Private The Trial of Two

[Braze]

Tags: Leos | Mentions: Okuma Milogen ​

Braze had been making some repairs and changes to the Mud Duck. One such change was giving Leos a room aboard and making sure he knew about the Vornskr that Braze had been caring for in Okuma's absence. The creature was mainly kept in the main luxury haven suite of the ship, located on the middle floor where the forward observatory was.

The rules Braze gave Leos were simple:

Do not open the door unless Braze was present
Do not feed it without him present.
Do not tease it

The Vornskr was restless but intelligent creature. Braze had reinforced the room with containment panels and added a soft barrier fields near the entrance, more for peace of mind than actual protection.

He did not trust the beast yet and knew it often sought to make Braze, and likely Leos, its next snack. He did not want anything to happen. Braze had even ensured that the lock to the door was keyed with a specific passkey he kept on his person. A sign was mounted on the door in clear lettering that read, Do Not Enter.

The warning was absolutely not for decoration. The Vornskr had already tested its strength against the reinforced panels once, leaving deep claw marks. Braze kept the area sealed and made it clear in no uncertain terms that curiosity about testing these limitations was the quickest path to losing a hand or worse.

Leos had been told that, despite its temper, the creature had once been loyal to Okuma, enough for Braze to take it in rather than leave it in it's native wilds.

As for the room, Braze let Leos choose whichever quarters he wished, whether guest or crew, to make his own. He extended the same offer to Leos's friend, the one he had only recently learned about.

Regardless of that, Braze had asked Leos to meet him in the training room aboard the ship, where the soft padded floors were. It was time to see if his hopeful could pass the trials Braze had prepared for him and finally earn the title of Padawan Learner.

Braze stood at the center of the mat, arms folded, waiting to see if the boy would arrive...

 

[Leos]

Mud Duck
Tags: Braze

Epo-1, YT-1760 small transport
​

Leos didn't want to go anywhere near the Vornskr. The sounds that came from the inside of that room made his skin crawl. He didn't fancy getting mauled by that thing, so he kept his distance. A lot of distance. He found himself a room, though Sari had decided to stay on his freighter back on Veridia while she gave her body the time it needed to rest. With his mind put at ease about that matter, at least, he could shift his focus to training.

So when Braze summoned him to the Mud Duck's dojo room he answered that summon swiftly. When he did finally arrive, Braze was standing there on the padded floor with his arms crossed. Just... standing there. Not really doing anything else.

"Do you always stand like that when you're waiting for someone?" Leos asked as he entered. His ears twitched a little as he took in the sounds of the room. It was quieter in here due to the padding, he noticed. "You don't... I dunno, listen to music or something while you wait?"

 

[Braze]

Tags: Leos ​

Braze lowered his arms and turned to face his student, his jade eyes lift toward Leos with interest.

"Well, no... but it is comfortable, and I want to take this seriously. And yes, I love listening to music. I usually play a few things when I am training alone."

A coy little smile crept across his face as he thought about a few songs.

"Spirit, mind, and discipline. Remember? When we last spoke during a philosophy class, I believe I left you with plenty of time to think on things. I am curious to know what conclusions you have come to. So tell me. You have had time to examine yourself. Time to sit with your fears, your motives, the parts of you that resist change, and the parts that reach for it anyway. What have you learned since then? What conclusions did you come to about yourself?"

 

[Leos]

Mud Duck
Tags: Braze

Epo-1, YT-1760 small transport
​

You have had time to examine yourself. Time to sit with your fears, your motives, the parts of you that resist change, and the parts that reach for it anyway. What have you learned since then? What conclusions did you come to about yourself?

"I think the conclusion I've come to is that I'm kind of a loser," Leos remarked with a frown. "But I... don't really imagine that's the sort of thing you wanna hear."

He was frustrated, anti-social, hyper focused on a single goal to an unhealthy degree, and was actively trying to keep from making connections he was afraid of losing in the future. That didn't really seem like a healthy person to Leos. A soft exhale escaped his chest as he sat himself down, crossing his legs.

