WriteHaven

Written October, 2010
Parts of this remain canon, parts do not.

Svo'k:
*As he heard some of the recent bits of the discussion, the twenty six year old Sith Lord, quietly walked into the room. At first glance there was absolutely zero doubt as to what he was. The man's eyes were red as they could possibly be, he was dressed in what were obviously black Sith robes given their lack of simplicity and ornate Sith symbols sewn in on the hems in all black of course. Not only that Svo'k had decided against his battle gloves for today, instead revealing his completely red and black Sith tattooed hands.

What someone who was mainly paying attention to his immediate aura and his appearance would not notice is the fact that Svo'k was feeling a bit conflicted on the inside and this was his way of dealing with it. Svo'k quietly walked into the room and grabbed an empty seat next to Joran, he had found that the younger the Jedi, the more accepting the Jedi, so this was where he would sit and listen to what was being said.*
---

Harper:
When Svo'k entered, Harper's militaristic hazel eyes immediately slid to the man. He gave a nod of disciplined respect and assessed him. Weapons, clothing, stance, tattoos, bearing, expression, publicly readable aura, his choice of seating in the room. All were duly noted and immediately classified into the Jedi Shadow's impression of the younger man. Pain? Was there hurt in his recent past? Harper was familiar with pain, and he'd seen the shadow-side... What had really brought this man here?

He knew his name, of course. Svo'k Lynd come to see the Council. He was an adoptive son of Councillor Li, father to a Temple student, and father/guardian of two other young guests currently in residence. The man was authorized to remain for a visit by Councillor Ca'lech. It was within Harper's current responsibility to familiarize himself with all current personnel records. He also trusted the Council. What he did wonder, was how serious the man was about being here.

"My greeting, Mr. Lynd." The catlike man said in a cool, slightly accented Basic, with a subtle lilt and a tendency to roll his L's and his R's. "I am Hiaprr Derek." The name was accented, but it was clear that he said "Harper."

"Are you here to listen or to participate?"
---

Svo'k:
You are wise to study me in such a way. Here's what you missed; a knife up my left sleeve, a knife in my belt buckle and one on the side of left boot. Also, there is a shoto on the inner right sleeve of my robes attached to my bicep.

It's an honor to meet you Harper.

*Svo'k smiles politely, standing to show the man the quiet respect of a bow. Svo'k studied the Jedi for a brief moment, he looked as if he was a man who did not tolerate bantha fodder from anyone, but yet he seemed just as understanding as most Jedi. It was clear that he at least tolerated Svo'k's presence and that was enough for him. Knowing that by nature, Jedi were peaceful and would not provoke a fight, Svo'k decided it was best not to size the man up tactically, doing so would only leave the possibility for hostilities open.*

It's hard to say, I will participate in what I know, but it would be best for me to keep my mouth shut about things I know little about. I guess the short answer to your question is yes, I will participate if you deem it acceptable. If not, I am perfectly content with listening.

*Scooting his chair towards him with the force the Sith Lord sat down swiftly and glanced over at the Padawan sitting next to him.*

Svo'k Lynd and you are?
---

Harper:
"My perceptions are not restricted to my eyesight, Mr. Lynd."

The tip of Harper's tail flicked from right to left; the only shift in his expression. He nodded in answer to Svo'k's bow and continued meeting the man's eyes.

"With respect it is arrogant to instruct me on what you presume I have "missed." In your affirming my wisdom, you may feel that you did me service or compliment. By listing weapons, if that is an accurate count, you may feel that you've given a gesture of trust; I do not know your mentality enough to judge. But you do not know me either. If it is habitual for you to prematurely assess the capabilities of strangers, you may profit by changing the habit. Others could use it against you."

He breathed in, nostrils slightly flaring. "I would."

