Banthas and Bounties

[Louise]

Nelvaan

Grey eyes remarked the matted white fur of the creatures before her. Nelvaan riding beasts. Or to put it in plainer terms white banthas. She had not come to this frigid place to observe mere banthas. Not that the Sith held anything against the creatures they were just so...so...vanilla.

Whether white or brown, banthas were banthas and quite frankly, banthas were boring.

Evelynn had not come to Nelvaan to experience the drab and mundane, she had come for horaxes. Now there was a creature with a touch of intrigue. For you see this had not always been a cold planet. Technology had come, reaping the once temperate world and vastly reducing the size of the population. Originally the reptiles had not fared well in the cold but as natures wills it, you either adapt or you die.

They had adapted. Barely.

This gave the young mute woman cause to be lurking in the wilderness, surveying the boring old banthas. Thankfully the Queen of Rattatak had come dressed for the occasion, wrapped in warm furs (synthetic of course) that would keep any frost from biting her extremities. She stifled a yawn, as she stood there, caught between plains and forests Evelynn would continue to stalk the herbivores, waiting for the carnivores to come out and play.

This was what they didn't show you in the documentaries. The waiting.

@[member="Ermac Laith"]

 

[Laith Varad*]

...the modified Gladius Class Leight Freighter came into orbit around Nelvaan maneuvering to make itself as inconspicuous as possible. Besides the Astrometrics Droid on board it held only a single occupant. The Mandolorian was more of a Mercenary, he represented Clan Varad, tasked with hunting down Sith by Field Marshal Strider Garon himself and returning them to him; the bounty offered was quite considerable. Whether through spies, back channels, traitors or the collective of information provided to him via his Mandolorian Benefactor Ermac Laith had come to Nelvaan seeking one of the Sith and he would not disappoint. He'd studied the information he had on Nelvaan during his journey to it, the planet had once been much more temperate but then things changed, and learned a thing or two about its natural inhabitants so that he could appropriately prepare himself. Much the same as he had appropriately prepared himself to face a Sith...

...the Drop Pod had descended from the heavens down onto Nelvaan like a flash of light, planting itself into the icy ground with a thunderous boom that echoed for a mile away, and Laith had exited it on foot. Above him the Astrometrics Droid and sensors of the ship fed him information on the ground so that he could locate and track his target. He'd set off from the Drop Pod and never looked back. That was several hours ago...

...it's impossible to say just how long he'd been tracking Evelynn however Laith had kept his distance initially, he wanted to observe her from afar, maybe she knew she was being followed but he hadn't concerned himself with this at the time. If she did know then it would not have surprised him. Outfitted in Mandolorian Armor, insulated for cold weather and supporting some basic environmental biometrics, and wearing his Helm, which came equipped with multiple surprises the most obvious being a three hundred and sixty degree visual hud and a direct link to his ship, he appeared to be very much a Manolrian, Mercenary and Hunter. Laith was carrying an ARC Blaster Rifle in his right hand and he had a Vibroblade, cortosis weave, sheathed across his back with the hilt extending up past his right shoulder, and those were just what could be easily identified. Around his wrists he wore two large bracers, likely equipped with some kind of nasty weaponry, and he'd brought a few, special, grenades to the party as well...

...when Laith finally decided to approach the woman it was during her hunt, as it were, while she was tracking the Bantha and he would have come up behind her. The Blaster Rifle was aimed at her back and his voice would have clearly called out..."Don't move."...now that was rather cliche..."By order of Strider Garon you are remanded into custody of the Mandolorians."...it all sounded so official when he said it like that.
​

@[member="Evelynn"]​

 

[Louise]

Being that she was a girl in the process of hunting predators, she was aware of his presence. When amongst the animals of the galaxy she often found herself immersed, in their packs, their prides. Evelynn and the herd was one and the same and a slight prickle upon the back of her neck told her that danger lurked. Of course, the girl paid it no mind to the threat. If it came, she would deal with it. Whatever it was.

You see, it didn't tell her what kind of danger, no, she wasn't some ungodly psychic. Eve had no clue if it were man, beast or ballistic missile but evidently she would be soon to find out.

Mandalorians?

That's a new one.

Slowly the girl raised her arms, playing it cool, calm and collected as her fingers interlaced behind her head. Of course she was going to fight back, just not in such an obvious manner. A bantha snorted, spewing hot air out of large nostrils as the creature shook its head slightly.

Now what exactly, would the glorious Strider Garon...

Her message was telepathic, broadcast through the force it sent shivers down the spine with relative ease. Of course, the girl had no vocal chords, this was her only method of communication. If this man were to have any mental immunities to the Force then Evelynn would have truly been voiceless.

The banthas began to move, slow, plodding as if there were no hint of deviance in the air. Of course, the movement of the great white beasts were in fact a manipulation. Beast mastery, this was her thing. Silently her influence had spread to the creatures, and she commanded them to lazily move their grazing so that they surrounded the pair.

Would he notice? Would he think it out of the odd? She smirked.

...want with a girl like me?

