Ask Yavin IV Stayin' Alive

[Arctus Friers]

The revelation of what had transpired on Dantooine made Arctus want to lash out, to destroy anything and hurt anyone who deserved it. It was how he dealt best with anger, and while lashing out was sort of cathartic for him, he was also aware that it was destructive as well. All his life he'd never really had any proper way to deal with anger – and in his own folly he had turned away his Mum's teachings –, but his methods were something he should begin to discard now. Not just because he's a Forcie and letting his anger consume him would only feed the Darkness that plagued him.

As Clove rested her head on his shoulder, Arctus raised his free hand to let it rest on Ruzaan's shoulder. Their presence, both physical and through the Force, were quickly becoming more and more of a balm for his soul. Clove's suffering should have easily triggered the poisoned voices that lived in the former smuggler's psyche, but even they chose temporary silence over taunting and mocking him. He was aware of the fury that simmered beneath his skin, the subtle urge of the Dark Side for him to take revenge for these two who have been traumatized by the Sith. And while the Arctus of the past would have agreed and willingly jumped head first for such a worthy cause, the Arctus of the present was wiser now and knew that it would only hurt both Ruzaan and Clove along the way.

Arctus knew that he was changing, hopefully for the better, and it was currently because of the two Padawans sitting on the grass with him. Maybe it was why he was comfortable and happy calling these two not just his friends but also his younger siblings from another family. Maybe it was why it was so easy for him to love both Clove and Ruzaan.

The eldest Padawan took one deep breath, then another, as the anger that was beginning to root itself deeper in his heart slowly faded into nothingness the more he focused on Ruzaan's azure aura and Clove's lilac one through the Force. Tense shoulders relaxed, emotions flashing in his eyes mellowing so closely into peace. The hand on Ruzaan's shoulder remained a constant source of comfort for the Togruta, and same went for the hand atop Clove's.

A vacation, huh? Both Ruz and Clo deserved a few days off, just being teens and having fun. And as the oldest among them, it was up to Arctus to make sure that the younger Padawans would be able to forget the horrors they've been through if only for a few days.

"I'd like that, too," said the former smuggler, mirroring Ruzaan's sentiment. He couldn't help but chuckle lightly at the younger male's follow-up, the last vestiges of his current anger lifting off of his heart. "Maybe we could go to an amusement park. Nah, scratch that, maybe. Better yet, we should rent a cabin somewhere and go fishing lakeside."

At Clove's suggestion of renting a ship, however, Arctus let out a dramatic gasp and jokingly protested, "Nope, nope, noooope! No renting some dingy ship when I have my darling baby girl with me! She ain't speaking but I know she's mad at me for leavin' her in the hangar and gathering dust all by herself. We're takin' her with us instead!" A light grin tugged the corners of the former smuggler's lips. Of course he was exaggerating about the ship gathering dust – if anything the 3-Z Light Freighter looked very well-taken care of. "We'll be using my ship, the Cyar'ika, instead. How about that?"

Yeah, a vacation sounded awesome indeed.

@LilyNion @SlagathorTheUnknown

 

[Clove Vanhoop]

---

"Oh, come on! It's not fair to blame my flying skills. That meteor shower just magically appeared in front of us, and we had to dodge it." Still, Clove couldn't help but to giggle softly towards Ruz. Arctus' dramatic gasp, followed by a well-timed follow-up, just added to the giggle. "Fine, fine. I'm not going to fly and we'll take the Cyar'ika instead."

"Hmmm." The half-Sephi hummed as she rummaged through her memories for a spot they could visit. Arctus' notion of a cabin and lake fishing was a good one, and it was that particular thought that sparked her mind. It reminded her of something. Something from long ago. And then it hit her. Batuu. She'd never been there before, but she remembered seeing an ad set on Batuu, with a family visiting the planet during the Life Day holidays and going towards this lovely massive market area with countless lights, baubles and Life Day trees. After the family had finished their shopping, they returned to a small cabin.

And wouldn't that be perfect? Spending time with her best friends—basically her siblings—at a lovely cottage. With a lovely campfire and snow all around them. Oh, oh! They'd have to cook their dinner together! The thought of it was enough for her to smile.

