Ask Surprise Visits

[Altair Din]

“Didn’t expect anything?” Altair scoffed at that, not releasing her just yet. Memories from months ago flooded his mind, thoughts he had closed off back then. He didn’t even notice when his hips pressed against her rear, betraying old and familiar desires they had left behind. After a moment, the tiefling drew back, releasing her abruptly and leaving her there. His mind started to drift and he had to reel himself back in.

She would hear the familiar sounds of punches landing on a dummy as Altair casually returned to what he was doing. He whirled around and kicked the dummy as well, circling around it to fight it and practice his moves.

“I ain’t gonna deal with hints,” Altair said in between blows, “Tell me plainly what you want from me,” He said before he stopped and glanced up at her again after wiping sweat off his brow, “You didn’t tell me back then and you ain’t tellin’ me now either.”

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

For a brief moment, there was a pin-drop silence. She held ber breath while the tension seemed to climax, then she could hear her own pounding heart. As he repeated what she had just outlined, she immediately doubted her own words. She hadn't lied, yet now that he repeated those words, she started wondering whether subconsciously she had had a certain plan in mind.

Back then, Celeste had cut him off because she couldn't stand his constant walls. He hadn't let her in and there was still so much unspoken between the two of them, that all memories came flooding back in at once. His body pressed against hers electrified her and it left her hungry for more, but more wasn't hers to take, was it? Not anymore...

As he suddenly released her, her backside was immediately embraced by an unpleasant cold, but it was not just his body heat that was missing. She immediately spun around, an eyebrow raised as he just went back to training. He went back to punching that dummy?! Oh no. Definitely not.

She exhaled sharply, a decent amount of frustration immediately spreading through her insides as she speechlessly stared at him for a moment. Was it simply clarity he wanted? What the fuck had he just done just a few moments ago though? Was this yet another stupid game? She actually knew her place, but it seemed like he was toying with her and this provocation triggered her old self. Regardless of actually knowing her place right now, she marched up towards him while he was just pausing.

Without another word she grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him closer-or well, she rather pulled herself towards him as his muscular body wasn't budging so easily- got on tiptoes and pressed her lips against his. A stupidly impulsive reaction, but she only listened to her feelings. She pulled back after a moment, staring into his vibrant, purple eyes with desire in her own. "You, Altair" she stated determinantly. If hints weren't enough anymore, he would receive clarity. It was hard for her to grasp as she hadn't felt such a desire for quite some time, but her emotions were running high. "I don't care whether you've changed. I've done that too...but I still feel...that spark". She was not here to play games either, but those strong emotions were overwhelming. Was it just a spark though? No, funnily enough, after all that misery, there was a whole firework.

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

He watched her as she marched over, seeing a familiar flick of fire in her eyes he had seen before. Altair stood his ground even as he felt her grasp the front of his tank. It was only after that that he leaned down the slightest bit as she came up to press her lips against his. The familiarity hit him like an explosion, the taste of her lips and the warmth taking him right back to a place where he had shut down that chapter. She was opening it again and he wasn’t sure how he felt about it.

The tiefling reached down and effortlessly lifted her up with his arms hooking under her thighs. Altair glanced up at her briefly before carrying her over to a nearby counter where various lethal blades and weapons were laid in a row. Altair set her down to sit on the edge of the counter, his hands sliding up along her legs. He didn’t care as he tore at the fabric, ripping the pants clearly down into shreds. Altair calmly stared into her eyes as he did so, knowing fully well that she would have to sew up and fix her own uniform. Knowing full well she would likely hear from the instructor about this. Knowing full well she would get into trouble. If she wanted this, she would do it on his terms and however he pleased.

“You coulda come back anytime for this,” He reminded her as he slid his hand up her torso to unbutton the front of the uniform. He was more merciful for the top of her tunic, “I said you ain’t gotta be a good girl with me,” Altair said as he leaned in closer to her, grasping her by the hair and yanking her head back. He began to kiss along her neck and towards her collarbone while moving in between her legs. He didn’t give her a chance to take over under any circumstance, going directly for whatever he desired. She would have to deal with him as he was, battle worn, sweaty and rigid.

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

She was still not fully sure what she had expected to happen when she entered this very room, but right now, it was rather clear. This familiarity between them erupted like the spark she had hoped for and the electric emotions that were triggered immediately consumed her. It was not fear, but passion that ran absolutely high and the desire dominated her consciousness.

She knew she had to be careful what to do, but she was off for the afternoon and so there was nothing wrong with staying down here for a little longer. The fabric he recklessly tore apart though was a problem, but nothing that couldn't be fixed. Celeste was clever and she knew exactly where they kept the uniforms and this acolyte attire was absolutely unspectacular and so no one would notice...or at least so she hoped.

Altair was sweaty and much rougher than usual, but once he pulled her head back she didn't even complain. A moan immediately escaped her, especially because his words fueled her inner fire even further. No...the good girl times of the well behaved, prim and proper, rather selfless senator were over anyway and she let herself be conquered by him like this without any complaints. As he put her on the counter, she quickly shoved some weapons aside before she closed her eyes, simply enjoying what he did to her.

