Faction In Memoria

[Kasir Dorran]

Tag: Soah Ty’Jyn

Kasir strode towards the vendor's booth with a sense of purpose now, until he came upon a window where a green skinned Twi'lek just finished tending to another customer. His gaze flickered to the acolyte, ready to summon her demands from the pitiful stall, but he instantly noticed she had disappeared further within her hood. A master of personal stealth, or utilizing some trick to evade further notice, he mused. But either way, he was able to see through it without much effort.

The Sith was not one to waste time on such matters, and thus he swiftly took charge. With a flick of his wrist, he searched for more credit chips from within his cloak. “I’ll take two of everything,” he said calmly. The Twi’lek raised an eyebrow in surprise but was quick to begin filling the order. The scent of food stoked the flames of his hunger as he watched him. “And two of those,” he added, pointing at some sort of blue drink he saw from a fountain machine.

Soon the worker began stacking the overflowing plates high on a tray. From fried Nuna legs, burgers, and a few different sweet pastries, it appeared as though they were preparing for a feast.

He chose to simply overlook the inflated prices of it all. Exchanging the credits, he gave a simple nod. Turning away he scanned the area for a place to sit. His eyes fell upon groups of friends and families sitting together, their laughter mixing with the carnival music. Kasir recoiled slightly. The scene appeared odd to him, like a distant planet in Wild Space that he had never wished to visit. “I shall not lower myself to eat alongside such.. uncouth beings," he stated.

He then navigated toward a high table in the distance, where he didn't have to be surrounded by any camaraderie.

Rather than taking a seat, he began removing the different items from the tray. He came to a sudden halt as he saw the fried legs again; it managed to paint an image nearly forgotten in his mind's eye: one of the glowing abomination he crossed paths with in Echnos City. Kasir swiftly pushed it to the opposite end of the table as a snarl etched across his pale features. "And I will not eat anything tainted with Nuna.”

 

[Soah Ty’Jyn]

Objective: Carnival Row
Location: Carnival Row
Interacting with: Kasir Dorran

​

At least Kasir didn't make her feel like an idiot for not knowing what a Bantha was. Instead, he moved straight to ordering food at the nearest vendor stall, like he didn't care whether or not she understood. Soah adjusted her hood, pulling the fabric closer over her nose, trying to hide the way her nostrils flared and her mouth parted in hunger. Her fangs flashed for a brief moment as she fought to keep her reaction in check. The rich smells of roasted meat and spices were making her stomach twist painfully, a stark reminder of how little she'd eaten in days.

Then she froze, hearing Kasir order two of everything.

Two? She couldn't afford one, let alone two! Suspicion flared within her. Before she could voice her confusion, Kasir had already paid, sliding the credits over without a second thought. It both irritated her and made her want to take advantage of the meal. How often did she get to eat like this? Probably never again.

But wariness crept in right after. What did he want in exchange for this? Nothing was free, especially not in the academy.

She pushed the thought aside for now, eyes narrowing as Kasir recoiled in disgust at a nearby group of families laughing and enjoying the festivities. His angular face twisted into a deep scowl, a snarl curling his lips as if their joy was some personal offense. The sight almost made her laugh.

Soah took a seat, one brow arching high as she watched him bristle. "What did Nuna ever do to you?" she asked, the sarcasm dripping from her words.

She eyed him, half-expecting some demand or ultimatum to follow, but when nothing came, she shrugged and decided to help herself. If he thought a meal could buy her cooperation, he'd be sorely mistaken.

He might be paying for her food, but that didn't mean she owed him anything in return. Not yet.

 

[Credius Nargath]

For once, it was Credius' turn to be shocked, his eyes turned towards Lily with a strangely surprised smile on his visible face. he raised his left hand towards the start of his hairline and combed with his fingers through his hair, yet as he lowered his hand again, his eyes turned towards his hand as he clenched his hand into a fist before relaxing it again, blond strands of hair instantly growing dull gray and crumbling into nothing as they twirled down from his hand.

"Damn it, it's too soon for this to happen again... merely a few hours seems to be all I can get from a bunch of weak, ineffective force sensitives...it is infuriating that I can't just drain this entire hall from all its precious lifeforce..."

