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Darth Malicia

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For a second time, Malicia was back to see Stolas. This time she'd brought a basket for him. After some research she learned that the gift was appropriate in almost every setting. The only problem was it was large and tall and took both her arms to carry. The baskets red bow was right in front of her chin.

She was in her usual Cadre-gear, including her half-mask. Her hair was in a perfect bun exactly at the centre of the back of her head. A bun she'd worked on for several hours as a form of mediation.

Once invited into the office, the small council member walked up to the lords desk and put the basket down. "Thank you for killing Max," Malicia said, probably crudely, but that was what she was giving the gift for.

"It is mostly candy," Malicia said, gesturing to the basket. She did not know what Stolas liked but he'd given her candy before so she was making a guess. "There are also several bars that were engineered by my cultists to meet my daily nutritional needs. They're to be eaten three times a day on a regular schedule. If you try them and find them adequate I suggest looking into getting them altered for your gender and species."

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Given their prior interactions being cordial Malicia was allowed into the office of Darth Stolas with little issue or fanfare, only delayed long enough for the secretary to inform the young Sith Lord of her arrival. There was, however, a certain change in the air amongst the hangar crew, security, and other military employees of the office. They seemed stiffer and less at ease, even somewhat nervous, although it wasn't clear why at first. Not until Malicia entered Morgan's office.

Stolas was, as before, sat behind his desk in his distinctive attire. What was most different was the steeled and thunderous expression and, even for Morgan, the flashing sharpness of his bright golden eyes. The smoldering fury he kept well contained most of the time was closer to the surface than before, the silver undertones of his skin far more prominent than usual. When he looked up from his work console the expression scarcely changed beyond an eyebrow raising slightly in curiosity.


"Only a dead man," he answered back in a neutral tone, although he did still examine the basket's contents and pick out one of the bars to give it a critical once-over. "I take it you encountered that Jedi before."


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Malicia began to sense and notice the lords mood. Though, at first, she just answered him with, "A couple times" without elaborating since she doubted he'd care.

The small council member stood silent for a second, appreciating that Stolas choose a bar over a candy, but her mind went right back to his mood. She'd come to show her respect for his skill, not to distract him from his machinations. "You're in a sour mood," Malicia said as elegantly as ever. "If you want I'll leave immediately so you can have your space back."

She didn't turn to leave however, instead she stepped forward once and rested her hand on the chair in front of his desk. "Unless you want help with something," she said. "My schedule is empty today and since the basket obviously wasn't a hit maybe I can offer something better."

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Morgan turned his gaze from the bar to the silver-haired woman in his office. His mood was indeed on the sour side but it didn't seem to change in any direction from her arrival or the appearance of the basket. Slowly he replaced it in the basket and plucked out one of the fruitier candies from it, unwrapping it carefully without looking at it.

"My mood is not for you." The hard candy was placed casually into his mouth and cracked to pieces in the moment of silence that followed. Golden eyes gave her an appraising look behind the sharpness, analytical and thoughtful. Slender fingers tapped a rhythm on the desk.

"Your help would be appreciated," Morgan began, leaning back in his chair. A hand took a datapad from the side, opened a section of information, and placed it on the desk facing Malicia. "I want Eriadu under my control. This sector needs direction and focus."

In fact, other than Stolas himself there weren't any other prominent Sith operating out of the area. The Eternal was content lounge on Sullust and let it languish. Morgan did what he could with Eriadu from where he was but his control, influence, and reputation could be further expanded in the South. It was a needed step.

"Or did you have something specific in mind?"


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She listened to his answers while standing, taking note that he was fine with her around even in his current mood. Since that was the case, Malicia sat in the chair in front of his desk. Properly, stiffly, a habit she formed when she wasn't in a casual environment, and sometimes even when she was. One that probably took it's toll overtime but perhaps the Force aided her somewhat so her muscles didn't lock up.

Her yellows gazed at the datapad, though she didn't grab it at first. Instead she choose to answer his question first, "No, this will do because it is what you want," Malicia said, plainly. She grabbed the datapad, scrolling through the information before coming to another decision. Her yellows returned to the lord in front of her. "I have decided that I will attempt to fix your mood. If this does not fix it, then I will fulfill another request after."

