Faction Recovery and Reward

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

It was comforting in some way to be around the Kiffar once again, they were both alike in ways that their different dispositions would not initially imply, for one they were both thinkers, commiserate souls that sought their solace in silence, rather than the updraft of a thousand voices that all melded away into simply... noise.

"...Tray," Malum mused for a moment, "I enjoy it, thus I dub you so," He offered with sly smile, elbows rubbing in the nickname, as easily as they teased him at his bashfulness at the possibility of him being the guest of honour, or that of his jape regarding his droids. Truly, despite the rank which the Lieutenant Inspector held, he was too hard on himself, he might not have achieved the prestige that Malum had, but his accomplishments were nothing to scoff at.

If only Malum could convince him of that.

He narrowed his eyes beneath the mask, at the moment of panic that strummed through his cousin, following his red gaze with his own, until they landed upon a fellowed masked compatriot.

...One which Malum was still rather uncertain how to feel of.

He was unsure exactly, what to feel of the once apprentice of Kaine, he had thought their visions once aligned, he had thought themselves aligned, that despite... the difficulty upon Echnos, it had only proved his loyalty to her, coming to her aid at the nearest instance of trouble, but...

...Well Echnos no longer flew the banners of the Tsis'Kaar, and Darth Anathemous, seemed to avoid him at all costs.

It was bizarre, but, something which hopefully time would allow him to mend.

He blinked away such thoughts, as Trayze's words confronted him, narrowing them ever further at what strummed out from them, "First of all, I did not give you Besberra, you earned it, as recognised by the Assembly for your services," He parsed his lips, a common enough argument between them, that had drawn the division between them, "Nepotism... Bogan, Trayze, it is not nepotism to accept help from your family, whether you truly consider me that or not, you speak so much of family, but you refuse to seek help from me, the one who has been with you through it all... do you so believe I have anything but your best interests at heart, cuz?" The words at the end were spoken with a certain fire, that he had contained in his heart for far too long.

He softened his eyes, a glimmer of curiosity at the first of his terms, "...I can certainly undertake you in our trials, but know they are dangerous... you could die..." Especially, for all his capability, he had not yet been trained under the arts of the Tsis'Kaar, and Malum doubted he would much appreciate being taken on as an apprentice by him.

Only for his eyes to harden, as he felt the touch upon his shoulder.

And sight of a crying woman, over a corpse.

His heart sang for two different individuals, as temptation whirled to reply with the psychometric touch with his own memories, but held off.

The events of Bastion, were for him, and Quinn alone.

Malum brought out his own hand, laying it upon his cousin, "...Do not worry yourself, the... Quinn and I have a..." He reached out through the Force, feeling her presence, her vaunt of strength, "...We have a bond, that is rare in this galaxy... two scions of noble houses, there is none worthy of her."

He smiled beneath the mask, as he gazed wordlessly on towards her, a shallow whisper, the same as his words thus far, "...But maybe I can try to be."

His mind went to their first meeting, as awkward, as... strange as it had been, the Empresses' intentions for them... he had never truly given serious thought to it.

...He had never so... so wished for that outcome.

Trayze Tesar Quinn Varanin
Mentioned: Kaila Irons Darth Carnifex Srina Talon

 

[Alina Tremiru]

Alina paused as she watched Quinn. She could hear the conversations in the room. Her gaze shifted over to Malum, her head tilted to the side. "For years we stood side by side. Equals, partners. You never once looked elsewhere. Do you know why I left?" The woman lowered her hand from it's offering, chuckling. "I don't exist to those around you. Not as your girlfriend, not as your fiance. Malum believes he's your chosen suitor. Your mother sets you up with others. .. I wish you the best, Quinn. If you find someone you want to hold dear again, don't let them feel like they don't exist."

Then she turned and left. Quinn was fine, and certainly didn't need Alina with her any longer.

 

[Quinn Varanin]

//: Open //:
//: Mors Mon //:
//: Attire //:

The happiness that had swelled in her chest deflated as fast as it came. Quinn's hand fell before it was even allowed to hold Alina's. The shift happened fast, and Quinn was left confused. Alina's words echoed and replayed in her mind as she watched the blonde sanguinar walk away. Sound left her ears, replaced with the pounding of her own heart. Quinn had loved Alina for almost her entire life, and there was a part of her waiting for the woman to want her back.

The woman choked back tears; Alina never looked back at her as she left and soon was gone. Just moments before, they had seemed to be getting along, awkward, but still felt close to what it used to be. Each deep breath helped bring back the composure of a royal. She couldn't let her feelings show, not in front of those who already considered her weak. Quinn lifted her head up, her back now turned towards the direction that Alina had left in. This was the finality of something she stubbornly held onto.

Her mind mulled over the words; she. She couldn't understand why everyone else mattered when her heart should have been enough. All the publicity would only ruin things, as it had done time and time again. People knowing only made the Princess a burden. Quinn wanted to avoid all of it. She tried to keep one thing special to her and belonging to her. Yet, it still wasn't good enough.

