Private Field Trip

[Persephone Dashiell]

CHALLON

Lysander von Ascania​

At a dig site on the edges of the major city, Persephone was beginning to rethink her choices. Thanks to Naria Prime , her col'n termi, and the Gallinore Museum for Ancient History, she was here with a small contingent of other teenagers. The dig site was full of pottery shards and other artistic bits dating from the earliest days of hyperspace travel. The job of her and roughly twenty-five other high achieving students? Find bits of pottery in the dirt and catalog them. While it sounded excited on the surface, most of the day was moving dirt away from more dirt in incrementally small sections at a painstaking pace.

Seemed like child labor to her.

"Remember pupils." Head Mistress Desaint spoke over the small din of hand tools being used. "Do not leave the dig site. The forest is home to many natural apex predators. Once you are past the perimeter sensors, it is no longer safe."

To think, she begged her parents for this opportunity. It was dicey considering how close the planet was to Dark Empire space. This was her chance, now or never. Not that it was guaranteed the Dark Empire was coming. Yet they were knocking on the door and having a family full of business owners who put an embargo on doing business with them....not exactly safe for her to be skirting around their territory.

It didn't help that Jedi kids were on their field trip too. Really, only five other kids besides herself were from the col'n termi. Some were Jedi. Some were from various elite academies. Still, from what she noticed, Jedi kids always seemed to bring trouble with them. As if they had tracking devices linked to their enemies or something.

Best to keep her head down. She was trying to impress Miss Prime after all, not the Jedi.

 

[Lysander von Ascania]

Persephone Dashiell

The thought of exploring a dig site was appealing at first, as it promised an opportunity to uncover some sort of ancient history. But deep down, Lysander still would have preferred the comfort of the Jedi Library. Before leaving home he found himself seeking counsel from his eldest sister; it was partially out of curiosity, and also wanting her own unique perspective.

His heavily stained white tunic made it clear he was unfamiliar to such activities. And as he began to remove dirt clinging to his fingertips, he couldn't help but question why he had ever sought her opinion. All of this seemed so beneath him, a task of sweat and filth.

The only redeeming aspect, perhaps, was the chance to visit a new world.

Scanning the area with his emerald orbs, he quickly noticed that his own findings were significantly less than those of the other students. Nonetheless, it didn't faze him. Taking another scrape with the tool, his thoughts began to slowly drift. He envisioned the different landscapes of other planets and their beautiful sunsets. Amongst them all, not one belonged to Ukatis.

It reminded him that the vast universe was filled with so many wonders, waiting to be discovered. This just wasn’t one of them.

The Head Mistresses’ voice suddenly brought him back to the present, and her words instantly made him curious about the nearby forest. For the first time in hours, the corners of Lysander’s lips twitched up slightly as his gaze shifted from left to right. It wasn’t like this was a competition, nor was it timed, for if it were, he would have surely been more intrigued. He did enjoy a good challenge.

Slowly rising to his full height, he nonchalantly brushed off the front of his beige trousers. A sense of unease washed over him, causing the padawan to stretch his arms in hopes to shake off the sensation of feeling out of place. Everyone around was still so laser focused.

With bold strides, his knee high boots now carried him closer to the perimeter. A warm smile graced his features as he moved forward, keeping his ears open to see if anyone would call out to try and stop him. He heard nothing. As he reached the edge, his head casually turned over his shoulder. He couldn’t feel the weight of anyone watching either. After all, she had only warned them of the dangers. It didn't sound entirely forbidden. Surely that meant he was free to explore.

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

Uncovering pottery shards was dirty work. It wasn't what she expected when she signed up for the opportunity either. Persephone figured they would be cataloging pieces of ancient history to be placed in archives or loaned out to universities. Not actually moving small bits of sand away at a snails pace - basically, in her opinion, they were free labor disguised as a learning opportunity.

Standing up, she meticulously dusted herself off and headed for the portable refreshers. Persie locked herself inside and cleaned her face, hands, and underneath her nails. A paper towel took care of the small spot she could only see on her shirt. A quick fixing of her hair and Persie left the portable refresher, catching a glimpse of white tunic in the vegetation, away from the main group.

