Private Crossroads Orbit

[Solenne Abraxas]

​

Location: The Asaahi [En Route to Aphran IV]
Tag: Rakaan Horne | Korvan Toldreyn

Space was beautiful.

Solenne watched a blurry kaleidoscope of colors fly by the transparisteel window. It was chilly in the freighter that had been borrowed from the Order and she kept her robes snug about her shoulders. An additional wrap looped through her elbows and the relative silence of the ship allowed space for thought. There were several Jedi on the ship—Headed for a peacekeeping mission on Aphran IV.

It was just about as far as one could get in Galactic Alliance territory from Coruscant. Some had dismissed the unrest as "local squabbles" but there were others that saw a much larger, clearer picture, and it very much so involved the shared border with the Empire. Solenne leaned into the cold metallic window sill and reviewed the information on the data pad once more. It was scant and read like an old history text that had been forgotten on a shelf.

The planet was located along the Namadii Corridor. It was a beautiful world, but, kept livable from muggy temperatures with a climate control system that had been on the fritz as of late. Rather than keep the weather temperate with refreshing cool air in the Capital it seemed to be doing the opposite and creating pockets of blisteringly intense heat. Aphran was in GA territory; but they'd been seeking aid from any corner of the galaxy that might offer it. They were primarily farmers and woodworkers.

If the heat started affecting the crops any further, destroying livelihoods, things would get much worse without some sort of intervention. Their best scientists couldn't figure out what was causing the corruption the in the weather system. It was painstakingly maintained. Solenne could only hope that Aphran Planetary Security received them better than their predecessors.

Their entry had been accepted and cleared before departure—But a lot could change between Aphran and Coruscant while they were en route. Especially, when help might come from somewhere else.

Aphran IV was integral to foodstuffs imports to the Core. If they lost access to those surpluses at cost it would be damaging to many planets that couldn't produce in. Exports would also suffer. Where Aphran had more organic matter than it could ever need it severely lacked in textiles, medical supplies, and technology. Solenne could see the delicate balance that existed and anticipated they might be able to maintain it with a little restraint, diplomacy, and negotiation. That was the hope, anyway.

It was late if the hour was judged by the time zone on Coruscant.

Solenne couldn't sleep.

When she had her fill of reviewing mission parameters for the tenth time, she found herself walking the halls of the large freighter in earnest. They had packed technology, parts, and droids that might be beneficial to repairing the climate control on Aphran IV. Several Jedi seemed to be sleeping like sweet little infants amidst the distant hum of the hyperdrive. There were at least two others that specialized in diplomacy. A few members of the Agriculture Core—Though none that were strictly relegated to security. If things went badly, they were all expected to pull double duty.

Seek peace—Prepare for the worst.

Korvan Toldreyn was, more than likely, avoiding her for a multitude of reasons. Too many closed quarters. The ceiling was too low. The air not circulated well enough. There was nowhere for him to run if the conversation turned toward something a little more personal than the people of Aphran IV. The pale-blue-clad woman had no intentions of unsettling him before a mission but her very presence seemed to do that with or without her consent.

One day the Hapani would call his bluff. One day. That wasn't now—And thusly she'd been keeping her own company while the rest of the crew dreamed of…Ewoks and sugar plumbs or some such sweet nonsense. A little smile lifted the edges of her lips at the thought of hardy Jedi having such merciful night terrors.

A steady sound echoing in the halls drew her toward the hangar that had a small shop attached to it. It was pretty common in her experience to find someone tinkering on one thing or another. It was an easy place to refine parts for necessary repairs to the transport ships and even for things that might go wrong in the freighter itself. Solenne should have left well enough alone, but she was curious.

The lighting in the hall was a little dim for her tastes but the fluorescents in the hangar were brighter. That was a bit better. She circled around a rather robust ship, listening, and feeling her way through the area with delicate metaphysical fingers branching out between the workstations. She could tell that she wasn't alone, though, the presence was familiar—She couldn't name it. "Hello?"

It held an echo that she recognized.

