Private A Different Kind of Audience

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Ukatis - Axilla - Ovli Market

Equipment:
Field Gear | Lightsaber | Tic | Cybernetic Arm

The streets of Axilla hummed with a type of polish that made Ace stick out like a sore thumb. He moved through them like a current, his prosthetic forearm faintly glinting whenever it caught the light. Tic hopped at his side, the little droid's photoreceptor swiveling left and right, mapping faces and wares with chirps of curiosity.

They'd come down to Ovli Market for supplies, fuel cells, ration packs, the basics. But Ace found himself slowing near every other stall. A row of woven scarves reminded him of Roon's night markets. A vendor pouring bright blue tea said something about luck on long journeys. He offered a half-smile and a nod, then kept walking.

These days, his wandering was a result of him trying to 'find himself', or recalibrate. He told himself he was here to keep the Flickerfox supplied, but the truth was he was looking for something. A lead. A sign. Anything.

Tic gave a low beep, drawing his attention toward the far end of the street. Then he sensed it, a ripple of discomfort threading through the crowd. Tic beeped again, this time sharper, turning his sensor toward the noise. Ace followed the droid's gaze.

His dark eyes fell on a man and woman, maybe around his age. He was cornering the young woman near a cart stacked with flowers and theatre flyers

"Come now, you can spare a moment for a fan."

She was still marked by the air of the stage. She had beautiful brunette curls, and her eyes, were fierce, she glared up at the man like she could flay him alive without lifting a hand.

Tic gave a low, uneasy chirp. Ace briefly exchanged a glance with the BD-unit before sighing, and starting toward the pair. His pace was swift and expression determined, he was learning to be less reckless, more thoughtful. But this? His body moved before he even had the chance.

"Enough." He said, voice calm but edged.

The man turned, a hint of defiance flickering in both his eyes and his expression. But the weight of Ace's dark, predatory stare flattened it. The droid at his feet hummed once, faintly charging its shock prod.

"It's really not worth it." Ace added quietly, casually gesturing toward his lightsaber.

Fatine von Ascania​

 

[Fatine von Ascania]

The Aesop Theater Company was not the most popular stage in Axilla, but it was where many budding actors and actresses found their start.

Fatine had joined only months ago beneath a pseudonym. Acting was considered an unseemly profession among the noble circles, and the erasure of her aristocratic roots had less to do with protecting her family from shame, and more to do with giving her a blank slate.

Still, the girl's brazen demeanor and head of lush, bouncy curls occasionally garnered the wrong sort of attention.

Case in point: the young man who'd snatched her wrist. His sandy blonde hair and dimples might've been cute if wasn't being so annoying. He'd been bugging the young actress to share a meal with him after her past three shows, and each time he was declined.

Perhaps she'd been a bit harsh with her recent rejection, but after back to back performances, Fatine was exhausted. Her jaw clenched as she pulled back on her wrist, unable to yank it from the man's iron grip.

Ugh, so much for chivalry!

"It's really not worth it." Ace added quietly, casually gesturing toward his lightsaber.

Oh, stars. A crowd had gathered, and not the sort she liked. Fortunately, another young man had stepped forward from the group of nervous onlookers.

Fatine frowned. Not worth it? Just what did he mean by that, exactly??

He wasn't loud. He wasn't demanding. He clearly wasn't from here, given the state of his dress. Just deadly quiet, the sort of tone that held the promise of power behind it.

"Who are you to-"

Fatine's assailant turned with a challenging gaze, but quickly dropped his eyes to the lightsaber hilt glinting as it caught the evening light. The defiance in his expression drained into hesitance. His grip loosened on the girl's wrist.

That was when Fatine swung her free hand, striking the blonde across the face. He stumbled back, and the actress clambered to Acier's side.

"That's right!" She declared, lifting her voice dramatically as she wound both hands around the stranger's arm. "You listen to my boyfriend and leave me alone!"

Acier Moonbound

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Ukatis - Axilla - Ovli Market

Equipment:
Field Gear | Lightsaber | Tic | Cybernetic Arm

For a second, Ace said nothing, biting down hard to resist a smile. The slap cracked through the air, clean enough that half the onlookers winced. The man stumbled back, clutching his cheek, and Tic's photoreceptor flicked between him and the woman now at Ace's side.

Then she took his arm.

'Boyfriend' she'd declared, voice ringing clear enough to hush the crowd.

Ace's brows rose, but the reaction was gone as quick as it came . Old instincts filled in the rest. Bonadan had taught him how to read a room, how to blend into whatever script someone else was writing, and right now, the part was obvious.

He slid a hand casually around her waist, the picture of calm, maybe even smugness. "Yeah." he said, voice steady, just loud enough for the blonde to hear. "You heard her."

