A Tender Heart for Cripples, Bastards and Broken Things

[Kurenai]

Tahv, The City of Glass - Link (Canon site)

• Tahv is the City of Glass, Capital of Kesh and Cultural landmark of the planet. One of the most defended spots on the planet as well as one of the most scarred by continuous war over the centuries. Notable locations include the Circle Eternal, a vast garden recreated by the King of Kesh as well as the numerous crystal and glass statues throughout the city that have been there for Millennia.

[member="Solan Charr"]

Circle

When twilight came upon the City of Glass, and the stars began to twinkle, the street lamps ignited and the parks began to fill with the wealthy and middle citizens of Tahv. After a day of work they unwind, and play. It was idyllic, and held little appeal to a bored singular figure who had been concealed by a Force glamer. Nariko appeared much like herself dressed as other dwellers of Tahv- well fed, well clothed, smelling of fine perfume. Pleasing to the senses. It was only the mildest effort to maintain the charade. She wished to dress as an off-worlder, but she felt she drew too much attention as one, as she could see that for all its pleasantness, the city did not permit certain... elements... to freely walk in the city at night.

A young nobleman approached with much confidence and trepidation. He was a slight boy, effeminate and spoke in a sing-song voice. A far cry from the gladiators where she was from. She didn't know there were other kinds of men. "Excuse me miss, I have never seen you before in the city. May I know your name?"

Nariko blinked. Perhaps her glamer was a bit too effective. She blurted out her name without much thinking. "Nariko."

"Nariko... exotic, fair, mysterious. Where are you from?" He began to press the issue.

She was not in the mood for highly impressionable males. A quick truth would put an end to this. "Please, I am a widow... my husband died off world recently." She said in a sad, teary tone of voice. The young man looked shocked.

"My... my condolences ma'am. I'm sorry, I thought you were... you look so young." Now the young man felt like filth. "It's alright. Maybe another time." She said, pleased with herself. She didn't even need to lie.


Tahv Public Library

Just as she felt that this world held no more interest, she came upon a building that held her interest- within she saw people. She modified her glamer to make her a simpler looking girl. A nurse. She saw them, those books of light. Nariko looked at the place like a child in a candy store. She could not contain her excitement, and her nervousness as she approached the reception desk, where the librarian guided visitors.

"Good evening, and welcome to the Tavh city library. How may I help you?" A middle aged woman of bronzed skin and short hair, wearing the robes of a codicier looked up from her work to greet the newcomer.

"I wish to peruse... these tomes of light..." Nariko said, completely overwhelmed, unsure where to begin.

The librarian gave a laugh, Nariko's figure of speech coming off as archaic, even romantic and amusing. "Ma'am, I think you may have been reading too much fiction. That's alright, the archives are here to serve. Did you want to look up some medical texts?" She said activating the holo-screen to serve Nariko.

"...I... I... yes I would."

"Oh, you are just too precious. Medical texts are available in the east wing, fourth shelf."

Library East Wing

Nariko nodded, and wandered off to peruse at that section. Only a small handful of people were present, reading through texts and listening to holo-vid lectures. She had never seen so much knowledge, contained in such a small space. She could likely stay here for quite awhile, but minded herself. She selected the nearest data-slate concerning the local flora of the planet, and began reading right there on the floor by the shelf. Not an unusual practice, though such a thing was more a student's behavior.

 

[Aithne Charr]

[member="Kurenai"]

Solan had already been in the East Wing, his face covered by a hood as he sat with a pile of books to his right and left for a far different reason than anyone around him. For two years now he has had to deal with the fact that his daughter had the same 'incurable' disease that his first love had. There was always a cure and he had atleast found the first step while taken into that other world controlled by some emperor like ruler. But what he found was only a treatment, a way to keep her alive and lessen her symptoms so she did not get worse.

So that was what left him searching through most of these books, what kept him from using the darkside and what had given him a reason to preserve his own life so that he could figure out a cure. As long as he was alive he could do his research and as long as he remained doing such, there was a chance to figure out a way to cure her that the doctors on the planet could not do.

