Fancy Footwork [Tyyni Oluja]

[Joza Perl]

Joza’s time had been divided between Heatbeat House and scouting missions on Nar Shaddaa, so much that she rarely set aside time to practice her swordsmanship. And so the Zeltron found herself back on Voss, going through the sharp cuts and parries known as the dueling form: Makashi.

Having spent a lot of her time on the Voss training grounds as a Padawan and even Knight, Joza was struck with a sense of nostalgia. The Zeltron and her Master would often practice together here, and she couldn’t help but appreciate how the movements and positioning of her feet and hands seemed second nature. For a moment, she mentally drifted back to the point where she’d been a nervous, bumbling Apprentice. A smile twitched the corners of her lips.

It was so much better back then.

Perhaps she was viewing the past with rose-tinted glasses, and perhaps she’d forgotten all about the anxiety and dread that plagued a younger Zeltron. Those traits hadn’t served her well as she fell down the rabbit hole of the Dark Side, but she’d climbed out of it with help from those around her. Now, she was learning more about herself.

Joza deactivated her saber and sighed, rolling her shoulders to release a bit of tension. The training grounds were busy this afternoon. Though she was confident in her skill set enough to be comfortable, she still felt a bit out of place among the diligent Silver Jedi.

[member="Tyyni Oluja"]

 

[Dravis Rosilla]

Hutts weren't known for their curious attitudes, or shy demeanors, or for enjoying watching others enjoy themselves. Sadly, what they were known for was watching Zeltrons, and in that regard, he broke no stereotypes.

Tyyni often observed the Voss Training Grounds, a habit from his youth. Since Hutts aged slowly, Tyyni had been a Youngling for a long time. Most of that time was spent watching Masters teach their Padawans in the training grounds, trying desperately to recreate their teachings, and usually failing. Since his own Master was off on her Knightly duties, Padawan Oluja found himself with some free time. What better way to spend such free time other than trying to pick up on some new techniques?

Many Jedi were out and about this afternoon, giving the small Hutt plenty to watch. A young Human watched a Twi'lek Jedi deflect a few stun bolts at a training dummy. An older Duros meditated on a platform, rising inches from the ground. A Zeltron practiced lightsaber combat with finesse and grace. Tyyni couldn't help but gravitate towards her, intrigued.

The pink-skinned woman moved with an innate fire, as a dancer would. Her parries and jabs were quick and precise, fluid like a river. Tyyni was mesmerized by the spectacle, mouth gaping slightly in a silent gasp. I wish I could do that.

Suddenly, he realized she had stopped. Tyyni looked around quickly, to see if anyone had seen him staring. Thankfully, those around him were too engrossed in their own training to care.

The Hutt debated with himself for a moment, steeling himself. Finally deciding on something, Tyyni inched towards the woman, hands pressed behind his large back. Once he got close enough, he bowed.

"My apologies if I am interrupting you, but..." The Padawan struggled to find the correct words, head still bowed respectfully. "That was incredible. What exactly are you doing?" Tyyni, although he studied constantly, was no master of lightsaber forms. He knew the basics of Shii-Cho and Soresu, not much else. He had never witnessed Form 2 before, and his amazement showed.

- [member="Joza Perl"] -

 

[Joza Perl]

“Hm?” Joza had taken a swig from her water bottle, peering over the edge of the flask to see…a Hutt?! Tyyni was certainly an unexpected sight, and it showed in the form of her widening eyes. Never in her life would she imagine seeing a Hutt on Voss grounds, much less have one speak to her in a polite, respectful manner. Dressed as a Jedi, no less. Did Hutts even have it in them to follow the path of the Jedi? They were arrogant and selfish creatures who only cared for wealth and power, not for protecting the Galaxy’s innocent.

Stop that. As quickly as those thoughts came, they were inwardly chided. The same could be said about Zeltrons, given how hedonistic they were. It would do no good to pass judgement on what appeared to be an innocent Huttlet, despite her dislike for his race. Her own dealings with Hutts had indeed made her racist.

Swallowing the water that was in her mouth, Joza appraised the Padawan before her for a few moments with what seemed to be a stern and somewhat disapproving gaze. “Form II, The Way of the Ysalamiri. Otherwise known as Makashi—The Contention Form.” Strangely, the polite tone that came out did not match the intense look on her face. But it may have been faux. “Its main use is dueling another lightsaber wielder.” Taking another swig from her water flask, she looked over the Apprentice once more. He seemed earnest, a trait not often found in Hutts—or so she presumed.

“I’m Joza.” Putting down her water bottle, she offered her name. “Would you like to practice…?” She left the question open ended, implying that she did not know his name.

