It Has to Hurt if it's to Heal

[Kay-Larr]

Kay didn't say anything. She knew that she had to face her demons, both of what had happened to her as well as her actions that came as a result. The easiest thing would be to blame others for it all, but she couldn't. That would be cowardly.

She took another sip of her tea, glancing up to [member="Veiere Arenais"] as he criticized his brewing skills. She could make the tea in her sleep, though others didn't have as much practice. Still, it was better than not having tea at all. "Whether the tea is strong or weak, it's better than not having any. It helps me in a lot of ways and never lets me down, even when it gets cold."

Her gaze followed his, looking out the window then, taking in the parts of the backyard that she could see. There was something special about that place, but she couldn't remember what it was. Kay turned to Veiere, shaking her head at his question on her saber. "No. When I had come back, it was gone. I didn't have it with me when I was captured, so someone must have taken it at some point in between that. But that's okay. My Master had me build a new one, so it's not as though I don't have one." She let go of her cup and reached down to her bag, rummaging through it until she found her lightsaber and pulled it out, placing it on the table. It was red and black, decorated in much the same manner as her old one, however it's ignition switch was situated where they normally were, on the outside.

Einon had stolen her lightsaber the moment that he had heard that the Elders had mysteriously died. He managed to get out of the Palace before the order was called to have all of the Ministers and staff held under house arrest. Ghorua had contacted him and had asked about the lightsaber as well, so the former head of security had given it to the Herglic. Whether Ghorua was to destroy it or keep it whole, he didn't know. Nor did he care.

 

[WolfMortum]

Veiere nodded in acknowledgement, taking it all in. By this point, any one of them could be holding on to the Lightsaber and assuming that his last efforts alongside the others hadn't pleased any of them one bit, he probably had no right to ask them for it. "That's unfortunate, it's a strong piece of the missing puzzle, you might say...", there were however many other memories not revolving around the creation of such a weapon. Reaching to the center of the table for her newly constructed lightsaber, Veiere paused a moment and soon decided to unlatch his own with his left hand and place it next to hers, exchanging them so that he might sit back in his seat and examine the newly constructed hilt. "That was my former Padawan's. I told you about him once though I dare say you will have forgotten by now...He was murdered by the Sith alongside those others within the Enclave of Svivren..." He spoke of the lightsaber he carried, now sitting before her as he raised her own in his right hand, studying it carefully. It's make differed from the last though the greatest difference came from within, the crystal that she had realigned herself with radiating with a much darker aura than his own. "He was very proud when he constructed it...-Often criticized himself though this was an accomplishment he couldn't argue with. It commemorated a stage of his training that meant he was an apprentice under someone else. To become a Jedi Knight one day..." The words brought a heavy weight to his shoulders though in the shift of his emotions, he looked to her lightsaber and knew that this new weapon she had crafted would no doubt fuel such passions, the Darkside always driving the heart ahead of reason. He soon returned it to the table alongside his, looking to Kay once more as his hands returned to the cup of tea.

"I can't say I approve..." He gestured to her lightsaber, looking to her almost sympathetically; she wasn't there for his approval though he wasn't going to lie to her either. "The Lightsaber is to be the expression of ones self as a force practitioner. This new hilt has been created well but you barely know yourself with all you've lost, thus this weapon is incomplete..."; it was easily said to her though he doubted he had ever shown Kay his two lightsabers hidden away among the possessions he rarely moved. It wasn't out of an error in their creation that they remained there, but the memory of the Sith he had struck down, those who had been taken in as captives, the remaining few left over from the assault on Svivren that he and his associates had taken to with their swords. It was a vicious act and a disgrace upon his history, and that of the Jedi Order. "Though what do I know these days..." He added sarcastically, "Even I struggle to fit in with the Jedi Order of today's society...".

"We talked about them, as we sat in these very chairs long ago too. Doing the same thing we are now...-You might laugh should you remember it at all...".

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay gave [member="Veiere Arenais"] an odd look. What did he think? That her old lightsaber was some magical item that would restore her memories and make everything all glitter and rainbows again? No. That was stupid. She was going to give him a sarcastic comment, but then stopped the moment that he placed his saber on the table. She looked down at it, not reaching out to take it as he had studied her own. Instead she just looked at it while she listened to him, visualizing the attack on Svivren in her head. No doubt the Jedi there were as weak as she was, unable to hold their own against their enemy. She couldn't do it. That much was clear by how easily she was captured. Now at least, she'd be able to put up a much better fight. Yet her biggest enemy seemed to be her own mind right now.

