Faction The Next Step (SJC opening of Commenor Temple)

[Silver Rose]

Changes continue to ripple throughout the Silver Sphere. As the new government takes root on Commenor, the Silver Jedi fulfilled their promise and repurposed themselves a temple within the Capitol's bounds.

The Silver Jedi Temple, a relatively new addition to the skyline of Chasin City has quickly made its mark on Commenor. Here the Silver Jedi will conduct matters of a more serious affair. From politics to war meetings, this is a temple for the Knights and Masters who want to reside on scene for Jedi business. Though Silver Rest still remains the heart of the Order, the Temple is nearly ready to play host to the Jedi within its own halls. Having just undergone expansion, it is finally reopen to the public. Members who wish to get acquainted with the location have been given the opportunity to do so.

Things to do:

• Any Knight or Master Jedi who intend to move into the Academy can take the time to settle into their lodgings, and perhaps meet new friends along the way.
• Non-Force users who are affiliated with the faction may apply for work and similarly get accustomed with everything the temple has to offer. The path to public service requires many skills. Now is your chance to establish yourself for future missions.
• The non-restricted areas are open for the curious public to explore. Be aware there are cameras and security, so silly business comes at a risk. Lunch is on the house.

Please see here for a more detailed overview on how this temple differs from Silver Rest.

Have fun!

Thanks to Amani Serys and Caedyn Arenais for designing thread and temple accordingly.

 

[Naria Harth]

Location: Entryway
With: Knight Pack (I'm not tagging you suckers)
Objective: Get settled in. Get a shower. Food.

Sore and weary, Naria arrived at the temple with her peers in tow. Their trip to Chroma Zed had turned out to be much more adventurous than planned. The beautiful oasis had housed an undercover slaving operation deep inside its rocky cavern systems. Naria still smelled like limestone and mildew. It had taken several trips through the rocky halls to flush the planet of the slavers, but together they had done it.

And they picked up a stray along the way.

Naria glanced at Acaadi , the padawan she had found trapped inside the tunnels. Alone.

"Where's your Master, kid?" She finally asked, after hours of silence on their trip home. Of course the others had not been so reserved, the group's dynamic was known to grow loud and boisterous even on the best of days.

The opening of the Temple caught her off guard. Was that today? Must be. She had lost track. Most of the crew had been sleeping in make-shift bunks jammed together in an old corridor. The base of this temple wasn't new, but after work being done on it, it sure looked like it. Guess it was time to move their stuff over from one hall to the next.

The concept of Cato Harth getting his own room was, of course, a mild concern.

She gestured for said brother to key them into the main hall, sparing the newer faces a glance. "If you're staying long, there's rooms for using." Her gaze caught on Senari Gravis before skipping away. Questions still lingered, their chance for a conversation constantly getting lost.

 

[Zana Jaireck]

Location: Master's dorms
With: N/A yet!
Objective: Settle in, yell at people, meet others.

No. This won't do at all.

The bedspread. Far too utilitarian. Far too... Jedi Master. If you were a doddering old man who could barely see through your atrophied eyes then yes, she supposed that it would've been vaguely acceptable then but damn it all, she had taste. And anyone who decided that gunmetal grey sheets were the bed coverings of choice needed to be hung over a rancor pit and left there until they'd learned the error of their ways.

"I shall need to have some words." Always with the lessons, the Force and the fighting, never with the interior design and aesthetics. This is why people don't like us. She knew she had some more adequate colours on the ship, with a much higher comfort factor. Whoever designed this place may have some strange longing for a Padawan's scratchy sheets but I am not such a masochist.

The rest of the dorm was looking better though. She'd appreciated the archives links, the desk and the living space. There had even been room to install her cabinet, where she could stash her expensive booz- refreshments for the discerning and tasteful sentient being. All in all, it was acceptable. Acceptable was the best she was going to get within a Temple.

