Faction [NJO] Restore Rebuild Relief

[Shan Pavond]

​

Breathe. That was one of the most important parts of public speaking. Sure, Shan wasn't talking to the Senate, diplomats or even the general public but in his eyes, he was talking to something even more important. The future of the Jedi. The next generation...alongside some of his seniors who possibly may show up to see what the class was all about. There was at least one of his seniors he'd assume would be coming. Jonyna Si , one of the members of the Jedi Council and who's role was quite linked to his current plan.

The archives could have possibly been a good place to hold the class, but Shan had decided on holding it out in the temple gardens. Fresh air did wonders for the mind and he doubt that every Padawan or youngling would enjoy being couped up in the archives. Some of them would, and those were the students Shan would have been great to teach...but he wanted to push himself out of his comfort zone. Find the students that he might not be a good match up with. This class was going to be a learning experience for himself as much as it was going to be for the younger Jedi.

"Good day everyone. I'm Knight Shan Pavond. Though if you feel comfortable, please just call me Shan. In the classroom, we are all students. Now I know some of you might be excited at the idea of working on your lightsaber techniques, or learning new things you can do with the Force...but today is going to be more of a theoretical, yet vital lesson for your duties as a Jedi. Far more of a...free-flowing lesson than an actual lecture. I want you all to use your minds."

Was he talking too much? Was he being too professional? No. No. He had to focus on the lesson. There were quite a few datapads spread across the gardens on little desks that Shan had moved out here himself and in the middle of all of the desks was a bright Galaxy Map, colour-coded showing different territories of the various groups across the Galaxy.

"As you can see here, the Galaxy is vast and large. As Jedi, it is our duty to try and protect the Galaxy as well as we can, which in current times is quite a strenuous task from the various threats we have. The Dark Empire, the Sith Order and the Neo-Crusaders are facing us against various different sides. Yet as much as we help to defend the borders of the Alliance...We also have to rebuild."

The Mirialan fiddled about with a remote, causing a few planets amongst the border of Alliance space to flash a bright red, flashing at a steady pace. Mykr, Hapes, Onderon to name a few on the side of the Crusaders. A few flashing amongst the Sith Border and then the largest one flashing, right next to the Dark Empire rot in the heart of the GA, Coruscant. Shan then put the remote back into his pocket.

"As you can see here, there are plenty of planets that are in danger of being attacked. But that is not what I'm worried about the most. No. Instead what I'm worried about is the aftermath of an attack. The best ways we can try to help rebuild the planet. Rebuild the population's hearts and minds. What can we do to make relief efforts easier? Here's a simple idea as an example to you all. Take Onderon for example. It is common for Mandalorians to use flame based weaponry or explosives that can cause serious burns. A simple way to help this is to keep a storage of medical supplies on a nearby planet. Say for example..."

Shan stepped over towards the Galaxy map, rubbing his chin as if he was in thought before raising his index finger to point at a small moon in a sector a small distance away from Onderon.

"Telti. Not only is it nearby, but it also is covered in various domes that we can keep our supplies hidden in. Possibly work on digging tunnels under the surface as well, to keep the supplies safe from any aerial attacks as well. Now. With that example done, I want you all to work as either individuals or as groups to figure other avenues we can take to help the relief effort. Feel free to look amongst the datapads if need by, and I am here for any questions."

 

[Kaelos Vryn]

Location: Courscant Temple
Equipment: N/A
Tags: Shan Pavond ​

Kaelos cast his eyes around the temple gardens.

When he'd been informed he had been signed up to a class with a guest tutor, he wasn't entirely sure how to feel. On one hand, it was an opportunity to show off his abilities to another Jedi Knight or Jedi Master who could take him on as a Padawan and free him from the repetative nature of Jedi Temple classes. On the other hand, it meant that the class could be on anything.

Some guest classes, like the one hosted by Aadihr Lidos had been quite exciting whereas others had been very boring. He vaguely remembered one extremely dull afternoon spent talking about the agricultural corps. He only vaguely remembered it because he'd spent the majority of the afternoon trying not to fall asleep in the corner of the room.

The only thing that had kept him going was knowing that it was the final class of the day and that he would be left alone in the temple library to conduct his own learning. He'd learned early on that the temple would keep repeating subjects and so he had taken matters into his own hands and had given up his free time voluntarily to study the old scriptures of the Jedi.

