Private Bed Rest (Quinn Varanin)

[Kirie]

Location: Varanin Residence, Jutrand
With: Quinn Varanin

Kirie had smoothed down the sheets for the thousandth time. She didn't need to, the enormous bed's starched white sheets had been made such that Kirie could bounce a coin off of them. It was just like she didn't have to keep dusting the windowsill, or keep checking to make sure the hastily-patched banister was secure. The call had come in earlier that day. Quinn was coming home. The house had to be perfect.

After a time, the waiting had started to drive her insane. She tried sitting down with the heavy ur-Kittat textbook she'd asked to be sent down from the Academy library, but she couldn't focus. She just kept reading the same sentence over and again. After that, she took to pacing around the cramped back garden, counting out her laps around the vegetable patches. Kirie was up to 150 before one of the other Ladies poked her head out and gave Kirie a confused look.

"Kirie. She's here."

Kirie's eyes widened. Quinn was here now, and she had missed her arriving. Without a word, Kirie pushed past the other Lady, pausing only to kick her boots off when she got inside. She skipped over the raised spot on the floor where it had been broken and bounded up the stairs, her excitement apparent for anyone who cared to look. Quinn was back. She was home. Kirie grinned, residual worry and anxiety lifting off her shoulders even before she'd made it to the bedroom. Quinn was home. The topsy-turvy strangeness of the past week would soon fade into memory. Everything would go back to normal.

She bounded through the open door, skidding dramatically with her socks across the wood floor and waving frantically.

"Quinnnnnn!" Kirie sang. "I hope you're ready for a thousand kisses because I've been saving them u-"

Kirie stopped in her tracks. Her eyes widened in horror. Her gaze had fallen upon the Princess of Eshan, very small in the centre of the enormous bed. There was a trolley with medical equipment parked beside the bed, and a small med droid ready to deploy if needed. It reminded Kirie of the drinks cart she had repurposed a few evenings prior when she had called on Kaila Irons . Her bandaged arm was hidden beneath her sleeve. That was a conversation best saved for another time.

Perhaps the worst thing, aside from the shock of seeing Quinn in such a state, was the smell. The bedroom usually carried the faint lingering scent of floral perfume and potpourri, even when Quinn was travelling. Now, it just smelled like disinfectant and bacta patches. It made the room feel unfamiliar.

"Holy chit." she said, voice suddenly serious. "Quinn... They didn't tell me it was this bad."

Kirie sat gently at the side of the bed, tentatively placing a hand on the bedspread beside Quinn, resting face-up, to see if she would take it.

 

[Quinn Varanin]

//: Kirie //:
//: Varanin Estate//:
//: Jutrand //:

Quinn was happy to finally be heading home. While being on the Mors Mon and having her mother doting upon her the entire time had been fantastic, she missed her. As well as she felt, Quinn knew the road to full recovery would take time. She had been blessed having the witch, Carnifex's doctor, and the Empress bring her back to life. Was that something she should share with Kirie? Everything about the kidnapping and torture had been a blur, with nightmares filling in the gaps that she had forgotten. Waking up in a cold sweat after remembering their hands over her was something she could never get used to.

It took time for her to get settled in. The Sith guards, personal soldiers from the Empress's side, had kept her hidden upon entering the estate. They were to stay with the Princess as long as it took her to heal. As much as Kirie had probably wanted to keep quiet about the invasion of their home, Quinn already had gotten the word. The reason was still hidden, but it was enough for the Echani to worry about her Lady. A hand waved to the doctors who doted upon her. They would return to the hospitals nearby, and Quinn would remain with the machines still connected to her.

"Thank you," Quinn nodded, and they soon left. A weight was lifted from her chest with a sigh as she was finally home. Even if it didn't feel safe, it was still her home, and she would defend it if necessary. Nothing was out of place pleased her; it meant Kirie and the others knew how the house should be. Her gaze scanned the room; it felt so empty, but at least she could sleep. The peace of the room would soon be interrupted by a pleasant surprise. Quinn smiled, seeing the Welkian woman. Her face was one the Princess had longed to see while bedridden on the Mors Mon. "Kirie," her voice weakened as she spoke - but Quinn did her best to not make her worry.

