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Post by Lishra Elaric on Oct 1, 2013 18:32:26 GMT -8
Inspecting Lishra’s curves aside, it didn't take long for the Zabrak to figure out the situation was not going his way. Both he and his captive watched as the Devaronian slowly raised his blaster; they flinched as he blew his own head off, blood and ichor spattering the area. The Zabrak looked stunned, staring at the body on the floor like he’d never seen one before, but Lishra knew what had happened. A newfound appreciation for Lex’s strange powers glimmered in her heart, but now wasn't the time to nurture it. She strained against the Zabrak’s grip, looking for a chance to escape, but the horned alien was quick to recover, and even quicker to realize Lishra was his way out of this job-gone-very-wrong.
With a demonic hiss, he dragged her away from the wall and towards the cockpit door, keeping her securely between himself and the fight. The Nagai had leapt catlike onto one of the chairs and produced a set of throwing knives, which he flung in neat order at the Umbaran. One grazed Lex’s cheek as he ducked just in time, the others missing him completely, twanging into the back walls where they stuck. Then he pounced, his Tehk’la blades ringing as he surged towards Lex.
Lishra could feel the Zabrak’s tense uncertainty in his arms as he watched. Should he leave the Nagai? Take her with? Stay and fight? It was as he inched backwards for the door, hauling her over the Devaronian’s body, that Lishra decided now was the time to do something. The arm around her waist had loosened just enough for her to draw her elbow back and ram it into his stomach. He grunted, folding towards her in surprise, but she quickly threw her strength backwards and bashed her head against his face. There was a satisfyingly wet cracking, accompanied by a scream as he let her go entirely, clutching his nose and mouth. Lishra used his agony to duck away, sweep up the Devaronian’s blaster from the floor, and shoot the Zabrak twice in the leg. He went down hard, his knees buckling, chest heaving in pain as she stood over him, weapon trained on him. She thought about firing, she honestly did. The topsider was so very tired of being thrown around and felt up by random thugs looking for an easy victim. Maybe if she filled this one’s head with holes it would send a message. But her finger remained steady on the trigger. She’d gone this long without blood on her hands. Why start now? He was clearly down.
Still, though. Some morbid, darkly fascinated part of Lishra wondered what it would be like to snuff out his life.
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Lex Ryjin
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Post by Lex Ryjin on Oct 5, 2013 19:26:47 GMT -8
The blades came fast and sharp, throat, ribs, inner thighs, again and again and again in a flurry of blows. Each and every one meant to kill. Lex was no slouch when it came to the martial arts, but the Nagai's abilities with those knives far outstripped his own and he barely managed to fend off the increasingly difficult series of attacks. He knew it wouldn't last forever, and he had to find something else. Fast. No time to think. Too fast. Can't stop fighting. His answer came when he twisted away from the most recent flurry of blows and his eyes found the knives still stuck in the wall. He would have smiled had he not been so busy deflecting the knives, and when his opportunity came, he seized it without hesitation. A short, rapid kick took the Nagai in the chest, and the sneer of disdain turned to an outcry of surprise and pain when the knives, sharpened to short points on the back of the handles, drove through his back. He was dead before Lex was back on his feet.
There was cold rage in his violet eyes as he turned to face the downed zabrak, and he wasted no time in snatching the blaster out of the devaronian's hand and putting a bolt through the survivor's head. The body flopped to the floor and he turned back to the Nagai, pulling him off the wall as he spoke to Lishra. "We need to get the ship moving. Their friends will come looking when they don't get back. We'll dump the bodies from the air."
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Post by Lishra Elaric on Oct 5, 2013 21:10:57 GMT -8
She didn't ask, didn't question, didn't speak at all. Lishra simply nodded, gathered up the enemy weapons, stashed them in a corner, and helped Lex drag the dead thugs out of the cockpit.
Ten minutes later, they were in the air. They disposed of them quickly, dropping them into the black depths of Nar Shaddaa without a hitch. Lishra took the ship to a new berth, piloting the vessel with relative ease. The controls were basic, the ship moved smoothly through the air for the most part. It was all the traffic patterns (or lack thereof) and delicate maneuvering she had trouble with. But they landed well enough, with only one or two new scratches.
The night passed slowly. Lishra spent most of it on her hands and knees, cleaning the blood out of the cockpit and fixing up the galley and surrounding rooms. She didn't mind. It felt good to do something productive that didn't involve running for her life or hiding in sewers and trashed alleyways. The Nar Shaddaa filth had found its way into the ship, discoloring the metals and leaving a sticky film on every surface. Lex had vanished into the depths of the vessel shortly after they’d landed, refusing her offers to look at his wounds. He’d paused only long enough to mechanically inspect the side of her face, his expression carefully closed, jaw tightly clenched. And then he’d taken his tools and left very quickly. Irritation settled in her thoughts at all the things said and not said. They’d been so close to some kind of mini resolution, and now the moment had gone, been snatched away from them, and he was the cold, aloof Umbaran once more, and she was the troublesome topsider.
