First Reply Guilty Conscience

[Corazona von Ascania]

Coruscant
Level 1313

Everybody had their vices. Even Jedi, who often held themselves up as paragons of virtue, were not immune to sin.

Ukatis, Mirial, Jedha - one after another, a cruel cycle of violence that never seemed to get them closer to any sort of ending. It weighed on her, and led her here.

Coruscant’s seedy underbelly wasn’t an ideal location by any stretch, but she supposed that her grim surroundings matched the shame that sagged her shoulders. Wearing a "borrowed" hooded sweatshirt she'd pilfered from Makko Vyres , there would be less prying eyes as she skulked down a side street.

It felt odd, to tuck back her hair and shove her hands in her pockets. Even more unsettling was the guilt that roiled in her stomach.

You shouldn't be doing this. This isn't you.

A noble by birth, trained to conduct herself with grace and elegance, she never found places like this easy to be in. When the Order sent her to observe a high-class social gathering - which there seemed to be a lot of - she fared well. It was only natural.

This? This was unnatural. Cora turned a sharp corner back onto the main road, narrowly sidestepping a cigarette butt that was unceremoniously flicked her way from a pair of rough looking Iktotchi. One of them laughed, a vicious, snide sound as she carried on.

The sound didn't follow her, and soon Cora found herself standing in front of a building that had seen better days.

This is it. No turning back.

A cloud of smoke assaulted her as the door slid open. She coughed into her fist, heart pounding and nerves on edge beneath a practiced, even exterior.

Good noblewomen weren't supposed to do things like this at the risk of tarnishing their reputation.

Her feet carried her forward while her mind still lingered outside the door. She was now stood in front of an enormous Gamorrean who glared down at the small, hooded figure. He cleared his throat, visibly irritated by the approach.

Cora swallowed down the lump in her throat

"I'll have…" She squinted up at the menu board, "…the double Bantha burger combo meal with extra cheese. And a small…"

Cora frowned. Either go big or go home right?

"And a medium order of fries. Please."

The Gamorrean grunted, pudgy fingers punching in her order. Pleased, Cora stepped to the side and awaited the arrival of her guilty pleasure: McYodas.

 

[Dreidi Xeraic]

Location: Coruscant 1313
Outfit: Casual
Companion: Grisial
Tag: Corazona von Ascania

"Thanks for the great show folks!" Dreidi called out after finishing a short little musical show at a dive bar. Coruscant was usually great for Dreidi to sing and play some guitar. It was one of her favourite things about the city world. The ability to play in a busy bar several songs and just feel the joys of those around her.

Placing her guitar back into her case, Dreidi placed a hand on top and smirked to Grisial, "plenty of cheers tonight buddy. Seems like we did a great job and we even got to turn down the cash that the bar staff offered us. People wanted to pay for my performance!"

Dreidi turned it down mostly because she didn't need the money and she played music for the love of it, not for financial gain. It also risked her having to step her game up and turn music into a career if she started accepting money from the gigs she did. She did let the bar keep the cash as extra tips for the staff, a way to keep the bartenders happy with the night.

Walking through the streets of Coruscant, Dreidi was wandering around casually and humming the final song she played as it lingered in her mind. As they walked, Grisial started following a scent, someone familiar or something familiar as he began tracking them through the streets slowly. Dreidi followed curiously as she wasn't sure who the Vulptex could be chasing. Tilting her head, she wondered which Jedi might be out on patrol or visiting the lower levels. A few came to mind but nothing truly stuck out as someone Grisial would chase.

When they arrived outside of a McYodas, Dreidi shrugged, she was never a fast food enjoyer. It was usually not pleasant for her taste buds but she was starving after playing a gig. Walking inside, Dreidi placed an order of the fries and grabbed a drink as well. Looking around for where to sit, she sensed someone in the Force. Someone that made her lips grow wide in a smirk.

Oh, now this was going to be hilarious!

Walking over, she placed her guitar case against Corazona's table and slid onto the opposite spot to the noble woman. "Grabbed the burger huh. Must have been a real bad craving!" Dreidi was still smirking with a playful tease to her tone.

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

"Grabbed the burger huh. Must have been a real bad craving!"

Mouth full of burger, Cora stopped mid-chew. Her entire body paused, held in a marionette-like stillness as her heart thundered and her nerves surged.

That voice sent shivers down her spine.

For a few long moments, she regarded Dreidi with a wide-eyed stare of shock. After all the trouble she gone through, all the "care" she'd taken to avoid detection, and someone she knew witnessed her shame.

