Kylo "Worst Disney Princess" Ren (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
lostapprentice) wrote2035-01-06 02:37 am
lostapprentice) wrote2035-01-06 02:37 am
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[She hadn't actually expected a direct answer from him, far too used to Ben's habit of either purposely trying to infuriate her or give her as little information as possible. She blinks, then purses her lips as she takes in that information and commits it to memory.
The name means nothing to her, as expected. She has no idea where Snoke may have come from or who he truly is, which means she has no idea how to prevent him from teaching Ben.]
He's a Sith Lord, then?
[Her knowledge of any of that is still very minimal, but from what little he's described, it sounds like he must be. Or something along those lines.]
The name means nothing to her, as expected. She has no idea where Snoke may have come from or who he truly is, which means she has no idea how to prevent him from teaching Ben.]
He's a Sith Lord, then?
[Her knowledge of any of that is still very minimal, but from what little he's described, it sounds like he must be. Or something along those lines.]
[Ren's expression twists again, but not in anger this time. It's more in disbelief hedging on distaste.]
No. The Sith died with Darth Vader and the Emperor. ... he doesn't have a... title like that.
[... that he knows. Admittedly he only knows so much about Supreme Leaderout of necessity, because nobody knows much about him yet. Hurry it up Disney.]
No. The Sith died with Darth Vader and the Emperor. ... he doesn't have a... title like that.
[... that he knows. Admittedly he only knows so much about Supreme Leader
[Leia frowns, unsure whether that's a good thing or not. It just means less in terms of potential literature on how to deal with someone or something like that. She's also unsure just how much longer Ben will continue to give her direct answers, answers she can only trust in their truthfulness, and she plans on taking advantage of this opportunity for as long as he'll play along with it.]
He seems like a secretive being.
[Not unexpected, but worth noting, as obvious as it is. Her tone is dry and flat as she remarks on that, unhappy with how much more difficult it makes everything.]
You turned to him after everything with Luke?
[With Luke, with everything that prompted him to destroy Luke's school, all of that.]
He seems like a secretive being.
[Not unexpected, but worth noting, as obvious as it is. Her tone is dry and flat as she remarks on that, unhappy with how much more difficult it makes everything.]
You turned to him after everything with Luke?
[With Luke, with everything that prompted him to destroy Luke's school, all of that.]
[It's a relatively safe topic so far, but anything with Kylo Ren is a hidden minefield. He could decide the conversation is over in the span of a second, but for now he continues.]
Necessarily so.
[That's just how it is with dark siders, really. But a faint line forms between his eyebrows as he continues staring past his wall, and his answer is strangely vague for being as straightforward as it seems.]
Yes.
Necessarily so.
[That's just how it is with dark siders, really. But a faint line forms between his eyebrows as he continues staring past his wall, and his answer is strangely vague for being as straightforward as it seems.]
Yes.
[She catches that, with how closely she's watching him, and her frown deepens as she once again furrows her brow while thinking over his answer. She doesn't feel that he's lying, exactly. None of what he's told her thus far has felt like a lie, and she wants to trust him because he is still her son. But that "yes" doesn't feel like the whole story.]
...Did you know him before that?
...Did you know him before that?
[His expression becomes a distinct frown as she digs deeper, and he's silent as he searches for what to say, how to answer that question even to himself.
Did he know Snoke? Well, does Kylo even "know" him now? The answer to that is no, he's come to realize.
Was he in contact with Snoke before that? For a short time, yes, that he knew. But for how long before that in a way he didn't realize... Kylo has wondered, from time to time.
He lets out a vague hum in reply, giving up on putting any words to it.]
Did he know Snoke? Well, does Kylo even "know" him now? The answer to that is no, he's come to realize.
Was he in contact with Snoke before that? For a short time, yes, that he knew. But for how long before that in a way he didn't realize... Kylo has wondered, from time to time.
He lets out a vague hum in reply, giving up on putting any words to it.]
