Private The Princess and the King

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

Alvaria was so beautiful at night.

The twin moons of Xadrius and Schyzo made their continual travels around the band, all the while behind them, stars, incalculable, uncountable, and glimmered beautifully against a pitch-black sky.

It was hard not to stare at the sight every night, from dusk till dawn he might stare, ruby orbs enraptured by a sight that to most would be as common as... well night and day. Yet, not for this Emperor, for, after all, that was what he was, it was an open secret, that anyone who came to Alvaria would be quick to learn. However, that was a title that was not to be used outside this world.

It was not that he was ashamed of the title, indeed, there was pride in it, pride as he sat upon his throne.

But to be an Emperor of a single world... while there were Emperors of thousands... well there was no shame, but there may have been the most inkling drop of embarrassment, or more aptly, bashfulness.

He let out a sigh, his breath materialising before him as the cold winds fluttered over his form, resisting a shiver, as he ever still laid his back upon the grass, his head upon the dirt, most un-imperial, as he gazed ahead.

More importantly, it was... perhaps less a show of loyalty, and indeed just an attempt at self-preservation. No two Emperors could reside in a singular Empire, he might have quipped. Alas, when it came to the Sith Empire, excluding him, there were perhaps three Emperors, even if two of them were former ones. For all that Malum wished to challenge them, to rise above them.

He was certainly not there yet.

So a demotion was in order, and there was precedence for it, Darth Caedes on Korriban had himself a King, recognised as so by Kai- Darth Carnifex and Darth Empyrean . So there he was, to the rest of the Order.

Darth Malum, of House Marr, Lord of the Tsis'Kaar, King of Alvaria.

Even the Emperor had noted for a boy turned man, of four-and-twenty, it had been an unexpected and meteoric rise.

Perhaps by the time the year was out, Dark Councillor would be added to the list.

A man could dream.

He let out another sigh, watching warily the cool air that drifted past. When had been the last time he had been able to do this? Gaze upon the stars? It was something that one could rarely if ever do upon Jutrand. The city world churned out such smog and smoke, that the sky was left an eery grey. He could perhaps count with a single hand the moments, those so special moments when his family... Caecia of House Marr, Elise of House Marr , Julia of House Marr, and Sophia of House Marr , along with their parents, and a small army of cousins, were able to gaze upon the night sky...

...And see something.

Now he could gaze up, and see everything.

He could not trade what he felt in those moments, in these moments, for anything.

Even as his work so often took him so deeply into the darkness, that he would miss the chance.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, or so they said.

That thought, as inappropriate as it was considering the circumstances, reminded him of the fact he was not alone, and the sound of footsteps alerted him of it.

He did not turn his gaze away from the moonlit sky.

"I hope you have enjoyed my hospitality thus far, Princess Quinn Varanin ." It had been a surprise indeed for her to be here, and he had the slightest suspicion that her godmother, Her Imperial Majesty, Srina Talon , had something to do with it. It could not be helped, "I hope the cold is not too much of a concern, I was just about to come in." He tilted his head finally.

And as hazel green eyes met red.

He offered a smile.

 

[Quinn Varanin]

//: Darth Malum of House Marr //:

Malum's invitation was unexpected. The last they had spoken about anything, was in the middle of a planet being terraformed or what have you by the Sith. Mandalorians had attempted to stop them, but Malum was losing his mind about a woman named Elise. The worry and anxiety that filled his soul that day was something Quinn would never forget. Whoever this Elise was, she held the man's heart in her hands. Because of this, she was surprised that he had reached out to invite her to spend a few days at his palace.

Because of this, the Princess figured it wasn't an attempt to impress her. Malum already had his chance, but fortunately for Quinn, she had already been courted by Alina Tremiru. Still, Malum was someone she knew better than to fully trust. Something about him made the Varanin woman weary, but he was charming, and it was difficult to tell him no. This is why Quinn stood out on the balcony with him this evening.

Arms crossed gently across her abdomen; the sheer material of her night shawl covered her shoulders and framed her body gently. It was modest and left enough for the imagination to wonder. Quinn pushed back her near-shoulder-length blonde hair. The evening was quiet; it was easy to forget that there were wars just beyond the planet's borders that had shaped Quinn and Malum's lives. It scared her. The concept of peace fell beyond the young Princess, as she and Malum were both born in a time of great wars. A part of her wondered if Malum had the same lessons growing up. Did they both learn about warfare before either could speak? Were they both wielding a blade before they could walk?

