Private Hope and the Unknown.

[Aiden Porte]

Ukatis
Objectives: Searching
Tags: Roman Vossari

"Where are you...." Aiden cleared the city gates as he walked over to his speeder bike. Roman Vossari, an old friend that he had known for a long time. Well, it would seem like a long time to him. He had been through much lately, just like Aiden. They were similar in many ways. That was probably why they were such good friends. The last time they spoke, even more had transpired. They had a good time, caught up on old times. And then he had to move on to his own path.

As did Aiden...

Aiden swung his leg over the speeder bike, as he powered it on. He reached in his pack and pull out the small navigational device, there was a series of small villages over the course of the next twenty miles. Those were his destination...

He couldn't get in touch with Cora, so he would have to do this the old fashioned way.

He would find his friend. He promised him he would be here whenever he needed him.

Promises like that, especially to a family member, you don't break....ever.

 

[Roman Vossari]

​

LOCATION: Ukatis
TAGS: Aiden Porte

​

Roman leaned the pitchfork against the side of the stall, letting out a slow breath through his nose. The sharp, earthy scent of hay and manure clung to his clothes, a familiar reminder of the honest work that grounded him, a simplicity that made more sense than most things did lately. He wiped sweat from his brow with the back of his hand, leaving a smear of dirt he wouldn't notice until later. The horse, an aging bay with a blind eye but a gentle spirit, nudged him lightly. Roman grunted, a sound somewhere between a laugh and a sigh, and patted the animal's neck, his palm still rough with calluses from less peaceful days. The stable timbers creaked around him, the only sound apart from the wind rolling through the quiet village. Out here, people didn't ask questions. They just saw a stranger with strong arms and tired eyes, willing to work, and that was enough for now.

His thoughts drifted, as they often did, to his return to Ukatis, to Cora. He hadn't stayed in one place for more than a few days since then. He told himself it was to stay ahead of trouble, but the truth held more shadows than that. He didn't know what he was looking for anymore. Was it peace, forgiveness, or simply a place where he could exist without every memory of what he'd done to survive clawing at him?

He glanced out the open barn doors, watching the dusk-drenched road wind past the village. The light stretched long and golden across the fields, an idyllic painting he felt utterly out of place in. His stomach rumbled then, pulling him back to the present. The innkeeper's daughter had promised dinner soon; likely stew, with luck some fresh bread. He'd earned it, another day passed in silence, sweat, and keeping to himself. Roman picked up the pitchfork again. There was still one stall left to muck out, one more job. Then, he'd face the quiet decision of whether tomorrow meant finally staying or simply moving on.

 

[Aiden Porte]

Ukatis:
Objective: Searching
Roman Vossari

The Jedi sped along the road, a small cloud of dirt kicked up in its wake. The Jedi's cloak billowed along as he was nearing the first village, the hum of the engine slowed as he would bring it to a stop. Aiden let out a small sigh as he uncovered his face, that was covered due to the village roads. He glanced around for a moment as he departed the speeder bike. His leg swung around as he moved towards what looked to be like an Inn of sorts.

Aiden reached into his pack and pulled out small communicator. He neared the entrance and gave a knock at the door and he was beckoned to come one by the innkeeper.

"My apologies for calling upon you like this. My name is Aiden Porte, I'm a Jedi Knight with the High Republic. I'm looking for this individual, hes an old friend of mine. I have to find him." Aiden raised the communicator as it brought up the most recent image he had of Roman.

"Have you seen him?" Aiden spoke again, in a bit more urgency this time.

He had to know if his good friend was alive or dead.

 

[Roman Vossari]

​

LOCATION: Ukatis
TAGS: Aiden Porte

​

Roman balanced one boot precariously on the edge of a half-full wheelbarrow, leaning back with a mock swagger as he spun a bit of straw between his fingers, treating it like a precious artifact. Across from him, Niva, the innkeeper's daughter, stood with a bucket in one hand and a raised eyebrow.

