If we disagree and say nothing of it, where does that leave us? Any of us.
[ This is not some naive hope-talk on her part, though. She doesn't for a moment think that all the ills of the galaxy (and every galaxy) can be fixed by just having a chat. But this is an entirely different matter. Something happened to all of them and it was troubling (even if there is much she doesn't reveal on the surface). It had the effect of making her want to dig in to better understand this world and the people in it — Summoned and not — so that she can better help everyone. But everyone went through different things — some far worse than others. ]
So, yes. I wish to talk about it. If you wish for it to be known.
[ Cassian hasn’t lived his life by playing nice for the sake of playing nice. He’s had a nose for trouble, a fire to defy ever since he had witnessed the destruction wrought on Kenari. It was only after that that he had begun to crystallize the feelings that had sat dormant in the pit of his belly for years until he could no longer ignore it.
But he understands that the rules are somewhat different here. Disagreeing with the Summoned is one thing - but to make enemies of them would make it vastly difficult for them to get home or to stay here if their lives here were better than what they had at home. From what he could tell, the ones that he knew, were for the Summoned through and through. And that didn’t count for nothing.
And maybe because there’s a kindred spirit in Merrin, a quiet distaste that he can sense from her regarding the state of their galaxy, because she is in some ways, his only tie to home, that he relents. ]
What happened to us should never have happened. I don’t like that this world's magic can twist and effect us in ways like that and we’re none the wiser. How do we know it won’t happen again? That all of our history and memories can’t be taken from us? The factions apologized to us but they’re just as complicit as whatever gods or magic exists here. We’re just pawns. Objects for them to play with.
[ Merrin is not necessarily about keeping the peace herself. She has no qualms with fighting those who harm others. She can be swift in doling out what she feels is suitable punishment, too, but that fire in her that was motivated so heavily from seeking vengeance against those who had destroyed her people, her family, her heart itself — it nearly consumed her. All Imperials were targets for her wrath.
She does not hesitate to fight back and she does not regret when doing what must be done, but she is careful not to let her anger go unchecked as it once did. ]
It should not have happened. On this, we agree. But to stop it happening again, I need to know it better — this world and its people. Understand this — I do not trust those who brought us here and harbor us. They provide for us but it is a false comfort. They expect obedience of us and I answer to no one. They want loyalty and I do not give it freely.
I will protect those of this world being harmed. I will not allow other Summoned to suffer. There is power in this world I need to understand, Alyx. It is the only way to protect us.
[ Cassian's anger and rage had been simmering beneath his skin long before he understood where to direct it at or the cause of it. But now he knew. And that was something that they both shared.
They hadn't spoken extensively about their ideologies or what they stood for in their shared galaxy. But he can tell, a part of him knows in the way that he suspects Luthen could sense it in him, that she isn't someone who would easily bend to what the Empire had done. Understanding fills his gaze and some of that bristle that had never been directed at her quiets. ]
I can't help you understand this world's magic. But I know people who might be able to. I can make introductions if you haven't met them.
[ The fake name he had given her doesn't go unnoticed either. From what he could recall from their time in the crater and as gods, he and Merrin had interacted little if at all. His god persona kept to himself and to the far reaches of god society so he can't blame her for not knowing. And while it would normally be something he would just let lie, it doesn't feel right when Merrin is the only tether to home that he has here.
This is a sign of trust more than anything. ]
My name isn't Alyx. It's Cassian. You can call me whichever you want, but I'd prefer Alyx in public.
[ A slight nod of her head then, both in gratitude that he's trusted her with his name, and by way of essentially re-introducing themselves. She need not know why he has two identities, though she would not find it unusual at all especially given the state of their galaxy. Even those who seemed trustworthy could be capable of betraying others, and it was difficult to let that guard down. So, it is no small thing that he gives it to her. She will repay that gratitude by trusting him in return. ]
I know Istredd, but few others. Introductions with others were...disrupted.
[ To say the least. Being forcibly trapped in a crater and robbed of your memory definitely screws with everything in a major way. ]
You give me your name, I will give you more of myself. My kind — the Nightsisters of Dathomir — were once in abundance, powerful and invincible. I thought, at least. But I was young when they were struck down by a Jedi, or so I was told — it was the Empire. I was all that remained for a time.
[ She says it all with practiced detachment, but it's a measure of protection for herself. She has lived with only the dead in her hearts for a long time. The emotion is always there, in reality, but it manifested as anger and hatred for so long that she lost sight of herself. She has come to a peace within — the sadness and grief rest in her soul always, but she carries the ones she lost and what they left behind is like a beacon guiding her down the path she wants and needs to follow now. ]
I would not see others suffer the same fate, not in our galaxy and not here.
[ While the lack of questions about why it is he chose to take on two identities is appreciated, if she had asked, he probably would have told her. There's a kinship of sorts there. A trust that he has no choice but to acknowledge despite whatever his paranoia may tell him otherwise. They had been through enough together now at this point which may not have earned her much in the past but does so now simply given the circumstances.
