Ask Gone Fishing

[Altair Din]

Although he tried talking her out of this, Vahliri insisted on taking him to Indupar. However, deep in his heart, he couldn’t really blame her. He had his attachments to his home and family, so how could he fault her for hers? In her case, her family had cut her off since her actions got them ousted from ISC space. He couldn’t imagine the pain she went through with never being able to make amends with them again, but this was the cost of being the Dark Lord of the Sith.

In the end, he gave in and accompanied her to Indupar while keeping a low profile. They had spent most of their day with Vahliri showing him where she grew up and sights that were familiar. The Kahtal family cottage was tucked away in the countryside. There was no one there and they had the place to themselves, but he knew it bothered her that there was no family here for her to introduce him to.

The tiefling was dressed in simple civilian clothes and he was pushing a canoe out into the water. He had mentioned fishing a while ago and Vahliri clung to the idea till they met again. With Bastion conquered and Vahliri defeating the Jedi Grandmaster, they finally had some time to themselves.

“Come on, babe, we gotta head out before it gets too hot!” He called out over his shoulder as he prepared the tackle box. Altair had given her strict instructions on wearing what was comfortable, but he still expected her to wear some nonsense, impractical outfit. As a result, he packed an extra pair of his hoodie and a pair of her sweatpants she left on his ship. He couldn’t help but smile to himself at how terrible his luck had been the past few times he had navigated a boat.

“I’m leaving without youuuu!” He said in a sing-song voice as he hopped into the boat.

@Altaris

 

[Darth Tempest]

Vahliri knew precisely how much she was risking by visiting Indupar. It had been years since the half-Annfyn had last been to her homeworld - exiled and forever barred from visiting the place where she and Altair had first met. No matter how much time passed, it was a pain that lingered within the chest of the Dark Lord. A longing for home, and the hatred of her own kin that haunted her each and every day.

When they were only Acolytes, Tempest had promised to take Altair to visit her own - to introduce him to her family. Even if she couldn’t do the latter, Vahliri had every intention of exploring the cottage and countryside with the man she loved.

Hours had been spent exploring the spacious family cottage where Vahliri had spent her summers growing up. The very rooms that had been hers. The various portraits and family paintings that lined every wall, including a much older Anfynn with a striking resemblance to Vahliri herself.

By the time Altair has readied the canoe near the rivers edge, the sun was already rising into the morning sky. The weather was tropical and humid - the spray of moisture from nearby waterfalls offering a cool, refreshing mist. Wild Talbuck grazed on the tall grasses and leafy vegetation nearby, bleating happily as they went.

“It’ll be the last thing you do, Altair!” Vahliri called back after the Tiefling, rounding the corner as she quickly approached the boat, sandal held in one hand. The half-Annfyn had completely forgone the armor and weaponry the Galaxy knew her for - instead sporting a split skirt and crop top - perfect for a day on the water, and for the notoriously warm weather. Her black hair was left unstyled, loose ringlets cascading down nearly to her waist.

Even with the time that had passed, Altair would clearly be able to see the remnant burn scars that marked Vahliri’s back and torso - lingering through the repeated Bacta treatments. Victorious or not, the Dark Lord hadn’t left her fight against Alexandria unscathed.

In her other hand, Vahliri carried an oversized straw hat - one that had been specially made to fit around the horns of her man. As she stepped towards the canoe, the half-Annfyn casually fitted the hat to him - pulling the brim down to shield his eyes. She didn’t care how much he insisted that Tiefling couldn’t burn in the sun.

“Ready when you are, baby,” She said with a half smile, extending a hand to grasp his own as she stepped into the canoe. “Let’s see how long it takes you to drive us over the falls this time,” The half-Annfyn quipped playfully.

“Should be shallow enough to fly fish down river,” She said after a moment. Never mind the fact that she spent the better part of her time getting ready, researching what fly fishing actually was.

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair thought he was used to her over the top outfits, but it still took his breath away even after all these years. When she emerged, he paused what he was doing, his amethyst gaze openly staring at her to admire how stunning she looked. His eyes drifted over the scars and burns over her torso, but it only made her more beautiful to him. She was a warrior. His warrior. He had a lopsided grin on his face as he looked at her, though the expression immediately soured when she produced a hat for him.

“Babe I don’t need-” He began, but he quickly paused when he realized it was actually custom fitted to his head. The gesture was so thoughtful that it made his tail flip back and forth eagerly. He extended a hand to help her into the canoe, smirking at her commentary about fly fishing.

“You know how fly fishin’ works?” He quipped as they pushed off and began to coast into the water. Altair guessed Vahliri had no idea how fly fishing actually worked. The image of her wading waist deep into river water was almost enough to make him start chuckling. In case she didn’t do her research, he was more than prepared to give her a surprising intro.

His gaze flicked over to the majestic horse-like creatures grazing in the distance. Altair watched them for a while, “You ever ride one of those?” He asked, jutting his chin. He did all the paddling, his powerful muscles working in concert to easily push the canoe through the water.

“So… how’re you doin’?” Altair asked after a moment of silence. He didn’t let his gaze drift down to her injuries, but the concern was unmistakable in his tone.

@Altaris

 

[Darth Tempest]

Unsurprisingly, Vahliri wasn’t deterred by the protests from Altair - happily ignoring the Tiefling as she placed the straw hat over his horns. The half-Annfyn had no intentions of divulging how much effort went into the custom-made accessory, but the smile that pulled across her face revealed just how much she enjoyed presenting it. There was a warmth and affection there that betrayed the veneer of the Dark Lord. Betrayed the warrior and Galactic figure she had become.

