Private Nostalgia Will Get You Killed

[Aela Talith]

Wroosti
Jacen Voidstalker

Aela sat in the central courtyard of the Wroosti Academy. Trees and flowers from all over the galaxy surrounded her, some blooming and others slowly folding over themselves due to their own weight. They provided a nice wall against the backdrop of the city that surrounded them.

Since the academy had been built Wroosti had experienced nothing but peace, and with that peace had come growth. The city that had once stood a mile away from the Jedi's home now surrounded it. Dozens of buildings rose besides the Academy, streets and signs hung in the air. The Chaos of life seemed to find only calm in the great garden that made up most of the Jedi Academy. It was one of the few places one could find a moment of quiet.

That was why Aela came here more often than not.

She still had her apartment just a few streets away, but she was drawn to the nature of the gardens. It reminded her of Borleias, her parents home on the islands. Perhaps it would soon be time to visit.

A smile touched her lips as she heard the soft patter of feet behind her, eyes opening just in time to be greeted by the sight of a youngling approaching in an attempted sneak. "Yes, Eliza?"

The girl's face suddenly twisted in shock, her cheeks coloring and her throat clearing as she stiffened. The young ones always tried to catch out those who were meditating. It worked when they did it with one another, though rarely with any of the older children. With Aela and the other Masters it was all but a fruitless effort. Eliza frowned, and then shook her hair out as though she had been innocent all along.

"There is a man here to see you, Master Talith, he says he's an old friend."

Aela cocked her head, frowning for a brief moment. "An old friend, huh?"

She had many friends that could be considered old, but something in the back of her mind told her she already knew who was waiting. A smile touched her lips and in one fluid motion she stood from her place on the small dais.

"Let's not keep him waiting then." The Jedi Master said as she walked with Eliza towards the landing platform.

 

[Jacen Voidstalker]

Some of them didn't even recognise him, Jacen realised. It made sense when he thought about it. Some of them had been quite young when he had been part of the trip to Wroosti. Back then he had been dressed as a jedi master, less weathered and with less of a beard.

For a long time he had thought he would never see this place again, see anywhere but Mos Espa. Not even see anyone, except those occasions where Trextan came to visit.

One step led to another, each being easier than the last. He was too easily drawn into interfering with other people's business.

"Aela!" he said as she came into view, a broad grin on his face. The kind that was usually infectious.

Aela was usually quite a reserved person, but she was going to have to duck if she didn't want to be wrapped up in a hug.

 

[Aela Talith]

"Jacen!" Aela said with a genuinely happy smile. Her eyes seemed to beam with light as she stepped up to her friend and embraced him.

It seemed like years since she had last seen her friend, and although she was usually more reserved she had also grown out of her childish need to avoid affection. She knew who her true friends were, who her family was. Jacen and she had traveled the galaxy, fought Sith, and hunted mysteries beyond even the Jedi of Old.

He was family, just as much as anyone.

"I see they let you out of the retirement home." She said with a cheeky smile, pulling herself free of her hug. "How is Trextan?"

Aela rarely received news from anywhere these days, mostly by choice.

Jacen Voidstalker

 

[Jacen Voidstalker]

"He is...somewhere. Haven't seen him in person for months. He checks in from time to time with a holocall though. I think he's doing something like a gap year. Flying around until he 'finds himself' or something like that," Jacen said, grinning.

"You seem...more relaxed," he said softly. Aela had always tried to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders. As capable as she was, he thought she had always tried to find even more responsibility. And she had done so from a very young age.

Meanwhile he imagined his social skills had resorted to the very brief exchanges he had with his uncle on keeping his shop running.

 

[Aela Talith]

Taking a step back Aela simply shrugged. "Less stress, I think."

She knew that it was true. Over the years some of her uptighteness had simply slipped away. She had always thought it was a mixture of thing. Growing up, teaching Jamie, and now her exposure to the younglings here. It had all taught her to be more...human, as odd as that was to actually think about. Her head shook.

"Walk with me." She said as she turned and waved for him to follow. "You're the first person I've seen from the old days in..."

For a brief moment she paused in thought. "I don't even know how long."

She commented quietly.

"Things have changed since then." The words came at almost a whisper, a small hint of shame clinging to the undertone.

Jacen Voidstalker

 

[Jacen Voidstalker]

"I have been hiding in a junk shop on Mos Espa that gets about three customers a day," Jacen replied, falling into step besides Aela.

"I haven't really seen anyone for the last few years and certainly not many people that I've wanted to try and hold a conversation with."

Jacen smiled in that easy way he always had. That truth struck him a little deeper than it seemed. In a way it had almost been like dying. To just vanish and become...nothing. He couldn't work out how his uncle could see it as a life of any sort. Not the question you asked the man who gave you shelter under the circumstances Jacen had arrived in.