Ask White Lies

[Hagar Landell]

Rough hands turned a piece of broken glass over. It was a deep violet, battered enough by the waves that she could pass it off as ancient, perhaps a relic from a downed ship hundreds of years ago. Hagar knew better, of course. The glass was the exact color the bottles a local resort served spotchka in. The tourists who she would sell it to, however, were unlikely to notice. Her trade was simple. She had worn many masks over the years, knowing none could stick for too long. Most recently, she had been a talisman procurer, finding powerful objects with tragic pasts, often conveniently reflecting a client's own experiences to garner more sympathy. It was enough to get by, and that was all she needed to do. Still, as Hagar trekked back from the shoreline, prize in hand, she sighed deeply.

She snuck into the small lean-to she'd won months ago in a game of pazaak, trying to go unnoticed as the day grew brighter lest any potential customers question the source of her goods. It was simple-- no one noticed her anyway. At the group home, she had tried to stand out among her peers, grabbing frantically at every scrap of attention thrown her way. Once she became a nuisance and a troublemaker rather than a misguided child, however, it only took a few hard-learned lessons in cells or detention centers before she figured out how to step into the background. Now, it was convenient. She feared little anymore for herself, but the fact that no one looked too hard at her had been the whole reason her new business venture had lasted as long as it did.

Hagar threw on her battered hat, pulling it low enough that it partially obscured her face, took a swig from the bottle next to her cot, and opened up shop.

The beginning of the day tended to be slow as her customers recovered from their inevitably exciting nights, so she had a habit of letting herself drift off, feel the pulse of the market, the street, the city. This time, however, she felt something new, a gentle throbbing at the back of her head. Perhaps, she thought wryly, I should be getting more sleep. Taking another drink she shifted, grounding herself back in the merciful shade of her set-up. If she believed in omens, Hagar would have readied herself for a strange day. Instead, she focused on reorganizing her artifact display, fidgeting with the odds and ends as if making their arrangement pretty enough would somehow make their stories true.

@Darasuum

 

[Serene]

Serene was on the hunt for an artifact and not just any relic. The sorceress had been meditating on what she needed in order to make progress with her experiments. Her visions had told her of a desert world suffused with bright light but beneath the surface was a wellspring of dark knowledge. The exact nature of this thing she sought still eluded her but it would undoubtedly answer many of the witch's questions.

Statues of fallen paladins, Jedi Knights perhaps, filled her mind's eye while a concentrated singularity lay hidden beneath them. The pull she felt towards it was unmistakable. After looking at a map of the galaxy she narrowed down her destination bit by bit until finally it became clear that she sought Vrogas Vas. However, she first needed to gather a team for her exploration. A crimson haired desert fox led the way before her, occasionally looking over its shoulder and scampering among the dunes and statues. This was someone else, not Serene's Coven, not herself, a new individual that the Sith Champion had yet discover. It became clear that before she could acquire the relic, she needed to seek out this creature that would lead her to what she desired.

The Sith's personal star yacht, the Thoughtful Boggle, landed on the surface of a planet with a private hangar waiting for her. The woman wore dark traveler's cloak to keep her identity obscured as she headed through the markets. Beneath the cloak she wore black robes detailed with green. The sorceress eventually came upon a sorry looking lean-to that was worse off than most of the shops she had passed on the way there.

Silently she stood outside, looking the building over. It seemed to be a trinket store but she doubted the item she was after was here. However she could see a lone merchant operating the humble shop, absent minded and adjusting their wares. It seemed appropriate for Serene to make her presence known so she spoke up in a soothing cool voice. "Good morning. You have quite a collection. Where do you source your artifacts?" She approached one of the shelves to get a closer look as she spoke, appearing to be no more than a prospective customer.

Following at her heels was a C4T protocol droid, Rupert. The small feline machine appeared like a normal cat only mechanical in nature. It cocked its tiny head as it drew near one of the lower shelves, sniffing the air as if it would give them a sense of what the items were or their nature. But it remained at distance, not daring to touch any of the merchandise.

