Tricks and Treats

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Connor Harrison"]

Taeli really hated getting sick, absolutely despised it. It had just been a mild case of allergies, aggravated by dust and mold from a tomb she had been researching ... and then the doctor she visited gave her the wrong medicine. So, she had been stuck in bed for what felt like ages when all she wanted to do was go out and explore, to start her journey, and she was just stuck in the Temple like a bump on a log. Luckily, she was feeling much better and the time she had been sick had at least helped her get everything in order. That just left one other thing... company for the trip.

She had thought about asking Corvus to come along, but she was busy as the Grandmaster and with her budding relationship with the mysterious Braith, who she still needed to meet as the older sister. She was happy for her sister, but it meant she was unavailable for a long trip. Padawans just wouldn't really cut it, not yet anyways. And then the idea had struck her, why not ask Connor? He had been trying to learn new stuff and always enjoyed a good adventure.

If she was honest, she hoped maybe spending months alone with each other in exotic locales and learning from different Force sects might bring them closer together, the darn candle was never gone from her heart. Sitting at her desk, she flipped on a call module on her computer and connected to his comlink code.

"Connor? You there?" she asked, getting up to organize her room a bit more. Her voice would be picked up by the mic wherever she was in the room. "Hello Connor, this is Ossus calling Connor."

 

[Connor Harrison]

Spoiler

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fX7oGL30-w

There was no dream. There was no glimmering smile from Corvus, or a warm hug from Kai, or punch in the face by Keira. Nothing. Just darkness.

Connor Harrison lay stomach down on a bed that hadn't been slept in for days, hair matted down and face dried with mud and sweat. The waxing moon was hidden by the clouds, and there was silence bar his deep breathing.

Physically and emotionally exhausted. He had nothing left to give. Nothing to fight for and nothing to prove. Failed as a Jedi. Failed to be anything. Dark Jedi? Please. He wasn't worthy of even that. Failed as a friend. Failed as a Master. Failed as a hero. Failed to take his own life. One thing he wouldn't fail at however, was eradicating the one known as Braith.

In the darkness, a voice came through the silence. Familiar. It was Taeli.

His blue eyes cracked opened slowly, a long breath escaping his lips as he didn't move, looking to the side-table where his clock and com resided, coming into focus through blurry eyes.

Her voice spoke again...calling him, goading him from nothingness. Another Raaf on the other side of the void. Connor reached out lazily and fumbled for the com after minutes of leaving it. His damp fingers took the com and he dragged it to his face, laying sideways on the soft mattress, eyes staring out at nothing.

"Tired," he mumbled, devoid of energy and drive. And meaning.

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Connor Harrison"]

"Tired?" she asked, curious why he sounded like she had felt for days on end. He sounded ... broken, even just from one word spoken. "Hold on a sec here."

Going back over to her desk, she traced the com signal to his room in the Voss temple using the com relays. Isolating the signal, she started patching her feed into their system through the comlink. In a moment, the computer in his quarters would wink on and her face would appear on camera. It was a new system her company was testing, and she thought it might prove to be useful for quick face to face chats.

"Over here Connor," she said, not seeing him but she knew he was in the room. "I'm sorry if I'm disturbing you, I've been sick the last few days from an exploration and just now feeling better. I wanted to talk about a proposal with you, something that you might actually enjoy as it would get you off Voss for awhile and away from the hustle and bustle."

 

[Connor Harrison]

His blue eyes moved up, across, down - listening to the words and watching the pale neon green light illuminate on his console, and the face of Taeli sprang into view. Or, part of her face from what he could see. Her words bounced around his head, nothing really sinking in. Again, he fought the desire to sleep and stayed silent, blinking slow looking at the holo-display.

"She loves a witch who has broken her."

Mumbled words. Slow blinking eyes.

"You knew didn't you. We're done. She's an idiot."

Sisters or not and as confusing as his sentences were, and as static as they were, the links between Corvus and Taeli to Connor were there, but all mixed up. He shuffled his position and moved to lay his head on his arm.

