Small deeds

[Taruna]

Location: Somewhere close to the outer Rim

We are on board of the YT-1300 Freighter owned by a certain blue Jedi Knight and her very first Padawan, a mere day after suddenly leaving the SOV Galactic Evolution.

It was about 06:32 AM board time and Taruna found herself in a strange and unfamiliar situation. She was awake.
The long months of training and only refreshing by means of meditation apparently did some numbers to her, as she found herself unable to sleep normally anymore. So she was rolling around in her bed until she finally let off a frustrated sigh and threw away the blanket, took her shirt and dressed herself with it on the way to the showers.

The mission she had sounded like a easy one at first glance.. find a certain animal on a jungle planet and take some saliva samples to create a vaccine that was right now devastating a nearby colony that apparently imported some animals that evolved in an unexpected manner due to the new environment.

Problem was, this "Rabbut" was shy, a specialist in camouflage and about to go extinct.

As the Chiss was about to start the machine that would create some coffee, the Knight sat down on one of the chairs and pondered if she should wake up her Padawan, despite having trained her yesterday in the arts of tutaminis up to the borders of her capacity. It was not a nice thing, but being able to defend against force attacks was quite important.

@EmilyHuene

 

[EmilyHuene]

Who knew energy could hurt so bad? Poor Aeryun Toph was put through the tests today as she and her new master worked on something she called tutaminis. It took Aeryun their first ten minutes just getting her to learn the proper pronunciation of the word until she just gave up and said energy absorption. That, Aeryun could say.

The practiced with Taruna's sabers, at their lowest setting of course, going back and forth as Aeryun tried to block the sabers with her bare hands. By the first hour her hands were covered in blisters and small burns. They'd used medical bandages over her hands at first but they didn't withstand the beatings of the saber.

By the end of the day the both of them had gotten Aeryun to at least block the saber without hurting herself, but it wasn't nearly up to par with a master. The rest of the night was filled with cursing and loud groaning as the Noorian teen tried to be self sufficient with her scarred hands. At least while they were training she was able to keep her mind occupied. Now the young girl was bored and complaining.

She had just as much trouble going to sleep that night because she couldn't find a comfortable position for her hands. She tossed and turned all night. Eventually slumber took her but she would awake the next morning exhausted.

Aeryun came out of her room with a sluggish limp and dragged her feet across the floor. She made her way to the kitchen area and sat down on one of the dining room chairs then promptly dropped her head onto the table with a loud thud.

"I hate my life," she'd say to her master.

 

[Taruna]

A cup of coffee on her lips, the Knight watched the young Norrian entering the kitchen very much like one of these Zombies she heard about in holonet stories, an eyebrow raised and a smirk barely suppressed. She turned around to create another cup for her new student as she was still crossing the gap between the door and the chair, then moved carefully into her direction and took the place on the opposite side of the table, putting the cup at exactly the position it belonged to, so Aeryun could only grab it as soon as she smelled it. Sure she hated her life, she spent most of the day hurting herself willingly and even made enough progress for a short block. At least with her hands.

Stroking her head gently the Chiss smiled and answered "You wanted me to train you the things you need to survive, honey. Blocking blasters and Lightsabers is one of the most fundamental things a Padawan needs to know. In ancient times, you did not even get the title of Padawan without this basic knowledge."

Then, she decided that the secondary lesson here was not really learned and thus she asked in a tone that did not allow a decline "Give me your hands, will you?"

 

[EmilyHuene]

As her new master set a cup in front of her the young Noorian gently reached out and brought the cup to her. She wrapped her hands around the warm cup, and even though it burned, it felt soothing on her fingers. She still groaned and whined about it though. But when she felt her friend's comforting touch stroke her hair it relaxed it. Somehow it was just like old times again.

"You wanted me to train you the things you need to survive, honey. Blocking blasters and Lightsabers is one of the most fundamental things a Padawan needs to know. In ancient times, you did not even get the title of Padawan without this basic knowledge."

"Well my basic knowledge is pretty lacking," she'd say with some resentment; she was still pretty grouchy in the morning. It wasn't directed at Taruna, it was more or less for the Jedi who didn't have the resources to train her properly. "You of all people would know that."

"Give me your hands, will you?"

Not thinking anything of it, she let go of the cup and offered her hands, palm up, to her master. Taruna would see that most of the skin was already healed, something Aeryun had done in her sleep without realizing it.

"You're not going to stab me with a fork are you?" she asked jokingly.

 

[Taruna]

"Oh, please." the Chiss would answer while taking her hands and tried her best to to sound deeply hurt "I would never do that. That's what I have the plasma torches for."

