Faction [NJO] Welcome to the Temple!

[Jack Wright]

(Tags: Kai'lyn , Aadihr Lidos , OPEN)

Without hesitating, Jack paused in his walk through the entrance halls and stared at Kai'lyn, his tone more firmer, but not harsh. "Give me your word you won't attack anyone else on the way." His gaze highly expectant, offering no room for argument.

Levitating him in descent just a tad, proving he'd honour his own.

 

[Kai'lyn]

TAGS: Jack Wright

​

Kai'lyn's head-tails twitched , a subtle flick that betrayed the storm brewing under his skin. Suspended just above the floor, arms crossed and expression set somewhere between sulking and confusion, he narrowed his eyes at Jack.

"I—Which word? I've got lots."

He shifted uncomfortably, lekku curling tighter around his shoulders. "I don't… know how to give one. Is it like handing it to you? Or—?" He let the thought trail off with a frustrated huff.

"But I won't scratch or bite anyone... unless they deserve it. That's the best I can do." His voice dropped into a mutter. "Not fair if they get to throw challenges and stuff and I'm just supposed to float around like a sack."

 

[Jack Wright]

(Tags: Kai'lyn , Aadihr Lidos , OPEN)

Probably as good as we'll get, right now...

With a side-eye to Aadhir, Jack lowered the boy, placing him back onto his feet with care. He sighed, pushing up his hood, brown locks danced in the artificial light.

"Just because there's a challenge doesn't mean you're onbligated to embrace it." The Jedi Knight remarked, smiling with a hand on toned hip, amidst his compassionate lecture. "It was a friendly jibe, which means no provocation to start scratching and biting, Kai'lyn. You're going to have to learn to repress these urges while you stay with us."

 

[Aadihr Lidos]

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

Aadihr nodded along with Jack's early tutelage, having mostly been walking alongside the pair after the child released the now tooth-marked staff.

The Miraluka remained silent, avoiding risk of undercutting Jack's mentoring. The mention of Pan's provocation being a 'friendly jibe' drew a slight scowl from Aadihr. Yes, it probably was a friendly, perhaps goofy way for the the tree-child to introduce themself to a new friend.

It just happened to be kriff-poor luck or preternaturally force guided timing to provoke the child at that very instant.

At least this Kai'lyn wasn't truly feral. Aadihr thought he wasn't at least, actually less sure than before now that he considered how Kai'lyn returned to speaking normally about the scuffle. Like it wasn't a loss of control. It could be a cultural difference, not just raw instinct - or both? Aadihr needed to study up before putting his foot in his mouth.

Eventually he added on after Jack, "The other boy isn't blameless either - it is atypical for one to be challenged upon entry, especially so carelessly." Aadihr bet on cultural difference - the last thing they needed was an honorbound retribution feud between Padawans.

"Be assured they will be disciplined accordingly." That came out worse than Aadihr meant it to making what would likely be a 15 minute counseling session sound ominous.

Jack Wright | Kai'lyn | Pan (mentioned)​

 

[Kai'lyn]

TAGS: Aadihr Lidos Jack Wright

​

"Funny," Kai'lyn growled, a flash of teeth in what might've been a smile if not for the edge in it. "You speak like someone who's never bitten back."

His voice rasped with something ready to snap.

"Why not? Facing new challengers, testing their strength against yours, that proves who's stronger." He thumped his chest once, "And the strongest is the one who leads. Yes?"

He tilted his head slightly, trying to gauge whether he'd said it right.

"Then why do you shrink from challenges?" His tone softened just enough to show confusion. "Isn't that weakness? Isn't that fear?"

 

[Gem-in-Trash]

Gem-in-Trash made it a habit to skim the rules, and the Coruscant temple had so many for her. She wasn't supposed to skimboard inside the Temple - not that it stopped her - but as far as she was concerned the outside was fair game. She Skimboarded between all the attendants, Padawans, Knights, and Droids that were flurrying about the Temple, trying to get as close to them as she could without actually making contact.

What caught her eye first was Katarine Ryiah trying to worm her way out of a parking ticket. She skimmed back and forth on her board, waiting for the exchange to complete, and was about to swing by her to snatch the ticket when she spotted another Jedi and a purple Torgruta around her own age going towards the temple. Gem still make a menace of herself by riding just a bit too close by Katarine before skimming over to watch the exchange of the Jedi, the new boy, and the ever-irritating Pan. In her shirt, Gem kept a stash of foam balls that she would occasionally pelt people with - aerodynamic enough to hit her target but not heavy enough to cause damage.

