View source for The Bantha in the Room

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2025-10-03
|Synopsis=Cayde tries to come to an understanding about the cortosis ordeal with Navi and Zetha. It doesn't go well.
|Cast of Characters=143, 261, 444
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Whether Cayde was actually discharged from the hospital officially or not, he isn't there any more. Instead, he's at the dojo in the Whills' convent, practicing saber forms and other physical exercises. After all he has been down for some days, and he certainly doesn't want get out of practice. Ann definitely wouldn't have stood for it. Plus, there's just so much more to do, but making sure he's in peak form before going out there is top priority.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;At the moment, he's started simple--pull-ups on a bar that lowers out of the ceiling...58...59...<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:'''<br>"I thought I'd find you hanging around here somewhere," Navi observes from the doorway of the tiny gym space, a tiny smirk crossing her lips briefly at the pun. "Are you sure you're up to anything this strenuous so soon out of the hospital?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Cayde glances down at her as he pulls himself up for the 60th time, holds for about 2 seconds, and then lowers himself back down. His face is shimmering with sweat. &lt;Obviously I am&gt; he projects to her, and gets started on number 61.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:'''<br>"If you say so. But if I have to drag you back to the hospital gasping like a fish out of water, I'm going to be /upset/," Navi replies, looking around the gym. "How long will you be staying in Kublop Springs?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&lt;I go back after this&gt; Cayde answers, holding 61 again for a couple of seconds and then coming back down. Then he finally lets go and lands on his feet on the floor. He Force-pulls a towel into his hand and wipes his face a bit, then tosses it onto the floor. Looking back to her, he comes a bit closer. [You want to go back now] he asks, in sign this time.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:'''<br>"You should clean up first, and I've been in town maybe ten minutes. I wouldn't mind a little rest first," Navi replies softly. "If you have any business here, you might want to polish it off now."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Cayde nods, picking up his robe and putting it back on over his tunic. Then he takes out a datapad, and shows her what looks like a letter to the local school superintendent. Vaguely, it seems to be requesting a visit of some kind. However, the wording is awkward to the point of being confusing.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:'''<br>Navi studies the letter thoughtfully. "It's kind of hard to make out what this is about," she observes softly. "Is this you wanting to visit, or are /they/ wanting you to visit?" she asks at last.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Cayde sighs heavily, putting it away again. This was like, the fifteenth draft. [I want to visit] he answers. Then he takes it out again and starts scrutinizing the text more...<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:'''<br>"Hmm... do you want me to write it for you?" Navi asks, after a moment. "I'm only a fair writer, but if you tell me what you're trying to say, I'm sure we can get your point across."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;No, no he doesn't want her to do it for him. Cayde shakes his head quickly. &lt;Have to learn to do this&gt; He changes a few things and then shows it to her again. It reads:<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Dear Superintendent Gallus,<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In observance of the disagreements resolving the students in the schools, I want to come visit in Kublop, to learn about the school and the students and their daily lessons and activities for knowledge about a decision and also cultivate special relationships. For you and staff, too.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Please let me know in time for convenience. I'm happy for future with you all, so please reply soon. Thank you.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sincerely, Padawan Cayde Alexis, Deputy Marshal<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Aklyrr Bend, Tenoo.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:'''<br>Navi reads the message, suddenly feeling herself blushing. "Ummm... yeah, this is gonna need help. A /lot/ of help," she says.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Cayde exhales audibly, noticing that blush. What? What was it?? He sits down heavily on a bench nearby, putting the tablet down next to him.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[I have re-written it fifteen times] he complains. But he seems committed do this. [What should change] he asks.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:'''<br>"Probably all of it, honestly... there's too much to go into, and almost all of it's rather specific," Navi observes. "Here, I'll try writing out another memo based on this one, and you tell me if I need to change anything. Then we can read through them both and sort out how we can do it differently in the future."