Likely, someone that she had met at a distance. She could have pried further by leaning more heavily into the Force but didn't feel the need to do so. While it dominated many things in their lives Solenne didn't feel the need to use it as a crutch. The azure fabric of her robes pulled smoothly across the polished floor and she drew closer to the noise. It was the sound of a hexdriver or a hammer hitting something over and over. Possibly, against something stuck.

"Is someone there?"

 

[Rakaan Horne]

APHRAN IV - Solenne Abraxas

​

The hour was late. Too late. A skeleton crew of naval officers and their accompanying droids maintained the vessel that charted across the stars, from Coruscant to Aphran IV. A system that Rakaan could claim to know little and less about, though the role of a peacekeeper seemed less than interesting with the information that other Jedi fought and slew and were slain by the Sith. It never allowed for much rest, Rakaan found, the empty boredom and ultimate lack of anticipation before a mission.

Perhaps Korvan would prefer that. To keep Rakaan from trouble, the young Jedi was so prone to it after all. He came to realise as much while blue eyes fell over the seemingly gilded cybernetic hand that tinkered with tools as much as the organic remnant. It required adjustment, the sometimes numbness of touch ensured it almost felt as if there was no substitute at all. He sighed at length underneath flashes of sparks on the underside of the starfighter.

Solenne could undoubtedly hear the words muffled with distance shared between a man and an astromech, what with the beeps and whistles that followed between them. The sound of tools rang into the quiet air, and the scent of burned metal and fuel filled the space around them. Rakaan slid out from underneath the smaller craft upon the sound of another voice.

It was familiar, though hardly so. The old friend of Korvan's, that was all Rakaan knew of Master Abraxis. Solenne, Rakaan heard Korvan call her. He was strange around her, different, distant and cold, albeit formal. It gave rise to his endless curiosity, though Rakaan busied himself in the indecision. "Master Abraxis," Rakaan greeted formally, wiping his hands together with an effort to climb onto his feet. "I didn't take the hangar to be your ideal spot at this hour."

Arfour chirped in agreement behind him.

​

 

[Solenne Abraxas]

​

Location: The Asaahi [En Route to Aphran IV]
Tag: Rakaan Horne | Korvan Toldreyn

Little bits of yellow-orange light erupting from the next row over led her down a well-worn pathway between shining starfighters. Solenne didn't see much in the way of carbon scoring on any of the units and would have been hard-pressed to believe that they'd ever actually seen battle. The large freighter was packed to the gills resources that might be useful to Aphran IV but a little forethought had also decided that the presence of weaponry was required. The hazel-eyed Hapani couldn't say that she believed it necessary—But tensions were high. The Jedi Council had experienced too much loss; Too much suffering as of late. It left them… Reactionary.

Bright blue-green eyes began to shimmer with candid amusement when the Jedi Master began to pick up on an undoubtedly private conversation. It was a wholesome sound that brought back memories of a bygone era. A boy and his droid. The sheer simplicity in the seconds that passed before she heard a slick sort of shifting would likely mean more to her than present company. The galaxy had been in a tumultuous state of disarray for the majority of her formative years. Solenne found peace in the present. A place of comfort—Small mercy, small hope, in the little things.

Another example might be found in the cosmic providence of running into the young Knight whom Korvan felt so deeply responsible for. Whomever said that the Force had no sense of humor clearly hadn't been listening hard enough.

The edges of primrose lips curved upward to form a genuinely apologetic smile. "Forgive the intrusion, Jedi Horne…", her tone carried a faint accent with it, though, he would easily note that it was far different than those that hailed from Coruscanti. There was an edge of something velvet and flowing about it which many of the city-planet lacked. A lot of soft "V's" that worked their way seamlessly into places they wouldn't normally belong. Her head inclined respectfully in the young man's direction and her hands remained clasped neatly before her. "…You needn't stop for my sake."

Her expression remained even but her eyes would tell another story. There was a touch of something that could have almost been considered mischievous. Entirely, unbefitting for someone in her position.

"Though…I am a little curious. What do you think my ideal spot should be?"

