stretch my legs after standing at a table all day and then sitting at one."
Luka packed up his things and slid his messenger bag over his shoulder and then bussed his tray following Ashlin to the conveyor.
"Anywhere in particular?"
"That sounds exciting, safe house and all. I must confess though, I am jealous of it being on Kalabra. I hear the beauty is indescribable there, I'd love to go myself sometime if I had an excuse. My only concern is that with the growth in tourism there some of the natural beauty will be overshadowed by the inevitable rise of commerce."
Luka shrugged at the thought, commerce wasn't all that bad, it did of course provide the people of the planet a way to earn a living but one could argue whether that was a good thing or a bad thing. If they relied entirely on commerce then in the event of massive war or natural disaster that disrupted the tourism market they would find themselves helpless. The very fruit that fed them and sustained them for so long would be the poison that led to their untimely demise.
A Walk? That sounded spectacular, maybe he was flirting with her, but he was quite sure that flirting did not involve talking about the scenic beauty of a planet parsecs away unless it was the talk of a getaway of some kind he surmised.
"Sure, I could use to stretch my legs after standing at a table all day and then sitting at one."
Luka packed up his things and slid his messenger bag over his shoulder and then bussed his tray following Ashlin to the conveyor.
"Anywhere in particular?"
Re: I suppose I'm Part Human
“The seeker maze is finished again, and looked so good. Any objections?”
She would have listened and taken his thoughts into account if Luka had any of course, but his energy and demeanor didn’t seem likely to. Ashlin kept the slightest bit in the lead with a light grin on her face and a cheerful energy in her movements while the relatively senior two Padawans strode off down the most efficient path of hallways, one stair, and turbolift through the immense Temple complex.
Aside from the genetic similarities, the pair were slightly mis-matched at a glance all things considered, with the light-haired young Consular dressed in the traditional Jedi manner, and the brunette Sentinel looking like far more of a comfortably self confident mid-class Core worlds teen with presumably a tucked away weapon or two. Varying apparel and tasks were quite common though — and she was obviously Ashlin Li as far as the temple was concerned, so nothing about either of them particularly stood out. Clone soldiers from two groups paused to greet them on the way, with Ashlin bounding ahead to shout the name and hug the armored leader of a final third team before they turned a corner.
“Coby! Aiiiye, it’s been forever! Are you on Coruscant now?”
Sergeant CL-708Y, Coby, quickly removed his helmet to reveal a healthy and slightly greying middle aged man with mild facial scarring, and caught the teen girl with an armored bear hug and a kiss on the cheek.
“My girl! Grow much more and you’ll pass your mother. We are for the time being. Come by the garrison when you have a free night. I’ll make time, and that chocolate tea unless you've outgrown it?”
"I will never outgrow that tea." Ashlin assured him with a warmly confident smile, and clasped the soldier's glove before she shifted back on her heels towards Luka .
The Bakuran Temple soldier from their childhood let go of Ashlin and moved a polite step back, looking Luka over as well with a more reserved smile but just as much pride in the older young Jedi, and a respectful glance at the bag Luka carried.
“Luka, you look wonderful sir. I’ve heard none but the best stories. We are thankful and very proud of you — Both of you. I’m glad I saw you, let alone the same day.”
She would have listened and taken his thoughts into account if Luka had any of course, but his energy and demeanor didn’t seem likely to. Ashlin kept the slightest bit in the lead with a light grin on her face and a cheerful energy in her movements while the relatively senior two Padawans strode off down the most efficient path of hallways, one stair, and turbolift through the immense Temple complex.
Aside from the genetic similarities, the pair were slightly mis-matched at a glance all things considered, with the light-haired young Consular dressed in the traditional Jedi manner, and the brunette Sentinel looking like far more of a comfortably self confident mid-class Core worlds teen with presumably a tucked away weapon or two. Varying apparel and tasks were quite common though — and she was obviously Ashlin Li as far as the temple was concerned, so nothing about either of them particularly stood out. Clone soldiers from two groups paused to greet them on the way, with Ashlin bounding ahead to shout the name and hug the armored leader of a final third team before they turned a corner.
“Coby! Aiiiye, it’s been forever! Are you on Coruscant now?”
Sergeant CL-708Y, Coby, quickly removed his helmet to reveal a healthy and slightly greying middle aged man with mild facial scarring, and caught the teen girl with an armored bear hug and a kiss on the cheek.
“My girl! Grow much more and you’ll pass your mother. We are for the time being. Come by the garrison when you have a free night. I’ll make time, and that chocolate tea unless you've outgrown it?”
"I will never outgrow that tea." Ashlin assured him with a warmly confident smile, and clasped the soldier's glove before she shifted back on her heels towards Luka .
The Bakuran Temple soldier from their childhood let go of Ashlin and moved a polite step back, looking Luka over as well with a more reserved smile but just as much pride in the older young Jedi, and a respectful glance at the bag Luka carried.
“Luka, you look wonderful sir. I’ve heard none but the best stories. We are thankful and very proud of you — Both of you. I’m glad I saw you, let alone the same day.”
Don't let your lights go down. Don't let your fire burn out. Because somewhere, somebody needs a reason to believe.
Sometimes, it's still the smallest things that matter.
Sometimes, it's still the smallest things that matter.
-
Luka Balmore
- Posts: 82
- Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2020 2:24 pm
Re: I suppose I'm Part Human
The seeker maze, he wasn't sure he remembered too much about that, but a maze was definitely fun. He had thought about asking for permission to install and construct a meandering labyrinth along with multiple other different types of them in some of the undeveloped areas of the temple. it was a side project and technically he needed permission to do such a thing but he had come to the conclusion that it might be better to ask for forgiveness than permission. Not that there would necessarily be anything to forgive him for.
"I often wonder if this temple isn't a maze or a labyrinth in and of itself."
Luka was in definitely in good spirits as Ashlin led the way and he made no efforts to quite get right next to but he might as well have been, they were close enough. He had glanced down at her hand one or two times and kept a private thought to himself acknowledging that the timing was not right, it was as he glanced up to hear Coby's name nearly shrieked. Luka stopped and smiled at the soldier from his youth...his youth? He was still a youth, but a much older youth he reasoned. The teenage mind had a habit of tricking it's owner into believing they were more experienced at life and possessed skills and wisdom that had yet to be acquired. He should write a paper on it one day he reasoned, Jedi teen minds in particular, they varied so wildly.
Chocolate tea? What sort of abomination was that? Or was it a delicious treat that was a perfect hybrid of the two most absolute good items in the universe. He quirked his eyebrow, in fascination at the concoction and his curiosity demanded he speak up.
"Chocolate tea? That sounds utterly fascinating, I was going to say disgusting but given the reaction of both of you and your judgement that I of course both trust, I simply must try some at some point."
Coby then paused to look at Luka and for a moment he noticed the difference in the greeting and for a moment his teenage mind felt awkward. There was something about the way Coby looked at him that struck a chord, it almost felt as if Luka was meeting the father of the girl he had been dating for the first time and the father gave Luka a look that said "I know what you want to do with my daughter and I'll cut it off I swear." Which of course couldn't have been further from the truth for Luka but at the same time he felt he was overthinking the situation. The word "Sir" hit his ear wrong coming from the older clone whom he had known since he was a small child.
"Coby it is wonderful to see you again and thank you, I do my best but still have a lot to learn. In polite company Luka is most certainly fine. Of the two of us only one can remember the other as a helpless little child and it would silly of me as the latter in that equation for you to insist on calling me sir."
"I often wonder if this temple isn't a maze or a labyrinth in and of itself."
Luka was in definitely in good spirits as Ashlin led the way and he made no efforts to quite get right next to but he might as well have been, they were close enough. He had glanced down at her hand one or two times and kept a private thought to himself acknowledging that the timing was not right, it was as he glanced up to hear Coby's name nearly shrieked. Luka stopped and smiled at the soldier from his youth...his youth? He was still a youth, but a much older youth he reasoned. The teenage mind had a habit of tricking it's owner into believing they were more experienced at life and possessed skills and wisdom that had yet to be acquired. He should write a paper on it one day he reasoned, Jedi teen minds in particular, they varied so wildly.