She slowly looked up at him as he said that he didn't approve and that she was incomplete. Kay clenched her jaw after having another sip of her tea. She didn't need his approval. "So what, then? Were you my Master? Is that why we share a connection? Is that why you have expressed a love and disappointment for me? Am I another student that has failed you as well as herself?!" Her anger grew, not so much at him as it was over herself. She got up from the table then, leaving the tea and lightsaber behind. "I need some air." Without even waiting a beat she headed out the door to the back yard, not paying attention to any of it. Instead she just strode off to a far corner and sat down, tucking herself into it, wrapping her arms around her chest as she drew her knees up. She looked very small in that corner and she felt that way too. Her illusion of control was slipping as others had said it would and she needed a moment to collect herself and get it back. Too many people knew more about her than she knew herself. It just wasn't fair...

 

[WolfMortum]

Veiere sighed under his breath as [member="Lady Kay"] stormed out, even leaving her lightsaber behind upon the table in all her haste and frustrations. 'Force, give me strength...' he thought; his words having clearly insulted her when he'd simply been trying to guide her...-Perhaps if she knew of her past then she might understand but for the time being that was not the case and he'd gone and put his foot in it. Veiere slowly stood from his chair, reaching for both his and her own hilt, returning Brennan's to his belt and carrying hers within his right hand as he followed her outside. Her guards seemed a little unsettled by this, their Queen unarmed while he held both weapons, they followed him out though stopped on the other side of the doors to watch the scene unveil closely and ensure Kay's safety was maintained.

"I was never your Master, no...-Though we did begin to share in our training together before your capture" He answered her question while walking to her and rather than invading her need for space, he simply placed her lightsaber to the space beside her before stepping away once more and pacing a couple meters to the garden, where his gaze looked off across the valley and over Chasin City, her City. "The connection we have is what's referred to as a 'Force Bond'. It is more commonly found between Masters and Padawan, true, though our relationship was rather more personal. You found me on Alzoc Three, I was an Exile for twelve years following the attack on Svivren...-You required someone with skills that could aid in your protection and the Force saw to it that our paths cross. I came then into your employ and after a time, acted as your personal adviser...-You never wanted your Force Sensitivity to be known, fearing that it would interfere with your position in politics, yet in private, we talked often about our experiences. We both fought for the Republic, you with diplomacy and I when diplomacy failed...". He had shown her the memory of her would be thief, the one who had tried to kill her and Veiere had protected her just shy of the explosion; he hoped that his words might mean something to her though for all she knew, they could be lies without any sort of proof.

The open enclosure, a hand built shed of polished wood stood silent at the other side of the yard, Veiere gesturing to it with an outstretched hand. "Over there, you rebuilt your lightsaber. After years of not having it, one of your friends had returned your crystal to you and helping to gather the components for it's make, we returned here where you could work without the eyes of the public on your back. We sparred together that day, it was our first session in which I tried to teach you the form of Soresu..." He smiled fondly of the memory, though he didn't go so far as to explain just how close they had become that evening; he knew not how much she could process and the promise seemed to be in the details for the time being. He wondered if he wasn't frantically trying to grasp at something that simply wasn't there anymore; his brows furrowing and his gaze turning back for the valley, his doubts being forced back to the corner of his mind that he wished to ignore in her presence.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay didn't move as [member="Veiere Arenais"] approached and placed her lightsaber beside her. She leaned her head against the wall and stared at nothing in particular, although she was listening to every word that he said. Her focus was on trying to recall the events, trying to visualize them.

She had pulled Veiere out of his isolation some time ago and they had been together ever since. And yet they still went about their own ways. Their connection was very special, for she didn't have that with her own Master. Prazutis had called her worthless and weak more often than not. She was unable to express herself when she was around him. Instead Kay would retreat inside of herself and become a shell. Why let her Master see any enjoyment that she had? He would only take it away from her as he always threatened to, and as he had done.

"I wish I could remember...:

She wrapped her arms around her head then, her forehead resting on her knees as a wave of emotions broke through her walls. Her body shuddered as the tears flowed from her eyes. A floodgate had opened and she couldn't close it. Self pity, grief, pain and loss, it was all that she could feel at that moment and she just wanted to drown in it.