Taruna would now begin to heal Aeryun's hands. The bandages would only go so far, and since there was a lot to do she needed her Padawan able to hold her Lightsaber in case something happened. "Joke aside, I already see this healed beyond normal means, so you either are trained in healing or have an affinity for it. In case of the former, I wonder why you did not do so already. Always keep in mind that healing yourself is very important. You can't protect anyone with a broken arm. It's not egoistic to do so. I actually will expect that in the future, and if you did not have any healing lessons so far, I will blend them into the training. There's much to learn for you, and not all of it will come easy to you or will be pleasant. Do you feel yourself up to the task?[/color]"

 

[EmilyHuene]

"Oh, please...I would never do that. That's what I have the plasma torches for."

Aeryun laughed a little, her cheery mood starting to sprout from the groggy sleeplessness. As Taruna worked on her hands Aeryun felt a cold but warm tingling sensation course through her and she sighed a long and relaxed moan. She rested her head gently on her arm and would just kind of let Taruna do her thing.

"Joke aside, I already see this healed beyond normal means, so you either are trained in healing or have an affinity for it. In case of the former, I wonder why you did not do so already. Always keep in mind that healing yourself is very important. You can't protect anyone with a broken arm. It's not egoistic to do so. I actually will expect that in the future, and if you did not have any healing lessons so far, I will blend them into the training. There's much to learn for you, and not all of it will come easy to you or will be pleasant. Do you feel yourself up to the task?"

"Jaleer taught me," she responded after Taruna's little speech. She spoke happily, as if remembering a happy memory. "On Indupar. Remember? I'm actually the one who healed that sniper wound you had....I don't think we ever talked about what happened that day." With all of their business with the kids and the sniper rebel they were too busy to check on themselves and really catch up. Before anyone knew it the three of them went their separate ways again.

The reason she hadn't bothered to heal herself was kind of foolish. She was too tired. She was too mentally exhausted to focus her powers after having pushed them to the limits already that day. She could have easily gone to Taruna and asked her to do it for her, but she figured her master would simply tell her to do it on her own; it was better practice that way. They still had an awkward dynamic that Aeryun didn't really know anything about or how to proceed. What did it mean to be an apprentice? They hadn't ever talked about it.

 

[Taruna]

"Ah, yes. Indupar. I remember faintly" the knight made a strange face, as this was a time she really was not fond remembering. She got herself shot after all.

"Did I ever thank you for saving my life? I had the luck to be able to pinpoint the sniper, and since there was not much of a choice, I rushed in to stop her, just to be shot almost point blank. This one had some awfull strong reflexes.."

 

[EmilyHuene]

"Ah, yes. Indupar. I remember faintly. Did I ever thank you for saving my life? I had the luck to be able to pinpoint the sniper, and since there was not much of a choice, I rushed in to stop her, just to be shot almost point blank. This one had some awfull strong reflexes.."

Aeryun shook her head to Taruna's question and then sighed as she remembered the way it felt as Taruna was slowly dying. It was Jaleer who ultimately healed her, but if not for Aeryun getting there first he might not even have made it in time to save her friend.

"It's ok," she would say softly. She didn't want to make a big deal out of a simple thank you. "You don't need to say anything. It's not like I'm holding a grudge or somethin'. I'm just glad you're alright."

She would then take her hands back, their little embrace being a little awkward now, at least om her end. It wasn't that long ago that Aeryun returned to the Jedi and after finally seeing her friend again they shared a sudden kiss. Aeryun tried to justify the feeling in her head as she just missed her best friend, but after the horrible time with the Sith she was just so glad to see her again she couldn't help herself. They hadn't exactly talked about that either....

Aeryun sighed. Why did everything have to be so difficult? It all used to be so simple. Learn about the Force. Learn to use your saber. Don't ruin Taruna's clothes by washing them with your flight suit. It was simple. Now as the war escalated, everything seemed to damn complicated.

 

[Taruna]

It did not even take much of her so called empath ability to see that Aeryun still had a lot to gnaw on, and it was clear that things had piled up since the two met the last time. There of course were some things the Knight could imagine being the reason and the sudden urge to intervene overcame her. So she did what she usually did when the Force gave her a inspiration. She acted.

As Aeryun drew back her hands, she took a deep sip of her coffee and then leaned slightly forwards, looking Aeryun in the eyes. Sight or no sight, everyone somehow felt if one got uninvided attention. She also actively used her empathy.