"And you told me I should try to not just focus on my mission," he continued, "And I think I've pretty squarely failed at that. Helping Sari helped... but it didn't feel like doing enough. But I guess you probably... already know all of that..."

This meeting was already off to a great start.

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Leos

Braze stepped forward and stared directly into his eyes. He held up a hand and flicked the tip of Leos's nose.

"You're not a loser, so stop saying that," Braze scolded. "Perhaps you have forgotten this amidst your chores, so I will ask again. What emotion do you fear losing control of the most, and why?"

He began to walk slowly around Leos. The flick had not been meant to hurt him, only to get his attention and perhaps nudge up a bit of negative emotion to bring his mind back into the lesson.

 

[Leos]

Mud Duck
Tags: Braze

Epo-1, YT-1760 small transport
​

"Oh... that?"

Leos's face went dark, his ears drooping down. He had totally forgotten about what had happened in that philosophy class. He sighed, rubbing at his shoulder awkwardly. He didn't really have the heart to rub at his nose yet. Getting flicked like a child was embarrassing.

"Uh... I'm not really sure I'm afraid of losing control of any emotion," he answered honestly. "I think I'm more afraid of... losing them entirely, I guess. Y'know... feeling nothing at all."

Like someone else he knew...

 

[Braze]

Tags: Leos ​

Braze considered what his student said very carefully for a moment or two.
"Interesting..." he trailed lightly as his thoughts turned it over. "I can hazard a guess as to why that may be," he offered gently. "Freedom of self is a huge thing. It is what I value most in life." Braze added softly, his tone taking on a more compassionate edge.

Leos was but a small presence in the Force... perhaps he had an entirely different view. Perhaps he did not need to worry about losing control of his emotions in the same way someone like Braze or Ko might.

"Very well. I can start guiding you on building mental shields if you like, to help ensure that does not happen," Braze offered simply. "You owe me three things. One, you will recite the Jedi Code without stumbling. Two, you will build a lightsaber that is truly yours. Three, you will pass a trial of spirit and show me that all of this is more than words. If you can recite the Code, I will take you to gather your first lightsaber crystal. Sound good?"

 

[Leos]

Mud Duck
Tags: Braze

Epo-1, YT-1760 small transport
​

"Oh. I... guess I can give you the code."

He had already been asked to recite the code by Braze before. Leos had written it down and said it outloud to himself a good handful of times in the mirror. Not that he'd ever admit that. It really wasn't important as long as he could say every part.

"Emotion, yet peace... Ignorance, yet knowledge... Passion, yet serenity... Chaos, yet harmony... Death, yet the Force." he paused for a moment before he spoke again. "Was that good enough?"

Leos was ready to actually start doing real Jedi things, but now he was also curious about these 'mental shields' as well. Could something like that really help him maintain himself if he were ever at risk of losing it? He wasn't sure... but a part of him almost needed to know first hand. That was something he had to learn.

 

[Braze]

Tags: Leos ​

"You did an excellent job." Braze finally chirped after several long, uncomfortable seconds of staring at him with an unreadable expression. The shift in tone was faint but warm. "Before we head out, I want to gift you something and give you a few ideas about sabers. When we go do Jedi work together, it is better to have proper field gear instead of civilian clothing. Field gear is designed for many environments and gives you protection. I made this set for you."

He crossed the room, lifted a large box from one of the couches, and set it carefully into his student's arms. [Jedi Robes] Then he stepped back, almost as if presenting the moment itself, and moved toward a panel set into the far wall. His fingers keyed in a passcode on the pad.

Then the wall split with a low mechanical hum as recessed seams slid apart and a hidden chamber unfolded outward.

Inside was an impressive weapons cache.

Racks of lightsaber styled weapons were arranged with meticuloucare. The glow of faint blue utility lights caught on polished metal and crystal, washing the chamber in cool shimmering color. Standard sabers hung in neat rows beside slender shotos shaped for close-in work. Crossguard sabers flanked heavier cutlass like hilts. A collapsible double-bladed staff sat on a rotating magnetic cradle. Exotic emitter arrays and interchangeable pommels rested in velvet lined trays. There were elegant training blades, brutal breaching sabers, long-handled pikes, and compact concealed hilts no larger than a palm.

