Private My Turn

[NPC Treasury]

There was a few times long ago when a troubled Kei Amadis had reached out to her. Sometimes it was out of anger, yet Kay always showed him compassion. She crossed into the Netherworld for him, strengthening their bond of friendship.

Yet that was shattered when she was taking to Purgatory. Everything had gone downhill from there. Even her rescue was surrounded in controversy, and the events thereafter did little to bring her hope. It was as though she was living in hell, yet one could suggest that it was entirely of her own making. She certainly believed that...

Kei,

I don't know where you are or what you're even up to these days, but I hope you are well. I own and live in a little tea shoppe on Altiria now, a far cry from palaces and estates. Much has happened though....The tea will be ready should you ever have the time to drop by.

~Kay

 

[Kei Amadis]

The message returned from Amadis would not have her waiting long, in fact, it had been but a day till in a typical Kei way it answered. Be right there!

Altiria

Journeys took him everywhere, constantly working with the wildcards to offer supplies and service, his old freighter a relic of his work and a second home. Coming to Altiria though was new. All in all it sounded like a good time to visit an old friend. The ambiguous statement’s freighter came in with a skip and a bump as always, then a small crunch as it finally decided to land. “Stop breaking my ship.” Amadis remarked to Patches who just shrugged. All lifelong friends aboard, to be honest, the ship broke itself these days with no effort at all. Glade in her hoverchair was supposed to be ‘resting’ while instead, she helped look after the younglings, which looked more like a parade of geese than an actual playtime session.

Saying goodbye to Zacka on the way out, the old Kage looked as wizened as ever, his hat and coat seemed to grow or he seemed to shrink, it was hard to tell. What was he a hundred now? For sure the size of cigar in his mouth never changed! From the exit hatch, Zacka’s puff of smoke filled the gap Kei left behind him.

Pulling his old green jacket around himself, and walking out alone to see what awaited him. Kei would never give up that jacket, the world could end and that Jacket would be floating through the debris. Black jeans were casual and the black boots well worn but clean, the family hololocket against the grey t-shirt the same as ever.

Though there was a happy almost ‘glade-like’ energy about him, he could feel this meeting would need some tact, well he was out of luck for that! But he could be a good ear and a friend when it counted. So it was one slightly grizzled scarred Jedi Master, walking stick, limp and stubbled face opened the tea shoppe door to see...

NPC Treasury

 

[NPC Treasury]

Well at least she knew that Kei Amadis was alive. And he was on his way. But how long that would take, she didn't know. Still, she'd be ready.

By the time that he had arrived, Kay was putting away some boxes of teas onto the shelves behind the counter for sale. For the moment her shoppe was closed for customers, yet she was stocking up for the time when she would reopen.

Hearing the door open, she looked over her shoulder, nearly dropping a few of the boxes before catching them. "Kei!.." She set the boxes down and dusted her hands off on her apron before rounding the counter and making her way to him. "Thank you for coming! Can I get you anything? Tea? Biscuits? Laundry service?" She motioned to his old jacket that still looked worse for wear.

 

[Kei Amadis]

Grin forming strongly, “tea would be grand,” and the grin firmed up as she pointed to his jacket, though laundry would be better! The Epicanthix put his walking stick on any coat racking by the door or leaned it up against the wall.

“Happy to come,” he looked about the tea shoppe taking it all in, the small nooks and crannies that shaped its personality. Bit older and a bit wiser since they’d last met, silvery streaks in his hair, a shine to the stubble and a scar down the cheek. “This is home?” Admiring her shop for a second, before soon walking over to where the boxes were.

“Let me.” Stacking and moving the boxes where she needed them if she let him. Somewhat insistent he be allowed to take some of the weight off. Ask anyone, Kei was a Master at stacking crates and boxes, with years of training. He’d stay there helping her move things around as long he was welcome, waiting for any tea to be prepared.

If she asked him what kind, he’d just say her own favorite, that or Jeru tea if she pressed. Now that Glade was back aboard the ambiguous statement, he’d developed a sweet tooth again.

