Private Hot and Cold

[Mauve du Vain]

Few things sounded as good as a thermal spa after watching the chaos at Atrisia. Mauve breathed in a deep lungful of the humid, hazy air inside the sauna. She'd rented the whole place out for the day, just for herself. Well. And one other person. A smirk played across the Zeltron's lips, devoid of their usual plum lipstick for once. She leaned her head back against the wooden slats and simply enjoyed the heat radiating inside the sauna.

If they got too hot, they could just move about the thermal circuit. There was a chamber next door with just ice water. Mauve wasn't ready for that yet. Maybe after another one of those fizzy blue drinks. Then of course there was the mineral pool, which was about medium temperature. Next they had their choice of an array of saunas, from infrared to traditional steam. There were also some more advanced ones, but Mauve wasn't ready for that either. Too hot.

Sweat beaded down her nose and formed into a single droplet, threatening to fall.

"So... did you blow it up, or was it really Sularen like they said?" Mauve asked into the silence.

She hated that bald fuck, mostly for his smarmy attitude. But she'd enjoyed watching his panic set in when he realized he didn't have the funds to pay Velzari's auction. Foolish little admiral.

Anyway, she didn't like thinking about him or his beer gut at the moment. This was supposed to be relaxing.

There was a massage scheduled at some point, but they had plenty of time.

Mauve breathed in again, deep and slow, bundled up in her white robe.

"Please say it was you."

Quinn Varanin

 

[Quinn Varanin]

//: Mauve du Vain //:
//: Attire //:

The warm steam did wonders for her body. Quinn settled into the heated sauna and sighed softly. Her body still ached from the stupid encounter she had had; if only she could keep her mouth shut. It would have been smarter to let Mercy handle her mother, but no — Quinn wanted to prove something.

Her eyes remained closed as she listened to the Zeltron. The woman had been elsewhere in the station and thankfully had made it out safely.

A part of Quinn wondered what her reaction would have been if she had died. Would she have gone to the Nether to fetch her soul? Could she even do that to someone with no sensitivity to the Force?

They were questions that Quinn didn't want answers to, not yet. She let her mind wander as she listened. She snickered at the mention of Sullivan. The man was proud, far prouder than he should be. Defunct and a joke from the New Imperial Order days, to now, the struggling government just under the Holy Worlds. They tried to swing at the Sith and were promptly put down, embarrassing.

"Mm, no." She murmured, her head turned to face the Zeltron. Her eyes opened slightly, half lidded as she shrugged. "I was too busy fighting my Mother, but no, it wasn't Sullivan." Quinn shook her head again.

"The idiot probably fell asleep at his dining table, woke up, and assumed the dream he had was true." She snickered again, "He should really worry more about his blood sugar than wars that are far beyond his mental capacity."

Yawning slightly, the Princess felt relaxed. It had been a while since she had felt this comfortable around anyone. Ever since being announced as a Dark Councilor, she felt like there was an even bigger target on her back.

"From what CT-312 told me in her report, it was Carnifex and the DeathDrop — but Mercy and Gerra made Soliplis their little schutta."

There was a smug little smirk that spread across her face. It was a good feeling that one of her own had been the one to make the false emperor bend both his knees.

"I wish it were me," Quinn looked away as she felt suddenly unworthy to even look at Mauve.

"Maybe then I'd feel better about being appointed a Dark Councilor."

 

[Mauve du Vain]

The Echani turned away from Mauve as they sat side by side in the sauna room, the door shut. The steam was so thick that Mauve could not even see past the glass of the door. But she could feel the other woman moping.

“Better?”

Mauve cocked her head and turned on the bench, unfolding her legs and sliding them onto Quinn’s lap.

“Please. You’ve done enough that we both know you should be Empress by now,” magenta toes curled as she pointed a foot at the opposite wall, “sitting up there on some absurdly opulent throne. I know you love a good throne,” Mauve smirked.

“But it’s like I said, the old guard like to hang onto power.”

A small frown wrinkled her forehead. “Is that what you’re down about? Are they making you feel inadequate?”

Quinn Varanin

 

[Quinn Varanin]

//: Mauve du Vain //:
//: Attire //:

If it were anyone else, Quinn wouldn't have allowed the casual setting of the woman's legs upon her lap. Having Mauve close, even just, was enough to relax the Echani. Her eyes trailed up, following the wisps of the steam as they sat there. Mauve made a good point, one that Quinn hated that she had been able to make.