@[member="Ermac Laith"]

 

[Laith Varad*]

...Laith would watch as the girl raised her hands and interlocked her fingers behind her head. This was already going to easy; he'd expected her to spew some sort of defiance or ignite a lightsaber, something along those lines, like he'd seen Jedi do in battle previously but maybe she was different. It wasn't until he heard her voice, inside his head, that Laith would have crooked a brow beneath his helm, she was speaking to him telepathically, though the ghostly apparition that was her voice did send a cold shivering running over the Mandolorians spine. He was used to comm chatter of course but this was different, like an echo in his mind, and regardless of his training he found it unsettling...

...initially he hadn't heard the Bantha snort. The Herbivores weren't his priority here however as they began to move, circling around the two of them, Laith wouldn't have remained unaware for long. That wasn't to say he noticed right away; the Bantha's had moved lazily, plodding along, under what influence the Mandolorian had little experience with and with his attention primarily focused on Evelyn he'd only have started to clue in after the fact. Wearing a Helm that fed into a complete three hundred and sixty degree hub allowed him to face forward and track the Bantha's as they surrounded the pair but Laith wasn't backpedaling yet nor had he spoken again until...

..."Interrogation would be my guess, Sith."...he hadn't asked questions when he accepted the job only dossiers filled with information on the various Sith that the Mandolorians knew about and that were known throughout the galaxy. Laith would start to move forward then, his Blaster Rifle continued to train itself on Evelyn's center mass, by this time the Bantha, depending on how slow they actually were would probably have created at least a half circle around the two of them. Daunting as these creatures actually were Laith wouldn't just run away because of them and the reality was that, tactically, he believed if there was some connection between them and the Sith that they -might- be less likely to attack if they might injure her in the process.

How many Bantha were there anyways? He'd have tried to make a silent count using his hud to his advantage so that he never had to take his eyes off of Evelyn.

When he came closer to Evelyn he would remove his left hand from the barrel of the Blaster Rifle, the right continued to support its weight and train it ahead though it would become momentarily awkward, and reaching around behind his back Laith would produce a set of durasteel cuffs. Tossing them towards Evelyn he'd have clearly directed her to..."Put them on."...it was a tad laughable, the amount of times a force user had been able to unlock their own bindings was legend, but one more distraction if it came to that might make the difference.​

​

@[member="Evelynn"]​

 

[Louise]

There came a disapproving clucking sound from the girl's tongue as he addressed her as Sith. How impersonal. How rude. Surely he had a file on her, surely he knew that she was a Queen! Not some run-of-the-mill garden variety Sith! Shades of her arrogant bond sister Nemene were really shining through in this moment. Through her small spike of indignant rage the girl managed to reign her feelings in before it adversely affected the nature around them.

Slowly she turned to face him, fingers still visibly laced together. After all, this bounty could have been dead or alive, and she would rather not take the chance and end up with a chest full of blaster bolts. Well, not such an obvious chance at least.

She smiled, almost politely at the man as he went for the cuffs while keeping the rifle trained upon her. That would have been the moment. Perhaps other Sith in her shoes would have drawn their lightsaber in that moment, a lightning quick slash through the barrel of the weapon, or maybe they would have unleashed a potent force push upon the man, but those were ifs and buts. Not how she would be playing her game.

Yes, her game.

The white banthas, seven in total were still making their merry journey around the pair, almost encircling them but not quite. I hope you like dramatic tension. She caught the cuffs and frowned. So uncouth, so bulky. I don't think so.

No, I shan't.

Shiver.

Through her subtle direction one of the creatures came right up to them both, simply grazing right at their feet. Unwieldy creatures, banthas. They weren't the sort to be able to deftly manoeuvre themselves choosing to bump or bash into obstacles instead. The Mandalorian was his obstacle. Still with no malice in the air, the creature would choose to gently knock into her hunter, at the same time she spoke into his mind again.

I refuse to be restrained, as if I'm some sort of wild animal. I am a lady and wish to be treated as such.

Okay, okay. Still shades of Nemene shining through there, although she wished rather than demanded. The subtle differences. A combination effort of the beast trying to nudge him and her telepathy. Could he keep composure?

@[member="Ermac Laith"]

 

[Laith Varad*]

...as Evelyn caught the cuffs that Laith had tossed to her he'd have finished counting the Bantha's as well. Despite their enormous size seven of them was not a bad number, unless the circle they made around the two of them were small there'd still likely be gaps to escape around, and the hud in his helmet would allow him to track their movements reasonably well while maintaining the bulk of his focus on his target. He hadn't missed the indignant frown she'd given him either even before he heard the mental intrusion of her voice as it called out inside of his mind again...

...the bounty actually had been dead or alive though up to this point it appeared as though he preferred to take her alive...

...at this point there was no mistaking the Bantha's as anything but an oddity in this situation and Laith had firmly started to believe that they may have been under her control, he knew this had nothing to do with him, and when the Bantha came plodding over, grazing around them, he would move. Bantha's were large creatures and it was hard to miss them. Moving to his right, Evelyn's left, Laith would have began to circle around her with his intent being that he would move around the Bantha, before it knocked into him, and also be able to position himself behind her once again where'd he'd aim the Blaster Rifle towards the center of her back. The Blaster Rifle remained trained as he moved though the telepathic voice invading his mind did have its effect...

