New Ventures

[Tasha Blackwell]

It had been almost a year since she had left the Sith. She had walked away from Varyn, leaving him disappointed and reeling from her decision. She had picked up her comlink many times since then to contact him, but she never knew what to say. Tasha had focused all her energy on building up her company, and it was thriving now with all the staff she had hired.

With all the new technology they were developing, she finally had a legitimate reason to call Varyn. She had thought about meeting with one of the Sith Lords, but she didn’t have a great feeling about Victress. Not too many people had access to the Emperor, and she considered herself lucky in that regard. It took a while before she finally mustered up the courage to do it. She had presented it as official as possible, explaining that this was a business opportunity he wouldn’t want to say no to.

BIT had begun production of technology that could rapidly begin to chip away at the quality of armor. The hope was that this would empower his troops with the ability to fend off Mandalorians. Tasha knew this came with the risks of ticking off the warrior culture, but she planned to produce tech for them as well. It was difficult to walk the line of neutrality, but she had confidence she could do it.

Tasha arrived on Dromund Kaas, adorned in a business suit as she often wore nowadays. She wore a form-fitting jacket and skirt, along with tall heels that were very different from her dancing stilettos. Her hair was neatly tied in a ponytail instead of hanging wildly at her shoulders. She wore diamond earrings and a diamond bracelet, not afraid to flaunt her new wealth.

She had been asked to wait outside of a large office, several people peeking over to see who it was that managed to get a meeting with the Emperor. Tasha looked around, smiling - they had both managed to do quite well during the better half of the past year.

 

[Varyn Rask]

Varyn was surprised when he heard that Tasha had wanted to meet, but he'd had her put on the schedule forthwith. He'd thought about showing up to see her multiple times, he'd known he wanted to see her again, and he had planned to do it multiple times... but he never had. There had always been something he wanted or needed to finish up first.

Perhaps in part of him it was her words about only coming if he were Varyn had lingered in his mind, and he wasn't even sure he knew who that meant anymore. He was the Emperor at all times these days. There was no one he could let his guard down around, and there was almost no memory of a time before all this responsibility.

That being said, he'd been keeping an eye on her. He'd seen to it that someone kept an eye on her organization, and she was doing quite well for herself and her company. He was quite pleased to hear it.

Send her in, he said to the droid that was acting as his personal assistant. He looked out the window of his office, much the same as he had the last day they had seen one another. He wondered if this conversation would be better than that one.

She came walking in a few moments later, and she was still looking remarkable. Her clothes were befitting of a CEO, and her hair was pulled back as she walked in gracefully in high heels.

For a moment, he felt at a loss for how to address her. If he spoke to her as Emperor, he would have known precisely what to do. Was that all she was really here for? A business deal? He hadn't heard from her in nearly a year, so perhaps that was the case.

It's good to see you again, Tasha, he said in a neutral tone that neither bore malice nor the level of warmth that it perhaps might have once held. It was a safe play, and neither too familiar nor too distant. He hoped to gauge things better in a moment, but her presence in the Force seemed as cryptic as ever.

 

[Tasha Blackwell]

She didn’t know what she had been expecting when she saw him. He had a neutral demeanor, and he kept himself guarded. She had done the same, remembering with a pang how they had last parted. Her mind had wandered to him countless times, but she couldn’t justify contacting him for anything outside of a true business need. He was still the Sith Emperor, and he was not a man to be bothered with trivial matters.

When he addressed her, Tasha managed a smile. She opened her mouth to get on the topic of business at once, but something else came out instead, “I thought you’d be happy to see me,” She quirked an eyebrow, the rest of her face difficult to read. Tasha knew it wasn’t often anyone addressed him so informally, and perhaps she was toeing the line herself. For all she knew, he had changed entirely since they last met, and that simple comment would cause him to strike her.

Tasha looked away for a moment, wondering if he also thought back to the last time they met. She chewed on her lip for a few seconds before speaking again, “I wanted to contact you,” Tasha admitted quietly, “But I didn’t think it’d be appropriate with how important you are now,” She managed a faint smile, “The whole galaxy knows you now.”

