No Worries?

[Wolf231]

She was growing impatient. It had been two days since he had left; two days since he had gone to join a war. She knew he had already been a part of this war, but now he was out there, right in the middle of it. It made her worry, which was strange for her. It had been a long time since she had someone to worry over. She had spent most of her time trying to meditate and failing, as well as speaking to some of the Jedi who had been left behind to guard the temple, or had some other reason to still be here. Through talking with them she had already learned a lot about the Jedi way and their views on the galaxy and the Force. She had to admit that she was closer to being like them then to being 'in balance' between the Light and Dark sides of the Force. They wanted to stop the same evil that she did; they actually might have the power to do it, unlike her. It had given her a lot to think about, but always there was that worry pressing on her mind. And it was only fated to get worse.

She awoke on the second night to the sound of alarms. Warnings were ringing out from passing droids, obviously sent to awaken the sleepers. They had to abandon the temple; get to the orbiting space station right away. It was a much more defensible position, she knew, but were the Sith really overwhelming them so badly as to warrant it? Lucifer had told her they would win , had seemed so very sure of it. But what if he was wrong? If the Jedi lost, the whole galaxy would be plunged into darkness, perhaps so deep that it would never recover. If she truly wanted to be a part of this Galaxy, shouldn't she do her part to stop that darkness?

She made it quickly to the hangar, seeing worried you goings and anxious aids waiting for the shuttles to return. It seemed they had a limited number. "I can take a group with me." She called out, pointing at her ship. A moment of hesitation followed; it was only natural given that she wasn't a Jedi. The moment passed and a troupe of you younglings were brought on to her ship. Given quick instructions on where to bring them, she lifted into the air and was quickly on her way to the space station. Her eyes were on the planet, a worried look on her face. And then she heard a small voice speaking to her. 'Don't worry, lady. Momma always said that as long as there is one good person left in the galaxy, evil will never win.' Arisa's eyes moved to the child who spoke, a smile brightening her face for the first time in days. "Your mother is a wise woman." She brought her hand out to ruffle the child's hair, her spirit feeling refreshed. Trust the honesty of a child to bring her back to the right mindset - it was something of a mystery to her just how wise children sometimes seemed to be.

She arrived at the station, docking and having the children follow her to the predetermined meeting area. She stayed with them there, just sitting quietly and watching them mill about, the peaceful bliss of youth almost leaking from their small frames. She had a lot to think about, a lot she had to decide. She hoped Lucifer would be told that they had been evacuate here; she would be waiting for him to come to her. However long it took, she would be here, praying to the Force to guide him back to her. Somehow she knew she would see him again; she could feel it. She would meditate and talk to every Jedi she met, asking for news of him, but it seemed few knew the fate of the Padawan.

 

[Butler]

Doors opened, the stones of life cracking to the dried out and weary soldiers who entered here. Their arms hung low, rifles battered with black chars and armor split with knife's edge wound. Their bodies were broken, their faces were lost. What had they done to deserve this tragedy, they wondered. All of them searched the floor for their murdered brothers in arms; their missions barely won, their hopes dashed to the winds. And as they wandered in and past the young innocence here, past the woman who waited there with them, the soldiers found no refuge here in the quiet and the peaceful. Their minds were wrought with confliction, seldom finding another's shoulder bearable to their withheld tears. Dragging their heels, the soldiers and those few Jedi cleared the area to lose themselves to their madness in solitude elsewhere. There were few between them, fewer Jedi still. But he was not among them.

Soon after came the slide of doors once more, the refugees and surviving citizens of war. They found their way as a huddled mass, their wide eyes searching in fear of what they did not know to deal with what they had never imagined possible. Even as the soldiers had entered first, these people were a testament to how utterly alone the innocent would be even after the righteous prevailed; after the dark had fallen. Not a Jedi was among them. Not a guiding light for their broken hearts, these people were abandoned to their own devices here after they had been 'saved'.

Nothing followed after them but the closing of those doors. Empty they were, clasping into their hinges and knocking together as though the gates of hell which sealed off all whom had fallen behind them. There was truly no hope for those caught in tangle with the Imperium.

Minutes passed, a half an hour since the last detail came through from Alsakan, and finally the red light above the doors switched to green and the doors opened. A shadow appeared with long white curled locks, standing in a soldier's armor. His right hand quivered. And soldiers soon eclipsed that figure as they strode around and through the doors. Filing through, this was a team of a different sort; finding some sense in all this with a victory of their particular purpose. Though some still felt the sting of death. Many wounded were lugged in by the waves, seeming as though two transports had arrived at once; one of a strike team and another of a medical team. They crisscrossed, the shadow of that man flickering between them as he stood still in their midst. He was frozen from victory, walled off to sensible cheer of survival behind the sheet of ice upon his skin. His brow furrowed, chin bare into chest like a hung man. But he felt something from behind his shell of focused emotion, caving in on him. One bright spot that shimmered at the back of all the bodies and darkness.

He tried to look up, but all he saw was soldiers passing by. And to him, their faces flashed with the bubbled eyes of the dead; their tongues dangling from their mouths. And all of them whispered to him now, the song of the damned... 'You killed us. You killed us. We trusted you. We fought for you. But you doomed us all. Our lives for yours, but you doomed us all.'

