Private The Measure of a Friend

[Iandre Athlea]

Veradune had become home in a way Iandre never expected, its people weaving themselves thoroughly into a future she was still learning how to build. Yet, the brutal reality was that home was supposed to make loss easier to bear, and it didn't. The world remained beautiful and its people kind, but there were still mornings when she woke entirely consumed by a blinding, volatile rage. The unfairness of Rellik's death wasn't a dull ache; it was a screaming fury at a galaxy that could violently rip away someone so vital and then stubbornly demand that she keep moving forward as if nothing had happened.

The anger didn't just linger in quiet corners. It actively fought against the rigid confines of her Jedi discipline, threatening to fracture her composure at the slightest provocation. This afternoon, walking through the Sanctuary grounds in a simple sapphire-blue shirt and charcoal-gray jacket, was less of a peaceful stroll and more of a desperate effort to outrun the pressure building in her chest. She had no destination, forcing herself into movement because staying still meant letting the raw, explosive weight of her grief entirely take over.

It was during this tense, aimless walk that she heard the news: Braze was here. For the first time all afternoon, the sharp, suffocating tension winding tightly between her shoulders finally fractured, and a reluctant smile forced its way past her guarded expression. The young Jedi possessed a remarkable talent for finding either adventure or trouble, and more often than not, he seemed utterly determined to collect both.

Curiosity quickly won out, offering a sudden, welcome distraction from the storm raging in her mind. Changing direction without hesitation, Iandre set off through the Sanctuary in search of the familiar Padawan or perhaps a former Padawan by now. It had been long enough since their last meeting that she found herself wondering how much had changed, a stark reminder that time had a habit of moving faster than expected, especially when she was paying attention to nothing but her own wrath.

Braze

 

[Braze]

Tags: Iandre Athlea ​

Veradune was as beautiful as she was dangerous.

Braze had always been cautious when he came here… The planet had a wildness to it, something lush and watchful beneath all that green, teeming with life more often than not, the deadly kind. He had come looking to source a few exotic materials, rare growths that only took root here, in Veradune's strange and living soil. One of the places Vulpesen had shown him seemed the best place to start.

He was walking along the promenade when he felt a familiar presence brush against the edge of his senses.

Braze slowed, then glanced back, his pale hair shifting lightly as he turned. His gaze settled on Iandre Athlea as she approached his location, and a small smile found its way to his face.

"Oh… hey. I didn't know you came here," he offered softly; It had been some time since he had last seen her.

The smile gentled, thinning at the edges as he picked up on the faint emotional waves coming from her. Concern settled into his expression,

"Is everything alright?" he asked trying to show concern rather than prying. As he turned more fully toward her, his hands kept their gentle work, weaving flower stems together into a small wreath.

 

[Iandre Athlea]

She felt him before she saw him. It was a familiar presence, and one of the reasons she'd changed course in the first place. For all the time they had been friends, his presence in the Force was still remarkably bright, earnest, and a little difficult to miss when she knew what to feel for.

When he turned and smiled, some of the tension she carried eased despite herself.

"Hello, Braze," she said, the greeting warm but quieter than it might have been. Her eyes drifted to the wreath taking shape under his fingers, a faint smile touching her lips. "Looks like Veradune's already given you something to work with."

The observation hung for a moment before his question settled between them. She looked out across the promenade, knowing the honest answer was a heavy no, not for months. Slipping her hands into her jacket pockets, she drew a slow breath before meeting his gaze, a touch of dry humor in her voice.

"I wish I could say yes. I've had better months. But I am glad to see you. Before you ask, no, this isn't your fault, and you aren't expected to fix it. Though I'd happily accept a walk and whatever story explains why you're weaving flowers instead of getting yourself eaten by something dangerous. It's good to see you, my friend."

Braze

 

[Braze]

Tags: Iandre Athlea ​

"The flowers here aren't like anything I've seen in most other places," he mused, holding up the wreath before gently settling it atop her head.

"They're quite gorgeous."

His hands withdrew carefully, leaving the crown undisturbed.

"Oh… well, yes. Oftentimes, folks become so caught up in wanting to 'fix' someone when what that person really needs is a friend willing to listen, you know?" he asked gently.

He wasn't certain what had caused her distress, nor did he know what had happened. Truthfully, he had remained blissfully unaware of such matters, absorbed in a plethora of other projects scattered across the stars. That didn't mean he failed to worry now that he could see something weighed upon her. Still, if she didn't wish to speak of it, he wouldn't pry.

"A walk sounds nice," he offered with a soft smile, moving to stand beside her.

