Roman Holiday

[Lynnori Cruz]

​

roman holiday, phrase; an occasion on which enjoyment or profit is derived from others' suffering or discomfort.​

​

Zeltros, Zeltros (City), Residential Districts, Early Evening
Shame | Interacting with [member="Kole Harper"] ~ Roman Holiday ~ "Do you remember the taste of my lips the night we stole a bit of my mother's perfume?"
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How, in Hell, was she back here?

Ever since landing on Zeltros, Lyn had been jumpy. It came with the territory of the planet deeply steeped in pheromones and empathic communication, where pink-skinned fellows leaned out of windows to lure anything with a heartbeat in to 'join the party', or musings and tuggings in Lyn's mind trying to entice her over to do God-only-knew-what. The surprisingly tight-grip she kept on the HRD's hand astride her was the only thing, relatively speaking, that was keeping her sane. Focusing on the empty space in reality that was Kole Harper served to anchor the Zeltron as she marched down streets that seemed familiar and foreign.

Why had she let herself get talked right into this again, she couldn't even recall.

Vanishing for almost a month on the route to the strange planet Neos had made her think. The bad kind of thinking, that led to ideas such as these. Lyn's folks had been left in the dark for nearly four years -- If she'd really just disappeared, never returned from that crazy journey, would they have even known what had happened to her? Would she want them to know?

Well, those were the questions looking to be answered today. Biting the inside of her cheek for a moment before speaking, the Zeltron looked up and over to the taller so-called-Human next to her, exhaling, "Just, remember I said this was a bad idea, alright?" Because it was. It was a bad idea. Even being in the general vicinity of her mother's townhouse (A building Lyn had few fond memories of; it had been the only place her parents had been together, the first place she'd-- Yeah, and the last place she'd lived before running away) seemed to be making her uncomfortable, or at least sweat a little. A free hand wandered up to rub her forehead, scratch the back of her neck as they meandered down the ways she remembered to reach home.

 

[Rakaan Horne]

Zeltros, Zeltros (City), Residential Districts, Early Evening
Oblivious | Interacting with [member="Lynnori Cruz"] ~ Peach Pit ~ "Oh peach pit where'd the hours go."
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It can't be that bad.

Kole had never truly been privy to the same concepts of familial matters as Lyn had. He had felt sympathy for her, of course; it must have been rather damaging considering on how insistent she was on never returning, but Kole had that mentality once before. He left Arbra, and he never went back- never wanted to, either. Then? He had discovered that his parents had been slaughtered by the Sith. If there was anything that he wanted, in that moment, it was to return home- even if it's just one last time. Maybe Lynnori didn't face those same circumstances, but it were those things that were important. Even if you weren't entirely fond of the idea.

They moved their way through the neon baked streets, leaving everything seemingly pink. Maybe even Kole was capable of being mistaken as a Zeltron in this particular light, but instead acted similarly to a lighthouse. Amongst all the wandering eyes filled with lustful desire, the thoughts and feelings of everyone running around, Kole was a stable, inorganic void.

He withstood the tighter than usual grip, the one that seemingly increased with each step closer towards her childhood home. He withstood it, but it was uncomfortable. Kole couldn't necessarily imagine what the issue truly was, for Lyn hadn't been much of a sharer in that regard, no. "It'll be fine." He foolishly reassured, unaware of anything that he was soon to face.

 

[Lynnori Cruz]

Zeltros, Zeltros (City), Residential Districts, Lynnori's Old Home, Early Evening
Modest | Interacting with [member="Kole Harper"] ~ Roman Holiday ~ "'Cause I remember when my father put his fist through the wall that seperated the dining room."
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The townhouse Lyn stopped at was tall but rather elegant, looking to have been worth a decent pile of credits in rent. A pink-blooming tree grew in the front yard, and scattered petals that seemed especially vibrant in the intense neon of Zeltros that surrounded them on all sides. A speeder was parked out front in the driveway, appearing a little rough around the edges, but definitely functional, and a short set of stairs led up to the front door. The windows were illuminated, light within, and on occasion, dark shadows passed by the blinds to indicate the presence of life.