 

[Wolf231]

They had finally started to arrive. Soldiers came in first, a few Jedi milling about them - she got the sense that it was much less Jedi and soldiers than those that had left for this battle. There was a small sense of urgency, but nothing drastic. It seemed they had won, or at least stalled the enemy enough to buy them all time. Her eyes searched the crowds as they came in, searching for him to no avail. It seemed that he wasn't with this advanced group - she truly hoped that didn't mean he wasn't able to come at all. Would she actually feel it if he died? She feared she likely wouldn't, and that scared her. Would she just be left here to wait forever? The doors opened again and her heart soared, only to crash right back into the cold metal floor. It was a group of citizens and refugees this time; yet again he wasn't with them. Her eyes searched frantically, methodically - to no avail. He truly wasn't here with this group either.

Her head bowed under the weight of her doubts as the minutes passed by and those doors didn't spring open again. She considered going to ask around for him, but she knew it wasn't a good idea. The last thing these people needed was to have a worried lady asking about the battle they would likely want to forget, reminding them of the people they had lost to it. Her hand rose to grasp the necklace she wore, the symbol of what she had lost in the past. Though it was her parents, she couldn't even remember them so it didn't really register on an emotional level. She wasn't sure how much the loss of Lucifer would affect her, but she did know she didn't wish to find out. She had almost decided to leave when she heard the doors open one last time.

She almost didn't look up, not wanting to face the disappointment again. But she couldn't let that thought take root - it wasn't right. So she forced herself to look up, forced hope back into her heart - and was rewarded for it. Soldiers and medical staff, as well as the wounded they were caring for were coming in, but still she saw him. Almost as if her eyes were drawn to him, a smile growing on her lips - and fading when she saw that he was barely even watching where he was going, looking so very dejected. What had happened? Well, there would be time for her to find that out later. For now, she couldn't contain her joy at seeing him alive. She started towards him, walking at first but soon increasing her speed, wanting to get to him faster.

"Lucifer!" She called him from ten meters away, and if he looked up she would practically leap into his arms and hug him for all she was worth - she likely would if he didn't look up as well, though she hoped he would. She wanted to just hug him forever, but she could sense that something was wrong. After just a few moments, if he let her, she would lead him through the crowd in the shortest way possible to get to her freighter and the privacy within. With so many new arrivals, there weren't enough rooms to house everyone. She thought it would be something he needed, the peace and quiet of an empty room, without the roar of battle surrounding him; her light freighter was the easiest way to facilitate that. And if he wanted to get away from all this for a short while, no one would search for him their either.

 

[Butler]

The sound bubbled onto his ears like the pressures of air trapped in the deepest ocean, and sounded as such too. Lids blinking rapid, trying to return to where he was, the words spoken around him focused before his eyes; that word. And there she was, his undying word... Arisa.

Her name whispered through his mind, stopping short of his dried parting lips as his palms raised open to her. His insides all but assaulted her out from behind his skin, for fear of the tricks of dreams; yet for all his intension of will, his body moved as an old man long lost to sloth and erosion. He hoped she would not hold back even as he seemed, incapable. For he would feel all the stronger for her to fall in his arms. What's fickle was how little he knew of her. But her face, that smile all but told him the meaning to his life and all the time it had consumed. She did not do it enough, not for his taste. He'd have her smile again.

But darkness had taken him. Whether or not she leapt onto him, as he begged she would, he would embrace her; he'd find his lips to her ear, his nose to her hair, his weary chin to her shoulder that he might cast all cares unto it and forget all things. He would worship her in this moment, wash himself clean of battle which dirtied his cheeks with bloody splotches and salted his unfitting armor with the stick of seared flesh foreign to him even in number - he'd never even considered counting, let alone wondering their names. He wouldn't want to know now, the sting all the sharper when names titled their faces in stone that cut into the watered soil; too green to take. He could not bare to know. But her, she could save him. He became lost in her arms, with one thing to say as a man would who was burying his anguish into the woman who would be burdened by him.

"I need you..." he whispered onto her cheek, shivering palms cradling the curves of her ears as he pulled away just close enough that his nose almost touched hers. His eyes were heavy as they stared into hers, gorging themselves on her attention; a starving lion gazing upon its meal, pleading for forgiveness.

His hair was unable to let the sweat drip from the tangled end-tails of his curling white locks, nearly dried by the vents within the transport yet sheltering a humidity across his brow. His hot breath suggested darker thoughts and a desire to run away with her, now, to any place away from this madness. His tone was urgent, yet stifled and weak without the nectar of her rosy petals touching the buds of his tongue. And those portals that she peered through wreathed as vortexes consumed by her eyes, her lips, and the tip of her tongue that peeked out at him when she opened her mouth.

His heart began to race, pounding against hers desperately. But those irises, blackened grim by all his tragedy new and old, wept naked before her; yet were somehow desiccated. He knew not which to be, hot or cold. All he saw was her, painted red by a lawless passion. Now, take me away...

 

[Wolf231]

She was worried about him, even though she had him now held in her arms. Even as she felt relief in the fact that he was alive, she could tell something was off about him. It was almost as if some strange darkness had taken hold of his soul, a darkness she saw in his eyes. She also saw that it hadn't taken him completely, that he was trying to get away from it. His eyes pleaded with her, even as his body was strangely cold. She saw that he was sweaty as well, likely from the battle. Perhaps even exhausted from it, she could only imagine how tired he was. Having never been in a battle this size herself, she had no experience at all of her own to draw on. Clearly it weighed on him, and not only physically.

