Trouble's Lament

[Tmoxin Temi]

Intimacy increased between the two, slowly and cautiously, but not unwelcome. The touch of Derek’s fingers awoke a different kind of interest in the Hapan, and she wondered if the cleaning droid had made up king-sized bed in her private quarters. She recalled leaving it a mess as she hurried, stumbling in heels and lingerie as she wiggled into the slinky white dress for cards and killing.

"I wouldn't be so sure. But fire does have a way of purifying."

Her breathing became a little more erratic, the adrenaline of anticipation causing her heart to beat a faster, and in a soft whisper, Tmoxin asked, “Is that so?”

And suddenly the patina of rationality formed upon the surface of Derek’s next words. She was so hesitant to show weakness of any kind that she didn’t feel it necessary to tell him that at times she had no idea what it meant to be High Justice in a philosophical sense, only that Darth Metus chose her for a reason, and the faith in his vision for her was good enough for now.

But the man's physical touch betrayed his words.

“As Marta distracted the guards, I stole a shuttle. The Stingray sat on Anaxes impounded in a Sith hangar until I could break in and free it. I was exiled from the Core Worlds, though thankfully I’ve been able to go return at times, but it’s how I ended up on Kamino with literally nothing. While I had a business partner who was able to invest in my first company idea, I built the Morpho Research Facility from scratch.” It was a humbling experience, which he’d be able to tell from her slightly sheepish expression.

“Purification by fire sounds like an interesting theory to test out. Just what did you have in mind?”

Her smile grew playful and coquettish again, the threat of being rebuffed only a small concern as she was also tired and in need of a shower and sleep. Though if she needed to remain awake for this fire ritual she certainly would.

[member="Derek Dib"]

 

[Derek Dib]

The flush of anticipation began to grow within him. Her response combined with more rapid rise of her chest betrayed her own thoughts which ran perilously close to his own. But as she elaborated on her escape and new beginnings it gave him a momentary respite from their physical closeness that was rapidly becoming more intimate.

The sheepish expression made him throw back his head and laugh lightheartedly. The fact that she had been able to leave her past in order to start over new was an intimidating prospect. One he himself had to do before. Again, this woman intrigued him. It wasn't just the physical attraction (that was becoming more and more difficult to deny) but the person that lay beneath the layers within. Reinventing one's self was a challenging prospect. The fact that she had done it on numerous occasions sooner to the strength and determination she surely must have.

Her last words froze him, his hand running along her thigh and pausing. The two sides of himself warred within him. Passion and peace. The damnable balance he was always striving to attain and maintain. His hand drifted to her hip, fingers exploring the soft flesh along the curve where her hip dipped in toward her waist.

"Fire has a way of burning you. Branding you in a way that never leaves."

His hand circled to the small of her back, the heart of his palm radiating into the soft tissue and nerves along the spine. Leaning forward he brought his face inches away from her's, eyes slightly glowing red, and looked at her. He wasn't just looking at the intricate pattern of freckles adorning her face, or the way her hair fell in messy waves, or the tantalizing way her lips were parted with the increase of her breathing.

He was looking into the warm and inviting brown eyes that he seemed to be drowning in. Slowly he leaned the last few inches and brushed her soft, full lips with his own, a soft kiss filled with barely restrained passion. The light touch of lips sending of wave of fire through his body.

Leaning away he lightly disentangled their legs and stood swiftly. He held the glass with both hands as if a totem he was using to stay grounded. The balance he was attempting to hold was swiftly tipping.

"I realize we are both tired and ... before things progress past the point of ... return, I should bid you a good night."

However his feet did not move not did he walk away. He rationalized it was because he had not been shown the guest quarters. But a part of him he wouldn't acknowledge was wanting to put the theory into practice. Despite the ramifications of the escalation.

[member="Tmoxin Temi"]

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

The tension between them ebbed and flowed until it reached a point where one of them would act upon it. But as in the games between men and women, between mortal enemies and between warring species, the first move could not be easily predicted.

Tmoxin could tell that Derek was conflicted though his hand moved up to her hip to nestle in the divet of her waist, almost tickling her, evident in the quirk of her lips. There could be many reasons for hesitation, but the Hapan assumed it was her Dark Force signature that was the biggest barrier. Like a scar or a birthmark, or even a huge bullseye upon her, there would be no hiding that she had not been a good woman for most of her life. But whether she was truly ignoble was debatable.

