Private Dark Matter

[Lina Ovmar]

Lina gave a snort of derision. "Ah yes the crate of wine so eloquently decorated with severed heads. How could I forget?" She chuckled and shook her head her gaze dropping to the floor. The light moment permeated with a flutter of sadness for the daughter she had held that day. She squashed it, like boot would crush an ant. Lucia would never be hers. Lucia was Zambrano, her mind would be bent to their will twisted against her from the moment she would be able to walk. "It feels, like a lifetime ago." She said softly, looking back up at him.

She never would have guessed that their paths would converge in anything other the barely concealed contempt on his part. On her part, at least, she had always been open to the idea of an alliance.

She shook her musings away and shrugged in response to his offer of an officers quarters. "Whatever has a bed and a sanitiser. At this point, I am not fussy." A shower and sleep sounded like heaven.

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

"I would call those a garnish, thank you very much." Some people simply couldn't appreciate classy additions He supposed. Lady Ovmar's poor taste aside, she did have a point in her latter remark. "Literally in my case." There was a subtle note of humor in His words but there was also something else lingering beneath it. A reflection of the softness which she herself had made note of it. A lifetime ago was quite a fitting descriptor indeed, in more ways than one and for the both of them.

Darth Strosius set aside the datapad for later, and He would most certainly return to it later, and stepped away from the workstation. "Hm, a bed and sanitiser in one? Quite presumptuous. I'm not in the luxury suite business you know." It was rather apparent that the strange amusement was forced then, punctuated by a clearing of His throat as He began walking back out of the room. "There's some spare rooms just down the hall here, you may pick as you please."

His own quarters weren't that much different from the others on this level, if anything the unoccupied rooms may even be more well kept and furnished. Perhaps more used as well. His workshop housed Him far more often than not as of late, not that such a habit was anything new to the masked man of course. There was always something to be done. "Oh, if we arrive at Corva Yag before you wake then have no fear. I won't let anyone galivant into your facility while you're unavailable."

Lina Ovmar

 

[Lina Ovmar]

Lina tilted her head frowning slightly at the forced humour as he made his way to the door wondering what exactly had caused him to feel such a way that humour was needed. Had she made him uncomfortable somehow? She contemplated asking but thought better of it.
"Well, considering we had no glasses to drink from, I suppose I should lower my expectations." She gave him a small smile, hoping that whatever it was her playing along would help dissipate whatever had left him unsettled.

Following him out of the room, she cast one more look back at the ouibilette before the door closed behind them. "I appreciate the hospitality, Lord Strosius."

Her movements were slow, not wanting to cause another moment of separation, the ache of tiredness burning in her bones now. She drew on the force to sustain her, to keep her composure that bit longer. Darkness leaked into the edges of her sclera, like ink in water as she walked, a couple of paces behind Strosius, her hand skimming the wall for support.

She smiled at his remarks. "How considerate. Though if you did want to test someone, my guardians would prove a good match. I can't promise they won't kill them." Her eyes shifted from him to the long corridor.

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

An amused hum escaped the masked man at her levity, a brief glance being cast her way as if to appraise her expression. A gaze which seemed to linger a moment too long before He looked forward again. "Believe it or not but I am not treated to guests often, hospitality is the least I can offer for such a rare occurrence." Darth Strosius almost never received social calls, and certainly not from those outside of His followers. Simply one of the facets of being a Sith He supposed.

Never much room for cordiality, especially not the kind tinged with some unspoken dread or other such fearful notions. His steps down the corridor were far more gradual than they should have been, never more than a few ahead of Lady Ovmar even as she trailed along in a more careful and sluggish pace. No doubt to keep herself from experiencing any more incidents of accidental separation.

"I have other tests for my followers, I assure you." Darth Strosius let out a light chuckle at the offer but He had no intentions of venturing into her laboratory without her guidance, not for Himself and certainly not for anyone else. She had been working with forces beyond His own understanding and if they had managed to slip their containment then only she would be able to fix such an issue. There was no need for such risks to be taken anyway, she was already going to lead Him there regardless.

She had promised the return of the rest of His ashes in her possession after all. The masked man spared another glance back at her over His shoulder, slowing until they were more side by side rather than Him in the lead. "If I may ask before you retire, what exactly were you doing with my...remains? You had enough for two vials, one for yourself and for Revna, as well as some at your lab still. A simply curiosity wouldn't have necessitated such an extensive collection."

