Time Forever Marches On

[Cameron Centurion]

Aing-Tii

Six years... Six years since Cameron had accomplished his greatest feat ever, recalling [member="Amorella Mae"] from the brink of eternal loss. Well, not so much her physical self as her soul. Six years since the Sith Lord had infused and contorted his own soul with the indisputable benevolence of his chosen partner.

Six years since...Cameron Centurion had done anything of real substance amongst the galaxy. The quiet dissolution of the Moross Crusade had affected him much as it had any of the others. He regarded it as a fruitful chapter in his life that was now closed. Like his former fellow Aesirs, Cameron had pushed forward with his life. Perhaps...not quite as much as [member="Soliael Devin Talith"] had. The Sith Lord had been told the man was quite content in his chosen lifestyle. A family man, of all things.

As his silver-green gaze turned to the horizon, Cameron heaved a slow, gradual exhale. There was no sadness to his expression, no remorse or regret. He just...was...he existed. The Fringe was loosely what he called home, but it was a particular red-head that held his heart and devotion gingerly in her grasp. Yet he feared...he had not given her all that he'd promised so long ago. The affairs of the galaxy had ceased to interest him, and he turned his focus inward. Known as Priest Centurion, certainly, but hardly one to contribute largely to the progression of any religion.

He'd been here before of course...standing on some lonely cliff on a largely unknown planet while the rest of the galaxy attempted to rip itself apart. Slowly, Cameron's silver-green gaze glanced down to his clenched right fist. There was an object contained therein...one he'd meant to give, finally, to someone for going on six years now. There had always been an excuse not to of course. Now, however, he stood on the precipice of the proper start of his new life. His massive frame stood motionless, eternally unyielding to the struggles of the galaxy but inexplicably paralyzed by the simple prospect of finally acknowledging the reality he had known...all along.

He could hope that Amorella simply would not show, but he didn't much believe in fantasies.

 

[Ereza]

Aing-Tii was not a planet Amore had returned to since her last journey there with her Godmother, [member="Kassandra Distorith"]. Six years had passed since then, bringing all manner of truth to the visions of not only herself but the Archivist of Neth, [member="Serian Loria"]. The disappearance of billions. The death of so many more. The galaxy wounded by the power of Akala and her hordes of souls and spirits, she had seen the devastation of the worlds within the Fringe, but she could not fathom that of this place. Meditation had been of little use during that time, proving to be more harmful than anything else.

Cameron maintained himself much like he always had - drifting in and out, following his own path when necessary. There were long stretches of time when she heard little and saw less of him, broken up by sudden appearances and visits. He was never truly gone from her, no matter how much time passed between those instances. His presence was always there, occupying her mind, coming and going with the fluxuations of the Force. Sometimes she could feel him closer, sometimes it was but a glimmer in the distance. Vast were his travels.

Amore remained, for the most part, upon Annaj, the Capital of the Fringe. There she was able to spend time with her brother, [member="Dissero"] and his two students [member="Verie Lacroix"] and [member="Cerita Sarova"]; maintain order and peace of the remaining Crusade with Priestess [member="Loxa Visl"], and even entertain the wily and strangely aged figure [member="Jared Ovmar"]. Talks with the Council to establish firmer ties between the Crusade and the Fringe were regular, and while she did not sit on the Council, Amore enjoyed certain perks of her own leadership role counted amongst their closest allies.

Times had been quiet, not something she would dare to complain about, until the Reaping.

Perhaps it had been a necessary thing. In the end, Amorella Mae proved just how much like her mother she truly was by taking advantage of an otherwise dire situation. So it was in consequence to the devestation that the living Aesirs were no more and she arrived upon Aing-Tii not as Aesir Inari, but as the Heart and Hand of the Reviver who had, alongside Neth and Aatrox, returned to the Great Hall to maintain their own divine order.

No one knew if they would ever return, but Faith and Belief of that eventuality would continue to hold the Crusade's people together.

A delicate hand reached out to clasp [member="Cameron Centurion"]'s left arm, Amore drew close to gently embrace it. Face pressed against the flesh of his shoulder, she smiled as his scent and warmth returned to her. No need to speak hello, no need to alert him of her presence, he always knew just as she always did.

"You smell like stardust," the woman quietly remarked, smile widening, "where has my shadow been traveling now?"

 

[Cameron Centurion]

Cameron did not flinch or so much as twitch a muscle fiber at the gentle yet firm touch of [member="Amorella Mae"]. She was correct, he had felt her approach from long before she ever stepped foot on the planet. However, no amount of ethereal bonding could ever replace the subtle comfort of her physical presence. Ordinarily, she would have his complete attention, but his thoughts remained...distracted. The Sith Lord had been here before. The story was one that had been recounted many times...though none other than Alia and Amorella knew the full extent of the truth.

