The Dark Academy on Korriban

Slyvain walked along the rows of tents and through the maze of equipment until he found the destination he had been looking for. Opening the flaps of the tent he looked in to see an exhausted Moyr sleeping on her bedding.

Pulling up beside her gently and admiring her features for several moments, he smiled as she began to stir. "Hey beautiful... told you I'd come find you."

It was then when he noticed a small blaster barrel aimed at his stomach from a small opening in her sleeping bag. Her eyes opened.

"Hey handsome. Knock next time. You're lucky I recognised your steps."

She stifled a yawn.

"You didn't hurry."

He chuckled at the sight of the blaster. Then gently caressing her cheek he said, "Taking care of some business in the command tent... and with former friends."

He then kissed her on the forehead, "Came as soon as I was able."

"Sometimes as soon as you are able is not enough to keep a promise, Syl. Two hours ago I wanted you so much that if my uterus had a voice of its own it would sing a love song for you. Right now I am just tired. You should have told your friends you have other arrangements."

She let herself wrapped in the sleeping bag, with just the face and the blaster sticking out.

He smiled, "I'm sorry Moyr... I hope it'll be worth it though. Sacrificing one night for a permanent opening of my schedule book for only you..."

He brushed her cheek, "I've broken ties with Kris and Shai for good..."

"She swallowed a clot in her mouth. It must have been a leftover from the blood wine drinking. Or her wounds.

"Have you? And how do you feel about it?"

The Force prompted her to check for herself but the feelings were not exactly attuned to seeing through duplicity. Some part of her was excited that Syl finally had done the right thing.

LN10. Sense on Syl's emotions.: 1eF 2 Light Side

He smiled a bit, still stroking her face, "It was frustrating at first... 15 years Moyr... that they would be so willing to cast aside a friend who has only ever been loyal and helpful to them... and so closed as to not be willing to accept me for all of what I can be... that was extremely frustrating...

"But as I thought about it more... why would I choose to devote myself to those who would not devote themselves to me? What kind of fool, in an abusive relationship would I have to be to not see how I was being taken advantage of? There must be exchange... there must be mutual utility, or it is of no value. I've always known that, but have subjugated that thought to other concerns in favor of sentimentality... But no longer..."

Her lekku crawled out of the bag as he was speaking, her gaze slowly banishing the sleep haze. She listened with increasing interest, and her hand found her way to his cheek.

"Sounds like a mess. Why now, actually? And now you're sore and have come to me to be hugged for doing the right thing?"

He chuckled and shook his head, "I came because I told you I would. I don't need your reassurance to know what I did was the right choice."

He then pulled his face a short distance back and smiled, "Now because Kristal lost an arm and so I went to offer my support for her like a good friend would... and was met with accusations that I was ruining her life. So, rather than give in to the emotional blackmail I offered to remove myself from her presence and she obliged, favoring to accept support from three soldiers she met recently... Throwing away my offer to help and choosing three lesser people to be her friends was the last straw for me... I had been blinded by my affection for her, that I failed to see how fully flawed her judgement is."

He looked into Moyr's eyes, "My father always said, 'The first method for estimating the intelligence of a leader is to look at the people he has around him'. I have elected to surround myself with people of power and strength, rather than obstinate fools who cannot see beyond their own noses."

"Your father, whatever his inspiration, was right. However, did he practice what he preached?"

She pulled herself to an elbow to let her head assume its normal position. There was something odd about this sudden turn of events, the abrupt severance of ties. She maintained the lock of their gazes, herself more than curious to glean the truth from the mirrors of his soul.

"I like what you say, Syl. But I feel your words ride more on your anger from being rejected than on affection to me. Had she reacted differently, had Kris appreciated your presence and bade you to stay with her, to care for her in her disabled state as a good friend or even more, would you be here now? Would you have the strength to discard old sentiments and keep your promise to me?"

Sylvain thought for a moment and then replied, "I am a realist; I rarely deal in hypotheticals of the past. Things were as they were, there is no changing that. If your past lover were still here, you would not have given me the time of day. If I had grown up on Ryloth like you I would be a very different man. Things are what they are, I was able to cast off the chains of my sentimentality, whatever the means were to achieve that goal matters little to me.. the result is that I stand before you a stronger man, and one who is fully willing and able to devote all of myself to you. There is nothing in me now for them that would cause any barrier to come between us."

She mulled his words for a moment before smiling affectionately and zipping the bag open at the side.

"There is a truth of outcomes and a truth of intentions, and in regard to you, Syl, I am interested in both so don't play the realist card too often when I ask about your emotions or I'll be compelled to use Force to learn them anyway. But tonight... you are here, strong and devoted, pledging yourself to me, so I won't doubt you. Don't make me ever regret this leap of faith in you, handsome. Now come here and hold me, I am yours as you are mine. I feel too tired and battered and drunk for much else, but you can always try things if you feel like a magician tonight."

She reached out to stroke his cheek.

He smiled and nodded, joining her in her sleeping bag. "I've still got a bit of a slash wound that's healing up as well... so holding you sounds great for tonight. I'll save the magic for some other time."

She wrapped herself around his body with all her limbs and sighed in quiet bliss.

"Do you want me to stim you?"

He chuckled, "You don't need to waste your resources on me. Mundane medical attention and some rest will be more than enough."

He kissed her forehead gently, "Thank you though."

"You're welcome, darling."

She yawned, then pecked his lips and snuggled tighter.

"With me, the more you give the more you get."

He smiled and chuckled, "A fair deal."

"Mmmmm."

She slid a hand beneath his layers, seeking his naked skin and then moved over to his heart. Palpating its rhythm, she was calmly drifting away into sleep with a happy smile on her lips.

He too smiled as he held the back of her hand as it went over his heart.

Sleep would come soon.

/scene?

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