Cora wanted to cover her face and throw her burger at Dreidi at the same time. Instead, she suppressed the urge, and visibly swallowed down her bite.

"Dreidi- how did you-"

She glanced to Grisial, then back to the witch. Alright, this kind of seemed like her scene. But out of all the McYodas on this level, did she have to come to this one?

Cora took in a deep breath and held it. There was only one thing left to do – one thing she could try, one last ditch attempt to escape this hell of her own creation. Placing down her burger, she waved a hand across Dreidi's face.

"You didn't see me at this McYodas with a double Bantha burger combo meal."

As her arm moved, a fry fell from her sleeve.

 

[Dreidi Xeraic]

Location: Coruscant 1313
Outfit: Casual
Companion: Grisial
Tag: Corazona von Ascania

The shock on Cora's face demonstrated that she did not think she would get caught eating the junk food that she was currently demolishing. Dreidi smirked and she leaned back in the chair and shrugged, clearly not bothered about seeing her friend in this position. Grisial tilted his head, unsure what he was meant to make out of this situation. He knew people needed to eat food like he did, that people ate food like this but he never knew that people could feel ashamed about eating food. He tilted his head confused as he attempted to understand this humanoid behaviour that was completely new to him.

"Grisial, Cora is embarrassed because she thinks noble people should not be at food places like this. A bit of food snobbery backfiring." Dreidi poked her tongue out at Cora as she teased her friend about being here. When Cora attempted to state she was not here and Dreidi saw nothing, Dreidi was already attempting to take a camera out and capture a picture of Cora.

"Huh? Stay still, you don't want a bad photo and being caught at the McYodas!" Dreidi giggled deeply, leaning forward, she didn't really attempt taking a picture. "Look, you are just hungry, fancied something not healthy and that is fine Cora. You are allowed to eat where you want, when you want. Shaming yourself is only going to do more harm than good." Dreidi ate a couple of fries as she watched Cora, curious about the difference they held. How different Dreidi might have been if she was born on Veradune and raised a noble like her cousins. Instead she had a much different upbringing.

After munching a few more fries, "also, why McYodas? If you are gunna devour junk food, go with a small local business, not the chain restaurants." Dreidi was curious on what experiences she had at junk food like this.

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Cora's mind trick fell flat. She assumed that it had something to do with how uncomfortably greasy her lips felt.

"Wh-! Don't you dare!"

Leaping out of her seat, Cora was quick to throw her hand over the camera of Dreidi's holopad. Really, she didn't know which was worse – being admonished for eating at a fast food restaurant, or being teased about it.

At least her friend wasn't the type to lecture. Collapsing back into the booth with a huff, Cora took a page from Dreidi Xeraic and started in on her own order of fries. She did have a point about shame being harmful. Her shoulders were already struggling beneath the weight of her complicated feelings regarding the Ukatis debacle.

A burger now and then never killed anyone.

"I...don't know actually."

Having dipped a fry in ketchup, Cora paused in thought before she continued. "Perhaps it is the allure of the forbidden. Had this happened on Ukatis, I would've been all but shunned." No one on Coruscant really cared, though. Junk food wasn't much of a taboo, and most Jedi were too busy with their own lives to worry about someone skulking off to buy fries.

"Perhaps, despite its subpar quality and questionable preparation, I think it tastes...good."

With that resolution, Cora found her resolve and picked up her burger once more. Another bite, chew, and swallow. She dabbed at her lips with a napkin, comically delicate.

"Wait- what are you doing here, Dreidi?"

Jedi Knights weren't forbidden from the lower districts, but they still needed a good reason to be out and about.

 

[Dreidi Xeraic]

Location: Coruscant 1313
Outfit: Casual
Companion: Grisial
Tag: Corazona von Ascania

Using the Force, Dreidi kept the holopad out of Corazona's reach. "Hey! Don't get your greasy fingers on my holopad!" Poking her tongue out to show her comments were far from serious.

Tilting her head and shrugged, "well, perhaps you need to change that mindset. Be the change you wish to see on Ukatis?" Dreidi mentioned, she didn't like the idea that Cora would have been shunned by family and friends for simply having a poor taste in burgers and fries. Minor teasing was fine, if anything Dreidi would encourage that, but she would never ostracize someone over it.

"So, beside it being terrible, it's good?" Dreidi chuckled deeply, "well, that is true love if I have ever heard it. Loving it in spite of all the flaws." Dreidi smirked and finished her fries.

