Private A Sand-tastic Time

[Persephone Dashiell]

ZONJU V

UNKNOWN SANDSTONE RUINS

Zonju V was an interesting planet, desert but not quite a desert. Canyons and gorges and scrubby little vegetation everywhere. Controlled by the Hutts, it was once part of the original Outer Rim Collation, or ORC. Stretched out on the Rimma Trade Route and Wild Space, quietly tucked below the territory of the Sith. Now adrift, it was littered in ruins of the old, marks of those who were here even before ORC.

Dressed for the hot, dry conditions in layers of brown cloth, Persephone stopped to look up at the crumbling stairs of the ruins. Zee came up towards her side as she looked at the columns. It was much larger than it looked, with birds flying across the front. No doubt having roosted inside to escape the heat. There was no sense in pulling out her datapad, there was little information on the ruins. According to some of her research it may have been used by ORC. It appeared to have held up well, tucked into the gorge it no doubt went quite aways back.

[ I am detecting no signs of sentient life.] Zee paused. [ At least at the moment. Hutts may be inside. ]

"Not sure how they slither up the stairs so good call Zee. Maybe nothing inside beyond birds."

A long pause as she debated.

"Well, let's get climbing."

 

[Iko Vel]

IKO VEL
"You can take the Boy outta the City, but you can't take the City outta the Boy"​

Tags: Persephone Dashiell

---

"I mean, we all know Hutts don't count as sentient life."

It was a small off handed comment from Iko, as he prepared to make his way up the steps. Why was he here exactly? Well, he had said he wanted to spend more time with Persephone, and he was proving it. This was going to be much more entertaining in his eyes anyway as opposed to having to sit around at some fashion show. Fashion wasn't his thing, but exploration and climbing? He hadn't been raised on Coruscant for nothing. Sure, dirt and stone was different to metal and oil, but the mechanics were relatively the same

"When did you get into this kind of stuff Perse?"

It was his curiousity just getting the better of him as the pair...or well Trio, counting Zee climbed. It was certainly hot, but Iko was...cheating in his own little way. Some might see the Force as an important power that shouldn't be abused, or as a friend to help push you on your journey. For Iko? He just saw it as a tool. Which is why he was using it right now to Alter the Environment near the group, mostly to lower the temperature.

"Also what are we even here for? You know I ain't much of a history guy."

---

​

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

Huffing up the stairs, Persephone wondered if she should start working out. Makky did his morning runs - she had tried to join one morning and nearly died. Maybe she should do the entire 'gym' thing. At the very least it would require cute athletic wear and an excuse to go shopping. Maybe a few cutesy videos on ZikZok. So when Iko Vel started to question what brought her to do these sort of things, only so much oxygenated blood was floating up to her brain.

"Uhm...excellent question, no one has ever asked me before." Which was the truth. Her 'parents' may have inquired here or there but seemed they were happy she had just settled on something..."I couldn't do anything fashion related because it would ruin my love of the hobby. I still paint and spent some time around art collectors....just kind of dissolved into ancient history and artifacts."

Shoulders shrugged, wiping a touch of sweat from her forehead.

"My Daddy's a no-good pirate...maybe stealing stuff and selling it is in the blood. Plus, there's only so many acceptable professions that aren't boring like gas extraction."

Referring back to Myra and Makai on that one. She had to do something, pick something. Being an influencer on ZikZok was certainly not going to be allowed in her current living situation. Letting that subject drop, she answered his next.

"Whatever is left." Which meant there could be riches or there could be nothing but dust. "You didn't have to come. I'm sure this is boring, Zee normally is my companion."

 

[Iko Vel]

IKO VEL
"You can take the Boy outta the City, but you can't take the City outta the Boy"​

Tags: Persephone Dashiell

---

"Well, I'm honoured to be the first to ask."

Teasing. It was his usual shitick. It was easy for him. Iko wasn't entirely athletic like some kind of bodybuilder, but with the work he had done back home and the training he had gotten amongst the Jedi, Iko had carried those habits to this day. Working on his cardio had made this climb not as tiring as it could be. Of course, he could cheat and use the Force to restore his stamina but he was already cheating with the temperature control. And the temperature control was meant to benefit him and Persephone, restoring his stamina would only help himself.

"Either way...I'm happy to hear you found something you enjoy doing. And whilst your father might be a pirate...At least you care about the stuff you find. I assume. I doubt most people who hate ancient history would do something like this for the kick of it."

