Ask Drowning In Solitude

[Darth Arcanos]

He supposed this was a conventional ‘bachelor party’. Azar felt nothing but bitterness, draped across a lounge seat. He was in a rather classy establishment, but it was still a strip club. Azar was officially engaged to a suitor (@LouJoVi )and would soon enter a political marriage. There was no love, no getting down on one knee, nothing more than a discussion, a brief glance and an exchange of gifts.

Azar was dressed in comfortable clothes, an entire bottle of liquor in his hand. He was in a VIP section, watching the neon lights. He was not interested in human dancers, so there were scantily clad men and women of various alien races dancing for him. He was largely detached from the whole scene, but the pheromones put him in a better mood.

He took a swig from his bottle, kicking his feet up on the table in front of him. If Azar had his way, perhaps he wouldn’t remember this night.

"Is it true?" A woman asked as she brought over a plate of snacks, "That you're a king?" Her eyes glinted with wonder.

Azar gave a vague grunt in response, the woman quickly scuttling away.

 

[Kaldar]

Kaldar wasn't actually sure if Azar knew that he had drunk dialed him, but really, who was a better option to drunk dial than Kaldar? The fluffy haired Sith had kept some contacts within the Sith Order and had heard only some rumors of what had happened. As valuable as rumors could be, they were nothing compared to the source.

In truth, by this point Kaldar had known Azar longer than almost anyone who wasn't one of his partners. It was a weird thought how long the two had known each other by this point, having a hilarious and strange relationship that had even transcended Kaldar leaving the Tempestians.

Kaldar waited a moment until the song of choice came to an end before making his appearance. It has been a hot minute, hasn't it? he said, smirking mischievously at Azar.

Kaldar ordered himself a strawberry daiquiri and another round of whatever Azar wanted.

It's okay, daddy Kaldar's here now, he said, clearly far from serious based on the grin on his face. Yeah, he could tell Azar's mood was less than phenomenal, but all the more reason he needed a little... well, a little Kaldar in his life.

 

[Darth Arcanos]

Azar looked down at his drink, glanced up at Kaldar, and then back at his drink. Was he hallucinating? The Pureblood quirked a brow, “What hole did you just crawl out of?” He asked, completely unaware that he had drunk texted. In fact, it was a miracle Kaldar could even make sense of it. Azar may have adapted to technology, but his limited fingers were a disaster with texting. He likely got random emojis and gibberish, but evidently worked out enough to show up here.

“I see you still can’t grow a single hair on your chin to save your life,” Azar said dryly, amusement glinting in his eye. He gestured for Kaldar to sit down next to him, taking a swig from his bottle.

“Be happy for me,” He said grimly, “I’m getting married..yaaaaay..” He said unenthusiastically, thrusting the bottle up into the air.

 

[Kaldar]

Does this look familiar? he asked, holding up his EZPhone so that Azar could see the message: "The Ruby Rose ."

You know, I'm just around, he said. I like to keep myself on the down low, he said. He was an eel and Azar knew it: slippery, difficult to pin down, and a little bit hostile.

Who would want to cover up this face? he said, motioning to his face as his frilly drink arrived and he started drinking from it, smacking his lips together slightly at the flavor.

Wow, you just ooze enthusiasm about that, he said flatly. Although he had heard a few rumors, it would have been a lie to say that he had any real idea what was going on with Azar's love life. He'd heard rumors up to and including that Azar was dating a Gammorrean, which he found a bit hard to believe and shed absolutely no confidence on any of these stories.

What gives? You're a kriffing Sith Lord, can't you just... not marry people? Isn't that kind of the point of "arriving?" he asked. Sure, there was more to it than that, but Raze had taught him - correctly - that the Sith were about following your own desires, not about just doing what was required of you.

 

[Darth Arcanos]

Azar only groaned at the excessive emojis, but he was surprised it was actually accurate. Freyja had taught him well. The Pureblood took another swig of his drink, scowling at Kaldar, “I’m a King, remember?” He said brusquely, “I have to produce little whelps to further the line of allllll this,” He said, gesturing to all of himself.