Turning his attention back towards Lily after nodding his head for a moment, Credius' lips curled into a feigned smile again. He was surprised how hard she hit the nail on the head with her response. This one was truly more clever and insightful than he had thought her to be, but than again... this strangely out of place woman did seem to be quite intriguing exactly because of how out of place she seemed to be. it wasn't too dissimilar from the gaudy man the Abomination had been eyeing for a while, but at the same time it was different on a whole new scale.

"That is a rather dark, but also poignant observation, milady," Turning back towards the crowd, his eyes once more falling on the man who tried so hard to fit in, who tried so hard to be someone, something of note. A chuckle, dry and humorless escaped Credius' mouth. "I guess in one way or another, most of us are either affraid or ashamed of our true nature. After all, some might be a true hero within their heart, some might be nothing than ordinary and yet...even others might be absolute, unnatural monsters to the core of their being..."

With a somewhat devious smile, the man gazed into the distance again, almost...almost as if he was looking at the crowd, but from the side, one could peer behind the shades and see how the man's eyes despite their bright coloration, the glow of crimson and gold seemed to stare off into the aether. "I wonder how many true monsters there are within this space...and how few know about those who have yet to embrace their nature rather than fight against it."

Lily Rhodes

 

[Tamsin Graves]

Tags: Kaila Irons
Theme: Dance Macabre

---

"You're the teacher, I think your supposed to speak a lot." Tamsin said giving her a cheeky smile, and showing she didn't mind listening. She rather enjoyed it and Kaila seemed very excited to talk about the past and what she wanted to teach Tamsin. "Plus, it's very interesting, this history of the Sith and how the force works. I am always content to listen." The more she learned the more she shaped her own ideas and opinions, also the more she understood it all.

She listened yet again as it was explained what might be compelling her to reach out her hand. It was weird how this spirit or entity in her tried to communicate. Sometimes words in her mind, not words exactly as Tamsin couldn't read but it was like a feeling of words she could understand. Rarely well, only twice now, it had spoken directly to her or laughed at her. Then there was paralyzing affect back on Tatooine when the force was applied to her. Also, the vision or two as it had also imparted one upon Kaila.

It was hard to comprehend what exactly it wanted or was doing, did it want to take control of her even surely it could have by now? "I would like to read." She said honestly there was more to learn, a lot to learn and most of it was in books.

"Are you sure?" She looked at Kaila for reassurance that reaching her hand out to touch the shrine was the right thing to do. Kaila's face told her more than enough that it, she should try it. Hesitantly she reached her hand across the threshold of the shrine and her right hand came to rest on the broken staff.

Her right hand began to glow with just a faint blue aura around it. It looked almost like a ghostly hand overlapping her own hand. Then the orange rings around her irises flashed a bright orange for a second before blending back in with the rest of her dark eyes. As this happened a ghostly apparition of Tavion Axmis began to form and appear.

"I told you last time, I am not going to give you my secret no matter how much knowledge you share!" The ghostly apparition stared right at Tasmin as it spoke causing her to pull her hand back and take a step away from the shrine. "Well, I have to say, you look better then last time at least. Still go away, you will get nothing from me."

"I…I don't know you?" Tamsin stuttered out the words towards the apparition. "How do you know me?"

"Well, you're still crazy that's clear. We have met and you wanted me to reveal my secrets to you. I told you to piss off, but you kept trying to my annoyance." The apparition looked completely annoyed with Tamsin before it noticed Kaila. "What did you bring me a sacrifice this time, you sick little imp?"

Tamsin looked to Kaila with a questioning look of what the hell was this woman talking about. "Uh…no…." She didn't know what to say or even to ask or if this spirit would answer the questions, it seemed not to like her much for some reason.

 

[Adean Castor]

TAG: Darth Malum of House Marr
WEARING: x | x

"Looking the part is easy, playing it is the challenge." The irony that such words were coming from her lips was not lost on Adean. It seemed all she did was play one part after another.

The hand that found his shoulder was a feather-light pressure on the elegant void of a suit that adorned her dance partner's shoulders, as if ready to bolt at a moment's notice. A short laugh, effortless in sound despite it very much being the opposite, rose from her chest at his teasing. "I would not have agreed if I did," she offered. A lie if ever there was one, though it was spoken as plain as any truth.

