Private A Private Showcase

[Darth Strosius]

Darth Strosius wouldn't normally call Himself a nervous or anxious individual. In fact He rather prided Himself on being capable of maintaining His composure and keeping a clear mind in most situations. This was not one of those situations however, apparently. The masked man found Himself pacing back and forth within the confines of the small chamber that served as His quarters whilst onboard the Cacophony. Normally He wouldn't have bothered with having a room on any ship besides the Harbinger but His trips and more importantly His time spent on the Sventove Carrier had been steadily growing as of late.

Only so much of His blood and DNA could be kept on hand at any one time due to its instability and none of the clones had developed enough for theirs to be used as substitutes as of yet, necessitating His presence aboard the Cacophony more often than He'd have liked. Today wasn't a scheduled extraction appointment however, that had been yesterday. Instead Darth Strosius was still on the vessel because for the first time He had reached out to invite someone to it. A very particular someone. Lina Ovmar, His...associate? That word didn't quite fit but it was the only one that He was willing to stick with for the moment.

The masked man, in what He assumed was a fit of delirium after having so much of His blood drawn from the extraction, had sent her a rather short and prompt invitation with the coordinates for the Cacophony's hidden location with the promise of talking about the ring project as well as another endeavor that He wanted her advice on. An invitation that He was caught between dreading and feeling somewhat excited for even now. Before He could talk Himself into sending her an apology message that rescinded the invitation however, an alert beeped on His room's console. Lady Ovmar had arrived within range of the carrier and was being directed towards one of the hangars. "Oh. Chit."

Lina Ovmar

 

[Lina Ovmar]

Lina was absolutely not going to turn down any invitation offered by Lord Strosius, especially one as cryptic as this one had been. Her transport shuddered as it reverted into realspace, the lines fading into stars. Her hands came to settle on the controls as she adjusted the ships angle, bringing the Cacophony into her sight. For a man who had lost a great deal leading up to and following the kaggath, he was surprisingly resourceful. She wondered what else like this he had hidden across the galaxy.

Lina guided the ship to the hangar bay with direction from the Cacophony's crew. Flicking it to autopilot, she rose from the pilots chair, smoothing her robes. Whatever Alisteri had to discuss with her had to be important for it to be hidden all the way out here and if she was beginning to know him like she thought she did, she wagered that extending such an invitation to her wouldn't have come easily to him.

The deep clang of metal on metal and the ships soft groan as it sank onto its landing gears told her it was time, and she lowered the landing ramp. Her movements were trailed by a smoky echo, her face lit by an easy smile, her heart fluttering strangely in her chest. a mix of excitement to see him, and apprehension because for all the figuring out she thought she had done, it was impossible to really know what was going on in his head.

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

Darth Strosius had made the short distance between the officer's deck and the hangar that Lady Ovmar's vessel made its landing in within the span of a couple minutes, disturbing more than a couple of the crew and technicians along the way as He all but ran past them. The moment that the doors to the hangar slid open to allow Him in however His next step lacked any of the haste that the previous ones had in full.

As He strode to meet His guest at the base of the landing ramp He idly smoothed out His robes from where they had been displaced and ruffled during His travel, soon standing before Lina as composed as ever and offering a bow of His head in greeting. "Lady Ovmar, do forgive the sudden invitation." The masked man, in spite of Himself, spoke with slight caution in His tone. "I...I do hope that I didn't pull you away from anything." His hands clasped together behind His back as a means of straightening His stance up slightly.

"I know my message was rather vague but it's nothing pressing of course." Darth Strosius silently chided Himself for His insistence on offering her an excuse to leave, it was quite rude. And a product of His own nerves which He couldn't help but scold Himself for. "Welcome aboard the Cacophony. It's one of our Wonosan...research and training vessels." Better to rip the proverbial patch off sooner rather than later He supposed. "Out of curiosity, how familiar are you with the arts of cloning?"

Lina Ovmar

 

[Lina Ovmar]

Lina cocked her head as Strosius seemed to be fumbling. He'd sent her a hasty invitation, yet the matter was not pressing? Had he perhaps changed his mind on inviting her? Her emerald gaze swept over him before coming to rest on his masked visage as she closed the gap between them, Placing a hand on his chest, her mouth opening to utter words to calm the flow coming from him when his question struck her. She froze, the easy smile faded into surprise as she blinked. There were none that knew of her creation, save her parents, so she knew the question was not meant to unsettle her, it was asked in genuine curiosity and need. She blinked again, the smile returning.

