Ask Yavin IV Scars within. Scars without.

[Xiann]

Xiann nodded slightly at Clove, “You’re quite welcome. And like I said, It’s lovely for both of us.” She put the ice cream on the counter as she opened a draw and ran her hand through it, causing the sound of colliding metal the echo out of it before pulling out a pair of spoons. Grabbing the ice cream she headed back out to the grass where Clo was waiting, the pink of the nightgown stood out like a beacon in the clearing of greens and browns.

With a flick of her wrist and a few waves the blanket was laid out on the grass mostly flat. She straightened it out with her foot before placing the ice cream in the middle and fetching the cookies and juice. “If I’m not mistaken I think this big one is mixed tropical berry. Very refreshing on really hot days like today.” Xiann took a seat on the blanket, keeping the snacks and drinks in the centre, “Hopefully it won’t rain while we’re out here. I’m not a fan of being drenched in my sleep.”

She would wait for Clove to sit down and join her on the blanket but remembered she hadn’t answered Clove’s question, “Oh Drast. Yeah, I met him when I first got here. I was essentially just dropped off here and left to my own devices. There was a bit of a… discussion over ownership of some lightsabers and I was about to offer my input when Drast stepped in and stopped me. Probably not the best idea to get involved in such a heated debate when both parties have lightsabers and I did not.”

@LilyNion

 

[Clove Vanhoop]

---

Clove lowered herself next to Xi and placed the pillows on top of the blanket for the time being. Her hand idly stroked the fur on the gown while shuffling around to get more comfortable. "Oh, tropical berries. That does sound very refreshing. And if it rains, well, err." Her brown eyes darted up to the clear sky. "We'll just crawl under the blanket instead? But I think we'll be fine."

She grabbed a new cookie and a spoon while listening to Xi explain how she met Drast. Then stared at both, trying to figure out how to eat the ice cream with the cookies at the same time. "You knew how to fight for yourself even when you were younger? You're a tough cookie." She smiled softly at Xi. "But taking part in a lightsaber debate? That's a lot of guts. It's nice of Drast to stop you and even protect you in some ways. Are you two close friends?"

The half-Sephi eventually gave up trying to think of a logical solution and opened the ice cream tube, scooping a spoonful out of it. Then she slid the ice cream onto a corner of her cookie and bit into both the ice cream and the biscuit. Sure, it was a total mess, but it tasted divine.

---

Tag @Xian ​

 

[Xiann]

Xiann let out a small chuckle, “Yeah well when you grow up as an orphan in the slums of a world rife with crime, you learn pretty quickly. Not to mention being abandoned by your siblings, so you truly have no one to look out for you other than people you shouldn’t trust. Drast was pretty much the first friend I ever made. Not including the friend that I actually made.”

The Twi’lek smiled lightly at Clove as she spread the ice cream on her cookie and swiftly followed suit. The cold berry flavour of the ice cream was more refreshing than she had expected, so she paused and just enjoyed the taste for a few moments. “What about you, Clo? How was life growing up in a clinic? Meet any friends? Enemies? First Love?” her eyes widened and she grinned widely when she asked the last. Genuinely curious on the topic.

Xiann kept an eye on Clove as she spoke to see how she was reacting, trying to gauge if the reactions were genuine or put on for appearances. At the very least she had managed to distract the Selphi from her horrors with keeping the conversation focused on herself, but now it was time to see if the conversation held when the focus fell back on Clove.

@LilyNion

 

[Clove Vanhoop]

---

Clove's gaze lingered on Xiann as she shared more details about her past, especially about her siblings abandoning her and her feeling that she couldn't trust anyone until she met Jedi like Drastus. The half-ears Sephi's drooped slightly at the thought of the Twi'lek being alone. "Well. You've made new friends! And people you can trust because they genuinely care about you. Like me."

The half-Sephi was about to take another bite of the cookie when Xi shifted the focus back to her. It was one thing to talk about the drunk visitors; it was quite another to dig through her memories for more personal matter. Knowing how often her mind wandered once it was going, that was dangerous territory to venture into. But hadn't Xi and Crix both told her to accept the scars and the fact that everyone carries angry? Being reminded of things was also a part of it.

Plus it's not like she could avoid it for the rest of her life.

While lowering the cookie, she shifted uncomfortably on the blanket. "Well, pretty calm. Outside of my family, I didn't have many real friends; there was a group of people I saw frequently on weekends, but it was more of a party group than a true friendship group. They were nice though . Any enemies..." Her thoughts wandered past the many people she had met throughout her life, none of whom she considered enemies except for maybe one child, until a woman dressed in black Sith armor appeared. Her ears sagged, and she drew in a deep breath. "Errr. No, not back then. There was one kid who tried to bully me because I was short, but I kicked his shin and he stopped ever since."