"Fire has a way of burning you. Branding you in a way that never leaves."

His fingertips were pure electricity upon her skin despite the barrier of fabric between them. As he leaned into her open mouth, his rough lips brushing her soft ones, she closed her eyes and just let the tactile sensations be her guide. Derek hovered there, the the tautness building. Yes, it was a sublime challenge to stay so restrained to say the least.

When he disentangled, she felt a mixture of thwarted desire and relief - though more of the former.

“I’ve never felt to eager to be scorched,” she remarked, chewing on the end of her thumb where her fingerprint would be. She rose up, spine straight as posed as ever, her refined demeanor betraying the predatory urges she felt inside. “The guest room is this way.” She slipped off her ballet flats as she beckoned him to follow through a carpeted corridor and into the room where he could rest, heal and sleep. The quarters were no-nonsense, vaguely masculine in decor and just as lavish as the rest of the yacht. “There’s a holo unit for movies, a white noise machine… hmmm, what else? I could have the serving droid check on you now and then to top up your glass?"

Tmoxin hovered in the doorway. She could easily delve inside Derek’s mind now to put to rest the fact that he could be an agent for the Alliance or the fragments of the Republic. But her mental attack had the tendency to be intrusive and uncomfortable - physically painful for the recipient. The redhead felt it needed to be done at some point, but she certainly would not attempt it out of spite. Her desires were inconsequential, especially if he needed to get some rest after they barely escaped with their lives from Semprana's criminal circus.

[member="Derek Dib"]

 

[Derek Dib]

Following Tmoxin as she quietly padded down the hall Derek was reminded of a vornskr. Lithe and graceful in her movement that could easily be considered predatory. Despite the inherent danger of her form he could not resist admiring her 'assets' as she swayed with a very feminine and poised sway of her hips. He swallowed quickly and looked into the room as she offered even more amenities.

Nodding at the spartan yet fully stocked quarters her turned back to the red head. His eyes had spied the full size bed in the room and for a moment entertained ideas of what else she could offer him. But shaking his head slightly he gave a short bow.

"Thank you ... but no. I just need some rest I think."

Stepping forward he neared the doorway but paused. Her eyes had changed a bit. Not the color but perhaps the situation had affected a different atmosphere between the two. A slight frown touched his lips as the conclusion he gathered was perhaps he had crossed a line in his forward actions. In his presumptuous kiss. He didn't know if she was married or currently involved. Or maybe he had read the signs wrong and his attention was unwarranted.

"Again thank you, and also for tending to my wound."

He turned away as he heard the door slowly close. Wandering around the room for a few minutes he looked through the holo videos. In amusement he realized he had never say and watched an entire movie. Moving from the entertainment center he looked through the small shelf of books, finger running down the spines as he read the titles. But after a few minutes he decided what he really needed was some rest.

Going into the small refresher unit he was in there a few minutes before coming out. Moving to the bed he looked at the tentation to just lie down and pass out, but he needed to do something first. Removing the clothes he draped them onto one of the chairs in the small suite. Kneeling down upon the push carpet he rested his forearms upon his thighs and closed his eyes.

Many did not meditate, no matter what their training was. But he found it necessary for him. As he opened himself to the Force he showed his breathing. Feeling the tendrils of life surrounding him he felt his connection to the Galaxy swirling around him. Slowly he drained away his thoughts, his emotions, the pain in his body until all that remained was the Force.

As he basked in the power he felt his body refreshing, his mind calming, good wound mending. More so then anything he felt himself finding his center, finding his balance. But even as he immersed himself his thoughts turned away from the serenity of the Force.

Those brown eyes and swaying hips. The musical sound of her laughter and the curve of her lips. Shaking himself from the vision he rose from the ground and looked to the door. On the other side, somewhere down the hall was Tmoxin. And yet he sensed her. Shaking his head once more he sighed and moved to the bed to peel the blanket and sheets back to climb in.

As he laid there his mind wandered. The Confederacy. There viceroy. The Geonosian Knights. The work they were doing. The unrest throughout the Galaxy. As he fell asleep the last thing on his mind wasn't all the work the Confederacy was doing or the good that they could potentially do.

It was the freckle adorned face of a red haired woman.

[member="Tmoxin Temi"]

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

It wasn’t that Tmoxin did not want to invite Derek into her bedroom. Like the Knight, the Hapan was still on a smooth come down from the adrenaline and excitement of the operation, and spending the night in his charming company would be the perfect nightcap.

