Private In the Dark

[Voli Cholrass]

Location: Jedi Temple, Jedi Temple Dormitory

Current Outfit


Voli lay on her bed, her earbuds stuck firmly in her ears, she closed her eyes taking in the lyrical incantation performed by the vocalist. Voli laid flat on her back, her white hair spread across the mattress. Voli's purple eyes dully staring at the ceiling which was illuminated by the custom purple lights that she created. On her stomach lay the Sith Holocron that she took to the Jedi Temple. Ever since it fell in her possession two years ago, Voli had spent most of her time trying to open it. She could hear whispers coming from the Holocron spoken in a tongue of a long-lost language. Voli had done an extensive amount of research on Sith lore and Dark Side artifacts, but she still couldn't find a way to open this specific Holocron. Now that Voli was in the Jedi Temple, she had access to information that she couldn't get on the Holonet. Unfortunately, the type of knowledge that she sought was restricted to Jedi Masters. Sighing, Voli's eyes scanned her room while she used the Force to gently lift the Holocron.

It didn't take long for Voli to transform her dorm room from the plain and drab Jedi aesthetic to a darker, edgier tone that she was accustomed to. It was the final piece that made Voli completely comfortable at her new home. Though Voli struggled to make friends, it wasn't anything new. It's not like Voli was swimming in friends back at school and though Voli built a dedicated fanbase with her horror Holoblog, she didn't establish a parasocial relationship compared to many influencers in the Holonet. She valued her privacy keeping her personal life at an arm's length from her fans. All she wanted to talk about was the occult, magick, and the dark. Just then, a loud knocking was heard breaking Voli's concentration, the Holocron dropped on her stomach and Voli scrambled to place the Holocron in her bag located under her bed.

"I'm coming!" Voli rushed to her door straightening her hair and opening the door. "May I help you?" Voli asked the stranger.


Teynara Jeralyr

 

[Teynara Jeralyr]

| Voli Cholrass |​

As much as a Jedi Temple might seem like a serene place of contemplation and study, the reality of it was far busier than Teynara had really expected. Certainly there were moments of quiet meditation, where one could sit, close your eyes and simply allow your thoughts to run free and clear, but far more often, there were classes and lessons to attend, chores to complete, things to read and reflect on. In truth, it often felt like there was no such thing as a spare moment: even at times when there was no directed study or schedule, you would still be doing something to work your way towards becoming a Jedi.

Most mornings now started out the same: a quick cup of stimcaf on waking up, changing into suitable running clothes, then starting out with a run around the Temple grounds to stimulate the body and maintain fitness. Grabbing a quick bite to eat in the refectory, cleaning up and getting changed into the more traditional robes that all Jedi were supposed to wear. Then off to class: philosophy, history, field mechanics, emergency medicine, self-defense...the list of topics was endless, but all fascinating. And yet it's all supplemental: the things that make you a Jedi aren't studied, but absorbed. It's all an internal state of mind with particular external expressions. That one had struck Teynara as odd, but the more she thought about it...the more it made sense.

Walking purposefully through the Temple corridors, the young woman found herself feeling a little tense. She'd just come from a lecture on xenoanthropological ethics - the consideration of how a Jedi was supposed to act towards members of other species, and what to do when encountering a culture you hadn't bumped into before. It had been a draining experience, and Tey had to admit (to herself at least!) that she'd reached her cognitive load by the halfway point. Sometimes you can't take it all in.

Regardless, someone had been missing from the lesson, according to the Master providing the teaching, and Tey had gone to see where that student might be. If someone's sick, I can at least offer to help them get a little better. It was fairly rare for another student to skip a class - not that they were mandatory, of course, and they could dip in and out as they needed to, or as their studies demanded, but even so, it was better to check up on them and see if everything was okay.

Checking the datapad in her hand, the young woman examined the room numbers printed there, corresponding to the doors found in the corridor in which she was standing. The Padawans weren't given large rooms - her own was big enough to accommodate a bed, a small wardrobe for clothing, a desk and chair for study, and a bathroom attached off to one side, but it wasn't filled with amenities or comforts: it was designed to be relatively spartan, a place of ease that would offer few distractions. Most of the rooms here would be of similar design, or so she suspected - in truth, she'd not visited any of the other Padawans in their quarters before, usually seeing them in lessons or in the refectory for dinner.

Approaching the door that her datapad had suggested was correct, she knocked lightly on the door, a rapid triple-tap with her knuckles, designed to get the attention of the person within without being overly demanding. Have to give someone the option of ignoring you, without annoying them by being overly insistent. Their ethics tutor would have enjoyed the consideration, or so she suspected,

A few moments later, the door opened, and the student she had come seeking opened the door, revealing a young woman slightly shorter than Teynara, with long hair of a much paler hue - so much so that it was practically white, to her eyes. Violet eyes contrasted with the light hair, though this was all offset by a dark outfit that seemed something of a departure from the usual Jedi outfit: Teynara herself had chosen a grey tunic with skirt, though the sleeveless robe she wore over the top was a pale blue colour, designed to match her eyes. Clearly we both have very different ideas of what Jedi are supposed to look like, she thought with some amusement.

"I'm sorry to bother you if you're in the middle of studying, but you missed our class this morning," she said calmly by way of response. The young woman before her seemed to have a lot of energy there, so she didn't look sick, even if her pallor was a little on the paler side. "I was worried that you might have fallen ill, or had maybe forgotten. Is everything alright?"

 

[Voli Cholrass]

Current Outfit

Voli was so surprised that somebody recognized her that she didn't realize that she was still wearing her earpods. "I....." the young woman hastily removed her wireless device and tossed them on her bed. "Thanks, I guess? The class was arithmetic, correct? Sorry math and I go hand in hand like a Bantha in a watering hole."

