Faction Recuperation(RNR & Friends)

[Aiden Porte]

Naboo
Royal Palace
Conference Room

Several weeks had passed since the Life Day celebration at the Queens home retreat in the mountains. Pain and tears that followed because of the Jedi's own personal issues had finally came to a head. The days that followed though, were marred with talks and such with friends such as Dreidi Xeraic , Lorn Reingard , Kalantha and especially his Master Solenne Abraxas

He had been in constant communication with her since the event. His true guiding light and moral compass.

He was definitely still on the road to letting go. It wasn't going to happen over night, or in a few short weeks. But while he was going through this, there were many other people that were going through similar situations. Naboo had been through some tough ordeals. Many people loves family, friends and loved ones. As those people he called family and friends helped him. He would indeed reciprocate that towards the people of Naboo. This wasn't the first meeting he had had since this idea came to him, but just the second. There was a small circle of chairs at first, but would add more if necessary if more showed up.

The lights were off in the room except for the small section in which they were in.

Aiden in his nature, had baked some treats and brought beverages for those that showed up. He did love his cookies, this recipe he tried to make them a little bit sweeter than the last time. They were placed on a table close to the group, as everyone was starting to settle in.

A woman spoke first. "D-Do I have to say my name?" She asked softly, looking towards.

"Of course not. You only share what you are comfortable with sharing."

She then spoke, in good length of her history, family that she had here. Her voice trembled softly at first, but the more she continued she was finding her stance. Things got quiet for a few moments. Then she talked about her husband, who was killed during the Netherworld attack. He died from his wounds suffered while saving her.

The corner of Aiden's mouth twitched slightly, as he took a deep breath. The others present offered their apologies and condolences.

"I miss him, very much. I see him everyday when I look at our daughter. She's strong like him....."

Aiden cleared his throat as he showed her a small smile. "I'm terribly sorry for you loss, your husband is a hero. He will always be with you, and your daughter." Aiden straightened himself up a bit as he glanced around the room to the faces of those there.

"You did the best thing you could, you talked. You spoke about what your feeling. That's the bravest thing anyone can do after a loss. You took the leap and you landed on both feet. Not just for yourself but also for your child."

"I too lost someone I loved, almost a year ago." Aiden just lightly held out his arms. "She died in my arms, telling me that she loved me." The Jedi padawan took a deep breath, before his hands rested back on his legs. "I was in a bad place for a while, until I finally opened up about it. You gotta take the leap, keep your head up and keep going. Not just for ourselves but for everyone that looks to us."

"Aiden, these cookies are really good."

The comment about the cookies brought a few laughs amongst the group, giving the stillness of the room a good sense of relief. There were a few that then pushed past their anxieties and went to get some of the refreshments provided.

Aiden chuckled lightly. "Thank you my friend." He rubbed his hands together as he glanced around the room.

"Would anyone like to share something next?" The Jedi Padawan inquired as he glanced around the room, trying to be a beacon of light for those around him.

 

[Lorn Reingard]

Tags: Aiden Porte

​

The low hum of quiet conversation hung in the air, punctuated only by the occasional clink of a mug or the soft rustle of fabric. Lorn stood at the periphery of the dimly lit room, a silent observer to the unfolding scene. He paced, his hands making a restless rhythm against his thigh, feeling the familiar prickle of unease. This wasn't his natural habitat; vulnerability wasn't a skill he'd honed. He watched Aiden, a beacon of calm amidst the shared pain, guiding the small group with a gentle hand. The young Padawan's genuine empathy was a stark contrast to Lorn's own internal turmoil.

Aiden's words echoed in Lorn's mind: "You gotta take the leap, keep your head up and keep going. Not just for ourselves but for everyone that looks to us." The words were meant for the others, but Lorn knew they were aimed at him too. He'd seen Aiden's journey, the raw grief that had threatened to consume him, and the slow, painful climb towards healing. It was a path Lorn needed to take himself, not just for his own sake, but to set an example for the younger Jedi. He needed to be strong, to be the mentor Aiden deserved. But vulnerability felt like a betrayal of that strength.

He waited, the seconds stretching into minutes, until a lull settled over the group. Aiden's question hung in the air: "Would anyone like to share something next?" The question felt like a physical weight, pressing down on Lorn's chest. He groaned inwardly, the sound barely audible above the soft murmur of conversation. This was it. He had to do it, had to try to face the ghosts that haunted him, had to be vulnerable. For Aiden. For himself.

Lorn took a deep breath, the air catching in his throat, and stepped into the circle of light. He didn't introduce himself, didn't offer a name, just began to speak, his voice a shaky tremor at first. He spoke of his past, of his exile from the planet that had been his home, a place that held a lifetime of memories. He spoke of loss, of the utter devastation of losing everyone he had ever cared for, the gaping void where love and connection once resided. He was lost, utterly and hopelessly lost in a galaxy that felt alien and unforgiving.

His gaze remained fixed on the floor, his words tumbling out in a rush, desperate to escape the confines of his chest. He searched for an ending, a way to conclude this confession, to make a graceful escape from this moment of painful honesty. He fell silent, the weight of his solitude pressing down on him, heavy and suffocating. A mumbled thank you, a curt nod, and he fled to the table, grabbing a cookie, the sweetness doing little to alleviate the bitter taste of his confession.

He hated it. Hated the pitying looks, hated the unspoken condolences, hated the feeling of his raw, exposed emotions laid bare for everyone to see. He hadn't sought their sympathy, hadn't asked for their understanding. He'd merely done what he felt he had to do, a small act of imitation, a pale echo of Aiden's courage. But the act of sharing hadn't brought solace. Instead, it had scraped open old wounds, dredging up memories he'd desperately tried to bury. The cookies crumbled in his hand, as tasteless as the hollow victory of his vulnerability. The effort felt as empty as he felt inside.

