Hold My Hand [Taeli]

[Fiolette Fortan]

Corellia​

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New Coronet City​

Dexstarr's Diner​

[member="Taeli Raaf"]​

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They had gotten half way through lunch, Fiolette was dressed down in a pair of comfortable trousers and fairly casual blouse. "I do have to go back to the office here for a moment and of course you're more than welcomed to come with me, or I can meet you at the park?" She knew that Taeli had a few things to do while they were on Corellia. Fiolette had opted for what amounted in some form of a BLT with crisps. It wasn't often she was able to just sit and relax in this sort of venue, but that was all part of the Corellian charm she supposed. Now, it had not been missed by the Galidraani that her Lorrdian raised girlfriend was Corellian by birth. She was grateful that her office errands would not be long, "if... you don't mind waiting, my work at the office shouldn't take too long and I can accompany you."

By this time, Asation had only just passed and it was something Fiolette longed to keep in the buried in her mind. A crisp in hand as she ran it through the cheese bowl that the two had shared earlier as an appetizer. "Mhmm, remind me to make a note about taking you to this fish and chips place on Galidraan." Of course there was a place on Dosuun that did good fish and chips but nothing beat home. Even if she detested the system in general even in the best of days, still. The redhead kept her focus on the brunette that sat across from her. Neverminding the sounds of a busy downtown New Coronet as speeders passed by, as people of all makes and types crossed.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Fiolette Yvarro"]

"I'll meet you in the park," Taeli said, smiling. It was... nice to be back on Corellia, the world of her birth. She had not visited it in a long time, not since it had been mostly revitalized after the Akala Incident. She made sure that the memorial to her family had been reconstructed, and sadly, she had added to it in recent years. This world... while not holding nearly as memories as Lorrd, held some memories of traveling with her sisters and enjoying their company.

The planet had mostly been spared during Endgame, but there had still been some attacks by the Sith on CorSec and the Green Jedi compound during the assault into the Core. Now, the planet was... less than friendly to Sith and word had it that Corellia was part of a small defense coalition with a few other Core Worlds such as Coruscant and Empress Teta. Not that they had the power to challenge any of the major factions in the galaxy, she knew her actual face was not welcome here currently. So, to everyone but Fiolette, they would be treated to a subtle Fallanassi illusion that made her face narrower, her eyes green, and her hair a vibrant silver. For her girlfriend, she would see her as her.

"I can't believe you went through two of those in the time it took to me eat my way through one basket of crisps," she laughed.

 

[Fiolette Fortan]

"Alright," she acknowledged and moved to finish off the rest of her meal. Fiolette looked out the window once more eyes fell to those who passed by and her thoughts wondered. A bit of laughter as she caught onto Taeli's words. "What can I say? All this sparring and working out that's been done lately has truly built up an appetite." Since Asation the two have sparred, and Fiolette's put more time into her body. Shaping it, molding it so that she was not merely your typical Imperial officer. No, the goal was to diversify and understand more than just an Admiral's role but a soldier's, "surgery for my new implants has been scheduled for next month, I've cleared out some of my schedule for the recovery time."

"And, I finally recieved, the paperwork back with regards to Czerka Corporation. You are looking at Czerka's new CEO, well, what's left of it might I add."

The last conversation the two had had on it had been Fiolette trying to get through the redtape, but like anything else in life. If you throw enough credits at it, it'll come through. She drank the last of her pop and took a napkin to clean up with. Quietly she flagged down the little Nautolan waitress and paid. She sat back in the booth and debated on dessert, "actually there's this lovely little place on..." she closed her eyes a moment trying to think of it. "Brentaal IV actually, if you want to stop there on the way back or we can try the new cheesecake place on this station a little out of the way on Selonia."

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Fiolette Yvarro"]

Taeli grinned as Fiolette mentioned their sparring and working out. It was keeping her in shape and in practice, although she did not need the caloric intake that her girlfriend needed. She supposed that was what happened when one got a little lazy and stood around ships all day, giving out orders and not actually being boots on the ground. She was certainly appreciating her girlfriend's toning though. No complaints from her at all on that account.

"I'm still not sure why you want to go through part of the TITAN process," Taeli said. "Then again, I suppose your current implants are not exactly... up to date. Congratulations on finally getting Czerka though. Hopefully, but I'm sure with your talents it is more than a hope, you can turn their ship around. Czerka deserves to be back on top in the market."

And it would weaken the enemies of the Sith a little more if other companies started getting marginalized.

"I do like cheesecake..." she said, laughing.

