Lost My Power [Viktor]

[Natasi Fortan]

Of course, Natasi Fortan wasn't really on Dosuun, and she proved it by staying as far away from the capital as she could. Under strict instructions from Dr. Penneford, the Grand Moff had booked herself a weekend at a ski resort near the north pole of the planet, and though no skiing or other winter sports would fall under the category of rest and relaxation -- the stated purpose of the trip -- Natasi was in equal parts looking forward to and dreading her stay. She had business to attend to. She had an Empire to run. She had things to accomplish.

But she had also had a consistent fever, night sweats, shortness of breath, and the same debilitating headache for weeks. So, she had agreed to follow Dr. Penneford's advice -- for a weekend -- and see if it helped. He had recommended a month of rest, but that was out of the question. She had fifty meetings over the course of a month, not least of which with [member="Darell Irani"], to whom she would have to explain the reasoning for her relaxation, and this she was not prepared to do.

Not until she had something to tell.

And so it was with her business comlink stashed away, her brief books locked away in the red boxes, and a minimal security detail of two horsemen, [member="Viktor DuSang"], and her friend Sioux Chambers, that Natasi strolled into the lobby of the Regency Arms Hotel & Resort, situated in the outskirts of a skiing resort town, and walked directly to the counter. "Good morning, a reservation in the name of Fortan. Natasi Fortan."

"Yes of course," said the desk agent. "We have you booked into the Regency Suite, madame, with the rest of your party booked into adjacent superior secure rooms around the suite, as was discussed with your office." The desk agent took the keys and handed them to the bellboy who was lugging a mountain of luggage on a mobile rack. "Aman will take you up. Have a pleasant stay, madame, and if you need anything at all, please don't hesitate to reach out to my directly, my name is Merideth."

"Thank you, Meredith."

Natasi turned to the rest of her party and then they followed Aman to the lifts. "When you've settled and unpacked, Sioux, Viktor, come to my suite." She needn't have told the Horsemen to come; they would anyway.

 

[Viktor DuSang]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3Qy1-Lyy7Q​

Yellow eyes moved around the lobby of the Regency Arms. Mapping, as usual. Various points of possible attack, and his countermeasures. Whilst [member="Natasi Fortan"] was here to get some prescribed R&R, he was there to keep her safe. As was his charge. Dusting a bit of snow off of his shoulder, he stood some distance behind the Grand Moff.

An unfortunate truth was that a good portion of the bags poor Aman was taking to the lift were his. A weekend away from the manor, he needed to be prepared for any situation. Earl Viktor Maurow-DuSang du Coruscant's armor of choice was a sharp suit, and you had best believe he was packed to the brim with some of his finest armor.

Making his way into his room, he stood at the window. Yellow eyes rested on the snow-covered landscape before him. Pulling a clove out of his pocket, he sparked it up. The sweet smoke filled his lungs before rolling out of his lips. Things were changing within the First Order. Changes brought on by the First Order's staggering victory in the Omega War. A victory in which the Grand Moff personally played a hand in.

A small smirk rolled across his lips as he remembered punching his father in the mouth for not being able to join them on Concordia during the fleet engagement. He kept his promise. He brought her home. But, since then, things were changing rapidly within the government. The ruffled feathers of his position had only increased within the Order of Ren. They even had a new nickname for him.

The Queen's Guard Dog.

In reality, this was probably going to be the last mission with Viktor as Natasi's bodyguard. He tried his best to not let it get the better of him, but it was a position he truly enjoyed. He understood, of course. She was an upscale politician, the very voice of the First Order. He was a killer, low within the ranks. A pawn that was barely worth any recognition. Even the playful banter that he and Sioux normally engaged in was at a minimal on their way here.

So, he would use this opportunity to give her the weekend she needed. Taking out his datapad, he made a quick order down to the service desk as he began looking through his bags. Taking the final drag off of his clove, he snuffed it out in the ashtray near the bed. His finger tapped along his chin as the knock on the door broke his attention. Taking the tray from the man, he handed him a nice tip before closing the door.

Olive knuckles lightly knocked on the door to Natasi's suite before he entered. "My Lady?" he asked, carrying in the covered tray. Yellow eyes danced around the room before he found the bag that he had been missing. "That was a close one. Thought I left this bag back home... Must've made it into your room by mistake. Apologies, your Grace." Setting the tray down on a table, cold tendrils of the force wrapped around the small carry-on as it levitated to his hands. Unzipping it, he pulled out a bottle of rum. He set it beside the tray as he lifted the lid, displaying three mugs of hot chocolate.

"Et, voila."

 

[Natasi Fortan]

Natasi handed ten credits to the bellhop after he had set her luggage down in the bedroom. "Thank you," she told him pleasantly. "Could you please direct me to the room service menu?"

