Kuruk Ren

dependent RP for galacticshq

[sclitude]

AVAN JOGIA // have you met KURUK REN yet? HE is a TWENTY-NINE year old CISMALE HUMAN. they’re originally from SERENNO and now show loyalty to THE FIRST ORDER. they are best known for being a KNIGHT OF REN, and i hear they’re pretty INTELLIGENT yet also ANTI-SOCIAL at times; i hope they survive the galactic civil war.

THE PAST ;;

you don’t remember your family.

you don’t remember the warm embrace of your mother’s arms, the reassuring strength of your father. you don’t even remember what they look like, you were snatched away from them at such a young age.

force sensitive children were few and far between. you’d hardly even learned to walk before you were taken. and ever since, ren is all you’ve told to know. no parents. no family. no home. only the life you were stolen to serve.

as soon as you’re old enough, as soon as you can talk and walk and run without aid, the lessons begin. you’re taught the ways of the galaxy. the history that’s brought your captors to where they are now. the reason you were taken to begin with.

as soon as you’re physically ready, they put a a weapon in your hand, and it’s made clear you will learn how to use it.

you are forged with steel and blood and pain, too young to even remember the concept of warmth and love and home.

you are not alone in your lessons, but they can hardly be called family. others snatched away from their lives, some much older, some closer in age to yourself. but there is no semblance of family, not really. not for you. for you, all you can think about is surviving. getting through the next day with enough breath and blood in your body to keep going.

as you grow older, you sense.. something. something around you. something inside you. a sensation, a connection to something beyond yourself. not just the connection to ren, not the cause you were taken to serve until you live out your final days. something more.

the force, they tell you. but how to truly use it is a mystery. you’re given enough information to focus on it, to find your aptitude, to use it. you find it allows you to see in ways you never could have imagined. to see great distances with nothing but a glance.

but beyond that, much of this connection is shrouded in mystery. another unknown in your life you are forced to forget. threatened to forget, if you would like to survive to serve ren.

and so you do not consider what more the force could give you. you move on, let it go. not to serve ren. not because you’re told to. but to survive. oh, if there’s one thing they teach you well, one instinct they instil in you stronger than any other, it’s the will and the way to survive.

your skill is found to be useful. the worn blade you’ve trained with since you were a child is replaced. a simple rifle at first, standard issue, easy enough to use. and you do use it.

you’re only twelve when you begin to do so. but by then, you’ve endured so much pain, your life has been a swirl of violence and lessons that you hardly notice the life you take.

you often make a home for yourself in the distant nests, watching, waiting. it’s easy from up there. it’s almost like a game, picking them off from a distance, one by one.

you grow. you shoot. you change.

for the most part the other knights find themselves in the battlefield. connections forged in the violence of the assignments. it’s different, from a distance. you never grow close to them, but you find you don’t need to. you’ve never needed connections. there’s no reason for that to change.

your force-enhanced eyesight is found useful for piloting, it seems. something you take to easily enough. a cockpit is calm, quiet. gives you a solitude you find yourself comfortable in. simply you and the ship and the wide expanse of the galaxy before you.

just like a sniper’s nest, you find yourself some semblance of a home there. away from the others.

and just as they wanted, when they took you all those years ago; your life is driven by the peace of solitude. by the darkness. by steel and blaster bolts, alone. as it should be.

if you were meant to have a family, they are long gone.

THE PRESENT ;;

kuruk’s been brought back from pretty late in his life. given he was killed in exegol that means he remembers a lot about kylo’s eventual unstable behaviour and his defection

as a result he doesn’t exactly feel inclined to serve him, knowing eventually he breaks away from the mantle of being the leader of the knights of ren

in saying that, kuruk doesn’t actually know what his life looks like outside of the knights. it’s all he’s been trained and raised for since he can remember, so he’s unsure if he’s going to break away from the only life he knows or not.

as a result, for the time being he’s loyal to the knights of ren and by extension the first order, but there’s no telling if that will last

