Leverage Cassian AU :Sith Philosophy and Culture 101

[last_kallig]

Ibani has been teaching Cassian the first two lightsaber forms, to the extent that she can. Luckily, Cassian has set aside an area of the house as something of a gym/workout area.

They are cooling down, and Ibani repeats the Sith code to herself. This time though, she speaks the words out loud, which she's never dared to before.

"Peace is a lie, there is only passion.
Through passion I gain strength.
Through strength I gain power.
Through power I gain victory.
Through victory my chains are broken.
The Force shall free me!"

Comments

[childofrebellion]

Cassian frowns as he listens as that seems a tricky philosophy and one that leads to a dangerous life. It makes sense though for how she was taught, "Do you believe that?"

[last_kallig]

"Yes," Ibani replies. "Although my interpretation is rather heretical."

"Doesn't help that the Sith code was developed as a denial of the Jedi Code rather than evolving on its own."

[childofrebellion]

"What's your interpretation?" He takes a drink of water and sits down to listen to her.

[last_kallig]

Ibani sketches glowing characters in the air. "This is how the word passion is written in the Sith language, but it's ALSO how the word desire is written."

"If peace is the absence of desire, of passion, it can never be more than a temporary thing. Passion, desire, is written into every living thing at a level deeper than thought. No matter how strong your will, your body WILL breath and your heart WILL beat, whether you would have it so or not!"

"Life struggles always to maintain itself in the face of entropy."

[childofrebellion]

"Why would peace be the absence of desire? Only in peace can you be safe to love and be with people safely,"

She's clearly thought a lot about this but none of it sits right with him. Maybe its similar to Taoist ideas which he doesn't know well.

[last_kallig]

"THAT would be a legacy of the first Sith being Jedi who lost a civil war," Ibani explains. "The first line of the Jedi Code is 'There is no emotion, there is peace'.

"Most Sith think of love as a weakness. I don't agree with THAT at all, but it's the common feeling."

[childofrebellion]

"I see, that makes more sense. There's a real focus on power. How do they fit this code with having an Empire and slaves?"

He knows its possible as history is proof of that but it still requires rationalization.

[last_kallig]

"Power has been used to justify having slaves, having an Empire. You take what you want because you are powerful enough to take it and they are not strong enough to resist," her tone is bitter.

"I won't lie, I am attracted to the idea of power, especially since I had none for so long. But I want to use it to make the world better."

[childofrebellion]

"Power is dangerous, it corrupts everything that it touches unless you're constantly watching,"

Cassian's seen that and he comes over to be closer to her, he's here to protect her.

[last_kallig]

"I know," she says, voice quiet. "I've seen it over and over again, felt it. Have to keep an eye on myself, always."

She reaches out to him. "And you'd stop me, before I became a monster, one way or another."

[childofrebellion]

He gives her a hug, "I would and I trust you."

[last_kallig]

She hugs him back.

"I don't know why, why you trust me," she admits.

[childofrebellion]

"Because I know you and love you," That's all he needs to know.

[last_kallig]

"Doesn't seem like it should be that simple. *I* don't trust me," she mutters, still hugging Cassian.

[childofrebellion]

"I know, but its true. Emotions are complicated but you know how I feel," The Force is helpful with that, she has to know that he loves and trusts her.

[last_kallig]

"I do," Ibani admits. "Pretty sure I'd know even if I was Force blind, although that's hard for me to imagine."

"But the whole strength from passion thing is literally true, at least for me. I use emotion to access the Force, Light or Dark."

[childofrebellion]

"That makes sense. I think the wording is awkward as passion is a narrow word and the Force is all encompassing. It seems similar to some philosophies out there. Let's clean up and go to the library and then lunch. I think there are some books that you might find interesting,"

Also he needs to check where the nearest Buddhist temple or community center from certain parts of the world, especially Jedhan.

[last_kallig]

"That sounds like a good plan! I'll see you after I clean up!"

She does clean up thoroughly as she got pretty sweaty, so it will take a bit!

[childofrebellion]

He laughs as she goes and then waits his turn for the shower before getting ready to go.

[last_kallig]

Ibani changes clothes while Cassian is in the shower, jeans and a t-shirt. She also gives Ash some attention, as his people have been IGNORING him and playing without him!

[childofrebellion]

When Cassian comes down, he smiles and says, "We could bring him and go to the park after the library."

[last_kallig]

"That sounds like a good idea. Leash, Ash!"

And there he goes, down the hall!

Ibani giggles at the sight, because it really is ridiculous!

[childofrebellion]

He grins when he sees Ash running, "One of the best things we taught him."

[last_kallig]

"Yes," Ibani agrees. Ash comes galloping back down the hall with his leash, tail wagging furiously. Ibani puts his leash on and they head out to the truck.

"Glad I got my homework done already, especially if I'm going to be getting books at the library."

[childofrebellion]

"You're good about your work and its hard to go to the library and not get something," And he has a feeling this research will get them a big pile.