Private Desert Stars

[Tempo]

TAGS: Jalen Kai'el

​

The terrace perched over the vast canyon was a hidden gem, a place where the harsh Tatooine sands softened under the blanket of night. It was a perfect spot to watch the stars—brilliant diamonds scattered across the dark canvas of the sky. Tempo had prepared the setting with care, laying out a large mat adorned with a soft blanket and an array of plush pillows. A picnic was arranged, with delicate snacks meant to entice and delight.

Though Jalen Kai'el could not see the stars, his senses were alive in other ways. The unique acoustics of this place—how the sounds of the desert night echoed across the rugged alcoves below—created a sound only he could fully appreciate. Here, under the infinite sky, with the gentle hum of the desert wind and the warmth of Tempo's presence, it was a night meant to linger in memory, where the beauty of the world was felt, not just seen.

 

[Jalen Kai'el]

Tatooine
Tags: Tempo

Delta-7​

"This place feels very different from the rest of the planet."

Jalen noted this as he ran his hand along the sandy terrace ground as he knelt down, taking in how the Force moved through the area. It was different. Strange. He had figured it all would have felt the same out here, yet the air was soft and seemed to subtly hum in gentle evening tones unfamiliar to harsh desert places.

Or perhaps just unfamiliar to him. Jalen sat down on the prepared mat and withdrew his hallikset, giving the strings a strum as if to test out the very way the sound would travel through the air. The wind caught it perfectly.

"Acoustics in this place are killer," he noted with a mutter. "How'd you find it?"

There was still a certain feeling that came with locations of significance, something more universal to the senses than simply the look of it. Jalen couldn't help but wonder what gave this place such a unique vibe.

It was enthralling.

 

[Tempo]

TAGS: Jalen Kai'el

​

Tempo set the little plates with a careful touch, the gentle clink of ceramic adding to the serene atmosphere of the terrace. He began slicing strawberries, the sweet aroma mingling with the cool desert night. Each slice was laid on a spread of hazelnut chocolate, carefully placed between soft, sweet whole wheat honey bread as he crafted the sandwich.

"Hmm…" Tempo began, "I was hurt. Badly. I don't remember exactly how it happened, but I found myself stumbling through the sands, desperate for shelter. That's when I came across the cavern below us now."

He paused, the memory clearly still vivid in his mind. "I barely made it inside. I collapsed next to an old speeder, and that's when I noticed… the corpse. It was just lying there, forgotten by time, and for a moment, I thought I might end up the same way. But that cave… strange as it was to find comfort beside something so grim. It was my only escape from the blistering heat and the unforgiving sunlight."

Tempo finished the sandwich, placing it on a small plate before offering it to Jalen.

 

[Jalen Kai'el]

Tatooine
Tags: Tempo

Delta-7​

Jalen took the plate from Tempo, lingering on what the young man stated.

"Perhaps the unfortunate fellow was drawn to this place as well," Jalen remarked. "We find comfort where the Force moves in moments of desperation..."

When his village on Lothal was burnt to ash he eagerly let himself be drawn into the warmth of the Jedi Temple. Jalen sank his teeth into the sandwich as he pondered, letting his mind wander across the area to take everything in. A Force Nexus? It was possible. He sat in silence for a moment before speaking again.

"It isn't grim," he stated. "Their lingering energy was protecting you."

Said with a strange confidence. He sometimes forgot that not everyone fully understood the Force.

 

[Tempo]

TAGS: Jalen Kai'el

​

Tempo's smirk widened as they stood on the shifting desert sands, the sun casting long shadows. "You might be able to feel it now," Tempo teased, their tone playful. "So... do you? Feeeeel it~?"

The air around them seemed to carry a subtle vibration, a sensation that was almost imperceptible but undeniable to those attuned to the Force. Jalen, though blind, could sense it more clearly—something deep below, a quiet but powerful presence.

The sand felt different here, as if something lay hidden far beneath, waiting.

Without seeing, Jalen could sense it through the Force—a faint, resonant pulse that seemed to echo from deep within the planet, like a heartbeat buried beneath layers of rock and sand. It wasn't clear what it was, but its presence was undeniable, a whisper in the Force hinting at something ancient and powerful lying in wait far below.

 

[Jalen Kai'el]

Tatooine
Tags: Tempo

Delta-7​

"I feel something beneath us, in the caverns below," Jalen stated. "Something down there gives this place its resonance."

But what was it? Kyber? Some sort of artifact? Whatever it was, the signature was distinct and radiant, a beacon of light and life in the wastes of the desert. Perhaps that was what gave this location such a comfort. He lingered on Tempo's playful tone for a moment, pondering how he might respond.

He was, unfortunately, rather socially inept.

"The Force draws people together," he noted. "Locations like this call out to those who will listen and connect them to each other. It's a place where the energy of those who come intertwine..."

