Private Fortress of Solitude

[Lily Rhodes]

Rain hammered at the tall stained glass windows of the palace's Library, casting a low eerie light over the corner that Lily had chosen. A book lay open in her lap, its dusty pages smearing the pale blue dress she'd been wearing all day, but she wasn't reading it. Its weight in her lap was simply a comfort, a desperate attempt to distract her mind, to erase the look that Iskendyr Yvarro had given her before Elise of House Marr and Revna had hauled her out of harms way and fled the wedding before it became a blood bath.

She had been silent on the journey back, tucking herself away in a quiet corner on the ship, refusing to speak to any of them. Even Morsus, as they arrived, had received nothing but stony silence. Something he tried to draw her out of with a tea tray laden with ginger biscuits, but even that she had ignored. So she sat, watching the rainwater carve tracks down the coloured glass panes, reliving the moment Iskey looked at her over and over again. Each time it replayed, a pang of pain tore through her chest.

She had unknowingly become exactly what Fiolette Yvarro had said she would.

Tears rolled silently down her cheeks. In one tiny moment, she had lost her whole future.

Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

If he had thought that his return to the... his Imperial Palace would be a time of relaxation, he would quickly have those notions disavowed. Truly, after all that had occurred at the Zambrano Wedding, he knew he would be far too busy to be relaxing.

Still, before all had gone wrong in mere seconds, he had hoped to return to relax after a day of politicking and socialising.

Alas.

It had gone so terribly wrong.

And preparations had to be made.

And for him, to rid himself of this pent-up energy, all the anger, all the frustration, all the...

...The emotions that need not be said.

He had options.

He could destroy another office.

He could meditate by the Nexus.

He could simply sleep.

Instead, as he groaned, feeling the pain of his Travel rupture through his skull, he had been met by Morsus.

A concerned Morsus.

He was quick to inform him that Elise of House Marr , Revna , and Lily Rhodes had arrived home safely.

Yet, good news seemed to always come with bad.

Lillian...

For all the young woman had seemingly made it her life's mission to annoy their cousin to an early grave, it seemed Morsus had grown at least somewhat fond of their cousin. Fond enough to ask the Emperor of this world, to check up on the little lady that had locked herself into the library and was refusing to eat.

Any frustration at being unable to relieve his frustration melted away.

He did not know the full story, but something had happened at the reception, and he could not claim to be entirely faultless of all this...

...To think a brother had kidnapped his cousins, and he had known for so long...

...And been too cowardly to do anything.

...Had been unable to restrain a brother that he knew needed to be restrained.

Things would change if he could manage to save them all.

But first, this.

He rapped his knuckles along the great oaken doors of the library three times, before waiting a moment, and his black cloak billowed, as he entered. The rain hammering outside, very well set the mood, as his own first words were stolen.

By that tearful face.

"Lillian..." He began, moving forward quickly, concern painted across his features, as his hand followed along his robes to find a handkerchief.

 

[Lily Rhodes]

Lillian...

That damn name.

That connection that had sucked her into this mess in the first place. Like a flicked switch her sorrow became rage. A fury that burned so hot in her chest she thought the whole room might burst into flames arouns her if she willed it. Instead, the book in her lap snapped shut as Malum began to approach her and she launched it at his head as she got to her feet.

"Do not call me that!" she snapped, her breathing hard as she glared at him.

All of this was his fault. She would have been none the wiser had he just left her out of it, had he just skimmed the minds of those he claimed to trust himself without calling her in. Its not like he wasn't capable. She had made sure he was.

"Go away." she said quietly.

Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

The book stilled in the air, the Force acting upon the offending projectile by pure instinct, as Malum blinked several times, shocked, surprised, that his cousin would throw a piece of literature at him. Enough for him to stop in his tracks, even take a step back, as her booming voice broke through the otherwise quiet library.

Quiet all but for the pitter-patter of rain against stained glass.

He blinked.

