Private The Crown and the Wolf

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Eshan

Equipment:
Vanguard Robes | Lightsaber | Shoto | Cybernetic Arm | Tic

The battered Vanguard shuttle slipped into the pale skies of Eshan, its scarred hull looking thoroughly out of place against the world's pristine beauty. He'd been approved to land by Quinn herself, but truthfully didn't need to ask. Eshan lay within Mandalorian space, and with Aether serving as Mand'alor, there were few places his family's authority couldn't open. But this wasn't about what he could do. Quinn ruled Eshan, and he respected her too much to arrive unannounced.

His real destination lay elsewhere. Snowpeak Sanctuary. Everest Vale's abandoned enclave still concealed one final Hidden Path cache, one the Vanguard desperately needed. Recovering it was why he'd come. It just wasn't the first thing he intended to do.

He hadn't seen Quinn in months, back when he'd still worn black robes and answered to the Sith Covenant. Since then, he'd abandoned them, surrendered himself to the High Republic, endured imprisonment, and vanished once more beneath Lorn's banner. He wasn't even sure how much of that had reached Eshan.

It felt wrong to arrive on her world without checking in. The shuttle descended through the atmosphere before settling onto one of the palace landing platforms with a tired groan from its engines. Around it rose polished towers, immaculate stonework, and elegant architecture that made the old transport look even more out of place than it already had.

The loading ramp lowered with a hydraulic hiss and Ace stepped onto the platform. His weathered brown cloak shifting lightly in the breeze as his boots met polished stone. A second, smaller pair of footfalls quickly followed. Tic hopped down beside him, the little BD-unit straightening before tilting his head inquisitively. A string of curious binary chirps followed.

Ace glanced down with a small smile. "Her name's Quinn. You haven't met her. But she's family. Queen too."

The BD-unit froze for half a second before letting out a long, astonished whistle that somehow managed to sound like, Whooooa.

Ace chuckled under his breath. "Yeah."

Quinn Varanin ​

 

[Quinn Varanin]

//: Acier Moonbound //:
//: Attire //:

The rumblings of the High Republic fell upon her ears. She did her best to ignore them, wanting to not worry about a certain Jedi. Still, her heart ached, wondering and hoping if Bastila was safe. She hated when she let her thoughts wander to the Sal-Soren; the woman was more likely to kill her than to fall for her.

To think of the possibility of her finding what the Jedi called redemption was a lackluster dream at this point. There was nothing like that for her; she was born with darkness, and there was no escaping it.

Not that she looked to anymore. She had accepted her lot in life; she was a devised creation of destruction.

And now the Republic needed to try and survive her.

Ace had reached out, and she had welcomed him easily to the planet. It had been some time since she had heard from her younger cousin, and the thought of him coming to visit brought a smile to her face. She waited to receive him at the palace as he was able to land in the hangar that was assigned just for palace guests.

Her eyes glanced, watching the battered shuttle enter the hangar. Quinn didn't recognize some of the emblems, but there had been whispers of a schism within the Jedi Order. Again her heart ached, wondering if the Sal-Soren girl was on the safer side.

"Geez, that thing looks terrible… and cheap." Her words fell on the ears of the guard beside her.

Ace was family.

"Make sure to fully retrofit his shuttle, replace anything that needs repairing, and make sure any weaponry is reloaded with stock." She paused and rested a hand to her chin.

"Make sure he has food, water, and other amenities as well…" the Queen sighed softly as her eyes trailed back towards the hangar as it closed.

"Especially medical aid."

The guard nodded and moved to do as they were told.

"Oh, Ace, what have you gotten yourself into…" She murmured to herself as she remembered hearing that he was imprisoned in Republic Space. Still, now he was flying an old ship and visiting Eshan. Nothing was adding up, and she worried he might be caught up in something worse than the Covenant.

Quietly, she waited for him, hands folded gently behind her back as she put on a smile. The moment his face appeared, he would be greeted with warmth and familiarity of family.

"What took you so long? Did your ship break down a few times?" She teased as her arms opened, while she mentally prepared herself for an embrace.