 

[Varyn Rask]

Her response was an odd one. He didn't know what he had expected, but it hadn't been that. Maybe he'd been hoping she'd fall into his arms and say how much she missed him, but he knew that had to have been foolishness. They hadn't seen one another in months, of course that wasn't going to happen. If that had been the results then they would have seen each other much sooner.

Then he kept listening, and noticed how she said she'd wanted to contact him. He knew the feeling, and he had nearly done the same on numerous occasions, but it just... never happened. He watched her smile, and he could sense something inside her, but couldn't quite place whether it was apprehension, regret, or something else. There was no question she appeared nervous, but he wasn't sure he knew how to alleviate that. There was a great deal about him that had changed, but he found himself wishing he could lessen her anxiety.

Yes... everyone does, he said almost absentmindedly. He wished sometimes that he could go back to being just a regular person. But that doesn't mean it's not still nice to see... what were they? Friends? Perhaps. Flings or flames? That might have been too strong. Acquaintances? Too weak. ...an old friend, he said.

The truth was, he was glad to see her. He really was. It was a welcome relief and a window back into a life that seemed like it had been lost.

Then he was left wondering if he put too much emphasis on that. Was this simply nothing more than a business meeting? Her hoping to use an old relationship to leverage herself? Probably not. At least he hoped not.

I wanted to call, he said, and as soon as he said the words he began to regret it. He couldn't show weakness anymore, not now that he was the Emperor. He was sure that even some of his Darths wanted to see him killed, and the last thing they needed was some sort of means. But the truth was that he was never quite sure if he was ready to call. He had just been planning to... or at least that was what he told himself.

 

[Tasha Blackwell]

She wasn’t very good at reading people beyond spotting ill intentions. She had never sensed that from Varyn, not even from the very first day they met. In fact, it had been one of the reasons she initially believed he may have been weak. However, over time she began to admire that trait in him - and it was probably just what made him so charismatic to his people. The Drasts could never appeal to the crowd that way, there was always a cool distance from a bloodline born into royalty.

“I’m sure there was a lot you wanted to do,” Tasha grinned, even allowing herself a small laugh. There was no use in being rigid and stiff, not when she had known him for so long. In truth, she had prepared to discuss just business if that was all he wanted. However, something in his demeanor suggested that he hadn’t closed all doors.

“Why didn’t you?” Tasha asked him after a short pause, putting him on the spot after he had blurted out his admission. She had listed her reason, but what were his? She wasn’t some galactic-wide famous ruler, and she was certainly not as busy as him. What was his excuse for not contacting her?

 

[Varyn Rask]

Varyn stiffened a bit as she mentioned that there was a lot he wanted to do. He didn't know whether she could simply read his mind or was perceptive enough to make guesses, but the implication was... awkward.

Then she asked why he didn't, and he was left with answering an awkward question. Part of it was that he didn't know why, and part of it was that it was complicated. He was waiting until his power was secured. He'd nearly reached a point that he felt things were... semi-stable. But even beyond that, the words she said when they parted still echoed in his mind. Only come if he was Varyn. But he'd forgotten what it meant to leave this new man at the door. The Emperor was who he had to be at all times, wasn't it?

You told me to only come find you if it was as Varyn, he said quietly. What else could he say. Was he even the same man? He wondered sometimes, but she would see that in many ways he was. I wasn't sure if I could do that anymore, he said. But perhaps this was the opportunity. Maybe he had his chance to reconnect with her.

I was going to call when I heard from you, he said. Was he simply too afraid to do it? That didn't look good, did it? But you seem to be doing well? You look good, he said with a hint of humor in his voice. Was he flirting? No, he couldn't be flirting. Busy with work all the time? Still dancing? he asked, curious as to what she had been up to since they parted, but also because he was hoping to deflect from his own awkwardness.

 

[Tasha Blackwell]

Tasha looked beyond him and out the glass panes of the windows behind him. The cities sprawled out behind him, and she could see the speeders in the distance. They were all his people, people that would be awed by him simply stepping out there. He had become a recognizable figure across the galaxy, carrying the same infamy as the problematic Raz Solus. People would bow and get starstruck in his presence, and yet here he was fumbling over his identity as the Emperor clashing against that same man that tripped and fell on Moraband.