Well, here we go.

"I'll need a lot of alcohol after this." She mused, tugging Kole right along, up the familiar staircase-- There was still a chip in one of the steps, near the top, from where a piece had dislodged and sent a child Lyn down them end over end, and that had been the day she'd broken her first bone --but the rest of it seemed a little different. A little new. Definitely cleaner.

It was with a hesitant hand that she tapped her knuckles on the front door, turning to look at Kole just as it opened. And there was a small pink being standing there, looking a little tired, as if they'd been on the way to bed but had been the closest one to answer whoever was at the door.

Seemingly male, it blinked up at the pair and yellow eyes widened in surprise, Lyn could feel that much coming off what she assumed was a Zeltron child, and she was staring with equal shock. Oh, this already was a nightmare. The boy's eyes moved from Lyn to Kole, then Lyn, then back to Kole, focused on Kole for a bit, and a frown appeared. Violet hair turned as he looked over his shoulder, calling out in the low-pitched warble of someone probably no older than 7 or 8, "Mom?" The kid called out, still standing by the door to keep it open. Lynnori, however, looked close to having some sort of stroke, practically close to crushing Kole's hand. If she had been any stronger, she likely would have broken something. That, her panic, was relatively saved by the appearance of another woman who was concerningly young. Math would probably tell Kole that Lyn must have been had earlier than most, as they seemed closer in age than most parents and children. Nonetheless, the resemblance was uncanny; the same golden eyes, blue hair and pink skin, though aged. She stepped out of another room and looked over, seeming to do something of a double take before simply staring.

The woman who could only be Lynnori's mother had a voice that cracked like a bullwhip, and it was evident she was looking at Kole as she said, "Am I going to be a grandmother?" She sounded a-hundred-percent serious. But the tension eased and, with a jubilant smile, it was clear that she had recognized her oldest, even after the years. A mortified Lyn just turned away slightly, coughing a little as a hand rubbed at her nose and brow, "God, mom, no. Just-- Saying hi." The young person who could then only be a new sibling of Lynnori's simply stared up at her with the confusion one would expect from suddenly seeing your long-lost older sister.

It was already a train-wreck.

 

[Rakaan Horne]

Zeltros, Zeltros (City), Residential Districts, Lynnori's Old Home Early Evening
No Guard | Interacting with [member="Lynnori Cruz"] ~ Peach Pit ~ "When your orange pink skin began to glow."
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There was always a chance that Kole could be wrong. It seemed as if this was one of those times, though. A moment where he had a lapse in judgement, and it may very well be that bad. He could never truly understand without it all being explained to him, possibly possessing the intricate innate abilities that a Zeltron had; it would certainly make everything easier, no? An ability in which one could feel the thoughts, the emotions of another seemed to be a blessing in certain moments- a curse in others. He hadn't a clue as to which of the two it might be in the current scenario. Then again, it was never something that Kole was ever going to be able to entirely understand. It wasn't as if he understood a lot of things, either, in fairness.

Kole ascended the flight of stairs, basked in the neon lights of Zeltros still. It was clearly apparent that he was no Zeltron, though. Be it the void he created, or the fact that his skin wasn't quite the same as anyone else's on this planet. Although, there was certainly a fair few off-worlders present in an effort to enjoy the local environment, if you catch the meaning that is. Had Lyn told him everything he needed to know- would've liked to know? No, not at all. Kole hadn't a clue as to what to expect, and he hadn't pushed answers from her either. It was better to let dogs that slept in such a way as they were. Admittedly, even Kole felt a degree of nervousness. Did he seek their validation, an approval? Maybe subconsciously, but in actuality it wasn't as if it mattered. They were going to inevitably leave this planet the same way they arrived: together.

