Cherry Wine

[Sitara Qin]

Bumps and Thumps Nightclub.

Oh the fun they had here the other night! Intimate mind connections, chasing down an evil cultist, and damaging private property? It was probably one of the best first encounters Sitara ever had, and though it didn’t quite make for a first date, it still opened the doors for one.

The bar was how they left it with a slight change of people. The bar certainly had their regulars. Scantily clad men and women paved the dance floor, as the lights flashed in different shapes and colours from above them. Even Sushi girl was here today. Come to think of it, perhaps her stomach ache from the previous night wasn't from the force drain.


She was seated at the bar with a light drink in front of her. She was waiting for the delightful presence of the handsome Sage Bane, a powerful knight who trained as an illusionist. They shared many things in common, and Sitara was certain the two would have a fun-filled night despite the lack of crazy cultists.

She told him she’d be thinking about him, and she did.

Her body was drained yesterday, quite literally. Though she didn’t feel the exhausting effects of force drain the night before, the effects had come to her when she was drifting off to bed. She felt her body trembling, as though her soul was being pulled out of her. Perhaps it was simply trauma, she’d never felt that helpless before.

Sitara shivered, before forcing herself to go to sleep. What had happened was a nightmare, and she swore she’d never let anyone take that from her again. Though perhaps, it was a good thing that she had experienced that moment.

Her mind went back to the adorable Sage and his funky arms. It was quite the quirk, but hey, at least he had his pets on him all the time? Sitara smiled. Who knows? Perhaps some day, she’d even get to pet them.

She was suddenly brought to her senses as the DJ switched to the next song. It was something she was familiar with, before realizing it was the same song that played the other night when they bumped into Lorth Lithal. Sitara was dressed differently for the evening however, switching out the black jumpsuit with an equally black minidress. There were no lightsabers with her today, though she did opt for swimwear underneath instead of underwear.

After all, there was the infinity pool on the roof they could go to if they ever got tired of dancing.

| [member="Sage Bane"] |

 

[Sage Bane]

Confidence and cockiness. Those two traits practically leaked out of the pores of Sith Knight, Sage Bane. Despite his generally unflappable attitude, the previous night he had lost a touch of that swagger when Sitara Qin, his mission partner and hopefully something more, had learned about his little Vongy secret. The next night, his ever-present self assurance had snapped back, having scored a date with the raven-haired beauty.

Before he started preparing for his date, Sage made sure his amphistaves were generously fed, letting them gorge themselves on raw meat until they were plump to excess. They weren't coming out to play tonight, no karking way. Soon, they were sated and concealed under pale white skin, the smoke and mirrors in place. His two arms were human and indistinguishable from one another. Vong technology was a wonderful thing.

Next, Sage took a long, hot shower, shaved, and then took his time getting ready, choosing a fitted, well-tailored, black suit. No armorweave would be necessary tonight, or so he hoped. Cocking his head as he surveyed his outfit, Sage ditched an ordinary tie for a thin black ribbon around his neck, to present himself like a gift that begged to be opened. Taking one last look in the mirror, he smiled at himself and then told his staff at his sprawling Coruscant penthouse not to wait up.

A turbolift took the Sith Knight down into the bowels of the Undercity, back to the nightclub called Bumps and Thumps, a hotspot that was fast-becoming his favorite place. Especially if her arms were waiting to welcome him. Upon entering the club, he sniffed the air like a fox searching out his prey. It wasn't long before he spotted Sitara wearing a black minidress that pulled the air from his lungs. Grinning, the young Knight made his way through the crowd. With a handwave, the throngs of handsome and lovely night owls parted for him, victims of an innocuous mind trick. From a wall of smoke, strobe lights, and sweaty bodies, Sage emerged.

"I can't promise you that much fun every night, leeah." Sage joked, referring to their action-packed mission from the night before.

"After last night's fun, I'm afraid tonight will be terribly boring."

Of course, his light brown eyes and devilish smile said the opposite.

