Crownfall [Kuat - Invite Only]

[Dissero]

Sovereign Palace​

Kuat City - Kuat​

Dinner Bell​

[member="Gabriel Sionoma"] [member="Kaili Talith"] [member="Verie Lacroix"] [member="Micah Talith"] [member="Allyson Locke"]​

​

All across the Palace grounds the toll of bells rung. In some areas loud and clear, in others a mere echo.
At the grand foyer a herald announced the dinner hour.​

​

"Oh I've decided," Dissero said while hastily pulling on shirt and tunic. Somewhere a seam gave complaint as he tugged the fabric down over his broad shoulders, "I've decided that-"

Amore was there suddenly, squeezing his forearm as he fussed with the buttons of his shirt. The sternness of her expression was mildly offputting, causing the man to stutter over his words as she motioned to the sleeping infant in his wife's arms.

"...that...I'm too hungry to keep up with all this," blue eyes strayed on their son and instantly he felt himself calm, quiet. With a sigh Dissero nodded to his sister and turned to go to Verie. He greeted her with a hand on her shoulder and a kiss on her forehead, his other hand smoothing over the sleeping babe's head, gentle as he could be, "can't imagine how hungry you must be."

"I can take him for you," Amore offered with a warm smile, "let him keep sleeping so you two can go eat. The dinner bell just sounded. You'll have guests to tend to and hands to shake after all. I can bring him in when he's woken."

 

[Amara Zarides]

[member="Enyo Typhos"]
Amara scanned the screens, eyes widened.
“There’s a whole bunch of ships coming in, and the whole drive yards are under alert. They must be on to us or….”

She sat down and looked over the communicators. Orders were going out to fire on the enemy…but who was the enemy? Not them surely!

“Ah…I got this,” she said, giving Enyo a grin.

“Station Command, this is the uhh…Cambria…we are moving to engage enemy forces.”
“Understood, may the Force be with you, Cambria.”

Amara shut off the comms and hooted. “Right, Enyo, shields up, we’ll swing towards them, then out and over the planet’s pole and into space.”

One of the HRDs appeared from below. They held a smoking blaster nonchalantly in their hands.
“All organic crew has been disposed of.”
“Good, get me navigation co-ordinates, micro jump, then Neimodia, then on.”

The ship shuddered as one of the Rogue Sith escorts fired a salvo at them.

“Shields holding, Enyo? Right, let’s get the nineteen hells out of here. Ready Francis?”

“This unit’s designation is not Fra-“

“Not important! Are you ready?”

“Co-ordinates are inputted.”

“Right, Enyo…hit it!”

Hopefully someone had gassed the Cambria up whilst it was in dock….

 

[Omega]

[member="Silencia"]

The Sith Lord’s expression did not change much, though the eyes narrowed. Then he laughed.

“Lady Silencia, your fame proceeds you. It is a shame we could not come to an arrangement. Still, you are quite incorrect. You will give us something…your death.”

Pithy comment made, he gave the signal.

“Open fire. Destroy their defences and then raze these yards to ash.”

From the Rogue Sith ships came a hail of Starfighters and bombers….

It was unclear what defences the KDY had, but facing them was a hail of fire, some of which was missing the yards and heading towards the planet’s surface below….

 

[Enyo Typhos]

[member="Amara Zarides"]


Scattered comms chatter from various other ships reached the Cambria while it made its daring escape and pointedly avoided actually engaging the Sith battle fleet that was falling upon Kuat like a ravenous horde.

"By the gods, they're firing on the planet!

"Men, stand strong for Kuat. Execute manoeuvre..."

"Cambria, return to formation and engage..."

"My wife is on the shipyard..."


The Sith battleships fired with reckless abandon, unleashing hellfire not only upon the shipyards that were Kuat's pride and joy, but also upon the planet. The sight was enough to give Enyo pause as she beheld the mayhem. An act of terror was being committed, people were being slaughtered.


There was nothing they could do. More to the point, Enyo was not the innocent girl she used to be. That person had died somewhere along the way, when vengeance became more important than morality and she consorted with monstrous Sith who raised the dead to be their slaves. Still, she was disgusted. Not just by the Sith, but also the Kuati leaders. "Making the jump to hyperspace...now," she hit the button and the Maladi vanished from the system.