Under other circumstances, Adean probably would've liked dancing. There was a comfort to be found in following another's lead, even more so when the patterns established themselves. She didn't particularly care for the intimacy of it all but even that could be forgiven with the right partner. That growing acclimation was dashed, her blood turning cold, as the Sith Lord continued their conversation. She stumbled slightly, missing a step as concentration on the moves turned toward internal considerations of how to get out of both the conversation and the dance floor itself. "I'm uncertain you have the right person, my Lord," she stated, voice perhaps a tad too quick to correct to its original volume. "There are so many of us, I'd hardly call anything I've achieved attention-worthy."

 

[Kasir Dorran]

Tag: Soah Ty’Jyn

As if the insolent acolyte had the audacity to question his words, Kasir was certain he could hear a trace of mockery in her tone. It almost felt like another challenge, even with the absence of a training sword. His expression soon began to shift; his eyes narrowed, brows furrowed, and the twitch of his cold lips curled into another smirk. His gaze quickly returned to Soah as he finally lowered himself into a seat, hoping to shut out the atmosphere that felt suffocating.

"More than your mind could ever comprehend," the Sith hissed, his head shaking, but then the mere thought of Zaiya threatened to crush his appetite. He quickly fell silent. In truth, the battle in Echnos City was not one he wished to revisit, for it would be a story filled with more torture and torment than action.

Due to the intensity of his training, his stomach felt like a black hole, ready to devour everything now. Reaching for one of the burgers from the tray, he lifted it to his lips and took a hearty bite. As he chewed, he glanced back up at the Felacatian. At least the food had a way of distracting him from how odd he found this event to be. Kaisr then wiped a crumb from the corner of his mouth. “I see you’ve already mastered the art of invisibility,” he stated. After another bite, he leaned back. “It might be hard to enjoy the meal if you’re hiding from it. Brooding and lurking is a natural talent for you, I presume.”

After he consumed half of it, the smirk was replaced with a frown, setting the burger down with a thud. He studied it with disdain. “It’s rather bland.” Waving it away, he turned his attention to the scattered pastries. He lifted one that was perfectly rounded, with glaze on its surface shimmering more than his polished armor. The sprinkles on top had a way of complimenting it. Crumbs fell from his lips. To his surprise, he actually liked it. “You must try one of these,” he suggested.

 

[Soah Ty’Jyn]

Objective: Carnival Row
Location: Carnival Row
Interacting with: Kasir Dorran

​

Soah noticed the way Kasir's eyes narrowed, a smirk playing on his lips. Their interaction was like a dance, a delicate balance of power and respect. They were two predators, circling each other, trying to decipher intentions and weigh options. How much of Soah's sass would Kasir tolerate, and how much of Soah's snark would she swallow to keep him and his skills close for her to learn? The answer was uncertain, hanging in the air like a blade of grass in the wind.

Luckily, the older Sith wasn't keen on smacking her on the back of the head for her quip and instead focused on eating.

Well, at least she tried to; it appeared Kasir was one of those who enjoyed chatting while talking.

She glanced down at her scarf, a silent acknowledgment of Kasir's point. With a reluctant tug, she revealed the thick plaited braids of her hair and the dusky skin adorned with inky tattoos.

Once again, she began to eat. It was delicious, and she did her best not to ravage it like some beggar, but she certainly wasn't that neat about it. Gusto would be an appropriate name for it.

A flick of hazel eyes was cast at the pastry Kasir offered and eyed with suspicion, but Soah took it nonetheless.

Deciding to steer the conversation in a different direction, Soah asked, "Did you go through the Sith Academy?"

 

[Lunaria Talon]

Tag: Soldane Talon | Matteo Guo-Yian
Alias: Artemis Dreadmoor
Wearing: School Uniform w/Red Cloak

Luna's lips twitched in amusement as she watched Matteo carefully examine the caramel apple like it was some sort of puzzle he needed to solve. His earlier haughty sniff had already been ruined by the pure delight in his eyes when she handed him the sweet. Several years older, he said, but in that moment, he looked more like a kid than someone lecturing her about age.

She almost laughed, but her mind was still on the heavier things they had just discussed. His words lingered, echoing in her thoughts. That she was enough. It felt good, hearing that from him. Better than she'd expected, even though part of her was still wary. She didn't let people in easily. She couldn't. Not with the secrets she carried nor the truth about who she was—who her mother and father were. Matteo didn't know the reality of that, and it needed to stay that way.

When he spoke about his own mother, Luna listened closely, her hand instinctively tightening around the caramel apple stick. She kept her gaze on him, even though she wasn't sure how to respond. Artemis appreciated his honesty, the way he spoke of his own feelings about family while offering her comfort. But every word about survival, about love being expressed through making sure she could fight and stay alive, hit a little too close to home.