[member="Sitara Qin"]​

 

[Sitara Qin]

The dancing herd of sweaty bodies parted for the handsome Sith Knight; his velvety voice cut through the ridged tempo of the latest song, causing Sitara to look over at him. He was dressed sweetly; a form-fitting suit accented with a simple black ribbon made Sitara want to almost gently rip it off of him, unwrapping the delightful present hidden beneath his robes. A few perverted thoughts passed through her head, causing a smug grin to grow on her face.

She parted her hair to the side, allowing it to cascade over one creamy shoulder. “With you as my date?” Her dark blue eyes scanned his delightfully brown ones. “I doubt it.” She said, crossing her legs together before offering him the seat next to her. Yup, she definitely wanted to see more of him; perhaps they should pay that infinity pool a nice visit?

“I heard about your promotion.” She said, lifting up her cosmopolitan. Sitara enjoyed her cocktails, and perhaps something else relating to the word, but Sitara wasn’t really going to go there yet. Instead, the evening was going to be fun and eventful, even if most of it was probably going to go to chatter. It didn’t matter to her, she enjoyed the sound of his velvety smooth voice. She could probably listen to him talk for hours, though she’d rather his lips be on top of hers.

Becoming a hand of the dark lord was a very big feat. Sitara couldn’t have been prouder, nor could she have been any more impressed. She clapped her hand on her wrist after setting the thin glass down. Sitara would’ve guessed with a voice like his, he’d be better of as voice of the dark lord. However, she didn’t really pay too much attention to how these things worked. Sitara gave him another sweet smile.

“This calls for a celebration.”

| [member="Sage Bane"] |

 

[Sage Bane]

When Sitara mentioned his promotion, Sage beamed from ear to ear. He had planned on mentioning it at some point during the night. It would be a horrible shame to waste something that could score him some points with his gorgeous date. Sage's promotion was such a recent event, it felt surreal at first. Once the shock wore off, a realization set in. As one of the Hands, all the yellow eyes of the One Sith would be watching him. Especially those belonging to the most powerful Sith Lords on Coruscant. The Sith Knight's behavior would be on display, and any bad behavior would be judged by the Dark Lord himself. Humility. Self-control. Decorum. These traits would have to be embraced more often than not. He might as well start with the first one.

He slid into the seat next to her, so close that their body heat mingled, and tilted his head in a gesture that seemed to say, 'oh, it's nothing.'

"I can't think of anyone I'd rather celebrate it with," he said. Sage wasn't feeding her a line. His family hated him. Vrag was usually infuriated by him. Acolyte Xiarr was probably plotting his death. Other than Matsu, now an Empress, Sage did not have too many close friends in his orbit.

He ordered himself a shot of whiskey and wasted no time opening up a tab. They could now drink on the Dark Lord as well. At her hand on his wrist, he responded by gently placing his hand atop hers, carressing the back of it with his thumb. Once delivered, he raised his glass with one pale hand.

"I'd rather drink to the most beautiful Knight in all of Coruscant."

His other hand rested softly and boldly on her thigh.

[member="Sitara Qin"]

 

[Sitara Qin]

It must’ve been nice serving under the Dark Lord. She imagined all the perks; a cool ship, an army to serve you, people who were scared of you. Of course, you could always earn those things through other ways, but the title that came with it was a definite mark of power, of status. It proved that out of the trillions of people inhabiting Coruscant, you were chosen. And Sitara was very much impressed with Sage’s promotion.

I can’t think of anyone I’d rather spend it with.

Sitara rolled her eyes and grinned. He was so sweet. Sage Bane definitely knew how to butter her up. She was once again close enough to see his chiseled jaw, a closeup of those beautiful brown eyes, and smell his musky perfume—or was that just his natural scent? She took a sip from her cosmopolitan and licked her stained lips.

Opening up a tab definitely assured him she’d stay for the evening—as if she’d even dare leave. “I swear, you’re awfully sweet.” She grinned, clinking her glass with his. She took another sip from the cherry coloured drink before gently setting it down onto the counter. Sage was easy on the eyes, distracting, and incredibly charming. How could she have resisted going out with him?

