Private Over The Garden Wall

[Jackie Rosso]

​

Location: Veridia
Tags: Braze

---

At least Veridia was pretty…

That’s all that Jackie really thought about the planet that Matthew had stranded him on. The zeltron teen decided to leave the confines and safety of the temple to go for a bit of a walk and explore what was around. Currently finding himself walking along something of a dirt road in a lush and vibrant forest.

The pink teenager was idly kicking a stone along the path he walked. His focus seemed solely on the small rock as he knocked it forwards time and time again. All the while he narrowly managed to avoid walking into low tree branches or similar obstacles. Side stepping a virtually invisible web and narrowly avoiding the demolition of a spider’s habitat by a centimeter. Despite his sixth sense for evading senses like that Jackie was unaware of someone else who was tagging along with them through the forest. Seemingly too focused on kicking the small rock along to notice. Jackie wasn’t even taking in the nice scenery either. The one redeeming quality of this place.​

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Jackie Rosso

Braze's curiosity was piqued as he watched the Zeltron boy slip away. New faces always intrigued him, especially among the so-called "younger generation" of potential Jedi. He figured Jackie was either an Initiate or a hopeful, but either way, he was keen to see where the boy was headed.

When Jackie ventured beyond the boundary walls without a word to anyone, Braze couldn't resist the urge to follow. It reminded him of his own wild escapades—those unapproved adventures where he'd wandered off just to feel a taste of freedom.

This wasn't just idle fun, though. For Braze, it was training. Aspiring to walk the path of a Jedi Shadow meant honing the skills of observation and subtlety. What better practice than tailing a curious newbie on what promised to be an unsanctioned outing?

​

 

[Jackie Rosso]

​

Location: Veridia
Tags: Braze

---

Jackie continued along the path a good ways away from the temple. Well out of sight and earshot of it. The foliage would dampen and muffle anyone’s voice well enough to not make it back to the temple. The zeltron was about to kick the stone once again before stopping himself. Looking down at it he reached out with his hand to try and manipulate it with The Force. Push, pull, it didn’t really matter he just wanted it to move. But nothing happened. The teens still didn’t know how to use The Force yet, not even to push around a rock.

Doubt crept into his mind. Thinking that Matthew made a mistake by dragging Jackie along into all this Jedi stuff. Letting out a sigh Jackie clenched his hand into a fist from frustration. Pulling his leg back he swung it forwards letting his boot hit the rock with far greater force. Causing it to go flying off into the foliage. Colliding with whatever was in its path with a harsh impact.​

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Jackie Rosso

"Ow!"


The voice rang out clearly from the direction the rock had flown, startling Braze. He hadn't expected his day to include dodging rocks, let alone being struck by one. With a resigned sigh, he rubbed at the brow where the offending projectile had grazed him. Accepting that his position was compromised, he stepped into a more open area, letting his Force stealth drop. A touch of frustration darkened his expression as his somber jade-green eyes settled on the bubblegum-pink-skinned boy.


"You know," he said dryly, his tone tinged with exasperation, "you're supposed to ask permission before leaving the ground, right?"

​

 

[Jackie Rosso]

​

Location: Veridia
Tags: Braze

---

Jackie flinched some, being startled by the sudden cry from where the rock had been kicked off to. He stepped over to see where the anguished squeak had come from. The sound of Braze's voice echoing off the trees that surrounded them. Announcing their presence. Seeing the familiar pale boy Jackie's shocked expression shifted some as his eyes narrowed. "You? What are you doing here?" He asked before noticing the fresh wound on Braze's brow.

"Yeah yeah whatever, I was bored okay." The zeltron replied as he rolled his blue eyes. "It's not like I'm gonna get lost or anything." Jackie brought his hands down to his belt where he fidgeted with one of the pouches. Pulling out some small items. Stepping into Braze's personal space some he reached up to their brow with some sanitizing wipe. Rubbing over the injury he created before placing a tiny bacta patch over the wound.

Despite having no real connection to other zeltons, he still had a similar instinct to vanquish negativity. Also he wanted to fix his mistake, although he didn't feel very responsible for it. "Now what are you doing here? Did the the teachers tell you to get me back?"​

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Jackie Rosso

​

Braze winced as the small wound on his brow was tended to, the sting sharp but fleeting.


"Well, no, not exactly," he began, his tone tinged with a hint of sheepishness. "I saw you heading off and figured I'd tag along—make sure no one decided to snatch you up. Or, you know, any bears or other things out here that might think you look like a decent snack. The woods can be dangerous, after all."