He spoke to her at last, his words short and to the point. She could tell he meant them, he almost looked as though he were drowning in whatever it was that had taken ahold of him. Had it truly been this bad out there, that it would weigh so much on his soul? The obvious answer was yes, because in the short time she had known Lucifer she had come to know him as someone who at least wanted with all his heart to be light-hearted, even though the galaxy seemed set on making it nearly impossible for him. She didn't know his past, but she meant to find out about it - now wasn't the time for it. If there was some deeply seeded rage or depression in him, it certainly would be the worst time to go bringing that up. What he needed now was - well, her. And she was here for him.

She gave herself to him freely, and more then that. All the stress of battle and this darkness he was carrying she would take from him, or at least take It off his mind for a time. She would make certain with her body that she didn't judge him, that she still accepted and wanted him. Knowing he was tired, she pushed him on to his back on the bed, his clothes only loosened while hers she removed. She moved on top of him and was his, her mouth finding his face and lips to kiss. She didn't care that he was sweaty; he would likely be more so when their passion met and came to its crescendo. No words were expressed, as none were needed. There was only time for the joining of their bodies as one. She felt the darkness in him and willed it away with gentle, loving caresses.

It was only after they had both spent their energy that she would finally speak, and even then only after resting in his arms for a while. A shower for both of them, she insisted on - they could get clean, and feel better. She didn't pry into what had happened, but let him speak of it if he wished to. She wanted to let him find his own pace for dealing with that darkness; her pushing might only make it worse. She wasn't sure if he would find his way out again if it became worse, and she did not want to lose him to it. When they were both clean, and had managed to make it out of the shower, that was when the first meaningful words left her mouth. "Lucifer, I think I want to join the Jedi."

 

[Butler]

The transition from hallway to bedroom was a blur in her arms, though his focus was one of a building intensity. All his stress and dysfunction had been channeled into her, taking it all out on her in ways reminiscent of their first night together yet with a more ...aggressive flavor.

After they had unwound, Lucifer stepping out of the shower just after her, he massaged his entire head vigorously and comically; hair and face completely wrapped inside the towel. Pulling the towel from his face and to his abdomen, Lucifer sighed through his reverberating lips; so relaxed now. He acted as though nothing had happened now, as though nothing troubled him in the slightest. It was his way of feeling better, pretending nothing was the matter. He was superfluously serene, wrapping the towel around his waste as he watched a single droplet of water seductively trickle down the small of her back. But then she turned to him, breaking the restorative lapse in conversation with thoughts that had obviously been on her mind.

"Tch, what?" His rejecting, almost laughable, response was surprising even to himself, an initial slip of judgment that had apparently worked its way into his opinionated perspective of the Jedi due to many recent events. But it was not entirely broadcasted in such a way, concealed by the obvious surprise anyone would experience to these first words to begin their first conversation since separating. And he would play it in such a way as to hide his true feelings, changing as they were, for favor of less dramatic talks. But he couldn't blame her, his belittling smirk shifting to a more sobered understanding of where she was coming from. He was, after all, the Jedi she had based her decision off of; at least that's what he told himself.

"I mean, I'm sorry. It's just," waving his hand towards where he pictured Alsakan to be, he motioned to what he'd just come from that he might forego mention of it further. From all smiles to frowns, he tried refreshing his countenance to better share in her excitement as he should have done from the get.

"This is great!" He gripped her shoulders with a smile, attempting to hide his discomforting confliction as even he did not know to what extent he disagreed with those words or why. It was yet a mystery.

"But ...you do know what just happened. Don't you?" He struggled once more, feeling the tug of his cares to savor and protect her yet hitting a wall as he tried to do so without recognizing those images and feelings he'd just tried to forget about; though he'd never be free of them in truth. "I mean, I just want you to fully comprehend what you're getting yourself in to here. This isn't exactly turning out to be 'our' shining hour." He tilted his eye line low level to hers, only a subtle difference but lending to his concern for her. For it was not a lack of faith in her, but a lack of faith in the Jedi. Of course, he would not admit to his opinions outright, falling back on the facts of a major loss for the Alliance to carry his concern instead. And he would not necessarily come off so righteous either, perhaps simply sounding the jerk of a man who does not believe in the strength of women; though completely incorrect. It was just that she didn't fully know him yet. And, to that point, he did not want her to change. Though perhaps she had always been the type for the Jedi. He just saw her as a little more free, in spirit.

 

[Wolf231]

He had certainly been more aggressive this time around, but she had been expecting it and wasn't so fragile that she had been hurt, or done other then enjoying herself as they de-stressed together. The shower was refreshing, that lovely carefree smile she enjoyed seeing on his face was right back where it belonged. She was fairly sure she had just caught him starring at her naked rear as well, which brought a smirk to her face as she broke the silence. His reaction wasn't exactly what she had expected; then again she wasn't sure what to expect with telling him this thought of hers. Surprise seemed to be his main emotion, though a smile was soon back on his face. She couldn't tell if it was faked or not.

He questioned whether she understood what had just happened, but how could she truly as she had never been in a large battle herself? She shook her head slightly, letting out a sigh. "No, I honestly don't know what happened out there. All I saw was the aftermath, and it wasn't pretty at all. And this not being the Jedi's shining moment - that's all the more reason I want to join. I don't know if I could ever be helpful in a real battle, but - I know how to use the Force in ways that aren't just battle related, and I could learn more. Maybe I could become a healer, so I can help people?" She shook her head, then shrugged her shoulders. "There's a saying I've heard before. All it takes for Evil to win is for Good people to do nothing. I just want to use whatever power I have to at least do some good for the Galaxy. And the best way to do that, I think, is to join the Jedi and learn from them. I seem to have at least some skill in helping others calm down, but -" She paused, a smirk playing at her lips. "I'd rather this method be for you exclusively, so I might need to learn other methods for other people."

