One day at a Time

[Tal]

It was still dark outside as the young woman quietly exited her room, the door sliding quietly open, then shut, as she did so. Pulling her dark brown robes more closely around herself to shield herself from the chilly morning air. As she looked around quietly, to make sure the hallway was clear, she adjusted her belt slightly and headed toward the training rooms.

Typically, a girl of her age would have a master by now, but Talau was far from typical, even for the a-typical jedi order. Her chocolate brown hair was pulled neatly back into a ponytail, leaving only a few pieces of hair to fall into her eyes, which flashed in the dim light of the long hallway. The young girl strowed determinedly toward the training rooms shrugging off the feeling of being completely alone.

As she reached her destination, the girl glanced uncertainly around the large, empty, room...or at least, it seemed empty to her. It was rather difficult to tell in the darkness before dawn, and with no master to teach her how to sence others around her, she was at quite a loss, and not certain what-so-ever of if there really was anyone else in the room with her.

Sighing, the 14 year old, pushed away the knowledge that this would be her last year in the academy if she didn't find a master soon, and pulled out her training saber. Gazing at it, she weighed it in her hand, the slick handle feeling natural in her palm.

[Jenno]

(time ninja is here (this is in between Varen packing his things and heading towards the Hangar, makes for a good filler in my opinion )

Slowly, steadily, like the wind passing over a mountain, Varen's feet passed from slab to slab, the cold exterior of the tiles failing to reach the absent minded child as he walked down the hallways of the temple. His eyes sat glazed over as they hung deadly still as the boy swayed from side to side as he walked, the sharp blue which had possessed them become more of a dull grey, it seemed as though the colour of the dreary slabs was somehow being absorbed Varen's eyes.

Without warning, his feet stopped, his eyes closed and his air escaped in a deep, drawn out breath. What was he doing? His dreams of become a Jedi, a Knight of valour, was about to be taken away from him, how could he let himself be defeated so easily?

His elbow perched against the wall to his right, and soon his forehead came to rest on it. He wanted to fight, but how could he? Was there any possible way to fight this? Varen's sticky sweaty palm ran through his hair, knocking it untidily to the side before he backed away from his leaning position and merely lay his hand to rest against the smooth surface but, as his mind went to rush into another flurry of questions he couldn't answer, he felt something, something in the force, it called out to him, calling him down one of the hallways to his side. As his eyes scanned the area, like he was trying to see through the walls, his feet carried him, the curiosity pulling his legs with each stride before with a questioning look on his face, his legs stopped marching, he turned to face the doorway and there before him stood a girl. She stood staring down at the smooth, silver surfaced weapon, a moment passed and he looked down at his own, it contained within it the glory of what he had achieved under the tutelage of a wise and powerful master. One that he had lost.

He looked at her again, her skin seemed smooth, slightly tanned and her hair fell down the sides of her face, taking a heavy gulp, Varen stepped forward, placing his casual smile across his face. "Hey there.", his grin instantly grew as he sought to look her in the eye.

[Tal]

Sighing again, Talau wrinkled her nose slightly. Nothing would get done if she just stood there stairing at her saber! Stifling a large yawn, she cast aside her robes, letting them land on the floor not far from her, but no sooner had she done that, than she felt as if she were being watched.

"Hey there." came a voice from behind her. Jumping slightly, Talau whirled around, her eyes wide in her startled state. As she gazed at the boy who stood near by she offered a slight smile. She wasn't used to having someone address her in such a friendly way...most of the time it was either a teacher addressing her by her last name, or a peer addressing her as an underling, simply because she did not yet have a master.

Hi...um...what are you doing up?

Brilliant introduction... she thought to herself, as she winced slightly at her obvious lack of conversation starters.

Erm...I'm Talau...Tal for short...Nice to meet you... she added, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

[Jenno]

"Hi...um...what are you doing up?" The girl seemed a bit nervous, a bit shocked. Mind you, Varen had just walked in unannounced. At the question however, his head shifted to his side, as if hearing a noise behind him. However, there was no noise, his eyes had merely rested on his back pack for a moment and his smile sank. But forcefully his mind dragged him back to where he was and he turned his head back to face her and smiled, answering her question without a second though, "eh, noting really." He shrugged his shoulders minutely to reinforce his sense of unknowing, he'd perhaps mention the whole 'leaving the temple never to return again' scenario later.

Whilst his mind fleeted for a moment, the cute, from his perspective, he was reaching that age, girl spoke again "Erm...I'm Talau...Tal for short...Nice to meet you..." Varen spoke up again his untouched, prepubescent voice extending to the corners of the room, "And I'm Varen, Varen for short," his grin grew noticeably wider at the oh so intellectual wit that peeked through, "it's a pleasure to meet you Tal." His grin stayed there, and his head twitched in a quick reassuring gesture.

Feeling as though he needed to remove a weight from his shoulders he took off his back pack and placed it against the wall and right next to the exit as he turned back he spoke again, this time a bit more inquisitive, "so what would someone like you be doing all the way in this deserted section?"

