Private Lost and Replaced

[Adriana Fortemps]

// LORD INQUISITOR FORDYCE //
// BASTION FASHION DISTRICT //
// APPEARANCE // OUTFIT //
// Rae Cooke //

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---

It hadn't been too long since Jorryn had been with Rae Cooke, the recent promotion giving the pair much more time to spend with one another. Unfortunately, it was almost all in a professional sense, the trooper's new role as Lord Inquisitor's personal attendant having them spend the time that they couldn't fully use together. It was for the best, a certain reappearance having their more intimate moments on hold for the foreseeable future. At least as far as physical moments went, and even then Jorryn could only resist so much. There was something more than the beauty that lay behind Rae's viridescent eyes, always dragging the Echani's attention towards them, resistance did little to prevent the glances at one another.

Desire and love were fickle emotions to play with, even for the Sith that were so bent on being dominated by such passions. And Jorryn could hardly help the way that her chest tightened whenever she caught herself staring endlessly at the delicate features of her former lover, an unfortunate habit of it. Thoughts went through the Lord Inquisitor's mind of perhaps using a helmet to prevent the problem, but even the idea of such left an awful feeling in the Inquisitor's stomach. It was unfair how the trooper made her feel, the new uniform Jorryn had procured not helping the matter whatsoever. So she decided to clear her mind the best way that she knew how.

Shopping!

Of course, the main reason to clear one's head is to help remove the object from your headspace. It was because of this, that Jorryn's decision to bring along Rae Cooke was questionable, to say the least. But still, here the pair were. The upper levels of Bastion's fashion district being ripe for the Lord Inquisitor's new personal budget, one that she had already been taking plentiful advantage of. Rae was only here to carry the Echani's bags, as any good attendant would. Perhaps give some advice on the clothing choices that Jorryn would make. Rae could tell her what she looked cute in-

A shake of the head cleared that train of thought before it led back to where it typically did, the night lit streets of Bastion being far more exquisite looking than the dreary planet looked like in many other places. Her outfit perhaps not being the most prudent of choices considering the weather, but Jorryn felt like dressing to impress. Nobody in specific of course, just wanted to appear becoming of her new position to the masses. She certainly didn't want Rae of all people to look at her with that same look from when they first met, the defiant look that challenged Jorryn's own ga-

It's hopeless...

Resignation took the Echani's heart as a small blush covered her face, looking back at the Corellian, an equally casual outfit adorning the woman. Perhaps this would be more difficult than the Lord Inquisitor had originally predicted.

"So my dear," An arrogant tone picking up in her voice as she continued to try to suppress her feelings, though they always laid right below the surface. "You're technically not on duty right now." A devilish smile tugged at the cheeks of the Echani. The girl was beautiful to be sure, but her ideas of Sith fashion left much to be desired. One couldn't expect much from spacer trash though. "Perhaps we can change your look tonight as well."

 

[Rae]

//: The Attendant //:
//: Bastion //:
//: Attire //:
//: Adriana Fortemps //:

---

​

The adjustment period from being a Legionnaire in the Sith Empire military to being the personal assistant to the Lord Inquisitor had been quite simple. Rae found herself finding it more enjoyable, serving tea and caf every day to the woman, and accompanying her to meetings. She had met some of the most interesting people who were important to remember for some reason or another - beyond them being high personnel in the Empire. ​

Today was different, she had a day off and was spending it with the Lord Inquisitor, who had decided she wanted to go shopping. She was happy, spending the day and evening with the woman was all she wanted. Being close day in and day out with only their shared glances was maddening. ​

The umbrella remained closed but at her side as they wandered the district. Briefly catching her glance as they walked, it was like the other times, and Rae had to catch her breath every time. Seeing Jorryn in her casual attire caused the Corellian to almost forget how to walk. The clothing fit against the Echani’s frame perfectly as it accented her lithe form. Thoughts returned to their first meeting, remembering the way she felt and ta-. ​

Rae looked away and cleared her throat, once again, she felt her breath escape her while her chest tightened. A hand moved to her face as she suddenly felt warm in the cold crisp evening. Having worn a jacket might have been a poor choice with how quickly she felt the heat rising under her collar when around the woman who had caught her attention. After that first night, they hadn’t been able to share another night alone like that. Work had fully occupied the pair, and the Valkyrie Elder, Vaylin, had returned. To feel the Echani so close yet so far from her reach drove the brunette insane. She cherished their time together, knowing that Jorryn was going into another’s arms at the end of the day. ​

Tonight though, she was here with her, by choice and not an obligation. The sound of the Echani’s perfect accent hung in the air as she summoned the assistant. Rae took a few steps forward, but remained a step behind her, giving her charge the lead. Instinct had her reach out for the woman’s hand but pull back at the last moment. This wasn’t what Rae wanted the time off to be, she was accompanying Jorryn, and that was all. The hand that reached out made a small fist and found its place in her jacket pocket. “If you want to play dress-up, all you have to do is ask.” A smile pulled at her lips as she did her best to remain stoic. ​

