Impact

[Kaile Vera]

“Truth be told, ain’t really sort of a wine type of girl.” Wine was expensive for the credit conscious Kaile. ‘Course the Lorrdian didn’t fault Asmus for being more inclined for wine. He likely was well used to it coming from a well do family as his. Some of the few times Kurt and she had been able to indulge was on a bottle of strawberry fizzy wine in Cloud City. It had been a small thing, just a small bottle. The bubbles had tickled her nose something good and it had a sweet, fizzy taste to it. That had been a fun picnic. Goodness, had that really been so long ago?

Memories came as the agent’s expression softened. Ah, the blue dress. They'd been window shopping and Kaile had tried on the frilly blue dress. It had been so pretty, but so expensive.

“Oh a starter? For two or four?” Distracted from her reverie, Kaile took her menu and surveyed it. Well the starter was a bit more expensive but if it typically served two to four, that meant that they could order that and fill up without having to spend too much. Of course, it was likely that Asmus was considering a main meal after the appetizer. Regardless of what role she played, Kaile was always particularly credit conscious.

“That should fill us both up.” A slight frown. Well there as a soup too. Those weren’t too expensive. In her head she went over the various combinations of ordered that would land her with a meal under eight credits if possible.

 

[Asmus Janes]

“Ah, you know I’m not really for wine either, though I do appreciate a white with food more than when we first met. Maybe that’s an age thing. My uncle still says I can’t tell the difference between table vinegar and a good wine, but he’s awful pretentious about such things.” He hummed in consideration and his eyes flicked from the food to the drinks menu. “Look at that, six credits for a beer you’d get in a shop for two and twelve credits for a bottle of wine you’d get for eight. I’ve never worked out why that is.”

For an agent she was quite easy to read right now. He even saw her mouth the word ‘eight’. He smiled and turned back to his menu. They had plenty of Alliance credits and she was doing a mental total again. He found that remarkably endearing. Maybe if he bought her some nice things he would have to be careful how much he spent. He hadn’t much to spend his rather large Wing Commander’s wage on whilst he was on duty. The beach house had come from property his family owned.

“Better to have assets you can shuffle around than credits in the account when the tax man comes,” his father had once said. Asmus was relatively certain he had then closed off his ears to the rest of his lesson. He’d probably gone to find Kairon for a tale of adventures in space right after.

“Why don’t we skip the starters and just get a main each?” he offered. “We’ll get a jug of tap water for the table and then maybe we can get desserts if we’re still hungry?” He’d noticed a sort of pie on the menu. Dewd was something between a pasta and a pastry than the rodians used to wrap food and bake it. Asmus had never tried it before and the pie apparently contained mixed root vegetables from the Arkanis Sector with a spicy sauce.

“That rodian dewd wrap looks nice. No rodian ale, which is a plus,” he said. Rodian ale was an awful thing in his opinion.

 

[Kaile Vera]

Six credits for a beer? Her eyes went wide. That was just too much! Seems that even away from the city, the prices for just a drink were ridiculous. Asmus seemed to have caught her bewilderment, for he made the recommendation to go for a main course instead. A flush rose over her face, pinkening her cheeks. He likely was well used to being able to spend as much as he wanted for a meal.

“I think I’ll just have some soup.” Kaile added after a nod of agreement. Plus it wasn’t too expensive. Hearty vegetables, a rich stock, and thickened with Ukioan Nerf blue milk. A jug of water was fine with her. At six credits for an ale meant that she wasn't about to spend that much for a pint. It was a general agreement that those in SIS accounting were quite pleased with the frugality of Kaile’s expense reports.

Desert certainly tickled her fancy, but that was an indulgence she wasn’t sure if she should have. How ironic that it almost mirrored her indecisive nature when it came to dealing with what the end result would be with Asmus once this was all over. When it was all over.
Never mind the tightening in her belly at the mere thought of it.

 

[Asmus Janes]

“Sure? We didn't have much for lunch. Did a lot of walking recently too,” he said. “That bothan grill looks nice, though I suppose the soup would leave room for the desserts,” he mused. It was sweet how torn she was about spending expenses money and he didn't want to push her.

“There are some nice things on the dessert menu,” he said as he soared it a glance. Asmus was hungry a lot of the time, bit after hiking on rations he was especially so. “Odd though how wine isn't too bad when you eat out, bit beer and cocktails can be silly. Not that we're drinking.”

He could see the waitress heading for their table with drinks. He noticed another carrying some plates to a table across from theirs. He picked up the smell of it.

“Ooo,” he said, with a twist of his lips. Those were decent portions.

 

[Kaile Vera]

Seeing his reaction towards the plate that went floating by made Kaile give a half chuckle of amusement. It was some sort of Dantooine curried pasta. And it smelled divine. A rumble loud enough to bring an abashed apologetic smile on her lips had her going,”That’s fine.”