She stopped her rant at that, unsure what else to say about it. There wasn't much else she could put into words, at least not in a way that made fluid sense in her head. Her thoughts were a bit jumbled, making it harder for her, but she tried anyways after another moment. "You're a good man, Lucifer. I see the goodness in your heart, and I want to help you share that." She smiled at him, a genuinely warm smile as she brought a hand up to place it lightly on his chest, over his heart. "If you don't want me to become a Jedi, say so and I won't. But if you don't mind, or you think it's a worthy cause, could you take me to whoever I need to talk to about it?" She really had no idea on her own, as Lucifer was the only Jedi she had really gotten to know. So she left it on him, the decision weighing on her heart enough that she wasn't sure she could make it herself.

Her eyes were wide and staring at him, a window to all the worries going through her mind. She was unsure about this being th path for her, but she was more scared of not helping when she could. Even if all she could do was heal a few injured here and there, wasn't that worth her time and effort? If she could save just one life, how could she turn her back on that life? Perhaps her reasoning wasn't entirely solid, but it made sense to her anyways. And if it made sense to him as well, then that was good enough for her.

 

[Butler]

His teeth let loose an unwelcomed sigh that curled up his lips, reluctant though helpless to her quip and seductive charm. Though his smile fell as his face was weighted down by worries and unclear judgments that had yet to develop to all the questions he had. His eyes could not look to hers, so pure, for fear of their corruption. Yet he was but an insect drawn to her light, willing to burn himself if but to touch her beauty. He couldn't hold back, it wasn't his way. And this time, he actually cared; that someone else might be hurt, not even physically -but worse, and he couldn't let that happen.

"But what if it takes more?" he pleaded, challenging her saying with darker descriptors. "If you give more... What more will it take from you?" Dealing with his first defeat, even in the shining horizon of his almost immediate rebuttal and better showing in the following ground battle, he could not but question his own earlier desires to do good; to be good. She was right, however. But it was not truth he argued against, but rather the cost of it. He had survived. He could get back up. He could fight on. But it would only claim his life. It would claim all life, feeding 'the good' like some crooked teethed nightmare that only shown bright by all the souls it had devoured. He would not let her be devoured by the machine of good verses evil.

"The best men are not consistent in good..." he whispered, thinking on Gabriel's influence. Lucifer had studied much on philosophy since the beginning, retreating to its more abstract concepts to take shelter in the unknown that his twisted figure might not look so deformed in the light. He justified and questioned the questions to the infinite of grays, that his soul might shave off some black in favor of lighter tones in the wake of his bloody history that cut a path for a slug.

But she was perfect, his eyes falling before her brilliance. All she wanted to do was help people. What had she done to deserve one so riddled with spots as him, he wondered? Nothing, he immediately answered. And she deserved better than he could give. In his selfish reluctance to never give her up, he'd have to at least try to give her what she deserved.

"No," he sighed with a resignation in her favor. His fingers slid up her arm, middle finger trailing over the curve of her wrist and over the smooth of her thumb as he carefully grasped her hand in his upon his chest.

"The Alliance doesn't deserve you," he complimented as his eyes finally rose up to worship hers. What he meant to say was that he didn't deserve her, wasn't worthy of her praise. "But the Jedi are the ones you want. There is no more potent a blade in all the galaxy. And for them, there is no better a woman to see the goodness where others do not. And, for me..." he paused with a growing smile, "well, I want to want what you want." He chuckled, no happier than when in her arms.

His hand, still upon her waist, began to slyly search for weaknesses and tickle the laughter out of her lips and into his mouth. He just wanted her to smile. And if that meant that she joined the Jedi, then so be it. He'd risk anything to find out where she might take him.

 

[Wolf231]

Arisa stared at him quietly, thinking over his words. What would it take from her? She wasn't sure there was anything it could take. She didn't really have much in material possessions, or really even much of a social circle. There were a couple friends she had made, and Lucifer - but they could all look after themselves. She didn't see how joining the Jedi would take them away from her, so she had to think that there wasn't anything that could be taken from her. Her smile returned as she came to that conclusion, because it meant that she was free to pursue her desire to help others, if Lucifer agreed with her. A moment of confusion passed her features at his cryptic whisper, but it didn't seem really meant for her so she let it go.

She let out a happy giggle, his praise of her making her a bit giddy. The alliance not deserving her was a nice thought, though she knew it was putting her up on a pedestal she wasn't actually on. She wasn't as good as he thought she was; she'd been responsible for innocent people dieing in the past, even if it wasn't directly her fault but rather attacks sent her way and they got caught in the middle. She still felt it was her fault, at least a bit. Her smile was growing and she put that thought out of her mind as he continued, agreeing that she should seek out the Jedi. Well, at least mostly agreeing, in his own mysterious way. Or perhaps it was a self-deprivating way and not as mysterious. Did he not think himself good enough to be a Jedi?

She moved to hug him tightly, the smile on her lips soon turning into helpless giggles as she squirmed under the assault of his fingers, a squeel let out after a moment. "H-hey, tickling isn't allowed! It's an unwritten rule in my ship. I'll let you off this time, but next time you're gonna get it!" Another fit of giggles took her as she was pressed against him, her hand coming to try and swat the offending hand away, albeit halfheartedly. She was clearly ticklish, but he had obviously discovered that for himself by now. So it wouldn't be until he stopped that she managed to calm down enough to speak again.

