Ask Burden Of A Crown

[Altair Din]

It wasn’t till the dance was over that Altair realized it wasn’t the best idea. His injured arm was overworked and started to hurt again. Thankfully, he didn’t open up his wounds but he needed to give it a break. The tiefling said nothing about it, but the arm was once again useless to him. He was having a wonderful time and he wouldn’t let his injuries ruin it. He graciously took the mug of ale she brought back, taking a long sip.

“Oh I got plenty of energy left,” He scoffed at the suggestion that he needed to catch his breath. Nevertheless, he smiled and walked with her to the balcony. He didn’t miss how happy she looked, and it drew smiles from him as well and put him in a better mood. Altair gazed over the balcony at the park and more of the city in the distance. He could see the houses and people milling about, the reality that all of this was under his rule still not settling in just yet. It felt surreal - especially as he considered himself someone simple from one of those tiny houses below.

Altair leaned against the railing, staring off in the distance. He thought of a lot of things - his future, his life being catapulted into royalty, the kind of leader he was expected to be. He also thought about being here and now with Celeste. His gaze briefly flicked back towards her. Was there a name to what existed between them? Did she want to date him or did she want to keep it all casual? Or did she want to have some kind of thing without any name to it? Altair didn’t ask, simply taking another long sip from his ale.

“I’ll miss being a nobody..” He said quietly as he looked out ahead of himself again, “Just a simple farm boy. Everything will be different after the coronation.”

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

With the moonlight glistening above, the whole lively scenery was still enveloped by nothing but the faint glow from above and the few lanterns that were scattered in slightly irregular distances. "Of course you have" she amusedly remarked and the truth was that she had much energy left herself, however the peaceful scenery of the romantic balcony not far off seemed way too tempting to ignore.

The balcony overlooked various houses and one could see quite far, however what caught her attention was an elderly couple that was just happily walking through the park down below with seemingly not a single worry on their minds. It made her smile, and perhaps even a little nostalgic as she was sometimes missing the care- and worryfree times when she was still acolyte, but a huge part of life was moving on and Celeste had always been too ambitious to settle for something small and so simply staying a mediocre champion had never been an option. Yet, her detour had brought about many troubles and even if that chapter was closed, the memories sometimes came back every now and then...However, the evening had been far too beautiful to drift off now and so she focused on Altair instead, the smile on her lips only widening as the soft breeze that filled the night air was slowly letting loose strands of his hair dance.

"I believe you..." she softly replied, her gaze warm and empathetic while she laid a hand on his arm. "A lot will change, but not everything. You'll still be you". She remembered the day she had officially taken over control Rattatak...There were tons of work, but in the end, it had been worth it and she had gotten used to that new kind of routine. "Yes, you'll gain even more responsibility, but it will all be worth it. As a king, you make your own rules...". He would assert himself and win the favor of the royal houses and be a fair and just ruler. She was also confident he would expand his sphere of influence quickly..."And like I said, you're not alone. You've definitely got my support". She was hoping that she could make herself useful, but unfortunately her hands were still a bit tied in her position. Yet, she was overly glad to be here with him.

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair stood in silence for a few moments, hearing the band start playing again in the distance. The band would go on for hours and the night would continue to be lively. There were rumors about there being fighting pits in this district as well, something he personally wanted to partake in. The thought of the planet’s king being in a grimy fighting pit amused him. The tiefling looked over at Celeste as she spoke.

“Thanks for bein’ there for me,” He said as he set his mug down on the balcony. He reached over to grasp her hand, rubbing a thumb over the bracelet on her wrist. His gaze lingered there for a while, “I feel at ease with you,” He explained quietly, “Like I ain’t gotta worry about my duties and responsibilities.”

Altair tugged her closer and wrapped his single arm around her as he gazed out over the balcony. He couldn’t help but laugh softly as his face nuzzled near her ear, “Seems like a lifetime ago that we were last on a balcony like this,” He murmured quietly. It had been a wild and passionate night, well before they knew where their paths would take them since then. So many things happened after that and they found themselves in a similar spot.

