Tricks and Treats

[Connor Harrison]

Connor helped disperse the students, acknowledging those who thanked him or shook his hand or gave him a few words of how they enjoyed the lectures. And just like that, it was time to call it a night. Kinds words were exchanged with the Baran Do, for it all to commence again tomorrow.

And from bustling activity, it was suddenly quiet with only torches lapping with flame along the walls and the large wooden doors opening up into the evening for the two Masters to leave.

”I've been here only a few hours but I feel I've been here a lot longer. It's strange.”

Walking aimlessly with her arm through his, he looked up at the stars and distant moon on the way to the ship, a chill in his breath.

”I'm sure we can get what you need tomorrow and make our way after. We can certainly return if needed, and I don't think we've heard the last of them.”

Looking over to her, he had suddenly remembered this was a trip that was going to take them across the stars.

”Where did you have in mind to go next? Do you not worry what is happening back on Ossus, or Vosss, without us?”

It was a casual question - he was remembering that the galaxy didn't stop just because he wasn't there to see it.

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Connor Harrison"]

"I'm not sure where to go next," Taeli said, shrugging. "And honestly, I haven't thought about Ossus or the Jedi at all today and how they are getting on without us. Connor, you have to learn to not worry about things when you aren't there. It will just drive you crazy in the end, enjoy the time out here and just let the journey take you where it will."

She was smiling still, enjoying the pleasant company next to her.

"I get the feeling my sister, and the Heavenshields are doing just fine if you must know," she said, nudging him gently. "You sir need a shower though, just what were you and Sage Mong doing with those staves?"

 

[Connor Harrison]

He nodded, itching to speak, and sighed when she kept on - but saw his chance.

”I know, I know, but there's so much I could do to help them, rebuild bridges and things. What if there's trouble? It just eats away at me...oh I don't know.”

Exagerating with his shrugging shoulders, Connor nodded in defeat.

”I know they're ok. And I don't want you to pity me after saying this, but I genuinely know that I am the last thing on their minds right now. I spend more time thinking about them than they do me, but I don't blame them. Any of them. Coci, Thurion, Corvus. When I was around, I caused grief, and now me being here relieves that. So I guess that's a good thing.”

He took a slow few steps down from the Temple grounds with her in tow.

”Oh we were focusing on meditation, and reflexes dicated by the Force. Trusting in it again, not fighting it or questioning it. A simple exercise to make me relax a little and trust myself. It was good. Unexpected but good. How about you?”

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Connor Harrison"]

"Hey, they might not say it, but they do care about you," she said comfortingly. "And my sister is always the forgiving type, you don't have to worry about her being upset when you apologize to her."

Being quiet as he talked about what he was doing with Mong, she couldn't stop the smile forming as he explained how it had been relaxing and felt good to be using the Force again, trusting in it to guide his actions and movements.

"Suffusing my body and individual parts of it with electromagnetic radiation by using the Force, using it to manipulate a metal ball and such," she said, her smile brightening as she explained what she had learned. "It's easier than I thought it would be, but then, I've always had a proclivity for electricity as you know."

 

[Connor Harrison]

His eyes widened at her training - did he think anything less than something like electromagnetic radiation? No.

”Well. I'm sure that was more fun than banging sticks together.”

She was right about her sister being forgiving. But, he knew his outburst would leave a little scar inside her. This new Corvus was open to emotion, and she may forgive but she wouldn't forget. Still. That had to stay in the past, for all their sakes.

”I will make peace with her on m return. I promise.”

Connor was looking forward to getting away from things for the night, and feeling he had earnt it. He wanted a little time with Taeli if truth be told to reflect and make his peace with her, too. He had done it a thousand times, but now he really had to go forward as he meant to. And mean it.

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Connor Harrison"]

I'm sure you will," Taeli said with a half smile as they finally reached the hanger. It would be nice to take off the breathing masks for the day, make dinner, and relax. Lowering the ramp, they would go up into the main room and she delightfully took off her mask and set it down on a table.

"So go freshen up, and I'll get dinner ready as I'm starving and I'm guessing you are too," she said, giving him a side arm hug and going off into the small kitchen area to start making their meal. Truth be told, she just wanted to spend the rest of the evening quietly talking with the man accompanying her and just relax with a nice book before bed. Bustling about the kitchen, she set about getting some nerf stakes and tubers made, getting a light gravy on simmer.

Was she going all out on it? Maybe, but one can't fault a girl for wanting to eat her fill after an exhausting day. Eventually, everything was ready and she made sure a large pot of tea was brewed and a pitcher of water and set their places while he freshened up. She wasn't even thinking that it looked a bit like a romantic dinner, she was just hungry.

 

[Connor Harrison]

The breathing mask came off, and it felt good to be free again with strict instructions to freshen up which he did. He wiped his face and left Taeli to it as he traced his steps back to his small quarters, everything where it was. The bracer, the new clothes and his old ones. The shower unit was free opposite and so he made good use of it.