"You know," Roman began, feigning deep philosophical thought, "there's a real art to mucking stalls. Most people just shovel, but myself, I interpret." Niva snorted, rolling her eyes, yet failed to hide the smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. "You're interpreting literal horse crap, Roman." He grinned. "Exactly! It's symbolic, really. Like life itself. Full of piles, and it still needs cleaning up. But I do it with style."

She shook her head, clearly losing the battle to suppress her laughter. Roman reached out, flicking a bit of straw dramatically at her. Niva ducked, countering with a sling of clean hay at his chest. "Agh! Betrayal in the workplace!" Roman gasped, clutching his chest. "You wound me."

"You're insufferable," she said with a smirk. "And yet," he replied, inching a bit closer, "here you are."

Just outside the stable, the old timbers groaned, not from the wind, but from approaching footsteps. Inside the inn, the innkeeper scratched his head, studying the holo-image on Aiden's communicator. He squinted for a moment, then grunted with recognition. "Yeah. Yeah, that's him," the man confirmed, drying his hands on a rag. "He keeps to himself mostly, but he's been helping out in the stables the past couple days. Not much of a talker. You know the type, looks like he's been through the wringer and then decided to go back in for round two." He gestured with a quick jerk of his chin. "Go 'round the side, you'll see the barn past the water trough. He's probably in there now. Just… try not to spook the horses."

Back in the stable, Roman started humming a half-remembered tune, scooping up hay with exaggerated flair. Niva simply rolled her eyes in mock horror at his complete lack of rhythm. He remained blissfully unaware that someone was coming. He just knew the stall wasn't going to muck itself.

 

[Aiden Porte]

"Yeah. Yeah, that's him,"

Aiden slightly cocked his head to the side at the words the man spoke. "Truly....."

Was it really that simple...?

"He keeps to himself mostly, but he's been helping out in the stables the past couple days. Not much of a talker. You know the type, looks like he's been through the wringer and then decided to go back in for round two."

"Go 'round the side, you'll see the barn past the water trough. He's probably in there now. Just… try not to spook the horses."

"But he's alive...?" Aiden spoke with a firmer tone, as if he didn't believe him at first. The small smile from the innkeeper and reassuring nod was all it took for Aiden. "Thanks, very much." Aiden moved like a man possessed as he moved out the inn and in the direction explained to him by the innkeeper.

"Roman....." Aiden said as he walked into the stables, taking an easy glance around until his eyes rest on his old friend. "Roman Vossari.........."

Aiden smiled and shook his head.....

"You look like hell...."

Roman Vossari

 

[Roman Vossari]

​

LOCATION: Ukatis
TAGS: Aiden Porte

​

Roman leaned closer to Niva, his voice dropping into that familiar, playful rumble he used when he was just reckless enough to flirt, and just tired enough to not care about the consequences. He tossed another bit of straw her way for good measure. "You know," he said, "if I'd known mucking stalls came with company like this, I might've started sooner." Niva laughed, a genuine sound, shaking her head as she playfully shoved him with the bucket. "You're impossible," she declared. Roman smirked. "Not impossible. Just statistically unlikely."

She was about to fire back another witty retort when the stable door groaned open behind them. The distinct thud of heavy boots on old wood wasn't the innkeeper. Roman didn't even need to turn around; he felt the shift in the air, an old instinct he still trusted more than his own reflection. Then came the voice, a name like a punch to the gut: "Roman Vossari…" His chest tightened before his brain fully registered it.

Slowly, he turned. Aiden Porte stood there, dust still clinging to his cloak, that same infuriating, unshakeable calm radiating from him like an aura. And then, impossibly, the man smiled. Roman felt caught somewhere between disbelief and the unsettling thought that he was still half-dreaming.

Niva, wide-eyed and suddenly aware of something far larger than stable flirtation, took a quick step back. "I... uh... I'll leave you two to it," she mumbled, practically fleeing the barn before Roman could even think of a clever way to keep her. It was probably for the best, though. Whatever this was, it clearly wasn't going to be simple.

