Master vs Padawan, Episode I: Negotiations Over Bedtime Fail

[Micah tol Powl]

[ Begun The Padawan War Has ]​

I L U M
THE IRON LEGION PRAETORIUM
RESIDENTIAL QUARTERS OF THE IRON PRAETOR

The scream echoed off the walls.

A shrill blast of terror. Then silence, as blood splattered across the walls.

Well, holographic blood anyway. But, with the marvel of modern home holo-entertainment, it really did look like a viscous murder had just taken place in the living room. Holo bloodstains on the sofa, the walls. Even on the boy.

The young Pantoran lay on the floor, staring at the holoprojector that was displaying a blue scan-line rendering of a cult horror flick.

Bare feet dangled in the air, the youngling stretched out with a pillow wedged beneath him and a bowl of popcorn beside. The vacant gaze made it look as though the child were entranced by the program, absently plucking popped kernals from out of the bowl.

There was also an amphistaff in the bowl, or part of an amphistaff anyway, but that didn't seem to faze him in the least. The snake-like biot was nearly two meters long, draped over and under and around the child as he lay there. The amphistaff's head would dive down the front of the boy's shirt, only to appear a moment later jutting out of his sleeve. During which time, the boy didn't even seem to register it.

At some point, the youngling had changed into pajamas, even without being told.

Whether he'd had a bath or not was an entirely different question. And not one any Jedi Master was apt to bring up unless fully prepared to deal with the Sith Inquisition. A wise Jedi would know to pick his battles in a battlefield were baths and bedtimes were being flouted.

Granted, a wise Jedi probably wouldn't have a Primeval assassin as a sidekick to begin with, but that went without saying...

It was totally past his bedtime right now.

Not by much, but no one had said anything. And, if no one said anything, then was it really breaking a rule? And, why did he even have a bedtime anyway? What as he? A little kid? Exemplars of the Primeval Bleeding Sun didn't have bedtimes. Knights of Ren didn't have bedtimes.

Had he conquered the Mandalorians on Wayland to be told to go to bed at nine o'clock? Feth no.

Plus, the HoloBroadcasting Office was airing a MurderDeathKill holoflick marathon! And he never got to watch HBO back on Dosuun... Not for lack of trying, but [member="Irajah Ven"]'s skills with the parental controls on the holotube were not to be underestimated.

So, he'd already decided, this was happening. This was totally happening. Théo just needed to accept it.

Or, better yet, not even notice that the boy was still up. That Heavenshield Hutt-fart was probably back in his office, on the comlink with what's her name again anyway.

What on gorram's stank Coruscant did people even talk about with girls? Much less for hours!

...

Nevermind.

He didn't know. But he knew enough about adults to know that he probably didn't want to know.

"...we now continue with the MurderDeathKill marathon on HBO. Coming up, MurderDeathKill II: DeathStar of the Living Dead!"

This was definitely much more interesting than dumb ol' girls.

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"]​

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYtYe9K6zv4​

​

Théo preferred the old ways. It had to be said.

The Master Padawan relationship where at the end of the day after training or meditation or whatnot, each would depart to their own quarters. But there was more to this particular relationship and so Théo had not been on the line to Ylva but browsing the Holonet, and what for? Parental Guidance sites. There was so much 'advice' out there, how to get a stubborn toddler to eat! Toilet training 101. Burping with Success! Colic, reflux, high temperatures and that was, apparently the tip of the ice berg. However, Boo was passed all this, thank the gods. He is prepubescent teen. Oh joy!

And any related sites to this topic was redirected to 'other' sites.

And so he had nothing, no platform on which to place his stance, apart from the ways and means of his own parents. That was something he supposed, but considering Théo's own upbringing and all the misadventures in this childhood, all his wayward behaviour .. the chickens had come home to roost.

He stood in the door way looking down at this own chest to see the blood splattered there, bits of what would be brains dripping down his torso and a twitching body on the floor.

"Seriously?", a short question. Théo was disgusted. "Too cheezy for my taste. Murderous monsters on the loose hunting people and the heroes all decide to go look for them", he rolled his eyes.

Théo moved into the room stepping over the body and sat down on the sofa next to Boo and his bowl of snake. And took up the remote and scrolled through the countless flicks on offer in this particular genre until finding what he was looking for in the classic channel. "The Classics Boo, you can't beat 'em". It was time for some horror flick appreciation.

