Awkward Arkas Assembly

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"], [member="Laira Darkhold"]


In the midst of all this, Siobhan slipped Tegaea a note beneath the table. The Countess had a tendency of doing that, like a naughty schoolgirl. Sometimes she made rather raunchy drawings. In this case, she'd just scrawled a few words: That went well, didn't it? It was likely that only Tegs was able to deciper Siobhan's appalling handwriting. She helped herself to more wine and a small canape.


Meanwhile, Elpsis was distracted. Unconsciously, she read the two words that resonated in Laira's mind. It was not deliberate, for she was not the type to pry in someone else's mind. Laira Organa. For a moment she was frozen. Tongue-tied. She felt shocked, deceived...hell, she did not really know how she felt. "I, uh, gotta talk about some...stuff with Laira," she blurted out awkwardly.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Laira adjusted herself, smiling at Tegaea and Siobhan from Elpsis's lap while they spoke and passed notes to one another. She wasn't all that concerned, though she would have liked to know what their conversation was about and was a little curious. Secrets made her curious.

"I do hope I'm able to accompany you both, the mission sounds fun and dangerous." She wiggled her hips grinding her buttocks into Elpsis lap a little, "And wouldn't mind the time spent getting to know you both better."

Harmony returned, carrying a new wave of fruity drinks and beverages, however Elpsis seemed heavily distracted and anxious to drag her away and so Laira was happy to stand and allow herself to be lead off by the redhead, "Excuse us," she called, pretty pleased her not-so-subtle hip movements had been so effective at distracting Elpsis from the pressures of dealing with her mothers. Siobhan wasn't what Laira had expected, but she was cold and distant, nothing like her own parents.

The girls did have very similar troubles at home, both of their parents were starting to push them to take responsibility and start contributing to their respective empires, and both seemed reluctant. Laira saw her inheritance like a vice or a cage, meant to imprison her in one place while she only sought for freedom. Deep down she wanted to wear the crown, but not as a pretty princess on a chair. She wanted to be a leader that people could follow, but she wasn't ready to take that on again, to see those that followed with her die time and time again.

"What's up sweetie?" Laira asked, grinning at the blind witch as they got into a room alone. It was pretty clear the redhead thought they would be off being amorous with one another by her body language and emotions.

[member="Elpsis Kerrigan-Alcori"] [member="Tegaea Alcori"]

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Elpsis Kerrigan-Alcori"] [member="Laira Darkhold"]

Tegaea looked puzzled at the sudden change in Elpsis’ mood. It was as though there was some sort of invisible revelation going on between Laira and Elpsis.
Telepathy, she realised. It was a thing, just another magical Force skill which the galaxy had seen to bless certain chosen people with.

She held her hand out to Siobhan and they walked out arm in arm. This was perfectly normal and expected, and it gave a face saving way for Siobhan to have some support.

When they were outside, with Simoon falling in behind them, she looked to her wife.
“What the hell was going on between those two? One moment they’re all over each other, the next they need serious discussions.”

She shrugged though. Young people often did irrational things or had emotional leaps. It had been a long time, but it felt even longer since she’d been Elpsis’ age.

“But yes, it went well. I think this is just what she needs,” Tegaea said with a nod. She truly believed it.

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"], [member="Laira Darkhold"]


"Teenagers," Siobhan said dismissively. Naturally she disregarded the fact that her relationship with Adril had been characterised by extreme emotional leaps. Selective memory was a wonderful thing.


"Make sure to have her understand she'll be judged in the same way as any Firemane member. Elpsis is like the promising but lazy student who stays the eternal underachiever because it's more comfortable. She can't be like that on your mission," she spoke.


"Who do you want to put in charge of the military contingent?" she asked. "Sadly, I can't spare Tempest. I have need of her skills at HQ. And you don't want to deal with melodramatic lovers' quarrels if Elpsis' Ranger friend comes along." They settled down on a couch in one of the many rooms.


xxx


Meanwhile, Elpsis was not a happy camper. "Laira Organa," she said bluntly, arms crossed. "Don't tell you're not one of those Organas because it's a real common name. I told you everything about me...and you lied to me." Hurt was evident in her tone.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Laira's eyes widened and at first she considered a few immature ways to get out of this awkward conversation. She considered getting mad Elpsis read her thoughts like it was some violation of trust, or brushing off the accusation.

