Ask Ice Cyu

[Karys]

THEME​

Karys had gone shopping with Cyu, helping her in buying an outfit she'd need to stay warm in the unforgiving frost of Ziost. The entire time he had felt his pulse rising, not because he was excited to return to his home after years but the opposite. Karys dreaded stepping foot on Ziost but he knew that this was something he owed Cyutadakyr. He knew by their people's own traditions, if a debt was unpaid for too long the debtor could demand compensation in service. Cyutadakyr could demand years of servitude from him, she could enslave him if she chose. Karys was no-one's slave, not anymore.

While Cyu shopped, Karys did his best to hide the anxiety and fear of returning home. Instead, he'd simply smile, compliment the outfits she selected, and hold her purse while she looked. It would take some time but eventually they would check out, Karys would pay and the pair would head to his ship. Once there, Karys would move inside and begin arranging his living quarters for Cyu.

She would find the interior of the ship to immaculately clean and organized. Everything had it's place and it stayed there. By far the largest area in the ship was the kitchen and dining area, it had clearly been extended by design. This was Karys' place of relaxation, this was his home and he was allowing her into it for this trip. Eventually Karys would emerge from his room having changed clothes. Instead of wearing his dress clothes, he wore relaxation clothes. Bare footed, a pair of grey sweatpants, and a beige shirt that read "I Fvcked Zygerria" in ur-Kittat. In his hands he carried sheets, his pillow, and the warm outfit he'd wear the next day.

"After I cook us dinner, you can retire to my room if you choose Cyu." He instructed as he passed by her. "Welcome to my home."

With that Karys would place make his couch up with the sheets, lay his pillow down, and set his set of clothes out on a coffee table nearby. Once his "bed" was ready, he'd return to the kitchen, open up a cabinet that housed a revolving closet filled with color-coded and alphabetized apron. Karys would run his fingers over each of the aprons before picking out a navy blue one and putting it on. Then, without turning to face Cyu he would pull out a "salad" of assorted pickled fruits and vegetables. It was a common appetizer for their people, regardless of where they lived, it was likely a tradition they all shared. Once both bowls were filled, Karys would reach back into his refrigerator and produce an opened bottle of Korribanni Bloodwine and two long stemmed wine glasses. He would then carry everything to the table to serve his guest before returning to the kitchen to begin cooking their meal. Cyu would be able to finally to read his apron.

Wait til you taste my secret sauce.

As Karys worked, there was a small contented smile that rested on his face. It was easy to see that this is what he enjoyed. This was but one of his true passions. This brought him joy.

@Xorism

 

[Nevizkas]

Cyutadakyr was never going to say no to an opportunity to buy more outfits, especially on anothers dime. Given the lack of miserable cold weather on Korriban it wasn't exactly something that she would normally do, and thus it took a bit longer than expected.

The fun afternoon complete with tea, shopping and compliments later, before arriving at his ship with numerous bags of clothes and accessories locked over her arms. It did not surprise her in the slightest to see that Karys was an overly attentive clean freak who probably had a highly organised system for where everything went.

By the time he arrived back from changing his clothes, he'd also see that she'd done the same. The cooler temperature inside the ship was likely more suited for the more chilled Karys than the fiery Cyutadakyr, not that she would complain, all things considered. In fact, it even gave her an excuse to try on some of the new warmer clothing options she'd just picked up. Of course, in a playfully antagonistic fashion, she'd left her previous clothes messily draped over one of the chairs but otherwise made no call to its attention.

Nodding, while peeking slightly around him to gaze the room from the outside, she softly smiled. "I like it." She said quitely in response to his introduction whilst glancing around. It was a simple life, perhaps much different to what he was used to, perhaps with purpose.

He didn't have to ask her twice, or at all, in fact, as he placed a bowl down of fruits and veges before the snackish woman quickly grabbed a handful for herself. While munching down on that, Karys next brought out his famous bloodwine, eliciting another crinkled smile from the pureblood, but saying no more.

That was until she finally spotted his damn apron, causing her eyes to roll hard, but not before a small chuckle escaped.

"Do you stick your secret sauce into everything, Karys? Or just the dishes you really like?" She asked innocently, coy, as she made herself comfortable just outside the kitchen. She wasn't sure if he knew any dishes that would be up her alley, but so far he had proven to be resourceful, and thus she would only make one request. "I'm a spicy girl, the hotter, the better."

@Apollyon

 

[Karys]

When Karys returned to the kitchen he found Cyu wearing a full winter outfit. His eyebrow ridge cocked. Was it really that cold here? He made a mental note to adjust the thermostat before they landed on Ziost. He wasn’t sure how long they would be planetside and he wanted to ensure she had a place that was comfortable. She was his guest after all.

