Ask Raxus A Sixy Title

[Varyn Atrix]

Per my new OP template, thread is death enabled​

Varyn hadn't really been on any dates in a long time. Things in his life had changed so much in the last decade that he didn't even recognize himself anymore, but it seemed at least one of the good things that had changed was that he had finally gotten up the courage to ask someone out on a date.

Six - because no, he still didn't know her actual name - had been one of the first people he'd actually looked at in the last year, and he decided that asking out the woman who was a deep cover ISB operative who was wary of Force-users out for caf was apparently the right call. Well, what was the worst thing that could happen? She said "no" and refused to ever work with him again? Yeah, probably that.

The caf shop he'd asked to meet her at was on Raxus, which seemed like a nice safe bet for everyone. He had no idea where Six actually lived when she wasn't on assignment, but after they'd both been recently called for a debriefing about their operation, it was at least confirmed they were both on world.

He had left behind his armor and lightsabers, instead wearing a button down shirt and pants. He leaned against a wall as he waited for her, trying not to compulsively check his comlink for a message.

Act. Casual. Varyn. Yep.

 

[Cipher Six]

Six was surprised at the invite to caf from Varyn, especially as their last encounters had been quite hectic. While she certainly entertained casual dating here and there, she was definitely a little wary about going on one with the Imperial Knight. She didn’t trust Force users, but she was willing to at least try this out. He had been reliable on their missions and had an easygoing personality.

Since it was ‘just cafe’, she didn’t bother with a dress. Six was always fashionable when she could help it, so she dressed up in a cute ensemble with heels and her hair in a lazy updo. It didn’t take her long to find him, and she was caught off guard by him not being in armor, “You clean up nice,” She remarked with a fanged smile.

 

[Varyn Atrix]

Varyn perked up from leaning against the wall as soon as he saw Six. He was surprised that he felt more excited than nervous, which was unusual for him. Maybe he'd finally just given up on worrying about things. The galaxy was passing him by too quickly, and he needed to just... go for it. Six seemed great and she was gorgeous... what wasn't to like?

He smiled to match her own, glancing momentarily at those fangs of hers and wondering to himself what it was like to have such prominent canine teeth. Did she ever accidentally bite herself? No, that was a dumb thought, Varyn.

Thanks! You look gorgeous! he said, wondering how he'd managed to score this date. Yeah, whatever happened, this was a win. He did, however, have to refrain from telling her she looked Sixy because that would not have been a smooth start.

He made his way over to the counter and ordered himself a cold brew. It occurred to him - and his wonderful planning - that he was terrible at small talk. Nice plan.

You spend a lot of time on Raxus or just when you're coming back for check in? he asked. Truthfully, he knew almost nothing about her factually. Sure, he'd gotten some sort of an idea about what she was like: competent and serious, but far from a killjoy. But that wasn't the same as knowing about someone's life and even what made them tick.

 

[Cipher Six]

Six smiled in response to the compliment. She had a feeling he often didn’t work up the courage to say that to people, which made it count even more. She walked with him into the caf shop, the aroma of caf always welcome and delicious to her. They took a seat somewhere in the corner, and for a moment she took in sight of her surroundings out of habit. Her back was against the corner wall so she had full view of the entire room.

“Only for check in, honestly,” She admitted, “I haven’t really had the time to explore Raxus to be honest. I’m almost always buried in work,” Her life was dull most of the time when she thought about it - all work and no play. Then again, to have gotten to Lord Commander, he likely experienced the same.

“How are you liking your new role?” She asked, genuinely curious, “Keeping the rest in line?” She asked with a teasing grin. Six was still wary of most Imperial Knights on account of them being Sith with name changes. He had a tough job of upholding the Imperial Knight name and ensuring no one stepped out of line.

 

[Varyn Atrix]

Well, there's a lot to see! he said. There were many beautiful sites on Raxus, and over time Varyn had managed to separate many of those memories from Vahliri. Raxus was as close to his home as anything now, but he had a feeling he'd always be a bit of a nomad at heart.

There's a spire hike an hour or so south of here that you should definitely check out. The sunsets from the peak are amazing, he said. Yeah, he definitely wouldn't be trying to get her to go there with him.

