Forsee

I was reading old datapads when Master Selak comes looking for me. I raise my head, and without any explanation, he asks me to follow him. I sigh, sluggishly getting up and complying.

I can't help but raise my eyebrow when he brings us to the old chamber. "When did you do this?" I ask, probably not receiving any answer. Meditate, he orders, and I simply shake my head. Why did I even bother asking him?

I take another glance at the room. I guess - "H-Hey!" I scream, hunching down when the sound starts assailing us from everywhere. It eventually stops, and I raise myself with a disturbed pout. Ugh, why does he always have to be like this? But I decide not to protest. Let's just get this over with.

I keep listening to him until the instructions are done, finally being able to glance again at the room again. I can play smart here: Sitting closer to the speaker is bound to make it easier for me to predict when he'll touch that note, right? ... But to be honest, it's not like I'll always be able to take advantage of the situation. No, if I want to master the Force, I need to be ready to use it in a disadvantage. I'll have to play fair. It's better for the long run.

Unceremonially, I walk to the farthest chair and sit on it. I close my eyes and start to pay attention to my surroundings. I have to able to feel a single gust of wind in a hurricane. Easy as that.

There's nothing in my mind. I can feel how everything is connected, as always, but I don't see anything. I let a small huff under my breath. I can feel it, far away. It's coming, slowly. But it's so far away. And it's between so many other things. I will lose it from my sight!

But I can also sense how it, also, is tied by everything else. I focus on that tie. I can visualize it, even it is not physical, tangible. It's right there, the connection is in front of me. I'll just... Tug it.

It's still far away. Let's tug it strongr - My thoughts are interrupted. Suddenly, a strong vision comes to me. It's not gentle, it's immediate, heavy, but also powerful. It's "Now!" I pant one second before the note comes out of the speaker, my eyes suddenly opening.

I'm exhaustively breathing when Master Selak gives me that look. What is he doing? I raise my eyebrow in doubt when he lights his lightsaber, and can't help but snide at him with a hoarse laugh. Yeah, as if he could ever appear threatening.

And yet, he's approaching. I gulp saliva down, looking at him from below with uncertainty. I've certainly not been the best of students. Maybe he's decided that I may be not worth the risk? What did the Jedi even do to students that were not cooperative?

I inch back, only a bit, as an unconscious reaction, when finally realization comes down on me. I close my eyes and try to predict what's going to happen. Maybe he means for me to barely dodge his blow.

If I can't predict for whatever reason... Then fine! You know what? Fine. It's not like I have much to live for, anyway. A frown appears on my face, and the whole time, I simply stare him back, discontent on my face.

This time, I don't need to tug any thread. As soon as I close my eyes and focus on what I need, on what I want, I unconsciously let my emotions aside. For a rapid second, a vision comes to me. It's much clearer than the last one and yet feels much slower. Master Selak would never hurt me, of course. Maybe he secretly despises me for not being the ideal Jedi, but I guess I am one of his apprentices, in the very end. No: What he means to do is to swiftly lower his lightsaber's tip against my left cheek. I breathe out, never realizing that I was holding my breath, and come back just in time to see him standing in front of me, his lightsaber descending in my direction.

I sluggishly move my torso to the right just in time, and can't help but grin at myself. I look at his face, looking for any sign of approval and probably finding nothing. I shake my head and click my tongue, and stare reflectingly to the floor.

"Hey, Master... Why... Why does passion lead to the dark side?" I can't help but raise my head and stare him right at his eyes. "Why are harmony and love something so contrary to each other? It's... Not fair. Because, if we can't be happy, why to even live?"

Avi can't hide the smile that forms on her face when her Master actually compliments her. She's still sitting, but perks up when he starts talking, curiously staring while listening to his answer.

Right. She knew all that already. They were talking about something that they already talked so many times before. She does blush a bit when her Master says that he loves her as a daughter so nonchalantly. While they may have not always got along, at least from Avi's side, it would be a stretch to say that she didn't see him as an actual parent. Especially because she never met her actual father. And yet, Avi can't help but keep arguing. "Right. Correct me if I'm wrong, but love itself is not the problem. What can be problematic, and maybe often times is, is how unstable love tends to be." She considers her words for a moment, staring at the floor for not more than an instant. "But if love is certain, or unconditional as you say, then there's no fear to be had, right? You're using our relationship as an example of unconditional love, but is that really dependant of the nature of our relationship? Does it work only because you're my father, and I'm your daughter? Isn't it possible that both of these are just labels, and what makes the love that we share is not the nature of our relationship, but the dynamics of it?". The Twi'lek pouts at her Master, convinced by her own argument.

"Well... I don't know that!" She says, frowning, and then quickly realizing her Master's point. She sighs annoyed, begrudgingly conceding him reason over this argument. "And that's the problem. We don't know that. It's a risk. And because it's a risk, it can't be consistent."

Avi had lowered her head at some point, again. She may even look defeated, but once more, she raises her stare. "But you care about me, right? About us? How different is the love of a father to his children compared to a couple loving each other? Can't they both be negative? Wouldn't they both be a risk? I mean, sure, everything's alright for now! But Ian is one prank away from making someone snap. What if someone reacts badly? Or what if they turn to the dark side? Wouldn't your relationship to that person change? And if wouldn't, why can't that same stance be applied to two people that love each other in... You know." She shrugs, avoiding his stare, embarrassed by the implication. "In another way, I mean."

Avi offers her master a sympathetic smile. It's not that she didn't believe that he loved her - More like she wasn't sure if that love was as unconditional as he was trying to assure her it is. "Don't get me wrong, Master. Ian is nice, but... He can also cross the line. I try to rein him in whenever I can, you know that, but... It would reassure me if you have a talk with him. I think he needs some tough love."

"Aaanyways..." She says, finally getting up from the chair, unconsciously stretching her back. "I just wish you would trust us to love as unconditionally as you love us." There's no poison in her words, but an unyielding fire that doesn't quite give in shines in her eyes, unconvinced. She understands the need for control and stability in a relationship but still thinks that can be achieved despite the nature of it.

Avi closes her eyes while she stretches her back, taking in the endearing sensations of her muscles, but she does spies with one of her eyes her master's reaction to her words. After she finishes stretching, the Twi'lek puts some space between them. He was, after all, just a few inches away from her.

"So... Now, what? Is hanging out like this part of the test?" She says, a half-smile in her face.