drawsghosts | Folkmore IC Contact

Of course.

Looks like we could use some more, yes.

Lavender, chamomile, and breakfast tea then.

I suppose we're lucky that there's two of us so it's easy to earn our day to day needs given how quickly we seem to go through our supply of tea.

[It's not Nine's favorite drink in the world. But it is a nice way to spend an afternoon. And not just because their tea time feels an awful lot like how it feels to report back to his superiors back home- which he likes.

Whatever the other replies though, it doesn't take long for him to return- with the aforementioned tea and also something to go with today's tea time.]

My Lord? [He calls, to ensure the other man has heard him return.] I'm back!

I'm always happy to cover our tea cost.

[He's pretty sure he drinks it more than Nine does.

He's reading a book when his housemate returns, looking up and smiling.]

Welcome home. I see they had our teas in stock.

[Nine musters a smile in return, though the spirit woo-woo he's been afflicted with is putting somewhat of a damper on his mood.]

And in our favorite out-of-universe generic brand, too. [Because nothing that they can get from shops is ever quite like what they can find at home.

Tastes similar enough. But no familiar brands that he's come across yet.] Anything interesting happen while I was out?

Most excellent.

[Much as he misses the teas he could get on Dromund Kaas, he'll take what they can get. He puts his book down to survey the Major's purchases.]

There was a spider in the kitchen sink. I put it outside.

[All he'll find is the world's most boring purchase of tea... And also a few different types of cookies that they'll both enjoy to go with the tea.

Normally he'd just make some himself, but considering he's been caught up in trial mishaps, he figured store bought is fine for a day.] Relatively uneventful, in other words.

I swear you don't even get the neighbors arguing in this place. Had it been Dromund Kaas I'd probably have run into at least one shanking on my way back... [Does he sound like he misses it?

Yes.

Yes he does.]

Try having an office in the Sith Sanctum. I swear there was a new corpse to clean up at least a few times a week there.

[He's tempted to take a cookie, but he resists. Best save them for tea time.]

I know, because sometimes apprentices would stack them up in Intelligence HQ to better hide the evidence. Forgetting- apparently- that Intelligence was up to the eyeballs in surveillance.

Nothing quite like opening your locker expecting your gear and finding week-old dead acolyte though.

[That... Was not what he was expecting to share. In fact, he usually avoids specifics about his military career.

What the fuck. Nine clears his throat a bit awkwardly, but quickly moves on-] ... Shall I go put on some tea now, my Lord?

[That gives Talwyn a brief pause, before he finds his voice again.]

Some tea would be lovely, thanks.

[He's never been in either Intelligence HQ or the Mandalorian Enclave, despite both buildings being next to the Sanctum. He never had a reason to go there.]

I'm sorry, but did you say that you had a locker in Intelligence HQ?

I- [He starts, intending to lie, lie, and lie some more.] Did, yes. I did work there. Do work there, if you count Sith Intelligence.

[Did he say "Sith Intelligence" rather in the same way that one might say "tapeworm" and with equal amounts of disgust? Maybe.

... What the fuck.] I- The tea, my Lord-

[Have you ever seen someone make such a quick beeline for the kitchen. The tea indeed.]

Edited 2023-12-14 07:38 (UTC)

[Talwyn just stares in stunned silence before Nine runs off to the kitchen. He quickly follows.]

By the Force, you're an Intelligence agent. A spy.

[He wasn't aware that Intelligence used Chiss, though perhaps he should have been.]

I heard that Intelligence was disbanded. Worst mistake we ever made, if you ask me.

[All it did was give the Republic an edge on them.]

[He had hoped for some amount of grace. Being able to ride this trial lunacy out with tea and light topics.

But apparently not.] Cipher Nine, my Lord. Hand of Jadus.

[He looks about as pleased as a cat dunked in water, but apparently the spirit woo-woo has given him a case of the motor-mouth and an inability to lie.] I wasn't- I didn't lie, though. I do hold the rank of Major in the military- granted to me after Imperial Intelligence was disbanded and its assets reassigned.

[His stint in the military had been pretty short, but he is fairly certain that he still holds that rank on paper. Among others.] And I would have to agree, my Lord. Worse than that, instead of handing the role off to actual experienced Intelligence personnel, Marr went and made that bint Lana Beniko into the new minister of Intelligence.

[Does he sound annoyed about that? Maybe a little.] As though one half-way successful Intelligence operation makes her qualified to oversee the Empire's network of spies.

Well, you did a good job at hiding it, and that's the mark of a good spy.

[Not that he's an expert. He only knows what he's read in novels and talking with a certain SIS agent.]

You've met Lana too? Honestly, what was Marr thinking putting her in charge of Intelligence?

Had it not been for this place being this place, you'd never have known.

[Because he'd never have brought it up.] I suppose you can just start calling me Nine in private now though. I identify more by my numerical designation anyway.

[And that's the truth. He hasn't identified by a proper name in a very long time.] And with all due respect my Lord, I don't think he was thinking.

