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Claudias Tannaras

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Despite being the one who'd made the whole meeting possible, Tristodd's sudden and aggressive intervention shocked everyone in the room. Claudias stood back in shock as the young man-- the boy-- responded to Saura's insults against his brother with ruthless, yet somehow dignified precision. He'd never seen-- and only just barely heard about when the boy got angry, and this was easily more intense than anything Caladan had described. For a brief moment, he saw a spark of the boy's grandfather in his eyes, a burning fire that might leap out and consume the common woman for daring to insult his family.

Saura, for her part, actually did shut up-- for a few seconds, until Tristodd spoke up about the "sacrifices and pains that we as nobles have." That statement managed to break her from her shock, and an incredulous look spread across her face. Glancing over at Anna, she found that the woman didn't look back at her, instead turning away. She was surprised by the gesture, and rather than lash out at the boy, calling him out for his assumption that nobles were the only ones who had to deal with such things as strict social expectations or disownment... but it began to dawn on her that, perhaps, she wasn't helping.

And yet when Tristodd told them that the child had to remain hidden, she protested. "Why? Tha girl shouldn't 'ave ta 'ide in tha dark while 'er man screws around with other women! 'Er babe deserves a father!" She exclaimed, not out of anger for her own situation, but out of a desire to not see it mirrored. "She makes a mistake about who she falls in love with, and she and 'er babe can't live laike normal people?!"

"M-my dear, we never said anything like that! She'll h-have neighbors, be able to m-make friends; Chandrilla has s-some of the b-best schools in the entire galaxy, and they're public. Her ch-child won't have to g-grow up in a place like this, where..." He began, trailing off as he saw Saura, lips pursed and eyes watering.

Taking a deep breathe, Claudias would slowly turn back to Anna. So much of his time and energy had been focused on his brother's former mistress, and while there was still a lot to be said, the woman before him took precedent. "I... I understand that this is h-hard for you. In a f-fairer world you'd be able to s-see Reegian as you so please, and r-raise your ch-child together as you b-both saw fit..." the man declared.

"...but our w-world... isn't fair. We're all exp-pected to p-play certain r-roles, do certain th-things, spend our t-t-time with certain types of people... even if you c-could be with Reegian, op-p-penly, you, him, and your babe would be treated terribly b-by all you'd c-c-call neighbors." Claudias explained. His father had rarely talked about his childhood, but he'd heard from others about what the man had been made to go through as a half xeno, barely legitimate son of a grandnephew of a lord. Even after decades of building a reputation for being an ironwilled, fanatical traditionalist, people still made whispers behind his back, mocking him for how young he looked thanks to his Morellian genes.

Anna, for her part, still wasn't convinced. "You... I don't care about what they all think! They can call me a foreign whore for the rest of my life, I just want to be with Reegian! I want my baby to know their father!" She replied. "M-my dear, I understand that you l-love him, but think of the l-life that your ch-child would be subjected to! Would you t-truly prefer for your child to spend the rest of their d-d-days being ostracized and insulted?! If Reegian were to b-become lord after his father's p-passing, all of his d-distant relatives would c-call your child unfit to succeed him! Even if they decline and house Brentioch's s-s-sssssEAT passes to another, they'll want to make sure that y-your child won't ever p-pose a threat to them."

Anna contemplated the significance of what Claudias was implying, and her cheeks, once flushed red with frustration, turned pale as she understood the implications of her words. She might have loved Reegian, given up everything to be with him... no good mother wouldn't say, "Everything but" when it came to the life of her child. "Oh... Oh gods..." She whispered, tears welling in her eyes. "I... oh, Gods, why did this have to happen... why does it have to be like this?" She tearfully asked.

Before Claudias could say anything, Saura, without so much as a moment's hesitation, pulled the girl into an embrace. "There there, girl... there there..." she whispered, as Anna buried her face into the Brentaalan's shoulder and began to weep. "It ain't right, but it's what we've gotta do fer our young. Th'at's tha first lesson ya learn as a mother." She said. "Ya were his man, but from tha moment ya realized it-- the moment th'at ya realized ya were eatin' fer two-- only one person mattered anymore."

Anna continued to cry for a few minutes, and the two aristocrats were left to watch in silence. Finally, Anna pulled away. "I... I understand." She finally whispered, her voice raspy from her sobbing. "I'll... I'll move to Chandrila. If that's what it takes..." She muttered, wiping the tears from her eyes. "Do you... do you think it'll ever be possible? I know that it can't happen for now, but maybe when they're older, and when Reegian doesn't have to worry about disinheritance... when he has... other children..." she said, the last words causing her voice to crack.

"I... I don't know, Anna... b-but should a d-day ever come, I'll h-happily see to it that you and your ch-child can be reunited with him... if not for all time, than at l-least for some time." He declared. It was a promise that Claudias would keep for as long as he had the power to do so. Anna smiled weakly-- it wasn't much of a consolation, but it was something. "Thank you... all of you, for everything." The woman said. "This... I don't know where I'd be without any of your help. You, Mr Brentioch... Miss Saura, Mr. Tan-naras." She'd said, assuming that his stutter had just been part of the pronunciation.

"It's alright, m-my dear. It was our resp-ponsibility to help you-- not j-just as family, b-but as decent men." He declared. Saura, for her part, shrugged. "Ya still owe me a favor fer this." She said, though a weak smile on her lips betrayed her real intentions.

With things looking squared away, Claudias and Tristodd began to chat about the more specific details with Anna, asking for her opinions. It was only when Saura made her way to the door that Claudias moved. "T-Tristodd, I n-need to excuse myself for a moment; d-don't let me st-t-top you from c-c-continuing on though." He said, smiling as he stood up, and followed Saura out the door. There were... words that needed to be said.

