Private Veil of Sorrow

[Tirin Raene]

LOCATION: The Aries
TAGS: Loomi
​

Jedi Master Tirin moved quietly through the corridors of The Aries star cruiser, his robes whispering against the metal floor. His face, usually calm and composed, now showed clear signs of concern.

He was on his way to the quarters of his apprentice, Loomi, who had shut herself away after a recent ordeal. As a mentor and one experienced in guiding others through challenges, Tirin was keenly aware of the sensitivity required in this situation.

Approaching Loomi's door, Tirin paused to gather his thoughts. The relationship he had with his apprentices extended beyond training; it was about emotional support and mutual respect. Gently activating the door chime, Tirin spoke softly, "Loomi, it's Master Tirin. I am here for you. Let's talk, young one."

 

[Loomi]

The Aries
Tags: Tirin Raene

"Loomi, it's Master Tirin. I am here for you. Let's talk, young one."

There would be a moment of silence, but before long the door of Loomi's room would open. The short-statured padawan would be there, wrapped tightly in a layered blanket that was pulled over her head like a hood, hiding how unkempt her curly raven hair was underneath. Her antennae were drooped down over her face and her eye had a rather prominent bag underneath it. She had been laying in bed for days now but it was clear as day that she had not been resting.

Not in the slightest.

"I-I don't wanna talk about it," she muttered in an apologetic tone. "I'm scared."

Would he blame what happened to Aliris on her? She didn't know. Loomi had done everything in her power to save her, but it hadn't been enough. Now she was asleep with no signs of ever waking again.

It was devistating.

 

[Tirin Raene]

TAGS: Loomi​

As the door to Loomi's room opened, revealing her disheveled and clearly distressed state, Tirin took a moment to assess the situation. His observant nature quickly took in the details - her drooped antennae, the dark circles under her eyes, and her protective blanket cocoon. He remained composed, his demeanor calm and reassuring.

"Loomi," Tirin began, his voice steady and devoid of judgment, "We need to talk."

He paused, allowing his words to resonate in the quiet room. "It's okay to be scared. I'm scared too. But you can not languish here in your sorrows little one. " Tirin moved to lean over and scoop her up cocoon and all, despite his frail looking frame he seemed to have no trouble in this. "Your fear is a natural response, but as Jedi, we must learn to face our fears, to understand them, not to be ruled by them. You acted with courage and did all that you could. That is the essence of our path."

Tirin wasn't going to let her retreat back to the cave of her room and instead carried her to the observatory and settled her down on a couch where he had a tray on a coffee table set out with freshly made hot cocoa.

 

[Loomi]

The Aries
Tags: Tirin Raene

"...Okay," Loomi relented.

She didn't resist to being picked up and moved to the observatory. Loomi didn't have the energy to. Instead she simply let herself be moved, reaching out of her bundle to grab the hot cocoa that had been prepared for her. The warmth rejuvinated her senses, and the Godoan went to take a brisk sip before settling back into her seat.

"You're... not mad at me?" she asked.

He certainly didn't seem mad, or dissapointed in her. Then again, her empathic abilities had been on flux ever since her return.

 

[Tirin Raene]

TAGS: Loomi
​

Tirin settled himself comfortably next to her, his demeanor calm and reassuring. He gently shook his head, dispelling any notion of anger. "No, I'm not mad at you..." he began softly, his voice carrying a soothing tone.

He turned to face her, his expression sincere and filled with affection. "I love you, and I care deeply about your well-being," Tirin stated earnestly. He reached for a cup of tea.

Holding the cup in his hands, he took a thoughtful sip, allowing the warmth of the tea to mirror the warmth in his words.

"Do you want to tell me what's going on in that head of yours?"

 

[Loomi]

The Aries
Tags: Tirin Raene

"I just... I feel awful," Loomi sighed. "Aliris never got a choice. Now... I don't know if she ever will ever again."

It wasn't fair. Heartless disregard for her life by people who were well past their time to die. That wasn't even mentioning how quickly they had killed that Tessa girl, almost like she wasn't even a person. It wasn't even animalistic. Most animals killed to survive. These people- no, horrors... They were well past reason or thought at all. Raw chaos hiding in organic tissue.

"I couldn't do a thing to stop it," the Godoan lamented. "I was too weak."

She didn't want to be weak. She couldn't. There was too much at stake now.

 

[Tirin Raene]

Tirin's gaze softened as he listened to Loomi's words, each one laden with a weight that seemed to press down on the air between them. He understood the depth of her pain, the sense of helplessness that gnawed at her spirit. It was a feeling he knew all too well, a shadow that had often loomed over his own path...

"Loomi," he began, his voice a gentle anchor. "Strength isn't just about physical might or the ability to change the course of events. True strength... it's about enduring, about finding the courage to face each new day, even when the night has been darkest."

He paused, choosing his words with care. " It's a harsh truth, one that scars the soul. But remember, their stories, their struggles... they're now a part of you. You carry their memory, their hopes, and in that, you have a power that those monsters will never understand."

