He stirred in his bed, it was early yet, still a couple of hours before dawn. His sleep had been irregular for as long as he could remember. He shook his head and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He swung his legs over the bed and stood up slowly. He walked to the mirror and caught a glimpse of his scarred pink chest and he took a deep breath in, his padawan braid brushed over his shoulder as he got dressed. There was no need for a shower as he had taken care of that before bed, he combed his hair to look as presentable and dignified as he possibly could given the situation.
His traditional Jedi robes had been replaced with his tunic, sleeves removed for the reasons of practicality more than anything, today was another day, the seven hundred and ninety third day to be exact. The time seemed endless, it seemed as if it had passed slower since the day that he was left here in this great temple, in his home. It was that day that his duty changed, that day that he had began to carry himself a bit differently. It was that day that he became responsible for others.
Life used to be simple, but the life of a Jedi was never supposed to be simple and easy, he had to remind himself of this. The eighteen year old Padawan moved over to the other bunk in his room, a younger man than he was still asleep, a Sentinel Padawan whom Julian had come to rely on for his advice and prowess. It was these two young men that took on roles of leadership, it was their duty to protect the Service Corps, the remaining younglings, other Padwans, the younger Jedi looked up to each of them. Each day was as if it was a year, the responsibilities weighed heavy on their shoulders, but Julian took on the brunt of it and allowed himself to be a lightning rod, burrying everything as deep as he could so that he could remain strong for the others, that was his lot in life, and it was okay.
He looked down at the sleeping young man, how he wished he could grant him more sleep, he needed it, they both did. However there was work to be done and it could not be done by one man alone, they both needed to be around, they needed to be seen, faith in the force was their ally, but it did benefit the masses to see them breaking their backs side by side with them.
"T'ahai, it is time to get up my friend. We have work to do."
The young male stirred and opened his silver blue eyes, they caught Julian's and he nodded quietly before signing to him that he would be ready momentarily. Julian nodded and gave his anomid friend a warm smile.
"Day 793 my silent friend."
T'ahai rolled his eyes and signed a subtle yet snarky obscenity towards Julian and he began to get ready.
Julian chuckled and clipped his lightsaber to his belt and took a deep breath as T'ahai finished getting ready. Their door opened and the two Padawans made their way out into the halls of the temple...
Abandoned
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Julian Orspach
- Posts: 92
- Joined: Sun Feb 02, 2020 11:03 am
Abandoned
Last edited by Julian Orspach on Thu Apr 09, 2020 6:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"I'm just a Jedi."
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Rave Satsai
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2020 1:36 pm
Re: Abandoned
It felt so strange to look around Coruscant’s busy streets, and to think that life went on as usual for most people these days. The early afternoon sun shown on the colossal towerscape, speeders whirred by overhead, and people walked about on their various and sundry ordinary daily duties and special occasions. It was a Friday. It was like no one knew that the world had ended… No, it hadn’t ended, but it felt like it sometimes, and seeing people go on about their routine lives in the afternoon shadow of the Jedi temple felt surreal to Rave.
The nautolan Jedi hadn’t worn the robes of his traditional upbringing in over a year – it just wasn’t conducive to his lifestyle anymore. He was on the go too much to try and maintain a single set of robes that he cherished too dearly to watch waste away, and since he didn’t live in the temple anymore, the linens weren’t available for regular fitting.
But today was different. Today Rave was back. He was… home. He rolled the thought over in his head as a he straightened his robes out of self-conscious habit, taking to the stairs. A white base layer, covered by ruddy browns, and finally an outer tabard layer of dark grey which matched the color of the flowing cloak that was so signature of the Jedi. He felt like he was playing dress-up; felt like it was all for show. But then again, he felt like the whole temple was just here for show at this point. A bastion of glory days that had expired what felt like a lifetime ago. The people who still lived here held onto a sentiment he just couldn’t accept. Not after the bloodshed he’d seen. The temple of Coruscant was the home of a whole and healthy Jedi order, not an uncertain remnant. A child in adult’s clothes. But he loved each of the resident Jedi dearly – he reminded himself of this as he mounted the long stair leading to the grand entrance – and he wanted the best for them. He wanted them to come with him.
At the top of the stair, Rave found a familiar face and smiled as hugely as he ever had.
“Shamir! Glad ta see dey can still afford ta pay a mahn ta watch a front door!”
The man at the reception kiosk smiled with a little more reserve, perhaps because it took him longer to recognize the face, or perhaps simply because he was good at his job. But he did smile, and he raised a hand in greeting as Rave drew near.