Tasha turned to look at him again, a smile gracing her face, “I don’t think you can be anything but Varyn when you’re near me,” Her gaze lingered on his, letting him draw meaning from the comment however he saw fit. Tasha walked closer towards the windows then, looking away from him. She could see her faint reflection on the glass, mainly the yellow eyes that always looked unnerving to humans. Varyn had been unfazed by them even from the first day they had met. He hadn’t flinched or appeared disgusted in any way, which wasn’t a trait she often experienced with humans.

“My dancing days are long behind me,” She chuckled softly, “Though I do have several old customers that are very upset about that decision,” Tasha had told him where she worked, “Curious that you never came to visit,” She didn’t turn to look at him still. He knew fully well what kind of dancing she did and where, and he made a point not to show.

“Have you seen the tabloids about you?” She asked, curiously, “Outside of wars and the Mandalorians, you are also expected to take a bride. It has been the tradition of Drasts, and I think that with both empires united under you, there’s even more pressure,” She turned to look at him, grinning, “So, who’s the lucky lady to help you erase the Drast dynasty and begin the Rask one?” Tasha assumed it would be a Kuati or Alderaanian noble that would carry on his line. It was a foreign concept to her, but it suddenly applied to him now.

 

[Varyn Rask]

He considered what she said, which meant mulling over most of the possible ways to interpret it, but he thought he knew what she meant. It was one of the things that he enjoyed about being around her: he could simply be himself. He didn't have to create the presence of being Emperor all the time or make it seem as though he was omniscient or omnipotent. Those were valuable auras to create for an underling, but they could be exhausting at times, even for him.

When he was with her, everything was simpler... and more complicated. More complicated because he was so unused to the idea of caring about what other people thought of him or what they felt. More complicated because it catapulted him into a foreign land of feelings and emotions of both of them that he was unfamiliar with.

I never got a chance to, he said, clearing his throat. He had - after a very, very long time of trying to cope with the thought - planned to visit her at her "other job" but discovered that she was no longer there. He had felt an unexplainable combination of relief and disappointment.

As she continued to talk about the tabloids, his face began to scrunch up. He actively avoided reading those types of things, and the thought of that was... most unappealing. He really didn't like the idea of some sort of political or arranged marriage, but he was the one tearing down all the old ways, wasn't he? Couldn't he do away with that one? Maybe? Possibly?

His face still bore something of a pained expression as she stopped talking. I don't know about all that "arranged" and "political" marriage stuff, he said. He bit back a comment about Andraste not having a purely political marriage. This wasn't about past Empires anymore.

I don't think any old woman could handle me, he said in a deadpan tone, but found himself biting the inside of his lip to stifle a smile. As he said it, he walked over to the window and looked out of it. I'd prefer to have actual feelings for the woman if I ever got married. Radical of me, isn't it? he asked, glancing back at her.

And any process like that would be slow, and would take a great deal of time, wouldn't you agree? he asked. Though it hadn't slipped his mind that many of his younger years had slipped by him. He wasn't a spry twenty-year-old anymore.

What would you do if you were in my shoes? he asked, turning the question back on her. He was curious what she thought about marriage, but was far too veiled to ask directly. He'd learned a thing or two about subtlety and deniability since becoming Emperor.

He wandered across the room and hit a button that allowed a pair of doors to slide open to a private turbolift and motioned for her to come along. With a quick zip the doors opened to a nice rooftop garden with a light breeze. He came up here in the mornings to get clean air, and a personal attendant droid immediately met them and asked Tasha if she'd like something to drink.

 

[Tasha Blackwell]

“Handle you?” Tasha had to chuckle softly at that, looking at him again, “You seem simple enough to handle,” She couldn’t envision him being particularly difficult for anyone. Their biggest complaint would be how long he spent working, his focus almost always being on growing his Empire and looking over his shoulder for betrayals, “Political marriages seem simple enough,” She shrugged, “You meet some pretty woman that’ll be your wife and bear you children,” She paused, “And then you spend your time with any mistress that you fancy. The life of an Emperor has unlimited possibilities. You can have the best of both worlds.”

