Sugar and spice and everything nice

[Samka Derith]

While it wasn't exactly the reaction Sam had been expecting, she somehow wasn't surprised either.

She'd remained silent as she watched and listened to Funami descent into madness. At first she'd been pleased with the reaction, seeing Funami hardly able to contain herself with apparent joy. The Ren had even offered a small nod and innocent smile when asked if it 'stirred her up'. But things had only gotten worse from there. While backing away would show weakness, Samka had paced sideways a little to place a little distance between her and the Sith. She eyed the girl with a curious cocked head as her contents of weaponry spilled upon the floor. As Funami staggered, sweated and stuttered her words. As she lifted a vibroscalpel and cried out for Sam's death. As she spoke gibberish, dropped the blade then picked it back up, slicing herself in the process.

It was a... pitiful sight. She was crazed enough to approach a well-versed practitioner of the Dark Side with a pathetic little blade, apparently forgetting about her own Force abilities in her distress. Anyone with a modicum of training could disarm this shivering whelp and here she was, attempting to kill the woman who had been among the most powerful Force Users that the First Order had to offer at the zenith of its power? The Overlord of the Knights of Ren? The poor child really had no idea...

"My, my," Sam shook her head and threw Funami a sad smile. "You need more help than I thought." While her right hand had never shifted from the parasol resting over her shoulder, her left extended a palm towards the child. Several resolutions had crossed her mind. She'd be well within reason to kill the girl outright, a great many like her would but an inkling of endearment towards the Sith who reminded her just a little too much of herself didn't want things to end like that just yet. A gentle solution could be found, one to reassure Funami that her fears were unfounded and they were friends after all. But despite her age, Funami was already a Sith. The Sith respected strength above all else and it was strength that she would show the girl here.

The chamber ran cold. The lights flickered. An unseen wind began to catch Sam's hair and dress, gradually rising in intensity. Sam tightened the Force around Funami's throat to choke the girl out and hopefully force her to drop her weapon. She'd barely been able to hold onto it in the first place. With another tug at Funami's throat, the Sith girl should have been left suspended in the air. Tendrils of glowing orange suddenly shot from Samka palm and snaked their way to the child just as a strong kinetic burst yanked Funami through the air so that Sith and Ren were face to face. The tendrils, the product of Samka's proficiency with Draining opponents of both their Force ability and life latched themselves onto the youth to relieve her of any remaining strength with the Force. By now the unfelt wind had caught Sam dramatically only the effects no longer looked to resemble wind. Her hair and clothing fluttered and floated as though caught in water. Her hidden corruption had returned as Sam's skin lost its more natural pigment and turned a hauntingly snow white while her eyes now burned crimson. With a final kinetic burst, Funami would be thrust to the ground.

Samka sighed. That was rather troublesome. It took a lot of energy. Normally a move like that would at least be replenished by draining the enemy but she'd taken care not to drain the girl too much. She only wanted to temporarily remove the girl's chances to threaten her and nothing more. Taking a glance at her arms, Sam watched them return to some form of natural human colour. The Ren reached up to a ruffled breast pocket on her dress and pulled out a handkerchief. She always kept one on hand, never knowing when a sudden sneeze or bloody mutilation may occur. Then she knelt down next to the child she'd just rather ruthless attacked.

"That was rather silly, wasn't it?" She gently scolded the girl, her tone somehow reassuring as she did so. "Give me your hand." It was a command, not a request and Sam quickly grabbed Funami's wrist to inspect the cut she'd given herself on the finger. With a small tsk, the Ren placed her parasol to one side and held the Sith's arm still as she applied pressure to the cut with her handkerchief to stem some of bleeding. "Very silly, little Sith indeed."

[member="Funami Teriyaki"]​

 

[Funami Teriyaki]

In a moment of weakness that never would have happened had she been in the right state of mind, Funami succumbed to Sam’s telekinesis. Already shaky, her hold on the vibroscalpel deteriorated quickly and the weapon kissed the ground again. Despite being choked and held aloft, the girl hardly seemed to acknowledge her predicament. Wild eyes full of primal hatred stared at Sam, displaying no sign of fear even as the brunette unleashed hateful tendrils that latched onto the Sithling’s body and robbed her of all strength to fight. Hovering there like a limp piece of meat, Funami looked more like a fragile child-sized doll.

A gurgle came from her throat before she suddenly flew straight down, crashing into the unyielding metal floor as a wave of hurt came over her whole being and she lay sprawled there like a sad little failure. The impact turned out more than enough to knock clarity back into that little head of hers and the girl suddenly gave the impression of innocence and vulnerability. Groans and gasps for air elicited from her mouth. Teary-eyed and sobbing, her hair a mess, she sat up and obediently presented the wounded index finger. While the cut had been superficial, the gaping injury bled profusely. Funami’s puppy-dog eyes turned their pleading gaze to Sam.

“All right, let’s not be too hasty here! You’re upset, you’re angry because I just tried to hurt you. And that was really stupid of me! I’m sorry, okay? I have no idea what came over me, I swear!” The small Sithling blurted out, mind unable to come up with anything sensible to say. Her voice had returned to the soft, squeaky self. Now that she could finally think and the veil of blind, maddening anger had been lifted from her mind, she calculated for ways to strike back.

As Sam pressed the handkerchief against her bleeding wound, Funami’s eyes hastily darted over the chamber in search of the weapons she had lost. A finger of her left hand twitched ever so slightly, calling upon the curved hilt of her lightsaber to snap into her palm. And nothing happened. The Force refused to cooperate and instead let the girl know just how exhausted her little body felt. A gentle frown pulled down her eyebrows as she repeated the procedure, trying to focus harder. In spite of her undeniable mental effort, the weapon refused to budge. A subtle twitch of her wounded hand that would normally unleash a blast of power mighty enough to pulverize bones straight into Sam’s face produced no result either. Assuming an apologetic smile, she gave a small shrug and looked back at the crouching form of Sam.

