Public Homecoming King | Parade on Alderaan

[Aurelian Veruna]

Tags: Sibylla Abrantes

"The great citizens of this galaxy ought to hear a King's thoughts on the state of affairs," Aurelian countered, leaning into her nudge. He didn't mind the proximity, their shoulders brushed as they meandered deeper into the floral maze. "I am not saying there is a grand conspiracy. I just find the timing peculiar. Making a spectacle of a return from hiding feels like advertising a failure. It would be the shame of my life to allow such a thing, let alone throw a parade for it."

Stopping by a cluster of low-hanging blooms, he reached down and plucked a stray flower. It was a minor transgression in such a pristine place, but the rules of others rarely applied to him. He tucked the stem behind his own ear with a practiced, arrogant grace. "I do enjoy an evening at the Opera, hard as that is for you to believe. One hears the best secrets when the music is loud enough to drown out the whispering."

A grin spread across his face as Sibylla pivoted to warnings and threats of excavating his own romantic history. He let the silence sit there for a moment, enjoying the sharp spark in her eyes. It was a challenge he found far more entertaining than the formal procession they had just escaped.

"With how often I find your fingers in my hair, I never imagined you would be into blondes," he teased. The remark was purely to see if he could draw a flush from her, a small victory in their ongoing war of wits. When she mentioned Tona and competitions, he simply laughed. "There is no need to involve her in this."

As Sibylla leaned in to catch the scent of the golden roses, Aurelian mirrored her movement. He snapped the specific bloom she had been eyeing from its thorny stem and presented it to her. His fingers lingered as he tucked the sunset-colored petals behind her ear, his expression finally shifting into something more grounded.

"Ex-flings aside, I am concerned with his sudden interest in our Republic," he admitted, his voice dropping an octave. "He thinks we are incapable of protecting our own. That they are just in their crusade. We have to consider the reality that we are standing on the edge of a full-scale war."

Aurelian began walking backward, keeping his eyes locked on hers as the path widened. The mischief returned to his gaze, though it was tempered by a rare touch of genuine disappointment. "It's a shame, really. I was quite looking forward to that private yacht holiday you promised me. It seems the galaxy has a very poor sense of timing."

​

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

​

Guardens
Aurelian Veruna

Sibylla did blush.

Just barely enough to betray her before she could rein it in, the dark rogue tinting her cheeks even as her hazel orbs snapped to his, narrowing with immediate suspicion as heat rose uninvited to her cheeks, and for one treacherous second her mind betrayed her entirely to a more recent memory -- her fingers in his hair. The way those dark curls slipped between them. The way he leaned into it like he had every right to --

Oh, absolutely not.

A soft scoff escaped her as she turned her head sharply away, gathering what remained of her dignity like a cloak.

"You are insufferable," she informed him primly, but with no heat in her tone, though the faint color lingering at her cheeks told a far less convincing story. Although the view of the bright citrine and crimson rose at his ear was enough to spark that traitorous flicker of amusement, the corner of her mouth twitching despite herself, her expression softening just enough to betray her.

Shiraya help her, he knew exactly what he was doing.

Her hand lifted and hovered near his temple for the briefest second, fingers threatening to brush those dark curls aside. She was tempted to ruin his little narcissistic image entirely by running her hand through his hair as he had just so smugly implied. Instead, she plucked the flower from his hair, claiming it as her own even as he gave a shocked, mocking, aghast expression.

"Oh, the opera is very much suited to you, I think," she remarked lightly, with the faintest edge of dryness, carefully ignoring any mention of blondes -- or her own habits where his hair was concerned."I imagine if you had a modest singing voice, you would have found your way onto the stage by now."

Hazel eyes flicked toward him, glinting.

"Though I suspect the audience would struggle to determine whether you were performing or simply enjoying the attention." She cast him a look of exaggerated mock disapproval that was edged with amused affection. It had become second nature, this exchange between them. Wit for wit, barb for barb, threaded through with moments of quiet familiarity they allowed only when they were alone.

"At this point, perhaps your poor tan will fade and then what will you do?" Sibylla teased, making a comment on an aspect of his she knew he'd be keen to maintain. Truly, the amount of work he put into maintaining his looks was criminal.

Of course, that only fueled his mischief, and as if on cue, Aurelian continued with his absurdity, even if his brief edge into seriousness made Sibylla ponder the ramifications of what his conversation with Lysander had resulted in.

