Ask Grand(er) Pre-openings

Iymril had used the donation given to them by Mr. Melne to secure a shop front for their new clothier store. The fabrics had just come in and they were busying themself by finishing up sorting them by texture and then color. It was important that the unopened shop was at least presentable, Iymril had an important guest coming. Darth Arcanos, King of Korriban.

Iymril hadn’t forgotten that the Sith Lord had asked them to design him specialty clothes. As such, they had extended an offer to the King, a day of designing custom clothes and relaxation. They would use this time to present their gift to the Dark Lord as well. With any luck, he would find it as proof of Iymril’s ambition and usefulness.

They had sent Zira home for the day, once she had made them mimosas and left freshly sliced fruit out. To say that the Sephi was nervous would be an understatement, today would determine where they lay within the Order.

Hopefully, it would be in Arcanos’ good graces.

Azar was always under a tremendous amount of pressure. He normally had his clothes chosen for him, hardly having time to do leisure activities such as shopping or trying out new items. He blocked off the day to do nothing but that with Iymril, a designer that had created more than a few eye-catching clothes. The Sith Lord arrived over an hour late, but Iymril would have known to expect Azar’s tardy habits.

He walked in wearing silk robes, easy to slip off to try on clothes. His hair was tied back in a low ponytail, a few strands hanging to frame his delicate features. In spite of that, his eyes always had a powerful and dangerous bearing to them, the cold and calculating gaze of a man that was always planning. He had several campaigns to run and this was putting a pause on all of it.

“I do hope you have some refreshments, Iymril,” He said breezily, “I am parched,” Azar complained, looking around the shop. Already he was drawn to some of the fabrics, his eyes lighting up, “Did you have these imported from the Core? How marvelous,” He said giddily, his fingers just lightly grazing along the cloth. He wouldn’t disrespect Iymril by touching or rifling where he shouldn’t, so he kept it to observation only.

“Where is your pretty little slave model?” Azar asked absentmindedly without looking at the Sephi. The tiefling was objectively stunning to behold and made everything Iymril created look even better, “I thought she would be dressing me today,” His yellow gaze flicked briefly to the Sephi when he said that, a knowing smirk touching his lips before he moved right along. It was clear he didn’t actually care about the answer as much as he enjoyed teasing the Sephi.

@Apollyon

Azar began to look through the book, expecting fabrics, but he first spotted details about a shipment of droids. After realization registered, his eyes widened, “Droids,” He said, perking up instantly. Not only could droids work wonders for his military forces, but there could also be utility droids to help with the moisture farming industry he was attempting to establish on Korriban, “This is…impressive, Iymril,” He said, genuine appreciation in his tone, “I’m not used to Champions taking any kind of initiative,” Azar said as he glanced at the Sephi.

He shook his head at his wardrobe being free of charge, “Nonsense, let me pay for this and give you your first earnings from this venture,” Azar said with a smile, “When you are big and famous, I’ll get to claim that I gave you your first profit,” He chuckled to himself.

Azar gave a dismissive wave of his hand at the suggestion of Zira being called back, but his gaze lingered on the vial of blood, “I see entirely too many Sith these days dabbling in blood magic,” He said quietly. Truthfully, Azar despised anyone using it that wasn’t born with the ability inherently like a Kressh. It was a source of pride for his lineage and it irked him to see wannabe chemists attempt to play around with blood.

“Is that how you ensure loyalty, Iymril?” He asked calmly, “Perhaps I ought to start collecting the blood of any Sith that show hints of ambition..” Azar trailed off, smirking to himself. His gaze flicked to the vial again, “The clever ones find ways around it,” He looked back into Iymril’s eyes, “Always.”

The Pureblood walked over to stand in front of a mirror, “What am I trying on first?” He asked excitedly, checking himself out in the mirror, “And it must flatter all of this,” He said as he nonchalantly gestured to his perfect rear.

