Have some more Sailor Moon/SWTOR AU-ness. Â Itâs really all @askcarminelegacyâs fault. Â I really have no idea what Iâm doing. Â But hey, Blakk can actually be charming, whatâs up with that?
She looked like a queen already, he thought, as he watched her mill idly along the edge of the starflowers. Â Rain pattered musically on the trellis above, but failed to penetrate its subtle shielding, giving the illusion that the lush vines were enough to keep the garden dry. Â Her pale hair caught the faint glow of the blossoms, seeming to shine in the dim light, pearly skin beautifully accented by the violet gown she wore.
 Blakk wondered whether sheâd come here with it, or whether it had been a gift from his father.
 Clearing his throat, he stepped from the shadows. Â
 âYou look beautiful tonight, my lady.â
 Her eyes fixed on him after a moment, gold under violet shadow, narrowing just a touch before she blinked the tenseness away. One fine brow arched all the same as she seemed to almost examine him. âMy thanks. I wasnât aware I was being graced with company.â
 âMy father requested I greet you properly.  I thought we might have dinner together âŚ?â  He tried not to fidget under her gaze.
 Something hard to define changed just slightly, and whatever it was did make her feel dangerous, little thing that she was otherwise. âYour fatherâŚ?â
 â... The king âŚ?â Â
 Her eyes narrowed again, and there was another notch up in the sense of danger. Uncomfortable, but certainly nothing he hadnât been trained for. When he didnât react, she pursed her lips a moment. âAnd will the king be joining us?â
 A bit put out that she hadnât seemed to recognize him, even after all these years of being acquainted, Blakk rubbed the back of his neck.  âI thought it would be nice if it was just the two of us,â he replied softly, âbut I can summon him, if you wish.â
 The sense of danger quieted, her shoulders relaxing as she offered him a small smile. âNo. I see more than enough of the king. Lead on, PrinceâŚ?â
 Of course she wouldnât remember him.  Little wonder if even his own father barely acknowledged his existence.
 âBlakk.â  He forced the smile to reach his eyes, and offered his elbow to her.
 âBlakk.â She repeated his name in a way he hadnât often heard, the way she looked at him telling him that for once, he was being committed to memory. A delicate hand settled on his arm as she accepted his lead, inclining her head in a silent cue.
 How ironic it would be his fatherâsâŚ. whatever she was⌠who would finally acknowledge him. Â
 Blakkâs smile broadened, and for once it wasnât forced.  He rested a hand upon hers and began to lead her through the small garden.  âIâve had the attendants put something together for us.  Iâm not sure what your tastes are, but Iâve had them replicate Korriban cuisine as best they can.  I hope to have you feel at home while youâre with us.â
 The duchess made a quiet sound of amusement. âTell me, Prince Blakk, have you had the food native to Korriban before?â
 Blakk paused, unsure what response she expected.  â... Of course.  Iâm well educated in most planetary cuisine, especially those central to our Sith heritage âŚâ
 âI see.â Was that amusement in her voice? âDo you enjoy it?â
 He managed to keep the hesitation minimal.  âOf course!  What kind of Sith would I be if I didnât?â
 âWell, that will make one of us, then.â Absolutely amusement, but it didnât feel mocking. And wait, what was she sayingâŚ? âI find all but the alcohol rather abhorrent.â
 Blakk had to stop and stare.  Then everything heâd had made for her âŚ
 He earned an actual laugh, if soft. From his discreet inquiries, that was more than his father or anyone else had gotten. A victory, though it didnât fix his predicament. âYour gesture was unexpectedly kind. Thank you all the same.â
 He stared helplessly at her a moment, before sheepishly shrugging and rubbing the back of his neck.  âYouâre welcome?  If only Iâd known, Iâd ⌠ Frak, I hate Korriban cuisine.  Shit - sorry, I mean.  My apologies, my lady.  Iâll ⌠Iâll have them bring something else.â
 She chuckled quietly, shaking her head. âI didnât expect you to know. Your father is many things, but inclined to take what I say as truth when it differs from his own opinions is not one.â
 Blakkâs first impulse was to defend his father, but it wouldnât be helping his mission here. Â
 âHe is very wise,â he hedged instead, âbut perhaps not all-knowing.â  Offering his arm again, he continued to lead them to the private dining area heâd had set up.  A small table with just enough room for two placed in a tiny nook in the garden, it was veiled from the main walkways by hedges of Tarisian roses, creating an intimate setting.  A pair of ancient lanterns lit the entrance to the alcove.  Blakk spared them a glance, hoping the warm glow would remain through dinner.
