Some Beach. [Complete]

[Sarge Potteiger]

Fondor
Orbital Habitation Sphere Aurek

Sparks flew through the void in the distance, or at least what he fancied were sparks. Rather it seemed it was merely the light of the system's star that drew the curious rays of light across the skeletal masses of ships yet to be constructed. Typically Sarge preferred things that weren't stations or cities to live in, but Fondor was the OmegaPyre headquarters and when you worked... you did your best to live near the job.

Inhaling the faint aroma of air freshener that flooded his apartment on the upper levels of the sphere, the man smiled to himself as he went to the fridge for some water.

Contracts were few and far between, at least for him, since he was in the Prex's doghouse.

It gave him plenty of time to do such things as stare out his window at the shipyards, as well as his all time favorite activity; sleeping.

Still, the last thing he expected was a certain Republic mermaid... yeah, there was no way she was factored into his plans of nothing.

 

[Thessa Kai]

[SIZE=medium]Why Command called on her to deliver the encrypted data disc to one Sarge Potteiger, she didn’t have a clue. Nor did she know what was on said secret disc. The man didn’t even work for the rebels anymore. Perhaps it was because she was in the area but more likely it was some twisted locker room joke.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]She wouldn’t put it past Dells to pull something like this.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Finding it surprisingly easy to get to the door of Sarge with little to no security, she raised her hand to knock. Maybe anyone watching just saw a harmless, casually-dressed scale-speckled woman.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]The knock was timid at first, then grew louder. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Just gotta drop this off and leave. Simple, right? Not awkward at all.[/SIZE]

 

[Sarge Potteiger]

"I hate people knocking, so much!" The familiar voice of Sarge called. Technically, he'd never been a Rebel; but that was need to know. And so far as he was concerned no one needed to know. A moment or two later and the water-holding, bearded face of Sarge answered the door.

There was a slight thud as the pistol he'd had hidden behind the door was set back into its resting place. "Ah, Thessa." He says with an amused smirk before turning and walking back into the apartment, leaving the door open for her to follow.

"What brings you here? Lose a bet?

 

[Thessa Kai]

[SIZE=medium]Brandon.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]She blinked, his cavalier demeanor catching her off guard. “What? No,” she protested, remaining on the other side of the threshold. A stiff arm rose, holding the disc out to him. “Nice place,” she commented casually, peeking cautiously further inside the door. “Anyone else here? Cause you know, last time we were alone together…”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Her voice trailed off as an awkward half smirk tugged on her aqua lips. “Just here to drop off a delivery,” her outstretched arm waved the disc out to the soldier impatiently. [/SIZE]

 

[Sarge Potteiger]

"Last time we were alone together someone outside locked us in. You were drugged. I was drunk. Not my proudest moment but hey." He plopped himself onto a sofa set in front of thick glass that allowed him a striking view of the shipyards.

"May as well come in. Any time anyone just stops by with me - be it to give me something or inform me of something - it turns into a thirty minute conversation." That was fact. He enjoyed being alone, but he sometimes talked like he hated being alone (read: too much).

 

[Thessa Kai]

[SIZE=medium]“Wow. Thanks for recapping that so succinctly,” she quipped dryly. Sighing, she lowered her outstretched and unattended arm and stepped across the threshold. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]She half expected Jorus to be there with his little pink baby.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]The door closed behind her. “Long time no see. You doing okay?”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Stars, she was bad at this kind of stuff. She remained standing, awkwardly shifting her weight from one foot to the others, disc still in hand.[/SIZE]

 

[Sarge Potteiger]

"I've a habit of being blunt." Understatement. Taking a gulp of water he looks back to her as she finally comes in. Thankfully, no Jorus. Although he wasn't sure if Thessa was aware that Sarge was the godfather.

"Okay? I'm bored out of my skull.", he comments dryly. "Plenty of money; just bored." Thessa might likely have figured out he was bored during his time with the Rebels, hence why he was the way he was.

Or she might just think he meant his job.

Really, he couldn't remember a time he hadn't been bored.

