[CLOSED] Toughen Up!

[Fyston]

More yelping! Of course, that's how Fyston realized that he had been successful. He lay on the ground, triumphant and smiling that he had been somewhat successful. He figured that Della was in pain as she cried out and his smile disappeared. He guessed that she would catch her breath and stayed on the ground, his energy returning to his body. He breathed in deeply as well, pausing to collect his thoughts. Before he could even compose himself or react, however, he heard a curse emanate from Della. Or at least he assumed that it was a curse. He was too distracted by the sudden and vicious attack that was Della. He flung his arms to protect his face and brought his knees up to protect his abdomen. Fyston cried out to Lain in anguish.

"I don't think that this is Echani anymore!"

 

[Black Noise]

Lain had been watching the fight and, sadly, she couldn't say she wasn't grinning at it on the inside. Just as Fyston busted Della's lip and Della cursed, Lain prepared to intervene, her happiness suddenly killed in a burst of blood. Fyston had only just finished shouting at her when she had reached her point of intervention. She reached out and grabbed Della, pulling her back before she could attack Fyston. Shouting very loudly, she stopped them both.
"Riittää! That's quite enough!"

Pushing Della out of her arms and away, the stronger girl spoke to them both. To Fyston she spoke much more harshly, him being the stronger male, but to Della she spoke quite softly, knowing she had less experience and strength than Fyston.
"Fyston, you have absolutely no control, at all. No control over your attacks, no control over your strength, no control over your form, no control over your emotions, I could go on and on! Della, Della. You let your pain fuel into your actions. I know from experience the strength you receive from pain and, trust me, it is no better than the dark side. Are you ok?"

 

[TweedPawn]

Della felt herself getting pulled of off Fyston. Before she could react, she was back on the ground looking up at Lain. She paid attention to every word and words that Lain spoke hit her like a cold kick to the gut.

the strength you receive from pain

Della recalled that day when she was electrocuted. How the pain and horror she felt escalated into her hands being able to spark. Della had been able to hide her ability from the other students since she had gotten here, but Fyston probably remembered it very well.

Della instinctively hid her hands and looked at the ground.

"I shouldn't have acted so violently. I am sorry, Fyston." she said.

 

[Fyston]

Fyston was relieved as he felt Della being pulled off of him. He scrambled to his feet, catching his breath and yawning. Not out of boredom, but he felt the need to stretch and simply yawned. Lain's tone, however, was quite full of itself. Fyston glared down at her, eyelid twitching in annoyance. Lain went on and on about what HE did wrong when he merely reacted defensively. He didn't act aggressively, he allowed Della to dictate the fight and here Lain was badgering and yelling at him for having no control. He pulled his punches, he moved only when Della tried to attack him, his footwork was exactly as he intended it to be, he attacked only when Della had pushed him to, and hadn't felt anything but the feel of the fight. How could he have no control? Finally, he decided to LOSE his control.

"Yeah, you can go on and on and on and I STILL wouldn't care."

Fyston glared at her one last time before walking away and sitting on a nearby rock. He withdrew a small chunk of jerky and angrily tore it in half. He tossed one half into the air, catching it with his teeth and chewing it up as soon as it was safe within his jaw. He closed his eyes and allowed himself to escape, to go to his happy place. He had no happy place that others might have. His happy place was among the stars. He visualized the galaxy and visualized stars and supernovas and planets. He visualized himself flying among them, far from Tython. Thus, he didn't even hear Della's apology.

 

[Black Noise]

Lain's eye twitched at Fyston's response, her mind thinking, go ahead, keep talking you self-righteous-. Della's apology interrupted her thoughts, thankfully. Rolling her eyes, she turned to Della and asked.
"It would probably be a good idea to let him steam for a minute. Can I teach you Psychonometry while he's over there?"

