Jungle Oasis

[Cameron Centurion]

Darke Estate
Borleias

Cameron breathed evenly as his fingers tapped lightly against the outside of the cup he held in his hand. Unbeknownst to most, the Sith Lord was quite appreciative of a good tea to relax these days. Perhaps in his past it would have been filled with a fine whiskey or some other type of alcoholic beverage. It had been years, however, since he'd engaged in such pursuits.

As the sound of native wildlife continued to fill the sea-side jungle surrounding the home he'd built for himself and [member="Amorella Mae"], Cameron's silver-green eyes gazed upward at the early evening sky. It was tough...being on Borleias. The struggle did not exist as a reality of his physical location so much as the ever-impending reality that he would have to hasten his departure at some point.

Having supported Esmae's decision to distance herself from the controlling schemes of her mother, Cameron accepted the private life it forced them to endure when inside of Republic space. Then again, he was in pretty good with the Senator of Borleias. They had been false gods together years ago now. Soliael had elected to live merely a simple, private life. There were times Cameron thought about such, but he'd tried it before...it never quite took.

The Warrior inside of him would never be completely muted, but it was never the same when he was separated from Esmae.

 

[Ereza]

There were times that Amore found herself wondering about the dark man presently sitting on the patio drinking tea amidst the sound of distant waves upon the beach. As out of place here as she might be bedecked in a full suit of armor at the center of a bloodbath. Their opposing personalities were one thing - their capabilities to find common ground quite another.

Amore was not sure that they'd yet reached a common ground on Borleias.

But what do you do with a 700 year old Sith Lord that had spent the majority of his life living at the limits of his own will and whims? This quiet reservation, the solitude of beachouse, the extreme isolation - they suited her just fine, but Cameron? He was not one to sit idle, not in the short time that she'd come to know him nor in the complete catalog of memories he'd provided to her. A man of action, both obvious and subtle, could quickly grow bored here.

Yet he wouldn't be here if here was not precisely where he wanted to be, this much she absolutely knew. Her youth and inexperience compared to him allowed her moments of doubt, however. Did he regret the bond forged between them? Was he here for himself as much as he was for her? Did he resent her present state of indecision? She'd left her throne and inheritance on Kuat. Her prior riches, her claim to political power: dashed to the ether with a simple letter. So now what? What did a former Princess and False-God do once her throne crumbled and Crusade ran dry?

Where did they turn now?

Bare feet carried her silently across the patio stones to join her mate in this silent contemplation. Amore took up the chair to his right, sitting in quiet thought for a short while, unwilling to interrupt his own silent reverie. Blue eyes watched him with subdued curiosity as she folded her legs up to her side on the chair seat, one hand clasped loosely at her ankles.

Gone were the days of her feigned self-confidence as Aesir Inari. As soon as that silver mask and those white and gold robes were stored away, so too had her carefully structured facade of warm and knowing indifference. A False God may not have cared what her followers thought or said or did, but beneath the placidity of divination was a woman who did care, deeply at that.

"I know your body is here," she began, head leaned back against the seatback, her own eyes looking upwards at the stars, "but your mind is somewhere out there."

[member="Cameron Centurion"]

 

[Cameron Centurion]

Though Esmae's traverse across the patio was silent, the Sith Lord had known she was coming before she ever exited the house. While their deep bond had perhaps once been awkward and hard to adjust to, Cameron had managed to adapt over time. By now, it was her presence that sustained his own in many ways. There was always a level of comfort and warmth in her presence that he could never find elsewhere.

While a very large part of him would no doubt always yearn for adventure, the freedom of the stars, that need was dwarfed by the desire to have Amorella with him through everything. It made perfect sense when Cameron thought about it. His time with the Crusade had been some of the greatest memories he'd had...even before he'd taken on the mantle of Aatrox. When he and Amorella had been separated following the dissolution of the Crusade, he had felt...well...diminished.

As the soft voice of his chosen partner called to him, Cameron set down his cup on a table to his left. Turning his head to the right, the Sith Lord managed a warm smile. "My mind wanders to the heavens at times, this is true. I often wonder..." Casually, Cameron reoriented his head to gaze back up at the sky. "...what new movements shift in the galaxy. I think to the many different cultures and places I've visited. Most importantly though...I think about how I would prefer to share in those experiences with you than do anything else."

Exhaling softly, Cameron sat up and looked at Amorella. "I've lived a lifetime of war, struggle, and manipulation. Those things all have their place, and they will always be a part of who and what I am. Still, the best parts of the life I currently live are right here beside you." Leaning over slightly, Cameron allowed a playful smirk to touch his lips. "Plus there is that twist thing you do so..."

