Private Such Marrvelous Etiquette

[Revna]

Tags: Darth Malum of House Marr
Wearing: simple black traveling clothes with a black cloak and hood
Gear: currently wearing a standard issue blaster pistol on her right hip and Sith sword in a sheath on her left hip

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Ever since her arrival on Formos and being accepted by Darth Strosius as his student, Revna Sharr had spent her days training, learning, and doing various tasks and duties for him and the Formos Dresuoti, the home base of his cult, the Order of Wonosa. She had gone from being an underfed, underweight, frightened former slave to a confident, growing young woman who was quickly growing in strength in the Force, and in her understanding of her dark powers. She was truly coming out of her shell, going from being shy and cautiously nervous to courageous and fearless.

But after attending a gala held by more prominent members of the Sith Order and coming face to face with the higher echelons of Sith society-including the current Sith Emperor and Empress- it became apparent that Revna was in need of “higher” education to help her navigate the often delicate and tense affairs that was higher Sith society. After some discussion between Master and apprentice one evening, it was decided that Revna would be sent away to learn proper noble etiquette. Darth Strosius knew of a noble House who could aid his young Acolyte in these matters since he was unable to do so, and word was sent to a Sith Lord by the name of Darth Malum of House Marr, who readily agreed to further the young woman’s training, with the help of a few of his sisters.

Not to mention it gave Lord Strosius a break from his ever eager-to-learn pupil who had grown increasingly unafraid to badger him almost as soon as he had emerged from his den to deal with various daily affairs around the cult.

Revna was nervous but curiously excited about the prospect of learning noble etiquette herself. She had known nothing but slavery for her entire life until recently, and the idea of going from ‘pauper to prince’ thrilled her. She was also excited to see other parts of the Galaxy, and brush shoulders with other Sith who were of higher status than she was.

Of course, her Mentor wasn’t letting his young charge leave without giving her a task of his own: she would serve as his eyes and ears while within House Marr, reporting back to him what she had seen and heard upon her return back to Formos. The two Sith Lords may have been battle brothers and had formed a sort of friendship over the years they had known each other, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t be trying to glean information about the other that could be used as leverage, or blackmail, against the other. It was simply the way the Sith operated, something she was learning the longer she was exposed to the Sith way of life.

Darth Malum had ties to the Sith Emperor, and any information Revna could glean just might be useful to her Mentor. She was more than willing to act as a sort of spy on her Master’s behalf, but she in turn had her own reasons for agreeing to all of this. Forming such ties would no doubt be of benefit to her in the long run, allowing her to build bridges to those in higher power that might possibly allow her to climb the ladder of power herself.

It wasn’t really about what you knew, but who you knew, especially when it came to Sith society. Which was why she had been so bold in asking the Sith Empress herself to teach her how to dance at the Life Day gala event. She would never rise and be noticed by others if she didn’t take some risks now and then.

Exposure to other Sith ideologies was something Revna desired for herself as well; she knew that what her Mentor believed and taught wasn’t the ‘norm’ in the overarching Sith belief, and due to her ever hungry need to gain knowledge, she was willing to learn all that she could, no matter the source. She couldn’t properly form her own personal beliefs unless she learned about other forms herself.

Her departure was set for after she completed her basic Squire training, though increased activity within the Outer Rim and with the Sith Order and the Empire itself made timing her educational leave a little difficult. The length of time she would be away was left open; she would be sent back to her Sith Mentor once it was deemed she had learned all she needed to, or if he summoned her back for his own reasons.

The night before she was due to leave, Revna packed what little belongings she currently had in her possession: a couple changes of clothes, a set of dark robes, a traveling cloak, along with her Sith chalice which aided in her meditations, a standard issue blaster, and of course her Sith sword. Though she had just started training with the weapon, she found she rather enjoyed going through the motions of the form she had been introduced to thus far, and she didn’t want anything she had learned to regress while she was away. The morning of Revna’s departure from Formos to Alvaria dawned bright and clear, and the transport ship which had been arranged to take her there was prepped and ready for its flight. Darth Strosius would have taken her himself, if he hadn’t been pulled away to deal with more pressing matters that required his attention, though he did make sure to see her off safely. Revna felt a strange emotion she had never experienced before as the spacecraft lifted off and made its way out of the atmosphere:

Separation anxiety.

It was perhaps the first time since her arrival on Formos that she was leaving something familiar behind, heading into an unknown with people she hardly knew. She had only briefly met Darth Malum once, at the Life Day gala, but it wasn’t long enough for her to actually get a read on his personality and who he might be like as a person. But since her Mentor vouched for this Malum, then she would meet him with an open mind.

And though she wouldn’t say it aloud, she was actually nervous to leave her Mentor behind. In the time she had been under his wing, she had started to form a bond to him. Whether he knew it or not, he was perhaps the most important individual in her life at the moment, and so leaving him behind made the young Sith antsy.

The trip would take some time as her journey would take her back into Sith space, and past even the capital world of Jutrand, and as the hours passed Revna found herself relaxing a bit, even catching some shut eye as the hum of the ship around her lulled her into a light sleep.

