The Questionnaire – a blog meme!

Sal from w6vsw12 nominated me (Julie) for the blog meme below and as the questions are supposed to be answered from a character’s point-of-view, I thought it perfect for Jiune and Shiwon. Anna was game immediately, so here goes! (Original questions in German below.)

1. Hi! Meaning: From what world are you from and what is the most characteristic thing about it?

Jiune: Hi! It’s good to meet you. I come from Tython, a Core World of our galaxy and home to the Jedi Order and very strong in the Force – which probably is also the most defining aspect of Tython for off-world people. For me, the most characteristic thing about it is the peace it offers. An hour of walking in Tython’s forests or looking at it’s mountains and moss-covered ruins is more to me than a day of deep meditation. It is the one place that I’ll always call home in my heart – even though it isn’t the first place I’ll call home. That would be either the Defender, my ship, or Odessen for the time being.

Shiwon:  Same as Jiune really. I am from the same planet. Well, that is to say I grew up there. Where I was born? No idea honestly. I never asked and the Jedi sure as hell didn’t ever volunteer that information. For me it is only a faint memory by now. I haven’t really lived on Tython since I was about 13 years old and I don’t miss it. I miss some of the people sometimes, a very select few. *winks at Jiune*  But I mostly remember Tython as being too cold, too green and too quiet for my taste.

2. Who and what are you?

Jiune: I am a human Jedi knight, trained as Sentinel with two lightsabers.

Shiwon: Human, both originally and the new and improved version of me. I am what they call a Sith Sorcerer and while I do carry around a lightsaber it is basically for ceremonial purposes only. Or for threatening people. Basically it’s a glorified and expensive piece of decoration but it comes in really hand when people think they have disarmed me by taking away my weapon.

3. Which element of your home planet has formed you the most?

Jiune: The people I grew up with.

Shiwon: I sincerely hope that Jiune doesn’t get this wrongly but: leaving.

Jiune: You know, a few years ago I probably would have been disappointed or angry at that but by now, I understand.

4. Body, magic or technology?

Jiune: There is no magic, there is only the Force. However, without proper training, even the most Force-sensitive person will not achieve much, so I cannot quite keep body and the Force separate. And without technology, nearly all of what we do and did wouldn’t be possible, so – all of them?

Shiwon: I guess you could call the force magic from an outsider’s point of view. Just like people called science magic when they didn’t understand the intricacies yet. And while you need a body to wield most of it I say it comes secondary to the force. A body can be rebuild. Or you can transcend it’s usefulness. The force on the other hand is limitless. If you do want to have your body keep up with the force technology does come in handy though.

5. Are more of a mercenary or do you only fight for your ideals?

Jiune: I fight for my ideals. Killing for money is seriously messed up.

Shiwon: I prefer not to fight at all but if I have to I do what I want. If there is anything out there that could buy my allegiance I haven’t seen it yet.

Jiune: Okay, I thought the ‘fighting only if necessary’ was a kind of a given.

6. Who is your worst enemy?

Jiune: Well… the Jedi answer would probably be ‘my fear’. The literal answer would be Valkorion or rather The Sith Emperor. Yes, I know, I’d prefer a more tangible person as well. *shrugs*

Shiwon: Time.

Jiune: *gives Shiwon a certain look*

7. Who is your closest ally?

Jiune: Ah. This is an area in which I have been most fortunate. My oldest and most unlikely ally would probably be Shiwon. The one closest to my heart, if you’re thinking romantically, would be Theron. And my closest friend directly fighting with me would be Lana. Which is not to sell Koth, Kira, TeeSeven, Senya, Leeha or even Scourge short, definitely not. I am thankful for all of them. Okay, that did sound rather preposterous, didn’t it? I hope you know what I mean.

Shiwon: Jiune, Lana, Darth Marr, Darth Zhorrid. In that order probably.

Jiune: Did you notice we both mentioned each other first? We’re such a couple.

Shiwon: You wish! *laughs* Come to think of it… Can you print that couple thing? I think it would seriously irritate some Dark Council members and that would be just delightful!

8. Which was the most embarrassing experience of your life?

Jiune: Uhm. Well. We were fighting imperial combat droids on a bridge, close-quarters, tough spot. And there is this ability I have (or rather haven’t, obviously) mastered where you use the Force to propel you across a certain distance, slashing your lightsabers through the enemy lines. It seemed to be the perfect point to use this, enabling me to disable most of our opponents with one strike, so to speak. That was the plan, at least. Turns out that while you are propelling, you cannot reeeally control where you go. I prepared, focused, perfect form, off I go – directly off the bridge. That we survived that fight was a miracle, as Kira nearly died of laughter when I stormed back onto the bridge, wet to the skin. I’m afraid gave a rather poor impression of a dignified Jedi Master.