Chocolate tea? What sort of abomination was that? Or was it a delicious treat that was a perfect hybrid of the two most absolute good items in the universe. He quirked his eyebrow, in fascination at the concoction and his curiosity demanded he speak up.
"Chocolate tea? That sounds utterly fascinating, I was going to say disgusting but given the reaction of both of you and your judgement that I of course both trust, I simply must try some at some point."
Coby then paused to look at Luka and for a moment he noticed the difference in the greeting and for a moment his teenage mind felt awkward. There was something about the way Coby looked at him that struck a chord, it almost felt as if Luka was meeting the father of the girl he had been dating for the first time and the father gave Luka a look that said "I know what you want to do with my daughter and I'll cut it off I swear." Which of course couldn't have been further from the truth for Luka but at the same time he felt he was overthinking the situation. The word "Sir" hit his ear wrong coming from the older clone whom he had known since he was a small child.
"Coby it is wonderful to see you again and thank you, I do my best but still have a lot to learn. In polite company Luka is most certainly fine. Of the two of us only one can remember the other as a helpless little child and it would silly of me as the latter in that equation for you to insist on calling me sir."
Re: I suppose I'm Part Human
Loud curious ideas like ‘What in the abomination is chocolate tea??’ were rare enough coming from the usually quiet and far less-readable Luka (as far as Ashlin knew anyway), so much so that it was everything the telepath could do not to smirk or chuckle aloud. Feeling happily at home in this moment, and still thriving on all the energy from being hugged and kissed and cherished by Coby, the younger of the Human/Sephi mixed pair brushed the back of her hand against Luka’s for the half-second it took her to share—
Her feet didn’t reach the floor from the bench yet, so she was too young for caf, obviously, but demanded something (and rightfully so!). The sergeant fixed her a durasteel barracks mug filled half-way to the brim with scalding black tea… Sephis always liked tea, of course… But she crinkled her nose watching him and Coby must have thought better of it. The soldier diluted and cooled it back to a safer temperature with some tap water. In a stroke of brilliance, he stirred it up with a squeeze of some trooper’s clearly-not-secret-enough stash of chocolate syrup, and whitened it with a little powdered caf cream. Chocolate Tea. Sweet and flavored enough that it was almost more of hot cocoa except for the obvious strong tannins, and she wouldn’t trade it for a world.
—an almost perfectly tangible memory without actually interrupting the two of them. They were occupied talking about who should call who Sir, and she didn’t wish to interrupt. Then Coby and Luka both glanced at her at once, and Ashlin pulled back her hand.
“Chocolate tea.” She explained herself to Coby with a ducked head and a grin.
Coby regarded the pair of them with a leathery smile that crinkled warmly around the corners of the soldier's eyes, pulling a bit at his scar while he addressed Luka mostly.
"You’ve never insisted and you haven't changed a bit, sir. I appreciate it more than you know—Though maybe not more than you know," the soldier amended for Ashlin with an accusing smirk and quickly gave the seventeen year old's hand a last cherishing clasp and a swat before he put his helmet back on. “Feel free to share at your leisure. I'm an open book. It's a real joy to see you both again... Now keep alive and enjoy your evenings.”
Her feet didn’t reach the floor from the bench yet, so she was too young for caf, obviously, but demanded something (and rightfully so!). The sergeant fixed her a durasteel barracks mug filled half-way to the brim with scalding black tea… Sephis always liked tea, of course… But she crinkled her nose watching him and Coby must have thought better of it. The soldier diluted and cooled it back to a safer temperature with some tap water. In a stroke of brilliance, he stirred it up with a squeeze of some trooper’s clearly-not-secret-enough stash of chocolate syrup, and whitened it with a little powdered caf cream. Chocolate Tea. Sweet and flavored enough that it was almost more of hot cocoa except for the obvious strong tannins, and she wouldn’t trade it for a world.
—an almost perfectly tangible memory without actually interrupting the two of them. They were occupied talking about who should call who Sir, and she didn’t wish to interrupt. Then Coby and Luka both glanced at her at once, and Ashlin pulled back her hand.
“Chocolate tea.” She explained herself to Coby with a ducked head and a grin.
Coby regarded the pair of them with a leathery smile that crinkled warmly around the corners of the soldier's eyes, pulling a bit at his scar while he addressed Luka mostly.
"You’ve never insisted and you haven't changed a bit, sir. I appreciate it more than you know—Though maybe not more than you know," the soldier amended for Ashlin with an accusing smirk and quickly gave the seventeen year old's hand a last cherishing clasp and a swat before he put his helmet back on. “Feel free to share at your leisure. I'm an open book. It's a real joy to see you both again... Now keep alive and enjoy your evenings.”
Don't let your lights go down. Don't let your fire burn out. Because somewhere, somebody needs a reason to believe.
Sometimes, it's still the smallest things that matter.
Sometimes, it's still the smallest things that matter.
-
Luka Balmore
- Posts: 82
- Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2020 2:24 pm
Re: I suppose I'm Part Human
Ashlin was giddy with excitement about everything regarding Cody and the clones, her master was of course Jarod who had quite the impressive relationship built with the clones over the years and naturally his Padawan would as well. Luka stopped to think for a moment if he had not spent as much time around them as he should have, but that idea was quickly dismissed when he realized the stark contrast of the two different roles that the pair of Padawans were in. Luka did have plenty of contact with the clones just on a different level than Ashlin, he was the one who had worked to save them when they were wounded and as a result he was just viewed in a different light.
He felt Ashlin's hand brush against his and he quietly thought for the quarter of a second before the half second it took to share her memory that maybe she was trying to hold his hand as well? Then the memory came rushing in and Luka watched the cute scene in the barracks unfold. He reasoned that this was something that he would have had to try at Ashlin's age for it to have proper effect and if he tried it now as a young adult that his lips would probably purse up at it and he would risk insulting both Coby and Ashlin. They were allowed to have their tea though as interesting as it may very well have been in taste and potentially texture.
Luka smiled warmly at Coby as he put his helmet on.
"We will, but I think I'll be seeing you tomorrow if memory serves, I believe you have your annuals if I'm not mistaken, but it's been a bit of day so I could very well be mistaken. Regardless, It was wonderful seeing you and we'll do our best to keep alive, you please do the same and have a wonderful night."
Luka glanced over at Ashlin and bumped his hand against hers in the way she had him and sent a subtle message back to her which basically came across as Luka saying "Chocolate tea?!" and then a exaggerated gag reflex followed shortly thereafter. He was not nearly as advanced with telepathy as she was but he could definitely convey a general message even if it wasn't the crystal clear vivid memory that she had shared with him.
He felt Ashlin's hand brush against his and he quietly thought for the quarter of a second before the half second it took to share her memory that maybe she was trying to hold his hand as well? Then the memory came rushing in and Luka watched the cute scene in the barracks unfold. He reasoned that this was something that he would have had to try at Ashlin's age for it to have proper effect and if he tried it now as a young adult that his lips would probably purse up at it and he would risk insulting both Coby and Ashlin. They were allowed to have their tea though as interesting as it may very well have been in taste and potentially texture.
Luka smiled warmly at Coby as he put his helmet on.
"We will, but I think I'll be seeing you tomorrow if memory serves, I believe you have your annuals if I'm not mistaken, but it's been a bit of day so I could very well be mistaken. Regardless, It was wonderful seeing you and we'll do our best to keep alive, you please do the same and have a wonderful night."
Luka glanced over at Ashlin and bumped his hand against hers in the way she had him and sent a subtle message back to her which basically came across as Luka saying "Chocolate tea?!" and then a exaggerated gag reflex followed shortly thereafter. He was not nearly as advanced with telepathy as she was but he could definitely convey a general message even if it wasn't the crystal clear vivid memory that she had shared with him.