"So, how does one go about joining the Jedi anyways? Is there a trial I have to pass?" She hadn't really thought about it up until that point, but it now occurred to her that she wasn't even sure if the Jedi took in adults. Most of the stories said that Jedi were trained from a young age. And while she had been trained fr quite young, it wasn't by a Jedi, but someone she was fairly sure had been a Sith in a past life. His training hadn't really reflected that however, as he had taught her to fight without emotion and had never taught her to use the dark side of the Force. Looking back, it occurred to her that he had taught her as neutrally as he could so that she could choose her own path, when she was old enough to do so. She hoped he wouldn't be mad if she joined the Jedi - not that he was around anymore anyways.

Lucifer was still here though, the warmth of him pressed against herself conferring a comforting feel to her form. She was glad to have him with her as she started a new leg of her journey through life; one she hoped would bring her closer to him and give her a sense of purpose. She had keenly felt the lack of drive in her life previously, filling it would make her stronger willed and help her to hone both her thoughts and body. And if she could help others while doing it, what was there really to lose?

 

[Butler]

He smiled softly as they settled, leaning into her and touching his forehead to hers. She didn't understand. Her eyes said it all. She couldn't understand. Her supple skin was untouched by war. And in his eyes, she was all the more pristine for it. It seemed to him, even as she was 'human' as any other and capable of error or unfortunate ends, that her soul shined of gold. What could she lose? All of it. All of herself could be lost. And in this, Lucifer would be devastated beyond current understanding. In her, all of his darkness was swallowed. Yet as she could not even fathom the darkness that he inferred, she became even more precious to him. Somehow she could withstand anything he threw at her. Maybe she could really affect the galaxy in ways he never could?

"Well, you did lose to me so I don't think we'll be getting you in on your martial prowess." Lucifer pruned, failing to hold back his smirk.

His towel dropped into his hands, swinging it up and over onto her head; revealing the rise she still inspired in him before he turned cheek and fearfully tiptoed away from her, back into the room. He playfully tried to escape towards his clothing, where they might prepare for a meeting of a more serious nature. Lucifer wasn't the most connected Jedi, but he knew of more than most in his echelon. Now was probably the best time to seek out such a transaction, if it could be viewed as such. In his eyes it was as hollow as that word sounded; though masked in a sense of glory and benevolence that assisted his pride. The Jedi had been the perfection he sought after, to become an angel of life and master over death; his death, or so it began. Now it was a hollow hierarchy that called to his ascension, and a powder that he wished to apply to his cheeks to conceal the wrinkles; as they had. But Arisa gave hope and substance to the real thing. Maybe there was such a flesh that embodied the ideal he once believed wholeheartedly.

"H-hey," he chuckled, "A quarter of the Jedi are on this very ship. After that battle, I wouldn't be surprised if one of the Council was here." He knew there was someone here he could talk to in order to request her acceptance into the Order. It was partially why he suggested they come here in the first place. He had heard of instances involving older applicants and did not share her worries in that regard. And after such a loss, the Jedi would be begging for one so special as Arisa to join their ranks. He just wasn't sure how in depth their background checks were or how long the process would be. But he was fairly carefree in this regard.

 

[Wolf231]

Arisa was, of course, going to swat him for that comment! Once she caught up to him, and it would be playful as well. Not getting her in on martial prowess indeed! She couldn't help but giggle quite a bit as well, as it had been quite funny even of it were at her expense. She possessed a lighthearted attitude and the ability to laugh at herself, thankfully. It might have taken some time as he was rather - well, distracting - but eventually she would let him get to his clothes and move to garb herself as well. She once again donned the formal silver uniform she had initially met and fought him in, as it was the nicest clothes she own and had been freshly cleaned since their fight, though she left the armband off. She wasn't sure how they would take it if she had an armband from another faction on.

Once dressed - and this time she was ready for him so he couldn't steal her away half-nude, as she had a good first impression to make - she strapped her saber to her belt and moved to a mirror to smooth out her hair. A handy blow dryer sped the drying process to just a few short minutes. She hurried a bit, as she knew he'd likely grow impatient and do something to hurry her up if she didn't do so herself, but it would be a few quick minutes after that for her to apply just a touch of makeup. She didn't usually wear it, but she might as well try to look her best if she was going to meet someone as important as a council member. A set of silver earrings completed the entirely silvered look she had going on, and she finally turned towards him to announce she was ready to go, if he was.

Not knowing her way around the ship at all, she would naturally let him lead - and hoped that he knew where he was going. Come to think of it, he hadn't actually said he'd physically been on this ship before. Oh well - she was sure that things would work out. She Would take his arm or hand as they walked, unless he didn't think it was a good idea - she wasn't really sure how the Jedi would view it. Taking his arm should be alright, she though, so she would lean towards that as if he were her grand escort through the Jedi flagship, the ship the pearl of their fleet and she an important guest upon it. She knew she wasn't very important at all, but a girl could dream, couldn't she?

Truth be told, she felt very small as they moved through the ship. It was just so -huge-! She'd never seen anything like it, and likely never would again. At least, other then this ship again, as she wasn't sure that this would be her last time upon it. An actual tour of the place would have to take a day, at least! And lucifer had of course promised her one. She grinned to herself as she thought about cashing in on that promise. Oh, she could certainly make him regret it - but she was sure she'd find some way to make it up to him. She seemed to be skilled in that way, when it came to him at least.

