Temple of Karabor

As she smiled back at him, he felt a wave of relief wash over him. Any intention of attempting to apologise further disappearing as she seemingly confirmed that he had not gone too far. He smiled back at her then, grateful for her reply. He brought his left hand over to rest atop hers. He had not intended to draw her away to a meeting such as what this had turned into, but life had a habit of surprising him with such unexpected moments
You are absolutely correct... I just got a little caught up in the moment. Thank you, again... Not just for this moment, but for being here...
He broke her gaze then, if only for a moment to look back down the hallway they had come from, the distant sounds of celebration faintly echoing through. He smirked as he met her gaze once more
We should probably get back soon... But before we do, There is one thing left... What do you know of the statues down stairs?

Perhaps she was humoring him, to spend some time together. But it seemed earnest enough, which gave him something of an idea as to how long she had spent here. He smiled as he guided her closer to the railing and motioned first to the Marble statue and then Obsidian statue
The people that built this place referred to them as Raava and Vaatu, divine beings that kept the universe in balance... The story goes that they were lovers once, alone in the darkness before time began. It was their union that gave birth to all life and their love that binds the galaxy together. But their union came at a cost, for life demanded they give up half of themselves. Raava gave up her knowledge of the darkness and became a Goddess of the Light, while Vaatu let go his happiness and became a God of the Darkness. Their sacrifices meant that they could never physically be together again, for their very beings repelled one another... Their sacrifices meant that life could begin. But it also began an eons long war in which they recruited followers, attempting to tip the balance of the galaxy to one way or the other...
Zion rested his hand atop Ashara's atop the railing. Zion paused to take a breath and let the story sink in
You, more than most of us, are a true child of Raava and Vaatu. Born of the Light and Dark... But that is merely the names one culture refers to them by. The Witches of Dathomir call them the Winged Goddess and Fanged God, the Jedi and Sith know them as Ashla and Bogan. Whatever we call them, they exist as the Light and Dark. And life demands that we keep the scales balanced...

He turned his head to look at her as he finished the story. He gave her hand a gently squeeze of reassurance
And we will... For now...
He moved off the railing to fully face her, his hand letting go of hers to motion back toward the party
Let us take a moment to celebrate...
He offered his left hand for her to take, to guide her back

Zion remained close as Ashara stumbled into a window sill, managing to catch herself before he needed to take any drastic action and prevent herself from falling to an unfortunate fate. He raised an eyebrow in question as she spoke of needing to find a gardener. A rather unusual request. However, she had made mention of having talents in being able to peer into the Force. He produced a clean handkerchief from a pocket and offered it to Ashara
Will you be alright? Catch your breath, then by all means... Go find your gardener...
He smiled and gave her a nod

Landing his Y-wing starfighter within the hangar bay of the Temple of Karabor, a single passenger and his astromech droid remain within the vessel for a short while before the boy finally exits the craft. Peering around to see if anyone was around, he then leans up against his ship and pulls out a silvery metal container from one of his pockets. The R2 unit, still locked into place within the astromech slot, sets off an angry set of beeps. Hardly paying him any mind, the boy opens the case to reveal a set of cigarras.

Yeah yeah yeah, he grumbles as he pulls one out and brings it to his lips. Consider it one last hoorah before work with this Zion Morviael begins.

With a snap of his fingers, the boy summons a small flame to his fingertips with the Force and lights the other end. Breathing in deep, the boy appears to instantly relax as he exhales, smoke wafting around him. Nonetheless, he keeps his eyes peeled for any who might begin to approach him while he takes another drag. Not exactly a good first impression, which he would need. He would enjoy it while he could, though. To his dismay, the R2 unit continues its incessant noises. The boy rolls his eyes and mutters to himself.

...and this is why I’m leaving you with the ship...

Zion had started making his way toward the hangar bay after being alerted to the imminent arrival of a visitor by orbital control. He entered the cavernous space just a few steps behind Ashara as he settled his gaze on the new arrival. His hand rising ever so slightly as with one movement he sent a focused push of Force energy at the cigarra still protruding from the young man's mouth. A passing cleaner droid quickly sucking up the cigarra as it hit the ground. With a second movement, he created a small vortex of air to suck the putrid smoke from within the hangar bay. He came to a stop next to the Lightspawn Female, a less than impressed look upon his face
Perhaps you wish to kick such a vile habit while within the walls of a Temple?

The boy, keeping an eye on his surroundings, readily removes the cigarra from his mouth as another approaches him. He expected some sort of armed or armoured guards, or at least somebody with a weapon to make the initial greeting. When his eyes catch Ashara's figure, however, he couldn’t help but leave the thing dangling between his fingers, smoke wafting up in front of him. She’s nothing like any being he’s seen before, freezing the now starry-eyed boy in place. However, her question forces him to come to. It's a bit too late of a realization that he had been staring with perhaps a bit too much perplexion and interest.


