A Secret Place

[Tasha Blackwell]

There was no reason for this garden to exist. It was a planet that was known for its arid climate and vast deserts. This was a Sith academy, and it wasn’t supposed to have anything like this. Yet here she was at the top of one of the several towers that looked over the vast oceans of desert. There was plenty of sunlight coming in, and she had managed to help turn this entire segment into a large garden overlooking Korriban. The foundations had all been there for centuries, and with the help of some synthetic tech and moisture tools, the entire place had become a thriving garden.

Tasha often came up here to spend time away from life as a Crusader. She had been here for hours today, wandering around and manually watering the plants that needed it. She was adorned in formal Sith robes, not her usual revealing dresses. Here at the academy she followed its rules, though her interests were very different than the usual students here.

The chirping of birds could be heard - Tasha had released a few small birds within the dome, and they thrived in this place. She found peace here, finding that her mind was clear and very much present with her surroundings. Tasha plucked a white flower, inhaling its intoxicating scent. She glanced out of the window panes, seeing the desert that stretched out for miles.

Andraste had once walked within these very halls, and she had hidden herself away to come to this place. It had been uncharacteristic of her, Tasha smiling at all the different little facts that the galaxy largely didn’t know about the first Sith Empress. She hummed to herself, twirling the flower in her hand before she went back to watering the plants.

 

[Varyn Rask]

A garden was beyond an irregularity in Korriban. The planet was a desert and nearly worthless for sustaining life. It was a useful world for the Sith because it was militarily secure and strong with the Dark Side, but it offered little else to the casual wanderer.

While Varyn wasn't much one for gardens, flowers, or beauty, he found himself in this garden for one reason: he wanted to see what Andraste saw. Of course, he wouldn't literally see the flowers from 500 years ago, and he wouldn't even be able to see the same structures she had seen, but she had seen value in such things, and while he may not find any himself, it was worth consideration. He knew of a man who was able to predict people's actions and movements from their artwork. Though Varyn had never been able to figure such subtleties out it was telling for a single thing: sometimes information came from the most unlikely places. He wanted to see what she saw when she looked at flowers, and he realized he likely never would.

So he walked through the garden, sneezing for the fifth time in the last 30 minutes. He'd been reviewing various military reports and trying to catch up on what he'd missed in his hiatus, and what he'd received instead was the revelation that he suffered from allergies. He had eventually slipped his datapad back in his pocket and begun strolling along the slowly trickling water. That was when he sensed something familiar. Or rather, someone familiar.

Congratulations on your promotion, he said as he closed within speaking distance. Besides the brief interaction at the funeral, he'd not seen her in some time, and it seemed that she had been as productive as ever. He would have expected nothing less from her.

 

[Tasha Blackwell]

Tasha was taken out of her thoughts when she heard a series of sneezing. She had mostly kept this place quiet, but she knew word was getting around - especially as it took up an entire wing of the upper towers. Tasha kept the flower between her fingers, looking up as the ‘intruder’ made his appearance. She smiled at the sight of him, amused by the red nose and slightly puffy eyes. He was clearly here despite being miserable, and it was funny to see such human inconveniences in such a powerful Sith.

“Thank you,” She responded quietly, meeting his gaze, “I’m surprised to find someone as important as you wandering around here,” Tasha turned away to continue watering the flowers, “As second only to the Emperor, I figure you’d always be off doing something to change the galaxy,” She cast him a quick glance, “Instead of wandering through a garden that clearly doesn’t like you,” Tasha couldn’t help but chuckle, having caught him wiping his nose a few times.

She looked out through the windows, gazing at the miles of desert there, “You’ve come so far, Varyn,” Tasha said quietly, not looking at him, “Why have you stopped now?”

 

[Varyn Rask]

Varyn had to continue sniffing and wiping his nose throughout the conversation, much to his growing annoyance. He was going full-on mouth-breather now because he couldn't move any air through his nostrils by this point.