She carefully picked her way through the vegetation to see a blonde boy looking over his shoulder. Eyebrow perked at his clothes. Jedi? Far too cute to be a Jedi. Probably someone from one of the academies sent on the joint field trip. Yet what was he doing? Leaving the group? Knowing teenage boys, perhaps a bet among the group for someone to leave the perimeter.

"You look too pretty to be fightin' off rancor or nexu or whatever is out there. What makes you think you're goin' to last more than five minutes?"

Lysander von Ascania

 

[Lysander von Ascania]

Persephone Dashiell

The forest loomed before him, its greens whispering adventure. He felt excitement and curiosity urging him to press forward. Several times more he shifted back and forth, making sure there was no one to stop him. And just as he was about to finally take his first step and embrace the unknown, a voice sliced through the air. It pulled him back from any thought of escape, and instinctively, he pivoted on his heel.

“What? Me?” A hint of warmth crept up on his cheeks as her words caught him off guard. “Well, I mean, I may not look the part, but I have been training really hard lately.” His voice revealed his embarrassment but there was also a flicker of determination. He ran a hand through his blonde hair, trying to regain composure. His shoulders squared. “I might not be the strongest, but I can definitely outsmart any Nexu.” Lysander’s expression turned serious for a moment. “Besides, I’m not just pretty. I’m a padawan.”

A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. "And just so you know," he continued, his voice steady, "there are no rancors on Challon." He didn’t really like being underestimated, and was willing to defend his knowledge too if she didn’t believe him. Besides, before arriving, he had spent countless hours glued to his datapad, researching this very planet.

His gaze moved past her, searching for Head Mistress Desaint in the background. She appeared to be occupied with another student. Refocusing back to the girl, his features softened. “Hey, why don’t you come with me? Someone might see us here." His confidence began surging. “You have nothing to worry about. I can handle whatever's out there. It’ll be fun!"

Lysander found himself retreating on his backfoot. He was more concerned about getting caught in the process of sneaking away than any potential danger lurking past the parameters of this dig site. “And I promise I won’t tell anyone. I wouldn’t want you to get in trouble for underestimating me.”

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

Ugh, so that's whats wrong with him. Jedi. Why do all the cute ones have to have some deficiency?

"There's no nexus on Challon either."

Not that she knew of, anyway. Oceanic eyes darted to the forest vegetation then back to the boy. Tromping through the woodlands was not her idea of a 'fun time.' Far from it, seemed like a nightmare to her. What was so good about the forest anyway? Seemed to her that the blonde teenager was just trying to get out of the assignment.

Did Jedi even fail assignments? They probably were needed to fight the front lines of whatever war was occurring, so probably not.

"Unfortunately, Head Mistress Desaint is on my ass. She will certainly notice I am missing. One of the others, not so much."

Persephone started the col'n termi quite late - making up assignments eight year olds were doing. Add in the fact she was a very brash person, it made for extra attention on her. Nothing serious, she certainly wasn't being abused or unfairly targeted. More like the Head Mistress kept her gaze attuned her way.

"Have fun out there, I'll be sure to send flowers to your memorial."

Lysander von Ascania

 

[Lysander von Ascania]

Persephone Dashiell

His feet no longer carried him away, as they were now rooted in the ground. Her words struck a chord. There was an urge to prove the girl wrong, but his datapad, his loyal companion, was unfortunately left behind on the ship. He regretted not having it with him, for he would have silenced her right then and there. "I have my doubts about that," he replied smoothly.

He was taken aback by the vulgar language that rolled off her lips, causing his eyebrow to raise in surprise, yet his smile remained. Lysander had been raised in a world of etiquette, crafted into a proper young man. The girl before him sounded like she was from the slums of Nar Shaddaa.

Still, the padawan's curiosity piqued; his head tilted slightly to the side as he studied her. “What makes you so special,” he challenged. A chuckle left his lips, and his shoulders slumped a bit, relieving the tension. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were a space pirate," he suggested. His hand made a subtle gesture towards the sky. “But we’re pretty far from the lawless territories of the Outer Rim.“

The urge to explore was still there, but this unexpected encounter was a welcome detour. Growing up, he had been taught to keep his guard up and reveal little about himself. However, the thought of returning to the scraping dirt filled him with dread. "Honestly, I'd do anything to avoid being stuck at this site. My sister convinced me to come, but it seems even Jedi Knights can give terrible advice."