"Ah here we are, The Moon Stone", the play button was selected and the opening scenes began. An ancient precious stone stolen from a sect who sent assassins to retrieve it, a well-to-do family had collected it as prize possession and slowly being picked off one by one, a clever drug dependent detective sent to solve the mysterious murders and uncover the truth. Female lead the whole story centers around, love interest, etc., and besides the actress is kinda hot. And all this was Théo's attempt at re-direction of attention. That! and the actress was hot.

It was a good flick however, which will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Blood and gore is one thing, and could be enjoyed but Théo and Boo see enough of it in their real lives and that is far more scary ..

[member="Boo Chiyo"]​

 

[Micah tol Powl]

"Seriously?"

Lulled into the holotube daze, the boy was uncharacteristically startled by Théo's arrival, having no idea just how long the Jedi had been standing there.

Scowling at both the question and the tone in which it had been posed, the youngling turned his head to give the Jedi a side-long glare, as though waiting to be told to turn it off and go to bed.

He had an amphistaff right here. If Théo wanted to go down that road, they could settle the whole Jedi versus Sith debate right now...

Azi, of course, had no idea why the boy was suddenly paying attention to it. As the boy grabbed onto the amphistaff, the biot interpreted the gesture as wanting to play, so it was suddenly rearing back toward the boy's head to tapping its snout against the side of his face repeatedly as though trying to give him a kiss.

As the Pantoran struggled to get the amphistaff out of his face, batting it away only for it to coil around his hand and come back more forcefully, Théo made his way over and started playing with the remote to the holoprojector.

And he was also saying some stuff, but Boo didn't listen as a general principle. Not unless allowance money was involved.

"something something something Moon Stone"

The boy looked up from where the amphistaff was now wrapped around his head. Pulling apart Azi's coils so that he could see, Boo realized that Théo had called up another movie and settled on the couch.

...so, he wasn't getting sent to bed then?

Blinking, the boy watched the first couple of minutes of the movie. It seemed like a slow burn, and there was this annoying chick. Way too much talking, not enough gratuitous violence. But if he wasn't going to bed, that couch looked comfy now.

Getting up from the floor, the boy lifted the biot up off his head and unceremoniously dumped the snake out onto the floor. Hopping onto the couch, thirty kilograms of Pantoran came raining down on top of Théo, as the youngling settled up against -- and also on top of -- the Jedi with the scraggly beard, invading his personal space like a golden retriever that didn't understand it wasn't a lap dog.

Théo's made good movie-watching cushions, the boy had decided.

For it's part, the amphistaff looked around as it found itself alone on the floor. Coiling up into a stack of snake, the biot stared up at the pair on the couch and seemed genuinely confused and offended at the fact that it was left out of this impromptu together time. Mew! the biot chirped in protested, before it started shuffling its way toward the couch.

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"]​

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

A playful oomph left Théo’s mouth as Boo pounced on him, settling on his lap. “How much popcorn have you eaten?”, he asked pretending to get his breath back. The flick, although a slow burn as Boo might consider it to be, was exactly what Théo was aiming for although it was a good story filled with suspense rather than abject violence.

Shifting shadows filled the room from the holoprojector, heavy mist unnatural swirled around the surface of the room and as the woman run from her pursuer unseen the mist kicked up behind her. She had entered the old ruins of the gothic church the origin of it old and held an air of foreboding and Théo tapped his knee gently to encourage Azi to join them.

The rumbling of thunder far in the distance, a portent of things to come and that was outside the windows of his quarters, seemed like a strong snow storm was approaching which only added to the atmosphere of the setting. Yet, Théo’s arm held Boo close, a protective gesture as well as one of caring. “Give it a chance .. not everything is as it seems”, he muttered in almost whispered tones, and just at that moment the dark cloaked figure half revealed got closer to his prey.

It reminded Théo of old Sith tombs, with lurking dangers hidden watching from the very pores of the place. Statues that seemed to move following the path of the wanderer, as if known to them. The place in the flick had been a monastery to some old sect of monks, but not your old Jedi-esque type, they had more sinister intent in their past and the souls of their victims still haunted the ruins.

[member="Boo Chiyo"]​

 

[Micah tol Powl]

As the couch cushion otherwise known as Théo hooked an arm around the boy, the Pantoran settled comfortable against, and across, the Jedi.

Théo's didn't look like much, but were actually quite comfortable once broken in.

