Bah Humbug! [ CIS Dominion of Y, 40 Hex ]

[Cameron Centurion]

Under the Tree
Attire: XXX
Tag: [member="Scherezade deWinter"]

Silver-green eyes swept the scene before him as he entered the...unintentionally decorated hall. It never ceases to amaze him how often the Confederacy found a reason to have a party. How was the government even affording this seemingly endless strain of soirées containing a plethora of food, drink, and assorted entertainment?

As he figured was the case for more than just himself, the Sith Lord had arrived, sword strapped to his back for the principal purpose of investigating the disturbance on this deck. Outside of that he was dressed per usual, exposed upper torso and black pants fastened with a similarly colored belt over combat boots. Yes, some sort of affair or another had been planned in the first place. However, as Aiden walked further into the room, he was somewhat...surprised at how accidentally festive everything appeared.

This was his... He didn’t even know, somewhere north of his 800th life day, and he regarded the passing much as he did any other day of the week. Like another day of the week.

Long strides allowed the large Sith to circle the edge of the crowd. His eyes took note of many but focused on no one in particular. Another curiosity was how easily members of the Confederacy seemed to come up with fancy gowns and exquisite suits even when their primary function dictated armor or something more functional as a more suitable primary ensemble.

Aiden himself had been onboard the flagship by complete luck. He has been transiting between locations on personal affairs. Having just arrived, his intent had been to surprise [member="Naedira Darcrath"] enroute back to Stewjon. Honestly, the Sith Lord was partially happy for this distraction. He was fairly certain the ever-professional Knight would launch herself into working the event. Aiden had not prepared an appropriate answer to the ‘why are you here’ question. Well. He had, but given the increase in their romantic engagements, part of him felt like ‘because I want you’ was beginning to run it’s course as a reason.

Especially when Aiden knew he was only continuously pushing aside the reality of his increasing emotional investment.

A familiar sight slipped across Aiden’s vision, momentarily pulling himself from his internal monologue. It was the figure of Madalena Antares, or was she Scherezade again? Aiden had not spoken to Brayden in some time, so he was unsure where his nephew stood in the process. Given bed never actually said a single word to either woman, Aiden supposed that it did not really matter.

Long strides continued to carry him in the direction of the woman. She would undoubtedly feel his presence, much in the same way as Aiden could feel Naedira’s own life force pulsing elsewhere in the mammoth vessel. True to form, Aiden’s greeting was gruff in the typical tone of his deep baritone. ”You have a different dress every time that I see you. How much is the Knights Obsidian paying anyways?”

He knew the answer, of course.

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

wearing: xxx
w. [member="Katrine Van-Derveld"]

---

Another party. Gerwald was getting used to the idea of what the Confederacy called a party, but they still seemed dull compared to the kind of parties that were thrown on Stewjon. The Lupine was at this particular party without his sister for the first time in what seemed like ages. She may have been around the Fortressa somewhere, but this time he was accompanied by his lover, Katrine Van-Derveld. There were several parties that had been missed because the spirits continued to whisk her away to things which needed to be done, but today he would have his partner with him. Dressed like the jolly benefactor that some believed in, Gerwald was convinced that he looked ridiculous, but it was supposed to be fun and festive. The night promised to be interesting.

His eyes scanned the room they were all gathered in, seeing that it somehow looked like a winter wonderland. How this had been pulled off was beyond him, but it seemed to look right. There were familiar faces in the room, one of them belonging to [member="Scherezade deWinter"]. Whoever she was now did not recall one bit about their past, and Gerwald could admit that every time she had tried to understand why he rebuffered her, he behaved like a jerk. To be frank it made him frustrated that she could do that. She was free of the memories, while he still harbored them. There was something strong about it, but Gerwald give it no mind tonight. There was only one person he wanted to share the night with, and that person was the one who held his arm.

"Perhaps tonight we can both just relax and enjoy a party for once. The last time we were at a party together I think I almost stepped on your toes trying to dance with you. Maybe tonight if the opportunity arises I can show you how much I have improved."

