The Entrance Walk and Gardens

It had been a bit of time, considering how quickly Matthew had managed to wrap up his lesson with Master Morviael. By the time Kalene made it out to the gardens, the boy's mind had drifted far enough along that he was dozing in and out. It isn't until the quiet crunch of grass under a foot snaps him back fully into the land of the living. However, the boy isn't startled, per se, and instead, he peeks open an eye to glance up the source of his nap's disturbance.

The voice was unmistakable--that stuttering, adorably nervous voice.

A sly smile quickly finds its way onto the boy's lips, although he isn't quick to move in the slightest. Instead, he takes in a deep breath and sighs, fully relaxed and at ease. 'Lazy bum.' Now that was funny, even if it was clear that Kalene was doing everything she could to keep her voice poised and firm with him.

You act like taking an afternoon nap is a bad thing, Matthew laughs, lazily stretching his arms fully over his head. I didn't skip my lesson. In fact, it was quite the warm-up to what's to come in my training. I just happened to pass with flying colors and excel far past expectations, so I opted to come here and reward myself with a nap while I waited for you.

Matthew winks over at Kalene before sitting up. Sure, he was embellishing his story, but it's not like she needed to know that. He also wasn't going too far off the mark, either. For all intents and purposes, he impressed himself. Instead of standing to immediately get started with the offered tour, though, he pats the grass next to him, silently beckoning for Kalene to join him for a moment.

How was your lesson with Sister Ashara? he asks curiously, although with the faintest hesitance for obvious reasons. She didn't mention anything about last night, did she...?

It seemed as clear as day that Matthew now carried a healthy amount of fear when it came to Sister Ashara. After last night, it was an expected reaction, at least, and Matthew needed to bank on gaining some semblance of sympathy from Kalene. Maybe even a little bit of understanding to Ashara, too, and where he stood with her. If nothing came of it, oh well. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Matthew laughs again and arcs an eyebrow towards Kalene. In truth, the facade she was putting off was nothing short of astoundingly cute. Or cutely astounding. Or both. This wasn't the girl he had talked to last night at all, and he wondered just how long she could keep pulling it off. Calling him out for possibly annoying Master Morviael? That took guts. Even more than that? She actually accepted the offer and took a seat next to him. Slowly, her nervousness was starting to diminish. Matthew could feel it. Perhaps she just might pull it off.

Eh, Matthew starts hesitantly with something of a bashful, embarrassed expression. Lifting his hand to rub the back of his neck nervously, he continues, 'Annoyed' isn't the word I would have used. I mean, he tried to talk philosophy with me, and somehow ended up with him wanting to fight me. I kind of had to talk myself out of that one, you know? Not exactly the way I expected my first day to go. I was expecting a day one to be all about evaluation, I guess. I think I evaluated Master Morviael more than he evaluated me. And he is just as terrifying as Ashara. A match made in Harmony, if I say so myself.

Matthew chuckles before dismissing his rambling with a shrug. Happily moving onto the topic of Kalene's training and Ashara and the night before, he leans back to lay down in the same lazy position Kalene had found him in originally.

Sister Ashara made herself plenty clear… Nothing screams 'you best listen, boy' than being lifted off the ground at the mercy of her every torturous desire.

Matthew shivers faintly, as though the memory of last night was replaying in his head. In turn, though, a bright idea hits him. He suddenly sits back up and turns to face Kalene head-on. The boy leans in closer to her while wondering how far he could push her newfound easiness around him.

So you promise you're not going to faint on me again today, right?

The girl next to Matthew certainly didn't act like the one that he had the charm of meeting the night before. For a brief moment, he wonders if she was the player after all. Such an intriguing thing that, in the span of a day, Kalene could go from a girl who fainted at the slightest advance to one who made jabs in his direction.

Enjoying this game, though, Matthew grins at Kalene as she presses even as far as claiming that he 'chickened out' of a fight with Master Morviael. In a gentle, yet devilish move, he lifts a finger under Kalene's chin, forcing her to keep eye contact, and tilts his head curiously towards her. Naturally, he doesn't wish to invoke Ashara's wrath again by bringing this girl back to an unconscious state, but at the very same time, he needs to find a crack in her newfound resolve.

So is that one of those pointers I asked for last night? Considering the nature of this place, though, my dear, I would have expected their masters to have a bit more courtesy towards their future generation. I find that fighting them right out the gate has a bit of maliciousness to it, a bit of a dark side flair.

Matthew chuckles, the feigned innocence in his smile causing his expression to appear eerie compared to his words.