Roman watched her go, then turned back to Aiden, studying him like a complicated puzzle he wasn't sure he wanted to solve. His old friend just shook his head, delivering a line so typically Aiden it almost made Roman smile. "You look like hell." Roman let out a dry, low chuckle, more tired than he intended to show. He dropped the pitchfork against the stall door and crossed his arms. "And you grew a beard," he shot back.

A beat of silence settled between them. Roman's smile faded a little, though not entirely. He stepped forward, his voice quieter now, a deeper curiosity pushing past his initial defensiveness. "Alright. I'll bite. How in the galaxy did you find me, Aiden? I'm not exactly sending out holo-invites from this backwater."

 

[Aiden Porte]

"And you grew a beard,"

"Yes....I did. Does it look alright?" Aiden inquired with a laugh, trusting Roman Vossari to be honest with him as he always was.

"Alright. I'll bite. How in the galaxy did you find me, Aiden? I'm not exactly sending out holo-invites from this backwater."

"That was difficult, not going to lie....." Aiden amusing tone, yet that vanished rather quickly.

Given their last conversation, he had told him if he needed him for anything he could come to him. Aiden wasn't upset, mad, just disappointed.

"Roman, why didn't you reach out. We are brothers, I could've helped you."

 

[Roman Vossari]

​

LOCATION: Ukatis
TAGS: Aiden Porte

​

Roman ran a hand across the back of his neck, his eyes sweeping Aiden's face before finally settling, with a twitch, on the beard. "It looks good," he admitted, a small, reluctant smirk tugging at his lips. "Makes you look... wiser. Less like the overeager, though not by much." He laughed softly, knowing Aiden would easily catch the lie beneath the bravado.

But then Aiden's tone shifted, becoming less teasing and more sincere. Roman felt that old weight settle across his shoulders again, heavier somehow with Aiden standing there, the one person who'd always seen through him like glass. He hated the honesty of it, the simple truth, as if it were that easy. "I didn't want to worry you," he said quietly, almost apologetically, as if that explained everything. "You've got your own battles now. I heard the stories. Jedi Knight, huh?" he asked, a forced lightness in his voice. "Congratulations; I guess those Naboo Jedi are letting anyone be Knights these days."

Roman felt the silence more keenly than he heard it, the space between them widening like the distance he'd spent months running toward. He sighed, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "Look, I didn't reach out because this situation, whatever it is, it's something I had to do on my own. I wasn't going to drag you through it. Not this time." Roman glanced around the stable, as if the right words might be written in the hay, but there was nothing there but dust and silence. "I need to figure out who I am when I'm not running from something, or to something, but simply existing." His gaze finally met Aiden's, honest and unapologetic. "I didn't leave you behind, Aiden. I just needed to find myself without someone holding my hand."

 

[Aiden Porte]

"Makes you look... wiser. Less like the overeager, though not by much."

"I suppose that isn't so bad."

"I didn't want to worry you,"

"You've got your own battles now. I heard the stories. Jedi Knight, huh?" he asked, a forced lightness in his voice. "Congratulations; I guess those Naboo Jedi are letting anyone be Knights these days."

"Look, I didn't reach out because this situation, whatever it is, it's something I had to do on my own. I wasn't going to drag you through it. Not this time." Roman glanced around the stable, as if the right words might be written in the hay, but there was nothing there but dust and silence. "I need to figure out who I am when I'm not running from something, or to something, but simply existing." His gaze finally met Aiden's, honest and unapologetic. "I didn't leave you behind, Aiden. I just needed to find myself without someone holding my hand."

Aiden laughed as his jest. "Perhaps I'm just luckier than most." The Jedi listened to his words and he respected them, he didn't agree. Just for the sole purpose of Aiden's own mind that his friends should be able to come to him with anything. Yet Roman Vossari spoke the truth. There were somethings that needed to be done on their own.

Aiden knew that better than most. He just didn't follow his own rules sometimes.

"I understand that, but I wouldn't hold your hand. I'd stand there side by side with you. As an equal, friend, brother." Aiden said with a small smile as he closed the distance between them and gave his friend a hug. Aiden chuckled lightly as he broke the embrace.

