Thunderbolt [Vela]

[Corvus Dravere]

Eyeing the wider pull of her smile, he quirked the left corner of his mouth upward. The expression was soft, and had the curious effect of brightening his eyes to the point one could practically see everything he’d normally hold back. With a gentle soul in his eyes and clear pleasure at her offer to stay in touch on his lips, he gave the barest dip of his chin as a nod.

“Consider it done, then.” He replies, as calm and collected as he was when sober, despite the vague promise of a slur to the end of his words. “I could use more sociable individuals to spend time with.” Corvus had always been an almost painfully reserved man.

 

[Cyern Aarseth]

"We all could. People are just either to mad at the world or at themselves nowadays. I don't blame them, though." She said, laughing lightly. They all had their stones and ghosts to carry, some were a heavier weight than others. Vela knew many people simply coped with them in...negative manners, she just tried to look past them and keep walking on, in their company if need be.

As far as she could tell, Corvus was the same or at least similar in that aspect. After all, she was very sure they were the only ones in the cantina at the later hours of the night, chatting and sharing the occasional laugh while in the middle of a civil war. Tomorrow he would probably have to fly his fighter and risk death again, she'd probably have to keep on working her the hell out of her and with no promise of anything turning for the better. Yet they still found the way to have a good time, even if momentarily.

 

[Corvus Dravere]

Corvus simply smiled, thankful for the distraction she offered. War was his trade, and without it he’d be a very poor man, but that didn’t mean he particularly liked it. He often found the waste of life distasteful, but there was always going to be fighting, so better someone who was good at it than someone who could be training to be a nurse, or teacher, or other such professions.

“We’re allowed to be mad at ourselves, just so long as we don’t take it out on others. Force knows I can get a bit short tempered at times.” As a youth he’d had a temper like the Tatooine suns, but he’d calmed down over the years.

 

[Cyern Aarseth]

A nod of her head and an amused, side smirk were immediate displays of her agreement. She used to be a spitfire when she was younger, specially during her teenage years. Like him, Vela had become inexplicably calmer when she grew up and her personality matured. As though she had consumed all that energy and left little left for the present. It gladdened her, though. She definitely preferred having been like that when younger than now.

"If you really want to meet a bunch of angry, short-tempered folks visit Vilosoria during the warm season." Laughter sprouted from between her lips. She recognized her kind could be extremely hard to stand during that particular time of the year and she had learnt to laugh at herself because of it. She could become incredibly stubborn when in her predator form. "The children are particularly terrible and that, of course, only helps to make the adults even more sour."

[member="Corvus Dravere"]

 

[Corvus Dravere]

“I’d only visit if you asked me.” The answer surprised even him, but it was honest, and the words were past his lips before he could stop them. Still, her words brought to mind nothing but a bunch of grouchy old people, and a bunch of small children with grouchy old faces, and it took every ounce of his considerable willpower to not just laugh at the thought.

He managed, though, and he instead just smiled and shook his head in amusement. “Thankfully, my daughter has gifted me patience. She was never terrible in any manner similar to the children of your homeworld.”

 

[Cyern Aarseth]

Vela smiled at him, she didn't dislike the thought of inviting him to her homeworld at all. "Fair enough. Though in all honesty, I definitely wouldn't take you there during the warm season. I'd only do that if I wanted you to get a horrible first impression of...mostly everyone there." She was half-joking. There were people who understood Vilosorians were naturally cranky during that part of the year. Still, sometimes that alone wasn't enough for visitors to leave with happy thoughts of the planet's inhabitats if they first met them during the summer.

"I'm sure my brother wishes he had the same luck. His children are wonderful, but there is too much energy in those small bodies. Destructive little hellions they are." She still didn't manage to sound serious about their behavior. She didn't lie when she said she couldn't find a way of actually getting mad at them. They reminded her a lot of herself as a child.

 

[Corvus Dravere]

Corvus snorted for a moment. “Pretty normal for children to be destructive when they’re young. Pets are often the same way, I’ve found. Too much energy, not enough outlet, and suddenly there’s marker on the walls and a pillow torn to shreds.” Shaking his head, he adjusted his seat, blinking as he heard the bartender say something.

“Mm, last call. That went by... far faster than i’d Have thought.” He looked to her, amusement still glimmering in his dark eyes. “I suppose I should apologize for keeping you out so late.”

 

[Cyern Aarseth]

Vela laughed at his remark about children. Yes, they definitely tended to be more than what the parents bargained for. But well, as her brother said during her nephew's worst days: nothing worth it is easy...or totally pleasant. Her eyes drifted away from Corvus when she heard a far off voice yelling something. She didn't get exactly what, but since the little people remaining started standing up and making their way to the door, she could guess.

She looked at the pilot again, downed a small amount of liquor that had remained in her glass and smiled. "Definitely faster than we thought," She agreed, chuckling. "Not at all! I had a great time, hope you did too." Her voice held honesty and calm form of joy. She did display her emotions quite openly, but the effect of the drinking made them even more bright and clear.