"As usual, Alisteri, your hosting capabilities are lacking." she sighed her hand moving from his chest, to his arm, gently turning him and looping her arm through his so he could walk her out of the hangar bay. "You're supposed to welcome you guest, show them around a little and then probe them for knowledge over a drink, perhaps tea, or wine if you'd like them a little looser but its an art form. We'll work on it." she patted his forearm and beginning to walk, simply to get him moving. Once he had momentum she would let him lead.

"You did not tear me from anything, I am happy to spend time in your company, whether it be to talk shop or not. As for cloning..." she let out a soft sigh "I am intimately familiar. Now, this is a research and training vessel hidden in the middle of nowhere, am I safe to deduce that from your incredibly direct line of questioning that you are cloning something?"

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

Darth Strosius found His breath frozen the moment that her hand was placed on His chest, an inhale and exhale deep enough that His shoulders heaved with the motion following it as He steadied His nerves. And did His best not seem too eager as well of course. Her own brief surprise as His unprofessional behavior shifted easily into a bit of chastisement which was admittedly warranted. "I don't get many guests." He muttered indignantly as He allowed Himself to be turned and His arm claimed by Lina with no objection.

He clicked His tongue as they began walking and within the first couple of steps He did start leading the way rather than simply letting her maneuver Him forward. "I'm sure that there is a hidden cache or two of alcohol somewhere around here if that's what you want." He teased in kind, although He did idly wonder if the vessel had any tea that He could treat her to later. If nothing else it would be a nice gesture for dragging her all the way out here to visit.

The masked man did His best not to perk up too much when she assured that she was pleased to spend some time with Him, instead offering a confirming nod to her pertinent question. As well as an almost bitter chuckle. "Cloning something is a rather apt description yes." There was a flash of resigned dread in His tone before He continued on in a more clinical yet far more casual manner. "Yes, these carriers serve primarily as the cloning facilities of our forces. Still in development of course, but securing a reliable and consistent source of manpower has always been a difficulty in my line of work as you might expect."

Their walk carried them to a door at the far end of the hangar, not the one that He had entered through but a separate and more secure one that was locked with a small keypad. "This particular vessel however doesn't make use of the samples and candidates that the wider fleet of its peers does." His gloved fingers hesitated before the keypad for a moment, the subtlest tilt of His masked head towards Lina as though to measure her reaction before He slowly input a code. "The clones here are...specialized."

When the doors did finally part to allow them access Darth Strosius didn't move forward immediately as one might expect, instead fixing the room beyond with a slight incline of His head. The room beyond was a corridor of sorts with glass sides revealing a wall of cloning pods around it, each containing pale and twisted humanoid forms still in the early stages of their development. Some had wings, many sported claws, all of them were some manner of monstrous it seemed.

"These are...my clones."

Lina Ovmar

 

[Lina Ovmar]

Lina chuckled lightly at his teasing, nudging him gently with her shoulder as they walked. As his tone shifted and he began to explain the purpose of this and apparently other cloning facilities, Lina listened with rapt attention. Cloning forces was not a new concept, there were instances throughout their history. It was expensive, but it was far easier to create troops already loyal and committed than it was to convert existing fighters.

When he hesitated, Lina met his gaze with curiosity. He hadn't called her here simply to discuss cloning of troops. Her gaze shifted from him to the door as it slid open, her mouth falling open as she let out a small gasp. Her arm slid from his as she stepped forward into the room moving to the glass and scanning each one.

"Oh, look at them." She said breathlessly, eyes roaming over wings and claws alike. "Alisteri, they're beautiful." She looked back at him with a wide smile, before moving to another. "The variations are fascinating, I imagine that has a great deal to do with your sanguine blood and the alterations you've made to yourself over the decades."

Lina lifted a hand to the glass, studying the face of one of them. "Are they empty vessels? Or are you allowing them to grow their own minds?"

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

The unmistakably familiar metallic taste of blood, albeit tinged with a distinctive palate of flavor that He'd yet to find elsewhere, entered His notice as Lady Ovmar gasped and left His side. Evidently He'd bitten down on His lip a bit too hard. The wound was healed a breath later of course but Darth Strosius's attention had remained on His guest the entire time regardless. One of His hands was trembling a bit too much for His liking as she scanned over His offspring, the movement halted by His other hand snapping to grab hold of it and press it against His side.