 

[Bea Laseen]

Tags: Aiden Porte + Lorn Reingard

At first, Bea balked at the invitation. She didn't know anyone. What the hell was she gonna do, stand there awkwardly?

But a knee jerk reaction was always a sign of something deeper, something pernicious, wasn't it? And she knew what it was. Of course she did. She was a terrible liar, and could never fool herself no matter how hard she tried. It wasn't about trivial social graces. Deep down, Bea was ashamed. She had abandoned Naboo. During the Netherworld attack, in her home's greatest hour of need, she was busy frolicking (technically training, but that distinction was lost in the moment) on Coruscant. These people had the scars of battle, whether they fought or not; they were heroes. So what the hell did that make her? A coward?

Well, she was a Jedi. And back home now, which had to count for something. What was her shame compared to their grief, anyway? In cases like this, sometimes showing up was enough. It was a start, at the very least.

Plus… she heard there were gonna be cookies. One of her personal rules was to never decline free treats.

So, pushing her initial reaction aside, Bea was here in the dimly lit conference room dressed neatly in tunic and robes with not a wrinkle in sight. There was a decent-sized group here, including a man who looked about her age, maybe older, conversing with the others. He seemed mature, diplomatically-inclined, and well-liked. As for speaking to a crowd of people? Not her cup of tea. Especially the kinds of stories being told here today.

Bea observed a speech by perhaps the saddest looking man she'd ever seen. He was lonely and hopeless because who wouldn't be with a lachrymose past like that? As he spoke, her heart broke for him. When Lorn Reingard finished and fled to the refreshment table, Bea instinctually beabeelined after him. The forlorn man just idly stood in-front of the table, seemingly lost in his sorrow, a cookie crumbling in his calloused hands. He was far too tall for her to tap him on the shoulder, so she cleared her throat instead, hoping he'd turn around. "Hey there! You okay, big man?" she asked, gazing up with big, brown eyes.

She wasn't sure what comfort she could bring, if any. She didn't even know his name; he was a stranger. She knew his life story now but she didn't know him. It was a weird situation.

Admittedly, everything seemed weird on Naboo these days.

 

[Kav Shelt]

It's All Bullchit

It was happening again.

The sidestreet he had cut through to escape would be his end. What he had thought to be a way out revealing itself as a dead end as he tried to shout for help.

His voice was held captive by the lack of air in his chest as he threw himself forward trying to flee.

His lungs burned worse than his limbs. Fatigue settled like a weighted blanket in his limbs as the whole alley rumbled with that familiar sound. A slow and deep growl that promised pain from behind him. Promised him a sure end as he tripped over his own feet trying to make it to the wall ahead of him.

Trying to peer over his shoulder would be his undoing. Needing to know where it was bringing it down on top of him as he tried to clamber and claw his way forward.

Hot air travelling across the nape of his neck as something pinned his calf in place.

Fear washed over him as another great weight began to crush his chest. Something hit the ground beside his face with a wet plop as he finally found the air to scream before the shadow over him engulfed his vision.

His whole body tense and snapping upright as he screamed. Earning him a sharp kick against his legs as he tried to get his bearings. Sunlight skewed his already blurred vision as a dark shape shifted across from him. There were more of them. And he had somehow got away from the first but it had followed him here. Panic sent a sharp reminder of what had been happening. Peddling his legs trying to escape as a set of arms wrapped around his shoulders.

A sound of panic escaping him as something tangled around his legs.

“The feth!?” Surprise laced the words that came from the dark shape that had kicked at him as something else nearby moved, casting shadows across his vision that only heightened his panic.

“Kav! Hey, it's alright! Look-look-look!” A softer voice in his ear pleaded as the arms tried holding him as still as they could against the violent trembling. His hands rising to strike at whatever was holding him down as another set of hands came into view and wrapped around his wrists.

“Kav! Chill! It's just us!” A different voice filtered through the blended scene of nightmare and the real. Whichever was which didn't make sense to him as he fought against the hold. Arms holding and pulling against his efforts as the dark shape ahead of him began to dominate his vision.

Desperate and fearful, he tried throwing himself to the side only to feel another set of hands grab him.

“Dude! You're alright! Wake up you chittin idjit.” A gruff voice filtered through as he felt his heart try to leap from his chest. He was pinned and held fast, and felt like he was going to pass out. His whole body writhing as the voices became familiar. All speaking at once and blending together as his attempts to escape slowed. Sweat covering his brow as his breathing began to steady.

The figures around him came into focus finally as the familiar faces brought him back from panic.

“Feth guy. You need to talk to someone or take something.” Isikar hissed, the three friends surrounding him finally relaxing and helping Kav right himself. “I was sleeping so well too, feth-head.”

Nema let go of his hands. The pink streaks in her dark hair highlighting the worry on her face. Even with the shadows cast across her face from being pulled over the back of the sofa couldn't hide it. And with Isikar across from him sharing the blanket on the sofa meant Ovine was behind him.

When his hands were freed, they drifted upward to the arms that were wrapped around his shoulders. A comfort now as he settled finally, watching the other two go about their morning routines.

Glancing his way sporadically as if he might go off once more as they moved about the shared space.

“Calmed down now?” Ovine's voice was a soft whisper in his ear. His eyes closed at the only familiar comfort that existed anymore. All four of them had been friends prior to the nether attack, and had only become better friends when their worlds had collectively fallen apart at the seams. Now the only family each of them had left standing in the same quickly built housing for the displaced of Naboo.