He brooded broodily as she mentioned that the garden didn't like him. It was becoming more and more clear to him by the moment that this garden detested him, and he was nearly ready to throw in the towel on the idea that he might actually find what he was looking for. Perhaps this was a waste of time.

That was when she got to her question. He didn't flinch or move externally, but he certainly wasn't used to being asked a question like that. Nobody out there had the balls to ask him something like that, but he wasn't the type of impulsive Sith who lashed out in anger at every small comment. That was why he'd come this far, and her question was enough to cause his mind to stir. Also, they had enough rapport that she was hardly some insolent Acolyte questioning him.

He didn't say anything at first, and merely stood there, sniffing.

You assume that I've stopped, he said. The intention behind his words were clear: he'd not given up, though even he knew that his recent efforts had been floundering. Something needed to shift, and the sooner it happened, the better. But how long had he been saying that? Maybe she was right, the time to move was now, not a month from now.

He looked out over the deserts of Korriban. There was a sand storm rolling over the desert that would eventually reach the academy and consume it. Change are coming, and no one is going to be able to stop them, he said, thinking of the storm. It felt appropriately symbolic. But when they do, I need to be ready, not putting something half-hearted together, he said.

 

[Tasha Blackwell]

Tasha smiled at him, finding it almost endearing to see him like this, “Come on, let’s get you out of here,” She led the way towards the side of the garden, but not the way he came in from. It was a path not entirely known, but Tasha knew this place like the back of her hand. She walked for a long moment before opening a set of double doors that led out into a balcony. There were no plants here, just wide open space overlooking the desert.

The sun was warm on her skin, but it wasn’t as excruciatingly hot up here, a nice breeze brushing through her hair. Tasha leaned forward on the balcony, looking at the dots below that represented people moving around. They were most likely students out practicing. Tasha recalled his words, and she tilted her head to look at him, her eyes as yellow and glaring as the sun above them.

“You disappeared back into the shadows,” Tasha explained, “Did you begin to doubt your people?” She couldn’t help but grin. He sounded cryptic in his answer, but she wanted to know what made him back off so abruptly. Tasha had been prepared to follow his vision, even back since they had been mere acolytes. It was surreal to see how far he had come since then, and she couldn’t deny he was one of the very few people she respected in the galaxy.

 

[Varyn Rask]

Varyn followed her through the garden to a corner he hadn't even known existed. They came upon a pair of double doors and he walked through behind her, taking in a breath of fresh air. At least as much as he could get through his nose. Another large sniff and he could tell that his allergies were settling down already. It was a relief.

He walked over to the balcony and placed both of his hands on the railing. He was acutely aware of the fact that she might try to throw him over the edge to his death far, far below, but he found such an outcome unlikely. What he noticed quickly, though, was how relaxing it was up here. There was no one to bother your, no one who needed something, and no one to interrupt a train of thought. The breeze kept the heat at bay, and Varyn was able to become all but lost in thought if he wanted to.

He disappeared back into the shadows. It was an apt description, and where he would have liked to stay. He wasn't a man built for center stage, and if he were honest - which he wasn't sure he could be - he was wracked with doubts of his own. Perhaps that was one of the driving factors to his own exploration.

The Sith aren't what they should be, he said in response to her question. It was similar to the thoughts he'd echoed when they first met. He was hoping that the Sith in the Old Empire might be better, and they were, but only slightly. The path ahead of him was evident but unclear. The problems to overcome were obvious, but the solutions were elusive.

Of course he didn't say this aloud. In the Sith, even questioning oneself could be construed as weakness - as foolish as Varyn found that notion - but he wasn't interested in allowing that to happen. Not now.

And do you doubt the Sith? he asked. She smiled and quipped, but surely she didn't feel that the Sith were what they should have been. There were just far too many obvious problems. But perhaps she had some thoughts about how to fix those problems.

 

[Tasha Blackwell]

Tasha looked over at him as he grasped the balcony. Even then he wasn’t relaxed, his muscles tensing as he shot her a glance. She had to bite back from laughing - was he still paranoid in her presence? Tasha rolled her eyes, gazing back out ahead of herself. She couldn’t blame him. He hadn’t made it this far without always looking over his shoulder, especially with people that were ‘friends’.