The Old Powers often did whatever they could to retain their grip on what they owned. If they couldn't themselves, they would nestle their claws into the spines of the youth. Already Quinn could feel the pressure from the other voices, ones that had remained dormant for the most part — or she wasn't aware of them before this. With each step towards more power, they grew louder.

"I want to think they're not doing it on purpose." Quinn sighed, "I have a feeling my ascension would only complicate some of their plans." She shrugged. There was a part of her that felt that most of the old powers assumed she would be content with living her lavish lifestyle and just rotting away in one of the towers of the Jutrand palace.

They forgot who her parents were.

"On top of that, I feel like my Mother has little faith in me, or fears what the others would do to me — like eat me alive or attempt to puppet me." Quinn regarded the reality of that, but she wished her Mother would give herself some credit.

Fingertips casually glided along the Zeltron's shin as her mind continued to spin.

"I wish she'd understand she's taught me all that she could… she just needs to trust me that I can do it."

Another shrug from the princess as she finally glanced in the woman's direction.

A little knowing smirk spread across her face, "Are you speaking of me and my tastes in thrones, or are you talking about yourself, Veluthiel?"

 

[Mauve du Vain]

"Who, me?" Mauve placed a hand to her chest in mock innocence, fingers splaying on the loose front of her robe, the fabric soft and slipping as she stirred. She put her other hand back on the bench, propping herself up.

"Not the faintest idea what you mean..." A feline smirk curled up her lips, belying her wide, violet eyes.

Best not to say anything about the little electric thrill that shot through her at the Echani's fingers on her shin. She probably already felt the way Mauve watched her and the hunger behind her eyes. Mauve, used to being the only one capable of sensing the emotions of others, couldn't help but feel slightly annoyed by it. And maybe just a tad excited at the dangerousness of the woman. Damn Force User.

Pointing a foot, Mauve poked Quinn in the stomach with a toe.

"But I assure you, they all do. Have an idea, I mean. Of what they want from you. They're using you. Even your own mother."

Mauve couldn't remember her own.

"Do you like being used?"

Her foot trailed down.

Quinn Varanin

 

[Quinn Varanin]

//: Mauve du Vain //:
//: Attire //:

Quinn listened; despite her feelings, she did smile slightly at the Zeltron's playful nature. She sighed, letting herself find some sort of relaxation in the closeness of the woman as she spoke.

Mauve had insight, even with her only known (according to Quinn's knowledge) contact with the Imperial workings of the Sith was Quinn herself — the woman knew things. Quinn wondered if it was her ability to sense emotion, to watch how they ebb and flow when certain things were mentioned.

She didn't think too hard on them, if she did — she knew she would reach for something forbidden again.

"I hate that I know you're right." She smiled, acknowledging the genius of the Zeltron woman.

Quinn wondered how deep the ambition was among some of those she considered family, even some she had allowed into her bed. Her thoughts lingered in frustration, but she let it fall through as she wanted to enjoy the moment.

"Do you like being used?"

The last question, one that could be understood in so many ways, made Quinn raise a brow. She smirked and sighed, letting her ashen hair fall against her face as she leaned her head back and looked towards Mauve.

Quinn allowed it to linger as she pondered its meaning. Her hand carefully caressed her own neck as she leaned back up, down to the front lapel of her robe, lifting it gently to adjust and allowing the woman beside her indulgence.

As the Echani adjusted her robe, she glanced towards her paramour from the corner of her eye. Quinn could feel it, the way Mauve tried to hide the hunger she felt. She watched her face, hoping to get a look of that desire, to feel that validation of being wanted — even if it was momentarily.

"It depends," she finally answered, "On who is using me and what they use me for…"

The hunger Mauve tried to hide was shared, and Quinn allowed the Zeltron to notice — for just a breath.

 

[Mauve du Vain]

Half-lidded eyes widened, suddenly full and staring with rapt attention at the subtle shifting of the princess and her robe. The sauna's steam occluded the air between them, even this close, but Mauve saw a flash of palest white, beaded with droplets of steam and sweat. She bit her lower lip and did not hide the sudden ravenousness that came into her violet stare.

She could feel the need drifting from the Echani. The panging desire to be seen, to be known. Quinn was always this way. She just wanted someone who saw her without all the trappings of the Sith, or the crown, or the lightsaber - even though these were part of her. That was why she so enjoyed Mauve eschewing her titles.