A pause as she, too, followed the waitress delivering the platter. “I wonder what that is.” musing aloud, the agent swiveled her head to bring her attention back at the pilot. Yeah, his mind was clearly on food. Shaking her head she gave a slight chuckle.

“Here you go,” their own waitress set down their glasses of water. One in front of Asmus and the other in front of Kaile.

“So, what will you be having today? We’ve some specials if you’re keen on trying them. Our classic thick Dac chowder and also the spicy Rodian wrap.”

 

[Asmus Janes]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

It was interesting to see the difference between this restaurant and those in the central district. He imagined they strictly inforced a pleasant ambiance. The avoid the chance of a genuine atmosphere from breaking out. There was an atmosphere here, a general hubbub of pleasant conversation that seemed to be growing. One that increased right before Asmus could order.

The lights dimmed and heads turned. He hadn't even noticed the space against one wall for live musicians. A trio of gran came out and started tuning.

The waitress leaned forwards and lit a candle in the middle of the table. Asmus' eyes went between it and Kaile's eyes.

"Heh."

It was the same noise he'd once made in a tube on the Quin, when she had reached up to tuck his long hair away. Such a little thing, a warm light flickering in a bowl. It felt like it changed more. Kaile appeared different, softer, in the shifting candle light. It felt to Asmus as if it made her the focus of the entire room. Their table was suddenly more private, more intimate.

You are now a hunted spy deep in enemy territory.

"Right, yes, the rodian wrap for me please, always fancied trying dewd."

"No starters for you both?"

"No thanks, leaves room for dessert," he replied with a grin.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

Candlelight had a way of deepening the angular shadows of Asmus’’ face that made him stand out. All high cheekbones, slightly hooked nose, and that broad forehead. Combine it with that expression again along with his little heh, was enough to make any girl’s knees buckle.

Surprise replaced the mild alarm at the sound of a saxophone going through a soft melody for testing. A live band was the last thing Kaile figured she'd see here.

“Now that's something different,” she managed to say, turning over to the waitress as Asmus made his order.

“I'll take your soup special.”

“Will that be all?”

“That's fine for now, thank you.”
With their order written down, the waitress excused herself. Meanwhile, the band had completed tuning checks and were about to start their first set.

 

[Asmus Janes]

The music was soft. Not too loud to drown out the atmosphere, but enough to provide a nice background. Those on the tables closest to the band mostly turned to watch, whilst those sat around the far end against the wall like them resumed their conversations.

Her wide eyes seemed to draw him in. The dark ringed hazel pulling him into the reflection of the flame where he would gladly burn forever. He needed to look away, be on his guard. There could be an imperial spy in here, another Kaile.

His name was Klause. And he had dedicated all of half a second to the pair. On the far side of the room her served his table with a smile. His handler always had him dressed in a black t-shirt two sizes too small, but at least he got to keep the tips. He hadn't seen the humans here before, but they were boring. In half a second he had determined that they were in love, but she had reservations. The man was aware of them and therefore acting tentatively. A young human couple getting on with their lives within the safety of the empire. No, it was the xenos Klause had to watch. This restaurant was supposedly a hot bed for alien resistance. Admittedly in the three months he'd been posted here he hadn't seen any signs of it, but he was determined to root it out.

“I'm glad we came here,” Asmus said. He wasn't even aware that his leg had slid forwards and touched her own, or that it had stayed there, his right foot just outside hers. The music continued and he managed to drag his gaze away, though it went via her lips. No vocals, just a trio playing together. He grinned as he watched them. “They're enjoying themselves,” he said. The band was animated, moving around the stage and smiling at each other, improvising as soon as they left the chorus.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]


Was it possible to be both uneasy and at peace? It was such a confusing and confounding clash of emotions that Kaile had no clue how to work it through. Her knee brushed against Asmus’, feeling the lingering warmth as it rested with as much contact as the espion dare give. The ambiance, the music, even the lighting seemed to be working against her. The place was so unlike the type of ‘normal dive cantina’ she typically found herself in. A little too intimate. A little too beyond what the more rational side of her considered to be within the limits of accessible to one such as she.

Asmus would be able to pick up the growing disquiet from the brunette. It contrasted with the slight nuzzle of her knee against his own. But it was never going to be easy. Certainly didn’t start out that way years back. It wouldnt so now.

Kaile replied to Asmus’ appraisal of the band and his enjoyment at coming here with a wane smile. “Glad you like it,” she finally replied, tucking in her shoulders and brushing her fingers through the sides of her hair. There they tucked in the strands behind her ears.

Brown eyes went drifting from the pilot over to span across the rest of the patrons. It was as much a need to look away as keeping a watchful eye out.

