Private A Fresh Perspective

[Merlyn Ambrozius]

HEALING HALLS - NEW JEDI TEMPLE - CORUSCANT
Iris Arani

So far, no one had kicked him out yet. Perhaps a small blessing for associating himself with Tuma and gaining entry. But he never thought the guards or security would allow him to wander around or as far as he did now. No matter, someone would kick him out eventually, right? Best to check out a few of the different places in the temple he was interested in seeing. As each footfall of his boots carried him forwards and his scarf swaying and dangling behind him, Merlyn stuffed his hands into his pockets while hiding the bottom of his face under the scarf.

These hallways were not unfamiliar to him. Not at all. He could remember every turn. Well, almost every turn. As his arms reached forwards to open the door or for it to detect him, a small scoff of amusement followed as those blues eyes took in the scene around him. A smile followed as he stepped into the hall. This was not at all here before. All of this beautiful art.

Stepping slowly as his gaze slowly absorbed every aspect of the drawings and paintings lining the halls, Merlyn's legs found themselves wandering towards the middle of the hallway before stopping as he looked up and over himself, staring the roof and its new marvelous beauty, before allowing his head and shoulders to lower as he gaze once more at one of the walls. This work . . . it was nothing short of simply being fantastic.

"Beautiful. Absolutely fantastic," the words escaped him in a passing whisper, although not too quiet. No, the sheer wonder glistening in his eyes could not be contained like that.

An emotion of discovery overtook him as his entire body shook in place with excitement, like discovering a new planet or star or even just enjoying new cultures and the company of people. Maybe not a lot has changed, but this was a good one. A good change of pace. A smile erupted across his face, one that could be seen instead of hiding behind a scarf, as his attention kept itself drunk on each meticulous detail. Each step taken to bring him closer to the art on the walls.

Without thinking, his left hand slipped out of his pocket and slowly his fingers reached forwards toward one such piece of artistry.

 

[Iris Arani]

"You here for a checkup?"

It wasn't too rare for people to come in wandering from the street. Iris had come around the corner specifically to check out the seemingly homeless individual that was caught wandering on the cameras. Rarely anyone made trouble, but one couldn't be too safe where medicine and drugs were usually stored. The doctor stood straight, in a typical lab coat, brow raised up. He wasn't a typical person.

The colors showed that much.

".. Or are you one of the newer Jedi?"

Merlyn Ambrozius

 

[Merlyn Ambrozius]

HEALING HALLS - NEW JEDI TEMPLE - CORUSCANT
Iris Arani

Quickly, his hand retracted away back into his coat pocket, just before he could even touch a single finger onto the artwork. A quick step to his left and a twist of his head and body turned his attention to the voice. A physician. His eyes cast a quick glance at her scarring. For a moment, the thought of her pain running far deeper than his own crossed his mind.

He banished that thought. No use in it right now. Not when the woman before him, this doctor, asked him if he was a Jedi. Why did everyone ask him that? . . . maybe because he was wondering around in a temple. Right.

"They do checkups for civilians here?" Merlyn poked a thumb over his shoulder down further in the healing halls, "I was not sure if that was possible here. They change policy or has that always been in place?"

Leaning a little bit so his scarf fell down a little and revealed a harmless smile, Merlyn tilted his head to the side and raised his shoulders for a moment. His eyes cast off to the side, letting his gaze fall upon the art once more.

"And, no, I am not a Jedi. But I am curious as to who made this artwork," his hand finally left his pocket and gestured to the wall, then the ceiling, "They are wonderful, wouldn't you agree?"

 

[Iris Arani]

"What kind of Jedi wouldn't help civilians?"

It was an odd thought that there was any class or type of person that wouldn't be welcomed into the Halls of Healing. They charged nothing, expected nothing, but offered the best service they could. That's what it meant to be a Jedi, right? She frowned at the man. Well, that did at least confirm that maybe he really wasn't a Jedi. Despite how the colors seemed to move around him so brightly.

He might not be a Jedi, but he certainly was trained in the Force.

Iris crossed her arms over her chest, letting her gaze fall onto yet another mural she'd drawn when she was younger. The bright colors, swirling and blending in the most chaotic way. A brief smile formed on her face before she turned from it to step past him and down the hall. "It's decent. You want a check up or no?"

Merlyn Ambrozius

 

[Merlyn Ambrozius]

HEALING HALLS - NEW JEDI TEMPLE - CORUSCANT
Iris Arani

What kind of Jedi wouldn't help civilians?

"Perhaps the kind that realizes they cannot help everyone," Merlyn's face fell into contemplation as his smile fell and his eyes met hers for a moment, almost studying her. Then his gaze cast downward for a brief moment after letting that loose thought of pondering slip between his lips. Perhaps it was not simple pondering and something more, but there was not need to bear such a cruel weight upon a young woman's shoulders.

Indeed a change of subject would be needed. An embarrassed smile grew on his face as his eyes closed for a few seconds and his free hand rubbed the back of his head and neck.

"Ah, not a fan of the arts?" Merlyn's eyes opened and set his head and shoulders straight, tugging and straightening both coat and scarf with both hands, "What would a check up entail? I'm not a fan of needles."

Rubbing his bracer gloved hand against his other bandaged arm, Merlyn kept massaged that one spot slowly and in circles as a small yet dry chuckle escaped his throat. His eyes quickly darted to the art, only returning back to her and sparing a moment's glance before running right back to the murals.

"Did you know that doctors often try to ignore their symptoms because they think they can't get sick?"

 

[Iris Arani]

"No, those are just the ones who've given up trying."

Iris didn't look back, fully intent on just leaving him there if he didn't follow. But he kept speaking. Nervous about needles? She doubted that was the limit of why he didn't want a check up. She let out a sigh, turning her sharp gaze back towards him. Her eyes scanned him. Not directly. No, she looked at him without her eyes seeming to ever actually look his way, just scanning around him as if something was clinging to his shoulders.

To her, there was. The colors he dyed the Force with his emotions and life.

"I've been the one in the bed far too much to ignore my own problems. Are you coming in for a check up, or are you not? You look like you need one, kettle."

Merlyn Ambrozius