Ask Winning an Election: Cotellier Sith Mission

[Karys]

Until recently, Karys had spent the majority of his time alongside or near Azar. The experiences that they had shared cemented a bond he hadn’t expected to feel towards the man. However, eventually the Sith Order called again, and Karys was called to rise back to the occasion once more. This time, it was on a planetary system called Cotellier, an arid democratic mining world.

Karys hated it already.

Despite his displeasure with the climate, he focused on details provided to him and began to research into the world. As it turns out, the Conservative candidate, Pter Mishkohl, from the “Cotellier Welfare League” had reached out to the Sith, promising loyalty in exchange for victory over his political rival. It was an opportunity to gain access to a valuable resource. However, Karys had learned a few valuable lessons from Zygerria, first was to never walk into a situation blindly. Second, was that there was often a way to manipulate a situation to the most desirable end. He just had to understand the situation and find the right strings to pluck.

This is why he researched into the political climate and atmosphere of the world. Which was currently led by Head of State, Adiara Langley from the Free People’s Cotellier Party. Which was massively popular due to the party’s focus on more liberal political ideas. It caused a dilemma in Karys’ eyes that he intended to address with his compatriots in this endeavor, two Sith Champions, technically his superiors.

The designated meeting site was in an orbital yacht, owned by Mishkohl himself. The Sith were to make contact here and discuss the terms of the contract with him directly. Despite this, Mishkohl would be late arriving to the yacht due to a political event he was hosting and speaking in. Karys arrived and made himself comfortable in the guest lounge.

Karys didn’t wear traditional Sith robes, nor the garments and armor he typically did while adventuring in the Galaxy. Instead, he wore the same outfit he had worn on Skye with Lady Cyutadakyr. On his hip sat a flask, a potion brewed by Azar that could change his appearance for a limited time, there was approximately three doses. In addition, hidden in his suit jacket was both his lightsaber and his blaster pistol. Both tucked in a discreet chest holster and hung under his arms.

After taking in the opulence of the yacht he would make his way to the bar and ordered himself a drink consisting of Corellian Brandy, Naboo Bourbon, a crème de menthe from Ryloth, and all of it was mixed over ice. It was a gentleman’s drink and one that seemed fitting given their mission. With his drink in hand, Karys would take a seat on a long lounging couch and await the other Sith to arrive. They would have their meeting with Mishkohl and then they would have much to discuss and plan.

@DMCK @TheDudeMike @René

 

[Param Vour]

Param stepped through the automatic doors of the guest lounge in a black, strapless split dress that accentuated every curve and muscle on her athletic frame, with a pair of leather heel boots. Her leather purse carried a vibro-blade, lightsaber, and credit chip that for once was filled with her own money and not her former Master's. Long silver hair bounced behind her and along her shoulders. She held an EZPhone in her hand.

"Keep a holding pattern, Vee. I'll give you a beep when I'm ready," she said. A string of beeps and woos came through the small speaker. "Okay, see ya." She hung up and stuffed the phone into her purse. Vee would be flying her ship around, probably having fun to keep the little BD-unit's time occupied. Param looked around the lounge for a moment, her silver eyes inspecting the others in the lounge. That's when she spotted Karys.

A gentle smile spread across her lips as she strut over to him, a bit more of a sway in her hips than normal. "Karys, it's good to see you again," she said. "How have you been?" Param sat down in a chair across from Karys, crossing her legs as her hands rested in her lap. She hadn't seen the pureblood since he had come to her garden on Troiken in search of her tea. He looked a lot nicer now than the frat boy get-up he had been in then. "You look nice."

@DMCK @Apollyon @René

 

[Ayomi Jakarta]

So the Sith were taking over some more planets. Ayomi would've thought they'd been assigned to some kind of assassination mission, not trying to rig an election for some sleezy politician. Then again, delicate operations like this one required a variety of skill sets. They just hoped they wouldn't have to do to much talking; it's not like they were here to make friends.

