Beauty & The Beast

[Stephanie Swail]

Theed, Naboo
Mid Rim​

There was no connection between a planet touched with beauty and serenity with the Sith Knight touched with anger and destruction, but both of them had come together and only one thing was clear between them; reflection. A planet away from darkness, the one place no-one would be looking for a Sith at least.

At a time that Asterion was at his lowest, the Solleu River outside of the city of Theed was flowing peacefully towards the Virdugo Plunge, the largest waterfall in the city. The roar could be heard form where Asterion was sat on a small hill overlooking the greenery below him and the city erected high above him on the looming cliff face, sprawling far and wide and looking very much like he imagined from his study of galactic history.

Here he didn't expect the confrontation that he had dealt across the galaxy and also that which seemed to track him down. If it did, he would be disappointed that another planet he touched upon would be stained with destruction and death as it usually went hand in hand with a Sith Knight such as he.

The crossroads before him were blurred; the near disbandment of the Sith Order had thrown Asterion into a lull of activity. He was acting as a Knight without a Master, and as a warrior without an army.

At least his anger and hurt at being led a merry dance by Lady Kyros after her broken promised kept his blood warm at night, because he had been broken and re-built as one to follow her rule and now... now he was wandering the galaxy without a Master, without direction, without purpose.

The beast was broken once more, but he would die at his own hands before he let the galaxy simply swallow him up.


[member="Keziah Tal'Verda"]

 

[Keziah Denko]

Keziah had always wanted to visit Naboo. She heard from others that it was a beautiful, peaceful planet which at the moment was what she was looking for. She wanted time alone while Calico was away to just think though a part of her did want him to be here with her. One day she would have to drag him along with her for some tranquility and peace.

The streets of Theed were packed as she walked along the open market. She had been to markets before but none like this. It was amazing, all of the food, clothes, and there was even someone selling speeder bikes. The young woman was content for the moment just window shopping. There wasn't anything that she particularly needed or wanted anyways...

She might have spoken too soon as she couldn't help but stop and take notice of the vendor selling jewelry. Sparkly things always caught her attention.

[member="Asterion"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

The water, much like Asterion's emotion, was being carried forward by a greater force towards the drop down into the valley below. It was wild, untamed and crashing over the small rocks towards the point it fell, all in the hands of gravity and nothing more. Watching the water was hypnotic and it was very inviting, but this wasn't the intention of being on Naboo; he wasn't here for leisure.

The Royal Palace loomed ominously to his right, a magnificent building with many spires, domes and dizzying extensions built on, and over, the cliff face with the spaceport below. The shimmering emerald green roofing and sandstone walls complemented the greater city, and Asterion felt he could easily live on a planet such as this, away from the power struggles beyond the stars. Just because darkness ran through his veins, it didn't blind him when finding solace.

The bustling market packed the streets beyond the Palace, running along the river bank opposite to where Asterion was sat, secluded and out of the way. Flags of various traders and entertainers flapped in the breeze and the noise of the bustling crowds peaked every now and then with shouts of awe from those witnessing street art, and rich smells tingled all sense from the food vendors. It was a real blend of galactic treats and culture, with no red-tape, politics or power play in sight.

A whole host of people filled the streets, and Asterion felt the tinges of people amongst the crowds that stuck out to him as those born in the aura of the Force. This, automatically, heightened his awareness because in a galaxy ravaged with war, conflict rarely hid from him.


[member="Keziah Tal'Verda"]

 

[Keziah Denko]

Growing up she had never had much and often went without so now that she was sitting comfortably she couldn't help but be attracted to the things that allured her when she was younger. Keziah knew better than to buy of course as she was trying to save for her children's future. She didn't have children already however she assumed that they would be expensive. After a quick glance once again at the stand she moved on. The young woman was here for sightseeing not shopping.

If she could get Calico to move the clan here, she would. This place was so very calm and peaceful. It would be a great place to live more peaceful lives and for the boys to raise families. If they were somewhere calming perhaps he could also get some peace in his life. She knew as much as he loved his wars he wanted peace as well for the Dread Guard. They deserved peace.

As she continued to walk she kept herself on high alert for any suspicious characters Force Users or not. It was just a habit of hers but it tended to work out quite well for her. She couldn't see the man to her right however she could definitely sense the darker presence within the Force. It made her pause for a second and wonder if she should go investigate or not. It could spell trouble if she did however that didn't stop her from heading in that direction.

[member="Asterion"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Asterion's sensitivity to the Force was working perfectly and his foresight had already painted a picture of a woman before him, and in minutes it seemed that this was no lie as he identified one who seemed to reek of the Force, a wild and powerful aura surrounding her. He sat back a little and fixed his eyes on the figure who, of all the gall, was moving from the market towards him.

Not again...he didn't need this, not again. Not more run-ins with those who felt they could change the galaxy with their interpretation of the Force. He had enough of that, and now on the edge of darkness he was not going to care who, or what, fell to his anger.

Asterion stood on the bank and maintained a still frame, hands by his side and looking over at the petit woman, dark haired and walking with an air of grace and confidence.

Shaking his head was all he could do. This wasn't going to be a meeting that would end in flower picking by the river, he knew that much...


[member="Keziah Tal'Verda"]