The Problem with Pulling Pigtails
Author note: This is a flash quick, late night response to the Victorian Quote Challenge issued on another site by my friend Mira-Jade. I hope you enjoy.
22. "I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine."
~ Jane Austen, "Pride and Prejudice"
"I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine," said Jedi Knight Terris Carol, leaving the Initiate's Wing with her mentor, Master Tionne.
"It seems quite a predicament," Tionne replied, suppressing a knowing smile. "I don't recall Kam ever publically embarrassing me as a part of our courtship."
Terris frowned. "What courtship? The man is insufferable. He called me 'bean poll' for Force sake. 'How's the weather up there' was the first thing he ever said to me. Can you imagine?"
"Hardly mortifying, My Dear," Tionne stated, looking up into the eyes of the tall, hot headed knight. "It sounds like the lad was just pulling your pig tails. He likes you."
"I don't think you're hearing me, Master," Carol replied, respectfully. "I was in the commissary with Master Katarn and up saunter Kyp Durron. I think he was actually strutting. He approaches us and says; well, I already told you. Master Karn flushed. The man could make quick work of a company of Correllian Rebels and he was embarrassed for me."
Tionne reached up and touched her friend's shoulder. The two stopped walking. "Terris, just go talk to him. Ask him why he was so rude. I'm sure he's just covering for some attraction he has for you. You are a beautiful woman after all."
Carol smiled. It was a placating smile and she knew Tionne knew it was well. "I'll be sure to do that, Master. On way or another, Kyp Durron will regret taking such anobnoxious tack with me."
Tionne sighed, but decided to let the young woman navigate this lover's quarrel on her own. "Good Luck, Terris. But, please remember that he is a senior master and…" She didn't continue when she felt the resentment radiating from her former student.
"Thank you, Master," Carol said, pleasantly, before turning on her heel and heading back they way they had come.
When Carol found Master Durron, he seemed in deep conversation with Master Horn, which was odd because it was common knowledge that the two were not friends or even generally civil.
As she approached, feelings of frustration and, oddly, anxiety hit her through the Force. Suddenly, they were gone; replaced with good will and a strange cheerfulness.
Kyp looked over his shoulder and grinned.
She cringed inwardly, but pressed forward. "Master Durron, do you have a moment?"
"I'm in a rather heated negotiation at the moment," he replied, magnanimously. "Can it wait?"
"With all due respect to Master Horn, I think this matter needs your immediate attention," she retorted.
"If I am to reschedule with Master Horn, I think he should know the reason for your unceremonious interruption."
"I really don't want-"
"Nonsense, Corran," Kyp interjected. "I think the woman needs to explain herself."
"My apologies, Master Horn," Terris began. "I have come on a matter of utmost urgency. It appears that Master Durron has been corrupted by the Dark side of the Force. I was sent here, specifically by none other than Masters Katarn and Tionne. Master Katarn feels that Kyp, if I might be so informal, has lost his…how do I say this, MANNERS. Tionne, on the other hand is under the impression that Kyp, again, forgive the use of his first name, is a love sick puppy who would attack his object of affection that approach her in a civilized manner. In either case, it appears that, though he has always been confident, and even dashing, he has succumbed to the bottom feeding tactics of an initiate Sith Apprentice. Now, Master Horn, do you believe such a dire development should wait another moment to be resolved?"
Corran Horn laughed out loud. In fact, he slammed his hand on the table as he guffawed. When he has partly regained his composure, he said: You're on your own, Kyp. Good luck with this one.
He leaned in close to Kyp's ear and added: "If she wants you, there will be no escape.
"He's all yours, Knight Carol," Horn said, still chuckling.
When Master Horn had gone, Kyp stood, ready for battle. "So how is the air up there?"
"About as thin as any excuse you may provide for being such an ass," she retorted, in kind. "You have a reputation for being a bad boy, but I never heard anything about mean spirited and condescending. Are they recent additions to your repertoire?"
Kyp raised an eyebrow. "Your razor sharp wit is quite a weapon. You have a way with words."
Terris narrowed her ice blue eyes at him. "Thank you, Master. It must be humbling to be at a disadvantage; rather like bringing a virbo-blade to blaster fight."
Kyp clasped his hands behind his back and allowed a pleasant smile to cross his face. "I prefer to cut to the chase."
"You have a way with words as well, Master," she replied, curtly. "Too bad the talent is wasted only in twisting them."
Kyp's smile faded as the seriousness of the situation began to dawn on him. When he had started teasing her, he thought it was all in good fun. She was a new Master, and by that very designation, deserved a little hazing. As he was now discovering, Master Carol didn't have much of a sense of humor.
He had chosen her for two reasons: she was haltingly beautiful and dreadfully tall. He assumed, for one or both reasons, she would have a thicker skin. She did not.
Raising his hands in surrender, Kyp finally stood from the table where he was previously meeting with Horn.
"Why are you so angry?" he asked, evenly. "So, I've teased you a bit. So what? I don't think a little good natured ribbing is out of order for new Master. Is it?"
"It's more than 'good natured ribbing', Master Durron," she growled. "You embarrassed me in front of Master Katarn, my former Master."
"So you're in love with him?" Kyp observed, pointedly.
Terris' tuned bright red. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out.
"Am I right?" Kyp pressed.
The new Master collected herself in the Force and allowed the murderous thoughts she was entertaining to fade away.
