Fact & Friction

[Anara Valnor]

Picking up the pieces seemed to be a perpetual state of being for the nearly five hundred year old woman. Out of her time, but not nearly as out of her mind as had been the norm for a good decade, Anara was once more forced to reconstruct herself. The "damage" she'd wrought by wiping her own mind was undone, for the most part, and now she was once more alone in her own head. The souls Moridin had used to revive her were gone, which was probably for the best. Anara had yet to decide how she felt about being "alone" once more.

Alone.

Funny word with a stinging meaning. Amber orbs narrowed in annoyance as her mind again circled back to the void James Justice had left in her. It felt as though he'd betrayed her, but that couldn't be further from the truth and Anara was intelligent enough to see that.

Damn.

So it was back to the drawing board and for one reason or another she'd found herself drawn to Korriban. She couldn't recall ever setting foot on the planet before and so it felt like now was as good a time as any. It was easy to return to her old habits of simply drifting from world to world, making a few credits along the way while she sorted out exactly what she wanted and needed in life. It was those habits that brought her to the rather standard looking upper-class club seated within one of the planet's larger cities. The place was like any other she'd ever been to except the Darkness that clung to the planet seemed to be a literal residue that clung to everything on its surface. If she were still a Child of the Light then she would have found it disgusting, but that part of her life was long gone. Or so she told herself despite her dreams of Naboo and the life she'd led within the Temple there.

Her head had seemed so much quieter when filled with the whispers of thousands of trapped souls. It had certainly been clearer.

Huffing in a mixture of annoyance and amusement Anara took the stage as the ambient music of the club slowly petered out. Dressed in a simple black number her hair, heels, and eyes were the only splash of color upon the stage as the spotlight glared down upon her. She stood there for only a moment before the amber of her eyes darkened by several shades, her power surging forth to wrap around the minds of all those present. As the Song swelled in her mind her eyes glowed for a beat before music began to fill the club.

With no band to back her, no sound coming from the speakers on the stage, and no microphone in her hand Anara belted out the song. Through her mastery of the Force and her unique connection to it she amplified her own voice and created the sound of every instrument that accompanied her. Her eyes seemed to burn the longer she sang, power rolling off her in waves as she performed, warping the minds of those that she could and drawing energy from them.

[member="Darth Prazutis"]

 

[Darth Prazutis]

[member="Anara Valnor"]

Korriban City, Upper Levels, Star Lounge

Even after all the tragedy the people of Korriban faced recently it still didn't dampen their spirits. Korriban City was well on the path of recovery with tons of rebuilding work already done, things were running smoothly. But still none of that stopped the clubs from opening at the same times each day, staying open late in the night to accommodate the potential loss in profit being shut down for long periods due to the albeit brief orbital bombardment. As the planets blazing sun went down and the nightlife took center stage in many areas from low class dives to the high class clubs you could still hear the beating thrum of music, and see people in a rare joyful mood.

It has been a very long time since Prazutis last frequented the club scenes on any world. Many years ago as another man, another life he lived in the nightlife. An apex predator in his field even back then he was a widely sought after commodity for his skills as a hitman and mercenary willing to take any job for those who could pay his high rate. But more often than not he enjoyed the club scene from the high rises and VIP areas in closed off sections that the various hutt cartel lords and crime bosses enjoyed, their own premium, exclusive private sections. When you were the best you reaped the benefits. He was an entirely different, lost man back then.

Even now after becoming far more powerful than he thought possible, he still enjoyed the same perks and more. Except now he wasn't a desired hitman but a highly feared and powerful Dark Lord. The dark titan of a man was drawn to the high class club known as the Star Lounge with a purpose. Normally when on Korriban he dwelled in his highly secluded, and well hidden grand necropolis in the Valley of Golg. But something drew the Dark Lords attention, a presence. An aged and powerful epicanthix-anzati hybrid his acute senses that allowed him to pick up on a persons life essence buzzed with a powerful presence. There was a particularly powerful force user who came to Korriban, his secluded location so far in the wastes took longer for him to feel them. But that wasn't what caused Prazutis to leave his citadel and come all this way. The presence was very familiar but he just couldn't place it, from his past.

