Old Dog New Tricks

[Tasha Blackwell]

Tasha hadn’t been back at the Korriban temple in what felt like forever. She couldn’t help but feel slightly nervous about walking these halls again, especially since she had decided to leave the Empire. Walking away from the Sith wasn’t a casual decision, and sometimes it even led to being hunted down. Thankfully, she hadn’t become invaluable enough to warrant that, and her secession had been uneventful.

However, she knew that her skills were getting rusty. As a Sith, she had constantly kept up with combat and Force training. She hadn’t used either of those skills really in the past year and a half except for when she felt lazy. If things proceeded this way, she knew she would lose the edge she had with the training she had done. Despite her life as a businesswoman, there were some things she wasn’t quite ready to give up.

Tasha had dressed it up as a business meeting, but she had told Varyn exactly what she wanted to do today. She brought two sabers with her, and she wanted to pick up where her training had left off. Tasha knew she was going to make a fool of herself, but she felt more comfortable doing it around him than if she were faced with real combat.

The doors hissed open and she walked into an empty training room, the walls lined with droids that were used for training. Tasha was adorned in combat-appropriate attire, pants and boots and a simple shirt. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail to keep it out of the way. She paced around the room, wondering if Varyn found this request to be absurd. Hopefully she wasn’t keeping him from anything too important...

 

[Varyn Rask]

Varyn was happy to have another "business meeting" with Tasha on his schedule. He knew that this wasn't going to be just a standard meeting, but he was just glad that she'd decided to come back around and see him again. Since their last "meeting" he had found himself more excited to see her despite not fully knowing how he was supposed to handle things. They'd decided not to put any labels on it, but he was enthusiastic to see her nonetheless.

The door slid open in front of Varyn, and he walked in before they slammed shut behind him. His guards were left outside as he felt no need for them here when it was just the two of them. It was an incredible testament to his growing comfort around her. Her gaze toward him was initially met with only the mask that the galaxy had become accustomed to, but he quickly reached up and pulled it off. He'd grown accustomed to wearing the device most of the time when he conducted business as the Emperor, and he realized it had probably paled his skin from the frequent lack of light. Only when he was alone or had little possibility of a public appearance did he take it off

And now with her.

He reached up and popped it free, setting it on one of the shelves lining the wall. Nice to see you again, he said with a faint hint of a smile. Does it feel odd to be back here? he asked. He knew she hadn't been back, and if he were honest, Korriban wasn't his favorite world.

There was no mention of anything else he'd put off to be here, though there was some meeting he was supposed to have with a Princess from some world he could barely remember. He'd pushed it off and had no intention of telling her he'd blown off royalty to spar with her. This was where he'd always really belonged, and he was far more at home with her and in a fight than in politics. Besides, another marriage proposal wasn't high on his list of desirable meetings.

 

[Tasha Blackwell]

Tasha smiled when he entered the room, and watched him pull his mask off. She had to laugh softly then, “You sure you want to do that? I might leave a mark on that pretty mug of yours,” She winked at him, drawing out her saber that was set to stun.

She looked around as she pondered his question, “It does,” Tasha admitted, “I feel like an outsider. Coming here made me notice the stark difference between being a Sith and not,” Tasha sighed, “I never realized there was such a sense of belonging here till I gave it up,” She looked at him again, managing a smile once more, “But doesn’t seem like I had to give everything up after all.”

Tasha swung the saber around a few times, grimacing, “I’m so rusty now..” She muttered, “Now I only use the Force to bring myself the Holo remote,” She smiled sheepishly. Tasha turned to face him, calling the Force to herself, “Okay enough talk. I was serious when I said I wanted a spar! Not like the last time where we actually never got to talking about business…” She gave him a playful wink.

 

[Varyn Rask]

I probably shouldn't, but I can just put it back on to hide my bruised eye or split lip, he responded to her question about taking his helmet off. He wondered if showing up with bruises and scrapes was better or worse for his image. After all, a Sith Lord couldn't be seen as unwilling to fight, and even the best fighter rarely emerged unscathed.

