Altiria Lifestyle

[Kay-Larr]

Kay gave [member="Vex Kezsul"] a menu, letting him decide upon things himself. "I'll leave you with this. And if you need something, just let me know and I'll get it brewed straight away."

She then turned and headed over to [member="Veiere Arenais"] . As she held her gaze on him, she was still taken aback by the very fact that he was alive. The visuals of him being lowered into a vat of molten gold, only to be brought back up as a golden skeleton still haunted her dreams. So many times during the torture interrogations had she wanted the release of death. But it never came. Even during her slow execution, death had escaped her. Lord Mayhem saw to that. He gave her a new purpose, one that kept her out of politics and everything that she had wanted to escape from.

Kay stopped her approach when she was across from him, hugging her arms against herself. "What do you think of my tea shop? It can be rather cozy. And it's quiet. I like it quiet here. There's no trouble and no worries." She barely picked up a datapad these days to even look at the holonews. Though she knew about the Sith attack on Mandalore. As well as the aftermath.

"I'm glad that you're okay...Had I of known, I would've contacted you sooner."

 

[WolfMortum]

"What do you think of my tea shop? It can be rather cozy. ​

And it's quiet. I like it quiet here. There's no trouble and no worries".​

​

Altiria wasn't exactly the most often-spoken world on the map, surrounded by numerous others with far vast a reputation and impact on Galactic Politics, Veiere had to admit that it wasn't what he'd have picked as [member="Kay Arenais"] likely whereabouts. The tea shop seemed to have kept her busy and given her a good distraction even in the face of what she had believed to be her families demise. Kay had worked hard away at her recipes and establishing the small-time business, all taking time in which Veiere had been searching for her.

"I'm glad that you're okay...Had I of known, I would've contacted you sooner".​

​

Veiere nodded, knowing as much. "Lori and Caedyn will be ecstatic to hear you're alright" Veiere replied, thinking of their Children for a moment before turning his attention back to the Shop itself; "You've done a great job setting up here. How'd you manage it on your own?" he asked with an ulterior motive. As far as Veiere could tell, his Wife had previously spoken to a figment of her imagination, a result of repeated trauma having caused her to detach herself from reality in order to preserve some semblance of comfort in feeling like she wasn't alone.

"I take it you're planning on staying here...Long-term?".

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay gave a pained smile as [member="Veiere Arenais"] spoke of the twins. Their deaths had haunted her too. Another lie given to her by Nelvaan's Eternal Empire. "Perhaps some time later, they will come to visit." Travelling wasn't so easy for her these days. Not when The Free Lady was floating around someplace like space debris. Maybe some pirates had gotten hold of it and taken it for scrap. They'd of found dead bodies in there, as well as some of her belongings.

More deaths that she was responsible for...

She blonked such thoughts away as Veiere asked about her shop. Her smile was genuine then, showing a hint of pride. "Thank you. Mayhem helped. I knew him from long ago, during my first marriage. He's an Arkanian scientist and..." Kay glanced around the shop to see if he was there. Fortunately it was just the three of them there. So she continued her thought to him in a bit of a conspirator whisper."...he's a little on the crazy side." She smiled a little to herself. "He's been good to me so far. He's helped me to create new teas and to reintroduce old blends that were forgotten over time. I have tea that can heal some ailments, tea that can give you super strength, or make one tell the truth. And do you know? I even have a tea that can stop someone from using the Force for a time. All depends on how much they drink. It's got nothing to do with ysalamiri. Only to do with our brains. I plan on using that on Praz if he ever finds his way here." There were other teas too, ones that could control others, as well as kill. But she didn't openly tell Veiere about them though.

To his question on the length of her stay, her eyes were drawn to the ceiling. "I have a room upstairs. It's not much, but I don't really need much anyways. I'm not a Queen or a ruler of worlds. I am just a humble purveyor of tea. So what else would I need?" Her family was the first thing that came to mind. However that was all out of her reach right now. She didn't deserve them, nor the complications that being in their lives would bring.

"I have to stay here for a while, Veiere. Until everything is better again and it all calms down. I'm supposed to be dead. I can't have Tacitus coming after me again." Nowhere would be safe if he did.

 

[WolfMortum]

"You have no idea how frustrating it was to see you trying to hide yourself away from the likes of Darth Tacitus, while also turning down the support of the Silver Jedi and joining me on Kashyyyk. It's quite possibly the strongest defense and safest hide-away from the Sith, in the entirety of the Galaxy nowadays" Veiere shook his head, though his voice wasn't harsh nor resembled the frustration that he had felt back then, during the growing hostilities between the United Clans, the Sith Empire and the Order of the Silver Jedi. Things had changed since then however, and she had a point, most people believed her to be dead. For the time being, that included the Twins, their friends and former allies on Commenor. Everyone they had associated with.

