Private Lost Time [Ala Quin]

[Balun Dashiell]

LOST TIME
INVENTORY: Lightsaber & Jedi Robes
TAGS: Ala Quin

Standing in the centre of the sparring floor, the dojo silently enveloping him, Balun Dashiell awaited the arrival of his Master while replaying the past few days over in his head. He had first returned to Joiol, returning Kellan to the known comforts of a loving family. They had been gone for several months, give or take, but it was enough to remind Balun just how fortunate his son was, not to grow up with a history like his own. Explaining their whereabouts to Judah Dashiell hadn't exactly been something Balun was overly enthusiastic about, nor did he feel good about having to repeat the conversation to Ala Quin today.

Balun had taken part in the mission to Katabasis in a bid to rescue his Master from her comatose state, but then chit had hit the fan shortly thereafter, and he hadn't had the opportunity to see his Master before needing to make himself and his son scarce from the public eye for a time. Mnemosyne had been a wise choice, a planet with no connection to the Dashiells as far as Balun knew. Unfortunately, this also left all of his loved ones without explanation as to their sudden disappearance, and this also included his Master. Part of Balun wondered how she had reacted when she realised he had up and vanished, and then the negative part of his mind went through possible scenarios of his return. Would she be alone? A new apprentice, perhaps? Though it wasn't uncommon for Jedi to have several these days, the thought of being replaced was more to the point of what his brain had been trying to goad him into visualising.

Sadly, for all his experience, Balun hadn't rid himself of his nerves that would often rear their ugly head from time to time in the recesses of his mind. Rather than playing Ruusan Roulette with his emotions, however, he decided to kill some time by falling into the comforting motions of Lightsaber combat. ~Snap-hiss~ The ignition of his blade illuminated the floor around his feet as he stood with the hilt in his right hand, the blade low to the ground at his side.

He had not ceased in his training during his time away, of course. The Praxeum Of The Whills had held ample space and opponents to spar against, some more aggressive than others and yet all challenging Balun in what had been an exhilarating change of pace from the typical etiquette and doctrine known to the Jedi.

Sweeping his right foot back, Balun brought the lightsaber to be held at the rear, a single-hand pointing the blade towards the floor behind him while his left hand came in towards his mid-section, palm also pointed towards the sparring mat while his left foot edged slightly forward. The stance was something of a blend of Makashi but also the likes you'd see in those old holo-flicks of vibroblade-wielding samurai, a duelist form, if not slightly adapted by Balun's own knack for making things his own.

At his own pace, he set into motion the first of his Kata. Sweeping and striking motions of his blade, attacks made at an opponent merely visualised by the mind's eye, the routine mundane to some and yet repetition bred perfection.

Jedi Master: Ala Quin
Major Faction: The High Republic
Sub-Faction: Jhaessa Prime
Conglomerate: Dashiell Incorporated™
Subsidiary Company: Dashiell Retrofit™​

"Speech"
'Thought'​

 

[Ala Quin]

Everyone looked at her differently. People bowed. People said things like, "Grandmaster." As if she had changed her name as well. It was all very unsettling. For someone that had never yearned for authority or desired leadership, the respect that the seat garnered was overwhelming. And the level of responsibility was only just starting to set in.

But today was not about her. Few days from this moment on would be. She was a servant of the Order in totality now.

She felt dizzy. But it passed with a focus on the Force, and a hand brushing the wall to give just a heartbeat of purchase on the physical world.

"Balun Dashiell!" She called out as she march into the training room. She stopped, hands fell to hips and her expression changed to pure judgment.

"What the ever loving Force did you think you were doing running off without saying anything!? HUH!?" She said, eyes narrowing, nostrils flaring.

But then...the performance cracked...and she smiled...

One step. A skip. A bounce. And her arms were already wrapping around his neck and she was swinging off her apprentice like he was a swing.

With almost one full revolution, she planted her feet back on the ground, took a step back, and gave him a sharp punch on the shoulder. All very Grandmasterly.

"It is...really good to see you..."

| Tag: Balun Dashiell |​

 

[Balun Dashiell]

LOST TIME
INVENTORY: Lightsaber & Jedi Robes
TAGS: Ala Quin

"Balun Dashiell!"

