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★-—-“hungry dogs are never loyal”

JODIE COMER // have you met ADNI VESTA yet? SHE/THEY is/are a 28 years old AGENDER HUMAN, originally from CARDOTA but typically reside on WHEREVER SHE IS SENT. after everything they’ve gone through, they show loyalty to THE FIRST ORDER. they are best known for being an APPRENTICE OF THE KNIGHTS OF REN, and i hear they’re grown pretty ADAPTIVE yet also PERVERSE at times; i hope they survive the galactic war. 

Adni Vesta ;; Personal Writings 01

dark  lashes  &&  dark  eyes  blink  without  surprise , manicured  ( although , not  without  a  hangnail  or  two )  hands  reaching  without  a  word  to  grasp  the  datapad  and  pull  it  from  the  figure’s  grip , shoulders  dropping  near - imperceptibly  with  the  comfort  of  that  technology  within  her  palms  again. 

“ it  is , yes. ” 

there  is  stress  on  the  second  word  -  is  -  emphasizing  the  nature  of  what  hands  have  reclaimed ; it  is  not  once  hers , thus “ was ”  -  no , she  intends  to  reclaim  the  device , and  duly  had.  locked  folders  &&  files  were  safe  ( this  figure  &&  familiar  face  -  adni  vesta ,  apprentice  knight  of  ren , twenty - eight  years  old  &&  brought  forward  from  the  rift  near  two  years  ago  … she  wracked  her  mind  for  anything  more  ,  but  came  up  short -    had  not  stuck  in  her  memory  for  associations  with  particularly  talented  slicing ) ,  but  it  seemed  her  misplaced  hope  in  the  datapad  itself  remaining  untouched  had  been  just  that. 

“ has  anyone  ever  told  you  that  it’s  rude  to  browse  through  a  stranger’s  belongings ? ”

*

While it hadn’t been Adni’s original plan to get into a fight today, she was never one to walk away. Any sign of irritation at her fault was like the smell of  sansanna to a spice addict. 

---“Has anyone ever told you that it’s stupid to leave precious items unattended?” the apprenticed returned sharply, a smug grin had replaced the closed lipped and guarded expression she began with. She had no problem with allowing the device to return to its rightful owner, (she had yet to find anything of interest yet anyway), but their laid-back posture from where they were seated would be much harder to get them to budge from.

-

❝ i’m sorry, but-but i’m afraid i just can’t do that! i can’t stay where i was, no shot. i gotta get somewhere else and i don’t care how. ❞ she appreciated this person’s attempts to help, but this was life and death, right??

❝ i’ll just… i’ll figure it out, okay? i’m good at talking myself out of things. if anyone asks, i’m… here on purpose. ❞

*

“you’re kriffing laserbrained,” the apprentice muttered, shaking her head. This would likely be the last time--for a little bit at least--Adni tried to do any ‘personal side missions’. 

“And that purpose is?” they questioned pointedly, “If better be a pretty damn good one if you think the bucket heads won’t take you straight to the general.” 

.

well, that was immediately interesting. this new knight of ren being toted around was less than pleased with her position, which was something that certainly could be taken advantage of… with the right motivation and price, of course. to be so blatant about it with a stranger was an interesting choice. she wasn’t concerned about disrespecting their superior openly, even without any real knowledge of who they were. zarafet was ready to assume that this one did not know how certain games were placed in the more political side of things, and would have preferred blunt force as a weapon of a choice. that was fine. simpler just made it easier for them.

“how about both?” zarafet replied back simply, the corners of her lips lifting in a small, polite smile that did not bring any kind of life or warmth to their dark eyes. she was pretty, at least. she wondered how easily manipulated they were. “it’s andi, isn’t it?” a reasonable enough thing for any kind of officer to know, not wanting to offer too much about herself. part of that, of course, was clearance. most aboard the ship did not know what her true role was. “i would have thought being his apprentice would have been more of an honor.” it was perfectly fine with her if the knight of ren thought her to be some stupid child.

*

At least this one had a sense of humor. Adni was beginning to think shoving a rod up your ass was a requirement for joining the first order at this point.

She considered letting the mistake go uncorrected. Perhaps if this other person had a tendency to snitch, it wouldn’t be a bad idea for them to have the wrong information. However, as with most situations, Adni’s pride overcame her rationality.

