Private Respite at last

[Kaila Irons]

Location: Penthouse, Coruscant.
Time: A few days after...
Wearing: Cloak | Sweater
Tag: Ala Quin

A little hawkbat tells me you're looking for someone.
Follow these coordinates, let's help one another.
— A friend

​

Kaila stared at the message she'd sent to Ala earlier that day, anxiously pacing from one end of the living room to the other. Had she given the Jedi enough to get her attention? Had the message even gone to the right person? She wore a cloak just in case, hood pulled forward so that whoever entered couldn't recognize her right away. But what if Ala didn't realize it was her? would she be too spooked to follow up on it?

So much had happened while she was away from that woman. She didn't know what to think anymore.

The young darth took a deep, steadying breath, stopping a moment to stare into her fireplace. It crackled and waved slowly, casting the dim apartment in a soft glow of flickering amber, and the jagged shadows of an artificial life day tree nearby. She even left a gift or two wrapped beneath it, including a very obvious bottle. Thinking on it now, she wondered if Ala would even drink, or if she would have been better off with something non-alcoholic.

Thankfully she had a kettle of tea boiling on the fire just in case.

She just hoped that her elven eared sweetheart would like at least one of the things she'd brought her, and understand the secrecy. The way they had been forced to part, though temporary was... unfair, to the both of them. The ways in which Ala had been made to worry even more so. But Kaila was free now, able to set up meetings like this without fear of her master.

They could be happy again, right...?

​

 

[Ala Quin]

She could not move on. It hurt so much. The thought of not seeing Kaila again was a new thought, one she was coming to terms with. Valery had been right. There needed to be boundaries. Ala could not risk her soul for the sake of love. The Dark Side was not some toy to play with in order to give her access to Kaila's heart. It was a deceitful and devastating drug.

She could not let herself fall in pursuit of Kaila. Kaila had to come to her.

Part of moving on was getting back to her investigation in the Sith Cult that had filled her time and efforts before meeting Kaila. And it was for that investigation that she had been called to a rather impressive apartment in the upper levels of Coruscant. Whoever the contact was, clearly had money to spend.

A little hawkbat tells me you're looking for someone.
Follow these coordinates, let's help one another.
— A friend​

She crouched across the chasm between her target building and her perch. Below were the many, many levels of Coruscant. She crouched behind a gothic looking statue on the corner of the building she had found as her lookout. It had just started raining, much to her frustration.

Who was this so called friend? And what did that imply? Friend to her cause, or someone she already knew?

For now she just watched the apartment, looking for movement but there was none in any of the windows that she could see. She reached out with the Force, finding no signatures of any living thing within the room. That could mean this 'friend' was a Force sensitive and was hiding themselves in the room. She would need to be careful.

Her fingers danced in the air, twirling about and creating small blue-hued orbs. She collected them into a growing horizontal configuration, and then let it coalesce in front of her, just off the edge of the building. She stood, one foot slowly edging out over the side of the building. She carefully put wait on the structure of small Force barriers that she had created. It was a new technique, one she had tried over smaller drops. This one made her heart flutter a little more.

The structure held. And soon her second foot was resting on it, along with her whole rain soaked self. The platform began to move across the gap, Ala fought against the billowing winds by kneeling on the near invisible platform. Her fingers wrapped around its edge to hold her in place. Despite her heart racing, and trying not to look down, she felt a calm within her mind, forcefully so.

Moments later, she stepped onto the balcony of the penthouse, and slid herself over to the nearby pillar so she could keep a low profile.

Kaila Irons

 

[Kaila Irons]

Location: Penthouse, Coruscant.
Wearing: Cloak | Sweater
Tag: Ala Quin

The kettle began to shriek like the dead, waking young Irons from her anxious daydreams, sending the girl into a rush for the fireplace. With nary a gesture the whole thing began to lift from the fire and over a nearby coffee table, settling with a subtle clack against the glass surface beside a pair of Duraporcelain cups.

She stared at them for a time, a matching set, but only one was filled.

"Why..." she sighed quietly.