Draped across in what seemed like a posture that no adult could possibly find comfortable, the boy stared out at the holovid as it droned on. There was a lot of talking. And then these scenes where nothing was really happening and the music was all oOoOoOo...

A lot of atmosphere building, not a whole lot of violence. Or screaming.

There weren't even any fart jokes in the dialogue!

This movie was definitely not as good as MurderDeathKill. Much less MurderDeathKill II: DeathStar of the Living Dead. Or even Zhellday the 13th! As the boy huffed quietly, the amphistaff saw at the foot of the couch, coiled up into a stack high enough so that it's head rested on the cushion. It was staring up at Théo with snake-puppy eyes.

At least until he tapped his knee, and then the amphistaff was demonstrating that biots could jump. Uncoiling, the snake wound itself around Théo and the Pantoran, sliding it's head underneath Boo's hand. As the boy began to rub and scratch the underside of the biot's throat, a muffled thump thump thump thump could be heard as the amphistaff's tail wagged against the side of the couch.

As the movie went on, the boy missed the sound of a storm brewing outside. His head lulled forward. His eyes drooped closed.

Then he drew in a breath and came back up for a second.

His head lulled forward. His eyes drooped closed. It happened longer each time, until the Pantoran was soundly asleep on the couch.

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"]​

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

On the window large thick flakes of snow and ice slide down the pane and gathered on the ledge outside turning to hard ice and it would not take long before the window would be covered, the night was as black as any Sith's heart, and Théo spared a thought for the patrol out in it doing routine check on the caves and other facilities of the Iron Legion. It would be his turn tomorrow night, he would always roster himself on patrol regardless of his position because never in his life would he sit idol while others do the work, the hard work. But facing the harshness of the snow storm, or the pitfalls that Ilum hides under its surface or the wilds so eager to test you and your survival capacities, was nothing compared to looking after a young child. Especially one like Boo.

It was because of this young boy Théo had experienced much in his youth, it had been this young boy that had saved him from a destiny that could have, most likely would have, taken him on an entirely different path. It had not been even a matter of inches, more like milimeters, a hairs breath away from killing someone .. and Théo had been no older then Boo is now. Boo knew and so he took the shot for Théo. It had been a do or die situation with the pirates, neither of them had little choice that day .. the choices are made after it all. Théo also learned that not all darksiders are bad. Something few Jedi will understand, or even expect ..

As Boo's head lulled forward and fell to the side landing on Théo's chest, for the final time, a small smile turned up the corners of his mouth as his hand raised and rested gently on his head among his dark blue hair, turning his gaze to look into his blue face, features untouched by time and so very childlike. The face of innocents? only when sleeping. Although there was still an innocences about him, he had lost it or rather, it was taken from him years ago.

It was not about Théo anymore, he had grown up. This whole thing, this relationship was about Boo, it is his time. For Théo at least, this relationship had grown from one of master and padawan to one of father and son. If Boo would have him as such.

It was around these thoughts that Théo realised his leg had gone numb and his back began to ache as it pressed hard against the arm of the sofa but he would not dare move as finally Boo was fast asleep but slowly he reached for the remote and tuned off the flick, the only light was a soft glow from the lamp at the far end of the room. It was going to be a long night. And it did not matter one little bit.

​

[member="Boo Chiyo"]​

 

[Micah tol Powl]

The young Pantoran stirred.

Blinking, the boy raised his head. The half-open, vacant gaze indicated that the youngling was not yet awake. Instead, he seemed dazed and confused as he looked around the familiar surrounds and seemed to wonder where he was or why he was here. The realization that he'd fallen asleep on the couch with Théo seemed to gradually sink in, along with the reason for his waking at what was likely an ungodly hour of the morning.

There was a slight rattle as the amphistaff vibrated her tail in protest of the boy moving. The biot had slithered itself in between the two bodies, coiling itself comfortably while wedged in place, and now seemed rather put out by the fact that half its make-shift crevice was shifting around.

Rolling off of both Théo and the couch, the boy made his way over to the refresher for a much needed bathroom break.

When he returned a moment later, he had a blanket he'd pulled from somewhere. Throwing the blanket over Théo and the sleepy not-so-little snake, the boy turned and stared blankly over toward the kitchen before staggering his way over that way.

Rummaging around the kitchen, the blue-skinned youngling pondered how one would go about making breakfast. He normally just got cereal for himself, when Théo wasn't there in the mornings, and so he didn't know a whole lot about preparing bantha bacon or nerf sausages.