"You...think so?" Darth Strosius blinked in surprise at the remark of the clones' apparent "beauty." He didn't see it. Even as Lady Ovmar looked back at Him and grinned His gaze drifted to one of the tanks and settled on one of the little pale faces within. It serving as a mirror image of what He must have looked like as an infant did little to soothe the twitch in His left eye before He tore His gaze away to regard Lina again. "You'd be correct. Between my Sangnir transformation and my Sithspawn enhancements, these...clones are a fair bit departed from my original form."

He crossed His hands behind His back in order to hide their slight shaking as He stepped up beside Lina and stared at the slumbering clone with a narrowed gaze. "All of these will be fully suitable and sentient beings. We still haven't quite managed to make a..." His mouth suddenly felt rather dry, enough that He had to clear His throat before He continued. "A proper vessel such as mine. Although we are working hard to correct that lack, just in case I find myself in need of a spare body before I'm ready to craft my new form."

Lina Ovmar

 

[Lina Ovmar]

His question of her compliment made her smile. Of course he didn't think so himself, he want to such measures to conceal everything physical about him through shame that he would only see monstrosities. Oh of only he could see through her eyes, even if just for a moment. "Of course I think so." She almost added 'they are a part of you' but his nerves seemed frayed enough already.

Lina tore her gaze from the clone as he stepped up beside her, settling it instead on him as he spoke. He hid his hands behind his back with a tightness that reminded her of when he tried to hide his clawed hands in the nether. She let out a hum frowning at his desire for a new form. "It is possible to alter their DNA in the initial creation, provided you can identify the markers for the traits you don't want. Getting your original form might be difficult considering how much you have changed but you could at least fashion them how you like."

She looked back at the sleeping clone. "It's how I was made." She said softly, her hand looping once more through his arm.

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

Her assurance drew a small hum from the masked man, a thoughtful one rather than one tinged with any proper emotion, but He chose not to make any real comment. Frankly He wasn't certain what He should say in response to that. Nor was He certain what He should make of the frown that adorned her features before she responded. Darth Strosius briefly met her gaze before swiftly tearing His back to regard the clone pod, nodding with her assessment.

"Easier said than done I'm afraid. The ones you see the before you are the only viable ones we've been able to produce thus far, we're still working out how best to...replicate me." His masked gaze did finally fully snap towards Lady Ovmar when she mentioned that she was apparently a clone of some sort, His hand moving to rest on hers as she looped their arms together. "Forgive me, I hadn't known. I don't mean to trouble you with such topics."

The coil settled in His core whenever He thought of His offspring wound ever tighter for a moment. Lina was no mere vat grown soldier or replacement as He wished to make, as the clones were intended to be. Was He maligning His clones? Denying them their rightful chance to grow into their own people? A heavy sigh left Him and for a moment He allowed Himself to lean against Lina in order to steady Himself, but just for a moment. Any longer and He feared that He might never pull away.

"...I've named this one Tulak."

Lina Ovmar

 

[Lina Ovmar]

Lina waved his apology away, lifting her gaze back to him as his hand came to rest over hers. "You weren't to know. That piece of knowledge is known only by by my parents...and now you. There are greater demons in my past than how I was made, however, I am not troubled by it." It wasn;t a secret per say, it was just simply never spoken about. Lina remembered all of it, hearing the voices muffled by the liquid around her, feeling the emotions than ran high in the force, the anger, the pain and death.

As he leaned into her with a heavy sigh, Lina rested her head on his shoulder, her grip tightening slightly on his arm. She wondered what weighed on his mind to elicit such a move, he was not normally so affectionate. Perhaps she had finally worn down past the many barriers? She kept her head where it was as he drew back again, only lifting it when he told her the clones name.

"Tulak." She repeated softly. "A good name. Do you know they can hear you?" She moved to stand between the glass and Alisteri, looking up at him. "Much like a child in the womb, they will remember the voices they hear. And gifted with the force as they are they'll feel the emotions around them too."

Her hands trailed down his arms before lacing her fingers with his. "I am honoured, that you would show me your children, Alisteri, but I get the feeling that there is something troubling you. Speak your mind."

