Private Revelations

[Revna]

Tags: Darth Malum of House Marr
Location: Alvaria
Timeframe: a couple of weeks after the Life Day Gala event on Eliad
Attire: casual; black pants, boots, and a V neck blouse
​

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The palace that was home to Darth Malum and his family on Alvaria, was a massive complex that was in a state of both ruin and renovation. The wealth and influence of House Marr was on display wherever Revna went within the grounds of the palace and it both awed and disgusted her, as well as brought back not so pleasant memories of her time serving as a slave to nobles in her not so distant past. Her situation had changed, for now she was an acolyte of the Sith Order, and as such her attitude had to adjust as well…but it was still a difficult thing for the young woman to grasp and accept, especially as she underwent instructions on how to carry herself in a more proper, noble fashion - something that would hopefully help her as she interacted with high ranked Sith and navigated the intricacies of Sith nobility in the future.

The instructions she had received thus far in her stay were in stark contrast to how she had been taught as a slave and she sometimes fell into her more ingrained habits of being subservient to the Marr nobles whenever she was around them - something that was corrected, whenever it was noticed. Such re-training and restructuring of her mindset was challenging to the young woman, though she was a sharp student and learned quickly, her struggles were not lost on the others, and she was granted some free time so she could further adjust and come to terms with her lessons.

So, naturally - Revna had gone exploring, and had eventually stumbled upon a courtyard within the palace grounds where she found a place to sit so she could think about everything she had been taught thus far…both by the Marrs and by her own Mentor, Darth Strosius . She hadn’t been with the masked Sith Lord for very long - a month, at most - before she had been sent to Alvaria, and to Darth Malum. She was still fresh, still new to the ways of the Sith and as such, her education had truly only just begun.

The little woman observed the quiet and thankfully empty courtyard as she felt the Force move and flow within her, reacting to and responding to the presence of the Dark side that permeated Alvaria. Revna summoned forth little arcs of electrical discharge to dance between the fingers of her right hand, watching them flicker and faintly crackle and pop as her guard lowered and her mind began to trail off into her own thoughts, losing awareness of her surroundings as she did so.

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

She was intriguing, to say the least, she had to be by definition to gain his attention. Still, she was intriguing for herself, more than her position, her station, which was an accomplishment all unto itself he supposed. Certainly, as an apprentice of his bro- battlebrother, Ali- Darth Strosius , she was certainly worthy of some attention.

But that she had received an invitation into his home, for more than simply the askance of his battlebrother, was because she was interesting in her own right.

After not anyone would simply dance with the Empress of the Sith Empire... without knowing how to dance.

Not anyone would so easily draw his eye.

Not anyone would make him so...

...Curious.

Distractions were a Bogansend these days, especially such...

Attractive, distractions.

Perhaps he did then have some ulterior motive in her invitation here...

But considering her presence at the back of his mind, the agony that he felt every moment, of every day, resisting the influence of the woman that he...

He let out a hiss, his fingers flexing, nails begging to grip down through his own skin, pain from anywhere else, a distraction from the pain which struck through his mind.

Pleasure.

An even greater distraction.

He knew, that this would be crossing a line, knew this could be considered a betrayal of his battlebrother... knew if he desired this, he could have sought it from anyone else.

Yet, as his black cloak billowed in his wake, red eyes narrowed in curiosity, and a smile blossomed watching as the lightning danced across her fingers. He had been told she had been only recently taken onboard into the Sith... to already summon lightning...

...His co-apprentice had found a promising apprentice indeed.

And one that... tempted him so... he knew that it was from onesided after all.

He had seen how she looked to him that day upon Eliad.

"I hope you have found the Palace to your liking, Lady Sharr." He intoned, almost purring, standing over her, red eyes glimmering, raven locks waving in the wind.

Not noticing how his amulet had warmed.

Revna

 

[Revna]

Tag: Darth Malum of House Marr
​

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The courtyard was quiet, and peaceful. And Revna enjoyed that…even as the words that peace was a lie echoed through her mind as she thought about how peaceful her surroundings were. In the short amount of time that she had been an acolyte, Revna had found herself mulling over the Sith Code that she had been required to memorize, a lot. She’d been told that it was an integral part of what drove a Sith, and if she wanted to become a Sith herself…then she needed to understand it for herself, or at least how it was taught to her by her Mentor.

