Private Some Nights

[Drifter]

His laughter would echo throughout the sewer. To be frank, it wasn't mere laughter, but a full-body chortle, causing his shoulders and belly to shake, and not even a second later, he even gave a slap of his knee.

[ Oh blessed Inari! You should've seen your face, Pittin! ] he laughed, the mirth shining in the twin suns of his eyes obscured by the visor. He did his best to straighten, only to end up chuckling again.

[ Wait... wait... hahaha. Oh, come on! Work builds character! Didn't anyone tell you that? ] really, with as much as he was laughing, he was bound to not get points for being sneaky, but the entire event was just too funny.

[Oh, come on! That was funny! ] he defended himself, spreading his arm wide as if the mere gesture would emphasize just how hilarious it had been.

 

[Rhea]

Rhea glowered down at him, no true malice to the hurt pride and bruised ass. Without missed a beat though, she reached out and pressed the shoot button.

The door closed off her dour features, leaving him alone to his muffled laugh.

He could open that on his own too!

She huffed, working to undo her belt and get it back on herself.

 

[Drifter]

His laughter only became louder. This time resulting in the man bending over, having to hold his arm over his belly as hilarity made him shake and shudder with all the gleefulness of a mischievous boy.

Oh, that was too much fun! It was just like the times he'd play tricks on Khayri and Nohei. Almost as much fun as when he stole Esme's trashy holo-novels. There were tears in his eyes and he had to work on being able to breathe.

Ahh.... when was the last time I managed to laugh like this? He mused. A while. It made him miss his sisters. Nohei. When the laughter had calmed down, Drifter came to a decision.

After this was over, he'll send a message to Nohei.

 

[Rhea]

Only once the laughter had quieted did the door open again, Rhea looking down at him with nothing short of a pout. She crossed her arms, her ire unstated.

"Are you done?"

 

[Drifter]

That helm came swinging back up to reflect the lovely, delightful grump that covered Rhea 's face. He gave a muffled snort.

[ I don't know, are you gonna fall down again? ]

 

[Rhea]

"I will turn this thing on," she threatened, not missing a beat.

 

[Drifter]

[ No you won't. ] Drifter shot confidently back. Behind his helm he was sporting a shit-eating grin again, so much so that he set his fist along his hip, legs spread slightly wide as he stared up at Rhea. A second later, his hand gave a deft draw from a pocket and a small black item was held between thumb and forefinger.

[ You don't have the lighter. ]

 

[Rhea]

Her breath passed through her lips in a slow hiss, her eyes narrowing on him.

"Then what are you waiting for, Mr 'I can handle myself'." She quoted his promise over the nuggets, a brow raised in challenge.

 

[Drifter]

Point, me.

Drifter's hand went tossing the lighter in the air rather jovially before catching it again. He tucked it in his pocket, and while Rhea wouldn't be able to see his grin, he simply radiated self-satisfaction.

In his mind, he already acquired a fair number of points. This was fun.

Glancing back up, he gave a look around, shifting his weight. Right. Get to handling.

[ Alright, just wait. I'll have you know, I've been working on my one arm pull-ups. ] as a self-deprecating joke. Gesturing for her to move out the way, Drifter bunched his legs, feeling the muscles tense and coil. With an odd predatory grace, he lept up, hand reaching out to go grabbing at the edge of the overhead door.

Only, well it was slippery. His rather prideful bout of capability only resulted in him slipping and falling back down.

 

[Rhea]

She shouldn't laugh. She really shouldn't laugh.

She just watched a cripple fall on their ass, it wasn't right!

Her laughter echoed down the vent, light and airy. She smothered it out shortly after, well aware of where they were. But it did not stop the exchange of amusement sending cramps of stifled laughter down her body. Oooh, Karma was sweet. "Here, stop that, you're making a scene," she chastised through her amusement.

She leaned in, offering him her hand and forearm to catch so she could heave him up.

 

[Drifter]

[ Yeah, yeah... laugh it up, Pittin. Let it allll out. ] as annoyed as he was, his voice was still edged with notable humor at the situation. Now it was his ass on the puddle of sewer water. His armor was made out of leather, so while it was water-resistant to a degree, if he lingered it would soak.

Pushing himself up, he gave a sigh. Fuck it. It was some well-deserved laughter to get the tension out of the way and their minds a bit more cleared up.

[ Alright, alright. Here we go. ] As he made an attempt to take her hand so she could help him by pulling him up.

 

[Rhea]

She grinned down at him. Nothing like having the upper hand-- literally. Her fingers stretched further, grabbing his wrist for a securer hold and pulling to help him wedge himself in. It was a small enough space for that. She shimmied back, feet flailing until they found purchase on the hall floor, and reached back in to grab him again.

"One more time," she reassured, eyes catching his as she pull- ziiiiiiiiiiiiip.

A whistling tore through the air. She froze, pupils dilating in sudden pain and shock. Training took over, her grip not loosening as she peeled that last feet backwards. As her body fell, she tried to take him with her, instincts ruling her as quick acting stunning venom pooled through her system.

She laid stiff on the ground, a feathered dart sticking out of her ass.

And across the hall? A startled squib holding a dart pipe.