He scowled as he looked back at a twi’lek dancing and swinging her hips as she circled a pole, “I can dance so much better than her,” He muttered grumpily, finishing off his bottle and snapping his fingers for another one.

“If some sneaky shit like you comes over to randomly kill me one day, I have to have a line of succession,” Azar said as his gaze flicked to Kaldar, amusement dancing in his eye.

“What’re you doing these days with Raze gone? Are you an accountant or something?” He figured there wasn’t much to do for someone like Kaldar outside of finding a day job.

 

[Kaldar]

Pff, you'll be dead, you won't care, he said. Seriously. He got the Sith obsession with eternal life and trying to extend the here and now, but once they were gone... well, they were gone. Kaldar wasn't sure he cared whether his memory outlived him.

Also... he stuck his hands out to the side, smirking heavily ...there is no one like me, he said.

So wait, lemme just... paraphrase here, he said, holding up his hands in two "L" shapes as if to set a picture frame for his summary statement.

You care more about what happens after you die than you care about what happens to you while you're alive. Nah, kriff that noise, man, he said, shaking his head.

Sounds like you just put more chains on yourself, he said, taking another big gulp of his drink.

Maybe you should get up there and show her how it's done, he said, Kaldar's eyes settling on the Twi'lek. He certainly didn't mind her dancing. He could also feel Azar almost itching to show her how it was done, though.

Oh no, I'm doing just fine. We're getting closer to bringing him back. You know how things are, he said. Would have been more helpful if you'd actually helped, he said, shooting a sideways glance. He'd known for some time that Azar had kept information from him about possible ways to resurrect Raze, but that was just Sith Sithing. He took another drink before remembering something.

Mmm! he said, mouth full of daiquiri before he swallowed and elaborated. So, Tempest? We served her up to you on a silver platter, can't believe you haven't smote her yet, he said. It was strange to sit here like this and have... one of the most candid conversations he'd had with someone in a very long time.

 

[Darth Arcanos]

Azar said nothing initially about Kaldar’s assessment of being in chains. What would Kaldar, a directionless vagrant, know anything about governing a kingdom? Azar took a drink, moodily gazing ahead.

“Continuing my legacy is my choice,” Azar said truthfully. Whether political or not, he did want to have children, “I only foolishly believed in silly shit like love and happiness being a part of it,” He grumbled, “But Sith don’t get anything like that. Just the eternal search for…” He mimicked Palpatine’s voice, wiggling his fingers, “Unlimitedd powaaah!” He called out, the tiniest sparks of lightning dancing between his fingers.

The Pureblood scoffed at Kaldar, “Is that a roundabout way of you saying you want to see me dance?”

Azar rolled his eyes at the mention of Raze, “This again..” He mumbled, “I ran into one of those Exalted some time back,” He admitted. He chewed on his lip briefly before glancing at Kaldar, “I intended to subdue him but I used Force Drain. I thought nothing of it but…something has been different since,” Azar said. Of anyone in the galaxy perhaps Kaldar would have some insight. It was dangerous, of course, because Kaldar had his selfish reasons for encouraging whatever affliction Azar carried. The man would be worthless to help find a cure.

When Kaldar mentioned Tempest, Azar sat up straight, staring at him with wide eyes, “Where the fuck is Tempest?” He asked, “The Sith Order has no idea where she went,” Did Kaldar know that someone else had nabbed her? “Last I know she went to face Raze’s followers and we haven’t seen her since. I have no idea if she’s alive or dead.”

 

[Kaldar]

Kaldar was silent for a moment, thinking about that choice that Azar made. Kaldar couldn't argue if it was what the man wanted, but it sure didn't make sense to him.

Alri... he said before promptly coughing out of nowhere, waving it off. Well, Azar would know that he was going to just say "alright." Whatever.

Kaldar did actually laugh at Azar's imitation of Sidious, but there was some real truth to it, wasn't there? The Sith didn't get a traditional "happy ending" but... well, Kaldar did enjoy his own life.