 

[Gabriel Sionoma]

Sovereign Palace​

Kuat City - Kuat​

Dinner Bell​

​

A solemn and authentic noise, the sort that reminded him of times spent in more comfort. He didn't know this place but it brought about memories of glee and joy, perhaps appropriately paralleling the jubilation that might be expected from a wedding ceremony. Despite how far he might have been removed from the Grand Foyer, he could not escape the soft echo of that metal chime. He recalled his own ceremony so long ago on Arkania. A small affair, family only, and expedited due to the swell of his fiance's stomach. Thoughts of marriage had always seemed so formal to him, more tied to estate and title than the true sanction of love and desire. In some respects, it felt hollow and opposing, a renunciation of the sanctity of a life long partnership - As it stood as fragile and delicate as the paper that would authenticate it. And in his own way, he blamed such validation on the abrupt ending of his own marriage - how long ago that now seemed.

Hundreds of years and only scars to account for it.

Subconscious thoughts of abandonment, enduring and well founded, propelled a sense of loss that was better left in the void of space that heralded his arrival. For the time being, he chewed on it with thoughts of spitting it out, to quickly make his way down to the hall and Grand Foyer. If he recalled the directions provided by the usher, it would be a simple matter for arrival. And so it was, a place of old-fashioned adornments and grand embellishment. No credits were spared in this expense, he was sure of it. Eyes lifted to the ceiling, little focus placed on the joyous occasion and the numerous individuals who would take part.

The air was filled with a faint scent, the preparation of hors d'oeuvres with fated arrivals upon silver platters manifested through smell alone. In some far away land, servers worked feverishly behind the curtain that cemented this fantastical illusion, moving the cogs and gears that would allow the clock to work with all its complications. The clatter of utensils, the clink of plates as they were placed against linen covered tables, and the soft thump of rubber soles against polished floor. His eyes drifted down to the array of individuals, dressed as well as the last, as they moved between one another with nearly empty wine glasses. Like a dance to a song he couldn't hear, rhythm provided by laughs and small talk, he muddled his way quietly through the group and awaited the announcement.

He hoped he might see someone familiar.

[member="Dissero"] | [member="Micah Talith"] | [member="Kaili Talith"] | [member="Verie Lacroix"] | [member="Allyson Locke"]​

 

[Quietus]

Kuat​

Kuat Drive Yards​

CEO's Office Suite​

​

​

Hello darkness my old friend...​

She stood hunched before the transparisteel wall, bent over the railing in a vain effort to remain on her feet. Beyond the windows a cacophony of battle erupted; plasma beams wailing through space to tear through durasteel ships and smatter against planetary shields. They were holding and Kuat was safe, but beneath this onslaught? No one could say for how long...

I've come to speak with you again,​

Footsteps sounded in the office chamber, quick and frantic, "Your Majesty....your Majesty! We have to get you to the evac ships, we have to-"

Stay away...Miss Hardt.​

Breath short, chest seizing, hunger all-encompassing, she slumped against the railing and collapsed to the floor.

"Lorelei!" wide-eyed, Lacey bound across the remaining distance; through the forest of holodisplay stations where a myriad ship designs slowly turned in electric blue; past the long Council table and its 13 empty chairs; up the staircase to the main office platform where she gave pause as she neared the Sovereign. A terrible smell filled her senses, one that made her hair stand on end. Death, decay, ash and smolder. A sickening weight fell into the pit of her stomach that was heavy like dread as she looked upon her Sovereign. A hand lifted to her lips in horror, "What's happened to you?"

Leave me.​

​

Because a vision softly creeping,​

"I can't do that, you have to come with me, we have to get you to-"

She felt Lacey stooping by her side, felt her hands reach for her arm, felt her fingers gently wrap around the exposed bare skin. Lacey gasped at the feeling of cold, like granite beneath her touch, but found she could not pull away. The coldness spread into her hands and up her arms as all the warmth of her body filtered away.

​

"What...happened..."

A somber green gaze turned to the youthful face of her Assistant, her other hand withered and marred by the coils of Darkside corruption moved to gently touch her cheek. Lacey's eyes grew wider still, flesh paled, black veins grew across her skin as the life slowly drained from her.