Before The Reaping, Cameron might have been concerned that history was merely going to repeat itself. Indeed the last six years threatened to consume his entire being, ebbing away what little tolerance he still had for the galaxy. In his brief solitary journeys, however, the Sith Lord had discovered it was not life that bored him so these days. It was the life he executed devoid of the one that gave it any real meaning. He'd lived over five centuries, fought many battles, lead empires, and destroyed just as many. Cameron had even been a God among men. Yet what he had resolved himself to do on this particular cliff, this particular day...seemed more daunting a task than any he'd undertaken in his past.

Turning his head to finally allow his silver-green gaze to regard Amorella, Cameron permitted himself a warm, genuine smile. "Too far and for too long, my love." In truth none of his sabbaticals had been particularly long; merely long enough to discover whatever answer he sought. "I will always have a thirst for knowledge, and a propensity to rise to challenges which inevitably develop wisdom." The Sith Lord's voice trailed softly as he reached up with his free hand to brush a strand of red hair behind Amorella's ear. "But more than that...I will always long for the comfort of your presence when it fades."

Raising his hand that contained the object ever so slightly, Cameron extended his thumb and index finger though his eyes remained focused on Amorella. The early evening skies of Aing-Tii darkened slightly more than normal as flashes of purple-white light ripped through the clouds, reflecting off the waters below and contrasting to the reddish-orange tint of the horizon. "Like a clear summer evening welcoming the beginnings of a turbulent storm, you have forever changed the truth of my soul. You already have my heart and affections, my memories and innermost thoughts. I have but one last gift to give you before you...have all of me..."

 

[Ereza]

"My but you wax poetic when you want to..."

A trait of his she enjoyed for its rare appearances and it's curious protection from the world at large. The veritable soft belly underside of a terantatek. Amorella gave a waning smile as she looked up at him, "Another gift?" curiosity touched her voice, perhaps a hint of confusion.

"I don't understand ... here I thought I already had everything..." She did not deign to believe she could ever have all of Cameron Centurion - an unbridled force of free will if there ever was one. Amorella had been content to believe that what she had was enough. Her desires were simple, really, and there were very few things left that she still yearned for - things that, as she had learned over the years much to her deep heartbreak, were not a possibility.

It didn't do to dwell on them. Cameron had already eased her through them and that was all she could really ask for.

[member="Cameron Centurion"]

 

[Cameron Centurion]

Cameron managed a thin, almost embarrassed smile. You know...were he capable of truly being embarrassed. What [member="Amorella Mae"] had said was in every way true. In fact, she was literally a part of him and he part of her. However, there did remain a bit of..tradition. It was a funny concept, tradition. Throughout the course of his life, he'd thrown himself behind many diverse beliefs and motivational entities. The constant, however, had been that doing so furthered his own personal goals. Cameron hadn't really ever cared about the desires of another. He was fantastic at pretending in his youth...now he just saw no reason to do so.

All of this had been somewhat shattered by Amorella's presence over the years. "You do. Yet...when I was young, the only possession of my parents that I managed to retain when Alathor took me was a necklace. You've probably never seen it as I rarely wear it visibly. Really calling it a necklace is something of a misnomer..." Raising his clenched hand, Cameron opened it to reveal a small arrowhead contained within. The arrowhead was carved out of a smooth, shiny, onyx-colored stone. Obviously it had been maintained over the centuries so as not to lose its luster. The cloth string attached to it was, also, obviously not from centuries ago. "The man I...had believed to be my father gave this to my mother. I cannot even remember seeing her without it around her neck. I don't know why I took it when Alathor came but..I did. For years, it kept me connected to her, reminded me of my purpose and gave me a reason to endure the torture and the beatings. In that moment, I swore to her that I too would one day give it to someone deserving, someone that would have my eternal love and friendship despite what life brought us."

Exhaling a breath he didn't know he'd been holding, Cameron laughed slightly as he gave his shoulders a slight shrug. Shifting his silver-green gaze from the necklace to Amorella's blue eyes, the Sith Lord allowed his smile to widen ever so slightly. "It's the last thing I'd been holding on to...unwilling to share with anyone else. I just...these past few years, I've come to realize that I no longer need it because its worth has been completely and utterly replaced by your presence at my side."

 

[Ereza]

"Cameron..." blue eyes turned slowly from the man to the momento in his palm, a frown barely pulling at her lips. Amore could not recall the man ever being so sentimental about something, and in that moment watched a side of Cameron materialize that she hadn't realized was there before. He rarely spoke of his past - not that he had much need to do so. Even as the words left his lips now, she could see the memories in her mind's eye, flashing with such vividness it was almost real. Almost now.