Cabins were obviously not the cheapest thing in the galaxy to rent, but she knew how to save credits, and renting a place for a night or two or three wouldn't be the end of her wallet. It just meant she couldn't buy the dress she'd been eyeing for a while, and spending time with Ruz and Arctus was unquestionably more valuable than some trivial cloth.

"What about Batuu? We should be able to get there because it's in the Free World Alliance's space. In the worst-case scenario, we won't be able to put on our Jedi robes. But Batuu has a lovely night market, and I'm sure there are lots of lakes and cabins nearby. Although, it will be snowy on Batuu, so depending on the lake, ice fishing may be the only type of fishing." Clove paused her almost bubbly ramble and tilted her head to look up at Arctus—from this angle, she couldn't see much more than his cheek and chin—and then at Ruz. "How does that sound to you both?"

---

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[Ruzaan Kai]

For just the briefest moment, the sun peeked out from behind the metaphorical clouds as Clove giggled; a brilliant cascade of laughter that momentarily made Ruzaan forget his sorrows. The Togruta's smile was as genuine as his response to Clove's question.

"I've never heard of Batuu before" he said, "although if you think it'll work then I'm all for it!" Clove's comment about potentially not wearing their Jedi robes gave him pause, however; he'd outgrown his traditional Togruta attire since joining the Jedi, and his wardrobe was now exclusively made up of Jedi robes. That would be a problem for a different day, however; right now was to be spent dreaming and making plans with Clove and Arctus.

@Forsythe Crowholde @LilyNion

 

[Arctus Friers]

Arctus didn't dare repress the grin that crossed his face when Clove giggled. He didn't realize how much he missed the sound when he'd finally heard it again. Every waking moment Arctus had during the first few days after her return from Dantooine were all spent mourning the fear that he wouldn't be able to see her smile nor laugh after a traumatic event, so he was grateful to hear the heartwarming sound again.

The former smuggler allowed a soft chuckle to slip past his lips as the half-Sephi defended her flying skills. Shaking his head once, Arctus fought the urge to playfully flick Clove on the forehead so he opted to give her hand he was still holding a gentle squeeze. "Well, I'll be damned," he said in mock seriousness. "I must have been to preoccupied with covering my eyes to have missed that meteor shower. 'Course I'll be flying my ship – I'm better at dodging shady meteor showers."

With his chuckling dying down, the former smuggler hummed thoughtfully at Clove's suggestion. Unlike Ruzaan Arctus had heard of the planet and even visited it in the past – sometimes for a less reputable reason. As far as he was concerned Batuu was a safe planet for him to visit. No women whose hearts he'd broken, and most importantly no person he'd had beef with.

"I've been there a couple of times. Great place for a holiday, so I'm definitely cool with it," he told the two in affirmative, a smile that was more warm and less disheartened on his face. The prospect of going on a vacation with two of his most favorite people in the Jedi Order just seales his fate. Arctus had credits to spare, and he would be damned if they weren't spent properly.

"Man, there's so much we can do over there," he commented with a chuckle. "But yeah, maybe it's best we ditch the Jedi robes to avoid unwanted attention. You have to bring your sabers but they'll only be used under certain circumstances, got it? They'll only be for self-defense when I'm not in the picture."

As if he would let these two out of his sights if they were outdoors.

"Alright, so Ruz obviously haven't been to Batuu... what about you, Clo? Ever been there with your family?"

@LilyNion @SlagathorTheUnknown

 

[Clove Vanhoop]

---

Clove sat in silence as she listened to the two discuss their Batuu knowledge, or lack thereof. The small smile on her lips revealed that she was happy the two agreed with her idea and that the vacation plan had been taken seriously. But, if she had to be honest, in hindsight it also made her feel a little nervous. Clove knew she wasn't exactly stable, and this would be the three's first proper trip together without anyone else. And, while she hoped to be much more stable by the time the holidays arrived, she couldn't promise it.

Still, she had to trust it'd be okay.