"I came here to source some exotic materials, particular varieties of wood that can only be found in this region. I've been working on a vanity project during my spare time, far out in the Unknown Regions…"

His expression warmed as his thoughts drifted toward the distant estate.

"It's a large, rather lovely palace of sorts, I suppose, with farmland surrounding it. A quiet little retreat I've been slowly piecing together. I'm hoping that, one day soon, I'll find the time to host a grand party there and invite all my friends to relax."

He glanced toward the flowers again, fingertips brushing lightly over one of the wreath's remaining stems.

"I thought I might also try my hand at weaving. A friend of mine is rather infatuated with the craft, and I'd like to become skilled enough at making flower crowns to create one for her."

His gaze returned to his companion.

"What brings you to a place such as this?" he asked softly.

 

[Iandre Athlea]

The flower crown settled atop her head, and despite everything, a small laugh escaped her. "You know, most people start with a greeting before crowning someone," she noted, a rare warmth returning to her voice as she carefully adjusted a slipped petal. "They are beautiful. Though I suspect that says as much about the person weaving them as the flowers themselves." Walking beside him, she listened as he spoke of estates in the Unknown Regions, farmland, and future plans, finding comfort in Braze's unique talent for weaving not just materials, but hopeful possibilities.

For a little while, she simply enjoyed listening until his question about what brought her here cut through the quiet. Her gaze drifted toward the distant, untamed treeline of Veradune's wilderness, mirroring the heavy thoughts she had spent months trying to contain. "Anger, mostly," she admitted, the raw honesty surprising even herself. "Grief first. Then anger." There was no point pretending otherwise with him.

"The Diarchy fell," she said quietly, her jaw tightening. "Everything we built, everything we spent years trying to protect and improve, it collapsed. And before I had even figured out what that meant...I lost Rellik." A heavy silence followed, carrying truths too vast to rush past. "Three years ago, I would have told you that loss was something I understood. I grew up during a war, lost my Master, and watched worlds burn. Turns out there are always new ways for the galaxy to surprise you."

The anger settled deep and quiet between them, devoid of explosive drama. Her fingers brushed lightly against the woven crown as she looked over at him. "Some days I am sad. Some days I am simply tired. And some days I am angry at the entire universe for daring to continue without asking my permission first and for taking Rellik." A faint, genuine smile finally touched her lips. "Today happens to be one of those days."

Braze

 

[Braze]

Tags: Iandre Athlea

​

Braze remained quiet as he walked alongside her, listening carefully to what she had to say.

"Angry?" he queried, offering her a searching glance.

He listened as she told him of losing both a home and someone she had loved. His expression softened, though no easy answer came to him.

"Ah… yes. It is a great tragedy to lose someone we love," he offered in a quiet voice.

He was not certain what else he could say to comfort her. Comparing her loss to the several he had endured, he doubted would hardly make her feel understood; grief was not some ledger upon which sorrows could be weighed against one another. His experiences belonged to him, just as this pain belonged to her. Trying to place them side by side might only draw attention away from what she had just entrusted to him by opening up about her feelings in this vulnerable state....

Braze often found himself at a loss for words during moments such as these, never quite knowing what was proper to say, or whether anything he offered would truly be of assistance. What he did know was that it was miserable to feel so hollowed out by sorrow of loss, and he wanted to do something… anything… that might ease even a little of the heavy emotional weight she carried.

There was no changing the past... No matter how long one would dwell upon it, such actions wouldn't produce some hidden solution capable of restoring what had already been taken. Yet asking her to look away from it would be no kinder.... Some losses could not be reason one's heart and mind into obedience; Emotions didn't work that way.

"I think you're allowed to be angry and upset," Braze continued. "You don't have to turn it off or make it smaller for anyone else.... and you don't have to find some grand, noble meaning hidden beneath it all before you can talk about it, either."

His pale gaze shifted toward her in an attentive manner,

"You loved him… and you built something you believed in. Losing either would wound someone in a way that only time could begin to heal.... Losing both so close together…"

His lips pressed into a thin line before he released a slow breath.

"I would be worried if none of it made you angry....The galaxy is filled with all manner of injustices and unkindnesses," he murmured. "And I don't think knowing him makes losing him fair. I don't think the happiness he gave you, and teh love you shared was something special... One of the truley strongest powers in the universe.. even stronge rthan the Force it'sself... That's not an easy thing to deal with loosing...."

His gaze lowered briefly to the path beneath them.

"But… I do think your life was made better by knowing him, and by having someone who genuinely returned your love. Nothing can erase what happened.

