Lynchpin---Castle and Surrounding Grounds.

[lynchpin_castle]

The servants are unseen and unknown. Residents are welcome to take over the Servant’s rooms or not, but it is not recommended. Likewise, it is unclear where the Master resides. Usually s/he will call a meeting of their champions and meet them within the reception all or Banquet room.

Meals are typically taken together as a group, and if requested--training times for the champions as a group may be arranged. Both of the mundane variety, and also recreations of challenge-zones, such as the Labyrinth and the Mirror Gallery. The castle and its immediate surroundings have been set to mimic Earth with its single moon and 24 hour cycle of time, along with a standard Julian calendar for convenience.

Comments

[neveraknight]

That tiny laugh and grin did help to make her smile back. This was strange, and awkward, and she had so many questions. For them. For him. For herself, really. "You make a good point." She got up as well, to follow his lead, plate in hand and looking at the rows of food. SO much of it, for just two people? She picked at a few things, and put this and that on her plate, to try a few.

"There are some... enemies of my own, though I doubt any of them would look my way at the moment. Much less put something this... fantastical together." he had to agree. Balancing her plate in one hand she picked up a mug and sniffed it, curious to it also. Hmm. She'd try it.

As the two of them relaxed, she could feel the others presence there, but it felt off. Small but not. An aura that read of power but was toned down at the moment. He was clearly a fighter, but he didn't feel Force trained. But something different. She wanted to ask about it, but first, to answer the easier questions.

At least he understood about other planets. She sat her plate and mug down, and tucked one foot under her as she settled into the chair, looking over at him with a faint smile. "It's not rude. At least I don't think so. I'm from Coruscant. It runs on a Galactic standard that sounds a lot like what you just described. Ah, I suppose I'm almost eighteen now?" A pause, and he frowned, trying to think back. Her hand reached up to rub at her neck. That was right, wasn't it? "With the war going on back home, I might have missed my last Life Day." She gave a small shrug to that, popping a small greenish fruit pulled off a branch into her mouth. mmm.

[light_of_willpower]

"I have never heard of a planet called Coruscant, but I think I understand otherwise." Definitely had more food than she did (but not nearly as much as his father or Goku or Gohan would. Not that she'd know that.)

His hands came up together briefly, something murmured under his breath, before digging in. A guy--but a guy with manners at least. "The other thing is, if they were your enemies...why do this? I've never met you, and have no idea who you are." A pause, as he also hadn't talked with his mouth full--but this was a full pause. "Of course, you only have my word for that."

A shrug, and a hint of grin. "Then again, we can overthink this and overthink this in circles all we want. I'm in favor of the simplest solution for now." Namely, that this was all that it seemed.

"War?" It seemed the best place to start, if she wanted to talk about it. But he also would accept if she didn't.

[neveraknight]

Never heard of Coruscant? Interesting. Clearly either he's from a backwater planet, or not at all the same place as she. And honestly, she had seen some weird things. She wouldn't put it past him.

"In truth, I doubt it would be anyone looking to harm us. I... didn't feel anything dark or foreboding from the Master, or the steward. I feel as if they are honestly grateful to our help. What ever that help might be." There was a training hall though, so she had to wonder what 'help' would be needed in general. A champion meant something needed to be won. Represented. Them, clearly.

She had no idea what it was she was eating, but it tasted pretty good. "My masters are very fond of simplest solutions, when they are there to have." She said calmly, watching the boy before her.

"Mmm, yes. Where I am from there is a very long war going on. It's effecting so many planets and so many people have been lost. I sometimes feel like it will never end."

[light_of_willpower]

A pause, understanding in his eyes although his face was carefully neutral otherwise. "I understand." He did, it was in his voice. "I'm...not from that situation. I've never heard of it. It's likely we're not from the same universe."

Simplest solutions right?

"...but I understand a conflict where you keep losing people, and how it's gone on for so long you wonder if it will ever end." A full pause, lost in his thoughts for a bit as his head turned down. Studying his plate, then moving to eat some more. Unsure how to break that awkward serious moment.

