It was a bit of a hike, but eventually Ko made it to his destination. It was so strange to be back here after all these years. His family's old estate. A rather large home situated into the mountain, overlooking one of the more lush river valleys on Dorin. The property had certainly seen better days. Plants around it once cared for had withered and dried up, others like weeds had overgrown in abundance. Creating a bizarre mixture of lush greens and bleak browns and grays.
Strung about some of the walls were old Dorin prayer flags. Tattered and worn, literally hanging together by a thread. Unfortunately Ko wasn’t quite here to walk down memory lane. He came to meet his uncle, the only other living member of his family here on Dorin. Xojo had apparently found quite a refuge here after distancing themselves from the Baran Do.
Stepping up to the front gate Ko gave it a gentle knock. Causing it to creak open and reveal the dilapidated courtyard that greeted visitors to the estate. Stepping in he observed the once familiar surroundings through the Force. Which only served to make him feel like more of an outsider in what was once home for him. A place that was once comforting and fun, now greatly weathered and aged from the land’s many tumultuous storms.
Ko knew that his uncle was here, even now he could sense and recognize his presence. Although it seemed muddled and faint. Not loud and proud like he remembered. Moving further along Ko knocked on the door to enter the building. But got no answer. Fortunately the door was unlocked. Visitors were an unlikely occurrence all the way up here, and being on Dorin meant nobody really worried about thieves or trespassers either. Even small crimes like that could earn big punishments. The air was dry and dusty within his old home as he stepped in. But now he hurt something. A strange and alien noise. But most invasive to his senses was the overpowering smell of alcohol. It clung to everything like someone had smashed a dozen perfume bottles in a store.
It didn’t take Ko a long time to see the source of it. Stepping into the kitchen he saw him. Uncle Xojo, on the floor with his back against the wall. Snoring loudly. With a smashed bottle of booze on the floor next to him, still within his clawed clutches. Likely having broken it in his slumber. Standing before them Ko spoke softly in his native tongue. “Uncle Xojo, I’ve arrived…” But the young Kel Dor got no response. Which had struck a bit of a cord within him. Seeing a man that had been so critical and prideful now a washup drunkard.
Taking a deep breath Ko moved to the sink. Grabbing a large cup and filling it with water. Once full he stepped back to his uncle and harshly splashed it across his face. Causing the older Kel Dor to thrash and scramble widely on the floor. “Huh! Wh-Wha in the seven storms!” They asked before looking up and instantly recognizing who stood over them. Even with how much more grown up Ko was, and the wraps that covered his eyes, Xojo knew it was his nephew. Also because he had been informed of Ko’s arrival beforehand.
“Ugh… You couldn’t have just waited for me to wake up on my own? Relax a little? I know it’s a hike to come up here.” Xojo said, as they instinctively went to drink from the smashed bottle in his hands. Bringing the top to his maw. Only to let out a frustrated and annoyed sigh when they realized it had all been wasted in a puddle he was now sitting in.
“I uh, figured you would’ve been prepared for my arrival.”
“Well what does it look like? I was celebrating your long awaited arrival…” Ko raised a brow before turning his head around some to observe all the old empty bottles around.
“Looks to me like you’ve been celebrating for quite some time now…” Ko’s retort earned him a huff from Xojo.
“Ack, that’s the Ko I know… witty and always talking back to your elders.”
“I’ve changed a lot since I was six. It's been over 10 years now.” Ko countered.
“Oh yes I can see that, Little Ko’s turned into Big Ko now. You have muscles now, and height. Not like the little shrimp I remember.” Although harsh, that was true. Even graduating from a youngling, Ko was exceptionally small. Smaller than even a certain diminutive Echani boy he knew. Seeing his uncle like this seemed strange. Both familiar and unrecognizable. Still critical, yet lacking all the disciplined edge he remembered. “I know you have questions. You’ll get answers.” Xojo said preemptively. “Just uh… let me come off this hangover so I can properly articulate what needs to be said, okay?” Ko felt like that was understandable and gave his uncle a nod.
That was a lie.