Shiwon: Oh that must have been shortly after I became a Darth. There was this party I was invited too on Dromund Kaas and I was running late. Mostly because I couldn’t decide what to wear and went home again shortly after I left for the party to change into something less fancy after all. And then there was bad traffic because of some droid incident and I was stuck in a secondary lane for almost half an hour. And the party was for my benefit! A sort of tribute to my accomplishments and I was late! But that wasn’t even the worst part. So I finally get there, take the elevator up and I hear the loud music already playing and I rush to the doors as soon as the elevator stopped. I could see the flashing lights from the party all the way through the corridor already. And when I opened the door there was no one there? I was confused for a moment and then I looked down on the dance floor and it was littered with bodies and blood. And every single party guest, including the organisers and the personnel was lying there, dead. Apparently they argued over the hosts lying about the fact that I was coming to their party and in a fit of rage all killed each other. And all because I couldn’t decide on a shirt on time….

Ok, that story was totally made up. But did you see Jiune’s face doing that thing while I was telling it? And most importantly, did you get it on camera? I am going to need a copy of that! Sorry Jiune… I guess my most embarrassing moment was when I was trying to pull Ashara to safety and next to me with the force but I messed up and hurled the Wampa she was fighting towards me instead.

Jiune: You’re the worst, seriously. *laughs* But seriously – *to the interviewer, dead serious* – do give her the tape if you value your life. And that of your loved ones. She is a Sith after all and rather spoiled when it comes to getting what she wants. *nods vigorously*

9. What was your greatest success?

Jiune: Apart from defeating the Emperor – at least as far as I knew back then? Uhm… Oh! Helping Shiwon mastering her Padawan training.

Shiwon: I am glad I count as someone’s success story then! My masters would probably rather call me their greatest failure. But my greatest success? Managing to beat Lana while playing cards! That woman has a poker face that is a sheer marvel and she can get into your head. Lethal combination. Luckily I can do that too…

Jiune: Really? I thought it rather easy to beat Lana. Although… now that you mention it, she… *looks at Shiwon* She totally let me win, didn’t she. She did. Damn it.

10. Just to be sure: Are you still alive and managed to escape death spectaculary? If not: How did you die?

Jiune; I am rather adept at escaping near-death situations, it seems, even though sometimes I fear Theron will one day strangling me for making him live through another one.

Shiwon: I’ve stopped counting after the number of times I died went into the double digits. The most dramatic one was probably the first time, because I myself thought I was dying.  The most scenic one was falling into an abyss on Voss. Very pretty planet!

Jiune: The most scenic one. Really. That was the one you kept complaining about, wasn’t it?

Shiwon: It was. It was also the most painful one – can’t argue with Voss being very pretty though…

11. Take a look at your life and imagine there was someone beyond your world who determines your every action: would you say this person was doing a good job? What would be your biggest criticism?

Jiune: I’m not sure if I understand this question correctly. If all my actions were pre-determined? Then I’d say: sloppy job. Much could have been easier achieved with less pain for everyone involved. But I do not believe in fate, so it’s a rather redundant question.

Shiwon: Well, if someone was in charge and I only a puppet you mean? I’d say they have a weird sense of humour and a very sadistic streak and enjoy putting me through all sorts of rubbish. Thankfully I kind of like this kind of stuff so I guess they can keep doing what they are doing.

Und hier die originalen Fragen:

• Servus, sprich: aus welcher Welt stammst Du und was zeichnet sie aus?
• Und wer und was bist Du?
• Welches Element Deiner Heimatwelt hat Dich am meisten geprägt?
• Körper, Magie oder Technologie?
• Bist Du eher Söldner oder kämpfst Du nur für Deine Ideale?
• Wer ist Dein ärgster Widersacher?
• Und wer Dein bester Verbündeter?
• Was ist Dein peinlichstes Erlebnis?
• Und was Dein größter Erfolg?
• Nur zur Sicherheit: Lebst Du noch und bist dem Tod schon einmal spektakulär von der Schippe gesprungen? Falls nicht: Wie bist Du gestorben?
• Blicke auf Dein Leben zurück und stell Dir vor, es gäbe jemanden, jenseits Deiner Welt, der alle Deine Handlungen bestimmt: Würdest Du sagen, diese Person mache einen guten Job? Was wäre Deine größte Kritik?