 

[Drifter]

[ Whoaaa there! ] came Drifter's sudden response, feeling himself jerked up and over only to go tumbling down in a tangle across Rhea. Gravity was a thing, even on Skor II. So when the armored man came falling down, he flailed, body only able to find purchase by coming down to rest against a thigh.

What else could he do as he felt himself slipping back? He grabbed it, fingers curling round that thigh and doing his best to pull himself up, worm fashion, Rhea basically used as a dead weight. End result was Drifter's body being jerked up and on top of Rhea, legs trying to find purchase on the edge of the access door to push himself the rest of the way up.

[ What I tell you. Not on the first date! ] he huffed out, joking, only to feel the tiny hairs at the nape of his head stand on end. A warning. Looking up, he caught sight of the Squib and the dart, then back to the unusually still Rhea.

Well shit.

Another dart came flying, aimed at Drifter's shoulder. He barely managed to roll off and out of the way. Okay, so much for being sneaky.

 

[Rhea]

Ouch.

Watch it will you! Not the- ugh!

These were the words that would have fallen from her as he climbed over her body, of not for the poison burning quickly through her system. Through the chaos, her mind was calm, rationalizing with cold precision what had occurred.

They had been too loud. There was something in her ass.

Was that a dart wizzing by?

Get him! A groan pulled from her chest, as far as the order could go as she watched Drifter roll away.

What was he waiting for? Do something!

As quick as the poison activated, it burned through her just as fast. Her finger tips tingled, cold pricks creeping across her palm. Her hand twitched. Not enough, not fast enough. Her eyes slid to meet his visor's, alert and demanding he take the Squib out.

Now.

 

[Drifter]

Shit, shit, shit!

Curse words went racing through Drifter's head, alarm arching as his heart gave a jumpstart at the rush of adrenaline. Eyes wide, he finished his roll until he was on his belly again. Glancing up, he caught sight of the Squib moving to get another dart. With a flick of his hand, the Force would arch, before snapping to scoop the blue, furry mammalian, prompting a sudden "Yip!" of alarm as he flew in the air.

His tiny little legs and arms went flailing, surprised to be up in the air. Of course, perhaps Drifter should have thought of taking the dart away from the Squib because while he was surprised and floating in the air, he could still shoot another one.

Which is exactly what he did.

 

[Rhea]

Rhea's foot swept up, the heel of the boot catching the sharp end of the poisoned weapon as it flew over her. The thick rubber absorbed the poison, protecting them both. She groaned, movement entering the rest of her limbs as she pulled the blaster.

And shot the squib through the center of his forehead.

She teetered forward, a bout of vertigo sending her facedown onto the cool ground.

"Chit chit chit."


She reached blindly behind her, feeling for the dart sticking out of her ass.

 

[Drifter]

The thud as the Squib fell down was loud - at least to Drifter's ears - as it fell. There was a dark, charred, black hole smoldering at the center of his forehead; his eyes already glazing. He was dead before he fell, but his body was still warm.

It was with a reluctant push of his right hand that the man brought himself to his feet. The earlier joviality was gone. Right. They had a job to do, but the loss of life was still a stain. He didn't blame Rhea. He blamed himself.

He should have thought of another way to incapacitate him. He should have been focusing. A sigh and then the man turned his attention to his compatriot. Crossing the distance, he held out a gloved hand to help her up.

[ That was my mistake. ]

 

[Rhea]

Rhea yanked the dart out, a grumpy look leveled at the hand that dropped at her face.

[ That was my mistake. ]

The look tilted upwards, the woman not expecting the apology or the sudden bout of seriousness from the child in a jumpsuit. It disarmed her. But she appreciated it nonetheless, the fact that things could have just gone very bad for her not unnoticed. She took the hand, her muscles still waking as she woobled-- falling backwards before overcorrecting and keeling into him.

She caught herself on his chest, her breath erratic as the adrenaline pumped through her. They were fine. This was still salvable. "let's just-- keep moving..." She took an unsteady step past him, her knees giving out only to lock up halfway.

 

[Drifter]

[ Yeah. Let's get this done. ] he agreed, but it was said in a tone that indicated he wasn't going to banter any longer. Taking the cart, he would follow, activating his map to get a renewed look at their bearings.

[ Corridor up ahead, then left. Should be a door. From there should lead to an open area for set up. ] then they could get started on setting up the distraction.

[ I can set up some det cord to delay their activation -- might give us time to get cover while the Squibs react to the fireworks. ] then they had to go see where their objective lay.

[ From the looks of it... we may need to go down a few levels towards what I think are the vaults. This reminds me of an old CIS bunker from before the fourhundred year darkness. ]

 

[Rhea]

Her skin ran cold, the sudden change in him startling.

Had she done something wrong?

...And why did it bother her if she did?

There was nothing for her to do but follow him-- picking up the body and quickly dropping it down the trash shoot and out of site as they went. Strength found its way back to her body, the event passing by as if it never happened, spare the subtle hint at a forming bruise and his cooled attitude.

"We'll, we'll start with the court yard. Isn't the crown room supposed to be near? We should start there first while the distraction is at its peak." Her eyes followed him as they went, doing a much poorer version of an attempt to read his body language.

She was beginning to hate that helmet.