Private Daybreak on Dorin

[Ko Vuto]

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Location: Dorin
Objective: Field Trip
Tag: Valor the Forsaken | Braze

Maybe one day he could look into getting his old home a new landing pad. Since without one, a small hike was required every time. The old one was in disrepair since he was a child, and since has all but crumbled down the mountain side. Renting an airspeeder for himself and his two little tagalongs from the capital’s spaceport and landing it a good way down the mountain. The trio were trugging along together up the path to his old family estate.

Valor was here because Ko needed to spend more time with the teen. Taking them around the galaxy and showing that travel alone made up a good deal of a Jedi’s time. Unless they wanted a job that kept them more rooted to a single place. Like many temple guards, instructors and watchmen.

Braze was with them as well. Since he once promised to take the young boy with him to visit Dorin. Partly to humble the padawan and allow them to experience the sublime here on his homeworld, and her far too common tempestuous wrath. Storms here put the most mighty of sith and elementalists to shame. Even his talented master, Jonyna Si , likely couldn’t outdo the storms here.

“Look you two, we’re here finally!” Ko called out to the two of them. Somewhat needing to shout over the loud winds that brushed against them along the mountainside. This whole hike he’d been keeping a close eye on the two. They were both stubborn and proud and likely wouldn’t show any weakness, especially in front of one another. So he kept a gentle pace for them. They were used to needing to breathe through masks and seeing through goggles all day like he was. So he wanted to be extra cautious with them.

Also this would be the first time the two of them would get to see what lay beneath his mask. The rather large vertical, gaping maw he hid, yet his eyes still remained covered by a separate pair of goggles, since his eyes weren’t present.

Not far beyond the trio was his old estate, a rather large and old structure constructed on the side of the mountain. Where old, long strands of prayer flags stretched from its walls into the landscape around it. Almost like a colorful web of silk left behind by some giant caterpillar. All while being pushed and pulled from the strong winds. Along with the rustling dry and browned vegetation. Showing that they were currently in the middle of the dry season here. By now the sun was starting to get a decent way over the mountainous horizon. “Just a little bit more to go!… Next time we should bring some swoop bikes with us instead.”​

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[Braze]

TAGS: Ko Vuto

As the wind howled across the mountainside, Braze's small frame was constantly being buffeted by the gusts. His light form, while quick in battle, was easily thrown off balance in this exposed terrain. For every step forward, he stumbled sideways, adjusting his footing with a frustrated grunt. The harsh conditions were proving more challenging than he had anticipated, and though he'd never admit it out loud, he was struggling.

At some point during the climb, without a word, Valor had moved closer. He wrapped an arm around Braze, pulling him into his side, his larger frame shielding the smaller from the biting wind. It wasn't an act of tenderness, more of practicality, but there was a subtle shift in the dynamic between them that Braze couldn't ignore. Valor's warmth, his strength—it wasn't something Braze was used to, but in this moment, he found himself oddly comforted by it.

"Don't get used to this," Valor muttered, his tone carrying its usual edge. He kept his eyes fixed ahead, as though uninterested in the very action he was taking.

Braze shot him a sideways glance, but this time, instead of his usual teasing smirk, there was something softer in his expression. "I won't," he replied, his voice calm. "But… thanks, Valor." He leaned into Valor slightly, welcoming the warmth from his body, enjoying the rare closeness.

Valor grunted, tightening his grip for a moment as they approached a narrow ledge, his steps surefooted compared to Braze's lighter, more erratic gait. "You're lucky I don't let you get blown off this mountain just for saying that."

Braze chuckled softly, the sound genuine, almost warm. "Funny, I thought you'd enjoy the peace and quiet without me around. You'd like that, wouldn't you?"

Valor's grip stayed firm as another strong gust of wind slammed into them. "But if anyone's going to take you down, it's me. Not some storm."

Braze glanced at Valor's arm still securely around him and, instead of his usual sharp retort, he offered a soft smile. "Always so possessive," he said, though his tone was more affectionate than mocking.

Valor shot him a glare, but there was something unreadable in his expression—something Braze couldn't quite place. "Shut up and keep walking," he muttered, though his arm didn't loosen.

Despite their usual biting banter, it was undeniable that when it came to true danger, Valor's instinct was to protect, even if it meant swallowing his pride. And Braze? For once, he didn't mind letting Valor take the lead, to shelter him from the worst of the storm.

