Junction Sun & Starlight: Evening Gala

[Judah Dashiell]

"So the student is teaching the master? Plus a master willing to learn? This sounds like a rarity."

Judah was partially teasing her. He was also thinking of Balun and how he couldn't picture his son trying to learn from his student. If he was being honest with himself he suspected that his son teaching anyone was a disaster. Apparently the Jedi thought otherwise.

"I can grill, yes. Don't act surprised. I'm more surprised you can - don't picture the Jedi temples of old, or even current, a welcoming place to smoke some meats or light some charcoal."

An amusing thought to him really but most likely not for her. He was picturing brown-clad Jedi debating the best wood to use to roast some nuna legs. Given he was certain they had cafeteria services, a even more hilarious thought. One he would keep to himself, he wasn't sure if Iandre Athlea was as sensitive about her Jedi status as Balun Dashiell .

"I would invite you over to showcase my skills but I find that incredibly forward of myself. A bit of roguish behavior. However." Judah drew out the word, partially because he was unsure of himself. "We could go out for dinner. I'm sure there is somewhere to your liking that grills."

A small pause.

"I'd like to consider it a date, not business related."

 

[Iandre Athlea]

For a second, everything else just faded away.

Iandre looked at Judah, honestly caught off guard. It wasn't the dinner invite. It was how plainly he'd said it. He could've dressed it up as a meeting or just a casual meal, but he didn't. He just said what he meant. And there was something in that she really respected.

Her first reaction was the old one. To pause. To wonder if she was really ready. To ask herself if opening up again was smart after everything.

But then, just like that, the feeling passed.

She'd spent months learning you don't conquer grief, you just learn to carry it. She'd walked away from the life she thought would never end, made peace with not knowing who she was turning into. Somewhere along the line, she swore she wouldn't let fear control her. She knew where that led.

A warm smile spread across her face as she held his gaze, something easing deep in her chest. "I think..." She laughed softly, almost at herself, before finishing the thought. "...I'd like that." The words came out sure, and she let them sit for a moment before adding, "A date." The phrase felt strange on her tongue, pulling another quiet laugh from her. "It's been ages since anyone's asked me on one."

"Judah," she said, a faint smile tipping the corner of her lips a little higher. "I'd love to have dinner with you."

For the first time in longer than she could remember, thinking about what came next didn't feel frightening: it felt like hope.

Judah Dashiell

 

[Varin Mortifer]

VARIN MORTIFER

Equipment: Durum Mantle | Black Blade of Chandrila | Eye of The Dragon | Heavy Sith Mace | Cross Guard Broadsaber

His eyes softened after she spoke.

Return the favor?

He thought about that phrase for a moment before he slowly shook his head with a soft smile.

“You certainly have not been neglectful. Not all gifts are intentionally given.”

He gently moved her in a circle deftly moving his steps with hers, maintaining a lead that kept the pace of the music before them.

“If you were neglectful, well, I doubt we would be here right now.”

A small smile lifted his lips as he looked at her.

“You give yourself too little credit.”

His thumb gently brushed over her finger, a small way to ease her into the moment, the smoke silhouettes maintaining their own dance with the rhythm of the music.

“But, I will not say no to a surprise from you. I think you should know though, you have given me far more than most people. And I know it's genuine because you don't even know that you do it at times.”

Another slow side step as he maintained their own space on the floor.

“An ear to listen, a hand to help me up when I fall and a voice for advice. Many times I had fallen or strayed away and you helped correct me.”

His smile softened along with his voice.

“If you were neglectful, I doubt I would be who I am now. I doubt I would be here and I doubt I would have the same intentions with most things thrown my way.”

His eyes found hers as he stared deeply.

“Ki Hadzuska W'ana”

Seren Gwyn​