There was still more to bring in from her ship. Zana had emptied what remained of her quarters on Silver Rest when the dorm had been offered. Though perhaps she wouldn't be able to fit that third rack of clothing. I should leave the lighter blouses and turtlenecks in storage for now. They give the wrong impression.

She left her dorm room, entering a hallway that seemed pretty empty. With a brisk and purposeful pace, she made her way towards the main atrium. The hanger would be a short walk and perhaps she could badger some droid into carrying her things for her. Already, she knew it would be getting busier. There were people arriving by the day and she had limited time before she'd be forced to make... small talk.

 

[Yula Perl]

Location | Common Area

The Force was tired with this one.

After the events of Chroma Zed, Yula had ended up returning to Commenor with the Jedi. Maybe she’d been afforded some sort of pass given her family’s extensive involvement with the Silvers (for uh, better or worse), but the Zeltron had been tolerated so far.

With Nida gone into the Sith abyss and Kyra doing Force knows what, Yula’s wanderlust was put on the backburner for her family. The Jedi were far more orderly than what she’d been used to in the Outer Rim, but she was incensed to stay for the time being.

And while she contemplated moving into ‘more permanent temple digs’ between ‘continuing to live on her ship’, Yula remained face down on a couch in the common area. Alternating between caf and stims had kept her up all night, but she’d needed that time to work on Kyra’s arm.

Occasionally, a gurgle of exhaustion emitted from the cushions beneath her face.

 

[Cato Harth]

As surprising as the mission on Chroma Zed had become, Cato never stopped taking it in stride. A beautiful utopia hiding a deep dark secret? Sure. A massive underground ring of slave trafficking? Duh. And some random green padawan stuck in the middle of it? Just another day in the life.

But like anyone else, Cato had his limits, and he was more than happy to be back in friendly territory. He’d practically been counting down the days until he could have a room all to himself. As much as a certain sister might like to think otherwise, Cato is in fact a 20+ year old adult man who is more than capable of living on his own. Having a sanctum all to himself would be a dream come true. Personal time had been sorely lacking lately.

He keyed them in at Naria ’s behest, swinging the door open wide for the rest to slip on through and into the entrance hall of the Academy. Once everyone was inside, Cato meandered over to the commons, stretching and yawning loudly, “Well, that was fun, huh?” He fell back onto the nearest seat, pulling a few credits out of one of his many jacket pockets and waving them in the air, “Anyone wanna get me a beer? I’ll pay you.” Did they even have any alcohol around here? “Or whatever, honestly. I’m not picky.”

A groan emanated from the couch opposite to him. He hadn’t even realized some had been there until he heard Yula Perl face down in the cushions. “Looks like we got a live one!” Cato called out to no one in particular. Nestling into his seat, he groaned in response, “You and me both.”

 

[Sakadi Marathi Sinvala]

Location: Master's dorms.
Writing with: Open
Objective: Raid the cafeteria.

The electronic door to the room slid open, lights flickering on as the Sephi set foot in what would be her new quarters. It was difficult from what she was used to. After spending two decades isolated on Shili, followed by her stay on Kashyyyk, living on a metropolis like Commenor felt almost foreign to her. In some ways, it reminded her of home. The actual home, the place of torture that she and her sister had grown up in. But she was not here to dig up old memories, was she?

But her transferal to Commenor did come with some pleasant additions; one of them being privacy. Her quarters here were more than just a three by three square room with a bed. No, she now had her own living room, study, bedroom... What more could she possibly ask for?

A bit of color and a personal touch, perhaps.

At first glance, the room was dull. While it was luxurious, it still adhered to the Jedi's minimalistic approach. But what, for the love of the Force, did that have to do with shades of grey?

The Sephi sighed wearily, dropping her heavy bags in the middle of the living room. The place had potential, but it would have to do for now.

"Miss Sinvala!" The distraught protocol droid brought out, stumbling into the room with the majority of her what were her heavier bags. "I have not been designed nor programmed to perform physical labor!" Its angry exclamation made a smile play on the Master's lips. The droid was a passive aggressive hothead, but one she found herself relying on more and more nowadays.

