But everyday there's a new thing comin'

[Corey's OOC]

There was so much that Marek was realizing he had left a whole lot of thigns to the wayside. He was really going to need to find some way to be in two places at once. Perhaps a Human Replica Droid to make choices for him? That could be smart. What he was going to have to do is just trust the Haor Chall Engineers, and the rest of the Techno Union staff. He could keep meeting with CEOs of other companies to have a meeting and make buying deals, but aside from that? An HRD would allow him to focus on his training, and how else he could help the Confederacy.

And let him take trips.

Like now, Marek had figured it was time to touch base with Ryloth, namely his Master, and mate, even if the former wasn’t around. And that meant heading to Ryloth. Thankfully, it wasn’t a long trip, and allowed him to start going over some concepts that were proposed. A way to upload a droid brain into a ship or a fighter, allow it to have the entire ship as its operating system, and handle all the systems. A bit of an upgrade but it would maybe quicken things, and the droid would know what is going on with the ship instantly, instead of scrolling through systems. Maybe that was something to work on, wasn’t there a fighter like that? And if you could have preferences and cues loaded into the droid system to understand what the user was implying, or thinking… that would serve well for a combat unit.

Right, this wasn’t a work trip. At all. Taking the Dark Tide in for a landing, he made sure that his R7 unit, SeaDee, was aware that this trip was a bit of a social call, and not work, but to go through the day’s upload from the Techno Union companies, and see what was useful and what wasn’t. Marek would of course re-read it later, but if SeaDee could pull the majority of things out, maybe this whole tech idea could work, or he could talk to Sindy, see if there was anything she could do.

Still, he wasn’t worrying about that right now. What he was doing here was the social call, which was probably going to end up with him learning something, so to not wait up. This was the kind of life Marek missed the most. He was a seeker, an explorer and a finder of trouble. Maybe he would be able to get back to that, soon? Now that the Techno Union was starting to carry herself properly, he could work on his own pursuits and get everything sent forward to him, to his ship. He was a Starchaser, after all.

Approaching the capital, and where he knew the Viceroy and Vicerine to reside, Marek strode up and into the estate of his Master. Really, he was hoping to get some time to just converse with Curupira, try to get a feel for her, and for Master Van Derveld as well. It was really going to be the trick, wasn’t it? Understanding the other well enough to work besides and with him was important. Making his way around the atrium, assuming that people knew he was here, with his ship IFF broadcasting, he was hoping it would only be a matter of time until he was greeted. Still, as per typical, Marek had his revolver on one hip, and lightsaber on the other, free of any larger weapons, but holding the ones that he felt were standard and acceptable for someone of his level to carry about.

@[member="Curupira Hawk"]

 

[Curupira Hawk]

Ryloth was not your typical planet, without going into the depths of their mind Twi'leks themselves had little to do with it. The depth itself though was quite curious. How they built their cities, how they settled into their lives. Curupira still didn't get most of it. She was starting to figure out the structure of the Kala'uun, one of their two capitals but she still had a lot to understand why they built their cities within their caves. How they even managed to build such elaborate things within those caves. The spaceport itself was also odd, to the redhead appearing just as reach as the rest of the city. And yet so dark. But they said that was necessary. All of it was important and required. As most people, Ket's apprentice was noted already at the guard post of the spaceport so by the time he was moving up the turbo lift, Curupira had been notified he was coming. Because he was the Viceroy's apprentice, @[member="Marek Starchaser"] was given something most strangers didn't get a chance to do - visit the lower levels of the city, where the residences were.

It was on one of those levels that the Viceroyalty resided, their residence closer to the surface. Curupira didn't really see the point of so much space, so much was wasted. Even in the times she lived with her Guardian, his apartment on Coruscant was spacious but nothing out of the top. It was what she was used to, this was not.