Re: I suppose I'm Part Human
“Oh; that I do.” Coby’s tone was surely not much different than before, even if the old soldier’s expression wasn’t visible anymore beneath his helmet while he watched the sincere nineteen year old. “I’ll be seeing you tomorrow then.”
Coby saluted them as a pair, and Ashlin inclined her head back in the closest she'd been to formal the whole time. The group finished their farewells and headed off, leaving everyone's thoughts to their own selves. For Ashlin's part, she glanced back over it all and intentionally skipped her thoughts back to Luka's pretend gag after a moment
“Don’t be too much of a tea snoot,” the younger teen told him with a cheerful seriousness while they continued their separate way down the corridors together. “You’re half human, too. And… green? is… uh. Not so great.”
They were all entitled to their own opinions, at least unless she could do anything about it, but Ashlin could obviously tell that she hadn’t persuaded Luka to feel any particularly empowering sense of nostalgia about questionably sweetened barracks tea. It wasn’t the the memory or emotion/sensory accuracy that was the problem. She knew perfectly well that with Burk or even Jarod it would have worked great, and they’d have easily understood and agreed with her — but they worked with her constantly and were both so tuned to this sort of communication that she knew they all took it for granted. Plus Luka had a lot of preexisting tea emotions.
Ashlin decided in hindsight that framing the sensory imagery as a suggested memory of his own might have been more effective in Luka’s case. False versions of events were basically just dressed-up mind tricks, easy enough for Jedi minds to break past in most circumstances, and even in non-sensitives they rarely worked well over the long term—and when they did, there were ethics to deal with there—but if she’d framed it fondly enough and wordlessly began it like… Just imagine— You were still little that day. You’re twiddling your feet against the leg of the chair, while Mama is off in a conversation with a commander. Coby lets you come sit at the table and have a snack, which makes you feel amazing, and—
Mm. That would have worked a bit better, Ashlin decided. Maybe next time.
She kept her hands relaxed but to herself, with a companionable few feet of distance between them that nixed the potential for any more brushed hands or casual touch telepathy unless one of them shifted back into the other’s circle. Luka was so happy this evening, and a little bit of something sensitive that she didn’t want to get nosy or presumptuous about. It’s not like he was Jarod or Burk. But today was nice, and she felt genuinely more pleased than she could express that they actually had a chance to wander and chat together. Luka was good. He reminded her of some of the traits she liked most in her mom, but well… they weren't related, and he was way closer to her age… And he was a good friend whom she had the enjoyable mystery of not having any conditioned mental bonds with. It was different.
Coby saluted them as a pair, and Ashlin inclined her head back in the closest she'd been to formal the whole time. The group finished their farewells and headed off, leaving everyone's thoughts to their own selves. For Ashlin's part, she glanced back over it all and intentionally skipped her thoughts back to Luka's pretend gag after a moment
“Don’t be too much of a tea snoot,” the younger teen told him with a cheerful seriousness while they continued their separate way down the corridors together. “You’re half human, too. And… green? is… uh. Not so great.”
They were all entitled to their own opinions, at least unless she could do anything about it, but Ashlin could obviously tell that she hadn’t persuaded Luka to feel any particularly empowering sense of nostalgia about questionably sweetened barracks tea. It wasn’t the the memory or emotion/sensory accuracy that was the problem. She knew perfectly well that with Burk or even Jarod it would have worked great, and they’d have easily understood and agreed with her — but they worked with her constantly and were both so tuned to this sort of communication that she knew they all took it for granted. Plus Luka had a lot of preexisting tea emotions.
Ashlin decided in hindsight that framing the sensory imagery as a suggested memory of his own might have been more effective in Luka’s case. False versions of events were basically just dressed-up mind tricks, easy enough for Jedi minds to break past in most circumstances, and even in non-sensitives they rarely worked well over the long term—and when they did, there were ethics to deal with there—but if she’d framed it fondly enough and wordlessly began it like… Just imagine— You were still little that day. You’re twiddling your feet against the leg of the chair, while Mama is off in a conversation with a commander. Coby lets you come sit at the table and have a snack, which makes you feel amazing, and—
Mm. That would have worked a bit better, Ashlin decided. Maybe next time.
She kept her hands relaxed but to herself, with a companionable few feet of distance between them that nixed the potential for any more brushed hands or casual touch telepathy unless one of them shifted back into the other’s circle. Luka was so happy this evening, and a little bit of something sensitive that she didn’t want to get nosy or presumptuous about. It’s not like he was Jarod or Burk. But today was nice, and she felt genuinely more pleased than she could express that they actually had a chance to wander and chat together. Luka was good. He reminded her of some of the traits she liked most in her mom, but well… they weren't related, and he was way closer to her age… And he was a good friend whom she had the enjoyable mystery of not having any conditioned mental bonds with. It was different.
Don't let your lights go down. Don't let your fire burn out. Because somewhere, somebody needs a reason to believe.
Sometimes, it's still the smallest things that matter.
Sometimes, it's still the smallest things that matter.
-
Luka Balmore
- Posts: 82
- Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2020 2:24 pm
Re: I suppose I'm Part Human
Coby had not long left and saluted the pair of them and Ashlin was already quick to call him a tea snoot. Which if he was being honest with himself he most definitely was, but everyone had their downfalls. The chocolate tea as a memory for her was something she cherished however disgusting it might seem to him, it was something she personally enjoyed and there was no reason he should ever have tried to belittle it in front of her even if he was just joking. He was all set to apologize to her for mocking her tea and then she did it, she insulted green tea. Luka nearly stopped in his tracks. The young healer instead maintained his composure the bust he could but that didn't stop his neck from cracking at the speed in which he turned to stair at her.
""Green tea is not so great? Are you serious? Are you aware of all the health....okay fine, I insulted your tea you can insult mine that's fine I guess."
He sighed in an exaggerated and friendly fashion, green tea prevented cancer...chocolate tea probably caused it. He kept that thought hidden and to himself lest she pick up on it and continue to tease him about it.
The young healer offered her a smile and they continued walking and chatting together for a little bit, he wasn't exactly sure where the seeker maze was and he was sort of hoping that she knew, it did sound quite relaxing and an awful lot like fun, but it was indeed indoors and small part of Luka longed for Bakura where he could take walks in the drizzle and listen to each rain drop hitting each leaf it was quite relaxing. Bakura could have done with a hedge maze, a gravel path maybe a tall tree in the center and some benches so once the goal was complete one could sit and relax under the shelter of the tree with a good book or what have you. The friendly distance the two of them kept as they walked was good, but a passing cleaning droid gave him and excuse to take a half step close to her. She was good, he enjoyed her company and this was turning out to be a nice day despite all the issues at work this morning. He'd been spending much less time with Kariime lately and part of him dared to think his trials were nearing, maybe that would be a good thing to bring up.
"I feel like Master Kariime is prepping me for my trials, I don't know when, but I'm guessing six months, maybe more or less. She's been having me do a lot on my own lately and I am spending far more time doing my job as a Healer in the Temple than taking exciting trips to different places. I ask her questions and she generally answers them by asking me what I think or would do. What do you think, am I overthinking it a bit or does that sound right?"
Was that really the right thing to bring up, it sounded off when he spoke it aloud. He glanced at her and watched her expression, the last thing he wanted to do was bore her with things like that, but he felt like it was a legitimate conversation to have. He was nearing that age and Ashlin wasn't terribly far off herself, it had to be normal to talk about. But do you talk about these things with someone you might be romantically interested in? He didn't have a clue.
""Green tea is not so great? Are you serious? Are you aware of all the health....okay fine, I insulted your tea you can insult mine that's fine I guess."
He sighed in an exaggerated and friendly fashion, green tea prevented cancer...chocolate tea probably caused it. He kept that thought hidden and to himself lest she pick up on it and continue to tease him about it.
