Private Something Bazaar

[Aether the Iron]

Aether understood.

When being born with less than nothing was one's reality, the ability to choose their future must have been attractive. Though the Mandalorian had never worn chains, he could only imagine how easy a decision his offer was. The choice between squallor and might? Freedom and oppression? He'd have taken the offer in a heartbeat.

But it was during the secrets part that she hesitated, and the Mandalorian leaned for. His right hand raised once more - and this time, power coursed through his fingertips. He kept the display small, as to not attract attention, yet lightning bolts began to dance between fingers. Jumping from thumb to index and back again.

"You can wield the power to shape your life into anything you choose. But to do so, I must be able to trust you. To know the shape that you are in now. If I am to share my power with you, all must be laid bare."

Power did not wait for those who were "ready".

Mae Tecono​

 

[Mae Tecono]

She looks at his hand and fingertips. Seeing him use the power of the force in such a simple yet powerful display made her lick her lips. Could she too have the ability to do such things? She desired it, badly. She then,let hos words sink in. She must share her secret to taste the power he had to offer. She again hesitated as she was ashamed of her secret. She shifted her gaze from his fingers and back to his amber eyes.

"The other day.... I had a nightmare.... Images of my family being hurt.... And..."

She slowly told him the story of how her dream lead her to find her families corpses and how the anger from that sight had made her be able to wield the force in ways she could not have previously imagined. She told him she used it to slay and murder those responsible for their deaths before turning that power on her master her had betrayed her mibd and body for the last time.

She grasped the table as she told him her deepest and darkest secret as if it took all her will to let it loose from her lips.

She looked away in shame as she finished, tears rolling down a cheek and returned her eyes back to his, expecting to be shunned for her murderous rage or mocked for her poor use of the force. In reality, she did not expect their encounter to continue at this point even though she wished it would with every fiber of her being and soul.

Aether the Iron

 

[Aether the Iron]

The secret was shared.

And for the one who had made warfare into a lifestyle, the notion of avenging fallen kin was a noble one. As the woman called Maez spoke, he witnessed the weight of guilt upon her shoulders. Her head dipped. Her shoulders shuddered. Tears fell. For a Mandalorian, it was fine to shed tears for those who no longer walked among the living. Yet shedding a tear for shedding blood in their name? That was a sign of weakness. And that weakness would be purged from the young woman over time.

But for now, the armored man said nothing. He awaited until his next drink was delivered and slid the glass towards her. "Drink." he said simply. Whilst awaiting if she would follow his directive or not, he began to the share his thoughts. "There is no shame in avenging those who mean something to you. There is no shame in wielding your power as you see fit either." His dominant hand moved as he spoke, as if painting an invisible picture.

"Pain. Anger. Sorrow. These are all valuable tools as they allow us to easily access the might of the Force. Though I am sorry that this lesson had to be taught over the death of your loved ones, it is a lesson worth remembering. Never forget how you felt that day. Never forget how your feelings brought you power."

He then offered a slight nod of his head. "Your...family...they will rest easy knowing that you survived. You must now live for all of them. Understood?"

Mae Tecono​

 

[Mae Tecono]

Mae was not sure she should drink more. She already felt like her senses were dulled from the first. However, when he consoled her and told her that her actions were not just acceptable but encouraged, she felt at ease enough to take his instruction and grab the drink. She drank it down quicklu to half full.

"Understood?"

She nodded her head and replied "Yes, Sir." Submissively.

She began to remember the feelings she had possessed or rather possessed her. She let them fill her once more. Once she was full of the anger and need for vengeance, she held onto it and set it to memory that she would never forget.

She looked back up at Aether to ask him what is next for her, but the words never left her lips, she just looked at him with the power filling her veins and knew he would announce it when he would mean it be.

Aether the Iron

 

[Aether the Iron]

Yes, Sir.

When last the Mandalorian had been referred to as sir, he had been standing within the halls of his sire's palace. Then, he disliked the formality - as it belonged to someone else. The respect was founded upon the might and prestige of another, and was only extended to him based on his lineage. Yet here? This was a reflection of his own talent and skill. Thus, Aether smiled when she addressed him as thus.

He then rested his chin upon his dominant hand.