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Eshan

Equipment:
Vanguard Robes | Lightsaber | Shoto | Cybernetic Arm | Tic

Ace made his way through the palace hangar at an easy pace, though something quickly caught his attention. The guards stationed beside Quinn quietly dispersed.

His brow furrowed for only a moment before he dismissed it. Maybe they were giving the Queen some privacy. He never gave another thought to the mechanics disappearing toward his battered shuttle, completely oblivious to the fact that his cousin had effectively ordered the old thing rebuilt.

His attention shifted forward just in time to see Quinn opening her arms. Ace paused for the briefest heartbeat. Neither of them had ever been particularly comfortable with physical affection. It wasn't avoidance born from dislike, more from unfamiliarity. But since the last time they'd spoken, Ace had made the quiet effort to stop keeping everyone at arm's length.

It was only fair he applied it now. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he stepped forward, carefully wrapping his arms around her in a gentle embrace.

"It may as well have." He answered with a quiet chuckle.

After a moment he pulled back, hooking a thumb over his shoulder toward the weathered shuttle.

"Miracle that piece of junk hasn't killed me yet. Or left me stranded in space."

A series of indignant electronic chirps immediately interrupted him and Ace blinked before glancing down. Tic stood beside his boot with his little head tilted upward as though deeply offended he hadn't been introduced yet.

Ace's smile grew just a fraction as he gestured toward the BD unit. "Oh. This is Tic."

The little droid immediately bounced twice on his legs, letting out an excited trill as though introducing himself far better than Ace ever could.

"He usually has something to say."

His eyes lifted back to Quinn, the faint smile still lingering. Seeing a familiar face, family, after everything that had happened over the past months felt... grounding in a way he hadn't expected.

"It's good to see you." There was genuine warmth in his voice now. "You been okay?"

Quinn Varanin​

 

[Quinn Varanin]

//: Acier Moonbound //:

A sense of protection washed over her as she watched her own people care for the rust bucket Acier flew in. She wondered if she could convince him to take something that belonged to Eshan; at least then she wouldn't worry about him getting stranded in space. Still, she knew the man would want to do things his way; the Verds were stubborn like that.

Quinn looked towards her cousin as he spoke about his ship. She chuckled a little as she turned to begin to lead him towards the wider space of the throne room. His words, though, stopped her where she stood. The question caught her attention. It was good for them to see each other—it meant they had survived another day, another war. But was that enough?

The young Queen hated asking that question to herself or others.

Looking to Acier, then to the droid that made its appearance. She smiled softly — it reminded her of the small cat that often snaked around her leg when she needed a companion. Her thoughts of the cat summoned it from the ether.

"Tic is cute." She smiled, taking a step closer, and now, with Tenebris in tow, the fat black cat found interest in the droid as it scooted closer.

It was a nice distraction for a moment, but she looked back to Acier.

"That's a loaded question, cousin." Her voice was quiet.

There was too much that had happened between the two who had last seen each other. Quinn didn't know what to say or how to say it. She had been chased from Naboo, and thoughts of finding a path to the light diminished. Then she faced other Mandalorians on Humbarine, people who had burned her world at one point in history and vowed to kill her just for existing.

Quinn was tired of people wanting to kill her for just breathing.

Everything that she thought about weighed on her, but she didn't show it — her pleasant smile remained painted on her face.

"I've been good, Acier." She stepped back and nodded her head towards him, wanting to show him more of the palace. Remembering his ship, she mused.

"Have you been well?" She returned the question, wondering what he had been up to. Rumors echoed about leaving the Sith Covenant, rumors that he was a Jedi the entire time, so many rumors about someone she was supposed to care for, love, as he was her kin.

Yet, here he would find sanctuary.

"Are you going to be on Eshan for a while? The longer you stay, the better your ship will be." She smirked.

"Why are you on Eshan, Cousin?"

There was somewhere in the back of her mind that wondered where family stood for him. Were the Jedi more important? Did his duty outweigh the bonds that connected them? Suddenly, the fear she once felt with him began to linger in her chest, but she did everything she could to keep it to just a flicker.

He was family… There was no reason for him to hurt her.