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

"I come from a long line of pirates. You'd do well to watch yourself."

Did she come from a long line of pirates? Unsure. She had learned, thanks to Ruby Ironclad ,that her biological father's name was Ezekiel Dashiell . Problem was finding him and the fact there were a few Ezekiel's in the Dashiell clan. Persephone suspected her father wasn't exactly listed in any HoloNet directories.

The teenage boy was getting under her skin. He was such a bad combination - blonde, Jedi, and annoying. She really shouldn't be feeding into little quips. Must her losing her edge, typically a boy couldn't keep up with her barbs.

"Jedi are a cult. Cultists don't know anything about the outside world. Of course they give horrible advice."

Persephone shook her head and looked around through the vegetation. She had to go back. The Jedi kid could do what he wanted, but she was leaning dangerously close to possibly getting grounded. Then her allowance would be cut and she would be able to do anything fun for who knows how long. Persephone was trying to do as much as possible before her little sister was born or this Dark Empire did something stupid and she was stuck on the Farm.

"I need to get back."

Turning on her heel, she intended to leave the Jedi in training to his own devices.

Lysander von Ascania

 

[Lysander von Ascania]

Persephone Dashiell

His comment regarding the pirate had really been more of a playful jest, which made both her reaction and response more surprising. And though he disagreed with her statement about the Jedi, he decided to hold his tongue this time; it was already like facing a ferocious Nexu without having to sneak through the forest.

Her words were getting sharper.

Though Lysander's training had only just begun, his connection to the Force still allowed him to sense the emotions of those around him. As he spoke, he could feel the negativity growing, an indication of the impact from his words.

The realization made him believe he may already be falling behind in his journey.

“Hey, look, I’m really sorry about what I said,” he began. Taking another deep breath, he brushed a hand through his hair, trying to calm the emotions stirring within. “I should have been more careful with my words,” he admitted.

He thought of different ways to express his regret. Maybe he could offer her the small bag of candy he had stashed away on the spaceship he arrived on, a peace offering of sorts. Or perhaps he could share a funny story from one of his training sessions back on Coruscant.

“..Can we start over possibly?” A faint smile broke through. “I’m Lysander by the way.” The words rushed out. Then there was an awkward chuckle. “Maybe we could go for a walk? Well, if Head Mistress Desaint would allow it. I’d rather be eaten by a Rancor than dig through any more dirt today.”

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

She blinked, not expecting the teenager to backtrack and apologize. He even introduced himself, which she found shocking. Not that he had seemed like a cad to begin with. His pause to introduce himself showed he had manners and a decent upbringing. Lysander mentioned a sister, so perhaps a family instead of the orphanage that was the Jedi Temple.

Manicured hand went out to shake his.

"Persephone Dashiell."

Time to bite the bullet and apologize. Knowing her, Lysander von Ascania would be someone important her parents or Miss Arceneau knew. Then he would go blabbing to them about her manners and it would just be one horrible mess. Nevermind they were both to blame in this situation. At least in her eyes.

"I apologize as well." A small pause. "Doubtful. You're more than welcome to try but I am resigned to the fact we will be moving around sand for the rest of the day. After all Head Mistress Desaint would never allow such an educational opportunity to go to waste."

 

[Lysander von Ascania]

Persephone Dashiell

Lysander was taken aback by her quick acceptance of his apology and then her offering her own, but he felt a sense of relief washing over him, nonetheless. But from his past interactions, he quickly learned that girls could be really unpredictable. They seemed to have a certain strangeness about them.

He reached out to grasp her hand, but as they met, he suddenly remembered the dirt that caked his fingers from digging in the dirt just recently. "Lysander von Ascania," he replied. This time, the last name carried a note of pride. “It’s nice to meet you, Peresphone.”

A hint of disappointment was felt from her words. What if she was the teacher's pet? The thought made his stomach tighten. He remembered how every teacher and instructor always had that one student who never broke a single rule. The boys he usually hung out with were always supportive of his choices, even the riskier ones. Those he felt closest to even encouraged it.

