Sindesmos [Taeli]

[Fiolette Fortan]

Fiolette quietly closed the lid on the vibrosword's casing. Her hands held steady against it fingers slid the locks into place, the now seventy year old woman shut her war chest and looked at herself in the mirror. She invisioned herself as the gray haired woman who had seen far too many battles both in combat and out of it. Her office was quiet and allowed for some meditation. Fiolette moved a few steps toward the sofa that rested against the wall, her mind reflected on the number. Seventy, she scoffed to herself, eyes scanned the room for her liquor cabinet. Bourbon, now would be a great time for it. She rose from the sofa and moved to serve herself a glass.

She poured the glass and set the bottle down. Glass in hand Fiolette held up so the light coming in from a nearby window could pass through it. "For those who didn't come home," she toasted to no one and began to drink. The redhead set a somewhat empty glass down on the desk beside the liquor cabinet. The burning sensation of the bourbon going down her throat brought a mixture of warmth and reality. "Here's to another seventy years."

"Admiral, her ladyship awaits."

"I'll meet her in her personal library."

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Fiolette Yvarro"]

"No, that's not it," she grumbled, tossing the book in her hand onto a growing pile on the floor. Teetering on the ladder, searching through her top shelf of books in her attic library, she gave an exasperated sigh as she tossed the next book onto the pile as well. Where in the Force was that book? With a command of the Force, she shifted the ladder over to another shelf. Her maid, Rose, was on the floor, making sure to log what books had gone from the shelf and their exact spot to be returned to.

"Lady Arcanix, perhaps you loaned it?" Rose offered.

"No, I don't loan out anything from this collection," Taeli replied. These were her more... serious books, a few of them were near priceless treatise she had recovered in the course of her duties as a Jedi and Sith. Others were rare manuscripts written by ancient Sith Lords and even a few Jedi Masters. Loose pages of lost works from the Baran Do and other secretive Force sects Taeli had the pleasure of learning from and some she hadn't. No, the book was here somewhere.

As she shifted the ladder again, she wondered where Fiolette was.

 

[Fiolette Fortan]

Fiolette ran a hand to the back of her head, body might be younger but the bones still cracked. The Admiral walked down the hall, the sound of her boots against the carpeted wood floor gave her away before her hand reached the door handle of her beloved's library. She entered and noticed Miss Ahern there on the floor of the library and Taeli moving about in a hurried motion. A pair of black trousers and a loose fitting coral pink blouse with the top open just enough to give anyone an eyeful. It was a little more suggestive than her typical wear but it wasn't every day or week that you celebrated your 70th birthday in such a youthful form. At least, not for a human, nevermind a Galidraani. Fiolette waited a moment or two to see if Taeli had noticed, she probably had but nonetheless the admiral cleared her throat.

The woman then turned to find something of a safe spot to sit down at and wait until Taeli had found whatever it was she was looking for.

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Fiolette Yvarro"]

She had heard the boots and sensed her love approaching before she was at the door, but she didn't shift her focus from her task. Another two books went into the piles on the floor, Rose making sure they went to the proper stacks when the Admiral entered the office. Taeli glanced down from her perch on the high ladder when Fiolette cleared her throat, and was rewarded with a very very very flattering look at her love. From her high point, she got quite the eyeful, even more so than if she was down on the ground.

"I'll... uh be with you in a moment, luv," she said, turning back to the shelf to hide her blush. Suppressing it, she gave a small happy exclamation as she found the book she was looking for finally. Plucking it from the spot, she gracefully leaped off the ladder, using the Force to slow her descent and landing with her dress billowing out a little.

"Happy birthday, Fio," she said, giving Fiolette a kiss.

 

[Fiolette Fortan]

Fiolette watched a moment or two as Taeli continued to search her library. The small pause between her beloved's words gave her reason to smirk, "take your time." She reassured the Lorrdian as she shifted her weight on an ottoman. A sound of exclamation followed and it seemed Fiolette's love had found what it was she had been looking for. She then turned to leap away from the ladder and seemed to float right down to the floor. No doubt making use of the force while doing so, cute.

Taeli gave the Galidraani a sweet kiss and followed up with happy birthday. The redhead slipped an arm around Taeli's waist, "thank you." She gave the Sith another kiss and deepened it as she pulled Taeli closer and offered her, her lap to sit on. "And what may I ask has had you in such a frenzy, in your own library no less, mhmm?" There had not been so many times that Fiolette had seen her beloved toss about her libraries let alone her personal collection. So she was of course a bit more than curious as to what exactly it was the woman was looking for. It was obviously of great importance, or at the very least of great importance in that very moment.