PERSONALITY ;;

when left to his own devices, kuruk is withdrawn, introverted, much more interested in his solitude in the cockpit of their ship, or his snipers nests. he’s drawn to high places where he will be left in peace

with his team he’s fine, it’s not that he won’t engage and talk. he’ll take part in plans and strategy and whatever else is going on, he just.. often chooses not to engage

in saying that he has grown with a lot of the knights so while he doesn’t quite feel a familial connection there is a sense of duty and honour to protect them as his team and fellow knights

when the mood strikes, or when need be, he can actually be quite charming and knows how to draw people in, generally when it’s as a means to an end of some kind either personal or professional

he doesn’t form attachments to people but he does spend time with people - he’s prone to sleeping around, one night stands, may even have a fwb or two going on here and there but attachment isn’t usually involved in that

do not touch his gun. seriously. the only people allowed to touch his gun are the knights responsible for weapons and armoury. he’ll end you otherwise.

fun tidbit - he's from the same planet as count dooku! i’d love to flesh out some possibilities of what that could mean for him and his force sensitivity/potential for the future

another fun tidbit - he absolutely has a family. I envision his parents are still alive and he has at least one sibling, probably older if anyone wants to do somethin fun with that

[sclitude]

ruthlessren​:

the knights of ren were all powerful ghouls in their own ways, strengths and weaknesses that nicely aligned with one another, no two of them were exactly the same. as a group, it was something that complimented them all quite well. but aiya was an arrogant creature, they valued certain talents and abilities over others… specifically, they valued their own above the others. kuruk’s talents were among the best of their time, she just didn’t think that they were as useful as their own. it was a little too easy for them to believe him. it helped, of course, that it was at least a shade of the truth.

“sorry, do you want me to give you a hug? maybe afterwards i can comb and braid your hair, too,” aiya responded dryly. it wasn’t entirely a lack of concern so much as it was a lack of ability to express it, nor seeing it necessary to do so. but they did raise a brow at him on the comment about revenge, scoffing loudly. “why can’t you get revenge on them now?” she pestered. “are you not strong enough to handle it?” the only viable explanation, as far as their narrow mind was concerned.

there’s really no secret to how they all operate. the knights of ren are a unit, they operate best together. their strengths compliment each other as such. but there’s never been any secret to how aiya feels about their skills, about where things sit. no doubt their training with kylo has only reinforced that. a part of kuruk wishes he could be honest with aiya about what’s to come, about how kylo will betray those who have followed him so loyally. that she’s only walking into her own doom, but he knows she would never believe him. aiya’s not like tyr or alak. they might trust him to a degree, but not the way the others do. and kuruk can’t put her ahead of himself.

“i would but somehow i doubt you know how to braid hair, so no thanks.” he says with a short laugh that hardly has any heart in it. this conversation has too much weight - not only because of the topic, but because kuruk needs to be incredibly careful not to let her divert from the topic at hand. “you do recall where we are, don’t you?” kuruk asks with a raised eyebrow. “it’s not a matter of strength. the person isn’t here. they’re in our own time. until i see them here, or we’re returned to the future, there’s nothing i can do.” it’s not entirely a lie. ben solo had killed them, not kylo ren. and kuruk’s an expert at bending the truth.

[sclitude]

closed starter for @mvchinery - zannah ;

it wasn’t hard to find her at the celebrations. while he’s not sure why she’s here, kuruk’s pleased. not only because it means he’s not here entirely on his own, but because.. it’s time. it’s been coming for quite a while now. aiya’s paranoid suspicions, kylo’s slight challenge, tyr’s reaction to the.. the news of their untimely deaths. kuruk’s place is not with the knights, not anymore. besides, he’d sworn to zannah he would prove his dedication, his loyalty. and kuruk is a man of his word.

“i’m not sure i expected to see you celebrating.” kuruk says quietly as he steps up beside her. he has no doubt zannah could sense his approach, no doubt he’s not adept enough to surprise her yet. no matter - there’s time now, time to grow his skills, time to train properly. there’s no more he can gain from hiding amongst the knight’s ranks. “it’s time. this event, everything that’s coming -" letting out a breath, kuruk shakes his head. “no, none of that matters. there’s no more to gain from staying with them. i’m ready.”

