Private Temple Trouble on Coruscant

[Balun Dashiell]

The Jedi Temple, Coruscant.
Co-Conspirators: Carlo Von Corrino .

Balun was once again on Coruscant and had managed to slip back into the Jedi Temple using his former Jedi Identification. After his last appearance with Zaiya Ceti , he had half expected to be halted at the entrance and reprimanded for simply showing his face once more, however, his caution went unrewarded and so far, so good. Wanding down the endless labyrinthine corridors, Balun had no real destination in mind, only that he was looking for a familiar face such as perhaps Aris Noble or Zaiya herself. He was especially interested to hear how Zaiya was recovering from their last endeavour, however, he had yet to see either of them.

So it was, that Balun simply wandered about aimlessly doing his best to avoid arousing any suspicion from the passing adults. It had been a long time since he had last seen the Atrium, his favorite place there given it's simulated natural environment. It had all the makings of a real forest clearing and garden, only the flora was planted and the environment itself such as the sky was manufactured using holo-emitters. They even had a simulated sun via a large heat lamp of some sort. It was enough to encourage some direction in the lad, who decidedly turned away from the training wing and began for the much more comfortable and relaxed nature of the atrium.

Hopefully this time, he would manage to avoid the scrutiny of his former tutors and the Council itself.

 

[Carlo Von Corrino]

The rhythmic tapping of steel-capped dress shoes against stone floors echoed down the hallway as the man made his way through its twists and turns. Each step was almost a graceful dance move as he turned one last corner into what appeared to be a public space.

Looking at Carlo, it was evident that he was neither Jedi nor Padawan. His sense of style was unmistakable: he wore a crimson three-piece suit with black fur trimming, but what truly stood out were the golden-framed, rose-colored sunglasses that adorned his pale features. These glasses alone seemed to cost more than the rest of his outfit.

Carlo's appearance exuded flamboyance, though some might describe it as trying too hard. But that didn't matter to him—why not dress to match the mood you wish to have? A metallic hand moved up to adjust his glasses as a slight sigh escaped his lips, followed by the words:

"Oh Mon Ami, why didn't you say that this place lacked style?" He had decided to visit this place due to a conversation he had with Corazona von Ascania back during the festival, but it seemed to be worse than he feared.

Balun Dashiell

 

[Balun Dashiell]

"Oh, Mon Ami, why didn't you say that this place lacked style?".

Balun had been well on his way, having finally decided on a direction, only to walk past Carlo Von Corrino at the time of his remark about the Jedi Temple of Coruscant, apparently found lacking in style. Balun slowed to a standstill, turning back to look at the other male, unsure what to make of them. They seemed well dressed, possibly too much so to be one of the regular Jedi Students that Balun had previously lived alongside.

The stranger's obvious disapproval of the heart of the New Jedi Order had caught him off guard. Balun didn't know whether to find it insulting, given that this had once been his home. A minuscule part of him wanted to speak up in their defence, but also, the other part of him had decided to leave the Jedi in search of his own independent living.

"I'm guessing you're new around here, huh?" Balun spoke up, deciding that it was best to get a better idea of who this guy was rather than jumping to conclusions and saying something stupid that'd no doubt get him into further trouble. "And from the way you're dressed, you're probably loaded too," he added, judging by Carlo's attire and assuming that he probably had more credits to his name than what Balun had earned in his lifetime.

 

[Carlo Von Corrino]

Lost in thought and deeply critical of the Temple's decor, Carlo initially failed to notice the presence of the other man. It wasn't until the man spoke that Carlo snapped out of his reverie.

Raising an eyebrow, a mischievous smirk formed on Carlo's face as he responded, "Ah, in a sense, you could say that I am new to this establishment." This was clearly a lie, but Carlo preferred this falsehood over the potential hassle of security's probing questions.

He chuckled slightly at the man's comment about his attire. "A prince without money could hardly be classified as a prince," Carlo quipped, pausing briefly as his metallic hand pushed his glasses down slightly. "Judging by your attire, I'd say you're a Jedi—probably a Padawan, correct?"

They seemed to match the description of others he had passed on his way here.

Balun Dashiell

 

[Balun Dashiell]

"A prince without money could hardly be classified as a prince,"

"A Prince?" Balun repeated, his mind racing to process this new information. He had just now encountered royalty, yet something he needed to learn about them was that they never wanted for credits. "Huh," he huffed, his uncertainty palpable. "You're not expecting me to bend the knee or anything, right?" he inquired, his voice tinged with a mix of defiance and curiosity. He knew full well that Carlo Von Corrino would be disappointed by Balun's refusal to do so. Royal Monarch or not, Balun could have received orders better, as many a tutor here in the Temple had previously discovered.

"Judging by your attire, I'd say you're a Jedi—probably a Padawan, correct?"