​His expression, blank as ever, had found itself almost matched by the seven or eight year old that stood before him. His neck craned, staring down as it stared back at him. That's where his eyes were, curious as to why it was never mentioned or even spoke about in passing. This place must've held a lot more pain than just the memory of broken bones. As Lyn's mother emerged, made her presence known, Kole pivoted his gaze up towards her. He was never extremely tall, many towered over him, but here? They were all so short.

Internally, despite his outward calm, was that of a mouth left ajar with eyebrows raised in a squint as if he was prepared to only ever reply with 'uhhhhh'.

 

[Lynnori Cruz]

Zeltros, Zeltros (City), Residential Districts, Lynnori's Old Home, Early Evening
Family Roots | Interacting with [member="Kole Harper"] ~ Roman Holiday ~ "'Cause I remember when my father put his fist through the wall that separated the dining room."
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"Oh," Lyn's mother mused, a blue brow raising. It was humorous to see, as that was a mannerism Lyn clearly inherited, "Huh. Okay. Well, come in." The elder Zeltron nodded, jerking her head back a little to indicate that they were welcome. The younger spawn held the door open for the duo, which quickly became a topic of conversation, "--Mom," Lyn broached quietly, still feeling like she was having an out of body experience, "Is that m--"

"Beni, go upstairs, alright? Make sure your sisters are in bed." The woman mused idly to the purple-haired Zeltron, as she busied herself with the tidying up one does when unexpected guests are over. Those words seemed to just make Lyn blink blankly, head inclining in surprise, "Um--" "What?" Her mother turned then, brow still quirked, "You didn't think I'd just stop at one, did you?" One partner or one child, Lyn despairingly wondered. Beni, as he was identified as, gave Lyn a look that seemed to have more behind it; she returned the glance, and he moved off to the stairs with a perfectly-timed yawn.

It was then that the matronly woman seemed to fully appreciate Kole, beyond his gender and assumed relationship with Lynnori. Her gaze shifted in the same way Lyn's had when she had first noticed on Coruscant how the pheromones could not affect him, and her head tipped the same manner as well, "Forgot my manners," A pink hand extended to the Human, a cocky smile crossing her face that seemed just a bit looser than her daughter's, "Nomi. Glad to see someone brought her home." That smile was just a little too charismatic now. Uh oh.

 

[Rakaan Horne]

Zeltros, Zeltros (City), Residential Districts, Lynnori's Old Home, Early Evening
Wolf's Den | Interacting with [member="Lynnori Cruz"] ~ Peach Pit ~ "From a hanging branch in gardens home."
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Kole managed to step on through the door, his hand still seemingly gripped a little too tightly for comfort as his Zeltron felt the pangs of returning home, the interaction with those that had been gone for too long, or those that she hadn't even known had existed. She wasn't exactly in the right situation to cue verbal explanations, and so Kole found himself forced to read everything through tone of voice, facial expressions, and mannerisms. Fortunately, however, Kole had been rather adept at doing such a thing for quite some time. Motive was often palpable among people, and after his eyes made their wandering motions around the area he had stepped on through, he took notice of Nomi - Lyn's Mother. That look was all too reminiscent of something Lyn made on more than a few occasions.

A raise of his brow had been flexed, as well as a grin. There was nothing but niceties in the response to the Mother of the woman he'd been sleeping with, but he expected that Nomi already knew that. Zeltrons were always of that breed, and Lyn strayed within their path despite her best attempts. "Kole." He said, reciprocating the action by allowing a handshake. Couldn't be rude, no. "Someone had to." He joked in response.

No sign of a Father. Maybe Lyn never had one, but an evident Brother and then 'Sisters' caused a slight movement of his head, almost as if he was processing and acknowledging. Let alone Nomi's prior comments. Suppose all those rumours regarding Zeltrons were true, after all.

