I Wanna Go Fast!

[Corrine Solus]

[fancybox2]

NAR SHADDAA --> MANDALORE
0700 Hours

A daughter of Mandalore can't be expected to always ask for rides. She must have a chariot all her own to travel in the name of the her people and bring honor to her family. Corrine has decided she wants none other than the Kal-Class Fighter to sail the stars with. Go to Mandalore and barter a deal with the Manufacturer

Plot Thread ; Dice Rolled ; Death Disabled
@EmilyHuene ; @Kraken [/fancybox2]

Fast fast fast! That was the name of the game. Corrine Eldar was clearly starting to show signs of an adrenaline junkie. She'd recently been on a hunting mission for a group of pirates that were heckling some minors. Corrine had borrowed a fellow Mandalorian's ship to get out there and nearly crashed it in an asteroid field. Had she been piloting it was highly likely that's what would have happened. Thankfully she was merely on the turret, a droid at the wheel. But she'd ordered the droid to spin as much as possible and get them as close to the rocks as it could. The poor thing obeyed.

All in all the mission ended splendidly. They killed a good dozen of pirate fighters and only received a few minor burns to their own ships. Sadly Corrine's got hit in just the right spit the power went out completely and she had to be towed back to safe space. She laughed the whole time for she was still burning off all the adrenaline from that battle. She couldn't wait to do it again.

Now Corrine wasn't much of a pilot. She liked her boots to be on the ground and an actual gun in her hand. She could handle a ship's gun just fine, and proved that out there in the black. But she still wanted something to get her from A to B without having to rely on someone else having a spare. It wouldn't be that much of an issue if her husband would come back with their family ship from...wherever he was out in the verse.

Once her and her compatriots returned to Nar Shaddaa -where their little mercenary group liked to hang out- Corrine couldn't hold in her excitement. She started looking up different fighter ships and cargo ships all in the hopes of finding her white stallion. She was probably driving the Clan Solus boys nuts with how much she repeated the story of their adventure. But she was excited. Who could blame her?

And then she found the perfect ship. And wouldn't you know it? It was Mandalorian in make. Corrine nearly woke the whole apartment complex up with how loud she shrieked. Several apologies later she was making plans to head to Mandalore to meet with the man who supposedly had one lying around. Corrine had saved up a little money, but she hoped the rest of the boys would pitch in. After all, she'd be giving it to them for practically any mission where they'd take to the skies. You think after all her hard work getting it that it would sit in a garage. No way!

The following morning she'd convinced Arturo Solus to join her on the expedition. She could have a droid fly one of the ships back. But that would be soooooooooo lonely for her. So she begged and begged him to take her and even resorted to bribing him with the knowledge that he owed her. She didn't say what for. Just that he did. Women were clever like that sometimes. And this was the one time she'd really start actually flaunting her gender. It wasn't like she was going against anything by doing so, but it would be enough to throw Arturo off guard hopefully. Well it must have, because it worked.

And what better way to get a boy to do what you want than to give him something to look at? There had been very...VERY few times Corrine had ever taken off her armor (around other people). This morning was such an occasion. Her custom colored Beskar'gam was tucked away neatly in a special suitcase she'd carried with her to the shop. Along with the armor she also had her Westar C-1 carbine broken down and stored in its case. The only thing she actually kept on her person was one of her two "Strill" blaster pistols that she -for the moment- had tucked into the back of her pants; she'd never bought a strap holster for they were always attached to her armor in special slots built into the sides. The other she had stashed in her travel bag. And yes, the safety was on and the clip was empty.

So what was she wearing instead? A black halter top that only covered from her collar line down to her midriff. While some girls might prefer the slim and curvy look, Corrine Eldar -who always considered herself as strong and as capable as the guys- was very proud of her well-defined abs. It showed her determination to her strength and focus as a warrior. Over the halter top she tossed on an over sized hoodie that hid her red hair behind the hood which she was currently wearing over her head. The jacket, as they probably could guess, belonged to Malagith but by the gods did it look flattering on her. To complete the look she had on tight leggings perfect for going out for a run. Or a marathon. Either way, there was another defined part of her that she simply had to turn around to flaunt.

"Let's go let's go let's go!" she'd rush Arturo into moving along. "Don't keep me waiting!"

Oh she couldn't contain her excitement. She was getting her own ship. Her own ship!! Corrine squealed and jumped up and down while spinning in a circle. The boys had never seen her so energetic. While on missions she was like a machine. Focused and goal oriented. Point click shoot. They were all like that. That's what made their mercenary group a well-oiled team. Every now and then she'd get a little noisy with her remarks, but otherwise she usually kept her cool. This Corrine in front of Arturo was like a whole new person.