Left its seeds while I was sleeping,​

I have awoken and I am sorry, Miss Hardt...​

With battle roaring in the background the office suite trembled in defiance beneath its shields. More footsteps sounded, many this time. Lacey slumped forward against her, skin like ash and eyes lifeless; she crumpled finally and rolled away.

...I did tell you to stay away.​

Invigorated by the fresh flow of energy, Silencia slowly stood to greet the new group and found DiVanca Leonardi escorted by Kuati Royal Guards.

"You...I knew it."

And the vision that was planted in my brain​

Was that a smirk she felt on her face? Silencia righted herself.

"I knew something wasn't right about you," Leonardi spat, the look of disgust unmistakable on her face, "all this time we were just being lead along. She's a Sith," the woman pointed an accusing finger at the Sovereign, the guards behind her raised their weapons uneasily, "what did you do to Lacey?"

Slowly Silencia stepped over the dead body of Lacey Hardt and approached the group, movements graceless and stiff, expression strained with exertion.

I gave her a merciful end.​

She paused at the top of the stairs, hunched and hungry.

The chamber went still as it filled with that growing sense of dread. DiVanca wavered in her defiant stance and took a step back, trembling, "You're just like them. You've...tricked us! Poisoned our minds! I knew something was wrong when you just handed Kuat over to the One Sith. Made us burn all the bafforr trees! ...we could have fought them! But instead you fed us into this war ...so many dead, and for what?... now you're betraying us!"

She was crying and terrified. It was the first time Silencia had ever seen the stoic and in-charge Director of Operations so emotional. Kept it all bottled up inside, festering. She would have made a good Sith.

...still remains,​

The office chamber gave a sudden lurch as a fighter smashed into the base of the sector. The lights flickered once, twice, then went out. Warning sirens and hazard lights flared to life, throwing them all into a wash of blaze red. By the time Di'Vanca and the guards got back to their feet they'd lost track of the Sovereign. Di'Vanca singled for them to move back towards the exit.

"I'll make sure your family has no further stake in ruling Kuat! I'll expose you for what you are! Everyone will know! Do you hear me?!"

Snap-hisssssssss.​

​

Yes.​

A long, curled, white-hot tendril hummed to life, smoldering across the marble floor. Silencia was behind them and with one sharp, stilted movement snapped the plasma whip through the air. Several blaster bolts careened through the air as one by one their bodies slumped at the middle, separated halves hitting the ground in tandem. Still standing, still in one piece, Miss Leonardi found herself beset by a great hulking shadow. Cold fingers clenched at her neck; the smell of plasma, burning flesh and death filled her nose as the Sovereign leaned in with a sickly green gaze.

And you're wrong...but not about everything.​

Red splattered against polished marble. DiVanca screamed and choked, struggling against the unyeilding hand that held her; gurgled as fangs tore into the flesh of her neck, and then fell silent.

Kuatian Drive Yard defenses scrambled to stop the hulking beast of Darth Occidus' flagship from tearing into planetary shields. Kuat once had a standing fleet of respectable nature but found through the withdraw of One Sith that it had largely diminished. Evacuation procedures continued, shooting escape pods and transport ships out behind the safety of the shields. They left in frantic droves, swarming Kuat atmosphere.

Somewhere beyond the Office Chamber Omega demolished a Drive Yard shield generator.

​

within the sound of silence.​

Somewhere on board the Erebus a shadow appeared that did not belong there...​

[member="Omega"]​

 

[Amara Zarides]

[member="Enyo Typhos"]

“Alright, we’re green across the board. Let’s get out of here!” Amara said.

She glanced at the scanners and then stared. The Yards were burning. Flames rushed through the corridors, occasionally stilled by blast doors, but then another turbolasers bolt would shatter another section.

Amara clutched her head. A paid had been building in her head, but now it became a migraine of thunderous pain.

She heard the screams, she heard the cries of panic. She felt them dying.

“Enny…Enny please. We need to stop, Enny, we need to stop!”

Too late.

Hyperspace closed over them. The pain lapsed a little, replaced by an empty, hollow sadness. Suddenly it wasn’t so fun to heist ships.

