The Crix of the Situation

[Kay-Larr]

[member="Crix Meriet"] . Kay had heard about the slaver from various sources, even from some of the slaves that she had rescued. His ruling planet Isis wasn't far from the ruling planet of one of her closest friends and allies, [member="Ultimatum"] , so if there was trouble, then she knew that she could have help.

As her ship The Free Lady neared Isis' orbit, she sent off a quick message to Ultimatum. ~"Hello my friend. I am not far from Mustafar, just heading to Isis to meet it's ruler Crix Meriet. He is a slaver, so as you can imagine this trip is all about gathering intel for later missions. As you are close by, I figured that I would keep in touch with you in case there is trouble. If you don't hear from me in a few days, come and find me please. Whether this venture is successful or not, I'll drop by for a visit afterwards as promised. Thanks. Kay"~

With the message sent, she had her pilot send word ahead to the authorities of the nearest port to Crix's residence for permission to land. Today she was visiting for the Free Colonies, pulling double duty, so she was sure to dress herself well.

 

[Crix Meriet]

Crix walked off from his transport his hands were bloodied but well that was bussiness. He'd just been visiting his mines, things sometimes got messy at the mines but he had to check on them all the same.

He had a guest coming.

His royal Advisor met him off the transport, "She's onroute down now Majesty , we have arranged a transport to take her from the port to the palace ... you have a fresh clothes waiting in your dressing room with a bowl of rose water " The man realed off quickly ... waiting bored Crix. He hummed as they walked along "If Toby is free, I need him" Crix wanted important people to start seeing [member="Toby"] being an important person too. The attendant nodded and rushed ahead.

Toby was waiting with a smile when Crix returned, he stopped when he saw the blood on Crix's hands. He didn't leave though he just gently took crix's wrists and eased them into the bowl. to wash away the blood , with unrivaled concentration, once Crix's hands were clean T helped Crix change. Sneaking in perhaps a few kisses between layers. "I want you to have lunch with me and a guest " Crix said it sounded like an order and in truth it was. He loved Toby and he wanted him to be treated as an equal ... but he was still in charge.

Then he took Toby down to the Solar to meet with [member="Lady Kay"] . He'd never met the woman and he didn't know why she was meeting with him she seemed too ... mushy hearted to buy products reliant on slave labour.

 

[Kay-Larr]

The Free Lady landed gently on the port. As Kay walked down the lowered ramp, she hung her satchel over her shoulders. It contained everything that she figured that she'd need: an extra set of clothes rolled up, tea pouch, water bladder, food rations, datapad, commlink and a small blaster. Her pilot had been instructed to wait for her to return at which she only expected to be gone for a day or two.

It came at no real surprise that after she had paid her docking fee that there was a transport waiting for her. Such was the custom when it came to visiting a hierarchy. So she took the ride of course and went over her contracts during the ride.

It wasn't long before they had arrived at the Palace. Kay exited the transport and looked around for a moment or two, before following her escort inside. A lot can be said about a person by the home that they lived in and how it was kept. So she studied the place as she walked through and was led to a lobby to wait for [member="Crix Meriet"] . She didn't mind waiting as she had plenty of patience for it.

Kay remained on her feet, one hand holding the strap of her satchel. It gave her comfort now that she had gotten it back from one of the bounty hunters that had finally caught her. It would be interesting to see if Crix or any of his employees had done their homework as others had done. Would they recognize her as a former Senator from the Republic? Or would she be recognized from being a top priority on the bounty list for the Hutt Cartel because of her missions against them? One thing for certain was that politics was a game. She revealed part of her hand by showing up. Now it was time for her to see some of his.

 

[Crix Meriet]

[member="Lady Kay"] would find the Palace to be impeccably clean, which may have surprised her as the palace was abuzz with workmen. Crix had only very recently 'acquired' the palace from it's former owner Princess Thais Kallisto. Technically Crix was only it's custodian for the next seven years whilst Thais served a sentence of Penal servitude in some far off place ... of course Crix had no intention of ever giving the crown back , he rather liked being a king.

