Ask Magic and Monsters

[Caerllion of Cyfnos]

Like the rest of the ship, the kitchen had been also renovated. In the past, it had been a tiny space, with a cheap oven and an old fridge. Now it was large, with new home appliances and a countertop with black marble. All of that stuff was the best that money could afford, making the place look more like part of a very fancy apartment than from a traveling vessel.

Once there, Caerllion went to work on the food. He wanted to have it done by the time that the Pureblood returned. Since his servants had left the potatoes peeled and the meat had already been seasoned by him, the Annfyn would only need to prepare it in the way that he wanted. Another good point of being rich, you can have the boring part of cooking being made for you.

It was a perfect arrangement for Caerllion, who liked to cook, but didn’t like the effort of peeling vegetables.

He started preheating the oven, before moving to the rice. He melted some olive oil and butter in a deep skillet and added the dry rice, stirring it around a few times, sauteeing until the grains were bright white. He added the seasoning together with chicken broth and continued stirring until everything got combined. Then, everything went to boil.

The next step was the filets. The Annfyn wanted to show to Azar that he knew how to appreciate meat, so he chose the most expensive type in his fridge and started by searing them in a pan until browned on one side, then he turned them around to sear the other. When both sides were done, Caerllion moved them to the oven.

What remained were the potatoes, which he cut in quarters and added them to a bowl with olive oil, garlic, some parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. With a spoon, he mixed until the ingredients were combined. The next step was to spread them in a tray and put them in the oven.

The filets were the first to get ready, with the rice taking a bit longer. Caerllion removed them from the fire, feeling his stomach complain with hunger when the exquisite smell hit him. He wanted to congratulate him for having acquired such a good talent with food. Who could say that some years ago he couldn’t even boil an egg without setting the pan on fire.

Yes, a pan full of water.

Not even him can explain that.

While he waited for the potatoes to finish, Caerllion had the chance to take a quick shower in the bathroom of his bedroom. It was smaller than the one that Azar was using, but it was enough for him to feel refreshed. He returned right on time to remove the vegetables from the oven and do his favorite part: plating.

He felt like an artist doing it.

The rice went in a bowl, while the filets were disposed in pairs. Then sauce was put over them, with Caerllion being careful to not spill any drop. The potatoes went into another bowl.

Azar arrived in the kitchen while Caerllion was finishing preparing the table for them. The Annfyn was holding a fork when he turned around to answer the Pureblood. What he saw made his mind stop working completely. The red-skinned man was dressed in a simple satin robe, allowing him to see the tattoos on his chest. How he wanted to see them closer right now.

The Annfyn silently watched how a water drop fell from Azar’s hair, moving slowly through the skin covered by tattoos before disappearing in the robe. “How can you be so gorgeous?” Caerllion said, not even processing what was coming out of his mouth. His mind was still too dazzled to understand what was happening.

He only recovered when the fork that had been holding fell to the floor. Caerllion picked and dropped it in the sink to wash later. “I have practice with myself.” after all, the Annfyn’s tastes were close to that of a king and he liked to give himself some pampering. Some self-love was good sometimes.

Walking close to Azar, he was able to smell the bath products that the other Sith had used. Surprisingly, those were the Annfyn’s favorites. And the most expensive of his collection. “My king deserves the best.” he smiled affectionately, while offering a hand for the Pureblood. If accepted, he would guide the red-skinned man to the table that he had prepared, moving the chair for him to sit. After retrieving the food and wine, Caerllion would sit on the opposite side to that of Arcanos. “Do you like to talk while eating? I have some stories of the Order before the split that maybe you would like to hear.”

@Sreeya

 

[Darth Arcanos]

Azar’s gaze roamed over all the food, the aroma absolutely incredible. Food was the way to his heart and clearly Caerllion knew just what to do. His gaze flicked back to the Annfyn when he complimented him, a sultry smile playing at his lips. Azar gazed at Caerllion over the rim of his glass, “It is very curious..” He began before he took a sip, “That you never noticed me when I was an Acolyte or a Champion,” Azar smiled sweetly at Caerllion, “And yet now that I am a King and a Sith Lord you are so eager to please me," After all, Azar was acutely aware of when anyone complimented him and he could vividly recall Caerllion telling Ayomi they were the most beautiful in the room. The Pureblood was very petty and clung to tiny details like that.

The skepticism was clear in his eyes as he took a longer sip before taking a seat at the table, “Nonetheless, thank you for the dinner,” Azar said, “I’m amazed at your abilities,” He remarked before he started to dig in. The first few bites and he closed his eyes to savor it, genuinely impressed by the taste, “You are very talented,” He said, nodding when Caerllion asked if he was okay engaging over a meal.

“I would love to hear stories from before the split,” Azar said, actually very interested in the topic, “Particularly regarding our Dark Lord. Surely you knew her in her Champion days?”

@LouJoVi

 

[Caerllion of Cyfnos]

Azar’s words got Caerllion by surprise, but he recognized the truth in them. He knew the red-skinned man since he was an Acolyte, but never had interacted with him at the time. Then there was that party. He had thought that the other Sith looked hot. Hell, now he could see that Azar looked perfect with that outfit showing his chest. However, the Annfyn said nothing because he knew that Karys was being possessive at the time.