"What the ever loving Force did you think you were doing running off without saying anything!? HUH!?"

As much as Balun Dashiell cared for and respected his Master, it was difficult to take her seriously. Her voice put up a good front, almost convincing him that she was truly trying to be stern with him, yet she had never so much as told him off for anything, and she knew just how loose Balun had often been with the rules. In truth, the scene she tried to create made the situation easier to tackle, as he couldn't help but be amused as she approached him.

"You know what they say, Ala", Balun began to speak as she started to smile at him, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder, right?" he joked, only to be assailed by an unexpected embrace from her. That jovial, positive and bubbly personality that was his Master was back. No more spirits inhabiting her comatose form, and no more wondering when or if she would awaken. It really did seem as though things had returned to normal.

Although he knew nothing about this Grandmaster business....

"It's good to be back, Master", Balun admitted, a rare occasion of him admitting that somehow Shiraya's Sanctuary had grown on him and being back to everyday life again felt right, after months of looking over his shoulder in case Kellan's Mother happened to show up and seek to take the boy once more.

"It's even better to see you walking around. I've been out of the loop since Katabasis, as you've no doubt been briefed by Master Porte" Balun added, gesturing to his Master, who had clearly regained all of her faculties since Balun had last seen her. "I'm guessing I've missed a fair bit since I've been gone. No one stays idle in the Order after all. How've things been on your end?" He asked, fishing for any hint as to what had been going on in his absence.

Jedi Master: Ala Quin
Major Faction: The High Republic
Sub-Faction: Jhaessa Prime
Conglomerate: Dashiell Incorporated™
Subsidiary Company: Dashiell Retrofit™​

"Speech"
'Thought'​

 

[Ala Quin]

"Ah. YEAH."

A lot had happened. And also, not much. In many ways Ala was still the Ala that he had known before. It was really what had changed around her that was the big story.

"OK. So. Grandmaster Sal-Soren stood down to get some rest, recover and...hopefully get a massage. She totally deserves it," Ala said, counting off on her hand the things that had changed, but getting the count wrong and restarting with a wriggle of her nose, "they made me the Grandmaster — which I am still not convinced is a great idea — and I kinda moved in with Lorn...."

She looked up from her inaccurate count, and went deep red. "I guess...we are...kinda serious..."

Her eyes lit up again, the awkwardness fading as quickly as it had arrived. Her hand shot forward like she was trying to get him to stay, or stop. him from talking...or something.

"You know Lily Decoria ? She just got promoted to Knight. I got to be the one to do the honours!" She said, swaying excitedly before she paused and narrowed her eyes.

"We got to get you there soon, Mister. More training. Trials and stuff. You think you are ready?"

| Tag: Balun Dashiell |​

 

[Balun Dashiell]

LOST TIME
INVENTORY: Lightsaber & Jedi Robes
TAGS: Ala Quin

​

"They made you Grandmaster?" Balun blinked back his alarm, not having nearly expected to hear such news; "Of what? The Order?" He asked rhetorically. It was a stupid thing to ask, as the answer was obvious and yet most unexpected. Surprise took the lead over logic as he allowed the motions to roll over him. "Well chit...-That's crazy news", he chuckled through his fumbled astonishment, soon smirking broadly as if trying to look upon his Master in a new light. She didn't look the slightest bit different, yet that didn't stop him from feeling proud of her accomplishment.

Truth be told, he didn't envy Ala Quin 's newfound position, having to manage an entire Order. For Balun, it was difficult enough raising a Son, let alone watching over hundreds of other Jedi...-Many of whom were students. Grife, Ala could thank her lucky stars she hadn't met Balun when he was the young trouble-maker he had been on Coruscant as a boy...-And yet no doubt she would have met her fair share already. If not, she was certainly going to now. "Better you than me, Master", Balun spoke up once more, decidedly thinking that her new job certainly wasn't for him.

When Ala mentioned Lorn Reingard , Balun cracked another smirk. "Honestly, it probably makes sense to have someone you can trust beside you for the ride. The number of people you're going to be mediating over, you'll need someone to complain to!" he laughed quietly under his breath, shaking his head to himself as he continued to try and absorb the news.