The man's confidence bled out of him completely. He muttered something about "actors" and shoved his hands in his pockets before storming off. Ace let out a quiet breath, moving his hand away from her waist. Tic gave a low, satisfied trill that sounded sort of close to a laugh.

When the murmurs faded and the crowd began to drift, Ace tilted his head toward her. "That was… a bold improvisation." He said, tone wry but not unkind. "You always this dramatic, or should I start taking notes?"

His dark eyes lingered on her for a moment, drinking in her features. She was definitely easy on the eyes, it wasn't surprising she drew the attention she did.

After a brief moment, his tone softened, more serious "You okay?" He asked.

Then he scanned the dispersing crowd, searching for any lingering trouble. Then his gaze settled on her again.

"Need me to walk you anywhere? Or, are you good?"

Ace's protective nature still seemed to override his better judgment. She was a stranger, and judging by the slap she'd delivered earlier, more than capable of defending herself. Still, that instinct was a compulsion he couldn't quite shake.

Fatine von Ascania​

 

[Fatine von Ascania]

"Dramatic? Hardly," she tsked with a wave of her hand as they disengaged. "If you want real drama, then you'll have to come and see me in the stage lights!"

Something in Fatine's countenance relaxed as the would-be suitor stormed off. For a few moments, the pair were afforded a chance to assess one another. A pleased hum sounded from the back of her throat.

"Oh yes, I'm quite alright." One lithe finger began to twine around a brunette curl as her voice smoothed into a purr. "Don't you worry about me, now. The lower stages are positively crawling with men like that. Unfortunately, they seem to respect what they think another man owns rather than a woman's personhood."

There was an edge of bitterness to her otherwise playful tone, but again, Fatine was quick to brush past it.

"Well, I can just let you go after you went out of your way to rescue a damsel in distress, can I?" She chirped, throwing her hands around the young man's arm again as she started to all but drag him down the road. "You'll have to let me treat you to tea as a thank you!"

Fatine threw her head over her shoulder with a splash of curls and a bright grin. A flutter of long, dark lashes said: You'll join me, won't you?

"I'm Fatine," she offered, electing not to use her stage name. "Are you a Jedi? With your fancy lightsaber and off-world clothes?”

Acier Moonbound

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Ukatis - Axilla - Ovli Market

Equipment:
Field Gear | Lightsaber | Tic | Cybernetic Arm

Ace blinked, caught between surprise and amusement, a faint smile tugging at his mouth. Yeah... she was definitely an actress, and the way she carried herself, the cadence in her voice? It all hinted at a polished upbringing.​

​

"I think I'll pass on that." He said, declining with an easy calm.​

​

Truth was, he wasn't sure he needed to see her on stage. He had a feeling he already was.​

​

Her assurance that she was fine eased his concern, though her next word, the quiet bitterness threaded beneath them, drew a faint frown. She was used to unwanted attention.​

​

"Yeah…" He murmured, catching the tone. "Seems to be a common thing here. Sorry." Tic followed up with a soft, sympathetic chirp.​

​

With things seemingly settled, Ace gave her a short nod and turned as if to continue his errand, only to feel her hand loop through his arm. He stopped, blinked once. Okay. Now it seemed like he was being led… somewhere.​

​

"Tea?" He said, falling into step as she tugged him along "For basic decency?"​

​

This wasn't the first time this had happened. There was Thalen Dhorain on Ord Mantell, then Calyx Sundrift back on Troithe. Maybe it was misplaced nobility or honor he didn't know he had, but his jaw tightened at the idea of being rewarded.​

​

Tic, though, seemed to feel the opposite. He trilled approvingly at her declaration of gratitude, already scanning for nearby cafés. Ace shot the droid a look, shaking his head.​

​

When she introduced herself, he nodded slightly. "Fatine..." He repeated, testing the name on his lips, before returning the introduciton. "Acier, or Ace... I don't really care."​

​

Her last question, about the Jedi, drew a flicker of amusement. He simply shrugged, seemingly unbothered. Ace was beyond tired of telling people just because he carried a lightsaber, it didn't make him a Jedi. Now, he'd just lean into it.​

​

"Something like that." He said at last. "Galaxy loves to throw me into situations built for Jedi, though."​

​

Fatine was certainly an interesting character, and there was definitely more to her than meet's the eye. She'd definitely learned to weaponize her charisma, everything she said felt deliberate, even when it looked spontaneous. Whether this was skill acquired from acting or something she was naturally good at, he wasn't sure. ​

​

If there was one thing he did know, however. It was that the day just got a whole lot more interesting.​

​

He glanced sidelong at her, expression mild but eyes sharp. "So, you're an actress. This something you all do? Take your rescuers out for tea, or am I just lucky today?" His tone was playful, laced with a hint of challenge.​

​

Fatine von Ascania ​

​

 

[Fatine von Ascania]

Those curled lashes fluttered again. The trick to applying mascara was to use multiple coats, waiting for each one to dry before applying the next. That way, you had sleek, dark lashes without clumping.

