Post by trager on Jan 7, 2010 19:18:10 GMT 1
Title: Somewhere I Belong
Authors: Qui-Gina Jinn and trager
Characters: Shep and Kiineq
Disclaimer: We are just playing in the sandbox. The only things belonging to us are Shep and Kiineq
Summary: Shep's attempt to relax with his lightsabre is interrupted by a certain Jedi Master.
Authors' notes: This takes place two years after Shep and Kiineq's first appearance in the game.
The four droids swirl around the Padawan who is in the middle of the room. With his eyes covered by a blind fold and his sabre in his hand, as he moves skilfully to block the bolts from the droids. The fact that he has been at it for a while is obvious from the amount of sweat on his clothes and face, but he has not noticed himself. His mind is empty as he lets the Force guide his movements. He has not even noticed that he is not the only one in the training hall any more. It is not until a fifth droid joins in that he notices that he is no longer alone. Splitting his concentration to take in his surroundings as well as the droids, he immediately knows who it is.
“Thank you, Master.” He says out loud, a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
“You're welcome, Padawan.” The Master says with a smile.
Just then Shep jumps up and over the bolts from the droids. He somersaults and lands securely on his feet a moment later, using the momentum from his landing to roll under the next volley from one of the droids.
“Afraid I'd get bored or something?” Shep asks with a grin. The extra droid is not taxing his abilities that much.
Shep is about to say something more as a bolt comes a little close to his head and he ducks to get away from it.
“Maybe I just wanted you to know I was here.” The Master says drily.
“Right. What happened to 'Hello'?” The Padawan is grinning now. The grin fades half a second later when a bolt hits his right hand just as he is switching his sabre from left to right. “Ouch!” He exclaims. The pain jolts through Shep, making him half a moment slower in countering the next volley, but he does not drop his lightsaber.
Shep cannot help but think back to when such a hit would have caused him to drop his sabre and probably would have meant him getting hit by a few more bolts, before getting control back. Or before his Master would have stopped the droids, he has to admit to himself.
“Are you about done having fun?” Kiineq asks from his place by the wall.
“Got any other ideas, Master?” Shep asks while twisting to avoid some bolts.
The Padawan blocks a few more bolts from one of the droids, before they all suddenly switch off. “Master?” He asks.
“Just stay there for a moment.” Kiineq says, without letting his Padawan know his intentions. That does not particularly surprise Shep, who is used to his Master's way of doing things. He turns off his blade, but keeps his hilt in his hands and stands still, his feet shoulder-with apart, his hands together behind his back.
“You can put your sabre away.” Kiineq says. He has pushed himself off the wall and is now standing behind the Padawan.
Shep does as he is told and afterwards returns his hands to the small of his back. “What do you have in mind, Master?” To an outsider the question would sound completely respectful, but Kiineq easily picks up on his Padawan's impatience.
“What did I just ask you to do?” The Master says sharply, in way of a reprimand.
“Yes, Master.” The Padawan responds dutifully, straightening his back a bit and doing his best to stay patient.
The Master waits for a few moments, just letting his Padawan have the time to get his impatience under control, though he knows this annoys Shep greatly. The Apprentice still has not really learned patience and has lately been in the habit of getting annoyed whenever the Master calls him on it.
“Sit down.” The Master says calmly. The Padawan, being used to the fact that training does not always have to make sense for the one being trained, complies with the order right away. He sits cross legged and waits for what happens next.
Again the Master waits a few moments, longer this time, before doing anything. Shep reacts as expected, fighting with his impatience, but he is not doing a very good job at it. Kiineq squats down behind him and puts a hand on his shoulder.
“Tell me about what you have done today.” He says calmly, deciding not to call him on his impatience just yet.
Huh? Shep wonders. That is not really what he expected. Granted, he has not seen his Master all day, but that has not been that uncommon lately.
“You do not need to wonder why. Just do it.” Kiineq says quietly.