...it was simply unsettling hearing that feminine voice in his mind, almost like it could be there with him whenever it chose, and beneath his helm Laith would clench his teeth. He was frustrated being more used to a fight than what seemed like a negotiation. If she'd attacked him had ways of defending himself or even countering her by this was offsetting..."I..."...his voice seemed rough, sullen, beneath his helm..."I would like you to accompany me to my ship. Then you will be taken to Mandalorian space for processing."...it was a much more polite way of doing things and addressing her. Maybe the way she acting was affecting him? On the other hand there was only so long this could go on.

Moving closer to her he'd press with his Blaster Rifle so that he could impress its barrel against her, lightly, as though he were testing her before his voice rang clearly..."Will you comply?"...there had to come a point when she would either agree willingly or he would need to convince her with other means though.​

​

@[member="Evelynn"]​

 

[Louise]

Surprising.

Mandalorians in general weren't known for good manners. In fact they had a reputation firmly steeped in brutishness, they were men's men. They liked the fight, the hunt, the drink and of course the women, who could only come in a certain variety, with birthing hips and a degree of toughness that would make your standard Coruscanti's toes curl. They were exactly the type of people that weren't destined to get along with Evelynn, frail royalty with a penchant for games and tricks.

Okay the blaster rifle was a touch impolite but that was a necessary caution, at the end of the day she was still a Sith.

She smiled, half-pleasant, half-predatory. Since you asked so nicely. Mentally she shooed away the banthas and the great white beasts began to trundle off, and with that she disconnected herself from their minds, no longer part of the herd the pair held no interest for them and grazing would resume.

Yes, the mute could have fought him, and it was likely that she would have been beaten. Mandalorians were born to fight. Perhaps if she had been surrounded by a deadlier species then yes, violence would have erupted but this was not the case. However there would be a new game to play now. A game a minds. After all, they were a long way from Mandalorian space and she could already feel his discomfort.

Come. Let us go to your ship...oh, I don't believe I know your name.

Her grey eyes bored into his helm. Another smile. Another shiver.

I am Evelynn, but it is likely you already know this.

@[member="Ermac Laith"]

 

[Laith Varad*]

...when Evelynn answered in the affirmative he relaxed, though the Blaster Rifle remained trained on the Sith, though his attention still divided itself between her and the Bantha that had surrounded the both of them. Despite being slow creatures, relatively docile ones too, Laith had no desire to be struck by the full force of one which is why as they had begun to disperse he seemed much more satisfied with the situation. While Evelynn could not see beneath the helm he wore she may have been able to sense that the Mercenary was beginning to shift his focus almost entirely on her now that the Bantha were returning to grazing and had ceased to surround the both of them. Although he had entertained her request, her demand might be more apt, Evelynn was not altogether wrong about the Mandalorian except that he considered himself a bit of a charmer, willing to work with the opposite sex to obtain his goals, but beyond that, beyond even his doubt or surprise, he was arrogant and believed he would be the victor all along. Her compliance would only reaffirm this for him despite how eerie her mental voice was in his mind.

As she bade him take her to his ship he would have hesitated when she asked him his name, she very odd for a captive, which prompted him to answer..."Laith. Laith Varad."...the Varad were a mercenary clan amongst the Mandalorians. It could even be said they didn't hold completely true to the Mandalorian creed but that was another story. Nodding his own recognition as to who she was he'd have also remarked..."I do. This world isn't where I'd have expected to find nobility though."...a passing comment that insinuated Laith may have studied his files more than he would have admit to or just that he had heard something about Evelynn's history before this encounter. Of course what he knew was likely only the obvious facts...

...after he'd made his comment he seemed distracted, likely due to her voice still swimming in his mind, but he contacted the astrometric droid aboard his ship and delivered his current coordinates to it before his attention shifted to Evelynn almost entirely once again. "This way if you'd be so kind, Lady Evelynn."...he could use his manners, there was a certain bravado about how he spoke though, and he would gesture with his Blaster Rifle indicating the way that they'd both be moving. The Trek would not be a long one however...

...the Gladius Class Light Freighter, a sleek and nimble craft which had undergone a few modifications, would have come into view over the horizon piloted by the astrometric droid and landed itself in a nearby clearing that was unoccupied. Laith, walking, would have escorted Evelynn there unless they were interrupted where she could board the ship via a ramp and find herself in a common area, probably not as lavish as she may have been used to but it would have to do for the time being...

...never walking ahead of her Laith would have maintained eyes on the girl, he was much larger than him but she was not just any other girl.​

​

@[member="Evelynn"]​

 

[Louise]

Excellent. A name to put to a face, another smile was offered, this one thin-lipped and slightly less predatory than the last, bordering more upon incredibly polite. While she was aware that surrendering herself came with gigantic risks she couldn't help but feel ever-so-slightly giddy at the prospect of getting to know this Laith on a much more personal level, and let me tell you now that was not a level that anybody should want to be on.