---”It’s Adni,” she replied curtly, not concerned with asking in return. Maybe later on, if they saw fit; if having this connection might be of use sometime down the line. “It’s degrading. At one point in time Kylo and I were children together. Due to a technicality, my training starts over and he’s the leader of the knights.” Once the flood gates were opened, it was hard to keep her true feelings from rushing out. Adni was even tempered, but hot headed, and the words, despite being spoken at a lingering tone, were seething. “There are even some things I’ve surpassed his knowledge in, but I’m not qualified for my title due to this kriffing rift.” 

And then a pause. A slight shift in their posture as they regained control of the fire behind their eyes. “It’s nothing Ren hasn’t heard. Feel free to report back to him if that’s your aim.” It’d likely result in some sort of admonishing punishment if he knew adni was still undermining the choices of the knights, but nothing they hadn’t already handled many times since rejoining. Speaking too much, then getting told to reign back in, was routine back and forth by now,

okay, he’d admit it. she almost made him laugh with that one. as much as rae sloane liked hux, and as much as he respected rae, the ginger had quite the irritating habit of prying far too much into hask’s projects - particularly, project resurrection. to be fair, hask didn’t enjoy the company of brendol hux, either, despite frequent collaboration - maybe it was just the family line in general that irritated him rather than the individual men. 

“and what kind of man do you take me to be?” he questions, raising a brow. yarna d’al gargan … she couldn’t be serious. but, to be fair, the empire’s force users he’d met all never seemed to be, most far too emotional or just downright playful with their duties. he really should have expected she’d be the same, especially considering she’d deserted her post for what appeared to be nothing but some mindless fun. 

Adni was aptly observant of when her immature behavior was irritating others. That was usually the intended goal of her commenting. However, in this moment, she could sense she hadn’t quite gotten under the other’s skin yet. Perhaps she had finally met her equal in insulting banter. 

---”Well I’d say I just took you to be a man.” The condescending tone was clear in what she they were insinuating. Personally, Adni didn’t consider themselves a man or woman at all. They were a weapon. But of course, the more they continued to dehumanize themselves, the more they discovered a remaining conscious that needed to be further beat into submission. A human heart sustained the weapon, not kyber like she tried to believe.

.

Milla didn’t know how to even start with the accusation, blinking confused as her brain struggled to first understand and then respond to the claims that the woman was making. her face flushed further, until she was purple all over her face.

“I… I work on a ship. I do dishes and stuff. we landed… um… here?” she didn’t know where that was, she was stammering and nervous at this point, trying to explain herself. “and I didn’t look at the navigator before I got off the ship. sorry!!!”

*

The sadistic part inside Adni started to gleam as they realized how much they’d frightened the girl in front of her. If only she’d discharged her weapon, now that would’ve been a real fright. But Adni was arrogant, yes, but not reckless. 

---”That’s pretty stupid of you,” she remarked pointedly, then turned around to continue her task and leave the poor girl alone. In a lapse of mercy, they paused to say. “You’re on Onderon, by the way.” 

Ever since Ben had awoken inside of him, Kylo found it rather easy to keep his anger tame. Ben didn’t enjoy the outburst or the thrashing around to release the emotion but he understood it and there were times when he even let Kylo get it all out but with Adni in the room? It was Ben who held back the anger that wanted to wrap around them both. “It’s cute who you think you’re in charge here.” He says easily. Their attitude was one of the many reasons he took them on. After Aiya, Kylo was always attracted to the attitude of someone who thought they knew how to handle the power that they were tasting. Someone who thought they knew how to master the Force in the same way that he did. The thought brings a smile to his features, even though he knows Adni can’t see it. “We’ll start easy today, since your attitude decided to come out early. Hand to hand combat. Have you been practicing?”

Adni shrugged their shoulders, not willing to verbally acknowledge the chain of command, but of course, they were intelligent enough to know their place. 

---”Never claimed to be in charge. Just simply pointing out what is easily observable to both of us.” She left the back and forth at that. She appreciated Kylo’s ability to entertain her arrogance from time to time. She’d have to give him credit for that.  

They quickly stretched their arms across their chest to demonstrate readiness before they had another judging remark. 