That man was so huge that he could snap Caerllion in half. He nearly broke his mandible with a punch for nothing. However, now he regretted not having risked it and decided to go with the easy path that had been Ayomi. They were pleasant to be around, but they didn’t make his stomach feel like it was filled with butterflies or made him act like an idiot, without being able to form words.

It was something that only happened around the Pureblood.

However, he felt offended when Azar insinuated that he was only doing it now because he had interest in the Pureblood’s positions. Perhaps it had been this way when they first met at the cantina, he wanted to be pleasant with the other Sith because he was a powerful ally. However, it changed completely when they started to laugh with his stories. He noticed how seeing the other being happy made him feel joy, even if the red-skinned man was laughing because the Champion made a fool of himself because of a talk about meat.

“I regret bitterly for not having approached you early, but I can’t change the past. I regret not having known early how wonderful you are.” Caerllion said, looking directly at Azar’s eyes. He looked serious and his voice was filled with sincerity. “But I’m not doing it because of your position. I’m doing it because I want to see you happy. I want to see your smile and eyes filled with the same joy. I know that it’ll take a long time until you can feel happiness again, but I’ll continue trying. Because I’m falling in love with you and seeing the sadness in your eyes hurts me more than having watched my mother die.”

The Annfyn poured some wine for himself, before sighing deeply. “It’s strange, right? How could someone fall in love so fast? You probably know that my species feel emotions in a more intense way than the rest. Things like hate and love at the first sight are real to us. Our conversation early today made me happy like I had never felt for a long time. It opened my eyes to how amazing you are and that I’m lucky to be close to you today. Since the moment that I realized it, I feel like thousands of butterflies are flying in my stomach. I feel like a teenager again, but my crushes at the time pale in comparison to how I’m feeling at the moment.”

“I can’t change my lack of action in the past, but I’ll prove to you that what I’m saying now is true. Even if I need to do that every day.” Caerllion rose from his seat and kneeled with one leg next to where Azar was seated. He looked like a Knight at the feet of their king’s throne. “I vow that you will be the only one in my mind until the day that I die. Your enemies will be my enemies, anyone that makes you suffer will pay with their lives. I’ll help you achieve your goals, starting with your takeover of Ziost. I’ll sign up for the mission in the Command Centre immediately. I’ll be there to help you, even if my love isn’t returned. In this case, your happiness will be my payment and my frustration will be the power that I’ll throw against your enemies. I seal that vow in the name of my mother and of the Dark side itself.” his eyes shone red, showing that his magick had listened to his promise.

When he returned to his seat, Caerllion wasn’t serious anymore. He looked at Azar with a smile, accepting the praise that had been offered to him. “Thanks! You are the first person that I cook for. Usually I only do it to myself.” he said while putting some of the food on his plate. “My favorite part of doing it is the plating. It's as if I can be an artist, allowing my creativity to run free.”

Caerllion froze when Azar asked about Tempest. Besides Anai, the Annfyn was probably the person that knew most about her. He didn’t know if it was good or bad. “Yes, I had worked with her when she was still a Champion. We even interacted at some parties. There was one that happened in a boat. We played truth and dare together with a group of Sith. She dared me to call home and say that I had gone to prison in Zeltros. My father and step-mother went there and found nothing.”

“My dad got even more desperate when I didn’t answer his calls because the boat crashed on a deserted island. People only saved us five days later.” he laughed, the memories returning to him. Good times. “The crashing of the boat was a bit hilarious. People were sleeping at the time, so they panicked and rushed around. Some were naked because… well, drunk teenagers. I think that Altair had been leading everyone to the island. I still don’t know how he had strength for that, because I'm pretty sure that he had slept with Darth Tiamat and… another girl.” he wondered if Azar would read between the lines and understand who the other girl was. “It was really a wild party. Darth Draugr threw a dude out of the ship and people learned how bad Annfyn wine is!”

@Sreeya

 

[Darth Arcanos]

Azar was frozen in stunned silence as Caerllion spoke. He had expected Caerllion to backtrack or fumble over meanings, but instead there was a deep confession. A confession of love. The Pureblood stared in wonder as the Annfyn professed his love and commitment. He was about to say that Caerllion was simply infatuated, but then Caerllion reminded him that it was a trait of his race. Azar recalled vaguely reading about such traits in Annfyn - it was one of the reasons Sephi looked down on them. Because Annfyn were so easily governed by their emotions. But it was also a source of envy because Sephi couldn’t embrace passion as deeply as Annfyn could.

“Caerllion..” Azar began, but he paused when the Annfyn began to lower to a knee. The flicker of shock returned to his face and anxiety sat at the pit of his stomach. However, it became more a swearing of fealty as his commanders had done while he sat on the throne as Arcanos.

This was a lot to process, so when Caerllion moved onto speaking about Tempest’s early Sith days, Azar hardly listened. He remained seated and staring at the table.

“I murdered my own husband, Caerllion,” The Pureblood said calmly as he finally looked up to meet Caerllion’s gaze, “You are simply caught up in the moment. You desire me because others desire me, because I am a prize. You were just as fixated in your pursuit of Ayomi when they had the attention of others,” Azar just plain didn’t believe otherwise, “But if you are truly in love with me, then that is rather unfortunate for you. I leave heartbreak and destruction in my wake,” His eyes narrowed, a gleam in his golden gaze, “And I never apologize for it.”