Within the living quarters, Curupira sat on the middle of a sofa, her feet up against the adjoining taburet, looking down at her communicator. There was a girl in the Confederacy who wanted her to train her. It was a little confusing, considering the redhead track record with training and she was still debating just what she was going to do about it. While she knew of the arrival, she didn't really move from her spot, her mind enveloped into the current issue. After a while though, she remembered Marek was coming up and reached into the Force. It quickly told her of the presence just beyond the doors. She dropped the communicator in her lap then waved her hands slowly, using her telekinesis to open the double doors, slowly. Anything faster than that, she risked damaging either them or the walls when they slammed... or both. And the young woman really didn't want to do that. Her head pipped out ever so slightly to the side. "Marek?" She called out a little louder, getting his attention before she picked up the communicator and put it on the side where she was sitting and got up, heading towards him.

 

[Corey's OOC]

He was going to have to get used to this Ryloth business. He wasn’t all that versed in Ryloth, dealing with her children on other worlds. That was just how Marek Starchaser made his life before the Confederacy, after all. This world was something different. He was taking time getting used to the visual, as he was making his approach to the Capital. Landing was simple, but it was a matter of his ship being recognized and allowed. The rest, he could deal with some other time, the understanding of this world.

One that he never did take the time to study in his past life. He was really going to have to pick up his knowledge of the Confederacy. Some Tech Lord Foreman, huh? And by Tech Lord, he did not mean overlord… or did he?

He could feel the Force move as the doors opened. Nodding, he stepped through the Force-opened doors. So, this was where the Master and mate stayed? Nice digs. He would have to work on getting Kothlis set up. Hearing @[member="Curupira Hawk"] calling him, he focued himself up again. Right, he was here for a social call, of sorts. “Ma’am.” He nodded, offering a bow, nearly the same that he offered Ket. It was important to keep up appearances. “How are you today?”

 

[Curupira Hawk]

Ma'am. Curupira blinked, pausing in her moments for a split second before he continued moving some more to meet @Marek Starchase half way. He bowed to her and asked question. She was stuck with the whole greeting all together for a little bit, unaccustomed to any of it.

Then finally, she waved her fingers deeper into the living room and moved back towards the couch, pointing in a general direction of the seating, which included armchairs as well. "I'm fine. You?" It was one of those silly, generic responses but Curupira was really just buying time before she sat back and raised her feet again, waiting for him to sit down where he wanted.

Once she was comfortable again though, the redhead really wanted to address the whole thing that just happened there. "I'm gonna need you to drop the Ma'am thing. I have too many titles as it is to get something like that." It made her feel old and she didn't like that feeling one single bit. "Just call me Curupira or Ruu." She was that simple about it. Curupira also really didn't like labels. She liked the way Vicereine sounded and the Seneschel thing just came with the territory, couldn't be avoided really. Nobody had to call her that, especially during informal conversation which is what she understood this to be. "Also the bowing thing. You can reserve that for your Master, a simple head nod or even a wave will do for me."

 

[Corey's OOC]

She was his Master’s mate, wife, whatever. She was a ma’am to him. Someone he needed to approach with respect. He was going to give that to her. Regardless of any consequences he was going to receive or not receive. Smiling as she signaled for him to follow her, he nodded. Taking a seat in one of the armchairs, he rested his arms on the side, taking a second to relax. He needed to clear his mind, being somewhere new, and… important.

“I really can’t complain. The approach was well, and my position has finally started to accept that I need some time away from doing Union work.” He laughed, really probably going too far into anything. Still, it was important for small talk, wasn’t it? That was why he hired Loxley as his PR lady.

Grinning at her, he nodded as she spoke. “Yes m—Curupira.” Right, he was proper when the time came, and they probably weren’t at nicknames yet. Of course, if she decided they were, it wasn’t something he was going to fight. “Habits, I suppose. And being that you and Master Van Derveld are…” What was the word? “It just felt the way to approach you.”

[member="Curupira Hawk"]

 

[Curupira Hawk]

@Marek Starchase made the smalltalk she had initiated, making her smile a little as he had laughed. She had heard of there being a Techno Union but if someone actually asked her to explain, she would so not be their girl. "What is the Techno Union exactly? I mean, I get it makes stuff and all that but whats so special about it?" Most companies had that something that made them what they were. She learned that much from watching Seth work on his. It also made her know that a lot of companies had legal and illegal aspects, not everything was equally accepted.

