All Stories are True

[Josh Dragovalor]

It was about her brother then? He should have figured. “Eh, I’m sure he’ll turn up” He spoke, trying to hide a frown. He was trapped in some pocket dimension right? So no he was not just going to turn up. He didn’t know what to do about this. Scherezade hadn’t given him instructions worth chit when it came to this. He was in a lose-lose situation. The fact was she’d either think he was in danger when he didn’t show up or think he had abandoned her. And Josh was going to have no choice but to tell her.

Though he found himself frowning for real when she brought up dating within the CIS but he didn’t know why. Was that a pang of jealousy? He wasn’t sure but spoke nothing of it.

“I’m sure you’ll meet plenty of people” He spoke. “Just try not to forget about me when you’re miss popular, aye?”

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

"I'm not aiming to be Miss Popular, Josh," Madalena laughed, "and I probably won't be. Don't need it. Just a few people I can count on to have my back on the field and occasionally go out with would be more than enough for me."

She'd never had many friends. A handful, sure. Of those that she was still friends with after leaving Coruscant, were Josh and Daisy. Daisy was already with the Confederacy and she was excited about the prospects of doing a lot of more missions with her. But she couldn't rely on a single person alone, she knew. A close group of trusted people, that was what she wanted. The life of a politician wasn't something she sought, so there was no need to jump into the game of popularity.

"'sides," she added, "you've got all your friends with the Silvers and you're still not forgetting about me. So it can be done."

[member="Josh DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

"Honestly, I don't think I know a whole lot of people in the Silver Jedi Order that I could fully consider a friend in the way that you're thinking" Josh would admit, taking a moment to mull it over. "I mean, there's obviously Jyoti. Allyson, Asaraa, Valae... Hmm, if there's anymore I'll update you. But yeah, most of the Silvers are just respectful co-workers. Which is nice. Better than my old workplace. Oof, walked on eggshells there" He cracked.

"Oh poppycack, I'm sure you'll be miss popular before long" Josh would tease between bites. "You know Jason's probably going to want dessert. I can cover that, no big."

[member="Scherezade deWinter"]

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

"That's already four people," Madalena pointed out with a smile, "so yes, you have friends with the Silvers, and the word isn't used in an overly lightly way or you'd have mentioned others as well. Your co-workers also treat you with respect. That's not a small feat."

She didn't know why she had said that. What she'd meant to say was that it was a great thing. Why emphasize the feat thing? Madalena shrugged. Sometimes her mouth said weird things, but she knew Josh would take it just fine.

"And shut your krak," she added, "I said this meal's on me, this includes desert, though..." she sifted through the menu again, "looks like you'll be having it without me. Why are all the deserts so friggin' sweet?!"

[member="Josh DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

"Fair. I'm sure you'll make more friends than I have though. And I don't know why respect is a feat... It's fairly normal in the Silvers. You treat people with respect, they treat you with respect. If they don't, then they're not worth respect" Josh would advise. "I think that's a good mantra to carry everywhere though. Treat people with the respect you want to be shown to you, and if they don't, then they aren't worth said respect."

He shrugged his shoulders when she would insist she paid. Well, if she was wanting to, right? As if right on cue, Jason had finished his food, and would only after a few seconds, pick up his plate and hold it up toward his father, giving him the biggest puppy eyes imaginable. Josh stared at him for a moment before laughing a bit. "I hate when you do that" He would admit amusedly as he would call the waiter over to order dessert for Jason.

[member="Scherezade deWinter"]

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

"Stop preaching, Josh," Madalena said and stuck her tongue out again as Josh went on and on about respect. It was not a conversation they were going to have right now. He was wrong. Often times, you showed people respect, but got nothing in return. And while in one's social life that didn't really matter, when you were working in an official hierarchy, things were different. No one promised her everyone in the CIS would be a mensch.

When Jason held his plate out with those big round eyes, Madalena burst into laughter. She let Josh order whatever he and Jason wanted, since she had no interest in desert. What she wanted... She was going to have to figure out. She was getting that tingly feeling in her legs when she needed to do something.