She cast him a sideways glance. Were they friends? Was Tasha capable of keeping friends? Tasha recalled that evening when he had opened up to her more, and it was a change of pace from the roles they played for their Emperor. He had withdrawn back into himself, just as she had done, but the memories were more difficult to brush under a rug.

He answered her question bluntly enough, and it wasn’t anything different than when they had first met. Tasha had to grin, recalling how he had been chased by beasts and how utterly unhelpful she had been. He turned the question back on her, and she had to think about it for a moment. Tasha sighed, “Maybe I’m just beginning to doubt myself.”

She turned to look at him again, “I confess I’ve been entertaining thoughts of simply working at the Lusty Lekku full time and just… walking away from this,” Tasha looked down and sighed, “Perhaps that shows weakness in me. That I need a cause to believe in before I can execute things for it,” She smiled to herself, “And perhaps you’ll want to kill me now that I’ve confessed these traitorous thoughts.”

 

[Varyn Rask]

His teeth ground slightly as he listened to her. He heard the same frustrations reflected in her words that he felt. It may have come in a different form and even been watered by different thoughts, but the seed was the same: it was lack of faith in their people. His breath came out from between gritted teeth, almost a hiss in its own right.

You shouldn't, he said simply with a shake of his head. He wondered the odds of his having to kill her if she left, and found it slim. Even if she left she wasn't the type to join either rebels or Mandalorians. No, hunting people down just for leaving served no purpose. It was the type of radicalism that dug them straight into a hole.

It's easy to lose heart, he reassured her. He wasn't going to admit that he'd come to the brink himself multiple times, but she would know she wasn't alone in the feeling.

My master had a saying, he began, not turning to look at her. There was the slightest smirk pulling at his lips as he thought back to another time and place. "Winners find ways to win" he used to say. Pithy isn't it? he said. But even as simple as it seemed, they were words that had put Varyn where he was. He had fought and climbed because he hated losing, and it set his soul on fire.

He was silent for a moment thinking about her comment before settling on another thing. He turned to her and suppressed the faintest bit of a smirk. I didn't take you for the type of person to be satisfied on the sideline, he said. The phrasing was very specifically chosen because he knew from their first meetings that she didn't like it, and she would immediately see through the comment for precisely what it was.

In seriousness, though, would you be satisfied at the Lusty Lukku? he asked. It wasn't said as an accusation but an honest question for her to consider. While the question had initially been phrased in such a way as to be as much teasing as anything, the underlying question remained. He knew her well enough that he could guess she would hate being marginalized at the fringe of the galaxy. She might enjoy it for a time - months or perhaps years - but she would grow tired of it.

 

[Tasha Blackwell]

Tasha was surprised at his words. Perhaps he hadn’t withdrawn so far to where she didn’t know him anymore. He was still cautious with his words, and she couldn’t help but feel as if he purposely held things back. And why shouldn’t he? They were in a cutthroat organization after all. It was made up entirely of people that stepped on one another to get ahead.

When he made the comment about staying in the sidelines, Tasha had to laugh softly, “Perhaps I don’t mind it because I’m the center of attention at my night job,” She shrugged. In truth, her ambitions were high, but often it felt like a pointless cause. Without a sense of unified purpose, there was no effective war machine to lead. Tasha had her ambitions, but she began to wonder if she didn’t prefer to act more as support.

His question about the Lusty Lekku had her pondering for a long moment. The winds brushed against her hair, and she stood there in silence, thinking about her job there, “Does it matter where I’m satisfied?” Tasha held his gaze this time, turning so she faced him. Her back pressed into the railing, “It pays well, I enjoy the work and people are easily impressed,” Tasha smiled, “An entire directionless people is a much tougher crowd.”

 

[Varyn Rask]

He took a step so that he could both look out at the horizon and at her with ease. I noticed, he quipped as she mentioned that an entire directionless group was a much tougher crowd.