Unsure what to do.

His ears were barely able to pick up her silent request.

So sorely tempted to reach out to her mind.

Find out what was wrong, if she would not tell him.

Yet.

He would not do that to her.

He only wished that someone else was here with him, one who knew Lillian, Elise Ahana-Gwyneira , Elise of House Marr , Sophia of House Marr , or Revna , since clearly...

He had no idea what was wrong with Lily Rhodes .

And in this position, he was not going to find out.

He swallowed the lump in his throat, knowing whatever he did.

He would have to do it carefully.

"...If that is what you wish, Lilli-" Malum caught himself on the edge of catastrophe, "However... when you do wish to speak... or otherwise let out these emotions, I will be in my office, Morsus will be outside, he can guide you there... I... whatever the matter is... I did not mean to hurt you, cousin." Malum spoke with all the geniality he could muster, reaching into his robes to find a handkerchief, levitating it across the air, to near where she stood, to use as she would.

All the while...

Malum turned on his heel, cloak billowing, as he made his way to the exit.

Crying women had always been his weakness.

But from what little he did know... acceding to their requests might be the best move he had.

 

[Lily Rhodes]

The lack of impact from the book she'd thrown only served to aggravate her more, the way he looked at her like in bewilderment, like he had no idea what was wrong with her, choosing to retreat with a pathetic offer of a handkerchief, as if that would fix anything. She let out a strangled shout of rage, seizing the teapot from the silver tray Morsus had provided her with and threw it at his retreating back.

"I am not your cousin." she choked through a sob, her hand reaching for the tea cup.

"YOU RUINED EVERYTHING FOR ME." She yelled, launching the teacup. "For the first time in my life, I actually saw a future." She grabbed the tray of biscuits. "And you, you selfish bastard, you TOOK THAT FROM ME."

Platter and biscuits scattered across the space between them.

Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

He had half-expected she would follow, still, it was impossible to fully expect this.

The Force erupted out of him like a shield, the teapot projecting in the air, before levitating carefully down, he knew exactly what he needed to do, though to fight instinct and put oneself knowingly in harm's way was hardly the easiest of actions.

But if it would give her the relief she desperately needed, then it would be a small price to pay.

Still, he did not need to plan too much after all.

For her words cut him much deeper than any blade could.

His heart tore, as the tea cup slammed into his head.

His vision was blurred, as the pain took over his mind.

Her voice, so angry, so loud, in this state, he could not even attempt to sort out the source of her anger.

He let out a mix of a shout and groan, as the tray filled with biscuits struck his side, keeling him over, as he blinked the tears out of his eyes. His panting breath.

This was far from the worst pain he had experienced.

But he had never thought he would even experience this pain from Lillia- Lily Rhodes .

But who was to say he did not deserve it?

After all the pain he had put her through.

The pain he knew, and the pain he did not.

"I have hurt you..." He whispered, fighting for dear life to stay standing, as he swayed, he could have attempted to cope with the pain through the Force.

But he refused.

He deserved this.

"But... I did not mean to... tell me... tell me how I can... fix it... and I will..." The aches, it was too much, he finally found himself in free fall, smashing into his knees, lowering himself to her level, as his breathing grew ragged, the tears streaking down his face, "Because... you..." He snapped his eyes open, forcing them to look into her brown orbs, "...Because... you... are my cousin... and I will always... help... you..."

 

[Lily Rhodes]

Lily had the tray in her hand ready to throw at him as he dropped to his knees tears staining his face, the show of his own emotion deflating her anger like a pin popping a balloon. This wasn't her, she was not this cruel person driven by anger that he had made her. The silver tray clattered to the floor as she took a step back, collapsing back into the chair he'd found her in. Her breathing haggard as sobs racked through her chest and she fought to regain control of herself, bringing her knees to her chest, she hugged them and buried her face in the fabric of her dress.

Again the cold expression on Iskey's face drifted through her mind.

