Torpe

[Rakaan Horne]

Lithios, Downtown, The Street, Midday
Catch Of My Life | Interacting with [member="Lynnori Cruz"] ~ See You Again ~ "Can I get a kiss?"
——————————————————————

It wasn't really that strange of a question. The implication, though, made it so. Kole had no business at a Military Ball, or maybe Lyn knew less than she thought about Kole. There was still room for sudden truths to reveal themselves, but that was hardly the case. An invitation had been extended by someone that be knew, and by 'knew', Kole was more than likely to say some half-way crook he barely trusted. Yet, employment was always beneficial when being backed by an Empire, no? It was for that reason he intended on making an appearance. He could go alone, but a social event such as that required a sense of prestige; and there wasn't anything better than what was bound to be the most beautiful thing in the room.

"Sith Empire." He mentioned, maybe a little too nonchalantly for anyone's likings. They weren't exactly winning awards for their graciousness, or civility. They were, after all, Sith. "I, uh, I've been invited through mutual connections." Kole further explained, seeming incredible relaxed about the process as his right foot found itself bent at the knee whilst the sole of his shoe pressed against the wall. His hands still lazily held within his jacket. "And I can bring a date." His head turning away from Lyn, shifting anywhere but her eyes as an exhale departed him.

 

[Lynnori Cruz]

Lithios, Downtown, The Street, Midday
Beauty & The Beast | Interacting with [member="Kole Harper"] ~ No Vacancy ~ "I used to leave the doors unlocked and leave the lights on."
—————————————————————

Ah, a date. Of course. Now it made sense. Even whilst the meaning of it all was unveiled Lyn was left more confused than ever. And it didn't help that the Sith were involved. Z had raced for anyone who could have pony'd up sponsor fees for the team, but Lyn had always held them in middling regard despite the fact she'd likely been backed by them indirectly before. Their perchance to raze cities and murder innocents definitely didn't win them favours, and no doubt this would be a spectacle to commemorate their greatness, or something equally as pretentious, with various killers clustered together discussing whatever it was Sith discussed at events like those.

But he'd be there. With her.

"Is there an open bar?" Her voice dripped sarcasm, the teasing and joy returning to it as her head finally tilted back to look up at him, a new sense of confidence rising there. Yeah. Yeah, she could do this. It's not like anything totally insane would occur at a function of that nature, right?

 

[Rakaan Horne]

Lithios, Downtown, The Street, Midday
Creeping Confidence| Interacting with [member="Lynnori Cruz"] ~ See You Again ~ "Can you make it last forever."
——————————————————————

There was a smirk that began to crease it's way across his lips. Kole maintained it for the seconds between his idle staring and the answer to her question, but even that had been a singular nod of the head. Although, Kole hadn't the slightest of clues for it hadn't said the circumstances of the bar, but it was ever likely. He had known that he was in over his head when soon-to-be attending a formal event with the foremost experts on gruesomely dismantling a live body, or razing cities and reducing them to ash. It was certainly going to be a tense environment, but if he could go through the minefield that was a reunion with Lynnori Cruz? He could go through anything. That is, however, what he told himself.

Still, Kole required confirmation. It may seem as if the Zeltron was keen, ready to say yes, it didn't made it so. Perhaps he misread something entirely, and that the question regarding the bar was nothing but a way of searching for an excuse. And so, he stood there, blank as ever, awaiting confirmation.

 

[Lynnori Cruz]

Lithios, Downtown, The Street, Midday
Crazy, Stupid L-- | Interacting with [member="Kole Harper"] ~ No Vacancy ~ "I used to stay awake, just counting hours all night long."
—————————————————————

It fell a little flat.

She was okay with that.

Her head cocked to the head, she sighed, she bit her lip and tossed some hair over her shoulder. All part of the charade of her deciding in her head when she'd already agreed mentally, "Fine, I suppose, if you're in need of my arm-candy services, I probably have an opening in my busy schedule." Despite the jokes, the things that helped hide how his proposition had made her face flush red and her knuckles a pale pink from the pressure they exerted on one another, there was a definite austerity to it. A seriousness in her eyes. Yes. Yes, yes, yes. What a perfect, beautiful coincidence, that this all falls in place now.