The young healer offered her a smile and they continued walking and chatting together for a little bit, he wasn't exactly sure where the seeker maze was and he was sort of hoping that she knew, it did sound quite relaxing and an awful lot like fun, but it was indeed indoors and small part of Luka longed for Bakura where he could take walks in the drizzle and listen to each rain drop hitting each leaf it was quite relaxing. Bakura could have done with a hedge maze, a gravel path maybe a tall tree in the center and some benches so once the goal was complete one could sit and relax under the shelter of the tree with a good book or what have you. The friendly distance the two of them kept as they walked was good, but a passing cleaning droid gave him and excuse to take a half step close to her. She was good, he enjoyed her company and this was turning out to be a nice day despite all the issues at work this morning. He'd been spending much less time with Kariime lately and part of him dared to think his trials were nearing, maybe that would be a good thing to bring up.
"I feel like Master Kariime is prepping me for my trials, I don't know when, but I'm guessing six months, maybe more or less. She's been having me do a lot on my own lately and I am spending far more time doing my job as a Healer in the Temple than taking exciting trips to different places. I ask her questions and she generally answers them by asking me what I think or would do. What do you think, am I overthinking it a bit or does that sound right?"
Was that really the right thing to bring up, it sounded off when he spoke it aloud. He glanced at her and watched her expression, the last thing he wanted to do was bore her with things like that, but he felt like it was a legitimate conversation to have. He was nearing that age and Ashlin wasn't terribly far off herself, it had to be normal to talk about. But do you talk about these things with someone you might be romantically interested in? He didn't have a clue.
Re: I suppose I'm Part Human
“Hmn…. It might be more relevant and important to consider what you think about it. You are the nearly knighted Jedi at the heart of it.”
The Master Healer’s daughter met Luka’s searching glance at her with sage-like sincerity for a full moment before her eyes sparkled and the corner of her mouth ticked back into a light grin at him.
“Master Jarod says my trials and knighting are scheduled the week after I turn thirty. He’s exaggerating, but he seems kind of convinced about it every once in a while. He made a countdown for it one time so now it’s set up in his console. We’ll both get knighted soon enough in the next few months or years though. You are older, so probably you first. ”
Her instincts were tingling a little. Not from danger, or even concern; it was more that Ashlin felt acutely conscious… about how much energy Luka was putting into this whole thing. From his tone to his body language, not to mention the way his steps kept straying in a crooked line instead of the steadiness she was used to associating with him — Even when he was just taking notes about germs and plants, Luka was usually focused with a rhyme and reason steering his actions.
Did they really even need a maze path right now? On second thought it sounded distracting. The slim teen pursed her lips and turned a corner so that they ended walking out into the open air on one of the upper level verandas instead, the mild evening breeze coming in from the senate district. This was good enough. She glanced at Luka a little self consciously and then sat down on the walkway level beside the railing. She touched the floor beside her and then settled crossed legged with her hands in her lap. She watched the other teen with a curious expression. He was older than she was after all, and they were usually both really good with people and communication. Maybe she was getting things confused or overstepping.... thought she didn't really think so. Ugh. Ashla, please don’t let this get weird.
“Sorry, this is a little different. Please don’t let it be weird. Um... Luka, we are good right? Do you want to talk about stuff?"
The Master Healer’s daughter met Luka’s searching glance at her with sage-like sincerity for a full moment before her eyes sparkled and the corner of her mouth ticked back into a light grin at him.
“Master Jarod says my trials and knighting are scheduled the week after I turn thirty. He’s exaggerating, but he seems kind of convinced about it every once in a while. He made a countdown for it one time so now it’s set up in his console. We’ll both get knighted soon enough in the next few months or years though. You are older, so probably you first. ”
Her instincts were tingling a little. Not from danger, or even concern; it was more that Ashlin felt acutely conscious… about how much energy Luka was putting into this whole thing. From his tone to his body language, not to mention the way his steps kept straying in a crooked line instead of the steadiness she was used to associating with him — Even when he was just taking notes about germs and plants, Luka was usually focused with a rhyme and reason steering his actions.
Did they really even need a maze path right now? On second thought it sounded distracting. The slim teen pursed her lips and turned a corner so that they ended walking out into the open air on one of the upper level verandas instead, the mild evening breeze coming in from the senate district. This was good enough. She glanced at Luka a little self consciously and then sat down on the walkway level beside the railing. She touched the floor beside her and then settled crossed legged with her hands in her lap. She watched the other teen with a curious expression. He was older than she was after all, and they were usually both really good with people and communication. Maybe she was getting things confused or overstepping.... thought she didn't really think so. Ugh. Ashla, please don’t let this get weird.
“Sorry, this is a little different. Please don’t let it be weird. Um... Luka, we are good right? Do you want to talk about stuff?"
Don't let your lights go down. Don't let your fire burn out. Because somewhere, somebody needs a reason to believe.
Sometimes, it's still the smallest things that matter.
Sometimes, it's still the smallest things that matter.
-
Luka Balmore
- Posts: 82
- Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2020 2:24 pm
Re: I suppose I'm Part Human
As he had waited for her response he did not know that he expected her to come back with that. She did a Kariime and turned the question back on him. Oh the irony of the situation was not lost on him, nor was the snarky nature of the comment whether it was intended that way or not. He took mental note to remind himself that she did in fact have a sarcastic comment or two coming her way in the near future.
"What I think? I think it doesn't matter at the end of it all as long as I am doing the best that I possibly can. I do think she's prepping me, but I have no idea when they are actually going to come."
He smirked quietly.
"I think it will definitely be before thirty. Jarod sounds like a good Master, I'm glad you have him, he seems like he enjoys the typical banter in the Master and Padawan relationship."
He had noticed her body language as they continued walking, he had indeed stepped closer to her and there was something telling him that it might not have been the best move even if it was to avoid the cleaning droid. She took an unexpected turn and now they were heading up, he had to admit that the breeze did feel good even if it wasn't the much more natural breeze of Bakura, at least it was a breeze dubiously clean air or not. He noticed her glance and being the perceptive young man that he was he immediately picked up on the anxiety present in it. He was about to speak as she sat down against the railing and patted the ground next to her. He took a moment and listened to her speak before he sat down a comfortable distance next to her his back against the railing as well. He was astonished over her question, of course they were good and no he really did not necessarily want to talk about anything right then and there but it was clear that he had been making things awkward from the beginning whether he was trying to or not.
He looked at her and gave her a small but reassuring smile.
"Well we are most certainly good as far as I am concerned Ashlin."
He took a breath and paused for a moment and looked at her.
"I was waiting to see what happened to decide whether I was going to say anything or not because we're good friends and I value that more than anything. It is just that, the last time I had seen you before today felt like ages ago and I had noticed then that I had really enjoyed being around you and then when I saw you today that feeling returned and I felt sort of warm all over and a bit excited which we're friends, that makes sense but I felt different. I thought about it as you came over and the more I talked to you and I was and am trying to figure out exactly what it means."
He exhaled a bit nervously but otherwise maintained his composure.
"I have spent my life training, learning, and doing everything a young Jedi is supposed to do and more, but I have spent virtually no time at all contemplating if I was physically or emotionally attracted to anyone at all Ashlin. That is until today. You're you and I love you dearly as a friend and for the first real time today when I looked at you I saw you and recognized that I might well be romantically attracted to you but I did not want to put that level of pressure on you, at least on purpose but it appears that I have inadvertently done so and I do apologize. Jedi training teaches you how to do everything but this sort of thing and I honestly have no clue what I am doing or if I am actually doing anything at all, which is in large why I did not outright bring it up."
Luka's soft expression betrayed a bit of anxiety at the forefront of his mind as he was not sure that he had said or done all or any of the right things but he knew that he had at least been honest with her and hopefully that counted for something. He hoped more than anything that he did not do anything to ruin the relationship that had lasted for the majority of their lives so far.
"I basically started thinking too much about it and then started over thinking every little detail when I should have just said something."
"What I think? I think it doesn't matter at the end of it all as long as I am doing the best that I possibly can. I do think she's prepping me, but I have no idea when they are actually going to come."
He smirked quietly.
"I think it will definitely be before thirty. Jarod sounds like a good Master, I'm glad you have him, he seems like he enjoys the typical banter in the Master and Padawan relationship."