It felt like the time she talked to Zoey Bradiss back when she was in High School. The way she looked at Voli full of eagerness and curiosity was the same way the woman was staring at her now. Voli didn't bother making friends in the Jedi Temple despite the fact she swore to herself that she would do so. It just felt intimidating to go up to a person and make small talk, Voli would freeze up and stutter whenever she tried to interact with another Padawan. Besides, she doubted that anyone would like her...... darker habits.

"I'm fine, I'm still rather new to the Jedi Temple," Voli said. "I only arrived a month ago, it's tough having to adjust after living most of your life in the upper of Courscant," Voli sighed shaking her head. "But I'm quickly getting used to it, it's much better being around you guys than listening to a bunch of rich people talk about how superior they are."

She gave a shrug still not making eye contact with the woman. "I'm just working on some Force exercises my Master gave me," Voli said giving an awkward smile. "Learned more from her than all the teachers combined."

Voli paused she needed address the Rancor in the room. "But I'm just babbling, I haven't talked to anyone here. I'm surprised that you even tracked me down....... May I know your name?"

Teynara Jeralyr

 

[Teynara Jeralyr]

| Voli Cholrass |​

The introductory monologue was delivered at the sort of break-neck pace of the socially awkward, something that Teynara found both amusing and yet something she could empathise with. I suppose we've all been there at one time or another, especially here. Adjusting to life among the Jedi hadn't been easy, and from the sounds of it, that stood true for the other student, too - although missing classes wasn't likely to help with her progression! Easy to get carried away when you've other things to occupy your time, of course.

That being said...Arithmetic? That was yesterday! How long have you been stuck in that room?, Teynara had to wonder, making a mental note of the fact that her fellow Padawan clearly wasn't the best at keeping track of time. More likely she just got her dates mixed up, which is easily done. In truth, even Tey had found herself getting late to classes at moments: thinking she was supposed to be in the Archives when they were instead supposed to gather in the training dojos, or something equally nonsensical. You'd think the Jedi would have a problem with students who couldn't manage their way around a timetable, but luckily, things are a little more relaxed here.

In some respects, Tey had found that problematic: the Jedi had a very odd sense of flexibility with respects to training. You were given the option of attending classes, or you could train with a teacher, or even just study by yourself - the Archives always had a wealth of information that you could access, and as was evidenced by Voli, it was certainly possible to pick up a lesson from a teacher and then spend countless hours working on developing those skills in private. Tey had always preferred a more rigid study schedule, but the flexibility had some upsides: if you weren't feeling up to combat training, you could go and assist in the Medibay, or park in the Archives, or even just walk around the gardens in a contemplative fashion to clear your head.

"It's okay, I'm still new to the Temple, too. It takes some getting used to, that's for sure," she said reassuringly, knowing that it was easy to feel the need to justify yourself at times. "I'm Teynara, though most people just call me Tey, which you can do, too." She flashed a friendly smile, one reflected in the icy-blue of her eyes, which were watching the other student carefully to observe her reactions. Just in case I say something that bothers her. "As for tracking you down...", Tey showed her the datapad that she had in one hand, which had student names alongside their room assignments. "That was honestly the easy part."

It did amuse her that the young woman struggled with Mathematics - in her experience, that was pretty normal for most. It seemed to have been the case for a lot of students that they'd always struggle either with numbers or with words, and since most people could speak, read and write to a reasonable degree, it tended to be numbers that didn't go so well. Teynara didn't have that particular problem - her issue had always been with languages beyond her own, and definitely so with overthinking.

"I am sorry if I'm disturbing you from your studies," she added calmly, recognising that there was nothing more irritating than having someone barge in when you were busy trying to accomplish something. "I haven't gotten to the point of learning much about the Force, so I can't say I can speak from experience, but I always imagined it would be...difficult. I hope it's not proving too much of a struggle!".

 

[Voli Cholrass]

Current Outfit

"It's just so..... expansive," Voli said her body starting to sway back and forth. This Tey is trying really hard to get to know her is she? Then again, she is like Voli, new and is looking for friends. Something that Voli was trying to do before stopping halfway through. "But I need to get out more and explore my horizons."

The young woman chuckled looking up and trying to make eye contact with Tey. Why the hell was this so hard? Maintaining eye contact? Trying not to be a stuttering wreck? Voli wished that she was alone where she can continue to fiddle with the Holocron. "Wait..... how was that easy? Tracking me down?" Voli asked raising an eyebrow. Was Tey stalking her? Was she really that easy to find.

"Don't worry though I'm just trying to take in the temple that's all," Voli said. "It's nice to meet you Tay..... I'm just thinking of getting something from the library. You wanna come with me?"

Teynara Jeralyr

 

[Teynara Jeralyr]

| Voli Cholrass |​

Privately, doing her level best not to let the feeling show on her face, Teynara found herself rather amused. She was usually the slightly-shy one doing her level best to be sociable at times when she didn't really feel that way, and she never could be quite sure what to say when surrounded by others...but it seemed like Voli Cholrass was something of a kindred spirit in that respect. They do say that such things don't survive Jedi training, but we seem to be putting that to the test. You'd think a life of quiet meditation, reflection and work would suit introspective personalities...

Still. There was definitely something not quite right here - whilst Voli was stumbling over her words and conveying her thoughts at a break-neck pace, Teynara had to wonder what it was that she was hiding as a result. She's acting like someone that's been caught doing something they definitely shouldn't, right down to the attempt to relocate the two of us. There was nothing wrong with that, of course: it was quite likely that she was just embarrassed to have missed her class and wanted to try and deflect attention away from it by moving forward instead of backwards, but even so...it was something to file away for later reflection.

