Sword of Shiraya
Lorn sputtered, a piece of root vegetable lodging itself uncomfortably in his throat as Kahne's playful smack landed. He coughed, eyes watering slightly, before a wry grin stretched across his face. "Worth it," he thought, before returning to his meal, albeit a bit more cautiously this time. He nodded along as Kahne continued to offer comfort to Michael, his gaze lingering on the young Padawan. Michael's emotions were close to the surface, a palpable mix of grief and vulnerability that Lorn understood all too well. He offered a small, almost imperceptible nod of solidarity to Michael, hoping the silent gesture conveyed his support.
He then noticed Briana approach, her presence a welcome distraction from the heavy atmosphere. He hadn't seen her since the Hapan wedding, and her absence had been a silent weight on the order. Lorn had found himself outside her office door more than once, his hand hovering to knock, but he'd always hesitated. What could he possibly say that would truly ease her pain? He knew how that pain felt, a gnawing emptiness that lingered like a bad dream. Instead, he had let her family support her, hoping she could find some solace in their love. Now, seeing her here, even if her arrival was triggered by the chaos of a new face, it brought a sense of relief.
Lorn's attention shifted to the woman with the red hair (
Syd Celsius
) across from him. She was no Padawan, her eyes too sharp to be so young, and he realized he had not met her before. He extended a hand across the table, his dark eyes meeting hers. "Lorn Reingard." he introduced himself, a small, genuine smile gracing his lips.
