Open TeenForce Go: Yavin- "It's Just a Pot Luck."

[Xiann]

Xiann blinked in surprise as Drast suddenly grabbed her and planted a kiss on her. She was caught off guard by this as it was usually her doing the manhandling. She could feel there was nothing behind the kiss though, no passion or emotion. It didn’t even feel like it had a purpose, but the Twi’lek couldn’t help but wonder if it was to make Lani jealous or even to keep his options open if the Zeltron rejected him. While the woman wasn’t against surprise kissing, she couldn’t help but question motives.

As the man walked away she turned to look at Lani to catch her reaction, “Definitely shooting him next training session. Think he could take us both?” She realised her wording just a moment too late before grinning at Lani, “And not like that.”

Xiann then turned her smile back at Maiko, who seemed to be confused about the whole situation. Who could blame him. She took the hand he offered and slowly pulled herself to her feet and quite close to the other man, “I agree, he’ll get cavities if he eats all those by himself.” She tugged at Maiko half pulling him along to the dancefloor, making sure she kept her steps in line to give her hips that extra wiggle.

@Catbert @Forsythe Crowholde @Rhogar

 

[Lani Tallis]

Before Lani could taste the cookie, Drast's fingers already landed on it. And then there was Xi, who absolutely had to have the first one too. A moment later, the Zeltron and the Twi'lek were engaged in a staring contest at point-blank range. Even the tips of their noses would touch... If it weren't for Drast's fingers separating them. Still, the Zeltron would play her bestie's game and keep the eye contact... Until Drast gave Lani a victory in the contest.

Galania leaned backwards, slowly chewing her half of the cookie and watching Drast... Kiss Xi? Lani tilted her head slightly, trying her best to make her facial expression a monolith. Although she didn't watch the scene with a half-open mouth, the Zeltron did raise an eyebrow to that move. Although the kiss looked good—Lani had to give it that—the kiss didn't feel like anything.

The only feeling the scene would evoke in Lani was numb frustration. A part of the Zeltron wanted to use the Force again and show how it's done; but the lack of emotions meant that the desire was lazy enough. That's why she remained silent for the moment, not saying anything to Drast's remark.

As ever, Xi broke the silence and made a comment that could be taken as innuendo on second thought. Lani smirked in turn, as the Twi corrected herself. "My money's on us..." Galania smirked as she remembered the lack of emotions in the kiss. "One way or the other." She did pat on the stun pistol and the lightsaber hilt on her belt to prove that point.

But then the new guy, Maiko, spoke up. An invitation for a dance? She could work with that. The Zeltron would accept the hand stand up from the couch. There was some strange determination in her voice: "Yes, it would be a shame if the music wasn't put to good use."

That's when the Twi'lek fond a new outlet for her energy, all but tugging Maiko along to the dance floor. From experience, Galania knew that Xi alone could be too much to handle; not to mention the Zeltron, who'd only be a distraction. That's why Lani let go of the young man's hand with a genuine "I'll catch up in a moment." A moment to see what's going on and figure out the right move...

@Rhogar @Forsythe Crowholde @Xian

 

[Drastus Drahr]

Drastus would stop near the doorway, allowing the young Maiko to be dragged past him by a streak of determined blue to shoot on by. He even would set the basket down on a table "Cookies, come get em if ya want em." he'd say to the others at the party and other partygoers would swarm the basket. Though he would grab one before stepping away from it.

Making his way back to where Lani was, there was the slightest look of regret in his eyes as he crossed over to her. "Hey.." he'd say as his free hand scratched his jawline. "Look.. I uhh..." his voice was low enough so only she would hear, but still high enough to be heard over the music. He offered her the cookie with a weak smile. "In case the vultures beat you to em.. I.." He'd let his emotions show what his words were struggling with. "I'm sorry about that.." he nodded after Xi. "I have no excuses.. just a regret. But what happened in the doorway, that's what I want."