Now that Ko had awoken them it just meant they could go back to drinking. While Ko was left to revisit his family's estate. His uncle let him know he could make himself at home. Being ironic since this was his home. But it gave the young Kel Dor some time to think things over and process, even reliving old memories of his early childhood.. Learning that his uncle had turned into a drunkard was certainly a shock to Ko.
Hours turned into days and Xojo kept blowing off Ko and drinking. The amount they consumed was very unrealistic. Enough to where Ko imagined it could kill a room full of zeltrons. Yet Xojo still remained, surprisingly functional and coordinated. Otherwise it wasn’t hard for Ko to picture him falling down the mountain side.
Eventually Ko’s patience thinned and quickly culminated in a heated argument with his uncle who seemingly kept refusing to even acknowledge his presence here. “Why the hell are you so concerned with me anyways. I know you got better things to do. Don’t you have Jedi duties or something?”
“I’m here to finish my training as a Sage, and because Master Pon said I could still learn a lot from you. She never elaborated what though. By now my guess is that she just wanted me to see that even a mighty and proud fighter like you can end up like some bum. Wasting away until-”
“Oh just shut up already. You don’t know anything. You know why I wanted you gone and with the Jedi? Because you’re annoying. And I knew you’d fit right in with a bunch of hot heads like them.” Xojo said, expressing some of their disdain for the other Order. “You wanted to be a fighter like me. So I gave you your wish and let you become a Jedi. So you can have all the fights you want. You even managed to get some fiery cougar to train you. But even now you still can’t help but be a pain in my ass! Just like my sister!” Hearing that made Ko bite his tongue after they insulted the Jedi and his mother. Trying hard not to lash out and stand up for the Jedi and explain why he was wrong. After a second Xojo took a long swig from a bottle. “Heh… did I finally strike a nerve?” Xojo asked, sensing that Ko was getting upset. “Good! That means that you’re actually listening-”
“Why bring my mother into this? I thought you loved her?”
“I did… I still do, but your father got her killed. Your family was so damn loyal to The Imperial Order, it cost your mother her life. I’m surprised you’re not angry about it as well. Why you’re not more like your Uncle Xojo. Look at where it got them, look at where it got Bo! Now he’s-”
Clenching his fist tight at his uncle name dropping his older brother in such a manner Ko held out his hand and telekinetically yoinked the bottle from his uncle’s clawed hand. Feeling just about ready to smash it over their thick skull. But held back still. “I think you’re done drinking for today. You should stop before you say something you’ll regret.” Ko said sternly, tightening his grip on the bottle, watching his uncle quickly scramble up onto their feet. Their bodies swayed as he pointed to Ko.
“Give that back boy… That’s an expensive bottle and I’m not done with it yet.”
“Oh, you want it. Come and take it. Although I doubt you could. You’re so inebriated you couldn’t walk two feet without tripping over.” Ko remarked confidently before taking a few steps back. Tilting the bottle, ready to pour its contents onto the floor in front of his uncle.
Xojo closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Centering himself before suddenly rushing Ko before a single drop could be spilled. Catching the younger Kel Dor off guard with how fluidly they moved despite how intoxicated they were. Their bodies swayed looking as though it would tumble to the floor at any moment, yet it didn’t.
The two stubborn and agitated Kel Dor got into a bit of a scrap. With Ko essentially playing keep away with his uncle as they tried to grab the bottle from them. Ko wondered if his uncle’s body had become so used to alcohol that it could function perfectly fine even now.
Soon enough Ko was caught inside of a dizzying combo from Xojo which ended in him getting a harsh palm strike to his chest. Knocking him back onto the floor as the bottle was flung up into the air. In a smooth and fluid motion Xojo stood over their fallen nephew and grabbed the bottle mid air before taking another swig from it. “Great… Now I gotta drink even more to get a buzz again. Happy now?” Xojo asked while looking down at Ko. His voice was also much clearer now. Not slurring their words so much.
“Wh-What was that? How did you not collapse after a single step?” Ko asked, clearly astonished. Wondering how in the world his uncle managed to sober up so quickly and get the bottle back.
Xojo raised a brow and asked, “What, are you telling me that as a Force Sensitive Kel Dor off world you never learned how to detox your body?”
