Ask Takodana It's Takodana Get Better

[Kane Seros]

It had been a long time since Kane had seen Takodana. When he had woken up in a hospital bed in the temple a week ago, it was hard to come to grips the fact that he was alive. Last thing he remembered was seeing his legs standing where he had once been while the rest of him fell. In his unconscious state, the Jedi Order had replaced his bottom half with fully functioning prosthetics. Well… not fully. While he had all the equipment, he didn’t have the internals to reproduce; not that it was on the table anyway.

Tendrils of anger began to seep through him as his fists slammed into punching bag. The nurses and doctors wanted him to take it easy and rest; Kane told them to kriff off and began training the day after he woke up. He had failed because he was weak. He had let civilians gets slaughtered for the sake of a fight. Kane couldn’t allow anyone to take the blame other than him. It was his choice not to surrender himself, even when his companion knew the Sith always lied. From the reports Kane had read, at least one of them hadn’t lied. The moment both of them were down, the Sith up and left.

Not before carving Sith markings into their chests. Kane didn’t need a mirror to be able to see his markings, it was practically etched into his memory every time he blinked. No one could tell him what the markings meant- apparently Sith wing-dings was not something taught among Jedi. It didn’t matter what it meant though, it was clearly a message and one Kane intended to rectify in himself.

His punches were a flurry of blows against the bag. Sweat glistened off of his shirtless, athletically toned body. The way he was wasn’t enough. He needed to be stronger… faster. All of his Jedi training had ill-prepared him for an encounter with actual Sith. Now he had fought abominations, infiltrator abominations, and Sith. Experience was Kane’s ally, as he was a quick learner, but losing made him angry. Not at the Sith, or the galaxy, but at himself.

The bag swung more intensely as Kane’s blows began to hit harder. His grit teeth barring as breaths came out in hisses with every strike. Kane’s foot work was off; it was frustrating. It had been a week and he still wasn’t used to the prosthetic limbs. Two mornings ago he tripped on his way to breakfast. A frustrated growl rumbled in his chest.

@LadyRen

 

[Liana Mason]

Pain and suffering. It never stopped. The panic. The terror. The fear. The agonized, tormented screams. The poison slowly killing each and every tiny, innocent soul there was...

The fire spread. Thick smoke clouds hung on the horizon, darkening the skies, poisoning the air. Lia watched in blank horror while each and every child basically died at her hands. Their mothers, too. Then their father. All Civilians. All people. Living souls until the living force left them all.

She wanted to scream, but she couldn't even breathe. The air was so thick, full of death and despair and slowly but steadily, Lia suffocated.

Darkness. Nothing but darkness, once again. And slowly but steadily, she descended.

She rose with a scream, but her vocal cords were fully wrecked so that it was nothing but frictious air. She was panting, cold sweat running down her temples while she felt so endlessly cold. Genassa had been a catastrophe, and she was to blame.

-

Lia had spent a few days in the hospital before the doctors had been able to promise her her throat would be fine again in a few weeks. What they couldn't fix were the memories, the branding and the episodes - it was all a constant reminder of her failures.

The light inside her was dull and frail, yet as back then, she tried her best to hold onto it. She felt terribly alone, but at least this was about to change as she was finally released and the medical droid had told her that Kane was nearby.

She was transported over to the training room where he was apperently starting his rehabilitation program, and for the first time in all those days, there was at least the faintest hint of a smile on her lips as she knew that he was perhaps the only person who understood was she was feeling those days.

As the doors swung open, tears began to well in her eyes as her gaze fell down on him. Something far worse had happened to him, she remember how he had almost been cut in half, and she felt terribly sorry, but she couldn't deny that it was still good to see that he was at least alive.

She wordlessly approached, the hissing of the door announcing her arrival and while tears streamed down her cheek, she wrapped her arms around him as she came to a stop in front of him, still not saying anything. She was shaking, but perhaps there was a tiny silver lining on the horizon...

