Trilla.gala - Blog Posts

cravked​ // Trilla Suduri

reading people had always something naturally to trilla, no doubt through their connection with the force. predicting people’s behaviors had been particularly honed by the empire: it had made them a good hunter. this was something personal for the mandalorian, bloody reminders of history painted all over the room. to them, she imagined, it probably felt like some kind of mockery.

“i see,” they remarked coolly, personally unbothered by it. it’s not as though it would have any affect on her, or anything that impacted her. she shrugged. “truthfully, i’d assumed you were one of those new republic types.” she’d only gotten in with her association with cal and his with the order, assumed something similar for them. “perhaps you’re more interesting than i gave you credit for.”

The smile was a little less sour than before as they savored another sip of the free beverage. Of course, Trilla wouldn’t be in danger of spilling their plans. Sabine had suspected from their first unusual encounter that they were of a similar mindset about the unsavory restrictions that laws could provide.

“I appreciate the New Republic for what it is and what it does, but I’ve always valued being able to work with a little more freedom than they can offer.” 

Meeting the gaze of their friend, Sabine motioned to place a hand on their arm, but hesitated, instead adjusting the fabric of her own dress.

“And, hey, I’m plenty interesting, Trilla. In fact, I’d offer to buy you a drink if I didn’t know you already had a special friend here and business to attend to. I’ll let you get back to them, but uh--” the smile turned upward into a smirk, “--don’t have too much fun.”

With a wink, Sabine turned to leave the room, artificial candlelight casting a dim purple reflection in the beskar that was soon to be returned home.

cravked​ // Trilla Suduri

the raise of their brow did not go unnoticed, but trilla was not in any kind of position to elaborate. it had nothing to do with the quasi-relationship that trilla had with sabine, but instead, more to do with the fact that they just didn’t know what to say. they didn’t know what was going on between herself and cal, or how to deal with that stupid, warm feeling in their chest that he gave her.

“at least avoiding food and alcohol is easy,” she offered with a shrug of one shoulder. they had been hesitant to even drink water here, but thus far, it seemed to be fine. “oh?” a slight question of disbelief. “you don’t seem like the diplomatic type.”

A chuckle escaped her lips, though not without some degree of acidity. It wasn’t the remark about the diplomacy that bothered them (she could handle negotiations and political affairs if it really came down to it). It was the gravity of the situation, the pull of the artifacts just hours away from liberation. 

“Not that kind of business, I’m afraid.” Now, they pressed one hand to the glass, fingertips cold against the pane. Finally, her gaze focused on Trilla’s, meeting their eyes for just a moment before flitting away to the decorated sarcophagus. “If you know what I mean.” It was ambiguous, but Sabine was sure their friend would understand. (Somehow, she wasn’t worried that they would tell.)

cravked​ // Trilla Suduri

it did not surprise them when the other offered no response to her words, nor did it bother her. trilla did not have particularly strong feelings about the hapan either way, she would not have been here in the first place if it weren’t for cal, or what they needed for the younglings. she didn’t entirely hate the excuse to get to dress up a bit, either. it wasn’t often that they had one.

“it’s not an insult,” a wry smile paired with the words. it was hard for trilla to relate to the idea of wanting to stick out when she would have been happy to disappear into the crowd without recognition. “no, it’s not my type of function. i’m here with a…” they paused slightly. “a friend. we’re meeting someone else for some work.” no need to disclose anything of her association with the jedi.

.

A pause passed through Trilla’s voice at the mention of a friend, and Sabine’s eyebrow gave the slightest raise. She elected to ignore the other’s hesitation, knowing that they’d share if they wanted to. If not, well, then it really wasn’t any of Sabine’s business.