"I only have a training lightsaber, but that should be enough to scare most dangerous people away." While looking up at the sky, the half-Sephi hummed. The stars were fighting their way into the sky, which was filled with the last few rays of sunlight before nightfall. Clove knew she had to let go of Ruz's hand and lift her head off Arctus' shoulder at some point, but she was far too comfortable doing so. So, for the time being, she'd stay put. "However, it's good to know you've been there before; you can be our guide!"

"Eh? Oh, no. I haven't been there before. We'd usually sit on the couch and watch some holonet whenever we had a break or shut down for the night. And there'd always be this Batuu ad around the holidays. So I've always dreamt of going there." Clove admitted with a sheepish grin on her lips.

---

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[Ruzaan Kai]

Helping fulfill Clove's dream of going to Batuu? Ruzaan was onboard. That, and Artcus' previous experience with the planet (combined with the former smuggler's stamp of approval on the planet) was all the convincing the Togruta needed. A quick peek over at Clove, who was still holding his hand, confirmed his desire to help her heal- no matter what. "It sounds lovely" he said in response to Clove's description. Cost was the furthest thing from his mind; for one, he rarely spent the allowance he received from the Order, and two, having grown up in a nomadic tribe, the concept of money wasn't something he was very familiar with.

The mood felt so peaceful and optimistic, and Ruzaan decided to try and keep it that way. With a small squeeze of Clove's hand and a glance over at Arctus to include him in the question, he kept their focus on the future by asking, "So, what other dreams or goals do you have? What's on your GNK droid list?"

@LilyNion @Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Arctus Friers]

“Arctus the Tourist Guide kinda has a nice ring to it, I guess,” joked the former smuggler after Clove had revealed that she hadn't been to Batuu much like Ruzaan. Already he was looking forward to the promise of a holiday more and more, the wanderlust he kept under lock and key now rattling the box insistently. When was the last time he left the Temple? During the hunt for the memory crystal on Kessel with Master Yvain and Miss Summers? Or was it the mission on Endor? No, it was that creepy planet with that equally creepy Woman – and up to this day Arctus still had a lot of unanswered questions about that messed up place.

Arctus had never been one to stick to a single place for too long, his old life and habits demanding for him to always be on the move. Indy told him that he didn't need to discard his way of life if he was to join the Jedi Order, and it was a reminder he didn't really commit to. The longer he stayed in the Order, the more he wanted to change – but not at the cost of discarding everything he'd learned from experience. He knew himself most, but even then he was still making new discoveries about what he really wanted in life; how he wanted to live. So when Ruzaan asked him and Clove about dreams and goals (it reminded Arctus of the potluck), the oldest Padawan in their group of three surprised himself when he found that he now had a clear-cut response to the question.

He pushed aside the thoughts of his Mando savior in favor of another goal, another dream he'd realized he wanted to achieve.

“If I ever achieve Knight status, I...” began the Padawan, the tops of his ears turning red from unwanted embarrassment. He knew his next words would give even more credence to the jokes about him being a single father to a ragtag group of younglings, but Arctus chose to swallow his embarrassment and just plowed on. “I want to get the Council's approval of being a part of the Knights who look after the younglings. I mean, I may not look like it, but I have a degree in early childhood education. Before that, though, I'd like to get a Master's, even a Doctoral degree, now that I'm thinking about it. I would've pursued those back then, but I made wrong choices and got myself involved in underworld stuff and never had the chance to do so. Guess I got the time to do it now.”

The smile on Arctus's face was happy and hopeful as he shot Clove and Ruzaan a look. The half-Sephi had opened up about her current state and had been honest about it, and while the former smuggler knew that he didn't have to do the same right this instant, he felt comfortable about opening up about his past and present dreams. He wasn't yet ready to tell them about the Darkness that afflicted him and what he'd done under the influence, but the two Padawans beside him have every right to discover more about Arctus. Although he was limiting himself with his good side, he had faith that there would come a day where he could tell them everything – even the ugly side of himself as a person.

“I grew up looking after my younger brothers, and for the longest time I've had this dream of being a kindergarten or an elementary school teacher. ” Arctus chuckled, a light dusting of pink on his face as he grinned at the two. “What d'you guys think? I, uh, well, I'm all set about doing it, but do you reckon I could actually do it?”

