Ask Never Visiting Mushroom Kingdom Again

[Param Vour]

This was fun. They were having fun. It was with knives, but they weren't afraid of each other. They weren't worried. When Kai put the music on, it was like a non-stop mag-train of laughter and dancing. Param swayed her hips and hopped around, finishing up the fish and putting the knife down. Once Kai was done with the vegetables they only had to wait for the rice. Then they could start rolling.

Of course, Param had to make the spice first. She turned, and still shaking her hips, worked her way through the cabinets to gather individual seasonings and spices they had. To say Param was impressed with their stock would be an understatement. It was like Kai had a professional chef on board or something. It was a good thing they weren't on board at the moment, then. She's die of embarrassment if someone had heard her earlier.

She grabbed a bowl and began mixing the spices together, putting her finger in to taste every so often. It was spicy. Good. When Kai moved next to her after finishing his cutting, Param leaned into his chest, poking the seasoning and bringing her finger to his lips. A small smile stayed on her lips, more out of being close to Kai than talking about anything related to the Sith.

"My master was out on business a lot. I had to take care of his house while he was gone before I built my own," she explained, her voice quiet and soft. She thought the seasoning was done, but she'd let Kai make his own changes if he wanted. Her silver eyes scanning over the almost prepared food in front of them. "It started with a garden of tea plants. Then I had to learn to cook for myself. Pretty soon I was growing and cooking my own food. I'm still not as good as you are, though."

The rice cooker dinged, saying it was done. Param reluctantly pulled herself away from his chest. "So we take a piece of fish, and some vegetables, and roll it in the seaweed." As she explained, she showed him how in real time. "Season the seaweed, not the rice. Then take the rice and stick and mold it around the seaweed." When she finished, she had a perfect little tempura roll, complete with a spicy seasoning that would keep their mouths on fire all dinner. She held the roll up between their faces, offering it to Kai.

@Sreeya

 

[Z'Kair]

As Param answered, he wondered what a Master and Apprentice dynamic was like. Was it like father and daughter? Siblings? Or some weird sub/dom type deal because they were Sith? It sounded no different than having an owner, but he would keep the thought to himself. Clearly this Master didn’t invoke hate from the way she spoke about him. Kai’s thoughts were brushed aside when she leaned against his chest. It was a simple gesture, and he realized he was getting rather used to it. Kai paused for a moment to gently stroke her hair, his fingers brushing through the soft, silvery strands. He didn’t often see hair like hers, nor the stunning eyes, not having met many Echani.

Kai turned to help her make the rolls. He had eaten this before, but he never knew how it was created. Most of his cooking styles were for show and he didn’t know how to cook beyond a few key basic dishes. His tail playfully brushed against her legs or wrapped around her like a cozy throw while they worked on the rolls, “Does your Master treat you well?” He asked after a moment, surprised by his own question. There was an almost grim tone to it, as if this Master of hers would meet some kind of unfortunate end if her answer was anything but yes. He may not have been a combatant himself, but his network in the criminal circles was absolutely massive by now.

He turned to look at her when she offered him a piece. Just from sniffing it, he knew it was an intense level of heat. Kai stared at her for a moment before he plucked it from her hand and set it aside. Without warning, he reached down and effortlessly picked her up again, setting her on the edge of the counter.

“I wanna help myself to an appetizer before I set my mouth on fire,” He said with a grin before sliding his hands up the sides of her legs. Kai kept his gaze on hers as he effortlessly reached up and slid her undergarment down her legs, letting it fall to the floor. Kai set one of her ankles on his shoulder, tracing kisses from there down towards her calf and further down, grazing his fangs along her skin. Unlike her, he was entirely unconcerned with anyone walking in on them as he began this right there on the kitchen counter. The music kept blasting, now moving onto other songs. Kai didn’t stop, making his way down with her slender legs around his shoulders where he disappeared for a while.