Azar calmly raised his wine glass and took a sip, “So prepare to burn in eternity if you speak true.”

@LouJoVi

 

[Caerllion of Cyfnos]

Caerllion had stopped halfway through his story when Azar finally spoke. The Annfyn couldn’t say that he was surprised when the Pureblood admitted killing his own husband. He knew that they had been deeply in love, with Karys being very possessive of the other man. However, they were still Sith. The desire to protect the loved one ended when they became a liability. He was very aware of that fact.

He suddenly remembered how the huge man had smashed a glass against the head of the Acolyte that was dancing with his husband.

Thinking in retrospect, he wondered if Karys had a similar approach to love that some of Caerllion’s species have: the obsession. A desire to hold and control the loved one only for himself even if, in their case, they were in a polyamorous relationship. The Annfyn thought back to Azar’s other lovers and wondered how their reaction was to each other and to Karys’ death.

If he should take Karys as an example, Caerllion would believe that they barely tolerated each other. Perhaps there was even a secret pact among them to ignore each other for Azar’s sake. How he envied them. Even if the Annfyn had to share the Pureblood with thousands of other lovers, he would be satisfied for being able to make the other happy in the brief moments that they could share together.

That would be a dream coming true.

“I don’t desire you.” he said, his eyes settling in Azar’s exposed skin and a blush appeared on his cheeks. “I mean, there is desire involved and I can't deny it. However, what I’m feeling isn’t simply that.” he looked at the food on his plate. “What I felt for Ayomi was only desire, that I can’t deny. But what I feel for you is different. My heart seems to want to jump from my chest when I hear your voice. I could stay seated for hours, just looking at your smile. Seeing you sad hurts me more than anything. I can’t describe it as anything else than love.”

“I’m a proud person. The few times that I kneeled before someone was because it was part of a scheme or because I was forced.” he remembered when the Dark Lady made him kneel together with the other Sith. It seemed to have happened ages ago. “But I did it for you in my own free will. It felt so natural, as if my place was to be here worshiping you. Perhaps because my heart is already doing that.”

“I would never ask for your apology when it was my fault for falling in love.” he was now looking at Azar, staring at his golden eyes. “My heart breaks every second that I see that shadow of sadness in your eyes. If you destroy my heart, there will remain some happiness with the knowledge that you’ll be living happily, even if I’ll never be able to be the source of it. But I’ll try to give you some happiness if you allow it.”

When Azar said that he was damned because, Caerllion gave him a sad smile. “I’m already doomed in the moment that I understood what I was feeling. I saw members of my species die because of love. My father has been languishing for years because of it. But I’m prepared to endure this suffering and use it as fire to light my ambitions, while also using it to help you. My vow to you still stands.” he said, while swirling his glass of wine, seeing how the liquid was moving around. His stomach felt like that at the moment. Then he looked back at the Pureblood. “I’m prepared to burn in the deepest pit of Chaos, if it means that I can see your smile more times.”

“I probably ruined our dinner with this talk. I’m really sorry.” Caerllion said, staring at his plate. He poked a piece of the filet, before bringing it to his mouth. As expected, it was very good. He munched it, before swallowing. “I’m happy that you like it.”

@Sreeya

 

[Darth Arcanos]

Azar calmly finished his meal while Caerllion spoke, unable to decide how he perceived this change of behavior. It was devotion and fixation, and as a King he was no stranger to such things. He didn’t plunge into the Annfyn’s thoughts to confirm if he was being truthful or not. By the time Caerllion was finished, Azar was casually leaning back in his seat, one leg folded over the other as he appraised the Annfyn.

The Force would suddenly coil around Caerllion, sending him flying back from his seat to slam into the wall behind him. The Annfyn would slide up along the wall, the Force constricted around his throat as he hung up there. Azar leaned back in his seat, kicking his feet up on the table while he swirled his wine before taking a sip.

“You sure love to talk,” He said breezily, briefly checking over his manicured nails while Caerllion remained strung up like that. The man would be struggling to breathe, “So let me teach you to be more economical with your words,” Azar stated flatly, “What do you want from me?”

If Caerllion talked too much, he would simply pass out and collapse. He had to really pick and choose what he wanted to say. The Sith Lord was not easy to please and flowery prose did little to sway him. If Caerllion was honest about walking through hell for Azar, the Pureblood would put it to the test. He liked playing with others and Caerllion would get a taste of what it meant to meddle with a real Sith.

@LouJoVi

 

[Caerllion of Cyfnos]

Caerllion’s fork had barely touched the meat when he felt Azar use the Force. Unfortunately, the Annfyn wasn’t able to react fast enough to defend himself. Although he really doubted that he would be strong enough to make any defense against the Pureblood’s power.

In a matter of seconds, the Annfyn was thrown out of his chair. He was sent flying against the wall, feeling pain when his head collided against it. While he slid up along it, Caerllion felt his throat being constricted by the Force. He tried to breathe, but was incapable of getting any air.