Eyes easily clocked the bandage, which raised her eyebrows. The Echani had learned how the woman moved, and when Kirie was determined to hide something, she was sadly evident. The Princess let the maid keep her secrets for now. Sitting up, Quinn nodded, agreeing with the comments. "Yeah, they are keeping my kidnap and torture quiet. Only those in the second legion and higher up know the details." She sat up better to look at Kirie; her eyes lingered on the woman's hand for just a moment until Quinn took it. Feeling Kirie's hand gave her the sudden warmth she needed.

Grasping the woman's hand, the Echani let her thumb gently caress her rougher skin. In small moments like this, Quinn found herself realizing their differences in upbringing. Despite Quinn being a warrior, her hands were still soft and lacked the training callouses many had.

The benefits of luxury.

"I died." Quinn paused to let everything sink in, "I'm sorry they didn't relay the information to you properly." She gripped the sheets tightly in her fists, knowing what it was like to be home and waiting for someone - not knowing what was happening to them. She didn't want Kirie to experience it, but unfortunately, it happened sooner than the Princess wanted. Seeing the offered hand, Quinn reached out, grasping it and feeling the comfort she desperately needed. "Why are you so far from me?" she quietly asked, hoping Kirie would understand what the Echani wanted.

 

[Kirie]

Location: Varanin Residence, Jutrand
With: Quinn Varanin
Mentioned: Kaila Irons

"Yeah, they are keeping my kidnap and torture quiet. Only those in the second legion and higher up know the details."

Kirie flinched at the word 'torture', but she did her best to keep her face neutral. Quinn had been through a lot. Kirie was sure she didn't want to sit trapped in the bed while her Lady in Waiting blubbered next to her. Instead, she just pressed her lips together and nodded. Quinn knew Kirie inside out anyway. She would sense her concern, her sympathy, even if Kirie couldn't voice it without breaking down.

Her heart leapt when she felt Quinn's hand close around hers. She kept her grip loose, allowing Quinn's fingers to trace their way across the grooves of her palm. The sensation of the Princess' touch was familiar, yet it still thrilled Kirie after being away from it. How quickly she became starved these days.

"You died?" Kirie repeated. Kirie gripped Quinn's hand a little too tightly. It was no wonder then that the news of what had happened to Quinn had been so thoroughly suppressed. Kirie wondered what lengths Quinn's Sith compatriots had gone to in order to revive her, and what suffering Quinn had endured to end up with her injuries, her life extinguished. It was a disturbing thing to consider, especially since Kirie had assumed someone as prominent as the Princess of Eshan would be beyond such treatment.

"Well you're here now." Kirie mused. "Living." She planted a small kiss on Quinn's hand. "Breathing, and beautiful as ever." Another kiss, holding her hand like the precious thing it was. "And, I'm fine too. We should count ourselves lucky." The reference was the first time Kirie had mentioned the attack on the apartment, on her. With some luck, she could skate by without discussing it.

"Why are you so far from me?"

Kirie grinned, immediately hopping up onto the bed, her eagerness to be close to Quinn all too obvious. She had held herself back, in fear of hurting Quinn, but now she wrapped herself around the Princess, careful not to rest her weight on either the injured woman or her bandaged arm. Kirie snuggled in close, finding her way to the position that become so familiar, with her head resting against Quinn's shoulder, looking up at her, an arm draped over her sternum. Kirie released a contented sigh, here, laying with Quinn in her arms, things felt a little more normal. Gently, she nudged Quinn with her head, prodding her until she turned towards her enough. Then, lightning fast, Kirie pressed her lips to Quinn's, waves of warmth spreading through her face and chest. Quinn would feel her lips quirk up into another smile.

"Oh!" Kirie said, abruptly pulling away and sitting up. "I have to show you something. No secrets, right?"

Kirie pulled up her sleeve, revealing the bandage which she had not realised had been bleeding. The red stained cloth made for a more dramatic reveal than she had been hoping, but she soldiered on.