He had noticed her body language as they continued walking, he had indeed stepped closer to her and there was something telling him that it might not have been the best move even if it was to avoid the cleaning droid. She took an unexpected turn and now they were heading up, he had to admit that the breeze did feel good even if it wasn't the much more natural breeze of Bakura, at least it was a breeze dubiously clean air or not. He noticed her glance and being the perceptive young man that he was he immediately picked up on the anxiety present in it. He was about to speak as she sat down against the railing and patted the ground next to her. He took a moment and listened to her speak before he sat down a comfortable distance next to her his back against the railing as well. He was astonished over her question, of course they were good and no he really did not necessarily want to talk about anything right then and there but it was clear that he had been making things awkward from the beginning whether he was trying to or not.
He looked at her and gave her a small but reassuring smile.
"Well we are most certainly good as far as I am concerned Ashlin."
He took a breath and paused for a moment and looked at her.
"I was waiting to see what happened to decide whether I was going to say anything or not because we're good friends and I value that more than anything. It is just that, the last time I had seen you before today felt like ages ago and I had noticed then that I had really enjoyed being around you and then when I saw you today that feeling returned and I felt sort of warm all over and a bit excited which we're friends, that makes sense but I felt different. I thought about it as you came over and the more I talked to you and I was and am trying to figure out exactly what it means."
He exhaled a bit nervously but otherwise maintained his composure.
"I have spent my life training, learning, and doing everything a young Jedi is supposed to do and more, but I have spent virtually no time at all contemplating if I was physically or emotionally attracted to anyone at all Ashlin. That is until today. You're you and I love you dearly as a friend and for the first real time today when I looked at you I saw you and recognized that I might well be romantically attracted to you but I did not want to put that level of pressure on you, at least on purpose but it appears that I have inadvertently done so and I do apologize. Jedi training teaches you how to do everything but this sort of thing and I honestly have no clue what I am doing or if I am actually doing anything at all, which is in large why I did not outright bring it up."
Luka's soft expression betrayed a bit of anxiety at the forefront of his mind as he was not sure that he had said or done all or any of the right things but he knew that he had at least been honest with her and hopefully that counted for something. He hoped more than anything that he did not do anything to ruin the relationship that had lasted for the majority of their lives so far.
"I basically started thinking too much about it and then started over thinking every little detail when I should have just said something."
Re: I suppose I'm Part Human
Ashlin settled in her seat at the edge of the walkway, gently turning so that the guard railing was beside her to her left so that she slightly faced Luka and could watch his expressions as he sat down and spoke.
He was nervous, too. She met his eyes with a reassuring look before she glanced back down at her fingertips against the tiled floor. With a quiet politeness that let Luka know she was listening to him with all of her care, but not staring while she did it, Ashlin traced a fingertip in a slow circle against the industrial outdoor tiles and rewrote the surfaces in her mind’s eye. She didn’t pressure the sensory illusion on Luka while she shaded in the details and listened to him, but left the imagery as open and welcoming as if she’d set a coloring pad in plain sight on the ground between them and was gently sketching in the details for them both to watch while she listened to him.
Toward the furthest East edge of the citadel at the bottom of the hills, almost to the wall, a small area was shaded and almost hidden by a tall overgrown thicket of saplings and offshoots from the forest on three sides… making a perfect ‘sacred fortress.’ A tiny rainwater creek trickled along between the edges of the walkway floor tiles until they faded into cool flat pebbles and the soft olive green moss with a touch of the luminescent purple lichen that grew in the most shaded areas.
Luka was right. They’d spent their lives learning Jedi tasks—which, in both of their cases, included a great deal of practice with trust, calm, and communication. But this was still something a bit new for them. Ashlin looked back down to her rainwater stream and let Luka finish.
The little creek fed a larger shaded pool that was much too small to be called a pond, but definitions weren’t important to the tadpoles or the ring of toadstools or the wild animals that drank from it often. The Coruscant guard railing behind them was almost doubled in height; a dewy line of bushes that sheltered the pond; tall enough that they might has well have been children. There were a few birds hopping around, and a skimmer insect quickly darted safely across the water before any of amphibians happened to notice it.
And quiet rain… not touching either of them… but plinking softly from surface to surface until each droplet found a home in the moss or trickled off into the water that became the pond.
“I’m glad we moved, but it was a really good place to grow.” Ashlin looked back to meet Luka’s face and told him after a moment.
“Okay. Thank you for trying to talk through that, Luka. I think…”
She was a flushed a little pink against her freckles, and her eyes were sparkling from some mix of excitement or nerves, but her smile was warm and, if anything, the adolescent Padawan girl sitting neatly cross-legged in her echo of a favorite Bakuran glade was calmer and less mischievous than before. She did wish that Estella was here and able to have quickly stepped away and talked with her, but Ashlin and Luka had been good friends for as long as her memory worked — they were more than capable of talking with each other.
“I think you still had more time to think about it than me somehow. But that’s got to be how that usually goes. Someone is always first. You could keep thinking about it… and I could…. Or we have options and could do something really sudden and unlike us… like.. kiss.. and… find out something? Um. But even thinking about that while I say it — I don’t like it. Let’s not. You’re older, and kind, and taller and a little wiser and more trained than me. I am—”
The tips of her ears itched, and she smoothed her hair back to touch one that must have been as pink-flushed as her face. Oh well; it really didn’t matter.
“—I’m perfectly capable of infatuation and crushes or admiring people. Besides the basic textbook and relationship stuff, I already got the talk about how my cuteness quotient has been going down for like three years, so yeah... And! Do you realize there’s like a thirty percent chance we’d be married already if we were Mandalorians? Not that you have to be, but we definitely could be. Bella and Damien will be and they are younger than both of us. And I don’t know if you get to flirt in the infirmaries much, but I do sometimes especially out and about, and it is…. so fun Luka! But none of it really matters. We do. And you're more Sephi than me, but we both still are, so we're never going to stop being around each other.”
She pursed her lips and tossed a pebble into her little pond, but the ripples didn't last. Ashlin glanced back at Luka.
“I don’t think I want to think about it seriously about anyone yet, but.. I definitely don't with you. Can we just keep us?”
He was nervous, too. She met his eyes with a reassuring look before she glanced back down at her fingertips against the tiled floor. With a quiet politeness that let Luka know she was listening to him with all of her care, but not staring while she did it, Ashlin traced a fingertip in a slow circle against the industrial outdoor tiles and rewrote the surfaces in her mind’s eye. She didn’t pressure the sensory illusion on Luka while she shaded in the details and listened to him, but left the imagery as open and welcoming as if she’d set a coloring pad in plain sight on the ground between them and was gently sketching in the details for them both to watch while she listened to him.
Toward the furthest East edge of the citadel at the bottom of the hills, almost to the wall, a small area was shaded and almost hidden by a tall overgrown thicket of saplings and offshoots from the forest on three sides… making a perfect ‘sacred fortress.’ A tiny rainwater creek trickled along between the edges of the walkway floor tiles until they faded into cool flat pebbles and the soft olive green moss with a touch of the luminescent purple lichen that grew in the most shaded areas.
Luka was right. They’d spent their lives learning Jedi tasks—which, in both of their cases, included a great deal of practice with trust, calm, and communication. But this was still something a bit new for them. Ashlin looked back down to her rainwater stream and let Luka finish.
The little creek fed a larger shaded pool that was much too small to be called a pond, but definitions weren’t important to the tadpoles or the ring of toadstools or the wild animals that drank from it often. The Coruscant guard railing behind them was almost doubled in height; a dewy line of bushes that sheltered the pond; tall enough that they might has well have been children. There were a few birds hopping around, and a skimmer insect quickly darted safely across the water before any of amphibians happened to notice it.
And quiet rain… not touching either of them… but plinking softly from surface to surface until each droplet found a home in the moss or trickled off into the water that became the pond.
“I’m glad we moved, but it was a really good place to grow.” Ashlin looked back to meet Luka’s face and told him after a moment.
