Perspective

[Cross]

CORUSCANT CORE WORLDS​

SITH TEMPLE​

The Library's halls displayed a chaotic flow of students, desperate to stuff as much knowledge as they possibly can into their worn-out minds for upcoming trials and tribulations. An otherwise silent room was, for the lack of a better word, hectic. Holocrons dropped left and right, rushed, arrhythmic paces pressing on carpet and wood echoed in these halls of pure, unadulterated chaos and frustration. This was, after all, one of the finest institutions in the galaxy. Being so wrapped up in their own lives, these busy young critters would have never guessed that an otherwise unremarkable individual around their age, dressed in ordinary Sith cloth. An Acolyte of the proud Empire now sat in one of these very booths. Here, under the watchful gaze of his fellow Sith, the young Thorne would diligently read away on any and all subjects he could find. After all, even to the Dark Siders, Knowledge is Power. On this day, the topic at hand was History. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. These words rung clean and clear in the Acolyte's mind. In spite of being by no means an apologist of any rule other than his own, or one who intends to rule something as grand as the Empire, interest had brought the young man here. Knowing how past civilisations such as the Infinite Empire to their knees was as important for his progression as how well he held himself in physical combat or the ways of the Force.

 

[Lucid]

The Sith Master Joseph felt at home in the Sith Temple on Coursant. The decadence of the Dark Side that wreathed the planet was intoxicating. Here he felt the core of Sith Rule and the complete dominion of Empress Andraste. It was nice, to leave the void of space for a time, even if training wasn't something that he partiuclarly enjoyed.

Acolytes were difficult creatures, too shaped easily shaped by what they thought their masters wanted them to become and not what they should become to benefit the Imperium. It was an arduous task, to take one of these fools and try to set them straight. Though he understood the importance of training the initiates, Joseph always wished he were somewhere else. He was best suited to action, rather than teaching. He had hated being taught himself, after all. He strode into the Temple's Library, standing just in front of the entrance.

"Valin Thorne! Joseph bellowed, librarians scurrying up to him and imploring him to silence. He ignored them. "You have been summoned, Acolyte Thorne. Come."

 

[Cross]

The Acolyte's head turned only slightly, whereas his emerald gaze snapped to lock on to the source of the voice. The way this mystery man was dressed and the fact that he, Valin, had been referred to as "Acolyte Cross" could only mean that this man was his hierarchical superior in the Sith Order.

At a glance, the individual appeared smaller than the Acolyte, and an actual Human, as well. So, when coupled with an utter disregarding of rules, in the borderline contemptuous manner he had displayed in ignoring the idiotic Librarian who clearly did not know better, this individual appeared to be the kind of Sith who firmly believes that the world must bow down before him simply because he exists. Were this another Acolyte, Thorne would very likely be amused enough to attempt to either break his pride or manipulate this man, Joseph, into doing his bidding. But alas, the young Sith was faced with a much stronger opponent who could possibly end his life without expending too much effort.

So, with an inwards sigh, the Acolyte rose from his seat and moved to face the Sith looking for him. This is starting to become a regular occurrence... Thorne thought, remembering the incident in the Mess Hall with a blonde Sith. She had turned out to be a Master... and this one seemed much less playful.

A prideful man, through and through, his hubris had prevented him from revealing any kind of dissatisfaction from the many possible scenarios his mind had conjured before this short walk came to an end. The Acolyte now stood before the Master. Wearing a perfectly neutral expression, Thorne looked downwards, to the face of the Sith before him. After a polite nod, the young Sith would begin to speak, in a tone just as blank as his expression: "I have been summoned."

Thorne would now await instruction.

 

[Lucid]

OOC: Can you please use quotation marks " " to denote speech? It's super difficult to tell if Valin is thinking or actually addressing Joe. I'm going to assume he was talking when he said "I have been summoned", if not, too bad ><

---

Joseph shooed the librarians away and looked at the boy--the man actually--who had come to his call. The Acolyte looked only a few years younger than Joseph himself yet he was worlds away from him in both knowledge and, apparently, maturity. Everything about the guy seemed resentful and grudging, like he simply didn't want to be doing what he chose to do when he took up the way of the Sith. He was like a petulant teenager dutifully waiting for instruction that they would only ignore. Joseph was not impressed. He had felt for just a second as he called the Acolyte's name something much more, something that hinted at a will and intelligence behind the blank features and listless speech.

"My name is Joseph and you know," he said, "you should really think about what you say before you say it. Or at least consider how saying something as weird as 'I have been summoned' could come across."

The Sith Master crossed his arms and gave the other man a hard look. The guy was bigger than Joseph was, taller by a couple inches and much more powerfully built but he had no presence, an odd feeling after he had so clearly sent intent of domination into the Force earlier. It was something that worried Joseph, the man had no sense of himself no trust in the Force to lend his purpose strength.

"Of course you've been summoned, I called for you. There's no need to tell me that you're standing in front of me when you obviously are," Joseph nodded his head towards the exit and started walking that direction making sure that Valin was following beside him.