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

As the winds carried the first tunes of the street band over again, her smile widening. The dance had been fun, but the whole night had been perfect just in general. Even though she was indeed still full of energy, getting some quiet time here on that lovely balcony. It was also good to get some more quiet alone-time off from the vivid hustle and the bustle of the busy city at night time, because it allowed them to talk freely again.

When he suddenly thanked her for her presence, she slightly tilted her head to the side before she reached up and softly cupped his cheek. "I'm really happy I can make you feel that way. You take my mind off things, too. With you I feel safe and much more...alive". She was always having great fun with him and the vibe between them was just right. She enjoyed each and every second spent with him, regardless of whether they were on an actual, serious mission, fighting off zombies, chilling in a bathtub or doing it in the midst of a training room...Looking back, she liked the time spent with him very much.

As he mentioned the balcony, she couldn't help but the chuckle amusedly, because those pleasant memories were obviously still very vivid. Getting up on tiptoes, she leaned in to passionately kissed him right like she had done it on the balcony in the penthouse back then. She was tugging at his shirt and pulled back with a seductive smirk, whispering "It does...but isn't it funny how despite all the things that have changed, it's somehow quite similar?". In some regard, the things that had happened had definitely changed them, yet the two hadn't lost what they had discovered between them all that time ago. He was right that it seemed like a whole lifetime ago, yet what he triggered inside her was stronger than ever. Right now, all she wanted was him. There was no one by and she could feel her own passion running high again, however they couldn't just start something here in public...right? With a cheeky smile widening, she glanced up at him, her gaze meeting his vibrant, violet eyes again. "That was a damn good night back then...". She slowly tilted her head before she planted a few, hot kisses along the side of his neck, teasing him just like she had back then.

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Safe? He didn’t know why he liked hearing that - that she felt safe with him. All his life he had been prejudiced against, seen as a demon, as a terrifying monster. For her to say she felt safe with him meant more than she would ever know. Altair simply smiled at her in response, happily returning the kiss. He could never get enough of the taste of her lips or her warmth. There was a fire that sparked between them the very first time they met and it ignited all over again when she returned to Imperial space. Desire began to burn within him as she tugged at his shirt. She would see the fire burn in his vibrant eyes, his tail swishing back and forth.

He gave a sharp intake of breath as she began to kiss along his neck. She knew exactly how to get him going and she had no qualms doing it within several feet of the public around them. Thoughts of that night whirled through his mind, his hand traveling down her back. Without warning, he spun her around so she was against the railing and looking out at the city. He stepped forward and pressed himself against her from behind, right against the tight pants that hugged all her curves just right. Altair leaned forward to rest his chin against her shoulder, “I think it’d be far too scandalous to do to you here what I did back then,” He said with a grin. She would know exactly what she was doing to him and feel it rather obviously.

Altair looked to the side and spotted an alley there that was a bit more discreet, “Feel like being adventurous?” He asked with a teasing smile.

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

It was obvious that he was quite happy about the answer and it really felt like there was nothing more to add anymore for now. She was glad to savor the amazing kiss that followed while all that feelings he usually triggered came back up, but more intense than ever. When he pulled back and their fiery gazed met once more, her lips curled into a smirk before she passionately started tending to his neck. It was her plan to not only turn him on, but to even drive him wild.

Obviously, they couldn't just lower their pants right here, but this didn't mean that this night couldn't lead to anything else in that direction...Of course he knew exactly what to do in order to drive her crazy as well. The way he pressed himself against her backside immediately reminded her of how things had been back on Ord Radama and a gasp immediately escaped her lips while the desire shot through her veins.

The feelings were indeed unchanged and he made it increasingly more difficult for her to keep up her composure here in the open. "Damn Altair..." she whispered, desire obviously taking over, "But you're right...". However, he immediately offered an idea that was indeed way too tempting to refuse. She followed his glance over to the rather dim-lit alley and her smirk just widened even more. "Oh you know me...of course I am". Oh their idea was definitely risky, but no one was around, it was late and if someone walked by, they'd probably be too drunk to realize what was happening anyway. "Follow me, Commander...or wait, I guess it's almost 'your Highness' now" she replied teasingly before she just grabbed his hand and pulled him with her. She did not want to make him contemplative with her way of addressing him, but rather teasing him as she knew how much it usually turned him on when she adressed him with his rank.

