Ashin Varanin
Professional Enabler
[member="Anaya Fen"]
"Ashin Varanin has a sword that can break Force bonds."
"Ashin Varanin has a sword that can break Force bonds."
Star Wars Roleplay: Chaos
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Journey into Madness
- Thread starter Nisha Decrilla
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Anaya's face dropped and she became very very still. Had her anatomy allowed her too, she might have gone a sickly shade of green.
Ashin.
Fething Ashin Varanin.
A woman that she both hated and loved. Humiliating barely even covered it. She licked her lips, trying to dull out the manic cackle that was echoing round her mind. Someone clearly found this amusing. "I see." she managed to say finally.
Desperate times call for desperate measures.
"I don't suppose we could avoid seeing her and simply borrow the sword?"
[member="Selka Ventus"]
Ashin.
Fething Ashin Varanin.
A woman that she both hated and loved. Humiliating barely even covered it. She licked her lips, trying to dull out the manic cackle that was echoing round her mind. Someone clearly found this amusing. "I see." she managed to say finally.
Desperate times call for desperate measures.
"I don't suppose we could avoid seeing her and simply borrow the sword?"
[member="Selka Ventus"]
Ashin Varanin
Professional Enabler
[member="Anaya Fen"]
"I don't borrow things from Varanin. That falls under the spectrum of 'slow and painful', along with other methods.
"Your choice."
"I don't borrow things from Varanin. That falls under the spectrum of 'slow and painful', along with other methods.
"Your choice."
There's a lovely collection of IOU's you need to write.
"There is a price for everything."
How do you get yourself into these situations?
"When I know the answer to that, I promise you will be the first to know." She threw her hands up in dismay.
"Fine. The sooner we get this over and done with the sooner I can get off the radar." It was the lesser of two evils. Or at least she hoped so.
[member="Selka Ventus"]
Ashin Varanin
Professional Enabler
[member="Anaya Fen"]
"To the Unknown Regions, then."
A fairly straightforward voyage ensued. Selka trying to be enigmatic, Rave washing her hands frequently, Anaya whining at someone incorporeal. From Contruum to Omega space, then up the Sanctuary Pipeline, then across the Fringe heartland to the Spires of Hell. Selka called ahead.
When they emerged from hyperspace eventually, far away from any sun or star, and looked down at the two spiked, glowing planetoids, Selka took some pleasure in telling exactly how much firepower the Fringe had in-system. The Chimaera and the Grave Wind were both present; those two ships alone could make planetary shielding weep.
"There's a shuttle in the aft bay. Once you're done, come back and I'll see to it that your mind is fixed."
"To the Unknown Regions, then."
A fairly straightforward voyage ensued. Selka trying to be enigmatic, Rave washing her hands frequently, Anaya whining at someone incorporeal. From Contruum to Omega space, then up the Sanctuary Pipeline, then across the Fringe heartland to the Spires of Hell. Selka called ahead.
When they emerged from hyperspace eventually, far away from any sun or star, and looked down at the two spiked, glowing planetoids, Selka took some pleasure in telling exactly how much firepower the Fringe had in-system. The Chimaera and the Grave Wind were both present; those two ships alone could make planetary shielding weep.
"There's a shuttle in the aft bay. Once you're done, come back and I'll see to it that your mind is fixed."
Anaya's mouth was dry. Selka's breakdown of the firepower did not help matters in the slightest. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't afraid of Ashin, because she was. That fear had nothing to do with Ashin's capability on the battlefield, it had everything to do with her ability to manipulate Anaya. It was unnerving when what you did to everyone else, was done in turn to you.
She didn't like asking for help. She'd normally exhaust all other options but the fact of the matter was simple. There were none. Slow was not an option and she didn't have the knowlegde to fix this herself.
"This is a bad idea." she said softly.
"Shut up."
"Shut up."
She opened comms. "Chimaera, this is Anaya Fen. Requesting permission to dock."
She didn't like asking for help. She'd normally exhaust all other options but the fact of the matter was simple. There were none. Slow was not an option and she didn't have the knowlegde to fix this herself.
"This is a bad idea." she said softly.
Oh now she realizes.
"Can't turn back now."Pretty sure you can. Pretty damn sure that this shuttle has some hyperspace capability.
"Shut up."
See secretly, I know that you want to see her.
"Shut up."
She opened comms. "Chimaera, this is Anaya Fen. Requesting permission to dock."
I think I'm gonna be sick.
Ashin Varanin
Professional Enabler
[member="Anaya Fen"] had been a guest on the Chimaera many times, to the point where a small suite had her name on it. (The more profligate of the crew were known to use the Fen Suite for licentious purposes, though it was kept very clean in case of the rogue Sith Master's unexpected return. In this particular case, the suite had only recently been used for scandalous purposes, and a quartet of maintenance droids were dispatched to make sure that nothing untoward would greet her.)