<br> <br>She saves the memo, then takes out her own datapad and begins composing another memo. "The number one rule of writing is 'never write the way you talk'," she explains. "With writing, you have time to sit and think out your message, unlike a conversation, which is super spur of the moment."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Cayde visibly deflates. Still? [I thought about it...a long time...] he informs her. [Hours....days] Yeah, he's been sitting on this for at least a couple of weeks now. He lets out a long, drawn-out sigh. Really, she shouldn't have to do this for him. But she's already doing it.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:'''<br>Navi studies the existing message as she works. It takes her a few minutes, but in the end she gets it written. "Here, have a look," she says, turning the datapad to show him the screen.<br> <br>Dear Superintendent Gallus;<br> <br>Having learned of the disagreements regarding the students in your schools, I would like to personally visit your school, to learn more about the facility, its staff, and its students, so that I may make a properly informed decision, and get to know your staff and students.<br> <br>Please advise me of a date and time that is convenient for you and your staff. I hope that we will be able to work well together for the foreseeable future. Please reply soon. Thank you for your attention to this matter.<br> <br>Sincerely, Padawan Cayde Alexis, Deputy Marshal<br>Aklyrr Bend, Tenoo.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Cayde reads her version of the message, and nods. Yeah...that definitely sounded better. Problem is, he'd never know how to arrive at that himself. Sure, he could just copy it. But if he'd wanted to do that, he would've just asked Thaarin to write it for him already. [Good...but how]<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:'''<br>"Well... let's make sure I covered everything you wanted to cover. I wasn't sure what the original memo was about, but I took a guess, and this is what I got," Navi admits, blushing faintly. "Did I miss anything, or get anything wrong?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[No nothing wrong] Cayde replies, shaking his head. Although he still looks disappointed. [But...how] he asks again. She may feel some of his frustration with this. Someone else can't -always- do these things for him. But he just doesn't know how to articulate like that...<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:444|Zetha Rumir (444)}} has posed:'''<br>Zetha comes into the convent, munching on a berry biscuit. People can say what they hate about them, she's grown fond of them - and likely for many reasons. Her head is likely in the clouds though, or more literally, her eyes are on her holoreader which she reads while she walks. Obviously used to a certain pathing from the convent, to the outside and back again. Miraculously, she's not leaving a trail of crumbs behind.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:'''<br>"The easiest way to learn how to write is to read what other people have written. Especially if you can talk to the people who wrote them and learn just what they were writing, and why," Navi explains gently. "I could make suggestions about what you had written before, but... well... that might get embarrassing..."<br> <br>She glances up at the sound of munching, spies Zetha, and waves to her. "Zetha, hey! How are you?" she calls softly, so she doesn't disturb anyone in meditation.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Well, Cayde has certainly done plenty of reading. [But...why embarrassing] he asks. Seriously, he has no idea. Then there is a pregnant pause, and he shifts uncomfortably. He's mostly recovered now, but there was still that bantha in the middle of the room. There had been apologies...sure, but not much of a real dive into everything that had come out around that whole cortosis ordeal...Navi might even become aware that he's thinking about that.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But then Zetha comes by, and provides a welcome distraction. If the Twi'lek looks up for Navi, he'll wave to her.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:444|Zetha Rumir (444)}} has posed:'''<br>There's a twitch of lekku as Zetha's brain processes a voice in her ear and at the last minute she looks up and smiles at Navi and Cayde. Then she gives them both a wave and turns her path to enter the dojo where they are. "Hey you two. Fancy meeting you here." She grins and then shrugs. "I am alive. I hear that's a good thing. How are you both?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:'''<br>"Well... for example, you probably don't want to mention 'special relationships' in any correspondance that relates to children," Navi says. "You can probably figure out why."<br> <br>She returns Zetha's smile, waving her over. "Good to know. I'm okay, overall."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Cayde arches a brow at her, then pouts slightly. [Not children] he remarks. They're around his age, which was another part of the reason why he wanted to visit. And he's -not- a child, so they aren't either.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He looks to Zetha, noting the biscuit she's eating. It's one of those things he also can't eat without becoming ill. [Have you been here for your all life] he asks.