Of course if he were to continue living in the Crystal Palace he would need to redecorate. Crix had always felt that Thais's style choices were a little tacky. All that crystal everywhere, the whole planet was crystal and the palace made Crix feel like he was living in the spice induced dream of a pageant girl. He was having it all ripped out and redone. out with the garish furniture in with tasteful woods and deep greens. Thais would not recognise the palace if by some miracle she lived to return at the end of her seven years.

Once Toby had finished dressing him again he put the crown of Isis on his head , sitting slightly lopsided as always , he hated the crown it was the worst part of his job and made his neck hurt. Luckily he had his Toby to soothe the aches away on a nightly basis. Then He took Toby's hand and led him down to the Solar.

The Solar itself was the first place Crix had redone, It seemed fitting really since this was also the room where rebels had executed Thais's parents. The solar looked out over the palace gardens, Toby liked the gardens so Crix intended to leave them untouched. They were the only thing he wasn't meddling with actually. Then Kay was led to the solar by Crix's butler Napo, Thais's old toy.

"Good Afternoon Minister" Crix smiled, placing her file back on the coffee table , she was most intriguing ... quite the bounty. Of course Crix was not about to turn her in, Hutts disgusted him. "I'm Crix and this ... " He said with a blush as he nodded to the dark haired 'slave' sat next to him "Is Toby, he'd say hello himself but he hasn't been able to talk for nearly a decade" Crix left it there, he'd explain Toby's muteness as best he could if asked but he didn't like talking about it. It made him feel guilty.

Of course Toby didn't look like a slave, he was dressed in fine attire, as was Crix. Indeed for all intents and purposes Toby was a prince, he'd just never been formally freed. Mostly his choice not Crix's. Toby even had servants of his own ... not that he ever made use of them.

"Please take a seat, can we get you anything to drink?" he asked gesturing to a sofa opposite him , Crix might be a monster but he was also unfailingly polite when he wasn't enraged. "I trust your journy was pleasant"

 

[Kay-Larr]

The Palace was quite the sight. People were everywhere fixing the place up. She had no idea who had owned it or of the general history of this place. There were a few places where she could have met [member="Crix Meriet"] , yet she had chosen Isis because of it's strategic value.

As she entered the Solar, she thanked Napo and then stepped further inside, bowing her head in greeting to her host and what was more than likely his assistant. The file that Crix had placed on the table was noted. It could either be of herself, or of the Free Colonies, or perhaps both. Regardless, it didn't daunt her.

Kay sat down on the sofa across from him, placing her satchel down by her feet. "Calling me Kay is fine. There's no real need to be so formal. It's lovely to meet you both." She would most certainly have to ask about why Toby is unable to speak. But perhaps a bit later. For someone with the reputation of being a ruthless slave owner, so far things have appeared...good. But it could all be just for show.

"I'll have some Sapir tea please. But if you don't have any, then hot water will do. I have my own leaves." She hardly ever drank ales or spirits. She wanted a clear head. A lot of her focus was on keeping her Force signature shrunk down so that it was barely noticeable. The last thing that she needed was to relax her guard and let everyone know. There was a reason why a fake news release was sent out when she 'quit' the Senate. "My journey here went very well, thank you. I hope that I didn't come at any inopportune time. It looks as though you are renovating?"

 

[Crix Meriet]

Crix smiled "Kay it is then" he smiled, Crix could be polite and charming when he wanted to be. He wanted to be polite here. Toby was here and Crix wanted to look his best for Toby. Toby was his world and he wanted Toby to think well of him. Toby had seen enough violence and aggression in his short life.

Cix put his hand into Toby's, he ran his thumb over Tobys knuckles then lifted the 'slave's' hand up to kiss the back. A quick comfort for Toby in the face of this new face, Toby was nervous around strangers in his house. Crix just wanted to make it better. So in truth his politeness was honest. He had no reason to be impolite to [member="Lady Kay"] but he had every reason to be kind to her in Toby's presence. If she didn't upset him or hurt Toby he would continue to be polite.

