Ask Training Montage

[Nash]

Nash needed a break from the drama and boys in general. She was stuck in detention a lot and finally had a break to meet with Vossari. Vossari, her master. She was basically shaking with excitement because that dude was so fucking slick. Smooth as butter. Even if he managed to get an STD from stuffed animals and got merc'd by a granny, but we didn’t need to talk about that. She heard he was doing something on Dagobah and took a series of public transports to get there.

She showed up where he agreed to meet, in the middle of a fucking swamp of course. Nash was dressed in her usual aesthetic, and she had a machete on her back to deal with any jungle bullshit. She was in a grumpy mood and made a game of hacking her way through the path, probably chopping up a few animals on the way. She had an EZPod in and was rapping along to a song in full mope mode. She chopped and cut way through, especially mopey because the artist from the rap was killed. But she wanted to feel extra angst right now and get it all out.

Nash arrived at a shitty, swampy encampment that looked empty. She didn’t see Vossari right away, glancing around. She switched off her music and looked for him, “Yo, are you in there?” She asked as she walked to the edge of a nasty swamp pond. She wouldn’t be surprised if he was swimming around in there like an oversized eel.

@Fine Dining Set

 

[Vossari Khaldun]

Nash had the right idea. If you ignored all the times Vossari made dumb decisions, he was pretty much the best guy ever. At least, that's what he thought of himself. With a lot of irons in the fire and some successes in his pocket, Vossari felt a lot better about his personal future in the Order. Yet, it wasn't enough: His love, Darth Arcanos, was also his inspiration. Vossari needed Arcanos's unceasing ambition for himself. Both Dagobah and his apprentice were integral parts of that ambition.

For now, though, he did indeed wallow around in the swamp, listening to music of his own in waterproof EZpods as he enjoyed the cool, Dark Side-rich waters of Dagobah as he waited for his apprentice to join him. He thought about the photo she had taken on Glee Anslem, the very picture of her potential and the wellspring of power that bubbled beneath the surface. When Nash tapped into her rage, she was explosively powerful. Vossari needed that.

When he heard her telltale voice, Vossari bubbled to the surface. He rose, daintily, to the top of the water itself, toe tips walking upon the water itself like a ballerina. Clad only in a short pair of swim trunks, his rich, brown skin was adorned with a multitude of tattoos and scars, weaving together a tapestry of Vossari's journeys through triumph and tragedy. Acridia, as aways, stayed firmly on his ear. Water dripped down his longs braids as he grabbed a luxurious robe he had hanged from one of the trees. A smile crept to his lips.

"Smaaaaaaaaash." Vossari pulled a blunt from his robes and ignited it with his thumb. "Nasty work on Glee Anslem. Definitely earning that warsword." He skated farther into the swamp.

Vossari was nothing if not observant. He had noticed that, after the assignment, Nash's mood had changed. He sensed the anxiety, pain, feelings of betrayal and confusion coursing through her. And the music she was listening to gave it away. He remembered his time as an acolyte, where he was constantly bullied, belittled, picked on, and hurt by those around him. Such pain made the catalyst for his growth, but he would have floundered in his rage had he not found a companion. His partner, who he ever doted on, cast the haze of fog his mind away, helping him to find his own purpose and grow in his own power. Vossari did not like this whole "friendship" thing, but he realized the value of his relationship with Azar, even outside of their steamy romance. Azar was a friend, confidant, and co-conspirator with him. He could be those things to Nash, help her to hone her purpose.

Or, he could just be a spiteful, cruel, asshole, like he was to most of the galaxy. He'd decide which way to go soon. For now, his eyes met hers with his piercing glare. "I sense unease, Acolyte, even after your most recent success." He seemed to levitate across the pond towards her. Wrath was common for Nash, it was true. But her hostility, her grief, her confusion burned white-hot beneath that. That was new. "Tell me, what's wrong?" The tone of his voice indicated that this was somewhere between a question and a command.

@Sreeya

 

[Nash]

Vossari was, in fact, just chilling in that rank pond. She watched with wonder as he rose up like some some twink swamp monster and glided across the surface like the prophetic god of some religion or another, she couldn’t quite remember. Nash’s jaw dropped, “Bro I wish I could be you,” She said, though there was a look of mild disappointment when she saw the trunks, “Aww man I wanted to see if you had a fish dick or not,” She muttered, genuinely curious about what kind of weird anatomy he was packing, “Wait, do fish have dicks? Like do you lay eggs or do you just spritz your fishy spawn juice and then like a chick Wrean swims in it and suddenly you’re a daddy? Like the masses wanna know this shit, Braidz,” She said very seriously.

