Easily amused
and determined
to understand it all.
Posts: 14
(7/19/07 3:37 pm) Reply
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Curiosity killed the-- yeah, whatever. (Maize)
Shakti had been putting off a visit to Coruscant for months. Working her way from planet to planet, scrounging for records and speculations about her new obsession: the Sith.
There were incredible conflicting reports, and sadly much of the information to be found off Coruscant was, in Shakti's opinion, garbage. Jedi-slanted propaganda that may or may not have borne any resemblance to Sith doctrine or culture.
Ah, Sith culture, she thought. If the Jedi were right and they were all backstabbing murderous sociopaths, they wouldn't have survived this long. Someone has to be the head of the serpent, someone has to be directing them. At the very least someone in this whole soup of insanity has to have their head on straight. I just need to find that person...
Looking around her at the neon holo-ads and signs, Shakti felt small and lost in a sea of life. Above her, below her, and breathing recycled air all around her were lifeforms. They were all going about their own business, heedless of a single young woman hiding under several layers of clothing. Stripping off one overshirt in the lurid sticky humidity of the busy block, she tied it around her waist. Shakti could afford to take off one. She was wearing three others.
She swallowed and took a deep breath. She'd come for answers, or at the very least some indication that the answers existed. No one could know everything, but that didn't mean her curiosity was satisfied by less than the full story. She was tired of hearing about the Sith from Jedi. She'd only gotten limited information from most Sith.
They guarded their secrets well, but Shakti knew that she had a chance for something more than ignorance. She had a chance to know what the Jedi had told her nobody had a right to understand. If Shakti was right, her chance might be coming.
Like everyone else, she'd known of Maize Wayne through the Holonet and other contemporary news sources. It wasn't until she'd begun to be dissatisfied with her research that she'd really taken note of him, however. It was no secret where his allegiance lay, but near as Shakti could tell he lived something resembling an actual life aside from that. He had a job. Family. Possibly goals of his own aside from obliterating Jedi and spreading suffering for its own sake.
There was more going on there, though. Shakti considered herself a decent judge of people, and frequently earned her living by working with them. She investigated people and their ways, comparing what her informants told her about themselves with what she observed. Nearly all creatures were interesting, but few enough were intriguing. This one was. Shakti couldn't help but feel that Maize Wayne was somehow...
Well, 'important' isn't the right term. Of course he's important. Any idiot could tell me that. But something... I don't necessarily need to talk to him. Yet. I just need to see him. Get closer. Reading news reports is one thing but I'm not going to get a sense for him until I look at him with my own eyes.
Thus resolved, she waited with her datapad and stylus, disappearing amid the reporters and hangers-on waiting for the governor to emerge from some official function. Shakti hadn't much cared at the time what he'd been doing, though now she regretted not at least taking a moment to check.
Probably just some routine bullshit. Whatever. I won't be talking to him. I don't need to bother him yet. I just need to lay eyes on him. After that, if an opportunity presents itself... we'll see.
Shifting and moving with the crowd, Shakti waited.
Re: Curiosity killed the-- yeah, whatever. (Maize)
The bid for governorship of Coruscant had been a joke to Maize Wayne. A challenge and battle of wits against some very devious Sith, surely, but his interest in being Governor of the galactic jewel had nothing to do with the Sith or personal power. His entire interest had everything to do with a fantasy concocted between he and his lifemate, Kassandra. Years earlier, Maize had told Kass that he'd buy her a planet one day. Becoming Governor of Coruscant was the closest he'd come to that and it was fitting in some ways, given their history with the planet.
The Sith Masters were attending a gala affair in their usual, unorthodox and controversial style despite his political status. What that meant was that Kass was scantily clad, Maize was wearing a leather collar of all things, and both were doing their darndest to put HoloNet attention on themselves. As Kassandra was known to put it, "the younger ones need to know how we earned our reputation." Maize didn't mind obliging that desire at all.
As the gala had come to a close, Maize was a bit on the tipsy side from too many chapagne toasts. Though he could have neutralized the effect of the alcohol in his system, Maize had opted not to. Being reckless was fun, sometimes. His hand against Kass' bare lower back, the sigil bearing his name in the Sith script otherwise prominent, they kissed hungrily for the HoloNet reporters before heading toward the landspeeder.