 

[Fiolette Fortan]

"I promised myself that this time I wouldn't be left to the disgruntled Galidraani belief system," and by this time she meant the second chance at youth and life. "Which is to say, holding strong to their belief in the Cosmic Balance and seeing those who have the force as cheaters through life." A bit of a scoff as she brought the glass of pop to her lips. "Though I believe that just makes us seem like unhappy non-force users who like to believe that we are the betters." A nod of conformation, "sounds about right actually." Laughter at the self-depreciation she nursed her drink before setting it down and finished off her plate. Keeping in shape, sparring and running around with armor. Just so she could get used to running around with it, and of course Taeli enjoyed these self improvements or rather, had not objected.

"Mhmm, yes, I just have yet to decide on what to do. Although I've had a notion to contact previous owners but then... I'm not sure how that would pan out."

"But this does enable me to produce arms and armor at a greater rate for ground forces, so there's that." She settled into the booth a little more and looked over at her girlfriend. "And... yes I know." A small wink as she looked across the table and at the door. "Ready to go when you are darling." Her errands wouldn't take her long and then it would be to meet with Taeli at the park for the next leg of their trip. "Also..." She gave Taeli a look, "well. I'll tell you at the park. It can wait."

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Fiolette Yvarro"]

"So what you're saying is, the Galidraani are in a serious case of denial, and anyone who says otherwise is beneath them because they are obviously misguided," Taeli laughed. She was glad that Fiolette did not subscribe to such silliness. For a culture to believe a Force user was cheating in life... well that was just silly, especially considering everything she had done at university before she became a Force user and everything she had done with Aurora.

Oh a mystery, Taeli did a like a good mystery. A good puzzle or enigma to solve. That boundless curiosity, truly a double-edged sword for her as Asation had clearly demonstrated. At least now it was the Shadow Hand's project to containing and experimenting on the Terror From Beyond and his brood. For now anyways.

"Well you best get on with your business, dear," she said, getting up and helping Fiolette out of her own side of the booth. Once they were outside and about to part, she gave Fiolette a very long and lingering kiss on the lips. "Do be quick, please."

She started to saunter off in the opposite direction, being sure to give her hips just that little extra sway while she still had Fiolette's attention.

 

[Fiolette Fortan]

Fiolette laughed when Taeli mentioned a serious case of denial, "yeah something like that I'm sure."

When they were outside of the diner the Galidraani was a little surprised by the kiss but quite pleased nonetheless. "As you wish," she said with a wink but was soon looking after Taeli as she walked away. Tease she thought to herself as she watched the Lorrdian walk away with that extra little sway to her hips. The business woman laughed to herself and headed to her speeder and then it would be off to the office. There hadn't been much for her to do. She was there to get in the trenches and talk with the those who handled the holocalls and get their apprasial on the business and speak with the contract team. It's good to see the boss's face as it were to know that they did care. And, she did - care for both their well being and the profits that came through those doors. It was a short trip she felt, took no more than hour less if she were to be honest and Fiolette would find herself at the park, waiting.

She took to a seat on the bench and decided to read up on the news within the Sith Empire while she waited for [member="Taeli Raaf"].

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Fiolette Yvarro"]

She had watched the speeder Fiolette had taken fly overhead and disappear from sight, smiling slightly. While her girlfriend might have actual business reasons for being on Corellia, for Taeli, she was here for more personal reasons. But they would get to those a little later. For now, she just enjoyed her walk through Coronet City. It was... nice to see that, while Corellia had suffered some from the Sith excursions into the Core, much of the planet was still intact.

Corellia had suffered enough as it was.

Even still, a small Sith-Imperial force was in orbit to project that influence sphere created in the treaty with the First Order and Sith Empire. Interdiction and searching for certain restricted goods, as she had been told by the commanding officer when she and the Rear Admiral arrived in system.

Shaking her head, she continued her walk, getting a feeling of the populace. There was some tension there, but as with many people across the galaxy, if the events of the big factions and governments of the galaxy didn't affect their daily lives, they kept right on going. Coruscanti would not be feeling that way for some time she was sure, and that thought did bring a small smile to her lips again. Every so often, she stopped at a shop or two, buying a thing here or there. She had to resist the urge to walk into a bookstore because she would need to meet Fiolette at some point, and she didn't need a search party coming for her six hours later.

She did make sure to stop at one more place before heading to the park. A dress shop, one that she stopped at every year for the last ten years. It was always to purchase one new dress...