"Welcome."
---

Svo'k:
*Svo'k looks at Harper for a long moment thinking of his words very carefully. It was obvious that Harper was different than most of the Jedi Svo'k had encountered, which to him made the situation that much more, that much more...shall we say entertaining? It wasn't that Svo'k was enjoying being arrogant, it was certainly not his intent. Svo'k however did enjoy conversation that was not only stimulating but was somewhat argumentative. Exhaling quietly he remembered why he was here and put his ego in check before speaking.*

My apologies Harper, it was a gesture of trust and it was not meant to sound arrogant. Thank you for welcoming me with open arms to the classroom. I will do my best not to sound arrogant, feel free to correct me if I step out of line. I am Sith after all and some things are new to me...
---

ooc-
There must be a missing post(s) here.
'Perhaps the archives are incomplete...'

---

Svo'k:
*Svo'k looks to Harper for a brief moment holding back a sarcastic comment about the fighting deceleration. Of course there would no fighting in here, he had just said that he wouldn't ever raise a hand to anyone in this temple. The Sith Lord looks to the rest of the Jedi in the room, while still thinking on Harper's question which did not appear to have any effect on him whatsoever. Then again, Sith were masters of deception an art that was not an easy one to detect or master. Whether or not Svo'k was being deceptive at the moment was left up in the air.*

I don't know Harper, I believe I have come to learn. Is that a bad thing? I really hope that you do not see it as such, which I don't think you do.

*Svo'k taps his red and black fingers together quietly.*

To answer your question more directly, I am curious about the Jedi teachings and philosophies. I would like to learn more as I have found that some Sith teachings tend to bring despair to me and those around me.

Harper:
"Learning can be good or bad depending on what you do with the knowledge. Is what is good for you also good for the Jedi? I hope so, if you consider this family to be good for your son."

Harper kept his eyes on Svo'k yet his mind and his face were a wall. The Felacatian's disciplined expression offered no details for Svo'k or anyone else in the room, only that he was well in control of himself and his actions. His past was private save for old scar that ran across the length of his left cheekbone. He volunteered no information about the present: but he was in the Jedi learning room, teaching. Or something similar.

"Did you come to learn the philosophies or learn about them?"
---

Svo'k:
*Svo'k takes a breath offering no insight whatsoever as to what he is thinking.*

I'd like to think it's good for the Jedi and myself.

*Glancing over at the suddenly quiet Irito, Svo'k shifted in his chair as Harper studied him, a playful body language fake out. Harper could study him all day, he wouldn't get anywhere, Svo'k was an enigma that was boxed up and padlocked. Not many in the universe could figure out what he was thinking. The few exceptions were actually present at this temple.*

I came to learn them, but I am not so shallow minded that I believe that knowing what they are is the same is knowing what and why they are. I came to learn them and learn everything about them.
---

Harper:
"You can't learn some things unless you already believe them. It is a paradox but not a falsehood. If you want to learn then you will. I don't doubt that."

Svo'k's presence in the classroom was a sort of intrusion from the routine, but Harper didn't think of it as one. Life didn't always come with routines. Students as well as adult Jedi should all know that. The Sentinel gestured for the rest of the class to either watch or work on their own projects for the time (they were free to join in if they wished, he took the desk on the other side of Svo'k's and sat down such that his tail was not pinned uncomfortably.

"What purpose does your life serve?"
---

Svo'k:
*Finally a hint of a smile on the Sith's face appeared as Harper sat down in front of him, as a sign of respect Svo'k put his arms on his desk leaning in to give Harper his full attention. His red eyes scanned the man closely as he spoke again.*

What purpose does my life serve? Currently, meaning right now my life is about trying to make a good life for my children. My son Adrian, he's always wanted to be a Sith and he's becoming a very...*Svo'k looks to the ground for a moment*...good one, much to my dismay. I do not want that life for my son, it's nothing but pain and hardship. It requires you to take the good person who you are and beat that person into submission without mercy. Adrian has a good heart, with my life it's no surprise I turned out as a Sith, aside from his mother dying when he was still a baby, he's had a very good life. It's my fault he's this way, he has tried to emulate me from the time he was two. I don't want this for him, I don't.