NPC Treasury

 

[NPC Treasury]

Kay nodded and led Kei Amadis towards the back behind the counter. She set some water to boil and then let him pick out from her teas, before getting it prepared for him. "Thank you. And yes, this is home. I live in a small room upstairs."

She prepared herself some Sapir tea, her tea of choice, and then started sorting a plate of biscuits for the two of them while Kei put away the rest of the boxes. "What have you been up to? I haven't exactly been able to keep in touch with anyone. Not until lately at least."

 

[Kei Amadis]

“Envy the simple life, have a log cabin on Kashyyyk, when we are ever there.” Which wasn’t very often, the galaxy was a big place with a lot of hungry mouths to help and injuries to bandage.

What had Kei been up to? Rescuing people, defending temples, sith invasions, teaching, building hospitals and feeding hungry people, “work never stops,” he admitted. “Always something that needs doing.” Often on the rim, toward the more lawless planets that didn’t get the aid they needed. By now his list of logistical duties would run a small papermill dry to print, mostly run out of the back of a broken-down freighter which kept him off the grid.

Finishing up placing the boxes where they were needed, “hospitals, schools, some planets are worse off than others, a lot of time rebuilding.” Then rebuilding again, then again. His grin braced more tightly but held. "Flying the ambiguous, the ship's so old, people treat you like one of them." Even in the poorest places, it got a better reception than a brand new silver ship.

“Everyone loses touch,” Kei comforted. Remembering a lot of faces of friends or those that he'd served with, that he’d never see again. They might be dead now, or retired resting their feet up on a beach somewhere, never could tell. “Galaxy’s a busy place, hard to stay in touch.” He nodded reassuringly but understood the want to completely isolate, that was a feeling almost everyone went through at some point. You are, "not alone Kay. If you need someone." If not, no pressure.

As they stood, or following to a chair if they sat, he was letting her open up, not pushing. He’d only prod if he thought it’d help.
NPC Treasury

 

[NPC Treasury]

Kay nodded while listening to Kei Amadis and his exploits, all the while tending to the teas. As they were ready, she put them all on a tray and then led him over to one of the tables by the fireplace. She drew her shawl around herself after placing the tray on the table and sat down on one of the chairs.

She smiled a little at the mention of his old ship, yet it made her wonder how the Free Lady was doing. Was it still drifting off alone in space? Or had it been found with the bodies removed and the ship salvaged for parts? Kay honestly didn't know. Maybe it was better not to.

It was tough to know what was going on in the Galaxy. Altiria was so isolated. But there was still some news that she did get.

"Veiere's gone. He was slain by Praz...The Force was oh so kind enough to let me see it happen...I was going to move back with him. But now that's gone. I'm just....taking it one day at a time, until I decide what to do."

 

[Kei Amadis]

Amadis nodded, he had heard about the Jedi Master’s passing, there had been no formal ceremony like the old days when one of the Jedi passed, likely a private vigil instead. He had not realized they were together, and his tone changed. “I only met Veiere once, but in that time I saw he was a man of integrity.” The Epicanthix sipped his tea, placing the cup down and tapping her hand if he had a chance. Physically showing her he was here.

Leaning inward, he wanted to say, what if you hadn't seen it, because “not knowing can hurt.” Kei offered the small gesture that not knowing was sometimes worse, the endless question. So many people had come and gone, died with no one knowing where. He wondered how they two had been among the few to live this long. "Sorry Kay." He didn't move his hand, he was still here.

Wanting to offer more, anything that was offered in a time of grief was difficult, could hurt her as much as help. “My motivation is you.” Kei said honestly. “Whatever it is, I’ll help.” Sympathy on his face. This planet need not be isolated, she need not be alone. She didn’t even have to stay here, it was all for her to decide. She could rest, work, remember, whatever helped, “no wrong way of dealing with grief.” Kei comforted and would hug her in a second if it would help.

NPC Treasury

 

[NPC Treasury]

Kay was married to Veiere for over 20 years. Yet politics and a series of unfortunate events led them on different paths for the last couple of years. She missed those days when he stood at her side on Commenor as King. Those were the best years of their lives.

And now his was over.

