Time to Face What You Have Always Been (Tarissa)

[Cora Passek]

Cora frowned, not liking what she was hearing from Eileithya. The empath thing, always bothered her to a certain degree. Even with Coryth it had bothered her. Cora wanted very much to keep her emotions, her thoughts private and prevent anyone else from seeing them. Keeping them hidden allowed her to keep the masks on, to present the face she wanted to the galaxy. Things always got complicated when empathy from a force user was involved.

"Yes, I did forget." She mumbled, a little irritated. "So mean...." She grumbled as she got to her feet. Cora glanced back to the redhead one last time as she started through the door.

Now as she wandered down the halls looking from room to room for Siobhan. That was her mission now, and she had her orders. "Siobhan?" She called out, hoping to get some clue as to where her Mistress was currently.

[member="Tarissa Cadalthor"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Cora Passek"]


The lovely Ms. Passek, who unbeknownst to her and everyone else had become a Living Holocron a couple weeks ago, would ultimately find Siobhan lying on a couch. For a change, the Countess was not being fawned over by pliable Eldorai servant girls or manlings.


No, she was actually reading a book. Yes, sometimes Siobhan did that. For a change it was not smutty. It was called the Handmaid's Tale and depicted a rather ghastly world in which patriarchal manlings oppressed and enslaved women. It had recently been translated into Eldarai. The Eldorai encouraged the sale of the book because it showed that only a society run by women could be just. "I'm here, Cora," she spoke when she heard the blonde call her name.

 

[Cora Passek]

Hearing Siobhan's voice, Cora quickly found her way to her Mistress. Walking in she found Sio laying on the couch. A part of her still felt a bit bad for the current circumstances. After all, there was nothing that truly bound her to going on this quest, just her own stubbornness and desire to know the truth.

"Hey..." She said quietly as she sat down beside Sio. Reaching out she stroked the woman's beautiful firemane lovingly. Leaning down she pressed her lips against Sio's with the intent to distract her away from her book. After all, Cora was on a mission now!

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Cora Passek"]


Distracting Siobhan was actually quite easy. After all, she loved beautiful women. The Countess was pleased by the sudden shift in mood. She purred appreciatively when Cora stroked her glorious firemane, arching into the touch.


She stopped reading, then the book was completely forgotten when Cora pressed her lips against hers. It fell to the carpeted floor and Siobhan could not be bothered to notice. Instead she grabbed the back of Cora's head and pulled her closer, kissing her passionately as she tried to capture her lips.

 

[Cora Passek]

Cora was happy to see just how easy it was to distract Sio. She didn't resist in the least as Siobhan pulled her closer. In return Cora deepened the kiss, not wanting to let go. Her own hands wandering across the redhead's body, looking to please. This one thinks a black curtain will soon descend and obscure from view the fun to be had. Damn kiddies.

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Cora Passek"]


Siobhan intensified the kiss, pushing her tongue into Cora's mouth to massage the blonde's while she kissed her with great passion. There was a fire in the woman's eyes and her aura radiated hunger. Her hands roamed over the blonde's body.


Conveniently the couch was rather comfortable. Clothes were soon scattered to the winds and a black curtain descended. The two would probably awaken in each other's arms on the possibly now slightly moist couch, feeling very sweaty and rather satisfied. Naturally all the naughty bits would be covered in order to protect the kiddies. Conveniently Siobhan had a blanket lying around.


Soft footsteps heralded the arrival of Harmony, who looked completely unfazed by the sight. "Mistress, Cora, dinner is about to be served," she said brightly, before smirking. "Oh, and don't forget your underwear this time, Mistress! You wouldn't want the kids to find it."

 

[Cora Passek]

Cora didn't let go returning Siobhan's passion stroke for stroke. For a little while, she was able to put aside all that was bothering her, to forget and just lose herself in the moment.

And so we returned to our lovely ladies. Cora was snuggled against Siobhan, with the blanket pulled tightly around them. Harmony now entered and Cora nodded to her. "Right, dinner. I almost forgot about it. Thank you, Harmony." Then she cringed a little, as she reached down to the floor and scooped her underwear off the floor and shimmied into them under the blanket. After that she quickly got dressed and straightened her clothing out, before she started to pick up Sio's clothes to hand back to her, so her mistress could get dressed. "Thanks, love. I think I really needed that."

