Ask Pick Your Poison

[Darth Arcanos]

The whirlwind that occurred in the alley still rattled within him. However, he had to compartmentalize and focus. A part of him suffered deep anxiety from revealing something so deep to the other man. He was vulnerable and Karys knew. Azar made no eye contact as he walked, Karys walking side by side with him. Even if the words were not uttered, Azar laid his soul bare in that alley.

Karys knew Azar was in love with him.

There was a sharp pang of regret for ever revealing that. Would Karys hold that against him? Would he use it as leverage? Azar recalled the way Karys manipulated and conned his way on missions - it was a talent that came naturally to Karys. What if that was the game here? And then he recalled the very vivid and real fears Karys had about his father and family. It always hurt more when it was by choice. Azar had come to terms with turning his back on his family, but Karys was in the throes of it.

It was nightfall - the perfect time to execute their plan against the agriculture clan. Azaka Shan was gracious enough to mark exactly where to strike. She had offered her people to help should they need it.

“Discretion is just as important as outward displays of strength,” He explained quietly to Karys. His tone was less icy, though retained the authoritative air that he presented in the classroom, “Sometimes your goal will not be to kill or manipulate people but their assets. In this case, their prized asset lies with their produce and farms,” Azar turned to Karys, “You have several variables to operate with - you can distribute the damaging poison to the farms and granaries yourself. This will take far more time and you may not get to everything, but you will be discreet. Alternatively you can rely on the support from Azaka Shan and have her clansmen assist you. This will be far more efficient but runs the risk of exposing the plan and getting caught.”

Azar paused there to let him decide, “Choose.”

@Apollyon

 

[Karys]

Karys walked alongside Azar, both in utter silence. The pair struggled with similar internal thoughts, while Azar fretted over his revelations to Karys, Karys worried over the insights Azar had gained. Karys used his passions to mask his fears, it was his shield that protected him. That wasn’t the case any longer, Azar had seen what laid beyond. Now the barest and most naked of truths were exposed.

The pair of Sith eventually arrived at the coordinates given to them by Azaka Shan. Karys body still as he surveyed their surroundings. The farm lands served as some of the most fertile of lands the clan possessed. It was likely a closely guarded treasure for their clan. Which was good, destroying it would set them back and send them reeling for what was to come. When Azar spoke, Karys listened.

He explained to Karys the situation and his options. Karys immediately eliminated using Shan's offered aid. It wouldn't be worth the appearance of weakness. If the two of them couldn't do this without their aid, then it was an endeavor they overstepped during. There was really only one option, do it themselves.

<Taking the help of Shan's people will weaken our position when it comes to negotiations later.> He replied instinctively. <If we do this ourselves, despite the extra time it will take, we will be in a stronger position when we show our hand.> He continued. <Better they view us as capable of anything than their equals.> He explained. <We do this ourselves.> His decision was made.

<We start with the farmland, then move to their stores after. If they can't grow anything the impact will be greater in the long run.> Karys mused aloud, his gaze turning to Azar, hunting for a response.

Karys would extend his hand to take the vials of poison and begin the long process of contaminating the land. He'd keep a low profile as he moved from field to field, cautiously avoiding guards or farmhands the tended their crops in the low evening light. He'd stop at the center of each field and dump the contents of the vial onto the ground, careful not to allow any to touch his skin. The effects would become apparent within a few moments, just as it had been with the queen. Fertile soil would grey, crops would begin to wither in an ever spreading circle.

By the time the guards recognized there was an issue with their fields and rushed to inspect them, it would be too late. The crop and land were doomed. Karys would use the chaos and panic of the situation to slip into the grain houses unnoticed. There he would follow suit, using a different toxin to poison the storehouses. He shuddered to think what would happen to any who ate anything made from this grain, their deaths would only fuel the distrust towards the agricultural clan. The damage would be done and likely impossible to recover from.

This process would take several hours and it would be late into the evening when a dirty and muddy Karys safely exited the now ruined farmlands. His attentions would turn to Azar, the words he used echoed the ones he used after dealing with the droidekas on Zyggeria.

<Well, how'd I do?> A tired smirk resting on his cracked and scabbed lips.