This almost kinship of their mirrored lives made it so easy for Quinn to want to trust him. Quinn felt her thoughts gently invaded as he spoke to her. The fallen silence between them broke, and Quinn looked back towards the boy-king. "The Marr family has been gracious, so I have enjoyed the hospitality." Silence lingered, only cracking at the sound of her soft heel against the pavement. Quinn moved beside him but avoided being too close. She looked towards where he was, her hands resting against the balcony. "We both seemed to have the same idea." She paused and smiled gently; it was almost genuine. "I couldn't sleep and I wanted to see what your home was like under the moons." The smile widened as she remembered home. It was an eternity since she had been on her own balcony, watching the moon bless Eshan's surface in her light.

Quinn snapped out of her daydreaming and wrapped her arms once more around herself. Her back turned quickly, and she leaned against the railing, trying hard to hide the smile she had allowed to crack through. "What about you?" she asked, her voice still soft. "Couldn't sleep?" Quinn wanted to ask about the woman he had been desperate to save. Maybe the hopeless romantic in her had hoped the two of them had found each other. It was almost like a holovid. Or it was because she was projecting her own loneliness. Alina had been as busy as Quinn had. "The cold is fine; Eshan tends to be like this at this hour. Mainly why I like to take walks when I'm home." She kept her gaze from him again, wanting to keep him at arm's length the best she could.

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

She was beautiful.

That much was obvious, but that much also had to be said. No doubt, the poets of Eshan would write great ballads to her beauty, if she made herself any more of a presence within the Sith Empire, no doubt the poets across the stars of the Imperium would write supreme sonnets to her grace. He likely would be one of them... of course none would know of that.

It was not as if she wore anything inappropriate, improper, or immodest, but the mind did wander.

In another life perhaps...

The Empress of all people had made it clear she would not oppose such a match... as... wild an idea as that was to wrap one's mind around. It would have been... an advantageous match, that could not be denied. It might have certainly been the highest a Marr had reached in recent memory.

Alas, it was not to be.

His heart had been stolen long ago.

And her heart... as far as he knew, was gladly spoken for.

Still, private musings caused no harm, Bogan knew, he had spent the majority of his life living in the past.

His smile widened.

"Well, I am certainly glad you have enjoyed, your time here." He had not truly doubted it, but it had been something of an anxious fear, to not have hospitality befitting the goddaughter of the Empress, a princess of Eshan... it would certainly not reflect on him well, the sound of heels cracking the pavement alerted him how close she truly was, enough for him to raise himself from the ground, legs momentarily annoyed at having to support his weight.

Her smile.

Had this been the first time he had seen her truly smile?

He was unsure...

...Was even this real?

"Alvaria is certainly beautiful, especially at night, Your Majesty," Malum answered, coming to respect against the rails of the balcony, maintaining a healthy distance to the princess, "Though, of course, I think it a beauty at day too... I am rather biased perhaps." He chuckled to himself.

He quirked an eyebrow at her question, considering it for a moment.

"You might consider me something of a night owl... I much prefer the darkness of night, to the bright of day, though... considering my station and position within this Empire, perhaps that makes a little too much sense." He teased, truly who could believe it, the Lord of the Tsis'Kaar, preferred the shadows?

He gazed back to the sky, watching the movement of moons and stars alike.

"Truly... I suppose I simply enjoy the night sky... the cool wind... the tranquillity... you never were able to see such a clear... pure... night sky on a city world like Jutrand, I suppose I have simply grown to appreciate such a sight." There was of course another reason.

The night sky on Archais was beautiful.

Especially if you shared it with someone even more beautiful.

Quinn Varanin

 

[Quinn Varanin]

//: Darth Malum of House Marr //:

Quinn did her best to block out any thoughts she gleaned from Malum. Having their minds connected at one point or another made it easy for her to pick up on Malum's emotional and thought shifts. It made her feel uncomfortable because she was deeply in love with another, like him. His fleeting thought only made the woman conscious of herself. Quinn tried to ignore Malum and focus on the conversation.

She let him have his musings. The man was fond of talking about himself and the things that belonged to him. Maybe it was a nervous habit, or he was trying to prove something this evening. Quinn couldn't understand why. The man had impressed enough on her godmother to the point that the woman figured they would have been a match. While Quinn could see it, she doubted the longevity of the non-existent relationship.

The man had too many secrets, so many that they fragmented his mind to the point she had seen him struggle to make sense of anything. Quinn forced another smile, trying to remain pleasant like she had been taught. Etiquette was something drilled into the young Princess. Her true self was forever hidden behind manners and politeness.

"Alvaria is beautiful, but I will still say that Eshan will forever have my heart." She nodded and looked away from Malum. Maybe if she didn't look towards him, he would control his thoughts. Her heart ached for Alina. She wished the woman had taken the trip with her, but politics were far from her interest. Alina had recently vacated the Dromond Kaas seat and decided to venture and explore. Alina was living a dream Quinn thought about more often than naught.