[member="Josh DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

"It's not preaching. It's advice from someone who's seen what respect can bring" He spoke, sticking his tongue out at her. "It won't stop people from betraying you, but generally one lives longer when they show respect. Both to friends and enemies. It's kept me alive, for sure. And it's not a difficult thing to do."

Madalena may have forgotten that he was the Battlemaster Of The Order, and would know a thing or two about staying alive on the field. But Josh's attention was taken by Jason's big, pleading eyes as the child was wanting dessert and this was, of course, his favorite spot for dessert.

"Ah, yes, your favorite ice cream is served here as a dessert... How could I forget" Josh joked with a light smile crossing his face. With Madalena's blessing, he would quickly make the order, and try to encourage Jason to play with Porgbert to keep him busy while Josh finished his own food.

[member="Scherezade deWinter"]

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

Madalena was done eating much before Josh, and also before Jason's ice cream arrived. She pushed the plate a few inches away and leaned back in her chair, her hand rubbing her stomach. It was still uncomfortable. In different circumstances, she would've preferred not to eat until this weird tummy bug stopped annoying her, but she knew she'd need all of her strength in the weeks to come.

The main problem though, was that she getting tired again. It was going to be hard to stay awake on the return trip, but she didn't want to scare Jason again. If the nightmares returned...

Madalena shook her head to herself and glued her eyes to Jason again. That kid was having so much fun, and it was easily catching.





[member="Josh DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

Josh would finish his own dish soon after, and would order dessert seeing as Madalena didn't mind. Soon after, Jason's own dessert would arrive, a bowl of ice cream. The child's eyes lit up to a level that one might not have thought possible. It was a lighting that showed up with only two things. Porgs, and ice cream. When the dish was placed in front of Jason, and admittedly it was a fair bit more ice cream than Josh had intended to order, Jason's eyes grew and Josh couldn't help but laugh a little.

"Maybe that's a bit too much..." Josh would muse aloud. "I think he'll be alright though. So long as he doesn't eat too quickly."

He looked toward Madalena then, noting she didn't seem interested in dessert. He was concerned, honestly. She hadn't been eating much, and she'd left quite a bit on her napkin. It was a remnant of Scherezade... An improvement, but still, wasn't this whole thing meant to fix all this crap?

"Madalena, are you feeling okay?" Josh would ask. "You've left so much on your napkin, and ordinarily, I'd think you'd be all for dessert" He remarked, making up the bit at the end. He didn't know enough about the old Scherezade to think that, but it was a decent guess. She seemed the type. But he needed to know what was long with Madalena if he was to figure out how to fix it.

[member="Scherezade deWinter"]

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

Was it a bit too much ice cream? Madalena didn't know. While she loved kids, she knew so little about how much food you were supposed to feed them, though she did know the sugar high was a myth. But anyway, didn't kids come with some inner workings and be unable to go on eating once they were full? Or was ice cream its own special category? She shrugged and smiled. "It's a celebratory dinner, as long as he doesn't do this daily I'm sure it's fine," she said softly.

But when Josh asked her if she was okay, she blinked, moving her gaze to him. "I'm tired," she admitted. She'd been awake for over twenty four hours in a row, only to finally fall asleep and then wake up screaming. It wasn't exactly rest under even the best of circumstances. "I don't know why food is challenging. I did eat though, even if I didn't get it all in."

And then... Dessert. "What a load of bantha poodoo, Josh. I hate sweets, you should really remember this by now," and she smiled. "It'll be fine. I'm sure once I get some actual rest, I'll be in top shape."


[member="Josh DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

"I suppose you're right" He answered with a casual shrug. "It's just a celebratory thing anyway... We can over-spoil him here and there, right?" Josh would remark with a chuckle. I mean, he spoiled Jason constantly, but that was neither here nor there.

Madalena would explain that she was tired. No chit, no spell was going to fix that after all that Scherezade had done to herself. And he doubted she had slept since she had woken up screaming before. The Jedi would let out a sigh. Of course they weren't out of the woods yet. Of course this couldn't be over like that... There was always a catch. But this time, he didn't have Scherezade to talk it over back and forth with. Nobody knew all of this better than Scherezade. Now she wasn't here. Now he was trying to get answers from someone who didn't know them.

