Private Where the Trees Remember Her Name

[Aiden Porte]

"Aiden,"

"if being a Jedi doesn't quite pan out, you absolutely have a future opening a food stall. We could call it 'The Force Feeds You.' Or, wait, 'Soup Side of the Force.'"

Aiden chuckled lightly which turned into a wider laugh. "I have heard this many times before, should that day come you both can eat for free anytime." The jedi winked at his two companions as he took a deep breath. A calm relaxing breath, as he stared at the fire for a moment. Taking in the conversation going on between Philip and Isla.

If there was truly a set of people that were meant to be together, it was definitely Isla Reingard and Phillip Slate

The looks, laughter, you could feel the sweet and genuine connection between the two. Give how they were that day at the carnival, just showed how much they had grown.

"I'll tell you what, you guys come up with a good name. I'll consider the food stall. Whatever proceeds I make I'll split with you two." Aiden said with a solid smile as he was being completely serious.

He continued to listen, as they talked about what they saw, and Philp discussing the paths that lay before him.

"I would try not to think on it too much, Philip. Before you know it you will find your path, and your way." Aiden knew that it would seem confusing now, but eventually the bigger picture would show and the way forward will be clear.

"Besides, you've got Isla to help you as well. To me....that's kind dangerous." Aiden eyed Isla with a teasing look and a laugh that followed.

It was almost time, he stirred the soup a few more times, smelling the aroma and everything seemed to be in good order. He poured Isla and Philip a bowl each and one for himself. "And there's still plenty if one bowl isn't enough. I tend to overdo it at times."

"...I might try to see if I can get in contact with some Gungans since I want to use some Cambylictus wood for my hilt...Less engineering and more...botany I suppose? A Lightsaber is meant to...represent you as a Jedi right? So...I need to make mine artistic."

"So after this sacred Jedi soup,"

"you're going to teach us how to build these things, right? Lightsabers. Real ones."

"Because I swear my crystal is just sitting there, judging me. It's probably thinking, 'Nice dive, kid, now maybe learn how to not electrocute yourself with the chassis assembly.'"

"That's a really good idea Phillip. I truly wouldn't have thought of that." Aiden spoke sincerely, he hadn't done too much research on the trees that grew in the water, other than that they produced a particularly nice berry known as the Camby Berries. They were at times dipped in chocolate and given as treats. He would make it a point to go get some of these berries and present them as a gift for Kalantha

He was sure she would enjoy the sentiment.

"And of course I will assist in the construction of your lightsabers. Granted, it will be some light assistance and the rest will have to be done on your own. The blade, crystal and you are one. It sounds complicated now, but once you focus your mind it will open up a endless array of possibilities. You will both do a great job I am sure of it."

Aiden took the first few spoonful's of the soup and he let out a satisfied sigh.

That's good....

 

[Isla Reingard]

​

Isla sipped the soup like it was a miracle cure from some ancient Jedi apothecary. Her eyes went half-lidded with bliss as she sighed dramatically. "Okay. Yeah. This is probably in the Jedi Code somewhere. Like, 'There is no hunger, there is stew.'" She grinned into her bowl, cupping it close as if it might vanish if she didn't protect it.

When Phillip spoke about the crossroads, the choice between being an artist and being a Jedi, her expression softened. She set her bowl down carefully on the edge of the blanket, then turned toward him, one leg crossed beneath the other, hands laced in her lap. "You don't have to pick one," she said quietly. "I don't think the Force works like that. It's not some switch you flip. You're not just a Jedi, or just an artist. You're Phillip. And you're kind of good at being that." A pause, then her brows lifted. "Well. Most of the time."

She leaned forward a bit, her voice quieter, more honest. "And for the record, I think the whole 'make your own path' thing? That's what real Jedi do, or at least what they should do. You're not running from anything; you're running toward something. Big difference." She gave his arm a little nudge with her knuckles. "And you're not going down that road alone. I'll be there too, remember? Probably getting mud in my boots and yelling at ghosts and dragging you into a nightmare temple or two. You'll hate it." Her smile tilted sideways, like she knew he wouldn't hate it even a little.

Then she glanced back at Aiden, lifting her bowl again with exaggerated reverence. "If you ever open that food stall, I'm designing the signage. I don't care if we're mid-war, mid-mission, or mid-crisis, I will pause time to paint a Jedi soup pot in high-definition color."

She took another long sip and then sighed. "Okay. Lightsaber building. You said 'light assistance,' which I assume means 'expert assistance disguised as cryptic Jedi advice.' So I'm ready for whatever sacred hardware lesson comes next." She held up her crystal and peered at it dramatically, squinting one eye. "I know you're judging me. Just be patient. I'll build something beautiful. Or mildly functional. Or possibly dangerous." Then, under her breath, "...Definitely dangerous."