The plan had been to explore the islands along the coves of Kadaara, although in the wake of the events on Corellia, that had been postponed. Though in truth, the Rainspire had been its own sort of reprieve if one generously ignored that the first half of it had been spent recovering. It had been a wonderful four weeks.

How fast it had gone.

Which only brought to mind the seriousness of his concerns that were woven within his prideful mischief. Her heels struck softly against the stone path, a steady rhythm beneath the whisper of mahogany silk brushing her legs as they moved.

"Do you believe Cora knows?" she finally inquired quietly, the question slipping between them with a heavier weight than her earlier teasing.

"Or if she has even the faintest sense of what he intends…" Sibylla asked quietly, drawing the thread back to the one person they both knew would be most affected by Lysander.

The thought of Lysander pulled others in its wake -- Ace, and Quinn as well. Too many threads, all knotting together into something far more dangerous than coincidence. It made her wonder once again, how Ace fared…how Lysander and Ace were tied, and if Ace, in his relentless drive to tear down tyrannical governments, the Sith Covenant inevitably, did that mean that he might one day turn that same resolve toward Lysander himself?

"There are too many pieces moving at once," she murmured. "And not enough clarity on who intends to move first."

Only then did her eyes return to Aurelian, her hazel eyes searching his expression as if trying to make sense of it all.

"But you're right," she added quietly, gently spinning the rose stem between her fingers, "Whatever this is… it is not a coincidence. Not just with Lysander on Naboo... but here on Alderaan as well."

 

[Joren Vale]

​

Joren's grin widened a fraction at her response. He was either about to talk his way into trouble or have a very interesting day with this particular Jedi. Probably both. As she stepped closer, his gaze dipped briefly while she leaned in, not exactly subtle about taking her in now.

"Depends," he said with his usual carefree attitude, "Is this a hands-on search?"

Her hand on R7's dome drew his attention there for a brief moment but he did not react. The astromech also seemed to care very little, until she mentioned something about a bomb. He responded with an almost offended weep-woop and tried to warble something offensive but Joren was quick to cut him off again.

"Easy there, bud," Joren said, raising a finger without looking at him. "Let's uh, try to see this from her perspective, hm?" He flashed her a playful wink while tapping his friend's head, completely unbothered by anything at this point. In fact, he seemed to enjoy it. "This sounds serious though. Wouldn't want to get in the way of official Jedi business and all." He shifted his stance just enough to close the space she'd already started to invade, clearly not in a hurry to pull away.

"But I gotta warn you," he added with a devious smile, "A thorough inspection in private might take some time." While Joren grinned, R7 mumbled something in defeat.

Eloise Dinn​

 

[Aurelian Veruna]

Tags: Sibylla Abrantes

"Don't be preposterous. My tan will never fade," Aurelian countered, letting out an amused bark of laughter. He gestured vaguely to his own frame with a flourish. "I put far too much effort into this. Perhaps not an opera singer, then, but once the galaxy settles, I could retire as a thespian. I'd be the greatest Naboo has ever seen. Don't worry, I'll save you the best tickets in the house."

Reaching out, he caught her hand and pulled her closer until she was back up to speed with his stride. He slid an arm around her waist, bumping his shoulder against hers with possessive familiarity. The playfulness remained in his eyes, but it didn't quite reach the rest of his face as the conversation drifted back toward Cora and the shifting allegiances of their friends.

"I think she knows," he admitted, his voice losing its theatrical edge. "You know my filter. I've brought him up to her in the past, and the reply was tense, to say the least. She understands exactly where he stands and what he intends, but she lacks the strength to confront it. Turning a blind eye to this brother is a dangerous habit."

Staring ahead at the lush greenery, he began to calculate the risks of their current passivity. Being reactive was a bore, and in their world, boredom usually preceded a knife in the ribs. The High Republic was an expanding ship of bureaucrats, and Naboo's influence among those bores was fading by the day. Standing still was no longer an option.

"Maybe we should push Dominique to act first," Aurelian suggested, his thumb tracing a slow rhythm against her side. "For once, we could put ourselves on the front foot. Or we use our own forces to begin digging in here on Alderaan. Putting all our chips on this world could strengthen Naboo's position outside of the Republic's reach. We need allies who aren't afraid to bleed before the war officially starts."

​

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

​

Location: Gardens
Aurelian Veruna

The snort Sibylla relayed to Aurelian was anything but ladylike.

As was the slight shake of her head as she enjoyed the brush of his warmth and the slight hitch of her breath when he drew her close. By all appearances, though, they maintained a sense of respectable sensibility. Well, at least one hoped so.