Lina Ovmar

 

[Lina Ovmar]

Lina straightened slightly as he fell back to match her pace, only realising her posture had slipped when his glanced her way. A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips but she kept her eyes forward, concentrating on the steady steps she was taking as she pondered how to answer. She could lie or twist the truth, steer him away but something told her that was a mistake.

"Do you know that I picked Faldos for the club so that I could meet you?" she began, keeping her gaze down. "Most saw you as a something akin to an animal thrashing against the bars of his cage, beneath their care and concern. But I know well enough that such irrational anger is born of something deeper, rooted in pain. I thought perhaps, that I might find an ally and I might have done, if the blackguard had kept his station. Alas, you bared your teeth at me the same as you had others, then you did the stupidest thing and forced my hand..." she pursed her lips and shook her head.

That still didn't answer his question and she knew it, but she was trying desperately to find her way. "And then I met Revna," a true smile came to her then, warmth spreading through her heart. "Sweet, devoted, defiant Revna. My heart broke for her when she lost you. She'd fought so hard, stayed so strong in the hopes of getting back to you, only to have you die..." She finally looked up finding herself looking at the mask and cursing him for it.

"I wasn't lying when I said you were...are something worthy of study. But if I could have found a way to bring you back, I would have." She swallowed and looked away "Where you only saw an enemy, I saw something else. And while I would tell you that it would have all been for Revna..." she trailed off with a shrug as they came to a halt before one of the officers quarters doors. One that she wished would open quickly so she could vanish behind it.

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

"You...did?" The masked man cocked His head to the side, an angle that would undoubtedly be rather uncomfortable and unnatural if held for too long. At least for most, He certainly didn't seem to be too bothered by it. While the notion that some apparent others regarded Him as some beast to be contained was noteworthy, He found Lady Ovmar's unexpected interest in Him in particular to be a much more pressing topic at the moment.

That she sought an ally in her situation wasn't unforeseen He supposed. Especially with His rather infamous reputation of taking a stand against the Kainate and their horrid leaders, it made sense for one such as she to look for other foes of the tyrants. A shame that He had dismissed her so totally out of hand back then. Darth Strosius was usually one to make some form of rebuttal or defense for His actions, as ever, yet even when she critiqued His act and mentioned her hand being forced against Him there was no real response from Him aside from a small hum.

He perked up slightly at the mention of His lost Disciple, His gaze snapping back to her face from where it had drifted away in idle thought. Beneath His mask He felt a smile creeping onto His face, albeit one that wavered when she mentioned His demise. A coil of guilt wound tightly in His core at that. Revna was still so far out of reach and safety and it was still His fault. What had she been forced to endure for the hope that He would arrive to save her? What had she done so that her life was spared even now?

Darth Strosius was pulled from such dreadful thoughts by a remark which actually stopped Him in His tracks. Thankfully right outside of the door to one such officers quarters, but still. Lady Ovmar would have brought Him back? The rest of her words did ring in His head, the implication that there was something more to Him in her eyes than a mere enemy or for Revna's sake was... Well His stillness spoke volumes as it were. It wasn't until the quarter's door made a little chime as it opened fully that He shifted once more.

The masked man looked off to the side and one of His hands idly fidgeted with the edges of His robes as He seemed to be silently searching for something. "I..." There was an uncharacteristic softness to His tone, one that He quickly corrected as He set His shoulders back and stood up straight. Finally swiveling His hidden gaze back to Lady Ovmar properly. "I apologize for the grief and pain that I have caused you in the past. For spurning you and spiting you so viciously." With that He turned on His heel, tearing His gaze away from her. "Rest well." Without any further delay He began marching right back down the corridor with His long strides.

Lina Ovmar

 

[Lina Ovmar]

A mild vein of panic coarsee through her as he fell silent, but not just silent rigid. Perhaps she had said too much, perhaps it was better if she had twisted the truth. But there was no taking the words back now, now the silence and shock filled the space between them. The soft chime of the door before is hissed open made her jump. She opened her mouth to say something, anything but he finally moved, the single syllable carrying a softness she'd not heard before.

