Meav stared at Rel for a moment, then her face softened.

"It is given," she said quietly. "I never would have thought any would think of apologizing over such a matter, though."

TWBTS

Rel was surprised. "If I did not apologize for losing my temper, I would begin to believe that it is alright to lose it with others. Soon I would begin to stop apologizing for other things. I would be ruled by pride."

If Rel was surprised, Meav was more so.

"It is natural for people to get angry, just as natural as...as any other emotion. Why do you treat this so differently?"

TWBTS

"Anger is natural, yes. To be controlled by it, or pride, however, is to be like an animal-- always controlled by passions." Rel was not accusing her of anything. His tone suggested that perhaps this idea was something that he really feared, if he feared anything. "If I let my anger and pride control me, I've failed as a jedi and a man."

When she had asked her previous question, Meav's eyes had dropped and she had started playing with the shattered cup on the floor. Meav finally looked back up at Rel and took a few steps closer, until she was at a normal conversation distance.

"You puzzle me, Taric. Its as if you have no concern for your person, for your life. Instead, you pursue grand ideals, things sound amazing, but will never truly exist. And you know that your ideals, universal justice, peace, harmony and whatever else are impossible to reach, but you still try."

TWBTS

"You sound as though you don't know much of hope, Meav," Rel said wryly. "If there will never be, and have never been these grand ideals of peace and harmony and the like, how do we know that they are real? Because they have existed once, and with every man and woman that fights for them, they are more likely to exist again."

"What is hope to you, then? The universe doesn't run on peace. Those who live in peace die. Even you carry a weapon with you at all times. How do you know they're real?"

TWBTS

"Because I've felt them. I've lived them." Rel looked at Meav, passionate about what he was saying. "There are those moments when you help others and then they do you good in return, and you know then that the way the universe is meant to be is right there."

He looked down and chuckled softly. "It's in the moments where there is love and selflessness and humility that the universe thrives. Not just me, not just you. Everyone. Most people don't care; but I do. That's why I fight for them. That's why I fight the pride within myself. Even when it seems hopeless."

Meav continued to watch Rel, even after he looked away from her. She said nothing, but leaned forward slightly to try to catch his gaze again--this strange man who actually seemed to have feelings. Almost unconsciously, Meav's hand stretched forward and her fingers softly brushed Rel's cheek.

TWBTS

Rel looked up curiously as she touched him, catching her gaze. He couldn't seem to remember a single time that she had willingly touched him in their acquaintance together.

Their eyes locked for a moment, and then Meav suddenly pulled away, looking down and fidgeting slightly. After almost speaking, she met Rel's eyes again and simply smiled nervously and turned and hurried away.

TWBTS

The moment was still with him days later as Rel put the craft in manual to land on Hana. He could set a course down to the planet, but he prefered to have the feel of the controls beneath his hand and guide the ship in to safety.

What had she meant by it, touching him like that? Rel hadn't been bothered, but he was curious and a bit confused. They hadn't talked about anything much for the rest of the trip. It hadn't been strained, though. Just...he wasn't sure, exactly. He frowned and he held the yoke of the ship, guiding it through patches of turbulence in the atmosphere.

"You're clear for dock seventeen," A voice off the comm crackled.

"Thank you. Coming in now," said Rel in reply. He had been speaking with planet control before to arrange docking, and it was ready. He brought the ship into the spaceport slowing, turned on the repulsorlifts as he let her down, and deployed the landing struts. There. They had arrived.

As the ship landed, Meav took a deep breath. She hadn't been to Hana for years, and was slightly nervous about it--or, at least, that's what she told herself. She felt oddly shy around Rel, now. Part of her wanted to see more of what he was really like, and part of her--a much stronger part--knew he couldn't have forgotten that she killed his apprentice. As they readied to disembark, Meav kept stealing glances at Rel, wondering what he thought.

Probably already forgot about it. Come on, Meav, you're a GROWN UP. Act like one! Meav shook her head, forcing one last item into her pocket. A small vial of gasoline. Even an Elemental can use a little boost in power every now and again.

"Oh, Taric?" Meav looked up. "Put your lightsaber out of sight. People don't ask questions here, and I'd rather not get in any fights if possible. You too, Kel."

~~

Meav stepped out onto the dusty street, her eyes roving for trouble and familiar landmarks.

"Its been years since I've been here," she commented dryly. "When I left after Donovon died, I never looked back. However, I'm afraid I might still have a few friends floating around. There's a café/bar-ish sort of thing that way. Let's stop there, and take a look. I usually could find out anything I needed to know there. Hopefully."

TWBTS

Rel gave the street a sweeping glance. "Are these friends the good kind or the bad kind?" He asked Meav. The street was quiet, as city streets went, and he extended his senses to feel the people nearby. Nothing particularly hostile-- not towards them, at any rate. That was good.

He was hoping for a quiet mission and a quick trip back to the temple. Meav had been acting strange ever since his apology, and recently he'd been catching her stealing glances at him. It wasn't uncomfortable-- not exactly-- but it wasn't characteristic of her. He wondered if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

"That's just the problem--I don't know,"Meav sighed. "But either way, I don't want to run into anyone whose first comment is going to be something about how much I've grown."

"You're still the same size you were a year before Donovon brought us here. If anything you've shrunk." Kel noted, having to hurry to keep up with Meav's pace. 

"Thank you, Captain Obvious, for pointing out something I already know."

"you mean they'll say it anyway?"

Meav shook her head. 

"Come on."

~~

Meav's steps lead them down one alley and up another, twisting and turning through the backstreets until they came across a very large, very busy street. Meav took an abrupt left and finally led them into a small club. She remembered this place well, as it had often proved to provide good information--and a few tall tales. 

The door of The Mitz swung open, and, as usual, no one payed any attention to the new arrivals--at first. Meav, feeling slightly more comfortable in this familiar environment, wasted little time in settling in at the counter and ordering herself a drink. Kel gave a slight tug on Rel's sleeve. 

"I want something too," she whispered, eyeing the inhabitants of the club. "And I wanna get outta here."