@Apollyon

Azar smirked at Iymril’s question, “Respect,” He stated simply, “Respect, validation, sometimes even compassion,” He said as he turned to look at the Champion. He knew that was nowhere near the answer Iymril may have been expecting, “Which was more impactful for you, Iymril? The times where I intimidated you or the time I granted you tenure at the Korriban academy?” Azar asked as he practically glided over to the changing room, “You can gain the loyalty of mindless fools with fear, but to gain true loyalty of those that can think for themselves, you must respect what they bring. You must inspire them to stay true to you so they never bother looking elsewhere,” He said as he looked in the mirror and shrugged the robes off.

He was left in silk trousers, his bare torso a tapestry of tattoos. Azar looked a Iymril, “If you want to get into this line of business with the type of clientele you expect..you’re going to have to learn to dress them yourself,” He said with a smirk, simply gesturing Iymril back into the room with a curl of his index finger, “Dress me and tell me which outfit makes you feel just a bit more loyal to me,” He said with a playful wink.

@Apollyon

Iymril surprised Azar with their answer about which moment had the most impact. He shouldn’t have been too surprised, though - he knew the Sephi was prone to be sadistic. They had the mentality that Raze’s followers often had. But where was Raze now? Who was trying to bring him back outside of Kaldar who also gave up hope? However, people would have leapt at the chance to bring back Andraste.

He looked at himself in the attire, spinning around to marvel at it from all angles, “This is stunning,” He said with a smile, “I also love whites or grays, if you have any,” Azar asked.

The Pureblood glanced at Iymril when they spoke about being in love. Right away Azar could tell it influenced a lot of their thought process today. He exhaled as he glanced back in the mirror, “Love between Master and Apprentice is always doomed to fail. That is one thing the Jedi have right in avoiding at all costs,” Azar said, “I was in love with my former apprentice. We were wedded. I ended up killing him,” He said calmly.

The comment about Vossari stung but Azar had gotten used to hiding his pain over the years, “To love is to be vulnerable,” He said, “But Sith often forget that vulnerable is not weak,” The Purelood explained as Iymril put the next set of clothes on him, “I choose to live instead of just exist. And so I will love even if it destroys me,” He said with a smirk, “Unapologetically, fully, powerfully and with every fiber of my being. Because that vulnerability is what makes me a good King,” He slowly looked back at himself in the mirror, “And it will be what makes me a ruler remembered for generations.”

The Pureblood gazed into the mirror, looking back at Iymril's reflection, “I have more uses for thinking, living individuals in my Empire than droids, Iymril,” He said breezily, “Make sure you remain the former.”

@Apollyon

Azar cut in when Iymril began with how many people compared Sephi to droids, “I am not stupid, Iymril,” He said curtly, “You are well aware I do not speak of expressed emotions,” He clarified before Iymril could continue. Azar knew about the limitations their race had and he often envied it. He saw it enough even in the half Sephi President that had his face splashed across the media at all times. Even during passionate speeches, the man’s expression hardly ever shifted.

There was a moment of silence after Iymril finished speaking. He stared at himself in the white attire, finding it far more pleasing. He knew he would buy this one at once, “Did you ever ask her?” Azar asked quietly, “Did you confirm that she had you in mind for the transfer? Or did you assume?” He let the question linger in the air. Azar thought of all the mistakes that happened from partners simply not asking. He thought of Trael and his needlessly butchered family - an episode that could have been avoided if Trael simply asked Azar about Trodai. He thought about Karys never bringing up the topics that ate away at him in silence until he was consumed and forced Azar's hand.

“She saw herself growing uglier each day while you remained flawless,” Azar said as he gazed at his face in the mirror, “Do you know that she was driven to seek out this wretched form of sorcery not to live forever at the expense of you, but to live forever with you? Had you considered that your family would have been as good as dead because they would have disowned you for being with someone having gone through such a ritual?"

Azar turned to face Iymril then, “Perhaps you do not know the truth of it at all,” He said calmly. He considered the Sephi’s question, a smile gracing his lips, “Telling you of all my vulnerabilities when I am your superior is weakness,” He said as he gazed up at the far taller Sephi, “I will take both outfits, Iymril, they are absolutely gorgeous.”

@Apollyon