Perhaps something that she was learning was that even in moments of peace such as this…there was conflict. Her own thoughts were tugging at her mind, and memories threatened to pull her into their dark depths, and make her unravel and lose herself to the emotions attached to them.

She allowed herself to, for only by letting them come over her could she practice the ability of controlling how she reacted, controlling the strength and power behind her emotions - tempering them to be used as a blade, and not a flood that drowned her within their depths.

But something she was still learning was keeping her guard up and remaining aware of her surroundings when doing such practices. It was a failure on her part then, when she did not hear the approach of another, nor was she aware of the presence of her host, Darth Malum…until he spoke to her. She was engrossed in one of her more recent memories where she had conjured Force Lightning, and such memories evoked powerful emotions within her. His voice startled her, and for a very brief moment, reality and her memories blended together, and the Sith Lord who stood over her became the object of her ire.

Before she could catch herself, she released the built up energy that was in her hand towards him, a rather strong bolt of Lightning - purely out of reaction to a perceived threat that was no longer real.

It was the first time she’d ever lashed out against another Sith Lord, and when she realized what she had done - Revna was on her feet as her face drained of blood and fear flickered over her face. She could imagine how Darth Strosius would have reacted to such a reaction from her - surprise and maybe a rather gentle scolding - but she didn’t know Darth Malum. She didn’t know if she had just crossed a line, and the fear of what might happen next made her immediately submissive.

“I…am so sorry, my Lord. I didn’t realize you were there!” Revna stammered, her gaze flickering away from him briefly before her blue eyes returned to his red gaze cautiously. “Forgive me.”

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

It was impossible not to raise his brows as the blue lightning shot towards him with the speed of a blasterbolt, he was too close to her to pull out his lightsabre, and as time slowed around them, his gaze towards her revealed even her own shock at her actions. So an accident, after all, he was confident she had not seen him enter the courtyard.

Or a supremely able actress?

It had not been the first time she had impressed him.

But if she was an assassin, which there had been a no-ending amount since his ascension, this would certainly be the last time.

Sith Lightning did not necessarily make him fear, he had been struck by it all his life, shown the power of the Darkside, and shown why he would need to wield it himself. He had been struck by it whose wielders were far more powerful than an acolyte. Still, no man wished to undertake pain when there was no need to.

He may have not been able to draw his lightsabre.

But by pure instinct, a hand fell in front of the path of the destructive force, as he demanded the Force obey his command, demanded its will form his own.

Time crept forward.

And the lightning once a bright blue, turned a blinding white.

Coiling around his arm.

As he gazed at it morosely.

Reminded of Korriban...

Reminded of what he had almost done...

Sophia... Sophia of House Marr ...

He had almost...

He grunted, blinking out the pain from his mind, as he allowed the lightning to dissipate.

As quick as a flash, his features were formed back into their mask, a smile upon his face, red eyes glimmering with mirth, feigned or not, ever the charming noble.

Her apologies filled his ears, and her eyes flicked away, before his rubies took hold of the sight of her diamonds...

...She was breathtaking.

And if an assassin, and incredibly poor one, having not pressed her momentum... and indeed, leaving her at his mercy.

"Sith Lightning is as beautiful as it is dangerous... clearly no doubt it shares those qualities with you," Malum spoke, taking a step forward, gently taking hold of her hand, the very same which had fired the bolt, and bringing her fingers to his lips, "You must be careful, otherwise you might harm someone, or yourself, Lady Sharr..." His smile widened, even as his breathing grew heavy.

Her presence could not be ignored, even now.

He pulled back, now truly noticing how much he truly towered over the woman.

A position, a trait, he sorely was enjoying, gazing down upon her.

"I accept your apology... but I believe I am afforded satisfaction... no?" He spoke with a smirk, delight dancing in his eyes, a tone in his voice implying humour.

As still, he watched.

Were you indeed such a great actress, Revna Sharr?

