Open Yavin IV Thelian Lsai's Funeral

[Emilia Vuth]

Agamar. A planet that Emilia ended up on only because of all the distress calls she'd picked up. On her way to another planet, she'd been bombarded with them. It wasn't long before she realized it was because the Sith had attacked the planet.

Another planet. Another cog in the Empire.

But, by the time Emilia made it to Agamar it was too late. She was forced to sneak through imperial security just to land, just to see if she could help any survivors.

When she touched down on the planet, it was only a few minutes before she came upon a young man's remains. There by his side was a lightsaber hilt, and the sight sent a wave of sadness through the young sephi. She knew what she was looking at: a padawan, a fallen Jedi.

Emilia kneeled down by the boy. He was so young. Close to her age, if she was being honest with herself. Placing a hand on his lightsaber, she gripped it, coming to terms with what she was witnessing. The galaxy, the Jedi Order, everyone was in danger at this point. The Sith were rapidly expanding, faster than Emilia was moving with her own plans. That had to change.

Even though Emilia hadn't been to a temple since she was a youngling, she knew where she needed to bring this boy. She couldn't leave him here. No, many people probably wondered where the young boy was. Many people probably cared for him. Emilia's desire to be alone was overwritten by a sense of duty to bring the young Jedi home.

After delivering the boys remains to a master at the temple, Emilia had decided to stay and wait for his funeral, even if she didn't know the boy.

Only a day passed before Emilia walked towards Thelian Lsai's Funeral. She knew his name now, after being informed of it. Emilia stopped at the very edge of where the ceremony was taking place, leaning on a wall and crossing her arms to listen to others speak.

She couldn't shake off the sense of hating being at a temple. She didn't belong here, but she couldn't leave the planet without attending the boys funeral. No, not after finding him and bringing him home. She had to see this through. Thelian deserved it. Deserved someone honoring his death, at very least, after the Order had failed him and let him fall.

OOC: Open to Jedi.

 

[Maura Starwalk]

Death. Death was one of those things that Maura knew about, but to a kid, it was something that never registered until they were finally forced to face it's hand. She didn't know Thelian much past his name and his face, but she'd decided she liked him. He was big, tall, and he always looked a bit scary in a cool way. Yeah, he was scary in a not so cool way that time he yelled at the wagon driver, but Maura thought she'd be mad too if her arm got splattered with acid.

The kid didn't know him well, but she'd looked up to him. Once or twice she'd seen him training and thought to herself how she wanted to be strong like him one day. Big muscles and a scary, serious face! Maura had even planned to corner him next year once she took her martial arts class and beg him to teach her cool moves. It'd bee a foolproof, totally thought out plan too with a combination of guilt tripping, super persuasive reasonings, and the good ol' puppy dog eyes.

But now? Maura stared wide-eyed at his casket, a confused mixture of emotions tumbling around inside of her. Instinctively she knew it was grief, but the kid wasn't familiar with the emotion. Shock too, because he'd always seemed so strong. He was strong, right?

Tears began to well up in Maura's eyes, not just from sadness, but from a plethora of other emotions as well. Anxiety, helplessness, confusion, frustration. Her facial features contorted further as the floodgates let loose, and salty tears mixed with a runny nose as Maura cried quietly from her place at the funeral. She tried to wipe the snot and tears off her skin with the sleeve of her robes, sniffing as she did so.

"I don't understand..." Why did he die?

 

[Kyosuke Yamato]

"As long as the Sith live, this is what will become of us." Kyosuke Yamato's silhouette stepped out of the temple doorway's shadow, responding to the rainbow-haired youth as he gradually made his way across the center of the room toward her and the fallen Jedi's casket. He would stop several meters away from her to give the mournful girl some space, of course, and then he'd flash his bright blue gaze from a crack in the corner of his jet-black bangs to the white-haired girl for the briefest of moments as he took notice of her.

The elegant silver handle of his split-saber was attached into a single unit and clipped to the left side of his black Jedi utility belt, trying to make it clear that he identified himself as one of them today -- not something he usually did. The fine shimmersilk wrap he wore was also a sign of his current attempt to better mingle with the current company, as it resembled something more modest and slightly closer to tradition than his usual outfits. He crafted it especially for this occasion too, because this was more than just a funeral.

