Private Jedi Penance

[Weyland Castril]

Aboard the Space Station Peace - Three hours ago
05:00am Galactic Standard Time - Gymnasium

Sweat. Sweat was annoying. But annoying things were party to pain and effort. Effort was the key to success.

Weyland ran forward, ahead was a set of raised platforms; a rope in-between. Weyland leapt a small distance up to the first raised platform, picking up his speed as he darted close to the wall; pushing his momentum to the limit as he ran along the wall, a few steps was all it took; just a few to get close to the rope; or behind a Brutes back. Weyland leapt, grasping the rope with his left hand, legs wrapping around the lower length of the rope. His right hand held the deactivated lightsaber, activating into a dull viridian in its training mode. Two quick slashes, the head or an assortment of limbs was removed.

Then, Weyland delved into the force; the echo of its will channelling through him as he leap backwards in a spinning motion; lightsaber deactivating as he landed. He had practiced the move a hundred times, he wasn't getting caught in the grasp of a Brute again. He didn't want to go out like that, like he'd seen so many others go. He paid no heed to the new scars, he could only ever feel them if he ran his fingers across the skin. But frankly he was glad he couldn't see, no use in dwelling on things one cannot change when there is so much to do.

Next, free-weights, interval running, a little bit of telekinetic practice and a quick shower. He'd withered away a little in that bacta tank and had no intention of retaining bedridden physical qualities. Weyland worked every little piece of his body he could, the thin frame was adequate, average but he looked after it. He was surprised so few Jedi were awake bar the staff and guards. That wasn't a bad thing of course, he enjoyed the quiet. He'd had enough of ears ringing from explosions.

08:00am Galactic Standard Time - Present/Mess Hall

Food. Simple things, idle things. But food was the home of social ease. Weyland felt it in the night, an unease. Ryv... something lingered there. He empathised, understood even and intended to bridge the gap of social pariah, one of them would seek the other out. Their meeting was not just a chance matter.

Tag - Ryv

 

[Ryv]

Ryv's snoring form could be heard from outside of his room. Many young Jedi had made the trip just to giggle among one another at what others likely found embarrassing. Not many people within the order could blame the young kiffar. His schedule quickly became recognized as one of the harsher ones aboard the schedule. As Wyatt's apprentice, Ryv was hard at work for twelve hours a day cleaning, cooking, sorting, and teaching the younglings. Once he finished up with the arduous schedule, he'd take four hours to study, train, and socialize before showering and hitting the sack for the night. It worked wonders for his physique, most of his training was ultimately alone. Not many could squeeze in time for the kiffar.

At the sound of his alarm, he rolled over, deactivated it, and climbed out of bed. He lazily busted out his morning routine before departing his room. Breakfast awaited him in the mess before he started another long day.

Striding into the large cafe, Ryv made his way through the buffet of food maintained by the younglings. He collected the usual assortment of fried egg, freshly baked bread, sliced fruits, and chilled tea before taking a seat at one of the tables off to the side. As he ate, several Jedi approached and engaged him in conversation. The kiffar was unbothered, happily chatting them up until they went off to do whatever they had planned. Soon enough his table was cleared of folks and his plate empty. It was swiftly collected by a young twi'lek before Ryv hopped up and moved to leave. Midway across the mess hall he noticed Weyland and immediately switched directions and approached the older Jedi Knight. Stopping at his table, Ryv cleared his throat.

"Hey man, what's going on?"

Weyland Castril​

 

[Weyland Castril]

Steamed chicken, a dash of toydarian roasted spice; and salted greens. It was nice to eat something that wasn't a watery paste in a plasteel packet, Weyland knew his being alive was a privilege. Some might've seen it as borrowed time, maybe it was. But if it was, it was the will of the force that he was here. For what, he didn't know. That wasn't up to him, and he'd know when it was important for him to know. His duty as of now was to see to his own - his kin.

When Ryv approached, it was as if Weyland could smell him before he could feel him. Rather a smell was an echo of a feeling, of memory. Drowsiness and perhaps apathy, he couldn't tell. When the younger man approached, Weyland raised his head, a satisfied grin spreading across his features - he'd been right, partially. The Padawan had come to him, maybe he wished to talk or socialise, it could've been nothing. But something in Weyland doubted that. With a thought, the chair closest to Ryv slid gently across the floor. A neat little party trick if anything. The Jedi Knight set down his cutlery. gesturing to the telekinetically moved seat;

"Take a seat, Padawan Karis." His tone was warm but most prominently present. The Padawan had his full attention, aside from the last bits of his meal. But he didn't need to finish it right now, it was a luxury to be able to take ones time with food. A luxury he would indulge now that he could, for those who could not.