The amused Jedi gestured at the droid, who's photoreceptors translated her motions. "Unpack? But Miss Sinva-" She politely waved at the droid as she left the quarters mid-sentence, closing the door the moment she crossed the doorstep. She had a whole Temple to explore, starting with the cafeteria.​

 

[Dreidi Xeraic]

Location: Common Area
Mission: Play a prank on the Knights or Masters
Partners in crime: Open

Dreidi had been busy moving back and forth between CIS space and SJC, having a Master part of another faction had not made things easier for her but she couldn't deny that being trained by her older sister was great fun and there was a lot of pros. She never had to worry about being in trouble being in CIS space, she might even attend one of their parties or something with Asaraa if she let Dreidi join her. Today however, she was planning on playing a prank of the Knights or the Masters, whoever she could get away with playing a prank on. They had new residential areas for the higher ranked Jedi so this would be the perfect time to plan some elaborate prank on them.

Problem was, what would be the best prank to play on them. Idea of water balloon crossed her mind, but Kyra played that prank at the barbecue a while back, so she had to try and be original but also not cross any lines. So throwing paint balloons in the newly made residential areas was a no go, she needed to figure out the best prank to play. Something loud she was thinking, noisy would be fun to play and it wouldn't be destructive either. But what to do? What to do..?

Dreidi sat in the common space and was doodling ideas on a notepad. She would think of something, she had to.

 

[Ayden Carter]

Location: Common Area

​

As much as Chroma Zed had been a luscious and gorgeous location filled with both good and bad, Ayden preferred the good. Being at the Temple would really allow him and the rest to get some well-needed rest and relaxation.

Having a place to finally let loose was refreshing to Ayden. He now had time to do whatever needed be. He, of course, hadn't settled in just yet, like many others, but getting having that brief glance of the entryway could already tell him that this was a big place. Cato Harth had led everyone inside to the common room. Ayden stood over by the seats, looking at the credits that waving in Cato's hand. "I'll grab one, as long as you give me enough to buy myself one." He said as he took credits. Being a Jedi was one thing, being poor is another.

He walked out of the common room into a hallway, a fairly large one with no sense of direction. The most likely place to get a drink would be the cafeteria, yet he was new to the area. Really new. Where would everything be? Where there other places to get drinks? Is it the right or left hallway? Ayden sighed as he juggled the credits in his hand. It was time for him to explore some and get back to Cato with a drink.

 

[Caedyn Arenais]

Location: Academy Meditation Chambers
Company: Open

For some time now, since the early construction of the Temple within Chasin City, Caedyn Arenais had moved to reside full-time back upon his Homeworld of Commenor in order to assist in organizing and managing the affairs both within the Academy itself and also within his personal life, reestablishing a place for House Arenais following the distant years shadowing the collapse of the old Systems Alliance and the feud with House Zambrano.

It was safe to say that much had changed over the years, and as he had always encouraged his Padawan, Caedyn himself needed to fall back on meditation and self-reflection in order to combat his levels of stress, his concerns and emotions both regarding the past and the future ahead.

Such was why he had moved him to the quiet solace of the temples meditation chambers while the planned opening was taking place; the rooms were large and designed for group practices as well as solo retreats, the possibility of others using the chambers always open and welcome to them, however Caedyn had decided to stay out of the way where he could manage otherwise. After-all, he wasn't the spokesperson or leader that his father had been.

Yurb had been the start of something, and Yavin had set it off within him like a bomb, the result being Caedyn's tracking Darth Prazutis back into Sith Space and barely coming away from it with his life intact. The encounter had been brutal and grueling, and it had reminded Caedyn of his place in the greater picture of things...-Furthermore, Kyra Perl had informed him of her own problems and intent to pursue Nida Heavenshield in order to seek to bring her back to the light.

