Faction Hot Goss and Cold Caf (THR Jedi Order)

[Sophelia Ardemark]

Sanctuary Dormitory - ((open to students of the THR Jedi Order or prefects or any other reason folks have a reason to drop by. This is a very 'slice-of-life' thread.))

Sophelia took a steadying breath, hand mid-reach to her dormitory door. Her shared room with one very out-going Miralian. It wasn't that Soph wasn't outgoing. She'd just...barely settled since the whole 'losing a home and massacre of her people thing.' And all that, pursuing her skills with the force that her mother looked down upon. And well, her roomate was VERY MESSY. With an inward grown, she finally opened the door, steeling herself for what she was about to see.

The room was clearly divided.

One side was kept straight as a pin. Immaculate. Shiny almost. Everything had its proper place. There was not a thread or piece of lint to be found. Then, Jen's side. Her loveable, yet annoying, Mirialian roommate. It was pure chaos, though Jen claimed there was order to the chaos. Soph had yet to see what that order was. Clothes strewn everywhere, piles of holocrons. Odds and ends.

But tonight, tonight Soph was surprised to see that Jen's side was almost 'clean.' If clean could be described as Soph's messiest day. The holoscreen was out, too, taking up one of their walls. Bowls of popped grain puffs were filled. The ice-box was out with various drinks. And there were a few other snacks and lots of pillows on the floor.

Like. A lot.

Soph quirked a brow at Jen. "Did I...miss something?"

"It's girls' night. Well kinda. I invited some of the guys, too."

A furrow of her brows. "Jen. I thought we agreed...."

"YOU NEED A BREAK!" Jen leaped up from her bed and took Jen's bag from her shoulder. "You've been pulling double shifts in the clinic at night. Studying ALL day. This is for you."

Soph groaned. "Sure it is."

"C'mon. You need to let loose. LIVE a little. Meet some other students. We can eat snacks, watch a holovid, paint nails. Please? Pleasepleaseplease?"

Soph sunk down on her bed and let her hands rub down the length of her face. "Uggggh."

Jen took that as a yes and plunked down on the bed next to the noble. "I SWEAR. I promise you'll have fun. Plus, people will be arriving any minute."

Stars help her.

 

[Cerys Dyn]

She had required prompting. Significant prompting. It had really been just shy of an order. But Balun had seen it as a "good idea" for Cerys to attend this party, or whatever it was. Cerys most definitely disagreed.

She had stood in her barren quarters for the better part of half an hour looking at various outfits. She had all of two to choose from, and had tried both on four times. Settling on the starched teal tunic and mid-sin length uniform with brass-like accents. It was preferred over the starched teal tunic-skirt combo with the silver accents.

She had walked half way to the location, and then half way back to her quarters. She had walked past the door to the place, and then circled back around. And somehow, she was still close to the first there. It really had taken Cerys all day to get this far.

Her knuckles hovered over the door...and the moved to the controls so as to buzz her arrival. And then she thought to knock again. After a moment of hesitation, she gritted her teeth and knocked.

The door slid open.

Half a moment passed in agony.

She cleared her throat.

"Padawan Cerys Dyn. Reporting for Girl's Night"

Sophelia Ardemark​

 

[Phillip Slate]

Tags: Cerys Dyn Sophelia Ardemark

Parties weren't exactly Phillip's forte. Sure, his cousins might have loved them, and most of his family, but he was more content to sit off to the side with a sketchbook and draw those he saw. Alas, he had to be responsible. It would perhaps be a good way to distract himself from his current thoughts of the Galaxy.

And so off he went to the party. In the past, he'd have been a fair bit more hesitant about the idea of going to the girl's dorm but it wasn't something he batted an eye at now. Especially considering he wasn't sure what this party would get up to. If it was anyhting like the ones his family went to, it would have been chaotic...Hopefully it was going to be more like a sleepover than anything.

There already seemed to be someone at the door, a Togruta. Phillip had seen her around, but he wasn't quite sure if they had ever actually spoken to each other before. Not that it mattered to him as he made his way on over, throwing his hand up in the air in greeting.

"Padawan Slate. Here to keep an eye on this little thing and make sure there's no misbehaving. Within reason."

He'd be upfront and honest about it. Phillip was here, basically as a snitch if anything went wrong. It was all he could do to be responsible in his eyes. It was all he could really to do stand out without having a proper master of his own.

