Private Jab, Jab, Cross.

[Xobos Yakieer]

Location: Garde Noire, Sieur’s manor
Equipment: Daytime Dress, Silver Mask
Mental state: Conversational
Tags: | Shae |

Becoming a Sieur was much, much more work that Xobos would have ever thought could be possible. While there were was fun to be had here and there, most days were so involved repairing the relationship between the aristocracy and the miners guild that there was very little time to relax or to keep up her skills. When the time did come, rarely did she seemingly have the energy. In return for practically all her energy, it seemed as though things were beginning to calm down in the town for the time being, but her skills with the blade had slipped. Now that things were quieted down, the need for a sparring partner that could get her back to speed was growing desperate.

This is where a certain half echani came into play.

Shae and Xobos had met during a little party on Siskeen a few months ago, before Xobos was even knighted. They had planned to meet up before then, but with Xobos being on the move so much, and the other woman being up to kark’s knows what, the times never lined up. Now, with Xobos having the need to re-sharpen her skills, she had extended an invitation to shae to come to Illyria for a few days, stay at her new manor, and train together. Of course, this was as much an excuse to hang out with the other woman as much as possible. She had been quite excited when the response came that Shae would be coming to the planet very soon, spending the next few days making sure everything was as clean and perfected in the manor as possible.

The day that the echani was supposed to arrive, Xobos had spent most of in the garden, meditating and speaking with the voices that cursed her every waking moment’s thoughts. She had partly taken the time to speak to them in hopes they would be quieted for most of the time with shae, though xobos knew that was a longshot at best. Rather, this was more about calming herself. Playing host in her own manor for one of the first times was quite the nerve racking experience, especially to a companion she quite wanted to impress.

Her meditations had been cut off by one of the fair attendants of the manor softly shaking her shoulder, pulling her from her dark abyss of a mind. “My lady, apologies to wake you, but your guest should be arriving shortly. I figured you would want to know.” With a nod, and the slightest hint of a smile, Xobos rose to her feet. “Thank you. Go make sure the master guest bedroom is prepared perfectly.” There was a soft bow from the attendant before she scurried off to complete the order. The miraluka began to make her way to the manor’s spacepad, the soft smile still adorning her face the entire way. Hopefully these next few days would be as rewarding as it looked, and hopefully she could strengthen her bond with the Echani in the meantime. In times like these, one could never have too many allies, and xobos found herself in desperate need of some friends in a place surrounded by her enemies.

 

[Shae]

Xobos Yakieer ​

A gentle buzz vibrated the entire shuttle as it swept across the patchwork green surface of Illyria. Shae had been a guest on the vibrant and grandeur planet frequently, but never for something like this. The blazing azure fire reflected in her eyes as she took in the invitation once more. From first glance, it appeared only to be a simple request to teach what had been forgotten, but Shae was well practiced in her art. This was always how the dance begun. Coy, and thinly veiled under the guise of friendship, and mutual interest. After all, she wasn’t just what any common person would call a courtesan. That, of course, was a large part of her job, but Shae was more than that. Above all else, she was a companion. Someone to confide in. Someone to share the weighty burdens of life with. Someone who could help ease nerves, bring out lost confidence, wash away worries that lay heavy on secret hearts.​

In short, a woman trained to be the perfect friend. With all the added benefits.​

“We’ve arrived, my Lady.” Lazily pulling her attention from the window to the pilot, Shae gave a slight nod of her head and leant forward to collect her things. The shuttle pulled to a slow stop just as Shae slipped her personal datapad into the leather bag hanging by her side. Hydraulics hissed in her ears as the landing ramp slid out, sliding the doors open to reveal Illyria in all its glory.​

Shae tucked a loose strand of ebony hair behind her ear as she stepped from the shadow of the shuttle into the bright glow of Illyria’s shimmering midday light. Emerald green eyes traversed the space-pad at a leisurely speed, as though she were drinking in the scenery for the very first time. Yet, nothing about it seemed to remotely illicit a response on her face. Not a flicker of recognition for the breath-taking beauty of mother nature, nor a hint of excitement at the grand and imposing displays of Illyrian architecture. However, when they finally came round to settling upon Xobos, her subtly painted lips pulled into a smile that illuminated her porcelain features with a sparkle that could have rivalled the stars.​

Though they were still on the cusp of developing what one may have considered a solid friendship, Shae was genuinely pleased to see her. Their intriguing, but brief, conversation on Siskeen had certainly left its mark on the companion. “I have to admit, I was rather surprised to receive your invitation.” A smirk played upon her soft features as she finally stepped down from the shuttle to make her way toward Xobos. Each step she made seemed to be effortless. Every footfall causing her hips to sway in perfect time to the soft rustle of a gentle breeze that caught the edges of her dress. Her harmonious, melodic tone dipped into a playful titter when she finally grew close enough to smell the sweet perfumes lingering on Xobos’ dress. “I almost thought you had forgotten about me.”​