He emerged again eventually, giving her a smirk. He stepped back and ran his tongue over his lips before reaching right over her and for that tempura roll. He popped it into his mouth as he straightened up to stand again, “Damn this is great,” He said appreciatively as if he didn’t just send Param through a cosmic explosion.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

His fingers through her hair was like... Like... She didn't have the words to describe it. She was safe, she was warm. She was wanted. It was the smallest of gestures, the simplest of touches. Yet it was enough to renew her happy trembling against him. Enough to keep her flooded with the closest thing to pure bliss she'd ever been. All of her senses, even in the Force, were just... him.

Which question didn't catch her off guard. It was the tone that did. It had a protective essence to it. Despite her bond with Master Thel, it made her smile. She loved it. Every word, every implication. Not because she had become disillusioned with the Sith over time, but because she would do the same for Kai.

Everything was a blur for her, but all of a sudden she was leaning back on the counter with Kai disappearing from sight, but certainly not from touch. If there was anyone on the ship with them, they'd hear her for sure as Kai brought her back up to the heights from earlier. Her fingers were still clutched tightly in his hair when he pulled away. He ate the tempura roll, making a quip about it being great, while she was out of breath, and needing much, MUCH more.

Sliding off the counter, he gently pushed Kai back against the counter to his back. She didn't his lips, the spice on the tempura wasn't what she wanted on her lips just yet. She dropped to her knees, freeing him from his prison without a breathy word. Param had no idea what to do, but she learned quickly, and poured just as much needy, fiery passion into her work as before. When she resurfaced, she pressed herself against him, nuzzling his neck. "Hey Kai?" she started, pulling away with a mischievous, smirk. She could only hope it was as good as his. "You should take what you want more often." She wasn't talking about items from stores, and her eyes said it clearly.

She realized she never answered his question. "To answer your question, as far as Sith Masters go, he's one of the best. My first time training with him, he used the Force to choke me. Told me if I ever betrayed him or his operations, he'd kill me. A little later, after you took me to the fair..." she looked up at him, meeting his eye with hers. She wouldn't need to tell him it was the worst night of her life; he'd see it in her silver eyes. "He actually taught me how to to manipulate minds, and then electrocuted me when I couldn't lift a speeder on the first try." The thought brought up anger, but Kai's touch tempered it, soothed it until it was no more.

"Beyond that, he never laid a finger on me," she finished, resting her head on his chest again. "I'm close to 'graduating' soon, Kai," she said, using his own terminology. "I'll have a lot more freedom. I'd like to use that freedom to see you more, if that's okay."

@Sreeya

 

[Z'Kair]

Despite the displays of the Force, Param had always come across as mild mannered and almost shy. Kai could tell she was still reeling from what he had done, and he finished up the roll. What he didn’t expect, however, was for Param to slide right down to her knees. His eye widened in shock as he stood there momentarily holding a second roll, frozen in place. He watched as she worked on his pants before his mind became complete mush.

He was not exactly the vocal type, but a guttural, almost purr-like noise escaped him as it had earlier from their tumble in the sheets. There was something intense about Param doing this, her passion and desire invigorating him far more than the act itself. His claws curled against the counter, his eye on her the whole time as she took command.

By the time she stood up again and nuzzled against him, he was still collecting himself. Kai redid his pants shortly after, surprised and pleased at the aftermath. With all that out of the way, he sat down with her to actually eat what they made. He was helping himself to the roll he forgot about when she answered his question. He froze in place again, his ears visibly flattening enough to where they pressed against his skull.

“Do you hear yourself, Param?” Kai asked, “He abused you and it’s okay because he didn’t keep abusing you?” His tone was harsher than he intended, “Are you okay with me telling you that the Sith that took my eye or left burns on me is not so bad because they didn’t kill me?” Kai asked, giving her a hard look. It was obvious this had touched a nerve he didn’t expect for him. He realized he was stepping into territory that was ultimately none of his business. He took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, quietly turning back to his food.

“Never mind..” He muttered under his breath, “I hope you find what you’re looking for..”

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

They were making rolls as they ate them. She was definitely slower than him though. Her smile and flushed cheeks betrayed how much she enjoyed what they'd just done. They had both loved every second of it, and she knew it. There were no denying the sounds she had just made him make.

