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.

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[light_of_willpower]

No one else there--no one else sensed via the Force either. His room was fairly sparse and relatively tidy, towel on the floor along with blanket and pillow not withstanding. Sword leaning against the wall on one side, and he'd clearly chosen one that had an attached bathroom. Probably larger than she felt was needed, but it was enough for him.

His face was twisted in a scowl, body shifting again and twitching. "N-No..." Defiant, and if she reached out she could feel the hints of fear and anger along with that steady presence he always had underneath the masking he did.

[neveraknight]

It was a larger room then she felt was needed for HER. For him, he might need the space. She wouldn't judge that. For her, a open space to sleep in felt weird. Even bunks on ships were tiny.

That wasn't the point though. As nice a his room seemed, she was focused on what was going on with him. And she could feel those twists of fear coming off him. The strange fears waving off his presence as she came closer. A nightmare indeed. She wondered if he had them often or not. In the week of being here she hadn't noticed them like this.

She inched closer, both hands out, as if to steady him, though she did not get that close. She used the Force at first, to try and press a softer feeling his way. A small attempt of a Jedi Mind Trick, though she wasn't trying to blindly change his thoughts. She wasn't doing what Obi-wan does so easy. He's not weak minded, but... in his sleep, he might be more open minded to allowing a softer breeze push through a bit, to maybe calm him.

"Trunks... please wake up..." She said again, softly still, but growing closer.

[light_of_willpower]

Weak-minded--definitely not, even in sleep. Not easy, but he stilled. Remained tense and his face twisted in a scowl, but still now. As if listening, waiting for something. Still those waves of fear, of anger, fear stronger at the moment along with a faint hint of relief?

Maybe she was getting through.

[neveraknight]

Those waves of fear and anger mad her stomach bunch up and twist. The stronger feelings felt weird to her, but also a relief?

She inched closer, now beside his bed. One hand out to steady him if he woke up in a rage at her. To stop him with the Force if she had to, but she wanted to try to help. She remembered all those times Master Anakin would wake up from a nightmare. While out on a mission and unable to sleep well. She tried still to be a calming presence, reaching out carefully to place a hand on his shoulder and give him a small nudge. "Shhh, it's okay. You can wake up now, Trunks. You're safe here. Everyone is safe here." She tried, soft and soothing.

[light_of_willpower]

Well, it sort of worked. Turning to her, blue-eyes opened but it wasn't an 'awake' kind of open. "Ah's'ka" Murmured sleepily, with relief, and then he was moving to sit. Pulling her into a hug even, still not awake but just relaxing as that fear faded, and the anger burned lower--overshadowed by relief. Eyes-closed, head against her shoulder and holding her as if she were a life-line.

A few heartbeats, then his eyes opened, and he was fully awake this time. Pulling back, and flushing in embarrassment, and then letting her go entirely. Not entirely sure how to react.

His nightmares this time had been a weird mix. Old memories, Gohan lying in the puddle, as the rain came down and Trunks felt the rage build in him, the loss. Then the sound of blasts of energy and he turned, but it was the droids. Cruel red eyes, an IG striking out at him with a pike. His mother running, heading for an Ion-bomb and shot down before she got close. His head had turned, and Ahsoka had been there, hit backwards into the rubble of the streets in the rain as the hum of her lightsabers faded. At some point in the dream he'd screamed, and tried to call on his heritage, but it hadn't come.

[neveraknight]

"Oh!..." She sounded startled at first as he sat up suddenly, pulled her into a hug and held on. She's never had anyone do that before. Not really. Hugs, yes, but not like that. She let her guard down now, hugging him back for the moment, trying to be soothing. "Yeah, it's me. You're okay..." She said on a soft voice.

As he pulled away a moment later, seeing to have woken up more, she drew back a bit as well, looking at him, blue eyes large and drawn together, worried. That pull of fear and twist of hate still tugging at the back of her mind, though the itch at her neck had subsided now.

"Hey, I... I'm sorry to have... uh, come in uninvited, but, ah... you sounded like you were having a bad one." She couldn't tell if the sound she heard was through the Force or his actual sounds, but something had got her attention and made her come check on him.

[light_of_willpower]

"No no...I'm sorry." Quick there, his own blue-eyes large in apology and embarrassment. "I...haven't had one that bad in a while, honestly." Reaching up and rubbing at his neck as he looked down again.

"'m sorry I woke you." Somehow he'd thought his room had better insulation than that.

[neveraknight]

She looked down at her own hands, twisting them together for a moment. She shouldn't have woke him. Shouldn't have bothered him, but she could feel it, the Force twisting around her at him. "No, please don't apologize. You didn't really wake me." A bit of a lie, but also not much of one. She's not been able to relax enough to sleep properly.

"It... it's okay. I just, I thought I felt, ah--but I shouldn't have barged in. I just thought perhaps I could help."

[light_of_willpower]

Trunks bit his lip a bit, hand coming down and he seemed unsure where to place them. Still flushed though--at least she wasn't asking? "No..I...thank you." More softly, with a breath. "It did, you did. Just...I"

Trailing off, awkward. Sad that she'd been having trouble sleeping too, but maybe he shouldn't have been surprised? Given her own experiences, and he knew she was hurt, even if she wasn't saying anything.

[neveraknight]

Dreams were personal, and nightmares more so, really. It wasn't her place to ask if he didn't want to talk about it. So she wouldn't ask, because, lets face it, a space like a bedroom was personal enough and she had already barged in on him that far.