The Lupine smiled as they continued further into the room. He hoped that [member="Alwine Lechner"] and [member="Varick Lechner"] would make it as well. It was a Life Day celebration after all, and what was it without family. Yes, he knew they both disapproved of his choice to be with Katrine, but today was the day to set that aside, even if just for the time.

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

Wearing: Dress | Honey Boo Prototype Combat Boots | The Forgemaster's Ring | Ring of Stasis
Wielding: 10 Czerka knivesHidden Wrist Blades
Location: Hall
Tags: [member="Aiden"]

---

She loathed feeling like a wallflower. Madalena was not born or built to be one. While not quite being the center of parties, she usually had her own group, or build her own group, to hang with and have fun with. This party… Things felt different. She could feel it in the crisp air of the hall, in the snow that fell from the ceiling. Things were different. Were they so just for her? Were others experiencing similar things? Looking at their faces, she doubted it.

Madalena could scent him before he spoke to her. She had sensed him before, she had caught this scent before. Everything inside of her knew so. And still, so many parts within the Sithling battled it, tried to tell her that it was utterly impossible. When she turned around, her own glowing eyes befell instantly on those of the taller man, and Madalena could do little other than blink.

Hypori. That was where she remembered his Signature from. He had sent a message into her mind that festival, and after she had screamed telepathically that she was not who he had called her, he had gone silent. She had sensed him on Ropagi too, but she had worked out that she had probably imagined it since she had so much to drink that day.

He made some comment about her wage and the number of dresses she wore, but Madalena made no attempt to reply to that. Instead she took another step towards him, and another, until only a mere few inches separated them, and she inhaled deeply.

No… It couldn't be… But he was standing there, flesh and blood. Blood.

"I thought I had no family members save my brother," Madalena whispered as she opened her eyes and looked at him again, "but we are related." She inhaled him again, allowing her face to come just a touch nearer, "an uncle," she said as she analyzed the scent through the Force, the feel of his blood through the Force, "daddy's brother?" she asked, perplexed, and took another inhale, "half-brother," the blood hound concluded, "same father, different mother."

Taking a step back to permit both of them some personal space, the confusion was all too clear to see on the young woman's face. "Who are you?" Madalena wasn't sure if she was asking the man directly, or thinking out loud.

Another feeling tugged inside of her. Madalena moved her gaze, eyes falling on the beacon, [member="Gerwald Lechner"]. She shook her head though, forcing it out of her mind. Right now, she just wanted to focus on this uncle she had never known existed.

 

[Cameron Centurion]

Under the Tree
Attire: XXX
Tags: [member="Scherezade deWinter"]

If Aiden was shocked by the woman’s statements or her proximity, nothing in his posture or facial expression betrayed the reality. With the exception of his biceps twitching as the large muscle group flexed briefly, momentarily causing the vein that strained against the skin to bulge. However, it quickly became apparent to Aiden that the woman before him was indeed...still Madalena.

Following a brief, unnecessary sweep of the room with his eyes, Aiden confirmed what he already knew to be true. His nephew Brayden was not presently onboard. More specifically, he knew that if he asked of his warriors, they would relay the precise current location of the other Prince of Endelaan. Allowing his gaze to settle back in Madalena, Aiden smirked slightly.

”All of Cameron Centurion’s living children had different mothers. However, yes. I am the eldest of his children. Your father was my second youngest brother ahead of Lyle, fifth youngest sibling overall. My name is Aiden and you...” Aiden paused just long enough to clasp his hands behind his back and gaze at Madalena with a curious expression.

He, unlike Brayden, did not have a deep connection to the woman. He could care less who she chose to be, but she was a Princess of Endelaan. In that regard her actions reflected on the family and their legacy. Madalena, in Aiden’s estimation, hadn’t been an embarrassment from a standpoint of performance. The only problem was the reality that people knew she was Scherezade. Naedira didn’t even know her and had managed to reason it out pretty easily. ”...have much to learn about your very large family.”

Tilting his head, Aiden allowed the shared connection that neither of them could much control to speak to him. ”You are upset. Why?”