Thankfully, the first love question was simple to respond to, allowing her to switch off her brain and relax a little. "Nothing, nada, zero. I didn't have time for it, and I wasn't interested in the drunks."

With the questions answered, she finally took another big bite out of the cookie.

---

Tag @Xian ​

 

[Xiann]

The Twi’lek watched her friend as she reacted to the questions. It seemed she lived an ordinary life growing up, which in this place was rather extraordinary. That probably accounted for how sweet and innocent she was, never truly exposed to the darker side of life until she joined the Jedi. Until she went to Dantooine. The Sith were enough to terrify Xiann, even after all she’d had to do to survive, it was impossible to imagine how it felt to be Clo when she faced them.

The reactions seemed to take a turn for the worse when enemies were mentioned, though the shin kicking seemed to perk her back up again. An understandable reaction, but the answer to the last question was somewhat unexpected. “Really? No one? I can understand avoiding the drunks and injured obviously. But… But you’re so pretty. How did you make it this far?” Xiann spoke with genuine shock, she really could not imagine that no one ever expressed anything for her. And with her looks she could have her pick of anyone. With a few blinks and a moment to pick her jaw up, the Twi’lek became at least a little more composed, “So you never got together with anyone? No feelings? No tension? Not even to relieve a bit of stress from the clinic work?” The composure only lasted a few words before the shock returned. In Xiann’s mind what Clo was suggested was entirely ridiculous and simply impossible.

@LilyNion

 

[Clove Vanhoop]

---

Confused Clove stared at the Twi'lek, who was in return staring back at her with her mouth almost hanging open. And then realization dawned on her. She was saying something weird, wasn't she? Judging Xi's response; yes. Blood rushed into her cheeks and suddenly the cookie in her hand became very interesting. "I mean. You know." Her ears began to twitch, and flush pink alongside her cheeks.

"It's not that I've never thought to myself, 'They're cute!' but. You know." She started fiddling with the cookie in her hands awkwardly, oblivious to the chocolate melting on her skin. "But. No. There were no kisses, no tension, and no getting together with anyone. A warm bath and a lot of hot chocolate were usually my go-to stress relievers after a long day at work or studying. And bonbons. Force, I ate a lot of bonbons during the busy days."

"Is that weird? I'm sorry if it is."

---

Tag @Xian ​

 

[Xiann]

The Bombshells kept coming. Xiann couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Clo hadn’t even kissed before? What? How? “Not even kissing? No wonder you come across as so innocent, you are. I mean, I love a hot bath as much as the next girl but there is nothing quite like a passionate kiss to melt your stress away.” She shuddered slightly, getting goosebumps just from a few memories that resurfaced.

The Twi’lek gave another comforting smile as Clove turned various shades of purple and seemed a little shamed or worried about the topic, “There is no need to be sorry for anything Clo. That’s just how your life worked out. Sure, from my perspective it is a little odd that someone as attractive as you hasn’t had a romantic encounter, but I’m sure there are an entire range of things that you find weird about me.” She quickly tried to think of something that would appear weird and it took far less effort than she had expected, “Like the fact I have been at the Jedi temple for approaching a year and have yet to train under a knight or master.” She hoped pointing this out would alleviate some of Clove’s embarrassment and let her relax again.

@LilyNion

 

[Clove Vanhoop]

---

While Xiann explained her innocence and passionate kisses, Clove awkwardly chewed on the inside of her cheek. It was such an alien world to her. Even in her daydreams, it was never about any of that or a romantic partner; it was always about the love of her friends and family. Thankfully, Xiann picked up on the shame and awkwardness and quickly shifted the focus away from Clove and toward herself.

"Wait, you haven't? No shame in that! But how come? Just not interested in it or?" There wasn't even a shred of judgment in her tone and eyes, and in hindsight, it shouldn't have surprised her. She never saw Xi during lessons in the Jedi temple. Despite her being incredibly social, the Twi'lek was almost never around crowds. While the blush began to simmer down again she scooped up some more ice cream, smeared it all over the cookie and took another big bite.

Her gaze shifted away from the Twi'lek and towards the sky, which had begun to change colors as twilight fell. The first few small stars bravely began to flicker on the far horizon, faintly between the leaves of the jungle trees. Yavin's beauty never failed to surprise her, even when she hit rock bottom.