 

[Arturo Solus]

Arturo's day so far had been a blur. Actually, the whole damn week had been one crazy blur of rushed choices and poorly thought-through agreements. But Cory wanted a ship -'preferably a good one'- and, due to a lack of attention and a small touch of fatigue on his part, he had somehow wound up agreeing to go to Mandalor with the Eldar lass. He was far too tired to say no at the time, and besides, she had ambushed him. He didn't have a choice in the matter; not then, and definitely not now. Actually, you did, dumbass. "Yeah yeah..." Looking himself in the mirror, Arturo answered his inner musings, barely aware that today was the fated day. The day where he and Cory traveled to Mandalor in search of the ship she hadn't stopped prattling on about since time immemorial.

Can you blame her? No, he couldn't. It had been maybe a fortnight since their foray into Contruum's dark waters. Two weeks since they'd engaged the pirate force lurking there, two weeks since they'd won a glorious victory and ridded the galaxy of a dozen or so corsairs. Yeah, good times. Good times, indeed. Arturo remembered the battle they'd fought together as if it were happening now; he remembered breaking off from Cory and Burkhart, a couple fighters following him. He remembered the rush of adrenaline, how he'd nearly thrown up several times, the fear of being spaced or cooked alive in a burning ship. How the asteroid field had closed around him, and how elated he felt when he was alive at the end, and the pirates weren't. Yeah, I can see why she wants a new ship.

Practically speaking, getting a ship for Cory was good for the whole Nar Shaddaa crew and, he s'posed, the Mandalorian cause in general. At least, that's what he told himself. Having a ship on hand was convenient; Dio, Vu'thari, even Vala could make use of it when and where it was needed. The ship Cory had chosen, if he remembered correctly, was capable of carrying nearly two dozen people, and could host a crew of four, at most. A seat for each of them, and I can chill in the cargo bay. Yeah, sounds good. Real good. Running a hand along his jawline, Arturo's thoughts deepened, and before he knew it he was meeting up with the redheaded Mandalorian who he'd called sister for a year. Possibly longer.

To say he was surprised would've been an understatement. When he had risen this morning, he had expected things to proceed as planned: Get washed, get dressed, eat breakfast, gear up, and ship out with Cory. If he was being honest, things were going accordingly, only... She's not wearing kriffing armor! He could count on one hand the amount of times he'd seen Cory out of her Beskar'gam, and that was assuming the hand had lost three fingers. Am I dreaming? This is a dream, right? Nope. Kriff! Looking across at Cory as they walked, Arturo could only blink away the confusion, his legs carrying him onwards as if they belonged to another person entirely.

She planned this whole thing, didn't she? It was the only explanation. She had been working herself up into a stupor ever since they'd made it back. And now she'd talked someone into going with her, she was doing her utmost to make him keep the promise he'd made. But...well... She didn't have to try that hard. Malagith, you lucky bastard.

Taking a sharp left at an intersection that looked much the same as the last, Arturo picked his way through the crowd with Cory in tow, subconsciously aware that they were heading for the docks. Does she have a ship ready, or has she booked passage...I- A hand prodded him in the back, making him rush his steps, and stumble. He shot a glance over his shoulder, and sighed for what must've been the umpteenth time in the past five minutes. Today was absurd. There was simply no other way to describe it. "Okay, okay! I'm moving." Arturo, you damn fool, you!

Looking over at Cory as they walked, the tracker couldn't help but smile as his comrade broke into a series of jumping-spins. How very....girlish? Maybe I should get the doc to look at her when we get back. "You're really looking forward to this, aren't you?" He asked, already knowing the answer. His smile grew. "How're we getting there, anyway? I don't have a ship myself- wait!" He visibly paled as a wild, truly unimaginable idea crossed his mind. No, certainly not...she wouldn't, would she? "You're not flying us there, are you?"

@EmilyHuene

 

[Corrine Solus]

Corrine was beaming. She could tell Arturo was uncomfortable with something and it was entirely her fault. She was getting everything she wanted and more. It wasn't like her to be so spoiled, but by the gods was it fun! She continued walking with him down toward the docks and when he wasn't moving fast enough would give him a gentle nudge, no more violent than the times she hit Dio in the arm. It was a brotherly, sibling rivalry, type thing they shared. And Arturo should be lucky he wasn't Dio then because she hit him a lot harder. He should be very lucky.

Arturo would then ask her if she had been looking forward to this which prompted her to put her hands on her hips and buck out her chest, "Uhhhh! Shaaah! I can't wait! I've been dying all week waiting for this day to come."

And it was true. Corrine couldn't keep a lid on her emotions and made sure to drive the boys crazy. She gave them a pro and con list, though it was mostly just her bragging about how amazing having her own ship could be. So not much of a list. He would then asked the more important question: how were they getting there. He didn't own a ship. And unless she managed to talk Vala out of grabbing hers then she didn't either....

Was she flying them there? That was his follow up question. A valid question. One he should have asked a week ago. Because the answer would probably scare him right now and he'd leave and never look back. Corrine quickly grabbed his wrist so he couldn't change his mind and gave him a troubling grin. "Guess you'll find out!" she'd playfully tease and start dragging him forward.