“That makes more sense. After the disaster of the last event like this...I think it’s fair to be a little on edge.” They nodded and raised the drink to her lips, the soft carbonation offering her a short repose from conversation. Beskar gleamed before the two of them, and the reminder of mission tugged at her gut. “Suppose I’m here on business, too.” 

cravked​ // Trilla Suduri

although it had been forced upon them, trilla had not been a child prepared for war. too soft, with a preference for things to be right or wrong. the clone wars hadn’t offered any of that. the empire hadn’t, either, but they had also broken her of those things entirely. they were still recovering pieces of the past, deciding which were worth holding onto.

“did you expect something else? the only thing most people know about hapans is that they abhor outsiders.” even she knew barely more than that, despite their frequent efforts to be as prepared as possible. it was that piece of fear that still lived inside of them. her brow twitched at the change of subject. “thank you,” a beat passed. “you look very… colorful. is that normal for you, or are you making a statement?”

.

The Mandalorian chewed on their words before committing to response. In truth, there wasn’t much she knew about their hosts-- other than the fact that they hoarded what clearly didn’t belong to them. This was a place of war, they could tell that much. But beyond that, Sabine knew strikingly little.She welcomed the change of tone, greeted it with an apathetic smile.

“I’ll take that as a compliment, I suppose,” they nodded in the silence. “And, both, I suppose. Without my armor, I’ve got to find some way to stand out, right?” She half-heartedly joked, tapping the rim of her drink in an unsteady rythym of anxiety. “Can I ask what you’re doing here? This doesn’t really seem like your kind of function.”

cravked​ // Trilla Suduri

death was a mercy. that was the only reason that trilla was not bothered by the ancient lightsabers that were on display alongside the mandalorian armor, and other artifacts. anger radiated off of the person beside her, impossible to miss. it was the kind of thing that had been contagious at one point, but they did not struggle to keep their cool now. their gaze looked her up and down for a moment, pulling in a deep breath through their nose.

“thousands of years ago, the mandalorians colonized and the jedi slaughtered a part of their people. of course they want to put it on display now, to show how far they’ve come in spite of that.” trilla had never hd a problem with pointing out the fault of the jedi, that certainly wasn’t going to change now, even as they found theirself drifting closer and closer to the light. she gave a shrug of her shoulders at the apology. “your anger doesn’t bother me.”

.

The history of war, Sabine knew well. No winners came from war, only pain and death. War was a game of loss, for all parties involved. The trick was figuring out how to deal with it. A trick they still didn’t know how to pull off. Her people had done terrible things, she had done terrible things, but that didn’t stop the resentment from swelling in their gut.

“It’s hard to ignore the brutality of it all. My people, we... There’s pieces of Mandalorian history that I’m not proud of, pieces I would never condone, of course. But to invite us here only to take away our weapons, our sacred armor, and then parade a claim of peace? It’s...” They needed to change the subject, needed distraction from the fire coursing through her body. “But, anyways. You, uh. You look nice, Trilla.”

cravked​ // Trilla Suduri

there are several things on display, and trilla had to admit, she wasn’t sure if she was disturbed or impressed by the amount of gall that the hapans must have possessed to put some of these things on display. as they observed what was held out, an eye was also placed on those around, mildly surprised to see a familiar face casing the room. hm. they watched sabine briefly before deciding to approach. “does all this seem a little crass to you too?”

.

It had taken more than the Ghost Crew’s fair share of advice to calm her temper upon hearing how the few remnants of her people had been stolen and put on gross display as some twisted show of colonization. But, now? Standing here? Sabine nearly felt sick to their stomach, looking at the skeletal remains of another warrior, their armor and weapons hung up by those who benefitted from Mandalore’s destruction. So lost in their fury did she hardly notice the figure that spoke into the silence, their tone easily recognizable.

“It’s apalling.” Sabine seethed, nails digging into the skin on her palms. Despite their anger, her tone remained the same, a slow drip of cold emanating outwards in every direction. “These relics, they don’t belong behind glass cases and locked doors. They belong in the hands of my people.” And they would be, soon. If Sabine could do nothing else, they’d see this done. “Sorry, Trilla. I’m not trying to direct my feelings about this onto you.”