---

Tag @Xian ​

 

[Xiann]

Xiann let out a quiet sigh of relief as Clove perked up pretty quickly at her own confession, “I was kinda just dumped here by another knight and told ‘They’ll teach you everything you need to know about the Force.’ But since I’ve been here, I’ve noticed this… how do I put it nicely? Cultish behaviour about the Force. Like it’s some kind of God.” Her words seemed to fill with disgust as she spoke, “With the whole ‘The Force is a living breathing thing’” She put on a very mocking and disrespectful tone while repeating the quote, “People thought that about electricity too, but I’m sure I’m not the engineer that doesn't just bow down and worship it.” She turned to look at Clove, “AND they call themselves the peacekeepers of the galaxy. Did you know that in almost every story ever written the group that calls themselves Peacekeepers almost always ends up being the bad guys?”

She took a deep breath. Then another. Calming herself, “Sorry, didn’t mean to unload like that, you have enough to deal with without my biases and complaints too.” She gave a weak smile and scooped up some ice cream onto her own cookie, “To actually answer your question properly. I am interested in all the techniques and knowledge I can gain here, but I don’t think I can fully mesh with their ideals. It’s partly why I train with a couple of padawans and not knights. They have been taught the techniques so we can use each other as practice, but they won’t give me the preachy sermons along with it.”

The Twi’lek took another cookie and used it to sandwich the ice cream before taking a bite. She savoured the crunch of the cookie and the melting flavour of the tropical ice cream before emulating Clo and looking up to the sky and enjoying the shift in hues. “Oh kriff I totally forgot, did you want to actually do some training? I can hit the lights for some night time practice if you want. Or would you rather just relax for the night?”

@LilyNion

 

[Clove Vanhoop]

---

Clove smiled softly and listened, despite the fact that she disagreed with Xiann... on almost every single point. Because it didn't really matter if their visions clashed. You can be friends while holding differing views. Besides that, she wasn't entirely incorrect; the Jedi can be cultish. The Jedi, especially back then, were notoriously questionable when it came to the Force. Clove simply didn't care about that aspect and saw the Force as more than just a normal or useful tool. It was extraordinary. Still, that didn't make Xiann's viewpoints any less valid.

"Don't be sorry; it's also your little safe haven. It wouldn't be fair if I had the chance to complain while you didn't." Clove continued to eat large bites of icecream while listening to the more proper explanation that followed after.

"I see. That makes sense. It shouldn't really matter as long as you get the proper training, right? Do you have any desire to become a Jedi Knight? Or is it enough for you to be a Jedi in general? Because, as far as I'm aware, it is possible to be a Jedi Knight without being bound to temples."

For a brief moment, the half-Sephi took her gaze away from the beautiful sky and fixed it on the Twi'lek. Training. It's the one thing she's been doing since she's recovered physically. Because it keeps her mind focused on a goal rather than drifting away. But now? "Nah. I think I'd rather relax and take in the beauty of the night sky. But thank you."

Clove sighed and leaned back against the blanket, gazing up into the sky. "I think... tomorrow..." She took a breath and shifted her legs to the side. "I'm going to go find the civilian who rescued me and thank them with flowers or something. I don't particularly want to, but... You know. Might be a good first step in accepting some of the things."

---

Tag @Xian ​

 

[Xiann]

Xiannlets out a chuckle when becoming a knight was mentioned, “Me? A knight? I never really wanted to. I would be happy to stay a padawan as long as I still got to mess with machines. Though I guess knights and masters probably have access to some sort of restricted things. Do the Jedi even have restriction sections? I’ve never actually come across one.”

The Twi’lek took a bite out of her cookie and a look of disappointment crossed her face. She had forgotten to add the ice cream. She chewed as she listened to Clove’s thought about visiting her saviour, “That might be nice. Though don’t rush things. If you try to push yourself to heal too quickly you’ll only end up making it worse. Same as any injury.” She layed on her back to gaze up to the colourful sky, “Though bare in mind going back to the source may also make things worse too. You do what you think is best Clo, I’ll be here with ice cream, cookies and blasters. Oh! And I’m almost finished with my lightsaber, so we can practice that too if you’d like.”

@LilyNion

 

[Clove Vanhoop]

---

The half-Sephi listened intently as the Twi'lek explained why she didn't care if she became a Jedi Knight. And she couldn't disagree. Xi didn't strike her as the type to be a proper Jedi Knight, all stiff in fancy robes and armor, lecturing small children "That's fair. In theory, we are not allowed to go into the prison area without supervision, we are not allowed to go on missions without supervision, and I'm sure we are not allowed to travel to dangerous planets alone." She gave a slight shrug.

"I'm going to take it slow and steady." Clove paused for a second, her gaze drawn to a small cloud puff. "I'm expecting it to make me feel like utter trash. But that's a good thing. I need to stop avoiding everything and face reality. What could be better than a good smack in the face?" Clove laughs out loud. "Plus, as you mentioned. You'll be here with ice cream and cookies! So I'm in good hands."

"Oh? Your own lightsaber? That's so cool Xi. That'll be fun to practice with."

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Tag @Xian ​