Private Just Another Day at the Office

[Vara Rasha]

THE FOUNDLING
Maji Ironworks | Tor Valum, Kestri
TAG: Yuri Maji

Noir​

Who would’ve thought rekindling the fires of a warforge could prove to be so costly?

The numbers had certainly blown past the Harpy’s expectations.

Flames crackled from the personal forge set alight in the office, keeping Kestri’s bitter morning cold at bay. The tantalizing scent of strong caff wafted in the air. The room itself much cleaner in sharp contrast the first time she stepped in. She’d taken the liberty of tidying the place. Floors were swept and surfaces dusted off. Her caution and care showed and not through the simple act of cleaning. Various trinkets and blueprints remained along the surfaces as the day they were left there.

Those weren’t hers to move or touch, and so she did not.

She knew how much his ma’ meant to him. He would sort through the stuff in his own time, relive memories, or bury them away.

The girl was not about to take that right away from him.

A breath rolled from her snout. Troubled. Elbows resting against the desk, her palms cradled her temples. The chair under her creaked a brief protest against the armored weight of her as she leaned forward. The broad’s crimson glare settled on her datapad’s screen.

The numbers held her hostage.

She crunched through them again and again, only to reach the same conclusion every time.

Credits.

They needed a hell of a lot more.

Their initial estimates were just off the mark by almost six thou’. The pipes were frozen solid. Their insulation torn through. Repairing that was not going to be cheap. That was a given, but far from being the least of their troubles.

The costs took a steep rise when she added in the expenditure from their latest outing on Ryloth. Repairs for her armor. Treatment for her wound across her gut. Restocking on munitions, grenades and other utilities shared between them…

The Harpy reached for the bottle of tihaar beside her. She went to tip the bottle onto her mug to add some of the spirit to the scalding hot caff, but took a sharp pause. The sharpness in her eyes dulled as she remembered just how much their shared love for alcohol cost them, too!

And then there was that whole bar fight they covered!

”Oh kark meeeeeee!” A whimper tore from her chest. Manda her witness, she wished she hadn’t left Yuri’s warmth in bed this morning.

With a frustrated sigh the Harpy made up her mind. The bottle in her grasp tipped further and she poured herself a helping of tihaar, regardless of their pressing financial troubles.

By the Gods she needed it.

The bottle sat back on the desk with a clunk.

Properly soured for the morning, the young Foundling stood up with her mug in her firm grasp. Her footfalls carried her to the door. The handle creaked softly at the touch, and she swung it open.

Her armored silhouette leaned upon the railing right outside the office. The mug rose to her lips and she took a loud slurp. The brilliant spirit swallowed the bitterness whole. Her eyes scanned the dormant factory grounds before her.

At least their troubles were not without some kind of merit.

They didn’t have running water, but they certainly had power. Central heating was restored along with it! Smashed windows and skylights were replaced. The factory’s insulation was restored.

Their order of parts for the forges and workstations, paid in full at Christophsis not long ago, was still being prepared. The girl made a mental note to calculate the fuel cost to go and bring them here. No way in all hells were they about to reveal Kestri’s location to make life easier for themselves.

That wouldn’t do, no matter how much it burnt through their pockets.

The woman’s gaze fell upon one of the great forges. Her eyes longed to see their flames rekindled. The woman brought the mug to her lips for another swig. ”..-Karkin' better be worth it.” Her murmur filled the mug, steam rising between her and the silent forges.
​

 

[Yuri Maji]

While the two mutts had an early morning ahead of them, Yuri figured that a few minutes could at least be spared. By the time he woke up, Vara was already gone. It was enough of a wakeup call to yank the Hound out of bed and get ready for the day. He had a trip or two to make before meeting her at the factory. They had gone over what still needed to be done aside from the obvious, she said that she would crunch the numbers while he was out so he took his time to get everything sorted.

Upon reaching the Ironworks, he could see the faint glow through the new windows. Smoke rose from the chimneys and the snow had long since melted away. One could almost mistake the place for being operational again. A smile formed at the sight of it, only to disappear the moment his legs abandoned him on a sheet of ice. At least nobody was there to see it.

He dusted himself off, adjusted his armour and entered the factory, where Vara stood outside the office with a cup. "Place is comin' along!" He called to her, running a hand along a busted conveyor belt in his approach. His jump boots blasted him over the stairs to touch down next to her. A deep kiss followed with a hand on her neck to hold her close. "Slowly but surely." He remarked, pulling away to drop his helmet on the desk. It took a second or two to register that the place was looking miles better than the last few days. The bed in the corner looked fresh, the dust was entirely gone for the moment, even the mini fridge behind the desk was humming once again.

Yuri studied it with wide eyes for a moment and promptly turned to give Vara another kiss. "Thanks, cuyan'ika." He muttered. "I managed to organize a favour with the Hypernautics guys. They can help us out with some new elements and sealants for the pipes. They had a similar issue not too long ago, it sounds like." He explained to her, sinking down behind the desk to look over the schematics and datapads lying around. He set them all aside and picked up the pad with their budget laid out. "So, what's the situation lookin'... like..." His eyes widened at the amounts drawn up.

"Oh... kriff..." He looked up at Vara and scratched his head. "You sure this is right?" He remarked, more in disbelief than doubt in her skills. Those parts from the Mon Cala job were going to come in handy. Any planned remarks on the bottle of Tihaar at this hour were abandoned in a long swig to jerk his brain awake. The bottle was swapped out for a cigarette as golden eyes looked out the window overlooking the factory. He rose from his seat and wrapped an arm around Vara to hold her close as he contemplated their options.

Vara Rasha

 

[Vara Rasha]

THE FOUNDLING
Maji Ironworks | Tor Valum, Kestri
TAG: Yuri Maji

Noir​

The factory gate beyond the great forges and the disemboweled conveyor belts scraped open. Her eyes caught the silhouette before she even realized she’d been looking for it. He shut the gate after him, preventing Kestri’s cold from slipping inside along with him. She greeted him with the mug raised high before she took another sip. The bottom rim clinked against the railing.

"Place is comin' along!"

Vara chuckled. Her locs flowed with her mane at a small nod. ”Y’can say that again!” her maw split to a toothy grin.

The sight of him alone was enough to captivate her.

Then he got close.

Her eyes trailed the wide arc of his jet-assisted jump. The Mutt had already cleared over the stairs in one leap. She really could use a pair of those same boots. Especially after what went down at Ryloth. The woman made a quick mental note, as the soles of his boot met the catwalk at a loud clatter.She pushed up the railing and hauled him by the gorget. Their chestplates met in a dull clatter as their lips melted into one. Her snout brushing close, she breathed his scent deep.

"Slowly but surely." He remarked, pulling away to drop his helmet on the desk.

”Mmhm..” Hardly reining herself, the Harpy couldn’t stop herself from taking a small nibble at his bottom lip as he withdrew.

Her mug in her grasp, she walked to the office with him. Vara finished the rest of her coffee mixed with spirits with one last hearty swig. A breath poured from her lips, loud and pleased while her man took in the sight of the office.

”Done some clea-.. ..-ning…” Her words never reached finality. His expression of gratitude caught her unprepared this time. Her eyes widened, the confusion in them bare for the split second before it melted away into something warmer.

"Thanks, cuyan'ika." He muttered.