What the two of you shared was real enough to leave an impression behind.... and for what it's worth... You don't have to stop loving him simply because he is gone...

 

[Iandre Athlea]

For a time, Iandre said nothing. The dirt path stretched onward before them, winding deeper through Veradune's vibrant, untamed greenery while the woven flower crown sat crookedly atop her head, one blossom threatening to slide completely loose whenever she stepped over a prominent root or moved too quickly. Ordinarily, her instincts would have demanded she fix it. Instead, she found herself simply staring ahead into the canopy, listening.

Really listening.

It wasn't just to the words themselves, though those certainly mattered. It was to the profound absence of expectation behind them. Braze wasn't trying to explain away her anger, nor was he trying to tell her what she should be feeling, how quickly she ought to recover, or what grand cosmic lesson she was supposed to extract from losing half her world. He was simply letting it all exist.

The realization was strangely disarming. Her fingers rose absently to touch one of the delicate petals woven into the crown, anchoring herself to the present.

"You know," she said quietly, her voice cutting softly through the rustle of the surrounding leaves, "for someone who claims not to know what to say in situations like this, you are remarkably good at it."

A faint smile appeared—small, fragile, but entirely real. It faded just as quickly as her gaze drifted toward the dense, ancient trees bordering the trail.

"The anger surprised me," she admitted, the confession slipping out more easily than she ever expected it to. "When Aisha died, I was devastated. When I learned the Republic had fallen, I was heartbroken. But this..." She shook her head slightly, a quiet, lingering confusion clouding her expression. "This is entirely different. Some days, I miss him so much I can barely breathe. Other days, I find myself furious at him for leaving."

The confession felt almost shameful spoken aloud, and a sharp, humorless laugh escaped her.

"Which is completely absurd, of course. As though he made a conscious decision. As though he looked at the situation and thought, 'yes, this seems like an excellent time to die and leave Iandre to sort out the wreckage of the universe by herself.'"

For the first time, the raw hurt surfaced openly, carrying no malice or bitterness, just the profound weight of her grief.

"I am angry at the people responsible. I'm angry at the galaxy, angry at circumstances, and angry at every single plan we made together that no longer matters." She looked down briefly, watching her boots catch on the shadows of the path. "And sometimes, I think I am only angry because being angry hurts a little less than being empty."

The admission lingered heavily between them in the humid air. Then her tone shifted, dropping into something far quieter, stripped of all defense.

"The part I struggle with most isn't the act of loving him," she murmured, her hand settling back against the crooked flower crown. "It's figuring out what I am supposed to do with that love now. For years, it always had somewhere to go. A simple conversation, a shared meal, a future we were actively building day by day. Now it just...exists."

Her eyes lifted toward the fractured sunlight filtering through the dense forest canopy above.

"And perhaps that is what people mean when they say grief is simply love with nowhere to land."

A brief, comfortable silence followed her words. Then, she glanced sideways at him, the heavy melancholy lifting just enough for a flash of her familiar spirit to break through. The corner of her mouth twitched upward.

"Though I still think the universe should have asked my permission first. That opinion has absolutely not changed."
Braze

 

[Braze]

Tags: Iandre Athlea

​

"It still matters," Braze offered after a long few moments, letting her speak her mind uninterrupted. "Love is one of the most profoundly powerful things one can have... and when you lose it, it's devastating..."

Braze offered gently, reaching out a hand to gently set to her shoulder, offering her a comforting, soothing pet.

"It's... okay to be mad... but sooner or later... I think you will come to terms with the sentiment that... being angry won't change anything... as much as that sucks to hear..." He moved to draw up a hand and pulled a small mood ring from his hand, the very same one he'd tried to give to Colette .

"You know what makes life special? We only get one chance at it... and you can't truly appreciate the good without the bad... All things come to an end sooner or later... for better or for worse... Change is inevitable..."

He offered her the ring.

"When I'm very sad, I look at this to remind me things will get better... but when things are great, it also reminds me how precious and special those moments truly are..."

The ring had a simple inscription on the inner band, reading, "~This too shall pass~"

"Life comes at us in cycles and has really high highs and really low lows... but for the most part... it kind of balances out... Maybe... you might meet someone new in the future... Maybe they might be better than what you've had before... I can't imagine loving someone and not wanting them to be happy in my absence... but... it's good to take time and just be yourself... and process everything... Despite all our protests... life really does just go on."

He offered, uncertain his words were helpful as much as they were truthful. He reached out and gently righted the little flower crown on her head.

"It's much easier... to find a new kindred flame when you're in a brighter mood too..." he offered softly, with a somewhat teasing tone.

