Private Homeward Bound

[Ishana Pavanos]

Pavanos Family Estate
Balmorra, Galactic Alliance Space

Never let it be said that Ishana Yasmirah Pavanos didn't love her wife. She sat on the edge of the bed simultaneously pulling her shirt on, and getting a quick glance at the chrono on the nightstand. "I think Xarielle said she was coming back with her... Master? Jedi Master?" Ishana glanced over her shoulder toward her wife, the Balmorran turned her attention to pulling on her pants. The sixty-four-year-old swept her black and gray, peppering hair out of her face as she stood up. The family estate would welcome the return of one of Ishana's daughters, the former Imperial fighter pilot turned to look at her wife. ​

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Ishana knelt on the bed, her hands against the mattress as she leaned down to give her wife a kiss, and then another. "I suppose we should have timed ourselves better and gotten an earlier start." It was her fault really, she was doing her best to finish up on the outside deck that delayed their start. "Also, was it just me, or was there a mumbling, hissing noise coming from one of the bedroom curtains?"​

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Likely, Darth Daiara and their own grumbling, but Ishana just wanted to be sure. Xarielle Pavanos was arriving home today and mentioned that her master Valery Noble would be along as well. Pushing herself off the bed, the brunette asked her wife, "how do I look?" As she was still tucking in her shirt, "I think my belt fell... over... here." She commented whilst searching the floor for the old Iron-clad Sith Empire sigil belt, genuine banatha leather to boot. "And I'll just put these in the hamper, how much longer do we have?"​

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Not long from the sound of it, "right, okay I'll go and greet them at the landing pad while you, get ready." Ishana waited as Kaalia rose from the bed before giving her another kiss, and then another, "mhmmm - see, we can't start this again," a slight chuckle as there was yet another kiss, "what do you mean it's my fault?" Ishana broke their deep kiss and stepped away. "I'm gonna just throw this into a ponytail and uh, yeah."​

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Xariah Pavanos​

 

[Kaalia Pavanos]

Ishana Pavanos | Valery Noble | Darth Daiara

Spending more quality time with her wife had been one of the many upsides of retirement from the galactic stage. Now that the life of a Sith was firmly in her rear view, it was difficult for Kaalia to imagine why she had not decided to leave it all behind earlier. Currently, however, that was not even an afterthought. She was much too busy admiring her wife. The woman did not attribute much in her life to chance, but meeting Ishana was certainly the luckiest event of her life.

"She's been vague about it, but master seems most likely," Kaalia responded while stretching. While Ishana tended to get out of bed quickly when it was time to, Kaalia was much slower about it. A kiss was shared, which quickly turned into multiple kisses. "It affects me more than you," Kaalia jokingly responded, even if it was true. She took much more time to get ready than her wife did, who often simply threw on some clothes and called it good. Kaalia herself was much more careful about her presentation, but with the time afforded to her before Xarielle arrived, she had to be quicker about it.

"Not just you, but surely the hissing can put up a friendly face today," Kaalia said a little more loudly than everything else she had said, making it clear that Aradia was supposed to hear that. "They'll be here in fifteen, give or take." Which meant she really had to get out of bed now. While she fully intended to start getting ready right away, Ishana did feel the need to get another kiss or two in. Chuckles came from both parties. "Incredible as always, miala, but we really need to get going." Perhaps bias clouded her judgment. She did not care if that was the case.

"You're the one starting it again," she jested before opening her wardrobe. "Go on ahead, I'll be right there."

 

[Xarielle Pavanos]

"Thanks for coming with me," Xarielle said with gratitude as the shuttle began its descent. The young Jedi was grateful to see her homeworld once again. "It's been way too long," the look of longing on her face, the look of someone who had been away from home a little too long. "You're gonna love my parents, they're great, and hey - just because my moms' darkside doesn't mean we get to lay waste to the family estate, okay?"​

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A playful yet stern warning toward her ... mentor? Master? Xarielle wasn't sure if Valery was her Jedi Master - it wasn't like they had agreed to any such arrangement. "So, the estate is pretty big, we have access to the ocean and then there's a road to town, and then the service entrance for things like food and such." She leaned back into her seat and listened as the pilot announced that they'd be landing soon. ​

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"We're landing at the pad close to the house, but there isn't one on property. Ma is a bit paranoid about people wanting to murder them," she explained, "not that I can blame her, given their history." A Sith and her Imperial wife living in Alliance space had plenty of reasons to be paranoid. The property slowly came into view and Xarielle excitedly pointed out her ma, Ishana. "Ma is on her way, see that's her," and Xarielle figured that Kaalia Pavanos wasn't there because, "mom must still be getting ready."​

