An Off Day Pt 2

Blake feeling much better had headed down to the main house. Seeing Sienna on the porch she asked, "Is that Penny's special Instructor?"

"Apparently so. Master Kenobi, I guess." She said. The pair were a ways off. It looks like they were doing something sitting down. Talking and pointing to their weapons.

Blake nodded. Ahnassi and Lita came out carrying a pot and some cups. "Ahnassi, happy to see you looking well. Blake feeling better, yes? Kali was worried."

"You're just in time for a cup of tea if you'd like, Blake." Lifts-Her-Tail says. "We thought Master Kenobi might like some. It's still so chilly in the mornings."

Blake nodded. "I am feeling better. I should text her and let her know. And yes. Tea sounds wonderful, thanks Lita."

Lita nods. "You're very welcome. I will be right back." She goes back inside returning with Pyrrha and a few more cups.

"Hello, Blake." Pyrrha says.

"Good morning, Pyrrha." She replies.

They all blow on their tea, watching Lifts-Her-Tail carry a tray towards Penny and Master Kenobi. "I take it the others left awhile ago?"

"Yes." Pyrrha replies. "You missed their escorts. A lively and odd bunch. Apparently one of them got bitten by a random Nora the other day attracted by the pancakes we made." Pyrrha blushes but giggles.

Blake laughed. "I shouldn't laugh but that is funny! What did they do?"

"Apparently Walter has standing orders for Nora's and some others characters to be fed at all times." Sienna said. "I guess one of the ones he's picking up today is on that list."

Blake dimly recalls that was mentioned last night. "Right. I remember him saying something about a "hangry" list and he had a fondness for some of those characters on it. What was her nickname? "Turnip girl"?"

Ahnassi smiled. "Blake is close. "Potato girl" he said. The one called Lutz was bit on the ass by the Nora. They tease him today saying they'd put a potato in his pocket."

They all laughed. "I'm sorry I missed breakfast then! Sounds like quite the lively time."

Lita had just come back. Master Kenobi and Penny were drinking the tea. "You missed the conversation but you didn't miss breakfast. Your mother and I put a plate aside for you. Apparently two of the new girls should be quite skilled at cooking and household chores. That will be very nice especially if one is a bit gluttonous." Lita giggled.

The others nod and look just a bit guilty as they're still figuring out how best they can help out. They don't like the idea of being free loaders especially with new people coming. As it is Lifts-Her-Tail, Kali and Ahnassi have done the most "work". Penny tries but she's still learning people things but she's making an effort. And if she's Walt's "head" and F.R.I.D.A.Y. his "Right" hand, Neo seems determined to become his "left".

Pyrrha, Sienna and Blake were still trying to figure out what they could contribute. Pyrrha sighs and brings it up. "I'm not sure what I can contribute still. I'm a fair huntress and a good athlete but that really doesn't help much in the running of a home."

Blake nods. "I could help Ahnassi in the library I suppose but that's not much. Basic chores, maybe?"

Sienna nods. "I'm afraid I have also been stumped. I'm not a leader anymore and I was that so long it's taking sometime for me to decide where my skills might best be used now... I was thinking maybe the barns? But I really don't know much about animal husbandry..."

Ahnassi chuckles. "Ahnassi just helps as needed. She knows a few things but she had to learn them herself long ago. Cannot do something you don't know how. No one blames for that. Don't look so down. Lita and Kali are doing all the real work. Simply do as Ahnassi does and assist. Learn as you go. When you find something you like or want to do, you'll know it. Perhaps new people bring new skills to learn as well."

Pyrrha nods. "You're right. This is just like in our classes. I need to seize the chance to improve myself!"

Lifts-Her-Tail smiles but nods. "And I know Kali and I would appreciate any help you want to give. Even a little thing is a big deal the, Master told me yesterday."

Blake pretends she hadn't heard and seen their not so private moment. But Ahnassi won't let that slip by. "Oh? Lita have private conversation with Walter during party? Is that why he's kissing his "Lusty Argonian Maid" now? Did she polish his spear like the stories? Murrr. Do tell us more...."