 

[Asmus Janes]

“We once…” he trailed off. He had been about to bring up old conversations again. How he had explained that he liked spaceports as smelting lots of races and cultures from across the galactic disc. Not now, he told himself. Now wasn't the time for bringing up the past.

There was an abashed smile as he looked down at his hands on the table and rallied his thoughts. “Nice to see a bit more diversity,” he said with a chuckle. There hadn't been much at all in the central district or in the officers they had seen around the conference.

“What kind of beers do you like?” He asked, shifting topics further into the innocuous. Wine was good when it was at a good price with a meal by the bottle, but it was rarely his first choice either.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]


Turning back, Kaile gave Asmus a small expression of surprise. Not at the question, just perhaps at the natural manner by which he was able to do so. As if this was all perfectly normal. In hindsight, it was a rather beneficial ability. Seemed that not matter the situation, he was still able to keep his cheer. It both warmed her and also made her a little bit jealous. There had been a time when she was just as carefree. To be fair, in those days she spent it from one cantina dive to the next. Happily making conversation with whatever souls managed to cross Yum Bunnies threshold while picking up information that could be utilized against the One Sith.

Things weren’t so easy or carefree anymore. There were a bit more serious. Responsibilities and the risks a bit more steep. Reading him from the sheepish smile to the way he managed to switch conversations but still maintain his easy going disposition was a rare talent indeed. The very same that had helped a rather hot mess of a girl years back when she was at her lowest low.

“Dantooine white ale..” she admitted, and the next part was likely going to be rather silly.

“With extra orange slices.” there was a type of beer that used real Aldaranian orange peels for a subtle sweetness and a touch of Bestine Coriander to provide balance. Oats and wheat created a smooth, creamy finish that was only heightened by the orange slice along the rim to heighten the citrus aroma and taste.

The extra orange slices were just to nibble on. Rather silly, but Kaile enjoyed it that way.

 

[Asmus Janes]

Asmus didn't even flinch. “Oh sounds nice. I'm quite partial to an old fashion corellian red myself, but I like a cold lager with lime. Never had orange slices though. Oh, except in mulled cider in the winter.

“You know there are still people in, well, back when I trained for this job there were still people there who thought it was wrong for a man to enjoy a fruit based cocktail.”

Asmus shook his head incredulously. The first number didn't so much reach an end as much as find a point where the improvising trio felt it was time to wind it down. Asmus noticed at least four different ways that aliens expressed their gratitude for the song. Just noticing that brought a smile to his face as he watched the crowd more than the performers as he joined in with the applause. It washed away the more stern expression that had come with thinking on some of the idiots he'd met in the academy. He bet the captain thought fruity drinks were for girls.

The band probably knew they would only get such a response to the opener and then would fade into the background as patrons returned to their meals and conversations, so they lapped it up.

He hadn't always been this way. It did not come naturally. So many of the more intelligent children had been timid creatures. Sat at the edges of the ballroom floor whilst the brave and the bold had fun. He had decided he could be brave and bold, like Kairon, and enjoy life. And for the most part, he had. There was still a core deep down that tended to whisper vile things, like how perhaps he should have been angry that she had been so close and never called. For the most part it was a very quiet voice, it's neurotic whisper went unheeded.

He turned back to Kaile and spotted their waiter. “That looks like ours. Glad the wrap doesn't have rodian ale. Can't stand the stuff. It's like...like biting into an apple that looks sweet and finding out it's rotten at the core.”

That could have been him; his mother was like that. Sweetness and smiles on the outside. Not rotten perhaps, but scheming and selfish through the centre. Instead Kaile had met someone who was bravado on the outside, but tender and inquisitive on the inside.

 

[Kaile Vera]

He was making conversation. That made her smile grow a little bit wider. He was doing this best to make this as normal as possible. As your everyday meal with a boy and a girl. Kaile could appreciate that. The more he kept on talking in his easy going manner, the more Kaile began to relax. To enjoy herself. It was the brightness of his eyes, the warmth of his smile, the genuineness within his expression.

"Here you go," the small clatter of their plates came as the Twi'lek set down their meals before them. " Enjoy!" She beamed, handing them extra napkins.

"Thank you." Kaile replied, swinging up her face in a grateful smile. The savory scent wafting up was enough to make her stomach grumble. An abashed half grin and a dip of her eyes came as she apologized. " Sorry... reckon I was a bit more hungry than I imagined."

 

[Asmus Janes]

He grinned and waved the apology away with his hand. The waitress quickly paced away back towards the kitchen. “That’s alright, anyone nearby might have mistaken it for a drum solo. However, are you sure you’re not regretting the soup?” he asked. He quite deliberately picked up the desert menu and grinned as he cast his eyes over it. Chocolate cake. He’d almost forgotten their customer had abandoned them with a contained of frozen chocolate cake. One Kaile had happily tucked into to lift her spirits.

