Resting Heartbeats (D3, LE Syl's Room)

[Sylvain Torsin]

Sylvain walked out on to his small balcony outside his room and delicately placed the last of the silverware down on the table in preparation for his guest. He had some of the finest food on Nar Shaddaa delivered to his room, and had Kristal's gift chilling in an ice bucket near his fridge. A little vase sat in the middle of the circular table with a single white and yellow flower extending beautifully from the top.

Sylvain walked over to the mirror and straightened his appearance one last time, making sure his military dress uniform was in optimal shape with no blemishes anywhere to be seen.

He found it strange that he had spent a bulk of the day with Kris, but still to have her come over for dinner like this seemed rare and special. He was more than a little nervous, much as he always had been around Kristal since the earliest days of his affection for her. He usually managed to hide it well, but in moments like this where he was alone he still found himself filled with the same kind of nervous excitement. His mind told him to cool things down, that he was getting ahead of himself by even thinking of getting excited, but his body's physiology did not respond fully to the reasons in his mind.

After checking his appearance he went to the chair, closed his eyes, and began to breathe slowly to himself to ease his excitement. By the time Kristal would arrive, Sylvain felt ready...

[Kristal Serasai]

Arriving at the door Kristal made a last few checks of herself. There was a mix of thoughts inside her head, and certainly one of them was how open she felt when walking here in this dress. Something Shaisha had picked out for her but she enjoyed it well enough, Kristal felt that the dress fit her well. After a quick breather she pressed the button that would give Sylvain notification of her arrival.

From then, it was just a matter of waiting.

[Sylvain Torsin]

Sylvain's heart stopped a beat as the door slid open to reveal Kris. He stood there smiling, transfixed on the beautiful woman that stood before him.

Shaking his head slightly to knock out the cobwebs he blushed and smiled, "Good evening Kris. You look... absolutely riveting."

[Kristal Serasai]

Kristal bowed her head a bit, allowing herself to take the compliment without it going to her head to quickly. Looking back up she appraished Sylvain.

"You clean up well, as always," she said, waiting to be invited in.

[Sylvain Torsin]

He smiled and stared at her for a few moments before realizing he was blocking the way, "Ah, yes. Come in."

He watched her as she walked past him in the doorway and tried not to stare at the back of her dress too long. Kris seemed to possess a power over him he simply could not combat.

He closed the door and turned to face her, "Please, have a seat."

[Kristal Serasai]

Entering she kept a cool demeanor. Looking about his room yet again before making her way over toward the table he had set up. Looking out to the cruddy Nar Shaddaa vista on the balcony and turning back to tease, "Would have been better if we were somewhere with a nice view."

Turning about to look to Sylvain as he approached she waited to sit, only sitting when he was by the table as well.

[Sylvain Torsin]

Sylvain followed her to the balcony but stood in the doorway mesmerized by Kris as she turned back to look at him. He looked on her with the same affectionate eyes he had during their best of times. He smiled timidly and blushed slightly, putting his hand up to the back of his head and rubbing it when he realized he was staring. "I'm sorry. I'm a bit starstruck it seems... Having another white dress incident it seems."

He looked up at her and smiled warmly, "The view is quite nice from here my dear... even if the city doesn't pay it the proper due."

[Kristal Serasai]

"The Hutt's corruption has tainted this moon for far too long, unfortunately, this moon is too proper an example of what greed and corruption brings out in people," she comments. Standing there for the time, staying on display as it were. "So, you like the dress then? Shaisha helped me find it. I would have never found something this fitting without her help, honestly."

[Sylvain Torsin]

He smiled and nodded, "You look absolutely beautiful. The brightest spot of goodness on this dark moon... I once told you the moon looked beautiful as we sat near that camp site on Korriban, right before I told you how I feel about you... You are my moon Kris. And I've never seen you more beautiful than I do tonight."

He smiled affectionately and turned to bring the ice box with Kris' favorite wine in it chilling. He pulled it from the ice and showed it to her,"I came across this a few months ago and have kept it aside for such an occasion... It's even your birth year and season."

He smiled and popped open the top before smoothly moving over to the table and pouring the proper amount into both of their glasses. Holding up her glass to her with his own in his had he looked into her eyes with the honest and devoted affection he had always held for her. If eyes could speak of the veracity of his words, and the truthfulness of his promises to her then there would be no need for any more words to follow after the way he looked at her.

"A toast my dear?" He asked.

[Kristal Serasai]

"A toast?" she asked simply. Taking the glass in her true hand she held it properly. Looking to Sylvain without betraying herself at all. A woman of refinement in that moment, discipline enough to control herself completely. As cool as ice.

"What are we toasting to tonight Sylvain?"

[Sylvain Torsin]

"These past few days there has been a whirl of events... it seems as if everything we do and say are related to these plots so much bigger than ourselves."