"You realise there's a map that shows all our room allocations?", she noted pointedly, brandishing the datapad in her hand which still had it all displayed on the screen. It showed a dark screen with a floor plan of this level of the Temple stamped in white, with each room having a designation code attached to it. When pressed, each one would pop up with the name and rank of the person assigned there - so Voli hadn't been hard to find at all. Teynara manipulated the map momentarily to show her own room assignment. "See? It's uploaded to all the datapads assigned to Jedi in the Temple, so we can find our way around. Saves knocking on doors to work out where someone is, I suppose."

Truth be told, the young woman only knew about it because she'd gotten lost more than a few times in the few weeks since she'd arrived, and one of the Masters assigned to the new trainees had shown her how to find her way around without too much trouble - a necessity when the students were having to travel between dojo to training room to databanks to refectory...anything sort of that, and they'd have been endlessly lost, and endlessly flustered by it, thus not only distracting from their studies but impacting their state of mind in a negative way.

"I do enjoy studying in the Archives," the young woman added conversationally, stepping backwards half a pace to allow the other Padawan to leave her quarters and join her in the corridor, if she felt so inclined. "Did you have something specific that you were looking for? There's always so much information available...it's hard to know where to start, don't you think?"

 

[Voli Cholrass]

Current Outfit

Voli smiled at Tey though a small part of her felt a little guilty about what she just said. It's true that Voli was going to the Library but it wasn't to read but rather explore the hidden areas of the archives. It was said that the Jedi Temple had housed forbidden artifacts deep beneath the library. Voli hoped that she can find information on how to unlock the Sith Holocron somewhere.

"Uh yeah..... I love reading!" Voli blurted out the words tossing a lock of silver hair over her shoulder. "The library is like a second home the first is the theater but..... I think I should go alone come to think of it."

Hastily, Voli walked past Tey wondering why the hell did she even extend an invitation to her in the first place. She knew that she wanted to sneak in and access the forbidden areas. Why compromise yourself to a person who would potentially rat you out to the Masters? Or worse, get in trouble for something that was Voli's idea in the first place. It was too risky and the last thing Voli needed was people getting hurt because of her. But it had been weeks and Voli has yet to make a friend, she had a good feeling about Tey......

"I'll see you later Tey!" Voli said walking while nearly tripping in the process.

Teynara Jeralyr

 

[Teynara Jeralyr]

Voli Cholrass
​

As the other student skipped past her, Teynara whirled around to make sure she could see where Voli was going, inwardly confused about the sudden change in both the other woman's manner, and the fact that the invitation that had been given had been so rapidly rescinded. Something's not quite right here, but that was in-keeping with the impression that Tey had been getting from the outset. Voli seemed on edge in a way that Tey couldn't get her head around: as if she was trying to hide something, and feared discovery.

I can't exactly leave it here: now I've got a problem to solve, as well as someone that might need help, but doesn't want to ask for it. She'd seen that many times before, of course: pride being a barrier in so many ways. People knew they were in trouble, but didn't want to be seen as unable to handle it, or fearing that they might be judged for whatever it was that was causing them trouble. If we all managed to take our ego out of the equation, so many things might be different.

Something tugged at the back of her thoughts as she turned to follow Voli, though, as if something had whispered to her mind and pulled at it...something coming from the room that the other woman had just departed from. The heavy durasteel door had re-sealed itself once Voli had stepped through, so it didn't really look any different from a dozen others in the corridor, but for some reason, she found herself feeling drawn to it. You're being ridiculous, woman. Get a move on!, she chastised herself, wondering why she'd allowed herself to get so distracted, but equally recognising that it wasn't a normal feeling. Odd.

Regardless, it didn't matter – Voli was broadening the distance between them, and Teynara wasn't quite ready to give up on her just yet. After all, if she'd wanted privacy, she'd have stayed in her quarters and found some way to make me leave. That she'd left and headed outward into the more public areas suggested that she wasn't averse to company. Sometimes people run just to see if you'll follow, and that being so, she did.

"You don't have to walk so fast, you know," she remarked, doing her best to catch up. It wasn't so easy with the hem of her skirts whipping around the ankles of her boots, threatening to trip her if her stride became too long. "You also don't have to go alone. Two of us can find things in the Archives faster than one, so maybe I can help with whatever it is you're studying. You're further ahead than I am, so it'd be interesting to see what I've got coming up later on."

It was good an excuse as she could think of to remain with Voli and try to see what was going on inside her head. Teynara couldn't put her finger on why, but something definitely didn't seem right with her.

 

[Voli Cholrass]

Current Outfit

Voli's heart stopped the moment Tey caught up with her, the one moment that she needed to be alone, and a person wanted to walk with Voli to the Jedi archives. Ugh! If only Voli didn't suggest walking together. "I guess," Voli said in a rush. "But I'm going to be in Library all day, I got a lot of things to study! I need to play catch up since I haven't in the temple for long! There are younglings who know more about Force theory than I do!"

Which was true..... to an extent, Voli liked to think that she was knowledgeable in some aspects of the Force. Unfortunately, her interests were esoteric and..... forbidden. Voli always wanted to learn about the unknown and the Force was filled with wonder and mystery. "I don't need help Tey," Voli said walking through the hallway. "Like I said, I know my way inside of a library, it was a place where I can go and be myself in High School. Books filled with dark, gory, fantasy, or just books containing forbidden knowledge of the unknown."

She stopped herself. "But yeah I-I prefer to be alone," Voli stammered. "You know..... because anxiety and all that."