”It’s nothin’, babe.” The girl wrapped a hand around the small of his back, pulling him closer. Her palm playfully slapped his backside as a growl rolled from her throat. “Careful,” she murmured, breath warm between them. “I might just see how you taste at this rate,” A playful quip, though Yuri could never quite be certain. The low growl still rumbling in her chest suggested she wasn’t entirely joking.

Something feral lingered in the crimson of her eyes.

Vara flashed him a toothy smile as she let him go. Her footfalls carried her towards the small forge. The Foundling helped herself to more coffee from a kettle. Hot vapors rose from the mug as she carefully filled it to the brim.

"I managed to organize a favour with the Hypernautics guys. They can help us out with some new elements and sealants for the pipes. They had a similar issue not too long ago, it sounds like." He explained to her, sinking down behind the desk to look over the schematics and datapads lying around.

”Oh yeah?” The Harpy’s tone upbeat and warm. ”Well that’s some good news,” A chuckle, distinctly bitter. The kettle sat back on a warm plate atop the forge with a clank. The woman watched him, her toothy smile shrank to a small grin.

"So, what's the situation lookin'... like..." His eyes widened at the amounts drawn up.

"Oh... kriff..." He looked up at Vara and scratched his head. "You sure this is right?"

”Yeeeah…” Vara brought the mug to her lips. She softly blew to cool the scalding heat, and took a small sip. ”Really wish I wasn’t.” Sharp and curt. The mutt’s locs swayed at a shake of her head, slow and deliberate. ”I checked, checked, re-checked, and checked again. Them numbers don’ lie.” Her bodyglove shuffled as she eased up to her feet. The woman stepped towards the windows across from the desk.

The great forges stood, lifeless. The sight drew a breath from her snout. At the one armed embrace of her man, Vara leaned into him just a little more and pressed flush against him. Without thinking, she tipped the mug toward him in silent invitation. “Did you have breakfast?” She asked, her eyes lingering at the factory for a moment longer. ”Made you somethin’ ‘fore I left. Y’better’ve warmed it up,” Thoughtful, even a note was left for him just so he got something warm in his gullet.

​

 

[Yuri Maji]

Vara's growl and threatening flirt was met with Yuri's own growl. The two of them were very similar in many ways, but also worlds apart. One thing Yuri couldn't deny, however, was how infectious she was on him. But he kept himself composed for the moment, they had work to do. The numbers on their budget were nothing short of terrifying. The Mon Cala job was going to do a lot of heavy lifting for the business...

Yuri accepted the outstretched cup of caf for a long sip before setting it aside to wrap his other arm around Vara. In turn, he offered his cigarette to her and planted a kiss in the crook of her neck. "I got somethin' in the works for us, at least. It'll help a lot." He explained to her with a light sway. The forges were shut down, cold and polluted with hardened slag. He remembered when slabs and shapes of various metals and sizes rolled from them, ready to be hammered into wares for the whole galaxy.

Vara's question drew him out of his thoughts. His lips parted to speak, but shut instantly the moment she mentioned having made breakfast. The smooth words in the back of his mind were kept there as the realization of the implications set in. "Um... no..." He strained. His grip on her tightened to stop her from taking a swing at him as he continued. "I was runnin' late, didn't even have caf yet. Got a late night, anyway, it's gonna come in handy then." He reassured with a cool grin, hoping that it was enough to halt her onslaught. "Besides... I got something special planned for ya later when we're done here." He placed another kiss on her cheek, though their moment would be interrupted when the heavy factory doors slid open to reveal an odd man.

His armour was scorched and stained black and brown, but only along the front of his cuirass, helmet and gauntlets. He removed his helmet to reveal a face matching his armour and a rough, peppered beard. "Hey, Yuriuh!" He called out, somewhere between a moan and a groan. It didn't matter if he was screaming from the other side of Tor Valum or whispering, his tone never changed. "Yeah, Joe?!" The Hound called back.

"Goduh stufuh ya heah..." He continued. Nobody could ever quite understand what he was saying, but at the same time everybody knew exactly as well. "Thanks, Joe! Just leave it at reception!" The man gave a dismissive wave and turned to leave, sliding his helmet back on. A repulsor pad was carted in, loaded with a bunch of coils, tubes, wires and tapes for the two mutts. Yuri watched the man in awe for a brief second. The wisest Jedi and most maniacal Sith couldn't comprehend the sheer enigma of pure simplicity and simultaneous wisdom exuded from the man. His features looked somewhere between his late twenties and late seventies, and all the elders agreed that he looked like that before the Enclave even arrived on Kestri. Nobody knew his clan, his only answer ever being a shrug and a grunt.

"Hey, Joe!" Yuri called out again, drawing the man's attention back to him. "Yeah?" Joe groaned. "You still in the market?" Yuri's question drew a brief pause before another wave accompanied Joe's answer. "Alrighuh." He took his leave finally, leaving Yuri and Vara alone again. Yuri gave a satisfied shrug and shifted his hands to Vara's shoulders. He never asked questions, only ever speaking in statements. "So..." The Hound began again, idly massaging Vara's shoulders between her plates. "Wanna get that done or just skip to the surprise?" He asked her with a smile.

Vara Rasha

 

[Vara Rasha]

THE FOUNDLING
Maji Ironworks | Tor Valum, Kestri
TAG: Yuri Maji

Noir​

She found herself wrapped fully in his embrace. The mug was set aside after he took a long sip of caff. Vara accepted his offer for a drag of smoke without hesitation. The cigarette sizzled between her knuckles as she drew deep. The plume of smoke rolled from her snout at a breath. Air slashed between her teeth as her eyelids dimmed. His mouth reclaimed her. Her hands grasped and held his arms where she could reach.

"I got somethin' in the works for us, at least. It'll help a lot." He explained to her with a light sway.

His smooch at the crook of her neck drew an easy growl from her core, undisputedly pleased with him. ”Mmhm…” His affection stirred her. The woman swayed along with her man before long.

Just like that, the numbers didn’t matter anymore.

After all, their troubles weren’t insoluble.

As suffocating the numbers had felt, it wasn’t ruin. Just pressure. All it took to get things back on track was a solid payday, and Yuri already spoke of a solution. Vara almost pressed him for more details, but the moment was too pleasant to ruin with boring talks about work.

That could wait.

Vara leaned back, nuzzling his cheek as she felt his embrace tighten around her. Her ears perked up out of instinct.

"Um... no..." He strained. His grip on her tightened to stop her from taking a swing at him as he continued. "I was runnin' late, didn't even have caf yet. Got a late night, anyway, it's gonna come in handy then."

The Harpy's reaction to his admittance shattered his anticipation. She did not face him with a barrage of slurs in her reprimand. Instead, she let out a quiet sound under her breath, a damning whimper. ”But Yuriiiii..!” The girl turned in his embrace to look at him. Her arms wrapped around his back in the same breath as she locked her crimson gaze with his golden eyes. ”It’s gonna be a long day..!” A hand snaked up to the back of his head. Locks of his hair coiled around her deft digits.

