The Dark Academy on Korriban

Following the meeting of the Dark Council, Kristal had one thing of personal interest on her mind. Having seen Shaisha within the chambers as well it felt only right to do it now. Moving up from behind her old friend Kristal went to reach forward rather than use her name. Placing a hand on her shoulder. Knowing Shaisha she doubted that would spook her.

Once she had her attention she wasn't sure what to do with it at first. Their last meeting was rather... tense, and then relieving in a way? But then it also still left the wound bleeding. Now Kristal was ready to push forward, as her father would have wanted, but how?

Shaisha sensed Kristal approaching, at first thinking she was going to pass by her. So it was to her surprise when she felt Kristal's steady hand on her shoulders. The past days had given her plenty of time to think about what had happened, and set her own emotions straight on the matter.

She turned her head and looked at Kristal over her shoulder, silently waiting for her to make the first move.

For a single moment there was just nothing. Giving herself a chance to just feel anything else other than what she had a mind to do. Without being given reason to pause she grew more confident of herself and her expression became more clear.

"How have you been?" Were the words she chose. Words that perhaps almost seemed to normal, but in a way felt right.

"..."

It was such a casual question, yet she knew that it meant more than what it might seem like to any on-lookers. Though it did give her pause in how to respond.

"Well enough, I guess... been missing hanging out with you and Syl." The answer seemed as simple and normal as Kristal's question, but knowing what had happened between these two last, it held more meaning. At least it did for Shaisha.

"It has been strange, being with Sylvain without you around," she admitted. Giving a bit more footing to what was so subtle before. Taking a step forward she stood beside Shaisha, looking over her shoulder to her and then forward.

"Walk with me?" she asked, almost a little nervous in her question.

Good terms for what it was. Given how they had last left off, Kristal wasn't sure. She wasn't sure what might have crossed Shaisha's mind in that time, what she might have felt. As it would eventually become apparent Kristal was likely as worried as Shaisha was about making the wrong steps here.

Shaisha was one who had stood firm against Death's Shadow and emerged triumphant (with help from two others, but meh, details). She had never been the strongest of the three of them, as that had been Kristal's forte, but she had always been devious and a clever fighter.

If there was one in the trio that could hide a lightsaber in a smile, it was Shaisha.

Right now, however, she nodded and fell in step alongside Kristal.

"I saw you stand with Darth Marr. You must be happy? I'm guessing Syl stood with Vengean earlier..."

Which played hand in hand with Kristal's worry. Everything she knew about the girl could be different. Which was why she was as worried as she was. Kristal's information was considerably outdated. At least it felt like that. Given they've never had to experience a separation quite as complete as this one had been.

"Merely as a page, I do not think I could call myself happy for that. Grateful for the opportunity, certainly. You were quite entertained by the man whom you placed yourself with. I was glad to see it."

"For Sylvain, given to whom he is associated it would seem likely."

Both casual, and feeling almost like they were at the start again.

"A sense of humor was quite the refreshing breeze in that room," she said with a casual smirk. Certainly seems my type.

"... He's doing well, right? Syl, I mean." There was a hint of worry in her voice.

"Sylvain is well," she confirmed and eased that worry with a light smile. One she hid from her expression the moment she realized it was there. It was silly of her to let it show.

"You never managed a chance to speak with him lately?"

It wasn't incredulous, simply as it was. Given their last few grueling weeks it could make sense she merely didn't have the time. Of course, that brought up the concern that Shaisha had been alone through all of it. For all of it, she found it hard forgetting who they once were.

She shook her head. "Not really, no."

While she considered others like Khalim and Zeno to be allies, she was not as close to them as she was with Kristal and Sylvain. Still, she had not sought support, help or comfort from any of them during the past weeks. Even when it had been at its worst, she had stoicly endured on her own.

Because it was what was expected of her.

"You two needed eachother more." It was not an accusation of weakness, but her expression that the two of them had both lost fathers unexpectedly almost at the same time, in rather tragic circumstances.