Almost calling her ma'am again, the kid corrected himself quickly when she told him not to use it. Curupira chuckled. "Good," the redhead just said. She wasn't going to press the Ruu issue; he was given the choice between the two, he could choose which one he wanted to use. Her full name would do.

Habits made him bow? Interesting, she had no such thing. She knew students in the Jedi Order and even the Sith Order did things like that, she remembered seeing it but considering her upbringing, she had really never developed the habit, as Marek had called it. He seemed to be struggling with the word to describe her and Ket so Ruu threw in some help: "I'm his mate. It means I claimed him in a Dathomirian ceremony before witnesses of my clan." That was pretty much what is was. Well, it was the public part of the ceremony. The rest didn't have to be discussed.

It felt the way to approach her? Curupira merely shrugged. "As you've probably figured out, I'm not big on customs and stuff so you never have to worry about that."

 

[Corey's OOC]

Sometimes he felt that small talk was useful, others… not quite so much. Right now? He was doing whatever he felt was right. He knew that Ket’s mate was Force sensitive, so he was just going to go with it. And let the Force and instinct tell him what he should do. The Techno Union, huh? Right, work talk. “We do a few things. I mean, the best is forging connections with our companies to create new products. But then we’re also responsible for taxes, budgets, and trade agreements. Just another branch of government, really.” So boring, right?

And the full name worked just fine for him. He really felt he needed more time and everything to get to calling her Ruu, nicknames for him, unless they were something he gave someone, weren’t things he used often. Dathomiri, that was it. He really didn’t know much about their customs. “Different than the traditional marriage ceremonies on many worlds?” Now he needed to learn.

“Not really living in one place for too long, as a kid, made it the same for me. Just kind of going through, doing whats right, y’know?” Basically, he was agreeing with her.

[member="Curupira Hawk"]

 

[Curupira Hawk]

Forging connections with other companies and responsible for taxes, budges and trade agreements. Part of the government. "Oh." Curupira let a simple comment slip as her mind suddenly thought it was kind of boring. It was cute, legal and not at all interesting in any illegal way. The redhead had no experience with things like that. "How is it that you get up in the morning knowing nothing interesting will happen at work?" And there was, that wonderful bluntness Curupira suffered but these days tended to keep more to her thoughts. But honestly, couldn't help herself now.

This was why Curupira never went and found herself a real job. Being the Vicereine of Ryloth wasn't a job, it was a fun name which got her a lot of attention. Ket was the one with the job, she just tagged along. Same as with keeping an eye on the Illuminati when he wasn't around. Not hers, his. Just keeping an eye. The Dathomiri was never one for real job.

Was the claiming ceremony different than other ceremonies on many worlds? Curupira thought about it for a while. She knew how a wedding ceremony looked in most places. You had your priest and dressed in white and your father brought you down the aisle. It was like a claiming of each other instead of just the female making her claim of the male and making him hers. Curupira rather liked the thought of that but that had been buried deep within the layers of her brain for the most part. She was his already, doing a ceremony like that probably would have been pointless...

"I claimed him to be mine before two witnesses. By Dathomirian standards, he's my property and no other Witches may touch him after that." Was Curupira jealous enough to like that part? Oh, she loved that part alright. "Ours was a willing ceremony, I mean he accepted my proposal. Not all are from what I've been told." That should have been a nice hint just how little Ruu knew of her own culture. Some things she had been told by the elder of her clan but a lot of it still was a mystery but the female didn't feel like going there to find out.

[member="Marek Starchaser"] told her a bit about himself. It seemed customs weren't a thing for him either. So this was new. "I did travel a lot with my Guardian too. But most of where we ventured had little to do with any manners or etiquette." Criminals didn't really abide to much but maybe their own code. Her upbringing was interesting, to say at least. It wasn't that she hadn't seen customs here and there but as a free spirited she was than, punching a boy just because he had said a single bad word about the only man she remembered taking care of her at the time; she was just as free spirited right now though she didn't punch as much any more.

