Private Guess Who's Back

[Colette]

Their booked training room still had a bit of a new coat of paint smell to it. It wasn't entirely unwelcome but it certainly made for a peculiar change when it came to the halls of a Jedi Temple. As far as Colette had been concerned it was almost as if these halls were meant to smell like a triple dozen layers of caked up sweat stench and mildew. Compared to that, this place was like if they had only just stepped out of whatever pool had oiled these floors.

The teacher, Colette — who was still very uncertain about what it meant to even be a teacher — put her water bottle down on a nearby bench

"Hey, sorry that I was gone for the last few weeks. The incident on Kiara took a bit more time to solve than I expected." She said and took a seat on the floor, motioning for Reina to do the same in front of her. "It was a whole mess about Jedi presences and a love triangle, it's…" Colette groaned and shook her head. "Let's just forget about it."

"How have you been? Did you keep up with the breathing exercises I told you about?"

Reina Daival

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Tython
Tags: Colette
Lightsaber - Pequod

"I...haven't been good."

Reina was honest. Colette was her master, so she deserved an honest answer instead of Reina trying to hide it all. She had been working on the breathing exercises, but that wasn't as effective as she might have liked.

"I haven't...lashed out as much as I used to. I've removed myself from situations that I could snap in...Tried to find more peaceful resolutions to stuff."

Even if those peaceful resolutiosn may have blown up in her face. Of course, she had actual things explode in her face, with the remains of her last prosthesis leg having left various small scars across Reina's face. She had been struggling to adapt to the new prosthesis as well.

"Found out what love is. It's...not fun."

Well, she knew how it felt to love someone. She didn't know how it felt to be loved but that wasn't important however. Then came to the final little update she felt like Colette deserved to know, whilst Reina worked on stretching.

"...I also fought against a Sith. I...had no chance against her. She tried to rip off my prosthesis...so I cut it off. And...I blew up my eadrums when she tried to monologue. My ears are better now...but I've felt angry about it. I want revenge. I know it's wrong but..."​

 

[Colette]

Reina Daival

That was good! Not lashing out was good. Colette nodded her head in approval and pretended to be as wise that she felt that she needed to be for Reina. This whole teaching thing was still pretty daunting when she put too much thought into it, and as such she didn't. Except when she did.

And then the 'love' thing. Now that Colette just wasn't the right person for at all. She gave another understanding nod and frown, but it slowly faded as her student told her about a fight.

"It's not wrong to want revenge." She said and raised her hand to pick up the conversation. "It's wrong to actively seek it."

"It sounds like you are doing good, but I know you can do better." Colette said and quickly nodded. "Love is a complicated feeling, so I don't really fault you for not finding it very fun — I…"

The master shifted in position, clearly uncomfortable for a moment before she continued.

"I used to love someone too, but we didn't want the same thing. Or we did, but not enough." She sighed. "Like I said, it's complicated, and I try not to put my own needs and emotions before my duties as a Jedi."

"I'm not expecting you to do that too. Attachments are just like love, very complicated. Makes you blind to reality sometimes and hurts the most when exploited by someone else."

Colette sighed.

"I guess what I'm trying to say is that despite these incidents, you've done well. It's all part of learning about yourself. How to keep an eye out for the things that might set you off."

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Tython
Tags: Colette
Lightsaber - Pequod

"I'm not a good Jedi anyway...I can't help people when they need it...I can't...forgive people when I'm needed to help..."

Reina mumbled to herself for a moment. She understood what Colette meant about attachments being complicated. That they can make you blind to reality. That's something Reina had realised about how she felt with Everest. Everest had Reina blind to some of the pain and darkness in the world. Let her focus on the light. It hadn't been exploited...but...Reina knew it was a weakness.

"I...The person I love already has someone. It's fine...I only told her because...I nearly died. I realised I had things I had to tell her...which reminds me..."

The redhead turned to face Colette for a moment, her gaze settling on her master for a moment before Reina suddenly gave Colette a sharp bow. It wasn't something that Reina normally did. The whole bowing stuff made no sense to her but she wanted to show Colette how much Reina respected her.

"...Thank you. For being willing to teach me. I want you to know that no matter happens, I appreciate you believing in me Master Noble."