 The duchess glanced at him from the corner of her eye, a wry little smile on her lips though she didnât share the source of her amusement. She did let him seat her, ever graceful despite the length of her gown. âI see your father often enough, Prince Blakk. Perhaps the conversation, like the dinner, should not have him present.â
 He blinked, a little taken aback.  âAh ⌠all right.â  Unsure what to make of that request, he finished sliding in her chair and stepped around to the other side.  Tempted to call for some music to fill the silence, he had to remind himself that he was here for information, however nice the evening might seem.
 âTell me about yourself, Duchess,â he said, smoothing his dinner jacket and taking his seat.  âIâve heard so little about you.â  The last was untrue - he knew much about her due to his fatherâs frequent visits ⌠but she apparently hadnât been aware of his presence after all.
 She watched him a long moment, lacing her fingers together and resting her chin on them. âItâs impressive how you sound so honest when I know you canât possibly be. Try again.â
 âExcuse me?â  Blakk stared at her.  âWhat exactly do you mean?â
 âYour dear father is rather obsessed with his belief Iâm a princess, and I donât believe for one moment that you havenât heard quite a bit, either from him or from others.â She shook her head, the small smile on her lips looking much less gentle with the hardness in her eyes. âI was one of the most accomplished scholars the Korriban Academy had ever known. Please donât do me the disservice of assuming Iâm a naive little girl.â
 Blakk coughed, rubbing the back of his neck.  âRight, okay, youâre right; I know my father believes youâre a princess, and Iâve heard a few things about it, and youâre here for âŚâ  He trailed off.  Was it for his father to court her, or was there the possibility - however slight - that just maybe his father would finally allow Blakk âŚ?
 He cleared his throat.  âBut youâre the one who didnât want to talk about my father in the first place,â he pointed out.  âI was only trying for alternative conversation.â
 âWe could talk about you,â she suggested, looking absolutely serious. Which was⌠she didnât want to talk about his father, the king, yetâŚ? âAnd you can tell me what youâve heard of me, and I can tell you whatâs the truth of it.â
 âOr we could start from square one and assume neither of us has ever met,â which they hadnât to her knowledge, âand pretend weâre perfect strangers meeting for the first time in a beautiful garden on a peaceful Dromund Kaas evening.â  Which they were.
 The duchess considered that a moment, then offered him her hand across the table. âDuchess Saare Carmine.â
 Blakk took her hand, bending gracefully down to place a gentle kiss.  âPrince Blakk.  It is an honor to meet you, my fair lady.â  He looked up, meeting her eyes.  âI donât think Iâve met anyone so extraordinary.â
 She arched a brow, though the smile seemed much more sincere now. âArenât you charming? A lovely surprise. Do you meet a great deal of extraordinary people, Prince Blakk?â
 âCertainly more extraordinary than me, and several.â  His smile was genuine and slightly mischievous.  âBut none like yourself.â
 Saare chuckled softly, bringing her hand back when he released it. âNone like me, hmm? You make me terribly curious. There arenât many who study the more archaic arts these days who arenât dedicated Sith, I suppose, so there is that.â
 Blakk nodded.  âOf course.  Not being true Sith myself,â he cleared his throat, mildly uncomfortable about the topic, âIâm afraid there isnât a lot I understand about it.  Care to educate me on some of the Academyâs secrets?  Promise I wonât tell.â  He gave her a wink.
 âHmm, less clear if youâre lying or not this time. Better.â Odd praise, but she seemed in good spirits still. Her eyes flicked to his chest briefly, then back to his eyes. âYouâll have to tell me what sort you mean. Thereâs a lot of skeletons on that planet.â
 He sat back, considering.  âYour favorite thing,â he stated.  âSomething important, or just interesting.  The thing that ⌠moves you most, that drives you to learn more.â
 He seemed to have actually surprised her with that, though it was only clear in her eyes. She took her time considering that. âWhat moves me⌠thatâs a question I havenât been asked, I donât think. I suppose, more than anything, itâs discovery. The act of it, the realization that Iâve grasped something new, even if only to me. The pursuit of knowledge, for me, is an art beautiful for its own sake.â
 An attendant appeared bearing a small basket of bread and wine.  Blakk waved him over, then ordered him to bring something other than the original meal heâd had planned - whatever was easy enough to make - and sent him on his way.
