Ask [Batuu] Spiraling

[Clove Vanhoop]

---

Clove began pestering Arctus and Ruz about Batuu not long after she was released from the hospital. She had a combination of reasons, really; their tickets wouldn't last forever, Batuu happily haunted her during her unconsciousness, and, most importantly, Ruz and Arctus needed to get away. Especially Arctus. He didn't say it out loud, but it was easy to read his emotions and realize that the man who loved the younglings more than anything else had suddenly lost a significant chunk of them.

And well, Clove felt guilty.

Thankfully, it didn't take much convincing, and the trip itself was even easier to plan. Just pick a few days and done! And even tho it wasn't Life Day anymore, it was still cold and icy on Batuu, and there was plenty to do! Getting permission from the Jedi Order to take a few days off was the most difficult part. But even so, it was a lot easier than she had anticipated. It was actually encouraged to take a break.

So when the time came, Clove raced thru the corridors toward Arctus' ship. Although her driving skills were just as bad as her flying skills, it didn't take her long to adjust to the wheelchair. Plus, because she couldn't walk, she was free to wear whatever skirts and shoes she wanted! Especially those higher heels, which were not only uncomfortable for her feet but also useless for the Jedi Order. Nobody could judge her now!

As fast as the wind, she flew up the ramp. The large backpack bounced up and down her lap, having survived the trip with the Padawans thru Force knows where and now serving as a vacation bag. "Arctus! Hey Arctus!" Clove called joyfully when she reached the top of the ramp. Her large chocolate brown eyes scanned the entryway's interior, excited to see more. "Are you ready?! Ruz will be here any moment as well!"

---

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tag @SlagathorTheUnknown @Forsythe Crowholde ​

 

[Ruzaan Kai]

Ruzaan had happily accepted Clove's invitation to join her and Arctus on the mini vacation, although he was slightly surprised that it had actually happened. In his experience, vacations were things that people talked and dreamt about but never had the time or funds to accomplish, so it was with no shortage of excitement that he found himself packing his bag. The exciting day finally came, and started off in traditional Ruzaan fashion.

Ow. The thought was foremost on Ruzaan's mind as he limped towards the ship that Clove had disappeared into and Arctus was presumably waiting in; Clove had just accidentally rolled over his bare foot en route to the ship. Although it seemed to be a superficial injury, the Togruta found himself wishing that he'd been wearing the snow boots he'd packed. Perhaps then he wouldn't have tread marks from her wheel on his foot...

Try as he might, Ruzaan couldn't shake the feeling that this vacation would be overshadowed by Clove's disability. In the days and weeks following the attack on Yavin IV, it had soon become apparent that Clove wasn't regaining the use of her legs. While that didn't slow the cheery Padawan down- Clove had quickly taken to driving a wheelchair with the same glee that she flew a starship with- Ruzaan's heart still ached every time he saw her. He'd tried to put on a brave face for Clove, but part of him wondered if she could see through the act; it pained him to see her injured like this... and that was the simplest of the confusing feelings he'd been having recently.

At least by the time he made it to the ship, his foot was feeling better. After throwing his travel bag somewhere in the back of Arctus' ship, Ruzaan made his way towards the cockpit in hopes of greeting his friends. "I'm here! Actus? Clove?"

@LilyNion @Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Arctus Friers]

As the two Padawans entered the Cyar'ika, lively music would welcome them sans the ship's owner. But given the pair's heightened hearing, they would be able to hear Arctus singing enthusiastically along with the song somewhere from the light freighter's interior. As Clove scanned the ship's interior she would see a piece of paper stuck to the wall, the words 'Trip to Batuu – don't forget!' written in a surprisingly neat and flowing script. Ruzaan, on the other hand, would find the cockpit empty save for Arctus the Plushie sitting on the control panel, the heart quartz softly glowing on its lap.

The man himself was in his ship's private quarters, double-checking if he had packed everything on his list. He then looked at his datapad to see that the reservation he'd made for a lovely lakeside cabin was already confirmed and only awaiting the three Padawans' arrival. Arctus nodded to himself, smiling genuinely for the third time weeks after the attack on Yavin IV.

The first few days have been very difficult for the former smuggler. Maikee and the other Younglings' abduction were met with heartbreak for Nissa and Rhen, and while Arctus was glad for Covro and Covrar's presence and support the five of them ended up shedding more than a few tears for the ones they lost. Sleep evaded the Padawan, and he found himself crying his heart out to his mother and telling her how much it hurt, asking her "is this how losing a child feels like? Because it feels worse than death!" The first few days he only sought his own company, ashamed and scared to face Clove and Ruzaan but when he'd heard about the half-Sephi's condition and being reminded that the Togruta would most definitely be feeling sad about it made Arctus push his own sadness and pain aside to be with his friends. He didn't talk about the Younglings, the pain still and would always be too great but he was grateful that he did not choose to remain alone for much longer.

