Meetup with Malevolence

[Onrai]

"I believe the hex, if there truly is one, will stop here. I refuse to let myself believe the lie that one of my children must fall to the Dark Side of the Force. As for why I never turned despite how long I spent - I arguably fell and was redeemed hundreds of years ago, thus making such a moot point." He paused, drinking once more as Versateya still sat there. "I want to, just once, have the opportunity to be with someone who can be my wife, and whose child will not suffer from any sort of genetic mutation."

Such was the fate he occasionally dreamt about - and now that he had gone through Rave's process, it was possible. But all things considered, it seemed he was eternally eligible so far as being a bachelor was concerned.

[member="Darrick Lancaster"]

 

[Sorvae Sunfell]

Versateya had to laugh now. And now mainly because she thought what Vitor said was funny.

"Dear Vitor, let me tell you something. The Dark Side corrupts people. It manages to destroy them, mutate them to abnormal monsters. You and your wife have both been Sith. I don't know a lot about your bloodline, but ours is full of Sith Lords. And you thought the darkness which flows inside our family tree wouldn't have any effects on your children?"

She sighed.

"I've seen people who believe there are ways to stand against the Force. I as a Sith should believe that. But I don't. These people are ignorant -- there's no stronger thing in the universe than the Force. And we don't have much to do against it. It's easier and safer to just come to accept the fact. If they have to fall, they fall."

Now she was even crueler... Oh goodness, at least Vitor didn't have to suffer from that every day.

[ [member="Vitor Imperieuse"] ]

 

[Onrai]

"And this raises, to say the least, a most important question. What exactly is your role in the family? Are you the Matriarch who literally gave birth to the many descendants with the corruption? Or have you another role?" He pondered as well, raising an eyebrow. "Also, should I mention that I have no idea where you came from? I mean, were you able to become a Sith through your corruption as a Jedi, or did you always come from Darker genetic stock?"

She seemed to care a significant bit. Almost made him wonder...

[member="Darrick Lancaster"]

 

[Sorvae Sunfell]

"Huh, these are some valid questions," the woman had to note. She put her wooden wine glass away as she took a more comfortable position. For once, she dared to feel comfortable on the chair she was sitting on, even though she was still a little bit afraid it would break down.

"I don't tell people who I am. But this time I'm going to make an exception and give you a slight hint," she said. To be completely honest, she didn't know what or how much to reveal about herself, so she took some moments to think. Would she give away, she could practically destroy her reputation or even herself. Were she to give away too little, the man wouldn't be sufficed.

"All fear me. When I became a Sith, the rest of the family followed. But I am by no means the first or the most important. I am merely a follower and, as it turns out, an initiator."

She thought it was enough.

"I can't tell you much more about who I am." She sighed. "But what is your role?"

[ [member="Vitor Imperieuse"] ]

 

[Onrai]

"Father." He responded. "There can be no other role for me to have in the life of my family - at least until one of my children has kids of their own. Then I will take the role of grandfather." He smiled, drinking the rest of the wine in his glass. "Kids are so cute. Especially when you're cradling them back and forth and whatnot. Lilin and Vindi were so adorable when they were babies." He leaned back in remembrance.

"What about you? Who exactly in the family line are you the mother of? And did you enjoy holding your child in your arms?"

[member="Darrick Lancaster"]

 

[Sorvae Sunfell]

"I, indeed, am a mother. But to whom, I can not reveal," Versateya chuckled as she took the glass into her hand once again to take a sip of the nice wine. "Let's just say that I loved my children, just like every parent should have. But what truly saddens me is that they all died before I did."

She sighed. She did love her children -- those who were legitimately directly after her in the family tree. Their children, however, were not as dear to her, and her interest in those people got lesser and lesser with every generation.

"I am an ancestor, that's all one should know about me."

[ @Vitor Imperiuse ]

 

[Onrai]

[member="Darrick Lancaster"]

"Quite intriguing - how old are you? I'll be fair and toss my age out as well." He smiled, reaching over to the bottle. "More wine?" Regardless as to whether or not she poured him any, he poured himself some more. "It must be unfortunate for you, not having any living children to occasionally dote on. I know this is going to come off as completely silly, though I'm not sure what your thoughts have ever been on it, but have you ever considered having one more?"