The sith lord wore an extremely expensive custom tailored suit from one of the top designer brands, a custom design that was top of the line. The suit had a number of added functions including a number of hidden pockets, odds and ends one of them being it allowed him to wear an taozin amulet so it was completely hidden from anyone who even stood close to him, which also disguised his force presence. The man wore matching dress shoes and a pair of black gloves covered his hands. Prazutis's lightsaber sat on his side disguised as a code cylinder, with his second one hidden on an concealed ankle holster. Carefully placed on his hand was an expensive and ornate signet ring that bore the phoenix sigil of House Zambrano. Even without layer after layer of armor plating with only a suit to protect him, the dominating aura around him painted him just as dangerous as any fully armed soldier.

Prazutis walked into the second story restricted VIP section that was closed off to the general public, the clubs guards even letting the man and his pair of concealed crownguard through the private entrance. The sith lord stood in a private lounge complete with a private bar, plenty of lounge couches, chairs and tables, and a massive one way window that let the occupants see and hear everything going on in the club without anyone below being able to see in. Prazutis stood right at the large window a glass in his hand filled with a bright green liquid, a favored licorice flavored Absinthe. The pair of crownguard flanked either side of the interior by the door. While a lone falleen in a tailored suit of lesser quality stood a step behind the Sith Lord, a glass of corellian whiskey in his hand.

"We've had someone new come through recently, a woman. Very beautiful, bright red hair. Shes been coming here for little over a week. Excellent singer.." Xizor said. The man was just as much club owner as he was a crime boss who ran this area of town. But even such an influential man was enraptured in fear inside by the Dark Lord who stood before him. Xizor took a swig of the whiskey to work up the courage to continue. "She draws in a ton of business with her vocals, doesn't ask too much for pay. What we do pay her she spends on alcohol and spice. She hits the spice and booze pretty hard spends most nights after her performances using. In fact she should be here any minute.."

Just as the man finished Prazutis said nothing for a solid couple minutes merely taking a long sip of the strong absinthe, his mind constantly at work. [member="Anara Valnor"]. Now that was one women he never thought he'd see again. Their last meeting was unforgettable during his days as an acolyte under his mentor Darth Carnifex. Initially their meeting started after he came across her ship stranded and wracked with problems. Their meeting was supposed to be short with her leaving quickly the next day. It wasn't. They spent several days together in a wild time of chaos, intense passion and discord. There was an unusual tension between him and the powerful Sith lady that built to a boiling point that day.

Prazutis never expected to see her again after the sudden departure they had to make, and it had been an extremely long time since. "Excellent. This is what I came for, you've done well." Prazutis said, swishing the green liquid around, ice cubes crashing against the glass. The mans gaze fixed on the redhead as she took center stage wearing a simple black outfit, her music dominating the club entralling its customers. To an untrained mind it was just music but Prazutis was a Sith Lord. He knew all too well she was feeding off of the emotion she invoked. "Let her do whatever she wants. I have plans for her." Prazutis said sipping the absinthe. Carefully the Dark Lord reached out to the focused Anara with his powers of the mind. In the past this would've been considerably harder but now he was a master of the dark side. Carefully he maneuvered around and through her mental barriers, accessing her memory banks of their previous meetings. The Sith Lord then brought those memories surging to the surface with crashing force.

 

[Anara Valnor]

To intrude upon the mind of another can be little more than a parlor trick, unless the mind in which you seek to invade is on the same playing field as your own. Focused upon her performance Anara unwittingly left herself open to such an invasion, but who would be fool enough to try such things on her? The thought of having her mind tampered with by another had not been a concern for her in a long time, but as Anara's first song drew to a close it became clear that she'd grown complacent.

Memories, as vivid and powerful as though they'd only just happened, shattered her concentration and she gasped as she nearly dropped to one knee. The images assaulting her were specific, far to specific to be something her subconscious had just conjured up. No. Someone had purposefully dredged up her time spent in the company of Braxus Zambrano so many years ago, but the real question was who and why? Amber orbs flashed as her brow knit in thought, her senses stretching outward as she listened intently to the Song of the Force. Though it had been a long time since she'd heard Braxus' distinct Song there was no way she would ever forget it; he'd made an impression upon her.