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Connor Harrison"]

Ah, so it was utter heartbreak he was feeling. It hurt her to see him like this, but she knew exactly how he felt. After all, she was holding a candle for him and he had been with another woman and she had to watch it and try and be happy for him.

"I've been sick so I didn't know Corvus had found the one she was seeking," Taeli replied. "I haven't met this Braith woman, but I know Corvus isn't under some spell. I had to pull a sliver of a Sith Lord's soul out of her, I would have seen signs of a spell."

If he looked up, he wouldn't see pity in her eyes for his situation. No, there was sympathy in them and understanding.

"Just start insulting people before you meet them, who knows who they might be after all," she said, giving a subtle reference to their first meeting so long ago. "You can't wallow in your room forever though and I would really like if you came along with me. Exotic locales, rare abilities, no duties to the Order, a chance to just ... i don't know, find who one really is without any real outside interference."

She knew what she was, and it was similar to Jacen Solo. She was a student and teacher, always there would be some puzzle or piece of information or artifact to find for her. Maybe Connor to figure that out too.

"If you don't want to I'll understand of course," she continued saying. "I leave the choice up to you. I'll be on this link for awhile ... just think it over."

With that, she made a show of putting an ear piece in so he would know she would hear him if he said anything and he could hear her responses, and she got up from her desk.

 

[Connor Harrison]

With that, Connor lifted his head.

"Stop defending her and THINK. Corvus doesn't know love but all of a sudden she drops everything for that witch? No way. It's embarrassing and she's a bloody idiot!"

The frustration was enough to pull him up onto his behind and sit on the bed, rubbing the hair out of his face and leaning into his hands.

"All you can think about is going for some trip? I don't want to go on a damn trip, do you not listen at all? I've been here for hours, minutes, if that, so don't tell ME I can't wallow when I've just lost the woman I wanted to spend my life with and rejected for some Sith incarnate! Corvus knew what she was doing and she never gave me a chance!"

Connor kicked at the side-table, knocking it over and sending the console and his other items onto the floor. He swept his legs over the side and pushed his head down into his hands and let out a frustrated sigh.

"I wish your cursed family had never come into my life and ruined it."

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Connor Harrison"]

"Hello pot, my name is kettle, and I'm just loving your tan," Taeli mumbled under her breath as Connor blew up at her for the ... she wasn't sure how many time. Once again proving to her he was still channeling his inner teenager and wanting to wallow in his self pity. Something about the situation told her he had tried other to do something more extreme, but couldn't carry it out. Still, she could feel herself bristling as he bashed her sister yet again.

Taking a moment to keep her sharp tongue in check, she went back to the screen to really look at him. It pained her horribly to see him like this, but she knew exactly how he felt ... the bloody hypocrite ... no, rein it in. Don't snap at him Taeli, it will just make things worse.

"Oh yes, because we ruined your life," Taeli said, shifting the camera so she could sit on the edge of her desk. "Let's not forget who pulled you back from a complete fall into the dark side, let's not forget who removed that Sith magic that Xiangu implanted in your spinal cord, let's not forget who offered to help find your lost Padawan, let's not forget how many times we Raaf sisters have brought you along on adventures because you're a friend and enjoy that sort of thing."

She took a slow breath, stopping herself from working herself into a rant.

"Braith predates the Sith by some 3000 years by the way, the Sith Order was established around 7000 years before the Battle of Yavin, closer to 6900 but I digress, you don't really care about the history lesson," she continued saying. Her eyes then turned hard for a moment. "Before you lash out in your anger again, think first as you don't seem to want to believe that Corvus swings for the other team and discovered someone she wants to be with of her own free will. Corvus understands sisterly love just fine, romantic love ... yes I admit she is a neophyte and still has so much to learn about emotions ... but I once again point out ... I. Would. Have. Felt. A. Spell. On. My. Sister. I didn't choose the Arcanix as my Sith name because I thought it sounded pretty."

A book floated over to her and she propped it open on her lap.