She’d retired to her room almost as dirty as she’d arrived on-board, and after a quick shower, Lishra shrugged into one of the shirts she’d nabbed from Lex’s bag and fell into a restless sleep. She woke surprisingly refreshed and still smelling cleaning chemicals, and after dressing made her way to the galley for hot caf. It was bitter, but it woke her up, and she choked down a protein bar before meandering down the hallway. The entire side of her face throbbed with a horrid ache, and the inside of her cheek still stung from where her teeth had cut into her flesh, but aside from the stunning plum-colored bruising, she was fine.
She found Lex in the engine room near one of the reactors, tools within reach. “Hey.” Lishra clomped forward, sitting cross-legged next to the scatter of working instruments. “Still working? Did you sleep at all?”
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Lex Ryjin
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Post by Lex Ryjin on Oct 6, 2013 15:45:08 GMT -8
"Move! You frakking piece of..." CLANG! Finally! The bolt that had been resisting his efforts for the last five minutes finally began to spiral out of its hole, and in the midst of the noise he missed Lishra's footsteps as she came into the room. Her voice, though, cut through his concentration like a vibroblade. "Stuff to do. No time for sleep." The ship may have had enough operational repulsors to get them a few kilometers away from the "dealership" where they'd bought it, but it was far from spaceworthy. Something Lex had been working all night to correct. He hadn't even come close. "The hyperdrive is crap, we'll need a new one, but this reactor is salvageable. Just needs a new regulator to keep the power levels steady so the ship doesn't explode. I'm working on getting the old one off now... what the hell?" His quizzical exclamation prompted him to pull himself even further under the reactor casing until his entire torso disappeared and only his legs could be seen. Is that a nest? That better not be a nest... Frak. It's a nest. Now where's the frakking rodent the bui... Gah! There was a flutter of wings and the very distinct sound of a rattle, and a small black streak shot out of the dark space above the nest and past Lex's head, small claws finding purchase on his chest and abdomen as it raced for freedom. It was out of the crawlspace before he could grab it, and with another curse he pulled himself free of his confines and drew the blaster on his thigh as he searched for it, still laying on his back on the floor.
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Post by Lishra Elaric on Oct 6, 2013 19:55:52 GMT -8
Lishra had no time to clamber backwards. Something was hurtling toward her, all darkness and rattling. For a moment, she thought Lex had thrown something at her, but as it stretched its wings, she realized it wasn't a tool at all. With a gulp she squeezed her eyes shut as the air from its wings buffeted her face, hoping it wasn't poisonous or hungry, and waited for impact. It didn't come. The brunette peered out cautiously from behind thick lashes, the rest of her tensed for immediate scrambling. “Lex?” Her eyes fell on the blaster in his hands. Alarm spiked through her. “Was that…? That was definitely not a mynock… Where did it go?” She was about to stand up and look around wildly when something poked her in the back. A fierce little rattle rained through the engine room, and Lishra’s eyes went wide as saucers. Slowly, ever so slowly, she turned her head and cast her gaze over her shoulder. It was there. It was right there. A pair of slanted animal eyes the color of lush forest watched her carefully, dark wings folded against its petite, black scale frame. The creature crouched anxiously behind her, its tiny body warm against her jacket, the little rattles on the end of its tail dancing in agitation. “Oh my God,” Lishra breathed in awe. Whatever fear has sprouted in her quickly melted. “Is this… I think it’s a tailring.” At the sound of her voice, it shifted around, tiny claws clicking on the floor. Lishra looked back at Lex, some measure of delight on her face. “I've heard about these. There was one in the Menagerie near the opera-house, but I've never seen one this close!” The teacup-dragon peeped around Lishra’s right arm with caution, eyeing Lex murderously. The rattling grew stronger, and the critter gave a gentle growl. “I think you scared it,” she said, tone amused.
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Lex Ryjin
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Post by Lex Ryjin on Oct 6, 2013 21:16:51 GMT -8
"I scared it!? The frakkin' thing tried to bite me!" He was on his feet now, and as much as he wanted to just blow the thing to pieces there was no way he was going to point a blaster at Lishra. "Move. It'll make a good meal." The rattling increased in tempo and nearly became a hiss, as if the creature understood his words, and it huddled closer behind Lishra but still didn't take its eyes off Lex. He'd spent so many years never wasting a potential meal that now, when he had more than enough money for several years worth of food, he still only saw the opportunity the animal presented.