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:444|Zetha Rumir (444)}} has posed:'''<br>Zetha frowns a little as she finishes the biscuit. "...For as long as I can remember." She offers. "I don't know if I ever told either of you this...but I was abandoned here as a child. Likely as a baby, really, but my earliest memories are being on the streets of Kublop begging for scraps or credits." She feels like she's said this story over and over but in some way it's because she's met so many people who want to know her story.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:'''<br>"Didn't know that. Nothing in the note talks about the age of the students," Navi points out, shrugging. She gasps softly as Zetha mentions her childhood. "Force help you... that sounds like a /terrible/ way to grow up. Was it Wiis taking you in that changed all that?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[Me too...] Cayde tells her, then pauses and adds, [...parents abandoned me too] Look, he's trying to be more specific these days!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then he continues. [You told me at the hospital] he recalls. Yeah, in that mindscape.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[...you were angry with me before...was I wrong...am I wrong]<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:444|Zetha Rumir (444)}} has posed:'''<br>"It was. I was seven when she found me. Took me in. When we found out that I had a sort of knack for tinkering and stuff she put me to work at the junkyard. Never bothered me. I had a constant roof over my head, food in my stomach, and a person to talk to." Zetha shrugs then before she looks to Cayde. "I was more angry at the situation. At myself for causing it. I just lashed out at you. I am very sorry for that..." She offers this to Cayde. "I'm glad it didn't ruin our friendship."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:'''<br>"Maybe we should do that 'room in your mind' sort of thing now... it would make it easier to talk," Navi suggests softly. "And for what it's worth, I'm glad you two are friends again. Or at least being friendly to each other again. Maybe you never completely stopped being friends."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[So... I was not wrong] Cayde asks, when Zetha seems to start blaming herself more.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He nods at Navi. [Okay...same place...or something else] he offers.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:444|Zetha Rumir (444)}} has posed:'''<br>Zetha isn't going to comment on whether or not Cayde was wrong. She understands it from both sides, but when she saw Wiis suffering, when everyone was arguing...she tried. She may have failed. But she tried. When Navi mentions doing that whole room in the mind thing again, Zetha gives a little smirk. "Just nothing from my mind. I don't think my mind is a very nice place to travel to right now..."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:'''<br>"Maybe I could come up with something? I always wondered what the inside of my head looked like," Navi muses, taking a seat on a mat on the edge of the sparring area.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[But why] Cayde questions toward Zetha's comment.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He its down on the mat next to her. That was an odd question. It was her mind, wasn't it? [Anything you think of] he tells her. Then he beckons Zetha to join them, should she desire to.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:444|Zetha Rumir (444)}} has posed:'''<br>Zetha doesn't want to tell Cayde that she's still having nightmares based on what she saw in that vision. It brought up deep seeded fears and thoughts that she hadn't wanted to face for a long while. Still, she makes a smile and then shifts to join them in the little area they're sitting in. "I can't think of happy places right now." She answers. It's the truth. Just maybe not the full truth?<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:'''<br>"I hadn't thought of that... can /I/ think of any happy places?" Navi muses, lightly patting Zetha's shoulder when she seats herself.<br> <br>The first place Navi takes them is a tiny room, barely big enough for a futon-like sleeping mat and blanket, an ancient chest that resembles a spacer's chest, and a mat woven from plant fibers that appears to be for sitting, or possibly praying. It's small enough that there is literally no room to sit down. "Oh, geez... sorry! This is my old room at the Shining Brotherhood compound on Jedha. I should've remembered how /small/ it was," Navi says. Perhaps oddly, she's no longer wearing her colonial clothing, being clothed instead in a robe made of undyed fabric edged in cheap gold synthfabric and tied with a belt of the same gold synthfabric. "Just give me a moment here..." she murmurs, and the outline of the room begins to blur...<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Cayde frowns slightly when Zetha remarks that she can't think of any happy places. That was...concerning. He was about to ask 'why' again, but then finds himself in Navi's old room on Jedha. It really was small. The rooms at the Temple were definitely modest, but not like this. Still, if that was the first thing she thought of when trying to remember a happy place, then it must not have been all that bad.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:444|Zetha Rumir (444)}} has posed:'''<br>"The powers you both have with the Force are pretty fascinating...and sometimes a bit scary...but all around interesting." Zetha comments as they enter that room which Navi describes as her place on Jedha. She doesn't know what Jedha is but this room is tiny.