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Oct 8, 2009 20:17:18 GMT -5
Post by Talau the Ever-Lurking on Oct 8, 2009 20:17:18 GMT -5
How great it is to be back at the Temple...
A stifled groan escaped the young woman as she paced slowly down the halls.
The thought might have sounded more than a bit sarcastic, echoing behind her thick mental barriers, but it was honestly the truth. It WAS good to be back at the temple...she was just...bored.
And alone.
Yes, the diminishing effects of her malnutrition still hurt, and yes her injuries from the crash still hurt, but it was the deeply felt loneliness that cut the deepest.
Remiel...gone. Latus...gone. Ryn.......
The lightly echoing sounds of her booted footfalls stopped at that last name and a new wave of emotional pain washed over her heart, forcing her to reinforce that hardened armor over it to numb the pain.
...gone.
She started walking again. Grey had crept over her eyes, replacing the typically corusca gem quality colors that adorned them and set them apart from the norm. Her sorrow was telling through that color, though only a select few knew the true meaning thus far in her life. One of them was dead, two of them were still jedi, three of them were gone...missing...
...vanished.
She'd returned to the temple only two weeks ago from that mission over Haruun Kal...the one that was supposed to have ended two MONTHS ago. Those two months had been...unpleasant (she was feeling exceedingly nice today)...and had been spent in and out of a hibernation trance to better heal herself until she was strong enough to start moving again. With an injured leg, damaged ribs, a broken arm and collar bone, a gash in her other arm deep enough to leave a lasting scar, and various bruised bones, skin, and cuts galore...well, it had taken a while to heal up enough to start trying to find her way to a village or city....or anywhere.
It had been...difficult (again she was being nice)...slipping in and out of that coma-like stated every few days then having to go try and scavenge some sort of food and water...mainly water. She had managed, however, thanks to the limited supplies in the escape pod. She had been able to keep her open injuries clean enough to keep from infection and used the two kolto compresses that came in the pod's medical kit to help heal the slice in her arm. Those first vital days had gone by in her trance, and her first meal had been some of the rations that also came standard in the pod she had so recently crashed in. It was like this for the first two weeks...three days of trance, one out to feed and refuel her body so it could heal further, another three days in trance...so on and so forth...but the rations could only last so long, even with the limited use of them and so she had needed to resort to using the force.
The force was an amazing alley. It had granted her with many gifts along her years of training, and it was now that she found some of them particularly useful. Her telepathy, for instance. Talau had still been weak, enough so that she couldn't easily use her naturally powerful telepathic abilities to call for help, but...she could still easily manipulate the minds of animals to do her bidding. She'd had to get creative, but...creativity had been embedded in her since her training with Master Toth had begun, and even in her earliest years she'd been innovative. It came in handy now as she coerced the fauna of the planet to bring her items she could use. Birds brought berries and nuts, and...as much as she hated to do it...some of the smaller ground dwelling animals lost their lives to her after she 'convinced' them to come closer to her. It was hardly the way she wanted to live, but...she HAD to live...there was someone waiting for her.
Over time water was the real problem. The force had smiled upon her as she healed those first weeks without rations...it had rained. While it wasn't perfect, she had at least been able to collect the water and refill the, now empty, water bottles from the supplies with rain and check it for harmful contaminants with the force. After that first rain, however, she hadn't been so fortunate. Injured as she was, she knew she needed to leave the area...the animals were beginning to figure out that she was the predator that was slowly picking off their numbers, and there wasn't water close by that she knew of...no one had found the crashed pod, and so...it was time to leave. Talau, however, had still been injured enough to not be able to move about for long periods of time, or over long distances...what she needed...was help.
Help came in the form of a native Akk dog.
As generally unpleasant as he had been in the beginning, Talau had managed to convince her new friend that she was no threat to him if he helped her. Though not a sentient species, the akk dogs of the planet were easily trained through the force...the 'native' people of Haruun Kal had been doing it for generations after all...and Talau found that this was a simple enough task for her. She had made herself unthreatening to him unless he chose to attack her. The beast was wary, at first, even as she spoke to it through the force, sniffing at her from a distance, eying her, flicking his tongue at her to taste the air. That first night, the two watched each other carefully, her speaking only if he seemed to get the idea that he should try to harm her. The next day, however, found that he would approach her carefully, allowing her to touch the scales that covered his head. Neither, it seemed, were interested in a bond, but…he was, at least, willing enough to help her get away from the place she was now. It seemed he wanted it for his own uses and her being gone took care of both their worries. None of this was quite so complex to the akk’s mind, of course, but this was the truth behind the matter as Talau had reassembled the gathered information in her own mind.
Finally, on the third day, she managed to convince her new ‘friend’ to allow her to ride him. Large as he was, the 6 foot tall male was long as a speeder…plenty large enough and strong enough to carry her dwindling weight.
She paused, glancing around at where she was…the young woman had become so entangled in her memories she’d completely lost track of where she’d been walking. Sighing, she found herself at the Room of 1,000 Fountains. Well, at least she had come to someplace soothing. Entering, she welcomed the soothing sounds of the water in the fountains and the smell of green plants as she moved to find a comfortable lounging place beneath one of the trees there. Settling in, she gazed up at the leaves above her.
The male akk dog…yes, he’d been rather uncertain about letting her use him in such a way, but he had allowed it. He’d hunkered down, letting her use him to pull herself up before he settled completely along the ground to make it as easy as possible for her to mount his back. This had all happened with her coaxing, of course, as he wouldn’t willingly allow her such a thing…not yet anyway…and she’d had him take her to someplace with water. Unfortunately, the place he had taken her was fairly unsheltered but, now she knew where water was, she urged him to follow the stream until she found a semi-suitable place to rest.