[Tal]

Talau smiled at the fair skinned boy, his blond hair and blue eyes a stark contrast to the dreary setting around them. He had a good sence of humor, and to her that seemed to be a key ingredient to surviving in the temple. One had to have a sence of humor or one might very well be sucked into the vast whirl of dismal news and boing classes that circulated in the Order's home base. at his question, however, her smile faded slightly, before it returned in full to her features, even though it didn't quite reach her eyes this time around.

Varen...nice name. Me? Oh, just...just practicing....and thinking as well, I guess. I've got to get in some kind of practice...I don't want to get rusty with my saber, ya know? she replied, frowning at a new strand of hair that decided to suddenly attack her eyes. Pushing it back behind her ear along with the other, she tilted her head to the side as she gazed at his back pack.

Are you going somewhere? Talau motioned to his back pack, curiously, and glanced around as if expecting Varen's master to appear any moment. A look of slight nervousness passed over her face as she thought of getting caught by the boy's master, and resigned herself to being scolded for being out so early.

[Jenno]

"Varen...nice name." The words hit his ears and he did have the chance to stop himself from turning red, to cover up he looked at his backpack, as if to check it was alright. "I... um, thank you." he said quietly.

Feeling is face return to normal colour he looked at her again as she spoke, following her eyes. "Me? Oh, just...just practicing....and thinking as well, I guess. I've got to get in some kind of practice...I don't want to get rusty with my saber, ya know?" He smiled faintly, his right hand resting against the side of his head as his fingers clawed softly at the back of his head, he spoke slightly more quite than usual, "yea, I guess." His thoughts drifted for a moment, his eyes flashed dull once more before the greying monstrosities met her green and golden eyes. Some how, he felt rejuvenated, his smile instantly returned. And then she asked the question, "Are you going somewhere?"

Varen shifted uncomfortably for a moment as the thoughts flooded back, he tried to hold them back, using the force as a dam, but the current was too strong, the memories too abundant, the loss too hard. His smile faltered as he spoke, "oh, nowhere." He tried to cast a reassuring smile but he wasn't sure if it was directed at Tal... or himself. But 'nowhere' was where he was going, to end up in a life of no importance, to get nowhere, to forever feel lost, to have his dream shattered. And yet, he was still able to cast a smile... "How?" the question echoed around his head when the sound of the outside world drew him back to reality, he really did spend too much time day dreaming.

"So," he said quickly to change the topic, but his mind wouldn't let him go too far off topic, "how come you're not with your Master?" Varen had been a puzzled as to why she had decided to spend time away from her Master.

[Tal]

Talau gave a sad little smile and shrugged. The question was going to come up eventually, and she'd known it...there was nothing to do now but answer truthfully and deal with the laughter and sarcastic words that would follow.

Well...because...I don't have one. she replied sounding slightly sad, before her eyes hardened again with a steely determination. But I'll get one. I know I will...I don't have any choice, I'm not leaving here a disgrace. I refuse to. Tal added, her musical voice a mixture of determination and defiance. Her eyes flashed slightly and she gave a stout nod as if that had put an end to any doubts either one might have.

However, as quickly as her fiery reassurance had come it was gone again, and she looked down at the saber hilt that sat in her hand. Who was she kidding? She didn't even have her own saber! Well....at least...that's the idea. I figure, if I train hard enough, and try to be the best youngling I can....maybe....maybe someone will want me as a padawan... she added with a sigh. Looking up at him again, she looked around the room and spotted a bench near by and motioned him to follow her.

Heading to the bench, she grabbed her robe off the floor as the grey light began to filter in as the sun started to come up in the sky. She sat down on the bench with a slight huff and pulled her hair out of it's pony-tail, shaking it out so that it hung down her back in light waves of chocolate and gold. What about you? where's your master? Surely he...or she...is waiting for you by now? I don't want to get you into trouble... she said, gazing into his sad, blue, eyes.

[Jenno]

As she graced him with another answer his face formed a frown with her reply, "well...because...I don't have one." Within a few moments Varen spoke, there wasn't much he could do to not respond, "how can that be? I could sense that you're stronger than all of these mirror image bookworms, and I suck with force sensitivity, I can't focus it enough to be able to sense anybody who's not at least a little weaker than myself." It was true, the force flowed easily through him, but the youngling had never been able to use it to even a small amount of his potential, it looked like he never would either.

As she carried on, Varen watched her, a seemingly blank expression glazed over his face, however his eyes indulged in a little intrigue. As he looked at Tal as she spoke, the boy was overwhelmed with emotion, a feeling that he'd never been used to before, why was it that they weren't given an opportunity? Why didn't they deserve to be accepted into the order? It made him... angry. He took a few deep breaths in, this wasn't like him, anger was the last thing he needed to show now. If he was going to spend of his last minutes of his Jedi career with this youngling, then he'd act as he always did. He smiled with confidence after his thoughts passed and Tal had finished speaking, "I think you've got a great chance of finding a good master, maybe you'll even meet them in the next few days." Straightening his back he made himself look proud and tall before speaking in 'wise' voice, "the force works in suspicious ways." He smiled and relaxed his back, he winked at her a little laughter escaping.