 

[Butler]

'Distracting' seemed to define his enjoyment of her. Or perhaps it was more? Lucifer could not afford to determine the answer now, his most practiced skill unmentionably detrimental to his health; the boiling kettle sitting atop the burning flames of misdeeds and treacherous desperation, wherein its every blemish and rot burn into repression. Such were the fires that stared back at them as they exited their room arm in arm and giggling with content. For here they reentered the solemn black, draped over every brow. But by her touch, he was untouched by it. Lucifer curled into her as he led her warm steps through the halls of mourning and sacrifice. Many stood bandaged and armored with solid casts. Blood and dust still brushed their faces dim, but fixed upon these two who wandered with rosy cheeks.

"Left? No, your other left." Lucifer nudged her shoulder to force her to the right before tugging her hand to take her left, playing at her intuition that likely picked up on his ignorance of direction and person. He didn't know where he was going. But as long as they kept walking in the sight of tragedy, he had to keep her smiling. And admitting when he is lacking doesn't come easily to him.

"Um, here we go." Lucifer rolled his eyes downward, pulling Arisa away from the two soldiers who intimidatingly stood at the corner outside their best friend's recovery room; having spent the last hour in an induced coma for a smoother operation to remove the shrapnel from the plastic-armor melted flesh. One of many, yet having proven himself worthy of more private quarters due to his achievements. The shattered pieces of a datapad lie at one of the soldier's feet, having carried the news of awarding honor earned.

Was it worth it? The question tapped at Lucifer's temple every which way he turned. But this time he had turned into a debriefing, the doors sliding open to reveal the swiveling heads of twitchy soldiers peering over shoulders and the ubiquitous awareness of the few Jedi in between.

"Oh! Apologies. I've already given my daily confession..." He turned around into Arisa to guide her out of the room of tense bodies and into the hall of passing wanderers. He was especially uncomfortable with facing all this aftermath, yet he was running out of stalling time. He'd have to keep his word to Arisa because it meant something to him. She meant something to him. And she wasn't likely to take a back seat while he wheeled her around without results.

"...I don't suppose one of you is a Jedi Master?" Lucifer blurted out his question after the awkward pause in the hallway, returning to the faces of those more involved than he.

 

[Cassanova]

After returning from Coruscant's planet surface to the Light of the Force via shuttle, Jedi Weapon Master Juno Armstrong had found herself vacantly just moving with the groups of Jedi as they moved around the ship. She was, for all intents and purposes, in a shallow meditative state, flowing in an almost literal sense with the embodiment of the Force, taking form of the Jedi. Her mind was distracted by the myriad of events that had taken place in the last week, the questions that haunted her days ago, now were more of a annotation on her life - something to be dealt with another day.

With each step that the Corellian Jedi Master took, the soft clang! of her lightsaber pike tapping on durasteel floors echoed softly through the halls, giving an almost metronomical affect on others. Most of the people walking with Juno had unwittingly fallen into cadence, and almost appeared to be marching around the ship together doing 'something'. Naturally this wasn't the case. Eventually, when someone accidentally placed their foot under the pike and the clang! did not sound, Juno shook herself from her trance-like state and stepped off to the side to recompose herself and figure out exactly where she was onboard the ship.

It only took a moment to discover, but she was only about fifteen meters from the quarters which Councillor Armstrong had demanded that Juno keep onboard the Light for those increasingly rare occasions when she was here. It was now that the nearly shouted plea came from one young man, Juno assumed a Jedi on the cusp of his trials, possibly, "...I don't suppose one of you is a Jedi Master?"

Juno, never one to leave a fellow Jedi wanting for help, instantly moved towards Lucifer and Arisa, "I'm Jedi Master Armstrong," She eyed the pair, wondering if there was an emergency, or not. Juno was unsure as to how 'rapid' her response needed be, so she settled for the polite and to-the-point approach. "What do you need?"

 

[Wolf231]

Arisa was led around almost comically by lucifer, whom she was fairly certain didn't know where he was leading her at all. Between pushing her one way and saying another, and then actually entering some kind of debriefing of some rather cross looking soldiers - well, his blustering did do an admiral job of keeping the smile on her face for the most part. The hurt she saw around herself she was glad to be distracted of; if only there were something she could do about it. If only she had practiced her healing more, instead of spending so much time on other things! It seemed to her at that moment to be the only ability she had that could be helpful in a situation like this.

Finally, Lucifer seemed to give up on searching and just called out, asking for a Jedi master to the general crowd around them. What a silly notion - there couldn't be -that- many masters that they could be found in a random crowd, right? She started to turn her head to giggle at Lucifer when the unthinkable happened. She blinked in surprise, head swivelling towards the Jedi Master - whom it seemed had indeed been in this crowd. Either Lucifer was the luckiest person she had ever met - of course, he might be anyways! - or the Force had guided them to this particular spot.

Either way, she quickly smiled and bowed respectfully to the Master Jedi, not wanting to make a poor first impression. As she completed it she spoke for herself, because she wasn't sure how it would look if she just let Lucifer do all the talking and she had a tongue and lips and the air needed to articulate words, anyhow. "Good day to you, Master Armstrong. My name is Arisa Ikeli, and I would like to join the Jedi Order." The smile remained on her lips as she was happy to meet a Master and also using it to mask her nerves.