“Yes, Master.” Shep answers, then thinks back over his day. “Well, I had breakfast with Nigan, you know Master Jann's Padawan.” He begins. Nigan is the same age as Shep though the two boys are so fundamentally different that no one had foreseen them becoming friends. “Then I helped with the lightsaber classes until lunch. I ate mostly alone before heading up here to relax a bit, Master.” The Padawan pauses for a moment. “How was your day, Master?”
Kiineq just sits still behind Shep's back, not answering the question. This session is not about him, and he is not going to give Shep control over it.
The training room is completely quiet for a few moments, only the two Jedi's breathing can be heard. Finally Shep speaks again. “I'm sorry, Master.” He says sincerely. He is not purposefully trying to go against his Master, he just does it without really thinking about it.
Kiineq squeezes his shoulder lightly in response.
“Tell me what you did yesterday.” Kiineq tells his Padawan.
Shep is getting the idea now, or at least he thinks he is, though he has no idea why he is doing it. He thinks back, getting his memories in order, then recounts his day slowly. When he has finished he gets another squeeze on his shoulder in response, but the Master stays quiet. After a few moments Shep starts to lose the battle with his impatience again.
Behind the Padawan the Master follows his feelings and thoughts closely. He has definitely gotten the worry that brought him here confirmed. He has been spending far to little time with his Padawan lately, but the day only has so many hours, no matter how much he wants more.
“Go through the day before.” The Master orders his Padawan.
Now Shep has to think a bit. He is not in the habit of walking around remembering his days. “Err ... I think I...” Shep's voice trails off as he tries to remember how he started the day, but fails.
“Concentrate.” The low voice of his Master says in his ear.
“Yes, Master.” Shep mumbles, as he tries to find the memories.
His Master chuckles inwardly, as the boy has not yet thought to use the Force. “What are you forgetting to do?” He quietly questions the boy.
“Master?” The question confuses Shep a bit. He thinks it over, but he is not sure what his Master means.
“I have told you before, Padawan. The basics are the foundations of everything. You know how to do this, think back.” The Master says slowly.
Foundations? Shep wonders a moment, thinking back. As he lets his mind drift, a bit of a memory pops up from his time as a youngling. An annoyed Jedi Master trying to teach him something. He unconsciously uses the Force to help him find the memory.
[That's it.] Kiineq smiles at his Padawan. He has followed the boy's thoughts every step of the way. [Concentrate on that memory from your time as a youngling.] He instructs.
Shep takes a deep breath before refocusing on the half forgotten memory.
He had only been about eight or nine at the time, and sitting still and listening to Jedi wisdom was not exactly his favoured discipline.
[It still isn't.] Kiineq comments on the boy's observation.
[Well, I'm better at it now, ain't I?] Shep asks.
[Yes, you have improved.] Kiineq sends. [Now concentrate.]
Shep goes back to the memory. The Jedi Master was annoyed at him. Well, that was not to weird considering his inability to stay still. He had been unable to sit still in class and had constantly been moving. They had been sitting still all day and Shep just could not take it any more. Getting lost in the memory and his eight year old self, the eighteen year old Padawan starts to fidget, as he is sitting cross legged in the training hall.
[Don't let the memory control you, control it.] Kiineq instructs as he notices Shep's fidgeting.
[What d'you mean, Master?] Shep asks confused. He has not noticed the fidgeting.
“Your hands.” Kiineq whispers quietly in Shep's ear.
“My ha..” The Padawan stops his question, as he suddenly realises what his Master means. His hands goes still. “Yes, Master.”
“Focus. What happens next? Let your mind follow the path of the memory, but do not let it control you.” Kiineq instructs gently.
Shep focuses on the memory again. He remembers how he had sometimes almost made his teachers angry with his inability to control his energy. Though for some reason his first memory of really being put in his place is from not long after Kiineq had taken him as his Padawan. The Master had set up his rules and had expected them to be followed.