The smile didn't live long after they had sat down. His tone was harsh, but she knew it was because he cared. If he didn't care he wouldn't mention it. He said the quiet part out loud. The Sith had done to him everything she feared they had. She didn't even fight the tears this time; she couldn't. She dropped the roll she was making and her face slowly going from a blanket expression to a sob.

"I'm sorry." She wasn't sorry she had told him. She wasn't sorry he had raised his voice. She was was sorry that she had accepted it. Sorry that he had to be the one to tell her that it was wrong. "I don't want to be this," she cried. Her knees came to her chest, her arms wrapping around them as she buried her face in them. "I don't want to be this." It was all she could say. "Please." She was terrified that he'd leave. Terrified of repeating that night at the fair. Terrified of losing him. Terrified of what the Sith would do to him if they found out how she felt about him.

"They take everything. They kill everything. I'm so scared." She almost began rocking with how her body began to shake. If it came down to it, they could do whatever they wanted to her as long as they left him alone. She'd let her anger get the best of her in his defense, she'd gained consciousness only to rush to his aid, almost hurting herself in the process. She'd gladly take whatever they threw at her if it meant he never saw another minute of strife. "I just want to be happy. I just want to be free. I don't want to be this."

@Sreeya

 

[Z'Kair]

Kai hadn’t expected what came next, and he sat there in stunned silence. His ears drooped as he realized he likely caused her to become upset, but he didn’t regret what he had said. For a moment, he didn’t react, not the best at navigating outpouring of emotions. He had lived his whole life curbing his own and putting up walls, and Param never put up any.

A few seconds later, Param would feel his arms wrap around her and hold her tightly to his chest. He said nothing as she sobbed against him. Kai didn’t offer advice, didn’t try to tell her what to do, didn’t turn the topic on himself, and he certainly didn't give her platitudes and tell her everything was going to be okay. He simply stood there and let her collapse against him, allowing her to feel the warmth of his touch. His tail wrapped cozily around her. He knew this was a reality she had been denying even since the first day they met.

This wasn’t a path where he could guide her - she had to come to terms with it on her own. He was not a Force user, so he couldn’t understand what it meant to not have an Order or regime to belong to. And so, he remained silent, letting his presence be the words of comfort instead.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

Her eyes and cheeks burned from the tears, still crying silently into his chest. His arms were like a blanket of warmth and protection. It was that protection that had her terrified. Kai had so many scars and burns, a missing eye, and they were all from Sith. How many of them did she know? How many of the Sith that hurt Kai had she killed for? Murdered and maimed for? How many of them would do much worse to him if they knew he was the source of her strength?

She shifted, turning into him and wrapping her arms around him. Her sobs had at least stopped, turning to sniffles. Her face still burned though. "I don't want to be a Sith," she said again. Her voice was shaky. "... but I can't leave the Order yet. They'll hunt me down. Hunt you down." Her arms tightened around him. "You're what I'm looking for, Kai. You're the closest thing to happiness I have." Param stayed like that for a while, sniffling, pulling herself into his chest.

After a few minutes she began to cry again, but there was something else in the cry. A laugh. She pulled away, her eyes red from crying. Tears still streamed down her face but now she fanned herself. "Ow ow ow ow ow I had spice on my fingers." She couldn't stop crying, couldn't stop laughing, and she couldn't touch anything or else the spices would get worse.

@Sreeya

 

[Z'Kair]

Kai was silent as she spoke, his face heating up the more she said. He wasn’t sure how to answer - for all his street wisdom, he was not the most well versed in this topic. He jumped back when she suddenly screamed about the spice on her fingers, staring dumbly before realization sank in. He started chuckling to himself, shaking his head as he tugged Param along towards a sink. Kai took the time to grab a wet washcloth and try to dab the spice out of her face and eyes.

