Jedi Academy

With some time to herself, Esla took some time away the academy to meander the streets of Coruscant. She didn't exactly have a particular direction to go and found herself following the flow of people as if they were a current guiding her toward the sea. The Senate was indeed a large body of people and sometimes considered the centre of the galaxy by some. She took a pause to appreciate where the Senate stood and its architect, then perhaps found herself bumping into a few people while standing at a busy avenue. However, she managed to find some refuge at a vacant stone bench where she could watch without blocking traffic.

Byron was out and about looking for a few odds and ends for the upcoming trip and trials plus he had a hankering for a bantha-dog courtesy of Big Bunko’s Bantha-Dog Emporium, the old 3D-E. of course he had the special, slathered high with fixings on a fresh bun.

He was busy inhaling it when he spotted the other trainee and made his way over, “Hey… Esla right? It’s weird for me to not know someone but here we are, Byron… Byron Mik, the guy all the other teacher’s warn you about.”

“But seriously, it’s a pleasure to speak to you. Unless we spoke before and I forgot in which case, I sincerely apologize for being the worst,” he added with a smile.

Esla wasn't entirely distracted with people watching and watching the monument of a Senate before her. Her gaze momentarily looked to Byron when he approached only to look away, then once more when it seemed he was indeed intending on approaching her directly. She pursed her lip as she was sure that she had seen Byron somewhere before, the mention of teachers probably was a big enough indication if she had any remaining doubts.

She inclined her head once at the mention of her name and she looked at Byron quizzically at his introduction. If he was supposed to be a guy she should be wary about, how was that a good thing again? She looked a bit at a loss on how to proceed from here.

Byron looked around and then replied, “Maybe you don’t speak Basic… oh I apologize. Or maybe it’s my accent? My family originated from Imperial space, lived in a section of Coruscant with refugees from that region so… yeah I have that Imperial tongue.”

“Or maybe you prefer a Huttese?” he offered in Huttese.

“I draw the line at talking Wookiee that is rough on the throat,” he finished with a joking smile.

Her gaze followed him to where he looked, probably for a moment assuming that he might have known someone else around her or expecting someone else. It seemed like she did understand him, probably. She gave a few knowing nods as he explained his particular accent. It perhaps less commonplace on Coruscant but it wasn't exactly foreign either. She made a disapproving face when Byron mentioned Wookiee and shook her head with a dismissive wave of her gloved hand.

“What you don’t like wookiee? Oh man they have some of the best places to eat, really spicy, lots of open flames… oh man I am getting hungry just thinking about, get the babao bird-lizard, extra crispy skin, tender meet… oh yeah,” he said just thinking of it.

Esla frowned faintly and narrowed her eyes at the mention of dubious Wookie cuisine, pretty unsure if it was supposed to be as tasty as Byron was making it out to be with his daydream. However, the mention of food did perhaps stir her enough that she placed a hand on her stomach in anticipation as she felt that her stomach was about to growl for food. Well, something other than Wookie food. It had been a rather active day and she might have skipped a meal somewhere.

Byron pantomimes eating and said slowly in Basic, “Are- you-hungry?”

“I,” he pointed to himself and then gestured like he is eating, and then pointed in a direction adding, “know-a-place. Good-food, not-wookiee, Alderaan-food. Good-yes?”

“Nod-yes-if-understand,” he said carefully.

Esla frowned once more as Byron began to stress the words in his speech. She closed her gloved hands on her lap and glanced off elsewhere, as if contemplating her other options around the planet. However, she hadn't ventured around much and begrudgingly inclined her head once regarding Byron's question.

Byron started walking, it wasn’t far before they reached the place café with holo-rojections of the sights of Alderaan with tables outside. He said, “See-good-food.”

She would raise from her seat on the bench and follow along with Byron's lead. Seeing as he was far taller and imposing, she stood behind him while deflecting the busy crowds of the district. When they arrived to the cafe, she studied the projections at first. It looked like home but not quite. However, it still looked promising.

Without waiting for Byron, she walked over and sat down at one of the free tables outside.

He wasn’t sure what else to do and said, “Looks-like-you-are okay-now.”

“I,” he gestured to himself and the then continued, “hope-you-have-a-good-meal. May-the-Force-be-with-you.”

Despite being forewarned by Byron himself, it might be extremely rude if she were to turn him away after being recommended a cafe for dinner. She glanced at him before glancing off in consideration, then finally gestured to the seat across from her as an offer with a questioning expression.

“Well, I was considering another snack,” he offered and took a seat.

“A Jedi needs to keep up their strength.”

After that rather intense light sabre sparing session, Esla was more than inclined to agree after exerting herself. She gave Byron a nod in agreement and reached for the small little digital menu on the table. The first few things she happened upon were the cakes and desserts that typically fit the front of such menus. She looked a bit unsure if that was the sort of fare the ware she wanted to go for without being indulgent. After a moment, she handed Byron and looked to him curiously as to what he might want to order.

Byron ordered a soup of vegetables and a delicious water. He then said, "I like their soups."

Esla watched Byron navigate the menu far better than she did and perhaps took his queue to order the same thing as well. It seemed like simple enough fare. She nodded soundly in agreement with Byron. "I like soup," she said simply enough.

Byron chuckled and said, “So you do speak Basic, well that makes things easier. They make great soups here, my friend… of sorts works at the senate as an aide and gave me the glowing recommendation. A little pricey but it serves a rather nice soup.”

“I find it relaxing to eat and feel the flow of the Force of those around me, there is so much life here it can be overwhelming and at the same time soothing.”

"Yes." Esla admitted after a beat with a few nods. She did tilt her head quizzically at the mentioned of his friend and especially the part where it was mentioned 'of sorts', whatever that was supposed to mean.

Her gaze slowly looked to the Senate at large from the table they were sitting at, as if trying to get a sense of what Byron might have been talking about. It was easy to see why it was so overwhelming but the soothing part was far less obvious. However, it was a good reminder of the meditation exercises they went through earlier. Nothing could be felt alone by just seeing.

"It doesn't look very soothing," she said on the matter.

"Really?" I guess I just enjoy seeing the mass of people going everywhere, feels alive," he responded.