Acier's playful challenge was met the unabashed gaze of a young woman who'd grown up as the loudest in a large family.

"Only the cute ones."

Given that he hasn't outright rejected her, Fatine took that as a good sign. She relinquished the force of her dragging - something that Ace could've easily resisted had he wanted to - and fell into step beside him.

"Plus, you're clearly not from Ukatis. You'll need someone to guide you around, or else you'll be hopelessly lost."

Never mind the face that Ace seemed to be doing perfectly fine on his own, and she was the one who'd been in need of help. With her grip still wound around his arm, Fatine guided him along the busy side street.

"That was cool what you did back there," she giggled. "But I was kind of hoping you'd draw your lightsaber. That would've been so astral!"

The pair received a few glances as they moved along, though most denizens seemed indifferent. Ukatis had only recently opened itself to outsiders, and though Ace was dressed a bit strangely for their tastes, his humanoid appearance went a long way.

Fatine clicked her tongue, suddenly curious.

"So, like, what even brought you to this dirtball anyway?"

Acier Moonbound

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Ukatis - Axilla - Ovli Market

Equipment:
Field Gear | Lightsaber | Tic | Cybernetic Arm

Ace's dark eyes widened ever so slightly when she fired back at his challenge, but his expression remained stoic. Cute ones. Was she calling him cute? That was certainly... new. He shook the thought, almost like shaking off the shock of a strike, before he realized Fatine had wrapped her arms around his again.

Her mentioning that Ace obviously wasn't local drew a faint, dry chuckle. He gave himself a quick look-over, Ace knew that he stood out but never paid attention to how. Part of him wondered what the giveaway was; the olive jumpsuit, the leather chestplate, the prosthetic arm? Maybe it was all of the above.

"Uh-huh." He finally answered, tone rough but not lacking humor "Hopelessly." He echoed, teasingly.

This game was fun. Her reframing the dynamic so she could reclaim control. Him adapting to and mirroring whatever she threw his way.

"On him?" He shook his head "Not worth it. Usually the hilt's enough." Then he paused, casting her a sidelong glance and a faint smirk "Drawing it's reserved for Sith Lords and Imperials. Normally."

Ace caught the glances that were sent their way. He wondered if it was solely because of him, or that a local was keeping an off-worlder in her company. He took a mental note, apparently the average Ukatian wasn't experienced with outsiders.

Fatine clicking her tongue drew his attention on her, and he turned his head to face her. Her question made him smirk again, although it didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Whatever excites you the most." He said plainly.

His voice was playful and the game was fun, but he'd only just met her after all. So, he answered in a way that matched the tone of the game they were playing but didn't reveal anything about himself.

Ace could see a café come into view, unsure if it was the one Fatine wanted to take him to.

"If this place's a dirtball. Why're you still here?" He asked, turning things back on her.

Fatine von Ascania​

 

[Fatine von Ascania]

"Cos I live here, duh."

Fatine liked this boy. Not only was he cute, but he had a sense of honor and didn't seemed rattled by her flirting.

It was so tiring when they crumpled easily.

The cafe's aesthetic was a mix of Ukatian traditionalism and outdated core architecture, but it seemed to attract a younger crowd. By the little agriworld's standards, it was downright trendy.

Fatine was quick to steer them towards a little outdoor table flanked by a pair of sturdy chairs. Once seated, she placed her elbows on the table and rested her chin in her hands.

Madame von Berlioz, the headmistress at the finishing school she'd attended, would had a stroke.

"Well, it's like, home, you know? I was born here." The girl hummed, rolling her large dark eyes to the side in thought. "But someday I'll be a famous actress that'll put Ukatis on the map for sure! Can't you see it, my name in lights?"

Fatine grinned and spread her hands wide, as if she could conjure up a thousand tiny bulbs in the shape of her name.

Maybe she didn't notice that Ace had dodged her question, if she did, it didn't seem to bother her. Around them, the cafe buzzed with the hum of busy waitstaff

"So," she drawled, once again leaning forward on her elbows. "Sith Lords and imperials, huh? Who's the strongest opponent that you've ever had to face?"

Acier Moonbound

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Ukatis - Axilla - Ovli Market

Equipment:
Field Gear | Lightsaber | Tic | Cybernetic Arm

Ace's jaw tensed ever so slightly when Fatine asked him who his strongest opponent was. Naturally, his mind drifted to the Death Star III and it all came rushing back. The sound of lightsabers, the heat from the steam, Ravoch's golden eyes, and... the white hot pain of the moment his left arm was severed.

His mechanical fingers twitched, his eyes found hers and an artificial smirk curved his lips. Ace simply raised his metallic arm and waved it slightly.