Now that she was meeting a Jedi Master in person, though, it was certainly nerve wracking! Even though she was sure of her decision of wanting to join the Order, she couldn't help but wonder if she would measure up to their standards. Though she had tried to be a good person, she wasn't sure if she had done a good enough job, or if perhaps she had hurt too many people. Even if she had never killed anyone, she had also used her lightsaber to threaten and harm a few people in her past. Was her desire to heal any wounds she had caused and further, any wounds that others caused that she was capable of healing really enough for them to accept her?

 

[Butler]

"Ha!" Lucifer was adamantly astounded at his ability to accomplish whatever he desired. Acting as though he knew he could produce such results, whilst over acting in his joy to see a Master so quick to beckon, Lucifer was near flabbergasted by his own brilliance.

"And I am Lucifer Vapaelraizo, of course." Opening his arms, he seemingly invited the Jedi Master to welcome him as an equal; managing to leave out the 'Padawan' part of his own title. He wasn't dressed as a traditionally robed Padawan, and could just as easily be confused with one of Arisa's kind. And even though he had just come from a battle, it was unlikely that every Jedi Master studied the manifests of every stationed Jedi; especially not Padawans.

"A worthier applicant, there is none." Lucifer shook his head and turned over his palms to the air over Arisa, utterly ill-versed in the ways of modesty and simple rational behavior; and smelling of salesman.

He couldn't resist his motivation to support Arisa, additionally lost to his moment of spontaneous fortune which had been confused with an over abundance of divined luck. She was pure of heart. And he did believe in her, possibly more than she did. And he did understand that the Jedi was the best place for her and they the better for her service in it. There was just this disconnect between his churning conflictions over recent events and thought provoking questions, in addition to his wounded psyche and twisted past. It was instinctual, now, that he acted estranged from the Jedi even as he was a part of them. It was primal for him to mistrust and safeguard his more sensitive feelings, shielding himself and his mind from those who would seek to help him.

 

[Cassanova]

"I'm certain," Juno responded absent-mindedly to Lucifer's proclamation. Quickly processing the information presented to her, she smiled at Arisa, and offered a grateful nod to Lucifer. "Perhaps we should have this conversation somewhere less..." Juno sidestepped a Knight whom appeared to be in quite the rush, "...somewhere less in the way?"

The Corellian Jedi Master motioned for both Arisa and Lucifer to follow her, as Juno knew that a familiar face went a long way on a first visit to a Jedi Temple and had no intention of depriving this newcomer of hers. Leading the way along the halls, Juno maintained a steady, and easily followed pace which led them all to one of the starboard viewports, which was overlooking the ever stunning visage of Coruscant's orbit. The room was small, but more than enough for three people to comfortably sit on the u-shaped lounge that allowed for every person to both see out the window, and hold an unobstructed view of each other occupant. Juno motioned politely to the two younger Jedi to both take a seat, and then sat down close enough to be friendly, but far enough away to ensure that there was a clear professionalism about the meeting.

Her attention turned directly to Arisa first, "Arisa Ikeli, you'll have to forgive me for not properly introducing myself in the hall. I am Jedi Master Juno Armstrong, Weapon Master, Captain of the Jedi Mobile Training unit named the Doaba. As a Master of the New Jedi Order, I am authorised to conduct an interview regarding your candidacy for the Jedi Order. As we Jedi say," Juno smiled and continued, "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance and may the Force be with you."

 

[Wolf231]

Arisa watched the Knight hurrying past, them turned her head back towards the Jedi Master and smiled. "That sounds like a good idea, thank you." She looked at Lucifer as Juno turned to lead them on, shaking her head with a grin as she suppressed giggles. His antics were adequately ridiculous, with how he was waving his hands towards her like she was a prize on some gameshow or another waiting to be won. It was quite flattering really, but she reigned in those feelings as right now she needed to focus. Which was something that lucifer tended to make handed to do, not that she really minded at all.

The Jedi led them to a viewport that had a strikingly beautiful view of Coruscant. She couldn't contain a gasp as she saw, staring at it for a few long seconds before remembering herself and moving to the offered seat. Once she had taken that seat, she tried her best to keep her eyes on the Jedi Master who was so kind as to listen to them, but found it increasingly hard with such a breathtaking view right there. She almost wondered if this was some kind of trick to put her off guard, but quickly dismissed the thought. That wasn't the Jedi way at all. It was likely more that this area was secluded and that the Jedi Master appreciated the beauty of it as much as she did.

She returned the smile with a beaming one of her own as the woman formally introduced herself, and would have done so herself as was polite except - well, she didn't have any other title except 'Arisa Ikeli' to introduce. She settled for inclining her head and saying, somewhat awkwardly, "And may the Force be with you as well, Master Armstrong." She wasn't sure if there was some form of response she should know to use or if that was the correct title to call a weapon master, but she hoped that any slight would be forgiven as it was likely clear that she wasn't exactly used to meeting Jedi weapon masters.

She sat back and did her best to look comfortable and ready for any questions the Master wanted to ask her, even though she was still nervous and doing her best not to show it. She wanted to make a good impression, but has perhaps already ruined it with her quick response to the greeting. She had better pause to think about what she said from here on so as not to look like a complete idiot, she thought. Any more then she already did at least.

