Private Oops Bad Move

[Varin Mortifer]

Lysander von Ascania

The long day had slowly rotated into a very cold night, Varin was laying in his bed unable to sleep, something that wasn't too uncommon for the young apprentice ever since the memory session with his sponsor Revna. Some wounds were reopened and the memories just kept playing over in his head. He had hoped that the botany class he snuck into would have distracted him and to an extent that succeeded only for a short time. Now the boy was alone with his thoughts. It was starting to get relatively late in the night and out of annoyance the boy decided to get out of his bed and sit in the middle of his floor to begin meditating. Unsheathing his sith blades he gently placed the cold metal across his thighs committing the feeling of flesh and metal to memory. It was important that he would commit this feeling to memory so he was more likely to react in a more optimal fashion if he were to be threatened by such a tool.

He took in several deep breaths, letting in the very scent of the room and the environment into his being and began to concentrate on his father’s teachings, his doctrines and his ideals. The most essential lessons he could ever learn and retain, the tools needed for him to be as effective as he can. The reciting of these teachings bled into his mind, coalescing into memories of his home. Before he realised it Varin was reliving his past, going through scenarios of what he did versus what he could have done. The more he concentrated on these memories and thoughts the hotter his scars grew, without realising it his back began to smoke, thick gray clouds spewed out of his scars on his back traveling to the ceiling. Within seconds the boy was alerted to a rather loud alarm and splashing of cold water all over his body.

Varin looked up towards the leak and was greeted with a jet stream of water spraying out of the sprinkler system attempting to put out a fire that did not really exist.

“FETH!” Varin yelled to himself as he shook off some ash from his shoulder and quickly got up and grabbed his daily pants quickly slipping them on.

you could have warned me about the smoke maybe?

Didn’t seem important at the time, but maybe you should start doing that on the balcony.

“Gee thanks!” Varin sharply hissed to himself unaware he stated out loud, let alone to a figure he can only hear. He quickly walked out of his room to check on his roommate.

 

[Lysander von Ascania]

Varin Mortifer
​

The days had blurred into weeks for Lysander; training was beginning to engulf every moment of his life. In ways that were unexpected, it was leading him to a journey of self-discovering. The acolyte found himself savoring the grind more than he ever believed imaginable. But it didn’t equal comfort. Most nights left him drained and battered; no doubt, it was a testament to the multiple daily rigorous training sessions at Kor’ethyr Academy. On top of that, he’d been further punishing his body at the gym alongside Naamino in the pursuit of strength.

To keep a sense of balance and assist with recovery, he found the aid of healing herbs from the academy's greenhouse guaranteeing he surrendered to sleep effortlessly.

Suddenly, he awoke with a jolt, the acolyte startled as icy water bit into his exposed skin, clad only in boxers. Being both groggy and disoriented, he was slow to process everything. The first thought to surface was how dry his mouth felt, but it was quickly drowned out by the words that echoed off the walls.

“What the fark!”

Every second became precious; he was determined to safeguard the few things that truly mattered. Sprinting over to one of the desks, he grabbed the datapad, then glancing over to the potent, skunky flora-- something that felt blessed by Bogan. In truth, the arrangement with two desks had never quite made sense to him, but he had made the best of it. It had become home to his pre-workout tub and Bantha whey protein.

Fortunately, the purple Derriphan cloak was nearby, and he quickly snatched it to cover the items like they were rare Sith artifacts. Then, Lysander fled from the room in a state of confusion. Water dripped from his hair as skin as he came to a sudden halt before Varin.

As he stood there, the cold barely registered now. Instead, it was just something he simply acknowledged. While his demeanor in class and antics amongst other acolytes might suggest otherwise, his time on Korriban had hardened him to where such discomforts no longer registered in his mind. Still, he didn’t have much interest in standing there for longer than necessary. With an exhale, he pushed back a damp lock from his face. A single brow raised. "Look, I don't know what happened, but how exactly are we going to make this not look like our fault?"

Personally, he was far more worried about explaining all of this to the academy’s staff. As much as he enjoyed his time here, dealing with professors, or anyone with real authority, was something that never really grew on him when things went wrong--which was more often than he would’ve liked to admit. The old, miserable Jedi Masters back on Coruscant with their wild Wookie fur looking hair were easy to run game on with a silver tongue. But here? It was nearly impossible.