He'd probably be the eldest in the class – much like he was currently the oldest Padawan in the Jedi Order – but right now he found that he didn't care. All that mattered presently were his friends' thoughts on the matter.

@LilyNion @SlagathorTheUnknown

 

[Clove Vanhoop]

---

Dreams, huh?

It wasn't the first time they'd discussed dreams; it was one of their first conversations at the potluck. Ruz clearly valued deeper conversations over surface-level chitchat. But that potluck felt so far away, and so much had changed since that blissful innocent moment.

So, what were her dreams now? Wasn't it to become a Jedi Healer back then? That much had remained constant. Clove's desire to help others was, if anything, stronger than it had ever been. But, would she be able to make those dreams come true? Was that her actual dream, to grow strong enough to fight? A silly dream, considering she'd been too afraid to touch a lightsaber or use the Force since Dantooine.

Luckily, she had plenty of time to think because Arctus revealed a far more personal side of himself this time. A side that wasn't entirely surprising, he was incredibly good with children and had the patience of a saint. And she wasn't exactly surprised that he came from the underworld; despite looking as friendly as could be, one would be lying if they said Arctus Friers didn't carry a slightly rougher edge. While listening, the half-Sephi finally lifted her head away from the man's shoulder, partly because eye contact with such an intimate conversation was appropriate, and partly because her neck began to complain.

"That would be wonderful, Arctus. I couldn't think of anyone better than you. The kids already adore you, might as well make it your focus. And I'm confident you'll become a Knight, you're incredibly capable." Her brow furrowed; he shouldn't doubt himself, especially after such a wonderful dream. "And whoever mocks or questions you will have to face me. And, I'm sure, Ruz as well."

And now for her own answer.

Errgh.

"Well. For me... I'm not sure? I still want to be a Jedi Healer, or a combat medic, or... whatever. Get strong enough for that" Clove lightly shrugged her shoulders. "Crix has sent me to dance lessons, which has always been a small dream of mine. To dance and look as if I'm flying or floating. I think I'd like to take that a little more seriously since we're allowed to have something on the side as Jedi. As long as it does not conflict with our duties, of course. And I don't think dancing will get in the way of being a Jedi. At worst, I'll need a second identity."

It wasn't the most fantastical dream or the most profoundly noble goal. But maybe that was fine as well. Because, after all, she was just glad to be alive. Only the Force knows what will happen in the future. And, while she'll never stop daydreaming, focusing a little more on the present moment to appreciate what she has can't hurt.

Enough of that, there was one more dream to discuss. Ruzaan Kai, the Padawan who started the whole thing. She let go of his hand after a squeeze and turned around to face him. "Enough about me, Ruz. How about you? What are your hopes and dreams?"

---

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[Ruzaan Kai]

As soon as he asked the question, Ruzaan remembered that he'd already asked this of his friends back at the potluck. Oops! But Arctus surprised him by launching into an explanation of his desire to work with some of the youngest members of the Jedi Order; a position Ruzaan could easily see Arctus excelling in. Not for the first time, Ruzaan felt awe with the direction that Arctus' life had taken and the treacherous path he'd walked before becoming a Jedi. The former smuggler had managed to reinvent himself... or, perhaps more truthfully, rediscover what was already there. Ruzaan wasn't in any hurry to grow up, but he was grateful for Arctus' example that proved that it was never too late to change the course of one's life.

Then Clove bravely reaffirmed her dream, and Ruzaan felt his already high respect for the half-Sephi increase. Most people, in Clove's position, would turn bitter towards the galaxy. It took a special kind of person to go through what she had and come out still wanting to help others. As she talked, the Togruta even got caught up in a little daydream of his own; of Clove and Arctus combining to teach a group of younglings how to dance. Ruzaan was quickly shaken out of it by the mention of his name.

"My dreams? Oh..." Ruzaan did his best to stall for time as he raced to collect his thoughts on the matter. He was beginning to realize just how large and complex the galaxy was, and his dream of standing against tyranny seemed incredibly small in the face of all the evil packed into it. He was only one person, and he could only be in one place at a time...