But she nodded back to him just as respectfully. “There are a few more hours until we arrive. Good night.” And with that statement she retreated to her own quarters.

While the redhead may have been a successful businesswoman her love life had a terrible track record. She’d found that she was either too ambitious for her mate, or schedules were too hectic to coincide, or <insert a your typical incompatibility reason here>. The Dark Jedi also realized early on that being Hapan in a location outside of Hapes that wasn’t Dathomir or a similar matriarchal society did prove to be a challenge. While she could play the political game on the exterior, she did found herself often holding men to higher standards than women as most female leaders did on her home planet.

But she recalled her mother, a wise bureaucratic woman with whom she was estranged telling her that her “best mate would be one which will challenge you, Tmoxin. By the Queen’s Throne, you’ve been my most stubborn challenge to date.”

Lying on her comfortable mattress, she also thought of Derek - his muted scarlet irises, his stubbled face and his vaguely Hapan attractiveness, like a Lorell Raider from so long ago in her species’s history - as slumber took hold, causing her to slip in and out of consciousness, to wonder if she was in fact dreaming or wide awake. Oh there was no doubt that she wanted to visit his room in the middle of the night, but not everything had to be a conquest. If Derek was the type of man to challenge her the way he did, with his innuendo of fire, the meaning both clear in one respect and cryptic in another, she thought that he would be worth getting to know, perhaps as they took long keffi rides in the Bothawui foothills at dusk.

Still his tender kiss lingered upon her lips as though it had been imprinted upon them, leaving her with the distinct longing to taste those metaphorical flames with which he’d tempted her.

[member="Derek Dib"]

 

[Derek Dib]

Slowly his eyes blinked as he came awake. Staring up at the soft cream colored ceiling he pushed himself into a seated position. The cover fell from his torso and he looked down as his hands lightly explored the healing wound. Pulling the cover back completely he rose and moved to the fresher where he showered.

Padding back into the room with a towel around his waist his mind began replaying the previous day's events as he collected his clothing from the chair and dressed. Finished he stripped the bed and placed the pile into the laundry bin. He remembered seeing fresh linens on his little tour of the room and grabbed a set to make the bed.

Finished he moved from the room and back down the hall to where Tmoxin had bandaged him. Derek got a new healing swath to apply to his side then cleaned his boots before putting them on. His clothes were a loss however. Tossing them he grabbed his holster and belt along with a towel and several rags and retreated to the lounge.

Laying out the towel on the table he began to dismantle and clean his weapons. His body went on cruise control as muscle memory kicked in. As his hands deftly went through their motions his mind wandered.

The first thing that entered his mind was the woman, High Justice Master Temi. The kiss he gave that may or may not have been warranted. Yesterday's events had led to heightened emotions as well as intense physical stimuli that perhaps, in hindsight, had led to actions not typical of either of them.

"Just the moment..."

While the analytical part of his brain attempted to rationalize the night's behavior the other half scoffed. This wouldn't be the first time Derek was intrigued by a woman. In fact there seemed to be a pattern. Strong, independent women who were able to be ruthless when the situation warranted or kind and generous. Multi faceted with layers to their past and their personalities.

He chuckled as he though of his last relationship, a pirate captain named Mayumi. He had signed on as her bodyguard which had evolved into a more intimate nature. He was reeling from his beliefs and morals and recuperating from wounds sustained from his first meeting with his brother and uncle. It was a vulnerable time for him. But that period in his life showed him the more realistic aspect of the galaxy.

"Shades of grey ..."

He murmured as he finished with his weapons and holsters. Rising he slid them over his shoulders and put the belt on. Collecting the soiled towels he deposited them into the dirty linen back in the medbay before making his way once more back to the lounge.

Behind the bar he got a glass of water and returned to the couch. His pirate life ended as he tried to find his own balance. Mayumi and he had parted amicably, both knowing that their lives were only an intersection rather then parallel paths. It was a growing experience.

But life, now, had a direction and purpose. He was still operating in shades of grey but at least he knew who and what he was now. He was merely a weight on the cosmic scales. And while he was just one man, he would do what he could.