"You can't fix it." she said after a while, lifting her face to look at him. "Those children... Did you know that they were connected to the Yvarro's? Di you know that they were related to Iskendyr?"

Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

It broke his heart, to hear the sobs wrack her body, his inability to do anything, for one who had risen so high among the Sith, one who others looked to for leadership.

He so hated.

How powerless he really was.

He groaned, tears still trailing his cheek, thanking Bogan that the other tray was not thrown, as he pulled himself up, as she stated... exactly how powerless he was.

As she questioned.

And he did not know what to say.

"I did not know they were Marrs, let alone Yvarros." He groaned out. It was not entirely true he supposed, as far as he knew Taeli Raaf had no other children outside of those with Fiolette Yvarro , but that was as far as he knew. Considering as far as he knew that Taeli did not even know she had grandchildren, how could he be certain of the parentage of these grandchildren?

Considering he did not even know they were Marrs.

He had not checked if they had been Yvarros.

Cowardice it had all been, all in an effort to keep his hands away from the entire affair.

But look how that had all turned out for him.

The first Kaggath... in how many years?

Then there was the last question... Iskendyr Yvarro ... was this all over some boy?

"I did not know they were related to that boy... tell me... is he who this is all about?" Now he really wished his sisters were here, considering all his... escapades with those of the opposite sex... even sometimes those of the same sex, he likely should have known how to deal with matters like this.

However.

Considering his record.

He very much did not.

He pulled himself up fully, a vague limp taking hold, as he brought himself next to Lillian... Lily Rhodes ... "Tell me what happened, I cannot attempt to help if I am blind, cous-... Lilli."

To think, between all collapsing around him.

Here he was advising on boy problems...

...Somehow it did not surprise him.

 

[Lily Rhodes]

"He knows." she said simply, as if that was all the information Malum needed, wiping the tears from her face on her knees that she hugged close to herself, avoiding Malum's gaze as he limped over to her. "He knows that I sat in that room where you talked about these kidnapped kids and did nothing. If I'd have known who they were..."

She shook her head. "It doesn't matter who they were. It doesn't matter that you trust these people, I set aside my own beliefs and trusted you that these sith are not what the galaxy paints them out to be, but they are. And because I trusted you, because I chose to turn blind eye..."

She looked at him fully. "Iskey is...was...he was my friend. I wanted..." she couldn't get the words out, couldn't find it in herself to voice the truth of how she felt in the wake of all of it, how she had wanted more, how she had seen a future with him.

Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

He pieced together slowly what she was saying, it did not paint a comforting image, though considering he had walked into a room with a woman near tears, and then said woman went on to throw a book, a cup, a kettle, and a tray at him all rather soon after each other...

...Well, to say it depicted a comforting image was far from true.

"Iskendyr is a Yvarro?" Malum confirmed, tempted to wrap an arm around the young woman and comfort her as best he could, but at this point, far from certain if that would not just result in an elbow into his ribs.

"I did not approve of Ali- Darth Strosius ' kidnapping plot, if I had not made myself clear in that very meeting, but once it was done, it could not be simply undone, unless you preferred that it would be our heads on pikes... the Yvarros are no strangers to doing horrible things for themselves, for what they deem right..." It was an odd feeling, having so much to say, but almost feeling like you had a limited amount of words to say them.

"But it matters little, the Sith can be terrible, the Yvarros can be terrible, it matters little, you are right we should not be terrible, and it is that which I fight for, every day, Lilli... Iskey knows what his family is, if he is willing to forgive them, but is unable to forgive you for simply being... one who knew, yet even then did not know the full story, what makes you shed tears?" Malum turned to fully face her, reaching into his robes for yet another handkerchief, which he cautiously brought forth to wipe away the tears from her face, "This will all be resolved soon enough, and he will understand, or he won't, and if he doesn't, then all that has happened, is he has lost an opportunity with one of the most beautiful, thoughtful, and precious women in the galaxy." He hoped he was saying the right things, truly, he had no idea.

