Ask Fire and Water

[Maeve]

5 minutes later...

Every now and then a missile hitting a building in the distance could be heard and the water in the bathtub slightly vibrated with the impulse. The battle was raging on outside, yet in a relatively safe distance for now and all mattered little for Maeve, who was still sitting on his lap, however the annoying layers of fabric removed by now.

Her mind was focused on his fire only, deliberately blending out whatever happened in the background as she kissed him softly. The luke warm water made her shiver slightly, but when his skin brushed against hers, it offered enough soothing warmth. They had found a compromise after all, and both seemed to literally sink into the comfort the other offered.

How long were they stuck here? Time would tell, maybe the morning would already offer answers. Perhaps they could even continue their observation. It was literally a concern for another day though. Maeve was also somewhat hungry after not having eaten in almost 48 hours, but it was a different hunger that drove her right now. All that mattered right now were his gentle touches, the beating of their hearts and the spiking passion and desires that ran high in both minds.

@Apollyon

 

[Karys]

Karys laid in the tub long after the lukewarm water, nothing else mattered to him in this moment. He ignored the dull thump of a distant explosion, especially when Alice craned up and gently kissed him. Another rush of this strange feeling washed over him; it was intoxicating. One of his hands snaked around the small of her back. Moments ticked by and he wished they lasted an eternity but eventually be broke their embrace in a breath-y smile.

Through the Force, he felt the warmth of her desire the same way he felt the warmth of her body laying against his. Whatever he was feeling, whatever this new unknown thing was within him, he was halfway ready to explore its depths, with her, once more. Something gave him pause, a realization.

He had told her where he had grown up, she knew he was from Ziost. It was a notion that would have once unsettled him, being so candid and honest about anything. Yet, here in this moment it didn’t. Instead, Karys felt completely liberated. Despite this, he knew next to nothing about Alice. His curiosity got the better of him.

“Alice.” He whispered as he kissed her forehead. “Where did you grow up?” He asked gently.

His hand shifted upwards, he lazily dragged his hand up and down her back. His fingers gently caressed her spine as he planted several small kisses on her forehead.

@LadyRen

 

[Maeve]

Maeve got a little carried away as she melted into his embrace, his fingers sending jolts of joy through her as he grazed along her back. Oddly enough, it helped her focus and it calmed her, it was a coping mechanism she had developed ages ago. She closed her eyes for a moment as her own left hand slid down his side, her fingernails tracing along his skin, as he suddenly broke the silence, asking a question,

"Coruscant", she lied withi2ut hesitation, her voice fully certain of what she was saying and her eyes opening at once. Maeve had spun stories throughout her whole life and Alice came from Coruscant. Even if she was liking this one, she couldn't mess up her stories. As long as she was still Alice, her homeworld was Coruscant.

"It was...different back then. But it's probably not hard to tell that I haven't been born into wealth and a functional family". Here, wasn't even lying. Alice shared that part of her story and she felt confident disclosing this one true detail. The question made her nervous still and she didn't want to dig any deeper, so she quickly shifted in his lap, slowly moving her body against his.

"I always think, why dwell on the past though? I love living in the moment and right now, I want you". Her voice continously grew quieter as she pulled him close, this time kissing him more passionately. Her implications were obvious. She wanted another piece of what he had started to offer yesterday, literally carving the intense exchange as she knew it would keep her distracted and from spiraling in general.

@Apollyon

 

[Karys]

"Coruscant." Karys repeated softly.

There was no doubt in his face. He had no reason to distrust her, he believed her implicitly. The candid honesty made some of tense muscles in his shoulders relax. His body settled a little more into the tub as they laid there, intertwined with one another. Their gazes locked onto one another as he listened to what she had to say.

Different back then was a very conservative statement. Coruscant supported more than monsters, freaks, and the deranged back then. Now? Rumors had it that creatures that vaguely resembled men and women stalked the ruins of the eternal cities. Karys swallowed softly at that realization.

"I'm sorry that you lost your home then..." He whispered to her shortly before she pushed herself into him.

For a moment, their kiss would be one sided. Karys' exhausted body had grown more sluggish as they relaxed together. But after a moment, his kiss would intensify as a distant hunger awoken in him. She'd feel the nails on his hand press into her side, jagged predatory teeth would nip at her lower lip.

His need restored.

Despite this, Karys wouldn't take control of her during their coupling. Instead he followed her lead. Matching whatever intensity she brought to bear. Only after Alice had her fill would Karys decide it was time for rest.

"We should go to bed soon." He whispered as he carefully brushed her wet hair behind her ear.

@LadyRen

 

[Maeve]

To her, losing her home meant little. There was no home. To Alice, Corsucant was a birthplace, to Maeve it was Corellia. Neither cared its destruction though. Both women traveled a lot. "I don't mind. It had never felt like home", she replied, and it was no lie. Still, she didn't want to think about it and so she went for what she wanted instead.

