Private Show & Tell [Judah Dashiell]

[Balun Dashiell]

Show & Tell
Judah Dashiell

Following the Family Dinner for Life Day, Balun Dashiell hadn't returned to Jhaessa Prime as he'd originally planned. Instead, he and Kellan Dashiell had remained on Joiol for a few days, perhaps a week if he didn't somehow manage to outstay his welcome. A full 24-hour cycle had passed since, and once again the evening had come and gone with Balun ensuring his Son went to bed at a reasonable time before returning downstairs to the living room where he hoped to find his Father.

A recent conversation with Makai Dashiell had unfortunately confirmed Balun's long-held suspicions about their Father's state of mind. Judah Dashiell , as far as Makai could tell, had not been happy for some time, and while this had troubled Balun before, now it had been cemented as truth, and he couldn't pretend to be oblivious to it anymore. Balun, of course, didn't expect to have any answers, nor even know where to begin when it came to helping his Father, but swallowing his pride and putting himself out there was at least worth the risk, if it meant showing Judah that he was there for his old man.

Moving into the room, Balun carried an expensive bottle of bourbon and two glasses. If they were really going to have this discussion, he expected they would both benefit from a strong drink and a couple of packs of cigarro's. He had come prepared, at least materialistically. Tossing one of the packs of smokes to his father, Balun then proceeded to sit in front of the Stimcaf table and pour them both a full glass.

"Time for us to have a chat, old man", Balun remarked, a quiet yet vocal decision on both of their parts, soon turning to offer his father his drink.

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

"Speech"
'Thought'​

 

[Judah Dashiell]

It was that hazy period after Life Day where the days blurred together. Judah had taken some time off work to spend time around Joiol with the family. Some stayed, some were busy, but he appreciated the time to unwind for a little bit. A bit of bird watching. A touch of fishing. A good amount of time spent with the grandkids.

Relaxed back on his plush leather couch in his living room, clad in his pajamas for the night, attention was raptly focused on a shockboxing tournament playing on the holo. It was one of the sports he could stand - never got much into graviball and gravigolf much like Makai. The middleweight division was up next and he was settling in for a longer night than usual. With any luck he wouldn't be disturbed too early in the morning but with Kellan and Phoebe around that was unlikely.

Suddenly a pack of smokes were tossed in his lap, causing his attention to turn as Balun entered, speaking. Alcohol in hand no less. He picked up the packet and looked at it with a frown. Did his son smoke these? It wasn't the quality he preferred. Since making it 'big' and becoming wealthy, Judah was very particular about his cigarras. Now as a teen this seemed more up his alley.

Placing the pack down away from him, expression turned amused.

"Got another Sith girl pregnant?"

Balun Dashiell​

 

[Balun Dashiell]

Show & Tell
Judah Dashiell

Balun nearly choked upon the first sip of his bourbon as his father replied, asking if he had gotten another Sith pregnant. "Dear Gods, no. Thank grist for that too. I'm not seeing anyone, not that I'd have the time for it," Balun replied through a quiet laugh. He shook his head as if to reaffirm the fact, and soon resigned himself to the comfort of the couch, searching for the words with which to better explain himself.

"I don't actually want to talk about me, but you and I don't have these sorts of conversations, and I'm not sure how it's going to go, or if it'll get very far", Balun expressed, speaking with his feelings more so than voicing a planned, rehearsed speech. He had, of course, thought one up, but it just didn't feel appropriate. Judah Dashiell was his father, after all. Why shouldn't they be able to talk comfortably?

"Honestly, Dad. I'm more concerned with how you've been doing. I don't go out of my way to put myself in these sorts of situations because I'm no good at them, but I've been a little worried about you for a while now. You don't seem overly..." Happy didn't seem like the right word for it either; "Content with life?" he asked rhetorically, knowing what he meant but uncertain whether or not Judah would understand.

"When was the last time you went out on a date, or caught up with some friends. People outside of the family?" he asked curiously, not even sure if his father had people he considered to be friends as opposed to colleagues and business associates. Balun had wondered, because he was very much the same way.

"I don't know how you're doing these days, but then I don't exactly make a habit of asking either. Not because I don't want to know, but because I tend to kark these sorts of conversations up somehow".

It was time to light the first cigarro. Likely one of many for the evening.

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

"Speech"
'Thought'​

 

[Judah Dashiell]

"You don't have to be seeing someone to get them pregnant."