Teynara Jeralyr

 

[Teynara Jeralyr]

| Voli Cholrass |​

Younglings indeed. Voli's assertion that her learning was behind was rather amusing to Teynara, particularly given that she knew far less than the other woman – Voli was what the Jedi referred to as a "Padawan", whereas Tey felt more like a total neophyte, aware that there was so much to learn, but having yet to do so. Still, the foundations are important: you can't learn the Jedi Way if you don't have the right mindset to absorb the lessons required. She was still working on that part, so it amused her that Voli was so frustrated over her own lack of progress. But easy to see why: nobody likes to have a goal so far out of reach.

As for that whole "dark, gory, fantasy" part, Tey admitted that Voli was practically screaming that out for all to see: the dark clothing, the bright white hair, the make-up that made her look so solemn and perhaps even introverted...she didn't want to go as far as thinking of it as cliche, but Voli had definitely given her that impression. And yet, despite all of that, you're here with the Jedi, people who work for light and life. Buried somewhere in there was clearly a desire to be a positive force – but perhaps that scared her, or perhaps it was that the Jedi training methodology made her feel as if she couldn't express her inner self. Easy to feel like we're all on an assembly line sometimes, the Jedi just churning out carbon copies of what they want us to be.

That this was all making Voli feel anxious explained a lot – she was coming across as pretty jittery in some respects, but the fact they were having this conversation at all told Tey that the other woman really wanted to come out of her shell a little...she just felt like a vine cat out of the jungle, uncertain of herself and what she was supposed to do. Although trying to push someone out of their comfort zone doesn't always work so well, but we're both sinking in the same boat here.

"You don't need to feel anxious around me. I promise, I don't bite," Tey noted with a smile. Of course, anxiety often wasn't something a person consciously chose to feel – but, according to what the Jedi had been teaching, emotions were just sensory input. What you did with them was absolutely of your choosing – and, when it came to feeling anxious, you could either run away and hide, or acknowledge the fear and try to work through it. "But I often feel that way around here. It's always so hard to know which way to go, or what we're supposed to be working through, and what we should or shouldn't do. It's hard to navigate."

Still, there was always the possibility that this wasn't Voli's issue – Tey continued to get the feeling that she was hiding something, and perhaps it was simply fear of discovery that was driving that anxiety. But there should no judgment between friends, especially when you've only just met. Whatever it was that Voli was worried that she'd discover...it didn't matter. Everyone was entitled to have different sides to themselves, and she was the last person to be critical of someone else's beliefs, personality or choices. We only really get to decide for ourselves, after all.

"But we can only ever be ourselves, even around other people. I have a sneaky feeling that you're a really interesting person, and I'd like to get to know you better, whatever that might look like," she added earnestly, knowing that she didn't want the other student to feel abandoned and alone, even if that's what she was asking for. After all, sometimes we run away to see if others will follow us, and I'm still here. "Let's face it: you've got personality, and that's more than I can say for some of the students I've met. Some of the teachers, too", she added with a mischievous grin.

 

[Voli Cholrass]

Current Outfit

Voli growled sinking her teeth into her tongue. She spoke too much about herself and Tey seemed to be smart enough to know that there was more to her visit to the Library than meets the eye. Why else was she so hellbent on following her? Perhaps Tey is taking the "good Jedi" approach by killing her with kindness trying to make her confess. "It's a lie," Voli thought. "Tey is trying to get me to confess that I'm looking for Sith knowledge."

"You want to get to know me?!" Voli said looking down on the floor her cheeks heating up. "That's a first." Very few people in High School wanted to know Voli. She was labeled as the weird, quiet kid who liked sitting in the back of class dressed on all black. Voli liked it that way since she can have time to herself and try to find ways to control her powers. Only few people like Zoey Bradiss truly cared for her. Maybe Tey is the same? But there was no way of telling.

"Unless I try," Voli thought. "Master Dreidi Xeraic had taught me the basics how to use the Force to sense people's underlying emotions. If Tey is telling the truth and she's not trying to snitch me out to the Masters, then maybe, just maybe I can open up."

"People back home were more interested in labeling me than knowing me," Voli said continuing to walk down the hall her violet eyes gazing at the large pillars. "Goth, freak, someone who needs to increase their dosage on pills. I didn't mind, it made me look more mysterious that way and I get to have my privacy."

That didn't mean it those japes hurt though, in fact those words hurt more than Voli wanted to admit. Whoever was behind that Stick and Stones chit really needed to be Force Choked because that was a boldfaced lie.

"They all didn't understand my abilities with the Force," Voli continued her tone of voice longing. "But I don't think you want to hear me feeling sorry for myself. One thing I've learned when I arrived at the temple, is that they're other Jedi with far more tragic backstories than this little rich girl. I prefer to handle my problems on my own."

Teynara Jeralyr

 

[Teynara Jeralyr]

| Voli Cholrass |​

There was more than a little bitterness and frustration in Voli's tone as she responded, speaking of what sounded like a difficult childhood – something that Teynara had little means of relating to. I was always the quiet one that listened. I never really had to worry about people judging me for being myself. It sounded like the other student had gone through a lot – and that would certainly have impacted her view of the world. Though it makes you wonder why she would choose to be a Jedi, in service to those who might have mocked and derided her for who she is. Carrying anger or resentment over those past instances wouldn't help her to find her way forward to a more positive state of mind.

Still, it was clearly something Voli was working through – and, to Teynara's mind, it sounded more as though she were trying to be comfortable with herself than concerning herself with how others perceived her. If you feel good about yourself, you're not going to let other people knock your confidence, because they'll only ever see what's on the surface, rather than what's going on inside. In some ways, that might end up hurting, because you might feel misunderstood or underappreciated...but Tey had always felt that it would mean that only those closest would get to know the real you, and that made them special. If others didn't like you, or had a problem with you...wasn't that more about them than you?