He pulled his saber from his belt and lit the blade, holding the ignition button until the tone of the hum changed slightly, indicating that its plasma was set to deliver little more than a painful shock in place of taking off a limb.

You haven't lost your place here, he told her. As long as he had a say in it (and for the moment, he had the ultimate say) the Sith weren't going to be forcing her out.

He watched her sheepish smile as she admitted her only use of the Force was to lift a remote for the holonet. Even so, I recall that you were quite a formidable fighter. Even if you've lost the edge, I have no doubt you could still cut your opponent deeply, he said flatly, in much the same tone he'd speak to others. It was a force of habit, and he silently reprimanded himself for it. He didn't have to put on his "Emperor voice" here.

But you have to admit that our last meeting was far from unpleasant, he quipped, thinking back to their first kiss. Suddenly the idea was in his head to steal another one at some point sooner rather than later.

He let his presence in the Force creep outward from him, drinking in its power. He had grown in strength since the last time they'd fought side by side because he'd had to, but he remembered well that she was a master swordsman, whatever she may say about herself. Edge of not.

He watched and waited until she was ready before surging forward along a straight line but ending that forward momentum as soon as they were within saber distance of one another. His right wrist flicked with a single movement from his own left to right and aimed to strike her left arm. Even as he struck, his feet began to carry him backward and away from her in a classic attack and withdraw of Form II, readying to pull his blade back toward himself in defense.

It was the type of technique used by true duelists, though Varyn knew he was little more than a mimic in that particular art. Varyn was a brawler at heart, not a duelist. A graceful brawler, but one who was focused almost solely on killing an opponent as quickly and brutally as possible rather than prolonging a technicality-heavy bout. This fight was a nice chance for him to try out these new techniques, however. In a nice, controlled environment.

 

[Tasha Blackwell]

Tasha grinned without shame as he mentioned their last visit. It was bold of him to even bring it up, especially considering how nervous and shy he usually was about this topic. He had drifted into her thoughts on more than one occasion, and she caught herself staring at the Holo a bit more when he appeared on it. She would never mention any of this to him, still maneuvering around….whatever this was they had.

Her focus was back on the fact that they were fighting. Tasha watched his movements, following him abruptly make the dash towards her. He moved inhumanly fast, and she had to work to keep up, preparing for the incoming attack. As his blade swung from her right to left, she brought up the saber in her right hand diagonally where the blade pointed up to her left to clash against his saber and stop the trajectory of his swing. Tasha pressed forward, not letting him disengage as she spun on her right foot and brought her left free hand up to slam into the side of his saber arm right below the elbow where the ulnar nerve was. It would instantly make his grip on his hilt weaken from the sudden hit if it connected.

Tasha continued to spin, trying to get behind him on his right side as she circled around him with her attack.

 

[Varyn Rask]

Varyn remembered quickly why she was one of the only people he truly enjoyed walking into combat beside. He had fought a few worthy opponents in his days and many who fell short of that title. There was no question that she was worthy in every way. Even in her "rusty" state she was smooth, graceful, and deadly.

Her arm shot out and slammed into his own arm. The gauntlet was able to protect him from part of the blow, but he still felt a rippling of pain shoot through his arm. She was already moving again, and he had no interest in reengaging that arm in another slash again right away. Whatever momentum he could gain from her blow he used and threw his own strength into a full counterclockwise spin low to the ground. He spun his left leg around to slam into her legs and hopefully knock her from her feet with a sweeping kick. With her own momentum moving to go toward his rear, it would hopefully amplify the blow further and they would be facing each other once again.

His saber arm spun around with him and the Force wrapped around the hilt to stabilize it in place just over top of him in an attempt to prepare from the most obvious attack she would have if she were on her feet: a downward chopping blow.

 

[Tasha Blackwell]

Tasha had expected him to spin to his right when she pivoted, but he surprised her. He spun to his left instead, and it caught her off guard. The sweep came in and did what it intended, and she was off her feet in one swift motion. She dropped at once, but she knew how to fall if and when it happened. Tasha fell onto her back, unable to control that drop, but she wasn’t entirely useless.