[sclitude]

ofbatuu​:

.

sure their relationship was primarily formed on banter– a fun sort of connection that seemingly distracted both of them from the reality of their lives. wasn’t he disliked the knights, the first order– it was no worse than his upbringing. but he’s not sure anyone really found any sort of comfort from it. but the relationships they’d formed, the small family– there was an open door to talk– he guessed at least. 

not that any of them were great with emotions. 

but when they did, it was usually something serious. so at kuruk’s small joke, an eyebrow raised, lip quirking ever so slightly, “could of done that not alone here. seem to find ways without giving up your private space.”

as he settled he paused as kuruk got serious. legs shifting some as he sat, he furrowed his eyebrows then– paused. the implication of what he was saying– his knowledge. “you… know, why wouldn’t you have told us?”

.

tyr’s surprise makes sense. it’s so rare for kuruk to bring anyone else into his nests. into the places where he feels most at home, most safe. “did you consider i’m not giving it up so much as inviting you in?” he asks with a raised eyebrow.

the question makes sense. why? why didn’t kuruk tell them? they’re meant to be a team, meant to at least have each other’s backs. they might not always see eye to eye, and they’re all... different in so many ways, but that trust is still there. but when you work with professional killers, and you hold a key piece of information that would be seen as betrayal of their very emotionally unstable leader, playing your cards close to your chest is a given.

“because none of you will believe me. you likely still won’t.” he explains quietly. kuruk’s well prepared for tyr to call him a liar, a traitor, to initiate a fight. one kuruk’s confident he can handle now, but it’s still something he’s had to prepare for, mentally. "if i’m to tell you this, you need to keep an open mind. and you need to remember that i have never, not once, lied to you. i don’t intend to begin now. understand?”

[sclitude]

ruthlessren​:

trust was a normal part of the knights of ren and for the most part, it did exist between them. it was the only group that aiya would have ever extended such a thing to. had kuruk not been another knight and they suspected that there was something that he was hiding from him, then she would have been more than happy to once again test out the new abilities that kylo had been teaching her, that they had been more than eager to practice on apollo. if there was a new opportunity that would arise, then she would take it without hesitation. but it wasn’t exactly convenient to go off and do something like that to kuruk, and expect him to just lay back and take it. even if he could not counter them back in the force, that wouldn’t stop him from going for a more physical route.

“no, it wouldn’t.” it wasn’t as though he needed the reminder, but it was typical aiya to respond that way. when he finally caved about telling them something that had remained kept away in his minds, her brow furrowed but in a way, her expression still softened. some of the persistent edge went away as he began to speak about it, satisfied that she had been right about him hiding something, even if his words were not entirely what they had been sensing. their senses are keen, but they’re not a mind reader. “you were killed.” there was no emotion in the way that they echoed his statement, only skepticism. “how? by who?” they didn’t hesitate to question him.

aiya’s reaction doesn’t surprise him, really. it’s not like them to coddle, and it’s not what he would want from them anyway. he didn’t tell them for sympathy. he told them to throw them off the scent. aiya’s like a bloodhound - once she picks up on something, there’s no going back. but he’d rather she question him on this than on his growing abilities and strength in the force. that’s the last thing kuruk wants to shared with aiya of all people, knowing full well they would kill him where he stands.

he can’t help but laugh at the immediate questioning, shaking his head. “sweet that you care so much. really, the sentiment is touching.” he says, leaning back in the pilot’s seat and resting his elbows on the arms of the seat. the last thing he intends to do is tell aiya who killed him, or how, or when. she can’t know. until he’s ready to leave, none of them can know - and even then, he’s not sure he wants aiya to know at that point, either. “does it matter? i won’t be able to gain revenge on them, now. i didn’t tell you so you would help me deal with it. i’m fine. but something like that changes people.”

