Private Fortress of Solitude

[Lily Rhodes]

Lily very almost rolled her eyes, closing the breifly and blowing a sigh out of her nose. "Malum..." she began, opening her eyes and deciding that perhaps right now indignation was not her best route. "Yes, I still have access to the funds, I don't need more, will you please not make a fuss."

His reassurance saddened her. That he would give his word to ensure that the zombies were not unleashed again but believed the retrieval of the children Darth Strosius kidnapped was impossible. She did not fully inderstand the relationship they had, but it was clearly getting in the way of him being able to do the right thing.

It was in that brief moment, a flicker of determination crossed her eyes. Lily would do what he believed he could not. Not just for Iskey, but for herself and for Malum. She would find them.

All thoughts of forming a plan evaporated at the mention of a gift, pink flushing her cheeks. The only gift she'd ever had was her first book, from Velok Brokentusk he idea of receiving more left her uncomfortable, oartially because she knew whatever it was Malum had gotten her, it was likely expensive.

"Malum," she almost whined. "Why?"

Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

The smirk remained on his face, as the light returned to his eyes, it seemed to his great relief, despite his tendency for caution and paranoia, despite everything, all was well between them.

At least that was what he hoped.

Yet when had his hopes ever reflected reality?

Still, he hoped.

"How can you not expect me to make a fuss? My younger cousin wishes to despite all my concerns to venture out into the dangerous galaxy," He quirked his lips, and softened his eyes, a feigned pout prominent upon his features, "She does not allow me to protect her, what else can I do but make a fuss?"

He noted that flicker across her brown eyes, what exactly it was, he could not quite say.

Yet knowing his fortunes, he doubted it would be anything good.

Still, by the time she left she would be outfitted with all she needed.

All that he could provide her, apart from himself, to survive out there...

...And he would know exactly how to reach her, if anything went wrong.

Would that be enough?

He prayed it would be.

Though when had the gods ever smiled upon him?

Red eyes haunted him ever still.

He blinked, a small smile finding itself on his face as he found her blushing face, how adorable.

How many he would need to threaten for looking at her in any way.

His hand raised forward, tousling her silver-blonde locks teasingly, "Because, I have missed a lifetime of birthdays, and it seems right that I begin paying off that specific debt." He joked, privately reflecting... there were many a cousin who he had similar debts to pay off.

Yet another task to add to an unending list.

Lily Rhodes

 

[Lily Rhodes]

This time, Lily did roll her eyes. She didn't need protecting, she'd never needed anything from anyone. Still it was nice to know that she had that as an option, even if she was too stubborn to accept it. She swatted his hand aside, reprimanding him with the best glare she could muster, despite the glitter of happiness in her eyes.

"You're insufferable." she teased, moving away from him. "I'm going to bed."

She paused at the double oak doors to glance back at him.

"Goodnight Malum."

---

The next morning was a scramble for Lily, between packing her things, loading up the Pilgrim's Rest and running preflight checks she was tired before the journey had even begun. And the people were not helping.

Well, technically that wasn't true, they were helping, but the fact that she had to direct them was not helpful. She would have much preferred to have sorted everything herself. When she confessed as much to Morsus, he simply laughed at her, earning himself a dead arm. He'd not left her side all morning, she wasn't sure if that was Malum's doing, or if he was simply making the most of his time guarding her before she departed.

Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

He brought back the feigned pout as his hands were lightly slapped away, with a glare to go along with it. Yet, though Lillian... Lily Rhodes , was very bit the Marr as him and his sisters, she had not yet completed the education that each of them had, her eyes betrayed the feelings which she very much felt.

Without words, she filled him with the reassurance, that despite the stinging pain he still felt.

All between them would be well.

"I am far from the terrifying Sith Lord that the galaxy may see me as." He countered with a smile, nodding as she left for her quarters.

He breathed out softly, he still had much work to do, even if he had put out this fire.

There were always hundreds more.

Still, as she gazed back, her final words were given.

He offered naught still but the very same smile, the one which conveyed, that all would be well.

When he was far from certain on that point.

"Goodnight Lillian."

---

Bloodshot eyes were hidden by the replica of the mask of his most great and famous ancestor. It was not an uncommon thing, sleep was a luxury, and there simply were not enough hours in a day. His own ruling philosophy came to contrast with his biological needs.

But how often had he already ignored biological need in favour of...

The Emperor who never sleeps, that was his desire, the first servant of the state, that was his wish.

Still, he was no complete fool, despite the stress, the unending work, and today, a rather... difficult goodbye. He knew he would need to make some time for sleep, should he collapse, he would be useful to no one.

Such, that along the hallways, the clipped steps of this Palace's owner, this Planet's ruler, echoed along, every motion, like the epicentre of a quake which only he could feel. Finally, red eyes emerged out to the hanger.

And he resisted the sigh, as almost immediately, all bowed.