She could do the same, renounce the name Varanin and her claim to the Eshan throne.

"Jutrand is different, but I think it's a good kind of different. I do miss the feel of Bastion. Eshan is my home, but much of my time - especially my academy days - was spent on Bastion." Quinn maintained her composure as she remembered fondly the days of her youth. They weren't long ago, but it felt like a lifetime.

Quinn continued to muse as she watched the night sky, "What is your position and station within the Empire?" She took his little bait; he wanted to speak about himself more and continue trying to impress her. Did he think if she was impressed, others would be too? Maybe her godmother? She had other questions, mostly building off the thoughts he had a few moments earlier when she had arrived.

"How is Elise? I believe that was her name; you were quite concerned for her safety."

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

The woman near him was not as confusing as her godmother, Srina Talon , yet she was proving herself very much her goddaughter.

Or perhaps more likely, Malum simply revealed that no matter how much time had passed, how many lovers had and lovers lost, how many loves felt and how many... loves broken.

He still felt that those of the fairer sex were alien to him.

For now, he simply laid both theories out before him and decided...

...Yes, they were unfortunately equally likely possibilities... indeed they were both likely true.

Yet, disregarding his own attempts at understanding, he did try, and as far as he saw, reviewing all that he had said, there seemed to be nothing which might have offended the Princess of Eshan? So why...

Why was there a sudden chill in the air far beyond the cold night that they witnessed?

He truly... could not tell.

And that was both unacceptable, and a matter of true concern.

"I cannot claim to have ever seen Eshan, yet the Empress speaks so fondly of it that I imagine I will need to see it firsthand soon enough... unfortunate that it has fallen under the sway of the Alliance and the Jedi... perhaps one day soon we shall free your home," Malum spoke, probing her, seeing how she might react, it was... something the Sith knew well... losing their home.

May it never happen again.

He would make certain it would never happen again.

He listened intently to her words, there was a sombreness to them... he supposed a sombreness that always existed when one thought of the nostalgic, easier days of yore... Malum knew those thoughts well...

...It had all only grown so complicated since Fiviune...

Both times, that planet had shaped his destiny, shaped his fate.

And at the end, he could not be quite sure if it had been him, that had decided it.

"...You went to Bastion Academy?" It was somewhat of a shock to him, yet perhaps it should not have been, one of those ever great mysteries of the galaxy... time seemed to... not exactly work, "Alvaria may be my home now, Jutrand where I was born... but my parents say that it was Bastion and Dromund Kaas where my family once lived, when the old Empire still ruled... I still have... vague memories of my time there... before we had to flee, as the Empire fell." His eyes were downcast, gazing towards some long-forgotten shrubbery, as his own moment of nostalgia came.

How very much they had lost...

"...I had not thought we would be able to return to our ancient home within my lifetime... yet now we rule it again... perhaps anything shall be possible in this century." A stone toss from the turmoil and suffering of the last.

His eyes turned back towards her at that question, before he allowed himself a short, sharp, chuckle, "...To be hated by one half as a traitor, to be hated by the other half as a betrayer... to rise far beyond my station far too quickly... to be a rallying cry for the young and youthful, that there remains a place for us within a world of immortal giants..." The sombreness did not leave his voice, perhaps it was the mood of the night, as twin moons shone down upon them, as a light breeze swelled the air around them, apprentice to Darth Ophidia at twenty, knight only a few years later, lord at four-and-twenty, and some whispered of the Dark Council next. It was a prodigious advance... and Malum did not feel worthy of any of it, and paradoxically... it was not fast enough for all he needed to accomplish, "Lord of Secrets, Lord of Deceit, a scion of the Lord of Duty... it is all so... very exhausting." Malum allowed himself a reprieve, breathing out, as he pulled himself away from the balcony, and towards the water jug nearby, pouring himself a glass, and bringing it to his lips.

Only to freeze, as her final question was asked.

He gulped down the water, laying the glass down on the clear table, as he wondered how best to navigate that particular minefield.

"I am surprised you remember her, Your Majesty, she is doing quite well, safe and sound, hale and healthy," He brought himself back to the balcony, gazing out across his... empire he supposed, though an empire of a single planet, when the famed ones consisted of multiple star systems... felt, odd.

"...No doubt she is lucky to have you enquire about her health... but truly, enough about me," He offered a smirk that did not quite reach his eyes, "Goddaughter to the Empress, Princess in her own right, what is your position and station within the Empire?" He lightly teased.