It was then that his focus changed for a split second, that something was not quite right and as he let his eyes cover what they could without him moving, there seemed to be nothing wrong in sight. So it begged the question of why he felt like there was something strange in the air, why he was suddenly on edge like something strange was happening. Sure he had long since learned how to fall into the ability of force sight but even that was muddled by his home of Tahv. The city had always had a dark aura too it so anything that he saw always seemed to twist with that darkness.

 

[Kurenai]

It took a true love of reading to stay there until the library was near empty and already closing, and Kurenai absorbed knowledge like a sponge, in awe of the marvels of modern medicine. Everything she learned from home had parallels, just in different words, and now in accurate 3D models rather than just crude sketches on parchment. The topic of mental health also interested her greatly, as more often than not, even healthy warriors were readily afflicted in the mind. They coined it "warrior's pain" or "warrior's heart", but in medical parlance it was PTSD or EDD.

Alas, all good things must end, and the announcement of the library closing made Nariko sad. She saw only one man remained, as intent in his reading as herself, though his reading was with strong purpose rather than leisure. Did he seek a remedy for something? It mattered little, as the

"Good evening. The library is closing, dears. But you can come back tomorrow." She said nicely. Kurenai stood up wordlessly and heeded, realizing she herself was tired from hours of reading. She returned to the main lobby, wondering where she'd go next. That was when her attention was caught by a minor commotion.

"...No... I'm still waiting for my husband and my family. We always met at this table." An old lady, walking with a simple cane, resisted

"Ma'am... your husband isn't coming. He's... been gone. For a year now. remember?" The librarian said gently. There was a story here, that was for sure.

"No... no... He is... we always do." Grandma persisted, but spoke as if she was confused.

Kurenai sensed the woman's mind was no longer quite intact. Though she was not fond of calling attention to herself, the sight of an old lady left alone crushed Kurenai's heart. It reminded her of her own old Nan, who yearned for the swamps of Dathomir. She wondered if she should approach or help.

[member="Solan Charr"]

 

[Aithne Charr]

[member="Kurenai"]

Solan himself had heard the words and slowly let the book infront of him close. Another day of nothing, these old books wouldn't help him any more than the holonet had but there was some hint of hoping and yearning for it to do so and some hope that things would be clearer with a remedy from the older texts. But then his ears perked and he walked back from the seat, making sure the books were in order to be restocked before turning and heading towards the sound of the woman who spoke of her husband coming back. He had seen those lost in the past before and for a moment he almost discredited this as another simple issue of memory but for a second he watched wordlessly before passing.

What caught his eyes was the thing that his eyes knew were wrong, it was the form infront of him that was short and watching the commotion with a bit of sorrow. That was strange, especially considering he had never seen this woman before and the old woman was a regular who had been stuck in this cycle for many, many weeks. Sorrow did horrible things to people.

But just as his eyes knew something was wrong with this woman his mind reacted too to tell him instantly what it was. This woman did not look right, the force bent oddly around her and for a few moments solan felt his hand drifting as he watched the woman cautiously without making his presence noticeable if he could.

 

[Kurenai]

"Hello, Nan." She couldn't help it and quickly approached the old lady.

"Hello. Do I know you?" The Old lady was defensive at first, being approached by a young nurse.

"It's alright Nan... I know where grandfather is. He forgot his communicator, and said he went home already." Nariko said, gently nudging the old lady's mind. She adjusted her glasses, and realized the nurse was actually her granddaughter, or so Nariko wanted her to believe. The sad thing was she was all to happy to believe it.

"Aemolie... oh dear, I didn't recognize you." The old lady's mind was easy to read, and easier to fool. Kurenai disliked deception, but she disliked the woman's sorry state more. At least the old lady no longer felt sad and alone. She had also forgotten that their grandchildren wanted little to do with their aging relative and her old ways. "Well, he's always like that, isn't he? I'll be sure to put extra peppers in his soup. He hates that." She said, cheerfully.

The librarian "Well, please take better care of your grandmother, young lady." She went to the desk to close the lights, and usher them outside, the doors of the library now closed.