"You smell great too...." Aiden laughed in jest as he patted him on the shoulder. "So do you need an assistant to help you finish up. Also is there a place to get some food around here, because I am starving."

 

[Roman Vossari]

​

LOCATION: Ukatis
TAGS: Aiden Porte

​

Roman didn't move at first. Aiden's words, "I'd stand there side by side with you," hung in the air, soft, warm, and entirely undeserved. It was the kind of thing people said before they'd seen the worst of you. But Aiden had seen it. That was the problem. And he still meant it. When Aiden stepped forward and pulled him into a hug, Roman hesitated only a half second before letting the tension bleed out of his shoulders. He returned the embrace, not with the stiffness of obligation, but with the quiet gravity of someone who hadn't realized how much they'd missed something so familiar, so solid, so real, until it was back again.

"You smell great too," Aiden added with a chuckle as he pulled back, his typical dry humor cutting through the moment. Roman shook his head, trying not to smile, and failed. "Yeah, it's my signature blend: horse stall and existential dread. Very exclusive." He clapped Aiden lightly on the back. "You're lucky I like you. Anyone else showing up smelling like clean laundry and Jedi morals would've gotten shoved in a water trough."

When Aiden offered to help with the stalls, Roman raised a brow, gesturing to the half-mucked pen behind him. "Be my guest, Master Knight. But I feel obligated to inform you that bantha dung on Naboo is a whole different beast than Ukatis horse crap. You've got steady hands there, let's see how they do with a pitchfork." He glanced toward the inn beyond the barn. "And yeah, there's food. Niva usually burns the stew a little, but it's edible. I'll even share, if you don't mind dinner with someone who looks like hell and smells worse." As he started walking toward the next stall, he tossed Aiden the spare pitchfork leaning against the barn wall. "Come on, brother. Let's see if the Jedi Order prepared you for the real trials: rural hospitality and a stubborn mule named Bramble."

Roman didn't say it aloud, but a softness entered his eyes for a moment. Having Aiden here didn't fix everything, not by a long shot. Yet, it made the silence feel less sharp, the crushing weight a little lighter.

 

[Aiden Porte]

"You're lucky I like you. Anyone else showing up smelling like clean laundry and Jedi morals would've gotten shoved in a water trough."

"You can try, my friend." Aiden said with a laugh, clearly happy to see Roman Vossari again. And most importantly, that he was indeed alive and well. He was tossed the pitchfork and he began to get to work as he listened to Roman's words on the local dung and edible food that was offered by the local populace.

"Well, I don't mind putting in the work." Aiden chuckled, "Oh and did I interrupt something between the two of you?" Aiden inquired with a sly smirk as he looked over to Roman.

"A stubborn mule named Bramble.....eh?" The Jedi Knight chuckled lightly, as he got to work once more. "Can't be worse than dealing with Cery's attitude back home." Aiden muttered with a small laugh.

 

[Roman Vossari]

​

LOCATION: Ukatis
TAGS: Aiden Porte

​

Roman shoved the pitchfork into the hay with a grunt, casting a sideways glance at Aiden that was equal parts amused and exasperated.

"Yeah," he said casually, "you did interrupt something. We had hay-flinging flirtations and serious romantic tension brewing. Even some bucket warfare. Real high drama, honestly."

He leaned on the pitchfork handle, chin resting lazily on the back of his hand as he smirked. "But it's fine. I'd rather see an old friend than get slapped in the face with straw again. Well… maybe. Depends on the day."

He resumed scraping hay and dung into the wheelbarrow, his movements automatic as he continued, "Anyway, Niva's nice. Too nice. You ever meet someone who smiles at you like they don't know how much baggage you're carrying? Makes you feel like lying about who you are."

He glanced over at Aiden with a raised brow. "Then again, maybe I was lying. For a minute there, I wasn't the guy who survived half a war and ran from the other half. I was just the weird, quiet stable hand who makes bad jokes and smells like mule."

Roman gave a quick, sharp whistle, and from the far side of the barn, a shaggy, stubborn creature the color of week-old bread crust peeked its head out and brayed miserably.