However, Revna was suddenly pulled from her sleep by an all-to familiar presence washing over her, its strength far more powerful than what she was used to back on Formos, and as her eyes opened they glowed a golden hue in the near-darkness of the interior of the ship as her soul and spirit and mind connected with the strength of the Dark side that emanated from somewhere. What some might be afraid of, abhor, or reject…she embraced. She let her eyes drift shut again as she let the darkness wrap itself around her like a blanket, breathing it in before the ship had even landed. Whispers danced through her mind, and she could almost feel a rumble of pleasure from the Voice of the Dark within her.

It was as disorienting as it was comforting, as warm as it was icy cold. A breath of life as much as it was the gasp of death. Strength and power, it flowed…

The sensation of the ship slowing and jostling ever so slightly confirmed that they had landed, and Revna reluctantly pulled herself from the communion she’d been having and unstrapped herself from her seat and rose up to stretch the tightness from her muscles. She took a deep, shaky breath as the ramp in the belly of the ship lowered and light from outside flooded the mostly darkened ship interior. Though she still felt a twinge of nervousness, it was replaced by a sense of strength she hadn’t truly felt before. She wasn’t entirely sure why she felt the Dark side so strongly here, but she had a feeling she would find out sooner or later. She checked to make sure her blaster pistol was secure in its holster at her hip, and her Sith blade was secure in its sheath on the other side of her, before she gathered her bag and stepped off the ship, seeing her surroundings for the first time.

Revna hadn’t been told much about Alvaria, so the sight that greeted her now made her pause to simply take it all in. She couldn’t quite describe what she was seeing; it appeared as if the place had been severely damaged or heavily bombed some time in the past, and large areas lie still in ruins, though the surrounding city seemed to be in a state of both ruin and repair. She could tell immediately that this place had a story to tell, and she tilted her head slightly to the left and right as her mind tried to fit pieces of an unknown puzzle together.

Perhaps…perhaps this destruction she saw before her was responsible for the powerful sensation of the Dark side that she felt here?

Her thoughts were pulled away as she noticed movement and saw armored and armed individuals approach the ship and her location, moving with military precision that she recognized. She lifted her head ever so slightly as she regarded them in silence, waiting for the permission to continue onward, and be escorted further into the domain of Darth Malum of House Marr.

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

So Al- Darth Strosius had an apprentice.

He knew that his old friend had some in his past, though, this was the first that he had allowed him to meet. Though, if their first meeting had been by design or not, he could not be quite certain.

What he had taken away from that meeting though, was the one his battlebrother had picked, was certainly one to keep an eye out for. Certainly, one that was intriguing, as she was curious. No regular woman, nay, no regular person in general, would ever be so bold as to simply... well dance with the Sith Empress. Malum, one who he perhaps charitably thought, had some sort of relationship with the woman, would not have been so bold.

Yet, as confusing as Her Imperial Majesty was, Lady Sharr had proceeded to dance with her.

And as they would all quickly find out... accepted the dance, without knowing how to dance.

Oh, it would have been humourous, if the circumstances were not so dire.

Still, that was certainly enough to make an impression, certainly enough for him to want to meet the young woman that his... his... their... appren-... that his fellow apprentice had taken on. Enough that when Darth Strosius had contacted him, requesting that he train the young Revna on the more... genteel arts. He was more than willing to provide.

Though of course, there was much difference between the training a lord received and the one of a lady. Thus it was, that though he would take the opportunity to instil what he could in Darth Strosius' apprentice, he had too enlisted some help. Of all his sisters, it would have likely made the most sense to have called upon Caecia, the eldest, the most regal, the one who had taken to their lessons like a moth to a flame.

Unfortunately... to call their relationship difficult, would have been an understatement. Far too difficult to countenance asking a favour, especially for one she would no doubt think was her lesser, and far beyond her time and effort.

The ice queen was far from what Revna would need at the moment.

On the other end of the spectrum, Julia... made little sense as an option. Too jumpy, too nervous, too... carnivorous in another sense of that word, she was never one who played nice with potential new friends, she had the training and upbringing, but to help another with it...

It was asking for a bit too much.

That left his two other sisters, an elder, and a younger, and for this task, they may have been the perfect ones indeed. Elise of House Marr , was... well out of his elder sisters, was certainly the one he was closer too, aloof, and perhaps not apathetic, but certainly... laid-back, despite all that had been drilled into her since birth, she was indifferent to it.

Strangely enough, a perfect instructor, one that would teach her there was little to fear.

And then... Sophia of House Marr , the one who would do the actual instructing he imagined. Caecia in act, but far more... warm, where Caecia may have been an ice queen, Sophia was a fiery princess. She knew all that needed to be taught, and could teach it sufficiently, hopefully, and... well it would be good to see Sophia again, and to finally give her the gift that Quintessa had given to him on her behalf. It would be good to see them both again, the Empress had reminded him perhaps accidentally, but rightfully that he had been absent from them, for far too long.

And though it would only be half his sisters.

It would do for now.

Hopefully.

Especially, as there would be another with them today, Lillian of House Marr... though currently still going by Lily Rhodes , when Darth Strosius had contacted him regarding instruction for Revna, he had been struck by the fact that...

...Well, she was not the only one who could use such instruction, Lillian, raised as a street rat her entire life, with the word "raised" being a great exaggeration, was entitled to an education befitting any lady of the House of Marr.

And it would give her an opportunity to make not only a new friend.

But too, her family.

