Private Living Mythology

[Alicio Organa]

"Yeah," he repeated, matching Eloise's inflection as she told him he was overthinking. "Probably."

Eloise seemed not to want to play along. He wasn't sure what he expected from her; it wasn't like she had the context he did. The fact that it granted visions of what could have been seemed to not be all that exciting for the young Dinn, which was probably a good thing. Sure, it likely only preyed on his wants and desires, but in the event that it didn't...

“If we’re dealing in hypotheticals, I guess it means there is no destiny set in stone. Neither the Jedi nor the Sith ever believed that. 'The future is always in motion.' What the hell is this ‘Destiny’ you speak of, anyway? Isn’t it just the path you’re on now, due to your choices and circumstances?”

"Neither ever believed that?" He accidentally put on a bit of a mentor-ish sort of voice. "That's a bold assertion to make, considering prophesies are a common part of Jedi Tradition. And Sith Tradition, for that matter." His arms crossed over his chest. "Currently, I believe that because only one thing will happen, that means only one thing could happen. What we perceive as the 'future in motion' is only our view of what will be warping, like... an image underwater. My brand of seeing the Future is more like navigating that water. Guessing at what might happen next. Others have a more... accurate vision of what will be. From my understanding, the Jedi typically believe that we should follow the Will of the Force, accept our destiny. The Sith attempt to deviate, yet fulfill it all the same."

Alicio shrugged. "Not the kind of topic for a first meeting, though. Apologies."

- Eloise Dinn -

 

[Eloise Dinn]

As Alicio went into mentor mode, Eloise’s eyes started to glaze over and her expression grew sullen. Eventually he seemed to realize that he was attempting to have a deep discussion about the Force, prophecies, and the nature of time itself with a seventeen year old girl who hadn’t come to see him for that purpose. She wasn’t particularly academic—she was a warrior first and foremost—and while she could hold her own in most circumstances, she had little interest in these philosophical discussions.

"Not the kind of topic for a first meeting, though. Apologies."

Eloise breathed a sigh. “What are you doing here?” she asked bluntly. “If you want answers to these questions, why aren’t you a Jedi, studying the ways of the Force? Do you really think your personal beliefs mean anything? Or do you just want the Force to conform to how you'd like it to be, the truth be damned?

“Is someone you love destined to die or something, and now you’re just desperate to find a way to change the future you’ve envisioned? Because that never ends well, you know.”

Alicio Organa​

 

[Alicio Organa]

“What are you doing here?”

Alicio had been expecting a few different questions from Eloise. Not that one. Alicio blinked, confused, until she continued. The pieces that were Eloise Dinn were beginning to lock into place.

"I'm not a Jedi because I have other responsibilities. One cannot be a Jedi and a standing Alliance official, you know. And I think... I can do more good as a senator than I could a Jedi Knight." Had he? That question, Alicio didn't know if he could answer.

There were more reasons, too, but Alicio had since learned not to overshare with the young Jedi. She didn't seem to appreciate it much.

He ignored Eloise's question about his viewpoint for the time, instead focusing on her last statement, with a sad sort of stare. "No, I'm not trying to save anyone specific." Kai's death had already come to pass. All he could do now was try to understand. Dredge up more regrets. Make the galaxy a better place, for everyone.

Finally, he looped back around. He felt no need to defend himself, his beliefs, from the teen. If anything, he made the target larger. "If it's any consolation to you, I'm sure I'll believe in something different by this time next year." He twitched out a smile. He knew she probably wouldn't enjoy a vocal spar, but he couldn't help himself.

"Are you saying people shouldn't have personal beliefs about the Force? Everyone should follow conventional dogma?"

- Eloise Dinn -

 

[Eloise Dinn]

“The current Chancellor is literally a Jedi Knight,” Eloise pointed out, not at all impressed with his answer. “She may have left the Order, but that doesn’t change what she is. She used her lightsaber to symbolically cut through a bill she didn’t like, for feth’s sake.” Maybe it was for the best that the Jedi stayed out of the Senate, but the fact of the matter was people didn’t care. If there were any rules or laws disallowing them from serving in even the highest office in the land, they were clearly being ignored. Or they were treated as guidelines at best.

She didn’t particularly want to talk about politics, either, yet he had nearly sucked her into a discussion about that. Her demeanor cooled. She was determined not to allow him to take control of the conversation and lead her along like a dog on a leash.

"If it's any consolation to you, I'm sure I'll believe in something different by this time next year."

The disgusted look Eloise gave him, complete with a sigh and an eyeroll, bordered on being comical in how dramatic it was. In spite of everything, she was still thoroughly a teenage girl. "Are you one of those idiots who talks about 'my truth'?" she asked. "Like there isn't any objective truth? Because if you are, please tell me now so I can get the hell out of here as soon as possible."