With that, he returned to climbing up the steps. Frowning as Persephone said that Iko didn't have to come. He was quiet for a fair bit of the journey before he started to talk. He had wanted to try and put some time and effort into his thoughts instead of blurting them out like some kind of idiot.

"I said I wanted to stay in contact with you Perse. Meet up and hangout more. I meant it. This isn't boring. Time spent with you is better than me wasting time doing nothing. You're my best friend. Take that for whatever it's worth."

---

​

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

"No, I appreciate the items I find. It's not a adventure I take lightly. I mean....its worth respecting the history. Even though I've already sold one item - a holocron - I really want to bring these old items to light."

Huffing up the steps, Persephone was thankful they didn't have too much further to go. Not that it was overly strenuous, it was just a lot of steps to get up to. As if it was intended to be imposing. Sometimes architecture was just as interesting as the findings inside. Said a lot of about the people who built them. Persephone wasn't a genius though and such a thing didn't interest her on a academic level.

"I find it hard to believe you'd be sitting around doing absolutely nothing. I'm sure there's something you'd be doing. Work or studying or something. I find it hard you would be idle for long."

Cresting the top of the stairs, Persephone stopped to look back down, out at the surroundings. There were more ruins around them but this was the one most intact. Zee looked around himself, his optical sensors could see much further and much longer than the human eye.

[ No signs of sentient life Miss Persephone. ]

She turned to look at Iko Vel .

"Did you ever look into that artist colony?"

 

[Iko Vel]

IKO VEL
"You can take the Boy outta the City, but you can't take the City outta the Boy"​

Tags: Persephone Dashiell

---

"See. You're already better than your dad. You respect history. People. Plus, there's nothing wrong with selling a Holocron. I mean, the Jedi probably think there's something wrong with it...but I ain't one of them anymore. So sell what you want."

He waved his hand dismissive as they reached the top, taking in the sight of the architecture. There was so many different thoughts going through his head about why this place was made. As much as he wasn't an architect or archaeologist, it didn't mean Iko wasn't interested in it all. Though once again he went quiet as Persephone spoke, eventually responding.

"Work and studying still aren't as enjoyable as spending time with you Perse. You'd be surprised how...lazy I've gotten. I'm not as energetic as I used to be. I reserve my energy for moments that need it. Like today."

It was true however. The hyperactive version of Iko hadn't made an appearance in a while. Running around without a care in the world was so not him anymore. There were things he cared about now. Of course, he tried to hide most of those under a grinning face. There weren't many people he cared nor trusted to tell about what was going on in his head.

"Hm? Yeah. I've been working on finding a place to stay there. I feel like it'd be better if I found a community or family there I could immerse myself in. To better learn about them and then learn how to work."

Iko didn't mention the fact that he didn't want to be alone in the colony. That was one of his big issues in this moment. Loneliness. Yet it was another thing that he hide with a grin.

---

​

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

"That, my friend, sounds like major depression."

Persephone couldn't see Judah just letting Iko Vel slack and laze around, not that the older man watched over Iko constantly anymore. A sixteen year old didn't need the supervision - especially not one who had been with the Jedi Order at one time. Sky-blue eyes look in the young man, brows furrowing as she did so. Her focus now completely off the architecture and landscapes before them.

Something was off. Trying to get a teenage boy to say anything though was like trying to open a clam with bare hands. Just wasn't going to happen. Persephone had tools at her disposal but she doubted any of them would work. Subtle many times she was not. This was like trying to convince a feral Loth-Kitten to come inside and get some food. Damn near impossible.

Reaching out, she gaze his hand a squeeze to get his attention. To appear disarming. Even though they had 'dated' (can two barely teens even date?) Persephone was confident Iko had never told her anything. She certainly hadn't revealed everything to him - although he was the only friend that knew the most about her biological parents and how she lived as a child.

"You, uh, wanna talk about it?"

 

[Iko Vel]

IKO VEL
"You can take the Boy outta the City, but you can't take the City outta the Boy"​

Tags: Persephone Dashiell

---

"Depression? Me? Nah. No way. I'm the one you come to decompress, not the one who is depressed. Y'know. The one who tries to make everyone else smile."

Iko broke out into a grin at that. Though...it was forced. It didn't quite meet his eyes, that didn't quite have the same sparkle of joy they used to have when he was younger. Instead he tried to turn his gaze towards the architecture, letting out a small whistle as he prepared to change the subject away from himself.

"I wonder how the people here lived. They clearly never skipped leg day if they went with those steps and..."