As they began to journey towards his craft, she would offer him some conversation.

I have a passion for animals, Laith, and it is a passion that takes me to every corner of the galaxy, even if the conditions are sometimes a touch unpleasant.

Through her telepathy she would say his name slowly, deliberately, almost seductively if it had not been for that forbidding effect of her mental tones. Slowly and in the most non-threatening manner that she could muster the girl held her hand out to the side, palm upwards.

You see, Laith. I specialise in beast mastery, and I had fully intended to utilise that herd of banthas to destroy you. She inhaled deeply through her nose, the force flowing through her and spreading out to their surroundings, feeling for life. Evelynn was calling. Do not be alarmed. From the sky fluttered down a tiny song-bird, if prompted the girl would have conceded that she was unaware of what exact species the bird was, the galaxy simply being filled with too many creatures to keep track of them all.

The insignificant avian landed upon the palm of her hand. Another smile. I adore nature. The creature began to twitter happily. And nature adores me.

Why would she tell him this? This was her greatest strength and she had revealed it to somebody who intended to capture her and whisk her off to an unknown but likely grave fate. Well, for starters, the pair were about to board a ship, where likely there would be no creatures to manipulate, but there were more dastardly motives.

The manners, the compliance, the delicate creature that sat so happily in the palm of her hand. She aimed to lull him into a false sense of security. Of course, she wasn't playing it all innocence and sunshine, given that her telepathy in-part revealed her dangerous nature. Not to mention that he had done his homework. The Queens of Rattatak were well known for their fondness of slavery and torture.

It wasn't a terribly long walk and with her urging bird flew away, and in a matter of moments the pair had boarded his ship and she was left standing in the rather basic lounge area of the vessel.

May I take a seat, Laith?

@[member="Ermac Laith"]

 

[Laith Varad*]

...Laith wasn't entirely used to making small talk with one of his prisoners but then Evelynn was not a normal captive, she'd come of her own free will only insisting that she be treated as a lady, and the Mercenary seemed a tad offguard since she'd spoken into his mind and dealt with him in a manner he was unused to. When Evelynn started to tell him of her fondness for animals he seemed somewhat curious, even more so when she went on to admit that this passion of hers took her across the galaxy, and his head would turn so that he could regard her from underneath his helm. As they walked the Blaster Rifle he held was much more relaxed, though still trained in her direction, however he seemed to tense briefly when she went on to explain she specialized in Beast Mastery...

...even Evelynn must understand that Laith would become a tad more intent on her when she mentioned she had intended to use the Bantha's to trample him despite her assurance that he shouldn't be alarmed just now..."Not one for a lightsaber then?"...he'd have remarked while watching as the bird fluttered down from the sky. In his experience it was rare for a Sith, or even a Jedi, not to use a lightsaber or specialize in some form of combat with one; you just see them so damned often. Looking at her as the avian landed in her palm Laith would have had to admit..."It seems that way. You have quite a talent with fauna."...by now, though her manner of telepathic speech was unnerving, he would have begun to get used to her voice in his mind..."Always been one for a blaster myself."...it was probably pretty obvious but he probably didn't know much about animals besides a few common spieces. Nothing on Evelynn's level though...

...they reached the Gladius Class Light Freighter and after boarding would find themselves inside the small common area before Laith responded..."Of course. Anywhere you like, Lady Evelynn."...there was a cell for captives but being as how Evelynn had proven so compliant, agreeable even, he did not insist she place herself inside of it. In fact Laith might have even been falling into a relaxed state with Evelynn, she did seem quite pliant, but he'd also done some home work on her which meant he wasn't completely taken in by her ruse. As for the common area of the ship it would have a table, seating enough for three or four, and several corridors leading away from the room which lead to the cockpit, cargo area, engineering and a few other small nooks throughout the vessel. Nothing for Evelynn to overly concern herself over unless she wanted to go exploring though.

The Astrometric Droid would have met them both in the common area shortly after their arrival and Laith would have instructed it to..."Prime for take off. Take us to Mandalore."...after which the droid would have beeped its confirmation and disappeared once again. Gazing back towards Evelynn afterwards Laith would try to surprise her by making his own conversation..."We have a long ways to go even in hyperspace. Why don't you tell me more about your love of animals? Maybe how you discovered your ability to communicate with them. I'd love to hear more of your story, Evelynn."...was he falling into her web or was this a pleasant interrogation? If she started talking about herself Laith could learn more about her after all. Who wouldn't want to know more about one of the Queens of Rattatak? "You're obviously very talented and dedicated to the animals you adore. It's quite remarkable, like yourself."...he was using a bit of charm there, Laith had some experience with the ladies, and he'd always found that even if someone thought they were special they still enjoyed hearing it too.​

​

@[member="Evelynn"]​

 

[Louise]

With a curt nod the young woman took a seat, opting to sit with her legs together and her hands on her lap, as if she were a well behaved child eagerly waiting to learn in the classroom. The posture naturally, was perfect, you could have stuck a ruler up against the girl's back.