“Okay. Thank you for trying to talk through that, Luka. I think…”
She was a flushed a little pink against her freckles, and her eyes were sparkling from some mix of excitement or nerves, but her smile was warm and, if anything, the adolescent Padawan girl sitting neatly cross-legged in her echo of a favorite Bakuran glade was calmer and less mischievous than before. She did wish that Estella was here and able to have quickly stepped away and talked with her, but Ashlin and Luka had been good friends for as long as her memory worked — they were more than capable of talking with each other.
“I think you still had more time to think about it than me somehow. But that’s got to be how that usually goes. Someone is always first. You could keep thinking about it… and I could…. Or we have options and could do something really sudden and unlike us… like.. kiss.. and… find out something? Um. But even thinking about that while I say it — I don’t like it. Let’s not. You’re older, and kind, and taller and a little wiser and more trained than me. I am—”
The tips of her ears itched, and she smoothed her hair back to touch one that must have been as pink-flushed as her face. Oh well; it really didn’t matter.
“—I’m perfectly capable of infatuation and crushes or admiring people. Besides the basic textbook and relationship stuff, I already got the talk about how my cuteness quotient has been going down for like three years, so yeah... And! Do you realize there’s like a thirty percent chance we’d be married already if we were Mandalorians? Not that you have to be, but we definitely could be. Bella and Damien will be and they are younger than both of us. And I don’t know if you get to flirt in the infirmaries much, but I do sometimes especially out and about, and it is…. so fun Luka! But none of it really matters. We do. And you're more Sephi than me, but we both still are, so we're never going to stop being around each other.”
She pursed her lips and tossed a pebble into her little pond, but the ripples didn't last. Ashlin glanced back at Luka.
“I don’t think I want to think about it seriously about anyone yet, but.. I definitely don't with you. Can we just keep us?”
Don't let your lights go down. Don't let your fire burn out. Because somewhere, somebody needs a reason to believe.
Sometimes, it's still the smallest things that matter.
Sometimes, it's still the smallest things that matter.
-
Luka Balmore
- Posts: 82
- Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2020 2:24 pm
Re: I suppose I'm Part Human
Sitting on the edge of a railing on Coruscant was just not the place he had ever imagined having a conversation like this. He felt out of his element having the conversation to begin with, couple that with the fact that while he is technically a Coruscant native, his race was in fact from Thustra and he had spent almost his entire life growing up on Bakura save the last few years. Bakura and Thustra did not have a ton in common, but the one thing that they both did have in common was that they were decidedly not the bustling city scape that was Coruscant. Not to impugn the many positives that Coruscant did indeed offer, there were many advantages to being here at the center of it all especially as Jedi, but while Jedi could create their own peace for themselves anywhere in the galaxy it was indeed much easier to do so in a setting in which the Jedi was comfortable in the first place. Speeders and traffic were the sounds native to this jungle, not the wind and the rain that he was accustomed to falling asleep to on a nightly basis. Even Jedi had their norms that they liked and had grown accustomed to, it was not a weakness or a liability, it merely was.
Luka was not uncomfortable here on Coruscant, but he was not comfortable either.
He looked towards Ashlin and studied her body language carefully, he noticed the flushing in her face and amongst her freckles and he had hoped that he had not embarrassed her too much, but at the very least he had been open with her so that they could have as rational a discussion as two teenage Jedi Padawans whose frontal cortexes had not fully developed could.
He felt the invitation for the vision gently brush against the edge of his essence to view the scene unfolding and he leapt at the opportunity.
Bakura. Home. He heard the rain falling gently along with the slow and gentle movement of the creek. He felt himself relax as completely as he could in this moment as he looked around. A small smile formed on his face and his facial features settled into their normal warm glow as he he gazed upon Ashlin and gave her a small nod. He brushed one of the saplings lightly with his foot and picked up a pebbled, one side that had been buried in the dirt was slightly coarse whereas the side that had been exposed to the elements had been rubbed smooth. It was not unlike most people he had reasoned, the side that they showed to the world was often times, flawless whereas hidden just beneath the surface were the scars that they hid from others. He nodded to himself, even he had his scars.
As the ripples failed to form as she had tossed the pebble in Luka looked at her gently, not staring but not looking away either.
Had he upset her? He heard the words she had said and took each of them allowing them to settle in his mind before slowly them and taking in the carefully crafted thoughts that she had passed to him and savoring each of them for the time and energy she had spent before giving them to him in the form of words and this beautiful scenery that they were now surrounded by.
"I did have more time to think about it than you did, but the truth is Ashlin, I am not even sure what my sexuality is or if I even have one. Medically speaking everyone does, in most species at least and for the sake of this conversation we definitely do. I just have never sat and pondered it to any great extent, I'm an adolescent just like you so there are naturally things going on, but they have never been at the forefront of my mind."
He paused and placed the pebble back where he found it, allowing it's rough surface to remain hidden for as long as it so desired, until one day maybe in a storm it would garner the courage to flip itself over and show the universe it's true self that it had kept hidden for so long. The pebble did not know it, but the universe would accept it for what it was regardless.
"I've never flirted until today. Flirting with patients is generally frowned upon and it has never really occurred to me as a thing that was an option in that setting with other Jedi or staff members. How bad did I do?"
He smirked and took a deep breath in, it did not feel like a rejection in any way, he was more than happy to just have the friendship.
"I had thought about kissing and I reasoned that it was far out of character for me and I doubted you would appreciate it either, that and I have never kissed anyone so I would not at all be surprised if I would have somehow managed to injure one or both of us in the process. We can most certainly just keep us, there was never meant to be any pressure in this, I was feeling things out and was in fact more afraid that I might damage what we already had as friends if I had spoken up about it or made some sort of grand romantic gesture that I would no doubt botched because romance is a language as foreign to me as the language of the Sith."
He took a brief moment and stretched his arms out in front of him.
"I am sorry if I did anything to pressure you or make you feel anxious about this."
Luka was not uncomfortable here on Coruscant, but he was not comfortable either.
He looked towards Ashlin and studied her body language carefully, he noticed the flushing in her face and amongst her freckles and he had hoped that he had not embarrassed her too much, but at the very least he had been open with her so that they could have as rational a discussion as two teenage Jedi Padawans whose frontal cortexes had not fully developed could.
He felt the invitation for the vision gently brush against the edge of his essence to view the scene unfolding and he leapt at the opportunity.
Bakura. Home. He heard the rain falling gently along with the slow and gentle movement of the creek. He felt himself relax as completely as he could in this moment as he looked around. A small smile formed on his face and his facial features settled into their normal warm glow as he he gazed upon Ashlin and gave her a small nod. He brushed one of the saplings lightly with his foot and picked up a pebbled, one side that had been buried in the dirt was slightly coarse whereas the side that had been exposed to the elements had been rubbed smooth. It was not unlike most people he had reasoned, the side that they showed to the world was often times, flawless whereas hidden just beneath the surface were the scars that they hid from others. He nodded to himself, even he had his scars.
As the ripples failed to form as she had tossed the pebble in Luka looked at her gently, not staring but not looking away either.
Had he upset her? He heard the words she had said and took each of them allowing them to settle in his mind before slowly them and taking in the carefully crafted thoughts that she had passed to him and savoring each of them for the time and energy she had spent before giving them to him in the form of words and this beautiful scenery that they were now surrounded by.
"I did have more time to think about it than you did, but the truth is Ashlin, I am not even sure what my sexuality is or if I even have one. Medically speaking everyone does, in most species at least and for the sake of this conversation we definitely do. I just have never sat and pondered it to any great extent, I'm an adolescent just like you so there are naturally things going on, but they have never been at the forefront of my mind."
He paused and placed the pebble back where he found it, allowing it's rough surface to remain hidden for as long as it so desired, until one day maybe in a storm it would garner the courage to flip itself over and show the universe it's true self that it had kept hidden for so long. The pebble did not know it, but the universe would accept it for what it was regardless.
"I've never flirted until today. Flirting with patients is generally frowned upon and it has never really occurred to me as a thing that was an option in that setting with other Jedi or staff members. How bad did I do?"