From her new vantage point, she did a horizontal sweep of her saber, driving it in to slice through both of his lower legs if it hadn’t been set to stun. Meanwhile, her left hand unleashed a precision blast with the Force to throw off the trajectory of the incoming saber. With his focus on stabilizing his hilt, gaining footing from the kick and also stabbing down, he would have a tough time entirely avoiding the strike to the lower half of his legs. Even a jump would at least catch the feet.

Tasha was in a precarious position, and she would quickly roll with saber as her guard to get out of harm’s way.

 

[Varyn Rask]

Varyn was still low with his saber protecting him in something of a turtled position. His left arm shot out like a viper, catching her wrist and stopping it just short of being able to slice through his legs as his hand wrapped around her wrist. Whatever advantage he had though was quickly lost as she sent a blast at his other hand, knocking his saber hilt just out of his grip and sending it a few feet away.

He pushed toward her, half rolling as he swung over top of her while she, too, started to roll away and pushed her saber arm out and away. Suddenly the two of them had their faces only a foot apart and he stopped his movements mid-bout. Hopefully this wouldn't result in her using her free left hand to slug him in the face (or worse) thinking that the fight was still underway, but that was... not outside the realm of possibility.

Knowing this wasn't real battle, his combat instincts began to subside quickly and a whole different set of instincts took over as he looked down at her. His heart was racing (oh, yes, it was definitely only because of the exercise), and it didn't seem to be slowing as he looked down at her.

I thought you said you were rusty, and yet here you've disarmed me, he said. She had disarmed him in more ways than one, and somehow she would know that he meant more than just in their fight now. She had managed to somehow pierce straight through the defenses and shields he kept around himself, and he still didn't know how it had happened. He leaned over further, his face now only inches away from hers. His breath acme more heavily with sweat beading on his forehead, and he seemed to only be getting warmer by the minute. He looked down into those fiery yellow eyes and couldn't help but think about how they reflected the fire inside her that seemed to so draw him to her.

You're as terrifying as you've ever been, he said quietly. Whether he was referring to his own fears of her and of them or the terror that she was able to unleash on her enemies was unclear, and he didn't make an attempt to clarify. He leaned in closer until his breath mixed with hers, capturing her lips with his and kissing her deeply. The feeling reminded him that he never wanted to stop kissing her, and every time he did he felt more alive than ever before.

 

[Tasha Blackwell]

She was stopped from rolling away, and he abruptly dropped. Her first instinct was to try and smack him, but she quickly caught the look in his eyes. As he mentioned she had disarmed him, Tasha grinned, “You let me,” She said quietly, watching the way he leaned in. It was perhaps the boldest she had seen him, and he kept his gaze locked with hers.

Tasha didn’t look away as he leaned in, her chest still rising and falling from the adrenaline rush of the fight. It had been a quick series of actions, but she was still in the zone to fight. Right now it was a very different kind of rush, and her heart beat rapidly. Her yellow eyes were fierce, always gleaming. Tasha opened her mouth to speak, to make a quip, to make some sort of retort, but nothing came out.

The next thing she knew, he was leaning in even further, and she tasted his lips next. Tasha melted into the ground, kissing him back as he pressed down into her. She began to forget that this was all out of the norm for him, and she forgot that he had mentioned taking everything slow, or that this was a training room in the Korriban temple.

Tasha closed her eyes and kissed him back deeply, her free hand sliding up along the side of his face till the fingers curled into his hair. She didn’t linger there long, abruptly spinning around so he was on the ground. She spun in one fluid motion so she was now straddling his stomach. Tasha gazed down at him, bringing her switched off saber close to his throat as she looked down at him, “Letting your guard down I see,” Tasha grinned at him, “If you keep going like this, I might not be able to stop myself…” She murmured quietly, the fingers of her free hand gingerly sliding down his collarbone and the front of his chest where they teased with the buttons of his clothing.

 

[Varyn Rask]

The battlefield brought out another side of Varyn. It always had, and this was no different. Off the field he was fearless, but careful. In the field nothing could stand in his way. He seized opportunities, and that was what he had done. He didn't regret it at all, and she seemed to be reacting equally, taking her own charge which made things easier for him.