Speaking of friends, Ayomi found themselves quickly missing their cyber cat, Friend, as they walked through the automatic doors into the guest lounge. Friend was the only, well, friend that the Tiefling had, and the only one they needed. Unfortunately, it looked like they'd been beat here by the other two Sith, which probably meant social interaction. Ayomi hesitated awkwardly in the doorway for a moment before walking into the lounge. They wore a stylish suit jacket in lieu of an uncomfortable dress, with their blue hair tied into a braid that swayed down to their upper back; objectively beautiful even as they were oblivious to the fact. Hidden pockets on the inside of the suit jacket contained a set of vibro-claws and their double-bladed lightsaber in it's split hits, just in case things got hairy.

The Tiefling quietly sat down without saying anything next to the slightly younger, silver-haired girl talking to who was presumably the other Sith. Ayomi was noticeably tense, eyes focused in their lap while they absent-mindedly picked at one of their nails. They half-hoped things did go bad, just so they could have an excuse to fight instead of talk to someone.

@DMCK @Apollyon @TheDudeMike

 

[Karys]

Karys leaned back into the couch, he kicked one of his legs up and across the other and sipped from his cocktail. He flinched as it hit his tongue, spat it back into the glass, and placed the glass on the table. Who drinks this shit? It was around that time, Karys heard the door to the lounge slide open, his red eyes flicked upwards to drink in Param.

He watched the way her hips swayed in that black dress, a faint smile graced his lips as they brazenly dragged up to gaze into her silver eyes. She was beautiful and he could tell, she knew it. “Param.” He greeted as he leaned forward, genuinely happy to see her. His smile grew slightly when she complimented his appearance. “And you look lovely, as always.” He told her, echoing the same words he’d used when they first met. "I hear there is reason to celebrate." He told her, openly acknowledging her promotion. "I could be convinced cook for you again if you'd like?"

Behind Param, another person walked in, a Tiefling, who appeared to be a woman. Karys smiled as they walked into the room and plopped down next to Param. They were tense, Karys could sense it. He gave a knowing glance to Param as they stared down into their lap and picked nervously at their nails. His smile transformed into a devious smirk, he'd pull this one from their shell. He propped his head up on one of his fists and allowed his eyes to drink in their appearance. The suit was charming on them, yet they didn’t wear it with the confidence they should.

“And who is this stunning songbird?” He asked, his deep baritone voice reflecting his genuine interest.

@TheDudeMike @René

 

[Param Vour]

Karys was quite the flatterer, even when he wasn't pining. He'd kept things respectfully platonic after she'd turned down his advances. It was one of the many things she appreciated about the pureblood. The top of the list was his cooking though. The man not only knew how to cook, but cook well. "That sounds like a lovely idea, thank you," she said with a smile. She wouldn't say no to more Ziosti dishes and wine. They could even have a small celebration at the Garden Spot for it.

She turned to the woman that sat down next to her. The woman looked beautiful, but seemed to shy away from it. Param had heard that another Champion would be on the mission with her and Karys, but she didn't expect them to be... was it shy, introverted?

Karys knowing glance at Param earned him a playful eye roll. Far be it for her to try and stop him. She guessed she could play wing-woman, if he needed it. She didn't know if she could channel an inner Kai to turn herself in a silver tongued fox, but she'd most certainly try. It would be useful for the mission any way. Param didn't care about or for politics, but she knew enough to know that discussion and debate was the name of the game.

Param would wait for the third Sith to say something, or not, then turn to Karys. "Has our politician shown himself yet?"

@Apollyon @DMCK @René

 

[Ayomi Jakarta]

It took a long moment before Ayomi realized the other Sith, a Pureblood, was talking to them. His comment was both jarring and flattering at the same time, and the way he was leaning against his hand and staring at the Tiefling was disarming. Upon their realization they quickly looked up in his direction, their cheeks having turned from a mellow blue to a bright pinkish-red in a terrifying mix of embarrassment, shyness, and flattery.

"I - uhhhh... y-you're talking to m-m-me?"

Ayomi asked in a timid voice, softly pointing their pointer finger up at themselves in confusion and introverted fear. Was it getting hot in here? Was it always hot in here?

"I'm, uhhh... Ayomi Jakarta, Sith Champion."

They blurted out in a rush, tensely sitting up straight in an attempt to be formal, if that's what this other Sith wanted. They tugged at their collar nervously, silently cursing their poor fortunes of running into a chatty Sith right away; maybe even a flirty one? It was anyone's guess really, and Ayomi surely couldn't tell. Luckily, the silver-haired woman next to her asked a very pertinent question, to which the Tiefling gave a stupidly-enthusiastic nod in support of.

