Ask Been A While

[Laila Din]

Laila was equally excited to return to her training and equally dreading it. Shortly after Kalique was assigned as her mentor, Laila had taken a break to finish her academic schooling off-world. So off she'd gone, likely leaving a bad taste in the Knight-Captain's mouth after their tumultuous introduction. So while she was happy to be done with school (for now) and looking forward to returning to her training as a squire, she wasn't sure where she stood with Kalique. They'd had almost no correspondence the past few months other than the occasional report card equivalent she would receive from Laila's program. Mostly B's, the occasional A, and that A was almost always either in physical education, music, or both.

The transporter ship landed on one of Raxus' various spaceports, and Laila made her way down the ramp shortly after. She was already dressed in the standard imperial uniform, but she had her hair in cute bubble braids to give the stuffy attire a bit of her own flair. Her nails, as they had been for the past several months, were perfectly manicured. She'd sadly had them filed down to a more modest, reasonable length for training just the day before. How she was going to miss her long, patterned coffin nails...

"Where's Captain Demici?" After not spotting the blonde right away, Laila made her way to the nearest Imperial and posed the question loudly. "Do you have a way to message her?" She didn't wait for him to respond before she continued on. "Tell her that Squire Din has arrived and is awaiting her arrival at terminal 7C."

With that, Laila gave the man an appreciative finger snap and began wandering over toward the nearby food stalls, following the delicious scent of roasted meat. Maybe she'd have time to wolf down a kebab before her instructor arrived.

@LadyRen

 

[Kalique Baize]

While Kalique was definitely still Laila's mentor, she hadn't seen the Tiefling teen in a while as she had paused her training as an Imperial Squire to focus on school.

While Kalique even appreciated her tending to her academic education, it meant that the continuation of her training would be even more challenging as so far, the girl hadn't actually fallen into an actual routine. So while the Knight-Captain was eager to continue her training, she was also aware that she'd likely have to put in even more efforts to get Squire back on track.

She was enroute to the hangar where Laila was supposed to arrived, a wide, relatively heavy bag slung over her shoulder. Her comms then chimed, announcing the Squires arrival. "Squire Din arrived, she's headed East", a Commander informed her, revealing that the Tiefling's vessel had arrived rather overly puncutal.

East though? Kalique slightly narrowed her eyes, wondering why her long lost sheep was immediately roaming around instead of staying where she was supposed to meet her, but she corrected her own course immediately and as soon as she passed the hangar, she scanned the crowd for the familiar pink horns.

Given that Laila was as tall as she was, it took a moment before she saw the bright tips sticking out from the crowd in front of a food stand, she approached the Squire at relatively quick pace, knowing they actually were on a tight schedule. "Squire Din" she luckily intercepted before the girl would get to place her order.

"It's been a while" Despite her having wandered off a little, apperently to indulge in some spicy meat, she gave her a soft, yet warm smile. "We're leaving right away. I'm afraid a ration pack will have to do for now". She then motioned towards the hanger area, rather to the right where her ship was already waiting for them.

@lizziie

 

[Laila Din]

Laila had just slipped into one of the various lines when Captain Mood-Killer appeared. Her poor rumbling tummy... how cruel that it would be subjected to the hard, dry texture of a ration pack when it yearned for the savory delicacy of a kebab!

"Only a few months really," Laila commented back absentmindedly, still gazing longingly at the kebab stall as the two of them walked away. "How have you been?" It was meaningless small talk, but the tiefling figured she'd at least try to be nice. Maybe she'd get some leeway if she was 'good'. There was this party she'd been hoping to find time to head off to...

"Where are we going?"

@LadyRen

 

[Kalique Baize]

Kalique noted that Laila wasn't pleased about not getting her Kebab, but she had to learn that there were no more important things than duties. "I've been busy but well thanks, how about yourself?" she asked the Tiefling, adding, "I've heard you've been rather successful, so congrats on that. I'm glad you've come back now though" she really was and her genuine tone gave it away.

There was nothing wrong with pursing education elsewhere, but after she had started, it was important she continued training with proper guidance. "To a very special place, actually. We need to go check on something". Kalique remained purposely vague, not wanting her to do some prior research in this.

"The ship is waiting". She led her to her own vessel that was waiting in the designated hanger before she walked up the rank. "I've already gathered everything we've need so we'll be fine" she reassuringly told her then, not only having taking care of nutrition but she hadnalso fetched her armor that might come in handy.

@lizziie

 

[Laila Din]

"Um, yeah I'm okay. I hit 200,000 followers on Galaxygram," she answered after a moment of hummed thought. At the comment on her being successful, Laila grinned. On most accounts, yeah, she had been. She was never the best at school, but she'd done her best. "Other than chemistry... fuck that bitch." She had failed one singular class that forced her to stay in school a little longer, and Laila was still pissed about it. She'd gotten a C- when all she needed was a C, and Mrs. Asue was too high and mighty to give anyone an exception. Especially her, she'd said.