"You're angry and brokenhearted, I understand that all too well," she said, her eyes going soft again as she looked at the man who she both loved and was a constant headache because he just couldn't ... rein it in Taeli. "You feel like your world has crumbled, it hurts to even think about the other in the arms of another, wondering if you did something wrong and they slipped through your fingers, thinking it has to be some sort of joke or twisted plan of some sort. You don't think I thought all of these things when you took up with your Padawan?"

And there it was, right there in the open now. She had been jealous of young Chastity Lunelle, wanted to rage at the world for the unfairness of everything as she had constantly been there for the man and some hussy has slipped in and taken him. That rage and jealousy had lasted for maybe half an hour before she squared her shoulders and decided she would be there for him still, wishing him to be happy and helping to make sure he was. It had pained her, truly deeply in her heart, but she has pushed through those feelings ... and still kept the candle burning because she had known it wouldn't last ... those sort of things never did. A relationship born of lust would always fizzle.

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor sat hunched over the bed and looked at the upside down image of Taeli lecture him, but more than ever she was right. Who else would grant this much patience to one as reckless and volatile and violent as Connor Harrison? Her words stung, but each word after made him bite his tongue and think. THINK.

"I..." he started, but failed to maintain an argument. He sighed.

"I'm not homophobic or anything like that. People are free to love who they choose and where their heart takes them."

He had said it himself. Free to love who they choose. Corvus has chosen. His blue eyes closed and his chest rose and fell as he took in her words. So now it was clearer than ever Taeli had feelings for Connor, before, during and after Chastity has wasted all his time in trying to save her.

Silence hung, and the words soaked in. He had become an enemy to his friend, and a disgrace to the Code he served.

"I'm sorry, Taeli."

However he didn't move, he just reflected on the past and what to make of the future.

"Give me a bit of time and I'll...I'll come out. Where are you."

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Connor Harrison"]

"I'm on Ossus currently," Taeli replied, her smile returning a little bit. "And I wasn't looking for an apology, I know how it feels and what it creates within one's spirit. What you can do is try and finally bury the past where it belongs, we all learn from our mistakes after all. You'll just need to apologize to my sister when you get the chance."

He had let the past rule him in a way, which as a historian and researcher she was constantly looking through and examining, but maybe he would finally stop and think. If he wanted to come on the trip now, he just might find a new path for himself ... to become the man he was always trying to be and that she saw.

"I still have a few more things to get in order before departure so I'll let ground control know you're coming and have authorization to land," she said. "And Connor ... you do realize if you do come with me on this ... sojourn for a better term, you'll be stuck with me for months. I hope you're ready for such an experience."

She smiled a little more at that, her eyes showing she was teasing him a little.

"I'll see you on Ossus and I don't want to see gloomy storm clouds over you or I will force you into a sparring match," she said, smiling pleasantly before cutting the connection. Getting up, she sent a message to Ossus Control to expect an E-Wing fighter from Silver Sanctum space to be arriving and she walked over to where the new prototypes she had been working on sat. She suspected he would definitely like these, she thought, picking up one bracer in contemplation. Just needed to get things in order now, give people contact information and instructions. She had time after all.

 

[Connor Harrison]

Nodding, Connor mumbled an acknowledgement and leant down to kill the signal as Taeli signed off, leaving him sat on the floor in pool of self-pity and exhaustion. He looked up at the clouds outside, illuminated a dark grey from the moon behind them. Apologizing to [member="Corvus Raaf"] was what any decent friend should do, and Connor couldn't act like a moronic nerf-herder to her if she had found happiness. Whether he agreed or not was another matter, but to support her and be there for her if she ever needed him was better right now than becoming her enemy and pushing her out of his life forever. In time...he would.

He looked down and took his com, not before pulling up the side-table and sitting the items back on top. Activating the device, he scrolled to the signal of [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] and [member="Coci Heavenshield"] - two people he would have to face soon. But not now. He doubted they would have time for him in this state.

"Thurion. Coci. It's Conner."

Eyes blinked as he tried to think what to say without sounding like a broken record.