@DMCK @Apollyon @TheDudeMike

 

[Karys]

Karys smiled and gave an exaggerated nod at Param's acceptance of his offer. He always enjoyed cooking and she had been a wonderful dinner guest. He would look forward to hosting her for another evening of wine and dinner with her. He also noticed Param's reaction to the foreplay of his antics, it only encouraged him more. When Ayomi began to stumble over their words and gesture to themself, Karys' smirk would only widen a hair more.

"Of course I'm talking to you." He replied before Ayomi introduced herself. "Ayomi, that is a beautiful name..." Karys told them. "...isn't it Param?" He asked, turning back to her and giving a playful wink.

Eventually, Param would spoil his teasing and Karys would focus on the mission at hand. He'd dig a pair of datachips from his pocket, each was a copy of the dossier he had developed on this election cycle. It highlighted all important information on it for his companions to review. He handed one to Ayomi, giving her a flirtatious wink and then handed one to Param. He'd pause to hold Param's hand for a moment.

"I'm glad to be on this mission with you, I wouldn't have it any other way." He told her in a genuine moment of gentleness.

He'd then clear his throat then, realizing that they weren't alone.

"Our political ally is currently speaking at a rally, we have some time to discuss this mission." He explained. "But we have some unwelcome ears listening." Karys continued as he nodded towards bartender.

@TheDudeMike @René

 

[Param Vour]

"It is," Param said, turning to her fellow Champion. "A beautiful name for a beautiful woman." She gave the tiefling a warm smile. The woman reminded Param of herself. Before she realized where she drew her strength and confidence. "I would even say they didn't need Karys and myself to join this mission. One look at you, and anyone would be wrapped around your finger." Granted, she'd have to learn how to use that power. It was nerve racking, but Param was very happy with the lesson she had learned from Alice.

Param took the datachip Karys handed her. She wasn't expecting her hand to be held for a moment though. A small flush entered her pale cheeks as she smiled at Karys. "Likewise, Karys," she said, her smile deepening and warming. When he let go of her hand, she plugged the datachip into her EZPhone and scroleld through the data. Param looked up to see Karys nod towards the bartender. "Give me a moment, would you?"

She didn't wait for a response, standing and strutting toward the bar, her hips swaying more than normal. "What can I get ya darlin'?" Before she answered, Param reached through the Force. The man's mind was weak, and it was easy to plant a new node of thought.

"You want to give my friends and I two bottles of your best wine, and then take the rest of the day off," she said. The bartender repeated the idea, filling the node of thought that Param had placed within his mind. It was as if it were his own idea. He disappeared in the back, coming back with the best bottles of wine the bar had to offer for only their top clients and three glasses. Param grabbed them and made her way back to her comrades, placing the wine and glasses down at the table.

Behind her, the bartender locked up the bar and left the lounge. Param didn't wait to open a bottle of wine, pouring Karys glass first, then Ayomi's, then hers. "Now that that's taken care of. Please, continue, Karys." Param took a confident sip of her wine. It was delicious.

(OOC: Roll 12/20)

@Apollyon @René

 

[Ayomi Jakarta]

Ayomi had only been in the guest lounge for mere minutes, yet it seemed as if the temperature of the room had risen several degrees. The Pureblood, Karys, was one thing with his compliments but the girl, Param, was making it worse. They would rather have a lightsaber stabbed through them right now than process whatever this was. Did the pair like them or were the two just making fun of them? Wrapping people around their finger? Maybe after besting them in combat and forcing them into service under threat of death, but not in the subtle way they imagined a gorgeous girl like Param could. The Tiefling's tail flicked nervously next to them as they looked down into their lap, attempting to hide their embarrassment from the other Sith; their face looked almost purple as an aggressive red blush took over their face and mixed with their natural blue skin tone.

To Ayomi's relief, Karys changed the subject to the details of their mission at Param's request. They could definitely see how the pair got along; the looks they exchanged, the subtle hand holding as the Pureblood passed around the datachips. Karys' wink sent the Tiefling's gaze right back into their lap as their face somehow heated up even more. They were far from used to receiving this kind of attention at all. Grabbing an unused datapad from a nearby table, probably left over from some previous meeting, Ayomi inserted the datachip and began reading through the information Karys had collected.

