Private Meeting By Moonlight (Shiraine Bennet)

[Rylan Kordel]

Naboo Lake Country

One could lose themself in the beauty of Naboo's sights and sounds, especially the Lake Country, which is where Rylan found himself this night. Taking a little time to himself on the Planet the Knights Obsidian now found to be their base of operations, but instead of lounging around their base, he made his way to other locals, each day taking in a different site. This night he felt the pull to wander into the Lake Country, a place he heard of many times and saw in holos constantly, but never got the chance to see for himself in all his long years, so now seemed the perfect time to escape to it for a day or two.

Finding himself a nice spot near the waterfalls, the former chapter master set out a blanket and sat down, he spent time just looking at the water, watching it almost mindlessly, trying to forget what had happened, what he'd seen... It was working, he was finding himself relaxed for the first time in what felt like weeks. Changing his position, the knight took a deep breath, then slowly released it as he fell into a trance-like state, meditating on the events of his life, on every detail that brought him to this point, and what it all might mean for his future.

It was in this session of meditation that he saw her, the ghostly figure he'd seen in so many dreams and meditations, flame-like red hair, thin, tall, and floating across the surface of the earth. He felt like she was appearing to him more and more lately, and he never knew why or what was her meaning and purpose?

Shiraine Bennet​

 

[Shiraine Bennet]

She'd given up on being cooped up, pretending she was like everyone else, a good month after arriving to Naboo. Truth was, the thing that set her apart from the average denizen of the galaxy was the same thing that made her unable to (or not needing to) sleep more than a scant few hours on her good days. Since the tragic fire that cut the Ee'everwest family in two, and took from her the ready, companionable discourse with their eldest son, Kintel... nightmares of him being engulfed by flames still harmed what little sleep she required, on more nights than she wanted, and she didn't want it at all. Most nights, since moving to the Lake Country, she took to wandering the picturesque scenery of the region alone, or gazing upon the stars which were so much more plentiful further away from the lights of Theed.

Or, on other nights, she practised what she knew, what little she had been taught of the power she carried. The few things she had been given to assist her beleaguered form, among them healing, and... levitation. In these late hours, seeing another being was rare, most of Naboo slept, and certainly no-one came out this way in the dark. Aside from her, that is. It was such that, when she turned back from walking in one direction to float in the other and give her legs a rest, to see a man there along the waterfalls where there hadn't been one before was a surprise that sent a frisson of panic through her at being seen like this, giving her pause, and the realisation that she had been seen with her feet disconnected from the earth, anyway.

And there are more alike to me on Naboo now. Even more since... what was it they called it?

Her bright violet eyes slipped shut, and she breathed in, then out, opening them again, and continued to float, this time with light purpose, nearing ever closer to the seated man, teased ginger locks faintly blowing out in her wake, the skirt of her pale dress trailing also...

Maybe he can't sleep...?

Chaos Nano: 356 Words

Rylan Kordel

 

[Rylan Kordel]

What would normally blue eyes opened an amber hue as he was feeling quite irritable at his lack of being able to decern what these visions meant, only to now be seeing the woman from the vision meter feet away. Rylan felt pensive, but also intrigued by this, predicting the future was never a strong suit in his youth and early days of Jedi training, so when things he saw in meditation and dreams actually happened, he was always a bit surprised.

Tilting his head a little to one side, he studied the woman, watching and appraising her, trying to figure out who and what she was, and why he had seen her so often in his visions, even when he was young he had this image in his mind. He would admit she was beautiful if a little bit foreboding floating there like some kind of specter in the night, their eyes would meet, and she would probably see the mixed frustration, confusion, and familiarity in his eyes as he just kept watching quietly still.

“All these years I’ve seen your face, yet I never knew if you were actually real, or the force being as eluding and deceiving as ever.”

He spoke softly, but there was power in his voice, although contained and held in check, it was hard not to notice it in some way. Finally, he straightened his head, still watching the figure in front of him, one brow arching a bit, as he appraised her once again, whatever she was, it did have him fascinated quite a bit, probably more than it should.

