Private Blindside on Brosi

[Darth Strosius]

Tags: Mercy / Madrona A’Mia / Revna Marr
--------------------------------------------

There weren't many that could simply summon Darth Strosius at all, let alone with a single message of invitation, but Brosi was the domain of one such rare individual. And in this instance she was joined by one of the others. His malul and his daughter had sent Him a rather vague message about needing to discuss something with Him in person on Brosi and naturally He simply had to acquiesce. It wasn't every day that He got to spend time with Revna and one of His beloveds at the same time after all, for better or worse. Whatever it was that they wanted to speak of had to be of some importance but that hardly narrowed down topics all that much.

Realistically it could be anything relatively mundane to something quite substantial. Perhaps the coming conflict with the High Republic? Plans for dealing with what few external threats remained beyond the borders of Sith space around the Holy Worlds? Something to do with Korriban and Brosi in the Assembly? Maybe even a talk regarding their most recent spat with Raaf over Seswenna? That sore spot on His pride had yet to diminish but He'd discuss it if they truly wished that of Him. Darth Strosius wasn't one to completely forgo the concept of compromise, in spite of what many would think.

Regardless the masked man soon found His shuttle being guided into a designated landing spot by the spaceport officials, the piloting droid flawlessly following the directions. It was the only companion that He'd brought for this visit, He still wasn't one for piloting Himself. Darth Strosius rose from His seat and left the droid to its work as He strode to the shuttle's exit ramp, idly checking over His ornate robes and smoothing it out whilst the shuttle came in to land. One had to look presentable before such a meeting after all even if it was in the comfort of familiar company. Once the shuttle shuddered as it touched the ground He tapped the console next to the ramp, already stepping out onto it even while it was still lowering. It wouldn't do to keep the ladies waiting too long.

 

[Mercy]

MERCY

EMPRESS | WARLORD | STAR-ARM

Location: Brosi | Tags: Darth Strosius | Madrona A’Mia | Revna Marr​

.

Babygirl loved Brosi in a way that only underlined she had been born here. So even though the cute dragon had a whole wing to herself on Throneworld, Mercy often took her out back to Brosi, so she could fly among the skies where she had first been born. It was on one of those occasions that she had spend some time with A'Mia and Revna had showed up out of the blue too.

Mercy suspected nothing, primarily because her mind wasn't really set to the future of things. She lived in the here and now. One moment Revna hadn't been there and then she did, and the moment had become better for it.

Nothing to complain.

So when both A'Mia and Revna mentioned they were about to meet a friend of theirs and if Mercy wanted to join them? Again, the Empress of the Core suspected nothing. Then again, even if she had suspected something, she probably wouldn't have minded it too much. This was not something that A'Mia and Revna could count on however.

Their friend was mercurial at best.

She could laugh off an assassination attempt on herself one day and then take offense at a wrong seating arrangement. It was far better to be careful when someone like Mercy was involved.

As they walked towards the port Mercy hummed a bit lightly to herself. Until her brows furrowed, seeing the ship that was landing in the distance.

"What did you say your friend's name was?" It looked very familiar to her but Mercy couldn't place it.

.

ERASE THE PAST

 

[Madrona A’Mia]

​

A’Mia was there at the hangar waiting. Due to the nature of their ruse, she’d asked Revna Marr to show Mercy around Psilofyr’s grove a bit. Making her own excuse for needing to leave to greet their other guest. She’d tree strode over and knew Mercy wouldn’t hold still for long, but A’Mia was the picture of calm appreciation as Alisteri leapt from his shuttle.

“I’ve missed you, ahweaul,” she murmured

The affectionate term translated roughly to “fierce one” in Neti, but it was also the informal title for the Northern Wind. She reached up with a gentle touch to stroke the side of his mask. Ordinarily she’d already be angling to divest him of some of his ever present armor. With impending company though, she knew that unwise.

A’Mia hooked her arm with his and steered him out of the hangar, explaining as they walked.

“Revna awaits us near the grove, and another who has more than earned Brosi’s guest-right…” and without leaving time to ask exactly who the other was, A’Mia stepped them both through a tree.

The pair reappeared about ten yards from the others, and A’Mia’s grip on Alisteri’s arm remained firm.

 

[Revna Marr]

Tags: Darth Strosius // Mercy // Madrona A’Mia ​

It had been a fair bit of time since Revna had last been on the foliated surface of Brosi. The last time had been for a celebration after the Second Battle of Brosi, where she had met and interacted with a handful of colorful characters. The daughter of the Sith Empress - a secret she kept locked away deep in her heart and mind; her Apprentice, of course - that giant Epicanthix young warrior who spent much of his time in the Core with the Sith Covenant…and of course, it was on Brosi where she had met another Empress, this time of the galactic Core itself.

That interaction with Mercy was still seared into Revna’s mind, and she still thought about it at times, late at night when the candles burned low. She had wondered when she might ever see that mountain of a woman again, and whether or not it would be on good terms or not.