"Come aboard at your convenience, Lady Fen," said the comms officer, and behind him, Ashin nodded. She turned on her heel and headed for Anaya's suite.
"Come aboard at your convenience, Lady Fen," said the comms officer, and behind him, Ashin nodded. She turned on her heel and headed for Anaya's suite.
Everything about this ship sent her mind reeling. So familiar, so much like a home but enemy territory all the same. She was behind enemy lines, but she was facing what had once been family. She was trembling form head to toe by the time she reached the suite, perhaps from fear. Perhaps excitement.
Anaya laughed. Pacing back and forth across the suite. Her hands covered her face for a moment and she drew in several deep breaths trying to find some level of calm. Some level of control.
"He knows."
"I don't even understand it."
The door slid open to reveal the former Empress, the woman she once would have given her life, a woman she had betrayed. The last time they had seen each other they'd been toe to toe. She stifled a hysterical giggle, palms pressing across her mouth, un-moving till she felt it was safe enough for her to speak.
"Hello Ashin."
Addict.
Anaya laughed. Pacing back and forth across the suite. Her hands covered her face for a moment and she drew in several deep breaths trying to find some level of calm. Some level of control.
Fat chance of that. Look at you. If only Jared knew.
"He knows."
Not really, he's barely scratched the surface here. This is a love triangle he will never understand.
"I don't even understand it."
I rest my case.
The door slid open to reveal the former Empress, the woman she once would have given her life, a woman she had betrayed. The last time they had seen each other they'd been toe to toe. She stifled a hysterical giggle, palms pressing across her mouth, un-moving till she felt it was safe enough for her to speak.
"Hello Ashin."
How has she not killed you yet?
[member="Ashin Varanin"]Ashin Varanin
Professional Enabler
[member="Anaya Fen"] wasn't the only one with conflicted feelings. On the one hand, she'd fought for the One Sith, with whom Ashin had zero patience, and she and Ashin had crossed blades more than once -- done their level best to crush or burn the life from each other. And there was the unique blend of excitement and regret that tainted the memory of Eshan and Rakata Beta. Ashin had never understood those who claimed the ability to be intimate without some kind of lasting effect.
Anaya had left her a scar.
"Hello, Anaya. Welcome back. What can I do for you?" Bland words, significant less for what they were than for what they weren't: accusation, condemnation, flirtation.
Anaya had left her a scar.
"Hello, Anaya. Welcome back. What can I do for you?" Bland words, significant less for what they were than for what they weren't: accusation, condemnation, flirtation.
Ouch.
It was so much easier when there was something. Be it shouting, fighting or flirting. The bland words made her blink slowly, struggling for a moment she turned away.
Match it. Match her attitude.
"I'm in something of a mess."
Don't do that. Don't beg or plea.
A dark chuckle slipped from her lips and she rolled her eyes. "When have I ever..."
Oh I bet I can count a fair-
She closed her eyes and bowed her head. "Shut up, for five minutes, just shut up. Give me a moments peace so I can do this without your continued derision." One moment to lessen the humiliation. She looked back up at Ashin.
"I have been marked by the Dark Lord."
[member="Ashin Varanin"]
Ashin Varanin
Professional Enabler
[member="Anaya Fen"]
Ravening hissed from its sheath; words spilled out, urgent and rapid but not panicked. "Can he see what you see? Who told you I could help, and what did they say? Can you feel him now? Does the mark have anything to do with your mind being broken?"
Ravening hissed from its sheath; words spilled out, urgent and rapid but not panicked. "Can he see what you see? Who told you I could help, and what did they say? Can you feel him now? Does the mark have anything to do with your mind being broken?"
Anaya took a step back, reeling from the rapid fire questions. "Velok. Velok sent me." She said palms raised as if in surrender. "Too much to fast. Said you had a sword that could break bonds. Fast and humilating. I'm going to be in a great deal of debt after this." She paused, eyes darting around as she tried to pull the answers forward.
"Can he see? Possibly. I believe that the general idea behind it, but I don't know. Can I feel him?" she paused mouth going dry "Always." she said in a hoarse whisper " A shadow in the back of my mind."
She managed a weak smile. "We all have our breaking points."
[member="Ashin Varanin"]
"Can he see? Possibly. I believe that the general idea behind it, but I don't know. Can I feel him?" she paused mouth going dry "Always." she said in a hoarse whisper " A shadow in the back of my mind."
Not me. Lets just make that perfectly clear.
She managed a weak smile. "We all have our breaking points."