"Aeryun, dear.. From the first day we met I felt a bond in between us, but this bond got weaker again. I can feel your uneasiness and dissatisfaction. I even feel anger and things buried inside you eating away your balance. I think it is time we really talk about whatever it is. Even the small things are important and if we leave it as it is now, it can get dangerous for you as a Force user and Jedi."

 

[EmilyHuene]

"Aeryun, dear.. From the first day we met I felt a bond in between us, but this bond got weaker again. I can feel your uneasiness and dissatisfaction. I even feel anger and things buried inside you eating away your balance. I think it is time we really talk about whatever it is. Even the small things are important and if we leave it as it is now, it can get dangerous for you as a Force user and Jedi."

It was no secret that things were bothering Aeryun. They were so bottled up inside her it was impossible to know where to begin. Where would she even start? The fear of being a Jedi? The pain she felt when she was taken by the Sith? The confusion about fighting in their war? What did Taruna really want to hear. As much as she wanted to avoid the conversation she could feel Taruna trying to meld with her like they used to do.

Aeryun sighed and pulled her drink closer, letting the warm air rise up to her face as she breathed in the steam. She could feel Taruna looking at her. But it didn't bother her. It never bothered her when Taruna stared at her. She tried to think of what she really needed to say. What bothered her the most? What scared her truly down to her core?

"I...." she was all choked up all of a sudden and couldn't bring the words out. Tears began to flow from her eyes and land in her drink. "....miss my mom."

 

[Taruna]

It would need a few seconds until Taruna reacted to that. There also was a clear change in the tone of her voice and her presence, making both appear a little warmer then before. "I see. That's not something you can burry within you, I can speak of experience, as I myself saw the death of my parents. The best thing you can do is talk about it. So.."

There wa the gentle touch of her hand over Aeryuns for a second as she got up, undoubtedly to change the scenery from the cold kitchen to 'the hill', a small corner in the lounge area of the ship where she placed a great number of pillows in different sizes, from a handy throwable size of a hand up to pillows made for sitting in them. "How about we talk a little?"

 

[EmilyHuene]

"I see. That's not something you can burry within you, I can speak of experience, as I myself saw the death of my parents. The best thing you can do is talk about it. So...How about we talk a little?"

Aeryun smiled at the simple touch of her friend's comfort, and would get up slowly to follow. She left her drink behind, and would head to the mountain of pillows and practically fall into it. She giggled a little and then would turn and get comfy in the mound. She sighed and rested her head against the cushions. She didn't really know what to say, so she just started talking. She spoke of past memories. Her mother. Her father. The river she liked to venture to in her mind. She cried a few times. Her head found her way to Taruna's shoulder and there it stayed.

 

[Taruna]

Taruna, who of course had prepared this little corner with all the things needed to fulfill its purpose just checked if their favourite Ice Cream was in the mini fridge situated in the corner but kept it there. The time for that was later.

For now, she provided the apparently much needed service of listening attentively and only interrupted with careful questions to keep her going. These things had to go out of the system or would eat at her day by day until the sudden realization that the dark side is not as bad anymore... And the thought of Darth Aeryun was something that produced a lot of pain in the Chiss.

Of course she offered a warm embrace as Aeryuns head connected with her shoulder and began to stroke the Norrians hair, not withoutmaking a mental note to teach her a hairstyle or two that were less... Maintenance intensive. And she was also recommended herself for a medal for having the package of handkerchiefs cleverly hidden within the pile of cushions far in advance, in case they ever were needed.

When Aeryun seemed to have mosy of it out of her, she remained calm a little, thinking of what to do now. But eventually she of course had to speak up, so she spoke with her eyes aiming for eternity "Missing your parents is something I painfully can relate to. I witnessed their death not so long ago. I know from experience that the pain of missing them will not go away, nor will it get easier. It's you that becomes stronger of it."

 

[EmilyHuene]

"Missing your parents is something I painfully can relate to. I witnessed their death not so long ago. I know from experience that the pain of missing them will not go away, nor will it get easier. It's you that becomes stronger of it."

"I guess that....well....it's just been such a wild two years, ya know? And I mean, I am stronger. Literally. Look at me! I'm a freaking Jedi!" She laughed at this for a moment and then continued. "I had a moment....down.....there...anyway, it was real bad. It um.....they did something to me. The Sith messed with my head."

She took another moment to really come up with the right words. Talking about that pit, her time in prison, it was still difficult for Aeryun to talk about. Even now she still couldn't bring herself to tell her best friend. She'd talked about her mother fine enough. And yes she felt better about it. But there was still something very important Aeryun had to speak about aloud. Aeryun had to tell Taruna what happened with the Sith.

"Taruna...They made me see."

She'd let that settle in her friend's head.