poetry slam jam

[merging]

WHO: Ezra, Kylo
WHERE: "Forceful Words" Poetry Slam in De Chima
WHEN: Before the Swear-In??
WHAT: Kylo and Ezra's jobs mean they have to interact at some point and this is IT
WARNINGS: Probably dark side stuff? will update as needed

[Ezra's honestly not sure what to do about his job. He's never had an actual job, unless being a rebel or a pickpocket counts somehow. He's also never been to school, unless going to the Imperial Academy for a few weeks also counts. He's pretended to have a variety of jobs? He does chores on the Ghost? That's close enough, right?

But he's giving it a shot anyways. It's a chance to get away from training with Kanan while proving to his master he's very responsible, so he'll take it. The Force thing's kinda funny too, so there's that.

Since he's only just started, mostly what he does is take names and help out backstage. He's doing the former when a chill runs down his back. It's hard to describe, and yet incredibly familiar. Like when he met Kanan for the first time. Or maybe it's closer to the cold he felt whenever Darth Vader was near.

When he looks up from his clipboard, he's faced with a very tall man who is generally scary looking. The only Force user he was told not to avoid was Luke and this isn't Luke. Well.]

... hey. [Good start.] Are you, uh, here to sign up?

Comments

[photophobic]

[ Kylo looms over the newest edition to the roster of people from the galaxy far, far away, his dark eyes unnaturally steady as they settle on his face. Ezra Bridger. The boy who cried Palpatine.

And such an intriguing blend of Light and Dark. He watches him for a little longer than is socially acceptable before responding. ]

I was encouraged to participate by my publisher.

[ A slow smile tugs at his lips. ]

But I'm here for you.

[merging]

[This is already bad. Probably. He's trying to remain hopeful, but the way this guy's watching him is not doing him any favors. And the final bit? The final thing he says really does it.]

Ooookay. That's not weird at all.

[Ezra gives him a look before handing over the clipboard for him to sign up himself.]

Any... reason? That you wanna talk to me?

[Here's hoping it's just talking for now.]

[photophobic]

[ Just talking. Kylo takes the clipboard, writes firm, dark capitals: kylo ren and hands it back.

And, because he's never going to pass up on an opportunity for drama: ]

Surely you sense it.

[merging]

[That answers one of his questions at least. Although it was either him or Darth Jadus... so.]

Yeah. I do. So what about it?

[photophobic]

I thought you might have questions. Depending on what you have already been told about me.

[ His eyes track over Ezra's face curiously as he straightens up again. ]

If you've been told anything.

[merging]

I've been told a few things.

[They're both very lucky that there seems to be no one left to sign up, otherwise this could be even more awkward.]

You're not Sith, right?

[photophobic]

[ They are pretty fortunate in that regard, though Kylo is absolutely the kind of person who would have simply kept talking to Ezra regardless of how many potential applicants were lined up behind him.

Or shifted this conversation into rhyme. Possibly.

His lips twist unpleasantly. ]

No. The time of the Sith is over. They have nothing more to teach us.

[merging]

[While he's not fond of the Sith, he's definitely been enjoying their teachings so whoops.]

What about the Jedi?

[photophobic]

[ Kylo's eyes narrow. If Ezra has been told anything about him, he already knows the answer to that question. ]

Neither the Sith nor the Jedi have the wisdom they claim to possess. Understanding, of the nature of the Force.

But you know that already, don't you.

[merging]

[What he's been told is that Kylo is very strong and very scary which is probably very true, but he's ignoring that for now.]

I'm still not sure. If I'm honest, I haven't thought too much about it from any philosophical standpoint. I know that the Sith hurt people. And I know that I want to stop them, no matter what I have to do.

[photophobic]

[ It's a pragmatic response. Kylo can respect it. His head tilts slightly. ]

And you won't defeat the Sith without understanding what they are and what they are capable of.

[ It isn't a question, but it isn't quite a statement, either. It's a prompt. Kylo doesn't seem to have much of a preference for agreement or disagreement when it comes to Ezra's reply- he's simply curious. ]

[merging]

That's what I think, yeah. If there's supposedly a reason for everything the Force does, why not trust it on that?

[He still doesn't like thinking of Ahsoka's death as something the Force was responsible for, or some sort of test. But if his master wants him to put his trust in the Force, then he's trusting the feeling he has about the holocron.]