Wry look was shot in the direction of his son. At the very least the boy seemed truthful that he wasn't fooling around with nefarious women - for the moment. Judah quietly wondered how long such a dry spell would last.

Then the questioning began. Ones around his habits and personal life. An odd thing to come from Balun. Judah loved both his sons but Bale had never been overly concerned to ask about his outside life. Who his friends were or what he was up to outside of the company structure.

The old salvager was sure Balun knew some of it, but not all. Much how he knew little of what Bale did when he jaunted off to various Jedi Temples. Rough ideas but never anything concrete.

"Hmm...I'm content with my life."

The truth, for the most part. Judah had come to accept that there were just things he would not have or could change. Part of maturity perhaps. Or taking a more realistic view of his life, now that it seemed he was entering a different phase.

"I do not date because there are no women who interest me." Judah shot Balun a look. "Or men, before you ask. I have certain standards and there's a nonexistent pool meeting said standards."

There had been the idea of exploring contracting the services of a Companion but the thought of paying for company was depressing. More so than just being alone.

"As for dinner, I had a charity dinner event before Life Day. I was seated with my peers. Wasnt a bad time, had some good scotch. Donated some credits."

Eyebrow arced at the cigarra. Chain smoking already?

"Is there a reason for this inquiry?"

Balun Dashiell​

 

[Balun Dashiell]

Show & Tell
Judah Dashiell

Balun smirked at the hypothetical dating of men and simply shook his head in response. He wasn't going to ask or suggest anything of the sort, though it was quite common, and he didn't particularly care what his father's type was, as long as he was happy.

"Charity events don't count, they're business related", he pointed out, more interested in Judah Dashiell 's social life than his work life.

Offering a dismissive wave of his left hand, he chuckled to himself before briefly turning his attention to take a drag from his cigarro. He hadn't come in with much of a plan, figuring he would wing the discussion as he often did; yet, this was proving more difficult than he anticipated, which only served to remind him why he typically avoided these situations.

"You're my old man, do I need to justify wanting to see you happy in life?" Balun answered Judah's question over the discussion: "No, I've just been thinking about you. There are times when you don't seem entirely happy, moments where it's like you don't think anyone's watching and let your guard down. I'm not entirely self-absorbed, y'know".

He considered mentioning that Makai agreed with him, too; however, he decided it was best to keep his older brother out of it, lest Balun go putting him in the line of fire, so to speak.

"I understand the whole dating thing. I guess I inherited your high standards," Balun joked, yet quickly realised the hole he'd dug himself and swiftly added "Don't say anything" before his father could comment on his history with girls. Perhaps his standards had been largely encouraged after certain harsh lessons. Certainly, Judah wouldn't have missed the opportunity to chime in, and Balun shared the irony, laughing softly under his breath. His own son was a blessed consequence of a terrible life decision that he couldn't leave behind.

"Anyway. I just thought it might be good for you to hang out with someone. Get some down time with another person not involved in the business. Someone you can talk with about other chit like life and how karking annoying it is to have two adult sons. Do something fun for yourself".

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

"Speech"
'Thought'​

 

[Judah Dashiell]

Judah refrained from making a comment about charity being more business than personal. He had gone to a charity for research into childhood diseases, a cause near and dear to his heart due to his now daughter-in-law. Balun had no idea and he didn't bother to correct his son, letting him think what he wanted. Although a bit concerning Bale correlated charity with mere business.

"No, you don't need to justify."

It was nice for his younger son to be concerned, which is why Judah was letting him speak without interruption. Did he agree? Not entirely. He had just done something fun for himself with the fishing expedition. The charity event had also been fun and he had won a bid on a rare bottle of scotch in one of the fundraising portions. Even today, he had been relaxing on the couch watching shock boxing, plans tomorrow to spend the day wrangling grandkids while they were still around.

"Sure, I'll keep your advice in mind."

Picking up the bourbon Balun had brought, Judah took a sip and leaned back, turning his attention to the shockboxing fight once again. A punch landed on the jaw of a Rodian with a sickening thud.

"That's going to hurt in the morning."

Balun Dashiell​

 

[Balun Dashiell]

Show & Tell
Judah Dashiell

Judah Dashiell didn't really seem to be receptive to the whole 'heart-to-heart' talk, which Balun could relate to personally. Something they seemed to have in common. When his father turned to look back to the holovision, Balun did the same and watched as one of the shockboxers took a hard hit to the jawline, causing Balun to smirk a little.