No, I'm happy to keep watching her, he said, eyes flicking back toward the Twi'lek again.

The first time that Kaldar seemed to actually be caught off guard by anything was when Azar described draining one of the Exalted.

Well... that's an unexpected development, he said, ordering up another drink for himself. His mind ran through what he knew of the Exalted, what they experienced, and what might have changed in Azar.

You transformed yet? he asked. He wasn't sure if it could be transferred like that, but he guessed not. Still, he could guess that Azar now felt a connection to Raze himself. He wondered if that would mean he was even more invested in not seeing the Dark Lord return. And if, by extension, it meant he would try to kill Kaldar to keep it from happening.

Or just finding yourself drawn to a power you can't quite explain? he asked. It was a bit of a dance that he would have to play with this, but the talk of Tempest also caught him by surprise.

No kidding? Huh... maybe she is dead, he said. We stripped her of a lot of her power and dumped her on a trash planet. I was pretty sure someone had come to get her. Thought it was you guys, he said with a shrug and a face of genuine confusion. He suddenly imagined that she had been picked up by slavers and was off somewhere working in a mine or the like. How far the mighty could fall.

 

[Darth Arcanos]

Azar gave Kaldar a disgusted and scandalized look when he casually asked if he had transformed, “Of course not,” He replied icily. A few women walked over to place a large hookah in front of them, laced with hints of spice. One of the women slid into Kaldar’s lap, fiddling with his hair. Azar ignored all this, taking a hookah nozzle and drawing from it before blowing out a cloud of apple mint smoke.

“I’m not one of those things,” He added, “I just have these..compulsions,” Azar explained, “Like one of those cliche serial killers that talk about how the devil made them do it,” He grumbled. Every now and then he gave a subtle wave of his hand which made the girl on Kaldar’s lap glaze over in her eyes - actively meddling with her thoughts on what she heard, “Sometimes I wake up and one of my servants is lying dead on the ground. I don’t recall killing them.”

As Kaldar explained about Tempest, Azar stared at him, “Stripped her power?” He asked. What power? Her powerbase and Thule remained intact. Did they mean Force power? This changed everything, “Well..” Azar said, a faint smile touching his lips, “In that case maybe I do have something to celebrate,” He said as his gaze fixed ahead on the dancers.

“They’ve been calling me the Dark Lord already,” Azar said with a grin, “Can you believe it? Me, the boy you knew that climbed that stupid ice mountain with you.”

He clinked his glass against Kaldar’s, “I’m glad, by some miracle, that your slimy self is still alive.”

 

[Kaldar]

Azar denied that he had transformed, but Kaldar listened to what he said. Describing how he would wake up with someone dead, not even realizing he had done it.

A woman slid into Kaldar's lap, and his eyebrows rose slightly, watching the way that Azar seamlessly kept her dulled to what was going on. The vague scent of spice filled the air, and Kaldar took a deep breath in.

You should set a camera. Blacking out and killing someone sounds exactly like I've heard it described, he said. He thought about simply not telling Azar that he was probably transforming without realizing it, but well... they were friends, after all.

Like I said: silver platter, he said with a smirk.

Long time since Arkania, he said, raising a glass. But I knew you'd go far. After all, it was an acolyte and a fresh champion who brought down a whole camp, he said, thinking back to the day they had spread Azar's poison and sacrificed the other Sith to do it. A reminder of just how vicious their people were.

I prefer "slippery" but I'll take it in the spirit it was given, he said. "Slimy" was such a nastier word. Try as they might, no one's getting rid of me anytime soon, he said. He knew that would be a good thing for Azar's Sith Order as well. Spreading of darkness and keeping everyone off their game was its own benefit to the main Sith Order.

So: Dark Lord, getting married, King. You've been busy. You actually happy about any of it? he asked. His gaze became more intense and prying, almost piercing in its own way.