”Hey,” he began, his voice filled with curiosity, “have you eaten lunch yet? Surely Head Mistress Desaint wouldn’t mind a small break, right? I mean.. how do they expect us to be out here all day without anything to eat?"

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

Catching the last name, she did a bit of a double take. There was familiarity with it for good reason. Now that Lysander von Ascania had introduced himself and given his full name, her eyes were intently studying the boy. Persephone was looking for any similarities to Corazona von Ascania .

"You know Miss Cora? Of Utakis?"

The woman did mention having eight siblings, which was a bit ridiculous. Holodramas were clearly not a distraction in the von Ascania house in the evenings. It could be a common surname in these parts or perhaps he was an extended family member. A cousin or nephew.

"I have not. Lunch was not to be provided...I am sure a logical argument could be made and we would be allowed to leave for at least an hour or so. Going to the city for an hour would be a welcome distraction for myself. I'm sure you can handle the urban jungle just as much as the real one."

A small pause.

"If you can convince her I will pay."

 

[Lysander von Ascania]

Persephone Dashiell

The way she began to observe him made his brows lift ever so slightly, caught in a moment of uncertainty, and his gaze then flickered elsewhere. But when he heard an all too familiar name, he returned his focus to Persephone. His rich green eyes sparkled with admiration, and a wide smile lit up his youthful features. “Yeah, of course I do. That’s my sister!” he said, his voice carrying excitement.

To Lysander, she wasn’t just his sister; she was the epitome of being cool. Amongst all his siblings, she was his favorite without a doubt. Everything he learned about the Force before studying on Coruscant came from her, and when he recently obtained his first kyber crystal, she was the first person he asked for help in constructing his lightsaber.

“How do you two know each other? Or what's your connection to her?” The look of joy lingered on his face even as he searched for Head Mistress Desaint in the distance. She was still occupied with the same student from earlier. “Do you think it's really necessary to ask? They can't let us starve. And if they do, I'll definitely be letting Cora know about it.”

While he was glad she accepted his lunch proposal, he was confused by the one hour time limit she set. He wanted to avoid digging up dirt for as long as possible.

“We should just go. And I'll pay,” he suggested.

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

"I met her in line at a bakery before the invasion of Coruscant."

When she had told this story before, no one had believed her. Didn't matter but it always drew a curious look. As if the other wanted to question it but always decided not to. A very boring story - meeting someone in line and chatting with them as they waited for lemon bars before the destruction of a planet. She imagined some of the skepticism came from her age as well.

"How? Cora is not Hapan, it is not as if Head Mistress Desaint will take her word higher over say yours, or mine, or even one of our parents. Yes she cannot let us starve but walking away will bring its own punishment."

Lysander von Ascania did not seem to understand this. Even trying to explain it to him was difficult. Idly, she wondered if it was because his parents didn't care. Some didn't. Especially, she had come to find out the hard way, parents of boys. They often got to run amuck with little in the way of consequence.

"I will go with you. I will also pay. You should let me too - how many girls are ever going to say that? I can guarantee none. Especially as you get older so just...just let me do this. So...lead the way, I think."

Yep, she was so getting grounded.

 

[Lysander von Ascania]

Persephone Dashiell
Corazona von Ascania

He was well aware of the attack on Coruscant, although he was on Ukatis at that time. “Yeah, my sister has always had a thing for food,” he remarked with a wry smile. "I bet she was stocking up on pastries before the invasion.” His expression slowly shifted to one of amusement. “You know,” he continued, glancing at Peresphone, “she could probably eat more than a Wookiee if given the chance.”

He casually lifted his shoulders. The girl’s doubt was like a foreign concept to him at that moment. "Cora is capable of anything," he reassured her. "She always finds a way." A chuckle then escaped his lips, feeling carefree, which contrasted with the situation at hand. He leaned forward slightly. “I can handle whatever comes next. What could she possibly do? Some extra chores, or maybe a serious talk?” There was a more thoughtful pause. “Don’t worry. If it comes down to it, I’m willing to take the blame for everything.”