The guards just kind of rolled their eyes and went back inside to the front. Women's problems. There were rumours that their Queen was getting unhinged. This was sure a sign of it.

 

[WolfMortum]

He had been watching the afternoon light pass between the clouds overhead of Chasin City when the movement of the guards sparked his focus, just as he was about to agree with Kay. Frowning as they retreated with great skepticism, he soon turned to find her resigned to an introverted position, her emotions swelling within the force and for what it appeared, though silently, she was crying. "Kay..." he spoke up in response to what he saw though his voice lingered and any further words were lost to him. He had seen her in some vulnerable states yet never so defeated as she appeared now.

Moving over to her, he slowly seated himself at her side, looking to the back of her head as she sat with her head against her knees and averting her gaze from all, wondering if he shouldn't show more restraint than do what his heart seemed to scream at him. There'd been very few times in his life that he'd shown any kind of intimacy so blatantly; coincidentally, the last time had been several meters from where they sat now though with her in tears and so emotionally torn for answers, he knew not what else he could have done than to extend his arm around the back of her and gently urge her into his embrace. He did not force her to change her position, she could have stared at the ground or her legs until night reached them though for her to know someone else was there for her, despite the changes in their situation, in her and in Commoner, he needed her to know she wasn't alone.

"I will do everything in my ability to help you, at any cost...-But you are safe here...-And if you want this, I need you to learn to trust me...-I am not here to sell you lies...".

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

People had told her that she was broken, that that was what her Master had done to her. But until now she didn't want to believe it. She was weaker before, no longer able to protect herself from ones so powerful as she had kept her abilities dormant for so long. And now? Now she was stronger, but kept in a state of weakness with her inability to remember a number of people and events. She was unable to maintain her control.

Kay was broken. She accepted that now.

As [member="Veiere Arenais"] placed his hand on her back, her body stiffened. People don't tend to touch her, or at least when they do, it's usually followed by pain. She still had many scars and deep tissue wounds hidden under her fabric, but she was healing them. It was just taking time.

Veiere's touch was gentle and despite herself, she felt a longing for it. Kay turned towards him and wrapped an arm around him while she nestled her head on his chest, listening to his voice reverberate through his body. It was even more soothing that way, giving her the same level of comfort that her tea gave, if not more. She spoke then, her voice quiet as though it was afraid of being heard. "Okay..." The same word was uttered to her Master when she finally submitted to him.

Veiere needed her trust. Now he had it.

 

[WolfMortum]

In his embrace, she came to him.

He had expected some sort of argument or restraint, a word of warning perhaps and yet her emotions were so clearly distraught that she seemed not to have the strength to fight him. Her cooperation with him had been reluctantly offered the day she had returned, she had tried to urge him away only so that they might talk again in the future. Every step after that had been a matter of walking on egg shells so not to push her back nor insult the already fragile mind-state of the love that he desperately clung onto, against all notion of hopelessness.

As she moved into him more, his other arm came across her front and he simply held her in both, his chin sitting lightly atop her head while his eyes gazed back cautiously to the house curious to note whether her guards were watching or not. It seemed for all her emotion, they had given her space enough to gift to Veiere this moment that he had longed for. She'd been gone months when they had just begun to come to terms with their feelings for one another; holding her now was a blessing as much as it was cruel to them both given that she remembered nothing of her old self nor their relationship...

"You should know that I no longer hold a position within the Jedi Order...-Both you and I are associated with them yet even if I do leave Commenor for any short amount of time, I will return here and when I do, you will know about it...." He spoke softly to her, trying to reassure her that he wouldn't ever be too far away to be able to help her; "I will have Vikras get in contact with you so that you have an open line through to the Chimaera should you ever need it...-Make sure that should you ever contact either of us however, that you're using a secure line. I do not think your Master will appreciate my interference...-I'm sure you've already figured that out yourself by now...-Given this fact, one thing I need you to do no matter the impact on myself, is ensure that you never endanger yourself in any attempt to protect me. If this Darth Prazutis wishes to seek me out, I will come to him...-But you? You I never want to see put in harms way because of something I'm doing".

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

This. She longed for this. Held in his arms, kept warm, comforted and protected. Now she understood why she kept [member="Veiere Arenais"] around before her capture. It was for moments like these.