 

[Darth Arcanos]

Azar scoffed at his question, “Since when is happiness a part of the equation?” He said dryly, “I killed the husband I married by choice. I threw a partner into the dungeons and sent for his family to butchered after he betrayed me,” He stated, venom dripping from his tone, “People I never imagined killing. People I thought would become a part of my life as well,” Azar drew from that spiced hookah, exhaling a cloud.

The woman was in no mood for such tragic talk and being perpetually confused, so she slid off Kaldar’s lap and went back to dancing. Azar hardly noticed, “I’ll live the life of any traditional king. Political marriages, addressing my subjects, doing my duty in the bedroom with my brides while I imagine it’s someone I actually want (@Fine Dining Set ),” He rattled off dryly as he took another swig, “Develop a drinking problem, be the emotionally unavailable father, have the most spoiled brats,” He laughed bitterly, “I’ll be so busy I won’t have time to be happy.”

Azar said nothing for a while, watching the swinging hips as the dresses and clothes began to come off. Even then he remained detached, “Would you return to the Sith Order?” He asked suddenly, tilting his head to regard Kaldar, “With me at the helm?”

 

[Kaldar]

Kaldar was silent as he listened to Azar's speech. It sounded like a positively miserable way to live his life, and one that Kaldar certainly would have passed on for himself.

The lady slid off of Kaldar's lap to a quiet hum of disappointment from the Sith Master. Kaldar reached out a hand for Azar to pass the spice. Yeah, he was going to need some spice for this. He could see why Azar was drinking and smoking himself into oblivion.

He took a long hit and held it in, exhaling and handing the pipe back to the Sith. Immediately he began to feel the relaxing effect of the intoxicants. It loosened his already glib tongue even further.

Then just marry whoever you actually want, he threw open his hands. Make a couple of kiddos with them for whatever reason and then, uh, call it good. You're putting in a lot of work to be miserable. You could go beg on a street corner and be miserable and it's a lot less work, he said.

Who the kriff is gonna stop you? The Jedi? The ISC? The Empire? I'm certainly not going to, he said. It felt strange that Kaldar and his forces were actually a contending force on the galactic stage. It often felt so... disconnected from his daily life. Like it wasn't even him.

The others on Korriban wanna stop you, then you squish them like the kriffing Sith Lord you are, he said, he said, slapping his palms against each other with a sharp crack as if to simulate slapping down Azar's competition. It drew a couple of looks from other patrons, but Kaldar didn't care.

It was what Raze would have done. For as terrifying as Kaldar had always found his master, the man was an absolute force and wouldn't accept anything but what he wanted.

The question that Azar posed a moment later wasn't shocking but still felt surreal to hear aloud. Kaldar had considered returning to the Sith Order before. He had considered it back when Raze had first died, and he had opted against it. He refused to bend the knee to Tempest again or beg and grovel to return. He also had a healthy measure of fear if Raze ever did find a way to worm his way back.

But now it was a couple years later and all of Kaldar's efforts to do just that had been unsuccessful. Raze didn't seem to be coming back and Kaldar had grown tired of trying to hold together the fracturing Razeling empire himself. Jedi had already pressed against Corellia and Tiamat and Gareth had all but withdrawn into their own work.

You offering me a job? he finally asked curiously.

You're about the only person I'd consider it for, he admitted. It wasn't a decision to be made lightly, but it was probably the right one. Kaldar had clawed his way through the galaxy tooth and nail. He had plenty of resources of his own that almost no one knew about, but the Sith Order had more.

We make my Darth title official? he asked. He was sure that Azar already knew he had made himself known to the galaxy as Darth Virious and for good reason. Kaldar wasn't afraid to take the title of "Darth" for all of its claim. No one had come to take it off of him, and that... that was the essence of being a Darth, wasn't it?

It was... logical. Kaldar was a potent and capable Sith and would be a useful ally to Azar. To say that being friends with the Dark Lord would be useful to Kaldar would be an understatement.