Maybe the Force really did have plans for all sorts of people, grand designs on the universe, affecting everyone sensitive or no. If it did, whomsoever dared to dream up this little connection deserved a raise.

 

[Rakaan Horne]

Lithios, Downtown, The Street, Midday
Daring| Interacting with [member="Lynnori Cruz"] ~ See You Again ~ "I said I'm 'bout to go to war."
——————————————————————

There it is.

​Lyn may have several qualities that managed to make Kole look at her in a certain way. The way she flicks that blue hair over her shoulder, bats those eyes, teases with that smile, but there was nothing better than the snark. Kole had lead a regimented life, and it wasn't often that he was treated with anything other than discipline or a threat. It was a change of pace, it was something different. There were bound to be more qualities, but they were all he had known just yet. How'd she call their relationship? Loosely connected. It sounded about right for more than one reason. Hopefully things changed. There was always that chance she knew, it wasn't difficult to understand, especially for a Zeltron, when someone stared at you a certain way for what was probably a little too long.

"Between the unfamiliar planets to arrive on with no recollection, and running into half-way strangers, I'm sure you're very busy." Kole teased in response, that same smirk ever visible as he jokingly chastised her. Like an addict he came back for more, and he always would.

 

[Lynnori Cruz]

Lithios, Downtown, The Street, Midday
Dared | Interacting with [member="Kole Harper"] ~ No Vacancy ~ "I had so many empty rooms inside the chateau, yeah, oh yeah."
—————————————————————

"Psh, this happens all the time, promise." No, it didn't. In fact, this was probably a true first for the young woman, one she tried to handle on the fly, as she normally did in stressful situations. The something differents were few and far between in Lyn's life, but running into Kole off pure fortune, a bit of charisma and of course, corpses, had definitely been the stand-out for 'different'. Award-winning, even. Best cinematography? Again; not a media student.

A loose shrug and Lyn edged closer to where he was leaning, forced to tip her head back in order to meet his eyes. There was no mistaking the fact she was fully back and embroiled in the snark he knew too well, hitting her stride in this encounter with particular flair, "And, hey, I bet you're busy solving murders and getting invitations to Sith Balls and-- Wearing coats, too, so, no surprise you didn't call." Eh, it kind of fell apart by the end but a smooth recovery wasn't out of the question, her pleased smile evidence to that. He just looked offensively good in coats, that's all. Totally normal chit to comment on.

"What kind of attire is it? Business-casual? Go wild?" That grin turned just a little wicked. Lyn would have made an awful Sith Lord.

 

[Rakaan Horne]

Lithios, Downtown, The Street, Midday
Final Stretch | Interacting with [member="Lynnori Cruz"] ~ My Kind Of Woman ~ "Oh baby, oh man."
——————————————————————

Suppose some games went on for too long. Kole didn't quit, he won; and that's when he calls game over.

​His arm, closest to Lyn, had slinked itself out of the jacket pocket it had been resting in. There wasn't even a look towards her as he wrapped the arm around her waist in an attempt to pull her closer. There was nothing but that bliss. No ulterior motive, no activities on his mind, just her in his arms. Did he love her? He didn't know. Kole hadn't the faintest clue of what love was, but there was always a chance he was beginning to feel it. That made sense, didn't it? It was a luxury that many men such as himself couldn't afford, and so he could thank his lucky stars. For there's someone watching over him.

Kole managed to subtly frown at Lyn's mention of his presumed activities. They came in jest, but a joke always held a slither of truth. Kole may be a criminal, but he's no true scum. He hasn't embraced the fact, living a lie on both walks of life. It was in this scenario that Kole was the Scorpion, and Lyn was the Frog. It's in his nature to hurt.

