Tags:
Madrona A’Mia
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Lina Ovmar
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Srina Talon
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A small hum was all the response that her answer garnered from the masked man at first. Her choice of terms were notable but if anything all it did was contradict her immediate response and give Him an even clearer answer to what He'd mistakenly asked in the first place. Darth Strosius was all too aware of how expectations and simple moments could weigh one down and shackle their future in any number of ways and means. Both one's own and especially those of others around them.
The need for correction was notable but He simply attributed it to some manner of saving face and maintaining expectations as it were, given the circumstances. When among Sith showcasing a cracked facade for even a second too long invited nothing but disaster and social events were no exception. Perhaps that was why so many seemed to revel in them, waiting for the chance to see their rivals and foes expose something that could be used to twist a knife in their side later.
While He could understand the opportunistic angle, it still seemed somewhat in poor taste all things considered. At least He'd had the decency to outright disrupt such things when He intended to see His own ends met rather than letting the illusion of civility lie intact only to shatter it at a later date. But of course Darth Strosius knew better than to expect the Sith of the present to have such simple courtesies in their natures, even if it was still disappointing regardless.
His eye twitched beneath His mask at the question that the Empress posed to Him, risking one glance back to the pair of dancers as He idly ground His fangs together in a wince. It felt less like a question and more a barrel pressed against His side. How was He to respond to that? He wasn't entirely certain that He had a full answer to give even if He wanted to. Perhaps He could lean more defensively instead? Refuse to acknowledge any sort of "pull" of the kind that she referred to and hope that she waved off the topic?
Mercifully, from a certain point of view anyway, she did continue in place of His own silence on the matter yet unfortunately the topic at hand hadn't changed at all. Rather, Lady Srina seemed quite keen to expand upon it if anything. He didn't at all like dwelling on the proposed idea of this...distraction helping Him feel alive. Or remind Him that He still was, although that angle didn't quite fit in His mind. It hadn't for a long time, even before He'd actually perished and returned.
The concept of them seeing more of the man behind the mask was even less comforting, in fact with the rigidity that briefly swept His form one might have guessed that such a remark was a chilling threat. In a sense it was. However Darth Strosius didn't allow it to affect Him for long, instead forcing the tension to ease with a huff. "
To be fair, I'm rather certain that there are more than a few who would say that they could 'solve the problem' quite easily enough. The same way that I would solve them in kind, execution."
The idea made Him scoff. "
As if they could, of course." He found Himself quirking an eyebrow and fixing the Empress with a hidden quizzical expression at her response to His jest, especially at the mention of her being harder to ignore. He was far more outspoken and unlike Lady Srina He could neither afford nor was He offered compromise. He simply couldn't resist, He
had to hear what similarities she thought they shared. "
And...what might such...'habits' of yours be?"
The new chill stole His attention for a moment, the masked man finally feeling it starting to pool through His heavy robes like it hadn't before. The cause of which became apparent with the movement of her hand. In her grasp Lady Srina formed a shape from the ice and winds, one that was rather quickly becoming very familiar albeit with the caveat of the dour tilt to the features. He set His lips in a fine line at the sight and wasn't certain whether to be offended or not at the little masquerade but the swift fix of the impression of His mask soothed Him enough.
He clicked His tongue at her remark and a gloved hand idly reached up to stroke the bottom of His mask, fingers gripping it in the exact same manner with which Lady Srina held the replication. "
It looks better in black." A satisfied nod punctuated His assessment much like one would when deciding on some decoration or attire. Though He didn't much care for her accurate the tilts of her head were given the facade of His mask that she still held, it made Him a bit more conscious of how He held Himself.
It also made the validity of her words even more questionable than usual, giving Him space wasn't at all an odd notion but given the circumstances it certainly was in context. For all she knew He could have used His time after resurrection planning to slay her and her husband at their next outing or while they slept, rather than running off to rescue His daughter. Perhaps in another life He would have done such, but that option hadn't even crossed His mind in this one.
"
You would have been waiting awhile." He admitted with a small shrug, crossing His arms behind His back. "
I'm not one for begging for handouts, as I'm sure you're well aware I prefer making my own headway. A novelty among our ranks these days, I'm sure you have no end to petitioners." Most would grovel at the feet of their betters for any crumb of advantage that they could be granted as a result, but Darth Strosius wasn't most. He wouldn't stoop so low to get what He rightfully deserved, He'd simply take it as a true Sith would.