He followed her to the bench and slowly he sat down next her, his hands coming to rest on his knees as he looked straight ahead. As Tal spoke, Varen chuckled under his breath a litte, he looked down at the floor dead ahead of him, "getting into trouble ain't that bad, it's how I spent a lot of my time," he said with a small mischevious grin on his face.

Soon that smile vanished and he turned to look at Tal, he caught her eyes dead on, his face disgruntled, but his eyes brimming with sorrow. "I had a master... almost a year back now. We were only together for a few months, but I learned the most I ever have off of him, I even made this," he reached down and pulled Innocence from his belt, he looked at it for a moment before returning to Tal's eyes and the conversation, "no-one else has taken me on." Turning back to face ahead of him Varen lowered his hand back to his knee, the saber still caught tightly in his grip.

"So, you say you're getting rust?" a smile returned to the pale skined face.

[Tal]

Talau laughed at his 'wise' comment....actually laughed. It wasn't the hollow little laugh that she often used these days, it was clear and happy, and rang through the room easily. Yeah, I guess you're right. I just don't want to have my time run out before I find a master...ya'know? she replied, finding another glimmer of hope for the future, even if it was just a fleeting one...things always looked better when one could laugh...but at his compliment, she blushed slightly, but tried to hide it by looking down at her hands, so that her hair veiled her face for a moment.

Turning her eyes back to him, she chuckled and shrugged slightly. I wouldn't really know...I'm not one for getting into trouble...it finds me well enough on it's own. As she listened to what he had to say about his former master, she furrowed her forehead at his disgruntled and sad look. She didn't like to see others so sad...it hurt her in a way. As he pulled out his saber, she gazed at it, her head tilted to the side slightly, and gave a whistfull little sigh. She'd not made her own saber yet, but she hoped she would....one day...

They will. I just know it. You're already on a great start, and so someone's bound to come and take you on as a padawan. What ever happened to ' the Force works in suspicious ways'? she replied, folding her arms across her chest lightly and quirking an eyebrow at him. She couldn't help but smile slightly, even though his words were sad, and a bit frustrated...Tal was just happy that for once, someone had noticed her among the crowd of jedi students...even if it was another student.

You know...you're the nicest one I've met here so far...and you're the only one to notice me, well, for being me. she stated with a half smile, another blush coming to her face, though she didn't try to hide it this time. Thanks.

As he mentioned her getting rusty, she smirked slightly. Well, yeah...I've got no one to practice with really, and I can't learn more until I have a master...only what I can figure out from the books and holochrons in the library...

[Jenno]

Varen was pleased that Tal seemed happy and the fact that she was blushing a fair amount made him feel more than a bit nervous, interaction between the young boy and a girl had been rare at best, nothing as in depth as this. He didn’t know why, after months of spending time alone, he found conversing with Tal so easy. “The force does work in suspicious ways, it’s just those ways tend to be anything other than the way you want it to work.” He sighed briefly, it felt good to re-supply his lungs with vast amounts of oxygen, it almost calmed him a bit.

But then even Varen struggled to hold back the reddening sensation with the following comment, he smiled and gave a quick “ha” before replying properly or, at least, as best he could, “no problem… I guess” he simply finished with a smile, his smile of innocence.

He likely how he had managed to slip away from mentioning his fact that this would be his last interaction with another youngling before he was snatched away, he hoped he’d done a good job of covering it up. He didn’t really feel like telling Tal now, for some reason, he got the impression it would not make her too happy.

Without much noticed, he shifted slightly before standing up, “well,” he said mid motion, “I haven’t used my saber since my master passed on. It think,” he released his saber from his hand as he took a few steps away, it moved next to his palm, resting around two inches away, slowly, at first, it started to turn, Varen letting the force propel through him to rotate the silver hilt, it began to get quicker and quicker with each rotation, “this is the best opportunity I’ll get to use it again.” He smiled, again over to Tal, from his standing position, “So, fancy a few friendly bouts?” Varen stood waiting an answer, the shaft spinning like clockwork in the air next to his open palm.

[Tal]

Grinning back at him, she watched as his saber revolved before his open palm. Please? she said, rather more timidly than she'd ment to sound. Tal had never really spoken to anyone for this long before...especially not a boy...and it was getting to her thinking processes...What did one say to a boy? What did one say to anyone in her situation? In any case, Tal pulled out her training saber, which she had recently replaced on her belt, and looked at it. It was plain, and it was a bit battered...though that came from the user before herself...she'd always taken good care of it, as if it were a life-line to her. Standing at the ready, she smirked slightly and gripped her saber in one hand.

[Tal]

((bump for jenno))