Up until roughly a year ago, Balun hadn't wanted or felt ready for Knighthood, let alone a role of leadership. He hadn't been certain the Jedi Path was meant for him, hence his refusal to accept the title despite living and breathing the ideals taught by the Order. He had kept to some notion of a rogue Force-User, independent as if it separated him from the other Jedi, and yet he trained and fought alongside them. The Order of Naboo had become his home when he hadn't anticipated ever stepping into another Organisation of Force Users again. Had it not been for his meeting Ala Quin, Balun probably wouldn't have made it so far with all the standards and expectations that came with being a Jedi.

But then there had been the experiences he had gained out in the field of service, whether that meant patrolling the hyperlanes and intercepting pirates, or fighting on Sarko IV and Anaxes. He had felt too young for the education that war had taught him, that of the Alliance and the Galactic Empire, and then the Tingle Arm Coalition and the Empire of the Lost, yet that feeling of youth had eventually been lost on him.

"Decoria? I don't know, sounds familiar, but can't picture the face," Balun replied at the mention of Lilly. Had they met before? He couldn't be certain, for all the people that went too and from the Temple, not to mention the fact that Balun was also travelling between Jhaessa Prime, Naboo and Joiol on the regular.

"But yeah, I'm ready", he continued, without flinching at the notion of his next steps along the path. Back during their time with the New Jedi Order, Balun recalled Nouqai undergoing her trials with her wookiee master...-Yet they were so young back then, it made sense why she had failed. Nouqai had seen the role of Knighthood as a means of proving herself, like she would have become something had she achieved it, yet Balun didn't share that sentiment. Strangely enough, though he never would have expected it, Balun felt as though he was already on par with some of his senior peers. He was the last one to boast or show any sense of entitlement, yet his path had been one of chaos and unpredictability, and conflict had hardened him over the years, taught him the resilience he had required to get to where he was today.

"Unlike someone, I didn't slip into a coma for weeks on end. I kept myself busy" He shot back at her, a clear remark made out of jest as he pointed at her with his left hand and snickered under his breath. She could be sure that he wasn't going to let her live that one down.

Jedi Master: Ala Quin
Major Faction: The High Republic
Sub-Faction: Jhaessa Prime
Conglomerate: Dashiell Incorporated™
Subsidiary Company: Dashiell Retrofit™​

"Speech"
'Thought'​

 

[Ala Quin]

Ala’s mouth made an O so round it could have been used to teach basic shapes to younglings.

“YES...the Order! Who else would be foolish enough to trust me with anything bigger than a teapot?” she said, throwing her hands up in mock-exasperation before breaking into a bright, helpless giggle. “Honestly, Balun, I’m still waiting for someone to burst in and yell ‘clerical error!’”

She rocked back on her heels, grin impossible to restrain, though it softened, just a fraction, when she caught the pride in his eyes. That tiny shift in him undid her more than she liked to admit.

“But...thank you,” she added, quieter, sincerity shimmering through for a heartbeat before her effervescence bubbled back to the surface.

“And YES, Lorn,” she blurted, cheeks going warm. “I mean...yes. He’s…good. Really good. And he makes tea. And he listens when I panic about paperwork. And he tells me when I’m being dramatic, which is rude but also occasionally correct.”

Her nose wrinkled at her own admission. Ugh. Feelings.

She swept her hands behind her back and leaned forward, as if confiding something deeply scandalous. “And for the record? I fully intend to complain to him about you later. He needs to know what he’s signed up for.”

Then, with a sudden spark of triumph, she jabbed a playful finger at Balun. “You’re ready, by the way. Jedi Trials ready. You’ve been ready since before you realised it. All that experience, all those battles, all that weird self-imposed rogue Jedi thing — very dramatic, by the way — shaped you more than you know.”

Ala tilted her head, studying him with an unexpectedly perceptive smile, a softness that made her seem older, though she'd never admit to feeling that way.

"You didn't grow into the title. You grew past needing it."

