westwhere | Stepping into the dark

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Stepping into the dark

WHO: Eleven & Archeval
WHEN: April 12th + 13th
WHERE: Salt Mines
WHAT: An excursion at full strength
WARNINGS: violence

[It's afternoon by the time he's finished with his unexpected errands of the morning and he can't find Xingchen. Which makes sense, really. The man likely has plenty else to be doing, even assuming he hasn't already left.

Eleven mulls it over as he pulls on his armor. There's still time, and he's likely strong enough to go it alone, but.. it would be pretty reckless. Still, he's spent too much coin this morning that he needs to make up for it.

He pulls a cloak over himself to hide the metal shine of his armor, then secures his swords. Perhaps he could ask someone else. If he can't find anyone, then he'll resign himself to enduring a grueling day at the docks.

Eleven casts a thoughtful glance over the servant's quarters, mind trickling through various possibilities, then grins as he spots a likely target]

Archeval. Are you busy today?

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[Oh. Food. That's right. He got so caught up in his work that he'd forgotten entirely to eat. Eleven scrubs at his face, belatedly aware he must be covered in soot. Although he stops once spotting that his gloves, once light in color, are now black.]

..Ah, well, as much as can be expected in a day. Forging is a lot of work. But thank you for not leaving me there. I promise, if we can come back again, I will forge and finish the metalwork for your knife. The sword I was making just needs a lot more time to heat and cool, so if I have any hope of actually finishing it, I needed to start on it first.

[ He gives a bit of a grimace, but sighs and shrugs again. ] May as well finish what we've begun. Though I'm aware I make this all look fantastically easy -- [ spreading his hands in a casually immodest, 'what can you do' sort of shrug ] -- but you know, even the most scatterbrained of sentients does start to catch on to these little tricks once it's been hours and hours. I can't necessarily promise day three, not without some downtime in between.

At any rate, we should get out of here so you can divest yourself of those absolutely filthy clothes. [ he's definitely keeping a wider berth between them than usual ] ...Not to mention I imagine you're halfway to keeling over by now.

[He nods] I understand.

[Then glances down at himself. Although his clothes, face, and hair are probably filthy, he still grins tired satisfaction] I'm just really hungry. But okay, I'll clean up and change, then as promised, we'll meet at the tavern.

[And after a decent meal and a drink, he'll likely sleep like the dead. Eleven stifles the threat of a yawn at the thought] I hope you found some useful information today at least.

[ another noncommital shrug ] Mm, I wouldn't call it an entirely wasted day. After you then, if there's nothing else to be carried--...

[ He breaks off once they reach the House of Dew to go do whatever Dark Lords stranded in a zombie-infested city get up to after dark, but by the time Eleven makes it to their prearranged meeting place he's there faithfully on time, skulking about a nearby dark alley to be slightly less conspicuous. ]

So you've been here before? [ He offers no preamble whatsoever before sliding right in behind El where the latter is walking down the dark street. It seems like maybe the Dark Lord only gets more generally insufferable once you get to know him. ]

[El startles to Archeval's sudden presence, hand going swiftly for the sword on his back, then settles with a soft huff once his voice registers]

Yes. You haven't? It has decent food- both more filling and appetizing than millet. Haven't tried the drink yet, though. Hasn't seemed like a good idea on my own. But I've been fine otherwise, just keeping to myself with my head down at a corner table.

[ Don't think too poorly of him, they revoke your Sith license if you don't scare at least one person daily. ]

Haven't spent much time inside any local establishments as yet. I prefer a nice wide-open area with lots of visible exits when I'm not sure whether the local militia are going to show up to kill me. [ he muses on this sardonically as they head for the door, ducking around a couple of laborers who walk past giving them wary looks ]

[It helps that he kind of deserves it after today.]

In my defense, I was hungry. But in the words of my former companion: keep your head down, don't linger, and pay your tab. Saw us through alright.

[Eleven pulls his hood up over his head, then catches the door before it closes to allow them inside. A lit hearth flickers against the far wall and warms the interior. The mouth-watering scent of bread has his stomach growling as they settle at a table away from the bar.

He orders a hot meal for both of them when the barmaid approaches, then sighs]

I'm getting pretty tired of living like this though.

[ Before the maid can get away entirely, he makes sure to ask for a bottle of wine as well. He wasn't kidding about wanting that drink. ]

You and your companion, hm? Done some running from the authorities before, have you? [ he wonders with a wry stare, leaning back a bit in his seat with crossed arms. His eyes flick back and forth through the dimly-lit recesses of the tavern a bit, but he doesn't seem to detect anyone taking special notice of them yet, not with sight or with his other senses. So far, so good. ]

I miss my own damned bed, but I suppose if some idiot had to come along and perform a kidnapping, at least they had the courtesy to wait for me to wrap up. [ deeply dry once again ] I do hate being interrupted in the middle of a mission.