"You're not half as good an actor as I think you want to be," they were alone in the hallway now and Joseph stopped walking and turned to face his charge directly. "If you want to make a habit of lying, you'd do well to hide what you're feeling better. I know that your first reaction was to dominate, to break and twist my will...I could feel it as clearly as I can see you now. I know the only thing that stopped you was my rank and your thought that if you went up to me with the intent to do such a thing your life would come to an end. I have to ask you though," Joseph's tone was light as though they were discussing nothing more than the weather, "how can you be so sure? The will to dominate, the desire to ruin, those are powerful things...if you had brought the Force to bear on me, channeled through those desires who's to say you wouldn't have been successful?"

 

[Cross]

OOC: I completely forgot the quotes in the second bit. I usually do add them, really more of a typo than anything. Rest assured, it should not happen again, and thank you for pointing it out.

---

Thorne had stopped in his tracks alongside Joseph. As the Master said his peace, Valin's right eyebrow could not help but arch, surprised at the contents of the man's mind. Not wanting to add insult to injury, the Acolyte chuckled greatly, but inwardly. He laughed not at the words themselves, but at how wrong his initial assessment had been of this man, who stood before him. Having listened to his summoner's speech in silence, the younger Sith would then begin to respond, knowing full well that most of these questions had been rhetorical.

"Yes. I kill my enemies, sometimes my friends, and I am fairly certain that I am not, nor will I ever be the nicest guy you'll ever meet. But I would urge you to look around. Many of us here, within the walls of this Temple, are that exact same way. Strong case could be made that it remains the way of the Sith, even after Bane's rule of the two was no longer deemed the better choice..." Until this point, Thorne's tone had been as light as the Master's. But, upon this reticent pause, the Acolyte's eyes began to ooze this dominating stand yet again, only this time, it was merely for added emphasis he thought helpful in proving his point.

"Power is something we all crave. In that sense, we Sith are no different from anyone else. And what is Power, if not Dominance? The Empire dictates that, in a general sense, you are more valuable to it than I am, hence, you are my superior, and have power over me. An Acolyte, such as myself, will always appear at your beckoning because of it."

"But you misunderstand... Joseph" - Thorne had paused a little before the name, as if to hint at the Master, that he lacked the knowledge of his title and, therefore, was unsure as to how to refer to him. "That isn't to say that I wanted to hide my intentions of dominance. Insidiousness has never been something I particularly enjoy resorting to. I am not here to hide the kind of person that I am. That, however, is not to say you'll ever see me coming, should the day arise..."

Now unable to contain him enjoyment at the Master who had egged him on for combat, the Acolyte's voice bore a distinct hint of amusement, and even contained a few, light chuckles. "Who's to say that I would be successful? There is such a thing as bravery but, to me, confusing it with stupidity will prove a fatal mistake, sooner or later."

Now diverting his gaze to that of a person walking by, Thorne was be serious, for the very first time since the dawn of this encounter. "This is a dangerous game we play, here. We must be wary not simply of those out there" - he spoke, as his head motioned towards the building's exit - "But of those in here, as well..."

"But, the way I see it, that's part of what makes it fun. Would you not say?"​

 

[Lucid]

Joseph's response came in the form of action. Deftly he snapped out his arm, grabbing Valin's, twisting his arm behind him almost hard enough to cause bone to break and pulling the Acolyte in. Joseph's other hand held his lightsaber, the blade emitter pressed against the man's temple.

"That was not the correct answer, Thorne," Joseph's voice was cold, his grip on the Acolyte's arm vice-like. "You are an Acolyte of the Sith. Power and strength are what this Empire are built on and what you learn here. Power and how you use it are things that you come to know, develop and build by strengthening your resolve and will."

Joseph twisted Valin's arm harder, he could all but hear the bone start to crack and joints start to pop. "If your only reason to become Sith is to attain power is out of greed and desire to control then you are not a Sith, you are a rogue and a threat. The Imperium was built by the strength of all of us, not a single person. Empress Andraste and Lord Vereor led the way but they could not have done it alone. There is no room in the Imperium for Sith who have interest only in themselves. Those days are long past...we have built an Empire. The whole galaxy quivers in fear when the Impreium moves.

"So tell me again, why do you want the power that the Sith will teach you?" Joseph's asked. "This time, Thorne, I suggest you chose your words carefully because if you answer incorrectly again, there won't be a second chance."

 

[Cross]

Confidence cannot exist in the face of meaningless death. A swift, unexpected action from the Master had left Thorne in a state of shock. His brain had completely disregarded the throbbing sense of pain flowing through his arm for a handful of seconds, as a result, and left him with nothing but a knowledge that the only way out of this situation would be an answer that Joe could allow. Lying would be but a gamble with minimal odds, so the only thing that remained was to dig deep and find some truth within him that his trigger-happy friend would deem sufficient.

Here, was when cracks emanating from his arm finally reached his ears. With them, came pain. The Acolyte had broken his arm before and had endured much more abuse than that from father dearest, but pain is pain. And the sense of a bone grinding against another is excruciating and even incapacitating, regardless of how many times you've been through a similar situation in the past.

Knowing that an answer under pressure was likely to get him killed, Thorne closed his eyes and, while doing his best to keep himself from grunting and wincing, attempted to steel his thoughts and his breath. Moments of incredible pain and pressure would pass, and the Acolyte's eyes would slowly open. Beads of sweat now ran through his forehead, as he began to say what could possibly be his last words.