Despite knowing all these things having happened to him, understanding them within his own mind was not something his gift had afforded her. Certain feelings transferred, strong emotions connected with certain moments when recalled, but his mind was still very much his own. She didn't pry for anything that he wished to tell her she knew he would.

Amore reached for the arrowhead, delicately touching it within his hand and with a tentative smile lifted it within her own fingers. She could feel his very essence imbued within the centerpiece from having kept it with him all these years. Hard to image what storms it had weathered in his possession, all manner of natural and Force-born maelstroms. It sung with the presence of ancient, dark, destructive power - a veritable beacon of all his accomplishments.

Without hesitation she lifted the chord and looped it back around her neck, tying it in place so that the arrowhead rested at the center of her bosom, just at the top of her sternum.

"I suppose...I have one last thing to give to you as well," Amore took his hand again, lifting it to her face where she kissed at his knuckles, "Esmae."

"My true name is Esmae."

[member="Cameron Centurion"]

 

[Cameron Centurion]

Sentiment... Cameron, of course, had always known himself to be capable of the emotion, and it had manifested itself a handful of isolated times in his past. However, as he'd already discussed with [member="Amorella Mae"] and shown her, it had only been genuine perhaps one time prior to now. In the end of the day, Cameron was still very much a human being...despite indications he frequently gave to the contrary.

As Amorella's lips touched his knuckles and she uttered a name he'd not heard before, the Sith Lord couldn't really resist giving off a brief chuckle. "Your family, undoubtedly, has more secrets that the total quantity of those I've gathered over the centuries. Esmae..." A mischievous grin briefly adorned his features as he oriented his hands to gently cradle Esmae's face. In that particular moment, words failed the otherwise eloquent Sith Lord. Taking a half step forward, Cameron leaned down and gently pressed his lips to those of the woman he loved.

However, the tender exchange lasted only a few unfortunately brief moments before Cameron broke the kiss and gently leaned his forehead against Amorella's. He wanted to say how much he loved her and how he, a man that had a tendency to kill his children, wanting nothing more than to have children with her. Yet...he knew the mention would only dredge up the reality that she could not bear children. The Sith Lord supposed there were other methods, but he was in no hurry and trusted she would raise the issue if and when she was ready. So instead, Cameron spoke a simple statement. "I will always love you."

Their souls were forever linked at this point. Without Amorella, he would lose part of himself. There was no survive without Amorella Mae.

 

[Ereza]

Hard to believe that after everything she'd been through something as simple as sharing a close moment with her loved one could send her heart racing. His presence had always been scintillating and strangely energizing despite their near polar opposite essence; two cosmic energies in a constant state of flow and flux, darkness chasing light chasing darkness, coalescing into something profound. Amore felt her cheeks pink and her lips tingle at his touch, her heart swell at his words, at the sound of her true name spoken by his voice.

It would never matter how many times he said it, she knew. That name was deeply sacred and it belonged to him now.

"Say it again?" she asked gently, almost bashfully.

[member="Cameron Centurion"]

 

[Cameron Centurion]

Cameron allowed a warm, sincere smile to widen across his lips as he held [member="Amorella Mae"] in his embrace. While the reality of their connection seemed to make little sense, he'd ceased to question it over six years ago. True...they had changed each other in a very real way, and it was a pleasantly unexpected result to Cameron forcing the extreme elements of his brutality upon Amorella's conscious mind.

In kind...he'd had to absorb the strength of her benevolence and nurturing nature over time. She was, in all things, a far more unsuspecting force. Her strength was no less than his...they merely wielded it in different ways. Two parts of a whole now forever united.

As such, it was easy to comply with Amorella's request. "I will always love you, Esmae."

 

[Ereza]

Bittersweet.

Amore bit at her lower lip, brow knit as his words brought a new surge of emotion. Unexpected bliss, unbridled happiness. She could hardly contain it, as powerful as it was, that the woman literally began to glow in his presence. Pale illumination gleamed in a halo around her figure, as though she had in some ironic twist swallowed a star and now exuded the light.

Her hands reached up to where his own cradled her face, she wiped at the forming tears of joy. Finally, finally her life was falling into place. Good things, wonderful things were happening. "I love you, so much," the woman uttered before pressing into a second kiss, "and I've missed you." A third kiss, her hands found his chest and slipped upwards to wrap around his neck, pulling him to her.


Some time later, in a nondescript temple...

