Unto Solemnity [MA4]

[Moyr Ahaya]

Moyr was eating a quiet meal, absent-mindedly cutting the food on her plate into even small morsels. The seat before her was empty. Occasionally, she would look through the window, toward the city. Her face expressed little emotion.

She was not dressed ominously. More like hip. Pipestoves, a jacket. Her lekku were unwrapped and unpainted.

[Kristal Serasai]

Intent on visiting Harad Kristal had made her way to the compound, however there was always some time for a quick drink on her way. Maybe even a light meal if it appealed to her. Stepping into the Cantina dressed in her Imperial casual she moved up to the bar, making little note of the other patrons just yet as she ordered herself a drink.

With what she had in mind, she needed to make sure she had a clear head before proceeding. That she had no doubts.

[Moyr Ahaya]

Moyr monitored new appearances routinely even if she didn't show, just in case someone who she would have to react to the presence of would come. When she noticed the blonde, her analytics glitched. Which category was she? An uncompartmentialised one. Moyr stirred in her seat, but chose to take a few bites before deciding about anything. She was watching Kris discretely, however. What she was learning by this was shaking off from slumber several different emotions at the same time.

[Kristal Serasai]

Stood at the bar the woman accepted her drink with silent approval, the machine that was the Imperial populace working smoothely. It almost didn't matter if the one attending the bar had been a droid or a man, it would have played out the same. Never removing the gloves she wore, even to take a hold of her drink as she stood at the bar and glanced at the screen displaying whatever was playing at the time. Though that didn't hold her interest for more than a second.

No, Kristal was here to think. Looking across the bar she focused on her plan, her thoughts, all the while tending her drink. For a brief moment the world faded away from around her. Something that was much easier in a place like this than any of the others that could be found on Nar Shaddaa.

[Moyr Ahaya]

Moyr wanted to get up, but somehow she couldn't make herself do it. Her meal had been finished, and the coffee in the cup was getting cool. Still, she held it, tracing the passing warmth. She had a rendezvous with an acklay in an hour, and yet she couldn't do much about the pesky memories forcing themselves back in. It was strange, to not find strength in the wave of old feelings.

[Kristal Serasai]

Passing by an Imperial Soldier of some indistinguishable rank had caught eye of Kristal. On his way out he approached her and gained the woman's attention. Turning to the man as they spoke he wore a warm smile as she merely listened. Afterwards, to what appeared to be him thanking her for something, Kristal offered her hand to the man and they shook. With a nod from her, the servicemen saluted her and made his way toward the exit.

Turning away from the bar now she stood there with drink in hand. Looking out to those milling about the establishment.

[Moyr Ahaya]

Moyr finally steeled herself to rise, having reined in the splash in her mind into something more manageable. She met Kristal's gaze and offered a nod. Facing the other woman felt... important in the end.

[Kristal Serasai]

Kristal almost didn't recognize the woman at first notice when she stood. However it didn't take her more than a second when she actually got a look at the lethan's face. "Moyr Ahaya," she stated the name in greeting. Holding her drink passively in her right hand for the time being. Squaring her shoulders she stood tall, proud.

"I had not thought to see you here, or again, truthfully."

[Moyr Ahaya]

"And why would that be, Kristal Serasai?" Moyr mused. "My existence as a Sith would fade because it stopped playing a role in the story of your life?" She approached the bar and ordered a drink. "Quill on the rocks, please." She then looked back at other woman. "Conversely, I have braced for you and yours being around."

[Kristal Serasai]

"It is hardly a small galaxy," she noted as she turned back to the bar, and Moyr. Placing her drink on the counter while they spoke.

"You are not a woman who takes center stage, even I can see you prefer it that way," she explained.

[Moyr Ahaya]

"It's easier to say we don't share the same stage more often than not. I have my own playing fields, perhaps more salient in the end. Peace negotiations are as much not my thing as of any Sith who takes the Code seriously, but the crux of it is that much is being decided on the Moon right now, and the chitchat with fraudulent Republican politicians and their lapdogs is just a cut of the turf." She sipped her whiskey when it arrived. "By the same logic, you shouldn't be here either. You're an enforcer, not a negotiator, and your standing within the Empire, and so also bargaining power by any table, is questionable and hinges mostly on the whim of your master. On whose business you probably commit to side-efforts that further his personal agenda in this system. What pretty much drives my point home."

[Kristal Serasai]

Kristal responded with a sound that was half a scoff and half a laugh, only to continue and say, "I do not know if you hate me, my Master or are simply the victim of seeing what the Sith are becoming rather than what we could be."

