[Closed] Coffee and Jedi [Complete]

[Vishan Korogoth]

"I hate mornins." Mumbled a tired Vishan as he stretched his arms up over his head. He smacked his lips and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes as he walked through.

There was a tap on his shoulder. "Hey, Vish."

He turned around confused. "Huh?" The security guy he knew well. It was the usual guy posted at this time of morning and they got along decent enough. What was the deal?

"You forgot something buddy."

"Huh?" He blinked and then it dawned on him. "I'm a doofus. 'ere ya go man." Vishan pulled out his two blaster pistols and handed them over. "Careful with that one in particular."

The guard rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. I know." He tagged the weapons and handed them over to another guard behind the barred window. "Long night, Vish?"

"Yeah. But unfortunately not for the reasons you're thinkin'" That got a smile and Vishan plopped down on a stool and planted his head in his arms on the bar counter. "Bar man? Gimme some coffee. Leave the pot."

[Soolin Anjhurin]

:: Soolin strides into the bar & grill with Grimya in tow after the morning exercise. She glances briefly at the weary looking man on the barstool and takes a seat ::

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[Vishan Korogoth]

With his head down, eyes began to close voluntarily until he was that in between of sleep and consciousness. The placement of the coffee cup in front of him wasn't enough to rouse him, nor was its pleasant aroma.

The thud of the pot did, causing his body to jerk and forcing him into awareness. "Who,what?!"

First person he saw was a woman to his right. "You weren't there before." It was said more to himself then posed as a question. She looked about as tired as he was. More so in a way.

He yawned, picked himself up into a sitting position and pushed the pot towards the stranger. "Ya look like you could use this too."

[Soolin Anjhurin]

:: Soolin had never tasted coffee before, but it smelled good. She takes the pot and pours some into her empty cup ::

"Thank you."

[Vishan Korogoth]

Well, she wasn't making fun of him yet, since there was plenty to make fun of. That was a good sign. "You're welcome." He managed to mumble before taking a sip of the desperately needed coffee.

"Yeow man!!! That's strong stuff!! Did ya even think ta use water ta make this?" Vishan, who was surprisingly awake now, quickly grabbed for the cream and sugar. "You'll probably want some of this too. That stuff'll put hair on your chest."

[Soolin Anjhurin]

:: She looked a bit alarmed by his statement and set the cup back down on the bar ::

"I think I would rather have water instead."

[Vishan Korogoth]

"No, no, no." It came out in half chuckles until he had to stop to regain his composure. Never in all his life did someone say that!

"Figure of speech, Miss. It won't do that. Just means the coffee is really, really strong. Cream and sugar'll helps it taste better. 'Course, it might be all right for ya." Now that he was awake, Vishan got a better look at her. She didn't have that city look. Neither did he but he could survive in them. No, this woman was definitely from out of town, social graces aside.

[Soolin Anjhurin]

:: She smiled awkwardly, and took his advice, adding the same amount of sugar and cream that he did into the cup and stirred it. She took a sip. The flavor was interesting, and she decided she liked it as she took another sip ::

[Vishan Korogoth]

When she reached for the cream, Vishan nodded. "Good choice." He watched her from the corner of his eye, waiting for the inevitable yuck face that came with tasting coffee for the first time.

Apparently, she liked. "It'll wake ya up pretty quick. Especially if ya been up all night like me. Best breakfast ever!" He proclaimed with a smile.

[imported_Grimya]

:: Grimya studied the man as she waited for her meal. His aura was a warm orange shade. She could also sense the force flowing through him. Many other two legs that came here also radiated it. She had a good feeling about him ::

[Vishan Korogoth]

There was a tickle in the back of his mind. A feeling that always came when someone was watching him. Vishan set down his cup and looked around for any surly patrons casting odd glances towards his direction. Things seemed all right. Only thing that was watching him was the woman's wolf that was laying near her stool.

"Must be loosin' it." He mumbled, rubbing his eyes again.

[Soolin Anjhurin]

:: Soolin raised an eybrow ::

"Is something wrong?"

[Vishan Korogoth]

Vishan looked up, "Huh? Oh. Nothin'." He rubbed the back of his head absently. "Just ..... Bah." He waved his hand as if batting away a bug. "It's nothin'. Really." He decided to go back to drinking his coffee before more one word sentences came out of his stupid mouth.