Judah was correct, that would hurt in the morning. Bale knew from experience.

For a while, Bale would simply sit in shared silence, smoking his cigarro and sipping from his glass now and then. Having lived together for so long, there was no awkwardness in the silence, a reprieve from talking with emotion and all that buttery stuff. Even so, Balun wasn't so sure how much his father had taken in, and as much as he'd like to leave the conversation there, he needed to be certain he had stated his case clearly.

Speaking through a plume of cigarro smoke, Balun sounded off once more: "The Family Dinner was good on Life Day. Everything seemed to go to plan. You and Danger talk very often outside of family events?" It wasn't subtle, but he hoped it would soften the blow to ask about Danger in the same sentence as reminding Judah of his love for his family.

"I'm prying, I know. It's not something we usually talk about," Balun conceded before his father had the opportunity to dismiss him with prejudice; "But as young as I might be in your eyes, I'm not a kid anymore either. Maybe it's about time you and I talked more about this sort of thing, Pop". He tried to reinforce the hope of an open discussion, but even Balun felt uneasy bringing it up. Danger Arceneau and his father was uncharted territory where conversations were concerned.

"For all you've done for me over the years, I think we can afford to focus a bit more on you, right?".

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

"Speech"
'Thought'​

 

[Judah Dashiell]

Unfortunately the questioning didn't pause for long. Judah had hoped Balun was here to spend time with him and not interrogate about his personal life. There was nothing to hide in the slightest. More he had been enjoying his evening and preferred not to dig deep into his personal issues. He was enjoying having family around and didn't want to mar that by discussing things that couldn't be changed.

"I really haven't done much for you. Would have been nice to do more..." Drifting off, a thought struck him, turning to Balun. "I hope your mother wished you a happy Life Day. If not..."

Judah addressed that portion first since his son was not subtle. Trying to soften the blow did nothing. He was one though who preferred things were just said outright instead of hiding behind flowery language, so there was no harm behind the words. Yet Judah couldn't tell if Balun was prying or genuinely concerned about his well being.

Taking a sip of bourbon, the old salvager shrugged.

"No, I only speak to Danger about Phoebe or one of the kids." The 'kids' of course being Myra and Makai. "I tried, years ago right before Phoebe was born, to apologize. It wasn't well received. So I am merely cordial because I have to - not that I would go out of my way to be an ass. Before you ask, no I am not trying again. The ball has been in her court. I'm not wasting my time on those who have made it abundantly clear I am not worth it."

Judah refused to grovel. Idly he wondered if that is what Danger wanted, some long drawn out apology. He had earnestly tried his best that evening and it didn't work. There was no sense in wasting time on people who clearly hated him.

Balun Dashiell​

 

[Balun Dashiell]

Show & Tell
Judah Dashiell

"I really haven't done much for you. Would have been nice to do more..." Drifting off, a thought struck him, turning to Balun. "I hope your mother wished you a happy Life Day. If not..."

Balun visibly tensed, his expression turning from one of calm to obvious disbelief. Judah Dashiell spoke of his mother as if she were a present factor in his life, which she had never been, but the fact that he had said what he did implied that he had been in contact with her. All thoughts of Danger Arceneau were immediately set aside in the face of his shock, a mere sentence that held such revelation, he hadn't anticipated in the slightest. Why would his Mother, whoever she was, wish him a happy life day? She'd never even entered his life.

He seemed to be staring off at nothing in particular, tunnel-visioned as he wrestled with his thoughts and the urge to say something horrendous and inappropriate. Were he still a boy, he would have, yet he had grown and matured. His restraint in that moment was evidence of his progress in life. Much of which was largely, if not entirely, credited to his father, who had been his sole role model. Or at the very least, the only role model Balun had ever accepted and looked up to, before meeting Ala Quin .

"I've never met her. You know that" Balun spoke up after a difficult and seemingly eternal silence; "After twenty-three life days missed, why would the twenty-fourth be any different?" he asked rhetorically. The question was one he had thought he knew the answer to, up until this moment, yet now his words echoed with expectation, unable to ignore the feeling that his father had something to tell him on the matter.