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

Wearing: Dress | Honey Boo Prototype Combat Boots | The Forgemaster's Ring | Ring of Stasis
Wielding: 10 Czerka knivesHidden Wrist Blades
Location: Hall
Tags: [member="Aiden"]

---

She had been so focused on his face that the vein in his bicep went entirely unnoticed by the woman. Only when he smirked did she blink, the confusion still showing all too easily. If she had been slightly less off-balance, she probably would've remembered to control her face. Or perhaps not. Madalena didn't really have experience with… Situations, such as these.

Cameron Centurion? She did not know that name. She tried to remember something from her father's tales, but there was nothing in them that she could locate in her memory. The name was completely strange to her, as were the names Lyle and Aiden.

"What large family?" the Sithling half asked, half whispered, "I was never told I have a large family. There was just me and Brayden, and our parents, and they said that there weren't any others…"

There hadn't been. Madalena remembered asking about them, remembered being disappointed at not having grandparents, or uncles, or cousins. It was just them; a family of four. A family of four who had two years ago shrunk to two, and now felt as though it was being threatened to split yet again into two one's. She loathed that feeling.

Why was she upset? She shook her head again. "That doesn't matter right now." It didn't. There was no reason to confide in this person who, despite being her uncle, was still a stranger to her. He did not need to know of her problems with Brayden, or the nagging feeling inside of her of seeing the beacon ([member="Gerwald Lechner"]) across the room. Those were things that could all be delayed, at least for now.

Taking a deep breath, Madalena offered her arm to the man. To Aiden. To Uncle Aiden. "Perhaps we could walk as we speak?" she offered.

 

[Alwine Daye]

Wearing: Dress
Tags: [member="Gerwald Lechner"] | Feel free to join

---

She had not had the time to go shop for a new dress, and thus Alwine found herself in the same dress she had worn to Ropagi, this time for a Life Day celebration. But that was not the reason for the sneer on her face.

After many a month, she and her brother were not alone at a party. No. Of all the parties that the Confederacy threw, and the gods knew there was a never ending stream of those, her brother had chosen to bring the auflaque along for the one that had something to do with family.

Why he expected this to be a good thing was beyond the youngest of the Lechner siblings. Both he and the vile woman had left two other Lupines behind. Gerwald had gone off after a future that did not include his sibling. No amount of coming back could ever make that all right, or make Alwine support him in an endeavor for a future that did not include both her and Varick in it, and that was before counting the woman's sins against them.

And now they were there. It was sickening. Could he not have taken her to one of the million other parties and let the real family enjoy this one?

The petite blonde took a mug of mead from the bar. She would not approach [member="Gerwald Lechner"] while he was dangling off the auflaque's arm as she was showing him off like he was some sort of a-. Uegh! It was sickening.

Chocolate eyes proceeded to scan the rest of the snow covered room. Surely there would be someone else she could focus on.

 

[Asher Mossa]

wearing: xxx
w. [member="Alwine Lechner"]

---

Be social. It was something the spirit of Lylek continued to tell Asher. While he was supposed to operate in the shadows, and usually chose to do so alone, the spirit was trying to teach him it was possible to hide while being in plain sight. There was more to operating from the shadows than being hidden by them. While he did not quite have the idea of festive dress down, the warlock did at least look as though he was trying. A new jerkin made of leather and other materials acted as his armor and covering. It spoke to the wealth of the collective group he was part of. Not that they were wealthy, but that were able to take care of their own. He also ensured that his scars did not show. The mark from the spirit would be odd to some, and this was not an occasion to put himself on display.

What he really needed was mead.

Asher pressed through the crowd of people until he found somewhere that was serving something.

"Mead," he said to the bartender who looked at him like it was an odd request.

His head turned to survey the people that were at the bar, and a small little smirk pulled at his lips when he saw a woman dressed in something nice with a large mug of mead in her hand. She was a petite thing and the glass looked that much larger next to her than it actually was. He turned back to the mug in front of him and lifted it toward the woman before he took a drink. A soft chuckle escaped his lips as he set it down.

"That is certainly not something you see everyday. The mead is crap though. Can't ever seem to serve it right. I think the Confederacy just needs to ship it from Stewjon. It would taste much better that way."