Mandalore, a planet she had yet to visit. A pity too, she was aware that their capital world was a stomping ground for many vicious predators and if truth be told it was a planet that had piqued her interests before, but as she had once remarked to her sister. The problem with Mandalore is the Mandalorians. A pity they could not enslave the population. Good stock for gladiators.

Gathering her atrocious thoughts back together she gave her captor a surprised smile as he enquired about her ability. Inwardly she tittered at the prospect of him loving to hear more of her story, it was a grim and gory tale, not for the faint of heart. However it was likely that were he to know the story of the girl formerly known as Evelynn Dorn that he would take pity upon her. She kept that thought in mind while she spoke.

Why yes, I am quite remarkable, she said, her smile briefly turning into a smirk before disappearing altogether. Get comfortable, for now it was story time.

I've always known that I held special talents when it came to creatures, before I even knew that I was touched by the Force. It was just, instinct. She paused for a second, not knowing where to properly begin. At the very beginning she supposed but sharing the memories of a girl who had long since died inside was a peculiar experience at best.

I had a kath hound when I was a young girl. You see, Laith, I lived a lonely and sheltered existence upon Dantooine and my mother thought it was apt that I should have a companion. I called him Chomp. Despite the fact that she was sharing cherished memories Evelynn's face remained grim, devoid of any joy. He was not only my companion, but my ward and my best friend. Our bond was unbreakable, I could read him as if he were just another person, like you or me. Understand that I love all manners of creatures, but Chomp, he was my first bond, he was an extension of me, like an extra limb and I loved him, so much.

Sweet terrible nostalgia. You'd think this talk of a girl and her hound would at least grant an ounce more emotion on her face, but no. There was not. For you see Evelynn once had a kath hound named Chomp.

He was butchered, and I was fed his remains.

@[member="Ermac Laith"]

 

[Laith Varad*]

...as Evelynn took a seat, her posture a tell as to her heritage, she would feel the starship beginning to rumble beneath her feet as it initiated takeoff procedures. Within moments there may have been the sudden feeling of weightlessness as it rose into the air and then the next everything would have returned to normal as it rose into the atmosphere to begin the journey back to Mandalore. Laith was looking at Evelynn the entire time, his face hidden behind the visor of his helm, and listening intently as she began to tell him her story and explain her talents to him. In fact now that the Gladius Class Freighter had lifted from the surface of the planet he would take a moment to get comfortable while Evelynn wove her tale for him...

...he'd chose a seat across from Evelynn, his posture much more relaxed and less proper, where he could set his Blaster Rifle across his thighs while continuing to maintain good control over it. There might not be any animals in space but that didn't mean Evelynn was harmless; she was invading his mind to speak with him after all. He found the beginning of her story intriguing though as she went on to explain how she lived a sheltered life on Dantooine and that she had a Kath Hound as her pet. Not a bad pet either; he could appreciate such a hound. Regardless of the memory that Evelynn was sharing Laith did notice how her expression seemed devoid of any emotion though which was a tad curious of itself...

...there was only one point where he would interrupt her and that was to say..."This Chomp seems like a valuable beast."...but that was before she revealed the conclusion of her story and revealed that Chomp had been butchered and fed to her. Because he wore a Helm she wouldn't have been able to see his features but Laith was displeased; he was a Mercenary and had seen his share of atrocities however he thought it a waste that such a valuable companion was killed in the manner Evelynn described. Did he take pity on Evelynn or did he merely connect with the needless loss and tragedy she had endured? "It's a shame you were forced to experience something so terrible."...he started to say..."Did you ever avenge him?"...see according to his way of thinking the Kath Hound, Chomp, was, as it were, a member of Evelynn's own brood, her family or clan, so it would have been right for her to avenge him.

At last, after having posed his question, Laith would reach up, with his left hand, and detached his helmet before slowly removing it. He was a large and serious faced man with small scars touching his visage but not unhandsome according to more than a few and there was the distinction that if he were to cut his hair and clean himself up he would have been much more pleasant to look upon. Now that he was looking directly at Evelynn, his helm finding a place on the seat next to him, it would be easy for her to see that while his eyes were serious he was not without his sympathies whatever those were. "Tell me more?"...he'd have said, still clearly interested, though he added..."There's much more about you I'd like to hear, Evelynn. You're clearly not like the others."...he could have been acting charming or perhaps he was growing to sympathize with her, even just a little bit, however Laith was interested in hearing more, he had questions, and not just about her history.​

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@[member="Evelynn"]​

 

[Louise]

Valuable was not the word she would have used, but of course she was but a girl, hell, she was still a girl. Far too emotional to regard her beloved Chomp as a tool, rather than a friend. Understandable given that he was not only her first bond of nature but her first friend. Of course, other creatures such as the banthas from before she viewed with a more impassive eye, she had to, you can't roam the galaxy becoming emotionally invested in every single creature that you encounter, it just wasn't feasible. The beasts were her tools, and she their master, their wills would bend for her in and in turn they would be her sword, her shield.

The girl nodded softly, before a frown dawned upon her features and her gaze turned to the floor. No, I did not. Perhaps that would draw his ire, or turn any shreds of pity felt by the man into shame. A part of her wanted to elaborate, that one could not just turn around and strike down the former Emperor of the Sith, not as a feeble teenage girl and not even now, as a grotesque mockery of a woman.

