Mouse Trap

[Xin Boa]

As Dells shook sugar packets Xin repeatedly pressed his thumb to the flimsiplast menu and then slowly peeled his thumb from the sticky material. It was a shame she didn’t get to indulge in any fine dining working on security details. Actually it seemed worse than a shame to have to wait and watch someone else at the table. Leftovers from an embassy kitchen were likely far more fine than that what they were about to be served.

His headtails gave him a form of empathy, particularly with the mild Force sensitivity he did not understand. He didn’t see that question coming though. The pause between his name and the question itself seemed to lend an extra weight to it. Those headtails stiffened noticeably in surprise.

The drifter looked up at the readhead sat opposite him and made a small, considerate hum. He was giving the question the thought it deserved.

“Yuh’ve met Brak and he’s the chatty one. Hirrau talks plenty but only ef its ah disturbing story of violence or ah discussion of iz favourite knives. Inso grunts more than talks.” That wasn’t the complete answer of course. She had asked why her not ‘why not them’. He thought back to their first meeting. Sharing a bed was a perk but it wasn’t as if he couldn’t have got his end away stopping off at a busy city on the return trip. The hydro-shower, the cabin and kitchen counter were visceral memories, but it was chuckling over beers at that run down bar full of inbred yokels that stood out in his mind.

“Hadn’t seen yuh inna while an thought it would be gud to catch up.” He looked down at the sticky table and menu accusingly. “In settings just as lovely.”

 

[Delila Castillon]

[member="Xin Boa"]


"Oh, okay."


Delila wasn't sure of his answer but let the issue go for now. Friendly was fine, friendly she could deal with. Anything else was cause for concern on her end. Xin was fairly recently out of imprisonment and by some of the accounts she had previously heard, was having a bit of a rough time on the outside. From what she could piece together it stemmed from his life back on Glee Anselm, prior to his stint in jail. Having been through a rough patch herself, Delila knew how easy it was to drift towards a person. In all honesty, she wasn't the person for Xin to drift towards. She had enough issues of her own and didn't want the Nautolan getting hurt.


Amusement colored her features as he played with the menu.


"I'm not really a five-star eatery type of gal so I can't say the setting is completely terrible. Where is your sense of adventure Xin?"


The waitress came back around and Delila decided to go whole hog so to speak - eggs, pancakes, bacon and sausage. It was probably best to stuff herself considering she might not have time to slip out again before her shift. Order in, Delila took a careful sip of her tea and studied Xin for a moment, waiting for the waitress to leave once more.


" Tell me everything you've been up to. I've basically filled you in on my life since we last met."

 

[Xin Boa]

[member="Delila Castillon"]

Xin had ordered similar but minus the pancakes and with a side of fried hewl. It was a plant with thick yellow fronds popular with many species, but humans were not among them. Apparently didn't agree with them much at all.

"Let's see...since de casino job..." Xin avoided her gaze for a moment. That had been an embarrassing incident. Skimming the briefing and mistaking a flirt for their contact. At least he pocketed a sizable jewel before they got into trouble, even if they had lost most of the haul.

"Afta being ah terrible thief...made some deals wid shady types an nearly got killed for fun. Big hive city full of gangs. Den we did some arms dealing with resistance cells around de south systems. No one shot at me. That was nice."

For asking such a serious sounding question Dells seemed to have moved on quickly from the answer. He was probably reading into it too much.

"Flew a freighter for a bit when we stopped to do some mining. That was...tedious."

 

[Delila Castillon]

Head inclined towards [member="Xin Boa"] after he mentioned his current events. It seemed there had been a bit of a rough time - the only bright spot had been not getting shot at. Delila could sympathize. She didn't know how to feel about the gangs. Were they involved with the fleet? Seemed a bit odd and only cemented her opinion that the fleet wasn't any good to be around.


"I noticed your...what did you call them...tail something....Anyways I noticed one of them looked severed. Terrible thief? You also have terrible get away skills apparently. Got to be more careful Xin, I don't need bits of you ending up on my dinner plate back on Coruscant."


There was a small smile at her lame joke.


"After this, you're back with the fleet? More of the same?"

