One thing is certain // private // the evil is stronger

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    Jekyll was the only one in the library today. This seemed to be often the case solely based on the fact he spent nearly all his time there now that he was feeling well. There was no reason to shut himself away in his cabin now that Hyde wasn't constantly bringing him pain. He just had to keep an eye on the time to make sure he administered the anti-serum at the correct times and he was freer to do what he wanted for the first time in quite awhile. He sat, sipping tea and looking over some of the calculations he had made. He didn't see a reason to hide them in his cabin given the fact no one would be able to understand them besides himself so he wasn't too concerned if others saw. He was searching for a way to improve the anti-serum. He knew for the time being he wouldn't be able to completely separate himself from Hyde but perhaps he could find a way so that he would only need one shot a day to keep his other half at bay.


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  • [fancypost=border-width:0; width: 300px; text-align: justify; line-height: 12px][center]DARTH VADER



    "Jekyll." Vader briefly knocked on the door, then let himself in, finding himself uncomfortable with the silence of the room, uncomfortable without the secure sound of his breathing. It was an odd feeling, being on the same level as the rest of them.
    Was it possible he missed the pain? The claustrophobia of his suit? Did he miss the ailments of his old body?


    He briefly glanced at the books, letting his mind trail. "I do not know if you would understand. You're a dog. But so many books, and I do not see much information on species."


    "Do you understand Lion social behavior, Doctor?" He asked, his stare set onto the dog.
    Three things he wanted to discuss. Hyde. Lions. Navi.

  • Jekyll would look up as heard a familiar voice, his ears immediately pinning themselves back. Despite the fact Vader hadn't really threatened him in quite awhile, the other man still reminded him greatly of Hyde and seeing him attempting to murder his own child had done nothing to help rid that image from his mind. "Hello, Vader," He would greet simply. At hearing the lion's next comment, he let out a soft sigh and nodded. "You're right. I initially studied it often but soon stopped when I realized most animals in the clans show a complete lack of instincts related to their specie," He would answer. At Vader's final question, he would shake his head. "No, not much. I know a few things here and there but not to the extent you're suggesting, I would imagine," He'd state.


    //mobile

  • [fancypost=border-width:0; width: 300px; text-align: justify; line-height: 12px][center]DARTH VADER

    "If we fully detach ourselves from what we are, animals, then we are no better than a human." Vader stated, finding himself a table (yes, there were a few books on it, but that wasn't an issue to him) and hopped onto it, hearing the wood creek under his weight.
    "We cannot deny that a female goes into heat. We cannot deny the male's all-consuming lust and the fact he will break down a wall to get to her. We cannot ignore basic instincts and lessons generations before us relied on for survival." A pause. "Our cubs today do not understand the differences between them, nor their biology. Jekyll, you would never be a good doctor without understanding the differences in species." Vader's tail begins to flick, his hard gaze landed and focused on the Labrador, like prey.
    "Felindae must have the female in heat to reproduce. She will not allow you to so much as suggest intercourse otherwise. This is because no matter what you do, you, will, hurt, her." Vader briefly imagined having this conversation with a much younger Luke, imagining being able to raise his son.


    "The male's functions have barbs on them, intended to rip out the presence of any other male that could have touched her. Some of us, with difficulty, have managed to avoid our instincts. But our bodies have not evolved to accommodated for pleasureful intercourse." Vader's arm slowly moved, purposely knocking one of the heavy books onto the floor. It was fun- and made a loud thud when it hit the floor.


    "This is part of lion behavior. We live in family troops of other lions. One to three males, and the rest are female. The male's are either related, or close friends. His tail is still flicking. "In a traditional pride, it is the duty of the lioness to hunt and nuture. The male's duty is to protect, state his claim, and fight. Our lives and our pride is at stake when an unknown lion shows up. This lion could take your land, kill you, kill your cubs, and the proceed to mate with what used to be your lioness. My species commits infantcide because the lioness do not restart a heat cycle until the cubs mature. Now, we take Sussro as an example. This is a male lion I don't know. Intruding on territory I have invested in, and live in. My wife is here. My child is here. What do think my react is?"

