Private Crownless

[Adriana Fortemps]

// Lord Inquisitor Fordyce //
// Yavin IV //
// Quinn Varanin //

​

Wind has caught the Lord Inquisitor's ear of a new acolyte under the tutelage of Taeli Raaf , an Echani no less. Of course, this fact alone would hardly have been enough to pique the interest of Jorryn Fordyce. Truthfully she hadn't much interest in her own people beyond a superficial level. No deeper desire to connect with her roots, nor even to figure out what her true lineage was. It did, however, matter in the fact that this was no ordinary Echani that had found herself under the wing of the Lady of Secrets.

It was the crown princess of Eshan.

Such opportunities rarely presented themselves, especially in such a convenient way. It would be simple enough to ask Lady Raaf to set up a meeting between Jorryn and the Varanin girl, but it was hardly any fun to let others in on an introduction. Especially one that could prove so fruitful as the heir to the throne of Eshan.

"Make sure you bring out the expensive tea. Not the stuff I used to give Bline."

The office had been decorated for a guest of Quinn's pedigree. Not in its ornateness, but rather the intention of every piece of decorum. As much as Jorryn would be the elder of the room, she made sure that it would impress. It was always easier to get someone in your pocket through extravagance than through intimidation.

All the Echani had left to do was wait.

A message had been sent to Quinn a time ago, with both a time and directions to the Lord Inquisitor's office. The tea was brewed and sat on the table in front of the Silver-haired Sith as she waited, two fine porcelain cups waiting to be filled. For now, Jorryn would just read some work e-mails, hoping something interesting would help pass the time if this royal was the type to make someone wait.

 

[Quinn Varanin]

//: Adriana Fortemps //:

​

Quinn had been hard at work, studying when she had received the message from the Lord Inquisitor. Looking at it, she hadn't fully recognized the name, so she let the message sit for a day or two. It was until she was provided to show some respect to the woman that Quinn finally replied and said she would arrive. Yavin IV was a place that Quinn never wanted to go to. It was why despite her aptitude towards the Intelligence branch, the Echani Princess had crossed them off her list of potential placements. She had studied up on the woman a bit; seeing that she was an Echani, she figured the woman wanted to pay some sort of respect to her deceased Mother. The thought made the Princess groan; she was tired of being reminded of the event and not allowed to grieve.​

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Time passed, and the sound of expensive and perfectly shined shoes echoed along the hallways of the Saaraishash building. Quinn was an image of perfection. Snow white hair pulled back delicately by a black headband, a soft blush against her doll-like features, and finally, her slender frame was dressed in a red thigh-length dress, finished with a lace collar while her legs covered by dark stockings. Modestly she pulled slightly at the long sleeves of the dress to cover her exposed somewhat wrists. Arms folded behind her, she was allowed into the office of the Lord Inquisitor. ​

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The woman seemed caught up with her work, and Quinn waited silently to see if she was noticed. As she waited, her eyes scanned the room to see the ornate decor chosen by the Lord Inquisitor. A look of unamusement remained on the Echani's face as she figured all of this was done just for this meeting. The rumors about the Lord Inquisitor weren't far off. She noticed the two teacups set out along with the tea brewing; the delicate scent in the air revealed that the woman actually had some taste when it came to tea. ​

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Quinn had gone too long being ignored, so she cleared her throat and feigned a soft smile, trying to be proper and show the woman some respect primarily because of her position. "Ahem, Lord Inquisitor?" The air of privilege hung in her words. Even as she stood there, it was apparent that she was from a far higher class than what Jorryn had probably assumed. ​

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The girl was the crown princess of Eshan, her sister the Monarch. Her birth mother the former Queen of Eshan, and her other Mother, a former Sith Empress. Quinn Varanin knew where her name could place her in this world, and making a good impression was hard. ​

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"You called for me, Lord Inquisitor? May I ask why? Her voice soft and delicate but pointed, determined to let the woman know who was actually in charge. ​

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"And who said you could?"​

 

[Adriana Fortemps]

// Lord Inquisitor Fordyce //
// Yavin IV //
// Quinn Varanin //

​

It was hard for the Lord Inquisitor to contain her smirk as the girl strut into her office, her manners doing what they could to hide the sharp tongue of the younger Echani.

Jorryn loved it.

It wasn't every day that someone's first meeting with one of their kind was the next in line for the throne. Moreso when you're also their boss. Clearly, the girl in front of her had a disagreement about that pecking order, and Jorryn's lips belied the fun she would have in reminding the girl of how things worked when you were away from home.

"I might have to double-check." The Lord Inquisitor said as she leaned forwards on the desk, eyes quickly looking Quinn up and down. "But I'm fairly certain it was myself that said so."

Jorryn raised herself from the chair as the world dribbled with the confidence of one who had earned her office, before aiming her hand at the seat on the other end of the desk. "Take a seat, my dear. I didn't call you here to be reminded of your last name, we have much more interesting things to discuss."