What do you think about the others here? The other Force wielders.

[photophobic]

[ He considers for a moment, thoughtful. What does he think of the other wielders of the Force he has met here?

They're all dead.

But he doesn't say that. He thinks of them all in turn, even the ones that have since been taken by the Porter... ]

They're afraid.

As you say. They say they trust the Force. But they fear it. They fear their destinies.

[merging]

Even Kanan?

[It's weird to think of his master as being scared, even with their relationship as it is right now.]

The way you say all that makes it sound like you're the only one who's not. Like you've got all the answers or something.

[photophobic]

[ Kylo thinks of Kanan's drunken ramble on the Network. He hasn't spent any length of time with the man, but it hardly seems necessary. ]

Even Kanan.

[ He almost leaves it there, but- something about Ezra keeps tugging at his senses. There's something so familiar about him.
And if he is anywhere near as strong as he could be, Kylo only has something to gain by telling him the truth as he has discovered it, so far. ]

The answers won't be found in the petty, squabbling philosophies of the Jedi or the Sith. The Force belongs to neither. Fear, loss, pain-- these things are teachers. As valid as any other.
Fear should drive us to discovery. Not paralyze or limit us.

[merging]

[While he wants to deny Kylo immediately, that fear isn't the way... he then thinks back on all the times he was at his most powerful. He doesn't remember it very well, but Kanan told him of the time he faced the Inquisitor. Because he was scared, because he let the dark side in. And Maul had shown him he was capable of more than he thought while training under Kanan. But that was more so anger and passion than fear. Still Sith stuff, though.]

Poe said you were part of the new Jedi Order, which I guess is formed after we win? Who was your master then? Or your master afterwards too. Was I- Am I...

[There? Alive? A Jedi? He's curious about the future, as much as he can hear a little voice saying in his head that he should trust in the Force or whatever. He's also curious what led Kylo to believe this because well... it's something.]

[photophobic]

[ Kylo almost breaks into a sharp laugh at that. Poe said. Of course he did. ]

Were you my master?

[ There's a tug of a smile pulling at Kylo's mouth. His amusement is thick and heavy. ]

No. We've never met. And I have no master.

[merging]

No, I- Am I part of the new Jedi Order? Or I guess not if we've never met? And I just wanted to know if I knew your master, or if there are more Jedi out there.

[Right now it's him, Kanan, Master Yoda, and apparently Luke.]

Or is it more people like you?

[photophobic]

Dameron didn't tell you?
There is no new Jedi Order. They're dead. And there's no-one like me.

[ If it sounds a little bleak, a little bitter... well. It is. He refuses to think about Rey, about the hollowness of his victory as Hux had described it. It's irrelevant. ]

None of it matters. All our history, our futures. Everything we will be exists outside of this place, out of reach. It can't be changed.

We have to decide what we choose to do here.

[merging]

He said the temple was destroyed.

[As bitter as Kylo sounds, Ezra's somehow firm in his response. After all, the Jedi were supposed to be dead in his time too.]

The future is always in motion. Even if it's your past, it's still my future. But what are you choosing to do here anyways? Poetry?

[photophobic]

[ At least he doesn't seem to consider the suggestion an insult? ]
Among other things. I devoted myself to a singular purpose.

[ He examines Ezra's expression for a moment as if intrigued, and then returns to his earlier train of thought: ]

Before arriving here. I intend to use my time in this reality to discover something new.

[merging]

Since you're discovering it I figure you haven't found it so...

[That's a dead end and really vague. Kinda sounds similar to what Grievous told him too.]

What were you so obsessed with before?

[Although, maybe it's his fault for asking Kylo all these questions and not getting to the point?]

And uh, are you only talking to me because I'm a Jedi or?

[photophobic]

[ Kylo's head tilts. He discards the rest of Ezra's questions as irrelevance, focusing in on the only thing that matters.

A Jedi.

He sounds intensely curious. ]

Are you?

[merging]

Yeah. I am.

[He's firm in his response, and while there are things he's definitely not sure about, he's sure about that. Using the dark side a little doesn't make him a Sith. He's a Jedi, he helps people.]

I'm still learning, but- from what I hear, I've had a lot more training than Luke.