He would hope those emotions were actually filling in any blanks because he was not eloquent by any means. He couldn't even spell the word. Glancing back to the dance room, he'd look back to Lani and offer his arm. Both Masters had tried to teach him some gentlemanly manners. And his father was far from a good source as he would joke around about just throwing Drast's mom over the shoulder and walking off.. which, he guessed could have been an option. No. It couldn't. Accompanying the proffered arm was a genuine smile. "Galania, would you dance with me?"

@Catbert @Xian @Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Lillian Prismarte]

“Oh Kriff.” The female padawan mumbled out as she looked at the time. She was late! The girl sprang up, knocking the pile of books and papers she was using to yeh floor-she couldn’t believe she was late! She already barely had any friends within the order and now she was gonna be showing up to the one event she was invited to late! Lillian shook her head as she picked up the papers haphazardly, sighing to herself that she had blown the chance to get to know her fellow Padawans.

She pulled her hair out of her usual ponytail, feeling that the downward look would make her seem prettier and thus more approachable. She smiled at herself in the mirror a few times, trying to figure out how to do it that would make her look the best, deciding on option 2 (a closed mouth wide smile that she were to match on her eyes.) Next she picked out a low cut, simple navy blue dress, as for the shoes she choose matching blue platforms that gave her slightly more height.

She quickly applied some simple makeup and lipstick, crossed of the things she had done from her to-do list, and grabbed a platter of kale chips that had been staying warm in the oven, scooping them into a Tupperware container, they’d still be warm when she arrived. With yet another sigh, the young woman left her room, heading to where the supposed party was.

Eventually she found it. “Oh Kriff... We’re gonna be in trouble if we’re caught...” The music could be heard through the door. With a deep breath, Lillian adjusted her posture to straightness and opened the door, her eyes quickly adjusting to the flurry of colors and her ears adjusting to the music. The black haired female looked around for her host, Drastus, and saw him talking awfully close with a fellow female Padawan-“Oh! It’s Master Nykoria’s sister! What’s her name again?” she thought to herself and he offering to dance with her. Sighing and sorta regretting coming Lillian thought to herself “I would’ve even better off in my room... First I was late and now that I’m here I feel so awkward, I’ll stand around for a bit and then leave!” The female relaxed at that idea and slowly began to stride to where the refreshments were being kept.

Next she deposited the still warm kale chip container on the table and opened it. Taking a few pieces and munching on them. Glad to have made a satisfactory batch she hummed in approval, noticing that there were some seemingly fresh cookies also on the table she took one of the few remaining and bit in, thinking to herself; “Oh by the force, this is good. Now I’m gonna have to bake some of my own when I go back to my room!” Finally the female walked off, towards the wall out looking the dance floor, figuring she’d watch the others dance for a few minuets before retreating, “This was a mistake.” She thought to herself with a sigh.

 

[Drastus Drahr]

Drastus would notice the new arrival and offered a smile. "Lillian! Make yourself at home. We got cookies on the table as well as some other snacks. And I highly recommending helping start a fire in the neighboring room on the dance floor. It's going to be crazy fun." Kriff. He actually remembered a name. Score 1, Drastus. "Joining us all on the dance floor is a great way to meet some of the others."

He greeted her warmly, all the while making sure to pay attention to Galania and anything she had to say.

@LeonDrandell

 

[Isen Ramm]

This was getting to be too much for Isen. In addition to his social anxiety, he found his eyes drifting over to the other main group and he was getting more and more frustrated. Ajan Kloss had just been decimated with an attack. Many Jedi, including padawans, some of them their friends, died at the hands of a Sith attack very recently. But look at this...nonsense. This is how the padawans react to tragedy. Do they double efforts in training? No. Do they hit the books harder to learn about the Force? Of course not.

Isen expected a meet and greet. Some team-building. Something useful. But here these padawans were looking like they were prepared to go to a Rave on Coruscant. They were flirting with each other, kissing each other. Fashionably dressed. Playing loud music. Dancing and gyrating. Looked like they were trying to hook up for crying out loud. It was an insult to the Order. They would one day be called on to save someone's life- maybe Isen's. Maybe the fate of an entire planet or system would be riding on their shoulders. If that's the case, the will of the Force for that planet would be similar to the Force's will for Alderaan.