When that out of the way, he took a moment to look at her, “Param..” He said quietly, “What did you tell the Sith about me?” He couldn’t help but ask. Why was she concerned about anyone coming after him? There was a sense of anxiety that began to build up in his chest. It was bad enough that Blue had a bounty on him - was he putting himself at risk by mingling with Param? Kai was normally not this stupid and he didn’t let women govern his thoughts, but Param found her way in somehow.

“Maybe…maybe this isn’t such a good idea if it’s going to put us both in danger,” He mused aloud. Kai was not emotionally driven, he was a practical man. It was what allowed him to survive, after all. He ran his fingers through his hair, his tail flicking in agitation.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

The washcloth was cool, unlike the spice. She was thankful for his assistance. After a moment of letting her eyes and face cool, she turned to him. Her expression of sadness was gone, though there was still hurt lacing her eyes. It wasn't the physical pain, but like he had started to slowly push a knife into her her. Why did every man she knew think she talked about them? Master Thel had the same question for her.

"They don't know anything about you," she said bluntly. "I mentioned I had met a boy who gave me trouble once... no names, no details. I got lectured to about assets and liabilities for an hour over it. You've been locked up in here," she pointed to the side of her head, her annoyance at having been questioned plain in her voice. "pretty tightly ever since. No one's going to be after you because of me."

Param folded hers arms across her chest. She had just cried, she didn't want to do it again. Everything was going wrong. Why didn't she just lie? Because she wouldn't. Not to him. She didn't know what she was doing. After a moment of pinching the bridge of her nose, her mind racing through options or things to say and do. "I would never do anything to put you in danger, Kai," she said finally, lifting her silver gaze to his. Param was hurt and confused, and it was plain to see. "If I just walk away from the Sith the chances that they come after me are higher. They don't know about you, but there are so many terrible things they have to find out." Tears threatened her eyes again. She paused, pushing them back down with a sniffle.

"Do you care about me?" She already knew the answer, if she was being honest. Or maybe she only thought she did. "Do you want me?" She could already feel the icy talons of fear closing around her heart, the dark claws of doubt scratching at the back of her mind.

@Sreeya

 

[Z'Kair]

If no one was going to hunt him down, why did she proactively mention it in the first place? Kai didn’t react to her obvious annoyance at his question. He would never apologize for asking that question. He didn’t survive in the galaxy by being naive and assuming the best - he survived because he always prepared for the worst. Kai was reminded of the rules he had instilled for himself about Sith and getting tangled up with them. He ran his hand through his hair, almost wincing when she outright put him on the spot.

There was a moment of pause after she asked her questions. Kai’s tail twitched and the slight hint of fear flashed in his eye. What if he said something she didn’t like? Would she attack him? He was briefly reminded of the fair and her yellow eyes. Kai steadied himself, exhaling to calm his nerves.

“Of course I care about you,” His tone was genuine. He wasn’t lying about that as much as he hated admitting it, “But what are you asking me exactly, Param?” Kai asked, his eye narrowing, “I’m not…trying to settle down or whatever. It’s not something I can afford,” He said. As he said that, his hand absentmindedly scratched over the the tattoos over his other arm.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

She saw the slight hint of fear. It wasn't like the terror she had seen before, but it had the potential to grow. That was what she didn't want. Param wanted him to look at her and feel safe, and warm. The way she felt when he looked at her. That was the crux of it all though, wasn't it? She would always have this power over him, even when she wished every day to have it disappear.

A desperate sigh of relief escaped her, her body visibly relaxing when he admitted he cared about her. Her hands were shaking. Clasping them together in front of her didn't help much. She took a deep breath, and managed a small smile. "I don't think either of us can settle down right now, Kai. I'm not asking that," she said, her voice barely above a whisper as her hands clasped in front of her. "I care about. I want you. I want to spend more time with you, and have fun." she paused, letting out a small tearful laugh. "If I can stop ruining dinner."

Her silver gaze met his, her face returning to the worried, almost scared expression it had been before. "I'm asking you to trust me. I'll figure things out." She wanted nothing more than to reach out and hug him, but the hint of fear she had seen a moment before stopped her from moving.