It was all coming to plan, and on time too, as from outside the painted glass of the throne room, he bore witness to the arrival of the apprentice. No doubt, members of the Guard were already on the way to escort her here. He bit his lip, gazing away from the windows, to the throne before him, sitting upon it still felt... strange.

Sitting upon it with his family present, even stranger.

Yet it was his place.

He turned away, Revna was the apprentice to his battlebrother, there was no need for trickery or deceit... even if they were the tools in the game they all played.

He brought his wristcomm to his lips, "Please inform my sisters, and cousin, that the last of our invitees have arrived, we will be assembled at the courtyard," Malum spoke, hearing an affirmative, as his cloak billowed in his wake, passing through the great doors of the Palace wake, and out to where he had once met so many apprentices.

Hopefully, this meeting would go far better.

Though... he supposed... that meeting had not gone terribly.

He smiled a sad smile to himself, before wiping it away, as he found himself staring into the stormy blue-grey eyes of Revna, covered mostly by her cloak and hood, he was able to make out some traits, she was incredibly short for one, her face was framed by brownish black hair, with streaks of white and grey. The scar across her eyebrow may have been a marr against her features, yet they only seemed to enunciate them.

She was an attractive young lady, he decided.

"Welcome to Alvaria, Lady Sharr, I hope your travel was not too difficult, and that you will come to enjoy the hospitality of my home."

 

[Revna]

Tags: Darth Malum of House Marr


She was bid to follow the armored individuals, whom she deduced to be Guards employed by the Sith Lord she had been sent to learn from, and she soon found herself flanked by them as they escorted her further into the complex of what she could only describe as a large Manor, or maybe even a Palace. Revna could feel a bit of her nerves rising back to the surface; the last time she had been in a noble’s Manor had been when she was a slave. Memories crept back into her mind, though she tried to push them away, reminding herself that she wasn’t a slave any longer, and she didn’t need to be nervous or afraid.

She was brought into an expansive courtyard where she saw the Sith Lord, Darth Malum, awaiting her arrival. The little woman took a deep lungful of air and exhaled slowly in an attempt to sooth her nerves. She still felt a small pang of homesickness, of being separated from her Mentor and those she had come to know back on Formos, but she pushed that aside for now.

Revna came to a stop before Darth Malum, and gave the Sith a proper look over. She had seen him before at the Life Day Gala event, but she hadn’t been properly introduced to him until now. The first thing that really stood out to her about him, despite his typical (if not more regal than most others) blackened Sith attire, were his crimson red eyes. He was quite the handsome man, if Revna could be honest with herself. He carried himself with a nobleman’s bearing, an air of authority that came with brushing shoulders with the elites of society.

Revna shifted slightly as she regarded the man before her; she was acutely aware of the fact that she was a slave-born in the presence of nobility. All of her former training on how a slave should properly address those of greater status than them flooded back into her mind. There was a brief internal war that waged inside of her.

What...did she do now? Did she grovel? Did she bow? Did she avert her gaze in typical slave submission? Or did she stand her ground and stare at him boldly? She swallowed hard; she hadn’t anticipated the rush of memories and her past to come back up on her like this.

Darth Malum spoke to her then, and addressed her as ‘Lady Sharr’, and she almost died inside. Her pale face flushed a deep red all the way to her hairline, and she gaped in shock for a moment. She was a former slave, not some highborn who could be referred to as Lady.

“I…uh…that’s a new one.” She chuckled softly in her nervousness. “I-I’m…not a…a ‘Lady’. Please, just…call me Revna, my Lord. Or just ‘Acolyte’. The trip w-was fine; long and boring.” Revna replied, stuttering a bit over her words before she cleared her throat, her face still red from shy embarrassment, and despite her best efforts to not do so, she found herself lowering her head in a bow and her eyes followed as she cast her gaze downward to look at his booted feet.

Her Mentor probably would have corrected her against showing such slave-like subservience in the presence of another Sith, but the memories of her past and the current situation she found herself in was too much for her at the moment. Casting her former slave-self away was still difficult at times…and this was proving to be one of those times that she couldn’t shake it off, especially with how new she still was to her freedom. She just…didn’t know this particular Sith Lord very well at all, nor did she know of all his titles or how high ranked he was in Sith society and while he seemed relatively welcoming, she didn’t want to take the risk of offending a noble-born and be punished for it.

“I uh, thank you…for receiving me here to your home, Lord Marr.” Revna said to the Sith before her, hoping to be as respectful as possible. She really didn't want to anger him or be reprimanded so soon upon her arrival. Best to play it safe, she felt...at least until she knew what to expect from him.

 

[Lily Rhodes]

Lily had deliberately been avoiding Malum's sisters since her arrival on Alvaria, she was almost avoiding him too, unwilling to have a repeat of their last argument. Reluctant was the word she would have chosen to describe her agreeing to come to this...lesson.

She tucked herself away in the quiet corners of the palaces library, plucking books at random to occupy herself, trying to drown out the trauma of Celanon, of Vjun, of the fight on the Tavlar Military academy...of Fiolette Yvarro .

Lily snapped the volume she'd been reading shut, and bent to press the heels of her palms into her eyes as the sound of armoured boots approached her. "Lady Marr?"

She heaved a sigh. "Try again dipshit." She replied lifting her head to look up at the guard. "Go on, I'm sure you're capable of getting this right."

