Empatheias Mailbox/Amulet

[lostapprentice]

[God forbid you have to deal with this absolute mess, but he has a mailbox and can be contacted through the crystals.]

Comments

[huxceptional]

[It's the smartest thing Hux's ever heard from Ren. Of course, that means Hux must also make a wise decision.]

I'll be attending.

[The most wise.]

[lostapprentice]

[Ren has to tilt his head at the general's statement. He isn't entirely sure if it's a good or a bad idea, but he does wonder at the reasons.]

Interested in watching the disaster unfold first-hand?

[huxceptional]

Despite reason telling me otherwise, yes. It's doubtful that I'd learn anything interesting, but it might be still worth suffering through if something does turn up.

[He's not expecting much, but Hux thinks that this a rare enough occasion that he should attend anyway.]

[lostapprentice]

[Ren considers this for a moment.]

It's not an unreasonable hope. [Unlike Qui-Gon's reasoning behind the entire thing.]

Given the... volatility of the group, I trust you'll be ready to leave it as soon as it becomes necessary. Organa and Solo alone could create enough of a mess on their own on this planet, given the right topic.

[He doesn't even feel the need to mention the idea of Hux telling him about whatever he hears—Ren trusts him enough to feel that's understood, at this point.]

[huxceptional]

I'm not putting myself at risk for a family quarrel.

[As soon as the lightsabers come out, Hux is getting out. He's not about that life.]

Undoubtedly, you'll be brought up, even though you won't be there.

[lostapprentice]

[He makes a bored noise at the idea of himself being brought up as a topic of conversation.]

Of course. But there's not much that will be shared that they don't all know already.

[It's a comment that serves both as an indication of his indifference, and as a reminder to Hux that he shouldn't be bringing up anything he might know that the others don't.]

[huxceptional]

[Hux almost scoffs at Ren's words, hearing the implications quite clearly.]

You should know that I wouldn't offer more information to the enemy. I am hardly that careless. In fact, I plan on keeping silent for most of these discussions.

[lostapprentice]

I thought as much.

[Being as secure as he is in his dedication to the First Order, Ren can see that there wouldn't really be that much desire to "discuss" anything with the enemy.]

When is this supposed to be, exactly.

[huxceptional]

Start of the next month. Perhaps he wishes to start things fresh before allowing everything to crash down on him.

[He has such high hopes for this meeting.]

I'll need a bottle of painkillers after that session. [That and a nice cigarette, probably.]

[lostapprentice]

I'd be willing to prepare something for your return.

[Besides, then he gets to bribe Hux into telling him all the details of the train wreck. Just in case he wasn't already interested in sharing.]

[huxceptional]

[A small amount of surprise comes from Hux at that comment. Ren and him are on relatively good terms but it still shocks him to hear his co-commander offer such a thing anyway.]

I. Yes, that would be welcomed. Tea, perhaps?

[That strange gratitude is coming from him once again.]

[lostapprentice]

[That suggestion draws Ren's gaze back to the general, disbelief obvious in his voice, though it's still relatively even.]

Is that it?

[Tea. Really? After a meeting with the Skywalkers?]

You may be underestimating the headache you'll be facing.

[huxceptional]

Besides the painkillers, yes.

[Hux holds back his retort that he's dealt with Ren for years, so he's had some practice with Skywalkers.]

Perhaps I'll invest in a good brand of cigs as well.

[lostapprentice]

[Ren's retort would have been that he's only dealt with one Skywalker and not several at a time. Regardless, he folds his arms, disgruntled at the mention of Hux's awful habit.]

Those shouldn't be necessary.

[huxceptional]

[Why is Ren so disgruntled??]

...You asked me how I was going to handle my headache and that was my sincere answer. Unless you think tea and medicine will be sufficient for my inevitable headache.

[lostapprentice]

There are better ways of calming yourself. [He's clearly judging Hux, despite the filter over his voice.]

Meditation, for instance. [Or like, a hot bath. A massage, even.]

[huxceptional]

[Don't you judge him.]

Meditation? [He can't help but make a face at that suggestion.] How does that help?

[lostapprentice]

[It's far too late for that.]

Do you really know nothing about it? [There's less judgment now and more curiosity, though he's still incredulous.] The purpose is to bring one's mind and body completely under control. That's how it "helps."

[huxceptional]

I don't waste my time by just sitting down on the ground and being unproductive.

[There's that usual haughtiness, thinking he's better.]

My mind and body is always in control, thus it's a completely unnecessary task for me. [He can see why Ren would do such a thing, however.]

[lostapprentice]

You can't possibly be that delusional.

[Honestly, after all of the things that have happened here, all the things Ren has personally witnessed and even discussed with Hux? He can't even get terribly angry with how stupid that statement is.]

But I understand. It's a difficult thing... I suppose it would be too much for you to try.

[huxceptional]

[He crosses his arms and tries to look unaffected by Ren's comments. Just because they're closer now, it doesn't mean Hux can just let himself react to every one of his comments. No, he should still be better than that.

Well, except for the fact that he can't resist a challenge, especially when Ren puts it like that. Perhaps that makes him easy to manipulate, but he's willing to let himself be goaded just so that he can prove Ren wrong about the meditation bit.]

I could mediate just fine. [He walks closer to Ren, looking a little grumpy about this.]

[lostapprentice]

Really?

[Kylo still hasn't moved from his initial position, legs folded and sitting in the middle of the floor. Despite it being his room, it's not terribly big, but even so there's plenty of space for Hux to take a seat in front of him.]

That surprises me, if your understanding of it is "sitting down and being unproductive."

[huxceptional]

[With a pointed look, Hux sits in front of Ren, both arrogant and serious about this. At least he hasn't made any other snide remarks about this yet.]

Well, how would you describe it then?

[lostapprentice]

[He follows Hux with his gaze, resting his hands against his knees and watching Hux evenly when he sits. Not that his expression could be identified through the mask.]

Stillness. [He allows the word to hang in the air, to emphasize the idea. It's requires a deliberate effort, and yes, a period of time where you "do nothing." But it's much more significant than just that. There is a purpose to it.

Ren will be surprised if Hux, a man who rejects everything he can't see with his own eyes, is able to accomplish it.]

It's emptying yourself and your mind of everything, allowing things [The Force, really, but he knows Hux would roll his eyes at that] to flow through you unimpeded.

[He pauses for a moment, considering how to explain it.]

Think of it like washing out a dirty flask. Or emptying an old sack. What was in it before may have helped you at some point, but it's better to clean it so you can reconsider the things you should be putting in it now.

[huxceptional]

[To Hux, 'stillness' meant doing nothing. A waste of time and opportunity rather than having something productive be done. But. He's willing to hear Ren out, just because he actually likes-- tolerates him now. ...Okay, likes.

Still, he tries to make sense of what Ren's telling him.]

You're basically stating that I must think of nothing and allow the Force to go through me. [HE HEARS WHAT REN WANTS TO SAY... also, no wonder Ren is good at this.]

And now you're saying to categorize items that may still be useful to me in the present time.