The distinct notes of his Song didn't reach her and Anara frowned, her ire evident in the set of her shoulders and the way a low rumbling began to build within the club as if a storm were rolling in. No one else knew of their time together and while he hadn't been more than an acolyte when they'd met Anara suspected that was no longer the case; he was toying with her. Two can play this game Zambrano. However, what if Braxus wasn't in fact the one that was playing around inside her head? Amber bled to black and she smiled to herself, head bowed as she flexed her hands. No matter who was behind the sudden and unexpected recollection centered around a specific mountain of a man Anara fully intended to make the culprit bleed; no one fracked with her mind.

The color slowly returned to her gaze as she shored up her defenses, calling the Darkness to her once more. Music replaced the rumbling of her ire once more and Anara came alive upon the stage, her eyes glowing with power. She put more into her second song as her eyes sought out every warm body within her line of sight; Braxus had to be watching her.

 

[Darth Prazutis]

"What is that, my lord?"

"The game."

Prazutis took casual sips from the alcoholic beverage in his hand as his gaze fixed on Anara who stood center stage. A grin formed wide on his face as she was forced down to a knee gasping liberally. Anara couldn't focus so intently on both her song and her mental defenses. She had grown complacent, weak, easily did the dark titan work around her defenses and rock her mind with memories. He even laughed lightly as the place rumbled with power. A simple touch to the other minds in the room told him everyone thought a storm might've been rolling in, but that simply wasn't the case.

"Must be a storm rolling in, don'-"

Prazutis cut Xizor off by raising his other empty hand. "No that's not a storm Xizor, that is power." Prazutis said as a servant droid replaced his glass of Absinthe with a fresh one. She was angry. Despite the short period they spent together he knew Anara well in some ways better than others, but he still knew her. No one messed with her mind and got away with it. Body language especially in encounters like this was everything. Anara's showed she didn't exactly have a bead on who was messing around with her. On one hand it could've been him, but what if it wasn't him?

The set of memories he brought up were extremely specific and only two people knew of that time. No doubt she was running over scenario after scenario in her mind on who it might be if it wasn't the Lord Zambrano. But Anara was just as bold and aggressive as ever. As he listened to her second song send the crowd into a frenzy of dance and merriment the Sith Lord grin grew wider. The song was a taunt, she was trying to lure him out in the open with a more concentrated attack. Someone who launched a focused assault would be easy to spot often deep in thought, if they were out in the club she'd be able to spot them.

But not here.

Prazutis drank a good swig of the powerful drink and sat down at a cushioned chair in front of the one way observation window, placing his drink on the side table. The Dark Lord waited in deep concentration, feeding off the gathering storm. For the first half of the song it seemed as if no attack was coming, he would wait her out. She needed to put a lot of focus and power into belting out these songs like she was. Anara had split her focus to shore up her own defenses. So when her concentration waned..

"Alright Anara you want it, you'll get it." Prazutis whispered to himself.

Then it came.

Right in the middle of a chorus as the music dimmed to amplify the effect of her voice it struck. Prazutis smashed through her weakned defenses like a rolling tidal wave leaving a unique signature on his invasion. While he carefully maneuvered the last time he brought a wave of psychic pain aiming to hit every area of her mind. He stood up then leaving his drink on the table as he stood a few feet away from the large window, silently staring down below at the singing Anara.

[member="Anara Valnor"]

 

[Anara Valnor]

Her song came to a screeching halt as an inhuman snarl was torn from her lips, amber eyes bleeding to onyx as she was assaulted once more. Familiar and dark notes resonated within her mind as pain rolled over her and Anara was more beast than woman for a beat. Braxus. She sneered and the silence left in the wake of his attack was deafening, the crowd staring blankly at her as they recovered from the sway she'd held over them. This time Braxus succeeded in taking her down to one knee and she was slow to rise, her body practically vibrating with the force of her rage.

It was time that their game ended.

Still down on one knee music again began to fill the club as Anara raised her onyx eyes to scan the club; Braxus was going to show himself whether he liked it or not. "I’m so glad that you’re here," her voice sounded entirely different, but that was yet another trick brought about by her mastery of manipulation. "I’m so glad you crawl this low," she stood and moved from the stage, her steps slow and predatory as she moved to sniff Braxus out.

"It’s so sweet how you care," a dark smirk curled her lips upward as the amber of her eyes returned so that they shone in the darkness of the club. "I’ll bet you’re ready for your show," and what a show he was going to get.