"The one who gave me this, duh." He said, finally, echoing Fatine's earlier cadence.

Not wishing to go into details, Ace quickly moved the conversation along, flipping it back on to Fatine.

"Ukatis is your home. I get it."

Attachment to home was a foreign concept to him personally, but he understood why someone like Fatine may feel it. Ukatis didn't seem so bad on the surface. Better than Bonadan, at least.

Ace leaned back in his seat, idly scratching beneath his chin. The rebel's dark eyes were fixed on hers, as if studying her. It wasn't often that a woman's appearance caught his eye, even less so that the personality underneath drew upon his curiosity.

"But, yeah. Your name in the lights?" He said through a low chuckle, grinning slightly "If this is you off the stage? You're gonna do more than just put Ukatis on the map." His tone was dry, but not without playfulness.

Tic, who was now stood on the table, chirped in agreement. Ace turned to him and gently patted the little BD-unit on his head, then turned back to Fatine.

"What made you want to be an actress anyway?" He asked, genuine curiosity in his tone.

Ace's associates were normally fighters, soldiers, politicians but never figures in the entertainment industry. He understood soldiers, they were cut from the same cloth and politicians? Maybe they weren't fighters, but they did operate in similar circles, if you were one or the other, you were bound to cross paths eventually. Actresses, though? A whole different territory for him.

Fatine von Ascania​

 

[Fatine von Ascania]

When Ace raised his mechanical arm, Fatine went silent. A spark of remorse flashed in her eyes - perhaps the first sign that the girl was capable of genuine emotion, or at the very least, still susceptible to guilt - before it began to dissipate at his playful tone.

She had a habit of pushing boundaries, and fortunately she hadn't pushed him away- yet.

"Oh, hmm," she murmured. "Yeah, that makes…sense."

The way the sunlight glinted off of the metal prosthetic reminded Fatine of her sister's hand. Cora never spoke of how she'd lost it, and tended to keep the cybernetic covered with a glove.

Fortunately, the subject change felt seamless enough for Fatine to feel comfortable again. That, and she had just enough grace to temper her wandering curiosity.

"Me? Well…I guess I just always liked watching stage plays and holos. My family is really, like…"

How to explain the rigid expectations that befell a Ukatian noblewoman without explaining that she was a Ukatian noblewoman? She'd already given Ace her real name, figuring that an offworlder wouldn't be familiar with Ukatian aristocracy.

Her fellow actors knew her as Cheri Sinclair.

"…strict," she decided. "They wanted me to be one thing, and I didn't want to like, be that thing. But as an actress, I can be whoever I want!"

Any measure of thoughtfulness was overtaken by a thousand watt grin. "Plus, it comes with adoring fans. Annoying ones too, but you take the good with the bad."

Still, dealing with entitled fans was far better than being stuck inside all day, learning to sew and weave and other boring attributes that were said to make the perfect Ukatian noble wife.

A waitress swept over, blonde hair slicked back and tied tightly in a bun. Fatine ordered without missing a beat.

"Meiloorun spice latte. Extra sweet."

Elbows still on the table, she rested her chin atop laced fingers and tilted her head toward Ace and his perky little droid.

"How about you, mysterious stranger? What made you become a…not quite a Jedi?"

Acier Moonbound

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Ukatis - Axilla - Ovli Market

Equipment:
Field Gear | Lightsaber | Tic | Cybernetic Arm

Ace noticed the crack in Fatine's mask. It was fast, but he caught it, the flash of remorse in her doe eyes. Turns out under all of that charm and glamor, there was empathy there. Good to know.

She seemed relieved when he switched topics. Truth be told, so was he. As Fatine answered, Ace leaned forward, resting his arms on the table and interlacing his natural fingers with the mechanical ones.

There was slight hesitation before she confessed her parents were 'strict'. There was clearly more to it, but Ace knew when to leave well enough lone. Fatine hadn't pried about his arm, so he would offer her that shared grace.

The picture was becoming more clear. Acting wasn't just a hobby or passion for Fatine, it was rebellion. He had to be honest, her enthusiasm was infectious. So much so that he met her grin with his own, a rare, genuine one.

"Looks like you've found your calling in life." He said, smiling now. "That's good. I'm glad for you. It isn't an easy thing to find these days." He added, with a nod.

Knowing your calling - who you were meant to be, was one of those rare gratifying feelings only a few people experienced. Ace was still searching for his, to hear Fatine had discovered hers, and at their age? She was truly lucky.

When the waitress 'entered the scene', Fatine ordered first while Ace's gaze settled on the woman opposite him. Eyes still searching, studying, like always.

"I'll have the same." Ace added.

Truth be told, he didn't know what to get. He didn't drink tea or caf often, too uppity, too high-class in his eyes. He just hoped it'd be good. A Scarif Slush sounded real nice right now.