@TheDudeMike

 

[Kane Seros]

The doors swinging open didn’t phase Kane. He was in the midst of a flurry of punches and elbows that no reasonable being would be able to withstand receiving. The punching bag did a good job of it though. It took his frustrations and his anger and manifested it back into him as refined results. His walls were up, and there was nothing in the galaxy except Kane, his thoughts, and the punching bag.

A hiss broke through his walls, but instead of breaking him from his endeavor to beat the bag into a pulp, it only poured fuel on the fire. The hiss was a lightsaber igniting to him. His viridian and hers crimson. He needed to break the witch’s concentration on Liana, but he was already drained in the Force. He attacked wide, when he should have attacked closer to his core. There was no excuse for his failure, and as the scenario ran through his head over and over again he found new ways he could have won only to start again and realize that he had done none of those things.

A pair of arms wrapped around his torso, under his arms. That didn’t happen in the fight; Kane was never restrained by the witch. His dark eyes hazarded a look down to see that the arms weren’t restraining him- they were hugging him. Kane’s walls crumbled, and slowly the gym around him came back into place, as he looked around in horror that he had blocked it all out. How long had he been like that? His knuckles were starting to bleed, beaten raw right through the wraps.

The final piece of the room clicked into place, and Liana was in front of him, hugging him. She was shaking. Why would she hug him? It was his fault she was hurt. His fault the Genassan got slaughtered. He was prepared to stop it all and sacrifice himself and he didn’t; Because you’re weak. Liana should be blaming him for everything, not hugging him. She should be beating him to a pulp like he had been doing to the punching bag, if anything.

But the warmth and comfort of the hug was a force on its own, wasn’t it? Slowly, and with shaking hands, he wrapped his own arms around her, careful not to get his raw knuckles on her. It was like his old master putting his old, rough hand on Kane’s shoulder after a hard day of training; a feeling that he didn’t get to feel after fighting the abominations on Coruscant. It had taken him months to finally stop dreaming about them, and now he had new nightmares to replace them.

But so did she. “I’m sorry.”

@LadyRen

 

[Liana Mason]

A whole tidal wave of emotions washed over the Jedi Knight as she wordlessly closed that distance between them. She hadn't manage to save those villagers, she hadn't managed to save her Jedi companion. She hadn't missed how he had used the punching bag to give way to his frustrations, yet she couldn't help but wonder whether it was also directed at her and her failures.

Perhaps she should have just sacrificed herself...maybe parts of the catastrophe could have been avoided, maybe there had been another way...and yet those Sith had to be fought - no, they couldn't have believed them...but how had they been so much more powerful? Why hadn't she pushed through and instead of having tried to defuse this fight somehow, gone all in to save the planet from these monsters?

While she sobbed into his muscular chest, her vision threatened to blacken again before she finally felt those strong arms around her that made that inner light grow ever so slightly. For a moment, the trembling stopped and tried to sense whether he was angry with her...she soon learned that he wasn't, and it left her even more confused as before as he suddenly mubled an "I'm sorry".

What?

"No...". She was sorry, so terribly sorry for everything...she tried to catch her breath before she fully spiraled, but it was hard to keep that part of her composure that still remained. "You're not to blame...Kane...I don't know what to say...I'm sorry, so sorry...I don't know what to do...I didn't-" everything on Genassa had been a sheer nightmare and those nightmares hunted her constantly.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Kane Seros]

Kane held the embrace, even after her trembling stopped. He felt the tendrils of the Force at the edge of his mind; she was trying to sense what he was thinking and feeling. He kept his walls up though. What good would letting her in do? She would see his frustration and anger at himself, she would see all of the weakness, and she would compound it onto her own. No, Kane was at least stronger than that. He could bear this burden himself.

When she began to apologize, Kane pulled away from the embrace, taking an awkward step back- not because he was removing himself from her, but rather because he wasn’t used to the new legs. They looked exactly like his old ones, flesh covered and everything, but they moved a whole lot differently. His hands dropped to his sides, still shaking from the punching bag.