He paused, glancing at them pointedly, his voice softening but carrying an edge of concern. "You really should tell someone before you run off like that. Some folks might think you're trying to, I don't know... play runaway." Braze's words were laced with both admonishment and care.

 

[Jackie Rosso]

​

Location: Veridia
Tags: Braze

---

“Yeah well it wouldn’t be the first time a stranger snatched me up out of the blue.” Jackie said as he backed away from Braze. Referring to his Master and how Matthew had practically done just that on his homeworld.

“Pfft, well it’s not like I could really go anywhere. Even if I did run away, even if I had my own ship I couldn’t go anywhere with it.” Jackie retorted dismissively. “I ain’t flown no ships before. Also I couldn’t possibly journey out of the unknown regions either.” Sure there could be other ways to leave the planet but none of them came to Jackie’s mind. His words may have also shown a bit of forethought. As if he already did consider leaving Veridia and found the idea unrealistic if he planned to survivor such an undertaking.

After speaking he paused for a moment. The zeltron looked as if he was gonna add to the discussion before he turned head and looked away. “Wait... what’s that noise?” Jackie asked, through the underbrush the two boys could hear a mild buzzing. Internally Jackie likened it to the sound of many bugs feasting upon a trash heap. Something he thought would be an odd find out here in the lush woods of Veridia.​

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Jackie Rosso

Braze chuckled, the sound light but edged with a hint of teasing. "Oh, ye of little faith," he said, his voice carrying a playful lilt. "Can't imagine you'd fare too well if you ever needed to escape a place like this."

His words trailed off as his gaze shifted, taking in the surroundings with a more thoughtful air. His expression softened, curiosity lacing his tone as he added, "You seem a bit down... What's weighing on you, kid? Something's got you feeling off."

Braze's attention flickered toward the noise Jackie had pointed out. He paused, his brow furrowing as he tilted his head to listen. The faint, rhythmic chitter reached his ears, faint but persistent.

"Sounds like… some kind of insect," Braze mused, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the dim corners of the space. He squinted, following the sound with deliberate care, his posture shifting subtly as his instincts nudged him toward caution.

​

 

[Jackie Rosso]

​

Location: Veridia
Tags: Braze

---

Faith was not something Jackie believed he’d need if he wanted to navigate his way out of the Unknown Regions. To do so with his level of experience would be little more than throwing his life away. “Huh? Don’t call me that Snowball. Of course I’m feeling off. My whole life feels completely out of wack now.” Jackie said over his shoulder after he turned away from the echani boy. Facing towards the direction of the strange buzzing.

“Sounds like many bugs. Reminds me of… home.” Specifically the oppressive trash heaps that surrounded it. The soundscape being that of all the festering bugs making use of it all. The few creatures that could actually live on Bonadan. Jackie stepped closer to the sound. Taking him off the path he was walking to peer through the greenery that concealed whatever lay beyond.

“Gah! Da hell is this?” Jackie blurted out before recoiling back at the sight. Uncovering a grisly scene. The body of some man who seemed to have been haphazardly discarded under some bush. Many scavenging bugs flew around the clearly fresh carrion. Rejoicing in the bloody mess left behind. “Damn… What was it you said earlier about bears?” Jackie asked, trying to make sense of the cut up body they stumbled across. The zeltron wouldn’t recognize that an animal likely wouldn’t leave such a big meal behind for scavengers to pick apart. At least no predator would. Given the lack of stench, whatever had ended the man’s life had done so very recently.

Partly out of morbid curiosity, and partly because of something else, the zeltron leaned down some to examine the corpse closer. But just as he lowered some an object zipped by barely clearing Jackie’s head. Sticking into the trunk of a tree next to him and making the pink teen flinch. It was some sort of small thrown blade. Looking back from the path they were on there was a stranger. Adorned in drab clothing in the style of the planet’s locals. Parts of it stained red. Obscuring their features was some sort of large, overbearing straw hat. Attached to their waist seemed to be two blades of varying length. ​

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Jackie Rosso

Braze's eyes widened in horror as he took in the gruesome scene before them. "That's no bear attack—that's—!" His words cut off as his gaze landed on a blade embedded deep in a nearby tree.

With a sharp motion, he extended a hand, the Force rippling as he pried the weapon free and sent it hurtling back in the direction it had come from. His other hand reached to his belt, drawing an unusual hilt that he quickly tossed to the Zeltron boy.