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Post by Lishra Elaric on Oct 6, 2013 22:28:28 GMT -8
Lishra gaped at him, appalled. "No, Lex, this isn't the Underworld, you can't just blast everything that doesn't like you!" The tailring fluttered a wing, nipping at an itchy spot. "This was its home first, and besides..." She turned to look at it again, her long hair spilling over her shoulder. The movement startled the little dragon, and it scampered backwards with a shrill peep, vibrant green eyes screening Lishra's hair suspiciously. "...it's just a baby. It's not going to hurt us."
She gave Lex a meaningful look. "No eating her. We have credits now, I saw a market a block away, we don't need to consume rodents anymore." With a soft smile, Lishra considered the little creature. "And I think we should keep her. Let her stay. Aren't they good at keeping mynocks away or something?"
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Lex Ryjin
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Post by Lex Ryjin on Oct 6, 2013 23:07:41 GMT -8
"Wouldn't know. Never had a mynock problem." He reluctantly shoved the blaster back into its holster and lowered himself back to the floor. I need a slugthrower. Blaster's too light. No kick either. Can't feel it when you shoot. Though the ammo capacity is nothing to scoff at. "Just keep it out of my space. Its already got a nest clogging up the works under here." He started lying back down to slide under the reactor casing, then paused. "Lishra..." Just say it Lex, it won't get any easier if you put it off. "...what you said earlier. In the cockpit." His hands felt icy cold in spite of the layer of sweat he could feel on them and his heart seemed to be trying to escape through the back of his ribcage. He wasn't sure how, but he managed not to choke when he spoke again. "If you want me that much, then..." His eyes, violet eyes full of longing and fear and even a little hope, looked up into hers from where he sat on the floor. Can I even ask that of her? After what I did? I don't have the right to get what I want. "No, just..." Don't be an idiot Lex. She said she wants you. Why can't you be happy? He swallowed hard, trying to fight his way to clarity through the morass of emotions he had never been used to feeling. I don't deserve her. She needs better than me." "Nevermind. I've got work to do."
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Post by Lishra Elaric on Oct 7, 2013 15:33:32 GMT -8
“I don’t know.” His unfinished question hung heavily in the air between them, but she’d understood it. Lishra stared at the tools near Lex’s feet, her voice soft. A tiny, upset crease formed between her brows as she tried to reason with herself, wrangling with her perplexing feelings. “I want to, I just… I’m not sure if… I don’t know if I can without.. flashing back to…” She trailed off with a pained expression. Her eyes slid up to meet his, warm brown boiling in distress. She didn't need to clarify. He would know what she meant, and it hurt her to remind him. It hurt because she didn't want to admit it, not to herself, not to Lex, that there was still some small measure of fear in her heart. Fear of him. Hurt because she knew it was always on his mind already, every time he looked at her.
She wanted to get beyond this. She wanted it so badly.
Behind her, the little tailring sniffed inquisitively at her jacket, the rattles quieting down. When it realized it was no longer the center of her attention, it nipped lightly at her sleeve. Ignoring it, Lishra shifted, crawling slowly across the floor towards Lex. “And I don't want to hurt you again. But I won’t know anything,” she said, coming to kneel at his side, “unless we try.” Blood pounded through her veins, and she drew a shaky breath, her insides jittery. "So should we? Do you want to try? I mean, I can't promise anything.." She was close to him now, closer than she’d been in a very long time. Warning bells came to life as she met his violet eyes again, ringing relentlessly in every corner of her mind. Not smart, not smart! She ignored those too. Of course it wasn't smart. Not for her, and definitely not for him. They had avoided this for a very good reason, and so far, it had worked out alright. But there was too much here, too much mutual desire, too much passion, too much emotion to ignore forever. She remembered everything about the cave, every terrifying detail. But she also remembered the overwhelming carnal bliss, the powerful crush of his will as he conquered her wholly, mind and body, the ecstasy of his touch. She remembered him making her love it, want it, and she remembered loving him, wanting him.