 

[Darth Arcanos]

“Are you dense?” Azar asked bluntly, “I’ve told you several times that choice is not the issue. Of course I can fucking marry whoever I want, but I KILLED the man I married last,” He said with a growl, the glass cracking in his hand, “It’s not the lack of choices, it’s the fact that I can’t trust in what I choose. Everyone will betray me,” He said, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Kaldar. It took a moment to calm himself down, emotions running high. Azar took a swig from the bottle, snapping his fingers to have one of the girls take away his broken glass.

When Kaldar asked about the Darth title, Azar had to scoff, “No, I will have Darths based on merit, dear friend,” He said with a smirk, “The rank of Sith Lord is reserved only for those that show leadership and proven loyalty over time,” Azar explained, “You haven’t even managed to rally the Raze followers since Darth Raze exploded,” He said with a quirked brow as he drank from the battle, “You will return as a Sith Master.”

Friendship went a long way, but Azar was going to be very meticulous about who had the title of Darth.

“I will need your help in retaking Thule,” He explained, “I need to see how you acclimate with the others in the Sith Order. Does anyone else within the Sith Order know you left it to serve Raze?” As far as Azar knew, most of the Sith assumed Kaldar was simply running field missions the whole time.

 

[Kaldar]

Kaldar tensed internally at the outburst. He knew he was poking the bear, and he knew why as well. He did it because he heard the words Azar said, but he didn't hear the conviction behind them. He didn't see that Azar felt like he actually had a choice. Perhaps it was a misread of the other Sith or perhaps it was the byproduct of the other Sith numbing himself to everything that had happened.

There was still a piece of the Master that was unconvinced, but he'd used up the rope that was available.

All right, I relent, he finally conceded.

He wasn't shocked that his request was denied, though the biting words stung a bit, Kaldar maintained his typical poker face. He hadn't made it to where he was without learning to keep his face unflappable. Heck, he'd had to do more than a little groveling with Raze. He had his pride, but pride had no place in the climb.

Still, part of him pondered simply remaining where he was. He was quite comfortable, but... it was dull. Although he wouldn't admit it aloud, he wasn't pondering coming back because he needed more comfort but because he enjoyed the dangers of playing the Sith game.

Oh, I wouldn't make the request based just on friendship, he reassured, though he didn't press the topic further. A titillating comment alluding to the variety of assets and skills he had acquired over the years he had been gone. Of course, Azar knew him well enough that although it wasn't a bluff, he might simply assume that it was.

Ah Thule, he thought to himself.

That would require people to actually know me, he quipped. There were some people who might be able to put a variety of secondary pieces together, but it would be difficult and most people had better things to do with their time. Even then... there was speculation and there was proof. Kaldar had always been a slippery one and walking around declaring himself as Raze's apprentice wasn't something he had done.

His being an unknown commodity within the Order gave him a leg up in his return, though it did no favors for his promotion.

Tell me about Thule, he said, his mind clearly already starting to focus in on the "mission" ahead of him in that way that it did when a new puzzle needed to be cracked open, but then he waved off his hand.

Eh, business can wait, he said. They'd done quite enough business discussion already.

How does it feel to be Dark Lord? he asked, his curiosity getting the better of him. It was the position all Sith strived for, and Arcanos had held it for all intents and purposes for close to a couple of years now.

 

[Darth Arcanos]

Azar actually chuckled when Kaldar bluntly asked how being Dark Lord was, “All the responsibility, none of the perks,” He said with a grin. He was doing the job in everything but title, but he could recognize that most within the Order feared him. Azar helped himself to some grapes, “I think people are unfortunately catching on that I’m not as unassuming and delicate as I appear,” He said breezily as he tossed his luscious curls of black hair over his shoulder.

“Kaldar, you really are so terrible at being a human,” Azar said, “You’re supposed to have emotions. You’re suppose to experience drama, despair, love, happiness..and you’ve made yourself into a discount Raze,” He said with a quirked brow, “Who hurt you, baby?” He asked with mock sympathy, “Do you have some horrific trauma that forever locked away your emotions where you’re convinced that indulging in them will just ruin you? Was it a girl? Did your parents love your older brother more?” Azar asked, looking at Kaldar almost hopefully.

