Warriors [Day 6, Early Evening]

[Kristal Serasai]

After sending Layne the message that she had desired to meet, Kristal made her way to the Yellow Viper. A cantina that was having to get used to her presence one way or another. Slipping down into a seat at a pazaak table she awaited Layne's arrival by playing a few games. Even by the time Layne would arrive, Kristal had won more hands than she'd lost.

Day 6, Early Evening | Gambling, Tier 1, Cool: 2eP+2eD 2 successes, 1 threat

[Layne Hoshin]

Layne arrived, fashionably late. It had been one of those days. Once she saw the back of Kristal's head, she walked up behind her, and watched her play her last hand before speaking.

"Hate pazaak."

[Kristal Serasai]

"I find it relaxing, watching as others try to get a read on you and find nothing," she said in response. Collecting her credits while some others at the table grumbled. Standing she faced Laybe for a moment before glancing off toward the bar.

"Care to speak over a drink?"

[Layne Hoshin]

"I assume you're buying," she said. "What with the gambling and all."

[Kristal Serasai]

"After what we faced in our time at the Academy I hadn't suspected the thing that would scare you to be a bill," she said before waving the bartender over and placing her credits on the counter.

"However, in light of your late Master's demise I can cover the expenses for now," she said, but watched Layne as she had. Gauging the woman's thoughts the old fashioned way.

[Layne Hoshin]

"Never pay for something you can get for free," she said; sidestepping the whole dead master issue.

[Kristal Serasai]

"A budding economist," she commented, allowing a moment for the bartender to take their order and then proceeding.

"I have asked you here for a reason Layne, and it involves your Master. Darth Baras." Kristal set herself up, and then rather than playing games like most she was simply as direct as anyone could expect her to be. "I need to know what you know of his death. I need to know if Darth Baras is truly dead. If it is true, the Empire will have to find some way to manage. However, if it is not..."

"Your Master is central to many things in the Empire currently. We need him back, and we need him back alive," she said frankly.

[Layne Hoshin]

"So you and Sylvain can kill him, you mean. Maybe with a little help from someone called Magpie?"

[Kristal Serasai]

"Then he is alive," she said with the addition of a smirk.

"Contrary to what you might believe, Layne. Even if it were not for Darth Marr wishing that Darth Baras remain alive in order to keep the Empire whole during this tumultuous time. I would want him alive so that I might gain the answers I seek before he faces the Empire's justice."

"Magpie," she pauses after the name. "From what I have heard of this Magpie they wish to eliminate Baras directly. That is not something that falls in line with either my or Darth Marr's plans. More importantly, that is not what is currently best for the Empire."

[Layne Hoshin]

"The emperor agrees," she said. Enigmatically refraining from explaining.

"But even I don't know for sure whether he lives. I do, however, know enough about what he's capable of that I'd give any efforts to bring him to... justice as you say... a very low probability of success."

[Kristal Serasai]

"Your Master is not invincible, his time will come," she said frankly. Naturally, Layne's first comment drew her attention as it was due to. Asking with a sense of disbelief that Layne truly carried the word of the Emperor.

"Do you speak for the Emperor now Layne?"

[Layne Hoshin]

"Of course not, that's what the Emperor's Voice does."

[Kristal Serasai]

"And yet you know the Emperor's will?" she continued as the bartender approached and offered both women their drinks. Kristal let hers sit for now.

[Layne Hoshin]

"Unless the Voice was lying, yes."

[Kristal Serasai]

"My instinctual response is to not believe you," she admitted, taking her drink in her hand. "And yet considering everything I know you speak the truth. Then, Layne, I must naturally ask. How did you find yourself in the position where you were speaking with the Emperor's Voice."

[Layne Hoshin]

"Before I answer that, what do you mean when you say 'considering everything you know'?"

[Kristal Serasai]

"You are not a woman who lies, you have no need of it. Unless you have changed far more greatly than I could imagine in the time since the Academy I do not for a moment believe you would merely lie for.. whatever reasons you might have to lie. Be it boasting or hiding some other agenda," she replied honestly.

[Layne Hoshin]

"Everyone always underestimates me," she said in response.

[Kristal Serasai]

"They are fools to do so," she said honestly.

[Layne Hoshin]

She did not answer immediately. As if launching straight into it would lessen the impact.

"Listen, you should distance yourself from whatever Sylvain and Magpie have planned. It's doomed now that the Voice has labelled one of them an enemy, and anyone associated with her is likely to get purged sooner or later."

[Kristal Serasai]

"Many may underestimate you Layne, but I believe you underestimate Sylvain in a number of ways," she says, taking a hold of her drink with her right hand.

[Layne Hoshin]

"I really think you got that turned around. He overestimates himself. He's a perfectly competent smart sith. Clever even. But he is vastly outclassed here. So are you."

[Kristal Serasai]

"You are either mistaken about my intentions or you vastly underestimate my ability," she said frankly, nursing the drink in her hand. Allowing the sounds of the Mandalorian bar to flow into the moment a bit more.

[Layne Hoshin]

"Overconfidence is a fine trait to project, not to actually have. I've told Sylvain as much when he mentioned his delusional fantasies about taking down a darth. You don't outplot someone like Baras. Not when you're just a year out of the academy. He dismissed that of course, because he is who he is and it's easier for him to think I'm just scared rather than someone who knows a bit more than he does about how to survive."

She took another gulp.

"But I'd like to think you're less infatuated with yourself and therefore more capable of seeing reason."

[Kristal Serasai]

"I do not aim to do anything beyond my means, I know where my abilities lie and I know that if it were to come to it a Darth would not be someone I could face in direct combat, yet," she said, leaving the last word as a powerful point.

"However, Darth Baras may be a Darth but he is still a man. A man who has committed many acts against this Empire as well as for. When the time is right, I have every intention on seeing him answer for those crimes with the full backing of the Empire. Right now, unfortunately, the Empire needs him alive."