Natives and refugees alike shared the housing, and some grumbled a bit more about that fact than others.

“Yeah. I was back in that fething alley.” His voice hoarse as he felt her fingertips brush against his hair.

“Ah. That. You know-” A deep inhale breaking her words as she leaned in against the arm of the sofa. “You could go to that thing they are doing at the palace. See if that helps?”

A snort broke the serene quiet of activity before deathly silence dominated the space again. Tension still thick in the air as he reconsidered the words. He was putting the others on edge every time a nightmare had him. Waking up at Shiraya awful hours screaming in a cold sweat. Isikar had the pleasure of sharing the sofa with him while the girls took the bed. Meaning he had the joy of catching every single wild kick of his legs or having to play tug of war for the oversized blanket.

The sporadic awakening he did was slowly taking its toll by how they had paused to gauge his mood. His hands squeezed a little against Ovine's arms as he nodded and let his eyes open fully.

“I guess I could, yeah.”

-----End of Flashback-----​

If Ovine hadn't been asking, he would have been elsewhere. Figuring out how to get more meal tickets for them. What was available for a little bit of manual labor. Something besides sitting here listening to others ramble about how bad the most recent attack was. About the people they had lost.

At least the cookies were good.

He was as out of place as anyone in the circle of sob stories and broken dreams. A stain in this ornate and well kept place that he'd barely remembered having seen before. The Palace of the Queen. Opened to the rabble and displaced to spill their woes to some rando who knew none of them and probably didn't care besides making himself feel better. His eyes wandering briefly to see if he could spot a recording device somewhere. Were they going to use this to spin some sob narrative to some bigger group? To those chittin coruscant feth's planet to ask for aid maybe? Get them some decent.... well anything really.

Between the supposed shortness of medical supplies and food in his district along with the heightened tensions between displaced citizens and the trapped refugees, it was a surprise the palace was even open.

Unless it was just that far removed from the troubles of those they couldn't see. Then again that was the trick of it wasn't it? Keep the ones you don't want to see just out of sight. And all the pretty glamour up close. Pictures and paintings sold better with nice things in it after all. Just approaching the gates in his street clothes had reminded him of how he didn't belong.

His eyes half shut with his hands in his jacket pockets as his eyes flicked back and forth at different points in each story that filled the air.

He suddenly wasn't entirely certain Ovine had wanted anything more than to get him out of the house for a while by telling him about this. His lip curled at the thought before he frowned. The fear in their eyes had been what had sent him here. The wonder if he was seeing them or something else as they tried to keep themselves safe.

That was what had brought him here. To speak about things that didn't need brought up.

Old wounds that had long scarred over just to be reopened.

"This is the second attack by those things I've been in." He didn't pull back his hood when he started to speak. The walls were so damned bright anyway that it hurt his eyes and he'd rather have them ask anyway. The only time he'd get the opportunity to have them ask something of him besides to be entertainment. Blinking as his hands wrapped around the rim of his cup.

"We used to have a pretty nice house way back when. I think my grandparent's had given it to us. I don't know. I was so little it was just a fact of life that it was our house. Until it wasn't." His chin tucking into his chest as he frowned.

"We lost my grandparent's and my uncle. The first time around I mean. So weird that they were there and then just. Not. Made me wonder how they could just disappear like that at first. It was downhill for us from there. Family issues. Money problems. Never recovered what was ours, and lost more and more by the day. We were on the mend when it happened. All three of us back in the house." A long pause as he realized quietly how much brighter the days had become in such a short time. There were smiles that never quite reached the eyes, but there were smiles. And laughter. The house wasn't eerily quiet. Something was always happening.

"Was out with friends. I don't even remember what we were doing honestly. Just. People pushing and screaming. Sounds." His whole body slowly rocking in his chair as he chewed his lip. Forming the words with some effort in his mind after a long pause. "Was told it was quick for my parent's."

Their second house had been a mess. Smashed in. Caved in. Whichever it was. The rubble had made it clear that no one had survived before he pulled himself back to keep speaking.

"I got trapped in an alley. Separated after someone pushed me down. I followed where I thought they had gone and had one of those things-" His eyes shifted to the floor as he rocked a little harder in his seat. Taking a deep breath before pushing on. "I see it at night. When I'm supposed to be dreaming. And it catches me."

Aiden Porte | Lorn Reingard | Bea Laseen​

 

[Lysander von Ascania]

Aiden Porte Lorn Reingard Bea Laseen Kav Shelt

Lysander moved through the grand halls of the Royal Palace. There was a carefree aura emanating from the teen; his confidence was typically second nature. And today, he had the energy to match it.

A navy blue tunic hugged his frame, allowing for easy movement. It was paired with beige trousers. The fabric glinted in the natural lighting. Over his head, a pair of giant black headphones enveloped him completely, blocking out all sounds and creating his own world. The Padawan bobbed his head to a bass heavy beat.

With each movement, he glided smoothly through the corridors. Rather than his usual boots, he wore a casual pair of shoes; they were still vibrant and stylish, and each tap echoed softly against the floor. While it hadn’t been intentionally planned, he noticed the grip on them was perfect. Pivots and spins were executed with ease.

The rhythmic steps were mixed with an occasional hop that brought a sense of joy; it also displayed his growing athletic prowess from training. There was something satisfying about dancing freely in a place radiating with serenity. Rather than a palace, it now felt like a stage where he could express himself.

He was lost in the music, oblivious to any observers.