"Lord Marr wished for you to join him in the courtyard, Lady-"

"No."

"Lad-"

"Nope."

"Lady M-"

"Nu uh."

The guard sighed. "Miss Rhodes." He finished finally.

Lily got up setting the book aside. "See I knew you could get it. Courtyard? Do you have to escort me?"

"Yes, mil- Miss Rhodes."

"Sucks to be you doesn't it." She teased, heading for the door.

Darth Malum of House Marr Revna Elise of House Marr Sophia of House Marr

 

[Caecia of House Marr]

From the way she carried herself you would think Caecia had descended straight from the heavens to bless these mere mortals with her presence. She arrived in the courtyard fashionably late, dressed to kill in black finery fit for a dark queen.

Malum may not have expected her to come, but there she was. Not because her brother was cashing in a favor with his big sister, but for her own entirely selfish reasons.

It was obvious that this Revna was a spy as well as a student. Caecia sized the girl up with a cold and unflinching gaze, taking stock of her appearance. Shabby clothes, ugly shoes—and was that gray hair peeking out from under her hood? “I don’t even know where to start,” she remarked to Malum.

Revna’s face had grown visibly red under their scrutiny, and she stammered out a response. Something about her not being a lady. We can see that, Caecia thought. She gave the girl an icy smile. “Your luggage will be brought to your quarters. In the meantime, why don’t we get you cleaned up?”

Her attention was temporarily diverted by the arrival of another young woman, escorted into the courtyard by a guard. Caecia’s eyes narrowed and she rested her hands on her hips. This must’ve been the long lost cousin Malum mentioned. Caecia had no idea why he was suddenly obsessed with finding castoff relatives. Maybe if he was hunting them down and eliminating them, she could understand. But trying to bring them back into the fold? It was as grotesque as it was stupid. Unless she was addressed directly, Caecia would ignore Lily entirely, acting as if she wasn’t even there.

Revna Darth Malum of House Marr Lily Rhodes​

 

[Elise of House Marr]

"Ohh, a summons." she answered as she was given word of it, chuckling. "What do you think he'd say if I just sent him a holo-recording of me apologizing for not making it?" she grinned, before thinking it over. "No, that might be a little too much in company. Ugh, alright, up we go."

She pushed herself off her seat from which she was watching holo-vids and set out for the courtyard. Unlike many sith, she hardly dressed the part. The only real things signing her up as one being those Red eyes and the tough built lightsaber at her hilt. She walked like she was perusing a market for trinkets more than like a proper sith knight. At the very least, she had the colors down, a red shirt, black jacket and pants.

As she arrived she gave a two fingered wave to those present while slapping a guard on the shoulder on the way in, then giving a slightly pitying but almost sympathetic laugh at Revna "Oh by the abyss, woman, put yourself together. This isn't a studio audition." she'd at least seen enough on her way over to notice apparent stress.

She clapped her hands together, "Welcome, strangers! In case my siblings didn't feel inclined to be so polite." it was a clearly meant as a humorous statement, if maybe attempting to contrast Caecia in particular and her far more aloof and cold exterior.

Darth Malum of House Marr Revna Caecia of House Marr Lily Rhodes

 

[Revna]

Tags: Darth Malum of House Marr // Elise of House Marr // Lily Rhodes // Caecia of House Marr


Movement beyond the Sith Lord in front of Revna alerted her to the arrival of yet another individual, and her gaze beheld an elegantly dressed woman who carried herself in a way that screamed of her high status and birth. This woman walked with intention, her expression was cold and haughty, and she did not hide her disdain or disgust when she looked upon Revna in her simple clothes provided to her by the cult back home on Formos. Revna barely held back her own disdainful expression towards the woman, starkly reminded of the arrogant nobles she’d served back when she had been a slave in her childhood.

Her remark to Malum brought further red into Revna’s cheeks as she tried to pull herself together, her former slave nature and her desire to act like a Sith clashing together. The regal woman gave Revna a cold smile, telling her that her luggage would be taken to her quarters and that she should get herself cleaned up, and there was not a touch of warmth in those words.

Spoken simply to be as minimally hospitable, from what Revna could tell. Clearly, the young Sith’s presence was not particularly welcomed by this noblewoman.

The small Acolyte looked between Darth Malum and this woman; they looked similar, sporting the same stunning red eyes and beautiful dark hair, though the woman was clearly older though not by much, though looks could be deceiving. They must be siblings… Revna mused to herself.

Her gaze was pulled away when another arrived on the scene, another young woman with silvery blonde hair. Revna caught her gaze briefly, seeing cautious brown eyes as they took everything in as well. She didn’t carry herself with the same regal bearing as Darth Malum or the other noblewoman, and Revna wondered who she was, as she didn’t seem all too comfortable with those who were around her.

Arriving last was yet another woman, with the same dark crown of hair and the blood red eyes as the other two and Revna figured it was another relative of Darth Malum, though until they were all introduced she couldn’t be too certain on that. She seemed to have heard the stuttering of the young Sith’s words and after slapping one of the Guardsmen on a shoulder she addressed Revna, encouraging her to pull herself together. Revna was so startled that she just stared and blinked at the woman for a moment as she carried on, welcoming the ‘strangers’, and confirming that Darth Malum and the frigid princess were indeed her siblings.