It lasted only a moment before she gasped...dramatically, scandalously. "And EXCUSE me, I didn't 'slip' into a coma." She placed a hand over her heart, affronted. "It was a strategic coma, thank you very much. Extremely productive. Best nap of my life. Ten out of ten—highly recommend."

She swatted at his hand as if shooing away a mischievous loth-cat. "Come on, mister. If you think you're ready, prove it. We've got work to do. And I promise not to pass out this time."

| Tag: Balun Dashiell | Equipment: Lightsaber |​

 

[Balun Dashiell]

LOST TIME
INVENTORY: Lightsaber & Jedi Robes
TAGS: Ala Quin

​

He couldn't blame Ala for feeling a little out of her depth. Balun couldn't imagine carrying the responsibility that came with the rank of Grandmaster. It was difficult enough for him to accept being a formal member of the Order, let alone the leader of it. "I've got cigarra's and alcohol, so when you start stressing, just let me know. I got you, Master," he smirked broadly, a confident smile that also gave evidence to his more mischievous side; "But keep that to yourself. Don't need the others getting into my stash" he added, not wanting to throw caution to the wind lest his fellow students suddenly wind up boxing out his dorm and stumbling to their classes intoxicated. In Balun's mind, they were all inexperienced novices when it came to the fine art of personal vices.

To his knowledge, Lorn Reingard and Ala Quin went back longer than before Balun had become a defender of the Republic. He didn't know all the details, of course, but he could tell that his Master was happy, and that was reassuring to see after all that she'd been through. No doubt she would sit them both down eventually for introductions at some point, but hopefully, Ala would at least take her time and give him due notice. "No awkward family dinners on the cards right? Don't just throw me in head first like you did with Cerys Dyn . Let me know well ahead of time so I can at least prepare myself". Jedi were one thing, Balun didn't much mind being the black sheep of the Temple, but when it came to someone as important as his Master's significant other, it was important he make a good impression. And vice versa.

"Uh", Balun paused, a sudden thought coming to mind, "Before we get straight into the training, I need to know how much you've been debriefed on since you came back to the world of the living. Like the intruder in your quarters for example. A woman, from what I could tell, but she wore protective headgear, so I couldn't get a good look. Chased her across temple grounds before she managed to slip me".

He was, of course, talking about Indra Quin , though he didn't see her face or know her name. When Balun had accidentally stumbled upon the stranger rummaging around Ala's personal quarters, he had paused, thinking that perhaps it was his Master. She had a similar physique after all, but he had been quickly corrected when she had thrown him against the wall in a panic to escape.

"I still have no idea who it was or what they were after, but it was a serious breach of security", Balun continued, his brows furrowing as the memory caused his expression to harden. He didn't like losing, and she had certainly bested him that day. He and the Temple Guard.

"Cerys also disappeared, though I don't think the two are connected. She was never on the exfil with us from Sarko IV, and I'd like to figure out why", Another troubling admission to have to drop on Ala, but he needed to know that she was up to speed, and for her to understand if Balun needed to cut corners in his bid to find her. He had come to rather like Cerys, she was just as sharp-tongued as he could be, if not a little uptight on the rules. She clung to tradition like a bad smell, but that was her only drawback that Balun hoped he might be able to get her to loosen up on. Of course, that was before she had taken off.

If Ala Quin were anything like Balun, he imagined she would have followed up on anyone with any knowledge of what her Apprentice had been doing in her absence, yet he needed to be certain nothing had been left out. She couldn't do her job of minding him if she lacked any knowledge.

Jedi Master: Ala Quin
Major Faction: The High Republic
Sub-Faction: Jhaessa Prime
Conglomerate: Dashiell Incorporated™
Subsidiary Company: Dashiell Retrofit™​

"Speech"
'Thought'​

 

[Ala Quin]

Ala looked daze. Eyes wide, and head shaking as the info dump hit her and she recoiled mentally from all the news.

"Whoa...whoa...whoa...someone was in my room? I mean...its not my room since Lorn and I started shacking up," she said, words a torrent of energy.

"I will get someone to look into...perhaps I can put one of my...paaaadaaaawaaaans on the job?" Ala said, smirking and leaning in close as if Balun would not be able to get the idea that he was now responsible for the investigation.