"Napo get me and Lady Kay Sapir Tea, Bring Toby an ice-tea" Crix didn't like Toby having hot drinks, he didn't want him to burn himself. Napo nodded and left to fetch the drinks from the kitchen. Crix turned back to Kay with a smile "I'm glad your journy was acceptable, getting down on Isis is ... difficult in truth " The Crystals on Isis made a mess of communications. He smiled slightly as she talked of renovation "No, no it's fine" He chuckled slightly " I only recently took over custodianship of Isis , the palace looked garish and I had to change it around a little ... nothing to stop proper functioning over"

Napo returned and poured the tea , then Crix waved him away

"Now Kay, what would a Minister with a bounty the size of a small economy and quite the reputation want with little old me , a humble regent ?" Crix smirked

There were some of his cards, maybe she'd see some more before he was done. Then he picked up his tea and passed Toby his drink, His 'slave' smiled and sat up.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay raised a brow slightly as [member="Crix Meriet"] kissed Toby's hand. Well perhaps he was more than just an assistant. Hmmm. Of course she could see that Toby was nervous and she hoped to speak with him privately later. Even if he couldn't speak, there were other ways to communicate.

She thanked Napo for the tea and was lifting her cup to her lips for a sip when Crix spoke of her bounty and reputation. It caused her to just hold it in the air for a moment before taking her sip. Wasn't her bounty rescinded after it was paid for? She figured her reputation would be that of her anti-slavery stance as well as her habit of finding herself in trouble.

"You have done some of your homework, I see. Though it may be a bit outdated. As far as I'm aware, the $500,000 credit bounty had been paid for after I was finally caught and brought in. Or is there another that I'm unaware of? My reputation could be a stretch of the truth as they sometimes can be."

She sipped her tea again. "As for my visit, I have come to see how truthful your reputation is and whether or not you could be a viable partner with the Free Colonies."

 

[Crix Meriet]

Crix adored Toby, he was far more than Crix's assistant. Toby was Crix's saint and Crix seldom ever left him alone when he wasn't working ... Crix's 'work' made Toby uncomfortable. That would mean that Crix would be unlikely to leave Toby and Kay alone together , however if Kay built up enough trust with Crix he might be convinced to let her talk to Toby alone. Or she could move crix away by other means.

Crix smiled at her response ... a touch annoyed to look so foolish "I see that it is, still quite the bounty" He tugged Toby a little closer "A rival of mine once put a similar bounty on my T" Ofcourse Deesh was not available to payout in the event that Toby was killed but this would serve as a fitting bait, if she tried to force his hand with talk of this bounty he'd know not to trust her. "As for your reputation , well stretch or not it's most interesting ... it's amusing all the things little people say"

He kissed Toby's hand again then let go to drink his tea and leave Toby to drink his own. He grinned over the rim of his cup at the mention of his reputation "My reputation? What have you heard ? " He smiled putting his tea down and sitting back. Crix loved hearing about himself. It would be interesting to hear what [member="Lady Kay"] had heard as a great many people said a great many diffrent things about Crix. From his father who called Crix a lazy sodomite (When he wasn't comatose) to the free citizens of Isis who hailed him as the restorer of democracy.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay looked to Toby at the mention of there once being a bounty on his head. It was sad really. He seemed so gentle. No doubt it was just to make [member="Crix Meriet"] suffer. She knew all about such things and kept people at a certain distance so that they couldn't be used against her. Recently her K1 series droid was crushed to death by [member="Darth Ferus"] and his Dark powers while she just stood there, knowing that any attempt to stop him would result in far worse harm than the loss of a droid. And just over a decade ago, she was used against her husband in an attempt to rid him of the Light. But that had failed and he struck a deal to have her life spared while he met his end. It was a sacrifice that at times she didn't feel worthy of. But no one had told her otherwise, so she knew that it was just survivor's remorse that gave her those thoughts. "I'm glad to see that Toby is safe. Now I can understand why he's a bit nervous."

