Private Accept & Embrace

[Lina Ovmar]

Lina's eyebrow arched. The deal was reasonable, not something she expected from a Zambrano. She studied him, not taking the knife or the ribbon offered immediately, re running the words exchanged in the last few moments through her head, trying to see if there was a hidden trap she had missed. When she could find nothing she took the knife gently.

Her eyes left his face, only to draw the blade across her own palm and take the other end of the ribbon. "My word and my blood as my bond," she lifted her gaze back to him, green eyes boring into his. "I will not betray you." Her voice was low, but the words were spoken in earnest.

Sarlow Zambrano

 

[Sarlow Zambrano]

The deal sealed, the dissipating ribbon signaled its completion. "Now then, let us proceed," Sarlow gestured for them to walk together. Stepping beside her, he began outlining the goals of their expedition. "There are three objectives in mind. First, find Zambrano-loyal Panathans, or at least those whose wills can be bent." He continued listing the tasks as they walked, including finding artifacts for his siblings, alchemical recipes for his mother, and lost tomes for himself, hoping they could lift the curse that plagued him.

As they strolled through the station during the ship's resupply, Sarlow laid out the protocol for encountering Force sensitives. "If we encounter Force sensitives, they are to be taken back for training, assuming they can be convinced. Otherwise, they are to be eliminated." Aware that he couldn't handle all tasks alone, he sought the assistance of others, a decision he had been hesitant to make until meeting Lina. "You are the first; your boldness intrigued me. Even your audacious display on Malsheem was impressive, given your predicament."

A member of his entourage informed him that the ship's resupply had been completed. "Before we embark on our tasks, let us first go to Bespin. You will be given an allowance to shop for finer clothing, makeup, perfumes—anything you need to aid our likely undercover work," Sarlow explained. He added, "Your false identities will be provided on the way."

Lina Ovmar ​

 

[Lina Ovmar]

Audacious display?Lina couldn't help but smile at that. If he thought her words there were such, then he was likelybin for some future shocks. She may be working for him temporarily, even if only to satiate her own need and curiosities, but she would speak her mind, now and always.

She made a noise of disgust at the idea of shopping. "I hate shopping." That had always been leilahs department, she knew her sizes, the style she liked. Perhaps she could getvher to scout the shops from the Malsheem and place the orders for her ahead of time. "Very well."

As they made there way back towards the ship a gave him a sideways glance. "Its an exceptionally long list of things to achieve. Aside from the location of tomes that might alleviate your...condition, is there a purpose to it all? Besides pleasing everyone else."

Sarlow Zambrano

 

[Sarlow Zambrano]

"Advancing the agendas of House Zambrano is the only purpose necessary," remarked Sarlow as they walked, and from there he was silent. At least until they boarded the ship. "You will be given your own quarters to make do with how you see fit." The Wolf Prince told her plainly, and then continued to explain, "we'll convene in my study once you've settled in." With that, he departed Lina's company, content that the deal had been made and that his work, the work to further push his family's authority across the galaxy would at last be done. A few steps down the corridor, Sarlow paused and turned to look in her direction. "There is but one rule, you must not venture to the West Wing, it is forbidden, you are otherwise free to conduct yourself however you please."

The West Wing bore the scars of his curse and held deep within it, a wilting flower concealed underneath glass. The flower sat atop a table that held a holocron, the holocron held his past, memories of a life pulled from him. A life meant for someone who wasn't a Zambrano, the legs of that very table held within them a unique set of blaster pistols, done in a Corellian fashion to mimic revolvers. All trinkets of the life he once led before he discovered his daughter Ara. Before, he submitted to his family's ways, he like Lina in a way, was without the freedoms he once had.

Lina Ovmar ​

 

[Lina Ovmar]

How...disappointingly unambitious that was. The knowledge that she had managed to gather on the Zambrano children is that they were almost all driven by their own wants and desires. Sarlow didn't fit the bill for a number of things, which made him even more infuriating and intriguing at the same time. Lina would make it her mission, to unravel him. She didn't disturb the silence on the walk back to the ship, recognising a subtle end of discussion.

Lina cocked her head as he walked away, leaving her with an aide to show her to her quarters. The west wing? "As you wish." she agreed watching him go before following the aide to her quarters. They were opulent enough, without being too much so. Settling herself behind the large desk, she drafter a messaged for Leilah, outlining her clothing needs from Bespin. By the time they arrived, the twi'lek would have already ordered her an entire wardrobe, along with a few extras within budget that she could get away with.