She paused a moment. A few thoughts crossed her mind and she spoke again, "Your influence in this region of space will do it good, but I want to make something clear. If you ever desire to conquer worlds around old Sith space, I will not stand in your way or assert myself into your domains or affairs without invitation. I have extended the same respect to Darth Andruil." It was as simple as that, almost. She would prefer opportunities to feed but she was careful with her consumption.

"When do you want to start?"
Malicia asked after, holding up the datapad slightly to signal that she was talking about his original request to take over Eriadu.

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Morgan's head tilted ever so slightly to the side while the pale woman spoke, agreeing to his request. While he did nothing even so much as resembling a smile there was a small relaxing of the eyes to signal his appreciation of her decision. Stolas had little idea if anything would really 'fix' his mood at the moment but Malicia's attempting to was nice. He ate another piece of candy.

"The Corporate Sector, then." His interest in most of the old Sith worlds were mostly academic rather than practical. They were in an excellent position but prior regimes had stripped most bare of resources or industry, things Morgan was most focused on in his own conquests.. Moraband and the others certainly had a wealth of knowledge and ancient culture and were important to the Sith but this was Malicia's purview. Stolas wanted to fund a war and control economy.

And perhaps join Malicia on the Council. The Sphere of Technology was often neglected and he had been studying such topics more often as he became more involved in front line combat and served as an administrator.

"Your assistance there would be appreciated as well." Morgan leaned back a little in his chair, still watching her with those sharp and hawk-like golden eyes of his with such intensity it may seem as he was looking right through her. An eyebrow rose after a couple seconds in curiosity.


"Your condition will not impede you?"


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Malicia watched him eat another candy, not noticing the small change in his eyes but feeling a small shift in him. It usually took more than minor changes on the face for her to pick up certain cues.

He brought up the Corporate Sector. Many considerations ran through her mind, including the value of that area, but she answered with only a short pause, "Consider it yours."

Her thoughts on conquest momentarily stopped when he... stared at her and very casually commented on her pregnancy.

The emptiness of her face drained away without her even realizing, leaving surprise clearly there. He'd caught her off guard on the subject. Had the twins grown so much already? Worrying about showing became... nothing now. This was a mistake. She should've tucked herself away in her palace on Korriban or done a holocall, but it was too late now. A Sith she did not know well knew about her current weakness.

Regardless, she forced herself to regain as much of her composure as she could. "My help will be limited for awhile," she answered plainly, as if she hadn't just had the rug ripped from beneath her feet, figuratively. "But I can grant resources and my presence when appropriate."

@Mr. Teatime
 

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Morgan nodded his head slightly in an approximation of a small bow toward Malicia when she affirmed action taken toward the Corporate Sector would be allowed uncontested.

It tilted slightly as he looked at with that same intensity, now watching the movements and muscle twitches on the other Darth's face. Surprise was obvious, and Stolas' response were merely a mix of that same open curiosity and very mild bemusement. Malicia wasn't exactly showing but the Firrerereo's senses, natural and not, were rather sharp when he focused them on a single subject.

An arm across the deck toward a cup of black tea and slender fingers picked it up by the handle, the young Lord sipping it to wash down the taste of sweet and sour sugar from his mouth. The gesture of candy had been appreciated, and he did like sweets in some amounts, but it wasn't something he wanted to really linger. He was still looking and listening while Malicia answered his question with excellent composure. This was also something he could appreciate.


"Still. I value your help."

Which was true. Most of him taking control of Eriadu didn't involve brute force so much as, essentially, legwork. And a little wetwork here and there. Morgan sincerely hoped it wouldn't somehow also require scores of life-drained corpses but he supposed he shouldn't rule out the possibility. Just in case.

For a few moments he sat still in his chair, looking down at the cup in his hands. He blinked.


"You found a worthy mate, I hope?"

Morgan sounded almost wistful and a little sad, some of the anger melting away from his face as he saw his reflection in the tea.


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She was surprised by his monitored reaction. No threats or anything else unpleasant followed. She wanted to ask him to keep the news quiet, but it seemed almost pointless. Now that she thought on the subject, it was possible other Sith had sensed her children without telling her. The news was likely going to get out in the end, no matter what she did. She would have to face the consequences of her actions.