"And that," he gestured, "is Bramble. Don't let the cute name fool you. She bites and kicks. She only likes people who bring her apples, or maybe just threaten her. The jury's still out on that one."

Aiden muttered something under his breath. Roman caught only part of it, but the name Cerys stuck. He cocked his head. "Wait… Cerys? Is that your new Padawan or something?"

His expression softened just slightly. "It's good to see you, man. Really. Even if you are making me work while we catch up. Typical Jedi efficiency."

 

[Aiden Porte]

"you did interrupt something. We had hay-flinging flirtations and serious romantic tension brewing. Even some bucket warfare. Real high drama, honestly."

"But it's fine. I'd rather see an old friend than get slapped in the face with straw again. Well… maybe. Depends on the day."

"Hmm...I don't know Roman. It looked like you were reeling her in maybe." Aiden said with a laugh as he stabbed at the straw and began moving it into the wheelbarrow.

"Anyway, Niva's nice. Too nice. You ever meet someone who smiles at you like they don't know how much baggage you're carrying? Makes you feel like lying about who you are."

"Then again, maybe I was lying. For a minute there, I wasn't the guy who survived half a war and ran from the other half. I was just the weird, quiet stable hand who makes bad jokes and smells like mule."

"Yes, I met someone like that before." Roman already knew that story though, it was a sad ending and a terrible situation. He had long past gotten over it, still. That didn't mean he forgot though. "Now there is someone else. Maybe...." Aiden smirked as he thought of Kalantha and whatever they had going on between them. Part of him wondered if it would ever truly work. Perhaps that was why he had his reservations, but then those went away whenever he saw her again. He just wanted to be around her, her presence brought a easiness and calm to his heart. Aiden chuckled lightly as he shook his head.

"But then again who knows. The galaxy is changing rapidly. Your not lying, your just being you. Just because you aren't telling her about your other half. Your other self or whatever you want to call it...." Aiden said as he stook the pitchfork in the dirt and a hand rested on the handle. As he looked over to Roman with a smile. "It doesn't mean you aren't being you." And he brought up Bramble and he laughed. "I'll be sure to keep that in mind." At the mention of Cerys he then shook his head. "Nah, she not my Padawan. She's just a friend who doesn't like to smile and is disgruntled seventy percent of the time." Aiden laughed as he got back to work, helping Roman finish up.

"It's good to see you, man. Really. Even if you are making me work while we catch up. Typical Jedi efficiency."

"You too my friend, why don't we go get some food. I'm pretty hungry...what about you?"

Roman Vossari

 

[Roman Vossari]

​

LOCATION: Ukatis
TAGS: Aiden Porte

​

Roman leaned on his pitchfork, giving Aiden a sidelong look that was clearly amused. "Reeling her in? Please. I was at least three bad jokes and another bucket war away from sealing the deal," he said with a faint smirk. "Then you came in all noble Jedi, interrupting the romance. Pretty selfish, actually."

He went back to working the stall as Aiden talked, listening, though he didn't really look. The part about "someone else" earned the faintest eyebrow twitch. Roman didn't push it. If Aiden wanted to tell him, he would. Aiden always dropped half a confession, then pretended it was nothing. Roman figured it was a Jedi thing, always showing just enough to keep people guessing.

The talk about Cerys made him chuckle. "A disgruntled friend, seventy percent of the time? Huh. Sounds like my kind of person. You sure she's not your Padawan? Because that's exactly how I'd imagine one of yours: constantly annoyed, probably wondering why they got stuck with the guy who says 'perhaps' before every sentence."

He hefted the last pitchfork load into the wheelbarrow, leaning the handle against the stall wall with a quiet clunk. "Alright. Bramble's probably plotting my death, but she's good for the night. And yeah, food sounds about right. The way Niva piles stew in a bowl, you'd think she's feeding a small army. Which, in your case, might still not be enough."

Roman started toward the barn doors, glancing back at Aiden, that usual mix of suspicion and fondness on his face. "But if we're going to eat, you're buying. Don't give me that Jedi-credit-chip excuse either. I know you've got some tucked away. And if you don't, you can always charm Niva into giving us a discount. She seems to like you already."

