Private Flowing Red

[Ghruna]

Ghruna's bark of laughter rang out down the halls of the academy. Two older students had her by the arms as they tried to wrestle her back. Her fists were bloodied, her brow was swollen and bruised.

She was being pulled away from the crumpled form of a fellow student.

One of the teacher stepped between her and his trembling form. Darth Reprimar stood level with her. The massassi sith's eyes shone bright with his anger.

"We don't attack other students," he snapped.

Ghruna stopped laughing. She shook her head in confusion.

"Wha? Just last week Dendra woke woth a fucking knife in her back!" the lines between her teeth were filled with red blood.

As she was dragged away Reprimar shouted at the unruly acolyte.

"There are unspoken rules you child! Your misdeeds are supposed to go unseen. Perfectly executed. Otherwise you may duel in public and..."

"Someone should write those fucking words down!" Ghruna spat blood. She allowed herself to be dragged, heels of her boots hissing across the dusty corridor.

Darth Reprimar stepped closer.

"Why you insolent..."

Crack

He had stepped too close. Ghruna had suddenly pulled against the students and snapped her head forwards. She laughed all the way to her cell as Reprimar stemmed the bleeding from his broken nose.

---

"We could just kill her," Darth Nahrix suggested. "I am surprised you hadn't."

"Lord Jhyrack would not blink if she died in training, but if she was executed I do not know how he would react."

"Then arrange an accidental death."

The two stood before Ghruna's cell. They had reinforced the door with crude durasteel.

"I am considering it. The other option is find someone she would respect."

"She is royalty? Would she listen to someone with a title?"

"It is worth a try."


Quinn Varanin

 

[Quinn Varanin]

//: Ghruna //:
//: Attire //:

Quinn had kept a quiet routine on Jutrand. She split her time between Dromund Kaas and Nar Shaddaa, and recently added Terminus to her schedule. Her time on Jutrand was nice; it felt closer to home than any of the others. Here she could just put her feet up and sleep in when she wanted to.

More often than not, people left her alone. They knew not to reach out to her for novel things that could be easily handled on their own. She had a reputation among the other professors; she was someone who would turn them down and make them regret asking her if she deemed it a waste of time.

So, when she got the latest request, she raised an eyebrow.

"They broke up a fight?" She questioned, wondering if the attacked student had some nobility somewhere that protected them.

Annoying.

Standing, she gathered her things and grabbed her cloak. Whoever was the poor soul that was unlucky enough to beat up a brat seemed to be the right person she'd want to meet.

After some conversation, Quinn stood over the cell where the girl had been kept.

The woman looked, watched, and assessed. She hated this part of the apprenticeship; she had to think of what she offered -- if they could handle the power she wielded and could teach. If they couldn't, she had to pass them over, not because she wanted to, but because she'd rather let them learn at their own pace and not die.

A dead apprentice was a failure of the Empire. Her thoughts were not shared with many Sith -- but she didn't care.

Quinn waved her hand, and the reinforced door was removed. She unlocked the cell and stepped in, shutting it behind her.

The Princess was small compared to the student, and she smiled.

"What is your name?" she offered a hand, "I'm Princess Quinn Varanin, pleasure to meet you."

 

[Ghruna]

Quinn Varanin

"Ghruna."

She stood up slowly. Even though she was an adolescent maldrani, her horns nearly scraped the ceiling.

She looked at the hand in confusion. Hand shakes were not a thing among their people. She had only left them for the academy. She kept her eyes on the hand, not sure what was expected of her. Instead she bowed.

This was a princess. Ghruna was not. Her father was a king but he had many, many children. She would have to prove herself above her siblings to be given an equivalent title.

Ghruna had calmed down since her isolation. It had taken time for her blood to stop running hot. Her knuckles were still bloodied.

"Are you here to kill me or send me back?" she asked.

 

[Quinn Varanin]

//: Ghruna //:

Her eyes followed the girl as she stood. The sheer sight of the girl was impressive, but seeing how cramped she was bothered the princess. Quinn remained smiling softly as Ghruna bowed to her. While it was unnecessary, Quinn let it go and would explain things more in a more comfortable setting.

Taking her hand back, she eyed the bloodied hands and made a note. Whoever she fought was definitely feeling the consequences of their mistakes the following day.

"Neither," she spoke as she opened the door to the cell and walked out.

"You're coming with me; it seems the school cannot provide you with what you need."

It was all she said as her eyes flitted towards the onlookers. She knew they could hear her, and they would whisper. But for them, she was untouchable, and now Ghruna would be the same.

"I'm sure you want to get out of that cell and into something more spacious — we can talk more outside."

Quinn moved quickly, and if the girl wanted her freedom, she would follow.

The woman wasn't known for taking on too many students, but in this case, she felt she needed to.

 

[Ghruna]

"Someone should write the fucking rules down," Ghruna muttered.

She could feel the hushed murmurs of the academy staff. Ghruna ducked under the door and followed. She was awkward, not having fully grown into her frame. The spoke quietly because the the respect they held for this Varanin. The name must have carried weight.

"If you poison someone in the night and get away with it you get rewarded," she said. She altered the tone of her voice just for Quinn's ears. "But fighting is bad."

She was used to a harsh and brutal life. At least at home strength brought power and deception only disdain.

 

[Quinn Varanin]

//: Ghruna //:

The girl's brashness reminded her fondly of another student. One that was still struggling to get through her feral moods. Quinn nodded in agreement; the other professors tended to function on their own moral code. Honoring those who came with wealth and title over someone who could be crafted into greatness.

Quinn beckoned for Ghruna to give the Echani her hands. At least then she could have received the aid they should have provided.

"Unfortunately, it seems the sithling you decided to pick a fight with was someone who had a title — one that could buy protection." Her voice was quiet, meant only for the pair of them, as Quinn enlightened the girl the best she could.

"The school," she started, "It's designed to teach all aspects of Sith Culture, deception is one way — but your way." She nodded and gestured towards the girl's side and her hands.

"It's not the wrong way, it's just different." She smiled again.

"I'll teach you refinement. In this case, you could have lured the lordling somewhere — then beat him to a pulp to teach him a lesson." The girl nodded, and once Ghruna gave the Princess her hands, she would, as gently as she could, heal the girl's wounds.

"Another way would have been to show your strength by not only taking out the lordling, but those loyal to him." A wicked little grin curled at her lips.

"Including the lovely professors who locked you away."

 

[Ghruna]

"I'll teach you refinement. In this case, you could have lured the lordling somewhere — then beat him to a pulp to teach him a lesson."

"Oh."

As Ghruna kept her hands up she realised that the idea never would have occurred to her. She was going to have to adapt.

Massassi sith had arrived on their world thousands of years ago. Maldrani culture was an echo of some aspects of sith teachings, but they didn't know what they had inhereted.

Public displays of physical dominance were very much part of their social hierarchy. Even choosing a mare usually required a bloody altercation. And that was between the courting pair, let alone any rivals.

"You know a lot," Ghruna said. A sharp throb ran across her hands. Ghruna held still. She would not shy away from a little pain.

When they were released the scrapes were healed. She gave her fingers a little flex.

"Got one shot in as I was dragged away," she admitted with pride.

"You would really teach me?" Ghruna asked.

Refinement. That sounded...concerning. Her feelings didn't matter. She had to understand this place to navigate it.