Emperor

Of Gold and Starlight

[coldely-deactivated20210320]

[nebulagalore]

[estivalphoenix]

"Would you consider it if I held him still for you?" The slightest smirk crosses the Emperor's gold dusted lips.

Summer looks surprised to hear the sound of the distantly familiar voice, but she wouldn’t mistake it, and is already smiling when she turns around.

“My goodness, it’s been a long time, Emperor.” She inclines her head respectfully. “For you, I’d absolutely do it for free.”

[absoluteglory]

He smiles softly in return - he remembers her fondly, and often. “It has been some time, hasn’t it? Not so bedraggled and wounded as I was then. Perhaps I could convince you to sup with me? For old time’s sake.”

[estivalphoenix]

“Only if your cat joins,” she says, opening her coat and laying what few weapons she has on her on a side table to be polite. “You do look well. I’m glad.”

[absoluteglory]

He laughs softly. “If you insist. Millicent has better manners than Ren, after all. She’s an excellent dining companion.” He holds out his hands in a gesture of affection. “Tell me, how have you been?”

[estivalphoenix]

She buttons her black coat back up, thoughtfully. It’s always a hard question considering how turbulent her life is. “It’s been difficult. I’ve lost good friends, gained better ones, and learned more about myself than I ever knew before.” That’s putting it mildly. “And I have a family, now. I wouldn’t know what more to ask for. And you?”

[absoluteglory]

He quirks a brow. “A family? How does on acquire a family suddenly, or are congratulations in order?” He glances at her briefly, puzzled.  “Things are well enough here. Besides Ren being a constant annoyance, we have managed some victories. Expansion is going well. How boring it sounds, hmm?”

[estivalphoenix]

“It doesn’t sound boring to someone in my business. Expansion means growth. Growth means politics and businesses. Politics and businesses mean fresh contracts.”

Summer grins at him to show that she is mostly kidding.

She thinks for a minute about how to make a complicated story into polite dinner conversation.

“I was under the impression that I had run away from my birth family when I was a teenager, but it turns out that, in doing so, ran right INTO the arms of my birth family by sheer coincidence… for lack of a better word, considering how big the multiverse is. We’re not exactly a normal, stable family unit, but my twin brother and I are glad to have each other again, even if—in a way—the news didn’t change our feelings much.”

[absoluteglory]

“Be careful, I might take you up on that. Your skill is impeccable. I have not forgotten that I owe you my life.” His face softens. “That is excellent news, you and your brother are twins, no less? I’m pleased for you, pleased that you have something.... fulfilling. Something to drive you.” He licks his gold-dusted lips, a wave of melancholy crossing his sharp features.

[estivalphoenix]

"Would you consider it if I held him still for you?" The slightest smirk crosses the Emperor's gold dusted lips.

Summer looks surprised to hear the sound of the distantly familiar voice, but she wouldn’t mistake it, and is already smiling when she turns around.

“My goodness, it’s been a long time, Emperor.” She inclines her head respectfully. “For you, I’d absolutely do it for free.”

[absoluteglory]

He smiles softly in return - he remembers her fondly, and often. “It has been some time, hasn’t it? Not so bedraggled and wounded as I was then. Perhaps I could convince you to sup with me? For old time’s sake.”

[estivalphoenix]

“Only if your cat joins,” she says, opening her coat and laying what few weapons she has on her on a side table to be polite. “You do look well. I’m glad.”

[absoluteglory]

He laughs softly. “If you insist. Millicent has better manners than Ren, after all. She’s an excellent dining companion.” He holds out his hands in a gesture of affection. “Tell me, how have you been?”

[estivalphoenix]

She buttons her black coat back up, thoughtfully. It’s always a hard question considering how turbulent her life is. “It’s been difficult. I’ve lost good friends, gained better ones, and learned more about myself than I ever knew before.” That’s putting it mildly. “And I have a family, now. I wouldn’t know what more to ask for. And you?”

[absoluteglory]

He quirks a brow. “A family? How does on acquire a family suddenly, or are congratulations in order?” He glances at her briefly, puzzled.  “Things are well enough here. Besides Ren being a constant annoyance, we have managed some victories. Expansion is going well. How boring it sounds, hmm?”