[It's not much of an answer, if she was hoping for something direct, but that hum tells Leia more than enough about Snoke and Ben's relationship. Because if he's not saying, then he must have known him for some time before then, and that just worries her. Just how long had Ben known Snoke? Was it something she, Han, and Luke could have seen but missed? It raises a lot of questions, some Leia doesn't exactly want answers to, but needs to know, if it will help her understand Ben and why things turned out this way.]
For how long?
[She only has a feeling it's longer than he's been letting on, perhaps before he destroyed Luke's school and his other students. And because she feels he's been in contact with this Snoke for so long, Leia can't help but add on:]
He can't hear you here.
For how long?
[She only has a feeling it's longer than he's been letting on, perhaps before he destroyed Luke's school and his other students. And because she feels he's been in contact with this Snoke for so long, Leia can't help but add on:]
He can't hear you here.
[ Sorry, Ren. These are the questions he has. ]
But the galaxy still isn't at peace. There's still war, slavery, corruption...
You know, before the war it always frustrated me that the Jedi didn't even try to do something about these things. That they would only look on while beings suffered. It just wasn't right.They never even tried to help.
But the galaxy still isn't at peace. There's still war, slavery, corruption...
You know, before the war it always frustrated me that the Jedi didn't even try to do something about these things. That they would only look on while beings suffered. It just wasn't right.They never even tried to help.
[Kylo's answer is quiet, almost... resigned. He seems to have lost most of the anger related to Leia's presence and the earlier part of their conversation. Thinking about Snoke these days just drains him of feeling, and the chair starts to go grey under him.]
I don't know.
I don't know.
[That answer is exactly what she feared. She can't control the chill that settles around the both of them at those three words. Because it's an answer, yes, but it's an answer that invites more questions than it answers, about Ben's actions and childhood and things she and Han should have but evidently didn't notice.
Her concern, and even a fair amount of fear, is evident on her expression, and she makes no effort to hide it. Even if she wanted to, even with all the practice and training she's had putting on a mask in front of others, she would've found it difficult to conceal those emotions.]
He's not here.
[Which she knows she just said, but she repeats it, and she isn't sure whether it's to reassure Ben or herself.]
Her concern, and even a fair amount of fear, is evident on her expression, and she makes no effort to hide it. Even if she wanted to, even with all the practice and training she's had putting on a mask in front of others, she would've found it difficult to conceal those emotions.]
He's not here.
[Which she knows she just said, but she repeats it, and she isn't sure whether it's to reassure Ben or herself.]
[Well, at least he sort of accepted the answer. A hum of agreement comes through the connection; slavery and corruption are things that will be difficult to eliminate, even if the war is over quickly.
... he has to admit he's interested in what Anakin has to say about the Jedi this time, especially since he's not being compared to them personally; he's heard a few things about how it all played out, but it's nice to have confirmation from someone still in that time.]
I've heard they were more interested in maintaining neutrality than taking an actual stance and stopping these things.
... he has to admit he's interested in what Anakin has to say about the Jedi this time, especially since he's not being compared to them personally; he's heard a few things about how it all played out, but it's nice to have confirmation from someone still in that time.]
I've heard they were more interested in maintaining neutrality than taking an actual stance and stopping these things.
[Ren sighs, leaning back in his chair and folding his arms once more.]
I know he's not.
[Force knows he would have sensed it, even aside from all the things he's gotten up to.]
He would have let his disapproval for my actions known long ago if he were.
I know he's not.
[Force knows he would have sensed it, even aside from all the things he's gotten up to.]
He would have let his disapproval for my actions known long ago if he were.
[She expected as much, with that. Ben has mellowed out considerably since she first arrived and met him here, and as the Supreme Leader of the First Order, he's sure Snoke would've disapproved of Ben even looking at her without trying to kill her again. But the fact that he's been in contact with Ben for who knows how long makes that comment more sinister, in Leia's mind, than it is on the surface.
