Faction [NJO] Knighting Ceremony - Katherine Holt

[Colette]

Back straight, arms behind her back. Colette looked at the ceremony, listened as everyone spoke, and nodded her head when others moved ahead to speak to the newly knighted. Colette remembered all too well just how overwhelming it was to stand at the center of all that attention. The most respectful thing that Colette could do was to ease off the throttle for Kat a little and let everyone else get their praises in.

And after that speech, there was no shortage of reasons to at the very least give the redhead a hug. Alas, that wasn't quite one of Colette's strengths. She was happy in her somewhat distant little corner, nodding, smiling, and giving the occasional supportive nod once in a while when Kat looked in her direction.

Not one to really speak much, Colette enjoyed the moment for what it was. If their fight had been anything to go by Katherine was a worthy fighter. It would do the Order well to nurture that further.

 

[Kaelos Vryn]

Location: New Cov
Tags: Katherine Holt | Vera Noble | Anavi Vandala
Equipment: None​

​

Kaelos smiled towards both Vera and Anavi.

Vera had made him chuckle, her suggestion of a party if Braze Kai'el took him on as a Padawan was enough to get a grin. She'd also made the young Kiffar blush, although he'd tried not to show it. Her laughing about how he'd missed her and how it was cute and just slightly brought some warmth too his cheeks.

He didn't have chance to respond though before Avani introduced herself.

The young Jedi listened as she introduced herself and described where she had been training. Kashir was an unknown planet to the young boy but he made a mental note of it for future. He'd do some research on it at a later date. He also noted the gesture she made towards him, as if she asking him if he wished to introduce himself.

"Kaelos, Jedi Initiate" he introduced himself, offering Anavi his hand lightly. "As someone who's only recently come out of my shell and started mingling myself, I recommend it. All the Jedi I've met so far appear to be good people" he commented, casting his eyes first to Vera Noble before then casting them over to Braze Kai'el and Aadihr Lidos . All three of them were indeed good people.

It was quite impressive they were all in the same place as well.

"This one is a lightning bottle" he laughed, gesturing towards Vera. "We have fun though, and that's the main thing" he added onto it. It's the first time he'd truly admitted how much they'd had during their little rulebreaking adventure.

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

As Kahlil swept his blade over Katherine's shoulders, Cora looked on with a smile.

Though she had not been particularly close to the newly minted Knight Holt, she felt pride for her all the same. All Jedi faced their own challenges, and while some faltered, Katherine had emerged from her struggles as a woman of great strength and character.

Coruscant had not been built in a day, and their newest Knight knew this all too well. When the time came to clap, Cora would join the crowd in congratulating Knight Holt.

She hung back, watching as friends and mentors approached to offer their well wishes. Cora recalled the rush of emotion from kind words during her own knighting, and it was heartening to witness their happiness from afar.

Katherine Holt @jedi gang

 

[Aadihr Lidos]

Outfit: Clothes, Earring, Bangle
Weapons: Walking stick / Lightsaber Pike

"Nah, no mentor and I haven't had much time for studies. Crazy chit happenin' lately. I feel like I haven't taken a breath since that ballistakinesis class. How've you been, man?"

The admission saddened Aadihr, but he kept his face cheerful. The weight of life wearing down on the Padawan was heavier than one so young should have to face, but the galaxy was callous at times. Frequently, it seemed.

" I'm sorry to hear it. Thankfully I've had a few moments to appreciate the smaller things, but there have been challenges on my end as well. Doing things I'd never thought I'd have to do. I hope things get easier, that peace finds you soon." He replied, voice earnest. Faintly, the unhealing Sith-cursed burn that engulfed his left arm ached under the bandaging that perpetually adorned the limb now.

"It does feel like an age ago, that class. Could you believe went on a paranoid investigation on Kahlil's past because of that? Turns out, I was just out of the loop on publically available knowledge" Aadihr continued trying to lighten the mood with slight self deprecating humor.