 

[Aileni Ifor Xeraic]

Location: Sanctuary Dorms
Outfit: Comfy
Tag: Sophelia Ardemark | Cerys Dyn | Phillip Slate

Aileni had taken some time to do some baking. He was flicking through his personal recipe book as he looked at what could be done in a reasonable amount of time. He selected a brownie recipe that he had written down. Aileni worked on the brownies, using some of his favourite ingredients and moved around the kitchen as he gathered a couple of things.

While the brownies were baking in the oven, Aileni grabbed his casual and comfortable clothes. He assumed that the night in with others was going to be something that was chilled and wanted to reflect that with his own look. Refreshed, Aileni paused and looked at his comms, wondering if he should see if someone else wanted to come along. Ariadni had endured a lot and he wasn't sure if she would want to be around a lot of people but Aileni figured he should give that choice to her and not make the decision for her.

Sending a quick message:

Hey Ariadni,

There's a group of fellow Padawans and people our age hanging out in the dorms, I was going to attend and I was bringing some brownies. I was wondering if you would like to join, it would be great to see you again and a chance for you to meet some of the other Jedi Padawans here.

Let me know,

Aileni

Looking at the message, Aileni wondered if he was being too keen or too much. But he shook his head of the doubts and sent the message. It was totally up to her and he pulled the brownies out of the oven and allowed them to cool. Aileni had the brownies in a box, carrying them with him as he wandered through the dorms towards the room that he had been informed that they were hanging out.

"Hey, I'm Aileni. I brought some brownies..." He shrugged with a slight smile on his lips as he walked in.

 

[Sophelia Ardemark]

Jen was greeting people as they came. Ushering them in with a warmth and cheer that came easily to the Mirialian. Sophelia smoothed down the fabric of her skirt, which had nothing left to smooth. It was perfectly pressed. Flawless. Then stood, throwing on the face she always wore at political events. The confidence, not arrogance, she carried. Hiding away the sadness that still lingered and haunted her from losing her home and most of her people not too long ago.

The blonde padawan strode over to Cerys Dyn .

"Hey," warm smile was genuine. "Come on in. We've got some of Aurelian Veruna bottles of wine and cups over there. There's the snack table. I think Jen has a game or two planned for a bit later." Seeing the girls' look or semi-mortification, she could relate so she quickly added. "But no presh to play. Aren't you in Palmer's morning lightsaber class with me?"

Jen butt in at that moment, staring down Phillip Slate . " Don't be such a party-pooper, Slate. Come have some wine." Sophelia's room
mate then attempted to drag Phillip in further, ushering him toward the beverages.

Aileni Ifor Xeraic

Sophelia turned at the seductive, sinful smell of chocolate. Reminded her of the ones her father used to make and her mouth instantly began to water. "Aileni, they smell divine. Thanks for bringing them. They can go over there," Sophelia pointed next to the drinks. "Are you in the morning lightsaber class too?"

Maybe Jen had the right idea with hosting this party. It was something they all needed. A little reprieve from all the war. All the loss. All the trainings and pressures that had been placed on all their shoulders when it seemed like the jedi in the 'verse kept dwindling and dwindling.

 

[Loren Mecetti]

Boot heels clicked on the floor and a man came around the corner. Tall, but not absurdly so, he stood there under the doorframe with a confused expression clouding eyes of brightest blue. He wore the traditional robes of a Jedi, with not a wrinkle upon them, perfectly pressed and tailored in how it hung from his leanly muscled frame. The lines of his robes matched those of his jaw, nose, and brow all sharply defined and angled. The robes and his jaw made the shock of wavy blonde hair spilling from his head all the more befuddling, for those tousled locks hung in such a state of a haphazard disarray that they seemed utterly at odds with his robes.

He entered the room, spine ramrod straight, and looked around at the others, clasping his hands behind his back and pursed his lips.

“Ah,” remarked the Tapani refugee Jedi, Loren Mecetti, “I did smell chocolate.”

 

[Cerys Dyn]

Cerys stepped inside with all the enthusiasm of a soldier reporting for disciplinary review.

The room was getting busier, far more than expected. Worse, it contained a baffling number of boys for an event explicitly billed as Girls' Night.