He repressed his desire to say something rather blunt and tried to breathe deeply. Izel wanted him to make friends. Be more social. She likely would not approve of him reprimanding other padawans, and it wasn't his place anyway. He may be the most experienced padawan in the group. Perhaps even the most accomplished padawan, but a padawan he still was.

The more he looked at it, the angrier he got. Isen looked into his cup. It was empty, thank the Force. "Excuse me," he told the two padawans in his group and made his way to the table with the drinks. He filled up his cup and guzzled it down quickly. Was the temperature in here getting extremely warm? He filled it up, stepped away from the table, and stared into his cup. He didn't want to look up. It was for the best for him to keep his eyes focused on the water he held in his hands.

 

[Lani Tallis]

Galania closed her eyes. Long before—perhaps ever since she could remember herself—Lani found out that it granted her a better sense of the people surrounding her. Some (like the Zeltron and her Twi'lek bestie) felt like fishes in the water. Others were either shy, or reluctant... And then there was a giant fly in the ointment—a wordless reproach directed at everyone else, detracting from a lot of the fun.

And there was also Drast; he too would be of the "fishes in the water" type, if it weren't for something weighing him down. As he approached, Galania opened her eyes to meet his gaze. As he mentioned "the vultures", the corners of Lani's lips curled up in a faint smile, followed by a quiet: "Thanks." The Zeltron didn't waste time taking a bite, finishing the cookie in two goes, and holding the free hand under her chin to make sure not to leave crumbs on the floor.

The apology caught Lani by surprise. And combined with everything else going on around, the party mood was irreparably ruined. A shrug followed, with a tilted head and a rather serious: "Then maybe it's not me you should be apologizing to?" Lani did her best to make it sound like food for thought, and not a reproach. Still, the foiled mood of others couldn't leave the Zeltron entirely unaffected. "Serious" was a part of her now; and a random party wasn't the best place to discuss that. But still, Lani tried: "Drast... It's probably just the pheromones." As it had been the case on Coruscant and New Alderaan so many times before.

A hand was extended, and not taking would be rude. Lani's purple palm would touch... Briefly. "I'm... Sorry, just not feeling the groove right now." The Zeltron looked around anxiously, as if looking for something or someone.

@Rhogar

 

[Drastus Drahr]

Unable to sense the 'giant fly' that was Isen, Drast would immediately think that the change of mood from Lani was directly from him. Any negative feelings associated with that realization would be pushed down to give her the best chance at rebounding. He'd offer a faint smile to start. "Yeah, trust me, it's going to be a round of them I'm sure." at her comment about the pheromones, there would be a slight sense of deflation and when she took his hand then withdrew, he would just nod.

"Tell ya what, why don't you run over to Xiann and Maiko and feed off their positive energy." With a quick glance around, he could see that others were still enjoying themselves, save for Isen? Who may have been drunk and just having a staring contest with his cup? He wasn't sure. "I'll stay in here, see if any guests need anything." As he spoke, he'd allow himself to feel a little bit happier, more positive. He needed to get into the party zone.

Reaching into a pocket, he'd pull out a flask and pop the cap on it before taking a pull from it. Thankfully, mixed with the tisane, it would go down smoothly. And with the second sip, he was already feeling better. He would then offer the flask to Lani. "Go ahead and take it for you three. I'll join you in a bit, yeah?"

@Catbert

 

[Lani Tallis]

The joke about the positive energy... worked. It made Lani sound like those "energy vampires" from old legends, and the Zeltron smirked in reply. "Good idea," Lani's reply was a bit more cheerful, even if it was forced. "The more people to feed off of, the better," the grin got wider and more genuine as Galania finished and winked to her friend.

And then Drastus got some good stuff. The Zeltron's smirk got positively wry as her nose caught the flask. She accepted it, taking a rather big swig and nodding appreciatively. As a benevolent ruler receiving gifts, she replied solemnly: "I accept this tribute too. Bring forth more, lest I feed off your energy too."

With that, she'd step aside to let Drast meet the guests. She'd head to the dance floor; surely Xiann and Maiko would've been up to something by then.