Before he could fully compose himself and put out the cigarra, let alone acknowledge the woman's question, another stomps in behind her. His cigarra rips from his hand with a display of the Force, easily enough of a task considering how captivated he was of the woman. In response, the R-2 unit in the vessel lets out a few chittering chuckles, although fueling more of the boy's frustration.

Oi! the boy howls, his gaze now forcibly shifting towards the larger, older male. You sure as hell got some nerve.

The boy's hand twitches, as if about to reverberate something back in retaliation. Catching himself quickly, and his tongue from rambling off any other obscenities, the boy hushes the scowl on his face with a sigh. Getting kicked out of the Temple in his first five minutes here was the last thing he wants, so playing nice is his only real option. Wasted cigarra or not. With another sigh, he turns to a more respectful posture, then bows low at the waist, although his body turning so that he bows more towards Ashara than her late companion.

I meant no offense by it, he explains, his voice clear but holding none of his earlier irritation. Travel weary and nervous, now that I've finally made it here.

He then lifts himself back to his full posture and meets Ashara's gaze again. Offering her a smile, the boy runs his fingers through his hair and pushes it out of his eyes. Although, as he glances over at the male, his smile loses some of its genuinity. No matter.

The real question is what might I do for the Order, he answers, focusing his full attention back upon Ashara. I travelled all this way for a chance to seek an audience with Zion Morviael, to see if the Order might have a place for me.

=Ashara=
Privet boxes aren't really my preferred style. Now let me take some of that...

Ashara took hold of the rest of the bags and began leading the young woman through the Temple. As they walked they passed by several windows out into the courtyard Ashara wished Kalene to work on. It was overgrown with dead vines and those plants that were still alive were wild and tangled beyond help. That is, the help of someone without Kalene's talents. The Lightspawn was sure to point out the garden to her young companion. But they did not stop for long and eventually arrived at the dormitory that Kalene was to occupy. Ashara helped with anything Kalene needed, but before she departed from the young girl for an early night of sleep, she stood in the doorway for a moment. She looked the young human over before speaking.

=Ashara=
Kalene, their is something you should know, about me and those here in the Temple. We are an order dedicated to preserving balance in the Force. Many of us are quite adept at it, including myself. I thought I should fore warn you so you aren't too surprised if you witness demonstrations of such power tomorrow from other members of the Order.

The woman would wait for if Kalene had any questions.


===A Few Days Later==

Ashara found herself smiling, amused at the by the two men butting heads like nurffs, and the needless tension. She was not a fan of how Zion had approached the whole cigar situation, but on the other hand even one as young as this teen should have known better than to smoke in the middle of a hanger, let alone temple. The Forcespawn would return the bow, though not as low. She wanted to keep an eye on the two, and would be ready to utilize Tutaminis, should the need arise to separate these two bull rancors.

True enough, the boy had done his research prior to his arrival at the Temple. However, Zion's answer wasn't something he had accounted for. All texts and recounts that he could find on this Master Zion Morviael revealed that, among the usual and expected warnings, he was long-lived and among a race of beings he had never heard of before. Upon his arrival to the Temple, he expected to find Zion to be closer to a hunched over, elderly man-type figure that looked, well, not human or anything like the man in front of him now.

'Well kriff me sideways,' is what the boy wants to say, but holding on to some dignity, he swallows his initial reaction to the unfortunate news. The boy nearly sneers at Zion's comment about this not being a preparatory school or daycare, but with all the might that he had, he holds his tongue. In part, it's a glance of Ashara’s smile, revealing that she's clearly amused by the two's reaction, that keeps the boy a bit more composed than if Zion had come alone. All the same, he reiterates silently to himself that he didn't come to get kicked out within his first five minutes. Over and over again, he whispers that thought in his head like a mantra: play nice.

With a nod of his head towards Zion now, the boy answers with a faint snark in his tones, If I desired some kind of daycare or preparatory school, I would've just enrolled in the Jedi Academy.

He then shoves his hands in his pockets and offers a half-hearted shrug to the both of them.

I came here because I want to fight for something bigger than myself. I wouldn't have rushed here the moment news broke the streets about this Order if I didn't believe that there was something here for me.

His bright blue eyes then shifted wholly off of Ashara for perhaps the first time to lock eyes with Zion. For once, this boy carries a seriousness that aged him just enough to show at least some sense of maturity.

While I believe I'm capable enough for this Order, it's ultimately your decision, sir. If you can put this rather rocky first impression behind you, I’d appreciate the chance to prove it to you.