Nar Shaddaa

Alysele Cortess was... nervous. A feeling that was more familiar with her than she'd like. The last few days have been.... well, hectic. Really hectic.

She glanced at the clock nervously. She's not here yet. For some reason, anxiety was creeping up on her while she waited for her friend. Instead of fretting, she decided to do some work on her saber. She needed all the strength she could get.

OOC:
D6 MM Modding Ilum Crystal, -1 Critical, +1eF and -2eD from own saber: 2eA+1eF+1eD 1 success, 2 advantage, 2 Light Side

Yslane made her way back into the Temple proper after the morning's excitement. She had moved back into the Enclave after her cover was revealed...so the Jedi had stopped to unload some of the equipment she had been carrying.

"Sorry Alys....turned out to be a busy morning." Yslane smiled and took a seat opposite her friend. Her eyes scanned over the pieces of Alys's lightsaber, "I...hope I didn't break your concentration."

"No, I am just finishing." She looked up and smiled at her friend, though it was a bit nervous. "Thanks for coming by, especially as you're busy."

She moved the saber pieces away after done. "Everything alright with you?"

"Its....been a tiring few days," Yslane nods, "But at least I can wander around with my lightsaber again."

"You look fairly tired as well."

"Yeah.. I wanted to ask how are you feeling after... that." She finished putting the saber together and sat in front of her friend. "I'm..."she hesitated. "I'm unsure." Which was decidedly an un-Aly thing to be. "That luncheon has granted mem a new perspective, but I'm not sure what does that mean."

"I felt...calmer after the incident." Yslane smiled and reached out to pat Aly's hand, "I actually need to speak to Master Mersl on it."

"Perhaps if we shared each other's visions? I can go first if you wish."

"Yeah, that might help." She put her right hand over Yslane's. "My stay here has been.... well, it's been brutal. In good ways and bad. Would you like something while we talk? Something to drink perhaps?"

"I'm fine, but if you need something I can wait to begin," She nodded once, then grinned, "Well Alys if it makes you feel any better this is my first real assignment and apparently its a nose dive right into the deep end."

"I'm fine then." She sat, and crossed her legs nervously. "Yeah. It's not my first assignment, but so many things... just changed."

Yslane patted Alys hand, "Change is not always a bad thing. But clearly it is worrying you, do you want to talk about that first?"

"Well..." she suddenly held Yslane's hand. "Maybe. I..." She looked down. "You've known me for a while. I wasn't always... ever... hapyp during my training. I wanted to go home. It was a childish dream, one I clung to for so long, and I saw that dream burn down due to Master Mersl."

She looked away, afraid of looking into Ys' eyes. "It feels... strange. I wasn't happy about it, but I'm not sad. I feel I can move forward perhaps, but... I'm not sure how?"

"Perhaps you should start with your own vision first," Yslane meet Alys's eyes, "My own was less transformative and more....reaffirming. It sounds like yours has helped form a new path forward."

"I was worried you would leave the Jedi during training. You had a lot of talent and a strong connection to the Force. Certainly more then a scared young girl who could just barely keep the emotions of those around her from being overwhelming." Yslane blushed slightly, "I don't think you realize how much your outspokenness helped me in those early days." She runs a hand through her hair, "Err anyway, your vision....what did you see?"

"I.... did? I thought I was just being bossy like always." She frowned. That was.... she smiled. "Thank you."

She looked up at the ceiling, then suddenly stood up and moved towards the cabinet, withdrawing something... fancy.

"I might need some help. So... first off, I faced the nikto. Who..." she gritted her teeth. "Defeated me. It felt like we fought for years, but I learned that he was not real. Then..." she frowned. "There was... something. A monster, made up of scales and daggers. IT danced, and we fought, and I failed. And failed. And failed."

She poured her drink, but her hand was shaking. "I....won, in the end. And then, I... saw my home burn down. My fondest memories, the one I held for a decade for hope, burned to cinders. The place where I spent time with Ni... Niall Organa."

She took a sip. "You sure you don't want a bit? It's from ho-... Alderaan."

Putting the glass down, she continued. "When I got out, I saw the nikto... Azranak, fighting Ni. He's a great guy, charming, kind, dedicated. He's not a great fighter though. I tried to save him. I.. .tried." She looked down. When did the table get wet?

Yslane listened in silence, when Alys finished she stood and gave the other woman a hug. "But you weren't able to? You realized in that moment you can't save everyone and that sometimes one must let them go." She released the hug and held Alys's shoulders, "It's a hard lesson to have to learn." She manages a weak grin for her friend's sake. "Maybe we should both have something to drink after all."