It took her a moment to remember she was pissed at him for sending him on that stupid mission, “Oh yeah, thanks for almost getting us all killed,” She huffed, shoving him lightly. She couldn’t outright punch her Master in the face, but a light shove could pass.

When he asked what was wrong, Nash chewed the inside of her lip. She stared intently at the beautiful chocolate man on Vossari’s robes, deep in thought. The shine on his brazen skin was almost blinding. Perhaps as blinding as the searing heat of her all problems burning through her mind.

“Aight lemme train while I drop some trauma on you,” Nash said as she started doing some of her Teras Kasi moves against a tree, “So on Glee, Prof and Gears both kinda.. Said they were into me. And like I freaked, yeah? Then it’s like awkward as fuck cuz I been hookin’ up with Gears for a bit but like it’s always been chill. And I didn’t realize but I really dig Prof. Like bro he was some fucking mook I used to rail on and shove into lockers, you remember? So I went to see Gears just to hang out like old times and like we hooked up again and I could tell I was fucking him up so like I told him I dig Prof. Then I tell Prof yo lemme take you out to a date vacation. And then this fucker just acts like it ain’t nothing and this ain’t shit and like this is after he said he was into me, ya feel?” She rambled in between punches and kicks, steadling causing some solid damage, “I was ready to just leave and then he tells me he loves me and I just.. Fuck I don’t know, I'm still hurting. I’m convinced Gears does too honestly and this is all just fucked.”

She sighed as she wiped sweat off her brow, “And don’t even get me started on my future husband Karys,” Karys didn’t know she existed, “But like that’s more like a celeb crush cuz I don’t think that man is real. He’s like a titan. Like does he even deal with things like migraines or taking shits? Like bro he can’t be real. But fuuuck I wouldn’t mind me a tall glass o’ that yoked twizzler,” She exhaled, finally stepping away, wondering if Vossari even heard half of what she said.

“I wanna be like you, man,” She sighed, “You don’t have any boy or love drama.”

@Fine Dining Set

 

[Vossari Khaldun]

Jesus Space Christ. Nash could talk. It wasn't just that, she moved so fast. She was like a wrecking ball with words, sound, combat, emotions...Chaos personified. It was delightful, but her personal problems seemed extensive. His eyes did all the listening as she colorfully told her story, eyes raising at Prof and Gears both being into her. She was popular, a heartbreaker. He thought back to his time with Azar on the windswept beaches as she mentioned a beach vacation, and eyes shot down, disappointedly, to mirror her disappointment with Arak. She had two people in love with her, and Vossari knew she wasn't into the toxic-not-toxic 'polyamory' that many Sith practiced.

This felt like a situation that required a little more emotional intelligence than he had, but he'd try his best. "Let me be clear, I like Arak and all..." He was pretty chill about being kidnapped, reacted well in situations, and had an intuitive understanding of magic. But he was also cold, calculating, and severe, like many of the other political players of the Sith. "But if you can't trust how he feels about you, or how you feel about him, how are you ever going to have a relationship?" He thought back to his own love for Azar. Even when he was confused about where they stood, Vossari always knew how he felt about Azar. That he wanted a close kinship, that his desire to be with him burned hotter than the sands of Korriban. "With...'Gears,' it's a little more complicated. You've been sleeping together, it sounds like he caught feelings for sure. But how do you feel about him?" It seemed like she was trying to figure that one out herself.

Vossari audibly snorted at the mention of ‘no boy drama.’ "Bitch, my whole life is boy drama." Had he not told her? Vossari never really mentioned Azar to anyone, but that was more because he didn't have any friends. Besides, sort of Karys, when he wasn't worried that Karys was plotting to kill him. And she wanted to hook up with Karys? What sort of strange chain of relationships were they building towards now? "I'm in love with Master Karys's husband, Nash." He let the word 'husband' trail out, as if to emphasize it. Vossari was no husband. "He's the man I think of when I wake, when I go to sleep, and he's married to another man." Another Sith, who he had loved long before he ever knew Vossari. Vossari knew how he felt, he knew he was special, but...he just couldn't shake the feeling that he was coming in second place in some kind of race. "And I'm not the only one. He's an amazing man, Arcanos. It's no wonder so many love him. I wonder how he deals..." He began to trail off. "My point is this: The emotional shit is complicated. You're allowed to make mistakes while you figure things out. Just figure out what you want, and chase it down."