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:'''<br>"Cayde's better with it than I am," Navi admits, as the room blurs out of focus, and then back in again. This time it's a small officer's cabin aboard a Republic Navy starship. Twin bunk are along one wall (the bottom one is turned back, as if someone had been sleeping in it a moment before, while the top bunk is neatly made), a desk along another, and a shielded viewport with the shield opened onto a panarama of gray-washed starscape, suggesting that the vessel had been in hyperspace at the time she remembers it. Below one half of the viewport is a cushioned bench seat, allowing comfortable seating while watching the stars go by, while the other half is taken up by the desk. It's much larger than the tiny monk's cell on Jedha, and much more comfortable.<br> <br>"That's better," Navi observes, with a small smile. "Does this work for everyone?" Zetha will be the first to notice that the Sephi's clothes have changed again... by being absent! Navi is barefoot and dressed only in a leotard-like garment of undyed cor-cotton, with a high neck and no sleeves. The weave of the material suggests that this isn't workout clothing; it's light thermal underwear.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yes, he is better at that than Navi, although there are many other, arguably more basic things he is definitely -not- good with.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Cayde stares at the Sephi who is now in her undergarments...but then he quickly shakes it off and distracts himself by going over and sitting at the desk.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:444|Zetha Rumir (444)}} has posed:'''<br>"Agreed. No offense." Zetha says and then she notices Navi and she blinks. Then blinks again. "Does doing these mental trips often lead to the changing of clothing? Or...lack thereof?" She asks, and then averts her gaze but her cheeks are tinged in a purple flush of color. "I guess Thaarin was right about one thing. You aren't shameful of being in your underwear." She teases before shifting to sit on the floor.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:'''<br>"Eep!" Navi looks down, realizing her unexpected shift of wardrobe with a little squeak of dismay. "Geez, sorry..! I forgot about that detail. I'd just gotten out of bed," she says, blushing faintly. "I did say Cayde was better at this. Gimme a sec..." She closes her eyes, and her normal colonial clothing appears within moments.<br> <br>She seats herself on the padded bench under the viewport, tapping a button to close the shutter.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Cayde manages to not look toward Navi until she has put something else on besides her underwear. Thaarin had mentioned it, had he? Of course he had. Once that's done, he gets up and goes to join her on the bench near the viewport.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:444|Zetha Rumir (444)}} has posed:'''<br>When Navi clothes herself, Zetha looks back up and gives a little smirk. "So...uhm..." She looks between the two a moment and then lifts her shoulders in a shrug. "Was there something in particular we wanted to talk about?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:'''<br>"Thaarin's mostly right. I worry less about being undressed and more about how people will react to it. Sometimes there's just no choice, though," Navi says softly, though she is still blushing a little. "Anyway, Cayde and I were discussing writing letters and messages..." she continues.<br> <br>There is a soft knock on the door of the cabin. "I heard you cry out in your sleep... is all well, my Padawan?" asks a muffled feminine voice from outside.<br> <br>Navi's blush vanishes as she turns more pale than usual. "I forgot about /that/, too..." she whispers, her eyes wide and staring, focused on something far beyond the walls of this room...<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Cayde turns toward the sounds of the knock and the voice. Oh...that must have been--<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[She was your master] he observes. He frowns a bit, recalling how Navi had spoken against the Order earlier. Is this where that had come from? But surely, whatever she had against them, the Council must have had its reasons...<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:444|Zetha Rumir (444)}} has posed:'''<br>"Letters and messages? That's a pretty specific topic.." Zetha comments before the knock on the door distracts her. Though she does catch what Cayde signs and then she looks back to Navi. She remembers some things that Navi said while they were all arguing over what to do with the cortosis. A lot of opinions about the Order were said that evening but she doesn't know that this might be related to that. "Did something specific happen here that you hold in your memory?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:'''<br>Navi doesn't answer for a long moment. "This... this was the last night of her life..." she whispers at last, her eyes, still distant, turning haunted. "Marauders attacked the ship ten hours later, while it was in hyperspace. We had no warning..."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Right, Navi had mentioned that, during the...argument. Cayde shifts uncomfortably. &lt;Maybe not stay here...&gt; They can feel a sudden discomfort, an abrupt tension mounting. Wasn't this supposed to be nice and relaxing? A good place for some chit chat? Or something? Unless, she needed them to help her through her pain...