Evanescent Encounter (Jedi Dialogue/Spar)

[The Gloaming]

Neptune gazed upon the surface of Tython through the viewport. He had relished the chance to visit such a serene world, after spending most of his life on Empress Teta. It's not that he didn't like the city, there were plenty of colorful characters, but nature was so freeing, so open.

The transport set down near the Jedi Temple, and Neptune paid the pilot for his services. As he walked down the boarding ramp, he realized he didn't know a single Jedi on this planet. Not unless the one friend he'd had from his past had ended up here, instead of Coruscant. Or maybe someone here would know her. It was funny to think that Neptunes only contact outside of Empress Teta was a girl he hadn't seen in at least four years.

 

[Jacques]

It had been but several days since the padawan's move to the beautiful world Tython, which to the best of his memory was home of the Jedi, and he hadn't gotten out much. Early on, Arek had visited outside, taking some time alone on the steps. But that hadn't lasted more than an hour before he made a fast break for the archives. And that had been where the Tusken had spent most of his time since then; reading and sometimes thinking, and then reading some more.

The Jedi left his room, where he had decided to stay after a long night of reading old Jedi tomes and the like, decked out in his usual dress. Tusken garments from head to toe, no flesh shown. Only that was covered by his long, brown Jedi robe: It dragged on the floor behind him, flowing over his feet and covering them. He also wore his hood up, which hid the facial garb of his kind with a thick black abyss type look. He had his arms crossed, though thanks to the robe it looked more like he had just connected the two sleeves like one of those cheasy little finger things that were sold in outdoor markets for no apparent reason. Arek was lucky he had a lightsaber to open that damned thing up.

For the first time in days, he saw sunlight. Rain clouds were coming in over head, though they didn't look so bad. Slowly, the padawan shuffled down the many steps from the Jedi Temple to the ground.

 

[The Gloaming]

While scouring the steps outside the temple, Neptune looked up and saw a robed figure nearby.

"Excuse me, I don't mean to be a bother, but while I'm not new to the Jedi, I've never been here before. What's the best way to get the lay of the land?"

Communicating with Force sensitives like himself was infinitely easier, and less stressful on his mind. Telepathy was still very new to him, all though he practiced every chance he got.

 

[Jacques]

There was somebody in his head, and it definitely wasn't him. Arek's head perked up and he looked around, trying to find the person who had just spoken. Was it that Rodian over there, sitting on the steps? Or was it that cute Twi'Lek girl who had just walked out of the building. Grinning under his mask, he made a step to walk toward her. Then he realized the other guy, who he hadn't noticed before.

"Before I answer your question...can you not talk to me in my head? There's enough voices floating around in there as is." He said, awkwardly coughing at the end of the statement, raising a fist to his mouth just out of habit, "...but I'm not exactly sure, sorry, I just got here a few days ago. I tried to find the sparring rooms and the planetarium...was it a planetarium or was it a garden with a fancy name? I actually think it was the second..." He paused again to contemplate, then remembered he was talking to somebody, "Oh! I'm sorry about that...I could direct you to where the food is, or the Archives?"

 

[The Gloaming]

"Er, I apologize. This is my only way to communicate. My vocal chords don't work, and the Force certainly blessed my with my new found talent. I realize it can be somewhat...unnerving. My name is Neptune, and I'd be glad to see the archives."

Neptune smiled and outstretched his hand.

 

[Jacques]

"Oh, I should be the one apologizing then. I'm Arek." The robed Tusken introduced himself, taking the other Jedi's hand and shaking it for a good several seconds, "I wish I could show you the rest of the place but I tend to get lost easily." He chuckled after that, sort of awkwardly, and continued walking, motioning for Neptune to follow him.

"There used to be a great archive on Coruscant, many years ago, but apparently they moved it here some time ago..." He trailed off as they walked, looking around, "And I figured, hey, I'm good enough with politics and diplomacy, I'll just go to where the books are and die in peace."

 

[The Gloaming]

"I've spent most of my nineteen years in the archives on Empress Teta. From what I understand, it's nothing compared to the collection here. I always wished I had been more talented in the realm of politics, but I don't think I'm destined for such an end. Perhaps I will have opportunity to learn though. I'm one of the unlucky ones, stuck with visions I don't understand..."

Neptune found himself enjoying the spontaneous conversation, and he sensed a calm easiness in Arek.

 

[Jacques]

"Hah? You wish to learn more about politics? It's the most boring and disillusioning professions you can get into. Especially when the rest of your Order are off gallavanting in spaces that don't matter, fighting and arresting people that don't really matter. It puts a weight on your shoulders, to a degree worse than said gallavanters. You're there trying to talk peacefully and negotiate with people your polar opposites, people you wouldn't want to have been born knowing the stuff you know, to try not to go to war. To me, that's harder than running off and causing interuniversal incidents. Why? Cause then I have to fix them up!" Arek ranted as they walked, talking with his hands as he so often did. It brought about a liveliness to his speech.