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

He simply nodded as she dismissed His apology, knowing better than to dwell on what sort of demons she might have. Darth Strosius had more than enough things in His past that He'd much rather forget and He imagined that Lina was probably fairly similar in that regard. Frankly if she didn't then He'd be rather concerned. Such musings melted as her head rested on HIs shoulder, causing Him to stiffen slightly and making His eventual withdraw all the more difficult.

The masked man was starting to be slightly concerned with how...comfortable He was growing around Lady Ovmar. Perhaps too comfortable. He cocked His head to the side when she mentioned them being able to hear, blinking in surprise at the idea that they would remember anything from such an underdeveloped time in their lives. It made Him feel more conscious and aware of what He and the Cacophony's crew would be saying from now on, and perhaps even thinking as well if they were as blessed with the Force as He expected them to be.

"How...interesting." It definitely gave Him some ideas for the future during His meditations and idle times aboard the vessel, and only reinforced His insistence to the researchers and crew to address His offspring by their names. He would not have any of His children think they were little more than a handful of designated letters and numbers. He could already picture the argument He was going to have with Kadra over it, but He would make His will known and followed regardless.

Darth Strosius grew still once more at she took His hand and relayed her appreciation of meeting His offspring, slightly shivering when she said the word "children" in particular. Yes He was getting much too comfortable, that much was certain. "I..." He clicked His tongue as the words caught in His throat, His gaze dropping slightly as He collected Himself. "I require your opinion on something. Something that I don't trust anyone within the Order of Wonosa to give me an honest answer on."

His masked gaze returned to her after another moment of what could only be hesitation. "If you could wipe away every regret, every mistake, every bad memory, every awful experience from your mind. From your memories, forever more, would you? Do you think that you would be...better? A better person? A better Sith?" His fingers clutched onto hers desperately as His gaze slowly trailed back to the clones beyond the window. "A better leader...a better parent? Do you think that without any scars you could be who they needed you to be?"

Lina Ovmar

 

[Lina Ovmar]

For a long moment, Lina said nothing her thumbs gently caressing his gloved hands as she pondered the question. If she erased every mistake, every painful memory what would have been left? "No." She said finally shaking her head she let go of his hands stepping back slightly her fingers moved to the buttons of her robes, deftly undoing the top layer and shrugging it free to reveal the vest top underneath.

And a skin that was a myriad of scars. Some were pale and light, shimmering slightly in the lights, others were deep and dark. All of them told a different tale, be it of battle or torment, her mistakes and memories were written her skin.

The cool air of the ship made her shiver slightly. "Every mistake, every regret is a mark I wear. I am built on painful memories. If i forget them, if I erase them, then how can I guide those around me down a path that means they do not suffer them same fate?" She stepped back into his space, reaching for his hand and placing it over her heart. "Our mistakes are etched into our skin, not everyone is so unfortunate, but I would not lose them. They serve as reminders for the lessons I have learned, lessons I would pass on to those who would follow me."

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

The silence made His ears ring with the pounding beats of His own pulse, causing Him to idly bit down on His lip in order to provide some sort of distraction from the wait for her response. Before the masked man could bite down enough to draw blood however Lina did give Him an answer, one that He was relieved to hear. The tension thay left His shoulders at her response quickly returned however when she stepped away and began unbuttoning her robes.

"Wha-whoa wait a minute-!" Darth Strosius quickly looked away and held up a gloved hand in front of His visor in order to shield Himself from the sight, and so that He could have a moment to try and calm the growing heat in His cheeks. At least His face was still hidden He supposed, but even still He didn't trust that His voice would stay steady and hide His fluster given the circumstances. When she spoke again He risked a peek over His fingers and froze at the sight she offered.

His eyes widened as they traced over the various scars and old wounds which were inscribed across her form, a pair of brief golden flashes being visible even through His visor as His hand slowly lowered so that He could see her fully. The heat hadn't at all diminished in His cheeks but He didn't find that He cared much about that at the moment, especially not when Lina stepped closer and took His hand. It shivered at her touch but He offered no resistance aside from a small gasp when she placed His hand upon her.