"Besides... I got something special planned for ya later when we're done here." He placed another kiss on her cheek,

His explanation drew a chuckle from her, as he placed another smooch on her cheek. She shook her head, locs and mane swaying before settling along her shoulders. “Alright, but we’re still gettin’ you somethin’ t’eat. ‘Kay?” She drew closer, her breath scorching hot. Lips brushed past his as her maw split open. “No ifs or buts,” Her rippers found a tender purchase with the bend of his neck and branded him. Her teeth lingered for a moment, before she parted with a smooch.

And just in time.

Their private moment came to an end as the gates to the factory slid open with a metallic scrape. Her snout worked back and forth as she sampled the air. The air carried fresh soot and iron, and knew exactly who it belonged to.

He was unmistakable.

Embedded in Yuri’s embrace, she turned and looked at Joe. His life easily definable with words such as “grit” and “hard labor”, she watched him cart inside much needed supplies for the factory repairs. The sight drew a deep smile from the woman. ”Hi Joe!” she called, lifting a hand while still tucked in Yuri’s arms.

Distinctly, his response came barely comprehensible. Yuri’s exchange with him drew a small chuckle from her core. Her small private laughter came from a place of fancy, not mockery. The girl watched him leave in silence, shutting the gate behind him.

They only had each other once again.

"So..." The Hound began again, idly massaging Vara's shoulders between her plates. "Wanna get that done or just skip to the surprise?" He asked her with a smile.

She glanced at him over her shoulder as his hands climbed her back. His broad palms pressed firm and unyielding. His thumbs pressed into the tight line of her shoulders, wringing a low breath from her. She softened under him, The stiffness in her frame ebbed beneath his touch. ”You ever considered becoming a masseuse?” A warm chuckle escaped her. ”You’d be swimmin’ in creds with skills like that.”

Manda knew she would need his touch after today’s heavy labor.

And it seemed the mutt offered him something else to look forward to. She lingered a moment longer beneath his hands before deciding. ”Mm.. Let’s get the job done first,” Boots scraped against the catwalk as she turned, deliberate in her pivot. ”I’d rather save my dessert for last,” A breathy chuckle slipped from her snout. ”It’s better when you’ve earned it.” She leaned in for one final kiss, and then, with a visible reluctance she stepped out of his reach.

”C’mon! Daylight’s burnin’!” She called as she headed down the stairs. On the factory floor, she made straight for a thick case lying on a counter. Her grip firm around the handle, she hauled it towards the repulsor pad Joe had dragged inside. ”Bought some tools to help us out,” She said simply. ”They’ll help us find the breaches. Won’t be as nightmarish,” the case landed on the cart with a heavy thud. Vara leaned over it, rummaging through coils and tubes inside a crate as she looked for the sealant foams and tapes.

There was a lot of work to be done.


​

 

[Yuri Maji]

The peaceful moment slowly whittled Yuri down to truly relax, Vara had that effect on him from the moment she stepped onto his ship. He did not protest against her insistence on getting something to eat, he was already regretting not taking a moment to look around the kitchen on his way out. But it had to wait.

Just like work could wait for a few moments longer. Her remark on him being a masseuse drew a chuckle from the Hound and a shake of his head. "Tried that, didn't work." He quipped. They finally separated as Vara left his embrace to get the job done. He returned the kiss and waited for her to exit, eyes trailing her movement for a moment before he left the office as well. "Wouldn't call it 'dessert' that quickly." He remarked with a laugh. Just to show off, he vaulted over the safety railing and activated his boots, elegantly drifting over to the repulsor pad. He quickly leaned in to see what Vara bought to make their lives easier. "Anything that can get in those pipes will help. I got a cam droid, but it can't carry anything." He explained. It was useful in its own right, but nothing compared to a proper probe droid.

While she prepped her gear, Yuri began to sort through the donated equipment and looked for a place to start. Systems were quickly shut off as a precaution, and he also took the liberty of opening the entry points for the little probe droids.

He expected it to take a while, but not the entirety of the morning. Whatever could be patched or installed from the outside was done, the rest were left to the probe droids to guide and plug from the inside. Slowly but surely, however, pipes were beginning to look serviceable once again. Gas lines, water, exhaust and extinguishers, one system after another began to look green once more. Thankfully, frozen water lines were very easy for the two Mandalorians to thaw out. Yuri broke off from the work for a moment, only to return with two cups of caf for him and Vara. Naturally, two smokes were also lit in quick succession for a brief break in their work.

"Ya know... I had this friend a while back. Girl somehow got her consciousness stripped out her body and uploaded to the Holonet. Cool girl, though. She could slice into pretty much anythin' with access to the Holonet. Would've loved her assistance right now." He remarked, gesturing to the mess still left over. The droids only went so far, but they were irreplaceable with the work that needed to be done.

Vara Rasha

 

[Vara Rasha]

THE FOUNDLING
Maji Ironworks | Tor Valum, Kestri
TAG: Yuri Maji

Noir​

"Wouldn't call it 'dessert' that quickly." He remarked with a laugh.

So there was some kind of a catch!

The onset of work kept her curiosity in check, however. It began to dull as she rummaged around the crate, the need to find what she sought drew her focus. ”A-hah!” The Harpy straightened sharply. A large, cylindrical canister encased in a see-through plastic wrapping clutched firm in her hand.

"Anything that can get in those pipes will help. I got a cam droid, but it can't carry anything." He explained. It was useful in its own right, but nothing compared to a proper probe droid.

Vara smirked. “Don’chu worry your pretty little head, your girl’s got it figured out.” She reached for the thick case, setting the foam sealant aside for a moment. Its metal latches clattered against the duraplast body. Its locks undone, she threw open the lid.

Inside, the equipment lay neatly arranged in foam inserts — half a dozen probes, each slightly smaller than a thermal detonator, a dedicated control deck, and a headset for a more hands-on approach.

She plucked the handheld interface from its insert, eager to show him how the equipment worked. ”Got it all for an absolute steal. Just for two hun’ed!” She flipped the interface onto its back, inspecting the device in her hands one more time. Scratches webbed behind the casing. The jet black paint peeled around the corners, revealing the bare metal.

One last turn in her hands, and she brought the screen up. The girl pressed a button with her thumb and the screen flickered to life amidst a brief upbeat tone. She jerked her chin down, her locs swayed in her nod. Her eyes settled on the probes.

Their small and agile chassis bore the same marks of heavy use. Paint scraped away, revealing the bare metal. A dent here and there, and scratching along the edges. ”Trust me, they work,” She raised a hand, her palm out stretched in reassurance.

Her focus resettled on the interface. She navigated the touch-screen in her hands and before long, the probes’ repulsors hummed to life. They rose sharply, plucking themselves free from the foam inserts within the thick case. With a giggle, Vara brought them to a hover right before her. ”So these little puppies,” she began as she made her way to a fuse box to help depower the factory. ”They can operate in extreme temperatures, have a high signal range, and can handle a bunch’a tasks!” The youngin got back to the repulsor cart, pep in her step.

The foundling went and retrieved another device from the crate. a black cuboid the size of her outstretched palm, host to several stubby antennas mounted on its back. ”And this here’s a signal booster,” she introduced what it did to her man. ”Incase whatever in the walls starts to interfere with the health of their signal.”

Her smirk widened.

She set the pad aside and grabbed the foam sealant, stepping toward the probes. One by one, she filled the small canisters mounted along their chassis before tapping the control. The probes zipped upward, repulsors humming as they scanned around the factory floor. Within moments, they vanished into the maze of piping overhead.