 

[Revna]

Tag: Darth Malum of House Marr
​

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At first she didn’t know what would happen next. But as the seconds ticked by, Revna was treated to a display of experience and power in the Force on the Sith Lord’s side, as he seemed to capture her errant bolt and absorb its energy. Though there was still fear on her features, awe flickered across her face and in her eyes as the lightning disappeared.

Revna blinked for a moment, when she realized that she had caught him off guard as much as he had with her. Had she perhaps been stronger in her power, that errant bolt could have done far more damage. But, she had no intention of harming Darth Malum, at least…not right now.

She stiffened as the Sith drew closer to her, taking her hand and gently touching his lips to it, before commenting on the beauty and danger of Sith lightning, traits that she apparently shared with such an ability, and she should be more careful lest she harm someone or herself.

Fire danced in her eyes, the stormy blue hue glinting golden for just a moment as she snatched her hand from his grasp to stare him down more properly - the fear gone, and replaced by a hint of defiance, despite the fact that she recognized his attempt at mirth, and she scoffed.

“ ‘Be careful’? 'Harm myself?' You insult me, Sith.” She retorted as she stared up at him before he pulled back. “And don’t call me Lady Sharr. I am no noble, nor have I risen in rank through the Order to justify being called such a thing. I am simply Acolyte Revna, for now.”

Darth Malum’s smirk and amusement to the situation brought forth a growl from her chest as he seemed to accept her apology, then made a statement about affording ‘satisfaction’. She raised an eyebrow at him and crossed her arms in front of her chest.

“ ‘Afforded satisfaction’? How so, Sith? Do you believe you are entitled to anything from me, because you are my host, and the ruling power here?” She challenged, holding her ground. “You may be able to charm your way into the hearts of other weaker willed women, but such things will not work on me.”

Of course, this wasn’t entirely true, even though she wished it to be. Revna remembered the first time she’d seen the Sith noble at the Life Day Gala event, and she had been drawn in by his dark charm even then. Even now, it was hard to settle the racing of her heart, but being spoken to like she was some fragile plaything roused her anger and it made her more bold than she otherwise should have been.

“...is there a particular reason why you have come out here to disturb me?” she growled at the ruby eyed Sith Lord before her, wanting to know why he had come to her. “Do you have more lessons for me to learn?”

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

She was certainly bold.

He had only been able to enjoy the awe in her eyes for but a moment, before she turned and shifted, the viperess hissing at him, the lioness roaring at him. Fire and storm danced within her orbs, before both gave way to the power of the sun, a faint golden orange glow out of her lids, as she snatched her own hand from his grip.

Defiance was defined by her brows.

And her scoff echoed the pavilion in which they lay.

For all that she had been so evidently undone by him that day at the Gala, now here she was, firm in her resolve, indeed seeming to be restraining herself in order to not launch yet another attack.

Though this one would likely be on purpose.

As she pulled away, as quick as a serpent his hands shot out, gripping her wrists, and holding her steady, as the smile turned straight and thin, as the eyes filled with feigned amusement were suddenly dead cold.

"From this change in personality from the woman I met at the Gala to the woman I allowed into my home... I am half convinced you killed the real Revna, and have simply taken up a rather convincing mask of her... if only your acting skills were similarly competent... alas, no," Red eyes, dulled, yet still brilliant, more like blood than rubies, bore down upon her, his height used for all its advantage, "Your education is not yet complete, and if you are to act like little more than a petulant child, it seems your progress is far below expectations," He leaned forward, one hand breaking from her wrists, as the other now held both in place, and the freed one grasping tightly onto her chin, forcing her gaze into his.

And what a gaze it was.

Eyes once cold, once dulled.

Shook as if the epicentre of a new quake.

Began to spark as if the beginning of a firestorm.

Before.

They shifted in colour.

Orange, citrine, and gold, eyes that were not Malum's, but eyes that very much did belong to another, bore down upon her.

Seeming to examine.

Seeming to consider.

Seeming to test.

"You are an unworthy acolyte, fitting... in some sense," A voice breathed out of Malum's throat.

A voice unmistakably the body's.

But a voice that was as much someone else's.

"By being an acolyte, by beginning this road, without a drop of noble blood, without yet achieving rank, you are made Lady Sharr, do not force us to despoil this earth as payment for your disrespect." The voice hissed, their grip tightening, as nails threatened skin, "Yet you are right, a Lady you may be, but as an acolyte you are nothing."