They continued in silence, Braze adjusting to the rhythm of their shared pace, falling into step. He allowed the calm to stretch out for a while before adding, almost lightly, "Next time, I'll save you from falling off a cliff, just to even the score."

Valor let out a short, humorless laugh. "You couldn't lift me if you tried, shrimp."

"Guess we'll have to test that theory," Braze replied with a grin, feeling more anchored as he leaned into Valor's side. There was something comforting in their usual back-and-forth, but now, the warmth of Valor's body heat made Braze feel less cold and more... connected.

There was a moment of silence, the wind howling around them, but Braze could feel Valor's steady presence beside him, keeping him grounded. He liked the warmth—both of Valor's body and the unexpected kindness in his actions. For once, Braze let himself relax into it.

"Guess you're keeping me around for something, huh?" Braze added, his voice softer now, almost as if he didn't want to break the calm between them.

"Don't get ahead of yourself," Valor shot back, but there was a faint, almost imperceptible shift in his tone. His arm remained securely around Braze, and Braze could feel him adjusting slightly to make sure the wind wouldn't knock him around again. "But yeah… maybe."

Braze smiled to himself, his expression warm. "You know, I don't mind this," he said, glancing up at Valor. "It's… nice. And warm."

Valor scoffed but didn't pull away. "You're too easy to please."

"Maybe," Braze replied, his tone light, "but I don't think you're complaining either."

Another gust of wind hit them, but this time Braze barely noticed. He was too focused on the steady warmth radiating from Valor's side, and for the first time in a while, he let himself feel… content. The biting cold and their usual bickering seemed far away, and for a moment, Braze was simply enjoying the closeness.

"Thanks..." Braze added, quieter this time. "I appreciate it."

Valor didn't respond immediately, but his grip tightened slightly, a subtle acknowledgment. Finally, he muttered, "Just don't get used to it."

Braze smiled, leaning a bit more into the warmth, his voice soft and almost playful as he replied, "No promises."

“Just a little bit more to go!… Next time we should bring some swoop bikes with us instead.”

As they reached a plateau, Ko's voice rose above the wind. "Look, we're almost there!" He pointed toward his old estate, standing against the storm like a sentinel. The prayer flags whipped wildly in the wind.

Braze, wiping sweat from his brow, glanced at the estate. "Finally," he muttered with a grin. "Looks sturdy enough—can't wait to get inside. This wind's starting to wear on me."

Valor, keeping pace beside him, stayed quiet, his focus on the path, though he shot Braze a sidelong glance. "Not used to a little storm, Braze?"

"Not like this one,"

 

[Ko Vuto]

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Location: Dorin
Objective: Field Trip
Tag: Braze

Ko was actually rather surprised with how the two were behaving. He wouldn’t believe his own eyes if he still had them. He wasn’t really sure why the two of them seemed to be behaving much better than he’d anticipated. He listened as Braze spoke about the harsh winds. Making the Kel Dor wonder if this breeze alone was starting to put this trip into perspective.

As the two of them caught up a bit to the native Jedi Knight, Ko took a moment to take in a deep breath. To breathe unobstructed and let the energy of his homeworld rejuvenate him. Despite how much of a hike it was and the harsh winds. Ko found that he wasn’t out of breath at all. Even at these higher altitudes his body had grown well adapted to making more use of the Dorin gas he breathed through his mask anywhere else. So Ko likely seemed more peppy than usual. Then again he was also just excited to get to show off his home to the two pale boys.

Eventually the trio of Jedi made it to the front gate of the rather large estate. Ko went to push the large wooden doors open but they didn’t budge. “Damnit Uncle…” Ko cursed to himself. Then old Sage must’ve forgotten to unlock the door for them, or just didn’t care. “One second.” Pressing his palm against the wooden door Ko saw through The Force the rather big archaic locking mechanism on the other side and telekinetically unlatched it. Allowing him to freely push open the large doors and allow them into the property proper. Entering into a wall courtyard, that keeps them shielded from the harsh winds, even if they could still hear them. The estate was well constructed, made with durable materials to weather the storms, intricate carpentry that allowed the structures to shift and flex to avoid breaking, and layed out in a way that once someone was past its gates kept them shielded from the winds.