"You mistake my intentions, Master Joseph..." - yet lacking the knowledge of Joe's rank, Thorne now chose to refer to him by the highest rank he thought Joseph could be. Believing that there are few Lords even Acolytes don't hear of, Valin had long since assumed that the highest position Joe could potentially hold, at the moment, would be that of Master. Few people would mind being mistaken for a higher rank, so it was the young Sith's hope that it could help somewhat defuse the very bad start that had preceded it.

"I seek power... control, for freedom. Not from the Empire, or the Sith, but from the Chains which bind us to these limitations. I have and will continue to follow the Code of the Sith. I must be the one to break my shackles; none can do it for me, be it in this great Empire or anywhere else. So yes, I do fight for myself." - The words that escaped Thorne's mouth had begun to bear a distinct ring of reticence. Not from a calm demeanour, merely the fact that pain had begun to impair his ability to speak continuously. Every few words, the Acolyte needed to either release a slight grunt, or swallow one.

"But that does not mean that I fight for myself alone, or that my craving for control implies that I wish to rule. I can assure you that I will kill, bleed and die in the assignments I am given. Not because I believe that the Empress, or anyone else, can somehow make all of our dreams come true, or because I care about who is at the helm. I joined the New Sith Order out of my own volition, and promised it my service. I struck a deal and my word is my life. I will either see it through or go down with the ship."

Drawing yet another deep breath, which could very well be his last, the Acolyte would keep himself in check for as long as he could, wanting to face death on his feet, should it come. "This is who I am. You are looking for a soldier, and I have told you you've found one. I have done what I could. Matters lie in your hands, now."

Everything Thorne had said was the truth. Whether or not Joe believed him, or if it was an acceptable question, at the very least, he did not know. Drawing some solace in the fact that, if he were to meet his end, he would do so on his proverbial feet and while remaining true to himself, the cocktail of emotions bubbling inside the Acolyte were as close to an equilibrium now as they would ever be. The dice of Fate had been cast. All that was left was to find out how lucky he'd gotten.

 

[Bee]

If there were worse places in the galaxy than Coruscant, Eris had yet to set foot on the miserable, wretched planet that could possibly make such a claim. Even as an Imperial, the ruined landscape was sickening, a reminder of the lives that had been lost and the untameable chaos that the Empress inspired through the weight of her presence alone. Perhaps there were some who found the lightning storms to be awe-inspiring, and who enjoyed looking at the remains of what had once been a thriving ecumenopolis, but Eris wasn't among them. She vastly preferred the cold silence of Ziost, being cloistered in a massive citadel surrounded by ice and snow, where - unlike both Korriban and Coruscant - there were no ghosts of long-dead Sith to whisper false promises into her ear.

But business was business. As both a Sith Master and an operative of the Ubiqtorate, spending time on the ruined planet was unavoidable, and though she accepted her fate without complaint - or worse, admitting her discomfort - Eris did make every effort to ensure she spent her time on-world as efficiently as possible. Then again, she was a pragmatic and precise individual to begin with: with multiple identities on opposite ends of the galaxy, she simply didn't have much time to waste, and if she could accomplish multiple things on Coruscant at once, well, all the better. And while her laundry list of odd jobs had been a long one - bring a bunch of Acolytes to the temple for training, debrief a handful of operatives, drop off intel, and so on - she had finally reached the final step: return a box of borrowed holocrons to the temple library, ensure they were cataloged properly, and bring back half a dozen more. It was the easiest step by far, and there was something immensely satisfying about leaving herself a simple, straightforward task to end the day on. What could go wrong?

Plenty of things, apparently. Catching a glimpse of her newest student at the mercy of one of her peers, seemingly moments away from execution, was an arresting sight, and with a durasteel box wedged beneath one arm she came to a halt, watching the display with a look of guarded curiosity. Internally, she was shocked: Joseph didn't bear the reputation of being quick to anger, nor did he make a habit of throwing his weight around, much less killing off Acolytes who bothered him. (If anything, that was one of her designations) But her aura and her appearance suggested nothing of the sort, and when she spoke she seemed more amused by the situation than confused by it.

"Joseph," she started, waiting for the man's attention to turn her way. "I know he's terribly obnoxious, really I do, but I'd appreciate it if you didn't kill my student right now." Why did she always find herself drawn to the troublemakers? With a sigh, one that accompanied a palm placed thoughtfully on the side of her face, she spoke again. "Please."

 

[Lucid]

Both grateful and annoyed at the sound of Eris' cool voice, Joseph released the man and turned to face his peer. Of all the people to turn up just then, it had to be this kid's official Master, and more than anything, it was her. Former Jedi and student of Ryoston Spektor, Eris as she was known now, had a disturbing knack for manipulation and a reputation for brutal efficiency, not to mention a somewhat cavalier approach to the lives of those under her, Joseph was surprised that she was doing something so mundane as returning holocrons. The words "Golden Girl" came to mind when he thought of Eris.