A beat passed and it was gone as he stiffened turning finally to look at her. The formality of his apology making her smile, but before she coud respond or offer anything he was gone. Marching away at a pace that could only be considered running. Lina watched him go both bewildered and amused by his reaction before stepping inside the quarters and closing the door behind her.

She rest her forehead against it and let out a long sigh, letting go of the force and feeling pain and tiredness creep into every fibre of her being. She needed to shower but the bed was closer, she'd shower in the morning and wash away what ever stiffness sleep would bring. Dragging herself to the bed without so much of a glance around the room collapsing on top of the covers. One last thought drifted across her mind, warming her heart.

Alisteri Haxim had apologised.

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

Darth Strosius had rather quickly buried Himself in His usual duties in order to put the swirling thoughts and confusion out of His mind, albeit with two new projects to occupy His idle time with. Two projects which rather quickly began spilling from idle time into dominating the rest of the day, leaving more than a few datapads full of reports left ignored in favor of pursuing His tinkering and planning. The ring and the ashes were simply far too enticing to set down.

There was only so much progress that He could make on the ring without having the proper measurements for Lady Ovmar's finger, a lacking piece of information that He had been kicking Himself for for hours now, however there was still work that could be done. Materials and methods entertained and prepared for mostly. He had settled on using a casting method for the base of the ring itself, several molds of varying size yet with rather standard and unremarkable shapes laid in a heap on one of His workstations.

For the moment they were left behind in favor of the other project that He could make progress on, the matter of the ashes. Plucking them out of His wings had been a tiresome task but it had been done all the same. While they were a fairly miniscule amount on their own, when combined with the ones He had received from Malum after His revival He finally had enough to work with. A few runs through the centrifuge as well as some minor dilution and exposure to some synthetic Kyber light later and the ashes had been mixed into a serum.

One which Darth Strosius hadn't hesitated to supply the Oubliette with before hooking Himself into it, a rather grim task that He was able to perform without much thought or effort after having done it so many times before. The lid slid closed and with the flick of an internal switch the process had begun. It was painful of course, but as He had many times before He simply did His best to meditate through it. Right as the procedure was completing however, something brushed on the outside of His senses. Someone was outside of the Oubliette.

Were one to enter into His workshop at the moment they'd see the dull room's tables with more clutter than usual and the masked man Himself felt yet not seen within. Rather, the Oubliette's inscribed runes pulsed crimson in a steady yet slow rhythm. The table table next it was adorned not by implements and datapads like the others in the room were but rather with the heavy robes of Darth Strosius, His gloves, and His ever-present masked helmet.

Lina Ovmar

 

[Lina Ovmar]

Lina wasn't sure how long she slept, she only knew it was long enough for stiffness to creep into her muscles and joints, making her groan as she stirred. With heavy foot falls, she carried herself to the shower letting the hot water and steam chase the aches away, only when she settled herself on the bed with a towel wrapped round her did she take stock of the room around her. Much like Strosius's own quarter they were bare with a clinical feel to them, A small desk to work at, a pair of armchairs with a low table between them to entertain a guest and the bed set against a wall which from the look of the panelling held storage.

Picking up her robes, she noted the gash in the back and clicked her tongue with annoyance. She'd need a fresh set, but that would have to wait until Corva Yag. She set about rummaging through the quarters, finding a blouse and some black slacks that she assumed were standard issue for the officers on board. They fit well enough, though the neckline was lower than she'd normally wear leaving the silvery scars that trailed up her neck more visible than she liked.

With a sigh, she resigned herself to the exposure, laced on her boots and made her way back to the workshop, forgetting momentarily about her condition, every step she took left an echo of her behind before it dissipated as it caught up with her. Lina knocked once before entering. Not much had changed in the room since she'd left it, aside from a fresh stack of moulds but her eyes were drawn to the stone casket that sat central in the room, its runes glowing softly.

He was in the oubliette, using it but for what? She hesitated, torn between granting him his privacy and curiosity but the latter won over and she moved closer, running fingers along workstations as she circled it. She cast a glance over datapads, moulds and froze when she reached the soft pile of his robes. Lina idly rubbed the fabric between her fingers, before plucking up his helmet. The mask of Lord Strosius that the Order knew and...well he wasn't exactly loved. A soft smile tugged at the corner of her mouth a momentary glint of mischief in her eyes as she contemplated hiding it, before thinking better of it and setting it down. They had found a comfortable level of cordiality between them, best not to antagonise him so soon.