Re: Curiosity killed the-- yeah, whatever. (Maize)
The Sith Mistress hissed softly as her husband's fingers stroked over her deliciously bare skin. A delicate, strangled moan passed her lush crimson lips as Maize rested his hand over the marque etched into her lower back - his sith sigil, wrought in blood ink and Force-cursed. Bright, cerulean blue eyes flooded with crimson energy, the air around her warming quite perceptibly.
She'd chosen a quite provocative dress for the evening - if one could call the creation such. Pure-dyed black shimmersilk was held around her voluptuous curves with sparkling platinum chains. It left a very generous expanse of her smooth, tanned skin bare, and as she'd dusted it with crushed gemstone powder, the effect was most enticing.
As they stepped outside, Kassandra's gleaming, bloody gaze scanned the crowd, though the lush smile never left her lips. Ever on guard when they were out in public thusly, she was more cautious than usual. Something had been nagging at her since she'd woken that afternoon, and she'd not known her premonitions to be wrong yet.
The woman took a single step from her husband's side, posing for the photographers, turning to let them capture her from every angle. Maize's fingers found the sigil on her lower back once more, digging in roughly as he pulled her close. She purred audibly they kissed, the hungry embrace drowning out her senses for a moment, the lust almost overwhelming.
As they pulled back, Kass licked her lips and winked at Maize. Her senses caught someone in the crowd who seemed to not belong - and it certainly wasn't one of the usual HN and publication crew members they were accustomed to. //We're being watched, Love...// she whispered along their intimate lifebond, a lustful thread of power encompassing it to ensure privacy. With a deft gesture of pure Force power, she pointed to a young woman doing her best to simply 'blend in'.
Easily amused
and determined
to understand it all.
Posts: 17
(7/19/07 9:03 pm) Reply
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Re: Curiosity killed the-- yeah, whatever. (Maize)
Shakti couldn't hold back a smile when she saw Maize with his wife. He looked... happy. With her at least, if not completely serene and content with the order of the universe.
She seems to be enough, Shakti thought, noting that he found reasons to touch her skin, excuses to be close to her and kiss her in full view of the press. Married as long as they were and he still acted like he was infatuated with her.
And who wouldn't be? she noted, the bitterness finally creeping through. She looks amazing. Jealousy welled up inside her and she turned away, gloved hands holding her datapad to her chest, pressed against layers of clothing. Shakti didn't know if she'd dress quite that provocatively given the opportunity, but who could say? It was an opportunity she didn't have any more.
Her fingers tightened on the datapad and she shoved it into her pocket. She couldn't approach him like this. It wasn't his fault and it wasn't his wife's fault. Shakti didn't need that to be their first impression of her, because they would definitely notice. All they'd sense was the jealousy, the anger. The rest... the rest was hidden under all her concealing clothes.
She'd never had the money to do anything about them. The scars. The procedure wasn't a complicated one, but because many governments kept track of people by recording notable markings on their bodies, having burn scars removed on such a scale would require an incredible amount of paperwork and money that Shakti just didn't have. Over great spans of her body her skin was twisted, glossy, and discolored like so much melted plastic, and that meant she could never do what Kass was doing. She'd never have what Kassandra had, be what Kass was, but that wasn't the woman's fault.
No, she reminded herself, anger surging through her blood and wiping away the regret. No, that was his fault, and he knew this would happen. Her jealousy and reticence shattered as the rage burst through. And to think, I'm the lucky one.
Shakti shook her head furiously, clearing away all the foolishness and the memories. What did she care what she looked like? She was a stronger woman than that, and a scholar in her own right. She came here for a reason, and while she knew that Sith were often picky about being shown "proper" respect according to their power (or arrogance, the two were not always the same), this one seemed different. Giving him his due should be enough, and if he could be what he was... a Sith master, and have what he had... a life to call his own away from the Sith order... his due respect would be very high indeed.
Turning to face the two from the frenzied crowd she collected quiet around her, an island of stillness in the constant erratic sea of paparazzi. She caught Kassandra's eyes first and touched her forehead in respect before turning her gaze to find that Maize Wayne had noticed her as well.
Guess I should have expected it. Never cared enough about stealth to make a good showing of it... not to Force users like these. Part of her told her to leave it at that, leave the ball in their court to react to her or to take their evening together without disturbance. What? Shakti, what the hell is wrong with you? When the hell did you become such a damn sissy? Cripes, woman. You want to talk to him or not?
Yes.
She did.
