Private Old Friends

[Rianna Organa-Ar'klim]

A long time since she had wandered from home from Sanctuary City. However as she had watched Maeve and Ayda she realized that it would do no harm to meet up with some old friends, if they would meet.

Her name was still on the roster of the Silver Jedi even though she had not practiced or stood with them in a long time. But there was a rumor that [member="Josh Dragonsflame"] was among them and she could not resist going to see him. When she had first arrived in the galaxy he was one of the first people she had met.

She wondered how had life for him and what was he doing now.

As she walked across the surface of Kashyyyk she had fond memories of this place. Assisting with a difficult delivery of a young wookie who was quite tall at birth. That seemed a lifetime ago and her own life had taken some ups and downs.

It would be nice to talk to an old friend.

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

Josh had kept tabs here and there on Rianna Organa of Alderaan since their last parting when the Republic Jedi had effectively imploded and turned on one another. He knew she had found council and a position in the council of Alderaan, and that she had married a man named Ordo - a friend of the Silver Jedi Order before his untimely passing. Josh wished he could have been at the funeral. His mother was of the Ordo clan, and were it not for the Mandalorian Empire's beef with the Jedi, he would have tried to attend in her stead. And perhaps take her place in the clan as well, as she was no longer here to fulfill that place. But sometime after all that, he had lost track of Rianna, though he wished her well. He remembered his time as a young man, and his playful banter with Rianna while they were on the Council... A bright spot for him in an otherwise toxic environment. He had always liked Rianna, and she was one of the few he'd felt he could trust at the time.

A visit from her on Kashyyyk wouldn't have been something he would come to expect though. At the time of her arrival, the one-time Grandmaster was walking through the nature preserval area of The Silver Rest, showing a five year old the different plants. The five year was his son, Jason. Who looked like almost the spitting image of his father, down to the blonde hair and brown eyes.

[member="Rianna Organa-Ar'klim"]

 

[Rianna Organa-Ar'klim]

Rianna was looking up at the tall trees a bit younger and she had been able to swing with the wookies, but she wasn't sure now would be a good time to do such a thing. Maybe...

She was headed to the Silver Rest a place she had heard of and wanted to see. She loved plants so much to see them protected and loved was an act that gave her such comfort. There was a time when no one paid attention to a plant but now cooler head prevailed and life was cherished.

She wasn't sure where to start so...perhaps she would do something to...well announce herself....she couldn't remember Josh's signature in the force but she could reach out for those around her...Josh ...are you here? She moved along the path What a lovely place? Up to mud wresting?

She laughed hoping he would feel the laughter.

[member="Josh Dragonsflame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

Up to mud wrestling? That was the voice he heard. And a small smirk pushed against the corner of his mouth. Announcing his presence to Rianna through the Force, Josh would sit down in the gardens with his son. In the time since they had met last, he had grown. No longer the lean, scrawny, fresh-faced, bare-chested and stubble-faced Jedi Knight and Master that Rianna had met years ago, he was bigger, and especially hairier if one was to be honest. But his gaze told of one that had seen so much in the time since. Experience was a gift... But also a curse.

"Looks like you'll be meeting an old friend of mine" Josh spoke to his son, as they would sit down and await her arrival. "If I recall, she is a delegate from the planet Alderaan. An old co-worker of mine."

[member="Rianna Organa-Ar'klim"]

 

[Rianna Organa-Ar'klim]

Ahh there he was a familiar presence in the force that she recognized. She nodded to no one but headed in the right direction. They had all changed since those days the republic.

She walked a slow but steady pace until she finally saw Josh sitting still with a young boy. From the gentleness in his eyes and the glow from Josh's aura this had to be either a son or a grandson. It was a warmness that Rianna had grown to recognize over the years it warmed her heart.

"Josh." She smiled as she approached, "its been a long time." she looked him over yes time had changed him too, different but was it good or bad different.