But when she looked back up at Phillip, there was nothing teasing in her face. Just a quiet certainty. "We're going to do this. Both of us. Whatever our sabers look like, whatever kind of Jedi we end up becoming, it's going to matter. We'll make it matter." She tapped her crystal lightly against his, the sound soft, like a promise.

Then she grinned and took another spoonful of soup, slurping loudly. "And in the meantime, I'm eating your second bowl too."

Phillip Slate | Aiden Porte​

 

[Phillip Slate]

Tags: Aiden Porte Isla Reingard

"I don't do free food. I'll always be sure to pay for it. Though I do appreciate the offer Aiden."

Phillip however raised an eyebrow at the idea of getting money for coming up with a good name. That was something that interested him at the very least. Yes, perhaps it was somewhat of a greedy thought...but Phillip had never said he was selfless. In fact, he always thought he was actually quite greedy. It might not be the full truth, but that was how Phillip saw himself. For better or for worse!

"Thinking is one of my best skills Aiden. It's also one of my worst. I'm not...the wisest person alive. Nor am I the strongest. But...I like to think a lot. But I know where my path is already. It's where Isla goes. Alongside the rest of the Jedi. So...it's not that dangerous that Isla is by my side."

For someone who used to consider himself a loner, and quite anti-social, Phillip was...surprised by the fact that he no longer wanted to go through life alone. He had wanted to explore the Galaxy, but a part of that had been because he was lost. Now? He was found. He knew where he was. Who he was. He was Phillip Slate. Jedi Padawan. And he was proud of it finally. And hey, Isla seemed to agree with him, since she thought he was good at being Phillip...Most of the time. And hey, if they did go against ghosts...Well, the parallax crystal was meant to be good at dealing with that right?

Either way, he went to work finally eating away at the stew. Taking small sips of it, unlike a certain someone who seemed to want to devour all of it. He had always been pretty calm when it came to eating. He raised an eyebrow at her idea of designing the sign. Yet the Artist amongst the trio stayed quiet, a small smirk flickering on his face instead.

"The blade, crystal and I all being one...doesn't sound as complicated as you might think Aiden. It's meant to be a part of ourselves, right? Like...how a weapon should feel like an extension of your being. And so if it's meant to be an extension of ourselves..."

The Lad gave a quick glance over towards Isla, giving her a cheeky grin all of a sudden.

"I can see yours being all three. Beautiful, functional and dangerous."

And with that, he just went quiet. Even as Isla took his second bowl, Phillip made no attempt to stop her...mostly because he hadn't even finished his first yet!

 

[Aiden Porte]

"Okay. Yeah. This is probably in the Jedi Code somewhere. Like, 'There is no hunger, there is stew.'"

Aiden raised an eyebrow at Isla but he couldn't hold the straight face he gave her as he started to laugh. "Okay, that was pretty good." The Jedi shook his head as he took another spoonful or two of the soup.

"I don't do free food. I'll always be sure to pay for it. Though I do appreciate the offer Aiden."

"Offer is always there." He said with a laugh and smile on his face.

He couldn't deny that they complimented each other well. The Jedi could sense a strong bond between them, and that throughout the years will only ever grow stronger. It's effective and precise to the both of them, and to any enemies they would run across......deadly.

It was perfect....

"If you ever open that food stall, I'm designing the signage. I don't care if we're mid-war, mid-mission, or mid-crisis, I will pause time to paint a Jedi soup pot in high-definition color."

"Okay. Lightsaber building. You said 'light assistance,' which I assume means 'expert assistance disguised as cryptic Jedi advice.' So I'm ready for whatever sacred hardware lesson comes next."

"The blade, crystal and I all being one...doesn't sound as complicated as you might think Aiden. It's meant to be a part of ourselves, right? Like...how a weapon should feel like an extension of your being. And so if it's meant to be an extension of ourselves..."

"Very much so, an extension of you. The blade, crystal and you are one." Aiden said with a smiled then glanced over to Isla. "I'll take you up on that offer. And of course some good solid assistance, I have no doubt though that you will do great. You both will, I believe that the most my friends."

Phillip Slate Isla Reingard

 

[Isla Reingard]

​

Isla slurped her soup loudly, deliberately, obnoxiously, before glancing sideways at Phillip, her expression deadpan. "Speak for yourself. I'll take the free food, every time. Aiden, if you're giving out soup for life, I'm gonna be the smallest, loudest, hungriest regular you've ever had." She smirked into her bowl, then pointed her spoon at Phillip like a lecture pointer. "You can be noble about it all you want, but when you're starving in some Outer Rim dust bowl, you'll remember my wisdom." She mimed dropping imaginary knowledge like coins into a jar. "And then you'll wish you took the free food."