Ace's eyes flickered when Fatine spoke to him directly again, snapping him out of a state of staring - which he hadn't realized he'd been doing. He let out a rough laugh through his nose at the 'mysterious stranger' line. Then, quietly cleared his throat as he thought of a way to answer her question.

"Necessity, I guess." Ace answered flatly, following it with a shrug.

He glanced away briefly, fingers fidgeting, as he realized that the answer probably wasn't all that satisfying. Fatine was at least somewhat trusting enough to open up a little about her acting. It was only fair to show the same courtesy.

Following a short pause, he continued: "I'm not really a Jedi. A Jedi Knight gave me a five month crash course a while back, but since then I've kind of just been figuring it out on my own."

Ace's words hung in the air for a moment, the honesty was heavy. He quickly cut through it with another low and dry huff that served as a laugh. Ace's eyes met hers again.

"Wingin' it and trying not to die."

Tic perked up, trilling in a manner that seemed to be reprimanding. The little droid didn't appreciate whenever Ace minimized the extremities that was their lifestyle. Ace, however, merely waved his hand in the droid's direction - shooing him off.

"So, you say the lifestyle comes with annoying fans. Do you get a lot of ones like the blondie from earlier?" He leaned back in his seat, resting one arm over the back of the chair. "Shouldn't you have security? It's not like a semi-Jedi's gonna be around all the time to rescue you."

Fatine von Ascania ​

 

[Fatine von Ascania]

The waitress was quick to skitter away, but not before offering a smile that approached polite relief. Fortunately, their order was one of the easier ones she'd had today.

Fatine, ever accustomed to having eyes on her, felt her stomach flutter. Just once. Odd, given that she'd never experienced stage fright before. And yet, she felt compelled to study Ace in return – not just the blonde locks and the swath of freckles that danced over the bridge of his nose, but the way he held himself. His brow seemed permanently tensed beneath the weight of a life she couldn't truly fathom.

"Figuring it out on your own?" Fatine frowned, but it wasn't in displeasure. Just thought. Perhaps a touch of confusion that wouldn't really go anywhere. "Don't Jedi have whole academies and stuff? My si-"

A sharp pause, during which she cleared her throat. Cora had been the head of the New Jedi Order's academy on Coruscant, before the Galactic Empire had surged to the core like a blade thrust into the heart of the Alliance.

Fatine glanced down to observe the way Ace's metal digits locked with their flesh counterparts.

"Like, the Republic and stuff," she finished smoothly. "But I guess that sort of thing isn't for everyone. I wouldn't want to take a bunch of boring Jedi classes, either!"

Lysander came to mind. She didn't quite know what being a Sith meant, only that they were apparently the philosophical antithesis of Jedi. That didn't sound good, but whatever made him happy.

A giggle parted painted lips at Tic's admonishment and Ace's dismissal.

"Oh, him?" Those burgundy lips pursed and she shrugged. "Not a lot of them, I guess. But enough for it to be annoying? The theater usually has like, some guys who act as security. But they'd already left to day drink by the time today's show was over."

Fatine hummed, eyes rolling towards the sky as if she were recounting the numerous incidents and close calls she'd had.

"I've got a pretty nasty backhand. Oh! And my brother gave me a blaster. Which I still gotta practice with, but I'm not gonna whip it out here."

Acier Moonbound

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Ukatis - Axilla - Ovli Market

Equipment:
Field Gear | Lightsaber | Tic | Cybernetic Arm

Fatine was, understandably, confused at Ace's... unorthodox lifestyle. Even other trained Jedi had trouble placing him, understanding why he never completely aligned himself with any of the Orders. How many were there now?

Fatine's sudden sharp pause drew his attention. His gaze sharpened and his brow raised. The way she cleared her throat after made it obvious something had slipped. Something she didn't want to share. Ace filed it away mentally, but didn't raise it, he was sure Fatine had her reasons.

He laughed lightly. "Yeah... formal education isn't... for me." He said, eyes drifting "I learn better by doing. Not in a classroom."

Then his eyes found her again, watching her like always. He took her in the way he took in a fight stance or a battlefield; quietly, piece by piece, without meaning to but unable to stop. Those dark curls were too perfectly shaped to be accidental, her makeup sharp enough to look rebellious without tipping into drama. Honey-brown eyes lined in kohl, lipstick a shade deeper than anyone on Ukatis would call "proper."

Ace didn't know which detail pulled his attention. Maybe all of them. Maybe the way the whole look fit her... polished, defiant, and hard to look away from.

The rebel's brows narrowed at the mention of the theater's security taking off to 'day drink'.

Useless. He thought, eyes casting to the side in annoyance.

His eyes drew to their center at the word 'blaster'. Of course she owned a blaster - the girl was an anomaly. She gave off charm, charisma and a rebellious nature, layered with nobility and high-class. Her carrying a blaster, somehow, didn't surprise him. She was a walking contradiction. In the best way.

