For The Nights I Can Still Remember

[Josh Dragovalor]

No she didn't, how could she know that? He'd never told her! As he didn't know about her abilities, he "knew" that she was lying, but didn't bother to call her on it, as it was possible that Scherezade had gone through some archives or found out in some way, and then imprinted that memory into Madalena. And the less that he risked messing with Madalena's memory, the better.

Madalena would bring up that they never went to parties, and he shrugged. "You've never asked. I also don't go to them often. I'm not the most social butterfly for these gatherings" Josh would admit. "And anytime I tried to bring you as a date, you refused. Though I have a feeling you wouldn't remember" He spoke, with a shrug. This was true, though he didn't get into the fact it was Scherezade he had invited. "You do seem to be selectively forgetful at times" He teased with a light smirk.

[member="Scherezade deWinter"]

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

"Am not!" she responded, sticking her tongue out. There was one issue she had memory problems with and it all seemed to go back to that day or night she got so chit-faced drunk that she'd woken up hours later remembering nothing, only to find Josh and Jason on her ship. But except for that? Her brain was fine. Her mind was fine. Her memory was near perfect. It was part of why it was so maddening.

"What if I invited you for one of their parties?" she asked, "I mean, the invitations are usually automatically extended to the Silvers as well. And maybe some dancing might do you good."

Rummaging through the cabinets, Madalena found herself some salted chips. She went back to her place and opened the bag, chewing with… Not quite glee, but it was better than nothing for now. "Maybe I could introduce you to some of my friends who are girls," she offered with a grin, "they're not all Sithies. Or some of the friends who are guys, if you swing both ways."

[member="Josh DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

"Are so"[SIZE=10.5pt] [/SIZE]He responded, sticking his tongue playfully out at her in turn. It was a good excuse to cover some of the... Lapses in her memory, though. And it would be good material to tease her with later. He still teased her for that one night he claimed she got crazy chit faced drunk. When in reality she'd been chit faced drunk for almost the entire time he had known her up until the transformation.

"You dance?" He asked, laughing a bit. "I have to see this. Soon, I hope" Josh would joke as he would look back to see what Jason was up to. Jason was trying to catch the porgs. Because of course he was. "As for the party thing... Suppose I don't see why not" He spoke with a shrug of his shoulders.

Though he would smirk at her later remarks. "Straight" He corrected quickly. "You'd be my type if not for being a walking, talking conflict of interest" Came the next tease with a little wink to follow.

[member="Scherezade deWinter"]

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

"Of course I dance," Madalena replied, putting the chips aside and jumping off the counter, "I'm a wonderful dancer!" Really, Josh should have known better by now. She removed her holodevice from her pocket and hit it a few times, looking for some nice music that one could dance to.

"Come on," she said, offering Josh a hand, "I'll make you regret forgetting."

The music was a beating one, something that would be suitable for a rumba or a salsa. Her body was already moving, legs following the beginning steps perfectly.

In the brief few instances before Josh either took her hand or declined her entirely, Madalena went over the list of the friends in her head. The only one that came close in body was her other best friend, Daisy. "I could try introducing you to Daisy," she said, "but she'd probably eat you for breakfast and the spit you out. She's a Mandalorian – the good kind of Mandalorian – but her balls are bigger than those of any other man I've ever met."


[member="Josh DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

"Are you now? I only remember you getting wasted and trying to dance. You leaned on me for twenty minutes and that's about it" The blonde teased in turn, sticking his tongue out at her again. Sure it happened as Scherezade but he'd already told her she had gotten massively wasted one night, to fill in the blanks on her waking up with the hangover to end all hangovers. "I mean if you can beat the Clinging Wookiee Dance from before, that's already more than I was expecting" He joked, shooting her a grin as Madalena would prepare the holodevice and some music.

When she offered him her hand, he took it without hesitation. Though before they began, he would laugh a bit. "I've probably met worse Mandalorians" He would joke. That was his telling her it was okay. Taking a deep breath, he began to move with the beat. He was alright when he had a partner but he hadn't really danced for a long time now. Not since the wedding dance, at that. So he was a little rusty but still handled himself relatively well and showed some experience in it.

"Well, already better than before" Came the next tease.

[member="Scherezade deWinter"]

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

"Then your memory sucks," she answered with a grin. Nah, she didn't do that leaning thing. At least, not as far as she could remember. Her body was built for various kinds of pleasures, and dancing was just one of them. Besides, there wasn't much of a difference between dancing and fighting. It was all about knowing how to move and when.

"Maybe I'll invite you on a mission so you could meet her," she grinned again, her hips moving. Her entire body moving. Every motion that came from her was flowing, almost perfect, as though she had been practicing her entire life. Her foot work left little room to double it. She smiled as she made Josh twirl her, and laughed.

"I'm better than you," she teased him right back.