He doesn't expect the same in return, but when she does offer up her full name and her home world, it's met with quiet acknowledgement. The Nightsisters aren't known to him; it doesn't even ring a bell. But the name of the planet does - along with the warnings for travelers to stay away from it. The mention of it isn't enough to draw his attention away from what's more important however: the way that she recounts the loss of her people.
What she says brings about a question of his own - but in the same way that she granted him trust, he extends the same to her. ]
We're in agreement there. [ There's a brief pause. ] You have an ally in me here, Merrin. And when we make it back to our galaxy, you'll have one there too.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[ This is not some naive hope-talk on her part, though. She doesn't for a moment think that all the ills of the galaxy (and every galaxy) can be fixed by just having a chat. But this is an entirely different matter. Something happened to all of them and it was troubling (even if there is much she doesn't reveal on the surface). It had the effect of making her want to dig in to better understand this world and the people in it — Summoned and not — so that she can better help everyone. But everyone went through different things — some far worse than others. ]
So, yes. I wish to talk about it. If you wish for it to be known.
no subject
But he understands that the rules are somewhat different here. Disagreeing with the Summoned is one thing - but to make enemies of them would make it vastly difficult for them to get home or to stay here if their lives here were better than what they had at home. From what he could tell, the ones that he knew, were for the Summoned through and through. And that didn’t count for nothing.
And maybe because there’s a kindred spirit in Merrin, a quiet distaste that he can sense from her regarding the state of their galaxy, because she is in some ways, his only tie to home, that he relents. ]
What happened to us should never have happened. I don’t like that this world's magic can twist and effect us in ways like that and we’re none the wiser. How do we know it won’t happen again? That all of our history and memories can’t be taken from us? The factions apologized to us but they’re just as complicit as whatever gods or magic exists here. We’re just pawns. Objects for them to play with.
no subject
She does not hesitate to fight back and she does not regret when doing what must be done, but she is careful not to let her anger go unchecked as it once did. ]
It should not have happened. On this, we agree. But to stop it happening again, I need to know it better — this world and its people. Understand this — I do not trust those who brought us here and harbor us. They provide for us but it is a false comfort. They expect obedience of us and I answer to no one. They want loyalty and I do not give it freely.
I will protect those of this world being harmed. I will not allow other Summoned to suffer. There is power in this world I need to understand, Alyx. It is the only way to protect us.
no subject
They hadn't spoken extensively about their ideologies or what they stood for in their shared galaxy. But he can tell, a part of him knows in the way that he suspects Luthen could sense it in him, that she isn't someone who would easily bend to what the Empire had done. Understanding fills his gaze and some of that bristle that had never been directed at her quiets. ]
I can't help you understand this world's magic. But I know people who might be able to. I can make introductions if you haven't met them.
[ The fake name he had given her doesn't go unnoticed either. From what he could recall from their time in the crater and as gods, he and Merrin had interacted little if at all. His god persona kept to himself and to the far reaches of god society so he can't blame her for not knowing. And while it would normally be something he would just let lie, it doesn't feel right when Merrin is the only tether to home that he has here.
This is a sign of trust more than anything. ]
My name isn't Alyx. It's Cassian. You can call me whichever you want, but I'd prefer Alyx in public.
no subject
[ A slight nod of her head then, both in gratitude that he's trusted her with his name, and by way of essentially re-introducing themselves. She need not know why he has two identities, though she would not find it unusual at all especially given the state of their galaxy. Even those who seemed trustworthy could be capable of betraying others, and it was difficult to let that guard down. So, it is no small thing that he gives it to her. She will repay that gratitude by trusting him in return. ]
I know Istredd, but few others. Introductions with others were...disrupted.
[ To say the least. Being forcibly trapped in a crater and robbed of your memory definitely screws with everything in a major way. ]
You give me your name, I will give you more of myself. My kind — the Nightsisters of Dathomir — were once in abundance, powerful and invincible. I thought, at least. But I was young when they were struck down by a Jedi, or so I was told — it was the Empire. I was all that remained for a time.
[ She says it all with practiced detachment, but it's a measure of protection for herself. She has lived with only the dead in her hearts for a long time. The emotion is always there, in reality, but it manifested as anger and hatred for so long that she lost sight of herself. She has come to a peace within — the sadness and grief rest in her soul always, but she carries the ones she lost and what they left behind is like a beacon guiding her down the path she wants and needs to follow now. ]
I would not see others suffer the same fate, not in our galaxy and not here.
no subject
He doesn't expect the same in return, but when she does offer up her full name and her home world, it's met with quiet acknowledgement. The Nightsisters aren't known to him; it doesn't even ring a bell. But the name of the planet does - along with the warnings for travelers to stay away from it. The mention of it isn't enough to draw his attention away from what's more important however: the way that she recounts the loss of her people.
What she says brings about a question of his own - but in the same way that she granted him trust, he extends the same to her. ]
We're in agreement there. [ There's a brief pause. ] You have an ally in me here, Merrin. And when we make it back to our galaxy, you'll have one there too.