Braze had waited patiently to talk to one of them, and as Aadihr finished his sentence, he turned to include the new field-annointed Knight in the conversation.

The auras between Diogo and Braze indicated some history, tension that Braze did not hold onto - Aadihr had never spoken to both of them at the same time, but was not surprised that they knew each other.

"Come to think of it you have a new padawan to teach as well yes Aadihr?"

"Ah yes. Kahlil's son, in fact, Aris Noble . He's... Well he's stronger, faster, and has better senses than I do, so I mostly say stuff that I think sounds wise and occasionally he gleans some meaning beyond me from it." Aadihr laughed, scratching the back of his head. It wasn't entirely true, just an exaggeration of how Aadihr felt teaching the young Noble, in truth he spent nights writing down ideas of how he could challenge the boy on an intellectual and emotional level. He had strength in spades but his calm demeanor made it hard to read him.
"But he's also honest and kind - I really am surprised that he hasn't grown tired of my teachings yet."

Aadihr's mind flickered to Brander - not officially a Padawan, but with his determination and a miracle he may truly be one yet.

Braze Kai'el | Diogo Talon​

 

[Diogo Talon]

Tags: Aadihr Lidos + Braze Kai'el

Vera Noble noticed him gazing at her, because of course she did. Diogo smiled sheepishly and darted his shameful eyes away, hoping his cheeks weren't noticeably flush. Thankfully her attention quickly shifted away.

" I'm sorry to hear it. Thankfully I've had a few moments to appreciate the smaller things, but there have been challenges on my end as well. Doing things I'd never thought I'd have to do. I hope things get easier, that peace finds you soon."

When Diogo turned back to Aadihr, his cheerful face was a welcome sight, though the boy couldn't muster the same level of optimism. Especially not after recent events. "Thanks, but hope's a delicate thing right now. Not sure if I have any, to be honest. What happened to your arm?"

"It does feel like an age ago, that class. Could you believe went on a paranoid investigation on Kahlil's past because of that? Turns out, I was just out of the loop on publically available knowledge" Aadihr continued trying to lighten the mood with slight self deprecating humor.

"You and me both," Diogo snickered. "I think the three of them should have just fought or kissed, but whatever."

"It's good to see you out and about, Diogo."

"Yeah," Diogo said uneasily. "Good to see you, too."

"I wasn't aware you were seeking a mentor," Braze added, his voice carrying a light curiosity as he attempted to keep the conversation flowing.

"Was there anyone in particular you were hoping to catch the eye of?"

Braze's light curiosity made Diogo uncomfortable. Not having a mentor bothered him and that was a hard thing to admit. It was particularly acute in times like these, having seen Khalil swelling with pride when he knighted Kat. There was a saying about not being able to miss what you never had, but Diogo wasn't sure that was true.

"Nobody in particular," Diogo admitted. "Beggars can't be choosers." Chit, that might have come out the wrong way. Diogo tried his best to pivot the conversation. "There's somethin' different about you, Braze," he acknowledged, now that he was getting a better look at the Echani, but he couldn't put his finger on it. "Did you get a face lift or somethin'?"

"But he's also honest and kind - I really am surprised that he hasn't grown tired of my teachings yet."

"There's still time."

 

[Braze Kai'el]

TAGS: Diogo Talon Aadihr Lidos

He stifled the beginning of a laugh, politely covering his mouth to keep a smile from creeping onto his lips, trying to remain composed.

"No... nothing like that... Do you have a preferred path in mind once you find a mentor, Diogo?" Braze asked curiously, perhaps wanting to see where Diogo envisioned himself in the Order.

He had already asked Kaelos Vryn many questions and given him a task to test his merit, his quality of character, and other qualities that couldn't be measured by skill alone. Truthfully, Braze had taken a keen interest in all the Initiates who had yet to be chosen, searching for a student to whom he could impart something meaningful—someone he could genuinely help shape into a stronger Jedi.

He wasn't entirely sure which one to choose just yet, but he knew his research was essential.