This wasn't supposed to be a conversation about Balun, though. He wanted to give his time to his father, to voice his continued interest and care in his father's life, just as Judah had been so invested in his and Makai's. He had hoped to show that it was now a two-way street, that Balun wasn't a kid anymore and could be there to care for Judah, whether he accepted it or not.

"Y'know what, don't answer that", he decided quickly, speaking up once more before his father could reply; "This isn't about my Mom. She's had plenty of chances. I'm here for you", he reiterated. Balun even sounded convincing, confident that he couldn't give a damn about whoever the woman who birthed him had been. Judah had been there; he was someone who mattered.

"I don't know what you and Danger went through, and I don't know her well enough to be any kind of judge when it comes to personal relationships. It just seems like she's still the one that got away" he shrugged a little, leaning back into his chair once more and taking another swig from his bourbon. "As you know, I'm the last person who should be giving out relationship advice so rest assured I have none to offer. I'd just like to see you with someone you deserve. Someone who appreciates all the chit you do".

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

"Speech"
'Thought'​

 

[Judah Dashiell]

Judah had forgotten Balun's mother was a complete coward. Psychotic too. When she had stalked him down last year Judah thought that maybe, just maybe, she would have considered his advice and reached out to Balun Dashiell . Apparently not. Odd in his eyes given the woman had disregard for his safety to find him not once but twice. At this point he suspected the woman didn't even want to try to make a connection.

It only enraged him but there wasn't anything he could do. Maybe it was for the better.

"I do have some information. If you change your mind let me know. Nothing groundbreaking mind you."

Naturally talk turned back to Danger and he couldn't help but to chuckle a little at Balun's assessment. He wasn't sure what had possessed his son to think of these things. Especially since he avoided all but the bare minimum in interactions with Danger. Nothing personal, again, he had tried to reach out. It had been more of a keeping the peace type situation. So far it had been working well for him.

"You're wrong but I'll let you believe what you like. As for someone who appreciates me, when you find her let me know. Fairly certain she doesn't exist or has been hiding from me for the last thirty-odd years."

 

[Balun Dashiell]

Show & Tell
Judah Dashiell

​

"If it makes you feel any better, I'm sort of in the same lifeboat" Balun chuckled dryly as he glanced back towards the holovision, the shockboxing game still proceeding as the two fighters bobbed and weaved around each other, looking for openings in the other's guard; "I don't think many women want to play stepmom at my age, and I can't have someone who doesn't have time for Kellan, let alone me".

Had he the opportunity to turn back the chronometer and do it all over again, he would have, of course, not had a kid so young, but then these things weren't planned, and life just happened. Nouqai had effectively also killed Balun's ability to trust implicitly, and it would take someone extraordinary to change his mind. Someone whose problems didn't need to be added by, or include Balun's own emotional faults and hard life lessons.

Raising his glass to his lips once more, he took a longer sip and emptied the bourbon into his throat, swallowing it back as though it might spare him from his feelings. Drinking didn't seem to fix anything, but it certainly made things easier in the moment. Most of the time.

"I am sorry about Danger. I like her. She's a no bullchit type of person that doesn't beat around the proverbial bush. It's a shame," Balun gestured to Judah Dashiell with his glass, a silent question hinting at a potential refill of his father's drink. "There's a lot I don't know about your history, and Makai's answer to my questions usually comes back in the form of 'ask him yourself" Balun grinned a little now, adding, "Which is fair, really. He's been around the block a few times already".

Temporary silence found its way back into the room while Balun's mind moved to the previous mention of information. His father really did have something on his mother, something he had quickly surmised when she had been mentioned. "What kind of information, out of curiosity?" He glanced back towards his father with both apprehension and intrigue in his gaze, though entirely uncertain whether he wished to know more about the woman who had abandoned him so many years ago. Some wounds were better left to scar.

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

"Speech"
'Thought'​

 

[Judah Dashiell]

"It doesn't make it better because it makes me feel like my son is also a loser. I get your point though."

Judah would have suspected one of the various Jedi women running around would have locked Balun Dashiell down by now. From what he could tell they were quite prolific - tons of children, lots of focus on raising the next generation of mindless child warriors. Not that he wanted that fate for his grandchildren, just how he saw things at the greater galaxy at large.

"What happened to that friend of yours, the Mirilian?"

Never met her, but he had heard a few things. That had been years ago though at this point. Maybe in time Balun would find someone, he was much younger than himself. There was a shake of his head at the refill, deciding not to need any more alcohol at the moment.