Twirling past different statues and tapestries, he was filled freedom. Before long he approached a doorway; instinctively he would glance inside, as his curiosity was piqued. For a moment his eyes widened. Shadows filled the room. Amongst some of the illuminated figures were familiar Jedi; they appeared lost in contemplation. Aiden easily stood out, and he was surprised to not see the other Padawan wearing an apron. He imagined if the boy had been a Sith, his cookies would have conquered the galaxy by now.

While many here were stronger in Force ability, he currently felt like the master of choreography. Though their words remained a mystery, drowned out by everything playing through his mind, lyrics would begin dancing from his lips. "Girl I can’t wait to see you," he sang. The excitement in his tone was clear. “Can't wait to hold you close..”

However, his intention wasn't to interrupt whatever they were doing. Lysander now reached for his headphones; the movement was unhurried. The Padawan figured he'd see what was going on here, or at least say hello and be on his way.

 

[Blaire Sal-Soren]

Blaire was in a seat in the back. She was absentmindedly picking at the upholstery of the seat in front of her which was worn and cracked. Aiden must've taken them from storage or something. Thankfully no one was occupying the chair she was picking pieces off of. There were a number of empty chairs but Blaire got the impression that they weren't empty from lack of interest but simply that Aiden had provided too many chairs. He was always so optimistic, Blaire didn't understand how he had the energy for it and at the same time found herself inexplicably and unexplainably intrigued.

Aiden was in fact the reason Blaire had even come. She was here to support him and his optimism.

Silently support.

What would she even say?

'Hi, my name is Blaire, Blaire Sal-Soren actually. That's right my father was hand of the Queen, and yes, you're right, my sister is in charge of the Jedi temple in the mountains, yes my brother, the Jedi, did go on trial for murder, and yep, my father did found a group of intergalactic terrorists that ended up attacking my childhood home and killing my parents, oh and yes, I was also in that group of intergalactic terrorists, but I didn't kill anyone, okay, well a couple people but that's all, oh the cataclysm? Yes, horrible, horrible situation that happened while I was far away on Hapes,'

Blaire listened as a woman told her story. She could not imagine herself being so brave. It was Aiden who spoke next. He loved someone, lost them, watched them leave this life in his arms.

The revelation left her stunned and seething.

She didn't know. About any of it. He'd never told her.

The Jedi she met at the Lifeday party went next, Lorn. His speech, confession, was, well, it hadn't exactly been a party in here before hand but somehow things had gotten even more dour.

Blaire didn't hold it against him. She knew what it was to be alone. She'd been alone for as long as she could remember, not in the same way as Lorn but alone just the same. She was one of three triplets, 'youngest' of the three and the only one born without the gift of The Force, so no matter what she did, what she accomplished, no matter how she tried to stand out, she always stood alone.

Briana and Blaire had The Force and so did their mother, a Jedi, who obviously felt obligated to keep an eye on them. Her father had kept his eye on them too, his obsession with The Force hardly gave him time to look anywhere else and when his gaze did turn her way it was almost always to contrast her with her siblings.

When not grown to be too much first Brandyn left, without her, without so much as a word to her. Then Briana left to join him as a Jedi and Blaire was truly alone. Who could blame them? Who could blame Briana or Brandyn for leaving without her, who could blame their mother for worrying over them, who could blame daddy for not seeing past what she was for who she was. Blaire was unspectacular and hardly special, who could blame them.

She did.

The calcysm happened and daddy had died, Briana and Brandyn had something that Blaire didn't. They'd had a cause and community, something they could believe in and be dedicated to. What do Blaire have? She had Jaa and Jaa had The New Way, so Blaire found her community and her cause.

Lorn didn't linger after his speech, hurrying over to the refreshments in the wake of murmured sympathies. Blaire felt the urge to go over and talk to him. She'd hoped that Briana could have some fun with the guy but Blaire had the impression that he didn't exactly treat his trauma in the fun ways, you know, drinking too much, boosting speeders, bar fights, or inappropriate public displays of affection. Someone else though beat her to it.

Blaire's eyes narrowed as she appraised the stranger now conversing with Lorn. The robes pointed her out as a Jedi. Blaire didn't know every Jedi that spent time at Briana's enclave but she would make sure to take notes on this one and bring it up with Briana later.

While a light haired boy spoke about his experience with the nether events, Blaire tried to catch Aiden's eye and wave so he knew she'd come. Her head whipped around to look behind her at the very unexpected sound of someone singing pop music. Perhaps no one else noticed the late comer but Blaire's seat in the back made it so that she didn't miss them.

Lorn Reingard Aiden Porte Lysander von Ascania Bea Laseen Kav Shelt

 

[Aiden Porte]

Stay the course.....

Aiden closed his eyes for a brief moment. Be that beacon, be that light you were always meant to be. While he was holding on, he was not free of his internal conflict. He took a deep breath as he listened to Lorn Reingard speak.

Bravery, courage.....

No matter what he thought of himself, the fact that he could sit here amongst friends and strangers and tell his story. It was the bravest thing that he could do. He did feel the pain he was feeling. He looked at his friend and listened attentively as did the others that were there. He watched as he stood up and walked over tot he table where the refreshments were at.

The Padawan took a small breath and before he could say something, someone else had spoke at which Aiden then turned to see whom it was. And then the words came. And he listened, to each and every one. Everyone was marred with loss, but he knew that talking about such things was the key. Regardless of what they thought.....

They were not alone....

Stay the course...

To others, maybe even to most it would seem silly to try and fix things with words. What good would that do..? The truly didn't know, but Aiden did.