Now that she was staring at Mercy from beside A’Mia, she knew she was soon to find out. But this little meeting on Brosi was not about Revna nor Mercy, it was for someone else entirely. This was being done for Revna’s cantankerous Father - the infamous Darth Strosius.

Revna cast a glance at A’Mia and gave her one of her small half smirks. She had understood and agreed with the idea to summon Alisteri here, for Revna knew in her heart that - for all His violent capabilities - He would not dare to damage or destroy the home of one of His ladies; He cared way too much for the Neti, and Revna trusted in that.

If He violated that trust…well…Revna would have to get in the line to beat His ass from one end of the Galaxy, to the other.

Mercy, on the other hand, was a wildcard. One never truly knew who or what they were getting on a day to day basis with the Covenant Warlord. Revna wondered how Mercy might behave today, especially once she figured out that the guest she was going to meet was Darth Strosius - someone with whom she had traded blows with previously.

Around the time that Revna felt the familiar presence of her Father enter the orbit above Brosi, was the time that A’Mia asked her to take Mercy around Psilofyr’s grove a bit. Revna, in her typical plain Zeyd-cloth black robes with golden runic stitchings along its hems, did as she was asked and stepped away with Mercy to leave A’Mia to meet their other ‘guest’.

"What did you say your friend's name was?" Mercy inquired after a moment, a response that Revna deflected casually by getting distracted by a twisting vine that seemed to reach out and gently snag her robe around her ankles. With a small smile, she crouched down and let the vine wrap around her fingers, and she fed it a little bit of her own energy - a callback to when she imparted her gift of Hunger to the World Tree.

Revna timed her reaction just right, as the moment she seemed ready to respond or answer that question, was the moment that A’Mia stepped through a nearby tree that had acted as a portal - with none other than Darth Strosius on her arm.

Revna rose back up on her feet as the vines slipped away, and offered the Neti and her Father a warm smile - though a bit of tension did coil deep within the base of her spine at the sight of Him now being in the same space as the Warlord.

It was like introducing two large, aggressive battle hounds to one another. Would they growl and snarl but learn to co-exist in the same space, or would they brawl?

There was only one way to find out, she supposed. ​

 

[Darth Strosius]

Tags: Mercy / Madrona A’Mia / Revna Marr
--------------------------------------------

He couldn't help the smile that bloomed beneath His mask at the sight of A'Mia waiting for Him to step away from His shuttle, all too eager to lean into her touch even with the barrier of metal between real contact. "I've missed you as well malul , its always a pleasure to visit your lovely world." Brosi was idyllic but He didn't even bother pretending that He was here for the scenery or environment. Darth Strosius allowed Himself one moment to revel before realizing that they were already on the move, Him largely just following along with the grip she had on His arm.

He was excited to hear that His daughter wasn't all too far but the mention of another guest caused Him to cock His head slightly in her direction, barely having the time to open His mouth before being pulled through a tree and out of the other side in a vastly different location than the spaceport. His vision swam for a moment from the treestride but He blinked and shook the sensation off just in time to see Revna smiling at Him from across the way.

Before His hidden features reciprocated the gesture though His idle gaze spotted the figure beside her and widened. "Oh chit." His "wings" flared into pointed pinions, the pale tendrils arcing around Him like the stingers of some cornered beast as His whole form tensed. A'Mia's arm hooked around His was firm but with His free hand Darth Strosius summoned His lightsaber from His belt and ignited the crimson blade with a small flourish, bringing it up to guard the front of the Neti moreso than Himself.

"Revna, over here! Now!"

 

[Mercy]

MERCY

EMPRESS | WARLORD | STAR-ARM

Location: Brosi | Tags: Darth Strosius Madrona A’Mia Revna Marr​

.

People often assumed that Mercy was either stupid or at the very least not that sharp. It was a reputation that Mercy herself cultivated, because it worked in her favor more often than not. This is why when Revna didn't answer her and started fiddling with a convenient branch, Mercy was suspicious rather than mollified.

She watched the woman curiously and wondered what this might be. There were few individuals she really trusted. Srina Talon was one, Quinn Varanin , they were like family to her. Arris Windrun , she trusted her to be a little shit bird.

But she did not think A'Mia or Revna would try to kill her. They were too smart to do it while splitting up and they wouldn't rely on something as unreliable as luring her into a trap. If they wanted to kill her, they'd do it fast, hard, they would not give her time to think and would make her rely on instinct. After which, they'd use their skills in alchemy and-

They rounded a corner and there was A'Mia... and a familiar figure next to her.

Who immediately exploded into action, ordering people around and raising their lightsaber.

That moment was a knife's edge. It could go either way, really, and Mercy stilled completely as she studied Strosius like one would study an instinct under glass.

Then.

"Oh, darling Strosius." She purred out so warmly and affectionately. "I am so glad you managed to fix your poor little helmet, it had such a large hole in it!"

