A Certain Kind of Threat

A Certain Kind of Threat
Date of Scene:	22 June 2025
Location:
Synopsis:	Cayde threatens Xera Graf, warning her to stay away from Navi.
Cast of Characters:	Cayde Alexis, 159

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Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Following his unsuccessful attempt to access Xera's mind clandestinely, Cayde had decided to abandon any sneaking and simply request a formal audience with her. And so promptly in the morning, he'd gone to arrange a meeting at the conference building or wherever Miss Graf would prefer, with her secretary Avi just as it seemed proper to do. At least according to that droid, anyway.

    When the time comes, he heads to the designated location a few minutes early.

Athena (159) has posed:
Strangely, he'll find that the Lady does not seem to be in any kind of mood to treat him poorly.

"Hello, Cayde," she says, "give your Master my regards," she says with a smile. "He seems to be taking his role as marshal very seriously these days." With her are Avi, and the droid, who eye the young padawan suspiciously.

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Good, that was certainly a welcome change.

    The three of them would find him already seated in one of the more comfortable lounge areas of the office complex. However when she arrives, he stands up briefly and bows politely as is customary, before sitting back down and gesturing for her to do the same.

    [Lady Graf] he signs. [...yes of course...thank you for seeing me]

Athena (159) has posed:
The Lady sits, and pours herself a cup of tea. "Would you like some?" she asks.

But she doesn't wait for him to answer before taking out a cup. "Now, tell me what's on your mind."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    There is a pause as she starts to pour the tea. He watches her as she begins to pour some for him as well, even though he doesn't answer her question about whether he would like some or not.

    After a few seconds, he leans toward her slightly, resting his elbows on his knees. Then, he cuts right to the chase.

    [I know what you are...you make nice...but you cut down anyone in your way]

    [Are you proud of it]

Athena (159) has posed:
She seems nonplussed. "Oh, please, I wouldn't hurt a sandfly, and haven't, actually. Besides, isn't that what the Jedi do?" she shrugs. "You might not always use your sabers, but you always find a way to coerce people into doing what you think is the right thing," she says.

"So why can you enforce your pillars of righteousness, while I can't?"

"I suppose if you're going to be forward then I will as well. What do you want from me?"

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Okay then.

    Cayde straightens up again, then leans back slightly against the sofa, fixing her with an intense gaze.

    Oh, 'righteousness'? He highly doubts she actually gives a lick about 'righteousness' or any brand of it. <You do not care about right>

    <...yes you have not harmed...now keep it that way...>

    He will show her a series of memories of the man Emissarius Vlaven. Surely, she remembers him? Exposed, and then put away--a raving madman tormented by something beyond any doctor's comprehension. And she will then become very aware that the padawan sitting before her is the one responsible for that condition, even if it hadn't been his intention. <You are like him...but do not share his fate>

    A threat, perhaps...but really more of a warning. She'll become aware that he'd never -wanted- to inflict that sort of agony on anyone, not even Vlaven for all his crimes and corruption. It pains him even now to think about it. But it happened, and it could happen again, should someone upset him enough.

Athena (159) has posed:
She still doesn't seem bothered, even if inwardly she's repulsed and disgusted by what had happened to Vlaven. "This just proves my point," she says with a ingenuine sigh, "that you Jedi force your will wherever you go, regardless of what it takes to make your standards the rules by which the whole galaxy revolves."

"You still haven't answered my question. What do you want? You don't want me to hurt anyone, well I haven't hurt anyone and have no intent to hurt anyone, so I'm not sure why you're threatening me like this."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    <Right now yes...but later...be wise to remember this>

    Cayde examines the cup of tea she had poured for him briefly, considering it but then deciding against it. He shrugs and puts it back down, then.

    <You stay away from Navi>

    Abruptly, it will become clear to her that he has...feelings for her. Some of them are confused, but they are there nonetheless. And yes, there is a level of jealousy there, as well as a fear that it could lead to another Vlaven should things escalate out of control. <Protect you...protect her. Stay away.>

    Then he stands. [Thank you Lady Graf...speak again soon]

Athena (159) has posed:
Xera laughs. She seems genuinely amused by Cayde. "You sad, silly, little boy," she muses, "this is all over a girl you can't even recognize you're in love with, who doesn't reciprocate your unrequited feelings."

"Don't worry, my dear. You'll get over it -- time will tell. But I suppose I'd be cruel if I didn't stay away from her. I'd be more than happy to oblige," she says, "but the problem isn't me, of course. This is a two way street, obviously. After all, I can't force her to leave me alone if she doesn't want to. That's your realm of expertise, not mine," she says casually.

"If I were you, I'd focus my efforts on convincing her to leave me alone. Because I'm happy to do without her so that your teenaged maturation can go a little bit smoother."

"But don't say I didn't warn you," she says, "it won't be easy. Navi's not really your friend," she says, "she's only kind to you out of moral obligation and pity. But now that you have a conflict of interest, you may get to find out just how unsympathetic and duplicitous she can be."

Avi, who is pretending to be bent over a datapad in the corner, winces and pales in anger, but doesn't look at them. Xera stands. "Well, anyway, we're out of time. I'll see you around, Padawan Alexis." She then starts heading out of the office room they're in.

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Well, she's at least partially right. Although it is far more complex than that. But there was no need for her to understand everything.

    <Yes you can...and you will...you will avoid her whenever possible> Cayde reaches into her mind again as she is walking away. <You will avoid her whenever possible>

    His gaze lands on Avi for a moment, her anger like a boiling spring. What was her problem, anyway? But he just shrugs, and takes his leave as well.