SWTOR: The Davire Legacy

[2014] Main Chapters: Mistletoe

The chambers of House Thul rang with the sound of cheerful laughter. The air was bright and merry as all conflicts of the crown faded into the background with the holiday season. Normally, Sith didn't attend any kind of celebrations, but Darth Seyje thought her and her crew deserved a break from defending the Empire; they had earned it. Alderaan remained a neutral planet torn by its own civil affairs, but there were supporters of the Empire here and its mixed climate seemed fitting for the day.

The slender female Sith stood alone, leaning against a doorway with a glass of red wine in her hand, away from the large crowds and chatter. It wasn't that she didn't like people – she just didn't like drunk people, and House Thul was full of them. Rambunctious laughter came from across the room as someone who had tried to chug an entire bottle of eggnog choked and spit it out all over the floor. Seyje rolled her eyes and let her gaze wander around the room, observing the different decorations scattered across the hall and balcony above her. Fir wreaths were wrapped around the dark, oak columns on the first floor and strung across the railings on the balcony above her; red bows and holly berries were attached to add some color to the plain green plants. Red, blue, and white strings of lights were hung across every available outcrop that wasn't already holding up a photo or candle. Glancing up, Seyje wondered for a moment just how many foolish people had fallen over the second-floor railing to their deaths. With the number of Thul's she saw stumbling around looking for more drinks, it wouldn't surprise her if it had happened on more than one occasion.

The Sith took a sip of her wine, and recoiled with disgust at how sour it was. How could these people stand to drink this stuff? It tasted terrible. She placed it on a ledge next to the doorway for one of the servants to retrieve later. Her eyes were drawn to a particular group of Thul men gathered around the bar counter. Taking a closer look, Seyje realized Jaesa was standing right in the middle of them as drunk as ever. She shook her head, chuckling to herself. Her apprentice was always throwing herself at any man that would have her, no matter what rank, and these ridiculous Thul's were no exception. Glancing around the room, she saw Vette with a group of children, which did not surprise her in the least; Vette got along very well with youngsters since she was just as energetic as they were. Pierce and Broonmark stood among a crowd of still somewhat sober officers. They looked a little odd among all the matching Thul robes, but it didn't seem to bother anyone. Seyje studied the room again and frowned to herself. Where was Quinn? She straightened up and took a few steps forward to glance around the column in front of her, and didn't see him anywhere. The Captain was nowhere to be found. Seyje wondered if he perhaps went outside for some fresh air. She couldn't blame him if he did; the hall smelled terrible, like a mix between cinnamon candles, burnt pine, and regurgitated alcohol.

Hold on, burnt pine?

A wisp of black smoke floated past her eye. Seyje turned around and saw some fool had been carrying a candle around and lit a wreath on fire. At first, no one paid any attention to the crackling flames. That is, until the group of men around Jaesa threw their drinks towards the wall to solve the problem. With a roaring whoosh, the flames grew higher, sending plumes of black smoke towards the second floor ceiling. The wreath fell onto the floor, setting the carpet alight. Only then did people start screaming and running for the door. Seyje huffed with annoyance and strode towards the fire.

Morons.

With a swish of her hand, the Sith used the Force to extinguish the flames. She paused a moment to be certain the fire was out. The room grew silent and Seyje felt all eyes fall on her. She was not happy. These people would've burned down the entire building if she hadn't been here.

"Be more careful, you reckless idiots," Seyje snapped angrily at the crowd that had formed.

Turning on her heels, the Sith strutted out of the room, glaring at anyone who dared start towards her. It only took her a few seconds to walk out the front doors into the frosty night air. She inhaled deeply to relax herself, closing her eyes. The chilly air froze the inside of her mouth and sent icy tingles down her throat to her lungs. As she opened her eyes and exhaled, her breath formed white clouds of vapor in front of her mouth.