My purpose in life is no longer about me, it's about others. I've never been a cold blooded killer, but I have killed in cold blood before. I don't want this for me anymore, I've had a taste of the light and ever since then I've longed for that feeling of meaning. I guess you could say, that as a Sith, my life serves no purpose other than trying to save my children.
---

Harper:
Harper paid full attention to Svo'k. His hazel eyes with their slit, cat-like pupils watched the younger man intently but not scornfully. Aloofly resting his own arms, one on the desk and the other at his side, the end of his tail flicked marginally while he watched and nodded.

"You refer to yourself as Sith. But you aren't." He glanced at Svo'k's tattoos, then back to his eyes. "Do not take offense where none is meant. You might have been at one time, but there's something in the bearing that you lack. Less arrogance. Less confidence that you're right. Much less hatred. "Light" and "Jedi" aren't the same, but not being Sith doesn't make you Jedi. Neither does repentance... Choosing a direction can. Atonement can, but it is an emotion that you may not be granted. What if your Adrian will not be swayed?"
---

Svo'k:
He's twelve, I was on my own only a year and a half older than that, I want very much for him to be swayed, if he isn't, I guess that is his choice. I only hope that when he grows older he'll see the light so to speak.

*Svo'k's red eyes were not easily read but Harper could most likely sense a very strong internal conflict in him.*

You're right I am Sith in name and appearance only, my arrogance died with my hatred when I found what it meant to be a man. Don't get me wrong, I can still wield the darkside of the force very well but I do not wish to unless I am pushed to that point. I...I want that part of my life to be a distant memory, I..I want serve others and I want to make my life right while at the same time making up for the wrongs I have done by living my life as a Sith.

*Svo'k swallowed hard.*

My poor mother, I put her through so much when I was an angry self destructive teen, she was always wonderful to me and I repaid her by doing spices, drinking and more than a handful of suicide attempts. I was a total piece of <<osik.>> I'm not that person anymore, I've spent four years searching for this answer and it's why I am here today. I have not under-thought this, I had a good idea of what I wanted when I came here, but you and my time in this peaceful place has re-affirmed my beliefs.

I want to be a Jedi and I am ready to do what is needed to learn to be a Jedi and live my life for others.

*Svo'k looked straight into Harper's eyes not moving or even flinching slightly, his stare was firm but respectful, he did not want to be misunderstood.*

Harper:
"Svo'k Lynd." The Felacatian uttered the words after a pause, his slight accent rolling the L. He hadn't let go of Svo'k's stare, but had relaxed into a militaristic at-ease type posture.

"Your family here is your family. But if you stay and do become one of us, we all are."

Barely discernible in his wheat-colored hair, Harper's feline ears twitched in emphasis.

"I won't have you for my brother just because you make a good speech. I can make a good speech, bend the truth, gain trust. It is a talent. While I am here in my home, I guard this family against anyone who could hurt them like that. Time and actions can prove you. There are questions you need to answer and habits to break…

"In meantime you must begin somewhere and we are here. There are questions with hard answers, habits painful to break. We guard Peace but consent to Pain. Your son with us will, if he hasn't already. Your mother does, your family, all of us. I do not say that you can't. But being hardened against Sith pain is not the only required strength. What if a crisis-point came with your Adrian where you must choose between his life and those he harms?"
---

Svo'k:
I don't know what I'd do. I know what I should do, but that isn't a question I can answer definitively until that day comes. As a Jedi, my job would be to protect those who cannot protect themselves, but at the same time, we're talking about my first born son who I love dearly. It's not black and white even though I'd probably have to try and make it that way.

