A Black Sithmas [TSE]

[4ND-R0]

A small shuttle craft landed outside of the Gathering. It was Sith and signature, like many others that had arrived to the Imperial Palace. Like many celebrations of this time of year, the party going on inside was to be one of revelry and merriment. One would not expect that practitioners of the dark side would share a moment together, partaking of food and drink. Yet, here Arioch was. In his youth, he was subjected to numerous parties thrown by his aristocratic family. And even now, he would not pass up a chance to have a good time.

While many of his fellows had chosen to wear garish sweaters and colourful apparel, the pale Knight of Sith chose something a little more regal. He wore an ornate set of Sith robes that was covered by a long coat resembling shiny, black dragon skin. The Arkanian walked with an almost princely gait into the throne room. He made his strides to the throne itself, kneeling into a polite bow before [member="Darth Carnifex"] and his bride.

"My Emperor and Empress. Merry Sithmas to you and yours. I apologize for the lack of gifts to bestow." He smirked, "You know how it is. Researching ancient tomes consumes time and the short notice. I do hope to make that up."

Returning to his standing posture, he gave a cordial nod of the head to excuse himself to procure some wine for his consumption. At his hip was his lightsaber, just in case. Would not be a Sithmas without some drunken mayhem or an accidental death after all.

 

[Onrai]

Vanessa noticed the slightest shard of attention passed her way by the Emperor. She smiled, eying both [member="Darth Carnifex"] and [member="Salara Zambrano"] together as she pondered over how best to introduce herself to the duo at this wonderful hour. Deciding that perhaps the most frank approach was the best, she walked over to the handsome host of this superbly organized event, never letting the smile disappear. "Ah, my Emperor. A pleasure to make your acquaintance once more at this absolutely delectable Christmas party." At Salara she could only smile until being introduced - truthfully, because she had been gone for so long, she had no idea who this was. Did Kaine actually have a wife? Was this the Empress, or a less important wife? Or was it a favored concubine? She had absolutely no clue, and would wait for Kaine himself to answer such a question.

 

[Kalak the Raykkan]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIOEDC_maAY​

​

Kalak the Raykkan flopped out of the hoverlimo with as much grace as can be expected from a Raykkan.

Little.

But the burning eyes, the permanent scowl wrapped around the thick cigar already lit and curling heavy smoke in the air, were enough to dissuade most from making unfortunate jokes and quips at their expense. You never knew if their humorless grins showing rows upon rows of teeth was preparation for a feast or if they were making merry after all. The scowl, coaxed into existence by the bright lights and the all-insistent presence of the humans, soon faded in favor of a... smile.

Still too much teeth, the glint of the light flashing across the sharp canines, but it seemed genuine enough once Ao appeared by his side once more.

"It was the least I could do, little JuJuBee." Kalak purred right back with that bright smile, followed soon by the flourish of a short bow. An experience few people had the pleasure of knowing. Raykkans did not often bow, difficult with their physical limitations. But Kal managed it far smoother than his initial flop had been. Clearly he had been practicing.

"Do not forget the salt, lad, a healthy dose of salt around its loins will keep it stiff. Add some ice when you are serving it."

A serious nod followed and Kal flopped past him, together with Ao into the building. "Mmm, sugar ears? I like that one." Kal cooed softly as they made their way towards the long table filled with food. A critical eye was studying bits and pieces here and there. Every plate was filled to the brim. It didn't look too bad either, the presentation was alright.

Brows furrowed once he noticed one detail though.

He casually leaned in a touch and whispered past Ao's ear. "Princess, I don't see anything with a voice? All of this is already..." Kalak shuddered a touch at the mere thought of it. "Dead."

It was one thing to sell mass-manufactured patties and other cuisine to the masses.

But here? Kalak had been expecting at least something more diverse in their palette.

[member="Ao'Xian"]​

 

[Rosalina]

Lykos’ approach had caught her off guard, mostly because Alm assumed that he was speaking to someone else. She couldn’t spot that many familiar faces in the crowd and given her broken speech she had resigned herself to wandering around and people watching for the rest of the night. Which wasn’t a bad thing, but Alm was a social creature and liked interaction.

The young Nasvalo turned towards [member="Darth Lykos"] with a mildly startled expression, eyes wide and face lined in concentration as she struggled to pick up what he was saying. By this point she could understand spoken basic well but it didn’t fall as naturally on her ears as her native tongue. “…Hello.” She started, eyes drifting down to the cup he held as her mind caught up with everything and his words started to make sense.

