I Used To Be Famous

[Kurt Meyer]

It had been a day now.

Only a day. It hadn't been bad really, even pleasant. Kaile had returned to the ship about thirty six minutes after she had wandered off, coming back with a brand new sleeping bag, space heater, a large blanket, and a bag from a pharmaceutical store. She had given him no change, though to be fair he hadn't asked for any. It was probably better that way.

He had placed her within the storage room. The VCX-820 was not a large ship. it had been designed as an Escort Vessel, to add much needed firepower and speed to transport convoys. As such the small Freighter didn't have the cargo space or inner workings of most freighters. In fact the rooms of the VCX were quite small and scant. There was the Cargo bay, Refresher, Bedroom, Storage room, Cockpit, and that really was it. The ship was small, smaller than Kurt would have liked truthfully.

The Storage room was usually empty, not much bigger than it needed to be.

The Cargo hold was large, though not overly so. It had been converted to a common area by Kurt. A small metal table with chairs on either side lay on the left of the room. A workbench on the right, and a section of the cargo bay had been converted into an exercise space. The rest was left for packages and such that Kurt had to deliver around the galaxy, though they rarely took up any more space than a humanoid torso.

The last bit of space was of course Kurts bedroom. It was modest really, small but with a full sized bed and a small desk. There were a few knick knacks scattered about it, things he had picked up along the way. A model of a pod racer sat upon his desk and above his bed sat a poster. The poster was a likeness of Kurt himself, his arms folded and standing before the racetrack of the Boonta Eva Classic, the words at the bottom of the poster had dulled and faded from being rolled up too many times, but it was clear that one word stated champion.

That was Kurt's meager ship, the one he sat in the cockpit of, fiddling with flickering screens.

 

[Kaile Vera]

In the storage room, a small mound under the thick cushion of a sleeping back gave slight shift. There was a slight shudder, and then a faint whimper. Curled into a small ball in the fetal position, Kaile lay on her side, gently cradling her cramping belly. Every shaft of pain, every dull ache that would pierce the small of her back, tighten like a fist low in her belly was a reminder on what she should have done in the first place.

Stims. Stock up on ATC stims.

Ughhh... It was the worst. The utter worst. Her face was pale, clammy. It would likely last the rest of the day, and for now she was keeping a low profile while she went through the worst of it. Just had to lay here for a bit and relax. Sleep it off. For all Kurt would know, she was just catching up on some well deserved rest. It made her feel a bit guilty, but hey, she couldn't quite not take responsibility on the ending results.

Maybe I can go get some tea after this. The thought was followed by a slight movement upon her shoulder. She felt a wet tongue stick on her neck. It was Bobo. She kept his nutrient tube close for him to crawl back when he liked. Otherwise, she kept him on a small leash so he wouldn't go wandering too far off.

The storage room was small, but it served her nicely. She wasn't too needy, and she had all that she required in her pack and what she bought yesterday. Once she felt better, she could go earn her keep around the ship.

For now though... Another rather low pitiful moan came from under the sleeping bag.

 

[Kurt Meyer]

[member="Kaile Vera"]

Kurt was entirely unaware of Kaile's plight, in fact he assumed that she was just lazy, or catching up on rest, either one. In truth he didn't mind the bit of silence that he was getting. Of course Kaile hadn't been loud or obnoxious, but for some odd reason he had expected her to be. Maybe because that was the stereotype with women, or maybe it was because Kurt simply believed that generally the worst situation that could happen, would happen.

Either way he was glad for the silence.

The flickering screen in the cockpit seemed to agree with him. They had been doing this for nearly two weeks now. It wasn't a big deal, really, but it was annoying. A constant bright flash that would happen at a random time. At first he thought it had been a software issue, but that idea had quickly been dispelled. Then he had thought it was the bulbs in the screen, again no.

Now he was at a loss.

The best that he could do was poke around the console furiously, trying to find any solution to getting the damned thing fixed. He would probably be at it for hours.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Kurt Meyer"]

Hours later, one half dressed Kaile would carefully make her way out of her little patch of temporary home. Her hair was a sleep mused mess, her face a tad on the pale side, and her careful walk gave her the aura of a potentially ill woman. Bare legs under her makeshift pajamas - a long t-shirt - would guide her as she tentatively explored her surroundings.

Bobo was on her shoulder, as usual, the guard of her honor so to speak. His black beady eyes would peer from left to right, and occasionally he would crawl from one shoulder to the next.

A faint grimace and a wince would tug at the corner of Kaile's mouth, but she bore through it. Just some water for the pills for the pain and she would be golden!

Maybe a snack or two. Oh, and those strawberries...

 

[Kurt Meyer]

[member="Kaile Vera"]

Kurt had moved on from his cockpit, the screens had been fixed, or mostly anyway, they only flickered once per hour now. So instead he had moved to the cargo hold.