He was in complete control, he had made that utterly clear, but Celeste was rather used to that nowadays. "Trust me. I'm not that girl anymore anyway...". Hadn't that already been obvious after their risqué affair on the balcony on Ord Radama? He didn't have to ask her twice. Even though he was obviously the dominant part her, she reached up too, passionately grabbing him bis his hairs, but definitely less possessive than ever before, if he even let her do that after all. Their power imbalance was obvious and she wouldn't question it at all.

His kisses left a burning, prickling desire on each and every spot he touched and it was literally interesting to see, that there was no more trace of that shy, nervous boy that had even been flustered by a few things she had done in the past. Another moan of pleasure escaped her while she just hoped no one would walk in on them after all. She wanted him as much as he apparently wanted her and a smirk crossed her lips as her passionate gaze met his. "See...I like that new Altair" she breathed, her voice thick with desire and her breath already heavier.

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

---
​

He would have to leave for the base on Mustafar in two days. He frequented the academies now and then to lead courses or fix up his armor. He also invited Celeste to his quarters when he had time in between his constantly packed days. Stress gripped him at all times, and she offered him a reprieve from it all. She hadn’t seen him much since that initial encounter in the training room. Altair had been peacefully asleep when his comlink began to hum. He lazily checked it, saw it was a reminder about his next deployment, and set it aside.

Rubbing his eyes, he looked over next to him where Celeste still remained, her head resting on his muscled arm. He smiled to himself but it faded as his gaze drifted further down her back. He hadn’t mentioned anything about it before, but his thoughts lingered there now. His fingertips gently grazed along her back, tracing down to where he brushed over some of the burn scars.

“He made you do this, didn’t he?” Altair asked quietly, taking a moment to study them. He had seen similar markings on Aadya. The sight sent rage through him, but he knew there was little he could do. It had been Aadya’s choice and this was also Celeste’s choice.

“Did it work?” He continued, “Did you let go of the things you burned?”

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

Her days were still filled with duties she would never to voluntarily, but despite a slight inner annoyance she dutifully fulfilled every task they gave her. Each and every Altair spent on Raxus, she knew that if she'd hurry, she would get a chance to catch him during night time and this time was not different. Today, she wasn't on Raxus today though, as she had been relocated onto Eriadu for the formal event over there. While this had offered not only a change of scenery, but also a different task to break her slightly depressing daily routine, serving drinks and snacks on an extremely chaotic, eventful night hadn't been a blast either and later that night, when Altair had asked for a dance, he had even passed out right on the middle of the dancefloor, curled up next to a bare chested Wodan which had been an admittedly interesting view, but not exactly what she had hoped for.

In the end, things had turned out to be good though, as Altair had taken her with her after his little nap during which she had tidied up with the other staff. He had still been rather wasted and so they had barely made it into the bed with her supporting the Tiefling in her waiter dress, but despite his comlink rudely waking them, it was at least nice waking up to the warmth of another body. His familiar presence, the heightened body heat due to his Tiefling genetics and even the affection in his familiar touch was a pleasant thing to wake up to. It took a while for her to stir though, as a yawn escaped her first, but before she rolled to turn, but she was stopped by his soft touch that softly grazed her burnt skin. She flinched involuntarily, because even though it wasn't painful, the injured skin was still heavily sensitive and even raw.

It surpised her a little that Altair immediately knew what happened. Was he just good at guessing or at he just put one and one together? Maybe he had even heard about similar incidents before, but one way or another, she answered truthfully. "Yes...he did" she quietly replied, now turning around to face him. His next question was definitely of a serious nature and she even saw a hint of anger flashing through his gaze, but it really seemed like she owed him some honest elaboration. "As a matter of fact, it has helped. It made me understand and it...symbolically burnt away those transgressions. I was stupid and misled...I could fully close that chapter then and start anew. The mistakes of the past will always be visible, but I was offered a chance and for that I'm grateful". As rough as the start had been and still was, she was on the right track. There was no need for holding back or suppressing her true powers anymore...even if she was still stuck in that stupid acolyte position for now. Her time would come and until then, she was at least happy to be able to connect with Altair again. "You've got to leave soon, right?" she asked with a hint of a sigh, already knowing the answer though. She softly trailed across the skin of his arm with her free hand while he'd gaze didn't leave his vibrant, purple eyes.

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair knew the answer before she even said it, though he didn’t like it one bit. He had a blank expression on his face when she turned to face him, his tail flicking back and forth to reveal that he wasn’t happy. However, he always respected individual choices even if he didn’t agree with them. His expression softened as he reached over to brush a strand of hair from Celeste’s face, “Well I don’t like it…but if it’s what you gotta do..” He trailed off, sighing.