"Jackie, catch!" he called out. Without missing a beat, Braze drew his own twin blades, the hum of energy filling the space as he stepped forward, positioning himself to defend the two of them from whatever danger lurked nearby.

 

[Jackie Rosso]

​

Location: Veridia
Tags: Braze

---

The stranger quickly sidestepped the incoming blade that had been redirected back at him. “I knew it, you two are one of those Jedi trainees.” The Stanger hissed from under their large, concealing hat. “You'll do much better than other poor soul.” With that they suddenly drew their blade, holding it steady with two hands. The blade itself seemed to possess a mild red glow as well.

Jackie blinked as Braze as he reflexively caught the curved lightsaber hilt. Almost fumbling his catch. He hadn’t even touched a lightsaber before, and now he was learning that the hilts had quite a bit of heft to them. His eyes scanned the weapon looking for how to activate it. Hitting the ignition he noticed its deep pink blade. Not too dissimilar to his own skin color.

Through their straw hat The Stranger surveyed their opponents. Quickly taking note of the obvious inexperience of the zeltron teen as opposed to the pale one. Making a mental note of who was the weaker link between them. Tightening the grip of their blade they held it up in a high guard and approached cautiously. The wide conical hat hid their expressions and glances. Making them hard to read like a stoic assassin droid ready to strike. Even while assuming they were both apprentices The Stranger retained themselves from acting bold and reckless. Not sure of what tricks the padawan’s might employ.​

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Jackie Rosso

"Jackie, back-to-back," Braze instructed, his voice carrying a slight urgency. His outer hand moved in a precise flourish, lightsaber angled defensively. Jade green eyes locked onto the approaching stranger, sharp and unyielding as he assessed the threat. In a place like this—with someone like Jackie—it was their best strategy. Guarding each other's blind spots would keep them alive.

Positioning Jackie at his flank, Braze ensured he could shield him from any sudden attack. His stance shifted fluidly, adopting a guard that melded the elegance of Makashi with the defensive resilience of Soresu, tailored to his unique Jar'Kai fighting style.

"We have no quarrel with you, stranger," Braze declared as he held his ground watching as the man closed in.

​

 

[Jackie Rosso]

​

Location: Veridia
Tags: Braze

---

“Huh?” Jackie exclaimed before he really absorbed what Braze said to him. “O-okay!” He said before getting closer to the fellow student. Not exactly getting back to back since he didn’t want to take his eyes off the mysterious bladesmen.

“Settlers like you will be the end of Veridia. Your kind are not welcome here.” The Stranger spoke back, disdain was laced into their voice. A second later Jackie glanced around to make sure there weren’t threats. Remembering the watch their flanks. Concerned with the idea that there could be others too. Capitalizing on that moment of distraction. Dashing in to engage the pale padawan's main blade trying to keep Braze on the defensive and put themselves between the two teens. A calculated risk.

Exposing their flank to Jackie he attempted a clumsy downwards strike to the back of The Stranger. A move they’d anticipated. With speed and precision they drew their second, smaller blade to catch Jackie’s strike. Shocking the zeltron as he didn’t know that there was anything that could resist a lightsaber. With superior positioning and leverage in the bind The Stranger violently twisted the pink blade and pushed it back with one arm. Jackie’s grip was tight, too tight, and the twist awkwardly bent his hands and wrists. The torque put into their parry against Jackie caused the zeltron to lose balance and fall back. The lightsaber hilt slipped from his grasp as well and fell with him into the messy forest floor amongst the leaves and branches that covered it.

With Jackie functionally dealt with in one fell swoop the Stranger focused all their attention onto the more capable the student. Engaging Braze’s dual blades with their own after using their tactical awareness to level the playing field and turn this into more of a one on one duel.​

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Jackie Rosso

Braze shifted his stance, barely managing to pull back an elbow aimed at the man's head as he stepped forward, thrusting his blade. His goal was to assert himself as a barrier between the man and Jackie, drawing the opponent's focus fully onto him. The clash of blades in such tight quarters was unforgiving, every movement a gamble.

Braze parried and countered, each swing an attempt to gain control of the fight. The adversary was relentless, and Braze felt the sting of sharp metal as a few cuts found their mark, tracing fiery lines across his skin. Despite the pain, he gritted his teeth and pressed on, trading blows in a brutal exchange. Every step he took was an attempt to dominate the space, his movements driven by a raw instinct and determination to protect Jackie at all costs.

