freedomliveson

You never see it coming[Freedomliveson/The Elvenqueen]

LOVE that song. That is pretty awesome.

I think it would make more sense for them to get captured now, seeing as Soto would probably get herself executed if Yerbol and Aria managed to get off-world. That way they can get coordinates for the meeting from Soto's quarters or something and actually find their way there(I doubt that the Empire and the Republic would broadcast their peace talks on galactic channels xD)

[Save Me From The Dark] freedomliveson x earlymorninstar

Cool beans! Signing off for today, so have a great weekend! Will post on Monday :)

[Save Me From The Dark] freedomliveson x earlymorninstar

He smiled broadly at her mention of the degree, allowing her to finish before responding:
"A literate woman in upstate New York? My, my, what a pleasant surprise. Most of the people I've met here have been a tad...well, forgive my bluntness, ignorant. This tiny little area of Rochester has proven to be quite the boon, but in general I've found this place to be an intellectual wilderness." Mansfield handed the resume back to Alyssa before continuing:
"At least you were able to use the degree somewhat in the library. Now, out of curiosity, what are some of your favorite works? I've always favored the Romantics myself. Delightfully insane, melodramatic to the point of satire and fully invested in exploring the psyche of mankind through non-traditional methods. A wonderful combination, although I'm a tad biased due to my profession." He then held up a hand.
"Alas, before we go into more pleasurable subjects, allow me to tell you what you would be doing here." Mansfield motioned outside.
"You see the grounds, yes? There's a quarter of an acre that is already tended to, thankfully, but no one to take care of the interior. You would be responsible for general upkeep around the home, learning from Nathan as much as you could. He is, after all, the majordomo of the home and is responsible for everything. It would be nice for him to have assistance during the day. The position does require you to take residence here so that you could fill in for Nathan when he returns home. He is a rather busy man in the evenings and I've been in need of much help with academic matters that I believe you can assist me with. Simple things like categorizing books, filing case studies, that sort of thing." He paused for a moment to adjust his tie before continuing:
"Your pay will be in line with your experience and qualifications, which aren't mind-boggling, but still more than satisfying to me. Will fifty thousand a year do? Your meals and board will be provided as benefits to you, of course." Judging from her self-deprecating language and the way she seemed to(in his mind) shift ever so gently in her chair as she spoke, fifty thousand would be more than enough for her. How interesting it will be to have a creature like her around. He was looking forward to it already.
"Do you have any questions for me before I take you on the tour? You have the job, by the way, it's just a matter of ironing out the logistics of it all."

Nathan had taken up residence in the entrance to the living area, sighing inwardly at his employer's swift decision making. Someday it would come back to bite him. Someday.

[Save Me From The Dark] freedomliveson x earlymorninstar

Hey, so do you mind the "genteel, but mad scientist" vibe I've got going on for Mansfield? I kinda felt that it would work better than just a straight up psycho with abuse issues, seeing as poor Lyssa has gone through enough of that. Let me know if you need me to tweak him!

[Save Me From The Dark] freedomliveson x earlymorninstar

Nathan suppressed a chuckle when she mentioned the term "interesting", fully aware that the poor girl would soon find out that was a dramatic understatement about her potential employer.
"I understand the desire to make a change in one's routine. Doing the same things over and over again can prove to be rather droll." He shot her a polite smile once more before telling her:
"Ms.DePiew, please feel free to help yourself to beverages located underneath bar counter. The cabinets behind the bar are off limits due to their intoxicating effects." A smirk before turning around.
"I will Mr.Coates down shortly. Please be prepared for his arrival."

Mansfield had stopped his research when Nathan rapped on the open door.
"Yes, yes, I'll be there momentarily."
"If I may be so bold, Mansfield, the girl seems amenable enough."
"Good. I would hope that my majordomo could provide a reasonable assessment of someone who crosses the threshold of his own home." Mansfield shot him a teasing smirk as he rose, Nathan blowing out a sigh.
"Sir, might I recommend you not approaching your candidate with more than a pair of shorts?"
"I was getting to that!"
"Of course you were, sir."