He nodded at her question, “Ship out in two days. Intelligence suggests we may have a Jedi attack, though nothing’s confirmed,” He rolled to lie on his back, staring up at the ceiling. The blanket slipped away from his torso, revealing many new scars along his chest and stomach from his various battles.

“I hardly get any time now,” Altair said with a faint grin, “Wouldn’t mind soaking in that bath on Rattatak again,” He closed his eyes as he thought back to that memory. He felt perfectly pampered and princely then, a sensation he hadn’t experienced since. More and more the notion of taking a planet for himself sounded appealing. The older Sith Lords carved out territories for themselves and he slowly began to desire the same.

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

It wasn't hard to tell that he wasn't satisfied with her reply and the dismay reflected in both, his mimic and tail movement. She closed her eyes for a moment as his fingers brushed against her skin, a soft smile landing on her lips before she opened them again. She didn't continue this conversation, because it was simply to pleasant subject to begin with and there was unfortunately nothing they could do to improve her situation right then, so she rather wanted to focus on what remained of their limited time together.

She drew different shapes of his arm while she attentively listened to what he said, her expressions immediately switching into a frown as he mentioned a possible Jedi attack. "A Jedi attack? The ceasefire is over, but would they go this far?" she wondered, watching him turn. Were they really that stupid? After all that negative PR and their constant interference with the resistance, where they invading planets now? She slightly shook her head before she edged closer, planting her head on his shoulder while she embraced him with one arm. "It sounds like you're preparing to be the one to face them..." she added quietly, a definite hint of worry in her voice. It was not that she was doubting his skills, but even if he was more than capable, he constantly threw himself into dangerous situations like Korriban...It was his job, just like hers, but she couldn't deny that the thought of him getting seriously injured or even killed made her sick. Not just sick, but furious even, the longer she considered that thought...

What he said next threw her out of her own thoughts and her lips curled back into a smile. "I can imagine...you know, as soon as I'm returning, you have to visit when you get some time off. I can promise that a pleasantly warm bath will await you...amongst other things of course". She glanced up at him with a cheeky spark in her blue eyes. Back then it wasn't hard to tell how much he had enjoyed his little visit and she remembered well how he had savored their shared time. On the one hand, it seemed like Rattataki had been ages ago, while on the other it now seemed as though nothing had changed between the two of them. It wasn't true though. They were not the same people at all, but then again it felt like it had never been any different.

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair grinned at her question, “Hey, it’s about time they made some offensive moves,” He said as he thought of all the times the Sith led the initiative and Jedi were always put on the defense. Altair quirked a brow as she moved in and held him closer, “Since when do you worry about me?” He asked with a teasing smile as he squeezed her tight. He watched her for a moment, feeling her tense up and displaying genuine concern over him. Altair leaned in to steal a quick kiss from her, “I’ll probably scare a few of them away with my horns,” He gave her a wink, trying to lighten the mood. There was some truth to the sentiment - he had been on enough invasions to where the Jedi and resistance profiled him and warned others about him.

The thought of Rattatak sounded incredible. It had felt like a vacation back then and he wanted nothing more than another one. These days, he worked around the clock and was constantly under pressure with orders coming from Trelain or sometimes even the Empress. The defense of Korriban put him on the map and suddenly he had attention from both higher ranks and those below him.

Altair stifled a yawn and suddenly moved Celeste so she was sitting on his stomach. He gazed up at her with sleep still barely leaving his eyes. There were hints of gold in his purple eyes and she would notice it in the way the light was hitting them.

“Enough about me,” He declared, “What about you? What’re you up to?” Altair asked as his hands traced along her thighs and slid behind her towards her rear. He paused there for a moment, his expression growing slightly more serious, “What happened after Ruusan?” Altair sighed to himself, “I didn’t wanna cast suspicion on you so I kept my distance during the rescue.”

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

His reply made her smirk, even though she really wondered whether that was a clever move. Well for the Jedi definitely not and it was still hard to believe that they would even do such a thing, as offense definitely wasn't their strong suit, but who knew whether they would just join the resistance as always.

One way or another, she didn't quite know how to feel about having Altair in the front lines again. She bit her lip, studying him rather critically for a moment before her smirk returned. "Shouldn't you know that by now? I worried on Ord Radama, on Rattatak, on Obroa-Skai-well, I was more furious there- but still, you get the idea. I know you have to and I know you're more than capable..." she playfully boxed against his chest, "but be careful...".

With that, she then let herself be pulled on top of him where she stole a few passionate kisses, her fingers soon interlaced with his while she teasingly pinned his hands down for a moment, just to have her lips melt against his once more.

The sunrays were still coating the room in a pleasant golden hue, which made the view even more mesmerizing which only made her smile wider, but as he returned the questions, she had to control her expressions for a moment. Especially the mentioning of Ruusan stirred up a few emotions inside her, although she tried her best not to let them shine from.

"My shuttle leaves in the afternoon. Since I worked all night, they gave me the morning off, then I'm off to Raxus again" she explained, thereby answering the easier question first. "Retraining is still proceeding...I hope I'll get to start actual training soon though." Admittedly, the questions that followed were of a rather complicated nature and she didn't quite know how far to elaborate.