12/20
@Sreeya

 

[Darth Arcanos]

The impact of the poisons was apparent almost immediately, and Karys was successful in getting to every field and storehouse for maximum devastation. Azar hadn’t known the other man to be particularly good at sneaking, but clearly he had taken this role seriously and didn’t lose focus.

By the time Karys approached, Azar was seated atop the table of a picnic bench. He was a curious sight, his nimble frame seated atop the surface with legs crossed and in meditation. Azar’s eyes opened when Karys approached -messy, rugged and still with that unmistakable smile on his face. Azar wasn’t waiting back when he returned from his exploits with the droideka, but he was here now.

Amusement danced briefly in his eyes as he studied the other man, “You smell like shit,” He said with a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. After all, Karys had spent hours trekking around in fertilized fields. He briefly looked past Karys towards the fields, knowing that when the morning came, this entire clan would be devastated.

Azar gingerly stepped off the table, back on his feet. He gave Karys a wide berth for now, “With this clan in such a state, the remaining infrastructure clan will no longer bother keeping open their begrudging trade lines. There will be fighting between the two clans - perfect opportunity for Azaka Shan to swoop in."

He led the way towards a local inn. Azar specifically didn’t choose anything fancy that would draw attention. He handed over some credits, “Two rooms,” He said.

“Sorry, only one left,” The innkeeper said. He looked between the two purebloods, trying to ignore the stench emanating from Karys.

Azar sighed. Of course. He forked over the credits, walking up towards their shared quarters for the evening.

@Apollyon

 

[Karys]

Karys approached the area he was supposed head to in order to reunite with Azar. And Karys found him without issue, Azar was meditating on a picnic table, one of Karys' eyebrows cocked as he looked at the man. He turned his head to gaze back at the distant fields and then returned to Azar. Karys knew instantly that Azar had been watching his progress, just as he had with Madam Shan.

Karys' smile widened Azar's quip, this was the man he remembered. Seeing the ghost of a smile on Azar's face caused Karys to almost melt, it had been weeks since he'd seen an expression that wasn't half hidden. Seeing even the faintest sliver of emotion, of amusement, of happiness sent shivers down Karys' spine. As he approached Azar, he slung the mixture of mud and fertilizer from his hands.

<Oh really?> He teased. <I hadn't noticed! How about a congratulatory hug?> Karys asked jokingly, his arms spreading wide as he approached Azar.

Karys would stop short of actually touching Azar though. He knew the game would have been spoiled if he had actually wrapped his filthy arms around Azar. When Azar moved to hop down from the table, Karys would take a step back, giving him the room he likely would want to remain comfortable. He listened to Azar as he explained how the next phase of their plan would play out, Karys couldn't help but agree.

<I am assuming we will be aiding the conquest of final clan?> He asked, his voice taking a more measured tone than before.

Then the pair would begin the trek back towards town. Azar would pick them moderate accommodations for the evening, even attempting to purchase two rooms. Karys felt his stomach sink at those words. He had hoped that maybe Azar wouldn't shove him into his own quarters after, today. He didn't have much time to dwell on it though, because the innkeeper informed them he only had one room left. Karys beamed internally at this, in fact he barely kept the grin from hitting his lips and couldn't keep it from his eyes.

<This pans out better, we're supposed to be newly weds. Remember?> Karys whispered to Azar as they made their way to their room.

Upon entering, Karys would head straight to the refresher, turn on the shower, and step in before undressing. He would allow the water to run over his armor and clothes, washing the filth away as he pawed at the plates. Then once he had cleaned an area he'd remove the armor piece and allow it to fall to the shower's tile floor with a hollow clang. Each plate would slowly be cleaned, removed, and kicked into a corner of the shower. It turned out Karys urge to be clean overrode his compulsion to organize the armor.

Eventually Karys found himself completely nude in a lukewarm shower. His forehead rested against the shower wall as he processed the events of the day. The lessons he learned. The trials he had faced.

That Azar loved him.

@Sreeya

 

[Darth Arcanos]

Azar stayed silent at the reminder that they were technically supposed to be a ‘married couple’. He had all but forgotten about that and the fact that his name was Sadow. As Karys stepped into the shower, it took every ounce of Azar's being not to focus on that. He had showered with the other man plenty of times, and he could all too vividly imagine the rippling muscles, water running down Karys’ torso, the way Karys sometimes pushed Azar against- he exhaled and anchored himself to the present. He was the one stepping out of line with his thoughts.