Vara slipped on the headset and perched atop the crate on the repulsor cart, eyes fixed on the handheld display as data began to scroll. While she mapped the internal pipeline breaches, Yuri handled the damage they could reach by hand.

The Harpy got a clearer picture now.

Numerous breaches across several layers. Water lines seemed affected the most. Luckily, that proved to be the easiest to fix up. At the tap of another control, she began de-icing the water pipes. The probes carved a path through, spraying the sealant upon the breach when they were within reach.

Letting the wonders of automation handle the heavy lifting, she allowed herself to indulge in a small vice.

She set aside the pad, as her hand slipped into one of her numerous pouches along the chest rig, snugly sat atop her breastplate. A moment later, a cigarette rested between her lips.

With a sharp click, the zippo snapped open. Her thumb rolled the flint. Sparks shot off, then came a flame. Orange light lapped across her features as she took a quick few breaths. The tip glowed bright. Another expert flick of her wrist, and the zippo’s lid shut with its trademark clack.

Smoke curled lazily from her mouth. The dormant factory hummed peacefully.

But her display did not.

A warning flash across the screen brought her attention back to the deck. Her brows knit. She reached for the pad, scrolling through the map data until she found the misbehaving probe. One tap shifted her into direct control of the droid. In the same breath, she tugged at her headset and lowered it over her eyes.

Her vision filtered through the probe’s small optical cluster. Her gaze was half buried inside snow and ice. A gentle pull and a gentle push coaxed the droid loose from the frozen debris. The sharp aromas of hot caff cut through her focus, as Yuri’s footfalls drew nearer. ”Good boy,” Playful as ever, the girl teased him as she heard him set her mug down somewhere close by. She made no move to reach for it, still occupied with the manual control.

She gave her man a portion of her attention when he reminisced of a memory.

"Ya know... I had this friend a while back. Girl somehow got her consciousness stripped out her body and uploaded to the Holonet. Cool girl, though. She could slice into pretty much anythin' with access to the Holonet. Would've loved her assistance right now." He remarked, gesturing to the mess still left over.

”Had.” “Could.”

The past tense hadn’t escaped her sharp ears. A soft hum left her before she spoke.

”And what’s her name?” Her tone was unusually reserved. Asking if the chick still lived was a gamble. A name was safer. Less likely to gouge an old wound. She hated seeing him sad.

Like stepping through a minefield, she had to choose her words carefully now.

​

 

[Yuri Maji]

The moment the price was mentioned, Yuri halted to stare at Vara with a skeptical brow raised. His curiosity got the better of him and his head was soon draped over his girl's shoulder to study the exceptionally priced droids. "You buy them from a sketchy Mantellian or Atrisia?" He asked with a chuckle, leaving her to fiddle with them. Eventually they took off and got to work with the harder areas to reach.

Definitely worth two hundred bucks.

The less they had to do so up high, the better. Upon approaching with their caf in hand, however, one of them seemed to be having trouble. A mischievous grin took hold and Yuri quietly approached Vara from behind while she was engrossed with fixing the droid's position. Finally he landed a slap on her backside and retreated with a snicker, careful not to knock their drinks over. But her mood quickly shifted with the mention of an old friend. Unlike last time, Yuri caught onto her strange tone. "Xan. Can't remember her last name." He answered truthfully, eyes lightly squinted as he watched her for a moment. "Real philosophical type, haven't heard from her in years, though." He continued, eyes unwavering from his blind spot while she still had the goggles on.

With his cup of caf in hand, he wrapped his free arm around her once again and buried his muzzle in the crook of her neck. Short breaths took in her scent, teeth stole a nibble or two, all to get on her nerves. "Why do you get so nervous, cuyan'ika?" He asked with a faint laugh in his voice.

Vara Rasha

 

[Vara Rasha]

THE FOUNDLING
Maji Ironworks | Tor Valum, Kestri
TAG: Yuri Maji

Noir​

The goggles over her eyes stole her true vision.

Guiding the probe, she never saw Yuri make his move to carry out his perfidious(!) strike! Her eyes widened. A gasp rolled from Vara’s maw as his wide palm left a sizzle on her backside. The sting arched her back. He stole a surprised yelp from his girl, followed by a growl almost immediately. Her lips peeled back to a deep smile as she heard him skitter away with a devious snicker! ”You sneaky scughole..!” her cackle cut sharp. Her locs swayed wildly as she shook her head, smiling.

He was so done.

He had sealed his fate, and he didn’t even know it yet.

"Xan. Can't remember her last name." He answered truthfully, eyes lightly squinted as he watched her for a moment. "Real philosophical type, haven't heard from her in years, though."

Her mischievous thoughts drifted away with his answer, and so too did her toothy smile. Her head turned, eyes looked to his visage under the goggles without seeing him. A small hum rolled from her core. Her snout dipped once. A deep breath lashed out through her teeth as she puffed a drag from her cigarette. The smoke rolled from her snout and maw.

She had to stop herself from assuming the worst every damn time.

But with him, she couldn’t help it.

Just like how she could not stop herself from leaning into his touch.

The mutt sat down beside her. Immediately she scooched closer to him. Her body pressed flush against his. Her man’s muzzle was quick to find purchase at the bend of her neck. A growl ripped from her throat. Tender and amorous. She leaned her head towards his muzzle, trapping him there between her cheek and shoulder. Teeth grazed her hide. The playful sting stole another breath from the Harpy. ”You jackal,” The pleased chuckle came easily. ”Gettin’ playful WHEN I can’t do a thing, huh?” The girl joked, clicking her tongue as she steered the drone deeper in the pipes.

The Harpy shifted.

She turned to him, nuzzling until her lips found his cheek. The kiss lingered there for a breath as she drew in his scent, savoring it, before sliding to his mouth. The Harpy stole a quick smooch, and nipped him lightly when she pulled away. ”I warned you.” she shook her head, chuckling.

But before she could tease him more, his question had her playful attitude take a pause, replaced by something more serious.

"Why do you get so nervous, cuyan'ika?" He asked with a faint laugh in his voice.

She did not answer him right away. Her thoughts lingered more on how good his touch felt at first. But eventually, she told him nothing but the truth in her heart. “It’s cuz am afraid what I might say or ask just-... Y’know, remind you of somethin’ bad!” She leaned into him, her head rested on his shoulder. ”An’ I'd hate to see you upset an’ unhappy, cutie.”

​

 

[Yuri Maji]

Vara's answer came off as incredibly... odd. His kissing and affection paused for a brief moment as a quizzical squint took hold. His nose scrounged in thought, unsure of how to answer her concern. "You can't... avoid bad thoughts, babe." He remarked, resting his head on hers. "Bad thoughts are bad thoughts, nothin' to be done about it." He shrugged, trying to figure out her reasoning. It was simply an odd way of thinking.

A thought finally crept up, and a smirk immediately followed. "Are you... jealous, babe?" He asked her with a chuckle. The headset was plucked from her head and the droid set back to auto, allowing him to set the tech aside to properly look at his girl. "Are you worried about the friends I got?" His chuckle began to brew into a complete laugh. "You are, ain't ya?!" He teased, an arm wrapped around her neck to pull her close to his chest. First with Dima, now with Xan. Both of them earned skepticism and concern from her. It made perfect sense.

