Days To Come

[Dutch]

As Jessoin moved through the halls of the Temple, he could almost feel the way his body wanted to fight his purpose. Each step was harder than the last, the memory of his arrival still far too fresh in his mind. Though mostly healed by this point, a couple of wounds still had black-green scabs over them from the duel that had opened the Sith to him. There would be no scabs for the wounds in the Force he had suffered, the wounds his new Mistress had lain down so easily upon him. He swallowed the lump in his throat as he made the turn into the hall that would lead to her chamber. It was one of only a couple times he had left the medbay by this time, once in a panic upon waking from the near coma Renata had put him in, and again to find something to eat. He had no idea for how long he had been out, nor even knew what day, or month it was. Jessoin fought the spike of fear that staggered his heart. She had so easily wreaked havoc in his mind and presence, like a child toying with an insect. It scared him more than he would admit.

And then he was there. Jess stood just in front of the door to her chamber, pulse racing and mind screaming for him to turn and leave. But he had come to far, literally and figuratively to just turn around and abandon his pursuits because of some woman. Though he'd be lying if he didn't admit his curiosity to why she had summoned him. Like a true leader, some sod was sent to deliver the message.

"The Dark Lady has sent for you, Zarander. Don't be late."

So he had listened, and left immediately. Still not wanting to be considered tardy, he let his presence flow outwards to indicate that he had arrived. Jessoin placed two long fingers on the door panel, and triggered the comm to Renata.

"I've arrived."

[Meira]

"We all have our woes. The galaxy is at war, after all."

"Yes, my lady.

The Feeorin stood, rigid as stone, looking out over the Valley of the Sith. The sun was high overhead and its heat brought beads of sweat to the surface of his blue-gray skin. But he did not move to wipe it away, even as it ran down over his face and into his eyes. Behind him and just a step to his left stood Renata, a thin hood pulled over her head to keep the worst of the sun at bay. The light fabric of her dress hugged her figure and did not stir, for there was no merciful breeze this day. She was smiling, thin lips stretched across her face. She was quite enjoying his anger.

"Ive arrived."

The voice sounded through the comm and Renata turned her head, somewhat surprised. She was so immersed in the moment, she had quite forgotten she had summoned Jessoin. All the better. She stepped closer to the Feeorin and raised herself up onto her toes to whisper to him.

"Don't move."

She turned and reentered the cool shade of her office, waving her had once to open the door and then again to beckon Jessoin inside. Her smile continued as she studied him. He seemed well enough. With a tilt of her head, she signaled for him to follow her outside and returned to her previous place. Once Jessoin had joined them, she held her hand out toward the Feeorin.

"Jessoin, this fine Feeorin specimen is called Dex. Dex, say hello to Jessoin."

"Hello." he growled.

"Dex here was just explaining to me why he decided to relocate certain monetary assets meant for the war effort into a private account. Turn around and catch him up, Dex."

There was a moment of tense hesitation, but then Dex obeyed and turned around. He crossed his large, muscled arms across his chest and locked eyes with Jessoin, not even attempting to hide his anger and annoyance.

"I stole from the Order." he said flatly.

Renata smiled, moving her eyes from Dex to Jessoin. "Short and to the point." she said, happily. "What do you think about that, Jessoin?"

[Dutch]

Jessoin's eyes would glance up to meet Renata as the door opened. They darted up and down her body swiftly- only after she had turned away from him though. He wouldn't risk setting her off in any way. Though quite attractive, Jess could already guess his bounds when it came to the woman. And that certainly didn't include harassing her. Instantly he noticed the massive, muscular form of a Feeorin standing out on the balcony. He hadn't expected someone else to be there.

He followed her, his heart raising slightly as she lead them out into the sun. Where Renata had a thin hood to protect her from it, and the Feeorin stood and let himself sweat, Jess had to stifle a sigh of satisfaction as it pumped energy into his chlorophyll rich blood. Zelosians truly were the children of the sun. His eyes seem to glow even more impossibly bright green in the natural light, a smug smile now sitting on his lips. Jessoin did not say hello back after Renata forced this Dex to do so. Renata's entertainment could be heard in her tone, Jess wary but still unable to force himself to removed the smile from the infectious energy.