Even as Lain spoke, she couldn't help but think, Della acted as mature, if not a bit more, than herself. She was older than Lain. Fyston was older than the both of them, and he smarted off to the one who was supposed to be teaching him something. If he took everything she said, good or bad, that way, then he'd never learn anything.

 

[TweedPawn]

Della was hurt. Fyston had completely disregarded her apology. She felt as if she could cry. She turned to Lain, her heart more burdened.

"What mean psychonometry?" she asked.

 

[Black Noise]

Lain smiled, Della looked hurt by Fyston, and Lain didn't need any Force powers to see that. She crooked her head and spoke.
"It is a little complicated, but I think you can do it. Psychonometry is when one takes an object, and looks through it to see the emotions, feelings, and memories of that object. If someone used a flower to give for love, you would be able to see through the flower and watch as it was given, as well as see and feel the emotions behind all of it. Here-"

Lain took off her Echani Vibroblade and handed it to Della, offering.
"Practice on this. Try and look through the Force, channeling yourself through the object."
If Della could successfully look through the sword, she would see the most powerful memory of it, when it was given. Exilis, the former Sith Warmaster, and Lain's father, had given it to Lain many, many years before. Lain had felt happiness and gratitude, while Exilis had felt pride over his daughter. However, even over these happy emotions, the power of the Dark Side flooded through it all like a raging tornado.

 

[TweedPawn]

Della took the weapon and looked at it. There was something...off. She couldn't quite figure it out. Was it because she was holding a weapon? No, she once held her father's gun before to ward off a stray dog. This was something else.

It was familiar and odd. Like something was about to be found. Something that Della once experienced. It was a warning. Something about this strange weapon was causing hesitation in Della. She suddenly recalled that day when she was electrocuted by the hands of the Sith who kidnapped her. How odd. She did not understand why she suddenly recalled this memory so vividly. Perhaps the weapon had hurt someone. Della wasn't sure if she wanted to see that.

"Maybe, something that is not a weapon? I feel awkward around this thing. I can't explain why" Della replied.

 

[Black Noise]

Lain took the weapon back and smiled. Strapping the weapon back, she nodded.
"That's ok. This Echani blade is not a, peaceful, weapon. Upon cutting skin it gives a very painful, cold sensation. Here-"
Lain took off her bearhat. The hat was a cut little thing, with a bear face and ears with little tails to cover a person's ears. It held most of Lain's more precious memories. Placing on turntables, having fun, learning, even when she met Della.

 

[TweedPawn]

Della looked at the bear hat. This object felt much different, but there was something about that weapon that Della couldn't shake. Her eyes darted back to the weapon.

"I don't know how to explain this...But there is something about that blade. Something I had experienced before. But I don't know if I should talk to you about it." Della said. Her eyes stayed on that blade. She couldn't stop looking at it. A warning...warning...

 

[Black Noise]

Lain's expression darkened a bit, something she had experienced before? Lain sat down in the grass nodding and saying.
"Della, you can talk to me about anything. Please, tell me."
Lain really wondered what she meant by that. Because, now that she thought about it, there were only certain really strong memories around that blade. Most were happy, none were light sided.

 

[TweedPawn]

run...hide...dig...quiet...flee...shelter...motionless...dart...

Della suddenly felt ill. Her gaze was still fixed on the vibro-blade. She began to shake as the memories of the pain she felt when she was punished by the Other. It kept repeating in her mind over and over again, each time a little more clearer. The force was working in Della. Forcing her to confront something she wasn't ready to face.

Electricity...screams...run...hide...go...

"That blade. I don't understand why, but it reminds me of the Other. The bad Jedi. They hurt me once..." Della's gaze was unwavering. She wanted to run but she couldn't. Her fear bound her to the spot that she stood at.

She wished Fyston was here. That he didn't walk off. Every part of her being called out to him. Beckoning him to come to her. He needed to shake her out of paralyzing fear. She need him to help her run.

please i need you.

A flash of clarity linked Della to Fyston. The memory of that horrible event flowed from Della and rushed to Fyston.

