An Appetite for the Fight [OPEN TO JEDI]

[DeathToll]

Beaded sweat dried over an uneven layer upon Kemp's skin, and the halls of 'The Will of the Force' were busy as usual. He and a new companion had just finished a spar and were making their way towards the cafeteria. They had had their fill of fighting for the moment, and now they would fill their bellies. Though Kemp's was a bit smaller, he could still pack away quite a bit of food after a workout like they just had and was considering some kind of meat for sure. And for once, Kemp walked with ease as he usually walked alone.

Stepping to the side, Kemp let a crossing Jedi pass by, he then spoke up over the ambient noise. Though, Kemp usually spoke louder than most so he didn't find it too difficult to be heard. And after such a fight, he was grinning happily and with some reserved energy.

"So! You lookin to become a weapon's specialist, then??"

 

[TriDaan]

It had been a tough fight a Jarak knew he gotten worse than he'd given. Still he was getting to know a fellow padawan, which was good, even better was they were on their way to eat.

"So, you looking to be a weapons specialist then?" asked Kemp,

Jarak frowned and said,
"Haven't thought that far ahead, I'd be happy just to be assigned a to a knight or master right now. I wasn't too happy when I got to Tython and found out I was expected to sit around and "commune with the force" until someone had time to train me. Have to admit though, I can't see myself as a consular." Jarak grinned,

"What about you? Weapons specialist seems right up your alley."

 

[DeathToll]

Kemp shuffled through the gentle crowd, again allowing the taller ones to pass. Kemp jerked his head right as he walked, motioning that the food was this-a-way.

"Ya! I just finished assembling my first lightsabers! Maybe later I'll show 'em to you!"

Kemp's head bobbed back and forth freely as he walked. It was one of his quirks, somehow taking on a personality of its own without an origin to speak of. Just one of those things.

Kemp didn't currently have his lightsabers on him, having went to the sparring chamnbers to practice with the wooden weapons so that he'd be ready to use the real thing when training with his Master later.

"Yeh! Master Augustus told me to be creative, so I made a lightsaber pike! That's why I wanted to train with the staff!"

The closer they got to the cafeteria, the happier the faces on those around them seemed. Food had that effect..

 

[TriDaan]

Jarak didn't move aside for traffic as he and his new friend walked along the halls of the "Will of the Force". Though he would never have admitted it he got secret joy every time a pompous knight had to turn out of his way to get by Jarak's powerful frame.
Jarak liked Kemp, he was enthusiastic, and from Jarak had seen so far, dedicated to his art. He was also talkative, and Jarak considered that a good quality... some of the Jedi he'd met seemed to think that meditating in groups counted as being social.
Jarak was also impressed to learn that Kemp had constructed lightsabers before, he had only used training sabers while practicing with a holocron and they were still rather captivating for him.

"That'd be great! Jarak said, accepting the offer. He paused before asking:

"Uh... I'm afraid you've lost me, what's a lightsaber pike?

 

[DeathToll]

Kemp stopped dead in his tracks, eerily and slowly peeking a turn towards his fellow Padawan and new friend. And showing his full-teethed grin, Kemp looked beyond both terrified and ecstatic. Then with sharp latching tallons, both of Kemp's hands snatched ahold of Jarak's shoulders until Kemp could no longer contain himself.

"It's a long metal staff with a lightsaber beam pointing out one end..."

The way that Kemp nearly whispered as his jittering body held there stiffly, with his shoulders hunching, it was as if he was containing most of the energy he had if not to explode from enjoyment of stating he owned a lightsaber pike. It was a rare weapon amongst all factions throughout the galaxy, and Kemp intended to use it in a most unorthodox manner as he studied with it. But in these beginning stages, he'd simply wield it like a staff until he could properly engage Ataru's aerial and cyclone nature into its motions.

 

[TriDaan]

Jarak took several steps back, untangling himself from Kemp's grasp he laughed,
"And I take it you're a pretty big fan?", he asked rhetorically,

"I guess it would give you good reach, and an unexpected style, but you're stuck with lugging it wherever you go, and forget concealment. I'm not sure the advantages would be worth it. said Jarak, who resumed walking down the corridor as he spoke. They needed to get to the cafeteria. The crowd had begun to thin out and he wanted to make sure they got there in time for a hot meal... he didn't feel like eating a nutrient bar at the moment.

 

[DeathToll]

Kemp rejoined the hungry walk towards the nearby doorway to the cafeteria. They were steps away from entering the holy place where Kemp worshiped dutifully, and he would surely bow his head as he crammed as much food into his face as possible.

"I made a body strap so that I can wear it on my back. It's like a zigzag so that I can just stick it... to..."

Kemp had made a motion with his pointer finger in the air in the shape of an 'M' to show what he was saying as he looked to Jarak. But as they had entered and reached the back of a short line, Kemp noticed the smell of meats drenched in sauces all being held in tins dunked in hot water. The two Padawan's shuffled forwards with the inching movements of the line, and Kemp's focus rivaled that when he was fighting. Not even requiring a look, his hand new exactly where the trays were as he gently lifted on onto the sliding bars before his waist. His mouth hung slightly open, a bit of druel lining the inside of his lower lip. His eyes sharply followed the serving utensil that slopped up his serving as he nodded with each item he chose while he made his way along the line.