She took another inhale of the rose in her hand, fingers lightly tracing the thorn along the stem. It's sharp point grazes the delicate pad of her finger, even as its sweet essence drifts over her face.

So Cora knew. Sibylla had figured that would be the case. A heavy exhale drew from her lips even as she pulled the rose away, her heart-shaped face staring out towards the gardens, drinking in the beautiful view and contrasting that with the pressing matter of war and divided ties that made this tangled mess.

She was certain that Cora likely felt similar to what Sibylla felt regarding Ace and his fall, although the Voice of Naboo was certain that, since it dealt with a sibling, the ache and the way blood and duty would drag her back and forth would be a fight in itself.

"I do not envy her. She has had to deal with worse while trying to find a balance. Not just for her world but her family as well." Sibylla replied, her own mind drifting towards the lack of news on Cassian's location. Her father was doing what he could for Abrantes' retainers to locate him, as were Republic Intelligence forces, but much like with Kalantha...

Sibylla wasn't sure how his disappearance was tied to anything else.

The knot in her throat seemed to swell, and she pursed her lips, before the pink tip of her tongue swept out to try and wet them, feeling them suddenly go dry.

A faint gust of wind swept the gardens, lifting stray tendrils off her jeweled headdress and into the air, tangling lightly upon the rose he had set over her ear.

"You would have us play the game of thrones with the Great Houses of Alderaan then?" Sibylla asked, her hazel eyes slowly panning back to meet the bronze beloved face of her King. Her love.

It was a risk, yes, but she understood where Aurelian was coming from. The Naboo bloc was losing power, and to ensure Naboo remained relevant, they had to think ahead. Not only for their safety, but for the greater good of the Republic as well. War was coming. It was a matter of when.

Not if.

But first, she wanted to know what he had in mind. And what intelligence he had to come to this determination.

"Then which Houses of Alderaan are at play on the Dejarik table?"

 

[Aurelian Veruna]

Tags: Sibylla Abrantes

"The only thing truly good for her family is ridding themselves of that Sith," Aurelian corrected, his tone sharpening. "Those people provide nothing but chaos. Disconnecting from them is the only way to find peace."

He thought of his own sister, Thessaly, and the clean break he'd like to make. Life would be quieter without her shadow looming over his shoulder. It was a suggestion he wished Sibylla would take to heart regarding Acier. Blood or not, the man was an anchor dragging her into deep, dark waters. Cora was making the same mistake with Lysander. Loyalty to a lost cause was just a slow form of suicide.

Seeing the weight of her thoughts, he steered her back toward the strategy at hand. "Alderaan is a powerhouse. If we help liberate it from this looming tyranny, we secure the loyalty of the Core. Supporting House Organa or House Thul would tie our fate to theirs. Naboo wouldn't just be a passive mid-rim jewel anymore. We would be saviors."

Aurelian came to a halt, turning her to face him fully. The ambition in his gaze was naked and bright, matching the midday sun. "We have the resources and the standing. Let's sweep these cultists out of the Core and bring the light of Shiraya back to the galaxy. We can build an age of prosperity on our own terms."

A smile crept across his lips as he tucked a loose strand of her hair back into place. The mischief hadn't left him, but it was now directed toward a grander stage than a simple garden walk.

"The sooner we win this game, the sooner we find ourselves on that yacht. I'd much rather be drinking wine in a cove than discussing troop movements in a garden. Don't you agree?"

​

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

​

GARDENS
Aurelian Veruna

The only thing truly good for her family is ridding themselves of that Sith.

Sibylla slowed to a stop when Aurelian did, though where he pivoted seamlessly into strategy -- Alderaan, its Houses, the promise of influence and position -- she remained caught on the echo of something far more personal.

Those people provide nothing but chaos. Disconnecting from them is the only way to find peace.

Was it really that easy for Aurelian?

She watched him, the sun reflecting the gold within her eyes as she studied the man she trusted, loved, and had chosen to stand beside. How that easy, dangerous smile curved upwards as though the galaxy could be bent into order by will alone. He spoke of severing ties as one might speak of pruning a branch, to be done when necessary and the most efficient way possible, almost impersonal.

And perhaps, for him, it was.

He had always been clear where Ace was concerned. Even when he offered her comfort, there had been something beneath it. And while he hadn't uttered the words' I told you so', there was no denying the simmering irritation whenever Ace came into discussion over his status and state of mind. One where Aurelian had the barely restrained belief that her continued concern was not only misplaced but harmful.