 

[Corvus Dravere]

"Definitely drank more than I should." He remarks, pushing himself up to stand with a stretch and a groan that said he was feeling every last year of his life in his bones. "I had a lovely time." He admits, smiling to her before offering a hand to help her up. The large palm is calloused and wide, and clearly the hand of a laborer. His face, though, suddenly becomes serious.

"Just let me know when you've got everyone good and ready to go, and we'll get you out of here."

 

[Cyern Aarseth]

Vela smiled, listening to him as he stood up. She lifted the cigarette box from the table and returned it to the pocket in her jacket, before picking that up too. As she turned to reach the jacket, the small tattoo behind her shoulder became visible. It was some sort of code and a symbol of some fanged creature. The whole thing wasn't bigger than a couple centimeters length and width, so it wasn't particularly legible. The ink was standard in the Vilosorian military, hers represented the sniper corps since she served with them, albeit not for as long as her family would have liked.

She turned and didn't hesitate to accept Corvus' hand, taking it in her own and standing up. Not used to the whole ordeal, she wasn't expecting the slight diziness that hit her when adopting a standing position and ended up a bit closer to him than she had expected to. Vela quickly excused herself and took a step back, refocusing her eyes on him. "Okay, I had already forgotten you were that tall." She said, and chuckled at herself as she realized she had spoken her thoughts out loud.

Then he mentioned the more serious topic they had previously discussed and her the evident happines drained from her features a bit. They still were soft, and a small, sweet smile played at her lips. "I'll make sure to get everyone ready as soon as I can. Thanks again for being willing to cover for us, Corvus." Her eyes were shining in a different light now, softer and simply filled with honesty and gratefulness.

 

[Corvus Dravere]

He smirked, catching her easily, and he looked down to her with the sort of pride only those genetically gifted with height could manage when reminded of the fact they were, in fact, tall. She came up to his chest, he realized, and though he didn't voice it, he'd already sort of forgotten she was as tall as she was. Generally speaking, he usually had more than a foot on a woman. Or, rather, it felt like he usually did. He wasn't of the habit of asking people their height, after all.

"The least I can do." He remarks, hand still on hers despite the hint of distance, and he slowly allowed it to slip from his grasp. "After all, pretty sure pilots are supposed to be knights of the sky." It was a softball of a joke, but he knew he was a bit more of a generous soul.

 

[Cyern Aarseth]

Vela knew she was not short for a humanoid female, generally speaking, so it was all the more surprising when she met people who made her feel short. She wasn't really bothered by it, and so the thought escaped her mind fairly quickly. The bartender was getting more insistent, bidding people to leave so he could close the cantina for a few hours. She chuckled as she saw the man trying to waken a clearly drunk costumer that had very comfortably fallen asleep on top of the table.

Her attention soon returned to Corvus, and a playful smirk stretched her lips at his comment. "Knight in shining armor, then." She said jokingly but without taking away any merit nor feeling less appreciative of what he would do for her team and for her. Once again, she could hear the bartender getting frustrated and turned her blue-green eyes back to the pilot's. "I think we should get going."

 

[Corvus Dravere]

"Not particularly shining." He admits, knowing he looked about as composed as a piece of weatherbeaten wood. He was still solid, of course, and served his purpose, but he was scuffed and battered, dinged and chipped. Hearing the mounting frustration at his back, he nodded, taking up his coat and offering her her own. "Should I walk you back?" He asks, remembering how she'd stumbled a bit standing up. In truth, he knew he was responsible, so this was his way of making it up to her.

At the very least, he could make sure she got into a taxi. She wasn't drunk, but if she wasn't used to liquor it could still be dangerous going anywhere alone.

 

[Cyern Aarseth]

The Vilosorian smirked playfully as Corvus said he wasn't a 'particularly shining knight', "Better then! The shiny ones tend to be far too conceited." She said, sending a glance at him as they made their way out of the cantina. There was a real belief of hers behind her comment on the knight jest. It was rare to meet people who offered the kind of help Corvus had extended to her out of true generosity. They usually did it to inflate their pride, or simply to prove they could. Dressing it up as being honestly interested in aiding others was simply a convenient move that furthered their purpose. The thought made Vela appreciate Corvus' company even more.

"Um... I hate having to say yes when I'm staying literally a block and a half from here but its late and well, I'm not in my sharpest moment right now." A shy tint seemed to color her cheeks. Her reason for not wanting to accept the offer was simply that she didn't want to be bothersome. Even then, she was not dumb and she knew things could go wrong pretty fast at the young hours of the night and ended up deciding it was better to be bothersome than...not being at all anymore. With a small smile on her lips, she started leading the way back towards the apartment building she was staying in, keeping to Corvus' side as they walked. "Normally I can look after myself. Just not sure how much I trust this right now, so I'd rather put my trust in you." She said, gesturing towards her head for a moment as she spoke, "And in that your size is intimidating enough for most people not to want to try anything." Vela offered a small laugh. She had meant it as a joke but knew that it was probably truer than she thought.