[member="Tyyni Oluja"]

 

[Dravis Rosilla]

Tyyni kept his head bowed respectfully, green eyes peeking out under his hood. He saw the surprise in her face, which was warranted. Not many expected to see a Hutt in the Order of the Silvers, or any Jedi Order, for that matter. He was relatively used to others feeling awkward, or standoffish, or even aggressive towards him for his species. From what he had read of Hutts, it was well-warranted. Hutts were greedy, arragant, and disgusting; Tyyni knew this better than most.

He noted her disapproving gaze, and immediately looked away submissively. He listened to her, trying desperately to absorb all the information he could. When she said her name, Tyyni bowed even deeper. "Thank you, Master Joza. I would like to practice, if it is of no burden for you." It took the Huttlet a few moments to realize she was asking for his name. The Padawan straightened, brushing off his cloak. "I... I am Padawan Tyyni Oluja. It would be my honor to train with you."

The Hutt maneuvered his body across from the Master, training saber grasped lightly in his hands. "Perhaps... If you don't mind, I'd like to learn Makashi. I have never practiced it before, and it looks challenging." The Hutt let a shadow of a giddy grin show through his rubbery lips. "I like challenging."

- [member="Joza Perl"] -

 

[Joza Perl]

As she noticed the Hutt wither a bit under her gaze, Joza immediately felt a pang of regret. He’d given her no reason to do such a thing, but perhaps she was a bit of a bleeding heart. If she wasn’t consciously keeping track of herself, Joza’s emotions often won out over her head. It was a trait she consistently wrestled with, and some days were easier than others.

The bowing, the respect, the deference to her—she was certain that he’d not been raised in the typical Hutt manner, whatever that was. She sensed that he was sincere, as it would be difficult for a Padawan to hide such things from a natural empath.

“Of course, Padawan Oluja. It would be my pleasure to train with you today.” Tilting her head in a nod of greeting, the Zeltron exhaled shortly through her nose in amusement. Master. The title sounded so foreign to her, but she said nothing.

Her lips curved into a faint smirk at his eagerness. He reminded her of a younger version of herself—er, that was, in spirit. She too had once been a bright-eyed Apprentice, excited to learn all that she could about the Jedi. Appraising the slug before her with a slight hum, Joza cocked her head to the side.

“Before we begin on Makashi, why don’t you show me what you know about other saber forms, Padawan Oluja?” It dawned on her that this student lacked feet, and that it might make the application of Makashi more difficult. Perhaps if she saw how he moved, she’d get an idea of what to do.

[member="Tyyni Oluja"]

 

[Dravis Rosilla]

As Joza spoke, Tyyni found himself relaxing slightly. She actually wanted to train with him? The revelation was unexpected, but very welcome. The Hutt smiled fully, trying desperately not to lick his lips, in Hutt fashion.

As she continued talking, Tyyni contained his excitement. It only seemed fair he show her what he could do already. "Alright. I can do that." The truth was, he didn't know much. Practically all of his experience with a lightsaber was self-taught, picked up from watching old holotapes, or spying on the masters of the Order as they practiced. He figured he might as well start off with his strongest form.

With the all-too-familiar snap-hiss, Tyyni's training saber burst to life, the deep blue hue sparkling in his eyes. He lifted his arm up as far as it would go, angling the blade slightly downward. His other hand flicked out silently ahead, a ward inbetween the Zeltron and himself. The Huttlet flicked his tail back and forth in anticipation.

"Soresu. Way of the Mynock. Resilience Form." Tyyni rattled off the various titles of Form 3, twirling the blade in a quick rotation around himself as he did, finally resting back in the starting position. If Joza wanted to test his skills, he would let her make the first move.

- [member="Joza Perl"] -

 

[Joza Perl]

Joza hummed thoughtfully as Tyyni ignited his saber, watching the way his body fell into the familiar stance of Form III. Soresu was a favorite of the Zeltron as well, and it brought to mind the countless hours she’d spent with her Master practicing in the courtyard. The Bith was both knowledgeable and patient, with a dry wit only enhanced by his lack of facial expressions.

Now, she was the teacher. It was strange how things worked—up until recently she hadn’t thought she’d ever be qualified to teach anyone given the events of Ruusan. One of the more senior Jedi mentioned that teaching helped not only the student, but the Master as well.

“Soresu. A good choice, Padawan Oluja.” She noted the graceful orbit of his blade with a spark of approval in her eyes. The woman would appraise him for a few more moments, her soft features sharpening as she ignited her blade. The blue beam would spring to life and jab quickly towards Tyyni’s midsection, aimed to test his reflexes and execution. As always, her saber’s intensity was dialed down to the bare minimum when training. No need to go lopping off limbs during a lesson!