"So you want me to tell people that you're were killed in the assault of Zakuul?" He asked warily, not liking the idea of lying to his friends, though nor did he enjoy the prospect of her being discovered and captured all over again. [member="Kay Arenais"] had a knack for finding herself in life threatening situations and part of Veiere suspected it'd happen again sooner or later. "Be careful who you reveal yourself to, if that's the case. [member="Darlyn Excron"] will be glad to know of your safety, though the more people you tell, the larger the opportunity is for word to spread...".

"I'll have to track Loreena down; It's been some time since I've seen her. She didn't take the news of the political climate well back with the Mandalorians" While Veiere had once been in a position to guide his daughter in the ways of the Force, that was no longer the case. Lori seemed decided on seeking out another path and so with the conflict of interests that the war had exposed, Veiere had been forced to focus on the training of students within the Order. Those whom were dedicated on pursuing the path. Of course, he didn't blame Loreena for her choices at all, part of him had always known that she'd fall away eventually.

"Caedyn on the other hand, comes and goes from Kashyyyk. I'd probably never see him if it weren't for his girlfriend [member="Asaraa Vaashe"]" Veiere chuckled softly, a slight roll of his eyes at the boy's priorities. "She's a nice girl though, very intelligent and head strong. They're good for one another" Veiere added, voicing his approval of the couple for the mother's reassurance.

"Anyway...-This Mayhem character..." Veiere waved a hand, seeking to return the discussion back upon this figurehead of guidance that Kay had seemingly taken a liking to. "This was the person you spoke to..." He gestured back to the entrance of the shop, "..-When we were outside?". He needed to be certain, as there had been no one else with them at the time she had lashed out at seemingly no one but the air they breathed.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay frowned a little as [member="Veiere Arenais"] spoke of his frustrations, lowering her head so that her gaze held fast to his knees. Why did he have to go there?? When she spoke, her voice was barely above a whisper, almost as though she was afraid of him hearing her. "Tacitus comes from the Confederacy, not the Sith. He captured me on my journey back from Kashyyyk. I had to get back to Zakuul because of him." But she never made it. "The Silvers have enough on their plate without my burdens adding to it. Zakuul is closer to the Outer Rim than to anyone else. If anyone was to help...it would have been them." Not to mention she still felt as though her connections to the Mandalorians left her as a liability.

As he asked about what he should tell the others, Kay looked up. "Don't tell people anything. I doubt that they would ask. If they find out, I'm sure that it'll just be by accident." But the odds of people that she knew stumbling into her this far north was pretty slim.

She shifted her weight on her feet, growing a little more at ease while Veiere updated her on their children. It was good to know that they were doing well. "The twins have always been headstrong, Lori more so than Caedyn. Lori always felt left behind, remember? I didn't hear of her participating in the war, so maybe she stayed out of it." At least that was her hope. Surely she'd of been told otherwise?

At the mention of Mayhem, Kay nodded. "Oh yes. Don't ask me about his make-up, I've never seen him without it on. I think that he figures the white and black just adds more of a creepy effect to his Arkanian eyes. He hasn't caused me trouble since he rescued me, so don't worry. I owe him, so I let him stay."

 

[WolfMortum]

Veiere wasn't trying to waken any snakes, yet the past still hung between them for what it had done to divide their family and encourage [member="Kay Arenais"]' current predicament. "The political relationship between the two could have been exactly the thing to keep Tacitus at bay, the Confederacy and the Order are far larger than that of his Eternal Empire and risking the peace between us both would have cost him..." Veiere explained, giving pause before admitting "However, that was not to be the case...So, it's a moot point. I was just voicing the difficulty of my position where I could have helped you" his words were remorseful, not filled with any resentment in the slightest. It was simply one of his many regrets that she had not allowed him the chance.

"This friend of yours...Mayhem?" it was a strange name to say the least, though given it was the name created from the fractured imagination of his wife (from what he could tell), Veiere supposed it wasn't the strangest aspect of the whole situation; "You said you've known him since back when Shaw Ku was still alive?..." Veiere asked, suspecting there could be a bit more history around Kay's mental health than he had previously been aware of. It was difficult to know what to think in this situation, seeing someone whom he loved and had seen taken on some of the greatest weights of Galactic Politics, now appearing so vulnerable and at the mercy of whatever damage had been done to her psyche through all the traumatic experiences that had followed their marriage and life on Commenor. By comparison, the history with the Mandalorian's mattered very little.