He had battled with the decision, but ultimately he needed to let go...-His Padawan was coming into her own, and she no longer needed the same strict structure that she had in her younger days. The challenge set before her was greater than anything she'd encountered before, yet it was hers and while Caedyn had reminded her that she need only call upon him, it was something that she needed to take on. A turning point in her training...A Trial.

As for himself, one's training never ceased and Caedyn Arenais still had his own way to go yet. Perhaps returning to Commenor would help bring about the next stage of his path, the next milestone or direction for which he should take, or perhaps it would not. The beauty of meditation was that despite all things of concern or anxiousness, turmoil or passiveness, this was a time to try to accept it all, to process and to acknowledge...-And then find a means to rise above, with the strength to move forward anew.

 

[Senari Gravis]

With: Knight Pack Group

"Finally remembered how to speak?" Senari asked Naria, overhearing her asking Acaadi about his master. "I was beginning to worry you'd taken a stray elbow to the throat." Of course, he'd been just as quiet the entire trip back. He wasn't really keen on joining in with the bombastic, loud antics of the others in their group, instead spending most of his time on the way back quietly contemplating the hyperspace they travelled through. He'd long since lost any worry of hyper-rapture or any of the other old tales of hyperspace-induced madness that had been told for millennia by this point; instead, he found it far more relaxing than trying to meditate.

It seemed that the worry of how he'd occupy himself when not on a mission always interrupted his meditating when he was coming back. Give it a few days back planet-side and he was fine, but not on the way back.

Having his own room again, though, that was tempting; ever since the enclave on Deneba had been attacked, he'd never really had anywhere to settle, as even the Praxeum on Eira Pechal hadn't held much for him. He met Naria's look with a small nod, before she turned away again, attention rapidly refocusing on the others of the group. "Inscrutable as ever," he mumbled to himself. Always so easy to read how she thought and felt about other things, other people, but whenever she was facing his way, there was just enough missing to leave him wondering, never sure.

Almost infuriating.

He wandered in just far enough to hear Cato ask somebody to go find him a drink, just to watch Ayden take the credits and leave, presumably in search of the drinks. Then Cato joined in on the moaning and groaning emanating from somebody on another couch. The one who had been nearly inseparable from his sister now seemed like he couldn't get far enough away, at times. Where she had grown more demanding, he'd grown more relaxed. Striving to remain as opposite as possible.

Even the others had changed. Sure, there were faces he didn't know so far, like Alana and Risen; but even those he did recognize despite the time that had passed, despite the remaining friendly dynamic between them, it certainly wasn't the same group he'd come to befriend back when his master sent him to learn with the Silvers for a time. In his absence, the next eldest seemed to take over the group; the others had all passed their trials and become Jedi in full, with their own experiences, and he had no clue about any of their lives. It shouldn't have been a surprise, but he couldn't keep a bit of shocked melancholy from creeping in while he stood alone, separate from all the others milling around in the entrance hall.

After spending fifteen years away from them...

"I don't know any of them any more, do I?"

 

[Tarish Galland]

Tag: Knight Pack
Location: Shuffling his belongings

Thought you had taken a stray elbow to the throat.

A loud scoffing sound came from Tarish as Senari Gravis commented about Naria suddenly speaking. Her? Take a hit that would make her quiet? Hardly. The sith would come begging forgiveness before that woman either took a hit, or stayed quiet for long.

"She had to mull on things. You know she likes to prepare her speeches before giving them." Tarish shot at them both before moving a box to a separate room of his own. He had left them to it while he arranged his things. He plucked a photo from this box in particular, smiling a bit before setting it on his desk. A family portrait, terrifically stiff in but something he cherished.

His time with the knights as padawan seldom had familial interruptions. But one of them had been for this picture. He had shared terrifically little about his own family. He had always brushed the subject aside, save for a few mentions of his sister to Naria directly. He always kept the two things separate, and even though his sister had kept in contact with him, the lock on his holo-net system was decent enough to call anyone slicing it into question about his connections.