 

[Corey's OOC]

Yeah, his job was real exciting. Sure, he had his assistant in Sindy, but she was the tech genius here. Marek just knew what calls to make to survive. And what calls to make for the CIS to survive. And that meant he was perfect for the job. Sort of. He could probably learn a bit more. Or care a bit more, but he was still wishing for the Force lessons and the journey among the stars he was kind of missing out on. He’d get there.

He was a survivor. He was used to being thrown to the wind and getting on his feet. Being elected here? That was something new and different. He wasn’t sure how he cared for it, but it was something he could do effectively to prove he was supposed to be in the Confederacy for a while.

Right?

Right.

Property, huh? Marek wasn’t sure how much Ket was okay with that. But…oh, a willing ceremony. That changed things, for sure. “So, even different from the others of the Witches?” He nodded. It still seemed pretty Sadie Hawkins to him. Which wasn’t a bad thing, necessarily.

“Exactly! The hardest part of my job is being a face for the Techno Union. I’m outsourcing those types of positions to people that have manners.” He laughed and shook his head. “When you’re trying to make do every day, its really the last thing you worry yourself on, from what I remember.” Now? Now he had to remember how to talk to people, and what things to say, and avoid.

[member="Curupira Hawk"]

 

[Curupira Hawk]

Curupira nodded, silently answering his questions. "From what I've heard, yes," she told him. Not that Cura knew that much about the claiming ceremony. There were things here and there she was told when she first visited. Enough for her to be sure when she gave that nod to [member="Marek Starchaser"].

Face of Techno Unio. Curupira gave small half nods as she listened to him explain why he worked on his manners and such. Well, alright. She could sort of understand. Seth ran his company. He used his manners. He never overdid it, of course but he had a subtle way of handling different people. Even when he wasn't actually nice, he had talent not to cross lines. "I guess I get it," finally she commented. "Just remember, sometimes its nice to relax. And you're not meeting me as the face of Techno Union. So really, relax, kid." She said and grinned. Curupira was very serious even if the grin was attached to it.

"Now, lets talk about why you're here?" That was something Curupira was curious about talking about to him.

 

[Corey's OOC]

The thing with most people was that they had a set life and path they were on. Then you had the vagabonds, the vagrants. They were the ones who walked their own path, learned from one group, and were part of nearly a dozen more. These were the ones that Marek found himself attracted to, for whatever reason. People out of their own world, out of their own time, as it were.

Since it wasn’t just him running Haor Chall, which he was fine with, and working to do the whole Techno Union, he knew he needed to be on his A-game, hence the practice and almost lying about what he was doing and why. But being told to relax just now was what he needed. “I know, but you’re the mate of the man I’m looking ot start learning from.” And right, he was going to answer her while defending himself.

“And I figure meeting you is a good start to get in that door.” Or further in, as the case was.

[member="Curupira Hawk"]

 

[Curupira Hawk]

There it was again. She was the mate of his trainer. Curupira actually chuckled when [member="Marek Starchaser"] said that. "But that's not all I am. I'm also Curupira Hawk, a Witch, a Sith, an unofficial Draclau, a fellow Templar..." the redhead listed just some of the things she was alongside being Ket's mate. "Remember that. I'm not a fan of labeling. I'm a lot of things, not just the one."

He figured meeting her was a good start through that door. Ruu nodded. "I see. Well, Ket seems to like already and he doesn't usually like just anyone so you shouldn't worry too much."

 

[Corey's OOC]

And there was a reason why Marek wasn’t allowed outside on his own, or really, only on his own. Sometimes he didn’t think before speaking. [member="Curupira Hawk"] had an extensive resume, for sure. He was nodding as she listed off her accomplishments and parts of what made her, her. “I apologize, it wasn’t my intention to offend, truthfully, I’m not the best with the face to face and social… cues?”

It did take a lot to make a person. “Well, that’s a good sign.” He smirked. “So, any tips on learning from him? He’s instructing you as well, I’m going to assume?” Because we all know how assumptions can end. Smart move, Starchaser.