"You know why I'm doing this, but please let me assure you I will be back. I am exiling myself away from the Temple and the Sanctum for a while to purge this...this thing eating away at me. Affairs of the heart are not helping, and I'm failing you as friends and failing the Padawans as a Master. If I don't return within 3 months then know I have left this life for a place better than I found here. If you no longer accept me as Master, or leader of the Shadows or Council Member then I understand. If I have no place here after this within the walls I will understand also. Take care of each other. Treasure the love you have. I see now how special it is. May the Force be with you both."

The com flipped over his head as he threw it backwards on the soft bed and exhaled loudly, wiping his hands down his muddy face and pushing himself up. He waved his hand to activate the cool neon blue light. It was time to lay this affair to rest.

No armour was needed, and it resided piled on the floor. Instead, his basic training gear and greatcoat. No time for anything else -he was leaving tonight when the planet slept.

His com was left on the side, and he only took his lightsaber but made sure it was safe before throwing it in his rucksack. Packing up so little to leave a room still sparse showed him what life he had - an empty one. Chastity's belongings were all gone, but for a while they did add life to the place.

He left word with the engineers in the hangar as to what he was doing, and made sure the E-wing was ready to go.

Ossus wasn't too far and he knew where Taeli was holding up, and he sat in his hangar and gripped the yolk, closing his eyes and listening to the peace around him for a few seconds.

"Dark Jedi. I don't know where you get your delusions, laser-brain."

He smiled and shook his head at the stupid notion. Powering up and moving the craft out, Connor left for Ossus and leaving Voss as nothing but a spec in the stars behind him.

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Connor Harrison"]

Taeli was busily getting her affairs in order, making sure her room would be properly sealed so only a blood relation could get inside. Not because she didn't trust the other Jedi, but she knew that talk around the temple about Master Raaf's collection existed and she didn't want some inquisitive Padawan rooting around in things they weren't ready for. It helped that she kept the really dangerous stuff on Erilnar at her company's headquarters as that place was a fortress, still it was weird knowing she wasn't going to see this room for a little while.

Directing Jaxson that if he needed anything while she was away to com her ship, she placed him in charge of overseeing Aurora operations in the meantime and also to make sure funds would start arriving for the Order. With that squared away, she packed up the prototypes and other toys she was planning to bring as she still needed to work on them while they were traveling. Some of them were personal use, like her armor, but some needed a more delicate and personal touch before going into company production.

Books ... she didn't need to pack any of them here, and her sister and the other Masters might want to be able to peruse them if they need to look certain things that were in her collection. That reminded her to place a note on her desk that all books were categorized in the Lorrd library system and she would know if any had ... wandered.

That done, she picked up her com and sent a message to [member="Corvus Raaf"]

"So I know we were meaning to catch up, but I wanted you to know that I'm leaving on my little sojourn of knowledge and not to worry. I got Connor to come along and I hope we might meet up sometime so you might finally introduce me to Braith. If the Order needs me, I'll be right there of course. Don't go looking for my diary or anything else scandalous in my room, I'm taking those things with me. I'm also keying the lock to family biometrics only so you're the only one who can get inside. Don't want any over-eager Padawans snooping in my collection after all, but you're free to use it if you need it. Love you sis, and I'll be sure to keep in contact while I'm away."

Message sent and she tucked the remaining gear she had in her quarters away into her satchel, her trusty satchel from school, and left the room to wait at her ship. She had plenty of clothes and stuff on board, so need to pack that stuff. Now all she had to was wait for Connor and hope he didn't brood the entire flight.

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor had been to Ossus once. Was it twice? He didn't know off hand, but it didn't matter. The E-wing came in through the atmosphere with a swift pace and honed in to the Temple that housed a different breed of Jedi from the Silvers. A different breed from the Connor Harrisons of the galaxy.

Receiving word from the Temple team to grant him permission to land within the grounds, Connor acknowledged and came in gently to land on the edge of the hangar itself. He made sure his ship was secure as he got up and out, down the wing and onto the ground, a few small acknowledgments to those watching. Hopefully they would take care of his ship. Taking his bag from the storage compartment, Connor felt like he was a Padawan again on Lorrd.