 

[Xin Boa]

[member="Delila Castillon"]

Some of the colour drained from Xin's face. Some visual cues were common between the two species. He could almost smell that decaying meat smell from the dingy abattoir.

"Well, didn't want to mention that one. Didn't think you'd believe me if I said someone had actually tried to eat me."

He forced a weak smile so she didn't feel too bad about the joke. What he had said was a lie. Xin hadn't brought it up because the memory was still fresh and not one he wanted to relive.

"But I'm trying to save enough fah a payment toward mi own ship," he said. Not that he had got very far towards that goal. "Yuh think I should get de headtail repaired?" He asked. Xin didn't like the thought of it being particularly noticeable.

 

[Delila Castillon]

"I'm sorry."


Mouth formed a thin line, feeling like a complete idiot. Of course she hadn't known about someone actually trying to eat Xin. The small smile he shot in her direction didn't help the guilt settling in. [member="Xin Boa"] nearly got the axe and here she was sitting and making jokes at his expense. Unwittingly of course. Hands picked up a sugar packet again, fiddling with the paper so she wouldn't make any more idiotic comments - a difficult feat considering her mouth.


"I don't know. If its important to you then...yeah. Obviously its weighing on your mind."


Delila personally thought it was something to keep as is - if she didn't know the backstory she would say it gave him a roguish flair. Yet again if he was going to find some Nautolan girl then maybe it made sense to get it fixed. Broken tentacles meant a less virile male or something or another. Dells wasn't sure if her internal ramblings were correct but she sure as hell wasn't going to voice them out loud.


"You can have mine if you want ; my ship. I don't have to live in it anymore so its just sitting there all lonely. Not very big though but its got cloaking."


It was probably the least she could do. FWC was keeping her more than busy as of late. Dells didn't have much at the moment but the ship had been a gift from ORC. It was,after all, named after her so the least they could do was give her one. Sugar packet was abandoned, her gaze drifting at their surroundings instead. The mood had gone from playful on the walk over to something akin to one throwing a wet blanket on the space between them.

 

[Xin Boa]

[member="Delila Castillon"]

He hadn't seen Dells look particularly uncomfortable before. It was his fault of course. He could have completely avoided the subject and it wouldn't have mattered. It made it worse that he could empathically sense how it made her feel. As if it was contagious he started looking around the rest of the cafe. A few seconds and it sunk in what she had offered.

He'd been working up these plans for some time. It was a goal that he had slowly latched onto over the last few months. Xin hadn't had long term plans before. The freedom of having his own ship appealed to him a great deal. He could keep a ship running, take on contracts on his own terms. Whilst he wasn't very good at maths he managed to work through the numbers and accepted that he was about five years from having enough cash in hand for a down payment.

“Oh,” he went, looking back towards her. “I mean, I'd pay a lease. Get insurance. Need dat wid my luck.”

He was interrupted by the waiter returning with two plates of food. Xin thanked them politely and looked down at his food. Then, without warning, he chuckled. His headtails shook with the deep rumble. It stopped almost as quickly and he looked back up at Dells and shook his head.

“Of all de things to go to yuh managed to pick fried squid.” Despite everything that had built up underneath the awkwardness and bubbled forth in a burst of amusement.

“Yuh couldn't have known. Fething outlandish thing to happen. Still upsets me,” he admitted. He paused to take a breath. “But I guess having a fake tip put on dat tail won't change tings.” The little misplaced flare of amusement had gone, but he managed to smile before attacking the food on his plate.

 

[Delila Castillon]

"I already have it fully insured. Think about it while we're here."


Delila was thankful [member="Xin Boa"] seemed receptive to the idea of taking over the Crimson Dahlia for a bit. If it brought him further away from the fleet then she was all for it. Even if he still flew with the fleet there would be the freedom to not be under the odd leader of sorts. In her opinion Squidly needed the freedom. He had been locked up for a good portion of the years he was supposed to be exploring - Delila's humble opinion meant that he needed to make up that time missed.


Xin suddenly starting laughing after their food was brought to the table. Delila had started to pour syrup over the large stacks, looking confused as Xin shook his head. Confusion dissolved as Xin mentioned her culinary tastes. Despite her mood she couldn't help but crack a small smile and make a joke.