The Sith Empress, distant and cold, was always protecting them but never seemingly close. It was hard to reconcile love with the image of a woman who was more myth than person to most, even to her children sometimes.

But she couldn't tell Matteo that.

She glanced at him, seeing the earnestness in his eyes, and then back down at her apple. She decided to be careful, to give him some truth but keep the rest locked away. Luna found that she didn't like keeping things from him…But the consequences were beyond severe. If Tea-yo knew it might put him in more danger than even Jutrand Academy had to offer.

"Well…", Artemis began, her voice soft but thoughtful, "My mother has always been… complicated. She made sure we could defend ourselves, that we knew where we came from, tradition, and everything about our dad…But love?" She paused, her fingers nervously twirling the apple stick. "She's never said it outright that I remember…"

"Maybe in Echani."

Luna's eyes flickered toward Matteo again, catching the light from the festival around them. "But I think you're right. She does care, in her own way. Making sure that we're capable… that's how she shows it. Even if it's not with words—She does give these really…really great hugs." She smiled faintly, the soft memory adding a touch of lightness to her voice. Lunaria had always thought it to be perfume, the scent of jasmine and rain, but it was something remembered clearly. Her mother always smelled of it. So much so, that Luna often sat in the rain when she was gone... Trying to remember.

It was still hard, though. There was so much more Matteo didn't know—so much she couldn't tell him. She thought about what he'd said, about how that's what Sith did: they made sure the people they loved stayed alive. That was what her mother had done—what her father might have done if he was still himself. But love, real love, seemed so far away from that.

She glanced at the apple, finally deciding to take a bite, the caramel sticking to her lips. She winced a little as the sweetness overwhelmed her senses, but then quickly recovered, offering Matteo a mischievous grin. "You know…", she said, wiping the sticky mess away with a napkin, "For someone who's 'several years older', you're still trying to figure out how to eat a caramel apple, aren't you?"

Her eyes gleamed with a playful challenge, the heaviness of their earlier conversation seeming to have evolved and shifted. "I'm glad you've got all this wisdom to share—", she teased, leaning closer, "—because clearly, I'm going to need it to navigate this carnival without making a mess of myself. Or calling over more Ladies of the Shadows because I'm a crybaby…"

She was joking, partially.

Artemis might have been young, but she was learning how to play the game. Not just those that the carnival offered, but one that involved keeping her secrets close, protecting what little of herself she could, while still letting someone in just enough to feel… normal.

For now, she'd let Matteo's belief stand.

"Anyway…", the flaxen-haired child added with a sly, cheeky smile, "I'll take your word on the whole 'Sith survival equals love' thing. But hurry up, chomp chomp, I want to beat you at archery…We get to shoot shrunken skulls."

There was something in her tone that was a little too excited about the activity…But it was more about holding a weapon than the grotesque nature of it. She felt bereft without one—It was something she knew.

Not this wild, confusing emotional roller coaster.

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

"Always trouble for nobles like ourselves, no?" Malum concurred as the mask stared intently into emeralds, seeking any moment of reflection, any hint of shimmer, any sign of shine, "Especially for the new bloods, those of their families amongst the first to be touched by the Force, and by virtue of that alone, brought forward into a high society they are inexperienced for." Her light touch made it easy to twirl her about his fingers, the green dress, entirely so... lascivious, drawing many an eye, even his own, as it spun about the floor.

"It should be our duty, those who have been taught all their lives how to... as you put, 'play', to instruct those who have joined our glittering congregation, made stars by their virtue and strength," His hand found itself to her waist once again, a gentle if still firm grip, as they continued their waltz, she was good, that much could easily be said. She said little, and revealed even less, yet in what little she said there was never an expression of being guarded, "Alas... many of my kind have thought themselves superior due to blood and title alone, and shall not give the time of day to newcomers, it is shameful."

There was something forged about her, but beyond that, she seemed as ever, exactly what she presented herself as. He narrowed his eyes behind the mask as she stumbled, her prediction coming true, yet, occurring right after specific stimuli, it seemed he had struck the correct nerve. He tilted his head, questioning, as they stopped their dance, stabilising her with both hands, still on her hand, and her waist, as a heartbeat passed, and her voice shifted, for the barest moment.