"What do you think about that, Jessoin?"

Jess' smile would shift into a smirk along with his eyebrows raising. He met Dex's gaze for a moment.

"I think he's stupid to have been caught."

His response too was short, those eyes flashing with coy energy as they slid to meet Renata's.

[Meira]

"T-t-t." Renata clicked her tongue, shaking her head. "Manner's, Jessoin." Her smile still didn't falter as she turned her head back to Dex. "Did you like it when he called you stupid, darling?" Dex shook his head, and growled. "Well, tell him, not me."

In a blink of an eye, Dex moved, scooping Jessoin up by his throat and lifting him from the ground with a single hand until the two were at eye level. "I don't like that." he said.

"Good!" Renata exclaimed. "Now put him down."

Dex obliged and stepped back, assuming his previous stance. Renata was all but giggling by now. "You were right. Of course." Renata said to Jessoin. "Rude, but right." She stepped between the two, facing Dex. The top of her head lined up just bellow his shoulders. Lowering her hood, she looked up at the Feeorin.

"You've been very stupid, Dex."

"Yes, my lady."

"Jessoin, what do you believe Dex's punishment should be?"

[Dutch]

Jessoin was not expecting the Feeorin to get the drop on him. What was amusement quickly turned to shock. Jess was quite fast, faster than the average by far. Yet Dex had grabbed him before he could even snap away. However, the man was lucky Renata told him to set Jess down. Even then he had rapidly gathered the Force into one hand, and was about to force copious amounts of electricity into Dex's heart. Jess landed onto one knee, gasping for air and massaging his now sore throat. That was going to bruise.

He could feel Renata's amusement bubbling out even more in the Force, why would she have any reason not to? She was a Darth, there were few for her to fear, even less that would dare try to bring out that fear. Jess watched as she removed her hood, admiring the color of her red hair. He stood slowly behind her, his grin sliding back as she prompted him for a punishment. Jessoin raised one hand to channel the Force into it. Arcs of purple lightning danced between fingers before he tossed the bolts over into his other hand, where they now played over that hand.

"On Nar Shadaa, when someone stole credits from us... I would cook their skin until it sizzled. Would you like me to apply this, my lady?"

Jess said, the last bit of his sentence said in the same tone as Dex kept using.

[Meira]

For the first time, Dex noticeably shifted. His arms dropped to his sides and his hands balled into fists. He tilted his head down toward Renata, his anger and hatred flaring in his sea green eyes. "You cannot presume to-"

"I.... cannot?" Renata widened her eyes as if shocked at the word. Dex clenched his jaw so tight, it threatened to shatter his teeth. Renata turned her back on him.

"We are not on Nar Shadaa, Jessoin. This is not some gang of thugs and sewer rats." she stepped closer to him. "I am not Mephesa."

Renata moved out from between the two and walked over to the balcony's railing. The short stone wall was just under a foot thick. She leaned onto it, resting her weight onto her forearms as she looked out over the valley. So many came here to become Sith, to shed the skin of an old life and take on a new one. Some, merely came here to die. They didn't know it upon arrival, but they came all the same. She patted the wall with the palm of her hand.

"Dex, my sweet, step up here."

Dex turned his head only, regarding the woman over his shoulder. Before complying, he turned his head back to give Jessoin one last glare. Then he moved to Renata's side and stepped up onto the wall.

"Do you enjoy the view?" she asked.

"Nothing compares, my lady."

Renata turned around and leaned her body back on the wall, crossing her arms across her chest. She glanced sideways up at the Feeorin, then turned her attention back to Jessoin.

"Dex is a master of our Sith Order. His official title is Lord Tien. Well, was Lord Tien. He is almost three hundred years old and has grown more powerful with each passing year. He is a master of three lightsaber forms and quite formidable without the Force. So, dear Jessoin, why hasn't he killed me?"