Anara moved with grace and power, no warning given to any of those within the club as her power blasted outward. The lights within the entire club dimmed and even flickered as her voice rocked the entire building. Glass shattered, but it was drown out by the force of her voice as she gave into the raw power of the Darkness she so often skirted. More than a few of the clubs patrons shrieked in agony as glass cut into them, but there were even more who began bleeding from their ears and even their eyes.

The air grew physically heavy and dust rained down around Anara as she shook the club to its very foundations, her eyes alighting on Braxus with a rage hot enough she could set the planet ablaze. With his hiding place revealed Anara wasted no time in heading straight for him; she was going to kill him.

[member="Darth Prazutis"]

 

[Darth Prazutis]

As Anara gave in to her rage, her hate the once great song she sang came to a screeching halt through his powerful mental attack. The Dark Titan simply stood at the observation window watching her look and hunt, watch the entire building bubble with her rage and anger, everything he had wrought was part of the grand design he had in mind just for this situation. Get her angry, and keep her angry. As the club shook Xizor panicked moving closer to Prazutis "W-What's going on?! What do we do?! Lord Prazutis we-" But once more the Sith Lords hand rose sharply to swiftly shut the man up.

While useful the cowardice of this man ran his patience thin, and his use had just run out. Prazutis reached out and grabbed the mans head crashing through his simple mental defenses, he drained the memories of this recent encounter out of this mans mind which he held in a vice grip. Prazutis then left one single solitary command in place of all the emptiness: Run. As the falleen bolted out of the door the Dark Lord turned his head to one side. "I won't be needing you two for now. Go keep the shuttle warm I'll return shortly plus one."

After an elaborate bow the two crown guardsmen disappeared out of the door that Xizor left open in his retreat. Finally the power Anara gathered to her side erupted in a powerful scream in the midst of this third song she began, shattering glass and eardrums alike, sending the crowd into a panic. As the sound waves swiftly reached the upper lounge Prazutis delivered a sharp push of telekinetic energy to send the shattering glass inward onto the patrons of the club rather than inward on himself. It was then that they finally locked eyes with the visage of the massive muscular man who stood close to seven feet tall revealed. The Lord Zambranos burning sulfuric yellow eyes met with her amber ones, the black power of the dark side surging behind them.

"Lady Valnor it's been awhile. Let the games begin." Prazutis said as he jumped out of the window and down to the club floor on the opposite end from Anara. It was a rare occurrence that someone willingly charged at the Dark Titan in close quarters combat. Much like his mentor he was an juggernaut when he reached melee range, with incredible strength, startling speed for his size, and a mastered technique. Prazutis just then stopped and jumped back up to the observation platform using force speed. The man then simply walked out of the chambers door towards the back exit of the club as if [member="Anara Valnor"] wasn't even there.

 

[Anara Valnor]

Her eyes burned like suns as she watched Braxus simply leave. Leave?! A huff of amusement passed her lips as the ground beneath her feet began to rumble, cracks appearing in the walls of the club. She was going to bring the place down around his ears. Her eyes flared white and there was a resounding crack as she brought a section of the roof down to block his exit.

"Braxus!" she barked, moving to follow him at last. His little private section he'd been hiding in was in shambles now, dirt and debris littering the expensive furniture. She had him trapped for the moment and planned on making the most of it. "You think you have any right to play around in my head?" she practically purred, eyes wild. For a moment she was the wild woman he'd found adrift in space, the echoes of thousands of voices drowning out her own.

Reason returned to her moments later and she seemed far more put together as she looked him over, a smirk curling her lips. "Dress up for me?" He did look amazing, but he didn't need to be alive for that. "At least your ready for your funeral," she murmured before moving to charge him, her bright pink blade coming to life with the tell tale sound all sabers shared.

[member="Darth Prazutis"]

 

[Darth Prazutis]

Something told him that he wouldn't be leaving out that door just yet.

Then the roof caved in and Anara cleverly 'trapped' the Sith Lord in the hall, as far as she knew. They hadn't seen one another in quite some time and the last time he was but an acolyte in the arts of the dark side, and an entirely different man in quite a different place mentally. Now? Now he was a master, and now he was in just the right place mentally. But there was something about her now that he saw the petite woman up close. Anara was short but her personality made her seem like she stood seven feet tall. She was just as cunning and manipulative as she was short tempered. Now that she stood up close he had time to admire her form up close.