Then again, as a pointer of my own, Miss Varik, I think that sort of training is something you could benefit from. You're all sunshine in the warm and happy way. Not scorching someone to death kind of way. But do tell me how you and Sister Ashara's duel went on your evaluation day?

Deviousness splashes in his eyes as a roguish smile makes itself known. As elegantly as possible, he happily calls Kalene's words out, knowing full well that Ashara wouldn't have dared to put her dearest apprentice in harm's way yet. Pulling away soon after, allowing her time to process that jab of his own, Matthew leans back on his hands and breathes in a deep breath. With a jolt of his head, he flicks the dark hair out of his eyes, the shocking blue looking up towards the pergola's roof.

Anyway, I'm glad that Sister Ashara hasn't been too ruffled to dwell on it. I would've hated for you to cancel our little get-together. I wouldn't have thought to visit here if you hadn't mentioned it. Your renovations so far are stunning. I can't wait to see the finished result.

Now offering a more honest and sincere smile, Matthew glances back over at Kalene.

What more are you planning to do, if you don't mind my asking?

That seemed to be the golden ticket—physical touch. Kalene seemed to melt under it. She fainted when he kissed the back of her hand. Now, she was easily broken under such a simple touch as his finger under her chin. At least, that's what Matthew deduced after the split-second Kalene stuttered. What was funnier than that, though, was the assumption that they were different--he with training and Kalene without. Granted, Matthew had proven enough in small bits here and there that he had some prior training with the Force. However, he had attempted to be careful about revealing that since he arrived.

In a way, I'm starting at the bottom, too, Matthew empathizes with a boyish grin and a shrug. Sure, you've seen me use the Force and all that jazzy stuff, but I'm actually quite awkward with a sword or lightsaber.

He laughs as he thinks about his earlier meeting with his new master. There was a good reason he didn't want to fight with him, at least not physically as had been demanded. He would have been happy to spar, to prove where he stood, but still, thinking back on that meeting, Matthew knew that it wasn't what Zion had meant in demanding the duel. However, painting the leader of the Knights of Karabor as a cruel master wasn't the best way to go about things with Kalene, so Matthew opted to keep the conversation a bit more lighthearted.

Maybe my lacking swordsmanship is something I should explain in greater detail to Master Morviael next time.

With the mood now guided to that easy chit-chat Matthew had been hoping to achieve at the very beginning, he continues to keep that earlier darkness in his expression at bay. He looks over at Kalene, genuinely intrigued by her workings in the garden. There was something she said that caught his attention, though, and the boy cocks his head questioningly at her. He blinks, allowing an uncomfortable beat to see if the girl might flush at the way that he just stares at her. No matter her reaction, though, he finally comes out with it.

There's an old saying where I come from. To sum it up, though, you should just trust Master Morviael to lead, and if in his leadership, he's delegated this task to you, then what you want is what he wants.

Matthew smiles genuinely, his words nothing short of attempting to bolster Kalene's hesitance. The only real issue is that that wasn't exactly the meaning of the saying, but that much didn't matter if it helped encourage her.

Anyway, I do believe you agreed to give me a tour of your favorite places in the Temple, Miss Varik.

Matthew suddenly rocks forward to stand to his feet and stumbles slightly in the process. Once he catches himself, though, he turns to Kalene and offers a hand out to her to help her stand as well.

I hope you made a handy list, or are you like me and enjoy the thrill of winging a mission?

Damn. This girl was either icier than Matthew realized, or she was catching on all too quickly to his antics. Kalene stood to her feet all on her own despite his generous offer towards her. Matthew stands frozen like an angelic garden statue with his hand outstretched into nothingness, like a tragic story of a boy turned to stone by a cruel goddess. Although his body remains unmoving, the boy's lips purse thoughtfully as the only sign of life. Then, with a dramatic flair, he crosses that outstretched arm over his midsection and bows towards Kalene's general direction. If this was her game, he would enjoy these moments learning her rules.

Ah, Miss, Varik, he answers before standing back to his full height, I said that this tour was to be your favorite spots. Therefore, you lead. I will follow you to the very corners of this Temple without question, and perhaps even farther, should you desire.

Lowering his arms back to a relaxed state at his sides, Matthew shifts his piercing blue eyes off of the girl to once more glance around the garden. He wasn't in any rush to go from place to place, as a formal tour might go. Instead, he makes another attempt, offering his arm to Kalene as a noble might do with his escort, to start a lazy venture through the gardens.