 

[Casper Qel Darra]

Casper had been surprised to actually receive an invitation to the party Drastus was throwing, and even more surprised with himself that he’d decided to actually go. He didn’t like parties. Or at least, that’s what he told himself – and others – whenever they asked. It was something of a cover for the truth, which was that he wasn’t usually invited to them. That being said, Casper wasn’t especially looking forward to it. He felt more nervous than he did excited, though he didn’t really know why.

True to form, he hadn’t made much in the way of effort to spruce up his look for the party. His hair sat in the usual ponytail over his left shoulder, and he wore a hoodie in a shade of grey-blue with slim-fitting black joggers. No different than the sort of thing he usually wore, really. Good enough, he told himself as he gave himself a once-over in the mirror of his own room. A few splashes of his favourite scent – woody cypress with a warm, earthy freshness – and he was good to go.

Am I late? I think I’m late. He couldn’t really remember what time he was supposed to arrive, but figured it was probably better to be late than early. A one-on-one with Drastus? Probably not the best way to start a ‘party’.

As Casper made his way throughout the halls of the temple, meandering towards Drastus’ room, he couldn’t help but start to wonder if he should even go at all. The training ground wasn’t far, and it was probably empty. After all, what gave them the right to party? There hadn’t been some great victory as far as he was aware. No, instead the Jedi were still reeling from losses on Ajan Kloss and licking their wounds. Was it even appropriate to hold a party? Probably not. Nevertheless, he kept towards Drastus’ room.

He started to hear the music as he neared the room, and uncertainly stepped inside just as Galania started to make her way toward another room. The music seemed to be coming from there, which meant it was probably the spot for the dancing Drastus had spoken of in his invitation. No thank you. That was certainly not on his agenda.

Instead, he planned to follow through on an ancient method of party mingling – holding a drink in one hand, finding somewhere to stand, and occasionally bobbing his head up and down. Now he just needed to get a drink.

---

 

[Drastus Drahr]

Drast would smile at Lani as she spoke and he even laughed at her jest about tribute. Though, the more thought about it, maybe she could do that. Then as she departed for the dance room, he'd watch her go, his smile fading some, though he didn't allow his emotions to lower, more mindful of impacting the Zeltron negatively.

He'd look to the door just as it slid open and he could hardly hide the grin. Some of the Padawans he didn't expect to see had actually made an appearance. And if they mingled and made friends with other Padawans then the night was a success. "Casper, glad you could make it." He meant it, too. That was it, he had a great idea. "Casper, I don't know if you've met Lillian yet." he'd say gesturing to the female in the blue dress. "Why don't you grab you both a drink and take her to the other room to dance. Look at that dress, she'd didn't put it on just to stand in the entry." He would take the tupperware container of chips with one hand while the free hand would nudge Casper towards the young lady. "Be a gentleman Casp. Lillian, have a blast. I'll put these with the other snacks for you."

Carrying the tupperware container first to the snack table, he would then make his way over to the drink table, pausing as he glanced over at Isen. Shrugging, he'd begin to fill the glass. "Hey, Isen. You okay or is there something really nice about that red plastic cup?"

@Monimus @LeonDrandell @Isen

 

[Maiko Sigur]

Maiko smiled at Galania and nodded to show that he respected her decision. Then, letting Xiann take the lead, the young padawan would look around as the two made their way to the dancefloor. When Drastus didn't follow any further, however, Maiko raised a brow in confusion before shifting his focus back to Xiann.

The oblivious kid from a backwater planet shone through when Maiko completely missed the way the pretty Twi practically ignored the concept of personal spaces. The rooms weren't that crowded, but the young padawan simply chalked her behavior up to open friendliness. Xiann was still holding his hand and Maiko was loathe to let it go, feeling as if he would be breaching some form of the gentleman protocol his older brothers instilled upon him. Always treat the person you're with with respect, they would tell him, so they'd respect you as well!

Maiko swayed to the music, feeling like he was back in the common house and celebrating a villager's birthday or something. He would spin Xiann around with a smile, and he would have dipped her as well if he hadn't noticed what she was wearing.