Ruusan...Well all started back there, didn't it? "I was in a very critical state...I was fixed up on Kashyyyk, but not much later I went on a hike and everything escalated...I was badly injured again, at my worst even when Raze somehow find his way into my mind. I was in pieces...he even shattered them further, but it was necessary. Those terrible events really opened my eyes. I was completely misled and I'm grateful to be on the right track again, even if it is steep and rocky". She ended with a soft smile, because even if recalling all those memories was still emotional, she was thankful that the past was a closed chapter.

She was confident and her ambitions unbroken, at least now that she was much more stable again. She was still in a low position here, but she was eager to prove that she had finally understood. "Is Amira doing okay? I've seen her getting hurt too...". Despite Amira having been the one that had revealed her past, she was hoping his sister was well. It wasn't even that she wanted to change the subject, but she really hadn't heard of her since.

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair hadn’t really thought about it until she rattled off the names of the various planets. He rolled his eyes a bit, but the smile never left, “Cel, you worry about everyone,” He pointed out, “Half the reason we argued is ‘cause you wanted to save everyone all the time,” Of course, Altair had no idea what she had been through or that she had a wake up call when she realized others constantly ran to her fix themselves.

He wasn’t thrilled to hear that she would be leaving, but it was no different for him. With his new title, he was often tasked with training the next generation of acolytes and champions. Altair didn’t realize when he became a leader instead of a follower. He always simply tagged along on missions or invasions, but now he was leading and organizing them.

After a moment, he grabbed a hold of her and moved off the bed. Likely, she would be surprised, but Altair was strict about his routines. Without a word, he dropped to the ground and motioned for Celeste to sit on his lower back. He didn’t give much more explanation as he got into position and slowly lifted himself off the ground, starting to do pushups with her sitting on him. It was perhaps the most Chad she would have seen him, but nothing got in the way of his routines. The muscles of his shoulders and back rippled as he did each rep, starting off slow but eventually picking up the pace.

“There’s a lot you ain’t telling me,” He said in between his controlled breathing, “But I ain’t gonna pry until you’re ready to talk about it,” Altair reassured her.

“My sister is fine,” He lowered down to almost touch the ground before lifting up again, exhaling, “She has a boyfriend I didn’t know about. Dude seemed keen on takin’ care of her so she’s in good hands,” Sweat began to line his torso as he continued, “Doesn’t the Alliance think you’re kidnapped or something? I’m expectin’ to punch Aezz in the face next,” Altair grinned as he continued with the push ups. She would know he wasn’t using the Force for any of it, relying entirely on his own strength.

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

This shit eating grin didn't leave his lips, especially not after she had mentioned Obroa-Skai. Right...this also reminded her that they weren't even yet. Someday, she might return thr favor and this thought made her smirk more mischievously. The smirk was, however, slightly fading after he stated that she cared for everyone. "Not anymore" she interjected, the warmth leaving her voice, so for a moment, there was an icy undertone. It was a hard truth, but also something that had been long due. "I'm not saving people who wreck me anymore...See this is why I'm so glad we've run into each other again...you never wronged me" and back was the warmth. She leaned down again, planting a soft, tender kiss on his lips before she smiled down at him, but she didn't stay seated on the Tiefling much longer.

At first, she had no idea what he was up to know, but as soon as he dropped down, it dawned her. Of course...His strict Thorne routine. She had spent enough mornings with him to know that nothing came between Altair and his training and well, she could neither blame him nor deny its effectiveness, so she obediently took a seat, amusedly shaking her head while she was still smirking.

With him mentioning that he sensed there was something she wasn't telling him, a shiver ran down her spine and the smile was wiped from her lips. Yes...She was leaving out certain parts, but she didn't know whether those parts were even worth mentioning. Or whether she was ready to talk about them yet. She didn't quite know why, but somehow, she was close to snapping. She almost just shouted 'I fell in love with a Jedi, involuntarily got pregnant and lost the baby to a Sith spawn!', all emotions released at once, but she didn't. In the very last moment, that volcano of emotions didn't erupt. It was the softness in his voice and that he was so understanding, that contained all that emotional ballast under the surface. She exhaled deeply, but it was more of a sigh.

She had no real reason not to tell him, had she? They hadn't been in contact for quite a while, she had fallen in love head over heels just to be betrayed again...It still pained her to remember that an innocent life had been lost due to her mistakes and she would always regret this, but this was definitely no information so easily given away...Right as she was about to open her mouth, Altair started talking about Amira and she was even a bit relieved that she did not have to go this emotional route down again right now. "I'm glad to hear she's fine" she replied, letting her gaze wander across the room before she watched his muscles flex again.

