Open Yavin IV The Potluck: Part Three

[Clove Vanhoop]

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His eyes had changed, it was subtle but noticeable enough; they had become tinged with yellow. Is that why he called his problem "It"? Was he fighting the Darkside?

Clove shook her head faintly; there was no point in questioning it now. So instead of worrying about it, she tossed it into the pile of "things to worry about later" and smiled even brighter. He was opening up, and while he wasn't telling them everything about his problems, he was talking. And that was a positive step forward. She smiled gratefully at Xi and Ruz, glad they were there. Moreover, Xi's silence inspired her. Because maybe the silence was exactly what Arctus needed.

"I understand, and thank you for your honesty. In that case, I'm not going to push it any further." She took a brief pause. "Also, please don't be sorry, I already consider all of you to be my friends. And that's what friendship is all about!"

"I have an idea. I promise there will be no talking, nagging, or partying. Wait one moment, though."

Clove pushed herself off the wall and leaned to the door, which Xi had blocked, bless her soul. She cleared her throat and screamed as loud as possible "DRAAASTUUUS! We'll be leeeeaaaaaaaving! Thank you for the very fun party, see you around!"

"That solves that."

With a bright and cheerful smile she approached Arctus again and wrapped her arm around his. Her grip on his arm was gentle and soft, and he could let go at any moment without her resisting. After all, she was trying to cheer him up, and it was pointless to go against his wishes. Still, she was giddy inside; she had always wanted to walk arm in arm with a sibling, and this was perhaps the closest she could get.

Force, it's been one night and you already call them your siblings. Clove. Dear lord.

"Are you two also coming? I'd love to have your company!" She grinned towards Xi and Ruz. She was genuinely hoping they'd follow her so they could end the night on a high note, but it was their decision. Regardless, she began escorting Arctus out of the Padawans' dorms.

Despite the fact that it was late at night, she couldn't exactly drag a man with bleeding cheeks through the grand corridors. Jedi would notice, and they'd probably freak out. And as much as she wanted to help him, he only returned a dry smile when she offered it, so the best she could do was watch the wounds and make sure they didn't get caught. To avoid being seen by the Jedi, she led them through a side-hallway that was rarely used by anyone who was still awake at the time.

The side-hallway led to the Jedi temple's exterior, or more specifically, the gardens. It was her favorite spot in the temple, outside of the medicalbay, because it was quiet and peaceful and very pretty. Furthermore, because of the enormous amount of nature and the meditation garden on the left, the entire area was a haven of the Living Force and, with it, the Lightside of the Force. Obviously, that wouldn't be enough to solve Arctus' problems overnight, but she had hoped it would give him some strength and comfort.

She let go of Arctus' arm—if he hadn't let go at some point—and lowered her body until she was lying on a patch of grass near the botany gardens, all in pure silence as promised. When she looked up, she was met with the most beautiful sight: Yavin IV's night sky. The stars twinkled cheerfully and shone their lights on the Padawan; some formed small patterns, while others stood alone and sparkled brightly. It was one of the galaxy's most beautiful things.

Ending the night with some stargazing with her new friends didn't seem like such a bad idea.

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Tag @SlagathorTheUnknown @Forsythe Crowholde @Xian

/ooc: Since the others have gotten quiet I assume it's okay if I guide the four padawans away from the actual party. But if it's needed I'll gladly make a new thread for us, to not interrupt the potluck any further! Just lemme know!​

 

[Ruzaan Kai]

Ruzaan wanted to sharply correct Arctus' negative self-talk about himself, but resisted the urge and instead let Clove take the lead as Commander in Cheer; a task for which the half-Sephi seemed well suited to. One ear-shattering shout from Clove later, he was following Arctus and Clove outside into the Yavin night. The garden that Clove led them to was one of Ruzaan's favorite places, especially as of late. He had spent many a sleepless night walking in its serenity, but this was the first time he had been here with... friends. Arctus, Cove, and Xi were people he considered friends after this evening, and he took comfort in the promise of getting to know them better going forward. Clove was endearing and honest, Xi was unique and fascinating, and Arctus stood as an inspiration and someone to look up to.

Content, Ruzaan plopped down on the grass and laid on his back, head resting on his hands as he stared up at the faint twinkling of stars. Shili- home- was a long way from here, but more and more he realized that he was building a new home and a new community here on Yavin IV.

@Forsythe Crowholde @LilyNion @Xian

 

[Arctus Friers]

Younger people were either oblivious or tended to ignore any subtle changes in a person's behavior, even more so a wordless request of wanting to be left. The Padawans before him didn't fit the bill, however, and all three looked as if they knew very well how to handle Arctus's insecurity and instability. To think that he'd only just met two of them out of three...

He couldn't express it out loud at the momeng, but he deeply appreciated what the trio were doing for him. The former smuggler felt bad that his freak out had dragged them out of the fun and relaxation Drastus's potluck had to offer, though his gratitude overshadowed his current shame about stealing his Padawan brother's guests. Arctus knew that he would just have to suck it up in the end if this widened the rift between the two of them, but he believed that the younger Padawan wasn't as petty as Arctus.