Even without bearing her own weight, the journey had been difficult for the young woman. He was far from comfortable to ride and it had taken all her strength and will power to keep hold and not fall off of him as he moved along. He had done as she asked, however, so as she clambered off him, she urged him to go on his way. Much to Talau’s surprise, he hadn’t. To this day she didn’t understand why, but he had vanished for a while only to return with a bloody muzzle and carrying the remains of a grasser back to her. Baffled, she hadn’t bothered to refuse what was left of the meat he brought, doing what little she could to gather wood and start a fire to cook it. He remained through the night, still very much to her confusion, watching over her as he curled up around her to keep predators at bay.
She sighed again and closed her eyes for a moment. They had been through a lot, her and that akk dog, and he’d protected her, helped her, even gotten her to a Balawai city so she could get back here. She just wished she could have brought him with her. It had hurt them both to separate like that. The two of them, they hadn’t meant to form a bond, not like most of the Korunnai did with their akk dogs, but a bond had been formed anyway, and her leaving had been difficult to deal with for both. It still hurt, and at times, when she woke up in the middle of the night, she expected the giant creature to be there.
No…she found herself here, alone in the temple and wondering where, exactly, everyone had gone. Toth was on a mission, Seri was as well…she hadn’t expected Shoal to be here when she returned since he was dead before she left…where, however, had the other three gone?
Opening her eyes, they shimmered a mixture of colors, a collage of hues that echoed her confusion on the topic.
She decided, then, that she REALLY needed to get back to doing missions…sitting around the temple was making her think too much.
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Rugs
The ring-dang-doo, now what is that?
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Oct 9, 2009 13:54:15 GMT -5
Post by Rugs on Oct 9, 2009 13:54:15 GMT -5
{Well, I seem to be having Locke meets lots of Jedi lately, so I hope you don't mind me jumping in}
La de da, daaa, de daaa, de da daaaaa... Locke Nemsee hummed contentedly in his head as he made his way through the great halls of the Temple. Another fine day, truly. Y'know, I could almost get used to not being out on missions all the time. It was true enough. His mission load had eased temporarily after his recent taking-on of Jazen Solari as his apprentice- to give them a bit of time to get used to one another before heading out across the galaxy into more active roles. And as things stood, he was quite fine with the break, despite the fact that he knew it would be short lived; when he wasn't training himself or Jazen, he was usually out in the city, trying to gather as much information as he could about about current gang activity, wanted criminals, that sort of thing. He was an Investigator, after all, and keeping up with such things was essential to his work.
He was returning from just such a trip. His training with Jazen had been completed for the day, and so he had gone out. A satchel full of datapads and flimsi hung across his body from his right shoulder, and he intended to look over all of it once he returned to his quarters. His cloak, with the symbol of the Order emblazoned on the back, flared out behind him from his brisk pace as he walked on.
It'll be good to go out again though... I can't wait to see that kid in action. That much was true as well. Though he had reservations about taking on a student at first, he had grown to like Jazen, and was looking forward to getting him some real experience in the field. All in all, Locke was in a great mood. He had some time to pour over information, his padawan's training was off to a good start, all was right with the world.
As he continued to walk on, still humming tunelessly to himself, he spotted another Jedi. She was a bit shorter than himself, and looked to be about his age. He frowned a bit as he thought, trying to recall if he knew her. After musing for a moment, he decided that he did not, and sauntered over to greet her. "Hello there," he said as he came to her, with a smile on his face and his stone grey eyes warm and friendly. "I don't think that I can say I've met you before. I am Locke Nemsee, pleasure to meet you." He held out his hand and waited for her to introduce herself in turn.
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Oct 9, 2009 16:06:07 GMT -5
Post by Talau the Ever-Lurking on Oct 9, 2009 16:06:07 GMT -5
((lol…this is gonna be….interesting. Also, Direwolf might be joining us if you don’t mind ^_^, give Rhissy something to do…>.> Rhiss is gonna flay me for calling her that…*offers Kesh for flaying* Kesh: O.o))
A drawn out sigh escaped the young woman.
She couldn’t see him coming, but she sure could HEAR him and feel him coming. The chipper attitude was a bit grating to her nerves.
This was more amusing than one might think.
Talau, for all intensive purposes, was a rather happy young woman…or, she had been when she left the temple on her mission to Haruun Kal. She typically enjoyed friendly company, had been outgoing, warm, even bubbly at points, but…she was a bit different at the moment. Being who she was, the young lady tended to dislike the ‘stuffy’ feeling most knights and masters oozed at all times of the day and night, and preferred the cheery or unique individuals, the shy ones, the ones with any personality at all. This was why it was so utterly amusing that she found this new mind so horribly annoying simply because he was happy.
Her mood, however, wasn’t without its roots.
As she sat there beneath the large tree, listening to the combination of falling water from the fountains and the whispers of the force, his mind interrupted yet again. Previously closed eyes, opened once more and narrowed slightly as she sighed out her frustration. Time to close off those mental abilities of hers so she wouldn’t need to listen to others surface thoughts. Meditating did that to her, made her abilities more acute…unfortunately, such a thing could be a blessing AND a curse…right now, she was leaning towards curse. Well, at least she’d gleaned the information that he was enthusiastic about his job in the Order and that he had recently acquired a padawan…though it was of little help or importance to her.