A small smile touched Revna’s lips as she regarded them all for a few brief moments before dipping her head in a respectful bow to the nobles who stood before her.

“Thank you for the welcome.” She turned her gaze to the more frigid noblewoman. “And yes, I would appreciate getting cleaned up and figuring out where I shall be staying.” The small woman was respectful, but her tone was a touched clipped, almost as if mirroring the noblewoman's icy judgment of her.

She turned her gaze last towards Darth Malum, catching his ruby gaze briefly as her cheeks dusted pink again. “Thank you again, milord. My Mentor appreciates you taking time out of your busy schedule to help further my education. And I look forward to learning everything you have to teach me. Lead the way when you are ready.”

 

[Sophia of House Marr]

​

Tag: Revna | Darth Malum of House Marr | Elise of House Marr | Lily Rhodes | Caecia of House Marr
Location: Alvaria
___________

Quote of the Moment:
"...I'd rather be dead than live in a cage..."
___________​

Alvaria.

It wasn't bad, she decided.

Sophia preferred Jutrand because it was the home that she knew inside and out. She had connections in every corner and only the lowest of the low hadn't heard murmuring tales of House Marr. She took the scenic route from her personal ship by way of some graceful equestrian beast…Not because she felt like slumming her transportation but because she craved the beauty and fragility of fresh air. The colors and life that couldn't be felt or seen from within a posh land speeder. It was all…Right there.

So much for her to enjoy. Endure, consume.

She was perhaps the last to arrive but certainly, despite her age, not the least of the crimson-eyed monsters and monstresses that their parents had borne. The littlest Marr entered the courtyard while servants collected her hot-tempered steed with a natural air that dripped elegance and refinery. Her long ebony hair was styled into a sleek, partial updo, that accentuated striking features and a gloriously mysterious smile that hugged the kiss of blood-red lips with barely contained joy.

She was the absolutely spoiled little princess, the rebel, the flower-vixen unfolding. Still growing. Clad in an impeccably tailored ensemble that spoke of both her status and flamboyant personality, it was a masterful blend of tradition, imitation, and modernization. Sweeping silk skirts of the deepest black, trimmed with vibrant reds that caught the eye with every movement. Her impossibly small waist was cinched even smaller by a boned corset, her hands, protected and hidden with black lace gloves. Every inch of her seemed to respect the standards of the fashion expected by a Noble House. The colors were telltale…

None would question that in the slightest.

Her footsteps picked up ever so slightly at the sight of her brother and in the beginning…She greeted him with an impartial nod that conveyed both respect and a profound bond. But, her expression changed on a dime and became exceedingly impish. Darth Malum of House Marr would soon find snow-pale arms tossed around his neck in a way that was in direct contraction to all that they had ever known…But that was Sophia. Rare. A gem that knew when to play the game…

And a fierce proponent of her own designs.

To be seen as her own person.

"You have been avoiding me, brother. I have not yet decided if I will forgive you."

The light scolding was softened by her embrace, regardless, of how feisty, and accusatory her words were. She'd been ushered to the courtyard rather immediately and had missed some of the other introductions. Realizing that he was speaking to someone, Sophia turned and gave Revna a quiet once over. She was a good cross between Caecia of House Marr and Elise of House Marr . Neither too welcoming nor too off-putting. Instead, she remained quiet. Curious. She made...Very few assumptions outside of the obvious.

Even a mouse could surprise a cat from time to time.

Sophia had a little information, a touch, of the reason Malum had summoned them…But there was still more to learn. "I've heard a fair bit about you…", but there wasn't much else to say as the ever-beautiful Caecia seemed intent on seeing to her attire and accommodations. If one thing could be said about the women of House Marr…They were rarely ever ugly. The men? Well…Malum would do well to watch his hairline. Her body fell almost musically into a curtsey that would have made the most skilled of dancers turn green with envy. Such loveliness, fluidity, in one movement. "Welcome. I am Sophia Elsabet of House Marr…"

Crimson eyes lifted from Revna for a long moment and fell on her sisters. There was a fondness in her gaze for Elise and Caecia that was different than the easy comradery she shared with her elder brother. There was no animosity—It was just different. They knew each other well, very well, but there were elements of their personalities that set them apart. "Sisters…", she spoke, far more respectfully, while her head inclined in equal measure. Giving them grace, affection, and greeting in one word.

"I hope you've both been well."

There was another presence.

Spicy—From the tail end of the debate she overheard. Oh. Sophia liked that. Her eyes fixated on a woman that she had never met but somehow felt vaguely familiar. As if she had met her or her likeness in a dream upon a dream. How…Curious.

"And who is this little dove?"

It was ironic. Obviously, dove was not the word to describe her.

She had heard that Malum was collecting their lost bloodline like a peasant boy collecting marbles in a tin but she didn't realize that this creature ( Lily Rhodes ) was one of them. Not, that she minded. Their existence was valid in her eyes, nor, did they take from the prestigious nature of their family name.

Waste not, after all .

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

She was clearly nervous, and there was nothing he wished to do more than do something to ease her nerves, however, that was far beyond his capabilities at this moment, Moreover, he had to admit to himself, that there was always some sense of nervousness in this song and dance that they all participated in. After all, that was why he and his sisters had been given a lifetime of training in the art.

