lynchpin_castle | Lynchpin---Castle and Surrounding Grounds.

The Third floor contains Guest rooms 8-17, the North and South Tower rooms, the Spa room, an Observation Room, two guest bathrooms, and a living hall. Guest rooms 16 and 17 are bracketed by both Tower Rooms (which contain a bathroom and small private living area).

Guest-rooms 8-11 are set up in one area, and able to be sectioned off from the others for privacy. The Living Hall is once more for informal gathering and relaxing. There is a small bathroom with basic amenities and shower at the end opposite of room 11, and a large closet and utility room closer to room 8.

The spa-room is designed after a traditional steam-area where relaxation is the key. It adjoins the 3rd floor bathing room as well as a corridor lined with comfortable couches and storage areas designed to be peaceful.

The Observation Room contains a glass ceiling and comfortable, but sparse, furniture. It is designed as a room for thinking and meditation, as well as looking out at the sky above the castle in inclement weather.

Edited 2017-02-26 05:39 (UTC)

Interlude
Swimming had been a bad idea--and yet Trunks was considering it again. Once he'd managed to get his mind at least somewhat focused again, and body warmed up, he'd left. Toweling off just enough to get back to his room, and then he was taking a cold shower. Very cold, as he leaned on his forearm against the wall.

What the hell did he do now? He wasn't an idiot, even if he'd grown up in a very difficult time. He knew what crushes were--and he wasn't blind. 18, for all that she scared him witless, he could recognize as beautiful. Was it just that for the first time he was 'safe' enough to actually deal with these?

Stupid hormones. Especially since he didn't know how to deal with any of this. It wasn't like when puberty hit, and he'd been able to channel most of his energy away into training, or occasionally been shy but read and looked at pictures or magazines (that his mom would kill him about if she knew).

He was also worried about if this would affect his being able to WORK with Ahsoka. She was a capable warrior-peacekeeper. Smart, experienced, funny, and he trusted her. Just because she was cute, and lithe, and moved like a stalking cat...

His mouth twisted in a scowl, fist hitting the wall of the shower lightly. Deep breaths, calling on what discipline he had to focus. Food. Get breakfast. Then go explore around the castle grounds. Then lunch. After that, he would meet her for meditation practice.

Deep breaths, and this didn't change anything as Trunks thought over things logically. She wasn't any less who she was, just because he might start liking her more than just as an ally and friend. Nor would he let that get in the way--they couldn't afford it.

Taking some strength from that, he finished up and started to go about his day.

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Trunks was much calmer when they met up at the Observation room on the 3rd floor. Equilibrium regained, and for him--he had 'rested' which meant recovering well. The black shirt was looser and more covering than his usual tops but comfortable, as were the comfy black pants that weren't quite sweatpants. Some kind of light canvas, and they went together well.

Once they entered the room, blue eyes widened a bit. The windows were set up high in the ceiling, going up to a glass dome over it all. The walls were some kind of warm but dark wood, with art in the style of various flora along the walls at tasteful intervals. The lights were soft, and there were low cushions on the floor of various shapes and types. One wall held a plain white-frame bearing a picture of the teleportation-pad.

It wasn't all that complex for Ahsoka. After they parted at the pool, she dried off, gathered her things, and went for a very fast hot shower. Dressed in clothing that wasn't hers but seemed more fitting to her style (leggings, skirt, halter top and her belts with her sabers, as well as her arm guards and her boots) but mixed and matched her standard things. She felt comfortable at least.

From there she set to work on some standard training. Some sword work. Some levitation work. Some running. She felt like she was in the temple again training. While in battle fields there was no reason to train. You were already pushing yourself to the limit as it was. In down time you had to try and relax to recover from it all. Here? Well, they were told when there would be a fight or not. And it was suppose to be safe here, so... relax and train.

By the evening she had snacked once on something for food, drank several things of tea through out the day, and a lot of water. And then it was time to meet. She came in just behind him, silent and careful footed, not meaning to surprise him or anything, but just... calm.

As she looked over then place she nodded. "It's nice in here, isn't it." She said, arms crossed over her chest and lifting her head, smiling. "How's your day been?"

Unlike Ahsoka, he looked unarmed and completely casual. Of course she'd seen before that he was far from harmless without weapons. Silent as she was, he sensed her ki and smiled in turn. "Not as much fun as tearing through droids, but probably better for me otherwise." Teasing her, closing the door behind them and then walking around the perimeter.

"Not sure I'll swim each morning like you do." A hint of smirk turned her way, blue-eyes bright. "I'm starting to think Togruta are part aquatic."

What? This isn't casual? Honestly, someone has to teach her how to relax or be casual, because this was... casual to her. Lightsabers on her hips? Yes, always. She had them there at the pool as well. You.... don't go anywhere with out them. Just in case. But she felt LESS armored than normal, and that was casual to her.

"Yes, but tearing down Clankers is always a good time, when there isn't something greater at stake." She could agree, giving him a smile as she did. She moved around the room a bit as well, though she had explored here before. "Grassland people, actually. I'm sure there were bodies of water around as well however, but the markings and designs on my body are from generations of evolution, to help assist my race to blend in with the red grasses." She said it with an easy smile, hands behind her back as she walked around, moving towards one of those large pillows on the floor. It was pretty in here. "The aquatic part, though, with how we are built, I like to think is true. At least I've always been comfortable in water."

Well, that confirmed his idea of her as being like a big stalking cat.

"More comfortable than I am." Trunks moved toward another one of the large pillows. Breathe--things hadn't changed. Not really, just how he was perceiving them. That was....manageable. "But...it was fun. Sometimes."