As he moved to prepare the appetizer in the kitchen, he noticed the messy pile of clothes left draped over a chair. A faint mischievous smirk touched his lips, she was teasing him, it was part of why he was coming to enjoy her company. When Cyu went to peek into his room, Karys would angle himself to allow her to view past him easily. The room wasn’t overly decorated, there were a few souvenirs taken from Zygerria, a set of ornate ceremonial armor that stood on a rack in the corner of the room, and his personal effects laid on the only nightstand. It would be clear that Karys had gotten rid of many luxuries in his life, forgoing them to pursue something else.

“Thank you.” He replied in a calm but neutral tone. His crimson gaze was focused on her as he spoke.

When Karys brought over the pickled salad and wine, Cyu would waste no time in taking a handful and beginning to munch. He smiled at that. He took care to pour her an even six ounces of the wine to enjoy her pre-meal snack. He turned the bottle around teasingly, allowing her to read the back of the ingredient label. Tu’kata heartsblood had been playfully scribbled at the bottom of the list. Karys would give a playful bark of laughter as he poured his own glass of wine and returned to his kitchen to begin cooking their meal. He pulled several vegetables from a drawer in his fridge and a sharp chopping knife.

“Hmmm?” Karys responded initially to Cyu’s question. He had to glance down to read what the navy apron said. "Oh!" He replied before he broke into a more full-bodied laugh. Karys hadn’t paid attention to what the apron said, he simply grabbed one. As his laugh faded to a chuckle, Karys would speak. “Believe it or not, I used to give free samples.” He replied with a wry, shit-eating grin. “However, things have changed. Only those truly deserving taste my secret sauce now.” Even as he said it, his mind wandered back to Azar’s apartment and the nook they shared together. A small smile settled on his face, the reason behind it would be unknown to her. Karys would keep that hidden for now, his eyes slid towards her to watch her reaction to his words.

At Cyu’s instructions of ensuring her meal was hot, Karys nodded. He would add extra spices to the stew he was making then. Extra traditional. “Good, you’ll find that Ziosti food should quench that pallet.” He replied as he began to chop and dice the vegetables. A small, relaxed smile formed on his lips. Passion burned in his core as he began this simple task.

@Xorism

 

[Nevizkas]

She had to admit that was a good response, chuckling while pulling out a small notepad and pencils onto the tabletop. "A exclusive list, I'm sure." She said playfully, pulling the seat out for herself. How long would she dance around the question that lingered upon his tongue, unspoken?

Point to paper, the pureblood dove into a short little sketch as the pencil raced around the page, leaving its soft marks. It shouldn't have surprised her that Karys would be good in the kitchen, he'd likely put her own talents there to shame. Though if they were ever in the desert, she mused, there were a few recipes that she had picked up over the years that would catch him unaware.

Her soft smile felt validated in this space, the cool quiet air only briskly broken by the sounds emanating from the kitchen. Cyu often felt on edge around others, guarded and cold. They didn't know her, didn't care to know or worse, sought to take advantage of anything she might say.

But not Karys.

The small, intimidated boy she had met on Skye had come into his own, and she could sense a genuine happiness about him. An aura of calm he projected, a place of safety in spite of the things they had both gone through before they'd met. It was hard to put into words what that meant to her, although as her drawing took shape he might gain a glimpse into it.

Breaking the quiet, she rested her elbow on the table and palmed her chin. "Would you tell me again about this place that you're taking us." She finally asked with a grin. It hadn't sounded too bad once they were finished, but getting it to a liveable arrangement, it seemed, would take a hot minute.

@Apollyon

 

[Karys]

Karys’ smirked at Cyu’s reply. “It is better that way I think.” He told her as he finished cubing a pair of faintly glowing spuds found on Umbara. He carried the cutting board to pot on the cold stove and brushed them into it with the edge of his knife. He would then start thinly slicing a handful of purple leeks as he did he would glance over at Cyu.

She was smiling softly as she drew.

His chopping slowed as he watched her draw. She had been through so much at such an early age. They both had in certain ways, but Karys couldn’t help but believe her childhood was far more brutal. Eventually his crimson gaze fell from her face and back to his own art.

A silence would fall between them, but not an uncomfortable one. The sound of her pencil working the paper echoed the rhythmic chop of Karys’ knife. Eventually he finished chopping the vegetables and began to prepare the repto-mammal meat. He had pre-tenderized what he’d intended to use, and so all he had to do was massage some spice into the flesh. He doubled up on it, as Cyu requested.