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Once the shuttle landed, the door opened and the ramp lowered. Xarielle stepped out of her seat, and opened up the overhead compartment to grab her things. She was quick to exit the shuttle, "ma!"​

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Xarielle thought her Ma would topple over, but luckily the old Imperial managed to hold her ground. "Hey, welcome home, oh man - you workin' out?"​

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A shake of her head, Xarielle stepped back and looked over toward Valery. "Oh, Ma this is... uh Jedi Master Noble."​

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"A pleasure to meet you finally, Master Noble," greeted Ishana as she extended a hand out toward Valery.​

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Valery Noble | Darth Daiara ​

 

[Darth Daiara]

"I cannot believe you're letting this happen." Aradia's lithe figure stepped into the doorframe once she and Kaalia were alone. It had been several years since Kaalia's retirement and step down as Aradia's master and the girl was no longer a child. It had taken time, but the two had slowly grown to find a new rhythm. Aradia did not need to call her mom to feel like she was family.

And you didn't let family walk into trouble.

"A jedi. You're letting Xarielle become a jedi? Is she dense? We're in hiding from them. They took our home. Tell me you have a plan here."

Kaalia Pavanos

 

[Valery Noble]

Appearance: Link
Outfit: Factory Link
Weapon: Lightsaber
Tag: Xarielle Pavanos Ishana Pavanos Kaalia Pavanos Darth Daiara

"Why did I agree to this again?"

Valery looked at Xarielle after the warning and let out a soft sigh. This was a highly unusual visit for her to make, and one she still wasn't entirely sure about either. One of her parents was once Sith, and even though that meant she had left behind that way of life, Valery was still not exactly fond of the prospect of meeting to just talk. But she had a hard time saying no to Padawans, and she had grown quite fond of Xarielle especially, so she had agreed to it.

The woman's eyes then turned out through the window as they approached the landing pad, where one of Xarielle's parents was already waiting. Judging by the way she felt in the Force, it wasn't the ex-Sith, but that likely just made it a bit easier to get adjusted to all of this.

"Look, I'll promise that I won't cause any trouble, but you do understand why this is... strange to me, right?" she asked as a final thing before the shuttle would begin its descent.

After landing, Xarielle was quick to run out and greet her mother, but Valery exited slowly and looked around the area while she walked over to catch up with the excited Padawan, "A pleasure to meet you as well, Mrs. Pavanos," Valery said in return as she accepted the offered hand and shook it gently.

"Thank you for receiving us here as well, I understand it's likely not the easiest decision for your family either."

 

[Ishana Pavanos]

"You're right, it isn't, but..." Ishana's voice trailed off a soft enough smile, warm - but still, it concealed the worry that the Balmorran had, "Xarielle reassured us that you wouldn't give us away, so I trust, you'll keep our secret." An even tone to Ishana's voice she gestured toward the manor below the landing pad. "Right this way Master Noble, Xarielle - you should probably go down and make sure your mom and siblings are ready."​

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Without hesitation, the padawan went ahead of the pair. ​

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"Balmorra has always been our home, the Pavanos family has lived here for generations," began Ishana explaining to the Jedi Master the importance of the secret, "we were run off our lands by the Sith Empire when they came for the Free Worlds Coalition. When we returned to our home, we sore that never again would we vacate our lands." Even at five-foot-three, Ishana spoke with confidence that perhaps was only found with Imperials. "I'll be honest with you, we're not entirely fond of Jedi, but my wife has been adamant that it be our children's decisions to choose their own path."​

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As they walked along the path, the groves of olive trees on either side of them, orange trees off in the distance, a vineyard elsewhere while orchards still farther away. The sounds of livestock could be heard, "we grow our own food, contribute to markets here, it is a quiet living and we'd rather keep it that way." Hair pulled back, the Imperial's gray and black peppered hair left her looking as distinguished as a former Air Marshal might. "Our entire family lives here on this land, my sisters, their husbands, and children." An indication that other civilizations lived on the estate, and another subtle warning to not give away the secret of the Pavanos family.​

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"Xarielle tells me she met you on Ilum," a quick change in subject, and Ishana didn't bother to look toward the Jedi Master. Instead, she kept her focus on the manor ahead of them, "said you guided her toward the path she's on now." Ishana wasn't sure if she should thank the Jedi or smack her. Yet, she promised to behave herself, "but she also says she's felt, unsure of herself since then. Her heritage as a child of a Sith seems to loom over her head as a storm lingers across the ocean."​

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Valery Noble | Darth Daiara | Kaalia Pavanos ​

 

[Kaalia Pavanos]

Darth Daiara | Ishana Pavanos | Valery Noble

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And there, indeed, was the source of the hissing. Kaalia was still getting dressed when Aradia entered the room, about to put on a blouse while a jacket laid waiting on the bed. Her daughter's first comment was met by a sigh, though Kaalia did turn towards her. "I wish I could take your worries off of your shoulders."