Conscious that the others were waiting on a response from him, Ruzaan decided to start talking and see where that led. "Um, I'm not sure how much has changed since we spoke about this at the potluck", he said. "I still want to help and defend people, but I guess I also want to learn more about myself as well." His gaze lingered briefly on the horizon, before turning back to his friends. "I don't really know what I'm good at just yet, and I'm hoping that I'll hit my stride one of these days... I don't know, really..." Ruzaan trailed off.

"Uh, what kind of dance lessons are you taking?" he asked Clove, realizing that he'd failed her by turning the conversation towards himself.

@LilyNion @Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Arctus Friers]

It was hard to believe that all three of them have been crying earlier into this meeting, concern, fear, sadness, and apologies morphing into one of the most powerful emotions in the entirety of the universe: hope. Clove and Ruzaan were becoming more and more efficient in making Arctus feel that he wasn't and would never be alone – in all sense of the word – and even with Indy so near yet so far away his fellow Padawans were becoming yet another precious sources of hope for the former smuggler.

It was clear as day how Clove saw both Arctus and Ruzaan as her brothers from another family, something Arctus himself shared the day he accepted the fact that out of all the Padawans in the Order these two were the ones he considered to be his younger siblings – blood be damned. Ruzaan looked up to Arctus, and while the older Padawan would have suggested for the Togruta to reconsider, the idea of being held in high regard despite his past gave the thirty-year old the feeling that he could really change for the better.

When Felucia and Kabal happened to Ruzaan, Arctus had been worried sick. When Dantooine happened to Clove, the feeling became worse because he knew that the Togruta felt the same. The former smuggler didn't believe in a god (or gods, if you would) but during those harrowing times he found himself praying to anyone who would listen to please, please, bring them back, keep them safe, I don't want to lose them, please.

If the Jedi Order followed the old ways he just knew that the attachment he'd formed for his friends would become a cause for concern. Hells, he felt that in some degree it would still be a cause for concern even if the Order now followed Rey Skywalker's teachings.

Arctus couldn't blame himself, though. Mum used to tell him that he had too much love to give when he was still a kid, and living in unforgiving situations before he joined the Order had understandably made him lock up all that love inside until it began to neglect anyone other than the people he held dear.

Damn, he was getting too maudlin and there wasn't even a single bottle of alcohol in sight. Was this what getting old felt like? He wasn't even in his mid-thirties yet, gods!

Arctus chuckled at Clove's comments and reassurances. She was too sweet for words, really. He lifted his hand from hers and curled it into a fist, swinging it around to deliver a quick jab in the air. "Aww, Clo, thanks. Don't you worry your pretty head for me, I'm just askin' for a second and third opinion about school stuff. But seriously, you don't have to lift a finger in my defense," he told her lightly with a grin. "I'm pretty good with fistic science – I'll answer the questions, and I'll give those who will mock any of us a black eye or two."

The former smuggler then piped down to listen to his fellow Padawans' responses. Clove was taking dance lessons, and Arctus had to applaud the half-Sephi's Master for the ingenuity behind it. Dancing required footwork, and she could actually apply those in a fight. He could already imagine Clove dancing on a stage and fighting enemies, her movements both graceful and deadly. He could also see her excelling as a Jedi healer given her family's background.

Ruzaan's answer didn't come as a surprise to Arctus, since he kind of saw himself in the Togruta – only this time it was Arctus who now had a clear cut vision of his goals. Helping and defending people were broad aspects, but they were Jedi. They were meant to do those things for the betterment of the galaxy, or even just the people they were helping. But if there was something Arctus admired about Ruzaan, it was the younger Padawan's honesty about his own capabilities.

"You'll find what you're looking for, Ruz. And you don't have to rush yourself – you might end up overlooking what you're searching for. You'll feel as if you're in a race – heck, we all do – but remember to go at your own pace," he told the Togruta with a smile.