Lysander felt like he should have been the one to pay, especially since he still felt guilty for his earlier comments. He opened his mouth to protest but then stopped, not wanting to risk another argument with her. Not yet at least. “Well, if you insist.” With a confident smirk, the padawan nodded, displaying his determination. He gestured with his head, an invitation for her to follow. As they made their way along the perimeter of the dig site, his steps became more cautious, his senses with the Force now on high alert. Every so often, he glanced over his shoulder to ensure Peresphone was keeping up. As they reached the city's edge, his gaze flicked up at the towering structures shimmering under the sun, and he could see different markets and streets full of activity.

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

"Small word of advice? I wouldn't tell a woman she could eat as much as a wookie, even if it is true."

Persephone didn't have any siblings - yet anyway - so she was going on a limb and guessing this was typical brother/sister dynamics at play. If one was using holodramas as a guide, which she clearly was. Yet if Miss Cora was here she imagined Lysander von Ascania would probably get a good smack across the back of the head.

"Extra assignments. Re-taking courses. Conference with my parents. Conference leads to me being grounded....complete lack of allowance and freedom but sure, you taking the blame will stop all of that from happening."

She kept up with him - sort of. Persie was always worried about getting dirty and her appearance so she tended to tread much,much more carefully. Yet she had reached the edge of the city against her better judgement, dusting off the side of her sleeve and smoothing out her hair ever so slightly.

"So, what do you want to eat? Let me guess, Yum Bunnies?"

At least she could get a family discount there.mNot that she was hurting for credits of course.

 

[Lysander von Ascania]

Persephone Dashiell

Confusion etched across Lysander's face as his curiosity began to surge. The name 'Yum Bunnies' floated in his thoughts like a hologram, intriguing but also incredibly baffling. “Yum Bunnies?” he repeated after her, the words rolling off his tongue like some foreign language. The name struck him as rather odd, and it created images in his mind’s eye of Lepi’s hopping around with pastries. The padawan couldn't help but chuckle softly. His youthful innocence began to show. “That sounds like a restaurant for little kids.” The way she just threw the name out there made him wonder if she was trying to make a joke.

"Have you ever tried a Wookie-Ookiee?" he then asked, his voice filled with enthusiasm. "They're absolutely amazing. I'm not sure if we could find those here, though." The dig site had felt more like tough labor to him, and it left him desiring something sweet, perhaps even rewarding for his minimal efforts. As he stepped closer to the city, his curiosity piqued, and he turned on his heel to face the girl, tilting his head. “What would you like?”

He was torn between pressing on and waiting for her as he felt a growl in his stomach, his keen eyes noting her slightly lagging pace only moments ago as they left the dig site. Having lived in bigger cities, Lysander knew danger often lurked in every corner. He now felt a need to watch over her, similar to how he did with his friends back home. The feeling quickly surfaced as his thoughts were no longer consumed by the desire to escape his past tasks. Afterall, this idea had been his, and he knew he had been pushy about it. “Maybe we could just explore and look around?”

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

"You're pulling my leg. Everyone has heard of Yum Bunnies. Scantily clad waitresses with Lepi ears. Sports on the holovision. Lots of bar food."

Persephone gave Lysander von Ascania a deadpan look as she explained the restaurant to him. Every young male certainly had heard of Yum Bunnies. Maybe because she was a girl Lysander was playing dumb. Trying to seem cooler and mature and above trying to see cleavage from a hostess in a delightfully tacky restaurant.

"Wookie-Ookie? No. Sounds like something one finds in a mall perhaps? If you want one that might be our best place to go, at the very least there would be knock-offs."

Seemed once one place had some type of signature dessert, another was soon to follow. Or upped the ante in a different direction. Yet the Wookie-Ookie hadn't come across her ZikZok feed but perhaps it was a Core thing. A shrug of her shoulders as they slowly started down the sidewalk. She was hungry and trying to scope out the landscape in an unfamiliar area.

"Just explore? No, I'm fairly hungry. Come on, lets just try to get out bearings. Some of these nicer cities have signs towards certain districts. We can try to find you a Wookie-Ookie or something similar."

 

[Lysander von Ascania]

Persephone Dashiell

As he paused, his brow furrowed in deep thought, wondering if Yum Bunnies was one of those establishments that seemed to pop up on Holo-displays. They typically promoted some type of indulgence. He then tried to wrap his mind around the images conjured by Persephone's description. A light blush crept onto his cheeks–a mixture of embarrassment and but also a hint of intrigue. It certainly wasn’t the training grounds or the Jedi library he was accustomed to; it felt like a world far beyond that. “It kind of sounds like a corner of the galaxy I’ve yet to visit,” he said with a simple shrug of his shoulders. “But if that’s what you’re after, I don’t mind going.”

