Kindness and Charisma

[Aela Talith]

[member="Alexia Santiago"]

Wes leaned back. "Try it."

The Briefcase with the painting was slipped under his seat, the safety belt was slowly strapped across his waist, and then slowly he leaned back in the chair to get himself comfortable. He knew the trip wouldn't be a long one, but part of him hated flying.

Always made him feel cramped.

"Let's get some drinks." They could afford it now. "Champagne, Mimosas?"

He glanced towards her in question.

 

[Alexia Santiago]

[member="Wes Spalding"]

"Hmm," she pulled the window-shade down. She didn't want anything to distract her. And she was worried she'd see a trandoshan lurking out on the landing pad. The pilot was announcing pre-flight checks. She pulled her own safety belt over the fabric of that red dress of hers. The hem stopped about mid-thigh.

Drinking on any job was risky. She would just have to be careful and keep to her limit. She'd been trained to handle her own. Obviously. Couldn't be a lightweight and a con-artist. Then again, you could, just had to trick the other person into think you were drinking.

"Okay," she sighed. "One drink. A mimosa for me," it was still kind of morning. Seemed to be a good drink.

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Alexia Santiago"]

Wes ordered the same, though he didn't intend on limiting himself in any way. Once they were off Coruscant he wasn't really all that concerned about getting caught. Empress Teta would be far more friendly to them and the Countess had enough power and money to get them out of pretty much any situation.

She wanted this painting bad after all. "Don't worry honey, I'll drink for both of us."

He gently patted her on the knee, then allowed his hand to come to a rest there.

"You can catch up later tonight." The lady across from them gave them a glance, then a smile. "It'll be fun!"

 

[Alexia Santiago]

[member="Wes Spalding"]

With a final warning on buckling safety belts, their transport rose into the area, beginning its ascent into Coruscant's upper atmosphere. Lips pressed together for a moment at the placement of his hand. It was no secret that she liked to be the one in control. It was the OCD side of her. She planned things and was prepared for any outcome. She would initiate a hug or kiss and know what to expect. But when others initiated, like the placement of Wes' hand, it threw her off.

Just a little.

She was still competitive.

"I'm sure we'll have a very fun-filled night, then," she quipped right back and took a sip of her mimosa as the stewardess came around. "Maybe I should get a preview, first?" She leaned in and kissed him. Deeply.

Back in control.

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Alexia Santiago"]

His tongue flicked over hers for a moment, the woman opposite them giving them an odd look as the 'newly weds' basically started to make out in the middle of the airplane.

Wes didn't really mind this of course, he was a red blooded human after all and an attractive woman locking lips with you was always an enjoyable situation. Yet he could feel that Alexia was trying to provoke things, or at least trying to play like she was the one in control here.

That was an illusion Wes would have to dispel. "Hey there."

Wes said as he slowly drew back, his hand lingering on her knee for just a moment...before slowly sliding up her thigh.

 

[Alexia Santiago]

[member="Wes Spalding"]

She gulped. Frak, he was a good kisser. Made her head spin a little. No, no, had to be the feeling of them entering hyperspace. Had to be. She certainly wasn't going to fall for a two-bit, lying, selfish Underworlder. And there was nothing to fall for. They were on a job. He'd be done with her as soon as he got his cut just like she'd be done with him.

Breath hitched in her throat as his hand went sailing. Cerulean gaze widened. "Dear," she kissed along his jaw and his neck, her own hand going to rest on top of his.

"We're in public," gaze darted to the embarrassed older couple sitting across from them. And a teenage boy only staring with a dopey grin on his face. This was the best in-flight movie he'd ever seen.

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Alexia Santiago"]

"Oh." He glanced around and stopped, though notably his hand didn't move an inch from where it had found its way too.

Wes of course knew that this wasn't in any way appropriate, but given that they were in First Class and that things were actually somewhat obscured by the seats in front of him this wasn't all that bad. It wasn't like he'd torn off her dress in front of everyone.

"Right." His hand didn't budge as he leaned into her. "I'll wait until we're in flight for an hour or two."