“I am,” Kane said bluntly. “I was ready to give myself up, but I didn’t.” He turned and walked across the gym to a sink on the wall, turning the warm water on when he got there to soak his bloodied knuckles. They stung as he rubbed soap over them, but the sting felt good- at least better than anything he had been feeling the last week.

“They targeted you, and instead of ending the fight and saving you and the people, I continued to fight and lost,” he said, a little more loudly now. “You were right not to trust the Sith. I was wrong for not giving them the benefit of the doubt when things got worse.”

@LadyRen

 

[Liana Mason]

As he took a step back, the cold returned in an instance. The light was almost swept away completely and for a moment she wondered whether he was about to break down. He didn't let her in, but his almost empty expression told her everything there was. It was bitter sweet, but she was perhaps the only person who understood. She felt the same...

"No...no no no", she muttered silently as she followed him for a few steps, before she froze up where she was, unable to respond for a moment. He was not going to take all that guilt onto his shoulders, she still firmly believe she had been the one making the mistakes, not him, and he had paid for those mistakes...

"Kane, stop it", she was tired, but in this moment, her voice was serious and determined. She wiped the tears off her cheeks and took a deep breath, before she slowly exhaled again. She watched him wash off the blood that had resulted from his pent up rage and frustration and while she knew those emotions were dangerous, she also knew they had to process all this trauma somehow...special she figured that relief was acceptable, at least for the moment.

She also promised herself and thus him silently as well that she wouldn't leave him alone with this. "We can share the lame, but I won't concede and further". It was not about finding one to blame anyway. "Neither of us can drown in that guilt. So I will not let you either. We're in this together", she reminded him, her voice much softer before she approached him further.

She slowly came to a halt a meter behind him, regarding her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes weren't as bright as they once had been and at the moment, there was nothing left of that bubbly, cheerful padawan she had once been at the moment and she recognize the pattern, because she had once been in such a dark, terrible place before.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Kane Seros]

His body hunched over the sink, rubbing soap and warm water over his knuckles, but his focus was on Liana. Kane didn’t need the Force to be able to see that Liana was struggling internally with the spark of light that made them Jedi. It was plain to see, but Liana keeping her walls down in Kane’s presence confirmed it. His dark eyes lifted to hers in the mirror. She was so trusting, and yet she had a defiantly stubborn nature. Letting her in would just show her how much of a failure you really are.

“Fine,” Kane conceded, turning the water in the sink off and starting to dry his hands on a towel. “We’ll share it, then.” He was silent for a long moment as he dried his hands. What could he say? Neither of them knew each other aside from their names and the fact that they had faced off against two powerful Sith. The cries of dying families, and the curses for the Jedi Order on the survivor’s lips, would haunt both of them.

Finished drying his hands, he tossed the towel on the rack and took a step back, or tried to. His foot landed wrong, kriffing prosthetic, and Kane crumbled almost immediately. Nothing broke or sprained, but pain shot up from his ankle to his neck as he lay flat on his back, dark eyes fixed on the ceiling. He didn’t wince, hiss, or yelp, but stared at the ceiling trying to hide his frustration and anger until the pain subsided.

“How am I supposed to get any stronger if these kriffing legs don’t even work,” he blurted through grit teeth. Kane sat up, staring at the damn things. Liana was still there, and she’d watched the entire thing. He should feel embarrassed, but he wasn’t. She’s already seen you without legs. She already knows you can’t do a thing. A long, deep breath in, followed by an exhale of the same length.

He couldn’t let Liana in his mind. Not with the voices of self-doubt playing him like a puppet.

@LadyRen

 

[Liana Mason]

For a moment, the Half-Echani's mind drifted of and back to the dark past she had already overcome. While she had emerged much stronger, she knew those dark times had taken a toll on the once so bubbly Jedi. Darkness had attempted to prod her mind back then, but she had managed to find a way out and she knew she couldn't let it weigh her down this time either.