He had stripped down to a plain gray tank top for moving purposes, jacket and embellishments tossed aside as he came back outside to grab another box.

 

[Samara Raine]

Silver Jedi Temple
Commenor
Arrival - Hangar
_______________________
​

"Wow... Impressive, huh Stitcher? Samara commented to her droid companion as she brought her personal ship down through the ceiling of white, fluffy scattered clouds giving a full view of Chasin City below and the Silver Jedi's newest temple at the heart of the urban center's skyline.

The Jedi Healer had volunteered to help staff the medical facility at the new academy as it got off its feet. Whether the gig was to be just temporary or permanent would be decided at a later time. If Samara was honest, she was ready for a new set of challenges as well as a change of scenery... and Commenor offered just that. The dynamics were very much different here than the serenity of Silver Rest that was nestled in the middle of Kashyyyk's natural beauty... and bittersweet memories.

"Well, that is yet to be determined, ol' golden one. You know me, I am only interested in how cute the oil bath attendant is," the quirky IM-6 battlefield medical droid quipped from the co-pilot's chair to his human companion.

The honey blonde just rolled her sea-green eyes at the retort, then keyed the comm unit to gain clearance from the temple's Air Trafic Control to land.

"Nightingale... You are cleared inbound to Docking Bay two-nine. Welcome to Commenor, Knight Raine. Enjoy your stay with us."

"Copy that, and thanks!" the Liann replied, then she took the A-36 Sleuth in on final approach, feathering the controls once inside the large hangar to set the scout vessel down on its repulsorlifts with well-practiced ease.

It didn't take long for the aft boarding ramp to lower, then the Jedi Knight deplaned with a large duffle being carried in one hand, a smaller bag hanging off her shoulder, and a box tucked under her arm with the droid hovering behind doing little swishing zig zags as it followed.

TAG: Open for interaction​

​

 

[Yula Perl]

Location | Common Area Couch

What the hell is so noisy?

Yula’s body tensed where it lay sprawled on the couch, momentarily irritated by the sounds of talking and moving. Did they have no respect for a poor engineer strung out on way too many stims?

Someone was talking about…beer? That had her attention, abruptly reminding Yula of where she was. Right, right—the temple.

“Looks like we got a live one!”

Heaving one last groan into the cushions, the Zeltron propped herself up on her elbows and sent a hand through her dark hair, pushing the waves up and away from her forehead. She’d looked up just in time to witness Ayden Carter take the proffered credits from Cato Harth .

Her eyes narrowed into a glare as they focused on Cato, trying to discern if she recognized the young man from anywhere. He wasn’t Caedyn Arenais, the Jedi she’d ‘accidentally’ shot on Chroma Zed, but someone new. Or someone who’s face had been lost to the chemicals in her system.

“I got beer on my ship.” She murmured, trying to rub the sleepy haze from her face.

Not creepy at all.

 

[Phalsi Drynchen]

Cato Harth Ayden Carter Yula Perl

The woman walked into the common area, mask on her hip after securing her gear. The boy was loud, earning him a scowling look from Phalsi as she spied the woman on the couch. It took all of two seconds for her to recognize the skin color, hair, and general figure against the pictures she had seen of Eldin Daine and Yula Perl working together. Never mind that Phalsi had been a shadow to Eldin for some time while she was in OPA space. She had a fairly good idea of who, and why she was here.

"Boys don't know when they are wanted, Ms. Perl." Phalsi chimed in, eyes lingering on Cato for a moment as the scowl deepened. "Or how to not be creepy. How is Kyra doing by the way?"

The question was directly addressed to Yula, Phalsi passing by the other couch to sit down beside Yula and setting the mask down on the end table and looking back to Cato. "Or are you trying to be nice and have never interacted with a woman before?"