“I bet you use that line on all the ladies.” She giggled.

| [member="Sage Bane"] |

 

[Sage Bane]

Sage gave Sitara an evasive chuckle. Ok, Sage wasn't exactly a choir boy, but lately the young and ambitious Knight had been too preoccupied with hoisting up his rising star than heeding the call of his demanding libido. As his eyes wandered all over her curves it suddenly struck him just how unmet that need was. Holding his breath, he downed his shot and then quickly ordered another, along with a second drink for his date. He didn't know what she was having but whatever it was, it smelled delicious. Just as he imagined she would.

Biting his lip Sage teased her playfully.

"What about you?" he laughed with a shrug. "I imagine you have the boys crawling all over themselves to get close to you. I have to admit, I'd be dreadfully disappointed to find out that you have a boyfriend lingering around here somewhere, just waiting to duel me for your heart."

In fact, Sage would be all too glad to rip out a rival's throat if it would impress her. He chose to keep that bit to himself however.

His fingers threaded through hers as he gently took her hand, grinning devilishly. He didn't mean to worm his way into Sitara's mind, but it happened anyway. It wasn't like she told him not to. Or so he rationalized anyway.

So, you'd like to go for a dip, eh?

​

[member="Sitara Qin"]​

 

[Sitara Qin]

He saved her the trouble of ordering another drink. She sucked on the tiny slice of lemon on the side, before plopping it right back to its original seat on the cocktail glass. She took a light sip of the drink. Strong and sweet, if she was a cocktail, she’d definitely be a cosmopolitan. Sage would probably be sex on the beach, considering how peachy he was.

“As entertaining as that would sound, I bet you’d win through looks alone.” She giggled, rolling her eyes. “Plus, you have your magic tricks.”

Sage was one of the strongest knights she’s ever met, considering he was only—what, twenty something?—and was already a Hand of the Dark Lord. The title was prestigious, and highly coveted by other people. To serve directly under the Dark Lord itself was an honour, and Sage was his hand. A perverted joke popped into her head, but she didn’t really want him to hear it and realize how much of a dork she really was.

Suddenly, she felt warm fingers laced into hers. Her face broke into a smile as he deep voice penetrated the walls of her mind. Luckily for her, he saw the pool idea. As for the joke….

‘Only if it means I get to see you half-naked.’

Or more.

| [member="Sage Bane"] |

 

[Sage Bane]

Sage's eyes were pinpointed on Sitara's lips as she did enticing things with them, and the Sith Knight suddenly felt oddly envious of a lemon wedge. For a moment, he indulged himself in imagining her pillowy lips and pale fingers playing lightly over his skin, and it was all he could do to stop himself from grabbing her by the waist and lifting her up onto the bar, moving the glasses out of the way with a telekinetic hand wave. Continuing the rest of that line of thinking would make it impossible for him to parade around in a swimsuit. Or his birthday suit, if they were headed to the clothing optional section of the pool. Which they probably were. It's not like he brought a pair of speedos with him.

The lovely Knight skillfully evaded his blatant fishing for information about a boyfriend. Sage took her evasiveness to mean that she had not one boyfriend but many, and it was an assumption that he savored. While sometimes prone to pangs of jealousy, Sage would never want to deny his paramour the right to sate their lust wherever and whenever he or she could. Most who knew him, knew that the part of Sith philosophy most embraced by Sage was its emphasis on passion. Anger, hatred, sorrow, and lust alike, passion fueled power. This embrace of extreme emotions and their relationship with power separated the Sith from the Jedi.

"I'll try my best to exceed your expectatons in terms of what I reveal, Knight Qin." He gave off a mock-casual shrug and grinned again.

"Besides, I don't have a swimsuit."

Giving her a slow blink with bedroom eyes, Sage put out his arm for her to take. Their next stop would be turbolift heading to the top level Infinity Pool. If they ended up even making it there.