The entire wall gleamed with craftsmanship.

Braze folded his arms lightly. "These are examples of the paths you can take. Options for how a saber can be shaped to you and to how you move. You will build your own soon enough. For now, I just want you to see what is possible."

 

[Leos]

Mud Duck
Tags: Braze

Epo-1, YT-1760 small transport
​

"Before we head out, I want to gift you something and give you a few ideas about sabers. When we go do Jedi work together, it is better to have proper field gear instead of civilian clothing. Field gear is designed for many environments and gives you protection. I made this set for you."

"Oh... that's... thoughtful."

He didn't really want to say that it wasn't his style, though. Maybe it would keep him alive in a battle, but they looked so... uptight? Leos wasn't sure. He'd try them on and use them when he had to, but otherwise...

"Do you, uh, expect me to wear them all the time?" Leos asked. "Y'know, when I'm not doing field things? I... kinda like my clothes..."

Before long he was presented with a collection of lightsabers. Too many. In fact, all of it was the slightest bit overwhelming to take in.

"That's... a lot," he muttered. "You can't have used all of them... right? That's... way too many..."

 

[Braze]

Tags: Leos ​

Braze smirked, "You don't like them and you don't want to tell me that flat out, huh? It's fine. You don't have to wear them. I can get you something more tailored to your interests."

He lifted a hand in a loose gesture. "Unless I need to attend something formal and incredibly specific one day. Then I might have to drag you along, and you'd be required to dress appropriately for that." His tone softened "I don't mind what you wear. But I do think having proper field gear matters, and it keeps you safe."

He tapped his chest lightly. "Mandalorians think the same way. Better to have something and not need it than need it and not have it. And it's not like I'm in armor all the time, either. The set I want to gift you is a good middle ground between comfort and protection. Perfect for all those just-in-case scenarios that show up a little too often when you're a Jedi. Just because you can go without for so long doesn't mean you should.

Those robes have temperature-regulation padding inside. They'd keep you warm, like when we climbed that mountain on Veridia. Instead of pouring your focus into using the Force just to keep from freezing, you let your gear handle it. That way you conserve your strength.

Energy isn't infinite. If you spend everything just trying to stay warm, and then you suddenly need to heal someone… you might not have anything left." He tilted his head, "Savy?"

Braze stepped into the weapons cache and picked up a few small, odd metal tools, clipping them neatly to his belt.

"Do you have any questions before we venture out?"

 

[Leos]

Mud Duck
Tags: Braze

Epo-1, YT-1760 small transport
​

"Do you have any questions before we venture out?"

"Venture out?" Leos remarked, tilting his head. His ears flicked curiously. "We're leaving?"

Strange. He would have expected something along the lines of some training in the dojo room. But it sounded like Braze was intent on taking him somewhere. He really had no idea where, or if he was even interpreting that in a correct way. The only thing he could really do was wait...

And hopefully not be blindsided whenever something inevitably became part of his training.

 

[Braze]

Tags: Leos ​

"We will be going out soon yes. " Braze assured. "Have you ever been to Dantooine ?" Braze asked lightly.

 

[Leos]

Mud Duck
Tags: Braze

Epo-1, YT-1760 small transport
​

"I've never been," Leos stated. "I only had been to Daiyu till I left."

Leos wasn't very well traveled. Everything he knew about the wider galaxy was through the holonet. He knew that it was a limited lens to see the world through. Still, it was the truth of the matter.

"What's on Dantooine?"

 

[Braze]

Tags: Leos ​

"Grass.. lots of grass... and crystals. Kyber Crystal. Did you know it's in Diarchy Space? Did you know Jedi Are illegal there? So we're gonna break their laws heading there. It'll be great fun. You'll see. We'll see if you can find a crystal there. I already have Aether en-rout to such a location so we'll have plenty of time to train together until then. " Braze explained.