"You'll need your best dress." Kole replied idly, seemingly zoned out as his eyes were fixated on a spec of dirt on the pavement ahead of him.

 

[Lynnori Cruz]

Lithios, Downtown, The Street, Midday
Home Run | Interacting with [member="Kole Harper"] ~ No Vacancy ~ "I'm done with sharing space with people that I don't know."
—————————————————————

The embrace wasn't unwelcome in the slightest. The Zeltron propped her chin against Kole's lapel and seemed content to switch between unfocused eyes watching traffic soar above them in the skyscrapers of Lithios, and watching him not watch her. Love was a little too abstract in the moment for Lyn to grasp and understand it, but she could settle for this. Whatever it was. An arm casually looped back around his waist, to return the gesture with a warmth that was probably needed to make it an official hug.

"Uhh, don't have one of those, I'll think of something." So there they were. Two people, an arm each keeping them close in the sparing sunlight of Lithios, bathed in neon. A sight to behold if any passerby looked up to see, which, they didn't, "That mean you'll have to wear a suit? That's handsome." To coax such playful small talk out of her had been hard these last few weeks but it flowed naturally now, and she understood why plain as day. This was why, wasn't it?

Oh, girl, what have you gone an done this time?

 

[Rakaan Horne]

Lithios, Downtown, The Street, Midday
Touchdown | Interacting with [member="Lynnori Cruz"] ~ My Kind Of Woman ~ "You're making me crazy, really driving me mad."
——————————————————————

"There's twenty-thousand between us." Kole had said, reminding not just himself but Lyn too. There wasn't much of a chance they were going to spend that much on a dress, though. Maybe if they were a bit richer, if things came as easily with a dismissive wave of the hand and an 'oh nonsense' attitude. There was that grin he so commonly held when within her presence that tugged at his mouth, amused by his own joke; flattered by the compliment. He tilted his head, allowing it to rest on her own with as little weight as he could afford to give. Lyn did happen to be rather short, after all. Seemingly frail too. It's what came with that kind of build, though. Perceptions were costly.

He hadn't budged since, furthering, "I've got a suit." Pause. "I never needed more than one." Another amused huff escaped him. Fashion was easier for men that never needed to wear expensive clothing all that often. You only never really needed the one suit as long as it wasn't tailored to a specific theme, that is. That's not where his mind was, though. Solely on her, even as they share the embrace.

Still couldn't say it.

 

[Lynnori Cruz]

Lithios, Downtown, The Street, Midday
Score | Interacting with [member="Kole Harper"] ~ No Vacancy ~ "Trading pieces of my heart 'til I felt shallow."
—————————————————————

"Oh, please," She scoffed dryly, shaking her head even against him, "I'm not gonna take your credits from the case to go dress shopping. I've got my own half to use." Stay humble, hustle hard, after all. Even though she would never let it show, she was starting to grow excited. Balls, for one, were like childhood fantasies come alive. Dancing, royalty, trained killers...

Yeah. A young Lyn's dream, all right.

Maybe it wasn't perfect. Neither were they. She was a dysfunctional Zeltron and he was just dysfunctional period, literally, a robot who didn't even know they were a robot. If he didn't know, she didn't either, which only led to the promised confusion and pain when that detail came to light. Whether it would drive them apart or together was something to be seen. With fingers drumming against his lower back, Lyn kept speaking in her same joyous tone, "'Sides, you'll need the creds for shoes anyways. Or, uh, a better-and-or-new ride." Part of her really just wanted to go speeder shopping. And judge him loudly for his eventual poor choice of vehicle.

Even if she knew what to say, she wouldn't have had the strength to.

 

[Rakaan Horne]

Lithios, Downtown, The Street, Midday
Goal? | Interacting with [member="Lynnori Cruz"] ~ My Kind Of Woman ~ "That's alright with me, it's really no fuss."
——————————————————————

Kole didn't happen to share the same sense of enthusiasm that Lynnori did towards the Ball. It may have proved entertaining, simple, if it were just that. Yet, it wasn't 'just that'. The Sith Empire, the First Order had both been the intergalactic nations that he had fought against throughout his service to the Galactic Alliance -- that is what his memories told him, no matter how false they were -- and even the Coruscant Security Force. Even then, the prospect of searching for work, contacts, likeminded individuals in a crowd of killers made him all the more uncomfortable. He was too much like them, wasn't he? That's what bothered him more than anything else.

