Private Catching Up with Unc!

[Aileni Ifor Xeraic]

Location: Theed
Attire: Large brown hoodie, grey shirt
Equipment: Dathomiri Energy Bow
Tag: Aiden Porte

Aileni was still in the first week on becoming a Jedi and there had been a lot of whispers and rumours of Aileni showing signs of being very natural gifted with the Force and his Lightsaber skills. His abilities coming across much higher than someone would normally demonstrate when first arriving at a Jedi Temple to train. People were assuming that his mother, Dreidi, had taught him the skills before arriving at the temple. Even though Aileni had to keep stating that it was technically all new things he was learning and doing, it just felt natural. The movements made sense in a way that he had always practiced them, using the Force felt more akin to an old friend that something that difficult. It was all confusing for the moment since he was not used to being this seemingly naturally gifted.

It felt like the week had been a whirlwind of events going on and Aileni wasn't sure how he was going handle years of this. He figured that this was a good a time as any to take a break and meeting up with Aiden, a close family friend and someone that always seemed to have his back so it made sense to destress with him and ask if Aiden ever went through something like this with his initial training. Perhaps this was a common issue with people who came from Jedi families. Aileni was curious since if he wasn't as unique as people were making out then he could take solstice in that and understand that this was something that others might just be surprised by since they did not have similar upbringings.

Aileni also felt it was good to meet with his uncle since it was a chance to explore Naboo outside the temple for a bit. The Padawan knew the world fairly well from his stays during his younger childhood but he was usually rarely from his mother, now was his chance to explore and see things on his own. Or at least without feeling the heavy burden of parental supervision that his mother inflicted upon him.

Putting on his trusty hoodie, Aileni styled his hair for a few minutes in the mirror, making sure he looked the right type of shaggy before leaving the temple and heading into the city to meet up with Aiden. Being a bit late but the Padawan didn't seem to care too much about that since he figured there would be plenty of time in day to get things done so rushing to meet on time seemed a little overdramatic in his mind.

 

[Aiden Porte]

Today was going to be a good day. The Jedi Padawan couldn't deny that he was a bit shocked when he found out that Dreidi was pregnant during the Life Day Festival on Dee'ja's Peak. However he couldn't have been more thrilled for her, that she was going to have a child, and that child was going to be a boy.

A son to call her own.

Aiden off course didn't spare any time as he did what he could to support her, and no doubt this kid was going to get spoiled greatly. He had already spent a great amount of time with him, and he was growing rapidly. He wouldn't have understood why, it was just the will of the force. As their time progressed Aileni Ifor Xeraic had just began his training with the Shiraya Order. And from what Aiden had understood he was incredibly gifted with the force.

No doubt, Dreidi herself was an extraordinary Jedi.

Aiden himself was still a Padawan, but he had been through the ring with many things in his life, he was still around twenty two years old, but he felt like he had lives almost forty more years.

He did what he could to support those that he called his family and that included Dreidi and Aileni.

Aiden for all intents and purposes, his uncle.

Aiden had arrived in the Theed Square as he awaited his nephew. A small tip in the force as he turned to the other side of the walkway and he could see Aileni walking towards him. The Jedi Padawan showed a big smile as he waved him over.

"It's good to see you kid." Aiden spoke with a smile and a hug for the young kid. "You need to quit growing." He laughed as he looked him over. "You got better style than I do, that's obvious."

"How are you?"

 

[Aileni Ifor Xeraic]

Location: Theed
Attire: Large brown hoodie, grey shirt
Equipment: Dathomiri Energy Bow
Tag: Aiden Porte

Spotting his uncle, Aileni gave a friendly wave and watched as the older guy approach. It had been interesting being raised around Jedi and Witches, the differences in how they treated you and how they acted around you. There was definitely a lot more of a feeling of being spoiled by the Jedi friends that his mother had. The clan on Dathomir were stricter, more pushing an angle of Aileni training and using his skills in combat. Growing as a warrior from the moment he could hold a weapon and fight. It was intense but he appreciated the fact that he could meet others that just enjoyed spending time with him. Like Briana, like Aiden.

Giving a brief hug, Aileni was not a natural hugger but he knew Aiden always enjoyed one.

"Me growing? Are you sure that you aren't shrinking?" Aileni teased with a smirk on his lips as he broke the hug and took a couple steps back. "Meh, just keeping it casual for now. Still waiting on a Jedi Master and adjusting to this whole Jedi training." Aileni was also not a massive fan of the robes, they didn't seem all that practical and far too warm to wear.

Shrugging, "being in the temple, it's a lot to take in. Slowly adjusting to all the new stuff." Aileni mentioned as he knew he could always be honest with Aiden since the man had gotten his trust over the years. "Looking forward to when my training can actually start. How about yourself? Finally getting knighted yet?"

 

[Aiden Porte]

"How about this?" Aiden inquired as they began to walk down the street. "How about I become a Jedi Knight when you stop growing." The Padawan chuckled lightly at his nephew. Even he was giving him the business about his journey to knighthood. Aiden knew he could've advanced a while ago, yet his own mind and such kept him against that. Was it his own self doubt, or maybe it was those that placed to much faith in him. However with everything that had happened and such, he couldn't delay the inevitable.