​

 

[Jackie Rosso]

​

Location: Veridia
Tags: Braze

---

The use of traditional swords had their advantages and disadvantages. They were heavier and less nimble than lightsabers. But they also carried far more momentum with their attacks and parries.Having an easier time batting away Braze’s lightsabers even if they were slower to respond with defenses.

However, the boy’s unarmed attack to their head had caught The Stranger off guard. Causing them to stumble back a bit. Breaking and bending part of his large obscuring headpiece. “Ugh, Insolent whelp!” With that they moved both blades in tandem to bind with Braze’s lightsabers. Tilting their weapons away to expose the boy’s center. The stranger raised their knee up and snapped their foot forwards. Harshly knocking the block of wood that lay at the bottom of their sandals into Braze’s chest.

Knocking the wind from their lungs and forcing the pale boy back to the ground. As they were doing that Jackie refused to sit back possibly. Having lost the saber hilt in the fallen leaves around them Jackie picked up the most hefty stick he could. Running up from behind The Stranger he attempted another forceful downward strike hoping to crack the stick over The Stranger’s head.

Deftly with both blades they countered. Slicing through the club with their longer sword and violently slashing Jackie’s chest with the smaller blade. “AHH!” Jackie scream. A large slash appeared in his clothes. Cutting through their robes and the leather Jacket he wore over it. The zeltron’s instinctive, anguished cry and the look of frightened shock over his pink face communicated the worst. He slowly raised his hands to the large cut in his chest, taking in anxious shallow breaths.

Assuming the pink boy was finished, The Stranger turned back to Braze. Ready to give the echani the same fate as their fellow pupil.​

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Jackie Rosso

Braze hit the ground hard, his chest throbbing from the brutal impact of The Stranger's sandal. Gasping for air, his vision blurred as Jackie's anguished scream pierced the chaos. The Zeltron crumpled.

No. Not Jackie.

The Stranger turned back to him, their blades poised to strike—but Braze didn't hesitate. He sprang into motion. Rolling forward in one fluid motion, he slashed low with his blade, aiming to cut through The Stranger's guard. He rose swiftly, thrusting his parrying blade toward their midsection to draw their attention.

His rapier followed in a high, sweeping arc, the near weightless weapon hissing through the air. Each strike was calculated, desperate. He needed to keep himself the target—to buy Jackie time to retreat or survive.

Braze's feet danced back a half-step, baiting The Stranger to over-commit. Then, with a fierce shout, he surged forward, his strike accompanied by a Force push. The invisible blast rippled outward, aimed to unbalance The Stranger and reclaim the fight's tempo.

 

[Jackie Rosso]

​

Location: Veridia
Tags: Braze

---

Jackie hadn’t yet felt the pain of the killing strike he just took. Figuring that the adrenaline he was feeling kept the crippling pain of having his heart and lungs slashed at bay for a little while longer.

The Stranger watched Braze move with exaggerated and full body movements. To counter the echani’s attacks he quickly moved his longer blade into a reverse grip to protect his lower half. Then brought his short sword forwards to catch the smaller lightsaber in its crossguard to keep himself from getting stabbed. Fluidly raising his longer sword up in his reverse grip to continue providing coverage from the rapier-like saber.

In that moment Braze could make out a wicked grin from under their large hat. Gleeful to see so much fight in the pale boy. The Force push succeeded easily. Forcing The Stranger to stumble back several feet and providing Braze with some much needed distance. “Yes! Use your Jedi Arts against me!” He encouraged, enjoying the use of The Force against him. Knowing it would make his victory here all the more earned.

The Stanger had been pushed back towards Jackie. His back still turned to the padawan that was presumably cut down. They took a more aggressive stance. Their aura alone spelling out serious danger to Braze. “Forgive me Master, for I must go all out, just this once.” He softly spoke to himself. Preemptively seeking forgiveness rather than permission to their late mentor.