[lsleofskye]

“Glow”

[estivalphoenix]

"Would you consider it if I held him still for you?" The slightest smirk crosses the Emperor's gold dusted lips.

Summer looks surprised to hear the sound of the distantly familiar voice, but she wouldn’t mistake it, and is already smiling when she turns around.

“My goodness, it’s been a long time, Emperor.” She inclines her head respectfully. “For you, I’d absolutely do it for free.”

[absoluteglory]

He smiles softly in return - he remembers her fondly, and often. “It has been some time, hasn’t it? Not so bedraggled and wounded as I was then. Perhaps I could convince you to sup with me? For old time’s sake.”

[estivalphoenix]

“Only if your cat joins,” she says, opening her coat and laying what few weapons she has on her on a side table to be polite. “You do look well. I’m glad.”

[absoluteglory]

He laughs softly. “If you insist. Millicent has better manners than Ren, after all. She’s an excellent dining companion.” He holds out his hands in a gesture of affection. “Tell me, how have you been?”

[estivalphoenix]

"Would you consider it if I held him still for you?" The slightest smirk crosses the Emperor's gold dusted lips.

Summer looks surprised to hear the sound of the distantly familiar voice, but she wouldn’t mistake it, and is already smiling when she turns around.

“My goodness, it’s been a long time, Emperor.” She inclines her head respectfully. “For you, I’d absolutely do it for free.”

[absoluteglory]

He smiles softly in return - he remembers her fondly, and often. “It has been some time, hasn’t it? Not so bedraggled and wounded as I was then. Perhaps I could convince you to sup with me? For old time’s sake.”

[absoluteglory]

rain: is it easy for you to bounce back after being sad? do you hang on to your sadness??

“I am beyond sadness now. Dwelling on the past only serves as a distraction.”

[cloudyfacewithjam]

[absoluteglory]

earth

He is silent for a moment, thoughtful. “My ability to endure.”

[absoluteglory]

honeydew

“I do not keep “friends”, I have no use for them.”

[absoluteglory]

patchouli: if you could only keep five possessions, what would they be?

"Possessions mean nothing to me. There is nothing material that cannot be replaced. Unless you count a cat as a possession, then her.”

[absoluteglory]

forest rain

“As I have done it before, quite some time. Perhaps forever.”

[babesthetique-blog]

♥ perfume oil asks. ♥

[cowboyemojis]

acai berry: what is something you’ve always wanted to try but have been too scared to?

aloe botanic: are you always up to date on the latest fashion trends? do you switch up your look often?

bay rum: if you drink, do you have self control with it?

cilantro: describe the perfect dinner.

earth: what is your strongest personality quality?

egyptian musk: how do you respond to people flirting with you? do you enjoy it?

forest rain: how long do you think you could survive in the wilderness?

french vanilla: what does love feel like to you?

fresh cut grass: when the weather is warm, what activities do you do outside?

ginger lily: do you think you have maternal instincts? if someone needs to be taken care of, do you take up the task?

honeydew: describe an ideal day out with a friend.

ivy: what are three albums that really define you or have shaped you as a person?

lavender: do take therapeutic baths after a long day? if so, what do you put in them?

lemon verbana: do you believe in “forgive and forget”?

passion flower: when you have a crush on someone, how do you show it?

patchouli: if you could only keep five possessions, what would they be?

pine needles: how do you break bad news to someone?

plum blossom: how do you dance to your favorite song?

rain: is it easy for you to bounce back after being sad? do you hang on to your sadness?

sage: if you could give someone one piece of life advice, what would it be?

sea mist: how would your friends describe you?

white ginger: if money wasn’t a concern, how would you decorate your room?

[wroughtforce]

Continued from here.

absoluteglory

It’s more than Hux can stand, and he turns quickly, slipping out of Ren’s grasp. “How DARE you put your hands on me. I am your EMPEROR. The only one compromising me is YOU, with your constant games and ceaseless ego. If you put a hand on me again I’ll see to it that you follow your *family* tradition by REMOVING IT.” Hux is white with rage, the edge of his robes clasped tightly in his hands and pressed to his chest. “Remove yourself from my presence. You’re lucky I don’t demote you.”