Her attention now turned to Crix as he spoke about reputations, not revealing any details of what he had heard about her. She sipped her tea and leaned back in the couch, catching his phrase of 'little people'. He was quite the aristocrat. "Some say that you are quite the businessman. While others say that you are ruthless. So far I see a man that is quite capable of both. Your stature and manners are impeccable, yet the look in your eyes holds many dark secrets.....But it's not my job to pry in your personal life. I'm just interested in business, not in making enemies."

Crix was a slaver and she hated that about him. Yet there were different types of slavers, just as there were different kinds of slaves. She was interested in finding out which one he was.

 

[Crix Meriet]

Toby was sweet and gentle. Crix had never met anyone kinder and yet people continued to try to hurt him. It had started with Crix's father, back when they were both teenagers. He'd found Crix and Toby cuddling , wrapped up in childish romance and he'd tortured Toby all to punish Crix. Crix was convinced had he not killed his father's favorite whore and caused his father to suffer a heart attack (Through a series of vile acts best not discussed) the man would have tortured his sweet Toby to death. It was this torture that had muted Toby. Then there had been Thais Kallisto who had tried to sell T away , Crix had got his revenge on her by toppling her from her royal seat and selling her into slavery. Then there had been Deesh, the rival slaver, Crix hadn't finished his revenge on that man yet. "Toby has suffered a lot of bad people on my account " Crix replied, relaying a fact that dominated his nightmares and sparked a guilt which drove his nastier side.

Toby hugged against Crix's side. and the slaver put his arm around him ...

He listened intrigued as [member="Lady Kay"] talked of what she'd heard. "How vanilla" he chuckled "I had hoped you'd heard some of the amusing and exciting rumours going around about me ... it seems you only have sensible friends" As for dark secrets ... yes, Crix had plenty of them. there was enough blood on his hands to fill blood banks galaxy wide but his biggest secret was that beneath all the grit, threats and bloodied hands was a frightened little boy. A little boy who never really managed to get a childhood, who threw tantrums and made nasty choices so that scarier people would stay away ... his every move was made to runaway from one threat after another.

"I'm glad you don't want to make me an enemy, I find enemies so very taxing ..." Crix was sick of fighting, it only ever seemed to hurt the people he loved.

"So let's talk business, would you like to see the mines and workshops? what products are you in need of ?"

 

[Kay-Larr]

"I don't think that he blames you for it though. His devotion seems to be unwavering and that is a precious thing. You are very lucky, the both of you." Indeed they were. That kind of love and devotion was something that a lot of people wanted, some even needed. Did she feel a bit jealous? Perhaps. But she was happy for them too. But as Toby was hurt at times to punish [member="Crix Meriet"] , she wondered if Toby would snap and become evil if he was forced to watch Crix get tortured and beaten. At times Kay was very glad that she wasn't a Darksider and she questioned where the dark thoughts were coming from. Maybe she was getting influenced by the Sith without realizing it.

Kay sipped her tea and sat up straight again as Crix spoke of getting down to business. "I would love to see the mines and workshops if at all possible. The quality of the products depends on the quality of the workers. So I'd very much like to see them. As for the products we're in the market for? A bit of everything, though agriculture and other foods are not required as highly. I also know of a couple of billion people that will be displaced as their world is destroying itself, so I'll be looking for a new place for them to settle as well. Taking them from one place to another and having everything that they need built and ready for them is a serious undertaking."

 

[Crix Meriet]

Toby didn't need to blame Crix, Crix blamed himself quite enough for two. None the less he smiled at [member="Lady Kay"] 's kind words "You are most kind, My Lady I am unendingly humbled by T" He gushed at that point and T buried his head into Crix's shoulder. Toby got embarrassed when Crix gushed about him. Crix smiled and hugged Toby tighter "He's so very perfect isn't he?" He smiled and blushed again "But I'll stop now " He chuckled "So who holds your heart, Lady Kay?" He asked , he liked to have a weapon ready in these circumstances and he knew better than anyone what someone would do for one they loved.