"Oh, this is great! Cuyan'ika, what's gotten into you?" He pressed a kiss on her head and ruffled up her mane. He would put money on it that she was jealous of him having friends of the opposite sex.

She didn't want to know about his history, then...

He held her close for a few long moments in jest, a hand poking at her side to make her squirm as he laughed away. Finally letting go of her, he got up to hand her the mug of caf. The jokes spinning in his head were verging on dangerous if he had to say them aloud... but it was a risk worth taking. "Should I get jealous next time we see the Hammer-Hand?" He teased, sitting down next to her once again.

Vara Rasha

 

[Vara Rasha]

THE FOUNDLING
Maji Ironworks | Tor Valum, Kestri
TAG: Yuri Maji

Noir​

"You can't... avoid bad thoughts, babe." He remarked, resting his head on hers. "Bad thoughts are bad thoughts, nothin' to be done about it."

A growl rolled from her throat. Upbeat. Of course he wasn’t wrong. Not every day was going to be all sunshines and rainbows. Especially walking The Way of the Mandalore. Pain was part of the path. Survival was the promise.

And that’s what mattered to her at the end.

Survive. Together.

The fleabag’s next words pulled her away from her thoughts. Vara stilled, her sharp focus lent to her man.

"Are you... jealous, babe?" He asked her with a chuckle.

The weight of his wide palm found the headset. The frame slid off her eyes with a soft scrape in the same breath. ”The kark-..!” Amidst her confused murmur, the claustrophobic interior of the pipes, filtered through the probe’s camera, was replaced with the blurry outlines of his stupid grin. Her bearings vanished with the headset, the Harpy blinked and resettled her focus. ”..- I wasn’t done yet you idiot,” she scoffed, staring at his handsome mug.

An expert parry, she bought herself some time.

"Are you worried about the friends I got?" His chuckle began to brew into a complete laugh.

He caught her off guard. ”Huh?” Her cigarette lazily drooped low from the corner of her maw. What in all hells was he on about? She hadn’t a reason to be worried, as he put it. Why would she? His love was hers.

This wasn’t jealousy. Yuri just couldn’t tell the difference between it and territorial instinct.

She didn’t like to share.

The way he moved around Dima just dragged it into the open, but his explanation had easily put her mind to rest. The meathead, for all his flaws and the lack of neurons, was not out to break her heart. Not in that way.

"You are, ain't ya?!"

Her brows knit. A pout rippled her features. ”What! No-..” She shook her head, locs sharply swayed with her thick mane. ”Listen-...” His sudden pull into a hug knocked the words right out of her as he pressed her face into his chest. A muffled chuckle spilled against him.

"Oh, this is great! Cuyan'ika, what's gotten into you?" He pressed a kiss on her head and ruffled up her mane.

The kiss atop her head earned him a warm growl. His knuckles digging through her mane? Not so much.

A snarl ripped from her maw. She writhed in his embrace. She snapped her head toward him, and before he could pull away, Yuri found his digits trapped between her rippers. Playful mischief flickered from her eyes. The faintest bit of pressure, and she let go.

Vara straightened, still wrapped in his warmth. ”Karkin’ idiot, can I talk now?” she socked him on the shoulder. A giggle came easily. ”Look, jusso we’re clear… I’m not about to make y’stop from seein’ your friends,” She leaned close and dragged her tongue up the crook of his neck. Her fangs softly grazed him there. ”I know your heart belongs to me, jus’ like how mine belongs to you.” She held no doubts in her mind.

Their scents had become one.

The woman graciously accepted the mug of caff from him. ”Bless your hands,” The girl plucked her cigarette from her lips, before she took a sip. The focus in her eyes dulled as Vara mulled over his words.

She would never openly admit it unless the meathead pressed him hard for it, but she understood. He was being way too defensive. It was not as if she saw danger where there was none. The Harpy simply tried to avoid it altogether.

She was trying too hard.

"Should I get jealous next time we see the Hammer-Hand?" He teased, sitting down next to her once again.

Yuri’s words earned him a hearty cackle. ”If you think-..” Vara began, shifting in his embrace. The mug set aside, she rested the back of her head against his thighs. ”HEH! If y’think y’can foot the bill for another barfight with him I’ll join in on the fun jus'like last time,” The Harpy teased back. She clicked her tongue, shaking her head once. With a smile, she brought her cigarette back to her lips, and flipped down her goggles once more.

The control deck in her grasp, Vara’s eyes read the data scrolls. Before long a wide smile split her maw. ”Gas lines’re fixed, baby.” Her report came upbeat. Her hand rose sharply, palms outstretched to give her man a high five.

​

 

[Yuri Maji]

Yuri managed to get under Vara's skin a little with his jokes. She wrestled herself free from his grip and caught his fingers with her teeth. A growl of his own ripped from his throat, more a dare than anything else. Between that and the trail of kisses along his neck, Yuri was finding it increasingly difficult to focus on the topic at hand. She went on to explain the confusion, naturally with a punch to his shoulder, though it left more room for interpretation and jokes already manifesting in the back of his mind.

A laugh barked from his maw at the mention of another brawl. His eyes found hers as she laid down in his lap. "We can add it to the budget." He teased right back. "Far be it from me to keep ya from your side piece." He continued with a snicker. The teasing and jokes died down for a moment as Yuri simply watched her work with the droid once again. One hand rested on her leg while the other idly caressed her mane.

Finally she delivered the good news. "Yes!" He slapped his hand against hers and leaned back with a satisfied grin. "Gettin' somewhere decently at this rate." He remarked, idly fishing for his datapad. It seemed late enough for them to put the work on hold. He still wanted to reveal his "surprise" to her. "Let's leave this for now. It's gettin' late. We gotta move." He urged her. Once she was ready, he led the way out of the factory and down the road. He didn't elaborate or give any hints for the entire journey through the district. Not until they reached a house built into the stone of the mountain in the residential area.

The architecture was the typical Mandalorian style like the rest of Tor Valum, but Yuri's familiarity with it was far more telling. With a pin typed into the door's controls, it slid open to reveal a darkened house.

Yuri led the way in and flicked the lights on, illuminating the modest house and its layout. A fairly decent kitchen gave way to a sunken living room just beyond the open plan counters. Various decorations could be found. A stormtrooper's helmet, a very morbid statue consisting of what looked like a metal skeleton, cybernetic organs and limbs, with a busted helmet from a Mandalorian that once fought for the Maw as the head. The living room itself also sported a variety of paintings, comfortable furniture and a coffee table consisting of a creature's skull with a glass panel mounted on top. A fireplace adorned the far wall, built into the stone to warm the entire living room and kitchen.

Above the fireplace, however, rested very unique decorations. Three lightsaber hilts beside each other, underneath a large sword that appeared equally barbaric and masterfully crafted. "Should be in the armoury." He remarked, leading her through the living room down a hallway to one of the rooms. He stopped by another control panel and, with another code, opened the vault door to reveal enough weapons and gear for a whole squad of soldiers. "Ah!" He immediately found what he was looking for. A jetpack was plucked from a wall and held out to Vara.

Yuri said nothing as he watched her with a knowing grin. She was going to hate him after this...

Vara Rasha

 

[Vara Rasha]

THE FOUNDLING
Kestri | Icy Plains, Forests
TAG: Yuri Maji

Noir​

"We can add it to the budget." He teased right back. "Far be it from me to keep ya from your side piece." He continued with a snicker.