[Dutch]

At first Jessoin's smile would turn sinister at Dex's reaction. Jess loved it when someone clearly superior to him in a physical standing showed a moment of fear. He would begin to laugh lightly until Renata rounded on him instead. The Zelosian wasn't sure how to hold himself, his stance awkwardly caught between aggressive and disarming. His eyes locked with hers as she spoke, narrowing slightly at her words.

"I am not Mephesa."

Hot anger flared up from Jessoin, his eyes flashing golden for a moment. The memory of their last meeting was still painfully fresh. Jessoin had loved Mephesa, even if in the end she had used him. And yet he had killed her, cleaved her head from shoulders at the command of the Darth. His hate now muddled with loathing for himself now, Jessoin turned his eyes away to look at the valley before them. He could feel Dex's eyes on him now, but did not meet the gaze. Instead his green eyes turned to look at Renata's rear as she bent over the thick stone railing. Jess ignored the glare sent his way by Dex, too busy trying to calm his heart rate.

Jessoin made sure to look away from scoping out Renata as she turned around, instead turning his gaze upwards to the sun. He listened to the Darth's speech, blinking slow before turning his gaze to meet hers again. His head would tilt as he peered up at Dex for a moment. But his eyes would look back to Renata as he spoke.

"Why hasn't he? Where do I start, really? I'm sure there are a plethora of reasons. Surely you didn't earn your Darth title simply on good looks to start. I myself have tasted your prowess- and am not eager to feel that again. Common knowledge from what I've overheard says the Overlord is quite fond of you as well, to cross you could mean to cross him. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Clearly Dex here is driven by greed- why else steal from you? However I doubt if he survives today that he'll want his source of income taken away. Aka you. So why kill the golden goose?"

Jess began to step forward, his eyes sliding to Dex. A predatory gleam would take to his gaze as he paused, just out of reach from the pair near the balcony.

"And one more reason... he won't because I won't let him. I still need you."

[Meira]

Renata nodded her head in consent to the points Jessoin made. His last point brought out a chuckle from the Dark Lady and the Feeorin alike. Jessoin did not lack in confidence. But Renata was glad to see that he understood, if only superficially, the point she was trying to make.

"Yes." she said. "Harming me would have negative consequences for Dex." She pushed her body away from the wall, standing up straighter. "But my prowess, as you have termed it, isn't a particularly special skill. Anyone here could learn how to wield it, or defend against it. And my position of power is not something I take for granted. Our Dark Overlord would certainly not see fault in culling the Order of my presence if I prove unfit for leadership."

Renata turned around to the wall and held her hand up for Dex to take. He did, lifting her easily to his side so that she stood with him on the precipice. She pivoted on the balls of her feet to face Jessoin once again, the soft soles of her slippers scraping against the stone. "You have listed the results of a far deeper, and stronger truth. He doesn't want to. Not for fear, or greed." She turned her head, looking up at Dex who was watching her carefully. "Apart from all of those secondary reasons, Dex has a profound loyalty to me, isn't that right?"

"Yes, my lady."

Renata raised a hand to touch her fingertips lightly to the side of his face. With a gentle nudge, Dex was prompted to lower his head. She kissed his forehead lightly and allowed her fingers to linger on his cheek until he pulled himself back up to his full height. "Your services to the Order will not be forgotten." she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Dex took her hand and helped her back down to the floor of the balcony, turning his body so that he faced her and Jessoin as she moved to the Zelosian's side. Dex no longer regarded Jessoin, but instead kept his eyes focused intently on Renata. The rage had slowly been subsiding, and now seemed almost absent entirely.

"Dex's punishment must address the nature of his crime." Renata said, keeping her gaze locked with Dex's. "As you so astutely observed, his crime was the product of greed. To absolve this, he must do penance through an act of selflessness. He sacrificed the good of our Order for personal gain. Now, he must sacrifice himself for the good of all."

Dex took a deep breath, his whole torso rising with the intake of air. Then he lowered his head slightly toward Renata, who in turn gave a slight nod. Dex stepped backward and fell from the balcony. Renata allowed a few moments of silence, then turned to Jessoin.