The young Knight was nearly a head taller than she was though Sol didn't seem to mind. She tilted her body slightly to look around him toward the droid that hovered almost possessively near his feet. Certainly, she understood the assumption. The eloquent brunette laughed gently before straightening back up. "I'll have you know that a hangar can be the perfect place. It's less crowded than the common areas but less stuffy than a cabin. Especially, if your bunkmate snores like a zillowbeast."

Many of the more youthful generation seemed to think that their mentors were simply born as they currently existed. As if they'd never been awkward, strange, or confused. Leading from the front had not come as naturally to Solenne as it had for Korvan and some of her peers. It had taken her time and a good deal of patience to know herself and the galaxy at large.

Much of that time was spent as a Padawan learner in a class of dozens.

Which meant, privacy was a luxury.

"I've heard a lot about you."

It was best to get that out of the way. To assume that she knew Korvan or associated with any of his peers in any capacity and knew nothing of the boy would be a form of dishonesty that she didn't intend to engage. She didn't elaborate, however. Not unless asked. Shining waves of tawny-brown hair slid over her shoulder when she let it rest against the side of one of the fighters. "It's nice to meet you without…", she brought a hand in the air to symbolize all of the chronic chaos the Temple seemed to endure without ever breaking a tranquil mold. It could be strangely, stifling. "All of the usual."

A pause, brief, but purposeful.

"You can call me Solenne. I hear my first name so infrequently—I've begun to forget the sound."

Master, master, master. All day, every day. One of the few people who actually called her by name, Korvan, often only ever did it when he was annoyed with her. That… Was beside the point. In truth, she didn't think rank much mattered when she'd been unsuccessfully chasing strange noises in the stillness of the night. It wouldn't be her first echo to follow. Likely, it wouldn't be the last.

 

[Rakaan Horne]

APHRAN IV - Solenne Abraxas

​

He smiled, naturally. Good-natured. It was rare, the sight of earnest smile spread across his lips with softened corners to his eyes, as blue as the very seas of Aphran IV. Though Rakaan hailed from somewhere so far away, so far to the south, outside of the reach of the Galactic Alliance - savages of the Mandalorian Enclave encroached on the neutral system of Maramere and with it, Rakaan had grown only more weary with thoughts filled to the brim with concern of his mother. So unaware as to whether she remained, whether she fled, whether she would be spared, whether she would live, or worse yet die. Still, Rakaan had lived with such a worry for so long that the worrisome fears fell beneath the surface, even so far below as to the Force that radiated off of him like a beacon. Even as the smile pulled on his youth-riddled features, the concern lay dormant.

A grease coated palm imprinted on the round, crimson dome of the astromech that sat idly beside Rakaan, all with the usual dull flashing of lights across his cylindrical chassis. It was once white, now dulled to a grey with touches of both chipped and faded blue that otherwise gave way to the raw steel underneath. Rakaan crossed one ankle over the other and afforded an uncertain shrug that came with a nervous spilling of words in defense of himself, "I expected a meditation chamber, something more... calming, to most. You have that look about you, Solenne." He said pointedly, albeit smirking and with the slightest dip of his head.

An assumption, leapt out from the unknown. Of what Rakaan knew of Solenne was frighteningly little, save from a vague association with Master Toldreyn. He seemed uneasy around her, Rakaan could sense it. It was in the air, the Force, though left unspoken between them. There was no need to pry, the young Jedi often noted, though was endlessly curious all the while. There were so few things in the galaxy to place Korvan on edge, to play with his nerves, and yet this strange woman of undeniably beauty changed his master in ways Rakaan had never seen before. The Jedi Knight thought on as much while he resumed a standing stance and the organic hand fumbled about for the black glove hidden in the pouch pockets that lined the belt of his Jedi robes, fitting it over his robotic replacement. He never liked it to be seen - a mark of loss, of failure. The smile was briefly traded for focus.