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair laughed as she dragged him along into the alley. It was dark, there were rats scurrying about and it smelled funny. However, he was in a great mood and the night was young. Not too far from them, the band began to play again, now doing a jam that people began cheering and dancing with. It was loud and happy, bringing the streets to life once more. The tiefling didn’t focus on that, his attention solely on the woman before him.

He easily pinned her against the wall behind her, leaning in to capture her lips once more. His one good hand slid down her body, exploring and grasping however he pleased. The music raged on and people could be heard all around. It didn’t take long before he spun her around again, his hand slipping down to her pants to begin tugging them down. There was a sense of urgency and a rush from the thrill of almost being caught.

They weren’t alone, of course, as every now and then it seemed like someone would step into the alley. At one point, a drunkard sang loudly as he zig-zagged right past them, even tipping his hat as he walked, but it wasn’t enough to stop him. It was exhilarating doing this here and now, right before he would wear the crown of a King. It was perhaps one of the last times he could get away with something like this before the eyes of the planet were on him.

The music continued and the people danced, Altair moving in concert with the rhythm and beat of the songs. While the rich districts were dark and quiet, the poorer ones were just now coming to life.

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

It felt great to let go just like this and to enjoy the fact that right now, the two of them were really just Altair and Celeste. With a big smirk she steered towards the alley, chuckling as she finally came to a halt as the street musicians were just about to start a new song.

The ale had made her slightly tipsy, but that felt great as well and even though the song created a rather amusing atmosphere for the dancers, not far from them something else was about to begin. Celeste had that same hunger in her eyes she had developed back then on Ord Radama. Desire and passion ran high in the blonde and she was definitely letting him now. The dim street light above was not illuminating the scenery enough to shed some actual light onto them, but it was casting some light, stretched shadows onto the streets that were witnessing what was about to happen...

While having some more privacy here, neither cared about whether or not someone could still walk by and spot the pair, but surprisingly she didn't actually mind that risk at all. When they were still facing each other, Celeste passionately let her hands wander across his still dressed body while simultaneously kissing him, before she spun her around and tended to her leggins. Her breath had already grown heavy and her heart was pounding in her chest from the thrill and the exhilaration, but as exciting as that was, she was absolutely confident in doing in.

Her mind was obviously just focusing on him, so that she only barely perceived the slurred "Eveeeening gents" that was either meant for them or well...probably not. The friendly drunkard then gleefully staggered his way, but Celeste hhadn't even managed to turn around in that heat of the moment. The music in the distance rose to a crescendo and it seemed like they were doing the same. She tried hard to keep it down in order to avoid even more unwanted attention, but the truth was, she had thought the balcony of the penthouse had been risky and this was even so much more, which surprisingly served as even more fuel to her inner fire though. Fully exhausted but, however, definitely satisfied, she half-collapsed against the wall with a wide grin. "Oh...damn it. What are you doing to me?!" she overdramatically stated after sorting her clothes, before she immediately started to chuckle, knowing damn well that she was not at all innocent here. Still, it was funny how he managed to bring out so man different sides of her. Like he had one stated: This had nothing to do with the prim and proper appearance she sometimes had to uphold...But well, she was definitely not complaining at all.


@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair’s face pressed against the crook of her neck, his warm breath against her skin. He was still feeling that high from their time together. It had been exhilarating and crossed all kinds of lines, but he didn’t care. Whatever it was they had between them - this unnamed thing - always had a fiery passion in it. It was as if they found one another irresistible and unable to deny their deep desires. It was still easier to do this here than to find opportunities within the palace where he had eyes on him at all times.