Her mind also lingered back to Andraste, the Empress known for her ties to her family. Her love for each husband was known, along with her fierce devotion to her children. It was a strange trait for a Sith empress, but then she never fit into any mold of how any Sith ought to be. Tasha was surprised to hear him turn the question back on her, “I’m not the right person to ask. I turned my back on the empire, remember? I like to live by my own rules,” She shrugged, “I don’t think a concept like marriage is in the cards for me,” She couldn’t imagine being devoted to one person for the entirety of her life.

Tasha followed him as he led the way to the turbolift, curious about the destination. After a moment, the doors opened to a rooftop garden. Tasha’s eyebrows rose as she took in sight of all the flowers, and she glanced over at Varyn, “I’m guessing you specially arranged only for flowers that don’t make you miserable?” She chuckled, recalling his horrific allergies back in the Korriban tower.

As the droid arrived, she asked for a glance of wine, taking the time to wander and look at the flowers. Tasha was careful not to touch anything or pick the flowers, choosing to admire from a distance, “You have the chance to build your own regime and truly knock Drast out of power. You can plant the seeds of a new dynasty and have your name be a lineage that passes for generations to come,” It was a heavy thought, and it felt surreal to realize she was standing next to someone that could potentially alter the course of history from here on out. There was a time she had wanted to do that, but it was far beyond her capabilities. There was something in him that she could never possess, that drive and leadership that commanded the attention of millions.

 

[Varyn Rask]

Varyn wasn't sure why he had been expecting a different answer, and chastised himself silently for it. He couldn't afford to be a fool. He didn't know what the two of them would be able to become, and perhaps he was still just clinging to a fantasy. But he didn't so easily abandon a path once he'd picked it. He was far too stubborn for that.

Correct, he said with a nod as she asked about the flowers. The roof didn't have a single plant that would make his allergies flare up, and he intended to keep it that way. Whatever you were growing on Korriban really didn't sit well with me, he said, But not everything is that bad.

There was something so simply about what she said, but it held an extraordinary amount of profundity. He had the chance to change to course of history and leave his name behind for generations. He had always assumed he would reach power and only remain there for a short time, but so far no one had had the chance to step up and defeat him. It was actually possible that his name would be remembered forever. If he didn't falter now.

I'd love to make a lasting difference in the galaxy. Even if it's only for 500 years, he said, intentionally emphasizing that 500 years was far from "only." For the first time, it might be in reach, he said.

He noticed how she looked at the flowers, but kept a respectable distance. Not quite displaying the comfort she had had in her own domain. So there was really only one thing to do. He walked over to a flower, looking down at it and bending over. It was a vibrant blue, not unlike her skin, and he shamelessly plucked it.

He didn't turn toward her as the Force causally formed an edge around the stem and sheered the thorns cleanly off, falling at his feet. He glanced down at it before turning and walking toward her. Unusual for him, he didn't ask permission as he made his way over and stuck it in her hair as it had been pulled back tightly.

It looks perfect, he said before stepping back. If you weren't so busy, I'd ask you to come tend to the garden. But I don't suppose a CEO has time for that. Only business meetings with the Emperor? he asked inquisitively. He'd have much preferred they meet under more than just business circumstances, but that would remain to be seen. Ever have time to tear yourself away to come here again? he asked.

 

[Tasha Blackwell]

Tasha didn’t miss how he glossed over the topic of a political marriage. She had to bite back from laughing, knowing full well the subject made him uncomfortable. He was endearingly shy about these things, but she knew it wasn’t the first time he had to think about these nuances about life as an Emperor. There was no doubt that he had an overflow of proposals from nobles that wanted to promise the hands of their daughters. It was a world and lifestyle Tasha could never imagine.

She watched him move towards a flower - one she had never seen before. It was breathtaking, and she had been admiring it from a distance. Tasha watched him pluck it, drawing in a sharp intake of breath as he did so. She kept observing him curiously, though her eyes were difficult to read as usual. To her surprise, he reached over and put the flower in her hair. It was a shockingly bold, and yet tender gesture.