He light a cigarra with his thumb. He took a long puff to ponder how to conclude this. "And channel it into your training. That's why we're Sith. We bring ourselves to our roles as Sith, all our emotions and personality." He continued to puff as he skated across the waters, gliding like a swamp spirit.

"That's why we're here: To figure things out. This planet is loaded with Dark Side energy. It's long past time to claim that for the Order." Legend told of a cave of horrors, where one had to overcome their greatest fears to train gain power. Seemed like a valuable training experience for the both of them.

@Sreeya

 

[Nash]

“I know I like Arak.. he claims to love me but…” She trailed off. Vossari gave her a lot to think about and angles she hadn’t considered, “Dude I don’t even know how I’m in this spot. I’m not some pretty little girl all the guys want, I’m Nash. Hutt space trash,” She chuckled to herself. Nash didn’t know how she felt about Gears because they had started off more casual. However the more they hung out, she couldn’t deny it was beginning to turn to a different kind of attachment.

All of her thoughts came crashing when Vossari described his own dilemma. Nash’s eyes widened and she actually gasped as she heard his confession. He was in love with Arcanos? She stared in wonder. Arcanos seemed unapproachable and mythical to an acolyte like her, and yet Vossari had ties to him and Karys, “Like… love from a distance or are you actually with the guy?” Nash asked with morbid curiosity, “How are you cool with sharing? I’d be fucking pissed,” She stated bluntly.

“Are all purebloods poly?” She asked, chewing the inside of her lip, “I can’t do that. I can’t date Arak if he’s gonna be expecting to fuck other girls the whole time,” In fact, a surge of rage coursed through her just at the thought. What if Arak was just trying to collect multiple girlfriends? She made a point to tell him that sort of arrangement wasn’t going to work with her.

As he turned the topic to Sith, Nash nodded, “The Force doesn’t feel like second nature to me yet,” She admitted out loud, “I need ways to control it. Back on Glee when I thought Arak was dead, I unleashed some Force that really fucked up the monster,” Voss knew - he had the picture, “But why can’t I channel that without needing to be in a crisis?”

@Fine Dining Set

 

[Vossari Khaldun]

Were they thinking about the same person? Nash was not only beautiful, she was thick as fuck, and had a charming personality. Of course guys were falling all over her. If Vossari ever really found himself attracted to women, he likely would have, too. "That's your problem right there, Nash. This is why you need the Sith. You're not space trash. You're gifted. You're a treasure to the galaxy." Vossari had once felt the pangs of self-hatred and self-doubt that Nash seemed to wrestle with, if not the body dysmorphia. It was his relationship with the Sith Philosophy that, first, gave him guiding purpose. "You need to start acting like you deserve better. That's an order, acolyte. You deserve self-fulfillment and self-respect. You're Nash. Galaxy's leading badass, right?" Vossari knew that she projected confidence, and was a confident young woman, so to hear of her insecurities was certainly news. Yet Vossari also knew what it was like to have to project different versions of oneself to protect one's core, to pretend to be something you weren't to survive. It was often what the order demanded of him. It was how he navigated as an acolyte, and now, as a champion. Only around Azar, and, surprisingly, Trael, did he feel himself. "Start there when you think about this. Who do you feel most respected around? When do you feel most yourself? How do you want to feel when you're around the person you love?"

How was he cool with sharing? That had always been their implicit relationship. Vossari had always desired a deep, rich emotional and intellectual connection with Azar, ever when the latter only saw him as a 'plaything.' Those words still stung to think about. "I'm actually with him, NASH!" Vossari harrumphed. This wasn't just some celeb crush. They had a deeply intimate connection. "I get jealous, you know? I'm only one person, and I'm certainly not perfect." Even in non-pureblood polyamorous relationships, jealousy existed. It was a natural emotion, a reaction to both confusion and love, and Vossari wasn't ashamed to be jealous. "What's important is the time I share with him, and the love that we share. He's a Sith Lord, Nash, and I will be, too. Any relationship between Sith takes compromise. I'd rather compromise than be one of those bitter, jaded, lonely Sith that seem to float to the top." Azar had always taken other lovers. Vossari didn't close himself off to anyone, but...no one else compared to Arcanos.

"The Pureblood Sith culture is particular. I dunno about polygamy or monogamy, but I know they have their own set of rules for...just about everything." Did it vary based on family? Vossari truly had no idea what their rules about relationships were. Arak was a teenaged boy, too, reputedly of a princely line.

