Liberty And Justice For All

[Connor Harrison]

Connor frowned, but didn't get a word out before the darn cloak tightened.

He cursed, head lolling back in frustration, and felt like a child wrapped up in a rug.

"Not very royal-like are we now, oh Queen!"

Two could play that game - Connor weaved his fingers together to the fabric on her dress tore at the front below her neck. He winced. Ok, he hadn't meant to do that. Or had he...?

"Ah...sorry about that."

He tried hard not to laugh, frowning hard, wobbling with the cloak around him.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

"Oh well you know...I wasn't exactly born into it."

The ripping of her dress caught her attention. Oh no he didn't...That was one of her favourite dresses!

Kay narrowed her eyes, rolling up her sleeves. "Sorry? Yes, you will be." She kept the cloak tight on [member="Connor Harrison"] and then wandered over to the water pitcher, picking it up and pouring the cold water directly on his head with a grin.

"Oops. How clumsy of me..."

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor had to laugh, shaking his head, forgetting everything about decorum and duty.

"No, no...no no no NO...."

The water sploshed over him, and it clung to his clothes as the cloak gave little room to move, until it fell away and he was drenched. Shaking his hands, and brushing his hair back and wiping his face, he looked up at Kay and shrugged.

"Well. Brilliant! I hope you have a dryer for these clothes! That's all I came in!"

He wiped more water from his side and walked up to Kay, flinging droplets at her. And not forgetting the overturned fruit and bread, which started to fling off the table towards her.

"Oh...my...how...silly....of....me...too....!"

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay smirked at his remark on his poor, wet clothes. "I do, but I think that it'd be a bit chilly for you without your clothes on. Unless you'd want to wear one of my dre--ack!"

Her words broke off as [member="Connor Harrison"] started to pelt her with bits of food. She quickly focused on the Force energy around her and used it as a shield to stop the latter half from hitting her.

Then another idea came. Her eyes fell upon the fire in the fireplace. Kay grinned as she focused on Connor and the Force swirling around him. She used it to pick him up and then sent him towards the fireplace. "Instead of stretching out one of my dresses, how about I just help you warm up."

 

[Connor Harrison]

Who knew fruit and water was such a potent mixture to fend off a foe. He flicked his fingers, water dripping from his hair, and smirked as she backed off.

But he felt a tug again, and he rooted down, but it was pulling his cloak, it it dragged him off to the side, making him lose balance and stumble forward as if walking on air to the warm glow of the fire. He placed his hands out to be sure there wasn't going to be a nasty pyrokinetic surprise waiting for him, but it seemed to be ok.

The fire cracked gently, and he turned to the Queen.

"Alright, yes this helps. Just don't push me in or anything."

He sniggered and knelt, wiping his hair down and back, un-clipping his cloak and laying it on the plinth just before the fire where it would dry.

"Hope I didn't get your dress wet," he said with a smirk.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

"Wet? Yes. Dirty? Yes. Torn? Yes...." She could hear the smoke in his voice.

Kay looked to the fire and turned her attention on it. She increased the flow of the Force around the flames and sent them to his cloak, causing the fabric to catch on fire.

She grinned as she watched it burn. But that feeling of satisfaction was short lived. Flames were always hypnotic to her, but seeing them burn caused a flashback of her captivity, of her own ragged clothes being burned to her body, melting with her flesh and producing a grotesque smell. Kay stumbled back as though she was pushed, clambering to the table and fumbling with her tea before she was able to bring it to her lips for a sip. Her nose took in the sweet smell of the Sapir leaves. "..By the Force...what was that?.." She didn't ask Connor so much as she asked herself, her body trembling slightly.

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor's eyes went wide as the cloak caught fire. He leaped forward and started to bat the flames at the base, already leaving a nice charcoal streak and fraying.

"Hey hey hey!"

Not knowing whether to be angry or amused, he turned, but certainly wasn't amused seeing her recoil, affected by a trigger. Concerned, he dragged the cloak away and tossed it on the table as he walked to her.

"Kay, what's wrong?" He came to her and held her shoulders. "What did you see?"

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay finished her tea in a big gulp, closing her eyes as she forced herself to regain control over the quick beating of her heart. She was aware of [member="Connor Harrison"] holding her shoulders, but she didn't move away from him, nor did she answer his question right away.

Finally she opened her eyes, putting on a fake smile while she built up a wall inside. "I'm fine...I just got really thirsty. You can let go now."

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor winced from behind; there was something there, and a result of the fire.

Flashback from her captivity?

"Of course, your Highness," Connor said softly.

He held her shoulders for a few seconds longer, and then let his hands slide down, and walked across to the edge of the table to get her Sapir tea. He brought it over and placed it in front of her on the table, standing back and watching her for any signs.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

He didn't press her. That was good. "Thank you." She picked up the tea and had another sip, or rather another gulp. Her eyes trailed to the door. It was closed. Closed!

Kay set the tea down and walked ever so carefully to the door. The wall that she had built just wasn't strong enough. Not with a closed door. Closed doors meant pain when they were opened, so she had done her best to ensure that all the doors around her were open. That is until today. Her time interviewing and testing [member="Connor Harrison"] made her forget. But how could she forget? It was a sign of weakness and that weakness is what put her in that position to begin with.