[member="Amorella Mae"]

 

[Ereza]

A short glance from the corner of her eyes before they closed to the sound of his voice. Amorella Mae did not fight the small smirk pulling at her lips.

Offer a simple statement to a Sith Lord and you always get back a journal entry response. It was, without fail, something she'd come to expect from Cameron and did receive with quiet, patient, listening amusement. She did not deny him her attentions, no, Amore quite liked listening to him talk for often he had so many things to teach and she so loved to learn. The tamber of his voice was a soothing one that resonated within her soul all the pieces of him that now belonged to her, created a feeling that defined no known word in any spoken language.

"Plus there is that twist thing you do."

She didn't have to open her eyes to know the expression on his face. Amore opened them anyway, shooting a coy sideways glance at him and reached to push a hand playfully at his face.

"...Cameron..."

We're being serious here.

Maybe.

Feth, that smirk.

[member="Cameron Centurion"]

 

[Cameron Centurion]

[member="Amorella Mae"]

A brief chuckle slipped past the dark-skinned Sith's lips as his silver-green gaze held the piercing blue of Amorella. He supposed he could have paraphrased his response to Esmae's inquiry. Truth be told, there was little need for Cameron to say anything. There was only one person in the galaxy that held any real claim to any part of his soul, his existence. She had happened to be lounging directly opposite him.

"In all seriousness, Esmae. My mind remains with you even when my body does not. The underlying thirst and attraction I have to pursuits abroad, however, will also forever be a part of me." Amorella knew as well as anyone that a life among the stars is the only life the Sith Lord had ever truly known.

"I'm much more interested in what you want." Cameron was aware that up to this point...Esmae had mostly done as her mother and greater family required. The Sith Lord was curious as to what she wanted to do with her life.

 

[Ereza]

"I know," her expression was kind, similar in nature to the way she looked upon a former disciple of Inari as they recited their honors - only here it was without the preamble of masks or secrets. Here it was truth in evidence. She knew a great deal many things of the man with whom she was bonded, more than anyone else within the galaxy as far as she was aware. The only person that knew him better was himself.

But, she supposed, there were those that understood him a great deal more than she. Like Quietus. Like Lorelei. Like his many other prior mates. Compared to them she was only infantile in this galaxy and she felt it, very suddenly, like an incurable sickness.

No bearing, no compass, no map to go by. No plan. No orders. Nothing. Where did she go now?

"I'm much more interested in what you want."

"I wish I knew..." the warmth wilted from her face, gaze turned up to the stars.

[member="Cameron Centurion"]

 

[Cameron Centurion]

Silver-green eyes focused intensely on the diminutive, red-haired beauty that lounged casually before him. However, the tumultuous, confused nature of her thoughts certainly betrayed the faux-reality. Cameron could understand her situation. Once upon a time, he had been subject to the whims of another. It was always an adjustment when you were finally cast upon the galaxy, somehow forced to live your own life.

Fortunately for [member="Amorella Mae"], Cameron would never cease to be by her side when she needed a steady hand, a word of encouragement, or simply a shoulder to rest her head upon. "Come on." Standing, the large Sith Lord offered his chosen mate a hand. "Let's go on a trip."

 

[Ereza]

"What..." Amore looked up, mildly bewildered, "right now?"

She wasn't packed. She wasn't prepared. Not to mention [member="Kira Talith"] had asked her to watch the kids over the weekend while she traveled to take care of Academy business. All these things would have been voiced had she not already known the response it would garner and the stubborn nature of a Sith Lord who's already made up his mind.

Amore stared at his hand, blinking, before reaching to take it, "To where?"

[member="Cameron Centurion"]

 

[Cameron Centurion]

Cameron shrugged his shoulders slightly as he light grasped [member="Amorella Mae"]'s hand. "I mean. It's not like you have a job or anything to do." A thin smile settled on Cameron's lips, conveying his comment was certainly just a jest.

Might have been a low blow though.

Definitely too soon given the tone of their conversation thus far.

Naturally, the quick succession of thoughts prompted the Sith Lord into his next action. Despite the fact that his desire for Esmae burned like an exploding nuclear reactor within the very pit of his soul, Cameron managed to be controlled in most of their interactions. That control was purposefully allowed to sip in certain instances...to which she'd yet to levy a complaint. No sooner had the mental thoughts began to germinate in Cameron's mind than his soft lips found Amorella's with a gentle but deeply passionate hunger. Instinctively, the larger of the pair allowed his arms to completely consume the other's body, nestling her in a protective cocoon of warmth that Cameron would never cease to provide.

Also. He didn't know about Amorella's babysitting schedule, but it wasn't like the trip was about to be R-rated.

Cameron taking [member="Kira Talith"]'s children on an extended trip though? Clearly, his love for Amorella was borderline crazy.