@Kestrel

 

[Hagar Landell]

Hagar brushed off her hands, examining the organized lines of artifacts she had created critically. Just as she was about to move a fossilized shell slightly to the left, she froze, feeling a presence approaching. Before she could make herself look up, cool, gentle words rolled over her.

"Good morning. You have quite a collection. Where do you source your artifacts?

She straightened, eyes slowly tracing across the newcomer. The woman's robes were relatively clean, but her voice did not carry the disdain and pity that typically laced the accents of tourists. Hagar managed a smile. "Good morning ma'am" The shopkeeper paused, realizing that the woman was not significantly older than herself. Certainly not a retiree looking for decor, then. Perhaps the daughter of a wealthy emissary? The fact that she appeared alone made that seem unlikely. Nevertheless, something about the woman commanded respect. "Ai typically source my artifacts locally, though a few have come from my travels." Hagar pointed to a pinned insect. "That is a kouhun larva, which Ai picked up in the basement of a Coruscant apartment complex Ai resided in." That much was true. She carefully scanned the woman's face for any type of reaction before she moved on.

"This-" Hagar had picked up the shard of glass she had found that morning "is from the deck of a luxury cruiseliner, the Burning Sun. She fell from the sky right above this beach a century ago, shattered. Once the bodies were recovered, the ship was left in the shallows, beaten by the waves until she was forgotten, ground to pieces as fine as the sand ." Once again, a true story. Now, for the embellishment. "A young boy whose mother had been on the ship went and found it. There hadn't been much of her to mourn, so he snuck down to the shore searching desperately for a sign that she'd ever even been there a' all. Of course, he couldn't find nothin', but he did take this scrap. He went on to manage this 'ere stall, granting it and its contents to me when he died."

Hagar extended her hand, cupping the glass in an offer for the woman to take it. Should she, Hagar would attempt to concentrate on the brief moment of contact that would ensue to sense any emotion or worry that might be just below the controlled exterior.

"Ai am more than happy to tell you more, though we can do business inside if you prefer".

@Darasuum

 

[Serene]

"Oh?" Serene's tone was curious but also spoke with a fairly skeptical tinge like any prospective customer would be. A following raised eyebrow hinted at her interest. Some might assume the cloaked woman was as ignorant as any tourist but it was intriguing to hear what the merchant had to offer along with her story. "That's quite a find." From what the sorceress knew about poisons from her studies, a kouhun was not native to Coruscant. Furthermore it was interesting that redhead had visited the ecumonopolis when it was overrun with abominations. Perhaps it had happened a long time ago though. From what Serene could see with her own eyes the pinned insect appeared to be the genuine article.

Serene listened to the following story associated with a shard of glass. The ship name did not ring a bell so its significance was lost on the traveler. Her blank expression may have conveyed as much because the merchant continued to explain. It was a tale that might have tugged at the heart strings of others but Serene was unmoved. She raised a palm to respectfully decline taking the shard of glass. If it were true, it seemed like it would be better off as a commemoration of the former owner anyways.

"Please, if it's alright with you let's go inside." Serene excepted the invitation with a nod of her head. While the sorceress wore metaphorical mask of false or stoic expressions, she also had a cautious mind and an even more fortified mind. The Sith Order had many manipulators of the mind within its ranks so she had trained extensively to hide her true intentions both physically, mentally and spiritually. The essence of both caution and power barely eked out of the woman's stalwart aura to give any attuned outsiders a feeling of what she was capable of.

"I do find that larva interesting. Do you happen to have any Jedi or Sith artifacts? Perhaps something even Mandalorian?" Her eyes scanned around the interior as she pushed her awareness outward, subtly, invisibly moving to touch the various artifacts to see if they gave off a connection to the Force. Most of them seemed to be unenchanted trinkets, perhaps with some resonance as treasured keepsakes or heirlooms but that was it. Serene was not interested in the individual memories of everyday galactic citizens.