"It's quite hot. Care for some water?" she asked with a pleasant smile as she moved to reenter the office.

[Dutch]

Jessoin watched Renata's dealing with the Feeorin, eyes narrowed in curiosity. She was a fascinating creature indeed, and despite the fear she had set into his stomach at their first meeting he found himself curious about her. Where had she come from? How did she command such loyalty? It was a form of power all on its own, a power that Jessoin admired- not without jealousy. Too many times now he himself had been in Dex's position, at the hands of some beautiful creature pulling the strings. His eyes watched as she tenderly touched his skin, wondering for a moment if the two were or had once been lovers. Even as Renata moved herself away from Dex, Jessoin did not stop watching the man. What could almost be called a feeling of kinship began to form within him, seeing a fellow creature controlled as he had been. Jess would shift his head back slightly, raising his chin as Renata continued to speak.

He wasn't expecting what happened next. Dex stepped off the balcony, a death sentence this high up the Temple. Jess blinked a couple times, surprised by the turn of events. He didn't look at Renata in the silence, instead letting his gaze peer out across the Valley of the Dark Lords beyond them. She spoke as he began to step forward slowly. As he reached the railing one hand rested on the hot stone, but did not flinch away from it. His eyes peered over the edge to the splat mark on the stone below that had once been Dex. Initiates and other Sith gathered around, some looked up at Jessoin. Despite himself, he grinned. What rumors must be spreading now. Jessoin leaned back away from the edge and flashed a light smile at Renata.

"If you think I'll ever toss myself off a ledge like that, you're sadly mistaken my lady."

Jessoin laughed gently before pushing off the wall to stride out of the blessed sun into the shade. Clearly the Dark Lady wasn't as fond of its rays as he was. He stopped just within the arch of the balcony, his hands grasped behind his back as Jessoin watched the Darth.

"I'd prefer a nice Commenoran brandy, but since when does a Zelosian ever turn away sun or water? One would think you're trying to appeal to me in some way, offering both so."

[Meira]

"I certainly hope it never comes to that." Renata replied to Jessoin's boast. Apparently he'd forgotten how persuasive she could be. She contemplated reminding him, but decided against it. It wasn't worth the energy it would drain from her. Instead, she allowed him his hubris and stepped over to the bar where she poured two glasses of chilled water. Taking them up, she stepped back past Jessoin, handing him one of the glasses as she walked by, then circled over to her desk where she sat.

"One would be stupid." she replied to his second comment. "The sunlight is hardly mine to give, and water is refreshing to plants and animals alike."

As she settled into her chair, Renata took a drink and crossed one leg over the other before setting the glass down on the desk. She regarded the man for a few moments, remembering now why she'd decided to take him under her wing. Aside from his ego, which was entertaining, there was a spark inside Jessoin that simply demanded further inspection. And Renata chose her apprentices based on who inspired her curiosity the most.

Renata extended her senses toward the man. He'd made no efforts to guard himself, like so many of the Order did. Perhaps it was because he was aware she surpassed him in this skill and any efforts he made would be in vain. Perhaps he simply didn't care, a foolhardy sentiment. Likely, it was a combination of both. As her consciousness connected with his, the first thing she felt was his curiosity. In particular, a lingering wonder as to her relationship with Dex.

"No." she said flatly. "Dex and I were never lovers. Believe it or not, Jessoin, it is possible to command loyalty without opening one's legs. I know Netta and Mephesa had you convinced otherwise, but I will show you how it is done."

[Dutch]

Jessoin took the glass. He held it up to his nose to sniff it for a second, wary still. After determining it wasn't poisoned or laced with anything, he brought the glass up to drain it. The Zelosian paid no mind to Renata physically, instead simply listening. He grinned at her comment, and turned around to face her. She was settling in her seat, legs crossed and eyes regarding him. Jess' smile faded slightly, and he strode backwards over to the bar again. His hand would find the same jug of chilled water, and pour himself a fresh glass. He was completely caught off guard by Renata's sudden invasion of his mind, unable to hold back the tide of her presence. Then shock caused him to drop his glass, shattering and spilling the contents everywhere. Jessoin cursed under his breath, and turned eyes flashing back at Renata.