  • At his opening statement, Jekyll chose to remain silent, only nodding a bit to show comprehension. He had been a former human, after all, and he felt no different now than he had then. However, when the lion decided to make himself comfortable on a table and Henry heard the creaking of the wood, he began to speak up. "Uh, Vader, I don't, I mean, if you don't mind, I quite like that table and-" He would begin, although his voice would fade until he eventually fell silent when the lion began discussing what he apparently came her to say. At the phrase 'good doctor', he immediately pinned his ears back and sank into his chair, as though trying to suppress the desire to run. Not because of the actual meaning within the sentence Vader was using it but rather because that was what Hyde had often taken to referring to him as. He had gone so long without hearing his voice, but he still detested anything that reminded him of the other.


    "Vader, please, that may be true for you but I know many animals, myself included, don't have that feeling of, um, lust. It's not uncontrollable by any means-" He would begin once more before fading again as Vader began to discuss his feelings in more detail. As he continued, Jekyll only appeared to become more and more uncomfortable. He had grown up in the 1800s, after all, and such topics had been avoided at all costs. So, to be talking about such things so plainly with a man he didn't particularly like, it was a bit unnerving. While he appeared nervous throughout the duration of Vader's words, it was quite clear how tense he actually was when Vader knocked the book to the floor, causing Jekyll to clearly jump at the sound. Embarrassment would quickly flood through him, though, and he'd settle back down. By the time Vader would reach his final point, Henry couldn't even look him in the eyes anymore. "Are you suggesting that you're going to try and hurt him, Vader? He's a child with no interest in your family!" He began, sounding rather defensive. "Vader, regardless of the reasoning behind it you must know that it would be highly inappropriate for you to go around attacking your clanmates. I understand what you're saying but it won't matter what reasoning you give if someone gets killed by you because of your... instincts," He would say. "I'm not trying to be harsh or uncooperative but that is the truth and I would support such a motion. If you're really such a threat to others of your species here then, well, their safety needs to come over your... desires."


  • [fancypost=border-width:0; width: 300px; text-align: justify; line-height: 12px][center]DARTH VADER

    "I have refrained from killing other lions on Windclan territory. This is obvious, and it would be different if Windclan was not Windclan territory. A teenager he may be now, but one day he will be an adult, and one day he may be a danger himself, or to what is mine." A flicking tail, narrowed yellow eyes. "I couldn't expect you to understand. You're a dog." The lion set his paws on his chin, the table creaking again.


    "But this leads me to why I tried to attack Navi. As I said, we commit infantcide. Navi is a bastard child. Her fur color makes that much obvious. So, whenever I entered this body, I saw my wife, I saw a cub that did not come from me, I acted how a lion should. But I let her go because she is almost completely independent from from her mother." He pushed off another heavy book- it was making him uncomfortable.


    "But this brings me to a different subject." As a parent, could he admit to the following words? "As I have watched her grow and develop, I have noticed something.... off, with Navi. Nothing physical, but in an area you have experience in." Was the Sith Lord throwing shade? Most definitely.

  • "So you're just going to wait until then to kill him?" Jekyll would ask, his words rather spiteful and upset. He had come to quite like the younger lion and he certainly didn't want to lose him because Vader couldn't exercise self-control. At his following comment about Jekyll being unable to understand, the canine would not say anything. Of course he wouldn't understand but it wasn't just because he was a dog. Although, naturally, he could not experience the same instincts that another species would, especially not as a domesticated dog breed. As the table creaked once more, Jekyll cast a nervous glance towards the legs of it, as though concerned it would break under the weight of a full grown lion. At the lion's following statements, though, his frown only deepened. "Vader, why did you come to see me? You know me well enough to be aware that telling me this won't change my opinion on what you tried to do. Instincts or not, you can't just go around murdering children," He would say with a soft sigh, starting to appear quite distressed. At the sound of another book dropping, the doctor would visibly flinch once again, letting out a huff of irritation. "Vader, please, don't do that. Some of those books are very old and they're fragile," He stated, his tone a near plea.