"The only thing that's good about politics is, if done right, you can help people. And most politics do it the exact opposite of that, which is the rich option, where you screw over the little people and get rich."

He stopped and shook his head, "Once again I apologize, Neptune...I just haven't had anything to do but sit around and listen to political talk shows and debates and watch Senate meetings on holo in my quarters all day. That's another thing that's bad about politics: It's more addictive than deathsticks!" Arek almost started to walk but shook his head once more, "I apologize ONCE MORE." He almost laughed.

"But you're right, the tomes of the Jedi in here are as ancient as they are meaningful. Not to sound like an action fiend, but the most interesting tid bits are when you get to the wars. Might I suggest the Jedi Civil War?" He chuckled, and brought them to the giant doors that led to the archives room.

"Here we are..."

 

[The Gloaming]

"Yes, but at least politics allow for mental focus and discipline, as opposed to the uh...lightsaber minded Jedi. Sure, they pose as the hero, but who wants to get shot at for nothing. I say, the amount of help you can provide is directly relational to your will to do so. And sometimes I-Woah"

Neptune actually let a word slip into his friends mind as he marveled at the grandeur before him. "Oh no. Perhaps you shouldn't have shown me this, now I may never leave, and I can't be much of a service to the people if I'm too busy reading."

He flashed a joking smile, as he rarely 'laughed'.

 

[Jacques]

"Yeah, I get where you're coming from and that's why I'm a diplomat and not one of those hero Jedi risking their lives for no reason. That doesn't mean I can't hate what I do...morally at least. And-" He was cut off by the sound of amazement coming from Neptune. Arek smiled, as it was the same as his own had been. Though he had to admit it was much more fun being the one experiencing than watching the experience.

"I felt the exact same way, but eventually the knowledge becomes too much and you have to take a break." The robed Tusken grinned behind his facial coverings, offering up a verbal response as well by chuckling slightly.

 

[The Gloaming]

"Er, yes, well. Perhaps I should devote my studies to a later date. It would be rude to dedicate my focus to a holobook while I'm in your company. And to be honest, your arguments are rather compelling. Do you have any plans for the afternoon?"

Neptune had only know Arek for a few minutes now, but he already felt as though they could be friends, challenge eachother philosophically, perhaps learn from eachother, and over all, take solace in their similarities. It was rare for Neptune to find someone like him.

 

[Jacques]

The Tusken padawan ran a hand over his head, though it was covered for the most part by his robe. The question was a really hard one to answer, as he didn't want to do it completely honest...because what would Neptune think if he knew Arek was a drunk? That could possibly put a quick end to a future friendship. And it seemed like a much more fulfilling one than as possible with any other padawan at that point.

"I was probably going to go train for a little bit, then grab a bite. I spent some time in the bacta recently, and the doc told me to work out a little bit more to make sure the bones heal correctly. But hey, even I can't argue working on my parkour and free running skills a bit, with a little bit of lightsaber here and there? I don't like to, but I gotta keep up." Arek said, pointing down to another door, "All I know is I gotta go through that door. I've tried but I haven't found it yet...wanna help me?"

 

[DeathToll]

The short green-gray Khil, wrapped in his usual tan robes with long blue sleeves and random red trim, walked by in the distance. The recently promoted Prime Envoy sought some time in solitude, studying distant relations between boarderland systems and the Galactic Alliance; noting their turbulent history and checking every possibility for establishing friendhships.

Virzivil Axgar looked up from his books for a moment, seeing the two young ones in their innocent niceties. Virzivil remembered those days, and warmed himself in the moment of times past. Passst. Almasss' passst. That Planet ssseems unusually detatched from the Order? Curiousss...

The Khil's thoughts drifted back into purpose, determined to find answers. Though he may be recognized by many, as seen standing besides the most noteable faces of the Senate, he didn't think any here would pay him attention; and thus drifted into the back isles in study, his mouth tentacles shuffling as he read to himself.

 

[The Gloaming]

"Sure, I'll help."

Neptune looked at the door Arek had indicated, and Then his gaze drifted to a Khil Master who seemed to be half focused on the book in his hands. "Perhaps we could ask him?"

Neptune wandered over to the master, and spoke up as politely as possible. "Excuse me Master. I don't mean to be a bother, but my friend and I were wondering if you could direct us to a training room?"

 

[Jacques]

Arek hadn't noticed the master sitting over by them until Neptune had pointed the man out to him. Taking notice, it only took several seconds for the robed Tusken to recognize the face of the man reading.

"Excuse me, Master? Aren't you always at the Senate meetings?" He inquired, having been to over half of the ones in the past year, and watching live for the ones he couldn't go to. Then he realized something else. Or at least he thought he did.

