Twinkle, Twinkle

[Felicity Mason]

Felicity smiled at her big brother, carefully stowing the crystal in a small pocket of her bag. She was going to need a new bag soon. The one she'd carried with her from Naboo was starting to fall apart. It had been her book bag that she used at the academy, so it was sturdy enough, but she had been over filling it, putting more weight in there than the poor woven straps were used to.

"So... I guess we should go now, huh? Hey, Grax? When you train me, how often will I be able to see my friends?"

[member="Graxin Rade"]

 

[Placeholder 0123]

Now that was the billion credit question wasn't it? Truthfully, Graxin would have rather had her cut all ties to her friends. They had proven to be nothing more than bad influences, and ties to one's old life were restrictive for Jedi initiates. Graxin had only allowed himself to open up to others once he was confident in his capacity to control himself--a capacity that Felicity certainly did not yet have. She might not ever.

"Lead the way Shortstack." He agreed, lifting his shoulders in a slight shrug. He shoved his hands into his pockets, and gestured with a nod of his head for her to lead the way. "And...at times. Jedi training is demanding. You'll be taking on a new life. Maintaining ties to the old one beyond family is difficult until you reach Knighthood."


[member="Felicity Mason"]

 

[Felicity Mason]

Felicity hesitated now. If she went with her brother, she would not be able to maintain her... friendship with Owain. She couldn't just give him up, could she? She really did care about him. A lot. If she went away for a while, he might forget about her. That would just destroy her little fifteen year old little heart.

"I... I'll need to talk to Owain," she murmured, leading the way through the streets.

[member="Owain"] [member="Graxin Rade"]

 

[Placeholder 0123]

Graxin followed without a word for a long moment. He was just like that; creating awkward pauses in conversations to find the right words. It only took him a moment or two this time around. "I understand." He murmured as he created their field of anonymity once more. It was a bit more difficult to maintain while moving.

"But take my advice, Felicity. I've played the game you're playing before, and all she did was break my heart in the end and keep me away from the family." He continued on. Anything to make his little sister devote herself to his teachings. "Don't let a boy decide the road you take when you're so young. It's a waste."


[member="Felicity Mason"]

 

[Felicity Mason]

The girl felt... well, hurt wasn't the right word. Angry was closer. She glared at he ground as she walked, fist clenched.

"You don't know a damn thing, Grax," she snapped, "I'm not you. I know Owain. He's been with me this long. He'd never hurt me."

She felt so sure of it. To a fifteen year old girl, today was forever and tomorrow would never come. If he was with her now, he'd never leave. They'd be best friends until the end. Maybe more, if she ever got around to admitting. And she was stubborn. She'd never known heart break. She'd never known that regret of losing your heart to another. This feeling was so new, so fresh. And she was so very young.

"I thimk I love him," she murmured, "Like, really. Like the kinda love mom and dad have. You don't know that kind of love, Grax. You don't know him. You don't know. You just don't."

[member="Graxin Rade"]

 

[Placeholder 0123]

Graxin lofted a brow. Normally, the girl's insults were easily disregarded as the rantings of a hormonal teenager. It was how Graxin dealt with her moods. For the moment though, turned his head to stare down at Felicity as they walked. His normally calm, smiling facade was gone now, replaced with an intense unblinking stare. "You're fourteen. I'm in my mid-twenties. I've experienced more than you, and I will tell you that I have experienced that form of love. You know nothing of my past before I came to the family."


He continued to stare. Clearly, Felicity had gone a bit too far with her words. "So stay with the boy then. Marry him, have a child. It's your own business. Your life." The Knight paused mid-step. "Give mom a call once in awhile to let her know you're still alive. If you're so devoted to the boy, then the Jedi Order wouldn't fit you. Too much attachment kills our kind."

With that, Graxin pulled his cowl over his head. his calm demeanor suddenly returned--the only issue being that he turned sharp on his heel. "It's not my place to judge you, and my Padawan is waiting. If you won't come, then there's no point in me staying any longer. The Sith will sense me."


[member="Felicity Mason"]

 

[Felicity Mason]

The girl stared at him with an open mouth. Was he serious? She reached out with one hand, grabbing his arm.

"Fine fine! I'm sorry! I didn't mean it, okay!? I'm being... stupid."

She looked guilty at least. She knew she stepped over a line. She did want to go with him. She did want to learn. But Owain was going to be hard to leave behind. Really hard. He had to know that.

"And I'm not fourteen, dummy. I'm fifteen now."
She gave him a weak smile, leaning in to him her brother a quick hug.