"Show me?"

He asked, unable to stop the hint of fear to his voice. Jessoin looked away again, his hand moved downwards in a scooping motion to rap a bubble of the Force around the glass shared and water alike. As his arm raised, so did what was trapped until he held it rotating lazily in front of him. He stared at it, unable to look at Renata. She had ripped names, and clearly events from his mind so easily, like a child picking out food they disliked from a dish. Jessoin was able to call forth raw elemental energies, and mangle bodies with sheer control of the Force, but to rule the mind so elegantly, so perfectly. He wanted that power. No, he needed it.

"And where does one learn 'how it is done'? Hm? Did our Overlord and Savior show you? Did you open your legs for him to learn how?"

[Meira]

Oh, she loved the feel of fear. The way a pulse quickened, the tightness around the heart; it was a cocktail all its own. For a man who appeared so confident, it sure came easily to him. This was good in their relationship, but she hoped it would not extend beyond it. She doubted it would. Jessoin had not encountered anyone like Renata, she was not too humble to say. This fear was hers, and hers alone. She smiled. Even when he dropped the glass, she hardly cared.

Jessoin began to clean up after himself, his mind thinking over what she'd said to him. He assumed she plucked Netta's name from his mind. Though he was wrong, she did not bother correcting him. She could have gotten the information this way, but it would have required more effort than simply observing his surface thoughts. No, Renata was given Netta's name along with a data file of information about Jessoin and Mephesa after they'd first made contact with the Sith Order. Renata had a whole network of spies and informants to find this information so that she didn't have to bother.

"And where does one learn 'how it is done'? Hm? Did our Overlord and Savior show you? Did you open your legs for him to learn how?"

Her smile disappeared. Wordlessly, Renata stood and placed both palms flat on her desk. Her eyes glared at Jessoin until he finally looked at her. A mistake on his part. Renata held his gaze, impressing her will upon him more and more. She could see his veins begin to bulge as he resisted her. Admirable, but pointless. It was only a few moments before his knees began to give way and his body lowered to settle on one.

Without breaking eye contact, Renata walked around her desk until she stood in front of Jessoin. Another push and his telekinetic hold of the glass shards and water disappeared, the liquid and glass falling to the ground once again. Jessoin's hand jerked and then shakily picked up the largest piece of glass. Ever so slowly, it was brought to his throat. But there, it stopped.

Renata reached out her hand, touching her fingers under Jessoin's chin to lift it up. Now her smile returned, soft and warm. "You are so like a child." she said, then turned away. With her eye contact broken, so was her hold on him. She moved back around her desk and sat back down. "Forgiveness is not one of my strengths, Jessoin. I suggest you seek it sparingly."

[Dutch]

Jess had never regretted meeting someone's eyes so much before. He struggled to fight her invasion, but she shattered his will as if it were spun of sugar. Jessoin would growl, eyes beginning to shift into a gold color as his anger grew. She moved closer, and despite his best efforts to move away, his feet were rooted. He could almost feel her strings begin to tug at his body, panic beginning to rise as his body moved seemingly on it's own. Jessoin's heart raced as his own hand brought a glass shard to his throat, eyes bulging as he tried to force it away. Now amber in color, they stared back at Renata as she touched his chin and smiled. Smiled at him. Hot shame made his skin flush green, again he was at the hands of a woman. A woman who clearly had a hold on him, a woman who clearly had control over him. Again. He hated that. He hated her. Even more so... he hated himself, for letting it be that easy.

She released him, and Jess flung the shard of glass away. He panted and massaged his neck with one hand, the other pushing off the ground to help him stand once more. Jessoin had half a mind to call lightning, to fry the red haired woman in her skin. Only for the same thing to happen again, it was clear she merely needed eye contact to take control, and that was without trying it seemed. He was... outclassed. Jess' shoulders lowered, relaxing his posture.

"Forgiveness is not one of my strengths, Jessoin. I suggest you seek it sparingly."

"A sound suggestion..."