The words had drawn a scoff from her. She shook her head with a giggle. ”Side piece? Him!?” Vara began, her tone upbeat. She shifted to lay her head atop his thighs more comfortably. A soft growl rolled from her throat as he carded her mane, and stroked her leg. “Now that’s just plain ol’ disrespectful. I can score way higher if I wanted some side action. Easily.” She chuckled. The woman hiked up her goggles and gave him a wink before sliding them back down. ”An’ so can you motherkarker!” She shot back, continuing without skipping a beat. ”That alien freak? I mean… Really dude?”

Her quips faded as work reclaimed her focus. The deliverance of good news had drawn the cheer she expected.

"Yes!" He slapped his hand against hers and leaned back with a satisfied grin. "Gettin' somewhere decently at this rate."

“Hell yeah!” A smile split her maw wide. “All in a day's work, baby!” Her eyes on the data scrolls, she called back several of the droids for resupply. They needed more of the foam sealant.

But it seemed her man had other ideas.

"Let's leave this for now. It's gettin' late. We gotta move." He urged her.

Vara stilled, her ears flicked. She pulled off the goggles. Curiosity flickered from her crimson gaze. ”Really? Figured we’d take a break once it was all-..” A shake of his head told her this was enough for the time being. ”’Kay!” The woman tapped at the screen once. The pipes overhead rattled a few moments later.

A school of probes poured from the ceiling a breath after. Another tap, and they drifted to the thick case beside them, powering down into the foam. The woman stood up, begrudgingly leaving her man’s warmth and packed the equipment neatly before joining him.

Her breath misted in the air. Kestri’s merciless cold greeted them outside.

She faced it head-on. The de-icing and temperature regulator of her armor a blessing in extreme weather such as this. The Harpy sought out his warmth regardless. ”Where we goin’?” Her stare hunted for an answer, but the mutt said not a word as he took her somewhere.

Of course, it wouldn’t have been much of a surprise if he revealed it.

Vara flashed the obstinate mutt a smile. ”Alright then,” Her knuckles crashed onto his shoulder pad with a playful jab. Before long the Ironworks melted into the backdrop of other factories. Her focus sharp as ever and her curiosity barely reined, her gaze snapped around and her snout worked back and forth, sampling the air in hopes of a clue.

But there was none she could sense.

Not until after they stood before a house. It was built into stone, an ordinary abode like the rest of the houses she had seen in the city. But her man seemed more intimately acquainted with the place. His digits a blur as he punched in the code, the door slid open. She stepped after him, taking in the foreign layout with each step.

It smelled clean.

Lived in.

The trophies decorating the walls had many stories to tell. Weapons of a more “civilized” era caught her eyes. Three of them. Their origins unknown to the young Foundling. She knew not if they were once wielded by a Sith or a Jedi.

A strange statue stood ahead. The outlines of a silhouette, drawn from a metal skeleton. Various cybernetic organs hung from it, their placement anatomical. But it was the helmet that had the young Harpy raise an eyebrow at it. The buy’ce bore a mark foreign to her.

Etched in blood-red, it resembled a maw. Jagged teeth barred in an open threat.

Her memory ran wild. She had seen this somewhere in one of Vren’s lectures! This was the symbology of the Brotherhood of the Maw! The helmet belonged to a kin who lost their way and fought in their service.

A relic of the Second Great Hyperspace War.

Her lips parted to ask a question she likely knew the answer to. ”...Where are we?” They came to a halt before another door down the hallway. The panel let out an upbeat chirp after Yuri entered the code, and the door slid open.

Inside was an armory large enough to make any self respecting Mandalorian salivate.

A whistle poured from her lips. ”Hooolllyyy..” Her gaze snapped from one weapon of war to the next.

She was right.

Her man was about to treat her to a dessert.

She blinked hard as he spun around with a jetpack in his hands! ”Y’gotta be kidding!” The woman met him with pure mirth. It was exactly the thing she sought after that mess on Ryloth! She stepped forward, closing the distance between them in one sweep. She took a closer look at the equipment. ”Baby, I-...” Her maw slackened and she stammered, unable to find her words.

She decided on a hug.

Vara's arms wrapped him in a warm embrace. An overjoyed set of crimson eyes drank the sight of him. Her snout hovered an inch away from his. Her breath scalding hot between them, she closed in, taking her man in a deep kiss. A hand cradled the back of his head. Her digits dug through his mane, holding him. ”Y’gotta teach me how to fly now!” She spoke in bated breath amidst a giggle.

He absolutely knew the way to her heart.

​

 

[Yuri Maji]

Yuri didn't have to see Vara's face to notice the mixture of intrigue and awe coming from her. A faint chuckle rolled from the Hound as he led her to the house's vault. Inside, he was greeted with a tight embrace and a deep kiss he gladly returned. "You gotta learn eventually. If you can't stay outta trouble, at least you'll be able to get out if needed." He explained as he pulled back, gesturing for her to turn.

The jetpack was attached to the back of her cuirass, and the controls were quickly synchronized with her vambrace. She insisted that he teach her immediately, and a mischievous grin met her in kind. "That's the idea, babe." He remarked, leading them out to the living room again. There was the other question he wanted to ask, but it could wait until later. Right now, she needed to learn to fly... and she was going to hate him for it. The house was locked up behind them before Yuri led the way back to their freighter.

The destination in mind was a little far for a simple walk.

"By the end of today, you'll likely have a rough idea on how to fly. Hopefully." He explained with a shrug while getting the freighter airborne. The city was left behind as Yuri flew them into the wilderness of Kestri. No protection or shelter from the storm, just frigid cold and winds jerking the ship around. Eventually he set down just beyond a forest and got up. "It's a simple lesson, even you can do it!" He laughed, grabbing a little flagpole from a room on the way out. Once outside, he flew beyond the forest and stuck the flag into the snow before joining Vara by the ship again.

"Here's the game plan. I'll show you the controls, you can get familiar with how it works... then you gotta get the flag beyond the forest." He casually spoke. His visor hid the grin stretched along his features. "While you're tryin' to do that, I'll be pursuing. The quicker you do it, the nicer dinner will be." He snickered to himself, watching for her reaction.

Vara Rasha

 

[Vara Rasha]

THE FOUNDLING
Kestri | Icy Plains, Forests
TAG: Yuri Maji

Noir​

Feeling him shift away, Vara broke the kiss. A spark lit her gaze. At his wordless gesture she obeyed without a second thought. She glanced at him from over her shoulder as she turned, presenting the back of her cuirass. She felt the new addition to her wargear snap into place a breath after.

The Harpy turned around to face him, and brought up her vambrace. A monotone, upbeat blip let her know the new piece of equipment was in harmony with the rest of her armor’s systems. All systems green.

She was set.

"That's the idea, babe." He remarked, leading them out to the living room again.

Training day!

His words to her previous remark stole a giggle from the mutt. ”Kark yeah!” Wasting not a precious second, she followed. Her excitement barely reined in her step, they were soon welcomed by Kestri’s bone chilling cold. The door shut and locked behind them with a mechanical clatter. And this time Yuri took a route familiar to the Foundling.

The cold made every step drag. Her excitement didn’t help, but finally, they were back at their freighter.