Her tone softened as she let the spoon rest lazily between her fingers, twirling it slowly. "Besides, not everything has to be earned, Phillip. Sometimes people just care. Sometimes they give without expecting anything back. You're allowed to accept that." Her eyes flicked toward him briefly, searching his expression, then back to the fire.

At Aiden's encouragement, she straightened up, taking it in fully. His belief in them wasn't loud or dramatic; it was steady, like how the cave felt: quiet, strong, and constant. "You know," she said, glancing between the two of them, "you're both way too supportive. One of you should probably tell me my lightsaber's gonna explode on first ignition, just to keep me humble." She grinned wider, setting down the bowl, her stomach finally content for now. "Okay, so, after this sacred soup moment, what's next? Do we, like, meditate on the crystal? Build the chassis? I'm ready. Teach me, Soup Master." For the first time, she didn't sound scared of what came next; she sounded ready.

Phillip Slate | Aiden Porte​

 

[Phillip Slate]

Tags: Aiden Porte Isla Reingard

"It's nothing to do with being noble. Hard work should always be rewarded in some way."

Phillip said, rather matter of factly at that, turning his head up ever so slightly. It wasn't that he was against being given stuff for free. No. It was more...he didn't want to take advantage of people. He could pay for stuff. He could work for it. It was just taking advantage of other people's kindness to him. There were other who needed it, not him.

It was why he couldn't wrap his head around Isla's comment about not everything needed to be earned. It did for him. He had to prove he deserved stuff. That he could earn it. Otherwise...what else was the reason for him to do things? He caught Isla's eyes flickering for a moment and blinked to himself. He wasn't entirely sure what that was for, but he decided to put that on the backburner, turning his attention back over towards Aiden.

"I'd presume meditating on the crystal would be an important first step. Just because we've found our crystal doesn't mean that we've fully bonded with it. There's a lot of work to go into bonding a crystal...I presume at least. Most of what I know is theory. Not...actual experience."

Why was he even speaking as if he knew stuff then? Phillip shook his head. That wasn't how he should be thinking right now. Positive mindset, positive attutide. That was what was important. He was with people who were important. He just turned his attention back towards his soup bowl, finally starting to get to the last little bits of it all.

 

[Aiden Porte]

Speak for yourself. I'll take the free food, every time. Aiden, if you're giving out soup for life, I'm gonna be the smallest, loudest, hungriest regular you've ever had."

"Well, you got the loud part down." Aiden said with a slight giggle and a wink her way. Constantly teasing her, that would be something he would always do. Well maybe not all the time. But when the situation called for it.

"Besides, not everything has to be earned, Phillip. Sometimes people just care. Sometimes they give without expecting anything back. You're allowed to accept that."

"You don't give yourself enough credit Isla. You are smarter than you think you are." Aiden smiled as he was close to finishing up his bow. "She's not wrong, I try my best to give without what's returned."

Aiden took a deep breath as he looked off into the distance. A smile on his face as he stared for a minute. "That's the key..... There are those, evil doers.... search for what they can take. A Jedi, searches for what he can give." There was a solid lesson to be learned there.

"I'd presume meditating on the crystal would be an important first step. Just because we've found our crystal doesn't mean that we've fully bonded with it. There's a lot of work to go into bonding a crystal...I presume at least. Most of what I know is theory. Not...actual experience."

"You are correct Philip, you must increase your bond with your crystal. Meditate on it and the energies around you. You will find a bond greater than you could've imagined."

Isla Reingard
Phillip Slate

 

[Isla Reingard]

​

Isla leaned back on her hands, tilting her head toward Aiden with a half-smirk. "Loud part down? Please. You haven't even heard me in an argument yet." Her eyes glimmered with a mix of challenge and amusement before she tipped the last sip of broth into her mouth and set the bowl aside with a satisfied clink.

When Phillip spoke about bonding with the crystal, she shifted, curling her legs beneath her. She pulled the small satchel from her belt and eased out the crystal, holding it in her palms. It caught the firelight in shifting colors: deep green at one angle, pale gold at another. Her voice dropped into something softer, almost reverent.

"You know, when I found it, it didn't feel like finding a rock. It felt more like meeting someone I already knew, like it was waiting for me to get there. But," she glanced sideways at Phillip with a teasing smirk, "if you want to sit for hours in complete silence bonding with yours, I'll just have Aiden teach me how to make more soup. Maybe we can start a restaurant: Kyber & Noodles."