Slowly but surely, he found himself coming to a stop, looking down at Persephone's hand. The grin slowly fading from his face as he broke out into a frown, his brows furrowing for a moment. There were things clearly on his mind. Things he did want to talk about. But...Did he deserve to talk about it? She was asking...So it was clear that Persephone was at least interested in how he was feeling.

"...I've been lonely. Alright? I've missed you. I miss my dad."

There was more of course. But like Persephone knew herself. Getting a teenage boy to reveal anything was a monumental effort. Plenty of other things plagued his mind. Feeling like he didn't belong. Though that hadn't been a new occurrence. Even with the Jedi, Iko had felt like he never belonged.

"It's fine Perse. Really. I'll be fine. But...hey? I really appreciate you asking. You're...doing good yourself, right?"

It was both an attempt to change the topic once more, but also him genuinely asking. Teenage girls were next to impossible for Iko to understand himself. Emotions were also hard to figure out...but that's why you ask, right? Don't leave things up to assumptions.

---

​

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

When Iko Vel frowned at her hand, cheeks immediately flamed red. She dropped it quickly, feeling embarrassed since it seemed she had intruded in a little too far. A faux pas she wanted to crawl underneath the massive sets of stairs and just wither away a die. Perhaps a little dramatic but it felt like a fresh wave of rejection all over again. Persephone wasn't sure why but it stung a little. Not that she would ever let such a thing show - schooling her expressions into more neutral ones had turned into an artform on her end.

Poker face.

"Can't miss me. I'm standing right here." An incredibly lame thing to say, but she was trying to lighten the mood. Her own embarrassment as well. "I'm sure your Dad would be proud of you. Doesn't make it any easier though, you know, that fact. I think its okay to miss him."

She missed her Mama. Her Daddy? Well, she put a bounty on that rotten bastard, so she didn't have the same warm and fuzzy feelings regarding her own patriarch. Persephone was a bit jealous of those who did but that was here nor there - an easily managed emotion. With a shake of her head, she adjusted the rucksack on her shoulders and inclined her head towards the entrance.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Let's start our adventure. Zee has a partial map stored from the ORC days."

 

[Iko Vel]

IKO VEL
"You can take the Boy outta the City, but you can't take the City outta the Boy"​

Tags: Persephone Dashiell

---

Perhaps coming as a surprise for Persephone, as soon as she released Iko's hand, he reached out to grab it instead. Holding it gently since it was...comforting might have been the wrong word to use. But it helped Iko to feel alone. He didn't keep his focus on their hands however, watching Persephone as she spoke. If she tried to pull her hand away again, Iko would happily let go. Otherwise he just held it, turning his attention over towards the distance.

"...You know what I mean about missing you...And I dunno if my dad would be proud of me...Part of me feels like he'd be disappointed to see that I'm not as..."heroic" as I wanted to be."

For a moment, his eyes narrowed at Persephone when she said she was fine, and Iko gave a sigh, giving her hand a soft squeeze. He wasn't good with his words when he was being serious, but he wanted to show her that he was here. Sure, she probably was alright but if she was anything like Iko, there must be something going on below the surface. And he was here if she ever wanted to talk about those.

"You need to tell me more about these "ORC". Aren't those like...green people?"

---

​

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

"Graveyards and mausoleums are littered with people who thought they should be heroic. Being heroic doesn't always mean running headlong into battle. Besides, you have a lifetime left to do heroic and actionable things. Maybe leave Judah and join one of these Jedi...what are they called..." There was a long pause as she struggled to find the word Jedi used. "...convents? You know the little schools on planets, independent like?"

Persephone didn't take her hand back. Iko Vel seemed lost and she wasn't going to make him feel worse. Sometimes one had to sacrifice their own thoughts and feelings in these situations. It wasn't that she was uncomfortable per se, but more the fact she had buried that part of her past with Iko. Tamped it down and covered it with mounds of dirt. Trying to drag herself through the biggest ruins on Zonjou V and deal with the interpersonal wasn't wise.

With a tug, she indicated they were going to start heading down the main entrance of the ruins. They were immediately bathed in shade and cooler temperatures from the extremely thick stone bricks. Clearly it had been built to last an last it had, for the most part. Sunlight patterns played across the polished stone floor, they didn't need artificial light yet.

"Outer Rim Coalition. A loose group of planets that formed a government. Called their Jedi 'Judges'...good guys, not authoritarian like some. Long gone at this point."