"Sorry, I just wanted to taste you again."


Digging into her own food, Xin was already back to worrying about his headtail and the events that had brought its loss. As curious as she was, Dells wasn't going to pry. It was upsetting and probably more than any other person she could understand about not wanting to share. As such, she was going to make an attempt to salvage the previous mood, at least get them off darker subjects.


"After all this I just want to shower and pass out. I forgot how tedious what we're doing is." Dells swallowed a mouthful of pancake. "Not that the company is bad."

 

[Xin Boa]

His face creased up at her comment and he kept his drink a few inches from his lips until he was certain he wasn't going to laugh and spill it. Dells had been nothing of not direct but the cheeky comment caught him off guard.

“No, I understand,” he replied as he turned to his food. There was a faint buzzing in his head from waking up halfway through a typical sleep cycle. They weren't going to be short of time to fill during this mission anyway.

His mind played one last trick on him. It took him back to that moment he woke hung from the meat hooks to the sound of someone else's desperate last cries. Instead of pushing it away he took the memory, told himself it was the past and that it couldn't hurt him. That it would always frighten him but that it was normal. That had seemed to help over the last few weeks.

The ship was a generous offer. It wasn't one he was sure he could turn down. It brought a smile to his face to think about the freedom he could get far quicker than he had hoped to.

“Could do with a shower myself I think,” he said innocently. The memories that evoked were anything but innocent. He could vividly recall the way her wet hair stuck plastered to her skin under the torrent of water. The way both contrasted so starkly with the colour of his own skin. That thought, too, he kept to himself as he attacked his meal.

 

[Delila Castillon]

[SIZE=9pt]“[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]Hmn[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt].”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Delila didn’t bother with a longer reply. Last time she wanted to shower it had turned into anything but. Xin had seemed fascinated or transfixed the entire time. No chance of getting in her exfoliation routine in. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Feeling half-starved , Delila had worked through her meal at a quick pace, stuffing in the last bit of eggs not long after they both fell silent. Sad part was the redhead felt as if she could top off the night with something sweet - ice cream or pie. Considering the lateness of the hour she doubted her stomach would agree.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Comm came out and she worked on replying to a few messages. FWC was building more Embassies - word had it she would be in charge of those too. It created the crashing realization that this work with Xin and Brak was potentially her last. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Waitress came back around and Delila ordered an entire berry pie to go. She looked up from her work back to Xin.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Breakfast. Or after our romp later.”[/SIZE]

 

[Xin Boa]

Xin had only really started his meal when he realised that she'd finished and started working through her messages. How did he look to her? He wondered. There was an organised determination behind every decisions she made. Or at least that was how it seemed. A lot of people who seemed confident weren't really beneath the surface. Yet by contrast Xin thought he must seem to drift through life. And the winds didn't always take him towards favourable waters either.

“Yeah,” he replied as he eyed the pie with mixed feelings. He paused in his attempt to catch up and finish his plate to answer. It looked good. “Don't think I could fit anything in now. Lots of energy in dat,” he remarked with a salacious smile. As much as he might have ruined the mood a little he was glad to be woken up for some company, but his stomach was less certain about the whole deal. He was quite used to working odd hours and moving between different day cycles. It meant he was quite accustomed with eating little and often.

“Been anywhere interesting wid work recently?” He asked. Alderaan had always seemed like a tedious place and despite his love of travel he'd ever been there.

 

[Delila Castillon]

[SIZE=9pt]“Yeah, I can’t fit in anything either. I doubt I’ll have time to come back down before my shift, so….pie. I’ll work it off when I get back home.” [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Lack of sleep with a combination of completely stuffing herself full quickly - a military habit, one had to eat quick - was making her drowsy. Body was relaxed against the cruddy vinyl booth, browsing the comm from time to time while Xin ate. The silence didn’t bother her, even before her stint marooned on an planet alone. She was used to being alone, used to not keeping up a conversation. Her time with Xin was both a continued practice and test of rusty social cues and conversational skills. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Dells shook her head and stretched her legs out in front of her, working tired muscles. Mind debated how much she was going to tell Xin, how deep down in the rabbit hole she wanted to go. Gaze drifted over to the Nautolan, watching him happily eat. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“No, most of the time its just the same Embassies. I’m not on the security detail that travels frequently, although I do help fill in from time to time. At this stage I’m happy I don’t do too much travel. I did all that security detail, special forces stuff when I was younger…..Given what has happened to me, its nice to be in one spot for stability. I’m still trying to find my own routine, get used to everyone and everything again.”[/SIZE]