He didn't have an idea of time, and just sat there as before and let the water wash over him and it felt good. He could stay in these power units for hours. It didn't take long for him to wash and freshen up. The ship felt cold when he left, towel around his waist and then to get dressed. He changed into his jogging trousers and loose white t-shirt, the ones he had to buy for any excessive training or running or whatever.

Sweeping his damp hair back, he sauntered through and came face to face with a well laid dinner table and a Jedi Master pottering around.

”Aw. Well, this looks nice.”

He folded his arms and walked behind a chair, smiling at the spread.

”I am being spoilt for sure. Is there anything I can do?”

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Connor Harrison"]

"Sit and enjoy," Taeli said, setting the water and tea down and settling herself into a seat. "Eat up, I didn't make this spread for myself you know."

She was teasing him a bit, but she wouldn't start eating until he sat down and started himself. It was only proper manners after all. Pouring herself some tea, she lifted her cup in a toast.

"To the beginning of a grand adventure and discovering truths along the way," she said, still smiling as she took a sip of her tea and set the cup down. "So what shall we talk about tonight?"

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor didn’t waste time in sitting down at the table, eyes dancing over the sizzling food. He was eating far better recently than he had; he was surprised he wasn’t gaunt with the basic diet he had. Now at least he felt like enjoying these new tastes and smells. Helping himself to a glass of water, he nodded and raised his glass sat opposite his “host”.

”To fresh starts,” he said, and took the obligatory sip.

Rubbing his hands together, he looked over the food to get his bearings on everything and took his cutlery in hand.

”Why don’t we talk about…” his confidence dived, and diverted his thought, ”…you. You always want to learn and learn and learn. When this is over, what are you going to do with all this knowledge? I mean, what are you? Scientist? Scholar? Warrior? What?”

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Connor Harrison"]

"I suppose you never have gotten the chance to properly question me on my life," Taeli laughed, trying to ease the mood a bit. "Events always seem to be a bit hectic. But, to answer your question, I see my role in life to be a student and teacher if that makes sense. Like we said in the lecture today, there's always another question or thing I want to seek. But eventually, I'll pass along the knowledge I gain, showing others the mysteries of the galaxy."

Leaning back in her chair, she swirled her tea around for a moment, thinking.

"I know how to fight, rather well, but I don't consider myself a warrior," she continued saying. "I've always been more at home in a lab or library, or buried in developing some sort of technology."

 

[Connor Harrison]

He listened and ate, not knowing how hungry he was after the day, and now for the last few days he had relaxed and not had a “moment”, he was doing good. Looking up at Taeli now and then, nodding, and drinking his water, you’d think he’d been starved.

”Mmm.”

Nodding, he waved his fork to her.

”Mhm, no,” he sat back, ”I just think you know so much about everything, I could listen to you talk all day about…things.”

Connor dabbed his mouth with a napkin and drummed his fingers on the table, letting the food go down.

”You cover all bases, and get the best from everything. Even your time with the Sith fascinates me, well, you know that. But you should write a book one day of your life. Fascinating read.”

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Connor Harrison"]

"You can listen to me talk all day? Interesting phrasing there," Taeli giggled before she cut into her nerf steak. She wondered if Connor realized what that phrase usually meant. "If I wrote a book about my life, dear Force. I'd have to make it a series, then some holodrama producer or movie company will come along and want to make it into something for oodles of money."

Taking a sip of her tea, she frowned as she drained it completely and quickly refilled it.

"Come on then, another question, I know you're dying to ask me some," she teased.

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor smiled and shrugged and he toyed with his food.

”Well I’d read it, so you should. A lot of people could learn from you.”

At her invite for a question, there was one he wanted…clarity on. He took his water and drank it…and drank it all which felt like it drowned him. It gave him a moment to think.

”Ok....” he swallowed again, holding a finger up to her to let the water go down, ”…ok. When you contacted me, when I was on Voss?”

He looked down and rolled the words around his head, before looking at her across the table.

”What did you mean about feeling the way you said you did, when Chastity Lunelle was with me? Was, was that real or just that pity you felt for me.”

As he said it, he wasn’t sure if he’d intentionally knocked the mynocks nest, instead of walking around it to avoid anything bad happening.

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Connor Harrison"]

"Connor, let me put it out for you plainly," Taeli said, swirling her tea. "I have kissed you and felt a zing through my entire body. I have been there for you, no matter, supporting you and trying to make you happy. Was I jealous that Chastity won your heart first? Yes, because you won my heart a long time ago. So yes, I like you ... more than a lot ... but I never want that to get in the way of our friendship. Unless you felt the same way, well ... then things change."

Taking a sip of her tea, she set it down gently on its saucer.