The tiefling smirked at her question, drawing back as he put his belt back on, “Only what you want,” He flashed her a wink as he finished getting dressed. His face was slightly flushed and so was hers, a very obvious remnant of what they had just done. Altair ran his fingers through his hair to set it back into place, feeling hints of sweat against his forehead.

“Well at least there aren’t any security cameras here,” He mused aloud as he looked around, “Not the kind of footage you’d want gettin’ out if you get back to bein’ a Senator,” He grinned at the thought. Altair leaned in to kiss her again, keeping her against the wall but facing him. His palm was against the wall next to her, his brilliant amethyst eyes meeting hers.

“You know…you ain’t ever tell me what you wanna be to me,” He said to her quietly. How did she envision herself fitting into his life after he took the crown and wherever her path took her?

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

She obviously had to smooth her hair down a bit and loose the mischievous smile, that was obviously yet another remnant from that they had just done in that alley, but it was hard when the endorphins were still running that high. It took a few seconds to catch her breath, but the feeling their little risqué affair left was indescribably great. "I can't even deny that" she replied cheekily, flashing him another grin while she straightened her shirt.

What he said next immediately made her chuckle, especially because it was actually far worse for him now. "Also not the kind of footage you want to see from your future king..." she countered amusedly, tugging him slightly closer by his shirt as he leaned in to kiss her, their lips beautifully melting against one another yet another time, while both of their faces were still glowing with heat.

As sweet as that moment was, when he pulled back and their eyes met again, he posed a rather serious question that was not at all easy to answer. Celeste was almost never abashed, but she did have to think about how to place her words for a moment, while the smile never left her lips though. Normally, she was always about a fully open, honest conversation, but he was right when he mentioned that they had never fully spoken about them. The truth was, she didn't even know. Those feelings she had were indeed intense, but her heart had been broken and shattered into a thousand pieces not long ago, and while she cared for him deeply, she was careful, as things were definitely not easy right now. He was admittedly irresistible, and she had been honest when she had told him that she was feeling safe around him, and it wasn't hard to tell that they usually got along excellently. "I know...But that is admittedly because I'm afraid, Altair. Look at you now. You know in what kind of a position I find myself right now and I could not ask you to settle for me right now. You obviously have countless admirers and so far I thought you were only interested in something loose anyway..." she fumbled around on one of the buttons from his shirt, before a slight sigh escaped her. "Because of that, I was holding my feelings back, even if I do like you...very much. Time spent with you always feels great and I know you enjoy it, too, but considering our positions, I didn't even think I could actually be something...more for you". Well, she obviously had a special place in his heart, too, but was there more for him in it after all?

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair was surprised at the shift in her demeanor. He wasn’t used to seeing her nervous or flustered like this. His expression changed from a smirk to something more serious and he could tell Celeste was struggling with where she was. Altair heard her out, but he also reached down to entwine their fingers. Did he only want something casual? Why did that always leave him feeling hollow inside?

She was right about one thing - he did have plenty of admirers and plenty of cause for drama. Celeste had always kept to whatever pace worked for him, never asking for more. Altair raised his hand and began to brush his fingers along the side of her face, his gestures affectionate in nature.

“What about you?” He asked softly, ignoring the cheery music in the background, “I mean….are you past what you been through?” They hadn’t really talked about it beyond what she had been through. He knew she had loved someone and even almost had a child by him. In his world, that translated to about as serious as anyone ever got. His only models were his parents and they had gotten married once and that was it. He couldn’t imagine Celeste ever being over the other man or what she had shared with him. A small part of Altair was a bit more bothered by it than he’d ever admit and he knew it was irrational.

“Did you want this to be somethin’ more?” He asked after a moment, “Did you want this to stay casual?” A few years ago, Altair would have been content to just keep coasting and avoiding this topic altogether. However, after all the drama he experienced, he knew it was better to just talk.