However, when Cyu asked him to tell her about the manor once more he stopped what he was doing. He walked over to the sink and washed his hands before taking a seat across from her. He poured himself a glass of Bloodwine, picked a few pieces of pickled fruit from the bowl, and popped them into his mouth. It would only be then that he noticed what Cyu had drawn, a small smile touched his lips.

“I tasted both your sting and venom once Lady Cyu.” He teased, his hand moved and touched where her knife’s blade had pierced him. “I question whether or not I could survive another dose.” Karys said with a smirk.

Karys cleared his throat after his quick flirtatious comments. His attention refocused on Cyu’s question. He took a sip of his wine and leaned back in his chair.

“The manor we are going to claim for you sits on the bank of a frozen thermal lake.” He began. “It once belonged to my family, my grandfather was the last to vacation there as a boy.” Karys explained. “There used to be a small community on the shores of the lake as well. They used the thermal lake to grow a special kelp.” He explained, a distant smile settling on his features. “Unfortunately for my grandfather and that community, a new hive of Sith Scorpions settled in the catacombs beneath the lake. They preyed upon the town until it was picked clean and then overran the manor to find a fresh source of prey.” Karys told Cyu. “Few survived the attack and shortly after this, the lake froze over.” He continued. “But I think there is a way to reignite the core of the lake and eliminate these Scorpions.” Karys stated confidently.

The smile then fell from Karys’ mouth. As a realization formed.

“This will likely be my last time seeing Ziost for a long time.” Karys confessed. “I’m glad to be taking you Cyu.”

@Xorism

 

[Nevizkas]

Cyu held the pencil between her fingers as she sat there listening, a smirk being artistically drawn upon herself. He couldn't help remind her of the last time they had meet on Skye, and she wouldn't disappoint with a coy response. "That is a dangerous line of questioning, Karys, considering scorpions also bite." Though, she still had yet to commit to providing his question with answers.

Taking a glass of wine for herself, the description of the icy manor and its spicy environment sent a shiver up her spine. At the very least it sounded like they would be able to fix the initial problem easily enough, despite not carrying a saber of her own the squatters would hardly know what was soon coming their way.

Though she couldn't yet imagine what it would look like once the core had been re-ignited and how that would change the surroundings. As long as there was warmth where there was once ice, she would be happy.

But then he mentioned the possibility of not seeing Ziost for some time, she couldn't help but pause to read his face. The wit couldn't help but roll off the tongue before she could think it through as she plied the pencil to her chin. "Oh, you're not planning to visit me?" This dangerous toying was bound to cross a line at some point if they weren't careful, although would that be so bad? She pondered.

It wasn't like she hadn't considered it a few times already, even if he wasn't her usual type. Karys wouldn't see any disinterest from her, but he would certainly see from her when the time was right. Flashing a smile as they continued to wait for the dinner to finish, she blushed slightly, lost in thought. "So, uh, how about some music or something?"

She glanced around the room looking for a music player, but instead spotting the large screen near the couch sporting an entirely different question. "Wait, do you have a console to go with that big boy?"

@Apollyon

 

[Karys]

Karys' smirked at Cyu's reply. Whether or not he wanted to visit or not didn't matter, he wouldn't be able to soon enough. But Karys gave her a half-hearted smirk. He couldn't explain to her why he wouldn't be able to return to Ziost for a while, it would expose Azar and his relationship. That could lead to his lover losing prestige and possibly his position at the Umbaran Academy. Karys refused to be the cause of that.

"I'm afraid choices that I've made will take many options away from me but they have also broken chains as well." Karys replied, he had accepted that fate at this point and his voice reflected as much.

Karys didn't miss Cyu's gaze at him, there was a spark of something there. It wasn't quite lust or desire, but interest and intrigue. He didn't comment on it nor did he do more than smirk at the realization. Instead he took another handful of pickled vegetables and returned to his kitchen. He began to cube the seasoned meat and prepare it for the stew he was making for them both. When Cyu asked about music, Karys would point with his knife towards the living room area. The holo-projector he had set up had several different movies, music, and shows programmed into it's memory. However, when Cyu saw it, her reaction wasn't to watch tv, she asked if he had a console to play on it.

Karys turned and looked out into the living room from his kitchen, the amused and shocked grin would tell Cyu all she needed to know.

"I do." He replied with a chuckle. "The Xstation is over there." He told her, pointing to a drawer on the projector's unit. "Put in Ned'dam: Hut Ball and toss me a controller." He called out as he scraped the cubed meat into the boiling water.