Quinn Varanin

 

[Quinn Varanin]

//: Darth Malum of House Marr //:

Quinn listened to the man speak; everything he said had a purpose. Each had an intention, but not the one that was being spoken. He was trying, and she figured he felt the shift in her demeanor, as minor as it was. Quinn would have to give the boy-king credit; he was observant, but he was still not Echani. As much as Malum could feel the frozen tundra between them, he would never understand why. Quinn feared growing close to others, having several in her past search for ways to gain power through her. Even in her school days, some were only friendly with the Varanin girl because of what her parents represented.

The memories attached to those charlatans temporarily soured her mood. Quinn did her best to prevent the memories from coming to the forefront. Luckily for her, Sylvia was the only one she had recently run into. Maybe she had deserved the way Sylvia had used her? Quinn hadn't been the nicest, but she never used Sylvia the way she had used the Princess. The thoughts of what they shared made the woman feel invalid and like a possession. Quinn forced her shoulders to relax; tension had built up as she quietly remembered her past. Remembering was easy; the time had not been too long ago.

She nodded, agreeing with what he asked about Bastion and when he brought up the ancient home of his family. While Marr hadn't been a name she remembered from her youth, the notions of an old family being from Jutrand relocating to Bastion did find familiarity. If her memory served correctly, Malum was younger than her. If she had met anyone from the Marr family as a child, it would have been one of his older sisters. She would have to ask the man where his family sat and if they had supported her mother's Empire.

"I'm glad you could see where your family came from, where they worked up from, and you had made it possible. I'm sure your ancestors are proud of you; you did something they couldn't do." She spoke softly, hoping that he wouldn't shy away from the spirituality that came with her words. As much as she wanted to be modernized and stray from any semblance of religion, it was hard. Religion gave her a sense of comfort; the old ways she grew up with made her feel complete.

From Quinn's understanding, Malum always had good intentions when it came to her. In a sense, he reminded the woman of a young noble whom she had befriended. Unfortunately, the man couldn't look past his feelings for her, and their friendship was tarnished, especially when he took it upon himself to attempt to kill Alina. An action she still questioned today, but again to him - she was just a prize, a trophy. It was comforting that Malum didn't look at her that way; she wasn't land to conquer or a prize to win. She was just Quinn.

Her head turned, and she finally looked at him. The words of rescuing her home from the Alliance struck a chord she didn't realize laid bare. Hearing the words of Eshan being free from the ways of the Sith made her heart sink. Eshan had already been ground zero for so much bloodshed. When she was Queen, her mother had memorials raised for those who had died on Eshan's grounds. The last thing Quinn wanted for Eshan was more war. Pain etched across her face for just a second, and then the calm collection of an Echani Princess returned.

"No, the Alliance has been kind to my people. They protected them and continued to do so. My sister and her family are safe." Pausing, Quinn looked back toward the evening sky and nodded, trying to convince herself of her statement. "That's all that matters. Eshan has seen its fair share of warfare; I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I brought more." Shrugging, she sighed, "Anyways, a free Eshan means the Alliance is gone, and the Empire is far from it. A free Eshan is ruled by her Queen, my sister - like when our mother ruled." Quinn didn't blame her sister for entering into the protection of the Alliance. At the time, the Imperials threatened to fight until there was nothing left of Eshan. They were led by an Echani man claiming to be the rightful heir to the throne. The thought disgusted her, remembering the man claiming to be her mother's child.

Horrible memories aside, Quinn kept her composure and soon again looked towards the King of this star. His return of her question made her smile sully. It was a question she often asked herself. Where did Quinn Varanin fit within the Empire? Quinn paused, and her gaze drifted from Malum's face. The silence between them hung while she sighed softly and let the sad smile linger. "I'm a pretty thing." she responded, "I'm just a pretty doll for the Empire. I represent the old Empire, ones that Kaine Zambrano would reminisce fondly over. I've always been recognized as a trophy, heir to a throne, and connection to the current ruling family. Luckily, my godmother didn't force a partnership between us; I still held free will in that aspect, but at the end of the day, my hand in marriage could be seen as political gain or monetary gain." Another sigh and a forced smile, hoping to alleviate the man of any potential guilt.

"That's my place in the Empire. I'm a pretty thing to look at and to claim. Lucky for me, Alina found me, Force knows what could have become of me if I wasn't spoken for." Once more, her mind drifted to Felix and his desire to have her. Where some would have fawned over the thought of a man fighting for their hand, Quinn wanted nothing of it. She knew Felix only wanted the power that came from having her. At least now, there wasn't a chance for anything like that to happen. Alina saved her, and she will forever be grateful.