Still, with each and every hour that had passed ever since Genassa, she had felt it becoming harder. The terrible memories- at least whatever random strings had remained of them - constantly resurfaced, dragging her into a horrible spiral of guilt, pain, desperation and suffering before she tried to make it stop with whatever strength remained over and over again.

It was cumbersome, and while Kane's voice appeared distant, she still perceived what hebsat before he suddenly toppled over. "Kane!", a gasp escaped her as she hurried over, focusing her mind back on the presence. The frustration in his voice was clear and strong, yet she noticed how he still didn't let her in.

It didn't just pain her to see him on the ground, but what was even harder was to imagine how terrible it must have been to have to rely on cybernetics all of a sudden. "It's okay...it will take time but your body will get used to it all", she softly said to him as she offered him both of her hands as support. It was a miracle that he was still standing after all, but it was terrible seeing him breaking down like this.

"How long have you been at it today?", as she was desperately craving for some distraction, she decided to led them both elsewhere from a mental perspective. "That's probably a fair amount of training for today. Would you like to grab something to eat?". She was also yearning for some company, knowing that it would help them both not to be alone with their thoughts for a while.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Kane Seros]

Kane stared at her outstretched hands for a moment. They had volunteered to go when no one else had. They had fought together. They had failed together, and now they suffered together. It wasn't a far fetched idea that she would offer him help. You never needed help getting up before. Kane grabbed her hands, ignoring the voice. It would have been a lie to say he got to his feet mostly on his own power. He had to rely on Liana's help far more than he would ever be willing to admit.

"Since seven," Kane said, looking at the clock on the wall. It was already afternoon. Noticing his hands still on hers, he let go, dropping them to his sides. The warmth they held fading just as quickly as the comfort. His dark eyes shifted up to hers, and then out to the door. "I guess you're right. At least the food here is better than Starlight." He almost wished it was a joke, but it wasn't. The food at the planetary temples was far better than the food on Starlight Beacon.

He let her lead the way, keeping a slow pace himself so that he didn't overload his legs. Why not? Just fall around the halls. Everyone already knows. Kane shoved the voice back, wondering if Liana had to deal with something similar. He didn't know her at all outside of what happened on Genassa. Maybe she actually enjoyed the food on Starlight? He wobbled in his step, corrected himself with outstretched arms for balance, and then continued again. Kriffing legs.

"Where are you from?" he asked, breaking the silence.

@LadyRen

 

[Liana Mason]

His confirmation about how long he had actually been exercising here hurt to hear and she struggled not to grimace. It had gotten late...no wonder his knuckles were already bloody. "How very true", she softly answered, grateful and glad about how he didn't refuse her hand and then her offer.

He had to leave the training room behind, she quickly figured, not just because he was exhausted but because he seemed to put himself under a huge amount of pressure here. Was he expecting to be back at full strength after half his body had been replaced? He needed time to heal...not just physically, but mentally, and Lia also knew that focusing on him would help her not to spiral.

She started leading the way at first before she noticed he was struggling to keep up. She immediately slowed down and pondered on whether she should offer him some support...biting her lip, she did finally spun and without saying a word, she neither asked nor commented on it, but just extended an arm for him to hold onto as she was certain it would help in terms of balance.

"Eshan", even if they had ended up here together, only now did she realize that there were many things she didn't even know about him yet. "You?", she was grateful for the change of subjects and thus focused on her curiosity about him. "When did you join the Order?", she also wanted to know as her lips curled into a soft smile.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Kane Seros]

Every time he stumbled or wobbled, she reached a hand out to steady him. It was... annoyingly considerate. Not even his former Master had done that. His former Master would have let him fall, told him to pick himself back up, and keep going. Kane wondered how many prosthetics he had to learn how to use. After the fourth wobble, Kane finally just let her help. Most of the stabilization was on him, but the last little measure to keep him upright was her.