"Justice will be had," He spoke, leaning away, gazing at her, making certain nothing else ailed her, "By my hand if necessary... I understand this makes you distrust the Sith more... but you are my family, you are my cousin, and I will support you as such... it is for kind souls like you... for the Sith in all... that I fight for us to be better... but I understand if that is hard for you to understand." He gazed out, rocking his knees on the edge of their seat.

"...None of this turned out like I wanted it to."

Lily Rhodes

 

[Lily Rhodes]

"You might not of approved of it, but you did nothing to stop it. You put me in an impossible situation and because I followed your lead...because I trusted you..." more tears escaped, only to be brushed away by the handkerchief in his hands. "Everything his grandmother said I would be, in his eyes I have become. In his eyes, I have betrayed him." she caught Malum's wrist and pushed his hand away, finally dropping her knees and getting to her feet, turning to face him.

"I don't expect you to understand it. Iskey accepted me for who I was, regardless of the name I was tied to, And I him. It didn't matter what terrible things our family had done, because together we could have become more than our family name. For the first time in my life I actually had a purpose and a future and you dragged me into this mess and ruined that. You can offer whatever promises of justice you want, it changes nothing."

She let her words hang in the air for a moment, looking down at him. Part of her wished they had never crossed paths, that she could remain blissfully unware of her heirtage, a great shadow that loomed over her. But the other part was grateful, because for all his faults, she had been right form the beginning, Malum was a good person.

"I'm leaving."

Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

"It was impossible to stop, if I had known what Ali- Darth Strosius was going to do, I would have stopped it immediately," His own guilt parched his voice, Bogan, all the things he would have done if he had simply told him, rather than...

...Yet it was so obvious, after all this time, his battlebrother still viewed him as the lesser.

And in many ways, he was.

It did not hide the sting anymore.

He quirked his eyebrows at her words, he imagined she was referring to Fiolette Yvarro ... certainly something of a woman, what exactly had she said to strike his cousin so hard? "In his eyes, you have betrayed him, in his eyes you have become everything that Lady Yvarro said you would become," Malum hid the hurt behind his eyes as she pushed him away, grappling quickly, as she stood, to rest his hand on her shoulder, "But are you? Tell me what did she say you would become, and then let me judge if you are that."

Bogan.

What adventures had his sweet cousin been through to have this weighing upon her soul?

"...You think I do not understand, Lilli?" Malum chuckled, a sad, sombre sort of chuckle, patting beside him, offering a seat, "How exactly do you imagine a Sith Lord, of the Ancient and Noble House of Darth Marr, courts a Mo- Mandalorian from Clan Vizsla?" His heart panged... it felt like it had been so long since he had seen Elise Ahana-Gwyneira ... no more than now, could he so use her support.

Invoking her name here, with Lillian... Lily Rhodes ... it was wrong, but he felt it was the only way.

"We both from people who had done terrible things, not just to the rest of the galaxy, but against each other. Do you think our courting was easy? Simple? Even now... we hide our love." He swallowed, morose, "But she accepted who I was, just as I accepted who she was, and we promised, we would make a better galaxy."

And at the end of the day, that was the fundamental difference.

But would his cousin be willing to hear that?

"Did Iskey truly accept who you were? Or did the moment it seem that you confirm what warnings his grandmother gave, all that acceptance, that future, that purpose, be entirely eradicated? I am not blaming him, but this is not your fault, and neither is it mine, but you cannot tell me, cousin, that this was acceptance, that this was anything but him believing you were something, and immediately crushing you when it seemed you were not." His grip firmed on her shoulder, trying through action to show her what he not express through words, "Tell me, are you any different Lilli, from the woman that he knew before that revelation? Are you some dark, evil Sith Lady?" The question was laid so thick, he could not help the glimmer in his eyes.

Yet for all that he said.