The boy's death had the potential to be a catalyst, hopefully capable of igniting a spark in the hearts and minds of the rest of the Order. To unite them, and get them to make a move while they still had a chance. Something. Anything. Kyo couldn't let himself hide in the Outer Rims anymore, waiting for the wars to blow over while he did nothing. He didn't want anyone else here to wind up like Thelian, whom he never had the chance to meet. The young man would close his shiny azure eyes, which were covered by his raven bangs, then he'd briefly give a light momentary bow to pay his respects to the fallen Jedi before he rose back up.

"We've lost too much already. If we don't turn things around, we'll lose the rest." His tone was soft and smooth, and clear he wasn't coming at this with the presence of a leader. The young man wasn't really raising his voice, and he clearly wasn't trying to agitate anyone. He was just simply speaking his mind with the hope that at least one of the Jedi around here would agree with him. Not that he was insinuating they go around killing all the Sith, as he realized he might've implied. "I mean... We can still try and save some of them, but I think we all realize we wouldn't be able to redeem every last one."



@Lilith @lizziie

 

[Ty Reus]

There is the unpleasant part, the Jedi are a force for good in the galaxy, but the Jedi are at war with the Sith, and death is as reality that Jedi can face as they fight against them. Ty had heard reports from, Agamar fell to the Sith, even though Jedi were trying to defend it. The young Jedi stood in defense and was killed for it. Ty closed his eyes in morning, he didn't know the fallen Jedi personally, but it's still sad nontheless. Ty was in attendance, with everyone else in the crowd.

One Jedi spoke grimly (@AdventCore) and if they should or shouldn't try saving or redeeming 'them', which he guesses means the Sith? "I think that line of thought would be more apt discussed at the next Conclave. For now, I think we should honor Thelian's life." he would turn towards the casket. If Ty had be frank the funeral should be about the dead rather than the direction the Order should take, and didn't think the Jedi's willingness redeem Sith had anything to do with how the padawan died anyways. "I can't say I know Thelian personally, but he stood in defense of Agamar. And whether or not he's was victorious, he's still a a hero. His efforts are not in vain. He is one with the Force now." he would walk towards the young rainbow-haired Jedi (@lizziie), who seemed distraught, reaching out and smiling to help comfort her.

Ty would would pause and then look around, more people are gathering. "Is there anyone that knew more about Thelian that would like to speak about him?" he asked softly, not pressuring anyone for what may be a difficult time for some Jedi. Perhaps there were people part of his circle of friends that would like to come forward and speak of him.

@Lilith

 

[Arctus Friers]

He was just a kid.

Thelian Lsai was a Padawan Arctus never really got to hang around with, someone the former smuggler had never gotten to interact with. The Echani was one of the Jedi who tried to defend and survived the invasion of Dantooine, and while the older Padawan had never really gotten to know the teenager he still worried for the young man when Clove recounted her memories of that fateful day.

Saying that he wished he could've known Thelian Lsai better was useless now, because the Padawan now lay before them in a casket, deader than Arctus had seen anyone and that was saying a lot.

Thelian Lsai was just a kid, regardless of his track record and skills as a Padawan, and he died defending a planet that was now claimed by the Sith. Arctus might not have known Thelian well, might not have been given or taken the chance to befriend the Echani, but the deceased Padawan's unidentified Sith killer (because who else would it be) was another person added in Arctus's list of hated people – if he could even still call them people; if he could even still tag those Darksiders as people.

Thelian was just a kid.

The oldest Padawan in the Jedi Order couldn't find the strength nor courage to approach the casket, instead gravitating towards the youngest Padawan in the mournful gathering. Retrieving a clean, blue handkerchief he would offer it to the crying Maura (@lizzie), and, if she would let him, Arctus would then place a comforting – or what passes as one – hand on her shoulder. The former smuggler focused on her first, but keeping in mind Knights Kyosuke Yamato (@AdventCore) and Ty Reus' (@The Good Doctor) exchange. Glancing around his hazel grey eyes met Knight Emilia Vuth's (@Lilith) and would nod at her gratefully for bringing Thelian home.