She remembered being his. The brunette moistened her lips, her heart hammering in her chest as she traced his features with her gaze. “Give me..--"
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Lex Ryjin
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Post by Lex Ryjin on Oct 7, 2013 18:32:13 GMT -8
He surged forward as she began to speak again, throwing caution to the wind as he grabbed the back of her neck and puled her toward him, cutting her off with his lips on hers. His heart thundered in his ears and his senses came alive with awareness of her. The small surprised whimper when she could no longer speak, the taste of her lips on his, the smell of her as he pulled her closer. She filled every inch of his awareness, and there was no room for his "gift" to interfere. It was still there, nagging at the back of his mind. A dark temptation that constantly urged him to go farther, to impress his will over hers. To control her will and make her mine. His eyes opened wide with realization and he backpedaled, pushing her away as fast as he'd pulled her close. "Get out." His jaw set in determination as he watched her, his eyes fastened securely on her face in spite of the intense desire to let them wander lower. He knew he should look away, should turn around or climb back under the reactor, but he couldn't make himself do it.
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Post by Lishra Elaric on Oct 7, 2013 19:14:12 GMT -8
She fell back from him abruptly, breathless, utterly shell-shocked, lips hot and plump and glistening. Perhaps if she’d been expecting it, Lishra would have found her voice sooner, but all she could do was sit there, trembling with over-excitement, holding his gaze like a lifeline. Because something big had just happened.
He’d let her go.
Lex had touched her, been near her, kissed her, and she’d felt no pull from his mind, no domination of her will. Not even a hint of it. A thrill ran through her. Could it work…? “Why?” She didn't come closer this time, though. The fear was still there, mixed with thrill, and she was fighting it hard. “Why get out?”
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Lex Ryjin
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Post by Lex Ryjin on Oct 7, 2013 20:00:13 GMT -8
"Get OUT!" Lex shouted as he stood, then stalked toward her and grabbed her arm to pull her to her feet. As much as he wished they had been, the motions were not gentle and he all but forced her out the door before slamming it shut, nearly on the tail of the small dragon-thing as it streaked out after her. He spun the old-fashioned manual seal until it clanged into the locked position, then spun and slammed his back hard against the door. Why can't I just be rid of it? What did I do to deserve this curse? I just... just want to be happy. He was not a man given to tears, but he felt his eyes grow moist as he sunk slowly to the floor, forearms on knees and head hung low in shame. Why can't I be stronger? Why couldn't I resist? I had everything in the world, and this frakking power took it all away. Some gift that turned out to be. He could remember everything, the exquisite feel of her soft flesh, the wondrous rapture of her moans and sighs, every detail perfectly vivid in his mind. He had gotten everything he never knew he wanted; but that wasn't all he remembered. Just as vivid was the look of horror and betrayal in her eyes as he released her mind and she realized what he'd done, as he realized what he'd done. The desire had turned to horror and the ecstasy to terror in the space of a single breath, and he knew immediately the kind of monster he was. The kind of monster she would always fear. I did this to myself.
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Post by Lishra Elaric on Oct 7, 2013 23:15:09 GMT -8
“LEX!” Lishra hammered on the engine room door in outrage. What had just happened? There had been a moment there, a promising moment, and then suddenly it was gone, and there was anger and dragging and slamming doors. Her arm ached where he’d gripped her, ached but Lishra brushed gently at it, trying to keep the sensation of his hands on her. Why could nothing go smoothly for them, just once!! “HEY. Lex, that was not trying!! You can’t just throw me out, you felt it, I know you did!! This could work! We just need time, and…and practice and just let me help you!...”
Silence met her requests. Lishra sighed heavily, resting her forehead against the cold metal door. Behind her, the little tailring dragon rattled in agitation, watching her warily from halfway down the hall. Sudden irritation coursed through her. Not at the dragon, but at the solid wall Lex had slammed between them without a word of explanation. Oh, sure, she could figure it out by herself well enough, but that wasn't the point. He’d shut her out, again, mentally and physically, and she was tired of it. “Okay. You know what?” Her tone turned harsh. He wanted to shut her out, did he? Wish granted. “Fine! Hint received! You were right! This is not gonna work right now. I hate admitting it, but I’m still slightly terrified when I’m near you, and obviously, you still have problems being near me, so…” The words felt rancid in her mouth, and her stomach twisted. Lishra grimaced, but her annoyance and frustration were too much. “You have work to do, and so do I, and this is just a distraction. Whatever happened in there, just forget about it. Let’s just do our jobs and stay off the radar.”