 

[Lynnori Cruz]

Zeltros, Zeltros (City), Residential Districts, Lynnori's Old Home, Early Evening
Broken Branches | Interacting with [member="Kole Harper"] ~ Roman Holiday ~ "And I remember the fear in your eyes the very first night we snuck into the city pool."
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Lyn still seemed to be stuck in, for lack of a better descriptor, a blue screen hard-crash, in need of resetting. Blankly processing all that she'd learned, none of it expected. Perhaps some part of her had just anticipated walking back into her sixteen-year-old life; not even considering the fact that her parents were people who could move on as well. Quickly unlinking fingers so Kole could more naturally greet her mother, the younger Zeltron set to inspecting the foyer of the futuristic townhouse, near-exact to how she remembered it as a child.

"Kole. What are you?" Nomi demanded rather frankly then, her golden eyes wandering off to her daughter as she casually inspected, "You got a weird one, didn't you?" The elder commented a little dryly, like Kole wasn't there to hear; it all seemed a part of the openness of Zeltron culture that Lynnori so often contradicted. The look the younger shot her mother would have withered even the staunchest of wills but her parent simply snickered it off, shrugging, "Ah, well. Still, odd that you're not affected, got anything cybernetic knocking around there?"

Without warning Nomi leaned over to poke Kole's temple, indicating likely how, much like Lyn, even a more experienced Zeltron could not pierce through whatever was happening on up there that kept their abilities at bay. A curiosity, to be sure.

 

[Rakaan Horne]

Zeltros, Zeltros (City), Residential Districts, Lynnori's Old Home, Early Evening
Subtle Scowl | Interacting with [member="Lynnori Cruz"] ~ Peach Pit ~ "Not much is hidden underneath."
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There's something inside you. It's hard to explain. They're talking about you, boy, but you're still the same.

It was a strange question, right? Kole surely couldn't of been the only one that figured that was the case. He assumed he was a Human, but each and every time it had ever been raised as a question enabled some sneaking suspicion there may be something else to him. Imagine not knowing that a part of you was an Alien that allowed seemingly supernatural abilities... now imagine you're not even Human at all, you're just a Robot. Kole didn't dignify her Nomi's question with an answer, especially after her gaze had briefly wandered towards Lynnori. His had done the same, and admittedly became a smidge fearful of the dagger-eyed look she fired back. Kole hadn't seen that before.

​His head reared backwards a tad as Nomi began reaching out towards his head, but he didn't move far enough. His squinted in a flinch as she tapped against his forehead, his brow becoming somewhat furrowed. Kole spoke, and when he had his head had bobbed up and down softly, "Small amounts, ma'am." He even sounded disciplined, which went right in accordance with his perceived reasoning for having 'cybernetics'. They were, as far as he knew, now defunct military chips that weren't worth their trouble to get removed.

Kole decided to find familiar ground, and in doing so took steps towards Lynnori, his face unable to be seen by Nomi from the angle he found himself. His mouth went slightly ajar whilst looking at Lyn, resting there as his head cocked to the side and his brow raised itself in query. It was certainly easy to detect that he hadn't a clue as to what her Mother was on about. Nomi was strange, perhaps as much as Lyn, but their differences were too many to mention.

 

[Lynnori Cruz]

Zeltros, Zeltros (City), Residential Districts, Lynnori's Old Home, Early Evening
Falling Leaves | Interacting with [member="Kole Harper"] ~ Roman Holiday ~ "Late December with my heart in my chest and the clouds of my breath."
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"Mom-- Leave him alone."

Lyn finally wandered back on over, seemingly a little defensive in voice and gait. There seemed to be two separate conversations happening here; one verbally, and one more mentally. Of course, that was logical, Zeltrons could obviously communicate through their limited telepathy. It'd be hard for Kole to tell whether or not that was happening due to his position as an outsider and as an HRD, but the nuances in expression said it all.

She wasn't happy, so her mother wasn't happy, and it was a miniature war of the wills.