Being alone protected him before, but now it crippled him. So Arctus broke off from isolating himself. He was still grieving, and he realized that being alone won't do him any good.

And besides there was nothing he could currently do for Maikee and the other lost Younglings, as tough as it was to swallow. But he'd be damned if he didn't do anything for the ones that remained in the safety of the Temple.

The former smuggler stepped out of his quarters, meandering down the hallway until he caught sight of Clove down the entryway. Greeting the half-Sephi with a warm smile, Arctus strode towards her and made a grand gesture with both hands.

"I welcome you to the Cyar'ika, Miss Clove Vanhoop! All dolled up, I see!" he greeted her, one hand finding the back of her wheelchair. He led her towards the ship's cockpit, letting her wheel herself and walking beside her. Truth be told he hated seeing her confined to a wheelchair like this, unable to regain the use of her legs yet. The extent of her injuries broke his heart, but he would not do the unthinkable and treat her like an invalid. It hurt seeing her like this, but he knew that it would only hurt her more if he began to coddle her too much and treat her as if she might shatter at any moment.

Clove was strong, and he believed that she would recover from this.

"I think Ruz is already here. Got something of a motion sensor in the cockpit and caught movement," he reported to the half-Sephi as they turned 'round the corner and passed by the ship's galley. The Cyar'ika was spotless– no, she was immaculate. Instead of wallowing in grief Arctus busied himself with repairing and keeping the light freighter habitable. The former smuggler was looking forward to their trip to Batuu, and as much as he wanted to just lay down and sleep to forget every bad thing that had happened he knew he needed this holiday like Ruz and Clo did.

After everything that happened, they all deserved a break.

So the galley was well-stocked with food, the main hold looking like a comfortable living area, the crew quarters clean and cozy, and the whole ship itself just giving the overall vibe Arctus had told his friends of – a home.

The Corellian and the half-Sephi soon reached the cockpit, and Arctus gave Ruzaan the same warm smile he gave Clove earlier.

"Heya, Ruz! All ready for our trip?" he greeted the young Togruta as he sauntered towards the pilot seat. The former smuggler glanced at his fellow Padawans as he began the ship's startup sequence. "Got everything packed, you two?"

Force be damned, he won't let anything dampen their excitement for this trip.

@LilyNion @SlagathorTheUnknown

 

[Clove Vanhoop]

---

The piece of paper reminding Arctus not to forget about the trip to Batuu, combined with the music and singing in the background, made her smile curl even more. It made everything feel even more real; they were actually in Arctus' ship, and they were actually about to leave on a vacation. Just the three of them, leaving the nasty behind, together. Her whole body was brimming with joy.

It also made her realize that while she did this for Ruz and Arctus, deep down she needed this for herself as well.

The singing came to an end, and the sound of footsteps took its place. Clove turned her head excitedly in the direction of the source and saw Arctus striding toward her with his arms wide open and making grand gestures. She laughed and then tilted her head to the right. "Thank you very much, Sir Arctus Friers! That's very kind of you. And I'm glad that you noticed how dolled up I am! It's a special day, after all!"

"Ah! He's a lot faster than I expected. I accidentally rolled over his toes." Clove's tone lowered for a brief moment before she giggled softly with a mixture of embarrassment and amusement. She wished she could tell Arctus how much she admired his ship. Everything was full of soul and life while remaining spotless. It really did feel like a home. He truly cared a lot about his ship, didn't he? But by the time she opened her mouth, they'd arrived at the cockpit, with Ruz inside it.

Eh, the compliments could wait for now.

"Yups! I double-checked everything. I've got my ID cards, plenty of credit, clothes, a toothbrush and toothpaste, my hair supplies, a medical kit, and some painkillers just in case, uhhmm... OH! I have my own pillow!" The young lady tapped the trusty bag on her lap a few times. "All ready for the fun!"

The girl scanned the cockpit with her large chocolate brown eyes until she found the plushy and the heart in its lap. Her heart or soul, if it could melt, would be melting right now.

Clove carefully navigated the wheels closer to Ruz as the start-up sequence began, making sure she avoided his feet this time. "Hey, Ruz! I'm so sorry about your foot. I'm hoping it doesn't hurt too much. Do you want me to put some bandages on it or something?"

---

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tag @SlagathorTheUnknown @Forsythe Crowholde ​

 

[Ruzaan Kai]

Ruzaan was curious. He stood near the threshold of the cockpit, amazed at the variety of controls and buttons responsible for all of the ship's operations. In particular, he noticed a small orange light on the console that blinked on when he crossed the threshold into the cockpit, and then blinked off as soon as he left the vicinity. So he stepped forward, then back, forward, back, forward... back... all the while wondering exactly what the strange light meant.