Well, those he had access to anyway.

He was only a Jedi Initiate after all, not even taken on by a master yet and so not able to wear the title of Jedi Padawan. That meant the information that he could access was limited. Sure, there was still more knowledge than he would ever be able to study and retain but much of it was knowledge on plants and wildlife and the galaxy at large. There wasn't a lot he could access in the force.

The young Jedi was almost defeated when he reached the gardens of the Jedi Temple and begun listening to the Jedi Knight. He was hopeful they'd be studying aspects of the Force he'd not yet dabbled in, instead they were focusing on how to assist with relief efforts and how to rebuild civilisations.

Kaelos took a small breath and lightly shook his head, pulling himself together. Whilst it wasn't what he was wanting to learn, the Jedi Knight made an extremely valid point. Protecting civilisations, helping rebuild them after incidents. All of that was the true duty of a Jedi and it was something that Kaelos himself would be expected to do upon earning the rank of Jedi Knight.

Determined to make the most out of the lesson, he began to cast his eyes around to look for a group he could join.

 

[Tigris]

The slender, athletic woman was grateful that the class was held in the gardens, the change of scenery alone seemed to render her more willing and apt to learn. She lingered near the back, hovering over one of the desks and its display. Tigris was eager to learn. She was in the process of unlearning as well, replacing the Seyugi assassin doctrines that had ruled her a lifetime, and almost a millennium ago, with the Jedi Code. They were near opposites, as were the side of the Force upon which they drew.

The learner had traded her more casual garments worn on Jakku for more traditional robes. Her long dark hair was gathered in a loose bun at the back of her head, while a length remained loose to brush against her shoulders. The instructor began to speak, and Tigris' dark eyes fixed on the Knight. He was young for a knight, she thought, but had obviously earned his place in the Order. The subject of the class, and the matters Knight Pavond discussed, were a change from much of what she knew, or even learned since becoming a Jedi.

In her past life, she was trained to kill and steal. Since her thaw and conversion, she had seen wartime work as a jedi more than than peacetime. The concept of a responsibility of the Order to help restore and rebuild, and plan for it, was something Tigris had not considered.

Her eyes lowered to the holo display of the galaxy as he spoke watching the colors change as he identified specific sectors. Tigris' gaze lifted, sensing eyes on her. She met the eyes of the Kiffar teen nearby, whom she had passed a time or two in the hallways, offering him a subtle nod of her head.

Shan Pavond Kaelos Vryn

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAG: Shan Pavond Kaelos Vryn Tigris

Being the Sentinel of Harmony meant Jonyna had a variety of jobs. Running the Service Corps was one, but another was assisting in classes like this. Shan Pavond was a familiar face, even if she hadn't seen him in quite some time. She remembered the days when he was just starting out, same as her really. And while she had the excuse of previous experience, Jonyna had always felt a kinship with the last generation of padawans. The ones that had been brought up in the relative peace of the last few years, before the rise of the Dark Empire. Sure, the sith had always been a looming threat, and the Enclave had come and gone, but now this newest generation was being raised once more in times of turmoil.

Shan was a good student, if her paperwork within the realms of her Council duties were anything to go by. Jonyna didn't keep too much on an eye on padawans these days, but Shan often fell under her umbrella as a jedi who focused much of his time on medical care and relief work.

She watched from the front of the crowd, letting the knight speak his peace, before smiling and walking forward. This was his class to teach, she was just here to offer insight.

"Thank you, Knight Pavond. Your words are very well put." She offered a nod, as she looked to the crowd as well. "As the Sentinel of Harmony, I help run reconstruction efforts across the reach of the NJO. While the Service Corps are often seen as a place for those not gifted enough for combat duties, it's important to remember that they serve the order in just as an important role as the Guardians and Sages. You might all remember Coruscant, and the work the Service Corps did to restore the Temple. Or Iridonia, and how much we've done to restore the world after it's civil war. Again and again, the Service Corps are needed once the fighting ends. I hope you all remember that. I will pass the torch back to Knight Pavond, and be here if any of you wish to discuss future involvement in the Service Corps."

With that, she nodded, and stepped down back to the crowd.