Admitting that to her. "I think I'll still spend more time in the dojo though." Folding himself down, legs crossed and posture relaxed for now, arms resting on his knees. Once they started, he'd have more discipline.

She wont deny that idea, if she knew about it.

She moved to carefully drop down to her own pillow, one where she could face him. Her legs curled under her, cross style and her elbows on her knees as well, hands up to lean her chin on them. She was having no problems with how she was perceiving him. She thought he was good looking, yes, but she thought that on a few people before, and that wasn't abnormal, right?

"And you are more comfortable than I am in the sky. Generally, if I am in the sky, I am in a speeder or I am falling. Though I won't blame you for not coming back. Everyone's got a different routine when they train. I might come join you down in the dojo some morning, or at least in the dueling range on my own."

She wouldn't hold it against him if he didn't come do laps with her or something. It was just training after all. "Anyhow, you said you meditate sometimes?"

"Tell me about what a speeder is later." He commented with a smile, as he actually did use other means besides flying to get around. Sometimes. It's just flying was the most convenient, if you could do so. "At least if I'm around, I can try and keep you from falling, right?" ...he hadn't actually thought about that before he'd said it.

Okay, no big deal. Deep breath, and focus on the current task. "I do, but it's...not something I'm the most skilled at." Now he sat up straight, hands loosely over his knees, not slouched. Another breath, making sure his shoulders weren't hunched forward. "Generally it's...I try to focus on 'nothing', but that's harder to do than one would think. So usually I just try and run over forms in my head and focus on those, or on my breathing solely."

She looked surprised for a moment at the simple idea that he didn't know what a speeder was, then then smiled, nodding. Of course he wouldn't know. "Sure. And yes... you're pretty good to have around if I fall." She said with a soft tease, but knew it was also pretty true.

She watched him sit up, wide shoulders and firm arms (and ignored the fact that she was indeed taking in his form as she watched him sit up right). She settled in a bit more her self. He would see her lift her arms and try to wag them out a moment, her fingers flexing and her shoulders drawing up.

"Well, first, you don't have to sit as if you had have a pole down your spine. There is a very nice balance in your body, that the moment you find it, it's very comfortable. It's a balance you find when your shoulders and back, neck, head and hips are all in line. Straight yes, but not uncomfortable. You don't want to have to think about holding a position when your deep in your head." She started, and peeked over at him again, a smile once more coming to her face, easy, light. "It takes a bit, but once you find it, it's hard to fall out of it. And it's different for everyone. As for what to think on, or focus on, it's also different for everyone, and different reasons for what you are looking for. Clearing ones mind to nothing is very hard, even for Jedi. It's also not always needed. We can try and find something that might work better for you."

The comment about the pole down his spine actually brought a half-smile. "I'm actually pretty comfortable right now. I knew that much, at least." He wasn't...well okay yes he was a novice compared to her. But he'd done very well for having to train mostly on his own.

"I'm definitely calmer than last night." Truthful there, not least of which because he could sense her right there and knew she was safe. Given that had been part of his nightmare... "Besides, you seem to pick up more than I do with your Force. I'll let you be the judge."

Closing his eyes, head bowed slightly and she could see he was right. He was relaxed, but focused, with the shift in posture he'd taken. His facial expression blank, neither scowling nor smiling but focused just like his body. Nor was he hiding his ki from her, that presence steady and strong. Wellspring of energy ready to be accessed and flowing through and within him easily.

"Never said you weren't comfortable now, just... remembering my own training. I know some people who feel they have to be rigid and disciplined, but the discipline comes from finding relaxation and learning to keep that."

She let her body settle in on it's own and let out a slow breath, peeking at him still. "I try not to pry and pick up things of others. Not like I did last night, and I apologize for that again. I couldn't relax, myself, and ended up meditating. Let my mind shut off and wander on it's own. That was... I mean, I shouldn't have been so intent on making sure you were all right. After all, you have taken care of yourself for so long." She admitted carefully, feeling bad still for barging in on him but also slightly fine with it, since he seemed okay that she woke him.

She refused to rethink on that hug he had woke up and gave her. There was something protective of it that she had grown to like from Anakin as well. She let out a long breath and then added, as if to wave most that off. "But... let's see if we can find a way to help you relax after training. Is there a type of place you have ever been to that you find calming? Something not connected to anything really. Even made up is fine. A forest or a field, or mountain or ocean?"

"It's not usually that bad." Keeping his eyes closed, breathing steady. "I mean, I get nightmares. Sometimes I get restless. Usually though, I don't have that much trouble."

Mostly because he's usually exhausted. Privately Trunks was also very very proud of himself. He didn't blush--this time--as her words hit him. She'd been thinking about him? Worried he was alright? --no no no, focus on that *later*.

"You're going to laugh." He could think of one place he found calming...it always had been. "It's not exactly a natural structure."

"If I'm being truthful, I am about the same. I get nightmares, but not like I used to, and when I do, they can be bad, but... generally I'm just a bit restless, or overly tired. Even if you don't have much trouble, sometimes you get a better nights rest if you know how to wind down."

She had been thinking about him, yes. And she was trying not to think about him NOW. Which was hard to do as she was talking to him, but still. Trying not to think about how he looked on the battle field, blond and well built and taking out droids. Or at the pool today, or-- damn, focus.

She lifted her head, peeking over at him. "I wont laugh. Promise."

Third Floor

Meditation practice and dinner announcements

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Rest after Challenge One

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