Shrugging it off she closed her mind to all others, save the three she was so concerned with, and allowed her senses to expand outward as she felt herself sink down into the comfortable light of meditation….until it was broken again. Another, louder, sigh of frustration escaped her as that same voice was heard. For a moment she wondered if her mental shields had slipped without her knowledge, then she realized it was her physical hearing that caught the words. She could feel him approaching her. Wonderful.
Slowly she allowed her eyes to open and turn upward to him from her seated position. An annoyed yellow threaded through the solid background of dismal grey as her hair slipped back over her shoulders, the bead in it tinkling together lightly in the motion. Eying his hand warily, she debated, for a moment, if she should just be blunt enough to ask him to leave. She didn’t want company…at least…not HIS company. Tal chided herself silently behind those thick mental barriers…that was no way to treat a fellow knight just trying to be friendly.
Talau…and no, we’ve not met before.
She didn’t take his hand, but gestured to a place on the grass beside her as she offered a weak smile and studied the aura of color and light around him. It wasn’t something most humans could see…not unless they were force users, and not unless those force users had practiced force sight…but Talau wasn’t human, and she had no need of force sight, though she did have the skill.
Can I help you with something, Knight Nemsee?
Her tone was kind enough, gentle and flowing, a hint of a strange accent behind the words as she gazed, for a moment, at his satchel of data pads and other obvious bits of his trade. Perhaps an investigator, or a scholar…a researcher for the archives…it was difficult to tell which of the two he was from first glance. Maybe he was both? Either way, she turned her eyes back to his, some of her neutral golden brown seeping back into her eyes as the yellow faded away.
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Rugs
The ring-dang-doo, now what is that?
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Oct 9, 2009 21:36:34 GMT -5
Post by Rugs on Oct 9, 2009 21:36:34 GMT -5
{Ok, sounds good to me  } Oh well... Locke thought when Talau didn't take his hand. But there were far worse things that could happen than not getting a handshake from a new person. He sat down in the area that Talau motioned at, took off his satchel and set it down beside him. The room of a Thousand Fountains. He smirked, as he was prone to do, as he took in the scenery. Seems like a silly amount of fountains for one room, but it is what it is... Locke wasn't one to admire natural beauty much. That's not to say he thought there wasn't a place for it, but in his opinion, it was things crafted by living things, buildings, cities, space stations, that we much more deserving of admiration. To each his own, he thought dismissively. As he sat, and listened to her speak, he could have sworn he saw her eyes change color. For a moment, he had to fight to keep a flabbergasted look from his face and to fight down the wave of surprise that rolled through him. Those emotions had been been suppressed quickly enough, but if Talau was quick enough with sensing such things in the Force, she'd probably notice. How strange... Although I've certainly seen stranger. Perhaps unexpected would be a better word?Locke suddenly came to the realization that he was staring at Talau like a thingy and that she had asked him a question. "No, no. It's just always good to see a new face," he said as he scratched the stubble that coated his jaw. "Although I'd like to say that you can just call me Locke. I'm not a man for titles." And that he was not. He was unrepentantly informal, and for some reason he never understood, he always had held quite a bit of distaste for titles. Never did he ask anyone to call him by his title, nor did he ever call anyone else by one, regardless of their rank; the latter had gotten him in trouble a few times before, but he could deal with being chewed out. "So..." he said, hoping that her first impression of him hadn't been overly... strange. "I'm not normally this.... uh, bubbly, I guess you could say. I'm just in an abnormally good mood today... Though I'm not sure why being in a good mood would be a bad thing, but you know..." he trailed off into silence for a moment and fiddled absentmindedly with his blaster pistol, as he had a habit of doing. "So how have you been lately? Life been treating you? Well, I hope" He leaned back, and awaited for an answer. |
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Dire Wolf
So who's ready to help me sock ol Adolf on the jaw?!
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Oct 10, 2009 0:42:40 GMT -5
Post by Dire Wolf on Oct 10, 2009 0:42:40 GMT -5
((ooc: Meh, kinda really long... and sorry for not involving your charrie much, Rugs... but she'd notice Tal waaaay more than Locke. ^_^
Rhiss: -_- You're dead, Tal.
HERE SHE COMES, TO SAVE THE DAAAAAYY!! (/mighty mouse themesong, look it up)
Rhiss: -_- you too, Wolf))
Ahh, the room of a thousand fountains. Its tranquil confines proved to be soothing enough to calm the raging storms of Rhissai's heart as of late. As it stood, she was prepared to essentially defy the Jedi Council, with Vreem, and go off to fight the Sith war machine. If this were four hundred years prior she would be a revanchist. That thought only made the woman shudder slightly as she stepped through the sliding doors that separated the giant green house from the rest of the temple.
Wrex, as always, was practically attached to her heel. That big blackish Vornskr never left her side, save during council meetings when he wasn't allowed in the room. It was odd... having a familiar... almost like before she wasn't a complete being, but after the bond was forged... it was like she was a new person. She no longer really needed verbal commands to communicate with Wrex, it was... odd. There was a serious drawback, however, every time that she was a moderate distance away from the Vorn she felt weakened... unwhole. Like a piece of her was missing.
She shook her head as continued on through the serene room, that long raven mane waging with the motion. The sight of it all wasn't what pleased the woman the most, however. No. Aphithiri, while near human, were not visual creatures... they relied considerably more on their sense of smell. It was far more powerful then most other sentients in the galaxy, even most lupine and feline species. And the scent that wafted up from the gargantuan green house that she traveled through? It was intoxicating.