Kay closed her eyes while she listened to him speak, feeling the movements with every breath he took, the subtle changes in his heart beat as the topic shifted slightly. A secure line? Well she had a couple of the best slicers in the business, so that could be of some help. But.....she wasn't so sure of what resources her Master and others had at their disposal.

What he had said afterwards, about keeping herself out of danger, that got her to snap open her eyes. Kay sat up then and looked at him while she shook her head, her stubborness returning. "No. I cannot promise you that. I already lost my husband and my family in order to keep me protected from a threat. I have lost enough already. I will not let anyone take more away from me without a fight." She had learned a few new tricks, and she was not afraid to use them, most especially if it meant keeping him alive. "I am not afraid of pain. Through pain I have been reborn..."

 

[WolfMortum]

"Through pain you have been broken down and manipulated, Kay..."

Veiere spoke up rather swiftly in response to her claim of being reborn, "The Darkside does not give you strength, it has blinded you from the things that mattered most. The Ideals that made you the loving person that so many cared for so deeply. Diplomacy, peace, the protection of those who need it; not the acquisition of power or authority over others...-The fact that you have been so manipulated by this Sith Lord is exactly why I cannot allow you to confront him...-He has done to much to you already and your pain, your fragility is only going to leave you at risk of compromising what little progress you've been able to make thus far...", he had been walking on egg shells up until now but as [member="Lady Kay"] had let him in and then moved to push stubbornly against his wishes after just speaking of trying to trust in him, he had to counter her with some truths that she needed to truly hear.

"My whole life I have trained to maintain balance in the Force under the guise of the Jedi Order. I may not follow in the Order's footsteps like I did before but the Prazutis is not the first Sith Lord I've come across and nor will he be the last...-Our objective was never meant to be about destroying the Sith but keeping the peace and maintaining the natural order of life where it was within our reach. If your Master has want of me, I will not deny him but neither will I put you at risk...-I asked that you trust me, and that is all that I will ask. Do not endanger yourself further...".

 

[Kay-Larr]

Admitting to being broken was one thing. But manipulated? That was quite another. Yes, her Master took her, gained her her throne, but to what end? She still didn't know. In her mind, that was hardly manipulation.

Fraigility. So [member="Veiere Arenais"] still saw her as being weak. But she had learned more skills to better protect herself and Commenor. Yet that didn't seem to matter. He was still telling her to stay away should her Master come to destroy him.

"So that's it then? I'm some frail flower to you that cannot protect others or herself? So what am I supposed to do then? Hide away in my bedchambers and hope that nothing bad ever happens? I can't do that, Veiere! I just can't! I won't be going out and looking for trouble, but I'm not going to just sit back and watch while others die around me either! Too many have done so already..." And many more would continue to do so. She knew that, and she couldn't stop it. But that didn't mean that she couldn't voice her opinion on the matter. Nor did it mean that she had to like it.

 

[WolfMortum]

Veiere frowned, looking back at her as she seemed to take his words far more bluntly than he meant to sound.

"I am not saying that you are incapable, you're taking my words far more offensively than they're meant for..." his head tilted forward to meet and keep her gaze, his brows lifted marginally, a look of discomfort and compassion offered to her. He could see how much she seemed to be struggling with herself and her own path yet his intentions never meant anything ill towards her. "I simply ask that if it comes to the intervention of your Master...-Let me take care of myself. You are still recovering, Kay...-And as he's already shown you, Darth Prazutis will stop at nothing to get his way".

A sigh escaped him, his eyes glancing down briefly as he tried to poise himself; "I'm not trying to dictate what you choose to do but if it means protecting you then I will speak my mind...-I worry that you're still far too vulnerable to the pull of the Dark Side of the Force...-Prazutis has taught you some skills, I'm sure yet he hasn't taught you to think and defend yourself. You do not have the skills to defend yourself against the Sith...-I would rather you allow me to teach you some aspects of the light, before you go trying to oppose him. The point is, for the moment, we need to take care in how we proceed and ensure as few people as possible are aware of this...-Of us".

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay nodded a little, her eyes holding his gaze, yet in truth, she just wanted to hide again. Maybe it was just his pride, but she understood why [member="Veiere Arenais"] wanted her to keep out of it. He wanted to keep her safe while she didn't want to lose him because of it. He was right. Her Master always gets what he wants. So she had to be sure that Prazutis never caught wind of what was really going on.

