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

 

[Quinn Varanin]

//: Mauve du Vain //:

Quinn watched, her eyes watched Mauve. So she knew about Quinn trying. It made Quinn happy, but also reminded her that she failed. Still the energy in the room was different, not like how it always was between them. Quinn wanted to go back to the way things were.

But even then Mauve had something over Quinn, she cared. Her heart bled for the Zeltron, something they both knew, but would never say.

The next thing, the mention of a deal made Quinn's blood run cold. What was this deal? What would the Republic want from Mauve so desperately that she would take it? Quinn watched, her face showing concern… almost fear for what would come next.

"I do." She spoke quietly, her eyes never leaving the woman at her side. She longed for this tension to break, for an embrace, tender touch and beautifully silent words to be exchanged. Yet, Mauve remained distant.

"What was the deal…?" she asked as she stood, her hand following the length of the Zeltron's as she followed, chased.

Another touch, one that caressed the curve of the woman's jaw.

"Whatever it is, it can't be bad… whatever it is we'll figure it out."

Quinn smiled softly, so foolishly unaware.

 

[Mauve du Vain]

Mauve leaned into the touch, melting onto the side of the throne and resting her elbow on the sidearm as she peered up at the seated Queen with eyes wide and violet.

"It's information," the words sighed from her curved, plum-painted lips. Still standing, she rested her head against the edge of the throne's back. What else could it be but information? That was her business, after all.

"On the Sith and..."

Her chin drew down and strands of wine-dark hair slid free with the motion to hung down across her features.

"... on you."

She took in a breath and looked away, toward the doors she'd come through.

"I told them I would. And they gave me a mansion on Naboo and a title. And..."

And what? Everything she ever wanted? If that was true then why did she feel so empty?

"They want a meeting with you."

Mauve's eyes swung back toward Quinn as she forced herself to meet her eyes.

Quinn Varanin

 

[Quinn Varanin]

//: Mauve du Vain //:

A mansion.

A title.

Freedom.

That is what Quinn Varanin was worth.

Quinn felt her heart sick to the pit of her stomach. She had always known this day would come. Mauve was a criminal, one who made her fortune and her reputation on information and by looking out for herself. Yet, Quinn thought there was something more, something with a foundation…

Loyalty.

But this was what happened when Quinn cared too much for someone. The galaxy forced its hand in a way that never allowed Quinn to be chosen.

She should have known.

"A mansion and a title…" Quinn echoed, her voice betraying her most inner feelings.

"And your freedom." Mauve looked at her, and Quinn looked back, her eyes showing the glimmer of hope she had fading. Still, she looked at the Zeltron, her features still soft as she tried to understand.

"Is that all I'm worth… all I'm worth to you?" Her shaky breath sounded like a laugh, the irony of it all. She didn't pull away, nor did she let Mauve. This was where they were, this is the bed they made.

"Who is the deal with? The Republic as a whole?" She paused, already somewhat knowing who it was with; they were the only ones interested in her and her information.

"Or is it the cowardly king?"

 

[Mauve du Vain]

Mauve's lips twisted downward and she tasted bile in her throat at the mention of the king.

"Both. Neither..." she sighed and looked away again, "I don't know. It was him and Sibylla, but she reined in his demands."

The Zeltron bit on her lip, teeth clenching until the pain flashed through her. She deserved pain, even though all she had done was try to get out of the situation without spending a life sentence in a Republic prison.

Her violet eyes turned toward the floor as if ashamed.

"You know I would say anything to get out of that situation. It does not mean I believe it. You can read truth in the Force, can't you? Am I lying?" Mauve looked up, her brows drawing together and defiance replacing the look of shame. "They knew I would say whatever it took. That wasn't the point. They wanted to peel off your allies. Even if I didn't deliver, they could still use this as a wedge between us."

Mauve swallowed.

"So I guess they might win either way."

Quinn Varanin

 

[Quinn Varanin]

//: Mauve du Vain //:

"You don't trust me."

Quinn finally spoke after a long pause. Mauve did her best to explain, trying to soften the pain the Echani Queen felt. Quinn had offered everything she was to the woman, and in the end, the colors of a criminal showed. Mauve had always been out for herself despite the lust-filled whispers they had shared.

Her back sank into her throne, and a sickening rage burned in her chest. While she had always been abandoned, she had never been betrayed. Quinn's eyes shifted away as she looked to any space that was not Mauve. The names lingered in her mind,

Sibylla…

The name burned into her mind. She wouldn't forget, knowing who wanted to meet with her would help her avoid them at all costs. She wouldn't let them get what they wanted — especially after turning someone so close to Quinn against her.

"You didn't trust that I could get you out? You didn't trust that I would gather those loyal to me, those that want Jedi blood on their hands to come and rescue you?"

Like Kirie, Mauve didn't expect the Echani to protect her. No, she was nothing, held no power strong enough to be trusted.

A hand rested against her lips as she felt her body tighten in rage. Once more, she was proven to be weak, not good enough, not safe…

"This is everything you wanted, no?" Quinn looked back at Mauve, her words sharp, but bleeding with the pain of perfidy.

"What more can I even offer you? Besides what they demand?" Quinn moved away, creating the distance Mauve feared.

But it was the only way that Quinn didn't lash out, fall into her baser instincts of a Sith…

She was hurt by someone she had foolishly given herself to.

"You break me… and yet I still reach for you."

 

[Mauve du Vain]

"They shot me, Quinn. Arris shot me. I thought I was going to die," Mauve snapped, her violet eyes flashing even amid the tears that now welled up and made her vision swim, "But even when I was lying in the hospital and they sent Jedi to interrogate me, of course I trusted you," her emotions - usually kept so masterfully in check and feigned to present whatever appearance she desired - now unfurled in a banner of fury.

"I trusted you to not make the stupid decision to attack Naboo in order to get me out. To start a war you might not win. Don't you think I understand the politics of it all? It's a knife's edge between the High Republic and the Sith. And maybe millions would die in that war. Billions, even, I don't know. I'm not worth that."

Mauve looked away, all the titles and money feeling hollow. She always felt so fucking hollow.

"Don't you get it? I could have given them everything. Intelligence on you, the Sith. Everything. But I lied to them," Mauve rubbed a hand at her eyes and glared back at Quinn, whose accusations were twisting a knife right into her gut that hurt every bit as the blaster bolt from Arris, "I lied to them to come back to you..."

Fear crept into Mauve's heart and made her blood run cold. Fear of losing Quinn.

"All I want is you..." her lower lip trembled.

How could she have been kidnapped and shot but somehow be the villain of this story? It seemed so unfair.

Quinn Varanin