Tirin reached out, placing a reassuring hand on Loomi's shoulder. "You're not weak, Loomi. You're here, you're fighting, you're feeling. That's more than those who've lost their humanity can claim. And in this fight, it's not just about physical battles. It's about preserving that spark within you, the one that feels, that cares, that yearns for a better world. We cant let that go dim."

Loomi

 

[Loomi]

The Aries
Tags: Tirin Raene

And in this fight, it's not just about physical battles. It's about preserving that spark within you, the one that feels, that cares, that yearns for a better world.

Could she do that? Preserve the spark within herself? She didn't really consider that there was anything in her at all, what with how she grew up. Things always felt so hopeless...

But maybe she was here in spite of that hopeless feeling. If nothing else, it gave the Godoan a reason to press on. Hope was a good thing to believe in. Loomi did genuinely believe that there were better things around the corner, even as she sat here covered in scars and missing a friend. There were still things that she could work towards. And maybe one day Aliris would wake up and they could be friends again.

She liked that thought.

The bundled up teen would lean onto Tirin, resting her head on his shoulder. A child reaching out for the support of a parent. She had never been able to do such a thing before.

"You're not going anywhere, right?" she asked.

 

[Tirin Raene]

TAGS: Loomi
​

Tirin's expression grew solemn as he gently shook his head, his eyes filled with sorrow. "No," he said softly, his voice carrying a hint of resolve, "not within the foreseeable future." He assured her, his words meant to convey a sense of reassurance. "And not if I can help it," he added with unwavering conviction.

As Tirin spoke, he tenderly wrapped an arm around her, drawing her closer. His touch was gentle, his fingers offering soothing strokes to her outer shoulder. He could feel the tension in her, the weight of uncertainty pressing down on her shoulders.

Leaning in a little closer, Tirin continued to speak in a comforting tone, " We'll face whatever comes our way together, and I'll do everything in my power to protect us." His words were a promise, a vow to be her pillar of strength in times of doubt and fear.

 

[Loomi]

The Aries
Tags: Tirin Raene

"Okay," Loomi murmered. "I trust you."

And she did. Loomi believed in every word that Tirin had said to a T. After all, he was her teacher, and for the brief time they had known each other the Master had been nothing but gentle and supportive. If he was certain that he would be around for a while longer, the Godoan trusted it to be so.

"I haven't slept at all," she admitted with a nervous smile. "Th-that isn't good, is it?"

She had been in her room for a few days now. No, it wasn't good at all.

 

[Tirin Raene]

"Lack of sleep is very bad. Loomi, not getting enough sleep is really rough. It can mess with your health in a big way. People can start seeing things that aren't there, face all sorts of health issues, and even find it hard to think straight. It's like being stuck in a loop where things just keep getting worse.

Those heavy, depressive thoughts can make shutting your eyes feel like the hardest thing in the world. It's tough, but you're not in this alone. I have been there in one way or another, and I'm here to help.

You know what might help? How about we try to do something fun to help? Getting some fresh air, seeing different sights, hearing different sounds. It might just be the break your mind needs to hit the pause button on those gloomy thoughts."

Tirin offered slowly and in a soft tone.

Loomi

 

[Loomi]

The Aries
Tags: Tirin Raene

"I like fun things," Loomi decided.

Yes, fun things were good. A knot began to turn in the Godoan's stomach though, perhaps a bit of a guilty feeling. Should she be doing fun things when her friend wouldn't be able to? Did she even deserve to have fun?

No. She did what she could. Loomi needed to take her mind off of everything and get back to a healthy state of mind. If not for her own sake then for Aliris. What would she think if all Loomi could do was tear herself apart over the thought of her? Their friendship had to be more than just the regret of not being able to help her.

"Yeah," she nodded. "I'd like a break. I'd like it a lot."

 

[Tirin Raene]

TAGS: Loomi
​

Tirin's voice was gentle yet imbued with a weighty seriousness. "Good, it's time to get washed up and ready to head out. There are things I need to tell you, 'Hard pills to swallow' ;truths that might be hard to swallow. They're not literal pills, but they are tough, serious truths about life that can be difficult to accept. It's crucial that we understand these lessons. My responsibility is to ensure you're well-prepared for life, self-sufficient, and well-rounded. So much so that I won't have to worry about your well-being after I'm gone, because I'll know you're going to be just fine. Here are the key lessons I believe are vital for you right now, and I hope you'll take them to heart.

First, life is inherently unfair, and not everyone receives what they deserve. Death is a certainty, and its timing is unknown to us all. Time waits for no one; once it's passed, it's irretrievable. The purpose of life isn't always clear; it's your task to find meaning in your journey." He paused, letting the gravity of his words sink in, realizing this was enough to ponder for the moment, especially given her current state of mind. Overwhelming her with too much at once wasn't his intention.

With a softer tone, he concluded, "And remember, you are not responsible for anyone else's happiness, only your own. Strive to maintain a healthy expectation of yourself, setting achievable goals and boundaries. Your happiness should be your primary concern. Your mind and body are like a temple – treat them with care and respect. Now lets focus on giving you some much needed reprive from all thsi gloom. Life. Is meant to be enjoyed. "