But neither of those would do Elpsis any justice or help her in the long run. "Of course I lied." She started, looking down to the ground and crossing her arms. "You were a stranger I had just met on Manaan, was I supposed to tell every stranger 'Hi, I'm a princess please don't treat me special, or use me and what I do against my family'? I have to protect Alderaan when I'm out and adventuring. I can't be something that can be used against them, so yes I lied to you about where I'm from and what my name is, but that's all." The redhead's grey eyes looked sad even if Elpsis couldn't see them, her emotions mirrored her body language. Laira didn't like having this conversation, though she had wanted to initiate it a few times, preferably in bed. "Everything we've felt and said about each other has been true."

"Once we got to know each other I wanted to tell you, but things just kept getting in the way. Its not exactly an easy subject to insert into conversation. At the oasis I tried, but we were getting ready to hunt and I didn't want to distract you or open any wounds when we were going into battle. After you were hurt and, I don't know I got distracted by everything else that was going on." So far since the sudden revelation Laira was doing her best to be truthful about her intentions and why she had done what she had. "I guess I just like being Laira Darkhold better than being Laira Organa." She tried a smile, but it was weak and worried. Laira didn't want to be told to leave, she didn't want this accidental revelation to be the end.

[member="Elpsis Kerrigan-Alcori"]

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Elpsis Kerrigan-Alcori"] [member="Laira Darkhold"]

Tegaea made no comment to the first, but she knew that Siobhan…and her too of course…could sometimes be silly and irrational. Still, she realised that Siobhan was harder on Elpsis than others.

“I’ll make sure of it,” she said instead. “I believe Colonel Lucille Guyenne is available after her last mission. She’s reliable and doesn’t take any nonsense.”
Guyenne was another one of those people who’d been with them for a decade or more, transferring from OP to SSC to Firemane in turn. A promising officer slightly younger than the couple.

“And yes, I’d like to avoid such petty disputes. I suspect the ranger is more possessive than Elpsis though.”

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"], [member="Laira Darkhold"]


"Guyenne is a sound choice. Her uncle did good work as General in Omega Pyre's early days. Runs in the family, it seems. And no, Elpsis isn't possessive. She has a wide range of bed partners and a very healthy sexual appetite." In Siobhan's dictionary, healthy sexual appetite was what other people would call ravenous or extremely promiscuous.


Many parents would probably have a problem with their child sleeping around a lot, but she considered it not just normal, but healthy. By contrast, she would have been worried about having a monogamous or, heaven forbid, sexually abstinent teenager in the household.


"I have no desire to get involved in her love life, but it seems they have strongly divergent expectations," she shrugged. "I wonder who's on top. Probably that Laira girl. I'm rather vexed by Elpsis being sexually submissive. A Kerrigan should not be on her knees. She must learn how to exercise dominance. It will teach her control and responsible use of power."


xxx


While her mummies were having a conversation that was part professional mission planning, part extremely weird, Elpsis was in a state of emotional upheaval. On the one hand what Laira said made sense, but on the other she was still upset!


"You still could have told me," she protested. "Like...," she trailed off. "Y'know, I was at a party your parents threw once. With Taryc. I had a chat with your Mum without even knowing it. What would you have said if I'd run into you? Said you just got...escort duty?"


She sighed. "I feel kinda silly for not noticing. I guess you're either real good at pretending to be a smuggler/Range or I'm just pretty dense." Admittedly she'd been a bit distracted by hunting big game, enjoying Laira's company and trying to get into the sweet redhead's pants. "So...where do we go from here? What do I even call you now?"

 

[Laira Darkhold]

"I could have, you are right. I wanted to but it isn't a secret I can share without being completely sure about someone, and once I was we were getting ready to hunt that big beastie, and then you were hurt, and I just didn't want it to get in the way of, you know." She gestured at herself a little, eyes widening with the gesture. "I admit, I got a little excited and distracted with other subjects that were very new to me."

Laira's brow furrowed for a moment, thinking back to that particular party. That had actually been the exact lie she had told Joza Perl when they bumped into each other at that exact party. The redhead thought better than to admit that out loud though, not wanting to exacerbate the subject with admission that she would have continued to lie at the time. The point was she wouldn't lie anymore.

She wrapped her hands around Elpsis loosely, or at least tried to. "I'm really good at it because I prefer getting to be Laira Darkhold than a princess. People treat me different when they find out who I am, they expect different from me and don't just accept me as I am. But, honey, I really am the person you first met on Manaan. Just a different name and history."

She tried to kiss Elpsis gingerly on the cheek, to reassure the girl a little bit that she wasn't different suddenly because of the name change. "I'd actually prefer it if you kept calling me Laira Darkhold." Most people she dealt with already did anyway, and if Elpsis used her real name it might cause some problems, "But any cute nickname you come up with it also good with me."

