Wilting Reservations [Casual]

[Mara]

She smiled; the Falleen had worked up a bit of an appetite as well. Earlier she had felt a little sick to her stomach upon being told to find another padawan to train in the ways of the Jedi, so soon after meeting with her previous one, the young Weequay. So many changes, so soon, for the Jedi Knight. Xierra shook the feelings from her mind and turned to her current padawan, Zorn.

"Good. Let's go." Xierra led him out of the training room they had been sparring in and towards the nearest turbolift that would take them to the living areas of the Temple where the cafeteria was also housed. A few short moments later they were exiting the 'lift and through the doors of the mess, headed to the line of Jedi waiting to gather their trays of food.

Letting him take what he wanted, Xierra left Zorn for another line of food with items more suited to her own species. After a healthy portion of a couple of the delicious food on her plate, joined by a glass of water, she headed to an empty table to wait for her padawan to join her.

[Casual]

Good. Let's go.

With those words Zorn followed his Master Zalq out of the training room, to the turbolift, and towards the Temple's living areas. He would have followed her to the ends of the earth to get to the cafeteria. He was famished, and could hear his stomach growling as he walked. They parted ways to get their own prefrence of food, which Zorn took the chance to pile his tray high with his favorites. The phrase "eyes bigger than your stomach" came to mind, but he shrugged it off, his smile tearing through any reservations he had about his tray and its contents.

He scanned the cafeteria for his Master, and upon spotting her walked towards her. He set his tray down with a "thump" and before digging in asked a innocent question of his Master with a smile:

So what next?

[Mara]

Xierra had only gotten in a couple of spoonfuls of the protein on her plate swallowed before she was joined by her eager padawan, the Zabrak's tray piled high with food. She smiled at him as he sat down, hoping to enjoy a bit of peace and quiet as they ate their meal. And wanting, herself, to spend time in her thoughts about what she was going to do next.

Before she could finish her thought, though, Zorn had spoken up. A question she wished she had the answer to as well. The Falleen Knight ate a couple more forkfuls as she fought to seek an answer. She had already spent time sparring with the young padawan, figuring out what his strengths were in that area. Xierra considered trying out more Force-related aspects of his youngling training. Trying to remember what Master Revisc had done with her when first becoming her master. She didn't want to rush him, but she didn't want to disappoint him.

She went with a simple easy answer, a cop-out. "Now we eat, young padawan," she said with a bright smile that showed her teeth and twinkled her dark eyes. "We eat and converse." Xierra took another bite of food before she looked back up at him. "Do you have any more questions--" Quickly Xierra held up a hand. "Questions unrelated to what I am teaching you next?"

[Casual]

Zorn shoveled food into his mouth as he spoke with his Master, patiently waiting her response. She sat across from him, considering her answer. He waited patiently, the delicious food maintaining his attention, but ever alert for her voice. After a spot of silence, she responded.

Now, we eat, young padawan.

Way ahead of ya, thought Zorn.

Do you have any more questions? Questions unrelated to what I am teaching you next?

Before he could open his food-stuffed mouth, Master Zalq held up a hand and added the second part of the querry. With an internal drat, Zorn considered for a moment what he wanted to know. He hadn't really wondered many things, not pondered beyond the security of the galaxy, peace and the way of the lightsaber. He now, was the one who had to consider his next response. He ate a few more bites before he came up with one.

When do I get to make a lightsaber?

He had always wanted to make a lightsaber, to build his tool that would become the extension of his body and the keeper of peace.

[Mara]

She had to smile. Ever eager, he was, her young padawan. Only having been assigned to her for a few hours, and already he seemed to be planning out his future. Wanting to know about his training, what was coming next, now about creating his own lightsaber. Xierra knew that one of his first lessons would have to be on patience, that was one thing she was sure about. Something she understood, yes, since she had been the same way, but impatience rarely served the Jedi well.

Xierra swallowed a bite of food before answering Zorn. "In good time. In good time. I think it would be preferable for you to gain more practice with your practice saber for a while longer. And lessons in other areas as well." With another smile, "You are much too eager, Zorn. You have not been a padawan long. When I believe you are ready, we will travel to Ilum." The Zabrak's master hadn't created her own saber until recently, the last of her trials before being knighted months earlier. She knew it would be much too early for him to do the same for himself.

The Falleen Knight turned back to her meal, knowing that if he had more questions, he would just ask, and not wait for her approval.

[Casual]

Master Zalq's words werewell appreciated to Zorn. He didn't truly mind the modicum of information, he was glad for any answer, really, and the fact that he would get to construct a lightsaber in due time was all the information he needed. Content with the way life was going, he continued to munch silently in his thoughts. Thoughts of battles and diplomacies, of peace and chaos, of what difficulties as well as the excitement that awaited him. Things were looking quite good to him, the only thing that really caught his attention and got him thinking was what Master Zalq had said about Ilum. They were going to Ilum soon? Why? Not that it was a problem, as they would be venturing forth soon, towards new things and out of this stuffy Temple. He took time to think up his new question, something he didn't do often.

What are we doing on Ilum?

It actually took a bit more thought to come up with such a question. He had thought that maybe he would know the answer himself, and took a bit of time to think what might be happening there, but, drawing a blank he also considered other questions he could ask before it. He also considered questioning other things that Master Zalq had said, and also that he might want to keep the visit a surprise. All these thoughts assailed him before he asked this question, their fuel: his excitement. It had sprung up again in the light of lightsabers and food. He was truly content now in mind and belly.