"I don't think it's worth comparing how tragic your upbringing might be compared to others," the young woman exclaimed in a tone that made it clear that she wasn't aiming to be abrupt or dismissive. "What you suffer or struggle with is personal only to you. What can hurt one won't impact another...but it's all about how you feel." And although Voli had revealed an awful lot just in those last few moments, it was clear enough to Tey that she was barely scratching the surface there. "And, let's face it, the hardest battles we tend to fight are always going to be with ourselves. What others might think of you is less important than what you think of yourself, or so I've always believed."

Plus, of course, you had to factor in the reality that most people would filter their impressions of you through tinted lenses: if you'd had a bad experience with a Hutt, you were likely to judge every one of their species through a negative filter, even if the one in front of you wasn't so bad. Plus, of course, far too many of us just don't know how to cope with someone that's different to us – it's easier to denigrate them and think of them as inferior to you, and not worth your time, than it is to try and overcome those differences to relate on an equal level. Tey had often thought that part of the reason there was so much ill-feeling and conflict in the Galaxy was simply down to the fact that they didn't really know how to relate to each other.

If she had to think about it, that was probably what was making Voli so averse to having company: deep down, she feared that she was going to be judged as 'different' and therefore as aberrant, someone to be belittled and demeaned rather than related to. I'd be pretty suspicious of the people around me if I felt that way. It's no wonder that she's slow to trust. It wasn't going to stop Tey trying to connect, though.

"And there's nothing wrong with wanting to handle things yourself," the blonde continued, keeping her tone relaxed and even, carrying none of the emotional tension that seemed to characterise Voli's speech. "I suppose we never know when we might have to face obstacles by ourselves. The thing to remember, though, is that you don't have to do it by yourself. Not everyone wants to push you away, you know," she added. No doubt that's hard for you to understand, but I'd bet there are a lot of people here that would appreciate you if they took the time to get to know you, Voli. Or so she suspected – but many of the Jedi she knew were somewhat reclusive, so perhaps none of them had thought to open up to her just yet.

 

[Voli Cholrass]

Current Outfit

"I guess," Voli responded silently contemplating on what Tey told her about getting help. "But the things that I like and what I want to do is the type that will push people away."

Tey was the first to be actively involved what Voli wants, as excited as Voli was, there was no way that she'll drag her to the forbidden areas of the library. What will Tey think if Voli told her the reason why she came to the library was to look for Sith Knowledge on how to open her Holocron? She won't think that Voli was weird, she'll think that she's a danger. "All I want is to understand myself," Voli thought. "Who I am? Where I truly came from, this Holocron is whispering to me, telling me that all the questions about my powers, about myself can be answered if I opened it."

"I like being alone Tey," Voli continued. "But it's nice to make a friend......"

Friends..... that was a strange thing to say but Voli did promise to make at least friend. She just hoped that she wouldn't scare her off. "Just promise that you won't get mad at what I'm going to do." Voli continued gulping. "T-that's what friends do right? They can keep a secret."

Voli shook her head. "I'm going to sneak into the hidden area of the library," Voli said. "It's said that there's a room that contains knowledge of artifacts that the Jedi collected in their numerous against the Sith. I'm searching for something that could help me."

Teynara Jeralyr

 

[Teynara Jeralyr]

| Voli Cholrass |​

It's not just the things that you do that try to push people away, Tey reflected, listening to Voli's words. The other woman had been trying to get rid of her for a little while now, and although she was certain that it was a defense mechanism against actual rejection, Teynara still found the thought ironic. Even so, she had to wonder exactly what experiences the other girl had undergone that would drive her to think as she did – that others would not want to get close to her on that account. Makes me think you've gone through a few traumas in your life so far. Surely the Jedi would have worked with her to push through that? Or, as she said, did nobody put in the effort to try?

"I promise I'm not going to get mad," she said reassuringly, giving Voli a solemn look as they walked, knowing that this was one of those make-or-break moments which could change what followed if she said the wrong thing. "Although short of stealing a Jedi Master's personal effects, I can't really see what you would do that would get someone around here mad at you." After all, the Jedi were supposed to be nigh-unflappable, or at least that's what their teachers had suggested.

That said, Tey knew that she was diving into the water without breathing apparatus here – she had really no idea what it was that Voli would want to get up to, or what she herself might be getting into now that she'd agreed not to get upset. Maybe it's one of those moments where you stupidly agree to something without knowing the context, and you end up regretting it later. Well, if so...she didn't really have cause to complain. At the end of the day, that was what you did for a friend: sometimes you had to leap before looking, and trust that they weren't going to put you in a position to get hurt or into serious trouble. And, if they do, they're right there with you, in the exact same mess that you're in, so you're not alone.

When Voli told her what she actually intended, Teynara's first instinct was a resounding "No way", because the last thing either of them needed was to get yelled at by the Masters for doing something so blatantly prohibited – or, worse, getting them kicked out altogether. Still, she didn't voice her concern there – had she not just agreed not to get mad, and not to dismiss Voli's ideas out of hand? And, let's face it, she was going to do this whether I came along or not, so I might as well stick with her, make sure she doesn't get hurt. A tiny part of her mind had a feeling that this was the sort of daft rationalisation that got people killed, but that wasn't likely to happen in a Jedi Temple – what could be so dangerous here that it might put their lives at risk? And looking at a bunch of artifacts couldn't possibly be dangerous. True, there was probably a reason why students couldn't simply walk in whenever they wanted, but she doubted it was due to safety concerns.