She was crying. She tried to sniffle and wipe her eyes, didn’t want to show weakness to her sister. And yet, it was so hard not to let the pain engulf her. She didn’t blame Enyo, there was nothing she could do.

But she did blame the Sith.

“I…need some time alone. Sorry,” she said, and then she was gone, seeking a quiet room. Fortunately the Maladi had plenty of such places in its 460 metres of mechanical efficiency.

 

[Enyo Typhos]

[member="Amara Zarides"]


Hellfire rained down upon the shipyards, setting them ablaze. Crimson beams of turbolaser raked across the surface of the planet itself, causing devastation and death. Nemesis had come to Kuat and demanded its tribute.


Enyo winced in pain when she was subjected to the empathic backlash from her clone sister. Being so close, the pain hit her like a speeder collision. She clutched at head, trying to shore up her mental walls and blot it out.


Then the Maladi frigate had been swallowed by hyperspace and the pain was gone. Inside, she felt hollow, angry and concerned for her sister. "Ami...I'm sorry," she said feelingly, stepping towards her sister. It hurt to see her in pain like this. "There's nothing we could've done." But Amara was already gone, having taken off from the bridge.


"You take over. Once we've exited hyperspace, send a message to Maelion," Enyo growled at one of the HRDs. Let the machines handle the rest. Then she quickly left the bridge. She could not leave her sister like this.

 

[Omega]

[member="Silencia"]

The planetary shield was strong, too strong to be easily defeated the ships that were present. That wasn’t important though. The KDY were the real target, and since they would not help Darth Occidus, they would help no one ever again.

Turbolasers, ion cannons and mass driver rounds punched through the station, blasting great gaps in the plating. As more of the yards crumbled they started a catastrophic cycle as the remaining sections were unable to balance without the support of the rest.

Sith fighters and bombers raked over the surviving sections, sending more and more crashing fown into the planet’s shield.

How long could it last?

Darth Occidus did not care. He had made his point, as bloody-minded and vicious as it was. He had also seized several ships and their cargos, all of which would keep his fleet in being for longer.

“Cease fire. Prepare to move away.”

But then he paused, frowned. A new presence…nearby.

“Tythe, Blayde, investigate,” he growled. Two of his apprentices turned and left the hall.

An aide approached with a datapad, offered it. He was out of breath and barely controlling his panic.
“A shape in the hanger? Has it been dealt with?”
“N-no, my Lord, it attacked our soldiers and decimated them.”
The Sith Lord exploded with sudden fury and smashed the man aside with a powerful blow. “Pitiful, useless creature. Find! Destroy!” he ordered his remaining acolytes.

 

[Amara Zarides]

[member="Enyo Typhos"]
Amara was in one of the cramped crew rooms of the Cambria. She was on her back, staring blankly at the bunk above.

When Enyo entered she glanced over. “I’m sorry, Enny. I felt the pain I was causing you. I need to control myself better. But…so many were dying. I could hear them all. Some of them were screaming and screaming until they ran out of air. Some were just cut off…when the turbolasers hit.”

She sat up, looked down at her feet, then kicked off her boots. She wiggled her toes in her socks.
“Well, at least we got what we came for. I am really wondering what made my mirror become a Sith. They’re terrible, terrible people! What makes a person think that bombing people is a good idea?”

 

[Enyo Typhos]

[member="Amara Zarides"]


In the light of the fact that soon after Enyo would join a group of Sith who'd unleash zombie armies, this conversation was rather ironic. The clone seemed to exist in a state of moral myopia. Then again, she was an inferior copy.


"I'm very sorry you to had go through this," she sat down on the bed, taking Amara's hand. "It's a dark, grim galaxy. The Sith are evil, the Jedi are no better." Soon afterwards, a Jedi Protector would bomb a city from orbit and kill thousands of civilians.


"If I understand correctly, terrible things happened to Kaelin to make her a monster. But you're stronger than her. This is the sort of world we live in. It's what you must be prepared to face. You got to steel yourself and buckle up. Things will get worse before they get better."