“So then, are you some form of a ghost, an amalgamation of the force, or just a woman out for a….” he looked towards her feet a moment before a slight smile formed on his lips “moon night wander?”

It had occurred to him he could have said something about her levitating over walking, but he was sure if she was a real woman she’d probably been asked or heard barbing jokes many a time over it, and it was not his place to throw insults and crude behavior at a stranger, especially not on a world where he was a guest. His eyes traveled back up once more to meet her face, this time the appraisal lesser than before, and mostly just to show that he was paying attention to whatever it was she may have to say in response to his questions.

Shiraine Bennet

Chaos NaNo: 412​

 

[Shiraine Bennet]

She didn't get too close: there were too many reasons to keep a distance, the least of these being that it was simply proper. The remainder were born out of caution from several different directions; as such, Shiraine ceased to encroach upon him at a distance of one metre, and all the fluttering caused by her gliding forward motion ceased. Hands held together in front of her, resting against her still floating form, as she listened with a patient ear, for much of her life had required such patience overall. Violet eyes took in the lines that made his face, the amber set within it, while he divulged his claims to have seen her before, again and again, the implication being that of a recurring dream.

It was surprising, and not something she knew how to respond to, but the tone and weight of his words gave no indication of an attempt to hook her singular interest, or gain purchase in her heart. No, there was confusion, torment, demand, nigh-imperceptible notes in the soft volume in which he spoke, belied considerably in his gaze, which also held recognition, but she was certain she had never seen him before. Her gaze broke away, skirting to one side, her mind flooded with thoughts and considerations. The Force was present, here... Shiraine's eyes returned to him, finding herself subject to mildly enthralled scrutiny, and unable to control the rouge that coloured her cheeks, under the attention. He questioned her realness, causing her to look herself over, this way and that, the realisation that she looked very much the spectre added a few further shades of colour to her embarrassed blush, until his attention shifted to her feet.

"I..." she blurted, wide eyed, descending slowly, carefully to the earth, "...am no ghost!"

His eyes found her face again, his gaze now more pleasant and light; bare feet made contact with the ground, and she momentarily wavered. She had been trying, more and more, away from watchful eyes, to rely on her cane less and less. Progress had been made before... everything, but tragedy drove her to shift her focus away from her self, and the reliance regrew like a crutch, just as much mental as physical. Steadied now, she collected herself, becoming calm, second over second.

"The Force?" an absent wondering, given her need of it in a number of ways, "That could be said," her mouth forming a cordial smile, "but no, just a woman, I'm afraid."

Just? Hardly. But that was for her to know and for maybe no-one else to ever find out.

"You must have been unable to sleep, being out at such a late hour..."

Chaos NaNo: 446 Words

Rylan Kordel

 

[Rylan Kordel]

The smiles on his face softened a little bit, his eyes closing as he took a deep breath, while his head tilted back, a million thoughts drifting through his mind, before he finally opened his eyes again, “Too bad about not being a ghost, could have at least been a fun story.” he teased. Eventually, Rylan offered the woman a seat near by, if she was so inclined at least, “Sleep is… a precarious mistress, and one who seldom comes to ease my mind.” he mused slightly, before glancing at her again, “I imagine the same goes for you?”

He shifted slightly, he still sat cross-legged, but now leaned a little, resting his elbows on his knees, hands clasping in front of him, his eyes appraising everything around him, it was nice to be somewhere quiet and peaceful for a moment, but now his curiosity and interest was piqued by this new arrival. Resting his bearded chin on his hands, he tilted his head slightly, “So who taught you how to do that?” the question was clearly about her ability to float, though it lead to the deeper question about her teachings, or if she was just naturally so attuned to her abilities.

“Mmm apologies, I forgot my manners. I am Rylan Kordel, of the Obsidian Knights, former chapter master of one of the schools. And you would be Miss?” he was almost embarrassed that he hadn’t introduced himself more appropriately or sooner, it was unlike him to be so unprofessional with others. He offered an even more polite smile, wondering if the woman would at least stay and chat awhile.