[member="Alwine Lechner"]

 

[Alwine Daye]

Wearing: Dress
Tags: [member="Asher Mossa"]

---

Alwine had been sipping from her drink, possibly more politely than how mead was meant to be drunk. In truth, she found no joy in it tonight, but it at least gave her hands something to do as she scanned the room, noting the faces and the Force presences that she recognized, and those that she did not. It seemed that many people found the falling snow exciting or even somewhat magical. The Lupine snorted at the notion. None of those people had to wake up before dawn to do scullery work while it was still snowing outside. The snow held no magic to her, not without pelts of fur to keep herself warm, not without…

Well. Perhaps she should have chosen to attend as a wolf. In her wolf shape, Alwine loved the falling snow. It always reminded her of early winter dawns, when she was out in the forests with one or both of her brothers. The air had always been crisp then at night too, but when the sky lightened and she saw how their furs were all covered in an extra layer of that white fine powder that fell from the sky… It was a good memory. And like all good memories she had of Stewjon, it involved the woods, her brothers, and stolen time.

Alwine nearly missed the man holding his drink up to her. She blinked, quickly raising her own mug to him, realizing only an instant later that he was having mead as well.

She gave him a polite smile as he began to speak of how bad the mead was, and while she was inclined to agree, she most def-

What?!

"Stewjon?" she asked, blinking. Well, if nothing else, the man had her attention now. Alwine rose from her seat, trying to make herself appear as tall as her five feet let her, and went to stand right in front of him. "In all my months with the Confederacy, I have found less than a half full of people who even knew it was a planet," she admitted, "how do you know the taste of Stejwon mead?"

 

[Koda Fett]

​

​

Untouched, maybe. Fett had become rather aware, if not accustomed to those that dwelled in the realms beyond and their interconnections regarding the mortal plane of existence. If anyone were to blame, surely, it would be that of the Sith; the Mandalorian felt a particular obligation to understand the particulars of their cult, or religion-- he never knew how to aptly describe them. Ghosts, or Spirits had absolutely proven to grasp his attention. It'd been an absolute lie to imply he never desired communication with those long since passed. Everyone from that life in which he once lead had since passed, but maybe he was afraid of what he'd become was to turn them away. He only ever feared that, really.

"I hadn't considered it." The Bounty Hunter truthfully responded through the same tone of indifference, but then soon shifting to one of clear curiosity. "And you've come to me, why?" He asked, believing it to be the most expected, if not fair question to thrust forwards. "I can't recall us ever being friends?"

[member="Kaden Mantis"]

 

[Cameron Centurion]

Under the Tree
Attire: XXX
Tags: [member="Scherezade deWinter"]

Aiden's expression remained neutral. Whatever smirk had previously adorned his features, faded from his face entirely. Truth be told, Aiden was not exactly sure how much of this information even Scherezade would have. From her brother, Aiden had discovered that chubby little Nessa had blessed her son with the gift of her memories. However, Nessarose had never known Aiden existed, and neither of the Alia Ravyns' of Cameron's life were known to the girl either. Nessa and therefore Brayden, certainly did know about Lyle and all of Cameron's other children with the exception of Cosette.

If Aiden continued his interaction with Scherezade after her return, he might come to find that Shery, and therefore Scherezade, had known a woman by the name of Alia. It was not the same as the woman that gave birth to Aiden, however. The more Aiden had learned about his biological father over the years, the more he'd been...intrigued by how susceptible the man was to something as insipid and fragile as love. To be certain, going so far as to name a slave after a woman you once loved was...almost clinically disgusting. "You weren't told a great many things Madalena."

The Sith Lord offered a brief snort of amusement before his eyes tracked to her offered arm. Slowly, his bright gaze snapped back to Madalena's similarly colored irises. He could endure the contact. Allowing his arm to loop into her own, Aiden turned and began walking. His concern that it might somehow remind him of Naedira and set his thoughts astray proved to be unfounded. It felt nothing like the touch of Naedira. For now, he ignored the reality that she'd crept into his thoughts yet again anyways. That was a much larger mystery to the Sith.

Or so he convinced himself.

