A Thousand Suns [Open]

[restoresbalance.livejournal.com]

Luke didn't feel the sweat trickling down his back until he paused for breath, and realized he was soaked.

It was easy for him to lose himself in the Force like this when he was practicing.  Before waking up here, he'd used remotes, three and four at a time firing stinging bolts at him.  It was an exercise in concentration as much as anything, but it served to keep his mind and  body busy too.  And while he didn't have the remotes here to practice with, Luke remembered the forms he'd learned as clearly as if they'd been taught to him yesterday.  He'd come down here, in need of some distraction - a very un-Jedi like thing to need - and had started to practice.

It didn't bother him too much, looking back on it; Luke knew that Mara, Ben, and the others had been returned to the pods, and that they were safe aboard.  He didn't have to worry about them, or anyone else in his family, or even people not related to him.  He probably wouldn't have anyway, but Luke made deep bonds with those he called friend, and it helped to know that when all this was over, they'd be okay.

But he was here because a Jedi needed to be focused, and not dwelling on things that were out of the control of one person.  Igniting his blade, Luke brought his concentration back up, and prepared for the next form.

Comments

[shiratokai.livejournal.com]

"It is not so much that I want to go anywhere in particular, but my restlessness has led me to this location. However, I have no idea where this even is?"

Fumbling around, Shiki finally decides to take a seat.

"After an incident the other day, I have been reflecting on my current situation and trying to keep myself under control. I will say though, bumping into walls wherever I turn is not helping with that."

Pausing for a second, Shiki realizes he forgot to introduce himself.

"By the way, my name is Tohno Shiki. So where exactly am I?"

[restoresbalance.livejournal.com]

"Nice to meet you, Tohno," he replied. "I'm Luke Skywalker, Jedi Grandmaster." Though, he reflected briefly, there weren't many Jedi around to be Grandmaster of. Still. "And you're in the old Jedi Temple, in the city. It's a good place to come to think, when you're restless."

He smiled a little. "The good thing about this Temple, too - not so many walls. Mostly columns and big open spaces."

[shiratokai.livejournal.com]

"Call me Shiki. Tohno is my family name."

Out of habit, Shiki panned his head around as if to take in his surroundings.

"Well, this place does seem kind of relaxing. So what exactly does it mean when you call yourself a 'Jedi Grandmaster?'"

[restoresbalance.livejournal.com]

"Shiki, then." Luke fixed the name in his memory and sat next to the young man, pulling a scrap of cloth out to wipe sweat from his face. Master he might call himself, but that sure didn't make even the basic exercises any easier. Yoda hadn't been lying when he said that the life of a Jedi was a life of learning.

"And you can just call me Luke. The title means I lead the Jedi Order, but there's not much of an Order here right now. I never liked to stand on ceremony, anyway." He made a face, then remembered Shiki probably couldn't see it. Dealing with politicians - Leia not included - had made the title a necessity in order to play the game, but Luke was still a Tatooine farmer at heart, and here especially where everyone had to work together, he couldn't justify putting himself above others like that.

[shiratokai.livejournal.com]

"I hope you do not mind my asking, but what is the Jedi Order?"

Shifting his shoulders around to make himself a little more comfortable, Shiki adds, "I can understand what you mean about ceremonies. I was never really comfortable during the new year addresses at school."