[IC CONTACT]

[photophobic]

You should know where to find me.
But if you leave a message here, I will see it.

Comments

[faithfulson]

[ A bitter look came to Luke's face at that. ]

...your grandfather already told me. Something similar happened to me, with your mother and father's lives in danger, and I refused to accept sacrificing them as an answer.

[ Obsessive, compulsive attachment was against the Jedi Code; Obi-Wan had clarified that much. But Yoda telling him to sacrifice his friends for his training still did not set well with him. ]

[photophobic]

So something happens, between that and when my parents ask you to train me.
But as you all lied to me, I can't tell you what that was.

[faithfulson]

I wish I knew; I can't imagine what could have happened that I thought that was okay.

[photophobic]

[He laughs bitterly.]

Perhaps I am such a monster even as a child that you decide it's best not to give me those footsteps to follow.

[faithfulson]

I don't believe that.

[ His response was immediate, a sincerity in his voice that was hard to mistake for anything else. ]

I think... maybe I just didn't understand how to handle your anger. Maybe I just didn't know what I was doing at all.

[photophobic]

Nobody did.

[A long pause.]

I should go.

[faithfulson]

Okay.

[ Luke paused a moment, looking up at him. ]

...you're welcome to call me. When ever you want to.

[photophobic]

[There are... so many things he could say to that.]

I know.

[He gets up, sniffs, settles out to his full height. Being around Luke is... he doesn't know what it is. Uncomfortable doesn't quite fit.]

...What is it you want? What are you hoping will happen?

[faithfulson]

[ Luke smiled a little sadly at that. ]

I just want to know my family.

[photophobic]

I'm a murderer.

[faithfulson]

So's your grandfather.

[ Granted, he didn't know... the full details. Otherwise, he would have realized just how accurate that comparison was. ]

We're outside of our galaxy here, and out of our stream of time. I don't want to miss the opportunities this place presents to us.

[photophobic]

They're meaningless. Nothing we do here can alter the sequence of events. You will lie to me, again. And I will become your enemy. Again.

[faithfulson]

Maybe when we return they mean nothing, but this isn't that time. Even if we don't remember, I don't feel like trying to reach out to each other would be a waste.

[photophobic]

You are reaching out to a lie. The things I have done-- I remember them. Even if you can't.

[faithfulson]

I know.

[ Luke stood up then, a gentle, accepting look on his face, never mind how ridiculous it would seem to him. ]

Kylo... I still want you to be a part of my life. Even if we disagree -- on everything -- you're still family.

[photophobic]

What would I have to have done? To make you not want to know me. What crime would I have to have committed?

[It's an odd expression on his face now. There's an intensity in his eyes that doesn't seem to match anything else.]

What do you consider unforgivable?

[faithfulson]

[ Luke paused, considering the question carefully. ]

...your grandfather is responsible for the deaths of hundreds, maybe even thousands, of people, and that's not counting however many Jedi he killed during the Purge. Your father has done... stars even know what before joining the Alliance.

[ He paused, before making a face. ]

...and continued to do some of the dumber things even after the fact. Your mother and myself have killed plenty of times, and... hold the responsibility for innocent deaths as well.

[ Leia definitely had it worse, with the weight of Alderaan on her shoulders, but he had his own share of mistakes that lead to innocent lives lost. Cymoon 1 in particular came to mind. ]

If I drew a line, I'd be a hypocrite. I'm not going to do that to my friends and family.

[photophobic]

[He holds Luke's gaze for a long moment, weighing him up.]

I have no idea what the Luke Skywalker who ran from me would say to that question.
We haven't talked in some time. But I believe he considers me... an unforgivable mistake.

[faithfulson]

[ Luke raised a hand, hesitating a moment to see if it was okay, before clasping it onto Kylo's shoulder. ]

I don't know what changes that I would think that way, but you're not a mistake, Kylo.

[photophobic]

[He remembers this. The fondness. The sincerity. But he won't be seduced by it. He doesn't shrug Luke off, but it isn't warmth in his eyes.]

Perhaps I am simply a mistake you haven't made yet.

[faithfulson]

[ Luke let out a faint noise, the protest that he didn’t believe Kylo was a mistake on his lips, but he kept it back. He knew he didn’t want to hear that, not from him; or at the least, not this version of him. ]

[ He squeezed his shoulder, before letting his hand drop. ]

Anytime you want to see me, let me know. Even if it’s just to fight; I’ll make time for you. I mean that.

[photophobic]

I will bear it in mind.

[He owed Luke nothing- not the one he left behind or this one, and he was exceedingly wary of the offer. But he sensed nothing but honesty from the man, and he appreciated the effort to consider his comfort. He would think about this.]

And if you have questions. I will answer them.

[faithfulson]

Thanks.

[ He looked like he was going to leave it there for a moment, turning to leave. But he paused, looking back toward Kylo with a curious look on his face. ]

I do have one question...

[ Luke looked like he was going to be serious, but a smile was creeping up on his face, totally ruining it. ]

How have you not strangled Hux yet?

[photophobic]

[Was that a smile, creeping onto Kylo's face in response? Surely not.]

You're assuming I haven't.

[faithfulson]

[ Luke tried very hard to look disapproving, but it didn't work, at all. He flashed a broad smile before he hid it behind a hand, shoulders shaking with silent laughter for a moment. ]

Good. It's not just me.