Hmm, I don't know. It's... something, he said, smiling and scratching his head awkwardly. The disappearance of Wodan was a strange thing. Varyn had known him - though not well - as a Sith, and there had been no explanation of where or why he had disappeared. The responsibilities had fallen to Varyn, which was logical, but in many ways the Knight-Captain had pushed back against them.

I'm a good field officer, but I don't think I'm any good at the management side of things. Riding a desk is... not my forte, he said. It felt strange to confide in someone, and he realized that maybe it was unwise to be so forthcoming on a first date, but then, hiding who and what you were until later in the relationship was detrimental. Or at least, that was what he'd read.

Part of him said that he should simply step up and take the role wholeheartedly. He knew it was the right thing to do, but he also knew that he had doubts about himself.

What does advancement for you even look like? he asked curiously. Are you going to get put on a desk eventually? Do you lose your... title if you do? he asked. Despite them being in a relatively neutral location, he thought it prudent not to outright use the word "Cipher" here.

 

[Cipher Six]

Six chuckled at his words, “You know, sometimes the best leaders are those that aren’t overly ambitious and only focused on the titles and climb,” She explained, “There’s far more value in people that know to get done what needs to be done,” She sipped at her caf, unfazed by him confiding details to her. Despite being an agent, she wasn’t fussed about sharing facts. She had no qualms with reacting to things as they happened instead of being over the top paranoid about sharing internal thoughts.

“Overseer would be the title and I’d lose the Cipher distinction,” She said, “And it’s a desk job, which I don’t want. I’ve been putting off submitting a promotion application despite having recommendations,” Six paused there, “I guess you and I are alike in that we aren’t big fans of people management,” She gave him another smile.

“So, Varyn, supposedly there’s a lot to see around Raxus,” She said as she leaned forward in her seat, “I hope you’re going to take me to see a few today.”

 

[Varyn Atrix]

Hmm, maybe, he said. The thought had bounced around his head more and more. If people were already going to be looking to him for advice and guidance, then maybe having the actual job would be better. Why was it that all it took to start convincing him to make a life-altering decision was a pretty girl telling him to? Oh Varyn.

But also the fact that she made a real point. If it wasn't him, then who? There weren't many other Imperial Knights with his experience or training, and his goal had always been to help guide and better the Empire. If he could do that with a single branch then wasn't that his obligation?

Probably better to just do it. Best progress comes when you're out of your comfort zone, right? he said after a moment. It sounded like it was something that would apply to both of them.

Ah, we're two antarian peas in a pod, he said with a snicker before taking a sip of his drink.

So, if you become Overseer Six, does that mean I get to learn your real name? he asked, quirking an eye curiously. After all, if she wouldn't retain her Cipher designation that would mean going back to a birth name or perhaps an alias. He had to imagine that having Cipher time on your CV opened all kinds of doors.

As she mentioned things to do on Raxus and smiled and nodded. Being who he was, he had already spent a couple of hours researching just that, and had come up with a myriad of different ideas for this to go perfect. Ideas that he knew for a fact wouldn't work out how he had planned because nothing ever did.

I may have been a tad presumptuous and made us some dinner plans that aren't too far from here if I can keep you interested for that long, he said, clearing his throat and immediately moving on with the conversation to just kind of... slide that in there.

So I'll be honest, I don't have any idea what you do with your spare time, he said because they didn't really know each other that well, but that was the point.

But there's a district down the way that's got stores and shops of all different kinds. Come on, I'll show you, he said, standing up and heading off down the street. The day was beautiful and as they walked they came to the series of shops that Varyn had mentioned.

The first one they slipped inside of was a good-smelling shop filled wall-to-wall with... things. From old, metal cups and chalices to ornate paintings, one of which he pointed at.

I bet that's worth a lot of money, he said, desperately trying to keep a straight face as he said it.

