sleeping valor

Under the Heel [Pseudo Star Wars] (Mature)

I was careful to eat politely--no need for Wolfe to see me stuffing my face. The food was good--certainly better than what I'd made for myself on the planet.

"So. The Mistress will certainly eventually contact me for a status report on my mission. When this happens, chances are she'll want to see you, though I will initially do my best to convince her to let me keep you as we've established," he said.

I nodded.

"... As in, she will expect me to hit you. I must ask you, is this all right? I won't be playing around, if it comes to that," he said, nervously nibbling on his food.

"You don't need to worry about me, Wolfe. Do whatever needs to be done. I can handle it. I had to learn to control my own pain before I could learn to heal," I explained. Though since it was not one I'd had much need to improve much. If this ruse was to work, it might be time for me to spend a bit of time honing the talent so Wolfe would not have to be afraid to be as aggressive as he needed to be. "And I can heal, you know. I'll be fine. If you think she isn't convinced, do what you have to to convince her. We can't afford for her to not be convinced," I said soberly. I had things I needed to do. I couldn't afford to be forced back into hiding just yet.

"If you think you'll hesitate... we should practice that to," I added carefully. Wolfe did not seem eager for the exercise. His nature was very different than I had first surmised from his appearance and stature. Someone who hesitates to hurt others was unsuited to be a Sith, surely.

Under the Heel [Pseudo Star Wars] (Mature)

"Perhaps some food in our bellies first? I know my Mistress will wait to hear from me before calling, definitely at least a couple more days," Wolfe said. I did not let on that I felt relieved to hear his Mistress might not be checking in for a while longer. If she did not buy the act we would be in quite a bit of trouble.

"Food sounds good," I said sheepishly. For a moment I had almost said we should save the food for the next day. I was beginning to remember how nice it was to eat without the weight of knowing I'd have to hunt and forage to replace each morsel.

Under the Heel [Pseudo Star Wars] (Mature)

Wolfe took a few moments to reply, seeming to struggle for a moment. When he spoke, there was a slight tremor in his voice. I supposed my words had struck a chord with him. Perhaps hit a bit close to home.

"... Beyond what you've said, the only thing I could possibly add is that she'll probably expect you to still be at least a little defiant, while mostly broken and demoralized,"

To this I nodded. Some defiance was expected, of course. I'd have to balance the act well... play the part of someone close, but not past, the edge of giving up entirely. It would be expected that I wouldn't be keeping an eye open for a chance to escape... for now. He wouldn't have had time to truly break me.

Wolfe became suddenly timid, looking down at the floor as he spoke. "I must also beg of you to script our performance..."

I was not entirely surprised by his request. Wolfe's earlier mentions of his mistress had painted her as an imposing figure. Fooling her would be a challenge.

"Thats's a good idea. If we were both improvising, it would be hard to sell it. We should decide what you'll tell her. And what, if anything, I might need to say to her. She may also demand some proof that you have things in hand. We should prepare for such an eventuality as well..."

My mind was already travelling forward. I was back in familiar territory. This I knew how to deal with. Wolfe's concern was valid. Improvising was not easy. Though there were ways around that.

"I have an idea, if you're willing. Rather than decide what lies you'll tell your mistress... we could make them half truths. All we have to do is practice our roles ahead of time."

"Let's say you tracked me down on Cholganna. You told me to surrender, I refused and attacked you. We fought and you knocked me out in the end. You can tell your mistress I was not very skilled. I didnt begin my force training until after I was an adult... it's technically true. I don't know nearly as much as I could had I been brought to the Temple as a child..." I realized I was getting off track.

"After you beat me, you brought me back to your ship and put me in a cell. We could practice from there. I'd wake up, you'd make your offer, I'd accept.... That way you don't have to lie about how I became 'yours', per say, since technically what you will say happened, did happen. It will also be s good way to get a feel for your own act, and get used to mine," I finished. I'd of course try and persuade him to release me from the cell, and play the good, obedient girl while looking for an opportunity to gain the advantage. He'd catch me at it, prompting him to toss me back in the cell and giving him plenty of material to draw on for his conversation with his mistress.

"We should do it soon, though. Your Mistress could check in any day. You could pretend to not have caught me yet, but that will probably only work once."

Under the Heel [Pseudo Star Wars] (Mature)

Proof of my capture?

I hadn't asked Wolfe exactly what his task had been--I had assumed he'd been sent to kill me. But if capture had been the intent, I could only imagine what might have happened to me once delivered to his mistress. It would have been more convenient if she'd sent him to kill me--he could have pretended my body had been snatched by some predator. Instead, if Wolfe was to continue pasing for a faithful servant of the Empire, she needed to be convinced Wolfe was still doing what she expected of him.

I nodded thoughtfully as he continued to talk.

"For our plan to succeed, we have to convince her you're mine. If she thinks otherwise, she will call me back right away," he said.