He smirked and took a deep breath in, it did not feel like a rejection in any way, he was more than happy to just have the friendship.
"I had thought about kissing and I reasoned that it was far out of character for me and I doubted you would appreciate it either, that and I have never kissed anyone so I would not at all be surprised if I would have somehow managed to injure one or both of us in the process. We can most certainly just keep us, there was never meant to be any pressure in this, I was feeling things out and was in fact more afraid that I might damage what we already had as friends if I had spoken up about it or made some sort of grand romantic gesture that I would no doubt botched because romance is a language as foreign to me as the language of the Sith."
He took a brief moment and stretched his arms out in front of him.
"I am sorry if I did anything to pressure you or make you feel anxious about this."
Re: I suppose I'm Part Human
The bridge of her nose crinkled in amusement at his comment about not flirting with patients, and her nostrils flared while she pushed back a chuckle without worrying about trying to hide it. She was musing quietly about Luka’s two-sided pebble that he’d gently replaced on the ground, but Ashlin was still paying careful and considerate attention. When he agreed that he’d just reasoned himself out of wanting do anything impulsive… she frowned thoughtfully. Was that definitely for the best? She’d already said so, but on the other hand, Ashlin was not… sure it needed to matter that much? Then maybe nerves or something had finally gotten the best of him, too. He’d gotten a little silly and self-deprecating enough that she didn’t bother to cover her smirk this time. She glanced back at his pebble on the ground, and then at the stretching Luka.
“In a pass/fail class where for some reason I’m the teacher?—that’s a terrible idea; they should get someone else—Anyway, I give you a pass with room for improvement. Um. Much more importantly, are you keeping some amazing failed kiss med clinic stories from me? Because I would be really surprised if you tried and managed to injure one of us. Unless I, like… kicked you or something, but that seems like an overreaction… And not like us… Just remember we’re stuck being incredibly long-lived friends. ‘K?”
Ashlin caught her friend’s hand and gave his palm a quick squeeze while the Bakuran pond and greenery dissolved back into the durasteel railing and Coruscant cityscape beyond them. All of the district’s distant sounds, lights, and the hum of energy were back in their perceptions by the time she’d shifted back to her feet and he’d followed suit. Did he mind? Without bothering to ask anything aloud or risk letting any clumsy words get in the way, she asked Luka if he minded. When she felt confident there were’t any misunderstandings, the slightly younger of the two stepped closer for a second and kissed his mouth. That was new and a little bold of her. She chuckled privately at her flush and the spark of emotions in her mind… she would have to chat about it with Stella or Jarod about sometime—um. maybe Stella—but she didn’t feel that anything was concerning. Ashlin didn’t feel that either of them had broken anything, or that they’d cracked open any doorways for awkwardness.
She caught Luka’s eyes with a warm look before she stepped too far away. She didn’t expect this to happen again anytime soon, and it felt important to her that her sincere and always-careful childhood friend had a chance to try it one more time on his own terms if he wanted to. By the time she retreated a step or two away a moment later, she picked up her backpack again and offered him a light grin; quickly checking for reassurance that they hadn’t broken anything just in case.
(No injuries?)
“Still want go to the maze?”
“In a pass/fail class where for some reason I’m the teacher?—that’s a terrible idea; they should get someone else—Anyway, I give you a pass with room for improvement. Um. Much more importantly, are you keeping some amazing failed kiss med clinic stories from me? Because I would be really surprised if you tried and managed to injure one of us. Unless I, like… kicked you or something, but that seems like an overreaction… And not like us… Just remember we’re stuck being incredibly long-lived friends. ‘K?”
Ashlin caught her friend’s hand and gave his palm a quick squeeze while the Bakuran pond and greenery dissolved back into the durasteel railing and Coruscant cityscape beyond them. All of the district’s distant sounds, lights, and the hum of energy were back in their perceptions by the time she’d shifted back to her feet and he’d followed suit. Did he mind? Without bothering to ask anything aloud or risk letting any clumsy words get in the way, she asked Luka if he minded. When she felt confident there were’t any misunderstandings, the slightly younger of the two stepped closer for a second and kissed his mouth. That was new and a little bold of her. She chuckled privately at her flush and the spark of emotions in her mind… she would have to chat about it with Stella or Jarod about sometime—um. maybe Stella—but she didn’t feel that anything was concerning. Ashlin didn’t feel that either of them had broken anything, or that they’d cracked open any doorways for awkwardness.
She caught Luka’s eyes with a warm look before she stepped too far away. She didn’t expect this to happen again anytime soon, and it felt important to her that her sincere and always-careful childhood friend had a chance to try it one more time on his own terms if he wanted to. By the time she retreated a step or two away a moment later, she picked up her backpack again and offered him a light grin; quickly checking for reassurance that they hadn’t broken anything just in case.
(No injuries?)
“Still want go to the maze?”
Don't let your lights go down. Don't let your fire burn out. Because somewhere, somebody needs a reason to believe.
Sometimes, it's still the smallest things that matter.
Sometimes, it's still the smallest things that matter.
-
Luka Balmore
- Posts: 82
- Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2020 2:24 pm
Re: I suppose I'm Part Human
He chuckled and held back an even heartier laugh as he stood up. While her comment about the mythical failed med clinic kiss that he was potentially keeping from her would be wildly entertaining and indeed more than hilarious it thankfully had not happened that he knew of. He did have other stories from his time working in the Hospital just a few miles away involving "romantic injuries" but they were less than repeatable, not because it was Ashlin, but because some of those stories made him uncomfortable. Emergency rooms were interesting places and things couples would do in the interest of...love(?) baffled him. The Gamorrean couple who had grabbed a bottle of super glue instead of chocolate sauce, presumably in the dark came to mind. That was an image that wasn't going away no matter how much he wanted it to, he'd be 200 years old on his death bed and for some reason that'd be the one thing he'd remember about his medical career in his dying moments. Maybe that's the reason he hadn't thought too much about his own sexuality? Seeing various species with various injuries from the act of physical romance might have just been enough to make him repress any of those thoughts in himself. He thought for a moment, did he ever treat a Jedi for those types of injuries and or foreign object removal? No, he hadn't Jedi were smarter than that and if there was one Jedi who wasn't it would have had to have been Svo'k and he didn't know of anything like that. He shivered at that thought. If that ever came to fruition with Luka as the only healer on duty, Svo'k would just have to wait until someone else got back.
Luka then he focused a bit more on the here and now.
"Just remember we’re stuck being incredibly long-lived friends. ‘K?”
He heard her say. Then the Bakuran backdrop slowly disappeared and he was left here and now with her. He nodded quietly without saying anything to risk introducing awkward words into the situation either. She felt the question cross her mind and he answered back as well without saying anything either. He did feel his heart beating a little harder as he closed his eyes and their lips touched together. She had kissed him. He felt something, but there weren't fireworks and explosions of earth shattering romance pounding at his mind threatening to overtake him like some of the guys had mentioned it was just nice. She stepped away and he got the impression that she was allowing him a chance to try as well. He nodded and leaned in, not sure what to do with his hands he placed one in the other behind his back and returned her kiss. The sensation was the same, yet different in a way, it was nice. He slowly pulled away and looked at her for a moment, he had promised that they were long lived friends and in no way shape or form was he going to break that promise, but at the same time he did believe he had the answer to his original question that had sparked this entire series of events.
He slowly took a step back and smiled at her, the expression in his face said it all, he reasoned that saying thank you for a kiss was a bit odd, so it was left unsaid but surely Ashlin could tell that he was grateful to have a friend like her.
(No injuries. I guess our hair getting tied together and a Master having to separate us was just a bit of paranoia.)
He joked as he pushed his Padawan braid aside as he ran his hand through his hair.
"Absolutely, I've been wanting to check the maze out for awhile."
Luka then he focused a bit more on the here and now.
"Just remember we’re stuck being incredibly long-lived friends. ‘K?”
