Unmoored

Unmoored
Date of Scene:	28 January 2024
Location:	Square of Stars - Jedha
Synopsis:	Master Trassa offers Cayde some much-needed encouragement.
Cast of Characters:	Cayde Alexis, 159

---

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Cayde waits in the Square of the Stars for Master Volk to arrive, as he'd been instructed earlier. He sits down on a bench near one of the temples, doing his best to push down his grief and frustration with himself. All he'd done was make a mess of things. Lately, that's how it always felt...

Athena (159) has posed:
The Kel Dor Master comes to join the young padawan shortly, his demeanor and presence in the Force calm and tranquil. He nods politely to Cayde before sitting down next to the young padawan and offering him a cup of tea.

It smells nice, and floral, and the warmth of it will be a welcome respite from the cold, desert night air.

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Cayde accepts the cup, examining the tea, but he doesn't drink it yet. Instead, he just sets it down on the bench next to him. [Thank you Master] he signs, nodding.

Athena (159) has posed:
"You can find this at the Temple back on Coruscant," Volk reassures Cayde.

"Not too strong, not too sweet, either. Try it, and tell me if you like it," he tells the young padawan.

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    [Yes Master] Cayde signs, nodding again. He obediently tries the tea, just a little sip. It does seem familiar.

    [It is good]

Athena (159) has posed:
It will remind him of Coruscant, as this tea tastes a lot like the tea they always had in the mornings at the cafeteria right after all the apprentices were dismissed from their morning meditation. It's ... comforting.

"Cayde," he says softly. "Do you miss your Master? Right now?"

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    A little comforting, sure...but it doesn't really make him feel any better about himself.

    Cayde nods when asked if he misses his master. Not Master Voss, really, as he hadn't really known her well, but Master Rykard...

Athena (159) has posed:
"Do you think they miss you, too?" Volk asks.

"Also, if you don't mind me asking, who is your Master, now?"

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Cayde shrugs. He honestly does not know. He can only hope so...

    The young padawan sighs and looks downcast. [No one...] he answers.

Athena (159) has posed:
Volk places a hand on Cayde's shoulder, and the young padawan will feel a strong sense of compassion emanating from the Kel Dor. Not pity, or a belittling kind of of sympathy. Real compassion, the kind of that saw potential in Cayde. The kind of that thought Cayde deserved better because of the sort of person he was, innately.

"I'm sorry," he says. "You should be not be passed around like some kind of unwanted possession. I shall ask the Council about this."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    But it was no surprise.

    Cayde shrugs, although Trassa's compassion toward him does lift his spirits a little more. [I...am difficult] he signs. [...I know it]

    Few even had the ability to understand him, and out of those who did, fewer still actually did to any appreciable extent.

    He shakes his head when Trassa apologizes. [No...I am sorry...about that man] he signs. The Arkanian...but he doesn't remember the sign for that race.

Athena (159) has posed:
"Now difficult is a rather negative way to frame it, don't you think?" Master Volk says kindly. "You aren't like the other padawans, but that doesn't mean you should be treated in a way that makes you feel less, Cayde. Besides, we are Jedi. If we are not eager to face what is 'difficult', are we even Jedi?"

Volk sighs. "I know you're sorry. You don't have to tell me," he says kindly. "And as hard as it might be to avoid, you must not wallow in the muck of your misdeeds. You can still learn from all of this. No one is above mistakes. I am certainly am not. It was my mistake to assume that Annelia was your master." He squeezes his shoulder gently. "I know you meant well. And I admire your tenacity, as well as your desire to do good, regardless of the odds. You'll make a fine Knight, and even Master, one day. I'm sure of it."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Cayde listens to what Trassa has to say about facing difficulty. Well...he supposes, that's true. He nods. [Yes...that is true Master Trassa]

    But his expression falls again. [But...he...he will not recover will he]

    The padawan still isn't certain exactly why he'd done all that. Imoen had been...so furious...

Athena (159) has posed:
The Kel Dor turns to face Cayde, his brows furrowing. He places both hands on Cayde's shoulders.

"The future is always uncertain," he says to the young padawan. "Whether he recovers or not is not your concern. It is -my- concern, my responsibility. Do you understand? You must go back to Coruscant, and focus on your training while the Council searches for a new Master for you. That is your concern."

