Friend or Foe [Carach]

[Rosa Gunn]

Layil gave a derisive snort.

"Right, so we have some common ground. Neither of us were always this was. Neither of us like what surrounds us."

She moved to sit in the chair he'd occupied only moments before and let out a sigh, closing her eyes. "We have a long way to go. If we are to trust each other, a level of honesty is required."

Opening her eyes she regarded him coolly. "So, Lord Carach, I ask you again. What is it that you want?"

[member="Darth Carach"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Darth Layil"]

Carach shrugged.

‘Chaos, freedom. What does anyone want when he has everything? To work for his ideals. You see Sith as men and women of unborn cruelty, they who eat babies and kick puppies just for the hell of it. They are the true joke of the Galaxy. A Sith. A true Sith is simply someone who does what needs to be done, audacity, desire… passion.’

‘You ask me what I get out of this? Nothing, but the pleasure of sticking it to those that make a mockery out of us.’

 

[Rosa Gunn]

Layil nodded slowly.

"Why me?" she asked "If there are others that share this view, why reach out to me?"

[member="Darth Carach"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Darth Layil"]

Another shrug.

‘I know you.’ the Sith Lord answered. ‘even if you don’t know yourself anymore.’

 

[Rosa Gunn]

Layil scowled at him.

"That," she said sharply "Is not an answer." Rising from the chair she moved towards him stopping less than a foot from him. "Try again."

[member="Darth Carach"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Darth Layil"]

He suddenly turned around, silhouette blurred and they stood nose to nose. Not even an inch and a half apart. Expression neutral, features cold.

Eyes unburning, suggesting he was in complete control over himself.

‘You forget yourself.’ the Sith Lord answered, voice soft and yet it carried forth towards her very being, hot breath brushing her skin. Taller, stronger. No Jedi, a Sith Lord. A Voice of the Dark Lord. ‘I chose you, because you are an unknown. An enigma. No one knows yet where you fit or where you belong in the structure. I love enigmas, Rosa… and I feel like we can make this work.’ he inched closer, lips almost touching her ear, another whisper. ‘But don’t push me.’ or I will push back.

 

[Rosa Gunn]

Despite the fear he rose in her, despite the way her hairs rose on the back of her neck when his breath washed over her. Layil smiled. She gave no ground, though every fiber of her being told her to step back she refused. Fear was her weapon.

"If you had simply said that in the first place, I would have no need to push you." she retorted, holding his gaze, her own lilac eyes glittering. For a moment that seemed to last an eternity they remained where they were, a contest of wills. Layil knew, now she could see past her hotheadedness that there was much to learn here so finally, she gave way.

She took a step back, and lowered to one knee.

And detested herself for it.

[member="Darth Carach"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Darth Layil"]

And Carach sighed, perhaps it was disappointment in a lesson refused to be learned, perhaps it was the cliche in the situation or perhaps it was just a sigh with nothing behind it. Just the act of releasing breath in a situation unsatisfied, who knew these days? Only a moment was spared to look at her kneel, before he moved around her and sat down in his throne.

‘Ah… Layil.’ the Sith Lord finally replied. ‘Respect, patience, temperance. Those are the things you will have to learn if you want to survive. Every Sith or would-be Sith around these parts loves to wave around his or hers metaphorical toy. They do not want to bow. They do not want to show simple respect. They ignite their anger and throw around their emotions like candy, thinking it will give them authority.’

Burning eyes, finally then. To make a point of restraint, perhaps? Because even with wroth swirling in his eyes Carach’s voice was soft-spoken, relaxed.

‘It only makes them look like children, like fools. Are you a fool, Lady Layil?’ A shrug. ‘You need not bow and scrape for me, courtesy and respect will do.’

 

[Rosa Gunn]

She felt like she was being chastised by an old man. Coming to her feet she released a breath out of her nose and bit down on whatever discourtesous and angry retort she might have had. "Courtesy, I can do. But respect is something to be earned, is it not Lord Carach?"

This worked both ways. She would respect him, when she saw reason to and he would do the same with her.

She shrugged "You have my allegiance. Was there anything else you wished to discuss before I return to the palace?"

[member="Darth Carach"]