First Reply Distractions

[Ariana du Couteau]

Ariana Du Couteau, Jedi Padawan
Location: Jedi Temple, Coruscant
Action: Finishing Martial Training
Outfit (No Right Arm)

The practice dummy received several kicks but with a single left swing the flurry of attacks ended. Ariana sighed and felt her knuckles pulsate, warm and her skin had already reddened despite the well-worn wrappings around them. Her eyes narrowed as she continued to inspect her sole fist and unclenched her fingers with a large sigh. It had been nearly two hours and yet the young Du Couteau heir felt no less tired than when she first began this morning.

Coruscant, for all its trillions of inhabitants, felt rather lonesome in the Jedi Temple. The wide expanse of the galaxy beckons the many would-be Knight and Masters to explore systems not yet protected by the Galactic Alliance Defence Fleet. Perhaps a bit strangely Ariana for the most part enjoyed staying well within the Inner-Core worlds. Her home-world being Empress Teta played a rather large part of her bais; but her father had taken them and her brother to Wild Space and nothing there attracted the young Du Couteau heir.

The practice dummy remained motionless and with a soft pat with her left hand Ariana walked away to gather her bag and gear. Her studies needed to be done, but those deadlines were as far away as the far reaches of Galactic Alliance controlled space. The only task that she had evaded with little justifications were her meditation hours. Rolling her eyes as she drank water, Ariana had little wiggle room left to continue ignoring her meditation requirements.

“Ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta,” She mumbled as she clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. Her annoyance was clearly expressed across her face as she walked down the lengthy hallways of the Coruscant Jedi Temple. While she relished each and every opportunity to be alone, the unfortunate reality that it often allowed little to no distractions to help her avoid her meditations.

What more could she do to keep herself distracted before reaching the mediation chamber.
​

 

["Jackal"]

Equipment | In Bio
Location | Coruscant Jedi Temple
Tag | Ariana du Couteau

The silence would be interrupted by the well known sound of 'psssssssssssssssssssch' as a carbonated drink was opened nearby, wandering eyes would see a strange woman watching from a rafter above.

"Your form could use some work kid, is this really what you Jedi do all day? Don't get me wrong it is nice to just punch something every so often, but you have been at that thing for a while now."

Coruscant was her home too, even if she came from a place far less... Clean? They had to use sooo many droids to keep this place so spotless, if they didn't she would be shocked.

"Ya know, if you wanted some hand to hand training I might be willing to teach... For a price of course, how else am I to get groceries and pay my rent?"

The stranger snickers a bit, almost tossing a can down to the Padawan but stopping herself.

"You are uhh.. Hell what do they call it... Padawan right? What is your age?"

Wouldn't be wise to toss a beer to a kid, though it wasn't like she packed a juice box or anything.

 

[Ariana du Couteau]

Ariana Du Couteau, Jedi Padawan
Location: Jedi Temple, Coruscant
Action: Finishing Martial Training
Outfit (No Right Arm)

Ariana’s eyes darted around, at first to either side of her expecting to find the disembodied voice before she looked upwards. With an almost sheepish smile she waved her hand; perhaps a tad awkward but the young Du Couteau heir hadn’t the faintest idea of how to address someone so high up above them.

“You’ve been watching me for a while?” She was a tad perplexed at the notion, not that she found it worrisome but Ariana thought it sounded quite boring all things considered. I can barely watch my instructors before demanding I try whatever it was they were teaching. Ariana figured people’s interests were as varied as the planets they come to call home.

She took a few steps forward in order to not directly have her neck strain too much looking up at the person offering their assistance in her training. “Um-yeah I’m a Padawan.” Ariana confirmed, her eyebrow began to raise even higher at the question. She doesn’t seem to be like any Knight or Master I’ve met so far here.

“I’m twenty, a bit old to be a Padawan, but I’ve only recently joined the Order.” She explained, it has been a bit difficult for her as of late. Most of the Padawans were considerably younger than her, and the majority of her peers had already ascended to the rank of Knight. Ariana always believed such titles meant little, but even back Teta she felt the pressure of maintaining proper social standing irregardless of her defiance of traditions and norms. I'll eventually get my knighthood. No rush.

