Private Conversations with an Old Soul

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

One of her friends had brought a competition of the Hand's attention, and this one seemed right up Jairdain's alley. There were several areas where she could compete, but she decided to allow one of the potential judges to place her accordingly. So, she had invited him to her home on Commenor. Eventually, she would travel to his capital and felt it best to meet him where she was comfortable.

She had sent the message and received an answer. Allowing him travel time and the opportunity to adjust to the time change, he should be arriving soon. If he needed transportation, it would be provided, and he would be dropped off near the front door.

Instead of wearing anything traditional to a Jedi Master, she wore something more fitting to an advisor or aide. Clothing that was fitted and tailored for her. It could be attractive without being revealing. Jairdain opened the door when he arrived and invited him in.

"Welcome to Commenor and my home. My name is Jairdain Ismet."

Moving aside, she gave him room to enter and guided him to one of the chairs in the first room.

Laphisto

 

[Laphisto]

Laphisto had accepted the invitation to speak in person about the upcoming Bastion Games, though his motivations were more personal than official. Curiosity had certainly played a part, but more than that, he wished to pay his respects to the proud people who had once freed him from his eternal prison sentence some twenty years ago. A mental note formed: after his visit with Jairdain Ismet-Thio , he would make time to stop by Silver City if it still stood.

Upon arriving at the home, his gaze swept over the structure's exterior, eyes narrowing slightly as he tried to take in the full shape of things. His vision, still recovering after his recent experience on Kiev'ara, remained inconsistent miraculously healing, yes, but slowly and unpredictably. The memories flooding back to him in fragments hadn't helped.

When the door opened, Laphisto was caught mid-study, squinting upward at the archway above, seemingly admiring the architecture. One of his ears flicked upright at the motion, and his gaze dropped to meet the woman now standing before him. The Force shimmered faintly in his eyes, a flash of teal-blue light, as instinct took over and he reached into the current to pull at her alignment sensing her nature through the Force rather than through sight alone.

Seeing her attire well-tailored and formal, yet modestly elegant he couldn't help but feel slightly underdressed. As always, he wore his armor, worn-in yet meticulously kept, his broadsaber mag-locked at his hip. When she introduced herself, he brought a closed fist to his chest and offered a respectful nod, dipping into a short bow. "Laphisto Diva'tori Gix," he said, his tone calm and formal. "High Commander of the Lilaste Order at your service."

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

Opening her door fully, she invited him after their introduction."

"That's quite the name. Come on in, High Commander Laphisto Diva'tori Gix. I'm pleased to meet you. Would you care for a drink?"

Beyond being polite, Jairdain was being a diplomat and extending him a welcome into her home. Once he gave her an answer, she would return with drinks and take a seat on the couch, sitting cattycorner to him and turning to face him. It might be noticed that her eyes did not focus on him. Instead, the Jedi saw through the Force, and her sight was on him through that.

Her vision allowed her to read the emotions of others, and he was a calm storm. Under his exterior, she could sense he was a warrior—one she would not like to be the enemy of.

Laphisto

 

[Laphisto]

Laphisto stepped through the doorway with a subtle nod in her direction, his eyes drifting over the interior of the home. The space had a quiet grandeur to it almost palace-like in its design, with an elegance that mirrored the exterior. Everything was deliberate, refined, and carried a weight of purpose. As he took a seat, he accepted the offered drink with a polite inclination of his head, the cool vessel resting in his clawed hands. He took a measured sip, letting the flavor settle before his gaze shifted back to his host. The glow of the Force slowly dimmed in his eyes, receding now that he no longer needed to peer through it.

He tilted his head slightly, brow raised as he studied her more closely. Though she faced him, her eyes didn't quite focus there was a distant quality to her gaze, and yet she moved with smooth confidence. There was no hesitation in her motions. "You're blind," he observed quietly, not unkindly. "Using a form of Force sight, yes?"

Jairdain Ismet-Thio

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

Giving him the time he needed to get comfortable, she waited as he settled in and took a drink. She set her glass on the table next to her and leaned back. This being her home, she knew where everything was located, and nothing was amiss. Jairdain was confident, and she carried that confidence in her movements.

"I am. My vision allows me to see emotions. They appear as colors in my mind. The stronger and more hostile they are, the redder they are. If they are calm and stable, then they are whiter. I think. Without actual sight, I'm unsure what the colors are."

Sight had been granted to her a few times, and she relished those memories.

"Quite often people forget it, but that's okay. The reason I asked you to visit. I felt it was wise for you to meet me before the competition. To get a read on me and where you think I might best be placed to play."

Lifting her drink, she took a sip of it when she finished.

Laphisto

 

[Laphisto]

Laphisto gave a small nod towards the girl listening to her words while taking a small sip from the drink he was given. He listened to her contently. It was strange to meet another who shared his burden and yet also saw the same way yet differently than he did " well the games are an open playground so to speak. My hope is to create something where the whole galaxy can come together. Not in war but in a psudo peace. Let rivalrys be flaired and tempered in a controlled environment as apposed to a battle field."

Laphisto frowned lightly his eyes falling closed as he took in a sharp breath. Truth be told he knew a true lasting peace between different ideologies wasn't going to happen over night but he hoped that by doing these games then at least perhaps it would generate interactions between factions. Spur up some sympathy and understanding that for the most part they were all people one way or another

Jairdain Ismet-Thio

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

The outline Laphisto gave her reminded her of times in the past with the government of Commenor, when she was a simple advisor to the Crown Prince. Then, her world had come crashing down in more ways than one. All in all, though, Jairdain was quite happy with where she was and what she had accomplished in her life. Not that she was ready for it to end. Her race lived for several millennia, and she was still very young.


