Daddy's Little Girl

[Deloi]

Teline Deloi became a Jedi Master seven years ago, after his marriage to Yinnel Velan. Now, Deloi was living on Coruscant to stay close to his wife and his new daughter. Young Selieria Deloi was the seven year-old daughter of Teline Deloi. Selieria was found to be Force sensitive at a much younger age than Teline was and is now being trained as a Jedi. Selieria had only been in the Jedi Order for a few months, but was taking to the Jedi ways well. Teline was proud of his daughter and her beginnings as a Jedi. Teline promised to instruct her on the basic control powers for the day, but was a bit preoccupied. Selieria was showing her dad that she could levitate a rock, but Teline was to busy with his paper work from a recent mission. Teline just sat at a desk to fill it out while Selieria played with the rock.

"Hey dad look, I'm doing it!"

"That's great, dear."

"You aren't even looking, dad."

"Look, honey, I'm a bit busy right now with this paper work."

"But you promised that you'd show me how to use the Force today!"

"I know, sweetheart, but I can't show you right now. I'm a busy, when you're a Jedi master, you'll know that duty comes first. If I didn't do this you and mother-"

"'Would be in grave danger from the Sith threat,' I know. Mom says being a Jedi made you paranoid."

"I'm not paranoid, I'm aware."

 

[DeathToll]

The stone wailed, it cried behind his motion. The glass window, caging in the air of life that was within such choked livelihood, gave witness to the Jedi out - down below. Peering out the window, from on high, the towering architecture loomed over a small courtyard with trumpeting horns plumeting around such magestic heights to but one Jedi Knight; alone.

Far below, though just underneath view, stood a practicing fluidity; this man, in a sweaty tank-top with shirt undone and hanging from his waist to drape about his thighs, stretched out his hands sideways with the most effort in discipline. His brown hair hung only over his eyes, facial scruff showing a meager man of humble diligence... Far from it. His boots shifted, the heel wrenching into the grassy soil where none shall stand; just off of the walkway this man practices his footsteps, he practices his ways.

The martial prowess of his form is undeniable, though in martial combat is it alone applicable for this man. He struggles, in his life as he does his mind and therefore transending into his forced motion, as others pass by. They notice how he shouldn't be there, how he shouldn't be standing upon that grassy patch in particular. But he is who he is, he is royalty and even more than that. He is capable, and therefore he is elite in his eyes.

He swirls around and chops out a hand with a compatable release of controlled breath in tone, fluidly reversing into slowed and controlled motion. His steps replace underneath him, tearing at the grass and unearthing the soil. He is at one with his conflicting trial of the mind. He dare not see beyond.

 

[Deloi]

Selieria was a bit disappointed with her father and he was a bit disappointed with himself. Teline always felt horrible for having to put his work first, but as a Jedi, especially a master, that is what Teline had to do. Unfortunately, Selieria was not going to let Teline hear the end of it, and Teline knew it. Selieria was feisty and willful just liker her mother, so to appease her, Teline decided to break away from his work and take her outside to teach her a small trick he learned with his hands. Teline got up and took her by the hand and led her out to the field.

"Okay, Selieria, I will show you something, but then I have to get to work okay?"

"Yes, daddy."

 

[DeathToll]

"Hm?"

Tris stopped. A man had just come outside with young girl. Tris stood up and placed his hands upon his hips as he watch, not too far off. Something about it all reminded him of his days being privately trained in the palace courtyard of his youth, with his younger brother secretly watching through the fence. Wrinkles rose up at the corner of his eye as he couldn't help but half smile in rememberance of his late half-brother and the similar scene before him.

'Daddy'? So it was even more than he first realized. Then he remembered his father, not so similar to this man; a much better father than his ever was, though perhaps his father was there too much and ruled over his life still whereas this father seemed to have it just right. At least it seemed that way to him.

 

[GABA]

Ebberla walked down the temple halls with more paper work for Deloi, she had finished hers and now was waiting on him to complete his. She stopped by his quarters only to sense no one inside. She heard voices from a distance and followed them, she knew he had his daughter with him today and he probably had to take a break.

The trail took her outside, she could see Deloi and his daughter. She waited a moment to see what they were doing before she interrupted him.

 

[DeathToll]

Tris lifted a hooked finger to press against his brow and wipe away a line of sweat. And in passing hand across his line of sight, he found a familiar face amongst the background.

"Duel..."

He muttered to himself with a point in her direction. That was the girl he had sparred with on Empress Teta! Uh, Elly? No Elby. Wait, it started with an 'E'.

He lifted his hand and waved it widely over-head, seeming ignorant of his surroundings now as he make a path straight for her. Basically walking right through the training area of father and daughter, Tris paid them no attention - head high and grinning confidently. He tossed his bangs out from his eyes, a characteristic similar of his brother's, still waving his hand as if he were a mile away even though he now stood just before her.