 

[Cato Harth]

Commons
Ayden Carter | Yula Perl | Phalsi Drynchen

Cato grinned as Ayden took the credits from his hand, sending the man off with a salute, “That’s the spirit. What would I ever do without you, Ayden?” He nestled back into his seat, only for his ears to perk up at the sound of a second voice.

“I got beer on my ship.”

Cato swung up abruptly, turning to see the girl on the couch having answered. “A woman after my own heart. I don’t suppose that was an invitation?” He smirked, waving Ayden back over on the chance that he may not find some after all.

And then somebody had to come along and ruin the moment.

Phalsi quickly made her presence known with some decidedly uncouth remarks. Cato scoffed playfully, shrugging off the insults with ease. It’s not like it’s the first time he’s heard it. “Yeesh, tough crowd. Just making some casual conversation.” The second comment got a little more rise out of him, “Hey! I’ve interacted with plenty of women. My mom, my sister…” He listed them off sarcastically, counting the two on his fingers before giving a resigned shrug, “...I rest my case. But I suppose you’re right. Taking a hint has never been my strong suit. I’m just here for the booze.” Cato reclined back onto the couch, casting a roguish smile back at Yula.

 

[Risen]

Objective: Reset.
Dramatis Personae: Knight Gang

Risen stalked through the grand entryway of the temple. This place was… it was more extravagant than he was used to, all the buildings on Commenor were. Early on, when he had first joined the Jedi, he remembered seeking out closets and the corners of gardens. Small places. There he would perform the slow, meditative exercises he was used to, without constantly worrying about all the entryways and angles of attack. He gravitated towards the nooks of the common room even now.

Leaning against the wall, he tried to cross his arms but was stopped by a sharp sting. Risen regarded the stark white bandages wrapped from his wrist to his shoulder. At first he’d resisted the treatment, but Naria insisted. His body worked to heal itself in the meantime. He had pushed himself back there…

He wore the same leather vest he always did, even in battle. Armor restricted movement just like these nighting bandages did. In fact, he hadn’t taken much care for his appearance since the mission. People worried so much about things like that here. Many seemed happy to let him hang at the outskirts, which was fine with him. They seemed happy with one another, anyway.

Naria, who had someone new under her wing, with Senari Gravis to temper her intensity and Tarish Galland to keep them all humble. Ayden Carter, as ready to help in conversation as he was in battle. Cato Harth … well, Cato chatting up every woman in sight. Before Risen arrived from Dathomir and took the Jedi Trials, they had been friends. It was Naria who decided to have him along, as the two worked well together. She was always doing that.

Risen’s mind drifted back to Silver Rest. He had his own charge now. A student. A very new part of his mind was almost looking forward to returning, though the boy needed some space after what happened on Tython. He’d been meaning to talk with Tarish about that.

For now though, Risen watched them: a stranger among friends, a Matukai among Jedi — outside.

 

[Samara Raine]

Silver Jedi Temple
Commenor
Knight Dorm - Getting Settled
________________________________

​

Free of Stitcher for now as he went to report in with the other medial droids, Samara stepped off the turbolift and started her trek down the long corridor to find room number 323. Of course, her quarters had to be at the end of the hallway, though at least it was near the stairwell for future reference.

The blonde set down the large duffle on the floor by her booted feet then swiped a key card and imputed a generic code into the wall panel; later, a personalized passcode would be added for security purposes.

The door opened to a modest-sized dorm room that had a single bed and a desk with shelving to the side. But the best thing about it was that there was a private fresher with a water/sonic combo shower! The Jedi Healer moved in further as the door closed behind her and dropped the bags onto the bed, then placed the box atop the desk.

The Liann peered out the elongated rectangle window. It had a nice view of a serene-looking courtyard below and the cityscape to an extent in the distance. Not knowing how long she would be at the Commenor temple, Samara decided to only put out a few decorative things to make her new residence homey. She reached into the box, grabbing a holocube, then set it on the desktop opposite the data station.