 

[Xin Boa]

Or you could work it off before you leave, Xin thought to himself. But even he was feeling tiredness creeping up on him. It was like something encroaching on the edges of his vision that couldn't be seen. If he was going to stay awake through his own part of the night's watch he would need a little more sleep. It would be nice to watch the sun rise over that ocean.

There was a telling gap in her explanation and he canted his head to one side. She'd spoken of being in exile before and the charity of old friends who took her in afterwards. So far she hadn't elaborated on that. It didn't feel like here was the place to ask directly.

“I had a houk called Jope who kept me company when… I was away.” He passed a furtive glance around the room. In a relatively isolated place like this an alien convict would probably be particularly unwelcome. “He sort of adopted me I think. Thought I was funny. Didn’t call me squidly though.”

He didn’t yawn; nautolans didn’t. Instead he stretched out in an almost feline manner with joints more flexible than most humans. “Sorry to pull yuh out of the routine then, but it’s nice having you here,” he apologised.

 

[Delila Castillon]

[SIZE=9pt]“So no one had thought to call you Squidly before now? Never ever? I find it hard to believe.” Delila gave a small smile. “You are funny . So at least Jope got one thing right.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Delila placed enough credits on the table for their bill. She was nearly ready to drift out. Mind was wondering if the shower was going to be worth it or should she just crash into bed. Probably shouldn't put it off. May not have time later. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Oh that's just another life lesson. Got to get used to being thrown off routine too. It's gotten better. As for being here, it's nice seeing you again. Even if it is just for a little while.”[/SIZE]

 

[Xin Boa]

“He didn't get much right. Wasn't burdened with wisdom that Houk,” Squidly chuckled. “Just don't tell Brak he didn't ‘ave de imagination to invent 'squidly’.”

His life didn't really have any long term routine. Lots of times it had felt he'd approached some sort of predictable lifestyle and either a surge of wanderlust or another stroke of appalling luck would send him on another path. An abashed smile crossed his face as he thanked her for paying the bill. It was a nice change of pace to have people who enjoyed his company. Also, she had said he was funny.

They hadn't been here long but the wind resisted him pushing the door open. It found all the easiest ways to get through his clothing and bite at his skin. With an intake of breath he made a little noise of displeasure at the cold. If it was uncomfortable for him it was probably worse for a human. Rather than let her take his arm he balanced the box of pie with one hand against his side and wrapped his left around her. It probably didn't provide much shelter against the biting sea air.

 

[Delila Castillon]

[member="Xin Boa"]


[SIZE=9pt]“Squidly is safe with me, don’t worry.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]The pair slowly meandered out of the diner. If anything Delila noticed it looked even more desolate outside the cozy confines of the walls. It was quickly revealed why, the wind had whipped up greater than before. Hands fumbled around, moving to zip up the jacket she wore. Was this typical? She hadn’t expected cold weather and hadn’t brought much beyond the jacket and her standard pants. Hands were quickly shoved into pockets to keep warm.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Unexpectedly Xin had wrapped his arm around her, pulling close. Warmth flooded the side that was pressed against the Nautolan but it only helped so much. The gesture was nice but different. Not something she was entirely used to if she was honest with herself. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Thank you.”[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt] She murmured, moving her hand out of her warm pockets to tuck hair behind her ear. Delila wasn’t sure of the time but hoped Xin didn’t have to leave immediately once they reached the room. [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]“Freezing out here, why didn’t you tell me it was going to be cold?”[/SIZE]

 

[Xin Boa]

Xin decided not to state that it was because he still wasn't very good at reading mission briefings. She likely would have thought less of him, particularly after the hijinks on that lake city.