The old woman then noticed Solan standing there."Oh dear it's not proper for two ladies to walk the streets. Young man, would you be so kind... as to escort two ladies to their home?" She asked with a smile, her arm wrapped around her 'granddaughter's'. Nariko looked at Solan, her power occupied in keeping the old lady convinced her family still cared about her. The thought that another Force User was nearby escaped her mind.

[member="Solan Charr"]

 

[Aithne Charr]

[member="Kurenai"] (Might have zoned out on this one, my apologies.)

Solan almost laughed as he watched the girl help the older woman. It was strange to see someone so kind but it also worried him as to why she was doing this. So without a thought when the question was asked, he simply nodded and brought his eyes to look down the street. Silently he walked with the two for a few seconds before finally speaking. "I must say, I'm surprised to see your granddaughter here today, she sure has changed a lot over the last year, no?" He smiled and drew his eyes on Kurenai, staring at her for a few seconds with a knowing gaze but didn't work to tear apart her influence. In fact, he seemed to make it seem like the old woman couldn't see as clearly anymore, hoping to avoid Kurenai realizing he could sense her manipulation.

There was little he could really say to her about this, the less he said after all the easier it would be to hide both his identity from this foreign woman who hid her face and to hide his connection to the force. He wanted to know why she was here, though. It was strange, sure, seeing someone who he had never seen spend so much time in the library in Tahv. Those that did were historians that made their way to the planet. But to see a foreigner simply come to Tahv rather than Gyn or Lyst was strange considering this one's reason. "I'm David by the way, you two?"

 

[Kurenai]

It slowly dawned on Kurenai that the man was more perceptive than he let on. After all, she was the newcomer- the old lady a regular at the library. For the sake of the old Nan though, she decided to play it calm and continue the charade. The old lady guided them towards one of the middle class neighborhoods.

"Why, I'm Aemolie and this is my Nan, Amalia. How about you? What do you do, David?" she asked, deciding to feign small talk.

"What a sweet boy. I like him. Are you asking my granddaughter out later, David?" She asked, being a far too typical grandmother. Kurenai had nothing further to add.

[member="Solan Charr"]

 

[Aithne Charr]

[member="Kurenai"]

"Sadly not, simply curious about your two's day, nothing more like that." He turned his head forward, watching the street before him as he waited for them to reach the old woman's home. As far as he knew Kurenai was a possible danger, yet he knew there was probably something more to it than that simple fact. "As for what I do, I am a simple gardener, nothing more." He smiled at the woman as there was no hint of deceit. To be honest, though he was not lying... well directly. There were many days where he found himself tending to a personal garden in the palace but the fact that she was not sure who he was was a good show of how new she was. The old woman not knowing him made sense considering the ailing mind, but as for the foreigner.

 

[Kurenai]

Kurenai smiled a bit, and decided to test him. "A gardener? Interesting. So you keep Dalsa flowers and Vosso trees? or perhaps more exotic fare, like carnivorous plants, or..." Kurenai had worked with herbs most her life, and found it refreshing to finally find a decent fellow who she might speak trade with.

Even with the old lady's impaired mobility, they arrived at a modest sized home in the middle-class residential district. Completely typical and possessed a small garden. "Miss Amalia? I wasn't expecting you..." The door opened, and a caretaker droid had greeted them. Kurenai frowned. The men of metal had no minds for her to read, no senses for her to fool.

"Home? Nonsense. I have to take care of the grandchildren. They have school tomorrow. Aemolie, I'm going to bed. Be sure to wake up early." The old lady said, to her home-keeping droid as well as to Kurenai as she entered her home, and placing her belongings on a nearby table. The place was clean enough, and seemed lived in.

"Grandchildren? Miss Amalia, your grandchildren are already grown... have you missed your medications?" The droid was fully updated on the old lady's condition, then turned to their guests to point out a simple truth. "And who might you two be? You are not Aemolie."

Kurenai gasped. No matter how well she could trick living minds, droids had no time for mind tricks. "I... I... I... I'm simply a nurse assigned to care for her. She must have mistaken me for her grand daughter."

"Well that is a valid symptom of Miss Amalia's condition. But if you're a nurse assigned to miss Amalia, why didn't you take her to the home for the elderly?"