So she studied the angles of his face, the glint of ambition in his gaze, the way mischief and conviction lived side by side within him. He wanted order and stability, and to be frank, Sibylla wanted that too.

But not at the cost of forgetting who stood in the storm.

She still had doubts. The sort that only continued to pluck and prod at her core with every interaction with Sith that went sideways that she had. A struggle she was working out herself.

Yet she understood to a degree, perhaps why it could be so simple for Aurelian to think that it was just a matter of cutting off a sibling who had fallen to the dark. Or like Ace, who had fallen into the role of fanatic anti-hero, staring into the dark so long that it had swallowed him whole.

Knowing about his history. How he'd been raised. Having a carefully curated, small circle of trusted friends he truly felt for made it easier for him to make such a decision.

But what if it wasn't just a mere acquaintance?

Sibylla felt her brow furrow just slightly, and she stared up at him. Perhaps the seriousness in her expression caught his attention, for while his smile lingered, there was a shadow in his eyes that relayed he knew what she would say next would be neither a quip nor a tease.

"…Disconnecting from them is the only way to find peace," she repeated quietly, letting the words linger, before adding in a softer tone.

"And if it were not so distant a matter?" The space between them seemed to narrow, but not in distance as much as in the weight. It was a nonsensical hypothetical, and she knew it, but she couldn't help but ask.

"If it were me." she took a step closer, tipping her head back even as the afternoon light bathed them with its golden glow.

"If I were the one touched by the Force… drawn into something darker. Something you could not control or predict. Would it remain so simple, Aurelian?"

A heartbeat passed. Then another.

"Would you still find peace in getting rid of me?"

 

[Aurelian Veruna]

Tags: Sibylla Abrantes

Blinking in genuine bewilderment, Aurelian came to a complete halt. The air in the gardens seemed to still around them as he stared at her, scanning those hazel eyes for any trace of a joke. A dry laugh nearly escaped him before he realized she was entirely serious. It was a preposterous question, a leap into a dark hypothetical that defied every logic he lived by.

"What a ridiculous thing to ask," he muttered, his brow furrowing with concern. The thought was illogical; she wasn't Force-sensitive, making the point moot. Even if she were, her nature was fundamentally different from the others. In his mind, most who touched that power were destined to be consumed by it. Lysander and Acier were already gone, and he suspected Cora would follow at some point in her life. Maybe Makko would be the cause. But Sibylla would be different. She would be the best of them, a light that didn't flicker.

Silence stretched between them as he weighed his answer. He hated the mystic nonsense that seemed to ruin everyone it touched, but his loyalty wasn't tied to a philosophy. It was tied to her. If she were the one in the shadows, his reaction wouldn't be a clean break or a tactical retreat.

"I would never be rid of you," he finally admitted, his voice low and devoid of its usual theatrics. He reached out, his grip on her hand tightening as if anchoring her to the present. "If you ever fell into that mess, I would drag you back from hell myself. I would burn the galaxy down just to find the exit."

Aurelian took a breath, trying to shake off the sudden heavy atmosphere. There was no feasible scenario where such a thing could happen, yet the raw vulnerability in her question demanded an honest confession. He was a man who kept a knife behind his back, but he would never turn the blade on her.

"You aren't like them," he insisted, stepping closer to close the gap she had created with her words. "You are too good for that. Unlike them, who sought it out." Aurelian struggled for the right words; this was entirely uncharted territory. He considered confessing that he was the more susceptible of the two to a slippery slope, but he decided against opening that door.

​

 

[Eloise Dinn]

Joren Vale​

"Depends. Is this a hands-on search?"

"Naturally. The Force can't do everything for me."

It had been ages since she'd had a chance to flirt, too busy preparing for the worst. Even now the creeping dread she felt hadn't gone away. She was just having fun in spite of it.

The droid warbled in protest beside her, insisting it wasn't carrying a bomb. "Yeah, well, I've seen Sith turn just about everything into a weapon," she told it. "Just move along away from the crowd and I'll be satisfied."

Her attention returned to the handsome scoundrel, her smirk mirroring his. "Most of my inspections don't take long. But maybe you'll prove an exception."

 

[Osiris Thul]

let me be your ruler
"Alicio Organa" Amani Serys Corazona von Ascania Anet Raine

"If our enemy was just one world like ourselves, perhaps," Alicio replied, eyeing the Duke. "But we face a foe with the strength of hundreds of worlds behind it. We can't fight them without allies. It isn't a matter of strength or pride or honor. It's simply logical."

"It is a noble thought."