Anara wore a tight fitting black dress that accentuated all of her alluring curves in just the right places, with a simple necklace for neck wear and a pair of bright red heels that accentuated her hair and amber eyes just perfectly. Anara was poised and prepared methodically selecting her outfits, and nearly all of them filled with temptation to manipulate just the right people just the right ways to get whatever she wants for practically nothing. Prazutis wouldn't linger on her appearance yet, he needed to focus to carry out the game plan he laid out. After all he didn't come here just to piss off the fiery sith lady and get killed for being foolish, he was far too learned and experienced to let that happen.

"I suppose I do have the right to since you made it so easy for me. I just walked through the front door and dove right into your memories and you barely noticed until I let you." Braxus said the words rolling off his tongue with the smooth cunning of a master in wordcraft. He knew what would piss her off and he was prepared to use exactly that. If it were anyone else in his shoes they may just consider this tactic insane. Anara could be described quite simply as: one bad queen. She can and would kill him if he gave her the chance. But it took an apex hunter to play with fire like he was going to. Prazutis didn't even move as she charged at him lightsaber gripped in her hands, slid out carefully from a thigh holster he just happened to know of from their last exploits. The pink glow in the dimmed lighting cast a bright glow on his dark brown suit.

The Sith Lord simply took off his gloves as she charged towards him from across the room pocketing them just as a downard strike came towards his shoulder. Prazutis then sprung like a bolt of lightning quickly bending his knees to drop himself lower he grabbed her wrist on its way down using a titanic grip, then he reached out to deliver an firm elbow to her stomach to ensure she dropped the weapon. But then...instead of going in the for the kill as one normally did, he did something different. The man let go of her hand as the lightsaber hit the floor and brought a firm grip on her rear end pulling her in so quickly that she collided with his own physical form, he then used his other hand to pull tightly down on the back of her hair so she was staring straight up at him. "Dressing a little too conservative for me aren't you, Anara? But I do remember how quick you can be at peeling those layers off." Prazutis said leaning in close to whisper it to her, staring into her eyes just a few inches away. Then quite suddenly augmented by the force he tossed her across the room over the bar counter.

[member="Anara Valnor"]

 

[Anara Valnor]

Physically she was nothing compared to Braxus, but the Force leveled the playing field so that neither truly had the upper hand. Skill alone would be the judge in this game they were playing. Disarmed and winded Anara didn't have the chance to avoid his massive hands as they pulled her into his hard frame, memories of their time together resurfacing. Bastard. Had he not punched her in the gut he could have easily stolen her breath away by simply catching her as he had, but her physical reaction to him was incapable of overriding her blinding rage. He was treating her like a plaything and that only enraged her further. She was no man's toy, especially a damned Zambrano.

"So sorry to disappoint," she snapped, tiny hands pressed against the hard expanse of his abdomen; she might actually regret killing him once the deed was done. "You should have called ahead. I would have slipped into something more appropriate," she continued, fingers curling into the expensive fabric of his suit. On second thought maybe she wasn't going to regret killing him at all. She snapped at his face, a final warning of what to was come. However, what came next Anara never expected though she really should have.

Getting back to her feet with all the grace afforded a woman accustomed to wearing heels she glared from behind the bar at the Titan, eyes dark with the promise of his death. She didn't say a thing and only smirked, her body eerily still as suddenly the floor beneath his feet was torn asunder. A gaping hole appeared beneath the Titan's feet as Anara easily vaulted over the bar, her saber flying back to her hand as she stalked toward her prey.

[member="Darth Prazutis"]

 

[Darth Prazutis]

Each and every move albeit unorthodox was well planned by the Dark Lord before he invaded the mind of [member="Anara Valnor"]. The memories of their first meeting were fresh in his mind especially that both were in a far different place then, but the tension between them back then was as unforgettable as it was now. Even after so long and both of them having changed so much he could still feel that tension once more, as both played this complex game of superiority with the other. But there was a method to this madness after all Prazutis didn't get to become the former Director of Intelligence for the vast Empire of the Sith without cunning, tact, and intelligence.