--------

When Claudias returned, the expression on his face was... hard to read. His balance seemed far worse than it usually was, physically struggling to take in... everything that had been said between the two. Today had been a whirlwind of revelations for him, and it wasn't getting any easier. "S-so... what else needs to be said?" He asked, turning back to Tristodd and Anna with empty eyes.




@LouJoVi
 

Tristodd Brentioch

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Saura had another outburst, this time regarding the necessity of Anna and her child living hidden. Tristodd agreed with her, it wasn’t fair that Reegian would continue to live as nothing had happened while she would need to live in an exile. The young Brentioch wanted that things could be different and they could live together, but the Galaxy wasn’t fair.

His uncle tried to reassure Saura that Anna’s and the baby’s life would be better in Chandrilla. However, Reegian’s lover protested against it. She only wanted to stay with his brother. Tristodd felt sympathy for her. The poor woman really loved him. If at least the tradition and prejudice of the nobility wasn’t that strong in Brentaal, the two could have stayed together.

Not only that, but my parents would try to send you away.” Tristodd said after his uncle finished talking. “For them, you and the child would be a stain in the perfect memory of House Brentioch. Even if my brother married you, their wrath would also fall over him.” he had heard the stories about disinherited nobles that ended up needing to flee from Brentaal because their family turned their life in hell. The young man didn’t want this fate for his brother.

These revelations made Anna become desperate, needing Saura’s help to calm down. Once again Tristodd felt sorry for her. She thought that had found true love with a fairy tale prince, only to be dragged into a horror story. “Well, perhaps when my brother becomes the seneschal of the family I can arrange a meeting between you two. We will see.”

In the end, Anna accepted that leaving to Chandrilla was the right thing to do. Tristodd was surprised that Saura had helped them convince the future mother. With how she reacted early, he thought that the older woman would have protested about the necessity of having her friend to flee from Brentaal. Perhaps she was more reasonable than the young Brentioch had expected.

Of course, uncle.” Tristodd said to his uncle, a bit confused with why Claudias followed Saura to the door. Then he remembered how the two had acted strange during the conversation. He wondered if the two had met before, which was really strange. The crazy woman wasn’t the type of person that the Tannaras would interact with.

When his uncle returned, Tristodd had spent some time giving details to Anna regarding the place where she would live with the baby. While she wanted to find a job once she arrived in Chandrila, the young Brentioch had insisted that he would give financial help for the child's education. “Nothing, uncle. We only need to prepare the house and find a good day for her to go there.

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Claudias Tannaras

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His expression remained vacant all through Tristodd's reply, vaguely registering what the boy said and muttering out a reply, "Good day... y-yes, ofcourse. C-can't just up and leave." Claudias' mind was still reeling from all Saura had told her, especially her last words to him. There were few things in his life that Claudias had come to believe in-- the sanctity of family, middling faith in his people's Gods, but more than that a trust in the one member of his family who had, more than anyone else, treated him like a human being.

He couldn't even rely on him to be honest anymore.

The aristocrat's mind was finallly yanked out of itself again by Anna's voice, asking, "...is Ms Saura coming along?" To which the man jerked his head to the side. "P-pardon?" He asked, having spaced out through all she'd said prior to the mention of his brother's old mistress. "I asked if Saura would move with me," she asked again, a bit startled. "Did... did something happen? You look a little pale, Mr. Tan-naras." The woman observed, to which the man turned to look at a standing mirror across the room.

"Oh d-d-dear... I hadn't realized. I f-figure it must be all this stress. High b-blood pressure, and all that." He muttered. "I'm sure I'll be f-fine once I return home, but I th-th-thank you for y-your concern." The noble graciously thanked the woman for her concern, smiling, even as his eyes were as vacant as they had been for the past few minutes. "Sp-speaking of, I believe we ought to t-take our leave." The man finallly declared, standing up on shaky legs, gripping both his cane and the arm of the sofa as he did so.

"H-here is the f-frequency for my p-personal commlink. Should you require my or my nephew's services, simply c-c-cAAAaall." He suggested, before glancing down at Tristodd, gesturing for them both to leave.




@LouJoVi
 

Tristodd Brentioch

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Tristodd noticed how his uncle seemed to be nervous. He wondered what his conversation with Saura could have been to make Claudias act this way. The diplomat was always calm, even when dealing with the people that were terrible to him. What was said in this conversation probably was something important.

While he was curious to know what was said in their conversation, Tristodd wasn’t going to ask his uncle. First they were in front of a stranger and second he wasn’t going to violate the older man’s privacity. If he wanted to tell the young Brentioch what happened, Claudias would do it later.

He wasn’t the only one that noticed his uncle’s strange behavior. Anna also voiced her concern about it. “Yes, uncle. They must be wondering where we went.” Tristodd said, when Claudias said that they should return. They would still need to find a way to explain to everyone why they left the celebration.

We will maintain contact to talk about your trip to Chandrila.” Tristodd told her one last time, before following Claudias out of the apartment. “We need to prepare the things for her to move. Uncle, what do you think of this entire situation? She seemed to be sincere about her pregnancy and loving Reegian.

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Claudias Tannaras

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"Oh, y-yes, ofcourse." He muttered back, nodding along. They had been gone for the better part of an hour, and no doubt Tristodd's mother would start looking for them sooner or later. He had deliberately avoided answering Anna's question-- he wasn't ready to tell anyone anything about what Saura had said to him. All but one man, at least. As they turned to leave, Anna would pull Tristodd into an embrace. "Thank you," she'd whisper, a weak smile stretched across her face.