“This drink, too sweet.” She held up the cup she’d backwashed the punch into, quickly realized what she was doing and lowered it back down. “Tea?” She seemed to perk up at the familiar word. “Tea is nice drink, yes.” Alm nodded in affirmation of her own words. Herbal teas were common on Manas.

“Alm, yes.” She paused to look him over, noting that he was roughly her height though had much more of a build on him than she. He also had red skin which by now wasn’t as startling, and black facial tattoos of a tribal nature.

She did not recognize him at all.

“Sorry,” She seemed a bit sheepish. “Do not know your name.”

 

[Kaalia Pavanos]

There was no need to think twice about the invitation. Although Darth Carnifex was perhaps the last person Kaalia would have expected to host anything of the festive caliber, it didn't mean she was going to just outright reject it. Quite the contrary was true, in fact; she was certain it was going to be an enjoyable night. The Imperial Palace wasn't a particularly bad setting either, and to match the occassion the Sith Lady had Kova Apparel design a classy, yet festive flowing red dress. It was rare for her to pick out such an outfit, but when she did, she made sure to go all out.

Kaalia did not arrive to the palace alone, however. Arms locked with [member="Ishana Pavanos"] she went to confirm her name on the guest list before heading on inside. "It's beautiful in here, isn't it?" Turning her head towards her wife, she gauged her reaction to the interior of the eye-catching structure. "I have been here a few times before, but it manages to impress me in new ways every single time." This time it was mostly the decorations that got her attention, the sight of them causing her to chuckle slightly. Kaine Zambrano in festive spirits, it was something one had to see to believe.

Guiding Ishana to the throne room the redhead looked out to the people who had already arrived, seeing many different faces. Some she recognized, some she did not. As expected many stood around the Dark Lord to speak to him, and so she would go to thank him for the invitation later. "I love the decorations. They really livened up the place."

 

[Salara Zambrano]

Salara laughed a little, "of course we did." A small acknowledgment to a memory of their life together. She didn't flinch when her husband grabbed her instead she returned the favor. Very few if any knew the man like she did and so when they were interrupted the sixty-four year old woman kept a polite smile on her face while he growled. "Indeed the pleasure is all mine, I assure you [member="Vereshin"], was it?"

She made a mental note to check into Vereshin's work later on. "When I have a moment I will certainly look over your work and if necessary set up an appointment with you."

It wouldn't be long before another had approached them [member="Darth Arioch"], who apologized at the lack of gifts. "It's quite alright, do enjoy yourself and remember no gift is greater than your service to the Empire and to your Emperor." And another would approach, but the Empress was not addressed nor did it bother her as such. Few could truly understand their relationship, most women would have balked at the idea of their husband having so many other wives and children with them as well.

Then again, few could understand the freedom that Kaine had brought to the royal houses when he dismantled his own. "Dearest, please excuse me, I must place a call to our granddaughter." She referred to [member="Ara Zambrano"], her only grandchild thus far. So she excused herself from Miss Vantai's attendance and crossed the throne room. Salara entered a private booth where she placed the call. If anything she would have left a message telling her granddaughter Happy Sithmas and that she should visit her grandparents more often and how that they're getting older and it would be so nice to see her.

That, and she had some delicious sweets to send and that they would arrive at the Castle in time for the Auld Lang. When she returned to her husband's side and the visitors had gone she wrapped both arms around him and placed her head against his meaty arm. "You know I'm surprised that only your son, Arkaitz is here. I see neither hide nor tail of the others, although I suspect Sarlow has his head in a bowl somewhere." She also wondered where Prazutis had gone off, but the night was early and so she suspected that the others would arrive in time.

[member="Vanessa Vantai"] | [member="Darth Prazutis"] | [member="Darth Carnifex"]

 

[Darth Prazutis]

​Old Zambrano Estate, Over 46 Years Ago...

​Silence enveloped the two Zambranos as they sat on a crumbling wall staring out into a ruined courtyard, in the center a dry fountain filled with jungle foliage long emptied. A once great castle reduced to nothing but old ruins and bad memories of what the family once was. But there they were nothing but a bottle of corellian whiskey between them. It hadn't been long since the young Kaine had slaughtered his mother and father. They were two of the last remaining Zambranos in the galaxy now to carry the family legacy, but that wasn't what crossed their minds this life day.