The process of playing on what angered Anara and what thickened the tension between them was complex akin to the ancient sith form of combat called Dun Moch of which he was a master. To put it simply Prazutis was getting to her even if she didn't realize it. If she was trying to kill him the anger and other emotions she was lured into feeling were clouding her judgement and skill. While Anara was extremely powerful and a high threat, she wasn't actively employing all of her abilities while she tried taking his head off. Certainly Prazutis was sure with how much anger radiated from her that she would kill him if given the opportunity, he wasn't about to let that happen.

Likewise the Sith Lord wasn't fully employing his skills like he normally would. If it were any other opponent succumbing to what he was doing they'd have already been swiftly crippled or dealt with. Prazutis grinned as she snapped at his face in a dark, feral rage he knew lurked deep down. It made the little game they played that much more enjoyable. "I didn't want to ruin the little surprise I had planned now did I? That would've ruined the fun in the game." Prazutis said as Anara recovered quickly from being tossed. Tremors through the force alerted his senses before the floor caved in below him. As the floors metal cracked, bent, twisted, and ultimately opened up the Sith Lord was already moving to dodge the hole. "But there's one thing about what you're doing Anara, one thing that's crucial here." Prazutis said again talking down to her, another thing that would piss her off.

As Anara moved towards him Prazutis again didn't draw his lightsaber as a matter of fact the look on his face didn't show any concern or worry at all for her assault, he radiated confidence. As the first series of strikes came down Prazutis wielded the force in conjunction with his own heightened reflexes to allow his body to twist and contort, lightly parrying her strikes with careful hits to her saber arm and side steps so that the first and second strike came down on either side. But as her third came his titanic grip came down on her wrist, and a delicate application of pressure from the clear strength advantage he had forced the lightsaber once more to drop to the ground, shaking his head in mock disappointment at another failed attempt. Once more instead of striking for the kill or a swift stomach punch Prazutis wrapped his hands around her rear end and she once more collided with his form.

But this time as he gripped down Prazutis lifted her clear up into the air and off the ground so that he was practically carrying her. One arm wrapped around her back to hold her in place as he sat her down onto the bar top. Distance was created between the two as he left her sitting there for just a fleeting moment. The hand that gripped her came up to her beautiful red hair and grabbed it, pulling hard so that once more she was staring directly up at him. He closed the remaining distance between them so she was once more pressed up against him, their faces inches away. Prazutis touched his forehead to her own then and for a few moments he allowed a tense silence to build in the room, with nothing but the sounds of their breathing and the feeling of it on ones neck as the noise. She might've brought a hand up in protect and if she did she found his other hand would use his full strength to easily thwart the attempt.

"You underestimate me Anara. I have grown stronger every passing day while you have grown weaker, yet you still think yourself superior. That is why I am better." Before she could reply in protest Prazutis again lifted her up into the air in the same position except instead of eye level she was lower and a firm hand pulled down on her hair so she still stared up at him. Prazutis used the force to weaken the wall that led into the next room, and with a push drove right through the wall Anara first. They fell into the next room then as dirt and bits of debris flew. Prazutis cleverly fell on top of her then, but ensured that his full weight wasn't brought down on her petite form.

 

[Anara Valnor]

Braxus continued to man handle her and while it only served to enrage her further there was another part of her that loved it, craved it even. For a woman with so much power at her beck and call it was nice to have a man take some of that control from her, though she'd never admit such a thing. However, it seemed Braxus already knew this little fact, but after their brief time together that shouldn't have really surprised her. Still, she wanted his head and as much as her body might want her to cave to his power Anara wasn't prepared to let something like that come to pass.

The tension between them was nothing short of erotic, even though she was looking to kill him, and just like before Anara didn't resist his hold on her. If anything she welcomed it, eyes burning in challenge as they just stared at each other. Had the setting been different and their second encounter it might have been a romantic moment, but in that instant it only served to make Anara want his blood that much more. She'd go for the kill in a moment, she wasn't in a hurry just then as she let her tiny hands rest lightly against his hard chest.