Well.

Mostly.

"And me?"

Mauve chewed on her lip for a moment.

"You've been so good to me. Promised me so much. Given me so much. You even took a bullet for me."

A lacquered toe painted in deep purple traced the line of the robe's lapel.

"I don't want you to think I'm one of them..." her wide eyes stared up from the bench at the seated woman, afraid. She hated being vulnerable. It so often led to getting hurt.

The bow of her lip moved to a pout. Her hands moved at her waist. The knot of the robe's belt came undone with a simple pull. She shifted her shoulders and the robe sighed open, soft fabric sliding against magenta skin.

"How can I repay you?"

Quinn Varanin

 

[Quinn Varanin]

//: Mauve du Vain //:

While her eyes lingered on the slowly revealed skin, Quinn's focus remained carefully attuned to Mauve's words. Vulnerability was rare for the Zeltron, yet lately she seemed far more willing to let it surface with the Princess. Quinn let her smile spread, her gaze unhurried as she took it all in.

She enjoyed the sight of soft fabric cascading away, exposing more of Mauve with each subtle movement. Even more, she enjoyed the walls between them beginning to fall. There was fear beneath it — doubts born from who they both were in this galaxy, but Quinn allowed herself the indulgence anyway. She wanted this side of Mauve for herself, kept safely away from the rest of the world.

Her gaze drifted to the ceiling as her chest rose and fell with heavier breaths. Part of the Princess yearned for that familiar haze, her mind brushing against the memory of how much power the Zeltron could hold over her. Instead, Quinn closed her eyes and smiled, choosing restraint.

"You're not like them," she reassured softly. "I don't think I could ever see you that way."

It was the truth. Quinn had let Mauve closer than she had most others, and so far, there was no regret — only the quiet wish that she had allowed it sooner.

Silence settled between them as Quinn held her breath, then slowly released it. Her fingertips crept higher, guided by instinct and desire for the Zeltron. After a moment, she shifted, straddling the Zeltron's hips, grounding herself in the closeness.

"I can think of a few things…" Her whisper grazed Mauve's neck as Quinn leaned in, closing the space between them. Her hands slowly pushed the robe further open and drew the Zeltron closer until their bodies aligned. The contact was unhurried as she explored, a quiet claiming instead of demand.

Quinn pressed her cheek against Mauve's, feeling the warmth there, the subtle hitch of breath as their closeness settled in. Her fingers traced along the curve of her side, lingering, memorizing, before sliding higher pausing as she cherished the closeness. Quinn's breath came uneven as she whispered into her ear. Her voice low and coaxing, "Use me…"

For a moment, everything felt real — the warmth, the weight of their bodies, the surge of shared desire. But Quinn knew it wouldn't last. Soon, her presence would ease, her hold on Mauve's mind loosening, returning her to where it had all begun.

Still, for now, she stayed as she was.

Quinn's fingers continued their slow path along Mauve's leg, her eyes never leaving the woman's face.

"Did you enjoy it?" she asked, a faint smirk tugging at her lips as she took her in again — her paramour. A soft hum followed. "I enjoy indulging in you, Mauve. Don't think of it as repayment… that sort of thing doesn't exist between us."

 

[Mauve du Vain]

“Yes,” Mauve shuddered.

The sweat from the heat of the Sauna beaded her exposed chest, droplets forming across bare skin from the sheer sweltering mist around them. The pressure of the hand along her thigh and another on her chest, questing and roving, made a small, plaintive sound of need issue from her mouth.

Quinn had been inside her mind. That voice… could she see Mauve’s thoughts? That should disturb her. Instead Mauve only felt a rush of excitement.

“Please,” she bit her lower lip and stared up at the Echani. “Indulge in me.”

The daydreams of their sweaty limbs intertwined in foul acts flooded Mauve’s mind. She hoped Quinn could see those thoughts, the way she could see Quinn’s emotions.

Mauve shifted, the weight of Quinn on her hips driving her slightly mad. She planted both feet on the sauna bench. Not fair. She wanted them wrapped around the princess.

“You can do that again,” she whispered, her hands coming to settle on either side of Quinn’s hips. “Be in my mind. Be wherever you want. Use it. The Force. I can handle the darkness,” her words came frantic now with need and hunger, “Do whatever you want to me.”

Quinn Varanin