There wasn't anything wrong with it, to be honest. People could wear whatever they wanted. The problem was, he didn't want to touch her inappropriately – his hand on her skin – nor would he want to make her feel uncomfortable. Maiko let Xiann's hand go before breaking into a dance taught to him by one of his well-traveled brothers. Granted, he wasn't really a great dancer, but it was the thought that counted, right?

"Dance with me, Xiann!" he said brightly, slowing down a bit to show her the steps.

This... This was one of the few instances that he'd felt this happy after the tragedy that was Ajan Kloss. And Maiko, for once, allowed himself to just live in the moment. Because in a few days' time, he would be leaving the Temple – leave the safety Yavin offered – to go out into the galaxy with Master Voran. He would be facing the realities of life as they traveled places where they were needed. To learn from her, and hopefully turn himself into one of the healers the Jedi Order needed.

But for now, Maiko would dance and enjoy the company of the friends he'd made and keep.

@Xian @Rhogar @Catbert

 

[Lillian Prismarte]

Lillian was just beginning to leave the party thinking “If I just tiptoe towards the door.... they won’t even notice I’m gone...” when she was thrust into the spotlight, her eyes widened at Drastus’s words “Why don't you grab you both a drink and take her to the other room to dance. Look at that dress, she'd didn't put it on just to stand in the entry.” “Ah Kriff...” flashed into her head as Drastus guided the other Padawan, Caspar to her. Caught off guard both by this turn in events and Drastus’s compliment of her dress a light pink blush lent itself to the black haired females cheeks.

Agreeing to stand strong and deal with the hands she was dealt, the blue-clad Padawan clicked closer to Caspar, giving him a flustered but sincere smile she said “Hello Caspar, I don’t believe we’ve met yet, I’m Lillian, nice to meet you.” She eyed him up and down and slipped in a compliment for good measure, “I like your attire, it seems comfortable. I don’t know why I bothered putting on this.” She gestured downwards at her blue dress and platforms, then the ever blunt Padawan added, “I didn’t expect to be here long to be honest.”

@Monimus

 

[Casper Qel Darra]

Casper hadn’t even been in the room thirty seconds when Drastus spotted him, and quite literally thrust him into the company of another Padawan he was yet to meet. He didn’t appreciate the nudge, and made no attempt to hide the displeasure that flashed across his face. Still, he had nothing against the girl – whose name was Lillian, apparently – and so his expression soon returned to his typical neutrality, not that it was all that much better. Drastus, in his classic hit-and-run style, soon left the two of them to it.

“I don’t dance.”, he said bluntly as soon as she had finished introducing herself. It was best to put to bed that suggestion by Drastus as soon as possible.

“…thank you.” Casper was never quite sure how to accept compliments, and was even worse at returning them – so he didn’t even try. “No, I don’t plan on staying too long either. I’ve to be up early for a session of Jar’Kai tomorrow at first light.”

His attention drifted over some drinks on a nearby table, and he began to make his way towards it. “Do you know what the drinks are?” He lifted a half-full cup that sat alone, giving it a quick nose before setting it back down. Whatever it was, he wasn’t much of a fan.

---

@LeonDrandell

 

[Isen Ramm]

"Hey, Isen. You okay or is there something really nice about that red plastic cup?" Drast asked him. Isen said nothing, but looked up at him for a moment, his eyes void of expression. The statement was clear. I'm not in a talkative mood. At least with you.

He went back to staring at his drink. Damn it, his brooding was interrupted again, but at least this time by someone who had not gone out of their way to insult the institution that Isen Ramm had spent most of his life in.

“Do you know what the drinks are?” a new Padawan....another one that Isen had not yet met...asked.

Isen looked up from looking into his own cup, and watched the newcomer pick up someone's cup that they did not appropriately place in the trash receptacle literally four feet from where it was on the table. A small offense, but it was all adding up to the Kiffar padawan. Isen was just 18 years old, but the other padawans were making him feel and act like cranky old man. He wanted to yell, "Get off my lawn!" Of course, he had no lawn.