[Eleven raises a brow. Wine. But perhaps he should have figured Archeval would have a refined taste of sorts. He asks for an ale for himself and settles in with his back to the rest of the tavern. He's pretty sure they could make the run to the door without too much trouble if they need to.

He smiles. A proper bed sounds like sheer luxury he hopes they'll one day have again]

I didn't do anything illegal, if that's what you're wondering. [A pause] ..Well, unless breaking out of jail counts. But they were false charges. Still, we did end up spending the better part of the year under pursuit for it.

[ giving him an amusedly raised brow ] Do you think I would mind if you had done?

[ and don't worry, Eleven. He's still keeping an eye out more than enough for the both of you. His lightsaber remains on his hip, nicely inconspicuous here in Sa-Hareth where it would be the exact opposite at home, and his back is firmly to the wall. ]

But then I take it that not everyone is quite so enthused about helping your mission to rescue your planet, hm? I suppose there's always an idiot or ten lurking somewhere up the chain of command. [ He observes this with an irritable curl of his lip, tapping his foot a little as he waits for their order. ]

[He supposes not.]

A possessed king tried to convince the world that I would only bring destruction in my wake.

[He's still not quite made his peace with him, after how long he's spent in doubt, worried it might be true. Still does, at times. It may not have been Carnelian's fault, but he could do far better to make amends. For all he'd loved his grandfather, living without grudges is turning out to be much more difficult in practice]

But we're past that now, at least.

[Their drinks arrive in short order and Eleven lifts his mug with a grin] I'll drink to the hope we get to sleep somewhere nice at least once before this is over.

[ a sigh from the Sith ] We'll see about that. It's been a few years, I'm out of practice falling asleep places where anybody in the next room might want to slit my throat-- [ He toasts Eleven regardless, however, raising his wine with a nod before throwing back a good-sized gulp. 'Refined taste' indeed. ]

Do you think your people can hold down the fort back home, while you're gone?... [ Musing on this thoughtfully, staring into his half-full glass. ]

[Well then.

The brew is an unusual one, but it goes down nicely enough]

Mmn. Hendrik's probably beside himself, actually. We hadn't found my other companions yet. But.. I know they'll all do their best, wherever they are.

[He hopes they'll be alright]

If you have trouble sleeping around people though, it must be hard for you here.

[ Arche doesn't say anything one way or another about his wine, but does give a brief grimace before going for his next sip. Ah well, when you come to the kind of place that serves lum and ask for something fancier, you get what you get.

At the latter observation, though, he just gives a one-shouldered shrug. ]

I'll pick up the knack again eventually. Managed to survive all the way through the Sith Academy, which, believe me, is a true feat. [ he says dryly ] We should both sleep like the dead after today anyhow, though... hopefully not literally. It doesn't seem that the dead exactly sleep very well around here. [ observing wryly as he watches the room some more. Still no sudden undead visits, at least. ]

Edited 2021-04-17 19:37 (UTC)

That's the idea.

[He spares a smile, then goes for another drink just as their food arrives. A slightly charred slab of fish, lump of bread, and a small bowl of broth pretending to be stew. Eleven frowns at the latter, but drops his bread in it all the same while he sets about the fish.

Far from a home-cooked meal, but decent fare for a traveler. Next to a sad, lumpy bowl of millet, it's practically a feast. Eleven sighs contentment]

It's nice to share a meal again properly.

[ Arche tucks into the meal with nary a word of either complaint or praise, no different from any of the several bowls of plain millet porridge he's slurped up in Eleven's presence by now. Or the slightly moldy hardtack for that matter. Either way, this is certainly more filling than the House of Dew's meager offerings to its unwanted guests. ]

I suppose. Most recently to this I'd been spending five minutes slurping up field rations in a crowded, sweltering tent alongside most of my strike team, so on balance this wins out overall. [ he muses this very wryly indeed. Satele Shan, the Jedi Grandmaster, had eaten with their little group as they set up for their final mission, but his own side's commanding officer Darth Marr had waited outside -- probably to maintain the whole dark Sithy mystique. Typical really. ]

...have you been working alone then, though? [ He frowns a little. Eleven keeps speaking of all these companions who were supposedly traveling by his side, but the idea that they'd abandon him all at some crucial moment--... ]

[A team. That feels good to know, even if it's a more of a military, well-educated team of dark soldiers. It's important to have allies and be able to depend on others.]

