Private Momentarily Distracted

[Fiolette Yvarro]

Serene Sunset stretched across the lush cliffs of Genesia, an estate that embodied the elegance and power of its owners. The expansive manor, with its sweeping terraces and high arched windows, embraced the vibrant, tropical landscape. Exotic flora in brilliant hues framed tranquil pools, their waters shimmering beneath the warm sun that dipped beyond the horizon. Designed with the graceful curves and open-air elegance reminiscent of ancient oceanic cultures, the estate fused tradition with retro-futuristic touches: sleek transparisteel walls met weathered stone pathways, and modern holo-displays accented hand-carved wooden paneling. Inside, every room flowed into the next with seamless transitions between indoor and outdoor spaces, filled with the cool breeze and the scent of distant sea mist. Fiolette sat in one of the airy studies, surrounded by collections of rare holobooks and artifacts, dressed simply but with an understated poise that mirrored her surroundings. She idly traced the designs of the alchemical tattoos that wound up her arm—marks of her time in the Netherworld and her bond with Taeli, the Force humming quietly through her veins. The house held echoes of laughter and life, where Taeli had brought their children into the galaxy, including their latest arrivals, Morrigan and Jaq.

Fiolette reclined amidst a sea of plush cushions and blankets that filled the sunken conversational pit, the gentle hum of Genesia's warm breeze drifting through the open terrace doors. The space was alive with color—deep blues, warm golds, and rich purples—echoing the tropical sunset just beyond the estate's walls. Pillows of every size and texture cradled her, a casual comfort that belied her usual precision, her relaxed form hinting at the power that now flowed through her veins. Her red hair, brighter than a burning ember, caught the light as she glanced down at the twins, Morrigan and Jaq, who were starting to explore the world on hands and knees. Their small, curious motions filled her with a rare, quiet contentment, a warmth that lingered beneath the edges of her stern exterior.

She turned her gaze to the stairs, where Taeli appeared, her silhouette framed by the amber light spilling through the archways. Fiolette's blue eyes softened, tracing the familiar curve of Taeli's figure, the subtle changes motherhood had wrought—a softness that only continued to make her all the more captivating. In her simple attire, Taeli exuded an effortless grace, but Fiolette could see the relaxation there, a part of her wife she had only begun to reveal in the recent years of their life together. Taeli descended with a measured pace, practical as ever, but there was a gentle smile that tugged at her lips as their eyes met. Fiolette couldn't help but admire the way Taeli moved, the elegance and the quiet strength in each step—like the calm before a storm, and just as mesmerizing.

As Taeli joined her in the nest of cushions, the children's delighted gurgles filled the space between them, a small oasis of family amidst the vast world outside.

"I've been reading over the reports," Fiolette began, breaking the silence that had barely settled between them, "and it seems as though this entire ordeal with the Galactic Alliance was, in a phrase—a complete disaster, albeit a victorious one." Her tone was blunt, as always; Fiolette was never one to mince words, especially when the stakes were high. She shifted slightly among the pillows, her expression sharpening as she considered the details. "And this mess at Sulis Van, what in the nine h—"

Her words faltered as her gaze drifted to the twins, crawling clumsily across the blankets beside her. Little miracles, she thought, a softening in her eyes that she rarely let others see. Clearing her throat, she continued, her voice more measured. "What exactly happened there, Taeli? Can you... contextualize that for me?"

Taeli Raaf ​

 

[Taeli Raaf]

It was a peaceful scene that she saw as she descended from her office upstairs, the priority call from Nalbina pulling her away temporarily from her wife and their two newest members of the family. It warmed her heart that she could see this again, especially here at Serene Sunset, where they had retreated each time they needed to rest or a child needed to be brought into this chaotic galaxy they called home.

Nestling into the cushions with her wife, watching her two newest daughters explore the enclosed space on their hands and knees, she gave her wife a soft smile that belied the topics she had just brought up. Those could wait a few moments before being addressed.

"Kai is all settled into his nest upstairs, I made sure he had some more snacks. There's a storm a few kilometers out over the water that he was watching while he was reading. Not sure what he grabbed this time, probably something from my personal collection again. And Nalbina had good news; he was able to find the last of the DNA sequences he needed to clone the bodies of the staff."