Tag - Ryv

 

[Ryv]

"Yeah man, not a problem," Ryv plopped down in the seat across from Weyland. The kiffar set his bag of supplies down, most of it was simple tools used for fixing tech around the station. A lot of his work surrounded clearing out old rooms and repairing what was found. He was no engineer, but there were simple enough tasks even he managed to do. Besides the bag and his lightsaber, he lacked anything else on his person. "So man, what are you up to today? I haven't seen any work orders thrown your way. Still on the mend from Kesh?"

There hadn't been much interaction between the duo of Jedi since Kintan. Work had kept Ryv busy, unfortunately. He was interested in getting to know the latest addition to the order. Kesh was a terrible battlefield. Fires and smoke choked the planet's forests as the genocidal bryn'adul put every man, woman, and child to the blade. Only Loske and Ryv had managed to touch down on the planet to fight the creatures, with both of them having to flee. The environment was far too dangerous for them to keep fighting. Especially after a portion of the kiffar's abdomen was blown apart by the strange weaponry held by the conquerors. While he may have taken some damage, Weyland had it far worse. Both Loske and Ryv had to drag him aboard her ship before they fled the planet altogether.

Both Weyland and Ryv were rushed into the med-bay. His recovery had been much faster, allowing him to hop aboard a shuttle to Kintan and fight yet another battle.

Always another battle.

Weyland Castril​

 

[Weyland Castril]

Weyland looked quizzical, as much as he could without half of his face showing. He didn't know Jedi got work orders, though he supposed they were as much laymen as any other man, woman or child. On a Station like this, everyone had to do their bit. Thus far, he hadn't done much other than look after himself but he also didn't interpret himself as part of 'everyone'.

The Jedi Knight did his best to keep that under-wraps, smiling warmly instead as he ate a little. He appreciated the Padawan's apparent concern, Jedi should look out for their kin. Brothers and sisters alike. Perhaps that was why Auteme was always in the back of the Kiffar's mind, was it because she couldn't handle herself? Was it their responsibility to fix that or was that a symptom of unconditional control that stemmed from a darker path - fear.

People were certainly complex. But, that didn't change how he felt about them. It seemed fear was something the Kiffar held onto, it was okay to feel these things. But to let them control you was another.

Weyland was silent for a long moment, thinking. It was one of his weaknesses, he couldn't do small talk. "That's not why you're talking to me, Padawan Karis."

Weyland didn't consider it a shot in the dark, he had seen so much fear it was hard not to see it everywhere but he knew where the Padawan was, his mentality to be specific. The Jedi Knight clasped his hands; "Its okay, Ryv. I don't mean to be invasive, but I sense much fear in you. But I want to tell you its okay. To truly be all we can be, we must accept who and what we are. Love ourselves, self-discipline and self-love are mutual."

Maybe this was all his duty ever had to be - to help his family.

TAG - Ryv

 

[Ryv]

Ryv's brow furrowed at the Jedi knight's declaration. It's not that Ryv felt offended or put off by Weyland's words, it was more so a matter of certainty behind the older Jedi's stance. Did Ryv feel fear? Of course, everyone felt fear. Even the greatest Jedi masters could experience the cold grip of fear on their hearts or mind. For some it was damning, putting them on a path towards self-annihilation. As for Ryv, it was hard for the padawan to tell. When it was time to act, it did not hold the kiffar back. He did not avoid or pretend it did not affect him as so many others did, he just accepted it for what it was, An emotion felt by many sentients in the galaxy.

"Oh, I see what you're doing," he began with a smile. "Its the Jedi thing, you know? Looking into my feelings, trying to get a read on me. You aren't the first Jedi to show an interest in how weird I am," he paused and let out a mirthful laugh before leaning against the table. "I'm a pretty straight forward guy, Weyland. When I chat with folks its cause I want to get to know em, figure out what pushes them to live this sorta life. While I appreciate your concerns, I'm fine, man. Got a lot to push through, but that's sorta the way it is, isn't it? Sacrifice is as much a part of being a Jedi as the cool glowsticks and meditation. Can't have all the cool stuff without a little bad to temper it."

These sorts of conversations were welcome ones, even if they were strange. Each Jedi had a reason to help others. That expanded to others within the order as well and Ryv was no different. He worried about his friends, they worried about him. It may have been a cycle a lot of the older Jedi would've disagreed with, but he was unorthodox in many stances he took in the order.

"That might be the place you got me though. Self-love has never been my thing," he peered around the mess, watching as the group of younglings on kitchen duty began cleaning up. "I think growth of character like that comes from experience."

