First Reply Sandy Walk

[Balru Iolar]

For Balru, this was new. She was walking around Anx Minor, her crystal mass constantly shifting as she kept her humanoid form. She shifted around curiously. It was... weird since she started she training, but this was a simple drop off mission, and now she was just exploring. The young Lervon would find what looked like a cantina. She walked in, though she wasn't quite sure what to do here. Lervon didn't exactly eat or drink. And it wasn't like there was much Jedi business ina place like this right? Still, she could get to see more biological species. Maybe some that were new to her. Or maybe just someone who didn't call her a ghost.

 

[Xian Xiao]

Xian had only stopped in to escape the heat—barely a few steps through the cantina doors before the cooler air and low murmur of voices wrapped around her. She was used to being the odd one out in places like this: too quiet, too sharp, too aware. But today, the oddity wasn't her.

She felt the presence before she saw it—
a shifting ripple in the Force, fluid and crystalline, the unmistakable signature of a Lervon.

Her brows lifted slightly in recognition—Ura's people.
She hadn't seen many since Kashyyyk, and even fewer alone.

Xian took a breath, then crossed the room with the kind of calm stride that said she'd already made up her mind. When she reached Balru's side, she stopped at a respectful distance—close enough to speak, far enough not to overwhelm.

"You're a Lervon," she said gently, not as an accusation but as a simple truth. "I haven't met you before… but I knew someone from your kind. Ura."

A small, sincere smile warmed the edge of her usually cool features.

"You walked in here like you weren't sure if you were allowed to be," she added, tilting her head. "But trust me—this place has seen worse than one polite Lervon."

She glanced around at the mismatched patrons.

"Much worse."

Then her eyes returned to Balru's shifting form, softening with a hint of curiosity she didn't bother hiding.

"Are you looking for someone? Or just exploring?"

Balru Iolar

 

[Balru Iolar]

Balru’s cyan eyes widened a little when
Xian Xiao spoke up. Xian might notice compared to other Lervon the young sand person seemed to almost never settle, keeping herself more fluid. Still it was maybe more surprising when she heard her mom mentioned.

“Wait? You know my mom… or….” Balru stopped. Explaining that would be a nightmare. She had somehow found a friendly face in a random cantina though, so that said something right? “Yeah. I’m kinda new to all this.” She admitted, then heard the question about if she was exploring or looking for someone. Balru just shrugged a little. “Exploring. Was on a Jedi transport mission, and had some time to look around. I’m Balru by the way.”

 

[Xian Xiao]

Xian blinked once, surprised—not by the shifting sand-sheen of Balru's form, but by the sudden flicker of recognition. That name struck something old and bright in her memory.

"Your mom is Ura?" she asked gently, dark eyes warming. "Then… yeah. I know her. She helped me when I was younger. More than she probably ever realized."

There was no heaviness in her tone—just truth, spoken like a steady note from deep in her chest.

Xian leaned her elbow on the bar, posture relaxed, watching the way Balru's form flowed and never quite settled. Lervon movement always fascinated her; they read like weather made into people.

"You move more than most of your kind," she observed softly. "Feels like you're… listening to everything at once."

Not judgment. Not pity. Just observation—clean, precise, honest.

When Balru introduced herself, Xian straightened slightly and gave a small nod of respect.

"I'm Xian. Xian Xiao." She offered a hand—not too fast, not too formal—just a grounded, friendly gesture.

"And yeah," she added with a faint grin, "first time on Anx Minor's cantinas too. So you're not the only one figuring things out."

She glanced around at the assortment of species, the smoky air, and the dim lights.

"Exploring's good," Xian said quietly. "It means you're not afraid to step out of whatever you knew before."

Her gaze returned to Balru, steady.

"If you want company while you explore… I'm not in a rush to be anywhere."

Balru Iolar

 

[Balru Iolar]

Xian would be able to feel the surprised but happy sense in the Force Balru gave off. Seemed like a small galaxy sometimes, and running into someone her mom knew and helped was definitely a show of it. She’d then notice the comment about how much she moved, trying to think of how to respond and not seem as weird as she was.
“Oh! Yeah. Mom says it might be how I came about being odd.” She said in the odd monotone of Lervonian speech. She then heard Xian’s name, and saw the hand extended. Balru would quickly move to shake her hand, having grown up around organics long enough to know the social cues. “Not really sure what to do in a cantina. Not like I exactly eat or drink like you.”
Then Xian offered company, with Balru’s eyes getting a little wider at the idea. “Yeah! I wouldn’t mind.”
Xian Xiao

 

[Xian Xiao]

Xian's mouth pulled into a faint, warm smile as Balru's emotions lit the air around them. Lervon didn't exactly broadcast the same way organics did, but the pulse of happy surprise was clear enough for any Jedi-trained senses to catch.