 

[Iko Vel]

IKO VEL
"You can take the Boy outta the City, but you can't take the City outta the Boy"​

Tags: Persephone Dashiell

---

"I don't think the life of a Jedi is for me. Not anymore. Stuff about attachments. Having to balance the edge between the Dark Side and Light Side. All that nonsense. I don't know much about the whole Jedi groups anymore. I know there's one on Naboo. Not sure what happened about the NJO...Good thing I stuck with you or Judah though. For all we know...I could be kidnapped. Dead. Or worse."

Great work Iko. Perfect thing to talk about right now. Doom and gloom. He sighed to himself, running a hand down his face at that. Though...there was a bit more of a pep to his step, holding onto Persephone's hand as they moved over towards the main entrance of the ruins. As soon as they were bathed in the shade, Iko stopped altering the environment to cool the pair off.

"We'll...just see how I get at the colony at Naboo first. See how well I am...talking to strangers. See if I can feel like I belong there. If I don't? Maybe I'll try a conclave."

Iko rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand as he thought about it, before looking over the ruins. He deepened his voice for a moment as Iko prepared to do his best impression of a judge, looking over towards Persephone with a more honest smile on his face. It was slight, but still there.

"It's hard to think of the Jedi as Judges...I feel like most people would argue about who gave them the right to judge over people. Can you imagine being a Judge?...It'd be cool to have a gavel though. Order, order!"

---

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

"No attachments? Is that a thing? My cousin has a kid some other Force-using woman popped out. Seemed the attachment thing flew out the window ages ago."

Didn't Iko Vel just contradict himself? He would try the artist colony but if that didn't work, hit up a Jedi conclave? Yet didn't he just say he didn't want to balance light and dark anymore? Either way, she didn't keep an eye on Force Users movements. Apparently something bad had happened if he was thankful to be hanging around the salvaging business.

"I think Judges were just a name to distinguish themselves from Jedi."

Tone was flat, as if talking to a small child. Persephone sighed, giving a small shake of her head. It seemed all the cute ones were....not all that bright. Seemed a but of a universal truth in her travels at this point. The romance novels certainly were not wrong with that trope. At the very least Iko's heart was in the right place. That was more important. Not that it mattered to her - they were still just 'sort of' friends after ages apart.

[ Take the left corridor ahead Miss Persephone. We will be working towards the library. ]

A small nod as she understood, catching the corridor looming up ahead. Distantly she could hear small rodents or perhaps bats scurrying around. She hadn't seen one yet but a nice enough place for wildlife to hide out in.

 

[Iko Vel]

IKO VEL
"You can take the Boy outta the City, but you can't take the City outta the Boy"​

Tags: Persephone Dashiell

---

"For some Jedi cultures it's a thing. They go the full monk. No earthly belongings, no relationships. I don't think I could do that. I'm too attached to my swords."

Of course there were...other attachments he had, that Iko would struggle without. That he had been struggling without. He shrugged his shoulders, not correcting himself on the contradiction. In reality, it was just him trying to find a place to belong. As much as Judah had been like a father for Iko, he knew he'd never be the man's son. And Iko didn't want to replace his actual father. It still made things a struggle for him. No family. Very few friends. It's the exact kind of background you'd expect for a character in a story who became some kind of vagrant or mercenary. But that wasn't him.

"Names still have power Perse. Why did they pick Judges? There were other choices. Guardians. Protectors. Peacekeepers. But they specifically chose Judges. It puts an image in your mind when you hear it."

If Iko seemed offended, or even like he had acknowledged the flat tone, he didn't show it. If anything, this was him showing what intelligence he had...even if it wasn't that much. He might not be booksmart, but Iko wasn't one to entirely take things at face value. If something was named a specific way, it was usually for one reason or another. That's when he heard the rats, and...well. There was still a bit of childness in him and giddy excitement at the idea of seeing...rats of all things.

"Maybe we'll be lucky. There might be a working datapad or two in the library...And hey. If there's a holocron? I can try to open it."

---

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

"Yeah, it would be horrible to have to give up your prized swords." Tone was genuine, imagining a life where one couldn't even take a few material possessions to enjoy. "Seems a little extreme."

More than a little but she wasn't going to offend. At least not until it came to the debate on the name of the ORC brand of Jedi. Sure, there was power in a name. Sometimes there was just a name to give others a impression but also throw them off at the same time. Look at all the people who named small pets something vicious. If someone called out for a pet to attack in the middle of the night, 'Sparkles' wouldn't have the same affect as something else more menacing.