He used to help [member="Irajah Ven"] make Wookiee cakes, a kind of breakfast cake that wasn't quite a bear claw but it wasn't a Dantooine flapjack either. It was kind of a fritter and kind of an old fashioned doughnut. Only shaped like a Wookiee... sometimes. It depended how it came out of the pan at the end.

Shuffling around the kitchen, the boy set to work at making breakfast for Théo.

Just not caf. He'd have to make his own caf. Because Boo honestly had no idea how to work the caf machine.

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"]​

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

The sudden shift in weight caused Théo to stir and finally find a comfortable position on the sofa, it had not been enough to wake him however after all, it had been a rough night with the storm booming just outside the window keeping him awake just in case Boo woke from it, and the pain in his back. He turned, his arm gently laying over something cold and strange to the touch but still, not enough to wake him, but the cold and strange thing slide out from his arm and coiled up on his chest, not happy with the sudden weight of his arm on its body. A forked tongue flickered tickling the end of Théo's nose, which he tried to bat away with his hand but the biot was persistent and Théo opened his heavy eyes to see Azi only inches away from his face, eye to eye.

Not exactly a lovely sight to see first thing in the morning.

"Boo?", Théo called out softly not wanting to startle Azi with any sudden movements or loud sounds, "I think, err .. I think Azi is hungry too". Kinda had that look in its eyes.

The noise from the kitchen told Théo Boo had not heard him, which was probably considering the whisper. His hand slipped slowly from the sofa to the floor, fingers searching to grab hold of something, anything that might help get the attention off him and just how tasty Théo might be. And Théo started to wander just how big this biot would grow, believing it had not reached it's full capacity, as it was Azi was large but not enough to devour Théo, yet that rationale had not crossed his mind at this point.

Finally his fingers wrapped around something hidden under the sofa, a small ball which he now waved in front of the snakes face at teasing distance. "F.. fetch", would it work? Only one way to find out, and so Théo threw the ball over the caf table toward the far wall. Azi's head turned to see where the ball vanished too, looked back at Théo before sliding off him to go fetch. Théo threw his legs over the edge of the sofa and stood up with relief, save for the sudden muscle spasm in his right side.

​

[member="Boo Chiyo"]​

 

[Micah tol Powl]

Théo used FETCH!

The biot's head tracked with the ball. Tightening its coils, the amphistaff took off like a streak of black lightning in pursuit of the small, round object.

It was SUPER EFFECTIVE!

In the kitchenette, the Pantoran had a large skillet tilted over a heating element as he scraped at the breakfast bread. Nothing had caught fire it seemed. At least, not yet. Using a spatula the boy awkwardly worked to flip a couple of cakes out onto a plate. He did a bit of a dance as one nearly got away from him, but he finally managed to get it onto the plate with the others. Then he started using a ladle to spoon out a bit more batter into the skillet.

Shooting back over the floor, the amphistaff coiled at Théo's feet with the ball in its mouth and its tail wagging happily. When he didn't move fast enough to her liking, Azi dropped the ball and used her snout to roll it toward him. Then looked back up with her tail wagging and started mew-ing at him.

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"]​

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

A snake with an identity crisis.

Azi meowed at him and wagged her tail, she had retrieved the small ball far quicker than Théo had anticipated but he took it up once more to throw for her before making his way into the kitchen to prepare caf. Théo took after his mother in this, needed the strong brew to fire up the brain cells before a thought could be summoned. He looked over to Boo, with flaying utensils but he had to admit breakfast smelt good, and his stomach agreed as it rumbled approval. "It should be me doing that", he said with a smile, but he was sure Boo had to get his own breakfast before today, a necessity of growing up alone and fending for himself for the most part of his childhood.

Today would be a rare day off for Théo, and he had hoped to send more quality time with Boo, not just as his master but .. just the two of them. "What do you think we should do today?", he said pouring the brown caf into a mug before taking a good healthy mouthful and turned to lean his back against the bench to wait for Azi to fetch and bring back to him.

"We could take my ship and get off planet for the day, somewhere warm maybe", they did not have to remain in IE space for that, in fact they would find it hard to locate a planet that was not ice bound in IE space. The Tarly would get them quickly to somewhere nice and pleasant.

​

[member="Boo Chiyo"]​

 

[Micah tol Powl]

"Warm?"

Wasn't he supposed to be Valkyri? Was he allowed to go to warm planets?