[Mara]

Glad for a few moments of silence, Xierra was able to make quite a lot of headway through her meal, enjoying it despite knowing that the cafeteria in the Temple was not a high priority for those in charge. Generally the main idea seemed to be on sustenance, not taste, the food having just enough nutrients to keep the Jedi going. Whether it tasted good was only a bonus that one rarely achieved. But the Falleen was enjoying today, perhaps because her padawan was taking so much of her focus that she didn't have the time to process what she was eating.

When she looked up for a sip of her water and glanced at Zorn, she could almost see the wheels and gears turning inside the young Zabrak's head, underneath his horns. With a smile, she turned back to her meal, to wait for his next question. Something she knew must be coming soon, as she felt through the Force that he was trying to work out something.

Xierra paused in her consumption of the lunch in front of her as she pondered his question. She had thought it was obvious why she mentioned going to Ilum but perhaps her padawan was so excited about recent events that it was muddling his mind. She smiled at him, though, not wanting to chastise him for overlooking the obvious. "There, when the time comes, you will pick out the crystal for your own lightsaber. And construct it." Xierra stopped then, watching his face to see what his reaction would be.

[Casual]

Zorn sat patiently, his mound of food nearly gone at this point, he decided it would be best to slow down.

There, when the time comes, you will pick out the crystal for your own lightsaber. And construct it.

He couldn't contain his excitement yet again. Ilum? Lightsaber crystals? He was ready to go to those places now. Well, not exactly ready now, but he wished he was. He knew there was much to learn and was willing to do what it took to become a certified Jedi Knight.

Well, I'm ready to get started right away! I can't wait! A Jedi Knight...

For the first time during a conversation his head was in the clouds, and he didn't even notice it. The weight of the thoughts they'd been discussing had taken their toll. He was ready to start this journey to justice.

[Mara]

A smile passed across her face. It was hard to miss her new padawan's eyes as they almost bulged out as the realization hit him. Xierra knew she would have to work on his overzealousness later, but right now she let him have his moment of excitement about his future. A lot of new things were happening to him today, and she didn't want that memory to be spoiled with talk of harsh lessons and instruction. That could wait for the morning.

"Patience, Zorn. All in good time. Today is just your first day as a padawan. Now, let's finish up our meal here, and we can see about getting you settled, okay?"

Xierra knew that he would probably want to move out of the youngling quarters and into an area reserved for padawans so that they could be closer to their masters. He wouldn't have many possessions, as a Jedi, so it was merely a formality. And then she could see about getting him a lightsaber that was not a training saber, something that would be more useful for further training. There wasn't time to make one for him, nor could he make his own yet, so Xierra needed to find a spare one. As much as she was getting to like Zorn, she wasn't about to let him keep her master's old lightsaber. A rare sentimentality she allowed herself.

And then there would be the other training. Teaching the Code, teaching patience. Teaching restraint. Honing his skills in the Force so that he was equal with that as he was with his lightsaber. And then he could chose his path, whether a Guardian like her, or more balanced as a Sentinel.

But for now, they would eat in companionship, she thought, as she turned back to her meal.




((Okay, I think one more post from each of us will do it. ))

[Casual]

Patience, Zorn. All in good time. Today is just your first day as a padawan. Now, let's finish up our meal here, and we can see about getting you settled, okay?

Patience, eh? That's fine by him. He would have to learn it anyway, it was listening and adhering to those teachings that he would find difficult. It would do to settle down though, he decided, finishing up his meal.

Okay, Master Zalq, let's do that then.

He smiled at her, his purple eyes still shimmering with the thoughts of padawanship and training, but he reserved these emotions, trying as best he could to implement patience. It wouldn't do to start off his training disobeying the teachings of his master. Patience would be his first lesson then.

Patience guide him to justice of those who deserved it.

[Mara]

With her plate clean, she reached up to finish off her water, at the same time glancing up at her padawan again. Xierra caught him smiling at her, and so she smiled back, knowing the sentiment was completely sincere. She could see on his face that he was very excited about this new step in his life, and she couldn't blame him, remembering her own time as a padawan.

There would be trials, certainly, and it wouldn't be easy most of the time, but there would also be triumphs and time of laughter and friendship. In time they would grow close as Zorn grew in his knowledge of the Force and Jedi skills. And in time she would grow sad when she had to let him go when it was his time to be knighted.

Xierra swallowed down the wistfulness of her futuristic thoughts along with the rest of her water. Not was not the time to think about losing her padawan to Jedi Knighthood, or to anything else before that. What they had now was the present, and that was the beginning of this young Zabrak's training. One lesson would lead to many more, but for now they would just be together, gradually learning more about each other, so that eventually they would be able to anticipate each other's actions and thoughts.

She knew she would need to get him a lightsaber to use until he made his own. Something more powerful than a training saber, in case the rumors of war from the Chancellor were true. In case the Jedi were asked to fight. But also because a padawan needed to defend himself in any event, even something as simple as encountering a feral animal. And he would need to learn how the heft of a real weapon felt compared to the ones he used as a padawan.

It was decided then. Before she started any lessons for her padawan, she would get him his needed supplies, including a lightsaber for his use. Seeing that Zorn was finished with his food as well, she smiled at him again and gestured that they leave the cafeteria and set about getting him settled in his new life as a Jedi Padawan, padawan to her knight. She knew it would be a difficult road, but Xierra was no longer afraid of the challenge. They would trust the Force, and it would not steer them wrong.


(((Fin!)))


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