As he stepped back, Tasha was left still left taken aback. His words took her out of her thoughts, and she had to laugh, “What, you want me to be your personal gardener?” She teased, knowing that wasn’t how he had implied it, “I’ll come here if you ask me,” Tasha said after a moment, “I can’t join the Empire, but it doesn’t mean I can’t come see you,” She reached a hand back and lightly brushed her fingers against the petals of the blue flower in her hair.

Tasha stared at him for a long moment, tilting her head before asking a question that plagued her for a long time, “Varyn,” She said matter of factly, “Why are you so afraid to kiss me?” She left out the part where she was also afraid.

 

[Varyn Rask]

The Emperor's Gardener could be a dumb holofilm title, he said with a snort. But I'd love you to be... that, he said with something just short of a smile. Why did he feel like a title "The Emperor's Gardener" came with a lot of other... more intimate roles. Despite the silliness of the title and concept, he would have given her the position in the blink of an eye, but he knew that wouldn't happen. She was far above that and had made something for herself already. He wished she hadn't left the Empire, but her words brought a bit of hope.

Will you come see me? Standing invitation, he said, knowing it was cheating, but he wanted her to drop by and come see him. He wanted to spend time with her, and he wanted it to happen frequently.

He was feeling pretty good about how this conversation was progressing when she managed to find a way to floor him yet again. The question she asked was one that he was sorely unprepared for. In his wildest dreams he hadn't anticipated that that would be her next question.

What was he supposed to say? That in many ways he was still terrified of her, and that that fear was part of what drew him to her? That he had for all intents and purposes no experience with this sort of thing? That he suspected she had far more practice than he did, and whatever happened would be a massive disappointment to her? Or that if and when they finally moved further with their relationship he had a nagging - if unfounded - insecurity that she would suddenly lose interest in the idea of "the Emperor" and move along?

What could he say?

Then he was rescued. Amidst the irrational paranoias was a still, small voice that reminded him that this was as close to an invitation as he would ever get. It was the rational voice that guarded his steps as the Emperor, and he rarely ignored it. It told him that maybe he didn't need to say anything. Several moments had ticked by before Varyn finally took slow steps toward her. His stomach was flipping and his heart was pounding, but he didn't let it stop him.

He reached her and stood only inches away. His hands came up from his sides, brushing lightly along both of her arms as they rose, running along her bare skin. He wished he'd not had his ever-present gloves on because he wanted to really feel her with his own hands. They seemed to be an ever-present barrier, but he wanted to rip that barrier down.

His hands made their way up to either side of her face and he looked for a moment into her pure yellow eyes. He saw his own reflection, and while it may have been odd, he knew that those eyes were the window to her and he didn't find them unnerving. Without any more waiting, he leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers.

The electricity that seemed to travel through his body immediately dispelled the doubts and insecurities. There was just Tasha and Varyn. There was no one else. Nothing else mattered. The past and future were shadows of the irrelevant. All that mattered was this moment here and now.

He let the kiss linger. He could taste her lip in his mouth, and he found himself not wanting the moment to end. He wanted to stay there like that with her forever.

 

[Tasha Blackwell]

Tasha couldn’t help but laugh long with him at ‘The Emperor’s Gardner’ sounding like a Holomovie. It sounded like one of those rags to riches romantic comedies that people ate up. She didn’t have much time to dwell on it, entirely too amused by how frozen he was from her blunt question. He paused for a long moment, and she was convinced he would be offended or storm off.

To her surprise, he stepped forth, and she found her own heart beating rapidly against her chest. This was new for her, especially as she had no qualms with intimacy. Her line of work meant men could pay her for dances and even beyond, so she was no stranger to this. However, this was a whole different ball game, and she realized it was because she was more invested in this - more than perhaps even she had realized.

She kept her yellow gaze on his as his gloved fingers brushed along her arms, sliding up against her smooth skin. She wanted to feel his touch, but she only felt the leather for now. Her gaze shifted for just a moment, realizing that goosebumps lined her skin. The usual knowing smile on her face was gone, and she knew he could feel the rush of emotions going through her. It confused her and terrified her, but there was nothing she could do to stop it.