His free hand twitched and flexed its fingers as though it was tempted to join the other, yet it didn't move up much to do so. That would be far too rude of course. Even with the rather...distracting view her words did still reach Him and inspire a fluttering deep in His core that He simply couldn't ignore. After a moment of hesitation His other hand did travel up, moving to gently cup her cheek if she allowed it. "Dhasias." He muttered breathlessly as though lost in thought. "Shias tsiyiâ manatsa, tuti zo dtik."

Lina Ovmar

 

[Lina Ovmar]

Lina’s breath left her as the words left his lips. Her words. Heat rose within her, settling in her chest as her heart beat rapidly beneath his fingers. "Alisteri..." his name left her in a whisper as she swayed slightly on the spot. She would have kissed him.

Were it not for that fething mask.

It took every ounce of her self control not to reach up and rip the helm from his head, so terrified that if she did she might chase the moment away. Lina closed her eyes, her hand moving over his pressed against her cheek turning to press her lips against a gloved palm as she tried to regain ground beneath her feet again.

A beat passed, and another. Slowly she managed to regain some semblance of control over the storm of emotion that ripped benath the surface. She opened her eyes, looking up at him again she shifted closer. "You're a cruel man, Alisteri, to utter such words with that mask on." She said softly, a smile playing on her lips.

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

He barely suppressed a shiver as His name left her lips, having to grit His fangs together to muffle the pleased sigh that escaped Him at it. She wasn't the only one that swayed slightly, just barely being able to catch Himself before it became too obvious. The masked man felt His composure slipping far too quickly, His heart beating much too fast, His breathing too loud and rapid to be dismissed as anything normal or relaxed. He was peering over the edge and the abyss beyond was pressing her lips into His gloved hand.

He took a shuddering breath to steady Himself at the brief pause between them, doing His best to reign His wandering thoughts in before they made anything else wander along with them. And then she shifted closer to Him and all the progress that He'd made to recompose Himself was undone in a heartbeat. Quite literally. Lina's little teasing remark drew a huff from Him, half in amusement and half in frustration. He was supposed to be cruel one? When she was so close? When she was looking up at Him like that? She had some gall.

He took a deep breath as He leaned back slightly, His hand twitching as it slowly withdrew from over her heart. He was making a mistake. Surely. Definitely. Gladly. This was an awful mistake. His gloved fingers reached beneath His mask and undid the clasps in quick succession, one side and then the other. The moment that the mask hissed He all but tore the helmet from His head, caring little for the rough treatment of His hood or the abrupt removal of His helm as He let it fall to the floor. This was an awful mistake, and it had been made.

Alisteri gazed down at Lina, his golden gaze flickering in its luminescence. His pale cheeks were tinted crimson, even the black tattoos that swept beneath his eyes seemed a bit lighter in color in spite of how deep the circles they hid seemed to be. He managed a nervous smile, flashing his fangs before he glanced away and loosed the breath that he'd been holding in. "Shall...shall I utter them again, Lina?" The choir that trailed his words were muted, adding only the slightest echo to accompany the slight tremble in His tone.

Lina Ovmar

 

[Lina Ovmar]

The clang of his helmet hitting the floor echoed through the chamber, but to Lina it was miles away for there was only him as he settled flickering gold eyes upon her, his cheeks tinged pink, a nervous smile flashing scross his face before he looked away. She moved without hesitation, both hands reaching to cup his cheeks and bring his gaze back to hers as he uttered her name the choir thay chased his voice muted but still running through her as it always did, drawing a soft sigh of pleasure from her.

She shook her head in reply unable for the moment to form words, her breath was quick her heart racing as she lost herself in his eyes, thumbs trailing the dark tattoos beneath his eyes as if she was trying to commit every detail of his face to her memory. Slowly she pressed closer. Her voice low and trembling.

"I have wanted to look upon your face so many times since you climbed out of that Ouibilette. To catch a glimpse of your beautiful eyes, to see the marks that you are so eager to hide. You needn't hide from me, Alisteri."

She pressed her forehead against his, eyes burning with desire and something deeper, but she kept both in check, advancing only as far as she would let him, lest he frighten and flee.

"There is nothing that you can show me that will change the fact that I am falling hopelessly in love with you."

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

A breath left him as her hands cupped his face, all but melting into the touch as he looked back at her and offered another sheepish smile. His eyes briefly fluttered closed as she ran her thumbs beneath them, savoring the contact and doing his best not to swoon on the spot. Oh yes, this was a terrible mistake indeed. It had been far too long since he'd allowed anyone this close beneath the mask and the weakness in his knees betrayed the weakness in his composure even more.