Before he could solve the mystery of the motion sensor, however, he was joined by Clove and Arctus. "I think I've got everything!" the Togruta replied, brushing aside the feeling that he'd probably forgotten something important; right now, he was surrounded by friends and was about to go on vacation. Even Plushie Arctus was present. "You have a beautiful ship!"

Pushing further into the cockpit in order to make room for Clove and Captain Arctus (the orange light turned on and stayed lit), Ruzaan couldn't help but smile embarrassedly as Clove inquired about his foot. It had been, he decided, his own fault for it getting run over. "No worries! I was in the way; I deserved it" he said, declining treatment. Clove couldn't walk, so he wasn't about to complain about a sore foot! "Is there anything I can get for you?" he asked in return.

Once her requests, if any, were handled, he would hover near Arctus and just admire the way the former smuggler's hands danced over the controls. "How long until we reach Batuu?" he asked, inquisitively.

@LilyNion @Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Arctus Friers]

Arctus was torn between cringing and chuckling as Clove relayed how she accidentally rolled over Ruzaan's toes. The youger male was almost always barefooted, and without something to cushion the weight of the wheelchair and it's occupant the former smuggler didn't have to imagine how painful it must have been. He decided not to comment nor tease his fellow Padawans about it nor joke about the safety of his own booted feet.

"D'you hear that, love? Ruzaan says you're beautiful... don't trade me for him, yeah?" the former smuggler exclaimed as he activated the ship's navicomputer and began to plot and calculate the course from Yavin IV to Batuu. It would be a long jump, but lucky hyperspace travel existed. "Thanks, Ruz! I'm sure the Cyar'ika would appreciate the compliment if she had a consciousness."

Arctus smiled as his friends assured him that they packed everything they needed. Turning away from the navicomputer for a moment, he guided the light freighter out of the Temple's hangar and took off to the skies. The Padawan increased the ship's speed gradually until they exited the jungle moon's atmosphere. He let the two speak to each other, smiling as he listened to the exchange. Once the course was calculated and plotted, Arctus prepared to make the jump to hyperspace.

Ruzaan's question earned him a thoughtful "hm?" from the older male. Arctus gazed out at the viewport then activated the ship's hyperdrive. The cockpit was soon awash with the deep blue glow of hyperspace.

"Oh, years upon years without hyperspace travel!" answered the former smuggler jovially as he set the controls on autopilot, the navicomputer keeping the ship steady on its course towards it's destination. Then, realizing that it must have been a stupid response, he smoothly segued with a, "48 to 72 hours via hyerspace... give or take. Batuu's very, very far, and very remote. It's gonna take us a hell of a lot longer if we make a jump-by-jump journey, but that's only for when hyperspace lanes are unstable."

While he spoke another song began. Frowning at the sad tunes and the equally sad lyrics and meaning of the song, Arctus reached for the customer controls to the panel's left and hit 'skip'. Indie rock filled the ship, and soon enough one of the former smuggler's knees was bouncing along to the music.

"I forgot to tell you two!" he mischievously warned Clove and Ruzaan, offering the two an almost impish grin. "I only have two rules when it comes to my ship... well, make it one since you're far from being strangers."

Arctus snickered, humming along to the music for a brief moment, then continued, "Pilot picks the music, shotgun shuts their cakehole!"

@LilyNion @SlagathorTheUnknown

 

[Clove Vanhoop]

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"You don't deserve it silly, I wasn't careful enough." Clove smiled warmly at the Togruta before shaking her head. "No, I'm fine! But thank you for asking." Near the end of the sentence her already bubbly voice became sing-songy, as if she was about to burst out into a song.

Arctus and his singing and humming was to blame for that!

The conversation moved on to Ruz asking about the duration of the trip, and Arctus giving some vague answer before realizing he wasn't specific enough. Clove giggled with delight as she leaned back in her chair, relaxing while enjoying her friend's company. "Two to three days isn't bad at all. Now that we don't have to get up on time for breakfast, I'm going to sleep a lot!"

The girl's pointy ears perked up at the sound of the song switching to an indie rock genre. She wasn't home in the world of rock music, or... indie? Whatever that may be. Clove was more at ease with Classical and Folk music, to be honest. Especially Datooine Folk. But this one was pleasant enough for her to tap along on the bag with her fingers.

"Hmmm, I suppose that's fair! Pilot rules the music! Are we allowed to make requests, or is that out of line as well? Also, what exactly is a cakehole?" Clove's head tilted to the right, her chocolate brown eyes questioning, which only got worse when another thought occurred to her. "And, even if it doesn't apply to us, what is the second rule?!"