Shiraine Bennet

Chaos NaNo: 271
Overall Chaos NaNo: 1985

 

[Shiraine Bennet]

In truth, floating may have given her legs some respite, but such an act used up energy too; as such, she was more thankful than proper when he offered her a seat next to him. Carefully, in a manner well-practised countless times, she used some of that same power that let her gracefully move over the land to lower herself to sit, tucking the skirt of her dress along with her legs to one side, and laying her slim, long-fingered hands on her lap, one on top of the other, and sat up straight. Standing over him for too much longer would have been awkward, and an eventual pain in the neck.

"Sleep and I have an... unusual relationship," she admitted, watching him shift to perhaps find more comfort; closer, now, she could get a better look at his face, and found it easy to look on, bearded as her father had been, but when his countenance tilted toward her, she averted her gaze - it was rude to stare, "Oh, my nursemaid," Shiri replied to his asking after the acquisition of her abilities, bright yet sad fondness warming her words, "Miss Emira taught me what she thought I needed."

'To cope with being broken' were the unsaid words. It wouldn't be obvious that her childhood had been one of physical fragility and pain, due to some growth away from it, and that she lived long enough to be here, now, was thanks to those teachings, in part. After some moments, the memories floated on, and she returned her attention to her present company, listening attentively as he introduced himself as one of the Knights Obsidian, recognition of the organisational name apparent in her face with the raising of her brows and a soundless 'oh!' on her lips. Teyla Ee'everwest was one of them, was she not?

"It would appear we've both been remiss in our manners!" Pretending a curtsy, as much as one could while seated, she introduced herself, in kind, "I am Shiraine Bennet, of House Bennet, of Islimore," she smiled warmly, honestly, "and it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mister Kordel."

Many months on Naboo had largely disabused her of the notion that she was being hunted after her being secreted away from the world of her birth, else her introduction might have been more limited. That was three members of the Knighthood she could now count amongst her acquaintances, more bolstering to decisions she was trying to make. Decisions that caused her pacing this very night. Was this, now, speaking to this man, what was called a 'sign'? Emira had been steeped in such mysticism and superstition, but Shiraine was sure she couldn't believe such things, the older she got. Coincidence was more likely. She wondered what Morrigan's thoughts were on the shamanistic ways of Islimore's past, which Emira espoused, or if the former priestess knew of their existence at all.

"May I ask... where do you call home? Where are you from?"

She was genuinely curious, and with so many of the Obsidian Knights now on Naboo, there was a fair chance she could meet many more that were from other places, as she was. There was so much of the galaxy she didn't know, for all but the past handful of months of her life had only been on the world of her birth. She could thank the gods that she had been shipped to somewhere so idyllic, and had been the guest of old friends of her father, that welcomed her without reservation. It made the adjustment far easier than it might have been otherwise, but things couldn't remain this way forever, and she knew it. Further change would be on her terms, if it could be helped.

Rylan Kordel

Chaos NaNo: 626 words

 

[Rylan Kordel]

"A pleasure to meet you, Miss Bennet, can't say that I've had the pleasure of visiting Islimore as of yet though." the master knight was slightly amused at the fact, for as well-traveled as he was, there were still so many worlds he had yet to have seen in the galaxy.

Offering a slight smile at the question of where he called home, Rylan couldn't help but wonder that himself sometimes, given his long and complicated history, "I could call many planets home over the centuries. I don't really remember where I was born, but I was raised on Coruscant for many years." his memories took him back to his days in the temple as a young padawan of the Jedi Order, and even into his knighthood, the taking of his own padawan learner, "Then things changed, and I became a wanderer for many years" decades and centuries more like "More recent times had me in the Vylmira Sector."

How things and times changed he mused silently to himself, watching the redhead once again with intrigue, his mind pondering the extent of her training and abilities, "So I assume then you've lived your whole life using these abilities, how much do you really know or understand of them?"

Shiraine Bennet