Happy with her purchase and having it sent to Erilnar for now, she made her way to the park and spotted Fiolette sitting on a bench, datapad in hand and deeply engrossed in whatever she was reading.

"Anything interesting?" she asked, coming up from behind and gently wrapping her arms Fiolette's neck while she was still sitting.

 

[Fiolette Fortan]

"Mhmm?" Fiolette looked over just as soon as Taeli spoke, "not really, news regarding recent conquests and notifications on delays with two of my ships."

Only grateful that Mr. Kuhn did not seem to have a schedule for his ships. She shifted in her seat, "met with the frontline folks today, the ones that handle all our holocalls and the contract team of course. It seems we're having a terrible time trying to get through to one [member="Alessandra Creed"]. I may have to see the Confederacy's Minister of Commerce in person, but what of you? Have you been up to darling?" She inquired as she set the datapad down. Absent-mindedly her hand reached out for Taeli's as they sat on the bench together, Corellia for all the war horrors it had endured still held quite the remarkable spirit. The fields of green of the park accentuated by statues and fountains reminded her of the all too manicured gardens of home. She supposed it was what they had in common, Corellians and Galidraani at least whether they liked to admit it or not.

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Fiolette Yvarro"]

"Always good to be seen on the front end of the company," Taeli said. She could understand that. While she might not visit marketing or the secretaries, she was constantly in the labs working with her scientists and engineers, touring security and facilities. She smiled as she took Fiolette's hand and easily slid onto the bench next to her, admiring the park around them. The Corellians definitely knew how to make a park, even if she disagreed with the statues they had placed in it as an Imperial.

"Oh I did some shopping, got some new dresses," she answered. "You should be proud, I was able to restrain myself from going into a bookstore."

She hadn't realized that Fiolette knew the Minister of Commerce in the Confederacy. That galactic faction was one she really didn't have many dealings with besides the tenuous alliance they had had with the Galactic Alliance. She didn't really know any of the key players within it.

 

[Fiolette Fortan]

There was a moment of peace here in the park. Fiolette could forget the stresses that had weighed on her before this moment, the feeling of Taeli's hand with hers only amplified this feeling. The Lorrdian's voice cut through her momentary trance, "mhmm." She agreed with a murmur of her voice. New dresses? For a moment the redhead's mind wandered off and then a reply. "I cannot wait to see what you bought. Though I wonder just how good Corellian dresswork is in comparison to say Alderaanian or even Bespin, dare I say even Galidraani?" Of course she said in jest and then a small bit of laughter at the mention of the bookstore.

"I am indeed quite proud, you ought to be commended mi'lady." Fiolette continued as she teased her girlfriend further.

The woman's azure gaze fell to the violet hues of the woman beside her. And it forced her to think, would they have immediately hit it off while- no. Fiolette let the thought perish, her mind had been too focused on work to think of anything else. Even family, for that she knew her girls would not forgive her. No need to dwell she thought and pushed such things aside. That was then, this was now - while not content to simply leave her personal history to the annals of history. Fiolette sought to learn from her mistakes, "where are we going to next, m'dear?"

And in this moment, Fiolette realized that her future laid with no empire.

No.

It laid with this woman.

[member="Taeli Raaf"].

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Fiolette Yvarro"]

"It's a tradition of mine when I come to Corellia to visit one particular shop for dresses," Taeli explained. "They're cut in this unique Coruscanti-Naboo style that I really like, but I only wear them on very special occasions."

A tradition that had begun when she and Corvus had first started to bond as sisters, even as Taeli served the One Sith and Corvus served the Republic and the Jedi. She still had the dresses Corvus bought, still in their wrappers as her sister had never worn them, but Taeli had kept them regardless. A keepsake of a sister vanished, and their next stop would be to a family that she had never gotten the chance to really know.

"To say hello," she said cryptically, but there was a hint of sadness in those purple orbs that the blue looking at her wouldn't be able to miss. With a gentleness, Taeli led Fiolette through the park. There was a reason why she wanted to meet her here, and while the view was nice, it was not the main reason. In a quiet corner of the park was a monument to one of the prodigal families of the world in the modern time. Taeli had commissioned it herself, secretly of course through various anonymous donations and charities. It was fashioned, brick for brick, like the meditation circle her sister had been so fond of on Ossus, but here... there was something special to it. On each stone in the grove was a name, one name for each member of the Raaf family that had died or gone missing.

She had requested, back when she was a Jedi, that their bodies be exhumed and then cremated, the ashes compressed until they formed a gemstone. On each stone, one gem glinted a rainbow of colors. She had once received a report someone had tried to steal the stones, and the consequences had been harsh.