[sclitude]

leaderen​:

-

Coming from working with his uncle, Kylo had always seemed to have such a different outlook towards others. He wanted respect but most of all, he just wanted someone to place him first. No one ever had and the Dark Side had seen a part of Kylo that they had embraced. Snoke had saw a part of him that he saw worthy and wanted to take and nourish. Kylo couldn’t complain. Perhaps it was why he was so against Hux. No one else needed the light that Kylo shined so brightly in. Hux was a threat. A threat that he needed to work with even if he didn’t like him nor trust him. Hux was good at his job and clearly Snoke had seen that since he was just as high ranked as the other. A breath of anger leaves his nose and he has to shove the thoughts away. Kuruk hadn’t done anything to draw out the other’s anger, so why should he Force choke him so unwillingly? Many reasons came to his mind. Kylo didn’t play by anyone else’s rules but his own. If he wanted to kill, he simply just would. “We will not be like the Jedi and let it be our downfall either.” Dark gaze shifts through the mask underneath. Turning carefully to settle not just features upon the other but the gaze of his body. Eyes narrowing at Kuruk’s words ever so slightly and the mask’s voice over had picked up the sound of the breathing coming from inside for a moment longer than it should. “Like it was meant to with Snoke at our side.” Kylo states easily, never taking his gaze off of him. “No. We will not be reporting to anyone. Instead, they will report to us. As the Supreme Leader, I will see it through that the Knights are just as respected. After all, it will be the Knights that lead the First Order to this goal.”

it’s useful to know where the knights will land in all of this, assuming kylo is successful. not because kuruk plans to be with them at that point in time, but because he wants to plan for his future. a future where he doesn’t need to be loyal to a man like kylo, a man who will kill them and turn on them. he needs to begin planning for the future he’s building on his own, rather than waiting for the future kylo has in his head. the one that likely won’t come to pass, given his propensity for letting his emotions get ahead of him. even now, kuruk can see the anger growing in him, and he’s very aware that he’s in a dangerous place. kylo could snap at any moment and kuruk could easily end up in the wrong place at the wrong time, to pay for something he has nothing to do with. at least it seems to pass, and kuruk holds back a sigh of relief. as much as he would like to reiterate where their loyalty is their strength, he knows it doesn’t matter. he doubts kylo needs to hear it from him, after all. it’s interesting, to hear what kylo has in mind - the grand plans to command what will become of the empire. “as it should be. i’m sure the empire will benefit with the rightful supreme leader.”

[sclitude]

amcngthestars​:

@sclitude​

Malak wasn’t looking for company, they didn’t want company. But the galaxy often had plans other than one’s desires, Malak knew that well enough, so they shouldn’t have been too surprised to come across another.

What was surprising was the fact that they were training, and in a form that Malak was quick to recognize. Jedi? No. They didn’t appear to be. And Malak doubted there were any Sith in this time, true Sith anyway. Pausing to observe the other, their arms folded across their chest, a light scoff falling from their lips before they spoke up.

“Your form could use work.”

.

using his newly formed lightsaber hasn’t been the easiest task. not because it takes time to learn how to properly wield, not even because zannah is more than strict when it comes to his training and practice. but because, until he leaves the knights, it’s hard to find time and a place where he can practice in peace.

now that he’s found one, he’s a little annoyed it’s been found by a stranger. never mind a stranger who seems to think they have a say in kuruk’s practice.

“i’d thank you for the tip but i wouldn’t mean it.” he responds shortly, not breaking his attention or his form. he doesn’t care what they have to say. kuruk needs to focus, needs to learn. what he doesn’t need is some stranger’s opinion.

[sclitude]

amcngthestars​:

@sclitude moved from here

“I chose to multitask. Visit a friend and convey information. Truly a master of my craft.” Alak replied, tone matter-of-fact. Alak was pleasantly surprised, out of the two of them, they were definitely the more outgoing. Something Alak expected would get on Kuruk’s nerves, but it seemed that it never really seemed to bother the other Knight, something Alak appreciated. “Don’t you worry about that, something particularly interesting crosses my path and you’ll be the first to know.”