[neveraknight]

She glanced up, serious herself, and saw the look on his face. She gave a small nod, looking away again, down to her plate. She poked at a bit of food there. For her the war was over anyhow. No longer a General. No longer trying to help troops stay alive and help free innocent people.

She didn't know what to say either, and silence lapsed over them for a moment, before she cleared her throat. "So... it seems like you've come from hard times as well. Or have, at least dealt with them. I ah, noticed your weapon. You're a fighter as well?"

[light_of_willpower]

"I am. My father..." A pause, and definitely conflicting emotions there. "My father was a warrior, as were most of my Mother's friends. But...they all died when I was a baby." A sigh, and he might as well tell her. They had to work together, right?

"Everyone except myself, and my mother..and then a friend. He became my Master when I was 14. He died though, later that year."

[neveraknight]

She had no family, herself. No mother or father. Not really. She had been three when Master Plo had found her, and so she had no memory of her parents at all. Raised at the temple, that was the only family she had.

Leaving Anakin felt like she was walking away from her family though. None of them believed in her except him, in the end. That felt heavy to her, in her chest, in her heart. "I am sorry to hear that. It sounds as if you've felt a lot of loss in your life as well."

[light_of_willpower]

Looking up, blue-eyes meeting blue--studying her. But he nods, accepting the sympathy. "It can't have been easy for you either, as the conflict you describe sounds more...large in scale, and more organized." Raising his head up, a resigned smile. "I mean, there are different types of war, but that's my impression."

[neveraknight]

Looking eye to eye back, she tried and gave a faint but confident smile. This was a serious top for both of them, but it was telling as well, wasn't it?

"Growing up in War is never easy. I was sheltered from it in some ways though. I was taken when I was young to go and train at the Jedi Temple. It's ah, an order of people who are... trained as peace keepers. When I was old enough, I was given to my Master for more practical training. Which meant my first day in meeting him was in a large scale battle. He had taught me much."

She poked at her food, and picked up a bit to eat, focusing on a few things at once now. Eat. She needed to eat. The last meal she had was prison rations, and that one sweet bun that Padme brought her. She hadn't realized how good the food was tasting until she thought of that.

"At least it looks like we'll both be worthy Champions?"

[light_of_willpower]

"Yeah..." Even though he sounds more thoughtful about it, almost grim. "I had to kind of teach myself, until Gohan started training me." And he hadn't mastered the super-saiyan state until Gohan's death.

Sometimes he wondered if it was worth it, considering the loss. But he would make it worth it. He had to, and he would be worthy of Gohan, and the fallen fighters, and his mother, and father. Eating again in silence with her, before heading up for seconds. A look back, paused. "Do you want anything while I'm up?" Polite, and it was a good way to defuse the seriousness again.

[neveraknight]

"I suppose I was lucky in that." And in the fact that her master was still alive. She had no idea that her leaving was going to help push him over though. For now she was trying to look out for herself.

She was silent for a bit, eating slowly. As a Jedi she wasn't used to huge meals. Just enough to get by, or field rations. When he stood, asking if he could get her anything else, she shook her head no. Then, paused, looking at her mug. It was mostly empty. It had been hot chocolate. It had also been really good. "Ah, do you know what this was? The brown liquid? I wouldn't mind a bit more of that..."

Leave it to her to want to drink the sweet stuff.

[light_of_willpower]

"I do. It's similar enough to something in my home." There is a definite smile there, as he gathers more and then balances two mugs and the plate. "It's better than what my mother swore by in the mornings." He got it, in that he understood the technical ideal of caffeine and its benefits.

Then again, Bulma had also often lamented and whined about the energy he'd had, and how it was in his blood. Even if she'd always described his father as...calmer. Or at least more controlled, disciplined.