"As for the FWA...well, I haven't made any public appearances in quite some time, but I've sent a message claiming that I'm suffering under a condition and that I'm taking some time off. They are all too polite to request confidential details and so far, no one went crazy, so I guess it's alright". She shrugged slightly, now actually wondering what Aezz was thinking. He was the only external person filled in about her pregnancy, and maybe he would even put one and one together...If she was suffering from health problems now, maybe he was even already assuming something went wrong. Did it matter though? No...not at all.

"You know what? There's no point of leaving out details..." She was suprised that the words just left her, but it seemed to be right to get it of her chest, especially because he might understand her change of heart better afterwards. She deeply sighed again, actually glad that she was not looking in his eyes right now. "I'm back here, because I lost my heart to a...Jedi. Turns out he was just using me too...So don't worry, I've dealt with him. That doesn't matter though.... Until then, her voice was completely cold, but the sadness was now creeping in. "What mattered is that I...was pregnant. It...wasnt planned or anything and I was shocked at first. It was definitely no conscious decision, but the decision of whether I would...keep the child was taken away from me. Ruusan and then an accident with a...Sith spawn in a cave. It sounds crazy, I know...but those last months were intense. I was led my stupid emotions and nothing can reverse the past, but I was so stupid...so emotional...so torn after we had parted ways", she trailed off, but there were no tears. There were definitely emotions, disappointment being the most prominent one, but it was a deep disappointment in herself back then, sadness about the loss of an innocent life and anger thanks to all the people that had led her away from the right path. There was a pain in the pit of her stomach, but she still sat on him rather still. She inhaled deeply and let the air out again. Now it was off her chest and he knew the rest..."I'm not torn anymore and it feels great. Despite still being nothing more than an 'acolyte', I feel stronger than ever...more myself than ever".

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair kept doing his pushups as she spoke. He scoffed as she told him he never wronged her, “Just give it time…I’m sure I’ll manage,” He said bitterly, “You saw what happened at the party,” Altair reminded her. He caused nothing but drama for others and he was honestly tired of it. It was why he threw himself into work now more than ever. Altair kept going, beginning to get tired from the reps. His arms began to quiver a bit as he continued, sweat lining his body and hair. His breathing was slightly more labored as he did the pushups. Damn, Emryc could probably do a hundred more of these no problem.

He felt her get tense as she paused, and he held himself in a plank. When she began to speak, his eyes widened with each sentence. By the time she finished speaking, Altair lowered himself to the ground, staring at the opposite wall in shock. He wasn’t sure what he felt when he heard the confession, but he certainly felt the emotions from her that were almost tangible. It all felt like a solid punch to the gut.

After a moment, he gently eased himself out from beneath her, shifting so she was sitting in his lap facing him. Altair gazed into her eyes, staring in disbelief, “Celeste…” He said softly, “Are you better for it or is that just what Raze told you to think?” He asked, “Did the Jedi…really use you or are you saying that to make coping easier?” Altair asked bluntly, “Did you take the time to grieve what you lost?” He asked as he raised a hand to cup her cheek, “If you wanna be Sith, you gotta do it for the right reasons… it seems like you came back because Raze took advantage of you going through a tragedy,” Altair said, “You lost a child, Celeste,” He felt sick just saying it, “That ain’t somethin’ you just put away..it all comes up to destroy you when you least expect it,” Altair certainly went through having to cope with his emotions many times even though he had never experienced something as severe as a child loss.

“If he got you to fall in love with him, it wasn’t no accident or trick. You're way too smart for that,” Altair gave her a faint smile, “You weren’t stupid. You did it ‘cause he was the guy for you then. Just didn’t work out for whatever reason, but don’t blame yourself,” He sighed as he wrapped his arms around her, “But you gotta let yourself mourn, Celeste. You gotta cry…you gotta fall apart…you gotta collapse where you feel safe. Not around Raze. Only where you trust and feel okay. Only then can you start putting yourself back together.”

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

The party..."Right...you mercilessly kicked his ass" she answered, slightly chuckling to herself as she recalculated that...eventful night. Why had they even started to brawl? Oh wait...the rat. Plenty of crazy stuff had happened, but Altair's punches had been impressive as always. However the conversation shifted to something far more heavier again.

She wasn't quite sure how he would react, but he was the first person that learnt about all that. It was all out, the blunt truth laid right in front of him. For the briefest moment she wasn't fully sure whether the moment had been right...but no, it definitely felt better now. Her muscles were rather involuntarily tensed up as he just stopped, letting her heavy, honest words sink in while her throat went dry.

She cleared her throat and swallowed as he shifted and turned to face her. She was a little suprised that Altair questioned Raze in a way, but left it uncommented. Now doubt he had manipulated her...after all, he had known exactly when to strike and he had been successful, but this was not the whole story. This was partly a reason, but the main ones laid much deeper.

He softly cupped her cheek, although what he said was almost a little offensive. She knew how he meant it, but he was still accusing her of following the wrong reasons...which was a bluntly wrong assumption. She attentively listened until he was done, letting his words sink in as well and considering each and every question he raised, because she knew, in the end, he just wanted to help her in a way.