"However, I think that if you truly search your mind... You might find the truth in a great many things you previously thought you did not know." Then again, perhaps he was overestimating Madalena's ability to sense the secondary presence in her mind, or he was underestimating Scherezade's ability to prevent it. The question that lingered in Aiden's mind was thus - how could Scherezade have willfully created a lesser version of herself? That was a talent even some of the most talented sorcerers Aiden had ever met probably would never boast. Everything about this duplicitous situation was...moderately intriguing for the time being. "Or perhaps you're not strong enough," Aiden shrugged his shoulders casually.

He was attempting to goad her, of course.

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

Wearing: Dress | Honey Boo Prototype Combat Boots | The Forgemaster's Ring | Ring of Stasis
Wielding: 10 Czerka knivesHidden Wrist Blades
Location: Hall
Tags: [member="Aiden"]

---

She had not been told a great many things? Madalena nodded. "My parents died when I was sixteen," she said quietly, "almost three years ago. There are a great many things there had not been any time for them to tell me. But the knowledge that has disappeared with them is not what I mourn. It is their warmth, and their presence."

The same things that she missed with Brayden now. Madalena wished dearly that he was here, tonight. Or perhaps even somewhere nearby. She had memories of Sithmas trees and presents, of nights spent under blanket forts telling stories, having fun. The twins might have been Sith, but there was warmth and love in their family, the sort of warmth and love that even in her closeness to Josh and his son, she could not replicate anywhere else. Madalena had made three wishes by the tree during the Hypori festival. One of them had been to get her brother back. It was a wish that had still not been fulfilled, not truly.

If she'd just searched her mind? The Sithling blinked, and looked at her uncle, eyes squinting as she tried to make sense of his words. He was speaking in riddles that she could not even begin to comprehend right there and then. "I'm not particularly good with riddles," she openly admitted. Madalena was a Warrior, a blade to use and to be used. She was a predator, a blood hound, but… But she was not much for unsolved mysteries and being all weird. "Where were you while Brayden and I were growing up?" she asked, changing the subjects, "why would daddy have never told us about you? If I'd known I had an uncle…"

If she'd known she had an uncle, Madalena would probably have gone to him after their home on Coruscant was destroyed, instead of towards the Confederacy. Maybe even sooner. Maybe her parents' death could have been entirely avoided since they'd have had somewhere to go to when yet another one of those stupid wars on Coruscant broke out. But whatever might have happened had she known, the only thing Madalena could be certain of was that at least some of the major events in her short life would have most likely unfolded differently. But then again, perhaps not.

 

[Cameron Centurion]

Under the Tree
Attire: XXX
Tag: [member="Scherezade deWinter"]

Aiden glanced sideways at Madalena for a brief moment before redirecting his gaze to the artificial snow which was continuously dissipating against his warm skin. "The loss of a parent..." Aiden could not relate to the emotion in any way, whatsoever. Having never truly met his actual parents, it wasn't exactly something he ever needed to concern himself with. The closest he'd been were the fourteen some odd years he'd spent with his birth mother...or at least her body, inhabited by Boadicea. "I can imagine it is complicated, but things could be worse. You could very well have lost them as an infant, never having had the chance to truly no them or your brother."

Shrugging his shoulders, Aiden's eyes drifted back to regard Madalena once more. "You should take stock of what you do have." The Sith Lord didn't even know what...she had. He was assuming. If the statement backfired, fine. "Anyways - hardly what genuinely matters. As for me, I've been here and there but never terribly far. Your father though...he never knew I existed. In fact the only sibling of his that he'd ever met was our sister Isabella." Aiden was guessing of course, but from conversations with Brayden and Caid, it seemed that Caid had spent most of his years secluded on Dathomir. He was close with their sister Gemma for that reason but scarcely anyone else until recently.

Withdrawing his arm from Madalena's, Aiden stopped walking and turned to gaze absently at the young woman. How was she so much younger than Brayden, by the way? Did it have something to do with The Darkness or whatever Brayden had mentioned? Perhaps Scherezade had emerged...only recently. "Like most large families, ours is complicated. Scratch that... Cameron was complicated, enigmatic, and more than a little bit of a philanderer. He didn't believe in true family until near the very end of his life, so his children never much knew about each other. I know this only by virtue of having lived nearly as long as my father. As for the riddle..."