"Your mother helped a lot of people," Xian said gently. "I'm not surprised she helped you, too."

She didn't flinch when Balru's form shifted—Xian had seen Ura do it often, though Balru's constant motion was new. Interesting. Alive. Like the wind never quite settled on her surface.

When the Lervon mentioned how she came about, Xian's eyebrows lifted just slightly—curious, not judgmental.

"I've met enough Force-born, lab-born, and everything-in-between to know 'odd' isn't a bad thing," she said with a light shrug. "And your mom never struck me as someone who'd raise anybody ordinary."

Balru took her hand, and Xian shifted her grip instinctively—firm but not overwhelming. Lervon texture was always strange the first second, but Xian adapted quickly.

When Balru glanced around the cantina, unsure of herself, Xian leaned one hip against the counter.

"You don't have to eat or drink to sit," she said. "Half the people here aren't doing either—they're just talking, hiding from work, or pretending they aren't lost."

A small grin tugged at her mouth.

"I can keep you company. Or show you around. Or… sit with you if that's what you want."

Balru's eyes widened at the offer, and Xian gave a small nod toward an empty booth tucked against the wall.

"Come on," she said, stepping lightly toward it. "You can tell me what brings you to Anx Minor, and I'll tell you what I remember about your mom."

She glanced back with a teasing lift of a brow.

"And don't worry. Cantinas only get weird if you stay too long."

Balru Iolar

 

[Balru Iolar]

Balru was surprised as Xian started to lead the way to empty booth, and offered to keep her company. “Oh! That’d be great.” She said as she almost literally slid into the booth. She didn’t really mind if she was squished or anything. Not like her body didn’t have just enough give for it to not really matter that much anyway.
Once they were both settled, Balru looked at Xian, remembering her wondering about what the Lervon was doing on this planet. “So, I was just supposed to run a little escort for a quick drop off here. Pretty simple, but the crew are out and about, so figured I could check out the planet.”
Xian Xiao

 

[Xian Xiao]

Xian slid into the booth across from Balru, folding one leg beneath her and setting her arms lightly on the table. The Lervon girl's shifting form caught her eye — a quiet, rhythmic motion like wind humming through glass.

"Exploring's a good use of downtime," Xian said with a small, genuine smile. "Especially on worlds you don't know yet. There's always something strange or beautiful hiding where you don't expect it."

She studied Balru again, curiosity softening her expression.

"And you… definitely stand out more than the average traveler."

Not judgment — fascination.

When Balru mentioned her escort run, Xian's brow lifted faintly.

"I've never been assigned something like that," she admitted. "Most of my 'missions' were just surviving whatever my life threw at me and trying not to get kicked out of the places I landed in."

A hint of humor warmed her voice.

"So you're already doing better than I did at your age."

She leaned back against the booth cushion, relaxed.

"But I'm glad you wandered in here. Exploring a place alone can get… well, boring. Or overwhelming. Or both."

Her eyes softened, sincere.

"If you want company, I'll stay. We can make an adventure out of it."

A beat.

"What do you want to see? Markets? Locals? Strange wildlife? I'm good at finding trouble — or avoiding it. Depends what you're in the mood for."

She tilted her head, studying Balru openly.

"And I wouldn't mind getting to know you. Lervon aren't exactly common where I'm from."

Balru Iolar

 

[Balru Iolar]

Balru would let out an excited feeling at the idea of having someone to explore with. “Company would be nice. I’ve never been good figuring this stuff out solo.“She admitted. The young Lervon would continue thinking about what adventures that could be.

The sandy Padawan thought for a moment, hearing all the options.
“Honestly, I kinda want to see it all.”

Xian Xiao

 

[Xian Xiao]

Xian smiled at that—not wide or showy, but genuine in the way it reached her dark eyes and softened her shoulders. There was something familiar in Balru's admission, something she understood without needing to think too hard about it.

"Yeah," she said quietly, nodding once as if that settled something important. "Doing things solo is overrated. You miss half of it when there's no one to react with."

She shifted slightly on the booth seat to give Balru a bit more room, resting her forearms loosely on the table. Up close, her tone stayed calm and easy, but there was a gentle enthusiasm beneath it—curiosity answering curiosity.