Her diaphragm expanded her belly out ever so slightly, causing the air and all of the particles it carried to rush into her flared nostrils. She no longer needed her sight to traverse the room, nor did she need her prowess in the Force. She could smell the soft scent of the various breeds of flowers as they released their seed into the air. The gentle whiff of the lotus flowers floating in the many pools roused her mind into a further state of serenity, and the sap of the asari trees that loomed all around her tempted her to wander closer and take their treasure.
It was for this reason that the High Councilwoman found herself in the room of a thousand fountains far more than she did her own quarters. The room was a place that she could easily lose herself in, and it was a place that her sense of smell could never fully explore... as there seemed to be a new fragrance to meet her every time she stepped into the room. If she could spend the rest of her near one hundred and forty years in any spot in the galaxy, it would be in that very room.
To an onlooker it would have looked as if the otherwise intimidating Jedi was simply wandering about the room with her "pet" aimlessly, her eyes closed and mind out in space. To Rhissai, however, she was simply taking in all that her nose would allow, and her companion was doing the same. An odd thing crossed the woman's lips as she wandered about the room: A smile. Her face hadn't worn one in weeks, not since she had been made aware of the Sith victories on Mygeeto and Mon Calamari. The smile only grew as she felt her boots step off of the hard stone and onto something softer.
A bright smile creased the woman as she sat down on the edge of a fountain and slipped her boots off, then her socks, exposing her bare feet to the soft blades of grass. From there she continued to meander about the gentler side of the forest, allowing the tender blades of grass to brush against her foot, and sprout up in the gaps in between her toes. From there, the woman meandered around the softer side of the gardens until she felt something amiss. Some pervading emotion that was well buried under a strong mind and held under a tight lock and key. Rhissai could not sense that from the person, but it was one of the many possibilities from what her senses could pick up.
One thing that the being couldn't hide from Rhissai, however, was its dismay. It held a scent that stood out like a bonfire underground in a cave at midnight against the backdrop of the pleasant smell of the gardens. What was it? It was salt water. In nearly all near human and some humanoid races salt water was used by the body in the form of tears. What did tears mean? Sadness. Another quick expansion of her diaphragm, another quick rush of air in through her nose. This entity smelled clean, fresh, like a crisp morning breeze on the ocean (due to the salt water). Though, she could smell something else. Another quick expansion of the diaphragm. Cloves? A... a man? Pheromones?
By the Nine...
Salt water. Tears. Pheromones. Lost Love.
Rhissai had to speak to this person. There was no telling how alone the man, or woman, woman by the smell, would feel. Probably alone, bereft... Rhissai knew the feeling all too well. But she couldn't just yet, her nose also told her that there was another entity fairly close to that one. She would simply have to bide her ti-...
Green eyes slid open to reveal a big Vornskr sauntering on over to the two's position. "Wrex, I swear to the Force...," her mind hissed. Sometimes she cursed having a familiar that had an odd connection to her thoughts and emotions, even if the beast was nonsentient. Sometimes she wondered if he had evolved beyond that. She didn't have time to ponder it, however, as the large beast was already nearly at the bruenette female. Once there, Wrex nuzzled his nose into the woman's leg... as if he were trying to comfort her.
With a sigh, a roll of her eyes, and the quick thought of "he never leaves me be," she put on a slight smile and walked off towards the two. "I see that my companion here likes you," piercing green eyes shifted up towards the woman, "they say that nonsentients like him can almost sense when something is wrong. Be it physically or emotionally." Her gentle smile belied the meaning behind the words that she spoke, it was doubtful that the other being would know... not unless he could smell the dried tears on her. Or she told him. Either way....
She quickly looked between the two, shaking her head a bit before introducing herself, "Rhissai'arckan, what are your names?"
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Oct 15, 2009 1:22:44 GMT -5
Post by Talau the Ever-Lurking on Oct 15, 2009 1:22:44 GMT -5
Grouchy as she was, the woman didn’t allow her feelings to be sensed through the force…in fact, if anything, she curled them further into herself as she withdrew her signature slightly, wrapping the force about herself as one would a blanket for comfort. Talau listened silently, not particularly having anything to say until he called himself ‘bubbly’…that had an eyebrow rising in stern amusement. The more he continued, the more she wanted to simply laugh at him. How had “life been treating you?” He didn’t know her well enough to even ask such a thing! Her grey eyes threaded through with yellow then, losing the green tint they’d been gaining at his questioning.
Luckily for her current companion, it was at that time that the giant vornskr had arrived, nuzzling its nose against her leg. At first she was tempted to strike out at it…vornskr weren’t exactly a pet you’d see around the temple…or a jedi…or any force user…the beasts hunted down and ate people like them after all…but after that initial ‘fight or flight’ reaction that had her hands reaching for her sabers, Talau realized it was simply being friendly. Thank the force, it had no tail. This saved the man, Locke, from the tongue lashing he had been likely to receive from the young woman’s swiftly shifting mood.
Slowly the startled orange that had consumed her eyes began fading once more as the creature’s master arrived shortly after he had. Looking up at the woman, Talau wasn’t entirely certain what to think. She knew of her…she’d seen the woman on the Council upon her return and the report she’d given to them. Her words, however, had Talau tilting her head slightly as she gazed at the tangled web of light and color that had amassed between the two in her sight. Same aura? So many threads? What did it mean to have such a thing…it was almost as if they were the same entity split into two beings. Now, not many had the ability Talau had, to see the swirling aura of colors that surrounded all things that had souls, or even remote traces of the force…miraluka were one example of people who did, and those force users who chose to develop such skills could…but her other talent was far more strange. She watched connections between people, beings, and sometimes items…she could see the threads of the force weaving, forming bonds and breaking them, connecting people and creatures to others and the world around them, it was something she’d actually had to learn to ignore over her life rather than learn to see. Finally those eyes of hers settled themselves back into their current grey and she sighed, motioning to the grass she and Locke sat on. No sense in being rude.
