[D7LE] Life's a beach-walk

[Qareme Torth]

There was a thoughtful nod from Qareme.

"The Force is sacred. Beings are less so. Even the Jedi are not beyond taking advantage of the Force, regardless of the reasoning used. It is how the galaxy has worked since the first Force users. A selfish soul sees the Force as a way to control someone, a selfless soul uses the Force to stop them, and an everlasting battle of selfishness and greed verses kindness and protection is what we are left with. Something that has gone on for Centuries, and will go on long after we have died. All we can do is live as we believe is right, and hope to have improved the universe with our actions."

[Vaya Mer'darrow]

Vaya let a breath out with a hmmmm, neither fully reassured nor entirely unaffected. She opened her mouth, clearly hesitating, and then spoke swiftly, like the words were escaping against her will, or maybe that she was afraid the words wouldn't get out if she talked slower. "I think what really got to me was I was expecting a, a temple, a shrine, a sanctuary, a cathedral. What I got was a secret base."

[Qareme Torth]

"Why can it not be both?" Qareme challenged with a smile.

[Vaya Mer'darrow]

Vaya shook her head in denial. "It didn't feel like one." She stopped shaking, but kept walking. "At least to me. Or Sinnya, I guess." She sighed again. "But Sinnya has something, I'm sure. The Sky-Tree Sea, or the Calm. Maybe I'm the problem. Whatever you got enough of to be," she gestured vaguely to take in Qareme's whole being, "maybe I only got a half portion."

[Qareme Torth]

"Sometimes a temple can function as a home, a base, or a sanctuary. A building is what we wish it to. The temple for the Jedi was also the base for the Sixth line in this instance. I believe perhaps you view things as black and white, maybe from your own education, and this situation is more unique because it is simply the Way of the Jedi. However, I would add that while you may not be a Jedi, I consider you part of this group of us. The temple is your home as much as it is ours, so do not feel yourself unwelcome" Qareme offered with a curious expression "the Force has guided you here for a reason, Vaya."

[Vaya Mer'darrow]

Vaya gave a smile that was weak but clearly felt. "I appreciate that, Qareme. I hope you're right. About the Force guiding me here, I mean." She stopped walking forward again, and turned to face her. "Do Jedi ever feel, I don't know, jerked around by the Force? Like it was guiding them somewhere, or to do something, or trying to tell them something, but not really being very nice about it?" She shook her head. "That sounds stupid. I know the Jedi don't personify the Force that way." She gave Qareme an uncertain look. "Right?"

[Qareme Torth]

"The Force is mysterious, and often understanding the message it delivers it not immediately clear. Even I in the past have questioned some things that did not make sense. Now though, I understand that everything has a reason, even if not immediately clear. For example, being captured and imprisoned by Neela allowed me to see that the Dark Side did not have a complete hold on her. It also gave the resistance extra reason to try and attack that prison, which in turn freed countless more from it and destroyed the prison as well."

Qareme looked out to the sea.

"Trust in the Force. Even if it is unclear, if you clear your mind and look beyond the cloud of doubt you can find what you seek in the Light."

[Vaya Mer'darrow]

"Yeah, it's the clearing my mind and looking beyond the cloud of doubt parts I have trouble with," Vaya said. "I've made my living -- and kept my and other people's skin intact, yours included! -- by keeping things real busy up here," she tapped her temple, "and doubt is a lot safer than its absence, most of the time."