"Thank you for your concerns" the first part came out colder and more sober than intended, so she reached down to softly brush across his cheek. "It makes sense that you are thinking this way...especially because you knew me well and you also knew what I said back then...Raze has helped opening my eyes, that's for sure. Regardless of whether he has twisted any opinions, I was wrong all along", she swallowed again, visibly struggling to find the right words without getting too emotional again.

"Looking back, all those people whom I had trusted had never done anything for me. I gave them my everything and I never got anything back. You may be right...I've fallen in love but it was too good to be true. Our..plans didn't match. He pressured me...he was even the final reason I left and how stupid was that? I betrayed the Empire...the one thing that had always been there for me, even though I didn't agree with each and every decision they ever made. For what? To have a Jedi who wanted to keep me stored away somewhere in the middle of nowhere...to quit everything I ever had, everything I've ever wanted. He wanted me to put all ambitions aside". Especially this last part still made her anrgy. When she had killed him, it felt like she had killed all that had been left of her love.

She was still rather calm though, but she was still tiptoeing around her loss and he was right with that: She had had a few days in the hospital all to herself, but she had been caught in a terrible spiral and since then she was either on edge or distracted. She hadn't fully mourned and processed everything, but her soul wasn't fully in pieces anymore.

"When I threw myself into politics of the FWA, I had hoped that this was what I wanted, that this might be the place where I could achieve long lasting effects...but I was wrong too. The main reason why I came back is that peace is a lie. The past had repeatedly taught us that...I was clinging onto hopes and idealistic beliefs and I was denying the truth. Same goes for the dark side. I thought I had to fully repress it, but with that I've wasted all my potential, even my strength. I ended up in captivity, got tortured and other terrible things happened and I was still fighting it" she shook her head, slightly chuckling even. So, so stupid and naive...

"Think about Obroa-Skai...I really thought they could have been convinced and of course it ended with bloodshed. I could have helped you way before that. And what did I do? I kept the lightsaber at my belt and tried playing it nice. Back then you said I should stay and try fixing the situation within the Empire...I should have listened. I shouldn't have tried to deny that I am and have always been a Sith. Maybe I even wanted to prove some stupid point, out of stubbornness or something...I don't even know any more. I felt like I was constantly clinging onto thoughts that never led to anything. I was trying to see the bad in the Empire...and now look again at all that is happening. I will not turn my back on that. I'm here to help and I'm neither doubting the Empire nor my own loyalty any longer. My place had always been here, even if I tried to escape and deny it..." That was just the one emotional thing. The trauma with the child loss still ran deep, too.

"As for the...unborn baby...that was horrible. And it still hurts. It was my fault and it's hard to accept that. I'm done not with grieving...maybe once I get some time back on Rattatak I will. But for now it feels good to focus on the path I've finally rediscovered. I found comfort in the dark side...but you know me. I'm not indecisive and I'm driven...I had always been and I made my choice. I accept the consequences". A tear was running down her cheek, but it was true. She had repressed that loss still, and this was not the place to unravel it. But she wasn't here just because Raze had been the person who caught her. He had triggered the development that had long been needed. "Once I'm done here, I will be much stronger. I promise I will work on that. I don't want to become an unstable person that is still haunted by something unresolved, but for now I'm really fine". She had found a purpose and that was a conscious decision. She appreciated the hug that followed and she held him tight for a couple of moments while she simply closed her eyes and enjoyed his presence. After all that, he was still there for here...and she couldn't have been any more grateful.

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair didn’t flinch when she bit back with a chill to her tone. In many ways, this sounded closer to the Celeste he knew - someone that stood her ground and stuck to her guns. The more she spoke about this guy, the more she would feel him bristle. This man sounded like he did far more damage than she initially let on. He didn’t know what happened ultimately, but he had a feeling if he met the guy, the Jedi would take a punch to the face.

“No man can ever make you put your ambitions aside…and if he tries, then he ain’t no real man,” Altair said as he looked at her. She was one of the most stubborn people he knew and he admired her for it. He had been raised in a household of empowered women and he couldn’t imagine ever standing in the way of someone that wanted to pursue their own ambitions. It was part of why he knew it would get complicated if he ever dated Tiamat or Vahliri - they had ambitions that would ultimately contradict his own.

He felt a pang of her pain when she remarked on the child. Altair was quiet through that, unable to even imagine the depths of that agony. He felt hints of it just from what she felt, and even that was enough to send a wave of pain through him. Altair used a thumb to brush aside her tear, pulling her tighter against himself.

“Well however you work through it, you ain’t gotta put up any walls around me,” He quietly reminded her, hugging her close, “You don’t have to be strong around me all the time. I know I won’t be,” Altair closed his eyes, burying his face against the crook of her neck, “I wish you came back under better circumstances…but I’m glad you returned.”