[member="Graxin Rade"]

 

[Placeholder 0123]

The Knight errant said nothing for a long moment. He did, however, stop in his tracks. He breathed a quiet sigh, and settled his gaze on the long neon strip that lay before them. He was taking on so much responsibility as of late, could he really take care of Felicity and teach her correctly? The elder Jedi already thought him to be incapable, and only gave him Kaigann to train because the boy was a problem case.

He hadn't been a problem for Graxin, of course. The Knight was extremely proud of his young student, a boy not much older than Felicity. If he could train such a stubborn young man, perhaps he could do the same for his naive little sister.

Graxin turned into the short little hug, and simply nodded. "Fifteen, got it." He mused. "The Mephirium isn't docked far. We'll take it to Naboo, explain to mom the plan, then once I'm done with Gratos, I'll begin your training."

[member="Felicity Mason"]

 

[Felicity Mason]

"But first I need to speak to Owain," she insisted, "It isn't right to just... abandon him. And I want you to meet him."

He would like Owain. He had to. And maybe if he did meet him, if he liked him, he would let her keep seeing him. It was all she had to cling to now. It was weak of her to hope. It was pathetic. And she didn't care.

"Grax, come with me. Quickly. I won't leave Coruscant without him."

If nothing else, She could not leave the only friend she'd ever had behind.

[member="Graxin Rade"]

 

[Placeholder 0123]

Graxin fought the urge to frown. He eyed the girl for a moment, contemplating if it was the right choice to let her see the boy. On one hand, she would eventually break ties, though she might resent him for it. On the other hand, the boy would likely prove to be a corrupting influence, and one that Graxin would have encouraged by allowing her to see him.

The Knight breathed a heavy sigh, and made his decision. "Lead." He said simply. He resigned himself to follow the girl wherever she wished to go, and double checked to make sure his weapons were all in the right places.

Grudgingly, Graxin Rade let himself be led to the lair of his little sister's stupid boyfriend.


[member="Felicity Mason"]

 

[Felicity Mason]

He would love him. Grax wouldn't have a choice. If he cared about her, he would try, at least. Why did it seem that she was the only one able to see his charm? Sure, their friendship started out a bit rough, what with her punching him in the face and all, but he was there when she needed him the most. So she led her brother through the dark streets, until they arrived at the small apartment she'd been renting. Tiny, only really the size of a storage room in the Palace, but it was enough for her now. Anything grander might have brought on suspicion.

She led Graxin to the door, slid her key and let the door screech open.

"I'm home," she called, "I've brought dinner. And... something else."
[member="Owain"] [member="Glyph"] [member="Graxin Rade"]

 

[Owain]

Lying in bed as per doctor's orders, Owain's little trip to Coruscant wasn't proving as enjoyable as he had planned. He could hardly hit up the cantina's and casinos like this. Carrying Glyph away from a bounty hunter and jumping out of a building to land on his feet had not done him any good. It had got the damn kid out of trouble, but his shins had been cracked and his ankles shattered. It had been a minor miracle he had managed to drag his body to a clinic for a quick patch.

Even now he still wasn't healed. Still, it had been an adventure. He hadn't had such fun in a while. And he had undergone enough training on Korriban to at least manage his pain effectively. He couldn't just heal himself like the SIth could, but he could ignore the discomfort for a while. Still, the doctor had wanted him off his feet and resting for a whole week, even though Owain felt fine and knew he could walk around without trouble. Typical.

He heard the door open and Felicity enter. "Welcome back Songbird," he called, lying on the mattress he'd dragged to one side of the living room, staring at the ceiling. The small living quarters had few rooms, so Felicity had of course gotten the one bedroom. He didn't even bother looking at the door. Wait, something else? "Please don't tell me you got a pet..." he sighed, glancing over to the door and seeing Felicity with...another man.

Oh great.

Owain blinked and rubbed his eyes. "Oh what, are you collecting us now? Space is a bit at a premium here you know," he pointed out.

[member="Felicity Mason"] [member="Graxin Rade"]

 

[Felicity Mason]

Poor Owain. He was still hurt and all because of her. She hadn't noticed at the time. She thought he was being just being dramatic. She'd ignored it. This was how things seemed to go when she was having fun. People got hurt. She crossed the room to him the moment she saw him, leaving her brother to wait in the doorway.

"Shut up, Owain," she snapped, rolling her eyes, "It's not like that. He's my brother. Now, be nice, okay?"

He already wasn't making a very good impression. At all. The girl blushed, giving her brother an apologetic look over her shoulder.