As she stepped away.

Made her final words.

The wind was stolen from his sails.

He did not know what to do.

Let alone what to say.

"...If that is what you want, I will not stop you, and I will ever still support you, we all will..." But he was so very bad at letting go, "...But there is another way too," He leaned forward, "Let me train you, nothing dark, nothing evil, but show the entire world, you can be the one you want to be, prove to the entire galaxy, that you are not something to be feared, prove to yourself, that you are not what you fear to be..." He offered a smile.

"Prove you are beyond the Marr name... redefine it entirely."

 

[Lily Rhodes]

Lily visibly deflated the more Malum spoke, she didn't want to repeat what Fio had said to her because as her cousins question hung over her, realisation began to dawn...

"We never aim to hurt the ones we love, Lily. It become a byproduct out of our very need to assert ourselves into this galaxy, to prove that we are worthy of being here. To make something of ourselves, to leave behind something worth remembering, for better or worse. I do not want Iskendyr to fall prey to the whims and manipulations of someone who has yet to figure out what she is capable of."

She shook her head, trying to shake the woman from her mind, but she stuck there like mud, blinking through more tears. "She said she saw a mirror of herself," she managed after a beat, "that I would hurt the people I love, by trying to make something of myself. And she was right, you can't deny that. unintentionally or not. By trying to fit in, by trying to find my place in this family, that is exactly what I have done."

She rolled her eyes at the mention of Elise. "Its not the same and you know it."

But it was his next words that cut through to her core, the sought to reach into her chest and tear out the pieces of her heart that remained. That Iskey had been so quick in that moment to shut her out with his look...that he had not granted her to benefit of the doubt. But then she hadn't tried to call him, so certain of her own guilt that what would have been the point? "I don't..." she trailed off, unable to find an answer for him.

Lily managed a watery laugh at his offer of training. "If I'm going to do that, I need to do it without the help of the number one Marr." She had lingered too long, she'd known that for a while, fighting the itching urge to spread her wings again and find new ground to explore.

Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

He raised an eyebrow at her words, really? Had this been Fiolette Yvarro had said to her? Considering she was a woman that had accomplished so much, who could have known that she wanted nothing more than a housewife for her grandson?

Well.

The ladies of House Marr as much as tradition made them, were not for such domicile existences.

"I can deny that," Malum retorted, pushing himself forward, near standing on wavering knees, yet still though once he might have towered over her, now, he brought himself to her level, as they stood so close, "Listen to your own words, you wish to make a difference, you want for change, but that could only happen if you make something of yourself, do you believe that the Marrs hold some evil in their heart that is beyond that of the Yvarros?" He narrowed his eyes in a challenge at that particular claim, more and more convinced that these manipulations were a true danger to any in his House.

"That is utter foolishness and you know it, you have done nothing wrong by attempting to connect with your family, a family which I will be the first to admit has failed you, but a family that wishes to be there for you, my littlest cousin, I do not deny your right to make bonds with others, I encourage them in fact, but we will always be there for you, to support you, to love you. Is to reach for this bond some great evil?" He let out a gasp, as the pain spluttered across his mind, hand on her shoulder balancing, as he almost fell back on himself, yet even with wavering legs, holding on still.

A wonderful, if accidental metaphor for all he told her.

"Name any great figure of history, and I promise you, for all the greatness they did, so did they do terrible, does the bad wipe away the good? You know this galaxy is a dark place, so why must you be castigated for simply doing something to make a difference, something in no way evil, why are you at fault, why is it not Lady Yvarro, the Yvarros in general that share greater fault for misjudging you, rather than truly accepting you?" If he was frank, it was difficult for him to accept this argument, it was far easier, far more rational, logical, to see that the true fault for this lay entirely outside of his cousin.

But to convince her of that?

He fought still.