 

[Cipher Six]

“Not just yet,” She said with a smirk as he asked if he could learn her real name, “I haven’t used it in so long that sometimes I forget I ever had one..” She admitted quietly, her gaze drifting off for a moment, “How come you never changed your name?” Six asked him, suddenly very curious, “When you left the Jedi…Sith often fashion themselves a new name. I assume you kept your birth name. Why?” She wasn’t afraid to ask direct question even though she knew she was probably probing a bit. Some habits died hard.

The idea that he made dinner plans drew out a genuine smile. That was quite thoughtful of him and the hint of shyness was adorable, “I think it’s safe to say I’ll go out to dinner with you,” She said with an amused chuckle, “As for my freetime… “ She sheepishly smiled, “Okay, you can’t laugh.. I like going ghost hunting or playing a lot of retro arcade games. Also a huge fan of spy movies and reality Holo shows,” She laughed at the last facts, “I know, I know..totally lame.”

Six grabbed her caf and stepped out with him, walking alongside him towards the shops. There was a crowd and cheerful chatter all around. It felt good to just aimlessly wander without worrying about on the job. She sipped her caf as she walked, following his line of sight to the painting in question. Her brows rose as she stared at it, “Ah yes,” She said matter of factly, trained to keep a perfectly straight face, “Look at the marvelous details. This looks almost like Old Republic Era work. Just fascinating. I may purchase this and have it sent to your quarters,” She said as she took another sip, “I believe it will fit your aesthetic, no?”

 

[Varyn Atrix]

He nodded as she mentioned how she almost forgot what her birth name was. She had likely been so many people over the years it all just became muddled. Lots of different faces you put on, he said.

Varyn didn't seem at all put off by her direct questioning, and in fact, he found himself more drawn to it. He hated small talk and liked to get to know people for who they really were. He had gotten himself nearly in trouble on more than one occasion for trying to debate philosophy with people he probably shouldn't have and actually loved probing questions.

Taking on a new identity is a very Sith thing to do. I was never a very good Sith. Better Imperial, which is why I gave up on all that "must have power" stuff and joined the Knights, he said. Even if it was the simplified version, it was more or less the truth.

As she told him that she would go out to dinner with him, he practically leapt inside with excitement. That was a yes! Just play it cooooool.

Apparently "playing it cool" meant getting a giddy, boyish grin on his face that he almost managed to suppress. It was funny for her to be the one looking sheepish as she started talking about her hobbies.

Her first mention almost sent a shiver through his spine and his face dropped for a moment as she mentioned ghost hunting. He was taken swiftly back to that experience on Ziost with the Sith spirits and knew that was something he had actively avoided.

On the other hand, retro arcade games and spy movies were far more up his alley, and his face brightened up as something occurred to him.

You know, there's an arcade down the way at the end of the street. I challenge you to a duel! he said with a smile and laugh. It had actually been one of the things he had seen when he looked up a list of date ideas and at the time he had figured that was probably an absurd idea. Who knew she'd be into it?

He made an attempt to match her straight face with his own. You know it lacks my particular... hmm, je ne sais quoi, he said, motioning with his fingers in a way that you would imagine when someone says "je ne sais quoi."

I do think you need it though. I'm sure one of your cover identities would fit well with that, he said, nodding emphatically before moving on to the next item. His mouth hung open in disgust and his face twisted up in horror.

What in the kriff is this? he asked, spinning around and holding the item up for her to see.

Okay, I'm sorry, this may not have been the greatest date idea, he said, finally simply cracking up.

 

[Cipher Six]

Six was surprised at how lighthearted and chatty he was considering his line of work. He was someone that managed to keep his work persona strictly separate from his personal identity, and that was something she could admire. It was a trait even Ciphers struggled with sometimes. Her eyes lit up when he suggested an arcade down the street, “How do I know you won’t cheat?” She asked with a quirked brow, “You can press buttons without touching them!” She quipped. It was true, technically.

The painting had been terrible, but when he picked up the weird vase thing, Six stopped and stared. Was this an odd fascination of his? Six mentally noted this down as a character trait, simply smiling and nodding externally.

“So…that arcade!” She changed the topic, starting to walk towards that direction. The place was much bigger than it appeared from outside. There were rows upon rows of retro games, a go kart area, all kinds of food and games. She looked all around with her eyes wide like a kid on Life Day.