"Didn't you want... your master... home..." Kurenai froze right then. With the droid's simple logic, The charade was clearly over. Kurenai seemed poised to run.

[member="Solan Charr"]

 

[Aithne Charr]

[member="Kurenai"]

Solan watched the droid and in a moment he knew the little charade was over, that this was all done and through and he would have no more reason to play along. What she did next though would seal this whole event though. If she decided to try and run that would be fine but he would have to make sure she did not harm anyone in her escape. That was his only concern in this whole situation was this one's intent and outside of that he had no reason to even try and focus on any other matter. Now, what also worried him was that the girl might try and hijack his own mind and perceptions. Considering that only one person in his mind was worth making him see... that would be a deathly bad idea.

None the less his body stood and watched, waiting to see just what this one would decide to do.

 

[Kurenai]

Kurenai dropped her glamer as she was now using the Force to flee. For a brief moment Solan got a good look at her, a pale, ashen creature with deep red hair. She was missing her right eye, and she radiated the aura of the Dark Side. She was of a strong Dothamirian lineage, for those who knew of the planet's reclusive inhabitants, but also something else. And then she used, instead of the glamer, her Mind Invisibility- trying to convince Solan's senses that she didn't exist, all the while making speed with Force movement. Far more used to deception though, her Force assisted run was only marginally better than a sprinting athlete. She made for the high wall that divided the residential districts into... "tax categories", the polite term for lower-class areas and slums. Rather than rehabilitate them, it was easier to block the view with a high wall and be done with it.

Like some creature of the night she jumps up, though she only cleared half the wall. She crawled up the rest of the way, making for the top.

[member="Solan Charr"]

 

[Aithne Charr]

[member="Kurenai"]

Solan watched her sprint off with a sigh, catching sight of the person who had been behind the mask. Why do they always run, and why do they try to trick themselves into thinking they have a chance of getting out of here without being caught. With that sigh, and a slight annoyance as he felt her picking into his brain to mask herself, he shot up towards the roof of the building infront of him. He was not so unskilled and underpowered as this one's previous victim and he smiled as she assumed that he was. Infact he even let his mind make her think he had left the scene of the entire thing and simply walked down the street.

Instead of course, he was doing no such thing. He watched her as he moved over the roof, raising a brow as she tried to make for the highwall and barely grabbed onto it. He had to give her the praise for thinkign that she could get away. Hell if he had been a normal person, she probably would have been able too but instead as she would pull herself up onto that high wall he would drop down onto it beside her with a smile. "Now now beautiful, where in the world were you going?"

 

[Kurenai]

The chase becomes a confrontation beneath the moonlgiht of Kesh, two Force Users standing on the wall that divided the rich and poor.

"I do not wish to harm you, or the old Nan. or anyone." She said, the red orbs that were her eyes conveying her fear.

"But I will defend myself if need be... I will not be chained again." To emphasize Kurenai's panic she begins telekinetically lifting a stone statue from the park below, a statue depicting Solas... or one of his grandfathers. If it wasn't already so late at night, she might've caused a scene, but the streets were quiet and empty. Seems Kurenai was not yet used to civilization, and panicked. The statue levitated to remain level with Solas, he and his grandad's statue looking at each other.

[member="Solan Charr"]

 

[Aithne Charr]

[member="Kurenai"]

"Firstly, Kesh is a free planet. Slavery is completely illegal here. Trust me, even marriage is watched carefully." He grinned as he said that and was relaxing his muscles incase he had to make a jump or fall back and away from the statue of himself... wait, they got the nose all wrong. His was far bigger than what that statue portrayed. 'Focus on the force wielding red head solan, you can fix the statue later.' He told himself as his eyes returned back to her and his hands reached up above him.

"Trust me, if there is anything i hate more than Slavery, its bad music. There is no need to throw that statue at myself as i can assure you that you will not be chained up again." It was words that he really had no way to prove to the woman he was telling the truth. He could tell she was frightened by the very practice that he fought to end every chance he got yet there was always those he could not reach. He was no god as much as he wished the power would allow him to be. Just as no other force user had attained the power of a god.