[member="Sitara Qin"]​

 

[Sitara Qin]

“That’s exactly what I was expecting, dearest Sage.” She said, returning his mock grin. Her other hand gently brushed over his, her fingers lightly caressing his. It was then where she realized that this was his regular hand; not the one that wielded monsters that scared the supposedly powerful cultist. Perhaps there was a fitting reason why he was dubbed the Hand of the Dark Lord after all. She gave his fingers a tight squeeze as her eyes still lingered on his gorgeous face.

She took his arm with both her hands, running her fingers up and down it. Touching him made her feel static, and Sitara never shied away from a person she shared chemistry with. Besides, just because he revealed a hidden aspect of him to her yesterday didn’t mean he should stop there. She rested her head on his shoulder, her painted lips parting to speak.

“Didn’t you hear? It’s clothing optional.”

She grinned as they walked to the turbolift. The doors parted for them and they walked inside. Sitara would immediately hit the button, sending the turbolift on its way to the top level; the infinity pool begging to be defiled by the pair. As the doors closed, Sitara turned to the handsome Sith Knight and smirked before licking her painted lips.

This time, it was her turn to push him against the wall.

| [member="Sage Bane"] |

 

[Sage Bane]

Sage was almost sad to see that turbolift ride end. Their entire trip consisted of mutual desires being unspoken but expressed in ways much more powerful than language. Lips sought out each other like homing beacons. Hair was pulled. Necks were bit. And both Sith Knights emerged on the top level of the Cream and the Crop Casino to find that they had fewer articles of clothing to remove. Somehow during the ride, the ribbon around Sage's neck had become unraveled and was now hanging sideways over his shoulder, and his jacket was just plain gone. Sage stole a kiss on her cheek as he escorted Sitara out of the lift, his hand caressing the small of her back.

The views from the roof of the casino were both breathtaking and dizzying. Coruscant itself sprawled through the stars, its buildings an ocean of light and glitter. The aptly named Infinity Pool that was stretched out before them, was designed to blur the line between water and sky, and definitely not for the vertigo-prone. He held up one finger as if to tell her he would be just a moment, and then he bent the ear of the pool's bouncers. After a few minutes of conversation and some nodding, the bouncers began to methodically round up all of the guests and usher them to the locker rooms to change. The casino was about to host a "private party," and the guests didn't have to go home but they couldn't stay here.

One corner of Sage's lips quirked up in a smile as he faced his date. It was only his first week as one of the Dark Lord's Hands, and his position was already granting him unimaginable perks. Perks he could share with a woman who enthralled him more than the dazzling skyline.

In a short while, they were alone on the rooftop with the pool all to themselves and a full casino staff waiting on their every command.

"Darling, I believe the bar is open."

[member="Sitara Qin"]​

 

[Sitara Qin]

They emerged from the elevator as two disheveled figures. A look of triumph crossed Sitara’s eyes that matched the reddening of her face. The moment in the elevator was filled with bliss. She was partly relieved that nobody stopped the elevator on the consecutive floors and ruined their moment, though part of her knew that she didn’t really care. Sage was too kissable for her to stop, though when the turbolift ride ended, she unfortunately had to.

However, as she stepped off the turbolift and onto the top floor, she suddenly felt another surge of excitement. The infinity pool stretched onto the horizon, and if Sitara were to look down, she would see nothing but chaotic lights. The sky itself was a spread of dazzling constellations plastered carefully like points plotted on a cartesian plane. She turned to her date who had finished whispering things to the bouncers.

The people around them started to pack up, evacuating the pool. She grinned, knowing that somebody was using his political power already. He had his perks, and Sitara definitely enjoyed men with perks. She gave him a soft peck on his lips as she moved to sit on the now open bar.

She slowly peeled the mini dress off her body, revealing her cute strapless bikini. She crossed her legs, resting her head on her arm. “Since we’re alone, I suppose I don’t really need this, now do I?”

| [member="Sage Bane"] |

 

[Sage Bane]

The sight of Sitara in her bikini tied Sage in knots. He grinned boyishly, a smile that seemed to forget he was a Hand of the Dark Lord.

"No, I suppose you don't, my dark angel." he agreed. His eyes never leaving hers, Sage reached down to enthusiastically remove his leather boots.