“I know this will sound strange coming from a Sith, but please don’t kill me! I-I don’t wanna die. We’re, we’re friends, remember? Please? I don’t want to die!” More tears rolled down her cheeks as an expression of terror contorted her features and she used her free hand to gesture toward herself. “Look at me! I am defeated! Not worth killing! There is nothing for you to gain by killing me! And despite what you saw, I am a living, breathing being, just like you! I feel emotions, I feel pain! Killing me would be murder!”

She had heard the same plead countless times and her response had always been the same. Sith asked for no mercy and had none to offer. The handkerchief now boasted a strange pattern in dark red color and seeing her own blood filled Funami with such dread she would have exploded in a wave of destructive power had there been any energy left in her veins. Despite casually delivering death without a twinge of regret, she had a panic fear of dying. Shifting nervously, she pouted, albeit knew very well Sam saw right through the child-like disguise.

[member="Samka Derith"]​

 

[Samka Derith]

"Begging like that doesn't suit you," Sam muttered as she rolled her eyes. "If we were 'friends' you wouldn't have pulled the blade on me to begin with. I'd be perfectly justified to crush you to a pulp and splatter your entrails against the walls." The Ren cast a sideways glance to the centre of the room, where the captive was still suspended unconscious. He must have been heavily sedated to sleep through this display. "If he woke up to the disembodied head of a child before him, I think he'd talk, don't you?"

She sighed, letting the words linger for a bit before taking the handkerchief away from the girl's finger. It still bled a little but it was clearing up and no longer needed her attention. Adjusting the handkerchief so that the area stained by blood was facing away from Funami, Sam held the Sith still by grasping the back of her head and began to wipe her face free from tears. "Dear, dear, such a mess," Sam chuckled softly.

"You see, Funami," The Ren continued as she cleaned the girl's face, "If I wanted you dead, I'd have done so the moment you turned on me so there's no need to plead so pathetically. It would never work to sway the minds of people like me. Now I can promise you that I have not read your mind beyond the time in the shuttle above Mandalore which was only a lighthearted demonstration where I made no attempt to extract information from you. A girl like you, you'd probably feel my presence shifting around in there if I did and I have no desire to do so."

Sam withdrew the handkerchief again and examined her handy work. Funami was looking somewhat presentable again. The Ren grimaced slightly as she glanced at her bloody, messy handkerchief and tucked it back away in her breast pocket. Hopefully that wouldn't stain the inside of her pocket. She'd probably need a new handkerchief after this anyway. "Now," the elder woman licked her pointer and middle fingers and began to use them to comb and tidy the dishevelled mess that was Funami's pink head of hair. "If you had pulled such a stunt with a Sith, you would most likely be dead. Sith power struggles are ruthless. While the current dominant Empire is less extreme in its doctrine, individual Sith residing within all levels still cling to older schools of thought. Your rivals may not hesitate to remove you and if you behave as you have done so today, it would not be a challenge for any of them. This would be a frightful shame as I am genuinely fond of you." The Ren offered the young Sith a bright smile. "I enjoy playing these 'games' with you and seeing the different sides you have to offer. You remind me of, well, myself actually and it's always good to see a similar mind thrive."

But the smile faded and again a more sinister gleam sparkled in the Ren's eyes. A single, unseen tendril of Dark power crept its way around Funami, embracing her with a terrible chill guaranteed to prickle down the girl's spine. "But don't take me for a fool," Sam said in a threatening whisper, a tone oozing with malice. "I stood atop the most powerful Empire in the galaxy, I pulled the strings behind it all and then I got bored. I can confidently say I've proven myself among the best in the galaxy at what I do. I've won battles, perhaps won wars. I've changed the state of the galaxy forever and barely a soul knows it. I may have more patience than many who walk the side of the Force I've chosen but it is not indefinite. I can and will kill you if you prove to be a problem, Funami." Rising to her feet, Sam giggled, a little brightness returning to her demeanour as she did a little twirl on her toes ending with a grand pose, arms extended. "So view this as an opportunity!" Her voice rose, starting to echo across the circular chamber, "I'm not your rival or your enemy unless you force me to be! I'm something far more unique! I'm your future! And if you recognise that and respond appropriately, it'll be for your betterment!"

Throwing a sunny smile down at the pink haired Sith, Sam extended a single palm for the girl to take and lift her off the floor.

[member="Funami Teriyaki"]​

 

[Funami Teriyaki]

“Hey, thanks! You’re the best! Tee-hee-hee~,” she winked and gave a thumb up. There was a hint of acknowledgment in her tone, admiration even. Now that the two had firmly established their respective places in the hierarchy, Funami knew she had won despite losing. A completely unintended victory, accidental more than anything, but a victory none the less. This time she did not lose control and concealed the disbelief that wished to steal into her expression. Cackling gently, the little acolyte accepted Sam’s helping hand and stood up, striking another curtsy meant just for her Dark side companion.

Given the girl’s roughed appearance and wide grin, the pose left a playful rather than elegant impression. In spite of what she had heard, there wasn’t a trace of fear in her eyes anymore. In fact, the tug at her lips gave Funami a pleased appearance as she started toward the dropped purse and collected the easily concealable weaponry. Upon lifting the lightsaber, she stroked it almost lovingly with her petite fingers, tracing over the smooth, curved shape before sliding it in the purse as well.

“Oh, Sam,” she rambled, almost sadly as her little feet moved over to Sam. “That was so incredibly stupid of me. This is the first time it ever happened. To slip out of character like that and lose all control? I really must be tired.”