Why did her absence cut so deeply across the young darth's heart? This... was stupid. This was enemy territory, This was dangerous. For both of them, she suspected. Not only because Jedi seemed unpredictable far as she'd seen, as likely as not to turn on Ala for meeting her here, but also because she had seen the things which happened to the ones she loved. Leven was gone, the visions of her mangled body cast into the mines, prophetic. Saryn had been left a heartbroken mess so that he may escape her visions.

Perhaps it would be better if...

Warm tea splashed across her cheek, thrown aside by the arrival of a tear unbidden, cast down into her drink by thoughts equally unwelcome and unfathomable.

She drank it anyway. It was good tea, calming haneli brew, though served warmer than usual for it was freshly mixed powdered by her own hand that very day. It had mixed well, like a sweet broth. Even if one must drink alone, good tea must never go to waste.

"Hmh."

Patience, she thought to herself. That is what Ala would have suggested were she here.

Kaila closed her eyes whilst taking another sip, deciding fresh air was the best remedy next to her tea. Or at least, fresh as Coruscanti air could be anyway. When at last her eyes were opened, she'd already reached the door, which came open with another simple gesture afore she stepped outside onto the balcony. The cloak about her shoulders billowed and allowed bare legs to feel the cool breeze of night, and her golden eyes turned skyward in search of the moon as she walked past a nearby pillar.

Good things had always happened to her in search of a Moonlit sky. It always led her to the right people, like a guiding light.

Perhaps it would guide her to Ala once more.

 

[Ala Quin]

Despite the wind, Ala could hear the door slide open. Her fingers fell to her twin hilts hanging one from each hip. This informant may simply be a lure, bait for her to fall into a trap. It had happened more times than she cared to remember. By now, she was fairly seasoned at not being caught when the trap was sprung.

Before her eyes, a small orb formed, and she pushed it forth beyond her hiding place. The near translucent sphere had just enough of a reflective surface that Ala was able to make out the form of a woman. Ala's breath caught in her throat. Her heart skipped several beats. Whoever had set this trap, knew about Kaila, because there was no mistaking that body...Ala knew it too well.

Take the initiative.

She had learned it from her brother. Just be the boulder.

The orb disappeared. Ala jumped forth from her hiding place with her twin yellow lightsabers igniting with a snap-hiss. Her body tensed as she waited for the apparition of Kaila to disappear and be replaced with some Cultist.

"You are wrong to use her against me," Ala said, trying to keep her eyes from wandering. Even this deceivers version of Kaila was gorgeous.

Rocking back on her back foot, Ala took a traditional Niman ready stance. "She would not come here. I am not even sure she could...show yourself for who you really are!"

Kaila Irons

 

[Kaila Irons]

Location: Penthouse, Coruscant.
Wearing: Sweater
Tag: Ala Quin

"Holy shi-" Kaila's fingers fumbled around the tea cup, spilling most of her drink along the balcony, steaming liquid splattering on the floor.

In a panic, the young darth had spun around with her opposite hand out, index and pinky finger pointed at the intruder as wisps of blue energy left her fingertips, quickly forming a defensive barrier between herself and-

It was her.

"Bloody hell, Ala..."

The tea cup began to hover in place, freeing her dominant hand to tug her hood down, revealing golden eyes aglow with worry. Her chest rose and fell quickly, revealing her red sweater and little else. No armor, no weapons, not even a tool belt.

"This," she stammered

"Is why I brought sabers into that cave."

The young and very much ill prepared darth gestured inside, where her lightsabers sat on the sofa alongside a mask and familiar circlet, with familiar leather boots sitting beside the furniture just beyond the line where hard floor meets soft carpet. Couldn't get mud from alien worlds on her new floor after all.

Gaze returning to Ala, even if wandering for but a moment, Kaila afforded her fellow Niman user a nervous smile and took her drink in hand once more.

"...tea?"

​

 

[Ala Quin]

What!?

Ala's furrowed brow somehow deepened. It was not until the mention of the cave that her face lightened. "Kaila?" She said, more hopeful than confident.

She looked around, suddenly scared for Kaila that she was in the heart of Alliance space. There did not seem to be anyone about that might be a threat, although she could not be sure given how many buildings there were with line of sight.