"Eris," he said, "Let me guess, it would be troublesome to find a new one?" He snorted. "You've always been one to avoid unnecessary trouble. I suggest you reconsider...Valin here just finished telling me all about how all he wishes is to control and dominate those around him, since he lives only for himself," the Sith looked at Eris directly. "Your student has no place in the Sith."

Joseph gave Valin the kind of look that was normally reserved for those that had committed treason as he spoke, speaking as though Valin wasn't present. "He's more than 'terribly obnoxious', he's outright dangerous. Self-serving and driven to domination, not to mention an accomplished liar," Joseph prodded one of Valin's kidneys, "you'd do well to watch him, if he's yours. I would be most...displeased," the word carried a heavy threat, "if it fell to me to repair the damage to the Order should he turn traitor."

He sighed, looking tired. "We have far too man problems after Lady Andraste's display, we don't need another internal issue. If he steps out of line, Eris, it's your head that will roll along with his. Are you sure I can't just kill him now and remove likely huge problem before it begins?"

 

[Cross]

The Acolyte had not recognised the voice, at first. It had only been after the consequent release that his synapses finally fired and the man had made the connection. He wasn't sure what to think of this sudden appearance. It was certainly welcome, but his teacher's timing had made it difficult to avoid picturing a valiant hero appearing just in the nick of time to save the pretty (pink?) princess from the nasty villain. Although, it had felt like the roles were a little... different.

Eris, the gorgeous headstrong "princess" had now presented herself as the white knight come to save the day. Joseph, the fool with delusions of grandeur, who tells himself he knows what's best for the realm, normally known as a "Hero", now presented embodied the role of the villain. And then, there was the Acolyte... this one had managed to get himself unanimously acknowledged as a despot in the making and an dormant threat to the common good, had somehow, against all odds, found himself in the "worth saving" pile... If this had turned out to be a book, Thorne would most definitely not be reading it.

Baffled by this peculiar turnout, the young Sith proceeded to use his right hand to clutch an injured left arm, and back away from the Sith Master now attempting to poke his abdomen. Joseph had spoken a big game but in truth, the Acolyte's thoughts had been very similar to his own. Valin too, perceived Eris as one inclined to eliminate hindrances. In fact, it could be said that the only thing they disagreed on, was which of them the Lady would perceive as the problem.

Regardless, Joe's actions had filled multiple blanks in the young Sith's mind. His candor and the distinct lack of a title when addressing Vica led the Acolyte to assume him to be of her rank.
But, more importantly, Joseph looked conflicted, even if he hadn't felt like showing it. Although he had visibly threatened Eris, he'd also immediately released Thorne and confidence seemed to drain from the man as each word escaped his mouth. The Master had begun his display with a definitive show of power, then moved to an indirect threat and, finally, ended with a surprisingly polite request. Thorne felt drawn to the assumption that, from here on out, he would bark but not bite. Regardless, the Acolyte was in possession of a little thing called a survival instinct. One that all but begged him to refrain from further provoking the individual before him, a request he magnanimously complied with. Thorne had learned few things from his old man, but the fact that cornered animals make bad decisions was ever present in his mind. And he, for one, was not about to find out just how well Ayers fit that category, at this particular moment in time.

Soon enough, the Acolyte would find himself fading into the background, a greatly appreciated sight, and one he aimed to keep. Joe would be much too proud to face away from Eris unprovoked. He needed to save as much face as he could, or so the Acolyte told himself.
The soon-to-be Lady of the Sith, however, remained ever a mystery. Whether she'd stare the Master down, ignore him altogether or even go on the offensive, there was simply no telling, which worried Thorne.

There was an undeniable feeling that whatever Eris chose would be the right answer, but the woman remained a question-mark all the same. That posed a very big problem. After all, Thorne now owed her his life. And his survival could very well rest on how predicting her next move, one day. Unsure as to whether he should laugh or cry, the Acolyte chose to deal with these thoughts on another occasion and instead focus on the display that had begun to unwind before his very eyes.

 

[Bee]

It was hard not to crack a smile at Joseph's astute question, so obvious as to be nearly rhetorical. Still, it was worth a response if only to confirm what the pair already knew: whether or not she was invested in Valin didn't really matter in that moment. Instead, it was the fact she was simply too busy to find a suitable replacement that had caused her to intervene, though at her core she knew well enough that it wasn't a wholly selfish decision. Their sessions had been both brief and scarce, but she had a growing affection for him that was difficult to deny. A wholly platonic one, granted - he was her student, and she was quite happily engaged - but he was trouble in all the ways she was trouble, and it was hard not to appreciate the similarities they shared. "Yes." Hesitantly, she wore the smart little smile that bid the corners of her mouth upward, lowering her head as though it was so shameful to find her own callousness amusing. "My schedule doesn't leave a lot of room for sorting through the initiate slush pile."