It wasn't clear who won, or who was winning if it was still continuing, but the way the younger Zeltron casually linked her arm through Kole's in that manner women often did to proclaim territory suggested that she was trying quite hard to win, "Just don't worry about it," The ex-racer muttered aloud, teeth grinding slightly halfway through her sentence, "Doesn't work on some people is all."

There was more to be said to Nomi, clearly, but chose not to. The older woman simply huffed and shrugged, glancing off to a side room, "If you'd like a drink, I keep a few bottles on tap." Ah, there it was, the frigidness. The curiosity of Kole was gone in the mind now, the remembrance of the bitter history between the two back in full force.

Now it was to get interesting.

 

[Rakaan Horne]

Zeltros, Zeltros (City), Residential Districts, Lynnori's Old Home Early Evening
Repair Man | Interacting with [member="Lynnori Cruz"] ~ Peach Pit ~ "A rocky heart for breaking teeth."
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Kole had always been under the belief that Lynnori's pheromones, innate to her species, had worked to their fullest extent on him. There was never any reason for him to believe otherwise, that was the truth. It was in the first moment he took a glance, for he had felt that compulsion to take another. It never really crossed his mind, when on the topic, that there was simply more beauty to her than the deceptive nature of a Zeltron's Pheromones. Kole, now on Zeltros, did happen to have more reason to become suspicious, though. There wasn't another Zeltron that he took to glancing at in the same way he had her, especially not her Mother that was... keen, as it were. It might be that he's too thick-skulled to ever really notice, or it may very well be too far-fetched to embroil itself in reality.

The Droid took to turning as Lyn made her seemingly aggressive approach, the nearly intimidating stare forced the artificial hairs on the back of his neck to stand upright. He was perplexed, truthfully. He was left alone with his thoughts, untouched and untapped whilst taking cautionary and subtle glances back between the women whilst something boiled within them. Kole was certainly going to be lying if he claimed he hadn't been at the very least curious as to what they were discussing, especially considering the verbal exchange that followed.

"Sure." Kole had replied to Nomi, he seemed to be trying to hold the fragile peace together, even if it seemed it was ready to break apart. His gaze turned to Lyn for the briefest of moments, as if to egg her along into getting a drink. It was, after all, better than standing in the one spot, excluded from a telepathic conversation. He moved to walk, allowing Lyn's arm to be held by his own. "Lyn didn't tell me she had siblings." He commented to Nomi, slightly amused, but falsely so. If he had been susceptible to that innate gift, then maybe they'd know.

 

[Lynnori Cruz]

Zeltros, Zeltros (City), Residential Districts, Lynnori's Old Home, Early Evening
The Domestic Life | Interacting with [member="Kole Harper"] ~ Roman Holiday ~ "Didn't know where we were running to."
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A tense exhale from Lyn, and she leaned in to murmur, "I didn't know I had any, either." Ouch. It was with an amused expression that the older Zeltron glanced back casually, "I had them after Lyn left," Nomi explained with a shrug, leading them off to a room clearly meant to be some formal dining space; at least, it had bottles lining the walls, "Always hoped she'd meet them, though." A little more tension in the air, and Lyn let out another held breath. There was no missing the way the pink form loosely pressed against his side a little more, like he was her crutch in the moment.

Of course, she'd never considered Kole's revelation about the pheromones. It'd been a stupidly simple assumption to make that he felt genuine, and was not straddled with the false burden of her hypnosis -- When it couldn't even penetrate his mind. Leave it to her mother to make all the awkward reveals, hm? Two for two, now. It was the aforementioned mother who selected some rich-looking drink from the wall with a huff, "Get some glasses, dear."

"I'm getting flashbacks to my birthdays." Lynnori grumbled before almost hesitantly unwinding from Kole, moving around the long dining table to a nearby cabinet that housed glassware.