[member="Tyyni Oluja"]

 

[Dravis Rosilla]

Tyyni glowed as Joza appraised him. He didn't often receive looks other than disdain, so he knew not to take them lightly. The Hutt flicked his tail one last time, and let it rest slightly curved behind him, anticipating a sudden attack. Too many Masters had pulled that trick on him for it to distract him anymore. When he saw Joza's face harden, he knew the time had come.

As she lunged forward, Tyyni's own blade met hers, guiding it away from his body. Both hands on his hilt, the Huttlet pushed the lightsaber to his right. Out of harm's way for the moment, Tyyni figured he could do his signature move. She wanted to test him, yes? She might as well see how his Hutt genetics had benefited him.

Tyyni concentrated on the Force, feeling it build up in his muscles. With a sudden outburst of speed, the Hutt twirled in a circle, the tail that had been so dormant before lashing out at Master Perl's ankles. It was a simple tripping maneuver, but the opponent rarely expected it. One didn't usually find themselves in a lightsaber duel with a Hutt, after all.

- [member="Joza Perl"] -

 

[Joza Perl]

Tyyni’s parry was expected, a basic defense for a basic offense. It was well executed, and it showed just how much effort the Huttlet had been putting in to his studies. Initially, that surprised Joza. Though Hutts were often greedy and manipulative, they were also known to be intelligent and shrewd businessmen...er beings. Businessbeings. This whole situation was a bit out of her comfort zone, to be honest. Instinctively, the Zeltron raised her left arm—made of phrik—diagonally in front of her incase Tyyni went in for a strike.

“Wh—!”

What was not expected, however, was the sudden torque of Tyyni’s body that sent his tail whipping around towards her ankles. Joza’s eyes widened a notch in surprise as her feet were kicked out from under her with startling force, reflexively tucking and rolling to the Hutt’s left side. The momentum of her movement carried over until she had both feet firmly planted on the ground, legs bent in a quasi-crouch. Her saber was angled in front of her, mirroring his earlier Soresu stance as she quirked a brow at the Hutt.

“Oh, so you want to play like that, do you?” A smirk tilted her corners of her lips as she twirled her saber before pressing forward, feinting a jab at the upper left side of Tyyni’s neck—before rotating her wrist and aiming a short slash at the slug’s belly instead.

[member="Tyyni Oluja"]

 

[Dravis Rosilla]

Tyyni felt a surge of joy as he felt his tail connect, spinning back around again in the simple Soresu stance. He noticed her roll, and come up in a mirror of his own stance. He was about to comment on it when she spoke. Tyyni suddenly grew self-conscious. Had he gone too far? Was using one's tail not permitted? The sudden doubt distracted him from the fight, so he hadn't realized the lightsaber flashing towards him with startling speed until it was almost too late.

The Hutt's green eyes widened in surprise as Joza slashed towards his neck. His response was a slow, close block, which was completely bypassed by the feint. Tyyni felt a slight burn across his midsection as the lightsaber passed over it. At least the Zeltron Jedi had remembered to keep her lightsaber on low.

With a defeated expression on his face, Tyyni dropped his training saber to his side, staring at the floor. Rookie mistake. Tyyni knew he could do better, but his own mind had distracted him, a constant flaw in his character. "My apologies. Shall... Shall we start again?" Tyyni's eyes darted up to meet Joza's, and quickly looked away again. He definitely needed the practice.

- [member="Joza Perl"] -

 

[Joza Perl]

Joza pulled back as her saber made contact, just out of what she imagined Tyyni’s immediate range to be. Instead of going on the offensive, the Huttlet let his saber fall. Joza cocked a brow, sensing the disappointment coming from the Padawan and the expression on his face almost broke her heart. Are you that soft, Joza?

She saw no need to scold him, seeing as how he lacked the usual arrogance his race was known for, nor did he lash out in anger of his own mistake. He realized what he’d done, and she shook her head at his response. “No need to apologize, Padawan Oluja. This,” She held her arms out, gesturing to the training grounds as a whole. “This is where mistakes are to be made. We are not Sith, so we won’t punish you for mistakes. Just don’t make them on the battlefield.” She gave him a little wink of encouragement, deactivating her saber for the time being.

“Tell me, what distracted you?” Brushing a lock of hair behind her ear, she ran the palm of her hand over her head to smooth out any wayward hairs.

[member="Tyyni Oluja"]

 

[Dravis Rosilla]

Tyyni refused to look at the Zeltron, instead opting to stare at the floor. If Hutts could blush, he was surely doing it. He felt embarrassed, despite his early-on victory. More like because of it.