[Soolin Anjhurin]

:: Soolin reached for her first plate and set it down for Grimya, then took her own and began eating ::

[Vishan Korogoth]

The Bar Keep looked at Vishan after serving the woman. "You want anything besides coffee for a change, Vish?"

Vishan scratched underneath his chin in thought, realizing he needed a shave. "Well, I dunno. Probably na...." His stomach growled in protest. "Probably. Howz about um," he looked at Soolin's plate. "That any good?"

[Soolin Anjhurin]

:: Soolin's plate contained a small sampling of bread and cheese and meat and fruit. She bit into a golden pear and nodded an affirmative ::

[Vishan Korogoth]

He crinkled his nose at the fruit. Vishan was never one for the 'healthy' diet. His eyes did light up at the sight of the bread, meat and cheese. "Sold. Ah'll take that."

The Bar Keep shook his head and chuckled to himself as he went to fill the order. "Sure thing Vishan."

"Thanks man ....... Heeeyyyy." Vishan turned slightly to face Soolin. "Sound of my name made me realize I've got no manners. All this time we've been talkin' and ah didn't introduce myself. Course," he scowled playfully in the direction of the kitchen. "he already did it for me."

[Soolin Anjhurin]

"My name is Soolin ..."

:: she extends her hand towards the she-wolf ::

"... and this is Grimya."

[Vishan Korogoth]

"Nice ta meet ya." He glanced down at Grimya. "Both of yas. If ya don't mind me asking, what're you guys doin' on Coruscant?" Vishan looked back at Soolin with a little curiosity in his eyes. "No offense, but ya really seem out of place."

[Soolin Anjhurin]

"We've been traveling the uncharted territories for four cycles. A vision led us here, to the Greater Jedi Order."

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[Vishan Korogoth]

"Good god woman!" Vishan was completely flabbergasted. "You're either brave or insane! Goin' past known space is like havin' givin' yourself ah death sentence."

The bar keep brought Vishan the same breakfast as Soolin's and set it down. Vishan grabbed a piece of cheese and started peeling off slices to pop into his mouth. "So, ya had ah vision ta come here an' be ah Jedi or somethin'? Most usually do ah noticed."

[Soolin Anjhurin]

"I have not seen another Jedi since the day my clan fell in battle. Until now."

[Vishan Korogoth]

"Aw man," his eyes drooped down in sympathy. "Ah'm sorry to hear that." He picked at a piece of fruit. "What happened? If ah'm not pryin' an' all."

[Soolin Anjhurin]

"Do you know of the planet Cysaria?"

[Vishan Korogoth]

He looked up in thought. "Hm, yeah. Heard of the place when ah was passin' through that sector on my way to Tatooine." Vishan's voice turned venomous. "Didn't go cuz ah was warned off from it. Damn Sith on that planet."

[Soolin Anjhurin]

:: Soolin noted the tone in Vishan's voice, but continued ::

"A man named Kama ruled then, though I hear he is dead now."

[Vishan Korogoth]

He narrowed his eyes in thought, wondering if he has ever heard of that name in his travels. "Nope. Never 'eard of 'em. Ah take it he was their leader?"

[Soolin Anjhurin]

:: Soolin tells Vishan about Draegan, the leader of the Obsidian Horde hired by Lord Kama to slay her clan. Vishan learns about how they fought and how they died. Of the Vornsker packs. Of her rape before her Brother's dying eyes. The shame of it. Of the nightmares that still plague her sleep.

She also tells of how Grimya saved her after she was left on the field to die, and of the lifebond they share ::

[Vishan Korogoth]

The brutal honesty of Soolin forced Vishan into silence as he listened in horror to the Jedi's story, reminding him of his own dealings with the Sith.... Corellia was a peaceful world until the Order came. The government was dissolved and their law was imposed. Martial law would have been a welcomed alternative to what the Sith Order imposed. Being a military man, Vishan was forced into their service.

He tried in vain to find a way for his family off world in those first few weeks of occupation. Vishan was still uncertain to this day who tipped off the Sith, or if it was just bad luck and someone picked up his thoughts. In one day, he was captured, tortured and forced to watch as they killed his wife and daughter. He thought his time was next, even welcomed death. Anything was a better alternative then this life.

