thecapitol | Thicker Than Blood Start

For Tributes with keen eyes, they'll notice that Peacekeeper presence seems increased and yet infinitely more ineffective in the last few weeks. Peacekeepers seem harried, as do the Stylists, and most of the Escorts titter and plot without alerting the Tributes as to what, exactly, is so exciting. They simply say that this weekend they'll know.

And so it happens that on the weekend in question, the Tributes are woken by their Escorts early and brought to a restaurant for a hearty breakfast. The restaurant is nothing spectacular, although they seem to be trying to make an impression on the television cameras that float around. The sleepy, cranky meal goes by and then the Tributes are led back to their Suites for a mandatory meeting.

Sitting on couches and the floor, in chairs and on windowsills, standing off to the side - people from the Tributes' homes are waiting to greet them in each District Suite. Some are confused, some accepting, some frightened and some elated to see their beloved. Either way, it should be an eventful reunion.

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And there was a bomb he really wasn't expecting. An apology? Really? That... Wasn't a thing he was expecting. And he really didn't know how to react. "Well... I suppose being here did you some good after all," he said simply after a moment. An apology like that had no place in a Sith's code or beliefs. If Starkiller was moving away from his master's teachings that much, then maybe if he returned to their own world, there was still some hope.

"That's still to be determined," he murmured, his voice vaguely amused as he thought about it. This place had it's ups and downs, to be sure. It was eye opening, to be away from Vader. To be able to make his own decisions. To be... free. It had taken him a while to let go of the intense anger and hatred he had felt for Vader, but when he realized that he could live his life, it became... easier.

Of course he resented being placed in murder arenas, but at the same time he wasn't entirely bothered by it, either. Everyone came back. It wasn't as if he was killing innocent people, or even killing them forever. He couldn't feel too guilty about it. Of course he didn't like the part where he himself had died, but he could let that go, too.

"It has it's good parts, at any rate." Particularly Hans- meeting that man had been good for him, even if he didn't want to admit it. While it was strange at first, being with someone so cheerful and friendly, he had come to enjoy the other man's company quite a bit. It felt nice to have a friend, for once. Even if friendship wasn't his forte. "But it isn't the reason I feel the need to apologize to you."

No, that part came from Darth Vader's betrayal. "I've come to realize acting under Vader's orders is... suicidal." He didn't want to admit that Darth Vader had actually killed him. That would be a bit too much of a blow to his pride, so he would prefer to keep that to himself. "I prefer to make my destiny my own."

Kota listened to Starkiller attentively, not saying anything even after the boy finished. Yes, this really wasn't the Dark Lord of the Sith in the making he met over Nar Shaddaa. Whether he could the Jedi the galaxy needed was to be determined, he supposed.

"Well, good for you," he said, half amused, half earnestly. Of all the place to reform someone, he really didn't expect one like this, but he'd take he what he could get. "Try to remember that if you ever return."

Starkiller was glad for the lack of interruption. It was a bit awkward enough without having someone interrupt. But when he was finished and still there was no response for a while, he felt a little more awkward. He generally liked it when people acknowledged what he had to say.

When Kota finally did speak, he wasn't sure if he liked the amusement in the man's tone. It felt sort of condescending, but if he were to mention it, he felt like he would sound immature. So he rolled his eyes, thankful the other man couldn't see.

"Yeah, thanks. I'll be sure to try."

Anyway, that was enough talk of apologies and junk. "I think now is the time for you to answer a few questions."

Questions? What questions? What the hell does this kid hope to get out of him? Didn't he already say he was a washed out, blind, Force-less drunken Jedi now? What could he possibly help Starkiller with?

But whatever. If he wanted to ask, then, he could ask. Not like Kota had anything else to do, anyway. "Go on, then."

Of course Kota would answer his questions. It wasn't as if Starkiller would let him avoid them, to be perfectly honest. Sure he had apologized, but that didn't mean he wouldn't get rough with him. It would just be a restrained rough, as opposed to violently hurling him through windows to his death rough.

"I want to know what you meant," Starkiller said. "Above Nar Shaddaa. You said you sensed yourself in my future. What did you mean by that?"

Kota remained silent for a few moments before replying, eyes closing out of habit. He thought back to that day, to that vision he had of his future; once he opened his eyes, he spoke plainly, with no amusement or sarcasm in his voice.

"I meant exactly what I saw, boy. I saw me in your future. In what way, or what that means, I don't know. I didn't see much more. All I could tell back then, is that I'd be more present in your future than Vader."

Which was still a rather unsettling thought, now that he let himself think about it, but... What could he do about it now? It wasn't as if he was in a state of being of any use to anyone.

Edited 2014-04-28 16:28 (UTC)

"More than Vader."

It was a statement, more than a question, yet the more he thought about it, the stranger it was, even given Vader's betrayal. Starkiller saw no reason to ally himself with Kota after being betrayed by Vader, even if he'd somehow managed to survive Vader's attack.

"How can you not have seen anything more specific?" he asked. "You're a Jedi. Isn't that something you should be good at?"

Oh, the sweet summer child. What did he knew about what the Force showed people of their future? Nothing, clearly. Kota snorted at that.

"Do you think the Force is always clear and specific in what it shows you? Do you think just being attuned to it enough to glimpse into the future will show you everything?" Another snort, followed by a chuckle came out. "As if Vader and the Emperor would have gotten as far as they did if that was the case. No, boy. We can't see everything. We get glimpses, feelings, premonitions, but never the full picture. The future is still a mystery to us, Force or not. Learn that well, boy, since Vader apparently didn't teach you."

These were things that Vader didn't teach him. All he knew of Jedi were the lies and slander taught to him by his former Master. It wasn't as if it was his fault that he didn't know anything. Don't judge him so much, you crotchety old man.

"That doesn't sound as useful as I originally thought. What's the point if there's no clarity to it?"

He shook his head. "I guess it doesn't matter. Here you are. The question is what are you planning on doing now that you're here?" Because he didn't feel like babysitting a blind man, that was for sure.

He's gonna judge Starkiller as much as he wants, thank you very much. He's a crotchety old man, he has earned that right.

But he doesn't say anything about Starkiller's comment about the Force, because well, he doesn't entirely disagree. It is true that the lack of clarity is frustrating, even if simply a premonition of events to come can be just as useful. But he's not here to be Starkiller's master, so he pushes that aside. Instead, he focuses on the other question.

"I don't know. This place hasn't given me much for me to know what I should do. I don't know if I'm going to join you in those games, if I'm just going to be sent back... I don't know anything right now."

Well fuck you, he's not getting off your lawn.

"Well, it seems different than normal," Starkiller said with a small shrug. "Usually you aren't brought in like this. There isn't such a show about things. So I have no idea what's going on. What I do know is I'm getting tired of sitting around, so I'm leaving. You can come with me or just keep sitting around uselessly."

Thicker Than Blood Start

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