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

She watched his expressions change, while his touch gave her the much needed stability though. Even intertwining their fingers send out more sparks of electricity through her body. However the question he raised next was another very serious one and it seemed like she really owed him an explanation. "I am, yes. I had plenty of time in the last few weeks and at least in the evenings and at night I was alone. You were right about me needing more time to process though. What I had back then was...intense yes, but it was also extremely fast paced and admittedly, not carefully considered. That...unplanned pregnancy somehow sealed the deal, as stupid as it sounds. The decisions were being taken away from us, but looking back, the connection I had developed back then was still rather shallow..." He would notice how much talking about it still hurt, but she was absolutely honest. She regretted that she had been so invested without actually paying attention to what her heart had told her back then. It had all been way too fast and no, he had never been the right man for her, as much as that realization about her naivety hut as well. But the most painful part laid ahead:"The loss of my child though still hurts...another decision I couldn't consciously make. An innocent life had been lost and it still hurts. It's like a part of me died back then..." she had indeed gotten much more cold, but everything that had happened after, had contributed to that too. Her path had completely changed and she had even found comfort in the dark side, but thanks to Altair's suggestion on Raxus, she had taken some time for actual coping and it had helped.

The nervousity that had flared up was slowly fading away and a soft smile returned to her lips while her light blue gaze still rested on those mesmerizing, purple orbs. "You cannot just return that question..." she shook her head with a hint of amusement, however there was then something slightly accusing in the look she gave him. "That's mean...". Despite her stating that rather convincingly flat and quietly, a chukle followed after. "But very well, then I'll begin. I'd say we started off quite passionately, but you know it's not just desire and lust...I adore you and care deeply about you and that started rather fast...". With him, she was not feeling numb anymore. Instead, she finally felt alive and like herself again. She felt saved, she felt special and yes, in a way also loved. She wanted to see him succeed, spoiling him was fun and time spent with him always great. "I was never really the one for casual stuff..." Well, but what had they even done all those times before? She didn't want to dodge the question, but giving a fully straight answer was difficult, too. Her feelings had grown stronger and stronger, but yes, she had also held back again and again. "I want you to stay in my life, one way or another...it just feels right. I feel like I'm not in the position to ask you whether that's more were having though. You know where I am right now and I also know that you need to focus on your career here. I'd never want to be in the way". It was difficult, but that was an important point. She knew about his ambitions, however she was also well aware of the fact that this didn't define him. He was himself and she cherished him for all he was. As much as she valued the time with him, she wouldn't restrict him with anything, regardless of how much she did actually like him. They had been going their very own pace for a long while now, but she couldn't blame him for wanting clarity, but she was at a point where she could accept that this all had to stay the way it was.


@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair could tell it hurt her to talk about her past with the Jedi and he felt a sense of guilt for even prodding at the topic. She described how the two of them started and he agreed, both having been drawn to one another unexpectedly. She had disappeared into Alliance space before it progressed any further and clearly had found love since. However, near the end she implied he had to focus on his career. Altair wasn’t the best at picking up hints and she hadn’t given him a clear answer. But he did know one thing - women usually danced around an issue when they thought the other person wouldn’t like the answer. Right? His conclusion from it all was that she wasn’t over her past and he could get that.

“I understand,” He said, offering an understanding smile. She didn’t want to pursue anything, and he would respect that.

He gave her a squeeze and stepped back from her and the wall. Altair gazed ahead of where they were, thinking about where to go next.

“Soo there are some fighting pits around in this district,” Altair explained as he started walking, “I don’t think it’ll be anything as epic as on Rattatak, but I’m curious.”

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

Her smile slowly faded away when he took his time to answer to apparently consider what she had just said. Next thing she knew was that he said he understood, but her rather contemplative, soft expressions turned into a slight frown, as she doubted whether he had understood what she had said. Shouldn't he have said something like 'it seems like you understand my situation and you're right'?! Or 'no, Celeste, I can absolutely do both'?! What answer had she been expecting after all?! Or should she have been way more clear about that all? What was it, that she wanted in the end?

