[D0 Afternoon] Wax On Wax Off

[Ares Pax]

Ares stood in the gym, having finished his warm up exercises. He paced around the room, silently observing it like an upcoming battlefield. His shoulders were tense, his muscles ready to spring at any point.

[Farissa Kho]

"You really should relax your shoulders," Farissa snickered as she suddenly stood behind Ares. As always, her arrival was sudden as if even the Force wouldn't reveal her unless she wished it.

"Or did Master Jaric teach you to always be so tense?"

[Ares Pax]

"Jedi Kho." Ares tried to hide his surprise, stepping forward and turning around his own axis, his hand slipping onto the hilt of his training saber immediately.

"I am..." He forced himself to relax, the tension slowly seeping out of his muscles.... or shuffling away awkwardly.

"I am just anxious. Our trials are coming up soon."

[Byron Mik]

“Everybody was wookie fighting, doo doo doo dodododo, and they were quick as lightning… doo doo doo.. dodododo, and they had excellent timing, badododododo, and they were hairy and frightening, badumdum, they were tall wookie men, and little wookie girls,” Byron sang as he walked into the area.

And then he got dramatic doing a fierce chopping motion, “Here comes the big boss, and he said… wrgl wrgilwrflflflf, and then they got it on!”

He continued singing as he worked out his stretches.

[Farissa Kho]

The Pantoran regarded his reaction with calm curiosity, particularly his movement towards his weapon. "Anxious you might get eaten up in the gym before your trials then?" She chided with warm humor.

"I suspect Jaric will be here soon. I was just passing by myself but couldn't help to notice your emotions, young Ares. What makes you so anxious about the trials then?"

The spirited work out nearby made her chuckle. "Maybe some music will put you at ease like it seems to do for your friend?"

[Ares Pax]

"Byron" Ares greeted his mate, unsure if the other noticed it.

Ares took a deep breqth and let it out. "I worry about failing." He stated simply, though his body was almost shaking.

[Byron Mik]

“There is no failure, there is only the Force, buddy. Either you will be Jedi or you won’t,” Byron replies in a friendly tone removing small ear buds.

“But you got the drive, I am sure everyone sees it.”

[Farissa Kho]

Farissa nodded to Byron's words. "Mm, yeah, what happens happens. Nothing we can do but to give it our all."

She gave a smile to both of them. "And you both have potential and the drive. You would not have come so far without it. Me, I didn't think I was ready when I was your age either, but the masters could see more than I could. Care to guess why that is the case?"

[Ares Pax]

Ares shrugged. "Your talent with the force?" He asked lamely. His hand traveled up, drawing the hilt and balancing the training saber in his head. "I... want to avoid shaming my parents' memory."

[Byron Mik]

Attachments were dangerous and he frowned at the words and then said in a more serious tone, “Ares, you can’t shame them. They are one with the Force now, they have had their journey, now you should focus on yours.”

Byron offered comfort with a hand on his friend's shoulder, “You’re one of the better duelists, almost as good as Lunda. Better than me for sure.”

[Farissa Kho]

Her smile was sympathetic. "Not quite. The answer is simpler than that. Master Kaedan has taught you well, but you should try to broaden your mind more in the coming days, Ares."

Another nod to Byron. "Lunda is a talented padawan. But there is more to being a Jedi than just duelling. I don't doubt I could take on someone like Master Murah in a duel, but there is so much more that she can do."

[Ares Pax]

Ares snorted like a tauntaun hungry for blood. Or at least how he assumed a tauntaun out for blood sounded.

"They may be one with the Force, but their legacy lives on, in this very temple. In this order." He shut his eyes and turned away from Byron. e understood what the youngling was saying, but Byron didn't know it. Didn't feel it.

"Everyone hass their role in the order, and in the galaxy." He took a breath. "Some are better at others." He smiled forlornly. "I am glad to be the muscle to our healers."

[Byron Mik]

“The day we are reduced to being muscle is the day the Order has lost its way,” he said seriously. “Maybe you should spend some time with me at the soup kitchen, hang out with Bring the Pain Layne. It’s good for the soul.”

“Just, I don’t know… be mindful of your intentions.”

[Farissa Kho]

Farissa smirked at the mention of 'Bring the Pain-Layne', having heard enough about the odd new addition to the Order to know that she would probably not appriciate being mentioned in the same sentence as soup kitchens anymore.

"You're a person, Ares, not a role," she added warmly. "We are all so much more than just roles to fulfill."

She looked between the two young men. "Speaking of soup kitchen though... I know Master Murah is heading out tomorrow. Maybe you should tag along."

[Byron Mik]

“Gladly, serving others is the core of being a Jedi. Plus they make a good soup,” he said chuckling lightly.

[Ares Pax]

Ares smiled, though it was a bit forced. "Perhaps I should go with her. It's been a while since I left the Temple." He started some basic drill movements with his right arm holding the saber. "Have you been to the soup kitchen lately Knight Kho."

[Byron Mik]

He glanced to the Knight and then back to Ares as he started his training. Tragedy drove the man, it gave him focus but it also seemed dangerous. He had always been taught to let go of such things, to put aside such attachments to the world. As he had been taught it was not cruel dispassionate aloofness but more an understanding that the universe is larger than any of us, just as the Force is. He could empathize with Ares, the tragedy that drove him, his story was unique and yet all too common. The war made many orphans, many children left to ask why and find answers to tough questions.

He waas no Jedi yet so he lacked the wisdom to give to the younger student, still he would consider what could be done.

[Farissa Kho]

"Please, Knight Kho sounds so formal - just Farissa is fine. Or if you absolutely have to, Knight Farissa will do." She gave a pat on Ares' shoulder with a gloved hand. Despite her lithe form, the woman was remarkably tall - only a few centimeters shorter than Ares.

"As for the soup kitchen, I should probaby take a tripsy down there myself for that purpose. I'm usually doing other stuff when I go to the lower levels of Coruscant. All hush-hush, you know, getting away from the scowling glances of the old Masters and finding the best places to eat and drink on this city floating in space." As if on cue, the door to the gym opened in time to hear the remark about 'scowling glances', and Jaric Kaedan looked on the scene with a scowl of his own. "Well - there's my cue!"

[Jaric Kaedan]

"Your cue?" Jaric said with an unamused, dry tone as the door closed behind him. "To behave properly for the Jedi you are in front of the students, I take it then."

He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose briefly. "Nevermind... we can talk about that in the morning."

[Byron Mik]

"Master," he said respectfully with a nod of his head, "Knight Farissa was just explaining to us the merits of volunteering and promoting service for those less fortunate."