"A Jedi Master will come to you in time and the adjusting will get easier. When I first arrived here, it was a bit of a learning curve as well. New philosophies and a different take on things. There are plenty of good people though that will help see you through." Aiden nudged him playfully and laughed. "I'm one of those."

Aiden looked forward as he glanced around the area, taking in the sights for a brief moment.

"Things are going as well as can be expected." Aiden was not about to give his nephew all of the grief from his life. He didn't need that right now, he had his own stuff to worry about.

"What are you feeling? You hungry? It's your day my friend."

Aileni Ifor Xeraic

 

[Aileni Ifor Xeraic]

Location: Theed
Attire: Large brown hoodie, grey shirt
Equipment: Dathomiri Energy Bow
Tag: Aiden Porte

Aileni shook his head, "see that is just asking to never get promoted. You know, if you became a Knight before today, you could have been my Master." Aileni pointed out, clearly a little disappointed that he didn't have a Master already but also that it was likely going to be someone that he did not know so it meant that he would have to go through the awkwardness of getting to know someone completely new.

"Hmmm... Well all the Jedi stuff... It feels..." Aileni hesitated, not wanting to share too much on his actual thoughts about the Jedi philosophies and training. "It isn't too hard since it makes sense and I get the intentions of it." Aileni mentioned after musing over how he wanted to frame it to ensure that Aiden didn't catch onto the fact he was holding something back. "I know and I appreciate the support. It is a fresh breath of air." Aileni confessed as he was relieved that he would be with people he knew and not in an Order of strangers.

That would have been terrifying.

Nodding his head, Aileni knew better than to pry with Aiden. His mother already nudged herself in his business so Aileni figured that he didn't need a teenager doing the same thing. Just keeping in line with Aiden as they walked.

"You should know by now that I am always hungry!" Aileni chuckled deeply as he started to sniff out where the food was. He wasn't fully Zorren yet but his senses were still heightened and his appetite was higher than the normal humanoid.

 

[Aiden Porte]

"see that is just asking to never get promoted. You know, if you became a Knight before today, you could have been my Master."

Aiden chuckled lightly as he glanced over to Aileni. "Is that something you would want?" The Padawan inquired, no doubt the call for him to rise above and join the ranks of the Jedi and Knight. Despite anything he wanted to say or believe. It was coming sooner rather than later. It was something that he couldn't shirk from any longer than necessary.

"Perhaps it could happen someday, and if it doesn't. That doesn't mean I can't teach you something useful." He knew this was a big step for his nephew, and he wanted to support him as much as he could. "These days will get easier, you will be just fine."

"You should know by now that I am always hungry!"

"Let's get you some food then, there a good popular up the street. It shouldn't be too crowded. They were a food stand at one time, but they opened their own building finally. They serve all sorts of things."

Aileni Ifor Xeraic

 

[Aileni Ifor Xeraic]

Location: Theed
Attire: Large brown hoodie, grey shirt
Equipment: Dathomiri Energy Bow
Tag: Aiden Porte

He shrugged his shoulders, "it was something I might have wanted since there was the comfort of having a Master who knows me and understands where I come from." Having to explain his advanced knowledge and skills might be more difficult with someone who hadn't seen the growth he had over the years. The fact that his mother was a powerful Jedi and Dathomir witch, it set a bar that Aileni pushed towards that other Padawans might not be aiming for. "But it is not something we will find out, I guess since you decided to keep the Padawan title."

There was a slight teasing tone to Aileni's voice as his bright green eyes glinted mischievously in a similar fashion to his mother's.

"Sure, I guess. Just wouldn't be the same as being Master and student, but I guess it might be better to have someone who isn't family training me..." Aileni felt torn on the idea since he could see the benefits of being trained by someone who didn't know him, didn't have that baggage of seeing Aileni's growth over the years and the potential he held. There was just that awkward beginnings that Aileni hated in meeting new people.

Nodding his head, "lead the way then. Can't wait to see what they have on offer." Aileni had a varied palate in food, benefits of living multiple worlds and being taught many cultures. Then there was the added benefit that Aileni was pretty handy at cooking himself, so he knew a lot of what went into cooking good food. "Thought much about what you will do as a Knight?" Aileni was curious on what others closer to Knighthood aspired for.

 

[Aiden Porte]

"it was something I might have wanted since there was the comfort of having a Master who knows me and understands where I come from."

"That doesn't mean I'm not going to be there. I'm always going to be here, or at least I'm going to do my best to always be here." Aiden said with a small chuckle, he knew what Aileni Ifor Xeraic was referring to. The life of a Jedi was a difficult and sometime perilous one, but Aileni wouldn't go through it alone. He would be here as much and as often as he could to lend advice.

But if the secret inside was that Aileni wanted him to teach him. That didn't meant that he wasn't able too. While he was a Jedi Padawan, there was still much that he could pass on, as a Jedi never stopped learning.

"Sure, I guess. Just wouldn't be the same as being Master and student, but I guess it might be better to have someone who isn't family training me..."