But if you're offering me a choice, perhaps you could show me some of your immediate projects for the garden? I find it a shame that you have no true creative freedom here, though. If there's one thing that I've been taught in my short life, it's this. If you give people the freedom to show the depths of their expertise, you'll rarely be disappointed. Maybe, though, you and Brother Zion and Sister Ashara have similar ideas. Color me curious to the depths of yours, and of your individuality and talented mind.

If anything was evident right off the bat, Matthew cranked up the charm and charisma suddenly without much time for Kalene to collect herself. After the run-in with Ashara the night before, it was crystal clear that it wasn't done to make Kalene faint again. Instead, there was a strange sincerity in his words and actions. Perhaps he only was trying to chip away at that colder exterior she was putting on and merely attempting to make her genuinely comfortable. He didn't make it easy to tell, though.

Kalene continues to push onward without accepting Matthew's gesture of taking his arm. He grimaces, briefly as to not allow Kalene to catch the expression before he moves ahead to walk by her side. This would be a tricky situation now. Perhaps he should have bit the bullet last night and risk poking the mama rancor Ashara. Kalene probably spent all night plotting how to give him the cold shoulder.

Still, Matthew doesn't let it bother him too greatly. It's much like any other battle. Some are easily won; others take time. He would need a shift in tactics. Matthew would need to take a gentler approach and shows a keen interest in the reddish flowers that droop over the pillars' top. The boy cocks his head curiously, his blue eyes fixing upon them for a drawn-out pause. Even as Kalene continues correcting him, he doesn't shift his gaze. He only smiles and shoves his hands into his pockets.

As long as they let you have some creative freedom here, that's all a guy like me can hope for. I had a feeling when I met you last night that you had a knack for this sort of thing. There was an aura about you. Kind. Nurturing. Patient. An eye for detail.

He states that the last piece as an internal gripe, but he masks it well as a compliment like all the others.

All traits perfect for a gardener. As long as you're given a chance to make your vision for this place a reality, I'll be happy. I'm sure that you'll find ways to use the Force to help you in your endeavors, too, if it hasn't already found ways to use you already.

Matthew chuckles, his smile more evident. He then turns his gaze away from the pillars to glance over at Kalene briefly but with a keen focus. After a brief pause to just look over her, as though silently admiring her, Matthew extends his arm in an ambiguous sweeping gesture towards the rest of the garden, signaling for Kalene to lead the way.

You said that you enjoy all plants and flowers, but surely you have a favorite above all the others. I hear that's popular among girls. With your experience with flowers, I'm sure there's at least one you enjoy working with than any other. Is it the Queen's Heart, since it was the very first one you wanted to show me? Or maybe you're saving the best for last?

Matthew follows Kalene throughout the garden and notes that this was about to be her life's work if it wasn't already. It was apparent that this was where her passion lay, which made holding this small talk a bit easier. The more he could compare her to her love, the more her innocence seemed to reappear. Her guard was cracking, and a grin found his expression. That smile, though, wasn't just from his own self-centered pride but more so from finally seeing the girl he met last night slowly return.

If it's come from two different people, then maybe it's true. It's easy not to see yourself in the same light as others. There's a fine line between being humble and not seeing your worth, you know. Have some more confidence in yourself and your abilities. I mean, they did trust you for this garden, after all, and not some stuffy old lady who had been doing it for decades.

Matthew sniggers as he brushes up against Kalene playfully, pushing himself in front of her. He turns quickly, forcing himself into her path, and faces her. He stops abruptly and arches an eyebrow at Kalene quizzically, allowing a beat of silence to fill the air for a tad bit longer than necessary for added dramatic effect. Matthew could almost hear her stutter a confused and embarrassed, "What?" at his impulsive behavior to break that quiet. He wasn't about to undo all the hard work he had already put in, though.

So the gargrell flower, huh? he asks, shoving his hands in his pockets. I would have taken you for a girl who liked something with a more delicate look. Like pinks or teals or something. Fiery colors... Definitely a surprise.

Matthew winks and pulls a hand out of his pocket to reveal a golden chain, fit with matching wire wrapped around itself in a perfect circle at the center. Although very clearly a piece of jewelry, for the most part, it was completely barren of any definitive aesthetic, pattern, or beauty. Although he doesn't explain what exactly it was for, he glances down at it for a moment before lowing his hand and looking back up at Kalene with a mischievous grin.

Maybe, though, I've had you all wrong, and you're not as gentle as you seem. You're just still a budding flower, just waiting to reveal all of that fiery, intense beauty?