Private Blind Fixing the Lame

[Braze]

TAGS: Jalen Kai'el

Braze continued to pet Jalen, then gently fixed his hair before moving away to sit down.

"Jasper gave me a bunch of rules to follow now," he said, tenderly pressing on his arm, seemingly amazed at the changes. "You're a great medical person, Jalen... thank you." He offered yet another thanks as he fussed with himself, turning his hand over and testing his movements. "Will you come visit me again if we take back Lothal?" he asked.

 

[Jalen Kai'el]

Dawnbreaker
Tags: Braze

Delta-7​

That was new. Jasper was a rule enforcer, at least as far as reasonable and good rules. Making rules? That was a good sign of growth. Jalen, of course, didn't expect rules from Jasper. He was his brother, not his parent. The temple did all of that. Still, it was a good reminder that his brother was growing himself, and clearly for the better.

"Yeah, of course I'll visit," Jalen assured. "I'm... not that much of a workaholic. I'll be keeping in touch. Besides... Lothal is a very important place to me. I spent too much time away. I want to fix that."

He spent his youth hiding from his home. The place where his little village was burned away, all dictated by his fear. After returning and making peace with his past, Jalen didn't want to remain a stranger to the planet he was brought up on. Should Lothal be free again, he would go.

If only for a visit.

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Jalen Kai'el

"Will you promise to help me plant some trees?" Braze asked gently, perking up at the prospect of planting new trees where his own had been taken. Finally, Braze began to pick at the food he had prepared for himself, pushing it around his plate and taking a few bites. He wasn't very hungry, but he was making an effort to finish the meal.

"I would like that," he offered lightly. "Have you made any new songs? I've been writing a few, or at least trying to."

 

[Jalen Kai'el]

Dawnbreaker
Tags: Braze

Delta-7​

"Yeah. I can plant trees. As for songs... Well, I write some," he answered. "It's more for myself though. I don't keep any logs of them though. It's all just in my head."

He liked storing it there better. It was more personal. The songs he wrote were intended to be shared in the moment. It gave them more weight than something you could listen to over and over again on repeat.

"You were thinking about us going to some kind of music thing, yeah?" Jalen asked. "What did you have in mind?"

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Jalen Kai'el

"Preferably something you might enjoy," Braze offered softly. He moved to clean up once everything was done.

Braze carefully gathered the breakfast dishes, bringing them to the sink. He ran warm water and added a few drops of dish soap, creating a small pile of suds. With deliberate movements, he scrubbed each plate and utensil using a sponge, rinsing them thoroughly before setting them on the drying rack. Once the dishes were washed, he wiped down the counter and table, making sure everything was spotless. Finally, he dried the dishes with a clean towel and put them away in their designated spots.

"We can do something else if finding a live band somewhere doesn't seem as enjoyable... maybe we could visit a speakeasy or catch a comedy show," Braze suggested, trying to think of activities that could be enjoyed without the use of sight.

 

[Jalen Kai'el]

Dawnbreaker
Tags: Braze

Delta-7​

"I'm not picky," Jalen shrugged. "Pick a place and I'll go."

He'd listen to anything he found himself present for ultimately. It was more important to spend a little more time with Braze anyways before he departed. Jalen stood, pushing in his chair before turning back to the young Echani with a thoughtful expression, his sightless eyes drifted in the general direction of his face.

Or at least where the medic assumed it was.

"What do you wanna do?"

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Jalen Kai'el

"Maybe we can just... go to a nice park and play together?" Braze suggested, thinking that sounded far more enjoyable if he were honest. He didn't like crowds or very public places, but he liked the idea of sharing music with Jalen.​

 

[Jalen Kai'el]

Dawnbreaker
Tags: Braze

Delta-7​

"Sure," Jalen shrugged, "Just let me grab my hallikset."

He liked that option much more. There was nothing that allowed two people to connect more than letting all of the words fall away. Music was the true universal language, though some would argue it was math for some dumb reason. Even if you couldn't hear, the vibrations were ever present. Ripples through objects, frequencies that could convey the unspoken.

Jalen tucked his hands into his pockets, setting off towards his room to grab his valued instrument. He'd return in short time, requiring nothing else to depart.

"Well, lead the way," he stated. "My ship's only a one-seater. We'll take yours."

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Jalen Kai'el

​

In short order, Braze took Jalen out to a nice, quiet place where they could sit in the calm breeze of a grassy field and share music and just... talk for a bit. Braze took a few painkillers to help dull the pain in his arm and relax.

