BEACH BAD, BEACH BAD [OPEN]

[sin-and-misery.livejournal.com]

To say Vader was out of his element was the understatement of the millennium. He'd taken refuge under a large umbrella and was seated in his his chair as though it were the Emperor's own throne. Under the pretense of meditating, he was keeping a three-foot radius of space around him sand-free.

His beach towel would stay immaculate until he got someone else's blood on it.

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[restoresbalance.livejournal.com]

"He and Yoda trained me to defeat the Empire," Luke corrected. "You aren't the Empire. And in the end, even, you brought Palpatine himself down."

[sin-and-misery.livejournal.com]

Vader shook his head.

"I sense the truth of your words, and yet...I cannot believe that. I would choose you over the Emperor," he said slowly, as though it were the most difficult choice he could ever make, "but...how could it come to that?"

[restoresbalance.livejournal.com]

"You chose love over the Dark Side," Luke replied. "You chose your family over Palpatine. I can tell you, if you want to know. Or you can talk to Leia." He shrugged. "I don't know how much will be changed by revealing what's past for me, but future for you." He turned his head and drew his knees up to his chest, a very boyish pose. "I guess a lot's been changed already just by both of us being here, huh?"

[sin-and-misery.livejournal.com]

"Why would the Emperor make me choose? He would want you at my side as badly as I do..." Vader shook his head. "The Force does not show me the future as clearly as it once did, you will have to tell me how it came to that point. Though..." he paused. "Do you believe we can be returned to our own galaxies and that...it would be possible to act on our knowledge?"

He would turn Tatooine inside-out looking for a certain toddler if that were the case.

[restoresbalance.livejournal.com]

"I'm not sure what'll happen when this is all over." Luke thought about returning to a galaxy without Mara and felt his heart constrict a bit. "As to the Emperor... he wanted me to turn, and I wouldn't," Luke said simply. "I chose to a Jedi like my father."

[sin-and-misery.livejournal.com]

"You would emulate the man who failed you," Vader said, resting his fingers against his temples. "Skywalker was not able to save Padme- he was weak. You do wrong to choose him as your idol."

[restoresbalance.livejournal.com]

"I'm proud of who my father was," Luke repeated calmly.

[sin-and-misery.livejournal.com]

"I hate him," Vader finally said, very softly. "Someday, you will realize the error of your ways and hate him as well."

[restoresbalance.livejournal.com]

"I don't think I could do that."

[sin-and-misery.livejournal.com]

It was the horrible, deceptive feeling of hope again- Luke could probably feel it this time, one small spark illuminating the darkness utterly before vanishing again.

"You are capable of anything," Vader replied, cagily.

[restoresbalance.livejournal.com]

"You're family. No matter what my family does, I'll love them."

And that was true. Even Jacen, after he'd become Caedus, even after he'd taken Mara's life... Luke had wanted to help Jacen come back to the good side, because he was family. Forgiveness would have come in time.

[sin-and-misery.livejournal.com]

Vader's eyes shone. Progress!

"No matter what the Jedi may have told you," Vader said, gently resting his fingers on Luke's hand, "I also...care deeply about you."

He could not bring himself to say 'love'.

"I would lay down my own life for you, even against the Emperor."

[restoresbalance.livejournal.com]

Luke smiled. Progress.

"I'm gonna go find Mara and Ben," he said, unfolding and standing. "I'll see you in a bit. Try to enjoy yourself while we're all here?"

[sin-and-misery.livejournal.com]

Vader mutters something in farewell. It sounds supsiciously like "I loathe sand."