For Everything There is a Season

[Kerstan Blackmoore]

Nelvaan | Vengard | w. [member="Faye Malvern"]​

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following: Red Wine and Remembrance​

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The city was centuries old, the Jewel of the North, as it was referred to by so many, held much history and intrigue. While it was certainly not the most important city on the surface of Nelvaan, it was the most interesting. It also happened to be the setting for a celebration designed to remember. Ironic that remembrance had been the theme of the party and yet so many had spent their time socializing and drinking for their own gain, benefit, or simply to forget. Everyone had an agenda, and regardless of the motives behind the social event, everyone was posturing to impress the Emperor himself, all of the guests save two, his sister, Faye Malvern, and Kerstan Blackmoore

Kerstan had laid eyes on her from the start. She was young, attractive, and at the beginning unknown to him. The raven haired beauty had quickly asserted her proximity to the man with whom Kerstan had intended to meet. Her candor and honesty about the way he intrigued her had pleased him greatly. It was not until he had watched the way she walked right up to Tacitus and placed a kiss on his cheek that Kerstan decided being close to her could be of some benefit to him.

The man was calculating in everything he did. From the decision to side with the Eternal Empire, to the appearance at the party which was now coming to a close. Kerstan had allowed the noble lady to keep his coat for the entirety of the evening. The dress she had worn, while elegant and flattering to her form, had left her chilled despite the fires which had been lit to keep the guests warm. His generous and chivalrous offer had given him the exact opening he needed for yet another offer. Each offer, and every word was a strategic move to something Kerstan wanted. What was it he wanted from Faye? Kerstan was not entirely sure.

His intrigue with her was as deep as her intrigue was for him. The fact Kerstan did not know everything he wanted from the rare flower befuddled him even more than any obstacle in his experiments had to this point. In over 700 years, Faye Malvern was a puzzle Kerstan did not have a solution for.

The night was coming to a close, and the Sith Noble was dreading the fact it meant his investigation into the woman would come to an end soon. He would be able to buy more time with one more chivalrous action, and then it would be up to him to make the most of that window. He nodded to the guests that had made their departure clear, and smiled as Faye continued her duties to see everyone of them leave before the hostess herself could be free. He had not been asked to remain until the end, but Kerstan had. When the final guest had finally left, Kerstan sighed as relieved eyes found the two were alone on the deck of the ship once more.

A cold blew onto the deck from the frigid water below. The ship, now docked, was quickly becoming less of a magnificent marvel, shifting into a menacing problem. Snow fell about them, lit by the winter moon above. Some of the flakes settled into Kerstan’s hair, and that of the of the woman he was with. A smooth smile formed on his lips as his eyes finally settled on the beauty once more.

“It seems we are alone once again. Perhaps finally I might be able to answer your questions. Where are you staying this evening, perhaps you would allow me to escort you home, or find you something to drink that will be more tantalizing to your palate?”

 

[Faye Malvern]

Nelvaan | Vengard | [member=Kerstan Blackmoore]​

The last guests had taken an age to drag themselves away from the pleasantries of conversation. Save for one brief moment a split second before the Emperor had arrived, Faye had found the entire evening to be rather dull. The mystery and intrigue of Nelvaan was long since quelled for the raven haired woman. For a year or so now it had been her home, and within the never ending snow storms and grey cloudy days she had explored to her hearts content. Unlike most of the guests that had been invited to spend the evening on the ancient ship that cut quietly through frigid waves. Faye had lost count of how many times she had complimented the architecture of the bridge, or explained a nuance in the masterfully carved depictions worked into the aged stone. She had long since grown bored of commenting on the Emperors health, and discussing the joy of her brothers impending arrival.

The one thing that had held her attention solidly the entire night, the one thing she couldn't help but draw her midnight black gaze toward over the course of the evening, was Kerstan. The mystery surrounding the man was something she hadn't expected to be captured by, and if she were anything like an ordinary woman perhaps she wouldn't have been. But underneath the silver, sweet words he spun, behind the charming smile and intense brown gaze, there was a secret. A dark secret that went beyond anything he had hinted at during their brief conversation. As the last drop ship broke through the monotonous grey cloud, sun kissed hands reached up to pull the thick of the furs around her tightly. The coat had been the perfect excuse to start a conversation and as she glanced across the deck of the ship to find him again, she realised it would be the perfect excuse to finish one as well.