Looking back at Maura, Arctus let out a sad sigh. "I don't understand why he had to die," he told the girl, though it came out more as an admission. "Why it had to be him. He stood to defend a planet and its people, but it cost him his life. Yeah, sure, he's a hero for standing up for what's right. Sure, he's one with the Force now. But he's dead– he's dead, and it's sad, it makes me feel angry, anxious, helpless... we should be acknowledging all that, shouldn't we? We celebrate the life of the deceased and sing songs of praises, but death is a sad fact and we can't just overlook that. He's just a kid and he's dead."

He wasn't even sure if he was making sense with all his rambling. But his words echoed his feelings, his thoughts, and emotions. Knight Yamato was correct in saying that the Jedi had already lost too much. Arctus wouldn't even refute nor correct Knight Reus' approach when it came to dealing with death. But like Thelian, Maura was just a kid – still a kid – who was processing her own grief over the loss of a fellow Padawan. So the former smuggler tried to help her by any means he could, and that was to acknowledge her feelings and let her know that they were justified.

That she was right to feel the emotions roiling within her, that it was alright to feel them, because Thelian Lsai was dead and he was never coming back.

 

[Clove Vanhoop]

---

When the news first hit her, Clove felt nothing. No pain, no sadness, no grief. Clove's experience with death had been clinical at best prior to today. Cadavers she encountered during her medical studies, the Dantooine child she killed by mistake, and the Yavin IV child whose spine was weaponized by Aadya. Bodies of people she didn't know, people she'd never miss if it weren't for the guilt of making mistakes.

But then came the morning before the funeral, when the Jedi awoke and shuffled to the cafeteria for breakfast. Thelian's usual spot was empty. His chair was empty, and he was never going to fill it again. After a while, some random kid would take his place, and they'd have no choice but to accept it, but until then, it'd be an empty spot. That realization hit her like a speeder slamming into her stomach, knocking the wind out of her lungs.

And when the doors leading to Thelian's casket opened, all Clove wanted to do was flee. Run, just like she did when she first met the boy on Dantooine.

Still, dressed in a black dress with sleeves long enough to hide the almost itching tattoo on her wrist, the half-Annfyn forced herself into the room. Head up high, shoulders wide, after all; There's no Death, there's the Force. But one glance at the white hair in the casket was all her warm tears needed to collect on her eyelids, before streaming down her cheeks. The sobs came louder than expected, and all she could do was clench her teeth together to silence them.

Why him? She'd always wanted to learn more about Thelian, to see what lay beneath his ice-cold eyes and wintery forest aura. But their schedules never aligned. Kriff, the last time she saw him properly was at the karaoke, where she was frustrated because he had turned violent, again. And yet, he always gave her that special tiny smile reserved for her and Zana. A look that assured her that she would be safe as long as she was near him. And now she was there and he wasn't, her skin inked with an empty vow. A vow to always look out for and protect one another.

So much for protecting him.

She vaguely heard a voice asking if anyone wanted to share any memories(@The Good Doctor). She vaguely noticed Arctus(@Forsythe Crowholde) talking to Maura(@lizziie). But instead of leading her to the familiar faces of her 'brother' and the adorable kid, her wheels led her to the solitude of the ceremony's edge, where she'd only find the Sephi (@Lilith). Any other day, just seeing a pure Sephi would ruin her mood and send her running, but now, any hatred she had for the Sephi paled in comparison to the overwhelming sadness and frustration coursing through her body. "Do you mind if I stay here?" the half-Annfyn asked quietly to the Jedi Knight between the stifled sobs.

---

tag -​

 

[Ruzaan Kai]

Ruzaan kept waiting for it all to be revealed as an elaborate joke- even though he knew that Thelian wasn't the humorous type. He kept waiting for the Echani to leap out of his casket, punch somebody, and maybe even smile for once... but the growing knot in both of his stomachs combined with the grief evident in the room told him that this was not going to happen. Questions raced through Ruzaan's mind as he looked for a place to sit- How? Why? Who did this?