 âAnd is there a particular ⌠masterpiece that stands out to you?  Something youâve discovered that youâve taken a personal fascination in?â  He stood to pour her a glass.
 âA masterpiece?â Saare steadied her glass with a touch of fingers along the stem, a small smile on her lips. âNothing so grand as that. At least, I rather try not to tie myself to any single work. Though if itâs been banned, Iâve probably read it. Is that scandalous enough?â
 Blakkâs lips twitched.  âFrighteningly so.â  Finished pouring, he raised his glass in a toast.  âRegale me with scandalous details.â  He watched her, eyes sparkling.  Gods, she really was pretty in this light.
 Saare chuckled, raising her glass as well and tapping the rim to his with a delicate clink before bringing it back. âScandalous details? How scandalous?â
 âThe more scandalous, the better.  Youâre a lady of the court; you know those are the best kind.â
 She smiled in a slow, almost lazy sort of way, inclining her head. âToo true. Did you know there are Sith who stay young by consuming the energy and vitality of others?â
 âReally?â  Blakk eyed her, not sure whether she was pulling his leg.  âYouâre joking, surely.â
 âOh donât I wish it.â Saare shook her head, smiling faintly. âThe Force is in all things, youâve heard that line before Iâm sure. And all Force users manipulate that. Is it such a stretch to say one powerful enough could manipulate the Force within another sentient?â
 â... I suppose not ⌠ Whatâs it like?  Using the Force, I mean, or having someone manipulate it inside you?  Must be something pretty special.â  Truthfully, Blakk had always been wary of the power.  He never understood why his father had it and he didnât; he wasnât sure if he was just slow in that aspect of life or something was just wrong with him.  But he couldnât deny heâd had an intense curiosity about it - unfortunately, a curiosity that would never be fulfilled.
 âUsing it is generally more pleasant than having it used on you, with the Sith around,â she said frankly. âThe best way I could describe it would be to say that having it is having an extra sense, for better and for worse. Not having it is the same, as you can either have the weakness of not having it, or use that to your advantage if you train yourself accordingly. I suppose thatâs another scandalous secret for you - I rather like seeing non-Force-users learn to hold their own against the Sith.â
 âBut thatâs ⌠impossible.â  Blakk shook his head.  âIsnât it?  You know the future, you know where everything is, you can move faster than light ⌠you can read minds and make people do what you want âŚâ  No non-user could possibly stand up to a Sith.  Blakk had learned long ago to make himself scarce whenever his father was angry.
 âThatâs exactly why itâs so delightful to watch someone do it. Itâs incredibly difficult, even the mentality - the assumption that one will fail, and the self-fulfilling prophecy after.â She took a small sip of her wine. âI am a Seer, Prince Blakk. My gifts of foresight are limited, but my understanding of it is well honed. You do see the future - of the moment. Of how things will be, if they continue on the paths they currently travel. It is very rare that someone truly sees an exact truth of what will come, so much that in their conviction they make it so. And so the same goes for the rest.â
 âBut even if you do only see the future of the moment, no one else does.  They canât know to change to make it different.â
 âDo you paint a target on your back for a sniper because theyâre already waiting for you anyway, or do you wear armor and carry a weapon?â she asked, shrugging. âThe presumption that they are correct and infallible is the greatest weakness of all, if only someone dared to question.â
 âBut a normal sniper doesnât use the Force.  He canât see the future, he canât make you walk into his sights, and he canât know with absolute certainty where and when to aim to kill you, even when you wear armor.â  Blakk shook his head.  âThereâs a big difference.â
 Saare tilted her head, considering him. âDo you fight, Prince Blakk?â
 That was an odd question.  âOf course I do.â
 âDo you always allow your opponents to control your beliefs about their abilities or lack thereof?â She asked.
 â... No âŚâ  He wondered where she was going with this.  âI evaluate them for myself.â
 âSo if you heard someone had the reputation for never missing a shot, heard from numerous sources that they had never missed a shot - everyone who used that particular model of weapon, in fact - would you believe it?â She asked.