The bellboy picked up a thick black folder off the bedside table and carried it over to Natasi. "There's also a variety of dining establishments within the hotel, and in the village, madam. I'm certain the concierge can get you a table anywhere you like." Natasi smirked; she was certain he could, too. Hell, she was certain she could. But never mind. It was at this moment that [member="Viktor DuSang"] entered, pushing into her bedroom to pluck a case off the luggage stand. Natasi's eyebrows furrowed at his actions; despite his noble background, he hadn't seemed to have picked up on any of the social cues that came with being part of the upper classes. But then again, some titles focused more on the upper than the class -- it was as true on Coruscant, she imagined, as it was on Galidraan.

"That will be all," said Natasi to the bellboy, who bowed his head and left. Natasi walked out of the bedroom into the dining room and through to the sitting room, with its large mantlepiece and tasteful furnishings -- if one was into opulence, Natasi supposed. She checked her chronometer, then opened the front of the carriage clock on the mantlepiece, adjusting the minute hand subtly before snapping it shut. "These provincials don't understand the importance of keeping correct time," Natasi said waspishly, turning back towards Viktor. "What did you bring with you?"

 

[Viktor DuSang]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCdwKhTtNNw​

And right off of the gate, he had managed to earn the Grand Moff's irritation. Giving her a pleasant weekend was perhaps going to be a more difficult task than what was already anticipated. His free hand moved through raven hair as his mind traveled through the time spent in her employ. His new nickname was quite fitting. She was a queen, and he was a lowly beast.

Domesticated, but still an animal.

His mother did her best to teach him about class and how to be a gentleman, but he had too much of his father in him. He was a creature of impulse, as much as he tried to suppress it. Accented by the fact that etiquette wasn't something looked for within the Order of Ren. It was a tough transition between Umbra Ren and Viktor DuSang, and his standing with [member="Natasi Fortan"] suffered because of it.

Yellow eyes watched her as she moved through the room. A small smile crept on his lips as he watched her adjust the clock. Most people would see her as cold and callous, but he found her unquestionably charming. Sure, he wore a chronometer, but it was solely a fashion statement. He kept time on his datapad. Digital, synchronized by satellites. Viktor had always embraced technology.

The Grand Moff's attention was once more focused on him. Sliding back, his hands pointed towards the tray. "Hot chocolate. Coruscant's weather is artificial, so when we'd get our first snowfall near the holidays, it was family tradition that we'd sit around drinking hot chocolate. Every time I see snow, I get a craving for it. Oh, and the rum is for a more mature hot chocolate. Took it from Chateau DuSang. Best rum in the Galaxy."

 

[Natasi Fortan]

"May the Balance help you if the Admiral finds out," said Natasi with a chuckle as she went to the window and pulled the heavy brocade curtains aside so she could peer out into the snowy outdoors. "When I was a teenager -- oh, I must have been home after my first year of college, and not yet old enough to be served, so I took a bottle of -- I think it was brandy or something fussy -- from the library. I don't think I ever drank it but I felt like I needed it or I wasn't doing university right." She laughed airily, letting the curtain fall back into place before going over to the hot cocoa.

"How idyllic," she commented on [member="Viktor DuSang"]'s commentary on his family history as she picked up a mug of cocoa for her and handed another to her bodyguard. "Cheers," she said softly, touching her mug to his to make the china clink together delicately. She lifted her mug to her lips and sipped, making an appreciative noise in response. "Mm... good show, DuSang." She lifted her mug in a mock salute before taking it over to the loveseat, kicking her shoes off before sitting down on the cushion, pulling her feet up under her lap.

"This is going to be an unbearable weekend," she murmured to DuSang, looking up at him with raised eyebrows.

 

[Viktor DuSang]

"I wouldn't worry about that, my Lady." he mused, picking the bottle of Zeltrosan rum. "Sebastian was able to replace the bottle by the time we arrived. My butler is a very capable man." He took the glass offered to him, smiling as the glasses clinked. "Tequila was my drink of choice in University. It was a running joke that it was a prerequisite to get into the Fashion Design program. What was your major?"

Opening the bottle of rum, he spiked his cocoa before taking a sip. "I'm glad you like it, my Lady." he said, raising his glass to her. Putting the bottle back on the table, he replaced the cork before stepping forward. Setting his glass on the end table adjacent to the loveseat, he moved in front of [member="Natasi Fortan"]. Dropping to one knee, he bowed before her.

"I know it's not ideal. That there are a million other things that you would rather be doing with your time. However..." His voice trailed off as he thought of his discussion with the doctor. He paused, taking a deep breath. "It's for your health that we're here. And, if I can be honest, you've earned some time off. You have capable subordinates that work under you. They can keep the First Order running without you for a weekend." He paused, yellow eyes looking up to the Grand Moff.

"You can't pour from an empty cup, my Lady."