Otherwise Lina had little to do about settling in, but she lingered if only to give him the impression she had plenty to occupy herself with that wasn't him. After an hour, when they were well on their way to Bespin and the ports had nothing to over but the blue haze that was hyperspce. Lina found her way to his office.

Sarlow Zambrano

 

[Sarlow Zambrano]

His thoughts drifted back to the day he had been cursed, recalling the arrogant young man who fell prey to a witch. Seated in the West Wing, he gazed at the Panathan flower within its casing, withered beyond its prime. The witch's words echoed—the need to accept and love himself, a prescription that proved nothing more than honeyed fiction. Rising from his seat, he turned to the shredded portrait of his younger self, a depiction of ignorance about the life ahead.

Checking the chrono, the Epicanthix became aware of the time and headed toward his study. In that space, he pondered his ambitions, contemplating casting aside the curse. His desires were not rooted in power, wealth, or an innate desire to help the less fortunate. Sarlow yearned to turn those of weak will into loyal followers for his House, sensing potential for a more ambitious pursuit. Stepping into his study, he found Lina waiting for him.

Without delay, he took his seat opposite her and activated the holographic projector. A galactic map materialized, manipulated by his hands to show the Ison Corridor. "We're currently here on Bespin; our targets are within the Ison Corridor itself. We'll make our way to Varonat, Council, Belsavis, Hoth, and Anoat as the last stop for this part of the expedition."

"The identities you are to assume have been sent to you; I presume you've had the time to study them adequately," Sarlow continued. "You'll be navigating your way through various social circles, collecting what information you can. Make direct contact with me once you've secured the objectives as outlined here, for each world."

Forward and to the point, Sarlow explained his plan. As he studied Lina, observing her body language and reactions, his eyes locked onto hers for a moment. A glimmer of blue beneath the sulfuric gaze appeared and vanished in the blink of an eye. "My primary goal for this part of the expedition is to find those who can be turned into willing agents to work on our behalf. Additionally, identify sleepers who can be activated later should the occasion arise."

"Any questions?"

Lina Ovmar ​

 

[Lina Ovmar]

Lina waited for him to finish, her arms clasped at the small of her back, expression impassive and still. Whatever feelings she had she waited till the end to reveal them she noted the shift in his eyes as his gaze met hers and she felt her heart jump. A beat passed before she spoke.

"Sarlow, this work is beneath me." she let the statement hang in the air for a moment. Her choice to use his name, and not his title was deliberate, meant to evoke something from him, and she was watching him very carefully through the blue haze of the holodisplay. Slowly she reached to deactivate it.

"You don't know anything about me or the resources I have at my disposal so allow me to bring you up to speed. My mother, was Anaya Fen, she created and led the first Inquisition under the rule or the Emperor Moridin when she was exiled following a series of betrayals a large number of those inquisitors defected with her. That network has only grown under lead and then mine in the last eighty years. If you want this information, I can get it, but I will do so my way, not yours."

Sarlow Zambrano

 

[Sarlow Zambrano]

Sarlow dipped his head low and chuckled, the sound starting as a low rumble, almost guttural, before evolving into something more substantial. "My dear, Lina," her name dripped from his lips, honeyed but laced with a touch of venom. "Do you know how many agents are at my disposal? How many of my father's putrid servants are at my every beck and call?" His large hand slammed down onto the table. "Far too many for me to care for." Rising to his feet, he fixed his gaze on her. "I am not like my brothers or sisters who delegate such work, only to scramble for excuses when their minions fail."

"That will not be the case here," he manipulated the holographic projector. "The Ison Corridor is far too precious and resourceful for this to be left to agents who will simply waste my time and yours. It is far better to ensure the work is done." Sarlow pulled forward a single record. "But if you insist, I will not force you." Disappointment tinged his words; he would handle the task himself if necessary.

"Dismissed."

The Lord moved from the desk, heading for the corridor, ready to issue commands to the nearest servant

Lina Ovmar ​

 

[Lina Ovmar]

"You fathers agents are worthless, they spent nearly twenty years trying to find me and failed. The only reason he I did find me was because I let him."

Her heart rate jumped up as he rose from the chair, but not out of fear. He was a tangle of anger and something else, something far more hungry. Time and time again he was dismissing her like she was nothing, like his gaze didn't soften when he looked at her. Like he hadn't felt the need to kill a man that dared to raise a hand to her.