"I hope only good things." He teased without much consideration. Rakaan knew there was much to be said, plenty of which was not too pleasant. The recent stint in the Empire, the desire to be clung to the mission, to see it through. Clouded or not, Rakaan disobeyed the orders of his superiors and continued to do so. Even still, the Jedi noted, the strict ties of authority loosened with each additional denial. "Master Toldreyn is known for embellishment at times, be warned."

Once more, Arfour chirped in agreement. Ever on his side. Even amid the scattered and strewn about tools, as much as the fragments of the starfighter torn from the ship beside them.

​

 

[Solenne Abraxas]

​

Location: The Asaahi [En Route to Aphran IV]
Tag: Rakaan Horne | Korvan Toldreyn [

"Better. Much, better."

She referred to the more casual way the Knight acquiesced to address her, though, that didn't stop a cheshire smile from widening. A faint tilt of her head acknowledged the faint smirk he wore but she had no designs to remove it. Let the young have their confidence. Not that she was so incredibly ancient—But there were times when the initiates made her feel that way. A light hand rose to rest over the space where her heart might be. "I'm cut to the quick. Wounded, truly."

"It is Master Toldreyn that you would find in a meditation chamber in the middle of the night—Not me."

Her expression never fell even though she could feel the phantom eyes of her colleague rolling at the good-natured ribbing. Korvan had never quite grasped how she could shift from wisdom to comedy in the span of a heartbeat. Despite the fact that she deflected the observation Solenne was more than aware that there was a sliver of truth to it. She just didn't deign to illustrate the subtle differences of her behavior aloud, lest, the much taller Knight catch on. He was right.

It was a cheeky game of avoidance and omission.

One of the few times she could tolerate it, if only, because it was designed to make him smile.

Some of the buoyant cheekiness to her comportment toned down when she realized that he was hiding one of his limbs with a revealing glove. Solenne had seen it many times before, though, the prosthetics and robotics that the Core Worlds had access to were a marvel. Backwater planets had to make do with what they had. Which, often, wasn't much. "…Does it…Still, bother you…?"

The question was melodiously slow. Not out of uncertainty, but because of the way she innately rolled the words around for a moment before letting them fall like rain. Solenne would let the subject pass through them like air if the Knight wished it. It was a personal question, obviously, and she firmly believed everyone had a right to their secrets. Instead of prying further oceanic orbs shifted to indulgent softness. Knowing. "Six of one—Half a dozen of another. I find you to be spirited rather than irreverent. Driven. It's all a matter of perspective…"

Solenne chuckled softly when Jedi Horne warned her of his Master. It was that little edge of wit that made everything settle into place. It offered more toward the relationship of student and master without being specifically told. "Don't worry. I know Korvan very well."

Perhaps, better than he knew himself.

"We have many differing opinions, he and I. We've followed one another…But never blindly."

The willowy brunette shifted into a more upright position and let her hands fall to the extra shawl that was wrapped around her shoulders. She could have used the Force to stay warm while on the freighter but this was I just as effective. Her eyes fluttered over the young man while she began to piece together the framework of who Rakaan Horne had been. Who he was—Who he would be. Every student was built of uniquely shaped puzzle pieces. They could be understood as long as one took the time and patience to put them together. "In truth…Sleep has eluded me tonight. I'm not entirely sure why…But I can't shake the feeling of there being something just beyond my sight."

That was true. Watered down—But exceedingly true. It wasn't just something outside of her own peripherals but something that the New Jedi Order seemed to be avoiding as a whole. Her dreams were less than helpful. Fading away into wisps of light and shadow before they could touch them. Her frustration with failing to understand was likely what had her reviewing mission parameters over and over. Wandering the ship like a wraith while the rest of the crew slept peacefully. "If you are not bound and glued to the hangar—Would you consider keeping me company for a little while?"

It was an honest request. Perhaps, he could help her see what she was missing. A delicate smile moved through her that was both ephemeral and innocently fascinating.

"I promise to return you in one piece."