It just wasn't safe. Being near Veiere where others could see or know about it, just wasn't safe. "I understand...I am just chasing a dream that I can't remember." Kay wiped away the remaining wetness from her cheeks. She couldn't be near Veiere as much as she would want to. Who knows what Sith were watching? "I will keep our interactions short and far apart so that there will be little to suspect." No matter how much she wanted it otherwise.

Kay took in a deep breath and let it out slowly as she composed herself. Then she got to her feet, taking herself out of Veiere's arms, yet holding a hand out for him when she stood upright. "Come. I'll teach you how to make a proper cup of tea." It felt good to be in his arms. Too good. She wanted to trace her fingers over every inch of his face, but that would only make things far more difficult than they should be. So it was best that she just took a step back and restrain herself. Tea would help. Tea always helps.

 

[WolfMortum]

He held her hand, she stood there waiting for him to follow along her side and yet he seemed to pause. He didn't wish for their meetings to be short, he didn't want them to be scarce or distanced apart, yet it was all for her safety, he told himself. He had not been trying to lessen their company spent together, only to emphasize their need for care where the Sith were concerned...

Something came over him then in that moment, a wealth of emotion. Both frustration and pride, longing for [member="Lady Kay"] and yet anger for the Galaxies resilience keeping them at bay. Ever intruding, the presence of the Sith. Ever imposing on the lives of others, there was always some excuse to justify their (Kay and Veiere's) difficulties. Politics had kept them apart before, Veiere had grown tired of it and taken things into his own hands. Months later the Sith had captured Kay and many more months after that they found themselves back at square one, dealing not with the media or the holo-net but with the threat of war at their doorstep and yet Veiere did not move to retreat in doors with her, he held her hand yet his lack of cooperation kept her where she stood, a gentle hold while his gaze was noticeable vague, staring off into his thoughts visualized by the workings of his mind.

"What do you want, Kay..." He spoke quietly, his brows meeting at the center, a frown of uncertainty and annoyance, his words soft to her but his mind aggravated at all else around them. In this the Force swelled between them and his emotions, his frustrations and love for her would be as easily felt between their shared connection as her hand was within his. "I say these things because I want to keep you safe...-But to be apart from you is far from what I feel. There are dangers surrounding us, but I do not wish to fear them. Before, we kept our heads low from the media...-By comparison, I know not why I didn't tell you sooner how I felt for you..." his eyes drifted up to hers slowly, now rising from the bench and standing at her side; still there was something behind his gaze, as if he were searching beyond their immediate sight.

"Perhaps I am wrong now as I was before to try to walk softly...-So long spent seeking to follow the path of the Jedi Order before me, my eyes on the past and neglecting who was at my side...-I know you remember so little of what we've come through but it's all still so real to me. I lost you once, never again..." his voice quietened. He seemed not to be expressing himself the way he meant for, it caused his jaw to tighten as he tried to put more words to the way he felt, though conscious still of rambling on. "I do not fear the Sith but I know that your death would break me...-I would avoid conflict if and where possible but if that means being without you, I'd sooner invite it...".

"I may hold answers you seek but know that you're not the only one that's been stumbling. I've been battling with myself ever since you were taken from us".

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay looked down to him while he hesitated. No, [member="Veiere Arenais"] just didn't move to get up. It was as though he didn't want to, yet he didn't pull his hand away either. She stroked his hand with her thumb, noting the faraway look in his eyes that told her how deep in thought he was.

Then Veiere asked his question. What did she want? She wasn't often asked that. There was so much that she could say.

Her eyes locked on his as his emotions travelled through to her, as he continued to speak his mind. Those emotions contradicted themselves in the same way that she felt herself being a walking contradiction.

Veiere stood then, moving beside her. Kay kept a gentle hold of his hand, her mind centered on his words. She hated the fact that she couldn't remember, that a handful of people told her that she could go insane due to the trauma, and that Veiere was so willing to put himself in a similar situation in which she had lost her late husband.

A moment of silence came between them after he finished speaking. In that time, Kay was busy collecting her thoughts. "You asked me what I wanted. There are a number of things that I could say. I want to be rid of the demons that would make me insane. I want to remember all that was taken from me. I want to be whole again, to be fully healed from what my Master had done to me..." Her eyes narrowed slightly as she thought about it, the beatings, the tortures, the feeling of hope as it left her, the murders that she had to commit to regain her freedom, all of it. But now was not the time to act on her hatred. She had to be patient.