Shep now comes to the memory from the first time he had disobeyed his Master. He had been close to terrified when Kiineq had followed through on his promise of putting the Padawan in his place. Though afterwards he had been glad for it. It had made him feel safe in a whole new way.
As Shep thinks of it now, it makes a smile come to his face. He follows the memories through the first months of his time with Kiineq. It had not been an easy time. Oh well, when was it ever easy to be a Padawan, but those months he remembered as especially hard, though he still had plenty of good memories from them.
By now Shep has pretty much forgotten his Masters presence. Otherwise he would probably not have been as relaxed while going trough the memories, the teenage part of him not wanting his Master to see how much of that wild eleven year old is still left in him. The small kid that Shep still carries around inside, is the kid that sometimes keeps him up at night, worrying. It is that kid that goes into overdrive whenever his Master gets hurt or almost killed on missions.
The next memory popping up in his mind is far more recent. It is of coming home from a mission and being greeted with a big hug from Phillan, one of the younglings Shep has been helping to teach. He actually enjoys working with the younglings, something he had never thought was something for him.
He contemplates this for a moment before the next thought hits him. A thought that almost makes his Master feel guilty over the last couple of weeks. Shep is thinking how he has missed his Master lately. The extra time with the younglings and freedom to control his own time are things he would readily give up if it meant being able to have his Master around as much as he used to.
Before Kiineq has a chance to react to this, Shep is on to the next thought. Or rather, feeling. He is instantly feeling guilty for his previous thought. He knows his Master has many responsibilities and he is not a new Padawan any more. He is not supposed to need his Master around all the time.
Shep suddenly remembers his Masters presences, as Kiineq squeezes his shoulder lightly. He straightens up, realizing that he has slumped forward.
“Shhh. It's okay.” The Jedi Master says quietly into Shep's ear. “Relax.”
Shep takes a couple of deep breath before turning around partly, so that he would have been able to look at his Master, had he not been blindfolded. “Can I have the blindfold off now, please?” He asks. On the surface he is calm enough, but Kiineq senses his need for eye contact.
“Not just yet, Padawan.” Kiineq answers and gently turns the boys head back around to its proper direction. “Tell me about the first memory you found.” He says.
It takes Shep a moment to gather his thoughts to answer. He is feeling very small and vulnerable right now and is very grateful for his Masters presence behind him, though he would rather have been able to see him.
“It's from I was a youngling.” He starts slowly. “I was 'bout eight, I think. We'd had classes all day and hardly any chances to run around.” He sees the memory in his head again, though this time it is more like a holo being played before his eyes, and not as much himself reliving it, as it had been previously. Now he is almost glad for the blindfold, as it allows him to keep his focus more easily on the holo, than if he had had his eyes open. “I couldn't sit still any more and the teacher was getting annoyed with me.” Shep continues. He pauses a moment before going on. “It let me to memories of my first months as your Padawan. Y'know, even though they were tough I miss 'em sometimes.” He says, at the last part he turns his head a bit, as if to accentuate that he is talking directly to his Master. The Padawan's head turns back as soon as he is done saying it, before he continues. “That let me to thinking of how Phillan welcomed me back, when we came home from the last mission. Which then let me to thinking about the last few weeks.” Shep stops, not sure how to continue.
“Yes?” Kiineq prompts gently.
Shep bites his lip a bit before answering. “I've missed you these last few weeks, Master. I know I'ld probably be old enough to stand on my own two feet some of the time, but I've just really missed you. I feel kinda lost when you're not around and I can't just go to you for advice.”
Kiineq squeezes the boys shoulder reassuringly. “I have missed you too, Shep. I know that I have been very busy lately, but I want you to remember that I always have time for you.”
The answer brings a smile to the Padawan's face. He is about to say something when he feels Kiineq removing the blindfold. He has to blink a couple of times, since his eyes have been without light for so long. Before he really has his vision back, Kiineq has moved and is now sitting in front of him.
