Ask Un-Altair-able Wills

[Darth Tiamat]

Eiattu

She felt conflicted on so many levels being here.

She was on the verge of becoming a Champion, her acolyte training had been nearly completed and she had received orders to accompany several Sith into battle. The screaming of the engines as Stolas ascended into the battle echoed in her mind, she could still feel muscles tense as explosions rocked the ship to their landing: the palace in order to stop the royal family from escaping and forcing them to surrender. Malicia was there too, Asminys was leading the invasion, the dark side fed on the fear and death that tore apart the world. It was her first battle that she realized war command was not where she excelled. She remembered that conversation with Emryc afterwards. However, none of them where here now- Stolas fell to Razes' hand, Malicia by Stolas, Emryc sought his worth in the ISC leaving Raze an outlet to monitor in other ways, and now Asminys, gone by the hand of Altair.

The stain left by Asminys could still be felt here, the cold chill flowed through her own veins as she looked upward at the walls, the battle replaying in her head and a sudden loneliness hit her. However, she seemed to look distracted enough for the attendant to return back to her and call her along to follow with mild concern. Tiamat felt herself return to the present, feeling the box she carried with treats she created and baked for Altair after she heard what had happened to him following his duel with Asminys and the injuries he had sustained.

That of course where she felt more conflict, thoughts countering the idea she shouldn't be here to begin with since he did admit he did not have the same feelings as she did. Was she going to look too mushy and caring bringing him these? She took a lot of time to create a dewberry drizzle on some of the bars just right and only after was she questioning if it were too much. However, she worried, especially now he was to be their King after his ceremony at some point, though maybe it would be good for her at least, to keep herself from ever facing such humiliation like she did at the Korriban celebration and social. Would it be different going forward, in several ways, though she would stand with him as she had said, she questioned if that was even possible given his own rank and prestige, and how he would treat her now. Tia was uncertain and she was left to those thoughts as she was told to wait outside a pair of doors as he attendant went inside first to announce her presence.

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Over his time of knowing her, Altair had come to respect Tiamat tremendously. Regardless of what may or may not have happened between them romantically, she was someone he found perpetually impressive. He had been raised in a household with assertive, intelligent women with a commanding presence and it instilled in him all the qualities he favored. Tiamat had all of that and especially in the ways she carved out a space entirely for herself within the Empire.

Altair was still in the medical bay when she arrived. Her rank as Sith Master meant she had little in the way of making her way to him. She would notice Altair’s men were fiercely loyal to him, all of them surveying her carefully before she went in. It was beyond simple duty - they genuinely were concerned about him. She was asked to surrender any weapons before making her way to the medical bay and she had to sample any food herself before it was given to him. The soldiers explained the protocols were in place because of the drastic nature of how Altair took power and how despised Asminys had been.

Tia was led into the medical bay eventually and would find him standing in a room with a cozy bed in it. He was technically still supposed to be resting, but he began to get antsy. He was shirtless and wearing some comfortable sweatpants. She would see the severe bruises on his torso and the way his arm hung uselessly at his side and now in a sling. At this point everything looked far worse than he felt and his face lit up when he saw her.

“Thanks for comin’ out here,” He said with a smile, “Though..with hypergates it prolly wasn’t too bad of a journey,” He gestured for her to take a seat at the nearby sofa if she pleased. He noticeably remained standing.

@GABA

 

[Darth Tiamat]

All eyes were on her as she passed by several of Altair's men taking post to guard him as he recovered. She was stopped before entering further, leaving her belongings including her saber safely behind; it took more time to sample her own food given how she arranged it in the box and then had to rearrange the treats once more so they'd all fit back inside. Admittedly she was disappointed one of the cookies shaped like his guitar broke and she quickly stuffed the pieces in her mouth to hid any evidence it had even existed.