When Cora asked what she was doing here, "well, at this restaurant in particular, I think Grisial caught your scent and followed it here. In general, I was playing a gig at a dive bar and needed some food and a drink afterwards."

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Maybe shunned was a bit dramatic.

"It is terrible, and also good." She confirmed. Perhaps if she said it out loud, it would make more sense?

Cora picked up a fry, swirling it in ketchup. Ah, so it was Grisial who's given her up. The little…well, she couldn't bring herself to be upset with the fox.

It was hard to be upset with a mouth full of fries as it was.

"A gig at a dive bar." Cora repeated thoughtfully. Makko had taken her to a few of those early on in their relationship. While she'd always appreciated how he'd shared a part of his world with her, it had never quite been her scene.

"I didn't know you played." She tilted her chin towards the guitar case on the seat next to Dreidi. "How'd tonight go?"

Dreidi Xeraic

 

[Dreidi Xeraic]

Location: Coruscant 1313
Outfit: Casual
Companion: Grisial
Tag: Corazona von Ascania

"Like I said, true love. I'll just have to avoid telling Makko that your heart truly belongs to McYodas." Dreidi chuckled as she finished her fries and cleaned her fingers with a napkin.

Nodding her head, "I am not really aiming to play at big events or stages, too much pressure and I fear it is something that I would have to pursue as a career. Instead, I enjoy playing at a few dive bars, play for the locals, raise some spirits, connect with people that I would not usually connect with." Dreidi shrugged as she just enjoyed the ability to play her music without the pressures of ensuring filling out a stadium or selling albums.

"Oh yeah, I've been playing since I was a teenager on Naboo." Dreidi answered, "I learnt to play as a way to express myself and control my vocal chords." Dreidi as a Padawan was naturally gifted with Force Scream and Force Bellow, powers connected to the Dark Side of the Force but for her to ensure that she did not burst out of control or destroy a room out of frustration, she trained herself to control her vocal chords and learned more on the Force powers to find a control and balance.

Now she never feared about losing control and using those powers.

"It was a good show, played a few songs, gave the bartenders the money that a few patrons gave me for the performance." Dreidi beamed, she was pleased with how it went and was excited to play again.

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

"Please do. He would never let me live it down."

She could already see Makko's smug, teasing grin from the corner of her mind's eye.

The topic turned to Dreidi's performance, and Cora felt that she was almost picking up on something new about her friend.

"It's good to have a hobby like that - I'd imagine that making it big could take the fun out of it."

Not that she doubted Dreidi's ability to do so, if she wished. Some people found enjoyment in chasing stardom, but it seemed like the witch was more content to share her music with others through smaller, less high-pressure venues.

"Is…there something up with your vocal cords?"

Her tone had been conversational, but now it was a bit more careful.

Dreidi Xeraic

 

[Dreidi Xeraic]

Location: Coruscant 1313
Outfit: Casual
Companion: Grisial
Tag: Corazona von Ascania

"I'm sure he wouldn't but I always find that if you lean into the joke it can soften the blow and stun the person enough to counter them." Dreidi commented as a way to help Cora at least be able to fight back with her own witty banter.

Nodding her head, "I heard the best way to ruin a hobby is to turn it into a job. Ends up sucking the job and comfort a hobby brings." Dreidi wasn't too bothered by not pursuing a musical career but there were plenty of times she would daydream about the opportunity. See what it could bring and what she would do with the chances that it afforded her. Though she suspected she viewed the dreams with big rose-tinted glasses that completely missed the pitfalls and problems with such an ambitious career.

"Oh..um..." Dreidi wasn't sure how best to explain it, when she had tried years ago it hadn't been a productive conversation. "When I first started seriously training as a Padawan, back on Naboo when I was under the CIS. I discovered that I was naturally talented with the Dark Side abilities Force Scream and Force Bellow." Dreidi admitted, not wishing to hide anything from her friend, "I learnt that doing vocal training could help control the abilities to avoid further outbursts and also limit any harm they do to my vocal chords."

Taking a sip from her drink, "also, singing in general, for performance purposes can wear on the vocal chords so practising them and strengthening them only helps avoid losing my voice for any length of time."

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Leaning into the joke wasn't the easiest thing for Cora, especially when it came to Makko, but she hummed in agreement. Begrudgingly.

At least they agreed when it came to the topic of hobbies and work. With the state the galaxy was in and the war looming over Coruscant, it was important to be able to disconnect from it all and practice something you enjoy. Cora preferred to sketch, but she lacked any particular artistic skill. Best to stick with writing.