As he passed her and moved for the door she seized a statue from his desk and threw it to crash and shatter against the wall by his head as he reached the door. "Why kill a man to defend my honour and then treat me like am I nothing?!"

Sarlow Zambrano

 

[Sarlow Zambrano]

Sarlow directed his gaze toward the direction where the statue had crashed.

"I said you were dismissed," he informed her, providing little of the reaction she sought. Sarlow exited the room, issuing commands to the nearest servant. From the corridor, he turned back to where Lina stood. "I needed someone resourceful; perhaps I wasn't clear. More than someone who will order agents, and since you seem to understand how incompetent they are, you are now tasked to train them. If you find it beneath you, then I suggest you find someone worthy of our time."

The Prince would never admit the intense emotional reaction triggered by the mere idea of anyone touching her. He had mastered control over the beast for decades, and this woman proved to be a distraction. Now, he ensured to keep a watchful eye on her, assigning what amounted to busy work to maintain a distance. This was the intended course, not her audacious actions, although that part he should have anticipated. Contemplating the situation set Sarlow on a path away from the room, heading for the West Wing.

Lina Ovmar ​

 

[Lina Ovmar]

Her tantrum had earned her nothing but more disregard. Lina was nothing to him. It shouldn't have effected her the way it did, why did she care what he thought of her? She shouldn't, he was a Zambrano they were all one and the same, a satin on the galaxy to be eradicated with time. And yet, every time those crimson eyes softened to blue, she relived the moment her tore through the blackguard for her. Lina was a woman possessed with no release but the work he gave her.

Taking both the initial mission and the punishment he'd gifted her after speaking out of turn, she was barely with him. Deeply entrenched in Panathan social circles until she had found all that she needed, all he had asked for and managed to gather them all in one place. The ball was set to be the social event of the year, a true collection of zambrano loyalist. The estate Lina had temporarily taken over was vast, the staff a combination of her own agents and Zambrano's.

The party was well underway when she made her way to the landing pad to meet Sarlow, the trail of her red and black dress hissing across the cobbles floor. Her hair was pinned up, loose curls framing her face. She was flanked by two other agents posing as her body guards. They fell back as the landing ramp lowered and Lina lowered into a deep curtsy to greet him.

Sarlow Zambrano

 

[Sarlow Zambrano]

The dress Lina wore hid nothing from his imagination. Sarlow gave her a polite nod and was about to turn away when his younger brothers, Ansgar and Xathrael, arrived. Each one clasped a shoulder of their brother.

"Is this her?" inquired Xathrael, while Ansgar appraised Lina with a look. "You're quite charming," began Xathrael, extending a hand toward Lina. "Xathrael Zambrano, the more charming of my brothers. I assure you, I trust this brute hasn't been too unkind toward you."

"Please," Ansgar shoved Xathrael aside, "Ansgar Zambrano, the better looking and stronger of the three you see before you."
Sarlow snarled, "do you have nothing better to do with your time?"

"Oh, ho, ho, ho," Ansgar turned to Sarlow, "and what's this? Jealousy?"

"I do believe it is, brother," sneered Xathrael, "and since Sarlow has yet to do anything with this one, perhaps, we can come to an arrangement instead." He tucked a hand beneath Lina's chin, his leather gloves likely cold to the touch, not unlike his personality. "You are the one Father keeps close, no? Fen, correct?"

Ansgar stepped up toward Sarlow, "a birdie tells me you've done nothing with her but send her to play fetch, how dull."

Sarlow shoved Ansgar down and snapped, a primal growl in his words, "you will do well to keep your bird on a leash. You are lucky I do not suffocate them; they reek of your foul odor." His massive hand grappled his brother's shirt. "Do you hear me?"

Ansgar, never one to back down, tried to move Sarlow's hand and even applied his own Force abilities. However, Sarlow, like a tree, did not budge; it was as if he was not putting forth much effort. "Let go of me, beast!" called Ansgar. "Sarlow, let go."

Xathrael, meanwhile, moved to Lina's side, and Sarlow, looking at Ansgar, threw his brother into Xathrael. "Right then, there you are," and then Sarlow added, "excuse me, I need a drink."