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x | Companion: Domxite
Interacting with: Iris Arani Vera Noble

Zaiya shifted in her seat, her skin rippling with soft teal and gold hues as she fought to keep her focus on Shan's presentation. Seeing him up there, see inly more confident and presenting, made her heart warm with joy. It had been so long since she'd seen him -- too long -- and now he was standing just a few meters away, outlining strategies to rebuild wartorn planets like it was the most natural thing in the galaxy.

The galaxy map glowed vividly, red flares marking vulnerable planets like wounds on a body. Shan's voice carried through the crowd, steady and deliberate, as he explained relief strategies with a precision that made her both proud and a little awestruck. He'd grown so much during his time at Medical School. The realization made her stripes ripple with faint gold and coral embarrassment, warmth flooding her cheeks.

Zaiya was glad he seemed well and more confident in himself.

Still, her thoughts threatened to wander, her curiosity tugging her in too many directions at once. The presentation was fascinating, sure, but she couldn't help glancing at Master Iris Arani beside her, the paint splattered Jedi sitting calmly as if Shan's words were another piece of a larger puzzle she was already piecing together. And there it was again, the other question gnawing at Zaiya. Did Iris know what kind of content the Lady Velvet books were? And, more importantly, had she read them?

Zaiya's stripes briefly flared in coral again, and she quickly forced them to settle into a more neutral and contemplative amber. Not the time. Definitely not the time. She turned her attention back to Shan, catching the tail end of his example about Telti and Onderon. Relief efforts, rebuilding, and strategy were important. She could figure out her weirdly personal questions about Master Iris later.

"So… " she began, her voice softer than usual as she turned to Iris, Domxite joining her as he settled upon the Lovalla's shoulder in their now usual perch.

"What do you think? We can probably team up with others and see where we can help!" She gestured faintly toward the galaxy map. This was as much a means to help support other worlds as it was for training opportunities...and maybe even some adventure!

 

[Everest Vale]

Everest watched Shan Pavond 's presentation with complete focus and enthusiasm. After their meeting in the very same gardens no more than a week earlier, and the ensuing dramatic events involving a baby finch, Eve had developed a deep respect for the Mirialan Knight. She was smiling gently as she listened to his words, unexpected stirred by the prospect of restoration across Alliance space. She knew she was no fighter, not really. What Shan was talking about seemed to offer a very realistic avenue that perhaps she could pursue in earnest someday, once her training had developed some more.

He then opened up the class to the floor to discuss in groups, and Eve felt suddenly shy. Eyes flitting around to the other attendees, she retreated into herself a little, unsure who to approach. Though brimming with ideas, she didn't particularly recognise anyone else in the class, and she uncomfortable shuffled in her seat.

I guess I could just work alone, she thought, reaching for her notepad and with a pencil she began scribbling away. Her ideas fell, inevitably, to the restoration of the natural biomes of war-torn planets, and how they might be grown back to a sustainable level. She recalled reading about a Force power that would be suitable here - Consitor Sato - but it would take more than just growing a few plants back to ensure an entire society would survive the aftermath of war. But without a sustainable ecosystem, everything else would fall apart, considered the Padawan. She chewed the end of her pencil, lost in thought.

 

[Tigris]

​

She was most comfortable as a loner, or, she had been. A Seyugi assassin worked alone. Or, at least when they existed, 900 years ago. Her sudden reintroduction into galaxy unfamiliar to her had left Tigris with the contradiction of both her innate reluctance for socializing, and a real need to find 'belonging' in a strange time. The instructor's call for the students to work with others was first ignored by Tigris. But her eyes flickered to others starting to group up, and that pang of 'outside-ness' crept over her.

Dark eyes fell to a young padawan nearby. She was quite remarkable, with the pale skin and silvery eyes of an Echani. The girl looked a bit shy as well. Tigris swallowed and sighed. To be a jedi meant being part of a larger body, a family in a way. It seemed like that back at the Jakku Enclave. She had to start acting like it.

Tigris slipped up beside the silver haired young woman. "I...honestly don't know where to start. This sort of thing is new to me, rebuilding and all." She began with a slightly curious accent to her Basic. "I'm Tigris." The older girl continued. "Do you have any ideas?"

Everest Vale

 

[Vera Noble]

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Tag: Iris Arani Zaiya Ceti

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Vera’s multicolored eyes scanned the glowing galaxy map as she slipped into the room quietly, her gaze flicking between the marked planets and Shan at the front of the group. She caught just enough of his presentation to piece together what was going on — relief efforts, rebuilding, and training. All important stuff, but her focus wasn’t entirely on the map or Shan’s steady voice.

