#cienn bane

[rprambles]

bitsy PLS

i am now thinking about Cadem being over-the-top affectionate to his kids when he runs into them while they're working or on a mission or whatever

Cienn is equal parts 'aw yes Dad hugs' and 'Daaad ugh I'm trying to kill a Sith do you MIND'

Beto gets bashful because he's a soldier, gotta be professional, but he never passes up on hugs.

Alys snuggles into him and kisses his cheek and invites him along on whatever heist she's doing

[rprambles]

“…It’s not fair! They promised me they fixed it! It’s not my fault!”

Beto couldn’t help smiling as the controls shook in his hands. “Aly, has anyone told you you’re a little too trusting?”

Cienn chuckled as Alys’ voice broke through the static of the comm. “Now you sound like Mom. Here, how’s this?”

The shuttle gave a long low whine and rattled, lights flickering. Beto cursed softly. “That’s worse, sis.”

"Frak, frak, frak. Let me try this." A moment later the shuttle’s alarm went off. "Ummmmm."

Cienn frowned. “Alys?”

"Uh, don’t panic, but the engine is on fire."

"Come back up here," Beto directed, "And both of you strap yourselves down, this landing’s gonna be interesting."

"Told you this was a bad idea," Cienn remarked as she buckled herself into the copilot seat.

"You know it’s more fun than Jedi lessons," Alys said as she jumped into a seat. Cienn nodded thoughtfully.

Beto snorted. “You two got an interesting idea of fun. Hold on.”

[rprambles]

"Just kill me."

Cienn frowned at the Jedi's surrender. It couldn't be that simple. "Is that it? No bravado, no gallows humor. You're just...giving up?" Disgust dripped from her words.

Her frown twisted into a scowl as disgust and anger boiled inside her. How could she show him the truth if he did not fight her? How would he see his folly, how great she had become in mere weeks. No, no this wasn't right.

She reached through the Force, throwing him across the valley. He hit the ground hard, age showing as he rolled over and shook off his landing. She leapt to him, lightsaber sliding easily through the ground beside his head. An intentional miss. He just looked up at her with sad brown eyes.

She didn't want sorrow. She wanted pain and anger and struggle. She wanted him to see how powerless he was against her new-found might.

She snarled and threw him again, walking to him this time as he slowly rose to his feet. "Fight back!" She slapped him with the back of her hand, letting the Force strengthen the blow. He staggered a little, blood trickling from his lip, but otherwise he simply stood there and took it. She struck him again and again, cursing him for a coward and a fool and a weakling until finally he grabbed her wrist, stopping her assault.

"Cienn. Just kill me."

She glared at him, wrenching out of his grip. Fine then. If he would make no move to save himself, she would not spare him.

Her lightsaber flew to her hand once more and she drove it through his chest, watching as pain mixed with the sorrow in his gaze. Cadem bent slightly, kissing the crown of her head with bloodstained lips. And then the light faded from his eyes and she let him fall to the dirt one last time.

She paid no attention to the cheers and congratulations of her peers, nor the sounds of anguish from the captive audience. She'd been so looking forward to this moment, only to find it falling far short of her expectations. Why had he refused to fight her? Because of family ties?

Cienn scoffed, frowning at the cooling body on the ground. "Foolish."

[rprambles]

SWtOR - Morning Surprise

Consciousness came slowly to her and she shirked away from it, rolling over in an attempt to return to sleep. Yawning wide, she stretched an arm across the sheets; when her hand met no obstacle she paused, eyes blinking open.

She chastised herself as her heart sank. What did she really expect? Just because this fling of theirs had gone on for over a year now didn't mean anything was changing. Zhymmia had made it clear that she didn't want anything more.

She closed her eyes and tried to squash the feelings in her chest. She wouldn't ask for more than Zhymmia wanted to give. In a way their once-a-month rendezvous was enough. At least the warrior had stopped insisting it was a mistake. Cienn smirked at that memory.

Yes, it was enough to have her for that one night, left with memories and anticipation of the next one. With a sigh she buried herself in the sheets, breathing in the lingering scent of her lover. She always smelled like the sea, sharp and subtly powerful and addictive. Fitting, she thought with a smile.