Eshan. He'd read about the planet before but had never actually been there. Supposedly it was a planet of martial artists, with a culture centered around that martial art. That was about as far as his knowledge went. Well... aside from the fact that it was almost a complete opposite of Nar Shaddaa. "Nar Shaddaa," he said quietly. He looked upward in thought for a moment. "Well I'm twenty-one now, so it would have been seven years ago." He paused, but recognized that she was doing what he was trying to do. Get to know the only other person who would understand.

"I nicked a credit chip from the wrong guy," Kane said. "Ended up bringing me in to the Jedi. Taught me how to fight." He paused again, remembering the times he'd been knocked on his ass by his Master. "Lot of good that did me," he blurted. It was almost automatic, as if the voice of self-doubt had taken control of his mouth for a moment. Kane fell into silence. The cafeteria was coming up soon, thankfully. Kane was hungry, but stuffing his face was a good excuse to not talk about himself.

"What about you? When did you join?" he asked. The more she talked about herself the better.

@LadyRen

 

[Liana Mason]

His reply made her froze up for a moment, only because it literally made a whole bunch of memories resurface. Her time in syndicate space had been absolutely traumatizing and while she had processed this trauma, the old wounds were not forgotten and she could also grasp what this all meant for him.

"I believe you...I had spent some time in Syndicate Space...I've seen a few things, but I guess I can't even imagine what you might have been through", she empathetically met his gaze before she exhaled slowly, her arm stabilizing him whenever he needed the support. The way he reacted after left no room for questions. He didn't want to dwell on it and so she wouldn't.

"I joined the temple as a youngling...so it's been quite a while", she admitted with a shrug. It had never bothered her - fortunately, she had gotten to visit her family every now and then and while she had always missed her old life a little, there had never been a hint of doubt within her about how staying at the temple and continuing to grow as a Jedi had been the right decision. Lia didn't mind talking about her best as it had always been a rather positive collection of memories, yet given their current state, she figured it was better to fully move on.

"What do you feel like eating?", it was a casual question, yet it interested her nonetheless. As long as her mind was busy, she was much better, and the company really soothed her.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Kane Seros]

Kane felt her freeze up, turning his head to her. Her explanation made sense. Syndicate space never really left anyone that had to spend time within it. "Once you've seen one part of the syndicates, you've pretty much seen the rest," he said. "I had time to get used to it while growing up. From the sounds of it, you didn't." He turned his eyes away from her as they entered the cafeteria. There were rows of tables with integrated benches. Padawans and Knights alike were scattered around and eating and talking. A few of them looked up at the duo, any smiles they may have had fading immediately. They all know.

He wanted to ask Liana more about her time in Syndicate space. Nothing good would come out of that conversation; not today at least. Kane probably already knew everything she would say anyway. Slavery, children starving, young people getting creamed by swoop bikes because the only place sheltered enough from the elements was the track. It was an awful place for the less fortunate, and none of it was her fault at all. That was just how the galaxy worked. Those that got ahead usually had to do so to the detriment of others. It was better if they steered away from the topic for now, though.

"I don't know," he said, dark eyes scanning the menu. Not really finding anything appealing he turned to her, still using her for support as they approached to order. "What do you normally like? I'll just have that too." The droid server stared at them blankly, waiting for a real order. It sent a shiver up Kane's spine. Most droids he saw were training droids, and usually set to painful levels for him to train against. He hadn't used one since Genassa though. There was no point if his footing would just get him more hurt.

Kane turned his gaze over his shoulder. Some of the Jedi were still staring at them. They always will. He frowned and turned back to Liana.

@LadyRen

 

[Liana Mason]

She literally couldn't prevent the shudder that suddenly crept down her spine from happening. Maybe because Genassa had left her vulnerable, this here hurt her more today. "No...", she hadn't gotten used to it at all. She had learned to accept that part of her future even if it had been terrible, but that was about it.

It looked like Kane wanted to ask more, but he seemed to refrain from asking any further as he saw her reactions to talking about syndicate space again. She was literally grateful they switched the topic and that he was fine with discussing food for now, so she quickly scanned the menu before she answered.