She dug her nails into the metal in aggravated longing, giving the door one final glare before turning around and meeting the uncertain green eyes of the baby tailring. It was pacing the floor, tail whipping around as it studied Lishra. She sighed, letting go of some of her anger, and crouched with her back against the engine room door. “At least you still like me,” said the brunette, holding out a hand to the creature. It crept forward slowly, eyes on her palm. “I don’t bite, come on,” she coaxed gently. “You don’t have to be afraid of me.” It nipped her fingers experimentally, sharp teeth drawing small beads of blood. When she didn't pull back, it raised its regal little head and regarded her with what Lishra thought was a kind of respect. And just like that, it seemed to bond with her. When she finally stood, the baby tailring flapped its wings awkwardly, half flying, half climbing up her arm to find purchase on her shoulder. Its claws dug in and it wrapped its tail around her arm like a jewelry band, and suddenly Lishra was thankful for her thick leather jacket. With one last look at the cold, closed door, she turned away, her own emotions freezing over. He wanted space? Space he would get.
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Lex Ryjin
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Post by Lex Ryjin on Oct 8, 2013 9:27:15 GMT -8
Devastation and regret hit him like a boulder as her words pushed through the door, but there was relief too. I can't hurt her if she stays away from me. His tears resolved into ice as he sat there in front of the door, and he forced the longing deeper and deeper until it was only an aching memory. Then he moved, going back to work on the reactor in order to keep himself busy, keep his mind occupied with something other than her. He knew that if he didn't, the desire would return and drive him mad. But I can't have her. I can never have her. I gave her up in the cave, and she can never be mine. Not anymore. Then he forced his thoughts away from her and focused on his work. The only way he knew to get by.
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Post by Lishra Elaric on Oct 8, 2013 18:51:29 GMT -8
The next two weeks passed especially slowly for Lishra.
The dispute in the engine room had put an enormous strain on Lishra and Lex’s already fragile relationship. Words and actions had been loud, and they’d torn a deep, painful rift. Neither of them spoke much to each other unless it was necessary, and both went out of their way to avoid each other. They ate separately, went out separately; the ship had adopted a sort of chilly, miserable mood to match their attitudes, and more and more, Lishra found herself dreading returning to it after errands.
The only bright spot was her little tailring companion. She’d named her Kiita and kept her in her room when Lex was around; the Umbaran didn’t like her, and it seemed the feeling was mutual for Kiita, hissing and whipping her tail rattle around when he came too close. She’d retrieved the creature’s nest from under the reactor and tucked it up in the corner of the highest shelf, hoping to encourage the black dragon to fly instead of crawl around and use its tail to haul itself upwards. It seemed to work, for a while, but try as she might, Kiita could never quite get fully airborn, even when Lishra took her outside. Upon much protested inspection, the brunette discovered a small bulky bend in her right wing, a break that had never fully healed, perhaps. It was definitely significant enough to impair her flight abilities, but Lishra didn’t care, and neither, it seemed, did Kiita. The dragon had learned to get by just fine without flight, happy to flutter around awkwardly, and Lishra cared for and loved her just as much. She did manage to keep the rodent and pest population at a clean zero even with her handicap, and when Kiita scarfed down a rat and hurled the bones back up on Lishra’s bed, little obsidian head held high with pride, Lishra hid her grimace and made sure the creature knew she’d done good. But she made sure she fed Kiita boneless raw meat after that.
Gradually, the ship began to come together. Lex’s constant, focused hard work had started to pay off, and as the broken or old was mended or replaced, so too did Lishra’s cold demeanor begin to melt. It might not sound like it, but two weeks was a long time to be constantly at odds with the only other person in your living space, and she was growing tired of walking on eggshells around the Umbaran; she was a lively, compassionate being, and the constant negative tension was like a disease to her. By no means was she ready to chat amicably or sit in the same room with him for more than three minutes, but she smiled a little at him now when they passed in the hallway, and her tones were warmer when she spoke, the open hostility gone from her body language. But it seemed to her that the more she smiled, the gentler her words grew, the more Lex was absent from the ship. She’d seen him leave at night, watched him disappear into the streets from the viewport like he couldn’t get away fast enough, and Lishra wasn’t so brave yet as to questioned him, never asked where he was going or why he was gone so long. But it would be hours before he returned, looking tenser and more frustrated than when he’d left. She hated to admit it, but it broke her heart to see him like that. He couldn’t possibly still be upset about the engine room, could he? No, she figured. This must be something else. Whatever it was that was eating at him wasn’t going away anytime soon. But Lishra kept her nose firmly out of his business. If he wanted to include her or wanted her help, he knew where she was.