It was on the familiar faces.

Her lips curled into a wide grin the moment she spotted Zaiya and Iris seated together. It had been way too long since she’d last seen Iris, and Zaiya was always a fun person to be around. Without hesitation, Vera strode over, her usual energy radiating off her like a beacon.

“Hey!” Vera exclaimed playfully, dropping into the seat beside them. She leaned back in her chair, her arms crossed behind her head as she tilted her gaze toward Iris. “Long time no see. I was starting to think you were avoiding me~”

Despite the teasing, there was clear warmth in her voice. It felt good to be here with them, and she was more than ready to jump in on whatever adventure they had in mind.

​

 

[Aadihr Lidos]

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

"Hey kid, long time no see" Aadihr spoke, pun intentional, as he greeted Kaelos Vryn , sensing the initiate searching for an open group. "Any luck on the master search?"

His own Padawan, Aris Noble , had a few conflicts and Aadihr left the invite open. Aadihr brought a small holorecording droid to record the lesson for him just in case.

He also sent a message to Azurine Varek asking if she planned to attend, as he tried to mend that bridge. Azzie was one of the few Jedi Aadihr met with psychometry almost as sensitive as Kaelos's gift, but with much less control. Aadihr looked forward to the lessons she could teach once she reached knighthood.

"I hope you don't mind if join you. I actually can't see the holograph, but I think I get the gist." Aadihr took a more somber tone as he continued, "I don't suppose you've seen the aftereffects of war firsthand have you?" If the initiate had, there was no need for Aadihr to explain that the destruction was only the most immediately visible aspect.

Physical Rebuilding went hand in hand with searching and cleaning wreckage finding missing persons, reuniting families and clans, confirming deaths, relief supplies until farms, factories, and infrastructure could be restored, if even possible.

"No matter how many credits are supplied by the Senate in relief funds, a civilian returning to a burned out home cant eat money, can't wear it for warmth. The duty of turning credits into tangible support is a vital one, but also unfortunately prime target of the corrupt to siphon wealth from. Even if it's not direct embezzlement, they may decide that all construction materials be purchased from a company they own, or unintentionally pave the way for a monopoly to corner a vulnerable market."
Aadihr spoke just loud enough to invite others into the discussion, but was also curious as to what Kaelos thought of the issue and what solutions the lad might propose.

Shan Pavond | Kaelos Vryn | OPEN​

 

[Everest Vale]

She barely noticed the woman scooting up beside her, and when she spoke Eve made a small but very noticeable jump in surprise, suddenly snapped out of her thoughts. She took a moment to take in her image; dark eyes that had seen much, a finely honed physique and all manner of tattoos inked across her skin that Eve couldn't even begin to comprehend the meaning of. She was intimidating, but beautiful, and the tinge of her accent, that she couldn't place at all, had a certain allure.

Eve took in a sharp breath to let her mind settle and, realising how rude she was being with staring, and how she seemed to be on her own as well, offered her a warm smile.
"Tigris," she mouthed silently in acknowledgement. "Everest- Eve," she said timidly. "I was just making some notes..." She shyly passed the notepad over to her to have a look at her vague ideas of natural restoration; a few buzzwords - some circled and underlined for dramatic emphasis - and a few meagre sentences considering Consitor Sato and a planet's ecosystem. Eve suddenly blushed at how stupid her notes must have seemed - how it probably was missing the point of the whole lesson - and she sheepishly added, "I don't know much about this either though. I just think plants are important." She got quieter as she spoke, and found her thoughts trail off.

Well done, Eve. You really look like you don't know anything.

Tigris​

 

[Iris Arani]

​

"I don't read them, but I know what they're about."

It came out of no where seemingly as Iris continued to watch the stage. Shan Pavond had taken her words to heart it seemed. Took the time to become a proper doctor, away from the Jedi. And just like her, he'd come back. That alone had brought a faint smile to her face. Her gaze shifted near Zaiya though, scanning through the colors. The question had gone unasked, but Iris, as ever, answered it as if it had been with an unnerving clarity.

"We'll help organize the medical tents first and foremost. Many Jedi can learn healing, but not many have an actual doctorate. I might as well make use of it."

