Private Just Live With It

[Kirie]

​

JUST LIVE WITH IT
Kirie & Quinn,
Jutrand
After The Coiling Lash

One could not have asked for a more terrible Jutrand morning. The wind was blowing the wrong direction, bringing with it the scent of industry that refused to clear, weighed down as it was by the incessant rain that drummed against every surface in rippling sheets. The rain fell from a blanket of thick cloud that rumbled with the promise of further storms, scudding along quickly, driven by the wind which howled incessantly through each nook and cranny, making structures groan and picking up a layer of loose debris that cartwheeled through the air.

Still, Kirie couldn't be happier to see it. She sat by the great bay window in the second floor drawing room, pressed against the cushioned side of the bench seat that had been placed over the sill. Her sketch pad was balanced over her knee, the half formed shape of the gloomy skyline emerging from the scratchy pencil strokes.

Kirie had been up since the early morning, still struggling to sleep since returning from her ordeal with the Kainites. Even with the knowledge that she was officially free from them, the event had left its mark. Kirie's memories were muddled, her voice was gone, and she was still left with the terrifying feeling that there were still assailants waiting in the shadows to grab her. Nobody wanted her anymore save Quinn, and though that was a comforting thought, she was still wary, and watchful, and jumpy. The little box that the doctors had strapped to her arm, delivering a cocktail of calming drugs, that had helped. Blunted the horror she felt into spikes of anxiety, the deep melancholy into only dullness. And with it, she was able to focus on the happy things, like how she was home.

Her ears picked up the sound of rustling sheets in the next room. A sure sign that Quinn had woken up and was searching for her. Kirie had wanted to stay in the bed so as not to worry her love, but after a few hours of staring at the outlines of the cornices above her had driven her to rise. Upon hearing Quinn stirring, Kirie hurriedly pushed aside her drawing materials and rose, running to the bedroom on her tiptoes. As she passed through the door she tried to slide on her bedsocks, as had become habit, but her feet caught on the floor and she stumbled ungracefully, bumping against the foot of the bed and shaking the curtain of white hair that half obscured the beautiful woman staring up at her.

'Nobody's waxed the floors since I've been gone!' Kirie complained. A tiny protocol droid had appeared by her shoulder, a constant companion since she was still brushing up on the Outer Rim Sign Language she'd learned as a girl. The droid pumped out a decent approximation of her old voice alongside a few cheery chirps and beeps Kirie took for agreement.

'Sorry, not important- good morning.' The cheeriness had started off forced, but her face turned up in a genuine grin when she saw Quinn huddled in the bed, still blearily blinking up at her.

Wasting no time, Kirie clambered up onto the bed and into Quinn's arms, burrowing back into the soft pillowy covers, enjoying feeling her squirm as her chilly skin stole the Echani's warmth. This was where she was meant to be, almost hidden beneath the covers, tucked in the crook of Quinn's arm. Not out on a battlefield somewhere, or a work camp, or a lab. Her place was here, with Quinn. The two of them together.

For the first time since before her capture, Kirie felt lucky again. Lucky to be home, lucky to have Quinn by her side, to still have some semblance of a life to control and call her own. Lucky to be free, at least for now.

'I missed you.' Kirie's lips formed the words, her fingers made the signs, and the droid repeated it quietly. A triple echo. She tilted her head and laid a tender kiss upon Quinn's cheek.

Kirie's stomach rumbled loudly, spoiling the moment, and she giggled silently.

'Come on my lazy princess' she signed, tugging on Quinn's arm to get her moving. 'I'm hungry.'

Quinn Varanin ​

 

[Quinn Varanin]

//: Kirie //:

Dreams were the only place Quinn had been able to see Kirie. She focused hard on them, hoping that through the Force she'd be able to find where the girl had been taken. Her dreams were the only place she could hear the Weikian's voice call out to her, feel the warmth of her fingertips, and the calm in her embrace.

Dreams were all Quinn had for some time.

Jutrand was never known for her lovely mornings, but it was hard to beat what she remembered of Eshan. Often, she would visit and lie in bed until the sun cracked through the silken curtains her sister had picked out for the palace. They were a gaudy grey color, but Quinn didn't complain too loudly. Noelle was the Queen, and her word was law.

Still, Quinn preferred a more icy blue.

Slowly, the Princess opened her eyes and realized she was alone. A wave of sadness swept through her; for a moment, she feared Kirie's return had only been another dream. Reaching out, she touched the sheets, still faintly warm. It made Quinn wonder just how much of her current reality was still wrapped in illusion.

Quinn sat up, resting on her elbows as she looked around the room. She hadn't seen Kirie…yet.

Just as Quinn went to call for the woman, she came in, instead of sliding, Kirie tumbled and caught the edge of the large bed. Quinn sat up and brushed aside the ashen hair from her face. It was the sudden realization that her hair had grown longer than she usually kept it, but a lot of things, along with the house, had gone awry.