They were Indy's better Padawans, Drastus and Felix. Arctus was just... well...

The former smuggler kept his silence as Clove announced their departure, and he remained quiet even as she began to pull him away and who knew where. He let himself be led away like a child – the half-Sephi guiding him and Ruzaan right beside them. He glanced over his shoulder to check if Xiann was also coming with them, though he wouldn't hold it against the Twi'lek if she chose to stay behind. Facing forward once more, he couldn't help but briefly look at the arm looped around his, a small hand latched gently on his bicep. The Togruta behind them was another steadfast source of comfort despite despibeing burdened by his own concerns.

Arctus knew that he wasn't a good man, but he couldn't help but wonder what good he might have done in the past to deserve meeting this group of young people.

Their destination was not wholly unexpected. Arctus himself more often than not found himself hanging out in the gardens, mostly with the younglings in the mornings and early afternoons, and then all by himself in the wee hours of the morning when sleep was hard to come by. The former smuggler stood there for a moment, watching Clove and Ruzaan lay on the grass. The sight of them looking so content and at peace lit a fire in his heart that burned too fiercely, too painfully, but somehow it assured him that right now, they were safe in this small slice of heaven they created in this side of the Temple.

He had a name for that flame that blazed in his heart, and he didn't even question that it was becoming so easy for him to love these children – because they still were in his eyes – even if they weren't bound by blood.

Arctus quickly rubbed at his eyes with his sleeve before the liquid warmth in them carved a path across his cheeks and lowered himself on the grass. Instead of lying down he opted to sit between the half-Sephi and the Togruta, and like them Arctus's gaze was drawn skywards. Despite not recognizing any constellations and stars up above, the sight never failed to take his breath away and remind him of the family that waited for him on Corellia.

Stargazing with his friends in silence, memories of Arctus's own childhood filled him, one particular memory drowning out the resentful whispers of the Dark Side that threatened to demoralize him further.

His bedroom back home had a skylight that offered little Arctus a view of the stars, and unlike most children across the galaxy he was lulled to sleep by an old poem his mother recited for him. It was that same old poem that slipped past her lips whenever sleep eluded him or if he was woken from bad dreams. As a child he never got tired of that poem, and even now that he was grown it still brought him comfort.

"Reach me down my Tycho Brahe, I would know him when we meet,
When I share my later science, sitting humbly at his feet."
​

His fellow Padawans and friends offered him silence, and while he knew it was what he needed at the moment Arctus just couldn't keep his own mouth shut. He didn't want to talk about his own troubles right now and they didn't expect him to, and while he struggled to talk about something else he simply settled for sharing something he treasured.

"But, my pupil, as my pupil you have learned the worth of scorn,
You have laughed with me at pity, we have joyed to be forlorn,
What for us are all distractions of men’s fellowship and smiles;
What for us the Goddess Pleasure with her meretricious smiles!"​

The former smuggler didn't simply recite the poem, and despite his voice being still subdued he hoped that the love his mother conveyed while she spoke carried out even if there was a slight tremble to his voice. Looking down, he offered the Padawans a soft smile, hazel grey eyes shining with unspoken gratitude for what they did for him.

And while he previously questioned his own place here in the Temple, they further convinced Arctus – despite the Darkness that still lingered in his mind – that he had friends and family in the Jedi Order. That whatever god or higher power there were in the universe, they put him here for a reason.

"Though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light;
I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night."​

@LilyNion @SlagathorTheUnknown @Xian

 

[Xiann]

Xiann pulled back in slight shock as Clove’s screech echoed through the hallway. ‘Well that’s one way to announce us leaving.’ As the young Selphi began to wrap around Arctus’s arm, the Twi’lek tapped a button and the door to the room opened. She leaned in to put her empty plate down on a nearby table and spotted a basket of cookies. With a quick glance around to see if anyone was looking, she grabbed the basket and left, quickly catching and following the others.

The trio led her to what seemed like a large flower garden that they all seemed familiar with. Though XIann herself had never been here, it’s existence wasn’t too surprising. Just as she had her little shed to get away from everything, it wasn’t unreasonable someone would have done the same with flowers, and possibly somewhere even a small livestock or zoo type area.

She placed the basket of cookies down on the ground near the group as one by one they all dropped to the floor and the Twi’lek followed suit sitting on the opposite side to Clove as Arctus. As the others all seemed to look up and gaze wistfully to the stars, Xiann kept her gaze out to the tree tops of the forest. She had spent most of her childhood looking up to the stars, wondering where she would end up if she ever managed to reach that high. Well, here she sat on another world and now the question became, ‘What will she do with this opportunity now that she has got it?’ A question she should have asked months ago, but is only coming to her now.

@LilyNion @SlagathorTheUnknown @Forsythe Crowholde