[member="Tmoxin Temi"]

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

Tmoxin slept fitfully at first, but then she slipped into a dreamless slumber. Alone in her own bed, her eyelids fluttering closed, the exhaustion of the operation seeping into every bone it seemed, she was safe from anything - from intruders, from those seeking favors, and yes, from her own demons. For example, while she thought she would have more than a couple of glasses of whiskey, after Derek had kissed her, she felt no more need for inebriation. And yet her head spun a little as she placed it on the soft, down-filled pillow.

Rising out of bed herself, she knocked on the fresher door to make sure Knight Dib was not in there and slipped into the shower, finally washing the grime off from the night before.

She dressed in similarly comfortable clothing as the night before - form-fitting black pants and a matching top, heels and her reddish bob tied back - she found Derek on the couch sipping a glass of water. Tmoxin suddenly blushed as though they had gone further than a sensuous kiss and throwing the Force user a sheepish grin. “We will be landing in about five minutes. How did you sleep?”

As if on cue, The Stingray broke through the atmosphere of Bothawui and began its descent to the Seven Moons Ranch on the outskirts of Drev'starn. The Hapan felt a mixture of pride and anticipation as she would be showing Derek one of her favorite locations in the galaxy, a building that had been attacked not once but twice and rebuilt, but also the most serene and peaceful location where Tmoxin felt at liberty to reveal her most vulnerable side

[member="Derek Dib"]

 

[Derek Dib]

Sitting on the couch he was enjoying the ambiance afforded to him. The constant fighting and killing, battles and espionage, it weighed on one after time. His eyes raised to take in the sight of Tmoxin entering and he shifted in his seat slightly while smiling. He spied a slight blush creep into her face. That combined with the sheepish grin emboldened Derek.

"I slept well, but I could have slept better with different circumstances."

Now it was his turn to feel a flush in his cheeks as he rose smoothly while mentally berating himself for speaking impulsively. The two of them seemed to create an aura of embarrassment between even as the ship vibrated as it descended through the atmosphere. Taking his glass to deposit behind the bar he spoke over his shoulder.

"And how was your rest? Fitful I hope."

Turning back from the bar he braced his arms to either side and leaned back against the edge. For a moment he felt that his weapons were out of place, but he never went anywhere without them. Plus, he figured High Justice Master Temi, even unarmed, could most likely be a match for him. A small smirk creased his lips as he considered the dance the two of them could have. Strenuous and certainly entertaining, but with some collateral damage ... Even during merely a spar.

The hint of resistance was felt in his stance as the ship began descending for it's landing, thrusters activating. Arching a black eyebrow Derek motioned out past the bulkheads of the ship with a gesture.

"I look forward to seeing your home away from home and enjoying your gracious hospitality Mrs. Temi."

[member="Tmoxin Temi"]

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

It tickled her ego a little to think that Derek had wanted the night to continue in a different direction. “Now just what circumstance would that be?” she asked teasingly. Not waiting for an answer, nor expecting one, she continued: “I slept as well as one should upon the night that they murder a Hutt.” No love or pity had been saved by the Hapan for those foul, slime-ridden slugs. All of them could be annihilated far and wide across the galaxy for all I’m concerned, she thought, and while she did not verbalize that suggestion, a determined expression crossed over her delicate features.

“Make yourself at home while we descend,” she offered, walking forward into the cockpit to guide the gleaming, silver yacht into its port, which ended up being a high-security landing pad on the second level of the domed ranch structure that sat nestled in the grand and towering Kurual'grast Mountains.

Exiting the ship, Derek would see that she had a veritable army of staff to help with vessel maintenance, hauling luggage, even assisting Miss Temi with her coat, but oddly none of them were Bothan despite her residing upon Bothawui.

“How long do you plan on staying?" she asked. “It will help me figure out if anything needs to be collected from the village for your convenience.”

[member="Derek Dib"]

 

[Derek Dib]

Her gentle teasing came back at him which caused him to smile a bit wider. Of course she didn't answer his subtle, unspoken question in referring to her as 'Mrs Temi'. Perhaps she chose not to answer or maybe this was a continuation of their flirty, verbal sparring. He wasn't quite sure. As she went to the cocokpit he watched as he waited for the ship to land.

As for murdering the Hutt, Derek had a different view of the subject. He didn't consider the act of eliminating the vile creature as 'murder'. Technically it was, but the Hutt's actions had consequences. And in the criminal's case the consequence was death. It was a just ending to the Hutt, even if it wasn't quite humane in the process. However it was just. A balancing of the scales as it were. And that was something he could live with.