The other two brothers were left with Lina as they collected themselves. "You know what his problem is?" Xathrael stated to neither one, but perhaps both of them at once, Lina and Ansgar. "He's too scared to do a damn thing about any of his feelings. So he'll sulk away in his tower, in one of his castles, or perhaps on that ship of his and simply mourn the man he was."

"What a pity," Ansgar commented, "he could be the most powerful of us all."

"No, he is the most powerful, not the most clever, though," Xathrael remarked with a devilish grin. "Now then, Lina, wasn't it?"

Lina Ovmar ​

 

[Lina Ovmar]

The siblings were a lot, rowdy like a pack unruly wolves snapping around her like she was a dog in heat. It took everything in her to remain impassive, to keep her smile polite and to ignore the bubbling fury she felt at their teasing. This was not how she had expected the welcome to the party to go but there was something in the little squabble between brothers that caught her attention.

Sarlow was jealous.

That, she could work with.

A small breath, as she watched him go and found herself alone with Xathrael and Angsar, she offered them both a small smirk. "You two are going to be trouble, I can tell. Fortunately for you both, I love nothing more than a little trouble. Would you both be gracious enough to escort me back inside, I'd hate to miss my own party after all, I put a lot of work into it."

She gave Xathrael's arm a gentle touch, deliberate and intended to focus his attention on her.. "Perhaps you can tell me a little more about your dear brothers problems. I have some difficulty in understanding him."

Sarlow Zambrano

 

[Sarlow Zambrano]

Xathrael inclined his head in polite agreement. "I would be delighted."

The younger Zambrano brother escorted Lina back inside. She inquired about his brother, and so Xathrael obliged, "mhmm? Sarlow? Not much to know; he's cursed, ran away, was brought back into the fold when he learned he sired an heir. Mother had him re-educated, and he's been as dull as a box of rocks since." Xathrael sighed, then looked over at the guest of honor. "Well, I suppose you're looking for more."

"Sarlow is a tormented man, but his torment aside. He is the strongest. I question his intellectual abilities, but he is rather brilliant at times," he was careful not to give his brother too many praises. "You see, he fears what he is capable of; surely, you are aware of the monster that he is. I do not mean his visage either." He smirked and went on, "but the literal beast that he turns into. Sarlow has never truly loved himself or anyone else; I hear he's rather incapable."

Lina Ovmar ​

 

[Lina Ovmar]

The term re-educated did not sit well with Lina, it elicited vivid images of pain and suffering, something she had gone through with her own mother many many times. "Oh, I wouldn't call him a monster," she said reflecting the smirk Xathrael bore, "Heartless, incapable of emotion yes, but not a monster. In fact I find the beast quite fascinating, if a little difficult to lure out. But then I am a seeker of knowledge, and a curse like that must be steeped in lore worth knowing."

As the entered the great hall, Lina steered them towards the bar where she'd known Sarlow had gone. Leaning her back against it, so she could face both brothers but keep Sarlow in her peripherals. "Sarlow does not talk about his siblings much, I had no idea you would both be so handsome. Where have you been hiding, hmm?"

Sarlow Zambrano

 

[Sarlow Zambrano]

"Really?" Color him intrigued, Xathrael found it a little disconcerting that Lina, a woman of such beauty and intellect might be drawn to such a foul abomination that was his brother. Still, she reflected a smirk on her features and the younger Zambrano found himself beside his older brother Ansgar within the ball. "The only lore to know is that Sarlow's own arrogance landed him that curse, and then like a coward he ran, isn't that right, brother?"

Ansgar looked over at Xathrael, and then at Lina. He knocked back a tankard of ale and answered, "Cowardice perhaps, but he has returned and has fought and hunted on the family's behalf. Such cowardice has been redeemed? If albeit for the moment, perhaps he'll turn tail later on. One can never be certain, our dear brother rather lacks when it comes to ambition. A fact, I'm sure you're aware of." He said to Lina.

Xathrael answered on his own behalf here, "I have been scouring the Outer Rim collecting wayward Panathans, finding what mother needs to have found when others have failed her."

"Slaying those who assume they're crimes have been forgotten simply because our homeworld no longer exists in one piece," answered Ansgar, "and killing any who may speak ill of our house is simply target practice." He was certainly stronger than Xathrael, but Xathrael had always been the most clever. Perhaps too clever for his own good, "we carry out the work necessary to continue our father's work, extend mother's influence. Although, I would happily set aside such duties for a night if you so desire."

