Armitage Hux wants order (acursweakness) wrote in angellogs, @ 2020-01-11 23:38:00 |
|
|||
Entry tags: | !complete, armitage hux, basch fon ronsenberg, finn, noah fon ronsenburg |
Who: Sebastian Vael, Noah Vael, Basch, Finn, Armitage Hux
When: Current
Where: Gatehouse, Craigcrook Castle, Edinburgh, Scotland
What: Noah ends up chatting with Hux, and there's a sudden man in the garden. Hux and Finn meet on the other side of their respective battles and Hux finds out that Finn has a name. Things get awkward.
Rating/Warnings: Spoilers for the new trilogy, and especially Rise Of Skywalker. Space Nazis, etc.
Status: Complete
Noah worked out a bit, in the snow, and headed in to shower and change. He's in a fluffy fleece shirt and just jeans and socks as he heads for the kitchen. Soup, maybe? Definitely tea.
Sebastian’s glad he talked Hux into coming. There’s something about the younger man that, for all that he’s seen Star Wars, and knows imperial remnants or whatever, aren’t that great, makes Sebastian WANT to reach out anyway. He’s not sure what it is, but he’s reminded in a way of Noah, or of how guarded Aedan was, in a completely opposite direction when he first learned HE existed, so...he’s dragged him back.
“It’s good that you didn’t have anything else yet.” he’s saying. “If we are going to work together, we should take the time before it’s serious to see how things stack up.”
“...Thank you for that.” Hux isn’t certain what he ought to say other than that, especially after they transported to this place. He’s starring at the grounds and is a bit in awe. Hux didn’t grow up in any sort of home that wasn’t on a base that he remembers, but even so, it’s a relief they’re veering to the smaller building. Sebastian’s not inclined to start showing off his power then. He’s confident enough he doesn’t NEED to do that. That’s a positive for Hux. Usually those who like to show off are trouble to contend with later.
“Noah should be around soon.” Sebastian is saying as they’re heading inside the gatehouse, voices carrying a little. “He’s...I’ve got the impression you two would get along easily enough. Ex military too.”
“And treason?” Hux’s lips quirk in a bit of an odd smile. It’s nothing he expects to BE the case, of course. “I hardly suspect you also found a traitor to his side to marry.”
Noah leans on the counter. "It's funny you say that. I'm sort of one twice over. Politics can get pretty complex. Have you had lunch?" He's a muscular man, definitely someone who'd lifted things in his shoulders. Brown blond hair, sort of roughly pulled back in a short ponytail, crinkly smile. His hair's damp. "Hello, love."
That’s getting a bit of a jump, not exactly a flinch, but he’s definitely startled by the new approach.
“You...don’t say.” Hux manages, and Sebastian laughs a little.
“I did say you had similar backgrounds of a sort.” he says, giving Noah a little smile. So far, so good. He’s glad this didn’t look particularly threatening. He has no idea how it works with people who’ve actually been military, but…
“Hello.” He crosses over to give Noah a quick one armed hug, under the circumstances. “Interesting practice? The fact you willingly went OUT in this seems mad.”
"It wasn't so bad. I did the fireplaces and brought some wood around and then stretched out." Noah hugged him back and then offers his hand to Hux. "I'm Noah. I was told my brother would cause a war, and the simplest option would be to betray him. It was a lie. He and I are here now, and in a better place, but - well - complex politics."
“Hux. “ Hux takes the hand and shakes it. In a way it’s a relief to be among someone who gets it, in a sense. “Ah betrayals and lies. I know a little of being on the wrong side of a few of those. And taking back control with some of my own. “ He doesn’t add his reasons for doing it were less than noble. After all, he could have, in command of the first order, in the place of Kylo Ren brought back the galaxy’s position to being one of order. People don’t get harmed in places like THAT, after all.
"It can be . . . difficult, seeing what you find as reasonable when you're in a place with no good options. But I don't want to make you talk about things you don't wish to, Hux. Are you hungry?" Noah smiled at him.
Hux finds himself nodding there. “I suppose there are those points when reason is not the only touching point you have and order gives its way to chaos.” Hux looks, incidentally, like the kind of person who has never once in his life, allowed chaos, or the thought of chaos, to reach him.