She kept leaning against the wall for a few more seconds, before she finally pushed herself off, noticeably confused. She didn't say anything else, yet and started following him instead. The moon still stood rather high on the nightsky and they definitely had a few hours left until sunrise, however after their little talk it seemed like there were even more question marks in her head. What he said about the fighting pits, however, somehow distracted her enough to bring back her focus and composure. "Fighting pits you say? Oh I'm down for checking it out! Just keep in mind that the more presence you show down here, the higher the chances someone will recognize you in a few days" she said with a smirk, somehow clinging onto that more lighthearded feeling. It seemed like there had been a misunderstanding in their previous conversation and she intended to change that, but she wanted to give it at least some time. She was curious about the pits, but would keep in mind that they still had to be a bit careful.

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair, like most men, wasn’t the best at hints or vague wording. Unless someone spelled things out directly, he wouldn’t even bother with it. He more or less brushed the topic aside, his focus entirely on the present and the fighting pits. He slowed his pace a bit as she cautioned him about his presence. Altair cast her a glance, a grin appearing on his face, “How’d you know I was considerin’ entering the pit myself?” He asked.

Even with an injury, he was thinking about getting into the pits to crack some skulls. Nothing brought him a thrill like a fight, especially against opponents bigger than him. For now, he decided he would only observe as he led Celeste towards the crowds. There was cheering and shouting all around, women trying to tempt the fighters with their tops removed and flashing their chest. People were guzzling down drinks, someone was walking around selling more of those roasted rodents on sticks.

Altair shoved past a few people to make his way over to a bench that offered a great view. It wasn’t nearly as big as the famed pits on Rattatak but the energy was just as lively. There was a skinny man announcing the fighters and already he could see a massive Cathar coming out to the pit to face a Gamorrean.

“Oh this is gonna be solid,” Altair said with a grin as he clapped along. He got two mugs of ale for himself and Celeste, turning to look at her. Normally this wouldn’t be the type of environment he would bring a girl, but she literally took over a planet that was famous for warlords and gladiatorial fighting.

“Who do you think will win?”

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

It absolutely wasn't hard to tell that he was already excited by the idea and that the thrill was probably also distracting him from his injury. She slightly narrowed her eyes even though she was still smirking, she was keeping her eyes on him. "Hey I didn't say that, did I?" she answered amusedly, but he actually had a point. "But well...I saw it in your eyes. The way you mentioned the pits, that same spark flaring up...I know you can barely resist", she immediately added, affectionately grabbing his arm again. "Even if you are not stepping into it today, I know you're thrilled by that idea, but right now you should take it easy..." she reminded him, a certain hint of concern in her voice. By now he knew how caring she usually was, and so she was dearly hoping he knew that she wouldn't just let him enter like that.

Despite her worries, she was still curious and excited to explore that new area of the city as well though. The closer they got, the louder the noises and countless people were gathered around the fighting pit. The smell of roasted, unfamiliar food filled the air once again and loud, excited chants and roars echoed through the night. The atmosphere was quite similar to what she knew of Rattatak and she was glad that Altair just chose to watch right now.

As Altair knew, Celeste wasn't exactly a fan of violence and she had been forced to shut down the fighting pits on Rattatak at first, because the majority had consisted of illegal slave fights, but after plenty of work she had been able to allow them to open them again, which had been an important step, because the Rattataki loved watching exciting fights and interesting duels. Now, fighters could volunteer on Rattatak and it was still a huge event, and it had definitely helped Celeste making her people happy, regardless of the fact that she had even managed to implement certain rules in the arena. She wasn't fully sure what kind of a fight they were witnessing here, but as far as she was concerned the fight looked rather consensual and the cheering crowd was absolutely excited for the match to commence. She took her seat and assessed the fighter's physicality for a moment with slightly narrowed eyes before she turned to him with a grin. "I'd say the Cathar. He seems more agile...and he'll use that against the massive Gammorean" she replied, assuming that agility would beat brute force here, even though the Cathar was quite massive himself. As he said it, this looked like a solid duel and she was excited to watch it, especially because they both got the chance to experience a seemingly important part of the culture. Additionally, just seeing him sk happy and excited was already worth it and so she leaned back, sipped her ale and directed her attention onto the fight.