No, that was way too wishy-washy and philosophical, even for him. An awkward smile spread across his face.

"It's a good spot, I mean."

 

[Tempo]

TAGS: Jalen Kai'el

​

Tempo couldn't help but suppress a chuckle. "Has anyone ever told you you're a-dork-able?" they teased, amusement dancing in their eyes.

Switching gears, Tempo continued, "There's another cave system, different from the one we talked about earlier. It has an underground river, and the walls are scattered with kyber crystals. It's like looking at the night sky down there, with all the sparkling light. But it's not a safe place—lots of winding twists, sudden drops, and who knows what else.... That man I found dead.... might have been a Jedi. He had a pretty unique weapon on him. The sands out here hold many secrets."

Tempo paused, moving to fix Jalen a drink of fruit juice mixed with sugar and lemon. "I'm not sure if I've ever met a real Jedi before you..." they added, handing Jalen the drink with a thoughtful look.

 

[Jalen Kai'el]

Tatooine
Tags: Tempo

Delta-7​

"Has anyone ever told you you're a-dork-able?"

"I, uh..." Jalen frowned, his face becoming slightly red. "No."

He sat there in silence for a moment before clearing his throat. A-dork-able. That... wasn't negative. No, not at all. Despite the fact that it was rather clearly intended to be teasing, there seemed to be a matter of endearment in the term. Was that good?

Perhaps it was best to just not overthink it.

"Well, uh, kyber would make sense given the presence of this place," he continued. "If the fallen man was a Jedi it would explain what drew them here." Jalen accepted the drink and took a sip. "I... don't know if I'm really the best first Jedi you could have met. I'm stubborn, overly analytical where I shouldn't be, and I believe I come off as rather cold at times. Not to mention I lost my lightsaber. It's that unique weapon sacred to our Order. Someone took mine from me."

Jalen let out a sigh.

"It's funny. I feel like I have so much to live up to, but all I can manage to do is get by through dumb luck..."

His confidence ebbed and flowed with uncertainty. One moment there, the next gone. No matter how much effort he put in, Jalen could never escape that little itch in the back of his mind.

 

[Tempo]

TAGS: Jalen Kai'el

​

Tempo giggled, his voice light and teasing. "Well, you're certainly right about that. And you are rather cold," he remarked, his tone playful but with an underlying warmth. He found the way Jalen blushed and his awkward little flusters rather charming, a novelty that he couldn't help but enjoy.


"YOU lost your blade? Who took it? Maybe it was meant to be taken... and you were meant to come here... the Force does work in mysterious ways doesn't it~?" Tempo's ears perked up with genuine curiosity, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Want me to hunt them down~?" he offered with a playful edge, as if the idea of tracking down whoever took Jalen's lightsaber was more of a game than a serious proposition. "I'm not sure how to use the saber I found—I don't really mess with it. It seems kinda dangerous," he added, his tone suddenly more thoughtful, as if the weapon's power held a certain weight.

Jalen felt the brush of Tempo's 'fur' against his shoulder as he shifted closer, Tempo's presence both comforting and disconcerting. "Hmnn... well, it might help if you could see... maybe just a little bit," Tempo mused, his voice softening. He rubbed his shoulder against Jalen's before settling himself over Jalen's lap, using it as a makeshift pillow. With a contented sigh, he planted himself there, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

"What kind of you do you want to be?" Tempo asked, his voice gentle but probing. "You know, you don't have to be the way you are... if you don't want to." He looked up at Jalen, his expression open and curious, genuinely interested in his answer.

 

[Jalen Kai'el]

Tatooine
Tags: Tempo

Delta-7​

Jalen's face became even redder as Tempo all but flopped into his lap, his expression growing even more flustered. Yet even so, there was something... comforting about all of this. He hadn't been so close to anyone else before in his life. Slowly but gradually, Jalen laid his hand on Tempo's head.

"It was stolen by a Sith," Jalen stated. "Warmongers. They burn planets and seek power and control... I don't know who they were. They may even be dead. Sith betray each other all the time..."

"What kind of you do you want to be?" Tempo asked, his voice gentle but probing. "You know, you don't have to be the way you are... if you don't want to."

"I... I'm not sure," he sighed. "I don't... I don't know any other way to be. I have these things that I feel about myself and what I should be, and they're irrational. I know that. But... these things are real. Organic. I don't want to stop feeling them, but I don't want them to keep me from acting either."

He let out a sigh.

"Don't suppose you know the secret to finding yourself, do you?" he asked, mustering up a playful tone.

 

[Tempo]

TAGS: Jalen Kai'el

​

Tempo reached up and clasped his hands over Jalen's cheeks, gently squishing his face. "You're so cute when you change color like that. You're practically burning up!" Tempo chirped, his tone light and teasing, yet filled with an underlying affection.