Would she be able to cast off the shackles of her Master and avenge her beloved friend one day? Perhaps.

Evelynn looked up again as her captor finally revealed his face. Funnily enough her first thoughts did wander towards the realm of personal grooming. Yes, if only he smartened himself up a touch he had the potential to be oh-so-presentable but alas, the curse of Mandalorians. Unkempt thugs more likely to pick up a blaster rifle rather than a wash cloth. A brief shake of her head got rid of those notions. Personal biases and all.

For the first time she made proper eye contact with Laith and then realised that he was wearing down her defences through the simple act of listening to her. Clever. For a flicker of a moment a smirk played upon her lips and she leaned forward slightly.

What would you like to hear? My tortures, my trials, my tribulations? Perhaps how I became a Queen? What more have I loved and lost? I have scars that would make your own comrades blanch.

The woman leaned back again, once more regaining a dignified posture.

However, Laith, I would like to learn more about you. A pause, a tilt of the head. If you would be so kind as to indulge me?

[member="Ermac Laith"]

 

[Laith Varad*]

..."You'd like to hear more about me?"...he seemed rather curious as to why this might have been but being noble it was possible that Evelynn was just being polite to her captor or perhaps she thought she could cause him to lower his defenses much the same as he was trying to do with her..."Alright."...he agreed nonetheless maybe because he wanted to humor her or because he had some other motive. Lifting his left hand he'd have pressed a few tendrils of dark hair out of his face while continuing to sit across from Evelynn and deciding where he would start though compared to her story his own may have been somewhat bland..."It all started fairly normally."...he would begin..."I had a childhood, no complaints, but as I grew older so did my fondness for certain things the galaxy had."...he was being ambiguous however Evelynn may have gooten the idea that he would elaborate at some point...

...before he could go any further the Astrometric Droid would beep and inform him that they would be entering hyperspace shortly now that the Freighter had moved beyond the atmosphere of the planet. Laith would focus on Evelynn again after the disturbance and continue..."It's obvious I work for credits and that I'm a Mandalorian."...he chuckled..."That wasn't always the case though. I've only been a member of the Mandalorians the last few years. Dred Varad of Clan Varad and I became friends after several missions and he adopted me into the Clan Varad as his Brother."...which was the long and short of it..."It has its perks but I'm loyal to myself."...and to the credits that he'd spoken of as well which might have made sense considering he had come all the way out here for Evelynn. The Bounty wasn't enormous but large enough that he could treat himself to some of the fundamental pleasures of life that only currency could buy...

...despite his rather short origin story Laith would have stated afterwards..."Nothing nearly as special as your own Lady Evelynn."...however he paused..."You don't look like a Sith just a girl."...but that was all part of the ruse, not every evil looked like they were soiled or filthy and he recognized this. He'd mentioned he had a fondness for certain things the galaxy offered earlier and one of them was credits the other was women; Laith enjoyed them though he wasn't a leering or lecherous soul yet that didn't stop him from drinking in Evelynn's features as it were. "If we are trading stories it's your turn again though. Tell me how you became a Queen? And why a Queen would allow herself to get caught so easily."...there it was, he wanted to know why he'd been able to take her so easily, and just then, after he'd asked the question, the engines could be heard as they powered up for hyperspace.​

​

[member="Evelynn"]​

 

[Louise]

Evelynn sat, engaging him in full eye contact as he spoke. With a polite smile laced across her features the girl looked truly engrossed, involved, nodding slightly while he spoke. It was almost a battle in itself, compensation for the lack of fight she had put up upon Nelvaan's frigid surface. Who would truly let down their guard first?

An eyebrow flickered slightly as he mentioned his fondness for certain things. So he had sin. Excellent.

In her eyes as she got to know him Laith drifted further and further away from the Mandalorian stereotype that she knew. Loyalty to self more than clans. To credits more than brothers. Right then and there the thought occurred to the woman that she could have countered whatever bounty was out on her head with her own wealth but that was the easy way out. That was a last resort.

Loyality to self, clever man.

Leave it to the Sith to preach the ways of selfishness, naturally.

Her turn came once more in their conversational duel, she almost snickered at his girl comment. It wasn't untrue, she held an edge of innocence that had fooled more than one man in her time. Evelynn so fair and frail. Yes. Unfortunately I was not gifted with the usual proportions of Sith women. I am no dark and buxom creature, she paused to smirk, it has its advantages, mind you.

She laced her fingers together carefully. My sister and I conquered Rattatak through the only means that one can with such a world. Through battle. We slaughtered the current Champion and his very best men. Now that did seem like a stretch, she really was a small mute thing after all, although it was no lie. Upon Rattatak all that matters is The Cauldron. Once you conquer the crowd there is nothing left but to provide the bloodshed that they crave. The gladiator world was really that simple.

As for being caught, well, you simply asked so nicely, she responded with an edge of mirth in her telepathic tones. Her motives wouldn't be revealed to him so soon and he would know it.