As they made their way down the hall, Claudias would consider his nephew's words. "I d-don't doubt that the g-girl is being truthful. Her circumstance is unfortunate-- s-seeing Andros and Julia as h-happy as they've been, I c-can only imagine what their lives would b-be like were they n-not allowed to wed. There isn't a doubt in m-my mind that Julia would be just as melancholic and desperate as Anna, should she be in her p-place." The Brentaalan declared. For nobles to marry and genuinely love one another, the stars would have to align to an extraordinary degree. Where Saura and Anna had been so unfortunate, Julia and her husband were perhaps the luckiest they could be-- born into the upper strata of their society, and allowed to marry the one they truly loved.

The flight home didn't take as long as the flight out to the slums, and pretty soon, both were hobbling back onto the landing pad. They made their way back to the Pophygenitine hall, and it appeared as if the party was winding down-- guests were lining up to pay their goodbyes to his brother. Julia was gone, though Andros stood close by to his father in law, receiving congratulations as well. "Wh-where has the lady Julia gone?" The aristocrat would ask a passing servant droid. "She has retired to her chambers with the lady Ariadne-- the babe's wails became such a distraction that she thought it prudent to remove herself and calm her child."

"...well." Claudias muttered, a bit surprised. He couldn't imagine why the calm and friendly child had so quickly become uncomfortable, but he didn't question it. As the last of the guests made their way to pay their respects, Claudias turned to his nephew. "Return home, and remember-- speak nothing of this. If your mother asks, tell her th-that you and I took a f-flight to get you f-fresh air." The man declared. "I... I should s-see to that other m-matter in the coming days. C-contact me when you are able." He said, before finally making his way to his brother.

"...oh, brother... good to see you." The older lord said, glancing upwards. "I certainly hope the young Brentioch feels better. Would you... may I ask you to stay for a few days? I have much that I want to say to you." The man said. "I understand if my words earlier... seemed harsh. I admit that I, perhaps, spoke rashly." Andronikas muttered out, trying his best to maintain the demeanor of the stern, iron willed Archon of the Assembly and People of Brentaal, while speaking to his brother in as apologetic a tone as he was allowed in the presence of others.

"I... I am at y-your disposal, milord." Claudias answered. "I... t-took no offense to your words... but there is much to be discussed." He answered, his eyes narrowing slightly.

--------

Days passed since the party. Lady De'jaal had taken her son, daughter in law and granddaughter home. The Brentiochs had returned to their own palace, and the preparations for the Seneschal's wedding were already underway-- common knowledge, at this point. The lower nobility, minor traders and the lower ranks of Brentaalan affluent society gossiped about the match, and about the little babe, Ariadne, whose radiant smile won her as much favor as her eardrum shattering wails.

Very little was mentioned of the departure of the young Brentioch and his uncle. One or two tabloids thought the boy might be dying, while others mentioned that his flight to the slums obviously hinted at a spice addiction. In both stories, Claudias, as ever, was left out-- and for once, he was content with the lack of attention. He was particularly thankful for the fact that, as he had demanded, nothing of what he and his brother had said to each other made it to the public. They hadn't spoken since-- truthfully, Claudias wasn't sure if he and Andronikas would ever sit on good terms again, and he wasn't sure if he'd done the right thing-- both in helping Anna, and in pursuing Saura.

But he knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that what came next would be right. Hopping in a speeder, the Brentaalan flew to the the "Palati'i Ta'Brentach"-- his sister and nephews' home.




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Tristodd Brentioch

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Yes, probably.” Tristodd agreed with his uncle. Anna would be happy like his cousin if she was allowed to marry Reegian. Unfortunately, the Galaxy was an unfair place and they would never be able to stay together. If at least the Brentioch wasn’t fanatical followers of Brentaal’s stupid traditions.

He wondered if his brother would be happy in his marriage. Few nobles were lucky to fall in love with the fiancees that were chosen by their parents. If Reegian also loved Anna, he would be suffering about what was happening.

The two returned to the celebration, but his cousin and the baby weren't here anymore. Tristodd left his uncle talking with Andros and went to stay with his parents. Reegian was in silence, thinking about something else. When his mother saw him, she immediately approached him. “Dear, I was waiting for you!” he was surprised with her being so gentle after he left the place for so long.

Come, there are some people that I want you to meet.” she guided him toward some other nobles, and their daughters. He soon understood what was happening. Now that his brother was going to marry, his mother was planning to match him too. Perhaps he should have stayed with his uncle.

The young Brentioch gave thanks to the heavens when this celebration finally came to an end. Before leaving with his parents, he went to say goodbye to his uncle. “I understand. I’ll tell no one about what happened.” even when Anna went to Chandrila, it could still be dangerous for her. After he left his uncle, Tristodd went after his family.

—-------------------------------------------​

Days after the celebration, Tristodd had remained in Brentaal. His mother was insufferable about trying to make him meet other nobles, while his father continued to remain indifferent to him. If it wasn’t for Anna, he would have returned to Thyferra.

Lord Tristodd, Lord Claudias had already arrived.” his family’s droid servant told him, before leaving. He immediately went to the main hall, where his uncle would be waiting for him. The young Brentioch was alone at home and today was going to be the day that they would travel with Anna to Chandrila.

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Claudias Tannaras

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Claud had never felt welcomed in the halls of his brother in law's palace. It was old, very old-- the oldest still standing above ground, in fact. There had been additions, but much of the palace had stuck true to the ancient Eirenoi architecture of the first palace-complexes, with tight, labyrinthine halls with fading mosaics to decorate them. The more modern areas felt much less claustrophobic, with wider, taller columned halls with natural light beaming down.

Eventually he arrived in the main hall, beaming at his nephew and taking him into an embrace. "It's g-good to see you again, dear boy." He said, smiling warmly before turning on his heels. "Come, c-come. We've only a day before I'm s-sent off To Thyferra, and there is m-m-much to be done." He declared, giving Tristodd a side glance. Claudias was going on a diplomatic mission to Thyferra, but it was not for another week. He wanted the extra time to get to know his apparent niece and nephew.