Mercy said cheerfully and moved to wrap an arm around Revna's shoulders, pulling her in closer. Her other hand, the monstrous golden one, unraveled into tendrils. Each with a function. Pulling out her pipe, lighting it up and slowly pushing it between her teeth. Until it was burning with a herb that had become rather familiar to those who spend time around Mercy.

Anyone who was in contact with it would feel their connection to the Force falter.

"You didn't tell me you wanted me to meet your father officially..." Mercy whispered loudly in Revna's ear, squeezing her shoulders. "That's so sweet, I like it."

In spite of the smoke inhaled into her lungs, her eyes started to sink into amber, signalling that somehow her connection to the Dark Side was unaffected.

"Strosius, dear, you are gonna burn my friend if you keep waving that cute stick around." The gaze sharpened, grew colder. "I don't appreciate people threatening my friends."

.

ERASE THE PAST

 

[Madrona A’Mia]

​

"Theatrics are fun Mercy, and I do appreciate your sense of protectiveness, Alisteri dear. However, I need one thing to be abundantly clear — for as long as you both stand beneath Brosi's sky and until such time as we reach an accord, any harm you cause eachother is harm you do directly to me."

A'Mia's voice carried about the forest unnaturally. Not booming, but undeniably enunciated and projected so they all could hear. She was calm as ever, a faint smile playing about her lips, and her arm went more slack against her lover. She rather enjoyed being close to him, even enjoyed the way he bristled in her defense. But the neti no longer sought to hold him back.

This was a test, or a lesson. Whichever Mercy and Darth Strosius both needed in order for A'Mia's vision of Sith unity and strength to become a reality.

Revna Marr

 

[Revna Marr]

Tags: Darth Strosius // Mercy // Madrona A’Mia ​

Mercy would hear Revna inhale a breath, and release it a bit sharply when Darth Strosius’s wings flared and sharpened, and when His lightsaber found its way into His free hand and ignited with a crimson crackling pulse. The little Marr stood there opposite to her Father and A’Mia and watched His overdramatic display with a familiar tilt of her head and her lips slipped from her smile and into a tight line of unamusement.

Though she did have to admit, it was rather adorable to see Him try and protect A’Mia from the Mountain Woman across from Him…even against one that Revna already knew to be an ally with the Neti.

"Revna, over here! Now!" came her Father’s sharp words, spoken in such a manner that was undeniable. Had He still been her Master…well, perhaps she would have obeyed that sharp command to come to His side.

But she wasn’t His apprentice anymore, now was she?

And the little Vahla was just as stubborn and fiery as He was, when she wanted to be. So instead, Revna shifted her weight on her hip and crossed her arms over her chest, and she gave Him the most ‘You are being an idiot’ stare she could possibly give in the moment.

Of course, Mercy had something to say about the dramatics. And her near sugery sweet purr towards Revna’s Father made the young Sith woman shift her ember eyes towards Mercy and arch one delicate eyebrow. When she did so, Mercy wrapped one of her muscular arms around Revna’s shoulders and drew her in close, a gesture that the smaller Sith woman did not resist nor reject. She didn’t seem to be bothered by Mercy at all, in fact - and she was hoping her Father would catch on to that.

But then of course He had already come to decide that she was making mistakes with the people that she chose to make her allies, so she doubted this gesture would change His mind. If anything, He would double down.

Mercy used her other arm, her golden one, which shifted into multiple tendrils (that may or may not have slightly unnerved the little Marr), to light a pipe with some herbal concoction within it. Smoke was soon drifting up and around Mercy and as it drifted over Revna, she felt the most peculiar sensation.

Her connection to the Force, flickered. It flickered like a dying light that was struggling to hold on, and more smoke drifted over Revna when Mercy leaned in to whisper rather loudly in her ear about Revna ‘hadn’t told her she wanted Mercy to meet her father’ and how ‘sweet it was’. Revna met Mercy’s gaze without fear - even as the final thread to her connection to the Force slipped from her grasp. The Dark Side did not fade from Mercy’s eyes, strangely enough…and she would notice that something else lingered within Revna’s - not bound to the Force, and it flickered across Revna’s dull yellow eyes, like an inky shadow. The blackened veins buried within ashen skin that had begun their spread from her eyes and across her temples pulsed slightly, but then the shadow passed as if it had never been there.

Mercy would turn her focus back to Darth Strosius and make it clear that she did not appreciate Him threatening her friends, almost nicely asking Him to put His ‘cute stick’ away before He burned A’Mia.

The tension mounted, and Revna almost audibly sighed, and this was the moment that everyone present would hear A’Mia speak her mind on the matter and make it very clear that while both Alisteri and Mercy stood on her planet, and until they reached an accord - any harm they caused one another would be harm done directly to her.