 

[Rakaan Horne]

Zeltros, Zeltros (City), Residential Districts, Lynnori's Old Home Early Evening
Unfamiliar, in reality | Interacting with [member="Lynnori Cruz"] ~ Peach Pit ~ "And apple cores cyanide seed."
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Kole breathed a breathy sigh in response to Lyn, his eyes rolling upwards within their respective sockets before returning once more. It seemed that in the moment Nomi had her back turned, Kole had taken a barely emotive glance in the direction of Lyn after she began leaning heavier into his side. He had brought that answer upon himself, one could suppose- he certainly had. Despite the lingering and aggressive tension that flowed back and forth between both Lynnori and Nomi, Kole found a certain sense of bliss. It wasn't in the literal world, but one he conjured within his mind; a fantasy, for none of it was real. He wasn't a criminal anymore, he wasn't running from a life he willingly rejoined, he didn't need to worry about whether or not he was a good guy, or someone bad. Kole led a normal life here, someplace where he hadn't killed a single soul and nothing mattered but the fact he had her. Kole had been delusional, and for a long time now. His reserved nature allowed a bottled up madness to exist, and not even he knew where that was all going to go.

Something clicked. He returned.

He had only fired Lyn a questioning gaze. His eyebrows raised, his brow furrowed, his head cocked to the side. There all these things that she hadn't bothered to indulge him in, and whilst it was surely for the best, Kole couldn't sate his curiosity with musings of his own mind.

 

[Lynnori Cruz]

Zeltros, Zeltros (City), Residential Districts, Lynnori's Old Home, Early Evening
International Waters | Interacting with [member="Kole Harper"] ~ Roman Holiday ~ "So don't look back."
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Kole's inner demons were lost on the one angel he had left, Lyn busy with juggling glassware. Three glasses made their way to the table, joined by the curated bottle her mother had chosen, "Thank you." The elder mused, opening the drink rather easily and dispensing the clear (Oh, no) liquid equally across the three drinks, "There we are."

A silence glance of her own was levelled to Kole then. One that clearly said do not drink too much. Obviously, it was something more tailored to a Zeltron's dual-livers, something meant to put average folk under the table in record time. Even Lyn seemed a little careful in picking it up, "So."

"Can I ask where Dad is?" The willowy pink girl chucked most of the offered drink down in an impressive gulp, setting it back down on the surface as the mother seemed to glare a bit, shrugging, "Not sure. Across the planet, maybe." Lyn didn't seem to enjoy that response, eyes narrowing slightly before she drank again.

The tension in the air could not be cut with a lightsaber.

Hopefully, her partner was good at bomb diffusing, because she needed one stat.

 

[Rakaan Horne]

Zeltros, Zeltros (City), Residential Districts, Lynnori's Old Home Early Evening
Choked | Interacting with [member="Lynnori Cruz"] ~ Peach Pit ~ "It's been a long season through."
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It didn't really seem to matter. Not to Kole. There were all these things he kept locked away, concealed beneath his skin and it made him itch each time it tried to reveal itself. There was alway s sense of uneasiness that accompanied particular actions. He had more demons, issues, and awakening thoughts than he cared to admit, and thus he hadn't. Kole lived that lie, but it was only ever intended to protect. His eyes were closed at night, just as he was immobile; but he was awake, recollecting it all. He never wanted to wake her and have him become a burden. The only 'angel' he had left was the only one he ever had, and so Kole held on tight.

Kole had taken his step forward, and it was slow. His hand had wrapped itself around the glass, but those fingers of his crawled their way around it in an effort to hold with a pincer related grasp; held down by his side, untouched by his lips. Lyn had offered Kole a cautionary glance, and he certainly felt inclined to act accordingly.

He had begun to fell a pang of guilt. Lyn hadn't been interested in returning home, and Kole's blind reinforcement had brought her pain. It wasn't his intention, truly. Yet, he remained silent. Did he have questions he wanted to ask? Sure, definitely, but he couldn't be the one to ask them. Maybe Lyn never wanted to hear them, or they simply ignored all social graces. Kole didn't know; subsequently avoiding any misdoings.