With no respite given she shot back immediately with a question of her own:

What certain things is it that you crave, Laith?

[member="Ermac Laith"]

 

[Laith Varad*]

...when Evelynn made the comment of clever man Laith had to secretly agree with her, he thought of himself as quite a clever individual though this might have had something ro do with his natural arrogance, he didn't make his thoughts known to the Sith though. At least he didn't tell her or let his expression reveal his thoughts but Evelynn could speak into his mind so the Mercenary had to wonder if she could read as well. Thus far Evelynn hadn't revealed as much to him but Laith was certainly clever enough to make the connection himself, the assumption, that she could read his mind. A viable possibility anyways which meant he'd need to make his thoughts that much more private...

...Evelynn seemed open about her own story and how she and her sister became the rulers of Rattatak, he noticed how she had thread her fingers together, and Laith would listen to her story intently. He did find that it was a bit of a stretch that she and her sister had slaughtered the previous champion and his men. "You both must be powerful warriors then."...he made the idle remark..."I've heard that the mob of Rattatak is hard to satisfy."...his thoughts had went to this sister of Evelynn's as well; Evelynn seemed to be the more calculated of the two so perhaps her sister was the more brutal when it came to brutality. Only one way to find out of course. Then his time came once again though...

...he would hesitate, the engines of the Light Freighter came to life, and the hum that had been the starship powering up came to an abrupt halt when it was replaced by a -vwoosh- that signified the sudden jump into hyperspace. They were both on their way to Mandalorian space now. It was easy for Laith to catch the mirth of her telepathic voice in his head. "Credits."...came the obvious answer of the man as he sat straight, tensing his broad shoulders, before resting backwards against the seat where he could relax further..."Those are always good."...maybe he was even insinuating that if Evelynn could pay better than the Field Marshal he might consider delivering her elsewhere however there was more than that..."All men crave survival too though and women."...he laughed then because it was true and Laith was no so different than any other man, merely a bit more hardened in some respects...

..."It's lucky for me I asked so nicely or I might find myself in a bad way now."...he would comment..."Did you enjoy it? Slaughtering the champion and his men? What about your sister? Is she as charming as you?"...he would stand up off the seat then and move around to the edge of the common room where he could take a cup and look back at Evelynn..."Drink?"...maybe she was thirsty...​

​

[member="Evelynn"]​

 

[Louise]

Luckily for Laith the Silent Sister was no reader of minds just yet. Give it time.

Her granite orbs studied his features carefully as he passed comment upon the pair being powerful warriors. Evelynn almost scoffed in that moment but she managed to stop herself. The mute would describe herself as a lot of things but a warrior was not one of them. He unleashed his nexu, and they very swiftly became my nexu. Of course how was the former Champion to know that he was contending with a beast master in training? Bad luck. The mob of Rattatak only crave their violent distractions. As long as they have that then they are content.

They were in hyperspace, no turning back now.

Credits. Survival. Women. The basics. She offered him a polite smile, too polite, as if butter wouldn't melt. Of course seduction hadn't been a thought too far from her mind but the mute wouldn't push that agenda too hard. Talk. Listen. Smile.

I do not enjoy killing, she explained as he stood There was a pause, Evelynn took a second to inhale softly, a touch of dramatic tension for the reveal ahead. I am a torturer, Laith. I thrive in pain, whether receiving or inflicting. I take no satisfaction in the kill, but I will relish every moment up until that point. Finally she unlaced her fingers, placing them flat against her lap.

Yes, if you have something to take the edge off that would be lovely.

Tilting her head downwards the girl's face became a grim line as she stared at the hands that sat in her lap.

Charming? Oh my, no. My sister is without a doubt far more vicious than I, it is very fortunate that you came hunting for me rather than her.

[member="Ermac Laith"]

 

[Laith Varad*]

...he would need to see exactly how fortunate he was. After all if he had Evelynn than the next one that Laith attempted to track down might well have been her sister. That was another time though. At the moment Laith would have listened to Evelynn, her words always penetrating deep into his mind, and drink in everything that she told him especially with regards to herself. Torture, pain, these were things that Mercenary was versed in to an extent even though it was unlikely he was as talented as Evelynn; the way she described herself as thriving on pain whether receiving or inflicting told him that she was likely quite practiced at her trade. It seemed odd to Laith that Evelynn stated she didn't enjoy killing, most Sith were murderers according to what he knew, but he didn't take that to mean that she wasn't apt at killing.

Moving away from the small common area where the two of them had been sitting Laith made his way to an adjacent area that occupied the same room so that he could make them some refreshments. No time like the present after all. Hopefully Evelynn wouldn't mind drinking out of a common cup as compared to something befitting royalty because she'd be getting a soldiers mug or tin. "Very fortunate."...Laith would have said back over his shoulder while preparing a drink for Evelynn and responding to the comment she had made about her sister. When Laith turned back around he'd be holding two tins, one for Evelynn and the other for himself, and making his way back towards his -captive- he'd have extended one of the tins for her to take...