"Hmm...I try out a lot. I guess you can never go wrong with a fresh curry though...so two curries, please", the last part was directed at the droid and a moment later they had their meals ready. She didn't miss how the other Jedi threw them a few glances, but she mostly ignored them.

They took a seat at a table nearby before Lia met Kane's gaze again. "Do you plan on staying here for a while?", she wanted to know, because she had asked herself the same question before. She wasn't sure how long she could still take this and hoped that getting away would potentially ease her mind.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Kane Seros]

He was still holding onto her for support when she shuddered. His brow rose. Syndicate space, especially Nar Shaddaa was certainly something to shudder over, but like that? Something had happened to her in that hell forsaken corner of the galaxy. Even he could sense that it had nothing to do with Genassa either. It seemed they shared more in common than just failing against the Sith. Kane gave her arm a little squeeze, hoping that the gesture would tell her that it was alright. How would she be sure of that if he wasn't, though?

Kane grabbed his bowl of curry and, still using Liana for support, moved to sit down. Maybe he had overworked himself too early? Or maybe she just knows you're weak and wants to keep you there. He took a bite before letting it cool off, but was unbothered by the heat. It was delicious. Looking up at Liana through his raven colored hair, studying her face when she asked the question about staying. He hadn't really thought about staying or going. There was no real reason to stay, but going as half a being didn't seem quite right either.

"Once I'm able to move without worrying about my footing, I was planning on leaving," he said. "I have to rebuild a lightsaber, and I failed on Genassa but maybe I can succeed somewhere else." And maybe you'll fail there too. Just keep failing and failing and fai- "Staying in a temple doesn't sound like a good way to get much stronger. Physically or with the Force." They had been compeltely outmatched, and he planned on not having that ever be the case again. He just needed to get his legs working properly.

"What are your plans?"

@LadyRen

 

[Liana Mason]

As she was holding his gaze, it appeared as though he was trying to read her or even figured out the nature of the question she posed next, but while he also seemed to ponder on her question, he answered quite elaborately a moment later.

She started trying the curry and while it was actually quite well and balanced seasoned, the deliciousness didn't do a lot for her. She was hungry and she knew she needed the strength, but she simply couldn't enjoy the food right now, so she basically just kept on eating because she had to.

She intently listened to what he said before she exhaled slowly. "I'll help you", she replied softly, phrasing it more like an offer even if it was a statement. "I have to get away here...and I need to stay around other Jedi. I totally agree with you...strengthing our body and mind will help and is probably the only way we'll make it through", it was a sad truth, but one she had come to terms with already.

"Only if...that would be something you'd be okay with".

@TheDudeMike

 

[Kane Seros]

Kane could tell she didn’t much care for the curry. He could see the hurt in her eyes. Just in the few minutes they had spent in the training room and here to the cafeteria, she’d helped him the entire way without asking for anything in return. There was no gain for her. Why? The voice wanted to come back, probably with something snarky and distasteful. Kane shoved it back down deep.

“You want to come with me?” he asked. Could they even trust each other not to fail again? “I’m not…” he paused, searching for the words. Even Myrell and Mako had tried to talk him into accepting others, and himself, and while they had done a good job, the Sith had torn it all away. She shouldn’t spend her time with a failure like him. With Nar Shaddaa gutter-trash like him; but Kane was a quick learner. She had put her foot down before in sharing the blame for Genassa, she would probably put her foot down here too.

“Okay,” he said quietly. He finished the rest of his curry. “As soon as I can walk without your help, we’ll leave. You’re sure you want this?” She had the chance to be a normal Jedi without a care in the galaxy. A Jedi that could stay in the temple and be safe and sound for the rest of her days. Or maybe Syndicate space and the Sith had taken that from her.

@LadyRen

 

[Liana Mason]

As Lia looked up to meet his gaze, it was fairly obvious that her offer threw him off. She didn't even know where they'd go exactly, but somehow, not only offering her help but also the prospect of going with him and picking up the pieces to rebuild everything they had lost felt right...