Though Kaalia had just grabbed her hair brush and was about to turn towards the mirror, she stopped when Aradia voiced her concerns in quick succession. None of it was too much of a surprise to hear, but that did not make it any easier to reassure Aradia that things would turn out fine.

"Aradia, dear... I know this looks ridiculous, but I trust your sister. If she says her teacher won't be a threat, I will believe that. That's what family is for." While it was possible Aradia would not agree with it, Kaalia was more than prepared to turn herself in as long as the rest of the family was left alone in the event more Jedi ended up on their doorstep. "And Xarielle is simply following her heart, like I let you do. If she wants to be a Jedi, then she should be." Even if Kaalia had her concerns. It was not just Jedi she less-than-stellar, though- she had become weary of most, if not all, organized Force traditions.

"Despite the sleepless nights, I'm not stopping you from being a Sith either. The both of you are old enough to make your own decisions, and you can leave the worrying to me." And worry she did more than enough of. Both for her children, and the day ahead. All she could hope for was for her concerns to be misplaced.

A quick look at the time showed that her daughter was most likely already here. "Just give Rielle's teacher a chance, okay? People are more than just their titles, Jedi included. We'll visit the ice cream parlor afterwards, but I do have to finish getting ready now. They'll be here any moment." With that, Kaalia turned towards the mirror and started brushing her hair.

 

[Xarielle Pavanos]

Xarielle sighed when Valery Noble asked why she was there, and answered plainly, "to help eliminate my self-doubt and worry about my path as a Jedi." She paused shortly before disembarking, "and because I'm not sure if I can ever really be a Jedi, y'know part of why I haven't really shown up to any major... event." Lips pursed in a thin line.​

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After greeting her ma, Xarielle was sent down to the house to make sure her family was ready. "Mom?" Xarielle called out as she entered the manor, she adjusted the duffle bag on her shoulder. "Gideon? Aradia? Riah?" One by one she called out her siblings, "Azarin?" Always the quiet one, "Gid! You're here."​

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"Unfortunately," commented Gideon with a sardonic tone, "I want you to know that I postponed my trip to Carida's Imperial Heritage Museum for this."​

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Xarielle rolled her eyes, "oh you mean the museum that both you and ma have memberships too? Cause you guys are part of the Imperial Heritage Society." ​

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"... Yes, so where's this mystical Jedi Master of yours?"​

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"Outside with ma, and aren't you going to give me a hug?"​

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"Force, no, gross - you can have my undivided attention."​

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"Wow, Gideon, you're so... Generous."​

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Gideon titled his head and smiled, he gave his sister a sarcastic look before leading her down to the living room. "Mom and sisters await, please try not to track dirt on the floor." In his usual, holier-than-thou attitude that would promptly be erased once Xarielle caught up to him and tussled his hair. "UGH! Do you know how long it took me to comb it?"​

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"Mom!" Xarielle rushed to greet as Gideon cursed his sisters and informed everyone he was going to the bathroom to comb his hair. "Aradia, Azarin, great to see you all." Ignoring the comments from Gideon who was also going to double-check that his shirt was wrinkle-free. ​

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Valery Noble | Darth Daiara | Kaalia Pavanos ​

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[Valery Noble]

Appearance: Link
Outfit: Factory Link
Weapon: Lightsaber
Tag: Xarielle Pavanos Ishana Pavanos Kaalia Pavanos Darth Daiara

"A Jedi honors their promises — I will not endanger your family," Valery said with a nod to Ishana. No matter what would happen here, even if they'd get into an argument or a fight, she was going to honor the promise she made Xarielle. Valery then followed after the woman and offered Xarielle a smile when she ran off to find her mother.

"I stand behind allowing children to choose their own paths as well, even if it's... not easy to accept." It was at least one thing they could agree on, Jedi or not. Being a parent always came before your own beliefs, and every kid had the right to figure things out for themselves and make their own decisions.

With a gentle smile, she listened to more of what Ishana explained about their home and way of living, but she stopped when Ilum was brought up, and especially at what she said regarding Valery's role, "I won't argue that my help there may have been a factor in her decision, but I do want to make it clear that I didn't push her down this path."

"I guided her to collect her crystal and build a lightsaber, but every choice has been her own. I offered only my perspective so she could form her own." This was something she clearly felt strongly about — she did not want anybody to believe that she forced someone into being a Jedi in any way shape or form.

"I also understand that she struggles with her heritage, but I made a promise to look after her, and I intend to uphold it."