"Kinda wish I'd known I was going to be sneaking anywhere today," the young woman observed instead, gesturing down at the pale blue-and-grey tunic and skirts that she'd chosen for her attire for the day. "I'd have worn a darker colour, so I wouldn't be seen." Her lips curved slightly in an amused smile there – with her hair (and indeed, Voli's!), there was no way the two of them wouldn't stand out even if hiding in shadows. "Guess that means we have to be extra sneaky".

Admittedly, on reflection, Tey hadn't understood exactly what it was that Voli was trying to accomplish here – what exactly was a Sith, anyway? Sounded more like some ancient race, so maybe her fellow student was writing a historical paper for an assignment, and needed access to something old and valuable to help? Although it was the "against" part that caught her for a moment. That usually suggested some form of conflict. And wouldn't that make them enemies of the Jedi, or at least someone that we'd antagonised at some point in the past? It did make you wonder why the Jedi would keep artifacts of theirs, at least for a reason other than a history lesson.

"Still, if it's something that could help you, of course I'll do the same and help as well," the girl remarked, brushing a long lock of her blonde hair so that it sat back behind one shoulder. "That's what friends – and Jedi – do, isn't it? We have to help each other." That was the right thing to do, she was certain.

 

[Voli Cholrass]

Current Outfit

"I-" Voli's face was cherry beet red her eyes now glued to Tey. She reached out to the Force to see if Tey was lying to see if she was harboring a desire to snitch on the Masters when her back was turned but all Voli could sense was compassion and honesty. Maybe my thoughts betray me," Voli thought. After all she was still inexperienced with most basic sensory abilities though Voli liked to think she was getting better at being an empath.

"I don't know what to say Tey, I've never had a someone show me kindness before. Like I said, I keep to myself mainly because...... I was comfortable and I didn't want to hurt anyone with my Force powers."

She still had painful memories of her six-year-old self-slamming Shana against the wall. Voli was angry and Shana and her group of friends was picking on her for having white hair. It wasn't her fault that she was born with this color. Things escalated when Shana punched Voli in the face calling her weird, Voli remembered falling to the ground hearing the uproarious laughter from the girls and the blood that dribbled from her now butsted lower lip. Anger started to rise from inside of her, thoughts of wanting to do anything to get back at them overwhelmed Voli's mind and something else...... an energy that she has not felt before. She screamed in a blood curling rage holding her hands up unleashing this newfound energy and pushing Shana off her feet with all of her might. Though Voli didn't touch her, Shana flew like a speeding Starfighter and smashed against the brick wall her back of the head cracking open like an egg.

The next thing Voli knew, the same girls who picked on her ran away screaming with Voli looking down at the bloody and bruised Shana breathing heavily. She felt like a monster, an out-of-control wraith but she liked it, it felt good that she finally took control and stood up for herself. "But not in that way......" Voli shook her head coming back to reality. She always hated whenever she stared off into space, she tended to forget her surroundings.

"Sorry," Voli said embarassed. "I just blanked out remembering..... things that I really want to forget. But yeah, I'm glad that you're here and we're friends. I owe you Tey really, I do, just have any requests and I'll do what I can to help you out."

The young woman flashed Tey a smile, a genuine one. Maybe things at the Temple will turn out to be good after all.

Teynara Jeralyr

 

[Teynara Jeralyr]

| Voli Cholrass |
​

Inwardly, Teynara felt taken aback at Voli's admission that nobody else had shown her the sort of kindness that Tey had extended her – which was ridiculous. She was torn between a sudden surge of anger at the behaviour of the others that the other woman must have known, and a deeper-seated sense of...well, it wasn't pity, because that was demeaning. More just a sense that Voli deserved and should have had better than she'd clearly experienced, and that that needed to change. But shouldn't it have done already, among the Jedi? Teynara herself had been treated well enough since joining their ranks – why was Voli different in this respect?

That the other student didn't want to hurt anyone else spoke volumes about what she was doing here, though: several of the other trainees that Teynara had talked to had mentioned that their powers and special gifts had manifested involuntarily, often at moments of peak emotion, and quite when they hadn't expected it. That's how some of them knew that they were Force Sensitive in the first place. That fear that they might accidentally lash out and hurt others had been pervasive – perhaps Voli had similar experiences, and could relate to that. No wonder she's keeping everyone at a distance.

"I think the thing to remember is that, even if you do hurt someone, you don't intend to, Voli," Teynara noted softly, reaching out to pat the young woman gently on the bicep of one arm, though keeping her touch light, suspecting that she wouldn't be used to that sort of thing either. The way she speaks, you'd think her past has seen her facing abuse and suffering, so it might well be that what touch she has experienced hasn't been good, either. Not the hugs of loving parents, nor of friends...that would have been hard to grow up without. "Intentions count for a lot, don't you think? Try to keep in mind that you don't want to hurt others – and that it makes you a good person to feel that way."

Of course, if she's suffered at the hands of others, both from negative judgements and worse besides, it's amazing that she wouldn't want to hurt someone. That was normal, too: people who had experienced nothing but negativity from others would often want to lash out, to find some satisfaction in returning some of the harm they had experienced to others. It's why bullies are almost always those who have been bullied themselves at some point. But Voli didn't strike her as that type of person – instead of moving forward and on the attack, she instead seemed to have pulled back, retreating into solitude out of fear of what she might do if provoked...

"And you owe me nothing, Voli," the blonde added further, after listening to what struck her as a heartfelt and beautiful expression of sentiment – something that seemed unusual for the girl, but all the more lovely because of it. It suits you, Voli, to reach out and embrace others with your heart, rather than hiding in fear that they might hurt it. That sort of understanding would take time – of a kind that only gentle handling and patience would provide. "I would be your friend because I think you're a good person, not because I want anything from you."

