[Video]

[prophesiedone]

[Some might recognize the cat - the stray cat that seemed to hate Anakin before - behind said Sith. So what if the fuzzy creature is batting a ball between his paws and being downright charming? So what?]

My talents are going to waste. I'm accepting students, but if you don't show any talent with the Force, I will drop you.

[He wants his own army because why the hell not?]

Ben, you're my first student. [No matter what a certain once-Padawan says! Yes, he is that childish.] Don't be late tonight.

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[so_dark_a_road]

[ A state of mind Curufin can identify with because he can so cleary remember it. Nargothrond first, HA HA! -- and then all of central Beleriand!!! Finrod, you have to die. And you too, Thingol! ]

Oh, you can? What would you suggest? [ And interesting idea, being enemies at first sight? Curufin's amused. ] But yes, we should meet to practice. [ He grins. He gets the message. Without holding back! ]

[ His face softens, hearing that hollow tone and seeing the golden eyes shadowing. ] I am sorry, then. It is a dreadful thing to lose the one who gave you life. But if there is another who could be saved. . . then I wish you the best of luck.

[ He smiles at the question. ] I don't imagine you are. Neither am I. I know the Dark too well.

[prophesiedone]

[Who needs peace and level-headed wisdom and guidance when you can have fiery desperation and manic episodes?]

Most of my reasons you wouldn't want to hear. [Like how he killed children.] We should. But first... Can your sword withstand a blow from a lightsaber? Or should I use a sword too?

[He gives a quick, jerky shrug.] It's over. I won't let it happen again.

[His gaze lifts and fixates on Curufin's face.] How well? Why did it call to you?

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Indeed! ]

Not unless you wanted to tell them to me. [ Curufin is also guilty of children's deaths. ] That's a good question. I have never fought anyone who owns one. A Fëanorian blade may be able to withstand your weapon. It is hard to say how two weapons from different universes might compare. But if you wished to fight with a sword, do you own one? Or shall I forge one for you?

[ He gives a nod in acknowledgement of Anakin's grief. ]

[ He meets that gaze. ] It began to call to me when I and my father and brothers slew our own kin, in order to take control of their ships. Or perhaps it was even before that, when we swore an oath of vengeance against a renegade god who had stolen something from us. Eventually, I think the Dark got hold of me entirely. I was full of hate and wanted power at any cost. And then, in the end. . . I died, and found myself in the Void. That place is pure Darkness. I felt strangely at home.

[prophesiedone]

I'd rather not. [It nauseates him to speak of it, though he still believes it had to be done.] I don't own a sword and I'd rather not ruin yours by testing its strength against my saber. Could you forge one for me? Do you need my measurements?

[He listens and envisions a place of utter Darkness. Yes, it would be peaceful. No one could attack or be attacked; no one would die.]

You killed your family? Why?

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Curufin won't press him to speak of things he does not wish to. He understands well enough why a person would not want to talk of the worst acts of his life. ] Yes, I can forge you a sword. It would be better to have your measurements. If you don't know them, you can stop by my workshop and we'll take the measure in Elvish or English units. [ He has a measuring tape for each. ]

[ Yes, that would be a very good description of the Void! -- that's if you ignored the occasional evil spirit. But they weren't that common, so, yes, it was peaceful. ]

I am of the clan of the Noldor. The first of my kin whom I slew were Teleri, a clan of ship-builders. None of them were close kin, as these things are usually reckoned, but close enough for Elvish society to consider their murder a kinslaying. I thought of the Telerin Elves I knew as cousins, though with none of them did I share an ancestor closer than a great-great-grandparent. That would make the people I killed mostly fourth, fifth, and sixth cousins, I guess. No matter. I knew many of them personally, and some were my friends. [ Bitter memories. ] I killed them for their ships, so that I and my father and brothers and our followers could escape the land of the gods. And later, it got worse. I sent my own first cousin Finrod to his death, though I did not kill him myself. I and my brother Celegorm wanted Finrod's kingdom, and so we stole it from him. And the last of my kin whom I slew were the most distant, of the kindred of the Sindar, sundered from my ancestors' people long ages before. But all Elves consider themselves related, and so that, too, was a kinslaying. The people of the kingdom of Doriath possessed a powerful and holy jewel that my father had crafted along with two others, all of which were all stolen from us. That one jewel ended up in the hands of a ruler of that kingdom, and my brothers and I attacked it and killed everybody who couldn't escape, including Dior, the ruler. That was my last adventure. [ Wry. ]

[prophesiedone]

[There is cowardice in not speaking of his actions, but his sanity is on a razor thin edge. Speaking of it might be enough to break him and he is certain Curufin doesn't want to see that side of him.]

Give me directions and I'll be there shortly. [He's actually excited to have a "normal" sword. Well, no not normal. The blade would be special and he grins at the thought of sparring.

His amusement fades at the explanation and he...understands the Fëanorians better than he should. As the Force's "Chosen One", he shouldn't be so...

So tainted. But he is and he cannot hold any of the atrocious acts against Curufin.]

I guess since you are being so honest... [And not to his benefit.] I will tell you one of my crimes.

[Private to Curufin.]

I slaughtered younglings - Padawans in training - so that they would not grow to oppose me and my new Empire. [He forces his voice to be emotionless - flat. They are just words. He will not think of the deed.]

[so_dark_a_road]

Do you know where Confusion's temple is, just past Spire Two? If you keep going in that direction, you will come to a forest of tall pine trees. My son Celebrimbor has a forge there, and he shares it with me. It's near the riverbank, just before you get to that forest. You'll see a couple of workshops, wooden shacks. One is the forge and the other is for carpentry and other crafts. I nailed signs over the doors so you can't miss it.

[ He grins, too. He is looking forward to making that sword, and to the sparring. ]

[ Private to Anakin.]

I see.

Then we have something in common.

[ They are both tainted. ]

[prophesiedone]

I know it. I shouldn't have much trouble finding it, then. [He is on his way, striding quickly through the streets. Much can be told from how he moves; Anakin is someone who is physically fit, though his robes hide much of his muscles. Each of his steps would have others of shorter or weaker statures running to keep up.]

Can I trust you won't attack me before the sword is made?

[Private to Curufin.]

Are you sorry?

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Curufin nods. ] Then I'll expect you shortly.

Yes, you can trust me. [ Small laugh. ] Kinslayer I may be, but I'm not a jerk.

[Private to Anakin]

Yes, I am. In the beginning, I was mainly sorry because I got two of my brothers killed, as well as myself, in that last adventure. I wasn't sorry for the other deaths. Not even the children's. But. . . my own death woke me up, in a way that's hard to explain. In the end, I began to worry about all the people I killed or caused to die. They are a weight on my spirit, and they always will be.

[Action]

[prophesiedone]

That's comforting! [He listens to Curufin's explanation as he walks to the Forge, understanding the Elf's pain and...not. He hasn't died yet, though a part of him feels like it will perish the moment Padmé dies. Part of the reason he cannot lose her is because of that piece of him. Without it, he might give up on his humanity entirely.

Once at the Forge, he lets himself inside and peers around - always wary.]

Curufin?

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[so_dark_a_road]

[ OOC: Moved left. ]