They looked up to see Param returning from the bar rather quickly, wine in hand as the bartender left the trio of Sith completely alone. Ayomi accepted the glass of wine offered by the silver-haired woman with a slight nod, quickly drinking half of it in one sip. It was more than they'd usually drink - alcohol muddled a clear mind in battle after all - but given the circumstances, they could use something to ease their tension.

"That was some good quick thinking."

The Tiefling quietly complimented Param as she'd finished pouring the last glass, before turning their attention to whatever Karys had to say next about the mission at hand.

@DMCK @Apollyon @TheDudeMike

 

[Karys]

Karys watched as Param walked to the bar. There was something different about her, something had changed. It was in the way her hips swayed when she walked, her smile, even the glimmer in her eyes. He wasn't sure what it was but she seemed more...confident now than she had been when they first met. Karys drank the sight in, it was something to behold.

Then his eyes flickered back to Ayomi, who had been watching him. It was Karys turn to blush for a moment, his crimson skin turning a deeper shade. He cleared his throat and smiled at them. <She is something else, isn't she?> He asked them in Sith, testing to see if she understood his native tongue.

Eventually, Param returned to their lounging area. She had three glasses and two bottles of wine, she popped the cork and poured each of them a glass. Karys raised his glass to propose a small toast when Ayomi simply tossed hers back. Karys laughed at that, they both had clearly put their colleague on edge. Karys would instead simply take a sip of his wine, savor it for a moment and then place it back on the table.

"The individual who contacted the Order, our client, is Pter Mishkohl." Karys began. "He represents the Conservative party on Cotellier, also known as the Cotellier Welfare League." He explained. "They stand for everything you'd expect them to. However, the party has fallen out of popularity with the masses." He continued. "They haven't won an election in a decade and the party that has primary control of the political system is known as the Free People's Coterllier Party. They have more liberal tendencies with a focus on the masses." Karys explained. "Our client wants us to plant blackmail for him to ensure his political victory over his opponent." Karys stated, reiterating their mission goal.

"However," He'd pause here for a moment to glance at his allies.

"There is more than just one way to accomplish this." He began again. "We can fabricate and take the time to plant the evidence, damning President Langley and ensuring a victory for our client." He explained. "Or we could betray him, using the existing popularity of his opposing party to rule from the shadows. Use the knowledge of his planned sabotage to ruin him politically and gain favor with the ruling party." He started, leaning forward as he spoke. "Or option three, we play both sides of the field." A sinister smile appeared on his lips. "Our Order controls Zygerria now, the funds we receive from their operations could be used to make donations to both sides of this political battle." He explained. "We carry out the blackmail opportunity, to appease our client and then we use the paper trail of campaign donations from slavers to bind the victor to our will." He concluded.

"We can take this world without the need for blood to be drawn. What do either of you think?" Karys would ask after he plucked his glass back up, leaned back into the couch, and took a sip.

@TheDudeMike @René

 

[Param Vour]

Param listened carefully, sipping her wine quietly. The Conservative party was not the popular with the masses, and as Zygerria had found out the hard way, happy people don't revolt. If they carried out the mission as it was described, the Sith would be back on Cotellier again within the month quelling a rebellion. The difference there would be that they'd be against the entire planet rather than escaped slaves turned bad. Param had watched reels from the Zygerrian incident, an incident she helped- and mostly- caused. The slaves had used their freedom to turn worse than the slavers they had been freed from. Worthless use of freedom.

The liberal party seemed like the best option for them. At least in Param's eyes. She had come to grips that she was a part of an organization that used slaves. The reports, logistics, and even seeing it first hand. It had taken her quite some time to come to grips with the worse part of her life was a normalcy amongst the Sith. But she was also smarter. What was the alternative to slavery? An alternative that Karys knew full well, and so did Param?

"We don't need the fruits of the worst time in my life to get this done," she spat, letting Karys no in no uncertain terms to choose his words carefully. She wouldn't massacre a city as before, but she had seen faster betrayals amonst the Sith, and knew the price of being one. Her tone shifted, returning to the warm and bright voice she had come with. "The liberal party makes the most sense in our situation."

