Private It's Been A Minute

[Anora Vahn]

Tag: | Josh Dragovalor |
Attire: [xXx]

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True to her word when she had walked away from life on Kashyyyk, Anora had kept in touch with her former Master - not as a student, but as a friend. It wasn't constant communication; she was busy in her back and forth life between her Mandalorian companions and training, and naturally she could only imagine how busy Josh was on his end as well. But she always made sure he knew she was alive and well, that she still had all of her limbs, and that she was still keeping up with the things she had been taught over her time spent under his tutelage. But every once in a while, catching up needed to be done in person, and it just so happened that one of those times had rolled around.

It had been a while this time around, but as soon as availability opened up, a time and place was set up. The area was nothing impressive, nor was it polluted with thugs or troublemakers which was just fine with Anora. She had, had her fair share of dealing with ruffians for a while, and some easy going company seemed like a much better way to spend her time. The cantina that had been chosen wasn't five star by any means, but it had good music being played and good, strong drinks that didn't cost an arm and a leg. Perfect.

She had already found a place to sit and had a drink cradled between her hands. Out of habit, her back was facing the wall so that she could see the open room around her as well as watch the door. Occasionally her fingers would close around her cup and it would be lifted to her lips so that she could sip the contents within. Nothing so strong that it burned the way her favorite homebrew did, but it was good and would suffice - especially in small sips.

When there was movement at the entrance again, Nora's gaze shift to watch and then a smile lifted the corners of her mouth. Her cup was set down on the table and she stood as she waited for her companion to join her. "What, did you forget how to tell time while I've been gone?" she teased, knowing that they really hadn't set a definite time on when to meet up, just a rough one. But clearly time had not dulled Anora's sass in the least little bit.

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

Josh had been disappointed when Anora had made the decision to walk away. But he understood. This line of work wasn't for everyone. Perhaps if he had been raised another way in another lifetime, this wouldn't have been the path for him either. He had been raised to be this way. That was the front and shut of it. It just wasn't something that everyone took to naturally. He'd done his best for Anora and hoped that she'd be able to take care of herself, and maybe even do some good in the process. Eenia had also left, and while he didn't exactly approve of her working for the CIS, he still hoped for the best for her.

It had been some time since he had seen either of them, though they'd kept in touch. Today though, he would be meeting up with Anora at a cantina to catch up probably. He'd shown up in a jacket with a hood, and when he found who he was looking for, sat down and pulled the hood down. He smiled warmly.

"No, but you forgot to learn how to actually set one" he sassed right back as he skimmed over the menu gingerly. "How're you, Nora?"

 

[Anora Vahn]

There was a mock gasp from the brunette when the response came from the male who joined her. "Touche`, sir." she mused, then set her drink down on the table between them so that she could fold her arms against the tabletop and lean against them instead. For a moment she merely observed the man - her former Master - seated across from her. It had been much longer than originally anticipated since she had seen anyone that wasn't working with her now.

But eventually she smiled and shrugged a single shoulder. "I've been alright," she assured him. "Busy more often than I'm not, but alright either way." She was still training after all. Left to her own devices at times to do so, but it didn't keep her from staying on track. She had learned the hard way that she was prone to fierce Force nightmares if she didn't keep up with at least meditation, so she was by no means slacking.

"What about you?" she questioned him in return, "How have things been on your end of the spectrum?" Nora hadn't kept up with news with any of the Factions since she had walked away from the Silvers, but admittedly she found herself curious from time to time. Mostly because she knew Josh was still part of it - and was unaware that her little sister no longer was.

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

He smiled lightly. "Busy is good. Means you're constantly working towards something. Hard to complain about that, really" he remarked with a casual shrug. At least she seemed to be doing well, which was good. Seeing as she had found time to check in on him, that was probably good news. She then asked about how he had been faring. That took a bit of thinking. He gingerly picked out a drink and made his order before speaking up.

"I'm not as involved in the factions as I used to be. They move forward and do their thing, I've done my thing. I'm still part of it, but they have their direction and I have my own. I pop in to help when their goals align with my own. Most of my students have left the nest, including your sister, so there's a bit of an empty nest feeling there" he admitted as he nodded his thanks when his drink was served. He took a quick sip before moving forwards.