“Who are you going to protect A’Mia and I from?! Our friends?! You’re silly. Put Your saber away, Dad - please.” Revna said - using the more affectionate title, one she rarely used with Him and even more rarely in front of others. Between A’Mia and Revna’s words, she hoped He would settle down.

And that Mercy wouldn’t continue to provoke Him. No matter how fun it was to do so. ​

 

[Darth Strosius]

Tags: Mercy / Madrona A’Mia / Revna Marr
--------------------------------------------

A hiss escaped from His mask at the saccharine tone that the woman spoke at Him with, but sight of her touching His daughter was what drew Him to step forward. "I'm going to put a hole through your skull!" Were it not for A'Mia's firm hold He might have even gotten the chance to take another step forwards, but alas she kept Him from getting too far for just another moment whilst Revna had to endure the miscreant whispering something to her. "What 'friend'?!" He didn't think a woman of her caliber was the kind to keep any friends.

That His daughter refused to move, even adopting a rather stubborn disposition in response if anything, only served to inflame the confusion that was rather quickly overtaking His initial surprise. A decidedly sinking feeling was starting to creep into the back of His mind and A'Mia's declaration was hardly helping Him discern anything about this unusual situation. Darth Strosius looked back at her, although Revna spoke up before He could ask her for any clarification.

And as was becoming annoyingly consistent today, His daughter's remark only served to make His head spin all the more. He looked between the two incredulously, gesturing towards the brute with the tip of His lightsaber wordlessly as though He could shake them out of whatever stupor must have taken hold of them by just staring at them hard enough. When that failed to achieve any results to His liking however His rigid form began to deflate slightly. Only slightly.

"What the feth is going on?!?" As reluctant as He was to pull away from the Neti He found the need to gain just a bit of distance more pressing than the craving for comfort, if only so that He could give her and Revna an even more incredulous look from between the two of them rather than at A'Mia's side. "Am I missing something?! Is this some joke that I'm being made the fool of!?! What is the meaning of this? Why is she here?!!"

 

[Mercy]

MERCY

EMPRESS | WARLORD | STAR-ARM

Location: Brosi | Tags: Darth Strosius Revna Marr Madrona A’Mia​

.

A'Mia's comments drew a raised eyebrow out of the Empress. Here she was trying to protect her friend from this buffoon and for some reason the Neti found it necessary to include her in the warning, as if she was the one waving around a lightsaber in anyone's face in the moment. She stilled there as she drew in more smoke, watching the contorting behind Revna's eyes.

"You are interesting." Mercy murmured to her in an aside while Strosius raged in the background.

Only then returning to the Neti.

"You are not treating me gracefully, dear tree-heart." Her eyes still set in amber and coolness apparent. Which in some ways was much worse than the heat. Heat was care, heat was protective desire. Cool... few people ever saw any shade of coolness from Mercy. "I have come here as a friend and in spite of darling Strosius' aggression, I did not rise my hand against him."

Attention shifted to Strosius.

"Tell me, sweet Strosius, how many times have you attempted to kill me at this point? Two, three times?"

Back to A'Mia once more.

"And you think it is wise to include me in your warning? You are playing with fire, sweet girl, and I am not appreciative."

.

ERASE THE PAST

 

[Madrona A’Mia]

​

With Alisteri having moved himself to get a bit of distance so he could look aghast between them, A'Mia drifted closer to where Revna and Mercy stood. The confused outrage roiling off of the man was met by a bristling cold front of the mountainous woman's warning to the neti.

There she stood somewhere between all of them, preparing to put her own wellbeing and closest thing she'd known to love on the line for a vision. Had it been wise to choose her most hard headed companions for this? Perhaps not. But success here would mean cascading effects elsewhere.

"No joke, dear. As Revna has said, Mercy is a friend. More than that, she has been a steadfast ally and I to her, regarding endeavors in the core."

A'Mia turned to the woman, peering at her through the smoke. Arms open wide in a conciliatory gesture, the nearest thing to chagrin that had ever graced her features tugged at her mouth in a faint frown and the emotion even reached her eyes. Unusual indeed for the arboreal woman.

"You have my apologies for the way in which this has come about — and for the clumsy manner in which I've warned you both. However, I know how fearsome both of you can be, how quick to violence…" she turned to eye Alisteri's lit saber, then turned back to continue addressing them all.

"These are attributes I admire, I'm drawn to each of you for different reasons but your passion is foremost amongst the similarities I can list."

"There are few people in my life whose collaboration could reap more momentous outcomes than the both of you. If you can forgive my clumsiness in bringing you together, please hear Revna and I out."

A'Mia's face became mask like once more, serene and beautiful as the forest surrounding them as she awaited their responses.

 

[Revna Marr]

Tags: Darth Strosius // Mercy // Madrona A’Mia ​

As the situation continued to unfold before her eyes, Revna did feel for her Father in the moment; He was irate, but perhaps more than that - He was confused. It was clear that He did not understand why Mercy was here, and why He was here at the same time. It had been incredibly risky to bring both hot-headed Sith into this space, a risk that A’Mia knew and decided to take anyway as she felt it would (hopefully) be worth it in the end.