For it was a true art.

As much as it could take a man years to become deadly with a blade.

It too could take that same man years to become proficient and competent at the subtle and careful motions of courtly etiquette.

They said that battle was like a dance, and he was inclined to agree to some degree, one had to be precise and measured with their own movements, but too had to keep a careful watch and predict the intention of the opposition. While, in battle, your focus was the movement of the enemy's weapon, in court it was everything.

Indeed, everything would be and could be used against you, even most betrayingly of all, what you, yourself wore.

Perhaps the consequences were not the gutting of your stomach, but in a setting where alcohol flowed freely, where alliances and feuds were settled at the drop of a hat, where the balance of power was always shifting and turning. Well, it was said that the reason many fought on the battlefield was for the sake of their family, in the chandeliered room, so were they.

In the end, though, he did wish those of his class and station did not take it so seriously.

It may have allowed him to prefer the ballroom to the battlefield.

Alas, such was their place in life, and the Marrs if nothing else knew exactly how to play the game.

He offered a real, genial smile, to Revna , at her stuttered words, and her blushing face, indeed, she was not only attractive it seemed, but downright adorable. They had been rather... close at the Lifeday Gala... he was not blind to the effect that he seemed to have on her. Alas, the temptation was simply that, a rogue thought to be banished, this was a puppy crush, if even that, to pass hopefully soon enough.

She was the apprentice of his battlebrother.

And his loyalty was with another...

...To which other though was a nightmare that plagued his sleep.

He swallowed his emotions, painful memories hidden behind the mask he had been trained to bore.

"Please, Lord Marr is my father, if you shall insist on me calling you by your name, than I shall insist that you call me Malum," It was not a kindness he would extend to many, but her boldness had won him over, the fact Ali- Darth Strosius had seen something capable within her, merited some consideration too, "However, you should be aware, you are a Sith now, made greater than most others by mere virtue of your abilities, you shall have to adjust yourself to far more prominent honours than simply, Lady Sharr, Revna." Malum spoke, a glimmer awakening in his eyes, as unknowingly to him yet, his amulet began to grow warm.

The signal that Lily Rhodes had arrived, though he had no opportunity to turn and consider her for...

...It was also a signal that his sisters had finally arrived.

Yet the first, not the one he at all expected.

His eyes widened as Caecia of House Marr , entered the courtyard. His mouth suddenly dry, his throat parched. Perhaps the sister he had the most frosty of relationships with. Indeed, though Malum had two older sisters, his eldest was the one whom he still felt entirely too small around, despite all that he had achieved.

The smile upon his face washed away, to parsed lips, giving a silent apology to Revna as he thanked any gods that may have been listening that Caecia's attention was not on him at the present moment. It was not... that he feared his eldest sister, indeed, for a short period of his life, before Julia, before Sophia, it had been only his eldest sisters that had been his comfort, been his... family. Sith nobility like all nobility, were rather... distant from their children, and though father and mother had broken the mould in many a sense.

That distance had always been there.

Caecia was the eldest, prim, proper, where Elise had been... perhaps not apathetic, but certainly uncaring.

She had been the first he looked up to.

Which is why... it stung still even now that his very birth poisoned the well of their relationship.

He still loved her, and he could only hope she loved him, but as much as it stung, he had years to wonder and to think, he... would never give up the heirship that was his.

...But he understood why Caecia was so... cold towards the one who had stolen what was once her title as heiress.

Perhaps it was that frostiness that had kept him away from his sisters... alas the excuse only worked for one of them. He had spent years wondering how things between them could improve, but still now, he was left without an answer.

Perhaps... perhaps... this might be a chance, he had not invited her here, but here she was, and despite the fact she clearly did not care for Revna or Lillian... she was still here. Did that not mean something?

Maybe, he dared hope.

"Please, sister, give her a chance, we were not much better when we began our studies," Though they were little more than children, he supposed, he put on his best approximation of a smile, turning towards her, "I am glad you are here, Cae, it has been too long, my apologies for the lack of a specific invitation, I had not imagined you would have been interested, but I am gladdened that is not the case, no one here is suited better than you as instructor," Flattery was his best defence, noting grimly the lack of welcome she gave towards Lillian.

Not everyone in his family was happy with his discoveries, indeed, for quite many of them it had not been said, but he imagined he had not made a discovery at all. He had no proof... did not even truly wish to inquire for if there was proof, but theirs was a House many millennia years old, for no one to know what he had found, that the eyes... that the force sensitivity...

Had they blindly followed tradition?

Or had the shame and guilt of what their forefathers had done, given them no recourse but to continue?

Whatever it was.

It would stop, for the good of all his family, known and unknown.

The tension dripping thankfully did not last for long, as a sister he did expect finally arrived, and she did exactly as he expected, glimmering red orbs turning to his other elder sister. Where Caecia was everything one would imagine from a noble Sith lady, Elise of House Marr ... well apart from the unfortunate coincidence of her name shared with Elsie... well, it was hard to imagine that Elise was a noble Sith lady at all. Where Caecia wore a flagrant black dress that was as inviting as it was dangerous, Elise wore well... something in all honesty he might have worn, rather than a red dress, it was a red shirt, rather than a black corset it was a black jacket, and all tied up in the most barbarous of article.