It felt... strange to think of them as family. Knowing that they shared neither his blood or his name, he almost felt more like thinking of them as in laws-- though he was third cousin to his brother's wife, fourth to his sister's husband, and second to his niece's by marriage. That they were aliens, foreigners, was another hurdle-- but it was not as intense as it may have been for others in his situation. The Brentaalan's own grandmother was herself a foreigner-- a long lived, near human Morellian who his grandfather had taken as a paramour.

She had been a stranger to him though-- when he'd first met her he'd mistaken her for an aunt, her Morellian genes aging her slower than her halfling son, who looked far worse than he should've at his age. "H-has your mother ever t-told you about your g-great grandmother, Tristodd?" the older aristocrat asked. "Given... well, all that's b-been happening, I f-feel you ought to know more about your roots. To m-many in our p-position get c-caught up in songs of g-g-glory and majesty to r-remember things as they t-truly are."




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Tristodd Brentioch

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Good morning, uncle!” Tristodd said, moving to hug his uncle as soon as he saw him. The young Brentioch would not say, but he didn’t feel comfortable in being alone in his family palace. Perhaps it was the Eirenoi architecture or only paranoia, but he always thought that the place was oppressive. It was comforting that Claudias was here with him now.

Of course, I already warned the nanny droid that you are going here. Amaya and Izaya are excited to meet you.” Tristodd was happy that his uncle wanted to meet his children. He doubted that any other Brentaalan noble would do it for two near-humans.

When he adopted the two, Tristodd was very aware that they would never be accepted by most of his family and the rest of the Brentaalan nobility. However, the young man was prepared to deal with the backslash that would come when they were discovered, but he would preserve them in anonymity for as long as he could.

He was already preparing to leave with his uncle when Claudia asked what he knew about his great grandmother. Tristodd paused to think about it. His mother barely talked about her, which was strange because he could even say the name of most of his ancestors. All of them with great importance and part of the high nobility. “I don’t know much about her. Mother only said that she was from a low noble house and died right after grandfather Pterygas was born. Why?

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Claudias Tannaras

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Tristodd's greetings put a smile on the older aristocrat's lips, but it was quickly replaced with a frown as Tristodd began speaking about the children. The embrace they entered remained, but Claudias would make a point of squeezing his arm and whispering, "Speak softly-- there may always be s-someone l-listening." He whispered, pulling away and glancing around. There were no servants or droids in the immediate vicinity, thankfully, but letting their guard down would only put their family in danger.

As they made their way back out to the landing pad, the older aristocrat turned to regard what Tristodd had just said... and he looked at him as if he had just lost his mind. "...what?" He repeated, blinking a few times. "Your m-mother surely w-wouldn't lie about something so obvious," Claudias began, almost amused by what Tristodd had just reported. Livilla had always been dishonest, but the idea that she'd lie about such obviously disprovable facts was absurd.

Because, ofcourse, she wasn't lying-- she simply didn't know it was untrue.

Slowly Claudias' smile faded, a bitter expression replacing it. "...ofc-course." He whispered. "F-father did his be-b-best, trying to k-keep the story hidden. T-telling his daughter the t-truth wouldn't have h-heLlllped him." Claudias went on, letting out a long, drawn out sigh.

"Your g-grandmother was p-p-pregnAant when mine f-finally passed. I had only j-just started to speak, b-but my oldest memories were of her... singing old n-nursery songs, while f-father g-glared at us." The Brentaalan explained. "She... she was kind, a g-good and motherly woman, but her b-body was not made for it. She was... tall, and spindly, and s-sick. B-bringing my f-father into the world nearly killed her... th-that, and this world. B-being the alien p-paramour of a thiarneae is sc-scandal enough, but to bore him a "mixed" son, one who he w-would eventually call heir..."

"It... it was f-for the best th-that she was k-kept out of sight f-from the court. F-father never had th-that luxury-- the Lord Laeonas T-tannaras had to k-keep him around at all times, to sh-show him off and m-make sure that his c-colleagues would see his son as one of them." Claudias continued, spitting out the last words harshly. "It n-never did him any g-good. They c-called him f-foreigner, xeno, half breed, baseborn bastard... it wasn't a w-wonder that f-father tried his b-best to make everyone f-forget his mother existed."

Claudias remained silent for a moment, sighing as he stepped into the speeder. "When... wh-when I s-spoke of Anna's son being ridiculed, I c-couldn't help b-but think of my f-father. My father, who spent his days b-belittling me, treating me l-like a contemptuous s-slave instead of his son... I d-didn't want to see your n-nephew g-go through the p-pain he did, and sh-share that with any who might come after him." He explained.

"W...we're t-t-taught to b-believe we're exceptional, my dear boy... but w-we're just men. Men, whose c-circumstance elevates us above others." He said. "Wh-when they saw my g-grandparents, doing as any others would-- loving, having ch-children, they s-saw someone th-they b-believed inferior enc-croaching on what belonged to them... and th-they would d-do the same to Anna, her babe, and y-your children."




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Tristodd Brentioch

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Like his uncle, Tristodd also looked in confusion at Claudias. He had no idea of why he was staring at him with surprise. He had told exactly the same story that his mother told him. His great-grandmother had died soon after giving birth to Pterygas. It was what he and Reegian always thought that was what happened.

However, Claudias started to talk about a version of this story that Tristodd never had heard before. According to him, not only did she survive giving birth to his grandfather, but was also a non-human. While he was fine dealing with other sentient species, the young man never thought that he wasn’t a pure human.

When his uncle finished talking, Tristodd ended up needing some time to wrap his mind around everything that was said to him. It was as if a part of his life had been a lie. He couldn’t understand why his mother lied about their family. The Brentaalan could understand if she did it to other nobles, but hiding it from him and his brother was nonsense. They deserved to know the truth.

