Muse is still conflicted, even if he doesn't want to admit it

[renkylo]

Do you really think that this will make any difference to me?

Again you put me here as if I haven't already seen some form of my mother, my father, my uncle, my grandmother. My grandfather...

Myself.

And what does it matter? What do you think their words will do for me? Do you think it will change my mind?

I cannot embrace the Light. I just...

You just can't understand.

Comments

[lefey]

People here can understand.

Do you not think others struggle with goodness?

[renkylo]

So you believe that some understanding, empathetic or sympathetic words will sway my mind? That is not what I want.

[lefey]

I didn't say I was here to change your mind, I'm not some religious person. Admittedly, I am told I am a Priestess but the whys and hows of that still elude me and I suspect it doesn't mean Priestess in the traditional sense.

[She pauses, considering him. There's several long moments of silence as green eyes try to pry something from that black cloth, as if it would tell her a thing. It doesn't, so instead she speaks again.]

I rather meant that toward light or dark, others struggle. If ever there was a place you might find some understanding, it is here.

After all, I'm not all pretty clothes and red lips. I have seen both the darkness and light in myself and it remains to be seen which will win at the end of the day.

But what do you want, tall, dark and broody? What do you seek if not empathy, or at least, discussion?

[renkylo]

I do not seek the Light, although others will argue that I should. That I should embrace it.

There can be discussion but I am tired of being told that I can change and that I am conflicted.

[Even if it is true. The more he denies, the more people can see it.]

[lefey]

Funnily, it seems to go the other way for me. Life and circumstance has dictated that I can better help my people by giving up my own light, as it were.

What do you feel, then? No one will tattle on you, we are not from the same time or place I am certain.

[renkylo]

I feel... that I should continue the path I have set out on.

[Except other factors are trying to branch him in other directions.]

[lefey]

Might I ask why? [That was not a very convinced little statement. Her brow raises just slightly.]

[renkylo]

Because...

[There's another hesitation as if he still isn't absolutely sure of himself.]

Because it is what is right.

[lefey]

I see.

[More than she might like too, honestly.]

The King who is my guardian thinks he cannot deviate from the path he has set himself, either. It will lead to his death as it has the deaths of hundreds of others. [At her hand if she must, she will make sure of it.]

[renkylo]

Sometimes difficult sacrifices have to be made.

[lefey]

Are they easier to bear in that outfit? [She's not really mocking, in fact, her tone is somewhere between gentle and curious.] Fine dresses do not make it more palatable.

[renkylo]

.....

[He seems to debate a moment before he does finally pull the helmet off. He doesn't want to seem like he's using it as a shield - even though it does a good job at hiding some emotions.]

It serves its purpose.

[lefey]

I suppose it might, I have never seen anything like it. Well, we have armoured men and Sir Tristan had black armor but he died long ago and it was all metal plate.

Your voice is different. Is that enchanted? [She points to the helmet. She knows nothing of technology, so it must be magic to her.]

[renkylo]

There is a filter... It is supposed to make an impression.

[Make him more imposing to the troopers or to the enemy - and hide any of his doubts or other unwanted emotions.]

[lefey]

A filter. [Though she doesn't understand the hows of it, she feels she understands it's true purpose.]

All this is a costume to make you seem as big and frightening as you think you must be? [For someone not intending to preach, she has a lot of ideas about this stranger and his intent.]

[renkylo]

[He frowns at that.]

I am very powerful and strong in the Force. This outfit does... act as a sort of show but I do not need it to frighten people.

[lefey]

The force? Like magic? [She has magic, and her eyes glow golden as she holds her hand out, palm up. A flame dances harmlessly on her skin in the shape of a herd of horses.]

Power alone is not frightening.

[renkylo]

[His gaze goes to her hand. It's different to any power he's seen before but, as she said, it wasn't frightening. He thinks he's different.]

So you have some sort of power as well. I promise you that you would not want me to give you a demonstration of what I can do.

[lefey]

The fire is just a trick. It is not the summation of my skill. [The flames jump at him, but dissipate midair.]

Is "the force" magic, or some other skill? Can you not wield it for less deadly purposes? [Like her little stunt, or something else? Even if it's not magic she can guess that it seems close enough and so she is interested.]Perhaps it clashes with your image to make ponies out of fire, but surely there is something?

[renkylo]

I can use it for many things but it is no trick. It is something that can be trained for and mastered but it is not something that just anybody can learn.

[Not liking to be challenged and found lacking, he held up a hand, fingers all pointing towards her. He's not trying too hard just yet but she may feel an invisible energy start to stiffen her limbs; her body, beginning to bind as if she was being turned to stone and also an invading feeling entering her mind, seeking out her thoughts...]

[lefey]

[Well that is... not at all what she meant for him to do. It's sharp, and it's not. Like being pulled into an embrace that is too tight. This feels like magic to Morgana, thought it is like they speak different languages.

Her magic flares to defend herself, something shatters behind her... but then there is calm. She closes her eyes and breathes in, the air tastes of the sea, her feet feel castle stone.]

That is not what I meant. [She said with her mind. Though her body aches to struggle, her mind is still. If he wants somewhere to go, some secret to unlock he will have to try harder.

In her mind she whispers to him though even in here she sounds a little strained as she tries to work out this new power that he surrounds her with.]

I am not frightened of violent men. There is nothing you could do to me that has not been done.

[renkylo]

This is only a small taste of what I can do.

[He is still speaking aloud but of course he can clearly hear the thoughts she is projecting to him.]

I do not wish to do violence here. Not unless you provoke me further.

[He's already a bit on edge but he makes a twisting gesture with his hand and cuts the connection. Dropping his hand, his eyes are wary on her. They somehow look more hurt than angry, as if part of him isn't happy with what he's doing.]

[lefey]

I hear it's polite to ask people's names before you try to read their minds.

[When she is released, she stretches, rubs at her skin which suddenly feels cold but if she is angry it is hidden well, her eyes show more understanding than anything.]

I am Morgana, if you did not glean as much from my head.[Though she hadn't quite acquiesced, having brought her thoughts (and as such, the man trying to feel his way around her mind) back to her birthplace rather than anything more important or dangerous, she had not pressed back and so did not know his name.]

[renkylo]

.... I am Kylo Ren.

[Something about the way he says the name sounds unsure, as if he's trying to convince someone. Maybe himself.]

[lefey]

Kylo Ren. [What an odd name. She wondered if hers sounded odd to him. They must be from very different places if nothing else. Though she thought for a second it seemed like he thought his name odd as well.]

May I see your helmet? [She could have just used her magic, but she didn't want a strangling competition, and to be honest, there was enough rudeness going around.] Our knights helmets are not... shaped like that, either.