His expression then softens. "I know that this time in your life right now must feel very confusing and unmoored. Just know, that if you're still searching for the person you want to become, that is entirely normal. I didn't know who I was, or the kind of Jedi I wanted to become, when I was your age, either," he says, lifting Cayde's chin up slightly.

"There will be terrible times, like what you are experiencing right now, but there will be good times, too. Times when you make everyone proud. And in the end, it will all even out, if you let the Force be your guide. One day, you'll look back and wish you could tell your younger self to be a little more patient, a little more determined, because the person you become will be worth all the hills and valleys."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    [But...I stabbed him] Cayde points out when Trassa tells him that it's not his concern, even as the Kel Dor continues talking. Not that he isn't listening.

    He nods when the small encouraging speech is over. [Yes...all true...you are right] he signs. Not that he believes any of it isn't true. But he still just can't help feeling down about the terrible consequences of his mistakes. However, he does his best to push the pain down deeper, where it can't bubble to the surface. Besides, he wouldn't know how to explain any of it. [Thank you]

Athena (159) has posed:
"It is still my responsibility. He never would have been in the vault if we had found him and settled the matter peaceably first," Volk says.

"..." Volk watches Cayde with some concern. The boy doesn't seem to be truly taking it in. But that was alright. "I know this will take some time to process," Volk says. "It will take time for you not to just know it, but truly believe it, and feel it. But I want you to know that you will always have my loyalty, Cayde. You will always have a friend in me. By now, I'm sure you've become inured to people leaving you, but I promise you, I am not going anywhere. You may visit on me here on Jedha, anytime you like. And if you ever need to talk, or to just... feel, I will avail myself. Since you don't have a Master right now, I shall try my damnedest to fill that gap until you find someone worthy enough take you on as an apprentice."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Cayde notices that look of concern. It didn't look very confident. Of course the older Kel Dor could see right through his attempts to conceal his true feelings.

    [...I am sorry master] he signs, sighing.

    But he nods in appreciation at the offer. [Thank you Master Trassa]

Athena (159) has posed:
"Don't apologize for feeling, or the lack thereof," Volk says compassionately, "you are young. You are allowed it."

He stands, and extends his arms towards the young padawan, offering him a friendly embrace.

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Cayde accepts the embrace, and returns it briefly as well. [Thank you again] he signs, upon pulling away once more. He really needed that, even if it didn't make -all- the pain go away.

Athena (159) has posed:
Cayde will be able to sense when he accepts the embrace from the older Kel Dor, that he means every word of what he'd said. He really believed in Cayde, and did not scorn him for his mistakes. Rather, he sees great potential in Cayde that he feels certain will not go to waste. Surely, the Council would find a Master for him soon. And if they did not, he would follow up and make sure they prioritized it.

"Of course," he says, "You can tell me anything. The droids will show you to the guest suites in the Temple of the Kyber. You may stay there for tonight. But tomorrow when you go back wth Annelia to Coruscant... thank her, alright? It's clear to me that she cares for you deeply."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    [Yes I will] Cayde answers, nodding. He'd been thinking about that a lot recently, in fact...

    He frowns pensively, thinking about how to say what he wants to say next. [Where do you find good gifts...] he asks.

Athena (159) has posed:
Volk chuckles. He seems to think it's charming that that Cayde's first thought was to get Annelia a gift.

"How thoughtful of you," he says. "There's a vendor who sells refocusing amulets just outside of the spaceport. They are useful, for centering oneself during meditation. If you tell him that I sent you, he'll give you a discount on the gift set, which includes an amulet and a handpainted thank you card. Write something in the card, as well. I think she'll appreciate that."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Cayde nods eagerly, his eyes lighting up a little for the first time since arriving here.

    [Thank you so much Master] he signs, then hurries off toward the guest suites where Trassa had said he could stay for the night.

    Yeah, he forgot to bid the Kel Dor goodbye, but only because of his general lack of social graces.

Athena (159) has posed:
"Of course. Sleep well, young one," the Kel Dor says affectionately.

He doesn't seem to mind Cayde's lack of social graces. Instead, he seems to find Cayde's excitement and eagerness endearing. He watches the padawan go, a sense of satisfaction settling in his bones, despite the day's chaotic events...