Yes, High Councilwoman Rhissai…I remember seeing you when I was last there. Knight Talau…sentinel, shadow.
Blast Shoal and his strict introductions…
She sighed a bit at that shook her head as she allowed Locke to introduce himself. Talau shifted slightly, those silver beads jangling against each other slightly as they kept her hair from her face in her movement. She didn’t exactly enjoy wearing her jedi robes, but, at least here in the temple she didn’t have to be concerned about someone hunting her down because of them. Practically everyone here wore them, so she was better disguised IN them than OUT of them. Grey eyes tinted with a curious shade of hazel as she caught a whiff of fresh plants…of green…of flora. Yes, the garden setting of the room caused this scent, but…this was different, her slightly keener nose picking up the more animalistic smell that associated the scent she’d caught with that of a person.
Yes, they do say that about non-sentients I suppose…though, I’ve been through a lot so there’s no telling what he senses about me…or if it’s even him sensing it.
No doubt the woman would understand her words…there was something…odd…about her and her ‘companion’ that Tal just couldn’t place her finger on. Pushing the thought aside, she returned her attention to Locke.
I find it odd, Locke, that you ask random people who you’ve just met how life has been treating them…however, in answer to your question…it hasn’t been kind.
With that she sat back against the tree once more, folding her arms across her chest before absently scratching the vornskr’s large head as it became more persistent in its attempts to get her attention.
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Rugs
The ring-dang-doo, now what is that?
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Oct 15, 2009 14:07:46 GMT -5
Post by Rugs on Oct 15, 2009 14:07:46 GMT -5
Locke's eyebrows shot up as the big Vornskr suddenly appeared amongst them. A Vornskr?! Where did he come from? he thought, looking around. His hand was on the blaster pistol that hung by his lightsaber on his belt before he knew it, though he didn't draw it just yet. Then he saw the High Councilwoman approaching. Ahhh... Perhaps he's with her, then?
He sat quietly as the High Councilwoman, Rhissai'arckan made her introduction, and as Talau made hers in turn. "Name's Locke Nemsee, Jedi Knight and Investigator." Locke made a small bow with his head, to show some respect to the Rhissai. "'Tis an honor to meet you, and your, uh.... friend." So that would make two that I've met in a rather short period of time then... How interesting... He knew of the member of the High Council, of course, but he hadn't actually ever met any of them until recently. Master Ozzril Ackbar had been on a mission to him to Alderaan, though an emergency had pulled the old Mon Cal away early on; Locke had run into him in other places around the Temple, though. And now there was Master Rhissai.
Locke listened quietly as Talau spoke to Rhissai, fiddling absentmindedly with the blaster pistol that hung from his belt next to his lightsaber as he had a habit of doing. As he did, he looked at the big Vornskr that seemed to be quite attracted to to Talau. He noted that its tail was tail was gone, and nodded to himself. Well, that's a good thing. Wouldn't want his instincts rising up in him, now would we?
His head was brought up when Talau addressed him, though it hadn't exactly been the response he was expecting. For a moment almost contemplated saying something snide in return, which is what he'd normally do, but decided against it. It would hardly due to be rude to another Jedi, especially in front of one of the members of the High Council. Though that didn't stop a flash of irritation from racing through him, he kept his thoughts to himself. Oh, so I'm not allowed to ask how you're doing am I? Is this what I get for trying to be friendly? He shook his head a bit, and let the thoughts die away before speaking. "Talau, I meant no offense by my question, and if any was given I ask you to forgive me." His hands were up in front of him, palms facing out towards her to show that he meant no harm as he spoke. He lowered them as he continued to talk. "But I only meant to to ask if all was well with you, a harmless enough question, normally." Locke's face changed then, showing signs of true sympathy for her. "But, whatever may be wrong, I hope it passes over and that things get better for you." He smiled a little at that, and hoped that it would be taken better than his previous remarks.
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Dire Wolf
So who's ready to help me sock ol Adolf on the jaw?!
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Have dakka will travel
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Oct 17, 2009 16:31:47 GMT -5
Post by Dire Wolf on Oct 17, 2009 16:31:47 GMT -5
Two bright emeralds chiseled and set into the white pools of Rhissai's eyes glinted as they looked over at the odd eyed woman. It was odd... the woman seemed to be looking out at the space inbetween her and her midnight companion. A few locks of hair on the side of Rhiss' head cascaded off of her shoulder and hung down her front as she tilted her head ever so slightly. It didn't take long for the woman to introduce herself as Talau Firians, a Jedi shadow.
Rhissai kicked herself. She should have recognized her earlier, for the Jedi shadows were few among the Order. That, and her most recent mission to Haruun Kal had the woman's situation fresh in Rhiss' mind. In all honesty, she had been meaning to talk to this one for awhile now, even in the chambers she could smell the oh so recent tears that had been plaguing her face. At first she thought they were the dried tears of pain, though she suspected... due to the fact that they were very fresh. If only the stench of Haruun Kal did not overwhelm her nose... then she could have smelt the pheromones from her important one and put two and two together.