[member="Josh Dragonsflame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

And there she was. How long had it been? Aside from seeing her once at a distance during that ill-fated Jedi Moot years ago, he hadn't seen Rianna Organa in the flesh since he had left the Republic all those years ago. It was... Surreal, to say the least. So much time had passed, so much had changed... He had changed, even, and now here he was, standing near someone from what felt like the ancient past. A symbol of what used to be, an idea of what once was. It was... Well, it was interesting, he supposed. He wasn't sure how to take it all in. But what he did know what that at one point, Rianna had been a very good friend. So he would start with that.

"It has" He spoke softly as he would stride over and extend his hand to shake. Afterwords, he would motion toward the five year old that had moved behind his leg.

"Rianna, this is Jason. He's my son."

[member="Rianna Organa-Ar'klim"]

 

[Rianna Organa-Ar'klim]

"your son" she whispered. She couldn't help but to smile broadly as she kneeled down to be on the same level as Jason, "Hello Jason, I'm Rianna a friend of your fathers. It is my pleasure to meet you." She held out her hand for him to shake.

She looked up at Josh without moving her lips He's sweet Josh you must be so proud.

That much had changed Josh must have changed a bit more than she expected for him to have allowed someone that close.

She did not now what to say yet other than.."I'm glad I could come. What other surprises do you have to share?"

[member="Josh Dragonsflame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

Jason seemed to be a bit shy at the sight of her at first. Believe it or not, the child could sense her Force presence. He himself was a Jedi Youngling, though Josh hadn't had the time to tell her that just yet. But Josh had taught him to be able to sense a Force presence while trying to help him mask his own, and so Jason was fully aware of Rianna. And it was a bit intimidating for the child. But with his father's encouragement, he slowly stepped forward and took her hand when offered.

Rianna asked if he had any other surprises in store, and Josh laughed a bit. "I'm not sure if I have much. Well, aside from the fact the little guy's already coming into his own as a Jedi."

Boom.

[member="Rianna Organa-Ar'klim"]

 

[Rianna Organa-Ar'klim]

Rianna nodded, "ahhh" took Jason's hand. She had experience with younglings. They were a temple's future and the legacy for their parents. Her own children had their own path, Maeve used her own skills as a healer having found comfort in it for now.

Rianna spoke to Jason We are all of the force and stand together when needed. May your journey as a Jedi lead you to wonderous things youngling

Rianna tried not to focus on the future for it was forever moving Jason's path was not clear yet in time though that would change. But to what she did not know.

She shook her head though looking up at Josh, "So...are we drinking tea today?"

[member="Josh Dragonsflame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

Jason didn’t understand half of what Rianna was saying, but the calm and soothing way she spoke it at least put him at ease. She was a healer, so Josh wasn’t all that surprised when it happened. The healers he had gotten to know were always like this. Calm, gentle, easy to get along with. They were the most serene of the serene. And Rianna appeared to be no different. He was also curious if she’d had children of her own before her husband… Well… He probably wouldn’t talk about her late husband. He’d heard about that at least.

Josh laughed a bit when Rianna would inquire about tea. “Oh! Well, I suppose I can prepare it” He responded. Valae had taught him bits and pieces about how to prepare tea years ago, so he at least knew the basics. “I have a treehouse not far from here that I have what I need to prepare tea. Perhaps I can pour it up there and you can sit down, and we can catch up?”

Technically it was Valae’s set. She’d left it there.

[member="Rianna Organa-Ar'klim"]

 

[Rianna Organa-Ar'klim]

:"You suppose you can, well I suppose I'll watch you make it" she winked at Jason.

A tree house well she had not quite expected that, "Well I'd love to see your home Josh." Kashyyyk everyone lived in the trees, least she expected they did. Josh however never hit Rianna as the tree house kinda guy.

"I'm sure we have much to catch up on."

Her children were much older than Jason teenagers out on their down finding things in the galaxy. But then how long had it been since she had seen Josh, "Is your wife at home?" She ventured a guess simply because the Josh she knew wouldn't just have a lover he'd have a wife. But then things change.