"You've got a block. That's what we're talking about. Your connection with yourself and your emotions is your connection to the Force." He remembered the surge of power he first felt on Saleucami, then on Tund, when he protected Azar. The Force wasn't just a muscle that one trained, it was the energy of the universe knowing and understanding itself. Their souls were the true containers of their ability, hence the Sith Code: "'Through Passion, I gain strength.' It's that simple, Nash. You were protecting someone you cared about. Of course your strength surged."

Vossari coiled the swampy waters into an orb in front of them. The water swirled and sloshed about, as if kept in a perfect ball. For Vossari, it was effortless. The ball of water passed from between his hands to Nash's. "I found my natural element, too. This is where I'm strongest. Once we find your speciality, your niche, you'll be a lot farther along than I was." Nash was already a skilled duelist, and far stronger than he was. With her latent Force potential, too, she had the makings of a nuclear bomb.

"Hear that? Passion. Find the power to channel it. Element. Find a medium to channel it. Yours won't look the same as mine or anyone else's. Use what's special to you." The Orb began to float away from Nash and Vossari, as the waters deepened to a scarlet color. "Follow the orb. It's gonna lead us to the Nexus here. There, you'll learn what you need to grow." He gestured to her machete as the orb began to float into the swamp's forest. "Lead the way."

@Sreeya

 

[Nash]

Nash stared with wonder as Vossari gave her the most incredible pep talk. She could only nod vigorously as he flatly ordered her to start having more self respect, “Fuck you’re right,” Nash said, “I am fucking awesome. I can’t believe this feelsy shit had me doubting,” She shook her head. She smiled at Vossari, “You’re real fucking dope, you know that? Arcanos better love the shit outta you and treat you right or I’ll whoop his ass myself when I become a Sith Lord,” She smirked, firmly promising.

She briefly pondered on what she wanted out of feeling loved, “They both treat me with respect..” Nash mused aloud. Outside of Arak being an imbecile in their latest exchange, he never made her feel disrespected, “I think I’m more myself with Gears..” Nash admitted, “He doesn’t care if I’m tripping balls, spiced out, just being a fucking shitshow and he joins right in ‘cause we’re both from the streets… Arak is more straight edge and like..proper.. so I think I…behave around him,” She said with a shrug, “But maybe it’s ‘cause I like him? Fuck I dunno,” Nash rambled before she smirked, “I dunno if Arak can handle my bad girl.”

Nash listened as he explained about passion. It was something they covered in the academies, but the way Vossari described it made far more sense. She had seen it first hand with his command over water. For Nash, passion came from combat and she needed to find a way to tap into her Force reserves and have it weaponized and ready to go.

She watched as he produced the swamp water globe, peering close at it, “Yo, I see worms floating around in there,” She said with a grimace, “That’s gnarly as fuck,” Nash said.

She began to follow the orb, her machete out again. Nash started whacking the blade around, once again cutting through branches and plants and probably small animals and birds. She hummed to herself, hearing some twigs snap in the distance. Nash stopped walking and furrowed her brows.

“Yo, what kinda shit creeps in these swamps?” She asked. She suddenly had an uneasy feeling along the back of her neck. They weren’t alone.

@Fine Dining Set

 

[Vossari Khaldun]

Her passion was indeed combat. Vossari had seen her deliver that beautiful beat down on Scales (RIP), and her general attitude suggested an aptitude towards violence. But Vossari was beginning to sense that there was another medium through which she channeled the Force and found her passion: sound. Between her psychic scream and constant singing/beatboxing, music was something that gave her her muse.

He wouldn’t note this out loud for now, preferring to observe and report as she discovered for herself what she wanted to do and how she wanted to do it. He noticed an immediate change in her mood after their little conversation, which he hoped to close appropriately. “Just because Arak comes from a different background than you doesn’t mean it won’t work. Inverse with Connor: Just cause you’re both Shaddan doesn’t mean he’s the one for you. Trust your gut, Acolyte. You’re a smart cookie with good options.” As long as both these guys respected her, weren’t dragging her along and using her (that was Vossari’s job), he was satisfied. “And, uh, thanks. I don’t really have anyone I can talk to about…life.” He had Azar, of course, but he couldn’t muse about his role in Azar’s life with Azar all the time. It was genuinely nice to just chat.

The swamp’s forests became danker and darker as they trudged through, but the icky orb continued to light their path. Both of them could feel the darkness of the Force emanating in this swamp, yet it was this planet’s fauna that would symbolize it.

From the trees, sunken red eyes followed them, as a pair of large wolf-creatures lunged directly at them.

