Tents and Teradins

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen's lips turned up into a fanged grin as she reminded him of how he had 'redeemed' her. There was a fair bit of truth in her words. Unlike other sith, he hadn't shown them their wrongs. He hadn't pointed out all the ways in which their contribution to the galaxy was a detriment. he hadn't swayed her with declaration of where true power laid. All he had done was tell her to be honest with herself. "Please, whatever you do, don't join the jedi. I can't stand the thought of you getting boring." He turned his head to face her as they continued their ride, the forest coming alive as the morning continued. "You'll always have a place on Veradune. Not sure if you've noticed, but we generally don't give a damn how 'light' or 'dark' you are. We only care that you want to help and make things better."

[member="Riamah"]

 

[Riamah]

"You want to know what's boring? Being a secret sith that's a merchant."

Nodding at that, it was what she was when they met actually. Funny it seemed that meeting had happened right about the same time she had been taken on with the Metal Lords. They were very anti-sith and so was he. Maybe the combination of both had started it, then other contributing factors were involved and that lead her to this vacation away.

"I don't know...I think I could make a good Jedi...I could be as mean as I want."

A light joke about the attitude shared about them by the rest of the galaxy.
​
"Yeah I do want to help people. Even if it means being dark at times to accomplish it."

[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

"I never did much like my time in the sith. But I spent so much time sulking, that it's no wonder I didn't have fun." Hearing her thoughts on the Jedi, Vulpesen couldn't help but smirk at the thought. He had known his fair share of mean jedi. A certain Carn Dista came to mind when he reflected on his days within the army of light. "So long as that darkness doesn't turn helping into harming. But you seem to have that covered fairly well." Leaning back a bit against her, he curled his tail tighter around her waist. "You know, I don't think it's that the jedi are bad or mean... at least not anymore. It's just that they're not very bright. You're far too smart to be a jedi."

[member="Riamah"]

 

[Riamah]

"You're not meant to be sith though. It is just...you."

Shrugging at her words, s​he listened to what else he had to say.

"I think I was the most level headed sith that wasn't really sith around. As for Jedi...what's wrong with them? Intelligence based off a code is rather silly. Doesn't each person have merit in other ways? Look at me, I am not military minded, but there are Jedi out there that are. Does that make them more dumb that I am just based off a code? I don't think so. That military minded Jedi could wipe the field of any men I might send because I don't have a clue on how engagements work."
​
[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

"Even when I was with the sith, i knew I wasn't one of them. I was undercover for the republic." He smirked and motioned out to the forest around them, or rather, the planet itself. "You can see how that worked out for me. I learned that they hated me, and now here I am." Hearing her thoughts on the Jedi, Vulpesen only gave his head a small shake. "They can have the power... and the mind... but it wasn't the jedi that I fought beside on Togoria. It was the Army of Light. The jedi sent a council dog on us when we celebrated our union. I watched him choke a woman because he didn't agree that we had the duty to save the citizens of the galaxy. Of course, I let it slide because I was barely even a knight... if that."

Vulpesen often talked down about the jedi, but usually there was some jest in his voice, some light heartedness that showed that he didn't hate them. But now, as he spoke, Ra would be able to hear the spite that he had used to hide among the sith. "Lacking intelligence doesn't make you a fool. The jedi believe in knowledge... when it suits them. It is lacking wisdom and resolve that makes someone a fool. I watched the jedi fall apart because they couldn't pull their heads out of their asses long enough to realize that the sith didn't give a damn about their treaties. And when they realized it, it was too late. The sith marched on Coruscant, jedi turned, and jedi died by the hundreds.Then when the corruption was found, jedi left and never once did the jedi in charge take responsibility. Your friend Josh left me in the company of kath hounds who hated and despised me... then had the nerve to insult me when I wised up and left the order... just as he had. At least I was smart enough not to return to a broken code." For a small moment, Vulpesen's eyes stared into the dark of the forests, his breathing deep and heavy as memories filled him... then, he let it go. With a long exhale, the Valde relaxed once more. "That's why I follow you Ra'amah. You are wise enough to know what you do not know. And when evil rises, you have the conviction to fight it. You don't allow yourself to be held back by another's code. You do what you know is right, even when someone would say its wrong."