...Evelynn had said it herself, something to take the edge off, which is why as Laith handed her the drink he'd have stated..."Enjoy."...before raising his own to his mouth and taking a sip. Ahhhh, it was good but maybe not what Evelynn was expecting. Depends on how well versed with hard liquor she was. Ice Blasters, which Laith thought appropriate considering the cold world he'd found Evelynn on, were made of Sullustan Gin and guaranteed to open up the sinuses just a bit. We all know what they say about gin too so maybe the Mercenary was trying to get Evelynn drunk. Anyways he hadn't quite mastered the mix behind the drink so it was a little strong.

Laith didn't move to sit back down, he would move around the common area but keep Evelynn in his view,before he started talking again..."It's shame we met this way."...he'd have stated..."I'm almost certain Strider Garon plans to lock you away and I rather like you."...though his tone would change when he went on having noticed how her head had tilt downwards as well..."Tell me. What do you like most about when someone hurts you?"...​

​

[member="Evelynn"]​

 

[Louise]

She would leave him to digest those thoughts for a few moments. She had hardly imparted delicate information into his mind just then, you don't just tell somebody that you live to torture and then change the subject to that of the weather. The Mandalorian would need to digest that, and then make a decision whether to slap a pair of force cuffs on her or to continue their conversation. The mute wouldn't have been surprised if the former had been the choice taken, to the majority her hobby was monstrous, disgusting and she deserved a fate worse than death for those atrocities.

Yet no restraints had been clamped onto frail wrists.

While he poured them both drinks, Evelynn decided that this would be the best time to shed a few layers. After all she was no longer exposed to the frigid elements of Nelvaan, the faux-furs were no longer necessary and were in fact beginning to make the woman feel slightly uncomfortable. The winter garments were peeled off, revealing ever-so-slightly transparent powder blue silks. Her trademark colour. If one were to stare long enough they would perhaps be able to gleam what was hidden beneath, but then one would have to avoid being caught staring.

Now more comfortable, she was handed her drink. Egad, she could smell it even before she drank it. Evelynn was a thin creature, a bottle of wine was enough to push her over the borders of tipsy. Oh well. She tipped the tin to her lips, taking a delicate sip of the concoction. Naturally her face scrunched somewhat upon receiving the mild burn of the Sullustan Gin, but it would suffice.

Lock me away? My, and I had my destiny set for execution.

She did not address the fact that he liked her, instead leaving a long pause at the end of his next question. Her head finally tilted upwards, those granite eyes locking directly onto his.

It's like a tingle in my mind, it creeps down my spine and spreads throughout my entire being, she said before adding a pause for thought, it was actually fairly difficult to describe the sensation, it's euphoric, like being massaged from the inside, that was a peculiar way to put it, she frowned at that last analogy, better than sex.

The Silent Sister took a more generous gulp of her drink this time, her frown emerging from the tin as a smirk.

Better with sex.

[member="Ermac Laith"]

 

[Laith Varad*]

No restraints, just a drink. If a bottle of wine could put Evelynn over the edge then a tin of Sullustan Gin would likely have a similar effect though. After all the alcohol content was likely miles above that of wine depending on the vintage she enjoyed. As Laith went to hand Evelynn the tin he would have, of course, noticed that she'd shed a few layers of clothing and was now sitting in the diaphanous silk garment that left little to the imagination if one stared long enough. Of course that meant that whoever was looking would need to be caught staring....

....when Evelynn drank Laith would do likewise shortly thereafter. Bringing the tin to his mouth he'd have drank the beverage, welcoming the subtle burn, while chuckling inwardly when he saw how her face had scrunched after she'd taken her first sip. "Good huh?"...was the casual comment he'd make after she'd taken a drink and he lowered his own tin down from his mouth however upon hearing her he'd have shrugged..."Perhaps the Field Marshal will grant your request, I do not know."...his mission had been to apprehend and deliver Sith into Mandalorian space beyond that he hadn't asked to many questions. He had a high tolerance for alcohol, it was a vice he was had experience with, but even he would have started to feel the warmth of the liquor before to long...

...perhaps it was hubris that when Evelynn looked at him he met her gaze easily but the fact of the matter was that he did not fear her. Laith was, physically, superior to her and his arrogance wouldn't allow him to believe that she could best him however the alcohol could have helped as well. After all Evelynn had proven, in the short time they had been acquainted, that she was also formidable in her own way. Nonetheless when she began to describe how pain felt when it was being inflicted on her he would note the peculiar way that she described it before his own smirk formed in the aftermath...

..."Everything is better with sex."...he'd have countered..."Especially rough sex."...by now, after helping himself to another swallow from his tin, Laith wasn't going to bother averting his eyes from the obvious hint of Evelynn's figure clearly revealed beneath the silks that she wore. He wasn't bashful about it. Wearing his armor, except for the helmet which he'd removed earlier, he'd have completed the circle of the area he'd been doing before moving back to the seating where Evelynn remained, he'd have loomed over the smaller woman, and tipping his head down to her he'd have remarked..."You want me to hurt you?"...this wasn't a time for subtlety, not out here in the dead of hyperspace...​

​

[member="Evelynn"]​