[member="Owain"] [member="Graxin Rade"]

 

[Placeholder 0123]

Graxin lofted a brow. The boy certainly didn't seem to be the respectable sort. His lips pressed into a thin line and his eyes narrowed partway as Owain spoke. "Mmmm...." He rumbled quietly, tilting his head down to meet Felicity's look. "My name is Graxin, and I've come for Felicity."


The Knight paused a moment, inviting himself further within. He strode through the small room, arms pointedly near the twin lightsabers that hung from his belt. He came to a halt a few paces away from the children--children to him, anyway-- and looked them both over. "I assume you're Owain?"


[member="Felicity Mason"] [member="Owain"]

 

[Owain]

Owain laughed weakly as he propped himself upon an elbow. "My mistake," he said with a welcoming wave. "Though for a runaway you are apparently easy to find," he grinned at the blonde before looking at her brother. He couldn't see the family resemblance, but maybe there was a story behind that. None of his business in any case. "Pleasure to meet you, sorry if I don't stand - doctor's orders," he explained, eyeing the twin sabres hanging from the you'd belt.

Urgh, another space wizard. "And the question here is whether she wants to go with you. Her...uncle, was it? Zander? Had wanted to do something similar..." He said, swinging his legs off the sofa, wincing slightly in pain. If he had to stand up to this arrogant twit, he would. "And yes. Owain Barnabus, at your service Mr Wizard," he said with a nod of his head.

[member="Graxin Rade"] [member="Felicity Mason"]

 

[Placeholder 0123]

Wizard? Graxin snickered at that. When he was a simple agent in service of the Emperor, he had preferred the term Bathrobe Brigade, but to each his own. It was true, the decision to leave was Felicity's entirely. He would not limit the girl in any way, though Felicity surely knew he disapproved of her running off with a boy. That was how he himself had been born, after all, they're mother running off with some man because of love. A concept that could not have been more a lie if someone tried. to make it so.

"I don't know Zander. I'm cut off from most of the family--for good reason." he pursed his lips to speak further, and cast his gaze down to Felicity. It wasn't his place to speak for the girl. "Graxin Rade...I'll let Felicity explain."

@Owain [member="Felicity Mason"]

 

[Felicity Mason]

This was not going well. Not well at all. Her gaze shifted from one male to the other, nervous. Both men had tempers, both were easily offended, no matter how they would each claim otherwise. Both of them had one heck of an ego too.

"He's offered to train me, Owain," she explained, sitting on the edge of the bed, "He wants to teach me how to control it. I could travel with him. I could learn so much."

Her eyes fell to the floor. She did not look happy about it. She knew she would regret this.

"You can't come with me."

[member="Graxin Rade"] [member="Owain"]

 

[Owain]

"That...sounds nice," the boy said slowly, looking at the girl. Then she revealed she was ditching him and he felt his indignation rise. Why couldn't he? He had kept pace before! Her uncle appears and nothing but the minute her precious brother shows up she kicks him to the curb?! Owain closed his eyes and took a deep breath, counting to five in his head.

No.

Stop. Think.

Space wizard training. Everything the girl could possibly want. An adventure. Exploring the Galaxy. Her brother looking out for her. He could see the sense in all of it. Didn't mean he liked it. He smiled bitterly. "Yeah...of course. Would only slow you down huh?" he said jokingly before sighing. Force users set a punishing pace.

"It's what you want, right?" the boy asked her.

[member="Felicity Mason"] [member="Graxin Rade"]

 

[Placeholder 0123]

Outwardly, Graxin was a wall of stoicism. A picture of the perfect Jedi Knight, a master of his emotions. Inwardly, he reveled at his victory. His sister was safe once more. She would become a Jedi, and follow in his foot steps. The Reformation would gain another promising Jedi Knight. Felicity would no longer be under the influence of some idiotic teenager only trying to get into her pants--from Graxin's point of view, anyway. They were all thoughts a Jedi should not have, and he knew such...but for once, he allowed himself some amusement. Being a big brother was getting to be quite fun.

He remained utterly silent through the proceedings, content to just stand there with his arms folded over his chest.

@Owain [member="Felicity Mason"]

 

[Felicity Mason]

He was disappointed. She could see it, hear it. Not half as disappointed as she was though. This stung worse than anything. She looked up at her brother, instantly sensing his satisfaction. He'd won. She gave him a dirty look, seriously resisting the urge to reach over and hug Owain, just to spite him.

"It's not an easy thing to do. I didn't want to leave you."
She was looking at Owain now, all honesty in her words.
"I'm going to miss you. A lot."

[member="Graxin Rade"] [member="Owain"]