He let the kiss lengthen, the feeling of her hand running through his hair was exhilarating and made him feel electric. He lost track of the moment and within a flash she was on top of him. His eyes were wide and he found himself almost gawking at her. She was extraordinarily beautiful, and he was wondering at how he had ever wound up with her. His hands settled on her thighs on either side of him, but his attention was quickly drawn away to the lightsaber in her hand.

She would be able to feel him stiffen beneath her. Years and years of ingrained training were suddenly fighting back within him. In all his history he'd never placed himself in this vulnerable of a position, and it took every ounce of his will to keep himself there. She could have easily killed him, and he knew it, but he forced himself to overcome it. If he was going to die, then he would die, and if not, then he would know he could trust her forever.

It was the Sith's way - and his way - for him to redirect fear, anxiety, and anger, and that was what he did now. He reached up and pulled her head down, kissing her even more passionately and gasping for breath. If he was going to die, then he'd die satisfied and he'd die in her arms. I couldn't stop you if I wanted... he whispered against her lips in response to her quip. He couldn't stop her, and he didn't want to.

 

[Tasha Blackwell]

---​

At least they had the decency to make it to more private chambers. They had made it back to his quarters in the temple, though they had to play the part of Emperor and potential apprentice to get here. They had almost given in right there in the training room, but the shuffling of feet right outside the doorway suggested that anyone could walk in at any point.

She was surprised by how tender he was, even though she knew it was all probably new for him. This was an area where she knew a lot, and she didn’t mind taking the lead. It left her wondering what this all meant to her, and more importantly, what it all meant to him. He had more to lose than she did if any of this came to light. The temple walls caught every whisper, and eyes were always watching. He had the galaxy’s focus on him now.

For now, none of that mattered. She was resting against his chest, the sheets coming up to end slightly below her chest. Her hair was draped slightly over them both. Tasha had been in many beds, but this one was far superior to most. It almost made it worth becoming the Emperor just to have quarters and beds like these. She was relaxed and drifting in and out of sleep, her fingertips drawing lazy circles along his chest.

“I’m impressed you didn’t try to keep your mask on,” Tasha said with a quiet laugh. He had many more scars on him than she could have anticipated, and it told her many stories about him. He was a completely different man without the armor, the mask, the title and the prestige. Right now it was simply his warm skin, the gentle rise and fall of his chest and the heartbeats she could hear. He had his vulnerabilities - both emotionally and physically. And she knew this was a special place to be. Tasha tilted her head up to look at him, seeing his face fully, and his eyes when not hidden behind a mask, “You know, I might be stuck here till I can make a discreet escape,” She said with a grin. A woman caught coming out of the Emperor’s private chambers was definitely going to make Holonet news. She wanted none of that publicity.

 

[Varyn Rask]

Being with her had been as incredible as he had periodically imagined it would be before now. She'd been confident, but gracious enough to help compensate for his own lack of experience. The initial moments of fear and concern had quickly given way to a passionate embrace where doing something wrong was no longer on his mind. For him, such an experience and this level of intimacy with another person was almost completely foreign, but now that he'd dipped a toe into it, he found himself craving it all the more.

Concerns about who or what might be watching were always plaguing the back of his mind, but in this case, he didn't care. The isolation of his own room was a place where he didn't have to worry about anyone. The fact that she was here and he felt comfortable about that spoke volumes on its own.

Too much barrier between you and my mouth, he said matter-of-factly, and apparently unashamedly as she mentioned him keeping the mask on. He could barely take his eyes off of her even now, and he found himself wanting to relive these moments over and over. In fact, he found the idea of leaving the bed ever again to be quite unappealing.

Does that mean you're my prisoner for the time being? he asked, tilting his head to the side before sitting forward to give her a kiss. He was growing more used to the feeling with each time he did it, but finding it no less exciting.

If you wanted, you're welcome to stay here as long as you need... or want. Standing invitation, he said, hearkening back to what he'd told her before. He always had a time and place for her, no matter how busy he was.

Unless of course, you want to be on holonet and stir up a scandal. I'd be fine with that too, he said with a smirk. He would be fine if people suddenly realized he was unavailable.