Her gaze swept the room. Sophelia looked composed, though with the volatile energy of a humming lightsaber. Jen radiated enough noise for three people. Nearby, Phillip muttered about keeping everyone out of trouble, sounding suspiciously like a boy assigned a chore. Only Aileni’s arrival with a tray of brownies saved the gathering, immediately improving Cerys’s assessment of the night by several percentage points.

Then her eyes hit the older Padawan by the door. She lingered a fraction of a second too long before snapping her gaze away. The untidy blonde hair was distracting. Not enough to warrant a second look, of course. Absolutely not.

"No," Cerys muttered to herself. "Too many variables already."

Sophelia offered a timely lifeline, bringing up Master Palmer's lightsaber class. "Yes. Morning instruction," Cerys replied. "Form work has improved considerably since the cycle began." The words came out with the conversational charm of a maintenance report. An awkward silence followed. Cerys endured it bravely.

After three agonizing seconds, she accepted that socializing would not accomplish itself. Clasping her hands behind her back, she marched toward Aileni and the brownies with visible reluctance.

"I am led to believe baked goods are a positive social contribution," Cerys said stiffly. "Have these met with your expectations?"

Sophelia Ardemark Aileni Ifor Xeraic Phillip Slate Loren Mecetti​

 

[Phillip Slate]

Tags: Cerys Dyn Aileni Ifor Xeraic Sophelia Ardemark Loren Mecetti

Well. It seemed like this party was going to be nothing like the ones Phillip's cousins told him about. Perhaps ever so slightly awkward, but that was to be expected amongst the Padawans. None of them had exceptional social skills. If they did, they'd be mingling amongst the senators and the like, not spending their time here. It's where Phillip would have been himself, if he had saw himself as being more talented.

An eyebrow raised at the sight of Aileni coming in. Fortunately, Phillip was not the type to be jealous of those larger than him, though his gaze did flicker over towards the brownies for a moment, debating if he should ask what was in the sugary treat before dismissing the thought from his mind. He couldn't snitch on the things he didn't know after all. If they so happened to have an extra kick to them? Well, how was he to know? He might have admitted to being a snitch, but he never said he was a good one.

Either way, he was dragged off towards the wine by Jen, a small sigh escaping his lips. He could technically write this up...but once again, he was quite sure everyone here was able to drink. As long as he didn't ask questions, he didn't have to worry about the answers to them. That being said...

"I don't drink. You don't need to worry about me pooping on this party, or whatever. I was going to sit off to the side and sketch."

Phillip flicked his little notebook out of his robes, waving it on his non-dominant hand and letting the pages flap about in the air. Creativity had always been more his style than social events. There was a small part of him, one that he was trying not to acknowledge that felt grateful to be amongst people once more but he would never admit that. No.

"You should socialise with the others. They're much better conversationalists than I."

Actually...taking a look over towards Cerys, perhaps Phillip's statement wasn't entirely true, but he was going to keep that thought to himself as he rummaged around in his robes for a pencil to start sketching with.

 

[Ariadni]

Sanctuary Dorms
Aileni Ifor Xeraic • Sophelia Ardemark • Cerys Dyn • Phillip Slate • Loren Mecetti​

Something screeched from the corner of my room. Loud. Violent. Demanding attention.

I jolted awake beneath the mountain of quilts, hair pointing in every conceivable direction and eyes still heavy with sleep. The noise was muffled beneath a heap of clothes that weren't really mine, but no less relentless for it.

With a groan, I swung my legs over the side of the bed and staggered towards the sound. If I'd been fully awake, I might have recognised it immediately. Instead, I pawed through a pile of borrowed shirts and folded robes until my fingers closed around a cold square of metal. The datapad.

Right.

I'd almost forgotten Aileni had given it to me. The blue screen flashed insistently beneath my thumb while I fumbled with it, pressing one thing after another until the awful screech finally surrendered to silence. A message blinked into view.

I had to squint before the words stopped swimming.

Oh.

A knot settled itself in my stomach before promptly attempting a full somersault. People. Conversation. Socialising. Was I ready for that?

The answer came almost as quickly as the question.

No.

Not even a little. But I could be brave. If not for myself... then for him. For Aileni.

I stared at the message for another few moments before realising I had absolutely no idea how to answer it. After a brief, futile search for whatever button might let me reply, I quietly admitted defeat and set the datapad back on the desk.

