Night Gathers... (The Silver Watch).

[WolfMortum]

Veiere's return to Rhen Var was a welcome break away from Republic Space; not in that his resolve had turned away but rather the recent times that had seen him now in a second battle to defend Deneba and her sector of space; as well as the Conclave that he had called for in order to reunite the Jedi of the Republic and help to convince them all that the standards of the Order had vastly declined. Naturally, this was a discussion often best shared with [member="Théodred Heavenshield"], who had become a very trusted friend and a much needed advisor when Veiere himself befell his own doubts and concerns for the movement. Thus far he had avoided telling most of his peers of his ties to the Silver Watch, only to avoid having to explain himself to an Order that stood on the brink of collapse due to its black and white views that once someone had disagreed with you, that meant that they would forever be at odds with you and that you should treat them the same. The rift that saw the others move away from the Republic and the resentment and the complacency to do nothing but seek out their own ambitions was enough to tell Veiere that those age old teachings of compassion and understanding, had sorely been lacking.

Not all was so concerning however, in what was to be a pleasant break from the struggles of the Republic, this little haven away from home was the perfect chance to put his new pilot and his vessel to test; the Sekallien Runner was a new model of the Inquisition Industries transport vessels, less focused around combat and better suited to the needs of its owner, the interior had been re-modified, removing former weapons and cargo storage to instead turn it into a comfortable and very livable mobile home. Given Theo's understanding that Veiere was not one at all for flying, he expected that he would be greeted with many amusing and cheeky comments once the lad learned of the old fools newly acquired toy.

"Cillian, inform the Silver Watch of our arrival ahead of entering the atmosphere if you could. Theodred was expecting me far sooner than now and I do not wish them to suspect us of foul play, not recognizing the craft...." He spoke over the pilots shoulder whilst looking out through the cockpit to what was an almost stomach wrenching sight for the Jedi. "And please, take her down gently, I do not much enjoy these long trips..." He added, almost sounding anxious as he turned away and began to move back for the aft of the vessel.

"Absolutely sir..." The pilot responded with a hint of amusement, "Never thought I'd see the day where a Jedi would fall weak at the knees at the prospect of flight!" He chuckled quietly to himself though his expression soon fell serious as Veiere called back, "Nor do you want to see the back of this old Jedi's hand should you botch our arrival...", he was of course only returning the jest in equal measure though the pilot, young and new in his position didn't seem so confident that Veiere's tone hadn't been speaking true. The two had really yet to get to know each other...-Perhaps throwing Cillian to the Silver Watch might help loosen him up.

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

He was unsure of the amount of time that had passed since Veiere had found him of Rhen Var after their return from exile. Out of all the people Théo had met on his personal journey, Veiere was the one friendship that had strengthened because of it, the force had thrown them together on Alzoc III and together they had met a strange and curious creature indeed. But it was the meeting of the old generation with the new that had forged the friendship neither one nor the other forming any judgement or assumptions over the other and for that Théo was truly grateful. As it was, it turned out they are both of like mind.

Training had taken up most of Théo's time in the period of separation, either that of others or himself and so when informed Veiere would return and would arrive in a few hours, Théo looked forward to seeing his friend once more, and for the break in the arduous routine. There is not much socialising on Rhen Var, no outer distractions to occupy the mind from work or duty .. if fact life is isolated and insular.

"The registration of the ship checks out Knight Heavenshield, Republic registration and owner one Veiere Arenais", the young Jedi informed him. "Give him clearance to land please, I shall go greet them". Théo pattered the shoulder of the young man seated studying the scanners.

The wind was not kind today, whipping ice into his face and cutting his skin. Bitterly cold, Théo felt it biting into his bones and setting his blood to pump hard around his body. He loved it though, always would. His arms wrapped about his chest thumping his own shoulders to remind himself there was feeling in the limbs and force the blood there. His breath almost froze and it expelled from his mouth, and as the sound of a ship hang heavy on the air, Théo raised his gaze to the sky. Through the blinding sheets of snow fall, him could just make out the lights of the ship, even they are dull in the blizzard conditions, and he smiled. Soon he would be able to grip the arm of this friend once more.

​

[member="Veiere Arenais"]​

 

[Zak Dymo]

The life of an eleven year old Pantoran was not for the faint of heart.

