Ask [Yavin 4] Rookie Mistakes

[Willa Kanz]

Packing and running off with Crix had always been the plan, but now that she was on the planet, surrounded by Jedi...

She felt the urge to turn right back around and nope back to Corellia. There, she had a job. She had a place. She had a small existence, but it was hers. But he gave her those sad-boy eyes and... aw hell. She simped. The talk about his mum and the Order just smacked hard, and she found herself standing uncertainly on the landing pad, gripping her bag with white knuckles. He'd already left her to find his Master... she swallowed hard, watching him disappear into the temple ahead.

It was so much easier to imagine a year ago. Just walk in like ya owned the place. Like I belong.

But she didn't. She was so far out of place she felt like she was gonna drown. There were too many people. There was an attack on Ajan Kloss, wasn't there? She heard some kid mentioning it, so many young peeps dead. Her hands began to shake, and she could feel her face pale. Crix said he believed in her... but she couldn't do this.

Not yet.

Her heart thudded loudly in her ears as she strode out, heading instead for the closest grove of trees away from the hustle and bustle. She needed air. She needed a place to get out of the crowd, loosen the knot in her throat. Her stomach felt all twisted up, and she felt sick to her stomach. Would they make her fight too? Would she always be a target?

Shakily, she leaned against the nearest tree, trying to will her heart to slow down, but she felt like the world was just tilting out of focus, and all the changes were getting just a little too much. It was so much more than what she'd considered before, and so much more than what she'd bargained for.

@Nefieslab

 

[Maxims Tionson]

"Hey kid."

Max didn't announce himself in any other way and he didn't go through the trouble of letting her hear him coming either. Moving with stealth and purpose through the trees of Yavin IV was becoming second nature pretty damned quickly for Max. He had done the same back on Ajan Kloss and this 'new' Temple reminded him of it in many ways.

Rather than getting closer to the kid, Max didn't crowd her and instead just sat down on a dead log of wood that had fallen in the middle of the corpse of trees. It was long enough that she could sit down at the other end and still be about five meters away from him so he was reasonably comfortable with sitting down.

Last thing he wanted to do was spook her; poor kid looked like she was about as spooked as she could get after all.

"It's overwhelming the first time, I know." he assured her with a small smile even as he looked off to her left, not actually looking at her as he spoke to her so she wouldn't feel pressured to answer, "Do you want to know what I did the first night I arrived at the Jedi Temple?"

It might have been a long time ago but he remembered it as though it were yesterday.

@Killa Ree

 

[Willa Kanz]

She damn near jumped out of her skin when the voice just sounded. Sure, it was quite a distance, but she had to get used to the Jedi just... sort of appearing out of nowhere. Friggin' spooky was what it was, and she exhaled unsteadily, leaning against the closest tree. He wasn't really lookin' at her... was he talking to someone else?

What a weirdo.

For a few beats, she just stared at him, still shaking, but... the breathing began to ease a little. The dark spots were disappearing, so long as she focused on the dude's face. The roar of engines and the voices weren't super far away, so they weren't entirely alone, but criminy.

Swallowing hard, she finally managed to speak, but it more came out like a weak croak before she winced, and tried again. "Prob not faint," she replied, sliding down to the ground with barely any grace. Her face and hands still felt cold, but some feeling was coming back to her.

Speaking of feelings... her gaze racked over the stranger, as she realized a few things. He had a weird eye. His arm looked hella funky. And he was just out here... chilling?

If it were any place else, he would have seemed super sketch. But she'd roll with it for now... mostly because her knees still felt like Jell-o.

@Nefieslab

 

[Maxims Tionson]

Max could feel her apprehension over him but he could also tell that she still found his presence vastly preferable to the masses at the Temple Hanger. Loud and oppressive noises were often stress triggers so he didn't think anyone would hold it against her that she wasn't exactly enjoying her first day on the moon. Given how she was reacting and the way he could feel the Force entwined with her? He could tell that she was here to become a Jedi.

The trouble was that she didn't seem to quite grasp what that actually meant - which was not unexpected. Due to their distance from the rest of the Galaxy, the Jedi had more myths about them out in circulation than there were facts. As an adult before he came to the Order, Max knew it well enough himself.