"...Anyone who has entered the Academy, no matter how low their rank, has achieved something attention-worthy, of a population of billions, there are only 128 of you," He countered, as he began the dance again, yet this time, far slower, closer to a pace she indicated confidence, as their circuitous pattern, took them ever slowly out from the dancefloor, towards the balcony outside, he imagined it was less the dance, and more him, that had bothered her, yet, it might help, as the song was quickly coming to an end, "...But yes, perhaps, I was thinking of someone else," The voice spoke with such clear platitude, that it sounded near sarcasm, yet with no external indication that it was such, "So tell me then, perhaps we might take this outside, and you could tell me of your more... 'attention-worthy' classmates?" Did she have the pride of a Sith or the subtlety of a Sith?

He was far more curious then he ought right to be.

Adean Castor

 

[Nouqai Veil]

While she known Balun for her entire life, there was some anxiousness that arose in her mind when he said she could meet his family. The sith did not have the best reputation around. What would they think of her, a Sithspawn? What if they didn't like her? She had been the reason why Balun had barely gotten out of a few near-death experiences. Falentra was not the best influence.

A smile formed when he talked about her brother, Makai. She never had a family herself, she wouldn't know much about family dynamics, but it seemed he and his brother had a good relationship. However, how it was phrased rose some confusion. "Are they particular with whom you bring home? Why wouldn't they like a girl in their home?" She inquired, finishing off her drink. Balun never mentioned a mother or sister in the family, it seemed like the family consisted of only his father, brother and him.

They had gotten another round, the two drinks served quickly.

"You couldn't have known." The pendant had changed her, altered not just the force within her but also distorted her sense of self. She wanted to put all that had to do with the Lightsworn, and the Jedi behind her. "It is all in the past now." She declared taking a long swig of the drink. It was good, refreshing, just what she needed.

"You seem happy too, with your family and the Tingel Arm." She noted.

 

[Balun Dashiell]

Present Company: Nouqai Veil
Wearing: White Collar Suit, Lightsaber

"Are they particular with whom you bring home? Why wouldn't they like a girl in their home?"

Balun was just about to respond when he caught himself, suddenly aware that his choice of words might have landed him in a tricky spot. "Well, no. Not typically," he said, the words short but carrying a lingering tone, as if there was more beneath the surface. Maybe it was the alcohol coursing through him, softening the usual restraint of his thoughts. Or maybe it was the comfort of being with Nouqai, someone he trusted implicitly. Either way, he decided to just come out with it.

"I mentioned you to Makai," Balun began, the words surprisingly easy now that they were out in the open. "And he got it into his head that something was going on between us." He paused, feeling a small wave of relief wash over him. He'd expected that broaching the topic—especially after his last conversation with Makai Dashiell and Myra Arceneau Dashiell —would have been far more anxiety-inducing.

Glancing at her empty glass, and noting that his own was nearly finished, Balun gestured to the bartender for a refill, sliding another credit chit across the bar to cover the cost. "Believe it or not, he's not the first to think that. Iona Starchaser also assumed we were more than friends." He chuckled softly, shaking his head as if he still couldn't quite believe it himself. He wasn't sure how he felt about the idea, but he tried to play it off casually, as though it didn't really bother him.

Nouqai was the closest person in his life, and the thought of their friendship becoming awkward because of this subject unsettled him. Still, he couldn't bring himself to keep it from her. If she was going to meet his family, she should be prepared for his brother's inevitable ribbing.

"Just don't be surprised if he makes some kind of smart-ass comment or joke," Balun warned, with a wry smile. "Him and I go back and forth all the time, but I figured I'd give you a heads-up. Better to be prepared."

 

[Nouqai Veil]

Falentra had not expected his next words, much less that he'd talk about her with his new family. However, it was not surprising, they had known each other since they were younglings. 'Something going on...more than friends....' She could feel his nervousness as he spoke, and then relief, like a heavy weight lifted from his shoulders.

Their connection was special, it was always there, since their childhood, strengthening as they got older. His presence, was distinctive and familiar, and she would be able to find him through a sea of people blindfolded. Although she never questioned its nature or asked if he felt the same too - surely he did, and she knew it was all part of the force.

