Through the Living Hope

She began to drift off.

“You haven’t fought multiple Jedi at once previously.”

There was a quiet beat before the door slid up. She seemed mostly fine, eyes bearing just a touch of red. “Everything alright?” “The issue is you are poorly equipped to handle the crew you track.”

There was someone else there, dressed all in black. Their face was concealed by a helmet. A cape billowed in the wind.

This looks good!

I’m hoping for this rp to tend on the more serious side… if you want to play a character with some silliness who isn’t always involved, would you be open to being a protocol droid on the ship?

Pain. The pain of memory. Aerith lifted one hand, her elbow gently at rest on her stomach, wrist cradled against her knees. She rarely took off her gloves anymore. If she touched something, and its history was dark and overtook her… She made a noise between a gasp and a grunt, balled her hand into a fist, and pressed her arm against her torso. It was too much. She shouldn’t have been so specific, she couldn’t handle this much- “Breathe.” The first time she had lost control after touching something with too heavy a past for her to bear. When memories made her shut down. “M-m-m-aster…. I-I’m-“ ”It’s alright that you’re scared. You’re still a kid. You’re still learning. You can take a moment before we move on.” For a moment, Rylan sat next to her in silence. After a brief lull, he gently lifted his apprentice and placed her on his lap, holding her close, keeping her safe. He ran his hand down her braid. “Just breathe, Rith. Everything will be okay.” She closed her eyes and slowly began to breathe. Tears stopped flowing as her body ceased its quakes. She rubbed her own braid now, not having her old master to do it for her. Five more minutes alone. Then I go back out.

She didn’t answer. She couldn’t. Her tongue felt like it had knotted itself in the back of her throat. She thought she’d made it out fine. Apparently, that wasn’t the case. She rose, an abrupt motion that caused static to fall on a game in progress. “Sorry- not y- can’t- sorry-“ She speed walked into her room.

One gloved hand gripped the other, disguising its shakiness. “Well, I told you I’m a Wayseeker. After my Master selected me, he found the title in the archives and petitioned the Council to allow us to adopt it. We both had criticisms of the Council, which we kept quiet.” She chuckled, a pitiful attempt at creating levity. “As I’m sure you can probably guess, they didn’t want to allow it. I don’t know why they changed their minds for sure; my master didn’t let me sit in the hearings. All I know is they did attach one string - that we would obey military orders and help with the Clone Wars, which we understood and agreed to.” Her grip tightened. Stop shaking, hand. “We were involved in the Battle of Coruscant—actually, we fought in this ship, though I was the copilot back then. After Generals Skywalker and Kenobi rescued Chancellor Two-Face, we and our battalion were allowed some to rest. She moved her hands under the holotable. She wasn’t sure if she was able to keep going. Her resolve was falling apart. Her tears struggled to burst free. “We were in the Temple when it fell. My master’s greatest teaching was to listen for the direction of the Living Force. I tend to have the easiest time doing that while weaving. When we returned from our mission, I started working on a tapestry. I.. I felt unable to stop. I could feel how important it was. It was a warning.” A breath in. Her throat felt like the memories she had of experiencing earthquakes. “Master Kai and I were unable to shake all of our clones. Two of them came with us when we attempted to run. After a few days, they received a transmission shrouded in darkness. My master grabbed my hand and we ran to our ship while he deflected their blasts. She gripped her hand tighter still, the outer one now cringing in pain. “We were able to survive of a few smuggling runs for about a month. When we could, we purchased droids to help us on the ship. But eventually we got found. He.. he didn’t make it. Her eyes couldn’t bear to stay open. ”I was too scared to do anything too bold without him. I didn’t cut myself off from the Force fully, but I did start to ignore it to keep myself safe. I settled on Dantooine. I bought some ranch land where I keep some munyaaks. I use their wool when I make things. Sometimes I still get visions, but I never sell those. Only the ones I manage to keep plain.” She waited in silence for a few moments. She didn’t have to remember the order of all these events now. The emptiness in her head led to stillness in her body. She needed to meditate after this. Through her fear, his voice echoed in her head. “The Council opposes Jedi being guided by their emotions. They have good reason to do so, as emotions can blind you to the truth and lead you into darkness. But that does not mean you can’t feel. Feel your emotions. You can let them motivate you without falling into the Dark Side. Seeing injustice and feeling anger can inspire us to help those who cannot help themselves. However, do not allow them to control you. If you do, you create an opening for evil to poison you.”

“What do you mean by that, exactly?”

“I’m good with talking.”

“We have about three more hours of hyperspace.”

@InfiniteInsanity @Through the Living Elan Her arms crossed. “Anything else?”

She went to her own room, pausing for a moment after the door closed. She piled it out. The piece that had warned her. One she could never sell. Alone in her room, she unclipped a hilt from her belt and hit its ignition with her thumb. The goldenrod blade lit up the room for a few moments. She put it out.

1 Dang you really felt generous that time!

“Well, alright. Yes, we’re in hyperspace.” She nodded. “And feel free to take one of the rooms on the right of the cockpit.”

“I mean- you don’t have to, if you’re that attached to it. I wasn’t aware of that.”