Unfortunately, her smile faded and was instead replaced with a seemingly genuine concern, delivered with a kind of gentle bewilderment that suggested he was overreacting, without overtly challenging his feelings. "What is it you're afraid of? He is an Acolyte. A clever and talented one, certainly. But an Acolyte just the same. He's a threat to no one but himself." There was nothing in the Acolyte's head that would be a threat to the Imperium, if it ever reached the wrong ears. Even if he told the Jedi Grandmaster all of the Temple access codes, what could be done about it? The codes were cycled constantly, and it wasn't as though the Jedi Order or the so-called Rebellion could get anywhere near Sith Space to start with. He was oblivious to the inner workings of the Sith, held no military rank, and so far as she could tell, had no friends - much less ones with rank and station. Put simply, he knew nothing. It wasn't even worth the effort to kill him. Or so she implied, her demeanor as placid and gentle as could be.

Still, Valin had messed up. That much was certain. Joseph wasn't some crazy person, nor did she have any reason to believe he was simply looking for a bit of bloodshed. Writing off his anger was rude at best, and dangerous at worst: while she didn't know him well enough to be certain, it seemed as though being a patronizing bitch was the least effective road to take. Some people liked to argue, but Joseph gave her the impression of someone who simply liked to be right, to have their anger and their opinions vindicated, and that was certainly something she could do.

Turning her attention from her fellow Master, her green eyes settled on Valin as he attempted to disappear. It was a good thing they'd started with persuasion - had she opted to instruct him in the ways of Force stealth, he might've managed to slip away before she could address him properly. "There have been far more dangerous initiates than Valin. And they were all dealt with appropriately." Eris had no doubt he would understand what she was trying to say: truly disruptive initiates had died at her hands in the past, and regardless of his talent, he could quite easily find himself among them. Holding his gaze a moment too long, enough to make it uncomfortable, she faced Joseph once more. Diplomacy was one of her stronger suits, even if it was tiresome at times, and while a lesser person might've been catty or passive aggressive about the situation at hand, Eris knew better than that.

"But if my student's attitude truly offended you, then allow me to apologize for what was an obvious failing on my part. Thank you for bringing his shortcomings to my attention, Joseph. I won't let anything like this happen again."

 

[Lucid]

"He is a danger to the law, Eris," Joseph said smoothly. She must be really busy if she was so set on keeping Valin around, rather than try and find a new Acolyte to protect. The Sith Master decided it must be because she wanted to use him somehow. Somewhere in the man's narcissistic existence there must be a trait or exploit that Eris saw useful. They had different views on things, they always had. Eris liked to operate in the shady grey areas of law to go about her business where as Joseph exploited the existing laws themselves if he needed to get something questionable done.

He hoped Eris knew what she was doing. He couldn't help but be suspicious of her motives, Roy, had been a teacher of her's. The former spymaster was a slippery fellow and corruption, disinformation and scandal followed him around like green on trees. "I am First Justice of this Imperium," Joseph said, revealing for the first time to Valin is formal title and also reminding Eris of it. "My first concern is for the law and to see to that it is kept. I'm afraid, that in his narcissistic self-preservation, Valin here will eventually consider himself as a being to whom the law does not apply," Joseph cringed. "Rather like our dear Empress. There have surely been more dangerous acolytes in the past, I am simply concerned about what he will become."

 

[Bee]

"Is he?" There was a point where her patience thinned a bit, a point where her politeness and charm turned cold. Her anger was not a burning fury but the implacable advancement of a glacier as it moved slowly downhill, measured and reasonable but ultimately impossible to divert from it's predetermined path. "I was under the impression you were only having a conversation. But if he has committed a crime, that is another matter entirely." Her instincts told her that if Valin had done something particularly egregious, he'd be a corpse on the floor with a hole in his head, or at the very least locked up inside a force cage rather than standing where he was at present.

When Joseph clarified his role within the Imperium, Eris didn't try to fight the way her lips pressed into a thin line, brow knit in obvious disappointment. Whether he was trying to intimidate her - or only Valin - was up for debate, but either way it wasn't appreciated. "Yes. I'm aware." Everything about her posture, about her voice, about the look in her eye was deathly cold. Sharp and smooth as a blade, behind a veil of civility she was still reluctant to shed.

"I would like to think our Empress' struggles are the exception, rather than the rule." A flicker of a smile softened her expression, but only momentarily. Taking a moment to collect her thoughts, Eris pushed the frustration aside. Joseph was only trying to do what was right, regardless of his methods, and regardless of how difficult he was being at present. She couldn't fault him for it. Not entirely, anyway. Her voice shifted once more, her words pleasant but slightly clinical as she once again responded to his concerns. "Remember, there are many among us who initially came to the Imperium seeking power - and there are some who still believe that continued study of the Force might free them from what makes them feel as though they have no control over their lives, much less the galaxy that surrounds them. When people express a desire for dominance, they're often trying to escape their own vulnerabilities. Not everyone is a threat; some just need guidance."

Locking eyes with her student, she gave a slight sideways nod. An obvious command to stand at her side, rather than allow him to stand around helplessly like a reprimanded child. If he was obedient enough to acquiesce to her demand - and she was quite certain he would be - she'd place a hand on his shoulder, that smile returning. "The Empire was built upon the backs of many, you're absolutely correct. But we are all capable individuals - the Sith is no place for weakness, and I would much rather see an Acolyte strive for greatness than accept mediocrity. Please, trust me to do my job."