"Your Imperial Majesty!" The servants cried.

"Imperator." The Guard intoned.

The masked Emperor, who very much sought to conceal that title, said nothing, his eyes only for his cousin, offering a wave of his hand, for all to be at ease.

As nehind him emerged another servant.

Carrying a most particular item.

A flowing dress of red and black, highlighted with flecks of gold.

Behind them, another, carrying the same blue that she wore to the Reception.

Both embroidered with the masked visage.

Of the ancient and noble House of Darth Marr.

"My apologies, cousin, I hope I have not kept you long... I will admit, I was never very good at goodbyes." If any of his followers judged him for this rather... unimperial way, they said nothing.

Malum knew they would say nothing.

For all he was, all he was trained to be.

They knew within these Palace halls, he was not the Lord of Deceit, the Lord of the Tsis'Kaar, the Lord of Ravens, which he played outside of it.

"Two of your three gifts, to remind you where you came from, to remind you what you are..." He reached into his robes.

And with a hiss, in his hand, a hilt, extending out to a red plasma blade, hissing alive with intensity.

"And the last... what you may become... if you so choose." Another hiss broke out, as his free hand took off his mask, revealing red eyes, tired, but glimmering, bearing into the brown of his kin.

This was a risk he knew.

But he needed to trust her to not judge him for this.

A leap of faith, had been always what their relationship had been.

Why not another?

 

[Lily Rhodes]

It was hard to ignore the way the servants practically worshipped the ground that Malum walked on, it was one of the few things that made her deeply uncomfortable. In appearance her cousin seemed to take it in his stride, but she'd seen more the once his own discomfort at the display. she opened her mouth to break the tension with a sarcastic remark, but it fell away from her as she saw the dresses.

"Malum..." she began, approaching the servants and running her fingers over the fabric, "They are beautiful, thank you." the servants moved away, seemingly to find a home for them on the ship as she turned back to face him.

Her stomach dropped, as did her expression as he ignited the lightsaber and removed his mask. The blade bathing them in a red hue. A lightsabre? Of all the things he could have gifted her... her would give her this? A symbol of the one thing she swore never to become. Anger prickled along her skin, bleeding into her eyes.

"Why would you give me this?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Did he want them to part on another argument or was he just so stupid that he couldn't foresee the impact such a gesture would have had?

Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

He gazed down at her, it was interesting how much her eyes seemed to almost shift in hue, closer to his eyes than ever before, when she was wroth. Was it a sign?

It would not be the first time one of his newly found cousins would have their eyes reveal the truth of their blood, memories of Mariah of House Marr , coming to mind.

But Lillian... Lily Rhodes ... had touched the amulet, felt the presence of their great and famous ancestor, and her eyes had not changed. Indeed, it seemed whatever had happened to Mariah, it was entirely by the volition of her father, rather than their ancestor.

He swung the lightsabre across the air, the hiss and buzz of plasma filling the hanger bay, as those around them could not help but look, to listen, at what promised to be a display.

"This was my first lightsabre, crafted with a synthetic crystal, rather than a real crystal that I... bled." Sometimes, he had wondered at the language they used to refer to such things, bleeding crystals, fall to the darkside? It was ludicrous at times.

The blade hissed as it extinguished, the hilt the only visible mantle of its power, as he presented it to his little cousin, ever still avoiding her question, yet knowing he would not have much patience from her.

"Our history, our present, are comforting at times, our future... uncertain... I give this to you for a simple purpose." He brought himself to her level, red eyes meeting brown, softened, needing her to understand, "So a part of me shall always be with you, so a part of me will always protect you, so when I am not there, part of me will be, until I am."

 

[Lily Rhodes]

Lily had to fight the instinctive urge to take a step back. It wasn't that she was afraid of Malum, nor did she have any lack of faith in his ability to not hurt her, but the lightsaber represented so much bad in the galaxy. Not just because of the sith, but because of the Jedi. She may have grown up in relative peace and had not seen war until recently, but the superstitions and hatred for Jedi and Sith alike and the weapons they bore were deeply ingrained in her.

Still, she held her tongue and heard him out, chewing her lip as he deactivated the blade and offered the hilt to her. It was sweet, she supposed, that he would offer such a gesture.

She heaved a sigh, hesitating, before reaching out to take the hilt. "Couldn't have done the same but with a necklace or something?" She sounded sulky, almost ungrateful, though she didn't mean to be.

Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

He offered a remorseful sort of smile at her reaction, both in her words and all she expressed outside of them. He could not entirely blame her, for all he fully believed the Sith to be.

He knew what all those outside these walls thought the Sith to be.

He knew what his cousin thought the Sith to be.

And how could he blame her?

For all he had done to her?

For all, he continued to do her.

It would be worth it, all in the end, she would see the truth of the darkness, and he would save her, from the clutches of any that might hurt her.