Reaching down, the Sithling’s little hands smoothed out the creases left on her dress. Now her appearance shined pristine again, save for three little specks of red dotting the white cloth right above her right knee. Giving an exasperated sigh and shaking her head, she groggily ambled to the woman and the click of her shoes against the floor ceased only after standing right in front of Sam. Looking up, straight into the elder woman’s face, Funami confidently posed akimbo rather than going for the old puppy-dog stare trick.

“Be my master! Teach me!” She demanded, baring her canine teeth that successfully pretended to be little fangs. “You want to see me succeed? Let’s work together! It'll be fun!”

Her lips dripped honey, sweet and enticing. Although such tricks did not actually work on Sam, Funami could not resist. Playing this sweet, overly cute creature was amusing. A hand rose up, palm open and ready to cement their relationship in a firm shake full of lies and deceit. And she wouldn't have it any other way.

[member="Samka Derith"]​

 

[Samka Derith]

"You're right, I am the best," Sam responded playfully and offered a respectful nod to the girl's curtsy.

As Funami moved to pick up her trail of weaponry, Sam extended her palm and her parasol seamlessly snapped back to her hand. Placing it back over her shoulder, she returned to her natural pose of twirling the accessory to and fro while lightly bobbing her shoulders from side to side. The little Sith had brought quite the assortment of deadly tools with her. She likely had a far more refined, murderous plan in mind before she lost all control. Was this the end of things? It was hard to say. She wouldn't put it past the paranoid young girl to be planning her next attempt to end Samka's life in spite of every warning and assurance. She stood by her words, as fond as she may have become of the Sith child, she would terminate the youth without regret if she proved more troublesome than worthwhile.

The girl marched to her with a tired explanation, one Sam only nodded at and offered a quick reminder, "You must control it for if it happens again with someone less kind, your life is forfeit."

What she got next was a most curious offer. The young girl, hands on hips with a demand. Samka chuckled as she looked down at the Sith's sweet face, "Are you truly in the position to be requesting something so forcefully?" She drew her gaze away to nowhere in particular, mulling it over. The only formal apprentice she'd ever taken was a total, unabashed failure. Even before her traitorous turn to the Jedi, the girl had been incompetent and complacent. It had left a poor taste in her mouth and even a degree of self doubt on her abilities as a teacher. "I don't really take apprentices," Sam airily said. "I so often found I work better alone." She turned back to look down at the little Sith. Funami had such a natural cuteness and charm about her and she knew preciously how to ruthlessly take advantage of that. The sight made her smile earnestly again. She didn't fall for the act exactly, she knew better than most the fierce intelligence and cruelty the young Sith was hiding but that was the real appeal of it. If Funami really was anything like herself, the role she played was just as much a part of her as the things that role worked to hide.

"But maybe I'll take an exception for one so sweet," she admitted. The bashfulness of her own tone surprised even herself as she took Funami's smaller hand in her own. She really was a soft little thing.

"Now unless you have some pent up aggression you simply must get out on poor Mr Deysion, maybe I really can show you some sightseeing?"

[member="Funami Teriyaki"]​

 

[Funami Teriyaki]

“Awwwwwww~!” Funami pouted as disappointment pulled down the corners of her mouth and anger flashed through her violet eyes, though the violent urge within had passed so quickly one would dismiss it as an illusion cast by the room’s light. Used to always getting her way and going so far as to manipulate the Dark Lord’s son into becoming a protective father-like figure to her, Funami did not take rejection kindly. Throwing her hands up, she turned into desperation itself and stayed that way until Sam voiced compliance. A chance was all Funami needed to make this work, turn the potential threat into a valuable ally. After all, she knew no greater satisfaction than turning enemies into friends and taking everything they had before stabbing them in the back and watching them draw their last breath.

“Splendid!” She whooped, beaming Sam a toothy grin of childlike joy. Whipping her hands behind her back, Funami spun about and mooched about the chamber, lost in thought and without purpose. The hum of the ray field became the prevalent sound for a moment, that and the tap of her restless shoes. Hands clasped behind her back, she slowly drifted to the center, approaching the prisoner. Sam’s kind offer was an alluring treat, one she wanted to make use of. Wearing a stone-cold expression beneath the mask of distress, she alertly peered at Sam across the room.

“We cannot leave this business unfinished, right? Cloud City’s good reputation is at stake!” Funami declared and turned to the suspended man, waving a hand. Still out of Force juice, she cast a pained glance at her small hand and turned to Sam. “Um, perhaps you should take charge? Show me how it’s done? It would do us no good if I went overboard and accidentally killed the man! And I’ll help you out!”

While absolutely confident in her abilities to extract the desired information without ending the man’s life prematurely, the acolyte’s curiosity to see Sam’s real face beneath the sweet, refined mask could not be denied. Funami’s eyes lit up with sadistic glee as her imagination went wild with images of Sam’s real self coming to life. She always did derive perverse joy from doing terrible deeds and getting away with it - or persuading others to do those deeds for her.

[member="Samka Derith"]​

 

[Samka Derith]

"Hm," Sam glanced between the joyful Funami and the suspended Governor Deysion. She thought the girl may want a break and relax with something more low key. That the intensity of her break down and subsequent smack down from the Ren may warrant a time to unwind and compose herself once more. But no. The glimmer in Funami's violet eyes said more than words ever could. It was a craving for violence. A craving that she could not fulfil herself in her weakened state.

"It could wait," she said slowly, "There's no real rush as his detention alone repairs most of the damage." Looking back down at the adorable Sith, sensing the lust for pain building, Samka smiled and rolled her eyes like a parent giving in to buying their child sweets. "But since you've been good enough to reflect on your misbehaviour, I suppose I can give you a treat."