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

She was quiet throughout his words, yet not for a moment did he imagine that she was not listening, even as her entire form seemed tense, between the cold and just simply this... tension that stayed between them, Malum could easily bet which was the cause. Perhaps it was not even something that he had necessarily done.

After all, those of their station, were taught very well how to wear a mask.

Yet a mask could be cool, or a mask could be forged.

He had favoured the latter, but what if she favoured the former?

He quirked an eyebrow imperceptibly, as words filtered through his lips, and he noticed how her shoulders heaved, as if all the joints, muscles, and bones realised how uncomfortable they had been, and had all simultaneously decided to... relax.

Progress.

Even more progress as she nodded his head, where once she was quietly listening, it seemed whatever cogs had been wheeling in the back of her mind had decided that... well he was not entirely sure what she had decided, no matter if she was opening.

She was still mostly closed off.

Yet, what he did not know was for those who hesitantly hovered their head above the trench, the last thing that they needed was the blasterbolt to whizz past them and confirm their biases on why lifting their head up had been a horrid idea.

He chuckled softly, as much a genuine reaction to her words, and as much a measure to put her at ease, "Tell me, is it any easier simply coming from a family who only achieved their fame in the previous generation?" He leaned atop the balcony, pressing down upon the railing, as it seemed he was now the tense one, a sigh leaving his lips, "My family traces its origins over four thousand years, and yet, we have lost so much of our history, even the names of those who shared our name, what do we know that they achieved? In the end, I hope they smile down upon me... for I do not even know them... all we remember in our surety is the great Darth Marr." Another sigh left him, the cold winds taking his breath, and carrying them along down to the gardens and woodlands below.

Perhaps it had been that lack of knowledge that had made him so intrigued with the past and all it had entailed.

As he felt her eyes upon him, rubies were quick to meet emeralds.

Only for his heart to miss a beat.

The pain was etched easily upon her face, but within the time of a blink, it was gone.

Had he...

He swallowed his emotions as she spoke, understanding dawning on what he had said to trigger such a thing.

Relief that he had not sent her scurrying back behind her walls.

Still, he watched her carefully, he had seemingly cracked the facade, and watching her nods, watching her shrugs, he tried to take in all that he could, perhaps he was reading into much of it...

...But it had been the closest he had ever seen to her being...

...Herself?

"...I meant no threat to your home, Your Majesty," He assured softly, thinking back to all that he had known of Eshan, they had said that the Mor- Mandalorian attack upon the world had been... particularly brutal, "Yet the whole galaxy is the Sith's birthright, and a gilded cage is still a cage, I am truly glad that the... Jedi, are treating Eshan with the gentleness and cordiality it deserves, it is kinder than the Crusade treated the old Sith Worlds, but the Alliance must fall, and the Empire replace it, I see no reason why your sister cannot rule it freely and safely under the aegis of the Sith." He spoke with an affable curiosity, more than a challenge, truly inquisitive.

Could Eshan not be well-ruled by the Sith?

Not well ruled by her?

Her gaze on the evening sky turned back to him...

...And he might have finally received the true smile he was looking for...

...He might have enjoyed it too...

...If it was not so sullen.

A silence hung between them, a silence brought about by his final question, as her smile held.

And his heart wavered.

What was he even to say to such words?

For one who was so confident, so at ease at speaking on any topic.

His breath was dry.

His mind was empty.

"...There is an irony there I suppose, that I, scion of an ancient line am seen by so many to herald in new blood for the empire, and you, a daughter of a relatively new line, represent the old fallen empire," It was not a perfect comparison by any means, but it felt poetic in some sense, even as her forced smile broke any good candour he might have had left, "...Perhaps in the future, they will wonder what may have occurred if our hands were united... a question for another life I suspect," It was a dangerous road to tread, but such was all of his life, and for all he wished to say, a risk made it all the sweeter, "For you are no pretty doll, no trophy to be held, nor prize to be claimed, I suspect you will soon find yourself at the heights of this empire, Your Majesty... I can only hope that we shall be friends and allies when you do."

He offered a smile, mirth dancing in red orbs, as he pulled himself closer to her, yet maintaining an appropriate distance, "Lady Tremiru is not only lucky for you are beautiful... but for that, I know in my heart of hearts, that in your future lay victory."

A victory that most likely would see Malum dead in a ditch.

Even now... he could not help but encourage his own doom.