He stared at Azar while he talked, showing little interest in what was happening with the Annfyn. He wasn’t really surprised that everything came to this. The other was a Darth above everything else and he was only a Champion. He had talked too much and was going to be punished. It was their way of working and Caerllion had accepted it.

“A chance to prove myself to you with actions.” it was the only thing that he could say and the only one that mattered for him. Caerllion had used all his strength to not sound broken, which only made him more dizzy.

@Sreeya

 

[Darth Arcanos]

Azar released him at last, letting him collapse to the ground in a heap. He didn’t seem so tall then. The Pureblood finished his wine and gently set the glass down, rising to stand from his seat. He walked over towards Caerllion, surveying the Annfyn, his yellow gaze piercing and judging as he looked down at the pompous prince.

“Very well,” He said after a moment of silence, his expression difficult to read. Perhaps Caerllion thought the usual wining and dining would work on Azar, but the Sith Lord was an incredibly difficult and high maintenance man. Any of his partners had to suffer through quite a bit before they went anywhere with him. No amount of flowery words or verbal promises would win the Pureblood over.

“I will be taking the Captain’s quarters,” He announced nonchalantly, “I desire a nap. I will meet you again later this evening and you can..” He quirked a brow, “Show me your supposed devotion,” He added dryly, “Thank you for the lovely meal,” Azar said, his tone genuine.

With that, he used the Force to casually move all his things into Caerllion’s room, moving the Annfyn’s stuff out. He wanted the fancier room and bigger bed, even if the refresher was disappointingly smaller.

@LouJoVi

 

[Caerllion of Cyfnos]

When Azar released Caerllion, the Annfyn fell on the floor like a sack of potatoes. He stared at the Pureblood, who now seemed to look like a giant. By this point, he should be scared. The tiny person in front of him was so powerful that didn’t even need to move to use the Force to subdue him. It should be enough to kill the growing love in his heart, seeing how the owner of his heart was a monster. It would be what a normal person would do, right?

Yes, but Caerllion wasn’t normal. No normal person would have felt pleasure in watching someone having his life force drained, like what happened with the Exalted early today. But he felt. Beyond that, it was exciting to see that display of power. It made him even more in love with Azar. Now he understand why he had been falling for the Pureblood, he was perfect in all senses. He had a captivating, but also fierce personality. Made the Annfyn feel good in a way that he didn't felt in a long time. The cherry in the top of all that was the fact that he was also powerful.

Caerllion loved powerful things and being subdued by someone as powerful as Azar felt like a privilege. It only made his heart beat faster and to look at the Pureblood with even more devotion. It felt right for him to lay at the feet of the red-skinned man, simply looking at his perfection.

However, only Azar would have the right to do it to him. Only the source of his love had the right to do it with him. He would not tolerate it from anyone else.

“Yes.” was the only thing that he could say after the Pureblood finished talking. From now on, he would be more careful to not babble too much. The Annfyn only dared to rise from the floor when Azar left the room. He coughed a bit, before going to finish his dinner, eating it as if nothing had happened.

Yes, he wasn’t even a bit normal.

Once he finished, Caerllion went to wash the plates and cutlery. He was humming his favorite song, excited with the possibility of showing Azar how he was devoted to him. When he finished, the Annfyn put them back on the kitchen cabinet. The Annfyn passed in front of the captain's quarter and collected his stuff, then moved all that to the guest’s room.

The Annfyn wondered what he should do until Azar woke up, since he wasn’t going to sleep. Caerllion remembered the exalted in the stasis tube and decided to see how it was going there and oversee the collection of genetic samples for them to experiment with later. However, he first signed up for the mission in Ziost’s Commander Center.

He would show to Azar how he loved him by helping the Pureblood expand his domains. Perhaps the other would love him back, but the fact that Arcanos was going to have his dreams fulfiled and be happy with it was enough to fill the Annfyn's heart with joy.

When Azar finally woke up, he would find Caerllion seated on the sofa and reading the report about Omar’s condition. The droids had run a diagnosis of possible effects in the human’s health. The Annfyn would happily share it with the Pureblood.

@Sreeya

 

[Darth Arcanos]

Azar felt much better after a nap, and he emerged hours later dressed in some over the top robes that again revealed his tattooed chest. He smelled like fragrant oils and perfumes, his hair down his back styled with fragrant products. He stifled a yawn as he made his way over to Caerllion, plopping down in the sofa next to him.

“What’re you reading?” He asked curiously, his demeanor very different from the man that threw the Annfyn against the wall. Azar was always complicated and unpredictable and anyone that was interested in him would have to navigate his various sides.

“You know, I’d like to see your planet one day,” He said, “They seem to love arts and poetry there,” He pondered, “Though I’m not sure if I would tolerate prejudice,” Azar said with a smirk. He knew he would snap necks if anyone made any quips about him to his face, so he would have to curb his rage, “And I have to see if your planet is full of people as pretty as you,” Azar added with a teasing grin.