“Don’t worry about my job, Satsai. The bureau of history and cultural heritage has taken an interest here so my job actually shouldn’t be going anywhere.”
Rave’s smile slacked a little as the guard with whom he’d become acquainted on his last visit spoke. So the Republic was paying the bills now.
“Coruscant takes great pride in this place.” Shamir assured the Rave.
The nautolan reaffirmed his cheery grin and nodded, moving ahead into the temple. “I’m sure someone do.”
Inside, Rave’s boots echoed on the marble floors of the grand entrance hall. In his childhood, this place had been full of comings and goings. It offended his sensibilities to hear how quiet it was now, so he trudged on into the narrower halls of the temple proper.
The reason for Rave’s visit was two-fold. He didn’t feel he needed to hold himself accountable to the leadership here – he was going to do the work of the Jedi with their blessing or without – but he felt it important to at least keep them in the loop. They were all Jedi, weren’t they? The real reason for his being here, though, was a gentle reminder that his people still worked hard to right the wrongs of a galaxy in need, and that more hands in the field were always welcome. With these thoughts in mind, the Jedi trudged in his traditional garb down the hall to the public meeting chambers which had become the defacto center of operations these days. As had been the case for the last two years, no lightsaber hung from his belt. A noticeable absence of weight in his mind and his appearance that attested to why he’d left in the first place.
The nautolan Jedi hadn’t worn the robes of his traditional upbringing in over a year – it just wasn’t conducive to his lifestyle anymore. He was on the go too much to try and maintain a single set of robes that he cherished too dearly to watch waste away, and since he didn’t live in the temple anymore, the linens weren’t available for regular fitting.
But today was different. Today Rave was back. He was… home. He rolled the thought over in his head as a he straightened his robes out of self-conscious habit, taking to the stairs. A white base layer, covered by ruddy browns, and finally an outer tabard layer of dark grey which matched the color of the flowing cloak that was so signature of the Jedi. He felt like he was playing dress-up; felt like it was all for show. But then again, he felt like the whole temple was just here for show at this point. A bastion of glory days that had expired what felt like a lifetime ago. The people who still lived here held onto a sentiment he just couldn’t accept. Not after the bloodshed he’d seen. The temple of Coruscant was the home of a whole and healthy Jedi order, not an uncertain remnant. A child in adult’s clothes. But he loved each of the resident Jedi dearly – he reminded himself of this as he mounted the long stair leading to the grand entrance – and he wanted the best for them. He wanted them to come with him.
At the top of the stair, Rave found a familiar face and smiled as hugely as he ever had.
“Shamir! Glad ta see dey can still afford ta pay a mahn ta watch a front door!”
The man at the reception kiosk smiled with a little more reserve, perhaps because it took him longer to recognize the face, or perhaps simply because he was good at his job. But he did smile, and he raised a hand in greeting as Rave drew near.
“Don’t worry about my job, Satsai. The bureau of history and cultural heritage has taken an interest here so my job actually shouldn’t be going anywhere.”
Rave’s smile slacked a little as the guard with whom he’d become acquainted on his last visit spoke. So the Republic was paying the bills now.
“Coruscant takes great pride in this place.” Shamir assured the Rave.
The nautolan reaffirmed his cheery grin and nodded, moving ahead into the temple. “I’m sure someone do.”
Inside, Rave’s boots echoed on the marble floors of the grand entrance hall. In his childhood, this place had been full of comings and goings. It offended his sensibilities to hear how quiet it was now, so he trudged on into the narrower halls of the temple proper.
The reason for Rave’s visit was two-fold. He didn’t feel he needed to hold himself accountable to the leadership here – he was going to do the work of the Jedi with their blessing or without – but he felt it important to at least keep them in the loop. They were all Jedi, weren’t they? The real reason for his being here, though, was a gentle reminder that his people still worked hard to right the wrongs of a galaxy in need, and that more hands in the field were always welcome. With these thoughts in mind, the Jedi trudged in his traditional garb down the hall to the public meeting chambers which had become the defacto center of operations these days. As had been the case for the last two years, no lightsaber hung from his belt. A noticeable absence of weight in his mind and his appearance that attested to why he’d left in the first place.
Call me Freedom, a waving flag in the wind, a banner of hope for the downtrodden
Re: Abandoned
The only current occupant of the conference workroom, a gold-brown female cathar, quietly sighed in a valiant effort to keep herself from cutting off the neimoidian’s frustrated reply in mid sentence. Tenar found herself thanking the Force that she was only dealing with a holo-projection for the moment. After waiting for a pause, she spoke again.