Turning to Clove, he said, "My Master told me that being a Jedi doesn't equate to giving up my way of life. The way I see it, being a Jedi doesn't mean that you have to give up your passions as long as they're not intended to harm others. And you said you wanna get strong enough to be a combat medic... how about incorporating dance footworks to your fighting style?"

The former smuggler paused for a moment, then blinked. Here he was, sitting beside his friends and giving them advice and words of encouragement. Oh, damn. Drastus was right in calling Arctus an old man because now he felt like it!

But wasn't that what old people did? Support the younger generation?

You're not a grandpa, though. Come to think of it, you might not even live long enough to be one. Kark, Arctus, you're morbid. Stay on the bright side now, old boy.

@LilyNion @SlagathorTheUnknown

 

[Clove Vanhoop]

---

Clove chuckled as Arctus thrust his fists into the air. "I'm glad you've mastered the art of fist diplomacy. But I'll never stop worrying about you two. You deserve the best, and anyone who tries to stop either of you will be met with my fury. That is how the laws are written." She nodded her head with an mhm sound, as if to confirm herself and say, 'yes, this is true.'

Ruz's response, despite being no surprise, delivered a powerful punch. His honesty and humility were endearing and, to be honest, skills that many people lacked. And it made sense; Ruz was still young, only a year or two younger than herself, and it would be foolish to expect anyone their age to know what the future holds. Clove only knew she'd become a healer because her family had trained her as one since she was a child. If she had come from a different family, there's a good chance she'd be in the exact same situation.

Arctus' response to the Togruta was better than anything she could have said. So she sat in silence, with a faint smile on her face and a nod of agreement.

The two of them then returned their focus to the half-Sephi, causing her to sit up a little more straight.

For a brief moment, her large brown eyes lingered over Arctus' as he gave her a sweet encouraging pep talk. "Crix had said something similar to me. How life exists outside of the Jedi Order. So he's signed me up for some other things, like a study for basic knowledge such as math and galactic basics, as well as an official paper in the medical field. And yeh, I've considered incorporating it into my fighting techniques! To get the best of both worlds."

She then focused on Ruz, who asked about the type of dance she was practicing. "Ballet, to help me prepare for the New Alderaan Ballet University. Have you seen those holo-videos of girls dancing on the tips of their toes in skin-colored shoes? It's that."

---

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[Ruzaan Kai]

Ruzaan had not, in fact, seen the holo-videos of girls dancing. He was pretty sure Drastus had tried to get him to watch something similar a while back, but the other padawan hadn't mentioned anything about dancing on their tiptoes... dutifully, Ruzaan took out a small notepad and added another entry in the "to watch" section. "Huh. I'll have to check it out" he murmured in response.

Arctus' advice was, predictably, helpful, and Ruzaan was reminded that if the former smuggler had mostly changed their life at whatever age Arctus was, then Ruzaan didn't need to have everything sorted out by his 17th birthday. "Thanks, Arctus" he said to his friend, favoring the man with a tired smile before flopping back onto the grass. Then, a thought occurred to him. "Arctus, can you tell us about your ship?"

@Forsythe Crowholde @LilyNion

 

[Arctus Friers]

Any further morbid thoughts about his own fate fled Arctus the more he focused on his fellow Padawans' presence in the Force. Azure and lilac danced on the edges of his vision, prompting a genuine smile from the former smuggler. Why was he entertaining dark thoughts when there were now even more people who looked out for him, who cared for him like family? He'd survived solely for the family who waited at him on Corellia and for himself for more than a decade, dedicated his life to the warrior who thought him worthy of living.

Now he was a part of something much larger than himself, and he even found family and friends here in the Jedi Order. Arctus wouldn't have asked for more but he was a greedy bastard.

It's a shitshow out there but I need these two safe. Please.

It warmed his heart that Clove had found herself a kind, caring, and considerate Master. Long before he'd joined the Order he had already seen Crix Aran on the holonet. The half-Zabrak was only a boy then, a teenager whose mother had been captured and tortured by the Sith. To see that teenager grow into a man responsible for the half-Sephi's training to become a Knight herself was surprising, though a pleasant one at that. Aran seemed like a good sort, and Arctus would bet that the former would not want his Padawan to experience another Dantooine in the future.