"Assuming they don't have a different name for it, it's a hot drink made of chocolate." Passing her the mug, and holding his own up for a toast. "Which is a dessert item where I'm from, and a very good bribe when wives and mothers are upset with you."

[neveraknight]

"I admit, at first I thought it was an off color Caf." Which is basically coffee in space, but still. "But it turned out to be far less bitter. I think I might like it more." She was smiling a bit more. Maybe subjects like this will be less serious.

She lifted her mug to his when he held it up. "Chocolate. That I have heard of. Or something like it. I've never had it in liquid form, but I can see why it bribes someone into a better mood." He settled back to hold the mug in both hands. Still a bit of food on her plate, and she would finish it all, but she held this close and smiled over the rim before taking a sip. "Thank you." She said after, for his bringing more back to her.

"The food is different here, but not all that bad." She nodded to his plate. "And you went back for more, so it must be edible to you as well."

[light_of_willpower]

"Comes from my father." Trunks offered shyly, but clinked his mug to hers and took a sip. "I'm used to taking advantage of it when I can, too." Especially if he was going to be running into a dangerous situation. Which was often.

"Caf...caffeine?" Attention pricked there--looks like chemistry really was the building block of the universe. Mother'd be proud. "There's a drink on Earth--where I'm from--with caffeine that's bitter, called Coffee. There's also tea, which is less bitter, and has less caffeine." Reaching up to tuck a bang back once more, there's a grin. "I wasn't allowed coffee. I was barely allowed tea except on some occasions. Mother was always worried about keeping up with me anyways."

Then back to his food, trying to actually identify things now. He thought he recognized some kind of egg-pie with meat. Veggies--but he wasn't sure what kind. It was good though, which was all he really cared about.

[neveraknight]

"My master could pack away food as well. He was a big guy though, so I'm not surprised. He used to say the same though, to take advantage of it when you could." She never ate a lot though, used to the Jedi ways. And Anakin, though he could eat a lot, never did if there were others in need of food.

She sipped her drink, then lifted a brow. "Ah, yes, I think so? Maybe? It's a stimulant that helps wake people up and give them a small energy boost. I wasn't allowed it while training because stimulants were frowned upon, but if you're out around a camp with the rest of the troopers and one offers you to sit with the group over a steaming mug, who's to say no?"

She reached out to poke a small square things and played with it on her plate a moment before putting it in her mouth. Almost tasted like Tauntaun.

[light_of_willpower]

"That would be coffee alright." Trunks murmured in response, grinning. "Mother swore by it in the morning. And at night, later, when we were working on our last hope." Maybe she wouldn't have had to work so hard if he'd helped her sooner.

So arrogant--he could see that now. Definitely his father's blood. But his mother's too, as he learned--and still did. "I'm more used to being the...lone-guard type. I help out with shelters, making sure people are settled and safe though..." Pausing between bites, as he explained. "It's hard, as we have to do a lot of hiding."

[neveraknight]

"I'm not sure I can swear by it, but I can admit that when you've come to the end of a very long day, any little boost can sometimes help." She leaned her arms on the edge of the table, watching him carefully on the other side. He was interesting, at least. Something about his face reminded her of Lux in a way. Just that simple thought had her looking back to her plate, poking at the last bits of food there.

"The Jedi have had lots of times where that is a thing. Help with shelters. With making sure the people are safe and cared for. There's always resistance, but the work feels... rewarding in the end. Why do you have to do so much hiding though?"

[light_of_willpower]

Well, there went his appetite, still with a half-plate to go. "...that...useless cause I'm used to dealing with. It's an enemy most people can't do anything but run from. I'm.." He didn't realize how tightly he was clenching the fork in his hand, or how hard his blue-eyes had become. "I'm the last one who can give them any kind of challenge, and it's still not enough to beat them."

[neveraknight]

She noticed the change, and maybe even a change in his presence? Still she watched him, blue eyes clouding over with concern. Maybe she shouldn't have asked.