Because if expressing disapproval for Ben's actions is something he does often enough for Ben to say this, and he'd been in contact with Snoke for longer than he even knew, how many of his actions were dictated by Snoke? Disapproval may as well be pushing Ben toward actions Snoke wants him to take.]
I don't doubt that. He gives you orders, then?
[She assumes it's a yes, given that he's the Supreme Leader or whatever, but. Direct confirmation can lead to her asking more questions that she wants to know the answers to.]
Because if expressing disapproval for Ben's actions is something he does often enough for Ben to say this, and he'd been in contact with Snoke for longer than he even knew, how many of his actions were dictated by Snoke? Disapproval may as well be pushing Ben toward actions Snoke wants him to take.]
I don't doubt that. He gives you orders, then?
[She assumes it's a yes, given that he's the Supreme Leader or whatever, but. Direct confirmation can lead to her asking more questions that she wants to know the answers to.]
He does.
[Ren isn't really ashamed of that fact. Supreme Leader's orders gave him direction, made him feel like he had a place in the galaxy when he was just... drifting, before. Looking for old Jedi knowledge and getting nowhere.]
Hux, as well. [And the rest of the First Order, just being what he is.] Though most strategy is left to the military.
[Ren isn't really ashamed of that fact. Supreme Leader's orders gave him direction, made him feel like he had a place in the galaxy when he was just... drifting, before. Looking for old Jedi knowledge and getting nowhere.]
Hux, as well. [And the rest of the First Order, just being what he is.] Though most strategy is left to the military.
[It's as she expected, minus that mention of Hux. Hux is now an issue for another time, and even though she still does and probably always would hate the man, she can't help but wonder if he too was pushed toward mass-murder and planet destruction thanks to this Snoke. Not that she expects Hux to have been a good person without Snoke's influence; it's the question of just how much influence Snoke had on him.
She purses her lips, exhaling as she considers his answer, obvious though it may have been, and the implications of it. As well as the other questions she truly wants to ask.]
Did he tell you to destroy Luke's school?
[Did he tell him to kill Han? That's what she really wants to ask, but it's too painful of a subject for her to come out and ask it directly.]
She purses her lips, exhaling as she considers his answer, obvious though it may have been, and the implications of it. As well as the other questions she truly wants to ask.]
Did he tell you to destroy Luke's school?
[Did he tell him to kill Han? That's what she really wants to ask, but it's too painful of a subject for her to come out and ask it directly.]
The Jedi were peacekeepers. They mediated between opposing parties to find a solution, but they wouldn't get actively involved. While they could have stopped so much injustice... They didn't. The Code bound and limited them, but they refused to change anything about that.
[ The frustration is back. ]
[ The frustration is back. ]
[Ren is silent for a while, his gaze turning to hers to examine her expression, and in doing so he gets a sense of what she truly means. He answers in a way that would be true for all of it.]
He encouraged it. But the decision was mine.
[He doesn't want Leia to get any false ideas about the kind of man her son is.]
He encouraged it. But the decision was mine.
[He doesn't want Leia to get any false ideas about the kind of man her son is.]
And ultimately it led to their downfall.
[At your hands, he thinks to himself but doesn't let through.]
It was a waste. Their collective power could have done so much for the galaxy.
[At your hands, he thinks to himself but doesn't let through.]
It was a waste. Their collective power could have done so much for the galaxy.
[It's what she was both hoping for and afraid of: that this Snoke had been guiding Ben's actions, pushing him toward the sort of person he became as Kylo Ren. Because it can't have just been Luke's school that he enabled, there had to be more than that. Ben may have made the decision to go through with those actions, but if it was Snoke that put the idea there in the first place and pushed him toward it, just how much of that was actually Ben's decision?
Her assumption is no doubt the opposite of what he intended, but her need to know there's still good in Ben and her need to find a way to explain all of what she knows to happen in the future has led her to this assumption.]