[member="Elpsis Kerrigan-Alcori"]

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Elpsis Kerrigan-Alcori"] [member="Laira Darkhold"]

The conversation had veered into plain weird territory…to any outside observer. Even Tegaea found the logic hard to follow.

“If that’s her preference, that’s her preference. It’s not something you can force,” she advised.
“However, I can give her some training in those arts…though Harmony or one of our girls of course. We can see if she takes to that. If she doesn’t, there’s no point trying to force her. Power exchange doesn’t make someone weak, you know. I don’t think you are if you do, and I hope you don’t of me if I do.”

Usually patient, Tegaea was a little irritated by this secret squirrel discussion between Laira and Elpsis.
“I think we’ve given them enough time. If they have more issues we can reconvene later, but I don’t think I’m going to wait for their discussion to finish.”
It was pretty clear no one told Tegaea what to do, though she accepted advice from her wife she was not anyone’s lackey. She felt that was a better lesson to teach Elpsis.

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"], [member="Laira Darkhold"]


"I don't. But what we do is different," Siobhan said firmly. "With her, it's symptomatic of her refusal to take control over her life," she shrugged. "She's your daughter, instruct her as you see fit. I want the fool girl to make something out of herself instead of being dependent on us spoon-feeding her - like all the others we welcomed into our home. I let my affection for them blind me. It cost me, as I induldged undeserving people. Don't be the same. One day I won't be here anymore. Nor will you. It will be left to Elpsis, Adril and Livia to hold the family name high."


She checked her chronometre. Siobhan was never a patient person, and the delay annoyed her. "Simoom, go find the children and bring them here. I'm getting tired of their lovers' quarrel," she said sternly.


xxx


Elpsis sighed slightly, before kissing Laira. "Ok, Darkhold it is then. But no more secrets, ok?" her tone was unusually insistent. "So...do you wanna come along? I get know that three months is...a bit long," she paused, a new thought popped into her.


"Tegs has to know the truth though. I'm not gonna lie to my mother." That was something she had to insist on, as much as she disliked it. However, any further points she might want to make were cut short by Simoom suddenly appearing.


"Girls, Mistress Alcori and Mistress Kerrigan would like to see you now. Come with me," the six foot tall, mocha coloured woman with the imposing build of someone accustomed to regularly lifting heavy weights spoke in her usual no-nonsense voice.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Laira readily agreed with Elpsis, sighing in relief that her fellow redheaded companion wasn't holding a grudge or considering the lie unforgivable. "No more secrets." There weren't very many that she had from the witch, really the only one she had been keeping was her history and family ties quiet. Now she could at least be honest with Elpsis about her childhood though.

Simoom appeared and instructed them to return, much to Laira's displeasure. Apparently the Kerrigan-Alcori household was not one to be left waiting, which at least the Princess was used to.

"Um, okay. If you trust your mom, I'll trust her. Just make sure she knows its supposed to be a secret." The redhead was fairly certain that such a secret would be easily kept, but it was a little leverage Tegaea now held over the Organa family. Just a little, not that her parent's would mind if she had to pack in and stop pretending to be someone else. All it would do was destroy Laira's personal freedom, not affect them heavily.

The redhead kissed Elpsis again as they returned, "Thank you for being so understanding. I'll make it up to you, promise."

[member="Elpsis Kerrigan-Alcori"]
[member="Tegaea Alcori"]

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Elpsis Kerrigan-Alcori"] [member="Laira Darkhold"]

There was a lot to unpack from Siobhan’s comment. Tegaea was mildly impressed by how her wife had turned something like sexual roles into a psychological roadmap. She didn’t fully agree, but then she had a quite different view in such matters from Siobhan.

“The family name won’t mean much to me when I’m gone. I will prepare my daughters for what lies ahead but it’s for them to operate…not like I’ll care once I’m dead,” she added.
Tegaea was not the sort of person who believed in hereditary monarchies and would seek to pass on her wealth and legacy to the person who could do the job, not just which had her name. That would likely be her daughters, but might not be solely so.

“Yes, I agree, let’s bring them in.”

When the pair entered the room Tegaea smiled. “Anything the matter?” she asked pleasantly. She’d rather ask nicely than have Siobhan ask…her wife would be less understanding or at least less likely to indulge.

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"], [member="Laira Darkhold"]


"I do care. Apparently the Netherworld actually exists, so I would not want to spend my time looking down on them and watching them blunder through life," Siobhan commented airily. "I hope it turns out that there is some quality entertainment somewhere there and we just missed the good stuff during our sojourn."