[member="Riamah"]

 

[Riamah]

"I can not change what happened to you and you know that. You and I had different lives. You should also already know I wouldn't make a good Jedi. Maybe they're changed. C'mon you know I...well maybe I didn't change all that much, but you get the idea."

Shrugging her shoulders ​a little that movement stopped as Vulps continued on.

"Of course the Sith Empire doesn't care about those things. Some singular sith might though."

She would have been one of those. Wearing a shadow of smile as he continued, she wrapped her arms around just a little bit tighter. Maybe it was a form of thanks or sing of recognition to his words. Perhaps a combination of the two.

"I still don't know what code I follow."

[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

"It's a flawed code... but then again, so is mine. Obviously the sith's code is flawed. When you find a code, yours will be flawed. The difference is whether or not those flaws are acknowledged or addressed. I'm sure the jedi have changed in many ways. But deep down, they will always have that flaw that holds them back." Feeling her hold tighten around him, Vulpesen smiled a broadly. If doing so wouldn't have been difficult, and he weren't steering their ride, he might have turned to kiss her. "And please, don't change too much. But if you want you're always free to follow the Vitae... If you can get the words in the right order." His tail lifted a bit, the tip moving to poke her teasingly in the side as he remembered her small blunder during the party.

[member="Riamah"]

 

[Riamah]

"It would be flawed to an outsider. To me it would be perfect though. I'm not a crusader type, well normally. At times though, I think we all can be."

​Knowing several codes or ways to look at things and approach them, Ra felt she followed something that took from all of them. Nothing set in stone, but clear to her. It wasn't her place to really question what another followed or believed in as long as they didn't get in her way.

Giving him a slightly odd look that he may or may not see when he mentioned getting the Vitae code in order, she shook her head and shrugged a little.

"I don't plan on changing and do not think I have all that much. I am still me and almost the same person you met before. Just need a shove to get me started on a different path."
​
[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

"I suppose that's how codes work. And I think whatever you follow seems to be working for you." Vulpesen continued to fall deeper and deeper into a relaxed state as they travelled through the quiet forest. It was as if he had found paradise. Even with the bad memories that had momentarily resurfaced, there was no denying that he was over all in a fantastic mood. Vulpesen opened his mouth to speak again, but halted his words in his throat. Shoving them down, he instead yelled something totally different from what he had planned, and certainly far less romantic. "GET DOWN!" Sliding down, Vulpesen used Shadow's tails to avoid hitting the ground as he hit behind the fox's massive bulk. His own tail pulled Ra down to be caught in his arms before the tails could catch up to her.

Over their heads, a jet of breen liquid sailed through the air, splashing into a tree which started to smoke with acidic burn. Even as he took cover from one attack, he could see more assailants coming across from all sides, intelligent eyes staring out beadily from narrow heads. He had been so caught up in Ra's company that he had apparently neglected to watch out for the pack of Zipher that managed to ambush them. "Well, you wanted interesting!" Reaching out, Vulpesen projected a bubble of the force around them, halting another onslaught of acid spits which simply splattered and dripped harmlessly down the invisible shield.

[member="Riamah"]

 

[Riamah]

Not knowing anything much more about his world other than man eating trees and everything else wanting you dead, what she had seen so far was nice. That was not going to last though. Right after he said whatever she used as her guidance in life worked for her, he was off the back of Shadow, pulling her with him.

Luckily he caught her and placed that barrier around them.

"Is Shadow immune or do you want me to put a barrier around her too?"

Looking at him, she raised an eye brow, "when did I say that?"

[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

"If you protect her, I'll take care of the Zipher." Being righted back to his earlier position along with Ra, he glanced around at the creatures preparing to pounce the riders. "Right before we started this trip." Flaring his coat, Vulpesen revealed his daggers which then left their sheathes, five of the silver blades darting for the creatures that had attacked them. Strangled yelps and screeches left the throats of the beasts that the Valde had chosen, his weapons having pierced deep inside of them.

[member="Riamah"]

 

[Riamah]

Barely giving a nod of her head at his words, a barrier formed up around Shadow.

"That's not exactly what I said...I said you should point out anything that was interesting. Now the interesting is trying to melt our faces off!"