In the meantime, Lishra had problems of her own to worry about. Like the fact that her new job as record-keeper at the spaceport wasn’t turning up anything incredibly useful. She’d taken it not only to give her something to do during the day and a steady, if meager, source of income, but to keep tabs on all the less-than-savory beings coming and going from Nar Shaddaa, and to hopefully gather some much needed intel about the criminal market. If they were going to stay on Nar Shaddaa for a while, they needed to know who was here, which crimeboss was doing what, who was hunting which bounties, and if any of it applied to them. Lex wanted to be one step ahead and prepared for anything, and so they’d discussed possible ways to collect the information they wanted. They needed to be somewhere people talked, but they had to be able to blend into the background. Lishra had suggested a bartending position, which he’d shot down right away. Too much focus on her, he claimed, and bounty hunters were always visiting bars. It would be easy for them to put two and two together. So, they’d settled on the spaceport. Always busy, always full of people wanting to chat or share their stories or ask questions. As a record-keeper, she spent most of her time sorting data and entering new arrival information into the systems. It wasn’t a desk job, she moved through the facility, checking in with various stations and gathering everything they’d recorded into one spot. Interaction with people was a given, but she wasn’t the center of attention and no one would question the inquiries of a port official. It was this combination that sold Lex on the idea, and she’d eagerly taken the job. Time spent away from the ship and away from his frigid, aloof manner was what sold HER, and she’d done her job without a hitch for the past week, using her natural pleasant, friendly nature to her advantage.
But no matter how many conversations she listened in on, no matter how many questions she asked or how many ship names and records she siphoned off the data list, Lishra couldn’t get at the good stuff. It was all things they already knew, or old news being recycled, or things that had no relevance to what she was looking for. The juicy details, those intimate whispered conversations in the shadows of loading ramps, the ‘fresher room chatter, the sketchy meet-ups at the arrival gates… That’s where the potential for good info was at the spaceport, and unless she could turn into a bug on the wall or become invisible, there was no way she was going to turn up anything useful. She’d brought it up to Lex last night, troubled at the idea of being useless (though she didn’t tell him that), but he’d brushed her off and told her to continue anyway. It irritated her, but with no other ideas or foreseeable options, Lishra didn’t really have a choice. She had to keep working, or spend the days locked up in the ship with a grouchy Umbaran.
Her new friend, Ethan Rannik, made the job worthwhile at least. A young man of twenty-four, he was one of the many blue coverall-clad janitors that worked to keep the spaceport clean. Or as clean as it could get. ‘Clean’ was not a word often associated with Nar Shaddaa. He was a gentle-spoken soul, funny and sociable, with sky blue eyes, short sandy-colored hair, and an infectious smile. She’d met him her first day over a broken mug and a puddle of steaming caf, which she’d tried to clean up on her own. But he’d waved her efforts with a grin and mopped it all up in record time before buying her another caf…in a plastic, non-breakable cup. Since then, Ethan had brought her one every day when she arrived, and the two shared plenty of friendly conversation over the days. Lishra liked him. He was, she imagined, what a brother must be like, and she enjoyed his company and his life stories immensely. She’d never had a real friend before, male or female, so when he began casually asking questions about where she was from and why she was on Nar Shaddaa, she immediately clammed up in suspicion. Why did he want to know that? Why was he so curious? Were friends supposed to do that, or was this guy some kind of spy, or maybe he was a hunter in disguise, or… But no. When he saw how uncomfortable she was, Ethan backed off immediately with a million honest reassurances, and when she saw how genuinely worried he was about upsetting her, Lishra gave him the benefit of the doubt. He hadn’t asked her again, sticking instead to easy topics and friendly joking. But he made sure she always knew he was there if she wanted to share, and she made sure he knew she appreciated his respect of her privacy. She did tell him a little about Lex, and that the two of them were trying to fly under the radar for a while. Ethan accepted that with a nod and a promise to keep the info between them, and Lishra couldn’t explain it, but she trusted that he would.
It was a short, relatively well-lit commute back to the ship from the spaceport, but Ethan had insisted on walking her home the past few nights, and Lishra had grudgingly accepted with many a protest about how she could handle herself. But it his large, solid frame was reassuring in the shadows of the alleys, and his easy, light-hearted chatter chased away the depressing darkness. So tonight, when he asked, she didn’t offer complaint, letting him shoulder her small purse and guide her out of the spaceport.
“…Okay, you look absolutely ridiculous, give me that,” Lishra said through an amused expression as they rounded the final corner. The ship loomed in the bay before them, half shadowed. She darted a hand at him, making a snatch for her purse.
“What? C’mon, I’m the guy, I’m supposed to carry the things.” Ethan dodged her reach easily, blue eyes sparkling.
“My purse weighs like half an ounce! We’re pretty much home, I’m sure I can handle it the last seven steps. And you look like a complete fruitcake carrying a neon pink bag.”
He made a show of wagging his hips as he strutted down the street like an overzealous model on exhibit. “Oh fo’ real, galfriend, it’s so hot, I gotta have it..!!” he chanted in a high, nasally voice.