Quinn Varanin

 

[Quinn Varanin]

//: Darth Malum of House Marr //:

His progress suddenly returned to the start. Quinn did her best not to let his foolish statement get under her skin. She hoped he meant the words differently, but his delivery could have been better and more proper. Had he only brought her here to exude his speculated dominance over her? His words only reminded her of an upstart who had already tried to impress her by showing her his power and belittling her. Quinn wasn't one to stand and take such actions. At the end of the day, she was still the Princess of Eshan, the daughter of a former Empress of the Sith, and the creation of two powerful Force Masters. "How dare you…" Quinn spoke softly under her breath; despite the tenderness of her voice, her eyes pierced in his direction.

"You should learn your history, Malum of House Marr." Quinn straightened her back and turned towards him fully. "While your family may be eons old, and you seemingly just learning about mine, it doesn't mean that I am less than you, and things are simply easier." Quinn waved her hand mockingly to mimic his tone. "The last man who talked down to me didn't live much longer afterward; I suggest you don't try my patience." Her words were sharp, but it was only to try and mask a hurt that bore deep in her heart. The young Princess did her best to keep the cold mask up, trying to make him understand the gravity of what he said to her.

Malum reminded her of how insignificant she was to the Empire. She allowed him to continue talking, but every word he said only drove home what he had learned about her.

Quinn turned her back to Malum, eyes trying to focus on the stars or something out in the garden - anything that would help her push back any frustrated tears in her eyes. Her fingers dug into the thin fabric of her evening wear as she did her best to keep her composure for a little longer.

"Yes, Lucky for Lady Tremiru to obtain such a beautiful wife," Quinn commented, heavy with sarcasm. He had once again insulted her lineage, and his ignorance continued to show. Unlike Malum, Quinn knew the history of the Marr family and the foolishness of the family's sire. Tale as old as time, an usurper trying to obtain power that wasn't rightfully his. The man betrayed his Emperor and then died by the one he tried to conquer. Quinn took a deep breath, doing her best to calm her own storm of emotions. She was still a guest in his home and a princess who had to obsess over formalities.

"See, I told you." She sighed with a soft laugh, "Nothing more than a means to an end." Curiosity sought to continue to hurt her, so she turned and faced him. A new determination showed on her face as she walked to him, close enough that he could pick up on the soft citrus and jasmine notes belonging to the perfume she wore. "If neither of us were with our current partners and I was a direct pathway to the Empire, a way to make you Emperor," She hesitated the rest of the question. Did Quinn want to know the answer to this? Would he be honest? "Would you have pursued me just for the Empire? Would you have taken the opportunity presented to you by my Godmother, the Empress? Be honest."

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

Well if there was any positive to rise from this turn in their interaction was the confirmation of how quickly he had raised her wroth, and he supposed that he still... was quite... well... quite bad... at interacting with those of the fairer sex.

Of course, the bright side of things was tempered rather appropriately with the fact that he wanted neither facts thrown in front of his face so brazenly, and without apology.

Thankfully, in some perspective, the fact that Quinn Varanin had decisively seized the tempo of conversation, and put the onus of response upon him, meant he did not need to consider the matter for that long, instead he was given the rather unenviable task of within seconds identifying a path out of the reckoning of his own making.

One that he had not even intended to make.

That he had not even... thought he would make.

He let out a sigh, blast his awkwardness, in retrospect, he could see how his words were not...

...Urgh.

As she turned to face him, her voice sharp and angered, despite an instinct to pull back, he instead mirrored her movement, there was no victory in what he wanted with retreat, he arched his head, a mix of a nod and a bow, as close to a surrender, even a mock one, that he could muster, "Your Majesty... I would never dream to speak down to you," He ignored her threat, what was truly dangerous was the lightsabre swinging towards you, not the mere idea of it, "I spoke genuinely Your Majesty... is it easier? Yes, you uphold a legacy both great and grand, that of the once Sith Empress, Ashin Varanin, but it is a new legacy... is it easier? For I truly hope it is, for I... the legacy of my House is such that I feel it crush my shoulders, crush my spine... such that I do not know where Marr ends, and I begin." He confessed far more than he wished to, but his voice was earnest, near... longing, how many times had he wondered, if all his success... was even his, or was simply... the ability which his blood had granted him?

The answer eluded him ever still.

He swallowed, as she turned away from him, freed for a moment from those piercing emeralds flecked with hazel which had forced him onto the defensive.

Still, her voice was not yet done, and it was still as biting as ever, even if Malum might confess to himself even the slightest admission that though he had not intended for this, he might have deserved it. His penance would be to break her from this... break her from the swirling tempest which had gripped her.

He could do that.

Hopefully.

"...A beautiful wife, certainly, but I do not mean in only body, but too mind and spirit, one could live multiple lifetimes without finding such an individual to cherish, to..." He trailed off, as his mind wandered to Ansisa ... multiple lifetimes he had said...