The corner of his lip tugged into a half-smile. "Probably smart." Not whipping it out right in the middle of a café was for the best.

As if on cue, the waitress arrived with their orders, flashing the pair a smile and returning to tend the other customers. For a moment, Ace stared at it, his brown eyes lowering. Analyzing. Trying out a new beverage felt as risky as freefalling off of a Denon skyscraper.

After a moment of quiet but visible hesitance, he reached for the cup, metal fingers curling around the latte. He took a careful sip of the drink and didn't swallow. Not immediately.

His eye twitched once. It was as if Ace was frozen between spitting it out or swallowing. After a few long seconds, he went with the latter. Ace didn't say anything right away, he just set the drink down and shook his head slowly.

"Big mistake." He muttered, to himself mostly. Then he looked toward Fatine again, his brow raised. "Your blaster. Do you want me to teach you to shoot?"

Ace couldn't, in good conscience, leave Fatine to her devices after hearing about the sorry security, handsy fans, and with only a 'backhand' as her solid defense.

Fatine von Ascania ​

 

[Fatine von Ascania]

So far, Ace had been calm, cool, and collected. Fatine liked that. She also liked his reaction to the meiloorun spice latte, which was anything but the aforementioned.

The girl placed a hand over her mouth, which did little to stifle the way she snorted in utter amusement. Giggles drifted from between the gaps in her fingers, eyes crinkling with good humor as she watched Ace swallow the sweet concoction with what she assumed to be a healthy mix of disgust and regret.

"My tastes aren't for everyone," she teased. Fatine took a sip of her latte and hummed in approval.

Perfect.

Ace's question landed as she took another sip - this one bigger, and it promptly lodged itself in her throat.

Fatine sputtered, placing a hand against her chest as she forced herself to swallow.

"You want to teach me to shoot?!" She gasped, her voice hovering around a harsh whisper. Her surprise was so thick that it might've been hard to tell whether or not she approved of the notion. That was, until a thousand watt grin broke through the clouds of uncertainty like the sun.

"That would be so astral!" She exclaimed. "I promise I won't use it for like, bad things. Self defense only!"

Dark eyebrows went up as she pressed her luck.

"Mmmmaybe you could teach me a few moves with that lightsaber of yours, too?"

It wasn't supposed to be a euphemism, but boy did it sound like one. One she perhaps didn’t hear.

Acier Moonbound

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Ukatis - Axilla - Ovli Market

Equipment:
Field Gear | Lightsaber | Tic | Cybernetic Arm

Fatine's giggling at his expense drew a faint smile from Ace, and at the same time, he felt his chest warm slightly. That was... odd. He ignored the sensation as quickly as it came, however.

There was something about her laugh, an innocence and light layered within that made him forget the galaxy's troubles. His troubles. At least, if only for a moment.

Was this what being normal felt like?

After he'd offered to teach her to shoot, he felt concern over her initial reaction. The gasp, the hand on her chest. Maybe this wasn't a normal thing to offer on a world like Ukatis?

Fatine's swift shift into excitement over the prospect eased the quiet tension in his shoulders. A short, quiet exhale escaped his parted lips as his eyebrow raised - her promise to not use her knowledge for 'bad things' was... worrying.

"Well, I wasn't concerned at first. But now I am." He said, grinning lightly, tone light.

'Teach me a few moves with that lightsaber of yours.'

Ace's eyes widened, his ears warmed. Did she...? Was she insinuating...? Ace was inexperienced in that area. Completely out of his depth. But he recognized a proposition when he saw one.

Too flustered to even realize Fatine didn't even mean for it to be interpreted in that manner, Ace coughed, clearing his throat.

"I-- uh... I don't-- I haven't--" Ace couldn't even get the words out, freckled cheeks darkening.

He raised a closed fist to his lips before forcing another artificial cough, clearing his throat again.

"So, uh... is there a-- I don't know Ukatis that well, is there a place we can go?" He asked, voice settling into his usual calm and uneven tone.

Ace glanced down to his drink, Tic watched him, emitting a curious whirr. The ashen-haired rebel didn't say anything after, he simply slid it across the table with his index finger. In front of Fatine. He didn't say anything, but his gesture indicated that he clearly didn't want it anymore.

"Sorry. That's just... not good." He confessed, reaching into his pockets and digging for credit chips. "I'll pay for it. Don't want to waste your creds."

Fatine von Ascania ​

 

[Fatine von Ascania]

Fatine's eyes narrowed from behind the rim of her cup as Ace sputtered. She scoffed, maintaining a playful lilt to her tone as she drew this out a little further.

"What, don't tell me that you've never used your lightsaber before? Were you lying back there when you chased that guy off?"