Walking down the ramp he was greeted by a slew of staff. But it wasn't the bustling flow of individuals that garnered his attention but the view. Walking across the landing pad he moved closer to the edge and took in the breathtaking view. Green, lush foilage. Majestic mountains. Flowing waterfalls. It was a sight to behold.

"I now see why you prefer coming here rather then to Geonosis."

Across the open plains below several riders were galloping through the fields on keffi, an animal he'd heard and read about but had never seen in person. The lower level of the home extended out into a thriving valley. Turning away from the visage that assaulted his senses he raised his eyes to the domed third level. Now this is a view . Contemplating the question that was asked of him he shrugged slightly, shoulders raising minutely.

"I certainly don't want to over stay my welcome and your hospitality. I guess it depends on when you are planning on returning to Geonosis. As for supplies, I know the capital is nearby. I wouldn't want to impose on you too greatly."

[member="Tmoxin Temi"]

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

Tmoxin lead the pair through a hissing doorway which opened up onto the guest level on the second floor of the ranch. Security was tight, alluding to a paranoia by the High Justice, but in truth her home had been infiltrated twice in recent months, and the Hapan was not taking any chances. Derek was patted down, his weapons removed from him swiftly.

“Don’t worry,” she said, placing her hand upon his arm. “They’ll be placed in locker on the ground level in case you need to use them. Not that you should fret, but…”

She did not need to elaborate. The Mirari bodyguard droids and high numbers of security personnel spoke to the fact that Tmoxin felt some threat here on Bothawui.

Flopping down on a soft grey sectional, she said, “I don’t plan to be on Geonosis if I can help it. But you’re welcome to stay as long as you like.” She’d seen him admiring the view; it was a beautiful sight after all. She kicked her feet up on the couch and said, “Take a seat. There’s something I want to ask you. You only have to listen and of course, all participation is by choice.”

[member="Derek Dib"]

 

[Derek Dib]

He had followed Tmoxin into the guest quarters where he was swiftly and efficiently checked for weapons. Surrendering his shoulder rig and collapsed bo he watched with a slight regret as his weapons were taken away. But the dainty, manicured hand of Tmoxin's on his arm distracted him from any discomfort he had from the parting.

As she went to lounge upon the sofa in a very relaxing manner he went to the floor to ceiling window to look out once more upon the view. Listening to her speak he watched the reflection in the glass as she brought her legs up and stretched across the furnishing. Raising a have he lightly tapped the glass with the knuckle of his index finger, both hearing and feeling the thickness. Quite dense. Security on alert, what looks like blaster resistant glass, weapon collection of allies ... I wonder the reasons ... Then again I could just be paranoid.

Smirking lightly he turned from the grand visage and moved to the sectional where he sat near the edge of her feet and placed his arms upon the back of the sofa. Looking at the red head he arched a brow.

"Ask away Lady Temi. I have no secrets."

[member="Tmoxin Temi"]

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

"No secrets," Tmoxin said with an amused smile. "How lucky you are." Her gaze also moved to the beautiful view of the nearby mountains as though the scenery provided her the fortitude to continue with what she said next.

"Unfortunately I do. Perhaps misdeeds is a better characterization of them, thus they become secrets that I need kept out of the public eye." Her chestnut-brown eyes roamed Derek, momentarily distracted by the handsome dark-haired man, and the possibilities to continue with the enticing foreplay that began on The Stingray.

She looked down at her hands and then clasped them in her lap. "An individual has uncovered a secret of mine, something I do not care to have released to anyone. While it does not happen often, he's already exploited me once, but I'm getting to the point where this relationship between us is a liability."

If Tmoxin were a bit younger, she might crawl over, nestle her lithe frame into Knight Dib's lap (much like the night she sent ship mogul, Alex Gaillard, a lewd selfie as collateral, garnering her the nickname Hapan Hussy in the holotabloids) and use a more heavy handed tactic to convince him to help her. But she did not resort to those measures today.

"If this were you, how would you deal with this situation?" Advice before asking directly seemed like the right thing to do.

[member="Derek Dib"]

 

[Derek Dib]

"Hmmm."

He had sensed the momentary pause from Tmoxin as her gathering her thoughts for the scenario and question that came after. Looking out the windows he contemplated the unenviable position she was in. His hand went to his face lightly rubbing the stubble adorning his chin. Running concurrent with his musings over her situation was the thought that perhaps this was the reason he had been given invite and passage to her home. He was a relative unknown who had proven he was able to do what needed to be done. Perhaps I'm just a tool for her ... problems. Regardless of his secondary line of thought he turned back to the scenario offered.