But she couldn't fathom why it made him so nervous. "Of course, there's something going on. Were more than just friends." She answered, she paused, taking a sip of her drink, thinking on how to elaborate on it. "I've known you since we were five. I don't know what it is I feel exactly, but its sort of like a strong connection... a bond through the force with you. It feels, comfortable, and... right." She admitted. It was a comforting sense of familiarity whenever they met up again after time apart, and it always made her at ease.

"Do you... feel that too?" She hope he did, lest she sounded crazy.

Balun Dashiell

 

[Balun Dashiell]

Present Company: Nouqai Veil
Wearing: White Collar Suit, Lightsaber

​

This was unfamiliar territory for both of them—not so much discussing their bond in the Force, but the unspoken question Balun was now edging toward. He wasn't sure if Nouqai Veil fully grasped what he was hinting at. Her words made sense to him, and their connection through the Force was undeniable—stronger than anything he had ever experienced with anyone else. But such connections were not unheard of, especially between a Master and Apprentice.

"Yeah, I get that we're deeply connected," he agreed, though his hand instinctively reached for his freshly poured drink. He took a large gulp, as if the alcohol might somehow ease the growing tension inside him. "But Makai was talking like... well, relationship stuff, you know?" His voice held a rhetorical edge, but before she could respond, he clarified bluntly, "Like being in love." The words hung in the air, stripped of subtlety, and he knew his lack of tact wasn't helping. But the alcohol was loosening his tongue, making everything feel lighter, less guarded.

"You and me, we're tight. No denying that," he added, his tone almost as if he were offering a compliment, even though it was a mutual truth between them. "We've always had each other's backs. You know how far I'd go for you." He let out a quiet chuckle, remembering the risks he'd taken with the Lightsworn and her Sith allies. His left hand moved to scratch the back of his neck, a subconscious gesture to appear composed, though the alcohol had dulled his usual concerns.

"But like... girlfriend and boyfriend kinda thing?" he posed the question, fully expecting her to brush it off, just like he had when Makai Dashiell first brought it up. And if there was ever a moment to take another swig of his drink, this was it.

 

[Aerik Lechner]

WEARING: xxx
TAG: Irina Jesart

Her voice echoed in his head as the blurred image of her face came into view. Okay, he was going to change, but at least he found a friend. They were not going to be able to enjoy the carnival, and he was about to be a potential danger to everyone around them, but that did not mean he had to be. Aerik stood, albeit shakily, when Irina helped him to his feet. The world around him was spinning, and he would not be able to get where he needed to be without help.

It had been a mistake coming, but he had not seen his friend since the day she got the news about her father passing. It was another moment of bonding for them. The night in the maze had allowed them to get to know each other, and the day her father passed had been something which solidified that friendship. They also could not solely rely on each other, but this was a moment where all of that went out the window. Of those in his proximity, she was the only one who knew what was going on.

“I think my mom and dad are here somewhere,” he said with a great amount of pain in his voice.

Every one of his senses were heightened. The sights and smells around him were almost intoxicating, and they were certainly overwhelming. It was the activity around him which made it dangerous. When the wolf was free it would want to hunt, and there were too many around him which would make ample victims for a hungry and caged beast which was soon to be free.

His bones snapped again. Irina would hear it. Those around them would hear it. The sound was certainly about to draw attention, and that was something Aerik did not need. He grunted and groaned as he doubled over. His hand shot out, reaching for something that was not in front of him to grab. They had to make it to Gerwald. Aerik needed guidance before the wolf ripped him apart.

“We need… to find my…” his breathing was heavy. “My dad…”

 

[Nouqai Veil]

As he spoke, she finally understood why he had been so on edge. Words that she had entirely misinterpreted, she had been so obtuse about it. She appreciated his bluntness of it.

Love. She never had a family, or anyone as close to her as Balun was. There were people in the past and present that she cared about dearly, and who cared for her. But love? Falentra had no idea what love was supposed to be... what it was supposed to feel like. Was it what she and Balun shared? Perhaps.

When she had been at the back of her own mind in the Nest, watching through her own eyes, while her consciousness was over taken by her Sith master, she had heard everything. After what they've been through together, she knew how close they were... as best friends.

His next words took her aback, rendered her speechless. While she remained quiet, the thoughts ran wild in her head. Balun? A boyfriend? Perhaps it was the effects of the alcohol, but one thing was for sure, it certainly helped with her nerves. There was a tinge of indigo that started to flush at her scaley blue cheeks.