He pushed open the barn doors, the last streaks of dusk light spilling in. For the first time in a long while, the thought of sitting down with someone and sharing a meal didn't feel like a chore.

 

[Aiden Porte]

"Reeling her in? Please. I was at least three bad jokes and another bucket war away from sealing the deal,"

"Then you came in all noble Jedi, interrupting the romance. Pretty selfish, actually."

Aiden smirked and kind of shrugged his shoulders. "I'm sure you were my friend. And I think its safe to say I'm far from a noble Jedi." He laughed and placed the pitchfork against the stall. "I'd say I'm about halfway decent. Annoying enough there are a few who think to highly of me."

"You two would get along probably, I'll have to drag her along next time I leave and come back. That is unless you decide to run off again." Aiden chuckled, following Roman. "Just make sure you send a letter, video message or something."


There was so much more he wanted to talk about, especially about Cora and Ukatis. He heard of the troubles that were plaguing the area and the city itself and he hoped to get a better read on things. He also had to make sure he wasn't getting in over his head. He had to remember he was only one Jedi, and like he heard many times before from various people. That he couldn't fix everything by himself.

There was no one that strong.

"Yea, I've got some stashed away." Aiden laughed as he thought back to home, reminding himself that there was still some stuff to take care of back home.

Aiden shook his head as they moved out of the barn and a gust of wind swept up around them. It was a cool wind blowing in from the North as it brought a shade of darker than normal clouds.

"I'll leave Niva to you." He said with a laugh, he wasn't having the best of luck with that sort of thing these days. Not that he was actively trying, yet now with his advancment he seemed to be too busy. Foolish as it may be, a fling might bet he best route for him.

He shook his head as he pushed the though from his mind.

"How long do you plan on staying here?"

Roman Vossari

 

[Roman Vossari]

​

LOCATION: Ukatis
TAGS: Aiden Porte

​

Roman stepped into the cooling evening air, pulling his coat tighter against the northern wind. Overhead, the sky was already dimming, dark clouds rolling in as if they'd been waiting for just the right moment to make everything feel a little more dramatic.

"How long?" he repeated, glancing at Aiden as they walked toward the small inn down the lane. Roman shrugged. "I don't know. Haven't really thought about it. I guess I'm just trying to find some peace and quiet for once. Maybe a purpose, if that's not too much to ask."

His tone was casual, but the words felt heavier than they sounded. He stepped over a shallow puddle, keeping his eyes fixed ahead. "The thing about moving around so much," Roman continued, "is you start to forget if you're running toward something or away from it. So, maybe I'm staying put for a bit, just to see if I can tell the difference."

He caught the scent of stew drifting out of the inn's chimney, warm and earthy against the crisp air. "A place like this is simple," he said. "You work, you eat, you sleep. Nobody asks what you did before you were shoveling out Bramble's stall. And for a while, that's enough."

Roman smirked faintly, glancing at Aiden. "And now you're here, so I guess we'll see how long the quiet lasts."

 

[Aiden Porte]

Aiden smiled and nodded his head as he heard Roman speak. It was smart and wise advice, it wasn't surprising in the least given whom it was coming from. Aiden always held Roman in high regard, despite what he thought of himself or how he felt. It's what Aiden saw in him, and there wasn't anything anyone could do to change that.

"That's smart Roman, I was probably running away from stuff for a while, figuratively of course." Aiden smirked, but yet had the smallest hint of sadness in his voice. As much as a brave and just facade that he put on. He was, for all intents and purpose alone in this galaxy. The walls of his rebuilt home carried a weight to them, and as he sat in them he could feel those walls starting to close in.

And then he as reminded that he wasn't alone, he had those that were there at his corner.

Still, some wouldn't understand. They never wouldn't.....that was probably the worst part.

Yet here he was, a smile on his face, still facing what should've killed him years ago.

"I'll try not to disrupt your peace too much my friend."

Roman Vossari

Thread Complete​