"Anathemous helped me." Kirie said, a touch of pride in her voice. "With the brand and... A lot of stuff, actually. I can see why you like her so much." Kirie pulled her sleeve down, and after a moments consideration, ditched the button up entirely, leaving her just in her singlet. "It's another barrier gone."

Kirie flopped down on the bed beside Quinn, lacing her fingers between hers again. Her heart beat hard, not with anticipation this time, but with nerves. It was time to stop tiptoeing. Too much was at stake. Kirie had to face up and put her heart on the line.

"Quinn." Kirie said, her voice earnest. "I need to go back to Weik, and soon." She pursed her lips, anticipating the pained reaction it would trigger from Quinn.

"But..."

"I want to come back. If- If that's okay with you."

 

[Quinn Varanin]

//: Kirie //:
//: Varanin Estate//:
//: Jutrand //:

Kirie was one of the reasons she came back. She couldn't just let her promise to the Welkian go unfulfilled. Quinn smiled, feeling comfortable having the woman close to her again. Here, they were in their own world, free from the weight of the Empire and free from those who hunted the woman before her. Quinn watched as Kirie climbed into bed and did her best not to bring harm to the fragile Princess. Moments like this reminded Quinn of how precious Kirie was to her.

Their bodies pressed together; it felt like this was how things were supposed to be. Looking at Kirie, Quinn couldn't fathom the woman ever leaving. While home, she'd always had Kirie with her, and nothing could change that. At this point, the Princess assumed the desire to go home had faded. She had seemingly settled into her life with the Princess. Quinn leaned into the other woman, her lips pressing gently on the woman's forehead. The gentle fragrance of the bath oils lingered on her lover's skin. Closing her eyes, Kirie smelled like home.

Daydreams wandered back to the night Kirie had first entered her room. They had shared the evening, a moment that was destined to happen. Quinn had desperately missed her Kirie. Their shared moment faded as Kirie's excitement perked up. The Princess smiled, waiting for the exciting news the maid wanted to share. "Oh? I didn't think you had more secrets," she laughed and waited—knowing that it had to do with the bandage on her arm.

Kirie continued, telling the story of Kaila being summoned and Kirie convincing her to participate in this carving of the mark. Quinn's eyebrows raised as she learned the details of everything. It seemed her two paramours conspired quite well together while she was bedridden on the Mors Mon. Quinn's lips parted as she wanted to say something to the girl, who was so happy knowing that the biggest barrier was gone. While Quinn was proud of the pair, she was also disappointed in them for carving Kirie up without her being there to heal the damage.

The worst thing Quinn could have heard happened. She had hoped Kirie's desire to leave had left, but knowing the attack on the Estate probably reminded Kirie that Quinn couldn't protect her from everything. Her gaze fell, fighting back the tears that were welling. Quinn wanted to fall apart. She needed Kirie. Hazel eyes shot up, watching hopefully the moment she continued.

"I want you to come back. Do you have to leave? Aren't you happy here? What more do I need to do to keep you here?" Quinn reached to Kirie, wanting to pull the woman even closer to her. Maybe if the woman was reminded how much the Princess needed her, she wouldn't have left.

"Was it because I couldn't protect you?" Quinn whispered into Kirie's shoulder as she held her close, wanting her to stay.

 

[Kirie]

Location: Varanin Residence, Jutrand
With: Quinn Varanin

Lying beside Quinn, feeling her lover's soft warmth against her, feeling her breath tickle her neck, it felt like home, and it gave Kirie the strength to keep speaking. Even though every word that tumbled from her lips terrified her, she spoke for Quinn as much as herself. Lying and concealing had become her habit, how she survived. But Kirie owed Quinn her honesty, so she continued.

"Do you have to leave?"

"I do." said Kirie, her voice firm. "I need to check on my Mum; tell her I'm alright. My town is... Isolated. None of my messages have gone through." A slight lurch of worry twisted in Kirie's gut, but she suppressed it. One thing at a time. That was how she survived here. If she thought about it all at once, tried to take all of her problems on, she knew she'd be buried. "It will just be a few days, Quinn. Then, I'll come back, and we'll find a way to make the Empire a place I can stay for good."

She paused a beat. "With you, if you... Want that? At least until I find my feet."

