The Young & The Cut-Throat

[Moonfire]

Bellinda Maskrr might have grumbled, if she were one to do such a thing. The hour had grown reasonably late, most other Sith hiding away in their quarters or the barracks, weary from training or war planning. But Bellinda was still there, wandering the Temple with her datapad clutched in one hand, clacking cane in her other. There was no rest for the weary lately, as strategies and plans of attack were thought out, investors and senators were on edge. Weapon orders needed to be placed, accounts needed to be settled and worst of all, Aristocrats needed to be coddled and reassured. Such unsavory business went on to Bellinda, the lowest of the low.

The petite woman moved down the hallway slowly, the light tap of her cane with every step, hip protesting. It had been a long day with a good deal of running around, something her sore and broken body would never become accustomed too, hopefully the one she was looking for would still be in his quarters when she arrived. Hopefully.

Twisting through the maze-like halls of Korriban's temple, she smiled as the rooms and their occupants, thought hidden and private lit up for her. The blank canvas of the world swirled lazily with the auras of the people in their rooms, silhouettes dancing to a soundless tune.

Her smile widened, her target was there. At least all this walking wasn't for nothing. Approaching the door Bellinda straightened her ornate silk robes and hair before, taking the moment to assess what the Sith Apprentice within might be doing. The faint sound of a holoprojector buzzed through the thin door, and he appeared to be sitting, eating even. No matter, his attention was required. They were in the middle of a war, after all.

"Jessoin Zarander?" She asked, her voice suprisingly soft and high despite her unattractive appearance as she opened the door. "I do hope I'm not interrupting anything important, I have some accounts that require your-"

"Fernando! Whyyyy?!" Came a shout from the holoprojector, cutting her off.

"Is-is that General Medbay?" Bellinda asked, face suddenly bright with amusement.

[Dutch]

His eyes watched the monitoring equipment. Blip. Blip. Blip. Blip. Steady beeped the heart rate monitor. That heart shouldn't be beating anymore. He stared down at the man that shared his likeness, still in the coma. And yet at any moment, he could awake, and ruin everything. Tell his darkest secrets. Show the paper trail that led to Supercom's financial downfall and how it connected with the hospital's success. Reveal his deep, deep love for...

"No! Do not think of her!"

He said in anger. This man, this unconscious fool, could ruin everything. That would not be allowed to pass. The closet, a spare pillow was drawn from it, and he moved back to the bed.

"I loved you, brother. We played together. Now I must kill you before you destroy all my hard work. Tell mother... hello."

With tears falling from his eyes the man pushed the pillow onto the other man's face, and held it tight as he cried. Soon the top of the pillow would darken from the moisture that collected. Blip. Blip. Blip. Blip.

Blip. Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Suddenly the door burst open and a woman in a revealing yellow dress burst in, the color clashed with the bright red of her Zeltronian skin.

"FERNANDO WHYYYY!"

Is-is that General Medbay?"

Jessoin froze and his eyes bulged. A cube of cheese was held just in front of his mouth and his other hand held a glass of wine. He set the glass down and bolted to his feet to spin and stare the speaker down. His eyes met a tiny, broken looking thing. Jess blinked once in curiosity before he popped the block of cheese into his mouth and with long strides moved over to the girl, his gait as if he was about to attack.

"Sssshhh! Get in here girl!"

Spat Jess as he grabbed her arm with one hand to bring her in more. The other quickly slapped the panel to his new abode. It was a nice place to be sure. Split-level, the lower level contained a spacious living room with white leather couches and an expensive holoprojector. Next to that was the kitchen and bar, with bottles of various liquids and a jar of sugar. The top level had his large bed that overlooked the living room, still with a view to the projector, and in a different room, the fresher.

He darted his eyes back to the projector and stalked over to the bar area and began to fill two glasses of wine. His pulse still raced from the sudden visitor, and he wasn't sure if it was the girl's presence or appearance that felt nonthreatening, but he did feel himself start to relax.

"You're lucky they always cut to advertisements every time Zeltana enters the room. I'd hate to think what would happen to you if I missed what happens next."