Getting there in person would have to do.

Finding something to wear proved much easier. I settled on clothes that were comfortable. Plain. Forgettable. The sort of clothes that might let me disappear into a crowd if I were lucky. With one final sigh that settled over my shoulders like another blanket, I stepped out into the corridor. It was the first time I'd left my room since arriving on Naboo.

The journey to the dormitories took longer than it probably should have. Every unfamiliar corridor looked suspiciously like the last, and I was forced to double back more than once before distant voices finally found me.

I was late. Wonderfully. Terribly. Late.

The closer I came, the louder the conversation became until it blurred into a single wall of voices beyond the door.

I lifted my fist to knock. Lowered it. Raised it again.

No. Knocking would only announce me before I'd even entered. So, before I could lose my nerve entirely, I slipped through the doorway.

The room was... busy.

Faces. Voices. Laughter. Names I didn't know attached to people I'd never met. For a heartbeat I simply stood there, wondering whether anyone would notice if I quietly turned around and walked straight back to my room.

Instead, I searched for the only face I recognised.

I found him almost immediately. He stood head and shoulders above nearly everyone else, impossible to miss even if I'd wanted to.

Keeping close to the wall, I picked my way around the room. Every now and then someone glanced in my direction, and I offered the same small, awkward smile each time before looking away again. By the time I finally reached him, I felt as though I'd crossed an entire planet rather than a single room.

I reached out and gave the edge of his shirt the gentlest tug. The smile that found my face came far more easily than any I'd worn since entering.

"...Hey."

It wasn't graceful. Or clever. Or particularly memorable. But I'd made it.

For today, that felt like enough.

 

[Aileni Ifor Xeraic]

Location: Sanctuary Dorms
Outfit: Comfy
Tag: Sophelia Ardemark | Ariadni | Cerys Dyn | Phillip Slate | Loren Mecetti

Nodding his head to Sophelia, "sounds good, hopefully everyone enjoys them. I did list the ingredients in case of allergies and people with food preferences find something they need to avoid." Aileni mentioned, he had tried to make sure that everyone could enjoy them but that wasn't always possible. He placed them to the side and looked to Sophelia as she mentioned morning training. "I attend on occasion. It can be hard since a lot of it is stuff I know well. But it can be fun training with others, how about you?"

As he felt a tug on his vest top, Aileni turned to see that Ariadni had arrived at the party. He grinned widely and opened his arms for a hug, "hey you!" Letting Ariadni dictate if they were close enough for hugs or not. "Sophielia, this is Ariadni, she is new to Naboo and hoping to meet other fellow Jedi here. At least I am trying to help her do that." Aileni explained, he looked to Ariadni, "I brought brownies, they are on the counter if you want to try one."

He was relieved to see that he offer for Ariadni to come and join them had been received well, he hoped that things would go smoothly for her. He knew that she struggled a lot in the aftermath of what happened to her home. This was his chance to help her see what could be the next step, the next move for her. Hopefully encourage her to open up a little, he knew that he would be busy with missions and work. Gone for longer periods than Aileni would like but necessary to do his job, just meant that he wouldn't always be around to spend the time with Ariadni.

So, the hope was that she would have other friends to lean on, others to talk with and he would be around when he could.

 

[Toby Perris]

DORMITORIES
SHIRAYA'S SANCTUARY - NABOO

When the invite arrived, the nineteen-year-old Padawan Toby was deep into reading the doctoral thesis of Hart Daele, on the subject of instinctive astrogation control, and nothing could peel him away, no doubt something that would make the eyes of most Jedi glaze over, if not plainly confuse them. But Toby wasn't most Jedi, he was a strong academic, more than anything else. His strengths lent him well to fields such as this, and the desire to be challenged made him curious about whether he someday could achieve what the thesis intended to lay out, at least as the exercise it was.

At any rate, when the invite re-announced itself the following day, breaking the relative quiet of the Temple Archives, the irritation that shot through his expression was brief as he was still on the same read, until he saw it and was reminded. He made the effort to get out when opportunities came.

Toby told himself he'd just finish the page he was on, but that turned into a few more pages before he managed to tear himself away, by that point driven to briskly depart the Archives and stop at his quarters that he shared with one of the guys, to look less like he'd been holed up and hadn't seen the light of day since first thing that morning. Now it was dark outside.

