SIGN OF THE DEVIL ! *

generals gathered in their masses, just like witches at black masses. with evil m i n d s that plot destruction, a sorcerer of death’s construction. In the fields the bodies burning, as the war machine keeps turning. VARAN ZANDRI.KNIGHT OF REN.

[knghtes]

AMANI TETSU.

“I don’t think they will,” she answers, her words and countenance equally calm. Does she regret her past actions? Yes and no. She does not regret turning on their Master, not for a moment. But she does regret not dying earlier, and being brave, and facing death alongside the Jedi Academy. Her later death served no purpose. It was a waste. “Do you hate me for what I did, Varan? Or am I still a friend in your heart?”

“ i wouldn’t count on your instincts. they betrayed you once already. ” he isn’t making threats; had he wanted to kill her, he would have said so before the conversation had reached this point. without explicit instruction to do so, varan wouldn’t plan on hurting her, even if he could. does he hate her ? others have told him that he’s a walking mystery, and even to himself, he’s an enigma of incomparable heights. a genuine answer would take time to construct. “ i don’t get involved in those things. friendship, relationships, whatever the hell you and kylo ren had. doesn’t end well, you know that now. ”

[knghtes]

CAPTAIN PHASMA.

“I suppose they are either in there with you, or they simply never existed” Phasma said simply, watching the other one curiously- rather impressed that she could talk to him easily without wanting to punch him. Yet she didn’t let him know that. “You could always sit and bang your head against the glass until unconsciousness found you?” she offered.

he nods, unimpressed with the way that things have been playing out so far.  “ any of your buddies in here ? ” varan questions, seeing as no one hangs out near the barrier without a set cause. he shrugs, stifling a cough. “ that’s an option, yeah. guess i’ll see how much i can take before it gets to that. ”

[chonce]

[knghtes]

AMANI TETSU.

She stops at the glass, her arms crossed over her chest. What must it be like to see the ghost of someone you once knew? Frightening, she supposes, and disconcerting. “What became of the others?” she asks him, her voice gentle. “Did anybody else meet an untimely end?”

“ the rest of us are smarter about our actions, amani, ” varan replies. survival is everything he’s aspired to have. he’ll go to immeasurable heights to make sure he lives another day. the fact that she would so easily turn against them is something he will never understand. ( but, deep down, he admires what she’s done. his own cowardice prevents him from turning against the man who took everything from him. instead, he follows him blindly. for now. )  “ y’know, if someone from the order sees you, they’ll kill you. ”

[knghtes]

DLOCE’APOTHE’EANGU.

From when he first discovered his own force sensitivity, most of Ceapothe’s talents with the force laid in the vicinity of reading things and people, sensing the energies of matter, but the man before him was an enigma shrouded in mystery; one that was masterfully designed to be. Out of respect, the Chiss never made an attempt to solve it. 

“I hope for it as well – Your loss would be a shame.” The objective of saying such a statement was less of an assurance, but more of an admission of concern. The knights were not crafted to be expendable. The ache that accompanies loss is not unfamiliar to him. He terribly misses home Csilla but he would not be welcomed back to the Ascendancy – and so he followed his friend leader ( the destructor of their once home – an act that fell under his choice, leaving those who valued life more than honor to bend their knees in blackened soot in reverence before Kylo Ren – supposed harbinger of their salvation ); built a brotherhood that casted their humanity to dawn blood with pride. He only offered morsels of trust to the others out of both obligation and a childish notion that they were all he had now, all he might ever have. Ceapothe tells himself that he has grown above such attachments, but there was a history to Varan ( as there was to all the knights ) that decorates their time together, from as far back as their days as young padawans trailing after Luke – if Varan was to become the next casualty, he will mourn the loss. The other’s final addition coaxes a curiosity out of him. “Especially?” He avoids saying Kylo’s previous name out of respect, and partly to smother any rising nostalgia. “How so?”