But she had finally graduated, and she wouldn't have to take any more classes until she was a little older. "Yeah, I did. Thanks!"

Try as she might to hold a grudge against Kalique, it was kinda hard to keep it up seeing as the Knight-Captain had never really done anything. Not that she'd admit that.

"Okay, but where?" Laila repeated, cocking her head to the side. "Oo, are we going someplace dangerous?" She wanted to show-off. Though she'd been stuck in school, she'd kept up with her typical regime. She'd been doing matukai since she was a toddler, after all. Throwing punches with inch-long nails was a little unideal, but she'd stayed in shape, at least.

@LadyRen

 

[Kalique Baize]

"200.000?" she gave her an incredulous look, a brow slightly raised. It was impressive, yet it didn't really surprise her, given that she was Eiattu's little princess. However, she wasn't Princess Laila but Squire Din here.

"Congratulations then, that's great. Yet, you know the rules. No streaming, no videos, no photos while serving". They had a strict policy and ISB obviously oversaw content leaving Imperial Space, yet Kalique was in no mood to start discussions about that or generally see her phone pop up out a mission.

She kept walking her towards the vessel and led her up the ramp and into the cockpit before she started buckling up and preparing the engines. "Dangerous, potentially. I'll need you to be focused today. I know it's been a while, but we'll get you back om track right away". Her features softened a little as she turned on the engines, knowing for her though, this day would be challenging. She had to get Laila back on track quickly and she was hoping she'd take it seriously enough.

@lizziie

 

[Laila Din]

"Yeah, yeah. I know, I know." She'd been reminded of that a million times. She like, got it, but it was a real shame. She'd seen some really cool things while off on assignment. Laila wouldn't tell Kalique, but she'd definitely taken pictures on assignment before. To her credit, she'd never posted any of them, and to be fair, her Ma was super incessant. What was she supposed to do, tell Ma 'no'? Nah.

"I doubt I've fallen that far behind," Laila said, a cocky smirk spreading across her rosy lips as she did. She was pretty confident in her abilities in general, overly so in some departments.

The tiefling teenager settled into the co-pilot chair, clicked her seatbelt into place across her chest, and prepared for the takeoff.

@LadyRen

 

[Kalique Baize]

Laila's reply was the classic 'shut up I've got it' reply and Kalique subtly glared at her for a moment. She was half considering locking up her phone as they literally didn't need it, but she decided she'd watch her instead, knowing she had to learn how to focus on what was important by herself or else this path wouldn't work for her.

Once inside the ship, she started the engines and waited for clearance before she could leave the hangar. Laila kept being overconfident and Kalique knew how closely such behavior was connected to impulsiveness, so she met her gaze. "We'll see about that, Squire Din".

Kalique was well aware of how she could fight, but meditation had always been difficult for her. "Did you make progress with your meditative techniques?" she thus enquired as they were on their way out of Raxus' atmosphere. "Show me". As they were about to enter hyperspace soon, she'd join in on her mediation right away.

@lizziie

 

[Laila Din]

"Ugh, of course she'd bring up meditation again." It was definitely one of her weaker points, but Laila hated to consider it as such. In her mind, she just hated doing it, so why would she ever bother to do it then?

"Uh... yeah," she lied as she pulled her legs up onto the seat and crossed them. "Okay, concentrate. If I get this wrong she'll probably make me meditate for the entire trip wherever." So Laila attempted to force all thoughts from her mind and center herself solely on her body. Though the upstart was a bit rough, to even her surprise, Laila felt herself slowly sinking into a state of perpetual calmness. It wasn't a perfect attempt (she was generally bad at this, after all), but she'd managed to do it well enough that perhaps it might look as if she had practiced once or twice during her absence.

There was a faint hum of the force around the squire that ebbed and flowed, inconsistent, but at the very least present.

@LadyRen

 

[Kalique Baize]

The discontent that suddenly permeates the air was hard to miss, but Kalique patiently waited for her to comply. They entered hyperspace and were en route, so for now she was focused on the one Squire who continously posed a challenge.

Laila complied without objections and while it took a moment for her to get into it, she soon entered the terrain she had been taught to enter. Kalique kept her eyes closed and focused on her aura within the Force. Laila had always struggled with meditation, yet Kalique was positively surprised by how well she managed to find a way back into it now.

What Kalique sensed wasn't all stable, but Laila managed to find a way to quiet her mind and that was all she had hoped for for now. "Well done", she offered shirt praise as she opened her eyes, a soft smile on her lips. They both knew she wasn't anywhere close where she could be though, and so Kalique didn't voice it again.

"Feel free to get some rest. We'll land in three hours. I'll give you more information on our mission then". Kalique was aware she'd find the answer unsatisfying, but Kalique wanted to see how well she'd adapt when she was thrown right into it.

@lizziie