 

[Cross]

Thorne's facial muscles had been spasming every two to three seconds due to the agony his arm oozed. Having remembered the bacta pills he'd been prescribed after a run-in with a certain Kushari, the man proceeded to draw one from his pocket and place it below his tongue. Ingestion of the substance would not be working wonders on a cracked bone, but it would at the very least make the pain more manageable. Maybe picking up a form of healing wasn't a bad thought... The Acolyte's mind had brought forth a mention of an Arcanist wanting to teach a class on Dark Healing. Should Valin be getting himself out of this mess, this was something worth looking into...

As the slight numbing feeling had begun to envelop his arm, Thorne's attention was drawn to a petite woman, walking very fast and sticking to the walls and the shades, clutching a hard-covered book as. She looked to be a young Acolyte, who'd clearly noticed that whatever was happening was not something she wanted to be a part of and, as such, wanted to get out of this mess as quickly as possible. Smart girl..., the man praised in his mind. His gaze had stopped in the book she'd clutched, partly because it the written word was such an odd choice, in this day and age, where Holocrons were mass produced and contained just about everything. The Rise of the Sith, huh?, Thorne thought, mumbling the title to himself. At this point, the laughter that had wanted to escape him had found itself harder to ignore.

These Masters had somehow eclipsed any knowledge of history from their minds about this Empire, who'd been first formed after the Republic had been, for the lack of a better word, stolen by 2 highly manipulative Sith, and not a single soul more. Only to then have History repeat itself, less than thirty years before this very conversation, where a band of Sith, like themselves, armed with nothing but secrets and lies had driven the Jedi out of their ancestral homes, slain and replaced the previous Emperor, destroyed the very planet they now stood for the heck of it and pledged allegiance to the very woman they now deemed a threat, and slain millions to keep their hold on the territories they'd taken for the sole purpose of quenching an undeniable, absolute, self-absorbed physical need to crown themselves Lords of the Universe. So much so that their upper echelon actually dubbed themselves Lords.

Everyone, from the lowliest of peasants to the Dark Lord himself knew this sequence of events to heart. It wasn't ancient history, it was yesterday's news. And yet, this particular Acolyte now found himself before two highly decorated officers in the army of the Sith, who should have a much better insight into the Empire's inner workings than him, telling each other things like "the Empire was built on the backs of many", and flaunting terms like a code of ethics, justice and humility, as if they themselves anything other than stains on the faces of these very concepts. The only thing "many" about today's Empire, was the oceans of blood and mountains of skulls it had been built upon. The Sith were the epitome of elitism: they reigned supreme over an Empire made by the few, for the few. Anyone who thought differently was either a liar or a fool. Which Master fit what description, he wondered...

Regardless, the hypocrisy was simply too scrumptious and adorable to be forgotten. The Acolyte would hold this conversation close to heart for years and years to come. As he laughed his heart out within the safety of his mind, Thorne had suddenly found himself in a moment of solemn reawakening. In this epiphany-like instant, the man had finally opened his eyes to the a side of the world he'd previously missed. Having been pushed around so much lately, the Sith had begun to position himself beneath his superior officers subconsciously, mistakenly assuming their higher rank for both intelligence and power. In truth, they were as much like children or adults as he was. This Joe had maybe a few years on him, and he knew for a fact Eris was younger. Even now, where he was being largely ignored due to lack of power, he'd almost perceived himself to be a child, hiding as the grown ups quarrelled.

This ridiculous element that branded the conversation had brought this toxic image to its knees in a heartbeat, and a thought had crystallised itself in the Acolyte's mind: Thorne would swear to never underestimate those under him as he had been. An Empire had been seized more than once by underestimated groups and, in the world this trio resided, he who laughs last laughs best, and tends to do it bathed in blood. This Sith, for one, had no plans on being on the receiving end of these kinds of events any time soon.

Quiet as a shadow, these events continued to unfold in his mind as his gaze shifted back and forth from the Masters currently treating him as a slab of meat.

 

[Lucid]

The quality of the air between the two Masters changed in an instant. It seemed to crackle with energy as the Force bloomed around Joseph. His normally soft and kind brown eyes turned the harsh yellow of a Sith as the Force twisted about the lines of his body almost visibly.

How dare she think that obedience to the law and servitude to the throne and the foundations of the Empire equate to mediocrity. Eris and Valin were made for each other and she could have him, for all Joseph cared. Joseph was strong in the Force and his servitude to Sith law prevented him from becoming corrupted by his own power, kept him in check and helped him to keep the Sith from tearing themselves apart from the inside.

Then what the hell was he doing?

As quickly as it had appeared, his power vanished back to almost nothing. He had come dangerously close to crossing a moral and legal line he had never wanted to. He knew his little brother saw him as a twisted and broken shell of a man, who had sold his soul to the devil, if he had done what he had intended to do--starve Eris of oxygen to torture her--then he would never be able to defend himself to Andreas when the time came. All because of what? The little witch was good at pushing his buttons? Taking a deep breath Joseph calmed himself and instead spoke in a measured tone. "When the day comes that you sit on the Dark Council, Eris, you would do well to remember your own words." It was inevitable that she would end up there. She was ambitious, powerful, young and utterly cold. The Dark Council would need her clarity and they would use her, and she would use them.