The true intent of this visit had been successfully completed. Funami had revealed her true self. It wasn't entirely how Samka had anticipated it but the results worked well enough. She supposed it was only fair that Funami see a little more of her in return. A subtle wave of her hand and the console on the wall clicked. The ray shield faded and the prisoner within slumped to the floor with a loud thud. Sam trotted forwards to the disgraced former Governor, her footsteps feeling louder than before. The plump figure on the floor began to stir with a groggy twitch of his arm and slow turning of the head.

"Hello!" Sam chirped as she leaned over the man on the floor. Her legs were perfectly straight, arms held behind her back and she bobbed up and down rather jollily.

The man didn't respond fully. He coughed and spluttered in such a way that phlegm was heaved onto the floor. Sam's face shrived in revulsion and she cast a sideways glance at Funami.

"I said, hello!" Sam spoke louder, a malicious streak breaking into her tone as she called upon the Force. The helpless Mr Deysion was suspended once more, this time much more violently. He was held in the air as though an invisible wire had grasped his ribs. The man's limbs and head dangled as he began to gasp. The sudden jerk of movements apparently bringing him to his senses.

"Wh-who are you?" He managed to wheeze between laboured breaths.

Sam waited a moment for Deysion's floating form to twirl around so that they were eye to (upside down) eye. "That's not what we're here to discuss. We're here to discuss you! You and your business!"

Deysion shook his head, closing his eyes. It wasn't exactly a defiant shake, more one of disbelief. But that didn't matter to Sam, it wasn't an affirmative answer and that is what she was seeking. That and an early opportunity to scare and establish control.

"Not an answer, Mr Deysion," Sam tutted and placed the palm of her hand on the man's head. A small feeling of disgust welled in her chest. He'd been a prisoner for a while, it had apparently been a while since he washed that greasy hair of his. The things she did in the name of duty. A crackle and a hiss. Strangely the sound came before the sight. A blue flicker of electricity passed through her fingers. Then it was followed by a full volley of lightning. It coursed through the Ren's arm then blasted through her victim's entire body. His body violently rocked and a scream of pain overtook the room.

Withdrawing her touch, Sam made a show of clearing her throat. "Now, this slavery business has put a real damper on business. You are aware that many of Cloud City's vital trade partners are democracies? Democracies whose weak willed leaders are accountable to the moral whims of the masses? Masses who dislike a violent, barbaric slave trade?" The man nodded through heavy pants. "Good. I thought it would be a wonderful way to repair relations if we dismantled that entire network! I need names, places, details, everything."

That caused a reaction. He puffed and groaned. "I can't. They'll kill me, worse than kill me."

Sam tutted again and whispered in a low, dangerous voice. "And what do you think I'll do?"

Deysion groaned again. There was a little whimper and grimace but it was not compliance.

"So be it." Sam sighed and extended her pointer finger. A few flickers of lightning came from it. It looked nowhere near the assault that came before but that was because she had a plan. She held the finger above the target's eye. Understanding what was happening, the former Governor flinched and attempted to turn away but he could barely move. The Ren placed her finger on the man's eye and let the sparks fly. He screamed. Smoke began to emit from his eye socket and a peculiar burning smell began to ferment throughout the chamber.

Withdrawing her touch, she watched her victim heave and wheeze more than before. He gasped. Twitched. Continued to yell and cry. The pain would linger. "Shall I do the other?" Sam asked as casually as could be. The man whimpered and attempted to shake his head. "Excellent."

This was all she needed. She didn't need him to run his tongue. It was a waste of time. Now he was willing, everything could be extracted mentally. The Ren hovered her hand above his forehead and punctured into his mind. She could have done this to begin with but Funami wanted a show and coerced cooperation made the mind less resistant. Every detail was plucked from his mind with little concern for how gently it was. Deysion shook violently in the process and then... it was over. He fell back to the ground unconscious. No longer needed.

Sam spun on her heel to face her small companion again. "Well there we are. I got what I needed." She strolled closer to the young Sith and beamed. "I'm afraid I've created a rather unpleasant odour. Shall we depart?"

[member="Funami Teriyaki"]​

 

[Funami Teriyaki]

“Fufufu~” Her attention perked up once the shimmering current of energy lashed out of Sam’s fingertips and latched itself onto the defiant prisoner. His body performed a small dance, casting a wide smile on the Sithling’s face. “Yes, fry him harder!” Funami’s passionate voice of cruel encouragement resonated through the room, mixing with the screams while her short legs excitedly hopped about the tormentor. Although not entirely satisfied with Sam’s performance thus far, as her cruel little mind had expected something bloodier and messier, the little girl was far from disappointed. She had turned the game around, got to witness more of her new friend’s darker side without bloodying her own hands. All in all, she thought the trip to Cloud City worth it already.

Even after suffering the full power of the Dark side, the stubborn fool refused to yield his knowledge. Funami’s eyes flicked back and forth between the two main actors in eager anticipation. And Sam delivered with a grandiose display of brutality. Another impressive manifestation of Force lightning and Deysion received a smoking hole where an eye used to be. This was too much for little Funami. Shaking violently, wide-eyed stare glued on the whimpering victim, she opened her mouth as if to scream.

“Wow, that’s gotta hurt! Ahahaha!” The little child burst out laughing, tears of boundless joy running down her cheeks. Where others would opt to turn away from the gruesome display, she chortled with delight and found the spectacle very, very funny. Her knees buckled and she nearly fell over, unable to control herself. Crying, screaming, stomping her feet, the Sithling roared and finally turned away, slowly calming down. At least on the outside. As she spun on her heel and faced Sam again, her expression had been erased of any emotion. A slight frown pulled at her eyebrows in feigned disapproval. Like a teacher scolding a student, she waggled a finger.