Lita blushes but smiles not saying anything. They'd all guessed and figured it out all ready, but she liked having this secret. Something private between her and Walter.

"I'm sorry but I'm not sure I understand, master Kenobi."

He smiled they were taking a break for tea. "It's alright, Penny. You may or may not have an aptitude for sensing the ****. I can sense something in you though."

Penny nodded. "It is a bit confusing but maybe that's also because I'm not used to my new self still. So this **** is in everything you say and it allows you to do things?"

"It is," he replied. "It's in everything around us. It's in yourself as well as I. Your friends over there. The rock, the trees, the grass and even the air itself. All things. Most people cannot sense it actively though. Though they can manage to manipulate it unconsciously from time to time. They often attribute this to 'luck". Then there are those who can sense the **** and not actively manipulate it. We call them **** sensitivities."

"Walter talks about being "unlucky" every so often," penny states. "Could that be the **** too?"

Obi-Wan chuckles and nods. "I have seen Walters "Bad Luck" as he calls it but I believe it's the ****. He says he either "Finds trouble or it finds him" but I believe that's the **** and him unconsciously manipulating it to take him where he needs to be at that very moment... I think it attracts him or pulls him towards those places he's needed most setting his destiny and the destiny of those around him in motion." He shakes his head. "If he were actually "cursed" or "unlucky" he'd never have survived a small fraction of the things he has. Could a truly unlucky person with a talent for finding trouble have survived such trouble as repeatedly as he has? I think not."

She thought about that a while. "And there are those who can sense it and manipulate this ****?"

He nods. "Indeed. There are **** adepts that can minipulate it some and then there those like myself. The Jedi. The **** is what gives a Jedi his power. It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together. Through use of the **** they can make things happen or change. Manipulating that energy to affect themselves and their surroundings."

"That sounds a bit like magic." Penny stated.

Obi-Wan lifts an eyebrow. "Indeed. It has been referred to as "magic" or a "power" by some. Is magic a concept that is familiar where you're from?"

Penny nods her head. "It's mostly just legends and fairytales to everyone but I know it is actually real." She puts her hand out looking at her open palm. "I had it once but it's gone now. I lost it when I died. It went to it's new host. A new maiden. A friend of mine."

"Did it though?" He asked. "Are you certain of that?"

Penny tilted her head. She thinks about it and looks at her hand. "It's supposed to work that way. That's what's supposed to happen when a maiden dies..."

"But you see, Penny," he said,"that's just it. You didn't die. You are here. Now. Alive. And sometimes..."

Penny nodded and closed her hand."... sometimes... it feels like there's something there... it should have gone to Winter."

He nods. "I'm sure it would have if, as you say, that's how it works... but the thing is energy or power doesn't actually disappear. That's not how it works. It changes. Transforms. If you had truly died and the maiden power had left you and gone to this Winter person, i think "you" would be with that power now and with them. For the Jedi it's often the case when we die we join the ****, we can still apear to other Jedi when we die. Especially if there's a connection."

Penny nods. "I wanted the power to go to Winter. To my friend. I was thinking of her when I asked Jaune... I had something to tell her..."

He nods as they both keep looking at her closed hand. "And did you see this friend, Winter?"

"I..."

She pauses closing her eyes thinking, remembering and breathing in the softly stirring breeze of the mountain air.

She opens her eyes and looks at her empty open hand. "I didn't... No... I don't think I told her... if I did, I've forgotten it... how strange... " she looked at him. "What do you think that means?"

Obi-Wan simply sat there an enigmatic smile on his face as he stroked his beard and thought. After awhile he stood and said, "I think it's more import for you to ask yourself that question. Come," he makes a motion with his hand and his lightsaber leaps from the ground where he had left it into his open hand. "I suggest it's time we begin your actual training now... while keeping that question in the back of our minds, yes?"

Walt stepped out and then offered his hand to assist his dates with stepping out of the limousine. They smiled at him. "Thank you, Walter," said Kali. She liked how he looked at her just now. The dress exposed a lot of leg with the slits so high, and the front so low with the back open all the way to her butt. It's sequins sparkled black and silver depending on the light. The black and silver strappy, lace up ,toe thong high heeled sandals further showed off her legs and completed the look with a matching purse.