"I would say it depends. The difficulties from a personal perception is merely that. Personal issues that should be attempted to be solved amicably and without violence. But for you, even if it is a personal matter, the situation is a bit more ... complicated. As a former member of the Sith weakness can invite attack as from what I have gathered you left on shaky terms. Strength is respected and feared, while being seen as weak could invite repercussions."

His eyes turned to look at the red head. She was the definition of feminine in his opinion and yet there was steel and fire within here that could not be denied.

"Also since you are the High Justice of the Geonosian Knights and one of the founders of the Confederacy your situation is more complex. How you are viewed is also as an extension of the Confederacy. So from those stances I would say you need to protect not only yourself but the institution you both uphold and represent. The means of said protection are entirety debatable depending on the seriousness and leverage this 'relationship' has upon you."

Without more information he couldn't give a more clear cut answer. Was this merely a person of influence or could this become a political scandal? What exactly did he have on Tmoxin that would allow him to exploit the woman? Questions and more questions.

[member="Tmoxin Temi"]

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

Truthfully, Tmoxin had not even thought of Kyrel Ren until she plopped down to relax on the sofa, and then felt this subtle anxiety, seep into her psyche, realizing it was the situation she’d found herself in with her past deeds and The First Order.

A weary sigh escaped her lips. “My thoughts exactly. What has happened does put the CIS at risk, but does that mean I have to keep metaphorically genuflecting to a discount Sith Lord who calls me his Master? And I his Servant? A Hapan woman. Do you know how humiliating that is?” Her tone was not one of outrage but resignation.

Not to mention using her DNA to make a clone which felt a bit too personal to get into with Derek at this moment. Tmoxin would drip-feed him information about her life, but only those details she felt were relevant. And she’d exposed enough shortcomings for one day.

“But I do appreciate your advice on the matter. Come, let’s go riding. That is, unless you’re too space lagged.”

[member="Derek Dib"]

 

[Derek Dib]

He listened as Tmoxin shared more insight into her past and what had shaped her into the woman she was today. At the revelation of the bonds she had that resided with her and a Sith Lord he frowned lightly. It seemed one could rarely cut ties to their path, let alone a path involving the Sith. His brother had done so, but the man was fething crazy and didn't truly care what anyone thought of him. Frowning as he contemplated her problem, especially with the fact that she was Hapan and raised in a very different culture then most of the Galaxy, he began to offer his advice.

"It seems to me your problem is a difficult one. But from my experience I have learned there are two types of chains. One is literal, the kind that bind you physically. That doesn't seem to apply to your situation. The other chain is figuratively, which seems more apt in your situation. This Sith Lord sees himself as your master, and you as a servant. A Hapan woman at that."

He rose to his feet and walked several steps away before turning back to face her with arms folded over his chest. He wasn't intending to offer her but sometimes his frankness was perceived as rude or even confrontational.

"I guess it's all a matter of perception. Do you consider yourself a slave to a man who claims a hold over you? Do you acknowledge his power over you? Will you choose to acquiesce to his commands? The question isn't what does he believe, but what do you believe. You have the power and control. You can either accept his view of the situation as fact or decide for yourself that you have the power to change your own perception of the situation."

He smiled sheepishly not sure if his words would earn him a trip with her security for being so outspoken or perhaps she would rather toss him off the balcony herself. While generally the situation would typically dictate him being more diplomatic in his answer, he chose his own path and made his own decisions based on what he felt was relevant. He would dictate his own fate, just as Tmoxin, a master and High Justice with quite a bit of influence at her disposal, would have to choose just who would dictate her own fate. Her or another.

"And I'd ... love to take you up on your offer of riding, if the offer still stands."

[member="Tmoxin Temi"]

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

Tmoxin rose from the sofa, and headed to the repulsorlift, waiting for Derek to catch up so they could ride to the ground floor.

“Truthfully I have found myself believing that I’ve been in control. So far nothing… that detrimental has come from our relationship. But I feel that it’s just a matter of time before he comes to call upon me again and demands more than I can give.” The word again, meant she’d paid some price to Kyrel Ren, but what that was she would not say. And furthermore, her contemplative expression displayed a guardedness to divulge anything further.