Instead, he became their prisoner. Repeatedly tortured to force him to join the Sith Order completely. His continuous refusals didn't deter them either. They always thought of knew inventive ways of causing him pain, bringing him ever so close to death, to have that luxury taken from him. He lost track of how long he was held until another prisoner was brought in. A Jedi. A friendship was formed and between the two of them, when the time was right, was able to escape...

Vishan was staring at his coffee, trying to calm the anger that always came when he remembered Corellia. When he spoke up, he spoke in a whisper, "Ah'm sorry for what happened ta ya..." He felt stupid at his words, but it was all he could really think to say to break the silence caused by his lack of response.

[Soolin Anjhurin]

"Is that how you came here?"

[Vishan Korogoth]

That question brought Vishan out of his funk and he looked up at Soolin confused. "How Ah ended up 'ere?"

[Soolin Anjhurin]

:: Soolin nods as she takes another bite of food ::

[Vishan Korogoth]

"Um," He rubbed the back of his head, still confused to where that question came from. "Ah ended up 'ere on Coruscant because Ah 'ad no money ta leave?" He chuckled, "Floatin' around the galaxy makes for ah poor Vishan."

[Soolin Anjhurin]

"You are force-sensitive. Did you not seek to follow the Jedi you escaped with?"

[Vishan Korogoth]

His body stood still, staring at Soolin in disbelief. "Come again?"

[Soolin Anjhurin]

"Did you not know? The force is strong in you. Grimya can see it, and so can I."

[Vishan Korogoth]

"No Ah didn't!" He threw his hands up and almost stood up from the stool. Vishan was that astonished by the news. The last thing in the galaxy was to be like the people that tortured him in any form.

Then something in his mind clicked and he settled down, "Ya think that's why they kept me prisoner?"

[Soolin Anjhurin]

"I have no doubt. Your spirit is strong and they could not turn you."

[Vishan Korogoth]

Vishan's jaw was set as he spoke through his teeth, "Ah'd never do it. Not after what they did..." He went to take a sip of his coffee to stop himself from speaking any further. The heat from the liquid had long since vanished and Vishan sighed, setting the cup back down, pushing it to the side.

[Soolin Anjhurin]

:: Soolin watches him, finishing the rest of her meal quietly ::

[Vishan Korogoth]

He didn't know what to say, but figured there was no point in speaking. Soolin already knew what he was thinking and feeling anyway.

Vishan was twirling a sugar packet between his fingers, trying to digest everything that happened during the silence, trying to come to terms with what Soolin said. "Ah'm really Force Sensitive, huh?" Soolin didn't need to answer and Vishan plopped his head between his arms, resting it on the counter. "Great..."

[Soolin Anjhurin]

"It is a gift, and what path you choose to follow is your own. No one can decide that for you, Vishan."

[Vishan Korogoth]

He settled his head to face her, studing Soolin and thinking about what she said. "'ow did you know you wanted ta be ah Jedi?"

[Soolin Anjhurin]

"After Roh and I left Calan, we found the Order of Darkmere. We passed the trials and became oathbound together, by faith and by blood. It was our calling."

[Vishan Korogoth]

"Heh. That sounds nice. Wish ah could know jus' as easily as ya did. Knowin' what ta do wit myself that is..."

[Soolin Anjhurin]

"The crossroads are before you. What do you wish to do?"

[Vishan Korogoth]

"Well. Ah dunno." He took a moment to look around the Bar and Grill, singling out the Jedi in particular. "Ah may be Force Sensitive as ya say, but Ah dunno if the Order is ah place for me." Vishan looked back at Soolin. "Know what Ah mean?"

[Soolin Anjhurin]

:: Soolin nods as she stands up and leaves credits on the table for the meal ::

"I understand. It was good to meet you, Vishan."

:: She extends her hand, gripping his forearm in a warrior's handshake ::

[Vishan Korogoth]

Vishan rose to his feet and returned the handshake in kind. "Nice ta meet ya too Soolin." He threw a glance down at Grimya and smiled. "An' you too Grimya. Didn't want ya left out."

[imported_Grimya]

:: Grimya looks directly into Vishan's eyes, and a warm feeling flows into his mind. Then she turns and follows Soolin out the door ::