Nothing ever seemed enough for anyone.

Quinn stood in the crowd, people carrying on with their enjoyment. A part of her was thankful people were too busy to see her heart broken again, shattered by the sharpness in Alina's words. Had the good she thought she was doing, in reality, harmed the relationship? The Princess wanted to disappear, run as far away from this place so she could be alone. Standing there, her heart continued to break, and the words repeated in her mind louder and louder. It was her fault, her sadness, and grief - it was all Quinn's fault. She had done it to herself. Breathing became difficult, and the world around her spun.

Without warning, her hands gripped the fabric of the flowing dress, lifting it enough to move quickly. One foot in front of the other with her head held up. Despite her broken heart, she was a Sith Princess and needed to remain composed, but for how long, she was unsure. The room continued to collapse around her, and her steps quickened the closer she got to the other side of the hanger. Her eyes focused on a doorway, and she soon sprinted towards it. Slipping through the door, the girl didn't even see her Mother ( Srina Talon ) and Gerwald Lechner speaking to another Darth.

Right now, the Princess wanted to be allowed to feel alone. Quinn sat on the narrow stairs, pulling her knees to her chest. Lowering her head, she cried, letting the pent-up sorrow spill in silence.

 

[Lirka Ka]

Realistically, Lirka very well could have spent the entire rest of the day starring up at her Lord and pondering her future. Dark knows she had spent enough days pondering while trapped in Wild Space, but she had come here for a purpose after all. And idle daydreaming did not accomplish much of anything at all beyond the warm fuzziness of what could be.

Freedom from socialization after her little bout with Captain Tesar had left Lirka free to pay attention to the room. She was a watcher after all, taking pace of the room as best she could till the next opportunity presented itself. And it was an oddity that had piqued the interest of the Once-Sephi, emerald lenses watching the hasty departure of Quinn Varanin

Not often you saw the Host leave with such pace.

And with the Princess’s grief, Lirka saw opportunity. While far from a stealthy creature, the mechanized warrior lurked towards the door and made her exit from the gathering. While beat as she may have tried, there was no modicum of stealth her. Metal footfalls on the floor combined with the hazy void in the force she left made Lirka’s approach a painfully obvious thing. As was her hesitation as the form of the Princess came into view, while Lirka have had some semblance of trust from Carnifex. These were new royals.

Unfamiliar royals.

And what is unfamiliar, is dangerous in the land of the Sith. It was ironic really, Lirka had more fear for her wellbeing here than she had ever had in the whole Susevfi affair. But, Lirka had told herself many a time she thing without fear. And so did she advance towards the stairs where the princess sat.

Lirka had never had gotten anywhere remotely close to meeting the dearest Princess of the Sith before her departure. And with no real good clue how to approach, she stopped a healthy enough distance away from the girl. Letting out a mechanical clear of her throat, putting her fist to her hearts and bowing her head down in submission, her voice un-augmented and as “human” as she could muster.

“Princess, I offer my dearest apologies for the intrusion. I could not help but notice, and take concern with, your distress.”

It was Lirka’s least favorite persona by far, but it was always safest to approach the unfamiliar with the face of the ever-humble Sith-Imperial stooge.

 

[Kaila Irons]

Wearing: New Dress
Tag: Tamsin Graves | Open

"I could, yes." Kaila chuckled.

"It's been much too long I'm afraid, someone always needs something, or that something needs blowing up."

She set her wine glass down, admittedly still half full, but she supposed it could be left till after the dance and of course she would know if anyone had poisoned it between now and then.

However it was then she noticed the empty glass beside it.

"Oh you poor thing... you must've needed that drink." she sighed.

A quick glance at the opposite end of the small crowd revealed an empty space between the wall of cloaked figures and the shielded hangar doors beyond, and though no dancing had begun just yet, it looked like the perfect place for she and Tamsin to begin themselves.

"Well, I warn you I have learned some new moves. I might show you up." With that she put out her hand towards Kaila. "I saw some kids at the korriban dance say this, May I have this dance Darth Anathemous?"

"Indeed you may, Lady Graves." Anathemous laughed sweetly.

She took Tamsin by the hand, lifting the hem of her dress as she walked the pair towards the crowd's edge, looking as if they were both nobles who knew more of the courtly etiquette than they really did.

"If anyone asks, we are still strong and grumpy sith, and I am simply teaching you to dance for the purpose of infiltration and matters of court or some such." she hummed with a faint but wry smile.

"That's why the Kainites taught me, anyway."

"Speaking of which, do you wish to show me something from Korriban or shall I lead?"

She asked whilst nodding to the musicians, their cue to begin playing. Perhaps it wasn't her party, though there would be no argument made to the young Sith lord who they assumed could crush their windpipes even from this distance.

Kaila however was just happy to that she and her apprentice had a break.

Finally.

​