She took another sip of her wine, letting her words sink in a bit. "If we help the conservative party, we'll be back in a month killing off a rebellion. Happy people don't revolt; a fact Zygerria learned the hard way," she said, her silver eyes meeting the fiery yellows of Karys. "There's no need for blood, here. With the liberal party, we can rule from the shadows. Subvert the new generations with subliminal messages, and small changes in curriculum. First we get the officials, then we get the planet."

@Apollyon @René

 

[Ayomi Jakarta]

Karys' comment in Sith might've normally caught Ayomi off guard, if not for the fact that they had become hyper-aware of everything he was doing and saying. As much as they hated to admit it his flirtatious charm was getting to them, and him being not that hard on the eyes either wasn't helping. Luckily, the Tiefling's years spent training at the old Sith Academy on Dromund Kaas had yielded more than just skills with a lightsaber; they'd taught themselves Sith to understand what the other acolytes were saying about them behind their back.

<She certainly seems to be.>

Ayomi would reply to the Pureblood, albeit with the thick accent of a non-native speaker. They were sure he'd asked in his native tongue as some kind of test, and they intended to take back what control of the situation they still could; even if their facial tone was still betraying them.

Ayomi listened carefully as Param returned and both she and Karys spoke on the matter, mulling the situation over in their mind. They'd heard what happened on Zygerria, and it was clear the silver-haired girl had equal amounts of both smarts and looks. If the Conservative Welfare League won, especially in dubious circumstances given their lack of favor with the populace, any potential puppet government would either be rendered useless or drain too many resources to support.

"Param is correct," the Tiefling began, their tone a bit more confident now that they were no longer the focus of conversation. "A master duelist is subtle, always keeping their true intentions hidden until the killing blow can be dealt. If we support the Free People's Party, we win true loyalty."

Ayomi paused another moment, an idea forming in their mind as they took a more measured sip of their wine. Perhaps their particular set of skills may be of use after all.

"If I may suggest another idea... One of us could pose as an assassin sent by Mishkohl and his party to assassinate the president, only to have the other two 'save' him in dramatic fashion. We already have the paper trail from Mishkohl's invitation tying it back to the Welfare League, and such a public rescue would not only place President Langley in our debt but capture the hearts of the Cotellian people."

@Apollyon @TheDudeMike

 

[Karys]

Karys cocked an eyebrow ridge when Ayomi responded in Sith. They were just filled with surprises, weren't they? A satisfied smile settled onto his lips and he nodded playfully but respectfully towards the blushing Tiefling. They'd captured his attention then, he'd have to explore where they learned to speak his language so clearly. But that could be addressed later, they had a job to do for now.

Karys didn't miss the momentary venom in Param's voice. The worst time of her life? She hadn't been on Zygerria, how was that the worst time of her life? He pushed the thoughts aside for now, it was something the pair could discuss over dinner later. Karys would lean back into the couch and listen quietly as the two Champions discussed their course of action. A small smile appeared on his lips. It wasn't the course of action he would have taken but it was an effective one nonetheless. After Ayomi's suggestion, Karys would clap his hands once, bringing the discussion to a close.

"It's settled then." He stated. "We betray Pter and set him up with a faux assassination attempt." He stated in agreement. "Ayomi, darling, you look every bit the capable devil, why don't you play the assassin?" He suggested as he reached into his jacket and tugged free his lightsaber. "Here, use this." He said as he tossed the blade to them. "The crystal isn't bled, I think we'd all prefer if the assassination attempt wasn't linked back to the Order." He explained calmly. "Param, why don't you play the noble hero." He continued. "And I will tie up any loose ends we might incur." There was a sinister light in his eyes when he uttered the words.

They couldn't afford to have anything fall out of plan, if something went wrong or someone knew something they weren't supposed to, they'd have to be dealt with. Karys dealing with these issues made the most sense in his mind. His gaze would flick slowly between his two charming and beautiful compatriots before speaking again.

"Are we in agreement?"

@TheDudeMike @René

 

[Param Vour]

Param listened to the plan, watched the passing of an unbled lightsaber, and found the terms to be acceptable. Even if it were only a mock fight, it seemed the Sith always pit its own against one another. She frowned, but only for a moment before her warm smile returned. "The Sith defend the people's chosen politician from a rogue dark Jedi assassin?" The plan was a solid one. There was only one problem that Param fore-saw. She reached for her purse, moving it into her lap as she opened it.