"Is Mayhem a good person?" He asked uncertainly, trying to determine what level of influence this perceived friend might hold over Kay herself and whether there were any risks or negative affects that came with her believing in this delusion; "He's not the sort to hurt anyone, I hope?".

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay closed her eyes as [member="Veiere Arenais"] tried to make her believe that he could have stopped Tacitus. The Eternal Emperor hated Jedi with z passion and sought to rid the Galaxy of them. Already she had been made to believe that she was the reason for the death of her husband and children. Why press her luck to make that happen for real? Why put him in that kind of position? No. It was better for him and for those he worked for if he didn't get involved. They would surely blame her for his death.

The talk of Mayhem brought her out of her brooding, however. She sat herself down at the nearest table, folding her hands on top of it. "I first encountered Lord Mayhem and his wife Aysardra when I was married to Shaw. I was in training to be a healer back then. The two of them were curious about the skill, so they kidnapped me and did some experiments. Shaw found me and rescued me from them. Yet the two of them taunted me for a few more years, even tried to convince me that I was going to babysit their children..." She shuddered at the very thought.

"So no. Mayhem is not a good person. There's some motive behind him rescuing me and helping me with the shop. I just haven't figured out what that is yet. And it's not as though he'd tell me either. He's as cunning as he is crazy." Her eyes flicked up at him. "But don't worry. I'll do my best to keep him distracted here."

 

[WolfMortum]

Veiere nodded lightly, almost in a reluctant sense as he listened to [member="Kay Arenais"] try to explain her history in dealing with this Mayhem character. Being informed of the man's previous exploits in working against her, as well as his spouse whom had been involved at the time, it was difficult to determine whether this was a real life issue or whether these characters were a representation of her emotional and mental state even as far as back then. Kay however didn't show any signs of uncertainty and from what he could read of her through their bond, Veiere knew that she was speaking truthfully...From her perspective at least.

"And where is his wife, and children now?" Veiere asked curiously. How many of these personalities were visiting her today. How much of a risk to Kay would they pose in possible influences, putting idea's in her head and encouraging her to go beyond the means of what Veiere had come to know was typical behavior for her normal self.

"You've come up with a number of interesting recipe's" He added in observation of her stores content. "I've always known you to love your tea, but where did you learn about all of this?".

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay blinked as [member="Veiere Arenais"] asked about Mayhem's wife and children. Until now she hadn't even thought of them. Her mind had been filled with far too many other things. And it wasn't as though Mayhem ever brought them up. "I don't know...I haven't thought to ask him. It's not as though I'm eager to see them. I don't even know how many children he has. There's one for sure. Aysardra was pregnant the last time that I saw her."

There was something strange about the way Veiere looked at her, and of how he was almost cautious in his approach. She could feel that something was off, but she couldn't quite focus enough to try to pinpoint on what that was. Whether or not he was hiding it, she couldn't be sure. But something about the way he was acting made her believe that something was up.

She did her best to try to ignore it though. Of course her gaze never stayed anywhere for long. "I have some books in the back. Some of my ideas came from those, as well as my travels and Mayhem's. Some of these teas...I can use against my enemies...I could gain the upper hand as they have done to me so many times. Then they could get a taste of their own medicine." Oh yes, she had plans for some of the teas that she had come up with. But those plans would only work if her enemies came to her.

 

[WolfMortum]

"Some of these teas...I can use against my enemies...​

I could gain the upper hand as they have done to me so many times. ​

Then they could get a taste of their own medicine".​

​

Veiere looked back at [member="Kay Arenais"], his brow heavy with concern as she spoke of harming her enemies. It sounded as though she had some sort of plans in motion already, but in his experience, planning for such things only seemed to further inspire events into being, and it wasn't like Kay to be making tools with the purpose of endangering others.

Mindful of the guest perusing the stores contents, Veiere kept his composure for the time being, awaiting before he could be certain that they were out of earshot from the customer to reply to her gently; "I'm worried about you, Kay. It's good that you've found a quiet place away from the dangers of the Galaxy, I couldn't argue with that after the amount of times I've seen you in troubling times, but it sounds like your concocting poisons now?" he finished in question, wanting to be certain that this was what she was doing. Tea with disastrous effects were a type of poison, whether fatal or not.

"Might you not at-least consider returning to Commenor where I know [member="Darlyn Excron"] can keep you safe. It's within Silver Space, so I'd be far more likely to visit than travelling across the known Galaxy to this backwater planet..." Veiere continued, Altiria being well outside of his typical sector of the Navigational Map where as his duties to the Order of the Silver Jedi held him quite frequently traversing back and fourth across their territories.