"I've been spending time with my family when I can. My son is a Force Sensitive, so that's been a challenge. I've been spending much of my time tracking down a group called the Ellejun Syndicate. I have personal reasons for doing so, but they're something that needs to be taken care of nonetheless."

Anora Vahn

 

[Anora Vahn]

Tag: | Josh Dragovalor |

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While everything else was of course heard, there was one piece in particular that Anora zeroed in on. It was to be expected of course, considering the content, but her brow creased regardless and she leaned just a little more against the table. "Wait, what?" her head shook once and she raised a hand as if to stall him even though he was no longer saying anything. "Back up. My sister left?" That was honestly something Anora had never in a million years figured would happen. Eenia had been training to be a healer after all, so why would she leave?

Anora's brow creased and she set both of her hands back around her cup. "Do you know why? Or where for that matter?" There were other things to discuss; she wanted to ask about his family, especially after hearing his son was Sensitive. But right now? What was left of her own family was now no longer where she had left it. So that was most certainly a question she needed the answer to.

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

He wasn't surprised she zeroed in on that bit of information. Everything else fell by the wayside when he brought up her sister. Then came the bombardment of questions. He let out a long sigh. He supposed he should have expected that. He needed a drink. But he'd do his best to answer what he could. "Yes. She left" he answered curtly, looking her in the eyes. "I don't know why for sure, but she indicated she didn't feel she fit. As for where..."

He scratched his head. "CIS space. Can't say I know where exactly. I just hope she's alright."

The Silver and CIS goals when it came to dealing with their enemies may align, but he was no fool. He knew what they were about. And how they accomplished what they were about. He'd been acquainted with and worked with CIS leaders many times. He knew. He understood. And he understood why they worked together. Business was business. But he'd never like it. And if she decided to work with them in the future, Eenia would find out eventually that true virtue behind one's actions was a rare trait in her new world.

Anora Vahn

 

[Anora Vahn]

Tags: | Josh Dragovalor |

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There was a slow, elongated sigh from Anora and her brow creased down as she seemed to just sit and process this bit of information. Her little sister was in CIS space? Well, wasn't that a coincidence...Anora's clan were also holed up in CIS space. Admittedly the older of the sisters found it ironic; after all this time, and everything that had happened between the two of them, they were both beneath the same banner yet again. Granted, there was no telling what Nia was doing now, and Anora was more or less a free spirit merely living in CIS territory. But still...the galaxy had a funny way of toiling with fate. Made her wonder where her brother was going to turn up, and if he was in CIS space as well...

But the brunette shook her head and situated a bit in her seat. "Well, good for her I guess." she let out with a shrug, and then made a gesture towards Josh. "But enough about that, you said your son is Force sensitive? How's that going?" he had said it was challenging, and Anora could only imagine. She and her sister had come into their Force sensitivity late in the game, so she couldn't imagine being a small child and trying to deal with that - or being a parent trying to both deal with and hone the skills of a youngling.

"Is he being taught at the academy, or are you dealing with training him yourself?" it's not as if the boy would be Josh's first student, after all. So it was a perfectly valid question.

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

TAG: Anora Vahn



It was a rough thing. Josh wished he had been able to do more. But he couldn't. She was in CIS space, and in CIS hands now. The decision for Eenia's future was out of his hands and he could no longer guide her after she had decided to leave the nest. Perhaps too early, in his opinion. But she was a big girl and could make decisions for herself. He wished he could do more for her, but... All he could do for now was trust that experience would be her teacher before she got herself killed.

The topic moved onto Jason, and the Jedi Master nodded his head slowly. "It's tough. I won't pretend it isn't. He learns quickly, but he has a challenging road ahead on account of his age. An adult can more easily learn to control their emotions as they've been able to lean on their experiences and maturity in order to learn, and a young child can be made to understand this early in development before other invasive traits grow in. Jason is in that unfortunate middle ground where he's less impressionable, and a child his age is more prone to being lost to his emotions. Which means that it's going to be even harder to teach him than it is to teach my normal students."

That also answered her second question, sort of. "He rotates. When I'm around and available, I teach him. If I'm busy, another Master helps out."