<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:444|Zetha Rumir (444)}} has posed:'''<br>Zetha stands and then shifts to walk over and places a hand on Navi's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Navi..." Seems all three of them have pain related to loss in some way. "I kinda agree with Cayde. Unless you think there's a reason why we're here...maybe Cayde can take us back to that roof garden?" She offers this gently, looking to Cayde to maybe urge him with a glance to change the scenery unless Navi protests.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:'''<br>"I... I'm sorry... This was a bad idea, and I'm sorry. I guess I just don't have any happy places..." Navi whispers, tears beginning to trail down her cheeks. "This was a peaceful, routine voyage. Nothing should have gone wrong, or so we were told. It felt like a nice, relaxing place to talk, but... I can't untangle it from my memories."<br> <br>"Cayde, please... please take us to one of your happy places. I can't handle being here anymore..." she pleads softly, hugging her elbows.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Cayde nods and focuses, but somehow, he finds it a bit of a struggle to pull away from the memory. Maybe Navi did need someone to walk her through this. To help her process...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Still, not here. They may find themselves in a strange, void limbo for a second or two before the rooftop garden on Coruscant appears again.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Once this has solidified, he cautiously approaches the Sephi. &lt;Navi...are you...angry with the Order?&gt; he asks.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:444|Zetha Rumir (444)}} has posed:'''<br>Zetha isn't really sure how all of this is about to go down. These internal visions can get deep, and that makes her wonder if maybe - at some point - it could help her face her fears and anger. As Cayde asks Navi that question, she remains silent for the moment, and turns to go watch the air traffic from the edge of the roof.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:'''<br>Navi shakes her head. "No... the Council, maybe, but not the Order. I'm not really sure how I feel about the Council, either, but I haven't trusted them for a long, long time. She had a bad feeling about that mission... pleaded with the Council to send more Jedi Knights. They didn't listen... they didn't see any risk. One of them chastised her for pulling other Jedi away from more important matters. Said she should exercise better control over her emotions..."<br> <br>She scrubs at her eyes with the backs of her hands, trying to swipe away stinging tears that have yet to fall. "They were wrong," she whispers hollowly. "They were wrong, and she /died/ for their mistake... and so did over three hundred Navy personnel..! If it weren't for the Force and her courage, none of us would have lived..."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Cayde stares at Navi as she weeps, even feeling her pain, too. But somehow he just doesn't know how to comfort her. He glances over at Zetha, wondering if she could maybe do better.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But there is one burning question on his mind that feels as if it's holding him in place. &lt;If my mistakes killed people...would you hate me too&gt;<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:444|Zetha Rumir (444)}} has posed:'''<br>Zetha turns back while Navi is explaining her story, hearing how the Sephi woman is on the verge of tears, but definitely noting the pain in her voice. She walks over and just brings the Sephi woman into a hug. It's brief but it's strong, and as she steps back - she notices what Cayde signs. "I think that's a slightly unfair question." She offers her opinion. "If you made a mistake that caused death...I think you would feel horrible. Run away again. Have to have a search party find you."<br><br>Too soon?<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:'''<br>Navi accepts Zetha's hug, returning it fiercely, sniffling, releasing her a bit reluctantly when Zetha withdraws from the hug. "Thank you," she whispers. "I think I needed that..."<br> <br>Cayde's question surprises her, and she looks at him sharply. &lt;&lt; I... /no/..! I /couldn't/ hate you. I don't hate the Council, either, even if I will never trust them again... &gt;&gt; Her telepathic reply is faintly shivery, as if she were struggling with strong emotions.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Oh....right. 'Hate' was too strong of a word, wasn't it? &lt;Hate...no...I mean...not trust...Yes I would feel terrible...&gt;<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But that was besides the point. The point was, everyone made mistakes. But some mistakes had more dire and far-reaching consequences than others. Such as, a lot of -his- mistakes.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&lt;Was it their fault then...the Council...or the Order?&gt;<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:444|Zetha Rumir (444)}} has posed:'''<br>"I think it really depends on circumstance..." Zetha offers. "And whether or not the mistakes are accounted for. Like when you make a mistake, and you realize it was a mistake...you apologize. You work on getting better." Which is a very different field of thought on the outside when Zetha chastizes herself for her mistakes and inwardly hates herself. Yes. Hate. It's a strong word, but it's her truth.