 

[Butler]

Lucifer frowned, the passing Knight cutting into their bubble just as he cut into Lucifer's safe haven and forced the memories to spill back in to his awareness to where they were and why. He lost his focus, eyes falling to the floor as his fingertips found each other; picking the underside of each nail to lift and stimulate the skin. His distance was short lived, however, as Juno suggested a change of scenery and Arisa looked to him - bringing her familiar energy blooming from her cheeks.

It was energizing, as usual, to see her beaming with glee. Lucifer, the color returning to his already pale face, almost giggled himself in absence of her own withheld. But when she did not let it escape, attempting to take this situation as professionally as possible, Lucifer bit his lip and smiled only. He was trying so hard to be what she needed him to be. There was no room to battle his own demons here. This was Arisa's moment.

He placed a comforting palm on the side of her arm, holding it just long enough to tell her she was not alone. And then he let go.

Lucifer followed alongside Arisa behind Juno as they navigated the halls towards the view port. The little room was private and comfortable looking enough. And the view was something he'd seen only once before. In fact this was the planet he had visited just before traveling to Onderon. It seemed he had made it full circle.

"Perfect. Thank you," he relayed in acknowledgement of Juno's gesture to join her. Sitting after and next to Arisa, they were all somewhat spaced evenly in the booth. Though there were two heads facing one.

Lucifer puffed up his lips and raised his brow to the grand introduction of War Master Armstrong, still a little surprised to have found her in the halls as he did. Instinctively, his hands raised out from underneath the table as he rested both wrists onto its surface and leaned forward in response to her mention and wording of an interview. It was a man thing, a subtle protective shift in his body language. And he felt completely protective of Arisa. But when Arisa responded in kind, Lucifer's head turned as he cracked a silly grin to her cute nervousness.

"And we appreciate your time, Weapon Master Armstrong," he formally added, returning his view to their host. To these two ladies, his behavior would seem the norm. But Lucifer knew how over the top he was being, and how he rarely he used titles and formality. It was a gift of his, to speak slyly and grant a pleasant language to those he wanted something from. But this was for her, for Arisa. This was all he felt he could do.

 

[Cassanova]

"So, to the point, shall we?" Juno smiled, remembering her own interview as a young girl over twenty years ago, "The Jedi Order is as you know a group of individuals who roam the galaxy and aide peace and justice wherever it may be found, while repelling the oppressive forces in the galaxy. What you may not know is that being a Jedi requires years of training, and constant introspection. It may not be the easiest of choices, but it is, in my experience, been a very worthwhile one. If you are truly set on becoming a Jedi, then we'll do a very brief test, alright? Don't worry, its not very hard."

In typical fashion Juno pulled out her small pocket-sized datapad, and held it so that the screen could not be seen by Arisa, a few taps on the touchscreen found a series of six pictures at her disposal, "What we'll do is I'll bring up the image on the datapad, and your job is to guess what it is. Now when you do this, just relax, breathe. In a place like this, you'll feel almost warm, but you'll get bumps on your skin. That's the Force working its way to helping you figure this out."

Juno nodded to Arisa with a confident smile, the idea wasn't to get all of them right, but statistically speaking, the likelihood of getting more than one correct had been proven to be a sign of Force sensitivity, so essentially, only two out of the six images needed to be guessed - or even close to what they were. "Alright... Let's begin."

The first image flashed up. A simple two-dimensional picture of a tree. Juno waited a moment for Arisa's response, and without showing any sign of her being correct or incorrect, moved onto the next image. The Jedi Master set through all six images in order; a tree, a cup, a speeder, a building, a chair, and a flower. Once all were guessed, correctly or not, Juno looked to both Lucifer and Arisa, "How do you think that went?"

 

[Wolf231]

Arisa nodded, settling back in her seat but ready to leap up with her saber. The Jedi Master had mentioned a test, but she wasn't sure if it was a chat test or not. She figured likely not due to their location and that a Jedi Master could probably beat her in a saber fight without a saber of their own, but it never hurt to be prepared. She relaxed as the data pad came out and the test was explained. Okay, well that made a lot more sense as a test. Here she was getting all worried like a child, and it was just a Force aptitude test. Come to think of it, maybe she should be worried - she wasn't sure if she could do this or not, as she never had before.

She breathed in slowly, quieting her mind with some effort as the test began. She closed her eyes as well, so she wouldn't be distracted by the incredible view they had here. She concentrated on the Force, letting it lead her towards the answer she sought. "A tree." Her eyes opened, but the Jedi master didn't say anything and just went to the next picture. Uh oh. Did that mean she had gotten it wrong? Or was she just not supposed to know? She wasn't sure which it was. She took a deep, steadying breath and tried to find her connection to the Force again, closing her eyes and keeping them closed this time until she was finished.

"A.. Um. Cylinder? Maybe an engine part?" She paused and concentrated as the picture changed. "Something... Fast. That's - well, that's all I can say." A soft sigh at herself, then more concentration. "Something big that stores... Uh. Things." Okay, that one sounded lame even to her. Was she rushing too much? She wasn't sure if she was supposed to take her time or just say what came to mind.

"Something to sit on. Oh, a chair!" She was more confident of this one, having spent a few extra moments concentrating on the Force. That seemed to help a lot. The final picture came up, and a few moments later she smiled. "A flower." She nodded confidently, then as she found the test to be over would open her eyes, looking first to the Jedi master to see if there was an indication of how well she did, and then towards Lucifer. Looking back to Juno, she smiled softly in response. "Not so well at the start, but I felt good about the last couple. I think spending more time concentrating really helped. Sorry if I took too long with them." She smiled sheepishly.