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Cora Passek"]


Clearly Harmony was in need of further discipline. "Any time, any place, any position, my darling pet," Siobhan spoke sweetly. Anything to keep Cora happy and help her through a difficult time! The Countess felt like being lazy and lay around on the couch, watching Cora get dressed.


Then she finally put her clothes back on after the blonde fetched them for her. "Not sure whether you heard, but your friend Coryth lives a couple blocks away down in New Santaissa. Close to the port." Coryth's boat had survived both the destruction of Corellia and Kaeshana.

 

[Cora Passek]

Cora smiled, rather liking that idea. "You are too sweet, my lady." She said contently, as she waited on Siobhan to get dressed.

Cora then lifted a brow, "I'd known she was alive, but not where for a while." The girl shrugged a bit as she sat beside Sio on the couch. "I've not actively sought her out. For about a million reasons. She's been gone for so long from my life, and I hers. Not sure we're remotely compatible at all. We barely made a good pair of friend back then, and really only became friends out of a need to reach a common goal at the time. I just don't want to disturb her life. I tend to always bring trouble along wherever I go, so ... I am not sure about seeing her again." Another shrug. Though maybe the reasons she hadn't seen Coryth were much simpler than Cora wanted to admit to. There was a fear of rejection and worry that all would not turn out okay again. Or worry that Coryth would be completely different from the Coryth she once knew.

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Cora Passek"]


Siobhan shrugged. "She's friends with me and we're as different as possible." Well, yes, that's kind of obvious. "Coryth is an amazing, very forgiving woman. You really should make the attempt. Especially if she's just living a couple blocks away." The Countess felt rather strongly about this.


"She's got a girlfriend now. An Angelii. Kaida Taldir. Dour drill sergeant type. If you ask me, she's a queen...but Coryth seems happy with her." Siobhan had no clue how that worked between them. She settled down at the dining table and frowned. "Wait, weren't you there when Coryth's daughter was born? Elpsis."

 

[Cora Passek]

Cora nodded, "I suppose that is true. Didn't really think about it that way." She then sighed as they settled down at the table to eat their dinner. "I think you've got a point. She's not that far away, and is bound to find I'm here eventually. Which is just going to make things rougher if I wait until then."

Cora then lifted an eyebrow, "A ... girlfriend? When did that happen?" The blonde seemed so shocked that the tiny Jedi had found someone, anyone really. "I never knew she was into ... into .... well women. She wasn't last time I saw her." Cora might have been blushing a little at this point.

Then she paused, taking in Sio's last words. It took a moment for it all to sink in completely. "Wait what?! Elpsis is Coryth's kid?! Oh my stars, I am so dead!" Cora cringed and was sliding down into her chair until only her head was visible above the table as she flushed a crimson red. "I ... uh ... slept with her. Gods Coryth is going to murder me!"

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Cora Passek"]


Siobhan gave Cora a smug wink. "I may have had a hand in making her realise that women are far superior to men. I have a way with the ladies," she declared. Her voice was practically dripping with smugness. Suffice to say she'd taken great enjoyment in clearing out Coryth's cobwebs.


However, Cora's next words gave her pause. "You...slept with Elpsis? That girl really gets around. Well...I guess this might make things awkward with Coryth." She did not sound angry, more amused. Siobhan believed a big sex drive was healthy, though she found Elpsis' aggressiveness exasperating at times. "I didn't know you two even knew each other. When did you meet?"

 

[Cora Passek]

Cora shook her head, "Shoulda known you had something to do with it. Never thought she'd get past losing her fiance. I suppose she's mostly got around that by now then." One could hope at least."

The blonde found herself staring at her feet, not brave enough to look over the table. "Awkward? I'm so dead. There ain't a place in galaxy that I can hide from Coryth. So dead. Feth. Fething A. So, screwed." She complained.

Then she managed a shrug, "Yeah, was a while back. We met on Nar Shadda. Long story, not entirely sure it's one I want to get into either."

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Cora Passek"]


A slightly exasperated sigh escaped Siobhan's throat. "I have a crazy, sapphic family full of girls who hate communicating," she concluded. "But I love you guys too much to mind for long." Well, that was one way of putting it. By now servant girls had arrived and were placing dishes with food and drink on the table. "If it's any consolation, Elpsis seems to have moved on and gotten a crush on Tempest...so maybe that'll deflect Coryth's attention from you. You know I wouldn't let her hurt you."