@LouJoVi

 

[Caerllion of Cyfnos]

When he heard the sound of Azar’s steps, Caerllion immediately turned to look. The Pureblood looked so good while wearing that robe, with its black details matching perfectly his red-skin and accentuating the tattoos that covered his chest. This time the Annfyn didn’t say any compliment, having learned his lesson yesterday. “Did you sleep well?” he hoped that the other Sith liked his bed. The mattress was soft, giving the impression of sleeping in a cloud. The black-haired man liked that, but he wasn’t sure if the other would appreciate it.

As the Pureblood sat next to him, Caerllion felt his heart beat faster and the butterflies returned to his stomach. This was the first time since the dance that the two were so close to each other. “It's some preliminary results of tests with Omar’s blood. The droids collected it while you were resting.” this time, the Annfyn didn’t give a long explanation, preferring to be brief. Economical, as Azar had said hours ago. If short sentences pleased the other man, then he was going to do it.

Due to that, he offered the datapad to the Pureblood, so he could see it by himself and make his own conclusions. If the other accepted it, he would see how the tests with the blood had pointed to a slight alteration in the DNA and that was only perceptible if you made a very specific type of analyses. Never a simple exam would identify any difference.

“Really? It would be a pleasure to have you there.” he said when Azar mentioned wanting to visit Annwfyn. He could think in the different places that they could visit together, from the capital city of Mag Mell to the fields of pom blodau flowers, as red as the Pureblood’s skin.

Caerllion was amazed how the Pureblood had turned from the man that had tortured him yesterday to the one that was calmly talking to him at the moment. One was fierce and dangerous, while the other was charming and sensible. The Annfyn loved both sides of him.

It was like the sea, ferocious and destructive in a moment, while in another it was calm and nurturing. Yet, it was always beautiful. Azar was Caerllion’s sea, and the Annfyn was willing to drown.

“We love all this type of art. I could bring you to visit some of our art's galleries, then see a concert. The opera season is also going to start soon.” Caerllion thought about things that Azar could do in his homeworld. He was sure that the Pureblood would love to see the landscape too, like the Crystal Lakes. “If you want to start with some poetry of my homeworld, there are some books in the captain's quarter. It's on the top shelf.” he realized that the red-skinned man would have some trouble trying to reach an Annfyn top bookshelf. “I'll make a selection of the best books and pick them for you. If you are interested, of course.”

When the Pureblood mentioned the prejudice, the Annfyn immediately thought of what the prime-minister and his cousin tried to do with Arla when she had visited to have business with the Queen. He was sure that Azar would kill them if they did the same and the black-haired man would help him commit these deaths. No one would tell bad things about the Pureblood with Caerllion nearby.

No one!

Then, Caerllion realized something. He brought a hand to his chin, as if deep in thought. “Do you know, if you visit as a chief of state, you can't be offended. It would be considered shameful to Annwfyn as a whole and whoever did it would receive punishment. We respect noble titles, king would cause impact.” he turned to look at Azar. “My planet is neutral right now, so if someone invites you, hypotheticaly the House of Cyfnos, to meet with our Queen because of an also hypothetical trade agreement, people would need deal with your presence or suffer, what do you think?”

@Sreeya

 

[Darth Arcanos]

What Azar read in the reports lined up with what he guessed. It altered their DNA but in a way that allowed them to retain their humanoid forms. It was a fascinating use of alchemy, and one he still didn’t fully understand, “I wonder if we could find a lab..or forge that Raze used,” He said, awe and wonder in his tone. There was no denying that Azar was impressed by Raze’s use of alchemy and the unique creations he had. He would never wish for the entity to return, but he could appreciate and admire the figure.

The Pureblood giggled at the mention of books in the top shelf, “Of course they’re in the top shelf,” He mused, “Tall beings are the bane of my existence,” He said with a sigh, easing into the couch, “Then I will visit as the King of Korriban,” He declared, “Perhaps they will be open to trade. Their isolation likely limits them since the collapse of the other bodies of government,” The planet used to be a part of the Free World Alliance, but now it had none of those networks.

“It does not bother you that I have taken your room?” Azar asked curiously, tilting his head, “Or the way I treated you last night?”

@LouJoVi

 

[Caerllion of Cyfnos]

Caerllion thought about finding the possibility of finding the place where Raze made his abominations. Like Azar, he was also amazed with the fact that these genetic modifications had been made in such a perfect way that no one would ever notice, unless they knew what was being made. He would love to have the opportunity to study it, perhaps he could even replicate the process properly. It would be better than trying to reverse engineering. Unfortunately, it seemed that the dead entity had dragged the location with it to Chaos.

Perhaps there was a way.

“If we could track the place of origin from this tiny genetic change. I know a spell that allows us to have visions through the Dark side by using runes and blood.” he said, thinking if that method could be helpful. “I only need a drop from someone’s blood and it will reveal glimpses from his past. I’m not sure if we would find anything in Omar, but we could see if there is any clue.” the Annfyn believed that it was worth a shot. The maximum that it would cost was some drops from blood of the exalted, which wasn’t even enough to kill.

The other option was to try to summon Raze’s spirit, which the Annfyn didn’t want to do. He feared for himself and, above all, for Azar. Few Sith had the power to summon and control a dark spirit. He doubted that anyone would be capable of subduing that entity to do their binding. It could even try to possess them.

He didn’t want to become Raze’s meat suit and would never forgive himself if he allowed Azar to become his vessel. Due to that, inviting the entity to have a tea was a great no from his part.