He rasped. Jessoin stepped carefully over the spilled water and glass, this time refusing to pick it up. He would stop at one of the stools of the bar to shift his lanky form onto it. One foot on the ground still and the other perched on the stool, his eyes shifted back to their normal vibrant green. He stared at Renata, and wondered just how she had been able to grasp him so. Despite himself, greed took root in his core. He needed this, it was the key to his ascension- Jessoin just knew it.

"...Where does one learn such powers though?"

[Meira]

She watched as he recovered, still feeling his resentment and fear. Slowly, she withdrew her conscience from his mind, allowing him his privacy for now. In any case, it was never a good idea to linger in another being's thoughts for too long. One might allow sympathy or other intrusive emotions to take control. This was surely where Mephesa had gone wrong when she controlled Jessoin. She'd kept herself in his mind for so long, her judgement became clouded. She developed feelings for the man. And while Renata was not one to dismiss the virtues of physical relationships, she knew that the one built between Jessoin and Mephesa was doomed from the start.

"Before you can even consider the possibility of controlling another being, you have to be able to control yourself. You have built up a great deal of control in many of your abilities, Jessoin, but you are severely lacking in matters of your mind. I would not have been able to control you so, had you been more wary. But it can be learned, with patience."

She stood once again, crossing around her desk and leaning against the front of it, arms crossed in front of her. "I will promise you one kindness, Jessoin. Unlike Netta and Mephesa, I will show you how to stop others from using you in this way. It won't be easy, and I plan on hurting you a great deal. But you'll be stronger for it."

[Dutch]

Jessoin nodded slightly at Renata's words. Patience was far from one of his virtues, but if it meant that he too could learn the power of controlling another with nothing more than a thought he would be. His eyes refused to look into Renata's, instead they looked at her neck almost blankly as he listened. He huffed a laugh at her mention of hurting him. Jess would blink slowly, and upon opening would slowly shift up her face to meet her eyes once more. They glinted with an inner fire, and a slow grin spread.

"I can take pain. One has to understand pain to deal it. That was a lesson I learned once. Though the others used me, I still learned much from them."

He slid from the stool back to his feet. With careful steps he began to approach Renata, the fingers of one hand playing against one another unconsciously. Jessoin would move past her, back out onto the balcony. His eyes found the landing pad, the very one that he and Mephesa had arrived on. The bloodstains of blackened green and blue were seen there still, baked in from the sun. The only testament to where Jess had broken his shackles. The question was, did Renata slide a new set onto him?

"There have been words of promise whispered to me for a long time. Mephesa was far from subtle in her desires. Netta and the Jedi- much more so. I wonder, which you will be..."

[Meira]

He hated how she was so easily able to control him. Was it because she did so without the veil of affection his previous mistresses had used? Surely he wasn't so blind... then again, She had been inside his mind. Jessoin honestly thought these women had loved him. Maybe they had, in their own shallow ways. Had she too not spent her own time as wild as those two had been? She had thought she knew so much. Iniquitous had opened her eyes to what power truly was, and how little she knew of it. She wondered if she could do the same with Jessoin, or if he was doomed to being nothing more than a tool to be used when the situation called for it.

She watched him as he moved toward the balcony. She knew he could take pain, and he was right in his statement about it. She had learned as well. But there was more to learn than simply withstanding pain. The glory of the dark side was that it showed one how to wield pain, that of others and of one's self, as a weapon of devastating power. It was exquisite.

"Neither." Renata responded to Jessoin's musing. She might have had her own roots within the Jedi Order, as Netta had. She might have spent time exploring a wild sense of freedom as Mephesa had. But the thing that allowed Renata to stand apart from these women was vision. She had seen the future, one laid out in the plans of their great Overlord. She could have watched that future unfold from her lavish life on Zeltros. She could have been a part of it as some foot soldier on the front lines for either side. But Renata had seen what she wanted when she first met Veratos and they traveled to Ossus to find Iniquitous. She had seen it the day Iniquitous had given her a new name, and now every moment was spent in efforts to ensure that she stood at the forefront of the Sith Empire as it closed its grip on the galaxy. Many people coveted her position, but the truth was that only a precious few could seize it and make it their own. Perhaps one day Jessoin would number among those few.