"I think it would still be the same in some ways. I would just lecture you more." Aiden chuckled a bit as he gave him a gentle nudge. Already essentially leading them to this good spot that was popular with steak and burgers. He was a growing boy after all, and he needed to eat. Especially if he had his mothers appetite.

"Thought much about what you will do as a Knight?"

"When that day comes, I'm sure there will be a lot for me to do. I have a lot to catch up on, I sense there's something around the corner for me. Something pretty big, and I hope I will take it and run with it. Who knows, you may still need a master at that time. And trust me it would be great if I could teach you." Aiden chuckled as he opened the door for him to go into the diner.

It was a good and pleasant atmosphere and the smell was amazing. There were booths, tables and such....

"Where do you want to sit?"

 

[Aileni Ifor Xeraic]

Location: Theed
Attire: Large brown hoodie, grey shirt
Equipment: Dathomiri Energy Bow
Tag: Aiden Porte

Aileni shrugged his shoulders, "I guess, but it isn't the same thing. I think you know that. There would be missions and interactions that we could have bonded even more on." Aileni knew that the bond between a Master and Padawan was something that tied people together for the rest of their lives. It was different to how family friends would interact with him or how the instructors he had been learning from would be with him. It was something he was curious about sharing with Aiden but understood why it wasn't going to end up happening.

It wasn't the biggest issue, it was just unfortunate in his mind.

He chuckled at the idea of Aiden lecturing him more, "I can't see you being that tough honestly." Aileni admitted, he didn't think that Aiden would be the strict or tough kind of tutor, at least not compared to someone like his mother. She had always been a bit heavy on the lecturing and expectations. But Aileni coped with that, he achieved the barriers set by her and the other clan mothers and nightbrothers he had trained with.

Entering the diner, his stomach growled at the idea of food and he realised how hungry he was getting now. Selecting a table with a window view, Aileni enjoyed seeing the differing natures of Naboo compared to Dathomir. It was informative and intriguing. "What do you think is coming your way?" He asked, curious what it could mean since it was foreboding and vague in a manner that sent chills down his spine.

 

[Aiden Porte]

"I guess, but it isn't the same thing. I think you know that. There would be missions and interactions that we could have bonded even more on."

He was right, Aiden's doubt was just clouding his judgment, and after everything that had happened to him. He couldn't use that as a crutch anymore. Not that was what he was doing, his pain and fear were real. But if he was truly his fathers son, his hope and light would outshine anything dark that came before him. He looked to Aileni and smiled, someone else he would have to look out for and protect. Not that it was a job, but because he wanted too. The more time came to pass, he would seek to understand and bear his friends pain. No matter who it was, be that should and extending hand to pick them up when they needed.

He wasn't there completely, he still had much work to do. But he was stepping in the right direction.

"I can't see you being that tough honestly."

He gave a playful and very light punch to his arm and chuckled. "I can be tough, sometimes. When I'm out in the field I can be incredibly tough, yet when I'm making a batch of cookies for everyone, that's when my more down to earth and silly side comes out."

"What do you think is coming your way?"

"Something very good I think, I can't explain it, but its something good I can tell." He said with a small smile and a laugh that followed. Their waiter showed up and placed an order for drinks. It was a light fizzy pop for him, and one of the house burgers they were famous for, and he glanced to Aileni to see what he was going to want.


He waited after he ordered before speaking again.

"How's your mother doing? Is she doing okay?"

Aileni Ifor Xeraic

 

[Aileni Ifor Xeraic]

Location: Theed
Attire: Large brown hoodie, grey shirt
Equipment: Dathomiri Energy Bow
Tag: Aiden Porte

Aileni felt the punch and shook his head with a chuckle, "I guess you could be but I think I need a bit of a stricter, firmer touch both on missions and off them. I would try getting away with far too much with you, similar to how I would with mother or Briana." He had known both Briana and Aiden most of his childhood so there was a connection already established there but it also meant that Aileni knew how to wrap them around his fingers to get away with the stuff he wanted to.

Practicality wise, Aileni knew it was better for himself that he was being taught by someone who did not know him and would be tougher on him full time. "Especially since I am still learning about the Jedi I want to be and I know I am going to push boundaries and cross people's lines in order to figure all that out." Aileni saw rules and orders more as guidelines in how to be, he was never one for being obedient, especially not one for believing in blind obedience. He was not a droid, he was going to act on his instincts and beliefs.

"Well, you deserve it so definitely pursue the good thing, whatever it is." Aileni stated, his uncle deserved to be happy, he knew that things had been tough for Aiden for a long time so he definitely wanted good things to come around for the older man. When asked for his order, Aileni copied Aiden with four or five extra sides. The Xeraic need for food was not something that skipped Aileni.

When asked about his mother, Aileni laughed, "you know she is your friend, I figure you would know how she is doing far better than I would." His mother always put a strong front around Aileni, he figured it was to make sure he felt safe and that nothing could faze her but it also made it hard for him to talk to her about things. Made him think that he had to be tough in return. "As far as I know, she is doing good. She wasn't super keen on me training to be a Jedi but it was better that I train here then run off randomly seeking training."