 

[Thessa Kai]

[SIZE=medium]“I find it hard to believe a guy like you could be bored,” there was another smirk followed by a rise and fall of her shoulders. Holding up the data disc again, she tossed it on the couch beside him. “Must be nice to have a lot ‘o cash, huh?”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Sarge knew what it was like to be a rebel: low funds, meager meals, unreliable equipment, and duct tape, lots and LOTS of duct tape. “Hey I meant to tell you,” iced-azure gaze traveled to the floor awkwardly. She was never good at these kinds of things. “Thanks for not telling anyone about what happened,” no not Zeltros, “at the fight, with Jorus and Beefcake.” Gaze traveled up to Brandon’s face again, “Probably would’ve suspended my flight hours or made me go through some stupid tests.” The smirk was back on her lips. It was a softer smirk.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Gaze lightened. “So what? Since I’m here, you gonna give me a tour of your house or just continue to gloat about how loaded you are?” The light quip was followed by a wink.[/SIZE]

 

[Sarge Potteiger]

Finally noticing the disc, he raised a brow and hefted it between a thumb and forefinger, curiosity flickering beneath his eyes. "Always bored.", he murmurs, "Always." Then he blinks, snapped from his trance.

"Aww, do I have to?" He hated giving tours; it was awkward. "Bedroom over there, bathroom there, living room here, kitchen there. Few miscellaneous rooms you needn't worry about...", he smirked.

"Boom, tour."

Gaze softening for a moment, he stood and looked out the window before placing a hand on her shoulder. "We all have to be weak sometime in order to stay strong." And he left it at that.

 

[Thessa Kai]

[SIZE=medium]For the first time, she wondered what exactly he remembered about that night on Zeltros, the weight of his hand on her shoulder clearly felt. It unnerved the flight captain, and she didn’t know why. For a moment she was caught between the urge to pull Brandon closer or shove him away.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Instead, she remained still and tilted her head to look into his brown eyes. “Remind me to book you for Republic tours,” the dry tone changed to one of curiosity as she pushed on her toes to peak behind his shoulder. “What-do-yah-mean miscellaneous rooms?”[/SIZE]


[SIZE=medium]Curiousity killed the cat but would it kill the mermaid?[/SIZE]

 

[Sarge Potteiger]

There was a bristle in the air, nearly palpable to him, as she weighed something in her mind; he wasn't sure what. He just knew she was considering options. Sometimes he hated not being able to read minds - that is until he realized that reading minds would drive him nuts.

"They're miscellaneous. Things like the body room, the meat room. No, I'm kidding. They don't really have a purpose for the most part. There's various odds and ends in them, but I can't call them say... an 'office' or a 'den' or something like that."

Pushing her back down with the hand still on her shoulder, he smirks. "Remember: I don't do tours."

 

[Thessa Kai]

[SIZE=medium]“Alright, don’t get your boxers in a twist,” she quipped back, again, very aware of the weight of his hand on her shoulder. He made her feel something she wasn’t expecting. Suddenly, she didn’t want the attention focused on her. “So, have you heard from Angel lately?”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Still, she didn’t move away from him. She remained beneath his palm, studying his face closely, hands coming to rest within the confines of her flight jacket pockets.[/SIZE]

 

[Sarge Potteiger]

"I don't have any on.", he deadpans, leaving whether or not that was true up for grabs. Either way, he felt a bit awkward just standing there with his hand on her shoulder and moved it to scratch at the side of his nose momentarily. Then she asked the last thing he was expecting.

What's going on with Angel?

"I... have not, actually. She rarely spoke to me, contrary to popular belief. If she weren't married, perhaps we'd have been a bit closer... but she was wary, kept me at arms length while still pulling me in just a bit closer from time to time when she was feeling particularly, uh, what's the word. Generous, perhaps?"

He smiles sadly and shakes his head. "No. While we got along fairly well, all things considered, and she kept me in sight... there wasn't much communication there. So no, no I haven't heard from her."

"And what about Dirks?"