Weyland Castril​

 

[Weyland Castril]

It seemed perhaps Ryv was more mature than Weyland thought, but with ultimately a strange perspective. Cool things? Weyland had never considered Lightsabers cool, a Jedi had to have the most serious mind. Weyland wasn't sure if Ryv didn't have that, his aptitude to service others said otherwise - but his inability to service himself said otherwise.

He couldn't tell how much of the nonsense was bravado and how much was immaturity. Though frankly that didn't make him think negatively of him at all, didn't matter much to him; Ryv didn't have a Master. It made sense.

"I don't think you're weird." He admitted with a shrug; "With experience? Maybe. I don't know, it just comes when it comes." Weyland watched the Padawan look at the children, he wondered what he was thinking or why. Ryv was perhaps being honest, but there was a reason for everything.

Suddenly, it clicked. Ryv was drawing his attention to others. Though he didn't want to assume much more, he'd just ask.

"Why fixate so much on others and what they are doing, when you could be working on yourself?"

Tags - Ryv

 

[Ryv]

At Weyland's words, Ryv turned his attention back to the Jedi Knight. Why did he focus so much on others? He'd probably take all day to break that all down for the fellow across from him. Thus, the padawan propped his head up in his hand and considered the question for a few minutes. Nothing beyond being a Jedi came to mind. It is the path he chose to walk years prior, with the guidance of other Jedi in the republic. Turning his back on that path now would disappoint him significantly, given his love for the order and the efforts he'd put into the work.

"I couldn't tell you, bud. We're trained to be peacekeepers and negotiators for the galaxy at large. I don't see why I wouldn't keep my eye on everyone here," Ryv shrugged weakly. "I'm working on me too, don't get me wrong, there's just a lot to do all over the place. We just finished a new wing of the station that'll accommodate all the refugees from Kintan. All the artifacts we found stored there need to be scanned and cataloged as well. Once I finish up with work stuff, then I have my me time. Training, studies, eating. Know what I mean?" he posed the question with his customary grin, not seeming to mind whether or not his conversational partner could even see it.

"At the end of the day, Weyland, I do it all for them," Ryv motioned out towards the people in the mess hall. "Not just the other Jedi, but also the people hurt in the galaxy. I can't take my time. If I'm not there to protect them, worse things than a bit of pain can befall them. "

Weyland Castril​

 

[Weyland Castril]

"I think I do, know what you mean."

Weyland smiled, nodding with some measure of understanding. Perhaps he just didn't quiet understand Ryv because he wasn't used to having to. Understand people, that was. In general. But, he wasn't entirely sure if the answer given was appropriate to the question posed. Weyland wasn't questioning why be a Jedi, or why do it for others.

He completely understood that part, the service of others was a privilege. And they were in difficult times, very difficult. With the focus of those aligned with the light being so greatly imposed upon the Sith Empire. Many evils considerably greater in threat to innocents continued to move unopposed. Such as the Bryn'adûl. Whilst the efforts of the Coalition and other smaller groups, Jedi included - were always appreciated, it would never be enough. The Bryn'adûl always won, their tactics, their numbers, their beasts - he couldn't think of anything that competed. Especially with those damn worms.

"How about I help you with some of that, I might not be very good at cataloguing however.." He said, chuckling to himself as he half-gestured flippantly to the band over his eyes. Smile wide.

He'd help where he could, if he could.


Tags - Ryv

 

[Ryv]

Ryv pulled a leg up on the bench and leaned his chest against it. He then propped his chin on his knee before looking back at Weyland. With so much to do around the station, Ryv felt confident he could find the Jedi Knight a task to complete, but the padawan knew better. The offer stemmed from a desire to help Ryv in his studies most likely, rather than handle the generic day to day tasks that dominated most of the padawan's time. He reached down into his bag and pulled up a small holopad. Tapping across the surface for a moment, he scrolled through the list of jobs he'd taken on. The biggest had to be cleaning up hangar 3B, followed by a thorough cleaning of the gym as well.

"You know, I can probably spare the day for something else. There are a couple of new padawan-learners to the station I can assign some of these jobs. Plus, most of the younglings haven't even seen the gyms and training rooms yet. I bet they'd like the possibility to get in there," Ryv rambled a bit as he went through the process of task reassignment. He sent a work order to the two newest padawans, while also ensuring the group of younglings not on kitchen duty for the afternoon were aware of their latest task. "And done! Not too hard, gotta be honest with you, but the schedules cleared," he slid the holopad back into his bag.

"What were you thinking for help? I honestly have zero idea what skills you even have. Lots of Jedi around here vary, and there really isn't a specific path to knighthood. Scholars, sages, warriors, all that good stuff."

Weyland Castril​