“Where do you want to go first?” Six asked, trying to contain her excitement.

 

[Varyn Atrix]

Six didn't seem to find his fascination with the odd and macabre to be quite as entertaining as he did, and maybe he needed to keep his weirdness in check a little bit better. He cleared his throat and nodded along to the idea of the arcade.

Scout's honor, no cheating, he said, holding a hand over his heart as he said it. Besides, even if I did, you'd probably still beat me, he said with a shrug.

It was only then that he glanced back at her again, watching the way her eyes lit up at the sight of all the options that were in front of her. It was shockingly adorable. He had met her as and seen her as the fierce, multi-faced agent of the ISB, but now he got to see a different side of her. A side that seemed completely real, slightly nerdy, and totally adorable.

He made a concerted effort not to stare and instead made his way to the games section before stopping in front of a game. Now it was his turn for his face to light up.

Kriff, I grew up on this game. Haven't seen it in... man, I don't even know. Thirteen years? Fifteen? It was a cooperative shooter where each player would have different firing angles on the same general enemies, cycling between multiple weapons in order to fight to a final boss.

Okay, we need to do it, he said, having no idea if this was the kind of arcade she would enjoy but far too excited now to turn back.

 

[Cipher Six]

“Oh, watch and learn,” She said smugly as she cleared her throat and cracked her knuckles before she picked up the gun for the game. Targets started coming at her and she reacted quickly, popping any adversaries that appeared without hitting anyone innocent. She was completely into the game, tensing and practically jumping when something jumped at her. Six even yelled at the screen a few times, and she glanced over at Varyn every now and then to see how he was doing.

Before long, she made it through all the levels breezily as if she had been playing the game since the day it came out. Six grinned widely as the screen flashed a new high score. She looked over at Varyn and chuckled, “I believe you about that scout’s honor now,” She grinned and looked at the other games, “So, how did you know you wanted to hang out with me again?” Six asked curiously, “I did set you up with that crappy tracker after all,” She snickered at the memory of when he accidentally stuck it to himself and almost got into a fistfight with his target.

 

[Varyn Atrix]

Varyn picked up his own gun and went to work. He was shooting and ducking and carving his way through the level, feeling pretty good about how things were going until they reached the end.

Holy kriff! he exclaimed with a laugh when he saw the score readouts play across. She had managed nearly twice as many points as he had, and he suddenly felt that maybe he'd just been carried through the levels.

Wow, you kicked butt, he said. He consoled himself that his poor performance was because she used blasters all the time instead of lightsabers. He knew that was probably untrue.

He had to laugh as she talked about the tracker and how that had turned out maybe less than ideal.

I don't know, you know, it just seemed like... we might be kindred spirits. It can be a lonely business we're in, right? he said. It was difficult to put into words precisely what had drawn him to her. There was obviously the fact that she was gorgeous, but it was beyond that. It was an intangible.

And of course, I had to find an opportunity to get you back for the sticky tracker. Like subjecting you to all manner of weird antique horrors, he said, cracking a grin. He clearly was quite proud of himself for that little bit of absurdity.

He thought for a moment more about their first mission and how even he had had trouble reading what of her thoughts and actions were real and which were just part of the cover. It was, of course, possible that they had just all been fake, but he hoped not.

Do you ever find it hard to turn it off? When you're not undercover? he asked. He knew that most in the Jedi who knew about him would say that he had lost his way. That he had become so consumed by his cover that it had become him. Sometimes he wondered if that had been true for a time. He regretted many of the things he'd done as a Sith, but it had led him to here, and this... this was something he believed in.

 

[Cipher Six]

It was a lonely business, even though she never liked admitting it. She didn’t have to worry about having it sound cheesy around him, because he knew the life. He knew that the idea of being a ‘spy’ wasn’t glamorous or ‘cool’. It was risky, isolating and it demanded a bit of distance from everyone. Six was briefly lost in her thoughts when he asked his question. It was a simple and yet complicated question, and she pondered on it.