But it didn't look like she had all that much time before the Temple.

He turned to face her and smiled.

"No, I didn't faint." he admitted before shrugging ever so slightly, "I tried looking like I knew where I was going... got hopelessly lost and ended up falling asleep outside the Council chambers."

Max chuckled a little bit.

"I got woken up by a very irate Jedi Master poking me with a walking stick. Needing to take five minutes to breathe?" he smiled a little bit more, "Absolutely nothing wrong with that, kid. I'm Max by the way."

@Killa Ree

 

[Willa Kanz]

She nodded numbly, feeling her heart begin to slow, tingling in her hands and face as blood began to rush back; she still felt a little queasy, but listening helped. A shaky smile touched on her lips. So even adults could be kinda clueless... I mean, she knew that, but still. It was nice to know.

"I... yeah. I just don't... I don't..." she exhaled shakily again, pressing her palms together tightly. "I don't know howta fight. And my bestie brought me here, but I was hella scared and with all the news it's just a bit much," she spoke in a rush, feeling her face flush and she swallowed hard. "An' I just don't know what the hell I'm doin' here, I ain't no religious person. I'm just a dumb kid, an' he's all alone and I'm a useless coward," her fingers clenched together. She didn't know why she was telling some rando this, but it wouldn't stop, "an' I have nowhere else to go, my old life on Coru and Corellia sucked an' I can't make music and--"

She stopped, sighing, rubbing a hand on her face. She wasn't gonna cry, she wasn't gonna cry. Not here. Not now. She swallowed hard, focusing on his face.

"Willa. But... friends call me Wiz."

@Nefieslab

 

[Maxims Tionson]

He didn't interrupt her.

In Max's experience there was nothing to be gained by interrupting someone who was in the middle of a nervous rant. Often they needed to get it out there, to actually say it, and that helped them. Helped them either by highlighting how it wasn't really as bad as they thought it was when said aloud or by the relief that so often came when a problem was shared.

Max patted the trunk he was sat on.

"Take a seat kid, before you fall down." he told her with a small smile, "Nice to meet you, Willa. I'm gonna tell you something and I want you to think about it for a minute alright?"

He reached out into the Force, feeling the life around him for a moment before speaking again.

"You've heard about Jedi Masters - right? Strong with the Force, good with a lightsaber and wise. Everything you learn as a Padawan? They've learned, used and mastered." he chuckled a little bit, "But every single one of them started off right where you are right now. As some scared kid..."

Max patted his chest.

"I know I was when I was a Padawan and I was in my late twenties at the time." he told her with a chuckle, "But I got through it. My friends got through it. And you'll get through it - and you know what else? You'll get through it on your own time. Don't look at others and judge yourself and your progress; just look in."

@Killa Ree

 

[Willa Kanz]

He didn't give her any creeper vibes, and he seemed like a decent guy. But the lecture wasn't helping. She wasn't ever gonna be a master of anything, especially at this rate. She wrapped her arms around her knees, staring at the man over the tops of her knees when she finally spoke up, dark brows dented.

"I don't know nobody here. I don't know... about masters or none of that," she muttered, flushing even darker and clenching fists into her sleeves. "I don't wanna let him down. He said we gotta learn to protect ourselves, but... there's so much wrong goin' on. All those broadcasts say Jedi and Sith are bad guys... how can we be? I don't even know how to control any of this, much less howta understand it. I just... feel."

She held out a hand, and it shook hard, before she clenched it again, pressing it against her chest.

"I wanna be the best. I've gotta look out for them... I just don't know or understand how."

@Nefieslab

 

[Maxims Tionson]

Kid was a little bit closed off wasn’t she? Kind of rude to basically just go ‘no’ and ignore everything he had said like she had never heard of Jedi Masters. The whole Galaxy knew enough about the Jedi to know that they had ranks of Knights and Master. But he just rolled his eyes slightly and let it go instead, just listening to her.

She had a bit of a point about the confusion brought up by the media but if she was confused he wasn’t sure why she was here. In fact it seemed as though she was confused as to why she was here and that was never a good sign.

Max shrugged once.

“I don’t know what to tell you, kid.” He rubbed at his beard with his left hand, the metallic fingers of his right hand tapping against each other, “But if you’re only motivation is a boy?”