Making a snowman?

That was for younglings. The Pantoran had made an entire cinematic masterpiece! Two snowmen, wooden stick lightsabers crossed in mortal snow combat, with the bodies of countless victims sprawled around them. He'd even used some red Kool-Aid to give it the appearance of blood in the snow. A tattered piece of gray cloth and an old brown robe that was being tossed out supplied the wardrobe, allowing the Snow Jedi and Snow Sith to be easily recognized.

Vaulting over the R3 unit, and pausing to kiss the top of a serpentine head, the young boy was bounding for the door. Behind him, the R3 unit made a series of rude chirps, while the amphistaff was coiled atop a pillow next to a heating unit -- obviously with no plans to move anytime soon. Snatching up a snowboard from near the door, the blue skinned youngling was sliding from out of his assigned room and dashing back outside.

Rhen Var was seriously the best planet ever.

He thought that living up in the mountains of Voss-Ka had been pleasant, but there was something about Rhen Var that just appealed to his nature as a Pantoran. Maybe it was the freezing temperatures, or the lingering presence of the Dark Side in some of the crystal caverns, or the ever-present danger of the frontier... in any case, he felt more alive here on Rhen Var than he had any other time in his life. If anything, coming here had put him at risk of actually acting his age.

The blast doors shielding the hangar were already open. Snowboard tucked under one arm, the young Pantoran didn't stop running as he sprinted along the hangar deck. Snow flurries were blowing in with the wind as the boy reached the edge and leapt out. Tossing the snowboard in front of him, the lithe acrobat performed a backflip in the air.

The snowboard came down on the hill. The boy's boots dropped down on top of it a moment later. His balance teetered precariously as he made the landing, and then struggled to stay upright as he sailed down the hill toward the Théo.

...wait, what?

Why was there a Théo on his snowboard course... er, the landing field? "Whoaaaaaa..." The boy's hands and arms shot out, waving in the air as he tried to compensate for the loss of balance, even as he tried to tilt or divert the path of the snowboard away from the Knight Heavenshield. "Théoooooooooooooo!"

Roger, Houston Control, this is Blue Ba Di Ba, in the pipe five by five. Request clearance for landing.

The front of the snowboard dug into the snow. The board upended, sending the Pantoran flying through the air and tumbling head-over-heels. As a test of Théo's Jedi reflexes, there would now be a Pantoran, a snowboard, and a landslide of snow coming down toward the landing field to join him.

Perhaps whoever was in the ship might be a ski instructor?

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"] | [member="Veiere Arenais"]​

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

Life on Rhen Var is unpredictable. Save for a couple of things, one of them is the weather. It is always cold, in varying degrees and the days are either grey with heavy clouds dumping snow or grey with heavy clouds not dumping snow which was summer. That was it, in a nut shell. Naturally, there are days when the Watch would have to venture out and confront events that threatened the planet or the caves, the darkness never far from the walls of the Citadel and in once case within said walls in the form of Boo. Then there is the predictably unpredictable element of Boo, yeap he is complicated as is the relationship between the two friends.

Although Théo's gaze was fixed on the inbound ship, the force spiked within his body telling him of an event about to befell the young man, however, it was all to late. As his head turned at the call of his name, it was then the impact came knocking his feet out from under him and sending Theo to the ground on his back, with a thud. A cloud of fine snow kicked up around him before landing back to ground and over his face and hair. He felt pain in his legs for a moment, but that soon passed and he turned to see his friend a little way off sprawled out faced planted into the snow.

Theo rolled on his side laughing at his friends demise, when it hit. The avalanche of snow tumbled over him pushing him forcefully toward his friend and they clashed once more out of control under the wave of snow. Lucky for them both it had not been a thick wall of the icy snow but enough to bury them both until unseen.

"Great Odiir's hairy arse Boo!", he yelled under the blanket of snow, " ..You alright?". Theo began to try and fight his way out, which way was up was difficult to tell.

