The Dark Academy on Korriban

Moyr had some rations, but both frugality and prudence dictated keeping them for later. Most of the Massassi were busy preparing for war but for one who assisted in their Queen's ascendance they probably would find time to share a bowl of wild rice and some fish slices. She wouldn't mind blood wine either if offered, actually.

She had grown hungry. Having a few stomachs, she never experienced problems because of wanting more food, and her metabolism was efficient enough to handle it. It were the male Twi'leks that tended to grow fat. Female ones were just getting better feminine curvature, of what the Lethan in question was the prime example.

Nibbling on the fish, she was taking in the atmosphere of imminent conflict. Some of Massassi bore the painted markings from the previous day. Her thoughts went to her own attribute of dark power. The mask was safely tucked at her side underneath the cloak. She would wear it to battle.

The massassi warriors sit and eat with her and bring bottles of bloodwine to share. It is a quiet affair but one filled with camaraderie as they take time to eat and paint their faces for war.

Soon they would have to be prepared, but as the Massassi offered their help against those from the South Kristal couldn't allow herself to not be known by an ally. Even if she had no intention to seek out anyone, she felt a tribe of what appeared to be warriors could respect the one within her if they were only given the chance. For she could allow herself to do the same.

If they proved proper allies... at least.

Spotting Moyr her intentions changed. Walking over to the woman she had to ask, she just had to ask. It was probably among the worst things she felt she could let herself ask, but she just had to.

"Do you love him?"

Moyr saw her coming, and she reached out to the Force to read her intentions, but the emotions of fraternity among the surrounding Massassi dampened her sensitivity. She would have to do with what she saw in an ordinary way. She put the bowl away for now.

MA10. Sense.: 1eF 2 Light Side


Upon hearing the question, or rather the bluntness of it, she barely managed not to scoff. Syl wouldn't want antagonism between them though, so Moyr brought up her best neutral face. Acting too friendly would be taken for mocking, she thought.

"I've eventually let myself to."

She said simply.

"You?"

"Mm," was the only vocalized response for a few moments. Finding a spot to sit by Moyr she did so without invitation. Not seeing the point of waiting for one.

"I don't know," she admitted, "But knowing you do... I suppose he isn't a complete idiot. If only by a thin margin."

Moyr didn't react to the place near her being taken in any other way than a by functional turn of her head toward Kristal.

"I wouldn't be interested in an idiot. He just confuses his priorities sometimes. This is remediable though."

"If you're going to be there for him... if you can.. get his head on straight. Don't just get lost in the moment with him. Sylvain is one of the few people I consider family anymore, even now. He's done too much for me, been there too many times for me to sit around and let him become lost to himself..."

Kristal sighs as she leans back, looking up toward the sky. There was something about the whole moment that seemed completely bare, naked in a way. Nothing could have been more earnest. "I just can't be there to do it myself right now."

Moyr looked at the other woman for a while in no particular way, then nodded.

"I've taken a steep gamble with him, and I'll be doing my utmost as long as he remains committed to me. But if he betrays me even once, it's all done."

For a long while Kristal just looked at her after a comment like that. Certainly it was in line with what she had said prior... but the way it was worded felt like the knife that was shoved into her gut a day ago was just pulled out and now she was bleeding out, dying.

Standing, Kristal started to walk off before she offered Moyr an explanation. "I need a moment.."

With that, for a time, Kristal would vanish off back into the forest somewhere.

Moyr simply nodded and resumed eating once the Serasai was gone. She didn't particularly wonder about the cruelty her words had carried. More like of nefarious plans of his 'old friends', Kris included, they could have precipitated. But above all it told her that beyond Kris, there must have been others she knew about but hoped they would just be passing interests. Most likely she had seen Moyr that way. Maybe she was even right. But if anything, this was the test he would have to take sooner or later.

Ten minutes, twenty minutes, half an hour must have passed before Kristal reemerged from the forest. Through great effort she looked no worse for wear. Not that she had anything to say.. or any idea, but there was something that drove her back to Moyr as it would become quickly apparent.

Taking the seat near her once again, the last Serasai left in the Empire just took up space. Remaining silent as she thought of how she could possibly go about learning what she felt like she needed to know. Though in truth she was probably just putting herself through needless pain.

Moyr acknowledged her return with a small smile and wordlessly offered her some fish and blood wine. The other woman apparently needed time to utter words that had been growing within her.

There were certainly a few reasons Kristal could bring up to explain to herself why she accepted both the wine and food from someone she, in part, despised. Though her mind had been crowded with those sort of pieces and parts. Sylvain was certainly one of them. How could a single person occupy both ends of a single spectrum at the same time?

Oh, and for the reason she would settle on as it was simple truth. Kristal was just damn hungry.