Ala approached, cautiously. Her blades deactivated and one of them was hooked back onto her belt that. As she stepped forward, she held up a trembling hand, as if trying to prove that this were real.

"...tea?"

Her hand came to rest on Kaila's forearm. Ala's face lit up. Her saber hilt dropped from her hand, and clattered to the duracreet balcony floor. The demure Jedi Master jumped, wrapping her legs around Kaila's waist and her arms around the Sith's neck.

She hugged Kaila...tightly. And then pulled back, taking hold of the blonde woman's face.

"I..."

"I..."

"I..."

She was clearly crying now. Ala did not allow that to stop the torrential outpouring of kisses that she peppered all over her Kaila's face, before finally pushing against her lips. The kiss, mingled with tears, was one of an exuberant relief and release of days upon days of pent up anxiety.

"I love you..." Kiss. "I love you..." Kiss. "I love you..." Kiss. "I love you..."

Kaila Irons

 

[Kaila Irons]

Location: Penthouse, Coruscant.
Wearing: Sweater
Tag: Ala Quin

The translucent barrier dropped with rising of her lips into a and relieved smile as Ala's demeanor changed. What could have been the makings of a tragedy now blossomed into sweet reunion as Ala and she touched, slender fingers tracing gentle lines across the jedi's forearm, only to let go as Ala leapt into her arms.

"woah-"

Acting quickly, the cup began to hover out of harm's way and free her arms entirely for the jedi's loving embrace. Strong arms honed by years of supporting a metallic skeleton wrapped tightly around her waste as Kaila giggled softly, overjoyed that not only had they found each other once again, but that Ala was still so glad to see her as she was.

Aside from the awkward shift in her weight to prevent the pair from falling over, Ala had her undivided attention, and she gave herself over to the elven eared woman completely.

"I love you..." Kiss. "I love you..." Kiss. "I love you..." Kiss. "I love you..."

"...I love you too!" she said in one of few openings in which their lips weren't locked.

"...so much!"

She shed a tear or two of her own, all in joy.

It was finally over, she thought. Even though they did not live in a perfect world, even if they must continue planning secret meetings like this for a time, she was free and she had Ala. That was all that mattered.

"I was so worried I wouldn't see you again..."

"...I'm so sorry."

She squeezed Ala just a little tighter, then pulled back just long enough to see where she was going, carrying her into the safety and warmth of the living room. All the while, her tea and Ala's lightsaber joined the happy couple in a neat column just before the door shut behind them.

"Pardon the secrecy, I was frightened of that dreadful law. But otherwise I'm free now, I can see you more often."

"I'm so happy to see you!"

"My back, not so much." she chuckled coyly, approaching the couch.

​

 

[Ala Quin]

She let herself be carried, all the while peppering Kaila's face and neck with kisses. She heard what was being said, but did not respond for a time, until twas indicated that Kaila was actually struggling with the sudden need to bear Ala's whole weight.

The Jedi uncurled her legs from about Kaila and planted her feet on the floor. She quickly curled up on the couch pulling Kaila down to sit beside her. Ala was all hands, touching Kaila's face, her hair, her arms, her legs...she just wanted to make sure she was really, really real.

"I can't believe its you...I have...you are alive...you are here...you are..."

Ala's whole world felt like it had turned upside down. She had resigned herself to possibly never seeing Kaila again, and had determined that if she did she would work to bring her to the light side before reengaging in their relationship. But upon seeing her lover again, all those sensible decisions went out the window. It was simple. Ala wanted Kaila.

"What do you mean you are free? Free from the Sith? You left? How is that possible? Are they hunting you?" Ala said while her face grew serious, and even worried. Was Kaila in danger from the Sith still?

She cupped Kaila's face in her hands again, running her thumb over her lips. Ala's eyes glistened with the tears of joy she shed so freely.

"Tell me everything," she said, pulling one hand away from Kaila's face to lace their fingers together.

"Tonight...I refuse to sleep...unless I awake to find this all dream."