Maybe he was the shy type? That was fine. It occurred to Fatine that he hadn't really given her much personal information, but the conversation was still good so she didn't mind. If anything, it helped to maintain that mysterious aura she'd been drawn into.

Fatine pressed a thoughtful hum against the curve of her cup, lips quirking into an amused little smile when Ace slid his discarded drink her way. Being honest was better than pretending to like something when you didn't, at least by her measure. She'd had to grin and bear her way through unpleasant meals before, a rite of passage for all noblewomen.

"Not everyone can have good taste," she shrugged, before lurching forward in her seat to slap Ace's fingers as his hand came away from his pocket with several credit chips. "Don't you dare!" She pouted. "I meant it when I said that this was my treat."

Giving a hmph, Fatine picked up her cup, and downed the rest of her drink. Head tilted back, throat bobbing, she guzzled the latte in an unladylike fashion that would've given someone's titled grandmama a heart attack.

"There," she gasped, reaching into her bodice to produce a few credits from somewhere, which were slapped down onto the table. "Tic, Ace, I've got the perfect place for some pewpew practice."

With a triumphant grin, the girl rose from the table and was quick to swipe Ace's latte. She'd give it a good home.

"We're headed for the Axilla junkyard!"

Acier Moonbound

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Ukatis - Axilla - Ovli Market

Equipment:
Field Gear | Lightsaber | Tic | Cybernetic Arm

Relief washed over Ace. Apparently, he'd completely misread the situation. The actress was actually referring to his lightsaber. Ace sighed and the tenseness in his shoulders loosened, regaining his composure.

"N-no. I wasn't lying." He answered, glancing away as he idly scratched his temple with his index finger.

When Ace had tried to pay for his side, Fatine, uncharacteristically, smacked his hand out of the way - preventing him from paying. His hand retreated back and, while it didn't hurt too bad, he still felt himself rubbing at the red mark she'd left.

"Sorry?" He said, confused, unsure if he even should be sorry.

Maybe this simple gesture of paying for him was more important to her than he'd realized. Still, he couldn't understand - it was seriously nothing. Both what he did and the price of the latte. But... if she'd go so far as to slap his hand away from paying, he'd let her.

Still rubbing his hand, Ace watched in amazement as she chugged the rest of her drink. His expression wasn't horror, shock or discomfort, it was more... understanding. Fatine was gradually showing more of her real self to him, and she was nothing like he'd expected. In the best possible way. The corner of his lips, slowly and faintly rose.

She was assertive. Bold. Unapologetic. Completely unladylike. But... she was real. And Ace, valued realness above everything.

After she'd downed her drink, Fatine reached into her... bodice? Producing a few credits. Ace blinked, but didn't say anything - just averted his gaze to Tic's photoreceptor. When she called to both Tic and himself, his dark eyes found her again.

The Axilla junkyard. That's where they were headed.

"Lead the way." He said, nodding.

---

Location: Ukatis - Axilla junykard

The junkyard sprawled across the edge of the city like a rust-colored maze, heaps of scrap metal and broken speeders piled high in crooked towers. Sunlight bounced off shattered panels and twisted wiring, turning the whole place into a jagged, metallic wasteland.

It was quiet, empty, and perfect for a little blaster practice.

For a while, Ace was silent and just watched. His freckled face was contemplative, even somewhat nostalgic. The junkyard had stirred up memories of Ace's childhood. Not happy ones, but when times were... simpler. As a boy, the scrapyard in the Vergeworks was his sanctuary away from the orphanage. A reminder that, although he'd felt discarded - he still had vallue.

He blinked once, as if grounding himself back to the present. An artificial smile plastered on the young man's face as he folded his arms, and turned to Fatine. His gaze lowered to her dress and his head flicked down.

"Okay, Fatine. Show me what you're working with."

And by that, he meant the blaster. Not her shooting. Not yet.

Fatine von Ascania​

 

[Fatine von Ascania]

The junkyard wasn't a particularly glamorous place, and frankly, Fatine didn't love being by surrounded by filth. But, the prospect of a cute boy teaching her how to shoot overshadowed her choice of venue.

"Right!" She chirped, then wheeled around. With her back facing Ace, she lifted the front of her skirt and leaned over to extract the blaster she'd strapped to her thigh.

That was what they did in the holos, after all.

The motion only lifted her back of her skirt up to about the middle of her calves. Scandalous, by old Ukatian standards, but she didn't seem to mind.

Fatine whirled back about with a pink sidearm clutched in her hand.

"Isn't it adorable?" She cooed, one finger looped into the trigger guard as she twirled the blaster. "My brother gave it to me. It's- woah!"

The precariously rotating gun slipped from her finger, clattering to the ground between. Unfortunately, Fatine had zoned out during Lysander's boring instructions, and missed the part about blaster safety.