Her head turned to gaze out to the Investigator as he introduced himself, and again she mentally kicked herself. By the nine divines! She should have been able to at least recognize the Shadows and Investigators! It wasn't as if their numbers where overwhelming. She had been about to speak when Talau spoke yet again, her brows furrowed at the other woman's words.
Could Talau know... about her odd connection with the Vornskr who was now licking at Tal's hand? What an odd thing to say if she didn't, "Its good to meet you again, Talau. I'm not one for titles or accolades, despite my name," she chuckled lightly at her own joke. One that she seriously doubted either of the two understood, unless they knew the ins and outs of Aphithiri culture. "And you, Locke. I wouldn't recommend telling everyone that you are an investigator. For reasons that I'm sure you know," her tone was not one of scolding. Simply one of a soft suggestion.
"Talau, I'm sorry for your... unfortunate... mission to Haruun Kal. For the record, I was one of the few against your forced dress code," okay, so that last statement was not something a woman of her stature should reveal. Who cared? Rhissai didn't, that was for sure. "We may be one in that fashion, but don't doubt for a minute that he has lost his primal abilities. Even his 'simple and non-sapient' mind can slip past those thick mental walls that you have erected around your mind." She bit her tongue before she went out on a ramble, that wouldn't help things.
Rhissai looked over at Locke, nearly speaking... but she shifted her eyes back to Tal once more, keeping her head locked in the same position. "And I'm sorry," she snaked a tendril of her mind over to the woman, --for your loss.-- The raven maned woman took great care to shield these thoughts from every being but the one that they were intended for. The woman looked back at Locke once more, "he is far more than a friend, Locke." Rhissai didn't care to elaborate any further on her connection with Wrex, as it wasn't exactly something that every being in the Jedi Temple needed to know.
Wrex, however, was content with angling his head up towards the bruenette woman, nuzzling his face into her belly. The midnight colored creature gave a great sigh, he didn't need the Force to know that this woman was hurting. Oh no, he could tell by the way that she carried herself, the smell about her form, and the look in her eyes.
What was the one thing on his "simplistic" mind? He wanted to heal her... as best as he could. The giant of a Vornskr couldn't begin to think about how to accomplish this task, however, so he did what felt best. He pushed his front legs off of the ground and flexed his hind legs so that they could hold him up. After he achieved his two-legged upright stance, he promptly put two big paws on her shoulders and licked at whatever he could.
Much to the chagrin of Rhissai, of course, who quickly let out a short and gutteral, "jai'zara!" The black thing heaved a great sigh and slowly returned to all four paws, tyring to figure out another way to comfort her.
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last online Jun 4, 2023 4:58:38 GMT -5
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Oct 21, 2009 18:34:28 GMT -5
Post by Talau the Ever-Lurking on Oct 21, 2009 18:34:28 GMT -5
((gah! Tal is SITTING....i've said so several times *facedesk* ...dire ~.~ ))
As soon as soon as Locke spoke again, Talau’s eyes shifted once more…that grey hue threading with a pale orange, that sting of embarrassment showing in her eyes. Now she really did feel foolish…her head hanging slightly and that chocolate brown waterfall covered her face. A light sigh escaped her and she shook her head a bit. She’d been too rough on the man; her bad mood wasn’t his fault and she shouldn’t have taken it out on him.
No…I’m the one that should be asking your forgiveness…I shouldn’t have snapped at you. You caught me off guard, though, and it…I’m only just returned from a very long, very stressful…very painful mission. It shouldn’t have spilled over to you but…
She sighed slightly and shook her head, gazing at the big, black, vornskr that was licking her hand. She scratched his head a bit and smiled sadly before looking up at Rhiss.
Thank you Ma…Rhissai. I…as you can see I’m still trying to cope with it all, and…I’m glad at least someone was on my side with that.
Talau chuckled slightly at her warning about her companion.
Oh he doesn’t have to get past them, I let him in since he asked so politely. He’s a rather affable being it seems, and rather attached to you…calls you his ‘other’…never heard an animal refer to a person that way.
That thought reached her from Rhiss and she tilted her head slightly before that orange became far more pronounced. Winds of Life she knew…Tal wasn’t certain HOW the woman knew, but she KNEW. Suddenly that large black face was right in hers and that tongue slobbering all over her, making her giggle a little and try to push him away.
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Rugs
The ring-dang-doo, now what is that?
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Oct 28, 2009 15:42:08 GMT -5
Post by Rugs on Oct 28, 2009 15:42:08 GMT -5
{Bah, a bit short. Sorry x.x}
Locke laughed lightly when Rhissai told him that his status as an Investigator shouldn't be made known to everyone. "Aye, Rhissai, I know that much." And that was true. His status as an Investigator was known to very few in the Order, due to the nature of the work he did. To all else, he was simply a Sentinel."But as a member of the High Council, you'd have access to the knowledge of my position if you wanted, you there's not much to be lost in letting you know."
His expression changed when Talau spoke him again, though. He sighed, and ran his hand through his hair hurriedly, before looking at the Shadow sitting next to him. "Hey, it's no problem," he said, slowly at first. "It happens to all of us, and I've done it before myself." Never mind the fact that he was often snide just for the sake of being snide; she didn't need to know that. But the fact was that it was entirely understandable for one to be a bit irritable after something painful happened to them, and by the Force, Locke knew how she must have felt. Locke waved dismissively. "But think nothing of it. I have no problem with you."
Locke leaned back as Talau and Rhissai talked, not wanting to interrupt. Though he laughed out loud when the Vornskr was on Talau, getting at her with his tongue. He watched with some great amusement as the woman tried to push the big creature away. "I suppose it's good to have someone around that only cares about keeping you happy in hard times, eh" he said softly, more to himself than anyone else.