Can you keep coming by for sparring practice? he asked with a bit of levity. He was perfectly fine that their "sparring match" had promptly ended with the two of them here. She was the only person he could have imagined ending up here, and he was perfectly happy with that.

 

[Tasha Blackwell]

Tasha was surprised by his bold statement about the mask, and it actually elicited a laugh from her. It was a genuine laugh, something she found herself doing around him. Most of the time it was unintentional, as Varyn wasn’t exactly a comic. He had his own strange ways of causing her to laugh that left him confused most of the time.

She tilted her head up to look at him right as he leaned in to kiss her. Tasha returned it, still surprised at such a simple gesture and how tender he was. She wasn’t used to gentleness like this, her past mostly associated with being an escort or doing other deeds for the right amount of credits. Tasha kept herself completely detached from those endeavors, and she had a hard time with that here.

Tasha groaned at the mention of a Holonet scandal, knowing how likely it was. She was a key CEO and he was the Emperor. If anything remotely suspicious came out, the entire galaxy would be buzzing about it. It would sink her business with Mandalorians and the Rebellion, and she would likely be killed by the former. She didn’t doubt the kind of protection Varyn could offer, but Mandalorians weren’t to be trifled with.

She wondered what went through his mind during all this. She could barely understand what went through hers, but she was guarded as always. She had been conditioned for it, and especially in her profession, there had never been room for attachments. She saw how it broke the girls that got into those traps, and how it always twisted and tore them up in the end. Ever since then, she had kept her distance, and it had worked out just fine. But now it was getting difficult, and her barriers were being knocked on from all sides.

Tasha pushed the thoughts aside, grinning at his words about sparring. She rolled over then, moving to straddle his abdomen. Her hair fell messily below her shoulders, and she glanced down at him with her piercing eyes, “I want actual lessons, you know,” She said with a smile, “I have to fend off Mandalorians and other angry customers out there. And I can’t imagine you’ll be around to play my knight in black armor.”

 

[Varyn Rask]

He could see that her mind was far away for a moment, but he didn't know where she had gone. He resisted that urge to press in on her mind like he would have done with most of his subjects. That wasn't what this was about, and he didn't want to just try to control her. She was independent, and that was one of the things he liked about her.

Where'd you go? he asked, looking at her without letting his gaze waver. Becoming Emperor had changed many things about him, and chief among them was that he had grown a level of confidence that had become a necessity. Even so, his gaze was far more sensitive than the oppressive, hard stare he gave to others. He liked looking at her. Where most people were a nuisance, he couldn't steal enough seconds with her.

I would be, you know, he replied when she spoke of being her black knight. He didn't know what he hoped to accomplish with the statement because he knew that neither of them was likely to ever be in a position to be together all the time, but he knew he felt fiercely that he wanted to keep her from harm or danger.

Not that you need it, he said honestly. She was a fierce warrior whether she recognized it or not, and she was as stubborn as he was. She wouldn't die easily, and he knew he could be confident of that.

His hands slid up her legs and along her smooth skin as she straddled him. He could have stayed like this forever, and he was pretty sure the look showed on his face: contentment. This is the happiest I've been in a long time, he admitted after a moment. Dealing with his feelings wasn't something he was used to, and he wasn't sure if that was too serious of a statement, but it was true.

 

[Tasha Blackwell]

Tasha was surprised he was able to tell when she had momentarily drifted off in her thoughts. With her eyes so opaque, it was difficult to tell when she was zoned out or somewhere else mentally. However, he was able to pick up on it easily, and it unnerved her. She put that realization away for now, focusing back on being here.

She couldn’t help but laugh softly as he blurted out that he could be. Tasha traced a lone finger along his chest and down towards his stomach, roaming over the scars and remnants of battle there, “That doesn’t sound very Sith-like, you know,” She said quietly, barely above a whisper, “Attachments lead to weakness. Weakness leads to death. I hear the Sith have a code or something around that,” Tasha grinned at him.

His touch caused goosebumps to line along her skin, and she took in every brush of his fingers gliding over her smooth surfaces of her thighs. Tasha noticed he had become much more bold with his gestures and touches, feeling far more comfortable. She kept her gaze on him for a long moment, surprised by his words.