 

[Anora Vahn]

Tags: | Josh Dragovalor |

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A soft noise was made in Anora's throat. "That definitely sounds like a lot..." she agreed. "Honestly I don't even remember what it was like to be around other Force users. Once in a while sure, but not all of the time like I used to be." she lifted a hand to run her fingers through her hair and then shook her head once her hand was back in her lap. "I'm the only sensitive in the clan, and while that's more than usual, it's still hard sometimes."

Nora's brow pulled down and she looked at the table rather than the man seated across from her. "There were a couple of years where I did everything in my power to just...ignore my connection to the Force, or at least I tried to. Force nightmares are brutal, and the more I ignored dealing with anything, the worse the nightmares got." She sighed heavily and rolled her eyes. "It makes me feel like a freak sometimes, being the only one around who can do the things I do."

She was quiet for a moment, allowing her own words to sink in for herself before she continued again. "Honestly sometimes I wonder if that's how Gallil and I ended up running into each other. Some kind of divine intervention telling me that I had to have some sort of connection with who I really am, even if it wasn't training all of the time and only once in a great while. Makes me feel a lot less alone in the galaxy..."

Though she wasn't about to sit and delve into why she felt alone. She wasn't here for that. And she had gotten off track again. "So, long story short; I'm glad your boy has people eager to teach him and keep him from feeling lost at any given time."

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

TAG: Anora Vahn

The clan. He didn’t know much about this “clan” she was part of, but he assumed it was a Mandalorian sect. It felt a little weird to him, knowing his former apprentice was now part of a Mandalorian clan and away from the Order. Especially when he himself was of Mandalorian descent without a clan to truly call his own. He’d never had a chance to embrace it. How could he? Everywhere you look, there were Mandalorian clans trying to do something stupid. Like using the denizens of a planet as human sacrifices for the Sith in order to appease them. At least until the Sith nuked their world anyway, because of course they did. They’re Sith. What part of that do people not get?

She went on then, continuing to explain that she had tried to distance herself from her force sensitivity, trying to pretend that none of it had ever happened. And the nightmares that ensued. She had been a stranger in a clan full of non-sensitives. That had to be… Different. In the end she gave up on that and didn’t deny it anymore, though her training was still just occasional.

“It sounds like you’ve been through quite the ringer” he brought up, scratching his head in turn. “Still wish you’d at least given me a call during those times. It was… Not exactly fun, wondering where you were. Wondering if you were alright. No idea if you were alive or dead. Little to no correspondence for a long time.”

He found himself staring at the table himself. “I felt like a failure. And maybe I was. You never should have had to go through this, and perhaps you wouldn’t have if I was better.”

 

[Anora Vahn]

Tags: Josh Dragovalor

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There was a slow sigh through Anora's nose and she made a soft sound that followed. With a brief arch of a brow and a singular shrug of her shoulder, she looked up across the table at her former Master. "You could say I've been through a thing or two." That was putting it very, very mildly for sure. Anora had been through enough to fuel tragic stories for novelists, but that wasn't worth bringing up here. Especially considering what had been said to her just moments after.

"You had a lot of students," she pointed out to him, "Each one who needed their own attentions, and had their own array of problems to handle." Granted, none of them had been snatched up by a Mandalorian bounty hunter, but that was also beside the point right now. "In my experience, everything happens for a reason, even if those reasons are ones we never come to understand." That much was very true, not that anything she had said thus far was false.

"To be clear," she continued, tipping her head just slightly to the side as she arched a brow at him once again. "You didn't fail. Things didn't work out the way they were planned, but that doesn't make you a failure." Again, her shoulders shrugged, and then she sank back into the support of her seat. "And its not like I made it easy on you anyhow," she added with the smallest hint of a smirk. "Like you said, I didn't reach out for a long time, and that is most definitely on me, not you."

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

TAG: Anora Vahn

“A responsibility I took up by choice. If I fail to attend to any of their needs, the fault lies on my shoulders” he pointed out in turn. He was not blind to his part in what had happened to her, even if he wished he could do it all over again and change things for the better for her. Perhaps everything did happen for a reason, but he did wish he had been able to be there. He had been off-world when the distress message had been sent, and hadn’t been able to take the call. Or even knew it was going on until she had been gone by the time he arrived.

“I did look for you, even if I doubt it means much” he admitted quietly. “I was on a ship back as soon as I was informed. I eventually tracked where you had been held, but by then you were gone. Next time I see you, it’s to return your sister’s lightsaber.”