Ko looked around the courtyard some and let out a bit of a dejected sigh. It seemed like once more the property was being neglected by his uncle. “Here, let’s get you two inside now. Out of the elements.” Ko said as he gestured for them to follow him as they made their way into the home proper. Once he opened the door however, he could instantly smell the familiar scent of old dried booze. Meaning he’d likely need to give Xojo a rude awakening once he found him. He suspected that the two boys he was with couldn’t smell it however since they had their breath masks on. “I’ll make sure you help you two settle. Catch your breaths, warm up, and later take a small break from those masks.”

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[Valor the Forsaken]

TAGS: Ko Vuto

Valor had grown accustomed to training in all sorts of environments, using whatever equipment was available. The mask didn't bother him. But seeing Ko locked out of his own family's estate was a surprise. He stood back, watching as Ko moved to unlock the door, the weight of the moment not lost on him.

Without hesitation, Valor gently tugged Braze along, their movements in sync as he cast his turquoise gaze over the crumbling estate, absorbing the sight. The prayer flags, once proud, now hung ragged, whipped by the wind.

Once they stepped inside, the wind outside formed a strange, soothing backdrop to the silence within. The air inside was cooler, prompting Valor to offer Braze a few firm, comforting rubs on the shoulders, trying to warm the smaller figure up. His actions were casual but unspokenly protective.

"Do you want me to clean up the place, Master?" Valor asked, his gaze now shifting to the interior. The disrepair was obvious—dust layered thick on surfaces, debris littered the corners. It wasn't exactly the kind of place anyone would want to stay, no matter their rank or status.

He sensed a shift in Ko's emotions—just a flicker, something quietly resigned. Valor understood immediately; Ko had probably wanted to show them a place of pride, a glimpse into his past. Instead, it felt more like a ghost of what it had once been, perhaps even a source of embarrassment for the Jedi Knight.

Without saying more, Valor made his offer, hoping to alleviate some of the tension hanging in the air.

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Ko Vuto

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Braze, on the other hand, was less interested in the state of the place and more focused on finding somewhere to sit down. His body shuddered involuntarily as he rubbed at his arms, trying to fight off the cold that seemed to cling to him despite Valor's earlier attempts to warm him up. His leather gauntlets creeked softly against the other as he fidgeted.

"Isn't there...somewhere warmer?" Braze muttered, eyes scanning the dusty room. His voice held a hint of irritation, though more from discomfort than frustration with anyone in particular. He shot Valor a glance, his shivering not going unnoticed. "I don't suppose your heat rubs come with an extra blanket?"

Valor chuckled softly and reached out to rub Braze's shoulder again, his touch a little firmer this time. "Sorry, Braze. Didn't pack a blanket this time. If you need to sit, at least find a clean spot."

Braze frowned, scanning the interior.

 

[Ko Vuto]

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Location: Dorin
Objective: Field Trip
Tag: Braze | Valor the Forsaken

After Valor asked his question Ko looked back to the echani teen and shook his head. “No thankyou, that shouldn’t be necessary. This place isn’t your responsibility.” Ko replied, he didn’t bring the two of them here just to do household chores. “Despite how it looks it’s actually much better than it was last time I was here.” He supposed that could be a silver lining to how passive his uncle was. They didn’t actively make things too much worse.

Then he listened to Braze’s words. Leaving Ko with a small choice, which was to look for where his uncle might be or help get the two more comfortable. The Kel Dor would quickly choose the later option. Knowing that finding his uncle wasn’t time sensitive as they weren’t going anywhere. “Let me see, I know there’s a fireplace over here.” Ko said as he moved towards a closed door. The three of them were in something of a large foyer. Waiting for the three to follow him to the other room Ko’s shoulders sagged some as he sensed what was in the other room. The Force allowing him to peer through the walls.

Opening the door his suspicions were confirmed. He led Braze and Valor into a spacious parlor. Placed within the outerwall was an old fireplace that had clearly been in use from the estates sole occupant. With a large amount of ash piled up within it and soot caked along the edges. There was also an older Kel Dor male sleeping quietly in a chair next to the fireplace. Sage of the Baran Do and Former Senior Combat Instructor, Xojo Vuto. Ko seemed to have killed two birds with one stone leading them into here, and the Jedi Knight let out a sigh.