He stopped at the top of the staircase, cracking his neck before adjusting the navy blue tie he had donned for the occasion. Content with the jet black suit and dark blue dress shirt that complimented the tie, he barreled down the stairs two at a time, the soles of his shoes clattering down with him. He strode forward with his back straight, shoulders back, eyes ahead. His colleagues called it the "peacock" walk, a strut that Mansfield had developed over the course of endless presentations, award ceremonies and yes, even attending state functions with dear old Dad. He shook his head at the mere inkling he just had of the old bugger, content with moving into the foyer with a clear mind to evaluate the woman who was so "amenable" in Nathan's eyes.

He caught sight of her and was...well, impressed. She looked the part of a professional, yet allowed her natural beauty to shine through in the way she styled her dark blonde hair. She had a face that conveyed great sadness and wisdom rolled into one, soft eyes that were guardians to a number of hidden secrets she would want buried forever. He had met a few people like this in his practice, each of them fascinating him in their own right. Fate had smiled upon him. Maybe she could be used as a test subject? No, no, too risky. But maybe down the line? Have to see. For now, interact, engage, see what she's like. Thankfully Nathan had taken the liberty of giving him her name, so he announced in his slightly British lilt:
"Ms.DePiew? Mansfield Coates. A pleasure." He motioned for her to sit on the couch in the center of the room while he placed himself on the couch to the right, leaning forward to shake her hand.
"May I see your resume, please?" As he grabbed the file, he added:
"Do tell me a bit about yourself. I want to see if you match up with what I'm looking for. I'm sure you wouldn't want us to waste either of our days prancing around the subject."

[Save Me From The Dark] freedomliveson x earlymorninstar

"NATHAN, GET THAT BLOODY DOOR!"
"Of course, of course." The reed-thin Nathan muttered something unsavory under his breath as he made his way down the stairs, his long, stick like legs moving in grasshopper-like motion on the gleaming cream colored marble streaked with ebony. Today was one of Mansfield's more agitated moods, which was of course saying something considering that the young man who employed him was often agitated. This, however, was more of a frenzied annoyance. His study door was surprisingly open, Mansfield's slightly wider than average shoulders hunched over books scattered across his desk, a tray of crumpets, clotted cream and peanut butter(don't ask) going untouched as he pored over the open tomes in front of him, hastily scribbling in one of several notepads before consorting with the monitor mounted a couple of feet above eye level, which was directly opposite the doorway. Columns of text and numbers stayed on the screen for a moment or two before he snorted at his previous musings and swiped them away with a nearby iPad. His dark hazel, almost black irises were rapidly moving from side to side, senses totally imbibed in his research. When he got like this, Nathan knew that the day would be a rather trying one. Thankfully, there was someone to break up the traditional rhythm of the day, that being someone who answered the ad Mansfield had insisted on publishing. Nathan had offered suggestions, like oh you know, actually going through a private service to ensure the highest quality of help(which was how Nathan wound up in Mansfield's employ in the first place), but this was another impulsive decision that his employer had made. Just like installing a massive garden in the back and insisting on growing different strains of oranges or installing a make-shift observatory that jutted out of the roof. While impulsive, however, Mansfield knew when to admit when he was wrong about his desires. It was nice to hear him humble every so often.

Reaching the door, Nathan smoothed his dark brown hair down and left, adjusting the vest underneath his tailcoat and proceeded to open the door. What(or who, precisely) greeted him was an attractive blonde woman garbed in professional attire, a folder seeming to be her only possession. At least she didn't show up in a maid costume. He was terribly afraid of that possibility.

He smiled politely as he spoke:
"I see that you're here to answer the advertisement situated in the newspaper. Please do come in and wait in the seating area. Mr.Coates will be with you shortly." He ushered her into the foyer, which had two staircases flanking the main hallway that led to a landing, said landing branching out both left and right with a door that stood a few feet past the staircase to the right, which was where Mansfield was currently occupied. Nathan led the woman through the entrance hall and to the seating area, which was a room consisting of elaborate draperies that framed nearly full floor to ceiling windows. There were three overstuffed couches gilded with etched wooden designs that were arranged to face a large television that was currently silent. To the left of this gaudy scene were several guitars mounted to the wall, all acoustic but bearing different designs. A bar counter was tucked up against the left most wall with cabinets behind it.
"May I ask what your name is and why you have decided to answer the ad?" Nathan was more curious than anything, knowing Mansfield would probably hire her because she was the first one that arrived. Then again, he might be more discerning than normal.

[Save Me From The Dark] freedomliveson x earlymorninstar

HA! Yeaaahhhh, that happens to me a LOT. It took me a while to figure out how to move it xD

Will post in a bit!