"And some of that too."

His concentration could not be broken until his wide eyes had that food under his mouth, his finger tapping the glass as he made sure to pile on as much as possible. Finally he'd reached the end of the food line and the droid handed over the two plates of meats, vegitables, fruits, and potatoes ontop of the flat top of the glass and Kemp snatched them both to place onto his tray. He slid over to grab napkins and utensils before turning around to see a good amount of open tables. Walking off to one of the empty center tables, Kemp found a seat and plopped down.

 

[TriDaan]

Jarak followed Kemp with his dish, heaped high with steamed vegetables and red meat, and sat down across from the human padawan.
"So, how long have you been with the Jedi?" Jarak asked conversationally as they both began to eat.

 

[DeathToll]

Ohm, for about'm nine years now, ohm.

Kemp answered with a mouthfull, taking two large bites before even finishing his sentence. His head hovered low over his plates, as his right fist used the utensil to scoop up bite after bite.

"Ever since, ohm, they came for my brother, ohm."

Kemp then swallowed, pulling away from his meal. He didn't like thinking about his pampered half-brother, already up for the Knight rank evaluation. Tristian-Ambrose was always two steps ahead of him. Though it did comfort Kemp to know that now he had three lightsabers while his half brother only had one.

Shfiting the tray in front of him, Kemp nudged it with his fingertips in thought. Not lingering on it long, Kemp looked up at Jarak and reterned the question; before then taking another bite.

"How bout you? ...ohm"

 

[TriDaan]

"Just a few months.... Jarak said, following Kemp's lead and cutting his sentence off with a mouthful food,

"Things have been going alright I guess." Jarak paused for a moment, stuffing his mouth with more food and thinking,

"Who's you brother?" he asked curiously.

 

[DeathToll]

Kemp smacked his lips at the questions, wriggling his tongue in between two of his lower side teeth. After freeing a string of fat from the crevas of his teeth, Kemp stared at his food and answered slowly - enunciating each name softly and clearly.

"Tristian-Ambrose Dario Baptiste.."

Kemp shuvled up some mashed potatoes and shoved it into his mouth, mushing it around for a moment. Tristian-Ambrose had already become somewhat of a prodigy, though it was fairly common in the Jedi ranks. After all, one who had enough talent to be taken in by the Jedi was already something of a skillful notable person. But in Kemp's eyes, his half-brother was too perfect.

Then, Kemp shrugged it off.

"Yah. I don't actually know him all that well. But, he's the reason I'm here. ...I can't wait to become a full Jedi! Ohm.."

 

[TriDaan]

"To tell you the truth me neither," confided Jarak,
"I feel like they bring us along a bit slowly, I thought I'd be going on missions for the Jedi, not sitting around tossing rocks with my mind. I mean, I understand the reasoning I guess, but it's pretty frustrating. Guess we just have to grin and bear it though, we'll be knights someday! Said Jarak with a wide smile,
"You a lot sooner than me though probably." he added.

 

[DeathToll]

"Oh I'm sure, ohm, once you get a master you'll... You said you didn't have a master yet right? Once you get a master, time really flies."

Kemp shrugged, smiling with a satisfaction and comfortability in confidence with Jarak, truly meaning what he said. Scraping the last bits around his first plate, Kemp looked back up to Jarak.

"I mean they really give you a lot to do! But there are group training classes too! Though, with my last test, I barely had enough time to sign up for one. Master Augustus..."

Kemp began segwaying into what was really on his mind, thinking of nothing other than becoming the best; which would be shown in the way that he interpretted his Master's words. Though, in his segway, he also began to loose his point.

"...When he told me I had a week to create my lightsaber, I freaked. I mean, ohm, I had already researched a lot of stuff... luckily, and I knew a vendor ...that jerkoff... who had the parts I needed. And he happened to be close by, which was exactly what I needed. That was a pretty crazy day..."

 

[TriDaan]

Easy for him to say, he has a master... thought Jarak bitterly.
No, it's not his fault, I should be happy for him, not jealous.

Jarak smiled at Kemp's enthusiasm, he was interested in hearing about Kemp's lightsaber, but Kemp wasn't making much sense,
"Whoa buddy, one thing at time, my ears only hear so fast!" he said jokingly.

"But seriously, tell me about making a lightsaber, I'll eventually have to do it myself and I'd really appreciate any input you have."

 

[DeathToll]

Kemp was talking too fast for his brain, or was it that he was thinking too fast for his mouth to catch up? Either way, Kemp didn't often speak with the others on the ship, so this was sort of a bottled cork removed for him. Kemp was bursting with talk, and he was enjoying it. Not to mention, Kemp was always energetic when he was eating; sometimes simply bobbing up and down in his seat, just because his body and mind was happy that he was eating.

Kemp stopped the train, and rewound a bit. He restarted his thoughts on the subject of lightsabers. Kemp dropped his utensil and held out a hand with which his other pointer finger could count with.