 

[Corvus Dravere]

When she began moving off, he figured she was taking the offer. He walked at her side, though just barely behind her. No one could sneak up on her without sneaking up on him first. It was such a silly thought, he realized, but it was an important gesture on his own part, even if she didn't notice. "Alcohol does that." He reminds, clearly still riding that particular high. He wasn't sure how far away she lived, and he realized that two people out, drunk, walking somewhere might not be the best move.

But, at the very least, they weren't the only drunks out and about, even if his buzz was starting to fade.

"I'm not sure how much trust you'll be able to put in me." He jokes softly, "Despite my size." The left corner of his mouth quirked upward at her laugh, and he snorted along with amusement. "I don't think I've ever been called intimidating, come to think of it."

 

[Cyern Aarseth]

Vela noticed how Corvus positioned himself slightly behind her. Though she didn't exactly realize the intent of the action, it did provide some sort of comfort. Unconsciously knowing her back was covered settled in a feeling of safety within her, and her shoulders and general stance became more relaxed in response to that.

She laughed lightly at his comment, looking at him with a sweet smile on her lips. "Well, even if you weren't intimidating, you'd still me more imposing than me." She said, her palms moving in slight gesturing towards herself. Vela could have a deceptive strength, yes, but that did not make her look any more threatening than any average civilian. She had an average height, slim body and was a woman. The vilosorian disliked that the last part of the description needed to be included but it still remained truth. If she didn't carry herself with confidence and lacked the training she had received as a soldier, she could have fit the description of someone vulnerable quite easily.

Soon enough, they had reached the entrance of the building. The alcohol did still hold some of its effects over her but not enough to keep her from finding the place she was staying in. "This is my stop." She said, turning to look at Corvus with a friendly expression decorating her features.

 

[Corvus Dravere]

“That is true.” He says, knowing that he was a gigantic, solid slab of muscle and scruff. Between the cracked leather lines of his face and the flecks of gray in his beard and hair, he looked every bit the tired, old warrior he was. True, he wasn’t a ground pounder, but there was no denying the ghosts in his eyes.

Stopping outside her building, he looked to the door for just a moment. Turning back to find her, smiling and content in front of him, he was surprised that she’d just left it at that. No immediate ‘goodbye,’ or ‘I’ll be in touch.’ Finding himself smiling back, he allowed a hand to drift forwards, fingertips settling on her hip like the gentle caress of a feather.

Maybe it was the alcohol, or the feeling of comfort she provided. Hell, maybe he was just getting old. But he leaned down, and with only a moment’s hesitance, gave her the briefest of kisses before pulling back, as if afraid to overstay his welcome.

 

[Cyern Aarseth]

Vela's eyes remained fixed onto his, that hazy, calm brightness visible through them. She allowed her thoughts to slip from her grasp, loosing track of them and leaving the strain of concentration for another moment. Her features seemed to brighten up as he smiled back, a warm feeling of comfort filling her chest. Not removing her eyes from him as he placed his hand on her hip, she even took a little step forward, welcoming the closeness.

Any other time she would have probably felt a bit of shyness. Right now, all she could feel was that strange, pleasant and contented sensation that many people found hard to name. The one when you simply enjoy the moment for what it is, her thoughts not yet trying to process the meaning of them, only the fact it felt right. Corvus lips fell on hers and she gladly received them, as though a part of her had hopefully expected it without giving previous notice of it. Vela's hands found their way to his chest, resting comfortably against it.

The kiss seemed to end as quickly as it had started, a fleeting moment she wished would have lasted longer. A sudden boldness urged her to rely on her confidence and on that nameless sensation. So she leaned forward, reaching up and catching his lower lip between her own, returning the gesture. She allowed it to last a bit longer before pulling away, a sweet smile forming on her lips as she did so.

 

[Corvus Dravere]

He was surprised when her hands lifted, resting over the broad plain of his chest. A soft sound tumbled out of his throat as her mouth pressed back to his own, and with a tilt of his head, he returned her deepened kiss with his own quiet brand of enthusiasm. With his lip caught by hers, his fingers dug into her hip, other hand shifting to slip around to the small of her back.

Something in the moment did feel right, and his hesitation seemed to have evaporated with her clear enjoyment of the brush of his lips. The power in his arms drew her in, palm putting presssure into the small of her back, and again, he found her pulling back just as he had. This time, however, she would find his eyes half-lidded and a lazy smile on his lips, her lingering taste causing his tongue to brush over his lips.

“And here I was, afraid i’d Be overstepping the mark.”

 

[Cyern Aarseth]

She keenly allowed Corvus to bring her closer to him, comfortably surrounded by his strong hands. Vela didn't make any attempt to hide she enjoyed it, she couldn't place her finger on what made her trust and feel perfectly at ease around him but didn't question it either. It was good not overthinking things once in a while, and in this case, Vela couldn't be more happy she hadn't.

Her eyes held a playful, almost smitten shining as she looked back at him. Her lips stretched into another amused smile, her confidence growing now that the initial hesitance of both of them had been vanquished. "You are most definitely not overstepping anything." She said, shaking her head very slightly. Her hands slided upwards to rest loosely at the sides of his neck, allowing her to adjust herself better now that the distance between them had been reduced.