 

[Nash]

Nash grinned as Vossari thanked her and said he didn’t have anyone to discuss stuff with. She stepped up next to him, slung a muscular arm around his shoulder as they walked and started singing a song. She was offkey, but hey, the sentiment was there. Her mood was improved drastically since the little pep talk. Even as the forest grew darker, she lowered her singing voice but didn’t stop just yet.

Eventually, she finished the song and there was an eerie silence all around them. Nash proceeded cautiously, drawing out the Sith blade Vossari had given her. She barely took another step forth before the wolves sprang into the scene. Nash’s reflexes worked great and she was able to jut her blade and graze it along the side of one of them. However, the beast managed to tackle and pin her to the ground after the attack, growling in her face as she gazed up at rows of teeth.

Meanwhile, the second one attempted to do the same to Vossari, springing from where it was to take a chunk right out of his neck.

 

[Vossari Khaldun]

Vossari snapped along, catching the beat as Nash began to sing. "Lean on me..." Tap-tap-tapping his fingers together, he found himself drawn to rhyme on top of her singing, contributing to a makeshift . Damn, he should've brought his boombox.

"Lean on me...
cuz we're both strong.
And nothing wrong
With getting a little lean on..."

They trailed off as the pair continued to lyrically vibe in their journey across the forest. The growling, gnarling sounds interrupted their jam session, as Vossari's hands folded together, ready to kinesis some hydro. The waters of the swamp coiled around him, and sprung instantly to his command as the wolf leapt at him. The dirty waters twisted into jagged spikes, which impaled the lupine creature through the jaw, heart, and paws. When he ripped his hands apart, the spikes of water ripped the wolf to shreds.

With another sign cast, a tendril of water shaped itself into the form of a snake, splitting apart to open a hungry maw. Its proverbial fangs caught the wolf that pinned Nash, the tremendous pressure of water sending it flying into a nearby tree. He clicked his lightsaber on and lunged into the wolf, thrusting his glowing cherry blade through its many rows of teeth.

When they were done, he was huffing, but a smile sat on his face. The Dark Side was palpable here, and the deformed beasts that haunted these lowly reaches were a sign of it. "Feel it, Nash. Drink it in."

A pale grey light emanated from the cave of a gnarl tree nearby. The roots of the trees swayed in the wind, as whispers carried on the breeze towards their ears. They were almost inaudible, yet Vossari felt the hairs stand on his neck. He felt fear. "This will be a challenge, Nash. But we were emerge from this challenge stronger, self assured, unflappable. Are you ready?" He continued to trudge through mud and water towards it.

@Sreeya

 

[Nash]

Nash had never seen water turn into spikes to stab things. She barely had a moment to react when Vossari’s second attack sent the wolf above crashing into a tree followed by Vossari moving like an epic superhero to send his blade through it. Nash laid there in stunned silence, her jaw hanging open. She looked over at Vossari, eyes wide.

“Dude you are so cool,” She gasped out, practically in tears from how fucking cool he was, like what the fuck?! Nash hopped up to her feet, “Dude you been holding out on me. When I first met you I thought you were a doofus like me and like didn’t know what the fuck you were doing. But man you’ve really got your shit figured out and you’re so smooth, man, like damn I’m just out here stumbling and trippin’ through life and you’re all,” She threw her head back dramatically, flinging a lekku over her shoulder with a smolder look, “I’m Vossari, lemme choke you with your own spit, bitch,” Nash said with her best impression of him, “Ugh, I’m so lucky you’re my Master ‘cause there are some fucking losers out there dude. Can you imagine if I had some creepy ass edgelord? Like I’d be so depressed my Force powers would be fueled by angst.”

Nash realized she was rambling and quickly cleared her throat, nodding as they stepped towards the cave. She took a few steps in, “Yo, this is sick,” She said as she walked into the pale light, “Am I about to run across an npc on the other side of this?” Nash asked cheerfully.

She turned around and didn’t see Vossari. Instead her blood ran cold as she saw who it was. She both didn't recognize him, but did at the same time.

“Nashyrra,” A male twi’lek calmly said, his form stepping out from the light.

“D-Dad?” Nash blurted out.

@Fine Dining Set

 

[Vossari Khaldun]

Vossari flashed a metal thumb up as the beast fell to the ground. He panted. "Had to..." Wheeze. "Show you after Nar Shadda..." Pant pant. "...that I have some tricks up my sleeve." He laughed at her comment of edgy masters. Between Param and Karys, he had never really experienced the super edgy Sith like Cremek. They seemed to throw themselves into the line of fire before he ever had to deal with them.