That caught Alak’s attention, they leaned forward, palms open on the table. “Are you up to something?” They questioned, a brow arched, smirk conspiratorial. They longed for the day the other Knights would turn up, then-perhaps-they could actually do some damage. Have some fun. The spying game was Alak’s forte, but even they could feel themselves growing bored with the current situation.

as much as kuruk knows he can’t stay with the knights long term anymore, he does feel a pang of regret, here with alak. they’re.. friends, really. alak is one of the few in the knights he doesn’t feel has an agenda or wants to work around him - or get through him. their skillsets and abilities are so different there’s no threat there. if anything, alak’s intel is more useful for kuruk than the others. it works well together. “well aren’t you talented, then.” he responds with a slight chuckle. “oh i’m counting on it. at least you know i’ll do something useful with information you find.”

he can’t help but roll his eyes at alak’s words, shaking his head. “please, you know me better than that.” they all do - or, they think they do. death.. changes a man, though. none of them know it yet, but kuruk can hardly be blamed for shifting his allegiances. even if it means turning away from all of them at some point. and soon, he’s sure. he can’t hold out on this charade forever. “aiya’s just paranoid, like always. you can’t be all that surprised.”

[sclitude]

mvchinery​:

individualism is a core tenet of the sith. it’s an interesting balance — belief & allegiance to the order, yet brutal promotion of self interest. ambition without infighting, competition without collapse. it’s why, rather than a brotherhood, there are only two. enough to crave power, to work towards achieving it, without shooting the order in the foot & losing sight of their shared goals. zannah remembers the hunger of being bane’s apprentice, the sharp longing to prove herself, to grow stronger. it hasn’t left her, not entirely, but now she knows she has won, knows she is stronger than those who came before her. kuruk is saying all the right things. he’ll still have to prove himself, of course, but it’s a good beginning.

“i can teach you,” she says, smile toying at her lips. “you do have potential. you could certainly become a sith, if you commit yourself to it. you will have to prove your willingness, though. first, by leaving these knights.” killing them would be preferable, but that could come later. she doesn’t want to get him killed before he even begins his training, after all.

this is something. a start, at least. progress. arriving here, returning from the dead only to be faced with the prospect of serving his murderer again - kuruk had no idea what he was meant to do. no real clear picture of what steps he could take next. aside from wanting to leave the knights and wanting to survive, he’d had no plan. now.. he has something. not only a plan to leave, but a plan to live. to live his own life, in a power he actually has a chance to find now, rather than being stunted forever. what that will translate to for his future, he’s not sure. but it’s more than waiting around for his own death.

it’s not an unrealistic condition, but kuruk can’t help but let out a short laugh at zannah’s words. “i’m sorry, but do you want a living apprentice who can actually be useful or a dead guy you never see again?” he asks dryly, crossing his arms over his chest. kuruk can certainly hold his own, but.. if he leaves the knights now, in his current state, he’ll be outnumbered and overpowered. and that’s not even accounting for kylo. “i am committed, and more than willing. but there are certain things i need to be capable of to be able to leave successfully.” pausing, kuruk considers what he can offer in return. he doubts taking on the responsibility of training an apprentice, for whatever reasons zannah might have, is taken lightly. he can hardly expect her to just let him call all the shots. “based on your knowledge, give me a timeframe and a set amount of training to complete. if i can do so successfully, and learn how to create a lightsaber in that time - then i’ll leave the knights by your deadline. if not, kill me and find a better apprentice.”

[sclitude]

ofbatuu​:

.

being invited up to kuruk’s perch meant something was up. he knew the man well enough to know that it was something he seldom did– it was a place of comfort for kuruk, and to be invited there? it was rare and usually important. as he approached, he chuckled a bit as he heard kuruk’s voice, turning to face him, “got a little lost, places like this aren’t really my specialty.”

after kuruk made the comment about food, he nodded some, shrugging before he climbed his way up, settling across from him. this sort of thing wasn’t something he was used to handling. something… serious that wasn’t mission related. “have a feeling you didn’t just want to chat?” 