Jessoin looked back at the girl and narrowed his eyes at her obvious blindness. A Miraluka by his guess. They always seemed unnaturally comfortable with being blind. He smirked nonetheless and picked up the wine glasses to move to the couch and caf table. Jess set the glasses down and popped another piece of cheese from the platter into his mouth. His eyes looked back to the redhead and his eyebrows lifted.

"Well? Sit down. If you know the name, you also know you need to see what happens next."

[Moonfire]

Bellinda couldn't help but smile wider at the Zelosian's reaction, feeling him wrench her closer into his quarters.

He was embarrassed, now wasn't that funny?

A chuckle sat just behind her smile, but through sheer force of will and the encouragement of the man's dangerous body language she held it back. Shuffling in Bellinda looked about the apartment with little shame. Being the Dark Lady's apprentice certainly had its benefits it seemed. Even to the seeing impaired it was lavish, the walls exquisitely textured the bar counter a rich veneered wood, smooth and cool to her wandering fingers as she waited, listening to the man chastise her sudden arrival.

"Terribly sorry for interrupting such an... intimate moment, Mr. Zarander. I will be sure to call ahead next time." She said with a small curtsy to the much taller man, still watching carefully as he filled a pair of wine glasses, his agitation and fear seeming to disappear.

"My name is Bellinda Maskrr, I'm currently assisting in the Public Relations aspect of the Sith Order and Empire." She explained, her words formal but tone surprisingly casual, as though introducing herself to a friend of a friend. "I have some information on one..."

Long fingers twitched across her datapad, the screen unseen, merely memorized as a small ear piece conveyed all the information it displayed. "Victor Thermone, weapons designer. Lady Renata said that you'd be able to deal directly with him." Bellinda reported, before holding out the datapad, replacing it with the glass of wine.

"Though if this isn't a good time... It can always wait until morning." Her bony shoulders shrugged as she settled into a seat next to the eccentric man, delighted by the feeling of leather.

"General Medbay? Oh, I haven't listened to it in nearly a year... I had a roommate who was quite obsessed with it. I wasn't aware I was in the presence of another fan." Her lips curled up, the smile bright beneath that large silk blindfold as she spoke, taking a long sip of her wine as they listened to another commercial for skin cream made of Graarl talons.

[Dutch]

Jessoin took another piece of cheese and popped it into his mouth. He looked the tiny woman over. She was so... unassuming. He felt like he could literally hear her body creak as she moved. His hand would wave at her idly as she suggested she return on the morrow. Then he realized that chances are, she couldn't see that motion. Jess gazed back at her as she sat next to him and raised his free hand to wave soundlessly in front of Bellinda's face, and shrugged.

"Does my Mistress wish this one dead too?"

He took the datapad and instantly tossed it to the other couch that sat ninety degrees from the holoprojector. It was time for his soaps, there was no way he was going to take business right now, especially if it was just another hit. Walk in. Fill room with lightning. Make sure they're dead. Return.Seduce an initiate.

Every. Single. Time.

Jess looked back at the word fan and at Bellinda's great big smile. His eyes would narrow for a second. He had a lot of trouble reading the small redhead's intentions. And even had trouble reading his own in this scenario. Never had he encountered such a pitiful creature. He doubted this Bellinda could even survive a good shagging, even if he wanted to. She certainly wasn't threatening him or anything, could she really just be... doing her job? No secret intentions? No gimmicks?

"You will tell no one, little bird."

His voice barely a whisper as the advertisements ended, and his eyes darted back to the projector, hands clasped and breath held.

[Moonfire]

Bellinda only smiled, her teeth bright and shiny white against the bloody red of her lips as the hand swiped, once, twice over her face. She could see, in her way with startling clarity. The way it moved, the tight, cautious aura of the flamboyant man before her swirled and moved slowly, restrained before shrugged off, back to his wine.

Another deep sip of the rich wine worked its way down the young woman's throat she nuzzled up, getting comfortable on the plush sofa.