With a snap of his fingers Duke Thul summoned personal staff bearing a local vintage in expensive looking goblets for the gathered dignitaries. Osiris inhaled the aroma before swishing wine in his mouth to unlock the depths of its flavor like a true connoisseur.

"Yet Naboo is so far from the Core Worlds," he interjected before Senator Raine could respond, "I do not question the benefits of diplomacy, simply the Republic's resolve against those who now reign over Coruscant."

His attention drifted from Alicio to the queen and her visiting princess who Osiris first mistook for a humble courtier. There was a twinkle of mischief in Duke Thul's eyes. He seemed to be enjoying this.

"What of the Jedi your majesty?" Osiris asked the mirialan royal, "Will they stand with Alderaan in our hour of need? Some whisper there aren't enough of you left to oppose the Sith."

 

[Braze]

Tags: Open​

Big events meant very little to Braze. He often shied away from knighting ceremonies too… He hadn't been given many opportunities in his youth to accompany his master, Jasper Kai'el , to grand gatherings. He'd been sour about it on Hapes, and could only remember how Darth Carnifex had seemingly ruined the one fun outing he had with Jasper all those years ago, when Braze bumped into the man and dropped his cupcakes onto those long, dragging cloaks…

He remembered how viscerally upset Jasper had been at seeing him there, and Braze had since learned why. He hadn't been the most well-behaved youngling, so such positive ventures prior to that had often been few and far between. Any jealousy he might have felt toward his peers in his youth, for being able to attend such things, had died with his youthful ideals of heroic grandeur.

Events like this held no wonder or whimsy for him. No prospect of joy or fun to be had… they were almost always work.

He held no fondness for rulership as of late, but understood the necessity of being burdened with vigil. With the Butcher King's boredom leading him to saunter about the Exhibition of Light not so long ago, it was certainly just another one of the endless thorns in the side of the Light, he supposed.

He walked the gardens by himself, patrolling the grounds as a gesture of support. He paused near a fountain and stared into the rippling waters held within the larger basin, letting his thoughts drift…

 

[Amani Serys]

"Alicio Organa" - Corazona von Ascania - Osiris Thul - Anet Raine​

It was a party on Alderaan. Naturally, there was wine. Duke Thul's entourage had a bottle ready to go, and not a moment later glasses were being passed around and filled. Amani took a small sip, but was not in much of a mood to imbibe.

Osiris turned his next question to the Queen, and to her own surprise, she did not have an immediate answer. Amani hummed, "…I must admit, Duke Thul, I'm not particularly close to this iteration of the Jedi Order." Not just in the sense that she didn't know them well, but in that she didn't trust them well either. They were as well-intentioned as most other Jedi she supposed, but their action (or lack thereof) did not inspire much confidence from Amani. Not to mention, she and the Grandmaster did not start off on the right foot at all, and that first impression had not been remedied by either side. "I can't make any assurances of the Order's reliability, but I can place my trust in individuals. There are those who count themselves among the Jedi that we be at our side, should the worst come."

Amani shrugged, "As for the Republic, well, they've already given us military reinforcements. Additional patrols along our borders. And they passed the cession bill. If they have any respect for themselves, let alone us, I have to imagine they do everything they can to protect their investment."

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

​

Gardens
Aurelian Veruna

I would never be rid of you.

He meant it. There was no performance in him now, no clever turn of phrase. He said it with as much conviction as he had told her before when he said he loved her. That he would drag her back from hell himself if needed. Burn the galaxy down just to find the exit. No, she mused, as her gaze lingered on him, seeing that ember-bright intensity staring back at her...and it unsettled her more than if he had wavered.

"What makes you so certain that I am not like them?" she asked softly, the question quieter now, but no less intent as those hazel eyes did not leave his.

"Because I have not been tested?" she continued, voice threading something thoughtful through the edges of it. "Because I have not yet been placed in a position where the easier choice asks something of me, something that I am not certain I could refuse?"

She tightened her fingers slightly in Aurelian's grasp, not pulling away, but not entirely still either.

"There is always a line," Sibylla murmured, more to the space between them than to him alone. "People like to pretend there is not... that goodness is fixed, that it holds regardless of pressure, of loss, of fear…but it is not, Aurelian."

The garden felt quieter around them, the distant hum of life fading beneath the weight of the moment.

"It shifts," she said. "It bends. And sometimes…" her words drifted as she paused. "…it breaks."

She studied him then, not with challenge but with something more vulnerable than she typically allowed herself to be. In the way, she only opened herself up to him now.