He looked serious, "And while it is nice that we can all lean on each other in our time of need... I'd love for there to be just a moment where we can remember what it is to just be 'us'. To sit, relax for a moment to re-calibrate, and simply enjoy an hour or two of each other's company."

He smiled, "To us?"

[Kristal Serasai]

"May we have plenty more," she said raising her glass. Standing with her left arm held across her stomach, right hand extended toward Sylvain. "To us."

[Sylvain Torsin]

Sylvain smiled and tipped his glass into Kris' before taking a sip of the wine. Tasting it fully for a few moments he smiled at Kristal and gestured for her to sit. "Please, have a seat. Let me bring out dinner."

Sylvain walked inside the apartment and brought back a plate of appetizers to put on the table and a salad for the both of them. He served up the portions and just enjoyed the quiet moments with Kristal watching him as he moved about.

Sitting down across from her he looked up and smiled, "So my dear... Well first, please eat. Thank you for coming... I know I've hogged a great deal of your attention over the past few days. You're a better friend than I deserve." He smiled and nodded politely in gratitude.

"So, what shall we talk about? My only request is that it doesn't start with the numerous plots that are waiting to bring about our downfall." He smiled teasingly and took a bite of the salad.

[Kristal Serasai]

Taking a smaller sip in turn Kristal held the glass for a moment as she stood, watching, while he walked inside. Only when she was alone on the small balcony did she finally sit herself. Remaining silent but ever present as she watched Sylvain go about the tasks, holding the glass steady.

Setting the glass down as he arrived she took in the sight of the food for a moment but looked back to Sylvain.

"Well, for starters, my Mother still hates you," she said without inflection in her tone but a smirk on her lips.

[Sylvain Torsin]

"It looks like I have a long way to go with both of the Serasai women then." He said with his usual self-deprecating demeanor.

"Shame what a crazy assassin for a mother doing the will of her master does for a young man's reputation." He chuckled as he took another bite.

"Did Tyron happen to be present when you talked with her then?" He chuckled, "Look... I'm already talking plots. Maybe it'll be best to knock it out of the way early instead."

[Kristal Serasai]

"Your man is alive, I saw that he was and he is in good hands," she said confidently. Well, now that she had hopefully convinced her mother away from her current course. "Currently still unconscious, it appears his injuries are rather severe."

[Sylvain Torsin]

Sylvain nodded, "I have another thing to thank you for then."

He smiled softly as he looked on to Kris. He was starting to get the sense that something was off by the way she was replying to his comments... constantly deflecting... speaking tersely (even for Kristal), but did not pay any attention to it externally.

"So what makes me so detestable still? Who do the Serasai women say I am then?"

[Kristal Serasai]

"We didn't get together and gossip about you Sylvain," she said with a light smile. Raising her glass once again to her lips. Looking at him over the rim for a moment before taking a sip.

"My Mother is not a woman to trust easily, I am sure I get it from her. Once you lose our trust... it's not easy to get back."

[Sylvain Torsin]

Sylvain nodded as his chest tightened a little at the piercing nature of her words.

There it is... Kristal's honesty.

His face took a more reserved appearance of acceptance as he asked, "Is there anything an 'idiot' as you called him, an idiot that wants nothing more than to regain your trust, but an idiot nonetheless... can do to improve his chances?"

His tone was soft, almost pleading in some ways; not even the trace of an accusatory or critical thought behind the words. He was simply a man looking for an answer.

[Kristal Serasai]

Lowering the glass slowly from her lips she set it upon the table. Looking down at the center of the table as she did. Pulling her left arm into her lap she set her right hand down onto the table before looking back to Sylvain, "Let's just enjoy dinner for now," she said.

[Sylvain Torsin]

He noted her gesture and nodded, "Your wish is my command."

Smiling he stood and brought over the platter with the main dish. A rare form of meat from the nearby systems known for its taste made the main portion.

He served up a plate for Kris and then himself and took a seat across from the blonde beauty. He smiled and laughed a bit as he sat down, "Do you remember that dinner party at house Kilran with the odd slug dish? I'll never forget the look on your face."

[Kristal Serasai]

"I remember," was her response. Sitting in a more reserved manner as he re-approached.

[Sylvain Torsin]

"What'd you say to Kilran when he said your face matched your green dress?"

[Kristal Serasai]

"I do not recall that," she admitted. Tending her meal slowly as she had the conversation flowing at the same pace.

[Sylvain Torsin]

He chuckled, "You said his face looked like the slug we were eating and then stepped on his foot."

Sylvain chewed softly as he watched Kris struggle through even the simplest of conversations. His heart hurt as he sat there watching her suffer... he wanted nothing more than to reach out and stop it however he could. But this had only led to self-destruction in the past.