This was exactly what she'd hoped for and more when she chose the dress. He was watching her and he very much liked what he saw. *Hungry eyes,* Kali thought. She was glad she'd manged to match his suit of black and grey so well.

"Wow," said Walter. He leand in and kissed her cheek with a gulp. "You look amazing Kali! Have I told you that?"

Kali giggled flirtatiously covering her mouth with a hand and little else. Walt couldn't take his eyes off of what that did to her breasts and other things in the plunging front that revealed down past her bellybutton. "Only three times so far, Walter. Thank you, it's still nice to hear!"

Walt grinned. He still held her other hand and looked her in the eyes. "Then I shall have to resolve to tell you everyday that you look beautiful!"

"Then I'll have to tell you how handsome you are everyday as well!" She blushed smiling as did he. *That sounded like something newlyweds would say to each other!* they both thought.

A hand reached out of the limousine and Walter helped her out. Neo was as beautiful as Kali and her dress was almost just as revealing.

She had on a strappy little black and silver grey number. It was mainly black silk and cut a little less daringly in the front and back than Kali's but even more daringly up the sides but the silvery grey straps crisscrossed keeping it tight to her and everything in place. It had small pink flowers accenting it around her under bust and similar flowers woven into hair which had been intricately braided. The brown parts were braided back tight to her head, while the pink was left hanging in many loose small braids.

Like Kali she'd also included silver and grey to match Walter. In Remnant color was important. Incorporating another persons colors into your clothing was significant. She and the others had been trying out some ideas and decided they might wear silk bandanas or "wild rags" to incorporate Walter into their costumes.

Looking at Kali's outfit was very telling. There wasn't a single trace of purple in it tonight. Neo smiled. She was hoping for time with Walter herself but if Kali had made up her mind finally, she'd gladly support that!

She also enjoyed Walter's expression and smiled. While his expression was one of hungry restraint for Kali, the way he looked at her said he wanted mothing more than to pull her back into the limousine and help her out of said dress. "Wow, Neopolitan dear." He bent down as if to do just that, but she gave him a look. Business first.

He nodded and kissed her cheek instead. They could have a little fun but it was important to not get carried away just yet. Depending on how things went they could really cut loose later. In many ways. She stroked his check.

The massive hotel & casino "Penglai Palace" stood before them as the staff bid them enter. Looking like something out of fantastic Chinese and Japanese myth and legends.

They checked in. They had a "Imperial suite" reservation reserved. Walt and Friday were checking in and registering Kali and Neo as their "party", while the girls looked at the amenities offered.

The casino offered everything from gaming and gambling classics such as Mahjongg, Cards, Dice, roulette and a variety of other halls and private dens keeping with the asian themes. Some were popular games from other worlds including Sabbac, Three-Dragon Ante and others.

There were betting halls for events as well as proformances being held. A video was showing a feed of upcoming performances.

Apparently something called Jem and the Holograms was already sold out. Walt seemed to recognize some other performer and inquired about where they might see Miime playing tonight and made a note of it smiling fondly. Apparently he was a fan. Neo made a note of it.

There were more modern halls holding the latest in modern gaming and gambling as well including virtual experices, video machines and arcades and even massive gatcha and capusle games.

They were watching a live display where a couple were trying to get a stuffed prize out of a toy machine. Apparently inside each "toy" was a small capsule that contained the actual character the toy represented. The couple seemed genuinely excited with the little white humanoid with it's green and red head they won for themselves. Other, even more expensive machines, offered chances at bigger prizes of characters from popular franchisees.

The hotel had multiple fine dining areas, more bars, gyms, pools, saunas and even a hotspring. They offered a wide selection of different services as well.

Walt smiled. "We're all checked in. Business won't be until much later. I've actually never been here myself. Shall we go up to our suite? It's ours until check out tomorrow. Or should we look around for a bit?"

[Walter Stark Penny Polendina F.R.I.D.A.Y Neopolitan Pyrrha Nikos Blake Belladonna Kali Belladonna Sienna Khan Ahnassi and Lifts-Her-Tail

Will Return In

An Off Day Pt 3

Coming Soon]