Beware of Procrustes

[Epistor of Phasekion]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eA0nbtxfeq4​

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~ Location: Saleucami ~ Objective: Find the discus ~​

~ Equiptment: Tunic / discus / lightsaber / water flask / comm ~ Tag: [member="Akabane"] ~​

The moment the discus left Eustachya's hand and soared across the valley beneath her, she should have been on guard. She shielded her eye from onslaught by the sun's rays to track her projectiles arced path. Under her breath, she counted the estimated meter marks as it passed them, but then her voice fell away and her brow furrowed as the distance apparently surpassed the thrower's natural skill.

It made little sense. Eustachya had used no Force power to augment that of her well-trained muscles. And, the wind was not nearly strong enough here to carry the heavy clay disc on.

Eustachya turned to a towering Bith stump on her right, on which she had laid her things. She wrapped her reddish-brown headscarf around her neck, clipped her golden communicator to her right wrist guard, and fastened both her flask and lightsaber back onto her belt. Then, she was off, following the imaginary ground trace of the aerial path on which she had sent her discus.

She had barely even begun when she, after reaching the cool and shadowy refuge under a large cake tree, heard an almost-menacing cackling from above. A short pause was followed by more of the same sound, then a chorus. Her hood, which she had risen while walking the short distance for protection from the sun, fell down over her nape as she looked up to see a flock of birds perched on the thick layers of fan leaves.

She sighed and leveled her gaze, replacing her hood.

 

[Akabane Jarvik]

Akabane had traveled to many worlds when given the opportunity and all were similar in a few ways, sometimes really similar. That number of places wasn't too big though so the limited his exploration. He was sure there was an interesting planet out there with a fun environment. Well, that's based off of the person's tastes because he considered hot and humid weather fun. Warm weather in general was something he loved bathing in. A wind shaper such as himself particularly loved a beautiful, sunny and clear sky. Or he did at least. Producing current in bad weather would seem pointless so that's why he desired a much clearer environment to consider it enjoyable.

The high temperatures were bad for some reasons if he had to be honest. As a man with a human body, he cooled off through the use of his sweat. That required hydration so too much and he'd drop dead eventually. Luckily he landed his ship nearby assuming he'd use up all his energy and be unable to return before it's too late. Akabane was the type of man to do that, or boy would be the better word. He often spent more time having fun than working, making him seem like a young boy. Acting rash and such... today's actions could possibly showcase that part of him.

He stood out in the open, down in valley, below a hill where his ship towered over him. Hands were his pockets as his out of the ordinary outfit made him look like a fool. He simply grinned pondering about what person would do when seeing him out in the open like this.

[member="Eustachya"]

 

[Epistor of Phasekion]

~ Tag: [member="Akabane"] ~​

It didn't take long for Eustachya to realize that she no longer had any idea of where her discus had gone. Because of the hill with the modest slope before her, she knew that the wind couldn't have carried the discus all the way over and to the other side. At least, that wasn't how gravity worked on Sargus Novis or on Kashyyyk. And, so far, it wasn't how it seemed to work here on Saleucami either.

Had she found an exception?

She had no clue, though her intuition told her no, that she had simply lost sight of her possession and was turning to ridiculous explanations. Raising her head and shielding her eyes with a hand, she gazed up to the summit of the hill. Sweeping her gaze over the hill first left then right, she spotted the figure of a starship a ways off. At first, it startled her, as she thought it was some sort of perched creature first. With a shake of her head, she started off towards it.

It seemed to be the most logical choice. Firstly, she knew nowhere better to continue her search and, secondly, where there were starships there were the beings that owned them, and she may have accidentally hit them. Therefore a worthwhile venture, even if she didn't find her implement with them.

"A pleasant noon," she called, half behind a cake tree, both in greeting and experiment, to see if whoever, if anyone, stood under the ship spoke Basic.

 

[Akabane Jarvik]

His hand felt for something in his pocket, it turned out to be a notepad and an expensive looking pen. That was fake though much like his life he was living now. False memories or erased, both equally a fake life as one another. Akabane didn't regret it one bit no matter the consequences in the end. He wouldn't have traveled here alone to test out and enjoy the weather if things continued as they were. The book flipped open and the pen wrote down the planet's name of where he currently stood. "Saleucami has decent wind but the temperature might burn someone to death..." he repeated his written thoughts in a mumble. Akabane quickly closed the book without thinking and placed it in his pocket like before.

The young man let out an exhale feeling comfortable but then a voice was heard. He turned quickly, surprised and instinctively adjusting his footwork as he evaluated the situation. Akabane thought he was alone so the appearance of a voice gave him quite the shock. His body's reaction was like the usual, though he meant no harm in acting hostile as he clearly looked prepared to fight. The voice had that feminine tone to it but she also looked to fit that description. Well, the half of her he could see did at least. Human bodies were usually symmetrical however, so she either was being cautious on her end too or she was some alien morphing part of itself into a human. The second prediction wasn't reasonable, he chose the one that made more sense.

A quick exhale showed some relief and friendliness. He smiled, "I thought I was alone, forgive my sudden movements... what brings you here, love?" Akabane felt the need to apologize and figure out why someone else could possibly want to visit this place. His reason wasn't that good but snooping in other people's business was just a fun pastime.

[member="Eustachya"]

 

[Epistor of Phasekion]

~ Tag: [member="Akabane"] ~​

An answer, and it one of the tongues she knew no less! Bless Metioch, her God of the winds, for this man didn't sound injured.