“Do we like.. even need evidence? Maybe we can just pin it on that one Weequay sleemo next door. I mean, he's always looking at people like he's ready to fight or something. Everyone knows he’s a shady character."

 

[Varin Mortifer]

"Look, I don't know what happened, but how exactly are we going to make this not look like our fault?"

Varin shook his head as the water sizzled and misted off his back, the runic scars starting to dim their glow.

“WHAT OUR FAULT HOW IS THIS OUR FAULT? WE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING ALL I DID WAS MEDITATE!” He quickly sheathes his sith blade and grabs the helm and crystal from his nearby desk. He quickly starts making his way towards the door.

“Do we like.. even need evidence? Maybe we can just pin it on that one Weequay sleemo next door. I mean, he's always looking at people like he's ready to fight or something. Everyone knows he’s a shady character."

Varin takes a quick second remembering the neighbor, perhaps someone he could definitely pin this on, he was rather rude in his last encounter with Varin. Perhaps a show of authority in this trying time would do the Weequay some good.

“All they know right now is there was possibly a fire. There is no evidence on us because we didn’t do anything.” Varin stops in his tracks. “Wait a sec, why would you assume it was us in the first place? Are you hiding something?!”

He walks to the door hearing the chaos in the halls as he starts to crack it open. “It better be important.” He peeks his head out into the halls looking both ways to see who all is in the halls, hoping to see the pesky neighbor.

 

[Lysander von Ascania]

Varin Mortifer ​

Lysander's grip tightened on the drenched cloak as it continued to shield his most prized possessions from the sprinklers that had yet to shut off. The water was pooling now, and his expression was frozen, the brow raised as if trapped in hyperspace. Between the weight of his words, and posture, it was easy to catch on to what direction his roommate was trying to run with everything. There was no reason to ruin the fun, and decided to work from the same angle. “Ah, yes, you’re right. There’s no possible way it started from either of us.” His voice carried a hint of innocence.

Seconds later, he fell into stride behind Varin as he approached the door. He too, leaned to the side and peered out, letting his gaze flicker down the hall and seeing a handful of figures shifting in the distance. “The only thing I’d be trying to hide is my protein stash. The delivery process takes forever. And let me tell you.. these conditions? And interrupting my sleep? Totally not optimal for muscle recovery.”

His head turned to the side, a smirk flashing as he looked at Varin. “I’d much prefer to hear the truth.. but I suppose there’s no fun in that. I say we just double down and make this our neighbors' problem.”

With a sharp exhale, he stepped into the hallway. Carefully, he took the heavy Derriphan cloak, shifting his weight to slip an arm through it while still holding onto his belongings. Fortunately, the datapad remained dry. But despite the added cover, he still looked ridiculous— completely drenched from head to toe, with a device in one hand and a jar of herbs in the other.

Then, the most unpleasant thought returned— staff would undoubtedly be arriving soon.

Scanning the hallway, he studied the other acolytes' reactions. Most looked either confused or annoyed, but he continued, hoping to catch a flicker of guilt on someone's face. Still lingering near the door, he remained on alert for their Weequay neighbor to appear. With a sigh, the blonde leaned against the wall, tightening the cloak around himself like a makeshift robe; at least it offered a small sense of composure.

 

[Varin Mortifer]

Lysander von Ascania

"I'd much prefer to hear the truth.. but I suppose there's no fun in that. I say we just double down and make this our neighbors' problem."

Varin watched as the confused and frustrated students start to leave their dorms as the sprinklers showered their belongings and themselves, Varin couldn’t help but snicker a bit almost like he was enjoying the chaos around him. He looked at his roommate who just tied off a rather fancy cloak around himself. At that moment Varin realised that not only was he soaked, but shirtless. He want's self conscious about that, he just hated questions and curiosities about his brands. The attention sometimes lead to pity, and that was something Varin did not want pointed at him.

He spoke quietly so others wouldn’t gain suspicion. “I’ll explain what happened once we are in the open, until then-”

Before he could finish the Weequay shoved Varin back, cutting in front of him to make his exit, Varin growled and looked at Lysander, his eyes an amber color.