It seems like our family had some secrets to hide. However, I think that this one was the most stupid.” he finally said, more for himself than to his uncle. “I can’t understand the reasons why we need to feel shame about loving or having relatives that are non-humans. All this tradition is bullshit.” he wasn’t someone who used to curse, but this revelation made him furious.

Did you meet her? How she was? What was her species?” Tristodd asked his uncle, while they walked toward the speeder. The young Brentaalan was curious about his great-grandmother and wanted to know more about her.

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"...th-there are far, far worse st-stories I could share, my boy." Was all Claudias managed to say in response to Tristodd's immediate response. There was nothing stupid about what he had just explained-- none of the people involved were fools. All of them were smart, reasoned people-- and they'd chosen to treat his grandmother and father with nothing but seething hatred and naked contempt. The men and women who ruled their world weren't ignorant-- they were hateful.

"I c-can't say where these n-notions arise, Tristodd. P-plenty across the stars f-feel the same, n-no matter where they hail from." He said, before laughing bitterly. "P-perhaps Sol thought it would be f-funny, to make us all different, y-yet alike in our h-hatred of difference." He joked, before letting out a sigh. Tristodd's comment about tradition was something else though, and he made sure to mention, "T-tradition is important; celebrating wh-what makes us unique and d-distinct is a wondrous thing... th-though there's nothing unique in hatred. Letting that tradition die would be for the best."

The older man was about to step into the speeder when Tristodd asked about his grandmother. His eyes widened for a moment, but would relax, and his lips curled upwards slightly. "...I did. Once." He answered. "Sh... sh-she... she c-c-couldn't walk. A th-thin, frail thing she was, wheelchair bound. She was the f-first person I'd met who c-couldn't walk... like me." He reminisced, pursing his lips.

"M-mother took me to m-meet her... she w-was pregnant, and it was always g-good luck to receive a blessing from your m-mother in law. She s-said f-father wanted to make sure his next came... came out whole." His uncle explained, choking up a little. "She... she still l-looked so young. Even so sick on th-that bed, frail and th-thin, she looked b-better than my father." He remembered.

"And when she s-saw me... she smiled." He went on. "She was s-so happy to see me... she had m-mother unhook me from my ch-chair and braces, and b-brought me into her arms. She sp-spoke to me, and joked, and she sang." The older man described, choking up again pressing his fingers to his eyes before he continued. "She held me up in th-the air wh-when I told her I w-wanted to fly. Her arms were sh-shaking like a b-broken radiator... she was s-so weak, but she held me anyway."

It was all so vivid to the aristocrat, even all these decades later. Both the good of it, and the bad. He'd remembered how his father had eventually stormed in, impatient as always.

--------

"Why in Eire's name did you take the boy out of his braces?!" He'd asked, voice simmering with heat. "Me and my grandson were just having fun, Terry." She'd answered back, her voice faint, but firm all the same. "We're not here entertain you, mother, we're here so my next doesn't turn out like him." He said, glancing at Claud and narrowing his eyes. He'd felt like crying, than, but his grandmother's voice rose, "I'd thought you'd want your daughter to turn out just like him! He's as sweet and smart as his brother is strong and handsome-- I couldn't wish for better grandsons!"

At that, Pterygas' eyes had widened. "You'd want me to father ANOTHER cripple?!" He'd ask, voice crackling a little. "I came for a BLESSING, not a CURSE! Are you SENILE?!"

Shock and horror spread across his grandmother's face, but it quickly twisted into anger. Not the kind he'd seen in his father, bitter and seething and vile-- no, something else entirely. "How could you speak like that in front of your wife and son?! What kind of father calls his own boy a curse?!" She cried, before glancing over at his mother. He'd begun to sob, and his mother had waddled over to take him from the room. "I suppose it's no surprise-- you're already the kind of son who'd leave his mother to wither and die!" She cried as he left the room.

"I hope she turns out just like you want her to-- but not him! I hope to Sol you never ruin him!"

--------




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Tristodd wasn’t sure if all the moral problems of the Brentaalans were the result of Sol’s doing. Being honest, the young man didn’t believe in any of the religious views of his people. In a Galaxy full of different species and religions, how could they be so sure that their faith was the right one? If he needed to believe in something, then it would be the Force.

The Brentaalan paid close attention to the story that his uncle told him. He noticed how Claudias loved her, to the point of even crying. Tristodd put his right hand at the diplomat’s shoulder and gave him a sad smile. “She seemed to be an incredible woman. I would have loved to meet her.

The part where she sort of cursed his mother made him think. Livilla was a rigid and sometimes even manipulative woman. There were also several rumors about what she used to do with her rivals, but the young Brentioch never believed in them. He wondered if what his great-grandmother had said that day had really worked.

I wonder how she would react to me. Would she mind that I’m gay?” he whispered the last part, still not wanting others to know his preferences. If his parents discovered, he would have no peace. Then remembered another secret that his uncle also deserved to know. “How do you think that she would react if she knew that I’m a Force user?

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"...she would've loved you." He said, a smile slowly forming on the older man's lips. "You're b-brave, kind, strong-- everything she c-could've ever wanted in a son, or g-grandson." Claudias declared, patting his own nephew's shoulder. "You c-care about your family-- not j-just when it's convenient, but when it's d-difficult. You're f-fighting to give your nephew an education and l-life he would've never had without your help."

It was genuine praise from the diplomat, and he meant every word of what he said. Tristodd wasn't perfect, no man was, but he embodied so many of the virtues he'd seen abandoned by his peers. His genuinely empathy for their people and determination to do what he believed was right made him a better man than most he'd met.

