New era log ii: cora's first day

[forcelegacy]

Finally, the day had come.

It was a long time in the making; Cora understood her parents' desire for her to gain use of her Force abilities by attending the praxeum, she truly did, but it had taken her until her 15th birthday to agree. As a present to them, in a way. She had gotten over her more extreme shyness, though she was still very quiet and reserved.

A less emotive version of her mother, many might say.

Though she was older than most children who began lessons at the praxeum, she wasn't going in a completely blank slate. She had allowed her parents to privately tutor her at home during times she felt comfortable. Besides, her mother was around this age when she began her own classes and she learned very well. Cora didn't think it would be an issue.

Walking into the entrance hall, on her father's arm, the young blonde looked around, glad that there was no one immediately lingering about. That would make her nervous. She was already very nervous, having kept this a secret from everyone but her parents and grandfathers. A fun surprise for her siblings and cousins. Or so she hoped it would be.

"It's so large, though I've grown so tall..." She remarked gently, gaze ever so curious. While she had grown, she hadn't gotten any taller than her father quite yet. While she could have been close to a carbon copy of her mother, she did have some Halcyon genes in there somewhere, and this was one of the ways they showed.

"... I'm a bit apprehensive. Don't let go." A gentle request, her anxiety kicking up doubts. She knew this was the right decision, the best one for her, but a good part of her still wanted to whip around and run right back out the door.

Comments

[futurespouse]

"I wouldn't let go until you were ready, Cor." He assured, leading her slowly through the main hall. Sunny and relatively quiet at this early hour, he wondered if she might be able to see the peace and calm in it that her mother once had, upon her first arrival there. The feeling of belonging.

"I've already had your paperwork taken care of. You'll share a room with Hallie, but don't worry; she sneaks out and spends most nights with Sammi or Anakin and Ben."

[forcelegacy]

Unfortunately, Cora felt anything but. She was too scared, too preoccupied to even try and realize, to identify those peaceful feelings. Especially when she heard about her accommodations.

"Sharing? Must I really? Oh, dear..." Stopping in her tracks, she lowered her head into her free hand. Even if Hallie were to sneak in and out, that was so disruptive and she was going to always be chatting at her and - she loved her sister so, so, so dearly, but - she would never have any peace and she'd never be able to calm, so she'd never be able to stay in her room ever and--

And she was fairly certain that she was very quietly having a panic attack.

"No, I want to go home."

[futurespouse]

"Cora, enough." Softly, glancing sideways at her. "You're fifteen now. To be shy is one thing; to be fearful of your own sister? Come on, now." he shook his head softly. Maybe they had babied her too much...

"There are meditation rooms here for peace. Sprawling grounds, grasses, rivers. Places of serenity. The best of those places being right in here." He tapped the spot right above her heart. "And you'll learn. It's time to be brave."

[forcelegacy]

"I can't..." She said softly, feeling tears spring to her eyes, hands trembling lightly as she held to her father's arm. Despite her reaction, she pressed on, continuing with him, her eyes cast away to avoid his gaze.

She knew she was a baby, but she still didn't like to see that same sentiment reflected in his eyes when he looked at her...

"I feel faint." Another something she inherited from her mother. This was all so overwhelming.

[futurespouse]

"Cora. You don't." Here, he gently but firmly took her arm, turning her and keeping her at a stop. "And you can. Your sisters have done so. Your brother will soon."

Cora did act a child... but he felt it was largely their own fault. All parts of a child were at the mercy of his or her parents, were they alive. They had done her a disservice, so far.

"Your mother did this. And you will too. I'll be right here with you; and Hallie is waiting for you in your room."

[forcelegacy]

Cora stopped as he made her, but she kept her teary gaze averted as he spoke. She knew she had to get through this somehow, for all of them, to make everyone happy. She would just have to find a way..

Once he finished speaking, she glanced up at him and gave a slow nod, wiping away the single tear that managed to fall.

"... let's carry on, then." Spoken very softly, barely above a whisper.

[futurespouse]

"Yes. Good girl." Leaning in, he kissed her head and began back towards her room.

Hallie waited for her, of course; she'd even neatened things to her liking!

But in the hall right before they'd reach the turn off the dorms, a familiar boy went racing past, not even noticing them; Jaina was outside waiting for him, after all.

[forcelegacy]

"Jacen!"

Cora called out, whipping around, her gaze focusing on him before she even really knew it was actually him... the Force.. she could feel him, somehow. It was so strange, so scary, this power. She didn't even quite realize that she'd even called his name at first, a hand coming up to cover her mouth in surprise, once it sank in.

Oh dear.. that was a bit uncouth, wasn't it? To just go shouting at people.. though it wasn't very loud. Only to her.

[futurespouse]

To Jacen, it wasn't loud at all. He could feel her, but wasn't focused on her; his entire being was funneled into finding his twin, getting to her before she became too idle to wait about for him anymore...