The lowest level of the ranch was used for teachers and students and seemed a bit more like a recreation room than part of her home. “The men’s changing room is in that direction. You’ll find extra riding gear stored in there. Feel free to ask someone for help if you need it. There is normally one or two attendants around.” The Hapan herself entered the female locker room and dressed in form fitting white pants, knee-high black boots, a white shirt and black vest a top it. When she emerged, she also held a riding helmet and crop for the Keffi.

Finally leading Derek to the stables, she showed him all of the various stallions, letting him pick the one he wanted to ride.

[member="Derek Dib"]

 

[Derek Dib]

As Tmoxin Rose from the sofa he couldn't help but admire the lithe grace of the woman. Remembering her movements upon the Hutt's ship reminded him that grace could also be quite deadly. Following her to the turbolift he stood next to the red head as the lift began to descend. Her words implied she had already made a deposit into the relationship that haunted her, and that the next price that would come due may be substantial.

"You know, despite what the common consensus is in the Galaxy, we aren't alone in our personal struggles. You have allies and friends, perhaps, that will side with you. And from what I've seen in the Confederacy ... we aren't made up of weaklings nor pacifists."

He saw the closed look on her face and realized that the subject was closed for now, or at least until she deemed to reopen the topic. Following her from the lift her went in the direction sheer had motioned to, a men's changing room. Within the spacious lockers were a varied choice of clothing for the ride. As two men spoke on the items Derek lightly picked at the clothing with his fingers.

"You want me to wear this?"

Shaking his head at their affirmative nods he sighed. While he wasn't self conscious he also never went around wearing form fitting clothes. With another sigh he changed clothes.

Walking out of the dressing room he headed over to the red head in his riding gear, giving a little spin as if he was on a runway, then finished moving with her to the stables. The shirt and jacket were fine, as was the boots. It was the form fitting tights he wasn't a fan of. It hugged his lower body like a glove revealing more aspects then he was comfortable with. Looking over at the offered stallions he narrowed his eyes looking at a giant keffi shaking it's head to and fro.

"That one."

The statement sounded a bit like a question as Derek wasn't quite sure how to judge a good keffi mount by it's appearance.

[member="Tmoxin Temi"]

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

Tmoxin felt Derek’s glowing eyes upon her, but it did not deter her resolve. She was not a woman who hesitated for any man’s attention. But in the close quarters of the repulsorlift, she felt warm and a bit giddy with what was about to come. Did she like the company? Undeniably yes.

“Of course you need to wear that,” the Hapan chided. “It’s padded on the rear in case the Keffi throws you off, which he likely will.”

Away from the Hutts and the Sith and all of the others who sought to tear down the galaxy, it felt as though the pair of them could conquer anything. This is what the Dark Jedi loved about her ranch on Bothawui.

“Alright you’ve chosen,” said Tmoxin. She mounted her favorite mare, and they were off into the Drev'starn foothills. The redhead raced ahead, confident upon her steed to lead Derek wherever they needed to go.

[member="Derek Dib"]

 

[Derek Dib]

"Madam, I have no intention of being on my back."

He winked at her as she took off on her keffi. He attempted to mount the keffi on the right and the beast spun in circles turning repeatedly until the staff told him to mount on the other side. He sheepishly grinned hoping that Tmoxin hadn't seen. Walking to the otherwise he slipped his boot into the stirrup and swung his body into the animals back.

"Anything I need to know?"

As he asked the question the end of the riding whip laid upon the creature's back. Being a well trained stallion he took off in a gallop and the scene for the first hundred strides was pretty comical. But finally Derek found the rhythm and his nether-regions thanked him immediately.

Seeing Tmoxin opening the gap between then Derek grinned and leaned lower, placing the end of the whip once more to the keffi's hide. The stallion lengthened his stride as he gave the keffi his head. Using the force he touched the beast slightly in a way to anticipate the steed's moves. It wasn't just the joy of freedom that pushed the stallion but also the desire to win that made the beast quickly close the gap. Pulling up abreast of Tmoxin he laughed lightly.

"I can see why you love riding. Now I thought you had the impression that you were going to beat me?"

Laughing again his heels lightly brushed the stallions side as the memories of commands from the keffi began to fill in his inexperience. Taking off he threw Tmoxin a wink riding quickly through the plain but pulling up as the path grew steep, the stallion walking along the edge.

[member="Tmoxin Temi"]