 

[Lynnori Cruz]

Zeltros, Zeltros (City), Residential Districts, Lynnori's Old Home, Early Evening
Clocks | Interacting with [member="Kole Harper"] ~ Roman Holiday ~ "We'll be looking for sunlight, or the headlights 'till our wide eyes burn blind."
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To call it pain was perhaps something of a misnomer. A miasma of emotions affected her, strongly considering the presence of a fellow Zeltron; she looked confused. Silently Lyn drank, silently Nomi watched before one, at last, broke the ceasefire.

"So, Kole," Lyn's mother hummed thoughtfully, "What is it you do for a li--" "We work together." The daughter cut in a little unceremoniously then, another brief glance exchanged between the strikingly similar pair. Another brief glance, and, clearly, another communication of emotion between the two that seemed to make the younger one flinch a little, "So you met through work, then." Nomi concluded quietly, a look now thrown Kole's way. Not judgemental by any means; simply inquisitive, curious, in the way parents often were.

What exactly had she been expecting? They hadn't hugged, there had been no reunion like in the holovids, hell, they'd even moved on with new children. Everything about this felt like, again, a ticking time bomb. Tick, tock. For the fifth time this hour, Lyn quietly longed to swim around Kole's mind to see where he was at -- But was silently thankful she didn't have that burden, either.

"Met on Coruscant." She finally clarified softly. And what a week that had been.

 

[Rakaan Horne]

Zeltros, Zeltros (City), Residential Districts, Lynnori's Old Home Early Evening
Timebomb | Interacting with [member="Lynnori Cruz"] ~ Peach Pit ~ "All this rotting fruit with you."
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Kole had certainly found himself somewhat uneasy. It had ben displayed in the hesitation in his gaze, as if his face had frozen still with the expression that had been slapped across it in the moment Lynnori had abruptly cut off Nomi. It was in their moment of telepathic communication that Kole reached over over his shoulder in an effort to scratch at the middle of his back. He'd kill (not really) to know what it was they were discussing, because he damn well knew that he was the topic of whatever conversation transpired. Or, at the very least, factored into it.

"I, uh." He spoke, his head bowed a little bit as his arm remained in the way, but was brought down, of course. "I'm a starship mechanic." He said, nodding in assurance as if he was convincing himself whilst accepting what he had said. He briefly pinched at the tip of his noise, dragging down. "But, uhm, work at the same place."

He didn't seem to hesitate to raise that glass in his head and take a drink larger than it needed to be.

 

[Lynnori Cruz]

Zeltros, Zeltros (City), Residential Districts, Lynnori's Old Home, Early Evening
Countdown | Interacting with [member="Kole Harper"] ~ Roman Holiday ~ "We'll be lacing the same shoes that we've worn through, to the bottom of the line."
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"Yep. Same place."

It was probably concerning how easily those lies flowed, if the older woman seemed convinced even through emotional channels. Truthfully, it had caught Lyn a little off guard but she'd recovered fast, though there were bound to be talks about, well, 'mechanic shops'.

The tension in the air seemed to be leading to something. A few more pointed glares between both Zeltrons before Nomi indulged in her drink, casually proclaiming, "You can have Lyn's old room tonight, if you need a place to bunk up. Haven't touched it since she left." It was clear some part of a conversation had just ended, a little abrasively. Baby steps. The younger Zeltron nodded only in response, muttering a polite, "That'd be great, thanks." Before taking her glass, taking a bottle off the wall, unceremoniously hooking her arm back through Kole's one free limb and proceeded to evacuate faster than necessary.

"You're not a teenager anymore!" Her mother called after, almost a little pettily, and the groan that left his companion was unmistakeable, "Feth, it's just like I remembered."

To the stairs she went, hopefully, unwillingly pulling Kole along with her.