Her hands grasped the handle and she turned it, flinging the door rather quickly so that it banged against the wall on the other side. Then she poked her head out, glancing down both sides of the hall. Seeing nothing, she breathed out a sigh of relief and returned to the table, picking up her tea and taking a small sip. She looked to the mess at the table and remarked as though she was seeing it for the very first time. "Someone doesn't know how to set the table properly. Good help is hard to find."

 

[Connor Harrison]

Watching her try to dismiss what had happened, Connor knew something had come to the surface, but from what he also knew of Kay, she was volatile if pushed.

As she fussed with the doors and table, he took his burnt cloak over his arm and walked around to the head of the room with her.

"I should probably go, I think you need to be alone. You've had a shock, and probably need to rest."

He stood and sighed, but forced a smile.

"I like who I saw today. Don't lose her."

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

She nodded, setting down her tea after she had gulped down the rest. Maybe she did need a bit of alone time. But not here. If such a thing could happen now without her being able to stop it, what does that mean for her future?

It was a weakness that she needed to get rid of.

"I'll escort you out. I could use the fresh air and open spaces anyways." Maybe she'll head out to the canyons and sit by the edge. The world always looked bigger from there. No confinement. No captivity. She didn't even bother to ask [member="Connor Harrison"] to keep it to himself. He didn't seem the type to spread gossip.

 

[Connor Harrison]

Indicating for her to lead the way, Connor fell in line, giving his hair one more sweep and pulling the tunic from his chest as the water dried naturally.

"Of course. Take a walk. I'll head back to Voss once we are done here, clean up a few issues before I return, but it shouldn't be long."

He looked at her beside him, ans she seemed vacant.

"I mean, only when you're ready."

The air was already welcome from out of that warm room.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Return to Voss? Oh yes. That could take a while. He certainly had a few things to clean up, lose ends to tie, all of that sort of thing. It could seem like it'll only be a short time, but she knew that trouble pops up when one least expects it.

She didn't mind that [member="Connor Harrison"] walked along beside her. It made her feel more supported than if he was walking behind her. The air was cooler and she welcomed it. The double doors leading to the garden in the back of the Palace were already open for her to step through. The smells of fresh blooms were inviting, as was the twinkling of the stars as twilight began.

"I don't want to keep you away from what needs to be done. Everyone has things that they need to fix. We're not all perfect, even though we strive hard to be....If my Master saw my weakness, he wouldn't be happy, I can tell you that."

Her brows furrowed as a thought came to mind. Would she kill her Master some day, as so many apprentices have done before? He certainly trained her to kill, the moment that she let the Darkness in. Maybe that was her purpose.

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor inhaled the fresh air filling his lungs, and he looked around the tranquil gardens.

"Your Master isn't important right now. And, remember this, as I know the Sith, he will have others in your position. You won't be as important to him as he to you, so don't give him the satisfaction right now. He doesn't need to know anything."

Blunt, but it was true. And she knew it, but didn't deserve to feel like she was doing.

"And I'm in no rush, as I say, I don't owe the Jedi thing, and then when I'm done, I'm done for good."

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay nodded, agreeing fully with what [member="Connor Harrison"] said about her Master. No doubt there were plenty to take her place, plenty that already had. And she took the place of others before her. Why her Master was gathering so many, she had no idea. More than likely they were spread out all over the Galaxy. Already his Father had come and asked for an alliance, complete with an Embassy. He wanted troops as well, but she didn't have them to give and wasn't about to say yes to all of his requests. She had to maintain her sovereignty.

As they walked past the gardens, the meadow opened it. So many times she had whipped across it on her speederbike, but not lately. That was how she was captured in the first place. Kay glanced sidelong at Connor as he kept pace with her. "Can I ask a favour of you? It might...be a little strange."

 

[Connor Harrison]

"Of course."

Connor looked ahead as he walked, unsure of what was to come, but didn't add pressure to an otherwise sensitive situation, and sensitive woman.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

[member="Connor Harrison"] answered as she expected. How else would he answer when he didn't know what her favour was? Kay went through different ways to phrase it in her mind until finally she just blurted it out. "Keep me from slipping. I need to remain strong or like you said, people will walk all over me. You're tough, I know that. You push my buttons and make me uncomfortable at times. That's good. Never stop that. Push me so that I always push back and I will teach you some of what I learned in return."

She stopped then and looked at him to see what she could read his thoughts to were. Whether or not he would voice them, she couldn't guess either.

 

[Connor Harrison]

Listening intently, he was quietly pleased she had that faith in him, and the trust to help her through this difficult time. Of course, she was in a more dangerous position than he, but his path had been his own doing. Kay's, however, had been forced upon her.

When she stopped, he nodded at her, not looking phazed by her request.

"The Darkness suits you, and soon I will join you in it completely. I won't let you fall back to the Light, because it doesn't suit you. It holds you back, and it makes you weaker."

The corner of his mouth flickered to stop a smile.

"And uncomfortable? Me?" He leaned closer. "Not uncomfortable. Just...pushy."

His lips brushed hers and he tasted the darkness of Queen Kay.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

The Light holds her back? Well she was to blame for that as well. It was her choice to enter politics. It was her choice to hide her abilities. It was her choice to let certain skills fall by the wayside. She nodded to him in thanks and was about to voice more of her thoughts when [member="Connor Harrison"] leaned in and....kissed her?

Kay didn't return the kiss, she just stood there in shock. Finally she cleared her throat and took half a step back, smirking a little as she tried to make light of this...situation. "Didn't I say earlier that I was a forbidden fruit that couldn't be touched? I could be laced with poison, for all that you know."