 Blakk hesitated.  âIt might be a very good weapon,â he hedged, âbut Iâd be skeptical.  Theyâd have to miss a shot at some point.â
 âBut weâll assume this is some foreign thing, youâve never used it,â she pressed, making a vague gesture. âAll the experts in that field agree, they never missed a shot. Every recording to be found shows them hitting a mark. Would you remain skeptical?â
 He could see now what she was getting at.  âMaybe they havenât, but Iâd have to believe that they would eventually,â he replied.  âBut the Force is different.  It isnât just some foreign weapon.  Weapons donât predict the future, they donât control people.  The Force is the ultimate weapon.â
 Saare inclined her head, though she may have just been acknowledging he made a good point instead of agreeing. âThe ultimate weapon only does as much as the wielder knows how. A well taught Sith with little power could hold their own against a strong, but ill-trained one. If the Sith had no weaknesses, could not be defeated, theyâd have won the war by now. You neednât comment if it feels too blasphemous, thatâs merely my opinion.â
 Her fingertip traced the rim of her wineglass, and before his eyes dark droplets rose above the liquid, defying gravity with a power he knew even if heâd never felt it. âMy very well informed opinion.â
 Blakk was silent a moment, before murmuring.  âAll we need then is the right person, and we could lay waste to the Republic planets.â
 Gold eyes stared at him a long moment before she spoke, just as quiet. âThat person isnât me.â
 So sheâd caught him at his little game.  He wondered about her continued denial, then smiled, more amused than anything.  âOf course not - the Korriban Duchess has more important things to do than wage war.  Youâre a Seer.  That, uh ⌠that ⌠um.  What exactly does a Seer do, anyway?â
 She chuckled softly. âAnd here by you harping on people using the Force to see the future, Iâd assumed you were hinting.â
 Blakk felt his face warm.  âThat partâs obvious ⌠I mean, what do you do with it?  Who do you tell?  Are you advising military commanders, the Dark Council, the Emperor âŚ?â
 Saare chuckled, a wry smile on the lips. âIronically, no one was terribly interested until your father. And quite frankly, if I wasnât clear enough, I would be happy to go back to obscurity.â
 âBut obscurity is death in Sith society.  Nowâs your opportunity to prove your worth ⌠to secure your power, your position and well-being âŚâ
 âI am a bird in a gilded cage and I will not sing for my captor, dear prince,â she informed him, quiet and deadly serious. âI donât want to survive by the benevolence of another. I want to live. But it will be my life and my choosing.â
 âIt doesnât hurt to make use of that aid,â he pointed out, earnestly.  âGive yourself a chance - the rewards down the road will be all the richer for it.  Surely you, especially, can see that.â
 âDo you really want to know what I have seen, your majesty?â The duchessâ smile was off somehow, the sort of dark certainty of someone about to say something they thought was terrible.
 Blakk hesitated, before shrugging.  How bad could it be?  Maybe the information would be useful to his father. Â
 âAll of this will burn.â She said it so matter-of-factly it took a moment to register what she was actually saying. âWind will carry flame so hot that the metal will drip into pools on the ashes left of marble and rock. A path will be paved through this planet, and all in its way will perish in the flame. Fire is hungry, fire is voracious, and there is no deluge Dromund Kaas could produce that could stop it. That is what I have seen, so long as I am stuck here. And I do not want to be caught in that firestorm.â
 Her eyes were serious, and there was a hard force behind them that had Blakk staring slack-jawed for a long moment. Â
 âWhat ⌠what causes it?â
 She seemed surprised he actually asked her, though he supposed that made sense if no one had listened before. Still, her voice held a note of caution, perhaps that same disbelief. âYour father is going to try and use me as a conduit to summon powers that he canât control. Unfortunately, if I were to tell him that, he would tell me with the absolute certainty of a Sith that he can control anything because, of course, heâs a master of the Force and I am clearly a princess. I do not want to be here if he gets this world set on fire.â
 âSo you are a princess, then,â Blakk pounced on her words.  âThatâs the only explanation for the powers youâre describing!â
 Saare gave him a look that he was uncomfortably used to from his father, though at least she was looking at him, and not him. âYou really do take his word as gospel, donât you? Did it ever occur to you that he could be trying to awaken or find - or create - the princess of Dromund Kaas?â
 Blakk wasnât actually sure why his father wanted the princess he believed Saare was, other than to somehow use her power ⌠but he was no stranger to the fact that his father had always wanted a daughter instead of him.