[member="Josh Dragonsflame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

Treehouses weren’t always his forte, but the Jedi were always expected to do one thing and that was adapt to situations. It was a nice, private way to take care of himself and Jason, so a private treehouse near the Silver Rest certainly seemed like the right way to go. And it wasn’t like he didn’t want to at least try considering it had been a gift from his friend Valae Kitra before she had left Kashyyyk.

So with that, he began to lead her past the Rest and through the jungles of Kashyyyk. It was a short ways, of course, and before long they had come to an array of treehouses, occupied by members of the Order who preferred it this way, or the Wookiee inhabitants of the world.

The treehouse he lived in wasn’t the biggest, but it had what was needed. A main room that doubled for cooking, eat and social activity, and two bedrooms. One for him, and one for Jason. As he began work on making the tea, he didn’t look at her and kept up his work when she asked her question.

“She passed when Jason was two” He responded quietly as he returned to working on the tea.

[member="Rianna Organa-Ar'klim"]

 

[Rianna Organa-Ar'klim]

"Oh I'm sorry Josh"

She had admired many things about Kashyyyk its tall trees, the wookies who managed to tolerate their presence, and its ability to help those who wanted it heal and forget. She should have come here when.....

She looked down she understood his pain, his loss, she looked over at Jason again. That was good thing that came from it all, their children through the children memories lived and connection to the past and future existed. She smiled then.

She wanted to say she understood, did he know Ordo was gone? Should she tell him? Instead she opted for another way, "I understand." She did not say much else. Perhaps that was one thing they were to do share a sadness.

She thought to herself I've cried enough tears over him to fill the oceans on Spira three times over.

"So..what are you teaching these days Josh?"

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

He slowly stopped and nodded his head, closing his eyes in turn. There it was, she said it. He wasn't sure if he should tell her, at least not at first. But after a few seconds, he decided to. Even if in the most subtle way possible, he wanted to indicate he knew, and that he was there if she needed the support. He had been there himself, after all. It was the least that he could do for an old friend.

"I know you do."

With that, as the tea finished and he began to pour it, he looked up toward her when she asked her question.

"I've taken a role of the Order's primary teacher, so to speak. Unofficially, anyway" He admitted as he would bring her tea over, and handing one to Jason as well in a smaller cup, ensuring that Jason grabbed the handle and not the cup itself. "Wait until it cools" He told Jason, who was mere seconds from gulping it down whole. He then took his own and settled it on the table as he saw down near Rianna, and Jason seemed to take that as initiative to sit down nearby and put his own cup on the table. It was something he did when he was unfamiliar with things. Imitate, imitate, imitate.

"I teach everything from the basics, to running simulation exercises to prepare them for the field, to offering advanced classes to my graduates should they seek further knowledge. Many of the Order's current Jedi and Padawans either are, or have studied under me."

[member="Rianna Organa-Ar'klim"]

 

[Rianna Organa-Ar'klim]

[member="Josh Dragonsflame"]

No more was said of the mourning they felt for their mates, or of the holes it left in their lives. No unspoken and understood if she needed a friend she would remember to call on Josh.

"A schoolmaster you have become" She looked at Jason as he settled himself in. He took an interest here and there it seemed listening to his father and dong what he was told. She reached over to stead the cup as Jason settled she smiled softly at him. Instincts some of them never left. "I've returned to my herbs and flowers. I even had a company that delivers flowers now. can you imagine?" She turned the cup slowly to draw some of the heat away cooling it slightly as the cup fit into the palm of her hand.

A tea cup such a simple and yet elegant gesture only someone who liked tea would understand it.

"Do you consider mud wresting anymore?" She winked at Jason. If there was anyone left in her life that knew her Josh would know she had a streak within her that was very unlike a Jedi. "Jason do you like playing in the mud?"

She did not want him to be someone who sat there seen but not heard. Even a child of his age had opinions and thoughts. Words he would hear he might not understand and assume a different meaning. Maeve had done that numerous times as a child. Rianna had finally learned to ask do you know what that means? And then would explain.

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

"You've become quite mature, considering the Rianna I used to know" He teased, a small smirk crossing the edges of his lips. Though it wasn't that long after he said it, that Rianna brought up mud wrestling and the Jedi Master couldn't help but chuckle, lowering his head a bit. "Never mind."