The harsh grip around her wrists was released, and seeming without any care in the world, the hand upon Revna 's chin pushed her back, aiming to send her back a few paces.

"A Sith Lord commands you..." He pointed towards her, as citrine orbs turned back to rubies.

Yet the fire within them did not flicker nor fade.

"Kneel."

 

[Revna]

Tag: Darth Malum of House Marr
​

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The situation between the two dissolved very quickly, for as soon as she had pulled her hand from his grasp and said what she said, his whole demeanor changed in an instant - mirth filled eyes turning cold and flat as he reacted as fast as a striking serpent, capturing both her wrists and holding her in place with a firm grip. Tension erupted through Revna as prickles of warning danced over her entire body, raising the hair on the back of her neck.

The more wise part of her knew that she had overstepped, and indeed she did not know how Darth Malum would have reacted - but now she was getting a clear understanding of how he had received her sharp words. A war bloomed within her - between her slave side that wanted to submit to avoid unnecessary punishment, and her darker side that wanted to push her deeper into her defiance and stand up for herself.

Wisdom and caution warred within her as well; this was no average being. This was a Sith, a practitioner of the Dark side and who was far more powerful than she was. She’d already made a bad step here…one more could see her dead at his feet.

Despite all of this, her gaze remained hard and she regarded him fearlessly as his words draped over her, and her jaw clenched when he mentioned her acting like a petulant child. The more he spoke in the moment, the more insulted she felt. She tried to tear one of her hands free when he shifted from one hand to another, but she was unable to as his free hand gripped her chin and forced her to look at him as he used his presence and height over her to his advantage, clearly trying to intimidate her.

“You speak as if you know me.” she growled low in her throat. “You know nothing of me, who I am, or where I came from and what I have lived through. The woman you saw at the Gala was me. And the woman you see before you now is also me.”

The tension continued to build in Revna as she stared Darth Malum in the face, especially as she noticed the shift from his ruby eyes…to more golden and orange. They studied her, took measure of her, and once more she felt a pulse of danger…though she wasn’t entirely sure why.

Her blood chilled and Revna went very still when a voice that very much did not belong to Darth Malum rose from his throat. The words she heard spoken then preyed upon one of her greatest fears, and for a moment…the defiance and hardness in her blue eyes faltered and vanished as the submissive side of her tried to overwhelm her senses. She was confused; something was amiss here that she didn’t understand.

But as the strange voice continued, understanding clicked into place as she recognized what was imparted: by stepping onto the path of becoming a Sith, she had accepted a new way of being and whatever titles and privileges that came with it. It was just hard for her to accept due to her slave background.

However, the unsure expression that passed over Revna’s face vanished and once more returned to being stony when the voice told her she was nothing. The darkness that resided within her rose up to face whatever or whoever this was speaking to her, and she felt the Voice within almost encourage her to push back.

“You don’t get to decide my value as an acolyte. That belongs to another who has already laid claim on me.” She hissed back, her voice as icy as her eyes as the grip around her wrists tightened painfully, before she was released and forcefully pushed back.

Had she not been more agile and dexterous, she would have fallen on her rear. But her near cat-like reflexes saved her once more, and she gracefully remained on her feet and allowed the momentum to put space between the two of them…though now she was tense and ready for a fight that she wasn’t sure would come.

She kept her gaze on Darth Malum, as the orange faded from his eyes and returned to the familiar red and she went rigid when his command for her to kneel descended over her. Then, after a few moments…her posture relaxed and she stood straighter as she looked upon the Sith Lord. Her mind went quiet, all thoughts going still as the defiance drained from her face, from her eyes, as she reined herself back under control as her Mentor had taught her how to. She'd gone too far and she knew she had.

“I acknowledge that I overstepped my place, and that I have disrespected you with my attitude. And you are correct - my education is not complete, and I have much yet to learn." She replied in a much more even tone of voice before she took a deep breath and lifted her chin ever so slightly, her eyes and expression becoming one of stoic pride. Her next words could very well seal her fate, but she remained fearless before him.

"But regardless...no, Darth Malum. I will not kneel.”