"Regardless of what you think, you are not alone..." Aide said as he took a deep breath and stood up. "All of you, your victories, and your losses are shared by many. They are shared by more than you count, more than you can see. You matter to a great deal of people."

He needed to be that light in the fog for those that couldn't push through. And be that helping hand to lift those individuals up that had fallen.


"I see it around this room, I see your pain. But I also see your courage and your hopes. Your ability to come here today and speak, is brave and honorable."

Stay the course...

"W-" Aiden started to speak but he caught glimpse of Blaire Sal-Soren he stopped immediately as he caught her eyes and her wave. He showed a smile and he waved back at her. The fact that she came, was amazing. Aiden cleared his throat and glanced around. "We are all unified together. All of Naboo, as one. Every single race that inhabits this planet."

The Jedi Padawan took a deep breath before clasping his hands together. It seemed there was another arrival in the form of Lysander von Ascania

"Good day to you Lysander!" Aiden said with a small wave and smile. He glance back to the group and offered a small break. "Let's take a break, give everyone a chance to get some drinks and such."

Aiden showed an encouraging smile those, and it seemed they smiled back. Which brought a sense of relief to the Jedi Padawan. His fear, was that he might have done more harm then good. But that fear passed within a few seconds. Aiden walked off a bit, towards an empty table away from the chatter. His hands rested against the back of the chair. He cleared his throat slightly, feeling a pressure on his chest briefly, then subsided. He closed his eyes once more, centering himself with the force, his hands coming together to stop the slight tremble in his right hand.

It finally passed...


Kav Shelt Bea Laseen

 

[Lorn Reingard]

Tags: Aiden Porte | Bea Laseen | Kav Shelt | Lysander von Ascania | Blaire Sal-Soren

​

Lorn stood at the periphery of the room, the low hum of voices a dull backdrop to the turmoil in his mind. He watched them, each one taking their turn, sharing their burdens, their losses. He'd been foolish, utterly and completely foolish to expose himself that way. It was one thing to do it in isolation, to grapple with his demons on his own, but to do it in front of a room full of… strangers, felt like a betrayal of the very man he was taught to be. His losses, the betrayals, the death of those he had loved – they felt insignificant compared to what some of these others had faced. He was a Knight, not some weeping child begging for pity.

He lingered by the table, taking a slow sip of caf, the warmth doing little to quell the icy knot in his stomach. He clutched one of Aiden's famed cookies, feeling the soft crumbly texture beneath his fingers. Then he heard it – a familiar name, whispered in the quiet cadence of someone sharing their story. Sal-Soren. Blaire. He remembered her vaguely from the Life Day celebration, someone close to her siblings. He groaned inwardly. The council here was small, close-knit. They were his new home, his new family, even if he didn't feel it yet. He certainly didn't need them knowing about the ghosts that haunted him, the raw edges of his grief that he hadn't been able to properly bury. He didn't need their judgement, their pity, their silent assessments of his fitness for duty.

Lorn positioned himself to face away from the group, hoping that if Blaire didn't see him, hadn't heard him baring his soul, he could avoid the sideways glances and unspoken judgments he dreaded. His grip tightened on the cookie, the delicate treat cracking under the pressure. Anxiety, a familiar companion lately, clenched his chest. He shouldn't have come. He should have stayed in his room, meditated, tried to find a semblance of peace in the solitude.

A small voice broke through his self-recrimination. Lorn turned, looking down at a young girl, a Padawan by the look of her robes. He didn't recognize her, which wasn't surprising given his fairly recent arrival. Her brow was furrowed with concern, her eyes soft, and that small kindness felt like a physical blow.

He forced a smile, the edges feeling tight and unnatural. "I'll manage. Thank you for your concern." he said, his voice a touch harsher than intended, a brush-off rather than a genuine reply. He didn't want her concern, didn't want anyone's. He just wanted to disappear, to bury himself back in the cold, isolating silence he was so used to.

Then Aiden's voice cut through the tension for a break from the group.

Lorn sighed. He had been too harsh. The girl was only trying to connect, and besides, there was no hiding the fact that he had just spewed his heart out, like some fool. He had to get better at this, at being a Jedi Knight, at being the mentor Aiden needed. He had to get a grip on himself, on these emotions that seemed determined to consume him.

He turned back to the girl. "I don't think we've met yet," he said, offering his hand. "Lorn Reingard, Knight of the Order of Shiraya and the Vanguard." The words, when he said them aloud, sounded pompous, almost ridiculous. Maybe sticking with just 'Lorn' would've been better. He truly was a mess.

He shook his head, trying to clear the fog of self-doubt. "What's your name?" he asked, forcing himself to meet her gaze, trying to find some normalcy in the chaotic mess that was his life.

 

[Bea Laseen]

He forced a smile, the edges feeling tight and unnatural. "I'll manage. Thank you for your concern." he said, his voice a touch harsher than intended, a brush-off rather than a genuine reply.

Bea's right hand found her hip and her head dipped slightly, as if scrutinizing the much bigger man. Her eyes had an accusatory edge to them, as if to say, 'nice try, but you can't bullchit me.'

"It seems like everyone here is suffering in some way," she observed after listening to some of the other melancholic testimonies. "Some times the wound is worse than the initial cut. Shame keeps it festering, never able to properly heal." Bea thought about her first near-death experience, almost drowning when she accidentally fell into the canals of Theed, unable to swim. She still hadn't gotten over it, avoiding the canal-lined streets to this day. Not quite as dramatic as Lorn's experience, but similar enough that empathy was easily evoked.

"What's your name?"