"NIEN!" a girl could be heard screaming.
Della was in so much pain she thought she was really going to die. This was it. She wasn't going to see home again. She was going to die in this horrible place.Flashes of blue and white surrounded her. Her heart felt as if it was going to explode. Then the lightening suddenly stopped.

A boot pressed on her stomach.
"Let this be a reminder. You can not out run us forever."

Della screamed in panic. NO! THat was NOT what she wanted Fyston to see!

 

[Fyston]

His pace was slowing, his breaths were becoming few and far between. His muscles had relaxed. Fyston had calmed himself down. He had entered a meditative state as he finished calming himself down and began to ponder how to apologize both to Della and to Lain, who had only tried to correct him. Part of him wanted to apologize while the other part felt that Lain didn't deserve an apology. He ignored the second part, however, and allowed his mind to search for the right words. Not too strong of an apology but also not a weak one either. The words began to piece themselves together and Fyston hoped that Lain would understand. He merely wanted to learn, though he knew that he wasn't so good with controlling himself.

His sentence was shattered, as if a lightsaber had slashed through it. His current peace was destroyed, replaced by a video. It was a memory, he realized. It wasn't HIS memory, though. It felt foreign, though at the same time felt as if he had had it his entire life, as if he had been born with it. He felt immense pain, felt himself screaming out in a language that he didn't know. He felt more pain and saw blue and white shoot through his body. Wait, he didn't know the language and this pain felt more intense than he'd ever felt. Was this him? He felt a boot press into his stomach, squishing his abdomen and shooting more pain through his body.

He detached himself from his body, though. He floated high above and realized that it wasn't him at all! It was Della! She had managed to contact him through his meditation. She had only managed to send him a memory once. Even then, it was a single photo. That time, she had been trying with her whole might and had been in familiar surroundings. Now, however, he had received a small movie. She must be in some form of distress, he thought, concerned.

He opened his eyes, both anger and concern flashing through them. He stood, unfolding his legs and stretching his arms. He looked at Della and smiled, hoping to reassure her. Filled with purpose, passion, and propelled by what he had just seen, Fyston took long, confident strides towards the two. He stood a few meters away when he arrived and glanced from Lain to Della. His voice commanded authority and respect and it was as if an older Knight was speaking. Emotion guided Fyston, pushing him to figure out what was going on. He crossed his arms and set his feet, using his height and muscles to bear, hopefully bringing comfort to Della that he was there to help her.

"What the kriff is going on here?"

 

[Black Noise]

Lain had grabbed Della's shoulders when she screamed in panic. Beginning to freak out herself, she frantically asked.
"Della! What's wrong? Are you hurt?"

Suddenly, deep down inside, Lain knew exactly what was wrong. That Vibroblade, it had done more than just draw blood. That blade was ancient, more people had died by it than Lain would ever meet in her lifetime. But those deaths weren't the most prominent memories within it, her father's presence was. That presence, she remembered it so well, overpowering, dark, crushing. When he walked in the room, one felt as if their heart would suddenly stop. She remembered, that one time. Lain, with her sword, had watched her father, with only a look, take someone's life. It had been a blur then, but such a clear memory now. The man received Exilis's look and, with a brush of air, Lain watched as the man's very life through the Force left him and absorbed into her father. It was the scariest moment of Lain's life.

Ignoring Fyston, Lain grabbed Della and frantically tried to calm her down.
"Della, it's ok, I'm here. we're here. Myself and Fyston, you're ok."
lie

 

[TweedPawn]

Della's heart continued to pound. She looked up at Fyston and Lain. She was panting, as if she had ran miles without stopping. She felt regret for being unable to control herself.

"The Other. You need to get rid of that weapon...Put it in a case. I don't care what you do to it." Della's chest hurt. Oh Divinity, was this a panic attack? She never had one in her life. Yet, all the symptoms where there. Tears were streaming down her face as she struggled to control herself.