It was going to be a dark time for the Sith in the coming days. Never before had Joseph lamented the Dark Lord's mysterious absence more than he did just then.

The Justice looked over to Valin, who seemed to be lost in thought, amusement radiating from him. That didn't bode well, whatever he had found amusing in this situation...perhaps the hypocrisy of Sith Ideals juxtaposed against the laws needed to keep such a nation from falling apart? Joseph didn't know what the acolyte was thinking, but he felt that the Acolyte had just confirmed every suspicion about Valin, about what a destabilizing force Valin could become. "I suppose this is why the law deals purely in the past and the present and not the future," Joseph mused smoothly. "People can change and it would be a crime to deny them the opportunity to do so," Joe eyed Valin. "So, in your quest for power what is it that you would find the most useful? I was sent to instruct you in lightsaber combat," his eyes flicked to Eris, "a curious request to be made of a Judicial member to be sure...and is only of limited benefit."

Joseph hesitated before speaking. Speaking about the Force wasn't something he did often. In his heart of hearts he believed that the Force contradicted the logical framework of law, and in his practice of law he had tried to keep the two as separate as possible. Never once though, had he forgotten that beyond all else, he was at the mercy of the Force.

"The Force is deep, Valin, you can never truly reach the bottom of it or truly understand how to use it," Joseph said. "Though it lends you power, though you can do great things, it is not simply there to be used. It has force of will of its own, a will that seeks only to return to the point where sentience had never polarized it." Joseph looked between the two before speaking again.

"Remember," he said finally, "if you build too strong a flame, it will burn you. Summon too strong a wind and it will knock you down."

 

[Bee]

Buttons were made to be pressed. Frayed ends were meant to be pulled. Had her words not elicited a reaction from him, had he simply brushed her comments aside and turned away, Eris would've been at a loss for words. Her intention had been to rile him up and see the extent of his anger - to see just what kind of wrath the First Justice had in him - and for a moment it seemed as though he was ready to give her exactly what she was looking for. His aura was dark and chaotic, everything a Sith's presence should be, and as she watched him a hint of curiosity pushed her eyebrows upward, lips parting slightly in an almost knowing smile. She wanted him to lash out at her - not because she was a glutton for punishment and injury, but because it would give her all the justification she needed to completely destroy him. She was the student of both the former Spymaster and the standing Dark Lord, with more Intelligence connections than most knew existed in the Imperium. To kill him, when she had so many tools at her disposal with which to make his existence miserable, would be a kindness.

But Joseph was smarter than that. Smarter than she gave him credit for, even. As he calmed his breathing she exhaled a tiny sigh, interest leaving her face and making it clear she was no longer looking forward to whatever it was he had to say. He was going to be reasonable, it seemed. And when he spoke his words confirmed what she already knew: he really was mediocre, after all. Flashing a wide, sharp smile, all teeth and wolfish presence, Eris snapped her fingers as if he reminded her of something both inconsequential and utterly forgettable. "Oh, that's right. I'd completely forgotten about the nomination. Thank you for reminding me." Shrugging, she lowered her voice conspiratorially, though her words certainly weren't for their ears only. "Better luck next time, though." Was that why he was upset - because her place on the Council was all but set in stone, and he had been left to rot? It seemed a bit silly, but Sith were proud creatures at heart. Perhaps he knew that Valin was her charge, and perhaps that influenced their interactions somehow.

When he addressed Valin, Eris remained silent. She knew well enough how to wait her turn, and if the men wanted to speak then she certainly had no reason to interject. In truth, she'd grown somewhat bored of the posturing - mostly because it hadn't amounted to anything - and when Joseph began speaking about the Force as though it was a living entity, like it had thoughts and feelings of her own, she knew it was time to leave. "Don't worry yourself over Acolyte Thorne's lightsaber lessons. I'm sure I can make time for my one and only student." When she looked at Valin, ever so briefly, her smile was almost disturbingly sincere. He was smart, he was talented, and Joseph hated him. There was no way she was going to let him go. "Perhaps even today, if your schedule is free." In other words, let's get the kriff out of here.

 

[Lucid]

Next time? What in the world was she talking about? If Eris was so misguided as to think that he envied her appointment to the Dark Council, she was quite wrong. Joseph had dodged appointment to the position of High Judge twice, he had no desire to sit in a snakes' nest. He was content where he was and content with the freedom it gave him to operate out of the public eye. The young woman wasn't the only one who appreciated subtlety and intrigue and Joseph more than understood that being high up, rather than at the very top, was sometimes the better position to be in.

"Apologies, Darth Eris," he said, using her future title before she had rightfully earned it, "it seems I have overstepped my bounds. I will take my leave."

With that, he turned on his heel and retreated farther into the temple, to his offices and to think.

 

[Cross]

The Acolyte, still somewhat dumbfounded by the sequence of events, remained in place, leaning against a wall, and merely watched as the Master took his leave. The vast majority of the conversation had gone over his head. He'd no idea that Eris was to become Darth, or even what a First Justice was, until that point. And, if he was to be perfectly honest, he didn't really care. The Dark Council seemed to be nothing but trouble, and the law of the Sith was a fickle thing, it seemed. So, why should he bother with any of them? The latter comments directed at him seemed to be little more than indirect ways to wound each other, so all he had to do was look pretty. Were he a funnier man, who knows? He might've even attempted to strike a pose, or three. But alas, silence was the path he'd chosen, and one he'd see through.