Kay turned so that they were facing eachother again. She brought up his hand so that it was near her heart, interlocking her fingers with his as she stepped closer to him. "....Most of all I want you, and for this connection between us to never break. I need you to keep me from becoming the monster that my Master wishes to be."

Commenor and it's people were her weakness, their well being her vulnerability. But at some point she may have to walk away. Yet she hoped that she never had to walk away from Veiere as well.

 

[WolfMortum]

He nodded slowly, his gaze returning to hers thankful that she still felt so strongly for him despite the trauma that she had undergone, the theft of her former life, her friends and her feelings for him, he'd expected not to be able to recover again and yet somehow, through the grace of the force and in the connection they shared, they managed to re-establish some form of the relationship they'd just started to move down the weeks before her abduction. "I will do all that I can for you..." he spoke quietly, slowly moving now to walk along side with her as they headed back to the estate. Still his pace was slow as he continued to speak, his thoughts moving to the whole of Commenor, the government and the influence of the darkside surrounding all things. "You should look over your staff, choose those you know you can trust and will not betray you to the Sith. [member="Darlyn Excron"] has recently been in touch with me, he is I believe still your minister for Security?" He questioned, looking to confirm the small detail though not waiting for the answer before moving on to emphasize the mans loyalty, "He is a genuine man, a good heart who is loyal to you and most importantly to the people living under your government. Fearing that the Sith are not only interested in you but possibly Commenor too, I wonder if it's not prudent to take a second look at those you recently commissioned. Though your current staff may be fierce, aggression doesn't necessarily lead through loyalty..." His hand squeezed hers gently, his gaze finally breaking away from her own as they reached the side of the residence. "The more comfortable you are in the palace, the less stress will weigh down on your shoulders, the easier it will be to see clearly...".

Veiere soon pushed the door open and stepped aside, holding it so that she might first enter. Within the Guards sanctioned with her protection seemed to be more interested in sharing a conversation between themselves just outside of the kitchen and dinning suite, within the living room where they'd made themselves comfortable upon Veiere's furniture. It was an old thing to watch even from afar, these the people that he had suspected would keep him from Kay the day of her return, so too the likes of those that had incarcerated the ministers Kay had presumed were loyalists to the elders before her. "So rarely do I have visitors anymore...-At least someone admires my taste in decor" he mused quietly, glancing down to Kay as she passed and offering her a fond smile, an attempt to pull them both away from the seriousness of their situation. Sometimes it was so much more preferrable to simply focus on the moment, regardless of how difficult that could be at times...

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay looked to [member="Veiere Arenais"] as he stepped away to lead her back to his abode, rather than giving in to the moment as she wanted him to. No matter. She soon lost that train of thought as they walked and he had mentioned [member="Darlyn Excron"] . Her eyes widened at the thought of her Head of Security spying on her for Veiere. At least it was to Veiere, but still...she was being spied on by one that she trusted! A simple nod was all that she gave him as she confirmed Darlyn's position. But now she had to worry about everyone else. Trust was hard to find these days. Who knows who were giving word to the Sith on what she was up to.

Stress. That was another thing that her doctor told her about. She had to decrease it, including her duties, while he treated her for her post traumatic stress. "I will look into the staff...and find some reason to be rid of those that I don't think that I can trust. But it's difficult to find those that I can. And my doctor insists that I take it easy so that I can heal properly. He's worried about me, you are, others too....I thought that I had everything under control. I really did."

She headed inside, glancing to her guards very briefly before turning her attention to Veiere and his quip about his decor. Kay chuckled a little and then let go of his hand before she put the kettle on to reheat the water. "Pass me the tea leaves. I'll show you how it's done."

 

[WolfMortum]

"[member="Darlyn Excron"] is trust worthy...-He did not approach me, I approached him because I knew he was genuine. We did not have a great deal to do with one another on a personal level but before your abduction he proved to be valuable on your staff. Do not blame the man, I needed to be sure that there were people within your ministry that I could trust would do the best for your safety, Kay...-I told him that should he ever need anything, he can give my name to you. I would not have done this, taken this level of risk if I did not feel that he would be a vital part within Commenor's governance and as an associate of yours..." Veiere spoke to her quietly, staying close so that she might hear him whilst reaching for the tea leaves, the clay jar soon being placed before her so that she might show her expertise. Turning to glance over his shoulder, he looked for any sign of her people listening in on them, for which he found none. Perhaps they'd grown over confident in her being here so soon, perhaps they feared getting within her personal space while she remained so emotional; "I would ask that you not be so quick as to discard my advice, people like Darlyn could later become your salvation. Politicians hear much, it is a game of knives most commonly placed in the backs of their opposition. Even on a world such as Commenor, there were politicians that disagreed with your coronation and should they see your vulnerability...-People talk, is all I mean to say...Especially when there is power and prestige to be gained from it...Friends are extremely valuable to have".