"And honestly?" Xian added, glancing out toward the cantina's entrance, where the sounds of the street filtered in. "Seeing it all is a solid plan. Markets, alleys, places you're not technically supposed to wander into but do anyway." A small, conspiratorial smile tugged at her mouth. "Those are usually the interesting ones."

Her gaze returned to Balru, thoughtful now rather than assessing. "We don't have to rush it, though. Exploration's better when you let things surprise you instead of chasing a checklist."

She stood, adjusting her jacket and offering a hand—not urgent, not pushy—just an invitation.

"Come on," Xian said lightly. "We'll start nearby and see where we end up. Worst case, we get lost and find something worth remembering."

And if the galaxy felt a little smaller with company? Well, Xian had learned that wasn't always a bad thing.

Balru Iolar

 

[Balru Iolar]

If Balru could smile she would be, taking Xian’s hand and getting up to follow her, curious about what they would find, and how much she’d learn.
“So, what’s something you think my mom might not have mentioned before? I know she’s told me a bit, but sometimes I think she… worried about me wanting to be a Padawan.” The young Lervon asked as she looked around to see what new things she could spot as she followed.


Xian Xiao

 

[Xian Xiao]

Xian let Balru take her hand without hesitation, her grip warm and steady as she guided her away from the bustle and into a quieter stretch where curiosity could breathe a little easier. She listened as Balru spoke, really listened, not just to the words but to the uncertainty tucked gently inside them.

She didn't answer right away.

Instead, Xian glanced down at her with a small, thoughtful smile, the kind that wasn't meant to reassure so much as invite honesty.

"That's a fair question," she said at last, her voice calm and patient, unhurried in the way she spoke when she wanted someone to feel safe filling the silence. "And you're probably not wrong. Parents worry in ways they don't always explain very well, especially when the Force is involved."

She slowed just a little, enough that Balru wouldn't feel tugged along, enough that walking together felt like a choice rather than a direction.

"But it might be easier," Xian continued gently, "if you tell me what your mother has said. What she's warned you about. What she's avoided." Her thumb brushed lightly against the back of Balru's hand, grounding, encouraging rather than pressing.

"Then I can tell you what she might have left out," she added, a faint warmth in her tone. "Not because she meant to hide it from you, but because some things are hard to explain when you love someone and don't want to scare them."

Her dark eyes softened as she looked ahead, then back to Balru.

"And for what it's worth," Xian said quietly, "wanting to be a Padawan doesn't mean you're running away from who you are. Sometimes it just means you're trying to understand it better."

She gave Balru a small, inviting nod.

"So tell me. What has she told you so far?"

Balru Iolar

 

[Balru Iolar]

Balru thought a moment as she follows Xian, allowing her to lead the way while she focused. “Well, she’s told me about some battles, figuring out I existed, her time as a militia pilot. She hasn’t really talked about what happened before… well the injury she got that lead her testing a chance to heal Lervon. She’s never really talked about it.” Balru said, her crystal mass actually settling as she thought.
“She’s mentioned some interesting stories too. Like getting some crystals healed into another Padawan. But it just feels like… maybe she’s worried I’ll just become her? Since I’m the closest thing to a clone of a Lervon.” Balru was pretty sure there was no issue mentioning that. I mean, she was exploring and talking with a new friend after all. Might as well mention it.
Xian Xiao

 

[Xian Xiao]

Xian slowed her pace without making a show of it, letting Balru keep step beside her as the girl spoke. She listened fully, not just to the words but to the way Balru's crystal mass settled and shifted with her thoughts, the subtle tells of someone turning something over carefully rather than throwing it out all at once.

"That makes sense," Xian said gently when Balru finished, her voice calm and unhurried. "Your mom…she carries a lot of things quietly. Some of them are heavy enough that talking about them feels like reopening a door she worked hard to close."

She glanced ahead for a moment, then back to Balru, offering a small, reassuring smile.

"And for what it's worth, I don't think she's afraid you'll become her," Xian added. "I think she's afraid you'll feel like you're expected to."

They walked a few more steps before Xian continued, choosing her words with care.

"My time with the Jedi wasn't all abandonment and war," she said honestly. "There were good parts. Really good parts." Her expression softened with the memory. "Training was…grounding, when it worked. Early mornings, meditation that actually felt peaceful instead of like a test, learning forms until your muscles burned, and then laughing about it afterward with people who were just as sore."