*Svo'k looks back to Harper focusing on a few parts of his speech in particular.*

I understand your hesitation, I am very talented at deception, it is an art I learned from my master, he was quite the good teacher. Anyway, you speak of guarding peace. Religions aside here, I have an honest unbiased question for you. Is there really peace?

*Svo'k shifts in his seat realizing that was a dumb question to ask when one had just said they want to be a Jedi.*

Let me explain what I am asking. You just asked me a question about whether or not I could kill my own son to save the lives of others, more or less preserving a peace or helping to create one. While if I was a good Jedi, I could do the right thing and choose to save other people over my son for the greater peace. However, personally and yes I know Jedi are selfless, but personally I would be creating a chaos within myself. This isn't the best example but it's the only one that comes immediately to mind, but anyway, chaos is contrary to peace so while I would be preserving the greater good I would also be working against peace. The people I saved may be at peace but I wouldn't be. Come to think of it though, chances are they wouldn't be at peace either due to the stress of the whole situation.

Forgive my ignorance Harper, but peace is a concept that I understand on paper, but in the universe I question it's existence. So to the Jedi what is peace?
---

Harper:
"I didn't say what you should do in that situation, I asked what you would. Even if not your son, something similar will happen someday. You lived among Sith. I trust you have an idea of their mind games. Jedi are known to love and serve "peace," whatever their idea of peace is, so it is often used against us."

Harper shrugged. The left side of his mouth ticked into a slight smile that was some of the most expression he'd shown since meeting Svo'k. It seemed to reflect some type of bittersweet emotion, though with his fangs showing it was hard to say. Whatever it meant, the smile was short lived.

"You have to make a decision when that happens. Sometimes excruciating. Far as peace goes, you're asking the wrong person if you want some warm answer that lets you break away from the question. We aren't fighting a metaphysical war against bad feelings, Svo'k. Our job is to give our lives for whatever creates the most good. Sometimes that good is in front of us. Sometimes it's longer term and we can't see it. Either way there will never be universal "Peace" in any future that I can imagine. Wherever there's consciousness and choice, some beings somewhere will want to twist things for their own purposes. When they do that, intense harm can be wreaked. Jedi heal that or we fight it. Force forbid that you are ever in that situation with your son."

Svo'k:
Yes I'm well aware that I'd have to act and I know exactly what I'd have to do, I know my son and I only hope their would be another Jedi around who could do it so I don't have to. I could, but living with myself afterwards either way would be rather difficult.

*Svo'k chuckles a bit at the mind games comment, almost in a nostalgic way.*

Yeah Sith are really good at mind games, it's quite a talent.

*Svo'k takes a breath and thinks for a moment*

So Jedi are just fighting for the greater good, not some Utopian universe that will in all likely hood never come to fruition? Well that's good to know, it makes a lot more sense than some sort of Utopian paradise even if it is nice to wish for. How long have you been a Jedi Harper?
---

Harper:
"You need to be able to live with yourself. When you get into problems with that, it takes away from living for anyone else. Far as the greater good goes, yes it's what we fight for. There's more to it than that and what we do depends on the Jedi, the Council, sometimes the Force, but... yes."

Harper shrugged when Svo'k got to asking the Sentinel about himself.

"You're not my brother yet," the feline man reminded. "You can have my story then if it happens. I'll listen to yours though."
---

Svo'k:
*Svo'k smiles widely for the first time during the conversation.*

Rest assured Harper, it's going to happen and I'd be honored if you'd help me along the way.