After washing his face, changing into a casual band tee of one of his favourites, blue denim for his legs, and combat boots for his feet, and combing if not picking his hair back into its usual, exact placement (after spending most of his reading time with his fingers raked into it), he was ready to go. Tucking his comm device in a butt pocket, Toby made for the little gathering.

He was late, better late than never, by the time he found the door, just behind a dark-haired girl he'd never met. [ Must be the place ], he thought to himself. Better to just enter after she did. Better than not having a knock be heard, and having to pound on the door, which would definitely startle someone. The Corellian tagged a hand against the top of the doorframe as he entered, a habit from ducking through shorter doorways, but thankfully the doors of the temple were tall enough for the almost two metres of his lanky frame to pass through without concern.

He glanced around, picking up the smaller conversations, until his eyes found the heavily-tattooed, dark-hared guy with the... fascinating green eyes when he mentioned bringing brownies to that same girl he entered after; the sight of the taller padawan—a difference of roughly a quarter of a metre—caused Toby's brows to rise the smallest amount, but brownies truly caught his interest.

"Brownies, huh," he uttered, gaze tracing back to the table where the aforementioned good was placed, before tracking right back to the culprit, a half-smile starting up on his blue-eyed face, "I didn't know anyone here baked."

Among the padawans, anyway.

Aileni Ifor Xeraic • Ariadni • Cerys Dyn • Loren Mecetti • Phillip Slate • Sophelia Ardemark​

 

[Sophelia Ardemark]

Jen pouted at Phillip Slate but let him go, drifting toward a young, female wookie.

Soph caught the lingering look Cerys Dyn sent to Loren Mecetti . The noble girl offered a small wave to him. One of the Pelagia refugees, like herself. Not only had the Tapani population dwindled considerably, so had the nobles among them. They'd grown up together and it was nice to see a familiar face around these halls.

Her attention returned to Aileni Ifor Xeraic . Color Sophelia impressed. Aileni not only baked but was also considerate enough to think about others' allergies. A quiet appraising look to the girl, Ariadni , who slipped in next to him, obviously garnering his attentions and affections. Without hesitating, she plucked up a brownie and took a demure bite. The kind that didn't leave any crumbs on her mouth or lips.

'Mmm, delicious. Hi, I'm Sophelia. Friends call me Soph," she offered to Ariadni. "I am in Master Palmer's morning class. I'm hoping one day it will be things I, too, already know so well." Soph offered a rueful smile. Lightsaber forms and practice just wasn't her thing.

"It doesn't help that it's so early," Jen commented, sliding in to meet the others as well. "Soph doesn't exactly get to things on time and I swear Master Palmer might turn to the darkside if she's late to one more class."

Soph rolled her eyes at her roommate and gave a light sniff. A momentary distraction as a new, tall padawan entered the room. A small wave in his direction Toby Perris . Soph should've known when Jen said 'girls' night' it meant everyone-over-night.

Jen glanced around and gave Soph a little elbow. "I think everyone's here." Her attention returned to the larger group. The Mirialin full of impish delight. "How about we play a game of truth or dare."

Soph pinched the bridge of her nose with two elegant fingers as she waited for that green finger to point in the direction she knew it was going. To Cerys Dyn . "You first. Truth or dare?"

 

[Cerys Dyn]

Heat flushed across Cerys' cheeks, a sudden, burning contrast to the icy rigidity that seized her spine. Her body tensed further, locking up before she managed to take a surprisingly shaky step backward into the shadows of the room.

She had tried. She had genuinely approached and made an effort to engage in the simple social rituals of conversation. Yet, the gesture had been cleanly deflected, left unaccepted in the air between them. A familiar, bitter thought crept into her mind: perhaps she truly was as off-putting as she always imagined herself to be. It wasn't a choice. She didn't want to repel people. But perhaps it was just her natural state now. A byproduct of years of rigid, unyielding training that she might never be able to shake.

The brownies should have been a safe, reasonable entry point into casual banter. Instead, the lumbering oaf had bypassed the gesture entirely, choosing that exact moment to introduce his girlfriend.

The Togruta chewed hard on the inside of her cheek. The sharp ache was grounding, but it hurt far less than the weight of her own cynical thoughts that were unfairly directed at an innocent Aileni. And it hurt less than the sting of rejection by those self-same people.