Just before he lashed back out against Braze, Jackie stepped up from behind. Raising clench fist above the stranger. Following through with a devastating strike against the back of the Stranger’s head with a… sack of credits? The bag burst open on impact as many shiny credit chips fell out and sprinkled across the forest floor below him. Capitalizing on The Stranger’s tunnel vision with Braze. Their body instantly went limp and crumpled along with the credit chips. Jackie stood over them from behind, his teeth were gritted with a furious expression. His face now colored in a deep red. Breathing heavily Braze would easily feel the heightened emotions of the zeltron teen. His blue eyes darted back to Braze, checking to make sure the pale boy wasn’t too badly hurt. His slashed jacket and robes notably lacked any blood stains. Narrowly avoiding a gruesome fate. ​

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Jackie Rosso

Braze inhaled sharply, breathing steadily and grounding himself against the adrenaline surging through his veins. He planted his foot firmly, his entire body tensing as he extended his hands toward the fallen Stranger. The earth beneath his boots thrummed with resistance, stubborn and unyielding to his will. Sweat beaded on his brow as he funneled all his energy into this one act—his breathing shallow and strained. With a grating roar, dirt and stone surged upward in jagged columns, forming a dense, crude cage that locked the Stranger in place. The effort threatened to sap him entirely. The cage solidified with a final, trembling groan, and Braze's knees nearly buckled under the strain.

He staggered back, gasping for air, his vision swimming as exhaustion clawed at his limbs. But there was no time to recover. Jackie!

Braze turned, his chest tightening at the sight of the Zeltron teen. His eyes darted to Jackie's slashed jacket, fear gripping him as he sprinted over. Without a word, he pulled the fabric of his jacket apart and open, hands trembling as he searched for the wound he was sure would be there. His fingers brushed over Jackie's chest, frantically feeling for blood, for broken ribs, for anything that confirmed his worst fears. But… there was nothing.

Braze froze, his breath hitching. Relief surged over him like a tidal wave, unbidden tears prickling at the corners of his eyes. He pressed his hand against Jackie's chest, his shoulders sagging as if the weight of the galaxy had been lifted. "You're not hurt," he whispered hoarsely, barely believing it. Then, in a rush of emotion, he pulled Jackie into a tight hug, holding him just long enough to feel the other boy's steady breathing.

Before Jackie could react, Braze released him with a sudden shove pushing him away as if repulsed and stumbled back, his voice breaking through the haze of relief and exhaustion. "What… the hell…?!" He gestured weakly toward the forest floor, where shiny credit chips gleamed like fallen stars amidst the dirt and leaves. "Why—how do you even—?" His words faltered as his gaze moved between Jackie and the scattered coins, his drained mind struggling to make sense of the absurd scene.

​

 

[Jackie Rosso]

​

Location: Veridia
Tags: Braze

---

Jackie stepped back a little as he watched The Stanger get enveloped by a cage made of the ground they stood on. But the zeltron teen was given no time to really take in what had just happened. Everything happened so quickly and out of the blue. Now he was being attacked by Braze as well. “Ah!” The pink teen exclaimed as he felt Braze’s cold hands check him for injuries.

“Ehg! What are you doing? I’m fine!” Jackie added as he attempted to push and slap away Braze’s curious hands. That was until he got tightly hugged. “Ack!” The zeltron simply exclaimed as he felt crushed by Braze’s embrace.

Once he was let go they seemed to finally try and make sense of all the money that Jackie seemingly summoned out of nowhere to use as an improvised sap against their attacker. “O-Oh, that? It’s from some lesson Master Valendale is making us learn. It’s like, personal finance and savings or whatever…” After his brief explanation Jackie actually tried now to catch his breath now that they seemed to have dealt with the danger they were in.

He began to frown some as he took in the damaged state of his black leather jacket. “Erg… That bastard ruined my jacket!” He wondered how he could possibly fix it before looking around some. Trying to spot where the curved lightsaber hilt had been dropped.​

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Jackie Rosso

Braze practically marveled at the glinting credit pieces scattered across the ground. He glanced back at Jackie, his expression caught somewhere between incredulity and amusement. "Well, at least he didn’t carve a hole in your chest. Small victories, huh?" His gaze drifted to the torn jacket hanging awkwardly from Jackie’s frame. "If we can’t get that mended, I’m sure we can scrounge up a new one somewhere."

Braze knelt, letting out a steadying breath as he tried to quiet the storm of his thoughts. The credits were levitated en mass and the slow spinning credits were slowly funneled to a small pile by jackie's feet.

"Congratulations, by the way," Braze said, his voice lighter but not dismissive. "You subdued a murderer. Not a lot of people can say that." He paused, straightening to his full height, the pile of credits now neatly stacked. His expression softened as he studied Jackie’s face, looking for signs of lingering shock or unease.

"What you did back there—it was good. Quick thinking." His tone carried genuine praise, though careful not to overwhelm. "Are you alright, though? I mean… that couldn’t have been easy."