[member="Josh DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

"I remember lots of things. Maybe you should lay off the booze. Need to set a good example for Jason, after all" Josh teased. But he was just teasing her, he didn't know what the real Scherezade before all of this had been like. So he wasn't surprised when she better than the drunken mess had been before. For Josh, the more that they went, the quicker that it all came back to him and he would easily begin to improve more and more. His motions became more fluid but also in a way more wild, more outward.

"I'm certainly game for a mission with you guys. I just hope the ideological deals don't, you know, cause problems on a first date" Josh joked in turn. She didn't need to make him twirl her, he was going to do it anyway. At her last comment, he would twirl her and then pull her in close. And then after a light pause to stare into her eyes, that mischievous smirk appeared on his face as he playfully pecked her nose.

Of course after that he couldn't keep it together and buried his face in her shoulder in the midst of a fit of laughter.

[member="Scherezade deWinter"]

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

"You really need to let that booze thing go, Josh," Madalena retorted, "one time of getting krakfaced does not warrant this abuse from you."

Her legs moved swiftly and she used her entire boy to break some of the rules, taking the lead of the dance. Josh could take all the time he wanted to with remembering the steps; this was her turf now, and this was where she excelled. She came closer to him, moved further away, all while maintaining the distance rules, her body never seemingly pausing for breath.

"It's not going to be a da-" she tried to said, and then there was that peck on her nose. Madalena blinked, defined having been taken by surprise, but then when Josh burst into laughter she joined in, ready to stop dancing now.

"Not a date," she said a few minutes later, when they'd calmed down and she broke their physical contact, "just a mission where both you and one of my best friends happen to be at, at the same time."

[member="Josh DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

Josh had completely taken her by surprise, which was the point and he couldn't help but laugh even harder at her surprise. Eventually though, the dance came to an end. "How do you know that it was the only time and you just don't remember the others?" He teased in turn with a grin. He couldn't help but tease her with this over and over again, it was just how their relationship was now. Scherezade had wanted him to treat them as old, longtime close friends and Josh had found a way to fit into the part fairly well so far, he hoped. He had taken far more of a casual and familiar approach with her than he had ever done with Scherezade. Not that he minded, of course. Still, there was always the reminder that he was primarily abiding by Scherezade's wishes. He kind of wished they could have formed this relationship themselves over time... But the fact was she was happy. So he was happy.

"I was kidding about it being a date" He would correct point-blank once the dance had ended. "I'm game."

Curious about the fact Jason had been quiet for far too long, he would release her hands and head toward Jason's bedroom. His features softened when he saw Jason sleeping on the floor, with Porgbert nested beside him. "Looks like the porg excitement tired him out."

[member="Scherezade deWinter"]

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

"Because my memory is near perfect and if there were other times I would have remembered at least a few of them," she responded. Come on now. This level of memory teasing was unfair. It was only that one time, and she hadn't really drank since that time at all! Grabbing a bottle of water, Madalena emptied it quickly, keeping herself hydrated.

And Josh agreed.

The grin on her face now was absolutely deliciously wicked. "I will call you before I go on a mission with her then," she said with a firm nod. She already knew about a few ones that she had lined up, all she needed to know was which Daisilicious would be joining and bam! Or maybe not that kind of bam, but there'd be bodies and explosions. There always were when Madalena and Daisy got together.

Following Josh to take a look at Jason, Madalena sighed. "Maybe," she nodded, "but you already know the second he wakes up it'll be as tough he never went to sleep and he'll be running and jumping all over the place. Like he should."

[member="Josh DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

"Yeah huh" Josh answered with a roll of his eyes. Picture perfect memory, got it. Well when someone has fake memories plugged into their brain as of a month or so before, if even... He supposed the memories would still feel very, very fresh. That's cheating, that's not photogenic memory at all!

Josh smiled then, when Maddy made her remarks about Jason. "Of course he will" He remarked. "He's three. He'll fall asleep, wake up, be hyper, fall asleep and then repeat."

Regardless, it seemed the two would be missioning with company in the future. Though it reminded him that he needed to tell her something. He'd been so busy as of late that he hadn't had the chance to tell.

"Ah, right" Josh would add as he would take Madalena by the arm and lead her out of the room. He didn't know how loudly he'd say this, so best it be outside of where he might quake Jason awake if he spoke too loudly. The subject was still getting through to him so he didn't know what his volume or reactions would be as it sunk in further.

"I'm not sure how often we'll be able to mission together in future" Josh would admit, scratching his head as he would motion her toward the sitting room couch as he would walk to the small area he had as a kitchen for the time being. Valae had left it this way, and while using anything more than a coffee maker right now might risk causing fires without properly protecting the home... The coffee maker was still here, and he needed a drink.