.

kuruk is well aware this is.. unusual. it’s not often the other knights join him when he’s working like this. it’s not their style - and he prefers to work alone. but he knows his nests are secure. there’s less risk of.. getting caught. at least here he has more control. the only real danger is if tyr reacts badly.

which is still possible, really. the knights have a level of dedication to kylo that’s second to none. there’s a good chance tyr won’t believe him and this could end very badly. “maybe i just wanted to catch you off-guard.” kuruk suggests with a raised eyebrow. that’s not at all what it is, but sometimes tyr is quite easy to tease.

letting out a sigh, kuruk sets his rifle down by his side and nods his head. “i wanted to talk to you about something.” he begins explaining softly. there’s no knowing how tyr will take this, but.. kuruk can’t just leave without a word. he can’t just leave tyr. “i.. haven’t been entirely honest with you, about my last memories before waking up here. i was brought back to life, tyr. i remember how i died. how.. we all died.” 

[sclitude]

spcewrs​ - aayla

aayla had simply been curious, but clearly it had struck some sort of nerve with the man. it hadn’t been their intention, and normally they were so much better at this sort of thing. it seemed that was wrong though. clearly they were less interested in seeing them then aiya had been. 

“well, i was probably going to finish my food before i chased after you, if it means anything.” they tell him with a smirk, they should know better then to instigate issues but really it is almost too easy when they know it is bothering him. “it’s not concerning to me, just interesting. i believe i met someone like you not too long ago – i simply was wondering if you were like them.” 

the last thing kuruk wants to deal with right now is a jedi. whether this ends in a fight or not, he just doesn’t have the energy or the capacity for it. he has enough to deal with as it is, and while the training he’s had recently will certainly help him, that doesn’t mean he wants to put that to the test.

“amusing. do all jedi have such senses of humour?” he asks dully, watching them carefully. he doesn’t trust a word they say - why would he? he doubts they’re here to make nice. “ah - i assume that would be my colleague aiya. they tend to go out looking for a challenge.” not that tyr is known for his level head, but kuruk can’t see him seeking out a jedi. kuruk certainly doesn’t. and given alak’s undercover, and the others haven’t appeared yet. aiya is the logical pick here. “what makes you think i would give you any kind of accurate idea of what i’m like?”

[sclitude]

leaderen​:

-

Traitors. They had always been a thing in the Empire. Kylo was no stranger to that. He had stood at Snoke’s side many times during the execution of them. To learn. To understand what happens to someone when they were a traitor. There was no other answer for one except death. Death was an end all, lose all. It tied up ends that otherwise would have been left open. Death mixed with torture brought answers to unasked questions. Snoke would use Kylo’s power to break into the minds of traitors and learn who their informants were. Their locations. Their stories. The things that they kept under lock and key but of course, his power was naturally stronger than their iron wills. Just a few prods here and there. A few pokes around the things that make a person weak. Make them speak. Kylo could be a brutal man without anything to stop him from slicing through a person with this saber. Looking at Kuruk, however, he did not feel that there. Did not feel the desire to strike him down. How could he? His knights were meant to be loyal. To serve no one else but him. He was their leader. He had killed their old master in a fair batter, albeit the fact that Kylo was stronger than him. More powerful. The Force was a second nature to him. Something that had always been there. He used to make his toys float in his room for entertainment when no one else was looking and his father wasn’t holding him in his arms because he couldn’t sleep. “Good. Loyal only to Ren. A band that cannot be matched across the galaxy that we will all rule together.” He states easily. Even if his words are true, Kylo knows that that’s not the full story. Anything to make sure no one breaks that bond. Or their oath. “To do what Snoke could not. Team up with the Empire and take down the Resistance.”

it’s interesting, that a lifetime of training to become a knight is what is now helping him shield his reactions and emotions, to protect himself as best as he can. he can’t afford for kylo or the other knights to find out the truth - it’s incredibly crucial he has no idea what kuruk is planning, what he’s working towards. but kylo is nothing if not.. reactive. if he were onto kuruk, it would be obvious by now. kuruk would no doubt be maimed, mentally or physically, if kylo was onto him. he doesn’t let traitors get away with anything if he can help it, and most of the time he can. “of course. our loyalty is our greatest strength.” kuruk answers easily. and he means it, he truly does. it’s not that he’s not loyal to the knights, that they don’t matter to him - but that loyalty isn’t going to be returned. he knows that now. he’s not planning on paying the price for misplaced loyalty again. the mission, as kylo seems to imagine it, seems straightforward enough. except for the fact that it puts them lower on the ladder of control. “how will that structure.. look?” he asks carefully. it won’t matter to him, but he’s curious what it will mean for the other knights, for kylo. “will the knights report to the empire? fold into it’s ranks, like their inquisitors?”