 

[Quinn Varanin]

//: Adriana Fortemps //:

​

An eyebrow rose as Jorryn finally acknowledged her. It was evident that the woman was comfortable in her position and her seat. No manners, Quinn quickly assessed, especially after the older Echani sized her eye with her gaze. Her lips tightened as she didn't enjoy being looked at like that. Even if it was a gaze to just see what the woman was dealing with. ​

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"Don't look at me like that. I don't even know your name or who you are beyond your title." Quinn quipped quickly as she walked towards the seat that was pointed out. She sat and kept her hands in her lap as her eyes never left the woman at the desk. Jorryn did have the authority, within the Sith Empire, to do what she pleased with the young Varanin. Though Quinn seeing that the woman was an Echani, she had expected a bit more respect. A thought struck her, the Lord Inquisitor might have been one of the displaced Echani. ​

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It was no lie that the world had its troubles, and Quinn knew her mother had done her best, but with her attention split with what Ashin was doing and having to manage a world - one woman could only do as much as she could. No excuse. She quickly mentally silenced herself. ​

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"Fine then, what is it you wish to discuss? I have a few things myself I'd like to ask you - especially since how you've decided that your position gives you the right to summon me like you did." A hand rested on Quinn's youthful cheek, as her pinky finger gracefully fell against her top lip while she smirked. "You weren't born on Eshan, were you?"​

 

[Adriana Fortemps]

// Lord Inquisitor Fordyce //
// Yavin IV //
// Quinn Varanin //

​

Ignoring the younger Echani's question for a moment, Jorryn slid the cup of tea over towards the girl as she made her way around the side of the desk. The Lord Inquisitor did desire to work with this girl, but first, she needed to make sure that it was established who was the dominant one here. She made sure to stand tall over the princess. The tea pushed over as the girl sat to promote reward for following orders. Simple psychological tricks to ensure that she would be in control here.

"The tea is a blend I made for the former Lord Inquisitor." Confidence stayed on her face as she leaned on the desk before taking a sip from her own cup, blowing on it slightly before patiently drinking. "I think you'll find answers come easier if you'd have some patience, dear."

Quinn's questions were dismissed for now, whether it annoyed the girl or not. Whatever smugness she felt as her pinky touched her lip would be ignored as Jorryn simply pressed her curiosity way. The Lord Inquisitor hadn't invited the girl over to catch up on the finer details of Echani culture, nor to make some new friends. There was potential in the young woman in front of her, through both blood and position.

"Tell me, how did you end so far from home?" Amber eyes stayed fixed on the tea in front of her as she took another sip, awaiting her question to be answered by Quinn.

 

[Quinn Varanin]

//: Adriana Fortemps //:

​

Quinn raised an eyebrow as her question was blatantly dismissed, and then she was lectured on patience. Did this woman not realize who she was? Did she not know the responsibilities that hung over the girl's head? Time wasn't something she could freely give for lessons over tea. Quinn's face remained smiling as she nodded towards the Lord Inquisitor, despite the fury burned in her chest. No one ignored the acolyte's questions; she didn't care who they were even Taeli Raaf addressed the concerns Quinn had. ​

Taking the cup of tea, she smelled it, already suspecting something foul. The aroma was pleasant and reminded Quinn of the teas she was served at home. It was enough for the overly picky girl to put her lips to the edge of the cup and take a small sip. Pausing, she assessed the flavor and the brew; it would be a lie to say the woman was terrible at it, but Quinn had tasted better at her sister's table. ​

Bringing the cup down, she looked towards the Inquisitor, who seemed to be overly proud of the simple task of brewing tea. Her eyes darted away and towards the liquid, and she sighed softly. "It's an interesting blend." It was all she said on the matter and wondered who the former Lord Inquisitor was if this was a blend he preferred. It was a possibility; he wasn't' well versed in the elegance of tea making. ​

Either way, Quinn noted the pride the woman had in such a simple skill and filed it away to possibly use against her later. She cleared her throat and listened to the question posed to her. Why was the Lord Inquisitor interested in how she ended up in Sith Territory? Everything was on her file; her aptitude tests and the like were there as well. Quinn subtly rolled her eyes as she adjusted in the chair, crossing one leg over the other and her hands resting in her lap. As much as the other Echani thought her standing was dominance, the royal knew authority was more than action. ​

"Well, when I was younger, I learned from my Mothers, Spencer and Ashin Varanin, if you weren't privy to such knowledge." The tone, the girl, took was mocking almost as she continued, "I have ambition and asked to be enrolled in the Academy on Bastion, then I got onto a shuttle and left Eshan and arrived there. Then when Bastion was raided, I left on another shuttle and arrived on Dromand Kaas." Shrugging, she looked towards the teacup and then back towards the woman. "So you can say I just took a transport to get away from home, quite simply Lord Inquisitor, why do you ask?"​