Though he would stop when he was caught red-handed. Kriff.

"Huh" He remarked, shrugging again. "You're right. Maybe I'm just tired as well" He would answer. Well, it had been worth a guess... "I mean you did like those chips... But they were a fair bit salty, yeah.... Fair, I guess."

[member="Scherezade deWinter"]

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

"Yeah, I didn't let you get much rest either," Madalena said apologetically. Not to mention the screaming meant all three of them woke up into an SOS situation. Maybe she'd take Josh's offer and use his sound proof room on the way back. It couldn't hurt.

"And chips aren't food," she added, "they're just something to keep the mouth occupied while you're watching this or other holoflick."

Yawning openly, Madalena stretched out in her chair, letting out a sound of pure oy as she felt her muscles expand. It was good to move. She needed more of it after she got some rest.

"Yeah..." she said, "can I change my mind about your offer to use your soundproof room? I might end up falling asleep on the way back anyway, better not have a rerun of the last time that happened."

[member="Josh DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

"True that" Josh would respond, deciding not to bring up that she had screamed and woken them all up, and kept him up due to him having to calm down Jason and Porgbert after she terrified the child. Not that you could tell, looking at him now... Jason was once again as happy as could be. Though he would roll her eyes when she pointed out that chips weren't food. "Close enough" He remarked. "I mean, if you can at least eat that, it at least means you can eat something."

Either way, he would stretch out then, looking out to see if his own dessert had arrived when she asked her question.

"Sure" He responded. "Do you want it with or without company? I can always sleep in the lounge if needed. I don't mind."

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

Did she want company? Madalena blinked, unsure. She couldn't recall sharing a bed with Josh at any point. Not the two of them alone, anyway. And while it was true that she was mostly free of really stupid society views on such things, there was something about the idea that she wasn't fully comfortable with.

But then again, it was also a chance to not sleep alone. Company was always good, and if she had that nightmare again... Then she would wake him up again and he would be tired with Jason for the upcoming days.

Did she get to be selfish about this? Was there a middle ground?

"You can sleep in your bed," she offered, "I'll take the floor."


[member="Josh DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

The Jedi Master shook his head, refusing to take that answer. "No, no, I wouldn't be much of a host if I let a guest sleep on the floor" Josh would answer. "I'll take the couch in the main room, it's no big deal, Maddy. Your getting to actually sleep - and sleep in comfort - are far more important than that. I can sleep at anytime, you... Not so much. I'd rather you have any chance to you can get."

The fact was that Josh at times could be just as stubborn as Scherezade had been. And this was one of those moments. Even as he spoke politely, his eyes were piercing as he stared at her. He was not going to back down on this one. He wasn't going to let a guest, especially one of his best friends, sleep on the floor - especially when she was in the condition that she was in.

[member="Scherezade deWinter"]

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

She was too tired to argue. But she wasn't sure that Josh was right either. Her getting the room didn't mean she'd get the rest she needed. If sh woke up screaming again... Then there would be no actual sleep. How many nights like that could she handle? She hoped that her body would be tired enough to give up on giving her the nightmares soon.
"Fine," she said as she waved her hand at the waiter-droid and tossed some credits on the table that would cover the meals, the deserts, and add a nice tip as well.

They were ready to go.

"Hey, lil' Jason," she said as they started getting up, "do you wanna hold Porgianna's hand while we walk back to the ship?"

To remind him that she was still the Porg Princess, Madalena made that sound again with her tongue, and Porgberg immediately found his way to the top of her head, nestling there. Madalena grinned from ear to ear.


[member="Josh DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

He knew that odds are she would start screaming again. But if she woke up and wasn't so worried about Jason, maybe she could try again and get back to sleep. Just the removal of the added stress was enough to merit trying. He just wanted Scherezade - now Madalena - to be happy. And that meant continuing to try to tackle her issues one at a time the best that he could. She seemed to relent and would pay for the food, to which Josh would nod his head with a "Thank you."