*Svo'k scratches his chin for a moment.*

Well, I was born on Tattooine roughly twenty six years ago to a single mother, I never knew my father and my mother claims she didn't either. One day when I was six, I was outside playing and my mother called me in to wash up for lunch. As I was doing so someone showed up at the door and long story short he cut my mother in two right in front of me. *Svo'k swallows hard* I have no memory of what happened after that except a man in a black robe pulling me away from the dead man's corpse as I was covered in his blood. I don't know what if anything I did, but the man's name was Darth Realm. He took me to Korriban and trained me as his apprentice until I was thirteen, he was a reasonably good man at least so I thought, anyway he died when I was thirteen. I went to live with the Grey Jedi for awhile who accepted me for who I was as a Sith, I met a girl and we fell in love when I was fourteen she ummm...got pregnant and nine months later Adrian was born and she was murdered by a Sith coming for me the next day. After that things really went downhill for me I got mixed up into spices and all that sort of stuff, it wasn't good. I had several more girlfriends throughout my teen years and even got married to a girl named Anisha, she's the mother of my other two sons, Alex and Johnathon.

Anyway I was suicidal most of my teen years and tried on several occasions to get the job done so to speak, but Kaytren had adopted me when I was younger like fifteen or sixteen and she was always there to help me out. I met and fell in love with a Sith girl named Kira when I was seventeen or eighteen, we did spices together and she had a really cool brother and we became fast friends. Her brother and I well ummmm....we.....kind of fell for each other too and he's the person I currently would like to be with. Anyway that's a short version of my life, but I figure if I were to go too far in depth it would likely bore you to tears and probably make your jaw drop. *Svo'k smiled a bit.*

In talking to you however, I realize that this might just be what I'm called to do.
---

Harper:
The Felacatian listened with his habitual lack of expression, not lack of interest. His militaristic hazel eyes watched Svo'k's face and any gestures he made while he told his story. Some of it he knew already including a few parts which Svo'k didn't elaborate on. It was his business to be familiar with the files of any flagged visitors. But reading a file was not the same as hearing from an individual in question. At the end, he indicated having paid attention by dipping his head.

"I assure you that more elaboration would have neither shocked or bored me. While succinct, you were detailed enough. I would expect a colorful past given your background. About any romantic interests - "

Harper had straightened slightly, the tips of his pointed fangs becoming marginally more visible than they had been.

"I would suggest for four reasons that you leave that aspect of your life alone at this time. The first is that you shouldn't have time for it. If you do, you're not making ideal use of your time. Second, you do not need it mentally or emotionally; it would be a distraction. Third, a Jedi's life is difficult, you do yet not know what you'll be called for how high risk you'll be. You already have enough known individuals in your background who could be threatened or used against you, you don't need more. And fourthly but not least, any Jedi here is my sibling. If you were to wound one of them in any fashion, the issue would be mine to discuss with you at very short and heated length. Do those reasons make sense to you?"
---

Svo'k:
Actually....

*Svo'k cracked his neck.*

...I'm going to have to agree with you on any romantic interests, at least for the time being. I want to make sure I am doing this for the right reasons and if I cannot have Arik and I still want to go through with this, then I know I am doing it for the right reasons. As of right now I am more than fairly certain but there is always that lingering question.

*Svo'k stopped to think for a long moment, pondering whether or not it would be a good idea to bring up that Kaytren Li is married as is Svo'k's adopted brother Mon Taran. He decided it was a moot point because he agreed with Harper anyway and arguing it would accomplish nothing. He clearly understood the Jedi's reasons for not entering into relationships but he happened to disagree with a few of them.*

I imagine you've seen a lot, you probably know I was a member of the Horsemen at the Kashyyyk Academy, I've murdered before and I am a skilled assassin...which is part of my life I want to leave behind. I've done a lot of things, some of them will be in the Jedi files, but a lot of stuff is not. I'd actually be interested to see what your files say about me but I guess that's really not my place.

*Svo'k gulped and pushed the darkside away and his eyes changed to their natural blue. Pushing away the darkside of the force was something he was able to do almost at will as he had to do it many times on many missions, but this was...different in some way. He wasn't holding it back like he used to, he was outright pushing it away and not welcoming it back into his soul.*

Aside from what I've told you, what do you know of me?

*Svo'k looks Harper squarely in the eye, not flinching or moving in anyway other than breathing.*

What do you think of me....what do you think of my son?