Private Life Day Traditions

[Judah Dashiell]

Judah paused. He wanted to ask what happened. Yet the look in Balun Dashiell 's eyes said something completely different, as if pleading not to ask. He could understand, things happened. If it was recent then things were most likely worse for the boy then they would be a few months from now when he could possibly explain further.

"I'm sorry to hear that. When you're ready, we'll go out to a bar or head out to a steakhouse and talk about it. For now, lets just focus on fishing and enjoy the day."

 

[Balun Dashiell]

Judah Dashiell could see the hesitation in Balun's demeanor, the unspoken reluctance to delve into what had happened between him and Lady Falentra —though to Balun, she was always Nouqai Veil. The end of their relationship had left a deep void, one that gnawed at him in ways he hadn't fully processed yet.

At first, Balun had questioned the wisdom of trusting someone from the dark side, especially after his experiences with Cordelia and Nouqai. But Nouqai had never given him a reason to doubt her, not until their sudden, heated parting. She had been more than a partner—she was the one person who truly understood him, the one who had held his trust in a way no one else ever had. Losing her wasn't just the end of a relationship; it felt like losing a piece of himself. They had grown up side by side in the New Jedi Order, facing adversity together. Now, though, it was just him. Alone.

"To be honest, the idea of a drink at a bar sounds really damn good right now. I'd love that, thanks, Dad," Balun said with a more genuine smile, his words carrying a weight of gratitude. Judah's steady presence gave him some comfort, a quiet reassurance he hadn't realized he needed so badly. He had never doubted his father's support, but now, in this moment, it felt more vital than ever.

He glanced over at his brother, Makai Dashiell , who seemed engrossed in the slow rhythm of fishing, giving Balun and Judah the space they needed. Makai had likely sensed something was off, too—Balun wasn't exactly a master of hiding his emotions around his family. If anything, his openness with them was a sign of how safe he felt in their company, even when the weight of heartbreak pressed heavily on his shoulders.

"Doing things like this is a great distraction," Balun said, his tone lighter as he cast a glance between Judah and Makai. "Spending time with you guys—and the rest of the family—it really helps." A flicker of warmth crossed his face as his thoughts drifted to the evening they'd shared as a larger group. "It was good to finally meet Danger Arceneau . She seemed pretty awesome," he added with a faint smile, recalling her larger-than-life presence and the way she effortlessly commanded the room.

"And Azula Tindara seemed nice too," he continued, though his voice carried a hint of regret. "I didn't get much of a chance to talk to her in the end. I had plenty of questions… about Force User stuff, not you and her." The clarification came quickly, accompanied by a small, teasing smirk that faded just as fast.

Balun's curiosity about Azula lingered in his mind. He'd hoped to ask her about her training and whether she might offer any insights that could help him advance on his own path. There was so much he wanted to understand, to grow beyond where he was now, but the opportunity to dig deeper into her experience had slipped through his fingers. Still, the encounter had left him with a sense of possibility—a reminder that even in the midst of challenges, there were others out there who could inspire and guide him.

 

[Judah Dashiell]

"I think there's a bar or two in town or we can wait and you can pick from any of your choosing in the 'verse. When you're ready of course. Let me know and we can commiserate or just drink in manly silence."

A teasing grin touched his features at that part. Judah reached a hand out and clasped Balun's shoulder, giving a gentle squeeze before dropping it. He wasn't going to pry any further. Things seemed raw and in time, perhaps a better picture would be painted once Bale felt up to talking more. If not, that was fine too, Judah could just assume something went horribly wrong.

" Danger Arceneau is quite the woman, yes. As for Azula Tindara , maybe you two can meet in the future.I'm sure you wanted to talk Force businss and what all the entails. You don't have to wait for me, you can always reach out on your own. I'm not concerned about what would be said or what she has to say. Don't think I have too much to hide. Maybe just a few secrets."