It had been one of the thoughts that had been on her mind when she had been getting Force Choked. Reina had been ready to fall, but she knew she'd have regrets. Now...those regrets weren't as bad. After a few moments, Reina lifted her head back up, breaking out into a small smile.

"...Oh. I've also been learning how to fight with a Sword."​

 

[Colette]

Reina Daival

Master Noble. The words rung through Colette's head and for the first time in probably ever since she had taken the name did the weight of it all come barreling down on her. She froze for a moment, visibly shaken before she snapped back to it and offered a bow back to Reina.

"That's very good, Reina." Colette said and instinctively began to rub her hand against her own neck. "But please, just call me Colette. Knight Noble, I guess if you—" She got uncomfortable again and shook her head. "Actually, just call me Colette."

She let in a deep breath and then exhaled.

"So, from the top…"

"Stop talking chit, Reina." Colette said and crossed her arms. "Look around you and point at anybody around here who became a 'good Jedi' without making a few mistakes, or who started at the top." Colette crossed her arms and shook her head. "I'd be surprised if you'd find anyone at all."

"Second, love is love. I'm very happy that you didn't die, and I'm happy that you let this person know that you care."

"As for the sword stuff, well…" She exhaled and eased up a little, put on a smile and nodded in approval. "That's really good too."

Colette put her hand on her knee and slowly rose to stand up again.

"Like I said," She, well, said, and extended a hand to help Reina up. "You are doing great. I'm sorry that I wasn't there for you but I promise to make up for it as we go, okay?"

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Tython
Tags: Colette
Lightsaber - Pequod

"If you're sure. I just thought...you were deserving of being called Master in that moment. You've believed in me when I feel like very few do. So...I appreciate it. Quite a bit."

If anything, Colette was more of a Captain for Reina. Someone she could get behind. Someone she could follow and learn from. Though she couldn't help but tilt her head at the idea of trying to find someone who was a good Jedi without making a few mistakes. Of course it was impossible for her to pick someone out, but that wasn't what was important to Reina.

"It's...just hard Colette. I feel like I'm taking one step forward and three steps back...I'm only alive still because I'm lucky. Because someone else has been there to save me. Or because I've been spared...It's why I'm learning this sword stuff."

She sighed, before reaching out to take Colette's hand up to help herself to her feet, brushing herself down carefully. She didn't need any extra dirt on herself. She had enough weight on her shoulders, even if most of it was metaphorical.

"You...don't need to be sorry. I understand life can be busy for a Jedi. I'm...used to trying to learn things myself anyway. I appreciate the promise though. I still have a lot I need to learn."​

 

[Colette]

Reina Daival

Colette was patient, at least these days. A few years ago? Disaster. Brash, very forward, not very caring. Got her a boyfriend but didn't make it last. To listen to Reina tell more and more about her world view? Familiar, in a way.

"Appreciation is good, but self-confidence is better." Colette said and pulled a pair of wooden swords into her hands. She extended an offer towards Reina for the student to grab one of them. "You talk about yourself like you don't want to be alive, or as if you don't find value in what you do — who you are."

"Instead of asking yourself why you're alive, why don't you ask yourself why you shouldn't be?" The master asked and got into a defensive stance. "Think on it while you show me what you have learned with the sword."

"I have taken beatings before, so don't worry about going too hard or too soft. We're not focusing on technique today, only mindset. Gather your thoughts, sort them out, and then speak your mind the second you think of something or feel any sort of way."

"Go."

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Tython
Tags: Colette
Lightsaber - Pequod

Reina took the wooden sword for a moment and did a small flourish to try and get a feel for it, before taking it in both hands. A firm base was what she needed to show, not some fancy tricks with one hand or little tricks. Yet...she froze for a moment as Colette asked Reina to ask why she shouldn't be alive, and the redhead glanced up over towards Colette for a moment, the light in Reina's eyes faded for a moment.

"...Because I don't."

She didn't elaborate on it. Not right now as she took her attacking stance and prepared to send a few slashes in Colette's direction. She had to sort through her thoughts, huh? That...was harder than she expected, but she'd just say what came first to her mind she supposed, as she sent attack after attack.

"I'm a killer. I can't forgive people. My family left me out at sea. I don't even know who I am."

One point, after another point, after another. Each one met with another strike from the wooden sword as Reina's grip tightened more and more along the handle.​