"Of course if you want to wear it, that's completely up to you..."

Next the Sith Knight began to slowly unbutton his shirt, opening it to reveal a smooth pale, chest with lean muscles. His bare torso wasn't completely unmarred.There were, of course, the slave collar marks that Sitara saw the previous night. There was also a "V" shaped knife scar on one pectoral muscle, and a few criss-crosses here and there. As a former slave and pit fighter, Sage had more than his share of scars. Next, he undid his zipper, and hooked his thumb around the waistband of his pants. With one fluid movement, he removed them along with his briefs, and stepped out of them. Still smiling, he continued.

"...but if you don't want to wear it, let me know. I'll gladly take it off you."

Sage turned and with a running head start, did an imperfect swan dive into the pool, making a splash big enough to sprinkle her with a few rogue droplets.

[member="Sitara Qin"]​

 

[Sitara Qin]

She watched him strip; her eyes tracing over each scar on his pale body. Each blemish simply marked a story she had yet to listen to, though there would always be a time for that. She allowed herself the privilege to lust after him, and Sage himself could see the look glazing over her dark eyes. Her gaze shifted from his torso to his unzipped pants, biting her lips as he completely undressed.

“You are such a tease.”

He dove into the pool and a few droplets showered her pale skin. Giggling, she shielded her face from the splash before hopping off of her seat. She slipped off the heels she was wearing and stood at the edge of the pool, facing the still submerged Sage Bane. Her soles could feel the coolness of the tiles beneath her.

As he rose, she’d fling her body into the pool onto him.

She’d land into the pool with a splash, wetting the area from where she previously stood. She mad sure she’d land in a place where Sage could catch her, or at least take a step back. Her body shivered as it hit the cool water; her eyes would open to meet his.

And then she’d grin.

‘Oh look, I'm all wet.’

| [member="Sage Bane"] |

 

[Sage Bane]

Laughing, Sage caught the young woman as she catapulted towards him, and then wrapped both his arms her, pulling her close. As bonded as he was with his prosthetic Vong pets, Sage was glad to give them the night off. Sitara would feel like she was enveloped in warm, wet human skin and not leathery, whip-like bodies.

"Are you now?" he asked, raising a brow at her innuendo as he stared into her blue-grey eyes. The skyline met the stars behind them and, despite the myriad of shuttles and taxis crisscrossing along commuter flight paths, it was peaceful. Who said the Sith couldn't enjoy a pretty view every now and then?

Then he tilted his head in and kissed her again, letting all pressures fall away for a moment as he yielded to her cupid bow lips. All the while his hands raked his through her coal black hair. When their lips parted, Sage let out a growl, like a satisfied wolf.

"So, my dear Sitara," he whispered, as he leaned in and nibbled on her ear. Pulling back with a smirk, his light brown eyes followed her creamy-white collarbone all the way down to her hips. He tugged at the fastener on the back of her bikini top, but did not remove it.

"Looks like I'm the one being teased now."

[member="Sitara Qin"]​

 

[Sitara Qin]

She was pulled into his warm embrace. Her wet arms wrapped around his neck, while her body was happy to come in contact with his bare skin. Sitara was the type of person who didn’t mind others seeing her in just her bare flesh, though opening up to the people around her…and showing them her greatest insecurities was her biggest challenge.

“Are you now?”

Spoken or thought, Sage’s voice was definitely one of Sitara’s favourite voices to hear. As he tilted his head to brush his lips with hers, Sitara leaned in to deepen the kiss. She found bliss in moments like this; being alone hundreds of stories over the grand city of coruscant with beautiful non-starry lights twinkling in the light-polluted atmosphere above them.

As their lips parted, Sitara found herself mesmerized by his light-brown eyes that held some untouched innocence about them. How she wished she could let him in, but something was holding her back. She held onto him as he eyed her, his hands making their way to the fastener of her bikini top.

One hand found themselves moving below his neck until they dove into the cool pool water. She leaned into him, a mixture of Sage and chlorine filling up his lungs. A small grin tugged on her lips as she raised her gaze to meet his.