Maybe he wouldn't need his sword with this woman though, maybe he could trust her.

Then it had been down to business "Of course and see them you shall, Product wise Isis is somewhat known for it's production of crystal and spaceship components. It is fortunate that food is not somthing you need. The Soils of Isis are not well suited to agriculture and in fact we import most of our food. As for your people problem I am confident that Isis can take some onboard" Of course those poor and destitute among the billion may find accommodations to be very basic. "I'll just go and make arrangements for us to visit ... " He lifted Toby off his shoulder then "You stay here my Darlin' , I'll be back in a moment" Toby had frowned but sat up all the same his hand trailing and dropping from Crix's as the man stood up and kissed the top of his head. Toby watched Crix leave then shuffled to curl up where Crix had just been sat. A cushion clutched to his chest and his eyes on Kay , so scared he dared not even blink.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay spoke quietly, tracing her thumb on the edge of her tea cup. "No one holds my heart. Someone did for a time, we were married for a couple of years, but he died ten years ago, sacrificing himself to a great evil so that I may live. I have been on my own ever since. It's probably better that way..."

She sipped her tea and watched as [member="Crix Meriet"] went off to arrange the tours. For her it seemed better to go unannounced, but every business had things to hide from inspectors. More than likely, Crix was going to see to it that she only saw what he wanted her to see.

Her eyes were then drawn to Toby. His fear puzzled her. Kay set down the tea, keeping her movements slow. "Are you....frightened of me? There's no reason to be. I've never killed anyone, nor deliberately harmed them....I know that you can't speak, but here..." She placed her datapad on the table in front of him. "You can talk to me with this if you'd like. But if not, then that's okay." She had to make him more comfortable, otherwise they would both just be sitting there. "Did you fall in love with him the moment that your eyes met? I bet that they did. I remember that feeling. I hope that you'll never have to let it go. People like you deserve every moment of happiness. What is it that you like to do that makes you the happiest?"

 

[Crix Meriet]

Crix had tipped his head to rest on Toby's as [member="Lady Kay"] recounted her own lost love her story rang true to his deepest fears. He knew that if push came to shove he'd sacrifice himself for Toby without a secound thought but by the same token he knew Toby would do the same "Please don't leave me sweetheart" He murmured very quietly into Toby's hair as he got up to leave.

As for Toby he wasn't scared of Lady Kay because of anything she'd done or said, he was scared because he was alone and Lady Kay was a stranger. Toby liked to see the best in people but so many had tried to hurt him that he had grown wary of being alone with strangers. He watched her doe eyed as she slowly set her tea down. He nodded a little at Kay's question then shook his head. He wasn't scared of her he was scared of what she might be. Then she'd put the data pad down and Toby had tentatively picked it up. Toby was not much good at reading and writing but he'd try.

'HI" He wrote on the data pad and span it around to show her, flashing a wary smile. He shifted to sit up a little straighter. He liked thinking about when he'd first seen Crix. He tried to recount it but some of the words he wanted to use were hard to write:

"I loved him long before our eyes met, He was so brave and so sweet when we were both boys. It ripped at my heartstrings whenever his daddy beat him for being too kind to one of us slaves. He was gentle then ... I never dreamed he could love me too but I'm so glad he does "

He had take awhile writing and did his best to make it understandable and took delight in drawing a smiley face, then turned it again with a blush and a more secure smile. Her secound question stumped Toby, he chewed his lip while he thought about how to answer her, lots of things made Toby happy; The shiny eyed look that Crix got when he was relaxed after Toby had rubbed his feet at the end of a long day which left his poor master sore and weary, painting, having his head massaged ... bathtime. There were so many things that Toby was thankful for that made him happy. In the end however he decided that he did have two favorites

"Caring for Animals and getting cuddles from Crix "

