We're of Two Minds (Grayscale)

[Audrey Thénardier]

A visit to Hapes was nothing too grande for the Lady Audrey Thénardier during this time of the year. Being a noble woman who made many transactions with the nobel houses and higher officals of the planet, thanks to her shipping company, it was a place she was all too familiar with at times. She'd arrived on her private shuttle and had been offered room and board at one of the nearby resorts for the time she was staying.

However there was more to her reasons being there than what many may have belived. In fact, after her first day of dealing with business transactions and partner agreements with her cilents, she'd returned to her room with her small group of guards who'd been accompnaying her during the trip. After they'd arrived she'd sent three of them out to find "the special guest."

With that the three of them went in search through the city where everything had been progressing. They knew the indivual in question they were looking for but, given the crowded place, it was hard to keep track of who had features similar to what they were looking for and not. Often they would need to confirm wheather or not the person they'd seen was in fact who they were looking for, often checking a small holophoto they had to be sure.

The men knew it would be sometime before they could find him, and hoped that it would be soon enough not to endure the wrath of their employer.

[member="Grayscale"]

 

[Grayscale]

Black and White both knew that there were men after their body, or Grayscale, or whatever it was that other people could identify them as. Together, they were a pretty powerful destructive force. Black felt himself take control as the first man caught up. The man began talking, but the Dark entity just reached out the body's arm and choked him with the Force. He let go when the man was at the absolute brink of death, a cruel thing to do, but Black was in a pretty bad mood. The second and third men didn't come close enough for him to choke, but he didn't want to, anyway. With a leap, he smashed into one man, knocking out cold on a wall, and picked up the other man by the collar, lifting him a foot off the ground.

White emerged into consciousness, and the two entities shared Grayscale's body, and his face. One eye now had no visible iris, and the other was black as night. As one, their question echoed from his mouth, "Why are you here?"

[member="Audrey Thénardier"]

 

[Audrey Thénardier]

Upon fidning him the men did not expect to be struck by his power so suddenly. They knew they were dealing with a Force user but they had no idea he would be so quick to attack without hearing what they had to say first. When the first two men went down the thrid stood there, scared for his life, but he went stiff when [member="Grayscale"] had interogated him.

Sweating out of fear he stammered "N-Now wait! We're not hear for any trouble. We...we just wanted to send you a message. Someone wants to talk with you. Got that? Just to talk, nothing more. They're interested in hiring you because of your....special talents."

 

[Grayscale]

Now both eyes turned white, but for the pupils. White replied, "Talk about my talents? Hire me? Is that a good idea?"

The eyes shifted again, turning black, "Killing and money? Good, good."

The creature dropped the frightened man, its eyes flashing black and white as the two entities conversed with each other. Finally, the eyes resolved into actual colors again, one white, one black, like before. Grayscale replied, "I hope they know what they're dealing with. Take me to her," the voices echoed together again, and stopped.

[member="Audrey Thénardier"]

 

[Audrey Thénardier]

Now released the man needed a minute to recover himself, fixing his shirt and all. He checked to see if the others were alright, the fact they weren't moving indicating otherwise. He gave a grim look to back [member="Grayscale"] before indicating for him to follow. He lead him through the city, the walk taking at least ten minutes, before leading him back to the resort. The entire trip back up to Lady Thénardier's room the guard was quiet, obviously none to keen on speaking to a man with more than one personaility inside his head and so quick to kill.

Finally reaching the room he knocked before they were greeted by another man, asking where the rest of the guards were. After indicating Grayscale the other man nodded before letting them in. The new guard indicated for Grayscale to follow him through the suite of a room she had. As they walked through the main room of the suite there were half a dozen other guards in-waiting present. Grayscale, however, was lead back to the bedroom where the man knocked before a protocol droid had answered.

[Right this way, Mr. Grayscale.] it said, opening the door for him to enter.

A chair was waiting for him once he entered. It wasn't until a minute later that Lady Thénardier finally showed herself. She had stepped out of the bathroom with not but a long white bathrobe on when she'd seen him.

"Ah, Mr. Grayscale. So glad you made it. It IS Mr. Grayscale I'm speaking with, yes?"

 

[Grayscale]

Grayscale tilted his head, both eyes shifting between black and white, just as his mind was jumping between Black and White. Being led through all the hallways and elevators gave his two halves time to think, to argue. The consensus was that he would take the job if it was good enough. He looked at the question, and smiled, Black and White coming into balance again, and replied, "We are Grayscale. You talk to me, you talk to both of me."

His eyes turned white, and he introduced, "I am White," his eyes shifted black, and he continued, "I am Black."