Siobhan also had the feeling that the healer and Laina would not get on. "I'm glad that Coryth found someone. Goddess knows that woman deserves some happiness after all the hell she's been through. I believe she could do better though. Taldir is so...bland."

 

[Cora Passek]

"Crazy, you've certainly got that right." A shame next to none of them actually spoke to one another. it lead to far too many awkward conversations and moments. Cora shook her head, "Good, good, then maybe I won't have to tell Coryth about sleeping with her daughter. Goddess I really don't want to explain that."

Cora shrugged, "You know Coryth, she's always going to fall for someone that doesn't seem right for her, but somehow it all works out for her." Cora chuckled, "Just give it time I'm sure you'll get used to it. I'm just glad to hear she's found some kind of joy in her life. She deserves that much, I agree."

And now for a magic time skip?

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Cora Passek"]


"I could've found a nice Eldorai noblewoman just for her. Or Phylis," Siobhan grumbled. Sio, be honest, you'd find a reason to think that anyone Coryth is dating is not good enough for her.


"As long as it works out for her, I'm happy. And if frost elf breaks Cory's heart, I'll tear her ovaries out and feed them to her. Then spend the rest of the day torturing her. Anyway, eat up, your food is getting cold." Yes, Mum. It's fun how you can seemlessly transition from murderous to motherly. Regardless, at this point we shall use the fast forward function and jump in time. It was time for Cora to visit the Temple and meet a broody, masochistic Clawdite.

 

[Cora Passek]

"I don't think Coryth would have gone for a noblewoman. That girl has no desire in her for extravagance on any level really. I think she rather enjoys a simpler life. Now, I don't know Phylis so I can't say there." Gosh, the idea that Coryth actually had found someone new, and a woman at that, still shocked Cora. It just didn't seem like her. Then again it'd been a good decade and then some since she last saw Coryth. The woman was bound to have changed a good deal.

"I'm with you on that. She breaks Coryth's heart and I'll skin her alive." Cora gave a nod, and then went back to work on her food.

The next day came soon enough and the blonde headed on up to the temple where Eileithya worked in. These places were still a little odd to her but she was getting used to them. They were starting to feel a bit like the churches she grew up going to, and spent a fair bit of time in with her family.

With a soft sigh, she walked inside to find Eileithya and soon the woman she'd spoken of. Her hopes were high that this might work out and she'd gain a valuable asset to help her in her quest to find what truly happened to her family. She stopped a young priestess, "Could you point me the way to Eileithya? I'm supposed to meet with her today."

The cute brunette elf pointed her down a long hallway. "Last door on the left dear."

"Thank you," Cora replied and headed off, soon coming to the door. She knocked lightly and waited patiently for the redhead to answer.

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Naamah Aesham]

[member="Cora Passek"]


Cora did not have to wait for long. A moment later, the door opened and Eileithya stood in front of her on the threshold. Siobhan would have probably just willed the door to open through the use of telekinesis without getting up, but the Priestess frowned on such casual uses of Sciia.


It seemed frivolous and disrespectful to her. "Cora, dear, glad you're here," she said in a warm tone, giving the human a hug. "I can take you straight to Ms. Jaeger. I believe she was in a...session with Priestess Kyaeri, but she should be free now." For some reason there was a look of mild discomfort on Eileithya's face when she uttered the word 'session', though it passed soon.


The redhead took Cora's hand and guided her down the corridor. It was a bit of a walk, passing statues of deities and icons displaying various saints and martyrs of the faith. Hushed whispers could be heard when they passed a prayer room, then they walked down the stairs.


"Our stairways are...terribly long. I believe someone higher up in the hierarchy thinks we'd grow soft if we had a turbolift," Eileithya joked. Eventually they reached what seemed to be the temple's basement. A narrow passageway brought them to the woman's room. Almost in the same moment as they reached it, the door opened and a severe looking Eldorai priestess exited.


The elf was every inch a Mistress, wore a long black dress and stood as regal as queen. Her golden hair was tied back in a severe bun. "May the Goddess bless you, sister," she spoke to Eileithya in flat acknowledgement. Her stance was strong, commanding, utterly inflexible.


"May the Goddess bless you as well, sister," Eileithya spoke as well. "Is Ms. Jaeger free to see us?"