He occupied the small space at the table, his eyes closed and his legs placed onto the very edge of the metal fixture. He had no sofa on the ship, but the benches were cushioned and the position that he had placed himself in was comfortable enough to close ones eyes on for a bit. Kurt didn't like laying in his bed during the day, created a bad sleep pattern whenever it was lights out. That was something he had learned in the Navy, never go to bed before you intend to sleep.

Well...unless you had other activities planned.

A small smirk pulled at his lips, and Kurt took in a deep breath.

His lips pressed together, and a tune began to flow from him. It was an old Tatooine song, not really well known around the galaxy. The song was usually played with the retelling of a story. The tale was about a Jawa who was separated from his clan. The Jawa wandered the desert for eight nights and nine days, eventually finding the dace of a Krayt Dragon and being eaten. It was a story about separation and missing home, which of course ended rather badly. That was the general theme of his homeworld, things tended to end badly.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Kurt Meyer"]

It was the tune that drew her attention.

Wandering barefoot was not the wisest decision for the Lorrdian, but she had a tendency to simply act before thinking. Or more of a laidback perspective when it came to dealing with the rest of the 'Verse. Kaile took things in stride, it was how she was. The Lorrdian in her provided for her to be able to adapt to her surroundings. A perfect chameleon, with a knack of mimicry to boot.

It was her lot in life. She was good at it! Not to mention, if it allowed her to wander from one place to the next, she had no complaints. Control gave her missions here and there, but they were few and far in between. They wanted her to be completely embedded, and her missions could go from a long series of months to years.

Wandering down the corridor, a curious strawberry blonde would gingerly pad her way down, following the lazy tune. Wait, she knew this! Wasn't it the one about the Jawa? With a small shrug, Kailie would poke her head lightly inside the open cargo bay hatch.

There he was! He wasn't hard to miss, not with how he was laying there so. Wonder would bathe her face, more curiosity in her brown eyes. She could stop but then again... she would really like some tea. Okay she can get tea first and THEN come back!

Right? Right! Good plan.

Enter the attempt to shimmy on by the hatch without Kurt noticing the half dressed woman wearing only a long tee shirt.

 

[Kurt Meyer]

[member="Kaile Vera"]

He didn't hear her come in, at least not at first.

Kurt was lost in his own little world, his head tipped back, his eyes closed, his lips still whistling that same calm tune. There was a sadness to it, though at first listen it would sound almost happy. The story of course was a rather happy one throughout. The Jawa was a curious creature, exploratory and even happy as he traveled through the desert. The ending...the ending not so much, but it was the story that was happy. Tatooine was weird that way, a planet of optimists.

As he continued to whistle Kurt heard something, the smallest pitter patter of feet, feet that were attempting to be stealthy.

The tune did not stop, but one eyed slowly slid open.

His lips pulled into a wide smirk, the soft whistle almost stopping for half a second as Kurt saw the sight of Kaile flouncing across the room in her attempt at being sneaky. She was pants-less, wearing only a long shirt that barely covered the curve of her rear. Her hands were slightly raised, as though she were a small stealthy mammal. It was cute, really, adorable.

Perhaps Nurse Joy would be entertaining to have around.

 

[Kaile Vera]

Hah! I made it!

Well at least the Lorrdian would believe she did. Her little sneaky half step would shimmy her perky bum on over towards the galley. Around here, one could barely hear the hum of the air purifier along with the engines. So they were going to Cloud Nine huh? Honestly, this was the first she's ever heard of it, so she had no clue exactly where they were going.

Padding into the compact mess hall, Kaile went about investigating her surroundings. There had to be a way to warm up water around here, she mused, pushing the length of the strawberry blonde hair away from her face. Tea would do her good, and if it was caffeinated all the better. But did the Kurtmesiter have any tea?

That was the question!

Coming to one of the drawers, she would unlock it. Like a child investigating all that she could, Kaile went about scouring for tea, a cup, and a way to warm her water. Then she'd be able to go back and poke at the Captain!

Maybe figure out more about this Cloud Nine place...

 

[Kurt Meyer]

[member="Kaile Vera"]

The tune kept on going, his eyes closing again as Kaile would wander from his sight.

The Galley was to the left of the Cargo Hold, really the two weren't even separate rooms in anyway. Unfortunately for the strawberry blonde she would be hard pressed to find tea, water, or even a cup that wasn't in some way dirty. It was the way of a bachelor, the way of a guy that didn't really eat much or cook much. Of course, Kaile wouldn't know that, but she would soon find out as she went digging through his kitchen. The only thing she would find was a water dispenser, and besides that a box of what appeared to be hot cocoa mix.

It was a call from his home really.

Hot drinks were the best in hot weather, they forced the body to cool itself down.