Shrinking away from the group, Cerys pulled back toward the threshold of the door, quietly preparing to make her escape. She was ready to slip away unnoticed when the Mirialan woman suddenly pointed a finger straight at her, loudly demanding a choice.

The concept of 'the choice' was entirely unfamiliar to Cerys. In her tense state, she completely failed to understand that it was merely a game. Perhaps if her mind hadn't been actively spiralling into anxiety, she could have picked up on the social cues. But in this exact moment, the context flew completely over her head.

"A Jedi should always live truthfully..." she began, and would live to wish she had been able to finish the statement.

Sophelia Ardemark Phillip Slate Aileni Ifor Xeraic Toby Perris Ariadni Loren Mecetti​

 

[Ariadni]

Sanctuary Dorms
Aileni Ifor Xeraic • Sophelia Ardemark • Cerys Dyn • Phillip Slate • Toby Perris • Loren Mecetti​

Aileni's arms opened.

For the second time today, a single word blasted through my mind like some kind of explosion. Taking with it all forms of intelligence and wit that I was already struggling to grasp.

Oh.

I stopped short. For one paralysing heartbeat, I simply stared at him. I hadn't expected that.

Back home, affection had never been rare, but it had always been intentional. Sisters embraced after long pilgrimages. Children climbed into the laps of mothers who weren't always their own. Comfort had never needed asking for. It had simply existed.

Here? I didn't know the rules.

My stomach tightened. What if I cried? The thought arrived without invitation. What if the moment his arms wrapped around me, everything I'd been holding together finally fractured? I couldn't do that. Not here. Not now. Not in front of a room full of strangers.

But I couldn't leave him standing there either.

So I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around him for the briefest moment. Awkward. Careful. Gone almost as soon as it had begun.

“...Hi.” I repeated thickly. The corners of my mouth stuck in that small, genuine smile before I quietly retreated the half step I'd shuffled to reach him.

My attention shifted to the young woman beside him. “It's nice to meet you.” A pause. “I'm Ariadni.” I muttered stupidly, as though she somehow wasn't already aware.

When Aileni mentioned the brownies, I was grateful for something to do with my hands. The little square balanced between my fingers looked almost burnt. But then again, I had nothing to compare it to. I regarded it with quiet suspicion before taking the smallest bite imaginable.

My eyes widened the second the brownie crossed my lips.

Chocolate.

I'd tasted it exactly once before.

A travelling merchant had visited Vystia years ago with curious food from distant worlds. He'd traced a handful of little brown squares for medicines my sisters had prepared. I'd been little more than a child, and I'd spent the next month convinced nothing in the galaxy could possibly taste better. Apparently, I'd been right.

The warmth of the cocoa melted slowly across my tongue, rich and bittersweet in a way that somehow felt comforting and upsetting all wrapped into one. It was achingly familiar, painfully memorable. Just like the hug. Before I'd realised what I was doing, I'd already taken another bite.

“They're…” I swallowed, tongue thick with chocolate and sugar. “...really good.” The words came out almost sheepishly, as though admitting such a thing required courage. Then another voice carried across the room.

“Truth or dare.”

My stomach dropped. Not because I truly understood the game. Because suddenly every face in the room felt capable of turning. Looking. Waiting. Expecting. No. Anything but that.

Without thinking, I took two quiet steps backwards until the wall found my shoulders. Cool stone pressed reassuringly against my back. Safe. If I stayed very still perhaps everyone would forget I was here. Only then did I realise I wasn't the only one trying to disappear.

A few places away stood another young woman, Cerys Dyn , lingering near the edge of the gathering as much as I was. She seemed just as uncertain as I felt, as though she'd been caught somewhere between wanting to belong and wanting to flee. It was strange how quickly another lonely person stood out once you became one yourself.

I hesitated.

The instinct to leave her alone wrestled with another instinct that had been woven into my very being before I was even old enough to understand it. No one should have to stand alone.

Slowly, despite the faces trained on Cerys as they waited for her answer, I drifted closer until a respectful space remained between us. Not close enough to corner her. Just close enough that, if hiding was what we were both doing? Then perhaps we wouldn't have to do it alone.

I glanced sideways. Offering a small, uncertain smile. In between waiting for the truth she was supposed to answer, I spoke. Mumbled, more like.