Leaning forward, till she stood on the tips of her toes, Shae grazed the side of Xobos’ cheek with a kiss.​

 

[Xobos Yakieer]

Location: Garde Noire, Sieur’s manor
Equipment: Daytime Dress, Silver Mask
Mental state: Conversational
Tags: | Shae |

As the guest’s ship began it’s landing on the outside platform of the manor, Xobos was struck by just how sleek the whole vessel seemed. It cut through the air smoothly, like a knife through hot butter, completely unbothered by the mountainous terrain that surrounded her manor. It was impressive, to say least, and was certainly something she wished that her pilots would pick up on. Would make the transport of what minerals they were getting at the moment out much easier. Her attention shifted once the vessel landed to where the landing platform would be lowered, standing tall in the face of the whipping winds from the landing.

The woman that emerged from the ship drew the slightest hints of a smile from the newly made Sieur. She was certainly dressed in an..unconventional manner, but of all the echani that Xobos had met, none had really fallen into the conventional ideas of dress. Seemed to be a normal part of their culture, or at least she surmised. Ambrus’s chuckled echoed through her mind as her guest made her way forward, canceling out any other thoughts that may have pushed their way through her mind. “Well, are we sure that it was communicated that she was coming here to train and spar? Or were those details..left out, little master..?” If Xobos had any eyes to roll, they would have done summersaults at the little prickling from the voice. This was setting up to be quite the interesting experience.

Any other words from the voices did not register with the Miraluka as the woman’s kiss grazed against her cheek. She turned, smile widening every so slightly as her eyebrow lifted at the gesture. “It would be very, very difficult to someone of your…stature, my dear. Come, I’ll show you to your room you’ll be staying at while you’re a guest in my house.” Without asking, xobos reached to take the bag from the silver haired guest, making a motion once grabbed for Shae to follow. The pilots and flight attendants would take care of Shae’s pilot and ship, making sure it was properly refueled and the guest pilot taken to his quarters. Xobos’s focus was on her guest, as it should be.

The older manor was still in disrepair at the moment, though it had slowly began to become a proper place to live. The old owner of the manor, the former king, had left the place in not the best condition, but between Xobos moving in and a flurry of guests coming to the house, it was bound to be cleaned up eventually. For now, the dust had been mostly cleaned, and new candles lit the hallway that the pair walked down. It would soon be dark in Garde Noire, and the staff was already preparing for it.

For a while, they walked in silence. Eventually, as they made their way into the quarters area of the manor, Xobos looked over to the shorter echani with that small smile. “I appreciate you coming. I really do. It’s rare for me to be to request such things, and my hand to hand combat is…lacking, to say the least.” Xobos did her best to sound genuine, to make the other woman feel welcome. She had never had to entertain guests before, so making sure the other woman was happy and comfortable was a priority.

 

[Shae]

Xobos Yakieer ​

Shae had the decency to allow a shade of rose pink to cross her cheeks at Xobos’ comment. Very few of her clients were female, but Shae enjoyed them more than she did their male counterparts. Females were honest, sometimes brutally so, but when they complimented her Shae needed no convincing that it was genuine. “You’re too kind.” She smirked as Xobos reached out for her bag and slung it over her shoulder. Without missing a beat, Shae slipped her arm around her companions to follow her inside. ​

​

The manor itself was impressive. Nothing more impressive than what Shae had been subjected too before, but impressive nonetheless. It was the silence that Shae found strange. Ordinarily, homes like this would be full to the brim of a bustling busy political life. Servants shouting back and forth, hallways filled with grandeur and ornate décor, the general atmosphere of a high-class life, but not here. Not Xobos. Perhaps that was what had intrigued the companion so. With her step now in perfect time to Xobos’, Shae glanced up at the coffee skinned beauty. “I was surprised to discover why you were intrested in inviting me." Shae offered her an amused, yet soft, smile. “I can’t tell you how often I receive an invitation like yours.” ​

​

For a moment, Shae allowed the silence to overtake the hallway once again, but it didn’t last for long. Not a moment later her sweet, birdlike titter echoed from the cold stone walls. “I mean, usually when I receive an invitation, the hard work and long nights are merely implied.” With laughter still illuminating her emerald green eyes, Shae shot a knowing look toward Xobos. “I appreciate you being so forward about it.” ​

​

She made no move to mention Xobos’ current experience with hand to hand combat or lack thereof. Shae hadn’t had any formal training herself, or at least none that she could remember. However, her enchani blood meant she was a natural. Plus, living on the streets had a dab hand in providing her plenty of opportunity to practice. She was confident enough in her ability to teach someone at the very least, which is exactly the reason she was here. Once again Shae found herself smiling up at the miraluka, with interest imbedded into her features. “So, how are you finding your new charge?” Her free hand made a motion that empassed as much of the grand hallway as she could manage. ​

 

[Xobos Yakieer]

Location: Garde Noire, Sieur’s manor
Equipment: Daytime Dress, Silver Mask
Mental state: Conversational
Tags: | Shae |

A little laugh escaped the woman when Shae told her just how rare an invitation like hers was. “Ah, well, I’m sure that you’ve found plenty of other people that invite you aren’t the most..kind either. I intend to change that, at least to the best of my hosting ability.” Xobos gripped the woman’s bag just a little tighter in one had while making her way through the halls, while also pulling the other woman just a bit closer.