Even though Ko didn’t have the highest expectations when getting to introduce the two boys to his uncle. But even this was rather disappointing to him. “Let’s get a new fire started shall we.” With that he approached the fireplace. Picking up some of the very dry chunks of wood to neatly set them into the fireplace. After which he grabbed his small shoto and stabbed the wood with the green plasma blade. Letting it set for a moment before they got a good flame going. Allowing its heat to begin warming up the parlor they were all in now.​

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[Braze]

TAGS: Ko Vuto

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Braze shifted closer to the fire, feeling the warmth gradually seep into his bones. His shivering slowed, and he stretched out his hands toward the flames, sighing with relief. "Finally, something warm," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else. The heat worked quickly, chasing away the remnants of the cold that had clung to him since they arrived.

Valor stood nearby, arms crossed, watching Braze settle in. "Better?" he asked, his tone flat but with an underlying hint of amusement.

Braze smirked, the usual edge to his expression returning now that he wasn't half-frozen. "Yeah, much better. I was about to start thinking you'd have to carry me around like some poor invalid." He shot a teasing glance at Valor, who merely rolled his eyes.

"Keep talking, and I might still toss you out into the storm."

Braze's attention shifted to the slumbering figure of Xojo, by the fireplace. A mischievous glint sparked in his eyes.

He padded over to the chair where the elder Kel Dor slept, glancing back at Valor with a grin that clearly said he was about to cause trouble. Valor raised an eyebrow but didn't intervene—he knew better than to try to stop Braze once he got an idea into his head.

Standing beside Xojo's chair, Braze leaned in slightly, inspecting the older Jedi with exaggerated curiosity. "So, this is the famous Xojo Vuto, huh?" he mused, loud enough to stir the elder but not quite wake him. "I wonder what it takes to wake someone who's slept through this much excitement. You know, Master Ko said you used to be some kind of big deal. Hard to believe, looking at you now."

 

[Ko Vuto]

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Location: Dorin
Objective: Field Trip
Tag: Braze | Valor the Forsaken

Hearing Braze’s question Ko let out a sigh before nodding some. “Yeah that’s my uncle. I feared we might stumble upon him like this. Since the front gate was locked.” Ko replied as the pale boy talked down to the elder Kel Dor. Although he didn’t really disagree with Braze’s assessment, he didn’t really like listening to his one and only living relative get talked down to like this.

All this talking eventually seemed to stir the sleeping master from his nap. Slowly Xojo opened his eyes. Revealing their bright white coloration, or lack there off. White eyes were a sign of force sensitivity in many Kel Dor. He slowly narrowed his gaze at the boy leaning close to him focusing more on them through the haze of his hangover. “Egh…” He merely uttered before recoiling back some. Even with the mask on Xojo seemed to find the pale boy rather hard to look at.

Looking around some, Xojo looked upon Valor as well and his nephew. <<“So you all are just gonna barge in here unannounced huh?”>> The Kel Dor said in his native language.

<<”If you didn’t want us disturbing your beauty sleep you should’ve chose a better spot to do it, Uncle.”>> Ko replied to them. “Anyways, Uncle Xojo, this is my friend Padawan Braze, and my pupil Padawan Valor.” He then said in basic, introducing both boys to the older Kel Dor.​

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[Valor the Forsaken]

TAGS: Ko Vuto

Valor stood by the fire, turning to offer the man a polite bow, bringing his fist to his open palm. "It's an honor to meet you, sir," he said softly.

Straightening up, Valor glanced around the space before looking back at Ko. "Master Ko, if you'd like, I don't mind helping tidy up. I know that with age, those aches and pains can make keeping up with chores more of a challenge."

He gave a small, genuine smile, adding, "It'll go much faster if you let me lend a hand."

Braze watched as Xojo stirred awake, tilting his head slightly in an attempt to decipher the Keldor's expression. He still struggled to read the subtleties of Keldor facial cues, which often left him uncertain.

With a faint frown, Braze muttered under his breath, "Hard to believe he put up much of a challenge if he can't even manage to keep things in order…"

 

[Ko Vuto]

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Location: Dorin
Objective: Field Trip
Tag: Braze | Valor the Forsaken

“Tidy up? What you mean. I threw out most of the bottles that were lying around here. I guess you're ungratefulness has rubbed off on the little ones Ko.” Xojo replied in basic now, his accident was rather heavy however. He then looked over to Ko and added.