"I am attempting to create protective rings... yet that is proving a difficult process, if I succeed you shall be the first to know." Though considering their purpose, and her need for independence, he doubted she would much like them.

After all upon the dress, there lay a tiny object which would serve a similar enough purpose, and he certainly knew she would not approve of that if she ever learned it existed, and what it was.

But to keep her safe.

A small sacrifice.

His smile grew by the end, "A necklace would not protect you in the same way as a lightsabre will." He intoned, of course, his amulet conferred certain protections.

However, he would never risk scattering the ashes amongst various amulets.

He had no idea what might occur.

And if he was honest...

...He could not see himself sharing it.

Lily Rhodes

 

[Lily Rhodes]

She didn't have the heart to tell him a necklace would probably have a far better chot at protecting her than a lightsaber she was absolutely never going to use, nor carry.

Lily heaved a sigh, and made a point of clipping it to her belt and hugging him.

"Thank you, Malum," She said after a beat and drawing away, and holding both his hands in hers, "For everything. Not just the dresses and the lightsaber but all of it. I know I'm not the easiest of cousins to wrangle, but I appreciate everything you do including letting me have my space."

She gave his hands a squeeze. "For your sanity, I'll check in every few days."

Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

His eyes widened, and breath left him as her arms wrapped around him, hugs were still somewhat of a rare concept for him, after all did not initiate them, it was others who would wrap their arms around him, and of those who felt comfortable doing so was a frighteningly shortlist. After all, half who might be close enough to do so was taught it was far from proper.

Still, it was not as if he was entirely alien from them, wrapping his own arms around her.

And the feeling of coldness as they pulled away was always familiar.

As she spoke, as she held his hands, gave them a squeeze, it was him that for the first time in so long.

Was the one remiss to say goodbye.

Breaking from her hands, his arms wrapped tightly around her, as his chin rested upon her forehead, and he breathed out slowly, closing his eyes, caring not for all the onlookers.

What was it if they knew he cared for his blood?

"It is only the tip of the iceberg of all you deserve after what our family did to you... after what I did to you..." He whispered in a voice that was filled with wetness, "I am not so naive as to not know you are against using it... I understand, but please, you may be the most stubborn of us, but keep it on yourself, and use it if you ever should need it." There was more to these gifts than she realised, certainly.

But that did not mean the gifts themselves were poison.

"How about every day?" He joked, giving one final squeeze, before releasing her.

A weight on his heart removed.

Only for one much heavier to lay there instead.

Lily Rhodes

 

[Lily Rhodes]

Lily smiled as he pulled her in for another hug, his chin resting on her head, his words wobbling with emotion that made a lump rise in her own throat. She squeezed her eyes shut, holding him tighter, nodding in agreement to keep the stupid saber on her. To afraid to speak unless her own emotions got the better of her.

She laughed at his jest as he released her, and she wiped away the tears that had escaped. "Not a chance." she retorted.

There was a sadness that settled in her, but it was etched with determination, she needed to do this, she needed to break away to decide what she was going to become. She gave him a small smile, and placed a kiss upon his cheek.

"Goodbye, Malum. Don't do anything stupid while I'm gone."

As she moved away, she felt Morsus watching her and paused before running back to hug him.

"Look after him." she whispered.

"Of course, Lady Marr." he murmured in response, she pulled back and thumped his arm for good measure before ascending the landing ramp.

Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

If there was any small mercy left to him for expressing such weakness here, it was that as she tightened her grip around him, as she mutely nodded her against his chest with scrunched-up eyes...

...He knew someone else felt exactly as he did at this goodbye.

So why did they torture themselves with it so? Idle muses with no energy to find an answer.

He so utterly hated how much he missed the warmth as their embrace ended, even as her laughter was music to his ears, even as her answer, able to bring a smile from his face, left him with a pang in his heart ever still. Her smile to him, so pure... so... true... was a reminder that there were far too many men in this galaxy.

And none of them were worthy of her.

He blinked, when he found her lips on his cheek.

Unexpected.

He had the good graces to have some pink dust on his cheeks.

He was half-tempted to respond that he already had... though he imagined she would not find such a joke nearly as amusing as he did... truly, he had not fully considered it.

The Kaggath may not yet be guaranteed, but he would push for it, and he thought he could accomplish it.

It was necessary certainly... but it was entirely dangerous... what Lily Rhodes ... Lillian... would certainly consider it stupid.

Ali- Darth Strosius was no slouch.

He might have defeated him on Fiviune, but much had changed since then.

He might have been staring death in the face...

...In some sense, this might have been the last time he would ever see his cousin.

"Of course not, when have I ever done something like that?" Malum spoke, smirking a smirk that he certainly did not feel.

He watched with a more real smile as she turned to embrace Morsus.

A smile that flickered, and faded away, as she entered her ship.

As the engines began and she left the hanger.

As she went past the horizon.

And she was gone...

...Would he see her again?