​

[member="Boo Chiyo"] | [member="Veiere Arenais"]​

 

[WolfMortum]

The Sekallien Runner had been approved for landing and the young pilot announced this over the interior intercomm, Veiere sitting far away from any of the view ports as to not inspire his motion sickness at the unease of flying. "Bit of turbulence out there, Master Arenais, 'fraid it's going to get a bit rocky but bare with 'er" Cillian spoke as if it were nothing to worry about yet the Jedi gripped the seat his backside rested upon and gripped it somewhat firmly as if to keep himself in place throughout the landing procedure, "Flying is for Birds!" He called back down the corridor, frustrated at the youths remark knowing that the kid found enjoyment in seeing someone alike the Jedi, nervous and discomforted.

None the less, with a bit of a headache, the large Republic vessel, more the likes of a private yacht than a freighter for haul, extended it's landing struts and made contact with the solid ground much to Veiere's relief. Cillian was up before he was, already moving away from the cockpit, the engines sounding as if they were powering down while the young pilot sought to get the Jedi Knights belongings, a bag that he could have well carried himself yet for all the young adults smart alec remarks, he showed respect in that he was always willing to assist Veiere since his employment. Always eager, appreciative and rarely would he argue.

Stepping out into the cold and harsh wind, Veiere once more wrapped his Jedi robe around himself, his expression lightening as he was thrown back into the cold world that he found so much more appeasing, it was after-all just like another Alzoc Three only this world held some friendly faces...-Faces that he could not see; or atleast not where he expected to find them. Stepping forward off the few stairs that led to the snow floor of the landing area, he looked to the large snow pile with the most uncertain and amused of looks. Somewhere among all the snow he could see the face of [member="Théodred Heavenshield"], his black robe and the smaller presence, a youth who he did not yet know, [member="Boo Chiyo"].

"If this is a difficult time, I can return later..." He spoke to Theo with the most sarcastic and light of tones, pleased to be back on Rhen Var and only further pleased to have such a humorous welcoming committee, "I see this is how the Silver Watch spends it's time in the absence of visitors!". Moving forward, to buried his feet in the rather massive build-up of snow only to extend a hand to the pair of them in offer to help pull them back to their feet.

 

[Zak Dymo]

It wasn't so much a hand as it was a foot that Veiere would have found jutting up out of the snow.

And the young Pantoran would have very much appreciate a hand up. Or a foot, as it were. Having face planted into the snow at the foot of the slope, the boy had been folded up by the ensuing avalanche, so that his feet were up over his head. As his arms were trapped by his sides and he was scrunched up in a tomb of snow, he thought to himself... this would be a good time to know pyrokinesis.

Once he'd been helped up, which doubtless would have been somewhat like plucking a Pantoran from out of the ground as if he were a carrot, the boy - still hanging upside down - would offer a cheery, "Welcome to Rhen Var, where no matter what season it was where you left... it's always winter here!"

No, seriously, why hadn't someone constructed a ski resort here? This planet was the ideal location.

Once he was out of the ground, the boy put his hands out so that he was supporting his own weight in a handstand, then casually kicked his legs so that he flipped neatly end-over-end and was upright again. Turning to face both Théo and the stranger, the boy gave a slight bow. As he did, snow fell from off his shoulders. "Master Boo Chiyo, at your service my good fellow."

The wit was strong with this one. As he straightened back up, the youngling gestured toward the Knight Heavenshield. "And this is my sidekick..." he began, trailing off as though he were forgetting something. Glancing over toward Théo with a look of feigned confusion, the youth asked "...what's your name again?"

It was so hard to get good help these days.

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"] | [member="Veiere Arenais"]​

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

"It is how some of us spend our time while here on the Watch", Théo could not help but grin. "Good to see you my friend, I hope the journey was not too arduous .. got a new ship I see?". He had not let go of Veiere's arm and once he had given the man a good strong shake of welcome, it was then the turned to face Boo to give him a wry smile.

"And this..", he waved his hand toward the blue boy, "Is Puck, our resident funny man. You remember me mentioning how the Sanctum tolerates all sorts?, well here is a prime example of it", Théo was not referring to Boo's alignment to the force but rather it was a jest while brushing off the snow from his thick black fur coat and hair. "Boo Chiyo, this is Knight Veiere Arenais, of the Jedi Order and Republic. And a good friend of mine. We met on Alzoc III while I was .. away". Any further information Théo would leave up to each of them to divulge.