He was opened up again now, all this thinking of crix prompted by Kay had endeared her to him ... he was quick to trust like that. He looked at kay again and smiled he liked all this answering ... it even made writing fun, Toby often became upset when Crix tried to teach him to write. His Crix tried he truly did and it wasn't his fault but Toby could see that Crix really wanted Toby to be literate. Seeing that want coupled with his own failure made Toby feel bad, like he was letting his beloved down

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay smiled back warmly whenever Toby looked at her. Even though he was grown, he had a shyness and what seemed like the mentality of a child. But she knew that he was probably far smarter than he seemed. She was very patient as he wrote down his thoughts. She picked up her tea, taking a sip from it as she sat back on the couch and tucked her legs underneath herself.

So [member="Crix Meriet"] was very gentle as a boy and got beat for it. That part made her sad. Yet Toby seemed to bring that out of him. Useful to know. And the fact that he liked to take care of animals was also good to know. "That's a beautiful story. My husband and I were nineteen when we met. He was training to be a-...we were on two sides of a conflict and were chosen to try to negotiate terms. His Master told him to intimidate me and make me bow down to him, but I refused. I wanted things to be equal. That earned me his respect. We found ourselves coming together to negotiate a few more times and soon, we became a team. Not long after that we were married. It was the best time of my life. I still do some of that work, helping others and negotiating conflicts. War is just politics, afterall. It's just a different way of going about it."

Kay held out her hand for the datapad and when she got it, she brought up a picture of her Gwaii cat,( http://starwarsrp.net/topic/80594-gwaii-cat/#entry1186453 ) before holding it out for him again. "You say that you love animals and looking after them, well I have one of these. He's a nice companion. I just don't have the heart to take him everywhere with me. Someone might try to hurt him. Do you think that you could look after him for me when I am away on long journeys?"

 

[Crix Meriet]

Toby began to relax around [member="Lady Kay"] , She was nice to him. Patient even when he was taking a while. She treated him as nicely as Crix did , Toby was used to people looking down on him because he was technically a slave but Kay didn't do that. He felt Crix would approve of her behavior so he was comfortable with her.

Toby listened with an intense concentration as Kay spoke of her own husband, They reminded Toby of he and Crix. They were so similar, Two different backgrounds and beset upon by adversity, He just hoped he wouldn't be left grieving for Crix. Toby couldn't foresee any future without Crix. Then there was the prospect of getting Married, Toby would love to marry Crix and he thought he'd heard Crix say he wanted to marry Toby when he was sleeping ... Toby supposed you had to be able to talk to marry someone and he couldn't do that while Crix's daddy was still kicking around.

"I'd like to marry Crix one day ..." Toby tried to write out, hopefully Kay would comprehend.

He had handed back the datapad when she held out her hand, did she want to stop talking now he hoped not. She had quickly handed it back though with a picture of her cat on, Toby smiled. His smile only grew as she spoke. Did he want to look after the cat when she was away ? Of course he did that cat was freakin' adorable.

"Yeah !! " He beamed spinning the data Pad around "What's his name ?"

Once toby had his answer, he shuffled ... he wasn't sure about what he was about to write ... he decided he could trust Kay

"Do you wanna hear more about how Crix and me fell in love ... it's a bit ... gory"

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay nodded and smiled at Toby's wish to marry [member="Crix Meriet"] . "One day, I'm sure that you will marry." And if Toby kept Crix in a good mood, then all the better.

She gave him a big smile as he agreed to watch over her Gwaii cat. As he asked for her companion's name, Kay shook her head and shrugged her shoulders. "I haven't named him yet, actually. I saved him and a few others from poachers. I never intended to keep him, but he insisted. He's very curious about everything, yet he'll stay close when he feels that he needs to be. I'm not quite sure what to call him. I've never had a companion like him before." And by that of course she meant a pet. Though she figured that the Gwaii cat would leave her in time. Eventually.

Then Toby offered up something more for their conversation. A gory story. But one that seemed to have a happy ending. Kay nodded and sipped her tea, cupping the mug in both of her hands. "I would love to hear the tale. Gore doesn't bother me too much. I have seen plenty in my line of work, unfortunately."