---

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[Ruzaan Kai]

When he'd first joined the Jedi Order, a 48 to 72 hour hyperspace journey- cooped up in a metal ship with all their strange noises and cold floors- would've been hell for Ruzaan. He came from a planet and peoples who were deeply connected to the earth, so riding in a spaceship was decidedly not his idea of a good time. However, he hardly cared this time around, having both built up more of a tolerance in the past two years and, more importantly, liking the idea of spending as much quality time as possible with Arctus and Clove. Their friendship made an otherwise uncomfortable trip enjoyable.

The Togruta listened with some curiosity to the "music" coming out of the speakers, grinning slightly at Arctus' golden rule. Unlike Clove, he knew exactly what a cakehole was- some pans were molded special to ensure that the cake was a doughnut shape, leaving a neat hole in the middle of the cake- but how that applied to humanoids he had no idea.

Like Clove, Ruzaan was also curious what Arctus' second rule was. "Yeah, Arctus, tell us!" he pleaded on the heels of Clove's question.

@LilyNion @Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Arctus Friers]

"Sleeping in does sound good," Arctus said absently in response to Clove's declaration of not needing to have to get up on time. Life on Yavin IV had either blessed or cursed every Padawan with rising up early for morning classes. The former smuggler was in no way a morning person, and he found himself adjusting terribly during his first few weeks after joining the Jedi Order. Luckily there was always a cup of hot caf readily available in the cafeteria.

With the ship on autopilot, Arctus spun the pilot chair around so he could face his friends. With a smile plastered on his face, he made a show of thinking hard to consider Clove's question about music requests for a moment, brows furrowing as he hummed thoughtfuly and crossed his arms over his chest. Though when she followed up with what a cakehole was the Padawan broke character, chuckling with amusement at her lack of understanding the meaning behind the slang word.

"A cakehole, my dear Clove, is a mouth," he replied with a smirk, one hand lifting to scratch at his beard. "Like, 'Y'all seen that sarlacc down yonder? What a huge cakehole, it has!'"

The former smuggler's amusement, however, was short-lived as both Clove and Ruzaan asked and pleaded for him to say what his second rule when it came to his ship. Arctus choked on his own spit, face turning red with embarrassment as two pairs of wide, inquisitive eyes gazed at him hopefully in search of an answer. Gods above, why did he have to mention the second rule? He should have stuck with rule number one instead!

"Er, the second rule is, well... um..." he mumbled awkwardly. Godsdamn it, he was an adult and his companions weren't literally wide-eyed children! But still, his big brother instincts yelled and nagged at him to keep his answer clean... well, as clean as he could. "The second rule is if you're a dude, you can just throw yourself in the crew quarters, but if you're a consenting, adult female, w-well... you're free to hang out in my room?"

Alright, saying those out loud wasn't embarrassing at all!

...but why did his face still feel hot? And why did that last part come out as a question?

"We just hung out in my room to chat."

Gods above, why did he have to add a sketchy follow-up?!

Realizing that he still had not answered Clove's question about music requests, Arctus was quick to grab the opportunity to change the topic. "Anyway! About music requests... of course you can! Might have some tunes that catches yours and Ruzaan's fancy. And if I don't have such music, then we can always do a quick holo-search, yeah?"

@LilyNion @SlagathorTheUnknown

 

[Ruzaan Kai]

Ruzaan nodded as Arctus shared the wisdom of a cakehole, promptly shutting his before realizing that he wasn't in the "shotgun" seat. Rule #2 was less fun; he wasn't an adult female, so apparently that meant that Arctus' room was off-limits. Try as he might, Ruzaan couldn't shake the mental image of Clove and Arctus having a tea party in Arctus' room while he was forced to sit outside and participate from afar. A slight frown crossed his face as he considered how unfair it was!

The topic shifted quickly to music, however, leaving Ruzaan little time to pout. The Togruta didn't tend to listen to much music by himself, finding much of the wider galaxy's music overwhelming compared to the traditional music he grew up with on Shili. He'd let Clove and Arctus pick the music, preferring instead to make fun conversation. The Togruta produced a physical book entitled, "3000 Questions About Me!" and turned to Clove. "Pick a number between 1 and 3000" he instructed. "Arctus, you're next, so think of a number." He then flipped open the book to prompt #2810 after Clove quickly answered.

"Ok, this is an interesting one. If you had to describe yourself as cheese, which cheese would you be and why?"


@LilyNion @Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Clove Vanhoop]

---

Clove's hand pressed against her pale cheek as she listened to Arctus explain the definition of cakehole. Great, she now understands what a cakehole is, a largemouth. But what exactly was a shotgun? Was it a literal shotgun, or a figurative shotgun? Do shotguns have mouths? They do have openings where the slugs come out, so maybe that's what he meant?

The girl shook it off because the conversation had already progressed and he was now explaining the second rule.

Oh, he was talking about flirting with ladies in his room? Clove made a funny face at the prospect of going into Arctus' room in the middle of the night for some 'consent.' No, she'd be perfectly content in the crew quarters.