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair caught her staring very intently at the combatants and had to laugh, “Relax, this is voluntary,” He explained, “They’re doing it for money and that,” He pointed to the screaming women that were waving their tits about to catch the attention of the fighters. Altair took a long sip of his drink as he listened to Celeste’s answer.

“That’s true,” He agreed as she speculated about the Cathar’s agility, “But the Gamorrean looks like he can take more hits. If he lands one solid hit on the cathar, the cat’s done for,” Altair said as he scooted closer to Celeste. He was clearly excited about this, his tail swishing back and forth. He didn’t think a fighting ring could be something he could ever take a girl to, and this was exhilarating.

“Yoooo you sure you don’t wanna be down in the rings yourself?” A drunk man called out to Altair as he passed them, “I’d put my credits on you.”

“Not tonight,” Altair grinned at him, though he was genuinely flattered. The thought of fighting for glory was thrilling. He briefly wondered if he could enter the blood tournaments on Nar Shaddaa.

“FIGHT ONE! BEGIN!”

The crowds shrieked and cheered as the two fighters began to strike against one another. The Cathar was light on his feet, bouncing around his enemy and taking jabs. The Gamorrean was slow and bulky, barely keeping up with the movements. The first few hits were from the Cathar and it looked as if he would win. The crowds cheered and booed accordingly, reacting to each hit. Altair was animated and cheering along, abruptly standing up to clap every now and then.

“COME ON! UPPERCUT! UPPERCUT! WHY’RE YOU LETTING HIM INSIDE YOUR GUARD?!” He was shouting at the match, calling out moves and criticizing poor ones. It was clear he was deeply passionate about this. The fighting continued and the Gamorrean was repeatedly taking blows. To everyone attending it looked as if the Gamorrean would drop any second. Everyone was shouting and chanting the Cathar’s name.

“I dunno, I still got faith in my man,” Altair said as he sat back down next to Celeste. Within seconds, the Gamorrean landed his first hit. It was a massive punch to the Cathar’s head that he threw his entire body weight behind. The Cathar hit the ground with a thud. There was a dead silence in the crowd for a few seconds before everyone stood up and shouted, clapping and cheering. Altair only had a smug grin on his face as he clapped along, turning to Celeste to give her a wink.

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

So maybe excitement was an understatement...Altair seemed absolutely thrilled to watch a good fight and she really couldn't blame him. It wasn't hard to imagine him in such a pit, beating each and every contestant with his Matukai skills. For now, it was good that he had decided to lean back and watch, as his arm apparently needed rest, but she was glad she could enjoy that fight with him. "Looks like you're right" she admitted, observing the overly excited women that desperately tried to charm the contestants amusedly.

After glancing up to him with a smirk on her lips, she checked on the fighters again, analytically analyzing their shapes again, before she confidently shrugged. "Yeah, true, but the cat will dodge" she argued, rather convinced of her judgement. It was about then when the next drunk made that comment about putting his credits on Altair. "He has a point" she stated with an even wider grin, waiting for him to pass before she used the noises around them to whisper something into his ear, "and sooner or later this might actually be one efficient way to win the favor of the commoners...". With that, she leaned back again, gaze directed onto the first round that was about to begin.

On Rattatak, Celeste had impressed the people with her strength, too. They had needed a strong leader and she had repeatedly proven that with the help of the Force, she was clearly one not to be underestimated. Her story there had started in a fighting pit and she had voluntarily thrown herself back inside a few times. What she lacked in strength and brute force, she could compensate with agility and intellect, so she was still confident in the Cathar, although he was obviously not the most agile fighter.

She watched intently, realizing that the longer they fought, the more enthusiastic she got as well and she was quickly infected by the cheering. As in an almost synchronized movement, she jumped up when Altair did, loudly shouting "Don't let him get you!! Focus on footwork!!!". She dropped back, giggling heavily while she almost couldn't believe she was finally able to let go like this again. After catching her breath, she leaned back over, once again whispering "You're going down with your bet, just like the Gamorrean".