As she took deep Zhymmia-scented breaths, she recognized a soft hiss from somewhere in the ship. The shower. Cienn frowned, then sat up, staring dumbfounded at the doorway of her room. Why would the shower be running? The only people on her ship were herself and a droid.

Looking around, she realized with a start that Zhymmia's clothes were folded neatly on a chair. "She's still here," she whispered numbly.

She had no idea what to make of this development.

As she tried to wrap her head around it, she heard the water stop. A few moments later soft steps padded down the hall. And then Zhymmia stood in the doorway wrapped in a towel. Her long dark hair looked like black silk, gathered over one shoulder; droplets of water made trails down her brown skin to gather at her feet. The sight of her like this left Cienn gawking in wonder.

Zhymmia leaned against the doorframe and just looked at her for a long minute before breaking the silence, "Good morning, sleepyhead."

Cienn suddenly became aware of her bedraggled appearance. She ran a hand through her hair in an attempt to smooth it down. Judging from Zhymmia's smirk, it didn't work. "How do you do that?"

She arched a brow, her Imperial accent adding to the smugness of her words. "What, always look flawless?"

"Yes, Miss Humility, that."

Zhymmia shrugged. "Talent."

Cienn chucked a pillow at her. Zhymmia blocked it easily, smirk widening. "You're such an ass, Zhym."

"Don't pretend you don't like it."

She rolled her eyes, smiling despite herself, but Zhymmia's humor faded quickly. Cienn tilted her head. "What is it?"

"I was wondering." Zhymmia pushed off the wall, crossing the room to sit neatly at the end of the bed. She paused, as if the words had stuck to her throat. "If you would...after you shower and dress, if you would like to...go out with me today."

Cienn blinked, not quite understanding. "You mean...like a date?"

A small, hopeful smile appeared on the warrior's face. "Yes. A date."

She just stared for a second, not quite believing what she heard. Was Zhymmia really asking if they could make this more? Was this really happening? To the person with the worst luck?

Yes. Yes it was.

Pure joy spread through her and Cienn launched herself at Zhymmia, latching her arms around the woman's shoulders as she bounced on the bed. "Yesyesyesyes!"

Zhymmia's laughter sang in her ears, strong arms wrapping around her. "Easy, Cienn! If you're not careful, I'll lose my towel."

Cienn paused and pulled back a little to look at Zhymmia, picturing what she knew the towel hid from view. "Not seeing how that would be bad."

Zhymmia snorted, nose crinkling. "You are terrible."

"You like it," Cienn retorted in a sing-song tone and leaned in for a kiss. Zhymmia laughed against her mouth, tugging the smaller woman into her lap.

[rprambles]

✿✿

20: upside down kiss

"I was almost a Sith, y'know."

"What?"

"Mhmm." Cienn took a swig of whiskey, not looking away from the stars. She could feel Zhymmia's eyes on her face, could picture her mouth twisted in a frown. She just kept looking at the stars, fingers twining through the end of the warrior's ponytail.

"When?"

"Not long after I found my Force powers, I was six. We lived in Hutt space, my father hired a merc to take me to Tython. He was afraid of the Sith." She took another swig, and then a long breath. "He was right to be. A Sith attacked us on the way to the spaceport. The merc put me on a ship and told me to call her friend. She was on a funeral pyre next time I saw her."

Zhymmia said nothing. Cienn felt her reach up, hand brushing her hair. She still didn't turn her head. "Sometimes I just...have to wonder at it. If anything had gone differently I could be a completely different person."

"No you wouldn't," Zhymmia said then, just as Cienn went to take another drink.

Cienn choked and sputtered briefly. "Ass. How d'you figure that."

She moved, rolling onto her elbows and forcing Cienn to meet her gaze. "Because I cannot imagine you as a Sith."

Cienn contemplated that for a long minute, grey eyes searching Zhymmia's brown ones. She raised a hand to brush Zhymmia's cheek. "I'm going to take that as a compliment."

"As intended," Zhymmia replied with a smile and leaned down to steal a kiss.

It felt a bit awkward, upside-down kisses; Cienn couldn't help laughing when her chin bumped Zhymmia's nose. She rolled over, hand slipping around the other woman's neck to pull her in for a proper kiss. "Thanks."