Not quite alone, no. I have a- [he falters, a touch awkward] er, protector now. Or I did. It's just a little strange still. He'd actually been the one to lead the hunt against me in service of that possessed king. Then, working together recently, I swore to the Goddess he blamed me for everything.

[He chews on his soup-laden bread for a moment] I know I can trust his oath, but he's as much of a brick wall as he resembles.

Hm.

[ Arche already doesn't like him (although that admittedly doesn't take much). Luckily, this Hendrik isn't here, so obviously this cannot possibly have any uncomfortable consequences for anyone in the very near future. ]

You're absolutely sure he's, hm, seen the light so to speak? An oath can be a tricky thing. He's not just waiting for the moment your guard is down to, I don't know, steal your essence and deliver it to his master? Eat it for that matter?

[ Does that sound weirdly, needlessly specific? Probably. Oh well, never hurts to ask. ]

Or just kill you.

[Eleven smiles, a touch uncertainly for those very specific motivations]

He's had plenty of opportunity for both already. But the reason he hunted me was blind loyalty to his King. It's a fault of his. And Carnelian is back to his senses, as Mordegon no longer needs to hide in a host.. Now that Hendrik has sworn himself to my service though, I don't doubt he would follow my orders without question if I gave him any.

Edited (tweaks) 2021-04-17 22:38 (UTC)

Hmm, well. I suppose if this master of his is fully, utterly on your side... [ giving a shrug. He sounds dubious about that too, but it's more his own inherent paranoia than real disagreement. Being possessed by the essence of something evil that wants to wear your skin around to do awful stuff against your will? A dark being of supreme power that flits from body to body on a whim? Yeah, totally plausible! ]

At least the man does sound like the getting-things-done type. If one must delegate, best to delegate to the enthusiastic. [ noting this dryly as he pokes at his food some more ]

[Admittedly, Eleven doesn't still fully trust Carnelian, but that's due more to personal feeling than anything the man has done since regaining himself. He trusts Hendrik, however. The man is nothing but earnest in his convictions, even when they're wrong]

Yes. Anyway, what I mean to say is you've been fairly good company and I appreciate it.

[Archeval hasn't tried to hunt him down, kill him, or accuse him of failing the world. These are fairly low standards all told, but it's what he's come off of dealing with in recent weeks]

[ ...blink. There's a pause as Arche furrows his brow down at his bowl of broth, then flicks his gaze up toward Eleven's face, looking about as confused and baffled as he might if El had grown a second head in front of him. ...Actually, he might be able to deal with the second head a little better than this. ]

...well. It's a mutually beneficial arrangement. This group will never get anything done around here if we don't make an effort to work as a unit, and of the people I could be working with you're certainly better than some--...

[ ah. He's said too much, he's making it weird. He scowls over at Eleven for a moment as though this is the other man's fault before picking up his wine again. ]

At any rate if you're satisfied then we-- may as well continue on the same way. [ muttering this into his wine glass before he takes another generous sip. ]

[Eleven's smile slowly widens until he's laughing muffled and softly echoed chuckles into his mug of ale. It's not a comment he'd expected Archeval would have difficulty accepting, and reminds him of his newfound knowledge of Hendrik's fear of insects: an unexpected facet.

He wonders if someday they might be friends]

Sure. [Lingering amusement as he turns back to his meal. He feels lighter. Warmth, hearty food, good company, and decent ale- for a moment, he soaks in those simple pleasures and finds himself content. It's a far cry from where they were when they arrived, and that counts for something]

I hope we can all learn to work together well.

[ giving a deep, disgruntled sort of sigh ]

I expect it's that or die horribly, so the rest had better start figuring it out soon.

[ he knows you're poking fun, El, but he can't call you on it or else he has to admit there's something to laugh about. Anyway he didn't say anything wrong. Or inaccurate. He doesn't have a problem you're just too nice and overly trusting. That's his story and he's sticking to it.

But he works on his own drink a little more slowly after that, enjoying the quiet while he can, because... he's tired and he's not used to this anymore. Spending every day surviving with not a single place of safety to be found. Perhaps he should actually thank his kidnapper before he kills them, because he hadn't realized just how inexcusably soft he'd started to become, surrounded by allies and armored in power and privilege. This place has certainly been a wakeup call. Being a Sith will never be safe, and there is no time when it's all right to relax, not even when you're standing at the top. Especially not then.

...but for just a moment, before there's no more time for rest and the business of surviving has to start right up again.

For just a moment, this is nice. ]

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Stepping into the dark

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