A Jedi No Longer

[Sakadi Marathi Sinvala]

Why. That was the question wasn't it? The woman in front of her had done so much wrong. Caused so many deaths. So much destruction. And yet, the former Jedi could not do it. She couldn't even kill the one person who truly deserved it. And Kalanda seemed to realize this as well, questioning the Sephi with clear disappointment in her voice. At first, Sakadi winced as Kalanda came closer. The woman was a Sith, someone who was practically thought to take revenge whenever she could. But all Sakadi saw was tears. Tears, disappointment and the realization that they were, in fact, not so different.

But the question still bugged her. Why did she decide against killing Kalanda? Because it wasn't the Jedi Way? No, that wasn't it. After all, she was no longer part of the Order. She wasn't fond of Kalanda either, so did she decide to spare the Acolyte for her own selfish reasons? The truth was, she didn't know. All she knew was that she had no desire to kill.

Still a little fearful and overly careful, Sakadi reached out. "I.. don't know. Perhaps I am.." she conveyed, wondering if she had ever truly wanted to kill the Acolyte.

"We're quite a pathetic bunch, aren't we?" her voice would echo through Kalanda's head, as a faint smile played about her lips. Perhaps it was better to accept Kalanda's presence for now. She had plan to leave this apartment anyway and right now, Kalanda was not her enemy. For she was no longer a Jedi, something she started to realize more and more since she left Jedha behind her.

@Algarus

 

[Kalanda Tishire]

Kalanda sighed, shaking her head. Why were they doing this, here, now, of all places. She could feel Sakadi reaching out to her, that voice that once dripped with arrogance and sarcasm was so meek and fragile now. Just like Kalanda was now. A rather sad state of affairs to be fair. "You're despicable." Kalanda muttered, a small grin forming on the rather dead expression she was wearing currently. It was clear that Kalanda could feel the commonality between the two force users, both being at low points, both trying to find some meaning in these lies they were living. "You're better than this Sakadi." Kalanda started, before realizing what it was she said. "As someone who is my rival, I would expect you to do everything in your power to kill me next time." Though, Kalanda just...enjoyed the wall of personality that the knight put up. She didn't want to kill Sakadi, just just wanted to show the woman that she was her equal, if not her superior. But currently, it looked as if she would never have such an opportunity.

Kalanda scoffed at being roped into a group with Sakadi, though the Sephi could sense that the acolyte was just too embarrassed to say anything at first. After several moments of silence, Kalanda finally relented, her shoulders sagging as she had to admit that maybe she was just as pathetic as her foe. "Maybe. But that doesn't mean we have to stay this way." Kalanda said softly, coming off her knees and letting herself lean against a couch. Maybe if Sakadi hadn't chosen her side, maybe they could have been friends in some twisted version of reality. Kalanda stared at the floor for a moment, before looking back to the exiled knight. "I....was serious about making cupcakes. I need you to try them." She stated, curious if she would be allowed to go forward with her experiment, though it seemed rather obvious if Sakadi wanted her out she could have forced her out.

@Powerfullhorus

 

[Sakadi Marathi Sinvala]

The former Jedi locked eyes with Kalanda, as the latter exclaimed that she wished for Sakadi to fight her with the intent to kill some day. Perhaps the Sephi was at her lowest point, but it was something she wouldn't accept, no matter how powerless she was.

Sakadi shook her head. "I will never fight you, or anyone for that matter, with the intent to kill." Despite no longer being a Jedi, she still had a disgust of murder, death and fighting. It wasn't like her. Perhaps she was deprived of most of her values and downtrodden, but she was still a pacifist.

Kalanda went on to give her a little hope. They didn't have to stay this way. The woman was right about that. Sakadi nodded in agreement, as she moved away from the couch. Heading for her bedroom, Sakadi conveyed a telepathic message again. "I'm still your hostage. You make the calls." her voice would echo, while she gestured at her kitchen as an indication that Kalanda could use whatever she needed. For now, the Sephi would retreat to her bedroom. She needed a moment alone to contemplate on what she had done just a moment ago.

@Algarus

 

[Kalanda Tishire]

Kalanda was a little stunned that the jedi refused the idea of killing her. Why? She wasn't sure. Kalanda tried to find a question she could ask that might garner an additional explanation, but she could only recall the words Reuben had spoken to her long ago about valuing all life and such. It would just spur them into another argument, and Kalanda wasn't in the mood for that. Kalanda could still feel a bit of fatigue in the jedi knight, guilt mixed with a sense of defeat as well. But there was a touch of hope in there too, a bit of optimism that hadn't been there before. Kalanda wasn't sure how to take it initially, but maybe she had talked some sense into the knight. Maybe they could still have their fight in the future. Maybe. As Sakadi rose and admitted to Kalanda that she was still a prisoner, the acolyte rose in kind, only for the knight begin slinking off into her bedroom. "Right...well I'll come interrogate you once I'm done here." Kalanda called to her, before moving into the kitchen to get set up.