"Say hello to my family, Fio," Taeli said softly.

 

[Fiolette Fortan]

Fiolette listened as Taeli explained her tradition and there was a quietness around them, a kind that Fiolette could not quite place. And as the wind moved ever-so-gentle like around them there was a shift within the Lorrdian's expression. One that the Galidraani could not mistake for whatever the reason they had arrived, it held great significance to her girlfriend. Slowly the redhead unfolded from the bench and followed the other woman to a quiet corner of the park. It was not so unlike the other corners of the park, monuments to prodigial families were not so rare.

However this one, this one was unique and held names that Fiolette scarcely recognized. Fiolette examined the monument carefully and noted the meditation circle and as she knelt down to examine the names more closely. Raaf. How far they have come for Taeli to have opened up in such a manner, Fiolette knelt down to the stones before her and she noted the colors of each gemstone.

Wordlessly she looked over her shoulders as Taeli spoke. Fiolette's eyes shut a moment, the break in other woman's voice nearly broke her and as she opened her eyes once more. The Galidraani gave her girlfriend a soft look, one of understanding, and then turned her focus to the monument before her. "Well I must say it is an honor to meet you all." Loss was never easy, and dealing with loss - less so. She whispered to them more quiet conversations, and then the Admiral wiped away her own tears. "And where are my manners? Balance forgive me, I am Fiolette Yvarro." Her quiet conversations with the dead continued, she spoke softly to them regaling how it was that she and Taeli came to know one another. She spoke to them about how the two had progressed, and then, she thanked them for their time.

Ever so polite and well-mannered the Galidraani rose to her feet. Fingers threaded with Taeli's as she came to rest beside her, "and thank you for sharing them with me, sharing this." She whispered so delicately as if the words would fly away with the wind.

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Fiolette Yvarro"]

She was quiet as Fiolette spoke to the stones, taking a kneeling position in front of the stones that represented her lost sisters. It was always hard coming here, but she had made a point of doing so every year. It was... motivation. It kept her grounded, and it had been a reminder to her of why she had to destroy the Jedi. They hadn't cared one bit about the people lost, hadn't cared when Corvus vanished, and they certainly hadn't cared that Melori or the rest of her family was gone. Endgame had originally been planned to be less severe, but when the New Jedi Order dismissed it so easily, she had vowed to destroy everything and anything the NJO and the Alliance held dear.

She had been successful when it came to that goal.

She still held that grief, deep in her heart, but for a Sith... it was just another source of strength. She had accepted it long ago, learned to live with it every day. Another Sith, Veles, had tried to barb her with insinuations he was the reason her sister was gone, had tried his hardest to use that against her... but his words had meant nothing. The fish was gone now too, an insignificant speck in history at best.

"You're the first I've actually brought here," she muttered, squeezing her hand gently. "Most of what I learned about my family I learned from Melori and old holo-recordings I found, but I wish had gotten to know them too."

She could have contacted their spirits, but she would never do that. Some things... some people deserved their rest.

 

[Fiolette Fortan]

Hearing that she had been the first person that Taeli had ever brought to the monument stirred Fiolette's emotions more. She suspected that was due to Taeli's person and her way of being, and as her beloved spoke of having wished to have known her family. Fiolette lowered her head and searched her heart for the words to say, but in truth what words could one say? Yes it would be polite to say that she was sorry, but all she could do was to hold onto Taeli's hand just a little tighter. Words were caught in her throat for the moment but those deep blue eyes were adrift with emotion. She held empathy for her girlfriend, to have lost so many and to feel so alone for so long. "I have not the words to say my love, but know that I am here. I am here if you wish to grieve, to mourn, I cannot take away the pain that their loss has brought you." But, "I will do my best to help you through it."

Time heals all things, it was once said on Galidraan.

That was a lie.

Time does not heal, the pain does not truly go away. Rather it dissipates and you move on, but in the back of one's mind and one's heart the loss is still there, and still felt. Yes, memories are carried on in your heart, but it is harder to carry this on when you've so little to hold. Fiolette could not take away what Taeli had experience but she could do was help. She could help by being there, "most of all I am here to listen when you need it most." She took Taeli's hand the one she had been holding so dear and brought it to her lips. "I am here."