 

[Curupira Hawk]

The redhead just nodded a single time. "Apology accepted. Just remember in the future. Even if someone doesn't outright tell you they don't like being label, you could get it wrong and offend them that way." Hey, it was true. Imagine calling a Witch that's also been trained by a Jedi an actual Jedi... wow, his prospects of survival of leaving a free man wouldn't be very promising. Witches especially seemed very delicate to such things. Maybe that was where Curupira's issue came from. Maybe not though. She was a unique butterfly after all.

[member="Marek Starchaser"] called it a good sign that he was on Ket's good side. She just smiled. It really really was. But did she have any tips on learning from him? Curupira blinked rapidly a few times to the question but before her mind even began to process it, Marek asked if Ket was training her too. She gave a half shake, trying to process that. "Well... none of my tips would do you any good, kid. You're not his type." And if you expected a giggle after that, you were in for a great big shock because Curupira Hawk was dead serious in her words and her face when she said it. He was not a redhead, didn't have gold eyes, wasn't called Curupira Hawk. All possible tips were automatically useless for him.

Now about this instructing business. "And I don't know where you get your information. Ket is more of a..." her eyes made a left and right before centering back on Marek once she had a good description: "...do things for me rather than instruct me. But if he told you something, please, ruin a surprise." Curupira liked surprises. She didn't like waiting for surprises, oh no. But she did genuinely did like surprises...

 

[Corey's OOC]

At least he was able to glaze things back over. That was important for Marek. He wanted to not get on the bad side of most individuals. Sure, it just sort of happened from time to time, but it wasn’t his first goal. His first goal was always his survival. Wasn’t that the goal of all sentients? Maybe most? It didn’t really matter. “I’ll be more careful in the future.” Can’t change the past, and he made an apology, after all. It took a lot to offend Marek, for good or bad, he supposed.

Depending on where he was viewed by certain individuals was where the Starchaser made his opinions of how he was perceived by others. It shouldn’t concern him with appearances, having been living on the fringe his young adult life, but it did. And he wanted to make sure the ones he respected and wanted to emulate, respected him in turn. It really wasn’t too much to ask, was it? Looking at her, and trying to get her tone and words to link up, expecting it a joke, but was it? Well, Ket wasn’t exactly Marek’s type either. There were a few things the two ahd in common, such as a lust after redheads. “Well, that’s a bit of a relief.” Unlike [member="Curupira Hawk"], Marek did have a grin on his face when he spoke.

Ruin a surprise? That wasn’t really what he was here for. Just to learn. “Well, I’ve been hitting the Force in my own way, within the Templar, but I’m looking to K—Master Van Derveld to instruct me on the Sith rites and rules. Any pointers on where to begin? Y’know, to grab his attention and prove myself?”

 

[Curupira Hawk]

It was a relief he wasn't Ket's type. Curupira nodded big nods to that. "Yeah. You and me would have issues if that wasn't the case." Another serious statement. Curupira wasn't good at sharing. She usually had most issue when Ket had a female protegee. This she was alright with. [member="Marek Starchaser"] was a nice kid, in no way was he a girl. Curupira definitely liked him.

He'd been "hitting" the Force his way as a Templar but wanted Ket to take him into the Sith side of things. Curupira thought about it for a moment. Did she have any pointers for him? To grab her mate's attention and prove himself? "Be bold and wild, don't be foolish," she told him. "We do things our way, we do crazy things, we dance with danger. But we're not foolish in our actions even when we act on spur of the moment which we do a lot." Ruu fell silent, watching Marek for a while. "How are you with alcohol? We like a good drink. Raise your tolerance level." Well, chances Ket would just take him drinking weren't all that high but figuring out the odds were never their thing. Anything was possible.

 

[Corey's OOC]

Having competition would only make things odd. Marek didn’t want to be butting heads with [member="Curupira Hawk"] here. Not at all, and not for Ket’s favoritism. He just wanted to learn, and get all he could out of this arrangement. Be it from Ket, or from Ruu, or both. “Yeah, I’d really rather us not having issues, especially if we’re going to be spending time around one another.” He smirked at her. This was going to be tricky, wasn’t it?