The Annfyn smiled when Azar complained about the size. It was still amazing that the Pureblood could be so small, but full of an amazing personality. Never judge someone by their height was a saying that perfectly suited to this situation. “From now on, all my books are going to stay in places where you can reach. So, when we work together again, you will be able to pick them.”

His back would cry in the process of bending to pick them when he wanted to read something, but Azar was worth the sacrifice.

“Yes, we lost many of our partners. Nowadays we only have Rattatak for trade and they aren’t really good at it.” the Rattataki were erratic in delivering their goods, but loved to demand that his people followed the schedule. If they weren’t desperate, Caerllion was sure that the Queen would have kicked them away.

“My homeworld specialized in sustainable agriculture, a trade agreement based on industrial goods and minerals is certain to have them accept it. But you can offer other things too.” Caerllion explained, while hiding his excitement with the fact that Azar was going to visit Annwfyn. There were so many things and places that he wanted to show the Pureblood. The shopping district of Mag Mell was at the top of the list.

Caerllion was taken by surprise with Azar’s question, having not expected that the Pureblood would bring it again. “Not at all. The guest room isn’t bad. I slept in terrible places in the past, my Acolyte missions usually did not have the most comfortable accommodations.” he chuckled a bit, with memories from when he had to sleep on an old sofa with half his size in an abandoned house. “Besides, you wanted a large room, so I’m happy to leave it to you.”

“Regarding what you did with me, well, I really needed to learn to not talk so much.” it was really strange, though. He never talked that much since he was an Acolyte. “My Master did something similar when we first met, but she nearly cut my head off.” he didn’t expect the Pureblood to be gentle most of the time. They were Sith and pain was part of any relationship between them.

“I also said that I was prepared to walk through hell for you. I’ll endure that again, if it means that I can prove it to you.” Caerllion said, staring at Azar’s golden eyes. Then he remembered something. “Wait a sec!” he rushed to the kitchen, returning with a cake that had been in the fridge. “Do you want a slice? You went to sleep and didn’t eat the dessert.”

@Sreeya

 

[Darth Arcanos]

“Part of my conquest to take Korriban involved a city called Murzana,” Azar explained, “It is the city of jewels. As you can imagine, it boasts gems and rubies that aren’t mined anywhere else in the galaxy. A planet like Annwfyn that prizes pretty things and fine arts, I can imagine they would love to trade for such gems,” Azar said with a smirk, “Perhaps if you were to bring this industry to the planet it may even help your ascension to the throne.”

Azar was well versed in knowing what to do to take planets and come into power. He was thinking further on it when Caerllion answered his question. The Pureblood eyed him curiously as he expressed finding Azar’s behavior entirely all right. Azar quirked a brow at that, debating whether it was a good thing or a bad thing that the Annfyn folded like a chair for him. He appraised the man quietly. There was no denying he was beautiful, and he had a side to him that was clearly self serving and dark. Both traits Azar could appreciate.

When he abruptly stepped away, Azar blinked in surprise. At the sight of the cake, Azar perked up, “That looks magnificent,” He said, quickly helping himself to a slice. The Pureblood moaned in ecstasy after taking a bite - the man always enjoyed food more than any kind of intimacy. Food was always the way to his heart, “This is exquisite. Did you make this?” He asked as he helped himself to another slice, “I can’t have more or it’ll ruin my figure,” He said with a sigh.

After he was done, he curled his legs up on the sofa, staring at Caerllion, “Read one of the books to me,” He requested, “The poems from your home world.”

@LouJoVi

 

[Caerllion of Cyfnos]

Caerllion thought about what Azar said. His people really loved jewels, even the commoners. However, the mineral resources of his homeworld were never explored due to their culture of preserving nature. This forced them to import these precious things from other planets. With the fall of the Free Worlds Alliance this type of trade became rarer.

Due to that, a trade agreement with Korriban to bring their jewels to Annwfyn’s markets would be a good way of winning the public opinion. A smirk, not much different from the one that Azar had, appeared on his lips. “I love this idea.” This would make the nobles more supportive of him, besides he could buy some samples and donate to the poor.

Nothing better than feeding them some crumbs to show how he had a good heart. This way he avoids needing to deal with rebellions from the lower classes for a time.

The Annfyn left the cake on a table at the center of the room, leaving Azar to cut as many slices as he wanted. He was starting to notice that the Pureblood really liked to eat and appreciated his food. Caerllion never had cooked for someone else besides him until that day and hearing someone praise his talents was so good that he decided to invite others to eat with him, solely with the purpose of impressing them.

Obviously, the best food that he would cook would be for Arcanos. Only he deserved the maximum of the Annfyn’s talents. His praises would also be the sweetest of them all. “Thank you! Yes, I baked it. The frosting was made with melted bars of milk chocolate.” he said, feeling proud for having made the cake. He wasn’t a professional baker, but could make desserts good enough to satisfy his sweet tooth.

“One of the books?” Caerllion said, which one he could read to the Pureblood. “I think that I knew one.” he said, before going to retrieve it in his cabin. Indeed, they were at the top bookshelf and Azar would have difficulty trying to pick it. Once he was back, the Annfyn sat next to the red-skinned man.