"I had a talk with Jyoti, not too long ago. The Silver Jedi Order has been going through some changes since Valae stepped down" Josh would admit. "With Jyoti taking Valae's place as the new Grandmaster, obviously a new Master Of The Order will be needed to take Jyoti's old spot and assist in running the day to day operations at the Silver Rest, and for the Order as a whole."

Josh took a deep breath. Well, here it was. "I have been chosen as the Silver Jedi's new Master Of The Order. I will be sworn in through a ceremony somewhere in the coming days."

[member="Scherezade deWinter"]

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

Madalena let Josh lead her away from Jason, a frown forming on her face as Josh informed her that he did not know how often they’d be able to mission together in the future. Had something bad happened? They weren’t exactly doing mission in mission out as it was, but it sounded like something big enough to make him say it like that. Was there someone she was going to have to add to her kill list?

But then… Her frown vanished and was completely replaced by a huge wide grin. “Congratulations!!!” she said in a high pitched whisper, not wanting to scream out and wake Jason up. Her arms flew around Josh as she gave him a great big hug. But… But he didn’t seem happy about it.

“What’s wrong?” she asked as she let go of him, “I thought you’d be exalted about this sort of news. Are they making you take the promotion without the option of saying no?”


[member="Josh DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

The soon to be newly minted Master Of The Order would grin wide and wrap his arms around Madalena tight as he held her close in a tight hug. He brought his head to her shoulder as he would envelop his arms around her, his enhanced body heat engulfing them both. "Thank you" He spoke warmly then. Though she would quickly frown as if she had apparently noticed something.

“I thought you’d be exalted about this sort of news. Are they making you take the promotion without the option of saying no?” She asked and he shook his head. "No, no, I'm thrilled. I guess it just... Hasn't sunk in yet" Josh would admit. "I had the option. I said yes. I want this position. Though admittedly I'm not all that happy about being more restricted, but..." He trailed off with a shrug. "I understood that would be the case when I took this job. I am a combatant... But they feel I am best suited here on Kashyyyk, leading the Order with Jyoti. And I will respect their point of view."

[member="Scherezade deWinter"]

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

Madalena hugged Josh back and let herself give his head a few pats as he put it on her shoulder. The heat coming from his body was a tiny bit too much but she ignored it for the moment, just wanting to support her best friend in this moment of awesomeness. She let a little laughter out, and kissed his cheek as the embrace was broken.

“More restricted?” she asked, frowning, “how are you planning on leading the order? What are your new responsibilities anyway? Does that mean no more battle-master?”

It would be so weird to not have him be a battle-master anymore. Come to think of it, that was the weirdest thing about it. Josh was... Well, not entirely a free spirit, but close enough to it for it to count. Putting him in an office... Madalena burst into laughter again, imagining him buried under a bunch of paperwork.

"But hey," she added, "at least that means more time with Jason."

[member="Josh DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

The Jedi blushed lightly at the unexpected peck on the cheek, but considering he'd done something similar before - he supposed he shouldn't have been so surprised. He felt a bit of discomfort from her and he guessed it was from the heat, so he moved back a bit so he would not harm her further. It was something that one got used to, really. And one that Josh tried to tone down a notch when he could. He had learned cyrokinesis as of late but still needed to learn to use it to cool his body temperature when needed.

When she would ask what he meant by more restricted, he scratched his head. "I'll be here more. Keeping myself available more. Doing more paperwork. I'm still the Battlemaster, which means my attention will also be here more, as I will be needed for training. I'm not the most... Easy person to keep cooped up. I'll probably sneak out for some missions the best I can. Though as Jyoti keeps disappearing to go on them herself... Will probably be easier said than done. I almost feel like she appointed me in hopes I'd be fine to be a homebody all the time while she snuck off for missions. Figured I'd do it to spend more time with Jason. But if I wanted to be here all the time... Well, I'd have made that clear in my schedule before this."

He shrugged his shoulders. "I'll figure it out with her eventually. But for now... Well, I'll certainly be happy to keep Jason company more. With paperwork, at least I can keep my eye on him since he won't be leaving my sight. Less calls from babysitters asking me to calm him down when he wakes up and gets lonely."

[member="Scherezade deWinter"]

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

"Josh DragonsFlame, Master of Paperwork," Madalena laughed, trying to imagine her best friend battling a gazillion stacks of papers instead of being out there and doing his thing with his lightabers. It was hard to imagine. He wasn't going to make it and keep his sanity if he didn't do that thing where he snuck out to get more fun things done. "Hey, if you ever need a partner in crime, give me a call. I'm a Sith, they'll expect these sort of shenaigens from me, and if I do it with you, you can always use me as your scapegoat!"

She jumped with the last word, arms going wide, getting to a ta-daaaaaaaa stand. Madalena was an absolute genius.