She pulled out the vibro-blade, giving it a few graceful twirls between her fingers before handing it hilt first towards Ayomi. "Young people can be very smart, it would be better if the assassin wasn't a Force user at all, I think," she said. Her silver eyes shifted to Karys. "Ayomi attacks with a vibro-blade as a regular assassin, is chased back by a Sith, the Sith are the saviors of the people. Ayomi attacks with a lightsaber, it wouldn't be hard for younger generations to figure out we orchestrated it, even if the blade isn't red."

Param turned back to Ayomi. "I'll aim for the blade," she said. Her warm smile hid nothing beneath it. It was a genuine promise. The Sith had enough to deal with to have to worry about their own killing each other for sport, fun, or otherwise.

@Apollyon @René

 

[Ayomi Jakarta]

Ayomi had finally recovered enough from their earlier embarrassment to both tell the others of their plan with some confidence and return to a more normal shade of deep blue. Naturally, that meant it was time for another annoyingly disarming Karys compliment to bring back the redish-purple sheen to the Tiefling's cheeks as they averted their red-eyed gaze from the Pureblood's own. They caught the lightsaber tossed their way, looking it over as they weighed its balance in their palm. The hilt was well-constructed, though not exactly the champion's personal style; then again, that was the point.

Param was next in the suddenly impromptu game of "pass Ayomi your weapons," handing them a vibroblade as she explained the need to avoid any possible traces back to the Order. Her foresight was right again; trying to pin things on the Jedi seemed a little too ambitious, particularly since the Jedi weren't known to be involved in the business of political assassinations. Better to keep things simple. Ayomi tossed Karys' lightsaber back to him with a nod of appreciation, trying to avert his direct gaze, before placing Param's vibroblade inside one of the hidden pockets in their suit jacket.

"Thank you. Blades are my specialty, so I'll be sure to make it look convincing."

They replied to Param, appreciating what appeared to be the woman's genuine kindness. Trusting such promises would've gotten the Tiefling seriously hurt in the academy, though given the important nature of the mission such backstabbing was perhaps unlikely.

"If that's all sorted out, what should we plan to tell Mishkohl when he arrives for this meeting?"

@Apollyon @TheDudeMike

 

[Karys]

Karys listened in silence to Param and Ayomi as they further refined their plan. He smiled softly over the rim of his wine glass, slowly swirling it around to loosen the aroma. Both his colleagues seemed eager to get this mission underway and to play their roles in this grand play. This pleased Karys. He knew Param would play the role of the hero extremely well, even before she revealed more of herself to him. Now it was all but confirmed, Karys understood that deeper down, she was a good person.

That could be a weakness. But Karys had no intention of betraying her. He had no intention of revealing this to anyone. Her secret would be safe with him.

Ayomi on the other hand, they were a warrior. While they lacked the social graces, their stance, gait, all of it reminded him of the dueling trainers on Umbara. The fact they were a Tiefling only leaned into the appearance of a ruthless demonic assassin. A creature that had been sent to upend the democratic system the Cotellierians relied upon for a sense of comfort and control. These people would be like flies moments before being caught in a web, blissfully unaware of the danger they were blundering into.

It was at the question of how to deal with Pter that Karys cleared his throat as he put his lightsaber back up.

"That loose end will be tied by me." He stated. "My appearance in public might draw undue attention but next to Pter? He will never see anything coming until it is too late." He assured his comrades. "All he needs to know is that you are dealing with his political rival."

Karys would then check his chrono, Pter's rally ended five minutes ago, he should be arriving shortly. The echoing boom and a ship docking confirmed the time table.

"I believe that our production is about to begin."

@TheDudeMike @René

 

[Param Vour]

Param smiled at Ayomi. Something told her that if they hadn't been Sith, with betrayal lurking in every corner, they could be friends. They both enjoyed blades it seemed, and the only reason Param didn't have her Force forged sword with her was to keep official Sith business separate from her own. Of course, wearing a dress like this and carrying a sword you forged yourself in the pits of Korriban would probably made Karys bleed from the nose.

She turned to Karys as he tied up the plan, using language that Param knew from holo-movies. A pit formed in her stomach as her body tried to recall why she had gotten into holo-movies in the first place, but she forced herself to not think about it. Not in the prescence of two Sith. No here. "Guess we all have our parts to play," she said, hiding the pit with a smile.

