I wander through the halls again, my mind still reeling. I don't know where I'm going, I just need to move, to process, to try and understand what just happened. Xilukulkas... he's not what I thought he'd be. Not at all. And I don't know how to feel about that.
I end up in the middle of a marble hall. There's a checkerboard pattern on the marble floor, and there are suits of armor flanking the walls. The roof is tall, but not quite as tall as other places, and the wooden walls aren't overfull of knick-knacks, decorations, or weird doors. It feels... like a castle. Or at least a rich person's manor.
I sit down on the floor, leaning my back against one of the suits of armor, and close my eyes. I feel... exhausted. Emotionally, mentally. I just want to sleep. To forget. To not have to think about any of this. But I know I can't. I have to figure out what to do, how to survive, how to... I don't know. How to be me, in this place.
I hear footsteps approaching, and I tense, but don't open my eyes. I don't want to see anyone right now. I just want to be alone.
The steps stop in front of me, and then I feel a hand on my shoulder. It's gentle, but firm. "Sarah."
I recognize Llywelyn's voice, and sigh. "What do you want?"
He's quiet for several moments. I don't know what he's doing, but he doesn't move his hand. "I... got scolded."
"Did you." I say, flatly. I'm not surprised. I practically ratted him out myself. I don't care.
"Yes. By our Master." He says, his tone wry. "He was very displeased with me."
"Good." I mutter. "Maybe you'll learn to keep your stupid opinions to yourself."
He huffs, and I feel him shift, sitting down beside me. "I don't know why you're so sensitive about it. It's simply a fact."
"It's a fact that I'll break your nose."
"Humans lack the strength to damage an Akutwasian nose."
"Wh-?" I dont have an immediate answer. He's just. "You-"
"I forget." He cuts me off. Rudely. "What it's like, interacting with someone who isn't genetically incapable of being angry at me." He sighs and leans back, resting his head against the armor. "All my recent practice is with that ridiculous emerald, and she isn't capable of anger. She's a Kolumer."
I frown, and open my eyes, turning to look at him. "What are you talking about?"
"Ah, you wouldn't know. They are a... unique species. Even to the Galactic Empire, they're very unusual. They cannot feel any negative emotions." He gestures, vaguely. "Anger, sadness, fear, anything like that. It's simply not in their biology. They are, by default, incapable of it. It's part of the reason they're so highly valued as slaves. That, and the fact that they highly prize enslavement. They see it as... I don't know. A holy experience? It's all very strange to me." He shrugs. "Point is, you simply cannot hurt or provoke her no matter how hard you try. And I have tried very hard."
I don't know what to say to that. It's...bizarre. I can't imagine not being able to feel anger, or sadness. Even if I wish I couldn't feel those things sometimes, I know that I need them. They're part of who I am. "That's...crazy."
"I know. She's also stupid." He lifts a finger. He has claw-like nails just like Xilukulkas, but they're shorter and carefully blunted. "Never think she isn't. You'd do well not to listen to a word she says. She means well, but she's as dumb as a bed of rocks." He looks at me. "I, however, am not."
I scoff. "Could have fooled me."
He smirks, a little. "I'm out of practice. That was my point. I'm used to saying whatever I want, because there's no consequences. And here you are, with your..." He waves his hand at me. "Whatever it is you have."
"Feelings?" I deadpan.
He snorts. "Disgusting." But he doesn't say it with heat, more as if he's joking. "I'll not make any promises, because it's a difficult habit to break. But I'll... try. To remember that not all... species," I'm certain that pause was for him to stop himself from saying 'sub-sapients', "are Kolumer."
I look away, at the opposite wall. "Fine."
We sit in silence for a while, and I try to sort through my thoughts. I'm still angry, still hurt, still confused. But... I don't know. Maybe it's not his fault. Maybe he really didn't know. Maybe he's just...ignorant. That's better than malicious, at least.
"So." He says, after a while. "This is really uncomfortable. I'd rather be in the bath."
"You already had it for hours."
"Hm." He hums. "I could use another. Especially after being scolded. That was very stressful."
I turn to look at him, and he's got a long-suffering expression on his face. "You're... serious?"
"Yes. Being yelled at is terrible." He sighs. "I need to relax. However, I can see that you've not yet had that bath you wanted earlier." He wiggles his fingers at me in... what might be a shooing gesture. "You're offensively filthy still. On those grounds alone I'll let you go first."
I stare at him. "You're...you're ridiculous."
"And you're loud, distressingly violent, and smell." He stands up, and offers me a hand. "Shall we?"
I glare at him, but take his hand, and let him pull me up. "Why are you being... nice to me?"
"Are you as dumb as a Kolumer? I JUST explained-"
"No, I mean..." I stop, and shake my head. "Forget it."
He gives me a confused look, but then shrugs. "If you say so. Come along, human. Let's get you clean. The sooner you're done, the sooner I can bathe again."
I follow him, still trying to wrap my mind around him. He's a strange one, that's for sure. But... I think I can tolerate him. Maybe.
As we walk, I can't help but... squint at him, though. Simply because a thought occurs that I can't shake. "Did Xiluka...kas. tell you that you couldn't bathe until you talked to me?"
He stills for a moment, and then starts walking again, "I've no idea where you got that impression." He's defensive.
Oh, he's totally lying.
I can't help but smile. Just a little.
"You're absurd." I tell him.
"Says the small, angry human." He shoots back. "Now hurry up. I'm withering away into dust."