Alys was silent, accepting the hug. "It's not one I really cared to learn... but then, life is the harshest Master of them all."

She slowly stood up to grab another glass. "Some wine from Alderaan." It was weird. Alderaan. Not home.

She wiped away her tears with a hand. "I..." love him? Banged him? "I have a relationship with him. I think. Not sure what we're calling it."

Yslane took the offered glass and reached up to wipe the last few tears from her friend's eyes. "Most of the important lessons are those we do not wish to learn."

"Captain Organa is a fine man....but such attachments are....discouraged." She frowned feeling sorrow for her Alys. "My own vision was similar. I saw a destroyed city and the poor souls left in its ruin...along with a shadow. The ones who caused it. Then the best much as you saw. The fire and the chasm."

"And finally you and the other students at the Temple...my fellow Jedi....my friends. And I had to choose between standing with them in a losing battle or saving the refugees of this war."

Alysele took a sip of her own wine. "Aren't drugs supposed to make yo feel better?" She asked with a sour voice.

"That sounds horrible..." She extended a hand to touch Yslane's shoulder. "You always wanted to help everyone. You gave me the strength to go on, you know." She looked down, her gaze lost in her wine. "Yeah... attachments are not good. I guess, it's just... it doesn't feel that way."

"Not always," Yslane shook her head, "And it was a meditative exercise. We have done enough to know those are not always pleasant."

"The disorder of the war is unfortunate....but I am only one not even full Jedi. I do what I can." She smiled weakly, "Which is trying to make a friend feel better right now. You know given your outfit yesterday, its no surprise the noble Captain would want a relationship with you. Does he know that any partner of your's is second fiddle to the lovely starlet they have the fortune of being with." Yslane teased.

"Do you base that on personal experience?" She let out a weak smile. "You know me, meditation never really clicked. This was the first time and I don't think I care for the full experience."

Alysele let out a small laugh. "Why thank you. Don't tell me I caught your eye too, dashing Captain Crimsonia." She put the cup away for now.

"Well it is true Ni wouldn't wear a corset as well as I do..." She smiled, sincerely and brightly at the blonde. "Thank you Ys. You're a wonderful friend."

"I may tease and give a playful wink....but you know I take our vows seriously," Yslane sighed, "Though it was a lot easier in the confines of the Temple."

"Meditation brings self-exploration. There is much inside ourselves we wish to not see, to bury and never dig back up."

"Well apparently one of our surgeons can pull the look off, so there is hope for the Captain." She reached up to pat Alys's head, "I try, I try."

"And you succeed." She leaned in to give another hug. "True... then again, he probably looks dashing in everything." She laid a hand on the other blonde's arm. "And you're here to drag me through myself and make me face what I don't want." She raised her cup. "With alcohol of course. We're not masochists."

"Oh? Who are we talking about dear Yslane?" Her tone was of dangerous curiosity.... woe unleashing the interest of the best girlfriend!

"Who? Oh...well I mean the idea hadn't really been at the forefront of my mind," Yslane blushed slightly, "But certain physical and charismatic factors of my personality were underestimated....its being revised."

She took a sip of her drink, and rolled her eyes, "And you aren't a masochist.....my life choices leaves my preferences there in doubt. Someone had to take the punishment for your antics at the temple."

Alysele raised an eye. "Had to? No one forced you at saber point, last I recall. I mean.. we didn't have sabers yet. That's not my point." Alys was flustered, before leaning forward, and raising a hand to Ys hair, gently ruffling it. "Aww... I told you you're pretty. Why didn't you believe me? Now see, you have to rethink your life now." She smiled.

"Still.... no attachment doesn't mean you can't have friends outside of the order. Or... more than friends. I think."

"Apart even my position in the Order....the nature of my duties makes friends hard to find," She sighs wistfully, "But hopefully....."

She rolled her eyes again, "'Please Ys, pleeeeeease.....you know the Master's like studious little you.....they won't be as harsh!'"

"Against my better judgment I will concede that point to you. Don't take that as an invitation for some sort of makeover."

Alys removed her hand and crossed her arms. "You were always craftier than you let on." She frowned, before smiling again. "And what's the problem? I was right, wasn't I?"

She giggled. Good old times... amid the bad. "You'll always have me. Always. And yo'll find others! Believe it or not, you're a wonderful person and people like you. Be more confident! Be more bold!"