It was a sentiment that Revna hoped was right, or would pay out the way A’Mia wanted.

Revna was largely silent when Darth Strosius stepped away from A’Mia to give Himself some space so He could stare between her and the Neti more incredulously. He demanded to know what was going on, and if He was being made the fool of some joke they were playing on Him.

Beyond that, it appeared that Mercy was not a fan of A’Mia warning her to behave as well; the giant woman’s cool voice echoed through the space, pointing out that she had not raised her hand against Strosius - unlike Him. A’Mia tried to placate her larger friend, apologizing even. She asked that both of them hear her, and Revna, out - before turning to violence once more. The little Marr took the moment to step up beside her Neti companion and hook her arm with the Neti’s and give her a small but reassuring smile.

“We are not playing a cruel joke on you, either of you. But we both would appreciate it, if hostilities could be suspended for the time being, and you both hear what A’Mia has or needs to say.” Revna turned her gaze upon her Father, a long and hard stare that was dead serious. “Can You do that, Father? If not for me, then do it for Your beloved. And Mercy -”

She shifted her attention back to the Mountain woman, catching those amber eyes. “I know provoking my cantankerous Father is a lot of fun and very amusing - but for the sake of what A’Mia wants to accomplish here, can you set that aside for the time being, please?” Revna said as she caught Mercy's hand for a moment and giving it a gentle squeeze to indicate she didn't wish to further aggravate the woman, before she shifted her gaze back to Darth Strosius, directing her attention, and her next comment, to Him. "Can we simply come together and speak about matters that need to be discussed, like adults?"

​

 

[Darth Strosius]

Tags: Mercy / Madrona A’Mia / Revna Marr
--------------------------------------------

The question made Him scoff, mostly in offense at how it seemed to be an off-handed remark moreso than anything else. "It would be three, if I wasn't being interrupted." Darth Strosius huffed, slowly lowering His lightsaber. Although noticeably keeping it well above the ground for the sake of the grove. "Although the first attempt was entirely your fault as I recall. Getting in my way unnecessarily, that seems to be a habit of yours." From the corner of His visor He shot Revna and A'Mia a stray glance. "And one that seems to be spreading no less."

For as ruffled as He was by her though, He found the Neti and His daughter to be far more confounding and frustrating at present. Clearly He was apparently misinformed in some grand way and He didn't appreciate it at all. "And, pray tell, how do you know this woman and what could she possibly be worth as an ally? Let alone one in the Core of all places?" Darth Strosius didn't even bother to pretend hiding the exasperation in His voice, the words being almost as sighed as they were spoken.

"Because evidently I'm missing some sorely needed context. From the both of you." He gestured a gloved finger between the pair, His hidden gaze narrowed in scrutiny. "Especially if you honestly think there's any sort of collaboration with her that could be of benefit. Explanations first, chatting second." He didn't like whatever this little exercise was, not one bit, but for the sake of not wasting a trip and by request He supposed He could humor it. If only for a bit longer.

 

[Mercy]

Darth Strosius | Revna Marr | Madrona A’Mia

"Although the first attempt was entirely your fault as I recall. Getting in my way unnecessarily, that seems to be a habit of yours."

Mercy's gaze panned towards A'Mia in the classical sign of: See the kind of shit I have to put up with? But it didn't truly displease her, because it only served to prove her point for her.

Then Strosius kept talking and both A'Mia and Revna would see her brows furrow more... and more.

"Especially if you honestly think there's any sort of collaboration with her that could be of benefit. Explanations first, chatting second."

"Will one of you tell this feral creature already before he gives me a headache?" She was reasonably sure she had mentioned being the Empress of the Core before and Strosius had responded with something like 'And I am the God Emperor of the Sith', or something to that effect, but she wasn't entirely sure.

It had been on her vacation.

There had been a lot of alcohol, drugs and merriment involved back then.

 

[Madrona A’Mia]

​

Heartening at the approach and support of Revna Marr , A'Mia noted that Mercy was placated for now. Alisteri on the other hand was another matter entirely. She'd anticipated as much.

He really needs to get outside the Blackwall more, she psychically sighed to Revna before speaking for all their ears.

"Dearest…” A’Mia began, her tone just shy of chiding in the direction of Darth Strosius , “Threats and snark are unbecoming. Mercy and I have grown to know each other gradually over many shared endeavors and we’ve become quite close thanks to adjacent ambitions. To name a few, I’ve aided the Sith Covenant in the acquisition of promising new students and participated in some of their efforts toward expansion. Mercy has not only defended Brosi with her life, but often lends her strength to the Order.“

She let only a short pause fill the air before continuing, like a mathematician laying out a complex equation for a classroom.

