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Dax Nyla was born on Naboo, in the year 42 BBY. That is, perhaps, the most straightforward fact of Dax's life. The rest gets complicated. At the time, her mother, Dannah Nyla, was living in the city of Keren, having moved their a year earlier to stay with her aunt, Jayma Newbe. Dannah's entire family was killed. What happened was never made entirely clear to Dax, and she never bothered to ask, since she could tell it made her mother so sad. All Dax ever knew for certain was that her mother was the sole survivor of whatever accident took the rest of the Nyla family. It was no surprise then, that Dannah grew up wild and rebellious. She also had no artistic talent whatsoever, making her feel forever out-of-place in Naboo society. Jayma did her best, but she was hardly ready to be a parent, let along a single parent.
Not long into their new relationship, Dannah gave birth to a daughter, Dax. In some ways, Dax's birth brought Dannah and Jayma closer together. They worked in partnership to raise a child neither of them expected. And while they were a disorganized mess of a family most of the time, at least they were a reasonably happy disorganized mess of a family. There was no real drama, beyond the typical drama of "why won't this baby stop crying?" and "why do I need an advanced degree in physics to put together this playpen?" Everything was, in fact, pretty darn sweet.
Dax grew up, experiencing a largely ordinary childhood, although through some administrative mistakes, her blood was never tested or registered with the Jedi Order. Obviously, that wouldn't come back to haunt her later. (Spoiler alert, it did.) Dannah worked at a concession stand in the Kwilaan Starport and often took Dax along with her, exposing Dax to a wide variety of ships from across the galaxy. Dax was drawn to the notion of flying, and both Dannah and Jayma encouraged her interest as much as they could. She also showed a talent for engineering and mechanics. Which was kind of like an art form. Dax was able to score herself a decent mechanical apprenticeship when, around 32 BBY, the fate of the planet would shift dramatically. The Trade Federation set up a blockade of the planet, leading to all sorts of political shenanigans that Dax didn't have to deal with, leaving such stuff to politicians, like the newly-elected Queen Amidala, only a few years her senior.
( She had the smallest brush with greatness... )
Personality Analysis
Oct. 8th, 2023 01:51 pmOverview
Dax is a sassy adrenaline junkie who has a smart-alec remark prepared for any situation. But no one will ever know it. Or, at least, very few people who haven't earned her trust ever will. In fact, most people who meet Dax for the first time get the impression that she's a shy and compliant wallflower. And that's if they even remember her at all, seeing as she's the perfect servant, with a talent for vanishing into the background. Which is fine. Dax doesn't want to draw too much attention to herself. She promised her mother, after all. Plus, she's been hurt before.
Demeanor
If you're looking for leadership material, Dax is the wrong place to start. She's quiet and laid back. Although she's far from stupid, she doesn't exude intellect or charisma. Often, in group settings, she won't even say a word, always deferring to others, listening and watching, but rarely contributing. Which isn't to say that she necessarily agrees with every opinion handed down to her. She's just not going to confront or contradict it in public. Maybe not at all, depending on the situation.
Because of her past issues--stemming mainly from her friendship with Aimee--Dax is very, very slow to trust. Which probably explains some of her lack of engagement. Trust is a big deal with her. You'll see.
When it comes to fighting, Dax is an ideal soldier. If he agrees with a leader's assessment of a situation, she'll follow orders. She's tough and determined and always tries to get the job done. That said, she's not violent. It's always better to disable than to kill. Everyone has a Dannah or Aunt Jayma who loves them. Dax is hardly going to allow herself to be responsible for another family's mourning, if she can help it.
With matters of the heart, Dax is completely hopeless. Although she feels attraction on occasion, she hasn't a clue how to act on it. She doesn't know how to flirt. She's never even had a real romance. Generally, if she develops a crush, it's embarrassing to her. Who is she to think that she'd be worthy of someone else's attention? There are prettier girls. There are more worldly girls. She's not really interesting enough. So she can almost come off as awkward, when attracted to someone.
Nature
All of the aspects of Dax's demeanor stand in sharp contrast to who she is on the inside. Obviously. Still waters run deep and just because she doesn't often voice her opinions, that doesn't mean she doesn't have them. Quite the opposite, in fact. Dax has opinions. Maybe too many!
Her upbringing taught her to he silent, but firm. Like her mother, though, she has a bit of a rebellious streak. Respect isn't earned by merely being in a position of authority. It's earned through thoughtful and compassionate leadership and a demonstration of trustworthiness. See? It comes back to trust again.