“I do,” She admitted quietly, “Sometimes multiple covers can blur together. Each one has different likes and dislikes,” Six mused aloud, “And it’s easy to lose sight of who I still am once all of them are put away,” Six looked at him for a moment, wondering what masks he wore and whether she was actually addressing the man beneath them or just speaking to another mask.

Her thoughts lingered briefly before she decided to keep going, “They have bumper cars over there,” She said with a grin, “Let’s see if I kick your ass at that too.”

 

[Varyn Atrix]

He felt like he had struck some kind of either nerve or chord with her as she turned her thoughts inward. He refused to use the Force to try to gain a sense of what she was feeling, and any sort of passive thoughts or feelings were hidden behind well-constructed walls that were present in almost every successful ISB operative he had met.

And yet, he didn't need to be an Imperial Knight to see the way her eyes flicked down in thought. He knew the look all too well. It was one of almost sorrowful acceptance of one's place. It was a look he had worn many times.

The quiet admission didn't surprise him, but made him sad all the same. He wished it weren't the case. That she could have been spared that, but he also knew that she probably wouldn't have chosen anything else even if she could go back. It was in their blood.

That's part of the reason I decided not to keep doing deep cover. I got... tired of not being able to be myself, he admitted. There was a freedom in what he did now, and while he did love the thrill of a short-term operation, it was nothing like living it day in and day out for months or years on end.

The moment was lightened as she pointed out bumper cars, and he cut her off as she talked about beating him again.

Um, rude, whoa, he said, pointing at her and heading over toward it and without any hesitation strapping himself into said bumper cars. As it turned out, it was another thing he was just average at. Truthfully, he was a jack-of-all trades, master of none in a lot of ways, so it was probably fitting. But he still gave it his all as they traded bumps at as high of speeds as they could make their tiny vehicles travel.

Roll: 11/20

 

[Cipher Six]

“And do you?” She asked, “Do you have a good sense of who you are?” She was both curious and skeptical. She wasn’t convinced that anyone in their field could really remember who they were and what composed their core personality. However, Varyn certainly had his quirks to suggest that he knew how to embrace who he was.

She got into a hot pink bumper car shortly after, zooming around the little course. She rammed her car right into Varyn’s, laughing as she sent him spinning around. Of course, he managed to get his revenge as well, sending her careening into a random person that shouted at her. Six just laughed the whole time, thoroughly enjoying herself and riding around in the silly little cartoony speeders.

After a few rounds, she finally stepped out, still chuckling as she looked at Varyn, “I haven’t let loose like this in so long,” She said with a smile, “What do you want to do next?”

12/20

 

[Varyn Atrix]

Varyn was fairly certain that this was one of the things he liked most about her: she asked those hard, probing questions that most people shied away from. It allowed a surprising amount of candor, and also allowed for new angles of introspection that he hadn't necessarily thought of before.

Hmm, I think I know who I am now. I'm not sure I'll ever remember what it was like to be the little kid growing up on Coruscant, he said and then scowled. Not sure I want to, he mentally added to himself. Those were not, by-and-large, happy memories and they also dredged up memories of Vahliri that he didn't want to dwell on. Particularly not now.

He shook the thought away almost as quickly as it came on, not wanting to turn into some mopey lump while he was on - what he would consider to be - a particularly fun date. Hopefully Six felt the same.

He found himself smiling and laughing through the whole of the bumper cars showdown, and as they powered down from the final round, he climbed out and grinned even wider as she talked about how long it had been since she let loose. Even sooper-sekrit agents needed a safe space sometimes, and if he could be that for her, then that was all the better for him.

Well, it's starting to get late. How about those dinner plans? he asked, glancing at his chrono to ensure that the reservation was active.

They walked down the street, and he stuck his hand out to her in what would probably be perceived as an awkward teen trying to hold hands, but despite his age, Varyn had never really made it past that stage of awkward flirting. But by the stars, he was going to try. The worst thing that could happen is that she refused to hold his hand, in which case... well, at least he tried.

Regardless, he would walk on until they reached the river where a very large boat sat just off the dock.

Atrix, party of two, he said to the waiter, who quickly led them back to a seat where they were each handed menus for their dinner river cruise. He was proud of himself for this one. This was a killer idea that holonet had given him he had come up with.