When he saw a large ship up inside the hangar and a familiar face outside, Taeli, looking as busy and prepared as ever.

A cold shiver ran up his spine - he was still on autopilot, running away from his issues right into the company of one he trusted and seemed to bounce back to when things got tough. But it was different this time. He was walking on thin ice, and the cracks were already there for a wrong foot from him. Dealing with the fact she had admitted she felt a great deal for him, and how he had insulted her sister all in one hit, it wasn't the best reunion.

Aware he didn't look the picture of perfection, dry mud replacing where grease once was when she came to him months ago, he just kept his face devoid of emotion and his aura calm.

"Not a word," he raised his finger to the mud on his face.

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Connor Harrison"]

"Went with a spot of gardening before coming here?" Taeli quipped, smiling. While she was annoyed with him about insulting her sister, she was willing to look past it. She always looked past his temper, after all, she was a delicate flower who never got angry at him. Unless he truly deserved it, then a bop in the nose and well...

"You look like you need to freshen up, so pick a cabin you want to keep your things in," she said, guiding him up the ramp into the ship proper. Supplies were being loaded into the storage containers on the bottom of the ship, enough to last them two months easily. The cloaking device she had checked out personally and it was in tip top condition, all systems had been green.

"Mind the books, you know I like to have a library with me," she said, taking her own stuff into her quarters that also doubled as a small workshop for her. "Working on a few prototypes, need to fine tune a few things still. We will also need to select our first destination, the list is on the table if you want to peruse it. Should be Fallanassi, Aing-tii, Jal Shey, Baren Do, the Shapers of Kro Var, and a few other groups on there."

 

[Connor Harrison]

Usually he'd fight back, throw a quip...but he couldn't. This was all too surreal. Here he was as if nothing had happened with the sister of the women....ugh.

He smiled and nodded, following her up and dropping his bag inside the ship,, looking around to see little had changed. A library in space.

"Ah, this reminds me," Connor crouched and pulled open his bag to take out a book, taking up most of the room, "I don't think I need this right now."

The book of the Potentium which, right now, was something Connor didn't feel worthy to even read. He placed the book on the side, besides even MORE books and the list she had drawn up, and flexed his fingers on the cover, all her words blending into one. Connor looked over the words which blended into one and nodded and turned, and shrugged.

"I don't mind, really - your call."

While he was looking at her, it was almost like he was looking through her.

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Connor Harrison"]

Taeli looked at the man and sighed internally, he just seemed so ... beaten this time. There was always a spark inside the man, an inner flame that kept him going, and it looked like it had been well and truly stifled this time. Well, she was just going to have to reignite it apparently. This trip was going to be more than just about learning new stuff, it was going to help find who they really were.

"Thank you for returning the book," she said, coming over to look at the list. "It is a rather rare volume and I'm glad to see it's undamaged. However, can't be having you looking like the walking dead now can we? I'm going to set the autopilot to take us to one of these locations first, I'm thinking either Dorin or Almania to start, then you and I are going to have a proper chat and spar. I find it helps the Padawans get stuff off their chest."

With that decided, she headed to the cockpit and began take off procedures. In moments, they were breaking Ossus's atmosphere and were among the stars. Flipping a coin, she smiled a bit as they landed on Dorin first. Baren Do it was then. Setting the course, she got up and stretched a bit. Connor seemed to need a wake up call, a little slap of reality to get him in a proper mindset. She would be quite happy to provide him it.

Heading back into the main section of the ship, she used the Force to move all the books and tables out of the way so they had a clear space. Another flick of her mind and both her lightsabers flew to her hands and she clipped her shoto onto her belt, the very familiar circle hilt still in her hands.

 

[Connor Harrison]

Steadily, the ship moved, and Connor saw the last of Ossus fade away as the loading ramp closed and wouldn't open again until they had landed somewhere else. Anywhere really. God, he hoped it wasn't Tatooine to face Corvus for some apology. No, Taeli wasn't that cruel.