Dreidi's mention of having an innate talent for certain Dark side abilities gave Cora pause. Literally, teeth hovering over her burger. She stayed like that for a few seconds before she took an actual bite, chewing, then swallowing.

"That's a very creative way to learn to control something that could be destructive." While wiping her hands on a napkin, Cora couldn't help but wonder what kind of outbursts had occurred, but she wouldn't pry further into what she imagined was a sensitive subject. There were some Jedi that were completely intolerant of anything Dark, going so far as to excommunicate – or worse – those who've made mistakes or who've had trouble with control.

In that way, Cora considered herself very fortunate that Valery and Kahlil weren't so rigid.

"I know that some Jedi imbue their voice with the Force in order to be heard over long distances. It's not something I've tried, but do you do something like that while singing? Or just, no Force at all?"

Dreidi Xeraic

 

[Dreidi Xeraic]

Location: Coruscant 1313
Outfit: Casual
Companion: Grisial
Tag: Corazona von Ascania

She nodded her head, "it was terrifying at first because I feared that it meant I was meant to be a bad person or that I was born to cause destruction and harm, but I had a lot of help to understand that was not the case and that I was still able to choose the type of person I wanted to be." Dreidi had been young when she discovered her innate skills and thought it was the will of the Force for her to use Dark Side powers, luckily she had been able to see past that and not fall to corruption.

"I don't, I want my singing to come from my own skills and not reliant on the Force." Dreidi mentioned, she wasn't looking down at those who did use it for singing, it just wasn't her preference. "Perhaps I can convince you to come visit a dive bar and hear me play sometime. Though the scandals of such a noble Jedi being in a dive bar might be too much for you." Dreidi poked her tongue out at Corazona teasingly.

Pausing for a moment, she leaned back and watched Corazona, "how are you finding Knighthood? Got a Padawan of your own yet?" Dreidi asked, it had been a while since she had last hung out with her friend and she was wanting to be updated on everything that happened.

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Dreidi had been born with a naturally Dark-coded affinity - Cora hadn't know that.

"I can only imagine the type of work it took to overcome such a predisposition." A gentle smile pulled at her now de-greased lips. "Nothing is ever quite set in stone, is it?"

There was probably a lesson in there about not letting expectations from other people define you, something that had rattled Cora's life in a big way.

The mention of her in a dive bar had a blonde eyebrow arching. Seedy establishments were not out of the realm of a Jedi on assignment, but to go to one willingly?

"Perhaps," she relented, "if they serve wine."

Then, Dreidi asked about her Knighthood and any potential students. "It's going well, all things considered. I teach a few classes and proctor some of the exams for younger students. I haven't been assigned a Padawan of my own yet, no."

Cora's brow crinkled in thought - she wasn't sure that she wanted to have a dedicated student of her own yet, moreover if she could actually offer them anything.

"How about you? Any Padawans under your wing?"

Dreidi Xeraic

 

[Dreidi Xeraic]

Location: Coruscant 1313
Outfit: Casual
Companion: Grisial
Tag: Corazona von Ascania

Nodding her head, "yeah. It was a rough period in my life. My father hadn't long passed either so I was dealing with a lot of grief and unknowns." Not to mention the absence of her own mother during it all. Life came all at once for Dreidi, there was never small steps. It always felt like there were giant leaps.

"Oh, so capable of eating a McYodas but a beer is a step too far for you?" Dreidi teased with a smirk on her lips, "well, I wouldn't trust they would have any wine that is worth drinking. At least with your taste buds." Dreidi figured that Cora had a high standard for what was acceptable wine for drinking and no dive bar was going to afford those costs.

At least from Dreidi's experiences they wouldn't be able to cope.

Listening, teaching classes and helping students with exams was great work. Dreidi had done a lesson or two herself, but taking on a Padawan was a whole different challenge. Something she was starting to learn herself, "I have done the same, occasional classes and helping others develop skills and understanding of other Force based cultures."

"A newcomer came to the temple not too long ago. Her name is Voli, and wants me as her mentor. So taking the first steps to having a Padawan. Super daunting. Kind of terrifying since I don't want to disappoint or be boring." Dreidi scratched the back of her head nervously.

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Cora was nodding along, but when Dreidi mentioned her father's passing, her expression creased into one of silent sympathy.

Their conversation shifted back to something more teasing, and Cora scoffed at the mention of drinking beer. She stomached a shandy once early in her relationship with Makko, but found a sip of his beer to be revolting.

"I'd rather drink bog water."