“Senator Dolfin… Again… I am... sympathetic to the recent attempts on your life. But regardless of any fee or donation... I have no Jedi to send you.”
In addition to her light fur and thick hair pulled loosely back, the woman’s felanoid ancestry showed in her ears and mouth, her catlike eyes, and the darker, flattened shape of her nose. She stood about five and one half feet tall, and was ten years past her Knighthood. Tenar's clothing was predictably earth-toned; mostly in ruddy shades of cinnamon or darker tree bark so that Jedi lioness maintained some contrast between her garb and the lighter brown shades of her features. Her dress-like tunic fell about halfway to her knees over her trousers, gathered at the waist by her belt. The belt was home to the slate-grey lightsaber hilt she took pride in, and the NN-14 handblaster she didn't, but would never consider starting a day without. It was years since she'd generally bothered with wearing the outer cloak, or even an obi and tabbards. Yet with the trappings or without, Tenar looked, felt, and moved with the Jedi she was. She was tired, but she was at peace with herself.
“No… Master Drayke has not been with us in some while, yet even if she were…” there would be much higher priorities. Such as that virus threatening Ansion. Tenar added sending a communication to Syler to her mental list. The Echani had her own priorities; they all did. But with so few real healers… perhaps she might go.
Tenar refocused her attention upon the neimoidian speaker whose animated anger and dissatisfaction was palpable across the lightyears. They were dancing in circles, and she wished to devote no more time to it.
“Senator Dolfin, if you do not wish to accept the advocate, then I cannot help. Please contact us again if you come to a different decision. If I have any advocates available at that time, we will do our best to assist you… May grace keep you until then, Senator.”
Deactivating the comm channel, Tenar picked up a datapad and rubbed the pressure point behind her ear with a free hand. She spoke to Alun about how the students’ day was progressing. That pricked her with a pang of longing for the years when virtually her whole life had been caretaking, and not this patchwork of guarding and managing everything. But life was what it was. Tenar reminded herself that she intended to share a few hours with the small group of students after supper, and then focused on skimming another round of updates on the Ansion situation. She forwarded a summary to Syler with brief note. She tried not to think about the credit accounts; but then recalled her note from the previous morning that she must think about them today. She sighed. Discarding the datapad rather abruptly, Tenar moved to the open space at the side of the room where they'd cleared away the furniture. Humming a few strands from an ancient melody to herself, the Jedi lioness moved into a set of agile stretches until her frustration fell away.
“The shadows are falling and the night has come,
And it’s lay down low, my love.”
Her humming drifted into soft lilting song, which she kept up when she finally laid a stack of data pads out into a semicircle on the floor, and sat down cross-legged to finish dealing with ledgers. She was still singing to herself in a half-moon of more or less finished accounting reports when her senses pricked from a companion approaching. They were all family, so Tenar had felt no need to change anything about her actions — but then she spied the younger Nautolan and sprang up to catch him in an embrace.
“Rave! It's good to see you. Are you alright?”
ooc - (The Willow Tree)
“Senator Dolfin… Again… I am... sympathetic to the recent attempts on your life. But regardless of any fee or donation... I have no Jedi to send you.”
In addition to her light fur and thick hair pulled loosely back, the woman’s felanoid ancestry showed in her ears and mouth, her catlike eyes, and the darker, flattened shape of her nose. She stood about five and one half feet tall, and was ten years past her Knighthood. Tenar's clothing was predictably earth-toned; mostly in ruddy shades of cinnamon or darker tree bark so that Jedi lioness maintained some contrast between her garb and the lighter brown shades of her features. Her dress-like tunic fell about halfway to her knees over her trousers, gathered at the waist by her belt. The belt was home to the slate-grey lightsaber hilt she took pride in, and the NN-14 handblaster she didn't, but would never consider starting a day without. It was years since she'd generally bothered with wearing the outer cloak, or even an obi and tabbards. Yet with the trappings or without, Tenar looked, felt, and moved with the Jedi she was. She was tired, but she was at peace with herself.
“No… Master Drayke has not been with us in some while, yet even if she were…” there would be much higher priorities. Such as that virus threatening Ansion. Tenar added sending a communication to Syler to her mental list. The Echani had her own priorities; they all did. But with so few real healers… perhaps she might go.
Tenar refocused her attention upon the neimoidian speaker whose animated anger and dissatisfaction was palpable across the lightyears. They were dancing in circles, and she wished to devote no more time to it.