Anyhow, the girls were summoned and shortly afterwards the pair stepped back in. Siobhan had a 'this better be worth my time' expression written across her face. Picking up her empty glass, she held it towards a servant standing behind her. "More wine."

The fact that it was Tegaea questioning them put Elpsis a bit more at ease. "Uh, sorta. But it's been resolved now, Mum. Sorry for just rushing out," she said with an apologetic expression on her face. "Laira would like to have a word with you. There's something important she'd like to tell you."

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Laira returned to her spot on the sofa as much snuggling Elpsis as she was sitting when she suddenly seemed a little surprised, "What, right now?" she whispered loudly, obviously she hadn't anticipated being put on the spot so soon.

After a second of contemplation and wrapping her arms around Elpsis once again, brushing red hair from her face and composing herself once again. "Okay. Well the reason I need to check on my schedule before agreeing to go with you on your expedition is because my name is actually Laira Organa and I need to check with my mother, Queen Faith Organa to make sure I don't have anything that requires my presence." Laira tried to avoid going home as best as she could, but three months out and about, almost completely unavailable was far too long a time to run off without any notice.

As much as the princess tried to keep away from politics and her responsibility, she did try to call and check in on her family every few days and attend the occasional state function.

She smiled, trying to convey that royal sense of self-confidence that she had trained in. Laira wanted Elpsis's adopted parents to like her, she wanted them to prefer her if she was being completely honest. "I apologize for the deception, but its better to travel with an alias to protect myself and my parents. If everyone I met knew I was a princess and very wealthy I'd be treated very differently, but we," the redhead watched for any reactions at her using We instead of I or Elpsis, "decided it was better not to keep secrets from the two of you. Especially since we would be spending so much time together."

[member="Elpsis Kerrigan-Alcori"]
[member="Tegaea Alcori"]

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Elpsis Kerrigan-Alcori"] [member="Laira Darkhold"]

Tegaea raised an eyebrow in surprise. She had expected something when the two had their discussion, but had not expected this.

However, she nodded in approval.
“I agree with your decisions. Hiding your name and true identity is wise. It is easier to do what you are doing without people knowing you are a princess. There is both danger and annoyance in that information if too many learn it.”

“I also do thank you for agreeing to tell us. If we do indeed spend time together it is information I need to know – though off course I will keep it a secret to the vast majority of those coming along.”

She did not raise her belief that Laira had just told Elpsis. To her this was fairly self-evident, and had come up with something Laira had said or done. What that was not important to Tegaea, just the result.

“So welcome, Princess. I will not reveal your rank to anyone you don’t want though, so for all intents and purposes you are Laira Darkhold still to my staff.”

Since Tegaea was a staunch republican – though not a democrat – she had no intention of giving the young redhead any special treatment or airs in her presence.

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"], [member="Laira Darkhold"]


Siobhan leaned back in her couch and sipped her wine. It was quite delicious. The kids said stuff. Something about Laira being an incognito Princess. "I appreciate your honesty, dear," Siobhan finally said, exchanging a glance with Tegs. "At least you're not a Jedi. Or an exiled princess who needs our help to topple dastardly usurpers who overthrew your family a millennia ago," she said airily.


Elpsis sighed slightly. "Mother."


"What? You wouldn't believe how often 'rightful claimants' pop up. Naturally they are always in the right and are owed a crown." Admittedly Siobhan was less negatively disposed towards a monarchy than Tegaea. But she expected a ruler to earn their title, instead of inheriting it. On balance, an adoptive monarchy was probably closest to her views.


"Yeah, well, Laira's still Laira Darkhold to me, so whatever. Come on sit down, sugar," she headed towards a couch with Laira. "So how far along are your preparations for the first cruise, Mum?"

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Laira smiled politely, she wasn't all that bothered by the jokes about rightful claimants since such a tradition among the Elder Houses and monarchies was almost more common than the planetary monarchies themselves. There were at least two houses on Alderaan that occasionally had two-bit no name, know-nothing members declare themselves the rightful rulers only for the people to ask 'who are you again?'. It was always especially funny when their own families had to look around and wonder how they were related to the claimant.

Regardless, "Yes, I'll still be travelling and identifying myself as Laira Darkhold. Its safer that way, and that way I get to see how I'd be treated if I were just some normal person." The redhead snuggled up alongside Elpsis once again, wrapping her arms comfortingly around the blind witch. Her head rested against the young woman's shoulder, she would need some cheering up later and since that was Laira's new favorite thing, she'd be getting it.

"I believe I'll be able to make arrangements to accompany you Miss Alcori." Laira needed to make some calls, get one of RESINT's operatives to accompany her and ensure that her family at least knew where she would be going for so long. Things back home weren't always great and leaving for months might be a little more than they would like. As far as RESINT was concerned, hitching a ride was perfect. They'd just send an X-Wing and wait for reports.