"Oh no, not at all," she began, emerging in her fully human entirety from behind the tree and walking towards the man. "The fault is mine; I meant not to startle you, stranger."

'What are you doing here?' he asked. The question itself rose no alarm in Eustachya, as the people of Sargus Novis were both hospitable and helpful. It was not seen as abnormal for a citizen about their daily chores in town to approach a strange traveler, just to ask them questions that other culture might label as invasive and, if they could afford to, offer them gifts that might see them hasten on their way. Of course, Eustachya did not expect anything of the sort from this man.

"I was...uh, practicing a sport," she answered, thinking back to her lesson in subtlety on Coruscant. "The wind is quite harsh here, it would seem." She paused, evaluating her statement. It seemed relatively gentle now, the current breeze lacking to derail such a heavy object. Still, it was the only explanation, wasn't it?

Shaking her head, Stach continued, "It is a clay disk, slightly bowed out at the top and bottom, with a metal rim. Perchance, have you seen it?"

 

[Akabane Jarvik]

The female that was now out from behind the tree apologized for startling him. Akabane cocked his head for second before shaking his head, not thinking it was her place to apologize. That's just how he was though, apologizing even if someone did in fact do something bad. Especially with a woman involved, he'd take the blame. He said nothing despite wanting to take the blame. Listening instead was the more polite option. She claimed that she was practicing a sport with some hesitation in there, filling his head with doubt. However he believed her as everyone deserved chance of good faith. The woman also added that the wind was pretty harsh on this planet. He agreed, but his wind shaping abilities allowed him to control his environment to some extent. A couple feet around him in all directions, like a sphere would feel nice for his own benefit. Akabane made sure to train this power in such a temperature. Sometimes he'd do it naturally and other times he'd concentrate his hardest if his mind was clouded or clogged up. The wind didn't bother him due to that. It wouldn't bother him anyway even if he couldn't do that spooky stuff though. He looked up to the sky and back down to meet her gaze, engaging in conversation again. "Is that so?" A phrase let out to show his attentiveness.

She was looking for a disk, eh? Akabane was unsure of what kind of sport involved a strange disk, but if she needed help he'd most certainly help. He walked a few steps toward her and took a bow, feet together and one hand stretched out to take hers. "I have not, but I'll gladly offer my assistance if you think I can help." Akabane smiled, a genuine one that belonged to a happy-to-help young man.

[member="Eustachya"]

 

[Epistor of Phasekion]

~ Tag: [member="Akabane"] ~​

Concluding her question, Eustachya had taken a moment to look up at the starship and glanced back down just as he shifted to bow. Humans greet in so may ways, Stach thought to herself as she gingerly took the man's outstretched hand. "You are very kind," she complimented in thanks. "Lead on; I will follow."

As they set off, Eustachya pointed back down the hillface with her free hand. "I think spotted it sail that way, but it was not to be found." With a few more steps, the padawan realized her rudeness. "I am Eustachya, by the by."

 

[Akabane Jarvik]

She called him kind while accepting his invitation, that's the kind of response he was hoping for as it pleased him. The way she carried herself and acted was more formal than he'd be able to achieve, though. Some of that feeling of pleasure was lost. The woman allowed him to lead the way and so he did. Akabane nodded when she explained where it seemed it landed.

Her pointing caught his eye... one of her fingers were missing and replaced with a wooden prosthetic. This made him sad all of a sudden, he quickly but gently released Eustachya's left hand and grabbed her right to analyze it. His grip might've been upsetting despite him just being a curious and worried stranger. Akabane was so focused on it that he almost didn't catch her name. "Who did this?" There was slight anger in his voice when he asked. There was a greater chance of him getting knocked out before getting an answer but he impulsively did those things. He truly wanted to know what happened and if she was in pain.

[member="Eustachya"]

 

[Epistor of Phasekion]

~ Tag: [member="Akabane"] ~​

"Oh... That...?" Eustachya mused as she was interrupted. She followed the man's gaze with her own the her wooden digit. That's right, she thought. Most humanoids were born with five fingers on their hands; the Sargus Novian humans were no exception. But most species kept all of them and therein was the difference that set hers apart from all others on the matter.

The explanation as to why they didn't was easily enough for her to recall, but how was she to explain it to a foreigner? Not one being at the Silver Rest had been either curious or confident enough to ask Eustachya of the very same observation that Akabane made now, one that they had surely made also, so she was at a loss.

She wouldn't answer the question in its entirety, she settled, for telling him that her father had done it soon after her birth, without also appraising him to the rich religious rationale, would likely not be revived well at all. "It's alright," she said slowly as to be mindful with her next words. "It is long healed. A cultural scar that all my people bare." It didn't sadden her at all. In fact, she barely remembered until she went to remove the stiff prosthetic when training.

 

[Akabane Jarvik]

Akabane sighed after learning that it was in her culture to do that. Both in relief and comprehension. He was understanding when it came to those types of things. On Kro Var he lost a whole foot to a fellow wind trainee. A robotic foot has since replaced it. That wasn't for cultural reasons that he gave up a body part, but it was for his belief in battle.

He calmed down and released his hold of her as he began walking in the discus's predicted location. "My apologies. Miss... Eustachya, was it?" Akabane paused but picked up where he left off. "You say it's a sport that you use the discus for?" He was asking questions because he'd honestly never heard of that type of game. Akabane wasn't trying to offend her of course. It was just pure curiosity from a very less pure man.

[member="Eustachya"]