Tyyni looked up as he heard the Master speak, deactivating his own saber. He frowned, feeling nothing but shame, despite her encouraging words. As she asked him what was so distracting, Tyyni's frown grew.

"Ah, well... Um..." He struggled to find the correct words, his speech jumbling in his mind. "I... My tail. The way I lashed it out at you... It is one of my favorite moves, you see. But, it's a dirty trick, it was out of place." His flow of words was headed dangerously towards a touchy subject. "That wasn't real lightsaber combat. It was just that; a dirty trick."

Tyyni crossed his arms over his bulbous chest defensively. It wasn't proper Jedi form. I'm not a proper Jedi.

These thoughts passed through his mind, but he kept them to himself. "I just was not sure if you would allow it or not."

- [member="Joza Perl"] -

 

[Joza Perl]

“That’s why you were distracted? If you thought I wouldn’t allow it, then why did you do it?” Brows scrunching in confusion, Joza reached for her water bottle to take another drink. Her words paused for a few moments before she lowered the flask and capped it. “You created this problem, Tyyni. You let your nerves get in the way, and they held your back.” She tapped her temple as if to cement the point.

“I’m not saying don’t fight uninhibited. I’m saying fight smart.” Perhaps she was no expert on dirty combat, but that didn’t mean that she didn’t allow it. “On the battlefield, against the Sith and our enemies, it doesn’t matter if the fighting is honorable or dirty. It’s fighting all the same, and the only acceptable outcome is victory.” Pausing, she realized that she was rambling and sounding a bit like the Sith she just mentioned they fought against.

“Look,” Sighing, she sent a hand through her hair. “What I’m saying is, real life isn’t so cut and dry. Tricking your opponent by doing something unexpected is acceptable. Using the innocent or otherwise taking advantage of them is not, especially in combat. I don’t want you to think that the two are the same thing. That being said, I’d imagine you’d be pleased at managing to catch a Master off guard.” She arched a brow, but then it fell.

“Tyyni, tell me how you feel. What are you thinking? Speak as freely as you’d like.” The firmness dropped from her voice. Of course, she could always probe his mind if she wanted to know what was going on his head, and she already had a feel for what was going on. But she wanted to hear it from the Hutt himself.

[member="Tyyni Oluja"]

 

[Dravis Rosilla]

Tyyni let his eyes drop again, staring at the contours of the floor. She had a good point; Tyyni thought too much too often. The Huttlet had found this to be a constant problem. He had difficulty letting his mind rest. In his meditations, Tyyni had no problem pushing out alien stimulants, but he couldn't ignore his own mind. His greatest distraction was always himself.

What she said next caught him off-guard. Victory was all that mattered? The Padawan had grown up with the idea of honor etched in his brain. A good Jedi fought with honor, and died with honor. The idea of a Master now contradicting this belief was unforseen, but strangely comforting. Perhaps not all Jedi had to be honorable all the time. One of a thousand weights was lifted from his chest.

As Master Joza asked him about his true feelings, Tyyni got the sneaking suspicion she already knew. The Hutt curled his tail around himself, and adjusted his robes. Vaguely, he remembered from his studies that Zeltrons were natural empaths, that natural ability most likely amplified by the force of the Force. He figured there was no way of getting out of it.

Padawan Oluja let out a deep sigh, measuring each word carefully. "Well, as you most definitely know, there are few Hutt Jedi. There's a reason for that. Hutts are evil. They're greedy, gluttonous, insensitive, and don't deserve to be within ten parsecs of Voss." Tyyni let his words hang in the air, drawing a ragged breath before continuing.

"I'm a Hutt. I'm all of those things, I know it. Everyone else here knows it." The Hutt's voice began to build in intensity. "I know I belong here, and I really try to fit in, but..." Tyyni seemed to fall into his own body, his already tiny form shrinking further. "...Maybe I don't deserve to be a Jedi. Maybe I don't deserve to be training with you here, and maybe I don't deserve to use the Force."

Tyyni felt bare, naked, his insecurities out for the world to see. Strangely, he felt better having divulged this part of him. He had never talked about his inner fears with anyone before, and he had no idea how the pink-skinned woman would respond. He cringed, expecting a harsh retort.

- [member="Joza Perl"] -

 

[Joza Perl]

As Tyyni spoke, Joza sank to the floor and crossed her legs as if she were preparing for meditation. But instead of straightening her back and closing her eyes, she placed an elbow on her knee and leaned forward so that her chin was in her hands. Her eyes were bright and focused, as the Padawan had her full attention. Usually she’d invite her conversation partner to sit with her but…he was already sitting. Kind of. Ish.