It seemed like most of the Order had gathered to pay their respects; Ruzaan saw Maura, Arctus, Clove, Master Reus, Master Eblon, and even Emilia, among others; so many people to try to support all while feeling like he was falling apart himself. He and Thelian hadn't been very close, but even so, Ruzaan found himself grieving for a friend that might have been. Other, darker questions began surfacing; had Thelian died feeling abandoned? Why didn't I do more to connect with him while he was alive? Might that have made a difference? Had it been quick, or had he suffered?

And the most terrifying question of them all...

Who is next?

Ruzaan looked around the assembled Jedi, hoping against hope that he could somehow protect all of them for all time so that this never happened again... knowing that such a thing was impossible.

There is no Death, there is the Force.

And yet, here was Death.

 

[Elidan]

While he walked toward the room where Thelian's funeral was happening, Elidan thought about what had happened. Death wasn’t something unknown to him, the Padawan had watched some of his friends die in Ajan Kloss. Some would think that he was prepared for it and would be able to control himself. However he couldn't do it. Before coming there, the half-Annfyn had cried alone in his room.

Perhaps some would say that he was stupid for crying to someone that he barely interacted and that was rude and grumpy most of the time. But for Elidan, the entire Jedi Order was his family and that included Thelian. The death of any of them meant to him the same as if someone had lost a cousin or a brother.

Even if the two weren’t exactly friends, Thelian was a constant presence in the classes. Always sitting in a corner, sometimes with his characteristic grumpy face, while in others he would be sleeping and the professors would wake him up. It will be so strange to have class now and see the Echani's seat empty. The knowledge that he would never return was so shocking. These thoughts brought more tears to Elidan’s already red eyes.

Once again this tragedy was the Sith's fault. The Echani was a good person and didn't deserve to die. It wasn’t fair. The Sith were the ones that should be annihilated. They only bring Darkness to the Galaxy, their destruction needs to happen as soon as possible.

With this mix of hatred and sadness, Elidan arrived at the funeral. He saw that some other Jedi had already arrived there. He could see that Maura seemed to be so sad. It was so strange, she always was a happy girl. Clove was also there, mourning close to the casket. She and Thelian were close, he couldn’t imagine how much she was suffering.

When he saw Ruzaan, Elidan briefly nodded at him. He didn’t want the Togruta to see how his eyes were red. The half-Annfyn approached the casket. Thelian seemed to be so peaceful there. I was as if he was only sleeping, like how he used to do during the History classes. The auburn-haired boy nearly expected that he would wake up anytime soon.

“May you find peace in the Force, Thelian.” he whispered, it was the first time that he spoke in public since that small adventure with all the Padawans. His voice was so low that few would hear it now, maybe only Clove and the Sephi that was near her. “We aren’t going to forget you.”

@Lilith @lizziie @Forsythe Crowholde @The Good Doctor @SlagathorTheUnknown @LilyNion

 

[Tiberius Fenric]

*Nothing like a funeral to bring people together* Tiberius thought to himself as he stepped into the large room filled with his fellow Jedi. He was wearing black robes to mark the mournful occasion. The room was filled with friends and acquaintances, and even a few faces that Tiberius was unfamiliar with. Each of these people were grieving in one way or another whether it was over the failings of the order or those that had known Thelian personally and were now confronted with permanent loss.

Like many in the room, Tiberius had never officially met the young Echani. He didn’t hangout much with the padawans, but that didn’t mean that he did not feel the loss of one of his own. The death of any Jedi was a sad occasion. Of course, like many others, he now wished that he had taken the time to get to know the boy better, but it was too late for that now. No matter how much any of the people in this room wished it Thelian was not coming back.

Being here reminded Tiberius of how finite like was. Eventually everyone here would die. There was nothing anyone could do to stop it. Although, there had been many individuals who had tried throughout history. Ultimately, though, all of them failed. They staved it off for a while but they all came to the same end.

Tiberius scanned the room as he walked in. It seemed like almost the entire order had turned out to pay their respects. Tiberius spotted several familiar faces and some that he had yet to get to know. Many of the padawans who had known the Echani were shedding tears for the boy. Tiberius had always seem a sympathetic crier and seeing the sorrow of the padawans caused tears to well up in his eyes, but he fought them back.