Varyn didn’t stop this time, and he leaned in and captured her lips with his. Tasha tilted her head and returned the kiss, her hand sliding up along the side of his face before her fingers curled into his hair. She closed her eyes and gave into the kiss, drinking from it deeply to quench a thirst she didn’t even know she had. The rest of their surroundings melted away, and she forgot why she was even here. It was just Tasha and Varyn, no Blackwell Tech, no Emperor, no Sith.

It felt like minutes before she finally withdrew. Her hands cupped his face, and she lowered her gaze. She normally gave into passion and took things further, but something stopped her. Tasha wanted to explore whatever this was slowly, and at his pace. She drew back slightly, raising her gaze to meet his, “This is dangerous for us,” Tasha whispered softly, knowing anything like this was an exploitable vulnerability for him. If anyone knew about this, they would seek to expose it to bring both of them down.

 

[Varyn Rask]

When Varyn finally pulled back, he found that he was both satisfied and wanting more, all at the same time. It had been even better than he had imagined, and he didn't regret it at all. But he also noted that she didn't push things further, and he was secretly somewhat relieved by that. He didn't even know what this was, and it scared him. It scared him in the same way that stepping onto the battlefield scared him, but it was also where he felt most alive. There was nothing like it, and he would trade the feeling for all the safety the galaxy had to offer.

I know, he acknowledged. They were treading dangerous waters, and he was always risk averse, but he knew he couldn't live without... whatever this was. No matter what kind of risk it presented. It was an acknowledgement that he knew the dangers, but he didn't pull back.

He let his forehead rest against hers (because that was what people did, wasn't it? He was really going to have to watch some holoromances to get the hang of this...) for a moment before he looked at her again.

I'm willing to risk it. Are you? he asked. He didn't even know what it could mean, but he could think of a number of ways people could use it against him. But Tasha was no babe in the woods, and anyone trying to get to him through her was going to be in for a world of hurt.

His hands left her face and he pulled off his gloves, dropping them to the floor so that he could take her hands in his. For a long moment he didn't say anything but just drank in the moment of being there with her and looking at how beautiful she was.

He felt at a loss as to what to say, but he knew he didn't want the moment to end. He didn't want them to go back to not seeing one another for months. He didn't know where this would go, but he knew it would go somewhere.

I don't want to go without seeing you, he finally admitted. Even if we have to steal moments away from our... professions. Would you find the time to meet with me? I have a secret planet, he said, smirking at the fact that it was quite literally not a joke. It wasn't truly "secret" since it had once been occupied by the rebels, but Naboo was a beautiful world.

We could leave behind everything else, he said before stopping. Was this too fast? Whatever "this" was. Spending time together, right? That was all he was asking for, nothing more.

But if the risk is too great for you... he began, suddenly feeling himself beset by doubt. Perhaps he'd misinterpreted, but he'd felt the emotions inside of her when they kissed. They were more powerful than even she would admit. He finally managed to shut himself up and say her piece, whatever it would be.

 

[Tasha Blackwell]

Tasha wasn’t a very romantic person by nature, but she could tell Varyn had those inclinations despite how nervous he was about all this. She watched him discard his gloves, taking her hands in his. This was uncharted territory for her – and it was usually when she ran. Tasha didn’t move, looking up at him as he held her hands and gazed into her eyes. When he asked if she were willing to risk it, Tasha hesitated, her eyes slightly wide as she looked at him, “I…I don’t even know what this is…”

He spared her by moving on, talking about a ‘secret’ planet. She had to laugh at that. Only an Emperor could conveniently have an entire planet to retire to when he didn’t feel like playing his role. Tasha couldn’t help but grin at him, keeping her hands in his. Her mind was swimming with thoughts, and her heart was beating quickly. This was as new to her as it was to him, and she wasn’t entirely sure how to address it.

She could tell he was getting carried away, fantasizing about them getting away from everything and being alone. Tasha allowed a small moment of pause before she spoke again, “Varyn, I know this is all new…for both of us, actually,”” She sighed softly, “I’ll come see you, of course, but I’m…uh…" She shifted slightly, “I don’t do anything like…relationships,” Tasha had no explanation for why. She normally kept herself very much guarded. Anything down this path would take a tremendous amount of effort, and she wasn’t entirely sold on the idea.