“Perhaps this isn’t the best time to speak of that, you’re right. I find it odd, shedding the trappings of what was, but I am told it will be better for me. And please. I would appreciate it. I’ve no idea what you call most things here, so pretend that you’re explaining food to a slow child, perhaps?”
Sebastian laughs at that part. “THAT’s happened to most of us. There’s coloring pages somewhere, explaining farm animals and their names. If several of them look the same, it ought to help a little. Banthas seem like cows and nerf like sheep or goats, if that’s a frame of reference.”
"And we don't have the same food names back at home." Noah shrugs. "Soup, with poultry, and some noodles was what I was thinking. But is there anything you miss?"
Hux considers. “Admittedly, not so much. I confess I’ve spent most of my life enjoying the delicacies of various cafeteria offerings. My mother was a cook but that was so many years ago, I hardly remember much ABOUT her. Soup would be fine.”
"Then we can do soup." Noah sets to work on that. "There's no shame in not knowing things, you know. Would you like some tea or coffee to go with it? Or something else?"
“Tea would be fantastic.” Hux IS at least relieved that tea seems to be a constant as well. “And no, not shame exactly. Frustration, perhaps, while I’m learning but I suspect it won’t be TOO long until I am up to some speed.” He’s used to that sort of thing, after all.
“So, you work in a bakery now, Sebastian’s mentioned. I have to ask...was that transition…”
Noah set him up with tea. "Hm - that's not something that's easy to put a finger on. How have things been with you? I've cooked before, as a child, and I wanted a night job, since I wasn't sleeping well, so I thought baking would be a simple enough thing to earn money until I had my feet under me. I had no time off, or downtime, or real safety in my old work. So in comparison, anything is better?"
That question was well worth considering. Hux sipped his tea, considered it a moment and added a bit of sugar, leaning forward a bit. “Strange, I suppose, is the best way to describe how things have been. People have been quite kind, for which I’m grateful, and I will be the first to admit it’s been relaxing not to look over my shoulder every moment lest the supreme leader appear with a tantrum. One can only repair so much equipment.”
Noah frowns. "That's - so - for the record, I was a spymaster. One side effect of that is that I tend to circle things, like an old worried dog. That doesn't mean I'm aiming to do that to you, but more - I know I can ask too much and too often." He taps his fingers on his mug, and turns back to working on the soup. "I don't look up people either. It seems like unfair, to read up on what they were, or could be, without acknowledging that here, you could be something else. It sounds to me like you do not think kindness will last, or come to you. Is that true?"
“Reasonable of those, I suspect.” Hux smirks a little. He’s not certain if it’s written on him what his choices led to, but there’s a certain amusing aspect to the question of whether Noah will be someone to pick up on his own venture into espionage. Not a fantastic one, but one that he hopes has been symbolic enough all the same.
He supposes honestly, that it would be easy enough to look up the outcome of his choices, well, the outcome for the First Order, using their version of the net in this world as he, Kylo Ren and the entire first order seem to be fictionalized here, but Haytham had mentioned that, as a rule, people tried not to do that when confronted with new people. If you knew someone’s story, it was one thing, like the way Liam had avoided conversation about the bizarre seeming elf...warrior? Magical warrior?, but other than that, finding that knowledge doesn’t seem to happen in the form of a usual background check. Perhaps because of how simple it is.
And as the thought’s occurring to him, there’s Noah, confessing to the same and Hux does laugh a little. “Are you a mindreader as well? My thoughts went to how easy it might be for you to simply do the latter. As far as kindness goes?” He blinks.
“It’s not as though I was in much position to experience kindness in the middle of a war. I can accept, that in the abstract, such a thing is possible, but in the sense of day to day…” Hux shrugs and shakes his head. “It’s not a concept surfacing regularly. In a civilian life...perhaps. I’ve had allies, made what you might call friends.”
"I'm not a mind reader." Noah sets the pot of soup on a coaster on the table, and snags some bowls and spoons. "There's plenty. Have all you want. You could look me up, if you want? I used to be called Gabranth."
“I was uncertain of that etiquette.” Hux nods. “Certain groups here seem to handle that differently. I ought to have been running an entire evil empire. Which sounds worse than it looks on paper, I suppose. More likely it comes down to sides that we find ourselves on. I had no love for our enemies, naturally, but…” He shrugs. “Sometimes one makes decisions about more than that.”