“Senator Dolfin, if you do not wish to accept the advocate, then I cannot help. Please contact us again if you come to a different decision. If I have any advocates available at that time, we will do our best to assist you… May grace keep you until then, Senator.”
Deactivating the comm channel, Tenar picked up a datapad and rubbed the pressure point behind her ear with a free hand. She spoke to Alun about how the students’ day was progressing. That pricked her with a pang of longing for the years when virtually her whole life had been caretaking, and not this patchwork of guarding and managing everything. But life was what it was. Tenar reminded herself that she intended to share a few hours with the small group of students after supper, and then focused on skimming another round of updates on the Ansion situation. She forwarded a summary to Syler with brief note. She tried not to think about the credit accounts; but then recalled her note from the previous morning that she must think about them today. She sighed. Discarding the datapad rather abruptly, Tenar moved to the open space at the side of the room where they'd cleared away the furniture. Humming a few strands from an ancient melody to herself, the Jedi lioness moved into a set of agile stretches until her frustration fell away.
“The shadows are falling and the night has come,
And it’s lay down low, my love.”
Her humming drifted into soft lilting song, which she kept up when she finally laid a stack of data pads out into a semicircle on the floor, and sat down cross-legged to finish dealing with ledgers. She was still singing to herself in a half-moon of more or less finished accounting reports when her senses pricked from a companion approaching. They were all family, so Tenar had felt no need to change anything about her actions — but then she spied the younger Nautolan and sprang up to catch him in an embrace.
“Rave! It's good to see you. Are you alright?”
ooc - (The Willow Tree)
Last edited by Tenar on Tue Apr 21, 2020 1:54 pm, edited 2 times in total.
When we were young, we had the world by the tail. Good would prevail. Starships at sail, and none of us would fail in this life. Not when you're young.
In a moment of grace; a long leap of faith. The still more glorious dawn awaits.
In a moment of grace; a long leap of faith. The still more glorious dawn awaits.
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Rave Satsai
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2020 1:36 pm
Re: Abandoned
There had been a few staffers and even a Jedi or two that Rave had passed by on his way to the meeting chambers, and he had done his utmost to be cheerful in his interactions with them, even if it wasn’t always reflected back to him. Some still resented him for leaving, he knew that, but there were a few faces he could always count on to welcome him back with some genuine warmth. One of those sprang from the ground to wrap him in an embrace as he entered the otherwise-empty meeting chambers. He huffed as Tenar’s arms squeezed the air out of his unexpecting lungs.
“Tenar! I’m real good, tanks!” the nautolan wrapped his arms around Tenar and squeezed her back for a moment before letting go.
“You know I can’ stay’way all de time. Gotta come back an’ frustrate some people – I’m sure dey’ll along before too much time go by. But how ah ya? I tink I heard ya tunin’ an instrument in here before I walked in.”
As he spoke, Rave paced a step or two around Tenar and settled onto the ground with a garish swoop of his cloak, his huge eyes still fixed on her face. He was determined to enjoy a pleasant moment with a friend for as long as possible before any hurt feelings came up.
“Tenar! I’m real good, tanks!” the nautolan wrapped his arms around Tenar and squeezed her back for a moment before letting go.
“You know I can’ stay’way all de time. Gotta come back an’ frustrate some people – I’m sure dey’ll along before too much time go by. But how ah ya? I tink I heard ya tunin’ an instrument in here before I walked in.”
As he spoke, Rave paced a step or two around Tenar and settled onto the ground with a garish swoop of his cloak, his huge eyes still fixed on her face. He was determined to enjoy a pleasant moment with a friend for as long as possible before any hurt feelings came up.
Call me Freedom, a waving flag in the wind, a banner of hope for the downtrodden
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Julian Orspach
- Posts: 92
- Joined: Sun Feb 02, 2020 11:03 am
Re: Abandoned
The day had moved along and T'ahai was off with some of the younglings taking care lessons and the days training, while Julian was able to pull himself away and make his way towards the council. This walk had been familiar, moreso than for a normal Padawan he imagined as he was here on a daily basis to report to Tenar and make plans for the week ahead. It was one of those things that he did, in addition to working with the defenses of the Temple. He held his head high and cought a reflection in the elevator, a bit of a purple stubble had began to form and he sighed, he'd have to start shaving daily now to ensure he looked presentable and not dishelved. He silently added that to his list of morning activities as he stroked his cheek and chin lightly. As much of a chore as shaving every day would be, it did have the benefit of making the young Jedi feel more grown up, he supposed that Jedi or not, this was a universal truth across all peoples, certain milestones in one's life marked the entrance into adulthood.
