Ask Raxus Two and a Half Livers

[Varyn Atrix]

Per my OP template, thread is death enabled​

Altair was one of the few friends that Varyn felt like he had left in the galaxy. Throughout his life, he had watched friends become enemies, die, or simply vanish until now he felt there were very few in his life who he had known for more than a year.

But Altair was one of those. It was a relationship that had become more distant over time as the two took on more responsibility, but it had never faded or died. Varyn was glad for it.

He rapped his knuckles against Altair's door, lacking any of his usual armor or attire and dressed simply in jeans and a hoodie. In his hand was a six pack of beer and in his other a six pack of soda as well. It had become a tradition at this point ever since he had shown up to Warmaster Din's room with the same. Mr. Two-Livers and Mr. Half-Liver. What a duo they made.

When the door opened, Varyn couldn't help but smile widely at seeing his old friend. Though he didn't say it aloud, he had feared for Altair's safety at Dathomir, and regretted not having been there himself. There was a temptation to wonder if things would have gone differently if he had been.

Sup? I bring my usual offering of gifts, he said, holding up the drinks in either hand. This enough to cover admission? he asked.

 

[Altair Din]

The door opened to reveal a tired Altair dressed in a simple tank top and sweatpants. He smiled at the sight of Varyn, gaze flicking to his usual offerings of beer and soda for himself. The tiefling stepped aside to let him in, “Good to see you, man,” He said, genuinely thrilled to have his buddy here. In many ways he was glad Varyn wasn’t there on Dathomir. He had lost Aadya, and he couldn’t imagine losing a close friend as well.

Once Varyn walked in, he would see many pictures of an infant around the apartment. It was no secret that Altair adored his daughter and there were signs of her everywhere. There was even a room with a crib and tons of items fit for a little girl for the days Altair had her. He had gotten into the rhythm of the single father's life over time, though it made him put in far more effort into each mission now to ensure he came back alive.

Altair plopped down on the couch, cracking open a beer, “Feels like everyone we know is just..gone,” He remarked as he gazed up at the ceiling. He knew Varyn had once loved Vahliri. He wouldn’t tell his best friend that he still maintained an unhealthy relationship with her. Everyone kept secrets, everyone had an agenda. He sometimes questioned what he was doing anymore or what even drove him, “I’m happy I don’t have to play Emperor anymore though,” He said with a half grin.

 

[Varyn Atrix]

You too, brother, he said. It wasn't a term he used lightly. Varyn had never had any siblings, but Altair had become the closest thing he had these days. It was hilarious in a way and another thing different between the two of them. Varyn was a single child, and Altair came from a massive family.

How's she doing? he asked as he stepped inside to see the many pictures of Altair's little girl. She was adorable, of course. Look at who here parents were, she was never going to be anything else. Altair didn't talk about Clove much, and Varyn never pried, but he also knew that his friend and Aadya had been close. Very close.

Yeah... he said. More and more every year, he said. Varyn remembered days when he had had something of a deathwish himself, and somehow he still had a creeping feeling that his days were numbered. But it wasn't this day.

How're you holding up? he asked. It was about as noninvasively as he could broach the topic, and depending on the answer he got would decide whether he pressed further.

Varyn laughed as Altair declared his feelings about being Emperor. Yeah, I'll be honest. I wasn't going to say it while you were doing the job, but kriff, that seemed like it sucked, he said, smiling to meet Altair's grin.

Miss me with that. Although, I think you'd have done a good job, he offered. He knew that the weight being off Altair's shoulders was a blessing. Like Varyn, Altair enjoyed being in the action. Neither of them were cut out for the administration desk-duty.

 

[Altair Din]

Moments later, Belleza came barging into the room. She had a doggy door that let her out into her very own yard, and she returned to eagerly lick Varyn. Altair chuckled at the sight, taking a swig of his beer, “Zara’s growing like a weed, man,” He said excitedly, “Her horns are gettin’ big and she’s been trynna chomp on my tail,” He added, rolling his eyes. His accent slipped in, speaking volumes about how comfortable Altair was around Varyn, “I can’t believe I’m a Pa..” He mused, shaking his head, “I still feel like a dumbass kid myself.”

Altair snickered at Varyn’s sentiments on him running the show, “You know I ain’t about that,” He remarked, “For a long time I thought I wanted to be Emperor. I made a big show of promising it, told Tiamat that and..” He shrugged, “I dunno, it was just overwhelming. But….it means a lot that you stuck with me, man,” Altair said, his voice getting quieter. Varyn was one of the only people still left that even knew about the tight knit circle that existed with the Sith prior. These days Altair barely recognized most Force users.

“What do you think of the Imperial Knights?” Altair asked curiously, “Do you think the concept is working?”