There were so many promising candidates—fresh-faced, kind-hearted, well-meaning Jedi hopefuls. But which one would he be able to guide most effectively? Who would benefit the most from what he had to teach? That was the struggle weighing on him now.

Some Masters, like Jonyna Si , had chosen to take on more than one Padawan at a time, though that was far from traditional. Braze was also keenly aware of his own age compared to the available candidates. The weight of that fact lingered in the back of his mind. There was simply a lot to consider.

He turned his smile toward Aadihr.

"I'm certain you're giving it the time and attention it deserves. Students have a way of teaching their teachers as well—or so I'm told. I hope it's an enlightening journey for the both of you."

​

 

[Katherine Holt]

Katherine smiled warmly as Valery Noble stepped forwards and pulled her into a hug. “I wouldn’t be here without you.” She replied, returning the gesture equally as a close. “Thank you Valery, for everything.” It wasn’t the first time she had spoken those words to her, but the weight of them hadn’t lessened in the slightest.

The newly anointed Knight chuckled quietly, watching as Valery hugged Kahlil, kissing him on the cheek. Katherine knew that somewhere in the crowd Vera Noble was pulling a face in response to her parents.

Katherine slowly walked down to be amongst the crowd, shaking hands and thanking those that congratulated her. Connel Vanagor and Kaelos Vryn in particular. But even amongst the craziness, the redhead could feel a spike of energy ramping up somewhere else within the crowd.

From an all too familiar presence.

"Kit Kat!"

The redhead turned in time as the ball energy that was Azurine came barreling into her. So much so that she managed to push Katherine back a little. Never did she imagine that the first occasion to be grateful for her new body would come in the form of being tackled-hugged by the Iridonian.

“Hello Azzie,” she replied, a warm smile on her face as she reciprocated the hug. “Thank you for being here.”

 

[Azurine Varek]

Wings To Fly

Outfit: Clothing/Armor | Glove | Right Arm | Talisman
Weapons: Lightsaber 1 | Lightsaber 2 | Hook Swords

The moment lingered, warm and grounding despite the buzz of the celebration around them. She had seen the struggles, the sacrifices, the moments of doubt, and the pain that had been etched into her friend's heart. And now, here she was—Katherine, knighted. Eventually, Azzie loosened her grip, though she still kept a firm hold on Katherine's shoulders. She sure was a lot taller than expected, Azzie herself barely standing at more than five foot four inches.

"Thank me?" Azzie scoffed, pulling back just enough to grin up at her, golden eyes gleaming. "As if I'd be anywhere else, Kit Kat! You think I'd miss this?" She gave Katherine a fake pout and gasp of exasperation for good measure before pulling her back into another fierce hug.

"I'm so kriffing happy for you," she said, voice thick with emotion she wasn't even trying to hide. "Like, 'screamed-so-loud-I-startled-a-Jedi-Master' happy."

Eventually, she took a step back, having to look up for her violet eyes to meet Katherine's. "Son of a sarlacc, you look so great!" She grinned, not just commenting about how happy she looked, but also how beautiful her aura had become. It wasn't nearly as laced with pain as it had been before, the patterns of hopelessness practically being erased. Seeing her like this almost brought a tear to her eyes.

"Oh chit, I have something for you!" Before Azzie could let herself forget, she quickly reached into her belt pocket to pull out a ribbon-wrapped box. Once opened, it contained a beautifully hand-carved necklace with multiple different tiny beads, but the centerpiece bead was the most intricate, the sparkling crystal inlayed into it practically giving off a pulse of it's own.

"Congratulations, Knight Katherine," Azzie teased, her grin wide and genuine. "You earned every second of this. Who knows, maybe I'll be next."

Katherine Holt | OPEN​

 

[Aadihr Lidos]

Outfit: Clothes, Earring, Bangle
Weapons: Walking stick / Lightsaber Pike

Aadihr couldn't help but smile when he detected Azurine Varek hugging and delivering the gift she had prepared for Katherine Holt .