As he finished speaking, Joza’s lips parted. “Zeltrons are lazy, pleasure oriented beings who think of nothing but their own lusty desires and how to fulfil them. Does that sound like Jedi material to you?” She leaned back, making sure to catch Padawan Oluja’s eyes. “Jenets are often thought of to be repulsive, quarrelsome scavengers. And yet one of them—Fae Coven—held the title of Grand Master of the Jedi Order long ago. How could that be?”

She tapped a finger against her chin. “I’m well aware of what Hutts are like, Tyyni. Well aware.” Her tone was even throughout, not even wavering when she made the insinuation. Joza was proud of herself for that, as full of disdain as she was. “From what you’ve shown me so far—and from what you’ve said, I can tell that you’re very introspective, and that’s good. And while you may have some racial inclinations, you must learn to work with them, as I have my own. Just because you're a Hutt doesn't mean that you have to be some greasy gangster.” Pausing, she gave him an encouraging smile.

“Time will tell if you have what it takes to be a Jedi. I’ve stumbled more times than I can count, and have even fallen once or twice. But it was those of the Silver Order—here—that helped me get back on my feet again. And we’d do the same for you, Tyyni, but you have to want to be here.”

[member="Tyyni Oluja"]

 

[Dravis Rosilla]

https://youtu.be/5OJCCl5vOqg​

((cuz I figured we could use some backround music ))​

​

Tyyni's hardened exterior vanished as Joza spoke, her own words drifting over him like a calm spring. He hadn't considered if the Master had went through a similar situation. Tyyni searched her eyes, their color almost the same. Perhaps the two Jedi had more in common than one might think.

Green eyes met green eyes as Tyyni observed her sink down to his level. Had she been abused by his race? He seemed to close off a little at the mention of the Hutts, As she continued, he nodded, feeling solace come to him from Joza's words, and then her smile. Padawan Oluja tilted his head slightly when the Zeltron said she had fallen a few times. She had gone through all he had, and then some. He straightened as she finished. All of the stress and fear that had followed the Huttlet into the training session had vanished, replaced by determination.

"I want to be here, Master. I can prove it to you." Tyyni flicked one hand to his side, letting his training saber flare brightly. "Let us begin again. I assure you, I'm ready this time." Tyyni let his large, rubbery tongue pass over his lips, feeling no shame for the action. He was a Hutt. Hutts were evil. But perhaps Tyyni could beat the evil, show what a good Hutt could do.

- [member="Joza Perl"] -

 

[Joza Perl]

Hesitance and uncertainly seemed to dissolve from Tyyni’s posture, replaced with growing confidence and a desire to prove himself. Yes! Joza mentally cheered, proud of the Huttlet for having such resolve. The path of a Jedi was not an easy one, especially for a race known to be greedy and arrogant. Or lusty and carefree. Maybe this is what people meant when they said that differences made you similar?

Joza didn’t know, but she did give the Hutt a bright, encouraging smile. Part of her nature was to make others feel good, but she found that there were ways to do that beyond laying on the pheromones.

“I’m glad to hear it, Tyyni.” Rising slowly, her smile thinned out to give the Zeltron a more peaceful look, though there was knowing glint to it. The clever use of his tail hadn’t been forgotten, and the woman gave her opponent a once-over, taking in his alien body and other potential tricks he could use. Spinning the hilt in her hand, Joza swung towards her opponent in a tight arc—but did not ignite her saber until she’d closed half the distance between her and Tyyni.

The blue beam would spring to life, aiming to slice the slug’s left arm from his shoulder…if the saber had been at full power. While performing this movement, the pink Jedi focused the Force to converge on Tyyni’s mind and attempt to induce vertigo to unbalance him.

[member="Tyyni Oluja"]

 

[Dravis Rosilla]

Tyyni smiled as he flicked his training saber out in front of him, first over his face, then to his side, a mirror of the Makashi salute the Zeltron had done before. The blue blade pulsated before him. He felt ready, prepared... perhaps more at peace than he had ever felt before.

He saw Master Joza rush at him, suddenly springing her saber out to collide with his arm. The Huttlet used the Force to inch his body to the side, a slight correction in positioning. Tyyni felt his saber twirl in a circle before meeting it, both straining against each other. Tyyni felt her push against his mind, in an attempt to unbalance him. Just moments before, however, she had strengthened his resolve. With his new bolstered attitude, Tyyni pushed back hard, his Hutt mind quite powerful.

Tyyni spun his training saber again, letting the Zeltron's pass by unharmed, while also aiming a slash at her midsection. If they were going all-out, he might as well get in a few slashes himself.

- [member="Joza Perl"] -