My Lullaby (pre-game, late evening, Haunted Halls)

[Lord Jo'ren Rath]

"The Force rarely shows us what we want to see." He gave her a rather sceptical look but rolled with it. "Sure, if you say so. And what exactly have you decided?"

[Lord Tenebrous]

"That I will claim one of the seats, of course," she said as a matter of fact, resting a hand on his shoulder. "The Council needs to be revitalized, and to direct our attentions outwards to our enemies again."

Her smile was more confident this time. "No need to give me that look, Jo'ren. Speak your mind."

[Lord Jo'ren Rath]

"Better you than me. Too much talking... but yeah, we need to focus on defeating our enemies, not each other."

He sighed. "Now, what's a 'Child of the Emperor'? And most importantly, what does that have to do with our daughter?"

[Lord Tenebrous]

"We both know I have more the head for that kind of activity," she chuckled softly, but turned serious soon enough.

"It's... hmm... not something most people learn about. A 'Child of the Emperor' is someone specially chosen, given a fragment of the Emperor's power, to carry out the Emperor's will. The power invested in me must have passed on to her while in the womb, is my guess."

[Lord Jo'ren Rath]

He chuckled, it was true enough. Mostly.

"Heh, you kept the quiet. No surprise. Yeah. I've never heard of this before, good to know. Aside from the obvious consequences of you running for the Council, does this put Lyria in any danger? I'd like to know what this means for her."

[Lord Tenebrous]

"As much danger as any other Sith would be." At least she didn't think it would put her more in danger than any other Sith child. Not that she had the best anecdotal experience to draw on to really know. "She's the child of two Sith of prestigious lines, her grandfather is the Emperor's Wrath... and her mother a future member of the Dark Council. Of course there will be danger."

Shaisha's hand moved from his shoulder to his neck. "Don't tell me there wasn't danger for you growing up, hm?"

[Lord Jo'ren Rath]

"Yeah, that was mostly due to kids being kids though. My family has always been careful to keep the children educated about but away from political retribution." He gave her a quizzical look. "Maybe this Child of the Emperor thing gives her some protection from all that though? And what's this about being, quote, broken?"

[Lord Tenebrous]

"Hmm... that's different from my own childhood, but it might be best for her to spend more time with her cousins in your family." She would feel better knowing Lyria was safely away from the hot seat of political intrigue. More people were bound to find out about her now, after all.

Now that would be a more difficult subject to explain. With anyone else, Shaisha would opt for deceit, and while she suspected she most often could decieve Jo'ren, she also knew that he was far more perceptive and clever than he often pretended to be. It was one of the traits she liked about him. Well, that and his strong arms and incredible physique.

"Carrying out the Emperor's will is... shall we say, the Emperor does not waste time in asking nicely or briefing you on a mission. You do as he commands, simple as that. The Broken Child is me because I broke away from doing what he wants. It's my impression that might've impressed him more than upset him," she smirked slightly.

[Lord Jo'ren Rath]

"Yeah, it'll do her good to be out in the wilds. Her cousins can't wait." He smiled as he thought back to his own childhood.

Shaisha's story got his attention. She was a good liar, but this sounded as close to the truth as she would let herself get. He could usually tell when she was spinning him a line.

"So basically you're too willful for the Emperor's taste? I mean that's pretty much why I find you so damned irresistible. That and your body." He shrugged and then laughed.

[Lord Tenebrous]

"You know me," she grinned, sliding easily into his lap, "always willful and stubborn. And you... well, your body is one of your greatest perks, but I always think back to when we first met when I caught on that you were much more clever than the jock you pretend to be."

Her arms found their comfortable spot over his shoulder. "So what plans have brought you to Ziost, my lord, other than a small family reunion?"

[Lord Jo'ren Rath]

"Yeah well. I work out." He laughed a bit and relaxed slightly under her touch.

"However much I hate politics if there was ever a time to be on Ziost it's now. Any excuse to see my girls though. As for my plans?" A sly smile crossed his face. "I need a few components for one of my...personal projects. And I want to visit this new Massassi training centre. Now that you've decided to put yourself out there for a council seat I guess I'll be watching your back too."

[Lord Tenebrous]

"Much appriciated," she chuckled and carressed the ridges of his face.

"And of course, if I have the time, I can be of assistance to you as well. Whatever these personal projects are." Someday she'd have to pry more into those secrets of his. "Especially if it involves a fight - just a feeling I might need to unleash some aggression during these times of politics."