Ok. [He won't insist on his interpretation. Although he did hear that sigh.]

How about less complicated?

[Ezra's not fussed with the question. He knows he's not invulnerable to temptation - doesn't believe anyone truly is - but he sincerely doubts he's going to be simply be talked around to embracing the Darkside. Not at this point.

It would probably have to be some form of desperation he hasn't experienced yet, he thinks.]

Uh, yes. I took advice from that holocron for months. [Bluntly-] I've killed people with what it taught me, using my anger.

A rush of satisfaction, of vindication. But different from how I feel when I'm simply learning something new or succeeding at a goal.

It digs into you. The anger started to color everything. And if someone called me on it? I got angry at them, too.

[Not telling him anything he hasn't contemplated at least a little before, Maul.

He has to set aside to ask impulse to ask what Maul knows about neurology and trauma - topics Ezra has only waded into the last year or so, but have been enlightening. A lot of it isn't so different from what his masters taught him, if not using the same words. But sometimes different words are helpful.

This is Maul talking time. Quietly, knowing it's understatement, but could words do it justice?]

That would be a lot to sort through. Beyond what I can personally truly fathom.

[It's a good thing this is voice only, really, because that means Maul can't see Ezra wrestling with trying not burst out laughing at the absurdity of those two sentences.]

Hmmm, one: I'm a chronic worrier. A flaw of mine I should probably work on at some point.

Two: Wanna take a stab at defining 'fine' for me?

[Now, he holds back a sigh.]

Alright.

Maybe consider giving thought to your definition, for your own sake?

No. It's a suggestion based on fairly simply logical, Maul. You talked about things that seemed clear now being harder to discern. I talked about anger clouding everything. You alluded to that being all you knew.

Is more clarity something you seek?

[Ezra responses quickly - and hopes he won't regret that. He's habitually an early riser, and this could get invovled.]

Ok. So, if your definition of 'fine' is simply...whatever you can endure and live through, well. That's your prerogative.

There's a sort of clarity in that taking that position. Stripping it down to the barest of essentials. But does that reveal anything you haven't learned already? I think we both know you can survive pretty much anything other people throw at you. Yes?

Yeah, well, there are so many ways our experiences aren't comparable, but I'm familiar with keeping your head down and enduring.

But it's a narrow sort of clarity. In my experience, very easy for that to become...'this is all there is'.

[No hesitation-]From a certain point of view, sure.

But if that blinds you to everything else...is that the sort of clarity you want, here and now?

[Pause.]

Is seek a better choice of phrase?

I'm not humoring you.

We're talking about you defining your own terms. Semantics is kinda the point.

[Ezra hums in thoughtful agreement.]

Yeah, it can be exhausting at times.