* 𝙿𝙻𝙰𝚈 / 𝙳𝙴𝚂𝚃𝚁𝙾𝚈

 『 ✎ 』••• @manaborn​

“one more misstep and you’ll find yourself dead where you stand.”

The false sense of SECURITY the other held at such a hard strike directed towards the older sith. If he was anyone else the attack would have been successful but he wasn’t just anyone. It did, however, show Dagon that his new apprentice was learning. It brought a brief smirk to himself upon hearing AND feeling the frustration of the other through the force. But he recovered quickly and managed to block his master’s strike in time. It wasn’t pretty but what matters is that it was successful and he was BREATHING to survive another day. Not that Dagon would kill Ilyas, no, but he would make sure it hurt.

However, Dagon wasn’t entirely able to PREDICT the other’s next move. He was in a predicament all on his own so the only logical step was to press another attack. That was until the sudden push caught him off guard. Dagon staggered several STEPS away, back ramming into into one of the dummies Ilyas had been practicing on. A rather annoyed growl left the former King’s lips before he collected himself. A smart move, a bit impressed. Dagon managed to block the strike in time, catching the red blade of the other with his OWN. Both were a saber’s length away, the distance causing Dagon to pause and only glare at the younger one. 

there’s finally satisfaction — satisfaction in the fact that his unorthodox choice in weapon has finally paid off in the fight against his master, gaining some ground on the experienced man. he’s always had CONFIDENCE in his prowess with a lightsaber (albeit only against those unable to tap into the force), and the additional success only boosted his morale. perhaps he was imagining things, giddy off his small victory, but he could’ve sworn he’d seen a spark of frustration in dagon’s eyes as he pushed him back. ilyas cocked his head, a little glint in his eyes of cocky confidence, the slightest trace of lighthearted derision —

there is no denying the darkness that swirled around her, powerful and incredible. dark and intense. there was no denying the power that swirled around her in every moment. but sion knew that power could be perfect to bring about the rise of the true sith once again. and this woman, this being of immeasurable power, could be a conduit to help facilitate that rise. it was why sion took the risk of raising her from her long forgotten slumber. a risk he’d see pay off, if he had his way. 

“ allow me to properly introduce myself. my name is sion harrik, “ sion said with a curt, almost reverent bow. the envoy of the sith does no respect much, but he does respect power. and this woman is a bastion of power. “ i have woken you from your slumber because the time for the dark side to truly rule the galaxy has finally risen. there is a moment for darkness to rise, but i do not have faith in those who lead the lost tribe of the sith. i have brought you from your slumber, because i believe you are the right person to help me remove them from power. and bring the dark side of the force back to prominence. “ 

the sith’s somber introduction seems to do little to affect her, dark expression largely staying the same as he performs his little curtsy and bow. formalities — still a mild irritant in her eyes, so lacking in the face of bluntness — the first impression is not a favourable one. she’s never before heard of this lost tribe, she realizes, assuming them to be a REVIVAL (or perhaps a continuation) of one of the factions she’s known. what he asks of her is an errand, a play for power conceived by an ambitious apprentice; someone who will, no doubt, attempt to remove her from power once she’s outlived whatever use he sees for her.

she realizes this — yet she still feels the desire to help this unknown sith, fueled by the less than altruistic appetite for war and DESTRUCTION (the scent of revolution in the air). if what he says is true, then perhaps their alliance will prove to be fruitful, after all. “do you truly believe you will be the one to lead the sith into this new era?” she finally speaks, “you aren’t the first to hold these lofty ambitions. you wouldn’t be the first to have them crushed.”

@darksidings​ asked :  ❝ what is tranquility, but stagnation? ❞ (from maul!)

around a campfire in the middle of the wilderness, the two sith were waiting for the rise of the day to continue their journey. travelling with maul, a staunch believer trained in the ways of the baneite sith, was a difficult undertaking. because it would take much unlearning for maul to move past the selfishness of his prior training. 

“ it is not always stagnation. sometimes, the beauty of patience can be undeniable. tranquil moments like this can offer you clarity. help to refocus you on the task at hand, “ sion states calmly as he stares into the swirling embers of the fire. there was a long day ahead of the two of them, a challenge to conquer, descending deep into the tomb of naga sadow. here on korriban, the two of them would have the chance to retrieve an artifact of much import to the lost tribe, sion’s true masters. 

the time maul had spent with the sith had certainly been enlightening, revealing a variety of differing opinions he had failed to pick up on during their previous encounters; his assumptions had been put to the test, thrown this way and that, and in the end, they had both come out with a better understanding of the other. sion was an ODDITY amongst the sith, he would give him that — or perhaps just an oddity in the eyes of the current order.

there had been little time for questions when the pair had been traveling earlier that day, but now, under the shadows of the ancient statues, they had finally found the time to TALK. the dathomirian breathed out, slowly, elbows propped up on his knees. his attention had been drawn entirely to the environment around them for the former part of their journey (heavily reminded of his last trip here, the lessons it brought), and while the feeling of UNREST had not entirely left him, he was now relaxed enough for further discussion.

