Ask A Council's Advice

[Hera "The Joyful" Albion]

Hera sat quietly outside of the Council room. She had been here once before, it had not been pleasant then, but it was somehow equally unpleasant now. The Justicar had sent a full, detailed report of the events just a short while prior, a full report was possible due to the non-urgent matter of this event. Willa Kanz and Haldir both had accompanied Hera and Jedi Knight Mako back to the Jedi, but they had also temporarily separated as they prepared to see the council. Unbeknownst to Hera, Haldir had met with councilwoman Vanloa before. The Councilwoman would already have a rough knowledge of the situation, even before the report from Hera.

The specific grievance being brought forth was the matter of Haldir and Willa Kanz's relationship, as well as their musical personas of Good Night Moon and G. Wiz. Hera believed their relationship inappropriate at best, and manipulative at worst. Hera believed that Haldir sought to serenade his Padawan instead of teaching her. As a result, she believed Haldir was unintentionally pushing Willa to the Dark Side. Finally, Hera believed that their musical careers took precedence over their commitment to the Jedi Order. Naming the song after song, after song, after song that Haldir performed on stage as additional evidence.

Their judgment and punishment would be left entirely up to the council to decide, should the two of them be seen as having done anything wrong at all. Hera ultimately hoped she needed to do no more than sit outside and wait for it all to be over, but she would come inside if called.

@Logan @Killa Ree @Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Haldir Eressëa]

His desire to help one of the few people he counted as friends had spiralled out of the outcome he had hoped for and Haldir had been branded a manipulator for it. What was worse (from his cousin's point of view, anyway) was that the Arkanian Offshoot couldn't even find it in himself to resent Hera Albion for her accusations. The Justicar was only doing her job, he told Chie when the former Ranger contacted him while Eressëa, Willa, and Hera were on their way back to the Jedi Temple. It seemed that the dark-haired Erennor had taken it upon himself to feel offended in Haldir's stead. The Knight admitted to himself that Hera's words vexed him, though, but the Justicar only wanted to reach out and help Willa, too. How could he get mad at her for that?

Maybe it had been wrong for him to act upon his feelings, to let his concern and fear of Willa possibly falling take a hold on him. Maybe it had been wrong to have chased after her on his own in the first place. In the rare occasion that he had allowed his emotions to triumph over logic he had only pushed his Padawan, his friend, further away and for the first time in a while Haldir felt at a loss as to what to do.

So he didn't argue with Hera's decision and willingly returned with her back to the temple, with Willa in tow. He wanted to speak with Willa but he held himself back, again, so he could process his own thoughts and discoveries during the Life Day concert.

He couldn't deny the fact that the way the Justicar viewed his relationship with Willa brought a surge of pain and repugnance in his chest every time Hera's accusing words replayed in his mind. What he asked the Justicar in return that night held nothing but the truth – how could he manipulate another being when it had been done to him in the past, regardless of the differing context?

Despite his lack of anger towards Hera, Haldir still couldn't find it in himself to even look directly at her as they made their way to Councilor Vanloa's office. The Justicar might have given him the chance to explain his side to one of the Councillors, no less, but it only made Haldir feel as if he was simply out to defend himself, that his words – no matter how honest and true he was and would be – would only serve to further implicate him to a crime he knew he didn't commit.

He didn't go out there to search for his Padawan just so he could serenade her the moment he found her. The words he wanted to tell Willa were hidden amongst the lyrics of his songs. Though looking back and seeing things on Hera's perspective, Haldir really did look as if he was a forlorn man seeking to reconnect with the woman he loved but was losing.

The Knight was grateful for the vulpine mask that once again covered his face as crimson bloomed across his cheeks at the thought. He was a calm brush of a midsummer night's breeze in the Force, calm and unwavering, but underneath that lay his worries and fears of what might transpire during and after this meeting.

Pale blue gaze firmly fixed on the Councilor, Haldir offered the higher ranking Jedi a respectful nod by way of greeting, trying his best not to feel too rattled at the knowledge that Willa was standing beside him.

@Black Noise @Killa Ree @Logan

 

[Willa Kanz]

She had left the Order, and had hoped to outrun them with her own ambition and grief. It wasn't the Jedi way, but a the time, it was the only way she could think of to avenge her best friend, but it had gone horribly wrong. She had tried to avoid her former Master, but he pursued her anyways, along with what seemed to be the rest of the damn Order. She had kept unnaturally silent during the entire flight; like a prisoner, she kept her gaze resolutely firm in making eye contact if necessary, and only responding if directly addressed.

Unlike the emotional maelstrom she had before, now she was calm. Whatever the outcome, whatever the Council decided, she had already made her choices. She would leave, regardless. If not for answers for her friend's death, for a myriad of other reasons. Still, she could sense Haldir's echoes of distress, not in the Force, but in the cues of his body language whenever he stood near her.

Still, she had closed herself off entirely. In the Force, she might as well have not existed in this very room. Indeed, only visually would it seem that the former Padawan was truly there, and even then her features were neutral, hands clasped behind her back. Forgoing Jedi robes, she wore a simple pair of leggings and tunic, boots not even making a sound as she walked in step with the rest of them.

She gave a slight bow to the Council, but didn't speak, allowing them to speak first, to ask questions if they wanted. But if this was the only way she could let them know, once and for all, that she was not returning to the Order, then she would go through with it. The only thing she disliked about the whole thing was she was threatened by the safety of her former Master and friend.

But for now, she would wait.

@Forsythe Crowholde @Black Noise @Logan