"Nice to meet you, Lorn Reingard. I'm Bea, short for Beatrice... or Beautiful. I answer to any of those," she teased with a grin. "Padawan of Shariya, fresh transfer from Coruscant, which I guess means we'll be working together."

Aiden Porte Lorn Reingard Kav Shelt Lysander von Ascania Blaire Sal-Soren​

 

[Blaire Sal-Soren]

When a break was called Blaire headed over to Aiden who had removed himself from the others.

"Hey loser," she said with as much affection as she could, lightly resting her hand on his back.

"Sorry I missed the first meeting," she told him even though she didn't really mean it. She would've liked to have shown her support as soon as possible but Blaire knew that just one of these meetings would be enough for her.

"I'm sorry for not speaking today," she told him. "I don't really know what to say," silence lingered until her courage won out or her resistance failed. "Not just here, like always, and not just to you but especially Brandyn and Briana but there is just this big expectation that I say something."

Blaire sat in one of the chairs surrounding the empty table.

"What am I supposed to say to them? I don't know what they want but they want something, when they make the time for me at all, it's spent just waiting, waiting for me to…Shiraya knows…"

"Should I tell them how fucking grateful I am to be allowed to flit back into their lives on a whim. Oh your engagement ended? So sorry to hear but would you mind terribly that me and my infants move in with you at the house you built with the man you thought you'd spend forever with, thanks! Or Congratulations on the marriage, I'm back in your life with twins after coming home from living with the people who killed our parents and nearly killed your wife, thanks for understanding!"

There were certain other details that Blaire didn't feel comfortable saying out loud even with Aiden. Details such as waking up in a sterile white room a week after falling asleep, being handed two babies when she had been expecting three, being told the boy was lost, gone, dead. They'd told her she hadn't been strong enough for them all.

"I shouldn't blame Briana or Brandyn for not having the time for me, when have they ever had it?" Blaire tried not to let the sound of self pity slip into her words but could not help the tasting it all the same.

"I do though," she admitted, "blame them. Just like they blame me. They've built real lives with no room for me. Briana was engaged and I didn't find out until it had ended. Brandyn and Cy got married, and I am so happy for them, and for Briana to be whatever most important Jedi on Naboo, but I am so hurt that their lives are lived without a thought for me. I came into life with them but I'm left to have mine all on my own. The most important events in their lives and I have no part in them. They buried mama and daddy without me."

"They gave up on me. They don't even wonder why I'm not around, they just think that I wander because 'oh, Blaire had somewhere to be' when in reality I don't have anywhere to go."

"Chit, I'm sorry for unloading on you. It's not fair, I know you're close with my brother and sister. Just pretend like I didn't embarrass myself, okay?"

Aiden Porte

 

[Lorn Reingard]

Tags: Bea Laseen

​

Lorn felt a flicker of something that might have been amusement at the girl's teasing, a foreign sensation that surprised him. He hadn't expected such levity after the heavy atmosphere of the sharing session. He hadn't expected anything, really, except judgment and pity. Bea's directness, though, was disarming. Her eyes, assessing and sharp, seemed to see right through his carefully constructed facade. He felt a strange sense of exposure, but not the same kind he had experienced earlier.

Her words about festering wounds and shame echoed oddly in his mind, cutting a little too close to the bone. He knew the truth in her statement, the weight of his own unspoken grief a constant pressure. He had spent years burying it, trying to convince himself that a Knight of the Order did not succumb to such weaknesses. And yet, there he was, crumbling under the weight of it all in a room of people he barely knew.

He took a deep breath, trying to settle his rioting thoughts, focusing on the small Padawan in front of him. "Bea," he repeated, the name feeling strange on his tongue. He didn't use names often, his interactions mostly limited to Master Aiden. Still, he appreciated the directness. "It's good to meet you. And, yes, it seems that we will be working together." He forced a more genuine smile, hoping he looked less like he was about to bolt. "How have you been finding everything so far?"

 

[Aiden Porte]

"Hey loser,"

Aiden smirked as he glanced to his side, as Briana appeared.

"Hey you..." The Padawan chuckled. "You made it...." Aiden was glad she was here, and truth be told he wasn't expecting her to talk, she had been through quite a bit. While he wasn't too sure exactly what, his intuition was telling him it was far deeper than anyone would suspect.

"Sorry I missed the first meeting,"

"I'm sorry for not speaking today,"

"Not just here, like always, and not just to you but especially Brandyn and Briana but there is just this big expectation that I say something."

"Hey, you don't have anything to apologize for." He said with a smile, his hand resting on her shoulder, giving it a small gentle squeeze. "You just showing up speaks volumes, not just to those here, but to everyone." Aiden pulled his hand back as he offered her a seat next to him as he sat down.

"This isn't easy for me, sure I arranged these get tog ether's but the true victors are the ones who show up. The one's who are patience with themselves and those that listen."

There was a small silence for a few moments and then he glanced to Blaire as she started to speak. The words she spoke, Aiden listened to every single word. They clung to him, he didn't want to say anything, not right now. He didn't want to interrupt her, this was her time. She spoke what she was feeling, and while part of it he felt wasn't true. She wasn't a disappointment, she wasn't a failure....

She wasn't alone...

The more it continued, those words lashed out at the Jedi Padawan, as he felt her pain. He wanted to do something, anything. But he felt anything he could do was for naught.

But he knew what she was feeling was far from the truth, or to at least his understanding. There were people in this world that truly didn't care, but he knew that Briana and Brandyn were not one of those people.

