The Mask of the Jedi

[Just Matt Now]

Listening carefully to the toast the Grandmaster was making, it filled him with a heavy heart. They had been through so much, and that didnt even scratch the surface of what they were going to have to face. Living underneath the radar of the empire, training and continuing training of Padawans and Knights alike. If it hadnt been for people like Larik Novan, Juno Armstrong, or the Grandmaster herself, Loogo knew that he would not stand here today, a Master. And the Sluissi showed great gratitude for such Jedi, wishing to become more like them, teaching Padawans the way he was taught so that they may continue their quest , and fight back against the Empire, but more importantly to restore peace to the galaxy.

The Sluissi raised his glass as Arikka had. The toast was beautiful and well said, a powerful message from the Grandmaster herself.

Taking a sip and concluding the toast, Loogo returned to Arikka's attention. Taking a seat next to the Cordu-Ji, Loogo missed her.

"Yes he has, though it was not easy as you could imagine. The hard work never ends. I miss Coruscant so much, and being a Padawan. Ssome of the besst years of my life." Loogo took a gulp of his whiskey. "And I plan on making an even brighter future, if not for mesself, for the Padawanss."

 

[Elijah Brockway]

Cotan smiled at the Grandmaster's toast, raising his glass with the others - though feeling somewhat awkward, as he hadn't yet gotten the wine he was supposed to. Once he had, he took a quick sip, concluding the toast for himself. Setting the glass of Bespin port down, he looked around at the patrons of the ball. There was Loogo, not too far away, with Arikka - there were the obvious few, such as Larik and Ebberla - there was again that girl with the bird on her shoulder...

Cotan shrugged, figuring he may as well strike up a conversation with somebody. So he walked up to the girl, tapping her on the shoulder.

"I'm sorry, but I overheard you mention earlier that the little bird on your shoulder was your date. Just a quick question - how do you propose dancing with him?"

 

[jaydee]

Akiva listened to the Grand Master's speech. It was good. It was true. It didn't lessen the pain he felt for his fallen friends. Akiva drank after the Grand Master finished her toast and made one of his own to himself. "To those that fell for the greater good." Akiva sipped his drink again. He thought about those who also fell into despair and because of that became agents of the dark side. "And to our lost friends", he said to himself. "May they find the light in which to guide them back home." Akiva wasn't sure if anyone was listening but he took another sip of his drink and remembered all those lost that included his former master. He looked around at the gala. Master Hattori would have liked this gathering. She believed in community and family and what better way to strengthen both than a social event like this? Akiva looked around at the various people in the room. Even though he didn't know then well, they were like family now and it was time to meet them. Akiva took a deep breath and decided that now was the time to mingle.

 

[Moter]

Jorda had been quietly sitting at the bar the whole time watching people come and go seeing if he recognised anyone. He raised his glass in response to the Grand Masters Toast remembering what we had lost and earned during this time. As everyone started mingling again he went back watching the crowd keeping a eye out for people he knew but also happy to see the joy on some of the Jedi's faces as they were reunited with old friends.

 

[Vulpes]

Arikka nodded her head as she listened to Loogo. His accent was memorable, how every 's' sound carried. She took another sip of her beer before speaking again, "I'm sure we will help the Padawans, and the Order in due time, but for tonight? Tonight is not just to mourn those we've lost but to remember and celebrate what they've sacrificed for us to stay alive.." She went back to her drink once more, having just realized it was still a somewhat depressing statement she produced.

On a lighter note, she spoke again, "Also, where the hell is my droid? Last I recall, I left him, and all his knowledge to you." She nudged on his shoulder playfully now.

 

[Kartikeyan]

All the padawans that were chattering amongst each other at the table drew silent when the new Grandmaster of the Order began her speech. Arai watched and listened to this woman he knew little about, but her words were to the point and to his liking. He took a sip of his wine and went back to listening to the others as they resumed their conversation.

“So Raoul… how about that wage?” Kees, a human padawan in his late teens asked the Rodian sitting across from, a seat away to Arai’s right, while pulling out a rusty red and white colored deck of Sabacc cards. Arai had enjoyed getting to know them quite well as they both were the cockiest padawans he had ever seen. What started as them all getting to know each other turned south with underhand comments that led to a debate of skill that then escalated into sparring challenges. ‘Maybe it was wise not to allow padawans to bring their lightsabers.’ Arai amused himself with a smirk. However, he could tell that each one of them smart and disciplined and none raised their voices loud enough or did anything to draw attention.