"So where is it?" she asked, voice soft but unwavering. "Where is that line in your eyes?"

"What would I have to become," Sibylla pressed gently, "for you to stop believing I could be brought back?"

"Tell me, Aurelian," she said, softer now, almost careful with the words. "What would it take… for me to no longer be too good?"

 

[Aurelian Veruna]

Tags: Sibylla Abrantes

Confusion and bewilderment spread across Aurelian's face as the pleasant afternoon took a sharp, sharp turn into an interrogation. This was meant to be a quiet jaunt through royal shrubbery, not a philosophical dissection of his soul and her potential for darkness. He felt entirely out of his depth. Every time he tried to offer an answer, Sibylla countered with a barrage of logic that made his previous reassurances sound hollow.

"I love you," he blurted out, the words escaping at a higher pitch than he intended. The confession felt like a shield he was holding up against the weight of her scrutiny. "That isn't going to stop, regardless of where your decisions lead you. There is no line when it comes to you. I am here, and I always will be."

Shiraya help him, he prayed that was the right answer. He was a man who believed in lines or moral absolutes, a point of no return for some in the galaxy, but he also believed in her. The galaxy could tilt on its axis and he would still be reaching for her hand. This wasn't a hypothetical for him. He would stand by her even if she burned every garden on Alderaan to the ground.

A cold thought prickled at the back of his mind as he watched the vulnerability in her eyes. While she was busy theorizing about her own capacity for evil, he was a man who had already waded through it. He had committed acts he intended to keep buried under the marble floors of Parrlay forever. If she was so worried about where his loyalty ended, it begged a much more terrifying question for his own future.

"Where... Where is the line for you?" he finally asked, his voice steadying. He searched her face, the mischief long gone.

​

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

​

Gardens
Aurelian Veruna

For a moment, Sibylla did not answer him.

Not because she lacked one, but because the answer had never been simple, and never would be. She watched him instead. Really watched him. The man who could command the Senate and nobles alike with utter confidence now stood before her with a confused, vulnerable expression as though the ground had shifted beneath his feet and he was trying not to fall through it.

And Shiraya, she knew that look.

She had seen it before in a fragmented memory of the beach at Kadaara -- of what he had confessed to her then. The rawness in his voice, and how he had truly considered himself wretched, worthless, and merely a tool of his name… when he was more than that.

Was there a line? It would be a lie to say there wasn't.

In the past, she would have assumed the worst of Aurelian before she came to know him. Before she saw the man he was, and the man and leader he could be. She had not been kind in her assumptions then. But she was not that woman anymore. Because she had seen him. Not the theatric or the performance.

But the man who tried. The man who failed. The man who had nearly lost himself in rage when Cassian had been in his hands -- and who had recoiled from it, horrified, shaken under the rain, swearing he would be better.

And he had been trying. Shiraya, he had been trying.

But Sibylla wasn't naive; she knew Aurelian's flaws as much as the parts of his character that made him the man she would stand beside. The man she would remain loyal to.

She had told him then: You will be-- no, you already are, in my mind -- a King. One who will protect our people, our home. And not just from Sith or Empire or Black Sun, but also from those like Thessaly who would attempt to tear you down to nothing. See yourself as I see you, Aurelian.

And she had meant it then, and she still did now.

Yet there was no denying that her thoughts briefly flickered to Ace. To Dominique. To Cassian and Elian. To Aether. To everything that had unfolded between them. To the quiet, dangerous understanding that she, too, was capable of something darker, something just as ruthless, if her family or those she cared for were threatened.

If he were threatened.

This entire conversation, if Sibylla was being honest with herself, was not a question of the Force. It was a question of them. Of what they were willing to become...and what they would hold onto when everything else burned.

So Sibylla felt her lips part slightly as his words settled between them. That, There is no line when it comes to you.

And for a moment, something in her chest ached at that. So easily said in a galaxy that had already proven how easily love could be twisted into ruin.

So she stepped closer, but not away. Never away.

"I love you," she confessed, needing him to hear and understand that as well. "Who you are now. Not the version of who you will be, but the man who stands before me. I told you this before: I fell in love with you, all of you."

The flaws, the pieces you bury. The parts that ache behind that charming smile.

Her hazel eyes searched the amber that bore down at her. Her hand lifted, then instinctively came to rest against the warmth of his chest, where the pendant she had given him rested beneath the fabric.

"I chose all of it." she eched again. "In any lifetime, Aurelian. I mean it."

So was there a line? Sibylla sighed softly.