@Kestrel

 

[Hagar Landell]

In response to the suggestion to go inside, Hagar nodded, stepping to the side and pulling back a curtain across the shop entrance. She removed her hat, hanging it on a hook near the door, auburn strands of hair slipping loose. Silently, she pulled over a stool for the woman, though she remained standing. If she were to look around, the visitor would note that although Hagar appeared unarmed, there were plenty of sharp things around. Not that she was worried the woman would steal anything. In fact, despite her effort to read the woman's mood, it was indiscernible. It was vaguely troubling in a way Hagar could not lay a finger on. Still, Hagar's polite smile turned into a genuine one as she saw the C4T droid.

"They're good luck, ya know. Ai've heard that if they love you, they migh' even spend one of their nine lives to save you. Same couldn't be said for us on account of us only havin' one."

There was a beat as the mysterious woman scanned the room. "Welcome to the den of curiosities. I am Hagar." She once more extended a hand, this time in a situation where it would be more awkward, but still relatively easy for her visitor to refuse. Perhaps it was not within her culture to shake hands. Perhaps she would not want to come into contact with the filth of a street merchant, though by the manner Hagar had been addressed, the latter seemed less likely.

At the question about the Jedi or Sith artifacts, she tensed slightly. "Ai don't carry anythin' so valuable here, ma'am, nor is that somethin' that would be one of my typical customer's price ranges." Dozens of questions flooded her mind. Did the woman know? How could she? A few years back-- dangling helpless in the grip of another, then the pain of pulling herself from the chasm and the following blow she had landed in anger... in fear... in surprise. Surely not. After being left on the platform, for the first time aware of what she could do, and once again, alone, Hagar had shed that skin and grown into another. At least she had tried. There was no way to forget that kind of potential, that kind of power.

"May Ai ask what it is you seek? Perhaps with more guidance I can locate it."

 

[Serene]

Spoiler: Music

Song

Once she was inside Serene removed the hood the covered her head and pulled down the covering that hid the lower half of her face revealed an unblemished and immaculate visage. The lady brushed the offered stool off casually to remove any dust or sand that had accumulated on it before she took a seat. She could detect a degree of unease from the merchant, whether it was because she could not read the customer before her or felt disturbed by another reason was unclear. But this was replaced with a fascination with the sorceress's droid familiar. The tiny feline machine looked up to meet Hagar's gaze while cocking his head to the side in a common expression of curiosity.

"His name is Rupert. I believe he has spent nine lives and then some under my care." Serene had wiped the memories of the C4T unit multiple times. This was both to keep her own operations confidential and also to prevent too great of a personality developing in the droid among other reasons. "I also believe multiple lives is not exclusive to pets though. Do you believe in reincarnation or an afterlife?" It was more than just small talk. Serene was curious to get more of an idea of how the woman roughly her own age saw the rest of the galaxy and existence itself. It was a subject that the witch had studied in detail as a Sith. She knew many secrets that were beyond the everyday galactic citizen.

When given a show of the interior of the Den of Curiosities Serene looked around then back at Hagar as she introduced herself. Her eyes dropped to the hand and after a brief pause she reached out to accept the shake. "Serene." She answered confidently.

Upon contact with the gloved hand, the shop owner would potentially get a flash of images and sensations that were far from simple or comforting. First, dozens of eyes staring back at Hagar from every angle, both outside and within herself seemed to magnify the seeking intent and reflect it back at her. Secondly, immaterial chains, metallic cable strands interwoven along with thick dark fog hinted that making a deeper investigation a complicated hazard to probe. Lastly, a dark veiled individual hiding the true identity and intentions of the person at the very center of it all. But it was clear that the abyss of darkness was looking back just as much as Hagar was looking in.

Serene sensed the shopkeeper peering into her and she used it to look back inside of Hagar in turn. She wanted to know if this was the Fox she had envisioned or just another distraction. By the way Hagar looked at her, she had a feeling it would be the former. On the outside, Serene's head tilted to the side not unlike her feline companion, studying Hagar's face for an overt reaction. The sorceress held the woman's hand firmly, making it so she could pull away but with moderate effort. Serene would release her hand without much resistance if that were the case.

