Private Blasted Moonbound

[Calyx Sundrift]

Fatine von Ascania​

Engines roared to life. Girls gasped and giggled like they hadn't heard the sound a hundred times before. Guys smoothed their hair, adjusted leather jackets they'd clearly chosen for this exact moment.

Calyx watched it all from above, leaning over the steel balustrade that looked down on the concrete steps, and found the whole ritual mildly amusing. Nobody here, he imagined, was actually surprised. They just liked pretending to be. After all, it were only the locals who knew about this little tradition. Off-worlders never heard about this event. The beach race wasn't advertised, wasn't catalogued anywhere worth searching. Just painted, half-broken landspeeders and swoops, racing for nothing but reputation, and a few hundred locals who knew exactly where to stand to watch it happen.

The evening cool had settled in. The tang of salt from Niamos its waters and the vehicles fuel exhausts hung in the air, joining the strong aromas of fried street food smoking from a vendor's cart somewhere behind him. On the background of that battle, the last rays of sunlight were losing ground to the neon boards and pulsing beams of the Niamos nightlife.

He sipped from his can of Revnog, laughing as he noticed one of the swoops fall apart before it had even reached the start. Yes, tonight's entertainment would be good. And afterward? Well, the clubs would be open until dawn.

He needed that.

The brief escape from Thrantin. From Pelagon, and whatever other machinations the Covenant cared to force on him. Out here, he was just Calyx Sundrift, or Arbu Dessana, or Samuel Ref, or whatever name he felt like inventing. The point was - nothing mattered, as long as the lonely-looking Rodian at the bar fell for his most charming smile.

Yet it wasn't about being a nobody. It was about being somebody else, with someone else. Forgetting the truth of life in the act of lying. It was what you did when you felt betrayed.

Even if Acier Moonbound hadn't been his friend. Still, the man's capture had caught him off guard. He'd finally felt some kinship toward Acier, and then the man went and decided to clear his conscience. As if that made him the better person, now that he'd admitted his guilt.

Guilt was meant to be drowned in alcohol, not confessed away.

Calyx grimaced. The thought of Acier left a sour taste in his Revnog.

Blast you, Moonbound. Ruining my evening with your conscience.

He raised his can in a mock cheers.

Well. Enjoy prison.

I'll enjoy this instead.

 

[Fatine von Ascania]

One of the cobbled-together racers fell to pieces on its way to the starting line. Calyx laughed, and a rogue hand swiped his beverage.

Fatine tilted her head back, giving the can of stolen Revnog a solid chug before pulling back sharply. Her perfectly noble face, made heavy with darkly painted lips, shimmery eyelids and sharp contour, screwed in an expression of shocked disgust.

She spat the mouthful over the edge with an exaggerated gag. "Ugh," she heaved, looking to the can as though it had personally offended her. Which, it had. She held it back out to the blonde, thumb and forefinger pinched over the edge as she leaned as far away as she could from such a foul thing.

"That tastes like battery acid," she complained. "I thought that a cute guy would be drinking something, y'know, good."

Ever since her breakup with Acier, Fatine had been causing minor property damage and partying her way across the galaxy. Niamos was a nice little beach world, unrefined and gritty in the way that she liked but still pretty.

Fatine grasped the railing and leered at the racers down below. She snorted. "Looks like the junkyard sprouted legs."

Calyx Sundrift

 

[Calyx Sundrift]

Fatine von Ascania​

He'd barely raised the can before it was swiped from his hand. She'd been standing in his blindspot. The new blindspot, courtesy of Isobel Serraris, that forced him to actually turn his head to see who the hell dared.

His mouth set in a hard line as he reined in his temper. Some girl had snatched his Revnog, thrown her head back and-

He watched as her mouthful torpedoed over the railing and caught a tall Cerean square in the neck. Calyx stared blankly for a moment while the Cerean scanned the crowd for the culprit.

Then his brow shot up at her exaggerated heave.

"Serves you right for stealing..." He took back the can and held it up, seemingly weighing it. "…about half my drink." He tilted his head in an exaggerated sidelong glance. "You owe me half a drink now." A smile played about his features. "And charming ladies get no exemption." There was something of a challenge in his tone.

The girl was charming, yes. Downright captivating to look at with that dark makeup against her lighter features, and those brown curls framing her face. And then there was that boldness he liked in people.

But in terms of holiday fling potential? Zero. She was human. Dull, deadening human.

"Still, insulting a man's choice of beverage earns you no points." He took a gulp and immediately made a face. "Even though you're right." He tossed the can over the railing, loosely aiming for the swoop that had fallen apart.

"The Niamos Rush. But call it what you like. It'll be indistinguishable from a junkyard either way in an hour."

It irked him that she was standing at his bad side, but he pretended not to care.

"Been to the race before?" He nodded toward a cluster of landspeeders that had drawn a crowd. "They let you ride along, y'know? If you impress the driver. There's a whole prize segment for hottest co-driver." Calyx grinned. "I tried to win that last year. There was this Mikkian racer who fell for my excellent looks and incomparable wit." He ran a hand through his blond hair in an exaggerated fashion. "Never made the finish line, though." He chuckled. "She took a wrong turn and we were out."