Flipping another Wookiee cake back and forth in the skillet, the young Pantoran flipped one of the cakes onto another plate and a second he chucked in the air.

Air Biot dropped the ball, coiling tightly before springing upward. The amphistaff got an impressive height off the ground with the jump, catching the flying foodstuff mid-air before falling back to the ground. Using it's coils, the amphistaff began to pull the sticky bun apart as it clamped down and started tearing off pieces to eat. But at least now she'd leave Théo alone.

For as long as she had food anyway.

The boy brought a plate with two Wookiee cakes over for Théo, and one for himself. They didn't really look like Wookies. He guessed that who ever taught [member="Irajah Ven"] had known what sorcery was required to make them look like actual Wookies, but none of the cakes that the Irajah ever made had. So... Boo's were kind of a lump of sweet bread and sticky glaze.

"Well, Azi would like that," the boy noted, as he sat down next to Théo.

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"]​

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

He stretched his back still trying to iron out the cramped muscle in his back and Boo presented him with a plate of sticky cake bread in a lump. To the eye, it didn't look all that appetising but looks can be deceiving and so Théo, not worrying about a fork, broke off a piece and popped it in his mouth. A little heavy on the sugar maybe, but it was good and he expressed his appreciation with a good hearty, "Mmm, not bad". He got stuck in realising now just how hungry he was and washed it down with a mouth full of caf.

"Good Azi will like the idea but what about you?", Azi will follow Boo no matter where they go, Théo wanted the day for Boo. "Anywhere you would like to visit?". He looked up from his plate to watch the young boy continue his cooking.

By now Azi had returned, a little sluggish in movement because of a large lump in her stomach which made her look like she had devoured the ball she had been fetching. And it would probably take a day or so before said food ball would be digested, but in the mean time it was a source of amusement to Théo. And with a chuckle, Théo leaned down from his stool and helped the biot to the table, placing her gently at the end for her to curl up and sleep if that is what she required now.

Azi was family after all, so hygiene was not an issue.

As soon as they had a destination, Théo would have the Tarly prepped and ready for them.

​

[member="Boo Chiyo"]​

 

[Micah tol Powl]

But what about you?

What about him? Honestly, [member="Irajah Ven"] used to do this same thing to him. And it frustrated him then, too. Sitting there, looking over the plate full of homemade sticky bun, the Pantoran gave the Valkyri a sidelong glare.

The problem was, Boo had no idea how Théo wanted him to answer the question. In the history of The Life of Boo, there weren't a lot of people catering to the boy's wants and desires. On the streets of Coruscant, it was enough to find a scrap of bread in the trash that you could scrape the mold off of. So, he'd learned to do without. As a slave, he'd been made to cater to the whims and desires of his master. It was a habit he'd benefited from in the Knights of Ren or the Primeval, making himself useful to the Supreme Leader or the Host Lord. Because useful servants were generally the one's allowed to go on living.

So, living on Ilum, with Théo, in an actual residence with a refresher and food -- not to mention the HoloStation, toys, and games... why on Nal Hutta would Boo want to go anywhere else?

Was he supposed to say Midvinter? Should he suggest re-visiting Rhen Var? There was nothing they could do on either planet that they couldn't do on Ilum, and without the travel.

"I just want to be with you an' Azi," the boy offered finally, opting for honesty as the frustrated expression gave way instead to one of genuine confusion at the question of what he wanted.

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"]​

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

"Hmm", a smile formed on his lips as he pushed his finished plate forward only to pick it up and move to the washer to place it there. The differences between the two of them was apparent, especially their up-bringing. Théo, as a child would do anything to get out and about, escape the view of his parents and on rainy days when trapped indoors, would run mad with lack of ability to explore. Which in turn would drive his parents mad trying to distract him and keep him out of mischief. Boo wanted to stay put. So that is where they would remain.

Once the plate had been put away, Théo stood next to Boo and folded his arms around him bringing him into a caring loving hug before his lips pressed to the top of the boys head for a fatherly kiss. Flashes of his own father doing the same to him, and the feeling of it, the security and love .. the safest place in the galaxy as far as Théo as a boy was concerned. Nothing could harm him when in his father's arms.

Théo pulled back enough to look down into Boo's face, "You look tired", no more than Théo did after having an uncomfortable night on the sofa. Yet the presence of darken circles under his eyes told the tale of a late night in front of the holovid. "A good idea to stay put and just relax". Ground rules?! this concept was new to Théo regarding another in his care and so he was winging it, like most parents he assumed.