"That sounds great! I don't usually use the holo-search for music, but who knows! Well, Arctus, I can't wait to hear more of your refined musical taste." Clove gave him a genuine excited smile before turning her gaze to Ruzaan, who appeared to be taking out a book.

"Uuuuhhmmm. A cheese?! Hmm. Hmm." Clove's face fell as she pondered what kind of cheese she is. Because what kind of cheese was she? She wasn't anything spicy or pungent tasting, that's for sure. Or something with a strong odor. Or maybe she was; did she have a strong odor? No, no, no. Hmmm. Sugar, she didn't like thinking about herself in this way! Still, Ruz wanted an answer, so she'd try her best. "Naboo Mozzarella. Because it has a softer flavor, is a little stringy, goes well with a variety of foods, and... melts well! If I were cheese, I think I'd melt well!"

Her big chocolate brown eyes danced to Arctus as she waited for his number and the question he'd be given.

---

​

tag @SlagathorTheUnknown @Forsythe Crowholde ​

 

[Arctus Friers]

He wouldn't call his taste in music refined; the current playlist on track was mostly a mismatched mess of music genres. Arctus didn't have to dwell about it too long because he was more focused on deciphering if either of his friends got the gist of his second rule regarding the ship and her passengers. Something about the brief, slight frown on Ruzaan's face told the former smuggler that the Togruta didn't seem to get the sexual meaning which entailed Arctus's explanation about women and his quarters.

He would've sighed in relief if it weren't for the expression Clove made. She understood, didn't she? Arctus was a grown man but he felt embarrassed all of a sudden. Quickly shaking it off and opting to circle back to his refined musical taste, he made a quick check to see if there were any inappropriate songs in his current playlist and mentally gave himself a pat on the shoulder when he found none. The really sad ones, he would just skip.

To pass the time, Ruzaan produced a book whose title Arctus didn't get to read. The Togruta then asked Clove for a number, and the former smuggler finally caught on as Ruz asked him and the half-Sephi a question.

A cheese?

Arctus wracked his brain for any sort of knowledge about the subject. Would he be a fancy one, the kind that rich people pair up with wine or something? No, definitely not. There was no way in hell he'd associate himself with stinky cheeses either, because come on! So then, was he the hard kind of cheese, or the soft ones that melt easily? He looked like he needed to brush up on his cheese lore or something–

"Wait," he said, not realizing that he spoke the thought out loud. A thoughtful expression crossed Arctus' face before the corners of his lips twitched upward in a triumphant smile. "I think I'd be a string cheese, the kind you can buy in convenience stores!"

Clearing his throat, the Padawan then launched into a more substantial explanation. "I most certainly didn't mean it in a self-deprecating way, but string cheese is packed with protein... or so the ones I used to buy when I was in university were. You can eat it as it is, or you can put it in spicy ramen noodles so it melts into the food. Man, when was the last time I did that, it was so good... and the cheese pull was so satisfying... wait. Is string cheese the same as mozarella or made out of mozarella?"

Not realizing that he'd pulled a rather dreamy, somewhat nostalgic expression while he talked, the former smuggler then threw the question back at Ruzaan after giving the young man a number.

"Let's go with 73. But what about you, Ruz? Which cheese would you be and why?"

@LilyNion @SlagathorTheUnknown

 

[Ruzaan Kai]

Throughout Clove and Arctus' answers, Ruzaan struggled to think what kind of cheese he'd be. Naboo Mozzarella seemed appropriate for Clove, and Arctus' string cheese comment brought a smile to the Togruta's face- he was going to enjoy getting to know them better, even if the questions were both random and wacky.

"I think I'd be some kind of Swiss cheese" he said, after giving it some thought. "Sure I have some 'holes', but I'm consistent."

Hopefully question number 73 would be easier to answer. "What inspires your ideas?" Ruzaan read aloud. Nope.

@LilyNion @Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Clove Vanhoop]

---

Clove couldn't help but giggle softly as she listened to the two describe what kind of cheese they'd be.

Arctus' lengthy explanation about being string cheese was just right. A cheese that went well with almost everything, was good for the body, and was well-liked by many. Change the cheese to Arctus and the body to friends, and you're done.

And Ruz's explanation about being cheese with deliberate and consistent holes made her melt just a little. Because it was correct. He was clumsy and frequently found himself in awkward situations, but he was reliable and consistent.

Then came the next question. "Hmm, what inspires my ideas?" Clove hummed briefly. "Both of my parents, but especially my father. He was the one who taught me to always help others and to always do the right thing. And that has always inspired me greatly and shaped me into the person I am today," she came to a pause, her hand idly running over her hair extensions, which never seemed to curl as naturally as her own, "how about both of you?"

