Fire And Ice

[Eva 'Skuld' Stark]

Mjolnir Space Station
Mustafar
22:05
​

Skuld Stark was normally a woman of action. Inactivity killed her; though she had patience in spades, it did not mean she was meant to wait an age.

Since the events on Ando Prime a month ago, she dealt with a complexity of emotions. She faced her father head on, restored her honor... regained her two children. Both of whom, especially Tyrren, had an endless fascination with Tagal Saxon. The boy was often found lingering near the open entrance of his forge, watching with wide, serious eyes as blue as his mother's. He was naturally very shy, and did not speak very often, but when he did, it was without a baby's lisping tone, and a quiet, serious, frank curiosity for what went on, and why, and how.

But Skuld and Tagal seemed content to keep as far away from each other as possible; even their occasional arguments seemed more subdued than usual. And Skuld was not going to approach him. In fact, he seemed distant every time they were in the same room, withdrawn. She had so much to say, but her words often failed her.

So she tried to avoid him too.

Frigga was the type to get herself into trouble; during those first few weeks, Skuld had her hands full the first couple weeks simply keeping the small girl out of trouble just about anywhere trouble could find her; in the mess hall, observation decks, even much to Skuld's horror, recklessness nearly at the forge, always with her mother's keen-eyed swooping in at the last second. And even now, she was shy of the Mandolorian that manned the forge, calling him the Strange Man.

All these thoughts occupied her as she stood before the observation deck and lounge typically reserved for higher officers, whom rarely used it themselves. It was her place to sit and contemplate, or be alone. She was planning something... something that would, perhaps, close the odd pain in her heart, and stop Tagal Saxon from feeling uncomfortable.

Perhaps it was time for her and her children to leave. Take the Killer Ree and go somewhere else where she could plot more designs, and possibly own her own shipyard. He could keep their remaining credits from the treasure hoard; she wanted to slip out as unobtrusively as possible.

Both Frigga and Tyrren were asleep, put to bed hours ago by the lullaby she used to hear as a sá litli; she was unaware anyone else entered the room, but it wasn't long before she saw the familiar silhouette by the window.

She slowly turned around, hands clasped behind her back. She nodded once, then paused.

"I can leave, if you like. It is a nice view of Mustafar this night cycle."

@Nefieslab

 

[Tagal Saxon]

The children being aboard the station was new and Tagal was still getting used to them. He was trying to get used to how the boy would follow him around adoringly while the girl seemed to be trying to give him the cold shoulder until he left... the audacity of the girl to try and get him to leave HIS space station was something that he had to be darkly amused by if he was being honest with himself.

Truth be told, the children being around wasn't as much of a bother as he thought it would be. It was, however, something of a distraction and kept forcing him to think about Skuld.

Eva.

He entered the observation deck but he was here precisely because Skuld was here so when she offered to leave, Tagal simply shook his head and closed the door behind him. Gesturing to the seats, Tagal sat down on the edge of one of the seats. He was hunched forwards slightly and looking down at his hands.

"Sit down Skuld." he told her firmly, "We have been dancing around our issues for too long now and it ends today. We are going to talk about our issues and we are going to do it right now and have it out. We are not passive aggressive weaklings; we are warriors and it is time we proved that by facing our troubles head on."

Tagal sat upright to look her in the eyes.

"Explain it to me." he ordered her bluntly, "Explain what happened to your family and why you were forced to leave them."

@Killa Ree

 

[Eva 'Skuld' Stark]

She stiffened for a moment, the frown furrowing between black brows. Truth was, she was dreading this confrontation. Talking was not her strongest suit; far better to battle it out, beat it out of herself until she dropped dead of exhaustion. She paused for a beat, before slowly making her way over.

She slowly sat down on the opposite side, legs crossed. She wore another one of her leisurely outfits, barefooted, and yet still somehow the room was too warm. She nodded once, face a careful mask when at last she did speak. "Ja... you are right. I was hoping not to, but it cannot be avoided."

She met eyes with him squarely. There was no time to mince words, or soften it. He wanted to know? She would tell him, as succinctly as she knew how.

"Where to begin..." She mused, eyes dropping to her hands in a preoccupied frown.

"It was nearly four years ago. I had just begun to accept becoming the next Clan's Jarl, after my father. My husband, Baldr, and I wanted to expand our business to Corellia; both for the opportunity, and the cheaper resources." Her lips twisted into a bitter smile. "Skalvard and I, along with my mentor, Urdun, were running a forge business, and my husband supported my endeavor. I... found out later he was seeing women during our marriage, a terrible dishonor to gods and vows. Especially in my father's eyes," she commented bitterly, grimacing.