She turned it on and images began to show rotating through slowly - the first picture was of Sam as a young padawan standing beside her first master, Juna Taute, who was killed by the One Sith while they were on a mission. Another holo was of her with Jedi Master Kahne Porte ; a man who had come to be like a big brother/father figure in her life. There were others including one with mentor Master Healer Celeste Rigel in the lobby of the Halls of Healing at Silver Rest dressed in their medical scrubs.

The last one on the rotation was paused as fingertips fondly ran over the features of the Antarian Ranger she was posing with; a tropical sunset in the background. It was taken while she and Tyrell Caphey were vacationing on Spira together... Normal romantic relationships were difficult at best to maintain, but when both served it was even more so. She wished him well with all her heart wherever the sergeant was with his men.

Shaking herself from those bittersweet memories, Samara put the box and the rest of its contents down under the shelving unit for now and went on to unpacking the rest of her things from the bags as being a bit OCD was in her nature. The next big decision for the Jedi doctor was what to do first... shower or get something to eat? She looked down at her wrinkled robes from traveling and decided the former, then the latter.

TAG: Open for interaction​

 

[Acaadi]

"Where's your Master, kid?" She finally asked, after hours of silence on their trip home.

Acaadi spared Naria a brief glance. Here was where it started. Back at the temple and ready for an admonishment. One of the others said something about giving speeches. If she wanted to give a lecture then Acaadi was going to take the full brunt of it. There was no one to complain to for letting Acaadi slip away.

"I don't have one," he admitted. He found this group of Knights almost more intimidating than the sith. They had their own dynamic, their own flow. They seemed so much more at ease than the padawans who frayed around the edges with each new setback.

"Just study with all the teachers I guess," he admitted. His entire body language screamed with shame. Head bowed and shoulders sloped, he offered a small shrug.

 

[Ayden Carter]

Location: Common Area
​

Right before Ayden was about to indulge an adventure around the large labyrinth that is the new Temple, he was waved back by Cato Harth . Appears that the Zeltron woman who's face was unrecognizable from the couch cushions had spoken up about some beers in her own ship. How convenient. He walked himself over towards the couch Cato was sitting on and leaned on it. Just now, he recognized Risen standing over by the wall, Ayden a bit spooked seeing him just watch and not say a word. As he looked over towards him, another person, a woman, had walked into the common area.

Phalsi Drynchen came in quite disrespectfully, giving Cato a mean look that made Ayden feel a little guilty. She had some words along with the facial expression, Cato replying swiftly with his own confident remarks. Cato's response from the woman's question got a chuckle out of him. Seeing that the only female interaction he had had was from his mother and sister was quite embarrassing, yet Ayden recalled he was also on the short side of the stick, barely having any female interaction himself. Ayden went from laughing to silent, not wanting to be asked the same question only for him to come up with nearly the same answer as Cato.

Ayden then tumbled over the back of the couch to land on the cushion, taking a seat. He passed Cato's credits back to him as he relaxed. "I'm with him. Wherever the drinks are, I follow." Ayden said, putting his hands behind his head looking towards the two on the opposite couch.

Yula Perl​

 

[Naria Harth]

With: Knight Pack Group

"Finally remembered how to speak?" Senari asked Naria, overhearing her asking Acaadi about his master. "I was beginning to worry you'd taken a stray elbow to the throat." Of course, he'd been just as quiet the entire trip back. He wasn't really keen on joining in with the bombastic, loud antics of the others in their group, instead spending most of his time on the way back quietly contemplating the hyperspace they travelled through. He'd long since lost any worry of hyper-rapture or any of the other old tales of hyperspace-induced madness that had been told for millennia by this point; instead, he found it far more relaxing than trying to meditate.

It seemed that the worry of how he'd occupy himself when not on a mission always interrupted his meditating when he was coming back. Give it a few days back planet-side and he was fine, but not on the way back.