Slowly, the smirk returned to Aiden's lips. "It's much more direct than you're allowing yourself to imagine. A warrior should still have a firm grasp and understanding of the Force's more archaic concepts." A brief appraisal of Madalena's form preceded a casual shrug of his shoulders. "It might answer some of the questions swirling around your mind regarding curious comments and actions of others..or feelings you may have from time to time."

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

Wearing: Dress | Honey Boo Prototype Combat Boots | The Forgemaster's Ring | Ring of Stasis
Wielding: 10 Czerka knivesHidden Wrist Blades
Location: Hall
Tags: Aiden

---

Losing them as an infant? Madalena blinked. She found the mere thought almost unbearable. Of course she knew that this happened to people, to babies, all the time. She had caused it to happen more than once while on her blood happy sprees. But to have grown without her parents at all, just thinking about it sent a pang of pain through her chest before she set it aside. No. There were many things that had gone wrong in her young life, but the fact she got to spend sixteen wonderful yeas with her parents was something she cherished and would never have given up on.

Take what she did have? She had a handful of close friends and her work with the Knights Obsidian. Other than that, Madalena knew she had precious little. She clung to her friends and her work – both gave her a reason to get out of bed when she tired of the never ending nightmare cycles.

Madalena looked at Aiden with open surprise as he mentioned her father never knew he existed. Only one sibling? She'd never heard the name Isabella before in relation to her family. Another stranger, another one to add to the list. Not a drop of familiarly washed over her features at this information – for Madalena knew nothing of these people and these names.

And apparently, her grandfather was a complicated man. Another thing that Madalena had no way to respond or reply to. She knew nothing of the man save what Aiden was telling her now.

"My only question is why is my brother avoiding me," she said with her own shrug. The archaic concepts of the Force? She was a blood hound, she dealt with those regularly. But there were quite a few of them. Madalena was hardly in a position to claim she knew them all, or even many. A few Witch spells, a few Sith spells, a lot of blood magic, and that was more or less it. Everything else had to do with her being a Warrior.

"Is there anything you want?" she found herself asking before she'd had a moment to think about it, "now that you're here, I mean. Why step forward now?"

 

[Cameron Centurion]

Under the Tree
Attire: XXX
Tags: [member="Scherezade deWinter"]

"Pure, morbid curiosity," was Aiden's simple and immediate response to Madalena's question. In truth, he was mostly killing what he would consider to be an appropriate amount of time before attempting to seek out Naedira. It was obvious that the disturbance on this deck had been...well...if it had been serious, it seemed pretty benign now. "That is why I approached you. Outside of that, I can't say that I have some grand reasoning. In the end of the day, we will all need family. For you, that day may arrive much sooner than you imagine."

Resuming a casual pace once more, Aiden switched to addressing the girl's question about Brayden. Aiden's first impulse was to laugh, but he'd managed to avoid it by saving the query for last. "Madalena, have you ever been in love?" A serious, curious expression adorned Aiden's features as he turned his bright gaze to her once more. "I mean truly, deeply, uncontrollably in love?"

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

Wearing: Dress | Honey Boo Prototype Combat Boots | The Forgemaster's Ring | Ring of Stasis
Wielding: 10 Czerka knivesHidden Wrist Blades
Location: Hall
Tags: [member="Aiden"]

---

"Oh," was the only reply she had to his answer. Morbid curiosity. Why would curiosity about family members be morbid in any way? She nodded when he said they all needed family. She needed her brother. But did Brayden need her? With the way he was behaving… Madalena sighed. Perhaps he did not, and certainly not the way she needed him. To have him around but so distant was worse than knowing he was on the other side of the galaxy and couldn't really be contacted. And still she did not dream of wishing he had not yet returned. She was glad that he had returned, she just… She just wanted them to be by each other's sides again.

Aiden resumed the walk, and Madalena followed by his side, making no attempts to hold his arm again. The whole situation seemed so strange to her. Here he was, a man who was a perfect stranger, a man who had no reason to come forward and tell her of this great family that she knew nothing of yet had told her anyway and… No. That train of thought would lead her nowhere.

