open post.

[imahologram]

for whatever miscellaneous bullshit your little heart can come up with.

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[t65]

You do. I've seen it. [But he's clearly not going to convince her with words. Luke picks up the blaster, and hands it back to her, the handle toward her. If they're to trust each other, he has to trust her.]

What do I need to do to convince you I'm Luke Skywalker?

[methony]

[She reaches for it in a quickly, fluid motion, and her one bit of deference to him is the fact that she doesn't point it at his heart. It's still dangerous when it's pointed at her mattress, considering how quickly she can move when she needs to, but he's not staring down the barrel any longer.]

What makes you think anything would work? Luke Skywalker has no reason to come here.

[t65]

Because it's the truth. I am here, Methony. I need students.

[Maybe if he speaks gently, makes it a need and not a want, she'll be more at ease?]

[methony]

[Uh-huh. Pull the other one, Whitesun.]

People with gifts become Inquisitors. You think I'd be here if I had the Force?

[t65]

Why do you trust the Inquisitors, but not me? [It comes out in a bit of a whine.] Despite what you've heard, it's very hard to tell when someone has the Force. And the Inquisitors are lazy; they don't like training people past the age of three, as far as I can tell.

[methony]

Trust?

[Another harsh laugh.]

Who said anything about trusting them?

[t65]

[He rolls his eyes a little. Luke is a hero, but he's not that kind, the one without moments of petulance or human emotion beyond stalwart conviction.]

Fine, believe. The Inquisitors are powerful, but they're poorly trained. People with the Dark Side of the Force, they can't sense things very well. The Inquisitors only train for power, not knowledge.

[methony]

They spend more time on Rim worlds than rebel Jedi.

[That's almost too easy, come on now.]

I know who I've seen more of.

[t65]

That's because there's only one of us. [Us. Rebel Jedi. He wouldn't be anything else.] I'm trying to change that.

[He holds out his hand to her. Trust me.] You don't have to train with me if you don't want to. [Though you don't need the Force to tell he really wants her to.] But you're not safe here.

[methony]

Because of the Stormtroopers?

[She's still skeptical. The Empire--or what's left of it--doesn't send its armies after brothel denizens.]

If they were looking for me, they would have found me years ago. [They found Felix, didn't they?]

[t65]

They're looking for me, and I'm here for you. It's possible they won't connect the two, but... [He doesn't like the fact that he's put her in danger, but there was no other way.] Do you want to stay here?

[He's asking her genuinely. If she does, he'll do his best to make sure she can.]

[methony]

I don't care where I am.

[That's the truth, and it comes out flat. Anywhere that isn't Troia is good enough, and a small, traitorous part of her holds out hope that her sons will remember this place when they're old enough to make their own fates.

It's not a line of questioning she wants to pursue any further, though, and she turns a sharp eye on Whitesun. Or Skywalker, if he's going to stand by that claim.]

Why do you think I have the Force, anyway?

[t65]

I had a vision. [He knows how it sounds, but it's the truth.] I saw you, holding a baby... or two, it wasn't clear. But you were strong, you just didn't know it.

[methony]

[Wrong answer.

Her expression shifts slightly, the curve of her mouth tilting a breath further downwards, her eyes growing nearly fearful.]

What about the children?

[t65]

[Luke hadn't expected that response. As ever, he sticks with honesty.] They were with you. Little redheads. Boys, I think.

[methony]

How old?

[It's close to a snarl. She doesn't care about appearance right now, or danger, or anything else. If he saw a vision of Felix and Mild-May-Your-Sufferings-Be-At-The-Hands-Of-The-Wicked, that's the only thing that matters.]

Just babies? I thought you people saw the future.

[t65]

Visions in the Force are often unclear. They only show a possible future, not the way things will be. I could tell you were important because I could see you clearly. But...

[There weren't a lot of human children on Tatooine. 'Babies' often encompassed any child younger than seven. Luke thinks a moment.]

I think they were both old enough to walk... one was smaller. I'm sorry, that's all there was.

[methony]

[Methony sighs. What's the point of such visions, then?]

Let's imagine that you are Luke Skywalker. If I agree to go with you, just what am I agreeing to?

[That he could call up her children as well as guess the blaster's place--and drag it out of her hands--is proof of the Force in him, and he hasn't exactly appeared like the Inquisitors did. He hasn't pulled a lightsaber on her once.]

[t65]

You would have a place within the Alliance. I'd like to train you in the ways of the Force, but I won't make you do anything you don't want.

[He thinks a moment. In the softest, gentlest voice he can muster,]

Those children... they were yours, weren't they?

[methony]

And otherwise the Stormtroopers come knocking for something other than a fuck?

[There's a bitterness to her voice she doesn't bother hiding, and it doesn't help when he brings up her children. She stiffens, staring murder up at him.]

They're no business of yours.

[t65]

[Luke tries not to balk at her sudden crudity.] I can lead them on a wild goose chase. I've done it before.

[He sits down, gentle again in the face of her anger.] My father had the Force, and that's why I have it. It's also why I was taken from him. [Probably.] I wouldn't want that for anyone else. I'd try to help, if I could.

[methony]

And then you're planning to infiltrate them, and then to figure out where the other one went? [Her temper carries her away with it sometimes. She spits the words out at him, wishing she could shoot something in here.] I'm sure the Alliance want you to waste their resources on a whore's children.

[She hasn't spoken of either of them since she left Mild-May-Your-Sufferings-Be-At-The-Hands-Of-The-Wicked with Kolkhis. It's nearly a relief to talk of them--except that once "Luke Skywalker" here leaves, they'll be fresh in her mind all over again.]

[t65]

The Alliance doesn't have a choice. I'm their only Jedi. [Luke says, voice canny with confidence.] I don't make promises lightly, Methony. I'm serious about this.

[methony]

And I should simply trust you.

[The worst part is that she'd like to, if she could. She could get anywhere from a well-trafficked Alliance planet, maybe somewhere she could keep Felix and Mild-May-Your-Sufferings-Be-At-The-Hands-Of-The-Wicked close.]

You're definitely not an Imperial yourself, dressed like that. [Dryly. He's not far off their uniform.]

[t65]

Here is your first lesson in the Force, [Luke says, reaching out his hand, palm up. It's to illustrate a point.] Trust your instinct; it's the Force speaking through you. What feels right?