She turned, leaning against the table, the helmet behind her and watched the oubliette, tentatively reaching out in the force, not seeking to pry, but simply seeking to let him know she was there.

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

Within the Oubliette He had to stifle a curse as He recognized the presence of Lady Ovmar hovering outside. It made sense really, His followers knew better than to disturb His time in its embrace yet she wouldn't have the same reservations at all. Given how He sensed her moving around if anything she seemed somewhat intrigued rather than dissuaded. He shifted within the confines of the Oubliette and spared a hiss at how the needles dug into His body a bit deeper than was necessary yet He needed to reposition Himself just enough.

Just enough so that when the Oubliette's lid ceased its pulsing due to being ever so slightly shifted off of its seamless spot as a lid and at just enough of an angle to reveal one of His eyes. Set in a pale face yet glowing with an amber hue it peered up out of the casket and shifted to regard where Lady Ovmar had chosen to lean. At this angle He couldn't quite get a full look at her but given the widening of His eye and the quick shift of it away He clearly must have seen her change in clothes at the very least.

As well as her spot being right in front of where He recalled leaving His own vestments. He mouthed a curse underneath His breath before clearing His throat. "Lady Ovmar?" Without His mask His voice was slightly different, each word chased and echoed by what almost sounded like some haunting choir. Yet they couldn't hide the sheepish tone to His requests even with their ethereal lilt. "Could you...slide my gloves into here? I am...improper without them you see...please?"

Lina Ovmar

 

[Lina Ovmar]

Lina let out a low hum of amusement as the lid of the ouibilette shifted. She knew exactly what predicament he was in, and it brought her nothing but sheer joy. He could hide in there and hope she got bored, but Lina had endless patience.

As he spoke, the smile faded form her face replaced with nothing short of awe. The voice she was used to was chased by others, a choir whose ghostly tune struck her core. She blinked, taking a beat to process his request, the sound of his voice still humming in her ears.

Gloves?

Another blink, and her eyebrows shot up, amusement creeping to her face once more. Gloves was what made him indecent? She bit her lip stifling a laugh. "Of course." She replied her voice carrying the humour she was trying, though albeit not that hard, to keep contained. She plucked the gloves from the neat pile of clothes he'd left and carried them to the ouibilette, slipping them in to the small gap he'd created before retreating back to her position against the table.

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

An audible huff left the Oubliette, a few notes trailing it just as they did with His words, as He heard the tone of her voice. Yet somewhat to His surprise Lady Ovmar did bring the gloves right over and slip them into the gap, with Him wasting no time in snatching them up once they had fallen in. "Thank you." He slipped them on over His hands and breathed a sigh of relief before steadying Himself for what was to come. How unfortunate that His helmet would never fit into such a small gap but it was what it was, and with that the lid of the Oubliette was finally shifted off entirely.

A pale man sat up, His dark hair somewhat messy in its short length and the glow of His golden eyes almost seeming to be swallowed by the deep tattoos which ran beneath them. He was clad in some simpler unornamented robes, all of a darker color of course, but perhaps the most noteworthy would be the wrappings on His arms that led into His newly donned gloves. Not an inch of skin beyond His head and neck were exposed it seemed, even in what must have been more casual attire.

Which was unusual given that He had dozens of tubes leading into His body at various points, easily mistaken for simple IV drips until He rather unceremoniously pulled one out of His wrist to reveal the needle point at the end of them. They were stuck into Him in what appeared to be just about every major vein at one point or another and He pulled them loose without much care or concern, a practiced and common routine it seemed. He didn't even seem to care that more than a few of them were stained with a maroon color once they exited His body.

His expression however told a somewhat different tale to His collected and surgical actions, given that His gaze kept flickering over to Lady Ovmar and then back down to the floor as though He didn't want to be caught staring. There was a sense of urgency in His young features, one might almost mistake it for a youthful apprehension if they didn't know any better. Without the mask He was quite expressive, brows knitted together and lips set in a firm line as He worked to free Himself of the needles.