"There are some losers. They give our ideology a bad name, Nash. We have to stay cool." Cooler than the Jedi, at least. Need to keep the brand strong. "I feel like my Force powers come from angst, though..." Speaking of angst, Vossari stepped into the mist in front of him. When the fog became so thick he could no longer see Nash, he cast out his hands, green mist-weaving signs forming at his fingertips as he began to expel the fog from around him. He did not see Nash anywhere.

He did see the rupturing of an orange portal, though, bringing the brightness of Korriban's sun, as his love, his soul, and his king stepped through. Azar regarded Vossari with his discerning, kind eyes, same as ever. Before he could even say 'Little Fish,' his golden eyes went wide, and he pushed Vossari out of the way. Vossari could only watch helplessly as another of those horrible wolves leapt at his love's neck, ripping through his throat before sprinting back into the forest.

"AZAR!" Vossari shrieked, as he launched himself at his . His higher functioning told him that this was a trick - an illusion manifested by the dark side. Yet, in his heart, it felt so real. He watched helplessly as the life drained from Azar's eyes, gold glow dulling in the process. He scrambled over Azar's person, trying to find a potion that would fix this, like he had on Saleucami. Tears, glimmering, sparkling, ran down his face as he buried his head into Azar's chest.

"I'm so sorry..." he said in between his weeping. "It should have been me."

Azar faded before him, his body evaporating into the mist that Vossari had tried to dispel. Vossari, totally enraptured by the spell,

"You failed him." He felt a voice like his own whisper over his shoulder. "If not now, you will. Remember Korriban. Your idiocy almost got the two of you killed." Vossari was there, again, watching himself dive into a lightning bolt pointlessly. Maybe it wasn't just a stupid accident, though. Maybe you'd rather be dead than without him. All alone.

The voice disappeared, leaving Vossari, silent, in the dark mist. He felt it all, then. The crushing weight of loneliness. The gnawing of self-hatred that ate at his skin, crawled beneath the surface. It appeared in outward manifestations constantly. His haughtiness, his pride, his flightiness, his vanity...all carefully crafted parts of a persona. Vossari Khaldun, the unflappable, theatrical, cruel Wrean. Vossari Khaldun, afraid, alone, staring constantly at the darkness when his greatest source of golden light was not around.

The void was a weight on his shoulders that called constantly. He longed for nothing more than it. Death. A permanent end to his theatrical misery, his constant search for purpose, his inherent dishonesty and hypocrisy. He confused even himself, sometimes. He reacted to situations differently than he thought he could. He could be both calculating an impulsive - think through a plan and ruin it himself in a moment of passion. He tired of it. He tired of his confusing, meandering, cowardly self. Even when he sang his own praises, drew all the attention to himself, it was just to distract from this.

Here, in the crushing weight of the Dark Side, it all felt like too much to bear. But it was in this pain that he had a realization. He could not continue like this, a beacon of self-hatred and spite. He was stuck with himself, now and forever. In the darkness, he reached within to his heart, and made contact with a spark. It was the universe itself, the source of life and creation given form. It was him. And, when he reached into the Force, he felt it. He was a part of it all - even here. He felt the wisdom of the Qotsisajak as he did.

Peace is a lie, there is only passion. Vossari had been lying to himself, and the world around him, by pretending. He hid from himself to maintain a status quo, an idea, that did not serve him. He hated himself, and in turn, the world.

Through passion, I gain strength. It was only in his truth that he would find his power. As long as he carried the weight of self hatred, he would be weak. In turn, his constant jealousy, backbiting, deviousness, ate at the foundation of his relationship and very life. He needed something deeper than a silver tongue and slimy behavior to truly advance in this life. He needed to trust himself. He needed to support himself. Once he did this, then could he save Azar, train Nash, lead Arak, and create again. Once he loved himself, he took the burden of searching for love outside himself away. He would lighten his own load.

Through strength, I gain power. Vossari thought often about breaking the chains of this corrupt galaxy. He wanted to drown the political order of the galaxy deep beneath the sea. How could he do this, if he couldn't even be honest with himself about his heart, his soul, his lonely core? He would accept this loneliness as a part of who he was: Lonely, contemplative, emotional. He didn't relate to many others. Only those he found truly brilliant kept his attention for very long. But there was a joy to be found in this negative. Vossari was also unique, creative, and truly uninhibited. He loved those things, didn't he? He loved that about himself.

Through power, I gain victory. Yes, he could affirm himself. He could believe in himself. He could rise to the occasion for himself. And if he could do those things for himself, he could do them for others. He could defend those he needed to. He could defend himself, no matter the circumstance. He himself was the greatest ally he could ask for.