“I mean, torture is wrong. We do not condone it. Because it is bad. It is really bad to torture people. Because people feel pain. So we really shouldn't do to others what we don't want done to us!” She said with extra effort to properly pronounce every single syllable, even though her reddening face drenched in tears reported another imminent explosion of laughter.

“Like an… egg,” she blurted out between coughing and gasping for air as her sides started to hurt and her lungs screamed for oxygen. And down she went, falling to her knees, clutching at her sides, slapping her thighs, laughing like a child who just heard the best joke in the universe. Even the tormented screams succumbed to the sheer volume of Funami's laughter.

Wiping her face free of tears and drool, the pink-haired girl mustered up enough mental fortitude to witness the finale. Completely wordless and accompanied by a simple gesture, the act of what she thought to be mind-reading made Funami realize Sam could have effortlessly done that to begin with. Rather than out of necessity, she had tortured the man for the sake of it. This realization shed more shadow on Sam’s character and made Funami realize another similarity between the two of them. That, and Sam’s exceptional self-control.

As more tears welled up and her chest took a mighty breath before another explosion of gleeful joy took place, Funami swiftly rose up and bobbed her head in agreement. The girl’s lips were tightly pressed together, indicating she had yet to get it out of her system.

“Mmhm!”

[member="Samka Derith"]​

 

[Samka Derith]

Calrissian Plaza was a lovely destination. The bright, happy atmosphere a total contrast to the underbelly in the station's core. Fountains and sculptures decorated the area across the large artificial lake with artistic smooth bridges separating the various districts dedicated to food, shopping, offices and an artificial forest. It was the height of Cloud City's more luxurious atmosphere.

Coming here after the rather brutal torture of Governor Deysion helped to clear her head. It often did after she was submerged in darker deeds. This place may have been one of the only places Sam had positive childhood memories of. A time before the Ren, the First Order, the Dark Side, all of it. A time which barely felt real next to the rest of her life. It grounded her somewhat, remembered what she had been and what almost everyone else still was. Normal. Samka rather doubted though that her companion was finding the experience so grounding.

Funami was, beyond a shadow of a doubt, completely unhinged. Her uncontrolled giggling, blabbing and general erratic behaviour in the presence of grievous torture left no room for other conclusions. It concerned her only in the sense that it was unpredictable and a possible weakness. If she was actually to train the girl, these were early issues to address. Self restraint. Maybe she'd write up a student plan later. Still at least she had made the girl happy. That was also beyond a shadow of a doubt. She was positively gleeful at Sam's actions. Was this bonding? It was unconventional if so but if it worked...

She'd sat the pair of them on a park bench within the artificial forest. Ice cream had been purchased from a nearby store of good reputation. She'd chosen bubblegum flavour for them both as a surprise. Sam had also picked up some seeds and was throwing them to the trees. Small, plump birds in red and green feathers would fly down to feed while a fluffy, wide eyed rodent of some kind would hop in, stuff his cheeks, flee then return for more a few minutes later. She was... fond of nature.

"How are you feeling?" She kindly asked the little Sith. "Gotten a hold of yourself yet?"

[member="Funami Teriyaki"]​

 

[Funami Teriyaki]

Far away from the horrific deed, Funami and Sam were finally free to breathe fresh air and enjoy the mundanities of life. Two small-statured figures strolled through the forest of Calrissian Plaza, hand in hand, giving the impression they were relatives taking a carefree amble about. Surrounded by serenity and not a single object to elicit bloodlust, the duo relaxed and acted as if nothing had happened. Funami in particular had displayed an impressive change. Gone was the gleeful beast who chortled at the suffering of others. An occasional cackle came to life here and there, but it was far from the roaring laughter previously displayed. Leaving the filthy, ugly part of Cloud City was akin to taking a bath, washing the small girl’s mind of filth and leaving her as the pure, innocent image of joy she usually pretended to be.

The tips of her little shoes poked the ground as Funami’s astute gaze studied the forest and its inhabitants. A city girl, she had always viewed nature as this meticulously maintained and domesticated piece of land rich people had in their garden. In that way, the pink-haired Sithling wasn’t new to its beauty, reminded of her family estate on Atrisia. It drew a soft, nostalgic smile across her lips, though her attention kept snapping toward the fellow worshipper of the Dark.

Perched on the selected bench, Funami niggled at the treat provided by Sam. The ice cream shined in the same bright pink as Funami’s hair, something mildly amusing to the girl. She licked vigorously, digging into the creamy hill even though her senses reported imminent freezing. Her horrible table manners akin to that of a child had returned in full strength, resulting in pink streaks of cream painting the little Sithling’s lips. After licking most of it off, the girl gave a nod, lifting her gaze Sam’s way.

“I’m fine.” The girl stifled a chuckle, suddenly nearly losing it as the gruesome memory emerged in her head and she was overcome with sadistic joy. The cruel light in her eyes gleamed again and her grin widened, but she made no comment on it. It was their secret now, a part of their adventure together.

“Tra-la-la-la-la-la~!” She hummed happily, cocking her head to the side and watching the birds. Hearing their chirpy songs triggered an idea and the Sithling turned to her companion again.

“Hey, Sam? Do you play any musical instrument?” She asked with that sweet, disingenuous smile of hers, and swelled with pride. “I can play the piano really well!”

[member="Samka Derith"]​

 

[Samka Derith]

She was still high on the violence, the occasional random giggle, incredibly bright smile and glimmer in those violent eyes told Sam as much. But she was holding it together fairly well. To an onlooker, she was just an very happy child having the time of her life. It was a start and good to see some semblance of self-control existed with in the young Sith. Now she was more concerned with just how quickly Funami had scoffed down her ice cream.