"Good. Now, for what's next." he began. "We'll wrap up on Tatooine and head back to Expanse. There will be shelter and supplies aplenty where we're headed. You won't have to worry about where your next meal comes from. Did you have any business left here?"

Mae Tecono​

 

[Mae Tecono]

"Did you have any business left here?"

"No, I have sorted all my affairs here, I am ready when you are." She said as she stood and then immediately sat back down. She had drank more then she has ever before and simply put her small frame could not handle it. As she sat back down she looked back at Aether and said "well maybe in a few minutes at least"

She was excited to get started with her new life and the sound of the Expans had her very intrigued.

Aether the Iron

 

[Aether the Iron]

The young woman rose...and immediately settled.

Aether's eyebrow rose ever so slightly at the sight. It appeared as though Maez was what once could call a lightweight. "Well then, when you're ready to walk, we'll head out. Should be less than a day's flight to our destination."

He then motioned towards her. "Empty stomach or lightweight?"

The Mandalorian just had to know what he was dealing with.

Mae Tecono​

 

[Mae Tecono]

"A little bit of both, unfortunately." She said with an embarrassing sigh. "I was never allowed to drink other then when my previous master was trying to soften me up, in which case I would purposely pretend to be drinking to keep my defenses up." She looked at him as chills of the memory coursed through her. "But... I bet I would be better with food in me. I'll make something simple for myself or us when I get back to your ship." She said as she stood with more confidence this time. "Shall we?"

Aether the Iron

 

[Aether the Iron]

"Lets."

With the young woman feeling a bit more sure about her ability to stand, the Mandalorian rose. He paused only to leave a few credits as tip for the decent service before leading the way out of the cantina. The trek to the port was not a long one, and thus he motioned towards a rather unremarkable freighter as the drew closer. "Here she is." he remarked, with a touch of pride in his voice. "Not the prettiest bird in the sky, but she flies true enough."

Wasting no time, he started up the ramp and flipped on the vessel's lights. "You can have the guest bunk. Refresher's to the left. Stove and all the fixins' to the right." Whilst giving directions, Aether headed for the cockpit and slid into the captain's chair. His fingers danced upon the central console, bringing the vessel to life.

Mae Tecono​

 

[Mae Tecono]

As he led her to his ship, he remarked that it was not the prettiest thing, but she looked up at it and smiled. It may have been smaller, but it was in much better shape then her last two ships. As he gave her a brief tour and then made his way to the cockpit, Mae walked along the corridor dragging her palm on the wall as she made her away around. Thinking "This is my life now. This is where I will be living", she smiled at the thought. She made her way to the guest bunk as it was the smaller of the two and also the clean one, and began to prepare it to her specifications. Taking the extra blanket at the foot and rolling it into a second pillow, because she loved her pillows. She then used a cloth to polish and clean the view port next to her bed. She enjoyed looking out at the stars as she slept.

She could hear the various components coming online eventually followed by the engines and knew that he was preparing to take off. She hurried to the cockpit, as that was her favorite part of the ship, as a wanna be pilot or pilot in training. She sat in the co-pilot chair and as he reached for various controls on start up, she would reach and press the corresponding controls to help. Hoping she was proving herself competent in the cockpit at least. She then strapped in as the ship slowly made its way up and out of the space port. She was so excited to be on the surface of a planet as she was not allowed to leave the ship very often and when she did it was mostly aboard a space station, but the feeling of going back to space was one closer to returning home.

Aether the Iron

 

[Aether the Iron]

For a few moments, the young woman made herself at home.

As Aether busied himself getting the freighter's systems online, he could hear the ruffling of covers behind him. No doubt she was getting settled in, which was good. Being comfortable, especially after her ordeal, was ideal after all. It did not take Maez long to make up her bed to her specifications and to make her way to the cockpit. Just in time, as the engines had just began to hum to life.

Maez then slid into the co-pilot's seat and aided in preparing for takeoff. A fact which caused Aether to grin from behind his helm. "Ah, so you're just full of surprises!" he said. His offhand raised, gingerly nudging her arm. "Do you know how to fly overall?"

