The Dark Academy on Korriban

"I'm sure you'll think of something," she replied and slipped her arms around Sylvain to give him a hug.

"I hope I will one day have that feeling, you know, as I think my parents must've felt something similar for eachother too once," her smile had a bit of sadness to it. "Father came by today, you know... it meant a lot to me to see him face to face again after all this time, now that I'm a Sith."

His eyebrows moved upwards at that revelation, "Oh? What did he say?"

"Told me he expects me to exceed his expectations now, to seize victory and forge my own legacy." She chuckled a little at that. "Guess I got enough pressure to push me ever onward."

"Tried to ask him about mother, but... I think I must be reminding him of her, as he said he still remembers her very well after all these years, and he didn't answer my question. Deflected like he usually does."

"People like that are frustrating, aren't they?" He teased, possibly referencing himself.

"But his expectations aren't unreasonable. He's not the only one who thinks you'll do great things."

"It is frustrating," she grimaced a little. "More because it's important to me, but... if it hurts him, I just have to give him the time to tell me when he feels ready."

"Patience," Shaisha sighed, "it has its virtues sometimes."

"I can empathize with your plot quite well. Sometimes non-action is the best action. Things must be nourished and persuaded with accommodating grace." He smiled and squeezed her tightly.

"How eloquent of you, Syl," she teased as she squeezed him back.

"Been learning from me, haven't you?"

"I think I always have. Just never wanted to give you the satisfaction until now." He said with a smile.

She pinched his side like she had done since they were kids. It reminded her of how they had both made eachother cry when they first met as kids; she putting on the facade of a tough bully* to hide how scared and sad she was at the time, and Sylvain calling her on it the first moment they were alone. And she had cried and punched him, which had made him cry.

Good times.

"Jerkface," she said with a sly smile.


(* adventures in autocorrect: bunny instead of bully)

Sylvain faked an injury in his torso and replied, "Buttmunch."

"As eloquent as you were back then," she laughed. "What would Baras say?"

He chuckled, "He'd probably just stare menacingly."

"Somehow, that just doesn't feel scary enough. Maybe I'm biased in being related to the glare-and-stare-and-scowl master," she replied, looking around to make sure that wasn't heard by a random Scourge.

"Maybe he'd sick his little attack-puppy on you."

"Eventually, I'm sure. And unfortunately she appears to be beyond my attempts at persuasion so far." He chuckled, "Maybe someday she'll realize she's getting played like a fool, and that anger can be directed elsewhere..."

He smiled, "But for now... I'll have to do my best to navigate the silly world that comes from being Baras' apprentice."

He looks down to his baggage and picks it up in his hand. "I guess I should be going... mother is waiting."

"Right..."

A pity about rabid attack dogs like Layne, they took a while to get house-trained. She'd just have to have faith in Sylvain being smart enough to outmaneuver her until he was in a stronger position to deal with her.

"... Take care, alright? And don't do anything I wouldn't do, monkey-lizard."

He chuckled, "I'll do plenty of things you wouldn't, but nothing that isn't prudent to do."

Then smiling, "Kath-hound."

"Don't be surprised when you find frogs in your bed again suddenly," she gave a pouty frown and gave him one last hug.

It was a little hard to let him go, but she knew it was nescessary. Not only for him, but for herself; the trio had made eachother strong all these years, and now it was time to see what they could accomplish on their own.

But she did let go, and watched him with a mixture of sadness and pride.

"There's nothing you could do that would surprise me." He said with a teasing smile and a wink.

"Be well, may the force be with you Shai." He said with a tinge of loneliness, as he turned and began to walk down the hall.

Right toward a familiar face that was in a touch of pain. Though, the moment her eyes adjusted from leaving the refresher and making her way back toward her room Kristal hid that. Nights had been difficult lately for her. Kristal was hoping that would changed soon, but she couldn't know that it would.

Kristal had the mind to slip on some kind of pants on her way out, but the fact she had been trying to sleep for some time already was obvious. All of those drinks earlier had knocked her out the moment she entered the room again.

Standing in the hall she wasn't quite sure how to approach the situation. First and foremost, she wasn't quite sure why everyone was outside of her door at this hour.

Looking up with surprise Sylvain said, "Ah... Kris... how long have you been there?"

"Barely a moment," came her response. There was an instinct to bring her arm behind her back again but the conversation with Marr... it made her stop that. Though it was certainly in clear view for Sylvain to see as Shaisha had earlier.

He looked at her not knowing what to say or how long she had actually been there, "Oh..."

Then with a gulp in his throat he said, "I'm on my way out."

Awkwaaaaard...

Standing behind Sylvain, she glanced between the two of them. This was weird.

If only she could give them a push to work things out. Aha! Literally!

Sylvain saying he was on his way out was her cue. It was easy to stretch out a foot and make sure he would trip over himself, which would hopefully send him stumbling into Kristal...

Shaisha's trip was quite effective. Sylvain dropped his bags in one hand and sought to catch himself before falling on the ground. Kristal was there to break his fall, and so he wrapped his arms around her briefly.

His weight and the suddenness of the change threatened to cause them both to fall for a moment but their legs worked together to keep them both upright.

His face reddened quickly and turned back to Shaisha with disapproval. Quickly turning back to Kristal he realized he was still holding on to her shoulders.... and looked into her eyes apologetically.

"Sorry... Shai tripped..."

Then dropping his hands, "I'll go..."

With Sylvain suddenly and quickly approaching Kristals arms jumped into action, catching his upper left arm with her sole hand on his decent. Losing no more than an inch of ground as the momentum of his weight push on them.

There really wasn't quite anything that she could think to say in the moment. Just sort of standing there with her hand on his upper arm.

Kristal could've sworn at some point she said something, brushed off the need for an apology. Though she hadnt. Nor had she removed her hand, not thinking.