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Dire Wolf
So who's ready to help me sock ol Adolf on the jaw?!
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Have dakka will travel
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last online May 6, 2020 18:55:51 GMT -5
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Nov 1, 2009 19:07:18 GMT -5
Post by Dire Wolf on Nov 1, 2009 19:07:18 GMT -5
((meh, short, Rhiss isn't agreeing with me at the moment))
After a few brief moments of simply gazing at Talau through those brilliant yellow orbs of his, the giant vornskr brought his great head down on her lap. He pressed the weight of his fur covered jaw into her leg, almost begging to be allowed up so he could lick at her face ferociously. His other was right, this one was hurting, and something told the lupine creature that it wasn't a hurt of the body, but of the mind. Granted, he couldn't quite wrap his head around such aspects, but that was no matter. Wrex found himself wishing that Rhissai wasn't asking him to stay down off of her... but perhaps NOT jumping up on her would help.
Rhissai arched a brow at the woman's words. Yes, Wrex and Rhiss were one in a spiritual fashion, but that didn't necessarily mean that they were the same mentally. Wrex knew things that Rhissai didn't, and likewise, Rhissai knew a great deal of things that Wrex did not. That wasn't to say that they couldn't communicate on a telepathic level, however... and the odd thing was... it didn't feel Force based. It took but a brief exchange between the two partitions of the being to learn the full scope of the truth. "Ahh... well, an explanation of that bond is... complex." She sighed, the comment wasn't entirely false... but it wasn't entirely true either. The woman mostly didn't feel comfortable explaining the bond so openly.
A preemptive glare at Wrex squinted her green eyes, stopping him from giving the information to Talau freely. Her eyes shot over to Locke at his explanation, it as sound... but to be honest she didn't really care for that policy. It wasn't exactly like the Jedi would leak information to their enemies, "its perfectly alright, Locke. Just be careful about spreading that information about."
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last online Jun 4, 2023 4:58:38 GMT -5
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Nov 6, 2009 0:24:06 GMT -5
Post by Talau the Ever-Lurking on Nov 6, 2009 0:24:06 GMT -5
Once Wrex backed away and lay down, pressing his head against her leg, the young rilan chuckled slightly and scratched his head fondly.
You, my friend, remind me of the akk dog I met on Haruun Kal…I mean after he got to know me.
She was, of course, speaking to Wrex, the force weaving between her and the vornskr to allow him to understand her words more completely. It was a surprisingly simple talent, once one got used to using it and thinking a bit more abstractly. Animals thought in short words, images and emotions with taste and scent mixed in for added meaning. So, thusly translated, her sentence would seem more like “Wrex –image of akk dog beside the vornskr- -image of Haruun Kal from space and a heightened dislike associated with the place mixed with memories of meeting the akk dog- -a feeling of displaced time leading to the future and a feeling of fondness and comfort mixed with several more memories of the akk dog in question-“ and so the meaning was carefully woven, and transferred from her to the black companion of Rhiss who’s head was now settled on her lap. Looking over at Locke, Talau sighed slightly and lowered her eyes back down to Wrex.
It is, yes. It’s amazing what can keep one going in difficult times, be it animal or person.
Talau got the distinct feeling that he was NOT speaking about an animal. Perhaps she was wrong, one wouldn’t know unless they pried verbally or mentally, and she didn’t wish to do either. It wouldn’t benefit anyone and it was just a general breech of privacy. As Rhiss too said her piece, the younger woman nodded slightly.
I can see that, yes…though I must admit, it’s very interesting to see the…connection…between you two.
A slight pause followed, the silence broken only by the sound of falling water and her finger tips rustling the fur of the vornskr’s head as she scratched behind his ears lightly, working at an itch that had been forming there.
What brings you two in here today? Just seeking some time alone or…I’m sure you’re both very busy people, especially you, Locke, loaded down as you appear to be…
She eyed the bag of flimsy and data pads that the man had brought with him. Obviously a member of the high council was expected to be busy, and with what Locke was toting around it seemed he was as well, the young shadow, however, had very little to do as she recovered some of her former strength, weight, muscle, and healed up the rest of the way from her last mission. Her natural curiosity had her questioning, and her mind buzzed with possibilities as to why they might be there now, where they might have been, where they might be headed next…
Talau sighed slightly and chuckled at herself. Really, her mind was just too active at times. Shadow or not, she didn’t need to know the whys and wherefores of others lives, nor did she need to postulate about them. They were jedi, and she sensed little darkness about either of them…though…come to think of it…Grey eyes gazed at Rhiss studiously for a moment before the young woman seemed to shrug mentally and go back to her previous scratching of Wrex’s head.
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Rugs
The ring-dang-doo, now what is that?
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Nov 10, 2009 16:23:37 GMT -5
Post by Rugs on Nov 10, 2009 16:23:37 GMT -5
{Crappy post... Sorry T.T}
"You can be certain that information is quite secure, Rhissai," Locke said with a bit of a chuckle at the Councilwoman's warning. Only a few knew what he was, and he intended to keep it that way. Besides, what kind of undercover operative would he be if everyone knew that he was one? That would just be begging for a disaster to happen.
Locke laughed softly to himself as he watched the big dog play with Tal. He cocked an eyebrow just a bit at Rhissai's comment of her bond with the Vornskr. Bonding with animals certainly wasn't unheard of, though he had never met a Jedi with such a bond, as far as he knew. But there were certainly stranger things in the galaxy, and it wasn't any of his business, really, so he decided not to press about it.