Ko would've rolled his eyes under his goggles if he could. But he couldn’t really argue that despite how neglected the estate was, it wasn’t nearly as messy as it was the first time he came back here. The overall atmosphere was more as if nobody lived here at all. “It’ll be fine, Valor, but if you must, I won’t stop you from tidying up the guest room you two will be staying in. But like I said, I didn’t bring you two here just to do chores.” After saying that Xojo flashed Ko another look.

“Huh? These two are staying with us? How, we don’t have any climate controlled rooms.” His uncle questioned.

“I had it planned out, remember those deliveries I had sent here? Those were for Valor and Braze.” Ko replied.

“Oh… oh yeah now I remember. I was wondering what those were for. They seemed kinda small though.” Ko wondered if perhaps working on those could help keep Valor busy. After a moment Xojo lazily got up to his feet. Standing up from his chair and rubbing his head some. “You three are lucky too, if you’d been too late. A storm is coming through the valley sometime this afternoon. Now have you three eaten recently? I’ll cook us all some breakfast and I’m sure you two worked up an appetite hiking up here.” Xojo said to Braze and Valor. Although he didn’t quite care that much for them. Dorin customs of hospitality were still too ingrained in the Kel Dor to ignore.​

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[Braze]

TAGS: Ko Vuto

"I'm not ungrateful," Braze squeaked, his voice small but determined, shifting a little under the weight of Xojo's words.

His feathers ruffled slightly as he perked up at the mention of breakfast. "I do like food," he chirped softly, his curiosity piqued by the offer. "I would appreciate breakfast very much. Do you want any help?" He blinked up at Xojo, his wide eyes showing eagerness. He always felt the need to be useful, especially in unfamiliar company.

Braze's eyes darted to the window as he picked up on Xojo's mention of the storm. "Is it a big storm? I came here to stand atop the slag summits and conquer the lightning." His voice rose with excitement, the idea of braving nature's raw power thrilling him. "I've been preparing for this—weathering a storm should be exciting!" He added with youthful determination, chest puffing out in pride.

"I am ungrateful," Valor countered, his tone firm but calm. He paused briefly, crossing his arms as if weighing his next words carefully. "Master Vuto, on the other hand, is probably the farthest person I know from that definition..." His voice trailed off slightly, as if remembering the sharp contrast between himself and his old mentor, though there was no real malice in his words—just an acknowledgment of a truth he'd long come to accept.

With a shrug, Valor glanced toward the guest room. "I'll go straighten up the room," he said, his tone softening as he prepared to take action. Despite the conversation, there was a quiet sense of duty about him. He didn't wait for Ko or Xojo to respond before he added, "Might as well make ourselves useful before we eat." There was no complaint in his voice—only the simple resolve of someone who had learned that tasks like this were part of earning respect.

 

[Ko Vuto]

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Location: Dorin
Objective: Field Trip
Tag: Braze | Valor the Forsaken

“Nope, don’t need any help, but you can come and watch if you must.” Xojo replied to Braze. Partly because the boy was a guest and also because he didn’t know if he could trust the youngster knew any of the ingredients that he’d be using. “Huh, Ko you’re not actually gonna put these two on a slag summit are you? That’s barbaric.” Xojo asked, chastising his nephew over the idea of putting Valor and Braze on top of a ‘psudo-volcano’.

“No, we're not going to stand atop any slag summits. I was planning for them to witness one during a storm. This is supposed to be a learning experience, not some attempt to test ourselves.” Ko explained, making his intentions clear about what he expected. Even if Braze said that they were planning on.

Then Valor chimed in. Leaving Ko unsure if he should be annoyed or pleased with the teen’s words. Before he could even really respond Valor was already wanting to ‘do something useful.’ “Heh, these pupils you brought sure any antsy Ko. They just got here too. Definitely on the more impatient side like you used to be.” Xojo said, once more comparing the young to his nephew. Then he turned to Braze, his white eyes looking down at the boy. “You can join me in the kitchen if you want, just don’t get in my way. But if you insist on doing something, you can get boiling.”​

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[Valor the Forsaken]

TAGS: Ko Vuto

Valor didn't need much guidance and casually set to work in the guest room. He tidied up, dusting where necessary and unpacking a few things he and Braze might need during their stay. It wasn't a complex task, but he made sure everything was in order, moving at a comfortable pace.

Braze, on the other hand, followed Xojo into the kitchen and, with a sigh of relief, took off his mask. He hooked it onto his belt and rubbed his face gently where the edges had pressed against his skin.