"Hmm." The feminine murmur sounded mildly judgmental as if Serene was trying to decide whether she felt Hagar was telling the truth or if she perhaps needed to look elsewhere for the aforementioned artifacts. There was a nervousness read not just with the Force but from the way Hagar acted. It reminded Serene of an animal debating whether to break safe cover and run for it or stay put and wait for a predator to pass them by. Serene answered her question without hesitating. "I was just curious. I know where I can located such artifacts but I am actually more presently looking to recruit an exploration team to delve into such a location. I can guarantee it will be quite rewarding. Would you be interested in taking up such an offer?"

@Kestrel

 

[Hagar Landell]

Hagar stretched out a hand, in offering to Rupert. Generally, protocol droids didn’t bite, right? Mulling the question over, she absentmindedly reached to adjust her hat, which was, of course, not there. Slightly embarrassed, she lowered her hand again.

“Ai don’t spend much time considerin’ what would happen if Ai die.” The thought of death was not hard to ignore. Not that she was scared to it exactly. Scared of pain? Absolutely. Death? She knew that her spice might be laced, a stray blaster bullet might strike, her childhood illness could return. It had never really bothered her. From what she could remember, during one of the particularly bad nights, her mother had stroked her cheek, whispering something reassuring about leaving if she needed to, but coming back to visit. Hagar had not thought about it in years, though she supposed she had believed her mother then. “Perhaps reincarnation. Even if we die, some part still lives through the habits folks have picked up from us and the like. You?”

Mercifully, Serene returned the greeting. As soon as Hagar grasped her gloved hand, it felt as though she’d touched a live wire. Typically she got vague senses, small tinges of emotion. If she had not known better, and indeed for a long while she had not, Hagar would have assumed her sensations were nothing more than suggestibility, a subconscious recall of minor details.

This time, there were flashes. She looked up to the sky, taken aback, but instead of stars there were eyes. Everywhere, beady, shiny things watching intently. Her breath hitched and she tensed, unprepared, vulnerable. Though her grip instinctively loosened, she did not let go. She had meant to peer through the small window of brief touch into the Serene’s soul. Instead, the gates had been thrown wide open, gates that were guarded by the watching presence.Who was this woman? A deep weight settled in Hagar’s abdomen. She almost wanted to let go, to lower her gaze and see no more. Almost. Because if she did, she somehow felt that might be the end. As Hagar looked back up with her mind’s eye, she saw chains and heavy smoke… or was it fog. Smoke and mirrors. Again, she felt horribly exposed, feeling herself, her curiosity, her malice, reflected back at her. Searching frantically for the source, she briefly felt the gaze of a veiled figure. Standing. Observing. The image imprinted itself even as Hagar looked away, her blue eyes returning to focus on Serene. Hagar jerked her hand away, perhaps more forcefully than she needed to.

Before the loss of contact, though, Serene might also feel Hagar's own mind bleed into her own, It was not so well fortified. Glimpses of dizzying hall offering one way to run and nowhere to hide, the sickly sweet smell of a wilted flower, only partially faded. A red fox, mouth frothing, caught in a trap.

The glaze over her eyes shifted briefly to anger, then relaxed into something colder and harder to read. “If you hadn’t just offered me a job, I would tell you to fuck off. But ya only did wha’ was fair, so tell me a bit more, if you please.” It was time for a change, anyway.

@Darasuum

 

[Serene]

The small feline approached Hagar and brushed his torso against her hand momentarily. He accepted the affectionate contact before walking away to sniff some of the other trinkets on lower shelves. He had his own intelligence but still enjoyed playing the part of a pet.

Hagar expressed the common concerns that most people felt about mortality. The way she spoke also sounded hopeful and not completely certain. She wanted to be reincarnated, another chance at life but it was unclear if she actually believed in it. Serene did not answer her immediately and instead took a moment to think how to best answer her. "Death is final for most. But there are exceptions, work arounds, that sort of thing I am exploring as well." Maybe the red haired woman would be interested in being part of such things.