Through victory, my chains are broken. Understanding this, now, he realized he wasn't alone. In the Dark Side, in the Force, he was surrounded by all life touched by the Shadow. With the Force at his side, guiding his every move, he was never alone. He was connected to everything. Even Azar, even here, even now. He felt their souls touch across the distant reaches of the astral sea. His love had not been taken from him. Vossari would have the power to ensure that no one could hurt him, no one could hurt anyone he cared about, none could disrupt any of his ideas.

The Force Shall Set Me Free. If he could release the weight of his own depression, he could truly be free. If he could trust in himself, not drown in his jealousy, his anxiety, his fear of being alone, Vossari knew he would rise above. His dreams were all within reach. He could almost see them, like stars, high above and glistening in the dark.

He rose from the shadow into the mist, as his own, gnawing, shadow seemed to dissipate into darkness. Echoes of past mistakes faded into nothingness, returning to what they were: harmless memories. Though the fog was thick, he could see a path forward, a path out. He touched the Dark Side - cutting a path through the fog out.

His apprentice, it seemed, still had to escape. He would wait for her, at the foot of the cave, prepared for her to emerge victorious over her internal struggles.

@Sreeya

 

[Nash]

“Nashyrra,” The male twi’lek said. Truthfully Nash had never met her father, but she had a feeling it was him. It had to be right? He looked at her with those tender eyes, that gentle smile, “Is water wet?”

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK. Nash’s brain exploded, her mind went blank, she imploded, everything went black. She hated this. She wanted to escape and run in any given direction. But she was stuck in the construct of her own worst enemy - her spirals. Nash began to panic and breathe heavily, trying to find a way out.

How was wet defined? Did it mean on a surface? If so, water couldn’t be wet. But if wet was defined as having the property of water, then it would be wet. But if water itself is the body of itself then it couldn’t also be wet. Everything hurt, everything ached, she was screaming and no one could hear her. And on top of that, why was this figure she thought was her father asking the question in the first place? Was he responsible for all her spirals? Was it a genetic condition that was passed down? OH NO SHE WAS DOING IT AGAIN!!

WATER WAS A WETTING AGENT THEREFORE IT WASN’T WET. WAIT, NO, WATER IS COMPRISED OF ITSELF AND THEREFORE IT IS WET. Nash was falling apart and was stuck in an endless loop, completely spiraling out of control as she heard all sides of this debate to that terrible question that felt like a thermal detonator had been activated on her.

Her own spirals stemmed from self doubts, something she struggled with forever. It was debilitating and it threatened to consume her. Her thoughts were under the constant hold of spirals and she was immobilized while they happened. Here she was experiencing it in a tangible form and she was rooted in place. She couldn’t move or budge, sinking into the quagmire of her own consciousness.

Nash finally thought back to something Vossari said. Stay cool. It wasn’t the Sith Code or anything dramatic that came to mind. It was to stay cool. It was to anchor. It was to trust in herself. It was to believe in Nash.

Water is wet because I fucking say it is.

A moment later, she stumbled out of that cave, collapsing right on her face. Nash slowly peeled herself off the ground, blinking at Vossari.

“Bro…” She muttered simply, "I think my brains just melted. Oh and I think I have daddy issues."

@Fine Dining Set

 

[Vossari Khaldun]

Voss offered a fist to bump to Nash at her self-discovery. "This place is awesome, Nash. Evil swamp? Self-discovery? Daddy issues? This'll make a perfect lab." Vossari planted a marker into an ancient mangrove that jutted out the swamp. "I'm gonna call in the troops and start construction ASAP."

And construct he did. Over the course of the next few weeks, Vossari used the resources of the Subterrel Mining Corporation to call in a series of construction droids, along with Selkath and Tundian cultists, to study into the Dark Side on this world and begin the construction of the perfect evil swamp observatory for him. Vossari tried to use natural materials whenever possible - hardened wood, primarily, but it was only shipping in boatloads of durasteel and duracrete that made this project possible.

___________________________________
Present Day

Weeks later, Vossari called his apprentice back to the swamp world. The Wrean enjoyed a blunt on a lawn chair, sipping a colorful Pina Colada. He kept on a carefree attitude and a large pair of sunglasses as he watched the droids work in the dark, foreboding swamp.

It came to his attention that he had neglected his acolyte. She needed a lightsaber. He had a Kyber crystal he needed to bleed, too. Perhaps it was time for another thrilling master/apprentice story. Voss hoped it wouldn't be introspective or emotional this time - he needed a moment of levity. Hence the Pina Colada.