 

[Kurenai]

Kurenai eased her grip on the statue, and it slowly returned to its place in the ground. Too long had she been around warlords, tyrants and despicable men. She did the Force thing and searched her feelings, as well as Solan's. It was no question that the people of this world were better off. Still, the word 'marriage' made Kurenai visibly scowl.

"I can sense... no deceit in you. Yes. I feel it to be truth." The Force was strong in him. Perhaps she could not pierce his intentions, or perhaps those really were what he meant. "I am sorry. The world I am from is not as kind as yours." She floated down onto the grass of the park, to get off the wall. No need for undue attention.

"I am Kurenai. Born of Dathomir, but grew on a world of ash and dust, of bloodshed and tyrants. I was raised by my grandmother, the Nightsister Tyra'nae, who taught me all I know. Who are you, really?" She asked, dispensing with the stories and simply revealing who she was.

[member="Solan Charr"]

 

[Aithne Charr]

[member="Kurenai"]

"A Dathomiri? Huh, i had thought you guys looked different." He smiled and laid down on the wall, having no intention to actually get down from it and looking to the side so she remained in his sight. "As for me, do you really need to know who i am? I mean as far as you know i am a simple man that lives in Tahv. Anymore and you really would get bored." He smiled at her with the same kind smile he always had. It was a wide one, filled with simple enjoyment and a calm kindness to it. His sapphire eyes even seemed to peer at her with the same effect to them.

He himself had no reason to lie to her, so he chose not to speak a lie or the truth. It was to him the simplest way of keeping out of any unnecessary problems later on. And while he fully knew she was not a danger, it remained easier just to keep people at arms length most of the time right off the back.

 

[Kurenai]

Kurenai looked at Solan solemnly. "I need to check on that old Nan." She then turns around and goes back to the house, hearing the old lady looking for her husband. Her voice was sad, seeing as how her home had been empty for years, and she never realized it. Quietly she crept into her room, remotely opening the window.

Performing the kind deception once more, Kurenai made herself seem to be the old lady's late spouse.

"I'm here Ami. It's late, let's go to bed."

"Oh... dear. I had a nice day today, our granddaughter came to the library and took me home. Well, good night... I've missed you, my dear."

"Yes, I missed you too Ami."


She returns to the street, staring at Solan, then at the moon, then at the city around them. "Right now I have no place to be... freedom is... a strange thing indeed. What... what do free people do?"


[member="Solan Charr"] ((blah post sarreh xD ))

 

[Aithne Charr]

[member="Kurenai"]

Solan watched her, at first with his physical eyes before having switch to the force itself to keep her in view. Her movements and very personality was curious to him. She was comforting a woman who she had never probably met before, yet seemed to care about her in a way that surprised Solan. Why this one was so caring confused him but then she returned and asked her question. What did it meant to be free and what did free people do?

"What do free people do? Why we live. Some of us live lives that end others, working towards simple slaughter and the gaining of power so that they can rule over others like the Sith. Some use their freedom to hide away and meditate on the universe and understand their existence. Hell, some live to gamble their lives in pazaak and swoop races... but most people settle into a life they make their own. They look to form a family, they look for a purpose in life. I choose to defend people and use my life as their shield, that is how i have chosen to be free... by tying my life to the people of this world and those i care about. Why do you ask miss?"

 

[Kurenai]

"I... suppose, I have craved freedom from that horrid world for so long I did not know what to do with it." Kurenai concluded. Indeed, it seemed with that goal finally completed, she had not even decided what to do afterward.

"I do not know if I want those sorts of things. I simply wish to know what is there first. I like... I like to read. I would like to stay at the library but I fear I may die of hunger from all the books therein." She jested, her tone changed to light, though she remained confused. "...I am simply tired of hiding."

[member="Solan Charr"]

 

[Aithne Charr]

[member="Kurenai"]

"I hear that library has a very nice food court in it though, their stew especially is marvelous." He leaned his head to the side and looked down at the girl once more with a smile. "You should live near the library then, there is no reason for you to keep running if you have found something that you genuinely enjoy. That is assuming that you have the wanting to live on the planet. Its a place you will never have to worry about hiding who you are or worry about being found again. I take pride in defending my people and can promise you that every person who lives on Kesh is as important as family to me."