Private Sparring and Socialising

[Feng Huang]

Feng closed her eyes, put on the blindfold, breathing deep, bringing her hands in a wide circle before clasping them at the centre of her chest. She bowed to her opponent, activating her lightsaber she fell back into a basic Shien stance.

"Activate" She commanded.

The training droids lifted into the air all twelve of them, they circled her completely from all side, circular orbs loading to begin the training module. Feng waited patiently for them to start firing. She eyed them and without meaning to started to count the seconds. The problem with programming the training module yourself is you knew what order the droids were going to start firing in.

Sur enough on the count of seven they began firing. Feng flowed through the motions of Shien form, redirecting each blaster bolt back at the droid with precision. It was… easy, unsatisfying, a waste of time.

Feng sighed, but she finished the training module anyway going through the flow, maintaining her footwork, her shoulder position, the exact correct height and width of her arms and hands from her face. Master Wu says the only way to learn martial arts is the same with any art dedication and discipline. That might have worked for him, but for Feng it felt like all the precision just meant predictability. Which was the same thing as sloppiness.

Of course when she'd fought in the lightsaber competition against Ellissanthia she had totally been outclassed, it had felt like she had been taken easy on. Like she was a kid who someone went 'aww' and entertained but didn't take seriously as a threat. Of the battles she'd been Feng couldn't recall one time she'd gone up against a Sith or even a Mandalorian who was experienced in fighting Jedi. They'd all just been cannon fodder no different from the droids she had just defeated.

Feng sighed.

"End training module" She instructed with bitterness wondering when she was actually going to learn how to excel as a combatant. As she straightened she bowed once again, to her either mechanical or invisible opponents. Some people might find that silly, but Feng preferred to treat training with the same respect she would treat a real opponent. One it was polite and two it gave a sense of beginning and closure to the training session. Plus it was a habit Master Wu had ingrained in her.

She took off the blindfold began lifting training droids up with the force to put them away casually. As she was picking them up she noticed a man watching her train.

"Oh." Feng said in surprise

"Uhm sorry I thought I'd booked this training room?" Feng asked in confusion.

He was cute in a kind of way that suggested gentleness and perhaps poetry, his bearing however suggested he was a warrior.

"Uhm I'll just get out of your way Master" Feng blushed embarrassed that he had seen her basic Shien formation. She should have chosen a harder training module, shown off her Makashi. Feng started hurriedly tossing training droids into the box, one flew across the room with the strength of here telekinesis broke against the wall. It started going off sending stun bolts rapidly and wildly around the room spinning in mid air.

"Oh bunta" Feng cursed as she dodged and deflected stray bolts.

Balun Dashiell

 

[Balun Dashiell]

SPARRING AND SOCIALISING
LOCATION: Training Dojo, Shiraya's Sanctuary, Naboo Jedi Temple
INVENTORY: High Republic Jedi Robes | Crossguard Lightsaber | Standard Lightsaber
TRANSPORT: S-91x Pegasus Starfighter
TAGS: Feng Huang

​

It would have been standard practice to check the roster for the available dojo in the Training Wing, especially for Balun who had often preferred to train on his own as a student if not accompanied by his former Master, yet now as he was no longer an Apprentice of the Jedi Order he had come to the conclusion that he needed to break old habits for the benefit of himself and others.

Thus he found himself strolling down the corridor lined with dojo, popping his head in and out of each one to ascertain how busy they were and what was going on today with the various groups of students and the mentor body. Some were teaching classes, some were in attendance, while others were groups of friends holding makeshift competitions and seeking to outdo one another.

The one, however, that caught his particular interest was a young woman who had chosen to practice blindfolded against multiple training remotes, droids that erratically swivelled and fired training bolts as they darted through the air at random, varied only by their programming. Balun quickly recognised the Padawan's stance to be that of Form V, and the training remotes suggest Shien rather than Djem So. Tilting his head back thoughtfully, he stepped inside the dojo and allowed the doors to slide shut behind him as he moved across to the side of the training mat and simply stood there with his hands at his front, fingers laced together.

