The Dark Academy on Korriban

He nodded and smiled, "Any other insights I can give to you?"

"Potentially many, I guess. You've lived your life among those people more or less."

She shrugged.

"But this is not what you'd like to do, I guess."

He shook his head and smiled, "I'm fine with it. Just know I'm keeping track of my usefulness to you in my head. The accountants are hard at work up there."

"Should I open a spreadsheet in my head too? Of my usefulness to you? I am wondering what would top the column."

Her lekku twisted slightly as she made a coy smile.

"I wish my hacking skills were a bit better, I'd like to crack in there and figure out what you considered my best quality too." He said with a smile.

"Though I'd prefer you gave that information freely."

"I will have no inhibitions against listening to your true thoughts once I get that power."

A vicious smirk.

"Because I am just curious about your inner layers. The outer ones are nice but they don't tell enough of a story."

He chuckled and leaned back onto the rock and looked up to the sky, "What story would you like to hear then? I think I've been fairly honest about myself."

"A story of your record with those closest to you. You mentioned your friends and not being alone."

One corner of her lip curved up as she supported on one hand, turning to face him.

He smiled, "I don't readily speak about my friends Moyr. I'm sure you probably know their names. Beyond that, I'm not super willing to divulge anything that anyone would find useful."

He tilted his head back against the rock, "There's probably one of those 'inner layers' you wanted to learn about me; I'm fiercely loyal to those I give my trust to. It comes with its own setbacks and advantages, but ones I'm willing to take for the right people."

There was a longer pause filled with light movements of her lips as if she was mulling something.

"I don't know their names, Syl. Though... you only stepped into the altercation today to diffuse it when the blonde did."

He tilted his head, "I think you're reading something into it that wasn't there. Kristal is indeed one of my friends, but she can handle herself in that type of situation. I stepped in so Layne and Zeno didn't end up dead."

"Why did you care for their survival then? Neither apparently is as close an associate of yours as this Kristal is."

"I dislike waste." He said, "Both of them have the ability to do much more than die in the red dirt of this god forsaken planet. They could also end up fucking stuff up terribly, but until they have proven that they cannot adapt to their surroundings, I prefer to let people grow and develop into powerful people who can shape the world around them for the sake of the Empire."

"Is this how you look at me? An asset for the Empire to cultivate?"

It was her turn to tilt her head. And to sit on the side with the legs slightly pulled up. The attention of her golden eyes was on him.

"If that is the path you choose." He replied. "Those who attempt to break from the path of the Empire, they are free to do so if they are able... but I do feel one can do much more while working within a system that encourages growth and stability."

He smiled, "To strike out on your own, I can respect. There is a great deal of freedom in that path. But I have chosen a different path and judge myself and others with equal objectivity as long as that is the path they choose to walk. I walk a path that has more restrictions, but ultimately offers more power... at least in my view of things."

"The metrics of assessment aren't universal to everyone and everything. You let me know how you want to be assessed and I'll gladly view you in that paradigm." He said.

"Or I can view you as a being outside of any paradigm if that is your wish... Sometimes sentient beings are just sentient beings. Less utility in such an ambiguous assessment, but people don't always need to be viewed in terms of their utility."

"I don't know what paradigm of yours I could best fit in. Nor do I know whether I wish to be fit into any set of fixed categories. One reason is that I am on a new path and I don't know where it will get me. But what I know is that I have some personal principles I don't want compromised. Those principles allow for the kind of loyalty you espouse but not for subservience they may mutate into. Whether I stay as an agent of the Empire or strike my own path depends on the extent the said Empire can accommodate who I am."

She paused, giving him a chance to interject.

"And what would those personal principles be?" He asked with interest.

"There are some things the Empire refuses to bend on now... but with proper persuasion nearly anything is possible."

She needed a moment to name it.

"I suppose it's about dignity. And self-determination at the personal level. I don't seek guarantees. The peace they presage is untenable. I am fine with struggling, standing up for myself. But I want space for that, where I am a slave to no will."

Sylvain nodded, "That is a balance you will have to strike if you choose to stay in the Empire. There will be times when you will need to sacrifice your dignity to achieve your goals. Living within the Empire brings with it a system of restrictions, but also gives greater power over many people, planets, and even sectors. Living on your own, your only restrictions are what you can achieve by yourself... however, without the striving to be better against your peers that takes place in this system, it is quite possible to stagnate and limit yourself to your own potential and nothing else."

He smiled, "I strive to raise my own abilities and the abilities of others in a way that pushes both me and my rivals to new heights."

"Then I shall strive to strike that balance. A thing worth fighting for."

She chuckled but the subject was too serious for genuine mirth.

"I expect advancement will come naturally to one who survives a path rife with conflict and striding fine lines."

Her gaze, which had wandered for a moment, was again on him.

"Is this the kind of ambiguity that you cannot be comfortable with?"

He smiled, "I never said I was uncomfortable with ambiguity. I'd very much like to see you strive, and perhaps help push you to greater ability as you in turn push me."

He then chuckles, "Believe it or not you've come across one of the few Sith who do give a damn about anything other than themselves and their own power."

She exhaled and shook her head, lekku waving. Wide-eyed, she leaned into kneeling over his stretched form.

"I think I'll give you a benefit of a doubt, Sylvain Torsin. A token of it."

She brushed his cheeks with her nimble fingertips, then traced the line along his jaw to his chin. Her lekku were hovering above his torso. A delicate smile wandered across her lips but refused to form into something definite, suggestive enough for him to determine what could come next.

He smiled up suggestively at the woman and placed his hands on her hips as they sat above his lap.

"What kind of token would you offer?" He asks.

"Small but meaningful."

She lowered her face toward his. Her warmly tantalising lekku ever so gently slid along his neck and proved to be quite prehensile as they closed the grasp at his nape. Dark-crimson lips made a stride down, found his and locked them sweetly, with tender gentleness that gained intensity with surprisingly seamless progression, changing into more passionate before he knew it.

Sylvain poured into her kiss with his own outburst of passion. The excitement coursed through his body as he slid his arms up Moyr's back and drew her in close to him.

He gently nibbled on her bottom lip as they broke for just a moment he smiled a charming smile and looked into her eyes, "The token is greatly appreciated. Perhaps you'll allow me to reciprocate?"

Without waiting for a reply he moved his hand to the back of her neck and passionately kissed her much the way they had a moment before.