"Why is that you make me feel like an awkward initiate every time I'm around you?" she asked, vexed by his power to push her buttons.
"I think it's rather obvious," he drawled. "You're in love with me."
Terris chuckled at the delusion of Kyp's arrogance. "You'd like that wouldn't you."
"You're the one who so elegantly explained to Master Horn that Tionne thinks I have feelings for you. So which is it?"
She shook her head. He was a confounding man. He would not rise to her bait, but calmly returned every barb she threw his way. Now that her anger and frustration were properly dealt with, she might be able to have a little fun.
"Given that you have been the aggressor in this little conflict, I think you should answer a few questions, if not the first."
Kyp didn't miss a beat. "Okay."
"Shall we sit?" Terris offered, pointing back to the table. "It might make things easier; like a pleasant root canal."
"Sure," he replied. "Like taking candy from an infant."
Each Master, with defenses well in place sat opposite other with hands folded in front of them.
"Do you find me attractive?" she asked, firing the opening volley. "Be honest. It's the best policy."
Kyp stared into her eyes. He didn't have to look her up and down to refresh his memory. Her Honey blond hair fell in waves around her face splashing down effortlessly at her shoulders. Her blue eyes verged on grey except when she got angry and a layer of cobalt fire ignited. Her nose was a little larger than most or longer. He hadn't quite decided. He thought to call it a beak, but it fit so well into her perfectly ordered face and flawless complexion. She was tan; gloriously so. Not too light. Not too dark. Just right. She had long, toned legs, an apparently flat stomach, and, if he was any kind of judge, a beautiful bust. Not to mention that fact that she towered over him by foot and a half. Hot.
"What gave me away?" he acquiesced, opening up in the Force to assure he was telling the truth, but reserving enough to remain a mystery. "Was it the heavy handed hazing or the longing stairs across the room of a thousand fountains?"
Terris was gratified to know he thought her attractive, but it wasn't a new or even reassuring feeling. She was the talk of the Temple in both the male and female locker rooms. It wasn't ego. Somehow it always got back her. Don't be fooled; even Jedi can sometimes be crass, hateful, and down right Sithly in their gossip. But Master's Carol's history with the Jedi review board was well known by Master Durron.
"Longing stares?" she rebutted, fully aware that his admission only scratched the surface. "Really Kyp?"
"It's Kyp now is it," he took it and ran with it. "I like where this is going."
She remained neutral, trying to retain her perceived high ground. "May I call you Kyp, Master Durron?"
"Please do," he replied, graciously. "I like that the tension level has dropped and that we're operating, as you said earlier, less formally."
Despite herself, Terris blushed.
"Very well," she said, quickly, to move past the moment of weakness.
"Why did you blush, Terris, if I may be so bold? Did I say something wrong?"
She sighed and decided trying to keep some moral superiority just wasn't worth. She may have been indignant, but hardly one to preach general propriety.
"No, you didn't say anything wrong," she said. "You just happened to remind me of how crazed I was back there. I can't imagine what Master Horn thinks of me."
"Who cares?' Kyp declared. "He's a stick in the mud anyway. You weren't crazed Terris…just… mad as hell and you weren't going to take it anymore."
"Still crazed in my book," she replied, undeterred. "I should never have spoken to or about a senior Master in that way."
Kyp shrugged. "No harm. No foul. Got anymore questions? I was looking forward to some quality time in the form of an all night interrogation."
"So presumptuous," she said, smirking. "When are you ever going to get over yourself?"
"Hopefully, never," he replied. "This is me, Terris. Like it or not. How about I ask you a question?"
"Okay, shoot," she replied, curious.
"Are you attracted to me?"
She knew this might come up, but she was hoping it was later rather than sooner. She wanted to get to the root of his attraction to her first. But the die had been cast.
"Only on the surface," she replied, honestly. "You're a ruggedly handsome man. You have a decorated, but colorful history with the Order. You have Bad Boy Loner stamped on your forehead. My surface self finds that pretty hot."
Kyp grinned. "It's actually tattooed on my right bicep, but you forgot the added dimension of unrequited love. The tattoo actually reads 'rejected bad boy loner'. Want to see it?"
"Cute," she retorted. "I think I heard something about that through the grapevine. Are you over her?"
"For some time now. She's with a good man. I'm happy for her."
"But not happy in general?"
"You presume that I need a woman to be happy," he replied.
"I haven't presumed anything. I just asked another question. I'm full of them."
"I liked women, Terris," he began. "I like you. But make no mistake that my duty as a Jedi is to the Order first. It means something to me even if you think me shallow and vapid."
"Wow. Vapid. Nice word. But not what I think. Maybe I think you are a little shallow, socially. But your record as Master has never been in question. You are one of The Grandmasters top advisors, even among the council. You're almost as powerful as he is."
"Thank you," he said. "I appreciate that. It's nice to hear that someone appreciates what I've done."
"Knock that off," she admonished. "Self deprecation looks bad on you; especially when you're faking it. And don't look shocked like I breach your defenses. I'm a woman with a thicker skin than you probably give me credit for and can smell bantha dung a mile away."
"Well aren't you a treasure," she said sweetly. "I'd guess that pro-con list, at this point, is weighted a heavy to con."
Terris raised her eyebrows and smiled knowingly. "There's still time for you to rally. Assuming, I cared either way."