@Sreeya

 

[Z'Kair]

Kai scratched his own ear in thought, “I mean..does it need to be more complicated than that?” He asked with a shrug, “Spend time, have fun and just keep doing what we’re doing. Why does it have to be anyone’s business?” He mused. He wasn’t looking to get anchored into a relationship, but he could certainly make time for her. The thought of an actual relationship terrified him and sometimes he feared that’s what Param ultimately wanted. Kai’s place was in the stars and always roaming throughout the galaxy to grow his pirate empire. He couldn’t do any of that if he had obligations to someone else. He had already lived a life of obligation to buy his mother's freedom.

He reached over and brushed Param's tears away. Kai leaned in close, giving her a grin, “Ready for a spicy kiss?” He gave her a warning before pressing lips against hers. He drew back after a while, giving Param a tight squeeze with his arms, “There is a list of essential horror flicks we need to watch,” He said suddenly as he started putting the dirty dishes away, “It’s a crime you’ve gone without seeing these classics.”

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

Param would have been lying if she said she didn't want to run away in that instant with this boy. She couldn't, she knew that. The night had been so much up until she had ruined it. Every night with him was so much fun. As long as they could have nights like this again, she would do her best to keep herself, her true self, for him. Who she was as a Sith would be half a galaxy away anytime she saw his fanged grin. Would he be able to live with that?

She got her answer when his thumbs wiped her tears. His warning wasn't much of one, but it didn't matter because a kiss from him was exactly what she needed in that instant. The warm, safe home of his arms around her destroying the last second guesses she had. Her hands snaked around his back as she pressed herself into his kiss. His lips were spicy, and delicious. When he pulled away her cheeks were still flushed, but the tears were dried and she was smiling happily again.

The sink filled up pretty quickly as Param helped him put the left over rolls in containers to save for later, and the dirty dishes in the sink. "Are they going to be scary?" she asked, remembering how she had practically jumped out of her skin when they were playing the zombie game. It wouldn't matter if they were; something told her that Kai would keep her in her skin this time around. "Like the stealth part of that video game?"

@Sreeya

 

[Z'Kair]

Kai cleaned up after dinner, actually brushing his teeth to take down some of the spice. If they were going to get intimate again, he didn’t want any mishaps. The Fiani invited Param to the common area and tugged her down to sit with him on the couches. He switched on the Holo and grinned at her question, “Of course they’re going to be scary,” He said, “But you can grab onto me if you get too scared,” He said with a smirk, leaning in to steal an affectionate kiss before turning back to the Holo.

The first movie was Dead Evil, the original. It was a slasher film but a classic. Kai pulled Param close, his tail wrapped around her like a cozy blanket. He normally had these movie marathons alone or completely spiced with his crew.

“Let these movies be a lesson on what not to do when shady things happen,” Kai said, “And that the aliens always die first,” He said as he rolled his eye at the age old stereotype.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

While Kai was finishing cleaning and freshening up, Param was doing much the same. She washed her mouth out with water, playing close attention to her lips. The mess staring back at her in the mirror was certainly a sight to behold. Tear stained cheeks, eyes red and puffy from crying and the spices. But her lips were still smiling, and it felt completely natural.

She preemptively took him up on his offer, wrapping her arms around his, and leaning into him when she sat with him. His tail wrapped around her, and she nuzzled his arm in response. His comment about shady things and aliens confused her, but she soon found out. As gruesome and scary as they were, the movies were very entertaining. Param would have to start watching movies, though she doubted it would be the same without Kai there.

By the end of the first movie, they had slumped into a lounging position, with Kai laying down along the couch, and Param comfortably laying on his chest. They talked and laughed in between the movies, recalling scenes and what they thought of them. Half way through the third movie, Param's lips had found his. The sounds of screams, violence, and creepy instrumentals seemed to disappear. The fire they had created together simply refused to go out.

She'd leave the next morning, giving Kai a gentle kiss goodbye in his sleep with his clothes she'd been wearing laying next to him on the bed. A clock started in her mind, counting down the days to when she'd get to see him again. Every day getting harder than the last as she returned to a life she couldn't escape.

@Sreeya