[member="Audrey Thénardier"]

 

[Audrey Thénardier]

"I see." she said, walking over to a nearby desk. "If that's the case then I'd prefer to speak with both of you myself. Better that all parties are here for the cnversation. Now then, as I understand it your a man with many talents. Among them being that you have a knack with the force. Correct?"

As she spoke she motioned for her droid to bring something over. The robotic being had bowed before walking to a small pile of bagagge before lifting up one that seemed to be a carrier case for a small animal. This was confirmed when the feint sounds of something inside could be heard. The droid brought the bag over to her lady and placed it next to her on the desk before moving away.

[member="Grayscale"]

 

[Grayscale]

Black hissed loudly when the animal began to scramble about. He could not sense the woman anymore, nor could he sense what was in the bag. He shouted, "Ysalmiri! Damn you, little girl. You think that will stop me, if I choose to fight?"

White was far calmer, taking over and unclenching the body's muscles. Grayscale continued, "Did you think it would solidify my mind against Black, or Black against me? Nothing will. Black and White are as much states of this mind as Force entities. Even if you were to kill this body, both will be simply dormant."

Both came to a state of agreement, and Grayscale nodded, finishing, "Tell me why I am here, youngling. The Force runs strong in this body, and the use of it corrupts light with dark, and dark with light. Yet you have no interest in Black or White, or their function. You simply want Grayscale."

[member="Audrey Thénardier"]

 

[Audrey Thénardier]

She perked as he gave his little outburst, susprised he already knew what was awaiting in the bag. She only smriked as the two personailites began to speak to her, fighting over control of the body for the moment, before finally saying how they wouldn't e easily defeated just because she had a yslmiri on her person. Her cold stare only kept watching with bemusement as they spoke before finally settleing enough for her to speak up.

"I suggest you calm down, Mr. Black and White." she calmly responded. "You're upsetting Walter here." she indicated the bag with the creature inside. "And he's only here for insurance, since I'm familiar with your....reputations. I'm not intereted in keeping one mind or the other superior, only that you not try anything funny while we discuss out dealings. You see I'm a businesswoman as well as a noblewoman. And both businesses tend to take tolls against my...enemies. Some of them, as I've recenlty discovered, have force users at thier disposal. I simply wish to level the playfeild. But I need more than some common run-of-the-mill force sensative under my belt. I need someone like you. BOTH of you."

[member="Grayscale"]

 

[Grayscale]

Grayscale tensed again as Black looked at the woman, trying to figure out if she was actually telling the truth. He squinted, smirked, and then nodded. He replied, "I'll be your attack dog, girl. Paying me to kill is like paying a Hutt to sit on its ass," his squint subsided as White took over, "Just call me Grayscale. After all, that's what black and white create on a screen."

Almost as an afterthought, White added, "Never wake me up, unless the person you send can tell which side is in control. You'd find a half-eaten corpse or something in the person's place if they surprised Black."

[member="Audrey Thénardier"]

 

[Audrey Thénardier]

Smirking at his agreement she said "Good. We'll keep in touch via holonet." She nodded to the droid, who walked over and handed [member="Grayscale"] a personal communicator. As she walked back behind a changing room-divider Lady Audrey said "That communicator is modified to be untracable. We wouldn't want curious eyes and ears overhearing our conversations. I will contact you via that communicator whenever I have need of your services. Any and all information will also be provided if you so chose. Afterwads you need only conctact me to inform me the assignment was a success. And, of course, payment will be provided as well. Whatever you may want. Credits. Weapons. Perhaps a companion to keep your bed warm at night. Whatever you so chose. However, first I need to see if you're truly up to the job itself."

[member="Grayscale"]

 

[Grayscale]

Grayscale nodded, and Black said, "This will be fun," White took over, and continued, "I'll need contact lenses so that people don't run off screaming before I can tag 'em. The color shift has that effect on people. Everything else will show up on my bill later."

He looked at the comm unit, checking it over for some kind of distinguishing marks, and seeing that it didn't really have any. Black came back again, and replied, "Yes, let me go kill something. You might even be entertained."

[member="Audrey Thénardier"]

 

[Audrey Thénardier]

Finally stepping out from behind the divider Lady Thénardier was dressed in a more suit wardrobe meant for men. She had suit pants, all fine and pressed, while wearing a dress shirt with little frills around the collar. She was currently tying a bow around her collar as part of the outfit while a pair of gloves waited for her on the desk nearby, set by the droid. Once she'd slipped those on she pulled out a cigar from her jacket, hanging on a nearby chair, and a lighter. Both she used before inhaling a small portion before letting out a small puff of smoke.