"Are you saying people shouldn't have personal beliefs about the Force? Everyone should follow conventional dogma?"

“Oh no, Senator. I’m saying that there is only the Jedi and the Sith. It doesn’t matter what you believe or how you identify. Your minor theological differences are meaningless in the grand scheme of things. You’re either on the side of the Light or the Dark.”

Alicio Organa​

 

[Alicio Organa]

"Literally, she is not a Jedi Knight." Alicio said, pursing his lip. "Though in spirit, she might be. Hence the symbolic cut of the peacetime spending plan. But she renounced the Order. Which means she isn't a Jedi."

"Are you one of those idiots who talks about 'my truth'?"

That got Alicio to widen his smile, and shake his head. "No. I'm just open to learning. And accepting that I might be wrong." He wasn't the kind of person to deny reality. He tried to be realistic, both with the world around him, and himself. Though, perhaps sometimes, he let a bit of optimism get the better of him. Not as much, recently.

It seemed to him that Eloise was the one being unrealistic, between them. He tilted his head to her, trying to keep all the smug knowledge from his voice that he could. "Then, in 'your truth', I am a Jedi. So there isn't an issue."

- Eloise Dinn -

 

[Eloise Dinn]

"In her case, what she is in spirit is all that really matters. She was knighted. She never stopped believing in what all Jedi believe, using the Force, or wielding a lightsaber. There are people who aren't even Force Sensitive that identify as Jedi. She may not call herself one anymore, but her actions prove otherwise."

She didn't believe him when he claimed to be willing to accept that he was wrong. People in general couldn't take criticism. If you tried to correct someone or point out their flaws, they got angry or ignored you or acted smart, all while continuing to live in denial. At the very least, they would never admit to the one who criticized them that they were right. Their pride, that universal sin, wouldn't let them. “What you say and what you do are two very different things,” she muttered.

"Then, in 'your truth', I am a Jedi. So there isn't an issue."

She resisted the urge to tell him to go feth himself with his wife's lightsaber. It may have been easy at times to forget Alicio was a politician, but this had served as a sharp reminder. He had twisted her words to his benefit, misrepresenting what she had said in an attempt to trap her. Intellectual honesty was probably beyond his capabilities. All he could do was try to make her angry and throw her off balance. Knowing that, she wanted to defy him more than she wanted to take out her annoyance on this petty little prick.

"No," she replied firmly. "You carry a lightsaber, but you've had no formal Jedi training, let alone been knighted. By your own admission, you don't even know what exactly we believe in. You guess at it, without truly understanding." She rested her hands on the arms of her chair in a manner indicative that she was about to get up. "Unfortunately for you, you're talking to someone who is bad at explaining things. Maybe ask Amani, if you really want to know. But no, Alicio, you are not a Jedi. What you should be is not the same as what you are."

Alicio Organa​

 

[Alicio Organa]

Alicio could tell he had set off the young woman. He hadn't mildly annoyed her. Hadn't simply challenged her world view. He'd made her angry.

The realization caused the Count to frown. That certainly hadn't been his intention. Not that it would matter to her. How had this argument started, in the first place? What had he done?

"I... have studied Jedi doctrine." Alicio started, his voice more guarded. More careful. "I think there's a misunderstanding here. I wasn't asking you what you thought about the Jedi view on fate because I was curious about them. I was curious about you."

Alicio took a deep breath, noting Eloise's body posture. He wanted to apologize to her. For putting her on the back foot. But he realized after a second of thought, that his only crime was believing something different than her. "I can tell you've already made up your mind about me... If you have somewhere to be, I won't keep you." He reached down, and put the Eye back on the table. For her to take back.

- Eloise Dinn -

 

[Eloise Dinn]

“Then I suppose that’s where we differ,” Eloise said. “Because I don’t give a damn what other people think.”

In Alicio’s defense, it didn’t take much to set her off. A short fuse combined with an acute sensitivity made for an explosive combination. Had he realized what he was dealing with, would he have been more gentle with her, more forgiving? Would that have even made a difference? She was already predisposed to dislike him, both for his clashing personality and because of his connection to her mother.

In any case, they seemed to have reached a block. She seemed on the verge of staying out of spite, so that he couldn’t dismiss her—only she could dismiss herself—but finally she relented and leaped to her feet. The sound of the copper Eye hitting the table gave her pause. She glanced down at it, then at Alicio with a scowl. He said he wanted to study it; she was happy to rid herself of her mother’s junk. Trying to give it back just felt like another insult.

“Keep it,” she said, before heading for the door.

Alicio Organa​