"I told you on Foundation Day," she continued, more gently now, "intent matters as much as the truth itself... If there is one, it is this -- be honest with me."

That had been the one thing she had always asked of him. The truth. The version of him that wasn't a performance or an act. She didn't want the mask. She wanted him.

"I can walk whatever path lies ahead of us as long as you tell me the truth," she said quietly. "No matter where your choices lead, because I trust the intent behind them. I trust you."

 

[Mercy]

Tags: Varin Mortifer | Lysander von Ascania | Lily Rhodes | Gram Arranda | Connel Vanagor

In contrast to the others Mercy's presence in the Force was absent.

It was as if she was not there- a consequence of her particular focus in the Force. Rather than external abilities, she relied wholly and utterly on her own being. This caused the Force to be wrapped around her tight, imbued into her very flesh. Nothing came out... unless Mercy directly touched someone.

So it was that while Lysander and Varin were soaking up all the attention, a Mountain was leaning against the wall, cloaked and with a cowl over her head.

Immersed in the background and letting the boys have their fun.

Until Mercy began to notice the civilians being led away like sheep from a slaughter. And spotted figures in plain clothes who were far too fixated on her boys to be simply enjoying the festivities. And a strange shimmer above them too, how interesting.

"What did I teach you two?" Mercy drawled as she peeled away from the shadows, pushing her cowl up and revealing a fire-like mane and pits of amber in her skull. "Only let yourself be surrounded... if you want to cause a mess. But if you want to cause a mess... don't let the civilians out of your sight."

Her amber-stained eyes fixated on Lily Rhodes at that mention. She sniffed. Not quite a civilian, but not... not a civilian.

Then they flicked up towards the shimmering above Varin and Lysander. She smirked but didn't point it out. If her boys didn't spot whatever was stalking them, they'd soon enough and it would be a valuable lesson to them.

"Just because you have drawn a circle around us on your maps does not mean you may do with us as you please. Your presence is neither wanted nor permitted here."

"Oh, honey. That is exactly what it means. We will do whatever we want to you. Whenever we want." The cloak drifted from her shoulders as she rolled them, clearly gearing up for something explosive.

"But..." Sharpened teeth smiled their wicked maw. "If you kneel and beg nicely, we might consider leaving in peace... for now. It will be a suitable balm considering we were not invited towards a party right in our own backyard. How rude."

Mercy didn't think it was likely he would comply.

Cattle never knew what was good for them until they were taught harshly.

 

[Lysander von Ascania]

Varin Mortifer Lily Rhodes Mercy Anet Raine Connel Vanagor Gram Arranda

Helm of the Twin Suns | Armor
​

Lysander's visor swiveled toward his brother, the modulation of his vocoder lending another reply. Any dry amusement flattened. "Bold move for them. Easier to announce it to everyone than risk it cracking under real pressure. Or.. just the first sign of weakness, showing their hand before the game truly begins. Hard to tell." Either way, this was the move of someone who needed to look certain. The rumble that escaped sounded casual. "We'll find out how committed they are soon."

Bodies were leaning away, the two Sith a river that naturally opened space around them. But, he caught the old man's words nonetheless. To leave or face detention? An insect's strike, really. He almost commented on Alderaan's security doctrine, then their profiling tactics. Lips parted to speak, but he refrained; there wasn't much to gain from exposing their mistakes.

Then there was the anomaly. Someone wearing a dress in this encounter that was feeling colder by the second. Either she had no idea what she had wandered into, or she had just committed to the performance bit. The latter left him entertained. "Well, it's too late for etiquette now." His head tilted. "But now that you're here.. what did you take, or who did you cross to get it?"

He could be wrong, of course.. sometimes they were just frightened civilians. More common in the Outer Rim than anywhere else.. where the threat was usually real. But her earlier movements struck him as someone being followed. So, in that sense, she was no less a fugitive than he or Varin.

A void split the brewing tension. Mercy, one of the Triumvirate, slipping from shadow into the parade's 'glow.' He should've caught her sooner, but his internal map was busy running contingencies, floating somewhere between counterstrikes and different exits. That was the explanation, anyway. As her chastisement filled the space, it became easy to note the absence in another way.

All at once, he respected her as an ally.

"Always keep your options open.. never let fools underestimate you." Ok, a little understated. Almost sounded rehearsed. Behind the visor, a small smile appeared. "That power without purpose is a wasted gift.. and timing trumps all, my friend." Maybe this was another lesson in itself.