All the while, as she mused to herself and snuggled up to Elpsis, the redhead traced little circles along the Witch's skin with her finger-tips feeling the skin react pleasantly to her touch and letting a little longing slip into her mind absently. She was a possessive type of girl, but maybe, she owed Elpsis a treat after deceiving her.

[member="Tegaea Alcori"] [member="Elpsis Kerrigan-Alcori"]

 

[Tegaea Alcori]

[member="Elpsis Kerrigan-Alcori"] [member="Laira Darkhold"]

Tegaea wasn’t going to get started, but she fully agreed with her wife.
“The Alderaan monarchy is certainly one of my preferred royalties,” she said instead. “Besides, I’m glad you’re going out and learning and experiencing the galaxy rather than sitting in a palace eating cake whilst the masses starve.”
She had a slightly bitter and distorted view of monarchy.

“They’re coming along well!” she said, happy to change the subject. “We’ve identified several areas where interesting planets may lie. These are either undiscovered clusters or ones which have no recent data. Some go back to the time of the Old Republic, so we might find lost worlds or otherwise abandoned ones. Since these areas are unknown and could hide any number of issues we will be taking substantial…protection.”

A fleet of star destroyers was a very good negotiation tool.

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

[member="Tegaea Alcori"], [member="Laira Darkhold"]


"So you've agreed to take the escort fleet I offered you. Excellent," Siobhan said a bit smugly. "Plus an onboard garrison. Still think it should have a tank company and field artillery."

"Uh, Mother, isn't this, like, supposed to be a peaceful shakedown cruise and stuff? Not the new Conquista." Elpsis threw in.

"Yes, but you will undoubtedly encounter people who aren't peaceful. So it is best to be prepared to overawe them. If they still act stupid after that, it's on them," Siobhan argued cynically - and probably realistically. She was more than a little jaded.

Elpsis sighed slightly, snuggling Laira a bit. "If I was a native on some far away planet and saw some strange people descend from the sky in warships and land tanks, I'd think it's a foreign invasion, not a peaceful expedition. What do you expect us to run into that would make an army necessary? The last outpost of the Lost Imperials who think Palpy is still around? The True Sith? OMNI 2.0.?"

"All of the above? Possibly worse and more absurd? A couple months ago, you two visited an auction and you ended up being attacked by a machine armada. I've read the reports."

Elpsis looked a little rueful. That incident had caused Siobhan to have a stroke during a subsequent argument with Tegs. It seemed she didn't remember that. "It...wasn't an armada. Just one ship and a bunch of crappy droids and that one Shard who kept yapping. We were more in danger from that dumb Mando who blew up the reactor," she pointed out.

"Details," Siobhan brushed those words aside as if they were buzzing insects. She turned her attention to Laira. "Well, my dear, will you be coming along alone or taking some friends with you?" Wait, was Siobhan actually being nice? "I understand you're officially part of the Ranger Corps."

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Laira grinned and gestured to herself, swiveling her hips against her companion as seductively as her zeltron dance lessons allowed. "Trust me, I spent a lot more time training back home. You don't get a body like this eating cake." Though she did cheat from time to time and have a slice of something sweet and rich, she much preferred hardy foods as her treat. Plus her training regimen now included a little fun cardio thanks to Elpsis.

While Elpsis and Siobhan talked, Laira sat quietly. She was only slightly tangled in the other redhead's limbs and her fingers were daintily tracing circles against the blind witches skin while her storm grey eyes admired the young girl, shadows of affection in her expression. Laira was a fool, and certain a fool in love but that was the way of first crushes, they rarely worked out and they often caused a lot of pain in the end. But few resisted them well the first time around.

In the meantime, Elpsis had taught her to be a little more open and wild, and in return the blind redhead was reaping the benefits of being the center of Laira's attention. Already the redhead princess felt a little less restricted, less confined. She hoped that maybe, one day, Elpsis would come around and in a perfect world she would come around and want to settle down with Laira. But, sitting around and hoping and waiting for something that may never come was foolish.

After some time the conversation returned to Laira, snapping the girl out of her affectionate trance. "Oh, um, I think I'll have just a few companions join me. Maybe an intelligence officer or so." She sputtered, getting a little tighter grip on Elpsis. "I don't wanna invite too many people and overcrowd the ship, but if we have to share dorms I'm sure we could work something out."

[member="Elpsis Kerrigan-Alcori"]
[member="Tegaea Alcori"]