Kyaeri did not have the manners to address or acknowledge Cora. "Yes, my session with her is over. The alien has a long road to walk, but has taken well to...discipline. Ardarvia is pleased that she is reforging herself." Somehow she managed to sound even more patronising than Tarissa.


"I hope you heeded my instructions about safety procedures and took them to heart," Eileithya said. Her warm tone had vanished, replaced with sternness. Kyaeri looked as if someone had forced her to bite a sour lemon.


"I look with nostalgia upon the old days when were not shy about meting out the Goddess' law and did not pander to foreign sensitivities," she spoke haughtily. "But rest assured, I heeded your...suggestions. I suppose we have to remember that the Goddess' love can be overwhelmning for aliens, unlike Eldorai. Know this though: She begged to be made a Repentant." With that Kyaeri took off, the full skirt of her black dress swirling behind her.


"Every time I meet her, I feel like setting her on fire or inducing her with sickness," Eileithya muttered quietly when the Priestess was gone. "She's a queen even by the standards of the Ardarvian priesthood."

 

[Cora Passek]

Cora smiled softly, "My pleasure, Eileithya. I'm happy to be here. Something about the place is a little more peaceful than the outside world." She did notice the uncomfortable expression that the redhead held as she mentioned the other priestess. All Cora did was lift a brow in response. It wasn't exactly her place to ask. She had it figured that maybe it was just a bit of rivalry between the different groups of women in the church.

Cora chuckled as they descended the stairs, "Go figure. My knees won't thank me for this later." She mock grumbled as they kept going down further and further.

Now as they at least came to the door, Cora did wonder a little who was inside, besides the woman they were going to meet. With the door opening, Cora seemed a little taken aback by the new Eldorai woman. Something about her, made Cora take a step backwards not wanting to get in the woman's way in the least. Especially as the tone of the conversation shifted so suddenly.

"Seems like a completely pleasant woman." Sarcasm, Cora's best friend. "The kind of woman I'd only want to meet in a back alley with a spiked bat in hand to beat some kindness and decency into her." Cora said harshly, clearly not liking this new woman in the least and was quite glad that she'd already walked off. "Is there just something in the water that makes a majority of the Eldorai extra bitchy? Or do they take a special class or something? Because, damn."

Cora finally walked into the room to find Ms. Jaegar bound, bruised and a bit beaten. She also might have still been lacking most her clothing and was bound upside down and still suspended from the ceiling. With a shake of her head, as Cora took in the scene, she barely missed a beat as she walked over and started to carefully untie the ropes that still held the woman. "Just a moment and we'll have you back on the ground, and comfortable, sweetie."

"About that spiked bat?" Cora said over her should to the redhead. Clearly, she really didn't like that priestess at all.

[member="Naamah Aesham"]

 

[Naamah Aesham]

[member="Cora Passek"]


"There is a reason I'm quite happy at the bottom of the Church's pyramid. The sense of entitlement and overinflated ego grows the higher up you are. A spiked bat would have improved many a Celestial Council," Eileithya said without the slightest hint of sarcasm in her voice.


So they opened the door, and found Ms. Jaeger. The dark brown haired was bruised and looked like she'd been beaten. One could make out harsh marks on her back, which hinted at whipping. Moreover, she was lacking most of her clothing and hanging upside down. She was also gagged. "Goddess," Eileithya gasped, equal parts concerned and angry.


She felt like having words with a certain Priestess. Luckily, Cora took the initiative and began to untie Jaeger. She was clearly good at undoing ropes. Eileithya sighed and quickly walked over to a closet to fetch a pair of robes while Cora brought the bound woman down.


The room itself could only be described as spartan. There was a bed, chair and a small table, along with a closet. The floor had no carpet, but there was a tiny washroom. A portrait of the Goddess Ardarvia hung on the wall, depicting her smiting the wicked. Once Jaeger had been placed on the bed, Eileithya removed the gag. "There you go, dear. Put these on. Are you alright? Did...Priestess Kyraea..."


"I asked her for this," Jaeger interjected, gently cutting Eileithya off. Her breathing was a bit laboured and she sounded tired, but scrutinised both. She would be considered beautiful even with her scars, but there was something disturbing about her brown eyes. They were so...empty. "I could use some water, if it's no inconvenience. What is it you require of me?" Her gaze shifted to the blonde. "You're Cora Passek, right? The Priestess mentioned you."