<br><br>Only Navi could answer that last bit from Cayde. But she does look to the young Padawan. "For what it's worth, seems like you're projecting a little. I trust you. I may have been angry about some choices you've made...but that doesn't diminish the trust I have for you."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:'''<br>"I think it /was/ the Council's fault," Navi replies, quietly, dabbing at her eyes with her left cuff. "They didn't listen to my Master, and that was a terrible mistake. Maybe the ship would've been lost anyway, but more Jedi and crew might have survived... and the Sith spirit that killed so many of them might have been defeated sooner, or chosen to stay away from so many Jedi. So many things might've been different."<br> <br>"Most importantly, my Master might be alive... there were rumors that she was a candidate for becoming a Master in a few years, and one of the Masters was considering sponsoring her for the Council. She would've been a voice for compassion that they badly need, to this day. I don't think anyone on the Council would've wanted her to die, but to dismiss her concerns like that wasn't just a refusal... it was a rebuke, a snub. Something the Council is supposed to be above. She never deserved that."<br> <br>She nods to Zetha. "You're completely right. When you try to make up for your mistakes, and try to learn from them... those are important factors. From what I've seen of the Council since I left the Order, I don't think they've done any of that. That's why I don't trust them."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&lt;...are you still angry&gt; Cayde asks. It's kind of vague, but here in the mindscape they'll just know the question was directed at both of them. Navi at the Council, and Zetha about the whole cortosis ordeal.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&lt;...did I make a mistake...about respecting the Council...&gt; There it was again, the bantha in the room that hadn't yet fully been addressed.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:444|Zetha Rumir (444)}} has posed:'''<br>"Admittedly...yes. Though that's fairly vague. I'm mostly mad at myself. Like I never should have given you the cortosis. I should have realized it wasn't anything illegal to own or sell...just...there should have been caution on who the buyers were. And when the Mandalorians were explaining their want and use of it, and promised they weren't going to use that little rock for anything against the Jedi...I think it should have been a done deal. Simple. Clean. Finished. The council wasn't there...and the whole back and forth of you to your Master...there were obviously details missing." Zetha offers. "But I've moved past it. Eventually, it will be a thing of the far past. And I'll remember it as what it ended with. Everyone was taken care of. The chaos that existed will just be as it was. Cause we can't change it."<br><br>Then she frowns and shakes her head. "Really if we never speak of it again, that will help. Besides, I have a lot more recent and personal issues I need to work out. That was an event. It's done. I'm, personally, moving on from it."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:'''<br>"I'm... mostly with Zetha on the matter of the cortosis. It was a mistake. There was too little of it to be of any meaningful threat to the Jedi Order, and it was a trifle more than anything else," Navi confesses, blushing a little. "I'll add that I had a bad feeling about that Neimoidian trader, and that he was going to be trouble, and he proved me right. He was enjoying toying with Wiis way too much to be a respectable or honest trader, and it was clear to me that he would never bargain in good faith."<br> <br>"I felt I had to get him out of there, before he started /real/ trouble with the Mandalorians, which it looked like he was going out of his way to do. I probably should've talked to you before I did it, but there just didn't seem to be any opportunity to do so. So I contacted the Port Authority and asked them to revoke his landing clearance, so he had no choice but to leave empty-handed. I admit it was a little satisfying taking the air our of that smug windbag's sails, but the greater benefit was to Wiis in my mind. I never expected the doctor to step up the way he did, but I'm not sorry it happened."<br> <br>She hugs Cayde gently. "You didn't do the wrong thing... it's more that you lacked a sense of proportion as to the actual threat, which pretty much wasn't there. You'll do better next time. I know it."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Cayde doesn't respond immediately, but they will be able to tell that this time...there is actually not really a sense of remorse over that particular aspect of things. He still doesn't think there had been anything wrong with the course he'd chosen. And that was the part that troubled him. Did they really trust the Mandalorians more than the Order? They weren't any more trustworthy than that pompous Neimoidian, anyway.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The hug is accepted, albeit a bit loosely. &lt;Not about threat...they cannot be trusted...I trust Master...and I trust the Order...as you should too&gt;<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He sighs at Zetha. &lt;Yes....you got what you want...so you move on&gt;<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There is...still some level of bitterness there. He thinks Navi had allowed her emotions from the past cloud her judgment and relationship with the Order and those in it.