"By the end of today, you'll likely have a rough idea on how to fly. Hopefully." He explained with a shrug while getting the freighter airborne.

With a pep to her step, Vara walked up the ramp and into the freighter with the mutt. A permanent grin etched at her maw, she nodded along his words. The girl easily put two and two together. Wherever he was taking her for this, it wasn’t going to be in the city. At least not in a part they could reach on foot. Briskly she made towards the kitchen as Yuri disappeared towards the cockpit. A shudder rolled through the durasteel frame of the ship as she threw together a quick snack.

He wasn’t going to go hungry for so long, not on her watch.

A plate in her hand, the Harpy joined the Hound at the helm. She set it down on an empty space atop the dashboard before him. A thick, cold cut sandwich paired with fresh greens and cheese. ”Eat.” Her tone left no room for argument. The woman crossed her arms, leaning towards the steel wall at her side as she watched the icy terrain before them meld into tall pines. The city of Tor Valum left far and behind already.

Thankfully, Yuri quickly seemed to conclude they were where they needed to be.

The freighter expertly whipped around for a landing after he found a patch of terrain big enough to accommodate the ship. The floor beneath her feet trembled once more as the freighter’s landing gear firmly pressed against the snowy ground.

She was back on her feet in a heartbeat, already moving for the ramp.

"It's a simple lesson, even you can do it!" He laughed, grabbing a little flagpole from a room on the way out.

Her locs swayed as she shook her head. ”I should have no problems then,” A chuckle rolled from her throat. She reached a hand to her helmet clipped to her hip. She slipped it on with ease. With a soft pressurized hiss the seals engaged. ”Alright, let’s do this!” She ran her hands through her locs and mane, and threw them back. They settled on her shoulders as she walked down the ramp. She watched Yuri take off with the flagpole he brought with him from inside, and disappear into the forest.

He returned to her before long.

Head tilted to the side, the emotionless visor looked to him. Her posture changed as she listened. The Foundling crossed her arms over her chestplate. Yuri had her full, undivided attention.

"Here's the game plan. I'll show you the controls, you can get familiar with how it works... then you gotta get the flag beyond the forest." He casually spoke. His visor hid the grin stretched along his features. "While you're tryin' to do that, I'll be pursuing. The quicker you do it, the nicer dinner will be." He snickered to himself, watching for her reaction.

Her snout dipped, offering him a nod. <”A crash course first, then some fun,”> A giggle filtered through her helmet vocabulator, cutting through the wind. <”Hell yeah! I’m game! But just to clarify,”> she gestured her question, palm outstretched as she raised a hand. <”Do I just gotta “get” the flag– like touch it? Or grab it and bring it back here? To the ship?”>

​

 

[Yuri Maji]

The one thing Yuri wasn't expecting on their way to the forest was a singular sandwich. Loaded, stuffed and simply made, the mere sight of it quickly had Yuri's mouth watering and his stomach grumbling. A hand found its way around Vara's waistline for him to press his forehead against her stomach in quiet gratitude. Unfortunately, he wouldn't be eating. Not immediately, at least.

The delicious sandwich accompanied him outside as he leaned back against a strut for the loading ramp. Vara's optimism with what laid ahead drew a laugh from Yuri as he slid his helmet up to rest on top of his head. "Get to the flag first, we'll decide then." He answered her, taking a massive bite from his sandwich. A satisfied groan escaped him for a brief second, drawing his eyes to a close with a satisfied shake of his head. From where he was standing, wind wasn't completely atrocious.

What awaited Vara was bordering on psychotic.

"Okay, so... you can set your jetpack to different presets dependin' on your situation. Can sync it to jumps to let it work like a jump pack, can have it follow your body movements when you're in combat. Every setting has a plus and a minus. Once you get a better set of armour, you can hot swap all of it with your HUD on the fly." A pause followed with another bite and grumble of satisfaction. He didn't realize just how hungry he actually was.

"Play around, get used to it so you don't immediately break somethin'... then you fetch." He instructed, content with his sandwich while Vara figured out how to not kill herself.

This particular course was incredibly dangerous. High speed, various distractions, every Krayt trained with this style until they didn't touch a single branch in their chase. It was incredibly dangerous, but it taught well. It wouldn't even be attempted if it wasn't for full armour and proper medical assistance. Everyone broke bones on this, some even caught an impalement on some occasions. Yuri distinctly remembered being incredibly bad when he was training... and he was a pup.

Vara Rasha

 

[Vara Rasha]

THE FOUNDLING
Kestri | Icy Plains, Forests
TAG: Yuri Maji

Noir​

"Get to the flag first, we'll decide then." He answered her, taking a massive bite from his sandwich.

<”So we’ll figure things out “on the fly,”> Her claws gestured in quotation marks. The pun drew a chuckle from her. <”Fine by me.”> Her snout dipped once, confirming the ruleset for this friendly little competition.

She really was not aware of what Yuri had in store for her.

His sharp laughter gave her a small clue, but swept away without much thought amidst the icy howl of the winds.

Frost began to settle on her mane in specks of snow as they took shelter from Kestri’s harsh breeze under the freighter’s shadow. The display of his carnivorous appetite as he attacked the sandwich drew a warm giggle from her.

"Okay, so... you can set your jetpack to different presets dependin' on your situation. Can sync it to jumps to let it work like a jump pack, can have it follow your body movements when you're in combat. Every setting has a plus and a minus. Once you get a better set of armour, you can hot swap all of it with your HUD on the fly." A pause followed with another bite and grumble of satisfaction.

The Harpy’s hands settled on her hips as she listened. The woman signalled her continued attention with a nod. Underneath the visor, her eyes flickered across the heads-up display. The interface for her jetpack was barebones, fed nothing but altitude and velocity.

She was going to need a software upgrade to go along with the new hardware.

Yuri’s words rang true after another quick discovery. She could only switch between “jump” and “flight” mode through the controls at her left vambrace. Both of which had their own set of sub-settings. A hum rolled from her throat in a growl amidst the faint blips of the wrist mounted terminal.

The stream of numbers began to blur together, soon becoming dizzying to look at. Too fast for her liking, she erased the data clutter with the press of a key.

"Play around, get used to it so you don't immediately break somethin'... then you fetch."

Her lips peeled back to a smirk. Her posture straightened in her own obstinate confidence. Then, she moved.

Her boots left shallow imprints on the lily-white snow as she walked out of the freighter’s shadow. She came to a halt at the open stretch of land a few dozen yards short of the woodline with the freighter behind her. The Harpy turned, her visor dipped as she brought up her vambrace before her.

With a quick tap of a digit, the Harpy selected “jump”.

In the same breath, she felt the ground vanish from underneath her boots! The sudden howl of thrusters behind her back carried her up into the air. Her breath hitched and her eyes widened as her stomach lurched up and forward. The momentum rolled through her body.

Before she came crashing down.

Her bristled mane fluttered wildly. The snow covered ground rushed up to meet her.

Luckily, she knew how to fall.

A grunt tore from her core as she met the ground feet first. The woman allowed the momentum to carry her forward into a roll and bled the force of the fall. The snow wrapped her in its bonechilling embrace. A growl carried in the wind. <”Nngh-..! Karkin’ hell..!”> The woman stirred from the snow, getting back up to her feet. No way in all hells was Yuri not gonna give her chit for this sad excuse for a first try.