Everything about her charge made her smile, and hopelessly lost in her pool of emotions. She could feel the small struggle the silver-haired beauty dealt with when it came to her. A step and Rae walked beside her and reached, touching the soft fabric of Jorryn’s clothing curiously. “Are you sure you’re not going to be cold?” The hand fell and returned to her pocket. A soft blush painted across the Corellian’s cheek as she averted her gaze towards the street they walked along. “If you do get cold, I'll keep you warm, I’d hate for you to catch a cold - so soon after your promotion.” Being so close, all the Corellian could imagine is wrapping her arm around her former lover’s waist, pulling her close to keep her warm and bury her in affection.​

 

[Adriana Fortemps]

// LORD INQUISITOR FORDYCE //
// BASTION // FASHION DISTRICT //
// Rae Cooke //

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It was an odd feeling, an invisible tug towards another person. The emotions that Jorryn felt towards her attendant having never dimmed since the first night they spent together, only the return of Vaylin having created separation between the pair. And yet, the Echani could feel Rae reach out with her hand, wanting so badly for it to grip her own. These thoughts made Jorryn feel guilty, an alien feeling, but the strength of it irrefutable.

She was supposed to belong to Vaylin, so why did her mind keep going back to that night?

Cold wind blew threw the city streets of Bastion, even the higher levels that held the commerce district were unfortunately vulnerable to the ill winds. The Echani counted her luck that Rae hadn't reached out, whether fortune or misfortune. It was hard not to slip up and make a mistake when Rae was around, her beautiful green eyes seemed to draw Jorryn's own constantly. An unspoken call that the Echani didn't have the strength to refuse every time. A blush crossed the Echani's pale cheeks as Rae gave her response, thoughts of certain costumes she wanted to dress the trooper up in racing across her mind.

"I have a few ideas..." The line between a joke and flirting was very thin when Jorryn wanted to jump on someone. "Let's see if we can find anything that fits you." Quickly biting her lip and spinning around before her eyes could fully finish appreciating the silhouette of the Legionnaire, coughing into her hand to distract herself.

Cold winds returned as Jorryn felt a little bit more vulnerable in her inappropriately dressed attire, the thin top certainly a fashionable choice but not the smartest one. A small part in the back of her mind wondered if she intentionally didn't check out the weather before they left, slowly moving towards Rae as the girl commented about the cold.

"Well... I suppose it is your duty." An almost indignant and regretful tone coming through her voice as she fell into the chest of her attendant, arms crossed. What was she doing? It didn't matter, the small scent of Rae's hard that she could get from this moment of respite was enough for the Inquisitor. Brows furrowing as she regret how much she enjoyed the grasp. "Make me feel better." A whisper that called back to their first meeting that amused her, though quiet enough that she hoped Rae wouldn't be able to hear.

The stores were drawing close, but Jorr's favourites were still a bit away. Long enough to remain in Rae's hands for a few moments longer...

 

[Rae]

//: The Attendant //:
//: Bastion //:
//: Adriana Fortemps //:

---

​

Hearing the excitement in the woman's voice, Rae couldn't help but smile. She didn't know if she should be worried about what Jorryn had planned on wanting to dress her up in, but she looked forward to it. Jorryn spun in front of her, and Rae became breathless. The way she moved with a subtle grace, causing her to lose the ability to look away. Standing, she could feel the energy coming from the Echani, it was almost as if her soul begged for the Corellian to be close. Shaking her head slightly, she did her best to ignore the vibrations through the Force and connection. It couldn't be something like that, she thought quietly to herself as they walked. ​

​

Rae felt the breeze and shuddered slightly, she wasn't aware that Bastion could get so cold. It was a good thing she brought a jacket for this incursion. Her thoughts, as the wind swept against her blushing cheeks, moved to the woman she was in charge of. The material of her attire left some to the imagination but did little against the elements. Before Rae could suggest the jacket again, Jorr made a point. The smile remained on her face as she nodded. "It is my duty, it's why you hired me." ​

​

Taking all of Rae's willpower to fight the sudden urge to pull the woman into her. They were in public, and despite that, Rae was no one in particular - Jorryn was the Lord Inquisitor. Off duty or on duty, any ounce of intimacy was frowned upon. Not to mention, the true nature of the Corellian, they were enemies. Rae regained her composure as she felt the weight of the Inquisitor's smaller frame against her. Looking down at her, it was almost surreal to be close to her.​

​

Her first thought was to let her just snuggle against her, accept the small amount of warmth that would pass through them. Yet, chances like this were far and few between. The Corellian's internal struggle was interrupted with a mumble against her chest. She had caught a bit of what the silver-haired woman had said, but she wrapped her arms around her and whispered back. "Did you say something? Maybe a request from me?" Going against her best judgment, Rae nuzzled her face into the woman's head, taking in her inebriating scent. "What did you say, my Lady?"​