She knew how important the staff from their old home was to Fio, and admittedly to her as well, and to leave them trapped in their HRD bodies on the Warspite would be a poor reward for both their loyalty to her wife even in the Nether and to their ability to find safe harbor within the chaotic realm of the dead. They were owed better than that, and Taeli had put one of best into the job of cloning their bodies and transfer their consciousness to them. There might be some mild improvements, some genetic defects corrected or healed, but they would all be brought back soon enough. It had just been a challenge to find DNA records for everyone.

Her expression did darken slightly as she did turn to the reports.

"If I had known what Empyrean was planning, I could have refined the ritual, made it so it wasn't non-discriminate so it could devastate the Alliance and spare Sith forces and civilians. But no," her frown would deepen, "at least a third of our fleet was caught up in it and maybe half of the Alliance's, not to mention the disruption to both the shipyards in orbit and the fact millions were killed on the surface. I think, and this may have been intentional, he summoned a Nether entity connected to Voracitos and his realm within the Nether. It sucked all their life forces away..."

And it had nearly gotten her, something that was truly irritating to her.

"Empyrean is descending further and further into nihilism, and it shows. No care has been given to the stability of the Empire, to the economy, to even the modernity of the Empire's forces or their composition. It's unacceptable and I won't stand for it."

Fiolette Yvarro​

 

[Fiolette Yvarro]

The lure of the crystal-clear waters beyond their home, the gentle way the wind brushed through the leaves of the trees—it all enveloped Serene Sunset in a tranquility that was beyond measure. The estate, with its secluded beauty, felt like a world apart. As Fiolette's thoughts wandered through the peace of their most sacred space, she felt the familiar dip in the plush cushions beneath her as Taeli settled in beside her, bringing with her a quiet warmth that completed the scene.

Fiolette listened intently as Taeli spoke of their grandson, Kai. The boy had taken to making Serene Sunset his refuge, a safe haven to shield himself from the trauma he had endured. It wasn't unusual to find him tucked away in the highest room their estate offered, surrounded by stacks of books and the expansive view of the horizon. The room gave him a sense of solitude, a place where he could feel secure. "Mmhmm, hopefully, we can tempt him down from his nest for dinner," Fio mused, a hint of wistfulness in her tone. She paused, her gaze drifting out toward the gardens. "It would be nice to see his face." She understood his need for space, the time it took to heal from old wounds, but a part of her wished he would feel more comfortable with the family—especially in moments like these.

Taeli's conversation shifted to the latest developments in their personal project—one that had consumed much of their time and resources. The goal was to restore their faithful staff to their original, human forms. They had fought fiercely to defend Stormvale on Bastion during the New Imperial Order's assault, their loyalty unwavering even as their physical forms were lost. Now, their souls were bound to HRDs, their new, mechanical bodies a far cry from the reward they deserved. "Good," Fiolette acknowledged, her voice firm but tinged with determination. The task of finding records from Bastion, along with their own archives and those from Galidraan, to ensure the DNA samples were accurate to the individuals they had once been, had been no small feat. "Ivalyn tells me she intends to announce Qosantyra as the new capital of the Commonwealth, although Avalonia will remain as the capital of Dosuun itself."

"This should take the Commonwealth's limelight off Avalonia, leaving the new estate and the staff to enjoy some peace," Fio explained, adjusting her position on the cushions as Jaq crawled up toward her. She glanced down at the dark-haired little girl, her blue eyes a perfect blend of Fiolette and Taeli. As she reached out to steady her, the warmth of the moment softened the lines of her face.

Taeli continued speaking, and Fiolette drew in a sharp breath, feeling the weight of her wife's words. She could see the darkening expression in Taeli's eyes, the tension that had gathered there, and cringed inwardly at the mention of the damage done to the Sith side of the affair. "Then it seems a solution must be found," Fio mused aloud, though she had little doubt that Taeli was already formulating one. "Or perhaps... we should consider pulling away from the Empire altogether."

She turned her attention back to Jaq, lifting the darling babe into her arms as she cooed. "That's right, Jaq, we'll just go about and do our own little thing," she murmured softly, cradling the child close. Morrigan, meanwhile, was content to nestle against Taeli's side, her small hand clutching a fold of her mother's clothing. In this moment, amid the quiet beauty of their home and the presence of their children, there was a sense of unity—a reminder of the life they had built together, even as the galaxy's shadows loomed beyond their sanctuary.