"The idea is sound, I just hope it plays out correctly. Which factions are involved besides the Diarchy and the Hand? Can you tell me a little more about who you represent?"

She could do the same if he wanted to know about the Hand. For now, she kept that to herself and sipped her drink.

Laphisto

 

[Laphisto]

Laphisto leaned back in his seat and took another sip from his drink eyes darting over the woman with a small nod her way " thus far? we have the sith order and the royal naboo republic for the major powers. and another minor faction by the name of the iron legion. its shaping up to be a well mixed group. we have invited the galactic alliance but we havent heard back from them yet. im optimistic but i wouldnt count on it"

" as for the faction i represent? well that depends if your asking about the diarchy or the Lilaste order?" laphisto turned his gaze from her briefly to let his eyes wander around her home, taking in what details he could through half blurred eyes

Jairdain Ismet-Thio

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

As he leaned back to look around, Jairdain digested his answer. Taking a sip, she put her drink down on the table and also sat back. He might see the trinkets on a shelf in a corner. There was a mirror above the fireplace and flowers set to the side of that. The furniture was almost natural, as if it had grown in the shapes it was. Very little wasn't something common, but everything was unique in a way.

"Have words and promises been given, there won't be any fighting? Other than the competitions of the games, I mean."

A spar was far different than a fight, and hopefully, Laphisto understood what she meant. Learning the Sith were going to be there didn't concern the Jedi much; what they stood for did. Remembering how much she had suffered at their hands, she quickly buried the memories.

"How about both of them? It is nice to know as much as possible about the people I am working with."

Any questions he might have, she would also answer.

Laphisto

 

[Laphisto]

Laphisto gave a small nod at the girl's words "Rules and regulations have been set in place to ensure only the competitions will involve any sort of conflict non-lethal, of course," he added, placing a touch more emphasis on that last part.

When she asked about both the Diarchy and the Lilaste Order, his lone ear perked upright in thought.
"Well, the Diarchy is the main political body the Order currently serves under—contractually, of course. The Diarchy blends ideals from both Imperial and Republic traditions. Their focus is peace and prosperity for their citizens. They want worlds to want to join the Diarchy, not be forced. That means ensuring the local populace thrives and, if necessary, removing fascist or abusive rulers to make that happen."

He took a small sip of his drink before continuing. "The Order? While we share the same overall goals, we operate very differently. My Order is a military, through and through. Every farmer, every technician, every shopkeeper holds a military rank. From the moment you come of age, you're part of the military. But you're given the freedom to choose where you apply your efforts."

Jairdain Ismet-Thio

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

"Good."

It was just one word, but it carried a significant amount of weight behind it. She accepted what Laphisto said and would take his word that the Sith would follow the rules. She was hesitant but knew this was something she had to do.

Sipping her drink, she nodded in understanding of his order and the Diarchy.

"So in a way, your order is the military of the Diarchy, but if things went south, you could pull up your roots and move. What keeps the Diarchy from going fascist? I get they want a willing population, but what if there are rebels?"

Putting her glass down in her lap, she held it as she considered what he said about his order.

"Where do you get your people?"

Laphisto

 

[Laphisto]

Laphisto thought for a moment pondering her question before looking her over and giving a subtle nod " in a way there are many checks and balances within the diarchy government. Planets and most importantly the people have a voice. If a governor isn't doing Thier job they are voted out. If they abuse their people or the system then they are removed by force and the people get to choose a new figure head to represent them. If there is rebel activity then the protocol is to sit down meet with them and understand why they feel a need to rebel. And if it's fixable then we address Thier concerns and try and make it right"

When she asked about the Lilaste order he gave a small chuckle "the majority of the Lilaste order personal are born and raised within the order. We have a few outsiders that join officially here and there but now days they are mostly born on Aurora station "

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

Overall, what Laphisto said made both his Order and the Diarchy sound like worthy governments. They seemed like something Jairdain could get behind. After this interview and before the planned games, she should visit the location where they were going to be held. Knowing that one planet was a place she had never thought she would return to.

Finishing her drink, she set the empty glass on the table and leaned back in her seat slightly.

"How much has Bastion changed since the Sith were there?"

Her voice was a little fainter than usual. He might not know what she sounded like, but in their brief conversation, he might be able to pick up on the change in her tone.

"I spent some time there when I was much younger."

If he asked, she would elaborate, but for now, she kept her history to herself. Her past couldn't be changed, and she sometimes wished she could forget what happened to her. This darkness in her life was one of those times.

Laphisto

 

[Laphisto]

laphisto looked over at the woman finishign his glass and setting it down on teh nearest table or ledge " i couldnt tell you. i wasnt around for when the sith ruled bastion. at least not recently. my glactic history in this era has only spanded the last twenty years. and even then i spent all my time in the mid rim near where the Royal naboo republic now call home"

he noticed the difference in her tone. it felt distant almost frightened. he didnt want to press on a matter that may be sensitive so he gave her a simple understanding nod instead " safer. i would assume"

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

Lifting her eyebrows at his answer, Jairdain accepted it as she didn't sense he was lying. There was no reason for him to, and she sighed as he attempted to reassure her. She could tell from this brief conversation that he was a good person, and she looked forward to working with him more.

"I feel the best place for me in the games is going to be martial combat. I might not do well with a lightsaber, but I can with my hands. If there are still places in that section."

If not, that was fine too.

"I will see you there."

Letting him out, she quietly closed the door after he left, and she leaned against it for several long moments. She would face this part of her past. She had to.

Laphisto