"You're aware that Mo- ... Lorelei has bought out Moross Shipwrights and taken control of the drive yards over Ceto," it took some doing to get over referring to her mother as Mother in conversation. Amore found that using the woman's name seemed far less demeaning on herself now that she'd taken her life into her own hands. Now that she was by every definition an adult. Old habits die hard, though.

"She wants me to move there to oversee her new investment." A faint frown, blue eyes turned down to the rumpled satin of the bed on which she lay, propped on her side by one elbow, a hand smoothed the wrinkles of the fabric. Amore sighed, one brow propping with words unbidden.

"Soliael wants me to spend more time with the family. He's invited me to come live with him and Kira and the children, so I can be with them as they grow."

She traced the faint silver dye pattern of the sheet with a finger, briefly glancing up at Cameron to garner an outward, physical response to this news. He knew, absolutely, that given the choice between the two which one she would go with. Amore had spent far too many years abroad, away from family, and was desperately homesick. She couldn't return home to Kuat now with the shadow of the Sith empire securing the system's borders - knew what they did to lightsided individuals who wandered too far into the darkness. Knew her mother didn't want her anywhere near Kuat.

Knew the draw of children - her nieces and nephew - was a force to be reckoned with.

There was likely no talking her out of it at this point, but she still wanted to know his thoughts.

[member="Cameron Centurion"]

 

[Cameron Centurion]

Initially, Cameron's silver-green gaze merely held [member="Amorella Mae"]'s features with what was best described as reserved intrigue. To a fault, the Sith Lord listened quite intently to the words spoken by others. However, he didn't normally display any sort of outward interest or concern. A fact that often gave people the misconception that Cameron was not absorbing every piece of information spewing from their lips. With Amorella, however, his focus was apparent and intense.

At the same time, he did not allow his facial expression to betray any inner thoughts or emotions...usually. Old habits really did die hard. In the case of Esmae...it wouldn't have mattered anyways. There was scarcely a thought or emotion that Cameron likely could have kept from Amorella if she really wanted to know. Her respect for the bond they shared, however, was one of the many reasons he loved her so.

In the blink of an eye...several thoughts drifted through Cameron's mind. Amorella was, effectively, be asked to choose between doing what her mother wanted and what her...cousin...nephew wanted? The Sith Lord wasn't of a mind to let his understanding of that family tree wander very far. You would think he'd be more than aware by now...he seemed to be continuously drawn to the women of the Shamalain family for one reason or another. The final and prevailing thought he had was quite simple. There was absolutely, one hundred percent no way that Amorella was going to be living with the Taliths. Cameron would happily use veto authority on that one because he damn sure wasn't going to live with the Taliths. A compromise, fortunately, was easy to come by.

"Sounds like your entire family has designs on what you do with your life." This was not unusual, he supposed. It was the job of your family to look out for you one way or another was it not? It'd been a...long time since Cameron had really had much of a family he cared to be so close with, so he was out of practice in that regard. Amorella was his family now, and he was content so long as she was happy and in his life. "However, I know you do not want to go to Ceto, and I do not blame you. Likewise, I know Lorelei will harbor a reserved acceptance of whatever you choose to do in this regard."

The woman probably wouldn't like Amorella doing other than what she desired...unless it was all layered in one of her typical games. The fact that his would-be mother-in-law was so like him in personality had only been a problem...maybe on a couple of occasions. Until her game interfered with his life, however, he was content to merely stay out of it. "So, you should do whatever is going to make you happiest, Esmae." Slowly, a thin smile slipped across Cameron's features. "Except...we are not living with Soliael, his wife, and their children. I propose that we, instead, furnish our own residence nearby such that visiting as often as you so desire is not problematic."

Boom. Look at that diplomacy.

"Also I like to walk around in the nude so..."

/diplomacy

 

[Ereza]

An easy chuckle, a broad grin. Amore brushed several curls of deep red from her face, the glint of fangs flashing in her amusement.

"Can't imagine Sol will argue with that logic," not that Sol had any issues with Cameron as his current self. Perhaps years ago, when the man first arrived within the Moross territories, he would have sworn him away from family and fortune. Not now. Not with the mutual assurance that is was highly unlikely the man would make any effort to harm that which made Amore happy.

She moved across the bed to rest on his chest, drawing her fingers now across the tattoos of his skin, "They have a home on Borleias now. Some island in the middle of the sea. I suppose that's one way to keep four children in one place - surround them with an ocean." Blue eyes followed the path of her fingers along his sternum and collar, up the line of his jaw, over his lips, stopping at his nose, "Do Sith Lords enjoy beach houses?" the query was accompanied with a soft tap on his nose and a wry smirk.

[member="Cameron Centurion"]