The doors opened and he stepped into the Council Chambers and bowed out of respect for Tenar and those present. Wait a minute. Who was present at the moment?! His eyes caught the back of the Nautolon a few years his senior.
"Rave!"
He was unable to stop the outburst, there was certainly joy in seeing him alive and well, but burried down there was a quiet resentment a quiet disdain for the fact that he had left the temple and his brother's and sisters. Their past was mixed, for a long time he looked up to Rave, he always had a fondness for the Nautolon's in the order, his former roommate was one and they had been great friends. He had looked at Rave as a friend once, his demeanor was appealing to his Zeltron sensibilities, the positivity that Rave exhuded was something that he admired, coupled with his normally sound judgement meant that at one time, Julian noted some of the things that Rave had done and incorporated them into his own.
Now however, things were different. Things were much different. His eyes that had widened only moments ago, settled to their normal state and he gave the Nautolon Jedi a half smile.
"I'm glad you're safe my long lost friend."
The doors opened and he stepped into the Council Chambers and bowed out of respect for Tenar and those present. Wait a minute. Who was present at the moment?! His eyes caught the back of the Nautolon a few years his senior.
"Rave!"
He was unable to stop the outburst, there was certainly joy in seeing him alive and well, but burried down there was a quiet resentment a quiet disdain for the fact that he had left the temple and his brother's and sisters. Their past was mixed, for a long time he looked up to Rave, he always had a fondness for the Nautolon's in the order, his former roommate was one and they had been great friends. He had looked at Rave as a friend once, his demeanor was appealing to his Zeltron sensibilities, the positivity that Rave exhuded was something that he admired, coupled with his normally sound judgement meant that at one time, Julian noted some of the things that Rave had done and incorporated them into his own.
Now however, things were different. Things were much different. His eyes that had widened only moments ago, settled to their normal state and he gave the Nautolon Jedi a half smile.
"I'm glad you're safe my long lost friend."
"I'm just a Jedi."
Re: Abandoned
“We’re carrying on.” Tenar answered Rave. The lioness Jedi’s gracious smile and mannerisms were as genuine and as unconsciously reassuring as she’d ever been. She was determined to remain so. Tenar found herself wishing that her choices left her with more to say, but she wasn’t about to talk down to the younger Jedi, or to sweetcoat anything for him.
The cathar deftly gathered her datapads and relegated them into a neat stack on one of the tables with a touch of the Force. She sat crosslegged on the floor beside the nautolan and simply gave him her full attention for the next few minutes; quietly inquiring about Jaakar and all of the others. Rave’s group were all accounted for still? They were safe? Eating enough? The younger few were growing well; still learning? She had a hundred questions, but she remained conscious not to press Rave on anything. That wouldn’t have helped.
When Julian joined them, Tenar inclined her head back in reply to the senior Padawan’s bow and offered him a thankful smile for his work. She made a slight open-handed gesture toward a space on the floor for if the half-Zeltron cared to sit down near she and Rave, but it was a gentle invitation, not an instruction. Tenar wouldn’t have been surprised or offended if either of the two younger men chose differently.
“Julian, of course we can go over this week’s schedule this evening instead. But that suggestion you mentioned to Alun for the service facility was a good one. I think we’ll add it to the list.”
The cathar deftly gathered her datapads and relegated them into a neat stack on one of the tables with a touch of the Force. She sat crosslegged on the floor beside the nautolan and simply gave him her full attention for the next few minutes; quietly inquiring about Jaakar and all of the others. Rave’s group were all accounted for still? They were safe? Eating enough? The younger few were growing well; still learning? She had a hundred questions, but she remained conscious not to press Rave on anything. That wouldn’t have helped.
When Julian joined them, Tenar inclined her head back in reply to the senior Padawan’s bow and offered him a thankful smile for his work. She made a slight open-handed gesture toward a space on the floor for if the half-Zeltron cared to sit down near she and Rave, but it was a gentle invitation, not an instruction. Tenar wouldn’t have been surprised or offended if either of the two younger men chose differently.
“Julian, of course we can go over this week’s schedule this evening instead. But that suggestion you mentioned to Alun for the service facility was a good one. I think we’ll add it to the list.”
When we were young, we had the world by the tail. Good would prevail. Starships at sail, and none of us would fail in this life. Not when you're young.
In a moment of grace; a long leap of faith. The still more glorious dawn awaits.
In a moment of grace; a long leap of faith. The still more glorious dawn awaits.