The Dark Academy on Korriban

Sylvain leaned up against the wall in the hallway with his datapad out, browsing through some notes on his classes that morning. His meeting with the Dark Council had been an interesting one and he looked for a bit of a reprieve while it continued on into the evening.

Finding his other friends were taking their turns with the Empire's elite his first thoughts went to his Twi'lek companion Moyr. Like any good teenage boy, he knew where the pretty girl's rooms were and the hallways that people would need to take to get to them. So while his position seemed natural and unassuming, he was indeed setting a trap for Moyr. He just needed to be patient to see if his plan would work today.

It might. Moyr was indeed walking Dow the adjacent corridor, fresh from the bathroom where she had a lot of fieldwork of the day to wash off. It might not as well. Because Moyr rarely abandoned caution and had a habit of moving quietly through common spaces.

His trap was not a nefarious one by any means. He put his datapad down as he saw the object of his search arrive freshly cleansed by the refresher. Looking up with his boyish grin he spoke out, "Looks like I missed my chance to catch you in the refresher Moyr."

Then standing up straight, "How are you doing?"

"Well, if you long for being mauled by an angry naked Twi'lek then this starfleet may have indeed entered hyperspace."

She smiled charmingly.

"I don't enjoy my refresher raided, especially after so taxing a day. What's up, Syl? Tired of catering to vanities of high société as a page?"

He chuckled warmly, "There's something still appealing about being mauled by a naked Moyr Ahaya... I might venture a raid someday to see what that's like." He winked to show he was teasing.

Then nodded and smiled warmly, "Actually yes. Felt I could use a dose of plebeian down-to-earthedness."

"And I suppose this Twi'lek from what's that place at the end of the world where even space whales turn back is plebeian, parochial and common enough for your longings for a rustical adventure to be well-founded?"

She raised her brow.

"Let me help your fantasy. I was digging through trash all morning"

He chuckled and shook his head, "You know I'm teasing Moyr. Plebian and high society are one in the same to me. I enjoy good company. Even if all they have to report is digging through the trash."

He then smiled, "Find anything interesting? Or... just a 'character building' experience? My father would call pointless and difficult errands 'character building'... it became slang for 'boring as hell' in my mind."

"I don't know about character building but it has certainly lined up my pockets. I was quite lucky today. Or thorough if you will. You won't believe what can get thrown away. Though I prefer to think of it as playing lost and found with former owners. Feels more romantic."

She kept smiling coyly.

Sylvain sighed inwardly at the waste that was involved with throwing out anything that could have been of use. That was not how he had been raised, and to see that be an effective means of acquiring anything from the Empire was disheartening. But he smiled at Moyr's comment and said, "The ever resourceful Moyr. What are you looking to acquire with your newfound wealth?"

"I want to tweak my sabre a bit, but who doesn't want that."

She smiled, shrugging.

"I also spent the last weeks on minor assignments for some of my friends, some of them conducted off-world. This exposed some paucity in my equipment I would like to rectify. Those credits won't stay in my pockets long."

He nodded, "Sounds like you've been busy then. I'd probably be out of place if I were to ask what business..." He hinted.

"Varied, actually. Mandalorians have their hands in many things. Cash surplus and good ties with prime mercenaries of the galaxy is not a bad combination, is it? It gives some manoeuvre wherever one goes."

Moyr looked toward the door to her room.

"But talking in the corridor is a bit unatmospheric."

Sylvain nodded accepting , "If you'll have me as a guest..."

"Conditionally on good behaviour."

She smirked, then walked to unlock her room, gesturing him to follow. The space was as the rest, with little personalisation. She never felt at home here, and so she didn't make an effort. She was not a tinkerer either, and she had sold all the spare parts. But, as it turned out, she had a bottle of something that could be taken for water but by how Moyr took it up it looked like it wasn't.

"Original tihaar from varos fruit. Care to sample?"

He nodded and crossed his heart as an answer to her request for good behavior.

"Sure. As long as it won't kill me." He said with a smile as he sat down.

"What's this about Mandalorians?"

She poured a glass of tihaar. She had only one in her room, so they were about to share it. She patted the other corner of her bed for him to sit on, herself taking a classy cross-legged position. After a sip, she passed the glass.

"A Sith Lord needs competent minions. I just cultivate mine early. The Mandalorians come with an added advantage that they are almost everywhere. Do you think I should bet on wookies instead?"

Slyvain sat next to Moyr and made himself fairly comfortable.

He chuckled at her comment, "No I suppose not. Was merely probing in to how you may have procured your new minions."

"Personal ties, favours, doing business, even running some errands. It's quite menial, but in the end rather effective."

She pointed at the drink, encouraging him to take a sip.

"And what have you been doing, Syl, for the long weeks?"

He took the glass and took a sip, taking a moment to taste it.

"It's good. Different flavor, but good." He said.

Then added, "For me... been drawing out as much as I could from the object we found."

She reclaimed the glass to take a slow sip, placing her lips where his had been.

"Please share some of your findings with me. You know why I am interested."

He smiled, "Do I? You didn't seem interested when we opened it together."

He handed the glass back to her, "I found it an insightful look into our enemy... and a reflective view of our own circumstances."

"Keeping it vague, mmm? Perhaps you've learnt something new about the ritual from Hazzan?"

He shook his head, "Not much, other than what he told us. He has more of an interest in the philosophical aspects of the force."

He cocked an eyebrow, "Is that something that interests you?"

"It is. Zash has sworn revenge against me. Any information on what she's become and how to counter her could save my tush. Hazzan has predilections to talk about some things but it doesn't mean he doesn't know the things I need."

She admitted, taking a long sip.

Sylvain looked concerned, "Why the vendetta against you? Something happen on the excursion?"