“I mean it, Padawan. No matter what or when, if you need me, I am there for you.” He states with a smile.
Authors: Qui-Gina Jinn and trager
Characters: Shep and Kiineq
Disclaimer: We are just playing in the sandbox. The only things belonging to us are Shep and Kiineq
Summary: Shep's attempt to relax with his lightsabre is interrupted by a certain Jedi Master.
Authors' notes: This takes place two years after Shep and Kiineq's first appearance in the game.
The four droids swirl around the Padawan who is in the middle of the room. With his eyes covered by a blind fold and his sabre in his hand, as he moves skilfully to block the bolts from the droids. The fact that he has been at it for a while is obvious from the amount of sweat on his clothes and face, but he has not noticed himself. His mind is empty as he lets the Force guide his movements. He has not even noticed that he is not the only one in the training hall any more. It is not until a fifth droid joins in that he notices that he is no longer alone. Splitting his concentration to take in his surroundings as well as the droids, he immediately knows who it is.
“Thank you, Master.” He says out loud, a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
“You're welcome, Padawan.” The Master says with a smile.
Just then Shep jumps up and over the bolts from the droids. He somersaults and lands securely on his feet a moment later, using the momentum from his landing to roll under the next volley from one of the droids.
“Afraid I'd get bored or something?” Shep asks with a grin. The extra droid is not taxing his abilities that much.
Shep is about to say something more as a bolt comes a little close to his head and he ducks to get away from it.
“Maybe I just wanted you to know I was here.” The Master says drily.
“Right. What happened to 'Hello'?” The Padawan is grinning now. The grin fades half a second later when a bolt hits his right hand just as he is switching his sabre from left to right. “Ouch!” He exclaims. The pain jolts through Shep, making him half a moment slower in countering the next volley, but he does not drop his lightsaber.
Shep cannot help but think back to when such a hit would have caused him to drop his sabre and probably would have meant him getting hit by a few more bolts, before getting control back. Or before his Master would have stopped the droids, he has to admit to himself.
“Are you about done having fun?” Kiineq asks from his place by the wall.
“Got any other ideas, Master?” Shep asks while twisting to avoid some bolts.
The Padawan blocks a few more bolts from one of the droids, before they all suddenly switch off. “Master?” He asks.
“Just stay there for a moment.” Kiineq says, without letting his Padawan know his intentions. That does not particularly surprise Shep, who is used to his Master's way of doing things. He turns off his blade, but keeps his hilt in his hands and stands still, his feet shoulder-with apart, his hands together behind his back.
“You can put your sabre away.” Kiineq says. He has pushed himself off the wall and is now standing behind the Padawan.
Shep does as he is told and afterwards returns his hands to the small of his back. “What do you have in mind, Master?” To an outsider the question would sound completely respectful, but Kiineq easily picks up on his Padawan's impatience.
“What did I just ask you to do?” The Master says sharply, in way of a reprimand.
“Yes, Master.” The Padawan responds dutifully, straightening his back a bit and doing his best to stay patient.
The Master waits for a few moments, just letting his Padawan have the time to get his impatience under control, though he knows this annoys Shep greatly. The Apprentice still has not really learned patience and has lately been in the habit of getting annoyed whenever the Master calls him on it.
“Sit down.” The Master says calmly. The Padawan, being used to the fact that training does not always have to make sense for the one being trained, complies with the order right away. He sits cross legged and waits for what happens next.
Again the Master waits a few moments, longer this time, before doing anything. Shep reacts as expected, fighting with his impatience, but he is not doing a very good job at it. Kiineq squats down behind him and puts a hand on his shoulder.
“Tell me about what you have done today.” He says calmly, deciding not to call him on his impatience just yet.
Huh? Shep wonders. That is not really what he expected. Granted, he has not seen his Master all day, but that has not been that uncommon lately.
“You do not need to wonder why. Just do it.” Kiineq says quietly.