 

[Rakaan Horne]

APHRAN IV - Solenne Abraxas

​

"I apologise, then." He said with the same wit and lilt to the softer voice of the late hour. In most sections of the vast vessel, it was as if there were no more than phantoms left to roam the endless halls. It made for a soft thrum that echoed around those few that still roamed, a familiar sound that Rakaan had become accustomed to. The venture from Maramere was the first time, and far from the last. The Jedi Order had become more prone to conflict than most others that swam before it, with the Sith and the Imperials both. It was all the young Jedi had known, in essence, and it showed; direct and confrontational, with quick temper and flashes of wrath. He was no model Jedi, no matter the efforts of Master Toldreyn. "Korvan can be a bore," Rakaan smiled with a stifled second of chuckles.

Of all the worst impulses, there were those few better ones to combat them. He was kind and selfless, as much as Master Korvan declared of Rakaan, fearless and bold without end. It earned him the loss of a limb, of a forearm replaced with robotics concealed behind a sleeve and the black material that coated a hand. He remembered it so well, a former Jedi turned to the darkness. One Rakaan had known, known to be weaker. His use of the Force was twisted, different, and better than ever before. The pain was immeasurable as it sliced across his arm and left no more than burned flesh and a separated limb, the screams of pain were silent, lost for words in all the terror with sweat beads rife across his brow.

His eyes fell dull for a second, a moment, until the voice returned him. "No," Rakaan lied with ease and a smile to boot, as faint as it was. It pulled on the corner of his mouth while he continued to fiddle with it, the final sections needed to be fitted well and the touch receptors were still... off, Rakaan found. He could touch, feel, dully as it was sometimes. It was not the same, neither would it ever be. "It's new, is all. Takes some adjustment, I was told but with time, I'm sure I'll have it under control." There was some truth to it, even if not the whole truth. In the Empire, Rakaan learned to lie. To be the snake between the leaves, no matter how much it spoiled and soured his mood.

The smile fell and found itself replaced with a curious twist. It settled all across those features, from mouth to eyes and lines creased across the brow. "Is it the Force, Master?" He retreated into old habits, as per usual. "Sometimes I cannot sleep either. It leads me here, with Arfour." On queue, the droid whistled in confirmation. It was his own meditation, Rakaan discovered, the effort to fix and to break and to fix once more.

"If you would wish, I can spare the time." He said gently, "Arfour can remain here and finish up the rest."

The droid said nothing at all.

​

 

[Solenne Abraxas]

​

Location: The Asaahi [En Route to Aphran IV]
Tag: Rakaan Horne | Korvan Toldreyn

"Forgiven."

The singular word came with a bell-like chime and a dismissive hand rolling through the air to signify that it had already been cheekily forgotten. Solenne laughed lightly at the shameless nerve Knight Horne displayed in regard to his mentor. Most Jedi students held their Masters in such pristine regard that they could scarcely be considered human—Let alone, imperfect in any way. It warmed her to see that this particular young man had not lost his personality. It would have been easy to do.

Many Padawans and Initiates around the Temple were already victims of it. All any of them had known since their placement in the Order was a tale of woe. A chain of interconnected, startling, and shocking situations where dire seemed to be only word to describe it. Not enough of their young got to chance to be what they were. Children. As much as they were Padawans, Initiates, and so on and so fourth—They were also new to the galaxy. New to the Force.

With so many wars pouring out of every nation…It was no small wonder their demeanor reflected that which they experienced. "You're right. He is. But, I've enough excitement in my diet."

"A healthy dose of steadfast and boring is just what the medic ordered."

The young Knight would feel the weight of her eyes the moment an innocent lie passed his lips. It came very easily. Smooth. As if it had been practiced. Solenne supposed that she deserved it—Picking at an old injury. At least, it seemed that Knight Horne would have everyone think it was. Old. Done. The myriad of emotions he moved through was difficult to follow. From one flavor to the next. Almost leapfrogging from sentiment to settling on an exceedingly polite reply.

Perhaps, what he thought she wanted to hear.