Well, fortune favors the brave and if my research is correct the Sith do as well. Time to test that hypothesis.
Shakti ducked past a HoloNet reporter, and the next one saw her edging in on his hard-earned privileged place in the crowd and shoved the smaller woman back. Her teeth gritted in irritation at being held back from her goal now that she'd finally decided she wanted it.
She turned and snapped her gaze onto him from behind a curtain of loose hair. He snorted in the back of his throat as Shakti jerked on the loose end of his tie, tightening it sharply around his neck. He coughed and looked down to fix it, and by the time he looked up again to catch his breath she'd stepped to the front of the crowd. Shaking his head in annoyance, he apparently decided she wasn't worth the trouble.
With reporters at her back and two Sith before her, Shakti stood at the literal edge between the common herd of humanity... and something greater.
Re: Curiosity killed the-- yeah, whatever. (Maize)//When aren't we being watched?// was Maize's wry reply, though he did follow Kass' nudge. //It's not like we try to be subtle...//
Still, he knew by the mind-voice tone that Kass was referring to a 'someone' of more importance, or at least a higher threat level than the HN reporters. Despite his buzz, Maize's dark blue eyes narrowed, zeroing in on the woman that Kassandra had taken note of.
//No one I know...//
The crowd behind them surged and the two Sith Masters were forced to move forward with it lest they be trampled, or have to cause a greater scene. Their extravagant air-speeder complete with government driver awaited at the end of the walkway, so the Wayne's proceeded, keeping an eye on the watcher's actions.
Maize felt a flourish of anger bubble and well in the Force, and felt that Kass sensed it too. A quick glance into her eyes and he saw they were turning slightly crimson around the iris. That, for Maize, was telling. He turned on his heel and watched as a reporter slumped, holding his throat. Though he'd been rash and violent while leading his own company, WayneTech, over the years, the stakes were different with politics. While Maize itched to reach into the Force and do something - unsure if the watcher was friend, for or somewhat else - he hesitated. Being Governor of Coruscant made for slightly different rules he had to play by now. Thanks to that ridiculous Council, he thought.
"My senses are fragged over, Love. Too much chapagne," Maize admitted. "What's her intention?"
Re: Curiosity killed the-- yeah, whatever. (Maize)"You, Love...had far too much champagne...come...let's say hello. She's gone to an awful lot of trouble to come see us..." Kassandra purred, nibbling delicately at his earlobe. The Sith Mistress shifted under her husband's hands, turning as they both walked over to the edge of the crowd.
It was a slow process, as time and again they were stopped, a holopic here, a soundbite there...it amused the woman to no end that it never stopped. Kass reveled in it, however, enjoyed every last moment when the attention was focused on her. She purred softly, blowing a kiss to a photographer as she and Maize finally made it over to where the young woman now stood.
Reaching out through the Force, she extended her dark, luscious power around them - a visible crimson shield to anyone with a touch of the gift, meant to ensure verbal privacy. A tendril of sullen energy writhed around her wrist, tracing the Sith script of the deep marque etched into her tender flesh.
//Ooo...now this one almost makes me want to come to the Order love. Her aura tastes delicious...// the Mistress purred across their intimate lifebond, before tilting her head to gaze at Shakti. Sullen crimson orbs took in the details of the young woman's appearance. "Greetings, young one...what do you wish of us, hmm? Or...perhaps...it is my husband whom you seek..." A lush smile spread across her lips, even as her voice echoed with lustful power.
Easily amused
and determined
to understand it all.
Posts: 20
(7/20/07 1:46 pm) Reply
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Re: Curiosity killed the-- yeah, whatever. (Maize)
Maize made eye contact with her and then it seemed his wife was bringing them over. She had a minute or two to wonder what was going on while the two took their time dallying with the press.
The closer they got, the more overwhelming their presence became. When they came close enough to her that she could hear their footsteps, it wasn't simply that she could sense their power. That was a meaningless and pathetic description for what these people were to her. She could feel them deep in every cell of her body, and found it difficult to focus on anything but them.
Absolutely incredible... Shakti thought, awestruck. Could I become that?
Shakti knew she could. Maybe some Sith couldn't keep their heads about them long enough to achieve something of this magnitude, but Shakti wanted it and if nothing else it was absolute proof that these two had the knowledge she sought. This was what she had come to see, and now she had an even better opportunity to examine them closely.
When Kass spread her will through the Force, Shakti continued to be surprised by how deeply embedded these two were in a power she knew she only barely understood.