Karys would begin working on their bread bowls to pop into the oven while Cyu got the console set up for them. Once they were in the oven, he'd have time to kill before their dinner would be ready to serve.

"Now, don't make fun of me for my screenname." Karys told her with a smirk. "It was something I came up with when I was younger." He pre-emptively explained as he took a seat next to her on his couch.

Within seconds of the Xstation booting up it would display Welcome back: BlueFalcon69 and Karys would audibly stifle at laugh at how ridiculous the name was. He'd quickly pass Cyu the remote so she could recover her screenname if she had one and then they'd be ready to play. As the game loaded into it's start screen, Karys would turn to Cyu and smirk.

"You know I got this game when it first came out I got it because of a certain representation it had." He gave Cyu a wry grin. "This is the only game in the Ned'dam series that has a Pureblood in it, can you believe that?" He continued, one of his eyebrow stalks raised in faux surprise. "Now her player card reads as a Zeltron but once you see her, you'll know that she isn't one." He continued, his teasing tone reaching it's crescendo as the image of Ruby Rae appeared on the start up menu. "She looks so damn familiar, doesn't she?" His grin quickly spread to a shit eating smirk.

His playful teasing shattered at that line and he burst out into laughter. He'd eventually settle in and give Cyu a playful wink. "Come on Ruby lets see if you still got those skills or not." He teased.

Unfortunately for Karys, Cyu still did have those skills and he would soon be eating his own words.

@Xorism
2/20 to beat Cyu at Ned'dam: Hutt Ball on the Xstation

 

[Nevizkas]

Wandering over toward where he said she'd find the console, she booted it up with glee. It was a flasher model than the one she had, but Cyu didn't care. The screen lit up, and the familiar logo bounced from one side to the other in dramatic fashion.

The fact that Karys felt the need to prepare her to see his gamertag filled her with intrigue, as she bounced the controller to her host. An audible chuckle broke the anticipation as she read the name out loud. "It suits you." She smirked, enjoying that very much.

Taking back the controller, she began to log into her own account. Welcome back: Sounding_Queen69. Without turning to him, she simply explained. "You wouldn't believe how long it took me to understand why I was getting so many friend requests." As she clearly had started, blissfully youthful as well.

He continued to explain the game being rather unusual, a bit of a rambling mess if you asked her, but she patiently waited for the big reveal.

Her mouth dropped.

"WHAT THE FUCKKKK!!" She almost squealed excitedly. "I'm in a video game??" Her mind was spinning. Never in a million years would she have expected to see such a thing. Of course, this probably meant that Karys was well aware of her disastrous stint as a professional Hutt ball player, but even that couldn't dampen the mood.

The first round clearly went her way as she completely dominated his team by the final whistle. Cheering at her own success, she responded with instinct.

Unexpectedly for both of them, Cyu leaned over suddenly, hugging the bulky man tightly. "Thank you, Karys." Her voice modulated by her emotional outburst. Pulling back slowly, she glanced at the man with a playful smirk. "Best of three, loser does the dishes?"

@Apollyon

 

[Karys]

Karys laughed at Cyu’s screen-name. She had apparently been so naive in her youth, blissfully unaware of the loaded meaning behind the name. Karys shook his head to steady himself before beginning his teasing spiel about Ruby Rae. Cyu’s reaction caught him off guard, she was beyond ecstatic at her own appearance in the game’s roster. She squealed in delight and Karys laughed in reply.

He was so distracted by her sheer joy, that Karys absolutely fumbled the first game. He was too busy soaking in her delight and happiness at the revelation. When Cyu won the match she shouted and cheered excitedly, Karys smirked at her mirth.

That was until she did something he didn’t expect, she hugged him.

Karys barely had time to lift one of his arms to allow her hug. “Oof” He muttered as Cyu squeezed him. She was stronger than she looked! Karys gave an exasperated chuckle at Cyu’s embrace. “You don’t have to thank me.” He replied as he nodded towards the screen. “Ruby Rae clearly is a better Hutt Ball player than me!” He teased.

Karys beamed at Cyu’s playful challenge. He was unsure if he’d actually let her clean the kitchen, he was rather particular about his dishes. “You’re on!” Karys replied playfully.

The match was filled with juvenile pranks, Karys attempted to cover Cyu’s eyes twice and tried to tickle her once as well. But when it came down to crunch time in the final quarter, he purposefully fumbled the match. He didn’t catch a pass that would have lead to an easy W for him.

He had to make sure his dishes were clean after all.