Lina Ovmar

 

[Lina Ovmar]

Lina went very still as the heavy stone lid slid away completely, and Lord Strosius sat up, revealing tousled dark hair and a pale face adorned with dark tattoos etched below stunning golden eyes that reminded Lina of the glow of hot coals. Beyond his face and neck, he left nothing else exposed, every inch of his skin was covered, from the soft lining of his more casual robes to the gloves she had passed him. she had expected him to be more exposed, and under other circumstances she might have been disappointed that he wasn't. Yet she wasn't. because by revealing nothing but his face, he revealed so much more.

He was afraid to be seen for what he truly was. Years of modifications of altering himself had left him with a form he was ashamed of. She watched quietly for a moment, noting the way his gaze flicked her way, the urgency in his expression as he pulled the needles unceremoniously from his skin, clearly trying to be free of the oubliette so that he could don his helm and his robes and slip back into the shell he felt so exposed without.

Lina pushed off the table and approached him, without thought or words she began to help him, gentle hands bracing the skin before pulling the needles free, she focused on those that were more awkward for him to reach, her own gaze flicking up from the needles she pulled free, to his face. To those molten eyes staring out from a face frozen in youth. She realised, in less than twenty fours hours in his company, she was becoming enraptured by him. From the way he embodied the code with a fire that stoked her own, to the shy man that rested beneath the angry shell he showed the rest of the galaxy. It was dangerous, not just for her, but for him too and she knew she should draw away, build a barrier between them, remain cordial but professional. Yet as she looked again at his face, as their eyes met for a heartbeat before they each looked away, she new she was doomed to be drawn to him, doomed to chase the mystery that shrouded him.

The weighted silence between them permeated by the gentle clink of needles as they fell back into the casket. She needed to say something, anything to cut through it. Yet for the first time in a long time, Lina could not think of anything to say.

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

The rather routine matter of pulling Himself free from the Oubliette's grasp was done easily enough, although with an audience He found Himself fumbling here or there. Forgetting some needles that He'd have otherwise already been finished with and having to hide the slight tremor in His fingers whenever they weren't occupied. Typically this was done in isolation, where He could take His time if need be. Now though He couldn't quite afford to lounge around in such an...exposed state.

The pale man froze in place as He felt her hands touch Him, golden eyes growing wide as He realized just how close Lady Ovmar was suddenly. When had she walked over? How long had she been right there just looking at Him? With a blink He realized that He had in fact been staring right back at her for more than a few moments without contributing to His own freedom from entanglement. Through clenched teeth He sucked in a breath and tore His gaze back to the task at hand, a score of red blooming across His pale cheeks as He hurried to rid Himself of the needles.

In spite of Himself He almost couldn't help but keep glancing back up at her face, as though tentatively checking to see how disturbed or uncomfortable she might have been. Yet He couldn't find any such negativity in spite of how long He kept searching for it in her eyes. Then He chided Himself for staring once more, far longer than was necessary for simply keeping an eye on her expression, and the moment that the last needle was pulled from His skin beneath His robes and wrappings He wasted no time in hauling Himself out of the Oubliette and onto His feet.

Rather than instantly rushing for His proper robes and mask however He took a moment to roll His shoulders and stare at the floor in what appeared to be some mixture of shame and embarrassment written across His young features. He wrang His gloved hands together for a moment before clearing His throat. "I...apologize for my lack of decorum, Lady Ovmar. I was running an experiment to see about possible incorporation methods for my ashes." He attempted to flash her a grin but it fell the moment He noticed the barely visible pale tendrils still trailing from His back.

His left eye twitched at the sight and He suddenly found the floor rather interesting once more, wrapping His arms around His core. "It would appear that I wasn't quite successful. As per fething usual." With that He practically marched over to the table to retrieve His helmet and don it once more, followed by His heavier robes. As He slipped them on it became somewhat apparent just how athletic and average His build was without them, the robes bulking out His form somewhat although it wasn't clear if such an image was intentional.

With His mask settled back onto His features and His robes back in place, Darth Strosius turned to regard Lady Ovmar with a nod of His head. "I trust that you rested well?" The choir in His voice was hidden once more just like with the rest of Him. A mask indeed it seemed, albeit one that He seemed far more comfortable as compared to His own skin.

Lina Ovmar