She let out a quiet breath, almost a fond huff of amusement.

"I made friends. Real ones. Padawans who snuck extra rations into their sleeves, Masters who pretended not to notice when we stayed up too late talking instead of resting. There was a sense of belonging, at least for a while. Like we were all trying to figure ourselves out together."

Her gaze drifted, thoughtful.

"And your mom?" Xian smiled more openly now. "I met her at a beach party. Not exactly the kind of thing people picture when they think of the Jedi."

She chuckled softly. "It was one of those rare shore leaves where everyone pretended the galaxy wasn't on fire. Sand everywhere, borrowed music equipment that definitely wasn't approved, people arguing over who was best at flying skimboards." She shook her head. "Your mom stood out immediately. Not loud, not trying to impress anyone. Just…confident. Happy, even. Like she'd found a pocket of the universe where she could breathe."

Xian glanced at Balru again, warmth in her eyes.

"She talked about flying like it was freedom, not duty. About choosing to protect people instead of being told to. That stuck with me." A pause. "I think that version of her still matters. Even if she doesn't talk about it much."

She slowed to a stop, then turned slightly so Balru could see her fully.

"You're not a replacement," Xian said quietly. "And you're not a shadow. Whatever similarities you share with her, you get to decide what they mean. She might be worried you'll feel trapped by her past, but that doesn't mean she wants you to avoid having your own."

A small, encouraging smile returned.

"And if you ever want to hear more of the good stories," she added lightly, "I've got plenty. Including the embarrassing ones. Especially the embarrassing ones."

 

[Balru Iolar]

Balru “blinked” in confusion. More her vision crystals seemed to fade for a moment. An odd quirk for a Lervon to have, but something she picked up growing up around organics. That or something with her being a clone, like her ever shifting crystal mass. She hadn’t really thought of that before. Her mom worrying she’d be in her shadow. Hearing about how she was at a beach party though…. It sounded like her when she worked on the y’ceptor she’d gotten for Yurb.

“She still loves flying. Taught me, though I’m not… well I could survive I think.” She said as she tried to figure out how to describe it. But hearing someone she just met say she wasn’t a replacement… it felt… nice. “Thank you.”

Balru looked around a little, though the mention of knowing embarrassing things about her mom sent a happy, excited feeling through the Force. “Embarrassing? Well I’ve got to know now!”

Xian Xiao

 

[Xian Xiao]

Xian smiled when Balru's crystal mass dimmed and shifted, not in alarm but in recognition. She had learned that look in others, too, that moment when thought outran language and expression lagged behind intention. She slowed her pace just a little so Balru could stay beside her comfortably, matching her stride without needing to adjust herself.

"She does," Xian said gently. "The flying, I mean. Even when she pretends it's just a skill or a tool." Her expression softened with fond familiarity. "You can always tell with pilots. They say they're practical, but the way they talk about the sky gives them away."

She glanced toward Balru as she continued, voice calm and reassuring.

"And surviving is enough. That's where flying actually starts. Everything after that is confidence and trust in yourself."

When Balru thanked her, Xian shook her head once, small but firm.

"You don't need to thank me for that," she said. "You're not here to replace anyone. You're here because you're you. Being similar doesn't make you a copy, and it doesn't erase the choices you'll make that are your own."

She felt the flicker of excited curiosity ripple through the Force and let herself smile a little more openly.

"Embarrassing?" Xian echoed, a hint of amusement in her voice. "Oh, absolutely."

She leaned in slightly, conspiratorial but kind.

"There was a beach gathering when I was still with the Jedi. Music, fires, and laughter were where we were far less solemn than people expect. Your mother danced like no one was watching, and she was very convinced that everyone else was the one being obvious."

Xian's smile turned warmer.

"She was happy," she added. "Not trying to be impressive. Not trying to prove anything. Just enjoying the moment."

Then she tilted her head, clearly entertained by Balru's curiosity.

"And I probably know more," she admitted. "But fair warning, if you want stories, it's only fair I get one in return. What's the funniest thing she's ever told you about herself?"

Balru Iolar

 

[Balru Iolar]

As Balru sped up a little to keep pace, she had to admit it was nice to hear. She was actually on a right track, and maybe she could at least keep one skill of her mom’s with some practice.

She did seem to warm at the idea of her mom just dancing and enjoying life. She’d seen it a few times before, but more of that wouldn’t have been the worst thing. “I can imagine some people probably weren’t ready for that.” She started with a chuckle. “Lervon dancing is a bit… odd to others.” She said, but then there was noting that she knew more stories, but was curious on what stories Balru knew.