---

​

tag @SlagathorTheUnknown @Forsythe Crowholde ​

 

[Arctus Friers]

His cheese lore needed brushing up, but his friends' answers made sense to Arctus. Both Clove and Ruzaan exemplified qualities that would make them good Jedi – they were already good– no, great people each in their own right. The former smuggler smiled at the thought of Naboo Mozzarella and Swiss Cheese saving people and changing lives in the near future. His smile turned into a brief, light frown however when an image two wheels of cheese with lightsabers stuck on the sides floated in his mind.

Shaking the weird but admittedly funny thought off (Imagine throwing a cheese wheel at the enemy– no, stop), a thoughtful expression crossed his face at Ruzaan's next question. It was unexpected and vastly different from the cheese question. It felt like it needed serious answers even if the question itself really wasn't that serious – or how serious one thought of it, actually. He was glad and somewhat relieved when Clove answered first. The former smuggler remembered how she spoke of her father when they first met on Drastus's potluck. Hearing about her old man again convinced Arctus that the half-Annfyn's father must have been a very decent bloke. And by the looks of it, it sounded like Clove and her dad were really close.

Him and Dad were the same once. Before the abuse, both verbal and physical. Before old Raguel Friers walked out on his family and never returned.

There was a time when thoughts of his father sent Arctus in an ugly cycle of anger, resentment, fear, regret, self-loathing, and depression. Now, though? He grinned at the memory, face turning pink from embarrassment upon reminiscing how much of a mess he was. Well, he still was a mess, but not as bad and awful when he was still a spice addict smuggler. What a tale that would be for his friends, and for the future missus and kids (if he was lucky, though).

"Well, same as Clove, though it's more in line with me Mum," Arctus replied after a beat, a fond gleam in his eyes. "She raised me an' my little brothers on her own when Dad walked out on us. Taught me to look out for the triplets, taught me manners. She taught us to do the right thing and to stand up for what's fair and right... but I sauntered downwards and lived most of my adult life living the opposite. Well, not all of it, 'cause I still remember her words. She'd tell me that there will always be a time when it gets real hard bein' nice, but that I shouldn't fail to be kind. And with the kind of life I led before all these? I tried. I tried real hard. Every waking moment. Sometimes I'd succeed, but mostly I'd fail. I'd go to sleep, wake up, then try again 'cause that's what she'd do."

His smile grew as he remembered the last time he was back home. Mum and the triplets were over the moon, and he decided then and there that he should visit as much as he could.

"So when it comes down to what inspires my ideas nowadays? I just ask myself two things: Will Mum smack me upside the head for it? Or will she smile proudly at me?"

One brow rising expectantly, he shot Ruzaan a questioning look and let his smile grow wider.

@LilyNion @SlagathorTheUnknown

 

[Ruzaan Kai]

As he listened to Clove and Arctus reflect on their parents, Ruzaan felt grateful that he'd asked the question- even if he felt fully unprepared to answer it himself. "Your father sounds like an incredible person" he said in response to Clove. The half-Annfyn had obviously taken her father's values to heart, and in Ruzaan's opinion she was one of the shining bright spots in the Jedi Order. Arctus, too, had been influenced by a parent; his mother. The Togruta couldn't help but laugh as Arctus shared his time-honored wisdom with him and Clove.

Then Arctus shot Ruzaan an expectant look, and the Togruta remembered that he was supposed to contribute to the conversation as well. "Oh! Uh.... this is tough to answer." Unlike Clove or Arctus, Ruzaan didn't draw heavily on his parents for guidance or inspiration. The thought gave him pause as he considered its implications on his life, and it was several seconds before he eventually spoke. "I suppose I get my inspiration from other people" Ruzaan finally said. He'd been raised communally, as was the custom for his tribe, and as such had experienced a rotating group of caregivers and mentors during his formative years. Everyone had had something to teach him, so everyone did. "I had a lot of different teachers growing up on Shili, so I guess I've gotten used to trying to learn something from everybody." Hopefully that counted as an answer, and he quickly read aloud the next question.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The trip passed smoothly, and before he knew it Ruzaan was strapping in for a landing on Batuu. He'd more or less gotten used to Arctus' music taste along the way, completely missing the times when the former smuggler went diving into the cockpit in order to skip a song or two. The Togruta swiveled his seat so that he could better see both Clove and Arctus. "What should we do first?" he asked. Clove looked to be bouncing out of her wheelchair with excitement.


@LilyNion @Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Clove Vanhoop]

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Both of their responses were both surprising and unsurprising at the same time. Both were perfect for them, to the point where they only made sense, but she hadn't expected them. For Arctus, she imagined something more like a brother or the Jedi order's Padawans. And for Ruz, something more specific, like a specific teacher or parent figure back on Shili. And yet, Ruz finding inspiration in everyone, and Arctus in his mother, both sounded right; it made more sense than the images she had painted in her head.