It was a smile reserved only for Altair, and he would know it to be true.

While Altair towed them into the river, Vahliri lazily lounged herself within the boat - leaning against the side while one arm hung over the edge, dragging in the water. There were some traits from her noble heritage that simple didn’t fade, and having little knowledge of how to steer a regular canoe was.. Definitely on that list. She was all-too-comfortable, and entirely shameless in the way that she stared at her muscular partner rowing them along. The half-Annfyn wasn’t the least bit shy about her desires, and the man himself frequently topped that last.

“Of course I do,” She said, lying through her teeth. It took until this evening for the half-Annfyn to become aware of the vague concept, and only in an effort to understand his interests. “Indupar is famous for its rivers and falls. Fishing has always been popular here.” She smiled.

“I’m sure you’ll have a few pointers, though.”

Vahliri followed his gaze out towards the horse-like creatures, a smile brushing against her lips. “Talbuk.” She said after a moment of silence. “They are native here, and are protected this deep into the countryside from poachers.” She glanced back at him. “I used to ride them when I was little. Most of the nobility make sport out of it. The royalty have carriages and processions pulled by them.”

“Care to make a detour?” She grinned - a flick of the Force beginning to steer their canoe towards the little jut of land where they grazed. Of course, her gaze flicked back to Altair when his question was voiced, the concern clear in his tone. She didn’t need to guess where his thoughts had lingered.

“It was nothing I couldn’t handle, baby.” She said simply, watching a hand across to grasp one of his own. “I survived. I always do, so I can get back to you.” There was a confidence there that Vahliri had earned for herself. After every successful invasion and battle - dueling the king of Thule, the Grandmaster of the Jedi Order and countless before them both.

But Altair needed to only take a single look at her - to see the injuries she bore and the exhaustion that lingered behind those amber eyes - to know it was among the most difficult things she had done.

She brought that hand to brush against her lips, planting a small kiss to his knuckles. “I heard about your campaign, hot shot.” Vahliri said softly. “How are things in the Empire? Really?” The half-Annfyn had her sources. But there was a lingering concern how the relationship between him and the Emperor had progressed - something Altair had voiced their last time together.

As their ship drifted closer to the shore, the Talbuk didn’t move from where they were grazing. Not quite yet. Vahliri jutted her chin, urging Altair to follow. “Come on,”

 

[Altair Din]

Altair was certainly intrigued by these talbuks and he had the wild idea of jumping on one to see what happened. He dusted off his shoulder confidently, “Your man has ridden a rancor in battle, I think he can handle a peacock horse,” He said with a smug grin. He knew he was full of shit, but it was still insane to think about when he actually hopped on a rancor on not one, but two, occasions.

He was silent for a moment as Vahliri reassured him about coming back. He was silent even as she moved onto her next question, gazing off into the distance for a bit. Altair looked back at her, “Have you ever considered just…walking away from it?” He knew the question would be absurd for her, “Doesn’t this make you happy? When we’re not fighting the wars of the galaxy or barely comin' out alive at the end of every battle?”

The tiefling sighed, entwining their fingers where she held his hand, “This will be my last campaign, Vahl,” He admitted aloud, “I’m gonna walk away. I wanna focus on other things..focus on my girl..” He trailed off before looking at her with a faint smile, “My girls.”

@Altaris

 

[Darth Tempest]

“Famous last words, baby.” Vahliri said with a smirk - her lips tugging wide and towards a genuine smile, filled with mirth. “I won’t judge if that Talbuk bucks you onto your ass, though.” She quipped before jamming her elbow into his ribs playfully. The half-Annfyn had every intention of actually taking up the challenge, despite the likelihood things were going to go horrifically wrong.

Despite the majestic views all around them, Vahliri found her own gaze affixed to her man - a single brow arching ever-so-slightly at the newest train of thought. She could feel the weight that carried each word, stress and exhaustion that had finally driven Altair to consider leaving the Empire that he had effectively forged into a new regime single-handedly.

“I’ve thought about it. Thought about starting my life anew somewhere else.” She paused for a moment, brushing her thumb across the top of his hand. “But it isn’t easy to leave the life of a Sith.” She said with a breath. “And I’m not ready to hand over what I’ve built of this Order yet.” The simple reality was that most Sith didn’t get an opportunity to walk away - lest they fade into complete obscurity, or grow powerful enough to fend of the ire of their peers.

Perhaps Vahliri had grown to be just that - but there was far more at play. A desire to keep hold of the power she’d built for herself. To spread her own vision, after fighting her way to the top. The thrill of every battle and duel won, even if Altair had grown tired of it within the Empire.

“Moments with you, make me happy.”

She was silent for a long moment - nodding as Altair declared his latest campaign to be his last. “You deserve better than the hand you’ve been dealt by Drast. And he ought to be reminded of that.” She said flatly, staring back at her man intensely. On some level, she knew that his constant suspicion and ridicule at the highest level contributed to the decision. “But if this is what you want?” She leaned over a bit more, pressing her forehead against his own. “Then I support that.”

The half-Annfyn snuck a kiss from the Tiefling, a smile slowly starting to tug at the corner of his mouth. “Besides,” She whispered against his ear, holding him close. “Perhaps I like the idea of you waiting for me when I return from battles of my own.”