His mother had always given him Cocoa when he had come home from a long day, whether it had been hot or cold at the time. It was a small tradition, one that he liked to keep to when he came home from delivering packages. He smiled slightly as he thought about home, the tune still carrying throughout the ship as he kept on whistling.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Kurt Meyer"]

Kaile's brows would furrow together. Well there was no tea to be found! Huh, what is this? Like a youngling sneaking into the cookie jar, the Lorrdian would pull out a small blue tin can.

"Huh," she would utter, popping off the lid and peering inside. The sweet chocolaty scent of the powder inside immediately brightened her expression. No tea, but she'd definitely settle for some hot cocoa!

At least, until she would discover that there was not a single clean cup in the entire ship! A glower would cover her face, and she would shake her head. Setting the tin of powdered cocoa down, Kaile shoved back her imaginary sleeves up her arms. Now where was some dishsoap?

Stealth flew out the window as the young woman would start to clean up the place with Bobo for company.

 

[Kurt Meyer]

[member="Kaile Vera"]

Kurt opened one eye again as she heard a clatter in the galley.

The tune continued for half a moment, his eyes closing as he tried to relax. He realized that she probably wanted some food, but truthfully, there wasn't much to be had. A few energy bar rations, and a few MRE's. Most of his eating was done at tradeports or on small worlds where the people were friendly. He liked it better that way, mostly because he couldn't cook. Every now and again he would go home and eat his moms food, but that was only every few weeks.

Food for him was always simple always easy. Suddenly a loud clatter erupted from the galley and Kurt winced. What was she doing? Breaking the place. The tune stopped for half a second and one eye popped open, looking towards the galley. "Don't make a mess!"

He called out to her, his voice rather grumpy sounding.

The Pilot had everything organized just so, and he wouldn't have Nurse Joy mess it up.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Kurt Meyer"]

"I ain't makin' no mess!" Kaile would call out over her shoulder. She was working on the mismatched cups and plates she found. A wrinkle of her nose would peer at the cloudy glass. Definitely needed a good scrubbing!

"I'm cleanin' one!' she added with a singsong. Pity, looks like Kurt would end up having things moved to and fro beyond his organized chaos he had. However, at least they would be clean.

"Can you believe this Bobo?" she would utter low, giving a cluck of her tongue in minor disapproval. Bobo simply stared up at her with the black beady eyes and an occasional flick of his tongue. "Ain't likely seen a good washin' the past month or two!." hip would cock to the right, revealing a peek of the pale blue of a curved bottom under the hem of the long shirt.

 

[Kurt Meyer]

[member="Kaile Vera"]

He let out a scoff. "What mess?"

There wasn't a mess back there!

Kurt had made everything perfectly organized and clean! His entire ship was organized perfectly. She could ask him where anything was and he would find it within half a second, or...well after a bit of searching anyway. This Ship was him home, and he knew exactly where everything was! He frowned slightly, his hands pulling out from behind his head and crossing over his chest. Arms locked tightly as his face took on a rather grumpy visage.

He was really bouncing back and forth on having Nurse Joy here.

Finally both of his eyes snapped open to the sound of another clatter in the galley. What was she doing? Breaking all of his cups? He liked his cups, one of them had been a gift from his friend back home. The stupid Dug hadn't really known what to get Kurt when he was leaving so he had decided a cup with some sand glued to the outside would due to remind Kurt of home.

Oddly enough it always had.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Kurt Meyer"]

One cloudy glass was all clean now!

A rather satisfied look of pleasure would bask upon Kaile's flushed face. The hot water was steaming her skin, prompting a few stray strands of strawberry blonde hair to stick to her cheeks. She found another glass that needed some cleaning, this rather odd peculiar one with -- wait was that sand stuck on the bottom?

Why would anyone have sand glued tot he bottom of a glass?! Kaile could only squint and scrunch her face in confusion at it. Nevermind, don't ask questions, Kaile girl. A puff of hot air would attempt to push her hair away from her face. Unfortunately, it didn't work.

"Just always gets all over the place, doesn't it Bobo?" she would tell her Ysalamiri friend. Taking the small elastic ring around her wrist, she pulled and tugged it out with her fingers so she could gather her thick hair up into a ponytail. Fingercombing as much as she could, it would settle as a messy topknot at the crown of her head.

"Alright... now ... right.. Sand cup..."

 

[Kurt Meyer]

[member="Kaile Vera"]

He let out a sight, with the tune no longer flowing from his lips Kurt was able to listen to what Kaile was saying. For a while it was fine, then suddenly he heard her mutter the word sand. His eyes suddenly popped open in fear, his hands unclasped from his chest, and his body moved faster than should have been humanly possible. He rushed from his seat on the bench and jumped over the small table that was still in his way. The Pilot practically became a blur as he moved across the Cargo Hold and towards the Galley, bounding towards Kaile as she held his sand cup.