 “ i’m sure you’d find some other guy to look up to, ” he replies lightly, his right eyebrows cocked up briefly. of course, varan considers ceapothe an equal. what one lacks, the other strives in. but their similarities have always enticed a friendly sense of rivalry between the two, something that made more sense to varan than anything else that was tossed his way. their childhood was taken from them before they had a chance to protest; something as simple as cordial competitiveness between two boys is likely the most innocent aspect of either of their stories.  “ oh yeah. haven’t you heard ? the guy tends go by ben now, ” he replies, incredulously torn at the very idea of having their leader leave their ranks. while varan has thought about doing so before, to have the first order be obliterated into another chapter for withered books would mean losing his purpose. without it, he’s just a broken kid trying to find his way home, who murdered and berated the innocent for nothing. having something to work for, to stand for, has always kept him from wandering too far into threatening thoughts. that’s the only reason he wouldn’t want to lose their cause. not once has he entertained the thought of having a genuine sense of affection for the first order’s goals and aspirations. ( something the two of them seem to have coined behind one another’s backs. ) “ he and the scavenger are madly in love, from what   she’s told me. ”

[knghtes]

LUKE SKYWALKER.

     IT  PAINS  HIM ,  to  acknowledge  the  distance  that’s  grown  between  them  since  that  inarticulate  night .  the  glass  barrier  between  them  seems  a  physical  representation  of  their  relationship ,  shields  erupted  and  trust  broken  as  varan  goes  one  way  that  night ,  alongside  the  youngest  skywalker ,  while  luke  stays  planted  where  he  is ,  within  the  rubble  of  his  home  and  amongst  the  corpses  of  his  pseudo  children .  does  he  think  the  worst  of  him  now  ?  has  varan  too  let  him  go  as  ben  did  so  quickly  and  without  remorse  —  is  it  easy  to  turn  your  back  on  family  ?  is  it  justice  to  be  faulted  for  letting  yourself  be  overcome  with  fears  of  becoming  stuck  within  a  cycle  of  darkness  that  plagues  your  family  like  their  very  own  ghost  ?  he  seeks  to  look  away  from  the  child  himself ,  to  rip  his  eyes  away  from  the  sight  of  the  one  of  the  many  he  failed  the  most  —  yet  he  can’t ,  a  plea  in  his  eyes  for  …  for  forgiveness  ?  he’s  not  sure  himself . ❛  do  you  think  so  little  of  me ,  varan  ?  ❜  the  name  holds  much  weight  upon  his  heart ,  a  betrayal  akin  to  ben’s .    ❛  no  matter  your  …  allegiance ,  i’ll  never  stop  caring  about  you .  ❜

it would have been so much easier if luke had admitted to harboring ANY sense of hate towards him, but varan knows his words are genuine. ( and what would have made things even easier than that would be if varan could bring himself to want to reach out and kill him himself, just as all of the knights had sworn they would do if they had the chance, but all he wants to do is mutter a silent orison of forgiveness. if only life were so kind to either of them. ) his once master, now nothing but another ghost of a dead family figure, always had too much heart in him. and, for once, not a single snarky remark comes to mind, even though his thoughts are anything but empty.  they’re a unified chaos of light and dark, prohibiting him from forming a singular clear thought. he sits like this for far too long, lip twitching with anger and pain that hardens his expression. after some time, he pulls his gaze away from luke.“ why ? ” varan finally asks, a scoff following his words in a manner that says ‘ humor me . ’ ( the little boy once tugging at luke’s robes still lives somewhere inside of him; why else would he have posed this question ? )

[knghtes]

AMANI TETSU.

Like all curious girls, and despite the sickness plaguing Naboo, Amani couldn’t help it: she wanted to see that which was forbidden to her. And so, drawing near to the glass, the once-dead, twice-shy knight spoke. “Oh, come now, Varan, you should be careful what you wish for.” 

“ guess i spoke too soon, ” he replies simply, still composed as ever, but there is a slight falter to his well-kept gaze. of course, varan is under the assumption that he’s died and met up with a girl who had chosen to abandon their cohort, though he doesn’t quite understand why he’s seeing her of all people.