She didn't move her hand as Kei Amadis placed it on hers. Instead she turned her hand over slightly so he could hold it.

Kay nodded in agreement towards his statement of not knowing. It was certainly better to know than to not.

"Thank you..." That was all that she expressed while she hugged him. It was good to be hugged; to be embraced in warmth instead of in battle. She held onto the hug for a minute or two before releasing him. "I'm just at a loss right now. I don't know where to go or what to do. Routine is what's getting me through right now." But she felt more or less like a ghost herself.

 

[Kei Amadis]

Retaining hold of her hand. “Natural, and what routine is best for somedays.” harder days, or when life was low. Kei admitted, “getting up, checking the crew are okay, checking the logs for the night, checking the work for the day, coordinating with the wildcards, calling into the temple for updates, stopping sith invasions, downtime,” spending time with his loved ones or friends when time allowed. He left those last details out for obvious reasons.

“When there feels less here,” he tapped his own chest with his free hand, “look out there. To others or the galaxy.” Everybody got lonely, lost direction, "only answer, hard as it is.” Serving others, building things, art, sport, meditation, socialising, clubs, societies, empires, military or religious service, that was down to the individual. The danger was for some Jedi, that they only lived for others, but “taking part of life as your own,” was how you filled any void. Selfishly or unselfishly it was the same effect, and being lonely only had one cure, people.

NPC Treasury

 

[NPC Treasury]

Kay furrowed her brows as she listened to Kei Amadis . Yes, she had her own routines here, her own tasks. It was a shoppe and shipping business. There were many customers ordering crateloads of her wares. But more often her teas and goodies supplied the underground and casino markets more than anything else.

"I work here. This is my own place and I do have customers besides myself. So...I am looking out for others. But as for the Galaxy....I don't belong out there. I think that my constant losses and suffering is a clear indication of that." Every time she had gained power it was removed by force and with pain. Lives were always lost and it was herfault. Kay didn't trust herself to go through that again. Nor did she expect anyone else to trust her either.

 

[Kei Amadis]

Amadis nodded sympathetically, he pushed too far, that was his way. Her pain and loneliness was going to come up if he was honest with her, and the reason why was now honestly expressed. He tapped her hand again if she let him, and didn't say anything for a time. Just staying there with her. She may or may not understand from that gesture that she could trust him to be here. Power came from within. All he could be was a safe space and a steady hand with her.

“Beautiful shop, can feel your hearts in it. It’s all about what you want.” Today especially. Didn’t have to go around leading people, fighting battles, or be involved in politics to connect to the outside world. “Lot of options Kay, and I'm here to help.” He sympathized but he wasn’t going to let her feel she was stuck with her old set of options, trapped or boxed in alone, and if he got another hurt reaction that was okay too.

Sipping her tea, he grinned, “want you to know that you are not alone, galaxy or not.” In fact, he opened up his pocketbook, which looked like it was frayed, well-traveled and matched his coat. The brown leather book had fifteen thousand different holocards with comm frequencies on the Master never actually used. Sliding one over that had the temple’s name on it at Kashyyyk, “could use some tea with heart delivered closer to home.”

NPC Treasury

 

[NPC Treasury]

Kay didn't move her hand away from Kei Amadis at all. Instead she just listened to him while staring at the table. "This is all that I can afford. My loans are paid off and now every little bit of profit goes towards something to make it cozier. I don't even have a means of travel anymore." All of the Arenais fortune she left for the kids. Kay didn't feel deserving of it at all.

"There aren't a lot of options for people like me, Kei. I should either be dead or in jail. Most would prefer the former. I am a hasbeen that caused more harm than good. Everything I touch falls to ruin and it'll happen here too." It almost did. That is until Caedyn Arenais came in and saved the day for her.

Kay sipped her tea, giving the Sapir leaves time to sooth her before she'd speak. As Kei slid the card over to her, she looked at it for a moment before palming it. "Thank you. I'll be sure to send only the appropriate teas befitting the Jedi." They wouldn't appreciate any of her harmful or truth serum kind of teas. Instead she'd give them the healing kinds.