Tristodd's next question brought out a chuckle, and he replied, "Why w-would she?" As he turned to his nephew again. "She b-broke every s-social consideration or constraint expected of her when she m-married my grandfather. To her, it didn't matter whether someone was highborn or low, human or al- err, nonhuman, a man or a woman." He said, before pausing. "Though... she probably would've hoped that you'd eventually have children. She d-did like teasing me about how I'd marry a p-pretty girl and give her lots of g-great grandchildren." The older politician explained. As tolerant as his grandmother was, she was still a grandmother.

"But she w-would doubtless love Amaya and Izaya, as you do." He said smiling a little. Truth be told, Claudias hadn't known his grandmother all that personally. He'd only met her once, for a few hours, and that had been it. Everything else he'd gathered from first or secondhand accounts of servants, their testimony fueling the backbone of his research. There were contradictions-- some said she had seduced his grandfather in some scheme with her own father, others said it was his grandfather who pursued her. There were even disputes on how long they had known each other-- some accounts suggested the girl was already grown when she and her grandfather had met, while others said she had first met the young Laeonas when they were barely teenagers.

But there was no question about her character. Everyone said she was kind and understanding. That when she rose from a common Morellian girl to become the lady Tannaras, she had been openhanded and just in the management of their household. She had spent every waking moment doting on his father after his birth, nursing him herself. There were ofcourse the rumors of constant infidelity and queer alien rituals practiced in the dark, mostly fueled by her love of "Foreign dress" and her very public flirting with her husband and frequent bawdy jokes.

No doubt there was some jealousy that motivated such gossip. Other noblemen and women who'd had to abide by tradition and marry strangers for political purposes would've been invited to parties, gallas and pantomime performances in which they'd watch the young lord and lady Tannaras laugh, kiss and tease one another, in a happy marriage which they had chosen. The knowledge that the two of them loved each other and were satisfied with each other was one that would embitter their colleagues, trapped in political contracts their parents had signed for them.

He was interrupted from his musings by his nephew, with a question that left him confused. "...excuse me?" Claudias asked squinting. "I b-believe I misheard you, my boy. Did you say that you were... f-force sensitive?"




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Hear his uncle say how his great grandmother would have loved him, made Tristodd smile. Sometimes he doubted if his parents really loved him, or even his brother. They seemed to threaten them as mere pawns in their game of maintaining the family's legacy.

He laughed when his uncle said that she liked to talk about having grandchildren. The more he knew about her, the more Tristodd lamented that she had passed away. If his great-grandmother was really how Claudias was describing her, then she would have been a good companion and confident.

Yes, Force sensitive. There was some time that I discovered it. I wanted to tell you, but I didn’t find a good opportunity. I couldn’t do it with my parents around, you know how my father hates them.” while he had found freedom since he started to work with the ISCRA, Tristodd still feared the judgment of his parents. “Do you think that it’s bad?

Their conversation would continue until they reached the building where Anna lived. Now they only needed to pick her and travel to Chandrilla. He wondered if she had convinced Maura to go with her. At least this way she would have some company. While he promised to visit, the young Brentioch couldn’t do it all the time.

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Perhaps the older man sold himself short when it came to his age-- he'd thought that his hearing was playing tricks on him, but like his mind it was as sharp as ever. The quizzical look on his face slowly twisted to one of stern regard as he heard his nephew's explanation. Finally, he asked Claudias what he thought. He took a moment to contemplate his answer, blue eyes turned to the floor, before he let out a sigh.

"Th-there are a multitude of things a f-father has a right to judge his son on." Claudias began. "Whether he applies h-himself to his st-st... acad-demics. Wh-whether or not he a-Aaacts with v-virtue. Whether or not h-he does his d-d-duty to his family. It is a f-father's prerogative to j-judge his son as he s-sees fit." Claudias declared.

"B-but he ought n-not to judge a s-son based off things which are n-not in his control." He'd add. It was a lesson he'd told himself every night in his youth, clinging to it so he could maintain some semblance of self worth. "Neither should an unc-cle. You may as well have asked if I th-thought it was bad that you h-had brown hair, instead of r-red." Claudias joked, before smiling at the younger man. "As f-far as I'm concerned, nothing's ch-changed. You h-haven't stopped being my nephew, s-simply because I've learned something imm-muta-b-ble that I d-didn't know before." Claudias declared, placing a hand on Tristodd's shoulder, beaming at him.

"I c-can understand your f-father's dislike-- the S-Sith and the J-Jedi's war has brought b-back conflict where there was once p-peace. B-but you are n-neither a Sith, nor a Jedi. You are T-Tristodd Brentioch-- y-you are your f-father's son, my s-sister's son, my n-nephew. Nothing will ch-change that." He reassured him.

"...and sh-should your f-father ever come to know, which I promise you, he will not, you will a-always have me to turn to." He said. "I h-have no sons of my own as of late. Adoption c-certainly isn't unprecedented in our f-family's history. D-did I ever tell you of the l-lady Irana, who c-cloned herself and ad-dopted the c-clone as her d-daughter and heir?" He said, before shaking his head. "Bah, I d-distract us. We o-ought to head to our destination."




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Thank you, uncle.” Tristodd loved how Claudias always was capable of calming him. While he still believed that Caledan would still judge him for being Force sensitive, knowing that his uncle wasn’t going to do that and that he also didn’t mind him being this way was tranquilizing.

Sometimes I wish that you were my father instead.” he confessed the wish that he had since his father hit him for the first time. Tristodd had so much in common with Claudias, both were outcasts inside their own families. At least he was lucky enough to have the other as an uncle. He didn’t know what would have happened with him if he didn’t have the rock that was his uncle to hold during the stormy moments of his life.

When they arrived at the building, Tristodd helped his uncle leave the speeder. Together, the two would walk toward Anna’s apartment. The place had remained the same decrypt thing from early, with the young Brentioch avoiding to look at the strange people that stared at them.