"Makai is right, just ask me yourself. Nothing crazy with Danger. We got into an argument and she won't accept my apology. Not a big deal at all, one of those things in life. Don't worry about it."

Talk turned to Balun's mother and Judah sighed. He would have to be respectful. He may not like the woman but he made it a point to never speak ill will of the woman who bore his son - at least not to the kid. He bitched plenty enough to associates. Yet he knew Balun may have feelings and like it or not, she was Balun's mother and he respected that.

"She chased me down, twice. Once in the street where my bodyguards intervened. Second time she weaseled her way into Celestia Station. I informed her to reach out to you. Apparently she did not take my advice is all."

​

 

[Balun Dashiell]

Show & Tell
Judah Dashiell

​

"You're not a loser, pop. There's no one in this Galaxy I respect more than you," Balun replied quickly, the words coming with a surprising ease as he voiced his feelings. "Me, though, well...Successful as I may be, yeah. Can't argue there," he chuckled softly. It was almost a trademark at this point: using humour to disguise or distract from real, heartfelt conversation. Yet, today seemed to be a day for that sort of talk.

Judah had asked about Iona Starchaser , a small smile coming to play on Balun as he thought of her once more. "Iona?" he asked rhetorically, knowing full well that was who his father was asking about; "I had hoped for something more, but..." his words faltered a moment as he tried to find the appropriate choice. "I don't know", he resigned, leaning back further into his cushioned seating and raising his glass to his lips briefly. "She had a knack for calling me out on my insecurities, and I was good at choosing the wrong words at the worst of times. She was a very straightforward and logical type, whereas I'm more 'go with the flow' and probably too emotional for her. Our differences shone brighter than anything, sadly".

Balun had been quite keen on something happening between him and Iona, and it was too easy to regret the way some of their conversations had ended. To his knowledge, she was off teaching on Mnemosyne or somewhere within that sphere of the Galaxy, hoping that she was happier with the life she had made for herself.

He didn't comment in response to Judah's supporting stance regarding his brother Makai, but Bale did offer a sympathetic smile at the final mention of Danger. He wouldn't probe at the subject any further, finally letting it lie and giving his father some peace from the subject. It was clear that there was little else to say, and it seemed his father's hope for a fulfilling life lay elsewhere. At least where Balun was concerned.

"She chased me down, twice. Once in the street where my bodyguards intervened. Second time she weaseled her way into Celestia Station. I informed her to reach out to you. Apparently she did not take my advice is all."

Mid-drag from his cigarra and the smoke lowered in his hand a little as Balun stared back at his father in light of what he'd just told him. "She-..." his brows furrowed as he tried to imagine his mother, whatever she looked like, paying a visit to Celestia Station; "got inside Celestia Station? To see you?". Once again, his words were rhetorical, having repeated what Judah had just said, his father needn't reiterate.

"Unbelievable" he seethed, shifting forward on the edge of the couch and pressing his elbows to his knees as he topped his glass of bourbon back up. It was a good thing he had brought the alcohol with him. "What'd she want from you? Where's she been all this time? Why now?" he asked the three questions quickly as his mind raced to put together the pieces of a puzzle he had never had.

"Who the kark does she think she is".

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

"Speech"
'Thought'​

 

[Judah Dashiell]

"Maybe in the future you and this Iona can reconnect. Who knows, don't be too harsh on yourself yet. Plenty of time for things to mellow and work themselves out. Just don't shut the door, you know? Leave it cracked in case one of you wants to try again."

Advice he did follow. Judah hadn't shut the door on Danger, yet it didn't seem she was interested in walking through the door. It was all he could do and really all anyone could do. Forcing things would make the situation worse. Personally he would rather have something unresolved than knowing he went too far and shut down a possibility. Didn't mean he was happy with the situation but more or less had found the wisdom to deal with it on his end.

"Yes, she got into Celestia Station after running into me on the street - on Empress Teta when we were visiting the tomb of Alric Kuhn. Just thought she was a mentally ill woman. Didn't put two and two together until she came to Celestia Station."

Judah slowly shook his head, swirling the small amount of liquid left the glass.

"She thought I was part of a criminal enterprise because I was in a tobacco shop about the same time as some crime boss. Guess she didn't catch the part of me merely stocking up on cigarras before Teta was cut off again. That is...that is pretty much what she wanted. All work. I wanted her to reach out to you but I suppose she decided against it. Says you are safer that way."