Corran smiled, putting a hand on her shoulder and giving it a squeeze.

"Do you want to go after him? We have time to settle you in later. I can bring your bags in."

[forcelegacy]

"... yes, I.. I believe that I will go after him."

Cora turned to her father and gave him a peck on the cheek, before lifting her skirt and racing after him down the hall, though of course she wasn't anywhere near as fast as he was. She hoped he heard her this time..

"Jacen, please wait!"

[futurespouse]

Corran chuckled and shook his head; oh, girls and their crushes. He was a good student though-- Cora could do worse.

Picking up her bags, he headed into her new room to unpack her and greet Hallie. So much for not babying.

Jacen didn't hear and just headed out the front, hopping off the front steps and heading around the lawn to meet Jaina.

[forcelegacy]

Oh dear, he was getting away...

Huffing, Cora kicked off her shoes and hiked her skirt much higher as she darted off faster, able to catch up to Jacen much easier now that he slowed as he reached his destination. Reaching into herself, into the Force, she dove toward him once they were only feet apart, not meaning to take him down... but that's likely what would happen.

"Jacen!"

[soloboys]

Jacen turned at exactly the right moment, all instinct, and caught her. With a blink.

Holding her by both arms, standing on one foot, half turned, he looked made up of all surprise.

"Cora-? Hey."

[forcelegacy]

Cora smiled brightly at him, looked his face over, looked like she wanted to say something so, so badly...

But instead of finding the words, she leaned in to kiss him excitedly on the mouth, absolutely gleeful. Warm and happy inside~

[soloboys]

And Jacen.

Continued to stare.

In utmost surprise.

Frozen.

Because what.

Was happening here?

Not even his mom kissed him anymore.

Much less on the mouth.

...Ew.

[forcelegacy]

Slowly, Cora pulled back with a little smile, though she stayed close to him. She always felt better, stronger, when he was near.

"... hi." Apparently she could find words, now. That was all she had wanted to say.

[soloboys]

"Umm... hi." He remarked in return, face very much still a mask of unsure surprise.

While Cora had much grown, Jacen was unfortunately a boy; his sister was taller than him, at this age and adolescence still clung to him the same way it did to most of his gender. Harder to shake off, for him.

As a mark of that, he totally didn't understand what Cora had just done. What a weird way to say hello.

"I'm-- meeting up with Jania. Did you come to visit or something, Cora?"

[forcelegacy]

"Permanently, you could say, yes."

Cora smiled, going to take Jacen's hands, keeping close to him. "Must you really go to Jaina? I've only just arrived and would truly love to spend some time with you if you're able."

She gave his hands a squeeze and smiled lightly, excited, eager, but also a little embarrassed.

[soloboys]

"Wait-- forever?" Jacen straightened, that perplexed look shifting a bit. "You mean, you've enrolled?"

Now that WAS surprising. When he was younger, he'd always suspected that Cora might; but as time rolled on, the thought became more distant.

Nonetheless, at last, he smiled. "Well, welcome! Uh-- I do have to go find Jania though. But you'll be around, won't you? I'm sure you have to unpack and do allt he unpleasant paper stuff."

[forcelegacy]

Looking sorely disappointed, Cora nodded and released his hands, straightening.

"Yes. Yes, I suppose that... that I can do all of that, first." Though she clearly didn't want to, and besides, her father would do that for her. She just wanted to see him now that she was finally here.

"I start class at the beginning of the week. I've the weekend to settle."

[soloboys]

Jacen brightened.

"Great! I'll show you around town and around the school over the weekend." Then, with a more impish look, he added under his breath. "And I'll even take you to the ice cream place your parents got all mushy at~ Grandpa Anakin told me about it."

[forcelegacy]

Annnd that disappointed look was gone, utterly replaced with a look of glee as her smile brightened and she nodded.

"I would absolutely love that Jacen, thank you so much." She came forward again, hugging him around the neck, holding for a few moments before pulling back.

"I share Hallie's room. I'll see you a bit later, then?"

[soloboys]

"Yeah! Sure. That's really close to Jaina's room. I'm down that way a lot; I'll stop in on Saturday morning, after breakfast. I'm sure Hallie can show you the basics. Anyway! I really need to go find Jaina, before she leaves without me."

They had a junked speeder to look after, after all; Jaina wouldn't wait long before going at it all on her own.

[forcelegacy]

“Okay. Until then.”

Cora, like the princess she was, stepped back and gave Jacen a polite curtsy, looking at him the entire while with a mischievous look in her eyes. She straightened and then turned, heading back down the hall toward Hallie’s room, scooping up her discarded shoes on the way, slipping them back on.

She wasn’t quite sure she was ready for Hallie’s excitement, but she’d have to deal.