“Hi.” A beat passed in which I silently and privately cursed myself. I swore I knew more words than just that, but it seemed that was all I was capable of today. Followed by… “I'm Ariadni.”

I scrunched my face up, summoning the will to say anything other than the three words I'd stumbled over all night. All I could come up with was what I blurted out quickly after.

“I don't really know anyone here either.”​

 

[Aileni Ifor Xeraic]

Location: Sanctuary Dorms
Outfit: Comfy
Tag: Ariadni | Sophelia Ardemark | Cerys Dyn | Phillip Slate | Toby Perris | Loren Mecetti

In his focus to ensure that Ariadni was able to interact with others, Aileni completely missed that someone had asked him a question. It was a lack of social awareness that Aileni cursed himself about since he had been so focused on Ariadni and meeting so many new people himself that there seemed to be just too much to take note of and ensure that he did not miss interacting with everyone. Aileni made sure that the hug that Ariadni gave him was as big of a hug as she could manage. "Morning classes tend to be a favourite of mine, earlier the better." Aileni chuckled softly, he was very much a morning person so early lessons tended to be something enjoyed.

Looking over to Cerys, "I am sorry to have missed your previous question." Aileni gave a short bow in apology. "I was not realising they would have this big of a reaction." Aileni gave a soft chuckle, scratching the back of his neck, he also didn't realise that he would be the only one bringing anything. Perhaps revealing how much he had overthought the whole thing.

Grabbing himself a drink, Aileni heard the mention of truth and dare, a standard in slumber party gatherings from what Aileni understood. Truth was something that Aileni always knew could not be viewed as so black and white as other Jedi might believe. Aileni sipped his drink slowly as he saw the question had been directed to Cerys. He was curious that she believed that the Jedi must always tell the truth. Clearly someone who would not approve of the Jedi Shadow work that Aileni pursued with his path.

It would be curious to hear what the truth question that would be posed to Cerys.

Aileni noted that Ariadni had shifted away from the main huddle of people when the game began, there was an air of concern around Aileni for his friend but he didn't wish to damper the mood or appear hovering over Ariadni. If she needed his help, he hoped that she knew that he would be there. It was the care that he provided all his friends.

 

[Sophelia Ardemark]

Jen tried to trade a look with Soph at Cerys Dyn 's answer. Soph shook her head once and gave a shrug. A silent glare back to her roommate as if 'this is your fault.'

The Mirialian only smiled. "Can I call you Cee? Cool. We'll just say you picked truth. I"m going to ask you a question and you HAVE to answer truthfully. If someone picks dare, then they have to do the activity that someone asks them to do. Make sense?"

"Oh stars," Sophelia groaned and took another bite of brownie.

Jen continued, eyes locked onto Cerys or 'Cee.' "Do you know of a scandal at the Sanctuary? If so, give us all the deets. And after you answer, you pick someone else in the room and ask them truth or dare and come up with the dare or ask. And we'll keep going around the room like that to everyone who wants to play."

Soph reached for a plastic cup of wine. She had a feeling she would need it.

Aileni Ifor Xeraic Ariadni

 

[Cerys Dyn]

"Your words are very kind," Cerys said in a clipped, uninviting manner. The young girl identified as Ariadni seemed pleasant enough, but Cerys was still trying to escape. Aileni's attempt to rectify his oversight was greeted with a dismissive wave and a half-meant smile.

Then, the question.

A scandal?

Cerys was offended. And it showed on her face. Arms crossed over her chest as she stepped forward. Heat rose up her spine, lekku twitched and her montral seemed to shut out all noise.

And there she paused...finger outstretched, ready to accuse and ridicule the Jedi Order for its inane, pathetic attempts at being more hermit peacekeepers than they ought to be.

"Please...just try to fit in," she could hear Brandyn saying. The words echoed from well over a year earlier. Brandyn's exasperated sigh that followed was weightier, implying he was bereft of ideas on how to reign in the free-judgment-for-all methodology of Cerys' interpersonal dynamic.

Her accusatory finger was retracted. Cerys glanced around the room at all the eyes staring at her. She stammered, reaching for anything...anything that she might say to try and fit in.

"There is a Jedi Knight that told his Padawan that he had feelings for her...in their first training session together!" She blurted.

Sophelia Ardemark Aileni Ifor Xeraic Ariadni Toby Perris Phillip Slate​