"I've got no urge to be running anything, so I'm hardly the man to discuss when it comes to things like that. In my experience, when people say decisions depend on more than simple good and evil, the people who are hurt the most are the ones with the least ability to resist." Noah fills his bowl. "Eat. But if you want to look me up, you can. I do not mind."
“That would explain enough of those on the other side.” Hux allows, “Perhaps it’s my attempt to reconcile, oh, my whole entire life” He does start eating though and gives Noah a little nod. “I’d have no problem with you doing the same. The most of it is...fairly what you’d expect. Enough to give some people nightmares, but this IS a different place. Perhaps the universe is attempting to send a message.”
"I was an interrogator and an executioner. I assure you, it's unlikely to shock me." Noah smiles. "I just look very very boring. All my scars are concealed for the most part, save the one I gave my twin."
“THAT sounds like a…” Hux blinks. “I had my father killed,” he confesses, because that’s probably the least of anything that’s actually all that awful, but it’s still something. “He needed to be dead, though. Probably long before Phasma was able to do it. But that was...ages ago, honestly. But no, more recently, I betrayed my side in our war. NOT because I believed entirely in what the up and coming resistance was doing but the man they made supreme leader instead of me...there was no way that it was working. I don’t know if there is not a hint of hubris in that, considering I’ve no room to judge anyone’s crimes but such blind rage and anger and emotion when you’re ruling...you can hardly manage that when your intent is to bring about order. I will confess there are some nights I ask myself if what I did before that point...someone with a stronger conscience would have damned me long before. And the choice for it was entirely my own. I’d never thought of turning my back on it for any sake other than keeping Kylo Ren out but with being here and now…”
Hux frowns, sipping his tea. He wonders now, a little, not about turning ‘good’ or some ridiculous notion like that, but if there’s a possibility for neutrality in any of this. Or at least…
“I’ve never thought before of what I’d like to be, other than the one who put things back in order. Or if I could start. Sebastian says you’ve been a soldier since you were young, like me. Out of dim curiousity, how do you break away from it? There’s no chance for an act of courage or some sort of ridiculous redemption now. Not there at least. I do suspect I’m dead.”
"I just - wanted to work, to support my brother and to not - dump all my worries about bad futures on the household here? I didn't trust myself with a blade, and I didn't trust myself following orders, so - bread. I can make bread." Noah smiles slightly. "I garden here. I do practice some. When I first got here, I made lunch, with Sebastian's son, who was ill, and colored with him. Filled in patterns on paper with colors?"
He frowns. "And the - have you talked about your father at all? You don't have to with me, but I know there are things that haunt me."
“There isn’t so much to say, though I haven’t,” Hux looks thoughtful. “It was a long time ago.” Comparatively speaking, anyway. He can’t be THAT old, honestly. Or he’s really good at hiding his age. It’s hard to say.
“And you…” He blinks a little. “I can’t say i’ve done something like that before. I’ve had to draw schematics and such, along the way, or add to diagrams and label them in training, but then it’s not as though..I’ve noticed this society uses much more paper than where I’m from.”
Which is a statement that has Sebastian laughing a bit.
“Funny you mention. Everyone here all talks up the fact we’re going paperless.”
"They were going mostly to magical tech in Archades, but elsewhere was reams of paper or parchment. You can do coloring stuff with computerized tech, here, but at the time some of it was meant to be hand exercises for my brother." Noah hms. "We could try it out, if you'd like? It's a calming thing and it'd be cozy up in the library."
“Come to think of it, I wouldn’t mind.” It sounds a bit silly, but mindless enough and Hux does like the thought of sticking around here a bit longer.
"More soup then?" Noah smiles at him. "It'll be silly, but it's a nice thing, and I am winding down and warming up. Do you have questions? Stuff you think someone like you would get?"
“Many.” Hux confesses. “I’ve got a list, actually, of some of the really mad ones that have come to mind. They’re mostly personal based ones, about surviving here and finding things to do. Some of the basics of living I did work out or was shown. Ms. Moore helped me initially.”
"I know Ms. Moore. She's been very brave." Noah refills his cup. "Shall we head up? Can you help with taking the sugar for the tea, m'gradh?"
Hux nods at that. “I was impressed by her willingness to...well I suspect I strongly represent just the sort of things that she despises but she helped anyway. Most people would never.” Then he pauses, thinking that over. The resistance pilot, the former stormtrooper...HE probably would, but…
“Of course.” Sebastian moves to grab that.