A small scoff.

"If I had a credit for every time the mother of my son said that to me I'd have two credits, which....is quite odd."

Balun Dashiell​

 

[Balun Dashiell]

Show & Tell
Judah Dashiell

​

"Iona's not someone I would ever shut the door on, but then I don't nessecarily think she's the type to change her mind about this particular matter" Balun replied quietly, his thoughts were a jumbled mess since hearing news of his mothers appearance, the fact that she was still breathing was truthfully information he had often questioned and never expected to answer.

"There is another girl. Or there was, rather, since Iona" Balun reluctantly admitted, "This one's a Togruta and used to be with the Jedi Order of the High Republic, but she wasn't dogged like the others. I felt I quite related to her, actually, considering that we both felt indifference towards some of the Order's teachings. Cerys Dyn is her name, but she eventually left the Order, and from what I can gather, she also wants nothing to do with me due to my affiliation with the Jedi. Last I saw her, I think she believed that I had come to take her back...-It wasn't what I had expected or intended. Still, she's as stubborn as I am" Balun glanced back to his father with something of a small, lopsided smile, as if admitting that he did in fact know how difficult a person he could be. "I've reluctantly had to come to terms with the fact that things aren't going to happen there either. In fact, I don't know if she ever saw me the way I saw her. It is what it is..." his voice faded as he returned the glass of bourbon to his lips and took a larger gulp of the dense, copper alcohol.

"As for my mom, there are so many questions...I don't know where to start," He spoke through a scoff, a forced breath as if to deter him from cussing her name; "Part of me wants to hate her for what you just told me, but then I suppose I'm guilty of doing the same to Kellan with his Mother. Keeping the truth from him to protect him. He's much younger and not ready for it, so it's not the same as this situation, but still. Can't help compare the two scenarios," he waved his left hand dismissively before bringing the cigarra to his lips, inhaling long and hard as he drew the smoke into his lungs and eventually exhaled that which his body refused to withhold out through his nostrils.

"Who even is she? What's her name? I'm assuming you did some digging?" he glanced back to his father, searching for clues to the answers written in the older man's features. The manner in which he was receiving such heavy news was relatively mature compared to how he might have behaved as a younger man. Though only 24 years old, Balun had seen a lot of the Galaxy and witnessed the terrible things people were capable of doing. That his mother thought she was keeping him safe despite his participation in three separate wars in his so far short life was almost laughable, were it not so sad and emotionally devastating.

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

"Speech"
'Thought'​

 

[Judah Dashiell]

"Well, you certainly know how to pick these women. Truly a chip off the old block."

Judah chuckled a little, setting his finished lowball glass on the coffee table in front of him. It sounded as if Balun was having a lot of women problems in his life. Perhaps it was a good thing then that his son decided to let things ride for a bit. Different seasons of life and all. Of course he wanted Balun happy but there were times in life when one had to realize it was for the best to merely forge their own way for a little while.

Settling back into his spot on the couch, he sighed. Answering questions when he had little answers himself was always difficult. Balun's mother never drifted back into their lives as he suspected. Most likely too busy with the ISB. if you asked him the woman was chasing ghosts that had disappeared long ago.

"Yes. Kristyl Arenais . I didn't do too much digging as I had her tell me some information. Looks like you're last of the House Arenais line. Or one of the last, according to her. My legal team has been hard at work, you own quite a few assets from the Arenais family. The trick will be to legally claim them without her around. Really would be easier if she was around to just sign them off to you. Lots of hoops with genetic testing and lineage, as far as my team has informed me."

Balun Dashiell ​

 

[Balun Dashiell]

Show & Tell
Judah Dashiell

​

"House Arenais?"

Balun frowned a little to himself, his gaze dropping towards the floor in wonder. The name sounded familiar, but he couldn't be certain if it was one he had heard or if he was wishing he knew more about them. Having so little knowledge for so very long, he chalked it up to wishful thinking, yet made a mental note to do some digging himself. Unlike Judah, Balun had full access to the Jedi Archives, a database of history and knowledge preserved over the centuries for the learning of those within the Order.

The idea that Balun was the sole person to inherit the assets of this other family wasn't particularly helpful in how it made him feel. He held mixed emotions. For one, he had everything he could ever need in life and day by day, he was steadily earning a greater wealth of financial equity. To be given more, seemingly out of nowhere, wasn't something he felt very comfortable with; yet, he did feel owed for all the years he had questioned, wondered, and wished for more from a Mother who had abandoned him. He deserved answers, and he was finally getting somewhere.