He smiled a bit at Talau's remark. "Aye. That it is, Talau," he said. It was true. Locke didn't know what had happened to Talau on her mission, but he very much understood what it was like to go through a rough spot. And he understood how nice it was to have others around to help, animal or no, as Talau had said. "Good to have friends around to help you out, y'know?"
His eyebrows went up a bit at Talau's question. "Eh, nothing in particular brings me here," he said after thinking for a moment. Come to think of it, he didn't really have much reason to be out and about. He just had decided to float around the Temple for a little while before heading back to his quarters and delving into the contents of his bag. But going through them wouldn't take long; he had become rather efficient at looking at the info he gathered on days such as this over the years. And so, he had found himself with a bit of free time. "I don't really have much else to do at the moment, to be honest, and I have a way of deciding to wander about the Temple from time to time... not that I'm absentminded or anything like that," he added on quickly, not wanting to give the impression that he couldn't focus on one thing. "I'm sure you know how it is," he added with a shrug, meaning it for both Talau and Rhissai.
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Dire Wolf
So who's ready to help me sock ol Adolf on the jaw?!
2,894 posts
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Have dakka will travel
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last online May 6, 2020 18:55:51 GMT -5
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Nov 28, 2009 21:05:46 GMT -5
Post by Dire Wolf on Nov 28, 2009 21:05:46 GMT -5
The big black creature that was resting his head heavily on Talau's lap gave a comfortable sigh and a slight moan at her scratching. Wrex only nestled his head into her lap further as she spoke to him, weaving a simpler translation into his mind so that he could understand her otherwise "complex" words. For a moment, he contemplated trying to crawl up on her lap once more... but that line of thought was quickly put down by Rhissai as she felt them on the fringes of her mind. Another moan rumbled his throat as her fingernail dragged across a rather ichy patch of skin behind his ear, and his tongue quickly met with her forearm. It was the pup's way of thanking her.
Green eyes slid between the her vornskr companion and the brunette that was acting as his meat pillow. For that brief span of time Rhissai allowed herself to be lost within the various scents and odors of the gardens that she was surrounded in. Her eyes slowly drifted close as her brain shifted its focus from what her eyes could see to what her nose could smell. Thousands upon thousands of different, yet equally beautiful aromas drifted into her nose. The sweet scent of the beautiful and majestic asari tree was the first to fit into her olfactory nerve, as it was by far her most favorite. There was just something about the sweet, syruppy aroma that simply made her melt into a puddle.
A small smile caressed her face, one that hadn't come in so long that Rhissai couldn't recall the last time it graced her. It was almost a smile of carefree innocence, much like the one a six year old girl would wear as she played with her dolls. To most Jedi a smile such as this would be distrubing, at least while one of the most powerful members of their order had it so obviously adorned on her face. Those select few that truly knew Rhissai, however, would know that it was one that she allowed passed the stoic fascade more than any other. For Rhissai was many things; compassionate, kind, warm, hot headed, passionate, guilty, and innocent.
But something that Talau said brought her out of that temporary state of innocent, girlish delight. She thought for a few moments on what the woman actually uttered out of her mouth before speaking. As thinking before one speaks is generally the advisable thing to do, though there were other schools of thought. "Busy? Yes, I'm busy. My workload is beyond that of what many people can imagine, actually. But what good is it if I don't ensure that those who call me their "leader" are miserable? Or in hurting? My job is not only to lead, but to help. I'm not the rulebook embodied, or that figure who stands above you with the sword of damoclese, simply waiting for an excuse to cut the string. I won't judge either of you for your actions," she glanced at Talau, "even if they break the code."
She paused for a long moment before continuing, "know that, if any of you need an ear to be lent, mine is always open." Granted, that comment was directed more at Talau than it was to Locke, the offer was still open to both parties. Rhissai knew that sometimes she was too motherly to the adult Jedi at the temple, some of which looked to be older than her... as she was about 30 by aphithiri standards.
But sometimes a gentle hand on one's shoulder was all that someone needed, even a Jedi.
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last online Jun 4, 2023 4:58:38 GMT -5
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Dec 14, 2009 4:11:10 GMT -5
Post by Talau the Ever-Lurking on Dec 14, 2009 4:11:10 GMT -5
((okay well I think I'm about to pull Tal here since she's feeling tired *pets her ava* poor babeh...
Tal: ~.~....*grumbles about stupid muns*))
The unnaturally thin shadow seemed to fade into the background as she listened to the various comments the others made, her eyes drifting closed quietly as she stroked the wide head of the vornskr who rested beside her. Grey eyes opened after a long sigh, Rhiss' words making the young woman flinch inwardly. A glance upward toward the light of day told her that it was about time to head down and get something to eat, then get herself some sleep. With a tap to Wrex's head, she pulled her legs up and slowly stood, her still recovering muscles protesting the action.
I do know how it is to simply wish to wander, Locke, yes...and thank you for the offer Master Rhiss...I won't soon forget it.
A gentle rub was given to a still fading bruise along her arm and a small smile shown across her face.
It was good to meet you both but...I'm afraid the call of food is just too strong to resist for me right now. Please excuse me, and may the Force and the Winds guide you both safely on your paths.
With another pet to Wrex, the young Rilan gave a small bow to the two and strode back toward the main halls of the temple as her stomach gave a subtle, but obnoxious, growl as it seemed to wonder (again) if her throat had been cut.
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}