"You enjoy your speeders." Kole remembered fondly, outwardly through speech. She always seemed to know her way around one, and the bringing up of the type of craft forced that memory back into his mind. "I was paid for the other job. You can get anything you want." It almost sounded as if he was offering to buy her something, and by almost, it was exactly that.

 

[Lynnori Cruz]

Lithios, Downtown, The Street, Midday
Goal. | Interacting with [member="Kole Harper"] ~ No Vacancy ~ "I had so many empty rooms inside the chateau, yeah."
—————————————————————

Initially, Lyn didn't reply to what he'd said. She'd been distracted by what had been written across his face for her to read; body language was one of the many she could speak to help and determine if her pheromones were working. Of course, nothing would affect Kole, but that didn't mean she couldn't glean a little from the nuances of his looks in her direction. And what she saw was someone less than enthusiastic about the fact he just scored a date with her -- Unacceptable situation, one she moved in to rectify. Her free pink hand stealthily made it's way upwards, to cup his chin in a surprising show of physical tenderness, "Hey," She almost crooned in that delightfully low voice, "Hey. It'll be fun. We'll make it fun, trust me, I always do." That couldn't be argued against. In reality, this likely would be a night ending in tears, but, best to suppress that thought.

Her thumb lazily trailed along his lower lip and she grinned, finally deciding to reply what he'd said after stating her piece, "And, yes. I do enjoy my speeders. And shopping. Two vices I'll take any day." Better than the alternatives.

 

[Rakaan Horne]

Lithios, Downtown, The Street, Midday
Hiding Reality | Interacting with [member="Lynnori Cruz"] ~ My Kind Of Woman ~ "As long as you're next to me."
——————————————————————

​That was never his issue. Kole hadn't a doubt in his mind that he was happy to see her, and even happier to spend more time with her. It was all those things that he kept hidden for one reason or another. It wasn't as if there was much of a point, right? They were bound to come out again eventually, and maybe the more time they remained a mystery the more damage they could do. For how long could his charade continue on for? Kole Harper was a criminal with a military background, designed to kill as a replicant droid of an agent of the Sith Empire. He was nothing short of complex, and that made his head spin. There was a certain kind of clarity that Lyn provided, but it only made other parts of him tick, the parts he kept secret, for better or worse. He wasn't much for a dishonest man.

​His free hand had moved upwards to catch her own, catching it within his own shortly after it made contact with his chin. "I know." He reassured her in what seemed to be a rather comforting tone of sincerity. Kole didn't quite know what kind of 'fun' she meant, considering she was a Zeltron and all... but it didn't matter.

 

[Lynnori Cruz]

Lithios, Downtown, The Street, Midday
Illusionist | Interacting with [member="Kole Harper"] ~ No Vacancy ~ "But ever since I met you."
—————————————————————

"I'm just making sure you know." The irony was that Lyn held demons of her own. Dark and malignant, tearing her down, but they gave her perspective into what he could experience. Could let her sympathize, even. But that would only be applicable if he dared to tell her, that is, which seemed less and less likely with every passing second of this embrace. Whatever was in Lithios' air this afternoon to cause such a delightful scene, well, she didn't want it to end. At least prematurely. Hopefully, no blasters, gamblers, or things of that nature would interrupt, like they so often did on Coruscant.

Nah. Here, all they had to worry about was the racism, general poverty, and rampaging capitalism.

She could handle complex. Well, maybe. Hopefully, right? Her grin seemed genuine and a little coy, shoulder riding and dropping. Her forehead fell against his jaw, definitely an intimate motion if he let her, and quiet reminding grumbles of, "--You really should have called." Left her.