There was no heat in her voice and maybe he would be able to hear that she wasn't scared. Maybe a little concerned, but confident they could take care of these beasts.

Under the feet of one, a hole appeared for just long enough for the beast to fall and it filled back in.

"Two down."

[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

"Well, it's interesting and i'm pointing out. You didn't ask for interesting and sa-" Vulpesen's eyes widened as he watched one of the creatures simply fall into the earth itself. "You've got to teach me how to do that." Of the dozen Zipher that had attacked them, six were dead or in one's case, missing. Thankfully, that was all they needed. With new prey being found,the remaining monsters pounced on their fallen brethren, tearing and devouring the screaming injured animals. "Let's move!" As quickly as they had been attacked, Vulpesen now kicked Shadow into a canter to leave the area, a wave of his hand calling his blades back into their sheathes.


[member="Riamah"]

 

[Riamah]

"Your entire word wants to kill everybody I think. And you have a point."

Lowering the barrier around Shadow when Vulps kicked her into movement, Ra thought about what Vulps mentioned about learning that skill.
​
"It is something you would approve too. Doesn't actually kill them. They get sent into what I think of would be my hell. Normally they do die though since well they need to be released and that can only be done by me."

​At least she knew what those beasts were.

"Do you think my hell would have any effect on them?"
​
[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

"It'll probably starve or suffocate to death. But otherwise, the others are probably too busy eating their friends." After a bit of dashing through the woods, Vulpesen pulled back a bit on Shadow's fur, slowing her to an easy trot. "Guess that's something we can maybe work on when we get back to camp. And what do you mean by personal hell?" Slowly, he could feel the adrenaline leaving his system. After such a short burst of it, he was starting to feel a little drained, but it was a welcome feeling. It meant excitement and fun, rather than the stale boringness of inactivity.

[member="Riamah"]

 

[Riamah]

"If one doesn't kill itself in my hell, then it starves to death. As for the others...yeah they are cleaning up pretty well back there."

​Not looking back at all, she didn't think they would even be able to see it anymore. Probably a good thing in her mind. Nodding when he suggested they could work on it when they got back to camp, when he asked what her hell was, she withdrew slightly. The answer was quite simple, but getting her actually give voice to it...was far more difficult.

"To be forever alone and lonely."

[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

"That sounds... unpleasant." His ears flicked back as much as they could, attempting to catch her voice as she spoke. He could feel the sift in her demeanor, as well as the slight way she pulled back before answering. The answer she gave was one he understood far better than he'd have liked. Apprentices gone. A master who turned then died. Friends whose faces were lost to war. Loneliness was something he was constantly running from. Lifting his legs up, Vulpesen turned to Face Ra, allowing Shadow to continue on her own course. "So long as I'm around, that won't be a problem. I promise you that. And I don't plan on going anywhere any time soon." He fixed her with that common crooked smile of his while his eyes shone brightly into hers.

[member="Riamah"]

 

[Riamah]

"It does. To be alone or even worse, not be alone and not accepted by those around you."

Mid stride, Vulps turned around and faced her. Attempting to maybe assure her that wouldn't happen, Ra shook her head.

"We cab;t always be together, Vulps. Look at how long we were apart from when we met until I contacted you about Wolfe. I have my merchant business and you have your kingdom."

Giving him a look that indicated she didn't believe he could keep that promise, she shook her head again.

[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen's eyes narrowed as she mentioned his time away from her, his time among the Vitae. "I have a council to rule for me. I'm only here for the big things, and I was never more than a call away. I waited for you to call for me." Vulpesen's arms moved to rest on the tail that wrapped around his waist, ensuring he wouldn't fall off of Shadow. "I'm serious Ra. All you ever need to do is say my name and I'll be right there. Whatever you need. Whatever you want."

[member="Riamah"]

 

[Riamah]

Her tone had been accusing or anything and she thought she was stating the truth. But his words did bring back what he said then.

"I actually think for a while it was a mutual waiting..."

Still shaking her head, he sounded sincere, but through her life so many had failed.

"You can try, but I think a time will come when you won't be able to. Time will tell, Vulps."

[member="Vulpesen"]