---”Well I practiced as much as I could. Kept breaking practice droids. Your maintenance team is very untimely with repairing things around here.”

❝ uh… because i wanna be? ❞ she answered, blinking up at the stranger. ❝ i didn’t want to be where i was, so i hopped in a box. truth be told i didn’t even know this was a first order ship! i just got myself in the first container i could fit into and hid. ❞ she shrugged a little. ❝ not really much more to it than that, i’m afraid. ❞ alas, her reasoning wasn’t the most exciting, but it was true. 

*

Because they wanted to be? No one, not even Adni, ever wanted to be on a first order ship. Adni’s eyes narrowed as they were still yet to be convinced. They did, however, generously discharge their saber, but kept their hand grasped on the hilt for any sudden increase in threat. In the stranger’s defense, the box’s original destination wasn’t it’s current location.

---”Okay look, you gotta get out of here. Anyone finds out you snuck on here, you’ll be executed, you understand? They’ll be a lot less forgiving than I.” Adni sternly informed them. Of course, her forgiveness came from selfishness, not wanting to get caught using first order resources for her own personal gain.

—

A few aggressive strides brought Hux’s glare within inches of the Force-wielder’s face. She could not have chosen a worse time to test Hux’s patience, but even if he had the ability to dispose of them, that would make Ren disagreeable.  “I want you to make yourself useful,”  he seethed,  “or get. Out. Of. My. Sight.”

He took in Adni’s explanation with growing tension in his jaw. ‘The big guy?’ Ren might be her boss, but he was certainly not his. Not anymore.  “Tell Ren that if he has something to say to me he can bloody well come and do it himself.”  A moment after releasing his vitriol, Hux hesitated. Kylo Ren was the last person in the galaxy he wanted to speak to right now. He would know, somehow, no matter how Hux tried to hide it—would know precisely why Alton’s death had affected him and would do everything in his power to twist the knife. He would not give Ren that opening.  “Wait. Tell me. And do it professionally. You wouldn’t want him to hear that your performance has been subpar. I suspect you’ve heard the rumors of what happened to his last apprentice.”

*

Of course, Adni was only further elated at her success in getting under the general’s skin. They started to walk away as they were told to relay yet another message, this one back to the sender, but stopped their steps as soon as they were told to wait. She had no intention on giving Hux the answer he wanted easily, but at the mention of Aiya, she turrned slowly again to face him. 

---”What a cheap move, General. Betting on silly rumors to intimidate subordinates. Hoping that the shock and awe of good gossip will be enough to make them fear authority.” They scoffed. Of course Adni had heard the stories of Aiya’s demise. They’d been the one to pass them along herself too, adding sensational new details when it suited them. 

“Do you think I’m laserbrained enough to believe Kylo killed Aiya?” she pushed him, eyes narrowing as she retaliated, “Kylo might be the dark side’s prodigal son, but one to one? I find it near impossible to believe Aiya couldn’t have defended himself. If Kylo did it, he didn’t do it alone.” Of course this comment was anchored in nothing but Adni’s desire to stir up new trouble. Perhaps the idea of another person in the order cold-blooded enough, or blind enough to follow Kylo over anything else, would strike some fear into Hux’s soulless heart. In reality, her tactic was just as cheap as what she was claiming his to be.

.

Milla’s chair was a wonderful piece of tech for her, and while she could get it to turn on a dime if she tried, the sidewalk really wasn’t open enough to do so. she also wasn’t prepared enough, rolled to what was as far to the side as she could manage and looking at her map. she looked up when someone walked into her wheel, eyes just as confused as the person across from her’s.

“SORRY! sorry!” she rolled back farther, as though she possibly could, and looked around. “sorry. I’m not high.” she shook her head, annoyed and rosy-faced at the implications. “I’m just a bit lost. that’s all!”

*

---”yeah, you’re lost alright,” Adni snarked. Perhaps it wasn’t fair for Adni to pick on someone when they were already down, but they couldn’t help the power trip. Any chance to express their upper hand was taken gleefully. The opportunities were few and far between while she still maintained the title of apprentice.

