The Thrill of the Chase (Malica/Siobhan)

[Valiens Nantaris]

The aftermath of Malastare had been exciting. The planet was theirs, and Omega Pyre's reputation was riding high. Unfortunately, no one had walked away completely unscathed. Tegaea for instance had received a nasty cut to the side, while @[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] and @[member="Malica Drezyan"] had been in the thick of the fighting and got their share of knocks too.

Therefore Siobhan had decided to treat herself and her friends to a stay aboard one of the Duros orbital cities. These places were massive and contained all the many things one would expect on such microcosms of real cities.

On board the shuttle taking them to Radiance City she looked to her friends. "So...either of you gamble much? There's a nice casino here."

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

"'Relieved casino guests of their valuables a couple times on Nar Shaddaa. Does that count?" Siobhan asked sardonically, giving Tegaea and Malica a wide smile.

Malastare had been terribly exciting, especially now that they had won. Massive Dynamic's scheme had been foiled, though Siobhan had the feeling that this would not be the last time they heard from them. But for now she just wanted to have some fun with her lover and Malica, who had proved to be quite an asset during the events that surrounded the pod race!

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

"I guess that's as good as anything. Me, I've never been one for gambling. Life's random enough without putting your money against big odds. Useful to take advantage of people who do though!" she added happily.

"I remember when I was younger...after I left the Republic...I worked as a bouncer at a casino on Eriadu. Learned all the tricks people used. Never wanted to gamble after that!"

 

[Malica Drezyan]

"After Malastare, I think we've had enough gambling." Malica sighed, as she leaned on her elbow against the shuttle window. "Does this 'nice' casino happen to have a spa?" Malica flashed a grin at Tegaea. She hoped that they had finally earned a moment to breathe. With Omega Pyre, trouble was never far away, even when they weren't chasing it.

"I know what you mean, Tegs. I've seen too many poor people lose their livelihoods to enjoy risking my credits," Malica said. "Gambling's a cruel business."

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

"Didn't have enough creds to waste at gambling. Nar Shaddaa living didn't pay and the Jedi were kinda stingy. Besides, watching all the tricks on the Smuggler's Moon killed any love for it. I prefer the heavy risks of the hit real hard variety," Siobhan said happily.

"You know, a spa sounds good. I wouldn't mind a massage," she responded with a grin when Malica brought it up. It would be nice to get a moment to relax and take a step back from all the mayhem, though she loved her job. Before trouble caught up with her again or she sought it out deliberately. She was a bit of a trouble magnet, after all.

In the past, especially as a Jedi, Siobhan had spent a lot of time worrying about it, the fact that so often trouble and torment had hit her had not helped matters. Now by and large she had moved on from that. No longer having to deal with hippies in robes who looked askance at her fighting, drinking and womanising and getting a job she excelled at with people she liked at had probably been beneficial.

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

Siobhan had, in other words, stopped being a wet hen, something this writer is most pleased about.

Tegaea though wondered not for the first time how it was that she had managed to get in with the only group in the galaxy with a bigger sex drive than her! It was, to her anyway, a source of constant amusement.

"I believe we have one in our suite, yes! It's the sort of suite where I'm sure we can all find something...entertaining...to do!"

She didn't know if Malica was prepared to get intimate with her or Siobhan (or both) but the offer was there!

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

Siobhan's sudden shift in personality had the unfortunate side-effect that it made it more difficult for this writer to find reasons to gruesomely punish her. But there was always hope.

"Our suite with lots entertainment, huh? For just us three. Boss lady really takes care of her employees well," Siobhan said happily with a smirk. Hopefully this time it would not turn out that the resort was a front for sadistic energy vampires who would come out at night to capture and torment their guests, draining them of life until they were just empty thralls...

Yes, Siobhan's life had been a bit on the crazy side. This was actuallly the stable and balanced version of her.

 

[Malica Drezyan]

"A massage sounds amazing right now," Malica replied. Her muscles were extremely sore, all around. The thought of spending the night in the suite with both women definitely made the fight on Malastare worth the trouble. She found herself a bit nervous for once. It had been years since she'd been with a woman. The last time had been during her imprisonment, as a way to remember that beings were capable of overcoming their inherent selfishness...

Malica twitched involuntarily and masked it with a cough. She rested her hand on the top of her satchel.

"Is there a refresher on this thing?" Malica asked with a bit more aggression than she intended. She searched the shuttle for a door only to find the tired faces of a few passengers behind them.

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

If Tegaea noticed the change in tone she made no comment at it. She did however lead the two women out, and when they were walking through the entry hall she came closer to @[member="Malica Drezyan"].
"You don't have to do anything you don't want to. You have your own room in the suite, and you can choose an entirely different place if you wish. I don't want to make you uncomfortable," she said softly, so only her and Malica could hear.

This was, after all, supposed to be a holiday, not a way of upsetting her friends. They'd all been through enough as it was.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

Siobhan made no direct comment on the change in atmosphere. Given the fact that she was less than observant, she might not have noticed it, but then again she might just be keeping quiet.

While Tegs was reassuring Malica Siobhan disappeared for a short moment before returning, having chatted with a tourist guide. When she rejoined her friends she held a brochure in her hand. "Got a list of all the cool clubs and bars on the station. They actually have an arena here."

Would it be unfair if she participated and beat all the gladiators up?