“Yes, Master.” Shep answers, then thinks back over his day. “Well, I had breakfast with Nigan, you know Master Jann's Padawan.” He begins. Nigan is the same age as Shep though the two boys are so fundamentally different that no one had foreseen them becoming friends. “Then I helped with the lightsaber classes until lunch. I ate mostly alone before heading up here to relax a bit, Master.” The Padawan pauses for a moment. “How was your day, Master?”
Kiineq just sits still behind Shep's back, not answering the question. This session is not about him, and he is not going to give Shep control over it.
The training room is completely quiet for a few moments, only the two Jedi's breathing can be heard. Finally Shep speaks again. “I'm sorry, Master.” He says sincerely. He is not purposefully trying to go against his Master, he just does it without really thinking about it.
Kiineq squeezes his shoulder lightly in response.
“Tell me what you did yesterday.” Kiineq tells his Padawan.
Shep is getting the idea now, or at least he thinks he is, though he has no idea why he is doing it. He thinks back, getting his memories in order, then recounts his day slowly. When he has finished he gets another squeeze on his shoulder in response, but the Master stays quiet. After a few moments Shep starts to lose the battle with his impatience again.
Behind the Padawan the Master follows his feelings and thoughts closely. He has definitely gotten the worry that brought him here confirmed. He has been spending far to little time with his Padawan lately, but the day only has so many hours, no matter how much he wants more.
“Go through the day before.” The Master orders his Padawan.
Now Shep has to think a bit. He is not in the habit of walking around remembering his days. “Err ... I think I...” Shep's voice trails off as he tries to remember how he started the day, but fails.
“Concentrate.” The low voice of his Master says in his ear.
“Yes, Master.” Shep mumbles, as he tries to find the memories.
His Master chuckles inwardly, as the boy has not yet thought to use the Force. “What are you forgetting to do?” He quietly questions the boy.
“Master?” The question confuses Shep a bit. He thinks it over, but he is not sure what his Master means.
“I have told you before, Padawan. The basics are the foundations of everything. You know how to do this, think back.” The Master says slowly.
Foundations? Shep wonders a moment, thinking back. As he lets his mind drift, a bit of a memory pops up from his time as a youngling. An annoyed Jedi Master trying to teach him something. He unconsciously uses the Force to help him find the memory.
[That's it.] Kiineq smiles at his Padawan. He has followed the boy's thoughts every step of the way. [Concentrate on that memory from your time as a youngling.] He instructs.
Shep takes a deep breath before refocusing on the half forgotten memory.
He had only been about eight or nine at the time, and sitting still and listening to Jedi wisdom was not exactly his favoured discipline.
[It still isn't.] Kiineq comments on the boy's observation.
[Well, I'm better at it now, ain't I?] Shep asks.
[Yes, you have improved.] Kiineq sends. [Now concentrate.]
Shep goes back to the memory. The Jedi Master was annoyed at him. Well, that was not to weird considering his inability to stay still. He had been unable to sit still in class and had constantly been moving. They had been sitting still all day and Shep just could not take it any more. Getting lost in the memory and his eight year old self, the eighteen year old Padawan starts to fidget, as he is sitting cross legged in the training hall.
[Don't let the memory control you, control it.] Kiineq instructs as he notices Shep's fidgeting.
[What d'you mean, Master?] Shep asks confused. He has not noticed the fidgeting.
“Your hands.” Kiineq whispers quietly in Shep's ear.
“My ha..” The Padawan stops his question, as he suddenly realises what his Master means. His hands goes still. “Yes, Master.”
“Focus. What happens next? Let your mind follow the path of the memory, but do not let it control you.” Kiineq instructs gently.
Shep focuses on the memory again. He remembers how he had sometimes almost made his teachers angry with his inability to control his energy. Though for some reason his first memory of really being put in his place is from not long after Kiineq had taken him as his Padawan. The Master had set up his rules and had expected them to be followed.