The Sith had something about them that Marek envied. He needed to learn it, wanted to know the way the Force felt that way, using all the emotions, and making them work for him. Listening to her, he was mentally cataloguing everything she was saying. He could do a lot of that. He was a fringer, after all, being bold and going his own way was his way of acting. His plan of attack was typically attack. Granted sometimes from the shadow, at distance. He lived with his emotions, and wanted to embrace them fully. The Sith seemed the way to do such.

“I’m fairly decent in the alcohol department.” He nodded, really, with the money he was making as the Foreman? He could afford a decent drink or nine. “So, just follow being a doer over an overthinker, then?” This was meant to try to get a reaction out of her, if that wasn’t the truth.

 

[Curupira Hawk]

He's rather they didn't have issues. Curupira slowly let that grin lessen into a smile which seemed genuine for a moment before she suddenly giggled. "We don't have issues. Don't worry, kid. As long as we air thing out right on the spot which is exactly what we're doing."

Fairly decent in the alcohol department? The redhead chuckled and bounced of the couch, moving over to the cupboard. Among the many bottles there, she picked up a Corellian whiskey bottle and two small glasses, bringing them back to the small coffee table in front of the couch. She put the glasses down and poured the alcohol into them. "Fairly decent is a start. Drink up," she ordered and put the bottle down, taking the shot. Taking in a deep breath and holding it, she took the alcohol in. It burned her mouth before she let it slip down her throat, her head going back as burned on its way. There was something sweet about the sensation.

She poured herself another right after as she nodded to the last question [member="Marek Starchaser"]. "Yep, doer over an overthinking. Drink up."

 

[Ket Van-Derveld]

It was then that the Lithe frame of Ket van Derveld appeared from a room beyond where [member="Curupira Hawk"] and [member="Marek Starchaser"] were exchanging words and pleasantness. After all, this was his house, if not one of many. He was clad in aged leathers, worn down from decades of abuse, a thick black leather belt holding them up, and scuffed leather boots upon his feet. His upper was bared as usual, the scars, tattoos, and brands he'd acquired over the ages in full view to the young Starchaser. It was something only a few had ever seen, and even less would be given the opportunity to ask him about. Black hair was matted down, and the Sith Master pulled from his pocket a simple comb, whipping it back into shape. Spiky and unkempt, yet it had an order all it's own. Placing his comb back into it's pocket, sapphire blue eyes moved to Curupira, and he leaned in toward her, kissing her cheek ever so slightly. Winking, he turned his gaze to Marek, and grinned.

"Do yourself a favor. Drop the proneness. You know why you've come. That fact that Ruu didn't grind you to a pulp is proof enough to me that I've made the right decision when it comes to you. And by the way, if you want to know what the Dathomiri are like when they claim you..."

Ket turned around, his full back tattoo nearly unrecognizable from the scar tissue of dozen of deep claw marks.

"This was my way of saying 'I do.' You'd be surprised just how painfully pleasing it can be to be one's mate."

He chuckled lightly, winking toward Ruu.

 

[Corey's OOC]

See and they kept calling him kid. He supposed he could deal with it. But it wasn't that he was that much younger than them, well, maybe not [member="Curupira Hawk"]. Ket he wasn't so sure. Right now that didn't matter. He was making sure the air was clear with someone who was important to the one he wanted to learn from.

A start, huh? Marek nodded at her and accepted the glass. Corellian, good. His preferred variant. Watching her take the drink, and prepping his while he spoke he smiled. This was definitely a pair he wanted to surround himself with in life. And with the Force. "Best way to be!" He took the shot, knocking his head back and putting the glass on the table.

That was when he saw the company. Marek wasn't always throwing the Force at everyone but seeing THE Ket van Derveld, he nodded, almosy jumping to his feet. When the tone almost seemed friendly, he relaxed. "So, getting in through..." he didn't want to be too familiar yet "Curupira was just a part of proving myself?" His question faded off whole Key continued and bared his back.

Be claimed. He was going to have to do that. Exciting.

"I will make a note to stop by Dathomir." He let out a soft laugh at [member="Ket Van Derveld"]