That all being said...Tey did have to wonder what had gone through the other girl's mind when she had blanked out for a moment, her thoughts clearly distant, perhaps memories being recalled that weren't necessarily pleasant. Voli's expression hadn't given anything away, but that shake of her head as she came out of it...that didn't suggest that it was anything good. But there's nothing to fear when you've got a friend to watch your back. Teynara would have to make sure that Voli never had cause to feel that way when the two of them were together.

"We're nearly at the Archives, if you weren't paying attention to where you were going," she observed, gesturing down the corridor off to their right, the one they had stopped in front of a moment ago. "How exactly do we get to this vault of yours? I assume we're not heading to the front desk to ask for directions," the young woman added impishly, a ghost of a playful smile on her face.

 

[Voli Cholrass]

Current Outfit

As much as Voli thought that Tey's offer to help was too good to be true, she felt something inside the Force that encouraged her to trust Tey. There was still doubt lingering inside of Voli of Tey's intentions. As much as Voli understood that the Force is omniscient, it didn't hurt to be cautious given that she did not tell Tey that she had the desire to open up the Sith Holocron that was in her room. "Of course I do," Voli whispered smiling when Tey touched her arm. "You're one of the first who went out of their way to help me. The first being my Master."

Part of Voli felt guilty in not telling Dreidi Xeraic about the Holocron, she didn't want to disappoint her Master but at the same time, Voli was curious about the contents inside of the Holocron. All of the knowledge, the potential power that she would gain from it. Surely her Master would understand that Voli would use whatever lay inside of the Holocron for the Jedi. But Voli had a feeling that Dreidi would no longer accept her as her apprentice if she even tried to convince her. She seemed to be a warrior for the light and nothing else.

"I'm still in your debt regardless," Voli said as they approached the entrance of the Jedi Archives. "If you need anything of me Tey, just ask and I'll be by your side."

She felt a lot better now that she had a friend who was willing to help her break inside of the hidden chamber. This felt like one of those heist holomovies she watched while she worked at the theater. Pretty exciting stuff. "Right," Voli said. "I know where the entrance is, just distract the librarian and I'll open it. I know what to do."

She smiled at Tey. "I'll give you the thumbs up signal when I'm done." She whispered. "Good luck."

Teynara Jeralyr

 

[Teynara Jeralyr]

| Voli Cholrass |​

Knowing that Voli was formally apprenticed to a Jedi Knight (or perhaps even a Master) did leave Teynara wondering why it was necessary for the two of them to be sneaking into archival vaults instead of the young woman simply asking her Master for access, so that she could continue her studies without the need for deceit. Which means what we're looking for is restricted, and not the sort of thing that the Masters would want us seeing. Though she couldn't explain why that might be...it did nonetheless leave her feeling a frisson of fear. She didn't particularly want to get into trouble...but, equally, she didn't want to abandon her new-found friend by backing out now. So there's only one way forward.

Tey knew that she wasn't usually the type to get herself into trouble – if she stopped to think about it, she had always been the 'good' daughter: amicable towards others, thoughtful in how she interacted, hard-working as a student, and dutiful towards her parents. She couldn't help but think that, sometimes, it would have been nicer to have a wilder inner child, the kind that didn't care about rules or protocol, the kind that would just do whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted, no matter the outcome or the long-term consequences. But that's never really been me, has it? And yet, with Voli's fleeting influence...here she was, about to do exactly that.

"Good luck to you, too," she whispered softly in response to Voli's temporary farewell. They both had their assignments to crack on with, and their mutual success depended on both of them doing their jobs successfully. This doesn't exactly feel like the right thing to do, but neither is letting your friend walk into a world of trouble without trying to keep her out of it. Tey knew she couldn't stop Voli from attempting this, so it was best to at least make sure that she was successful. Otherwise she'll get into a lot of trouble, and it'll be my fault. "Right, you can do this, Tey," she added, talking to herself now that Voli had started to make her move.

Exhaling a soft breath, the young woman strode into the Jedi Archives, entering through a vast open doorway that was flanked by beautiful marble columns wrought of metal and marble, blending the natural with the artificial. Beyond was a single broad desk that housed the Archive reception, guarding a vast hall of glittering bookcases, all arrayed in long rows, flashing with soft blue and white lights. The high ceiling above her was curved across, raised a good few meters above her head, such that she'd have to hurt the muscles in her neck to lean back far enough to get a decent look at it. It was an awe-inspiring room, elegant and yet clearly functional, and somewhere that the students had to spend a lot of their time. Teynara had been in here a fair few times since arriving on Coruscant, but she never ceased to be amazed by it.

Behind the reception desk was a single Jedi, an older human male sporting a grey beard, his hair clipped in a manner she knew to be fashionable among men on this planet. He wore the robes of an Archivist: the typical tan robes worn by so many Jedi were a deeper colour, almost slightly tending towards yellow, the tabards imprinted with symbols that she didn't recognise, but which were common to those who worked within, a means of identifying them, if nothing else. Although he was clearly occupied with the work on his computer terminal, he stared at her with an expectant expression, perhaps wondering what it was that she was doing here, and whether she required assistance.

Striding forward at a clipped pace, her soft boots tapping gently against the marble flooring beneath her feet, the young woman approached and offered a perfunctory bow, as was appropriate from a student to an elder Jedi, whatever their rank. She straightened and folded her hands in front of her, momentarily hesitating as she decided exactly how best to proceed. I need to keep his attention on me for longer than a moment or so, so I can't just ask for directions, because he'll just send me on my way and get back to work. Which, if they were unlucky, meant perusing the security holos, such that he might well spot Voli.