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:444|Zetha Rumir (444)}} has posed:'''<br>"Oh yeah. I definitely got what I wanted..." Zetha says these words, but they are bitter. "Because I wanted to get kicked out of my home. For the first person that ever showed me a kindness to turn her back on me when I was just trying to protect her." That statement from Cayde stung. She even acts like she's going to say something more, but she stops herself. "No. I've said my piece on it. And I hope it never gets brought up again. But what you just said? That hurts. Like forget all the consequences that led up to the ending. Those don't matter and didn't affect anyone at all."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:'''<br>"Cayde, I don't hold anything the Order does against you," Navi explains, holding back a weary sigh, though a hint of it may bleed into the atmosphere of the room anyway. "Nor did I let my own feelings about the Council... the /Council/, not the /Order/... sway me that much. I knew they were capable of making mistakes, so I looked beyond the idea of selling or not selling a /potentially/ risky mineral to /potential/ enemies of the Jedi Order and tried to find out what the situation /as a whole/ involved. I hadn't even really made any decision yet and was okay with letting you proceed until I found out what had happened to Zetha, and why it happened. And even then, I waited until it was clear to me that selling to the Neimoidian was going to do more harm than good. And I realized that when he started taunting Wiis about her debt to him, and how he would make sure she never paid it off. The fact that the Mandalorians were still willing to buy the cortosis at a very generous price and agree that it would be made into jewelry for a wedding told me that they could be trusted to work beyond their own interests, and the money they would have paid Zetha would have allowed her to settle most of her debt."<br> <br>"It wasn't about obeying or defying the Order. It was about trying to serve the greater good... to help an innocent woman to keep her autonomy, and to potentially cement better relations with visitors we /have to/ work with. If the decision to obey the Order had been to the greater good, I would have chosen it instead."<br> <br>&lt;&lt; Your loyalty to the Order is commendable, Cayde... but you still have a lot left to learn about serving the greater good. &gt;&gt;<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&lt;...is she still disown you&gt; Cayde asks when Zetha makes that sarcastic remark. &lt;...is she still in debt&gt; No, and no, right? Therefore, she got what she wanted, in the end. &lt;...You succeed...I failed&gt;<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;His expression hardens even more at Navi's explanation. &lt;You did trust them...but did not trust me!&gt; Hadn't he said, he wouldn't have sold to the Nemoidian? He was going to find another way? That was just the problem. They didn't trust him to serve the greater good, to protect people. But they trusted the Mandalorians? Because he's just a stupid kid, like Volken thinks...<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:143|Cayde Alexis (143)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It may occur to either or both of them, that -this- was the real reason he'd run away. Well, not because the other reasons he'd given weren't true, they were. But they weren't the -root-.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He'd been hoping, that maybe if they had a chance to explain themselves better, it there'd be some kind of understanding, some kind of actual reconciliation instead of just sweeping everything under the rug and trying to pretend it didn't matter.. But that apparently wasn't happening. Abruptly, the rooftop dissolves, sending them back to reality where they'd been sitting on a mat in the convent. He gets up, and starts walking away swiftly.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:261|Navi (261)}} has posed:'''<br>"Gah!" cries Navi, throwing up her hands as the rooftop dissolves around them. "How was I supposed to know any of that, Cayde? /You shut me out telepathically for almost the whole process/. All I had to work with was what you did."<br> <br>"I think I'd rather not ever talk about this again! And if you're going on a long walk, be careful not to go outside of town... you only just got out of the hospital. And that's not me treating you like a child, Padawan... that's me treating you like a loose turbolaser cannon! Think about that before you accuse me of anything ever again!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:444|Zetha Rumir (444)}} has posed:'''<br>Zetha's not going to chase after Cayde. She does glance to Navi but the Sephi is shouting after Cayde. She just stands up and quietly turns to leave the dojo and head back to her room. When she's behind the curtain she starts shoving her things into her backpack. She doesn't have much, she never needs much. What Cayde likely doesn't know is that she's still kicked out of the junkyard. She still doesn't have a firm place to stay. And Thaarin was right, she can't stay at the convent forever. She'll wait until it's likely that Navi has left as well, and then she'll take her own leave of the convent. To go find some place where she might fit in just a little bit better. Even if fitting in just means living alone.<br> <br>
}}