"You're half right," Balun soon responded to the other guy's second question, this time assuming that Balun was a student of the New Jedi Order: "I used to live here, but I decided it wasn't for me. I just visit from time to time, when I want to catch up with my friends. I wanted to figure things out on my own, no one trying to hold my hand, ya know?". Balun's field apparel was something of a blend of Jedi garbs and a bit of a mercenary vibe; it was intentional as he now worked every odd job that he could find in order to make a credit or two, anything that could pay his way from week to week. He certainly wasn't rich, but he had made it this far on his own terms.

"What's a Prince doing here though? Did you get kicked out or something? You don't strike me as the type to rough it with us lower-class folk," Balun smirked as though he were proud to be his own man, even if that meant having only a handful of credits to his name. At least he could say that everything he had, he had earned.

 

[Carlo Von Corrino]

Pausing for a moment, Carlo mulled over the thought before deciding against it. "As amusing as that would be, I have no authority on this world," he said with a light smile.

"Hmm," he mused, his attention fixed on the other man as he spoke. Carlo's curiosity was piqued by the notion of a Jedi or Padawan not being part of the Order. "Finding one's own way in life is something I both respect and practice myself. However, I must say, the security in this place is quite lax considering what it houses."

He had realized this when he managed to walk into the building so easily—a genuine risk. Carlo was snapped out of his train of thought as the other man questioned his presence. "I am merely visiting to see what all the fuss is about concerning the Force and all that."

Balun Dashiell

 

[Balun Dashiell]

"If you ask me, it's all over-blown" Balun shrugged, glancing around their surroundings with an evident lack of enthusiasm painted across his face; "Like I said, I come to catch up with friends that choose to stick around. If not for them, I wouldn't bother. Most people are drawn in by the stories of Jedi saving people or fighting in wars, but living here is mostly boring—training regimes day in and day out, classes to attend and lectures to fall asleep. The best part about it is when you go out on field trips, but you can do that whenever you want if you're out in the real Galaxy either way" Balun gave his no-nonsense take on life within the New Jedi Order.

"Although I suppose I'm being a little harsh, I lived here for fifteen years. It's all I had known before I struck it out on my own. I suppose they deserve some credit, they put up with my chit long enough. Probably why nobody put up such a fuss when I disappeared".

"What's it like being rich?" he asked rather bluntly, though his voice wasn't one of rudeness nor judgement, it was his choice of words that failed to sugarcoat his question. Balun had never known a life where he didn't want for something, especially these days where the credits he had on an average day were only in the double-digits, and that was his version of being rich.

Carlo Von Corrino

 

[Carlo Von Corrino]

A slight hum escaped his lips as he listened to the other speak about their experiences and opinion of this place. From what he gathered, it was a rather middle-ground view.

"The most I know about the Jedi comes from what I've been told by my uncle growing up, and recently from a conversation with, I think, a knight. It made me curious, but it seems rather restrictive," Carlo said.

A slight chuckle formed before turning into a small laugh. "Ah, my friend, the want for nothing due to wealth is nice, but there is so much pressure and so many expectations placed on you, especially if you come from a well-respected family. Not to mention that whatever you achieve is never solely your own; it's always tied to the family name in some way."

Balun Dashiell

 

[Balun Dashiell]

"Yeah, restrictive sounds about right," Balun chuckled.

"As students, you must sign in and out whenever you come and go from the Temple. Classes are scheduled, two at a time, with space to rest, but it's every day if you don't have a Master's. What's more is you're not allowed to bring just anyone to the Temple, they have to be Jedi or otherwise be given clearance to visit. It makes it kinda tricky making friends with outsiders, but I guess it's a security thing," He explained, sounding rather pessimistic about it all.

The Jedi Temple was like a massive school or academy for the young. Living within your school 24/7 wasn't at all Balun's ideal lifestyle, and he didn't miss the daily routines that the Jedi kept. If Balun wanted to sleep in, he could do so without worrying about consequences.

Having listened to Carlo Von Corrino speak, Balun frowned. "Huh. I hadn't figured that" his head lifted partially in a half-nod, a mental image of what that must feel like, never to be given the proper credit one deserved for one's efforts in life. It was the exact opposite that Balun strove for, to achieve of his merit, to be independent and free. "Yeah, that's got to suck. Sorry, man" Balun offered his condolences, speaking more genuinely than he had previously. It was slightly easier to take the other guy more seriously now that Balun could see there was more to him than just the fancy clothes and the 'My chit don't stink' facade.

"So, you reckon you're going to stick around here then? Try and sign on as a Jedi Padawan?".

 

[Carlo Von Corrino]

A slight chuckle escaped Carlo's lips at the other's words. "They claim to restrict access to only Jedi or authorized personnel, yet their security is so poor that I could walk in without any issue."

He noticed the pessimistic tone in the other's speech but decided not to press the matter. People often preferred to keep their thoughts private, and it wasn't his place to inquire further.

Shrugging slightly, Carlo continued, "Ah, mon ami, after a while you either become numb to that feeling or, like me, you strike out on your own. The places I've visited, the freedom I've experienced—it's something I cherish."

Reflecting on his adventures brought him joy during quiet moments. "That all depends," he added with a wry smile, "are those ghastly robes I see everyone wearing around here mandatory?"

Balun Dashiell