Crossing her arms tightly across her chest, she did not refrain from furthering their intimidating stance. “First case of accidental interplanetary transportation I’ve ever heard of,” she quipped “Much more likely that someone would be playing the fool. Trying to get directions to somewhere they’re not supposed to be.”

-

❝ well stars, talk about a lucky day! ❞ she said, still as bright and cheerful as she was moments ago, now with a lightsaber pointed at her. ❝ i am not in the resistance, so there’s no need for the deadly glow stick. ❞ she winked up at the stranger. ❝ sorry for the startle – i didn’t mean to, i swear. ❞ she really did feel bad for scaring this person, obviously that was a little inevitable given their positions. 

❝ but don’t worry! i’m not causing trouble. i promise. ❞

*

---”lucky,” Adni repeated slowly, eyes still narrowed as they remained on high defense. Luck was a religion Adni had never bought into. They considered discharging their saber for a second, but instead, simply moved it back a little further to give the stranger some space to explain themselves.

---”If you’re not with the resistance, or rebellion, or whatever the hell they’re calling themselves, then why are you hiding in a crate on a first order ship?” she probed. ‘Not causing trouble’. She’d have to be a laserbrain to take that at face value. 

gideon hask was a renowned member of one of the empire’s most elite squads. an awarded combat veteran and commander. a survivor of some of the deadliest battles and missions in the empire’s history. he was not a babysitter.

but yet here he was, resoundingly that. he’d thought it a bad joke at first, upon receiving the assignment - “collect a wayward valuable personnel.” more information had been attached, of course, but he’d stopped reading beyond that sentence. he was a fucking commander, for stars’ sake - this was far, far beneath him.

he’d ended up doing it anyways. this knight of ren, as he’d learned, had been late to report in on a mission, and hadn’t been heard from - skipping duties, he’d been told, but he’d worried something far worse: defection. so perhaps that was why he hadn’t fought the task ( much ). regardless of intent or reason on either end, he was here, combing through streets and cams and —

had she just walked into his fucking lap like that? right there, holding his datapad and acting like she hadn’t a care in the world? “it was.” a beat. “is.” smooth, gideon. very commanding officer. “you’re looking on the wrong page if you want something interesting.” the publication had been a cover, a reason for waiting at this counter and sipping a cup of caf long gone cold. as she likely knew - she was a knight of ren, couldn’t they read minds ? - that wasn’t why he was here.

---”Well my stars, how can it get much more interesting than this?” she gasped, their dramatized expression clearly indicating sarcasm to anyone who wasn’t brainbolted. flipping the page again. “Did you know General Hux is a bottle-ginger? Must have a whole stash of dye in his quarters to keep up the farce.” 

Adni wasn’t fooled by the sensational claims of the tabloid, unlike she claimed. As soon as she finished her performance, she looked back down at the data pad, neutral expression returning. “You don’t seem like a man to spend your hard earned credits on holo-bim publications,” they chastized, before cutting their eyes back up towards him, “Ah, unless you just bought it for the pictures. I heard this edition has a great centerfold of Yarna d’al’ Gargan.” 

There’s a raise of an eyebrow from under his helmet at the other’s words. Curiosity seeping through his veins for a moment before a small smile creeps over his lips ad he takes a gloved hand to press gently down upon the table top of the desk between them. “It’ll be your choice for the day, Adni.” He starts, having still be surprised to see them but the Rift had brought numerous surprises and Kylo shouldn’t have let any of them affect him this way. After all, he, himself, had been brought back through the rift as well, having not died in his previous time, but having been surprised of the things he had been accused of. “If you wish to leave, I’ll find someone more suitable for my time and effort. The choice is yours.”

Adni only tilted her head, as if to say ‘touché’ to his ability to flip the blame right back to her. 

---”Oh little ol’ me, getting to chose something for once? How gracious, master,” she cooed, mocking gratitude. She only held her facetious tone for a moment before allowing a single chuckle. “Don’t project this on to me, Kylo. I’m the one who remembered to show up. I should be the one moaning about time and effort wasted.” 

Her assumption of his patience was, perhaps, overly generous of her. She did, of course, have little-to-no leverage against an order to just dump her on the nearest trash-heap planet they passed by, if that was something he desired. But of course, she’s never had much restraint with ‘poking the wookie’. She can’t help but see how far she can get before making them howl.