They spent the next couple of minutes in the tub, making the most out of the confined space. The lukewarm water caressed her skin with goosebumps every now and then, yet his hot skin against hers made up for that quickly. Their shared endeavor led to them both ending up satisfied, and even if Maeve was definitely more exhausted than before, it had been absolutely worth it.

"Sure", she whispered back, actually feeling the tiredness tug at her. Before she'd fully stir though, she'd go for one last passionate kiss, gently holding his face with both hands cupping his cheeks. Who knew what tomorrow would bring. Who knew whether they'd get off his shithole any time soon. Maeve was still grateful for the company, even if she'd never admit it, but the mentally scarred woman literally needed the physical comfort.

She'd then climb down from him and wrap herself in a towel before she'd offer him the other towel. She quickly hung the clothes up to dry, silently praying they'd be fine by tomorrow morning as they had no spare outfits here, otherwise they'd have to go on a little 'shopping spree'. "Have you found anything to eat earlier? I'm hungry...". Once in the bedroom, she'd start unpacking her meds, briefly sorting what she had found. "We might want to have a look around in the hotel tomorrow". So far, it had seemed empty, but who knew whether someone else was hiding in here.

@Apollyon

 

[Karys]

Karys felt exhaustion overtaking him after they finished entangling themselves in the bathroom. Once they had finished, he would lay there for a while, the urgency of lust completely faded from him. He was comfortable with her naked form pressed to his chest. He expressed this by gently running his fingers through her hair. But somewhere between lucidity and sleep he realized they were still in the bath and made his suggestion.

He and Alice would wrap themselves in towels. He turned to gather his clothes but found her already in the midst of hanging them. A soft smile touched his lips as he watched her do this tiny act for him.

He would move to the room and pour what he had gathered in the floor. He quickly began to sort and organize all of the food what the cans were and which had the closest expiration date. Once that was done, he’d move them all to the counter space near the couch to store them for now.

Once the food was taken care of, Karys would store their waters in a similar manner. He’d them pull two plastic cups and pour them each a small bit of the cheap boxed wine. It smelled strong and bitter, but it would hopefully take the edge off a little. When Alice entered the room he’d slide her cup over to her.

“A toast to surviving the day.” He said, a tired smile forming on his lips.

Once Alice asked him what he had gotten for food, Karys would take stock and grab them both two cans and each a plastic fork. Dinner was a canned fish with a cream of vegetable. It was horrid but it was food at the very least.

“Hotels have generators.” Karys told her as he ate quickly just to get it over with. “Tomorrow we should head down, see if we can’t the turned on.” He continued. “If the food in the fridges are still good, even if it isn’t, I’d rather eat it than this again.” He said with a smirk.

@LadyRen

 

[Maeve]

With the day's exhaustion washing over here, every step suddenly felt somewhat gruesome. Yeah, she desperately needed some rest, but for now she also needed some fuel for the next day. It seemed like Karys went to look after it, so she finished up the laundry and restocked and ordered her chems and meds right after.

Given that her bruises still hurted in several places, she popped in another painkiller, knowing it wouldn't just soothe the pain but also make sleep somewhat easier, so she was all here for it. Karys then approached her with some of the boxed wine he had acquired and she couldn't help but to chuckle.

"I must say...that's an interesting shade of classy", she playfully teased as she took the cup, smelling the oddly bitter, yet strong blend. "To a totally fucked up day and a hopefully better tomorrow", she then added to his toast, dutifully bumping her cup against his before she took a sip. It didn't taste well, but he was right, it was better than nothing and she appreciated the gesture.

There was a comfortably chill vibe and she actually enjoyed it, until they made themselves comfortable on the bed and attended to their...interesting meal. "That's a good point...if they are decently insulated we'll be fine", she replied, giving him a warm smile. "Thanks for the food". It was better than nothing, and she had seen worse, yet it was...freaking canned food.

"Do you think someone else is hiding here? I don't hear anyone...but I guess it's possible", she wanted to know as she poked around in her food for a moment. She gulped down a few bites, before another question prodded at her mind. "When you introduced yourself earlier, you mentioned you're from a house. Sadow, right?", Maeve's memory was not to be fooled. "So I'm the lowly Scoundrel and you're what, nobility somewhere?". Perhaps it was just a name, just a title, but she was curious and thus it just came out bluntly.

@Apollyon

 

[Karys]

As Karys passed Alice her cup of wine, he'd smirk at her comment about an interesting shade of classy. A small laugh would rumble from him at her proposed toast. "Cheers!" He replied as he shook his head. The cups would crinkle slightly as they impacted and then the pair of them tossed back their wine.

After their shot of cheap box wine, Karys would sit at the edge of the bed, eating his disgusting dinner and listen to Alice's lines of questioning. Karys didn't wonder if anyone else was alive or not, he would have sensed them. Instead he shook his head no while he forced himself to chew his canned dinner.

