Tarkin stopped his pacing and took a step toward Sirejj, back straight and shoulders squared. He was quiet for a second, then said, "You can walk away if you want to. If you think it's too dangerous for your liking. I'll have someone drop you back on Dathomir or wherever it is you want to go, and I'll continue by myself." His eyes were cold as could be, and his voice was deadly soft. He'd see to it that ship never made it out of the star system, if Sirejj accepted. "Whatever lies Vader told me, I intend to uncover them."
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
scary tarkin is so freakin cool but also mostly terrifying
Sirejj's eyes narrowed and his lips began to curl back into a snarl but then he paused for a moment. Suddenly his expression changed, a thin smile crossing his face.
"I'm not convinced you won't try to kill me at the end of all this, but I know for certain I wouldn't get very far if I abandoned our venture now." He knew Tarkin was a liar; he himself being somewhat of a trickster could spot it a parsec away. "If you remember, I have things I must uncover on Atoa as well. I would just like to return with my head between my shoulders instead of mounted on a stick somewhere." He chuckled, as if brushing off Tarkin's poisonous words. "No, Governor, you won't be rid of me so easily. Just do us both a favor and don't get us both killed before we find what we're looking for." His hand, which had previously been empty, now grasped the cat's tooth between his thumb and forefinger. He held it where Tarkin could see.
Fey he seemed, or the battle-fury of his fathers ran like new fire in his veins, and he was borne up on Snowmane like a god of old, even as Oromë the Great in the battle of the Valar when the world was young. - The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
For real. I've been neglecting to describe his actions as well I feel like, but it feels good to have him acting like this again.
"Have faith," he scoffed, and his eyes followed the cat's tooth. "I've put trust in you. I ask that you do the same for me. I know what I'm doing, but I can only tolerate so much insolence." It still unnerved him that the tooth held so much information. Something like this would be High Command's worst nightmare; he couldn't imagine the secrets something of Krennic's might divulge. Or one of his own items, for that matter. He would have to keep a closer eye on Sirejj to make sure he didn't go looking for more trinkets; there had been political discussions in this home not even the Emperor knew about.
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
my writing is rusty so no judgment from this department. That and I work all day with a lot of using my brain cells and taking to people so my writing suffers
Would Vader try and catch Sirejj without Tarkin around to grill him a little or has he pretty much trusted Tarkin's judgement at this point concerning him?
"I trust only that you will not stop until you find what you are searching for. At the expense of anyone." His look sobered some and he pocketed the tooth again. "I just hope you understand that that man is a ticking time bomb. I've never felt anything like the chaos beneath that helm."
Last edited by ChieTheWriter on Mon Aug 19, 2024 2:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Fey he seemed, or the battle-fury of his fathers ran like new fire in his veins, and he was borne up on Snowmane like a god of old, even as Oromë the Great in the battle of the Valar when the world was young. - The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
I feel like the trust between Tarkin and Vader is strong enough that Vader wouldn't think Sirejj is up to anything at Tarkin's behest. He might believe Sirejj has hidden goals, though, so I could see him doing an interrogation based on that. Would you like to do a scene like that?
"I've known him longer than you might think. Believe me, I know." He relaxed slightly and turned away. "He keeps himself in check for the most part."
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
I think that'd be cool. Especially maybe Sirejj could learn something more about Vader in the conversation
"For the most part..." he muttered under his breath. Sirejj could usually predict the actions of anyone around him. If he failed to read their body language, the force told him everything he needed to know. But he could not do this with Vader. He had no idea what his next move was going to be, and that bothered him. "I am only saying do not underestimate power of the force. It's difficult to hide what cannot be seen in the first place." Their secret must remain hidden and that entailed essentially lying to a mind reader. Tarkin had been successful in handling Vader so far, but all it would take was one slip up. There would be no second chances.
Fey he seemed, or the battle-fury of his fathers ran like new fire in his veins, and he was borne up on Snowmane like a god of old, even as Oromë the Great in the battle of the Valar when the world was young. - The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
"Do you have recommendations, then?" he asked dryly. "For hiding what cannot be seen? I seemed to have some luck back there. Unless you assume he knows more than he's letting on?" Tarkin doubted that. Vader wasn't usually subtle enough not to acknowledge a betrayal of any kind. That was one of the things that cut him the deepest, and he let anyone he suspected know that in no uncertain terms.
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
I forgot Anakin had a thing about betrayal. Needless to say these two would be in huge trouble if Vader felt they were going behind his back
"Do not let your desire for answers get ahead of you. That will be the most important thing. You did well in hiding your thoughts. So long as he continues to believe that your interest in Atoa is solely based on your desire for revenge and not finding out what actually happened there, we should do well." Vader had reacted strongly enough to the discussion to indicate a disturbance around the subject. There was certainly more to find out.
Fey he seemed, or the battle-fury of his fathers ran like new fire in his veins, and he was borne up on Snowmane like a god of old, even as Oromë the Great in the battle of the Valar when the world was young. - The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
"Good." He began to pace again. "Do you think we can push our luck at dinner or should we leave it be? Is there more you can glean?" If not, then Tarkin wasn't sure he wanted to keep Vader here much longer. It was taxing, consciously trying to hide his thoughts. It wasn't a skill he had mastered by any means; he couldn't keep it up fir too much longer.
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
"I'm...not sure." Sirejj turned to look out the window, his back to Tarkin. "I feel as if he made it clear he didn't want to discuss Atoa further. But..." He glanced back at the older man, studying him for a moment. "He didn't say not to talk about your son." After all, the fate of the younger Tarkin was their main focus. "My only concern is that he knows you as a hardened warlord, not a sentimental old man. So he may sense a change if you begin reminiscing."
Fey he seemed, or the battle-fury of his fathers ran like new fire in his veins, and he was borne up on Snowmane like a god of old, even as Oromë the Great in the battle of the Valar when the world was young. - The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
"I have no intention of reminiscing," Tarkin said curtly. "But I can find other ways of bringing him up. Frankly, I should have agreed to let Thalassa come home--she was incensed about the assassin and wanted to come immediately--but I don't think she'd be able to hide her thoughts; she hasn't had many dealings with Force-sensitives."
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
"That may be the best course of action for now." Sirejj mused, still watching the forest in the distance from the window. 'I may be able to tell from his reaction if he knows anything concerning the demise of your son that he hasn't shared."
Fey he seemed, or the battle-fury of his fathers ran like new fire in his veins, and he was borne up on Snowmane like a god of old, even as Oromë the Great in the battle of the Valar when the world was young. - The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
Tarkin nodded, stopping his pacing to look at Sirejj. "He seemed displeased by you. We'll have to be careful." If Vader questioned him, would Sirejj break and decide to ally himself with the stronger individual? Maybe. But then he wouldn't get his chance to investigate Atoa, either. And it seemed clear that Sirejj was deeply against the Sith for some reason. "I admit I'm...surprised by the effect he had on you."
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
He tensed slightly, his eyes cutting towards Tarkin. He could still see him just from the corner of his eyes. "Anyone not sensitive to the force would be." He said quietly, clasping his hands behind his back.
Tarkin had also not spent his early years afraid he was going to be hunted for his abilities and taken away to be made into some abomination. Several of his people had suffered that fate. Only his magicks had kept him from being discovered then.
Fey he seemed, or the battle-fury of his fathers ran like new fire in his veins, and he was borne up on Snowmane like a god of old, even as Oromë the Great in the battle of the Valar when the world was young. - The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
"Apparently so." He raised an eyebrow. "What is it about him that makes you so afraid? Something in his mind? His thoughts?"
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