There was not a pause in her step as Aiden posed his question. In love? Uncontrollably? "Not really," she said with a shrug. She'd had a boyfriend when she was sixteen, but he had cheated on her and they broke up. About a week later her parents died and it had made the whole thing seem so unimportant that she didn't even think about it. Brayden and Madalena had been there for each other through the grief of their parents, and Josh had been there for them too. That had been the important part. But that was not what Aiden had asked about. He'd asked about the truly deeply part of being in love. That, Madalena was certain, she'd never been. "Why do you ask?"

 

[Cameron Centurion]

Under the Tree
Attire: XXX
Tags: [member="Scherezade deWinter"]

Aiden nodded slowly as Madalena responded. He wasn't surprised at her response by any means necessary. In fact, he had expected her to have no earthly idea what he was really talking about. The reality here was...that was the entire problem. "Your brother does, that is why I ask. He's found someone that completes the missing piece of his soul, someone that fills him with hope and aspiration for the future. You have to give him time to experience and enjoy that sensation without the guilt-trip of not being constantly available to you."

Raising his hand, Aiden motioned for her to stay her desire to respond if it existed. "It doesn't mean he need to or should ignore you, but I think perhaps he does need time to explore his own feelings. If he wants to build a life with her, you need to give him the space to find out what that means for him, how it fits into his old life." Shrugging his shoulders, Aiden motioned to the assembled masses. "If I've learned one thing, it's that life is a constantly evolving journey. People do change. If you become an impediment to that, you may drive him further away."

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

Wearing: Dress | Honey Boo Prototype Combat Boots | The Forgemaster's Ring | Ring of Stasis
Wielding: 10 Czerka knivesHidden Wrist Blades
Location: Hall
Tags: [member="Aiden"]

---

Madalena paused in her step. It was not so much that he revealing of Brayden's love life caused the shock to course through her, but the knowledge that Brayden knew they had an uncle and had not bothered to let her know in any capacity. Brayden was probably the only person who knew how much family meant to Madalena, and he… He'd chosen to not tell her.

The rest of Aiden's words showed her how he clearly had no clue what he was talking about. She had not tried to choke Brayden's time, had not demanded more of it. She'd tried to speak to Brayden about how he was behaving when they were together, how he was so distant. It was a matter of quality and not quantity. And on top of that, Brayden knew of at least this uncle, and had not told her.

"He found love and he found an uncle and he could not bother to actually tell me any of those things," she said quietly, turning around. Aiden didn't need to see the mixture of pain and anger that now began to spread over her face. Madalena was a fierce warrior, a deadly fighter, but she was not good at hiding her feelings, and had never been. "He can build any kind of life that he wants with Faye. I would never stand in his way of doing that. I support him doing that. What I do not support, and will never support, is how he chooses to behave around it. Around me, right now. Finding the other part of your soul is not a reason to be a douche to others, is not a reason to hide knowledge of existing family from your own twin sister."

Every muscle tensed beneath her skin. With the revealing cut of her dress around her shoulders and arms, that would have been hard to miss. Madalena wanted to cry. Madalena wanted to kill something. Madalena wondered if she could do both at the same time.

Turning around, she stared at her uncle for a moment. "Thank you for telling me this," she said, wishing she could make her voice sound like ice, but instead the pain was all too easy to taste in it. "I'm sorry this little family reunion is not as wonderful as it might have otherwise been."

 

[Cameron Centurion]

Under the Tree
Attire: XXX
Tag: [member="Scherezade deWinter"]

Aiden visibly rolled his eyes at Madalena's retort. Everything about her response showed that she actually had missed the entire point. Whatever pain existed in Madalena's voice went largely without acknowledgment or mental investment from the Sith Lord. "This is the point, Madalena. You do not need to accept anything. Your perception...actually does not matter in the situation at all. I suspect you're as bad about understanding that with Brayden as you've just been with me. However..." Aiden shrugged casually. "...it's your life to live. I suspect Brayden will approach you in his own time when he's ready."

For all of the girl's capabilities, she had a definitively profound inability to perceive the reality of life around her. This would be clear by simple virtue of her staunch refusal to believe what everyone else says to her regarding who she is. Aiden had given...just about all of the patience he had to her particular situation. "At any rate, don't mention it. You seemed bored, lonely even."