The lords gaze seemed to wander down to a cup. The way he behaved now, even without the Force, she understood portrayed sadness, at least somewhat. It was something that she noted and almost commented on right away, but he asked a question that cut off her thoughts. "Yes, I believe my husband is the perfect Sith to breed with." She felt herself lay a hand on her tummy. The action was almost natural and she didn't try to stop herself. "Our heir will be powerful."

She said heir not heirs because well... there would be only one heir, the first twin to be born. She originally planned for only one child because she was aware enough of Sith nature. There would more than likely be conflict between the two in the future. That was a thought she pushed aside, however, as she couldn't do anything about it right now.

Her gaze rose back to the lord. "May I ask why?" she said, at first, while she tried to think of a proper way to ask the question. "Why you are in this..." she gestured to him, though only subtly. "Mood."

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The word 'husband' seemed to sink Morgan deeper into whatever thoughts he'd entangled himself in. Slender fingers came up briefly to rub at a spot on his neck as if it pained him, and then dropped back down to the cup of tea. He sipped some of it before laying it down again. The subject was a sore spot, although Malicia's choice of wording was rather businesslike, but he seemed to draw him out again quickly enough.

Golden eyes looked up the pale woman across his desk, sharp and analytical, head tilted just a little as if to try seeing something or other from a new angle.


"My congratulations." Again he nodded his head. He had no reason as of yet to clash with Malicia. She was a powerful Sith with a notable specialty, but her spheres of influence on both the Council and in the galaxy were different from his own. Malicia was a potential threat but not considered a 'rival' by Morgan's standards. He ate another candy from the basket, a softer one this time, and offered her one as well.

Morgan's eyes narrowed when she asked her question and he looked away from her back to the cup. Surely his mood was sour even without dwelling on the subject, and much of it had been kept quiet to avoid trouble, but perhaps that had also been the intention of her pregnancy. It wasn't likely she knew where to find the man anyway. No one did so far as Morgan could find.

Besides, his games just didn't seem as fun as they used to be.

He didn't answer immediately, and in fact was quiet for many seconds, expression pensive. When he did his tone was clearly less than pleased, equal parts angry and wistful, but he did answer. Golden eyes looked elsewhere other than Malicia as his mood was not for her.


"Someone dear to me was badly hurt. They have now gone off and I know not where."

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Malicia noticed his odd movement. The itch, though only noted it. She focused on his congratulations instead. Answering with a plain, "Thank you," even if she was slightly surprised by the pleasantness, accepting the offer of candy after.

With a small tug she opened the package and put the soft taffy in her mouth, but stood up right away, looking around till she found a garbage can. As soon as she found it she walked to it, folding the candy wrapper as closely to its original shape then dropping it into the garbage can. Because she was distracted she did not notice the lords mood dip again.

As she chewed the candy, she realized that she really was enjoying the sweet taste. Perhaps she was starting to get food preferences. But. It was not important enough to her to switch over her diet. Nutritional bars would do.

When the lord told her his problem she instantly began to run through ways to solve it. She didn't think of ways to exploit him with the information. She didn't even know why she was doing it. Maybe it was natural, or maybe she just felt grateful he hadn't tried to exploit her.

"I have ideas," she said once she swallowed her candy. "And men disseminated throughout many worlds in the galaxy. I may be able to solve your problem."

Malicia returned to her seat in front of his desk. "What is the name of this person who's dear to you?"

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Morgan's brows rose a little when Malicia mentioned she may be able to help. It was clearly an appreciated gesture but he knew the man he was looking for could easily make himself difficult to find if he wanted it. The galaxy was a large place and he could be holed up in some corner somewhere across the universe for all Morgan knew.

He also appreciated the neat and tidy way she handled the candy wrapper. Really it was just good manners to put trash where it belonged and it fit the professional image he had of Darth Malicia so far.

The next question however set Morgan's face into an expression of mixed surprise and then deep pensiveness. It was a very specific question with a plethora of possible answers of varying usefulness to the other Darth, in more respects than one. Their relationship had been hidden for a reason, although 'dear' was incredibly vague on its own. Both men were strong but they preferred to avoid trouble where it wasn't needed.