Tiberius spotted Ruzaan and made his way over to him. As he walked from the entrance over to the padawan he spotted Emilia at the opposite end of the room by the casket. He was surprised to see her here, but he had heard that it was she who returned the body to the temple.

He stopped next to the Togruta placed a hand on his shoulder “How are you doing?” The knight asked in a soft tone. He did not know Ruzaan’s relationship with Thelian, but since they were both padawans Tiberius assumed that they had been closer than Tiberius was with the Echani.

Tag:@Lilith @lizziie @Forsythe Crowholde @The Good Doctor @SlagathorTheUnknown @LilyNion

 

[Zana Ari]

Theme
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She was in denial when the news hit. She didn’t want to believe it. She couldn’t believe it. There had been a mistake. But a part of her knew. A part of her felt that wave of pain suddenly course through her before she was even told the news. She had been one of the few people, if not the only one, that had gotten truly close to Thelian. As close as he ever allowed anyone, and in the end, she hadn’t been there either.

Zana almost didn’t consider going, because every emotion felt raw. Every memory was vibrant as if it were being cruelly played out over and over again. She walked towards the casket, her eyes sunken and her face betraying the anguish she felt. There was no thought to her teachings, no thought to who was present, no thought towards how anyone felt. He was dead. He was gone. She would never again gaze upon those silver eyes, she would never again see the hints of a smile when he thought he was doing such a good job of hiding it, would never again hear his blunt and reassuring words right when she needed them.

She would never again hear their silly bird call they had made up as a secret signal that never worked. She would never again feel what it was like to settle against his warm embrace when she fought against herself. She would never know what truly went through his mind, all of those unspoken words that always died on his lips when his eyes yearned to speak so much more. She would never learn more about his past or his future. It all ended abruptly and suddenly here. The book she hadn’t even known she had opened was slammed shut before she could turn every last page. And there was no going back.

Before she could stop herself, the twi’lek collapsed down to her knees a decent bit away from the casket, near where Clove (@LilyNion ) was. Her hands planted on the ground, fingers curling into the dirt. She felt overwhelming emotion and a sense of numbness all at once. She wanted to blame someone. She wanted to despise the Sith. She wanted to blame herself for not being there. She wanted to blame the Jedi for ever putting them into a position where they had to take up arms. No amount of training had prepared her for this.

But her mind kept a sense of calm.

Zana did not cry, but she stared at the ground. At the earth. She focused of every bit of life around her. Life that Thelian now joined in the Force after his death. In all the ways he left them physically, she refused to let him die in her heart. In her mind and in every metaphysical thread of her being. He pulsed with life there, and she would carry him there for as long as she lived.

“Goodbye, Thelian..” She whispered quietly to herself, her voice broken.

@Altaris

 

[Clove Vanhoop]

---

Something caught the half-Annfyn's attention after the Sephi(@Lilith) responded. Zana(@Sreeya). She was the only person who knew Thelian better than she did. The girl who had been clearly smitten with him back in the day. And, by the looks of it, she was having a difficult time.

Even though the warm tears seemed to have no end, the sight of the blue-skinned girl on her knees was enough to silence her own sobs. As much as she was in pain, as much as her own chest felt tight to the point of aching, Zana's pain took the foreground in her mind. Whether it was a coping mechanism, genuine worry, or a combination of both, she needed to get to Zana. Her trembling hands gripped the wheels, and she slowly began to roll away from the Jedi Knight.

At the very least, she apologized with a sincere; "Never mind, sorry. I have to help a friend," before disappearing from her side.

Clove tilted her head to the right as she approached Zana, thinking of the right words to say. She usually just dragged people into her arms for a tight embrace. But there was a wheelchair in the way, and Zana was on the floor. So she had to say something, anything, really. But she quickly realized that there were no right words, so she spoke the first sentence that fluttered through her mind in a whisper. "Zana..? I'm so sorry..."

---

tag -​

 

[Emilia Vuth]

"Do whatever you want," Emilia answered curtly to the Jedi who stopped beside her (@LilyNion). If she didn't have a sense of duty, she would've left right then when the woman choose to stop in the one place Emilia felt far enough away from everything. She saw an older Jedi make eye contact with her and nod (@Forsythe Crowholde). While Emilia acknowledged it, she simply looked away after.