“That must be him.” He smirks darkly as he quickly grabbed a handful of the Weequays hair, no doubt something that was coveted, jerked him back and quickly slammed the crown of his head into the bridge of the Weequays nose feeling a slight crack at the impact location, as he reeled back Varin shoved him back in another dorm room.

“Hm, very suspicious that he would try to attack me after trying to come out of someone else's dorm, don’t you think?”

ATTABOY you do your family proud! The voice boomed with pride in Varins head causing him to slightly wince and reach for his scaring temple. Shaking his head to clear it he was back in action.

He kept a watchful gaze on Lysander, not one of suspicion but one of vigilance. It was key to Varin that his roommate, and co-apprentice, had an easier time moving his precious goods, besides maybe he can return the favor one day. The halls started to fill with the student body as the prior dorm filled with curious questions for their surprise guest. It didn't take long before Varin gave Lysander the lead when he knew that the roughest part of the crowd had thinned down.

 

[Lysander von Ascania]

Varin Mortifer
​

Intensity flared in Lysander's gaze when the Weequay suddenly came into view. And when the roommate was shoved, his mind began flirting with the thought of ending their neighbor right then and there. He was no stranger to confrontation, nor was he one to tolerate foolishness. As the dust settled, Lysander's eyes flicked sideways toward Varin. He allowed himself a smirk, one that was darker than usual. “Looks like the Weequay is becoming a nuisance,” he muttered, voice low, but clearly laced with menace. “Sprinklers or not, it'll be time to eliminate him from the equation soon.”

He allowed the words to hang in the air, a subtle promise to be sure.

As they navigated the crowded halls, he was reminded of how the deep purple robe made him stand out. House Derriphan students were easy to spot, and the blonde definitely was not shy about taking pride in the recognition that came with it; there were acknowledging nods, thumbs-up, and even subtle hand gestures, all of them like a confirmation of an alliance. While it was a sensation he wasn't accustomed to, there was no denying that he reveled in it.

Once taking the lead, he wasn’t exactly moving with purpose, and the items in his hands out here felt.. wrong.

They weren’t heavy or tiring– just off.

As seconds ticked by, his gaze immediately dialed in on a pair of figures making their way towards them; their presence clearly set them apart from the younger acolytes alone. With a quick scan, Lysander noted their precise movements, and stoic expressions, which didn't give off the most welcoming vibe. His brows furrowed; he was not in a position to simply discard the items in his hands. Now he felt exposed.

Another thought surfaced, one that was impossible to ignore.

Was this just another ticket to detention?

His voice cut through the small space between them. “If the herbs are from the professor’s greenhouse, I’m pretty sure that means it’s fine for me to have them on campus.. right?”

Amusement danced through every word, a flicker of light against the uncertainty.

Above all, he needed someone to agree, if only to keep his spirits elevated.

Here we go again, he thought, bracing himself for another round of judgement and criticism.

​

 

[Varin Mortifer]

Lysander von Ascania

"If the herbs are from the professor's greenhouse, I'm pretty sure that means it's fine for me to have them on campus.. right?"

Varin eyed his roommate as he noticed the figures approaching. No doubt members of staff were sent to check in on all the unintended chaos.

“You’re kidding me?! Herbs?!” He growled under his breath. “You said it was something else!”

Father, forgive me for this. Figures this would be my luck. Varin took a minute to gauge what he could use to handle the situation.

The young sith grabbed the helm and flipped it over to the opening was face up and gave Lys a very scolding look.

“Put it in here and I will hide it for you. BUT you owe me big time for this. This is a very important relic from my home. I will make sure you aren’t caught.”

Varin offered the helm so he could slip the container of herbs inside. The movement was a bit jostled as they made their way towards the exit of the building trying to avoid the other students processing the alarm and trying to exit as well, but they managed. Once the jar was placed in the helm Varin would flip the helm right side up and hold the bottom to support the jar.

“Can’t believe I'm reduced to some smuggler. Do you know of another route we could take to get around the staff? Maybe we could double back just a bit and plant a little on our unconscious neighbor?” Varin chuckled, still amused with the whole situation.