"It's okay. You don't have to explain. I... know that dreams can be pretty bad sometimes. Maybe you just needed this reset in order to get some rest tonight." She offered, trying to be a bit more cheerful. Like he could maybe go back to sleep and not fall into that twist of hate and anger. "Is there anything I can do to help? Get you some water or something?"

[light_of_willpower]

Listening and his head was slowly turning back to her. Still a hint red. She also likely knew why his dreams were bad, given all she'd learned about him earlier. "I think I'll be okay." Trying for a tired smile himself, getting to his feet and moving to retrieve his pillow and blanket. "Will you be able to get back to sleep alright?"

[neveraknight]

It was true, she had some idea of what he might have been dealing with, though she wouldn't assume. Still, when he stood, she moved, going over to pick up her lightsaber off the floor. She had actually brought it with her. Why? Because she wasn't sure if he was safe or not. IF something was here. Still, sure, and she hoped he didn't think her silly for doing so.

"Me? Oh, I'm sure I'll be fine. It's you who hasn't had a proper rest yet. At least it sounds like it's not been a good proper rest."

[light_of_willpower]

Honestly, he seemed surprised to see the lightsaber, but wasn't going to judge her for it. He was dangerous--she'd seen that for herself today and if she wasn't sure what was going on it was smart. "Physically exhausted--I remember hitting the pillow and then..." A shrug, tossing said pillow back on to the bed.

"Honestly though." Softer again, blush returning as he moved to walk her out. "Thank you, Ahsoka. I am sorry for interrupting your rest." A tired smile, maybe a bit sheepish too. "I'm really not used to having anyone at my back. It's a nice change."

[neveraknight]

It wasn't for HIM if that's what he thought. Just... in case she needed to help defend him, or in case there was some creature sucking on his brain. It's been known to happen in places. The things a lightsaber can do to help.

Still, she held it behind her back with both hands, as if a bit sheepish. "Seriously, you don't have to thank me, or apologize." She said, walking to the door and stepping out, looking over at him and giving him a faint smile, still feeling a bit uneasy. "I might have nodded off in a meditative state and shouldn't have. I told you though, I have your back. While we're here or on the field." She leaned forward and paused, reaching out to give his shoulder a pat and a squeeze, before leaning back and taking a step away. Why had she been so tempted to give him a kiss on the cheek. That was dumb.

"Get some rest. Maybe tomorrow we can do some training together." She started to walk backwards and towards the door to leave.

[light_of_willpower]

"Maybe you don't think I do, but I feel like I do." A half-smile, appreciation clear. Reaching up when she squeezed his shoulder and taking her hand with his. Squeezing it gently too, and...letting it go when it was clear she was pulling back.

Why had he wanted to hold on to it? Her touch had been soft against his skin, and her hand fit nicely with his. No longer as tense as he had been when he'd hugged her at first, still in the grips of a nightmare.

"Might try some meditation myself--'ve never been that good at it though." A sheepish grin. "Maybe tomorrow we can do training on that for a change."

For lack of knowing what to do, Trunks stuck his hands in his pocket, and leaned against the door frame. Fully willing to watch her until she was gone. "Maybe swimming too. Be nice to not do that when I'm in danger of being sucked in a whirlpool too." There is a hint of grin now, and a tease in blue-eyes.

Ahsoka was so comfortable to be around, and talk with. Their experience on the challenge field in training had just made that clearer. She was a skilled warrior in her own right, and he could see why she would be a skilled peacekeeper too.

[neveraknight]

He was leaning in the door frame of his room, and she half wondered if he was just waiting for her to scram, or if he needed the conversation. She did the slow kind of backing up but not walking away thing, hands behind her back to hold the lightsaber, but also because it was comfortable for her. She rocked on her toes and back to her heel a moment, hearing him talk. She was still in those dark gray sweat pants, rolled down just below her belly button and resting at her hips, her dark gray tank top settled right above that. She shouldn't call it cute at all.

"Sometimes Meditation is very good for clearing your mind before you sleep. If you've had a long day, it can't hurt to try. Master Yoda, he used to tease me when I was a child, for not wanting to go to sleep. He would say that I had so many things I wanted to do all at once that my mind was forever clouded in thoughts. He taught me that it isn't bad, to hold all those thoughts at once, but to put them away for a bit, so I may rest. So, maybe I can teach you to do the same. Perhaps it will help, with what ever nightmares come your way."

She then smiled, looking back up at him. "As for swimming. I am at the pool every morning, if you would like to join me."

[light_of_willpower]

If she'd asked, Trunks wouldn't have been able to say himself why he was doing it. Because it was polite to see a guest off, even unexpected ones. Because he wanted to be sure she was alright. Because he liked her company, and was enjoying it, even if his sense told him they both needed sleep and rest.

He didn't want to make her awkward though, and he could tell she was feeling so. Even if she was hiding it. "I can believe that, knowing you. It's not a bad thing either, having all those thoughts."


A nod, assenting to training in meditation as well as about the swimming. "Usually I'm in the dojo, but I think I'll make an exception tomorrow." Smiling too, and preparing to step back to let her go. "In the morning then, Ahsoka."

[neveraknight]

"It's not a bad thing to hold all those thoughts, but one needs their rest, so sometimes you need to set the thoughts to the side, even for a few hours, and shut down." She said, almost like she was repeating it from someone else. Master Plo, no doubt.

She had backed up to the next door way and paused there. "Until tomorrow then. Try and get some rest, Trunks Briefs." She gave him a small salute and moved to go around the corner, to head back up to her room. She wouldn't sleep so well, but she was used to that, and it had nothing to do with him waking her either.