Private Of Crowns & Honor

[Quinn Varanin]

//: Mauve du Vain //:
//: Attire //:

Evening after the Coronation...

Quinn sat in the large throne room. Everyone had left, and the staff had finished cleaning everything up. A handmaiden wandered towards the newly crowned queen and fussed over her for a moment. Quinn smiled softly and waved the woman off, expressing that she was okay — she just wanted to sit for a moment and let everything sink in.

The older woman nodded and parted ways with the young queen.

She was alone again, the lights dim in the throne room. Silence again her only companion. The fabric of the gown rested against her pale skin, illuminating the stars that shone through the vast open window. Eshan was hers, she was its caretaker, warden, and queen… and yet it felt wrong.

Quinn had given up on the Eshan throne years ago. Her tantrums over Noelle getting the throne over her only proved that she was far from ready to rule a people. As her sister sat on the throne of Eshan and became a pet for the Jedi and the Alliance, Eshan rotted. She could feel the change, the shift in some of its people. They had grown too tolerant of the light, of the Jedi, and the control of the Alliance.

If only her sister had listened to her parents' lessons. All that effort… wasted.

Standing, Quinn gathered herself and removed the crown that was carefully placed upon her head. She thought quietly, they didn't need to make many adjustments — even after children, Noelle and Quinn were the same size, same face shape — everything the same. Even now, as her face adorned the banners and the walls of the palace… It looked like a reborn version of Noelle.

Annoyance laced her brow as she sighed.

There was no escaping it.

She didn't move as she felt the presence, a small smile curled on her lip as she sighed.

"You missed the entire thing, you know, how unfitting for a Lady of the Great Houses…"

 

[Mauve du Vain]

A laugh chimed soft as silver bells, ringing part rueful.

"I watched it all."

Heels clicked on the throne room floor and the speaker came into view. Hair dark as wine, eyes violet, skin a shade of pink. She wore an elegant black dress, with a white fur stole draped across her arms. Gold jewelry dripped from her ears and neck.

"Is a Lady of the Great Houses not allowed an audience with the new Queen?" her tone coy, but her eyes searching.

She kept walking toward the seated royal until she stood just before the dais. Mauve du Vain, now a Lady of House Tapalo from Naboo, looked at Quinn, eyes taking in every inch of fabric. And skin.

"So radiant," she smiled hesitantly.

So much lay between them now.

Still... Mauve took a step forward onto the dais, standing just a handspan away from the Queen of Eshan.

"Much bigger than the last throne room we were in together. Alone," She traced a finger on the armrest beside Quinn.

"Do you remember?" she breathed softly.

Quinn Varanin

 

[Quinn Varanin]

//: Mauve du Vain //:

Quinn watched. It was hard not to smile, knowing that Mauve had come to see the ceremony. She wished the woman had made her presence known, so that others could see what she had become. To rise up as far as she had, from where she was — it was inspiring… beautiful. Mauve had done something many only dreamed of; Quinn wished she could be so amazing.

Tilting her head, she nodded. The day Mauve was referring to was one that made a difference in both of their lives. Quinn had felt guilty, wanting to fix something that she felt was her fault. The woman had gotten wounded, and the talks on Weilu had gone astray. It had been an important ground for the Black Sun… and Quinn had stabbed the future king of Naboo.

Worth it…

"I do…" Her eyes wandered towards the hand that trailed gently along the throne originally built for her mother. Another throne that was given to her, not earned, not crafted just for her.

"The Lady of House Tapalo will always have the audience of the Queen of Eshan…" Quinn paused as she felt her throat tighten, her mind replaying what had happened aboard the ship… when Mauve had chosen her over the goods she had brought. That one moment burned in Quinn's mind.

She had been chosen among riches and fine silks.

But once again, she had failed the Zeltron. Where the wonderful and tantalizing memories ended, all that was left was the shot that she heard and the bustle of the Republic soldiers. Quinn's eyes wandered as she let her mind remember the hurt and the failure. Despite being chosen, was she worth it?

"I'm sorry I wasn't there when you needed me the most…" Quinn looked back, her eyes searching the woman's face, trying to find the reaction before she spoke it. Any warning for what would occur would be enough.\

Though if she could soften it…

A hand rose gently, fingertips as light as the first snow, brushed against the Zeltron's face, trailing along the line of her jaw.

"I've missed you."

 

[Mauve du Vain]

The featherlight touch made Mauve's heartbeat quicken. She longed to mirror those words. I've missed you too. But her guard was half-up. Always now. Always and forever after what they'd done to her. And she did not let the touch linger. She drifted to the side of the throne, letting the Echani's fingertips slip from her face as she did.

"Mm. A bit hard to write from inside a Republic prison." she jut out her lower lip in a pout, "And absolutely dreadful food."

Mauve's mouth had gone quite dry. She felt the swirling of emotions within, longing to just embrace Quinn.

But no.

From the side of the throne, Mauve looked at the Echani, violet eyes filled with regret and pain.

"You tried though."

Better than most.

"They told me you tried."

She laughed bitterly and looked up at the ceiling. "I couldn't just languish there, growing old in a prison until I died. I had to get out. You understand?"

You'll forgive?

"I had to take any deal they offered... even if I didn't mean it. Even if I never meant it."

You understand?

Quinn Varanin