“Well da-“

Around that time the oven timer went off, it drew Karys back from their game and to dinner. Karys gave Cyu an apologetic smile before setting his remote down and tending to their meal. He’d ensure the Ziosti Magma Stew was ready to be served before setting the table for the two of them. He’d serve Cyu first and refill both of their wine glasses.

“I’ll play you again after dinner.” He teased. “Best of five.”

@Xorism

 

[Nevizkas]

"Clearly." She smirked as he admitted that she had beaten him the first time.

The second match was far closer and required every trick in the bag that the wily purebloods could muster, with neither absconding from a little dirty cheating now and then. If Karys could draw some giggling from his tickle monster attacks, she'd aim to draw panic as she queried a burning smell, or if that didn't work, she'd move off the couch to stand in front of his field of view.

Two could play at that game and it paid off! As the pair watched, Cyu barely pull out the win.

"Looks like they're all yours, Kary." She smirked all coy like, having thoroughly enjoyed the impromptu gaming session. Leaving him to his kitchen devices, Cyu waltzed her way over toward the table to clear the arty stuff she had left behind before taking a seat. The magma stew didn't disappoint as its potent fiery delight scorched palate and taste buds alike.

Taking a sip of the bloodwine for good measure, Cyutadakyr contently smiled. "How did you learn to cook like that?" She asked, genuinely interested. The strong flavours mixed with delicate spices and yet overpowered, neither highlighting each ingredients' strength despite being almost literal magma in one's mouth.

"Tough talk from someone one L away from losing the best of five." She smirked again, enjoying the banter. If he thought she wouldn't crush him under her ruby heel's to secure that fictitious title, he had another thing coming.

@Apollyon

 

[Karys]

The second match was a close one, while Karys pulled out his own series of tricks to trip up Cyu, she had her own and they were more effective. Several times Karys would stop playing to sniff the air at her questions about if something was burning or not. One time the broth had nearly burnt, and Karys had to run to prevent it. Cyu scored twice on him because of that. When Cyu hopped in front of him to block the screen, it would have been a good distraction, save for the oversized coat she wore. He’d laugh at her as he tried to peer around her to see the screen.

It was just a good time and Karys enjoyed every moment of it.

At the end of the match, Cyu was the victor and Karys was happier for it. He’d know that his kitchen was clean, and she’d have the satisfaction of winning. The pair would eat dinner, tossing occasional trash talk between one another or laughing at something stupid the other said. It had been a long time since Karys was able to just have fun and he was thankful for it. Karys would clean the table off after they finished, a wide grin still plastered onto his lips. As he cleaned the dishes, their good times would come to a screeching halt when Cyu asked what she likely thought was a simple question. What’s worse just a few weeks ago it would have been just that, a simple question.

Karys would drop his head slightly attempting to focus on the dishes in his sink, his grin faded to a small grimace, and he swallowed hard before speaking. “My mother taught me.” He replied simply. The memory of his decision flooded back to his mind. He had chosen Azar; he had decided to leave his family for a man he barely knew but felt the deepest of connections to. He didn’t regret his choice; he’d miss certain members of his family all the same though. He gave a breath-y chuckle before looking over to Cyu.

“What you showed me at the tea shop.” He began. “I might not understand what it means to be in a physical cage, but I know the feeling of being trapped.” He admitted. “I know the weight of fear and expectation.” He said after swallowing once more. “Whatever you did to escape those bonds, you made the right choice.” He told her, a soft sad smile appearing on his lips.

With that Karys would return to cleaning his dishes. His mind wandering back to countless moments of his childhood. Moments of happiness, of fear, of joy, of pain, and over the oppressive weight his family placed upon him. If Cyu watched, she would be able to see Karys’ jaw clench and unclench as he wandered through the halls of his own mind. Once the kitchen was clean, his eyes would turn to the video game title screen on the holo before him. He softly laughed at how juvenile they both were.

“Life sucks sometimes Cyu but times like this make it better.” He stated finally as he dried his hands.

“Lemme see that drawing, I’m hanging it on my fridge.” He said as he walked towards her. He would try to tease the fun loving mood back into the atmosphere.

@Xorism

 

[Nevizkas]

Taking another sip of the glass of bloodwine, Cyutadakyr's smile slightly faded as her question seemed to offend or bother Karys in some way. She knew only a little about his family, but the reaction advertised enough for her to realise they shared more in common there than she had first thought.

Even in their vastly different upbringing, one from wealth and famed name and the other from a hole in the desert. Yet both found suffering where there should be love, chaos where there should be peace. She didn't need to say anything about his bonds, his choices, as she understood that he knew. Each had to find their own way to free themselves from the shackles of their past to not only live, but thrive.