Calyx looked her up and down. "You've got a good chance of winning, I think. Too bad you've got half a drink to buy me instead."

 

[Fatine von Ascania]

Fatine couldn’t help but giggle as the Cerean’s frantic gaze panned over the crowd. When it tilted upward, she let out a small ‘oop’ and crouched behind the railing.

To the mention of owing him half a drink, Fatine rolled her eyes. She never paid for drinks, and she wasn’t about to start to. A quick peek over the bannister’s edge indicate that the Cerean had given up on his search, so she stood back to her full height, arms stretching above her head.

“I’m always right,” she snickered. “Even when I’m wrong.”

The girl fell across the railing like a cat languishing in the sun. She made a small noise from the back of her throat indicating that this was her first time at the races. The mention of hottest co-driver lifted her sharply penciled brows.

“I’m not surprised,” she snorted. “You’re a…six at best. Not into blondes.” She shrugged. Ace’s hair was white-blonde, and he could get fethed. “But hey, the eye patch works for you.” She waved a hand over her own face. “Did the Mikkian let you drive or did you distract her?”

Fatine turned over, leaning the backs of her upper arms against the railing now. She wore her hair down, and a dark purple bikini complete with a translucent sarong around her waist. A golden waist chain draped over her hips, the fastened end dangling into the fabric covering her upper thighs. She didn’t fuss when Calyx looked her over, because of course he would.

She enjoyed attention from men, typically. Even moreso ever since Ace had the gall to dump her. “Half a drink?” she snorted, flicking her hand to dismiss the notion. “You so poor that you can’t afford your own booze? Geeze,” she rolled her eyes, “You should enter the race yourself. Then you could buy me a drink."

Calyx Sundrift

 

[Calyx Sundrift]

Fatine von Ascania​

"A six?" He let out an insincere laugh. "Ouch." He'd considered himself an eight in the least. Before Isobel - that was. His hand drifted to his eyepatch, and lowered in the same instance. It had done a number on his charm, despite the girl's comment.

"And distraction? Well I suppose you could say that." He stared at nothing in particular, the corners of his mouth twisting up in a secretive smirk.

His suggestion was shot down with a challenge. He only shrugged. "It's a matter of principles, sweetheart." Then she turned it around. Suggested he buy her a drink instead.

Calyx gave her a sceptical look. "All that hassle just so you can burn a hole in my pocket?" He shook his head with a sniff. "No thank you. Besides, you're far too…"" He mulled over how to put it. human for my tastes."

He pushed off from the railing, sliding his hands into the pockets of his black swimming trunks.

"Turns out we're both not the other's taste, hm? Defeats the purpose of a holiday fling." He grinned. She had the look of someone who broke hearts for sport, not someone who fell prey to them. That made her infinitely more interesting than a target, and entirely useless as one.

"Or, let me guess, that wasn't your endgame, and you've already got a boyfriend?"

 

[Fatine von Ascania]

"Too human?"

Fatine wrinkled her nose. Despite the fact that neither was the other's type, the banter was enjoyable. This one had a spine.

"…Ohhhh."

The tension in her brow relaxed as if he'd given her a sudden revelation for why her charms had failed to instantly take him down. "Ohh, now I get it," she drawled. "That makes sense. You're an alien-fether!"

Her disposition notability brightened, then came crashing back down with a scowl when he mentioned her having a boyfriend.

"Hmph," she grunted, collapsing back against the railing with dramatic flare. "I did, but I guess I was just too much for him to handle, yknow? Guy was a total lightweight."

She wouldn't outright admit that Acier Moonbound had been the one to break up with her, all for the noble deed of growing a conscience and turning himself into the Republic. Really, that was too dangerous, but hanging around the Sith was fine? Whatever.

"Moonbound can get fethed as far as I'm concerned," she spat. "He's rotting in jail while I'm out here having the time of my life!”

The fact that she was sulking hardcore didn't seemed to help the point she was trying to make.

Calyx Sundrift

 

[Calyx Sundrift]

Fatine von Ascania​

His eyes widened in shock, and he covered his mouth with his hand as he recoiled slightly from her words. "Wow, wow!" He brought his hands up in protest "We don't use the A-word around here! It's not the core!"

His raised hand became an accusatory finger jabbed at her."And it's called a refined palette, thank you very much!" He crossed his arms, muttering as he shook his head. "You've no idea what a difference an extra arm or two can make."

Their conversation shifted to the remark he'd made. Now, frustration seeped from her instead. "Lightweight huh?" He could imagine why this girl would be a lot to handle. Still, he found he liked her enough despite it.

"Couldn't keep up with you?" Calyx shrugged. "Guess the guy should've tried harder, mistake of a lifetime to let you fly." People like her - who were both bold and beautiful were one in a million.

Moonbound can get fethed-

His brows shot up, his head snapped to her. "Moonbound?! As in, Acier Moonbound? With the-" He gestured to his hair. "-like frost? And acting like that too?"