Tempo continued without hesitation. "But that's okay—you don't have to be sure about everything. It's okay to just... be," Tempo assured him, his voice softening. "And it's fine if your feelings are irrational; you still feel them... for now, just pick something you want to be better at or a quality you think is undesirable. Any of them—you named a whole bunch just a few moments ago... just pick one... like being cold. You don't have to be. You can just..."

Tempo paused, searching for the right word, trying to connect with Jalen on a level he'd understand. "Experiment," he finally said, a small, satisfied smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Yeah, that's a good word—a scientific-y word that would probably register with an egghead like you," Tempo teased lightly, though there was no malice in his tone. He liked being a bit of an egghead himself. "And you can experiment with me if you like... see what works and what doesn't," he added, his voice dropping to a softer, more inviting tone.

With a playful glint in his eye, Tempo shifted his fingers, pressing at the corners of Jalen's mouth, trying to coax a smile out of him. The implications of 'experimenting' with Tempo, especially in terms of not being cold, could certainly heat up the moment and lead to something more intimate, but perhaps Tempo genuinely meant it in a broader sense. Maybe the lavender-haired imp was already trying to make Jalen experiment by nudging him—albeit gently—out of his comfort zone, practically flopping into his lap. Tempo seemed completely at ease, his body relaxed against Jalen's. Jalen could feel the steady rhythm of Tempo's breathing and even the gentle beat of his heart, a soothing presence that contrasted sharply with his own tension.

"You're so tense and uptight... it's okay to relax," Tempo encouraged, his voice soft and reassuring. "Not a single person can shoulder the universe's burdens, and no one expects you to either... It's okay to just... be."

Tempo's fingers paused, still gently pressing at the corners of Jalen's mouth as he continued, his tone taking on a more serious note. "But remember... you should only try to change if you think you should... or if you want to," he said, his voice firm but kind. "Don't try and change yourself to fit anyone else's standards."

He let the words hang in the air for a moment, giving them weight, before his playful demeanor returned. Tempo added, "This is your experiment, after all."

 

[Jalen Kai'el]

Tatooine
Tags: Tempo

Delta-7​

Tempo reached up and clasped his hands over Jalen's cheeks, gently squishing his face. "You're so cute when you change color like that. You're practically burning up!"

Jalen pouted a little, crossing his arms.

"Yeah, I get it," he sighed. "Don't push your luck. I can still move you."

The young man sighed, taking in what Tempo was saying. As teasing as he was, it did make sense. Jalen lingered on his words in silence for a moment, pondering what he was saying. Was he becoming what his internalized thoughts projected? He didn't want to be cold, and yet people seemed to think he was that way sometimes. He was momentarily brought out of his thoughts when Tempo prodded at his face again, forming his mouth up into a smile. Gradually, Jalen's mouth did shift in that way.

"Alright, I'm following what you're saying," he stated, moving Tempo's hand. "I'm worrying too much."

He sat in silence for a moment before speaking again.

"I like being quiet, even if it's weird," Jalen said. "And I like just sitting and playing music. I want to be comfortable in all of that around other people just like I'm comfortable in it when I'm alone."

Jalen shifted his face down to look at Tempo's as best he could, estimating where it might be through the Force.

"Hey, you never did tell me what you are, by the way," he mentioned. "You don't feel human, even if your aura's shaped like one. I'm curious."

 

[Tempo]

TAGS: Jalen Kai'el

​

"Being quiet and liking music isn't wierd... it just means you're an old soul who appreciates the calm. And yes, you are worrying too much." Tempo purred reaching up to gently boop the tip of Jalen's nose with a finger tip.

"I don't really know what I am," Tempo murmured softly. There was a gentle lilt in their voice that made the confession sound less strange than it might have otherwise. "But I bet you're curious about what I look like, huh?" Tempo asked, a playful note in their tone, guessing that Jalen might want to see who they'd been talking to—blind dates were fun, but eventually, everyone wanted to see their potential partner.

"Well..." Tempo hesitated for a moment, then continued with a tender smile. "I have red eyes... Sometimes they look more like a vibrant pink. My irises are more oval, and my ears..." Tempo gently guided Jalen's hand to their face, letting his fingertips graze the elongated, slender ears. "They're very sensitive to the touch," Tempo whispered, their voice warm with the shared intimacy of the moment.

"And I have a few longer teeth than you do," Tempo added, drawing Jalen's hand to their lips. With a delicate gesture, Tempo pressed a soft kiss to the back of Jalen's hand. Instead of sharp fangs, Jalen felt the plush, pillowy softness of Tempo's strawberry-pink lips.