The Pureblood curbed his wandering mind, focusing on his role as Master. He changed out of the robes and into more casual ones, seated on the floor to meditate.

By the time Karys stepped out, he would notice that all his armor pieces from the refresher had been neatly stacked and put away for him. They both had their compulsions about organization and cleaning, and not even the Master and Apprentice dynamic could change that.

Azar didn’t bother looking up at Karys because he fully expected the man to strut about in a towel or outright nude. He kept his meditation going, finding himself far away back in the dunes of Korriban. He could feel the grains of sand on his fingers, the searing, unforgiving heat on his back. He could see glimpses of a throne that once would have had his name on it. He felt nothing but bitterness, considering all the choices in his life that led him to fall from grace. There was also a pang of guilt for not caring enough to return, and that was perhaps the most damning of all.

@Apollyon

 

[Karys]

Karys hand reached from the shower, he called the towel to his waiting grasp. He would dry himself off in the shower, wrap the towel around his waist, and then walk through the bathroom to the sink. As he made is way there, he would notice his armor had been cleaned up already. His gaze softened as it turned to Azar, who knelt meditating in their room. It was small gestures like this that truly touched Karys.

He wouldn't idly torture him tonight.

Instead, Karys finished his nightly routine. Then he would pick up his wet underwear and channel the Force into heating the air around his hand. He would steadily dry the fabric until it was completely dried and warm, then he would slide them on and repeat the process on his black undershirt. After he was relatively dressed, Karys would move to the couch in the corner of the room. He wouldn't argue with Azar over who got the bed or who slept on it, he loved the man, he wanted him to rest easily.

<Where does your mind go when you meditate?> He finally asked as he laid back on the couch, his arms resting behind his head.

@Sreeya

 

[Darth Arcanos]

Azar didn’t respond immediately, slowly extracting himself from the sand dunes of his mind. His vibrant yellow eyes opened moments later, fixing on the man that draped himself on the sofa. His frame was almost too big to fit on it. Had Karys been working out harder than usual? He looked even bigger than before somehow. Azar’s face betrayed nothing but a thoughtful gaze as he considered the question.

“To my failures,” He answered honestly, “They were intrusive thoughts when I first began, but over the years I have learned to embrace it. I visit by choice now,” Azar paused for a moment, “Today I’m visiting Korriban,” He mused aloud. He was too cowardly to visit it truly again and he would need someone else to speak for him - someone that still had some measure of standing with the tribes.

“You did well today,” Azar said after a moment of pause, “Your friends…the bonds you have made.. They have empowered you considerably and broadened your horizons,” He chose his next words carefully, “But always be prepared to erase them should they take you from your path.”

It was what it meant to be Sith. If Karys made exceptions for everyone, the entire galaxy would have leverage on him. Perhaps the toughest lesson the Pureblood would have to learn by the time he became a Champion was to only keep those in his sphere that benefited him somehow. Anyone else was a burden.

@Apollyon

 

[Karys]

When Azar spoke, Karys shifted on the couch to look at him. His red gaze pierced through Azar as he listened in quiet contemplation. Azar focused on his failures? He meditated on his failures on Korriban? Karys' mind traveled back to their first night together. He remembered Azar's bristling rage at the stories of Korribani Sith. He wondered what Azar had done to warrant meditation on that failure. He half made to ask but stopped himself short of asking.

Instead Karys simply drank in Azar as he knelt there in his comfort robe. A robe he'd seen the man wear countless time when they laid in bed together. His mind tried to leap to countless memories that they had shared. Teaching Azar basic. Trying to program ur-Kittat into an EZphone for him. Cooking meals together. Watching sunsets from the balcony. They were all bittersweet now and he pushed them from his mind.

<I've never been to Korriban. My house was shamed and exiled from the homeland generations ago.> He stated instead of addressing his own inner turmoil. <Tell me, what is it like?> He asked rolling to lay on his back.

Karys didn't move when Azar congratulated him. His gaze remained fixed on the ceiling. But he was listening. When Karys spoke it wasn't on the topic of friends or bonds. But more direct to the events of the day.