It had only taken one lifetime to break.

Even if he still felt her in a way that was beyond the physical, as the Force strummed a haunting melody that only he could hear.

A melody discordant as the guilt of those thoughts battled with the feelings he held for another, Elise Ahana-Gwyneira ... Elsie... how long had it been...

"...To love."

His words at the end did not matter at least in these few moments, as she turned to face him, her face full of... strength, not the strength to destroy, but the strength to... advance. And so she did, pressing him, and with his refusal to retreat even in the face of this new font of power, they were left closer than ever before.

Not inappropriately close, not intimately close.

But close enough that the cold air carried along with it the whisps of citrus and jasmine... it was almost too apt that she would smell of fruit and flowers, yet, as he breathed in her scent, her questions, oh Bogan her questions, was enough for his nostrils to exhale as quick as he registered the smells.

Where once so determined, she was now so... vulnerable.

And words were failing him.

As thousands of thoughts broke across his mind.

What could he say?

What should he say?

"...Before I say what I honestly believe, I only ask you to let me explain if you have any questions, rather than assume... I do not want to make the same mistakes as the last few moments in how I speak," It was a delaying tactic certainly, but it was also as was the theme, very honest, perhaps too honest, however where the games and subtleties failed, simply being open was the last course left to him, unfortunately, even that did not give him enough time to consider.

And time was out.

"I... I..." Honesty, was what she wanted? Then, coming from the Lord of Lies, it was what she would get, for it was the only avenue left to him, "If neither of us were with our partners..." His heart beat against his chest as the war drums before the clash of steel and plate, "...I would have pursued you, not for the Empire, but for you, because you are..." Pink dusted his cheeks, as he looked away from those eyes... those eyes that peered through his soul.

Those eyes that he knew could peer into his mind.

That he had to do this... confess like this despite the truth of the matter, knowing that though it was the truth, it was truth that would pass, truth held to the heart never to be spoken, truth... that should never be unveiled.

Rubies met emeralds speckled in hazel again, "Because you are so... because you are what I have said you are and so much more, and..." He swallowed, the prominence of his throat bobbing like an apple in water, "Anyone would be lucky to have you at their side... anyone would be lucky to stand at your side."

A slow chuckle left him, closing his eyes, reminded of their introduction to each other by the Empress, Srina Talon , who imagined this kind of conversation would be born of that? "But no..." Red eyes glimmered with mirth and mischief, "I would not have taken that opportunity unless duty compelled... unless you wished it... even if it would have made me Emperor."

He was but an Emperor of a single world.

For all he wished for the Sith, all he would bring.

Him?

Emperor?

It was a laughable idea.

Not even the great Darth Marr had achieved that.

"I would only do what would have made you happy, Your Majesty."

 

[Quinn Varanin]

//: Darth Malum of House Marr //:

Malum of House Marr is a noble; the man has a silver tongue like other nobles. One that articulated suddenly through her emotionally driven words. Everything he did, his actions, his words, even how he smiled. Malum knew how to speak to her and twist any situation in his favor. Even now, Quinn wanted to believe everything. She tried to think that if things were different if this was another life, he would have loved her for something other than power.

Her heart belonged to Alina in this life, but hearing him started to melt the ice she built up to protect herself. As much as he reminded her of Felix, Malum was not him. There may have been a reason behind their meeting; the Force did work in mysterious ways. Her Godmother's actions always confused her, but maybe there was a deeper meaning. Quinn decided not to think more about it; if she did, it would only make her dissect her Godmother's actions. As Malum finished, Quinn let silence fall between them. It gave her a moment to breathe and to think about what had occurred. She didn't know anything like this would happen; the visit, she assumed, was only a formality. Being the godchild of the Emperor and Empress made her cautious.

Quinn needed to remain wary around others. Malum, on the other hand - could be someone she could trust.

Reaching out, a hand gently rested on his chest. Despite the chill in the evening air, her hand was warm. Looking up at him, she smiled. For once, she smiled in a way he had never seen. "Thank you." Quinn didn't say more to him, and her hand fell away from him, and she took a step back. Her arms wrapped gently around her slender frame, and she looked away from him and towards the night sky.

"Since you were honest with me, no - it's not easier." She started. Despite the long legacy of the Marr family, Varanin and Hawk were families that had no ties to the Sith as much as she knew beyond Ashin and Spencer. When Ashin had succeeded in her coup of Moridin, it began the strength of the Varanin family within the Sith. Yet even then, the two women didn't care about holding onto the power. Quinn exhaled softly, and her smile faded somewhat into nostalgia.