 

[Varyn Atrix]

Varyn smiled as Belleza came charging in and immediately turned into exactly what ever person was around a dog.

Awww, Bellaaaaa! Who's a good girl? he asked, scratching her head and down her neck as he listened to Altair talk about Zara. He laughed as Altair mentioned trying to chomp his tail. Teething, eh? That stage where you have to buy them new clothes ever couple of weeks because they grow out of them? he asked. He had no kids, but he had heard that was how it was.

You know, I'm not sure that ever really goes away, he said as Altair reported his disbelief about feeling like a kid. We just get bigger bodies and more money, but I think we're all just stupid kids, he said. Yeah, that also explained a lot of the galaxy's problems, didn't it? Big, dumb kids with armies and navies at their disposal crying because someone stole their toy.

The conversation grew more serious again and Varyn was once again pulled back to the Sith who were gone. How many had survived the purge and schism? Varyn knew that Altair had been close with many of the Sith, and although several had stayed with the Empire, some hadn't. And those who had were dying or vanishing as time went on. Perhaps it was to Varyn's credit that the only Sith he had close ties to that was still in the Order was Vahliri. You know... the Dark Lord of the Sith.

Unbidden, his mind returned to the time when he and Altair had fought the Jedi Councilor on Mustafar. Or when they'd dug through the snows of Telos together. It seemed like so long ago now.

We've been through the wringer, he said. But we're still kicking and showing no signs of slowing, he said, popping open one of the sodas and lifting it in the air in a toast to the words.

But a part of him wondered. But before he could ask his wondering, Altair hit him with another question.

If you'd asked me that a year ago, I'd have said "no." Now... he paused, tilting his head back and forth from side to side in thought ...I think we're finally getting our feet under us, to be honest, he said. It wasn't until he'd started looking at the actual numbers to prepare for presentation to the Emperor that it struck him just how much they had been doing for the Empire.

Give us another year, and I think we'll really be in the swing of things, he said. Altair would know that Varyn had dragged his feet in taking the promotion. He had his hesitations, and had discussed them with the person that was effectively his only friend anymore. He didn't want to be held responsible for every misdeed of all the Imperial Knights, and he didn't want to be benched behind a desk.

You were on Dathomir. Probably the most intensive operation we've been a part of. What did you think? Did they add value to the operation? he asked. He had reviewed the mission extensively for the hearing, but that wasn't the same as being there, on the ground, fighting one of the most powerful Force-users in the galaxy.

 

[Altair Din]

Altair thought about his question for a while, “I think the casualties would have been astronomical without the Imperial Knights,” He admitted, “Ailis supported me when I went to fight Renfry’s deputy. Astrid gave her arm to save Dram from being completely vaporized,” He paused there, “I’d argue that the operation would have been a colossal failure without them.”

The tiefling eased back in his seat, taking a sip from his beer. In some ways he couldn’t vent to Varyn about everything. There was the fact that he was secretly seeing Vahliri - something that would probably instantly tear their friendship apart. He wasn’t sure whether Varyn was entirely over her or not, and to learn that his best friend was seeing her after she had turned on them all was too much for anyone to handle.

“Well you see me still living my life - I got my kid and all that,” He said as he eyed Varyn, “What’s going on with you outside of work? Sometimes you’re the biggest square I know, bruh,” He said with a half grin, “You remember to go out and have some fun sometimes?”

 

[Varyn Atrix]

He felt a certain amount of pride in the Knights as he heard Altair talk about how much they had done. He knew that he, personally, hadn't been involved, but there was a part of him that still thought of them as "his" Knights now. They were his responsibility, and despite the losses, he was glad to hear that they had been instrumental to driving off the Nightsisters.

Good, I'm actually really glad to hear that, he said, almost feeling that at least in part a weight had been lifted off of his shoulder.

We're allowed to have lives outside of work? he said quipped with a smirk. Varyn had never been great at the "life outside work" side of things. It was harder to maintain cover when you were casually socializing, and by the time he actually committed to the Sith and found a girl he was interested in, it turned out she always just loved his friend instead. Since then, it had been all work... or at least it had been until recently.

He would have objected to the "square" comment, but knew he had pretty much no leg to stand on.

Well, there was work, work, and work, but actually, I met a girl recently, he said. "Oh, and I don't know her real name" felt a little weird, but Varyn's life hadn't exactly been "normal."

She's ISB and we met on a job. I asked her out and we had a lot of fun, so I'm hopeful, he said, holding up crossed fingers like the dork that he was. His life was quickly passing him by and as much as he enjoyed being alone, pretty soon he was just going to spend it alone.

I should probably get out and do more things away from work, he said, and they both knew that the chances of him doing that were near-zero. But hey, look at me here socializing with you, he said with a grin.