Refocusing on the older figure, a nonchalant shrug transmitted. "Enlighten me, then, good sir. On what legal foundation does your authority rest? Surely you can produce the basis for it, no? Step by step." The mechanical voice must have sounded absurd. "Can you clarify where the boundary is? I wasn't aware we were trespassing."

He wondered, with some sincerity, whether this official could articulate and draw a meaningful little line between what Alderaanian law permitted and Sith decree. Failure was expected.

 

[Varin Mortifer]

VARIN MORTIFER

Equipment: Durum Mantle | Black Blade of Chandrila | Eye of The Dragon | Heavy Sith Mace | Cross Guard Broadsaber​

Varin’s gaze turned back to the older man, the glare in his eye told the story of all the things he could do to the old man before the Jedi would have a moment to close in. Then a smirk as the civilians thinned away, herded away like cattle back to their pens.

Then his gaze fell on the woman in the dress that approached, her words reaching his ears causing a tilt of his head.

“The bystanders are of little concern, besides, what the Jedi have done with them is simply given them blinders. I would not wish for my citizens to live in ignorance of the dangers in the galaxy.”

His gaze then looked towards Gram.

“Especially when the prey is out numbered and surrounded in every angle by teeth.”

The feeling of something else had come over him, a glare in his eye once again as he had a crawling suspicion to look up.

Slowly, his eyes looked towards the feeling, the Dragon’s Eye highlighting an individual cloaked within the force, another small smirk touched his lips, but he did not draw any other attention to the individual. Thats when he heard Her voice.

His eyes tore from the prior position to the walking mountain, Mercy, as she approached.

Varin had remained silent for now as they drew their words to the politician before them. His arms now crossed over his chest.

Gram Arranda | Mercy | Lysander von Ascania | Lily Rhodes | Connel Vanagor​

 

[Amani Serys]

"Alicio Organa" - Corazona von Ascania - Osiris Thul - Anet Raine
Gram Arranda - Varin Mortifer - Lysander von Ascania - Mercy - Connel Vanagor - The Vulptex - Jasper Kai'el​

While the others continued to mingle, it became increasingly apparent to Amani that things were taking a turn for the worse. She tapped into her earpiece intermittently, picking up pieces of Gram's conversation with the intruders. They apparently took no interest in listening to polite requests for them to leave. She had no doubt Gram could handle himself, but it was time to stop dawdling. Crowds were being moved, and forces were closing in. Certain VIPs were already getting escorted to safety, like the twins. Amani turned towards the others, "I suggest you all find somewhere else to continue this conversation. This parade is no longer safe." She glanced over at a guard, "Take the King away." Alicio could handle himself well enough, but Alderaan didn't need to put its king in danger after he just got back. Without another word, Amani moved towards the space where the parade was already being dispersed, dangerously close for comfort.

She stepped into view of the alley where this interaction had begun. She had only heard two mysterious voices via Gram's audio channel, but there was a third figure now standing among them. "Alderaanian legal doctrine does not tolerate the presence of Sith in any form." Amani answered Lysander's question before Gram could speak, "That considered I'd say my friend here has been quite generous with his time." She folded her hands in front of her, still walking forward and formally integrating herself into the conversation.

"So is this arrogance I see, or stupidity?" She looked around at the assembled guards and Jedi, "You seem to be operating under the assumption that you are prancing around Naboo. Unfortunately, that is not the case. When it comes to Sith, Alderaan does not take half-measures. We learned that the hard way about… 900 years ago." Amani smiled politely. "How about you give me a good reason why I should let you stay? As opposed to flattening this whole block with a turbolaser?"

 

[Gram Arranda]

Two became three as another Sith materialized from the crowd. This one was of a higher rank than the others, judging by the way the two youths deferred to her. She demanded that he kneel before them in exchange for their leaving the planet peacefully. Gram Arranda was a brave man, not a proud one. He was willing to die for his country. He would grovel if it meant Alderaan did not surrender to her enemies. Besides, his bowed head would provide ample room for the stun bolts that would soon be coming from all sides…

But before he could accept her terms, Queen Amani arrived on the scene. She confronted the Sith fearlessly, even threatening to level the entire block with a turbolaser just to be rid of them. Gram wasn’t so sure that she was bluffing.

“Ladies and gentlemen, Her Royal Majesty Queen Amani Serys-Organa of Alderaan,” he introduced her with all the formality and flair her position demanded. There was nothing more he could add that the Queen had not made abundantly clear—indeed, if she had not arrived when she did, he would have already started shooting at the Sith.

Amani Serys Mercy Lysander von Ascania Varin Mortifer Lily Rhodes​