Pants.

Yes indeed, for all the quirks and traits of the various Marr siblings, Elise clearly had made herself something her own.

And the tension flowed freely away as her words left her lips, as she so casually slapped the shoulder of one of the Guard. Between the reports of Lillian giving such a hard time to Morsus, and Elise... well being Elise, he wondered who he sympathised with more. Yet they remained ever the silent and disciplined soldiers... at least for now.

The Guard after all was filled with many Marrs, likely why Elise had no compunction regarding her actions, for after all what was a little ribbing between family?

"I am glad you could join us, sister, we feared you had gotten lost," He teased, before suddenly, for the benefit of Revna and Lillian both taking upon a mocked offended face, "Easy to talk of politeness when you do not even introduce yourself, Elise, tsk, tsk."

At the corner of his eye, he had been kept watching upon Revna as the madness unfolded, she clearly was a curious one, eyes snapping one by one to every new arrival, clearly putting together with their shared raven locks and ruby orbs, that they were siblings, or at the very least related. Likely though, she had not yet figured Lillian's connection with all of them... for indeed even though Lillian was family, her appearance was certainly as contrasting as night and day.

He turned his head as she bowed, not entirely sure how to feel about that. He had pledged so long ago after all that there were only three in this galaxy that he would bend his knee to.

And one of them was already dead at his hand.

Yet the bowing... the bowing from others towards him, it was what he had imagined idly since childhood.

For it to happen... was strange.

More importantly at the moment was the clear indication that Caecia and Revna clearly would not get along, though at this moment, he was uncertain about how to fix that.

"Oh please, Dar- Ali, is a dear friend of mine, this is barely a favour to him after all we have been through," After Darth Strosius had betrayed and ruined everything... Malum blinked, the thought foreign and rogue fading quickly, not even entirely certain if it had been there at all, "An eagerness to learn shall always be a boon, if you maintain that, you will never falter." There was so much he had learned within the confines of the Marr Manse that had been so wrong...

It took escaping the cave, and seeing the wider world for him to truly know.

"We shall be on our way soon enough, and I shall undertake the formal introductions," He suddenly turned his head, looking for someone, "We just have one more to join u-"

His words were stolen from his lips, Not even being allowed to be said, as the last of his sisters invited arrived, he had no favourite among his sisters, he so privately told him.

However.

If there was a favourite.

Which there was not.

Sophia of House Marr was a safe bet.

Riding in on a stallion of all things, she was as beautiful as Caecia, with a rather important distinction of the fact that... well, perhaps unconditional love was not something that truly existed, for there were conditions for everything. Yet, he imagined the bond between him and his youngest sister was the closest there was to such a bond. They did not only share blood in the same sense that all their siblings did, but too had experience with being the youngest in some form, and moreover... they shared so much in common, and so little in diversion, where Caecia and his relationship had been made frosty by what he had taken from her, where Elise and his relationship were defined by how much she did not give a damn, where Julia and his relationship... was not bad by any means, but was rather... distant.

There was nothing that separated Sophia and him.

She knew her duty to their family, as he did.

She knew to be skilled at arms, as he did.

And she knew... it was something difficult to put into words, but they simply... meshed without reservation or consideration.

One or two of those things he might have shared with his other sisters, but all three and more? He had no favourite he reminded himself.

And though he felt severely guilty for neglecting his sisters, there was perhaps one he felt the most guilty towards.

For, after all, there was much reason to be guilty.

He had almost killed her that night on Korriban.

Instinctively, without even the stirring of the fragment at the back of his mind, he found his hands upon his amulet, noting idly its warmth.

There was little wonder, with so many Marrs about, he supposed.

His smile was radiant, as she descended down from her mount, up the stairs to his position. One might have thought this all rehearsed for how perfectly every movement was broadcast, alas... between Caecia and Sophia, they simply were perfect in this ritual of their class. He followed her nod as soon as she gave it, only for his eyes to widen, as her impish smile took hold, and he only had but a moment to realise what was happening, as his hands ripped away from the comforting warmth of his amulet, and her arms were wrapped around his neck.

An altogether... perhaps more comforting feeling, as instinctively his arms wrapped around her too. This was perhaps not a great example of what he wished to teach his two new students... but alas, he had not seen his sisters in many moons, they would forgive him this moment of weakness.

Her accusation hurt, even if her voice indicated her teasing, he could make excuses, indeed that likely was exactly what she expected, and she was good enough to even accept them...

...But he knew to some large degree, no excuse truly merited how absent he had been in not only her life but all their lives, these past months.

"I know... I am sorry," He whispered against her, "I will tell you all I have been doing, I even have a gift for you, perhaps that may make up for the slight?" Malum murmured, he had looked over the... gift... that Quintessa had given him to impart to his sister with much caution, but after all the careful analysis of the galaxy, it seemed... apart from the danger that it would be to enemies, the whip was just that, something that his sister would no doubt delight in.

She did so enjoy gifts.

Alas, no doubt it meant that he would need to buy or make a gift to compensate.

To all of them, Caecia, Elise, Julia, and Sophia.

It would not make up for his absence... but it would be a start.

He loosened his grip as she turned around to consider Revna, Malum sighing with small relief that he would not have two sisters who had taken a dislike to the apprentice, not that he ever expected Sophia would.