But you're underselling yourself, he stated bluntly. She was capable of much more than she was giving herself credit for and there was no doubt in his mind that her impact was capable of being felt throughout the Empire if she put her mind to it.

He said nothing more as he thought about what she said. She made it sound so simple and so easy. She made it sound like she didn't care about being satisfied, but he recognized another underlying theme in her words.

You sound like you have a mentality of only surviving, he said. Some people had to have that mentality. Even Varyn sometimes felt that all he was doing was managing to keep his head above the water that was threatening to pull him under, but she was in a position where she could thrive. She could create something for herself that was more than just being paid. A place where she could really be satisfied.

The thoughts alone were enough to make that whisper, which had been growing louder in the back of his mind, speak louder. For a moment he could feel the power that awaited him. He could sense the taste of the Dark Side in front of him. His eyes took on a glazed look as if he were a lightyear away. He saw a unified Empire and a terrifying power that bent to his will. He saw his enemies laid waste and a peace - perhaps a precarious peace, but still peace - settle over the galaxy. Tasha would be able to feel the cold prickles of the Dark Side wash over her skin as these thoughts flashed unbidden through his mind. Something darker was at work here, and seemed to have followed him back from his exile. As subtle as it may have been, something about him was different.

 

[Tasha Blackwell]

Tasha had to smile at his words, and she could tell he truly saw more in her than perhaps she saw in herself. She remained silent as he spoke, though her gaze didn’t shift from his, “No, just that my thriving is your surviving because your ambitions are loftier than mine,” Tasha winked at him playfully. It was true – he wanted to extrapolate his own ambitions on others, and he found trouble in accepting that she could be content with lesser roles. Being in places like this and the simplicity of her job at the Lusty Lekku made her realize that life didn’t need to be unnecessarily complicated.

She felt the Force course through him as he dipped into the dark side, and she could feel a shift in his strength. It whirled around him and reached out to bathe her in it. A chill ran down her spine, and she drew in her breath abruptly. She knew he had more to him than he was revealing, and she could only guess at how much deeper it went. Tasha closed the distance between them, reaching a hand up to place along the side of his face to draw him back to the present.

“You didn’t come here by chance,” Tasha said quietly, her eyes meeting his gaze. The solid yellow eyes were as cryptic as ever, and she was very close to him now. Where with others, the eyes were windows into the soul, for her it was nothing but a wall. Tasha didn’t move her hand from his face, his skin cool to touch, “What do you want from me?”

He had a vision, and she knew it. She also knew he had been wanting her to be a part of it since the very day they had met. Tasha had been walking along the edges of that pool, never taking the plunge. She always skirted around it, always put it off. She knew she couldn’t walk away from it now, not when he finally had a grand design to execute.

 

[Varyn Rask]

There was something stirring inside of him that both scared and excited him. He was on a path that had the potential to change the galaxy, but he wondered what it would do to him if he followed through. He could already tell it was changing him, and he knew he would likely have to do things that he hated, but what would it pay off? Not only was there his own power, but far more importantly, it had the chance to restore some semblance of peace to the galaxy. Wasn't that worth any cost? Even if it was at the expense of part of himself?

He was drawn from his thoughts as she moved toward him, letting her hand brush against him. It was unexpected and pulled him back to the present. HIs eyes were a tinge paler than she had last seen him, and he wondered if she could even see it now under the ever-present hood.

Her question though... the question. He still didn't know the answer to it. He'd been drawn to her like a magnet, and yet he'd never been able to place the reasoning for it. He didn't know what he wanted from her. She had shown herself more than capable, and perhaps he was just looking for a partner in his climb to the top, but even he wondered if that wasn't a lie. He wondered if what he wanted - what he hoped for - was categorically what he couldn't have.

He said nothing for a moment, but he also didn't pull away from her. Her touch was both appealing and unsettling. He hated being touched, but at the same time there was something a bit warm in her hand. A warmth that had nothing to do with the heat of this world.