Lishra burst out laughing, grabbing the strap as he sauntered past and pulling it off his shoulder. “Yeah okay, someone had way too much caf during break! Remind me to cut you off early tomorrow.”
Ethan dropped his ludicrous model act and gave her a mock salute and a wide smile. “Yes ma’am, Commander ma’am.” He paused, nodding towards the bay. “Now get moving, before I run off with your purse again.”
“Hey, steer clear, pal, pink is really not your color.” Lishra punched him good naturedly on the arm as she passed him, tossing her friend a smile over her shoulder. “Thanks for the escort!” She jogged backwards towards the ship, waving at him. He waited until she’d lowered the loading ramp and entered the ship before he took off back around the corner.
With a sigh, Lishra dumped her purse in the galley and dug through the small fridge with a smile, her mood high.
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Lex Ryjin
Member
Posts: 32
Traffic Light: Red
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Post by Lex Ryjin on Oct 8, 2013 21:30:44 GMT -8
"You okay sugar?" The twi'lek lying next to him gently ran a hand across his chest as she spoke, and Lex graced her with a cold glance before his eyes went back to empty space. The nakedness of her light blue skin held no allure for him, though to most she would have been a near-perfect specimen of physical beauty. "Not that I didn't enjoy that, but it just didn't seem like your heart was in it. Too..." Her eyes ran down his own naked body and a small smirk appeared on her face when they returned to his. "...mechanical. Very deliberate. Most men want to get all mushy and sensual." He didn't respond, and she watched him for several more minutes before speaking up again. "Who is she? The girl you're trying to forget?" That got his attention. His jaw clenched tight and he deliberately avoided looking at her as he stood and went to the shower. He turned it on cold and stepped in. "She's the one you told me about, isn't she?" He ignored her again, and she just shrugged and stretched out on the bed, enjoying the time she had to relax between clients.
"Have you heard anything?" She looked up at him again as he stepped out of the shower and finally spoke, though his voice was as cold as his eyes. She'd never had a client who she couldn't warm up before, but this Lex... he'd never relaxed even once in the entire week she'd been seeing him. It just wasn't natural. Not that she was complaining, he was actually one of her best clients. Never wanted to do anything kinky and always paid up front. She just wished he wasn't always so... rigid. She laughed softly at the irony of that.
"I said I would tell you if I did, didn't I?" That was the oddest part about him. He'd wanted to know about any bounty hunter types that came in, basic stuff like why they were here and who they were after, and offered to pay her double just for listening to them. That and telling him what they said. So far there'd been nothing. "What about the other girls? Have they heard anything?" He gave her a look and she shrugged. "I'm not blind sweetie. I know I'm not the only distraction you... well, partake in around here. Her smirk returned as she watched him get dressed, but he ignored her provocative stretching. "Am I going to see you tomorrow?"
"Not sure. There's stuff I need to do." His voice grew distant and thoughtful. "Things. Things I can't keep ignoring." Then he finished getting dressed and stepped out the door, leaving her to her own thoughts until her next client arrived.
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He walked silently through the dark alleys and back streets, his mind churning as it always did these days. First he'd tried distracting himself with the work, and he'd succeeded for at least a few days, but as always the thoughts of her kept bubbling back to the surface. So he'd tried other ways to distract himself. Other women to share his bed. That had worked even less than keeping busy. Why can't she just get out of my head and leave my thoughts in peace? I can't have her, can't touch her skin or feel her hair in my fingers, but I can't let her go either. She needs protection. I can't just abandon her. He idly kicked an empty can down the street as he walked. But I can't keep living like this either. Except he had no choice. He'd promised her protection, and that meant he couldn't leave, and he couldn't have her. There was no way around it.
He slowed to a stop as he neared the ship and saw two people approaching. One was Lishra and the other a tall human male. She was smiling as they walked, and even laughed when he made a joke. Lex's chest grew tight and his heart dropped, but he forced himself to watch the scene unfold, doing his best to wrench his emotions back in line. He didn't sense any ill intent from the man, so he simply waited. Good for her. She needs someone she can trust. Someone she's not afraid of. Maybe he can actually protect her instead of taking advantage. He watched as the man turned with a smile and they parted ways, him heading back the way he'd come and her walking up into the ship. It'll be good for her. Having someone else. Except he knew the sentiment was a hollow one. Knew he would never mean it. Knew he wanted to find that man and beat him to within an inch of his life for trying to take her from him.
He also knew he couldn't do that. It would be as bad as taking away her will like he did in the cave. He had to let her live her own life. Make her own choices. Love whoever she wanted to love. Unless it puts her in danger. He'd made a promise, and he was going to keep it.