Approaching the small group was yet another younger Jedi Padawan, he bowed to Veiere and offered to take any luggage the Knight had and would allocate quarters to the man if required. Once the introduction were completed, Théo turned to walk them back to the Citadel and out of the cold air. "What brings you back to Rhen Var?", Théo had a feeling this was not a social visit, after all Veiere does not frivolously use his time, as much as the man is always welcome, there would be a reason for the visit.

The main entrance to the Citadel had been left wide open today, there is much activity with the Watch as patrols come and go in all points of the compass to report on the known areas of 'interest' to outsiders. Particularly the crystal caves... Ships coming and going bringing in new recruit and supplies from Voss or in some cases Padawans leaving to rejoin Masters for further training.

​

[member="Boo Chiyo"] | [member="Veiere Arenais"]​

 

[WolfMortum]

He could not help but smile to the little one who seemed to hold the most playful of attitudes, it reminded him of the younglings of Svivren in that they rarely focused on the serious nature of life in the galaxy; a trait that Veiere often wished he still held himself. "It's very nice to meet you little one..." He dipped his head in a brief yet respectful nod to [member="Boo Chiyo"] before turning to [member="Théodred Heavenshield"] at his mentioning of the Sekallien Runner. "A new Ship, a pilot to go with it considering i am useless at such things..." He chuckled softly before glancing back, "All courtesy of my service to the Republic it would seem...-Between the open Conclave and another bloody war against the Sith on Deneba, they seem to think that I've earned it...-You would not believe the month I'm having..." He shook his head in dismay before extending a hand to gesture back the way the two had come, politely questioning "All things better discussed over something like a hot drink, no ?" he grinned to Theodred before glancing back to the lad, "And perhaps you can tell me more about yourself, little one...-And that thing beside you..." He was of course gesturing to the snow board of which the likes he'd never seen before.

Cillian, the younger man still within the vessel would liaise of course with the docking personnel of Rhen Var, yet Veiere had asked that he be mindful of their ways as they differed from the Republic's own. The man was a rather confident and cheeky pilot, often antagonizing in his sarcasm and Veiere did not intend for his stay this time to be short. Secure lines would be maintained with a select few within the Republic, mainly Lady Kay of Commenor and the Master Grayson, now since a Council member of the recent conclave; there was still much going on and yet to get away from it all for a time, meant the world to Veiere who felt as if he hadn't caught a break since he left Alzoc Three.

Spoiler

(OOC - Apologies for the shorter than normal post!)

 

[Zak Dymo]

"...Republic?"

Maybe it was the way he'd said it, or perhaps it was the fact that he had stuck his tongue out like the very word had left a bad taste in his mouth, but there seemed no love lost between the Pantoran and the Galactic Republic. Which, was actually quite odd, considering that the Republic was one of the few political divisions of the galaxy that Boo hadn't terrorized at one point or another.

Silver Jedi? Yep, he'd killed one of them.

Mandalorians? A whoooooole bunch of Mandalorians. Well, the 'United Clans of Mandalore' type Mandalorians anyway. There seemed to be quite a variety of Mandalorians cropping up in the universe lately.

But the Republic? Strangely enough, there was actually no bad blood there.

Except that he was from Coruscant. As in, One Sith Coruscant. So the attitude was less a demonstration of any ill experience and more an expression of the power of propaganda. Even in the slums and ghettos, they understood that the Republic was their enemy.

...and what thing beside him?

Blinking, the boy glanced down to look around his feet, not remembering the discarded snowboard until he saw it half buried in the snow. "Pretty sick, huh?" the youth asked, pulling the board from out of the ground and tucking it under one arm as he followed the Jedi and the Théo back toward the interior of the citadel. "Théo prefers surfboards, but I'm trying to convince him that the slopes are where the real action's at."

Pft. Surfing.

Who the feth played in liquid water?

Ice or get the kark out.

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"] | [member="Veiere Arenais"]​

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

"My friend I have a feeling you have not been idol since our last meeting, and since the Republic has rewarded you is attests to that", Théo grinned knowing Veiere hates flying, although he believed that his friend probably handled it far better then is mother. They began to make their way to the Citadel to find that hot drink to warm the bones. Although hot cocoa would be nice, Théo had something stronger in mind that would work quicker, if one had the constitution for it. Midvinter's finest mead.

