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Characters: Kylo Ren and open
Date: August
Location: Keeliai
Situation: Catch-all post
Warnings/Rating: (mild?) violence

#1: early August

If you happened to visit Kylo Ren in the first days of August, you would find him packing up the few belongings he had gathered during his stay on Tu Vishan, or if you were very lucky, you might even witness the movers he had hired to have him disappear from Sky Sector with as little fuss as possible.

With Phasma gone, the house in the Sky Sector had become a location far too well-known for his comfort, and if a change of scenery would conceal Phasma's disappearance for a while, all the better. Inhabitants of the Fire Sector would run into him an awful lot there all of a sudden, and indeed he had gotten an apartment near the industrial sector.

#2: August

Too bad his new solitude didn't work out too well. Or rather, didn't last too long. All of a sudden Kylo Ren could be seen in the company of several Kin'nal, and looking none too happy about his new friends. So much for him and Hux talking of the need for humanitarian aid, such things always come back to haunt you... sometimes quite literally, by moving in with you.

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The highest sacrifice. Raine wasn't sure she wanted to know what he meant; but she had enough misgivings about Kylo Ren that she rather thought she would need to know, sooner or later.

"Sacrifices," she began levelly, "are rarely for one's own benefit." But she was considering his question, and in a moment she inclined her head, agreeing.

"I believe I've mentioned my younger brother to you. I raised him, after..." No. No, Virginia wouldn't come into this. "I raised him from infancy," Raine amended. "In many respects, I suppose I'm a mother to him, after all. If it was necessary, yes, I would give up my life for his, without another thought." There were others-- but all more complex in terms of the qualifications. Raine left it at Genis for now. "I could be satisfied, knowing my brother would be safe."

He shifted, discomfitted by the answer though he now realized he should have expected it. Nothing he had learned about Raine had indicated differently, all that had been missing was the identity of the one she would sacrifice herself for.

Kylo looked away again, it was too hard to bear her gaze. She wasn't even judging, yet he felt judged. If she knew... "Then you're a better person than I am," he pointed out, though he found it unnecessary, "and your brother is very fortunate. To have a parent who loves you more than they love themselves..." His jaw clenched. No. He couldn't do it. He couldn't face that. Not now. More like never.

He just smiled wanly, and huddled back under the covers. "I've never doubted you would choose the path of good, Raine."

Raine was neither blind nor willfully ignorant, and there were only so many things it could mean, when her student refused to meet her eyes. Whatever he was hiding from her was something he was not proud of, and coupled with the topic at hand...

What had he done?

And, more importantly: did it matter, since this was another world? She had extended second chances to any number of people in this city. What would matter most was what he did now. "One of my students changed the shape of our world," Raine said, electing to come at the topic a little sideways. "For the better. He's an idealist, naturally. He truly believes in the good nature of people, and their capacity to be better. He would have forgiven our worst enemy, I think, if Mithos had made the effort to change. For myself..." She shook her head. "Not everyone will change. Not everyone can. But without the chance to, it's impossible to tell the difference."

Raine sighed again, and got up, absently brushing the line of her jacket straight. "Keeliai is that chance for many people," she said levelly. "Without the pressures of their world, without the people they leave behind-- many of my friends have grown beyond what their worlds would allow. My husband did. The man who may as well be my second brother is. I know there are things you aren't telling me, Kylo. Things I certainly won't like. But there's no need to assume your path is set in stone because of them. You have a chance, and a choice. Don't waste either." That was about all she needed to say. Raine nodded to herself, half-turned as though she meant to go. "I'll see you later this week for lessons, when you're feeling better."

There were many things he could have said in response - angry and bitter things meant to lash out, to wound her, or simply push her away. But for today he felt so tired of fighting everything and everyone, and there was this tiny little light of hope he felt oddly reluctant to quash.

So he just nodded, once again avoiding her gaze, though he was keenly aware of her turning away, and honestly, glad for the opportunity to mull over what she had told him. "Thank you."

He wasn't quite sure what he wanted to thank her for, which kindnesses and offers issued he was ready to acknowledge just yet, but he knew he felt more at peace with himself for having Raine in his life.

Second chances.

He'd been promised them before, and thought it was too late. It was, he still believed that, but maybe, here... Maybe there could be some peace, for a little while.

Still avoiding her gaze. Raine didn't quite sigh, though it was tempting.

Well, for now Raine had done what she could. She inclined her head to him in turn. "Feel free to come to me if you have any questions," she added, almost as an afterthought. Evidently he needed to think, and while it would be up to Kylo if he wanted to reach out, she would certainly be there if he did. "In the mean time, rest. Until then."

And with that she was gone, satisfied that no more abrupt murder attempts had been made and that she'd done what she could for now. This would certainly not be the last time they talked about this.