A few seconds later she went back to standing normally and chewed on her lower lip. "Has Jason shown any… Signs?" she asked, "of Force usage, I mean. If he has it might be smart to incorporate him in the relatively safe missions sooner rather than later. Especially since you'll be drawing attention simply by holding the new title."


[member="Josh DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

Josh rolled his eyes when Madalena would refer to him as the "Master of Paperwork". Master of Paperwork, really? He already hated the idea of more paperwork, she didn't need to bring that up. Though her offer would make him smirk lightly. "There's no me getting away with doing what you do, blame or not. Behave yourself next we're on mission" Josh would point out, chuckling in turn. "That's probably even more important than before now. A position means one thing, and that's added expectations. More responsibility. Everyone is watching you"

Though next she would ask if Jason showed any signs, and he would shake his head. He almost hoped Jason didn't. As wonderful a thing as the Force had been for him... It had also brought him a life of servitude that he knew Jyoti would try and pressure him into giving Jason up to early if he showed signs. He wasn't sure if he could wish that on his son. "I don't understand what you mean by safe missions" He spoke, blinking a few times. "But no, he hasn't shown any signs. I actually don't know if he's Force sensitive at all."

[member="Scherezade deWinter"]

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

"I solemnly swear to always misbehave," Madalena promised with a grin as she put a hand to her heart, strengthening the promise. She also had every intention on dragging Josh with her while she misbehaved, but he didn't need to hear that in words right now. He probably knew anyway though. "And I'll find a way to turn their evil little cameras off," her grin went even wider. The CIS had all sorts of nifty gadgets she could use for that effect. They were going to misbehave and they were going to do with the privacy they desired. And it was going to be fun.

And then back to Jason. Serious face time. "Missions where the danger is low to nonexistent," she explained gently, "and that's good. But if he does later on… You need to be ready for it." And ready could mean so many things. Jason as already in higher danger just because of the title his father held. If he turned out to be Force Sensitive, he would be a magnet for those who'd wish to do him harm, regardless of which side of the alignment rainbow he swung towards to.

"Hey," she smiled softly, "maybe for his next birthday we can take him for a big trip somewhere. Get him to see some more of the galaxy."


[member="Josh DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

Josh let out a mockingly exasperated sigh. "Of course you do" He responded. Scherezade, Madalena, it never seemed to change. She'd always be chaotic. Well, that was unless she ever somehow joined the Jedi, but... Her? Nah. She'd think it was all stuffy and boring and restrictive... Did she think he was stuffy and boring and restrictive? Eh. That was her problem. Then she brought up turning off cameras, and he would quirk a brow. "I don't know what you're talking about" Josh remarked, shaking his head in turn.

Then the topic returned to Jason. "Jason is three" Josh reminded her. "There will be no missions."

That was daddy's final say on the matter.

She suggested the idea of a trip, and he shrugged his shoulders. "I was thinking for his next birthday, maybe by then I can convince Jyoti to let me take him for a longer vacation back home. We're going to be leaving for Naboo within the next few days, but it won't be for very long. I want to try and get something longer next time... And head home" Josh would remark. "Back home on Naboo. He seems to be the most comfortable there... The most cheerful, the most like himself. He always seems more timid on Kashyyyk, but at home, he just... Seems to have more life" The Jedi would admit. Madalena was now the only person outside of Coryth to know the planet he lived on. Not that it'd do her much good, as he revealed the location of his home to nobody. "At some point soon, we'll go home. We'll wake up a little later in the day and I'll make a big breakfast. I'll show him the birds and the animals and we'll go have a picnic at the lake where we'll see if we can spot any fish. If I find time... We'll go to his favorite petting zoo before we leave for Kashyyyk. I don't have as much time this time to do all this, but next year... I hope to make it longer. And align it to any new interests he might have picked up."

He closed his eyes a moment.

"I just wish his mother was here to spend it with us. And to see him grow up. But that's history now. Hoping one day someone will love him as much as I do."

[member="Scherezade deWinter"]

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

Of course she did. And she always would be chaotic, regardless of who it was that was inside her. And no, she would never join the Jedi. But since Josh hadn't given voice to the words, Madalena could not reply to them, so all he got out of her on that one was a smirk. She also didn't believe him for a moment when he said he had no idea about the camera things. There were security cameras almost anywhere.

And then came the hard part…

"Jason is three," she agreed, "and he is the son of a Jedi Master. He is raised among the Jedi. Force User or not, he will become a target, sooner or later. Part of protecting him is teaching him how to protect himself."

Her voice was careful, almost calculated. Josh and Jason weren't random nobodies. They were two people that Madalena cared about and knew well enough about potential dangers. Josh knew about the too, though he was in a position that gave him tools to get defensive about it.

The plans for his fourth birthday, she had no response beyond a smile. And then…

"She doesn't deserve to be here," came the anger, "she's forfeited that right when she abandoned the two of you."

[member="Josh DragonsFlame"]​