As a cold chill swept along the deck of the ship, Faye found herself being drawn to the tall, dark and mysterious presence. Luckily enough he seemed to have the same idea. Inches away from each other once again, Faye found herself entranced by the never ending darkness in his eyes. Though the party was long since over, and ordinarily she would have been overjoyed to return to her own company, Faye found herself rather pleased that the night didn't have to end just yet. His smile was enough to put a genuine one of her own over her softly painted lips. So far he had been an utter gentlemen, an embodiment of all she missed from back home on Serenno. 'You're very kind, Kerstan.' Automatically Faye found herself offering out a slender arm for him to take, such as tradition dictated. 'Baroness L'Ierim has been kind enough to give me rooms in Whisperwind Castle, and I certainly wouldn't say no to something more my taste.'

Faye would have suggested they take the drop ship back up to the castle, but then the night would have been over far too quickly. No, instead, she had a better plan. 'The boat is about to dock soon, at the end of the bridge. I wonder if you'd like to take a walk across it? Whisperwind castle isn't far and I'm sure the Baroness will allow us to raid her bar once we arrive.' All in all the journey across the bridge was likely more time than they needed to finish off their conversation and to sate curiosity. Perhaps by the end of it she might be left with a sensation of enjoyment, which was something she hadn't gotten out of company in a long time.

 

[Kerstan Blackmoore]

Nelvaan | Vengard | w. [member="Faye Malvern"]​

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As though she had red his thoughts, Faye had offered a walk along the bridge. It certainly would have been a sooner end to their night had she opted for a more modern mode of travel and transportation. His heart was set on spending as much time with her as possible before the demands of propriety meant he would have to leave her behind. For his plans and machinations to succeed, Kerstan was certain he would have to prove himself the utmost of gentleman. It was a shame for him the woman he was with was as much of an empath as she was. Kerstan would never truly be able to hide his true motives, though he could do his best to mask them. He knew nothing about her strong empathic abilities however, so his natural guard was all he employed in keeping his thoughts and feelings to himself.

Kerstan nodded to the woman as her arm was extended. His own was opened to her, allowing her to easily slip it into his as both of them had likely practiced many times in etiquette classes as children. He had always hated them as a child, but in his more refined years, Kerstan saw the purpose of them, and knew the use they could be. "We shall see your taste buds are accommodated then," he offered with a genuine grin. The fact she seemed to return his intrigue and curiosity made it much easier to be himself and not focus on what his exact intentions were. For now they were simple. He needed to get to know Faye Malvern. He needed to be close to her. Something about her was important to his goals, and he would discern what. In the meantime, it never hurt to be close to the sister of an emperor, or the sister of an Exarch. The family was well positioned, and for Kerstan to return to his place in the galaxy, he needed this family to be his friends.

"A walk is certainly agreeable. If you are certain you will be warm enough, then by all means. It has been quite a long time since I have seen the bridge let alone walked its cobbled walkway. It would be my delight and perhaps allow us to stretch our evening a bit further in the process?"

The ship docked soon after, and Kerstan ensured the gangplank was secure before hopping to the dock, and offering a hand to Faye. Snowflakes descended at a pretty decent pace now, a storm likely brewing for the night. His eyes looked up at the pristine and pure color of the snowfall and found it ironic. There was nothing about this empire that matched the innocence of what was falling around them, and yet it was perfect somehow. A smirk tugged at his cheek as Faye stepped onto the freshly powdered dock before securing her arm into his once more. His feet carried them toward the direction of the palace where Faye would be staying for the night, putting the snow to their backs. It was a welcome relief to not have the snowfall obstructing their vision.

"It was a lovely evening, though I am sorry to say I did not get a chance to answer any of your questions. Perhaps your first, how it is possible my father could have bottled such an old collection of wine, or I could have seen the construction of this bridge?"

Kerstan would let the woman direct their conversation. Sating her curiosity would eventually lead seeing his own satisfied.