 

[Lysander von Ascania]

Varin Mortifer ​

Though the fire had been false, the chain of events it set off went far beyond any normal mishap; rumors were already spreading through the halls of Kor’Ethyr Academy. More than just a dazed Weequay and the smuggling of herbs tucked inside an heirloom—both of them had managed to earn official detentions by the end of the night.

The staff didn’t search them. Maybe they didn’t need to. Between surveillance, whispers, surprisingly it had been enough. Maybe they would’ve gotten away with it too, had their neighbor hadn’t shoved past them. Still, he earned an appropriate response from Varin, but that didn’t stop retribution from lingering at the edge of Lysander’s mind.

Things could’ve gone worse, he supposed. Had it happened a day later, the larger pack he was expecting, meant for distribution as much as personal use, would’ve blown the cover for everything. Even the quiet deal with his professor wouldn’t have saved him from that.

All things considered, it was a win.

Except for his digital scale.

That was toast.

***

As the sun cast its light upon the streets of Korriban, the city appeared stripped of its mysterious nature, now exposed beneath the harsh rays. Lysander stood just outside of the academy’s walls, hands deep in his pockets, another rolled item balanced between his lips. Lit. Barely touched. Furthermore, it was an act of rebellion against the false Sith doctrine that held control over the Holy Worlds. And having gained knowledge of their cruelty towards his mentor, they were as good as Bantha fodder in the teen's eyes now.

The smoke began to curl upward. Their shared detention had them cleaning half of the western quad, which consisted of hauling debris and cleaning different stonework. The punishment hadn’t been too intense, but it was certainly insulting in its own right, like a constant slap in the face.

But now, the air was fresh, and the sun was warm, with no one watching over them.

More students came and went.

“Not a bad day for more mistakes,” he muttered to his roommate.

He knew he was supposed to be showing the boy around. They hadn’t exchanged much beyond a few glances and comments throughout the day, mostly thanks to the watchful eyes of staff glued to their backs. But now, outside the academy walls, those eyes were gone. Their pace started slow and unhurried. “As much as I like studying here at times,” he said, smoke curling from the corner of his mouth, “sometimes the staff are just so.. fething ridiculous.”

The acolyte shrugged. "Honestly, it wouldn't even make sense for Lady Revna to be pissed at us. Like.. she didn't even study here. She never had to deal with the irrational nonsense we gotta dodge just to properly function.”

They kept walking, boots tapping over concrete. "Whatever."

A smirk appeared as Lysander turned his head slightly, but not fully looking at Varin. “Yo, be honest,” he said, tone becoming more playful and laced with mischief. “Whatcha think of the grumpy Hutt lady that works in the admissions office? I mean.. would you hit that for ten thousand credits?”

The corner of his mouth twitched upward. “I won’t tell anyone bro.”

 

[Varin Mortifer]

Lysander von Ascania

The original plan of escape went.....less than optimal that night. Eventually they were caught with a trail of evidence behind them. Varin was surprised he wasn't charged for smuggling. But the sentence was some time in detention doing deep cleaning and some manual labor. The absolute bane of Varins existence. He could do manual labor just fine, in fact that's how he was raised. Cleaning was never something he grew accustomed to. Regardless, the two young sith served their time and it was a new day.

Varin made his way out of the academy eyes somewhat strain against the sun that shun in his eyes. He shook his head to resist the discomfort as his roommate Lysander placed a rolled smoking paper between his lips.

"Life just wouldn't be interesting without mistakes."

Varin muttered quietly as they began to walk the unfamiliar streets of the city. Apparently there was much to do here so the young sith wouldn't be locked up in his room all the time. Even a homebody needs to get out sometimes.

He listened as Lysander spoke and every now and then he would casually nod or give a one or two word answer. He was terrible at small talk, but a question raised his eyebrow.

“Yo, be honest; Whatcha think of the grumpy Hutt lady that works in the admissions office? I mean.. would you hit that for ten thousand credits?”

Varin stopped mid stride with his roommate.

“I won’t tell anyone bro.”

He chuckled to himself.

"Ten thousand credits just to punch an oversized slug? I used to throw them on hot plates and watch them pop. That'd be the easiest money I'd had ever made, you can tell anyone you want, won't change my answer."

He smirked at Lysander, though he missed the mark on what his question meant. He was serious regardless based on his answer.

"What about you?"