“Really, now?” She asked him playfully, before her hand smacked the water, showering him. Instinctively she pulled away, a flutter of giggles escaping her lips.

| [member="Sage Bane"] |

 

[Sage Bane]

As he held Sitara closely, Sage noted a seriousness hiding behind her playful gaze. There seemed to be a part of herself that she closed off and protected from the galaxy at large. He couldn't blame her, really. The One Sith were a brutal institution. Between the rigors of Master and Acolyte training, the never-ending war with the Jedi, and ruthlessness of Sith Lords jockeying for control, one could feel a bit like a very small piece in a gigantic game of space Dejarik. It was silly because he knew that Sitara was a venerated Knight, but he felt an urge to shield the young woman from the pressures of serving their Dark Lord. Yes, Sage, you and all of Sitara’s other boyfriends. Could you be a little bit more of white knight, Sport? Oh also, why don’t you throw in some smothering and stalking while you’re at it? She’ll love that.

Sitara suddenly pulled him in closer, running her soft hands up and down his wet torso, going lower and lower. He grinned, leaning in for another kiss and...

Splash!

The little vixen slapped the surface of the water, drenching him. Giggling, she frolicked away. He blinked and wiped the water out of his eyes, but didn't return the splash. He simply watched her swim. Sage liked the way she made him feel. Like they were just an ordinary boy and girl playing around in a pool. The physical attraction between he and Sitara was undeniably hot, but he found himself keenly fascinated by the woman who lived underneath all that hypnotizing beauty.

Finally after a few moments of shameless staring, Sage dove underwater, and resurfaced right behind her, pressing his whole body against her back as he wrapped her in his arms.

“Gotcha. You’re mine now.”

[member="Sitara Qin"]​

 

[Sitara Qin]

There was something oddly intoxicating about being pulled into an embrace by a naked man. It wasn’t the fact that she could feel everything; but rather, there was some sort of closeness present that was missing from their typical interactions. He captured her, and Sitara had felt no need to resist him. In fact, she more than welcomed it.

She leaned her head back against his neck before looking up at him and gazing into those light brown eyes. He was a beautiful boy with an amazing body and he was powerful. That very fact drew her to him and whet her appetite amongst some other things. She laughed as she caressed his hands with hers before leaning into him to plant kisses on the sides of his jaw.

“I guess it’s only fair I don’t put up a fight.” She grinned, before spinning to meet him.

She wrapped her arm around his neck, her thumbs brushing over the scars. Did she want to know? A part of her was begging him to satisfy her curiosity. She sent that thought to the back of her mind; they had, after all, only known each other for the past forty-eight hours.

She leaned into him, inhaling the faint scent of liquor coming from his breath. “You’re intoxicating.”

| [member="Sage Bane"] |

 

[Sage Bane]

"That's right. You're my captive now," he laughed and let out a pleased growl as she lay kisses along his jawline.

Sage wrapped his hands around both of Sitara's wrists and pinned them behind her back playfully. Gripping her wrists, he titled his head in to kiss her passionately. The kind of kiss that held nothing back. Once he was finished, he released her hands and let them wander wherever they wanted. He noticed her running her hand softly along the collar scars that rutted the flesh around his neck. The young Hand sensed that Sitara was curious about them, but apprehensive. So, gesturing to the marks, he candidly explained.

"I was a slave from the age of ten to the age of twenty," he told her. "Chained to a few different Hutts on Nal Hutta, forced to do whatever they wanted, however degrading. Although enduring those slugs made me stronger, I wouldn't wish my experiences on my worst enemies."

He didn't want a pity party to ruin the mood, so Sage left the subject at that. His abusive past had left him hopelessly addicted to glitterstim for a few years. In a sense, the Sith had saved him from being a victim. Even if the price he paid was villainy. Still holding her tightly in his arms, Sage's honey-brown eyes studied her with a similar inquisitiveness.

"What circumstances brought you to the Sith, pateesa?"

[member="Sitara Qin"]​