So, while they were explaining, all Clove could do was smile stupidly and lean back in her chair, deep down thanking the author of the "3000 Questions About Me!" books, because this was going to be a fun ride.

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It had been a fun ride, just as she had expected. Everything went smoothly, the music was mostly lovely, and the questions never failed to bore her. And, despite needing some help here and there, such as getting in bed without using the Force, the wheelchair had proven to be less of a hindrance than she had expected. So far, at least. Days passed quickly, and before she knew it, they were preparing to land on Batuu. And boy was Clove excited. She would have been jumping through the cockpit if it hadn't been for the wheelchair, but instead, she did a more toned-down upper body bounce with her shoulders and head.

"Hmmm. Shouldn't we go to the cabin first? Unload the baggage and all that? Sort out the rooms and who sleeps where. OH, and we need to find a map! So we know where we're going! After that, maybe we can go get some food? I'm craving something fresh, like a nice piece of fish!" Clove had started to ramble with bouncing ears, but she quickly caught herself before it got out of hand. "Uhm. I mean, what do you two think?"

---

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tag @SlagathorTheUnknown @Forsythe Crowholde ​

 

[Arctus Friers]

He couldn't stop the happy grin from crossing his face the longer the three of them bonded over Ruzaan's "3000 Questions About Me!" book. It gave Arctus the opportunity to see more of his friends's goofy sides while answering odd but funny questions, as well as their maturity and growth towards surprisingly serious ones. The former smuggler had no idea where the Togruta even got the book, but the oldest Padawan in the ship was grateful for it. Not only did it help them pass the time, but it also made him see his friends smile and laugh more openly.

Truly, it was a heartwarming moment.

So as the three of them dove into more questions from the book, Arctus felt happier and lighter than he had been these past few days.

——

Time really did fly fast when one was having fun.

The travel to Batuu went incredibly smoothly. Arctus had delegated himself as the (not-so) literal old man in the group, more of an older brother watching over his younger siblings than a single dad watching over his kids. He'd wake up long before his friends did to prepare breakfast for them, and he'd even let Clove and Ruzaan help him in the galley. The former smuggler knew that they couldn't tease him for his cooking because he learned from the best, though he wouldn't deny that he felt a bit embarrassed when they saw him wearing an apron for the first time.

As much as he enjoyed the trip, he knew that he was going to enjoy their little holiday even more.

Since it had only been a few weeks after Life Day, Batuu was still covered in a thick blanket of snow. He walked out of his cabin and headed for the cockpit all bundled up, humming a wholesome Life Day song.

"Well, as long as you're both bundled up," he muttered happily to himself, already infected by his closest friends' excitement. He shot both Clove and Ruzaan a finger gun each with a smirk. "Clove has spoken! We shall do as she says!"

Earlier he had already contacted the person he'd rented the cabin from and got a confirmation that it had already been cleaned and prepared for their arrival. The cabin even included a landing pad for his light freighter, and, personally knowing who the landlady was, Arctus was grateful that his tiny request had been accepted. Still confined in her wheelchair as she was, he didn't want Clove to have a tough time traveling from the spaceport to their cabin. He didn't mind carrying her, truly, but he didn't want her to feel the restrictions and limitations of her wheelchair.

...and besides, he just knew he wouldn't be able to stop the urge from dropping her in the flurry of snow on the way. A harmless joke, sure, but others might think bad of it.

Arctus sat on the pilot seat, disengaging the Cyar'ika's autopilot and manually flying the ship itself as it entered Batuu's atmosphere. Inputting the cabin's coordinates, the ship soon found itself landing on the designated spot, the view of the cabin and the lake beside it already making him smile wider.

After swiftly powering the ship down, the former smuggler nearly jumped out of his seat from childish excitement, though the glee shone brightly in his eyes.

"Right! Go get your stuff, guys, while I go and converse with the proprietor."

Pulling the thick, wooly scarf more securely around his neck, the former smuggler headed for the landing bay and lowered the ship's ramp. An elderly Tiefling clad in winter gear hailed Arctus from the cabin's porch and met the Padawan halfway, one hand lifting to pinch the former smuggler's cheek.

"It's been a while, Friers. If it weren't for your missive, I would've assumed that you've forgotten me," she said sweetly, a grandmotherly air surrounding her. Arctus blushed, ducked his head, and shuffled his feet on the thin layer of snow on the pathway.

"Aww, Nana Ilinichina! You know you're one of the few reasons why I ended up liking Batuu," replied the Padawan. Arctus accepted the datapad Ilinichina then offered him, putting a bank info here and transferring creds there to complete the payment for his and his friends' stay. He noticed the old Tiefling glancing at him then at his ship. Through unseeing gaze, she shot him a rather mischievous look.