Kirie knew that Quinn had treasured her presence at the apartment. She had made that rather clear. But if, no, when Kirie came back, it would no longer be under the pretense that Kirie was staying until she could escape. She had to make sure that didn't change anything. She desperately hoped it didn't.

"Was it because I couldn't protect you?"

"Oh Quinn..." said Kirie, cupping Quinn's cheek with her hand. "Surely you don't think it's that, do you?" Kirie shook her head with authority. "Your Highness, my Princess, if it weren't for you, I would be in a work camp on Vestar, or I would be dead." She gently pressed her forehead against Quinn's lips, returning the woman's earlier gesture partially to comfort, and partially to stop her protesting before Kirie had a chance to finish.

"Bad things follow me. All my life, but especially lately. There is always danger." Her hands had been softened a lot in her time with Quinn, the calloused skin gradually relenting to the care of expensive soaps and creams, and the absence of hard labour. Still, some roughness remained, and Quinn would feel this as Kirie stroked her face tenderly, her voice warm like honey, without hesitation. "You saved me, Quinn. You gave me hope."

Her hand continued downward, tracing Quinn's cheekbone, then her jaw, her neck. "And, much, more." Kirie said with a sly smile. Kirie looked back up, looking into Quinn's eyes, her gaze intense despite her playful words. Kirie hated making her feel like this, especially after everything she'd been through. But, Kirie had agonised over her predicament for so long, and she was finally on a path where she could see some sort of future. She couldn't waver now. She would do it all right. No half measures, no more stupid impulsive decisions.

Kirie rolled back just a touch, giving Quinn the room to pull away if she needed, even though Kirie desperately craved her touch.

"I was wondering if... Well, will you come with me?"

 

[Quinn Varanin]

//: Kirie //:
//: Varanin Estate//:
//: Jutrand //:

Quinn could feel her heart shattering with every word Kirie had said. She knew the woman would always go home and return to her real life outside of the estate, but she thought she had more time. Quinn wondered if she had wasted too much of the time she would have had with Kirie doing her duties as a professor and now the Sith Princess. She died as the Princess of Eshan and rose the Heir to the Empire. Potentially one of many who held the claim, but she was there - first and ready to protect the secret of the Imperial family.

Closing her eyes, Quinn tried to think less of her predicament and focus on the growing pain in her heart. Hearing Kirie's reasons for going home only made the Echani feel guilty; her heart was torn in two, and one piece belonged to the Welkian woman. Despite wanting to come back, would she? Quinn's mind wandered to the worst situations. Would she have to learn to live without Kirie?

Her silent tears stained the recently freed slave's hand as her face melted against the woman's touch. All she wanted was for this moment to last forever; she wanted to keep Kirie to herself. It wasn't going to be the case, and it never was going to be the case; Quinn had to return to the woman to her life. A soft whine as Kirie tried to comfort her, trailing her touch down her cheek and neck. Tightness in her chest and stomach paused the tears for a second; desire swelled in her heart as her eyes locked with the brunette in front of her. Be damned the wounds they both had; if her time was limited with a piece of her heart - the Princess would demand it all.

Quinn kept Kirie close, even if it meant grabbing her by the cloth on her body. There was no room for distance between them, not now, not ever. If Kirie returned home, Quinn would travel to the vast edges of the outer rim to retrieve her. There was a primal craving for the woman, one that no matter could ever be satisfied. Their closeness allowed the Princess to feel the warm breath of her lover and relish in it as a fleeting dream.

"Of course," She responded no louder than a whisper. "I will escort you back home, my beloved." Quinn wondered if Kirie had hoped the Princess would stay on Welk for the time being, but Quinn knew war was looming over the horizon for the Empire. It was better that Kirie was going home.

"War is coming," She started, pulling Kirie closer, her lips gently trailing down the woman's neck. Tears stained against her tanned skin as Quinn desperately sought to savor the time between them. Pulling away, she nuzzled gently against the cheek and ear of her lover. "As the Heir, I need to go with the second legion. Perhaps you should be returning home, far from the battle - where no one can harm you." Quinn nodded, pulling away as a hand rested against Kirie's shoulder.