"Hey!"

 

[GABA]

Ebberla's attention was caught immediately. She could feel his head swarm with different names all beginning with 'E', its was quite distracting and that's what she got for keeping her defenses down on a causal day. Yes, but she surely remembered who that figure was, Tris, and still an awkward fool. She watched him cross the field, right though Deloi's instruction session with his daughter. The woman frowned, a bit embarrassed as he was waiving at her, and that silly grin.

"Tristian-Ambrose Dario Baptiste." Ebberla replied flashing a smile, "Its been a whiles since we ran into each other." she said politely, it had really been a while since they had the duel on Empress Teta, since then, they had not seen one another.

 

[Deloi]

Teline patted his daughter on the head with the satisfaction and belief that Selieria was satisfied. Teline quickly picked up a stick that was proportionate to Selieria's size and handed it to Selieria. Teline then reached onto his belt for the trick he was going to show to Selieria required his lightsaber, but the curved hilt clamped to his leather Jedi utility belt was no longer in its place. Teline searched around almost frantically for his lightsaber as he knew Selieria would not keep her word if Teline was unable to fulfill his. The Jedi Master continued to search until he spied the curved hilt of his lightsaber in his daughters hands; Selieria snagged his lightsaber from him using Teline's own sleight of hand.

"I see that you have gotten better with the abilities you inherited from me. You were not able to steal my lightsaber from its proper clamp on my belt just a month ago."

"Maybe you should keep your dangerous lightsabers in a better spot than clamped on your belt, daddy."

Teline put his right palm to the top of his four head as he rubbed at his now aching skull. Oh the stress Teline's daughter caused him was enormous even though Teline could recall this same situation with his own father when Teline was a child. The Jedi Master noted that Selieria learned from Teline most of his skills very quickly. Selieria had also a sarcastic wit growing that Teline could appreciate.

"I see you have also inherited my quick wit, my dear child. However, how am I to show you the trick without a weapon?"

Selieria playfully handed her father the stick that he gave her just a few seconds ago. Teline sighed and tilted his head back as Selieria was very much like him. Teline rose up his hand and used the Force to snag his lightsaber from Selieria's grip knowing that she would have no ability to counter. Selieria pouted and huffed as Teline let out a hardy chucked with his lightsaber firmly back in hand.

"No, fair you cheated!"

"The Force is not cheating."

 

[DeathToll]

Tris passed through the bubble of personal space that most would have stopped at and reached just past the side of her temple, softly tucking her hair back behind her ear as he almost inapropriately stare into her eyes.

"And there it is... that same beautiful smile you left me with on our last encounter."

Though it never occurred to him that any action of his would be an unwelcomed one, even he had no intension of anything other than a harmless greeting in his own eyes. It was just the way he was. He knew he could get any woman to melt like warm silky chocolate in his hands, but never felt the desire to force himself on anyone. Instead, he just seemingly showed no inhibitions or boundaries that would otherwise make any other man second guess himself.

 

[GABA]

She narrowed her brow, giving him a look, but when he tucked her hair behind her ear, she shot an eyebrow up. No one touches her hair.

"Alright, Tris, give me a moment and I will explain to you about boundaries." she said holding up her hand and taking a step back, her eyes shot over to Deloi and his daughter, "Have you met Master Deloi yet?" she asked him walking away and over to the Father and Daughter.

"No, fair you cheated!"

"The Force is not cheating."

"Hello Deloi." she greeted, "This must be your daughter." she smiled.

 

[DeathToll]

Her hand nearly touched his chest, and he looked down wishing it had. It took him a moment, while she spoke, to join her in focusing on the Master and his child. First he looked back up at her, then over to Master Deloi.

"Hmm."

He wondered. The man did look familiar, but... Tris was more focused on rekindling Ebbony's spirit, or was it Ebberrrr...ta?

Tris followed her, but instead of keeping to her left side he trailed back around to cross back over to her right; so that when she might introduce Tris he would not be where she expected, and he would toy with her a bit - expecting her to be above such petty tricks. He expected her to know where he was without looking, even though he had become lost in a half-concealment.

 

[Deloi]

Deloi finished laughing as he turned his attention to the two fellow Jedi approaching him and his daughter. Deloi immediately addressed them as they came close and sought to introduce them to his daughter. Deloi remembered that Dario was in attendance to his Noble's Ball and that Daw was a long time friend of the Deloi family. Selieria seemed perplexed to see them, but Deloi knew who they were immediately.

"Daddy, who are they?"

"Friends of the family. Master Daw, Dario, greetings, this is my daughter, Selieria. Say hello, dear."

"Hi, are you friends of daddy's?"

 

[GABA]

Ebberla knelled down to eye level of Selieria and held her hand for them to shake, "Nice to meet you Selieria. We are friends of your Dad's, we keep him in check. I've been hearing you are quite the student here."