[sclitude]

closed starter for @ofbatuu -

time is running out. kuruk knows. and not only because zannah’s instructed he leave the knights. as well trained as kuruk is, he can’t hold this deception forever. and he doesn’t want to. maybe he’ll never be as strong or as powerful as kylo, but kuruk knows there is more to his fate than to wait around for kylo to snap and kill them all. he refuses to live that fate out again.

the issue is that he.. cares. he cares for the others. while his connection with aiya is already... frayed, tenuous. he can’t tell them, he knows they’d likely try and kill him. but the others - tyr. he deserves to know the truth. to know what’s coming, and to make a decision from there. kuruk couldn’t leave without at least giving him that much. besides, odds are tyr will know something’s not.. quite right. it’s not often he invites the other knights to his snipers nests when he’s working, after all. but it’s one of the few reasons he wanted to meet here. he sets up his own nests. he knows exactly what’s around - and he knows they can talk safely here. “you’re a little late.” he calls as he hears the other approaching, keeping his eye on the streets below. the target he’s here for isn’t due to show up for hours, he has time to.. to talk. “sit, i have snacks.”

[sclitude]

ruthlessren​:

while their training with kylo was a relatively new addition to their regiment of abilities, they had still trained under skywalker and in his academy for several years as a child. aiya had never had the natural talent or inclination of kylo, but she had become obsessive in order to try and cover the gap. it hadn’t caught them up with him, but with the other young padawans. though it had lay mostly dormant for the past few years, besides tinkering with more physical aspects of the force here and there, it had steepened the learning curve for them now. 

“i know you don’t.” aiya truly believed that much, that he had no intention of trying to steal their spot. kuruk had always been quiet, the type to prepare, but their intuition insisted that there was something more going on that they didn’t know about. that was something that she would not ignore even if she was more inclined to put some trust into him as another knight. “if i thought you were trying to replace me, kuruk, then i’d just kill you.” they stated bluntly, head tilted as they looked at him. “but you’re too smart to get in the way of what i want. still, there’s something more. something you’re not sharing.”

it’s interesting to be able to see exactly how aiya’s training is coming along. for a number of reasons. it gives kuruk a good idea as to exactly what he’s dealing with here, but it also helps him gauge exactly how much time he has before he needs to leave. the longer things continue, the more he knows that time is running out. kylo’s unpredictability, his new alignment with his grandfather and the empire, aiya’s training - there’s more than enough red flags. all of which he buries neatly in the back of his mind for the time being to process later. he can’t afford to do so in front of them.

right now, he needs to determine the best hand to play here. pretending he’s not hiding anything isn’t working - clearly aiya’s skills have developed enough to know something doesn’t feel right. but they can’t tell what’s not right, and in that.. kuruk has an advantage. not to mention a few secrets of his own he’s been holding onto. “there would be no point. my skillset wouldn’t replace yours quite as well.” mostly because of their different abilities, rather than strength - but that’s besides the point. letting out a sigh, kuruk leans his elbows on his knees and watches aiya for a moment, weighing up his options. appearing to hesitate. “there is. there’s - something i’ve kept hidden since.. since i arrived here. for good reason.” he responds quietly, eyes drifting to the floor of the ship. it’s not the answer she wants - but kuruk’s sure it’ll be enough to throw aiya off his trail for now at least. “i wasn’t entirely truthful with everyone. i.. remember more than any of you do.” glancing up at her, kuruk shrugs a shoulder. “for me, we were near the end of the war. i - was killed. whatever twist in the force brought us back in time brought me back from the dead, aiya. maybe i’m not as emotionally controlled as you are, but yes. being able to recall the moment of my death changed me. happy?”