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Fiolette Yvarro"]

"I was looking for a very specific book on bonds," Taeli responded, taking a seat in her love's lap. Rose quietly excused herself so the two of them could have some privacy. "Force bonds to be precise. This particular volume was written during the time of the Great Hyperspace War. Took me a very long time to find it, but it's been a priceless addition to my collection and to my... other research."

Fiolette knew a great deal of what she was working on, but this particular project was known only among the team working with Taeli on it, the Emperor, and the Shadow Hand. Recreating the Children was of utmost secrecy and it would have far-reaching consequences once she succeeded. And she was close, oh so very close.

"Anyway, there's a type of Force bond in here that... I thought maybe... might help for us."

 

[Fiolette Fortan]

"Bonds, mhmm?" Fiolette inquired while one hand rested along Taeli's hip and the other on the inside of the Lorrdian's thigh. A bond through the Force, how interesting always something new to learn she thought. The Galidraani had not heard of such a thing before - or perhaps she had through a whisper or two but nothing more. "Ah, I see and thus such..." She motioned removing her hand from Taeli's hip to gesture at the collection of books that now rested on the library floor.

Indeed, Fiolette knew a great deal of what her love got up to with the Sith. And she also there were things she was not privy to know. Life in the military taught her that some secrets had to be kept, an occupational hazard as it were. She set her hand back along Taeli's hip as she elaborated on why this particular volume was important.

A force bond for them?

"For us?" Fiolette inquired, "darling... " her voice drew out along the word. They both knew quite well that the Admiral was not a force sensitive not in the slightest. "And it was a force bond, for you and I? Do elaborate."

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Fiolette Yvarro"]

"Well..." Taeli started saying, "it would always let us know where the other is. You know... in case something were to happen."

In both of their line of work, there was always the chance their enemies might capture them or they might end up in a life or death situation and be in need of rescue. Taeli, having read and proofread her love's book, knew about the incident at Omega where Fiolette had been left stranded in space. She loathed allowing that to happen to her again. No, she was going to make sure something like that could not happen again.

"And... well... if you were ever in a fight against a powerful Force user... I would be able to lend you my strength through it," Taeli said, smiling uneasily. "You... would be able to channel the Force... for a brief few moments. And there is the ahem... well during times of... intense... passion, we would be able to feel... ahem the other's emotions."

The last part was said with a slowly creeping blush on her cheeks.

 

[Fiolette Fortan]

Fiolette listened quietly while Taeli spoke, shifting their weight in the seat as she told of the bond.

A small turn of her lip as it curled upward, "mhmm." She followed along with the explanation, "so this bond would make it so we could know where the other is? And provide a small channel for which to use force powers for... me." Fiolette wanted to make sure she was understanding everything. "And... I- I'm sorry could you, could you be a little more - clear with that last part?" The cheekiness in her tone was less than subtle as she then chuckled. The Galidraani then grew quiet and let the slience form around them. She wanted to know more about this bond and specifically what consequences there could be for this. How strong or potent was this. The fine print in the details as it were, "so tell me then are there any drawbacks, and just how-" her thoughts trailed a moment, "how intense is this bond? And not just the intimacy, but then would this allow access to one another's memory? How would I - I mean, how does this let me channel the force. I heard you mention it would be through you but are there any... well. I'm a little skeptical if you forgive an old woman her hesistation."

Taeli had been helping her with her written work, and the upcoming book that detailed the Victory at Omega. Being left stranded in a small pocket of air aboard the Rae Sloane while death worked to claim her prey. The memory if sent shudders down Fiolette's spine as she patted Taeli's hip gently so that she might rise. This then allowed Fiolette to unfold from the chair and place her hands behind her back, "and how does one acquire such a bond. Is it something that you do, or .. we... how..." Her hand moved in the air - gesturing as she spoke. "How would we go about this?"

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Fiolette Yvarro"]

She gave a playful scowl as Fiolette joked about more specificity at the last part. She would find amusement in that, and Taeli had to fight to not roll her eyes.

"I'll answer your questions in order I suppose," Taeli said, letting Fiolette up and Taeli promptly claimed the chair. "Guess it depends on what you define as a drawback. We wouldn't be able to hide where we are from each other. It would only be of a mild intensity as you aren't a Force Sensitive. Force Sensitives that bond have an increased intensity. No, we wouldn't be able to access the other's memories. You would be able to channel the Force when you were in danger and if I let my power leak through the bond, and only for a few moments. Otherwise, you would remain perfectly ordinary."

