#;darius

[neutrnstarsystem]

Not using system terms anymore.

From now on I will refer to the main fronters as the main cast

[therapardalis]

[Making Demands Meme from @its-a-full-galaxy from Darius.]

“Look at me. How many fingers am I holding up?” ------------

It's not fair that her first instinct was to snap. It might be reasonable, given that she may not have disappeared in a puff of smoke but had been blown backwards by it for ... well, she'd find out later it was around a dozen yards. Not the kind of flying she enjoyed!

But none of that was Darius' fault, and she was probably - no, she was - lucky to have him there to check on her as she sprawled gracelessly in the dirt. He definitely didn't deserve the sharp edge of her tongue.

Instead she blinked at him, squinting, willing her eyes to focus before she took a shot (because she was, of course, going to take that shot) at getting up.

" ... Darius, right now there are two of you, whose fingers am I counting?"

[teamlarl]

Darius Rukhsana Serapeion First Sword of the Empress Head of the Diadochi

Wherever Empress Lexa goes, Darius Rukhsana is not far behind her. Vacuan nobility by birth, Darius was exiled from his homeland as a young man and struck out as a mercenary for hire. He was good at his job. Scrupulous, with a good sense of humor. Darius was perhaps not happy with his life, but he was content.

And then he met the Princess of Mistral.

It started as simply being hired to be a sparring partner and trainer, one of many. But Darius and the young Lexa Nicator struck up a fast friendship, in spite of his roguish demeanor. Or perhaps because of it. Over time, the two became inseparable, and for the first time since his exile, Darius found himself with a new purpose in life: protecting his chosen lady from all who might seek to harm her.

To that end, Darius is the head of the Diadochi, Empress Lexa’s inner circle of advisers and generals.

The two pictures above work as a sort of before and after. On the left is Darius during his mercenary days, before he met Lexa. On the right is Darius during his time serving his empress. There’s a considerable amount of time between the two, during which he made his homecoming and reclaimed the right to his name.

Admittedly, the mercenary design needs an overhaul. It’s out of date with both his heritage and a few alterations that I’ve made to his facial features. 

[teamlarl]

The Diadochi Empress Lexa Nicator’s Closest Generals and Advisers

Darius “Rukhsana” Serapeion First Sword of the Empress Consort

Daisuke Ikemoto General

Rena Seleukos General

Philip Ophion Head Diplomat

Takeo Bushida Captain of the Praetorian Guard

[therapardalis]

[Show a Little Skin Meme from @its-a-full-galaxy for Darius.]

✦ - Rolling up their sleeves to keep cool, showing off their forearms. ------------

Thera could hear the whispers. It was the first thing that tipped her off, lifted her attention from the speeder engine she's working on in the mechanic bay. There was a small group of beings sunning themselves in another part of the yard, near the tall double doors that led into the interior of Durga's stronghold. Entertainers, dancers and the band ... and something had clearly caught their interest.

She glanced up, managed a fairly successful pretense that she wasn't following their gaze - not that any of them were looking at her in the first place - to settle on ...

Ohhhh.

Darius was working around a dozen yards away, stacking crates; ship parts, utility supplies, probably a few weapons in there somewhere as well. The point was they were fairly heavy, and as he worked he'd rolled up both sleeves out of the way. Leading, of course, to a very clear view of the muscle of his arms moving with each lift and set-down.

Thera pulled the inside of her cheek between her teeth and went back to her work, lips tugged. She had to grant it was a very nice view, and she couldn't blame the observers for their response. She glanced up as he made his way over to the bay, bringing a crate of parts she needed to finish her job.

"Are you doing that on purpose?" Tongue in cheek, thinking it likely he didn't have the faintest clue, "Because you're certainly brightening a few people's day!"