He pointed to the right.

“There’s a ship leaving in about five minutes. If you want to be the best then you need to want it. You want to learn how to master yourself and the Force? You need to have conviction that isn’t defined by some kid.” He eyed her, “So are you gonna nut up or shut up, kid?”

@Killa Ree

 

[Willa Kanz]

His words stung just enough to get her focus. Big brown eyes stared at his, and she could feel her jaw tightened out of habit. Her old man was similar, but he was always ragging on that her priorities were shit. Maybe he was right; but it was more than that. So much more than that.

"I don't want to let fear rule me every karkin' day," she replied bluntly, forcing herself to relax, and even though she was trying hard not to take it personally, it was kinda hard. She exhaled slowly, closing her eyes, before turning her head towards the rumble of ships. Her jaw worked a few times... and then she shook her head, jaw hard and shoulders stiff.

"He's more than some kid. He... believes in me." Her hand clenched again, but there was a slight smile on her lips. "I've been lettin' others save me too many times, ya know. If I gave up right now I'd just be a quitter, and I ain't someone that cries off so easy."

She glanced back to the stranger Max, and gave him the barest hints of a cocky grin.

"I'm here because I wanna make the galaxy a better place. An' help others. Know where I can find someone to teach me?"

@Nefieslab

 

[Maxims Tionson]

Well she had more than just a little bit of passion but that wasn't a bad thing - it certainly beat the outcome five minutes ago where he was almost certain that she didn't actually have any fight. Being a Jedi wasn't about fighting but it was about being ready to stand up and hold your ground even when the rest of the Galaxy was telling you to stay down. It was about being able to reach out and help your fellow sentient because it was Right and not because you expected anything from them.

It was about being spat on by the person you saved and not reacting aside from asking if they were safe now. And it required so much more than most people ever thought possible to do that. THAT was why he pushed her to show him some grit, some determination so that he knew she wouldn't fold.

He stared at her for a minute before shrugging a little bit.

"Alright I got time I guess." he declared bluntly, "I'm going to give you a test, kid. You manage to pass it? Then there's no waiting; you become one of my Padawans and I work you harder than you have ever worked a day in your life."

Max smirked ever so slightly as he stood up from where he had sat on the log with her. Reaching out with the Force, he pulled a leaf down from one of the trees and held it up so that she could see it.

"I am connected to this leaf through the Force. Your task is to take the leaf I am connected to."

He closed his half-metallic fist firmly around the leaf and held it behind his back.

"You can begin."

@Killa Ree

 

[Willa Kanz]

If she managed to pass it? If? It wasn't that easy. She could slip behind him, try to grab it, but she heard the stories of people underestimating Jedi and getting their asses kicked. No way was she gonna try that. She stared up at him at first, standing awkwardly... Then lightly rested her hand on his arm.

Then there was a slight smile on her lips, brown eyes glittering. "If you're connected, then I'll just take you." She knew she should probably do some fancy moves, trying to kick his ass to take it or somethin', but if they were connected, taking him was taking the leaf.

She waggled her brows playfully, head cocked to one side. She wasn't trying to be smart or clever; it made the most sense. If he was connected in the Force to the leaf, it would be simpler, more like a Jedi to take on both. She wasn't gonna force something to happen just to make something she wanted possible; she was gonna wait, bide her time, and compromise.

Or somethin' like that, Jedi loved their fancy words didn't they?

@Nefieslab

 

[Maxims Tionson]

Max couldn’t help but raise a single eyebrow when the wannabe-padawan came closer – he didn’t think she was prepared to attack him physical and he was proven right when she came out with what her actual plan was. Both eyebrows raised for a moment before he let out an honest laugh, deep and booming from his gut.

He shook his head.

“That was almost cute.” He teased her, shaking his head, “But the mission is to take a leaf that I am connected to – not come up with an excuse to try and hold my hand.”

He reached out with his free hand to poke her in the forehead.

“Good use of your head but that’s not what we’re testing here. Do you use the Force with your head, do you think?”

Max took a couple of steps back from her.

“Feel; don’t think. Trust your instincts for they have never lied to you.”