Taeli gave a soft smile.

"And for how it can be created, I cast a spell, and not some shoddy piece of third-rate work like you might be used to from the First Order. A proper spell."

 

[Fiolette Fortan]

Fiolette nodded in acknowledgment as she paced the room. "Of course it would be a proper spell, but..." She sighed and looked over at Taeli. "I just want to make sure that this is safe for both of us," hearing what the Lorrdian had to say on the subject eased her mind. But still skepticism lingered, she knew that this would work for if the proof of Asation meant anything. It was that Taeli could do whatever it was she set her mind to and that was evident enough with the destruction of Coruscant. Fiolette placed her hands into her trouser pockets and relaxed her shoulders. Her mind fluttered back to a time on Galidraan where speaking about force powers or even being slightly sensitive was hush hush.

Here she was, hearing a proposition to have some connection to it.

Although she gathered she had always been connected to the force, however muted. It was said that even Han Solo had a bond with Leia, Han had often been the hero of her childhood - he and Rae Sloane at least. Fiolette looked at Taeli again her attention having wandered to the various shelves within the library absent-mindedly looking at the spines of the books. "Are there any preperations that I should make?" She asked as curiosity and fear seemed to set in. Part of her wanted to know what it felt like to even feel the force and the other part wondered if this was something that could be used against her.

It also sounded like a committment.

Beyond what they had already between each other.

No hiding from one another, they'd always know where the other was no matter how far apart.

Which brought her back to Han and Leia. Leia felt it when he died, felt him through the force as he lived. Would this be similiar? It sounded so, partly at least - and it sounded just a bit more advance if she would be able to access the force. Even if just temporarily and at Taeli's discretion it sounded like, and so finally - Fiolette closed the distance between herself and her beloved. She pulled up a second chair so that she could sit beside the Sith. "If..." her voice began and stopped, "if."

"If this is as intimate as you say then may I suggest we do this in our bedroom?"

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Fiolette Yvarro"]

"It's not dangerous, luv," she reassured, smiling softly. "It's a common thing among Force User couples. I'm simply facilitating it between us through a different medium. There aren't any preparations needed that you have to do dear. I just have to cast the spell."

It was a very big step between them, Taeli knew that, and while she was still getting to used to all the Galidraani customs, she... wanted to spend her life with the woman with her. Hard to believe it had all started with a tryst after a business meeting. And yes...

"Yeah, that would be a good idea," Taeli said, clearing her throat. "Lead the way luv?"

 

[Fiolette Fortan]

Stormvale had fallen moderately silent, the help kept busy with chores throughout the manor. Taeli and Fiolette were left to their own devices, hand in hand as they fell into step with one another. Fiolette’s thumb caressed Taeli’s hand. “This sounds permanent, and very much a large step forward toward commitment.” She began, underlining what had gone unsaid between them thus far. And it was not that she did not love Taeli, that she did not worship Taeli at each and every opportunity. It was the open wound of insecurity that began to show crawling out through her voice as she walked side by side with her love. A soft gaze from the Sith, and Fiolette could tell - Taeli was moving into uncharted waters. Violet hues were that like a deer, soft and afraid. There was a fear of rejection, it remained unspoken...

Fiolette felt Taeli squeeze her hand.

An almost uncomfortable silence hung between them as they headed toward their bedroom. Fiolette went through it all in her mind, what started out as a one night stand had evolved into so much more. Her mind - her mind was losing a fight with her heart as it yearned for a closer connection with Taeli. This - this next step was more than just a step, it was another evolution of their relationship. They would be linked in a way that few could describe, and while common among force users... Fiolette thought about what it meant. Was she ready to be with this woman for the rest of her life, to dedicate herself to Taeli's well being? In sickness, in health, for richer or poorer - waking up next to Taeli every morning. Going to bed with her each night, and sharing in every moment with her, the good, the bad and the ugly. Whatever the Galaxy had in store for them, and as they neared their bedroom the question still hung in the air. Would Fiolette take Taeli to have and to hold for the rest of her life?

She returned it the gesture and spoke, "I do."

Taeli turned to face Fiolette, and without hesistation she closed the gap between them. The Galidraani felt the Lorrdian's hand at the back of her neck, and if there had been a spell spoken she heard nothing of it. Fiolette's hands found purchase along Taeli's waist, and in a moment Taeli's back was flush against the wall the door to their bedroom stood a mere foot away from them both. The former Grand Admiral swept Taeli up into a bridal carry and then crossed the threshold just as Taeli utilized a small part of the force to close the door...