“Uh… No?”
“Oh… well then. Seems like I do have something to teach you. Other than the fate of your last living relative. Seems like my days training young fighters aren’t over just yet…”
Strung about some of the walls were old Dorin prayer flags. Tattered and worn, literally hanging together by a thread. Unfortunately Ko wasn’t quite here to walk down memory lane. He came to meet his uncle, the only other living member of his family here on Dorin. Xojo had apparently found quite a refuge here after distancing themselves from the Baran Do.
Stepping up to the front gate Ko gave it a gentle knock. Causing it to creak open and reveal the dilapidated courtyard that greeted visitors to the estate. Stepping in he observed the once familiar surroundings through the Force. Which only served to make him feel like more of an outsider in what was once home for him. A place that was once comforting and fun, now greatly weathered and aged from the land’s many tumultuous storms.
Ko knew that his uncle was here, even now he could sense and recognize his presence. Although it seemed muddled and faint. Not loud and proud like he remembered. Moving further along Ko knocked on the door to enter the building. But got no answer. Fortunately the door was unlocked. Visitors were an unlikely occurrence all the way up here, and being on Dorin meant nobody really worried about thieves or trespassers either. Even small crimes like that could earn big punishments. The air was dry and dusty within his old home as he stepped in. But now he hurt something. A strange and alien noise. But most invasive to his senses was the overpowering smell of alcohol. It clung to everything like someone had smashed a dozen perfume bottles in a store.
It didn’t take Ko a long time to see the source of it. Stepping into the kitchen he saw him. Uncle Xojo, on the floor with his back against the wall. Snoring loudly. With a smashed bottle of booze on the floor next to him, still within his clawed clutches. Likely having broken it in his slumber. Standing before them Ko spoke softly in his native tongue. “Uncle Xojo, I’ve arrived…” But the young Kel Dor got no response. Which had struck a bit of a cord within him. Seeing a man that had been so critical and prideful now a washup drunkard.
Taking a deep breath Ko moved to the sink. Grabbing a large cup and filling it with water. Once full he stepped back to his uncle and harshly splashed it across his face. Causing the older Kel Dor to thrash and scramble widely on the floor. “Huh! Wh-Wha in the seven storms!” They asked before looking up and instantly recognizing who stood over them. Even with how much more grown up Ko was, and the wraps that covered his eyes, Xojo knew it was his nephew. Also because he had been informed of Ko’s arrival beforehand.
“Ugh… You couldn’t have just waited for me to wake up on my own? Relax a little? I know it’s a hike to come up here.” Xojo said, as they instinctively went to drink from the smashed bottle in his hands. Bringing the top to his maw. Only to let out a frustrated and annoyed sigh when they realized it had all been wasted in a puddle he was now sitting in.
“I uh, figured you would’ve been prepared for my arrival.”
“Well what does it look like? I was celebrating your long awaited arrival…” Ko raised a brow before turning his head around some to observe all the old empty bottles around.
“Looks to me like you’ve been celebrating for quite some time now…” Ko’s retort earned him a huff from Xojo.
“Ack, that’s the Ko I know… witty and always talking back to your elders.”
“I’ve changed a lot since I was six. It's been over 10 years now.” Ko countered.
“Oh yes I can see that, Little Ko’s turned into Big Ko now. You have muscles now, and height. Not like the little shrimp I remember.” Although harsh, that was true. Even graduating from a youngling, Ko was exceptionally small. Smaller than even a certain diminutive Echani boy he knew. Seeing his uncle like this seemed strange. Both familiar and unrecognizable. Still critical, yet lacking all the disciplined edge he remembered. “I know you have questions. You’ll get answers.” Xojo said preemptively. “Just uh… let me come off this hangover so I can properly articulate what needs to be said, okay?” Ko felt like that was understandable and gave his uncle a nod.
. . .
That was a lie.
Now that Ko had awoken them it just meant they could go back to drinking. While Ko was left to revisit his family's estate. His uncle let him know he could make himself at home. Being ironic since this was his home. But it gave the young Kel Dor some time to think things over and process, even reliving old memories of his early childhood.. Learning that his uncle had turned into a drunkard was certainly a shock to Ko.