 

[Thessa Kai]

[SIZE=medium]Interesting. He was being extremely honest and open. Who knew if that meant his boxers too? (haha) Well, she assumed honest. Eyes widened slightly as he dropped the name of the man she almost married.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]There was a noticeable bristle.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]“I dunno,” she admitted through something between anger and grief. “We were engaged, he disappeared. He might’ve been called on some sort of mission. He joined the spooks in the end but I thought he would tell me…” dredged up emotions crossed her face as her voice caught. She stepped away from Sarge and shrugged, effectively putting on a mask as she turned her back to the soldier and looked out his window. “Who knows? Wherever he is, I hope he’s okay.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]It was true. The hurt Dirks had caused could not be easily forgotten but it wasn’t in her nature to wish him ill. Sighing, she turned around. “Well, you’ve got your disc. It was good seeing you again. I should probably go…”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]What else could she say? Have a great life? I’ll see you when I see you? Glad we kept things casual from Zeltros? Hope Angel falls for you and you live happily ever after?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Not knowing how she felt what was worse, was having no idea how he felt.[/SIZE]

 

[Sarge Potteiger]

The man slowly raised a brow before nodding slowly and folding his arms across his chest. She had a mask on now. It was easy to see it, especially considering how much he wore one. There's a shallow nod.

"You may have come here for the disc, but that's not what's really on your mind. We were never really that close, so inquiring about Angel means you're looking for something else."

He smiles faintly.

"So what're you looking for?"

 

[Thessa Kai]

[SIZE=medium]She froze, his words catching her off-guard before her march to the door. Turning slowly, iced-azure gaze studied him quietly for several moments. “I don’t know,” her quiet admittance seemed to echo in his home.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]“What about you Brandon? Did you feel…..that night…..,” scale-speckled face flushed. “Do you remember…,” hand came up to rub the back of her neck awkwardly. Yeah, it would’ve been much easier just to walk out of the door.[/SIZE]

 

[Sarge Potteiger]

Again, he raised a brow before nodding to her once more. "Fair enough." There's a sigh, a sag to his shoulders as its his turn to run a hand across the back of his neck.

Awkward.

"I don't remember much. I remember being locked in the room, and a few momentary flashes before the door was unlocked for the fruit basket. I'm hazy the rest of the night."

He frowns, looking to the ground sheepishly.

"Do you remember?"

 

[Thessa Kai]

[SIZE=medium]She didn’t scowl. She didn’t yell. Instead, she started laughing. Maybe it was a defense mechanism to try and make something less awkward or maybe it was laughter out of relief.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Pushing past Sarge with a genuine smile on her face, she let herself fall onto the sofa. “No, I mean as much as you. I remember kissing you.” Iced-azure gaze traveled down to his lips, “And then…just moments. It’s all a little blurry. Waking up next to you…” her laughter tapered off into something of a more awkward sound as she got control of herself. A hand flew over her face in mock and genuine embarrassment. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]“Oh stars, the fruit basket.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]"Do you realize the questioning I got? Word got around fast in the infantry locker rooms."[/SIZE]

 

[Sarge Potteiger]

The man simply grinned, any and all awkwardness he felt going out the window as she laughed. It was easy for him to act like nothing was wrong when someone wasn't acting... unusual. "I'm surprised you don't remember more than I, considering you hadn't had anything to drink, really."

Lowering himself into a chair nearby, he shakes his head. "No, I really don't realize."

"Know why? No one asked me a gorram thing."

Truth. No one said a single word to him about it that wasn't involved. "Most people, I guess, assumed Angel and I were shacking up and so didn't put much stock in it. Or figured they'd get more out of you than they would out of me."

 

[Thessa Kai]

[SIZE=medium]Lying on the couch, she raised her hand guiltily, a smile still cracked on aqua lips. “Totally thought you and Angel were shacking up. I mean, the way you reacted around her at the party…” the one that was ambushed.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Palms lowered to push against her face. “Ugggh,” lungs deflated in a giant sigh. “So, did we, can you remember that much? You know?” Torqueing at the waist, she sat up and looked at Sarge, only eyes visible above her fingertips as she stared the ground pounder down.[/SIZE]