It nearly took all her willpower to not gasp when she saw Altair in the medical bay, she saw the grotesque bruising, and his arm was in a sling, though she could tell he still was unable to move it properly. He seemed to perk up when she walked inside, and despite the worry she felt coming here to begin with, it seemed to all evaporate as she reciprocated a smile as he greeted her. He thanked her for coming, mentioning something about the hypergates. "It never is, you should see the run times of the Eternal's Wrath during drills, that path engine is really a phenomenon." she said feeling herself wanting to talk more about her gates and engines when she nearly had to force herself to look at the box of treats.

"I made you some things." she said walking to him instead of the sofa. The woman lifted the lid of the box to show him the different treats inside, "Some cookies," which were cut and frosted for some to look like his horns, others his guitar, and some to look like the insignia he got to wear as commander, "And these are fudge bars, with powder sugar sprinkle and a dewberry drizzle, and then these, are a tart with a cream and fig filling, and some regular chocolate brownies." Tiamat explained.

"When I heard what happened, I wanted to come sooner, but you were still recovering in the bacta tank. So I baked a lot of things..." Tia frowned for a moment remembering the news, "I hope they taste good though, how are you feeling?" she asked.

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair stared in wonder at the baked goods, his jaw visibly growing slack from surprise, “Damn Tia, I didn’t know you baked,” He said eagerly, thrilled at seeing someone else that enjoyed the art of baking. He reached over and picked up a tiny guitar shaped one, smiling widely, “These are so cute! Look at ‘em!” Altair genuinely lit up at the little shapes and care that went into the bars. He nibbled on one and his brows rose, “Wow, this is great,” Coming from a man that was passionate about baking, this was high praise.

“Queen o’ the Stars got some mad talents,” He said happily as he reached for another one. Altair glanced down at his body at her question, “It looks worse than it feels, honestly,” Altair shrugged, “Did you know him? Asminys? The guy was a complete whackjob,” He explained in between trying the snacks, “I came here to try and get some kinda alliance goin’. Once I saw the conditions of the people on the planet and the other planets under him, I knew he needed to go.”

He didn’t know too many people that knew much about Asminys, but he figured Tia had been around long enough to know something about him.

@GABA

 

[Darth Tiamat]

She didn't expected such a reaction to her treats as he picked out the one shaped liked a guitar, seeming even more amazed by the flavors. Her cheeks turned a light red as he called her the Queen of Stars once more, not used to such nicknames as the last she had one by those she cherished were by her own parents. It seemed so long ago and she had certainly had many other degrading names that followed.

His attention turned back to his wounds, her blue gaze lingered for a moment longer as he explained they weren't as bad as they seemed. Perhaps it meant there was progress and he was healing, even his arm, which seemed to be the worse of his injuries. He asked if she knew Asminys, his purpose for arriving to Eiattu, and the consequences that quickly followed.

Tiamat nodded, "Of him, my interactions were brief." she started to explain and decided to take a seat on the couch, leaving him to stand with his box of treats, "I first met him at a victory celebration when I was an acolyte." in fact, she was certain it was the first one she was allowed to attend, "Intimidating enough, so naturally I offered to dance with him, he declined of course." she smirked thinking how bold she was, "He said he only new one type of dance, I think that was a threat, so I offered to teach him a dance. Which he did decline." Tiamat shrugged.

"He wouldn't hesitate to drown a bag of newborn loth-kittens, so I'm not surprised Eiattu declined," she said more seriously, "He, he seemed to have been shaped into a specific purpose, Eiattu reflects it as you saw when you arrived."

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair couldn’t imagine Asminys at a social function of any kind, let alone dance. However, he had to give it to Tiamat - she was certainly brave for trying. He popped another treat into his mouth before shaking his head, “Dude was lookin’ at me like I was a prime cut o’ meat,” Altair said with a bit of a shudder. He set the box down and walked over to sit next to her.