 

[Verie Lacroix]

Sovereign Palace​

Kuat City - Kuat​

Dinner Bell​

[member="Gabriel Sionoma"] [member="Kaili Talith"] [member="Dissero"] [member="Micah Talith"] [member="Allyson Locke"]​

​

Verie watched the interaction between brother and sister, her mind wandering back to her time with Sante. She would have given anything to be with him now -- for him to be here to give her away at her wedding, to meet [member="Dissero"] and approve of him. But he was long-dead, what little left of his remains moldering somewhere on Coruscant. Still, she remembered those meaningful looks, the little ways one reacted to one's siblings.

Something was passing between Amore and Merovign, but Verie couldn't say what.

Verie smiled over at Dissero as he approached, closing her eyes as he kissed her forehead. She stood on her tip-toes to kiss his cheek and smiled. "Are you talking to him, or me? Because he spent the better part of the last forty minutes eating, but I could eat." And when Amore offered to take the baby, Verie offered her future sister-in-law a grateful smile. "Would you? Oh, thank you, dearheart."

She walked over to Amore and carefully transferred the baby over to him, leaning over who kiss her on the cheek before murmuring, "He should be much less fussy than you-know-who, anyway. Come to me if you need a break? Thank you so much." Verie kissed her son on the top of his impossibly smooth head and then with one last, longing look over her shoulder, went back to Mero's side, taking his hand in her own.

"It'll be all over soon," she observed, squeezing his hand.

 

[Dissero]

Amore took the infant and warmly wrapped his dozing form in her arms, encompassing him in a blanket of soothing Force ripples. She smiled, beamed even, and nodded to Verie, "I'll take him back to the library where it's quiet. He can meet Sahti."

She watched the young couple depart and turned to do just that.


For his part Dissero remained as steady as he could despite the continuous feeling of dread slowly growing in the pit of his stomach. Perhaps Amore was right. Perhaps he was simply nervous, anxious about partaking in such a public display of connection. He liked his life quiet, private. It kept things neat, made knowing who your enemies were simpler. Controlling who knew what was the best way to maintain security.

This didn't feel secure at all.

It'll all be over soon.

Dissero turned a paled face down to his wife. They were married already - a private ceremony on Rudrig lead by Ashin some time ago, but very few people in the galaxy knew this. "Yes," he replied and gave a wane smile, "too quickly for you and not quickly enough for me. I suppose soon is a good compromise," a half-hearted chuckle escaped him, wilting as they walked in at the top of the main staircase of the grand foyer to a writhing sea of guests. He felt that somewhere, long long ago in a past life, he would have eaten the attention up.

Dissero ran his free hand through his hair as the herald announced them and all eyes turned upwards. Applause broke out like a distant explosion and as they descended the stairs he couldn't help but feel that his steps were uneasy. As if the floor were gently bucking beneath his feet. Must be all the people. Must be his anxiety.

They neared the bottom of the staircase and paused, Verie's hand in his own now growing clammy.

"Thank you," he spoke up, voice rasp, "thank you everyone for electing to attend..." blue eyes searched the crowd for familiar faces, he thought he spied a taller man towards the back, his eyes narrowed, "what is to be the second most momentous event of mine and Verie's life, the first most being the birth of our son, Gabriel,"

So [member="Gabriel Sionoma"] had found the invitation. This was good news. Cerusia would be happy. An earnest smile spread on his face at this.

