Private Hearts and Minds

[Kahlil Noble]

"We shouldn't just go off from the others though."

There was a ceremony to this. They were supposed to rejoin the others then make their lightsabers all together on a vessel under the guidance of some old droid who'd make sure they didn't blow themselves up. Not that he particularly needed help, given he had a lightsaber. He frowned in thought even as Vera pulled him along. But stopped her rather quickly once they neared the exit.

"No. We go get Bee first."

"They'll get here when they do, love. Don't hurry them too much." Kahlil said, as he was already at the door and crouched to prepare for their hugs. He was just as eager, if not more so, for his children to come back and show off how well they've done.

Valery Noble | BB-610

 

[Valery Noble]

Ilum

​

Outfit: Factory Link | Wedding Ring
Weapons: Lightsabers
Tag: Kahlil Noble BB-610

Vera sighed, "It'll be fiiiine, they're way slower than we are." Vera kept pulling him along towards the exit, towards Bee and their parents, who would be waiting for them. "We'll just show the crystals, and then we can maybe meet back up with them. I don't know how things will work." Maybe the Padawans leading this whole thing would guide them in creating the lightsabers? She didn't know, but the Padawan had been mean to Bee.

She'd rather just go show it to her parents, and then make her lightsaber.

But Aris did raise a good point about first going to Bee. Vera stopped, nodded... and pulled him along again, "Bee wouldn't leave without us. He'll be right at the exit!" Vera was sure of it, and after tugging her brother along a little more, she finally saw him at the entrance to the caves. It wasn't nice to see him there alone, not after he had been so excited to join the young Nobles for their journey.

So, finally, Vera let go of Aris' hand and ran over to drop down to her knees and wrap her arms around him. "Hey Bee, we did it," she said softly. "But I missed you," she added, while she tightened her hug a little more.

"I shouldn't hurry them, huh? Why are you already crouching down then, babe?" She teased. Valery then walked over, placed her hands on his shoulder, and squeezed. "They're not going to leave the Temple without showing us their crystals, hm? I think they're just with Bee first."

 

[Loomi]

Ilum
Tags: Braze

"We're okay now... right?"

"Yeah," Loomi nodded with a sniffle. "We're okay."

Okay was a hard thing to quantify. She didn't feel okay very often, but at the very least they could work towards tackling their problems together. This place was strange. It made you face the things that you were afraid of. For Braze that was spiders, though she really didn't understand why. The fact that she hadn't seen anything bizarre yet made her think that her struggles were something different.

Maybe they were naturally intertwined with Braze. Him shouting at her to leave in a daze made her feel awful, like she just wanted to hide somewhere and curl up. Had that been it?

Maybe she'd never truly know. They had eachother at least. Loomi was very happy to accept the hug that Braze gave her.

"I-I think we should keep going," the Godoan decided. "What we're looking for can't be too much farther..."

It had to be there.

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Loomi

Braze felt a subtle shift in the atmosphere of the cavern. In the oppressive silence of the ice cavern, a profound change occurred, one that both Braze and Loomi could sense. The stillness, which had been almost suffocating in its intensity, was suddenly pierced by a soft, melodic hum. This sound, more felt than heard, seemed to resonate through the very air, a psalm-like call that echoed in the depths of their souls.

Braze turned to Loomi, his expression of confusion and concern. "Do you hear that, Loomi? It's like a calling," he said, his voice barely above a whisper, as if afraid to disturb the delicate sound. "There's something ahead, in the heart of this silence. It's reaching out..."

 

[Loomi]

Ilum
Tags: Braze

"Yeah," Loomi nodded, getting to her feet. "I-I feel it too. It's... warm."

Warm was good. It seemed to swirl around her, filling her heart with a bizarre sense of rejuvination. That had to be it. She turned back to Braze, now beaming. It seemed as though Loomi had a complete shift in attitude, lightening up considerably from her disheartened state.

"It must be close!" she exclaimed. "Come on!"

They had to keep going.

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Loomi

As Braze and Loomi ventured deeper into the ice caves of Ilum, the atmosphere around them began to shift subtly. The oppressive silence that had dominated their surroundings was gradually replaced by a soft, melodic hum. This sound was almost otherworldly, and seemed to resonate not just in the air but deep within their souls. The sound seemed to beckon them forward, guiding them deeper into the heart of the cavern.

Encouraged by Loomi's newfound optimism, Braze padded through the cold icy cavern, drawn by the serene melody. As they progressed, the sound grew clearer, more distinct, leading them to a small chamber deep within the cave.

There, nestled in a natural alcove, Braze discovered the source of the sound he was hearing– a small, kyber crystal, glowing softly in the dim light of the cave. The crystal, was a beautiful clear hue in truth but it gave off a tranquil color in Braze's eyes.

Braze reached out tentatively, his fingers brushing against the crystal. As he did, a wave of calm washed over him, soothing his mind and spirit. The crystal's properties were immediately apparent – its ability to provide emotional resonance, and induce peace and tranquility.