"I have no idea to be honest," Isen said to him. "I stick to water. I believe some of the drinks have spirits. Personally, I abstain from alcohol. I like to keep my wits about me." He looked over at the antics of many at the party, their clothes, their silliness, their horny little hormonal episodes and shook his head before looking back at the new padawan. "But I'm starting to wonder if I might be driven to it." He did little to hide his annoyance with the goings-on. He bowed politely to Casper. "The name is Isen, by the way. Welcome to the future of the Jedi Order." His eyes flitted back over to the partying group and sighed. "Maybe the end of the Jedi Order."

@Monimus

 

[Drastus Drahr]

And.. there it was, Casper could sleep well tonight, the longest stick resided currently in Isen. The ol' silence trick, the most employed by the most petty of the Order. He got the message loud and clear, it was the same message many that had grown up in the Order had given him. But instead of starting something, he would take a different path, one that Master Zurast had shown him years ago on Corellia: acceptance. Not every Padawan started out in the Order and a few of them, like Xiann and himself got to know the real horrors of the galaxy far outside the safety of Temple walls.

So he just smiled. "Enjoy the party and if you can, clear your thoughts or brighten your mood. It would be considerate for the Zeltron in attendance, bad feelings and all."

With Casper and Lillian heading over, he'd take the random cup Casper grabbed before tossing it the trash, besides Isen. "Tisane mostly. Which is a Mandalorian Fruit tea. Clears the mind, cleanses the soul. And the tisane might help with that, Isen." he would then step away from the table, pausing at Isen's last words. "Ya know, the Order has done most of the same thing for over a thousand years. History has proven, it doesn't work. You can blame people that don't fit the mold, or you can find a mold that can adjust to the people. The whole self-righteous thing is why people turn on the Order, I'm sure Master Izel has taught you better than that. Most of the competent Masters here will have, I was fortunate enough to count both of my Masters amongst that list." he then offered a smile and stepped away from the table, a fresh glass in hand. "Enjoy the tisane."

Despite the fact that two of the biggest airs of superiority meeting and in the same corner of the room, he was fine. Spirits were high and he felt good. After all, the point of the party wasn't for other Padawans to like him, it was for them to find others to connect with. So far, the party was a success.

@Isen @Monimus @LeonDrandell

 

[Isen Ramm]

Isen didn't show emotion through the whole "fit the mold" speech. If he was going to speak on history with Isen, Isen was well-prepared to have that debate. It was a Jedi who refused to fit the mold that could have ended the threat of Darth Sidious and the birth of the Empire, but did not. And, If the Jedi were going to be more interested in feelings than results, then they were s-c-r-e-w-e-d. And so was the galaxy. Might as well hand it over to the Sith now.

"Because what we're doing now is working so well, right?" Isen said as Drast was trying to walk away like he just had a mic drop. No, sir. Anybody who said what the Order was doing now was working would be fooling themselves. "The Order's lack of discipline is exactly the reason you have two masters. What happened on Ajan Kloss was a direct result of that. The stack of dead Jedi bodies from padawans to the Grand Master was a result of that. What happened to your first master was a direct result of that. The fact that we rolled a hurting, emotionally strung-out kid in front of the cameras is a result of that. We have missing Jedi Masters as a result of that. We had members of the Order sneaking away to Sullust to attack a Sith stronghold without telling the Council because of that. We have Council Members leaving the order because of that."

He chuckled, but not a happy one. "And your response to that is to have a party and feed your desires. We have padawans trying to dress-down masters and Knights trying to dress-down the members of the Council. It's going to get worse before it gets better unless we tighten up. But we want people to feel good about themselves, and to hell with it if it means we aren't what we need to be to combat the Sith."

Isen finished his drink and tossed his cup in the trash. He looked Drast in the eyes. "But by all means, while the Order is imploding, please continue to to keep worrying about public optics and being popular."

OOC: I feel like we should let Casper get in a post here. I just wanted to respond before Drast walked away.

@Rhogar @Monimus

 

[Casper Qel Darra]

Having originally directed his question to Lilian, he was pleasantly surprised by the intervention of Isen, who immediately made a good impression upon Casper. Maybe coming here wasn’t such a bad idea after all. Casper returned a polite nod of his own after Isen introduced himself, “Casper. It’s a pleasure.” His words were genuine, too. He agreed with everything Isen had said, and his fellow Padawan provided a welcome relief from the usual antics of Drastus and those who seemed to take the business of a Jedi… less than seriously.