Balun Dashiell

 

[Makai Dashiell]

Wearing | Gear : X | X | X | X | X | L3-37 | Interacting With : Balun Dashiell , Judah Dashiell

"Doing things like this is a great distraction," Balun said, his tone lighter as he cast a glance between Judah and Makai. "Spending time with you guys—and the rest of the family—it really helps."

Makai slowly reeled his line back up. He thought he had something on the line at one point but it had got away, noting it might be time to change his bait as his brother and father spoke. Heartbreak, apparently. Makai was surprised given both were hot and heavy on their yacht trip. Nauseating so. Hard to tell without knowing both more, he was still getting to know Bale. Had only met Fal twice.

He wouldn't speculate.

"Good to hear. I'm going to cash in a bunch of baby sitting hours, I've got like nine months of date nights to make up for. Caring for your niece should help a ton, think of it as free therapy. Really you should be paying me..."

 

[Balun Dashiell]

Balun chuckled softly, turning his gaze toward Makai Dashiell , who had just floated the idea of babysitting his daughter as though he'd be doing Balun some grand favor. To some degree, Makai wasn't wrong. The chance to spend time with his niece, to forge a connection and be a part of her life, was something Balun genuinely valued—something he'd longed for himself as a child.

"I know you're trying to be funny," Balun replied, his smirk playful but his tone sincere, "but I won't turn down the opportunity, bro. That's what being a brother is about, right? You and Myra deserve some time to yourselves." The words carried weight, more than just a casual offer. "I might not have much experience with babies, but I was always pretty good with younglings. Back on Coruscant, we had to babysit the younger Padawans sometimes—team-building exercises, role modeling, that sort of thing." He gave a small shrug, the memory of those structured Jedi lessons providing some reassurance. Hopefully, his past experiences would encourage Makai to trust him with the responsibility.

Balun's gaze shifted briefly to Judah Dashiell , hesitating as a new thought crossed his mind. He mulled it over, debating whether to broach the subject of Azula Tindara, specifically her being a Force-user. Every conversation with his father about the Jedi, the Force, or anything remotely connected to his upbringing in the Order had been fraught with tension. Still, perhaps there was an angle here—a bridge between their differences, however fragile. After all, Judah had fallen for Azula Tindara , someone with a strong connection to the Force. Surely that offered some kind of middle ground.

"If I hadn't met Azula myself, I'm not sure I'd believe you'd fallen for a Force-user," Balun remarked, a small, knowing grin curving his lips. The comment was lighthearted, but the weight behind it was undeniable. A quiet laugh almost escaped him, but he caught himself, the seriousness of the matter grounding him. The memory of their first meeting—of Judah's harsh reaction to discovering Balun was a Jedi—still lingered. It had erupted into an argument, a wound that had yet to fully heal.

Despite the tension, Balun hoped his words might chip away at the wall between them. There was no changing their history, but perhaps understanding could be found in the parallels of their present.

 

[Makai Dashiell]

Wearing | Gear : X | X | X | X | X | L3-37 | Interacting With : Balun Dashiell Judah Dashiell

You and Myra deserve some time to yourselves

Makai chuckled as his brother mentioned having alone time with Ellie. There was a grin on his face, looking to the younger man as his line had retracted. As he suspected, the bait was missing and something had gotten a free meal. Moving towards the bait bucket with large pieces of squid, he worked on attaching a tentacle to the hook.

"Look, alone time is what got us into this. Maybe it's not a good idea." The half-Galan paused. "Look at you though, Jedi babysitter extraordinaire. I bet the five year olds thought your twelve year old self was some uncool hardass."

 

[Judah Dashiell]

Judah tossed a look in the direction of Makai at the mention of 'alone time', a grimace forming on his face. File that away in things he didn't want to hear ever. Before he could say something to remind the boys to knock it off, the older man felt a tug on his line. He carefully angled back, feeling the drag. He had certainly snagged something. He slowly started the pulling back-reeling in process that was needed to keep whatever was on the line securely there.

"If I hadn't met Azula myself, I'm not sure I'd believe you'd fallen for a Force-user," Balun remarked, a small, knowing grin curving his lips.