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

While she spoke for a seemingly endless time, he just listened for now. His facial expressions were soft, yet she could see how angry her story left him. She got a feeling that if she wouldn't have dealt with the problem herself, Altair had probably considered doing that and so while he tensed up, she relaxed. "See...this is why I appreciate you so much..." she softly replied, a tender smile crossing her lips again. Altair had never wanted to change her. They had argued because of her unbent stubbornness and he had been angry with her for disobeying orders and he had been right with that. When he had knocked her out on Obroa-Skai she had still been furious and disappointed, yet in the end, he had just followed orders and she had been in his way...She would never lose her willpower, but she had begun to understand that Altair had just acted out of loyalty. And hers had changed. She was committed to the course und not trying to act out like a naive child any longer.

The tears were still running down after that painful reminder had been triggered, yet it felt like the closer he hugged her, the tighter her still broken pieces were pressed together again. Despite the agony, she felt his warmth and the tenderness in his embrace and she was so grateful to lbe in his arms in this moment. His heartwarming words touched her and despite being overly thankful, they did make her crumble a bit. A few more tears followed, but she was smiling. Her lip slightly trembled and he could feel the soft sobbing, but she was still just happy to be with him after opening up like that. "Thank you...for everything. It hurts and it will continue to do so, but I'm really happy to have you...". Her answer was not much more than a whisper, but the gratitude in it was unmissable. She had come had her most vulnerable, yet she was starting to put all the pieces together to rise stronger than ever. Despite all the pain and the hardships, she just knew it was all worth it. "I am glad too...and who knows. Maybe we'll find ourselves on the battlefield together sooner or later...I promise I'd follow your orders...Commander" she tried to lighten that heavy mood by adding a rather cheeky comment. After savoring his deep embrace for a little longer, she pulled back a bit to face him and leaned in again, her lips melting against his, but even though the two of them had shared plenty of kisses before, this one was different...someone even deeper and more intimate than ever before. She knew he was right. She could allow herself to let those painful emotions flow when she was with him. She did not need to pull herself together and be the indestructibly strong one. She could be human and fully herself again. Maybe it had even helped her to leave Raxus for a short period of time to simply get some air to breathe...but it was not just that. It was also him.

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair smiled warmly at her as she mentioned appreciating him. There was something about those simple words that he cherished. There was no pressure in them, no desire to change him, but just appreciation for how he was today and in whatever ways he would change himself. He wanted to believe that, anyway, and he would for now. Altair held her tight, letting her cry against him. There was no judgment or any expectation, just quiet moments shared between them.

He remained silent as she spoke, his hand sliding up and down her back idly as he stared off past her. Altair laughed when she said she would follow orders, “We’ll see about that, Acolyte,” He said teasingly. However, they would have to stick to their roles in public. An acolyte disobeying the orders of a Master could be punishable by death and he hoped Celeste would keep her head low at least for now.

Altair was distracted from his thoughts as she kissed him. He held her tight as he returned the kiss, easing against her as his tail affectionately coiled around her. He tasted her salty tears and felt the emotions that still lingered there. For a moment he forgot where he was or all about his missions, his focus entirely on her as he tasted her lips. He drew back after a moment, smiling against her lips, “You keep kissing me like that and I’ll never wanna leave this room,” Altair whispered softly.

A commotion erupted not too far outside of his quarters just then. His comlink began to blow up right away. Altair sighed as he peeled himself away from her and quickly got dressed. He was annoyed at the interruption, but he would go check it out. Altair glanced over at Celeste for a moment, “Wait a few moments before you come out… I don’t want anyone giving you bullshit,” He said before he left the room. As an acolyte, it would cause a bit of a scandal to be involved in any way with a Sith Master and especially with someone that had much spotlight as him. She would be subjected to a lot of problems and harsh treatments and every rank ascension would be considered favoritism.

Altair walked out towards the courtyards where he spotted a dead Imperial. There was a Sith champion standing there with his arms crossed. A small crowd began to gather and the fear and dread was almost tangible in the soldiers that watched.

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

She hadn't felt this safe in quite some time and neither had her body been embraced by this keep kind of warmth that both, his words and his touches triggered. She had reveled in this tender moment by staying in his embrace a while longer, but once her lips had found their way back to his it was just as wonderful.

Despite loathing being adressed as an acolyte, she knew that this time he was just teasing. The smirk returned to her lips before they melted into each other's kiss, the familiar presence of his tail wrapping itself around her bringing her right back to that first kiss they had shared on Ord Radama, when both of them had almost lost their life on their very first mission together. "How fortunate that you don't have to leave now".

As she didn't want to dwell on those unfortunate circumstances back then too much, she kept focusing on their kiss, however their wonderful moment got interrupted by a sudden commotion breaking out outside and his comlink announcing the end of their tender exchange.

Celeste pushed herself back to her feet with a sigh while she started gathering her own clothes. Even though no one would burst in his room, she knew she still had to leave when he was doing the same, but she nodded at his comment. "Of course...but be safe". It was definitely mindful of him to warn her and he was right about one thing: He wouldn't be the one with the problems if anyone found out, but people would look at her differently and she couldn't afford such a thing. Without knowing what had just happened, she was both concerned and curious, but she had a feeling that she would soon find that out too.