[throwbackblr]

[knghtes]

CAPTAIN PHASMA.

“There should be, but it is not before my nose for I am not scientifically trained. I am a woman of action, not one who hides away like a rat in a lab working on microscopic warfare” she said simply “But of course, It’s my natural charisma that I am well known for.” she mused “You’d have the option of death by blaster, my command staff or I could snap your neck? My strength makes it for an easy death, like pulling the rib off a rack during a meal.”

“ so where the hell are the scientists ? shouldn’t they be running around making us a nifty little cure ? ” varan muses, in an attempt to blame anyone for this incredible annoyance of a situation. he’s a vengeful spirit. “ whatever you’re feeling. anything to shut out these guys. ” he looks towards his right, where someone sits trying stifle coughs and blood. 

[knghtes]

any favorite knights?

“ no. we’ve got nothing but hate for each other. ”

[knghtes]

why are you a knight of ren?

“ pays well. ”

[knghtes]

hewwo vawan!! uwu ben swolo woves rey so vewy vewy much!! what would you do if he decwides to just abandon you and the kwights to be with her?? owo

“ the order doesn’t tolerate traitors. so, kill him. what else would i do ? ”

[knghtes]

[knghtes]

BEN SOLO.

ben rolled his eyes at the statement, even if it may have been somewhat true. ever since the treaty had been instated, the first order hadn’t been quite as feared as they used to be, and ben himself knew that he no longer fully embraced the complete menacing persona of kylo ren that he had once encapsulated himself with. kylo was still a part of him, but large pieces of his old self had been resurfacing lately, and he was sure that others had started to catch on to it, to his own dismay. “they will be, if a cure is found and it isn’t revealed to us.” maybe it was an empty threat, as he didn’t know whether they’d even have the strength to do anything about it by that point, but he would fight until he no longer could if it were necessary. “a relief to hear. the others?” it pained him to know that the rest of the knights were infected as well, but he had yet to find any of them since they’d been quarantined. “i have not…have you? do you know if they’re doing any better than either of us?” 

varan has little reaction to ben’s words. it’s threats like those that he’s used to hearing, and the chime is so familiar that he almost forgets about the stories he’s come across of a kinder version of the supreme leader. it’s all an elaborate joke, varan’s sure of it. “ right. we’ve got, uh— allies now, right ? people who can vouch for us being good people. ” the last bit of his sentence is spoken with heavy sarcasm, as though the very idea is the embodiment of brainless naivety. they’re terrible people, down to the last solider. varan is convinced of that, and he knows none of them deserve to be cured, not really. “ verya and  ceapothe are both in here. starting to think whoever’s responsible for this mess has it out for us. ” 

[knghtes]

LUKE SKYWALKER.

     HIS  PSEUDO  SON  ;  perhaps  not  by  blood  but  rather  through  the  overwhelming  sense  of  affection  and  wholehearted  LOVE  for  his  former  padawan .  he  had  held  varan  to  a  special  degree  after  witnessing  his  mother  die  before  his  eyes  and  the  responsibility  of  the  child  had  fallen  into  his  hands  …  the  RESPONSIBILITY  and  promise  he’d  made ,  sworn  to  protect  him  with  his  life .  spoiler :  he  failed .  yet  another  weight  upon  his  shoulders ,  a  scar  upon  his  heart  serving  as  a  reminder  of  yet  another  he’d  disappointed ,  another  whom  had  left  him  that  day  his  life  came  crashing  down  upon  him  and  burned  away  till  only  ashes  and  the  smell  of  smoke  remained  (  it  never  quite  went  away  ).  