"Good. There's a man here by the name of Arnim Penetagahst. You may or may not know him. A business partner of mine who's been stepping on the wrong toes. My toes. He's been putting too much investment into rival dealings while hindering on my own accounts to have any of the proceeds sent to him. The only thing stopping me is that he has a denouced Jedi on his payroll. That's where you come in." She gestured to the droid who then handed [member="Grayscale"] a datapad. "Any and all info you need is right here, waiting."

(Don't know if you want to time skip or play out the entire mission. Your choice)

 

[Grayscale]

Grayscale nodded, eyes black. He inquired, "You want trophies, or are his screams enough?"

Not waiting for a reply, he got up and walked out the door, down the stairs, and onto the street. Pulling up the hood of his jacket, he looked at the building that was indicated on the map. A run-down warehouse, with its upper office level still intact. Suspiciously intact. He crept towards the doors, smashing away at them until they caved in and fell down. Durasteel is hard. He climbed the stairs slowly, as if stealth was still an issue after the loud crash of the doors....

((Go ahead and skip this. The next post will be a bit funny.))

[member="Audrey Thénardier"]

 

[Audrey Thénardier]

The rest of the day had went and gone. Morning finally came and it wasn't until at least three hours after the sun had arisen that Lady Thénardier finally rose from bed. With a groggy groan she'd arose and rubbed her eyes, wearing her long slik nightgown for the evening. It took her a moment to finally rise up and out of bed before getting up and having her droid fecth her robe for her. Once she had it on she felt deacent enough to leave for a breakfast.

Some of the men were still sleeping while others were alreayd up, a plate of breakfast awating her along with coffee fresh from the pot. She thanked them while dazzily wandering her way over to the table and chair provided and starting to feast down.

It wasn't until five minutes after eat and sipping down her coffee that she asked "Has anyone heard from [member="Grayscale"] yet?"

 

[Grayscale]

Grayscale looked up from behind his new boss' back, and laughed, "I've certainly heard from myself. That guy tasted good when I torched him."

Sitting down across from her, he stole a piece of bacon from the plate, and grinned. The only time both entities were perfectly in balance was when he was happy, and he was very happy. Killing, a nice rest, and money about to come his way. What was there to not feel good about?

[member="Audrey Thénardier"]

 

[Audrey Thénardier]

She jumped when he spoke from behind her all of a sudden, before looking back with an annoyed sneer. After that Lady Thénardier watched as he made his way across the table, stealing some of her food in the process, before showing how happy he was about the kill. She took a moment to breath, calming herself, before looking to him.

"You could have asked for your own bacon." she retorted before fixing herself. "I turst by your mood everything went well. Tell me, did the Jedi prove difficult to deal with? And what's this about putting him on fire first?"

[member="Grayscale"]

 

[Grayscale]

Grayscale shook his head, his laugh echoing unnaturally in the room. He replied, "Your Jedi was a hoax. A good hoax, but robes don't do much against a blowtorch," he leaned back in his chair, grinning, "The blowtorch, by the way, was a souvenir that I ripped out of the wall of that wonderful warehouse he was in. I set the pseudo-Jedi on fire, and he tried to cut my arm off. With a knife. Psh."

His mismatched eyes rolling, Grayscale set the front legs of the chair back down, and instead leaned on one arm of the chair, resting his face on one hand. He continued, "Your fine associate didn't even try to fight or bargain, or anything. He just shat himself, and then got fried. His jacket was armored, and it fit me, so I kept it. His whole suit, in fact, was fireproof and blaster proof. So, I got myself a new set of clothes, and a big dinner."

[member="Audrey Thénardier"]

 

[Audrey Thénardier]

Listening to his story a smark cut across Audrey's face. Even despite the greusome details, that had started to make some of the men uncomfortable, she continued to eat her breakfast with ease. The fact that her enemy had been dealt with in such a manner was more amusing to her than anything else. This was not just a means of revenge but a statement being made to any other business partner of hers who tried to step on her toes or beraid in her terriroty.

"Mr. [member="Grayscale"], I do belive you're going to go far in this business." she replied before gesturing for one of the guards to bring his payment over. "Does ten-thousand sound sufficent enough for now?" she asked. "Of course, this is only for the first job. Continue working for me and I promise the payments will swell with the more 'statements' you make twoards any others."

 

[Grayscale]

Grayscale just grinned at the nervous-looking thugs, and mimed shooting one of them. The man in question backed away with his eyes wide. Twisting his mouth into a smirk, Grayscale looked away again. He answered, "I bet you never had a heavy who ate people. At least I cook them first. I'd use grenades, but shrapnel doesn't taste good."

He hopped his chair half a foot off the ground, away from the table, and grinned, continuing, "You paid for my dinner, and I get to cook more people? Good! I do need those contact lenses, though."

[member="Audrey Thénardier"]