[Moyr Ahaya]

"I don't hate you, I don't have reasons to. And your master and his ideas are worthy of every respect." She took another sip. "You know that if there is a rift between you and me, and I am not sure there is, the reasons are of different kind."

[Kristal Serasai]

Kristal looked to the woman, thoroughly puzzled and simply took to her drink. Leaving that topic behind as she sipped and imposing a silence on the moment that broke away from whatever just transpired.

[Moyr Ahaya]

Moyr was not one to get agitated when stalled out by someone who couldn't handle a sensitive topic. She took to her whiskey and started contemplating other things. After all, stonewalling was usually a sign of vulnerability and preying on the woman could backfire in may ways. No beast was gentle when cornered.

[Kristal Serasai]

"You mentioned you braced yourself for seeing myself again, or I suppose the term you used was me and mine which I assume refers to Shaisha and Sylvain," she said, setting the stage up again as she nursed her drink. Always sure of the steps she took.

"I assume this is to mean you have come to speak with me for a reason?" she asked, allowing Moyr to make another approach.

[Moyr Ahaya]

"Well, more like taking an opportunity to satisfy a whim. But for a Sith a whim is a reason enough, so I suppose you may be right a bit." She mused, looking back at the woman. "There was a time you had the courage to come to me to talk despite how painful it was for you at the time. Perhaps I just want to be no worse than that, facing my own demons and unfinished business head on." She smiled distantly. "And it was over a drink too if I remember correctly." She sighed, relaxing her neck by tilting it to the sides once each. "So, I think congratulations are in order. My risky wager failed miserably. You were right, I was wrong. For the impertinent certainty I exuded back then, I suppose I owe you at least this admission."

[Kristal Serasai]

"I do not think this has anything to do with being right, or wrong, Moyr," she said calmly, coolly. Continuing to nurse her drink as she spoke. "That, and I believe offering congratulations in this matter to anyone is a rather inappropriate means of addressing what transpired, regardless."

"Unless you mean to come to me and admit intent to do wrong by me, you owe me nothing."

[Moyr Ahaya]

"It is appropriate to me in the sense that it gives me a modicum of closure. I gambled with much after all, with myself." She took a thoughtful sip. "I did you no wrong, I gave him a clear choice at the very beginning. If he had chosen otherwise, I would have walked away before anything of that would have happened. But I was lied to, so I followed through. And then fed more with half-truths I wanted to believe. It only ended when I finally was able to call it for what it really was." She took a deep breath. "The whole thing did expose a gaping weakness in me I have managed to rectify since then, so I guess there was a hidden consolation prize in it."

She looked at the other woman with a gaze that wasn't regretful or remorseful, nor satisfied and cocky. Just sombre and dimmed. She shrugged.

"That's it, I guess. Best of luck."

[Kristal Serasai]

Kristal was hardly the woman who was good at any of this. However, she could listen and listen she did. There was something in what the woman said that struck a few chords with her, gave Kristal a few thoughts and ultimately left her feeling more... confident. Sound. Together. Somehow she was able to derive from Moyr's attempt at giving herself closure the ability to pull closure from this herself.

Kristal offered the Twi'lek a silent hand, and only if she shook it she would hold her hand in a firm grip and offer well chosen parting words, "Best of luck to you Moyr."

[Moyr Ahaya]

Moyr took it and gripped it back, looking into the woman's eyes. There was relief in hers. Whatever quarrel there had been between them was entirely because of Sylvain. To remove it was to remove him, one of the final acts of cleaning her life from the traces of him.

"There's a work for the Empire in the evening in the Arena. Power needs to be projected. Please contact Col. Moraal for further details if you're interested."

[Kristal Serasai]

Now that was unexpected, but she could hardly turn down the opportunity to aid the Empire. Not even caring to think for the moment she was sure checking in with Hala would be far more enlightening, she responded, "I will do so."

[Moyr Ahaya]

Moyr pulled out her hand from the grip and nodded, adding a small smile.

"Thank you. May the Force be with you."

She finished her drink in one swig, rattled the rocks before putting it back on the counter, rose and left without looking back.

/exit

[Kristal Serasai]

With that settled, Kristal watched as the other woman left the cantina. Both seemingly better for the encounter despite some key differences. Regardless, she still had a drink to tend to. Something she was more than happy to continue doing as she turned about and stat at the bar. Pulling out her communicator she debated if now would be a proper time. Tending to her drink while she thought.