          ALIVE  ??  yes ,  luke  supposes  he  is  and  he  wonders  whether  the  other  considers  it  a  curse  or  a  blessing ,  whether  he  still  cares  for  his  former  master .  ❛  i  am ,  ❜  he  concedes  with  a  slight  nod ,  before  his  brows  furrow  together  and  head  tilts  in  question .  ❛  and  so  are  you  …  i’m  glad .  ❜  is  he  though  ?  he  would  wish  death  upon  no  one ,  but  rather  justice  for  the  wrong  doings  they  had  committed ,  and  yet  it  feels  almost  cruel  seeing  his  past  apprentices  before  him ,  with  where  love  had  sat  once  now  filled  with  hatred .  ❛  are  you …  are  you  alright  ?  ❜  he  switches  the  topic  back  to  the  reason  he’d  visited  in  the  first  place ,  the  sickness that had  engulfed  his  friends  and  family .

he knew this day would come. time punishes those who have made rotting choices, making him WAIT  for a reunion he never asked for, never wanted. ( but he did. ) varan knows why he’s alive, of course. it seems even luke skywalker isn’t exempt to having to return to this hell that the universe has created. still, he had hoped he was rid of him, once and for all. luke is the ONLY breathing person who can rightfully say that he pulls varan towards something so  human, it’s almost tangible. and that’s why varan would rather see him dead than before him, asking him how he is. he’s become a stranger to kindness. even when others ask about how he’s doing, there’s a part of him that knows they only ask out of pity, or with hopes of stirring conversation. never because there’s a deep-set alignment of a true caring nature for such an idiotic boy. ( he likes to tell himself he hates luke, but such a fragile mind can only take so many lies at once. )  “ i am, for now. ” he looks away from him, then, eyes devoid of light. “ you don’t have to do that with me, you know. pretend  that me being on this side of the glass isn’t a blessing. ”

[knghtes]

CAPTAIN PHASMA.

“They have not, it is something that a select few are working on. Myself included. Though it has been nothing but dusty labs so far” she huffed, then looking down at him when he gave a shrug- not a body gesture that she enjoyed since to her it was an action of indifference, an unsure choice, lack of decision. “Death would be more bearable in such times I’m sure” she almost smirked. “If you need it I can happily put you out of your misery?” she half joked.

“ you know, i kind of expected this operation to work a little faster. shouldn’t there already be a cure lying around somewhere ? ” he muses, truthfully unsure of the developments that have been made. varan hasn’t spoken to many, and he plans to continue down that path. “ are you always so sweet to everyone ? ” varan pauses, as though considering it. “ depends. what’re you gonna use ? ” a joke, of course. he has lots of them. 

[knghtes]

DLOCE’APOTHE’EANGU.

Though he derived no humor from the joke, something akin to a light smile played at his lips, at least a bit appreciative of the attempt and hidden concern. “I’m afraid that it already has – I’m sure that I have the complexion of a ghost by now.” He attempts to humor back, but the statement was less of a hyperbole and more of a fact. Glancing down at his own hand, he finds that his once vibrantly blue skin faded into a greying light blue. Normally, he wouldn’t ask about the other’s health – empathy underlines such inquires and revealing too much would be a mistake. But he had always spoken with a bluntness, vocalizing what he believes is necessary. “And you?” His eyes flicker to Varan’s once more to meet his gaze. “It’s been a while since I last saw you and the others – It’s unfortunate to be unionized with a pestilence, out of anything.” It was strange position for them to be in; after all, they had been bringers of dissolution to the face of many.

varan possesses a handful of skills, but his most shining one is the ability to keep everything within him completely obscured. he hates death. the sight of it, the idea of it, its very existence seems to mock him. things have only gotten worse, as have his spirits. he’s made for survival, and he’s done everything in his ability to fulfill that wish. the idea of losing himself to a virus has left him feeling grim. yet, on the outside, a man composed of nothing but fearlessness takes the center stage. he shrugs, head hanging back slightly. “ it’s a nice shade of blue. at least you’ve got color left, bud. as for me— i’m hoping to make it through the night. ” a clear of his throat. “ you’re not the only one. everyone’s been pretty split up, running around naboo. ben especially. ”