It is a secret stash locked in his quarters, sent to Rhen Var. It is good having friends in low places, well in this case in a high place in the form of his Uncles [member="Thyrian Hearthfire"], now High King of the icy planet. It had taken some convincing of Uncle Thyrian to send the mead, after all mother and father would probably not approve, but Thyrian is a chip off the old block of Thrand and since maintains some of his wicked ways.

"Nothing would ever beat the sensation of surfing a wave, it is an art form you know", he teased Boo. But deep in his heart he would like to try and if .. IF .. they all got drunk enough on the mead, they might even get Veiere to give it a go. The snow is no stranger to Théo, he knows the beauty of it and the dangers and the ice runs strong in his blood.

They reached the steps of the Citadel, the doors wide open still, allowed access into the icy 'tomb', light flick at the floor as the torches in their cradles on the walls, danced in the wind from outside sending a yellowish glow in the polished marble and igniting the colour in the grain of it. Pools of melted snow sparkled as they passed through the entrance, and into the back rooms to find a place with a roaring hearth.

"Boo can you please take Veiere to the main commune area .. I will be back shortly". With that Théo darted off to his quarters to get a few bottles of mead, he would soon rejoin them to pop the cork.

​

[member="Veiere Arenais"] | [member="Boo Chiyo"]​

 

[Zak Dymo]

"It's a derp form."

The young Pantoran was careful to speak under his breath, yet loud enough that Théo would hear him. Art form, my butt. Now, surfing on Midvinter? That... that Boo would probably accept as an art form. Equal parts polar bear plunge and surfing.

And probably hypothermia as well.

The Sith would probably consider that as excellent training in Tapas. You either figured out how to survive the glacial sea, the hard riptide, and your own slowly dying body... or else you opened up a vacancy for another apprentice to step in behind you.

That was the thing about the Sith. If they weren't hiring new apprentices today, check back again tomorrow. Darths and deaths ran hand-in-hand. It ensured a steady pace of upward mobility... but the health care plan was sub-par, the insurance premiums were killer, and the job was definitely going to kill you.

"Boo can you please take Veiere to the main commune area."

Kicking out one leg, the boy snapped to attention, rendering a sharp, Imperial salute as his heels clicked together, "Jawohl, Lord Heavenshield!" He'd hung around enough Stormtroopers in the First Order to get the idea behind the whole military-protocol thing. Which had been an entirely different sort of regimen or discipline from what he'd experienced with the Primeval Golden Banner 5th. Then, genuflecting toward their guest, said, "This way, m'lord."

Taking a step forward, the young Pantoran proceeded... in the entirely wrong direction.

Pivoting on his heel, the child changed directions in mid-stride. "Pip pip! Tally ho!" the boy championed, one arm raised triumphantly as he started down the correct path toward the commune.

As they walked, the youngling adopted a tour guide sort of tone, noting, "This citadel was constructed by the Jedi some time in the ohmygawdwhocares. You will note the something something architecture throughout the construction." As they passed where a drop cloth covered a section that was undergoing renovation to restore the structure, the boy gestured toward the drab cloth with the statement, "Our tapestries are quite exquisite!"

As they neared the courtyard, a corridor with vaulted arches offered panoramic views of the surrounding valley. "On your right, you'll see a fabulous view of snow." Seriously, it was amazingly mediocre landscape. "And on your left... more snow."

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"] | [member="Veiere Arenais"]​

 

[WolfMortum]

[member="Boo Chiyo"] lead Veiere through the courtyard and following with an ever present grin across his face, he could not help but find the boy most entertaining. "Snow!" He exclaimed as he looked around, sounding almost genuine in his dry humor, "By the living force, I would never have expected such a marvel...". His sarcasm was soon only to be emphasized by the chuckle that escaped him and looking down to Boo Chiyo once more, he was glad to be in the company of a lad whose spirits were so obviously high. It was a common misconception that all Jedi were droid-like in their emotions, their expressions to be placid and shallow but this was far from the case and in the shadow of all the tension that had been the two recent wars and the conclave that he had left behind him, the humor was the best thing that could have received him on Rhen Var.

The Citadel was something of a marvel in itself, the clear evidence of Jedi and the show of other cultures that had added to the many carvings in the walls and the overall aesthetics of the monuments and interiors that they passed through whispered of histories that Veiere Arenais could only dream to learn of, having missed much of the cataclysm that had separated the Order from it's origin. Though sometimes he thought back to Alzoc three and realized how peaceful it had been, how easy it had been to be a nobody who's impact was not of any importance but his own, those were gently days, easier times and equally so, a farce dream that he'd had to be awoken from sooner or later.