"On the subject, come to think of it..." He glanced back to her, slowly shifting to put his back to the counter, his arms crossing as he sought the appropriate words to raise the next suggestion; "[member="Ultimatum"] and [member="Ghorua the Shark"], if you have not contacted them already, you should open lines of communication there...-They were among your most able of friends. They were both ready to risk dying in order to keep you from the Sith the day that you returned...".

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay's movements were a little slower than normal as she took the jar, due in part because she was listening to [member="Veiere Arenais"] as he spoke about Darlyn. She opened the jar and took out a few of the dried Sapir leaves, crumbling them in a nearly ritualistic fashion into one of the cups. "I saved Darlyn's life on Bespin, so he figures that he owes me. That's why he chose to work for me. If it wasn't for that, then he wouldn't be here. But...he is good for me to have around, I'll give you that. He makes me laugh and helps to lift me up when my stress is too high. Not to mention he's good at his job."

She picked out a few more leaves and crumbled them in the same fashion, adding them to the second cup. Veiere was speaking of the Loyalists by then. She knew them well and most when caught were sent to work in the mines. Her Master wanted her to publically execute them, but she knew that it would only spark a rebellion and she couldn't have that right now. Other powers in the Galaxy were snooping around, asking questions about the Elders and how she became Queen. All of her actions to try to stem a rebellion had to be done quietly.

"I'm not discarding your advice, Veiere...I'm listening. I just have to pick the right times to act on it." Kay reheated the water, looking up at him as he mentioned Ultimatum and Ghorua. "I saw [member="Ultimatum"] on the night that I returned. He's helping with the ship factory while Commenor funds and supplies a project that he's working on. Well, a couple of them, actually. As for [member="Ghorua the Shark"] , no, I haven't seen him or heard from him. I can't reach out to people that I don't remember. It's not as though I kept a journal, though that would have been helpful. It's hard enough with you and I'm supposed to limit my stress or I could lose control." Let her safe those explosive moments for when she's by herself training in the catacombs. The sweet release of her frustrations and anger on droids and other training aparatus' was always welcoming.

The water wasn't very cold to begin with, so it heated quickly. She poured some into the cups and stirred them both with a spoon. "The leaves dissolve when it's ready. You only need to wait a few minutes."

 

[WolfMortum]

"Saving the mans life may have earned you his loyalty, yet he too seems pretty concerned about the good of Commenor now and I dare say it's not just because it's his job to be so..." Veiere commented while watching her make the two cups of tea. She'd done this before and the way she went about it was simple enough yet the balance was something she managed to get rather perfectly, Veiere's attempts always ended up being either too weak or too strong, most often out of caution for winding up with the opposite. He couldn't win, and since decided that he ought to have a droid in the Kitchen.

"Oh you only need a few minutes do you?" He questioned rhetorically, lifting his head with a half nod, his smile while amused was laced with sarcasm in spite of the drink, "...I can perfect the art of meditation and yet the prospect of a perfect cup of tea is..." His voice trailed off, a slightly playful grin thrown at her, "Well, this is why I need you in my life..." His hands extended to his side, his head bowing as if her were praising a deity, really he was just playing a fool for the sake of lightening the mood, "Teach me your ways o' master of the herb".

The humor was good, naturally they'd both been so caught up in the drama of their lives that Veiere often forgot that he had one at all. The little sarcastic remarks here and there, though an outlet at the worst of times just didn't quite cut it compared to the potential to simply enjoy life in her company. You might think the concept was something easily done yet for those alike they, so intertwined within the matters of politics and the warring states of the galaxy, Veiere often found himself neglecting the lighter side of life. The things that made him happy.

"We should get away from Commenor some time...-I know it sounds extreme, but much has happened. It would do us both some good...".

[member="Lady Kay"]