 

[Crix Meriet]

Toby kept Crix in a wonderful mood. When Toby was around him and it was just them, all alone in their little world of one another, Crix felt innocent again as if he were still a teenager and the last 10 years of his life were all a bad dream. Of course people always came along to spoil things and then crix had to hide his last shred of innocence away and become a monster again.

Still Thinking on those breif moments brought a smile to Toby. Yes one day when they could stop fighting they would marry.

Toby had smiled a little at the relation that the cat had no name "Everyone needs a name " He scribbled as best he could beaming as he turned it around. He liked the sound of the Gwaii cat already, Toby liked pets and animals, holding a soft spot for horses. Of course he'd love the cat too, he was sure Crix wouldn't mind.

Soon ofcourse it came time to recount his Gorey story. Toby gave a somber nod to [member="Lady Kay"] as she assured him she was unfazed by gore having seen plenty. Toby had lived plenty and it fazed him deeply. However the story of his first night with crix was stomachable since he got to Top and tail it with all the nice things Crix had done. Chewing his tongue in concentration Toby began to write. He stopped however as Crix returned , putting the datapad down beside his quickly.

Crix had enveloped Toby in a hug from behind "See I'm back now Darlin' , are you ok?" He asked eliciting a nod from T, Then he reached over to pick up the data pad, humming at what Toby had written "It'll be easier if I just tell Kay the story, is that ok sweetheart?" another nod. Crix would have let Toby tell it from his side but no doubt such a feat was beyond Toby's limited literary capacity , further Crix wished to hear nothing of how his poor boy had suffered ... he'd seen the state Toby was in at the end and that was horrific enough.

Crix sat on the sofa and Toby lay his head on Crix's shoulder. As Crix spoke he fiddled with strands of Toby's hair "The first time I truly met Toby was shortly after my 18th Birthday, My father was showing me the plantation when a young slave boy bumped into me and split what he was carrying over me, I believe it was porridge " He had chuckled as he was caught in the moment at how foolish he must have looked , only to stop abruptly at the realisation that followed "My father first demanded I beat the boy bloody and then when I refused he forced me to watch as he did it himself ... only he killed the boy, then he beat me" Crix had felt so embarrassed and violently ill in that moment. He still felt guilty even now and the boy's dead body regularly joined Toby's in his nightmares. "Distraught I locked myself in the conservatory, it was my sanctuary and that was when I saw Toby, working at the forge. Now father had been sending me 'night companions' for two years at that point and I felt it was time I picked my own ... so I picked Toby"

Crix sometimes thought on whether Toby would have been better off if Crix had not picked him.

"We played games and I did my best to pamper him, rubbing his tired hands and poor aching feet" Crix moving his hand to rub gently on Toby's toes until his dear boy smiled, they were getting to the hard part and Toby needed a little relaxation, Toby murmured a little as Crix found a sore patch, crix smiled softly as gave the spot a series of deeper presses to force the ache out "when he was brought from the forge and making sure he was well fed. It was all very childish never going beyond a kiss and a few soothing touches. Harmless adolescent romance nothing sinister. Only someone told my father" It had been Nima his favourite servant at the time , she had been a mother figure to him which had made the sting all the more painful "He didn't see it as harmless so he took my T away, sedated me and tortured Toby" Crix had to regain his composure as his voice wavered, he coughed and steeled over again "I dare not ask what Toby suffered but I do know that at one point my father spent a day forcing him to choose between laying affection on me in my drugged state and suffering pain himself or watching me suffer pain. He didn't once choose for me to suffer" Crix smiled at that point, he was so proud of Toby.