Having his own room again, though, that was tempting; ever since the enclave on Deneba had been attacked, he'd never really had anywhere to settle, as even the Praxeum on Eira Pechal hadn't held much for him. He met Naria's look with a small nod, before she turned away again, attention rapidly refocusing on the others of the group. "Inscrutable as ever," he mumbled to himself. Always so easy to read how she thought and felt about other things, other people, but whenever she was facing his way, there was just enough missing to leave him wondering, never sure.

Almost infuriating.

He wandered in just far enough to hear Cato ask somebody to go find him a drink, just to watch Ayden take the credits and leave, presumably in search of the drinks. Then Cato joined in on the moaning and groaning emanating from somebody on another couch. The one who had been nearly inseparable from his sister now seemed like he couldn't get far enough away, at times. Where she had grown more demanding, he'd grown more relaxed. Striving to remain as opposite as possible.

Even the others had changed. Sure, there were faces he didn't know so far, like Alana and Risen; but even those he did recognize despite the time that had passed, despite the remaining friendly dynamic between them, it certainly wasn't the same group he'd come to befriend back when his master sent him to learn with the Silvers for a time. In his absence, the next eldest seemed to take over the group; the others had all passed their trials and become Jedi in full, with their own experiences, and he had no clue about any of their lives. It shouldn't have been a surprise, but he couldn't keep a bit of shocked melancholy from creeping in while he stood alone, separate from all the others milling around in the entrance hall.

After spending fifteen years away from them...

"I don't know any of them any more, do I?"

"Where's your Master, kid?" She finally asked, after hours of silence on their trip home.

Acaadi spared Naria a brief glance. Here was where it started. Back at the temple and ready for an admonishment. One of the others said something about giving speeches. If she wanted to give a lecture then Acaadi was going to take the full brunt of it. There was no one to complain to for letting Acaadi slip away.

"I don't have one," he admitted. He found this group of Knights almost more intimidating than the sith. They had their own dynamic, their own flow. They seemed so much more at ease than the padawans who frayed around the edges with each new setback.

"Just study with all the teachers I guess," he admitted. His entire body language screamed with shame. Head bowed and shoulders sloped, he offered a small shrug.

"I don't know any of them any more, do I?"

Naria's shoulders fell in ever so slightly, the comment serving as a nagging reminder that one among their ranks was missing. He hadn't realized yet, or perhaps he just assumed that she was elsewhere. Of course his first thoughts wouldn't be that Sim had died, but she was braced for the inevitable realization. He got no response from her, which was just a cowardly way to avoid the topic but Naria did it all the same. She looked to Acaadi instead, the padawan practically curling in on himself. Maybe it was just shame for his foolish trick of ending up trapped inside a slaver's ring, but she sensed it was something more.

Naria heard the shame layer into his tone as he stared at his toes. 'I just study with all the teachers, I guess'. And no peers? Her eyes jolted around, as if looking for the friends an support that should surely be crawling out of the wood work to back him up.

I mean, that's what always happened with them. That's what should happen.

But no one came. She half wondered if anyone even knew he was here. Or was this directionless padawan really just tossing himself out into the world, begging for slaughter?

Instead of a chastising, she simply sighed and pointed him to the chairs around the other gathering knights.

"Risen, grab us some food?" She fished out her credit stick and tossed it his way, the look leveled at him unspoken yet deadly clear.

No booze.

The swath of snacks he'd bring back were no substitute for a meal in the hall, but it would hold the others over while she turned for the front desk to inquire about their new rooms. She knew a peckish Cato was a headache waiting to happen. "Tarish. Maybe help?"

Her gaze lingered on the defeated padawan for a moment longer, her brows pulling in as the boy shuffled to sit amongst the other knights. She eyed her friends for a long moment, their easy laughter filling her. Her body ached, begging her to crash into the coach besides them. She turned for the front desk instead, giving the lady there the list of their names and inquiring about lodging keys.

"Will you be staying long, Senari?" Not that she expected him too. He had stopped showing up. Maybe there were answers for it, but the frothy edge to the wall between them was not the warm welcome from their childhood.