She was making a joke, but the blankness of her expression didn't help with the humor of it all. In fact, she seemed to grow distant the moment she spoke, turning her gaze through the crowd. She blinked. "Vera."

Odd colored eyes settled on the others as she actually looked at the girl. Then, smiled. And looked up. "It's hard to avoid someone so tall you know. You've gotten really big."

Vera Noble | Zaiya Ceti

 

[Tigris]

Tigris didn't intend to startle the Echani, it was just part of her nature to move quietly. In the moment that the girl studied Tigris, the tattooed girl did the same. The Echani and Tigris were near opposites. Tigris' dark eyes, set in tanned skin framed by black hair, were a contrast to the platinum haired, ivory skinned, silver-eyed padawan. While she didn't consider herself particularly attractive, Tigris thought the bright Echani was quite pretty.

"Eve." Tigris repeated the name to set it in her brain. She like the sound of Everest though. The girl hesitantly pushed over her notes, clearly a bit nervous. Tigris was used to being treated differently, she was kind of an oddball and socially backwards herself, coming from a world in the distant past. dark eyes scanned over the scribbled notes. She recalled the words of Knight Pavlon and Master Si, how the Jedi had repsonsibility beyond protecting, even forming a Service Corps to specialize in aiding worlds.

Eve tried to shrug off her ideas, the girl's voice trailing of without much confidence. But Tigris found her ideas interesting. There was even mention of what she thought was a use of the Force to help plants and life thrive. She didn't even know there was such things. Even though she was older than most padawans, they were all more familiar with the way the Jedi relate to the Force, and the ways of Light, that she was just learning.

"Don't be so modest, I bet no one else takes this angle." It was clear the woman had an affinity for nature. Tigris hummed thoughtfully, sitting next to Eve. "Tying in natural resources like this seems like a really good idea to me." Granted, that was coming from someone who was trained to use the Force to sneak and kill.

Everest Vale

 

[Everest Vale]

She was so kind. Eve's cheeks flared a soft pink from Tigris' encouraging words. Her nerves settled a little, and she let out a somewhat relieved, breathy "Thank you" as she turned to face her better, hands buried timidly in her lap. Face to face, their eyes locked for a moment, and Eve could feel a further flush of heat reach her cheeks. Stunned, she looked down to her knees, then across to the front of the class, and every which way, her silver eyes desperately trying to find something to latch on to that would distract her from being so flustered. Instead, she cleared her throat awkwardly. When she next spoke, it started with a squeak.

"Um, y-yeah," she pointed to her notes on Force Surge, scrunching her nose with determination. "I just learned about this recently. A capable practitioner could help a full oak grow in minutes. If— If a dedicated group, say ten, or twenty, or more, worked together..." She got lost in thought for a moment, enraptured with the thought. "We could build whole forests back." A sigh escaped her without her consent, which brought her back to the moment. Her eyes awkwardly fluttered every which way before finally resting again on Tigris, and a shy smile finally formed.

"I think..." she continued quietly. "It's important to remember the forests of any planet where there's been war. We belong to them, really. A planet can't thrive properly without them." Was she bias? Without a shadow of a doubt, but nature was a part of her and she could never abandon it. She thought for a moment of the planets out there with no forests or greenery at all. Ice balls, desert worlds, even this monumental city planet where the temple was so quietly nestled amidst its chaos. She couldn't understand how it could exist without nature. It perplexed her, and she tried to not let her thoughts hang on what Coruscant must have once looked like, long before it became the city world it was now.

Tigris​

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x | Companion: Domxite
Interacting with: Vera Noble Iris Arani

Needless to say, Zaiya's flabbergasted and then immediately embarrassed expression in light of Iris's matter-of-fact, out-of-nowhere response was hilarious. It was as if the Lovalla Padawan's mottled spots and stripes over her face and bare arms gave a visible stutter of hues before flaring into a bright coral tint as her cheeks immediately filled with warmth.

"I... how... no, wait. You do?! " Her mind raced with the questions of how did she even know? So she does know what the novels are about?! Then why didn't she tell me!!

It would have spared her the embarrassment from earlier, thinking back to how Makko Vyres and Corazona von Ascania had been trying their best to explain back on Zeltros.