Dax has had more than a few low opinions of senators and politicians. She also doesn't care much for the Jedi, who she view as slightly hypocritical and underhanded--thanks both to her mother's fear of the family being separated and of the way Aimee ended up spying on her. Her opinions and her bite have kept her from becoming a blind follower. She thinks for herself, acts for herself, when the situation calls for it.
And when she is alone? That's when Dax is most herself.
Which means that she's usually peak Dax when she's flying, alone in a small, one-person craft. With no one looking over her shoulder, no one else to worry about, Dax is free to indulge in her own pleasure, something that usually comes with a healthy dose of adrenaline. She likes to challenge herself. And she likes the thrill of her stomach dropping out from under her. It's not that she's fearless. It's more than she enjoys looking fear directly in the face and smiling at it. It really makes a person feel alive, you know?
Dax is also deeply caring. Again, trust is a big issue with her, but once someone earns that trust, they earn it completely. She grew up surrounded by love and affection. It's how Dannah and Jayma raised her and it's the way she knows. Once you're in her good graces, you're her ride or die. She's loyal to the end, which makes her an excellent co-pilot.
Dax is a sassy adrenaline junkie who has a smart-alec remark prepared for any situation. But no one will ever know it. Or, at least, very few people who haven't earned her trust ever will. In fact, most people who meet Dax for the first time get the impression that she's a shy and compliant wallflower. And that's if they even remember her at all, seeing as she's the perfect servant, with a talent for vanishing into the background. Which is fine. Dax doesn't want to draw too much attention to herself. She promised her mother, after all. Plus, she's been hurt before.
Demeanor
If you're looking for leadership material, Dax is the wrong place to start. She's quiet and laid back. Although she's far from stupid, she doesn't exude intellect or charisma. Often, in group settings, she won't even say a word, always deferring to others, listening and watching, but rarely contributing. Which isn't to say that she necessarily agrees with every opinion handed down to her. She's just not going to confront or contradict it in public. Maybe not at all, depending on the situation.
Because of her past issues--stemming mainly from her friendship with Aimee--Dax is very, very slow to trust. Which probably explains some of her lack of engagement. Trust is a big deal with her. You'll see.
When it comes to fighting, Dax is an ideal soldier. If he agrees with a leader's assessment of a situation, she'll follow orders. She's tough and determined and always tries to get the job done. That said, she's not violent. It's always better to disable than to kill. Everyone has a Dannah or Aunt Jayma who loves them. Dax is hardly going to allow herself to be responsible for another family's mourning, if she can help it.
With matters of the heart, Dax is completely hopeless. Although she feels attraction on occasion, she hasn't a clue how to act on it. She doesn't know how to flirt. She's never even had a real romance. Generally, if she develops a crush, it's embarrassing to her. Who is she to think that she'd be worthy of someone else's attention? There are prettier girls. There are more worldly girls. She's not really interesting enough. So she can almost come off as awkward, when attracted to someone.
Nature
All of the aspects of Dax's demeanor stand in sharp contrast to who she is on the inside. Obviously. Still waters run deep and just because she doesn't often voice her opinions, that doesn't mean she doesn't have them. Quite the opposite, in fact. Dax has opinions. Maybe too many!
Her upbringing taught her to he silent, but firm. Like her mother, though, she has a bit of a rebellious streak. Respect isn't earned by merely being in a position of authority. It's earned through thoughtful and compassionate leadership and a demonstration of trustworthiness. See? It comes back to trust again.
Dax has had more than a few low opinions of senators and politicians. She also doesn't care much for the Jedi, who she view as slightly hypocritical and underhanded--thanks both to her mother's fear of the family being separated and of the way Aimee ended up spying on her. Her opinions and her bite have kept her from becoming a blind follower. She thinks for herself, acts for herself, when the situation calls for it.
And when she is alone? That's when Dax is most herself.
Which means that she's usually peak Dax when she's flying, alone in a small, one-person craft. With no one looking over her shoulder, no one else to worry about, Dax is free to indulge in her own pleasure, something that usually comes with a healthy dose of adrenaline. She likes to challenge herself. And she likes the thrill of her stomach dropping out from under her. It's not that she's fearless. It's more than she enjoys looking fear directly in the face and smiling at it. It really makes a person feel alive, you know?
Dax is also deeply caring. Again, trust is a big issue with her, but once someone earns that trust, they earn it completely. She grew up surrounded by love and affection. It's how Dannah and Jayma raised her and it's the way she knows. Once you're in her good graces, you're her ride or die. She's loyal to the end, which makes her an excellent co-pilot.
