Solace of the Shadows

[Marf]

t h e m e​

The room ebbed in navy, liquid shadow morphed each edge and corner into indiscernible shapes. A little amount of furniture stood lost beneath an enormous windows bearing onto the clouds. Bloody curtains parted by an ajar slit allowed a discrete moonbeam to balm the desk. Before the black metallic finish, Vereshin moved the silver wheelchair he sat in with gentle telekinetic flow. Black robes caressed his natural shoulders, a hood veiled his blinding chalk countenance. He brushed the end of his nose with a raven quill while portending the scores of quantum equations and symbols indiscernible the average mind which sprawled the surface of the desk.

Eyes raised without an ounce of gesture, their gaze drew open the heavy door at the far end of the room to welcome the sound of intruding heels. They were expected, but each callous clack against the obsidian marble disrupted Vereshin's perfect solitude. Kira Elan stepped into the threshold and received the darkness. It emanated every crease of the vast room, resonated from his vessel and enveloped him like gaseous ink. Since the successful Voidsphere ritual Vereshin's power in the Force increased dramatically, but left him temporarily incapacitated. Time would be needed before he regained his prowess.

"Dark Lady. I am pleased to inform, the ritual to restore power to our twin worlds was a success."

The muted twang of a harpsichord roamed sorely in the ambiance, leading Vereshin to move himself from behind the desk to greet Lady Solumn. His voice lilted with unassuming softness while he gestured to a beautiful dark chaise for Kira to sit. A table presented tea, biscuits and alcohol to her whim.

"So humbled am I for you to request my council."

Twenty years subsided since Vereshin abdicated from the mantle of Supreme Leader. The truth that he ever held the title faded into obscurity and remained unknown to most. His strength lay in the shadows, seeping and consuming as an omnipresent void. That the Dark Lady herself requested to learn from him aroused genuine flattery from Vereshin. So high in stature, yet willing to learn from an entirely different perspective. She already deserved respect for just that.

Moving to the table, Vereshin leaned over a black and silver tea set to pour himself a cup of white peony. The discrete little glint of a tiny needle from atop his hand conflicted with the darkness, leading to a tube hidden up his slowing sleeve. He lived on fluid constantly for the time, the massive assault on the Force he conducted ravaged his insides. Hand trembled idly for the moment, let a deep breath. A strange combatant in his sanctuary set his heat a race.

"Cigarette? Forgive me I do not know if you smoke."
@Prudence

 

[Prudence]

The Dark Side resonated with this place in a way that she hadn't felt on any other world, save for Moraband or Korriban, however it wasn't the Dark Side that she was accustomed to. The feelings here weren't of aggression and hostility, but more perversion and corruption. The feelings matched well the appearance of her host, Vereshin. Once Supreme Leader of the Sith Brotherhood, the man was immortal - though thoroughly corrupted by the Dark Side. Solum stepped through the door, taking quick stock of the room she found herself in now. It was spacious, decorated in deep blues, with red accents at the curtains.

She immediately caught sight of Vereshin, sitting behind his desk, and she gave the man a half-hearted smile. Solum's face portrayed how physically tired she was. Her eyes, a now sickening yellow, were sunken into her skull. Beneath them she sported matching dark bags, and her face had lines running through it. As of late Solum had found herself unable to find sleep, instead seeing images of Eryn Callisto's dying moments every time that she sought sleep.

Vereshin welcomed her by informing her of his recent activities with the Void Sphere. Kira was vaguely aware of what he had been referring to, though to be honest the majority of the event had occurred during Eryn's reign as Dark Lord, and she had been indisposed on Lothal at the time.

"The honor is mine, Lord Vi. Those who reject the counsel of their elders are those who court ignorance and demise."

She followed him to the table with refreshments, needing no invitation to consume the man's drink and biscuits. She prepared herself a short tumbler of ice, and poured some of Corellia's finest whiskey into the glass. Harder drinks of the sort had become her trademark as of late, easing the pain of her loss ever so slightly. She took a bite of the biscuit, chewing it idly as she turned back to the wheelchaired man. She hadn't been aware of Vereshin participating in any combat recently, which left questions unanswered as to the nature of Vereshin's incapacitation.

"No thank you. Though, I am interested to know, what happened to your legs Vereshin?"

 

[Marf]

Raising the teapot before the black and silver cup, the luscious clash of a thin little stream filled it with steaming liquid. Ebbing shapes rose from the pale brown surface and morphed through the ambiance like the gaseous remains of dead star. Slowly liftung his hand to allow the gentle noise to heighten, Vereshin ceased his pouring and set the pot down. The universe was beautiful. Truly, full of beauty and illusion, it was no wonder he refused to part with it.

"Ah, if you'll excuse me I must. My tummy is wretched and my mind is a fright."

Producing a silver case from his obi and a black, glossy holder, he prepared a cigarette full of opium in the end and set it rakishly between his teeth. Healing only did so much for chronic pain and anxiety over anything that moved. Snapping his fingers to produce a flame and igniting the end steadily, he allowed a deep inhale while his heart rate slowly muted.

"This, Kira, is the price one pays for ultimate power in the Dark Side." Speaking to the Dark Lady, Vereshin referred to his physical state in the general sense. "Power is antipodal. The greater the power, the greater sacrifice. If you abuse the Dark Side to a colossal level, the power you gain will be so obscene it will poison your body and corrode your very insides."

Setting down the cigarette holder for the moment, Vereshin took the teacup and indulged in a sip of white peony infused with chocolate. Immersing himself in the ethereal taste, the fluid stabbed his inflamed and bleeding gastrointestinal tract. He did not care, it didn't count as food so he would enjoy it. A lone mewl rang throughout the drifting shadows to alert the sight of black ragdoll cat named Exar padding around curiously. He found his way to Kira and Vi and jumped up on his legs to balance on his owner's lap. Picking up the fluffy tom cat, Vereshin hugged him to his face and rubbed his nose in the black fur.

"I recently conducted a ritual to restore potency to the twin worlds after the bombing shattered. I am presently enduring the effects."

Private for the most part regarding his condition, Vereshin gave Kira the honor to know the extent of his work and it's consequences. He spoke lightly yet curtly and did not waver from shyness, she struck him as open-minded. High heels clicked sharply in the background revealing the presence of a young woman, the nurse monitoring Vi while he remained under medical supervision.
@Prudence