[handmaiden of unsheathed swords] voice posted:

[darkeststars]

This is Darth Imperius.

Anyone interested in discussing our newfound options in person... [ or more importantly, away from prying ears on the quartz ] ...may find me in the parlor this evening. Perhaps it is genuinely time to round up that group meeting several of us keep threatening.

Comments

[darkeststars]

Sadly I can't say that I prefer to elect your conscience to decide for all of us either. At least not solely. So, committee it is.

[downswing]

Hold your committees.

[darkeststars]

[ another low wry drawl ] Why thank you ever so kindly for the permission. Yes, I imagine we will.

And I would be interested to hear your own opinion on the subject, but preferably someplace less open than this.

[ read: he doesn't know how much of this the Merchant can listen in on okay. Or any of the other locals for that matter. The man you trust was six years not among us and all that. ]

[downswing]

Respectfully decline.

[darkeststars]

[ deadpan: ]

Very well, the silent soldier it is then. I'll let you get back to hashing things out with your soulmate.

[downswing]

You need not harvest his chaos.

[darkeststars]

It's hardly some kind of shame to have a life partner, Lan Wangji. Among the Sith a being may have anything they are strong enough to keep. If you simply hold your head high and proudly declare you have a soulmate, who here on this miserable rock would dare or care to give you grief? Certainly not me.

[ says the man who is blissfully unaware of the other local cultivators' thoughts on this subject, oh boy. ]

[downswing]

You mistake the purpose of correction.

[darkeststars]

Oh? Very well. It's certainly not mine to step into the middle of. That would be between you and your soulmate, so I shall, again, leave you to it.

[ He should probably stop fucking with Lan Wangji, but is he going to? We all know the answer to this question. ]

[downswing]

( Hissed, in perhaps the first indication that he remembers the name: )

Archeval.

[darkeststars]

Oh, you do actually know what I'm called? Why, how flattering.

[ there's a beat of silence. ]

I meant what I said, though.

Suppose I shall see you around, then. Eventually.

[downswing]

We are forever at cross purpose.

[darkeststars]

You and I come from two very different worlds, I think. But so be it. I expect we will need all kinds to see the other end of this mess.

[downswing]

If we do.

[darkeststars]

We will.

[downswing]

What lends your certainty?

[darkeststars]

I have survived infinitely worse odds than this, with far less to go on.

Good allies count for a great deal.

[downswing]

Are we as allies?

[darkeststars]

[ dryly ] What, are you about to tell me we're enemies? Fought on the same battlefield, didn't we?

[downswing]

Won.

[darkeststars]

That we did.

[downswing]

...to what end? We linger.

[darkeststars]

I should hope for not much longer than this, given that apparently everyone around here is now as antsy to send us east as we are to get the hell out.

But I would do the same tomorrow if need be. I hardly think freeing those in bondage is an act that needs a reason to happen.

[downswing]

Your heart is tender.

[darkeststars]

[ irritable sigh ] Ugh, stop accusing me of that, it's embarrassing. I simply do as I will.