And if he didn't, he'd perish, suffocated by the past.

Returning to the warmth of the room, Cyu broke a short smile. "Why? It's not very good." She declared, rather critically of her own work. Although Karys would probably be able to tell that she'd say that about any drawing she made, no matter how long she'd been working on it.

Regardless, she'd hand it over to him and make her way back to the couch to select her next team for their third match of the night. With any luck, she'd kick his butt once more and thus secure the newly coveted title of Gamer of the Night. Once he'd taken his seat back beside her, they'd thrash out a number of ridiculously close quarters before her total domination came to a close in the final set.

Standing in front of the couch, her arms shot into the air in celebration, cheering on the victory. "That's three for three, noob." She smirked, giving him some light-hearted trash talk. Karys might have been on her zombie apocalypse team, but he certainly wouldn't be on a gaming roster any time soon.

@Apollyon

Roll: 17

 

[Karys]

Karys smirked and shook his head at Cyu's response. He extended his hand and brought his fingers in, gesturing for her to hand it over. Once it was in hand, Karys would walk into his kitchen and hung it on the fridge with a magnet it was a bright blue color and was a C in ur-Kittat.

"You're too hard on yourself Cyu." He called out over his shoulder. "You did an amazing job on this, it looks almost real." He said with a smirk.

Karys would give his kitchen one last inspection before flicking the lights off in it and rejoining Cyu on the couch. He'd pick up his controller and begin to play Ned'dam against her once again. This time he was entirely focused on the game, no teasing or dirty tricks. He played to win.

Unfortunately, Karys was beginning to realize that he might just suck at the game.

It was as that realization dawned on him that Cyu rounded out their best of five with another crushing win. Karys wasn't mad or upset though, she'd beaten him fair and square. Instead, he simply grinned as she jumped from the couch and her hands shot in the air. He laughed at her trash talk, she'd earned the crown of Gamer of the Night.

"You still look ridiculous in that coat." He teased with a grin on his face. "So your highness, what do we do next?" He asked her, gesturing towards the holo-projector. "Another round? A show? I might have a few cheese-y comedies laying around somewhere..." He offered as he leaned around Cyu to look at his movie collection.

If Cyu followed his gaze, she'd find there was no comedies on that shelf. Each of the movies were horror movies and the most were B-rated or lower.

@Xorism

 

[Nevizkas]

Spinning in place, still basking in her epic victory, his slight against her coat wouldn't go unanswered. "That's only because you're bringing the cool factor down in your second hand sweatpants, Chef." The only way that she could improve her own outfit, would have been with a thick pair of sunglasses, built for style, of course.

The prospect of a movie night was highly tempting but considering the next day would be rather taxing and there were still some thoughts that she was needing to write down for something she was working on, she shook her head at his offer. "Actually, I was kind of thinking of retiring for the night." Her gaze followed his, hoping he wouldn't be too disappointed.

Assuming he didn't protest, she'd walk over to the bedroom door with a little skip in her step, stopping just inside. Poking her head back outside into the larger room, she searched for him. "Thank you for tonight, Karys. Well, for everything." She smiled, the evening had been exceedingly entertaining.

She wouldn't be idle in the room before bed, but it was for something to surprise him with when the time was right.

@Apollyon

 

[Karys]

Karys laughed spun in place, celebrating her own victory over him once again. Even her quippy response to his teasing only elicited another fit of laughter from him. <Okay, okay Cyu. I get it, you're the best!> He told her in their native tongue between his fits of laughter.

Once the pair settled down, Cyu would consider his offer but ultimately decline. Karys checked the chrono on the wall, he hadn't realized how late it had gotten and the next morning would bring a day they would have to be ready for. Hes saw the wisdom in her decision, even if he did want to extend their evening together by a little longer. Karys would stand to his feet and follow Cyu partially down the hallway leading to his bedroom but he'd stop well before getting to the door and lean against the wall. Cyu leaned out with a smile plastered to her face and thanked him for the evening.

"No, thank you Cyutadakyr. It's been awhile since I had this good of a time." He replied. "If you get cold, there is another, heavier comforter in the top shelf, left hand side of the closet." He told her as he turned to walk away and lay down on his couch.

Karys would ensure he set an alarm about thirty minutes before they left hyperspace. Then he would lay down on his couch, cover up, and let sleep take him.

THUMP
<FUCK!>

------

Karys would wake up on the floor to his alarm on his EZPhone chiming. He'd get up and dressed before Cyu was awake, going through his entire routine to ensure she had the refresher to herself when she woke up. Then he made his way to the cockpit with a yawn to turn off the klaxon alarm manually and guide the vessel out of hyperspace and onto the surface of Ziost itself. Once they had touched down, he would begin cooking their breakfast.