Her thoughts were silenced, though, the moment Kirie clamored into bed and began to absorb the warmth she had created under the silken sheets. Having Kirie home made the galaxy not so scary or too big for the Echani. It had been a long time since Quinn had felt that kind of safety. Even in rooms full of people, the Princess often felt alone. To most, she was just a symbol something to be admired, displayed, or possessed.

But with Kirie, it was different. She felt seen. Not as a title, or a trophy, but as herself, fragile, honest, and still worthy of love. The handmaiden had looked past the trauma, the opulence, the walls Quinn had built. And she had stayed.

A quiet, mischievous smile crept across the Princess's porcelain face at the tug she felt under the covers. Instead of slipping out of bed, Quinn saw an opportunity too tempting to pass up. With ease, she shifted their weight and rolled to pin Kirie against the soft mattress. Hovering above her, Quinn's white hair fell like a curtain, catching the morning light in soft streaks.

She studied the girl beneath her. Kirie was exactly the same, except for the painful absence of her voice. A temporary loss, Quinn hoped. One she had sworn to restore.

She longed to hear her name spoken again—from her lips.

"I missed you, too." Quinn finally spoke, her voice quiet as she leaned down and brushed her lips gently against the Weikian's. A gentle hand cupped the handmaiden's face as the Princess' thumb caressed gently against her cheek.

The kiss was deep, but brief, knowing that if she allowed herself to continue, the pair wouldn't make it to breakfast. Leaning back, only after pressing her lips on Kirie's forehead, Quinn began to climb out of bed.

"Did you tell the kitchen what you wanted," she asked while glancing toward her vanity, "or am I cooking for you again today?"

Noticing her reflection, Quinn frowned and threaded her fingers through the length of her hair. It had grown far too much. She couldn't decide whether to accept it or cut it off entirely.

"You weren't in bed this morning," she added, turning her head back toward Kirie. "What were you up to?"

 

[Kirie]

'Tucked in beside Quinn, Kirie gazed up at the ceiling admiring the way the wall panelling met the decorative stone ceiling, how the dark curtains were like secure walls keeping the wild weather out, how their bed was a sanctuary, distant from the evils of the world outside. It reminded her of how she had stared up at the ceiling in the old house, the night she'd arrived on Jutrand, only now it was hers to share with Quinn.

Her life had changed so much since then. Many would say she had been damaged, many had. And it was true that Kirie had suffered greatly in the year or so she had spent amongst the Sith. Kirie had been changed by her ordeal, yes, and she still carried it with her. But she had also grown, carved out a life here. She was grateful for that. She wanted to protect it.

The whole time Kirie had been musing, Quinn had failed to respond to her insistent tugs on her arm, remaining rooted in bed, but the moment Kirie looked back down at her, Quinn exploded into action, flipping Kirie over with the confident, persistent strength that had become so familiar to her. Still it caught her by surprise, eliciting a small gasp as she was pressed down into the bed. She was wearing that mischievous look, and Kirie readied herself for the barrage of kisses and teasing that would follow, but instead Quinn's expression changed. She looked contemplative, even sad, and Kirie wondered what she was thinking about.

"I missed you, too."

Then the kiss came, and Kirie closed her misty eyes to receive it. Long, and slow, and deeply needed. It broke too soon, but Kirie was glad, knowing she couldn't resist another. She was still fragile, and needed things to be slow and gentle, as much as she might want otherwise.

And she still really wanted breakfast...

'Well.' Kirie signed, 'I told them to make sure it was stocked.' Meaning, she wanted Quinn to cook for her. She felt a little bad about it, since Quinn was used to being waited upon hand and foot, and if anything, the roles were usually reversed, with Kirie cooking up some greasy breakfast food or a simple morning dish from Weik that she shared with Quinn. But, the Princess was a better cook than she let on, at least when it came to eggs on toast, and Kirie wanted to feel comforted. She smiled shyly, not used to asking for such things. 'But, I'll help you in the kitchen. Team effort.'

Kirie noticed the way Quinn was tugging at the long strands of her pearlescent hair. Her own hands moved up to touch it too, to admire its fine length, its perfect evenness with nary a split end. It had grown longer than she'd seen it before, and though the expression on Quinn's face, and the ripples she was only beginning to sense through their connection, Kirie could see something about it was bothering her.

'It looks like you're ready for a change.' Kirie signed, her hand coming to rest gently on Quinn's upper back, enjoying the lingering warmth of the bed radiating off her. 'That's okay. Change is good.'

"You weren't in bed this morning, What were you up to?"

'Sketching.' Kirie signed, ducking out to retrieve the sketch pad to show Quinn. 'Or, trying to. Jutrand doesn't make for a very pretty model.'

Quinn Varanin ​