As the question lingered, Aether began to gun the throttle. The freighter lurched forward and took off over the deserts of Tatooine. Higher and higher it climbed until it sliced through the atmosphere and into the black of space. Aether then keyed in the hyperspace destination and paused before engaging.

"Why don't you hit the big button?" he offered.

Mae Tecono​

 

[Mae Tecono]

Mae smiled as he nudged her arm and said she was full of surprises.

"Do you know how to fly overall?"

"A little. It has been a long time. You know how I told you I was on that original freighter all those years ago? I learned how to fly there. But my last master did not like me in the cockpit. I think he felt if I knew how to fly his ship too well, I might take off and leave him stranded somewhere, which I probably would have." She responded with a big smile.

He told her to try the big button and her eyes lit up. she slowly reached up to it and pressed it, unsure of what was going to happen.

Aether the Iron

 

[Aether the Iron]

"Given the circumstances, he was right to fear being left in the middle of bum-kark-nowhere." came the Mandalorian's response. When the big red button was pressed, the ship lurched forth. The stars which dotted the heavens became a mighty blur as they dove into hyperspace.

Aether leaned back in his chair, a grin plastered upon his face. This was easily his favorite part of the ride.

"I realize that I've asked you quite a bit," he said, finally speaking above the hum of the vessel's engines. "it's only fair that I do the same in kind. And I'm sure you're full of 'em - so shoot, ask away."

It wasn't often that Aether offered to peel back the curtain. Thus, Maez had better get while the getting was good.

Mae Tecono​

 

[Mae Tecono]

Ever since she met the man, she had nothing but questions roll through her mind. She was too shy or too confused to ask them or she was too afraid, but now he was opening himself like a book for her and she was a bit dumbfounded in silence before bursting out with question after question. She did not even stop to hear responses as she just spit the questions out continuously.

"Where are you from? Was it Mandalor because of your armor?"

"How did you become a Sith, are you born that way or is it triggered at some point in your life like me?"

"What do you do for work? Are you a smuggler? An Imperial agent? Mandalor agent?"

"How does that stone know that I have the force in me?"

"Do I get or can I earn armor like yours?"

"Where are we going? How do you have supplies and food where we are going?"

"Do you often recruit people where you go?"

"What does it mean to be Sith?"

"Do I have to stay by your side all the time or do I get to venture out on my own?"

(OOC that last question is a solid one as Im not sure what kind of threads I can join while we are in training and such)

Aether the Iron

 

[Aether the Iron]

There was an unspoken...innocence to the river of questions which bubbled out of the woman. One after another she fired them away in rapid succession, leading to Aether laughing aloud. Grinning, he answered each back just as quickly as they had been asked.

"I was born on Ryloth, actually. I inherited my Sith and Mandalorian heritage from him. As for work, well, I don't technically have to work as you'll see. But I do bounties from time to time."

"That stone is attuned to the Force - it's like a magnet. Armor like mine is reserved for Mandalorians - but in time, you'll have one that's all your own. We're going to a planet called Verun in a region called the Shiraya Expanse. It's well-defended and supplied."

"I typically prefer to work and be alone. You are the first exception."

He paused when it came to the last two questions. Each carried unspoken weight, as they were directly impacting her future. "To be a Sith...well, it's easier to explain what our opposites are first. The Jedi. They use the Light Side of the Force. They fear emotion, passion, love - all the things that it means to be human. So, traditionally, they repress themselves."

"To be a Sith is to embrace what it means to be alive. Why settle for "peace" through repressing yourself - why lie to yourself? Instead, we choose to embrace passion. Passion gives strength. Strength gives power. Power gives victory. And through victory, all chains are broken. To be a Sith means to truly know freedom."

He reached out, placing a hand upon her shoulder.

"So listen closely when I say this - being my apprentice does not mean servitude. You are the learner, I am the teacher, so I will expect that you follow me in that manner. Where we are going? This will be a home for you. But I fully expect you to spread your wings. Embrace life. If that means to visit the stars on your own, so be it. I only require that, when I call and need you at my side, you come. Understood?"