While Dreidi relayed her experiences with teaching, Cora finished the last quarter of her burger. When she'd first joined the Jedi, she hadn't been aware of any Force traditions other than the Jedi and Sith.

"You're anything but boring, Dreidi." Cora chuckled quietly before attempting an encouraging smile. "I can understand not wanting to disappoint someone. Especially when they are your student and you're suddenly responsible for not only their education, but helping to shape them as a Jedi."

It was a monumental task. Cora had no idea how Master Noble juggled raising her family while dealing with glowstick-wielding teenagers.

"What is Voli like?"

Dreidi Xeraic

 

[Dreidi Xeraic]

Location: Coruscant 1313
Outfit: Casual
Companion: Grisial
Tag: Corazona von Ascania

Dreidi giggled when Cora said that she would rather drink bog water. "Well, you just haven't had any good beers clearly! Bet Makko drinks the cheap stuff!" Dreidi smirked and gave a wink to her friend before feeling a blush creep onto her cheeks.

"Thanks... Means a lot coming from someone with much more interesting and varied life than myself. I mean, you basically adopted by the Nobles. That's pretty awesome, on top of being a princess..." Dreidi tilted her head, "are you still technically a princess or did they take that back after the incident?" Curious since she wasn't sure if Cora was still an actual princess or just had the air of one.

Though having the air of a princess was like 90% of being one, at least Dreidi assumed that was how it worked.

"She's interesting. Has a dangerous curiosity of the Dark Side and not necessarily sure she is becoming a Jedi for the right reasons. But I see potential and I think she could turn out great." Dreidi shrugged, "it's still early days though, so we shall see. Perhaps I will be the greatest mentor the galaxy has ever seen. Or the worst, could go either way."

Dreidi chuckled, hiding some of her fears behind the joke. She just hoped she won't fail Voli.

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Dreidi Xeraic

Cora clicked her tongue. There is no such thing as good beer, she wanted to insist.

Through her straw, she sipped her cola as dainty as one could before Dreidi's question gave her a sudden pause. "I'm...not certain, actually." Her eyes drifted over the witch's shoulder, focusing on some unseen point in the distance before drifting back to Dreidi.

"I was stripped of any sort of governing power – not that I had much to begin with – before I was exiled. I broke my exile during the Enclave's invasion, and several times since then, but I suppose that the King had more to worry about than taking my head."

At least, that was what she hoped – perhaps she was just getting cocky, testing the waters. There had been some static around her returning to Ukatis coordinate relief efforts, but the Ascania Family Fund had done well enough that even the finicky court couldn't complain too much.

"I wasn't publicly denounced, so I suppose that I still hold the title in a more...social context. But I won't be hosting any galas or digging into the royal treasury anytime soon." She went back to sipping her cola, aware that it probably wasn't a satisfactory answer – at least, to her.

The topic turned to Dreidi's apprentice's curiosity of the Dark, and Cora's brows furrowed. "I see. Why do you think she wants to become a Jedi?"

 

[Dreidi Xeraic]

Location: Coruscant 1313
Outfit: Casual
Companion: Grisial
Tag: Corazona von Ascania

"I get it. I think I have a noble title more in words than actuality." Dreidi mentioned, she knew something about her mother's side of her family held royal status on Veradune but Dreidi was not one to seek out further understanding of such titles nor what it provided her. She lived a comfortable enough life already and she was content with simply being a Jedi and a Witch of Dathomir. She did not need any more titles and she definitely did not need any more responsibilities.

Shrugging, "well, galas are overrated anyways! Much nicer to have a smaller house party with people you actually enjoy seeing!" Dreidi smirked and nudged her friend, hoping to reassure Cora that there was nothing wrong with living life away from nobility. "And you can still state yourself as princess and laud over your nobility over me. Since no one has taken it away." Poking her tongue out at Cora once again.

When asked why Voli became a Jedi, Dreidi frowned and contemplated it for a few moments. "Honestly, I think she found the temple easier to get to than finding transport to where the Sith hide." Dreidi stated, "she just wants to train as a Force User, be recognised as one and I fear there is a hunger for power." There were concerns since Voli was not the traditional sorts for a Jedi but then, few saw Dreidi as the traditional look of a Jedi.

"But I think that could be surface level as well with her. The mindset she is projecting and convincing herself is true. The longer she trains, the more a deeper truth and reasoning for becoming a Jedi will come out, or she will struggle to maintain a want to be a Jedi and leave." Dreidi hoped that Voli would stick with the former and there was a true reason for becoming a Jedi than the latter. "Best I can do is show what it means to be a Jedi and temper her expectations."