“I know that’s what you want,” She looked away slightly, “It’s just…something that scares me,” Tasha didn’t often admit to fearing anything, but this terrified her more than facing anyone on the battlefield ever could.

 

[Varyn Rask]

He could see how withdrawn she was from the idea, but he could also sense that there were strong emotions inside of her. She was filled with her own fears and hesitations, but he also knew that it was because there was something there, it was just a problem of neither of them knowing what it was. It was clear she knew what he was asking perhaps even better than he did.

One step at a time. I promise, he said. It was clear that between the two of them they moved at about the speed of a super-glued snail, and that was fine with him. In fact, it was probably for the best for them both.

It can't be that miserable being around me, he said, managing something akin to a smirk at the reluctance with which she said she'd come visit him. But even so, he knew there was danger for both of them. There was a part of his mind that scolded him for his actions, but he - perhaps unwisely - ignored it.

What can I do to alleviate your fears? he asked. It was typical of him to try to tackle a problem head-on even though he should have known that it wasn't that simple. But he was still his same old self: no mountain too high. We fought the first Jedi in five centuries. I'm fairly certain we can address... whatever the problem is, he said, still painfully inept at addressing the "dangers" of a relationship.

 

[Tasha Blackwell]

Tasha had to laugh at his words, “No, it’s quite the opposite of miserable actually,” She smiled at him, a genuine smile. It was rare for her, and he would know her well enough to be able to distinguish between a real one and one that she flashed to most people. Tasha didn’t step back from him, enjoying the closeness and the warmth that radiated off him. He wasn’t an Emperor now, just a man that genuinely cared about her wellbeing. It was a strange thought for her, and it would be a while before she could accept it.

“Let’s not have labels,” Tasha said quietly in response to his question. She reached a hand up and slowly traced her fingers along the side of his face, her eyes gazing into his, “I like...whatever this is. I like the moments we share. I don’t like thinking about what name to give it or what it means going forward,” She leaned in to steal a quick kiss from him, surprised at how simple and exhilarating the gesture was now.

Tasha looked down for a moment, gathering her thoughts, “You know I have to work with your enemies. I can’t change that. I will work with Rebels, Mandalorians and anyone else to expand my business,” She looked at him, “Is that a hurdle you can overcome?”

 

[Varyn Rask]

As the two of them stood on the rooftop, Varyn found that he felt oddly content. The pressure of his position didn't seem to be weighing on him as much, and he felt his normal paranoia subsiding. The thought that this was all a seductive manipulation was shoved out of his mind because he knew that wasn't true. He was actually placing trust in her, and that struck him suddenly as being nearly unprecedented. But it didn't feel wrong. It felt more right than anything he'd done in a long time.

I like it too, he said. He didn't know what it would be labeled as either, and he wasn't going to try to figure it out. She kissed him, and he kissed her back, lengthening the kiss before pulling back slightly and actually smiling. He was beginning to think he could get used to that. He was beginning to think he wanted to get used to that. He could feel her heart beating against his chest, and he felt as though he was connected to her in some way.

Then she brought up another topic, and it stole away a bit of the warmth. He knew what she did, and he didn't love her dealing with his enemies, but he also knew that it was one small gear in a very, very large war. Was he willing to give up what this was just so that he could take one piece out of the war? And even if he broke this off, what then? Did he think that was somehow going to stop what she was doing? No, she wouldn't stop either way. Varyn was a pragmatist in almost every way, and this was simply a matter of pragmatism. If they didn't get supplies from her, they'd get it from someone else. But there was only one Tasha.

Even so, he grimaced slightly before finally speaking. Those parts of your business could come into the Empire's crosshairs, he said soberly. It wouldn't be him putting it there, and he would do everything he could to protect her, but in war there was no guarantees. He knew that it was a risk she would have already considered, but he wasn't interested in lying to her. If he was going to trust her, he wanted to trust her.

That may never happen, though, he said after a moment. While he'd like to dismiss unlikely probabilities, his paranoid nature simply wouldn't allow it. It was in his nature to consider every possible angle ad nauseum. I don't want anything to happen to you, he finally added quietly. Be careful dealing with the terrorists, he said with a sigh. He had a feeling that this would become a point of contention, but he was willing to live with it if she was.