“Think you can beat Raoul in a game of Sabacc?” The Rodian spoke in his native accent then let out a chuckle. Several of the other padawans chuckled as well, though seeing the humor in the two padawan’s rivalry just like Arai was seeing. Raoul wore black robes of his kin and wore silver mask large enough to go around his eyes, but it was obvious to tell he was a Rodian. “So be it, no hard feelings for when I win and take your credits Kees.”

“I want in.” Arai said, putting his glass down on the table. He could not let this opportunity slip by. They were just after all, having a good time and now conducting a friendly wager. He liked playing Sabacc, it was all about who has the best hand. To individuals like Kees and Raoul, it would prove who was better between them in a common interest. “I didn’t take you for a Sabacc man Munkaira.” Kees grinned while shuffling up the cards in his hands, keeping his green eyes fixed on Arai as he performed all kinds of fancy tricks to impress the females sitting amongst them in their colorful dresses and robes, nails, make-up, and hairstyles.

“It’s okay, I didn’t take you as one neither.” Arai gave him a friendly smirk, taking in the sound of ‘ohhs’ and giggles. Kees even chuckled himself and shook his head while continuing to shuffle. Raoul didn’t mind, the only thing he said was, “More credits for me and no hard feelings afterwards eh Arai? I hope you got the credits to go along with that talk.” Arai raised the rim of his glass to his lips and finished off the rest of the wine, closing his eyes to savior the last taste before he opened his, deep red orbs fixed into multifaceted eyes of his fellow padawan. “Please, I wouldn’t waste my time is I didn’t,” ‘think I could beat you both and win some credits.’ Arai finished off in his thoughts, giving Raoul a grin. He really didn’t have the one hundred credits to put up for the match, but sometimes you had to just play risk.

“Let’s play.”

 

[TAC]

The Grandmaster the center of attention at the entrance, larik greeted a few more of his friends and fellow Jedi as he slowly started to gravitate away. The Shadow Keeper by this time knew most of the Jedi, certainly the ones that were visible to him. They were good people, all around: from some of his closest friends in Arikka and Loogo, to some of the brightest and freshest new Jedi, such as Arai. All over this ground were folks that were fighting daily for an idea of peace throughout the galaxy.

The Corellian shook his head, clearing such serious thoughts. He had enough time to think them while sitting behind his desk reading reports and while out in the field. Tonight was a celebration of life, of the peace they still had hope, and the community the enjoyed. Best to simply live the moment to it's fullest. They were increasingly rare, these moments, and the man was determined to make the most of it.

Within reason, natually. He was a Councilor.

Suddenly, though, the band picked up a famous Corellian pop tune. It was an oldie by today's standards, he knew, but it had been one of his favourite tunes while he had been a young man on Corellia. The man downed the rest of his drink, setting it on a table, walking towards the dance floor. There wasn't anyone on it yet, folks were just warming up to the party, but that was all about to change.

Luckily for the man, but unluckily for a certain someone, the bar happened to be on the way to the bandstand and dance floor. Smirking to the woman as he approached her, her head shaking no and her eyes growing larger as the Corellian stepped forward, he reached out a hand. Taking ahold of Jillian's, the man half-pulled her to the floor. All of the eyes of the assembled turned to watch the two as they made their way to the floor, finally coming to a hault in the middle, facing each other.

"You can tell me how much you hate me later, Jillian," the man said. His grin was half sly as he regarded the Jedi Knight. She wasn't a very public, flamboyant person. She was quite displeased with him, he could tell, but the man easily shrugged it off. "This isn't much like the Corellian two-step. Just remember two simple things. First, feel the beat. Count it off in your head. And every movement should correlate with a 2 or 4." He hesitated a little bit, remembering the woman tell him she didn't know how to dance. "The second thing to remember.... Pretend every sing;e person isn't staring at us."

It took a lot of effort for Larik to not burst out laughing, so he compromised to a little wink. "Ready?" he asked, quietly, as he started counting under his breathe so the two could correlate their dancing. "1, 2, 3, 4! 1, 2, 3, 4!"