 

[Iandre Athlea]

Iandre looked down at the ring resting in his hand, and for a moment, she simply stared at it. It was a simple thing, small enough to fit in a pocket and easy to overlook, yet somehow it carried more weight than many of the grand speeches she'd heard over the years. When Braze placed it in her hand, her fingers closed around it carefully, as though afraid that something so small might prove more fragile than it appeared. The inscription caught her eye almost immediately.

This too shall pass.

A quiet breath escaped her.

"You know," she said softly, turning the ring between her fingers, "I think I would have hated that advice a few months ago. Possibly enough to throw it into the nearest body of water."

A faint smile appeared as he adjusted the flower crown, allowing him to straighten it without protest.

"Thank you."

They continued walking beneath Veradune's canopy, the ring resting safely in her hand. The grief remained, too. The ache of Rellik's absence had not faded nearly as much as she wished. Some mornings, she still expected to hear his voice. Some evenings, she caught herself turning to share a thought before remembering she was no longer on Bastion with him.

"I know you're probably right," she admitted after a while, her gaze drifting toward the horizon. "About the anger. About life continuing. About all of it. The frustrating thing is that part of me wishes you weren't. It would be much simpler if stubbornness alone could alter reality."

Her thumb brushed across the inscription once more.

"Things will get better," she said quietly. This time, she wasn't repeating his words. She was testing them. Seeing if she believed them.

"And this too shall pass."

For the first time, the sentiment did not feel impossible. Only difficult.

A sideways glance found him again, warmth slowly returning to her expression.

"Though I think it will be a very long time before anyone measures up to Rellik. At the moment, I can't really imagine it."

Braze

 

[Braze]

Tags: Iandre Athlea

​

"It would be hard to... And things just sort of happen or they don't... but when opportunity comes it's best to give it a try... you never know what you'll find unless you give it a try... but it's okay to take some time.. " Braze added with a nod. "It's important not to give up... and it's still okay to be mad... be as mad as you like... just don't let it rule you. " He added with a smile.

"Have you thought about doing anything fun in a while~?"

 

[Iandre Athlea]

Iandre let out a soft breath, almost a laugh, as they continued along the garden path beneath the evening sky.

"Fun?" she echoed, the word feeling a little foreign. "It's been...a while. Lately, my definition of fun has been limited to finding a quiet corner and not thinking too hard."

Her gaze wandered across the gardens, following the winding paths and swaying trees before returning to him.

"If I'm being honest, truthfully, that's probably because I've been avoiding anything that sounds remotely enjoyable."

The admission carried a trace of self-awareness.

"Being angry is easier when you're miserable."

A small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.

"Maybe something simple. A meal that isn't combat rations. Finishing a cup of caf before it goes cold. Something that doesn't require processing my feelings."

She looked ahead again, watching the path stretch out before them.

"Maybe I'll start with that."

Braze

 

[Braze]

Tags: Iandre Athlea

​

"That's the whole point of doing something fun… to help you get outta the slump. Most people need their friends to drag them out and make them do something different for a change. No one really wants to do it until they're actually doing it."

He tipped his head slightly, considering.

"Maybe try catching frogs, or fish, or even collecting tadpoles? Could go looking for birds, too… or take a trip to the beach and collect shells." His brows lifted, hopeful but careful, as if he were trying not to push too hard. "You sure you don't wanna try something different? A change of atmosphere might do you some good."

 

[Iandre Athlea]

Iandre let out a quiet laugh as Braze continued listing increasingly specific activities. For a moment, she found herself wondering whether he genuinely spent his free time collecting tadpoles or if he was simply naming the first things that came to mind.

"You make a surprisingly compelling argument for frog-related adventures," she observed dryly.

The amusement lingered longer than she expected. Longer than it had any right to.

His mention of a change of atmosphere, however, struck a different chord. Her gaze drifted toward the trees surrounding them, toward the endless stretches of Veradune's wilderness that had become both refuge and prison over the past months.

"A beach sounds perfect, actually."

The admission escaped before she could overthink it.

"I don't even know if Veradune has any."

A small smile touched her lips.

"Which is a little embarrassing considering I've been living here."

She folded her arms loosely and glanced toward him.

"Maybe you're right. Maybe what I need isn't some profound revelation or months of soul-searching."

The smile widened slightly.

"Maybe I just need to go somewhere that doesn't remind me of everything I've been angry about."

Braze

 

[Braze]

Tags: Iandre Athlea

​

"Well in any case... I hope you feel better. " Braze offered gently. " If you need any help finding some place quiet... Give me a call hmnn?" He said offering her a simple data chip.