Cyu would wake up to the smell of meat being seared in a pan, eggs being cooked, and fresh bread being baked. Karys would ensure they were well rested and well fed for the day ahead. When Cyu made her way from the room, she'd be greeted by Karys' teasing smirk.

"Good morning you sleepy scorpion." He quipped. "Are you ready for your manor by the lake?" He asked.

@Xorism

 

[Nevizkas]

The next morning, Cyutadakyr awoke in an unfamiliar room, staring into the ceiling. Today would be the day that she finally collected that lump of snow and dirt that Karys called her manor to be. Its state was probably destitute and more than worse for wear, but that didn't matter. It was now hers.

Well, it would be.

The pureblood stood under the nozzle of the refresher as she turned its lever. A freezing jet of water crashed against her form, washing away the night, her worries and her warmth. She wasn't entirely convinced that it was a good idea, but the thought crossed her mind that if she was freezing now, venturing outside would be somehow better, or at the very least her body would be more attuned. Glancing down, it already seemed to be working.

Peaking her head out to the smell of a freshly cooked breakfast, her mouth watered at the sight of it. Gone with the hefty coat and trialing her new approach, Cyu walked in wearing something a little lighter. "Morning, that smells good." Her eyes drifted over the delicious assortment as she pulled herself a seat to the table. For all his talents, she was certainly glad cooking was among them.

"You make it sound so easy, maybe I should go for a swim while you deal with the critters?" She teased, although growing more confident that he'd probably enjoy that. Worse, she had actually packed a swimsuit if such an occasion presented itself, although she'd keep that to herself for now.

Once they'd breakfast and spoken about the task at hand, she'd be ready to begin.

@Apollyon

 

[Karys]

Karys heard Cyu in the shower as he cooked their breakfast. A small smirk appeared on his lips as he imagined her in there. He felt her eyes on him the night before while he cooked. While his senses had dulled, he could still sniff out desire a mile away. He had pondered it before falling asleep on the couch the night before. He ultimately had decided against doing anything, he’d let anticipation stew.

When Cyu finally emerged from the bathroom, Karys had finished cooking for them. The spread was all set to on the table and Karys was in the midst of cleaning up his kitchen. He glance over at her when she greeted him.

<Good morning Cyu. Did you sleep well last night?> He asked before returning his attention to the task at hand. <Sit and eat, I’ll be at the table shortly.> He promised.

Karys was true to his word and would join Cyu within only a few minutes of her getting started. As he filled his plate he’d smirk at her quip about swimming. Now he’d let her see his own desires. <I’ll deal with them on my own, only if you promise to wait until after I finish to slip into the lake…but we leave the suits on the shore.> He teased, his crimson eyes flicked up to meet her gaze.

He wanted to determine if that had been too bold, too forward. A faint, confident smirk sat in his lips as he crunched the first bite of seared meat in his mouth. With his own desires spoken plainly, Karys would shift the topic back to the task at hand. <Are you familiar with Sith Scorpions Cyu?> He asked, not wanting to waste his time explaining if she was.

If she wasn’t, he’d explain the key details about them to her. He needed her to understand the dangers of facing a potentially large hive and aware of how to spot an ambush in the snow. After this, he’d clean up their dishes and head to the off boarding ram. He glance at Cyu, his eyes dragged up and down her body. He wasn’t simply checking her out, he was looking at her clothes as well. He’d reach into a side hatch and pull out a pair of oversized fur cloaks. He’d hand one to her and strap the other onto him.

<You look great…but you’ll want that.> He told her. <Otherwise you’re going to freeze out there.> He warned. <Are you ready to see Ziost for the first time Cyu?> He asked.

@Xorism

 

[Nevizkas]

Her gaze never left his as he sat down, enjoying that their ability to banter between each other continued to straddle the border that they each refused to define. Her enjoyment of his boldness and increasingly dangerous line of questioning was apparent, and her sudden switches in appearance part of the fun.

"Oh, but it's such a cute suit though." She replied with a charming smile, not declining his offer nor accepting it. The breakfast tasted just as well as it smelled, being consumed shortly after its delivery. Shaking her head, he continued to explain in more depth about their mission and the devious devils that awaited them before they'd be able to reclaim the manor.

With a begrudging look, she accepted the fur coat and wrapped herself up in it. She wouldn't admit it out loud, but the comfy warmth was a godsend and if she was being honest, was a rather cute fit also. "I'm ready." She said with a half churned confidence.