Wes offered her a wink and then took a sip of his mimosa with his other hand.

 

[Alexia Santiago]

[member="Wes Spalding"]

"You most certainly will not," she whispered back, lips lingering against his earlobe. She straightened and sat back in her seat, finishing off her mamosa. Other hand remained firmly over his, to stave off any further drifting northward.

Legs shifted slightly as she wiggled to sit a little higher in her seat.

She popped the window shade open to look at those white streaking lines of hyperspace. At least she was safe here. She knew where she was going and what she was leaving behind. Even with Wes' hand where it was, she still felt 'safe' because he was like her. Cut from the same cloth. Plus, she could always just twist his fingers to get him under control.

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Alexia Santiago"]

He smiled slightly. "Sure dear."

It was hard to tell whether or not Wes actually accepted her words, though the amusement in his tone probably didn't help with that either. The truth was, Wes didn't really know himself. This whole thing had turned out to be far more fun than he had thought it would be.

Plus, he was about to be rich.

That was a very large bonus.

"Let's get more drinks." He insisted. "I'm thirsty."

 

[Alexia Santiago]

[member="Wes Spalding"]

Eyes tore away from the window and studied Wes' face. He was laughing this whole situation up. What happened to that nervous painter at the starport? They hadn't even made the sale yet and she had two days. Two days until all sorts of hutt hellfire rained down on her!

The first mamosa was already taking the edge off a bit. She was a bit leery of a second.

"Why don't you go to the bar cart and surprise me?" Hand finally lifted from his up her leg and patted his inner thigh. Two could play that game. It's not like she'd go anywhere and he knew she wouldn't double cross him. She needed him for the sale.

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Alexia Santiago"]

"I can do that." Of course, he would be returning with the most alcoholic drink that he could possibly find, but she didn't need to know that. Wes would make sure it contained plenty of sweeteners so she didn't notice as well.

"Think about me while I'm gone." He said leaning into her, his hand suddenly sliding very high as he kissed her on the cheek. "I know I'll think about you."

He grinned, then immediately stood up.

The bar cart was located at the back of the transport by now, and he could feel a slight rumble as the ship took off and headed towards the atmosphere.

 

[Alexia Santiago]

[member="Wes Spalding"]

She bit back a gasp as her body jerked upwards. Oooooo, that rogue! Fingers quickly tugged the hem of her dress back down, then rose upwards to tuck dark strands of hair behind her earlobes. The armrest divider between their seats was firmly placed downward.

Would be a bit harder for him to get so handsy. Scoundrel.

Hand dug out the comm from her dress pocket. She hunched over the glowing screen, pecking in a message to Rasho. Body angled so her back was quarter turned to Wes and she was facing more of the window and the hyperspace lines beyond. A stewardess came by with a blanket which she gladly accepted and spread over her lap.

Ha! Take that Spalding.

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Alexia Santiago"]

Wes went about finding the bar, a task that was surprisingly difficult. It appeared that the thing had made its way all the way to the back of the transport. Once there he quickly discussed a few terms with the bar tender, specifically asking for something highly alcoholic that was also sweet. The bar tender of course first gave him a funny look, but as soon as Wes explained that he was with his new wife and they were looking to just have some fun before getting to Empress Teta the man seemed more than pleased to help.

The Forger wondered just what else he could get away with using that excuse. "Thanks, mate."

Wes said as he placed some credits on the counter and grabbed the two drinks. The one he'd fetched for Alexia was a mix of orange and purple, a mix of pretty much every alcohol Wes had ever seen with a touch of sweetner that apparently blocked out any burn. The bar tender had told him it would taste like juice, something Wes found hard to believe.

For himself he'd just gotten another mimosa.

"Here you go honey." Wes said as he came back to their seats.

 

[Alexia Santiago]

[member="Wes Spalding"]

"Oh, thank you, love. Back so soon? I almost didn't get a chance to mis you." She smirked and took the very colorful drink and placed it on a side table. Message on her comm was finished and sent with one final press of her index finger. She slipped the comm back in her purse, beneath her seat.