"Your Master's awesome, Clove."

Ballet, huh? It fit the bill, and Clove always had this certain grace about her, thus him calling her Fairy the first time they met on Bal'Demnic. He was about to playfully tease her about it when Ruzaan asked the Corellian about his ship out of nowhere. It was a totally harmless question, really, and while the 3-Z Light Freighter had been one of his pride and joy (it was practically his home back then), it was the name he had given the ship that was more important to him. One would see the symbolism the Mando'a represented, a sort of an ode or an offering to the one who saved his life. The only odd thing about the name was the word it equated to in Basic.

Cyar'ika. Beloved.

The former smuggler's face turned red at the question, and despite knowing that Ruzaan wasn't asking about the name but the ship itself, Arctus couldn't help his thoughts from drifting to the lady Mando who saved his life. It had been years, and while he found even more reasons to live and not just survive he still thought about her from time to time.

"Ah, well," Arctus began, lifting one hand to try and rub the red off of his face. "That trusty freighter was my home for quite a while. Bought it off a suspiciously generous Zeltron and found out it was actually loaded with crates of spice. Said she's gonna sell it for half-price if I managed to get the shipment delivered, so I just rolled with it. Almost got caught makin' the delivery but I pulled off sweet talking the Rangers into not checking what the ship's packing. Got it at the promised price, repainted the thing, called it Miss Fortune for a while."

"Then years later Tatooine happened, and Miss Fortune became Cyar'ika. A tribute to the warrior who saved my life. That ship, that darling girl, has seen a lot long before I got her... she's kind of a warrior in her own right, huh? Just like we're all warriors in this treacherous yet serendipitous cycle we call life~!"

...okay, he didn't mean to sing that last part in a slightly off-key tune, but he'd do anything to distract the two Padawans from asking what the name Cyar'ika translated to in Basic. No one – absolutely no one – would want to listen to an old man like him rambling and stuttering about his hopeless romance with a fearsome Mando warrior!

@SlagathorTheUnknown @LilyNion

 

[Clove Vanhoop]

---

Listening to Arctus talk about his ship as if he were reading from a storybook, or even singing along, was almost therapeutic. It was a genuine story, and it fit the man in question perfectly. He also casually mentioned that he sold crates of spices, or at least rolled with the plan, and sweet-talked some rangers.

Now that was a side she hadn't seen before.

Still, Clove was grateful for him opening up about a side of his life she'd never seen before, and all she could do was smile faintly at him while listening to his story. "I had no idea your ship meant so much to you, Arctus. That's wonderful. You better show us around the place once we head to Batuu, especially considering it was your home for a while."

Yavin Prime and its many moons were slowly dancing their way through the black horizon as the stars had overtaken the night sky. And as the relaxation from today's conversation washed over Clove, so did the sleepiness. Her eyes were getting droopy, and every now and then a yawn escaped her mouth.

"I believe I'll be returning to the dorms, as my therapist will be irked if I don't get enough sleep. Something about sleep is the ultimate medicine." She knew the therapist was correct, but she couldn't stop herself from shrugging. Clove yawned and grabbed the hands of Ruz and Arctus, giving them both a squeeze before letting go once more. "Thank you both for your forgiveness and for spending time with me. I really needed this. I couldn't ask for better friends."

Clove rose slowly to her feet and carefully stretched her arms and legs. She looked over her shoulder and smiled at both of them when everything felt a little less stiff from sitting in the grass for so long. "See you both tomorrow at the mess hall. Promise."

Clove hadn't felt at ease in a long time, not since Dantooine. But, with a relaxed step, she began to make her way back to the dorms, having found new strength to face whatever the nights had in store for her.

/Exit thread

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tag @SlagathorTheUnknown @Forsythe Crowholde ​

 

[Ruzaan Kai]

Ruzaan watched Clove leave, his hand a little warmer from where she had squeezed it and his face a little warmer in the wake of her praise. The Togruta blinked twice as he considered this development, and searched his feelings in the moment.


Oh no.

/ThrExit

@LilyNion @Forsythe Crowholde