"My parents didn't want the power. They had other plans with it. The Jedi Order at the time was corrupted, leaving my mother to die behind enemy lines." Quinn started, remembering why Ashin had fallen to the dark side. "Ashin was investigating the Sith. From what I've been told, she was poisoned with Sith poisoning. Because of that, she was cut off from the Light." Quinn shrugged, "My birth mother was a child of Dathomir, half Echani and Dathomirian. She was brought to the Order to train with her twin brother and become a Jedi. Unfortunately for her, she couldn't control her empathic abilities. It made her a leaper to the others; no Master wanted to train her, but Ashin had taken a liking to what Spencer's abilities could become."

Quinn laughed, "The rest is history. Sorry, I was rambling. Still, it's not easy because my legacy is not my own. It's my parents. They have made a name for themselves, while I only benefit from their sacrifices." Looking back at Malum, she continued to smile, warming up to him and allowing him to get closer to her.

"I understand how you feel; I don't know where my parent's legacy ends and where I begin. People expect me to be like them, but I'm not. I don't want to disappoint them or those who believe in me."

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

It was a damning silence that fell as he finished his words, he felt that his fate... or perhaps more aptly the fate of whatever relationship had the possibility of blossoming between them was hanging in a very risky balance as the silence dragged on. Had he miscalculated? Oh certainly he could say in these last moments he had miscalculated all over the place.

But.

Just now.

He had been earnest, he had been honest, had that not been enough for her? Did she even now think of him as a liar?

Those thoughts were wiped away, as soon as he felt her warm petite hand rest upon his chest, pushing the robe back down to the lean muscle that lay underneath, he held the good graces to gaze away, as the blood rushed to his face, like godmother like goddaughter? Why were both of them so blase about breaking protocol?

About breaking the physical barrier.

Still, something drew his eyes to hers.

Only to freeze.

All thought he had seemed to disappear, all consideration and self-debate he had of if he had truly seen her smile withered away. For there was no contest now, no point in wondering, seeing her curved lips, seeing her glimmering emeralds speckled with hazel, he had never seen her smile like this.

This was it.

As he let out a heavy breath.

This was what he had been looking for.

"...You are welcome," He let out, his barest whisper, immediately missing her warmth, as she stepped away, arms wrapping around themselves as the chill blew in... perhaps he should offer... instead, her gaze settled upon the moons above, the stars asunder, as she began to speak again.

He was silent, merely listening.

He was unsure how he had done it, but... somehow... he had broken through the walls she had placed up against him.

And the last thing he desired was for those walls to rise back up.

So he listened.

He listened as she provided a history he knew of in broad strokes, but in a regard that was so utterly personal, filling in holes that he had never known. Her mothers played that oh-so-quintessential role in history, of the Jedi falling to the truth of Darkness, and plunging the whole galaxy in their wake. He imagined the future... there might be many moonlit nights like this between them, if only so Malum could pick her mind further, of what was ancient history to him.

But had really only been mere decades ago.

History that, even from such a short time ago, would be lost otherwise.

"Your parents certainly had rich lives, Your Majesty," One a Sith Empress, the other Queen of Eshan, they might have been upjumped in some sense, but it took prodigious forebearers to establish a dynasty.

No one could doubt that the Varanin name carried noblitas now.

Her gaze returned to him, inviting, smile still upon her face. He took a step forward, closing the gap, while still, a comfortable distance remained between them. Her final words might have been the most pertinent of them all and might have at the end of the day been the whole point of why they were gathered here today, "The Eternalists call my forefather the Lord of Duty, they call him a Sith Saint, my entire life I have known nothing other than his greatness, I have seen nothing else other than the mask for which he was known, I was instructed of his defence of the empire, of the Sith, against all threats... and I have seen how he stood against the tyranny of who was his erstwhile liege," He let out a bark of a laugh, that echoed through the wind, a discordant tune, "A Dark Councillor, the Dark Lord, the Emperor, in all but name," He was crossing into perhaps dangerous territory, but he could not let fear control him.

It had controlled so much already.

"...What has my family achieved since his demise other than survival? How could we ever surpass the shadow that his mask still lays upon us? His name unknown to us, yet his name is the very symbol of what we are as a House," His amulet began to warm, sizzle, and burn against his chest, as his words began to flow, a hand fell out, offered to her, "It is the way of things is not? Born of those far greater than us, who have defined us for our entire lives... who is Malum, in the face of Marr? who is Quinn, in the face of Varanin? Who are we in the face of such giants?" A smile dazzled upon his face, he was growing buzzed from the atmosphere alone, "...So let us pledge, that we together, shall surpass them both."

The very same words.

He had pledged all that time ago, in the darkness of Fiviune.

Quinn Varanin