 He looked away, fingers tightening on the stem of his wine glass.  âWell of course he does.  He never wanted me.â
 âAnd you think bending me to his will is going to do anything to help that?â She asked. âWhether I am a princess or not, I am a woman capable of giving him a daughter, and I donât think heâs above taking that for himself if I canât give him anything else. Where does that leave you? What end to that do you see for yourself that means you want me here?â
 It seemed they were done beating around the bush.  Blakk saw no reason not to answer truthfully.
 âBecause if my service leads to that ⌠heâll see that Iâm useful.  Heâll have to acknowledge me.â  It was a win-win situation, as far as Blakk was concerned.  And service to the Sith was the highest calling for someone in his position, regardless.
 âYouâre mad,â she whispered, staring at him in a long moment of silence. âUseful? Is that what theyâre calling disposable these days? If he has a female heir, as you say heâs wanted, then you can be dismissed - disowned, likely killed so there are no complications. I lived and breathed Sith life since I was a child, Prince, I know their politics. Killing your own blood is another day at the office.â
 Blakk scowled, face reddening.  âThere wouldnât be any complications.  Iâm not Force-sensitive anyway, so any Force-sensitive child, male or female, will inherit the kingdom.  Frak, even if there were no others, heâd be the mad one to give the kingdom to me.  I have no birthright ⌠not unless I give him a reason to want me.â
 She was giving him a much more calculating look now. âThatâs it then. My life into his hand to stay his hand from taking yours? Youâd have fit in fine with the Sith. Maybe you should try some of their other methods.â
 Was that supposed to be an insult of some kind?  If so, she wasnât very good at it.
 âIs that so bad?  Youâd be a queen here ⌠you could have everything youâve ever wanted.  Study anything you want with no repercussions, no worry about anyone stopping you.  Youâd be at the pinnacle of Sith society.  Youâd have the freedom to do - and be - anything you want!â
 âSo long as I danced to his whim, certainly.â She shook her head, leaning back in her chair. âI will not dance to his tune, and Iâd sooner die than pledge myself to him. If I had the power, Prince Blakk, believe me, I would not be here.â
 âYouâd have the power to change him, better than I ever could.â  The words were blurted before he could stop himself, the closest heâd ever been to admitting how much he wished he could do the same.
 When he dared to look at her, he could see nothing but shock in her stare, the anger that had been building draining away. âGods help you, you really do love him. Donât you?â
 âOf course I do.  Heâs my father.â  Dropping his gaze, he looked anywhere but at her.  âIs that so strange?â
 âI wouldnât know. I havenât seen mine since I was a baby.â She shook her head, voice gentler. âIâm so sorry. I canât do what you want me to do, Prince. I canât.â
 âBut why not?â  He brought his gaze back to her, eyes pleading.  âHe wants you.  He wants you more than âŚâ  Breaking off, Blakk cleared his throat, shrugging helplessly.  âIt would make him happy.â
 âIt will get him killed,â she corrected softly, sounding so damned sure of herself and so stupidly sorry for it. But not sorry enough to give in. âHe wants a puppet with my body, perhaps. He wants to break me and remake me to his purpose. But Blakk, I wonât break. If he succeeds, I will shatter and be gone. He canât have me. I think thatâs part of what makes me appealing, for now, is the struggle. But once he realizes he has to use force⌠things will be very different.â
 âYouâre the princess heâs looking for, then,â Blakk murmured.  He had his answer.  She all but outright admitted it.  He could return to his father with exactly what he wanted.
 âIâm not his princess any more than you are,â she said, sounding strangely tired. âBut if I am locked any tighter, people will start dying either way. I am Sith. I have been kind. I have been patient. But I will not be caged much longer. You have to ask yourself, if I am the princess, are you willing to bet your fatherâs life that he can tame me?â
 Blakk was silent for several minutes.
 âMy father knows what heâs doing,â he finally said, softly.
âSo be it.â She shook her head, rising. âIâll return to my cage, then. You can leave with your assumptions. Donât come back.â