"but we have two days to wait and I know most of you had ulterior motives for attending; the best free food, drink, and luxury suites Kuat has to offer," a murmur of laughter sounded at this, a sea of smirks and grins stood before them, "So without further ado, let's eat."

~~~

"Gabe," he met the man as the throngs of guests filtered into the grand dining hall, the three of them walking at the back and towards the tantalizing aroma of tonight's meal. Dissero offered his hand to shake, a frowning smile on his face, "sorry, bit clammy. Not a big fan of ...publicity. I'm glad you came. I'd like you to meet my fiancee, Verie. Ve, this is Gabriel Sionoma. A friend of mine from Annaj...or is it Sullust?"

[member="Verie Lacroix"] [member="Kaili Talith"] [member="Allyson Locke"] [member="Micah Talith"]

 

[Allyson Locke]

A sound echoed, but Allyson was too busy.

Giggles and whispers came from the room the two young girls were staying in. Silence fell upon it and soon after the sound of crashes and scattering rose. Inside, Allyson was with her head under the great guest bed and she was cursing slightly.

“I can’t find your shoe, you didn’t have to kick it off like that.” Coming out from under the bed, Allyson did her best to fix her hair and reapply the lipstick that was now against Kaili Talith’s neckline. She stood and ran her hands over the fabric of her dress. Whatever wrinkles from gripping it tightly would have to be left, there was no time to try and steam it out. “Oh!” a glance towards the window, Allyson found a heel tangled in the drapes. “Found it!” Allyson, not being a stranger to heels was able to jog lightly towards the window and grasp the heel that was lost no more. She handed the shoe to her partner and she smiled.

“Make sure to uh...wipe your neck...you have One Sith Red all over the place.” A smirk and another light application of the lipstick to her own lips, Allyson felt ready...until she found a little bite mark at the end of her exposed collarbone. Her nose wrinkled and she pulled out the cover up and did her best quick cover of the small bite mark. Hopefully it would remain hidden in the best of lights.

“Kaili we’re so late!” Allyson grinned and placed a kiss on the blonde’s cheek, “but I had fun. Doubt anyone even realizes we’re missing.”

[member="Kaili Talith"] [member="Micah Talith"] [member="Verie Lacroix"] [member="Dissero"]

 

[Kaili Talith]

Eyes blew wide open and a frantic search for something to get rid of the lipstick ensued. Kaili should have known this was bound to happen. Be left alone in the same room as Allyson and a soft bed and of course things were bound to get to either of their heads despite both of them knowing better. Kaili threw herself a look in the mirror. Her hair was undone but her dress was okay. One of the benefits of a dress with some darker colors to them, perhaps. Really, she wouldn’t know, but at least the wrinkles either weren’t there or remained largely unnoticeable. Hands grabbed the shoes that were handed to her before being placed on the nearby drawers. Feet scampered into the lavatory, cupboards being opened and shut in closed in quick succession.

Kaili found something.

She stepped out.

Allyson moved up to kiss her, but there was no real response other than a, “I know we’re late!”

The salve was squirted into the palm of the blonde’s hand. She applied it to the lipstick that wasn’t hers and kept on rubbing. “Why did I let you sway me into that?”

“We’re late, we’re late, we’re so late.” It was a wedding dinner no less. People would notice. “Late, late, late. Very late. Insanely late.”

Anxious toes tapped against the floor. Nerves wound up more and more for every moment that passed. The salve was fading, Kaili rushed into the lavatory to grab a towel to wipe the salve away. “I don’t have time for this.”

The soft fabrics of the piece of cloth scratched Talith’s neck. Kaili looked herself in the mirror again. Visible, but not as bad as before. A pretty decent result for something as rushed as it was. Red had turned into a soft pink. Brush, there had to be a brush. Kaili opened the cupboard again. Found a comb. It would have to do. Stab after stab, Kaili straightened her hair out as best she could before hurriedly discarding the comb on the floor.

“We need to go. Now.” Kaili said and rushed for the door. “The shoes.” She stopped, picked them up in her hands and then grabbed Allyson by the wrist. “Come on!”

With brisk pace Kaili tried to tug Allyson along towards the dinner hall.

[member="Allyson Locke"]

 

[Gabriel Sionoma]

Gabriel. How rarely he heard the name in its entirety. It felt almost alien, as if it somehow weren't his name as well. Nevertheless, amidst all the oddity of hearing his full name aloud, the fact remained that the coincidence of the shared name was entirely lost on him. Rubbing his beard at the showmanship by Dissero, his hazel view drifted to the bride-to-be. Elegant, he thought inwardly, as he lifted a glass of wine to his lips. Not as good as his mead, but it would do for the time being.

~~~

He took Disseros hand shake as welcomed familiarity in a sea of people he didn't know. "You did fine, all things considered..." It was as good a speech as any other. Gabe wasn't particularly fond of the crowds, himself, so he understood all too well the anxiety of speaking in front of so many. He imagined that if he thought back, he might have been quite nervous at the prospect of giving a speech for Dave's feigned memorial service, in response to that rebel attack on Coruscant. But then again, it wasn't truly him, and Reverance had the ego to sustain public discourse. "Mmm, mostly Annaj but I honestly have trouble separating the two. One is home away from home, I just can't sort out which."