By the point she had decidedly ended the training sequence, Balun could already sense her discontent. Curious, given how well she had executed her defence against the training exercise. No doubt this was a routine she had practised often, but nonetheless, credit given where it was due.

It wasn't until she removed her blindfold that she noticed she'd had an audience.

"Oh.

Uhm sorry I thought I'd booked this training room?

Uhm I'll just get out of your way Master"

"Not to worry, I was simply spectating. The room remains yours..." He spoke through a smile, though it seemed the revelation of his presence had startled the poor girl, and she turned, somewhat panicked. "No, you don't need to..." Balun went to say, however, it was too late as he felt the force behind the toss of one of the droids, a little too much exertion behind the throw than was required and then suddenly the remote droid started blindly blasting training bolts indiscriminantly across the room.

Immediately, the hilt of his Crossguard fell into his hand, and yet he hesitated. It would have been so easy to cleave the droid in two, but then that would have been the old Balun, the impulsive, first-to-the-fight Balun. Instead, his left hand reached out, and from the force he drew his breath, harnessing his concentration and channelling his conscious mind upon the rogue training remote's internal structure. From within, there would sound a small snap, like a spark of electricity, though too small to be seen, and a faint wisp of smoke seeped through the cracks in the probe's outer shell as it ceased to function, falling deathly still.

"Well then...-It seems I will be working on repairing a training remote later tonight. Can't say I've done that in some time," he chuckled quietly and glanced over to Feng Huang , soon asking, "You alright over there?"

Former Mentor: Ala Quin
Jedi Apprentice: Cerys Dyn
Major Faction: The High Republic
Sub-Faction: Jhaessa Prime
Conglomerate: Dashiell Incorporated™
Subsidiary Company: Dashiell Retrofit™​

"Speech"
'Thought'​

 

[Feng Huang]

Feng slumped her shoulders, crestfallen and mortified. It was hardly an auspicious first impression. Doing a basic form that any youngling could do was one thing, but then panicking while setting off and damaging a training drone was just clumsy. She felt like a caricature of a buffoon who barely survives a battle by bumbling along until she's captured. Though she doubt she'd be as fortunate as such caricatures were in an escape attempt.

"Sorry master." Feng apologised trying to control her embarrassed blush.

"Hey cool Crossguard!" Feng exclaimed. She eagerly showed hers off.

"Mine's got connected blades emitting in between the crossguard hilt! It's contained so I'm still protected when I twirl my lightsaber!" Feng explained rapidly and excitedly

Feng hesitated unsure of how to proceed. It was an awkward moment, Feng hated those, though she felt like stumbled into them more often than not. She was a bubbly person by nature she knew it, some people, a lot of people were… perplexed. Particularly Jedi, particularly the cooler, calmer, collected Jedi who maintained a stoic philosophy.

Feng shifted uncomfortably starting to fidget. She noticed the damaged drone, which is when it caught up to her that the Master was going to be spending his time fixing it.

"Oh you don't have to fix it. I'll do it. It's not problem. I was going to spend some time in the garage this evening anyway. I was going to spend some time looking at ship designs I'll never get a chance to fly." Feng smiled self-deprecatingly.

"Don't worry I know a Jedi shouldn't covet material possessions. I just like ships. I find it easiest to meditate when working on an engine." Feng explained continuing to rush out her words in a flummoxed hurry. "Not that I'm ungrateful for what I've got! It's not like I want to go and make a bunch of credits with the Banking Clan or anything!"

Feng shrugged.

"I just like ships." Feng murmured falling quiet.

Feng struggled to think of something else to say. It was her reactive response to embarrassment. To chatter incessantly until she either ran out steam, was stopped by the building awkwardness and her own mortification or when someone finally interrupted her.

