The Judgment of Jace Beleren - swearing (one instance)

[Dabir]

Just one of those things that I wondered how it might play out. Jace planeswalks to Runeterra, and hears of the League of Legends. Being a curious sort of chappy, he figures he might sign up. Of course, to join the League you have to face a Judgment.
[spoiler=This is that Judgment.]
Jace Beleren stepped through the grand doors of the League of Legends, and they slammed shut behind him with a sonorous clang, cutting him off from any source of illumination.

“This is a League Judgment?” he wondered aloud.

“Apparently,” said someone far off in the darkness.

Jace reacted instantly, throwing up every shield he could think of and searching frantically for any nearby minds. His shielding was thick enough to glow a faint blue, his sweep found nobody and if the owner of that voice was who he thought it was then [i]instantly[/i] wasn’t anything like fast enough, but he wasn’t going to let anyone say he hadn’t tried.

“Show yourself!” he called. His wish was granted when the room suddenly blazed with light, as torches in alcoves around the walls flared to life. When he could finally stand to so much as squint again, Jace peered at his surroundings. He was in an ornately carved stone room, with two sets of double doors, one ahead and one behind. Between Jace and the way forward was the room’s only other occupant: the owner of the voice and the man Jace was least okay with being locked in anywhere with. “You!” he snarled.

“Me,” said Tezzeret. He had to have been lurking in the darkness long before Jace had arrived, but the maddening son of a b[i][/i]itch wasn’t showing the slightest sign of discomfort in the bright light. In fact, he wasn’t showing anything at all, just staring levelly at Jace with his face absolutely blank. That kind of stare should have been easy for Jace to track back along and slip into his mind, but still he felt nothing. Either this wasn’t the real Tezzeret, or he’d picked up a new trick or two. Knowing Tezzeret as he did, he wasn’t prepared to place a bet either way.

“You’re a League Judge?” Jace asked, trying to keep both eyes on both of Tezzeret’s hands and watch his face at the same time. Maybe he’d have a second or two warning that way. Tezzeret simply gave him a smile in response – no, an imitation of a smile; there was no warmth behind those eyes.

“Just for you,” he said at length.

“So, what, you knew I’d come here? You weaselled your way into the League, just so you could torment me some more? Haven’t you hurt me enough?” Jace shouted. An unpleasant idea occurred to him. “This wasn’t Bolas’s idea, was it? You said you were partners, I don’t believe that for a second, so are you just doing his dirty work now?”

“I assure you that Nicol Bolas has had no hand in this Judgment,” Tezzeret said. “Nor is this encounter related to any schemes I may or may not have to hurt you. I am conducting this Judgment because it is my duty, and because it can be done in no other way.”

“Don’t think for a moment I don’t remember your speech back on the Metal Island,” warned Jace. “You said yourself that if ever you thought I wasn’t scared, you’d do something about it. Well, here I am.” He pointed at his opponent. “I’m not scared of you!” he declared, though the shaking of his hand told a different story. “So what are you going to do, here and now? Get it over with!”

Tezzeret just shook his head slowly, still staring at Jace. “Then I will,” he said, quietly enough that Jace had to strain to hear him. Then, louder, he asked a single, simple question: “Why do you want to join the League of Legends, Jace?”

The question struck the mind-mage like a thunderbolt. He’d been so wrapped up in preparing to defend himself from an attack he only suspected might come, he’d forgotten why he was really there. He stood stock-still, as he searched for a response. Finally, he settled on the only one that came to mind.

“I don’t know,” he admitted. “I didn’t think I’d need a reason. To be honest, I’m not sure I really do.” Tezzeret nodded.

“How does it feel, exposing your mind?” he asked. That one Jace could answer.

“Horrible,” he said. “Absolutely horrible, every time.”

Tezzeret waited in silence, still keeping up that damn stare. After a minute or two of silent contemplation, during which Jace felt very sorry for himself, he cleared his throat.

“Leave this place, Jace,” he said. “There’s nothing for you here.” A pair of double doors swung open – the doors that Jace had entered by. Daylight streamed in and warmed his back, then his face as he turned to leave. Just before he crossed the threshold, Tezzeret called his name again. He turned, and to his astonishment he saw his nemesis’s face contorted into a genuine, friendly smile.

“You were right, of course,” Tezzeret said. “I’m not the real Tezzeret. Good luck to you.”

Jace stepped outside, took a deep breath, and planeswalked away from Runeterra.
[/spoiler]
Comments, criticism, carefully-thrown axes?

[bury the year]

Very well done. I'm only vaguely familiar with this aspect of M:TG, but I like the way you've described it in such a sparse but effective manner. At first I thought it could've been a bit longer, particularly with the whole "boom bang revelation" thing, but upon second thought it read better. :3