Taeli Raaf ​

 

[Taeli Raaf]

There was always something tempting about pulling away from it all, to let go of any responsibilities or power she held within the Sith and just no longer concern herself with the ancient cycle of the Jedi and Sith. To stay quiet on Genesia and never have to worry about the galaxy in general, to focus solely upon the family and nothing else. But she knew... the galaxy had a way of making sure you couldn't run away from it. She had never met the rest of her birth family because a bounty hunter, knowing they couldn't strike at Corvus directly, had gone to their quiet farm on Corellia and captured the family before executing them when Corvus failed to show until Melori stopped them.

Having now met her mother within the Netherworld, she had to wonder why Myri had allowed it to happen, but that was a question for the next time she got to speak with the witch. Regardless, it was just the foremost example in her mind of why they couldn't hideaway from the galaxy. Besides, she knew the Emperor would view it as treason for her to abandon the Sith Order, given her position on the Dark Council, and they would never know peace, the hunters would always be there even with their allies and friends.

"We both know that's not an option," she muttered, running her hand gently through Morrigan's hair as she cuddled into her side. "Better to work within the system and influence it to grow properly, regardless of Empyrean's agenda, than to simply abandon it."

She would crack a small smile as she added, "Besides we both know I'd be bored to tears within a week."

It was a testament to them repairing their relationship, to striving to be better with each other, that she was trying to be more present at home. To not be galivanting off to every battle being waged by the Empire. But as much as she loved their family, truly deeply loved it, and would protect it and burn worlds for anyone that dared harm it, she was not a housewife. It just couldn't be her... even if she was definitely the cook in their family.

"I don't intend on going out to every battle and every skirmish that might happen soon, if that's what you might be worried about," she continued. "I'll leave that to Gerwald and Malum and others to do while I stay closer at hand and build up the empire properly. Empyrean will stay close to the frontlines as he has structured the military to be heavily centered on his flagship, and if the rumblings I hear are true, Kaine will be dipping his toes back into the politics of the Empire to secure his agenda and we know he favors controlled stability over needless chaos. Plus, if I'm focused on administrative tasks, it means I can stay and work from home more often."

She was also planning to meet with the Empress soon and she how amendable she was on a few topics.

Fiolette Yvarro

 

[Fiolette Yvarro]

Fiolette listened to Taeli with a soft, understanding expression, genuinely warmed by her wife's commitment to being more present and focused on building rather than constant battle. She caught herself feeling almost hopeful at Taeli's intentions to shift towards stability within the chaotic and ever-darkening landscape of the Sith Empire, even as she knew the tides of politics and power shifts were likely to pull them into some measure of engagement. A heartbeat later, she responded thoughtfully, and reached for wife's free hand.

"I know you could never be just a housewife, Taeli," she began, with a gentle smile tugged at her lips. "Nor would I ever expect you to be. You thrive on challenges, on movement, and on creating more than I think even you realize. And while I'd prefer to keep us from this… ever-more nihilistic system, the Empire would be much poorer without you guiding it toward stability."

The Galidraan sighed with a soft exhale, she glanced around at their home and settled her gaze back on Taeli. "But it's not Empyrean, or Kaine, or any of the Council's aspirations that keep me here; it's you. You're the only one I'd ever consider serving under in any formal capacity, not that they deserve me." A playful smirk would follow her words, one that might border on a sincere thought if not for the warmth in her eyes, and the way her voice lowered just an octave. "If anyone is worth my time in this endless game, it's you, Taeli."

She took a moment to consider the political climate and the shifting structures that Taeli had touched upon, Fio continued. "Still, let's make sure this path aligns with what you want—not what Empyrean or Kaine are scheming. I have no desire to serve an Empire that would devour itself for someone else's ambition, again. However if you think that there's something here worth steering, and it looks less destructive and chaotic, then I'm by your side. You keep building, and I'll make sure there's a structure worth keeping."

Fiolette chuckled softly. "And if you're here more often… well, we both know there's no better cook in the galaxy. But more importantly, there's no one I'd rather have with me, in this home we've made." She'd lift Taeli's hand to her lips, and pressed a kiss to her knuckles—a quiet promise to stand by her, not just as her wife, but as a loyal partner in every sense of the word.

As her smile faded, if ever so slightly, she finished with a quieter thought, "If you ever need me to… I'm ready to return to the fleet. Just say the word. I'd do it for you, and for our family. But no one else." Fio's gaze then drifted to Morrigan, "well, I see someone has found our conversation, thrilling, simply exhilarating." She gestured to the babe who had fallen asleep in her mother's arms. Jaq meanwhile was not, "now let's see if we can keep this one from waking her sister."

Taeli Raaf ​