Shep now comes to the memory from the first time he had disobeyed his Master. He had been close to terrified when Kiineq had followed through on his promise of putting the Padawan in his place. Though afterwards he had been glad for it. It had made him feel safe in a whole new way.
As Shep thinks of it now, it makes a smile come to his face. He follows the memories through the first months of his time with Kiineq. It had not been an easy time. Oh well, when was it ever easy to be a Padawan, but those months he remembered as especially hard, though he still had plenty of good memories from them.
By now Shep has pretty much forgotten his Masters presence. Otherwise he would probably not have been as relaxed while going trough the memories, the teenage part of him not wanting his Master to see how much of that wild eleven year old is still left in him. The small kid that Shep still carries around inside, is the kid that sometimes keeps him up at night, worrying. It is that kid that goes into overdrive whenever his Master gets hurt or almost killed on missions.
The next memory popping up in his mind is far more recent. It is of coming home from a mission and being greeted with a big hug from Phillan, one of the younglings Shep has been helping to teach. He actually enjoys working with the younglings, something he had never thought was something for him.
He contemplates this for a moment before the next thought hits him. A thought that almost makes his Master feel guilty over the last couple of weeks. Shep is thinking how he has missed his Master lately. The extra time with the younglings and freedom to control his own time are things he would readily give up if it meant being able to have his Master around as much as he used to.
Before Kiineq has a chance to react to this, Shep is on to the next thought. Or rather, feeling. He is instantly feeling guilty for his previous thought. He knows his Master has many responsibilities and he is not a new Padawan any more. He is not supposed to need his Master around all the time.
Shep suddenly remembers his Masters presences, as Kiineq squeezes his shoulder lightly. He straightens up, realizing that he has slumped forward.
“Shhh. It's okay.” The Jedi Master says quietly into Shep's ear. “Relax.”
Shep takes a couple of deep breath before turning around partly, so that he would have been able to look at his Master, had he not been blindfolded. “Can I have the blindfold off now, please?” He asks. On the surface he is calm enough, but Kiineq senses his need for eye contact.
“Not just yet, Padawan.” Kiineq answers and gently turns the boys head back around to its proper direction. “Tell me about the first memory you found.” He says.
It takes Shep a moment to gather his thoughts to answer. He is feeling very small and vulnerable right now and is very grateful for his Masters presence behind him, though he would rather have been able to see him.
“It's from I was a youngling.” He starts slowly. “I was 'bout eight, I think. We'd had classes all day and hardly any chances to run around.” He sees the memory in his head again, though this time it is more like a holo being played before his eyes, and not as much himself reliving it, as it had been previously. Now he is almost glad for the blindfold, as it allows him to keep his focus more easily on the holo, than if he had had his eyes open. “I couldn't sit still any more and the teacher was getting annoyed with me.” Shep continues. He pauses a moment before going on. “It let me to memories of my first months as your Padawan. Y'know, even though they were tough I miss 'em sometimes.” He says, at the last part he turns his head a bit, as if to accentuate that he is talking directly to his Master. The Padawan's head turns back as soon as he is done saying it, before he continues. “That let me to thinking of how Phillan welcomed me back, when we came home from the last mission. Which then let me to thinking about the last few weeks.” Shep stops, not sure how to continue.
“Yes?” Kiineq prompts gently.
Shep bites his lip a bit before answering. “I've missed you these last few weeks, Master. I know I'ld probably be old enough to stand on my own two feet some of the time, but I've just really missed you. I feel kinda lost when you're not around and I can't just go to you for advice.”
Kiineq squeezes the boys shoulder reassuringly. “I have missed you too, Shep. I know that I have been very busy lately, but I want you to remember that I always have time for you.”
The answer brings a smile to the Padawan's face. He is about to say something when he feels Kiineq removing the blindfold. He has to blink a couple of times, since his eyes have been without light for so long. Before he really has his vision back, Kiineq has moved and is now sitting in front of him.
“I mean it, Padawan. No matter what or when, if you need me, I am there for you.” He states with a smile.