“Instructors here in the Temple don’t usually charge their students.” Ariana argued, not that she actually found the idea strange, her father had paid for instructors during her childhood. She’s a strange Jedi for sure. In fact she remembered her Master mentioning how the Jedi Order made sure everyone had a roof over their head and food made available. Not that I've tried anything made here. . . . Ariana mused honestly.

“Are you from a different Order?”
​

"Jackal"​

 

["Jackal"]

Equipment | In Bio
Location | Coruscant Jedi Temple
Tag | Ariana du Couteau

Jackal hops down from the rafter above, her landing seeming to make hardly any noise as she did so.

"Twenty? Sure, old enough."

Unlike earlier she tosses a can to the Padawan, the label on said can saying it was a beer.

"That brand is pretty mellow, you can have it."

Then came the obvious question, who was she?

"Different order? Nahhh I just got bored and wanted to see what you wizardy types got up to in here, can't you all tell when someone else can't use magic or whatever?"

Jackal says in a laid back tone, both fully admitting she snuck in here along with the fact she wasn't force sensitive.

"So, what's got you so angry anyway?"

Despite trespassing, the stranger seemed pretty relaxed, like she had done stuff like this millions of times.. Going where she wanted for the simple reason of being bored.

 

[Ariana du Couteau]

Ariana Du Couteau, Jedi Padawan
Location: Jedi Temple, Coruscant
Action: Speaking with a Stranger
Outfit (No Right Arm)

Ariana caught the can tossed at her, she inspected it with narrowed eyes and with raised eyebrows and a shrug she opened the can. The snap hiss followed by a quick gulp and Ariana held her grimace from appearing on her face. Okay,not like soda one bit. But she remembered her manners that were beat into her since birth and kept up a small smile throughout it all.

“Ah, well I’m sure there are some Masters that can sense every sentient being on Coruscant and their aptitude for the Force as easily as they breathe. . .” Ariana began, the stories of Master Noble would lead many to believe the impossible,”-As for myself, I need a bit more effort than breathing lets say.” A lot more effort.

Truthfully Ariana hadn’t invested enough training into what many call Force Detection, a useful talent no doubt but it demanded far too much mediation. But if this lady isn’t a Jedi from any order or even a Force Sensitive. . . Ariana mentally shrugged and figured she was a visitor. A rather strange visitor, but she hardly was anyone to judge on strange behavior.

“Angry? Well, I’d say that’s a harsh word to use,” Ariana stumbled with an embarrassed smile. “-I’d say annoyed is an appropriate descriptor of my emotional state during my training.” She added as she straightened herself upright. The Jedi Temple walls felt as if they had ears and would report anything and everything either her Master or another.

“And well, I’m mostly annoyed with myself a tad. Usually it's this or that, or something here or there, but I finally realized I’ve become rather indecisive. . . for whatever reason.” The young Du Couteau heir explained in her own haphazard approach in answering the new lady’s question. And case in point if the lady hadn’t jumped down Ariana would have simply allowed herself to continue straining her neck for the duration of their conversation.

“Do you normally approach people and offer them training lessons?”
​

"Jackal"

 

["Jackal"]

Equipment | In Bio
Location | Coruscant Jedi temple
Tag | Ariana du Couteau

"I approach people for a great many reasons, but today I decided to give this place a visit. I saw you... strained doing practice, and seeing as I need to pay my bills and buy my own food... It seems like a win win ya?"

The woman pops her fingers, seeing that the drink she offered hadn't received the best reaction.

"If you don't want that drink you can just say, I won't take offense."

She taps at her chin, knowing what little she did know about Jedi she had questions... Why not ask one?

"Correct me if I am wrong here, but aren't you Jedi supposed to control things like agitation and all that?"

Jackal, being the type of person she is.. Preferred to take the lead when it came to conversations. Being a more outgoing and energetic character, adorned with abnormal style that was becoming synonymous with the hunter.

"Never a good thing to be annoyed with yourself, tell you what... Let's go find a seat, you go ahead and try to down that drink and we can really talk."