 

[Anora Vahn]

Tags: Josh Dragovalor

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The mention of that particular memory made Anora scoff softly and shake her head. "That was a particularly dark moment in my own history, and the decisions were made of my own choosing. Things were falling apart, I wasn't happy with a lot of things that were going on in my life at the time. And so when an out showed itself? I took it." Again her gaze found his from across the table, and this time her brow was pulled tightly in the middle. "Though again, that was more about me than it was about you."

She sighed then and folded her arms, this time about the latter portion of the memories brought up. "Don't even get me started on my sister." she almost huffed out. "More than once I was told that I should have kept her lightsaber, and more than once I considered it. Why she chose yellow, I'll never know, and I told her as much. Which didn't help matters when she was already trying to kill me, I might add."

Her head tipped back against her shoulders and her eyes closed then. "You know, I've seen her once since then. In all these years, just once." She wasn't sure if she had said that already, but it didn't make it any less true either way. "But, I'm getting off topic." she sighed and righted her posture. "Long story short; don't base any sort of training legacy on me. One bad egg out of a dozen is still a good deal."

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

TAG: Anora Vahn

Anora tried to insist that it wasn’t his fault and it had been purely a dark time in her life. But he still wished he could have been there to help her crawl out of said dark times. She didn’t seem to hold it against him, at the least. But he had already figured that. She talked about Eenia choosing yellow, which he wasn’t entirely sure what she meant by. But he knew that Eenia as well had gone down a different path. One that he too, wished he could have helped prevent the worst of. He felt like a spectator, watching his students burn while he could do nothing. He had tried to do things, but…

“You were both my students. It wasn’t exactly one isolated accident” he pointed out, but left it at that. “Not that your story has to end as the “bad egg” as you call it. Perhaps one day, your path will take you back to one of helping people, as the Jedi do. The Force likes to take the long way around at times, history has told.”

 

[Anora Vahn]

Tags: Josh Dragovalor

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The fact that he kept trying to blame himself made Anora sigh through her nose, but she didn't argue. Two students of the same bloodline, falling off the wagon was hardly going to look bad for him. It could easily be blamed on genes. But, her head shook and she folded her arms against the table so that she could lean against them. "Funny you should mention helping people," she stated. "It seems to be all I do anymore." She squint a little, "Typically for a price, but that's negotiations on someone else's part, not my own."

Now she sat back against the support of her seat again and folded her arms instead. "We've taken up a sort of bodyguarding job for the Queen of Naboo. Apparently she had a lot of people just up and abandon post, at the worst time, I might add. And one of the clan were already there, in good with her, and put the word out to us." Nora smirked a little, clearly finding some sort of ironic amusement in the situation. "A bunch of Mandalorians, a Force sensitive, and a half Zeltron as Queen's Guards. What kind of literal hell do you have to be in to agree to that arrangement?" she mused.

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

TAG: Anora Vahn

She called it a family trainwreck, he called it two incidents he could have prevented. He was just a bit more objective in his thinking. Hard to blame someone who had grown up under the Jedi. This was the way he had been raised to think. On paper, he had failed them both. Not something that he would soon forget. Still, at least Anora had been trying to help people. For a price, but it was better than whatever trouble she might have been getting in otherwise. That, at least, put a small smile on his face.

He had heard of problems regarding Naboo. Though he had yet to be informed in full. He had been too busy with his own problems outside of that area. He hadn’t actually been back to report to the Jedi yet after his last mission. He had taken a detour for this meeting. Well, it wasn’t like he was on the Assembly itself anymore. They changed like the tide, and now he was apparently delegated to a simple Masters Council. Ironic, considering he had once been Grandmaster. But it was what it was, and it gave him time to be with his family. So they could stand to wait.

She told her story, and he listened. “Sounds like things are a bit dire on Naboo. What exactly is going on?” he inquired curiously. “It was where I was born, I might as well know.”

He also lived there, but he didn’t say that. Seeing as it was a completely off the grid thing. He had taken every precaution possible with that. Jammers for even the highest grade military scanners out there, self-sustaining energy, energy fields that would destroy a homing beacon if a ship came too close to the homestead, and using every resource at his disposal, every connection he’d made, to ensure that it stayed off the grid.

But he did have to get groceries in Theed so it was best he knew.