The lull was like the eye of the storm and passed as quickly as one. When the storm returned Anara was prepared or so she'd thought. Braxus gave her no time or ability to counter his attack, but then he'd managed to completely derail her line of thinking. He was right and it was painfully obvious. As though a bucket of cold water had been dumped upon her head Anara seemed to return to herself, her eyes predatory and focused. Pain rolled over her from Braxus using her to take down a wall, but it was nothing she couldn't handle. After surviving being deafened to the Force a person finds that their pain tolerance is incredibly high.

"You're right," she murmured rather suddenly, shifting beneath him. With one elbow tucked in against his right knee Anara brought her right leg up the move shifted him forward just enough for her to turn to her side just a bit, but she was still trapped beneath him. Wasting no time Anara swung her left leg over his right and hooked it around her right, then with speed and agility that could put his to shame she slipped free of his grasp. She was on his back in a matter of seconds, lithe arms wrapped around his neck in an obvious choke hold. The move was rudimentary and she hadn't used the Force once in her endeavor to escape, but what did any of that matter?

Maybe he wasn't so much better than her after all. Smirking to herself, Anara leaned down beside his ear and bit his earlobe, hard, a low purr escaping her. "You really missed me, didn't you?"

[member="Darth Prazutis"]

 

[Darth Prazutis]

X

 

[Anara Valnor]

He winded her once more, but Anara didn't immediately release her hold upon his neck. When she did let her grip slip he had her pinned once more, their faces level with one another. Braxus was having a little to much fun throwing his weight around. "Hardly. You've been a fleeting memory for years...don't flatter yourself Zambrano," she sighed, voice dripping with distaste. How in the name of the Gods had she ever allowed herself to fall into bed with him? Well, she had been missing her memories back then so she couldn't really blame herself.

She was prepared to make another scathing remark about his clear infatuation with her, but his lips silenced her and she growled against them. She didn't resist his kiss and instead fed into it, giving as good as she got as the nails of one hand scraped along his scalp roughly. The kiss was almost enough to make her forgo killing him, but as they broke apart and he ripped her necklace free of her body Anara saw red once more. Braxus had no way of knowing the significance of the simple bit of jewelry, but it served to distract her enough to allow him to slam her through a table. Pain errupted along her back and she groaned low in her throat, already feeling a bit sore from his repeated abuse.

He knew what he was doing, pushing all of the right buttons to make her dance for him. Anara had forgotten how intelligent he was; his large size worked to further the illusion that he was a mindless brute. Still a little winded and considering her next move Anara didn't move from her spot atop the shattered table for a long moment, chest rising and falling almost gently as she stared at the bar. She watched him with what could be called disinterest, her amber eyes focused on something else entirely. Then, out of the blue, she began to laugh and continued laughing softly as she pulled herself to her feet. Her dress was torn in a few spots and one of the heels broken off her shoes, but the petite Sith didn't seem to care in the least. Whatever anger she'd held before seemed gone as she kicked her shoes off and moved to retrieve her ruined choker.

Still clearly amused she approached Braxus as though they were old friends. Without a word she reached up and took hold of his tie, pulling him down to her level for a kiss that was oddly tender. "Stay out of my head," she murmured against his lips, her voice soft and pleasant though the threat she made was deadly serious as she pressed against the defenses of his mind lightly. A simple warning as she let her earlier ire fall away; he was far too much fun to kill.

Stealing a second kiss she released his tie and took her drink from his hand, sipping the bright green liquid before effortlessly pulling herself up to sit on the bar. Seated on the bar she was nearly eye level with Braxus, but she hardly seemed to care about their massive difference in height. Lazily enjoying her drink Anara studied her ruined choker for a moment, her thumb sweeping across the tree pendant that held so much meaning for her.

[member="Darth Prazutis"]

 

[Darth Prazutis]

X

 

[Anara Valnor]

Absorbed in recall her younger years Anara was surprised when Braxus' hand engulfed her own, the action oddly tender for a man that had just driven her through a wall and a table. Amber orbs watched his hand for a moment as he studied the pendant in her palm, but eventually they shifted upward to meet his gaze. He was more observant than she'd ever given him credit for, but why? Did she intrigue him that much?

Apparently.

One corner of her lips twitched upward at the realization, but she said nothing on the matter. Instead she turned her gaze back to his hands, her expression thoughtful. "It didn't when we met," she admitted after a moment, her eyes shifting back up to his. "But I didn't know who I was then either...now I do." She waited to see his reaction, curious how he'd take the news that she remembered her past in all it's wretched glory.