Slender fingers raised the cup of tea to take another modest sip as his brows furrowed. Golden eyes flicked toward her and then over to a painting hanging on the wall, one that didn't quite match the other few around the office. It was an abstract arranged in a multitude of scintillating colours and shapes and a variety of dyes and textures. His lips curled up a little in a small smile as he looked at, expression softening just a little for those few moments.

It dropped away from his face as he put the cup back down, a complicated series of emotions passing over instead. Concern, anger, sorrow, and resignation before it settled into much the same steel and thunder as when Malicia had first entered. Morgan had made his choice some time ago. His tone when he spoke was decidedly as even as it could be, although his hands around the cup he held were stiff and tight and his posture was straight-backed and tense.


"Raze."



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Malicia's expression hardly changed when he said Raze. It wasn't because she wasn't surprised. Because she was, but her mind only lingered on the shock for a second. She stood up abruptly, turning around and bringing a finger to her chin, a habit she had adopted among many others.

She knew that she shouldn't speak about Raze in a way that'd let the other Darth know she cared, but it was hard to ignore that she'd like to find Raze too. She was conflicted, and she allowed silence to linger until she finally decided on how she was going to answer. Ultimately, it was his wording, "Dear", and the fact that he didn't exploit her maternal nature to protect her children that made up her mind.

"Stolas," Malicia began, tipping her in almost in a way that displayed guilt. It was subtle and unconscious and made the wedding amulet shift on her neck slightly. "What if...what if Raze doesn't want to be found?" she asked.

For a second Malicia paused, but only for a second, "If he's badly hurt and withdrawn to somewhere in order to feel safe, would it be wrong of us to disturb him?" The small Darth looked down, staring for a moment at the floor. "What if he doesn't want us to see him when he can't be... strong?"

After she finished speaking, the hand she'd brought up to her face lowered. It wrapped around her left wrist. She ran her fingers over the branding there, hidden underneath her clothing.

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Malicia moved quickly and it drew golden eyes to her in an instant, watching her as she stood and turned away from the desk. Their intensity was focused on her from then on and taking in even minute details. Her reaction had drawn his attention and now Morgan was watching closely.

Those eyes rose up a little toward her head and her partly hidden face, from where her silver locks cascaded down over slender shoulders. Malicia's head angled a little and something metal shifted on her neck. Morgan's expression never seemed to waver and he was rather still in his chair, not that the pale woman could see his face well at the angle she'd turned to anyway nor he hers in turn.

Her words brought up memories of the medical center that mixed sorrow and fury behind Morgan's eyes. That look turned pensive for a few seconds, during which he took another sip from his tea and then refilled it from a nearby pot since it was running low. What Malicia said certainly reflected what Morgan had come to understand recently about the half-Sephi's behaviour and perhaps even his choice to essentially vanish from sight.


"Then instead I will listen, and watch the birds," he answered stubbornly, then paused a moment before speaking again.

"You are concerned he will disapprove?"



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She turned when he spoke, the small amount of concern that leaked through to her expression falling away. Even though a quick, subtle smile tugged at her cheeks in response to the lords determination, that vanished quickly too. The small councillor thought for a second, taking a seat again.

In reality, she was unsure if any of her observations were true. She was not that well equipped, but she had so much in common with the lord that she wondered if they thought the same on some subjects.

"Yes," Malicia answered plainly. Her yellows levelled on the lord again. She could see the fire in his eyes but he wouldn't see much in return in hers, even if it may exist beneath the surface. Perhaps it was his eyes that prompted her next answer. Against her own feelings she continued with both a matter-of-factly expression and tone, "On some level he may appreciate the gesture, or even long for whatever type of company you provide him. It's simply... not that easy," she said, raising her chin slightly while her expression steeled.

She doubted the Lord would understand the tail end of her answer. It didn't matter if he did. She was simply stating what may or may not be true.

A few more moments passed, and once she made her choice, without thinking her hand rose and wrapped around Andraste's pendant. The red gem sparkled between her fingers, even as her grip tightened around it. "Unless you believe I'm wrong, I cant help you with this. I am compelled to honour his wishes even if I may never see him again."

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Golden were watching closely when Malicia turned back around. The tiniest twitch of a smile, the otherwise flat expression, the way she sat, where she looked. All were taken in and processed with everything else to form a cohesive idea, answering questions no one had voiced.