-- --

5: eyelid kiss

Zhymmia dressed quietly, cloth whispering against her skin. As she pulled her hair together she looked back at the bed. A dentation remained where she'd been, shaped perfectly against the still form of her lover. She reached over and straightened the sheet a little, pulling it up over Cienn's shoulderblade.

Last time she'd told herself it was to keep Cienn from catching cold from a draft. Zhymmia shook her head. Such silly attempts at hiding her sentiment, the affection she had for her. Thank the Force she'd moved on from that nonsense.

She combed her fingers through Cienn's hair, mussed from their activites the night before. She grinned briefly at the thought. A part of her wanted to stay, wait until Cienn began to stir and greet her with gentle kisses.

Zhymmia leaned down and placed a whisper-soft kiss on the woman's eyelid. "Perhaps next time, my Jedi."

[rprambles]

✿

14: jawline kiss

"Anyone ever tell you that you're ridiculously tall?"

Zhymmia smirked, standing stock still against Cienn's tugging. "It's hardly my fault that you're short."

Cienn's nose crinkled in a scowl and Zhymmia resisted the temptation to lean down and kiss it. "I am not."

"I can rest my chin on your head. You're short."

"Shut up and kiss me." Cienn tugged on her collar again in an attempt to bring her down to eye level.

She folded her arms resolutely. "Either stand on your toes or ask nicely. Certainly the Jedi teach you manners."

Her grey eyes narrowed. Zhymmia bit her lip to keep from laughing as Cienn pulled some more on her collar before giving up with a roll of her eyes and kissing the Sith's jaw. "Why do I put up with you?"

"Because I'm sexy."

Cienn poked her hard in the stomach and the laugh finally escaped.

[rprambles]

joining in the "if my characters made holocrons" fun :D

Cyrris would teach about seeking understanding with the galaxy and the dangers of sequestering yourself away. She'd talk about how to be open and nonjudgemental of cultures while still holding to the Jedi Code.

Cienn will explain that love is not a bad thing and family can be the greatest gift in the 'verse. There are dangers to it, naturally, but a Jedi's life is full of danger and no one seems to blink at that.

Zhymmia's will press the importance of being honorable and scoff at how the Sith are prone to backbiting and stabbing and undeserved arrogance. A true Sith takes pride in their self, not in how they appear to be better than others.

A lot of apprentices probably expect Niobi's to be a "How to Be Sith 101". To their surprise, it's a lecture on the many pitfalls on the way to gaining power and how to keep it once you have it, explaining the many nuances of Sith politics.

Rev's would be very simple. "Superweapons are a bad idea. Don't do it."

[rprambles]

SWtOR - An Understanding

"Alright, perhaps this is something."

Cienn had to bite her tongue to keep from laughing. Zhymmia sat up a little to pin her with a stern gaze. "Don't say it."

"I didn't say anything."

"You were thinking it."

"Oh, do the Sith teach you how to read minds now?"

Cienn stuck her tongue out at her. "For the record, I wasn't thinking I told you so."

Zhymmia arched a skeptical brow.

"I was thinking, 'Could you possibly sound a little more like you're swallowing glass when you say that?'" The held-back laughter escaped when a pillow smacked into her face.

"You are such an ass," Zhymmia accused; Cienn could hear a smile through the exasperation.

Cienn tossed the pillow aside with a grin. "Thought you liked that about me."

"Mmm." Zhymmia's eyes darkened as she slid a hand around to claim Cienn's rear, smirking at the small squeak the Jedi made. "May have something to do with it."

"You're so full of yourself, Zhym."

"Let's be honest, Cienn, I am rather amazing."

Cienn grabbed her shoulders and pulled her closer. "Shut up and kiss me."

Zhymmia leaned in, pausing an inch away with sudden seriousness. "Cienn, I want it understood that this is not a romance. Are you alright with that?"

She was sure the Sith saw the disappointment in her face, but Cienn quickly pushed it down. "Yeah."

Zhymmia pulled back a little, frowning. "You're a terrible liar, Cienn, I believe I've mentioned it."

"Zhym, I'm not..." Cienn stopped, getting the words together. "I'm not going to push for more than you're offering. So yeah, I am alright with this."

Zhymmia considered her for a long moment. Finally she nodded. "Now that we're clear on that." She moved closer again and Cienn grinned wide. "Where were we?"