"Why is it dissimilar?" He challenged, Lillian... Lily Rhodes ... had it lucky, she was a scion of an ancient and noble Sith line, while the Yvarros were an infamous Imperial family, awkwardness might have existed, and Bogan knew Malum would oppose the match, but for the most part they were on the same side. On the other hand, what Malum and Elise Ahana-Gwyneira ... if the wrong parties heard.

It would be the death of them both.

His fingers rapped along her shoulders, considering the last of her words, that watery smile he so wished to wipe away.

Still, first, he chuckled, short, quiet, "I am not yet Lord Marr, cuz," Malum began, more than aware of how much others looked to him as an almost unofficial leader of the family, rallying the younger Marrs against the older, led by his father.

And despite the fact he was not yet Lord Marr.

He was... a Lord, and a Marr.

Still, the son followed the father, such was the way of things.

And his father despite their rocky relationship, had given him much and led the House ably.

He would not spit on that.

"You do not need to make a path separate from us, cuz, you are my blood, just as much as my sisters, as much as Trayze, Ylvaris, and Revna, it is no admission of weakness to ask for help, to find your path with a guardian, a guide, to help you along..." It was a lesson which he could have used, but he had not relied on Darth Ophidia , and despite their efforts, he was not to rely on Mia Monroe or Srina Talon either.

He pulled a hand away from her shoulder, placing it between them in offering.

"...I will not force you to remain here, even if you do accept..." A true showcase of how confident he was, "...But you know, I would do anything for my family... take my hand... and I will aid you to achieve the greatness that I know you are capable of, the glimmers that I saw, of the young woman that aid anyone in need without a moment's thought..." He offered his own watery smile, praying, hoping, she would take his hand.

"Let us show the entire galaxy."

 

[Lily Rhodes]

His words shattered the walls she was desperately trying to pull up. Broke down her own affirmations thay she had done something terrible that if she continued on this path she would do something terrible.

The last thing she wanted, was to be another Fiolette. She had hurt Iskey, that much she knew, by she could fix that. And while her actions themselves had not been evil, her inaction made her just as bad as those who had committed the crime.

She could fix that. She could find out where the children were being held. That would do something to negate her inaction. Then maybe Iskey could forgive her...

She tried to find words to reply to Malum, words to fight the case that he was wrong, but they snagged in her throat as freash tears spilled over her cheeks, a sob escaping her.

Lily looked down at the hand he offered, his words ringing in her ears. Would it be so terrible to accept his help?

She pushed his hand aside, and instead wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her face in his chest as more sobs escaped her. "I'm s-s-sorry i h-h-hurt y-y-you."

Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

He blinked and then blinked again.

And for good measure, he blinked once more.

No, as strange as it was, he did still have a crying woman pressed against his chest, arms wrapped around his waist, eyes glistening and wettening his robes. He swallowed the lump in his throat, as half-instinct, and half-rightness, propelled him forward, wrapping his own arms around his cousin, another lump forming in his throat, as he felt the sobs that wracked her lithe form.

He had never been great at traversing the great and confusing obstacles that were crying women.

Moreover, sobbing women that crashed into him...

...He was even more clueless.

Yet, as one hand traced gently, circling her back, and the other caressed her silvery blonde hair, cradling her head.

As he pressed his lips against her forehead, and encouraged her to let all the emotions out.

He felt perhaps...

...He had picked up something after all.

His eyes became rather glassy at her last admission.

His lips shushing gently, as his grip around her tightened, he still felt the vague aches of all that had been done to him, but what was that compared to all that he had done to her?

"My most precious cousin... you need not apologise for a single thing... let it out, I am, and always will be here for you."

Lily Rhodes

 

[Lily Rhodes]

Lily wasn't sure how long they stood there, rain cascading down the stain glass windows, the sobs that echoed through the quiet library slowly settled. For all his faults, and despite the way there relationship had begun, Malum had become a safe place for Lily. Something she could not have predicted.