I want you by my side when it all happens, he said. The statement and even his tone was said in such a way that it would leave her wondering exactly what he meant. That was secondary to the fact that he didn't know what it meant. The capacity and extent were intentionally vague, and he wanted to keep it that way. It could have been as simple as an alliance or something far more complex. No, no it had to be just an alliance, he reminded himself.

But that won't happen if you're at the Lusty Lekku, he said flatly, as much to deflect from a follow up question as to point out once again that she shouldn't leave. He didn't think she would at this point, but then, he couldn't be sure.

 

[Tasha Blackwell]

She knew his question would give him pause. It guided him right back to the present, this moment, standing right here and smelling her sweet perfume and the warm touch on his face. She could see the shifts in his eyes, the way they had flecks of gold in them from his immersion into the dark side. Tasha said nothing for a moment, but his words caused a grin. She couldn’t help but chuckle softly, knowing he was very much serious.

“If you could simply tell me what to do and have me follow orders,” She murmured softly as she leaned in closer, her lips just barely brushing against his, “I don’t think you’d like me nearly as much as you do,” Tasha still had the smile on her face. Every gesture was teasing and subtle, and he would feel the warmth of her lips pressing just enough against his, but not yet a kiss.

Tasha leaned in closer to him, unafraid of killing the distance between them. They had almost been here that night at the bar, but not quite there yet. Being in her profession, she knew when she was desired, and he hadn’t exactly made it a secret. However, she also knew he was very much serious about his visions and ambitions, and he saw in her an ally that could support him in his cause.

“Regardless of whether I stay or go, I’d like to stay in the business of entertainment,” Tasha replied just as flatly, speaking against his lips barely above a whisper.

 

[Varyn Rask]

Varyn had nearly taken a step back of his own accord, but she certainly hadn't. She moved even closer to him, and he could feel her body against his. He could feel her lips brush ever so slightly against his, and he was thrown into inner confusion and turmoil. He didn't know how to handle any of it, but he knew he didn't want to pull away. She was quite unlike anyone else he knew, and she had already massively crossed boundaries that no one else had even approached. He couldn't decide how he felt about that.

On the one hand, of course there was an exhilaration to it, but Varyn didn't take risks. He only took a plunge after it had been well considered. He took a breath to regain his composure, but all he smelled was the intoxicating scent of her perfume.

Almost before he realized he was doing it, his right hand rested lightly against her hip, and he stood frozen. He was supposed to have some witty reply, but... there was nothing. He didn't know what to say or do. His mind hadn't planned for this, and he hadn't expected this to be the outcome. He nearly leaned forward and kissed her, but he didn't. There were doubts in his own mind, and questions. What was this? Was this just her ploy for power? Hoping to seduce him like she could have no doubt done for hundreds of other foolish men? Was he better than that? Was this something more?

There was danger, and Varyn didn't court danger on a whim.

Plus, whether he would admit it or not, whether she would see through it or not, he hated not being in control, and he certainly felt on his back foot. Call it a character flaw or the thing that made him successful, but it was who he was. It was what made him Sith.

His lips brushed along hers and all the way along her cheek until they brushed against her ear. Their bodies were pressed dangerously close together, and he had to consciously overcome his instincts of both body and mind until he finally whispered in her ear.

And what is it you want? he asked before taking a step back, his fingers brushing along her hip as he pulled away again. In truth, his own heart was pounding and he felt short of breath. In many ways he felt the same rush of adrenaline that he felt going into battle. It was a verbal sparring match that was far more intense than his dealing galactic politics with the Grand Moff. He couldn't decide if he loved it or hated it, but on principle he found himself wanting to win. Something told him that was the wrong mentality, but it was oh-so-very him not to back away from challenges.

 

[Tasha Blackwell]

Tasha had been here countless times before, yet it was exhilarating right now. It was a mixture of the crossing lines, along with the dark energy that pulsated within him. It was something new in him, and the closer she got to it, the more enticing it was. She couldn’t tell if she were the one seducing him, or vice versa. There was an inexplicable lure, and it tugged her along without her being able to fight back against it.

