Private History Written in the Stars

[Rubia Sleepsong]

Their quest was a simple retrieval. An ancient relic of a long-lost civilisation lay dormant among the stars. A civilisation few in the galaxy even remembered. Remnants of this history were scattered across planets and moons. This relic, in particular, had brought the pair to the smuggler’s den of Nar Shaddaa. It was not a place either of them truly wanted to be.

As their ship settled softly into the hangar bay, Rubia gazed out the cockpit window at the sprawling city below. Golden lights illuminated the maze of passages, reflecting in her bright crimson eyes. This was another new place to her, one more stop on their never-ending adventure as Chassian showed her every corner of the galaxy.

She still remembered their first trip together as if it were only yesterday. The stars had always seemed so welcoming, so freeing. Something about floating through the vastness of space with no allegiances save for her beloved and no purpose except pleasure had felt truly liberating. They had stumbled upon their first relic during that excursion: an ancient ritual dagger from the Sangnir High Court. Rubia had never seen anything like it before, but Chassian had been all too familiar with its design. It was the reason they began hunting relics in the first place. Their new favourite pastime. Their new purpose.

A gentle touch on the back of her hand brought her back to the present. Their fingers interlocked as Rubia turned to face him, her expression soft but sorrowful. “This place,” she began as her eyes met his, “it reminds me of home.”

That was all she needed to say for him to understand her hesitation to leave the comfort and safety of their ship. She remembered little of her life before him, it had been so long, but what remained was laced with a sense of confinement and insecurity.

The look he gave her in return was one she saw often, yet he never gave it to anyone else. It was his way of telling her everything was going to be ok, that she was so special to him, and that together they could accomplish anything. That look spoke louder than any words, though he always followed it with a quiet quip just to see her blush.

Rubia tightened her grip on his hand as Chassian guided her down the ship’s ramp. She drew in a deep breath as their boots touched the moon’s surface. At the base of the ramp, she paused and reached out to him. Her free hand lifted his chin so he would meet her gaze. Then she caressed his cheek with her thumb, letting herself get lost in his pale gold eyes for a moment. A wide smile crept across her lips before she pulled him into a tender kiss.
Then, hand in hand, they stepped forward together toward the township.


Chassian Sleepsong

 

[Chassian Sleepsong]

"This place feels like home," she'd said.
He didn't hesitate.

"Home is where the heart is, love. Mine is anywhere with you."

The boyish smile followed. His eyes shut a little too tightly when he grinned, those faint crow's-feet cutting through skin that otherwise still held the smoothness of a Sangnir. A half hummed giggle and a squeeze of his hand. These little things that came from him naturally so often in Rubia's presence.

"I set up a meeting with an information broker," he added, brushing his thumb across her knuckles as he spoke. "He should be waiting for us at a nearby cantina. Come on, dear. Let's go speak with him."

He tugged her hand gently, guiding them into the neon-washed street.

Nar Shaddaa greeted them in its usual fashion, lights flickering in colors, the hum of airspeeders overhead. A group of men huddled at a folding table off to the side, Sabbacc cards glowing in their hands as one slammed his fist down and cursed loud enough for half the promenade to hear. A smoker's lounge on the corner exhaled pale blue vapor into the air, its patrons leaning back against hard duracrete walls. Off in their own worlds.

"A fascinating way to spend a short life." Chassian had no problems with a fun night out. In fact at moments he relished it. Living in the swirl of colorful lights and noise. There simply was to much to experience to make it ones whole existence.

A few more steps brought them to the cantina — music spilling out before the doors even opened. Inside, a live band was posted on a raised platform, strings and electro-drums blending into a smooth, rhythmic pulse that beat behind a Kloo Horn. Two Twi'leks danced on either side of the stage, their movements slow and practiced.

Chassian leaned in slightly, catching her attention with a mischievous smirk. His voice low and warm. "Maybe we find time to do a little dancing before we leave."

He nodded toward a booth tucked into the back corner. A small private section with its own little entrance.

"Our broker should be right over there."

Rubia Sleepsong
​

 

[Rubia Sleepsong]

His remark made her chuckle. It truly was a fascinating way to spend a life so short. Nothing that the pair of them had to worry about these days, though. Whether one considers it a curse or a blessing, time is always on the side of the Sangnir. Rubia still hadn’t quite decided if the nearly immortal life was really worth it all. Sometimes the thought of stretching into forever made the mundane feel too trivial. Then she would look into Chassian’s eyes as that smile washed over his face, and she knew it was.

Stepping into the cantina, she scanned the room. Not quite sure who she was keeping an eye out for, her eyes didn’t know where to settle. Rubia caught a flash of Chassian’s smirk as he teased her with the idea of dancing. She let out a soft giggle as the corners of her mouth turned up slightly. Amused, she retorted, “We’ll have all the time in the world, so long as you don’t bring your two left feet!”

When Chassian indicated toward the back corner of the cantina, Rubia looked over and squinted. From where they were standing, she couldn’t see anyone in the private area, only the edges of a couple of silhouettes. “Who’s the broker?” She asked him, assuming it was someone they didn’t already know as Chassian would have told her otherwise. “And will we need to be ready?” The tone in her voice shifted, a little heavier and darker than usual. One that usually accompanied danger.

Letting Chassian guide her into the private section, her grip around his fingers tightened a little. Meeting with these kinds of brokers was always interesting. They liked to talk themselves up a big game and run questions round in circles until her patience wore thin. Some even looked at the couple with disdain simply for being Sangnir. As much as they could try to disguise it, their pale flesh and sharp teeth were always dead giveaways. And besides, they’d been around the galaxy long enough to know that trying to cover up who you really are is rarely ever a good idea. As long as they remained calm, the broker would stay calm too.

Rounding the corner, a human stood up from the booth to greet them. He extended both arms out in a welcoming gesture toward Chassian, as if the two were old friends reunited. “Chassian Sleepsong!” The man exclaimed, before he turned to Rubia to look her up and down and followed the glance with, “And this must be Rubia.” His gigantic smile looked fake and rehearsed, Rubia wasn’t buying it. Yet she smiled the same smile back at the man and gave a single nod of her head as she took her seat at the booth he gestured to. "A pleasure." She assured him. This man either had the item they were here for or knew something about it they didn’t. So long as she kept her senses sharp, they’d walk out of this meeting with what they needed from the broker.

And then maybe she’d get to have that dance after all.

Chassian Sleepsong