"I am so sorry. Please don't hate me Lain. There is something about that weapon that makes me remember when I was taken by the bad Jedi." Della looked away from Fyston and Lain.

"Fyston, you weren't supposed to see that memory. No one was." She took a step back, preparing to dash.

 

[Fyston]

Fyston sighed, closing his eyes and controlling his breathing. He listened both as Lain spoke to Della and as Della explained herself. When she addressed Fyston, he opened his eyes and flashed her a reassuring smile.

"Don't worry, I'll forget that I ever saw it. You need not worry about it. Your reaction was perfectly normal."

Turning to Lain, he sighed yet again, deciding that the worst thing he could do was cling to his pride. He may not have agreed with what she said, but she HAD been teaching him something. And, from what he could see, she had done nothing to Della. Plus, he secretly admitted that his tone and response had been one of overreaction.

"Lain, I apologize for my recent actions. They were actions of pride and emotion rather than actions that were appropriate and, for that, I apologize."

 

[Black Noise]

Lain, stepping away from Della, nodded.
"It's ok. I don't hate you, in fact I really shouldn't have offered this weapon in the first place. But I can't give it up. It's- it's one of the last memories I have of my father..."

Lain fondly touched the Crossguard of the Vibroblade when she finished speaking. Blinking and wiping away a tear as Fyston spoke, she tried to grin her pain of loss away. Turning to Fyston. she reassured.
"Ita fine Fyston, already forgotten now. I forgive you, I apologize for going off on you as well, it just seemed to me you- nah, Nevermind."

 

[TweedPawn]

Della blinked. She watched Fyston smile at her, and he spoke to her. But Della could not reflect on his words. Her mind was fixated on the weapon.

her father...

Her father gave her that weapon? Why was it causing that memory to return? Della recalled the way a prey animal would suddenly gaze into a spot on the horizon when a predator was detected. How it would stare and stare, not moving a single muscle. It would wait for the predator to make a move. If the prey panicked, it was an easy target.

Della began to calm down. She was not going to be an easy target. She took a deep sigh. She had to focus, to obtain serenity. Her body was exhausted from her panic attack. It just needed to hold on a little longer, just until Della could get to safety.

She stared directly at Lain. It wasn't a hostile glance. It was analyzing. There was something Della couldn't put her finger on. Her entire body told her to dash and hide. Was it fear or instinct?

"Maybe, I should go rest." Her words trailed off. What was her body REALLY trying to say? The conflict made her nauseated.

 

[Fyston]

Intrigued by Lain dropping the subject, he persisted. There weren't but so many things that could have happened over his disrespectful outburst, so Fyston had no problem hearing them. He knew he had to get better at criticism, and finding out what Lain had intended to say could very well help him achieve this goal.

"Please, I don't care what it is, tell me. What did you intend to say?"

He noticed Della and noted that she seemed somewhat...frozen. Not in that she was cold, rather that she couldn't, or didn't want to, move. He saw her look at Lain and keep her gaze and he looked at them back and forth. What had happened between those two? Rather than remaining quiet, he spoke, his voice gentle but filled with concern.

"Della, what happened?"

 

[Black Noise]

Lain nodded, rest, that would be good for the physical body, but do nothing to shake any feelings Della was experiencing. She needed help, and Lain was probably the last person able to give it to her. Turning to Fyston, she grinned half-heartedly and finished.
"Well, you're almost a foot bigger than Della, I felt that you, being bigger and having more training, could take harsher criticism from your actions. But, we are all pretty much beginners here still..."

Lain took off her blade and unraveled it slowly, it stood as a small emitter of darkness, a small hold on a world Lain couldn't touch from here. If Della or Fyston asked, she would explain who her father was, but she would not unless asked. After all, as a Jedi, one was not proud of their father if their father was a Sith Lord. But, as a daughter, Lain loved her father more than the galaxy itself. The key tense being that of past, he was dead now...