She moved to stand beside him, looking out onto the valley. "You couldn't kill me, Jessoin."

[Dutch]

"Neither"

Jessoin huffed at the response. His hand moved over the balcony to idly wipe some sand that had gathered there off the edge of it. No wind would blow it away, instead the grains fell down the temple without resistance. With mild amusement Jessoin watched as the grains fell on the head of a young human with blonde hair. The boy shot a poisonous look up at the Zelosian. Until his gaze turned from insulted to fear, and he scuttled inside. Jess felt himself tense as Renata moved next to him, the man cursing himself mentally at the reaction. Jess did not turn his green gaze to the woman at first, his eyes still locked down at the bloodstains below. Not until she spoke did he turn, the muscles in his neck near pulled from the speed of which he turned.

"You couldn't kill me, Jessoin."

Echoed through his mind again. Hot hatred flared upwards from the man. Several impulses flared up all at once. The desire to backhand the woman. The desire to choke her. The desire to fry her. More and more, each one to be nipped before they moved beyond thought. Instead Jessoin set his jaw and looked away from her again, hands clenched the edge of the balcony hard. He focused on breathing, not curbing his rage but instead focusing it. Become strong enough... and you'll never hear those words again...

For a moment, he continued his silence. The anger subsided as did his grip on the balcony. They didn't move though, the man still leaned his weight against the balcony. Once feeling more composed, Jessoin turned back to face Renata. His set expression melted into a toothy grin- though his eyes still spoke of unspeakable desires. He shifted his body so that his elbow leaned onto the stone with hands clasped together. Jess raised his eyebrows as his gaze slid back to look over the Valley of the Dark Lords.

"Correct me if I'm wrong... but is it not the Sith way to one day slay their master to ascend? I've heard several rumors that this is not the case..."

[Meira]

She'd struck a nerve again. Renata could play Jessoin so well, she could do it in her sleep. She understood that temptation to control him so much. It was hard to resist when he made it so easy. But that was not her task. One didn't make it to the top by playing with toys. No, they built their way up, brick by brick. The bricks had to be strong, or it would all come crumbling down beneath her. Jessoin would be strong. She would make him strong or else find another brick.

Slowly, he regained his composure and Renata watched him, eyes fixed on his features, as he brought himself back under control. That was what she wanted to see. That was the promise he showed. So many came to the Sith with raw power, but so few possessed the foresight to understand the virtues of control.

"Correct me if I'm wrong... but is it not the Sith way to one day slay their master to ascend? I've heard several rumors that this is not the case..."

Renata reflected his smile, twisting her body so that she could lightly hop up and sit on the balcony railing. Her feet swung slowly beneath her, not a care for the distance between herself and Dex's corpse below. "That is certainly one way of doing things." she said thoughtfully. "It works well, for the most part... That is until that Sith realizes they hadn't learned all they could from the master they preemptively slaughtered.

"The fact of the matter, Jessoin, is that if we followed tradition, everything we've built would crumble away. Power would wind up in the hands of those who don't know how to use it and this great Sith Order would go the way of all those sorry souls out there." she gestured with her chin toward the valley of the Sith Lords. "Sure, they have their legends and their pretty tombs. But is that what you want, Jessoin? To be thrown in the dirt on some planet at the edge of the galaxy when you die?" she sighed. "I don't. I want to be buried on Coruscant."

Renata smiled, swiveling her body once again and hoping off the railing, then turned to face Jessoin once again. "Or better yet, why die at all?" She flashed him a knowing smile. "Now, if you're serious about learning from me, let's start with the basics. Clear your mind. Forget your anger, your resentment, all of it. Let it all go. When you're ready, I'm going to invade your thoughts once again. Focus, and try your best to stop me."