“My mother used to read this one to me when I was a child and it became my favorite.” he showed Azar the cover, a male Annfyn overlooking a field of red flowers while the sun set on the horizon, beyond two large bodies of water. It was a bit worn, showing that it was used many times. “It’s an epic completely told in the form of poems. It’s about a captain that has to live through a lot of adventures before he can arrived at Annwfyn after a war in the Core between Coruscant and Alsakan.”

He started reading the first chapter, describing through the verses how the captain misses his homeworld while they are stranded in Chandrila due to the Chancellor not allowing them to leave the Core yet. It was full of longing and sadness for being distant from home, but also happiness because his crew had survived and that they were being celebrated as heroes. The first chapter would end with a hopeful tone, when the Senator of Chandrila, the captain’s benefactor, intercedes in his name and his ship is allowed to depart.

Caerllion was a bit shaken after reading it, as always happened. It was the most vivid memory that he had from his mother, besides her death. “If you think that this one is boring, I have other ones that are more traditional.”

@Sreeya

 

[Darth Arcanos]

Azar listened quietly when Caerllion read the poems. The Annfyn would notice that Azar was completely hooked on the words, listening intently as he drank his wine. The Pureblood loved being read to and he especially loved epic stories and tales. He could see parallels between this journey and his own when he was away from Korriban for almost seven years.

He could see the emotions manifesting in Caerllion, but he said nothing about it, quietly sipping from his wine.

“No, keep reading them,” Azar said, “I’m enjoying these stories. I wonder…if my stories will be written like this one day,” He mused as he thought about his journey to return to Korriban, reclaim his name and bring the cities under one united banner.

Without a word, he suddenly closed the distance and turned around so his back pressed against Caerllion’s chest. He got cozy in the Annfyn’s arms, glancing down at the book with Caerllion looking over his shoulder, “Hmm, far more comfortable,” He declared as he enjoyed the warmth the other man provided, “Read me the next story. I love how your language sounds,” Azar said, his eyes skimming over the pages written in a language he couldn’t read. It was a quiet, unspoken intimacy with an appreciation of art and intellect that Azar enjoyed.

@LouJoVi

 

[Caerllion of Cyfnos]

When he started reading the book, Caerllion had noticed that Azar was completely focused on the story and he wasn’t surprised. The ‘Journey of Ulyxeus’, how the book was called, was a perfect example of Annfyn's epic poem. It joined historical events with fictitious characters, while adding the concept of home, to create a very captivating story. Some literary critics complained saying that this book was pure nationalism, since the end goal of the characters was to return to a perfect Annwfyn. However, the Sith knew that it wasn’t true.

Everyone could relate to the captain's journey. Everyone had an end goal in their lives, be it a place that they wanted to find and live in peace or a position that they wanted to achieve. However, there were always challenges in their path that needed to be dealt with. The characters in the book faced their problems and were able to return home in the end. This ending worked as a good inspiration.

Caerllion believed that ‘Journey of Ulyxeus’ could help people find incentive to make their path toward a dream. In his case, it helped him after his mother died to find the incentive necessary to have his journey toward the throne. Perhaps Azar was thinking the same, but related to his ascension as King of Korriban.

“I’m happy that you like it.” Caerllion smiled, while changing pages to read the next chapter. “I can start writing those stories for you.” the Annfyn had joked about it early, but now he was being serious. “It would be a great honor.”

While he prepared to start reading the next chapter, Azar got closer to him. Caerllion blushed briefly and the butterflies returned to his stomach, but he allowed the Pureblood to take the position that he wanted. Now the red-skinned man had his back against the Annfyn’s chest, while Caerllion’s arms were basically around Azar’s body.

The Annfyn felt as if he was in heaven.

Before starting, Caerllion adjusted his body so Azar would be more confortable. “In the next chapter, the captain arrives in Commenor and we are presented to the antagonist, the Senator of Alsakan.” he proceeded to read the poems that described how the crew arrived on said planet to rest before continuing to travel home. The antagonist was introduced when he hired a man to sabotage the ship as revenge for the captain having killed his son during the war. The chapter ends with a somber tone, while the ship jumps to the wrong direction and ends at the orbit of Dathomir.

By this point, Caerllion had put the book in a position that allowed Azar to better see what was written on the pages. He also started to speak the language of his homeworld with more emotion and dedication. His voice sounded close to the other Sith’s ear, due to the Annfyn needing to read from behind the Pureblood’s shoulder.

If Azar wanted, Caerllion would spend the entire day reading all the poems of the book, while the Pureblood stayed protected with the Annfyn’s arms around him. “I can teach you my language.” he said, while turning another page. The dark-haired man wondered how amazing Azar would sound speaking Annwfyn’s language.

@Sreeya

 

[Darth Arcanos]

Azar kept listening as Caerllion read the story and then translated it. It was an arduous process, but the Pureblood appreciated how patient Caerllion was through it all. He let Azar fully understand and follow the story despite it completely being in another language. The language itself was beautiful to listen to, almost a singsong and light sound that was pleasant to the ears. Ur’Kittat was not beautiful by any means and it had a harsh sound, so this was very different from his own.