Alisteri bit his lip to stifle the noise that accompanied the slight shiver that Lina's words brought him, his eyes growing more desperate and frantic for a moment as they searched hers for any signs of a lie. He wanted to believe her, to just let himself sink into her touch and accept whatever she told him. As if he wasn't already doing so.

In spite of that though he still winced slightly at her latter remark, a gasp leaving him before he could help it. "Lina-" He paused, swallowing thickly at how breathless he sounded and giving himself a moment before he continued. "Y-You can't just say things like that. I-you haven't seen-you don't-" The words kept dying up on his tongue before he could warn her properly, his gaze dropping before returning to her. "I...I think I've fallen for you already. Is...is that alright? I'm-I haven't-" He huffed, his cheeks growing warm under her touch. "I'm a little...out of practice, I'm sorry."

Lina Ovmar

 

[Lina Ovmar]

Lina drank all of it, the way his teeth foind his lip to quiet whatever noise stirred in his throat, the searching of his gaze the panic that stirred beneath the glittering gold. Then he uttered her name again in a breathless tone that made heat rise in her chest. His stammering brought a smile to her lips warming her heart, he had come completely unravelled and it just made her love him more.

She lifted a hand from his cheek brushing a strand of hair from his forehead her eyes tracking the movement, freezing the moment he said he thought he had already fallen for her. Slowly her eyes slid back to his, searching to see if he was speaking the truth, or if the confession came simply out of fear and panic in the wake of her own.

The pink rose in his cheeks and she smiled. "That's alright," she said softly, "I don't mind. We can practice as often and as long as you like." The flash of desire behind her eyes left little to interpretation. "Now stop talking, and kiss me."

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

He silently cursed himself when her intense gaze searched his own, the slightest grimace crossing his pale features as apprehension reigned with his expression before she smiled and spoke again. Alisteri let the breath that he hadn't realized he'd been holding in loose at her words, giving Lina a small smile in kind. One that quivered slightly to match a new blush that bloomed across his cheeks when she mentioned "practicing" as much as he'd like. For his own sake he didn't dwell on the full implications of that, given the look in her eyes.

Instead he recalled what past experience he did have at her request, the golden glow of his eyes flashing brighter for a moment. Never leave a lady wanting, that was what he remembered. And so Alisteri did as she requested, his hands coming to rest on her sides as he leaned in and closed his eyes the moment that their lips connected.

He felt his "wings" flare at the contact and instantly became very appreciative of the forethought he'd had to have this corridor put off limits for the rest of the vessel during Lina's visit. He didn't want to rush this after all, not when he was still somewhat unsure if it was real or not. If it wasn't then it was more than a welcome respite from his usual dreams, if it was then he'd savor it fully. Just in case. She did say she didn't mind practicing for awhile after all.

Lina Ovmar

 

[Lina Ovmar]

Lina’s eyes lit up when a fresh bloom of pink spread across his cheeks, her smile widened. She was a creature of passion, she always had been. Her affairs were as short lived as they were wild, and normally with those who were unabashed or unashamed to take what was offered. Yet Alisteri was something else entirely. He had passion, she had heard it in his voice, she had witnessed hundreds stirred by the fire within him. Yet in this, he was hesitant, unsure. It wasn't that of a man without experience, but one whose shame perhaps shackled him to a belief that he was undeserving of such affection.

When his lips met hers, Lina's eyes closed and all thought fell away as her hands found purchase in the fabric of his robes, pulling herself closer still, chasing the gap between them away and lost herself in the sensation. The warmth of his hands at her sides, the softness of his lips the press of her body against his. Her heart and spirit seemed to sing in a way she had not felt and she wanted to chase it.

Her hands crept up to his face and she broke the kiss, eyes still closed, forehead pressed against his her breathing heavy. She opened her eyes, biting her lower lip as she looked up at him, unlocking her fingers from his robes and drawing them up around his neck in a loose embrace, not moving form where she stood. Her eyes drifted past his shoulder, to the wings that had flared behind him. She reached without thought, running her fingers along the edge of one of the pale tendrils. "I know you despise them, not only because they represent a failure in your eyes, but also because they betray more of you than you would like, but they are beautiful." Her eyes slid back to his face. "You are beautiful."

Darth Strosius