Clasping the crystal in his hand, Braze experienced an enveloping warmth that seemed to defy the icy chill of the cavern. A sense of happiness and peace, almost surreal in its intensity, filled him. It was a feeling so profound and comforting that it momentarily transported him away from the cold, stark reality of their surroundings.

Braze had never imagined he would have such an experience, and yet, there he was, holding a crystal that radiated warmth and serenity. This moment marked a significant milestone on his journey, a tangible step towards becoming someone truly worthy of the title of Jedi.

With a contented smile, Braze drew the newly acquired gem close to his chest, feeling its gentle, reassuring presence. He turned to Loomi, his eyes shining with accomplishment. The warmth from the crystal seemed to extend beyond his physical being, creating an aura of tranquility that enveloped both of them.

 

[Loomi]

Ilum
Tags: Braze

As Braze parted from her side, called away by his own stone, Loomi remained fixated on a distant shimmer. Radiant golden light filled her eye, and the Godoan could not help but be drawn in like a moth to a flame. Every step closer filled her with a sensation of warmth and purity, warding off the darkness that sat at the edge of her mind. It was... peaceful.

The stone itself was lodged into the icy wall of the cavern, the top of it jagged like a crown. All it took was an extention of her hand. Loomi didn't even need to touch the stone for it to emerge from the ice, drifting delicately across the air and into her frosty palm. It had a soft natural heat to it, warming her hand along with her spirit. It was such a thoughtless, natural encounter that for a brief moment the gravity of the moment hadn't even washed over her.

The swell in Braze's aura reminded her what she had actually achieved.

A crystal was in her hands. She had just completed a very important trial. She had been nobody, taken from her home by brutes that took her apart. Now she was someone entirely new: A Jedi.

Loomi turned back, positively beaming at her friend.

"I'm ready to go home now," she decided.

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Loomi

In the ice tunnel with their new kyber crystals, Braze quickly started planning their escape. "Let's retrace our steps carefully," he suggested to Loomi. "We can mark our path to avoid going in circles."

He looked around for any signs that might help. "Remember any unique spots from when we came in?" he asked Loomi, hoping her memory might provide additional clues.

Braze also advised, "Keep an eye out for natural light or air currents. It could lead us out." His tone was calm, aiming to keep both of them focused and optimistic as they worked together to find a way back.

 

[Loomi]

Ilum
Tags: Braze

"Remember any unique spots from when we came in?"

"I remember where we came from," Loomi assured, "And I got something we can use to get out too."

The Godoan withdrew a net from her pack, woven from threads she had pulled from the force, this was the very same net that she had used back on Ukatis when she had teamed up with Braze, Aliris Tremiru , and Ko Vuto to help clear out some darkness-infected critters. It was large, certainly long enough to reach the top of the hole that they had slid down. All she needed to do was get a side to the top and weave it into the ice.

"If you can help me lift it up, I can weave it into place," she explained. "Then we can just climb out and rejoin the group."

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Loomi

"Oh alright, easy we can do that. " Braze stepped up close to her and smiled, a concerning smile as he stood really close to her... Then he moved to sweep her off her feet picking her up with tender ease and care and winked at her. Braze stepped up to the mouth of the tunnel they had fallen down, leaned into it, and carefully moved to levitate Loomi from his arms up the slick frigid tunnel pushing her upwards slowly and surely towards the top being very careful not to accidentally scrape her against the walls. She was lifted gracefully with tender ease and soon enough placed on her own two feet on the top side of the hole.

"Are you okay?" Braze called and asked from below.

 

[Loomi]

Ilum
Tags: Braze

Then he moved to sweep her off her feet picking her up with tender ease and care and winked at her. Braze stepped up to the mouth of the tunnel they had fallen down, leaned into it, and carefully moved to levitate Loomi from his arms up the slick frigid tunnel pushing her upwards slowly and surely towards the top being very careful not to accidentally scrape her against the walls.

"W-woah!"

Loomi couldn't help but fumble a little upon her landing. She hadn't been expecting to be floating through the air. Not that her mind resisted it, of course. It was Braze. She let his mind wrap around her with no pushback. A part of her had forgotten that she could even do that. The Godoan was used to doing things on her own after all. With that in mind, she turned, repeating the process to elevate her companion up to the top with her. It took little to hone in on him with their inate connection, and her focus was near perfect, gently weaving her friend through the rough terrain and up to her side.

"Heh," Loomi grinned awkwardly, rubbing at her shoulder. "I knew we could do that."

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Loomi

Braze's mood visibly brightened as he gratefully accepted Loomi's assistance, anxiously waiting for her 'force touch' with anticipation. Once he was firmly back on his feet, he wasted no time in enveloping Loomi in a sudden, tight hug.

"Sure~," he responded playfully, tapping the tip of her nose with a knowing smirk. It was as if he was aware of some unspoken truth but chose to agree with her regardless. "Thank you for not leaving me behind," Braze said, his voice almost purring with a warm, fuzzy excitement. This mood was almost night and day compared to the sorry state Loomi had found him in earlier beneath the ice. It was as if he had undergone a transformation, now exuding vibrant and lively energy.

"Shall we?" he asked, extending his hand to her.