His proximity and touch made the fire that burned within her rage hotter and his words brought a smirk to her lips before a laugh finally tumbled free. "That was your plan all along wasn't it Lord Zambrano?" It all made perfect sense now and it was so painfully obvious that he'd played her; Gods she'd been a fool. She had a long way to go before she was herself once more; if it were even possible to be that woman again. The kiss soothed whatever ire she might have had over his deception, for now, and she used her free hand to catch his tie once more to keep him close as he stood between her legs.

"Keep playing this little game and you're going to get burned Braxus," she sang to him, her lips brushing his with every word. "Lead the way," she said at last, pushing him away and jumping down from the bar top.

 

[Darth Prazutis]

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[Anara Valnor]

The more time passed between them and the more Anara was reminded that she was not born into his world, nor was she the woman he knew her to be. She was chaotic still and that was never likely to change, but she was far less the monster she had been upon their first meeting (even if she'd sought to kill him only minutes before). The low raspy quality of his voice was as soothing as it was grating, yet she found herself enjoying every barb he threw her way. At least her quick wit hadn't suffered in the recollection of her memories.

"My fire and yours are two different breeds Lord Zambrano...Mine has been burning a lot longer than yours," she reminded him, rising to his challenge and accepting it without hesitation. However, when he retrieved her lightsaber she practically waved the thing away as unimportant; she never had been much for fighting with the damned thing. Music was her weapon of choice, but as little as she used her saber the thing was still precious to her. A reminder of her Master, her Jedi Master, and the journey she'd started on all those years ago.

Gods, what had gone wrong? Where had she taken the wrong path? She didn't even know anymore and couldn't be bothered to regret any of it; for each painful memory she had one to counter it. Or at least she used to. The punches seemed to keep coming lately and she had to wonder if Braxus was to be yet another hit. Was getting involved with him a mistake all those years ago? Was letting him live a mistake now? Too many questions and not enough answers.

"Then I guess I ought to show you my usual technique huh?" she taunted, tensing as he approached. She held his gaze with an intensity few could match, his touch like fire and ice all at once. Had it been that way before? No. Things were different now. They were different. Without a word she let him do as he pleased, to a point, but as quickly as the moment had begun it was over and they were heading for his shuttle. The ever present tension between them continued to simmer just beneath the surface, but Anara never made a move to ease it. She desired a great many things in the behemoth presence of [member="Darth Prazutis"], but she wasn't about to play into his hands any further than she already had.

Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, Braxus had different plans and reeled her in. At first Anara made to resist his titanic hold upon her, but she really didn't want him to see how deep of a dent he could create with her in the hull of his own vessel. Surrendering to his desires Anara found herself straddling his lap, her hands splayed out upon the huge expanse of his clothed chest as he reclined in his seat like a King with the world at his feet. Gods she hated how smug he was; why did all Zambrano's think she was a prize to be won?!

"You realize the woman you saved from drifting in space isn't the same one you've got in your lap? She was a beast with no self respect or direction...I may be as wild as my home, but I'm not the woman you seem so smitten with," she warned, eyes blazing for a moment before she calmed once more.

 

[Darth Prazutis]

.

 

[Anara Valnor]

Her nostrils flared in a mixture of anger and something akin to panic. His words rung true, far truer than she liked. Was she really so easy to read?

Yes.

She'd never been the best at hiding herself in the way so many others were, but it grated on her nerves to have Braxus point out her failings. Exhaling harshly she called her saber back to her, her eyes darkening for a moment as she tipped her head forward to rest her forehead against his.

"Regardless, it's still a part of me. It always will be," she murmured, twirling the cylinder nimbly in her fingers. It almost seemed as if she was considering running him through, but finally she let her saber tumble from her hand where if landed beside his hip on the couch.

Gods she hated the Zambrano line. Practically growling she kissed him, nothing tender in the way her lips met his. Finally she took his hand and moved it to her side, encouraging his touch as she moved to tear his shirt open. Despite her sincere dislike for the Zambrano's, which was entirely Kaine's fault, Anara was done denying her interest in the behemoth beneath her.

[member="Darth Prazutis"]

 

[Darth Prazutis]

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