Then she looked to their sisters, and perhaps between them, in public, this would be the warmest they could be. Indeed, if there was anyone else, the embrace would have been... not scandal, but it would have certainly been a break from decorum. Words were how they showed their affection in public, a rule he had learned so long ago.

He smiled as Sophia gazed with curiosity towards Lillian, it seemed she had caught her approval... good.

He gazed around to them all, they were all finally assembled, "We are all here, good, good, I suppose we can dispense with the introductions then, though... most of us know who we are... I hope," There was a certain lightness in his voice... all apart from Julia... they were all here.

How long had it been since he had seen even one of them? Let alone three?

...He could not quite say.

And that hurt him far more than he expected.

Had it only been a few years since he had been sent to the Palace of Silver Rain?

Only a few years since he had been taken in by a Triumvir?

So much... so much had changed.

Yet standing here like this... he was reminded of those times before... before everything was so complicated.

"I am Malum, of House Marr" He would not go through his titles, embarrassing at the best of times, let alone with his sisters' in attendance, "My eldest sister, Caecia, of House Marr" Malum spoke, indicating to the older woman, "The second eldest, Elise, of House Marr," Tilting his head to the direction of the casually dressed, "And the youngest, Sophia, of House Marr." How he so wished Julia was here... perhaps one day soon.

"The one standing before us, is Lady Revna Sharr, soon to be apprentice to Darth Strosius, Lord Inquisitor of the Holy Inquisition of the Sith Order and Lord of Faldos," Oh yes he would recount his battlebrother's titles without any worry in the world, if at least to remind at least one of his sister's that there were some stakes to this, "And the one to my side," He turned to face the doe eyes and silver hair... of another, he felt quite a bit of guilt towards.

This would simply be the first step on the path to atonement.

"Lady Lily Rhodes, our long lost cousin, Lady Lillian, of House Marr."

 

[Lily Rhodes]

Lily was content to be ignored by Caecia of House Marr . In fact she was content to br ignored by all of them, but she knew for a fact that Malum wouldn't allow it, so she met the woman's narrowed eyes with her own steely gaze, holding it until she looked away, stepping up to stand just outside of the growing circle.

If Caecia was ice cold, Elise of House Marr was her polar opposite, warm and welcoming, she almost brought a smile to Lily's face. She was glad at least that Revna seemed to be taking most of their attention, until Sophia arrived.

She wrinkled her nose at being called a little dove and opened her mouth to respond before Malum beat her to it. Introducing all of them, before using the full name he'd managed to dig out of his research into where she had come from.

"Lily, is just fine, thanks." She replied with a tight smile rolling onto the balls of her feet nervously before settling back onto her heels. "You're doing better than I am," she addressed Revna, "First time I met a Marr he broke my back on the duracrete."

She swung an innocent smile to Malum.

That would teach him not to call her Lillian.

Darth Malum of House Marr Sophia of House Marr

 

[Elise of House Marr]

Elise snorted in slight amusement at Revna just blinking at her at first and gave her two raised brows waiting for comment whether or not one came before she'd responded to the others. She gave her brother a raised brow as he mentioned her getting lost, "Oh please, I couldn't get lost if I tried. Let alone with all those flowers nearby." she answered, waving her hand in the direction of the garden, then looking at all the plants around them as well. Something she could have smelled from who knows how far away with her senses, "And besides, isn't a lady meant to be introduced rather than need to introduce herself?" she gave him a look of mock haughtiness assuming an equal stance of prudish nobility briefly before her grin returned along with her lean to one side.

Another would arrive not long after too, Sophia of House Marr all fussed up in noble decadence like a proper member of the house. It didn't elicit a sense of anger at her anymore than it did towards Caecia, Elise may find a lot if it all a bit too dramatic in ways she didn't care for, but they were still her family. At least if they were going to do it, they could pull it off. She didn't bother to help the chuckle at her instant hugging of Malum. Even though she actually appreciated them doing that for some reason. "Youngsters, am I right?" she prompted to Caecia of House Marr despite the nearl miniscule difference in age between them.

"Hey Sophia," Elise responded with a smile and a nod to her. She knew just fine there was fondness even if there was distances on some things with her siblings, she had after-all knowingly caused some of that with her near total rejection of the families formal noble nature. "Well as a nautolan in a sea." she answered with a smirk, "You as well I hope."

She made a clack of her tongue at malum as he mentioned having a gift for Sophia specifically, shaking her head at him despite still smiling, "Shameful Malum. So little care for your elders."

Still, next came introductions. She gave a quick two fingered wave to Revna and Lily as her name got mentioned. Waiting for him to finish, then gave him a smirk and raised brow at his usage of the titles of Darth Marr and his apprentice. "Really?" she said quietly. So many titles just seemed monumentally unnecessary. It was one of those over congratulatory tendencies that so many sith had. At least he hadn't used it for himself. But still. And there came the titles and names of 'Lily Rhodes.' A cousin. Far more interesting than just an apprentice of some other darth to be trained.

Elise looked on to Lily Rhodes , at first smiling at the shortening to just Lily then immediately turning her gaze on Malum like someone just told her a student skipped out on classes, "Really? Quite an introduction to the family isn't it?"

Darth Malum of House Marr Revna Caecia of House Marr Lily Rhodes