The handshake was informative for the sorceress. The images Serene saw wove a story and hinted at what she was seeking. Hagar had potential and Serene had an opportunity to hone those unrefined prospects. Just as quickly as the two had made contact the merchant retracted her hand. It was over as quickly as it had begun.

Serene inhaled and steadied herself, committing what she had felt and saw to her own memory. The sensations from Hagar's mind had a somewhat disorienting effect but she recovered quickly and showed no sign of disruption. Serene let a smug smile form at the corners of her mouth after hearing Hagar's answer. "You have an affinity for the Force. You are unrefined but you just need training, training I can provide with my sisterhood. It will not be easy. In fact it will likely be the hardest thing you have ever done. But in the end you will be powerful enough to make your dreams come true. Or..." She paused momentarily before continuing. "You can remain unpolished and wanting, wondering what may have been if you had accepted my offer. You can live a humble life, maybe make something of yourself elsewhere in some other way. Maybe get rescued by a knight in shining armor. But most likely it will be nothing. Not shameful, not bad, just...unremarkable." She shrugged since it was not entirely out of the realm of possibility to be saved or risen by someone besides herself but it was unlikely. Hagar did not seem like the damsel in destress type.

@Kestrel

 

[Hagar Landell]

Hagar listened carefully, her face as still as a mask though occasionally, Serene might catch a twitch of curiosity. She had heard the same words before, out of another woman with incredible ability, a woman who could look through her mind into the past. The very same woman had then almost killed her. Even more cruelly, she had given Hagar a glimpse of what she could do. The abject fear instilled in her by Sarnai had changed Hagar. Spice never hit quite the same. It felt as if a piece of her heart had been dropped into the bowels of Nar Shaddaa as she had pulled her body onto the platform. And then Sarnai had simply left.

She remembered considering the absurdity of it all, sulking in an alley the next day. She had been born a burden, been once again discarded. Perhaps she had failed to provide the necessary amusement for Sarnai. Perhaps she would not be worth the training. Few in the galaxy were known for their philanthropic efforts. It was foolish to have expected anything from anyone. Those days were followed by blacked-out nights and bruised knuckles. She oscillated wildly from anger to dejection, from motivation to make Sarnai regret ever casting her aside, to falling back, exhausted, convinced that there was no earning a place in the galaxy, just buying one. And she had spent her last credits on the bottle that lay broken at her feet.

Now, the same words were echoed by another. It was not the offer that made Hagar pause, but the fear of what she might think of herself, no matter her answer. Which was more foolish- falling for the same offer again, or letting her juvenile rage steal another opportunity?

It was odd that she had been noticed on two separate occasions, surely indicating her skill was somewhat remarkable. And yet, Serene somehow managed to keep a powerful grip on the situation. The shopkeeper was forced to walk a line between maintaining some semblance of current control and assuring a future with control. She could not accept right away, seem too hasty. She also could not turn down the offer. Serene's tone suggested she cared little about what happened to Hagar, but her actions, seeking her out, were not of the same accord. Thus, Hagar paused briefly, as if considering.

"You speak as if you are not yourself are different than a knight in shining armor, 'ere to rescue me from mediocrity, though Ai somewhat doubt yer altruistic motives. But considering yer not the first to 'ave noticed me, Ai'm not sure mediocrity is an option. How do I start?"


Hagar certainly was unpolished, but that ensured she was sharp. She would give anything to reclaim the hours when she was someone.

@Darasuum

 

[Serene]

No small degree of turmoil roiled through the woman before her. It was not easy to detect let alone decipher. But Serene did not need to see it or feel Hagar to know her calculations for human interaction. Serene had no way of knowing Hagar's history but she drew some conclusions by how she responded.

The sorceress did not respond immediately. She mulled over how to answer the shop owner. Serene debated whether or not to embellish or even deceive the fox before her. In the end she decided to not underestimate the red haired woman.