"Well, think of it this way. If I didn't feed you or help you, what good would it do?" Noah took the teapot. "Can you grab that plate, please, Hux? That's some baked goods, from the bakery. It's nice to have something with tea. If I yelled at you for being a child soldier, would it end children from being soldiers? If I said you killed when you should not, so no tea for you and only dry toast and recrimination?"
Noah shrugs. "And if you turn around and decide you rather want my own people hurt, than I'll face that when it comes."
Hux nods, grabbing the plate, and then he blinks. “Well I’d not have expected YELLING persay. More of a general turning away from things one does not support. Although I’m glad it’s not come to that, don’t get me wrong.” and he snorts. “The point makes sense.”
"So there's a group here, not outsiders like us, but - folks here who found it simpler to engage in shady business." Noah slides down to sit. "We knew they were hurting people like us. Ms. Moore thought of a way to combat them. Can you guess it?" He pulled out the coloring things.
“Abstergo?” Hux asks, smiling a little in spite of the moment. “I’ve not heard of her tactic in much detail. The grandmaster mentioned that she had a brilliant one, and were it not for obvious issues between them, he’d have wanted her, but…”
"Basically, she offered the lowest ranking workers other jobs. More pay, less blackmail -" Noah flips to find the one he was coloring last time he did this. "No rules on this. Find something you like, give it colors you like. Sometimes we put music on to play, or we just talk. But it's the same thing. People who weren't always in the best place, having options."
“There’s an idea.” Hux nods. “I can see exactly how and why such a thing would play out well, and..” He’s flipping through designs, settling on something vaguely geometric.
And that’s when Sebastian and Noah’s phones go off, with the alert that’s from the group text.
“I’ll just get this.” Sebastian says to both of them and glances down. “It’s your brother, love. Apparently someone new’s just arrived. Close to, or in the garden. Thankfully among the ornamental plants, none of the food.”
"My neeps are safe," Noah murmurs. "I'll head down. I think my brother's at the end of a shift and I can't remember how long it was."
“We’ve got this then,” Sebastian smiles. “And aye, they are.” He turns to Hux. “We have, well Noah’s project, really, a historical garden here. Based on plans from about eighty years ago, when there was a war and people were encouraged to grow as much of their own foods as they could... “
Outside, Basch is glancing down at his phone messages, then back to the guy next to him.
“Really,” he’s saying. “This DOES all come across as INSANE at first, I get that, but it isn’t any cause for actual alarm.”
“That’s good to know.” Finn isn’t quite sure what’s all going on with this. One minute you’re at a victory party and the next, well. “I didn’t think Poe got me all THAT drunk yet. It was COMING but the resistance HAD just won a major…”
Someone else is coming up ahead and Finn’s squinting across the way.
“You really were serious about being twins. Huh.”
"Why would we lie about it?" Noah asks. "Hello. Are you all right?"
“Not that you were LYING but…” There’s a shrug. “It’s still something that you don’t see every day.” He’s offering a hand. “Believe it or not, this is FAR from being the weirdest thing that’s ever happened to me. I’m Finn. Basch was telling me a little about having crossed into a completely new universe instead of just a planet.”
"Aye." Noah reaches to shake his hand. "I was talking with Hux, another fellow traveller. It's a pleasure to meet you, Master Finn."
“Did you say…” Finn stops and gapes a second. “Hux. As in General Hux? Of the First Order?” That’s...that’s something.
"You know him? He's mentioned he was on the Imperial side of things. He's definitely been pretty honest about that. And from the sound of things he . . . was not treated well. Which probably doesn't mean much if you were fighting him." Noah shrugs a little. "The general rule here is we let people have food and safety and it's on them if they want to cause trouble? Since we're all stuck on this world."
“We...it’s a long story. One I’m still figuring out the end of.” Finn admits, shaking his head. “I’m alive because of him right now so thinking about THAT’s a…” He frowns. “He was on top of things or well. Second in command, I guess most recently. But they DID pull me into their army young. Before I had real memories. And hey, no, that’s...I was one of them once too.”
“Wait.” Basch holds up a hand. “Sebastian’s new templar squire and our new guy were both...You’re sure your world’s not some variant of a place called Archades?” he asks, getting a weird look from Finn.