Yes. Yes, this is it, exactly what I was looking for. I haven't found it anywhere else but they have it. They have it and I want it.
"Greetings, young one...what do you wish of us, hmm? Or...perhaps...it is my husband whom you seek..."
Shakti inhaled slowly, gathering her resolve against the incredible weight of their power. "Yes," she said, lowering the tone of her voice to sound more authoritative and confident than she was. Old interviewing trick. She couldn't hide how overawed she was by them, not from them. But that didn't mean she had to act like a simpering idiot.
"I hadn't intended to speak with you tonight, but I came seeking knowledge. Knowledge few people have, that fewer will share. I think that..." She locked eyes with Maize, holding her ground against the force of their authority and expertise. "...I think you have it. What I don't know... is whether you're willing to share it. Only you can tell me that."
Re: Curiosity killed the-- yeah, whatever. (Maize)
Despite how off-kilter he was feeling, at least Maize had presence of mind enough to keep his expression carefully neutral. He didn't let his bemusement show at a Force user besides his wife, besides his family... finding him interesting. And short of the long paternal relationship he'd kept with Sophie Maurow, there'd been very few besides his immediate family who payed Maize Wayne any mind, anymore. Or so he felt. Thus, this scarred woman's words piqued the Master's curiosity. This was all carefully masked by his somewhat dopey and tipsy expression. Or at least, it was hidden from everyone but Kassandra, and through their lifebond. There was little that one could hide from the other, thanks to that.
"Join us," Maize said abruptly. "We'll... go for a ride."
He knew this wasn't the right place to have the sort of conversation this young woman desired. Even with the privacy that Kass had afforded them with her Sorcery skills, it was more than that.
//What do you think, Love?// he growled softly into her mind.
Kassandra had always been a better judge of people than Maize was and he knew when to defer to her.
Re: Curiosity killed the-- yeah, whatever. (Maize)
Bright eyes were soon flooded with a sullen crimson energy, glowing and pulsing with the beat of her heart. Kass gazed intently at the young woman, her eyes widening ever so slightly as she tilted her head. Shakti glowed in her Force-sight, a glittering beacon of the darkness she was and would yet become.
It brough a devious smile to the Sith Mistress' lips as she turned her gaze to her husband and nodded softly. //This one will make us both proud, my love...// the statuesque woman purred along their intimately-forged bond.
"Come, darling...ride with us, won't you?" Kassandra said softly, lifting the shield from around them. With a delicate gesture of her wrist, the barricade evaporated before Shakti, and the Mistress held out her hand.
Easily amused
and determined
to understand it all.
Posts: 23
(7/20/07 5:01 pm) Reply
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Re: Curiosity killed the-- yeah, whatever. (Maize)
Shakti knew she was under the lens here, and it was clear that just as she was studying them... they were evaluating her. Inspecting her. Depending on their mood these two could either be very dangerous... or the realization of every hope she'd been carrying.
"Join us. We'll... go for a ride."
For a strange flickering moment Shakti heard her mother's voice telling her never to get into speeders with strangers, even if they offered her candy. Her mother... that memory was hilarious on more levels than Shakti could count. Her private mirth was swallowed immediately by the rapt attention in Kassandra's eyes.
I'm being inspected, all right... Shakti had not counted on Kassandra being here, but life was about adapting. Shakti's attentive gaze caught the look she'd shared with her husband. She's confirmed something for herself. Something about me. No way to tell if that's good or bad.
Shakti should have been afraid. She should have been terrified. She was considering leaving alone with two Sith masters she didn't even know? Was she crazy? Was she really going to put her life in their hands?
"Come, darling...ride with us, won't you?"
The young scholar lifted her chin and swallowed her apprehension. If Shakti had reason to fear these two, there would be more than enough time for fear later.
"Yes," Shakti replied, pulling her hand out of her pocket. She reached out with gloved fingers for the woman's hand and found herself grateful for the fabric separating Kassandra's skin from hers. The Force swarmed with their presence, and Shakti still hadn't gotten used to it. Something as intimate as skin to skin contact might have been too overwhelming.
She gave the two a quick nod as her hand found Kassandra's. "I'd be honored."
Re: Curiosity killed the-- yeah, whatever. (Maize)OOC: This feels like the right point to jump us to a training thread to me. It'll have your name somewhere in the title in the next forum down.
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