"Tell me, if I can ask..." He spoke up somewhat more seriously, though genuinely curious and tone warm if anything, he looked down to [member="Boo Chiyo"] again and now wondered how the lad had gotten involved with the Silver Sanctum Coalition and most evidently, the Silver Watch. "In your involvement with the Silver Order, the Watch and our good friend [member="Théodred Heavenshield"], what is it about the people that keeps you here. What I mean to ask is that, in your own right, what does the Silver Sanctum Coalition mean for you. How has it impacted you life...-The only reason I ask is that I'm curious to learn more of it, how it differs from the others and what it offers to its people who serve".

 

[Zak Dymo]

"-tt-"

They were smiling.

They were having fun.

Why did Jedi have to ask questions? Why couldn't they just smile and pretend to be happy?

"Thurion."

That was it. Just the one name. But names had power. And there was only one man to whom that name could belong. Turning his head, the boy wasn't smiling now. The Jedi wanted to know what business the boy had with the Silver Jedi? Genuinely, he said?

The young Pantoran took off the mask. It was such a pretty, fickle, fleeting thing. Like youngling dreams, propped up by imagination and sheer force of will. It melted away in an instant, as the child let down the guard he worked so fastidiously maintained so not to offend the Jedi. An ill wind seemed to cast a cold shadow across the room, the scent of blood lingering just on the edge of the senses, as the boy's true emotions rose to the surface. Fear. Deep, tortured, scarring fear. And, beneath that, anger. A wrath like that of Perdition's flame, smoldering upon the pyre of a whatever might remain of a child's charred and blackened soul. "[member="Thurion Heavenshield"] is the reason I'm here."

The Dark Side of the Force was strong with him.

Unusually so, the product of the Dark Side poison he'd been injected with while coming to [member="Rasu Gan"]'s defense on Korriban. Even still, the boy fostered a brief, if twisted, smile. Like the grin of the Cheshire Cat, he seemed both helpful and hellion as he added, "And I'm the reason Théo's here."

Someone once said, a hero was made in a single moment. A single choice. A single decision.

Boo had made his.

And Thurion had done the same, even though Boo still struggled to try and understand it. He had killed.

Jedi.

Mandalorians.

Countless people on Ord Janon. Laid waste to an entire city, and consecrated their corpses as an offering to the Primeval gods. "So it's really Théo's story to tell," the youngling mused, again raising the mask. Again suppressing the emotions that lay just skin deep. Tucking his hands behind his head, the boy stood and waited for Théo to rejoin them. And, with a shrug offered only, "As for the Silver Jedi... They're them. I'm me."

"And I guess they make me wish it could have been different."

It should have different. Thurion should have killed him. Thurion was supposed to have killed him.

Everything would have been simpler if he'd only done that...

[member="Veiere Arenais"] | [member="Théodred Heavenshield"]​

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

Holding a large crate in his hands, Théo stood on the threshold of the door to the commune room listening to the last of the conversation between his two friends. He had felt the pull of the darkside from Boo, he had felt that presence in the boy before today and it had made Théo quicken his steps to reach them .. Boo's true alliance to the force generally is kept to himself, for obvious reasons and especially when new Jedi recruits enter their time on the Watch. But the fact that Boo had revealed his form meant a couple of things, one .. that he felt comfortable enough to do so, and two .. he reveal the truth. Not something Sith do generally which meant, to Théo at least, there was hope.

Théo walked into the room toward the hearth roaring with flames and warmth, he unpacked a couple of bottles of mead and set about warming the heady drink, now more then ever would they want one. Things had got serious indeed while he had taken the time to fetch it. "It is a complicated situation, a complicated friendship and you will receive a complicated answer". He stood up from the fire pour three glasses of mead and handed to them in turn. Yes, even Boo.

"Take it easy with that stuff, it will blow your head off". He raised his own glass, "To friendship, complications and hope". Théo took a large mouthful of the honey mead feeling the heat of the liquor roll down his throat and warm the cockles. Whatever the hell cockles are?