It was a while before she broke the silence, with a simple, "Oh," She lifted the glass to her lips, taking another sip as she thought. "I don't know." She admitted. She had only known Balun as a close friend, she had never thought that there would be more to what they had... or that he was interested in her in that way. "I mean, just look at me, I'm a freak, Balun. I didn't think I'd be your type." She let out a nervous laugh.

"You'd prefer someone looking more... like Revna ... or Cordelia." Her friend's name had popped up. While only jokingly, he had asked if she was single when they were running for their lives at the shipyard. And she had seen Cordelia, she was stunning... they both were. Even then, she hadn't shut down the idea.

Falentra sighed. "Remember back at the Nest when Malum had taken over... I heard everything. I care about you a lot too. But I never thought of anything more than us being friends... I really cherish our friendship, Bale." She didn't want things between them to be like how he and Cordelia were if it didn't turn out well. How the memories grown sour with the split. She cherished theirs.

Balun Dashiell

 

[Kasir Dorran]

Soah Ty’Jyn

Kasir was quick to sense the suspicion in Soah's gaze as he made the offering. He simply gave a subtle shake of his head and pursed his lips; for had it been baked by a fellow rival, then the mistrust would have at least made more sense to him.

Hunger still gnawed at him inside. While he devoured the last of the morsels in hand with speed, his pace finally slowed when reaching for the next item from the tray. The aroma of everything before him was incredibly tempting.

“Yes. I too, went to the same academy,” he began, his voice lower now. "You could say the whispers of true power felt present in guiding my path. It was the Lord Inquisitor who became like a silent mentor at that time. His teachings inspired me to seek out the Inquisition's former home planet.”

His gaze turned steely. "The academy here on Jutrand is where my calling was first revealed, but it was on Formos that I was forged into something more.”

As his hand crept towards the half-eaten burger he nearly discarded moments ago, he reminded himself that food was food, no matter the source. "And what of you," he questioned, his voice carrying a hint of intrigue. "Do you believe the teachings of the academy have any value, or what do you feel you have gained thus far from there?”

 

[Kaila Irons]

Kaila narrowed her eyes at the display, noting the similarities to her own use of force walking. She was almost certain now that Tamsin's passenger was indeed a spirit, but whose? And why hadn't they simply taken control yet? Such a strange and delicate matter indeed.

But then another appeared, one remarkably similar to the stone likeness of Tavion Axmis. But where they truly the disciple of Ragnos which she'd read about? Kaila wasn't so sure.

She watched in silence as they conversed with Tamsin, seeming to recognize her, whoever they were. And yet there was something off about the entire ordeal. For one, Tamsin hundreds of years too late and too young to have ever met Axmis in life, nor had she a chance to visit this shrine before, a place that was built during Kaila's own lifetime considering that the empire only moved to Jutrand after the new imperial civil war, a conflict that had come and gone whilst she was still training.

There were other irregularities to consider as well. What did she mean that Tamsin "looked better"? and how was she the crazy one when this spirit wasn't making any damn sense?

The apparition looked completely annoyed with Tamsin before it noticed Kaila. "What did you bring me a sacrifice this time, you sick little imp?"

"Sacrifice...?!" Kaila looked exasperated with the specter.

Tamsin was barely even a novice yet, how was she to "sacrifice" as dark lord of the sith, and apprentice to the former emperor? She'd have half a mind to simply eat the insolent spirit if she were not so fatigued by her previous feeding mere minutes ago.

But no, she would play nice. For now. She wasn't some rabid animal like so many of her fellow sith, after all.

"Nevermind that, what do you mean she 'looks better'? do you mean her, or the soul attached to her? We're trying to rid her of it, perhaps it will stop bothering you once we do"



Tamsin Graves

 

[Soah Ty’Jyn]

Objective: Carnival Row
Location: Carnival Row
Interacting with: Kasir Dorran

​

As Soah ate, she couldn't help but notice the slight shake of Kasir's head at her obvious suspicion. Let him shake his head all he wanted -- being cautious and keeping her guard up had kept her alive at the Academy. She still wasn't sure what to make of him, or why he'd taken such an interest. But there was one thing that made her more willing to hear him out: Kasir wasn't part of the Academy's instructors or cohorts. That meant he had little to gain from offering her guidance, but she could gain plenty.

In this case, free food.