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

[media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzNvk80XY9s[/media]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Fiolette Yvarro"]

"I know," she said, smiling with a hint of sadness still in her eyes. "I've had years to learn to live with it, dear. I'm okay. This place just... makes me miss them a little bit more." That was when what Fiolette had said, or maybe it had even slipped out unintentionally, but her mind ground to a halt. My love? My love?

Did... did she really mean it? No one had said they loved her since... since she had least seen her sisters. No one. Oh sure people had said they cared about her, or liked her company, or respected her for what she had done and did, but love? No, that had been something she hadn't expected to hear again for some time. If ever. After all, she was a Sith Lady, the Great Deceiver of the Alliance. Yes, she and Fiolette had been together for some time now, and she had known they deeply cared for one another, but Taeli had never expected to Fiolette to ever feel the same way she felt towards her.

"Did... did you just say... my love?" Taeli asked quietly.

 

[Fiolette Fortan]

Fiolette turned now she faced Taeli fully and as their hands relaxed, the realization of what she had said showed. "I did," she admitted and looked over at the carefully laid bricks that represented the mediation circle. And then she looked back at Taeli, a deep azure gaze peered into those violet orbs. "For you are, my love." She said with her heart open, Fiolette quietly swallowed any hesitation, and pushed away from the thoughts of rejection, and any lingering doubt. The Galidraani smiled, "and I- I had hoped to tell you at the upcoming ball but..."

Here they were, her eyes were soft and they spoke to what her words could not. "I have been in love with you for quite some time, and..." Her jaw tightened as she brought a hand to brush loose strands of Taeli's hair behind the woman's ear. "And in all my life, never have I quite felt this deeply for anyone." Fiolette was more on the belief that it had only taken her so long to find such happiness. "From the moment I met you, I no longer needed my vices. The cigarras, the frequent travels - all I wanted was you, and all I ever want is you."

"I want to hold your hand in mine, I want to wake up to you every morning, and hold you in my arms."

"You make me happy, whole, it is with you that I find meaning in the expression that home is not a place - but a person."

Each word spoken left her vulnerable, open and there she was. Fiolette Minerva Yvarro standing in a park on Corellia beside a monument dedicated to her beloved's family. There she was confessing her heart's truth, her love for a woman who had spent the past ten years on a journey for revenge. But there was so much more, she was beautiful, intelligent, and understood Fiolette in a way she wasn't sure could even be obtained. At least, not outside some fabled holonovel or film. She had spent the majority of her adult life sacrificing for one empire or another. She had obtained all the goals one could in her line of work, but she had never truly been satisfied, happy.

Until now that was.

"I love you [member="Taeli Raaf"]."

 

[Taeli Raaf]

For one of the very few and rare times in her life, Taeli was utterly speechless at Fiolette's confession. Just... pure shock coursed through her, her mind completely unable to grasp or process what Fiolette had just admitted. She loved her... her... Tears formed on the edge of her eyes, not born of sadness... but of sheer and utter joy. She still couldn't speak, her mouth not cooperating with any of the sentences she wanted to say. What could she say? How could she sum it all up?

Well... there were of course three words, three simple words to sum up what she felt for the redhead in front of her, who had accepted her for who she was so completely. She just needed her mouth and voice to actually work now.

"I... I love you too, [member="Fiolette Yvarro"]," she finally said.

 

[Fiolette Fortan]

Fiolette stood a moment, nervous. Taeli didn't speak and it left the Galidraani feeling as if perhaps her confession came just a touch too soon. Worse, when tears formed and she was unsure of how to react. The rear admiral tried to search for more words to say but she had a feeling that the tears that were shed. Were not tears of sadness, no, there was a change in the Lorrdian's expression. A shift in her features the way her eyes grew soft there was joy there. The nervousness showed into a smile as she waited for a response, and then in the next moment.

Three little words changed her world completely. Elation, excitement, joy, any number of words that translated into happiness would work. The redhead brought the brunette close to her she leaned in for a kiss. Just as her lips brushed against Taeli's, Fiolette looked over at the memorial and then to Taeli. She then wondered to herself what harm could it do, they were- well dead. Would she have stopped herself if they were alive? It was a park and not a cemetery. She shrugged internally and pressed her lips against Taeli's fully, a small bit of laughter unfurled from her lips, "I love you."

Just where they were, and how it all came about seemed somewhat humorous to her. Also, a tad morbid but then considering her upbringing, it didn't seem that strange at all. Fiolette deepened her kiss with Taeli. It only took seventy years of living to find happiness, to find that home was a person and not a place. To know that there was still time to grow, to change and that it was never too late for love or life.

[member="Taeli Raaf"]