"I would not be standing here today if not for Boo", he began "He saved my life some years back". This comment made the boys sound far older then in reality, but again life in the galaxy is strange and wonderful and each person is different. "I was but a child .. ", he looked toward Veiere. "You may be wondering why the difference between us now, simply .. it is due to my heritage and blood line that has me older in body and soul. We grow up fast on Midvinter and big".

"When we returned to Voss, after the pirates attacked the ship and killed the crew and some of the children, my father was waiting for us. I told him what had happened, that Boo saved us all and my father pardoned him". As Boo was with the Primes at that time, this was unexpected of the Grand Master. "It would be difficult to understand this .. why my father did such a thing, but now I know him better and I know why he did". Grand Masters move in mysterious ways, but to Théo and to Jedi, one needs to walk their own path .. and find hope. Whether Boo, thought this or even believed it possible, Théo did not know but regardless they would be friends until each joins the living force in death.

One thing Théo did know, is that Boo wanted it ...

​

[member="Boo Chiyo"] | [member="Veiere Arenais"]​

 

[WolfMortum]

Perhaps, had Veiere only recently come out of his long exile, his reaction would have been entirely different to the revelation of the little ones alignment in the Force, [member="Boo Chiyo"] who had openly shown to him how strongly the Dark Side of the Force pooled around him, had given up a truth that must have been rather personal and difficult to speak of to a newcomer such as himself. There was no such guarding of Veiere's own presence and affinity to the Light Side, thus the boy would have known well what he was doing and while looking down to him studiously, the Jedi Knight could not help but admire the honesty in the face of potential fallout. It was a trait that was greatly encouraged to all students of the Jedi Order, to be open and clear of intentions even in the face of animosity and potential conflict; such a concept that even some of the older members of the Jedi Order tended to shy away from.

He was just opening his mouth to reply to the boy and express his opinion when [member="Théodred Heavenshield"] showed up in what felt like ironic timing. His friend would in turn soon offer his own view of the situation and between the pair, Veiere wondered what exactly they expected of him in return. It was not as though this boy would invoke any aggression from him whilst merely speaking true of himself yet as Theodred seemed to try to explain it all for what it was, Veiere couldn't help but chuckle softly to himself under his breath.

The flagon or large glass (whichever they thought to call it), of honey mead was accepted graciously with a formal and respectable dip of his head, though quick whilst they seemed to find themselves standing near another welcoming fire. Again his gaze was drawn to the boy as Theodred handed him a glass and again his mouth opened to question the act yet only to be interrupted (again) and explain that Boo was not quite as young as he seemed. In fact he had saved Theo's life during his childhood which made the 'boy' of similar make to his friend. "My my, that is unexpected..." He muttered quietly whilst looking back to the smaller of the three and silently asking himself what trials might have taken part in his life.

The glass wet his lips and the liquid he tasted caused something of a stir in his throat as he swallowed it back and lowered the flagon along with his gaze, his eyes closing momentarily to control his senses as they seemed to explode at the severity of the drink; "Blast, what the hell is that..." He looked to Theo' in dismay before shaking his head and glancing back to the glass. Strangely enough, he could not tell if he liked it or loathed it. Both sweet and able to give the impression that someone had kicked him in the throat, he lifted his head in a halfway nod of confidence and soon took another swig, forcing this one back with a wee bit more grace than the last. It was now when things seemed to fall quiet, whilst the others drank that Veiere comment on his current stance towards...-Well everything, and nothing in particular. "My experiences over the last few months have been anything if not educating. Truly I've never known anything to be so on point as to say that the Force works in ways we can only hope to fathom. I've already been involved in more warefare, on an actual battlefield in the last few weeks as what I had in the last three years of my service to the branch of Svivren. I have met with the Jedi of the Republic and seen both the good and the bad of that front, balance one might say in that progress will never be made there without another to stand as a scapegoat. A fact that I am hoping the new Jedi Council there will be able to dissolve...-So when you tell me that there is someone of the Dark Side standing before me, that that very person would openly tell me this themselves with not a shred of hostility involved...-Well, I cannot honestly claim to be too put off" he smiled soon there after, looking to the both of them before glancing back to the fireplace and swirling his glass in one hand; "The Force continues to amaze me...".

 

[Zak Dymo]

Craning his head to the side, the Pantoran watched as Théo popped open one of the bottles.

