Face Your Fears (D1LM)

[Lucinia Malveaux]

Supposedly, Darth Zash had an open door policy of sorts. Still, Lucinia made it a point to call ahead. It wouldn't do to surprise a Darth, especially not one with Zash's reputation. And not when Lucinia herself was apprenticed to one of her rivals.

Of course, that apprenticeship seemed to be more nominal as of late. Lucinia clenched her hands, fingernails digging into her palms. I will have what is rightfully mine. Have I not earned it?

No matter. Taking a deep breath, Lucinia reached up, pressing the button that would announce her arrival to Darth Zash.

[Dapper Dog]

She is allowed up to an opulent and posh apartment. A droid offered her a drink when she arrived and said the mistress would be along shortly.

And shortly she was. She emerged from the upstairs of the apartment wearing a long silken robe loosely tied as she descended the stairs. She smiled and said, "I hope I did not keep you long I was... doing research."

"Hungry?" she offered as she reached the bottom of the stairs.

[Lucinia Malveaux]

Lucinia rose as Zash entered the room. "Darth Zash." She said, giving a small curtsey, aided by her fine black dress. "It is a pleasure to meet you. And no, thank you, I'm not hungry. Unless you haven't eaten..." She gave a vague wave with one hand. She knew how research could make one forget the needs of the body.

She gave Zash a tiny smile, her lips only just curling up. "And no, I haven't been waiting long. Perhaps I should apologize to you for interrupting your research. Is it anything you would speak about?"

[Dapper Dog]

Zash laughed lightly, “My sweet child… it… trust me it was far less deserving of my attentions than I hoped. Disappointment is common, but life will go on.”

She turned and started walking towards a large kitchen and began pulling out food and drew a knife and began chopping vegetables. She said as she worked, “I am famished… by the by how is the old crone?”

[Lucinia Malveaux]

Lucinia smiled, just a little. "Indeed, a disappointment well-known to all who truly study the Dark Side." She wondered at the research, nevertheless; perhaps some living being who couldn't handle the stresses of the research.

Lucinia followed with an easy elegant stride, her eyebrows going up just a little as Zash chopped. "Well enough." She answered blandly. No need to ask who Zash meant. "When last we spoke, anyway. It was a brief conversation." Lucinia allowed a hint of her irritation to leak into her tone.

[Dapper Dog]

“Still fixated on the child…” she said with a knowing look.

“You have been replaced; I know that feeling all too well Lucinia… you have come as far as she will allow you. I feel for you, I truly do for she is a great teacher when she chooses to be…”

[Lucinia Malveaux]

"Yes. She is." Lucinia's chin tilted up. Her tone was firm now, but her green eyes still flashed her anger.

A deep breath as she regarded Zash curiously, her head tilted. "It sounds as though you have some personal knowledge of this."

[Dapper Dog]

“I studied with her for a time… a long time she taught me much of what one should be as Sith… but we had a disagreement at how much she was willing to share. I wanted more and took it and she did not agree,” she said smiling darkly as if reliving the memory.

“She was right of course I wasn’t ready and that decision has made me the woman I am today… that was… a long time ago.”

[Lucinia Malveaux]

Lucinia smiled, a cold smile to match Zash's dark. "And here I asked to speak with you because of common interests. I did not expect that we would have such a common experience as well."

How long ago? The question came to mind, but Lucinia knew better than to let it come to her lips.

[Dapper Dog]

She began frying the vegetables and seasoning them and said, “Every dark lord has a humble beginning… mine did not begin with her but she was an important lesson along the way… one I only now realize after it is far too late…”

She turned and poured wine and then added, “We need more wine if I am to continue… want a glass?”

[Lucinia Malveaux]

Lucinia nodded, her expression interested. "Please. That sounds lovely." She smiled, just a little. "If you ever have the opportunity to visit Malveaux house here on Ziost, well, the decor is positively antiquarian, but I've made certain that the wine credenza is properly stocked, at least."

[Dapper Dog]

“Then I am sure I will have to come by and see this stock of wine,” she said pouring win for the both of them.