"Well, first there's hilts. You've got the standard hilt, single beam. That's what most Jedi use. It's simple, and to the point. Reliable and multicapable. In fact, most would say you're better off with that type. Then, there's shotos, curved hilts, double-bladed, whips, pikes... the list goes on."

Kemp then took a moment, as he looked down to his desert plate full of fruits and picked up the utensil and stabbed a square red and juicy fruit and stuffed it into his cheek - where he would hold it as long as he could while explaining. Then, he leaned onto his elbows once again to use his hands vividly.

"Now I got stuck on crystals! There's so many ways you can effect the blade with crystals and how they interact with the hilt. The way you design the chamber is crucial to how the blade functions and performs! Functionality and style preferance become somewhat balanced here, as you wanna have something that means somethin to you. It's all particular to your personal shapes and forms. AND THAT'S ANOTHER THING!! The lightsaber Form you decide on is -crazy- impactful on the way you create your lightsaber. "

Kemp could hold it no longer, taking a moment to not only chew what was being held captive in his cheek but also his hand reached to stab another fruity victim.

 

[TriDaan]

Jarak was impressed, Kemp really knew his stuff. Happy to have found someone so willing and eager to discuss a subject he himself was very interested in (though had little knowledge of) Jarak posed another question,
"I've started learning Vaapad from a holocron in the archives and I really enjoy it, what, hypothetically would be an ideal saber set up for me if I wanted to go with a single blade standard length hilt?"
Once he had finished speaking he cut into a rather large piece of red meat on his plate and took a bite, it was cooked well on the outside, but left near to raw on the inside, perfect in Jarak's opinion. He waited for Kemp's reply,

 

[DeathToll]

"Vaapad..."

Kemp repeated the name with a full mouth, pondering it some.

"...That's that kinda Juyo one thing right? The Ferocity Form..."

Kemp answerd his own question, thinking out loud. He rubbed two fingers along the sides of his chin with one hand, whilst picking at his teeth with the utensil.

"Standard hilt would be good! Maybe you should look into methods of broadening the beam width. And maybe a longer, two handed hilt for better control! My Master has a lightsaber like that! What'd he call it? Mountain!"

It was a lengendary blade, Mountain. Though Master Augustus did mention that a great deal of training was needed to truly harness its strengths in battle. Kemp then jerked his attention back to Jarak fully.

"Just think! With your strength, you'd overpower most other opponents. Their blades would have difficulty standing up to yours. ...Though, you should probably try to make the hilt extra durible, I think. You'd need somethin that can withstand the stress you'd be dishin out! Haha!"

 

[TriDaan]

Jarak liked the sound of that. He'd always been an extremely aggressive fighter and he liked Kemp's suggestion.
"I'll definitely have to consider that!" he said enthusiastically.

A question entered his mind,
"What form were you using when we sparred Kemp?" he asked, curiously.

 

[DeathToll]

Kemp became a bit embarrased, knowing that he had not yet begun to fully understand his Form of choice.

"Erm.. Ataru.. Well, kinda. I probably used some Shii-Cho too, to be honest. Form I. I haven't yet fully learned how to use a long weapon like that -with- Ataru. But I will!"

Kemp had actually learned about the same amounts of Form I as he had Form IV, at this point; but lacked the expertise to properly apply the aerial maneuvers of Form IV, due to his lack of experience with long weapons like the staff or pike. Though Kemp knew, pretty well, how to use a staff, he had not attempted to try to integrate any attempts; probably because he was too competetive for his own good, favoring the win over the learned experience in trial. But in time, he would learn. Sure, most of his attacks were like that of Shii-Cho, but there were some Ataru movements; such as, when Jarak tried to trip Kemp and Kemp dove forward with a shoulder check in order to spin around behind hmi. Either way, Kemp knew what he was doing.

Kemp was aggressive. That much was of Form I, IV, and VII; all having that in common. Though Form IV had wide slashes and fluid movements, to which Kemp related. He liked style, and Ataru displayed such style. The spins and sidesteps he employed many times were more Ataru like in nature than Shii-Cho. Though Juyo's erratic and unorthodox attempts could also be attributed.

With a standard single hilt, Kemp had begun to show promise with Ataru. And as he thought about the differences in his head, he confirmed to himself that he was an Ataru man.

"When I was in the archives, and I was watching some motion captures of Ataru... I couldn't help but see a pike in place of the man's lightsaber. The result would be... a whirlwind like I've never seen!"

 

[TriDaan]

Ataru, an aerial form for the acrobatically inclined. Jarak didn't know much about it, but he did think it would be an excellent match for Kemp, who seemed to be gifted with tremendous agility and speed. Combine that with the strange weapon Kemp would be wielding, which would be unfamiliar to most opponents, and Kemp would a formidable opponent. He nodded, finishing a large mouthful of steamed vegetables before speaking,

"Worked on me!", he said, laughing. Jarak scraped a the last scraps of food around his plate, collecting it into one large mouthful which devoured. Jarak usually ate fast. he pushed his plate away and leaned back putting his hands behind his head as he let out a contented sigh.