"Everyone always claims that time heals all. It does not.", Solenne returned gently, though, feeling as if she owed him her reasoning. The auburn-haired woman straightened and turned slowly and reached back to lift curling waves of hair so he could see the back of her neck. He would be able to view the top of a scar that seemed to indicate a very deep wound had once existed. It held the telltale curve of a blade before it disappeared down beneath her collar. Well-healed, but whatever it had been was definitely life-threatening. "It simply hides them. Our minds cover it with scar tissue so that we may cope—But it is a teacher just like any other."

Solenne let her hair fall and the visage of classic, unmarred beauty was returned. "It instructs us on how to live with the pain. Our scars are not our shame, but, our sharpness. Each a lesson learned."

It was quite possible that he wouldn't yet understand the meaning of her words. That—There was a sense of pride to be found in failure. It was a lesson that many Masters still had not managed to accept no matter their years or knowledge. Expecting a Knight to grasp it with full acceptance was a reach but the words might come back to him later. In a dark even, when the light waned.

At the curious inquiry as to whether it was the force damning her to a sleepless fate Solenne could only offer a soft smile. There were secrets hidden in her seemingly angelic countenance—But none that she could currently unearth. The fact that he reverted to calling her Master was not lost on her and her smile widened just slightly. "It could be.", a delicate shrug," Either that—Or the freeze-dried spice snap peas. Heartburn can feel very similar. There's a whole section on it in the Archives…"

Solenne smiled at Arfour when the droid chimed in to support its young master. She had long ago learned to never underestimate an astromech. Especially, not when they became so very integral and in-tune with their owner. It was a startlingly bright companionship. "I would prefer the open air. That would probably help. There's too much metal, here. Too much…Space."

The Master Jedi gave the droid a little nod when Knight Horne agreed to come with her and stepped fully away from the fighter she'd been leaning against. "Come on, then."

"There's only one thing for us tonight."

 

[Rakaan Horne]

APHRAN IV - Solenne Abraxas

​

He listened with silent nods, a small smile crept across his mouth at the mention of scars. His seemed to be a touch more than a scar, more than some irreparable wound, one to run a thumb over and feel the lift and bump of discoloured flesh; the absence of it, Rakaan may well not ever feel whole once more. It was a lesson to be learned, Solenne said as much as all the others, but the young Jedi could not resist the reminders of failure it allowed to seep in instead. He wondered as to whether time could correct such an outlook, to move beyond a reminder of failure, to mark a show of progress, to let Rakaan see where he once was and where he is now, in the then. For now, the phantom limb touched with dull senses.

"And what may that be?" Rakaan probed with a curious set of features.

​

 

[Solenne Abraxas]

​

Location: The Asaahi [En Route to Aphran IV]
Tag: Rakaan Horne | Korvan Toldreyn

Dancing eyes moved away from Knight Horne while she slowly meandered toward the exit of the Hangar. There was something whimsical in her movements, light, and graced with the properties of air. It would be exceedingly difficult to imagine her losing her temper or having a negative thought in her head. But, there was something, if one looked hard enough. Some level of sharpness in hazel orbs that defied a kindly outlook. Solenne had known loss. Solenne, had fought in war. Bloody senseless battles that devolved into madness with every breath.

The nature of a Jedi was to protect. At least, that was what she believed. There were moments in time when the galaxy refused to let them do their work. Where all options reached exhaustion and there was no other solution than to call on the Force, on martial skills, and put the danger to rest.

No matter how winsome or carefree Sol seemed on the surface…It was always there. A shimmer. A shine that roughly clashed with a hopeful nature. It was all about striking a balance.

"Snacks, of course.", her sing-song tone was coupled with a light chuckle. Solenne might have suggested a spar to realign mind and spirit but there really wasn't anywhere suitable on the freighter. Soundproofing hadn't been the main goal of building this ship. Where it lacked creature comforts—It was durable and quick. A fair trade when they needed to reach Aphran IV sooner than later. "…There's nothing a cup of tea can't fix."

The walk to the galley was filled with comfortable chit-chat, mostly, Solenne musing about the mission ahead. Jedi Horne was kind enough to humor her and she rewarded his generous ears with little snippets of things long since past. "You remind me of Korvan, you know.", she offered lightly while the twin metal doors groaned before unlocking. Solenne swept inside the silent area and the automated lighting started to queue itself up.