His FORCE connection, his action, was meant to create space yet controlled enough to not be rid of an apprentice that had promise. Anyone else attempting such a power without much training would have killed the other. But there was CONFIDENCE in his own abilities that he wasn’t even worried the other wouldn’t survive. And when he heard movement from across the room before turning to face the younger, he knew all was right. Well, as right as one could be in a sparring match. Another SMIRK tugged at the corner of his lips, the lightsabers twirling in his hands as he stood up straight to look at the other on the floor. 

The feeling of the force build up towards the other caused Dagon to shift his form to more of a DEFENSIVE. Ready to face anything that came towards him. Then it came, the twirl of the tornado of red caught him only slightly off guard as the blades began to blur, making it HARD for him to discern where the next strike would come. Now the surprise hit him more as the sudden stop of the other became even more unexpected. With a split second, reflexes honed from YEARS of training, one blade struck down to block the low strike with the other was sent down to strike towards the younger sith. 

the euphoria he experienced as he brought himself out of the spin pumped through his body, almost feeling as if he was hovering for a fraction of a second before he hit the ground with violent effect. ilyas had tried to get his saber into a gap in his defense before he could properly react, he really had, but he’d severely UNDERESTIMATED the speed at which dagon would counter. the apprentice growled (plain frustration on his features) as he yet again found himself playing the role of the DEFENDER, quickly bringing his hilt up vertically to catch the second blow — not graceful by any means, most definitely marred by the hasty retreat he’s suffered as a result of his rebuffed attack.

“ the sith empire did not fall. we simply realized that our moment was not afoot. instead of pushing back against the jedi who greatly outnumbered us, we decided to recede into the unknown regions and grow both our numbers and strength. “ for five thousand years, the lost tribe went into hiding, growing in number and building an army to take apart the galaxy. only to rebuild it in the image of the sith. that is true ploy of the sith. not this infantile rule of two created by a pretender to the name. “ our tradition is the way of the true sith. it predates all other dark side orders. and our moment is coming to take back what was always rightfully ours. and soon we shall, bringing about an end to the emperor and his fallacy of an empire. “ 

the other sith’s version of events seemed to contradict what he had known of the disappearance of the old sith and the establishment of the rule of two. it was strange to him, to say the least; having their former sovereignty REDUCED to nothing but scraps, forced to rebuild in secrecy, would qualify as a fall to him. perhaps their survival hinged on something else, he thought, a sneaking suspicion coming up in the back of his mind.

even with the abruptness of the sith’s appearance, he still offered an opportunity, the possibility of a tentative ALLIANCE that would benefit them both for some time. (for all he knew, sion served his own master, hidden in the shadows.) rule of two or not, the basic tenants of the sith remained the same. with equal amounts of caution and optimism, the idea took root in his mind, scenarios and potential courses of action already unraveling in his mind. perhaps the consummation of his VENGEANCE (the downfall of sidious) would be at hand sooner than predicted.

   the bounty hunter doesn’t give anything away, instead opting for leaning back in his seat and shifting so he can place his ankle atop his opposite knee. his blaster sits in his lap, with his hands resting and folding over it. a carbine rife that a lot of the galaxy knows and feels—but now boba fett doesn’t move, cocking his head to the side and bouncing his leg absentmindedly, almost. he doesn’t catch most of ilyas’ words—go figure—until his last comment.

    ❛ ❛mm.❜ ❜ boba replies simply, a response most are used to. fett believed they were on the same page, but it seems the opposite; unless he’s got that wrong. ❛ ❛i find it cute that you think i’d be the one leaving,❜ ❜ he muses.

   boba fett finds a scoff in him to add to it, leaning to the side so he can rest his elbow on the arm of the chair and slouch into posture that screams i’ll wait for you to actually do something about it. at first he cradles the chin of his helmet in his palm—then moves so his knuckles are pressed near the broadband antenna on the side.

    ❛ ❛i take it you don’t have true understanding of this business.❜ ❜

the beastrider perks up again as boba joins him at the table, a certain air of nonchalance gracing the bounty hunter (a first since the pair had come face to face). the blaster he carries remains untouched, placed within easy view of ilyas from where he sits; it’s meant for INTIMIDATION, surely, but he still can’t help but admire the threat as it’s laid out in front of him. it’s a somewhat larger blaster — unwieldy, to some, but ilyas is well acquainted with similar builds. it's not unlike the difference between a single and double bladed saber, he thinks.

still, even as boba moves in to make himself comfortable at the table, ilyas refuses to move, sitting in his initial position with his arms casually propped up against the upholstery. one moves to touch upon the table, rapping his knuckles against the surface; the motion is accompanied by the subtle quirk of a brow. he doesn’t quite understand the IMPLICATION behind the bounty hunter’s words (not with the overhanded threat he presents to him first), but the implication that he doesn’t understand the playing field prompts a moment of incredulity in the sith, quickly followed by amusement and a hint of INDIGNATION. even if he respects the man, the insinuation irritates him — taking a shot at one of the few things he feels himself to be genuinely decent in.

sorry abt the big time inactivity / low reply quality, i’ve been super busy with fostering and school and my sleep schedule also got fucked up, so my brain is mush 90% of the time — on the bright side, my midterms are over now, so i’ll try to get some replies out!! slowly. oops.