"Archades was home for us. We arrived sort of as a clump." Noah shakes his head. "Are you hungry?"
“Food would be fantastic if you don’t mind.” Finn blinks. “Sounds like we’re...at least Hux and I part of some kinda clump too. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad. He’s not exactly who I’d have asked for, but…”
But he did, for whatever reason, even though it wasn’t to help, save Finn’s life, so he’s going to treat the nuetral territory like it is. “I can be polite. I wouldn’t say NICE but…”
“Polite’s reasonable.” Basch looks a little amused. “We’ve ALL been there.” He points at Noah. “Military commander, “ Then he points to himself. “Knight captain and there’s a former royal family in there, with two turned politicians.”
"On opposite sides, mind you. And I was a fool." Noah shrugs. "We are better now. But come on in? I'll warn him that you're here, and he can decide if he wants to be polite or lay low."
“Fair enough.” Finn nods. “I can’t imagine he’d be thrilled by the surprise.”
Sebastian and Hux are still hanging around with the tea and coloring things, with Sebastian carefully explaining a few more things about some things here. They’re probably able to hear him down the hall.
“...And honestly. It’s not as though...you realize most of us have...a past? I invaded a neighboring city state to declare war, because of a single man. Attempted to annex it if he was allowed to live. Some of my people died there…my squires... I had a few in my personal charge and they did not come out of it. Well, one. But here it’s easier to shed that, if you want to. No one is going to force you, mind…”
"Hello." Noah leaned on the doorframe. "The man in the garden is from your universe, Hux. A man named Finn. I believe he left your government for another. He's going to have some soup, and there will be no fighting here. He promised to be polite."
Speak of the….THINK of him, perhaps. Hux blinks at the news of that, and wants to groan a little. Then again, of all the people he doesn’t want to see, it’s not as though he’s the first.
“Finn.” He blinks at that. “Is that what he’s decided to...I was not aware FN 2187 HAD chosen a name for himself. How odd. But we’ve reason enough to be at a truce on my end.”
“Right. I have a name.” Finn’s leaning in the doorway now, giving Hux a little nod, in the same sort of spirit. “It’s...interesting to see you again. Did you…”
“Your resistance lost a spy I think.” Hux snorts. “I was not exactly subtle. Then again, you have the girl. The jedi.” he says that last word with a mixture of disbelief and disgust, the way some people might say a word like ‘demon’ or maybe ‘elf’ or ‘fairy’ depending on the time and place. “I suspect she’ll bring about the victory you wish. So long as Kylo Ren does not succeed. So. Finn.” he nods slowly. “Do be aware I AM unarmed if that’s a problem for you.”
It’s...something anyway. Sebastian glances at Noah and Basch, trying NOT to roll his eyes. Finn’s posturing a little too, particularly at the mention of his friend.
“She isn’t here.” he says. “She isn’t here and none of you are going to…”
“Undoubtedly.” Hux snorts. “I suppose I belong to nothing now. Don’t worry, I won’t send Phasma for you in the night. I’m told that she was…”
“Good at that, yeah.” Finn’s not exactly relaxing here but. “So. A truce. I can work with a truce. Better we don’t splatter blood all over these nice people’s walls.”
Noah clears his throat. "There's books here I haven't read yet, so no, I'd prefer you to take it outside."
“There IS an illegal fighting ring on every second friday,” Sebastian offers, his tones dry. “Run by Shay’s friend actually. At the pub managed by his husband’s friend... actually, he’s Haytham’s great great...something. I’ve lost count as that’s concerned. You PROBABLY could get in there. I’m told Jacob’s not selective.”
"But I don't think there is a plan to fight. So Finn here has a name and you'll call him by that, and we'll not have fighting now. Come have some soup, Finn, and I'll get you caught up on how things work." Noah gestures. "If Hux wants to talk with a truce, you two can discuss it after food."
“Sounds fair to me.” Finn nods. Hux isn’t going to be a threat so he’s fine with him doing...just about anything that contributes to the idea of generally existing. “Besides, I’m way too tired to start.”
“About the same.” Hux snorts, giving them all a nod. He’s guessing adrenaline fused victory parties have been happening and that Finn hasn’t actually stopped to rest since before whatever final action took place. He’s got that look about him somehow.
Noah gestures. "This way then."