"It was like they had a noose around my neck choking the life out of me, trying to control me and guide me to where they wanted me to go." ​The young Kaine said taking a swig of the whiskey bottle, they only had the one between them. When he finished he offered it to Braxus who readily took it. "That is what our family has devolved to: failures. Rameses and Viktoria were too wrapped up in their own sick obsessions. Many of our relatives were. The family curse they always called it of our blood, but I don't see it in you. So what do you want Kaine?" ​Braxus said drinking from the bottle before he passed it back over to Kaine who nodded in agreement. "All I want is freedom Uncle, from everyone and everything. I refuse to let anyone tell me where my destiny lies, I make my own. I will do what I want, when I want, for myself and only myself no one will ever control me." ​Kaine took his swig before sending it back over once more to Braxus. The man raised the bottle in the air then and declared "Then this is to freedom."

​Imperial Palace, Bastion
Present Day...

​Even for Life Day the Empire never stood still. Especially for the Shadow Hand Darth Prazutis he was busy even during the joy filled holiday. But today he was working on something special making sure everything was ready. For the rare occasion Prazutis wore a dark green doublet studded with gold buttons and a red sithmas hat on his head. The Shadow Hand walked down the halls the familiar sound of his advisor Lazerus's cane hitting the ground behind him as he moved up to him. "Do you have it?" ​Prazutis said to the man. "It's right here. Everything is proceeding ahead of schedule. We are ready to begin the final stages of production." ​Lazerus said handing him a small holochip. As Emperor there was a good deal that required [member="Darth Carnifex"]'s attention. The secret project stalling managed to slip his mind, in that time it was taken over by the Shadow Hand who expedited progress and it was now ready for the final stage of production.

A good present.

​One of the side doors of the throne room meant for security personnel swept open and in came Darth Prazutis. He approached at an angle that made sure Carnifex would only feel his presence, not see him or the other present in his hand, a bottle of corellian whiskey. It was a simple drink but one that held a lot of meaning for the pair of Sith Lords on this day in particular. The Emperor was observing the gathering alongside one of his wives [member="Salara Zambrano"]. Salara was his nephews oldest wife and the one who knew Kaine longest among those women. For all the years she'd known him even she wouldn't understand the meaning behind the alcoholic gift he brought, it was years before she even knew him.

​"Hello Salara, Nephew." ​Prazutis said as he came into view close to his family. Formalities were never used between the two close friends no matter what position they held. "I've a gift for you my nephew. I'm certain you remember." ​He said putting a hand on his shoulder. When Prazutis continued to speak epicant rolled off his tongue as if he was a native speaker speaking softly to Kaine: "Wi'zi vapi ra hol hlap dui pim vi vili reddemb am duod vlypxsemb voss am duod sehi koi'. Lehi vor ra repnsi duim vedu o kireli hal hliikap em ayl uiokr. Wi'zi ovueizik pali duom vi izil duaybud narrexsi. Axazi oss ohdil oss duiri i'iolr vi oli rdess dlysi' hlii." ​Prazutis paused as Lazerus stepped up beside him, the bottle of corellian whiskey floated in the air while he himself held a datapad.
"I op nlayk ah vuod vi'zi ovvapnseruik dabiduil rdomkemb reki xi' reki or o hopesi'. Wi'zi venik ovoi' dui rdoem ah hoesyli duod'r nsobyik ayl hopesi' hal o pessimeo, omk hemossi' ymedik dui Sedu Olkil oboemrd dui Lebud em o voi' duod uorm'd xiim kami xihali. Tuer xaddsi ah vuerqii' omk duer uasavuen oli vuod I bezi da i'ay dakoi' minuiv. Tuii' rilzi xadu or o pipali' ah o depi vuim vi uok maduemb, omk o lipemkil ah vuod vi vom ovvapnseru ymedik. Wi oli lioki' da nyd dui Biuipadu emda dui hemos rdobir ah nlakyvdeam, I'zi doqim azil rynilzeremb ed omk nlablirr er ouiok ah rvuikysi. Saam i'ay vess vosq dulaybu edr uossr.​" As Prazutis finished the datapad screen lit up showing Carnifex exactly what his Shadow Hand had told him and more about the project.

 

[Ao Xian]

"Mmm I'll be sure to call you that more often then," she purred, pleased that he was pleased as the two headed inside and, not surprisingly, first toward the food. It was a particular joy of theirs, after all, one of the things they shared. No mere past time, no mere sustenance, it was a bond all its own.

So it was particularly jarring to survey the tables.

She had come to the same conclusion he had, already wrinkling her nose by the time he pronounced the unappetizing word.

"Well."

Her mane rippled, her ears laid back, and her whiskers quivered. A lot was said.

"Well."

It was not the first time Ao had encountered this of course. This was the norm, after all, within the empire. Tai Fa had even explained, more than once, why this way was better. More civilized. It didn't stop her from feeling disappointed and even vaguely insulted by the whole thing.