It wouldn't do them any good to be seated when the politician arrived. Param stood up, leaving her wine glass on the table, but corking the opened bottle. She would let Karys keep the bottles; he was far more of a wine drinker than she was. "I'll have to show you my sword collection, sometime," Param said, stealing a smiling glance at Ayomi before facing the door to the airlock.

"Karys," she said without looking. Only the Sith were alone in the lounge for now, but footsteps on the other side of the door were getting closer. "If he turns out to be a sleeze, make it painful for him."

@René @Apollyon

 

[Ayomi Jakarta]

Param's smile was almost as disarming as the looks Karys kept sending Ayomi's way, though for a completely different reason. She seemed... friendly? Was that the word? It was certainly something new to the Sith, whatever it was. What was it with these attractive people being so outgoing? Was this normal for them? None of the other acolytes had ever approached them with half as much friendliness during Ayomi's time at the academy, and they'd been more than happy to ignore the social scene in favor of besting each of their classmates with greater efficiency every day.

Luckily, the mission was finally about to get underway. Karys notified that the corrupt political leader would be arriving any minute, and sure enough the sounds of a ship docking echoed through the yacht not a moment sooner. Everything was going to plan; the Tiefling took a deep breath as they did their best to focus on the task at hand and return their cheeks to the proper shade of blue after the charismatic ambush they'd found themselves in for the last few minutes.

Ayomi followed Param's lead, standing up to face the automatic door at the lounge entrance, catching the woman's glance in the their peripheral vision. A sword collection? The silver-haired Sith had just gained a bit more respect from the Tiefling.

"I uh... yeah, that sounds great."

They stammered in response, red eyes fixed on the door as they accepted the offer. They'd come here to steal an election, yet to Ayomi it seemed so far to be something else entirely. Friends. Surely they were above such weaknesses? They always had been before. So what was that alien feeling creeping into their mind?

@Apollyon @TheDudeMike

 

[Karys]

Karys walked at the rear of the trio, his eyes flicked to and fro as his mind tucked through different possibilities. He’d be alone with Petr, he’d have to be ready to get out once his job was done. Whatever ship Petr used would have to do as his get away ship. Then Param turned and spoke to him. His crimson gaze fell down to her as she spoke, she asked him to make it slow for Petr if he was scum. Karys smiled in reponse.

“Param, anything for you.” He replied cooly.

Moments after he finished replying to Param, the airlock door slid open. A short, fat, balding man with a handlebar mustache waddled into the yacht. His face was covered in what looked like soot, with the perfect outline of goggles around his eyes. He wore a plaid shirt, a pair of overalls, and work boots. To the undiscerning eye, he appeared like a member of the working class. But Karys picked out the tan lines of rings that sat on each finger.

“And that’s how you rile up your voter base!” He shouted back into the ship. “Kriffing idiots will eat up anything I say!” He laughed.

Then he walked directly into Ayomi and yelped in surprise. He fell on his back as he bounced off of her. His gaze widened as he looked up at the Sith he has summoned.

“KriffIng hells!” He shouted after gathering his composure. “What’re you doing just standing there like that?” He yelled. “You could have given me a heart attack!”

Petr got to his feet and pushed past the trio. He was headed to a back room in the yacht but yelled out to them as he quickly waddled away.

“Make yourselves comfortable, I just need to freshen up!”

Karys leaned forward to Param.

“I’ll make it extra slow.” His voice dripped with venom and irritation.

@TheDudeMike @René

 

[Param Vour]

Param waited for the man to disappear into the back room with his entourage before turning to Ayomi. "Are you okay?" she asked. It didn't look like much of a bump, but it was enough to send a fat man sprawling. Ayomi was a Sith Champion and could handle herself, but Param knew all too well simple bumps could be one's undoing. She'd wait for Ayomi to confirm before turning around and sitting back down in the chair.

Without a word, Param picked up her wine glass and downed the rest of it. After that display of... what ever the hell that was, her nerves were starting to heat up. Between the wine and Karys promising to make the politician's demise extra slow, she was able to calm the nerves and relax.

The only thing worse than a Sith was a politician willing to make deals with one. She hated him already.

@René @Apollyon