Her finger points to a nearby rest bench, perfect amount of space for the both of them. Simply take a seat, mellow out with a drink... And let it all out.

 

[Ariana du Couteau]

Ariana Du Couteau, Jedi Padawan
Location: Jedi Temple, Coruscant
Action: Speaking with a Stranger
Outfit (No Right Arm)

Ariana mused on the lady’s answer, while she wasn’t one to judge how people make their credits, this particular method seemed rather erratic in terms of sustainability. I wouldn’t think of it being the most reliable. . . but then again, the Jedi are basically civil servants. When the Lady mentioned about not needing Ariana to force herself to drink, the young Du Couteau heir flared up in embarrassment of allowing herself to even appear disrespectful.

“Apologies, I simply didn’t want to appear rude.” Ariana explained as she walked towards the nearby bench and placed the half finished can next to her. “The Jedi Order does in fact instruct us to control our emotions, and reign in our more unsavory behaviors. Of course we can never be perfect, but we practice to be all the same.”

Certainly Ariana understood her own failures, she always felt that her brother was better suited for this stoic Jedi life. But I would be even less useful in the Senate honestly. She turned to face the woman, “-But as for myself, I just need alone moments to check myself. My instructor called it rumination, but I should be careful I don’t bring ruination instead.”

Ariana eyed the can and with a quick mental thought of strength she finished the can in two gulps. A slight grimace, but she wouldn’t allow anyone to call her manners into question. “My name is Ariana. Ariana Du Couteau. You can call me Ari miss.” She introduced herself, offering her left hand in greeting.
​

"Jackal"​

 

["Jackal"]

Equipment | In Bio
Location | Coruscant Jedi temple
Tag | Ariana du Couteau

Jackal would sip on her own drink as the two sat there, replying once Ariana was finished talking.

"People are rude to me all the time, it is just part of life, one I have come to accept."

She takes another sip.

"Mm.. Solitude can be a great thing, yet also can make your mind change in so many strange ways. This I would know, I am very different to what I once was. Personally I don't think you should be too hard on yourself, we all fail or just don't hit the mark sometimes. Of course there are times where we know we can't fail, but it still can happen. What are we to do? Not like we can change it, but we can make something out of it."

A failure was simply a setback, something that can be reversed over time.

"It is healthy to simply sit down and let it all out with someone who will listen, the drink helps too."

Jackal snickers a bit before finishing off her drink.

"You may call me Jackal by the way."

 

[Ariana du Couteau]

Ariana Du Couteau, Jedi Padawan
Location: Jedi Temple, Coruscant
Action: Speaking with Jackal
Outfit (No Right Arm)

“My father always taught me the importance of appearances, which extended to first impressions. So maybe those people simply don’t understand the necessity of looking good and acting nice.” Ariana responded as she thought about more of the aspect of failures in of themselves.

Most of my failures were completely in my control. Ariana eyed the tied up right sleeve, she lost her arm because of her failures on Teta. And now I might lose more for my failures here in the Order. The young Du Couteau heir sighed before shaking her head to

“It’s always difficult to realize how far our responsibility actually goes, and even harder to accept what we can or can’t control.” Ariana added, she agreed with Jackal in that sense of making something out of their failures. She remembered the countless times her cheeks felt the ground during training, her body ached for rest and there she was pushing herself back up. Eating dirt was an acquired taste I learned to heavily acquire.

“My father would listen to me ramble and complain for hours back in our home on Teta.” Ariana laughed, “-And he would have this tray of chocolates; White, milk and dark chocolates and depending on which I’d eat, he’d know how I felt after my rants.” The overly sweet White Chocolate, normal Milk Chocolate and the bitter Dark Chocolate, of course the more I would eat the harder it was to read me. Ariana smiled sadly at those memories before turning her attention back to Jackal.

“How much do you charge anyways?” The amount hardly mattered to Ariana, but it wasn't like she carried much on her when she'd go to the training floors. Her bag had only spare wrappings and a change of clothes with some of her credits, if she needed more her room was a few minutes away.
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"Jackal"​