It was all so difficult to digest, yet the drink in his hand certainly helped. His mind swirled a little, perhaps with the assistance of the alcohol. His silence in the wake of all the information might have been quite telling for his father, who understood Balun had yearned for answers all his life. It seemed this Kristyl Arenais was the one who had left him with the Jedi, leading Balun to believe that she had some knowledge of history with their kind. The thought that followed left him wondering more about who she was.

"From what you two spoke about, could you tell she was a Force-User?" Balun asked, not entirely certain it mattered, but wanting to understand as much as he could. If she were a Jedi or had once been part of the Order, it would not only explain where he had been abandoned but also how he stood as the Dashiell's sole Force-User in the family.

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

"Speech"
'Thought'​

 

[Judah Dashiell]

Judah gave a small, quick scoff at the mention of Balun's mother being a Force User. The woman had made no efforts to hide and frankly, in his opinion, was ready to use her powers to bully him into submission. Definitely had made no qualms about trying to get what she wanted in the name of...whatever it was she did.

"Oh definitely. She wanted to read my mind forcibly because she thought I was in business with ISB agents. Convinced her otherwise but uh, your mother is very....passionate...about investigating the ISB for whatever reason. I didn't bother to ask, my attitude at that moment was a little short. Understandable I would think."

Shoulders shrugged.

"Forgetting that portion, you should research House Arenais Humanitarian Trust. It's where my legal team is currently working on securing what could be yours. If not for yourself, think of Kellan or any of your future children. Or putting to use in other ways - could be good to use for your charity. Beyond the financial, it would be nice for you to at least know some of the family history."

Balun Dashiell​

 

[Balun Dashiell]

Show & Tell
Judah Dashiell

​

The Imperial Security Bureau.

Balun had heard of them, though he didn't know much about them aside from public information; They were a clandestine intelligence agency at the height of the Imperial War Machine, coveted in secrecy and authority permitted largely to the upper echelons of Imperial ranking. He had fought in several wars, on multiple battlefields against the Dark Empire, yet never had he gained the fervour of the ISB to warrant personal experience with their tactics and capabilities.

"She must have done something serious to piss off the Imps that much", Balun thought aloud. He wondered what kind of action led such a large and powerful enterprise to target a lone female in the Galaxy. Was she part of a large organisation? That which would be easier to track down than one person in a Galaxy of countless billions.

The ISB was responsible for political assassinations, entanglement in foreign affairs, war crimes and all kinds of horrible acts under the table. Their resources, Balun imagined, were endless. A secretive sect backing the giant dictatorship and instilling fear and control over their citizenship. Balun found himself quite thankful that he hadn't been targeted by association, and that perhaps lent some merit to what Judah Dashiell had explained of her actions.

"They have their own humanitarian trust?" Balun asked following his father's shift towards the potential inheritance that he could acquire. It was true that his son Kellan Dashiell could benefit from anything that Balun could stand to gain; whether or not the boy's father decided to put it to any use, it would be there for his Son's future need.

"I'll definitely do some digging. I wonder if there are others, siblings of hers. Friends of her family, even. People I might be able to track down outside of the official documentation to get a better understanding of their House".

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

"Speech"
'Thought'​

 

[Judah Dashiell]

When Balun mentioned that his mother must have done something big to piss off the Imperials, his shoulders shrugged. Judah didn't gain any insights into the woman beyond her being crazy when chasing him down. Again, nothing he was going to tell Balun about. Just something to keep for himself for future reference. As for the ISB, it was a large organization hellbent on assassinations, but Judah wondered after years and different flavors of the Empire how much they remembered about one Kristyl Arenais .Seemed if she just went far away from their territory and lived her life she would have dropped off their radar long ago.

"I got the impression its a trust just full of family assets. One of those things so the credits cannot be touched by those who are not part of the family. I mean I have trusts set up for both Phoebe and Kellan. Not an unusual thing to do for those who have wealth and influence."

At the mention of tracking down his mother, Judah looked over at Bale once again.

"You want me to get her out of hiding? I'm real good at making her appear. I just have to go into a random cigar shop with potential Imperials. Given the right planet, not incredibly hard."

Balun Dashiell ​