Of course, thinking of her teacher made her mouth water slightly. But alas, there was nothing offered that would sate that particular craving.

"We will sup together later," she murmured softly to him. "I apologize for how.... limited the spread is, sweet knees."

They stood beside each other, surveying a quarter of a kilometer of tables ladened with food. Shaking their heads.

[member="Kalak the Raykkan"]

 

[Kalak the Raykkan]

[member="Ao Xian"]

"My love, you have nothing to apologize for." Instead those fiery eyes were squinting sharply at the attendant closest by. The human was doing his utmost best to fade away into the background of the wall he was standing by, but Kalak had no doubt in his mind that he (she? they had longer hair, but they seemed to lack those bulbous sacks that humanoid males found attractive. Yet, the face- the Raykkan put it out of his mind. If he started to wonder about humanoid gender conventions, he would presumably stand there all day).

Hungry.

"These barbarians simply have lost their good sense when it comes to the finer arts of proper cuisine." He turned away from the table after another shake of the head, before surveying the contents of the ball.

Suddenly everything seemed less than satisfactory. Odd, how just one little (or large thing considering) could show the inadequacies of everything else involved. "Would you like to go for a walk outside perhaps?" It would do him good to not have to look at these mammals the entire time for a bit. Maybe some fresh air and the company of the only sentient (besides himself) he cared about would help.

Even the music seemed shrill now.

 

[Xevek Nekonis]

A hoarse chuckle accompanied a slight twist of the Iridonian's lips, a small smirk of satisfaction born from two factors. Firstly, that he had actually had the correct name, something that had been hit or miss. And, secondly, the fact that his name was not known; it was, after all, not his desire to be a well-known figure among the Sith. Instead, his desire was to sit in the shadows, to be hidden from the wandering eyes of the public and Sith both.

"Please, my dear, call me..." For a moment, no more than the time it took for his hearts to beat once each, a small frown creased the skin of his brow as he took a moment to decide on what name to present the Acolyte before him, lips beginning to form the first letter of the common name he gave (Blaidd), before his smirk grew a few millimeters in size. "Xavka." His real name felt heavy on his tongue, a word he had not pronounced out loud for years. But, it did feel good to once more lay claim to the name bestowed upon him by his Clan. "Unless of course you wish to observe meaningless formality, in which case, Darth Lykos."

As he had been speaking, Lykos had set aside his current cup of tea and had busied himself with pouring a a cup of boiling water from the table of refreshments, privately amused at the apparent variety of choice, having already pulled out a small sealed package of herbs and deposited them within the depths of the cup. Pushing his previous cup towards Alm, picking up the still steeping and steaming mug for himself, once more luxuriating in the scent that rose form the heated water as the taste of the herbs began to be extracted and mix within the water. "Do tell me if my previous choice of flavour is not to your liking. I brought a couple of mixes with me. It's so hard to find a good cup of tea without doing so."

Without waiting for a reply, he cocked his head towards one of the few empty tables that had had been dotted around the outside of the hall. "Now, if I'm not intruding upon any plans, would you do me the honour of some conversation? I fear that I risk dying from boredom, otherwise." The small smirk was back at his lips once more, good humour colouring his interactions for once.


[member="Alm"]
(Sorry if this is a bit late in coming. Thought that I might as well post after having planned to write something along these lines before becoming ill and losing my desire to write. Also, sorry if this isn't of the best of quality, I had to cobble it together from the odd note I'd made since I've long since lost the initial train of thought due to my loa.)

 

[Rosalina]

Alm cocked her head to the side as the Zabrak paused before giving her his name. Your own name was something you did not have to think about, and Alm had come to discover that there were many a different alias floating around the Sith, Darth names notwithstanding. Still, something in her felt almost inferior. He had two names, and Alm only had one—short and to the point, not even a surname. Those were reserved for families of great wealth and power on her home world.

“Thank you.” She accepted the cup with both hands. On Manas, a simple nod or grunt would have sufficed but she’d learned that this was not typical at more formal gatherings. The scent of the drink drifted upward with the steam and she took a tentative sip, careful so as to not burn her tongue. Earthy and slightly bitter with some delicate, flowery notes. It reminded her of home.

Alm lowered the mug and watched Xavka as he spoke. “I like this.” She assured him, eyes drifting over to the table he indicated before her attention was back on him. Her rapt focus was what helped her dissect conversation in an unfamiliar language. “I am not good at Basic.” She admitted, though her thick accent and choppy speech would have alerted him to that fact already. “I will try.”

[member="Darth Lykos"]
(No worries! Take your time.)