Morgan had perhaps even improved at picking up details from watching Emryc.

She spoke again and Morgan's head tilted very slightly, the sharpness of his gaze never wavering. The muscles around those eyes tensed a little as he processed the other Darth's words just as much as her physical motions. His lips curled slightly downward with irritation at what he considered an almost dismissive description, not that she could know any better of the nature of their relationship.

At some point during Malicia's pause his laser focus found a new target. There on her neck glittered the chain he'd caught a glimpse of. Hanging from it was a pendant in plain view, the construction of it drawing his attention. Crimson gem and etched symbols. This was a style of artifact he recognized well. Very well, in fact, as he possessed a pendant of his own of similar make if different in design and had been taught his own family's history quite extensively.

Malicia recaptured his attention when her fingers wrapped around the pendant. Morgan straightened in his seat, eyes locking with her own and chin raising up, angled and imperious. Golds burned brightly, one hand around his steaming teacup and the other on the desk before him as he listened to the Dark Councilor explain she was compelled to honour the wishes of Darth Raze.

It was a moment before the Drast answered, a few seconds ticking by in silence.


"What is he to you to compel such obedience?"



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Malicia's eyes followed the lords change in posture and mood, which was clearly displayed in the force and the way he raised his chin. All of it was telling. She quickly realized something was wrong, though she had absolutely no clue what it could be, and because she wasn't certain she decided it wasn't worth bringing up.

But the moment the lord uttered, "obedience" the tiny Darth felt a surge of anger. It was irrational and violent and the emotion twisted like a dagger in her stomach. She suddenly felt like—once again, irrationally—doing the exact opposite of what Raze would want. Then the surge of anger settled down and she felt herself catch hold of rationality, or, what she considered it. The anger was brief, and it only flashed in her eyes, so it'd be difficult to pick up.

Obviously Raze didn't command her around. Even if he did she'd have the option to listen to him, his thoughts, and choose to obey or not. She was choosing to respect his wishes. She wasn't being forced.

As much as she'd been trying to protect her children and Raze, she'd already failed the former and her connection to the latter was easily looked up. She'd done her best to delay the inevitable but that fight was obviously over. Malicia's yellows remained locked with the lords, her stoic gaze and posture perfect as she choose to answer, "He is my husband and the father of my children."

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His question had gotten to her for a moment. A flash of that rose briefly to the surface and then retreated. With Morgan's eyes locked to Malicia's he couldn't possibly miss the glint behind them that came and went. No comment was made and he remained very still behind his desk, simply continuing to watch the woman go through whatever thoughts and reasoning she was sorting out in that brief span of time before she spoke.

When she did, however, there was a shift in the young Darth's demeanor. First was shock, eyes widening in surprise as if he wounded without warning. It changed to something else a moment later.

If Firrerreons had hackles they'd be raised in fury. Skin shifted further silver and golden eyes flashed dangerously, the fine ceramic cup in his right hand shattering atop the desk as the strength with which he gripped it suddenly spiking the when Malicia said the word 'husband'. Iron fingers curling against the desk and leaving scratches where trimmed claws dug into the wood. Pain shot through his chest like shards of twisted glass and mixed with anger to worsen his fury, a feral growl ripping through the air as his face shifted through a complicated series of emotions.

Her Husband? Her Children?

HIS
EMRYC?

Morgan's boyfriend and the man he loved, who was his, who he belonged to in turn, was married to this other Sith and he wasn't even aware of it until now, had not even been told. Learning this information second hand did absolutely nothing to improve his mood and now Emryc wasn't even around to ask about it, to explain, to confirm. Could not watch his eyes or hear his voice to determine the truth. Was this merely more work, or was there more to it than that?

Morgan knew Emryc to engage in casual intimacy with some others as he pleased, and while that had annoyed him more and more over time he had tolerated it, insisting internally it simply didn't matter if they loved eachother. They had spoken of plans to get close to the Queen of Naboo and he accepted that as well, political marriage simply a fact of life for nobility. This new information also came at a time when Morgan's family was pressuring him to marry as well, with him insisting at every step he had already made a choice.

Everything about it hurt him badly, summoned up possessive jealousy, worries, fears, and even hate that mixed with the experiences in the hospital. It all just made him want to cry, to rage, to roar.