”So proof of her benefit in collaboration is well and truly provided. What’s more, she doesn’t even harbor many of the ideologies you consider so heretical. If the two of you can bury the vibro-axe, it would be to the detriment of all our enemies and, more importantly, a boon to Sith as a whole.”

She held up a finger to forestall interruption, nearly done with her explanation before she planned to hand the spotlight off to the raven-haired woman at her side.

”The Covenant is a young new powerhouse, their future is bright and they hold the Core. Mercy holds the Core, she is Empress there. Rather than making new enemies of our kin, wouldn’t it be wise to build inroads before the larger Order beats you to it and paints you as some kind of pariah?“

There was an unusual amount of emotion in those last words. The generally stoic or peppy and unreadable neti clearly felt strongly about the matter. Her eyes swept to Mercy, a rather raw expression which said “I’m trying, but help me out” on her otherwise nymph-like face. Privately, the woman had originally been drawn to Alisteri as a rather intriguing under-dog figure within the Order. She still harbored a fondness for those traits in him, but it was clear she believed he was due his exculpation and vindication. She was, in a word, biased in his favor. Though not to the detriment of sense. The arboreal woman was patient and knew her work was cut out for her.

 

[Revna Marr]

Tags: Darth Strosius // Mercy // Madrona A’Mia ​

Darth Strosius, as usual it would seem, had something to say to all parties involved. He was none too pleased that both Revna and A’Mia were working “against” Him here, against someone that He - in Revna’s opinion - had foolishly declared or tried to make an enemy. He then cast a stray glance between them, indicating how it seemed Mercy’s habit of getting in the way was spreading. That comment made Revna scoff in amusement. Of course she was going to get in the way - of all the Sith who would absolutely rip her Father’s head from His shoulders without a second thought, it was Mercy.

Revna did not fancy seeing her Father die again - especially by the hand of someone she had come to respect.

Alisteri asked both A’Mia and Revna how Mercy could possibly be worthy as an ally, in the Core “of all places”. And it dawned on Revna that her Father might still be in the dark about the events that had transpired in the Core.

Or that He had heard the truth and decided He didn’t believe it.

"Will one of you tell this feral creature already before he gives me a headache?" Mercy said, her tone and furrowed brow making it clear that she was reaching the end of her rope with Strosius’ antics. Revna inhaled a deep breath, and turned her eyes to A’Mia. Perhaps it would be best if one of her Father’s closest companions explained the situation to Him first.

A’Mia wasted no time in taking up that task, almost chiding the Sith Lord for His threats and snark. She explained that she and Mercy had grown to know each other over shared endeavors and had grown close due to shared ambitions. She mentioned the Sith Covenant and its ongoing rise and efforts towards expansion. She also told Alisteri how Mercy had defended Brosi with her life. There was a very short pause, before the Neti continued, explaining how Mercy did not harbor the ideologies that Alisteri considered heretical. If they could set their differences aside, then perhaps that would be to the detriment of their enemies.

Before Strosius could object or get a word in edge-wise, A’Mia made it clear that she had more to say, and Revna watched with hidden amusement as the lecture continued - but laid out in a manner that her Father might understand better. Or so was the hope, anyway.

“The Covenant is a young new powerhouse, their future is bright and they hold the Core. Mercy holds the Core, she is Empress there. Rather than making new enemies of our kin, wouldn’t it be wise to build inroads before the larger Order beats you to it and paints you as some kind of pariah?”

It was clear that A’Mia felt rather strongly about the matter at hand, her raw emotion being laid bare before them all. It was a rare sight to see, and Revna truly hoped her Father would see just how much this meant to His beloved.

Revna took the moment to speak calmly, quietly, her voice and tone respectful. "A’Mia is correct in what she says, Mercy is the Sith Empress of the Core. She defeated the Galactic Empire’s Sith’ari by way of Kaggath. The Sith Covenant is young - but powerful. The Sith hold the Core, Father. Not the Sith of the Blackwall, not those You hate.”

She paused for a moment, then decided it was time to reveal her own hand in the pie, so to speak.

“I have had my Apprentice, Varin, working with and within the Covenant for a long time now - in an effort to build connections on my part, between Korriban and the Covenant. I agree with A’Mia - it would be wise to build a strong alliance with them - instead of making them our enemies.”

Revna's gaze would shift more directly towards her Father, catching His amber eyes through the visor of His helm. -Especially You, Father. The Wonosans cannot afford another enemy breathing down the back of their necks. I am tired of fearing for You and them every second of every day. I am tired of seeing You flounder with no place to plant Your feet and recover the power and position that You lost, with no home for OUR people. Please…for the love of Bogan - give this a chance. That is all we are asking.- ​

 

[Darth Strosius]

Tags: Mercy / Madrona A’Mia / Revna Marr
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A scoff and the hidden twitching of an eye served as the only response that He gave to the woman's insult, anything further would only serve to dignify the comment. He didn't know who she thought she was to make such a statement and give such a request but with any luck He would soon be filled in on that at least a little bit. Whether or not He found any such answer satisfactory though would be an entirely different matter altogether of course. He could only hope.