Thank you for telling me this.
Her assumption is no doubt the opposite of what he intended, but her need to know there's still good in Ben and her need to find a way to explain all of what she knows to happen in the future has led her to this assumption.]
Thank you for telling me this.
[He dismisses her thanks with a huff, turning his eyes away again. Whatever makes her feel better, he guesses.]
It doesn't matter.
[Kylo gets to his feet, and in his turning towards the kitchen he knocks the side table slightly off kilter, but he hardly pays it any attention. He doesn't give much thought to the fact that his sea-green amulet is resting on top of it, either, or the fact that it's jarred from its original position, where it was largely not visible from Leia's perspective. He especially doesn't think about the fact that it's very recognizably the crest of Alderaan.]
It doesn't matter.
[Kylo gets to his feet, and in his turning towards the kitchen he knocks the side table slightly off kilter, but he hardly pays it any attention. He doesn't give much thought to the fact that his sea-green amulet is resting on top of it, either, or the fact that it's jarred from its original position, where it was largely not visible from Leia's perspective. He especially doesn't think about the fact that it's very recognizably the crest of Alderaan.]
[Kylo may not pay it much attention, but the sound of him knocking the table jars Leia from her thoughts, and her gaze is almost immediately drawn to the amulet, now that she can see it. It's more than obvious to her what it is, there's no way that crest is something she'd ever forget. She can't quite draw her attention from it, staring--almost transfixed--at what's clearly an amulet and clearly shaped like her family's crest.]
That's...
[She trails off, almost reaching for the amulet before she catches herself and draws her hand back. There's a slight glow around her, the table itself every so slightly brighter than before, as she looks on the amulet.]
That's yours?
That's...
[She trails off, almost reaching for the amulet before she catches herself and draws her hand back. There's a slight glow around her, the table itself every so slightly brighter than before, as she looks on the amulet.]
That's yours?
The Jedi's trust in the Force forbids intervention. But... They may not have anticipated that this is what the Force has planned for them.
[ And yet again Anakin isn't entirely sure whether to speak of the Jedi in past terms or not.
Technically, they still exist in his time. ]
But it's true. They could have changed the galaxy for the better. And I still think that that's what they should have done.
[ And yet again Anakin isn't entirely sure whether to speak of the Jedi in past terms or not.
Technically, they still exist in his time. ]
But it's true. They could have changed the galaxy for the better. And I still think that that's what they should have done.
I imagine they didn't, or they would have done something to save themselves.
[Or they were too stupid to. If Kylo knew some of them had become aware of the clone army's potential to be mentally controlled and yet continued to do nothing, he would think they deserved to be wiped out even more than he currently does.]
But they are destined to be gone, and so they are. [Or nearly.] Others will do the work the Jedi should have done.
[Or they were too stupid to. If Kylo knew some of them had become aware of the clone army's potential to be mentally controlled and yet continued to do nothing, he would think they deserved to be wiped out even more than he currently does.]
But they are destined to be gone, and so they are. [Or nearly.] Others will do the work the Jedi should have done.
[Of course, now that Kylo's attention is off of her entirely, he doesn't bother turning back when she questions him, focusing on getting himself a cold drink instead. His response is flat, uninterested.]
If it's in my house, it's going to be mine.
If it's in my house, it's going to be mine.
[She wants to pick it up and look at it more closely, but she isn't sure whether Ben will tolerate that. So instead she steps closer to the table, crouching down slightly to get a better look that way.]
It's not what I expected.
[because it's a symbol of the sort of legacy she wanted him to have, the legacy she embraced. The one he rejected and ripped to shreds when he decided Darth Vader was more worthy of being considered his family than the Organas.]
It's not what I expected.
[because it's a symbol of the sort of legacy she wanted him to have, the legacy she embraced. The one he rejected and ripped to shreds when he decided Darth Vader was more worthy of being considered his family than the Organas.]
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