"You're not alone, kid. I sense... others, in your ship," she teased, wagging a finger. Being a Force-user herself, Nana was someone Arctus knew not to mess up with. "Did you bring a lady with you so Avdotya might finally leave you alone?"

At the very mention of the Tiefling's granddaughter, a piercing, delighted shriek came from the cabin. Eyes growing wide with horror, Arctus spotted a very attractive Tiefling – dressed inappropriately for the weather – making a mad dash towards him and Nana Ilinichina. The former smuggler gazed back at the older Tiefling with mounting disbelief as the latter chuckled almost impishly.

"I told you not to tell her, Nana!" he hissed frantically at Ilinichina. "And you told me she's already married–"

"I said no such thing! But worry not, child," the older woman assured Arctus with a grin. "I'll make sure she doesn't butt in and ruin your holiday–"

"Arctus, my love!" exclaimed the younger Tiefling, preparing to jump at the Padawan but her grandmother stopped her. Avdotya settled for staring at him with starry eyes instead, and while it was cold Arctus could feel himself sweating. "I knew you'd come back for me–"

Shooting Arctus a subtle wink, the elderly Tiefling rounded over the younger one and gave her arm a firm slap. "Bah, you lovestruck idiot! You're not here to stare with heart eyes at this–" she jutted a thumb at Arctus "–dumbass! What are you even wearing? And have you made sure that the cabin is ready? Go back and clean!"

"But Nanaaaa–"

"Don't 'But Nana' me! Shoo!"

While the two ladies bickered, Arctus made a hasty retreat towards the Cyar'ika and off towards his cabin to grab his things. Without another word to Clove nor Ruzaan the former smuggler would frantically pass them by, white-faced and wide-eyed, though they would be able to hear him muttering to himself.

Something along the lines of "What did she even see in me?" and "Better ask Nana if she'd let me install locks in my room!"

@LilyNion @SlagathorTheUnknown

 

[Ruzaan Kai]

"The cabin sounds good!" Ruzaan agreed, happy to follow Clove's lead on this. The half-Annfyn's joy was infectious as she bounced up and down in her wheelchair, and in what was becoming a reoccurring thought, Ruzaan was grateful that his friend hadn't let her disability slow her down. With a genuine smile on his face, Ruzaan grabbed a couple bags- his, and one of Clove's- and soon after Arctus left, followed her and Arctus down the ramp towards the cabin.

The Togruta reached the bottom of the ramp just in time to hear a loud shriek of joy pierce the air. Its source- a young Tiefling womas wearing very impractical clothing for the current weather- attempted to personally welcome Arctus back to Batuu. Ruzaan's eyebrows shot up- he didn't know that Arctus had a partner- leaving him confused as the former smuggler seemed adverse to the girl's attention. Then, it clicked; Arctus was playing hard-to-get. The Togruta's smiled knowingly; yes, that was it!

Ruzaan decided that because Arctus was his ride off of the planet that he wouldn't tease the older Padawan about his romantic affairs. Instead, the Togruta hefted the bags and gestured towards the cabin. "After you!" he said to Clove.


@LilyNion @Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Clove Vanhoop]

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Clove grabbed a warm thick blanket and nestled it over her legs and chest while Arctus handled the payment and such. Because, even though she was warmly dressed, sitting still in such cold weather was... less than pleasant. And she liked blankets. To be honest, that was enough of an excuse in and of itself Who wouldn't want to curl up with a blanket in the snow? Clove's lips curled up as she saw Ruz grab her bags. "Thank you so much, Ruz! That's sweet of you."

She could have carried the bag herself, but she knew Ruz would be careful with her belongings. It'd be a lot safer than if she put the bag behind her chair.

Clove rolled down the ramp with a smile on her face, first noticing the white blanket that covered the entire world. She forgot how to breathe for a moment as she gazed in awe at the beauty of the lake, the forest adjacent to it, the dancing snowflakes in the air, and the incredible-looking cabin. It was everything she had hoped for, and then some. And she got to experience it with her best friends.

Then her ears twitched, picking up some... unusual... sounds. 'Arctus, my love.' Huh?

What?

Clove's gaze was drawn to the woman who claimed to be Arctus' lover. Was she bothering him? Her brother? The idea of a stranger getting so intimate with Arctus didn't amuse her in the slightest. But she couldn't hold on to her annoyance for long, because when Ruz politely told her to go first, the excitement to see the cabin outweighed everything else. "Thank you!" she replied, a bright grin on her face, barely noticing Arctus running around with a terrified expression on his face.

After opening the door and rolling her wheels forward and backward on the mat to clear some snow, the half-Annfyn was finally able to enter the cabin properly. Her large chocolate brown eyes scanned the living room, which was a mix of warm woody tones from the past and modern applications and furniture. "... Oh, man. I love it here." Clove let out a whimsical sigh.

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tag @SlagathorTheUnknown @Forsythe Crowholde ​