He heard her say. Then the Bakuran backdrop slowly disappeared and he was left here and now with her. He nodded quietly without saying anything to risk introducing awkward words into the situation either. She felt the question cross her mind and he answered back as well without saying anything either. He did feel his heart beating a little harder as he closed his eyes and their lips touched together. She had kissed him. He felt something, but there weren't fireworks and explosions of earth shattering romance pounding at his mind threatening to overtake him like some of the guys had mentioned it was just nice. She stepped away and he got the impression that she was allowing him a chance to try as well. He nodded and leaned in, not sure what to do with his hands he placed one in the other behind his back and returned her kiss. The sensation was the same, yet different in a way, it was nice. He slowly pulled away and looked at her for a moment, he had promised that they were long lived friends and in no way shape or form was he going to break that promise, but at the same time he did believe he had the answer to his original question that had sparked this entire series of events.
He slowly took a step back and smiled at her, the expression in his face said it all, he reasoned that saying thank you for a kiss was a bit odd, so it was left unsaid but surely Ashlin could tell that he was grateful to have a friend like her.
(No injuries. I guess our hair getting tied together and a Master having to separate us was just a bit of paranoia.)
He joked as he pushed his Padawan braid aside as he ran his hand through his hair.
"Absolutely, I've been wanting to check the maze out for awhile."
Re: I suppose I'm Part Human
“Me, too.”
Ashlin didn’t glance back at her friend after they’d started walking, so he wouldn’t have actually seen her brighten into yet-another faintly freckled grin when she breathed out in an unspoken laugh. Not that he needed to…. with Sephi hearing, after all.
In the privacy of her own mental space, the slim seventeen year old was finding it more than a little funny that she actually wanted to be the one slowing down or bumping into the path of her sincere friend now, who was a little older and taller, and had been so genuine and trustworthy for as long as she could remember. Ashlin understood perfectly well that the lightly mischievous skip in her step and the warmth hitting the tips of her ears was from a giddy little rush of serotonin and adrenaline high… and typical adolescent emotions…. with whatever other biochemistry silliness she’d just cheerfully jumped into.
Whatever it was though, it was fine. Luka was. She was fine. They were both actually better than fine, really. And she had no intention of jumping any further, so there. The brown-haired adolescent flicked a bit of her hair to the front of her shoulders and pointedly did not glance back at Luka, or say anything interesting at all, until they were well into maze and her brain was busy enough with two hours of puzzles and athletic fine motor skills that she could let the giddiness fade back away.
It was such a fun evening. She was so happy they’d came.
The young Sentinel Padawan felt warm and confident, and maybe just a little awkward, but she knew their friendship was more than alright… and she was delighted with everything about this end to the day! She couldn’t think of how to phrase that in words even if she’d dared to risk trying.
When her comm pinged with a notification inquiring if she was available, she tapped yes without thinking about it and looked over at Luka with a wry grin. It was always something, wasn’t it?
“That was…. really fun. A lot. I’m glad we did.”
Retrieving her backpack from the corridor shelf, she slung it over one shoulder and cheerfully headed back into the main Temple hallway ahead of Luka.
“Ashlin Ohran-Li.”
Ashlin blinked and dipped her head and shoulders in a bow to the brown and gold Felecatian who’d….. might as well have walked through a wall. There were rumors he was good at that when he wanted to be.
“—Master Derek, good evening. Can… I help?” She summoned her usual bright smile without any difficulty, though she didn’t quite keep a puzzled tone out of her last syllable.
Harper nodded with same respectful acknowledgement to Luka, but the adult Jedi returned his calm cat-slitted eyes to Ashlin without making her wait.
“A practical training scenario is prepared for you. Given the nature, it has been intentionally withheld from your visible schedule. Report is in twenty-one minutes at SB2-34. Will you attend?”
All the warmth and color had faded out of her features. She felt a similar change of tone from behind her, but her focus was more on her own mannerisms and scrambling for an appropriate response. It was at least fifteen minutes walk across the Temple to the area that section was in.
“I…. Yes. Of course I will. Even if… I don’t think I’m supposed to say no, either way. But I am to go to Kalarba… in… nine hours?”
Harper inclined his head. “We will make any required adjustments.”
Ashlin shifted to remove her lightsaber hilt. She had the notion of giving it to Luka for safekeeping, but she didn’t get far enough to finish the first part of the movement before Harper instructed that she keep all items on her person. The Padawan girl nodded more numbly in response than she meant to, and couldn’t remember whatever Harper’s last few words were, except for registering that it was just a goodbye. Then Harper was gone…. and she didn’t have any time…. Okay.
She bit the edge of her lip and glanced at Luka. “Did... I do that correctly? Sorry. I mean, good..night... I just have to go..”
Ashlin didn’t glance back at her friend after they’d started walking, so he wouldn’t have actually seen her brighten into yet-another faintly freckled grin when she breathed out in an unspoken laugh. Not that he needed to…. with Sephi hearing, after all.
In the privacy of her own mental space, the slim seventeen year old was finding it more than a little funny that she actually wanted to be the one slowing down or bumping into the path of her sincere friend now, who was a little older and taller, and had been so genuine and trustworthy for as long as she could remember. Ashlin understood perfectly well that the lightly mischievous skip in her step and the warmth hitting the tips of her ears was from a giddy little rush of serotonin and adrenaline high… and typical adolescent emotions…. with whatever other biochemistry silliness she’d just cheerfully jumped into.
Whatever it was though, it was fine. Luka was. She was fine. They were both actually better than fine, really. And she had no intention of jumping any further, so there. The brown-haired adolescent flicked a bit of her hair to the front of her shoulders and pointedly did not glance back at Luka, or say anything interesting at all, until they were well into maze and her brain was busy enough with two hours of puzzles and athletic fine motor skills that she could let the giddiness fade back away.
It was such a fun evening. She was so happy they’d came.
The young Sentinel Padawan felt warm and confident, and maybe just a little awkward, but she knew their friendship was more than alright… and she was delighted with everything about this end to the day! She couldn’t think of how to phrase that in words even if she’d dared to risk trying.
When her comm pinged with a notification inquiring if she was available, she tapped yes without thinking about it and looked over at Luka with a wry grin. It was always something, wasn’t it?
“That was…. really fun. A lot. I’m glad we did.”
Retrieving her backpack from the corridor shelf, she slung it over one shoulder and cheerfully headed back into the main Temple hallway ahead of Luka.
“Ashlin Ohran-Li.”
Ashlin blinked and dipped her head and shoulders in a bow to the brown and gold Felecatian who’d….. might as well have walked through a wall. There were rumors he was good at that when he wanted to be.
“—Master Derek, good evening. Can… I help?” She summoned her usual bright smile without any difficulty, though she didn’t quite keep a puzzled tone out of her last syllable.
Harper nodded with same respectful acknowledgement to Luka, but the adult Jedi returned his calm cat-slitted eyes to Ashlin without making her wait.
“A practical training scenario is prepared for you. Given the nature, it has been intentionally withheld from your visible schedule. Report is in twenty-one minutes at SB2-34. Will you attend?”
All the warmth and color had faded out of her features. She felt a similar change of tone from behind her, but her focus was more on her own mannerisms and scrambling for an appropriate response. It was at least fifteen minutes walk across the Temple to the area that section was in.
“I…. Yes. Of course I will. Even if… I don’t think I’m supposed to say no, either way. But I am to go to Kalarba… in… nine hours?”
Harper inclined his head. “We will make any required adjustments.”
Ashlin shifted to remove her lightsaber hilt. She had the notion of giving it to Luka for safekeeping, but she didn’t get far enough to finish the first part of the movement before Harper instructed that she keep all items on her person. The Padawan girl nodded more numbly in response than she meant to, and couldn’t remember whatever Harper’s last few words were, except for registering that it was just a goodbye. Then Harper was gone…. and she didn’t have any time…. Okay.
She bit the edge of her lip and glanced at Luka. “Did... I do that correctly? Sorry. I mean, good..night... I just have to go..”
Don't let your lights go down. Don't let your fire burn out. Because somewhere, somebody needs a reason to believe.
Sometimes, it's still the smallest things that matter.
Sometimes, it's still the smallest things that matter.