Kylo isn’t touching him anymore, but as the emperor distances himself, the feeling of his gloved hand on the back of Hux’s neck shifts warmly around his throat. There, it tightens, Kylo’s hand raised in the air, his face as cold as a statue.

The air seems to tighten between them, heavier, the room feeling just a little bit smaller. A sense of dread, of impending danger. Danger, Kylo knows, lies comfortably in his hands.

Kylo’s fingers turn almost imperceptibly, but the act closes Hux’s airway entirely.

[absoluteglory]

He tries to jerk away, strangling, clawing at his throat, eyes blown wide. A single rivulet of blood streams from his nose suddenly, and the look of anger on his face shifts to desperation.  I’m going to die. He’s going to kill me.

[absoluteglory]

"You keep turning your eyes away from me." His voice is absent of tone but his eyes are knowing.

Hux pauses, catching his breath in his teeth. “Do I? I assure you it’s not been on purpose, I give you very little thought.” 

[wroughtforce]

“Is it a good quality of an emperor to lie to their commanders?” Kylo’s voice hasn’t raised, but he says it through clenched teeth.

[absoluteglory]

The words are like a slap, enraging him. A deep breath. Two. Six before he can find his voice without having it tremble in rage. “Is it a good quality of a commander to question his Emperor?”

He loathed how easily Kylo slipped into his mind, greedy tendrils searching for any kind of information to twist and use against him.

[wroughtforce]

Kylo takes a long, striding step, placing himself inches from Hux. He hasn’t taken his eyes off his, his gaze heavy, focused and present yet exhausted all the same.

He still doesn’t look away when he lifts his gloved hand and presses it slowly but firmly against the back of Hux’s neck with his fingers resting comfortably against the curve at the base of his head.

“It can be,” Kylo says in his dour, deep voice. “I’ll speak up when I find my leader to be compromised or distracted, sir.”

[absoluteglory]

Hux grimaces, jerking away immediately upon being touched. He tries to come up with something to say to Kylo, some kind of response, a threat, a punishment, but he cannot find his voice. When he opens his mouth to speak the words do not come.

[wroughtforce]

His hand stays hanging in the air after Hux pulls away, fingers now beckoning to him. Kylo doesn’t look away, glaring knowing, vicious daggers into his contender.

“You hate yourself for it, and yet…” His eyes narrow a bit, closing that gap between them to return his hand to the nape of Hux’s neck, “Nothing brings you more pleasure.”

[absoluteglory]

It’s more than Hux can stand, and he turns quickly, slipping out of Ren’s grasp. “How DARE you put your hands on me. I am your EMPEROR. The only one compromising me is YOU, with your constant games and ceaseless ego. If you put a hand on me again I’ll see to it that you follow your *family* tradition by REMOVING IT.” Hux is white with rage, the edge of his robes clasped tightly in his hands and pressed to his chest. “Remove yourself from my presence. You’re lucky I don’t demote you.”

[absoluteglory]

"You keep turning your eyes away from me." His voice is absent of tone but his eyes are knowing.

Hux pauses, catching his breath in his teeth. “Do I? I assure you it’s not been on purpose, I give you very little thought.” 

[wroughtforce]

“Is it a good quality of an emperor to lie to their commanders?” Kylo’s voice hasn’t raised, but he says it through clenched teeth.

[absoluteglory]

The words are like a slap, enraging him. A deep breath. Two. Six before he can find his voice without having it tremble in rage. “Is it a good quality of a commander to question his Emperor?”

He loathed how easily Kylo slipped into his mind, greedy tendrils searching for any kind of information to twist and use against him.

[wroughtforce]

Kylo takes a long, striding step, placing himself inches from Hux. He hasn’t taken his eyes off his, his gaze heavy, focused and present yet exhausted all the same.

He still doesn’t look away when he lifts his gloved hand and presses it slowly but firmly against the back of Hux’s neck with his fingers resting comfortably against the curve at the base of his head.

“It can be,” Kylo says in his dour, deep voice. “I’ll speak up when I find my leader to be compromised or distracted, sir.”

[absoluteglory]

Hux grimaces, jerking away immediately upon being touched. He tries to come up with something to say to Kylo, some kind of response, a threat, a punishment, but he cannot find his voice. When he opens his mouth to speak the words do not come.