@Sreeya

 

[Nash]

Nash hadn’t heard from Vossari in a while and she was getting pissed. Acolytes all around were getting their sabers and she was stuck in detention hell and not progressing. When he finally called her back to Dagobah, she decided she would give him a piece of her mind. Vossari would hear Nash plodding over through the swamp.

Nash had a blunt of her own that she was puffing on. She opened her mouth to express her irritation at being neglected so long, but she started abruptly coughing about two feet across from Vossari. She couldn’t tell if it was the paper or what, but this shit hit different and it hit hard. She took a solid minute just coughing profusely as her grand introduction to him, her eyes getting bloodshot as she wheezed and made a spectacle of almost dying. Nash resurfaced after a long while, wiping her face off after that embarrassing display, “Holy shit,” She gasped in a voice that was an octave too high. No pun intended.

“Wait..” Nash said abruptly, “Where’d my joint go?!” She cried, suddenly perplexed at losing the joint she just had in her hand. She started to look for it in the swampy grass, “God dammit. Fuck you Yoda!” She cried out while flipping off the sky.

After the theatrics, Nash finally calmed down and looked at Vossari, “Hello, Master,” She said calmly as if none of the prior antics occurred.

@Fine Dining Set

 

[Vossari Khaldun]

The new hemp paper he had bought on Planet Bourbon had a remarkably harsh hit too it, that was true. Yoda's Ghost, known to be a trickster around these parts, took a few hits of the poorly-rolled joint before returning it to Vossari's magical plastic bag of marcan herbs. He let out a long wheeze, taking a pointed slurp of his Pina colada before continuing. The combination of coughing and slurping caused a small amount to spill out, onto his face.

"Nash! You made it in alright." Yoda had taken his blunt a little while earlier, too. It was just part of the galaxy - a reality that they had to adjust themselves to. He didn't rise from his seat before speaking - he merely gestured to the marvelous works of construction before him. "How's the sword treating you?" He hoped she at least used it. If anyone used it, that would be great.

@Sreeya

 

[Nash]

Nash watched the pina colada dribble down his chin. She was convinced his chin drank more than he did with how often Vossari spilled while taking a drink. She walked over to plop down in a seat next to him, looking over the construction.

“It’s solid, but honestly I really want a saber,” She admitted, “I love this blade, but I didn’t make it, you know? It doesn’t feel like it’s..mine,” Nash said, “When the other acolytes talk about their sabers and bleeding their crystals, it sounds like an experience,” She turned to him and pointed to the kyber crystal on her necklace, “I think I’m ready.”

Nash looked back over the construction, “What’re you building here anyway?”

@Fine Dining Set

 

[Vossari Khaldun]

Vossari did not let his chin drink more of the Pina Colada. It was a very controlled, very minor spill, thank you very much. "I know the feeling. You know, I once forgot I had that blade on me mid-battle. I could've used it to protect myself and Darth Arcanos. It's..." He sighed, hating to diminish the hard-won craftsmanship of another artist. "A pretty forgettable sword. The Lightsaber is the weapon of our order and has been for centuries." Vossari's first crystal bleeding had been unremarkable, as far as he could remember. He had a lightsaber by the time he was assigned to Param, even if she preferred whatever collection of swords she could get her hands on.

He remembered focusing all of his hatred, pain, and rage onto the Crystal. He couldn't remember it perfectly, but he did remember getting into some 'method acting' to really get himself going. He stubbed his toe before hand, and the inconvenience of blistering pain served as a locus for him to channel onto an innocent kyber crystal. Now, after Manaan, he had a new Jedi lightsaber with a brand new crystal. Maybe it would be good for the both of them to bleed 'em out. Vossari pointed at the crystal that dangled across her throat on a necklace. "That your crystal, Nash?" He enquired as he cocked his head to the side. "Did you kill a Jedi or something before you got to me?" She had worn it the entire time he had known her, even when they were both acolytes. Yet, it only occurred to him now that this crystal, so rare in the galaxy, must have some backstory.

"I'm building a laboratory, Nash. Every good professor has to contribute to research in their field." He refused to neglect his duties at the academy. Not least because he could sneak coffee breaks and conversations with his lover in between classes, on those rare days when they were both there. "This will be a field lab into the Dark Side and its effects on water." Voss was no scientist, though, so he'd likely just cover the final structure with spray paint and fuck around with the Force until something happened.

Before the day got too serious with the crystal bleeding, there was a nagging curiosity that lingered in Voss's conscience. "You figure it out with Connor and Arak yet?"

@Sreeya