 

[Adriana Fortemps]

// LORD INQUISITOR //
// BASTION - FASHION DISTRICT //
// Rae Cooke //

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"I don't believe I said anything of note, my dear." A distinctly professional tone coming along with the tone, her voice cold even as the warmth of her skin didn't pull away from the Corellian immediately. It only made sense that the attendant wanted to keep her charge warm in this weather, fulfilling her duties as responsibly as she could. "If I say something I desire you to hear, you'll hear it." Impishness pouring through her words as she found herself acting familiar with the legionnaire once again.

Fighting back the urges to return the physicality of the younger woman, Jorryn's thoughts returned to that of Vaylin. Her lover having only recently come back from the cesspools of the Netherworld. Unfortunately, hopefully warm thoughts only felt cold to remember. The manner of her love's return, as well as her subsequent appearances in Lord Vandiir's tank and ghostly visage during the Sith meeting only brought discomfort to the Echani.

Perhaps that was why the touch of this new person was so warm, a craving that the Lord Inquisitor couldn't understand. She hated it...

And yearned for it.

Returning from her thoughts, she caught herself nuzzling her attendant's face back, before quickly pulling away. Redness began to fill her cheeks, frustrated by both the fact that she had done the action in the first place and the fact that she pulled away. The whole situation was angering, the lack of self-control annoying the Sith. Perhaps the Old Jedi were right, emotion was a weakness.

But looking back up into the green orbs of the Corellian, Jorryn didn't mind holding such a weakness. Eyes lingered a moment too long, Jorryn's amber gaze quickly switching from a longing for the woman to an intense glare for anything to distract her. The first store that the Echani laid eyes on would be her prey, it didn't matter if it was swimsuits or Wookie costumes.

"I need to get something in here!"

The words came flustered and annoyed as Jorryn escaped the clutches of her one time fling, dragging her into a store haphazardously named "The Lonely Zeltron". The naming of the store was of no matter to the Echani because she was already inside brushing away presumably helpful employees of the store. The Lord Inquisitor might have thought twice about her reputation before entering...

 

[Rae]

//: The Attendant //:
//: Bastion //:
//: Adriana Fortemps //:

---

​

Rae couldn't help smiling as the shift in the look of the amber-eyed Echani changed. The woman wore her emotions on her sleeve, and the Corellian enjoyed it, especially seeing the rapid switch. In one breath, she wanted the warmth and affection from her attendant and, in the same breath pushing herself away. As continuous and unpredictable Jorryn's emotions were, it would make sense for the attendant to find some frustration. Yet, Rae always looked forward to them. Soft fingertips brushed against her face as the brunette sighed softly with a smile, the sweet nuzzle a taste that she wished lasted longer. ​

​

The soft smile remained as she felt the woman escape her hold only to storm off. Each step more frantic than the one before it; she was on a mission to distract herself. Rae followed slowly with her hands in her pockets, even though Jorr was trying to run away from everything, it was the attendant's job to ensure her charge's safety. The Inquisitor picked up the pace one she had found her target. Noticing the store's name, Rae raised an eyebrow and quickly chased after her. Questions ran through the Corellian's mind as she continued to follow the white-haired woman, was this something subconscious? ​

​

The store employees reached out to help the smaller woman, who seemingly continued to push her way through it. Rae nodded as she entered apologizing to the workers and cut the distance between her and Jorryn quickly. Reaching out, her hand gently grabbed the woman's slender wrist and pulled her back. An arm wrapped around the Echani's lissome waist, while hand rested lightly on the back of her head in a protective and gentle hug. The world around them felt invisible, stopping to allow this moment to live on longer than it should. Rae held on, giving a comforting, gentle squeeze. ​

​

The internal struggle that the Corellian had storming inside of her subsided, giving into one side. Such a small act of holding the Inquisitor brought an almost calming effect to the attendant. It satisfied something that all of her had been searching for desperately. Rae found herself resting her head against the silver tresses that her fingers nestled through. She had heard everything, the same words she had whispered to her upon their first meeting. It was only a simple request held so much from Jorryn, and Rae only wanted to fulfill the request as much as she could. Her voice was soft, audible only to the woman in her arms. ​

"How can I make you feel better if you keep running from me?"​

​

Another soft squeeze added weight to her words, and then her hold loosened, knowing that the woman would probably quickly pull back from her. Rae knew despite these small gestures, she held back for more than a few reasons, and she wondered if Jorryn was doing the same. There was more than their positions within the Empire at preventing whatever was occurring between them. ​

​

Something clicked in the back of the Corellian's mind as she knew that she was crazy to be feeling this way, but in the end, even when they were apart - Jorryn was all she could think about.​