"I needed time, but," she started and then stopped. Changing her approach. Stating the next part with confidence. That their fathers were both lost by the same circumstance helped no one. Someone was responsible, and that someone would pay. Part of her blamed Shaisha still but someone else was truly more so, and well...

"You are still family Shaisha."

"..."

Shaisha paused in her step. Kristal's words had caught her unawares.

"Do you still feel that, considering that the future might set us on different paths?" She looked up to meet Kristal's gaze, her voice lowering to a quiet tone. "If we want revenge, we might need to give up on such. Is that something you are willing to do?"

Stopping with Shaisha she looked to her more directly, turning to face her and meeting Shaisha with no less conviction. Not understanding the question from her perspective.

"My Father, my Mother, have spent less and less time on the same planet as I am on every year that passes. My Father was no less my family when he died, and my Mother still remains."

There was a pause, and she added, "If I am to seek the one responsible it will be due to the detriment they pose the Empire."

Revenge would just make it feel great.

The sith-blooded regarded Kristal with a raised eyebrow.

"We will soon become fully-fledged Sith. Whether we like it or not, we will soon be playing the game. Darth Marr is a voice of reason on the council, but even he plays the game. And we will participate on our masters' behalf, but that doesn't mean we can take a shot at the board ourselves when the opportunities arise," Shaisha continued in her quiet tone. "Question is, to play the game, we might have to take difficult measurements."

She waited to see if Kristal was following.

"You cannot possibly be suggesting?"

There were a couple ways Shaisha might be going with that, she thought, chiefly among them was perhaps... lesser to an extent. However for her own sanity it was quite possibly just as damning. Regardless she braced herself to hear it.

She smirked confidently.

"What do you think I am suggesting?"

Kristal's thoughts went negative, but then the smirk made her question those. In that moment she was thankful that the usual team was Shaisha and Kristal against Sylvain when it came to teasing. That puzzled look was evident on Kristal's face. Perhaps expected from a woman whom would much rather be patient till an opportunity presented itself to go at a problem directly. Like the Warrior she was raised to be.

"Something that turn at your lips has me second guessing," she admitted readily enough.

"Good. It can keep any potential eavesdroppers guessing too."

This was not the place to go into detail of what she had in mind.

"We'll be going to Yavin shortly... I'm sure we'll find plenty of places there away from the spying eyes and sharp ears of the Academy. Never trust surroundings like this, Kristal," Shaisha cautioned her friend. In due time, the Terrible Trio would come together again, and prepare for the future. They could not strike now.

There had been the thought, that walking as they were eavesdroppers would be easy to spot. However, of course, as Shaisha was rightfully so to point out. The skill of those present here certainly surpassed that, and given their accomplishments even merited the attention of those with the ability.

"I will be glad to have you at my side again," she said honestly breaking through all of the careful footing before. If someone was eavesdropping on that, well, good.

"And I'll be honored to stand there again," she said with a nod of her head.

It wasn't a question if Kristal would let her. That she spoke to her as she did now, Shaisha knew that it meant Kristal was ready, more or less, to move on.

"You'll certainly follow in Marr's footsteps." She added after a moment of silence, smiling appraisingly at her friend.

"One step at a time," it wasn't quite a smile but the cold Imperial expression she normally wore got a tone warmer, lips moving a little.

"While you will continue to carve your own path," she added, looking forward and walking side by side with her again. "Did you see those empty seats?"

There was a little play to her words, a tease at the idea of them taking a couple.

"Of course," she nodded. "I have every intention of earning my seat there as soon as possible."

"I imagine Syl thinks much the same too, but what about you...?"

There was a smirk, "Now, that is a question."

"Once, I cared little for it finding it unnecessary to hold a seat that could be used for one whom might actually sit in it. Now... now it might be where I need to be."

There was, clearly some backing to that desire. Not that she seemed to think or care to share it, in these halls at least.

She nodded, a thoughtful expression on her face.

"The Council could benefit from leaders like yourself."

"Perhaps," she said allowing the moment for thought. Then, "Time. If it is needed, if it will happen, it will. For now, merely the next step."

Kristal said it more for herself perhaps than Shaisha, it kept her focused.