He wanted to tell her to forgive him for what he was about to say, but he didn't. "I don't care what you say or how you feel Blaire Sal-Soren.....but you are not alone. You never have been, even at your most darkest moment. Your family cares for you, I care for you. And so do many others." He took her hands in his and gave them a gentle squeeze.

"Your family loves you, I see it in them. I see it in you, time did pass and things do move on. But that love is always there." The Jedi Padawan gave her hands another gentle squeeze. And once more, he felt his words were for nothing. Like what could worlds do to heal, no matter who they were from. But he had to believe that they could and that the natural human touch was enough to heal the cracks deep within the soul.

Otherwise, what was this that he was feeding these people. He had to believe that there was light out there, within him and within those that believed in one another.

"They gave up on me. They don't even wonder why I'm not around, they just think that I wander because 'oh, Blaire had somewhere to be' when in reality I don't have anywhere to go."

"You are not alone, you have a home and a family. And you have friends, they didn't give up on you. I'm not giving up on you." He pulled her in for a hug, if she needed to cry he would let her. "I promise..." He said with a big smile, while she wouldn't see it, it was indeed there.

Blaire Sal-Soren

 

[Aiden Porte]

Lorn Reingard

Aiden gave a reassuring hug to Blaire just before he left and walked back towards the group that was assembled today. While this wasn't meant to be just a day of pure misery, the fact that those assembled would tell their story was bigger than anything that they could have imagined. Right now, it would bring pain and sadness, but in the larger canvas.....

It was going to make them stronger, more stronger than they would realize.

That's what Aiden would do, he would be that pillar for them. He would hold them up if they couldn't themselves.

What sort of Jedi was he, if he couldn't even do that at the very least.

The Padawan made his way to Lorn and he placed a hand gently on his friends shoulder.

"I'm glad you spoke today Lorn, it means a lot." The Jedi Padawan said with a small reassuring smile. "You okay?"

 

[Lorn Reingard]

Tags: Aiden Porte

​

Lorn grabbed a small handful of dried fruit from the snack table, offering a quick nod to Bea before turning towards the front. He gave a brief, tight smile to Blair as he passed, noticing the slight slump in her shoulders, the lingering shadow from her conversation with Aiden. These Sal-Sorens, they were a complicated bunch. Murder trials, terrorist groups – it was a world of heavy burdens Lorn was only beginning to glimpse.

He reached Aiden, who was standing with a quiet strength. "It's a good thing you are doing here, Aiden." Lorn said, his voice a little rough.

When Aiden asked if he was okay, Lorn crossed his arms, a familiar defence mechanism kicking in. "Not really," he admitted, a strained smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. He didn't want to burden Aiden with the tangled mess of his own thoughts. "But don't worry about me… They are my demons to deal with." He placed a hand on Aiden's shoulder, squeezing it gently. "You just keep being here for these people." His gaze swept over the group, a soft understanding flickering in his eyes. "I can already tell you are so important to so many here."

The murmur of voices began to pick up as the others rejoined them, the snack table temporarily abandoned. Lorn took a step back, allowing him space. "Hey," he said, his voice quieter now, but firm. "Don't forget, I'm here too, okay?" He looked directly at Aiden, the tension easing from his shoulders just slightly. "If you ever… need someone to talk to, or just… listen. I know I'm not the best at talking about my own stuff, but," a small, almost shy smile touched his lips, "I can definitely listen. I'm here for you, whenever you need me."

 

[Aiden Porte]

"It's a good thing you are doing here, Aiden."

"But don't worry about me… They are my demons to deal with."

"You just keep being here for these people."

"I can already tell you are so important to so many here."

Aiden showed a small smile nodding just a bit. "Thank you Lorn, I just hope it provides some measure of peace and urge to move on. I hope it's helping." The Jedi Padawan said with a small smile as he took a deep breath. The last words he spoke about him being important to people here, it brought a wave of comfort and relief. As he truly hoped he was doing some good. The Jedi Padawan felt that if they share in their losses, together they would grow and be stronger. "And hey, you and I are brothers. Your problems are mine as well, that's family my friend." Aiden said with a hand on his friend shoulder, giving it a small squeeze.

"Don't forget, I'm here too, okay?"

"I know you are. You've already have helped me a great deal, just by helping me with the Vanguard. It's been a great relief to my mind, a way to calm things and to see things in a good light. Since I've trained with you and the brothers, its been the first time in a long while that I've gotten a decent nights sleep."

Aiden smiled as the lead was taken by someone else in the circle, as they began to tell their own stories. They were marred with tragedy, yet after each on there seemed to be a sense of ease in the air, tensions were lowered and they finally found that small treasure that was peace.

The Padawan looked over to Lorn for a brief moment before looking back to the group, he crossed his arms and took another deep breath.

"If I haven't told you already, I want to say thank you. You are a good man Lorn."

Lorn Reingard

 

[Lorn Reingard]

Tags: Aiden Porte

​

Lorn settled back into the circle, the murmuring voices weaving around him like a familiar, if not always comforting, song. He listened, really listened, to the stories pouring out, each one a broken shard of someone's life. He saw the pain etched on their faces, the lingering ghosts of loss, and a strange sense of camaraderie bloomed in the air. It was raw, it was real, and it was strangely healing.

Aiden's words, spoken with such genuine warmth, replayed in Lorn's mind. That he'd helped, that he and the Vanguard were making a difference, it was a balm to the constant storm inside him. He could see the relief on Aiden's face, the slight easing of the burden he carried. It was good. Truly good. But then, the Padawan had called him a good man.