She tugged the blanket over her lap a little tighter around her waist, giving Wes a pointed look. Reaching for the drink she took a sip, face grimacing slightly. Whew. This was super sweet. Eyes flitted to Wes.

"How are you not passed out yet? You were up all night?" Luckily, the sound of the ship's engines would drown out their conversation to any eavesdroppers.

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Alexia Santiago"]

"You know." The truth was that Wes didn't really sleep much at the best of times. A mix of Insomnia, stimulants, and adrenaline usually kept him going for days on end without ever needing a wink of sleep. That particular lifestyle would likely come to haunt him eventually, but in truth he didn't really care.

Wes had no family, very few friends, and there wasn't really anyone to care or look after him. Why should he care about himself? He was living out his days and having fun with them, there was no point in trying to change what he couldn't change, no point in not pushing himself to his limits. Most of the time he spent the nights painting, perfecting his craft and slowly becoming a master in the creation of forgeries. Something he was becoming exceedingly good at.

"You're right." He said as he pulled up the armrest between them. "I could use some sleep."

Pointedly, he grabbed the blanket and pulled it over himself, tucking himself in alongside her.

 

[Alexia Santiago]

[member="Wes Spalding"]

"Hey...you have to share, dear," mister smooth operator just grabbed half her blanket and managed to snuggle in real close. His lumbering form pressed into her side so that her arm was practically pinned between them. She took another sip of that drink and grimaced again.

"What is this, juice?"

Cerulean gaze drifted to Wes' mimosa.

"You always drink this much on jobs, sweetheart?" Her drink went down again and her free hand reached over, trying to yank more of the blanket back to her side.

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Alexia Santiago"]

His hand wrapped around hers to still her advances on his blanket by pinning her palm to his leg.

"Sometimes." It was true enough. He usually stayed sober, at least when it was really important, but right now he didn't see the point. The Countess wouldn't see them until tomorrow, Empress Teta was dreadfully boring, and at least if he was drunk he would manage to stay loose and less nervous. "It helps me relax."

He told her with a smile, his hand stroking over hers.

"It's fun." Wes smiled.

"Loosen up, Honey." He leaned in closer. "Enjoy yourself."

 

[Alexia Santiago]

[member="Wes Spalding"]

Ooooo, there he went again. Hand tingled where his fingers were. She was caught, quarter-turned into him. She could smell the citrus on his breath, mixed with alcohol. Leaning forward, she began to plant little, teasing kisses around his lips.

Time to take control again.

"I will relax, dear. Once I get my cut and I can pay off....," she paused, realizing she let that little detail slip. Leaning forward, she quickly kissed him on the mouth. Another deep one. He'd probably smell strawberry and vanilla.

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Alexia Santiago"]

"Mmm." Wes said as she pulled back, his hand still stroking across hers.

The situation was amusing to him really, and with his third mimosa on barely any food swimming in him he couldn't help but grin as their lips parted. He'd been in a similar situation two years ago when he'd first come to Coruscant, albeit the person he'd been working with then had been a lot more...pushy than Alexia. Still, it was highly amusing, and one couldn't really blame either of them.

Crime often lead to a spike in adrenaline, that mixed with alcohol...well what were you gonna do.

"Are you sure that's all your after?" He asked her, his hand drawing hers slowly upward. "Could've fooled me."

He grinned at her.

 

[Alexia Santiago]

[member="Wes Spalding"]

The only thing saving her from falling into bed with him as that they were in a very public place. Thank the stars. Hand sloppily pulled free from his, grazing his thigh. That fruity concoction was hitting her strong even though she'd just had about half.

Things were getting a little blurry around the edges and funny as feth.

Eyes squeezed closed for a moment, trying to get a handle on.....

On what? She forgot.

Finger came up and pressed against his lips. "Shhh. Shshhhh," a tremble ran through her as she laughed. "I'm after exactly what you're after, love. It's always money for people like us. Don't you agree?" Index finger tapped lightly against his mouth.