Ansgar chuckled and set his tankard down, "Xathrael, such a pity that your own self worth clouds your judgment. Can you not see that we are merely guests, it is Lady Lina's party after all. If her desires be that of our brother, then we should make merriment. It has been far too long since Sarlow has laid eyes on one such as her."

"Long? He's hardly looked at another in such a manner, while you consider him cold and heartless, know that his very manner has changed by your being here." contended Xathrael.

Sarlow meanwhile spoke with a few members of the family, including his sisters. He then moved to speak with his mother and ordered a few of the guards around, his body turned just enough and his attention lingered on Lina's eyes for far longer than they had a right too. Xathrael busy enough with speaking with Ansgar, hadn't noticed that Sarlow began to make his way toward them. Ansgar however noticed him all too well, "and as such, I shall leave you, farewell, madam."

Lina Ovmar

 

[Lina Ovmar]

Listening to the brothers was enlightening for more than one reason. First of All it seemed that Angsar was almost defensive of Sarlow, where Xathrael seemed intent on belittling him in Lina's eyes. The other was the sheer dedication to their family. Lina could not wrap her head around it, to be so driven by the goals of a unit rather than the one? anaya had never instilled such loyalty in her, lightening scars that littered her body were a testament tot that fact, and her father? Well Ovmar had seen Lina's mind as a playground, trying to influence her every move as a child, to such a a point she had to learn to lock him out, to avoid becoming like her mother.

She smirked at Xathrael's proposition, turning fully to face him and stepping in just a little closer. "You are a bold one, aren't you?" she tilted her head slightly she leaned in a hand settling on his chest as his elder brother chastised him, lifitn her face to whisper in his ear. "I'm not so sure you could handle me, Xathrael."

A dare. How far was he willing to go?

She graced Ansgar with a small incline of her head as he departed, but she did not move from how close she stood to the youngest. She could feel Sarlow approaching and heart heart fluttered in anticipation.

Sarlow Zambrano

 

[Sarlow Zambrano]

Xathrael had only just stepped up to meet with Lina. His gaze fell upon hers, and just as he was about to speak, he felt something, someone pull at him.

Sarlow, with a casual grace that belied his dark power, had grabbed his younger brother and flung him away from Lina. It happened so effortlessly, without an ounce of visible effort, that Xathrael hadn't realized what had occurred until he crashed into the wall. The Wolf Prince, hands nonchalantly behind his back, spoke with a low rumble, a hint of a primitive growl perhaps, "Might I speak with you?" Ansgar was busy helping Xathrael up as Sarlow smoothly moved to block Lina's view of the whole thing, flashing a toothy grin, "Please?" The words pushed between said teeth as he held out a hand toward Lina.

Had he become jealous? Only the Force knew.

What was clear was that Sarlow stood, a charming and dark prince, smugly in front of Lina while his brothers walked away in the opposite direction, and their sisters mended the wall and tended to the guests.

Lina Ovmar ​

 

[Lina Ovmar]

Lina's hand was still up where it had been touch Xathraels chest and she let out a low chuckle at the speed at which he'd been yanked from her. She was learning which buttons to push, demanding his attention outright hadn't been enough, but being equally aloof and then giving her attention to another man, to his brother? Her eyes glittered with delight.

There was the reaction she'd been seeking.

She lowered her hand to the bar, where her wine glass was waiting, deliberately not looking up at him until after she had taken a sip. The primal growl in his voice sending shivers down her spine. "You may." she said setting her glass down and looking up at him, her head tilting as she studied his expression, before settling her hand in his.

Sarlow Zambrano

 

[Sarlow Zambrano]

Sarlow walked with Lina and began to speak to her, "while I am glad to see you honored on this night, I must question the wisdom in engaging with those lesser than ourselves." Namely, his brothers, but he wasn't going to say it explicitly. "Now, on to more important matters," he continued, redirecting the conversation away from his brothers or any other man who might cast a lingering glance her way. A single look from the Wolf Prince was enough to make many question whether they'd wish to earn his ire.

"I must be forthright. I seek a way to end this wretched curse," his sincere words matched his tone, though a glimmer of jealousy lingered in the undertone. He exhaled, "to be free of the monster that seems to consume me at my worst moments." The people around them continued to talk, dance, and eat, but Sarlow paid them no mind. Instead, he kept his focus on Lina.

Lina Ovmar ​