At the news of Cerys' disappearance, Ala's visage darkened. It was never good to lose a student of the Order, never good to lose anyone. "I can possibly help there...reports have it that she tried entering Sith Empire space through Echnos. The last we heard she was unsuccessful. Our intelligence beyond that is only that she is alive...but nothing more. I wish we had the resources to go after her...but if she does not want to be here...is there much we can do?"

| Tag: Balun Dashiell |​

 

[Balun Dashiell]

LOST TIME
INVENTORY: Lightsaber & Jedi Robes
TAGS: Ala Quin

​

Balun's jaw tightened a little as he bit his teeth against each other. Despite Indra Quin being a priority, he could not help but wish to focus on the subject of Cerys Dyn first, and his Master's remark about Cerys potentially not wishing to return to the Order didn't necessarily change anything. His motives for wanting to search for her weren't bound to the Jedi Order, nor did he hold her to the expectation that she remain a member of the Order. It was about her safety, her well-being and knowing that she had someone she could count on. After all, she didn't particularly speak about others in the sense of trust or reliability; She hadn't given Balun the impression that she had anyone at all.

"Whether or not Cerys returns, I owe it to her to ensure she's safe and knows that the door's open for her," Balun replied after a brief moment to consider the possibility. He didn't have any idea why Cerys would head directly into Sith Space of all places she could have gone, but the knowledge that she was unsuccessful came as a bit of a relief. Better she be turned away than captured by the Sith, and Force knows what happened to her. "I have the resources, Master. That's all we really need" he declared, confident that he could make it to Echnos, if nothing else.

"I run my own business in Starship manufacturing and technology retrofitting. I have the credits and the contacts, and I'm not blind to the ugliness of the Galaxy. What more do we require?" The question was rhetorical, for in his mind, there was nothing else to say. All she had to do was give him the go-ahead, and he would commit to the search. His Surname was plastered across one of the largest corporate trade conglomerates in the Galaxy, and he didn't mind bending some of that influence, along with a few rules, if it meant keeping Cerys out of harm's way. It may not have been the Jedi method of doing things, but sometimes, to get things done, a little flexibility was called for.

As for Indra, whoever they were in the Galaxy, he made a mental note to look into that investigation as well. Truthfully, he doubted he would get much out of the Temple security feed, aside from more proof that the assailant had been well trained in the Force. She had managed to outrun him, and Balun wasn't a slacker when it came to physical fitness. One only needed to walk five minutes from his own residence to note the training grounds he had built himself.

That person had been gifted, and he hazarded a guess that infiltration was likely a regular gig for her. To slip in without raising any suspicion within a crowded temple of all places, it was quite honestly impressive.

Jedi Master: Ala Quin
Major Faction: The High Republic
Sub-Faction: Jhaessa Prime
Conglomerate: Dashiell Incorporated™
Subsidiary Company: Dashiell Retrofit™​

"Speech"
'Thought'​

 

[Ala Quin]

She stood there bemused by the unfolding expressions of her apprentice. He was often so very readable. It was kinda cute.

"You have the will. You have the resources. My only concern is the motivation," Ala said, expression soft.

Her posture changed, not to one of a lecturing teacher, but a concerned friend. Her arm folded over her stomach, her free elbow propped up on the opposing arm, and her hand lifted to her chin where her fingers began to tap away.

"Cerys Dyn is a very conflicted young Jedi. I sense her path is going to take a circuitous route to stand by our side as a Knight of the Order...or approximate," she added a knowing smile for Balun, seeing as he often protested about the idea of becoming 'official Jedi', "if you seek Cerys because of some sort of emotional attachment...it raises some concerns about what sort of women you become attached to?"