“Ooh!” He said, shoving a piece of meiloorun candy into Kaldar’s mouth, “Try that. It’s exquisite,” He said happily as he helped himself to some. He munched thoughtfully as he watched the dancers, “Goodness, I think that one has a blaster wound on her thigh,” He squinted as he stared.

 

[Kaldar]

No, Kaldar said, feigning mock surprise that people were figuring out there was more to Azar than he let on. It was honestly impressive that he had kept himself under the radar for this long.

What flowed out of Azar next was... not what Kaldar had been expecting. He was several drinks behind his friend, and that made him far less "open" with his opinions, remaining his usual detached and sarcastic self.

His head tilted to the side, a faint smirk tugging at his lips as his eyes narrowed in a skeptical gaze.

Oh come on, we can't spoil all the mystique. If I turn out to be half the Sith Raze was I'll count that as an absolute win, he said.

Anyway, I like "me" way too much for a girl, he said with a smirk. That was one of the truest things he'd said in his life. He didn't care about other people, he cared about himself, and nothing more than one of his Hapan one night stands could survive that.

He was about to raise his glass to his mouth when Azar promptly shoved a candy into it, and Kaldar recoiled slightly. He wasn't used to having other men's fingers in his mouth...

Yeah, alright, you can just hand it to me next time, he grumbled, but Azar was already on to the next thing with such whiplash that Kaldar was almost having trouble following. Now he was onto talking about one of the dancer's thighs.

How high are you right now? he finally just blurted out, actually chuckling by this point. This was a side of Azar he had never seen before and... well, to be frank it was quite entertaining. He wondered if he could take a video of it for posterity sake.

 

[Darth Arcanos]

Azar scoffed, “Darling, at this point it’s less mystique and more you having as much depth as a list of Jedi accomplishments in the past five years,” He said with a wave of his hand, “I’ve told you my sob stories and we’re not leaving here until you tell me some of yours,” He said with a smirk, “I’ve seen you throw a temper tantrum before. I know there’s some emotion hiding in there somewhere,” Azar said as he snatched Kaldar’s drink out of his hand. He waved his hand over it to significantly change the chemistry where it would work like a spice infused alcoholic drink, “Drink,” He demanded, “If you’re coming back, you’ll have to get used to getting bossed around by me,” Azar said with a cheshire grin.

The Pureblood looked scandalized when Kaldar asked how high he was, “Excuse me, just because you’re seeing my easygoing personality instead of the moping sack of shit I was an hour ago-” He trailed off, throwing back a shot, “Yeah okay I’m pretty fucking high,” He admitted abruptly, “But you are not high enough," He said as he poked a finger into Kaldar's chest.

He observed the dancers for a moment before he turned to look at Kaldar, “Get up there,” He said simply, “Let me see your moves. I heard Raze was an accomplished dancer,” He looked at the salacious dancing the women were doing, “Okay, maybe that was classy, but all the same, go! Let’s see what you can do!” Azar said, practically shoving Kaldar towards the elevated stage. If Azar was going to be entertaining, Kaldar would have to do his part.

 

[Kaldar]

If it were anyone but Azar, this conversation probably would have gone very differently. Still, Kaldar couldn't help flipping Azar a straight faced and obscene gesture at the comment about his depth being that of the Jedi accomplishments.

Still, the argument about having told Kaldar his story, though, was the more compelling argument and he rolled his eyes, losing all spinal integrity as his head rolled around.

Fine, he finally relented although as Azar mentioned the temper tantrum, Kaldar shook his head.

No, that doesn't sound anything like me, he said deadpan as he looked skeptically at the drink. It wasn't wise to drink it but it also wasn't wise to refuse. Ah kriff it, he thought, throwing the drink back and downing it almost in one go.

Wow did it hit hard. It hit like the best spice he'd ever had and he felt everything immediately begin to relax.