He stretcehd his arms out and tried to loosen his back muscles as Taeli busied herself, and he moved back to sit in a small chair, resting on his knees so not totally comfortable. He watched her return and clear out some space between them, and followed with his eyes the weapons she called.

"No way," he said, holding up a palm, "I'm not here for this. I'm not fighting, or sparing or whatever you want to do. Not now."

The last time he had a duel, he'd bruised a rib and punctured his pride. And that was on a good day. Right now, it was like Rhen Var all over again - the desire to use the Force or wield a blade was being sucked away from him. He just wanted to be alone. Or sleep. Or shower. Or have all three. Or none. He didn't know. He was here, but he was not here.

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Connor Harrison"]

"Let me ask you something, Connor," Taeli said, slightly amused by his reaction. "Do you even feel like you're here right now, or do you feel like your head is a million miles away? I'm thinking it's the later. You're exhausted on all levels, emotionally ... mentally ... physically ... spiritually. The best way to start righting one's self is to do something. Something that can be cleansing and make you actually want to sleep and rest."

Looking at the lightsaber in her hand, she smiled softly.

"I wasn't thinking of a spar in the traditional sense anyways," she continued saying. "You're much too exhausted for that, I was thinking of something else entirely that might put your head in a least a good state of being for trying to get some rest."

As she spoke, small particles of water started to freeze and snowflakes formed around her until lying next to both of them was a medium size pile of snow. Her lightsaber clipped to her belt, she bent down and picked up a handful of snow and packed it together with a grin.

"I wonder just how many snowball fights you had, because frankly you look like you need some fun exercise before a shower and bed," she wondered, her grin turning mischievous as she causally threw the snowball right at his chest.

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor leant over, looking up at her. She was spot on. Tired. Exhausted. Drained. Physically and emotionally. Hours ago he was ready to take his own life but being the coward and indecisive moron he was, he’d even bottled that. It was like he was going to be stuck in a limbo between Light and Dark, life and death.

He nodded in agreement, the puppy dog eyes peering up at her even looking heavy, the mud around his cheeks and hair now crusted.

Watching the curious formation of water into ice and snow from the moisture in the air, a little smile tugged at the corner of his lip. He’d always liked the snow, the cold, the beat –

- the snowball hit him, having drowned out her voice with his own head.

It was real – not a figment or illusion – cold and soft and it fell over his lap and onto the floor. Eyes a little wider, he looked to her and shook his head.

"2 months with you? Drop me off on Voss, I’ll pass thanks."

His eyes looked down again, but, ever so slightly, went to his snow pile, tempted…so tempted…

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Connor Harrison"]

"Oh, you should have said something before I locked the autopilot in to Dorin," Taeli said, her smile growing just a little bit more. She had seen that small smile as he felt the cold form and his eyes shifting to the snow pile next to him. Come on you stubborn kath hound, she thought, pick one up and throw it.

"Guess you're stuck with me until then," she said with a shrug and a fake apologetic look on her face, another snowball in hand ... and then it left her hand to merrily sail towards him again. It was a cold slap of what was real, not something in his head or anything else, just a snowball. Something for his tired self to latch onto to pull him out of the abyss he called his life right now. It was something innocent, something that could be fun. Another handful of snow was already being scooped up even before the current one in the air found its mark.

 

[Connor Harrison]

A disgruntled mumble left his lips, and a bemused chuckle at the absurdity of it all.

"Look -"

He looked up again and was hit by her second snowball. Cold and jolting him again down his vest. He shuddered and froze, and slumped his shoulders.

"Thank you, but I’m tired."

Feigning a stretch, he yawned as his arms went out and his hands curled a little, and then he swept his hands up in a wave to take his pile of snow with a mighty blast and throw it up into the air and up over towards Taeli in a mighty white flurry.

It was her fault if her ship got wet or damaged from this snow – she’d brought it inside after all.

"Ha!"

[member="Taeli Raaf"]