She watched him leave with a definite hint of concern in her expressions, before she put on her clothes, smoothed down her hair and sprinkled some water in her face. She theh stopped at the door and listened for a few seconds and only because there was not a single step resounding from the hall, she carefully opened it and slipped out quickly.

Once outside in the hall, the rather hurried into the direction of the turmoil, however fortunately not bumping into anyone who might have noticed where she had come from. Slightly hesitant, she approached the scene in the courtyard, but only because other acolytes and former servants had joined the crowd as well.

It wasn't hard to figure out what had happened, because despite the accumulation of frightened, yet partly slightly furious Imperial soldiers, it was rather obvious that the unfamiliar champion with the overly confident, spiteful stance and the crossed arms was the culprit. She immediately wondered what happened, but refrained from displaying any signs of shock. Instead, she glared at the Champion, before her eyes flicked back up to Altair. Rage was flooding into her, not just because she knew how much Altair cared for his soldiers, but because it seemed like this had been nothing more than a stupid demonstration of power, otherwise the soldier's dread wouldn't have made any sense. Still, she knew she was not in the position to even raise her voice, and she also knew that Altair would probably handle the situation anyway.

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

“Commander Din,” The Sith Champion nodded his head respectfully.

“What the hell happened here?” Altair all but growled at the other Sith. The Champion winced slightly, surprise on his face. Soldiers being tossed around was commonplace, after all. The Sith shifted a bit, confused.

“Ah well, he was tasked with bringing me my armor,” The Sith explained, “And the armor had missing pieces. I confronted him about stealing parts and his answer was not satisfactory.”

“And the response was to kill him?”

The Sith looked flustered, “I don’t understand what the big-”

The Champion was thrown back against a column with Altair’s hand firmly around his throat. The Sith began to choke, the tiefling raising him up a foot off the ground. The Champion gurgled and squirmed under his grip. Altair glanced around the courtyard.

“Let this be a lesson to any other Sith that gets the bright idea to senselessly kill our own troops,” With that, Altair’s other fist whirled in with a harsh punch that slammed into the side of the Sith’s head in a controlled manner. It wasn’t a full matukai punch, but it landed in a way that would crack the skull and cause the man to go blind in one eye and rupture his ear. Altair stepped back as the Champion landed in a heap on the ground, crying out in agony.

Altair didn’t look at him, calling out to the Imperials, “Take him away from here.”

The soldiers nodded and began to rush to the injured Champion screaming on the ground.

“I didn’t mean him,” The tiefling said icily as he crossed his arms over his chest. The soldiers blinked in shock as they instead went over to lift up the body of their fallen comrade, “Give him a proper burial and inform his family of his death,” Altair said.

He was bristling with rage as he watched the soldier get carried away. The Champion was crying out miserably and Altair looked at him, “Shut up before I make you,” The Sith half blindly hobbled away, bleeding from his nose and covering his ear.

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

Celeste froze up as she watched the scene, the rage continously rising inside the blonde. As Altair confronted the Champion, one thing immediately got obvious: He was not actually regretting what he had done - at least not yet - and he had indeed just killed a soldier over a stupid banality.

At the mentioning of a stolen armor piece, she raised a brow, still silently watching the scene enfold from the background. Was that just a cheap pretext? Was this nothing more than a stupid, meaningless demonstration of power and ruthlessness, or had the soldier caught the Champion in a bad mood? One way or another - it didn't even matter - but it was obvious that he had done the wrong thing.

Celeste had no doubt that Altair would immediately execute the punishment for such behavior, however as the punch hit the Champion, she slightly winced. She had seen Altair crack skulls and generally punch like that before, however as impressive as his skills was, she was sometimes slightly caught of guard by that indescribably brute force behind those hits.

The agonized screams already filled the courtyard while a wave of shock rolled over the bystanders. The intimation on various levels was obviously perceivable, but more and more Imperials started to leave. "I'm sorry" she telepathically said to Altair while she started to move, her gaze briefly meeting his. The anger directed against the Champion that had flared up was still reflected in her eyes, yet as she searched for eye contact she threw him a compassionate look.

She was rather reluctant to leave him here alone, but it was the wrong time for her to stay. Sooner or later questions would be asked or someone would urge her to fulfill yet another task...What thoughts didn't leave her mind though, were the once about the circumstances of this accident. She had seen countless of Sith who were always convinced to be something far more valuable than the regular soldier before. On Rattatak, Celeste had learnt the importance of each and every member, regardless of any force-sensitivity or whatsoever and it was no different within the Empire. Those who did neither value nor appreciate the obvious majority of soldiers, the damn backbone of the Empire, had no idea about anything. It was right in this moment while she started to miss all the brave men and women she had left behind for now, because she hadn't been able to return to her homework in ages, however that was also when those mixed feelings came back up. After what she had learnt with the IIA, she wondered whom the hell she could even trust...but apparently she wasn't the only one now concerned about loyalty...

@Sreeya