"No, this particular mission is more diplomatic than... disposal. Lady Renata wants to see your worth when you're not killing things." The tiny woman shrugged softly, deftly snatching up a cube of some firm, perfumed cheese and popping it gently into her mouth.

"Which, I imagine with someone who has as fine tastes as yours it'll be quite a simple venture. A room such as this speaks volumes to your character Mr. Zarander." She said, small, bony arms outstretched in wonder of the split level home.

"And I won't breathe a word of your guilty pleasure... Tell me, hows Tisha Golighty looking these days? I hear she got a botched nose job."

[Dutch]

Jessoin snorted audibly at the word 'diplomatic'. He had little patience for those matters. That's what the Aristocrats and politicians were for. Jess was a killer, had been for years. It was what he did best in life. Second best actually. The thought made him chuckle and look back to the red head as General Medbay came back on. She sat on his couch and ate his food without a single drop of fear or remorse. He couldn't help but admire that. Few indeed felt comfortable around Renata's Dog, but this Bellinda acted as if he were nothing more than a friend. It was an odd way to be treated, even the way she spoke was unassuming and polite. She spoke compliments on his taste, and his eyes would narrow suspiciously again. What's your angle, little bird... Jess thought, his curiosity genuine.

"Please, Jess if you would."

He responded at first. His bright green eyes would drift around his quarters. Art of Zelos II, Nar Shadaa and more recently Korriban decorated the walls. Even a couple sculptures sat on display. His personal favorite two women in a passionate embrace, cut of jade and accented with gold. He had taken it from a rather plump, damp looking man who's appetites even surpassed Jessoin's. The Zelosian had killed him, then slept with his Theelin serving girl before he took the statue as a trophy and left. If she truly meant the comment, he was doubly impressed by her ability to see without eyes, and her obvious taste. He huffed lightly in approval before he reached for the wine bottle to fill his glass, then hers again. Jess didn't admit it, but there was something satisfying about the woman's company.

"Surely you jest though. You must know my reputation. You seem to know things. What would you rather send? A dog or a dove?"

Jess finished his question with another toss of a cube. He tossed it high and caught it as it fell in his mouth, right between his teeth. The man grinned and let the morsel fall into his mouth before he chewed and washed it down with wine. Jessoin looked back at the woman. His eyes scanned her up and down. Bellinda was certainly beautiful, if a bit gaunt. She reminded him of spice-whores he had scene (and rooted) on Nar Shadaa. Except she was even thinner than that, with nary a curve to drool over. Even her temperament didn't get a rise out of him, something rare. Most women seemed to react one way or the other with him. Either attraction or revulsion. So what did he do with the one woman that brought neither to mind?

"... Good.

He started before he blinked. She really did know the names, didn't she? Jessoin looked to the holoprojector again and watched Tisha's nose. It really was an awfully transparent job. On top of that, it was as if the surgeons purposefully made her nostrils look constantly flared. If it wasn't for her bodacious body, chances are she'd have been kicked from the set. Jess chuckled at a thought and took a sip of wine before speaking.

... It kind of looks like someone tried to transplant an Ugnaught's nose onto her face."

[Moonfire]

"I'll compromise, Jessoin then?" She laughed, soft and genuine as the rich red wine lingered on her tongue. Casually she observed the one known as Renata's Dog. The young man, known for his smarmy turn of phrase and his womanizing was surprisingly polite, open even. He walked about her, suspicious at first the aura the fluttered with us all was wrapped tight and cautious to his frame but in flares it moved out, beckoning.

And from the Master to his manse she absorbed the curves and feel of the room without even a tilt of her head. The home was mapped out in all its detail in her mind, the Force fuzzy and ever moving between the objects as the holoprojector crackled and buzzed. As a youngling such a machine fascinated her. How it was able to tell stories and relay adventures. The other children lamented her inability to see the beams of light that knit together the characters, but Bellinda didn't mind. Her imagination filled in the gaps. Karon, dear Karon, never cared for it all, but Bellinda didn't mind. The voices that played out the tales were so much more entertaining that the monotone voice that recited her datapad files. An experience she relived on Nar Shaddaa with a roommate that followed every soap opera known to man and several species of fish.