Tasha hadn’t heard him say something like that before. It was so fundamentally human, and it made her nervous to hear it. The words threw her mind for a loop, and she was silent after he spoke. She didn’t stop tracing her fingers along his chest, her thoughts elsewhere and her touch absentminded, “Are you allowed to be happy as Emperor?” She asked even more quietly, her gaze dropping from his.

 

[Varyn Rask]

Varyn was unused to putting himself out there or being exposed to other people. It was a weakness, and he had had his weakness trained out of him. She may well have become a weakness to him, but he couldn't find it within himself to care. All he wanted was this, and whether he was in danger because of it was extremely secondary.

Her finger traced along the myriad of scars on his torso, and even that gesture was unusual. He was only now growing used to being touched, and he was even less used to being touched so extensively, and in a way that was out of his control. It was exciting and thrilling, though.

I've always been a terrible Sith. A good Imperial, but a terrible Sith, he quipped as she asked if that was un-Sith of him. The statement was true, though. He hadn't been as bathed in the Dark Side as most, and he didn't care much for the religion of the Sith. He cared about the prosperity of the Empire more than his own personal power.

He wondered if what he said made her uncomfortable because there was a long pause that followed. He'd become far more adept at reading people in recent years, but she was still often a mystery to him. Even more so in the context of anything to do with a relationship.

I'm the Emperor. I can do whatever I want, he said jokingly, though the comment stung him. He had responsibilities to others, and as much as he wanted to bring peace to the Empire, there was war and death that plagued him. Moreover, that war could very well claim him still. He'd taken up the mantle because no one else would, but he wasn't even sure he wanted to remain Emperor forever.

Which includes commanding you to be happy? he asked, stifling a smile. Tasha Blackwell, as your Emperor I command you to do what makes you happy, he said. If he was lucky, that would mean staying with him for a very long time.

He was silent for a moment and just looked at her. This time, his fingers began to dance up her sides and along her skin. She was easily the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen, and the thought was a bit stunning. What does make you happy? he asked after a moment. He knew her, and the two had grown much closer, but there were still so many things about her that were an enigma to him. He found that she pulled emotions from him that were confusing, but powerful. Things he'd never dealt with before like wanting to bend over backwards for her. So that she could have whatever she wanted.

 

[Tasha Blackwell]

Tasha couldn’t help but laugh at his words, “I’m not a part of your Empire anymore, Lord Rask,” She winked at him playfully, “You can’t command me around,” In a way, that was exactly why she couldn’t fit in with the Empire. She had always lived by her own rules, and her own agenda. Perhaps that was what drew him to her in the beginning. She could still remember when they were two nobodies out in the deserts looking for tombs to inspect.

His question caught her off guard. She hadn’t given thought to something like that in a long time. She hadn’t had the luxury nor time dwell on what made her happy. She had ambition and passion, but what made her truly happy? Just for the sake of being happy? Tasha sighed softly, leaning down to lie down atop his chest. For a moment there was nothing but the sound of his breathing and the gentle rise and fall of his chest. It was almost enough to lull her back to sleep, but her mind was going a thousand places at once.

“I think I’ve forgotten how to be truly happy,” She said at last, savoring the warmth of his skin against hers, “I do things because they need to be done. I feel like I’m on autopilot a lot. Breaking away from the Sith helped ease that, but even with my company sometimes I feel like I have ambitions and goals, but it’s nothing that makes me happy...just for being happy,” She realized she was rambling, and she stopped. It wasn’t in her nature to ever ramble. She always chose and practiced her words carefully.

Tasha closed her eyes, nuzzling against him, “Being here makes me happy,” She said quietly, “Whatever the hell that means,” It had been so long since she had thought about it that she didn’t quite know what it meant to be happy, “It’s not something you can just snap your fingers and make happen, you know,” Tasha tilted her head to look at him, smiling. She knew that was exactly what was going through his mind. He was in a position where he could make just about everything happen. There were some things, unfortunately, even beyond his power.