<I am sorry Azar.> He stated calmly. <I've been pushing you to react.> He continued. <I...> He began. <...I just didn't understand.> He would then look down to the man he cherished.

@Sreeya

 

[Darth Arcanos]

Azar had read many old stories to Karys in their quiet moments together, but he realized he never actually spoke of his home as he knew it. The Pureblood’s initial reaction was to disparage it, but he thought long and hard about it. Azar never outright lied to the other man - a curious deviation from his usual nature.

“It is…wonderful,” He said after a moment of pause, “Out here I…always feel like I’m on the outside looking in. Korriban was where I felt like I truly belonged. The tribes act like impudent children,” He said with a sad smile, “But it is home. The tribes have their own rituals, dances, feasts, hunts, stories, songs and shared understanding of who we all are as a people..... I am not prepared to return anytime soon, however..” Azar trailed off, bristling at the thoughts of his family that stood by his father.

He looked over as Karys turned to face him, offering an apology. Azar had expected some kind of rebuke against his sentiments about cutting out anyone useless in his life, but the tone shift caught him off guard. There was a moment of silence where Azar had nothing to say. He looked down at the ground before him.

“I did not ask to have you as my apprentice,” He said at long last, his voice quiet, “It would be an honor for anyone to have you as their pupil,” Azar added, “But I wish your name never came up,” He said again, his fingers curling against his legs. There was another moment of pause before his gaze flicked up to regard Karys.

“Take the bed, Loth-" His face burned hot and he stopped himself, "Take the bed, Karys, you are far too large for that couch,” Azar said dryly.

@Apollyon

 

[Karys]

Karys listened with interest as Azar spoke of Korriban. He could feel the passion mixed with anguish as he remembered what home was like. For some strange reason, it invoked memories of Ziost. His family huddled around the fire in their hall. Sitting on the lap of his mother while she taught him to cook as a boy. The sound of his siblings and half-siblings laughing as they played. His own frown settled on his face. All of those happy memories, all of those homesick ideals, they had to die.

Karys had made his mind up. He was no longer Sadow, not truly.

Azar's gaze would fall and he would grip his legs. His own confession came forth. It was all things that Karys understood. He understood that their names had been randomly paired or that they'd been an "ideal match" according to service records. Azar hadn't chosen him as his apprentice but that wasn't why Karys was upset initially, it was because Azar had shut him out.

A breath-y half chuckle escaped Karys' lips after a moment.

<You know, if it had been anyone in the galaxy other than you that I was paired with, I would have murdered them in their sleep.> Karys said with a smirk. <You are the only person I couldn't do that to.> Karys explained. <That I wouldn't do that to.> He admitted.

There would be a brief silence between the two of them before Azar spoke again.

<-kitten> Karys said instinctively, quietly finishing his own pet name for Azar. But when Azar offered him the bed, Karys would simply shake his head no. <Azar, I will not lay in a bed unless you lay in it next to me.> Karys gently told him. <I am young, I will be fine.> He assured. <Good night Azar.>

How badly Karys wished to tell Azar he loved him. But he didn't. The words died in his throat instead.

@Sreeya

 

[Darth Arcanos]

Azar wasn’t sure how he felt about Karys’ commitment to never killing him. It had been the old tradition to kill the Master and replace them, but he didn’t see that as a common practice now. Azar constantly had to balance training Karys effectively and applying the correct amount of harshness. His jaw tightened as Karys finished his term of endearment for him, his gaze averting the other man’s on purpose.

While the tender sentiment in his words about the couch lingered with Azar, he soon quirked a brow, “Are you calling me old?” He asked hotly, crossing his arms over his chest before he rolled his eyes and took the bed. Unlike Karys, Azar knew what he had said to him in that alley. Those emotions and the pulse in the Force could convey far more than words ever could. He was confident in himself, apparently, because he was old.

Azar got into bed without further debate, tossing and turning until he used an extra pillow to hug. He laid there for what felt like hours, wide awake and hearing the peaceful sounds of Karys’ gentle breathing from the couch.

Moments before he heard a loud thud as Karys inevitably rolled off the tiny couch and landed on the ground.