Domxite seemed to find the whole thing hilarious, and Zaiya and Iris could feel their mirth regarding the matter. Thankfully, Vera's appearance managed to shift the conversation elsewhere, but that did not quell the heat of embarrassment that tinted Lovalla Padawan's cheeks.

"Hi, Vera!" Zaiya chimed in, trying to clear her voice as she turned towards the brunette. She shinned Vera a wide smile, only to laugh, "Yeah, Vera and I are some of the few female Padawans who are among the tallest -- although Aris, I think, is still the one who is taller than the rest. Well, except for the Wookiee..." she said with a slight pout at how she lost the height bet with him, "I almost had him in height, though..."

"Oh Vera want to join us? We are going to do assist with the medical tents."

 

[Vera Noble]

​

Tag: Iris Arani Zaiya Ceti

​

Vera's grin stretched ear to ear as Iris addressed her, and without hesitation, she surged forward and wrapped the fellow Keshian in a tight, bone-crushing hug. "Iris! I missed you so much!" she exclaimed, practically lifting her off the ground for a moment.

Her multicolored eyes sparkled with amusement as she glanced at Zaiya next. "Hey, Zaiya!" she greeted, her warm tone reflecting her excitement. "And I don't know about Aris or the Wookiee, but I think it's safe to say you and I are towering over most of the others." She struck a mockingly regal pose, as if to emphasize their tall status.

When Zaiya mentioned the medical tents, Vera's grin returned in full force. "Help with the medical tents?" she echoed, folding her arms across her chest. "Of course, I'll join! I can patch up a scrape or two — maybe even help carry stuff."

Without missing a beat, she motioned for them to lead the way, already brimming with energy.

​

 

[Shan Pavond]

Shan listened to the various groups for a moment, folding his arms along his front. Though when Master Jonyna Si mentioned the Service Corp had those who weren't gifted to combat in it, the Mirialan just happened to look away casually. It was completely unrelated of course. Why would he feel like he was being talked about? He was totally great at combat...Anyways.

There were plenty of padawans he was grateful to see having shown up. Everest Vale and Zaiya Ceti were two that he knew he wouldn't have to keep an eye on. They were both already naturals at this kind of work in his eyes. Instead, he just gave the pair of them a nod to acknowledge them. It was also nice to see Everest interacting with other padawans such as Tigris . There seemed to be a good amount of padawans showing up and it was honestly making Shan quite grateful for them all.

As he paced around the gardens, Shan kept an eye on everything going on whilst also listening for any potential ideas that he thought should be brought up. Which he was quite grateful for, thanks to the words of Aadihr Lidos . The Knight had spoken up loud enough for others to hear his points, but it was also an avenue that Shan hadn't thought much of. For him, most threats would have been sickness, disease, famine or looters. The idea of companies trying to get some extra credits never would have been on his mind...Though his focus changed completely as he heard Everest's points about plants and nodded to himself.

"Ah. Everest here brings up a great point. Whilst we should concerned about the population of a planet, don't forget that the flora and fauna are also of vital importance. Some of you might feel like you have a connection to plant life, or animals. If you do, that's fantastic. In your free time, try and see if you can find someone who is skilled in abilities such as plant surge or beast control. I'm unsure as to who is skilled in beast control, but I know two great Knights who are skilled with plant surge. Corazona von Ascania could be a great choice, or Ko Vuto . Knight Vuto in fact has had plenty of experience with the Agriculture Corps as well."

Wow. Shan hadn't talked for that long in...forever. He kept a little grin on his face, as he sang the praises of his friends and fellow knights. He really needed to catch up with them when he could.

Vera Noble Iris Arani Kaelos Vryn

 

[Tigris]

​

The Echani was timid, but she finally met Tigris' gaze. Her silvery eyes stunning, the dark-haired Padawan uncharacteristically taken aback by their brightness and the depth of them. The gaze lingered longer than was typical for strangers meeting, and Tigris noted the crimson blush on Eve's porcelain cheeks. The Echani's gaze quickly averted, leaving Tigris somewhat confused, both by the girl's behavior, and her own unusual reaction.

Eve continued to explain the thoughts behind her ideas. To Tigris, the Force was something that aided in avoiding or overcoming dangerous situations, or more mundane help. To consider its ability to help grow, to nurture life was a concept foreign to the former assassin. The silver haired girl was soft-spoken, but her timid voice gave way to a more confident and passionate one as she spoke about plants, forests and their connection to a planet, and its inhabitants. Eve was different from herself in so many ways. Eve was different than about any other Jedi she had met since joining the order.