Gem Skimmed up the steps, keeping a healthy distance as she watched the exchange; she'd hoped to swoop in and catch Pan's attention, but the whole situation seemed to escalate into a fight quicker than she was able to intervene. As the Jedi dragged the Torgruta into the temple after the scuffle, Gem could feel that something was wrong with the situation. As she rode by Pan on her Skimboard, she threw one of her foam balls at him.

"Way to freak out the new kid, branch-brain!" she taunted, throwing her arms up to illustrate her dissatisfaction. She followed Knights Lidos and Wright into the temple, barely remembering to dismount her Skimboard as she followed them up.

Gem had a lot of doubts about a lot of things, but dragging an Initiate candidate with the Force was probably not a good way to handle the situation. Gem understood Pan's eagerness - Gem wanted to meet and play with the Torgruta, too - but she could tell that a cool head was needed here. Worse, she could tell some lecture about power and weakness was coming up, and Gem knew how droll those could be.

"Just so you know, if you go and ask questions like that, you're likely to get an answer. The real challenge is to avoid lectures if you can help it," Gem said, "Like 'Gem! Don't Skimboard inside the Temple!' or 'Gem! Don't sneak food from the kitchens!' or 'Gem! Don't climb the ancient statues!' or, my favorite, 'Gem! Don't steal candy from my desk!'"

She dug into one of her many pockets, and tossed a wrapped candy bar to Kai'lyn before opening another one and taking a bite out of it. She looked up at Jack Wright and Aadihr Lidos .

"I'd offer you two some, but that's all I had on me," she lied, and looked back to the Torgruta boy and held out her hand, "I'm Gem-in-Trash."

 

[Jack Wright]

(Tags: Kai'lyn , Aadihr Lidos , Gem-in-Trash , OPEN)

Another thing happened before Jack would educate Kai'lyn on the fine levels of restraint; another Padawan turning up, just as friendly as Pan had been, without the offered challenge. To be frank, he preferred this method of introduction.

Right now, Kai'lyn needed to be greeted, not contested.

"I'm more of a brownie man," The Knight shrugged, smiling in good humour to Gem's statment; right now, he wasn't feeling hungry anyway. Kai'lyn, on the other hand...

Well, poor kid's only had ration bars up to the trip, and'll need as much consumables as possible before he can make him a heartfelt meal.

 

[Kai'lyn]

TAGS: Jack Wright Gem-in-Trash Aadihr Lidos

​

Kai'lyn caught the candy bar, his eyes lighting up as if he'd found a rare treasure. With a mix of excitement and hunger, he took a big bite, surprisingly munching right through the wrapper along with the treat, not realizing he was supposed to take it off first. He paused mid-chew, his eyes wide, and he looked at Gem-in-Trash, a playful yet confused smile spreading across his face.

"Gem-in-Trash, huh? Strange name…I don't understand why you would want to be called trash. Sounds... not nice." He shrugged, lekku twitching with perplexity. "Where I come from, names carry strength. They tell of who we are. Are you sure you want to be called that?"

With a flick of his tongue across his fangs, he swallowed the last of the wrapper, then leaned closer, his voice dropping to a low growl filled with curiosity. "But you speak like you know things. Do men share words without the fire of truth? If they do not help, why speak at all?"

He looked up at Jack and Aadhir, "If the strong run away from challenges, what does that make us? Are we a pack that hides in the shadows?"

Kai'lyn scanned the group, seeking understanding from Jack and Aadihr.

 

[Aadihr Lidos]

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

"If the strong run away from challenges, what does that make us? Are we a pack that hides in the shadows?"

Aadihr spent too long trying to think of an allegory to explain to the child, settling on something more ecologically focused.

"If the strong accepted every challenge, the weak would perish. The the strong would starve. A predator who kills all the prey kills themself slowly. It is not only strength, but wisdom that we value - wisdom not only to avoid hunting the weak to extinction, but the strength to stop those who would destroy the weak and leave nothing left in their shortsightedness."