Upon finding that a considerable enough distance had been placed between them, so as to not appear impolite, Thorne would face Eris and bow. His face, partly covered by the angle, showed awe and admiration, feelings his tone carried as well. "The disciple greets the Master." he said, remaining frozen in place for a mere second or two, before slowly making his way upwards. His face remained unchanged during the process but, just as reached a properly upright posture, the right corner of his lips would tear a path aimed for his ear: a coy grin, promptly followed by a wink. Though the two largely remained strangers, Valin had picked up on the fact that Eris found addressing her by a title to be rather disagreeable and, as such, wasted little effort in this friendly stab at the soon-to-be Darth before him.

Thorne's lips would part once more as he adjusted his grip on his injured arm. "He seems nice..." his tone was brimming with the traces of mockery normally found in his chats with the Executioner. After a moment or two had elapsed, to further emphasise the reticent nature of the first sentence, his eyes would move to lock onto hers. "... Old fling?"

Here, the man's facade would crack and he'd hang his head, poorly disguising his attempts to refrain from laughing at his own joke mainly for the added sense of ridicule the duo almost lovingly cultivated in one another.

 

[Bee]

It was almost impossible to bite her tongue, to resist the childlike urge to send Joseph packing with some pithy little remark. Thank you for the weather report, my Lord. Perhaps they should've appointed you First Meteorologist, instead? Such cutting remarks came too easily for someone with half a brain, but the last thing Eris wanted was to give him any sense of satisfaction. Lowering herself to the level of sarcastic one-liners was embarrassing and unbecoming: while she could no doubt make the excuse that she was younger than the lot of them and that her age somehow made it okay, she preferred to just smile tersely instead, her stare vacant and posture communicating what was already clear. She was done with him. Joseph could excuse himself at his leisure, and it would not be too soon.

Similarly, it was tempting to turn to Valin and make light of the situation while Joseph was still within earshot. But there was no reason to court unnecessary trouble, not when it seemed as though the man had it out for her student, and it wasn't until they were truly alone that her cold expression began to thaw. It was quick, like the lifting of a veil or a parting of the curtain to expose the sets and scenery of an all too convincing play, though she didn't indulge in the incredulous laughter that had been building within her since the start of their 'confrontation'. Instead, she regarded Valin with a look of feigned disappointment, heaving a sigh that was both long-suffering and resigned to such a fate. "I wish he'd killed you," she admitted after a moment of thought, utterly deadpan. Though it wasn't long before she offered him a wide grin, a shake of her head hopefully enough to convince him that no, she didn't regret chasing the scary self-important Sith away, even if he seemed determined to make her feel otherwise.

Adjusting the weight of the box beneath her arm, Eris frowned at the implication. "Yes. I find his particular brand of insecurity to be such an aphrodisiac. How did you know?" Someone a little more cruel would've nudged him in his arm, the injury more than apparent in his movements. And as funny as it would've been, there was a hint of concern for him somewhere in the back of her mind, though she didn't have the requisite skill in the healing arts to do anything about it. "Let's get the kriff out of here. I'm sure loitering is against some archaic rule," casting a look down the hall, as if waiting for Joseph to pop out and reveal he'd been listening in all along. "And I don't have a hall pass."

 

[Cross]

Eris had looked Thorne dead in the eyes and spoken: "I wish he'd killed you". Never in his life would he presume to one day find such a sentence remotely close to bearable and yet, here he was. He certainly had to give it to her, the Executioner could hold her own in these little tête-à-têtes of theirs.

This teacher of his, if you could call her that, seemed so iron-clad all the time that Thorne tended to forget that somewhere in there, she was a human woman, so mundane actions like the shuffling of a small crate due to lack of comfort seemed foreign, for fractions of a second. The Acolyte was so inclined to forget his own mortality that he'd begun to subconsciously grant certain minor attributes to this other person, who seemed to be cut from the same cloth as him.

As the final remnants of a good few seconds' worth of snickering had begun to fade, Valin moved to cut the distance and somewhat politely pry the from the Executioner. Thorne had noticed the woman's less than subtle hinting at the possibility that Joseph lied in waiting around the corner, but it had been a rather exhausting day, and the Acolyte simply did not care anymore. "You had me at hello." - the man stated. His eyes had shot open to emphasise his desire to get the hell out of dodge. As his one good hand still attempted to wrench the item free from Eris, Thorne had taken a couple of steps towards the exit already.

Having now found himself quite literally walking away from his teacher and without even bothering to turn to her as he did, Thorne's voice would ring, in a mildly low, but provocative tone: "These near death experiences sure do give you a new outlook on life... So tell me then, good lady. How many illicit acts do you think we'll be committing on this fine day?... Because I feel setting a record." the man bordered on giddy. This particular evening had been so mind-boggling that the man didn't quite know what to think, half the time. But now, finally, freedom was in his grasp once again. So what kind of narcissist would he be if there was no unrealistic self-praise involved in this most joyous occasion?