[member="Ashin Varanin"]
Ashin Varanin
Professional Enabler
[member="Anaya Fen"]
Ashin hefted the sword experimentally, eyes flicking over Anaya. "I can...I'm in a position to help. I think. I've never tested this sword, Anaya. Over and above whether I owe Velok anything -- I don't -- I can't promise this will help. I'm fairly sure it'll eat your bond, but if you have any other Force bonds, those might be affected as well, or instead. If you still have any semblance of a bond to me, that might get cut too. And your half of whatever bond gets cut -- or his half -- may snap to another contact. You may wind up with an entirely new connection.
"Oh, and I can't just wave the sword around you. Do you take my meaning?"
Ashin hefted the sword experimentally, eyes flicking over Anaya. "I can...I'm in a position to help. I think. I've never tested this sword, Anaya. Over and above whether I owe Velok anything -- I don't -- I can't promise this will help. I'm fairly sure it'll eat your bond, but if you have any other Force bonds, those might be affected as well, or instead. If you still have any semblance of a bond to me, that might get cut too. And your half of whatever bond gets cut -- or his half -- may snap to another contact. You may wind up with an entirely new connection.
"Oh, and I can't just wave the sword around you. Do you take my meaning?"
"Semblence..." She gave a small strangled laugh, blinking back against tears. bond would be broken, maybe the Dark Lord's maybe not. Maybe some other soul would suffer, either way, her options were limited. Whatever path she chose, pain was involved and the chances of anything being one hundred percent successful were slim. "I understand." She said finally.
She wanted to say more. Never had she been so afraid, never had she felt so helpless. "Ashin, I..." words wouldn't come and she shook her head giving a defeated shrug.
[member="Ashin Varanin"]
She wanted to say more. Never had she been so afraid, never had she felt so helpless. "Ashin, I..." words wouldn't come and she shook her head giving a defeated shrug.
[member="Ashin Varanin"]
Ashin Varanin
Professional Enabler
[member="Anaya Fen"]'s emotions burned the Force between them, gave the air a crackle.
"I know." She weighed the words on her tongue as she stepped in close. "Me too."
Ravening's edge slipped through Anaya's skin like a sharp mind through your average Jedi strategy. She'd chosen a simple place to access, a spot where, if it scarred, it would rarely get seen -- the side of Anaya's ribs on the left. The sword slid along bone, a quarter-inch-deep cut, nothing crippling or life-threatening but serious enough to trigger the blade's ability.
Ashin's hunger caught the stray edges of the broken Force-bond. Somewhere far away, the Dark Lord would feel exactly what she'd done and exactly who'd done it as she took a bite out of him. Anaya would feel cold, weak, for just a moment, as Ashin's Force Drain cauterized the bond and kept it from latching on to anything else. Like, say, Ashin.
Tension faded from her shoulders as the process ended. Anaya's blood soaked her hand.
"And done."
"I know." She weighed the words on her tongue as she stepped in close. "Me too."
Ravening's edge slipped through Anaya's skin like a sharp mind through your average Jedi strategy. She'd chosen a simple place to access, a spot where, if it scarred, it would rarely get seen -- the side of Anaya's ribs on the left. The sword slid along bone, a quarter-inch-deep cut, nothing crippling or life-threatening but serious enough to trigger the blade's ability.
Ashin's hunger caught the stray edges of the broken Force-bond. Somewhere far away, the Dark Lord would feel exactly what she'd done and exactly who'd done it as she took a bite out of him. Anaya would feel cold, weak, for just a moment, as Ashin's Force Drain cauterized the bond and kept it from latching on to anything else. Like, say, Ashin.
Tension faded from her shoulders as the process ended. Anaya's blood soaked her hand.
"And done."
A hand moved to grasp Ashin's arm as she stepped close, heart racing, amanging a half smile. That was all she needed to hear. That was all she needed to know, that she was not alone in conflict. She didn't get much more time to contemplate it as the blade slid into her flesh, grazing the bone. Fingers dug deep into Ashin's arms, head tipping forward as she gritted her teeth against the pain.
For a few moments, darkness clouded her mind and she was greeted with a snarl. Claws scrambled at her, seeking to sink home once more. The bond gave and the claws slipped away. Knees went weak and cold set in as Ashin made herself known. Then there was silence. The shadow was gone. Anaya leaned forward head resting for a moment on Ashin's shoulder, silent tears of relief flowing down her cheeks.
"Thank you."
Eyes flicked down to Ashin's blood covered hand and she smiled. At least she'd always be able to find Ashin, or know when she was coming. You never knew what side they would be on in the future. Lifting her head she stole a kiss, probably the last opportunity she'd had. And a small distraction from Ashin's new blood trail.
She took a step back frowning, realization dawning. "Jared..." she said softly.