"Hmm" Judah knew what Balun was trying to say. "Perhaps I have more of an issue with the Jedi as an institution than I do on a personal one-on-one level. There are layers and complexities to my thoughts. Although politics may not be wise for Life Day outings."

 

[Balun Dashiell]

Balun listened attentively, first to Makai and then to their father, while keeping a firm grip on his fishing rod. A sudden pull on the line signaled that something had taken the bait, and with a quick, practiced flick of his wrist, he secured the hook in the fish's mouth. Below the surface, the creature thrashed in protest, struggling against the inevitable.

Were he not something of a hunting enthusiast himself, Balun might have found it a little sad. It was a contradiction that some found amusing—his deep reverence for nature alongside his enjoyment of tracking and catching prey. But to him, it was all part of the natural cycle. Sentient beings had hunted for survival since the beginning of time, and even in an era where food was abundant, he found the most fulfillment in self-sufficiency—living off the land, testing his skills against the elements. There was something grounding about it, something that made him feel at home.

"Honestly, I don't think it really matters anymore," he said, his tone even as he spoke between the three of them. "I've been an independent Force user for a while now." There was no edge to his words, no simmering frustration—just the simple truth. Here, with family, there was no need for heated debates. "If I ever do help them again, it'll be as an outsider. I'd rather keep my autonomy, make my own choices instead of being told where to go and what to do with my skills." His gaze flickered toward Makai, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

He hadn't missed the subtle implication in his brother's words, and unlike their father, Balun found it more amusing than anything. "You're already locked in with one kid—no plans for future spawn?" he quipped, his tone deliberately exaggerated as if Makai's future children might pose some kind of looming threat to the galaxy. The thought amused him, and his smile curled into a smirk as he awaited his brother's reaction.

Makai Dashiell & Judah Dashiell​

 

[Makai Dashiell]

Wearing | Gear : X | X | X | X | X | L3-37 | Interacting With : Balun Dashiell

He hadn't missed the subtle implication in his brother's words, and unlike their father, Balun found it more amusing than anything. "You're already locked in with one kid—no plans for future spawn?" he quipped, his tone deliberately exaggerated as if Makai's future children might pose some kind of looming threat to the galaxy. The thought amused him, and his smile curled into a smirk as he awaited his brother's reaction.

"This is a rough topic for Dad and Danger but yes, plans for many future spawn. We would like four or five children, should we be blessed with that many and everything goes smoothly on Ellie's end. She's been very, very sick with this first one and we'd like to enjoy one thing at a time. Don't worry little brother, there will be plenty of Dashiell spawn to annoy you for the rest of your life. I'm sure you'll quickly become their favorite uncle."

Their only uncle but that was mere schematics at this point. Bait secure, Makai cast his line back into the sea, slowly reeling out and jiggling the line to give the tentacle a more life-like appearance as it drifted though the water. The half-Galan chuckled as he knew his father would chime in quickly on this front.

 

[Judah Dashiell]

Focused on reeling in his catch, Judah could multitask and listen to Balun Dashiell speak about his philosophy of being an outsider with the Jedi groups in the galaxy. Nodding, he could agree with that front for other reasons, it was much like he felt in business. Pulling back hard on the rod, Judah used a foot to brace himself against the side of the boat.

"I can understand that. Its the same I feel about business. I'm only beholden to Dashiell Incorporated. I work with governments, yes, but I am not so beholden to them that I have to compromise in any way. So I understand, you're free to choose what fits your morals and convictions."

Listening to Makai, Judah rolled his eyes, trying to focus on his catch. He was close to reeling it in, fighting the fish and tiring it out. It was a cadence he was used to, having been a fisherman for the last twenty years, becoming one of his main hobbies.

"Let her breathe Makai, I swear you act like you've never touched her before. Four or five? When is she supposed to work on taking over Arceneau Trade? Myra won't be able to do anything if you keep her barefoot and pregnant. This isn't the olden days, you don't need a litter to take over the bloodline because half died of disease."

