Nar Shaddaa

Sylvain and Shaisha walked into the Shadows together as the doorman let them through after a glance at Shaisha in her dress. Sylvain's mask sat attached to his hip, providing a bit of menacing appeal to his ensemble.

The sound and sights of the club flowed over him as he walked in with his sister at his side. He turned and smiled at her as he felt the beat of the music course through his body.

"Wanna get a drink first?" He asked through the sound of the noise.

Dressed to kill had two meanings for Shaisha these days; either in her armor and full get-up like during yesterday's Kaggath - or in black shimmersilk dress that showed a lot of skin, yet still had concealed pockets on the inside of the draping skirt across her hip that allowed for her to bring her lightsabers.

"Sounds like a plan," she nodded, sticking close to Syl for now as she tried to get a proper look at the clientele here.

Sylvain walked up to the closest counter and ordered a couple of drinks for his sister and himself. He smiled over at her, "Pretty seedy joint, huh? Makes Kaas City look timid."

"Even the seedier places of Kaas City looks squeaky clean in comparison," she chuckled, looking very much like the role of a femme fatale in a holovid. Or on Vera Hawke: Jedi Knight.

"How goes it with Kris, by the way? Talk to her anymore after last night?"

He chuckled and nodded at her first comment before taking a sip of his drink.

He then nodded again and pressed his tongue up against the front side of his front teeth with his lips still closed. "Yeah, talked to her this morning."

He looked out into the crowd, "I think we made some real progress. She asked me about Korriban and Yavin... got to speak honestly and openly about it. Let her know how I feel... She seemed to reciprocate."

He took another sip, "But she's heading off planet now... probably about to get on her ship I think."

"I see..." she sipped her drink.

"... Any idea what she'll be doing off-planet then?"

"I'm not sure specifically. A matter for Marr I believe." He replied.

"It possibly is at the worst timing..."

"I suspect Baras is probably either on the moon already, or will be shortly. It would be typical of him to arrive ahead of schedule to keep everyone on their toes," she remarked over the rim of her glass.

"And your mother...?"

Sylvain nodded, "I suspect as much too. I do not think my mother is fully ready... she believes she is... but Baras is always crafty. He will have something that she does not expect."

He turned to her, "If possible... I'd like you there when whatever happens, happens. I cannot trust mother... or Baras..."

The Sith femme fatale seemed to consider it first.

"... And you are certain your mother won't try to kill me as well?"

"She has no interest in killing you. You are an important ally leading to my future successes, that much is obvious for her." He replied.

"But there is risk involved... Baras is your master's rival for a reason."

"I am aware of the risks I will be taking if I stand by your side, Syl. But Baras wants me dead whether or not I'm there," she shrugged. "Might as well make myself useful and make sure he gets the death he deserves... for having used us all as his pawns."

He nodded, "Your support gives me strength Shai."

"As my father said when I last saw him in person: “You have become Sith, seize victory. Be ruthless to your enemies, never allow others to control you.” I intend to follow that, Syl. I have no proof other than my gut-feeling, but Baras controlled me indirectly, and I will make him pay for it."

Her expression darkened slightly.

"Sometimes I wonder if he meant more by those words. He's a hard person to read."

He chuckled, "I have a feeling I understand you a bit better now that one of my parents is... shall we say 'difficult'?"

He smiled, "You talk to him recently?"

"Been some months since I last spoke to him, and it was a rather brief call too... He didn't seem all too pleased then, but he rarely does." She shrugged a little, but the issue of her father was always a sensitive topic.

"Once we get this stuff with Baras and your mother out of the way... I think I might try speaking with him again. Maybe. Maybe it's safer to hear him out about this whole stuff about the Emperor at a long distance."

"Perhaps... It is a dangerous topic to bring up with him... Do you feel he would be receptive?" Sylvain asked.

"Honestly, I don't know. He's served the Emperor for centuries now, yet... there is something about him that I can't quite put my finger on. As if he is planning his own long-game somehow. My father has never been an easy person to read."

"Maybe he'll hunt me down on behalf of the Emperor and kill me. I don't think I would stand a chance against that, to be honest. Or maybe he'll just tell me to back off the whole thing."

"That is a mighty risk... and the reward would be? You think he'd ever help you?" He asked.

"If I'm ever going to stop the Emperor, I need to get past the obstacle that is his Wrath. Regardless of how it is done." She sighed and took a long gulp of her drink.

"He's not the man I remember from before I came to your family, after all..."

Sylvain put his arm around his sister and pulled her in close, "He's not, not that man either Shai. If you feel it is what you must do, then I will do whatever I can to make sure any possible threat is reduced."

He smiled and squeezed her shoulder once, "But look at us! It's like we've forgotten how to have some fun."

"Hah. Says you," she chuckled. "I've been partying for months while you've been drying up indoors doing Baras' work."

"Dancing then?"

He chuckled and nodded, "Dancing."

He took his sister by the hand out onto the dance floor.

Letting Syl take the lead, Shaisha followed him onto the dancefloor. Thankfully, this place didn't seem to have that kriffin' boring music they grew up with when attending social gatherings for the nobles of Dromund Kaas.

Her loose hair seemed to move in rythm of the music as their bodies joined the thumping beats of the dancefloor, her movements for the moment throwing away concerns and worries.

Sylvain felt the ever pressing tension dissipate as he let the music and the swaying of Shaisha's hair take his mind from off of the concerns of the day. There was a kind of freedom that Shaisha had always exuded which gave him strength and clarity. He smiled as he let go of his inhibitions and opened himself up to enjoying himself once again. The past several months were as dry for him as Shaisha had mentioned; with little to fill his mind but memories of his sister and Kristal. There was a part of him that worried he'd be ever fully open up to them again after how terribly he had failed them. But the booze, and the music helped bring back the memories and feelings that had fueled him throughout his life.