"How volatile is the atmosphere here?" Braze asked, looking around curiously, wondering how well fire would behave in this environment. He found a spot near the edge of the kitchen, out of the way but close enough to observe. He wasn't sure where things like water or pots and pans were kept, so he waited to see what Xojo would need.

After a moment, Braze spoke again, his voice more curious than anything else. "Is it really a bad thing to know life is short and want to make the most of it?" He had been thinking about what Xojo had said about impatience and couldn't help but wonder aloud.

 

[Ko Vuto]

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Location: Dorin
Objective: Field Trip
Tag: Braze | Valor the Forsaken

“Hey, just be careful, Valor.” Ko called out to his padawan as they left to go work on getting things ready for himself and Braze when they eventually went to bed. Handling oxygen was a dangerous task here on Dorin. Despite its toxicity, what little oxygen gas there was on the planet was rather precious and valuable. Traders and entrepreneurs have been known to make quite a bit of money shipping and selling oxygen to Dorin to use in certain technologies that rely on combustion.

From within the Kitchen Xojo was putting things together to start cooking them all for breakfast. Even as a washed up sage, he still wasn’t going to abandon the deep rooted cultural importance of hospitality. As he started to heat things up over the electric stove he listened to Braze’s question. Rather quickly the boy’s voice would start increasing in pitch. Hearing it Ko began to laugh some from the other room. “Volatile? The atmosphere itself isn’t really dangerous. No real caustic chemicals in the air. In fact many things have a hard time even rusting.” Xojo explained to Braze before pulling out a kettle and some cans with strange foreign characters written on it. “Here’s the tea, just start brewing it before the water begins to boil and it should be good enough.” Xojo explained, giving Braze some simple instructions to follow before turning his attention to cooking. Using a combination of alien ingredients.

“Huh?” The elder Kel Dor simply replied to the boy’s question before connecting it to what he said earlier. His shoulders then sagged some. As if non-verbally communicating that the hungover Kel Dor was already growing tired of the pale child. “No, and that’s not what I said. Now instead of yapping, put your ‘life’ towards making the most of that tea you’re supposed to brew us.” Xojo replied with a critical tone. This was the man that taught Ko, there was a good chance that he would be overly analytical of Braze’s performance here.​

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[Braze]

TAGS: Ko Vuto

Valor called back from the other room, his voice echoing softly, "Got it! I'll be careful!"

Meanwhile, Braze's eyes lit up as he watched Xojo maneuver around the kitchen. "Tea?" he exclaimed, taking the kettle and cans with eager hands. He turned the cans over, examining the strange foreign characters. "What kind of tea is this? Is it herbal or black tea? Do you usually add honey or sugar? What about cream? Personally, I love a splash of cream in mine. Do you?"

He set the kettle on the stove but couldn't contain his curiosity. "Have you ever tried echani red tea? It's my favorite! It's got this rich, bold flavor that's just incredible. Would you like to try some? I brought plenty with me. I could brew a pot alongside this one if you'd like."

Braze was undeterred. "You know, tea brewing is such an art. Do you have any special techniques or traditions here on Dorin? Back home, we have a ritual for it. Oh, and what's your favorite dish to cook? The ingredients you're using look so unique!"

After a moment, he couldn't help himself. "You must have so many stories from your time as a sage. What's the most interesting place you've ever visited? Do you enjoy mentoring young people? I imagine you've taught many students over the years."

Braze grinned sheepishly. "I just love learning new things. Do you have much patience with folks like me?"

 

[Ko Vuto]

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Location: Dorin, Vuto Estate
Objective: Field Trip
Tag: Braze | Valor the Forsaken

It did not seem like Braze was all that interested in simply following along with what Xojo said. Causing the elder Kel Dor to let out a sigh. All the while the echani boy’s voice continued to get progressively more annoying with each sentence as they breathed in more of the unfiltered air. “It’s a type a green tea, and we’ll be using kand to sweeten it. It’s like ah… how do you say, like a honey, or a syrup.” Xojo explained, trying to find the right word to describe what they would use to sweeten it. “No cream today.” Xojo then added sternly. There were ways of preparing the green tea with milks and creams. But that wasn’t what they were working with today.

As Braze continued he would, he was practically preaching to the choir about tea. “No red tea now, maybe later.” Xojo was somewhat perplexed by the fact that out of the things the boy had brought with him, he brought tea from his own homeworld. Concluding that his nephew must’ve informed him about the importance of tea for the Vuto clan, or what remains of it at least.