"I am no knight. Perhaps once I would have considered myself to be such but those days grow more distant with each passing cycle." Serene was reminded of how she had spoken with Ayomi Jakarta. The tiefling was also a possible tool for the dark side witch to use but there was even the potential for them to be more than that. The champion desired revenge, not wanting to be cast aside again and seeking companionship. In that regard Ayomi and Hagar were very similar.

Serene continued. "I am a sorceress, a witch if you will." She said as a matter of fact like it was as simple as any job title. If anything she was proud of it. "You are wise to doubt such motives. I am not charitable." Hagar would find out soon enough the length and breadth of the dark side and the how Serene planned to use her. But it was not without its chances for belonging to something greater.

"I only recruit those that are strong and capable. You can consider this flattery if you want but don't let it go to your head. That's my advice at least. You will be able to join my Coven of Shadows and train with them. It's a sorority of women like yourself, led by me. You may find a sense of belonging and I may even grow fond of you with time. But such feelings are earned only with time and effort. I won't deceive you, unconditional love is not something I've been known to feel. Know this, I do take care of what is mine." She tilted her head to the side after a moment's pause. "Do you still want to join me?" Serene wanted Hagar to join her willingly. That was the whole point of this. It would make the potential acolyte more viable if she gave herself whole heartedly to this lifestyle rather than half ass her way into it or feel like she was tricked midway through. It was a commitment not meant to be taken lightly.

@Kestrel

 

[Hagar Landell]

In Serene's words, Hagar sensed truth. Within the harsh honesty lay comfort. The expectations were clear and earning love was nothing new. If anything, charity would have made her uneasy, because charity never was just that. It was a loan that could be called in at any time for an unknown price. Sometimes the price was swallowing her pride and pretending to be grateful. Other times, most often, it was more. Owing favors was a dangerous thing.

She wondered what the woman meant when she had alluded to her past being akin to that of a knight, though she figured that question was best saved for another time. She did not want to do anything that might jeopardize her standing with this woman, this witch.

The turn of phrase had taken Hagar slightly aback. It seemed mystical and ancient, certainly not a term anyone she knew would willingly use to describe themselves. Naturally, perhaps intentionally on Serene's part, it intrigued Hagar more. Though Hagar was already bound by her word, too stubborn to go back, the promise of becoming drew her in further. Not simply putting on a new persona and moving before things got hot- no- actually growing into something more powerful.

"You've said many things, none of which Ai would consider flattery. That's good because Ai will give it to you straight too. Ai won't try an' sell myself as clearly you already see somethin' in me. But know this: Ai will not disappoint. Ai've had sisters before who Ai'd kill for. Ai know the value of what you offer. So yes." Her tone was even, though a tinge of eagerness broke through near the end. Family, she would kill for. A metamorphosis into something greater? She would doe for.

@Darasuum

 

[Serene]

Serene could not help but let the corners of her lips curl into a smile. The response from Hagar, matched with the look in her eyes was enough to convince her she was being truthful. This was the most honest the merchant had been with Serene since entering her shop and she liked what she heard. Judging solely on the manner of her response, Hagar might have the most potential out of any of her prospects.

The traveling witch took a patient moment to appreciate this discovery in the form of the acolyte. While Serene demanded excellence, bordering on perfection, she still took time to recognize outstanding circumstances. For a rare moment, Serene was speechless. If in the end Hagar disappointed her then it would hurt that much more for each of them, though perhaps for different reasons.

Finally, Serene would answer Hagar's earlier question as she calmly rose from her seat. "You start immediately." She gave one last look around the lean-to. "Collect everything you need. Leave nothing behind you will miss or don't need. You may never return and must travel light." Her eyes returned to the redhead. "You have one hour to finish any business you have here. I'll be waiting for you here in one hour." She shared a location nearby the hangar of her ship to meet Hagar when she had wrapped up any loose ends. Serene waited patiently to hear if there were any protests.

@Kestrel