He walked up the ramp a few brief minutes after her and found her in the galley, rummaging through the refrigeration unit. Probably for something to feed that flying rodent of hers. "New friend of yours?" He was, of course, referring to the well-built young man that had walked her home.
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Post by Lishra Elaric on Oct 8, 2013 22:18:10 GMT -8
Startled, Lishra dropped the bag of raw meat she’d finally fished out of the fridge, along with the bowl of spicy noodles she had procured for herself. Thank God the latter had been sealed tightly. “You mean Ethan?” she asked casually when her heart had finally gone back down her throat. Of course he did. Like she had any other friends. Lishra sighed quietly, fiddling with her hair for a moment before locking it behind her ear in one smooth motion, and tried very hard not to be too elated at the fact that Lex had just spoken to her. Four words from his mouth and her heart was dancing again. Ridiculous. She blushed a tiny bit at her reaction, glad he couldn't read her thoughts. Or, at least, she hoped he couldn't. Bending, she scooped up her items and shut the coldbox, placing them on the small counter. “Yeah, new friend, I guess.” The brunette kept her voice calm and unconcerned as she pried open the noodle container. How much should she tell him? Did he really want to know or was he just making conversation? No, Lex didn't make conversation, he must want to know. “He works the janitor position over at the spaceport, but he helps me out on his breaks. He’s…nice. Funny, too, and a little absurd at times.” She smiled at the counter a little, remembering his stupid model impression. “And he thinks I’m an accident waiting to happen, so he walks me home at night, which I'm thankful for most of the time."
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Lex Ryjin
Member
Posts: 32
Traffic Light: Red
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Post by Lex Ryjin on Oct 8, 2013 23:28:02 GMT -8
"Good. You deserve to have someone who can make you happy." The words tasted bitter in his mouth. He wanted to be the one to make her happy. He wanted to give her everything she ever wanted and more. Wanted to make her smile and laugh and love life. But I can't. I can't and he can. That much was obvious from their exchange outside the ship. She liked spending time with him, and he clearly liked her. Soon she wouldn't need Lex anymore. Then I can leave and she can be free. She won't have to be afraid it will happen again. Won't have to be afraid of me. "He seems like a good guy. I hope it works out." It was like driving ice-cold daggers into his own chest, but he had no choice in the matter. He couldn't have her, and she deserved to be happy. There's nothing more to it. Then he turned to head for the engine room. He had to find something to occupy himself or he knew he'd go mad.
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Post by Lishra Elaric on Oct 9, 2013 21:04:21 GMT -8
She’d opened her mouth to explain to Lex that Ethan was definitely not on the dating menu when another thought dawned on her. His words made no sense. None at all. And although she knew it was a very bad idea to call him out on his empty phrasing, well, now she just had to know what was on his mind. The curse of a curious, intuitive woman. Abandoning her noodles, Lishra left the rec area and hurried after the Umbaran, brow knit in doubt.
“Wait wait, you ‘hope it works out’?” She followed at his arm, trying to peer up into his face. “No, I don’t think you do. I know you, Lex, that’s the last thing you want to hope for. I mean, you probably want to just tear him apart.” Something about that realization pained her. That he would say something like that at all spoke volumes. It must have hurt him. She moved in front of him and tried to meet his eyes. “Why would you say that?”
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Lex Ryjin
Member
Posts: 32
Traffic Light: Red
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Post by Lex Ryjin on Oct 10, 2013 16:24:26 GMT -8
"What does it matter?" He shrugged, the pain in his eyes evident. "You deserve someone who can make you happy, make you laugh and smile. I can't do that. Not after what happened in the cave." His right hand came up as if to caress her cheek, but stopped short of actual touch. It hovered there, mere centimeters away from her skin for moment after agonizing moment before he finally dropped it back to his side. I protect her, but she isn't mine. Not anymore. "Not when you're still afraid of me." He could see it in her eyes when he reached out to her, the moment of hesitation, the tension in her jaw as she prepared to fight or flee. It was only there for an instant, but it was there, and it hurt him more than any physical wound ever could. Knowing that she had good reason to be afraid. That he really was the monster in the shadows that he'd pretended to be all his life.
He'd wanted it then, wanted to be feared and left alone, but she'd changed him. Now he couldn't imagine living without her, but as much as it pained him he knew he had to. I can't risk it happening again. I care too much. Had he not been so caught up in his own failure, that realization would have stunned him. He'd never cared for anyone like he cared for her, and he couldn't even begin to explain why she was so different. But it doesn't matter anyway. I'm too dangerous to stay.
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