That would turn out to be an overstatement as the blistering chilled air cut against her face. It seemed almost torturous to imagine that this climate was the one that Karys preferred and, worse, thrived in?? How could anyone enjoy this, she thought. Glancing over at the happy idiot, she frowned. "If you say one more hill again and another pops up, I'm going to burn your ass with lightning." Her threat was only half-hearted, considering it was her idea to come here after all.

But that didn't stop her complaining the whole way there.

As angry as she was with the situation and dreadfully uncomfortable with the weather, she'd never felt more vulnerable. At any point, Karys could melt away into the snow, and she'd be left behind without a clue as to where to go or what to do. It wasn't even just that she'd certainly get lost, but worse, without him, she would probably die on this forsaken world. That thought, bothered her, more than she cared to admit.

@Apollyon

 

[Karys]

Karys gave Cyu a throaty chuckle at her reply. He imagined it was cute but somehow he didn’t think she’d be too keen on swimming once they were out of the ship. While this was considered one of the warmer months for Ziost, Karys knew outsiders still found it freezing. In fact, he was a little nervous that he might not be adjusted to the weather here anymore as well.

However, once the ramp lowered and the icy air blew in, Karys was relieved that he still found it pleasant. He closed his eyes, a small smile tugged at his lips, and he walked down the ramp into the snow below. He was home.

The sound of snow and ice crunching underfoot was nostalgic, it brought him back to his childhood. His mind wandered through countless memories as the pair trudged through the frost dunes of Ziost. Karys even played a game they used to as kids, it was one born out of survival rather than simple play though. By telling her each dune was the last, he knew her eyes would naturally climb to the peak.

The second pair of eyes might catch something he missed, like a Scorpion lying in wait.

Karys kept an even pace for Cyu but never cast his gaze back to her. He was constantly peering at the horizon, on look out for signs of an impending disaster. At the apex of one such dune, he froze and his blood ran cold.

Across the lake he could see the tall tale signs of an ice storm rolling in. This normally wouldn’t be an issue, the manor was just below and would provide them with shelter from the razor ice that would otherwise flay their skin and flesh from the bone. But there was another problem.

Karys’ lips moved wordlessly as he counted something on the approach to the manor. “Shit.” He finally muttered before turning to face Cyu for the first time since leaving his ship.

<There are at least ten Scorpions buried on our way to the manor.> He began before he pointed across the lake. <And that ice storm means we have five minutes tops before we meet a nasty end.> He explained.

Karys mind ran through scenarios of how to deal with the problem. Trying to sneak through was likely a death sentence and they couldn’t go back to the ship either. He remembered an arcanist from his father’s court when he was a kid, the woman could shape and freeze water or ice at her whims. It was a shot in the dark but just maybe.

<Cyu, any chance you could freeze the snowbanks where the scorpions are hiding?> He asked.

@Xorism

 

[Nevizkas]

Trudging through the snow, by hell and high water and each step worse than the last. Cyutadakyr started wondering if dying here was preferable to continuing on in the damn near freezing temperatures, although in fairness, anything colder than a mild day was a miserable one.

Trailing behind Karys as he pushed forward at an unrelenting pace, her stomach churned when he stopped suddenly with a worried look upon his face. Peeking over toward where he pointed, she made out nothing in the vast snowy field. But she supposed that was the point, it wasn't a particularly good ambush if your prey could spot you from a mile away.

It was only the fact that Karys had such experience spotting the signs and having grown up in the area that they hadn't walked straight into a damn nest. Her heart began picking up the pace, a little at first, as she scanned ahead. "No, why the hell would I know that? You're the one that lives on a frozen wasteland!" She quietly said with a strained grin from the cold.

"I have a better idea, if you trust me." Her eyes meeting his for a brief moment, as her fingers fished out the amulet strung from a chain around her neck. Assuming he agreed, she would turn toward the snowy bank and close her eyes, drawing on the immense dark side power residing on the Sith world.

Karys would notice that the gem within the amulet would begin to glow, as she took her time to perfect what she was doing, as it was the first time she had attempted this. Suddenly and without warning, a pillar of flame burst forth from the amulet, circling around her outstretched arm en route for the snowy bank above the ambush site.

With a thunderous crash, the flame slammed into a deposit of fresh snow and, like a whip cracking in the icy air, the powder came flying down the bank to cover half the sites that he'd pointed out. The only downside to this very successful endeavour was that this action had now alerted the remaining scorpions of their presence.

And within seconds they all began surfacing to close the distance with haste.

@Apollyon

Roll: 14