“It doesn’t have the same meaning if you write the stories just because I wanted it,” He said with a giggle when Caerllion offered to write his stories, “No, they must be inspired. The stories will be written when I do things that bring invoke passion to write in people,” He mused aloud. He already had songs about his conquests from locals on Korriban. It was only a matter of time before there were texts.

“I would learn it,” Azar remarked as Caerllion offered to teach him his dialect. The Pureblood had a passion for learning both arts and sciences, and part of that was picking up other languages.

He was perfectly cozy pressed up against Caerllion as the Annfyn read to him. Azar had little desire to move, looking over the pages after Caerllion adjusted the book so he could see better. His fingers idly traced over Caerllion’s hand where he held the book, the touch against his skin light and feathery. After a moment, he glanced upwards at the Annfyn, “If someone were to write a poem about a chapter of your life, which would you choose?” Azar asked quietly, his face now only inches from Caerllion’s as he glanced up at the taller man.

@LouJoVi

 

[Caerllion of Cyfnos]

Caerllion nodded, agreeing with Azar words. He didn’t experience the events that were part of the Pureblood’s ascension to power, this way he would never deliver enough emotions in his words that could describe how amazing it all had been. Everything that he ended up writing would sound empty, like a simple work of historiography.

“Then, I’ll continue reading poems to you. Whenever you want.” he smiled at Azar, before his attention returned to the book in front of them and continued to read . At first, Caerllion thought that he wasn’t going to be able to focus with the Pureblood being so close to him. However, it felt so natural to have Arcanos’ warmth close to his chest, where the Annfyn’s heart beated in a calm rhythm.

It was as if the Annfyn’s heart was calm for feeling his beloved so close.

“I’ll separate some poems with their translations for us to practice.” he said, excited with the chance of spending more time with Azar. “There is a pretty famous one that even has several mainstream translations in Galactic basic. It’s about the first ruler of Annwfyn, who was also an exiled prince of Thustra. In the verses, the Annfyn laments his exile and begs for his return to free them from oppression. Eventually, he returned and guided them to a new world. Nowadays, people use it as a love poem.” his eyes briefly left the book, looking at the Pureblood in his arms. He wanted to stay this way forever, only the two of them reading books. “The name is Mo Ghile Mear. My Gallant Darling. I think that you’ll like it.”

In some way, this poem reminded Caerllion from Azar and Korriban, replacing the Annfyn with the Sith people begging the Darth to unite them.

He continued reading the book, reaching the moment that the captain and his crew had arrived at Eriadu. By this point, the number of members of the crew had decreased, with some dying while others were left behind. Among them was a young Annfyn who chose exile in G’wenee because he had married a Nightsister during their stop in Dathomir.

The crewmember being left behind was the result of mixed couples not being allowed in Annwfyn at the time. Caerllion hated this law.

Now even more.

The Annfyn continued reading even when he felt Azar touched his hand. His attention didn’t stray away from the words, but his heart started to beat a bit faster. The Pureblood’s question made him stop. He closed the book, but left his right thumb between the pages, so he would know where they stopped. “Which would I choose?” he repeated, while thinking about it.

It took only a moment, but for Caerllion he felt as if he had revived his entire life until this moment. “I think that it would be my time in the military, especially the Battle of Atravis. This was the moment that I left being a princeling brat and understood what was to be an adult. I think that the theme of my poem would be the transition to adulthood.” he looked at Azar, black eyes staring at golden ones. Only now he noticed how they were so close to each other. “And you? Which one would you choose?”

@Sreeya

 

[Darth Arcanos]

In some ways Azar wasn’t entirely surprised at Caerllion’s choice of having the poem be about his time in the military. He spoke of that time often and Azar couldn’t help but note the conflict he had. Caerllion missed the Imperials he served with and yet saying it aloud meant turning his back on the Sith of current day. Azar wasn’t there for the split, so he harbored no ill feelings towards Altair Din or what happened. In some ways, however, he did wonder why the tielfing allowed Tempest to live and rise as a Dark Lord when he could have resolved the Sith problem more permanently.

The Pureblood was perfectly aware of how close his face was to Caerllion’s and he caught the Annfyn staring at him. Azar only smiled in response to the question, “My campaign to bring multiple cities under one banner on Korriban,” He said without hesitation, “It was a thing to behold…thousands of my military forces and those of other royal houses all lined up for battle. All loyal to me. They would chant my name. I would capture that first moment I set eyes upon Murzana, the city of jewels and the way it stood in all its splendor. It was a thing of legends..not thought to be real,” He said with a fond sigh, “But when I saw it, I felt as if I could believe in anything. I could believe in a reality where I was King. Where I could be Sith’ari, where I could be the Emperor of a new Empire that I forge.”

The Pureblood’s thumb grazed over Caerllion’s hand again, “Despite others believing in me, it took me a long time to believe in myself,” He said quietly, gazing back at the Annfyn again. He wondered for a moment if the other man was brave enough to close the distance. If he would take the plunge. A moment passed and Azar simply smiled, slowly moving to slip out of Caerllion’s arms.

“I suppose we ought to check on the specimen,” He said as his thoughts slowly began to focus on work again.

@LouJoVi