The young Lervon thought a moment, thinking back to various stories she’d heard over the years. “Well, I know she has a lot about learning things about organics. She made sure I wouldn’t be as lost as she was. She apparently nearly got flushed down a vac-tube on accident before knowing what it was.”

Xian Xiao

 

[Xian Xiao]

Xian slowed her pace just a fraction so Balru wouldn't feel like she had to rush to keep up, matching her stride more by instinct than intention. She listened with the same quiet attention she always gave when someone spoke about the people they loved, mainly when the words carried both pride and fond embarrassment in equal measure.

A small smile tugged at her mouth when Balru mentioned dancing.

"I think most people aren't ready for joy when it doesn't look the way they expect," Xian said gently. "Anything that doesn't fit the shape they already understand tends to make them uncomfortable." She glanced sideways at Balru, warmth in her eyes rather than judgment. "Different isn't wrong. It just asks people to stretch a little, and not everyone likes that."

At the mention of Lervon dancing, her smile softened further, touched with genuine amusement. "I don't think it's odd," she added. "I think it's honest. Bodies moving the way they're meant to, instead of the way someone decided they should."

When Balru brought up the stories her mother had shared, especially the ones about learning how organics functioned, Xian let out a quiet laugh that was more affectionate than mocking.

"She sounds like she was determined," Xian said. "Not just to survive, but to understand. That matters more than getting everything right the first time." Her eyebrows lifted slightly at the vac-tube story. "And honestly, that's…very believable. Coruscant eats people who don't know its rules. Sometimes literally."

She shook her head once, still smiling.

"The fact that she made sure you wouldn't be as lost as she was says a lot about her," Xian continued. "She didn't just learn for herself. She learned so you wouldn't have to stumble the same way."

Her tone grew a little more thoughtful as she looked ahead, then back to Balru.

"You're not her replacement," Xian said plainly, the words steady and sure. "You're her continuation, in your own way. Different shape. Different path. Same core."

She paused, then added with a hint of playful curiosity, "So… did she ever tell you what happened after she learned what a vac-tube was? Or did that story conveniently end right before the embarrassing part?"

The smile she gave Balru was easy and open, inviting rather than pressing, the kind that said she was listening not as a teacher or authority, but as someone genuinely glad to be walking beside her.

Balru Iolar

 

[Balru Iolar]

Balru seemed happy to hear it as she continued to follow. A continuation…. Definitely had a better ring to it. She’d also let out an odd laugh as Xian talked about Coruscant. She thought, but was then reminded of one thing. She hadn’t really finished explaining what happened.

”Oh right! Well…. She didn’t got into much detail, but she did mention having to crawl out of the sewers, and that it felt like a week to get clean after it. She’s said that might’ve been the worst time for something fairly harmless she’s had.” Balru thought, looking around. Before speaking up again, calming a little.

“Wonder what kinda trouble I’ll manage to get into?” She chuckled again, wondering about what her adventures would look like now.

Xian Xiao

 

[Xian Xiao]

Xian smiled at that, the kind of smile that came easier when she wasn't trying to be a teacher or an example, just someone walking beside a curious kid who reminded her a little too much of herself.

She slowed her pace just enough to stay comfortably beside Balru, letting the path unfold ahead of them while she considered her words. "Crawling out of the sewers on Coruscant," she said, a quiet note of sympathy in her voice. "Yeah… that tracks. Coruscant has a way of teaching you lessons whether you ask for them or not."

She glanced down at Balru, dark eyes warm, thoughtful rather than amused.

"But that's the thing," Xian continued. "Those were her troubles. The ones she had to survive. They shaped her, but they don't set the limit on what yours will be."

Her hand lifted in a small, casual gesture, indicating the world around them, the path, the open possibilities. "You're not going to repeat her story. Not really. You'll get into trouble, sure," she added, a faint grin touching her mouth, "but it'll be your kind of trouble. The sort that only makes sense because it's you."

She thought for a moment, then added more gently, "Different choices. Different mistakes. Different victories. Even if some of the echoes sound familiar."

Xian exhaled softly, the Force brushing past like a calm current rather than a command.

"And when you do get stuck somewhere messy, literal or otherwise," she said lightly, "you'll find your way out too. Probably in a way no one else would think of."

She looked at Balru again, steady and sincere. "That's the part I'm looking forward to seeing."

Balru Iolar