I folded my hands thoughtfully in my lap. Wolfe made an interesting point. If his Mistress thought he already had me under his control, there would be no rush in bringing me back quickly. Especially not if some other more urgent task came up.

"I've been on Cholganna almost a year... It's not the most civilized planet. Not an easy place to survive," I said. "A person could become quite emotionally vulnerable, forced to wait in such a place for so long. One could lose hope, become demoralized... And yet the will to survive remains. We cling to a reason to keep going no matter how unlikely it seems," I said, a bit sadly. It was the truth, of course. A slave's life was without meaning, or joy. Yet even when they had nothing to live for they struggled on. Lived on. Not that it was much of a life.

"You could say you found me clinging to the belief my Master would return for me, that ultimately he would save me..." The words hit a bit closer to home then I had intended, but I kept it off my face and continued: "and that you overpowered me then offered to spare my life in exchange for my submission... given that I was not terribly treated during my time as a slave... it would not be a stretch to pretend I'd prefered returning to that life over have none at all," I said truthfully. "Some say once a slave, always a slave," I added. Some I wouldn't have minded punching in the nose, of course... but still a useful mentality to use to our advantage.

"Would that be enough? How 'yours' will I need to be for your Mistress to approve?"

Under the Heel [Pseudo Star Wars] (Mature)

"Well, you would most likely have to play the role of my pleasure slave," he said pleasantly.

A Twi'lek pleasure slave, how very original, I thought dryly. I was entirely unsurprised by the suggestion, especially considering Wolfe's taste in decor.

"With your build, and clear interest in me, it shouldn't be too hard to accomplish. And it would barely be a lie, excluding the part about you being a slave," he continued.

I was tempted to challenge his suggestion I had a "clear" interest in him, but at this point there was no point denying I found Wolfe attractive. I suspected he was needling me for fun, since otherwise it would be the pot calling the kettle black.

And what does "it would barely be a lie" mean? I wondered. It seemed a bit of a stretch to suggest a single night together would be a close approximation to an ongoing master-slave relationship. Not unless...

Uh oh.

"And about acquiring you, an easy story would be that I captured and trained you myself. The duality of our interactions should be quite interesting, wouldn't you say?" he said, grinning slyly.

He didn't notice, I realized, now almost certain I'd been operating under a dangerous assumption since the morning. I'd made it almost without thinking it... It hadn't occurred to me the truth might have escaped Wolfe's attention. This will be interesting... I thought. I decided to set the matter aside for now.

"You wouldn't have to have captured me," I informed him, shifting my thoughts back to the task at hand. "We could just as easily say you bought me. It's a common circumstance. Depending on how long we're going to pretend you've had me, you could have easily have bought me right after my parents sold me. That would give you... 8 years to train me?" I thought aloud, trying to remember how long it had been.

"Though it needn't have been that long ago," I added, not sure how long Wolfe had been free himself. "You could say my first master got bored of me and traded me to slavers to make room for something new. Or that I was a bit too rebellious for his tastes," I added. Not all slave owners enjoyed breaking their slaves. For many a pre-broken slave was a much desired luxury. Anything else was too much of a hassle.

"You could have gotten me from slavers on some back water world. Unspoiled even... Quite the bargain," I said a bit jokingly, though it wasn't far from reality. Had my first master tired of my dance routines--ones I had quickly learned to improvise to keep things new and interesting--I'd have ended up on the market. I'd come into my looks by then... There would have been little chance I wouldn't end up a pleasure slave.

"Though if you're attached to the capture idea, it could work, too." I amended. There was an appeal in catching and taming your own slave, to some. If that was the narrative Wolfe felt easiest adopting, I could play along. "In that case we could say you grabbed me off Ryloth... Or after I escaped a former owner."

I shrug, letting him know either scenario worked for me. Either way I played the role of a slave who already knew her place, and apparently liked it. How much resistance I would have put up in the beginning wouldn't change much, unless we pretended I'd been caught recently.

Under the Heel [Pseudo Star Wars] (Mature)

"...It would be a fairly easy disguise for us to pull off if YOU were to play the act of my slave," he said, seemingly reluctant to say the words.

So, this again, I thought.

I sighed. Deep down, I had hoped Wolfe might have a better suggestion than the obvious. Wolfe was a servant of the Empire. He had papers and identification that would probably allow him to pass and enter most places without drawing a second glance. Even if I'd known it made the most sense. His pretending to be a slave would have cost of valuable resources and convenience.

"Please hear me out?" he said before beginning to further explain his idea. Wolfe's hesitation to suggest the option showed my earlier behaviour had left an impression. I couldn't blame him, I'd taken it badly. Very badly. I'd mentally disciplined my heart against many things--but the possibility of slavery being made legal had not been one of them.

"I saw that beat up old slave collar you wore..." there was sadness in his voice. Wolfe had been a slave, too. I couldn't shake the sense Wolfe's experiences as a slave had been far more unpleasant than my own. I had been lucky, all things considered.

When he was done talking I calmly said: "You're right. It is the most reliable disguise. I can do it. It won't be the first time," I admitted.