"So, I would expect that answers that question ... unless you want to hear the whole sordid affair of my emotions when you took up with her?"

 

[Connor Harrison]

Maintaining the decency to look at Taeli as she spoke openly, Connor nodded. This wasn't something he wanted to hear to boost his ego, but to simply understand how his actions affected others. He hadn't been thinking, and had been rushed into things without thought for the future.

Chastity had brought him nothing but pain - he saved her world, she came and destroyed his nearly. Fair deal.

”Taeli I don't ask to get praise, but simply to understand you. I've known you for years both as an enemy and a dear friend and I need to understand how I've hurt you or played with your emotions. I need to know so I don't do it again. I need to face and understand the consequences of what I've been doing to those closest to me. This is about repairing damages, building bridges, and finding my place in the sun after all.”

He filled his glass with water, a welcome pause in the dialogue.

”Please?”

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Connor Harrison"]

"If that's what you want to know ... give me a moment to get my words in order so you know precisely," Taeli said, leaning back in her chair again and bowing her head in thought.

"It hurt to see you with her ... when I thought we had something," she began, still looking down as she pondered. "Saleucami ... I thought it might have been the start of ... something between us. But then we had to run off and we were interrupted and it didn't start ... you met Chastity and I know she was a looker. Lust can be a quite captivating mistress and watching you fall for it ... it hurt me inside ... so much."

Then she looked up, not in pain, but her eyes were clear for him to read.

"I was angry, at her, at you, at myself ... but ... I realized I couldn't let my anger and hurt rule over me. It didn't extinguish the flame, it didn't stop or turn my feelings for you. I would be patient, I would be your friend, I would be the support you needed if you ever needed it. If something eventually grew for us, then great, I'd be even happier. But, if you were happy, I would be happy for you ... no matter what. I'm a big girl, Connor. I've lived a life outside any Force using sect, you have nothing to apologize to me for."

 

[Connor Harrison]

His fingers were laced and he rested his chin on his hand as he listened. He didn't move, just listening to her talk and put her heart on the table. While he didn't owe Taeli anything, he also owed her everything. She had been with him through it all and still made him dinner and gave him new toys to use in his duty as a Jedi.

”Thank you. And I know, but...I didn't give you the respect I probably should have and I didn't think about others. Just myself. Typical.”

He cracked his knuckles and sat back, taking his water and looking down at the water swilling around and around.

”I didn't think at all when I acted the way I did and...I regret it now. I enjoyed feeling needed and wanted and liked, but, it's silly now, there was always something eating away at me that it wouldn't last. Guess I was right.”

He picked up a few small pieces of meat, licking his lips and taking a drink, swilling the water around. He licked his bottom lip and let his eyes dance over the table as he processed her words. It seemed while everybody was living, Connor was setting his life on repeat and it wasn't getting him anywhere.

”I...” he paused, and rubbed his head, ”...god, this is headache inducing.”

Connor sighed and laughed a little.

”Maybe if things work we could - see if, see if Salucami happened for a reason. If everything about us happened for a reason.”

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Connor Harrison"]

"Well, we knew you always liked a pretty face," Taeli said, teasing him a little. "I'd like that ... see where our journey takes us and if ... something might grow from it. At the very least, we will get to know each other much better and I can finally answer the question of does Connor Harrison prefer boxers or briefs."

She smiled brightly at him as she took a bite of potatoes.

"In all honesty, Connor, you don't owe me anything for what happened," she said, taking a sip of tea. "It's the past, we can only look towards the future and where it might take us."

 

[Connor Harrison]

A sharp laugh escaped his lips, and a raised brow of embarrassment. He toasted her with his water and nodded. He picked up a full potato, before dropping it and returning to use his fork - manners, Connor.

Playing with his food for a second, he didn't know where to go next, and suddenly the months ahead seemed a little daunting. Where would this take him? He wasn't going to return to the galaxy until he felt he would be accepted by it and in the same breath that he could give something back to it.

”I always wondered what former Sith-turned-Jedi wear to bed.”

He looked up and raised his glass. She certainly pushed his buttons - from annoyance to flirtatious. Two could play that game, and for some reason he didn't care how it sounded. It just felt right.

”To the future then, naturally.”

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Connor Harrison"]

"Maybe you'll find out one day," Taeli replied with a wink. "Of course, that's assuming I wear something to bed."

Was she being excessively teasing right now? Yes. Was she enjoying it? Oh yes, and who didn't like a good zinger every once and awhile.

"To the future and may it lead us on many adventures," Taeli said, accepting the toast by raising her tea cup. Continuing her meal, she couldn't stop a sense of giddiness from emanating from her. It was just such a long time since she could enjoy something like this, and she was going to relish everything.

"So, was there anything else you wanted to ask me?" she asked, cutting into another piece of her steak. "Techniques? History lesson? Whether or not I like Naboo better than Chandrila?"