Aadihr faked confidence in what he was saying, as if he didn't just grab a random memory from his tutelage and spin it like an ancient parable.

"It is both strength and wisdom, power and restraint, that elevates us from those who are merely strong."

At least it was better than his alternative allegory about feudalism and peasants.

When the child was looking away, Aadihr gave Jack Wright a shrug as if to say I don't know man I tried

As for the fuzzy newcomer Gem-in-Trash , Aadihr was somewhat relieved another friendly face for the Togrutan appeared.

"When the weak are protected by the strong then civilizations can advance and things like that candy bar can be invented. We do not hide in the shadows. Not all of us, at least."

Jack Wright | Kai'lyn | Gem-in-Trash​

 

[Gem-in-Trash]

Gem rolled her eyes, "Weak, strong, pathetic, grand. It's all relative. You can glow, and I can see in the dark. Which of those is stronger? Do we have to fight to find out? What kind of tests do we have to take? More importantly, who cares? If you don't have to face the Galaxy alone, don't. If you ask me, you should learn all you can to know how and when to not do stuff. I think I learned that in a class I actually went to, I think it was about fighting. Point is, if you arm-wrestle everyone you meet, you won't have time for stuff like Skimboarding or candy bars. You think the person who made that candy bar has to go around being the biggest, toughest, beefiest mother's kriffer in the Galaxy? If they did, would they be making candy bars?"

She shrugged at him, "As for my name, I like it. Makes everyone go 'Wait what did you say?' like you did. And the more you think about it, the prettier it is. Like, imagine finding a gemstone in a dumpster. You don't expect to find something so pretty and cute and fluffy like me in a dumpster. But when you do, isn't that a delight? Like me?"

She grinned and battered her eyelashes.

"Point is, life isn't some ultimate showdown of ultimate destiny. Sometimes it's eating candy bars, or it's practicing a lightsaber. Or being born in an actual dumpster, like I was. I just want to make sure there's more people skimboarding and fewer having to beat someone up just to eat."

She looked up at Jack Wright and Aadihr Lidos , "Or stopping people from breaking up fights by carrying children around with the Force. Or hitting them on the head. Come on! And then I do a little skimboarding in the halls and I'm the troublemaker."

Gem looked at Kai'lyn again, "Welcome to the Jedi Temple. Sorry about the kerfuffle. Why don't we steal some food from the kitchen and, uh..."

She sniffed him, "Maybe get you a bath, too? And after a good night's sleep, if you still want to beat up Pan , I totally understand."

 

[Kai'lyn]

TAGS: Jack Wright Aadihr Lidos Gem-in-Trash

​

He listened to the dizzying rush of words that poured forth like a waterfall. There were too many thoughts coming at once for him to follow, but he seemed to catch a few ideas from the torrent as his eyes lowered slightly.

He glanced around at the various colorful folks surrounding him, absorbing the overwhelming flood of stimuli before finally nodding, seemingly in agreement with the fluffy girl.

"I... think I want a bath. And sleep," he said.

Truth be told, it was hard to sleep when it was cold. He was certainly weary and worn, and the idea of a warm bath and a nap sounded almost heavenly. He took another bite of the treat.

"Thank you," he offered, showing some small flicker of manners.

 

[Jack Wright]

(Tags: Kai'lyn , Aadihr Lidos , Gem-in-Trash , OPEN)

With that ready acceptance, Jack shot his fellow Knight a thankful look while they continued onwards, guiding Kai'lyn gently by shoulders under the value of caution, lest another misunderstanding breaks out. The quartet making their way for the Knight's quarters, that'd be a simple greeting atmosphere.

...Okay, somewhat of a mess, with strewn robes and soda bottles around the place, but Jack would consider it a sign of being lived-in. Grinning right down to the wayward Togruta when the door slid open.

"Home, sweet home!" The interior was was generic as any Jedi's living quarters, a bare basics yet to be properly remodelled. However, his lame excuse was the honest, "I only moved in a few months ago, add some posters eventually."

Which was a downright lie, since he didn't have much interest in posters. Directing Kai'lyn for the couch, the Knight made a straight beeline towards the kitchenette of his modest, homely interior, immediately searching through the drawers for a proper, heartwarming meal. The boy's only survived on ration bars, up to this point.

Calling over the shoulder, "Can one of you prep the bath in the refresher?"