"So what would you like us to do together?". And then he had a thought, "If you have nothing your heart is set on .. I have an idea".

​

[member="Boo Chiyo"]​

 

[Micah tol Powl]

The young Pantoran had found himself in a fight for the last bite of Wookiee cake.

Wielding his fork like a dagger, the blue-skinned boy was holding the amphistaff at bay as the serpentine glutton encroached upon the youngling's plate. Boo wasn't really thinking of eating the last bite. He wasn't really hungry anymore, so the boy was more or less just playing at this point.

Distracted by the biot, the boy hadn't paid any attention when Théo had gotten up. He was so used to being around the Jedi, that the man got close to him and Boo didn't so much as bat an eyelash. Then, he got pulled into a hug.

His fork arm pinned, the amphistaff shot forward, claiming victory in the form of the last bite of sticky bun there on the plate.

Théo kissed the top of his head. [member="Irajah Ven"] used to do that sort of stuff to him. And then, just like now, the young Pantoran wasn't really sure just what was going on.

"So what would you like us to do together?"

More questions about what he wanted to do. The boy fidgeted for a moment under Théo's gaze, uncertain of what he was supposed to say. The Pantoran was always looking for the right answer, because when you grew up as a Sith slave, you learned that the wrong answer was the one that made master angry. The wrong answer could get you killed.

He didn't think that Théo was going to kill him. But, could the wrong answer make Théo want to spend less time with him?

Could the wrong answer make Théo leave? Like the Irajah had left him?

They could curl up and take a nap together for all Boo cared. That actually sounded nice, now that he thought about it. But he dared not give voice to it, because he was afraid. "What's your idea?" the boy asked finally.

They should do that.

If Théo wanted to do it, then that had to be the right answer... right?

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"]​

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

There was something niggling at the back of Théo's mind, Boo was not being entirely 'honest' with him. Not that he was outright lying, it was more within the situation within their relationship which was one that had started so long ago. He was different, although that was when they were both kids and Théo had a different view of the world and limited experience with such things. He remembered Boo as being confident, acting on impulse at times or with an agenda that he was set to fulfill, but in retrospect it had all been done under the guidance of another, or rather .. for another's purpose.

Théo pushed back on his chair and stood up, he left the kitchen to go to his room and gather some things there .. two block of untouched or tarnished wood and a small bag of hand tools and he returned to the kitchen with them without saying a word. He place one of the blocks in front of Boo set the other down in his own place before sitting again across from him. From the bag of tricks, he took out a small chisel that was once him as a child, and another size enough for his large hands to work with.

Without a word, Théo began to work the wood along the grain, a slow deliberate stroke not deep, but curled the wood as he carved along its length. He did this a couple of times before waving the chisel toward the untouched block in front of Boo, "Give it a try", he returned to his work and a few moments passed.

A smile formed on his lips, as his mind returned to his own youth sitting with his father doing the same thing. The purpose of his father for doing at the time, was to quell Théo and calm him, and remove all troubling thoughts from his mind, to distract him from his wayward path. Whether it would be the same for Boo was another matter but it was worth a try, even if the young boy could find a sense of release for only a moment, it would be worth it.

"You know .. you don't have to do anything you don't want to. Not any more", another curl of wood fell to the table surface as Théo's piece began to take shape .. what it would turn into was yet to be determine by his mind. "If you want to set down those tools, you can .. it is your choice".

​

[member="Boo Chiyo"]​

 

[Micah tol Powl]

Théo got up and wandered off, leaving Boo with the cake-stuffed snek.

Picking up the fat and happy biot, the boy unceremoniously dumped the diva out onto the floor as Théo returned.

...with a block of wood?

As the piece of natural wood was deposited in front of him, the Pantoran could only stare. Then he looked over at where Théo had a similar piece of wood, which he was stabbing repeatedly with a small chisel.

What in gorram stank Coruscant was even going on right now?

From what Boo could tell, all Théo was doing was blunting the chisel. And managing to get little wood pieces everywhere. Little curls of wood. Rising up from out of his chair, the blue-skinned boy made his way around the table until he was pressed up against Théo, watching the man work as though to confirm he was really just stabbing the piece of wood repeatedly.

And not even all that effectively.

"What are you doing?" the boy asked, now morbidly curious about what even this was supposed to be.

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"]​