OPEN: Luke at the turtle's head

[last_ofthe_jedi]

Characters: Luke Skywalker and OPEN
Date: Mid-August during the heat wave
Location: The turtle's head
Situation: Luke's been meaning to visit the turtle's head for a while but after hearing the news from Wan about the path of light he's decided it's imperative that he see it for himself.
Warnings/Rating: None, but please do consider filling out the form on Luke's permissions post here if you haven't already. He's capable of a lot of mind-read-y type stuff.


The turtle's head has piqued Luke's interest since he first heard about it. The idea of an altered state of mind has made him wary but he's willing to try it before passing judgment. Perhaps he can negate some of the effects, if even a little bit.

Then he heard tell of the path of light that appears only to some. That is definitely worth checking out.

The heat wave has caused him to leave his cloak behind and even shop for clothing of a lighter design, both in color and in weight, somewhat resembling what he used to wear in the desert. Luke's lived in the scorching heat most of his life and knows how to deal with it well. Once properly dressed it bothers him very little and hasn't affected the time he spends outdoors much. He even bought himself a dorky hat. Luke's far less concerned about fashion than he is about keeping cool and he knows that protecting one's head from the direct rays of the sun is a key part to avoiding the worst effects of the heat.

Once at the turtle's head he finds a comfortable spot to sit cross-legged and begins to meditate, eager to see this path of light that Wan spoke of. He's maybe a bit too eager and it takes a few minutes before his Jedi trance sets in. That patience thing is a work in progress.

Around a half hour in and Luke awakens with somewhat of a start.

((Feel free to hop in at any point; reaching the turtle's head, during meditation, or after meditation.))

Comments

[last_ofthe_jedi]

Even in meditation Luke can sense the other presences approaching. It doesn't awaken him immediately but as Taraja's telepathic voice breaks through his trance Luke slowly comes out of it. He blinks a few times and then assesses his new companions.

It's a little different seeing someone in person than it is seeing them through a video feed. It takes Luke a moment to remember where he's seen the man before but it eventually clicks. There's no immediate feeling of discomfort at the memory but Luke does catch a little bit of second-hand embarrassment through the Force.

He smiles at them both in an attempt to smooth over the residual tension, with an extra little grin at the baby turtle as he thinks they're ridiculously cute. Luke doesn't hold anything against the other man as their prior conversation had only been a minor annoyance through misunderstanding. No harm done. Without even thinking about it Luke sends out a wave of comfort and calm through the Force. These days it's become second nature to him to do so, as if it's no different from speaking soothing words to someone. Except Luke's much better with the Force than he is with words so this is his convenient alternative.

"Not at all. I've only been here a few minutes, just trying to see what I can see. Have a seat."

Luke had already picked a few brains about the exact effects of spending time at the turtle's head and seemed to get different answers each time. Some people rave about it like it's a place of pure enlightenment. Others speak of unpleasant side effects like clouded judgment, almost as if being drunk. Another opinion couldn't hurt. Maybe seeing the effects on another person first-hand would help.

"Do you come out here often?"

[solo_patria]

It is different,indeed. There is something so much easier about meeting someone live, and in person, instead of through the consoles that seems to make things much easier. It may be the presence of Taraja, too, who looks rather pleased to be at the turtle's head, probably trying to connect with Asti herself, which is really quite adorable. Enjolras can imagine her telling her siblings all about this later on.

As for the question, really, not so much at that.

"I think I may have come here once before. It used to be that I was able to clear my mind in the water sector, but it hardly seemed enough the last time that I tried it. So, here instead."

Enjolras did have to admit that the air around here was different, just a little, though.

"A friend of mine, who is no longer on the island, seemed to come here a lot. There was a point where Asti came to him in a dream, after the fact.I also know he found a lot of peace, here.

I must say, I do feel something of Asti's...this is going to sound incredibly strange, but his presence itself. Not long ago, he visited those of us who care for the hatchlings in a dream. This feels, somewhat like a...diluted is that word I want, I think, diluted version of his visit. Of course, as that was Dreaming, it was a little...easier to work with, and to sort out."

At the moment, the rush of feelings, even though he knows it is less than he has dealt with before, is rather overwhelming, leaving his head to spin a little. How strange it is so different, though.

[last_ofthe_jedi]

Luke nods sagely. He's not surprised at all by anything Enjolras says. "That's not strange to me at all. I can feel everyone's presence around me at all times, including Asti's." Asti presence feels bizarre because it always seems to be following him wherever he goes (for an obvious reason) but he definitely detects that distinct presence too, along with all the others.

He tilts his head thoughtfully at Enjolras. "Would you say your visits here leave you feeling more enlightened or more subdued? I've heard some things that make me a little nervous, that spending too much time here can cloud your judgment."

[solo_patria]

"Can you?" That is rather reassuring. Enjolras finds himself relaxing. There is a part of him from home that still trips him up sometimes, when it comes to matters of belief in everything that happens around him, so that is something of a good reassurance.

"A bit more subdued, from my experiences." He admits, "The last time I was here, it WAS to calm myself a bit, and it did help with regard to that. I am not sure that I walked from it enlightened or anything of that sort, really."

[last_ofthe_jedi]

As far as belief goes Luke knows he's probably seen and even done some slightly more out there things than a lot of other people, and even he's been surprised a few times since he got here. It's a lot to take in.

Still, he's determined to figure out just what goes on out here at the turtle's head. Maybe different people see different things.

"Have you ever had a vision here? Something like what you said you saw in a dream? Or was it just afterwards?"

[solo_patria]

That is a truth and of itself. There are times Enjolras realizes that the entire time he's been here is really, only explainable to those who live here too now. If he were ever able to go home to a different fate than death, it would be too strange to explain even a quarter of this to his other friends, whereas here, he could, most likely, find a stranger who has been here for a while and have a conversation completely make sense. It really is pretty strange.

"Afterwards, for the most part. At least when it comes to visions. I suppose that it does different things for different people, or it may be that I have simply not come through enough. I did actually meet up with Taraja close to here. That is, it is where I heard her voice for the first time,so there is something to it. I am still uncertain what it is. It feels..."

Enjolras pauses, listening for something, maybe, or thinking things through before continuing. "It is different than being present in a state of Dreaming. Were you here, already, the last time that Tu Vishan docked? There were some Dream realms there. This feels...a bit like they did, though more rooted in a solid reality. Dreams tend to feel a bit more fluid, with some flexibility to them. Here, that is definitely earth beneath my feet. In a dream state, it might be, or feel like, anything."