She could feel him resisting, and she didn’t press forward, her yellow eyes lingering on his. He was having an internal struggle, and she could tell just by the way he tensed up. Tasha didn’t step back, nor did she move forward, and they were at a stalemate just for that moment. He had no reason to ever trust her, and she had made no secret of the fact that she would backstab anyone in her way to gain power. Perhaps that was what made her so appealing to others - the very danger of ever turning their backs on her.

Tasha felt his hand slid along her hip, and for a moment she was sure he would lean forward. Instead, he teased in return, dragging his lips along her cheek till they reached her ear. She could feel his hot breath tickling against her skin, a faint grin on her face once more at his words. Tasha looked up as he stepped back, his nature getting the best of him.

“I want the galaxy at my feet,” She said casually, turning away from him to gaze out over the balcony, her back facing his chest, “I want freedom, power, and everything I could ever desire. I want a galaxy the way the first Empress shaped it - molded by strength and laying down the foundations of a legacy to be proud of,” Tasha paused for a moment, smiling to herself, “Not so different than your own desires.”

 

[Varyn Rask]

Varyn smiled darkly. While some people might have heard the words that Sith were expected to say, Varyn knew there was more to this. He knew that they weren't just phrases uttered without thought for her. She wanted them, and like him, she had the tools to obtain them. She had the drive, the skill, and the intellect to reach her goal.

But he also knew that he was an obstacle to her vision.

Not today or tomorrow, perhaps not even a decade from now, but someday she would turn on him. He had to assume as much, and that meant he could never truly let his guard down around her. He was fairly sure she'd killed for far less and in far more "compromised" situations. He should have pulled completely away from her, but he didn't. Neither closer nor away. Not yet. They were both just... there.

He gave a nod, once again feeling as if he'd gained some semblance of his composure once more. I think perhaps we understand one another, Tasha Blackwell, he said, but his voice was not quite as grave this time. Even now he reached out to the Force, hoping to catch a glimpse of what the two of them might be, but it seemed shrouded in mystery. It was like trying to see the details of an object held up directly to the sun. There were the shapes of a pair, but their forms could have been anything.

His hand ran once again along the railing. Even as he stood there, he felt that desire for someone to rely on, and he quashed the feeling. Such a thought had no place in the Sith, he had to remind himself. Like the city he'd visited in his recent travel, only those who watched for themselves would survive this climb.

Do you ever wonder what the Sith Lords - the original ones - could have accomplished had they found the key to immortality? he asked her. Such thoughts were almost certainly ludicrous, but it was what many Sith had strived for. None had achieved it, but the thought was one Varyn couldn't help but contemplate, no matter how far-fetched it may seem.

 

[Tasha Blackwell]

It felt strange to hear her name spoken aloud. Most of the galaxy knew her as Sapphire or other names, but Varyn was one of the few she had divulged her name to. She kept her gaze ahead, even when he shuffled around and moved closer to the railing. The wind brushed against her red curls, the locks of hair gently grazing against her skin. The blue had a sheen to it at always, and the red was a stark contrast.

Tasha turned to look at him as he asked his question, a smile forming on her face, “They did,” She said quietly, “Through their legacy. We are still here today talking about them though it’s been centuries since their bodies had turned to ash,” Tasha looked out over the desert again, “The dark side of the Force does not allow true immortality - not without great cost. I don’t think it’s worth it to pay that price. I think laying down a foundation is what is critical.”

She didn’t reach out for him again, knowing he had been nervous about it before. Tasha kept the distance between them, letting him choose to believe what he wished about her intentions. She purposely kept herself guarded, and it was a survival tactic she had for as long as she could remember.

“It is always easier to rally behind a cause when starting from the bottom,” Tasha said after a long moment, “Look at the Mandalorians. It is similar to how the Exiles formed to become the Sith Empire. Now it is much more difficult with everyone sprawled out and with no way of bringing the people to heel,” She paused for a moment, “It will never be the same as when Andraste attempted it. However, it will be a different way. It will be your way. And that’s what you need to believe in above all.”