"There's still time."

Diogo's quip earned a snort-laugh from Aadihr, who nodded in agreement as his hand moved to cover his mouth.

"I'm certain you're giving it the time and attention it deserves. Students have a way of teaching their teachers as well—or so I'm told. I hope it's an enlightening journey for the both of you."

" That's certainly been the case - I just hope I can teach enough to repay all I've learned, I suppose. "

Taking a bit more somber tone, Aadihr continued, "I guess I never really got to congratulate you on the knighthood. It... It didn't seem appropriate in the moment." Despite the celebratory words, the tone was more reminiscent of mourning. Ord Providence was a... a challenging time.

Aadihr shifted his focus from Braze to Diogo and back. "Braze, are trying to recruit a Padawan of your own already?"
Not that it was a bad idea, just...

Aadihr discarded the thought. Braze was young, but he had earned every step along their path, and he shouldn't project any personal insecurities Aadihr had about his own unpreparedness with Aris.

"I'm sure you'll do a great job, I just hope you find one who can keep up," Aadihr continued.

"And the right mentor will find you, in time," he said back to Diogo.
The era of masters like his own going unchecked was long past.

Diogo Talon | Braze Kai'el​

 

[Eloise Dinn]

Normally Eloise wouldn't have bothered to attend a knighting ceremony. It felt like there had been a lot of those lately, mostly involving people she didn't know. But she did sort of know Katherine Holt - they had been paired up on a mission together way back during the aftermath of the Mandalorian invasion of Ukatis. So had Albrecht, who was noticeably absent from the ceremony. Eloise knew why, but she wasn't telling.

Eloise joined in the applause when Katherine was knighted. The winged girl was almost immediately inundated with well-wishers, making any kind of personal exchange difficult. But Eloise still elbowed her way through the crowds long enough to say "Congrats, Katherine," before leaving her alone in the company of her close friends.

What now? Well, Eloise was naturally inclined to gravitate toward her boyfriend, the fact that Diogo Talon was currently conversing with Braze Kai'el notwithstanding. As far as she knew, she and Braze were on neutral terms. She had no idea that Diogo had taken it upon himself to defend her against the white-haired twerp's insults, or Vera Noble 's for that matter. Besides, she'd never met the Miraluka before, but he seemed chill. She started toward them.

"...I'm sure you'll do a great job, I just hope you find one who can keep up. And the right mentor will find you, in time."

Eloise caught the tail end of what Aadihr Lidos was saying. "You're already a Knight?" she asked, clocking Braze's lack of a braid. "Congrats." She was admittedly a little incredulous. How old was Braze, fifteen, sixteen? There were great Jedi who were well into their twenties before they were knighted. She turned to the Miraluka and smiled. "Sorry to butt in, but Dio is the only person I really know here. I'm Eloise. Hey, weren't you at that ballistakinesis lesson?" Then her gaze flicked toward Diogo. "I didn't know you were looking for a master."

 

[Diogo Talon]

Tags: Aadihr Lidos Braze Kai'el Eloise Dinn

Oh, that's why Braze looked different. His braid was gone. Duh. "Congrats on Knighthood, man."

Eloise came out of nowhere. She didn't know about Diogo's impassioned defense of her. Braze didn't seem to care, but it made Diogo uncomfortable nonetheless. Still, his expression softened at the sight of her in that classic puppy dog way. He quickly shifted to El's side and subtly, but affectionately caressed the small of her back.

"I didn't know you were looking for a master."

"It never came up," he shrugged. "Maybe I was just waiting for you to get knighted and take me on." That was either the greatest or the worst idea. Either way, it was hilariously impractical.

"No... nothing like that... Do you have a preferred path in mind once you find a mentor, Diogo?"

"Idunno, dude. Just going with the flow right now. How does someone even decide?" The question was rhetorical, but he was open to any sagely wisdom this ragtag group had to offer.