Pushing her down and gently pinning her to the soft bedding they had often shared before this. A hand explored under the fabric of her paramour as she savored the curve of the girl's neck, whispering in her ear. "I want us to be just us, not a slave or a maid and not the Heir to the whole Empire…I want to be us again - shutting out the entire galaxy…"

 

[Kirie]

Location: Varanin Residence, Jutrand
With: Quinn Varanin

Kirie leaned in to hear Quinn's voice, and the words made her heart leap and shatter all at once. Knowing that Quinn would help her go home even though it pained her filled Kirie with gratitude, but it also made her feel guilty. Kirie knew she had to return to Weik, that was the only way she could justify staying in the Sith Empire long term, that was the only way she could find some peace.

And, she missed her mum.

Still, Kirie worried she had upset some delicate balance, a sort of truce with the Galaxy's evil. She felt herself teetering, the precarious arrangement of her life waiting for the most dramatic moment completely fall apart. What would Kirie lose if that came to pass? Maybe Quinn, her freedom, her life? There was no way to predict it, no better path to walk. Kirie would have to face whatever was ahead when the time came. Kirie noticed she had been clenching the fist of her free hand, and she carefully released it, letting out a breath to reduce the tension in her shoulders as she did so. Tears welled in her eyes, but she suppressed them, frustration at herself for being so undisciplined managing to override the urge to weep.

Kirie lay beside Quinn, playing with her hair while she listened and considered the weighty things she had to say. War was coming. She had known that. Whispers ran rife through the Empire, especially amongst people of Kirie's station, whose proximity to powerful Sith meant that snippets of information, carelessly stated within earshot or jotted onto a memo, could weave a rich tapestry of gossip and intrigue. Lately, all of that gossip pertained to the Alliance, where Kirie had never been, and war fleets, which she had never seen.

It was the last part that stuck out to her. Heir. That meant heir to the throne. Quinn had never spoken about that before, in fact she had made her position in regards to Eshan clear enough soon after Kirie had first met her. This must be something new, and it must pertain to the Empire itself, not just a planet. Kirie tried to imagine Quinn ruling the Sith, but just the thought of it made her feel dizzy and she visibly blanched. She felt the tears trickle down her skin as Quinn leaned in close, and it nearly broke her. But, like Kirie, Quinn seemed intent on pushing through the sorrow.

Luckily for Kirie, Quinn was very good at distracting her. A familiar push, gentle yet firm, prompted her to lie back. Kirie had come to expect this from Quinn when they spent their evenings together, but with Quinn so injured, it caught Kirie off-guard. She would see Kirie's dark brown eyes widen, her pupils dilating, the slight flush that crept across her chest. She felt Quinn's hands roaming beneath her button-up, and she arched her back instinctively.

Kirie giggled nervously and rested her hands on Quinn's collarbone, temporarily blocking her from moving in any further. The Princess was eager as ever, but Kirie was still easily overwhelmed.

"Slowly, Quinn." Kirie gasped.

But Quinn only tortured her a different way, her hot breath in Kirie's ear and on her neck made her writhe, and when she spoke it was as if she had peered into the very centre of Kirie's heart, and was giving voice to her deepest desires.

"I want us to be just us, not a slave or a maid and not the Heir to the whole Empire…I want to be us again - shutting out the entire galaxy…"

Stars, she would burn the Galaxy right now if it meant she could be with Quinn

Kirie moaned into Quinn's shoulder, her head spinning with a potent combination the giddiness she always felt when Quinn climbed on top of her, her burning desire, and her elation at what Quinn was telling her. She tried to pull herself together, and eventually managed to form some words.

"Yes." Kirie breathed, panting. "Just us, together."

Kirie found herself pressed against Quinn's chest, the familiar pressure on her shoulder still holding her firm in place, even while Quinn's hands moved to explore other parts of her body. Kirie's need grew, making her impatient. All the waking thoughts and worries she'd had a minute earlier, there was only her and Quinn, just like she'd said. Kirie wanted more, she needed more.

"Mmph. Stop teasing..." said Kirie, her voice muffled. "I want you."