He scratched his head in curiosity even as he took another sip, becoming more and more inebriated.

 

[Sorvae Sunfell]

"Slightly too old. But fear not, I'll most likely live for another while, a few decades or so... Some species just live longer," Versateya said as she nodded. She did want some more wine, perhaps it could encourage the man to drink a little bit more as well so that she would reach the actual reason why she was there faster.

"I don't want more children. I have never wanted, ever since my fourth kid was born."

Four was the number of children she'd had. Four was also the number of the directions in which the whole bloodline continued. They all went in different ways, but she loved Déon's family and descendants a little bit more than the rest. Thanks to that boy, she had such fun people to play with and an even funnier Vitor Imperieuse to listen to.

She sighed.

"I don't seek pleasures like that."

[ [member="Vitor Imperieuse"] ]

 

[Onrai]

[member="Darrick Lancaster"]

"In that case - what are you? I'm not entirely sure what you being all enigmatic is for." He scratched his head, a lack of understanding proving to be a serious issue. "What was so special about your fourth child? All you're doing is making me want to ask more questions of you..." He sighed, giving a frown. "I miss Lilith a lot. She was always someone who'd give me a hug when things were getting frustrating at work - I was and am an archaeologist, so it's always been quite fun to work with."

He smiled, looking at her again. Maybe answers would come.

 

[Sorvae Sunfell]

"My husband happened. What the hell did you think was the reason I fell to the Dark Side?" the woman was being as vague as before. She liked that -- it gave her a puzzling personality, a look that was difficult to break through, a wall that nobody could break that easily. She wanted the man to ask more questions, even though she would barely answer them. It made her seem a little bit more villainous, made her a little bit more terrifying as she was. Not that she wouldn't be a horrible figure without that, though.

"He is everything. You wanted to know if I was the Matriarch of the family... Well, almost. He was the Patriarch."

She sighed, not in relief, but in worry. She didn't remember the last time she saw the man. She didn't even remember what he looked like. But she knew how deeply she'd loved him.

"He left -- that would be the most abridged description of what happened. I missed him so much I fell to the Dark Side. And everybody followed me. That's why I'm a follower. That's also why I am the initiator."

[ [member="Vitor Imperieuse"] ]

 

[Onrai]

[member="Darrick Lancaster"]

That explains much - I suppose I don't have to reach too far out to find that yes, you're a former Jedi. Same as I." He pondered for a bit. "When exactly were you a member of the Order? I left around six hundred or so years ago." If she had left later than him, perhaps he could identify her species more clearly - though if she was from his time, well - there were few that could live so long.

"All I want is a family. As for the patriarch of the Lancasters, I can say no more other than that I'm disappointed in him for leaving his family behind."

 

[Sorvae Sunfell]

"I believe my husband is not yours to judge," the woman noted as she drank a little bit more of the wine. She'd started liking it some more than before, yet it was still not in the top of her list. She truly didn't think anybody should judge the way her family acted. Her husband was not something she would let others openly criticize. Just like none of her descendants would let it happen.

"I don't remember when I was in the order. It was a hundred or so years ago, perhaps somewhat closer to two hundred. Not sure."

She wouldn't reveal her species, if that's what the man wanted to know.

[ [member="Vitor Imperieuse"] ]

 

[Onrai]

"Anzati, perhaps?" He smiled - she was on the defensive. "As is, I believe that when a husband abandons his family, that's a very bad thing. The stories I heard from Padawans back in the day reminded me that I should always be close to my family, and should never abandon teen no matter how bad things could get. Being close to your family is always the most important part of life." He sat back, giving a soft sigh as he relaxed.

"I'd say this is why you should stay closer to the family as a whole."

[member="Darrick Lancaster"]

 

[Sorvae Sunfell]

"No, I'm not an Anzati," the woman replied with simplicity.

She looked at the man, trying to keep a mask of being calm and neutral, yet inside, she would have wanted to go and punch the man or something. She didn't believe in what the man was speaking, mainly because her family was nothing like that. Maybe the Imperieuse had tried to change who the bloodline was and mold them to his beliefs, but was it really what the kids wanted?