Her fingers clenched into the fabric of her knees, jaw tight with pain. "He died retreating from being under fire. They told me... he failed to answer hailing calls, and was mistaken for pirate lord by senior officer. He tried to flee... with the woman in his arms." She exhaled sharply, eyes bright. Not with tears... with fury.

"He knew my father's position if he found out. He died when they swarmed and shot them both down, then graciously returned their bodies to us."

A beat of silence... then two. She was shaking, blinking back tears. "My father... he was enraged. His old values meant my husband's fool behavior was a triple dishonor: the first, by insulting his rank as a Warlord, when once a Thrall, a former servant in our halls. Dying in cowardice. And cheating against his honored daughter, who had born his children and was to be Jarl."

Tears slipped from her eyes, but her voice continued on, woodenly. "Since Baldr was not alive to be challenged, my father challenged me instead, for my family. It was to be a death match for honor. If I lost, I was a woman dead, and with an honor-debt, only to be paid with my life, or proof of strength. We fought. I gave him the scar you saw to his face, before he..."

Her hand unconsciously went to her head. The scar was still there; a ridge that crested perfectly.

She was unaware of the tears, her mouth a bitter twist as she continued.

"He knocked me unconscious. Had Skalvard and Inara drag me to my ship, and pilot it out to space, leaving me one holovid message; that if I do not return with honor, he would kill me. And leave my children to watch. If it were up to him, my children would have known me as dead. If I came back with no honor... they would witness their mother murdered and face the prejudice of all Deucalians."

She began to tremble harder, but her face was a focused, cold mask of fury. "Only because of Inni and Skal did they know I lived! I fought every day wishing for death or honor, because it ate me alive not to hold them, not to feel them in my arms and I..."

He would see a side to her no one ever did. The woman behind the warrior. When she paused again, she faltered, and when her eyes met his again he would see a well of pain in them. "He took my name from me; I became Skuld, a debt. Eva is the name of my failure as a mother, a wife... and a warrior." When she said the name, it was laced with bitterness and that same fury, that same rage she had kept contained in her chest all those years. "I thought you understood, but I know now I made a grievous error, and don't expect your forgiveness for it."

She stood, then, and hastily wiped the tears away, angry they appeared, angry she had to show weakness... just angry.

"So... that is why I have been considering leaving. Because, Tagal Saxon..." She took a deep breath, then slowly let it out.

"I do not want you to feel discomfort while we are here any longer. We have no home, and I will not force you to share yours."

@Nefieslab

 

[Tagal Saxon]

Tagal listened in silence.

He didn't once say anything because he knew that there was more to come and there was. Over and over again there was more until, at least, Skuld had divulged the whole story. Everything that she had hid from him was laid bare before him and she was as open as she ever was. She was open to whatever judgement he had to give her, or so she said. If his judgement was more than she expected he imagined she would revolt against the decision.

Still, staring at her for a long time, Tagal decided what he was going to do. He decided based on what he had heard and what the two of them had been through together so far. There had been a lot and he wasn't about throw that all away on a whim. Instead he focused on what he felt and came to the decision.

"I was raised by Clan Saxon to be a Smith and a warrior and I was decent as a warrior but skilled as a Smith. As an apprentice I spent my free time in the forge as well. When I was old enough and had mastered the forge well enough, I married a beautiful young woman who loved me."

There was a pause here.

"We were happy."

A look crossed his face but it was so fleeting it could not be accurately guessed.

"Then she told me she was pregnant and I was overjoyed. I had prayed to the Gods and they were kind and my baby girl was born and we loved her and we were happy."

He glanced to once side.

"The Sith bombed my home out of existence and burned my family to ashes. You were separated from your family by paternal stupidity and institutionalized foolishness in your traditions; I was barred from my family by the cold arms of death."

Tagal turned back to her.

"You were a fool to think I could not understand if you had told me. And a fool to think I could have known without being told but there is nothing even approaching as foolish as your last statement." he declared firmly, "You shall not be thrown from this place and the idea you could think otherwise stings. You shall remain here for as long as you wish because this is... Home."

@Killa Ree

 

[Eva 'Skuld' Stark]

"I am sorry, Tagal; not out of pity, but..."

She faltered in her words. This was new territory for her; even Baldr's memory paled in comparison to this. "Respect. I trust you with my life. You gave me my life back, Tagal Saxon. You say this is home, but it does not erase the lie that I made by omission. I..." She sharply exhaled.