Kaila Irons

 

[Kaila Irons]

Location: Penthouse, Coruscant.
Wearing: Sweater
Tag: Ala Quin

Kaila practically curled into a ball beside Ala, arms wrapped around her, and cloak pulled over them both as she nuzzled her face into the crook of her lover's neck.

"I can't believe its you...I have...you are alive...you are here...you are..."

"I'm here." she reassured herself as much as Ala.

"...just like I promised."

And what a surprisingly difficult promise it had been to fulfill. Now she silently vowed anew, to never take such risks again. She would play the great game very carefully now, to preserve her winnings now that she had the greatest prizes of all; She had Ala, and she was free.

"What do you mean you are free? Free from the Sith? You left? How is that possible? Are they hunting you?"

Well, mostly free anyway.

There was a shift in Kaila's demeanor as the reality of her situation began to break down the fantasy she wished to live in this moment, causing her to glance at the fireplace momentarily, only to be drawn back in by her lover's touch. She looked up at Ala with tired eyes, yet managed a smile all the same even as thumb met her soft lips.

Ala had a way of soothing the young sith's rampant anxieties it seemed, and Kaila felt as though she needn't hide around her the way she did among her fellow dark lords.

"...it's complicated," she began with a sigh.

"It was The Empress who freed me, you see, from Carnifex. She appeared when everything went wrong, offered me fair terms once I'd explained my reasons. Echnos is a valuable world, a vital point of logistics to the second legion, but she seems to... favor me in some way, beyond what my ability to govern... Or maybe she's just gentler than the others. I can't quite explain it."

"I owe Srina Talon a lot..."

She closed her eyes and held onto Ala a little tighter then, unsure how the jedi would take all this.

"I'll be working for her now, in some capacity."

"My master will not trouble me any longer, not while I serve her. He's... fond of her, and it's strangely genuine. He won't challenge her in this matter. Malum however... I'm not sure he'll take losing my loyalty lightly... He wished to woo me, but I do not believe he loved me in the way you and I love. If my loyalty to the throne does not put he and I at odds, then I fear this will."

"It seems then that I have traded a few enemies of great power for many enemies of very little." she chuckled at the bitter irony.

"It was worth it though, to escape Him. I may move freely now, make my own decisions freely, for the most part,"

"Love freely, perhaps..."

Tears fell again as she looked up at Ala, a soft smile forming and slender hand rising to her cheek.

"I've missed you so much...!"

​

 

[Ala Quin]

Ala leaned into Kaila's catlike curling. As she listened to her dear one's explanation, Ala found herself nervously playing with the soft fabric of Kaila's sweater.

It was complicated. It was always complicated. The complexities of Sith polity were far beyond her little Jedi mind to comprehend and as Kaila began to explain all that had transpired, Ala found her self at time riveted, at times confused and again at others just happy to see her lips as they moved.

"So you are free of Carnifex," she said in a sweet whisper, "that is something at least."

This Srina Talon that Kaila spoke of was fairly unfamiliar to Ala. She did not actually spend time obsessing about the comings and goings to powerful Sith. In fact, she tried to keep out of their way unless completely necessary. It was good for the life expectancy. Whoever this Talon person was, she must have been at least marginally impressive to have earned the favour of Carnifex.

He still only tied when we fought. She hummed in her mind contentedly.

"Free to love," Ala said, smile lighting up her face, "that sounds the best part of all."

Her face leaned into Kaila's touch, Heavy eyelids closing over her deep brown eyes as she signed contentedly. For something so historically wrong, this touch was one that had never felt so right. How could something that felt so pure be wrong?

She had been missed. Kaila had missed her. Ala's heart thumped in her chest. A feeling of need rising within her core. Her face turned, kissing the palm of her Kaila's hard, her own hand holding it in place, while her kisses trailed down the Sith's arm. The elven Jedi savoured each moment of contact, her lifts sticking slightly with their dryness as she pulled each kiss away. She did not stop where the loose sleeve Bega, kissing over top of the sleeve until she found her way back to Kaila's face.

"Show me how much you missed me," Ala said, eyes searching the yellow eyes of the woman before her, "show me what freedom looks like."

Kaila Irons