Calyx shook his head, mirthless smile never leaving his face. "I cannot believe that guy- You're way outta his league! And he let you walk?!" He let out a harsh, but sincere laugh. "You know what, I will buy you a drink. You've earned one after dealing with that blasted Moonbound."

 

[Fatine von Ascania]

To his rebuke, Fatine huffed and rolled her eyes. She had a lot of practice doing that, and she wasn’t about to change her speech patterns because some one-eyed goober said so.

Her disposition noticeably brightened - not all the way, but just enough - when he declared that her chud of an ex-boyfriend made a mistake. Fatine made a noise from the back of throat that indicated her rapt agreement.

And then, he did the impossible; he knew who she was talking about.

Fatine rolled off of the railing and stood ramrod straight in surprise. “Wha-“ she went, kohl lined eyes blinking rapidly. “Yes! That’s him!” she exclaimed. “How do you know him? Did he screw you over, too? I'll take a moogan tea, dirty."

A tiny part of her balked in resentment at the idea of Ace being frosty. He was, but in a way that was still warm to her. That was, until he’d dumped her like a sack of rancid potatoes, so maybe that irritation had no productive place to go.

“He is the biggest idiot to ever exist,” Fatine declared in agreement. “And a drink would definitely help, even though he’s the one who clearly got the short end of the stick. Bet he’s crying in prison and regretting it something awful right now!”

Calyx Sundrift

 

[Calyx Sundrift]

Fatine von Ascania​

"Right?!" Calyx chimed in wholeheartedly. He thumped his fist on the railing at the mention of prison. "He better be." They shared that sentiment, at least. "Not that they'll hold him long." he gritted his teeth. "The Jedi are spineless nerfherders like that."

Calyx shook his head. "I don't get why the guy insists on being so frustrating. If he just shared his thoughts for once. Or kriff, at least go through the effort of trying to lie, I could've actually enjoyed Niamos." Even eight drinks deep, he sometimes felt his mind drawn to the bitter aftertaste of Acier's betrayal. "Now it's just... bitter"

He'd considered tapping into the Dyad to find the actual motives. But the connection was too fickle to yield reliably answers.

"Got any idea what went through his head?" He doubted it. If she'd known, she wouldn't be on Niamos. This planet wasn't for those of clear mind.

 

[Fatine von Ascania]

Fatine hadn't expected commiseration – she'd rarely spoken about Ace to anyone since he'd dumped her – but after the initial shock, she didn't shy away from it. Fortunately, this guy wasn't too fond of her ex. "Yeah," she rolled her eyes. "I'm sure the guardians of the galaxy will give him a hug and a cup of warm milk before sending him off to bed."

Jedi weren't much better than Sith in her eyes. Their stupid eternal holy war just made a mess of everything for everyone else. Unfortunately, she had family on both sides of that war.

Fatine sucked on her teeth for a long moment. She didn't like revisiting the break-up holo, even in memory. She'd memorized it by now, actually, but Calyx didn't need to know that. So, she pretended that dealing with the hurt was her thinking.

"Oh, you know," she rolled her wrist. "He was tired of doing it, wanted to break things from the inside out. Lying to himself, blah blah." With a huff, Fatine turned her head to examine the crowd below as she bit the inside of her cheek.

"I don't know if I'll ever see you again. And honestly... I don't think I deserve to."

Fatine clicked her tongue as her head lolled back in the blonde's direction. "Y'know, the usual bantha chit. Who really knows, right?"

She pushed off of the railing with a burst of energy. "Now, how about that drink? I'm Fatine, by the way." A hand was offered for him to kiss, obviously. "Charmed, I'm sure."

Calyx Sundrift

 

[Calyx Sundrift]

Fatine von Ascania​

Calyx rolled his eye. "So it's the usual, eh? How theatrical." He'd expected it would take more than self-loathing to break a man like Acier, but Fatine's story was at least something of an explanation. Better than anything he'd have come up with himself.

Introductions, she decided, were up next.

His gaze darted to her outstretched hand and back. "Charmed indeed." He couldn't help but smile as he slapped his hand into hers and shook it once, firmly. "Calyx." He wasn't in the mood to come up with another fake alias. "But Cal's fine, I s'pose."

He clapped his hands together. "Alright! A drink." It still felt strange, buying a drink for a girl he had no interest in wooing. "There's a place a couple of blocks back that's a little fancier." He jerked a thumb over his shoulder, then gestured to the side. "That one there's a bit more raunchy. Good rotation of Jizz bands, though." He thought for a moment, then turned to her. "Any preferences?"

 

[Fatine von Ascania]

Fatine’s upper lip curled when the one-eyed-wonder slapped his hand into her own for a shake. Ew.

At least this one came with choices - fancy bar, or raunchy bar. Fatine pursed her painted lips, tapping the side of her cheek in an exaggerated gesture of thought.

She'd grown up in high society, and had hated early every minute of it. Fatine had enough of fancy for a lifetime, and thrived off of the indelicacy of crass establishments. "Raunchy is a-ok with me," she decided.

Prancing to Cal's side, she wrapped both hands around his arm, suddenly eager. "Who knows, maybe we'll get into some trouble!"

Calyx Sundrift