Kriff, where can I get some more of that, he exclaimed, blinking several more times, laughing as Azar mentioned moping around earlier.

He was about to own up to his life story when Azar started shoving him toward the stage.

Whoa, whoa, no. I'd rather tell you my life story. Raze didn't teach me anything about danc... and it was too late. Kaldar was unceremoniously shoved grumbling onto the stage. Amidst all the beautiful women dancers, and then there was Kaldar.

When he was sober he was a fine dancer. Hardly good. When he was drunk, it wasn't as great. He started moving to the beat, though it turned more into stumbling around than anything, nearly falling off the stage, no doubt Azar would have to resist the urge to give Kaldar a tug off of the stage and onto the floor.

7/20

 

[Darth Arcanos]

Azar watched with wide eyes as Kaldar stumbled up to the stage. The women dancing there were less than thrilled and all wore matching smiles as Kaldar started to flail around between them. Azar started to giggle at the sight, thoroughly enjoying himself. He cupped his hands around his mouth, “YEAAAHH TAKE IT OFF!” Azar cheered, “But don’t actually - I don’t need to see your baby chest,” He started laughing as he threw back another shot. The hookah was back and he leaned back in his seat to puff on the pipe.

Naturally, his dataphone was up and he took a few scandalous photos, but he wouldn’t send them anywhere. Azar tilted his head back, releasing smoke through his nostrils as he tapped his fingers to the rhythm on his thigh. At one point Kaldar attempted a slick dance move that ended with one of the strippers stepping on his foot with one of her massive heels.

The Pureblood lost it at that, doubling over laughing. In fact, he laughed so hard he slid right off the lounge seat and landed on the fuzzy carpet on the floor. He didn’t stop giggling, still grasping the hookah pipe as he took a long drag and exhaled a cloud of spiced smoke.

The Pureblood finally rose to his feet, stumbling a bit himself. He strutted up to the stage, grasping the pole and spinning around on it lazily. He didn’t jump up yet, but he circled it leisurely on an axis, deep in thought, “Do you think Tempest would ever have become Dark Lord if that Altair guy didn’t split everything in half?”

Azar finally sprang up on the pole, hanging upside down as he expertly spun around like a professional dancer. Some of the women stopped what they were doing to marvel at it. Meanwhile the pureblood thoughtfully looked over at Kaldar, “What if she just so happened to be the only one with more than two braincells to rub together and everyone else looked around and was like.. Meh, I suppose.” He pondered in a spiced hazy wonder.

 

[Kaldar]

Alright, one song was all he was getting, and Kaldar was quite finished with this. There were more than enough very uncomfortable smiles and Kaldar wasn't quite intoxicated enough to not notice.

Kriff! he shouted as his poor foot was basically stabbed by one of the strippers.

Yep, that was it for him. He stumbled off of the stage and flopped back into a chair, reeeeeeal thrilled that Azar had gotten all of his laughs in.

The fact that the pureblood wanted to have an actual conversation while he was up there dancing was... well, he supposed it was very Azar, wasn't it? Or was it? Actually, this was a side of him that Kaldar hadn't really seen before. Not quite the devious, backstabbing side he had gotten to know, he seemed... almost relaxed.

Of course, his question got Kaldar's brain spinning, frowning in thought.

Maybe someday, he said. But not then. She had the balls to seize it, but that didn't mean she earned it, he said. He wondered if there was some self-criticizing statement in there. Kaldar had built up plenty of his own assets, but he had inherited much of Raze's things. They weren't earned, they just... were.

You know, my master wasn't loyal to Tempest either. My original master, he said. Azar had wanted to hear his story, and maybe there was something to be said there for why Kaldar's loyalties were so flexible.

He was a Champion. I ended up killing him and coming back to the Order. Our first meeting was right after that. Clearly I ended up seeing what he had, he said. The very same fact that Azar was now asking about: Tempest hadn't earned the spot.

He turned his head to the side as Azar flipped over, as if trying to look at him right side up. You know, this conversation is a little hard to take serious with you like that, he said.