“If this is the next generation…”, he added while turning his attention towards the doorway that led to the dancing, “Then I think you’re correct.” The corner of his lips turned upward into a small grin, not out of particular amusement with the situation – it was something quite serious – but simply at the fact that Isen seemed to echo his views entirely.

If there was one among them who certainly did not agree with Isen’s assessment, it was Drastus, who turned to give some nonsense words in reply that were made all the more irritating by his self-assured tone. He actually believed what he was saying – and he even had the gal to suggest it was their attitudes that were ‘turning people against the Order’. Idiot, he couldn’t help but think. Thankfully, Isen took up the mantle of dismantling the rubbish that had been spouted while Casper simply brought his arms across his chest tightly.

“…couldn’t have put it better myself.”



@Rhogar @Isen

 

[Drastus Drahr]

Drast would stop and turn. "I had two Masters because it was the will of the Force. One took me from the streets of Corellia and then she died on Ajan Kloss so that Padawans and other Knights could escape. I agree with you one hundred percent about Crix, Master Zapan should never have done that. Blaming Ajan Kloss on those who went to Sullust is a beaten drum that by this point in time, it's so pointless in beating. And if you're so disciplined, so well-taught in your knowledge of the ways of the Jedi, then you'll know that as the Force's Will, it would have happened either way."

"The point of this party is to not only raise morale, but provide a way for everyone to meet. Some people haven't recovered from Kloss and have been so cloistered that they don't even know who their peers are. I know the whole Jedi way is brooding when death occurs, but death isn't an end, it's just the beginning of the second step in life. When we mourn and let that mourning cripple us, that's more detrimental then getting together and dancing or drinking fruit tea."

Now it was his turn to laugh. "You're not worried about public optics? Do you see what the galaxy thinks of us right now? They are out for blood. Sure we can hide in a temple somewhere but what happens when we need to go somewhere? That increases the danger not just for us but for those we're helping. And what of the clinics and other operations we run? If we have a bad image, those are targets. So yes, public optics for the Order are important. After Order 66, the galaxy didn't bat an eye at the slaughter of Jedi, they barely cared about Kloss. As for popularity, I went through my whole two years on Kloss being treated like osik by other Padawans like you..." he'd nod to Casper. "And you.. ones raised in the Order. I grew up in the streets, couldn't read. I don't care if I'm popular, never have. Some of us are actually trying to strengthen the bonds within the Order, hence this party. You already know I can handle myself in the field, Isen. So that makes at least one other Padawan in this room that you know can keep you from dying. Amazing how I can still relax and still operate in the field."

@Isen @Monimus

 

[Isen Ramm]

The Kiffar padawan nodded a thanks to Casper for his support. Isen lifted his chin during Drastus's speech. This guy talked too much. Cocky. Arrogant. Loved to hear himself talk apparently. He had no idea what we were up against. He thought he did, but he had no clue.

"No, I'm not concerned with optics. Not one bit. You know why?" Isen tilted his head slightly, his eyes narrowed wondering if this guy was smart enough to get it. "Because I was on Sullust. Sullust wasn't a mistake because of Ajan Kloss. It was a mistake because we were not disciplined. We had no plan. We did not get clearance from the Council...And we got ravaged by the Sith."

Isen stepped in closer, really closing the distance between them. "No, I'm not concerned with the optics, because on Sullust, I fought the Sith, not these cultist clowns we squared up against on Onderon. No, no. I looked into the eyes of the Sith Eternal as he rained down lighting from the sky all around us and split the very ground we walked on so he could create rivers of lava, of which he flicked one of our most powerful, respected Jedi Masters into its fiery bank like he was nothing but a troublesome gnat."

He shook his head slowly, knowingly and kept his cold eyes focused on Drastus's. "The bottom line is, you have no idea what we're up against. One day...one day you'll find out. And when you do, believe me, it'll become real clear real quick that public opinion polls don't mean a damn thing."

@Rhogar @Monimus