Even if Anna had decided to stay in Brentaal, I would never allow her to live in a place like this one. No child deserves to live in this pigsty.” he whispered to Claudias, not wanting the people to listen. “I would be a monster if I allowed my nephew to stay here.” he wondered how the politicians of Brentaal could live in comfortable palaces while their electors were forced to stay in these places. Something needed to change.

Stopping in front of Anna’s apartment, Tristodd would knock at the door and wait for her to open it. If everything went right, she would be waiting for them with her luggage prepared. then they would only need to go to the spaceport where a private ship would take them to Chandrila.

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A smile graced the older man's lips as Tristodd thanked him. "I'm s-simply sp-speaking my mind, nephew. Any m-man would." Claudias tried his best to brush the compliment aside, even though he knew from experience that having someone to listen to you was a rare and valuable thing.

What came next surprised him a little, and it shown on his face, but as his lip quivered and his eyes closed, there was no hiding the Brentaalan's true feelings. "...you ought n-not to say such th-things, nephew." he lied, saying what he believed, even if in his heart he wanted to embrace him, embrace his words. "You... you are a B-brentioch. S-son of L-Lord Caledan Brentioch. You should be p-proud of your heritage." Claud said with a forced smile, pursing his lips together.

Whatever words came next, their flight to the apartment seemed shorter than it had the last time, despite it being a longer distance. As t(he)y hobbled up the stairs, Claud found everything especially disgusting-- the graffiti on the walls, the stickiness of the railing, the smell of alcohol, mold, excrement and... things he couldn't properly describe.

Nothing dissoriented him as much as his nephew's next words however. The word "nephew" rung in his hears like a bell. Monster bore down on him, and he felt his legs giving way, but he gripped the railing tighter. Saura appeared in his mind, young and old, old and young. His brother, now and then, and another one. A boy, yet a man, not quite either. His hair as black as pitch, skin as pale as china.

And his eyes. Sharp eyes, cold eyes-- cold, but burning with a fire that could swallow the galaxy in the black.

He recognized them as much as he recognized the hair or the skin or the shoulders or the smile. The eyes didn't belong to the boy's mother, or to the boy's father.

They belonged to his.

That was when he collapsed.




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I understand, uncle. I’ll not say that again.” he said, not wanting to make Claudias more nervous. However, Tristodd would happily give up his surname if he could have a more loving family. Perhaps such a thing wasn’t made for the nobles, who were doomed to live following a bunch of ridiculous rules that were invented by themselves.

To reach Anna’s apartment, the two were forced to climb several stairs. The elevator has continued out of service since the last time that they came here. Tristodd did the best that he could to soften the effort for his uncle, giving the older man some help to move. However, Claudias would continue getting tired with it.

At some point, Tristodd had noticed that Claudias seemed to be disoriented. “Uncle, are you fine?” he asked, but the diplomat didn’t answer him. Believing that the other was only too tired, the young man decided to continue walking toward Anna’s apartment. After they entered, his uncle would be able to rest.

Didn’t take much time for Anna to open the door. Her belly was already very apparent, showing that a child was growing here. Before he could greet her, Tristodd noticed that Claudias was strange. “Uncle?” he asked, but the only answer that he received was the man collapsing on the floor. He entered in panic, crouching next to the diplomat in an attempt to help the man get up.

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As the door would open, Anna would smile, though there was a bit of nervousness in her expression. "Thank you so much for coming, Mr. Brentioch!" She said, before giving him a confused look. "...is your uncle not..." She muttered, before glancing to the side and spotting the older man. "Ah," she began, raising a hand-- and that was when Claudias stumbled. "Mr. Tannaras?!" She exclaimed, and she would quickly join Tristodd by the older man's side.

"Sir, are you alright?! Should I call a doctor?!" She questioned, eyes wide as the older man lay there, mumbling to himself. Promptly, Anna would check the man's pulse, and her face would turn pale. "We need to get him inside," she said, grabbing the man's legs. She seemed not to be all that concerned about her being so heavily pregnant and doing something so strenuous. "Oi! Kark's all this?!" A voice would call.

Turning, the two would see a trio-- two young, pale humans with dark hair, and a taller looking tiefling with navy blue skin. "Tha kriff are you prissy shites doin' so far from yer palace?" The human girl asked, flashing a grin which revealed a mouth full of teeth stained by death stick usage. "Seems they're lost-- Ai think we oughta 'elp 'em, don'tcha?" The other human asked, glancing over at the tiefling. "Ayy... fer a fee, o'course."

"O'course, o'course! We've gotta pay fer 'elp down 'ere, incase tha lot of ya weren't aware." The girl said in a sing song voice, lips twitching from a grin to a look of disdain and back. "Keep away." Anna piped up, her gaze fixed on the three gangsters. There was a tremble in her voice as she said it, but as the human girl's gaze fell on her, she didn't relent, turning to face her.

"'Scuse me?" She asked, eyes narrowing. "Ai don't take orders from barbaroi slags." She hissed, which prompted a look between the human man and the tiefling. "Barda," the tiefling whispered, before gesturing at Anna. He called attention to her clothes-- the lack of silks or any indication that she was highborn. More importantly, Barda took note of her belly, swollen with child. The human man's eyes widened slightly, and he glanced back down at her.

"Ya said it was just tha two of 'em-- didn't mention a girl with a babe." He whispered. "Ayy, thought it was just tha pophrois. She ain't got much from tha look of it." The tiefling added. "When did tha both of ya get so soft?!" Barda hissed, glancing up at the taller human. "I get Mehmed goin' yellow, but you? Kriff's it matter, she's makin' pattsies with tha old one-- prolly 'is bastard in 'er belly!" She said, before slowly reaching into her jacket.

"We don't steal from pregnant chicks, Barda." The other human declared. "We shouldn't even be 'ere. If tha raak found out we were robbin' a pair of rich pophrois 'e wouldn't care, but this? A pregnant lass, under 'is protection? We'd be startin' a war."