"Greetings, Master," she exclaimed in a lilting tone, offering a polite smile in a way designed to suggest that everything was just fine. Nothing to be suspicious of here, don't worry! "I've been told to look into different methods by which a Jedi can get around undetected," the blonde observed, deciding that she might as well go for being ironic. She wasn't really sure there were many methods available, but her instructors had said that the Force had many, many different manifestations open to it. "I really have no idea where to start – would you be able to help me, please?", she asked in her most sincere tone.

Best make your move, Voli. He's not watching the security holos now, so go!

 

[Voli Cholrass]

Current Outfit

With a pep in her step, Voli traversed through the many Jedi observing the bookcases some of her fellow Paddies were on sitting on metal chairs reading books pertaining to the history of the Sith Wars. "Oh great," Voli muttered to herself. "I forgot that I have history exam on the Sith Wars in two days."

It was all right though, prior to arriving to the Jedi Temple, Voli read a lot about Sith and the many wars the waged against the Jedi. It was to the point where she can confidently say that she was something of a walking, talking, encyclopedia of Sith wars. Voli continued to navigate through the many bookshelves of the Jedi Archives. The place was massive with tens of thousands of books being stored here. Voli could spent years just reading every book she came across. She even made it a personal goal of hers to do so, she wondered if the Jedi Librarian could take on an assistant, Voli wanted to absorb the knowledge that came within these books. Filled with guides of Lightsaber combat to Force Meditations.

"Hopefully there's a spot open," Voli muttered but that had to wait until she was finished retrieving a special item deep inside of the Jedi Archives. It was supposed to be a special book that was written by a Sith Lord named: Darth Talon.

Voli walked towards the corner of the room and saw a hatch that she spotted a few weeks ago. That was one of the many entrances towards the forbidden area and although Jedi Masters were allowed to enter it, Voli found a way to bypass it thanks to the magick that she learned before she arrived at the temple. Closing her eyes, green energy were summoned on Voli's palms as she waved her hand. The hatch immediately sprang open revealing an inky darkness.

The young woman's body began swaying back and forth her body feeling like it was made out of jello, ice cold chills running down her whole body. She sensed a disturbance in the Force, many dark things were hidden beneath, as much as her instincts told her to stay way, Voli wanted to make that jump into the unknown. "Nothing ventured, nothing gained." She muttered. "I don't fear the Dark Side."

But that didn't mean Tey didn't fear it as well, but Voli will protect her nonetheless. She owed her that much, the young woman ran towards the end of the bookshelf and gave Tey thumbs up a large smile etched on her face.

Teynara Jeralyr

 

[Teynara Jeralyr]

| Voli Cholrass |​

As much as Voli had said that she would owe her one, Teynara was starting to think that wouldn't be enough to repay her for having to stand here listening to a Jedi Master who was clearly so caught up in the subject matter that he hadn't gauged the boredom level of his audience. Tey had never been the kind of student who liked to listen to someone drone on with a lecture: if she wasn't writing things down, she was the type to engage in the verbal parry-and-thrust approach of a pointed discussion. If I wanted a recitation, I'd sit and let the computers talk to me.

If she was being totally honest with herself, part of the reason she wasn't giving the lecture as much attention as it warranted was the fact that she was nervous about Voli getting caught, and the whole heap of trouble she'd probably be in if that was the case. Wouldn't exactly be great to start a new friendship by dropping her into getting yelled at.

The Librarian was now talking about Force-related methods, and frankly, she didn't understand what the hell he was talking about. Something about 'Photokinetics', whatever that was. If she'd known a method to hide from others using the Force, now would have been a very good time to put it to use, because this was all just flying over her head. Still, that was partly the idea, wasn't it? If she could keep him talking, he wouldn't be paying attention to anything else going on in the Archives, and therefore wouldn't notice that anything was suspicious. At least he didn't just direct me to a section of the library so I could go and study it for myself. Judging by the way he was talking, all of the information she would have found would have been restricted anyway.

Catching a glimpse of movement from further down the room, over by the bookshelves that were perfect for concealing anyone that might choose to hide there, Tey looked past the librarian and caught a glimpse of Voli waving at her before disappearing again behind the shelves. I'll assume that's an "all clear", and she's done what we came to do. There was a slight pit in her stomach at the thought that the dangerous part was ahead, but equally a sense of relief that they hadn't yet been caught. Her pale-blue eyes returning to those of the librarian, she offered him her best smile.

"I think that's all I can absorb for the moment, Master," she said coolly, reflecting on the fact that she'd probably have a couple of weeks of additional study on her plate if she'd actually ever intended on working through the techniques he had spoken of – not that she had the slightest clue where to even begin – so it was just as well this one was a ruse. "I hope you don't mind, but I think I need to sit and read up on these techniques before I go any further," the blonde added softly. "But I thank you for your time, and your knowledge," she remarked, dipping her head briefly into a respectful bow, not wanting him to feel as if she was just brushing him off. After all, I've got to spend a lot of time in the Archives over the next few years. Wouldn't do to alienate someone whose help I might need!

Walking with a fairly unhurried rhythm, feeling her skirts whispering across her ankles with each step, the young woman headed over to the bookshelf where she'd seen Voli waving, looking to see if she could spot her friend. She wasn't exactly sure what the plan was here – all she could be certain of was that her distraction had at least given Voli the space to do...something. Hopefully it would be the only thing she needed in that respect – Tey didn't feel like it would be a good idea to spend more time deceiving the Masters. Not exactly what I came here to do, after all. But it was worth it if it helped a friend – that much would be something that she felt the Jedi could appreciate.