Tempo lingered there, pressing their cheek affectionately against Jalen's hand, savoring the warmth of the skin-to-skin contact. Their skin was surprisingly soft, with a velvety texture, smooth and well-cared for. "My skin is pale... almost like saffron vanilla ice cream, or peachy creame." Tempo continued, their voice a gentle hum as their small, clawed fingertips slipped between Jalen's fingers, the pad of their thumb rubbing soothing circles into his skin.

Tempo then shifted, guiding Jalen's hand to their head, helping his fingers glide through their long, silken hair. The strands felt silky smooth, meticulously cared for, and free of any knots. "And I have long, pastel purple hair," Tempo finished softly, their words carrying a quiet, tender affection.

 

[Jalen Kai'el]

Tatooine
Tags: Tempo

Delta-7​

Jalen let out a flustered sigh as Tempo playfully moved their hands across his form, describing himself. Kissing the back of his hands, illusions to more intimate areas sensitive to the touch.

"I'll stick with small and throw-able," Jalen responded with a smirk.

He exhaled, his hand settling behind Tempo's ear.

"What you look like isn't really that important to me..." he admitted. "I can feel your soul. It's warm. That makes everything I need to feel as clear as day. That transcends sight..."

The padawan let his hand wander through the shorter's hair for a moment, seemingly lost in thought. His mind wandered the surrounding area, taking in the patterns of the topography through the Force. There was something different below their feet.

"You've constructed a dwelling in the caves?" Jalen asked.

 

[Tempo]

TAGS: Jalen Kai'el

​

Tempo's ear flicked and swiveled like a cat's, though it was long and pointed. He seemed to relax, enjoying the soft pets, and suppressed a giggle at Jalen's words. However, when the blonde questioned the dwelling, Tempo shifted gently to sit up.

"Yeah, that's where I live. IT sits above the caves. I have a lift that goes down in to one or the larger chambers. There's a refresher, and I've got a nice shower and bath inside if you're feeling a little too hot. It's air-conditioned too. Truth be told, I hate the heat and love colder temperatures... makes snuggling with blankets way nicer. I also have a hydroponics room. I can clean up if you want to head inside; I don't mind," Tempo chirped softly.

 

[Jalen Kai'el]

Tatooine
Tags: Tempo

Delta-7​

I can clean up if you want to head inside; I don't mind

"Yeah, I really don't like the heat either," Jalen laughed a little. "I'm used to... well, open fields and a whole lot of wind. I wouldn't mind going inside..."

An air conditioner did sound nice. He wasn't exactly dressed for the desert, or at least not in the way he would have liked. His hoodie sheltered him from the sun, but it was far too tight to be breathable. It lost all of the benefits of proper robes. He wouldn't complain about a bit of temperature control.

 

[Tempo]

TAGS: Jalen Kai'el

​

"Okay!" Tempo chirped, springing to his feet and briefly tidying up the area. With a bright smile, he took Jalen's hand, gently guiding him down the winding, inclined terrace path toward the blast door entrance. The temperature shift was immediate—stepping through the entry was like walking from an oven into a freezer. The cool air hit them in a refreshing way.

"This is the workshop," Tempo explained, his tone cheerful. "Feel free to make yourself at home. The kitchen and dining area are just ahead, followed by the bedroom and bath, then the hydroponics room and the hangar."

Tempo welcomed Jalen further inside, the sound of their footsteps echoing in the cooler, more industrial space.

 

[Jalen Kai'el]

Tatooine
Tags: Tempo

Delta-7​

"This is the workshop," Tempo explained, his tone cheerful. "Feel free to make yourself at home. The kitchen and dining area are just ahead, followed by the bedroom and bath, then the hydroponics room and the hangar."

"Woah..."

Jalen felt the air of the space, taking in the change in atmosphere. It felt almost industrial, like a cold storage warehouse. He ran his hand along the wall, feeling for welded seams in the walls of the structure. It was rather well-constructed, the sort of efficiency you'd expect in a starship.

"How long did it take to make this place?" Jalen asked.

 

[Tempo]

TAGS: Jalen Kai'el

​

"I dunno... maybe four years to carve it all out to this level," Tempo said casually. "Definitely a lot cooler in the rocks, though. Helps keep the interior nice and cold," he added with a smirk. "I've been making good progress on the terrain out here. There's some fancy terraforming tech I'd love to get my hands on, but I've mostly been doing it the old-fashioned way," Tempo explained. "Sure beats sitting in the sun all day."

 

[Jalen Kai'el]

Tatooine
Tags: Tempo

Delta-7​

"I've been making good progress on the terrain out here. There's some fancy terraforming tech I'd love to get my hands on, but I've mostly been doing it the old-fashioned way,"

"No kidding," Jalen nodded.

He fiddled with his hoodie drawstrings for a moment, pondering what to even say next. Tempo had opened up a lot about his past, yet here he hadn't really given anything. A soft frown came to his face.

"Can... I tell you how I became blind?" he asked.