That familiar, breezy giggle escaped in the pitch black room from Azar before he could stop himself. He quickly curbed it, knowing fully well Karys’ dramatic choices bit him in the ass.

The rest of the night passed without incident and Azar had a restless, dreamless sleep. By the time Karys woke up, he would have a blanket over him and also, comically, pillows lining the floor next to him in case he had another mishap.

Azar was nowhere to be seen, having stepped out at dawn to assess the aftermath of the poisoning.

@Apollyon

 

[Karys]

Karys watched Azar from the couch. He saw his jaw tense when he finished his own pet name. For a moment he was worried that he'd crossed a line but nothing came of it, this time. A bark of deep genuine laughter would echo from Karys' at Azar's question. He rolled his eyes and slid a little lower onto the couch. It wasn't the same as before but it was better than it had been before.

Karys heard Azar shifting in his bed. He knew his lover well enough to know he was trying to get comfortable, to find the right angle to lay at. Karys smiled faintly as sleep overtook him.

Thump
"Fuck"
And a breezy giggle.

Karys woke up in the morning, a dozen pillows surrounded him on the floor and a blanket was draped over him. He didn't remember grabbing these. He looked around the room, his eyes still bleary from just waking up. Azar was nowhere to be found. Then the realization dawned on him, Karys immediately buried his face in one of the many pillows around him to hide his tired smile.

After a few more minutes, Karys would get up and stretch. There would be several pops as his joint cracked and popped from laying on the hard floor. His gaze fell onto Azar who stood on the balcony and gazed out onto the city. Karys walked out to join him, standing silently by the sliding glass door, in just his shirt and boxers.

<How good did we do? How bad is it?> Karys asked him with a deep yawn.

@Sreeya

 

[Darth Arcanos]

Azar gazed out over the horizon as Karys finally stepped out onto the balcony. He looked bleary-eyed, his hair was a mess, and he appeared outright adorable. Azar trained his gaze forward again - he was already showered and dressed formally for the day. He pointed at the smoke rising in the distance, “The clans are fighting amongst themselves,” Azar said with a grin, “It’s only a matter of time before Azaka Shan calls forth a gathering to establish herself as the ruling council.”

He turned to regard Karys, “Have you considered every variable, apprentice?” Azar asked him quietly. He had allowed Karys to drive a lot of the negotiations, though he gave prompts here and there. However, he didn’t give him everything as it was on Karys to learn and adapt, “Once Azaka takes over, what is to prevent her from rallying all the other clans to oust us from the equation?”

Azar didn’t advise on any contingency plans, because that was how he operated. Karys would have to have come up with them on his own or found alternative ideas. Perhaps Karys would be reminded of how Azar had poisoned the Zygerrian queen to have her under his grip. What leverage did they have on Azaka?

@Apollyon

 

[Karys]

Karys scratched his head lazily as he listened to Azar speak. He stretched his neck, both it and his back felt stiff from being slammed into the wall yesterday. He took his time to drink in Azar’s presence. He was already cleaned up and ready for the day. He looked so handsome in the glow of morning and fires. Eventually, Karys’ eyes drifted from Azar and off into the distance where plumes of smoke billowed up to the sky.

So it had begun.

Karys listened to Azar’s questions. He had a plan, yes. It felt relatively foil-proof as well. They had poisoned the land, Sith credits were being used to inflate the banking clans spending power, Zygerrian slaves would be on route to work their fields. He was creating a system of reliance upon them. All they had to do was ensure the war simmered long enough.

<I do have a plan Azar.> He said as his mind finally unfogged. <The clans are warring, crippling each other. The banking clan only stands to win this war with our support. Her people only stand to survive with Zygerrian slaves tending their fields.> He explained. <That was the reason for my extensive bargaining, to create total reliance.> He explained. <If that falls through…> He grew quiet as he realized there was no back up plan. <…I’m not sure.> He muttered.

His mind flicked back to Zygerria and Azar’s poisoning of the Queen. It was a useful skill, one he wished he had, but he didn’t. His brow furrowed as he thought harder.