“This dish it good for hangovers, I like it. We’re using ⟒☌☌⌇, ⌇⏃⎍⌇⏃☌⟒ and a bit of ⍀⍜⍜⏁ to round it out. Good for hangovers here.” Xojo managed to say before Braze continued their rambling questions. His patience was wearing thinner and thinner by the second.

At their final question Xojo looked over at the boy with an annoyed expression that was likely hard for the echani to read even with their unique martial art that deciphered subtle body language. “Yes, clearly…” He said plainly about having patience for people like him. Holding back the urge to throw the child out of the kitchen. “No more questions until tea is brewing. Watch the kettle closely to make sure it doesn’t start boiling.” Saying that Xojo was thinking about the type of training he could subject the two boys to while they were here. ​

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[Braze]

TAGS: Ko Vuto

Braze rolled up his sleeves with deliberate precision, the gesture not just practical but ceremonial in its own right. He then pulled his mask back over his face, sealing himself in the focused silence that came with the ritual he was about to perform. The act of brewing tea was more than just a casual task for him—it was a deeply ingrained tradition, one rooted in the heart of Echani culture. On his 14th birthday, Braze had embraced a special ceremony, determined to impress Jasper with the discipline and care it required. From that moment, the tea-making ritual had become one of the rare moments where Braze could find serenity amidst his training.

Each movement was purposeful, and despite the intricacies of the task, To him, tea-making was an art form, requiring both patience and mindfulness, a balance between elements, much like his combat training. The fragrant steam began to rise as the water heated, carrying with it the calming, herbal aroma that seemed to soothe not only the body but also the soul.

Braze moved with the grace of a warrior but the precision of a craftsman, pouring the water and allowing the leaves to steep at just the right temperature. The subtle shifts of his hands and posture revealing the care he poured into this tradition. Though tea brewing was a simple act to many, for Braze, it symbolized control, balance, and the ability to bring peace—both inwardly and outwardly.

When the tea was ready, he reached for a small spoon, testing the blend with careful deliberation. The warmth spread through him as he sipped, tasting the product of his focused effort. He set the spoon down with quiet satisfaction, the fragrant drink now ready to serve.

 

[Ko Vuto]

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Location: Dorin, Vuto Estate
Objective: Field Trip
Tag: Braze | Valor the Forsaken

Xojo could let out a relieved sigh now that Braze seemed to quiet down now from their barrage of questions. Allowing his hungover brain to not be as strained. Also the child seemed to put their mask back on. The elder Kel Dor thought that he might need to make a rule that the children weren’t allowed to speak without their masks on.

While Braze was putting their focus on the tea. Glanced at them from time to time as he prepared breakfast. Finding it strange that the boy was now silent and seemingly solely dedicated to the task at hand. They renamed himself a lot to his nephew when they were much younger. Believe that Ko was very much an eager overachiever compared to many other sages. “You are being too hard on the tea. You need to allow it to breathe and do as it must.” Xojo commented before flipping the food around in the pan before turning off the heat.

“KO!! Get in here, it's ready!” Xojo then called out rather harshly from the kitchen before bringing the food to the dinning table where he began to set up plates and evenly proportion the meals for the four of them.

Ko heard his uncle call out to him. They didn’t need to yell like that. “Okay, I'll be there in a moment.” Before going to the kitchen Ko would make his way upstairs to where Valor was. Not wanting to yell across the building for his padawan. Finding the guest room that Valor and Braze would be staying in he knocked on the door frame and spoke softly. “Valor, breakfast is ready downstairs."​

​

 

[Valor the Forsaken]

TAGS: Ko Vuto

"Understood."

Valor meticulously set up the room but left the oxygen systems closed, deciding not to tamper with them just yet. After ensuring the space was clean and suited for use, he finished unpacking. Satisfied with his progress, he decided to head out and see what was available for breakfast.

Finding a suitable table, Valor sat down, his gaze steady as he prepared his next move.

"Xojo," he began, his tone straightforward, "are you well-versed in the combative applications of the Force?"

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Ko Vuto

“You are being too hard on the tea. You need to allow it to breathe and do as it must.”

"How? There's no air here." Braze said as he paused seeming having finished brewing the tea. " Do you always shout ?" Braze asked with a frown.