When A'Mia began her explanation Darth Strosius could already hear the mixture of placation and insistence in her tone with just the first word, His hidden gaze snapping to regard her as she spoke. That she and this Mercy character had apparently been working together for some time did little to ease the confusion and alarm in His mind, especially with the offhanded mention of the Sith Covenant of all things. She seemed to know a question from Him was already brewing when she held up a finger, causing Him to grumble something inaudible.

Finally she offered the missing piece of the puzzle that made the whole circumstance click painfully into focus and relevance. Evidently His last brief conversation with Mercy hadn't been just bluster on her part as He'd assumed. His head cocked to the side at a rather uncomfortable angle to peer at the Neti in spite of already looking at her straight on, a display of disbelief more so than one of confusion. There was a part of Him that was hoping that she was just speaking in some sort of ill timed and awful joke, but the sinking feeling in His stomach said otherwise.

Revna confirmed A'Mia's statement, although she was incorrect about there being any sort of "Sith'ari" within the brief Empire of the Core. Solipsis had little more than a ghost that hadn't been told he was meant to be dead, certainly no Sith and definitely not worthy of any lofty title within their ranks. Oddly similar to Empyrean now that He thought of it. How quant. That she continued and revealed that she had also apparently been making inroads with the Covenant, and with Mercy in particular given the unusual closeness between them, was of little comfort.

Had Darth Strosius been alone in His quarters as He'd prefer at this moment, He would have taken this news by screaming in frustration and seeing how many times He had to punch His wall before the durasteel gave way to whatever fist He'd have mangled in the process. Right now though, all He could do was seethe, breathe, and sigh, in a repetitive cycle until He was calmed. Which took a fair few moments to achieve. He didn't even respond to the mental message from His daughter as He soothed Himself, exhaling and inhaling through gritted fangs until the crimson blade in His grasp was finally extinguished with the pressing of a gloved thumb.

We will a long discussion later about withholding information and making plans regarding our people behind my back. Darth Strosius fixed Revna with as stern of a look as He could give without snarling behind His mask, having to sigh again before He slowly looked back to A'Mia. "If I may," His first words were still tinged with a seething tone but they were nevertheless as heatless as He could make them. "I find it incredibly inconvenient that you both kept your involvement and knowledge of not only the Sith Covenant but also its leader hidden from me for so long unnecessarily."

He rolled His shoulders and did His best to straighten what had become a slight hunch in His posture, an aggressive stance that had been ready for combat. "Furthermore I am quite frustrated and displeased that you, my lady, apparently warned the Empress here of my existence but entirely neglected to do the same for me regarding her. And I would love to know why." Another seething breath was taken and released. "But in the interest of not hindering this discussion any more than necessary, I will reserve such a topic for another time."

Finally He turned to regard Mercy, arms clasping behind His back and His head held high in site of the circumstances. "I...would like to extend my apologies. I was grievously," A heated glance was cast back at His beloved and daughter. ", uninformed of your deeds and merit and I acted hastily when I shouldn't have. I am Darth Strosius, Prophet of the Order of Wonosa and one of the few proper Sith left within the ranks of the Sith Order. If you're willing, I'd like to indulge in a discussion with you."

 

[Mercy]

Madrona A’Mia Revna Marr Darth Strosius

Mercy stood there silently, like a mountain rooted in time, place and intent, and listened to both A'Mia and Revna pleading with respectively their paramour and father.

Once upon a time the display would have disgusted her.

Strong formidable women who had to bend and contort themselves into pretzels just to keep the peace around a volatile manling. But the Mercy of then was not the Mercy of now. She found herself in the strange and uncomfortable position of caring for certain men. Mercy had found a son in Lysander von Ascania , a nephew in Varin Mortifer , an acerbic shitbird of a companion in Meliant .

She could no longer judge the A'Mia's and Revna's of the world for trying to protect their designated manling. Mostly.

Her eyes swept to Mercy, a rather raw expression which said “I’m trying, but help me out” on her otherwise nymph-like face.

Their eyes met and Mercy nodded quietly and came on over towards the Neti. If Strosius was still holding the ignited saber, she'd pointedly ignore it and to the surprise of any that didn't know her, the Mountain suddenly wrapped her arms around the Tree and hugged her close.

"It's quite alright, my dear, you did wonderfully." She murmured gently in A'Mia's ear, stroking her hair in comfort.

Only then did Mercy shift slightly, still keeping an arm around the Neti, and watched Strosius with interest.

"I...would like to extend my apologies. I was grievously," A heated glance was cast back at His beloved and daughter. ", uninformed of your deeds and merit and I acted hastily when I shouldn't have. I am Darth Strosius, Prophet of the Order of Wonosa and one of the few proper Sith left within the ranks of the Sith Order. If you're willing, I'd like to indulge in a discussion with you."