<I can’t conjure poisons and toxins like you can Azar.> He began. <Anything I could do would have to be more overt.> He continued. <I guess I’d have to batter her into submission.> The words came out with an annoyed sigh. <If her people impoverished and starving one break her, I’ll have to do it myself.>

@Sreeya

 

[Darth Arcanos]

Azar stayed patient and silent as Karys vocalized his thought process. It began as defensive, self-assured that his plan was airtight and without cracks. By the end of it, he began to realize that perhaps every angle hadn’t been considered and there were a few more what-ifs than desired. The pureblood outright smirked when Karys suggested simply clobbering Azaka Shan.

“Everyone has a weakness,” He said calmly, “Everyone has something to use as leverage. You adapt to your variables. The Zygerrian queen invited us for dinner and drinks, so I administered a poison. If she had invited us to a public gathering, I would have let slip the intel I gathered about her affairs with some of the slaves,” He slowly turned to look at Karys. Likely the other pureblood was still discovering the intricacies of Azar's plans on Zygerria, “My skill set is not poison, Karys, my skill set is adaptability. You must adjust to every evolving situation and always be several steps ahead.”

Azar gazed forward again, “While I do not foresee any obvious hiccups with Azaka, we will need to keep a close leash on her and be wary.”

He didn’t linger there much longer, giving Karys a chance to freshen up and change. The two had a chance to eat and head down to meet with Azaka again. She already looked thrilled, all smiles and cheerful in her office.

“Ahhh the power couple,” She said with a smile, “You have been the greatest gift to my clan and I. Please have this in our honor,” Azaka said as she took out a bottle of wine. Azar observed it in silence as she moved to pop it open.

“We are very gracious and we will enjoy it during the rest of our vacation.”

“Oh,” She popped the cork, “I must insist you drink,” Azaka said a bit too cheerfully, “After all, it’s only proper after I have now gained control of all the clans. And it is dreadfully rude to decline a drink from the new Governor of Panatha."

Azar could already hear people shuffling in behind them. They were surrounded. The Pureblood kept a calm resolve, glancing over momentarily at Karys to give him a smug grin.

@Apollyon

 

[Karys]

Karys listened carefully to Azar's words. He heard one of Azar's contingencies on Zygerria and one of his eyebrow ridges rose with interest. He had to learn to be adaptable, to be flexible like Azar was. He nodded slowly as he absorbed the information and thought about how he could use it to his advantage in the coming meeting.

As he got prepared for the day, Karys would pull out his EZphone and send a short message out.

Param. Call in 10 mins. Thnks.

Karys then would finish getting dressed in his armor and stretch his neck one last time, working out the last bit of stubborn stiffness. He would follow Azar in utter silence, counting down the minutes until Param's phone hopefully came in. When Karys and Azar arrived in Madam's Azuka's office, she was all smiles and cheery. It put Karys on edge, he'd seen his father in similar moods shortly before feeding an unwary fool to the Tukata.

None of Karys emotions bled through to the surface, he couldn't allow it. Instead he kept a calm smile on his lips as Madam Azuka popped the proffered bottle of wine and offered glasses to them, insisting they had to drink. It was poisoned, obviously. But Karys plucked the glass up by the stem and made to drink it. The sounds of gathering footsteps echoed beyond the chamber. He glanced to Azar and gave him a playful smirk.

RING.
RING. RING.
RING. RING. RING.

Karys' phone rang off the hook. Right on time. Karys curiously dug through one of the pouches on his belt and plucked it carefully out. He paused to examine the screen for a moment. Before raising a finger to Madam Azuka, shushing her from continuing to speak.

"It's someone more important than you." He told her. "It's my boss."

Karys would carry on with a few "mmhmm"s and "uh huh"s before speaking, clearly and loudly. He wanted everyone to know who held the real power in the situation.

"Oh everything was going smoothly, ma'am." He "replied". "Yeah, it is a real shame the new Governor here forgot her place." He continued, his voice becoming harsh. "In fact, call me back in five. If I don't answer. Don't send the food. Don't send the slaves. And halt all funding to this shit-stain of a planet." His hardened gaze flickered to Governor. "I'll talk to you then, ma'am."

Karys would hang up the phone, locked it, and tossed it idly onto her desk in front of him.