Mae Tecono​

 

[Mae Tecono]

"Understood, Sir" she replied quickly. She was happy that there would be a good amount of freedom within this teacher/student relationship. She sat quietly for a moment, gathering her thoughts and even doing a little imagining. She wish she would have held onto one of the ships she sold so that she could venture out on her own, but then started imagining those little starfighter/personal ships and her mind exploded with other thoughts that related to that. A small smile crept across her face as she began to imagine it all. She was also happy to have a teacher as she has never truly had one before. She had learned by experience and trial and error up to this point and also punishment for when she did something wrong.

She then looked back over at him, eager to learn, but reserved enough not to blurt out more questions. She instead sat back again and waited to see what was in store for her and her future.

Aether the Iron

 

[Aether the Iron]

***​

After quite the length of time in Hyperspace, the vessel's systems finally chimed. By this time, the Mandalorian had already made himself comfortable in his bed. For hours, the pair swapped stories and got to know one another a touch better before opting to turn in. Thank the gods for auto-pilot.

When the alerts came through, Aether groaned from behind his visor and sat up. He moved quietly, attempting to keep his heavy footsteps from waking his newfound apprentice. With a few taps on the console, he patched through the voice from the planet below.

"This territory belongs to the Ascendant Empire. Identify yourself or be destroyed."

Aether had to stifle a chuckle. "This is Crown-Prince Aether Verd. I'll be arriving on Regnum shortly."

The receiver at the other end stammered horrendously. This was always his favorite part about keeping his lineage under wraps. "Don't choke on your tongue now."

Mae Tecono​

 

[Mae Tecono]

Mae awoke on her bunk as she heard voices out in the main body of the ship. She stared out her port hole as the stars stopped being blurs of light and were now solid in place. She knew they had arrived but did not know much about the planet that they were heading to. She slowly sat up, surprisingly still tired after sleeping the best she has ever in her whole life. No immediate task to complete as soon as she awoke, no kick to the side or butt to wake up, it was blissful. She walked over to the facilities and tried to gather herself the best she could before she joined her new master in the cockpit. She entered and sat next to him in the co-pilots chair. "Good Morning" she said with a little glee. She was happy to be awake but was unsure if it was morning especially on the planet they were landing on.

She just sat next to Aether as he made the preparations for landing.

Aether the Iron

 

[Aether the Iron]

The capital city called Regnum was truly a sight to behold.

Though desolation surrounded it on all sides, the walls managed to create a contradiction within its streets. The blistering sun did glare down from above - yet every building featured the ability to cool its denizens quite effectively. In truth, Regnum was on par with most planetary capital cities, featuring all the bells and whistles one could desire.

But for Mae and the Crown Prince, their destination was the jewel of the city: the Palace. Centrally located, it was typically closed to the public. Yet, Aether strode in because, in a sense, he did own the place. He escorted his newfound apprentice to the lower levels, where it was cooler and away from prying eyes.

"I promised lessons, so there's no time like the present." he said, before guiding her into one of the larger rooms. In terms of aesthetic, the space was entirely Atrisian, featuring straw mats atop wooden floors. Racks of varying weapons were available and just within arm's reach.

"Control is the most valuable part of wielding the Force. Once you have it, let none take it away."

His words were coupled by the selecting of a wooden practice sword. He tossed it in her direction, expecting her to catch it. "Now. Remember what you felt when you used the Force before. Try to tap into that feeling and strike at me."

Mae Tecono​

 

[Mae Tecono]

Mae was in absolute awe at her surroundings as Aether escorted her from the ship through the palace and to the training room. She could not believe her eyes let alone the thought that she was now the apprentice of actual royalty. It did not matter that it was of this single plant or city, it was all so much bigger then anything she has every set foot in let alone belonged too.

As she walked into the room and was gathering her surrounding including looking up at the high vaulted sealings, she felt something, she was not sure what it was but it made her raise her hand in the opposite direction of where she was looking and instantly grasp and catch the handle of the wooden sword that was tossed to her. She looked back from above to her hand wielding the fragile sword with amazement. Had she really just caught that? She looked from the sword to Aether as he spoke. He wanted her to attack him?

'I guess there is no time like the current to start' she thought as she slashed from her hip up and across to adjacent neck of Aether, missing but not by much. She was unsure if she missed or he had parried but it gave her a little confidence as she moved her sword in a vertical movement from there, quickly downward to his thigh before he...

Aether the Iron