"Weren't you recently made the Prime Envoy of the Order?" Arek decided to ask, not being sure if it was HIM or another Jedi Master with tentacles on their face.

 

[DeathToll]

Virzivil was caught off guard, having already turned away as the first Padawan approached; but he was happy to help. He himself was not a frequent of this Temple, but more the archives. Still, he knew enough to be of service to the nice young Jedi.

"Hm?? Oh yesssh. It'sss no bother. It'sss jusst over-"

But before the Khil could fully form his words, the other Padawan had recognized who he was. Virzivil was mostly used to standing behind or beside those recognized faces, rather than being noticed. His eyes smiled, cheeks lifting warmly where a lacking of human lips could spell out the same friendly countenence.

"Well yesssh, I-

Oh, yesssh. You are mossst assstute, my friend. I am Virzivil Axgar."

Axgar bowed to them politely, short in stature and humble in nature. As well, he had been reading most of the day and felt a loss of his voice flutter a bit abnormally. Lifting back up as he re-adjust his hold of his text, the Khil Master looked to both of them with a warm pride; even not knowing them, he could tell they were quite intelligent and capable and would serve the Order well.

"If you would permit me. I am mossst interessted in hearing the namesss of such aware and promisssing pupilsss?"

 

[Jacques]

If there was one thing that the Jedi padawan wasn't very used to, it was praise. He mostly remembered the man from standing next to important figures in the Senate, it was just by coincidence that he remembered that the same person had just been promoted. But hey, he figured, it all buffed out in the end didn't it? The robed Tusken chuckled a little bit and held out his hand:

"I am Arek Dinallis, I focus more on diplomacy and politics more than I do lightsaber fighting and force powers. That's how I recognized you from the Senate. Kinda hard to miss though, always standing next to important Senators and the like, usually looking like you could kill somebody with a napkin and spoon without even moving a hand..." He chuckled again, albeit a bit awkwardly, and let the sentence trail off before waiting for Neptune to introduce himself.

 

[The Gloaming]

"I am Neptune, hopefully I will become a seer or healer one day. Arek and I just met, but we actually share a similarity in our less combative nature."

Neptune spoke through his mind, using the voice he believed to be his own, and at the same time wondering if he really did project a voice into the mind of others, or if they could only register words.

"Now that I think about it, you look familiar to me as well. I admit, I haven't the mind for politics like my friend here, but I have seen you on a few occassions. Congratulations on your promotion!"

 

[DeathToll]

"Schsscshhschh..."

The Khil's laugh was most unique as well, more a vibration between hullepi like a wheezing chuckle. Virzivil was most taken with these two, a bit surprised at their likings of politics whilst he shook one hand then extended to the other. And the remark refering to his combat skills was humbly appreciated, the exaggeration bringing his unique smile into laughter.

"Now, my friendsss. We must only defend ourselvesss with sspoonsss and napkinsss when attacked by forksss and knivess..."

The attempt at humor was not one of this Jedi's strong suits, yet still he found the playful imagery most freeing and delightful.

"It warmsss my heart to hear of your likenesss. The rolling tide of politicsss isssh often too sslow a paccce for ssome."

Then the Khil's eyes seemed to almost close as he lower a head in gratitude of the congratulations given. He wondered how soon it would be before they too were to be congratulated for their own promotions, but left that to occur naturally. And as he seperated thoughts into sentences in the instant of meaning within context, he spoke aloud yet answered every telepathic transmittion as best he could to both present respectfully.

"I am humbled by your enthusssiasm. Thank you."

Then he added, feeling responsible for instilling perspective in this casual moment of enjoyment between brothers in the Force.

"It isssh our duty as Jedi to step into the rolesss of ressponsssibility as needed. One day, you too sshall come to ssserve with great leadersship; I am positive your wise inssight and knowledgeable minds will sussstain our goal of peace for the galaxy."

Virzivil nodded his head with joy, so appreciative of such friendly and peaceful students of the Force.

 

[Jacques]

Althought the Prime Envoy's attempt at humor wasn't the greatest, Arek also had a sense of humor such as him and had to laugh. It was much more genuine than the awkward chuckles he had offered up in even more awkward pauses.

"Please, trust me Master, if I could get out of politics if I could." Arek admitted, shrugging a little bit, "But some Jedi gotta do it and it seems that not many others were willing to step up to the plate." He chuckled once more, though at his own dry sense of humor.

He let the Master talk about responsibility, and took the compliment from him with a simple bow of the head, "Thank you, Master. Though sometimes I wonder if that peace will ever come with some of the more...action-oriented Jedi." He rolled his eyes behind his facial wrappings then, though the others couldn't see. Though they might be able to sense his almost annoyed tone. "But I can at least try my best, no?" He always liked to start off on a downer note and then end it positive.