"Only if 'e finds out." Barda whispered, slowly drawing a shiv. "Ya ain't gonna tell 'im... are ya?" She asked, cocking her head to the side. The taller human stared down at her, and for a moment it seemed like they might come to blows, the boy's hand hovering over a pocket in his own jacket as well. But, eventually, his gaze turned away, and his hand fell. "Attaboy." She said, seeming to genuinely smile, before glancing back at the tiefling. "Don't get any ideas." She declared, before turning back to face them.

"So-"

"Put an 'and on 'em and Ai'll see tha three of ya strung up from a post."


The familiar voice cut through the beginning of the human girl's monologue, and she turned sharply, a snarl on her lips as she spotted Saura, standing in the threshold of the stairwell opposite down the hallway. She was wearing plain clothes, hands in her jacket pockets. "And 'o tha kriff gave you tha mind th'at this is yer-" she began, before her eyes lit up in recognition.

"...ah." She said, a grin slowly spreading across her lips. "If it ain't tha lady crow! Bow yer 'eads lads, yer lookin' at tha bed-slag of a lord!" She mocked, a cruel snicker escaping her lips. As a light, nervous chuckle escaped the tiefling's lips, Saura's expression remained completely calm, even if her lips twitched slightly.

"Does yer raak give a yes ta'costin' pregnant mothers? Ai knew th'at fat waste passin' fer a man was sick, but even tha 'ungriest Kath 'ound won't eat it's own pups." She said, cocking her head. "It ain't yer concern, slag. Turn around and we might keep ya dark on what yer insides look laike." The human man spat.

"Sure, sure. Go ahead, rob tha three of 'em, break their legs, whatever. Ai'll turn around, and walk raight ta tha raak." She said, before slowly grinning. "'Ow long d'ya think you'll last before yer eatin' yer own tongues? A day?" She asked, cocking her head back. Barda and her older brother's faces turned pale, but their expressions slowly twisted in rage as Saura began to laugh.

"Go a'head, sow. Make mae day-- mae fuckin' week. Rough up those two rich fucks-- Ai'll get a kick out'v it. Than Ai'll let mae raak know ya 'costed a party with a pregnant lass under 'is protection. Nothin' laike watchin' wastes of laife laike tha lot've ya swingin' from a post. Better than a 'uttball match." She said, pursing her lips.

Barda's expression, twisted in rage, slowly began to relax, fear seeming to pull her back. Slowly, she dropped her hand, and the shiv clacked to the floor. She stood for a moment, before looking up at Saura again. Her own expression was calm now, seeming to be waiting.

Than, in a flash, Barda reached down, grabbing for the blaster in her pocket--

--and than three bolts fired from across the room, one landing in the girl's abdomen, the next in her chest, and the third between her eyes. The girl's body hit the ground with a thud as smoke peered out from the holes in Saura's jacket, where her own blaster pistol had been stashed. For a moment, Phokas, barder's younger brother, stood still, eyes wide, unsure of what was happening. Than, his face twisted in rage.

Ducking to his side, the man pulled out his blaster, dodging the shots that flew through the air. Anna let out a scream as she through herself to the floor, and Mehmed hit the deck as well. Phokas drew his blaster and fired a couple of bolts, but Saura slammed herself against the flimsy door of one of the condemned apartments, hitting the ground with a thud. Shots fired through the threshold of the doorway, and the woman, eyes wide, retreated behind a run down counter.

"YA KRIFFIN' WHORE!" He screeched, blindly firing inside, tears streaming down his face. "POPHROIS BED-SOW!" He shouted, walking closer as he shot at random. Saura fired back, and the man threw himself against the wall, firing again before a shot knicked him in the thigh. The man screamed, but he continued firing until a shot hit him in the stomach. Gasping, the man's blaster fell from his hand as he began bleeding profusely, falling to his side.

Scrambling out, Saura walked into the hallway, eyes wide, hands trembling. "GET THA FUCK OUT!" She screamed at the tiefling, pointing at the dying man. "Get 'im to a doctor and GET OUT!" She screeched at him. The terrified alien did as commanded, grabbing the barely breathing human boy and dragging him down the flight of stairs.

"YOU!" She shouted at the human boy, still pointing her blaster, before she slowly put it back in her pocket. In spite of the display of bravado, it was obvious the woman was distraught over what she'd just done. "Grab Claud!" She shouted, before turning to Anna. "Grab whatever matters ta ya-- we gotta leave NOW."




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Tistodd was grateful when Anna moved to help him. His uncle was too heavy for him to move alone. “Be careful, you are still pregnant.” he said to his brother’s lover, while the two grabed one of Claudias’ limbs. With her holding the man’s legs, the young Brentioch held his arms and prepared to enter her apartment.

However, before they could do it, a group of strange individuals approached them. While Tristodd could barely understand what they were saying, he was certain that they were up for nothing good. “Look, we don’t want problems. I can pay 2,000 crowns for you all, if you let us go.” he said, sounding more patient than someone in his condition should be. After being kidnaped by a Hutt, a bunch of street thugs don’t become terrifying.

In the end, his offer of money wasn’t necessary. Saura had arrived and single handedly defeated all of them. Both Anna and Tristodd stared at the scene, neither having thought that the woman was capable of doing something like that. He watched the Tiefling carrying the man away, still without believing in what happened.

Saura’s screams woke him up from his surprise. “Yes, we need to leave.” he said, before turning to look at Anna. “Go grab everything that you are going to need. Saura, can you help me with my uncle? It will take the two of us to carry him down the stairs?” he asked, while his brother’s lover entered her apartment.

It wouldn’t take much time for Anna to reappear, now carrying her luggage. They would only need to go down the stairs and enter the speeder that was waiting for them. Then, the five would be able to reach the spaceport.

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