She slowly pulled away, wiping her face, and mumbling another apology. Every part of her body suddenly ached, like everything she had been holding onto had released, and exhaustion settled in its place. She looked up and Malum and gave him a small smile.

"I'm not saying yes to your offer, but I'm not saying no either. I need time to think about it. Time away from all of this. When I've figured out what it is I want to be, I'll let you know."

Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

It was unmistakable, despite how awkward he had once felt her sobbing form pressed against him, as she pulled away, every instinct demanded that he pull her back.

As odd as it was.

As strange as it was.

He missed her warmth.

Yet he knew to pull her back in, was to push her away. Despite the trust she now had placed in him, her heart was still tender, and any act, even out of her best interest, out of concern for her wellbeing, could very still tear them apart.

So despite his instincts, even with his arms wrapped around her, he allowed her to pull away, breath leaving him, as red stared into brown.

Despite the fact, that she did not have the traditional Marr colourings.

She was still, very much a Marr.

Her smile, resplendent, was enough of a reminder of that.

No doubt he would need to extend his protectiveness of his sisters to this cousin in particular.

Hers was an innocence that the galaxy would fight wars for.

He raised an eyebrow at her answer.

It was not a no.

But it was not a yes, either.

Did he push it? He so wanted to... yet... with how it always between them, his confidence had been dearly shot.

"...I understand... stay the night, I will have the staff restock your provisions... and no doubt Elise and Revna will wish to say their goodbyes..." He attempted to keep the struggle out of his voice, the utter need to try to do more...

...But fear kept him at bay.

Fear, and what he had promised her, that no matter what, he would support her, they all would.

"...Just please, if anything happens, tell me, and I will be there in an instant."

Lily Rhodes

 

[Lily Rhodes]

Lily nodded in agreement to staying the night, she was to tired to fly anywhere, besides which she was hardly going to go anywhere in the ridiculous dress. She might ask for one of the servants to see if they could get it cleaned for her through, just to take with her, just in case she had need of it. Though considering she'd never had need of a dress before she met Malum and the rest of her family she very much doubted it.

"I'll be fine Malum, I promise. I was getting myself in and out of trouble just fine before I met you." She teased, before tiptoeing to place a kiss on his cheek. Taking his hands in hers she gave the a squeeze. "I will call you if I need you, I promise." she reassured him before adding.

"Though maybe let me know of any impending zombie attacks so I can be sure to avoid them this time."

Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

"That is what I fear actually... I would rather you not get into any trouble at all... you still have access to the funds I gave you, do you not? Do you need any more? I would rather more expenses than hear your desperation caused you to do something dangerous." There was some levity to his voice, but it was mirrored with an equal amount of concern, such did not go away, even if he grew rather more distracted as she leaned forward, and lay a chaste kiss upon his cheek, squeezing his hands, and promising she would call...

...It should have made him feel better, but truly, he imagined he would never feel truly fine about this, unless he was with her, watching over her.

...Which, was a rather strange admission and realisation all unto itself.

He cracked half a smile at her joke at the end, even if it reminded him all too well of their last conversation regarding the topic.

It was a small amount of good grace that it seemed they were able to jape about it now.

"...As far as I know, no one has such plans in store for the future... but I shall keep you updated..." It was a rather weak caper in response to hers, but he had gone through so much in not only the last few minutes... but too the last few hours, that comedic levity was far from his mind, "...By that, I mean, I shall be doing my utmost to make certain they are not deployed again." He reassured at last, hoping that would at least save her perception of his... their... kind.

"It at the end of the day is good that you will stay an extra night..." He swiftly moved on, his half-smile expanding in scope to perhaps a glassy full one, "...I had a gift prepared for you, I believe it may be ready by the morning..." Transitioning to a full smirk, that though did not reach his eyes, he did his utmost to fill the air with mystery, eluding to whatever would await her by the morning.

It was... to be given in better circumstances than this.

But one rarely held the opportunity to choose their circumstances.

Lily Rhodes