I learned back in my seat. I met Wolfe's eyes. I felt like I owed him something more. "You know... my time as a slave wasn't that bad. I was... prepared for it. I was not upset for my own sake, earlier. I'm sorry if I worried you. I won't let it be a problem again," I reassured him, and myself.

The plan was not a poor one. But the real problem lay in the details. In passing, none would find the sight of a slave following their master out of place. But a discerning individual might wonder what a man in Wolfe's position needed with a slave.

I tilted my head thoughtfully. "What kind of slave would you have me be, Wolfe? If we're going to do this right, we should keep things as consistent as possible. The fewer lies we have to make up on the spot, the better," I explained. It was one of many lessons Master had made sure I remembered.

"We'll need a convincing reason for why you'll need a slave with you, anyway. And you should tell me how you would have been treating--or training--me, so I can adopt the proper demeanour," I added. There were other details, like where I had been "purchased" and when, but those were easy enough to make up.

Under the Heel [Pseudo Star Wars] (Mature)

"Yes, I've played chess before," I told him. Wolfe seemed to be in a good mood, somewhat different to what I'd experienced from him before. "I wouldn't mind playing a game. Though if you don't mind, I think I'll have a quick shower first, while you set up," I said, standing and stretching. Catching Wolfe's eyes linger on my midriff for a moment as I stretched, I gave him a playful wink before heading for the lift. Tomorrow, I promised myself, I would do my routines in the morning so I could avoid wasting water on multiple showers.

Aayla goes downstairs and has a quick shower while Wolfe sets up the game. When Aayla returns (wearing her robes), they flip and it's decided Wolfe will get black. They play for about an hour and Wolfe ultimately wins.

GM

"Good game," I congratulated him. I was a bit out of practice, but the game had been fun. It felt very civilized to be sitting around, playing a game of chess. "I enjoyed that. Thank you."

After a moment, I decided to broach the topic.

"So about your idea…" I began carefully. "I thought about it earlier… and I'm seeing some problems. I don't know how much you know about my people… but my kind like to keep to themselves, when we can. Twi'lek rarely leave Ryloth unless it's with a collar around their neck," I say with little emotion. It was the truth, albeit a sad one.

"For one of my kind to become a slaver would be… odd," I add, choosing not to expand on it for the moment. "And to be honest somehow I doubt one of my kind taking up the work would be very convincing--or very wise. Too many chances a fellow slaver might decide I'd gotten too big for my britches and should wear the collar like the others of my race."

"As to pretending to be a noble… well we didn't have much authority or influence in the Republic, I somehow doubt the Empire suddenly decided to grant our clan leaders status and make any of them Imperial Nobles. I'd be more likely to be the pet of some imperial noble, than the daughter of one," I said honestly.

"I think we'd need to adjust the scenario a little," I finish.

I realized I'd secretly hoped Wolfe might come up with a better option than the most obvious one. But it was the obvious answer. And probably the most convenient one. As a servant of the Empire, Wolfe had papers and IDs that would allow him to travel unchallenged most places. So long as he did not attract the kind of suspicion.

Under the Heel [Pseudo Star Wars] (Mature)

I smiled. "Well I'm not sure what 'they' teach Padawan," I admitted. I had been too told to be sent to the academy, so Master had kept me with him, except when his work dictated he go alone. "I can show you what my Master taught me. I'm sure it's essentially the same."

Wolfe and Aayla spent an hour doing some lighter exercises, then take a break to eat. Unsurprisingly, many of the exercices they have learned are similar, though they have their variations. After eating, they continue for another two hours after that with some more advanced exercises. Occasionally they admire a little more than each other's technique *le wink*, but the afternoon passes without incident.

It is early evening, now.

GM

"I enjoyed that," I said, when we had finished. I was realizing just how much I had missed having someone to talk to. I hadn't let myself dwell on it much back on the planet. "Thank you for joining me," I added.

Under the Heel [Pseudo Star Wars] (Mature)

Wolfe's grin changed into a true smile. Maybe he likes exercising the way I like dancing? I mused.

"The ready room has a nice open space," I offer as I turn back towards the lift, waiting for him to join me. On our way down I ask. "Were there any exercises in particular you wanted to compare?"

Under the Heel [Pseudo Star Wars] (Mature)

Wolfe stumbles over his words and I'm reminded I left my robes downstairs. His cringe is somehow endearing. I decided not to examine too closely why I felt pleased I still had such an effect on him. Or why I don't dislike when his eyes linger.

"How was your dancing? You were gone for quite a while, and judging by the state of your clothes, you were not idle," he says with a sly grin. The expression is one I'm starting to become familiar with.

"Dancing was good," I say earnestly, an unguarded and genuinely happy smile spreading across my face. Master had always taught me the virtues of being able to hide one's emotions, but when I danced I abandoned that guarded mentality and sometimes forgot to reassume it when I was done.

"Are you ready to practice?"