Feth, it seems like yesterday but so long ago.

“Smells good though,” he said taking up his cutlery and cutting into the wrap. It was somewhere between pastry, bread and pasta. The outside was firm, but the inside had soaked up the juices from the sauces. The meat inside had clearly been slow roasted before baked into the wrap and fell apart in his mouth. Wide-eyed, he gave Kaile a nod of approval.

 

[Kaile Vera]

Bright brown eyes went flickering back at Asmus. An arch of her brow came next. She took her sppon and delicately dipped it into her soup. A few stirs and she could see just how hearty and thick it was.

"Nope!" She said just as quickly, flashing a brief grin. The glow of the candlelight still softened her features. With the music now in the background, it was all coming together.

"I don't mind soup. Sometimes it is the best thing one can make with whatever is left over." It was also a way to ensure all perishables were used. Fresh produce was expensive, and they had to be eaten rather quickly. At the end of a week after a long run in space, she'd make all sorts of soups for Kurt and herself. They were warm. Cozy. Perhaps even inflicting a little bit of homesickness.

"How is the wrap?" She inquired.

 

[Asmus Janes]

"Really good," he replied with a slow nod. He covered his mouth, realising he had spoken with his mouth half full. He swallowed before adding a quiet apology for having done so.

He chuckled, knowing his mother would have chided him for being so rude at the table. That made him wonder how she would think of Kaile. Once again he was forced to cut off a thought process before it could really start. His mother wasn't a bad person, she just liked to have control of everything. And Asmus liked to ruin those plans. His relationship with the Captain of the Subversion was nothing if not a product of his own upbringing. She would like Kaile, if she got to know her.

"I suppose if it's not one of those processed, watery ones. Which that clearly isn't. I still can't work out if this is closer to pastry or pasta," he said, holding some dewd up on his fork. It was so easy to slip into casual conversation, as he had always done. It would be harder to come back to the surface and stop genuinely enjoying some time alone with her.

 

[Kaile Vera]

He was enthusiastic with everything at least. That was good to see. They had often gone to the mess hall to eat together the past week, and while the food could be a bit more palatable, there was nothing like having something fresh made instead of processed. Not to mention, there were no other crew members from the Subversion here.

It was just him and me.

Her knee brushed against his, needing that contact. If they were able to hold hands and their fingers play a part, Kaile would have. For now, it was just enjoying their meal.

"What's your favorite food?" Such a sllly question to ask. It brought back the awareness that they really didn't know much about each other. Even despite everything that had happened between them. Even despite being two strangers who had fallen in love so many years ago.

 

[Asmus Janes]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

The question prompted the exact same thought for Asmus. They needed more time to get to know each other. He'd give up every second of he could. He looked down at his food and grinned at that thought. He was military and she was an operative. Even under the best of circumstances they would end up spending time apart. But he would take everything he could get.

"I like a lot of food," he replied as he looked back up at her. He chuckled. "But..." His eyes roamed the room as if searching for an answer. "A good steak and ale pie is hard to beat. I know this place on a station. Run by this houk who emigrated out of hutt space. Ask anyone and they'll tell you he was a gangster and that tattoos and scars seem to match. But anyway, he's the friendliest bloke and makes an amazing set of pies in his little shop."

 

[Kaile Vera]

It was no wonder that Kaile could imagine Asmus doing exactly that. Enjoying steak and a meat pie in a shanty little cantina of a space station. Well, at least the image of him back then. He was all grown up now. The pressing thought that he was still beyond her means in another league than her own lingered. At the very least he had been able to go to the academy and become a distinguished officer.

Like I knew you would be.

That thought only reaffirmed that she had made the right decision back then. Force knows what would have happened if I -- well no need to bring that thought back up. Kaile offered him a faint smile.

"Sounds like quite a character."

 

[Asmus Janes]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

"What about you?" he replied in turn. Mostly because he was interested in finding out more, but partially because if he started telling stories he'd end up with a cold meal in front of him. Asmus had always liked to talk, but now wasn't the best time. It would be too easy to let slip a word like 'sullust' and land them in trouble.

"Favourite food and best place you've eaten."

That little voice was silent right now. It might have pointed out that he could have got to know her so much better if only she had stayed. He didn't know, didn't understand how deep the regret went for Kaile. If it did that constantly positive attitude would be pushed to its limits. But he wasn't one to try and come down on people for their choices. Everyone had the freedom to change their stars. She was an agent, not a waitress in need of a lift. In his mind it was all too easy to see why she hadn't contacted him. She hadn't told him that story, but the narrative had been formed inside his own head. But one day he would need her to say it out loud for closure.

This time his leg brushed against hers quite deliberately. The band had - as he had expected - started a more subdued number.