“Hadn't realised it would be,” he answered. It was, at least, honest. “Water takes de heat off yuh quicker dan air. So doesn't bother me quite as much…” a sudden kick in the breeze had him tense up as they walked. It suggested that even he was bothered by this. He was even wearing a jacket with long sleeves for once.

“Though… I like smelling de sea on de wind,” he admitted. There wasn't much artificial light here either. Electric lanterns made to mimic old fashioned hanging candles in glass boxes gave off a dull orange light. He couldn't even see the flaking paint on the wood. It was only as they reached the edges of the tower and their rooms that he saw how full of stars the sky was. It wasn't an odd sight for a spacer, but it still framed the view of the opposite tower nicely. The tower housing their quarry.

Xin closed the door quickly behind them when they reached the room and set the pie box down on the desk that faced the window. At least their hearing worked.

 

[Delila Castillon]

[SIZE=9pt]“Its beautiful out. If I was warmer I would be inclined to linger.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Delila mentally chided herself for thinking ocean automatically meant warm. Xin was putting on a good front but she could even feel his muscles tense during a particularly stiff breeze. The breeze, dark ocean and starry night painted a perfect and somewhat charming setting on the wooden rock city. Part of her wished it was more vacation than business but it seemed Squidly was determined to carve out a bit of free time together. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Warmth greeted them back in the room. Delila rubbed her hands together to warm them up before taking offer her jacket. It was placed on the desk chair. A quick kiss found Xin, her hand resting against his chest. She had a mental debate to shower or fall into bed. Bed was winning, especially since Xin would want to ‘help’ her out. Not that she would typically mind but being tired and stuffed full of late-night breakfast wasn’t a good combination for more amorous activity. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Going to apologize in advance if I snore. I’ll make it up to you later if I do.Scouts honor.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Dells couldn’t help but chuckle. [/SIZE]

 

[Xin Boa]

That seemed to just give him the opening to claim she had snored to claim her act of apology. He put a hand over hers when it was placed against him briefly.

Xin joined with a low chuckle as he slipped out of his jacket. He pushed open the curtains for a moment. The view of the opposite tower and it's hanging lanterns was definitely what would go on the tourist brochure.

“Yeah I should 'ave brought warmer clothes,” he admitted. “And in de ocean when it gets cold it gets cold. Clothes don't help but it doesn't change quickly like it can in de air.”

He remembered seasonal changes in his youth. But a large body of water was very slow to change temperature. It was why sailors had once been able to ship ice from the colder to warmer regions of a planet.

He took the little terminal from his jacket pocket and laid it on the desk. Xin tilted his head from side to side as he considered his options. Just under three hours until his shift. He could fit some sleep in there, but he would wake up groggy. Better than struggling for all of the next day.

“I'll try and sneak out quiet-like when it's my shift,” he offered and he pulled his top up and over his head. He decided to try and form a neatish pile of clothes on one side of the bed so he could try and leave quietly when his alarm went off. Not that there was any way to stop that interrupted Dell's rest.

 

[Delila Castillon]

[SIZE=9pt]If Delila hadn’t seen how incredibly horrible looking the wooden town was in the daylight, the view out the window would have been what she pictured if someone had described the place to her. Shirt was unbuttoned she she stared out, revealing the tight tank top underneath. Shirt was neatly folded, boots were kicked off and her pants joined the shirt and jacket. Comm was added to the little table on ‘her’ side of the bed. Clearly there was a bit of a routine even outside of the confines of her own home. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“If you wake me up its fine. I can just roll over and go back to sleep.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Covers were flipped over and she flopped into bed. It seemed odd to go to bed in nothing but her underwear and a tank top considering the weather but she knew Squidly would be like a heatbox. Redhair fanned out on the pillow and she yawned. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“I shouldn’t have eaten so much….thats what I get for having just coffee earlier.”[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt] Dells pulled the covers up to her neck, sinking down deeper. Eyes watched him, studying the tattoos again.[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]”Going to be okay for your watch? I’m used to the little sleep thing for situations like this, I can fill in.”[/SIZE]