The coat of ice spattered off her as she shook like a wet dog. She rubbed at forming bruises with brisk, annoyed strokes. Before long the young Foundling took to the skies and tried again. Her second attempt was better, but only barely. The icy earth under her crunched as she met it. She stumbled at her step, her balance barely maintained.

Her visor turned towards Yuri. <”Y’gonna give me some tips or are you content with freezin’ your balls off in the cold?”> A playful snarl sharpened the quip.


​

 

[Yuri Maji]

Yuri had to suppress his laugh at her terrible pun, his side-eye not moving from her gaze. "Kark off." He remarked. She turned to fiddle with the settings and he was about to continue with his explanation... except she wasn't there anymore. Yuri blinked as the jetpack burst to life and mercilessly flung Vara high into the air. He cringed as she came crashing down into the ground, luckily there was enough snow to break the fall.

<”Y’gonna give me some tips or are you content with freezin’ your balls off in the cold?”>

"You gotta land!" He answered in all of his infinite wisdom. The plate was set aside and his helmet slid on while walking over to Vara. "If you got it in jump mode, you gotta activate it again." He held his vambrace out for her to see as he set the controls up. He crouched down and jumped, letting the jetpack carry him high into the air. On the way down, he tapped the ignition and slowed his descent to touch down beside her. "With flight mode, it responds to your body. You tilt, it turns. You tuck your knees on a descent, it slows. You learn how it operates, it learns how you operate." He continued.

With another demonstration, he flicked the settings over and jumped once more. The jetpack came to life, only this time he hovered above her. With a tilt of his body, the jetpack turned and a few neat spins were performed before he descended to land. He gestured for her to try again, this time standing by to watch what she does. "At least ya look good with a crash landing." He teased with a snicker.

Vara Rasha

 

[Vara Rasha]

THE FOUNDLING
Kestri | Icy Plains, Forests
TAG: Yuri Maji

Noir​

"You gotta land!" He answered in all of his infinite wisdom.

A sharp laugh slipped out of her. Short and breathy as she slowly straightened. <”Y’don’ say!”> A healthy dose of sarcasm underlined her words. <”Karkin’ dumbass,”> The shistavanen’s mane rippled wildly at the shake of her head. Getting ready, Vara began to warm up for what was ahead of her. She moved and bent in a brief routine of stretches as Yuri approached.

She straightened at once when he began to speak.

"If you got it in jump mode, you gotta activate it again." He held his vambrace out for her to see as he set the controls up.

Arms folded over her chestplate, her visor followed him when the mutt sharply skipped to the air. Out of instinct she took a few steps back as he came back down. As expected, the Mandalorian expertly slowed his descent, unlike the Foundling. He flared his jetpack, effortlessly countering the downward momentum before landing beside her.

Her visor dipped in a small nod of her head. <”I see,”> She brought up her vambrace before her. With a tap, the Harpy made the necessary adjustment she saw him carry out, and took to the skies a moment later. The wind howled at her ear amidst the sharp rise.

Then gravity claimed her.

She looked down as the ground began to surge towards her.

Her thrusters flashed.

She felt the force surge up her core as her momentum slowed instantly.

It worked!

The snow crunched under the soles of her boots as she touched down right beside her man. She pumped a fist in the air in her triumph! Her maw split to a wide grin as her eyes settled on Yuri’s visor. Eager for more, she listened to him despite the excitement in her core. The next part of the crash course stirred a thrill.

"With flight mode, it responds to your body. You tilt, it turns. You tuck your knees on a descent, it slows. You learn how it operates, it learns how you operate." He continued.

Free flight.

The Harpy’s pupils flared. Her gaze trailed him as Yuri’s jetpack howled and the ground was no longer beneath his feet. He came to a hover over her, some dozen feet high. A chuckle poured from her vocabulator as he spun. The emotionless faceplate of her helmet masked the flash of admiration underneath.

He looked so free.

Weightless.

Flight and freedom. And she couldn’t have enough of both.

His descent began anew, and touched down a few steps to her front. His invitation came sharply. Without a second thought, she tapped once at her vambrace. With the flight mode selected, she took off again.

She spread her arms to the side and bent her knees. The stillness in her motion brought her to a standstill. With a surprising display of acrobatics, she managed to justhold her balance as she hovered above Yuri!

But it was far from perfect.

The technique of hers was nothing like that of Yuri’s. A skill earned through grit of her own in her younger years for a stint at a circus, but she lacked precision. One wrong correction and she drifted wide. Seeing as she was about to spin out of control, the woman consciously leaned her weight forward, and moved. With a gentle turn she came back around.

A snicker from her commlink drew her attention.

"At least ya look good with a crash landing." He teased with a snicker.

<”Oh yeah?”> Vara met him with an upbeat tone. She took his tease as a challenge. Mischief flickered from her crimson gaze, and she moved. Her legs snapped shut and stretched. In the same breath, she tipped her weight.

Straight towards him.

The cold air billowed through her locs and mane, fluttering them wildly. Her lips peeled back to a chit-eating grin. Her arms opened wide to wrap around him in an embrace. Shoulder first she found purchase with his stomach as her world spun. The flash of her thrusters died in the same breath as they fell.

A giggle tore free as her chestplate scraped squarely against his. She planted her claws in the snow beside his shoulders and dragged herself up right. Her black mane spilled forward as she leaned over him, the Harpy’s visor hovered a few inches from his. A growl rumbled from her throat. Low and affectionate. <”An’ how do I look now?”>

​

 

[Yuri Maji]

Vara tried once more, this time switching over to a mode more fitting for this course. She even tried her hand at a trick and nearly aced it, even catching herself from a tumble before she could hit the ground. Yuri watched carefully, checking for any dangerous movements or faults. "Slow is smooth, smooth is fast." He muttered to himself with folded arms.

His tease seemed to rile her up sufficiently, it seemed, as her course quickly changed to collide with him. The Hound braced for impact and held his arms to catch her, a smile brought forth as he rolled with her shoulder crashing into his cuirass. The found themselves on the ground with Vara pinning him underneath. He simply stared into her visor for a second or two, enjoying the moment of peace before all hell had to break loose. "Ugly up close. I think losin' the armour would help a lot." He fired back with a chuckle, bumping his helmet against hers.

Pulling back, however, Vara would feel the barrel of his blaster pressing into her side. "And you're a lot easier to hit from here." He continued, firing up his repulsor to blast her off him. "Ya better start flyin', sis!" He called out to her, already taking aim at her to urge her forward. Once she took off, he would grant her a head start to get into a groove and figure out the tight turns before pursuing after her. He zoomed through the trees, bobbing around branches and trunks and even flying above the canopy to mess with Vara's focus. His HUD kept a track of her movements, allowing him to swoop down and fire a few bolts at her.

The explosive impacts against the trees were a good indication of whether the shots were lethal or not.

:: Slow is smooth, smooth is fast. But slow's also easier to hit. Better move, schutta, I like a challenge. :: He spoke over the comms, only his voice was devoid of the usually playful tone. Swerving around a tree, he fired another burst of bolts at her again, purposefully going wide to hit the trees around her. Snow, branches and splinters from the exploding trunks all made for good distractions. The Hound was after her, intent on seeing her crash.

Vara Rasha