    However, at his next words Jekyll appeared to grow rather concerned. There was something wrong? How could he have not noticed it sooner? She didn't seem physically sick or injured last he had seen her (although she had been rather frightened, but that was hardly her fault). At Vader's near accusation, though, the doctor visibly tensed and his eyes dropped away from Vader's, now completely unable to make eye contact with the other. "If it is as you expect, then you and I both know there is nothing I can do to help her. I've yet to find a permanent cure," He stated, his voice now becoming low and nearing a whisper.


  • [fancypost=border-width:0; width: 300px; text-align: justify; line-height: 12px][center]DARTH VADER

    Vader is literally just: https://vine.co/v/Mxp9d5r39dY


    "Depends. If I decide to accept him as a fellow lion, then he will be left alone. If he touches my wife, my child, or my incoming children, then that will change. Only time will tell what I will do with Sussuro." Vader's tail continued to flick, briefly glancing at the covers. "Yes, I'm sure Shakespeare is rolling over in his grave." The lion claws curled, tapping on the table, daring to knead his claws into it. "Deputy. Hmpf. It's funny to watch you flinch. You have massive shoes to fill, one day, Doctor. A leader is to be brave and strong, a hero to his people. Someone they can look to for guidance and rely on. And before me I see a pacifist in white." Oh, look, another book. Vader glanced at the title, Hamlet, and huffed. "A leader enforces his will, his agenda, his rules. If you were firm, you would have made me get off by now." Vader, to make his point, shoved Hamlet off the table, letting it fall with the others. "You will never be a strong leader by being the nice guy." Maybe he was playing with fire, trying to draw something out, trying to see if Jekyll could get mad.

    But enough about that, and changed the subject. Maybe Jekyll would get a few words in, maybe grow a spine, but Vader was done with this subject, and wanted to talk about Navi. "I'm not talking about your issue, specifically. However... She has been this way since she was smaller. Anti-social. She plays with fire. Lack of general emotions, except when in extremes. It's like... she's incapable of positives. Of love." Vader made a grumbled noise, his tail notably flicking across the table, disturbing more books, but not moving them. "I would mind this if she was older, if she was an adult. But she is exhibiting this kind of behavior as a cub, is there something I should do?"

  • //oh my gosh yes


    Jekyll listened to him talk about Susurro, nervously picking at a fuzz in the chair he was seated in as he did so. What would he do if Vader actually tried to kill the teen? He was so much bigger than Henry and Jekyll didn't have the first clue as to how to fight anyone, let alone a lion. So, he would choose to remain silent for the moment, allowing the subject to rest. At his next comment, Jekyll had to keep himself from rolling his eyes. "Vader, I don't particularly care what Shakespeare's doing, I care that you're knocking all my books off my table," He argued with a light shake of his head. Noticing Vader now curling his claws into the table, Henry let out an annoyed sigh. "Vader, please don't-" He would begin before falling silent when the lion began to speak. His ears would pin themselves down and he shifted uncomfortably, once again looking down at the chair and nervously picking at it. When he shoved off the next book, Henry would flinch once again, cursing himself for it. "Well, that's likely because I, generally, am a pacifist. I don't see why that's a bad thing. It'll just mean we'll avoid fights we have no business being in," He would argue, although his words were hesitant and quiet. To be honest, his competence was something he had been questioning more than usual lately. Right now, he was just trying to get the hang of being deputy but what if something happened and he had to become leader? He didn't think he was prepared for that in the slightest. He wasn't even sure if he should be deputy. Luna was right. Of course, he would never tell anyone he actually thought that but the fact stood nonetheless.


    However, when he began talking about Navi once more, Jekyll would look back up, although he still avoided eye contact. "No normal being is incapable of love and positive behavior, Vader. There are some that struggle with it for various reasons but they are not incapable and I wouldn't tell her that you said that. I don't know there's a lot you can do, though. Having worked with the asylums on occasion, I do know a bit about phychological disorders so I would first search to see if that's the case. I must admit, though, I've been studying up on them more and things are... much more complicated now then they were in my time. I'm trying my best but I can't diagnose someone with any confidence. If the behavior is showing signs so early, though, and without pretense then it is likely a disorder of some kind, although I don't know what. Until we know the problem, there's very little anyone can do other than offer her a warm, loving home," He would answer with a soft sigh. "Do you think her behavior will become more violent in the near future?" He would then ask after a brief pause.