She turned the crystal over once more, then closed her fingers around it. The warmth lingered against her skin like a pulse. "Yeah, I get it. Meditating makes sense. Still," she looked at Aiden expectantly, "can we do it outside? Somewhere I can actually see the Hollund peaks? If I'm going to bond with my crystal, I want it to remember my home."

She grinned again, that restless spark in her eyes, and it was clear she was already halfway to the door in her mind.

Phillip Slate | Aiden Porte​

 

[Phillip Slate]

Tags: Aiden Porte Isla Reingard

"I don't think I've even heard you in an argument. Though we all know I'd win."

Teasing. Poking the Wampa. Phillip doubt he'd actually win any argument with anyone. For now, he passed his crystal between his fingers, staring down at it. Whilst his tone was teasing, his gaze was just...thoughtful. Plenty of thoughts were going through his mind. Connecting with the crystal. The materials he'd want to use for his lightsaber. But then also on what Aiden had said. A Jedi gave. They didn't take. That's something Phillip wanted to listen to, but even in the back of his mind, he knew he was taking it too far. There was nothing wrong with taking a gift...but he still wanted to refute it.

Yet there was another thought that came to his mind, that caused a frown to grow on his face. Aiden said that a bond greater than he could ever imagine would grow between themselves and their crystals. He took a glance away from his crystal to look over towards Isla, the frown slowly fading to a smile that Phillip didn't even know he had. If the bond was anything like what he felt towards Isla...Phillip couldn't wait for it.

Wait. What was Phillip blinking about? He shook his head, snapping back into focus, before nodding at Isla's comment. Seeing the mountains made sense. Phillip was in on rush to fully bond with his crystal. Not yet at least. It wasn't a sprint. It was a marathon. He wanted to enjoy this time as he pushed himself up to his feet, and held his hand out towards Isla

"I think the mountains could be nice. There's other places we can show the crystals as well. The Temple. Theed. I might show mine the art around my house. You...can come as well."

With that, he glanced over towards Aiden, grinning over towards the elder Jedi and waiting for him to lead the way. Well...to be fair, it should be Isla leading the way...but Phillip was just going to do what he thought he did best. He was a follower. Not a leader.

 

[Aiden Porte]

"if you want to sit for hours in complete silence bonding with yours, I'll just have Aiden teach me how to make more soup. Maybe we can start a restaurant: Kyber & Noodles."

"You are you name suggestions......" Aiden said with a hearty laugh, perhaps one of the best he's ever had in his life. "I"m going to start coming to you with any ideas from now on Isla." It was true she was definitely one of a kind, and he was happy that she and Phillip Slate had each other. It was similar to how he was with Kalantha , and Brandyn Sal-Soren

Together they were stronger, and together they could would be able to accomplish wonders and move mountains.

"can we do it outside? Somewhere I can actually see the Hollund peaks? If I'm going to bond with my crystal, I want it to remember my home."

"I think the mountains could be nice. There's other places we can show the crystals as well. The Temple. Theed. I might show mine the art around my house. You...can come as well."

"Whichever place suits you the best. Wherever you feel most comfortable, the mountains do sound nice." Aiden said as he glanced over to Philip, "Philip describing the art around his home, that would be a nice place too." The Jedi Knight smiled as he stood up and began to clean the area up a bit.

"You should both push on, I'll clean up and will be with yall shortly." The Jedi Padawan said as he took a small glance back towards the cave briefly before continuing with the cleaning up.

Isla Reingard

 

[Isla Reingard]

​

Isla pushed herself up, brushing dust from her hands. With almost ceremonial care, she tucked the crystal back into its pouch. Her glance at Phillip's outstretched hand was a mix of suspicion and smirk, but she took it, letting him steady her as she hauled herself to her feet.

"Careful, Slate," she warned, tilting her head toward him as they started for the cave mouth. "If you start inviting me to see art at your place, next thing you know, I'll be leaving my boots by the door and reorganizing your bookshelf. Then you'll really regret it."

The cool air of the peaks slipped into the cave as they reached the entrance, carrying the distant scent of pine and snow. She took a deep breath, filling her chest, before glancing back over her shoulder at Aiden. "Don't take too long, Soup Master. If you miss the best view of Hollund at sunset, I'm blaming you forever."

Outside, the fading light turned the jagged mountains into a silhouette of deep violet and molten gold. Isla's fingers brushed the satchel at her side, feeling the crystal's gentle warmth. She smiled, enjoying the view and the thought of showing Phillip exactly where she found it. For once, she wasn't thinking about what could go wrong. She was thinking about what could come next.

Phillip Slate | Aiden Porte​