@Killa Ree

 

[Willa Kanz]

She blinked innocently, giving the older man a cheeky grin at his laugh. It was unexpectedly nice; at being poked, her forehead scrunched slightly, and she tilted her head. He noticed one hand... but did he notice the other? It took focus, concentration, but she could give her other idea a chance.

"But my instincts tell me I already have the leaf," she replied sweetly, opening up her other closed palm. The Illusion was difficult to maintain, but it matched almost perfectly the one he had plucked. Instinctual, but difficult to manage; if he scrutinized too closely he would see it to be an illusion, but it was worth a shot at least.

@Nefieslab

 

[Maxims Tionson]

Oh ho?

Another tactic and one he wasn't going to undersell either. Reaching out with his free hand, he held her open hand and hummed a little bit, tilting her hand slightly. The illusion wasn't complete enough for the leaf to move and that wasn't a problem.

"Someone's been reading ahead!" he declared with a laugh, "But despite getting some extra credit... no that's not what I'm looking for either."

He tapped her forehead again.

"Listen very carefully; Take a leaf that I am connected to."

... but not just he was connected to.

@Killa Ree

 

[Willa Kanz]

Okay, so the Jedi were known for their cryptic mystic woo-woo space magic stuff. It was even weirder when it took into account he kept poking her in the forehead. Like that would bring up some synergistic knowledge or something weird like that. For a moment, she merely frowned up at him. He was trying to tell her something... but she just couldn't really determine what.

And then it clicked.

A leaf... that he was connected to. Not the leaf. Wasn't it Crix that mentioned something like it before, something that hadta to with them being connected or some odd New Age stuff like that? She looked up at the trees... and at the closest leaf, drifting down. Catching it, she opened her palm to him, showing it.

She was no longer smiling, but watched him calmly, scanning his features.

"Like this?"

@Nefieslab

 

[Maxims Tionson]

It was the delight of teachers everywhere to see the moment when understanding bloomed on the faces of their students. Like a light that was suddenly switched on and their face suddenly alight as they realized what they had been missing. He hadn’t been a teacher all that long in the grand scheme of things but he would be the first to admit that seeing that expression shift? Well it felt like it made it worth it.

Sometimes.

Chuckling a little bit, Max let the leaf he had been holding go and it was caught on the wind before disappearing from sight. It didn’t matter to him though because the leaf wasn’t important; only the lesson it had helped teach Willa mattered.

“Like that.” He confirmed with a nod, “Being a Jedi is more than just throwing people around with the Force or waving a lightsaber around.”

He made a gesture with his hand and the leaf would fly from her grip to land in the palm of his hand easily.

“Being a Jedi is about realizing that everything is connected. Every living thing in the Galaxy is connected to you through the Force and the perfect Balance in that Force is Life and the Light.” He smiled ever so slightly, “Being a Jedi is about realizing that and accepting that you have a duty to do right by it. To protect that Balance of Life and Light – because it is the Right thing to do.”

@Killa Ree

 

[Willa Kanz]

Were all Jedi this wordy and cryptic? Force, the way he spun his words around, he almost sounded like some of her teachers at Coru. But in a way... it kinda made sense?

Speaking of the right thing.

"Will ya train me?" she asked him directly. There was a chance to talk the Force; there was a chance to prove herself worthy of being a Jedi, or at least someone doing the Right thing. But there was also knowing if she had a place here, if she had this man willing to teach her. She wasn't the type to beat around the bush before, she wasn't gonna stop now.

@Nefieslab

 

[Maxims Tionson]

Would he train her?

Well he supposed it was the only question that mattered to her so it was the question he would answer. He stared at her for a long moment as he reached into the Force. For him it was still like slowly stepping into a lake of warm water and he enjoyed every second of it but it was for a purpose this time aside from just letting the Light wash over him.

He reached out and connected to the Padawan in the Force for a moment.

And that was what she was now - a Padawan because he had already made his decision.

"I'll train you."

He poked her in the middle of the forehead again.

"You gonna make me regret it, short round?"

@Killa Ree

 

[Willa Kanz]

She felt a presence for a moment. Like Crix. It was fleeting, but she stared at him, hands on her hips.

The damn forehead poke again. One black brow perked, then she grinned at his question.

"Of course. But it'll be fun."

//End thread?

@Nefieslab