[member="Ashin Varanin"]
For a few moments, darkness clouded her mind and she was greeted with a snarl. Claws scrambled at her, seeking to sink home once more. The bond gave and the claws slipped away. Knees went weak and cold set in as Ashin made herself known. Then there was silence. The shadow was gone. Anaya leaned forward head resting for a moment on Ashin's shoulder, silent tears of relief flowing down her cheeks.
"Thank you."
It's too quiet. Something is missing.
Eyes flicked down to Ashin's blood covered hand and she smiled. At least she'd always be able to find Ashin, or know when she was coming. You never knew what side they would be on in the future. Lifting her head she stole a kiss, probably the last opportunity she'd had. And a small distraction from Ashin's new blood trail.
Woman! Something is missing!
She took a step back frowning, realization dawning. "Jared..." she said softly.
[member="Ashin Varanin"]
Ashin Varanin
Professional Enabler
[member="Anaya Fen"]
"If necessary," said Ashin quietly, lips still tingling from the unexpected and mostly unwanted kiss, "you may have to ask yourself if the price was too high. I've never experienced what Ravening does, not personally. It's the only element of the sword I find uncomfortable. I've been burned with lightsabres many times; every way I use the Force has been used against me. I've never had my Force bonds cut, not exactly. Even when the Jedi Councils took the Force from me, I still had some degree of my links to Spencer, Ibaris...and, I suppose," she said slowly, eyes going wide, "you."
She tilted her head and listened to the Force.
"Well," she said at last, "now I know what that feels like. But I don't see any reason to sever the part of our...bond that's a conscious choice, do you? I don't intend to forget you, even if the Force between us is cut. A new start, perhaps. An opportunity. We worked well together, once. Work with me now."
Her will closed around Anaya's, unbidden, and she began to weave her fellow Master's mind back together.
"If necessary," said Ashin quietly, lips still tingling from the unexpected and mostly unwanted kiss, "you may have to ask yourself if the price was too high. I've never experienced what Ravening does, not personally. It's the only element of the sword I find uncomfortable. I've been burned with lightsabres many times; every way I use the Force has been used against me. I've never had my Force bonds cut, not exactly. Even when the Jedi Councils took the Force from me, I still had some degree of my links to Spencer, Ibaris...and, I suppose," she said slowly, eyes going wide, "you."
She tilted her head and listened to the Force.
"Well," she said at last, "now I know what that feels like. But I don't see any reason to sever the part of our...bond that's a conscious choice, do you? I don't intend to forget you, even if the Force between us is cut. A new start, perhaps. An opportunity. We worked well together, once. Work with me now."
Her will closed around Anaya's, unbidden, and she began to weave her fellow Master's mind back together.
"Bonds can be rebuilt." she replied softly, thinking more of Jared than of the woman standing before her. "The price of freedom is never too high." She tilted her head a small smile curving her lips as Ashin extended what she could only deem an olive branch.
"You couldn't forget me, even if you wanted to. I make sure of that. As for working with you I--"
Her mind writhed beneath Ashin's will, screaming in protest and she closed her eyes. "Ashin..."
"Stop!" She swayed slightly opening her eyes and placing a hand on the woman's chest. "There are some things in life that I do not deserve. Your help in this is one of them. My mind is mine to fix."
She just saved your life. You owe her.
"You couldn't forget me, even if you wanted to. I make sure of that. As for working with you I--"
Her mind writhed beneath Ashin's will, screaming in protest and she closed her eyes. "Ashin..."
Make her stop! Make it stop!
"Stop!" She swayed slightly opening her eyes and placing a hand on the woman's chest. "There are some things in life that I do not deserve. Your help in this is one of them. My mind is mine to fix."
[member="Ashin Varanin"]Ashin Varanin
Professional Enabler
[member="Anaya Fen"]
"You think mercy and benevolence are about what you deserve? You don't think I'm doing this for my own purposes?" Her grip tightened around Anaya's mind, cruel to be kind. "When you -- when people see children dying on the news, you think they don't donate to make themselves feel better? Accept it, Anaya. This isn't entirely about you."
"You think mercy and benevolence are about what you deserve? You don't think I'm doing this for my own purposes?" Her grip tightened around Anaya's mind, cruel to be kind. "When you -- when people see children dying on the news, you think they don't donate to make themselves feel better? Accept it, Anaya. This isn't entirely about you."
Anaya's eyes glittered with anger. "So you want to make yourself feel better for all the wrong you've done. Fixing one little problem at a time. I've a news flash for you, Ashin. Your life isn't long enough for you to balance it out."
Anaya's hand flash upwards, seeking to drive the heel of her hand into Ashin's nose.
[member="Ashin Varanin"]
Anaya's hand flash upwards, seeking to drive the heel of her hand into Ashin's nose.
[member="Ashin Varanin"]