Glancing towards the exit, Aiden silently indicated his upcoming action. "I'm afraid there are other matters that I need to tend to." Offering Madalena a slight incline of his head, Aiden turned to step away. "Enjoy...whatever this is."

 

[Lirka Ka]

[member="Helly Reyne"]

Lirka had already guzzled her way through something that vaguely resembled booze, with less than something resembling care she tossed the bottle aside: she was in a good mood, for once: something about the whole spirit of this place. It took away her cares, for just this once. Lirka was actually just enjoying herself

"Lirka Ka, at your service. I bust open the heads of the who the Confederacy doesn't like."

That was one way to answer a question, and it held a small joke within it for Lirka's own pointed ears: it had been a similar pitch she had given during those old old days as a Mercenary. Oh how times have changed over the many years since she had left that "comfortable" life in the Choah pits.

 

[Naedira Darcrath]

Location: Mezzanine Overlooking the Dining Hall [Balcony]​

Wearing: XXX​

Tag: [member="Aiden"]​

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Knight Darcrath stood on the mezzanine above the dining hall with an indiscernible expression. As the chaos unfolded she reached up and pinched the bridge of her nose, briefly, trying to swallow a bellow that would put the fear of decommission back into the droids that mad a mess all over the recently restored Fortressa. On her way in she’d caught them sneaking guiltily out. The Vicelord was below. If anyone was going to shout or lambast the robotic culprits responsible for essentially flooding the cafeteria with junk—she assumed it would be their leader almighty.

Instead, [member="Darth Metus"] picked a present, and seemed to enjoy it.

Naedira blinked.

Her purpose on the Fortressa had been simple. It involved readying new Knights to take on patrols and educating them with basic protocol requirements. She wasn’t anyone special, no, that was reserved for their Dominus @Cardinal Vi’Dreya, but she made good marks. Everyone knew she was a stickler for the rules. With Life Day soon on the horizon, the rest of the Confederacy seemed to be resting on their laurels. It was their last vacation before their rumored long walk to the northern section of the galaxy to deal with some sort of Empire.

Luckily, she scarcely knew the meaning of taking a day off.

In that respect she had done her best to keep from seeking out the presence of a certain Viceroy of Stewjon. What had once been an uncomplicated connection, string-less, and straightforward was now something she did not quite understand. Naedira had spent too much time on her own to truly separate what she felt every time [member="Aiden"] entered her general airspace. She was keenly aware of him in a way that was not typical of other acquaintances. Force-sensitive or not.

Her attention spread throughout the cafeteria to provide a sense of security. As much of a mess as it was, truly, the CIS seemed to take it in stride. Her hackles lowered bit by bit. As annoying as it was, she was an executor, not a custodian. If there was nothing to fight, no one was harmed, it was far from her concern. With or without her will chestnut eyes began to focus on a certain silver-green eyes man once again. She was behind him, far above, and it gave her an easy vantage point so that she wouldn't lose him in the steadily growing crowd.

Aiden seemed to be dealing with a little bit of family business he had missed handling on Unity Day. Something, that would ho unnamed, had distracted him from the entire affair twice over. She remained a silent sentinel whilst he walked the room with Madalena Antares [[member="Scherezade deWinter"]]. Raising her wrist to her lips she also called for the rest of the Knights Obsidian on board to stand down.

“All is well, Knights. Carry on.”

It was another party. Not an attack.

As Aiden made his way toward the exit she found her feet carrying her around the balcony above so that she could see him from any angle. She reached through the Force and let telekinetic fingers brush against the back of his neck before her presence ebbed away. The Knight leaned on the railing, with long auburn hair falling in un-styled waves. Naedira, as she had been coaching her peers, not fighting them, she was dressed in a plain red blouse and a pair of dark high-waisted slacks. Sensible flat-heeled boots adorned her feet. Professional and functional as always.

“Viceroy…Leaving so soon?”

Her words would loft down like a feather from the sky. Regardless, she awaited a response with what seemed like infinite patience. It wasn’t entirely true. Feeling him so near, yet so far, was a dizzying combination of tempting and distracting. Of course, she was teasing him. Aiden, more than anyone, would know the sound of her amusement after all this time.