 

[Iandre Athlea]

"Of course. Thank you for giving me the last few minutes of your time."

She accepted the datachip carefully, her fingers closing around it as she looked down at it for a moment before slipping it away. Whatever else happened, she knew she would make use of it. Braze had a way of offering help without making it feel like an obligation, and she appreciated that more than he probably realized.

"I certainly will, Braze."

Unless he pulled away, Iandre stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him in a brief, friendly hug. There was no hesitation in the gesture, only genuine affection and gratitude for a friend who had listened without judgment and offered encouragement when she had needed it most.

As she stepped back, a small smile lingered on her face.

"I'll keep in touch, my friend."

Braze

 

[Braze]

Tags: Iandre Athlea

​

Braze was a touch-starved individual, so hugs were awkward and rare to him, but he seemed to understand the desire, and the very human need for comfort. He moved to wrap his arm around her, reciprocating the gesture without any real hesitation, offering compassion through the contact, and only holding on for as long as she seemed to want.

"Good. I look forward to inviting you to a housewarming party… Be sure to find something nice that makes you feel good to wear, okay~?"

 

[Iandre Athlea]

Iandre let out a soft, genuine laugh, her shoulders relaxing as she leaned into the embrace for just a moment. When they parted, she offered him a warm, grateful smile.

"Deal," she said. "But only if you promise not to make me wear some ridiculous formal gown. I'm still trying to decide which one I like best. Maybe you can help me with that again sometime."

She remembered the time they had spent together on Bastion, figuring out new clothes for her. That was another lifetime ago, but she was glad he remained one of her few friends.

"I'd like to know about the food. If there's no good caf, I may have to reconsider."

Giving a teasing look, she fell silent as they walked side by side.

Braze

 

[Braze]

Tags: Iandre Athlea

​

Braze brightened at that.

"That's alright… nothing ridiculous. Just nice things that make you feel good are all that's needed. And I'd be happy to help you pick out what to wear. I started a boutique because of you, you know? Made it all professional-like, so I could take customers and make them one-of-a-kind, couture-style outfits."

He smiled, remembering, too, the cute guy, Corvo Anattolius , he'd met at the shop.

"I do like seeing how happy people are when they get something nice I worked on just for them."

He shifted a little, his voice gentling.

"The food on Veridia is some of my favorite fare. They like to make dishes with fish and rice, mainly. I've been working with Ko Vuto and Loomi to make farmlands around the estate. It's been a lot of work, but it's actually been going pretty smoothly over there now."

He offered the thought softly, almost shyly.

"I like to cook and bake all kinds of things, so if there's anything specific you like, I'd be happy to cook for you should you like to visit. I can use some of the produce we grow and make you a meal from what the land gives us."

 

[Iandre Athlea]

Iandre couldn't help but laugh, shaking her head as Braze explained that he'd started an entire boutique because of her. The thought was so unexpected that it caught her completely off guard.

"You did not." The smile on her face only grew as she looked at him. "Braze...that's one of the sweetest things anyone's ever told me."

She could picture him fussing over fabrics and colors, making each outfit with the same quiet care he seemed to put into everything else. Somehow it fit him perfectly.

When he described Veridia, the farmlands, and the meals they were growing from the land itself, she found herself listening with genuine interest. It sounded peaceful. Honest. The sort of place that invited people to slow down instead of constantly rushing toward the next responsibility. After everything she'd been through, the image carried a surprising amount of appeal.

"Fish and rice sounds wonderful." She smiled softly. "Truthfully, I've never been especially difficult to cook for. Years as a Jedi taught me to appreciate almost anything that wasn't a ration bar."

A quiet laugh escaped her before her expression warmed again. "I'd like that, Braze." She met his eyes sincerely. "Not just for the meal. I'd like to see the estate...your boutique...the gardens you've been working so hard to build."

Her smile lingered.

"It sounds like you've made something really special there, and I'd love to see it with the friend who created it."

Braze

 

[Braze]

Tags: Iandre Athlea

​

"I did," he insisted, seemingly thinking it was a simple thing he could do. "I actually made friends with someone I had been at odds with for a while…" he mused, thinking of Eloise Dinn and the pretty outfits he had made for her.

"Well, consider yourself on the VIP list of my invites when I settle down and get ready to have a party… I was thinking something closer to the end of the standard year, maybe a little earlier by a few months," he offered softly. "It would give me enough time to get everything nice, tidy, and in order for company."

He paused, considering her with a hopeful little cant of his head.

"Perhaps you can help me pick out music… and what to serve?"