"No!" Kurt yelled. "No no no no no no!"

He rushed over to her and pulled the cup from her grasp faster than a viper strike. "Not this one."

His face was pale, all blood having drained from it. The cup held more sentimental value that he could have honestly said. Kurt had had few friends back on Tatooine, few real friends anyway. Most of them had flocked to him when he had won the races, the Dug that had given to him, Severin, had been his friend for over ten years. The man was a bit of an idiot, but a true friend to his last link of life.

One of the few Kurt had.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Kurt Meyer"]

"Whoa!" Kaile gave a sudden start, both of her hands rising up to her head, startled by Kurt's sudden arrival and exclamation. Her brown eyes went wide, and she gave a slight wiggle as she backed a foot or so, the hem of her sleeping shirt rising a few inches in a peek-a-boo.

"No need to yell my head off," she told him, giving him an incredulous look. "Just washin' your dirty dishes." she gestured to the cup, "Ya'll got all kinds of grime latched on here and there." the finger would motion to the rest of the mismatched cups she had already gone through the wash.

He was all kinds of spooked too, she mused, watching him oddly. That's a mighty close attachment one has to a cup covered with sand...

Men were odd creatures.

 

[Kurt Meyer]

[member="Kaile Vera"]

For some reason, completely not having to do with her half nudity, Kurt suddenly felt bad.

"Sorry." He said, his face slightly drooping. "My friend made it for me before I left home, it's not really a cup, just a reminder."

Kurt probably should have explained why it was in the Kitchen, but that didn't seem to matter. He took on a charming, apologetic smile, though that probably didn't really make up for yelling at her. There was something to be said about Kurt for that, the fact that he felt bad about yelling. He wasn't a bad guy, more like a good guy that occasionally did morally questionable things. Of course that sometimes got him in trouble, but more often then not he was able to get out of it with a small wink and a little bit of his additional charm.

It helped that most people thought him good looking, though, that wasn't always the case.

A small reminder crept up on him, the time he had gotten court marshaled. It hadn't really been his fault, the Admiral had baited him into the whole thing. On top of that he had expected her to take at least some of the blame. Turns out officers were never true to their word, about many things.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Kurt Meyer"]

Well wasn't he a contrary fellow! Kaile caught the sheepish grin, the note of apology along with that little boy expression. Oh he could charm the panties off whoever he damn well pleased no doubt! Drying her hands with a spare towel -- more like a rag really -- Kaile shook her head.

"Well that's all ya'll had to say," a half chuckle broke out, and she shined Kurt with a half grin of her own. The ex Yum Bunnies' waitress didn't hold any type of grudges, and she just went on with a half cocked turn to get to drying what was left.

"If'n you've the inclination, could use some help dryin'" she'd say with a light singsong, scooping up one red dish as she polished it up and wiped it dry.

 

[Kurt Meyer]

[member="Kaile Vera"]

He had always washed the dishes at home, it had been his least favorite chore. Most things he hadn't minded, but washing dishes? No. No he wasn't about that at all. It was the feeling of spongy fingers and gross, used food that he could not stand. Of course it wasn't too bad as far as things went, there were more difficult tasks. Still, the odd allure that surrounded Kaile made Kurt want to at least help her wash dishes, or rather, dry them off.

"Fine." Kurt would say as though he had been pressed into it. He reached down to grasp the rag in her hand, finding that it was already drenched.

A sigh escaped him.

"Well, I guess this won't do for drying." Kurt took the rag from her, throwing it into the corner near the waste disposal unit. He looked around for a few moments, searching the galley for anything that could be used as a drying rag. He frowned slightly, sifting through the cupboards and coming up empty. A sigh escaped him, and then he began to look at her. An idea began to form in his mind, watching as her shirt lifted again slightly. His head shook. "Nah."

The pilot said to himself suddenly as he shook his head and pulled the shirt off of his own back. "We can use this."

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Kurt Meyer"]

Well, my oh my!

Oh one couldn't miss the sudden perk in Kaile's eyes, the rapt attention. Her head canon immediately slowed down time; even a nice little diddy started to play in her mind, punctuating the flex, stretch, and breadth of Kurt's little dishwasher peepshow. Kaile's brow rose high, and she couldn't help but grin.

While she had enjoyed certain aspects of the scoundrel, it was quite an all together pleasant surprise to see there was more eye candy to show! Not that her body wasn't reaping the rewards and the pains. A grimace came and a rub of her legs. Yeah, while it had been fun, Kurt had been full of all kinds of surprises. Not that she minded, but a girl likes to be warned before hand!

"Reckon we can," Kaile said, flashing him a grin. "Although we can probably go lookin' round for new ones... I'm sure there's stuff round that ya'll ain't gonna use anytime soon."

A sideways glance would shift over to Kurt, "So how long you've been running jobs?"