Was it really what the kids should have been?

"Tell me, what have you taught your children. What do you think they should be like? Let's ignore the 'father has to be with his family' stuff. What other have you told them?"

[ [member="Vitor Imperieuse"] ]

 

[Onrai]

"I've taught them how to be good people, like anyone should be. Far too many parents never seem to truly try and teach their children how to do right instead of wrong, and down the line, that causes a myriad of problems." He turned and looked at the Sith who had been an ancestor from days gone by. "You know such a difference, I assume."

Grabbing the nearby fuzzy blanket, he curled up in it.

[member="Darrick Lancaster"]

 

[Sorvae Sunfell]

"Uhuh..." the woman could only say. "Didn't answer my question very well, but never mind."

She looked at the man as he took the blanket and set it on top of him. Could have been feeling cold or maybe just wanted to feel cozy. Something Versateya never did -- she was too elegant to do simple things like these. When she felt cold, the climate of planets was changed. When she wanted to feel cozy, she didn't want to feel cozy anymore. As simple as that.

But it looked like the man was a simple one. Not a Lancaster, that was for sure. She only hoped the kids he'd raised were not as humble as he was.

"So tell me... You have three kids. What are they like?"

[ [member="Vitor Imperieuse"] ]

 

[Onrai]

"Lilin is nice. Perhaps overcompensating a bit for the fact that she seems to have Drain Life on constantly. Vindi seems the tinkering sort - I blame his ability to disrupt more advanced technology for that. And Merikh... Merikh is pure shadow. She simply watches and waits. And occasionally comes for a hug. As is, I believe her to probably be watching us right now. Seems her form of entertainment."

He gave a soft sigh, looking out the window for any shadow that seemed out of place.

[member="Darrick Lancaster"]

 

[Sorvae Sunfell]

"Well, you seem to be really obsessed with your children's -- how do I phrase it -- 'limitations'. It's as if you think the kids are all about the 'limitations' they have." She sipped her wine, a sly grin on her face.

She sighed.

"I do have to say such things are an important part of their lives, maybe even essential to existing the way they do. Have you ever not wondered that these 'limitations' are a sign?" the woman was curious. "Huh?"

The wine seemed to be getting better with every sip she took. Which was really nice, since then she wouldn't have to pretend to like the drink. Perhaps she would even buy a bottle from them man.

"I say, not quite interested in your belief in destiny, that these children were meant to have a choice to make. To live the way they have always lived with the one thing which doesn't let them function properly or to join the Dark Side." She would have wanted to laugh, but it wouldn't have been appropriate. "The latter would be a better way to live, wouldn't it?"

[ [member="Vitor Imperieuse"] ]

 

[Onrai]

"No - the Dark Side almost brought me and everyone I knew to ruin centuries ago." He turned around - apparently Merikh wasn't there. "I can't let my kids suffer the same fate. I can't let them become unfeeling monsters like I was - people who slaughter the ones they love."

He turned back to Versateya. "Lilith was the one exception I've ever seen to that rule - and she was only like that because of my influence."

[member="Darrick Lancaster"]

 

[Sorvae Sunfell]

"I would call that egoism," Versateya had to note with a rather sarcastic tone. She couldn't tell whether the man was so obsessed with himself or if Lilith had really been a poor example of a Lancaster. She couldn't tell which one of them was true, but knowing Darrick, she could guess the former was more likely.

"You, Imperieuse, seem to lack the philosophical knowledge of the way Sith live," the woman continued, now to reply the man's former thoughts about the kids joining the Dark Side. "Nowhere in the Sith Code does it say a member of the order has to kill."

She sighed.

"I myself have killed only a select few people and I regretted that, I really did. I couldn't sleep for days, I saw there to be no meaning in my life anymore. Killing is not an easy thing."

She turned her eyes away from the man.

"My own children have never killed. Their children haven't killed. And none of them is a soulless monster without feelings." Her tone was suddenly more soothing than before. "I... believe Jedi are more like monsters than we are... People can feel emotions for a reason. And if Jedi decide to ignore the principle ones like passion, true love, hatred... Then I not feel for them more than for a psychopath."

[ [member="Vitor Imperieuse"] ]