"No, I would sense them." He replied grimly. "I don't know why they did this, but I don't think they left many survivors." He said.

After that he would finish up his food and place the cans to the side. He'd wait while Alice finished her meal and then extend his hand, offering to throw her trash out for her. As he got rid of the garbage, he'd listen to her more pointed and personal questions.

He glanced over his shoulder with a wry smirk as he tossed their cans out of the window and into the empty street below. "Why, the lowly Scoundrel looking for an easy mark?" He teased despite his own exhaustion. Once he had tossed all of their garbage, he'd return to the bed with her, lay down, and motion for her to come snuggle up.

He'd look down at her once she was comfortable, his face would have grown a little more serious and sullen before speaking. "Yeah, House Sadow is one of the Greater Houses on Ziost." He replied, his gaze would shift up towards the ceiling before he'd speak. "And you're no lowly scoundrel."

@LadyRen

 

[Maeve]

Sense them...would he sense them all? She didn't know how the Force worked or how it felt, but she figured she'd have to take his word for it. She still knew she couldn't fully let her guard down at night...she didn't want to be surprised and caught off guard like last time.

"I agree...the place seems deserted", she replied before she finished off the improvised meal. Karys cleaned up and Maeve readied the bed but storing away the stuff she had laid out and ordered earlier. "Obviously", she playfully answered as he asked for him being her next mark, which was interesting and one could literally think that was her plan. Truth was that it had changed and this seemed to be a longer endeavor and they were vibing quite well, so she was fine with that for now.

As he plopped down, she curled up beside him, snuggling closer yet curiously awaiting his question. Gathering more intel was always helpful, and as he revealed his admittedly interesting background, her thoughts began to race again. "Wow...am I even allowed to stay in your presence?", she voiced allowed, obviously teasing, but she did wonder how a noble ended up here and why he had business with Zygerria's scum.

"Oh I am not?", she shifted and pulled her head back a little, searching his fiery eyes. "Then tell me, what do you see when you look at me?", she asked, raising a brow, this time voicing a serious question. A yawn escaped soon after, but she was truly curious for his answer.

@Apollyon

 

[Karys]

Karys gave Alice a tired but playful smirk at her teasing. When she curled up next to him, he found himself enjoying the warmth of her body against his, it was comforting given the day that they had. It was when she teased about staying in his presence that Karys truly chuckled.

“I think I can make an exception for a few days.” He replied, a wry grin appearing on tired lips.

It was when she reacted to his comment on her not being a lowly scoundrel, that really caught Karys’ attention. Her mood became less teasing and more genuinely interested in what he thought of her. His eyebrow ridge cocked as he looked down at her. He stayed quiet for some time as he just gazed back at Alice.

“I see a woman who is just as lost and scared as I am.” He replied honestly. “Someone who’s trapped and only wants to make her way in the Galaxy.” He continued, his words being more of a reflection on himself than her.

He fall quiet for a while then, unsure of how he felt about the words he’d just said. Unsure how he felt about a confession he didn’t mean to give. He swallowed hard and then turned his gaze back to the ceiling.

“We should try to sleep.” He replied, his voice tense and suddenly uncomfortable. “We have a long day tomorrow.” He explained. “Good night, Alice.” He told her and pulled her in slightly closer than before.

With that, unless Alice did anything to prevent him, Karys would fall into an unrestful sleep.

 

[Maeve]

To say that after such a day was exhausted was a sheer understatement. She couldn't wait for some hopefully restful, this time undisturbed sleep, but she enjoyed their little chat. "Well, guess I'm lucky then", she softly replied at his tease as she nuzzled her head against his chest.

As he finally revealed what he actually thought of her, his words hit her deep. They were oddly fitting, even if she wouldn't admit it like that, but she couldn't fully deny that they were truly touching either. Perhaps that was why they vibed so well. They were both traumatized and scarred, yet their background couldn't have been any less different.

She opened her lips to give him an answer, but he suddenly cut off their talk and once again she saw a reflaection of herself in him. She found it incredibly hard to be and stay vulnerable, yet he had exactly done that. She swallowed hard and closed her mouth again, a soft sigh escaping her.

"You're right, let's catch up with some much needed rest", she thus said instead, leaving his former words linger. She had all night to reflect on them if she wouldn't find sleep, which wasn't uncommon at all. "Good night, my lord", she softly whispered back, a cheeky smirk tugging at her lips before he pulled her closer and she tried her best to relax in his warm embrace.

Once her eyes were closed, she did reflect on the day first, before sleep found her surprisingly fast. The exhaustion finally won and took over, dragging Maeve into a deep, yet dreamless sleep. She didn't even wake earlier than at first light as a ray of sun that shone inside tickled her face. She slowly stirred, feeling the presence beside her and rolled over to quickly burry her face into him again. She knew they had work ahead of them, but she wanted to savor the moment a little longer.

@Apollyon