"You'll get brain freeze, you know?" The elder woman tutted. "It's much healthier to eat slowly." As she said it, she took delicate licks to punctuate what she was saying. It was too late for this particular snack, the sweet treat long since gobbled down but perhaps she'd remember for the future.

Maybe.

It was a long shot.

Funami hummed a little tune. It seemed as though she was imitating the songs of the birds gathered nearby. Casting a quick glance as the girl, Sam chuckled softly before tossing extra seed to the birds. The little animals jumped and fluttered, happily chirping at their increased bounty. A few more even descended from the sky to join them.

She was about to start a discussion on the intricacies of creating an artificial environment and ecosystem on a space station when the little Sith beat her to the mark. "Music?" Sam blinked in surprise and turned to face the young girl next to her on the bench. She was genuinely caught off guard. People had rarely shown interest in the subject.

"Why yes!" Her face lit up. Sam spoke with enthusiasm, shuffling her position to face Funami full on. "My parents insisted I perfect my abilities with music, song and dance in my youth. It was a chore but also an escape I found myself enjoying. After leaving their care, I had much less time for it and more time spent refining... other skills," she flashed a knowing smile to the girl before continuing, "But I kept practising when I could. I play piano as well but I also play violin and a little flute. Oh I'd love to hear you play! I'd imagine you'd make wonderful music, Funami!" Sam grasped her hands together excitidly and beamed at the younger girl.

[member="Funami Teriyaki"]​

 

[Funami Teriyaki]

With Sam’s attention devoted solely to her, Funami grew visibly pleased, evidenced by the corners of her mouth tugging upward in a smile. She liked attention. Craved it, demanded it, basked in it. No longer fraught with paranoia and anxiety that had plagued her for so long, she was free to relax and enjoy her holiday. With the intriguing possibility of apprenticeship under the Dark side brunette, the girl no longer geared toward hatching a murder scheme. At least not right now – right now she watched cute animals and mentally laughed at the cold feeling in her mouth and neck. Healthy or not, she tended to wolf down her food, be it ice cream or anything else.

Shifting ever so slightly on the bench, she turned to face Sam, eyes wide with curiosity. The mention of parents and their interest in Sam’s ability to play so many instruments cast a small frown over the Atrisian’s face. Even if she acquired all the power in the universe, she would never reclaim her lost childhood. It bothered Funami the happiest time of everyone’s life had been stolen from her, and even though she did have memories of childhood, those weren't really her memories.

“Hmph. Sounds like you had quite a childhood.” She muttered with a twinge of jealousy in her voice, averting her gaze for a second before beaming a jolly smile at Sam and deftly changing the subject.

“I can play anything!” The pink-haired child boasted and the confident, if cocky tone of her voice strongly suggested the little girl truly believed in her ability. “I can play two pianos at the same time! Three! I am the galaxy’s greatest pianist! Fufufu~”

Her childish chuckle sounded once more. Some of the birds hopped closer to the sitting duo, either curious or hoping for more food thrown their way.

“I’ve tried to play violin, but it’s really hard! I can never quite tell the pressure I need to apply on the strings!”

[member="Samka Derith"]​

 

[Samka Derith]

"You could say that," Sam shot a downwards glance in reflection. An interesting childhood. It felt as though she hardly had one with how exhausting and overbearing her father had been. So concerned with his legacy. However her father looked the most relaxed man in the galaxy compared with her masters in the Knights of Ren.

She was prepared to elaborate more but Funami swiftly moved the topic along with a ludicrous boast. A boast so great that an amused smirk crossed Samka's face and she raised her brow in challenge. "Now that I would truly love to see. A most impressive sight for a creature with just two hands." At first Samka saw it as nothing more than good-natured childish bragging but a thought crossed her head. Funami did display impressive telekinetic control dispatching of enemies on Mandalore. She could, in theory, use some sort of physical device controlled with her Force powers play two pianos while she more conventionally played a third with her own hands. It would require a remarkable amount of concentration, track of other objects, music and ability but not impossible theoretically.

"Oh the violin is a wondrous instrument once one understands how it works. Unfortunately it does rather sound like the grotesque wailing of the damned in the hands of a beginner, I will freely admit," Samka let out a small chuckle, putting a hand to her mouth as she did so. "I'll make you an offer, Funami, I'll teach you violin in addition to other matters if you teach me how to play more than one piano at once," a daring glimmer passed through the Ren's eyes as she awaited the child's response.

A bird suddenly hopped onto the Ren's arm, causing her to blink in surprise. She'd neglected the little creatures to enthuse with her brightly haired companion. Samka's trustworthy, soothing aura had reached unnatural levels these days. Her talents and physical traits giving off the vibes of a sweet, small, young woman were considerably sharpened by her ability in the Force. She was finding that even the non-sentient beings of the galaxy were drawn to her now. Whether that took the form of vicious predators passing her over or creatures suddenly becoming tame in her presence, it was becoming clear that her ability was ever evolving to greater and greater heights.

That or the bird was used to people feeding it. Either way.

"Oh I'm sorry," Sam giggled as she spoke gently to the little animal, "You and Funami battle for my attention and I don't know which way to turn." She took a couple of seeds from the pouch between her delicate fingers and hand fed the bird. It hopped around for a second, making the typical quick, jerky movements that avian creatures of its type often did, but snatched up the seeds without much caution at all.

"How sweet. Here, why don't you try, Funami?" Sam held out a handful of seeds to her small partner to take.

