Private A Foot On The Path

[Jin'lian]

Tirin Raene​

Jin smiled contentedly as he further followed Master Tirin to another place. It was a spacious room with comfortable seating and the likes. It was fun to be somewhere new from time to time, they thought. It was funny to think for the next little while navigating the ship will seem like little adventures. The Catari took a seat and waited for Tirin to collect some things from a shelf.

Looking inside as it opened they could their eyes drew to to colourful and beautiful. He did not get a chance to appreciate all that was in the box immediately as Jin's eyes shifted up to look at Tirin's as he spoke. It was amusing kind of to see how he began to speak about braids in a simple explanation. Of course Jin had seen them styled differently but never gave it much thought. Still it was nice to hear options.

"Well, I don't know what would look best, so I am eager to try many kinds perhaps," Jin'lian said cheerfully while reaching to hold his tail around the front. "Longs as it looks cute with my summer side," his right ear flicked gesturing towards the shave side, "I wanna see it. Umm, my hair might be a bit knotted by now. Moving it around and my tail swishing at times makes keeping the length a bit of a chore."

 

[Tirin Raene]

Jin'lian

Tirin smiled gently, offering, "Why don't we start with something simple today? I'll show you how to do a basic three-strand braid, and we can tackle more complex styles later." He reached for his tools confidently. "I have a comb and some detangler here as well," he added, ensuring everything was prepared.

As he sorted through his supplies, Tirin's curiosity piqued. He looked at the young padawan and asked, "How old are you, little one?" His tone was warm, tinged with interest as he thought about which styles would be most suitable for a padawan's braid.

 

[Jin'lian]

Tirin Raene
​

Jin nodded at the offer, "Okay," he warmly said sitting patiently. "I can't wait to see what it looks like." Hearing there was a detangler, Jin's ears flicked at the concept of such a brush. Somehow they felt silly to not consider such a thing and had struggled each morning. Certainly there where many things not just the force to learn.

Tirin, surprised Jin by his next question especially after the countless times he'd been warned not to ask that question. "I'm thirteen," Jin said smiling, "I was told it's rude to ask that question by the people in the temple." Partly turning to look over his shoulder, he looked at the man. "But since you asked me, how old are you master?"

 

[Tirin Raene]

Jin'lian
"Thank you. Knowing your age helps me decide if I need to give you a specific band," Tirin stated matter-of-factly as he carefully combed through the hair, using a detangler and a spray that emitted a sweet citrus scent.

"That makes sense in some cases," he continued, smoothing out a tangle. "Asking someone's age can be tricky, though. In a professional setting, it's often best avoided since it can seem discriminatory, especially if it influences decisions about hiring or promotions. Even in social settings or casual conversations, it can make people uncomfortable. Generally, if it's not directly relevant, it's better not to ask. Many cultures also view it as impolite, particularly when asking older individuals. It's usually safest to wait until someone offers that information if they deem it necessary or are comfortable sharing."

Tirin paused his work, meeting the eyes of his companion in the mirror. "It's generally acceptable, however, to ask the age of a child when the context requires it. For instance, knowing a child's age helps adults ensure they engage in age-appropriate activities, or it might be necessary to determine the kind of care or supervision they need. Teachers, caregivers, and healthcare professionals often need this information to perform their roles effectively. Still, like any personal question, it should be asked respectfully and for a clear reason."

"If it seems your early education missed imparting the finer points of etiquette, I'd be glad to help polish those skills," Tirin added with a slight smile. "It's imperative to be well-prepared, especially around dignitaries. Saying something inappropriate could lead to an awkward situation, possibly forcing me to take actions on their behalf, actions dictated by their culture. We wouldn't want that, would we?"

 

[Jin'lian]

Tirin Raene
​

"A specific band?" He asked confused by the meaning. It was a second after the smell from the spray filled his nose. "Mmmm that smells nice," he would continue to smell at the air while feeling the brush run through the length of his hair. Each pass hit a snag where hair had knotted, it hurt a little but it was something that Jin'lian had grown accustomed to. The kid listened to Tirin as he spoke in length and Jin could see the sense in what was being said.

The Cattari's eyes watched through the mirrors at what their Master was doing. Just by how the man's hands moved it was obvious Tirin had done this many times before. Still the kid could not help but feel a little surprised at the idea of meeting anyone as fancy as a dignitary or anyone so important. "Well I'm not big awkward situations in the first place and I think I'm careful generally on what to say. Though because your my master it means I get to ask lots of questions now. Like wanting to know your age."

It then hit Jin that perhaps giving a reason why could also help perhaps. "Just, I like to write lots down in my diary's. And yes I know its weird to have more than one but there's many important things to write down. Also your birthday would be amazing to know too, I mean if you know it. I don't know mine so we've always gone by the day I was left at the temple." Despite those last words sounding kind of sad, his tone of voice did not waver over the fact. After all there was no attachment to what could have been or was, the jedi was his family. Some times grouchy or excitable or... well there was every kind.

 

[Tirin Raene]

Jin'lian
Tirin chuckled softly, his hands deftly continuing their work on Jin'lian's hair. "Well, Jin," he began, his voice carrying a mix of amusement and thoughtfulness, "I appreciate your curiosity and your reasons for asking. It's good to see such enthusiasm for learning about others. It helps build connections and understanding, which are vital for a Jedi."

He paused for a moment, ensuring a knot was gently untangled before continuing. "As for my age, I'm 347 years old. My birthday is on the 19th of Roon, a date that usually passes quietly. I've found that the older one gets, the less one tends to celebrate these occasions with pomp. Instead, I prefer a moment of quiet reflection."

Tirin secured a section of Jin'lian's hair with a small, intricately designed band. "And you're right about asking questions because I'm your master," he said with a warm smile. "It's part of my duty to guide you, not only in the ways of the Force but in navigating all aspects of life."

Finishing the braid, he added, "Now, how does that look?" Tirin gestured towards the mirror, inviting Jin'lian to see the completed braid.