[sclitude]

corruptiive​:

~

“Knew it. I’m hard to not miss.” Alak sighed wistfully, kicking their feet up as Kuruk spoke. “I can’t just want to visit an old friend?” But Alak did have something to deliver, of course they did. Sliding the holodisk across the table, they gestured to it with an open palm. “Not much, but it isn’t like I have a strong position among the rebels yet.” That would likely change given time.

“I’m working on changing that. But it is better to move slowly. A quick rise might raise some suspicions. Especially given how many Jedi there are now.” They had to be more careful than usual, they were good at blending in, hiding themselves within the Force, but even their abilities had limits. “Have I missed anything interesting? I hate being away. It is so boring playing nice.”

“of course you are.” kuruk responds blandly. he is glad to see alak no matter how indifferent he might seem. despite his current... doubts, future plans, he does care for the other knights. they’re some sort of dysfunctional little family, after all. “you can, but there’s usually a reason for visits when you’re in the middle of missions like this.” it makes sense though, that they don’t have anything yet. it hasn’t been long after all.

this sort of spy thing isn’t kuruk’s cup of tea though, he’d much rather leave it to alak. it’s much easier that way, he has other specialities. “well, keep us informed. anything you can find out will be useful.” tilting his head to the side, kuruk considers the question. “well you likely know aiya’s training with kylo. oh, they think i’m up to something so that paranoia has been fun. tyr’s much the same as usual. the others.. yet to arrive. assuming they will.” truth be told, there’s not a lot going on with the knights anymore. it seems to be a lot of.. sit around and wait, which isn’t usually their style.

[sclitude]

ofbatuu​:

.

“ah don’t get so picky on me. you know what i meant,” he said, nudging him slightly as he saw kuruk somewhat amused. a feat in of itself to make him smile, even if ever so slightly. he chuckled, “aw come on, it’s an honor y’know to be that.”

tyr did sit down carefully, watching kuruk’s reaction closely. they both knew what the cost of treason was. what it could mean for them. the fact that he was considering it was surprising… and that he was telling tyr? perhaps kuruk trusted him more than he thought. he waited a moment before continuing, “though, if you were considering… now would certainly be the time to, when everything is still chaotic.”

.

“why not? i’m all for semantics, you know that.” he points out with a slight grin on his face. it’s always amusing to poke a little fun at tyr, he tends to take it in good humour. when it comes to the knights, while they all get along tyr is the one he feels more at ease with - as much as you can, given their line of work. “an honour, sure. i must have missed that memo.”

it’s interesting to watch tyr’s reaction to all of this. really, kuruk hasn’t said anything about leaving himself. it’s all a hypothetical conversation right now, what if’s and maybe’s that really don’t need to pan out to much right now. “what made you think i was considering leaving?” he asks with a raised eyebrow. “i was a knight long before you even knew we existed, i would need an extremely compelling reason to even consider leaving, you know that.”

[sclitude]

ofbatuu​:

.

tyr smiled at kuruk’s face, laughing some, “kinda my job– you’re still sticking around though, aren’t you?” he said with a smirk as he leaned in a bit. “no one’s try to take that from you, we like having our chauffeur,” he teased.

though, mention of the knights… that was a harder conversation. it wasn’t easy– breaking away didn’t sound like an option, not really. if they left they all knew death was coming for them. he swallowed, “not like we really have an option. we all know what leaving would do.”

.

“i don’t think making things weird is in your job description, tyr.” he points out with a raised eyebrow, but there’s a definite hint of an amused smile on his face that tyr might notice if he’s paying attention. “uh huh. call me a chauffeur again and i’ll definitely be kicking you out to find your own way back.”

given what tyr knows - and doesn’t know - it’s interesting to see his reaction. “that’s not really an answer, you know.” he comments absently, settling in the pilot’s seat and swinging around to face tyr. “i suppose it doesn’t matter, though. you’re right, it’s not an option.” not yet, at least.