She grinned widely, then seemed to pick up on Malica being off-kilter, though she had not heard Tegs' words. "Everything ok?" she asked, toner softer.

 

[Malica Drezyan]

After they entered the lobby, Malica stared blankly at Tegs for a long moment. "What do you - ? Oh..." Malica threw her head back and laughed. "I'm sorry, Tegs. I didn't mean to be so transparent." Malica spotted a Duros noblewoman adjusting her bracelet as she exited a 'fresher door. The grip on her satchel became tighter. "It's nothing, we can talk about it later." Malica said, jolting toward the refresher. "Don't even think about putting me in a separate suite." She winked at the redhead and continued on her path, almost knocking into Siobhan who was returning from her chat with the tour guide.

"Oh yeah, I'm great. I'll be right out." She responded to Siobhan and disappeared behind the refresher door.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

@[member="Tegaea Alcori"], @[member="Malica Drezyan"]

"Uh, ok, swell," Siobhan said to Malica as the woman swiftly vanished into the refresher, having been lucky not to knock into the ex-Jedi when the latter returned from her brief chat. "Was there something I missed?" she asked Tegaea softly, having obviously not been privy to most of the conversation.

The entry hall seemed packed with elaborately dressed and bejewelled aristos and merchants, not to mention pod racing champions and those who liked to think they were, crime bosses in slick business suits. Security droids and droned patrolled throughout the hallway, keeping order.

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

"I...don't know. It's a bit odd. Let's wait here for her to come out."

Tegaea was puzzled by the whole exchange, but she resolved to keep careful note on matters however to make sure nothing too strange happened.

 

[Malica Drezyan]

Malica emerged a few minutes later. "I'm sorry, ladies. Where were we?" Malica sprinted to join them again. She snatched the brochure out of Siobhan's hand and playfully bumped the woman in the side with her hip. "Bar or spa first?" She asked with a grin, skimming the pages for particularly enticing pictures or descriptions.

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

Tegaea was really confused. For a moment she had nothing to say. Finally, she stammered out, "Spa, I think. I could do with something relaxing before we start work." Of course, she wasn't sure what Malica had done, or how she intended the whole spa thing to go. Would be potentially very interesting.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

Siobhan looked a bit perplexed, but did not push the issue. "Normally this should be the moment where I get paranoid and say we gotta check for listening devices in the suite and beware of the resort being full of monsters...but I just can't muster the wethennishness," she said sardonically, trying to make light of things.

Then Malica suddenly returned and snatched the spa out of her hands, giving her a bump, whilst Siobhan was contemplating her non-angstiness. Siobhan noticed Tegs' confusion, she seemed puzzled herself. "Yeah, spa sounds good," she said agreeably, smiling at Malica. "Let's do that."

 

[Malica Drezyan]

"I really needed to pee. That was a long shuttle ride." Malica blurted out a little too eagerly. She didn't gauge Siobhan's and Teg's reaction and quickly changed the subject.

"There's nothing here that doesn't look as good as using the spa in our suite and ordering in a masseuse." Malica smiled, clearing the air between them. She shrugged and set the brochure on a nearby bench. "Anyway, it would be nice to get settled, too."

The women would see that there was no crazy Sith assassin bomb strapped to Malica's body when they reached the spa. She had no secret elaborate plan to weaken Omega Pyre's forces, no secret contacts. The confusion had just been caused by a small personal detail, a much humbler vice than what Siobhan probably had in mind. Either way, she'd rather keep it unknown by her superiors, whom Malica respected and considered her friends.

Frack, finding somewhere to take a hit amidst an exarch and a colonel was harder than hiding under a Jedi's robe. If only she could have waited a few more minutes until they got to the room...

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

Their suite, as expected, was magnificent.

The spa was set up in such a way that it could be either opened up to the air or closed behind shaded glass.

Tegaea put her suitcase in her room and opened it up. "Excellent. Siobhan, did you want to share this bed with me?" she asked with a smirk. It was a Queen bed after all....

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

Given how insane Siobhan's life tended to be and the turns her past two vacations had taken, werewolves, vampires or daemons appearing would not be implausible! However, she had resolved to be less of a wet hen. So she did not check the suite for bugs and hidden cameras, instead taking in the luxurious dwellings and the magnificient view they had from the window.

At Tegs' offer she grinned, a mischievious glint in her eye. "Definitely, laestra," she purred, using perhaps one of the few Eldorai words she actually knew and giving Tegaea a playful swat on the arm before kissing her. "It's gonna be big enough, I'm sure! I promise not to steal the covers. Like the suite, Malica?"

 

[Malica Drezyan]

Malica was busy unpacking. "It's beautiful. I can't wait to take advantage of... all the space." Malica had never been to somewhere this luxurious before, so of course she was downplaying the effect it had on her as to not appear like some Tatoonie bumpkin.

She glanced into the spa. "That bathtub is gorgeous." She said, and not hearing a response, moved from the foyer to the bedroom. "Did you two see the -" Malica stopped and smirked. She characteristically folded her arms over her chest and curled her fingers against her chin in a coyly thoughtful manner. "Hmmmm..." She said after a second, observing Tegs and Siobhan in post-kiss embrace, "The view is magnificent. Best part of the suite by far," Malica smiled, having only given the physical structure of the room a cursory glance.