She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, feeling the tension ease in her muscles as her hunger started to wane. She studied him out of the corner of her eye, still pondering his motives. Was this all a play for power? Or something else entirely? Her voice came out casual, almost too much so as she asked, "Did the Lord Inquisitor approach you during your time at the Academy, like you're doing with me?"

Maybe that was it. Maybe he was just trying to repeat what had been done to him, but it didn't quite sit right. Why her? She took another bite, chewing thoughtfully as she mulled over how to answer his earlier question about the Academy.

"It has its uses," she said after a moment, her voice guarded. "Though there are... parts of it that make me question whether it's really the path to power I thought it would be. Maybe I'll see the benefits as I move up in rank. Either way, carving my way to the top seems like the best way to ensure my survival."

Her hazel eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze settling on Kasir. She wasn't sure if she believed his offer, but she'd listen -- for now.

 

[Tamsin Graves]

Tags: Kaila Irons
Theme: Dance Macabre

---

The spirit looked at Tamsin a bit longer, not sure who or what the other woman was to her. Slave, sacrifice, or another mad witch. The one it knew Tamsin seemed afraid which was unusual to the specter. "Yes, a sacrifice, do I need to explain the meaning to you?" The spirit seemed very annoyed by this interaction though it never fully turned to putting it's eyes on Kaila instead keeping them fixated on Tamsin.

"I wouldn't sacrifice her she is my friend!" Tamsin snarled slightly at the apparition before them. For even thinking such a thing of her. "I'm not an Imp either, and I don't even know you."

"You and friends, that's funny." The sarcasm dripping from its tongue as it said the words. "Yes, yes better looking the scars have healed up nicely and the taint of darkness in her veins is gone." Still it kept glaring at Tamsin stare laser beams at her it almost felt like. "I mean you know me as you have summoned me, I lost count how many times before. Every time to try and pry my secrets from me."

"What secrets? I honestly don't know you." Tamsin answered her tone, still stammering out the words towards the apparition.

"Like I would ever tell you." The apparition turned a side glance towards Kaila. "They are one and the same." Either the apparition could see no difference between Tamsin and the spirit inhabiting Tamsin or were the same to her for some reason. "I'm not playing your games again, you know me. So what do you want if not my secrets?"

Tamsin looked at Kaila and then the spirit. "Who am I then?" it was the most important question if this thing knew her then maybe it had an answer to that.

The spirit glared at her hard. "If I must play this stupid game. You have never given me your name in all our past interactions. All you have ever done is make offerings for me to divulge my secrets to you. Everyone I have denied, because you are not worthy of it. You claimed to be a sith master, but I doubt that. Last time I saw you your body was all scarred up with magickal runes that looked self-inflicted. Granted, this is different you have never summoned me here before always in the temple I was keeper of in life."

Once again Tamsin looked to Kaila wonder if they should ask it more or let it go. Kaila was still visibly worn out from her last feeding so that probably wasn't an option.

 

[Balun Dashiell]

Present Company: Nouqai Veil
Wearing: White Collar Suit, Lightsaber

Balun Dashiell let out a soft laugh, shaking his head with a warm smile. "First off, I don't have a type," he said, his voice light but honest. "Cordelia made the first move, and I'd never had a girlfriend before her. The New Jedi Order didn't exactly give us lessons on how to date," he added, chuckling again as he reached for his glass and took a long sip, the cool liquid refreshing him.

His tone shifted, becoming more serious as he turned toward her, his gaze steady and sincere. "And you're not a freak, c'mon," Balun insisted, his voice filled with conviction. "Look at my family. Dad's dating a Togruta Jedi, Makai's half-aquatic, and I was an orphan for the first fifteen years of my life. I was born from a drunken one-night stand, and my mother—who knows where she is now—left me with the Jedi and took off. You've been the most exceptional person I've ever known. Far from a freak."

Balun knew her origins—created as a Sithspawn, shaped by someone else's design—but none of that mattered to him. To him, she was his best friend, his closest ally, the one person he trusted more than anyone in the galaxy. With so many beings from all walks of life, calling herself a freak felt absurd to him. In his eyes, there was no such thing as normal in their vast galaxy.

"Don't worry about it, though," he added with a playful grin. "I wasn't throwing myself out there or anything. Just giving you a heads-up that my brother might say something along those lines." He waved his right hand casually, as if brushing away the thought. "I mean, we'd know, right? I've never been in love, but I think I'd notice if something like that was going on between us." He laughed softly again, the lightness returning to his voice.