Being around so many Jedi, sensing so many emotions, including her own, Emilia continued to feel uncomfortable. Increasingly. Especially as a few Jedi she recognized arrived. At least Tiberius kept his distance, likely because he knew Emilia's disposition.

Still, the young sephi pushed the feelings aside for the time being. There was still something she needed to do before she could allow herself to leave.

Right then she walked away from the Jedi who'd stopped by her. Still stoic in appearance, Emilia's strides brought her in front of Thelian Lsai's casket. Her purple gaze lingered on it for a few heartbeats, and then she unhooked the boys lightsaber from her belt. The one, at least, that she found by his body back on Agamar. With a soft clink, the hilt was placed on his casket. It didn't belong to Emilia. She wasn't a loved one of his, she didn't even feel she belonged here.

But, she spoke, "I didn't know you, Thelian, and this doesn't belong to me." The small Jedi let go of the hilt. "What I do know is that you are now one with the Force. That you're still with those that care for you. That is why I will not say goodbye."

Her hands fell to her sides and Emilia took a step back from the casket. "But I will honor your courage and sacrifice by remaining focused, and doubling down on my efforts against the Sith."

With what she wanted to say out of the way, the small Knight turned away from the casket. She let her strides bring her past the Jedi on the edges of the funeral because she'd preformed her duty here. She was ready to leave and would do so promptly as soon as she made it back to the ship that she'd rented.

@Altaris

 

[Haldir Eressëa]

Haldir Eressëa did what he had always done best during funerals, whether if it was for a fellow Jedi or a family member. Standing vigil over the dead on the corner, partly hidden in the shadows where no one paid him any heed. Clad in all black and face concealed by black bandages, no one would be able to tell that the Arkanian Offshoot's gaze never left the casket of Padawan Thelian Lsai.

He did not personally know the Padawan, only knowing that he existed through the Echani's files and his activities within and outside the Temple. The young man had great potential, but it was now a potential wasted because he lost his life to the Sith. But Haldir looked further than that, looked further than what was truly lost as the war between the Jedi and the Sith raged on.

A future. That was what Thelian's killer had taken from the Padawan. And for the first time since he entered the room, Haldir silently gazed at the Padawans gathered to mourn their fallen friend (or acquaintance) and thought which of these young ones would be taken from the Jedi next. The thought was far from comforting, but it was a reality they faced the longer the Sith continued their quest to dominate all life in the galaxy.

The attack on Yavin IV had been won, but many Younglings were taken by the Sith. And now there Thelian Lsai was laid to rest, robbed of his future even as he fought bravely to defend Agamar.

Haldir closed himself off in the Force, not wanting to be overwhelmed by the overture of grief, sadness, and anger all around him. He would have stayed where he stood in the corner if it weren't for the muted sound of river running reaching him, closed off as he was in the Force. It was a sound he knew, heralding the arrival of one of his Padawans in this mournful gathering.

As Elidan approached the casket, the Arkanian Knight decided to give the half-Annfyn a moment so he could say his goodbyes to his fellow Padawan. Through their bond Haldir could hear Elidan's sadness, a soft, low tune, as well as the Padawan's hatred, steel grating crudely against steel through the Force. He knew his student's views about the Sith, and given how the Padawan currently sounded through their bond in the Force Haldir was given a glimpse that Thelian's death only strengthened Elidan's hatred for the Sith.

The Knight moved fron his post to silently approach his Padawan. Haldir reached out to Elidan through their bond, a steadfast, comforting presence amid the sadness and hatred the half-Annfyn currently felt. He gave Padawans Ari and Vanhoop their space, and focused on Elidan.

A gloved hand rested on the half-Annfyn's shoulder. Turning to face Elidan, Haldir turned his free hand into a fist and rubbed it in a circular motion across his chest.

Sorry.

At this very moment? The Knight knew that it was currently the best he could do. But he would not turn Elidan away if the latter chose to express his grief. Haldir would be here for him, and any other Padawan who would want a listening ear, always.