As they settled on a soft patch of grass, the sun cast a warm, golden hue over the landscape. The gentle rustling of leaves in the wind and the distant chirping of birds created a serene atmosphere. Braze pulled out a small wind instrument, and soon, soothing melodies filled the air.

"So, have you met any new friends lately?" Braze asked curiously, wondering who Jalen's circle of friends was. He realized he didn't really know much about Jalen's social life.

 

[Jalen Kai'el]

Park
Tags: Braze

Delta-7​

"So, have you met any new friends lately?"

"Uh... I suppose you could say that."

Tempo was close enough, right? He didn't actually know if that date thing was gonna go anywhere else. They seemed to bounce off each other well, but he had completely crumbled when they first met. Maybe all of that stuff just wasn't for him.

"Most of my friends are knights now though," he shrugged. "So here I am..."

Jalen pulled out his hallikset, beginning to idly pluck at the strings...

"Being an adult is weird," Jalen told Braze. "You become different, I think, but I think some things feel unnaturally the same... I'm not sure. I don't think I've ever been that good at being social anyways."

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Jalen Kai'el

"I wouldn't know... I imagine you're still the same... just expected to know how to get your stuff together and be responsible, I guess," Braze offered lightly. "I think having maybe one, two... maaaaybe three really good friends is good enough."

Braze paused, his thoughts drifting to Jasper. "Jasper needs new friends. But I don't think I can tell him that," he added, his tone uncertain.

 

[Jalen Kai'el]

Park
Tags: Braze

Delta-7​

"I think Jasper knows that," Jalen remarked with a sigh, "But it's hard to bring yourself to replace the dead ones. The war wasn't kind to him."

He frowned, thoughtfully plucking at the strings of his hallikset. It was troubling, of course. Jasper was a social being, as awkward as he was, even more social than Jalen. Well, perhaps that was giving himself too much credit. Jalen quite liked peace and quiet with his music. Even so, he didn't want Jasper to be alone. That was his brother after all.

"Truth is, he only knows how to make friends in the way he grew up doing it," he added. "Brothers and sisters in arms. Commitment to allies in the field of service. His friends that are still kicking he fought back-to-back with in the Hyperspace War. I don't see that changing"

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Jalen Kai'el

Braze raised his brows at that and frowned. "That... well okay." He trailed thinking about it. " That's not a very good method of making long lasting friends. " Braze offered simply. " Maybe... I can set up a party or something for him. " He trailed thinking about it.

"Do you have any suggestions? "

 

[Jalen Kai'el]

Park
Tags: Braze

Delta-7​

"Maybe not a party," Jalen chuckled. "Jasper has historically been awful at parties. Not his doing, just a lot of bad experiences he's had. Maybe a dinner. Something simple. Low commitment, low set up. Something casual and low effort."

Because he knew Braze was a little over achiever.

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Jalen Kai'el

"So, a pizza party," Braze stated simply. "And maybe a movie," he added with a nod.

He plucked a blade of grass, turning it into a silly little instrument and blowing on it, producing a faint whistling sound. After a moment of contemplation, he continued, "And I'd like to invite Iris Arani . I think that's one of his friends. "

He wasn't really sure how to help Jasper have a more enjoyable life but he figured some friends would be a good start.

 

[Jalen Kai'el]

Park
Tags: Braze

Delta-7​

"Not a bad idea," he shrugged.

Iris was a good choice. There were a few others too, but Jasper probably was due for reconnecting with the faces of his youth. He continued to pluck at the strings of his instrument, taking in the sounds of the world around him.

He couldn't see, but he felt it all. So vivid and in depth that he didn't need eyes to get wrapped up in the energy. There was a certain beauty to being lost in the wellspring...

"I'll... miss your company," Jalen noted finally. "I wonder if this may be what it's like to be an older brother... Regardless, you know where to find me if you need me. That much will never change. You can hold me to my word."

Conviction. It shone in his face for a moment, the familial connection to Jasper clearer than ever in it.

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Jalen Kai'el

Braze reached over and hugged Jalen tightly and nuzzled up to him. " I'll miss you too. " He said softly. " You can always visit if you're feeling lonely too you know. " He offered softly. "I'll make sure to keep a place ready for you." Braze promised.

He eased back and turned his gaze to the sky for a time.