Hours turned into days and Xojo kept blowing off Ko and drinking. The amount they consumed was very unrealistic. Enough to where Ko imagined it could kill a room full of zeltrons. Yet Xojo still remained, surprisingly functional and coordinated. Otherwise it wasn’t hard for Ko to picture him falling down the mountain side.
Eventually Ko’s patience thinned and quickly culminated in a heated argument with his uncle who seemingly kept refusing to even acknowledge his presence here. “Why the hell are you so concerned with me anyways. I know you got better things to do. Don’t you have Jedi duties or something?”
“I’m here to finish my training as a Sage, and because Master Pon said I could still learn a lot from you. She never elaborated what though. By now my guess is that she just wanted me to see that even a mighty and proud fighter like you can end up like some bum. Wasting away until-”
“Oh just shut up already. You don’t know anything. You know why I wanted you gone and with the Jedi? Because you’re annoying. And I knew you’d fit right in with a bunch of hot heads like them.” Xojo said, expressing some of their disdain for the other Order. “You wanted to be a fighter like me. So I gave you your wish and let you become a Jedi. So you can have all the fights you want. You even managed to get some fiery cougar to train you. But even now you still can’t help but be a pain in my ass! Just like my sister!” Hearing that made Ko bite his tongue after they insulted the Jedi and his mother. Trying hard not to lash out and stand up for the Jedi and explain why he was wrong. After a second Xojo took a long swig from a bottle. “Heh… did I finally strike a nerve?” Xojo asked, sensing that Ko was getting upset. “Good! That means that you’re actually listening-”
“Why bring my mother into this? I thought you loved her?”
“I did… I still do, but your father got her killed. Your family was so damn loyal to The Imperial Order, it cost your mother her life. I’m surprised you’re not angry about it as well. Why you’re not more like your Uncle Xojo. Look at where it got them, look at where it got Bo! Now he’s-”
Clenching his fist tight at his uncle name dropping his older brother in such a manner Ko held out his hand and telekinetically yoinked the bottle from his uncle’s clawed hand. Feeling just about ready to smash it over their thick skull. But held back still. “I think you’re done drinking for today. You should stop before you say something you’ll regret.” Ko said sternly, tightening his grip on the bottle, watching his uncle quickly scramble up onto their feet. Their bodies swayed as he pointed to Ko.
“Give that back boy… That’s an expensive bottle and I’m not done with it yet.”
“Oh, you want it. Come and take it. Although I doubt you could. You’re so inebriated you couldn’t walk two feet without tripping over.” Ko remarked confidently before taking a few steps back. Tilting the bottle, ready to pour its contents onto the floor in front of his uncle.
Xojo closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Centering himself before suddenly rushing Ko before a single drop could be spilled. Catching the younger Kel Dor off guard with how fluidly they moved despite how intoxicated they were. Their bodies swayed looking as though it would tumble to the floor at any moment, yet it didn’t.
The two stubborn and agitated Kel Dor got into a bit of a scrap. With Ko essentially playing keep away with his uncle as they tried to grab the bottle from them. Ko wondered if his uncle’s body had become so used to alcohol that it could function perfectly fine even now.
Soon enough Ko was caught inside of a dizzying combo from Xojo which ended in him getting a harsh palm strike to his chest. Knocking him back onto the floor as the bottle was flung up into the air. In a smooth and fluid motion Xojo stood over their fallen nephew and grabbed the bottle mid air before taking another swig from it. “Great… Now I gotta drink even more to get a buzz again. Happy now?” Xojo asked while looking down at Ko. His voice was also much clearer now. Not slurring their words so much.
“Wh-What was that? How did you not collapse after a single step?” Ko asked, clearly astonished. Wondering how in the world his uncle managed to sober up so quickly and get the bottle back.
Xojo raised a brow and asked, “What, are you telling me that as a Force Sensitive Kel Dor off world you never learned how to detox your body?”
“Uh… No?”
“Oh… well then. Seems like I do have something to teach you. Other than the fate of your last living relative. Seems like my days training young fighters aren’t over just yet…”