Another suggestion was the mall, which realistically, seemed like the safest option. There would be many different cuisines to choose from all under one roof. It carried a certain allure, too, as he oddly enough enjoyed shopping. However, glancing down at the white tunic covered in dirt, he wasn’t keen on presenting himself in such a state before so many people. And though he wouldn’t admit it out loud, he didn’t want to settle for a cheaply made clone of the original Wookie-Ookie either. “I’m not sure I want to walk through a mall right now. I mean, look at me, I have the appearance of a dirty smuggler.”

As he strode beside her along the sidewalk, he gazed about, absorbing every detail of the new scenery. At this point, the thought of indulging in anything felt irresistible. He found himself feeling adaptable. A sense of freedom washed over the boy since leaving the dig site. “I’m open to just about anything!”

“What's your favorite food, Persephone?” he then asked with genuine curiosity.

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

"Oh, right." Persephone paused and she looked around, her eye catching a sign. "Don't worry. I know where we can go now. Just trust me. As for my favorite food, Juna berries. Or any fresh berry. The juna berries though? They take the prize. What about you? That cookie, right? The wookie thing?"

Waiting for his answer, she took the lead in figuring out where they would go, walking slightly in front of him to direct. As she suspected, signs were pointing her to a market district. Where there was a market, there were food vendors. Lysander von Ascania and his dirty tunic would stand out there less, just throngs of workers and everyday shoppers getting goods.

SHAWKEN MARKET
​

Persephone navigated them with ease to the market, following the signs. A true city kid, she didn't even have to consult the HoloNet for directions or any sort of landmarks. They were deposited into an open-air bazaar full of goods of all sorts. From raw meats, crafts and fabrics, spices, to speeder parts and jewelry. Also what they came for ; street food vendors. Smells wafted across the streets and her eyes looked around for her first target to try.

"How's this? We both can try a few things...I really want to try this candied fruit I saw on ZikZok. Sure someone has it..."

 

[Lysander von Ascania]

Persephone Dashiell

He was immediately struck by how unfamiliar it felt for someone else around his age to lead, since he was typically the one guiding Padawans or younglings in their quests for adventure or mischief alike. But in the current moment, it didn’t really bother him, especially with his stomach constantly growling and her shared eagerness to find food. “Wookie-Ookie,” he corrected with a smile still lingering on his lips. “I suppose Juna berries aren’t too bad, though I wouldn’t have guessed that.”

Lysander could smell the savory aroma of meats mingling with the sweeter scents of different fruits. Strong spices also stood out, though most were more exotic than familiar to his senses. For a second, he paused, glancing over at the jewelry vendor. Necklaces and bracelets sparkled, though they were nothing compared to the urgent need to satisfy his current craving. A single word then quickly cut through his mind.

ZikZok.

“Oh no, you're one of those,” he murmured. The Padawan then rolled his eyes and gave a subtle shake of his head in disappointment. The mention of candied fruits did sound appealing however. “I like your idea. There's so much to choose from here,” he continued, shifting his gaze and quickly scanning over the closest vendors.

Another thought flickered through his mind, the possibility that he could potentially cover the costs of his meal and perhaps even hers, should she lower her defenses long enough. Surely it was a more effortless option than bickering before a waiter in a restaurant.

A heartbeat later he quickly darted over to a vendor selling giant space waffles with a side of muja sauce. He had seen these on Coruscant before. With a stealthy move, he had already pulled out a credit chip from his trousers for a quick exchange. He grabbed the waffle, wrapped partially in thin paper, and took a small container of the complimentary dipping sauce. Spinning on his heel and returning quickly to Persephone, he inhaled the rich aroma before him. "Mm. It smells so good." Given that his hands were still dirty, he made a small gesture with his head towards it. “Have you tried these before? I bet you'll like it!” His voice was energetic.

Though he kept it to himself, Lysander felt that this was also an attempt to make amends for some of his words to her earlier.