"When I awoke from the drugs I decided that if I didn't want to suffer anymore I had to stop trying to be Innocent and admired by people, I had to be more like my father ... If I wanted to keep Toby safe I had to be feared like my father" He stopped at that point and his hand returned to Toby's hip "T we need to go soon, put your shoes on beautiful" Toby nodded and left the room. Crix didn't want Toby to hear of everything he'd done in his vengeance. "I started with a guard who Toby told me used to Torment the horses and beat him with his gun butt, he was drawn and quartered in the barracks courtyard, Then since my father had taken my Toby I took his favorite whore and murdered her" He spared talk of the gory details of said murder and also left out how he'd tricked his father into eating a flank of meat cut from the corpse "I had intended to make some point, it made me feel sick but I suppose I was showing him I'd learnt his lesson only it gave him a heart attack, he's never recovered" Crix regretted how things had turned out. "That meant I was in charge and after four days of Torture I managed to free Toby, he was such a mess there was nowhere that had been untouched by pain" The image of a broken blooded Toby bound up on the rack would haunt Crix forever .

"I took him back up to my bedroom stayed at his bedside for weeks, I nursed and soothed him as best I could and we fell in love, he wouldn't say a word to me but somehow he didn't need too" Crix just seemed to know what Toby wanted.

Crix stared blankly for a few moments after he'd finished his ghoulish tale then he'd snapped back to reality.

"Come my lady, less talk of my past torments , our transport to the mines has arrived we can talk more on the way" Hopefully his tale demonstrated the lengths he'd go to when he was avenging his Toby.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay smiled when Toby wrote that the Gwaii cat needed a name. "Well, perhaps you could name him for me. I'm sure that you could think of a good one once you see his personality."

She saw [member="Crix Meriet"] arrive before Toby did, nodded to him and then quietly observed. She was glad that he wasn't mad with her talking to him. If anything it was probably a relief. And then Crix spun his tale, to which she listened intently. It was all quite familiar to her, though she had never had a father figure in her life. She was an orphan and never knew who her parents were or even their names. It wasn't until she was married that she came to realize what having a family was like.

Kay frowned as Crix spoke of the cruelty he had inflicted on others for revenge on his father. She understood the reasons, but that didn't mean that she figured it was the right thing to do. The story at least had a happy ending and she had hoped that Crix's fear tactics were over. Though rumours suggested that they weren't. Today she might find out.

She finished her tea and set the cup down on the coffee table as Crix finished his story and drifted off into his memories. At the request to depart, she got to her feet. "We both have similar histories, yet different. I know very well what it's like to be tormented and have others die or be hidden away just because others would hurt them. So you have my sympathy and respect for overcoming it."

 

[Crix Meriet]

Toby wasn't very good at Naming things , he'd never named anything before. Crix had though , Crix named every new slave ... Toby would have Crix help him with the name. hmm prehaps he should make crix aware that they were getting a cat. Toby had thought for a moment then decided to decide later.

Crix wasn't annoyed that Kay had spoken to Toby, normal people spoke to people and Crix wanted Toby to be treated like anyone else would be. He was tired of Toby being looked down on. It also felt relaxing to recount the story of his and Toby's meeting with another. it was as if he was off loading some of the guilt he felt. It might also help her understand a little better why he was the way he was.

Crix didn't want to keep playing a monster but he had to, it was the only way to keep people at bay. It made him feel sick to do it but he couldn't stop. If he did people would challenge him for all that he'd built and he couldn't fight them off. So yes Crix was going to show Kay some bad things over the course of the day. Then word could better spread and people would stay away.

"Thank you " He replied to her sympathy, he didn't want sympathy but the respect was nice. Toby was waiting for them in the hall , shuffling nervously . Toby didn't much like the mines but he hated being alone, he calmed when Crix hugged him and took his hand though. "It's ok darlin' " Crix whispered into toby's shoulder before sinking back off his tiptoes to lead the group to the transport outside. "I'll take you to see the main mine Lady Kay" Crix announced as they set off.

He had picked the route very carefully to ensure they passed the central prison , today was execution day. As they got near crix pulled toby's head into his shoulder, shielding him from the lines of corpses . "greater democracy is a hard cup for some to swallow" He explained ... of course only a few of the corpses were former rebels who risen up against the new elected government. Most were slaves.