With her food, she merely played around. While such a delicious combination of flavors would have usually gotten her excited, the empty stomach didn't even crave food. And yet after poking around in it for another moment, she stuffed another bite in and began chewing. She expected a 'no' first, but the refusal never came.

'Okay'. Was it really okay? A silence followed and she tried her best to gulp the rest down, before her dark blue eyes met his again. "I'm sure", she confirmed quietly, her voice rather soft, yet a faint, genuine smile finally tugging at her lips. It was a silver lining after all. He had to gain control over his legs and they'd be good to go. It would give her time to clear her mind some more.

"Sounds like a plan". Hope. At least a little bit. It offered comfort and strength, and she was craving exactly that right now. "Are you done?", she'd ask him a moment later and if he confirmed, she'd quickly put their plates into the return station before she'd sit down across from him again. It was late...but not terribly late, yet she already dreaded the nightmares to come.

"Do you perhaps want to see a holo tonight?", she suddenly blurted out as the spontaneous idea occurred to her. Perhaps there was still some more room for distractions. "Unless you have...any other plans that is...it's fine if you do...I just thought that could be fun". Given that she literally didn't know much about him, it was possible that he had plans...with others, or simply just like that.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Kane Seros]

Kane nodded when she said she was sure, and again when she asked him if he was done. His dark eyes watched her carefully as she got up to put their plates away and came back. He could have done that himself. If you could walk. Kane shook the voice away, following Liana with his eyes until she sat down again. "Thanks," he said, resting his hands on the table. He looked down at the raw knuckles; He really had gone a bit overboard hadn't he?

His eyes lifted and widened at her question about seeing a holo. It had been a long time since he'd watched anything on the holo. The screen in his dorm room had gone unused even when he was bed ridden. Kane had been so focused on training that he had forgotten that there was a galaxy of other things out there outside of the Jedi, combat, and darkness. He certainly never expected to be asked to see one. There was a sense through the Force that she was looking for distractions, and to just not be alone. He understood that more than he cared to admit.

"I don't have any plans," he said, shaking his head. The thought of walking into the theater when it was dark was... problematic, and his body physically tensed at the thought. He needed help walking when things were perfectly lit. In the dark, walking was a disaster for him. Wouldn't want any one seeing you stumble and fall would we? Kane took a deep breath, trying to keep the self-doubt from winning. As much as Liana needed to not be alone, Kane recognized that it was probably better if he weren't either.

"I'm not very good at walking in the dark, yet. I don't think I'd be able to make it in the theater even with your help," he said, pausing as his eyes met hers. "There's a rec room with a holo-screen that no one uses, though- if you want to pick out a holo to bring."

@LadyRen

 

[Liana Mason]

As Lia noted how his gaze drifted down to his knuckles, she suddenly had an idea. "You...had some intense workout for sure", she was hinted at what had happened earlier with a subtle smile before she extended both hands and let them hover above his. She wasn't entirely sure whether she could muster that kind of a strength, but as she briefly closed her eyes, Kane's presence made that light inside her resonate.

Calling on the Light had been hard within the last few weeks, but after their warm exchanges of words and plans, she found it much easier now. A few moments passed and the injuries on the raw knuckles closed slowly before Lia opened her eyes and met his gaze again, a hint if exhaustion prodding at her mind.

"Cool!", also a first within a while: It was genuine excitement that followed her reply, even if it was much less vibrant than what she had usually been like before this mess had happened. He seemed...contemplative once again and while it saddened her to see him this way, she was hoping such a night time activity would help them both.

Lia wasn't hyped to go out either, but she also pondered on his rec room idea for a moment. "I don't know...we might might someone there...and there will be questions again...I'm not sure whether I can take that again". She was constantly getting questions like 'are you okay' - of course not - 'I bet that was terrible to witness...it's affecting you still' - of kriffing course. She was tired of it...they couldn't truly understand any of this. But Kane could...

"Why don't we just head to my quarters? They're spacious enough...we could watch whatever and it's not far..".

@TheDudeMike