"That sounds like a huge burden placed upon your shoulders. And you are dealing with this alone?" Because that just seemed worse some how. She didn't mean to bring up a bad subject. Perhaps that was just how you learned of another person, but still, she felt bad.

[light_of_willpower]

"My mother isn't a fighter....not physically anyways." Bulma would smack him if she'd heard him say she wasn't a fighter--and he'd deserve it. "She's a strategist though, and a genius inventor. There are small groups that try to fight back, but the two beings shrug off Earth forces."

Closing his eyes, a deep breath in and out and calling on some measure of calm. Of discipline, since she'd asked. "Also, while I'm aware of other planets, Earth doesn't really have much of a presence of any kind of note, that I'm aware of."

[neveraknight]

"Sometimes a strategist is just as brave as any one warrior." She noted, softly, watching him as he seemed so angry but trying to calm himself. There was something about that that reminded her of Anakin starting to lose his temper.

She reached a hand across the table, and made sure to use a tiny push of the force first, so he could feel her coming closer, before her hand reached out to his fisted fork holding hand. "I didn't mean to bring up something upsetting, Trunks. I've seen some planets like your Earth though. Or so it sounds like. Small cultures compared to other places. There are a lot of places out there that have people that remind me a lot of you. Maybe somewhere out there someone else can find your Earth and help."

[light_of_willpower]

The hint of...something pushing at him, registered to his senses and had blue-eyes snapping up. Hard, will and determination there, a brief moment of suspicion and it was gone. "We're trying. I refuse to let it happen to anyone else, if I can." Definitely diamond hard willpower there, borne of pain.

Another breath though, eyes closing again and he's consciously relaxing. Letting go of the fork, letting his hand relax under hers and accepting the comfort, even if it's unusual. "But...you know now."

Another breath, audibly in and out. "And if we're going to work together, it's better you know, Ahsoka."

[neveraknight]

It was just the tiniest push just before her head touched, so not to startle him, or so she felt. He looked so unsettled for a moment, and tight. She didn't want to over step her bound here. After all, she'd only just met him. Still, she tended to want to bring comfort to those who have suffered.

Seeing him start to relax was good through. She pet her fingers rest there at the back of his hand, for a moment longer, just leaning there and watching. "You have a very strong will, don't you. A very strong sense of right and wrong." She said, almost curiously. "I'm glad you could tell me as much though, even if I feel bad to bring it up as a reminder to begin with. We're going to work together here though. Try to help these people in their case. If anything, we'll both get stronger here before we go home, right?"

It can't hurt?

[light_of_willpower]

He's listening, then his head turned down. But there's a smile, for all it's kind of sad. "I hope you're right, and yes." A brief turn of his hand under hers, acknowledging. "Both of my parents were the most stubborn people on the planet."

Back up at her, that hint of smile remaining, before he pulled his hand-away. "So I've got a double dose of it." That smile was very slightly turned up at the corners--almost the beginnings of a smirk. Then he's pulling out from his chair, and standing up. "So, tell me more about this Jedi-Order while we explore this place, huh?"

[neveraknight]

Good. He seemed to calm more. She should watch what her topics are when she talks to him. As he drew his hand back she drew back as well. She noticed the fork had a slight bend to it, which honestly didn't surprise her too much. There was something about him that wasn't 'weak' in any form.

"See, you'll learn the thing about me is, I'm almost always ... close to right." She winked and drew back to take one last sip of her drink. "And I think we have something in common with that. Though it was my Master and his Master that were some of the most stubborn Jedi that I knew. I like to think I brought my on brand to the table."

He was standing, and as he said that, she smiled too, taking just one last tip back sip of her coca, sitting it down and dusting her hands off on her hips. A nod for him to lead the way, though she fell into step with him easy. "I'm not sure what I could say about the Jedi Order though. We were peacekeepers who use the Force to help us. I was... only a Padawan, unfortunately. A learner. My master, Anakin, he and I got along very well. In the end it felt like he was the only one who... trusted in me anymore." She gave a small shrug.