"Governor Azuka." He stated mockingly. "You seem to have forgotten your situation. Let me fucking remind you." He began. "You just crushed your rival clans in a brutal war that was funded by me. Your victory hinged on my success last night. And your future now relies on my good graces." He continued. "Do you think any of those people outside trust you?" He asked gesturing to the window behind her. "Do you think any of them trust the food you'll grow after this morning?" He continued. "Do you think they will build for your clan?" He rhetorically asked. "Let me answer that for you." He spat as he raised a finger to shush her once more. "No. They don't. And no, they won't." He smirked as he said that. "Fact is, you broke the peace that held this world together." He explained. "You. Got. Greedy." He tutted. "Now, without my slaves. Without my imports. And without my funding, this whole rock will collapse and your race will just be a distant memory." He explained, his voice rising in faux anger.

Karys would pause then, adjusting himself as if trying to calm down.

"So, why don't we forget this little incident." He told her. "Why don't you sit down and be a good little Governor, hmm?" He asked. "You will take directions from my associates when they arrive in a few days. If you do that, the food and money and labor will keep flowing in. If you don't or one of my associates goes missing?" Karys began. "Well, it'll take a long time for the Core to give a shit about your insignificant race." He shrugged. "We wouldn't want that now would we?" He asked a cruel smile appearing on his lips. "What is your decision Madam Governor? Your Golden Age? Or Extinction?" Karys bluffed.

His phone was beginning to ring on the desk before him.

@Sreeya
11/20

 

[Darth Arcanos]

Azar expected a fight on their hands, but something entirely different played out. He had pride in his ability to see things several steps ahead, but even he was floored by Karys. It was clear that his apprentice had actually listened to what Azar mentioned on the balcony. He knew Karys well enough to know the comms call was fake. But it convinced Azaka.

Emotions were tense as Karys built up to a perfect crescendo, effectively grasping Azaka by the neck and dragging her wherever he wanted her. It was a masterful display of emulating everything Azar had said prior. On Zygerria, Karys had been the one sitting next to Azar and marveling at the latter toppling an empire. Today Azar witnessed Karys do the same with him as the one observing.

Azaka knew she was cornered. Shuffling could be heard behind them, but Azaka snapped her fingers to halt their progression. Her nostrils flared and she was clearly furious. However, she bought the story, her animalistic gaze drilling into Karys.

She hadn’t thought things through. Her means to an end would come to light without these two purebloods dead and she was powerless to kill them now. Azaka growled to herself, slamming her fists on the table.

“I believe that concludes our business,” Azar said calmly, “Thank you for your cooperation.”

With that, Azar rose from his seat and walked right past the rows of armored Epicanthix that were waiting for them. He kept walking out till he stepped out of the building, gazing out over the horizon. They would have to mobilize Sith presence immediately to execute on the bluff, but Azaka was neutered for now. Once they had more presence here, they would find another figurehead that was more willing to work with them.

Azar said nothing for a long moment, simmering over everything that happened. Karys was standing next to him.

“Yeah well, you still fell off the couch,” He said curtly. He tilted his head to look at Karys, the faintest smile on his face.

A smile that conveyed beyond words ever could how proud Azar was of the other man.

@Apollyon

 

[Karys]

THEME​

Karys watched as Azaka crumbled beneath the weight of his bluff. He had watched Azar on Zygerria. He had listened to him earlier that morning. These were the fruits of his labors. This world had fallen to him without a drop of blood being spilt. Without a trace of the Sith being here. This was power.

Karys was addicted.

Even as Azar began to get up, Karys plucked up his phone and answered it. Concluding his charade as they walked from the room.

"Yeah, no worries ma'am, the new Governor understands her place now. Send the shipments and start disbursing funds." He reported, his tone taking on a more jovial and lighthearted one.

Then he'd hang up the phone as they exited Azaka's office, his hand would slip into Azar's as they passed by the armed and armored guards. He gently squeezed his "husband's" hand as they left the building and walked down the chaotic streets of Panatha. Only then would Karys release Azar's hand, and turn to gaze at his own garden, his own symphony of domination. Flecks of gold materialized in his eyes as Karys relished in what he had wrought here.

<This is true power Azar.> He whispered. <This is how the Sith bring the Galaxy to heel.>

Then his golden gaze fell down to Azar, his lover and Master.
Everything changed for Karys in that moment.
There was no going back now.

/endthread