[Dutch]

Jessoin glanced over to Renata as she hopped up onto the balcony. She was so close to the edge. It would be so simple just to reach out and with a mere nudge, end her life. He could feel his pulse begin to speed up at the thought, his heart near skipped a beat as the adrenaline began to kick in. Jess felt himself shift slightly as Renata spoke, the image in his head so clear. A quick burst of the Force, Renata tumbling as her red hair flowed, the satisfaction of knowing he won in the end...

"... That is until that Sith realizes they hadn't learned all they could from the master they preemptively slaughtered."

He glanced down at his hand that now stopped at his side. It had slid from the balcony almost subconsciously. Jess could feel the Force gathered in his palm, but instead of applying it smiled sheepishly before turning and leaning back against the balcony- hoping she thought his movement was simply to adjust how he stood. His arms crossed and he peered sideways at Renata with curiosity in his eyes. Jessoin shook his head slowly when she queried if he wanted to repeat the mistakes of their Sith predecessors. He did huff at her mention of Coruscant. The man didn't want to die there, he didn't want to die at all if he had anything to say about it. He had heard of Sith living far past their natural spans, having found deep wells of power that fed them for centuries.

"Or better yet, why die at all?"

Jess again snapped his gaze over to stare down at Renata as she hopped off the balcony, her smile coaxing one from him despite himself. Was she ever not in his mind? Or was she just that good? His skin pricked with goosebumps as it sank in more and more. He really could not kill Darth Renata. Not now, not soon. Simply put she outclassed him, knew him better than himself half the time it seemed. Jessoin could attempt to attack her, but she seemed as if she'd know before he even tried: And end it. Hot shame leaked into his thoughts, the hate for his own weakness outclassing his hate for her at that moment. His arms uncrossed and balled into fists as they fell to his sides, eyes glowered at the red haired woman. It seemed she was nonplussed by his emotions, instead directing him to abandon them. To let her teach him. Jessoin was sure it would not be pleasant. His gaze locked onto Renata's, a slow nod given.

"As you command... my Lady..."

His words would be touched with bitterness and humility, but he obeyed. A deep breath drawn in to exhale out the tightness that had gathered within his chest, to clear his mind and await her presence's touch.

[Meira]

"As you command... my Lady..."

See? That wasn't so hard. She thought the words, but did not say them or share that thought with Jessoin. It was tempting, but he needed to focus now. So she kept the thought and allowed herself a satisfied smile only once he'd closed his eyes. It was such a thrill to bend the will of another. It was easier to force a mind through deception or other mind tricks, but the true satisfaction was to bend the will of a being who was fully aware of how they were being manipulated. Jessoin was such a being now, the shame flowing off of him was a testament to her victory. Of course, those who obeyed and were loyal would not be left in shame and subjugation. Renata rewarded those loyal to her. Zarene, Gabriella, Nieraan; all had their new names now, all were prominent and rising figures within the Sith Order. Jessoin would number among them as long as he continued to show that he could follow just as well as lead.

She allowed him a short time to center himself. Having come from the Jedi, she was sure he could do so quickly. If there was one thing the Jedi did well, it was being still and quiet. Taking a deep breath, Renata locked her eyes on Jessoin. For the purpose of this lesson, she didn't need to have eye contact, but keeping him in her focus allowed her connection to him to hold strong enough to comb through his mind. She started with recent memories, after he'd awoken from his coma in the temple medbay. She pulled them to the forefront of his mind; the pain and the fear were strong and would serve her purpose well.

"If the force surrounds us and connects us, then that means we can tap into that connection and manipulate it. This is how I can see into your mind." she said as she stepped closer to him. "But these memories, this pain, this is you. I did not put it there, nor did I call it out of your nerves. It is your memory, your pain." She circled around him, standing at his back. "Focus on the source." she said, reaching out her hand and touching the tips of her fingers to his spine at the middle of his back. "Follow the pain, from your arms and legs, up to your shoulders..." she walked her fingers up his spine, "to your neck... here." she stopped at the base of his skull, pressing her fingers in firmly, but not painfully, he didn't need more pain.

"This pain is in your mind. I have brought it to the forefront of your thoughts because I am connected to you." Quickly, Renata pulled her hand away from Jessoin's neck. "Sever the connection."