Forcing herself to keep her lips compressed, she realised she was holding her breath, she began breathing through her nose determined not to make a sound until she was spoken to. Master Wu had mostly found her chattering an endearing quality, but sometimes she wished he'd have hushed her into silence a little more often or at least taught her that speaking on end without letting someone respond was incredibly rude.

"I'm Feng by the way. Feng Huang" Feng blurted out and bowed folding her arms into her robes as she did so.

Feng finally fell silent, allowing the Master to respond.

Balun Dashiell

 

[Balun Dashiell]

SPARRING AND SOCIALISING
LOCATION: Training Dojo, Shiraya's Sanctuary, Naboo Jedi Temple
INVENTORY: High Republic Jedi Robes | Crossguard Lightsaber | Standard Lightsaber
TRANSPORT: S-91x Pegasus Starfighter
TAGS: Feng Huang

​

Feng Huang, though she couldn't have known it, was the first one who had referred to Balun by the formal title of Master due to his rank of Knight in the Jedi Order--Something that he found to be rather disconcerting, as it would take some time for him to adjust to it, let alone believe himself to be befitting of the role. Despite his feelings on the matter, he wouldn't let it show outwardly to others, least of all those who weren't close to him.

"No doubt I caught you off guard", he waved a passing hand dismissively, "No need to apologise. Although perhaps the droids might appreciate a little more care and their handling", he grinned, and glanced back to the training remote that was now very much in need of repair.

Before he could move to assess the damage he had caused, the young woman seemed to move onto the subject of his Crossguard Lightsaber, which he had drawn instinctively, and now looked to the weapon in her hand, before the movement of her own caused his attention to shift as the Padawan offered the better view of her Lightsaber for Balun to appreciate.

Though currently inactive, Balun could see, as Feng had stated, that the crossguard did indeed keep the vented lateral blades contained and meant that she retained maneuverability without the risk of harming herself. A significant difference from what he had been training to adapt to.

"It's very impressive", Balun commended Feng Huang 's work on her Lightsaber, "You obviously put a great deal of work into this craft. The metals have been fused perfectly, with no signs of welding or threading on the outside; edges refined nicely, and surfaces milled precisely. What metals did you use, if you don't mind my asking?" he enquired, and it would be clear that from the way that he admired the padawan's lightsaber, Balun Dashiell was a bit of a tech-man.

"I've only recently completed mine, roughly a week, give or take", he brought his crossguard lightsaber out in front of him and lay it flat across both palms so that she could see it properly. "The lateral vents are protected by a Phrik outer casing so that an opponent won't dismantle the Crossguard. The base material is otherwise simple durasteel, though you'll no doubt note the electrum inlay for a bit of a gold flourish. The chassis is extended for a better two-handed grip, for when strength and momentum are required in the field".

Glancing back to the Padawan, listening to what she said about him not needing to bother about the remote, Balun laughed softly and shook his head; "You don't know me at all, but technology is one of the areas I excel in. I started my own company that focuses largely on retrofitting old technology with new-age upgrades, and I suppose that's why, if ever there was a path in the Order that seems to best suit me, it's that of a Jedi Sentinel. If people still cling to those old traditions. I realise few still think of them," he chuckled softly, somewhat in expense of himself, yet found the moment amusing all the same. The simple fact was that working on the training remote and successfully repairing the droid would mean achieving something that would help the Jedi Order and, consequently, bring him a sense of pride and contentment.

"Oh, right...-Names, I should have started with that. Balun Dashiell" He bowed his head in formal respect, as was their way; "It's a pleasure to meet you, Feng", he smiled as he straightened once more. "If I might be so blunt...-Does your training usually feel so frustrating to you, or was what I witnessed today simply the first time you felt that way?".

Former Mentor: Ala Quin
Jedi Apprentice: Cerys Dyn
Major Faction: The High Republic
Sub-Faction: Jhaessa Prime
Conglomerate: Dashiell Incorporated™
Subsidiary Company: Dashiell Retrofit™​

"Speech"
'Thought'​