“Thanks for comin’,” He said with a smile, “This was real sweet of ya,” Altair smirked a bit, “I promise I won’t tell no one you got this side,” He winked. Most people in the Sith still saw her associated with the Eternal mask. Word got around of how terrifying she was as a result, and she certainly displayed an icy demeanor around most.

“It’s weird to think I’m gonna be a…King..” He mused aloud, “I always thought I’d just end up workin’ on the farm when I was a kid. To go from that to…” Altair looked at her, “Did you imagine you’d be where you are when you were little?”

@GABA

 

[Darth Tiamat]

Tiamat grimaced to Altair's observation of Asminys, knowing exactly what stare he got from the deceased Sith. It was a good one to describe how he looked at her during that social so many years ago. Her own gaze followed him as he came to sit next to her and she turned to better face him as he thanked her, Tia smiled, she didn't hear that too often, even less for someone to call her sweet. Her cheeks started to glow red as she reached up to find a loose lock of hair to fiddle with as she let the bashfulness pass. "It was nothing..." she tried to wave off as he promised not to tell anyone this side of her.

The woman knew exactly what he meant, she held a reputation, and she shook her head, agreeing with him, "I don't need people thinking I got a nice side, let alone able to bake sweets." she sighed humorously, "I'm glad you like them though, I-" she paused briefly, deciding not to share how the Eternal had interfered with her baking interests, "I don't do well with cooking, but I got baking down."

Altair continued, he seemed to still be in disbelief about him becoming King, the reality seemed difficult to set in that he had made his first steps to his goals and aspirations. Her smile widened as he described his childhood goal, thinking he would end up on the farm, something that seemed so simple compared to wanting to be Emperor. He didn't finish his thought, but turned it back to her asking about her own childhood dreams. At first she seemed surprised he asked, her blue eyes widened just enough to see the dimmer gold streaks in her irises. "Uh, no, far, far from anything." she sunk into the sofa, one leg folded closer to her and her cheek resting on the backrest.

She found another lock of hair, fiddling gently with the ends between her forefinger and thumb, "I first wanted to grow up to be a Sector Ranger like my mom and dad, but then I started ballet and I was on my way to becoming prima ballerina, its the highest honor you can receive, you are the star of the show, skills unmatched." she frowned, feeling herself mentally tiptoeing through her memories, "But it wasn't until later, I realized I wanted prima ballerina so he would leave me alone. I would surpass any of his teachings and he would have to move on to someone else." She felt herself staring at the wall behind Altair, time seemed to distort, things felt unreal as she pulled herself back to reality with a sharp exhale not realizing she was holding her breath.

"Ballet is a pretty far path from astrophysics," the woman smirked, eyes returning to Altair, seeming to move on with conversation, "Even when I first joined the Sith, I thought I would aspire to replace the fake-Eternal and rule the Sith. But, that doesn't seem to be the path I have discovered for myself. Surely though, a farmboy had to have once dreamed of ruling over at least his brothers and sisters." Tiamat smiled.

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

“So who would leave ya alone? Raze?” Altair asked, eyeing her curiously. Truthfully, he was terrified of the Dark Lord. Very few knew anything about him and most guessed he operated on his own agenda. His thoughts drifted away from that and towards Tiamat dancing. He didn’t forget the way she got lost in the music when he played and she danced. It was beautiful to behold and it made him wonder what she would have been like if Sith influence never existed for her.

“Ruling? Nah,” Altair admitted honestly, “I was already kinda the golden child cuz of my Huttball shit and gettin’ into Ziost."

“Can I ask you somethin’?” He asked after a moment as he looked at her, “Why do you get surprised or flustered when I ask you anything about yourself? Does it…bother you?”

@GABA

 

[Darth Tiamat]

"Raze?" she repeated, eyebrows rising slightly, "No, my ballet teacher, he did terrible things to me under the disguise of extra practice. A true evil, really, a predator who wished to just defile children. Raze though, he showed me strength, I value his teachings." she explained, though there was at one point she wished Emryc was capable of showing her more attention. To ask her things, to bother with knowing who she was. She knew his dismissive attitude sparked an anger only he seemed to draw outward, it came in violent bursts. However, it seemed maturity had helped in curving some of it.