"When we were in school, I swear he aged some of our Masters a few decades. There was no mission too difficult or dangerous. No lead we wouldn't chase…"

Her hand moved through the air and several of the cabinets unlatched so that she could find what she was looking for. The plates and cups were mostly made of stainless steel and two sets floated to the table of their own accord. Ironically, she could have pulled the kettle down the same way but instead reached up on her tiptoes to take hold of it before filling it with water. "He was…"

"Different."

Time had changed Korvan Toldreyn . Decisions, perhaps, it was the sight of helplessly watching the spear end of a super star destroyer nose dive toward innocent people. The sky falling could have that effect on anyone. Solenne found a loaf of five-blossom bread and easy fixings for a sandwich in the massive chiller. "Wash up.", Solenne instructed, teasingly, as the Knight had just been working in what equated to a garage. She did the same, regardless, before turning her attention to assembling something satisfying. "Hopefully Aphran will be an open and shut case…"

"What was your last mission?"

 

[Rakaan Horne]

APHRAN IV - Solenne Abraxas

​

His brow lifted in tandem with a smile tinged through with disbelief. Korvan was ever the cautious master, the one to hold off and to think and consider, while Rakaan was the sort to bound into whatever fray presented itself. The cause of much contention between the two in earlier days, when the young Jedi was merely a Padawan rather than the Knight he since became. "I find that almost impossible to believe," Rakaan noted with levity, "Ever since I have known Korvan, he's been bound by rules and strict adherence to whatever they lay out for him. Always."

His hands fell beneath the water, washing over one another as the grime and grease was rubbed off into nothingness.

Rakaan shrugged as he did so, "Nothing special. Ferried younglings to..." His eyes fell upwards with thought, "To what remains of Illum, actually."

​

 

[Solenne Abraxas]

​

Location: The Asaahi [En Route to Aphran IV]
Tag: Rakaan Horne | Korvan Toldreyn

"Believe it."

Solenne could see where Jedi Horne might have thought that his Master was born with a rulebook pressed close to his chest, but that was a misconception that many Padawans held. The student that she would soon formally take on as her own viewed her through a very similar lens. The nightblind woman would do her best to disavow any notion that she was without fault. "We all wear responsibility differently. Some rebel—Some run from the inevitable as if it will swallow them whole."

"Korvan chose to embrace what he perceived to be his duty. At all costs."

No matter the sacrifice.

It was a half-truth, though, not necessarily intentional. The tragic events of Coruscant from so many years ago had shaped them both in ways that were irrevocable. Solenne had found herself wandering through the galaxy wherever the Force seemed to will it. A lone traveler, ever and always, because everything that had ever mattered to her had been lost in one fell swoop. It was a way to cope while also keeping the faith. Minding the mission. "…He was fearless.", Solenne intoned with an affectionately faint smile. It didn't quite reach her eyes, made less, by nostalgia. "We took more risks, then, because we were less conscious of failure…Or what could go wrong."

Everything was fine. Until, it wasn't.

Her back was toward Knight Horne, though, he would find a kitchen towel waiting for him when he was done at the sink. The way he described his last mission was so lackluster that her shoulders twitched with a light chuckle. "That's a far cry from the excitement of…", she paused, briefly, as if trying to think of the word. Eventually, it rolled from her accented tongue in a gentle fashion. "Undercover activities."

The sandwiches that she put together were simple but, easily filling for the evening. As if Solenne was used to feeding others far younger than he, she made sure to cut it exactly once, to leave two triangles. A few moments later, the kettle whistled, and she turned off the flame without looking. The table not far off arranged itself with a quiet elegance, so when ready, they merely needed to sit down. Pour tea, caf, juice, or whatever Knight Horne desired. It was strange how delicate her abilities seemed. There were no loud movements—Merely slow-moving objects that made the softest of taps when they settled. Controlled chaos. "How did you find Illum?"

"I find that it feels…Much different, now. Especially through mature eyes."