 

[Kay-Larr]

"Poisons? By the Force, no..." Although she was certain that Mayhem would be coming up with some of those soon enough. He had already accused her of such a thing when she was only looking up past cures for horrible viruses that decimated whole populations.

"One does contain a bit of something that numbs someone's connection to the Force for a time
You see, I could use that on Prazutis and then he can't use his magic on me. Or I could have him eat some fudge. You'd like that one. It makes people selfless. And then I have a stim tea that helps people focus. It's almost like a caf, but more...special."

Kay looked down at her cupped hands as [member="Veiere Arenais"] suggested that she go back to Commenor. Sure [member="Darlyn Excron"] was a wonderful brother, but politics was there. She couldn't hide from that kind of lifestyle on Commenor. "I'm fine Veiere. I don't need a babysitter. Especially there. I can't avoid politics by being in the center of it." The last time that she was on Commenor, she was sent to Purgatory. Why risk that happening again? Why risk the glares and whispers behind her back? It was better to be where people didn't know her.

 

[WolfMortum]

"And how long do you suppose this place is going to stay quiet?".

Veiere had only found [member="Kay Arenais"] thanks to their Force-bond, however, despite whatever changes and instability had become of her mental capacity, there was still those defining characteristics that she carried with her in every day. Kay had always admired her friends and those she trusted, they had been her greatest assets unlike many of the darker persons of note whom loved their weapons of war or powers of the Force; Kay's strength had always been in her social climate, those that she kept close to heart. Veiere couldn't help but feel that, having reached out to him, there'd only be so much time before she'd reach out to another and that old part of her, the old Kay would slowly and subtly try to resurface, eventually discarding the silence and obscurity of her new 'home'.

"There once was a time where you trusted in me to protect you, to keep you safe". Unfortunately, she'd been kidnapped countless times which had often led Veiere on a merry goose chase trying to get her back and track down her abductors, somehow they'd managed, right up until Purgatory.

"You used to be happy living under the same roof together, and the Kids certainly liked it better than how things appear today. I know you're afraid of the Sith, but more times than I would care, I am often facing their likeness in the field of duty. If you would let me, I can protect you...-But not from the opposite side of the Galaxy".

 

[Kay-Larr]

How long did she suppose that this place was going to stay quiet? Kay barely moved while she thought about her answer. More likely than not, what she wished and what reality would be was probably going to be two different things. "For a little while longer...Not everyone is a fan of tea."

Kay held her breath as [member="Veiere Arenais"] spoke of her having once trusted him to protect her. It was true. She used to love it, and it was through his protection that she grew to love him. There was always a strong sense of safety whenever she was in his arms. But ever since she had gotten out of Purgatory, he barely touched her. Instead she felt as though every movement and decision she made was being scrutinized. So much so that she felt too far beneath him to ever have that kind of love from him again.

And then she had thought that he had died. The deaths that she had witnessed of him and the twins was real. It shattered her heart and soul in such a way that she wanted to keep herself isolated from anyone she knew. Afterall how could she face them after losing everything?

Tears began to slide down her cheeks, yet she ignored them, not wanting to give into the temptation of becoming a sobbing mess. Especially when there were customers. "You died...you all died. I had to find a way past that when all that I wanted to do was die too. Mayhem helped me to create this as a means of keeping away from politics and those that had hurt me. There is nothing that the Sith would want here in this backwater planet. The chances of a Sith attack here are far less than an the chances of them attacking one of your worlds. You are their enemy, you and all you stand for are a threat. " And she was nothing. "I need time, Veiere. I need time to get used to the idea that some of what I went through was a lie...I can't do that on Commenor or anywhere else where people would know me and tell me everything that I've done wrong. And I can't do that sitting in some house by myself waiting for the one day every few weeks or so that either you or one of the twins decide to drop by. I'd only go mad. You went through that yourself just before Deneba." She gestured to the shop. "Here I have a small purpose. I make and sell tea. There's no politics, no one to look down on me or bring up my failures. They are all...unaware. It is as though the rest of the Galaxy and all of it's wars don't exist. For the moment...this is what I need. This will help me to recover in time." She looked up at him, her eyes almost pleading for him to listen. "This is my purgatory, Veiere. A life of service. No trouble, no putting my nose where it doesn't belong. I have no ship of my own, no grand estate either. There is just this shop and my little bedroom upstairs. So you shouldn't have to worry so much about me."