"The Jedi aren't really guardians, protectors, or peacekeepers in my eyes. I can't say those choices are any better. Especially when you're working out here...people are on the fringes. They don't get the same attention as the Core. Looked over. Not all the planets but perhaps Judge is more neutral. It implies more of a...you'll be taken as you are type of judgement. Not based on any notion other have already thought about you."

Turning the corner of the corridor to the library, Zee trudged behind them. There were some other doors but they weren't of concern at the moment. A ruins like this would take ages and multiple trips to fully explore.

"I'm hoping to find a real book...but datapads will do. Any information."

 

[Iko Vel]

IKO VEL
"You can take the Boy outta the City, but you can't take the City outta the Boy"​

Tags: Persephone Dashiell

---

If Persephone expected Iko to disagree with her assessment of the Jedi, it may have came off as a surprise that he didn't. Giving a short nod to Persephone as he kept his gaze focused on their surroundings.

"That's exactly my point Perse. Out in the fringes, the term Jedi can be seen as something to be afraid of. Some might think the Jedi won't save them, for good reason. But if a group of Force Users started calling themselves by one of those other names, people are more likely to believe them. Even if they are mostly filled with Jedi. "Guardians of the Rim" sound a lot more welcoming than "Jedi" In all honestly...I've been disillusioned by the Jedi. It's different seeing them from a change of perspective. On Coruscant...They were like heroes to us..."

They always said never to meet your heroes. But at the very least, this was Iko opening up more to Persephone. It wasn't directly what his issues were, but Persephone was a smart girl. She'd probably be able to see some of the information hidden behind it all. A small sigh escaping his lips as he finally released Persephone's hand so they could look around for any form of information as Iko went to start searching for things.

"Anything specific I'm looking out for? Datapads, Books?"

If they found a rat nest made out of paper...Well, Iko might be able to use one of his little tricks on it...even if he didn't like using it.

---

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

Persephone wasn't expecting Iko Vel to agree with her. He had been all in on the Jedi at one point, even seeming hesitant to leave the main order on Coruscant to be mentored by Judah. Independent learning was still encouraged but not a formal allegiance. Maybe it had made him see things differently. Although Persephone suspected it had more to due with the fact that his father had died on Coruscant during one of its many invasions and ransackings.

"Preferrably looking for a book called Fringe Force Traditions or some nonsense. The publisher worked in this region so there's a high chance that the book could be here. Or not. We may have the wrong ruins. Hate to say it but books like this always garner interest on the market, even from everyday people. Tangible and all that."

She paused, looking around.

"Anything really. Find it, bring it back to this spot and we will pile it up here and sort through."

 

[Iko Vel]

IKO VEL
"You can take the Boy outta the City, but you can't take the City outta the Boy"​

Tags: Persephone Dashiell

---

"I'll use my nose to sniff it out!...Wait. Would paper even smell?"

Iko blinked to himself before shaking his head and prepared to start searching through a bunch of dust and dirt. He was used to getting a bit dirty, but mud was a bit different for him. Grease? Oil? Dirt? That was easy enough. But this was like actual ground as opposed to the metal he had been used back when he was a little grease monkey.

The first book he found, the lad prepared to just chuck it off to the middle but stopped his arm mid swing as he thought about it...If he threw that too hard, it would potentially rip up the book and its cover...so instead Iko walked over towards the middle and started to place the books he found carefully so they'd be easier to look through.

---

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

"Yeah, books have a smell."

Not knowing Iko Vel was eager to find a rats nest for an unknown reason, she didn't think much of his question. Paper and books weren't extremely commonplace in the 'verse anymore. A novelty when they were printed. Or designed to signify something special. Out in the fringes where technology could be scarce they were a more approved method of spreading knowledge.

The trio scattered off in different directions. It was an old library but also a very cleaned out one. Jedi in nature? Governmental? Perhaps a mix of both. Beyond rat prints in the thick layer of dust nothing had disturbed the area for some time. Maybe because most just thought knowledge was inconsequential. Many thought the real value laid in jewels or artifacts.

In between two rows, Persephone squatted, checking the back lower portions of the shelves. A hand reach out and came back with a book. Brushing some of the dust off, words took shape. Pirates of the Galaxy : A History. Flipping to the interior, the reviews and praise for the book were almost pulp-like instead of scholarly.

A scoff.

"Fucking pirate trash."

It was debatable if she even wanted to add it to her collection of antiquities.