Promises left on the sand(megatrash/freedom)

Ok, cool!

So time skip in maybe four posts? (I post two, you post two?)

Also, yahoo on hitting on the century mark!

You never see it coming[Freedomliveson/The Elvenqueen]

It all looked great! It would make sense for Soto to be venomous towards Aria, seeing as she's a part of the "rogue" Sith order.

So I put Soto at the entrance of the Temple with some of her disciples gathering. Feel free to have the battle between the Council and Soto's disciples start!

Let the drama begin? xD

You never see it coming[Freedomliveson/The Elvenqueen]

He poked his head out of the doorway, the eerie silence hitting him all at once. Never before had he heard or seen the Temple this quiet nor this foreboding. It almost felt like an entirely different place. Yerbol grimaced, his head disappearing back into his quarters as he tried to think of where Aria would have gone. She HAD tried to escape once, so maybe she was attempting to again. Honestly, he wouldn't judge her for the decision. After all they had discovered, wouldn't it be easier to get off world and report back to Lord Bracknell and company? She would stand to gain quite the prestige gain, maybe even be vaulted into full "Sith-ship". Yet, something told him that she hadn't left, something deep inside his...well, to sound horribly cheesy, heart. It was odd, but he just knew she hadn't left. Maybe he was being naive in thinking that an aspiring acolyte that had once tried to kill him after killing his sister would stick around to try and heal the galaxy. He laughed slightly, knowing Aria would reject the notion rather quickly. Healing wasn't the first thing that probably jumped to her mind, yet she did appear to have a bit more depth to her than most Sith, who allowed their lightsaber to do the thinking for them. To think! A Sith that didn't want to kill him the moment they laid eyes on him. He winced when he actually called her a Sith in his mind. The past couple of days had seemed to blur the line between Jedi and Sith between the two of them. She was a fellow Force-user that believed differently from him, but enemies? They started off that way, but he felt that maybe, just maybe they were slowly working past their differences. Maybe-

Help, Yerbol!

I'm coming!

Without a second thought, the young Knight grabbed his saber and stormed out the door, wrapping around a couple of corridors garbed in black shorts and a loose off-white t-shirt which wasn't noticed until he pressed his back against a wall to avoid two senior Knights on patrol near the Council chambers. He cursed silently at his lack of preparation, then cursed again when he realized he didn't know where Aria was. He closed his eyes, breathing deeply. Focus....focus....

There!

He made a right down a hallway, sprinting full speed for a few meters to find a rather irate Master Soto glaring at Aria, who had her head tilted to the ground. The Master's burning gaze shifted to Yerbol, who was now stationary next to Aria.
"Two of you? My, my, our patrols aren't doing a very good job of keeping you in your rooms." Her voice dripped with bitter venom, but a small smile crept onto her face.
"But then again, how could I expect that to happen?" Her smile shrunk.
"These are the two that the Council sent into certain death and came out alive. A simple curfew wouldn't hold you down." How did she...oh right. True Sith and all.
"My apologies, Master, but I wanted to make sure that-"
"That your Sith companion was safe, yes, I understand that. I'd be more cautious if I were either of you. Things are tense. Who knows what could happen to you." The smile broadened, almost filling her small, roundish face.
"Go back to your room. This should all blow over soon."
"Of course, Master, thank you." As Yerbol led Aria back, Master Soto said at a volume just loud enough for the two to hear:
"All will be resolved. All."

"What on earth were you thinking?" Yerbol hissed, the door shutting behind the duo as he placed his saber on a nearby bookshelf.
"You're a member of the Jedi Order's sworn enemy and you plunge right into the heart of it all? You trying to get yourself killed?" He shook his head before adding:
"Sorry. Don't mean to chide. Just glad you're ok and that we now can confirm that there IS a bond between us. A strong one. I mean, I had a bond with Lysa, but it didn't feel THIS strong nor was it any kind of official 'Force bond'. I think it was just because we were siblings." He leaned against the door.
"One thing at a time though. You learn anything while you were out there?"

___________________

Soto stood at the entrance of the Temple, eyes half-closed. Instead of the trademark beige cloak of the Order, she was garbed in jet black pants and a white tunic that shimmered in the moonlight. At the base of the stairs to the temple, a few Jedi stood, looking up at her. The day they had discussed had finally arrived. All they had to do was wait.