 

[Varyn Rask]

He smiled ever so slightly as she laid across his chest. His wrapped up around her, and he could feel the beating of her heart against his chest. He embraced her, and didn't let her go for even a moment.

He drank in every word she said as she spoke. He didn't care if it was "rambling," and he even found that thought endearing. She was a woman who was always in control, but this was a window inside her that showed something beyond the outward projection.

Then you should stay. As long as you want, he said when she said being here made her happy. He hoped the comment wasn't just to placate him, but he didn't think so. He could feel the ripples in the Force of emotions from them both that were very foreign to a Sith temple: genuine affection and perhaps something deeper.

She smiled as she said he couldn't just snap his fingers to make her happy. Yes, but I can try, he said with a nod. She knew how stubborn he was, and he certainly would do what he could to make her happy.

What would you do if you didn't have any responsibilities? Where would you go? What would you see? he asked, as his own mind drifted off for only a moment to far away planets where his life would have been far different than it was. He wondered if he'd ever see any of his "retirement" plans come to fruition, but he was already putting in place plans to see it through if he survived this war.

 

[Tasha Blackwell]

Tasha was thrown off by these questions, rarely asked such things. They were things she never thought about, things she never allowed herself the luxury of thinking about. She stared at the opposite wall from the bed, spotting a painting that hung there that she doubt Varyn had put there. It was a scene that displayed the victories of old in Korriban over the Sith Pureblood.

“I don’t know how I’d function without responsibilities,” Tasha said quietly, “Maybe I’d have the biggest garden in the galaxy,” She laughed, remembering how allergic he was to flowers, “Perhaps I’d go back to dancing for pleasure, but never have to do anything beyond that. I enjoyed being a performer, so the thought of becoming famous for being a dancer was always a pipe dream,” It was ridiculous to think that. She had often thought of leaving everything behind and running away to join a theater touring group.

Tasha tilted her head to look at him, “What about you? You never talk about any embarrassing hobbies or habits you have,” She quirked an eyebrow, “I think by now I deserve to know a few facts you wouldn’t want known about you,” Varyn, despite all his nervousness, was always prim and proper about everything. He always kept himself well composed, and she couldn’t imagine him ever making a complete idiot of himself.

 

[Varyn Rask]

He listened to her and only peeled his eyes away from her to look at the painting she was looking at across the room. The Empire had changed in the last 500 years, and he was beginning to wonder if it didn't need to undergo another significant change to save itself. He didn't want to let this Empire that had historically supplied peace to the galaxy suddenly fall away in the face of war. He wondered if the things he wanted to do would get him killed either by his enemies or even his own "allies."

He pulled his mind back into the present and away from the painting and history. I'm sure people would come from all around to see you, he said. I know I would. He had never gone to see her dance because of his own discomfort, but now they were... a bit beyond that. That sounds nice to watch, he said, thinking about a "private dance" from her. Although it flashed past, she probably wouldn't miss the momentary dreamy look in his eye before he regained his composure, perhaps looking a tiny bit flustered.

Oh, I have nothing embarrassing about me, he said, flat but jokingly. His face scrunched up a little bit as he thought about what he would do if he weren't Emperor anymore.

I like climbing, he said. Free climbing. Buildings, mountains, you know... but I'm getting old. Joints popping and aching. I can barely keep up with a young girl like you anymore. You're going to wear out an old man, he told her.

Maybe I'd retire somewhere nice and beautiful, travel around the galaxy, and climb all sorts of towers and mountains. Especially ones that are restricted so I have to tresspass, he said. It was a testament to the troublemaker that he kept locked up. There was a certain thrill to the breaking and entering.

Actually, I already have a retirement community picked out with a home in the works. My own planet. Beautiful and off the grid, he said. When the "home" was finished, he knew he'd invite her there if she wanted to come. It was also a subtle hint that he had already given thought to a retirement if he survived this war.

You like fields, forests, sun, and beautiful lakes? he asked, thinking about Naboo, and imagining the two of them there away from the galaxy. Whoa, maybe that was too aggressive and quick. He stopped dead, looking at her and trying to judge if anything he'd said was... not good.