The weapon discharged, firing a round into the nearby shell of a speeder.

Fatine jumped, eyes wide. It took a few moments for her frantic surprise to melt into sheepishness.

"Ehehehe…I didn't know it would do thaaat," she drawled, twining one finger around a dark curl.

Nobody got hurt, so it was okay, right?

Acier Moonbound

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Ukatis - Axilla Junkyard

Equipment:
Field Gear | Lightsaber | Tic | Cybernetic Arm

Ace watched Fatine as she spun around, noticing the back of her skirt lifting up to her calves. Both he and Tic exchanged looks, not uncomfortable, but... curious.

The pink slugthrower stuck out like a sore thumb, his lip twitched and his brow raised. Of course it was pink. A quiet, low chuckle escaped his lips and he folded his arms.

"Pink. Suits you." His attempt at a compliment, to be uplifting.

Learning it was a gift from her brother was certainly interesting too. His mind wandered for a moment, speculating on what kind of man he was and his occupation. It wasn't normal to gift a family member a sidearm, at least not on Ukatis... he assumed. There was one thing though, he knew her brother was a protective man. Relatable.

Ace quickly noticed her finger looped inside the trigger guard, and... the way she twirled it... she had the safety on, right?

That concern was quickly answered. His eyes widened when she dropped the slugthrower and swiftly shot at a rundown speeder, startling Tic.

She tried to play it off, all cutesy. Maybe that would have worked on some local guy, but not him. Ace sighed, raising his arm slightly and slowly levitating the blaster into his hand.

"...Please never do that again." He said, "Why wasn't the safety on?"

Ace studied the weapon with both hands, the weight distribution, the reinforced slide, the faint shimmer of phrik in the inner barrel. His
metal fingers brushed the grip and he felt the magnetic accelerator hum through its frame. A Force-masking slugthrower. Taozin fat in every round. Rifle-level punch in a compact frame. No stun setting.

Ace couldn't shoot, or switch on the safety - which meant it must have been keyed to Fatine.

"Fatine... you're walking around with this kind of heat?"

This weapon was deadly, not just for whoever was unfortunate enough to be on the other end of it, but for Fatine too. And with that display just now? He definitely needed to show her how to use it.

Ace released his hold of the sidearm. Instead of falling, it floated - held up by Ace's telekinetic grip. Then, he slowly directed it back to the young woman, gently letting it hover until she reached out for it.

"Safety first." He said, tone firm but not harsh. Once she'd switched it on, he stepped back and pointed at a dented sheet of metal propped against a mound of junk. "That's your target."

He shifted into instructor mode without even thinking about it.

"Finger off the trigger. Always. Ride the frame, not the guard." He tapped his own metal finger against the side of the pistol to show the proper placement. "Grip higher. This thing kicks harder than it looks."

He nodded at her feet.

"And stance. Lean into it, not away. You're in charge."

Ace's eyes flicked to the distant panel.

"Sight on the target. Breathe out. Then squeeze, don't yank."

Tic beeped nervously and ducked behind an engine block. Ace ignored him.

"You good?" He asked, gaze steady on her form now. "Because once that safety comes off, you aim first. Nothing else."

A tiny smirk tugged at his mouth.

"I trust you. Let's see what you can do."

Fatine von Ascania​

 

[Fatine von Ascania]

"The what? Oh."

Right, the safety. She vaguely remembered Lysander babbling on about how important it was, but static clung to that particular memory.

More importantly, the girl was thoroughly distracted by the way her blaster hovered in the air, as if lifted by some unseen hand. Despite having trained siblings, Fatine hadn't often witnessed the Force up close.

Her eyes flicked back to Ace. He didn't seem outright disappointed, but more…concerned. Which made sense, given that her clumsiness has resulted in the accidental discharge of a deadly weapon. She watched in awe as the gun floated towards her.

"Astral," she whispered.

"Right, the safety." Fortunately, it was an easy setting to find once she paid attention.

For once, Fatine actually followed instructions. As much of a free spirit as she was, even she knew when it was time to buckle down.

Just a little.

"Finger off the trigger, ride the guard," she mumbled, adjusting her grip and stance at Ace's instruction. He sure knew a lot about weapons, didn't he? Or at least, he acted like he did.

The weight of the blaster suddenly felt heavy in her hand. Sweat began to gather in her palm.

"You want me to hit that?" She tsked, referring to the warped metallic panel. "Piece of cake!"

Fatine often wore her confidence like a finely styled gown. At home, even unearned. But now, she wore it like a mask. Her jaw set as she aimed for the metal, hand trembling just slightly and-

Bang!

The slug tore through the air as Fatine recoiled back. It struck not her target, but the glasteel viewport of a junked freighter.

The girl huffed. "Thought I'd…try to hit something harder," she insisted as little glass shards tinkled over debris.

Acier Moonbound