This unusual quality about Eve had an unexpected effect on the usually dour and practical Tigris. Usually, she would write off someone like Eve as soft and uninteresting. But Eve had the opposite effect on the tattooed Padawan. An unexplained curiosity and interest was elicited by the attractive teen. This puzzled Tigris,

"How did you become so interested in this sort of thing?" She asked, again finding the girl's captivating gaze.

Everest Vale

 

[Iris Arani]

​

"Have you seen the covers?"

Iris just raised a brow, looking very perplexed. There was little left to the imagination with the art she'd drawn on just what those books were about. It was a good challenge for Iris at least, considering her abstract style of painting. Though now Iris was looking up at both girls. Her head tilted just a bit as she listened to Vera. Was.. She going to get taller?

Then she was floating. Not floating. Carried. There was a little tensing as Iris wasn't the most for physical contact, but she smiled as she was set down. "Maybe I can teach you something, too."

She turned to lead the way to the tent, still smiling that faint smile. Which was weird for her, given she didn't really do facial expressions. It was just.. Good to see Vera again. After all this time, even. Vera was growing so much more than Iris had expected her to. Or maybe she just lost that time?

"You still have some of those sticks, Zaiya? Think you can show Vera here how they work? We're not just going to be picking things up, after all. You don't need the Force to help heal."

Zaiya Ceti | Vera Noble

 

[Everest Vale]

Shan's words of support in her idea made Eve blush more than she could imagine was capable, as the energy of the whole class seemed to suddenly shift and focus entirely on her. She knew Shan Pavond , and she knew he wouldn't intend to put her on the spot at all. Nevertheless, she looked around shyly, looking for something other than the eyes of other Padawans to lock on to. She eyed her notes, still in Tigris' hands, noticing more tattoos against her knuckles and trailing up her arm. Her eyes followed up until they reached her eyes again, and there was a certain warmth found within them that gave Eve a newfound confidence. Suddenly, she forgot all about the rest of the class again.

Awkwardly, and a little flustered, she rubbed the back of her neck as the gaze settled in a while longer. She bit her lip, then gave a goofy smile that she knew probably made her look stupid. Tigris' question suddenly brought her back to focus, and her thoughts shifted to home. The rolling hills and fields of southern Eshan, the pine woods, the intense blue skies that would swallow you whole into daydreams if you were to lay with your back to the grass. She missed it. She broke the gaze and looked down thoughtfully.

"It's always been a part of me, I guess. My home— Eshan— It's beautiful there. It's all I've known. Fields and hills, rivers, woodland, you know..." She was sounding goofy. She knew she was sounding goofy, like a little girl longing for home. She inwardly chastised herself.

Tigris​

 

[Tigris]

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Tigris noticed how the sudden attention from Shan Pavond had sent a fresh flush of red to the ivory cheeks of the Echani. The older padawan hoped Eve could get past her own self-consciousness to see that she had something to offer the Order, something the instructing Knight saw worthy of sharing with the other learners. The astute Tigris also noted how the girl seemed to find some courage when their eyes met. It was just another curious thing about Everest. Seeing her new companion slipping back into her shy demeanor had inspired Tigris to ask her question. Again, Eve gained confidence when she spoke about something for which she had passion. Her home.

Tigris listened as Eve explained the source of her affinity for nature. Fields, hills, rivers, woodlands. No, Tigris didn't really understand. Recopia had few of those sort of beautiful landscapes.

"Hmmm... I guess I can see that. Recopia was..." the planet was part of a life so far separate from the present, she forgot it still existed..." ... is not beautiful like that." Her home was a planet covered in sulphur oceans, the only place to live was on high plateau islands the rose above the noxious clouds. She didn't know as a youngster that her planet wasn't beautiful. She found the Peccopi parrots and krendel lizards to be pretty and colorful.

Then the Seyugi Dervishes came and took her. To them, beauty was power and wealth earned at the end of a vibroblade. Tigris had trouble finding beauty in anything after she became one of them. But since her thaw, she was given a chance once again to appreciate things that are good and beautiful. But it was a slow process. Everest, Tigris decided, was certainly someone beautifiul. Maybe that was why she found the woman so intriguing, inspite of her timidity.

Everest Vale