"I am no longer Deucalian. I have no clan. But I am here to be home... with you, with this Blackwell Technologies, and with what I can give."

She shrugged, giving a faint half smile. "Whatever little a foolish Deucalian warrior can give... I am thankful to have met you. And when the Gods take me back, I hope it's with you fighting by my side."

She held her hand out to him. "Very well, I'll stay." They weren't the words she felt in her chest, but they were close enough. And there was still much unresolved... but she would not address that. It was not her judgement to address anything beyond a warrior to another.

@Nefieslab

 

[Tagal Saxon]

He understood what she meant when she apologized and he knew already that it had nothing to do with pity or even sympathy. It was something that meant more than such passing fancies and he appreciated her all the more for it. Running a hand through his short hair, Tagal looked to one side as she spoke.

Why was all this emotional shite happening all at once eh? Usually the damned mushy, feelings, shite tended to come one at a time so he could just deal with it and move on. But now? Right now it seemed like it was happening on the regular and that was beginning to concern him.

They weren't getting soft were they?

Tagal turned back and stared at her hand for a long moment before snorting in amusement.

"That all sounded very dramatic - you rehearse that in front of the mirror, Ice Brain?" he joked with a smirk even as he reached out and took her hand in his own, holding onto it tight and using it to stand as he pulled her to her feet as well, his smirk disappearing as he pulled her in close by her hand, "You're damn right you're staying. I ain't letting my engineer just wander off into the sunset just because she make one kark up!"

Pulling her in, he knocked his forehead with hers affectionately.

"Pick your arse off the ground, dust yourself off and don't do it again." he told her, resting his forehead against her's, "And be a mother to those bloody kids before one of them calls me Dad or something. The boy looks about ready to start and I only like it when one Stark calls me Daddy."

@Killa Ree

 

[Eva 'Skuld' Stark]

She snorted back, smirking. One black brow rose as she set her other hand on her hip, icy blue eyes glittering with amusement as she stood with him. They met eye to eye as she allowed him to pull her closer, lightly bumping foreheads.

"You wish, Málmhaus," she chuckled, the grin softening for an instant. Her shoulders felt lighter, as though lifted of a burden she had been carrying far too long. She felt like she had gotten away with the most minor of punishments, and here he was forgiving her. Maybe Mustafar would freeze over; she wasn't ready to glance over and check yet.

"Your engineer, huh?" She smirked cheekily, chin tilted up slightly. "I guess so."

His last comment startled a laugh out of her. It was full, throaty, met with a small thump to his shoulder, another affectionate bump in return. "You wish," she repeated, another chuckle still lingering in her eyes and the corners of her lips. "The boy likes you; the only man he's known is Skal, and he seems to have a knack for things. Frigga is..." she sighed, then slowly shrugged. "Trouble. And very... mm... smart. You sure you want that handful around?" She teased him, slowly releasing him.

"Besides... you know I always have a different nickname in mind when it comes to you," she said over her shoulder, tossing her hair aside to give him a side view of her curled grin... and a back view of everything else. Her hand released his, and she began to saunter out, head held high, and a grin on her lips.

Back to normal... if she were to be optimistic, she would say better than normal.

Ja. It was good to be back.

@Nefieslab

 

[Tagal Saxon]

Tagal knew that some people probably would have gotten annoyed at being called such a thing, at the ownership that was implied in such a title, but he also got the feeling that Skuld was the type of woman who would appreciate it. Besides, it was clear that he respected her abilities as an engineer because it was what he referred to her as. She wasn't a woman or a Deucalian first; she was an engineer first in his mind and that was because she had done much to make it stick in his mind that she was an engineer worthy of true respect for her dedication to her craft.

So when she asked him about it he just smirked a little bit.

"Yeah. My engineer."

Alright so maybe there was a little bit of a possessive streak in there but that was just natural as far as he was concerned - he was a Mandalorian and that meant he was often rather blunt and upfront about things. He shrugged a little bit.

"The children and you are a package deal and it's worth it." he declared easily before adding, "And besides - they're past the most irritating stage of childhood so they are acceptable to actually be around. Tolerable even."

They were actually rather well behaved young children but he would be damned if he was going to admit that to Skuld. She already knew so there was no point in swelling her ego as a mother. He smirked a little bit as he watched her walking away from him. It seemed that things were back on track.

Now to see where that track would actually lead them.

/End Thread
@Killa Ree