 

[Balun Dashiell]

Balun smiled to himself as he listened to Judah and Makai talk, their voices a steady rhythm against the backdrop of lapping waves and the occasional cry of seabirds overhead. He reeled in his line, feeling the weight of it lighten as it broke the surface—only to find that whatever had been nibbling at his hook had managed to slip away. He frowned slightly, then let out a quiet laugh at his own expense. Losing the catch didn't bother him much. The real prize was being out here, surrounded by the only two people he had left who truly felt like home. His father and brother—their bond meant more to him than any fish ever could.

For a moment, silence settled over him, and in that quiet, his mind drifted. Unbidden, memories of Nouqai ( Lady Falentra ) surfaced—flashes of their time together on Coruscant. They had grown up side by side, training, learning, pushing each other to be better, both as individuals and as Force practitioners. She had been his best friend, his greatest ally, and, for a time, something more. It was difficult to let go of someone who had been woven so deeply into the fabric of his life.

But in the end, it had all fallen apart.

After a family dinner, they had returned to his home on the outskirts of the Dashiell estate. The night had been perfect, filled with laughter, warmth, and eventually, passion. But then the conversation had shifted. She had admitted—almost carelessly, as if it were just another step in her journey—that she had killed in cold blood to prove her worth within the Sith Order. It was a line he had always warned her he couldn't accept. Battle, self-defense, even fighting for a cause—those were things he could understand. But senseless murder, taking life without necessity or remorse, was something he could never condone.

The argument that followed had been inevitable.

By morning, she was gone.

And he knew what that meant.

Breaking free from his thoughts, Balun refocused on the present. With practiced ease, he baited his hook once more and cast his line back out, putting just a little too much force behind it—a reflection of the frustration he didn't want to acknowledge. As the line settled into the water, he glanced over at Makai, offering a small, sincere smile.

"You're lucky to have such an awesome family, bro," he said, his voice quieter than before, but no less genuine. "Myra's amazing, and you two make a great team."

Judah Dashiell & Makai Dashiell​

 

[Makai Dashiell]

Wearing | Gear : X | X | X | X | X | L3-37 | Interacting With : Balun Dashiell

"How am I to blame? Maybe she won't leave me alone, ever consider that? You didn't because Ellie can do no wrong in your eyes. Not everything is completely my fault...I swear you'd trade me in for her..."

Line cast, Makai let it sink a few moments, continuing his rhythmic motion of pull-and-release to mimic something being alive. So far no fish had bit on his apparently poor attempts to recreate a living tentacle. No matter, sometimes fishing was like that. He could possibly have the wrong bait, this was his first time fishing on Joiol. Didn't exactly sit and research any of the species before heading out.

Which didn't matter, it was all about the experience of being on the water. Watching his brother toss the line out forcefully, Makai didn't say anything. He'd been wherever Bale was - upset and having to push through. In these moments, no one wanted to hear advice though, that he was sure of.

"Thanks lil bro but you're part of the family too, so I suppose that makes you awesome as well."

 

[Judah Dashiell]

Eyes rolled at his eldest son and wisely chose not to answer. Or give any type of fuel to that fire. Instead he focused more on Balun Dashiell and his actions. Something was troubling him but Judah wasn't sure if they were at that juncture where Bale fully trusted him. Perhaps he did yet young men also held their own secrets. Wanted to be their own man instead of running to their father with problems.

"You're both pretty awesome. Maybe not as much as me...but..."

Judah grinned, spurring a debate on who actually had more suave and sophistication. If he was being fair, both of his sons were firmly in the 'nerd' category, which was a bit of a surprise. One of those nature versus nurture situations given he didn't bring up Bale from birth. Perhaps there was something in the Dashiell genetic code that skewed them slightly awkward and obsessive about the most odd things.

Only time would tell how things settled for the three of them. Until then, Judah was going to enjoy his Life Day outing.

END