That little laugh and stare from the other woman drew Xobos’ attention to look down at her, flashing her a smile as she did so. A little shrug was the only physical motion she made to the Echani’s statement, as if it was no big deal whatsoever. Which, to her, it really wasn’t. “I don’t hide things from people, Shae. Save for a few..details that wouldn’t serve them at all to know, I’m a pretty open book.” Her masked eyes focused forward once again, maneuvering the pair around a painter and his crew that were making their way the opposite side. Work on the manor never stopped, it seemed. “It’s how I’ve always been. Honesty is something I value.”

The question of her charge was one that she had been expecting, and was somewhat prepared to answer. She was just thankful she had invited the Echani when she did. Had it been a week earlier, there would be the looming threat of her town collapsing in on itself from the mining guild leaving, but now, there was a chance that Garde Noire could not only survive but thrive. “Well,” She started, just as Sabatora made her way down one of the side corridors, romping up to walk to Xobos’ left side. The Great Maalraas eyed the manor’s guest warily but made no move toward her. “Things have begun to look up.”

She looked from the massive cat creature to Shae, flashing her a reassuring smile. “Sabatora won’t touch you. I wouldn’t have said that a week ago, when I went into their lair and she tried to..break my mind, but now, she’s become quite the loyal protector.” One of Xobos’ soft laughs escaped he rlips again, Sabatora’s ears perking in response to her own’s unusual level of cheer. There were a few people in the galaxy that could elect that kind of response from Xobos, and Shae just so happened to be one of them. Eventually the creature would learn, but for now, that laugh was certainly not something that she had ever heard come from the Miraluka.

The now trio continued through the manor for a minute more until they reached the guest quarters wing, and Xobos reached into her pocket to retrieve a set of keys, Unlooping her arm for just a moment from Shae’s, the door was unlocked and held open. “After you, my lovely guest.” Xobos said with a little bow of her head.

 

[Shae]

Xobos Yakieer ​

Shae shrugged. A motion that didn’t quite suit her elegant frame or graceful step. “I believe you’re right. Kind isn’t something in most of my client’s repertoires, but neither is cruelty.” Her face fell then, just a touch, as though the next words that fell from her lips hurt in some way. “I believe they view me as an asset more than anything else. A product that they buy, and thus are able to treat however they see fit, but I have yet to meet a client who raised a hand to me. They merely ignore me, until I am required.” ​

​

Shooting her host, a beaming smile, she nodded. “I have no doubt about that. You already far surpass any others.” ​

​

Nodding at Xobos’ next words, Shae found she had nothing to comment. Most of her clients used her as an agony aunt of sorts. Someone, they could tell all too without fear of their secrets being revealed. The things Shae knew could have brought down entire planets. Empires, even. “Honesty is a rare and admirable trait in these strange times.”​

​

When Xobos provided an answer to her question, Shae could only offer a smile. “I’m pleased to hear you’re settling in. I find a lot of clients who are thrust into politics so abruptly feel lost.” Shae couldn’t blame them. It wasn’t that she didn’t understand politics, she just didn’t have any interest in it whatsoever. Of course, feigning interest was one of her many talents, so nobody ever really noticed the dull expression on her face when she was hired to attend business events.​

​

Her sparkling emerald green gaze flitted then, from Xobos to the creature that trotted quickly up to their side. The young companion was immediately intrigued by it. Enamoured was the word, more like. Shae had a fondness for strange and exotic creatures, and thus far they seemed to have a fondness for her too. “I don’t doubt it. She seems amicable enough.” The words were said with a slightly teasing tone. Anyone who looked at the beast wouldn’t have found amicable an applicable term in any sense of the word, but Shae did. “You’ll have to tell me that story a little later, I’d be interested in hearing it.” Never before had she come across a creature who had tried to break a human’s mind in the way Xobos was explaining, she was more than interested in it. ​

​

Offering Xobos a smile, Shae slipped by her to enter the guest quarters. They were more than appropriate for Shae, who was used to staying in guest wings and rooms when she had a client. Turning slowly on one heel, her eyes traced the entire room with a faded smile on her face. “A lovely place.” She stopped turning, with her gaze fixed on Xobos, a teasing smile placed upon her painted lips. “If I didn’t know any better I’d say you were trying to impress me.” ​