She winced, waiting for the response.

| Tag: Balun Dashiell |​

 

[Balun Dashiell]

LOST TIME
INVENTORY: Lightsaber & Jedi Robes
TAGS: Ala Quin

​

He was surprised by how forward Ala Quin was in her remark. Yet, he understood her to be acting in a manner that was protective and caring, speaking perhaps what Balun needed to hear for his benefit rather than sugar-coating the subject. Frankly, his history with women wasn't exactly a shining example of good judgment, and Ala wasn't wrong to be looking out for him, but Cerys wasn't of the Sith like his previous two relationships had been. Regardless, they were getting ahead of themselves, given how Cerys had kept him at arm's length much like most other people...-Well, perhaps there was some lenience afforded to him. Still not enough to suggest romantic involvement was a possibility.

"If you knew what Cerys was like, you'd know that attempting even a friendship with her is risky enough, given her general attitude towards most things remotely sentient", Balun replied with a ginger laugh, soft yet dismissive of his master's concern. "Besides, she doesn't exactly approve of my lifestyle. I'm a Jedi who smokes and drinks, and she's a traditionalist who believes any kind of attachment is going basically a cardinal sin. I really don't think you need to worry on that front, Master" he explained with a lopsided smirk, soon shaking his head with a quiet chuckle once more.

It was nice, though, to hear that Ala Quin cared enough to speak up front on the matter. It was one thing talking to his father and brother about these things, on the rare occasion that he might open up to them, yet having a female perspective was something new altogether. "Then there's Kellan. Dating someone isn't exactly simple when you've got a four-year-old kid" He pointed out; "Given how difficult it can be getting Cerys to open up, I'm not sure how good she would be if she knew I had a Sith-Spawn for a Son" he elaborated rather honestly.

"If you haven't noticed, I'm not exactly going out of my way to look for a girlfriend these days. As nice as it sounds...".

Jedi Master: Ala Quin
Major Faction: The High Republic
Sub-Faction: Jhaessa Prime
Conglomerate: Dashiell Incorporated™
Subsidiary Company: Dashiell Retrofit™​

"Speech"
'Thought'​

 

[Ala Quin]

She listened with her heart. And she hugged him to cut off his words. "Balun Dashiell. You have an incredible capacity to love. And one day, you are going to make some lady very happy," she said, unembarrassed by the affection she was showing, "don't give up on it..."

She pulled away, wiping actual tears from her eyes with the back of her hands. She laughed at her own weepiness.

"...just don't go giving it to someone that doesn't appreciate it for what it is...ok?"

| Tag: Balun Dashiell |​

 

[Balun Dashiell]

LOST TIME
INVENTORY: Lightsaber & Jedi Robes
TAGS: Ala Quin

​

"I've got my Son, my family who care for me and I've got you" Balun offered a reassuring smile to Ala Quin , speaking with appreciation for the life he had and those who were most dear to him; "I've only got so much time in a week as well. Training as a Jedi, raising a Son and trying to build a world like Jhaessa Prime...-Even if I did have the opportunity, I'm not sure if I have the social capacity at the moment," he admitted aloud.

Trying to complete his training and remain a part of an Order, something greater than himself, was a challenge in its own right, given his obligations. Jhaessa Prime required a lot of attention and focus, and he could only delegate so much of that work to Auren Vellisar . When it came to financial investments, corporate leadership and industrial planning, for example, these were aspects that Balun had spent many a sleepless night going over. Realistically, he wondered how a relationship would even work with how spread thin he was already.

"I've over-reached. Put my name on so many projects already that I feel like I'm chasing my own tail at times. Jhaessa Prime already has well over a thousand people having set up their lives in Meridian City, so there's a lot of weight and responsibility that falls on my shoulders. Someone to share it all with would be nice, but it's really more of a dream than a need right now" he explained, soon moving across the sparring mat to one side so that his Master could position herself on the other.

"But for now, let's get on with it. Sparring always helps to clear my mind, moving meditation sounds far more pleasant than boring you with the details of my business life" he laughed softly and readied himself into a balanced stance, looking to his master to make the first move. Balun was always glad for the opportunity to train with her, and to learn as he did so. He brought his focus home, living in the present moment, ready for the friendly bout as they had done so many times before.

~END~

Jedi Master: Ala Quin
Major Faction: The High Republic
Sub-Faction: Jhaessa Prime
Conglomerate: Dashiell Incorporated™
Subsidiary Company: Dashiell Retrofit™​

"Speech"
'Thought'​