[media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ya46q6ALt9Q[/media]

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Fiolette Raaf"]

Purple eyes fluttered open, a deep breath and a stretch as she stirred. Hours had passed, the moonlight streaming through the windows already. A quick glance showed what time it was on the chrono... yeah that stomach rumble definitely said they had missed dinner. Catlike, she stretched again and felt the shape next to her and smiled. That had been... vigorous to say the least, and the new bond they shared... had made it even more clear how much the two cared for each other.

She traced the small mark that showed their bond on her arm, nothing fancy, just some spirals in the shape of a Sith runic sentence. She softly smiled as she traced it... and it made her mind turn towards another topic that... she would like to gently broach with Fio.

Once she woke up that is.

 

[Fiolette Fortan]

The bonding ritual had gone off as a complete success, and what followed after was beyond anything that Fiolette could have imagined. She felt Taeli stir in their bed and rolled to put her arm around her beloved's waist. Fiolette nuzzled her nose into the crook of Taeli's neck. "Mhmmm," she uttered as words had not yet formed in the front of her mind. Slowly her eyes opened as she closed whatever remained of a gap between their bodies. Snuggled beneath the blankets, "what time is it?" Fiolette asked as she threaded her legs between Taeli's before moving to roll on her back and stretch emitting a yawn as she did so. "Nevermind," she interjected groggily as her eyes caught sight of the blackened Bastion sky.

The rune that now took up a portion of skin revealed their deeper connection. She heard the rumbling of the Lorrdian's stomach and chuckled, "perhaps I should ring Mrs. Hicks first? Tea and biscuits or something heavier?" She asked while contemplating the idea of sitting up in their bed. Another look at her arm and the rune reminded her of the commitment she now had before her. In her mind she wanted to put forward the paperwork, name changes and all that but she supposed that might be a converstion for another time.

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Fiolette Raaf"]

"Something heavier, I'm starving and need to get my energy back up," Taeli laughed. With a sigh, she got out of the bed and summoned her bathrobe to her hand, lazily throwing it on as she checked an urgent message from her apprentice. It was a simple message, nothing more than five words: Delivery made, observation will begin. Her new game was afoot now, and she would need to keep an eye on how it developed. One of her familiars would suffice.

"What are you feeling, love?" she asked, setting her datapad down after sending a reply. "Or rather... how are you feeling?"

 

[Taeli Raaf]

Stupid double post

 

[Fiolette Fortan]

Fiolette looked over at Taeli and gave a cheeky grin, "of course." She then paged down to have dinner brought to their room. The Galidraani then turned to see Taeli pulling her robe on, she then asked how Fio was feeling. The non-force user pondered the question a moment. It was hard to put into words how it felt, her mind was still adjusting to it all to be honest. "It's... it's," the redhead sat up in bed and chewed along the inside of her lower lip. "When I have the words...." It was not that she did not have the words, it was assembling them. This, this just now was amazing and had been beyond anything she had experienced. "... It was beyond comprehension but in the most beautiful of ways, and my mind is still adjusting to all of this. How this feels, and what it feels like."



[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Fiolette Raaf"]

"Congratulations, you got to take a small tour of a larger world," Taeli said, grinning at Fiolette. True, it wasn't the exact quote her sister had always been fond of, Kenobi being her favorite example, but she felt it appropriate here. She understood how Fiolette felt, it had been the same for her over a decade and a half ago when Praelior recruited her on Lorrd. The knowledge there was something bigger, a way to experience more. And now Fiolette had seen what Force users saw on a daily basis.

"Happy birthday luv," she said.

 

[Fiolette Fortan]

Fiolette returned Taeli's grin with one of her own.

And, after awhile they had remade their bed and Fiolette managed to put on her robe just as dinner arrived at their door. The former naval engineer grabbed a few of her notebooks, a stylus and a tablet. Setting them along the dinner tray she took a bite of two of her meal and studied the hand written words. "I may just accompany you to the office, well, I need to stop by my own office but we have a lot of work to do on our fleet." She titled her head to the side and looked at a proposed blueprint, the redhead had let Taeli's words of entering a larger world settle. It rustled in the back of her mind like a leaf still hanging onto a tree branch, whilst the wind rattled around it.

"You know it's almost like another sense, being able to feel through the force." Or at least with the small amount she could identify and recognize.

[member="Taeli Raaf"]