She had not been expecting an apology.

Eyebrow raised and then the mountainous shoulders shrugged.

"Forgiven and left in the past, Strosius. I did my own sharing of poking at you for fun, when you were pissing me off. Discuss away, I am getting the feeling that is exactly what A'Mia and Revna had been trying to accomplish. And I know better than to struggle against their designs for too long."

 

[Madrona A’Mia]

​

The neti’s body language continued to relax from formality into comfortable companionship. Though rocky at first, things appeared to finally have turned a corner. Returning Mercy’s hug with no small amount of affection, A’Mia beamed with clear gratitude at Alisteri’s decision to choose manners over mayhem. As ever, Revna proved herself a capable and level headed ally in whatever the two sisters in sorcery decided to put their minds to.

Finally, Mercy’s commentary about A’Mia and Revna’s propensity to get their way ended up drawing a trilling laugh from the arboreal woman. A rare sound, even for those closest to her.

“Just so, Mercy dear, just so!”

Gently she sought to extricate herself from the hug so she could form a talking circle, directing her attention equally to each of her companions as she went on.

“I’ve been laying groundwork, growing my influence and connections with certain people and powers. So too have I been lending my aid to Sith kin of all manner for some time now. It is also no secret that I have a particular knack for teaching and rearing our next generations.”

A’Mia decided not to mention that she’d recently sought the counsel of Taeli Raaf regarding her visions, nor did she disclose some of her own more unsavory dealings via Spore Industries within the black market. However, she spoke truth enough for them to understand that she’d been planning for quite some time and her ambitions stretched well into the future.

”I propose we take necessary next steps to usher in a Sith Golden Age… I suggest we do our part to bring Sith together, to begin formalizing our alliance and collaboration At a systemic level.”

 

[Revna Marr]

Tags: Mercy // Madrona A’Mia // Darth Strosius ​

Revna could sense just how frustrated her Father was - He was practically bleeding such volatile emotions into the Force that surrounded them all. For a long, tense moment, Revna held her breath - waiting to see if He would blow up or not and make the situation worse…or if He would actually decide to play nice for once.

A line of thought drifted into her mind, one that made her purse her lips slightly as Strosius fixed her with a rather stern stare that she could feel through the visor of His helm, a stare that she held with her own gaze without fear: ~We will a long discussion later about withholding information and making plans regarding our people behind my back~

-Not once did I say that I made plans for our people behind Your back, Father. I haven’t, and I won’t without Your direction. You should know this. I am hurt that You would even think that I would disrespect or overstep Your authority on that matter- she fired off in response, quick to try and correct that false assumption on His part, before He turned His attention back to A’Mia and seemed to rebuke both her and Revna about “withholding” such important information from Him for so long. Revna had to suppress rolling her eyes at that comment, because she simply knew the man too well.

“Like You would have believed us if we had told you such things anyway. At least not with me.” Revna grumbled in a low voice, the statement slipping out before she could truly rein it in. She averted her gaze from the masked man and looked elsewhere, perhaps to avoid seeing if He heard her comment or not.

Strosius continued to vent His frustrations further - this time more towards A’Mia. He wanted to know she had withheld such knowledge from Him, but thankfully didn’t press the topic, choosing instead to focus on why they all had gathered here in the first place over having a spat or argument with one of His ladies.

And, much to Mercy’s surprise, and indeed Revna’s - He apologized for His behavior. He gave His reasonings, or perhaps His excuses (Revna pointedly ignored His heated glance), and respectfully introduced Himself to Mercy.

Revna shifted her gaze to Mercy, who had since wrapped her arm around the Neti to hug her close, to see how the giant woman might respond, and the tension slipped away from her completely when Mercy so casually forgave Strosius for his antics and admitted her own part to play at poking at him for fun’s sake. Her comment about ‘knowing better than to struggle against the designs’ of Revna and A’Mia brought a small smile to her face.

Now that things were smoothed over, A’Mia slipped out of Mercy’s grasp in order to walk and talk in a circle, sharing with the group what was on her mind, what she had been doing recently. Revna listened quietly, folding her hands inside the sleeves of her robe, still standing a short distance away from where Mercy and Strosius were.

“I propose we take necessary next steps to usher in a Sith Golden Age… I suggest we do our part to bring Sith together, to begin formalizing our alliance and collaboration at a systemic level.” A’Mia finished, laying out the reasoning behind why she had brought them all together for a discussion.

“I have, for some time now, felt that with our forces combined - we could eliminate our enemies and bring Sith dominion across the breadth of the Galaxy.” Revna said after a moment or two of silence, lending her voice and agreement to support what A'Mia had said. She returned to silence, curious to hear what Mercy had to say on the matter, as well as Darth Strosius. Though if she was being honest with herself - a part of Revna dreaded to hear what her Father might say on the topic at hand.
​