The words landed like a physical blow. Good? He, Lorn Reingard, a good man? A bitter laugh threatened to bubble up, but he swallowed it down. Was he good? He was a soldier, a weapon honed and sharpened by years of relentless training. He'd been raised in the crucible of conflict, taught to fight, to kill. Jedi or not, the warrior's code ran deeper in his veins. He was a tool, forged for war, a blade in the hand of whoever he thought worthy.

He shifted uncomfortably, the weight of his past pressing down on him. The faces of the fallen flickered behind his eyelids, faces of comrades and enemies alike. Were their sacrifices, his sacrifices, worth it? He'd fought for justice, for freedom, for a better world. But what had it cost him? His family, his home, his innocence – all stripped away, leaving behind a hollow ache in his chest. And was he even on the right side, or was he the villain in someone else's story?

He glanced at Aiden, now focused on the storyteller, his eyes filled with genuine empathy. The Padawan, so young, so hopeful, he looked up to Lorn. And the weight of that admiration was a heavy thing indeed. It was a misplaced faith in a broken man. The guilt gnawed at Lorn. He didn't deserve it. He didn't think he could ever be the kind of man Aiden saw.

Leaning closer so his voice wouldn't carry over the others, Lorn whispered, his gaze fixed on the ground, "I don't know if I'm the man you think I am Aiden." The words were barely audible, a confession born of turmoil and self-doubt. He hoped Aiden wouldn't hear the tremor in his voice. He hoped he wouldn't see the darkness that lingered just beneath the surface. "You are already a better man than I am."

 

[Aiden Porte]

"I don't know if I'm the man you think I am Aiden."

"True...." Aiden said with a small smile, which had more hidden depth than he could even begin to explain. He knew there was a past to everyone who walked the galaxy. He had a past, while it wasn't as deep as others for example his father. His father sat down with him at one point and informed him of all of his past. There was a great deal of good, but also some bad.

"However, I know who you are to me. You being here, proves and means everything." The Jedi Padawan wasn't just talking about being here at the meeting, but being here. On Naboo, aiding and fighting in her defense. Not for selfish reasons but for the good of others.

It wasn't that his past was irrelevant, it was his actions now that shined the brightest. Aiden wasn't going to pry heavily into his friends past or even affairs. He would come to him with that in time, he had no doubt about that.

But if he had to continue to be a small guiding light and spirit or word of hope for those that lost their way for a few brief moments.

That's exactly what he would do.

"You are already a better man than I am."

"I learn from the best." Aiden said as he patted his friend on the shoulder, giving him a strong encouragement.

Stories were continued to be told, and then as if on cue, things shifted and the meeting wasn't somber anymore. But smiles and laughter as those in the circle began to talk about their current lives, families and so on. The smiles brought a good feeling to the Jedi Padawan's mind and heart. He looked over to Lorn with a smile and small nod.

"See, it gets better." He whispered to him as he continued to watch the group. "It always does."

Lorn Reingard

 

[Lorn Reingard]

Tags: Aiden Porte

​

Lorn watched Aiden's smile, a small, genuine thing that seemed to chase away the shadows that had gathered in the room. He felt a strange warmth bloom in his chest at the Padawan's words, a fragile thing like a newborn flame. 'I learn from the best,' Aiden had said, and the weight of that praise settled on Lorn's shoulders, heavy and unwelcome. He didn't know how to reconcile the image Aiden had of him with the broken man he knew himself to be.

The stories shifted. Laughter bubbled up, light and carefree, a stark contrast to the heavy grief that had permeated the space moments before. Lorn watched as faces brightened, the lines of worry and pain fading, replaced with easy smiles. It was a beautiful transformation, a testament to the power of shared experience and hope. Yet, as those around him seemed to grow lighter, Lorn felt a growing unease. The cacophony of happy voices was like a jarring chord in a symphony, a reminder of just how out of tune he was.

Aiden's soft whisper, "See, it gets better. It always does," was meant to be comforting, but it only made Lorn's stomach churn. He wanted to believe it, he desperately did. But the ghosts of his past, the weight of the choices he'd made, dragged him down like anchors. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was an imposter, that he didn't deserve this fleeting moment of peace, this shared laughter.

A faint smile touched Lorn's lips, more a reflex than genuine joy, as he caught Aiden's gaze. He nodded slowly, acknowledging the sentiment, but the unease lingered. The happy chatter seemed to press in on him, amplifying the discord within. He felt like he was standing behind a pane of glass, observing a life he couldn't quite reach, didn't quite deserve.

With a final, almost imperceptible nod to Aiden, Lorn slowly rose to his feet. He didn't offer a word or a wave, just slipped away with quiet grace, wanting to be removed from the joy because he didn't understand it, didn't feel it. He was grateful that Aiden saw something of value in him. However, Lorn couldn't see it himself; He wished he could, but he couldn't. He had to let the happiness, and everything else go, at least for now.

 

[Aiden Porte]

Aiden glanced down as he noted Lorn leave his company. It was obvious that he was going through some things and he didn't wish to discuss it at the time. He completely respected his decision, he thought to how long it took for him to reveal to his friends and such why he kept things so bottled up. Until finally they were released in a rather rude way. He thought back to the evening in the mountains. He thought of Dreidi and Kalantha....

He trusted that he would come to him in time, and reveal what was ailing him. The pain on one's heart was never healthy to keep to himself. He knew most of all.

The meeting would come to a close as Aiden thanked those that attended and set the date time and for another one in the next week.

"Just remember my friends you are not alone. We never truly are, not matter what the darkness tells you. If you need me, you know where to find me." The Jedi Padawan said with a small smile and he gave a respectful bow to them all.

Lorn Reingard

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