She poured some in the pan and then continued, “Arya was everything to me once, she was powerful… duplicitous… beautiful. I wanted to be her, and when I thought I could achieve that I took it…”

She looks off wistfully, “I have few regrets… but now that is one, but a Sith cannot tarry in the past. It is what it must be and we can only look forward… and I feel I have just been rambling about nothing, forgive me.”

[Lucinia Malveaux]

Slowly, Lucinia shook her head. "Not at all." She said, a hint of a smile on her lips. "In all truth, I enjoy a good ramble. Especially from those with true power; I find it far more interesting than the prepared speeches of weaklings."

Her green eyes narrowed as she briefly studied Zash's face. She wanted to be Arya... was this really her face, then, that she seemed to wear?"

Lucinia took a tiny sip of her wine. "But, as you say, a Sith cannot tarry in the past. I worry at that sometimes, with my archaeological studies, but I do my best to separate learning from the past with becoming..." She paused, red lips pursing, "-entangled with the past."

[Dapper Dog]

OOC: Perception + Force check at Hard if you wish, gain a Free upgrade if you have Sense.

[Lucinia Malveaux]

Lucinia's eyes narrowed as she studied Zash, drawing on something deep within herself.

D1LM hard Perception check on Zash, Force Dice: 1eP+1eA+3eD+2eF 1 success, 2 threat, 1 Light Side, 1 Dark Side


2 wounds for one more Dark Side point
Net: 1 sux

[Dapper Dog]

Zash-Dark.jpg (39.35 KiB) Viewed 6618 times

“That is a danger we all face,” she said with a chuckle thinking of her own past research. Though for a moment her beautiful skin was shriveled and corpse like, her eyes almost dull milk white dead and her beautiful hair stringy and dark, growing in patches on her skull… it was jarring as she blinks and it is as she was.


She leveled her knife at her guest as she spoke, “The trick I find is to just keep picturing the primitives of the past in their underwear.”

[Lucinia Malveaux]

Lucinia's eyes widened at the vision before her. Coupled with the Dark Side energies coursing through her, it was impossible to keep bile from rising in her throat. Her slender fingers tightened on her glass, nearly snapping the stem.

The moment passed. Lucinia took a deep breath, steadying herself. "Hmmm? Oh? Yes." Weakly she laughed, before bolstering herself with a drink of wine. "I've heard of the technique for giving speeches, but I've never thought of applying it to archaeology. What a fascinating idea. Although given some of the Sith lords I've studied, that may be too unpleasant to contemplate."

[Dapper Dog]

“A Sith with a weak stomach will not get very far,” she said with a laugh.

She added sliced meat to the vegetables and then began preparing some rice pouring herself another glass of wine… was this her second or third? She continued, “Think of Darth Tayana, every night she must muster her courage to allow that literal boar of a husband between her nethers… now that is a strong woman.”

[Lucinia Malveaux]

Lucinia's jaw clenched. "Very true." She said. Curse it, she could only hope that Darth Zash did not entirely recognize her moment of weakness.

After a frown, Lucinia slowly sipped her wine. It seemed that Zash had a powerful appetite. Perhaps more than one. Her lips twisted at the comment. "That does take a strength, yes." She said. "But there is much that she gains from the union. Strength begets strength, quite naturally."

[Dapper Dog]

“She is probably one of the most influential people on Ziost. I have seen her destroy an up and coming socialite with a smile and polite refusal. Her husband may be a dark Councilor but she is a literal queen here on Ziost, or anywhere she goes most likely. Naturally, I dislike her,” she said with a smile.

She adds some spices and a smidge more wine to the food and then begins plating the rice and pours another glass of wine.

From upstairs they both could hear a young man yawn, handsome with dark hair and olive skin wearing just a towel as he said, “Ahh and breakfast… what a most lovely woman and here I thought you would not have the strength to even move.”

Zash laughed, “Yes imagine my sadness having to suffer through your clumsy strokes… but don’t worry Captain, I have prepared for you a special meal.” She raised her hand and purple lightning arced across the room ripping through the young man and in moments he was blackened and blistered flesh.

She then started eating, “If you are hungry go ahead.”

OOC: He dead Jim.

Zash Lightning: 4eP+1eA+5eF+2eD 4 successes, 1 Triumph, 4 Light Side, 3 Dark Side