But here he could not weep, not before Malicia. Not right now.

So instead, as the dark clouds that made up his presence flashed and thundered, as the monster that lay in wait beneath pressed against the surface and pulled against its restraints, as his instincts and desires warred against training and doctrine and the things he knew, something found a short-lived equilibrium.

Just as suddenly as it had shifted Morgan's mood turned into something else. The tone of his skin remained stark and darkly silvered but the real difference was in Darth Stolas' eyes. Eyes like gilded knives were nearly luminescent as they stared at Malicia, laser focused and predatory. Both hands settled stiffly on the desk in front of him, every muscle and movement tense. His expression was steeled and military, marred only by a curling frown that was just short of becoming a vicious snarl.

When the Drast spoke it was quiet but far from soft, a rumbling growl creeping into the undertones of his voice. It as as the calm before the storm, the center eye of the hurricane, the kind of calm where even the slightest change in context could act as the proverbial butterfly flapping its wings to set off a storm.


"Explain. Nature and reason. What, when, where, why."

Vital information he sought worded as we he could just then. All the same Morgan had already made one decision about this situation and the naïve inaction he suspected had allowed it.

No more games.



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Everything that flashed in front of Malicia's eyes surprised her. She simply watched Stolas frown, claw, and writhe with emotions. She watched causally, almost oddly so, in stark contrast to lord. Lowering her gaze to the scratches on the desk, it remained there for a time. Perhaps the oddity of her reaction was partly due to her confusion and inexperience with this sort of situation.

She didn't understand what was happening.

Clearly the warning she'd picked up early was something she should've taken more into consideration. Though the lord seemed to have some control over himself still, she could very clearly see the dark look in his eyes. With that in mind, Malicia stood from her seat because she considered leaving.

And he'd see no fire in her eyes when he levelled his gaze on hers. He'd see almost the same look as before, but with hints of confusion. She didn't have to consider her words very long before answering, "Only if you explain yourself first. Why are you behaving like this?" she said without gesturing now that she was on alert."And why should I trust you with that information?" she asked.

She thought they were reasonable questions considering she didn't owe him answers. And how could she know that the lord didn't plan to harm Raze with the information in some way? He was emanating with violent emotions and she wasn't sure if they were entirely directed at her or not.

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Malicia's movement was caught and resulted in a tense moment, but standing alone did not result in much reaction. Golden eyes continued to watch carefully, noted her expression, the lack of passion or heat behind her eyes, the uncertainty. Very slightly Morgan's head tilted to the left as she spoke. It was a reasonable request, really, given her point of view of things and the secret nature of Morgan's relationship with Emryc and, apparently, the latter's marriage to Malicia.

Malicia's response was reasonable, but that fact failed to make it less irritating. Both aspects joined the other information rushing around through Morgan's head there behind his desk. She demanded an explanation? For a problem she was a part of? Ridiculous. But of course she was not aware of this. The real question was, how much did that ignorance matter to the young Drast?


"You-" he paused a moment, a slow breath taken. Apparently it mattered enough for the moment. The issue was the 'why' in and of itself. Morgan was now aware of the link between Emryc and Malicia and following it was within his skillset, but was that how he wanted to handle this? Would that actually solve the problem?

His tenseness retreated slightly along with the exhaled breath. Clearly he was still somewhere north of angry and his eyes stayed more or less the same. Malicia had not openly challenged what Morgan had asked for but instead agreed with a caveat. So he considered the facts and angles quickly, as best he could, in the few seconds of quiet.

"You see," Stolas began in that same controlled tone, each word carefully and meaningfully enunciated atop the low growl momentarily making a re-appearance. "He is mine, and I have just learned he has married you."
From his perspective, even if unknowingly, Malicia was laying claim to something that belonged to Morgan. Not to mention other details he felt little need to voice in the current situation.

Morgan smiled then but there was no joy to be found in it. Razor fangs flashed behind lips that curled upward to make the expression but it did not reach golden eyes that still burned with fury, focused, sharp, and directed toward Malicia. It was far from friendly, the polite and imperious look of a Drast facing down a potential rival.


"So. I would like to know the details of your arrangement with him."


@Dread
 
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