Curled up on the leather sofa, the nostalgia was overwhelming. Zeltana's shrill voice coupled with the heavy tones of bass piano, the bright joyharp that coupled with the drama. Tisha's awkward pacing in her lines, it was almost too much.

"Jest? Me? Never. You don't give yourself enough credit, Jessoin. Anyone with this grasp of refinement," she sipped the wine again, tilting the glass as though peering at its contents through the heavy silk blindhold "and this taste in wine has a knack for diplomacy. And don't call yourself a dog. Dogs don't have nearly the regal bearing or extravagance you display. Its a poor comparison made by simple, short-sighted people." She scoffed with a wave of her hand.

People made all sorts of comparisons and assumptions she had learned over the last year living amongst the Sith and wooing the aristocrats and socialites. Appearances were half of everything. She had learned that respect wasn't something she'd be able to command from appearance, but pity and fondness could easily be gained and charmed, grown and fostered with well placed words and gifts. It was a job that came surprisingly natural to her. Some Sith were brutes, weapons to be directed. Jessoin seemed to fit himself, let others fit himself, into that category.

But he could be so much more.

"An Ugnaught? How delightful." Her mouth twisted up in visible disgust. Who would do such a thing to a star that was supposed to be the prettiest woman in holodramas?

"Now tell, whose Fernando? I've missed a season or so, I don't remember him."

[Dutch]

Jessoin huffed at Bellinda's words. True enough, the Sith- namely the Aristocracy was filled with hypocritical fools with too many credits on their hands. Yet they payed the bills, and with that came the ability for them to say and do as they pleased. For the most part, none would ever dare cross one of the Darths, even those that seemed to not truly see what a Sith was capable of. Jessoin himself would get there soon, it was only a matter of time. Time, and Renata's patience. He shifted uncomfortably at the memory of his arrival to Korriban. What she had made him do, though it freed him from the yoke of an oppressive master, she had also made it clear that he worked for her now. Despite her words of wanting to 'help him ascend' he still fully believed that he was nothing more than a tool for the red woman. And not the kind he would prefer.

He brought the glass up to drink some more, sipping lightly before setting it down. Jess still wasn't entirely sure how to act at the moment, opting to stay silent for a moment as he watched the soap. The actors played brilliantly terrible, filling their over-the-top rolls perfectly. If there was one thing to be said about General Medbay, it was that the casting people had found some true gems. A grin would spread as Bellinda would query about Fernando. He laughed lightly and shifted himself forward, his gaze moving from Bellinda to the holoprojector, back and forth excitedly.

"Oh then you've missed easily the best addition to the show. Fernando is Degalo's evil twin, revealed midway into the the fifth season. Rich, handsome, and wickedly intelligent. He is Zeltana's son's- the one with inoperable cancer- true father, not Degalo. Also is the man who killed off Tisha's third husband so she could claim his insurance policy- only to snake it into a private Neimoidian account. Untouchable, untraceable. He is sinfully fun to watch."

As Jessoin talked, he motioned excitedly with his hands. Fernando had easily become one of his favorite characters- second only to Zeltana herself. Jess was just waiting for there to be a reveal where she had an evil twin as well, he wouldn't be able to handle himself he didn't think if that happened. Noticing the wine bottle only had a little left in it, he again topped off their glasses before standing up. Jessoin would step around the couch and over to the bar. He added the bottle to a line of other empties that sat on a shelf, all of different types and vineyards. Jess admired the way the bottles were all differently colored before he reached to the wine rack under the bar to pull out another bottle. Zelos honeywine, strong and sugary- just the type of booze to wreck a Zelosian.

"Now you're in for a treat. Been saving this one bottle from my home planet, figure now is as good of a time as any to savor it."

Jess said as he used the Force to tug the cork straight out. He placed it in his teeth to run his tongue over the bottom of the cork, tasting the sweet, heady wine.