After a bit more time of eating and drinking, especially the drinking, Kristal worked up the chance to say something more. There was an almost eerie calm to it. Though it kept an even pace, one that wouldn't be interrupted.

"We grew up together. Did he tell you that? Sylvain and I have been friends for years. In truth, I don't even remember a time when I didn't truly know Sylvain Torsin. Even when we were all discovered with the potential we had been... I knew we could keep together. We were friends for life. It was the three of us, the Terrible Trio my father once referred to us as... I've loved those two my entire life. Never did I think for a second that Sylvain Torsin could have fallen in love with me. Never did I think anyone could make me fall in love with them. Sylvain did... somehow... he told me so the day my father died. Next day I found comfort in his presence, he gave me the love I sorely needed and we kissed, we were together. Then came the little lies... I could sense it in my gut but it didn't matter to me. I never thought in the moment I was falling in love but I was. With one of the truest friends I had ever known."

There was only the pause for a drink of more of the blood wine. That it was alcoholic was all that mattered. In truth she hadn't even really given the taste thought yet.

"Then a day ago he told me he sought the company of another that he felt close to, the others... they were passing fancies. You're that other one, I can tell.. don't even need the Force or any tricks to find that out. When he told me about what he had done he told me he still loved me, and only me. Worst part of that is?" she laughed, "I believe him. I really think he still might."

Another drink, another pause. Having bore part of her soul to a woman she'd never trust, and likely would never have cared for. It was strange, when she would look back on this in hindsight. How there was almost a feeling of connection here and now with this woman she didn't know, brought together by these unfortunate circumstance.

"I don't blame you for this Moyr... I want you to understand that. You are innocent... you likely never even knew. I never even knew he was spending so much time alone with women while we were together for that brief time."

Another drink, another laugh. "To think, out of everyone I have... you're the only person I feel comfortable to explaining this all to. I want you to understand what you're a part of, and in the end make the best decision for yourself."

Moyr listened patiently. She had finished eating, so she mostly occupied her hands by stroking her lekku thrown to the front, over her bosom. There was no nodding, no head-shaking, no ironic grimaces. When she decided to speak back, she sought Kristal's eyes. The woman's honesty deserved a token of the same.

"I don't doubt he thinks he loves you. His sense of attachment to your trio, and to you, especially with the bond of lost fathers you now share, is a strong one. You are anchoring each other in the happier, more carefree times before the brutality of Imperial politics has caught up with you. It's not that strange to seek refuge and reprieve in the happy past when the present does not live up to the template. When you are suddenly required to be adults. This might be the core of the problem, Kristal Serasai. Hitting puberty and thus expressing old bonds through intimacy is not a sign of any new quality. You nurture the boy in him even if this is not what you'd wish. An irresponsible boy who would get laid around to ease his pains, doubts and indecisions and lie around about it so as, in his mind, not to hurt those who feels so strong an attachment to. You and that other girl, you're keeping him reliant on you, absolved from responsibility for his own actions. Weak."

Moyr's golden gaze upped its intensity, but the voice remained calm.

"I don't need a boy. I don't respect a boy. I accept no boyish excuses. I am not his childhood sweetheart to mollycoddle him. I make demands of him. I am a challenge to him. I nurture a strong, decisive man who can make hard choices and live with them. Who does not make empty promises or drowns himself in apologies but acts on his commitments and makes sacrifices. I bet on Sylvain Torsin becoming such a man for me. I see the signs of it, even if it is a really possibility that I am wrong. That I will be as hurt and devastated as you are now. That he will make my heart bleed because of a petty betrayal he will have the lamest of excuses for. But as you already know, Kristal Serasai, I am a ruthless risk-taker."

She paused to salivate her tongue after speaking much.

"There is no better moment for him to kill the petulant boy and claim his destiny. To become a true Sith Lord. And if he commits to this path, I'll be there for him to support him in seeing it through, without holding back."

There was enough of Kristal alive to the moment to simply listen and consider every word. Allowing her to process what the Twi'lek was saying before making her response,

"I do not coddle," she said, that Imperial cool back in place.

Because, truthfully, it was all she could say. And one more drink of that blood wine... which she really hoped didn't contain any actual blood.

Moyr knew it did. An if the Massassi had a tradition parallel to beaujolais nouveau, it could well have been Anya Veers'.

"Of course."

She had said enough and did not feel compelled to add anything. She took a rich, contemplative sip of the blood wine.

Finishing the meal at least before she left, Kristal was otherwise silent after that. Having showed a rather big hand today she was fresh out of cards.

Without anything more, the young Serasai would see to her exit unceremoniously.

If they were meant to part without a word, they would part without a word. Moyr stood up, see-you-later'ed the Massassi and left the village looking for Sylvain.

/scene