ahphra.

SHE  CAN  FEEL  HERSELF  backed  into  a  corner  ,  the  electric  hum  and  blazing  heat  of  the sabers  far  too  close  .      Each  reckless  attack  is  PARRIED  ,  precise  blows  that  press  her  backwards  ,  Vader’s  fearsome  form  LOOMING  ever  closer  with  each  strike  .      (  And  through  her  manic  fury  ,  panic  is  blooming  ,  adrenaline  sapping  her  energy  until  she  can  feel  herself  running  on  FEAR  AND  FURY  alone  .  )

This  is  torture  as  she  has  ever  experienced  it  ,  the  same  as  if  he  had  sent  droids  to  stab  needles  into  her  spine  ,  to  send  TOXINS  coursing  through  her  veins  ,  and  tear  the  flesh  from  her  bones  .      PAIN  like  burns  across  mind  and  muscle  ;  limbs  shake  until  she  feels  like  she  can  move  no  longer      (  as  if  trembling  limbs  merely  twitch  in  their  death  throes  ,  and  she  will  SUCCUMB  at  any  moment  .  )

She  cannot  tell  if  it’s  a  PROMISE  OR  A  WARNING  ,  and  no  part  of  her  wants  to  find  out  which  it  is  ━━━  whether  what  renewed  pain  that  will  follow  is  intentionally  inflicted  ,  or  merely  a  side  effect  of  her  POSITION  .      (  She  had  agreed  to  this  ,  agreed  to  this  apprenticeship  ;  yet  had  there  really  been  CHOICE  in  the  matter  ?      Or  ,  like  everything  with  Him  ,  had  the  only  other  option  been  death  ?  )

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WITH  A  CRY  ,  soft  and  pitiful  ,  heel  catches  and  already  weakened  legs  send  her  to  the  ground  ;  knees  meet  durasteel  ,  head  too close  ,  far  too  close  ,  to  the  toes  of  His  boots  .      Fingers  of  her  free  hand  clench  against  the  cold  ground  in  a  PITIFUL  ATTEMPT  to  support  her  weight  ,                  ❛      I’ve  known  torture  ,  THIS  IS  worse  than  any  of  it  !      

               THE SPACE AROUND them tightens to a narrow circle revolving like the cylinder of an ancient engine fan. The panels above flicker with the surge in the Force — black, light, black — a funnel of degenerating options. Intense pain washes through the margins of Vader’s senses, glittering with the life energy that’d been drained from Aphra in the midst of her emotional && physical turmoil. 

               Pain is just another form of the same volatile energy, generated by a violent conversion of flesh into spirit; able to be permuted into power. Just the same as any other suffering. A Sith’s anguish wears the same face as their anger. She’d learn this in time. But the Dark Lord feels impatience tear at him, a sentiment he’d not felt since—

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     ❝ You have yet to understand the true nature of the dark side. Your suffering will give you strength. In time, you will come to see the method in my cruelty. ❞ Vader thumbs his saber off, its acrid hum slipping to silence as he stands above her. Slowly, he lowers himself to a crouch, extending a hand in her direction— a twisted reflection of their first meeting. ❝ Come, you must rest && regain your strength. Only then can we continue your training. ❞

 
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independent & private roleplay blog for anakin skywalker/darth vader of all star wars media. written by scout. || est. feb 2016.