[Nine knows Lana is capable of being competent. But not when it comes to being minister of Intelligence. Usually you'd need both experience in the field and experience overall to be even considered for the role.]

If he was, he would have taken his time in selecting a new minister instead of choosing the nearest Sith Lord who looked vaguely available at the time.

[...] Or he was thinking with an entirely different head, I suppose.

As you wish, Nine. Lucky for me that Lord Jadus isn't here, and I don't have to fear his wrath for encroaching on his Hand.

[He never met the man, but the stories he's heard paint a troubling picture. Though perhaps he had the right idea to flee the galaxy, knowing what the Emperor had planned.

He hides a chuckle behind his hand at that last comment.]

He didn't even consult me on this matter, and I'm on the Dark Council.

Given that he told me to continue performing my duties as I had been in his absence, I don't think he would mind. [So long as Nine is ultimately loyal to Jadus, he can more or less act according to his own wishes. So long as Nine sees something worthy of his attention, Jadus couldn't care less.

That's been his experience so far, at any rate.] He also isn't much the wrathful type.

[Not unless someone fails him, anyway.] And I'm not surprised. I know it's... Difficult to turn down responsibility when a member of the Dark Council hands it to you... But Lana is just as much to blame. She could have told him that she lacks the experience.

[And she should have. Because she does.] After the fiasco at Ziost though...

I'll keep that in mind if he ever shows up.

[He's strong in the Force and even without the ghosts, he can mop the floor with most other Sith, but he'd rather not find out for himself if Jadus can match him.

A haunted look passes over his face.]

Yes, Ziost. I was there... I felt it when the Emperor... I felt all that death.

[Millions of lives, snuffed out in seconds.]

I find that staying respectful but confident is a good way of keeping yourself from getting spread across the floor like butter over too much bread.

[Nine has no doubt that Jadus could reduce just about anyone to a very fine paste should he put his mind to it. But dealing with him is easy enough- easier, probably, for another Sith.] Being in Jadus's presence it feels- [He shakes his head to chase some thoughts away.] It feels an awful lot like being in the Emperor's presence. Like dying.

[He's equally haunted, really, but keeps dutifully working on preparing tea.]

Like Ziost too, I suppose. Though I didn't feel it the way you do. Felt almost like I could hear them all though- the panicked shrieks followed by deafening silence.

[He still has the nightmares.] That's usually the reason why I wake up screaming in the night.

[It's happened a few times... He also sort of wishes they could stop talking so he could stop being honest.]

Sounds unpleasant. I can also put up a Sith aura, but I've been keeping it off since I've been here. Mine isn't as strong as the Emperor's though.

[He regards Cipher Nine with concern.]

I did wonder about that, I'll admit.

I got used to it. [Sometimes Nine swears he can still feel it, but that might just be the nightmares and memories of the Emperor bleeding into it.]

... No need to look at me like that, my Lord. [He fetches some cups for them- getting up on tippy toes to get them down, rather than ask for help.] The nightmares will pass eventually. Once I learn to internalize it a bit more.

[Because that's the only valid option as far as he's concerned.] In the meantime, I could get you some earplugs if you'd like.

I could teach you some meditations that might help. As for earplugs, it's fine, I can put up with it.

[Besides, Sith don't shy away from fear, no matter where it's coming from.]

I've already more or less tried them all. [He shrugs.] Suppose all I need to worry about is waking the neighbors then.

I've worked for Intelligence for almost a decade, my Lord. I've seen a lot of things that were almost as bad as Ziost.

[Nine shakes his head.] If I start to try to untangle it all with meditations and the like, it might end up getting worse before it gets better.

[...] Plus a lot of it is this place. I haven't actually had a vacation for nearly a decade either and I sure as fuck didn't want one this long.

[What is it with spies and being a workaholic?]

Just try not to get too tightly wound. You'll give yourself an ulcer.

[He gets out the lemon juice for his tea.]

I could always purr you to sleep.

An ulcer is easier to deal with than the brain damage at least.

[... Oh he really hates his life right now. Damned spirit woo-woo forcing things he doesn't want to say out of him.] ... I wouldn't be opposed to an attempt, I suppose.

[Brain damage?]

Sadly, some things even Sith sorcery can't heal. Not that I'm much of a healer to begin with.

[He probably could if it were someone he loved and couldn't live without.]

It's manageable. [He shrugs.] Would be more manageable if that blasted fox gave me back my prescription drugs, admittedly.

[The withdrawals back when he first arrived sure were something.]

I don't think it's something that can be healed, at any rate. I don't think the brain was made to be brainwashed twice, so unless you've got a completely new one lying around for me... The damaged one I have will have to do.

[Oh, Nine really hates this honesty hour.

Though he supposes this all makes it easier since he doesn't have to essentially live two different realities at once even at home. Being Aden for such a long time without any downtime to be Nine has been weird.]

I'm afraid not.

[He was brainwashed too? Talwyn doesn't know where to start with that. He wants to blame the Republic, but brainwashing isn't really their style.]

Just know that if there's anything I can do, I will. I look after my allies.

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