Looking towards Verie, Gabe offered a smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you." Offering his hand, he glanced towards the decorations and dining hall. "This is quite the venue you all have here..." He was for the swamps and forest and agriculture fields. Preferring the serenity and peace of the wild, he could only handle these sorts of locales in small doses. And only with the proper motivation. Truth be told, he would be lying if the prospect of finding Cera wasn't the strongest reason for him venturing so deeply into once strongly Sith affiliated domain. But he was happy for Dissero, nonetheless.

[member="Dissero"] | [member="Verie Lacroix"] | [member="Micah Talith"] | [member="Allyson Locke"] | [member="Kaili Talith"]​

 

[Verie Lacroix]

Verie followed [member="Dissero"] and stood next to him, looking every bit the demure bride-to-be; legs straight and together, hands clasped at her waist, head bowed reverently as her husband spoke. She listened and looked up at the appropriate moments, smiled beatifically at him and at the crowd. But perhaps it was her proximity to him, or perhaps it was something else; she had started to feel uneasy, too, despite the smile on her lips and the serenity of her brow -- for the moment -- she had begun to feel a little queasy, a little unsettled. Even she didn't know if it was a reflection of Dissero's feelings or her own.

But the moment passed, and there was more to be done.

She approached [member="Gabriel Sionoma"] and took his hand when they were introduced. "It is so lovely to meet you," said Verie with a smile of genuine warmth. "I can't believe I'm finally meeting the man who so inspired my husband that he wanted to name our little boy after him." She beamed at Gabriel, then over to Dissero, and then removed her hand from his arm. "Shall I leave you two to catch up? I should hate to push in on a reunion of old friends. I can go and fetch drinks, if you like?"

 

[Jairus Starvald]

Ovmar strode, he did not walk, he almost strutted with a walk that was made to give attention.

On his arm, one [member="Saffron"], in his other already a glass with some clear liquid within. The years had come and gone, yet, one thing remained and that was the following: he loved this. Oh, it had been quite good to stay in the shadows for the past decade, just relax, kick his feet back and study on some ancient tomes here and there. Travel a bit under other names and generally stay out of the shine, but there was just something about this.

"I missed this," The former Lord of the Fringe whispered to his companion (not the capital c, not anymore). "You can only stay holed up in an orbital fortress away from civilization for so long."

To the side he saw [member="Dissero"] and his wife chat amicably with another man. Tall, stately, there was a stance of battle around this [member="Gabriel Sionoma"], yet, he knew him not.

If Di looked up, Ovmar would wink at him, before leading Saffron into the dining hall. He had promised the lady he would feed her, had he not?

 

[Jairus Starvald]

"So why aren't you down there in the dining hall?"

"You see how many came out of the woodwork for [member="Dissero"]? My head starts hurting, just thinking about it." Sarova responded, while peering into the dusty tome. In truth, no matter how much she had grown across the years and especially this last year, the huge crowds had never much attracted her fancy.

In this she was much the same as her old Master and old habits died hard.

"I see."

"That's good." Ceri agreed and then turned the page. The tome was old and it described some Nightsister rituals -- she had never been much of a witch, truth to be told, one portion of education that Rave hadn't shared much with her. But there were some interesting applications here.

It would probably be prudent to study the Nightsister traditions further.

The elderly librarian gave up on trying to convince Ceri and left her to her devices, a few minutes later once again the silence was broken- this time by doors gliding open, papers rustling in the wake of the air draft.

The woman looked up, peered across the corner and noticed Amore entering with Gabriel in tow.

She waved quietly, a soft smile appearing.

 

[Micah Talith]

It didn't seem as if anyone was going to react to the Drive Yards attack. As it was, Micah also wasn't aware of what was going on; he was too busy staking out the small little buffet table of snacks for the family before the ceremony would begin. Silly of him? Perhaps. But a guy needed to keep his belly full!

With a bonbon poking out of one cheek, the Talith found a rather odd shiver go down his spine. Something felt off. Was it indigestion? Possibly. He grimaced.

Wait was he allergic to the bon bons? He wasn't all knowing, so anything could be it. Had he had a gander outside, the attack on the drive yards would be bright enough for anyone to see.

It was very likely that the news would spread soon enough.

But for now, Micah would get another bonbon.