  • [fancypost=border-width:0; width: 300px; text-align: justify; line-height: 12px][center]DARTH VADER

    "You may be able to get by being a pacifist now, but it cannot stay that way. Jekyll, you must at least learn to fight. That is undeniable. When I return to my body, I am willing to teach you." Vader mused, tail still flicking.


    "She is so distant, Jekyll. She... doesn't interact much with the others. She's antisocial, she doesn't play with the other children... This is concerning because Lions are social animals, and this behavior is unheard of in a lion..." He sighed, setting his chin on his paws. "Can you look into it?"

  • At Vader's initial statement, he let out a sigh of annoyance. "Vader, I'm fine. I don't need to learn how to fight. I was captured once by the Cartel. I don't want to ever hurt anyone. That would make me more like..." His voice would die out after he said this and he'd look away. "You know," Was all he'd mutter, although he now seemed incapable of looking the lion in the eyes. However, when he spoke about his daughter once again, Jekyll would slowly nod, although his eyes were closed and a soft sigh came from him. "I can do my best. I can't promise you anything, though, Vader. What I said is true; things are very different than they were in my time which is good but at the same time that makes it extremely difficult for me. But yes, if it will put your mind to rest, then I can do my best to find something that would help her," He answered. "Is that what you came here for, then?" He'd then ask. "Because, if so, I need to know something. Did you tell Irluuk about my... condition? I suppose there isn't much I can do if you did but I just want to be aware of who knows and if there's anything I need to do to make sure it's a small group of people. There's already more than I would like," He'd state.


  • [fancypost=border-width:0; width: 300px; text-align: justify; line-height: 12px][center]DARTH VADER

    "You are condemning yourself, then, Jekyll." Vader said, his tail flicking again. The lion was quiet for a moment. "I am sure you will change your mind." The lion stood up, the table creaking as he hopped off, and shaking himself off. "Just, tell me if you find anything." He said, turning, and beginning to leave, but pausing.


    "No. I have not told Iruluuk. But it is possible he already knows. I never know with him... But he does not know, then I could tell him." Blackmail. "Iruluuk is not a person you want be targeted by. If he wants something, he will take it." A pause. "Whatever did happen to that other one, anyways?

  • Jekyll would make no comment on Vader's first reply. It was fairly clear he wouldn't be changing the lion's mind any time soon but he knew that, no matter what happened, he would have no intention to fight anyone for any reason at all. That is, unless someone were to threaten Evelyn or Atticus. He wouldn't be able to stand for something like that but when it came to his own well being, he didn't seem particularly nervous at all. However, when Vader answered his question, his ears would immediately be flattened and he'd almost seem to try to hide away in his chair again, sinking into it. "But why would he want to target me because of that? What could he possibly want from me? No one would want my problem and he strikes me as an intelligent man who would be more than capable of doing his own research on such things," He would say, although he sounded nervous to even ask. He wasn't sure why Vader took any interest in him. He didn't think he was anyone of significance, he was just trying to live his life and have a nice family. That was really all he wanted. At the lion's question, though, he would fall silent for a moment as he debated whether or not to lie. It was then that it occurred to him he wasn't a particularly good liar and Vader, of all people, would be sure to catch it if he tried. "I developed a sort of anti-serum. I have to take injections every few hours but it keeps him away," He would answer, his voice soft.


  • [fancypost=border-width:0; width: 300px; text-align: justify; line-height: 12px][center]DARTH VADER

    "Iruluuk is very persuasive. He will always find something." Vader points out, his back faced towards the dog. "And he will find some need of you yet. But be aware, Iruluuk is not a person you tell 'no,' to." Without commenting on the anti-serum, Vader left the cabin, knocking off one last book, and barely bothering to shut the door.