He continued, answering briefly to her own question before he asked her something that she was not expecting. She was at first surprised by the question, but it seemed to just confirm his observation, so she couldn't deny it. "I don't think that it bothers me, its just," she thought for the moment on how to describe it, "Just I can't remember when someone has ever shown interest in who I am. No one asks me about me." she tried to give a nonchalant smirk, but speaking it out loud, it hit her differently. Tia certainly felt nervous about responding, and it was difficult for her to process the reason why so suddenly. She scratched her head and fidgeted in her seat, "So, I don't know if its genuine, especially as a Sith or just about anyone in the galaxy, I have to decide quickly if you are being genuine or if there is something you want from me." she glanced at Altair and then stood up, feeling the need to pace, even now she wanted to know why he wanted to know.

"I have met plenty who can be genuine and then, then they take you in some back room and have their way, or tell you they will help you and send you to an orphan house, or tell you nothing will happen to you and when it does, they tell you it was your choice that it happened." Suddenly Tia was feeling more than she wanted, her emotions stirred in the Force, her gaze left Altair as she tried to pull herself back from the spiral, "I have to be careful, its safer to not share..." she closed her eyes tightly, fingers running through her red hair, thoughts leading to her recently asking him out and watching that backfire following Korriban.

"Sorry, I'm okay." she whispered softly, searching for her tranquility to quiet herself and not explode, "Maybe it does bother me, but not in the way you think..."

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair was silent as she spoke, growing tense as she described how she had been fooled in the past. His fists curled at the thought, and she would sense the pulse of rage surge through him that he had to temper. He wanted to give her a hug right then, but he held back. The topic she was describing didn’t call for touch right then. Altair stared at the ground for a moment before he finally looked at her.

“Well I ain’t ever gonna hurt you like that,” He said as he looked at her, “I don’t think anyone can hurt you like that anymore,” Altair smiled at her, “So you ain’t gotta be afraid to share more about yourself. Bein’ alone and keeping everything to yourself can destroy you,” He explained, “I dunno much about Raze, but he seems the type to keep everything to himself and… the galaxy considers him a monster. Dude doesn’t seem to have any humanity left in him.”

He paused for a long moment before he finally reached a hand to place over hers, “I don’t want you ever turnin’ into that.”

@GABA

 

[Darth Tiamat]

The surge of rage did not go unnoticed by the redheaded woman, curiosity sparked as she had been so used to others waving it off as the woes of life, suffering or just not saying anything about it at all. Perhaps is rage meant he understood her pain, her fears of mistaking judgement and letting someone get too close. However, that was the risk she was taking, letting others know her most vulnerable side and then using it against herself, including Altair who reassured he would never hurt her like the others.

And he was right, there wasn't anyone in this galaxy who could hurt her as some had done, though he continued, referring back to Raze as someone who kept everything inside. This was true in a sense despite knowing Raze's identity; that part was a monster, perhaps the monster that rises from never connecting, compartmentalized into an efficient tool of power, there was not any humanity in Raze, Emryc carried what remained of it.

She felt herself take grasp of her emotions, settling with calmer breathing as her arms relaxed to her sides. There was a silence before he spoke again, this time taking her hand. Her gaze held his own, her thoughts taking her quickly back to the monster that was forming inside her under the influence of the mask. Many people still saw her as that monster, but Altair did not. Before she could second guess herself, the woman embraced him, trying to be cautious and not squeeze too tightly as he was still healing from his injuries. "I won't and you better not either." she said.

Her stomach rumbled as she stepped back from the embrace and frowned, "Are you hungry? Do you think they'll let us go down to the kitchens or are you stuck in this room?" she asked.

@Sreeya