Now left to her own devices, Kalanda turned her attention to the baking ingredients she had collected, and set about making her cupcakes. Taking the coconut and chocolate chips out, she grabbed eggs and milk, threw in some sugar and salt as well, as the kitchen soon turned into something akin of a lab. Working with a fervor she hadn't felt in years, Kalands felt the memories of baking with her mother coming back to her, as she began to recall more and more of the process as she went on. After several minutes of mixing and sorting the batter into the cupcake tin, Kalanda slid the cupcakes into the oven and began the waiting game. It would take about thirty minutes for the little delicacies to finish cooking, and once that part was done Kalanda could really go crazy. If Sakadi hadn't emerged during this time, Kalanda would merely move on as she had planned, taking the cupcakes out and begin to decorate it in a way only she knew how. Taking the icing and some sprinkles, Kalanda set about making a rather colorful design of her cupcakes, as she felt a bit of glee come over her as she continued her work. Having finished this work on her first batch, Kalanda grabbed up a napkin, placed a cupcake onto it, and would make the trip to the jedi knights' room if the woman still hadn't emerged. Kalanda would lightly knock on the door before coming in, smiling only a bit, as while she was no fan of Sakadi, she was rather proud of her creations. "Sakadi, it's time for your interrogation." She declared, as she would offer the jedi her desert, eyes hopeful that the knight would find the combination of coconut and chocolate satisfying. There was a bit of anxiety in Kalanda's mind right now, as she could only hope she still had her touch. "And don't worry, there's no posion in them either. I can't done taste test if my subject dies after all, now can I?" She affirmed in case the knight had any issues with eatting her creation.

@Powerfullhorus

 

[Sakadi Marathi Sinvala]

Her bedroom was a total mess. Clothes everywhere, bed unmade, etc. It was time to clean up quickly, before Kalanda would enter. She wanted at least some of her dignity to remain. Rolling up her sleeves, Sakadi quickly went to work.

After several minutes of cleaning, the former Jedi somehow managed to tidy up her room just in time. As she sat down on her bed, she heard Kalanda calling for her. Claiming that it was time for an 'interrogation'. Sakadi looked at the Acolyte for a second, her gaze shifting between the woman and her cupcake. Kalanda was beaming with pride, but the Sephi could tell that that pride came accompanied with anxiety. After all, Sakadi was the one who's opinion mattered most right now.

Still a little suspicious, especially after Kalanda added the "I didn't poison them", Sakadi accepted the cupcake. She studied it at first, keeping Kalanda in anticipation for as long as she could, before the former Jedi took a small bite. It tasted good, much better than she expected, but the Sephi's face did not give a single indication that it was, indeed, good. No, that would spoil the fun. This was an interrogation after all.

Utilizing her skills and talent as a former actress, Sakadi locked eyes again with Kalanda. A slight smile played about her lips. The woman in front of her was still her rival after all, so she wasn't going to make it easy for Kalanda to get an actual reaction out of her.

@Algarus

 

[Kalanda Tishire]

Kalanda stood there, eagerly awaiting Sakadi's reaction. She hadn't attempted baking in so long, part of her was concerned that maybe she had come off a little strong with the coconut, or did the chocolate not work out like she thought it would. The eagerness soon turned into annoyance, as she soon realized Sakadi was trying to annoy her. Kalanda scowled, crossing her arms as she watched the jedi slowly, almost tautly, chew the delicacy she had presented her. Her lips tightened, as if to try and hide her annoyance, as she didn't want the jedi to know she was getting the better of her; but oh, she was.

After several agonizing moments of, Kalanda nervously would force the question. "So, what do you think?" She would ask, her eyes still trying to make sense of the smile Sakadi hinted out, before her gaze locked back with the woman's eyes. Was she displeased, or was she just acting that way? Did she like it, or was she concerned Kalanda might attack her for speaking her mind? It was driving the acolyte mad just thinking about it.

@Powerfullhorus

 

[Sakadi Marathi Sinvala]

She could tell that her short act worked. Getting under Kalanda's skin was so easy, that it amused the former Knightess. She wasn't about to forget that they were still rivals. Kalanda was aligned to the Dark Side, while she should be aligned to the Light.

"Hm..." the Sephi placed her index finger on her chin, as she looked in the distance for a moment, indicating that she was thoroughly thinking her answer through. "I suppose it's not bad. They're a little dry, how long did you bake them?" Perhaps Kalanda wouldn't expect it, but the Sephi knew a thing or two about cake and pastries. She had spent most of her early life in fancy restaurants, visited pastry shops and if she recalled correctly, they had a private cook back home. She wouldn't even let something as basic as a cupcake slide, if she believed it to be imperfect.

"But apart from that, the taste is good. Chocolate always works fine with coconut, especially in combination with these cupcakes." she nodded as she conveyed her messages, as if she visibly agreed with her own statements.

Suddenly, Sakadi stopped mid-nod. There was something that hadn't crossed her mind yet. Something that, had she still been a Jedi Knight, would've been one of her primary questions. Why did Kalanda want to make cupcakes? She wasn't that knowledgeable about the Sith, but she knew for one that they didn't make cupcakes in their free time. So why was Kalanda so serious about making them?

"Kalanda." she exclaimed calmly. "Who are these cupcakes intended for?" Despite not feeling threatened and being in her own apartment, Sakadi knew very well that she was still the hostage. She had no right to ask questions and she partly expected Kalanda to slap her or something, but at the same time it didn't hurt to ask. Not yet at least. But what did she have to fear? This was a Sith who baked cupcakes after all.

@Algarus