@LouJoVi

 

[Kyosuke Yamato]

These weren't the robots Kyo thought they were. These were people.


Kyosuke's convictions began to slip away as he froze the moment in his mind's eye and pulled his view away to analyze the event. The scene would slowly rotate in his mind as he focused in on every single individual in the room. The emotions they seemed to be feeling, their body language, their pain. It was almost too much for the withdrawn loner to bear.

The young Shadow had to keep the tide of emotions from swelling around him, from washing him up in the sorrow of the others. Just how well did some of these people know this boy? His inquisitive nature made him want to find out more. To investigate every individual, to reassure them that everything would be alright... But he'd spent so much time alone, so much time away from the rest of the Order, and so many cycles spent bearing down on these kinds of emotions to lock himself into balance that he felt out of place. And he felt that balance slipping.

He came in with the wrong first impression. He'd misjudged just how much these people were going to feel. They didn't need to be riled up, to be struck with vengeance. They needed time to accept what had happened, to cope with the loss. It could've been dangerous to formulate any kind of plan with half these Jedi still in such pain. It seemed Justicar Reus was right.

Hesitating to respond to the man for a moment, Kyo paused and watched as the small silver-haired Knight he'd noticed earlier approached the casket and paid her respects (@Lilith). He found himself moved by her words, her actions. He wondered if she might've been the one who'd found the fallen boy, seeing as she held his saber, but he felt like now wasn't the time to bother her or anyone else with his curiosity. Redouble her efforts against the Sith.... She was the only one that seemed to be on the same page as him, everyone else seemed like they needed this time to mourn...

"You're right. These Jedi - these people - aren't ready for any of that right now. Forgive me." Kyosuke gave a polite and sincere bow at the shoulders to the Justicar (@The Good Doctor). He wanted to say something to reassure the older Padawan that seemed to struggle in the wake of all this (@Forsythe Crowholde), and to give strength to the one who'd been brought to her knees by the overwhelming tides of emotion as he gazed down at her with a hint of sympathy (@Sreeya). At least she already seemed to have someone to help her through this, though Kyo had to admit - it was the first time he'd seen a Jedi in a wheelchair - he tried to keep his curious gaze off the girl (@LilyNion), as much as he wanted to know about that, she was just one more person who didn't need to be bothered by him right now.

Many others seemed to need some kind of support as well, but it was never something he thought he was any good at. Besides, he'd already been given a slap on the wrist, and the young man wasn't going to push the subject any further. At least he'd gotten his message across, and planted the seed of inception to any who'd heard him.


Kyo would turn and begin to walk away, donning the small black hood at the back of his handmade tunic to cover his downtrodden expression, while he let his gaze fall to the ground and slipped his hands into his pockets. He tried to keep the swell of sorrow from creeping up on him and bearing down on him with its pressure as he took a deep breath, and began to focus on the comfort of the light side. The Knight felt a slight tingle of anxiety in his chest as he would continue to make his way for the exit, further pulling the light side up around him like a protective armor to repel the tides, and to act as a beacon for any who might need it during this trying time.

 

[Jade Hart]

While everyone paid their respects, a scarfed girl in gray robes carried in several paper boxes. On a nearby table she took out plates, napkins, and two dozen chocolate donuts and salted pretzels on wax paper. Their oven-baked smell mixed with the funeral embalming in a way which made death appetizing.
“I brought refreshments everyone!”

The girl then visited the casket. Peering in, she crossed her arms and shuffled her feet and bit her lip. A long and empty moment passed.

The girl’s sleeve shivered and out popped a brown blur. It was like a tumbleweed with legs such did it move– rolling up her arm, shoulder, scalp– leaping from there to the coffin. It was a Kowakian Monkey-Lizard and it had not been fed. With a mouth-foaming shriek, it licked its fingertips one at a time, goo-goo eyed for the dead delicacy it sat on.

“Tom,” said the girl, unpocketing a wriggling goldfish. The monkey-lizard hiccuped and flung itself back atop the girl’s head, grabbing, swallowing the bony bait whole. The girl groaned and hand-buried her face. To Maura she said, “If it makes you feel better, he only dines on the purest of souls.”