[member="Funami Teriyaki"]​

 

[Funami Teriyaki]

“Hmph. Two hands?” The small child cocked an eyebrow and gave an amused grin. “Why should I use hands like the commoners? I play with my thoughts. The power I wield needs to be nurtured and cultivated to grow stronger. And, um, I admit my telekinesis needs some refinement. I mean, have you ever tried to play violin with your mind? It’s hard! Like, really hard!”

It required precision and discipline. The Force had never been a weapon or a tool for Funami. It was a toy, yet one that determined her standing in the galaxy. To achieve more and rise above others, the girl knew she needed to grow stronger, more powerful. Turning armored Mandalorian warriors into minced meat and shattering reinforced blast doors open came easy to Funami, but something seemingly so simple as playing violin? Downright impossible most of the time. Despite possessing terrible amounts of sheer power, the young acolyte lacked refinement. Aware of the weakness, she had taken it upon herself to improve. Progress came slowly, much to her frustration. She had destroyed countless violins in her pursuit of perfection, burning through thousands of credits just to push her natural talent further and achieve greatness. Perhaps she wasn’t the greatest psychokinetic in the galaxy yet, but her ambitious mind definitely aspired to become one.

A squint at the cute little animal produced a dark smile. The bird had long lost its natural instinct that commanded caution. With the slightest touch of that power she wielded, negligent as a passing glance, the seeds in Sam’s hand took off and slowly approached the bird, levitating all about it in motions reminiscent to floating in water. No dramatic or concealed gestures accompanied the display. Just a stray thought in Funami’s head was enough to seize the seeds and present them to the avian. As it ate from her telekinetic hands, the girl turned to Sam.

“Fufufu~,” she giggled with an impish light in her eyes. “Look at it, Sam. So grateful for a few seeds. So spoiled by the kindness of others.”

A rush of dark power coiled about the colorful creature’s fragile body. Firm enough to immobilize it while almost touchingly gentle to avoid doing harm, the acolyte’s telekinesis froze the creature in place. The sight did not prevent another bird, clad in proud red feathers, to approach and shamelessly steal the seeds hovering around its kin, picking and pecking at the feed. Narrowing her eyes, the Sithling ceased her mental hold. Freed from its prison, the avian waved its wings and took off, followed by the other bird in a startled takeoff. Funami wistfully watched after their rustle of feathers before turning to Sam.

“Do you have any siblings?”

[member="Samka Derith"]​

 

[Samka Derith]

"I can't say I have, I had my music tutor teach me the traditional way. I learned much of it before I was truly aware of my gifts," Sam explained. Her second thought of Funami's musical possibilities suddenly seemed much closer to reality than she thought. Although it certainly sounded much more difficult than simply using one's hands.

Then she'd watched the young girl feed the bird. Again not exactly in the manner which she expected but she was starting to learn how Funami functioned. The Force, telekinetics to be precise, really was intrinsic to just about everything she did. A strength and a weakness. Her ability in it was highly advanced and made up for her physical weakness in size and strength, but over-reliance on one area could create problems down the line... More notes for her student evaluation?

"They can fend for themselves," Sam said as she watched Funami's moves with curiosity. The little bird was frozen in her telekinetic grip. She wondered if the little Sith would kill the creature. Samka would rather not have bloodstains on her summer dresses. But no, she released the animal and both it and its companion fled back into the trees. "Don't go mistaking their willingness to use us for weakness, they can't be faulted for taking every advantage given to them."

"Siblings?" Sam reclined on the bench as Funami moved on. The girl was perhaps more chatty than she had been at the cake store. She seemed far more at ease in Sam's presence since their 'adventure' in the murkier side of the Cloud City. "Absolutely none. I was an only child. It meant all the pressure was on me?" She cocked her head and regarded the child in response. Girls that age usually only thought about such a question if they had siblings of their own. "And yourself?"

[member="Funami Teriyaki"]​

 

[Funami Teriyaki]

While everything to pass through Sam’s lips could have been a blatant lie, it absolutely did not matter to the pink-haired child. Playing a game full of lies, it was up to each woman to determine if there was a single drop of truth in the poisonous sea of deceit. The information did, however, disappoint the girl a bit, albeit for a completely different reason. She had hoped to connect with her elegant companion more over sharing their respective experience with siblings. It was a wild guess and she had misfired, but being a good player, the Sithling knew how to turn her story into another sympathy-milking card. With the topic hanging about and Sam’s question already voiced, Funami had no other choice than to make the best of it.

The short-statured child gave a wistful nod. Assuming an expression void of emotion, she turned toward the artificial piece of nature in front of them. Glassy-eyed with nostalgic thoughts, she gazed at the forest and for a little while became a part of its serene grace. Looking sad more than anything, she gave the impression of recalling memories of the past. Her brow furrowed, and she finally parted her lips to speak.

“Four sisters,” she said softly. A deliberate pause and she let the information linger about a bit, as if unsure whether to continue or stop speaking right there. A slight frown pulled at her eyebrows and the girl looked at her companion. The wind’s chill suddenly felt cooler than before, biting at her skin.

“But there’s always been a strong sibling rivalry between us. Five girls fighting for papa’s attention and most unhappy to share papa’s affection with the others.” Funami shrugged and blew a weary sigh, casting a glance toward the calming sight of trees and birds. “We never got along, constantly at each other’s throat while feigning a loving relationship. Heh.”

Blinking rapidly as if a speck of dust had hit an eye, the girl wiped her face in one smooth motion and vocal gulp could be heard.

“I wish I had a sister like you instead. A big sis to look up to. Someone to talk to, a sibling who wouldn't treat me as competition.” The small psychokinetic prodigy murmured in the girly, squeaky voice, cocking her head and turning her big, violet eye on Sam. “Hmph, listen to me. What an idea.”