He had managed to bring back those competitive sides, and she was not losing faith in her chosen fighter. "Wooooo" she joined in with the cheerful crowd that was rooting for the cat as well, however the enthusiasm was abruptly killed by the blow the Gammorean now landed, and hee mouth shot open in an instant. "Nooo! Damn it, you were right..." she finally admitted, playfully and rather softly boxing against his healthy arm after quickly double checking that his healthy arm was the one next to her.

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

The first fight was done and the Gamorrean remained standing. He faced off against several opponents after that, taking down each one. Altair was shouting and cheering till his voice was hoarse. He had been throwing back drink after drink with Celeste, feeling the effects of alcohol. She was likely quite inebriated. Everyone around them was completely drunk and loud. The noise levels were high and it was a scene of chaos and debauchery. Already a few fights broke out here and there.

At some point a man walked over and grabbed at Celeste’s rear. Altair turned and grabbed the man by the front of his shirt, yanking him towards himself. He slammed the man’s face against the top of his horns, resulting in a sick crunch as his nose cracked right there. There was a cheer within the crowd and clapping as the man fell in a slump right there between the benches. Altair only laughed along with the others, not feeling a shred of remorse as he chugged another mug of ale.

The Gamorrean finally came down in the end, defeated by a Trandoshan warrior that was a favorite among the crowds. Altair made a point to fight the man at some point.

“You’ve gotta take me to a Rattatak pit,” He said to Celeste, slurring his words. Altair was in a great mood, even if he looked a bit terrifying with blood on his horns. The man was still passed out cold on the ground with his shattered nose and bleeding profusely.

“Come on, let’s see what else there is to do,” Altair said as he grabbed her by the hand to lead her away. He almost tripped a few times and practically stepped on the man he knocked out on the way out.

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

The ale was too bitter and slightly too tart for her taste, but she happily kept drinking. It was nothing compared to the terrible liquors they offered on Rattatak, but as she wasn't exactly trained with alcohol right now, she was already feeling dizzy after the second mug of ale or so. In fact, she didn't even remember how many she had already emptied, when Altair suddenly headbutted a man out of the blue. "Huuuh? What happened?" she asked confusedly, already slurring her words, but she was convinced he had his reasons anyway, but she wasn't even sure whether her voice managed to reach him through all that noise. One way or another, she joined the crowd and celebrated his little 'win' with him, however hoping that there was no bigger brawl to break out.

Regardless of whether he answered or not, she returned her gaze back to the event and kept cheering with the crowd without actually knowing for whom. Whenever she excitedly jumped up, she either used Altair to her right or the stranger to her left to keep herself from falling as her staggering had reached its climax. Somehow, a Trandoshan won in the end, but Celeste was already too drunk to realize how he ended up in the pit and how many opponents he had actually beaten.

When Altair mentioned the fighting pits on Rattatak, it took a few moments for her to process his words, but she glanced up to him with a huge grin. "Yeeees! Absoluuutely. You'll beat them all, baby!", she excitedly replied, already getting pulled away by the Tiefling. "Where-r-we-goin" she stumbled after him, tripping over something huge but her blurry vision didn't tell her what it was. By grabbing another bystander's shirt, she managed to prevent a fall again, but she received a critical look from the Twi-Lek - which however, she didn't notice anyway. "I want something sweeeet...like....chocolate covered things" she happily mused, her mind slipping off and suddenly hoping back to what they did in that alley not long ago. A mischievous smirk crossed her lips, but she didn't express it yet and kept following him instead. She was still feeling very adventurous and so another street vendor caught her attention: "Ooo...look! They are offering...offering" she squinted, trying to make a meaning out of the letters, "I don't know, but it's colorful!!" she finally pointed out, jutting her chin in the direction of the stand while zigzaging alongside him. Maybe Altair was able to decipher the huge, vibrantly colorful sign that said

"Spice Cakes"​

but even if he couldn't, Celeste was somehow drawn to the overly colorful cakes without knowing what they could possibly get into.

@Sreeya