 

[Rakaan Horne]

Zeltros, Zeltros (City), Residential Districts, Lynnori's Old Home Early Evening
Evacuation | Interacting with [member="Lynnori Cruz"] ~ Peach Pit ~ "It's been a long season through."
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The Droid had brought the glass down from his mouth, now entirely vacant of the transparent liquid whilst it coursed through Kole's synthetic veins with a lingering burning sensation left as his throat. It surely wasn't pleasant, and the fact that it had been tailored for a species with two livers was more than apparent in the taste alone. There was a sneaking suspicion that it might hit him soon, but maybe he needed a good drink. It had been some time since he had been properly drunk, after all. Too many sober notes that contained nothing but empty thoughts and exhaustion from the day he lead. Might be fine to let the metaphorical hair down, for his actual hair was sure to remain where it was.

Before he had been turned away, brought in a direction he hadn't truthfully expected, Kole had uttered, "It's been nice meeting you." It may not have been exactly genuine, but it was a formality; compulsory in any moment.

As he began ascending the stairs, arm in arm, he cast a glance to the area of the house he hadn't exactly seen just yet. "That was something." The HRD had commented idly.

 

[Lynnori Cruz]

Zeltros, Zeltros (City), Residential Districts, Lynnori's Old Home, Early Evening
Explosion | Interacting with [member="Kole Harper"] ~ Roman Holiday ~ "And we know that we're headstrong, and our heart's gone, and the timing's never right."
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At first, Lyn said nothing. Which could have been a bad sign, but she seemed to be a bout of focus as she wordlessly led Kole up the second set of stairs to frequent her childhood. Upon reaching the top she finally spoke, nodding, "Yeah. Was something."

There was still a distraction in her mind and eyes, but her hands held true and kept on leading, autopilot taking over her body as she guided him down a short hallway. Various doors sprung off it that led to what could only be bedrooms, a surprising amount of them; this house was quite large. The final door on the left is what Lyn stopped at, a worried, harsh breath leaving her, "Here we are." She huffed, going to casually let the door swing open.

Small. Clean. A simple bedroom, large bed, short desk, a lamp that flickered when it turned on due to motion detection. A view of the neon city, pink and red and orange pouring in the window from the bleed-off of light. It seemed a little bleak and bare, but, it likely echoed her mentality at the time.

"She was right, it hasn't changed." A quiet Lynnori noted, moving to set the drink she'd unceremoniously taken on the side-table. And, in typical 'her' fashion, face-planted on the bed with a gentle grunt. Clearly, done with the day -- Though still conscious.

 

[Rakaan Horne]

Zeltros, Zeltros (City), Residential Districts, Lynnori's Old Home Early Evening
Damage Control | Interacting with [member="Lynnori Cruz"] ~ Sister, Pt.1
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Kole had glanced back and forth throughout the room. It may have been small, but it was large enough to take a few steps here and there in an attempt to see what had been placed on the desks, on the shelves, to catch an insight of a Lyn gone by. It intrigued him, curious as to what it was that she had become. He never really saw much of her own place. Lyn didn't seem to enjoy it all that much, and so It was often that Kole and Lyn shared accomodation, and whether or not she had gotten rid of it entirely was still a question he never had an answer to. Those exterior lights had poured in, trickling over the two of them through the cracks in the blinds. The Droid had wandered towards the window, his eyes staring outwards, surveying the area as it were.

It was then that he heard a thud, the kind that came from colliding with a mattress, enabling the springs to violently enact their function. Kole was sure to be lying if he claimed not to smirk in that moment, but it was quickly replaced by that of a subtle frown. All that exhaustion in which this Zeltron felt had been a direct result of his own actions, and whilst never intended, it happened all the same.

​Before he knew it there had been two fresh glasses poured, and whilst tone rest within his grip the other was held down to a seemingly out-cold Lynnori. "Here." He said, his tone soft and barely above that of a whisper. A glass extended in her direction, of course, waiting for her to roll over and accept it. She ha don't grasped that bottle for no reason, after all.

"Sorry." He addiotnally commented, voicing that feeling too.