 

[DeathToll]

Dario. It was a noble's greeting to call upon his surname, and Tris recognized it immediately.

"Ha! Ah yes. Master. ...Master??"

Tris was taken aback. She was a Master now? She was, oh what was her name?

"Ebberla!!!"

He blurted it out as soon as it hit him, but covered his tracks quickly with the follow up.

"When did you become a Master?"

Placing his hands upon his hips, he had all but completely ignored the little girl. She wasn't his type. He'd almost completed a formal bow to Master Deloi, but for his interruption in surprise of the title given Ebberla. Tris had wanted the title for some time now but hadn't expected it to come as easily as his natural prowess in combat. Some had said he was arrogant. He didn't see it.

 

[Deloi]

Selieria giggled at Daw's compliment but did not receive any praise or even mention from Dario; this made Selieria mad at Dario. Selieria was insulted that Dario did not even greet her. Selieria made a sarcastic quip at Dario's question in response to his ignorance of her. Selieria's sharp wit came right from Teline's side of the family just as her golden blond hair came from her mother's side of the family.

"Perhaps she became a master while you were contemplating your navel."

Teline Deloi attempted to contain his amusement so that it did not burst out of him in a hardy bellow of a laugh. Teline had noticed that Dario seemed a bit distracted in Daw's current presence. Teline had also noted that Selieria was definitely his daughter with the sarcastic input and unforgiving wit. Teline attempted to chastise his daughter for her remark, but he was finding it difficult as a laugh was escaping his mouth almost every other word. Teline could almost not contain his level of amusement.

"Now... Selieria, that... Is hardly an... Appropriate way of... Addressing your... T-teachers."

 

[GABA]

To hear such wit from a child was quite amusing to Ebberla, she raised an eyebrow and looked up at Tris, then Deloi, shaking her head and smiling. She stood back up.

"I became Master about the same time Deloi did." she explained smiling, then handed Deloi a stack of papers, "Before I forget, these are for you to complete." she told him.

 

[DeathToll]

Tris smirked at the little girl, only now respecting her presence, then shifted over to Deloi.

"I'm an open book."

Sarcastically, yet playfully, he admitted to his priorities openly. He smiled genuinely, but was distracted by the hand-off of paperwork.

"Is that something between you two, or should I quit while I'm ahead?"

He held a finger up at the pile of papers. Tris had no idea that such tedious desk work came along with the title of 'Master', and would rather not be bogged down by proceedure if he could avoid it when his time came. He had come to enjoy exploring and saw no purpose in sitting on the sidelines.

 

[GABA]

"Oh, depends what you do, this stuff belongs in the if we told you anything we would have to kill you Jedi work category." she grinned and winked. She never found it a burden to write up reports or spend a little extra time studying her surroundings. She completely understood how it would make some feel if they would see the stacks of holo disks, papers, and books.

She looked down at the little girl, "So Selieria, has your daddy taught you mind tricks yet?" she asked.

 

[Deloi]

Teline Deloi grudgingly looked at the new stack of paperwork he was to fill out. Teline turned his attention to Dario while Selieria spoke with Master Daw for the most part. Teline was not going to teach Selieria the mind trick for almost another decade. Selieria was much too young and had only been in the order for several months. Dario seemed quite focused on Master Daw from what Teline could tell. Both Teline and Selieria were in their respective conversations and their similar traits could not be more recognizable. Selieria replied to Daw's question while Teline made a rather sarcastic remark at Dario.

"No, he hasn't. Daddy didn't tell me about 'mind tricks.'"

"With good reason: My daughter is seven years old and has only been an apprentice for several months. Teaching such an ability as the Jedi Mind trick to one so young can be dangerous. As for you, Dario, you seemed quite focused on Master Daw. Perhaps you would care to share what is on your mind without ramming your foot into your mouth?"

 

[DeathToll]

Tris took that glance and wink with a snap-shot in his mind, pausing yet to miss the flow of continueous conversation. He smiled back. Ebberla turned her attention to the little girl, as predictable as any woman in Tris' eyes, while the father felt a unique confidence and even joy in poking at Tris, as most fathers would. Tris heard his own father's voice, though it didn't phase him in the slightest. He remained free of inhibitions.

"My own father, interestingly enough, prolonged my training under his guidance, or rather those who he designated 'better' than the Jedi, until I later joined. Though I was identified early on as a child in being gifted with the Force, he believed that I needed to first learn the supporting skills that would only further amplify the connection I had to the Force."

Tris' eyes then wandered back to Ebberla, naturally focusing in on the beautiful subtleties he found soothing.

"Well, I imagine mis... Master Daw brings up her forte for tricking -my- mind."

Though he was a practicioner of title, it was strange for him to refer her a neutral gender title; where he would rather invoke the right of awarding beauty, though he already gave her credit for her evident skill in their last duel.