Scoffing at her wishful thinking, Funami leaned into the bench and lifted her eyes toward the clouds.

[member="Samka Derith"]​

 

[Samka Derith]

She listened to Funami's explanation of her family history, nodding along and evaluating where she could. It was surprisingly difficult to relate to with her own background, there had never been such cut throat competition in her life. Cooperation not competition was promoted among the Knights of Ren. But it was another factor making Funami's choice to seek out the Sith more logical. She'd probably lived a toned down version of their ideology with her family for her entire life.

A knowing smile graced her lips at the last remark. It was a hook and bait. Wishing for something to do with her and then dismissing it as ludicrous instantly. A simple but effective way of manipulating others. But saw nothing wrong with the intent or result so she'd take it. It would be mutually beneficial. She reached around to scoop her arm around Funami's waist and pull the girl closer and flashed her most charming smile. "Talk to me about anything, Funami, it's wonderful getting to know you and you may realise by now that I'm willing to do you a few favours. If you are to be trained by me I'll need you strong and focused but also happy, I rather enjoy your smile," she beamed down at the little Sith.

"What about your father? You've spoken of your 'Papa' a few times." The Ren was curious. While Funami already seemed to hold little but resentment towards her sisters, the father issue appeared entirely more complex.

[member="Funami Teriyaki"]​

 

[Funami Teriyaki]

“Ah!” The small Sithling squealed at the sudden touch, recoiling a tiny bit as if reluctant to accept the kind gesture. This turned out easier than expected. Then again, Funami reminded herself, Sam was a very good and experienced manipulator as well. The two simply played along with one another, exchanging kind words and showing affection for one another. Funami thought it a shame it was all fake. Growing up next to someone like Sam would have made everything different and despite being a ruthless Sith at heart, the girl still wished for a semblance of happiness in the back of her mind. Ceasing her resistance, the child gave in, tucked closer and responded to Sam’s bright smile with her own. A happy light danced in her eyes as she gazed into Sam’s equally joyful expression.

“Then I’ll keep smiling just for youuu, fufufu~,” the child retorted and giggled in that awfully sweet and irresistible way only little girls could. Knowing the reality of life, Funami understood this was all just an act, one of many. Becoming partners benefited both of them though and thus neither had a reason to break the illusion of friendship.

“Papa?” She repeated, curling an eyebrow, unsure what to reveal. Her eyes flicked away, breaking their eye contact for a fraction of a second. “He’s the founder and chairman of a big company on Atrisia. He does not have the Force himself but fully supports my, um, Dark side hobby. A gift like mine has to be nurtured and encouraged, he says. Other than that, he hosts a large family gathering every year. I find it boring though. The only people I really know there are papa and my sisters. All others are extremely distant relatives.”

A little hand shot up without warning and booped Sam’s nose, followed by a playful smirk spilling over Funami's expression.

“Ha! Gotcha!”

[member="Samka Derith"]​

 

[Samka Derith]

Sam had to repress a snort at Funami's giggle. She still found the child's sweet behaviour amusing. If anything more so as they were becoming more familiar. She suspected they both knew the other knew but it only added to the fun.

The explanation on her father didn't reveal a whole lot but perhaps enough information to piece the rest together herself. The First Order had control of Atrisa until recently, records of the influential companies and individuals should still be intact with her sources including information on their families in case blackmail was required to maintain control. It was standard practice for the First Order's top spies at the FOSB when acquiring new worlds.

She was still considering which database would now hold those files when a little hand playfully thwacked her nose. "Hey now!" Sam blinked in surprise then scowled down at the little Sith. "Why you tiny pest!" Her voice was devoid of any real malice and a smile every bit as playful as Funami's had broken out onto her face. "I can't let you get away with such a rotten thing!"

As she was talking, a few of the bird seeds from the pouch began to float upwards as Sam trusted Funami was too distracted looked up at her face to notice the small movement. With a telekinetic push, she threw the seeds at Funami. Just a half dozen or so but hopefully catching her off guard.

[member="Funami Teriyaki"]​

 

[Funami Teriyaki]

Another giggle at Sam’s pretended outrage full of smiles and Funami found herself on the receiving end, suffering a full load of deadly bird seeds. Still grinning, she glanced down just as the seeds bounced back off her body. Such trickery! She had not expected that. Or perhaps she had deemed it too irrelevant to do anything about it, opting to have fun over showing off her telekinesis. Mouth agape, eyebrows cocked, the young acolyte feigned surprise, disbelief mirrored in her violet eyes. Capable of stopping high-powered Mandalorian slugs, she had been tricked by Sam’s foul play! Treason, deceit, murder!

“Hey, really? Hmph! Well, I guess it is my fault for not turning my shield on.” Little Funami sneered and shook her head with false regret. “This is so embarrassing! How am I supposed to be the most powerful telekinetic prodigy in the galaxy when I get hit by bird seeds?”

Pulling her puppy-dog eyes on Sam and pouting, the girl attempted to look as miserable and adorable as possible. Without a word of warning, she stood up, eyes never leaving Sam.

“But I am beyond such childish games! I am a wise Jedi, you see! I do not use the Force to harm others, but to protect them from harm!” Funami declared with a completely serious expression and cast a spherical blob of energy around Sam. “So, uh, here! Have fun in my, um, does this power have a name? Force shield? Impenetrable barrier? Energy bubble? Orb of protection? Telekinetic blob? Well, anyway, you are trapped and at my mercy. If you promise to give up your baaad ways then I’ll have to let you go! You can be redeemed and stuff!”

Placing her fists on her hips, Funami patiently and very calmly awaited the evil woman’s decision.

[member="Samka Derith"]​