That didn't look like Fizzyglug, so the youngling was understandably skeptical as the drinks were poured. He had to use both hands to hold the... what the hell was this thing? A gallon!? Seriously, this was like the kind of glass a Hutt would use for water. Bringing the rim up to his nose, he sniffed at the beverage, while watching between Théo and Veiere for their reactions at tasting the beverage.

At Veiere's, Boo shot a side-long glare over at the Théo. Just what kind of drink was the Valkyri pushing on them, anyway?

"I've spent my whole life having to lie to people," the boy commented, turning his head to address Veiere's disbelief that Boo would speak so openly. And Boo couldn't blame him. On Coruscant, he'd had to lie in order to pick pockets or do whatever he had to do to get enough credits to just survive. As a member of the Primeval Bleeding Sun, he'd had to lie in order to infiltrate targets for assassination. As a member of the Levantine Sanctum, he'd lied in order to spy on the Sanctum and Silver Jedi from the Levantine Astronautical Academy. As a member of the First Order, he'd even adopted an entirely new identity, that of Chiyo Ren.

"The Silver Jedi are the only people I can just... be me around." the boy offered by way of explanation, and giving a shrug as he talked. "So, there's no need to lie."

He just wasn't sure he trusted this drink Théo had given them...

[member="Veiere Arenais"] | [member="Théodred Heavenshield"]​

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

Regardless of the sullen mood, Théo began to smile while watching his friends take their first sip of the glorious mead, well Veiere anyway. Boo just looked as though he had handed him poison. Just as Théo took another mouthful, Veiere's outburst caused him to snort and just about spit out his mead, a hard swallow managed to prevent it spurting out his nose. A hearty laugh bellowed from Théo, "My uncles has sent a strong batch indeed".

The room was starting to get warm Théo's flushed cheeks would be testament to that, but of course the fire coupled with the mead was the real factor. "What news of the galaxy can you tell us?", although the Watch has means to find out, they are not that isolated to be cut off of the rest of life, but reports are clipped if not censored and so it would be good to hear news from word of mouth.

​

[member="Veiere Arenais"] | [member="Boo Chiyo"]​

 

[WolfMortum]

Veiere caught the last of [member="Théodred Heavenshield"]'s reaction to his first gulp of the drink and couldn't help but chuckle a little at his own expense, too. In all honesty, it was uncommon that the older man ever got his hands on a beverage considered alcoholic and he'd certainly never been drunk in his life; thus the nature of this particular brew was more than a little strong going down, yet he forced the next swig with a bit more grace than the last and lifted the flagon briefly in silent toast to the three.

[member="Boo Chiyo"] had explained that he felt he couldn't find others that he could trust outside of the Silver Sanctum Coalition. It seemed like a sad reality and one that Veiere sympathized for. In reality, if he had to guess, he had Theo himself who Veiere had come to trust as well as the new president of Commenor, Lady Kay Larr. Living within the traditional confines of the Jedi Order often meant that trust, in his particular case was a fickle thing and that it was the faith in the Force and continued service as a Jedi to the people of the Galaxy that was above all else. These days however with things being the way that they were, you couldn't expect to get around easily without a few friends in your pocket and he was glad for Boo Chiyo that he at-least had the Sanctum to lean on. "Your secret's safe with me" Veiere responded, offering a brief smile more so out of reassurance than anything and then when Theodred asked about the recent state of galactic affairs, Veiere had to take another drink before turning to look to him.

"Recently I asked for the remaining members of the Order under the Republic to meet with me; a conclave if you will, that we might try to bring about some reform. Much of what we were has been lost..." he swirled the glass in his hands and took a sparing glance to the fireplace where the flames licked at the air and the heat felt warmest against his face. "A new Council has been formed and they will continue to serve alongside the Republic, yet not be controlled or swayed by the politics. That was the aim at-least. The timing seems to be perfect too because they're getting hit on all fronts. First Mimban by the remnants that were the Mandalorian Empire, and then Deneba by the Sith. I fear that the Galaxy sees the weakened state that it is in and is trying to exploit it best".

He frowned a moment and soon added, "Most recently I've heard rumor about an Army of Light being discussed in passing by members of the Order. The word is they wish to take the fight to the Sith Empire...-Yet I've not managed to discover anything of who they are, not yet".