 

[Varyn Rask]

He looked out over the wastes, seeing the storm growing closer. It would be here within minutes, and that would cut short the conversation, but he found himself not wanting it to end quite yet.

And yet he found himself wondering about what she said. There was a lot of truth in her words, and though he wouldn't admit it aloud, the words scared him. He wondered if she would see through him - somehow he thought she would - and he knew he wanted to divert attention away from what he saw as his own weaknesses. They had no place in the Sith. He tapped his hand nervously against the railing once again.

I guess I have my work cut out for me, then, he said flatly before turning back fully toward her again. The Empire isn't going to continue in its state anymore, he said, this time with more conviction in his voice and a hint of passion.

Care to show me around your garden, Tasha? he asked. He risked another pollen-assault, but he hoped he might be able to learn more about her from doing so. Who she really was. The truth was, as well as the two of them knew one another, they still knew very little about one another. Varyn - for personal and professional reasons - wanted to know more about her. How'd you manage all this?

 

[Tasha Blackwell]

“You want me to show you around in a garden that wants to kill you?” Tasha quirked an eyebrow skeptically. Nevertheless, it wasn’t her business what suffering he wanted to put himself through. In the end, she grinned and led them back inside. Vines and plants spiraled from floor to ceiling, complex weeds and flowers adorning every surface. It was a breathtaking sight, and the scent – when not sporting a stuffy nose – was intoxicating. Tasha led him through the various flowers that were native to the planet.

“Desert flowers do exist,” She pointed to a set of bright red flowers, “Those come from deep in the deserts of Korriban and even Moraband,” Her passion for this was betrayed in her voice. It was rare that she animatedly talked about anything, usually having a calm and cool approach on things, “They can survive without any sustenance for months at a time,” She picked one of the flowers, smelling the sweet scent as she looked at him, “I managed only a little. A lot of the foundations were here before my time.”

Tasha smiled as she twirled the flower between her fingers, “It’s fascinating – over the past 500 years, there was always someone or another that came up to add to this garden. They added little pieces here and there and it grew even beyond their own lifetime. This garden has Andraste’s touch, along with anyone that has added something since. That part of them continues to grow and thrive,” It was a beautiful thought, and she gazed at all the different kinds of plants – some that were clearly brought in from many other worlds.

“I’m just adding my own mark here and hoping it’ll be tended to even after I’m long gone,” Tasha began to walk again, leading him further down the long paths that were cut between rows of plants. There was no sound here save for the occasional chirping of the birds. There was an occasional cool mist for some of the plants, the air here always filled with moisture.

@Phoenix

 

[Varyn Rask]

Suffering builds character and strengthens you, he said in response to her comments about the garden wanting to kill him. It was a joke, but said just deadpan enough to make her questions whether he was really that edgy. He had a small window of time before the scents of the flowers - wonderful as they smelled - all began to collude in an attempt to slay the Sith Lord by way of snot.

You should show me where you found those, he said as she pointed out the desert flowers. He was a comparatively new person to Korriban, but he had never seen anything like that growing naturally here. Truthfully, though, he was more interested in the flowers because she was interested in the flowers. There was an excitement and energy in her voice that wasn't present other times. Like him, she spoke every word with control and specifically chosen, but now he thought he was seeing a sliver of the real Tasha.

And then the first sneeze came. Ahhh... haaaah.... choo! he sneezed into the crook of his elbow, sniffing slightly and letting out a gasp. He hated being like this...

Do you think about Andraste walking here? he asked. He knew that she had thought about it as he did because she shared his fascination with the first Empress. That was when it occurred to him that as much as he looked up to Andraste, he would need to carve the Empire into his own image as well. That was what Tasha had said.

Do you think the Empire can be repaired? Or is the damage too far gone? he asked. The tone wasn't said in a sad or defeated fashion, but one of curiosity to hear her opinion. Despite what she may have thought about herself, he knew she was insightful.