With that, he shrugged his shoulders. "I don't really have a whole lot of time to consider much. I'm presently part of the Silver Assembly, I lead the Silver Shields regiment, and I teach as many students as I can. When I do have time away, I'm spending it with Jason" He admitted, motioning to Jason in turn. He quirked a brow when Rianna brought up the topic of mud to Jason, who looked up at her in surprise when she suddenly addressed him. While the topic in mind was eyebrow raising, Josh did appreciate Rianna going out of her way to include Jason.

"Umm.... Daddy says if I jump in the mud, I have to get a bath" Jason responded, seeming to take his time in speaking. He was a bit timid with strangers, and Josh didn't criticize him for being a bit slow to get his response out. He would get comfortable in time.

[member="Rianna Organa-Ar'klim"]

 

[Rianna Organa-Ar'klim]

"Only as mature as I choose to be Master Dragonsflame." She switched to his formal mature name just to tease him some.

Jason found his voice and spoke up, that childlike tones still there unaltered by grow up among the Jedi. She herself had been raised in the temple and all too often spoke as if she had been some wise old librarian . She smiled, "A bath is fun too...." She remembered a time in the grotto where some of the masters had met to relax. She wouldn't bring that up right now either.

"Baths are so much fun Jason. Do you bubbles?" She looked up at Josh switching to a telepathic conversation for the moment.

'Do you take on so much to...." she shouldn't she knew she shouldn't but she couldn't help the way her mind worked, being a Doctor and all, 'to keep from thinking of other things?"

[member="Josh Dragonsflame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

"Of course" He remarked with a laugh. He should have known that the more things changed... The more that they stayed the same. And in some ways, he hadn't changed all that much either. Sure, the years had hardened him and grizzled him. But he was still as playful as he was when he had been a young man assigned to Master perhaps a bit young, trying to take all the responsibility he could at such an age without trying to live his best life. Now his playfulness didn't just extend to co-workers or people that he constantly ran into as part of his work. But it didn't come out as often he supposed. Only strategically.

Jason hadn't grown up in the Temple, Josh had tried his best to make sure of that. While he spent a lot of time there, especially after the death of his mother, and now with his two years as a Jedi. But Josh tried his best to take Jason away from here at least on weekends, to allow him to have a real childhood, best he could.

"Bubbles!" Jason chirped, which got a laugh out of Josh. "He likes playing with them, though usually it's outside of the tub. He's still coming around to the idea of baths."

When her voice sounded in his head, his gaze darted toward her a moment as his smile faded momentarily.

"I do it because I feel it's my job" Sounded in her head in response. "I have always worked hard and put a lot on my plate to get the job done. Someone has to."

[member="Rianna Organa-Ar'klim"]

 

[Rianna Organa-Ar'klim]

"Ohh bubbles are such fun. And you can make things from them too. Do you take them and make like a beard on your face?" She remembered her own children doing such things. How they giggled at being old, or making their hair snowy white.

She kept her gaze on Jason all while talking with Josh. Children learned so much from others and their minds were sharp and inquisitive. Often they could figure or sense something before an adult.

"Someone has to." She frowned for a moment, "surely you are not the only jedi who knows how to teach. Or...what is it you call it....Dragon School?' She wasn't sure she thought she had the term correct. But then wasn't it like him, or many of the others she knew to take it all on.

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

"Those things take time and a lot of strain. The more I do, the less others have to do, and the more others are able to spread out into the galaxy and do more good. I enjoy teaching, and I can manage it with my other duties. So that's what I do."

In truth, it was just how Josh was, always trying to take so much on. He had been like that long before Rianna had known him, and had been like that when she had known him too. He had not changed in that respect.

Jason didn't seem to know what she was talking about with making bubble beards, but the child appeared to be interested regardless. He looked to his father then, who smiled softly. "Yes, we can do that next time" He spoke, with a small laugh as he took a guess at what the child was about to ask.

[member="Rianna Organa-Ar'klim"]