"Say thank you to Aunty Porgiana, Jason."

Jason would thank her with a loud belch after he had finished his ice cream, iliciting a laugh from Josh. "Jason, say thank you."

"Thank you!"

Madalena would hold out a hand, though and Jason would suddenly seem to remember the screaming before, squeaking in fright and cowering back a bit as he stared at her with big, terrified eyes. Josh would place a hand on Jason's shoulder. "It's okay, Jason" Josh promised quietly. That and Madalena's porg sounds would cause Jason to hesitantly hold out a hand to take hers.

[member="Scherezade deWinter"]

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

She giggled as well when Jason gave that loud burp, and wished she had something to drink that would enable her to burp right back at him. Alas, tonight was not going to be a burping contest night. She'd have to remember the option of having one for next time though.

But then Jason hesitated holding her hand and she almost recoiled on her own, the smile vanishing from her face. Too soon. She'd tried to take a bigger step too soon. She just needed to-

Josh interfered, and suddenly the lil' kid was holding her hand.

The smile on Madalena's face was huge, and she walked carefully, matching her stride to fit Jason's. So maybe things weren't completely horrible between them, even if he did remember that bad episode of screaming. After all, she was Porgianna, wasn't she?

The quartet (because we're totally counting Porgberg) got back to the ship quickly enough. Madalena gently released Jason's hand, giving him an assuring smile. Now it'd be up to Josh to have them flying back, and then once everyone else was settled, she'd go to sleep too. Or at least, give sleep a chance.


[member="Josh DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

While Josh would never admit it, Jason had picked up that little habit from his father. Josh's manners were less overly polite at dinner at home, believe it or not. And it entertained Jason, so of course he kept doing it since they were alone. Though Josh might get in on a belching contest if the opportunity presented itself... Believe it or not (again)... He could burp the A-B-Cs.

The blonde would smile when he noticed how happy Madalena seemed to be when Jason took her hand, and Josh would take Jason's other hand to keep him comfortable, stuffing the large stuffed porg under his arm to keep it safe while Porgbert had nestled on Madalena's head. Josh still hoped she wouldn't blow him up. Jason would never forgive that one.

Once the quartet was on the ship, Josh would help get Jason seated and strapped in, while Porgbert had swapped to Jason's head. As Josh would head to the pilot's chair, he would be stopped by "Daddy!"

"Mmm?" Josh answered as he looked back at Jason.

"Big porg!"

Josh would look down at the large stuffed porg still tucked under his arm and nodded his head as he would give it to Jason. "Hold onto it tight, alright?" He would respond as he would take his seat and begin punching in coordinates.

"Any detours, Madalena?"

[member="Scherezade deWinter"]

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

“None,” Madalena answered, already moving to double check Jason’s seat belts automatically, not even realizing that was what she was doing until she finished giving his belt a small tuck. A single sound from her lips, and Porgberg moved from her head to Jason’s. Porgianna needed a wee break.

She next took her seat by Josh, rolling her eyes as she strapped herself in. If they were going to crash, those belts wouldn’t save them. At best, they’d cause them to waste a precious few moments during which they could get to an escape. But she wasn’t about to have that debate in front of the kid.

Already yawning, she couldn’t wait for the Dragon to break atmo’ and get into hyperspeed already. She’d been tired for long enough now, and while she appreciate Josh’s gesture about bringing the here to celebrate with food, she was going to ask next time, before they left, just how far away a place was. This trip would end up burning a whole day from the few she had before she started her new life with the Knights Obsidian, and while she was grateful that she got to spend it with Josh and Jason, next time, she’d ask for not so much of it to be dedicated to space travel.

“I’m gonna leave you and Jason to yourselves,” she said with a tired smile once it was safe to unbuckle. The two could spend some quality time together anyway.

Feeling no need to add any words, Madalena moved herself to Josh’s bedroom. The door closed behind her, but she didn’t lock it, and within seconds, her clothes were off and she was sleeping on her side, her body folded into a fetus position as the blankets gave her warmth and comfort.

She just hoped it’d last this time.


[member="Josh DragonsFlame"]