Corrine would giggle like crazy and use her rather strong arms to make sure he wasn't planning on leaving her side as they walked into the cargo bay docks. There were only four ships docked currently and one of them was all theirs for the trip. Dragging him over to a Mynock series freighter Corrine finally let go of Arturo's arm. The ramp was down and a blue-skinned woman was working on the ship's underside. Hearing them approach the woman, now visible as a Twi'lek, would wipe some sweat off her forehead and smiled to Corrine.

"Everything ready?" the Mandalorian would ask the girl.

Arturo would have seen this woman only a few weeks prior to this when their merry band of mercenaries followed through with a mission against a Hutt family establishment and rescued a kidnapped Trandoshan. That was the same day Corrine met Vala for the first time. Just a few days after that Vu'thari -their other Twi'lek friend- would bring around a new face to the shop. Her name was Kae'Leigh Tameris, but every except Vu'thari butchered her name in pronunciation so she allowed them to simply call her Kaylee. And it just so happened that Miss Kaylee had a ship she was not using. While the girls didn't seem to really get along right away, not that Corrine had anything against the Twi'lek, it was surprising to say the least that Corrine had invited her here.

 

[Kae'Leigh Tameris]

Kae'Leigh Tameris had never dreamed her life would take her so far. A few months ago she was minding her own business, picking pockets of low-key marks, and selling her skills as a slicer. Then she met Vu'thari and everything changed. He'd put the idea in her head to go to Kashyyyk and as it turned out the Mandalorians she was meeting today had also been in that system the same time as she. She might have even walked right past them and not have known it. Though, she would have remembered seeing a bunch of armor wearing mercenaries. They were kind of hard to miss.

From Kashyyyk, a strange and intimidating power awoke within the Twi'lek. Vu'thari called it the Force. The Light side specifically. Where Sith could control the Dark side of this mystical power, she was their opposite of them. And that being the case, she was a risk to herself and others. Not to mention if anyone from the Empire found out about her she'd be swept up in the middle of the night with no warning and would probably never see the light of day again. So she had that to look forward to.

Vu'thari thankfully talked her into training with him and soon she found herself with four other Force potentials -Padawans he called them- all holed up in his home trying to train with lightsabers. Well that was a culture shock if she'd ever had one before. Needing a break from all the meditation and healing talk, she begged Vu'thari to take her somewhere she could let herself be herself again. The circle came around and she was taken to their garage where she met with the Mandalorian team.

And the rest was history. The red head woman who insisted she be called Cory asked her if she might know of a ship that she could borrow. Kae'Leigh had no idea what in the verse she was thinking because she agreed to just hand her the keys to her own ship, metaphorically speaking. It was actually a lot more complicated than that as she'd recently sent her ship -piloted by her droid- out into space to await her command. She didn't want to risk her friends if the Sith did get to her. Everything she owned except for a few outfits and her blaster pistol were on that ship. It was...refreshing to see it again.

Kae'Leigh explained to Corrine, or Cory, that it would take almost a week for her droid to return with the ship so if she was fine waiting then it was hers to borrow. Corrine was more than happy to take the deal and hugged Kae'Leigh right then and there. The blue-skinned Twi'lek was so shocked she didn't know how to react and just pat the girl on the back side of her armor. Hugging wasn't really her thing....

"It's no problem at all. Anything I can do for a friend of Vu'thari's."

"Well I owe you one. Big time. I won't let you forget it either."

And that was the start of this very unlikely friendship. From there she sent a coded message into the black void of space that her droid would know to look out for and would return the ship to Nar Shaddaa to pick up its master. Kae'Leigh waited in the docking bay and hugged her little KLT astromech droid so hard. She'd missed the little dude so much. After a brief reunion and a long winded explanation of the events that had unfolded while the droid was gone she set to work checking the hull of the ship, it's internal systems, and made herself a small bag of things she decided to keep with her at Vu'thari's home.

A few hours later and she heard Corrine's voice calling out to her asking if the ship was ready. Kae'Leigh set down her gloves and wiped away from sweat she'd been gathering in the heat of the hangar. The outfit she'd chosen from her stash of clothes was something she missed wearing. It was light and cool which fit her best when working on either ships or something greasy. She'd had a loose cloth tied in a bow knot in front of her chest to keep her breasts from getting out of hand. Over that she wore a purple leather jacket which had seen many stains from over the years. She coupled that by wearing matching pants that perfectly decorated her long slender legs. She was wearing a heavier than usual utility belt which paired as a tool belt for the time being.

"You bet. She's all shiny for you."

Behind her, the KLT droid rolled out from under the ship and beeped at its master. Kae'Leigh looked to the two Mandalorians -surprised to see Corrine not in armor as she had before- and would make introductions. "Cory. And um...sorry. I forget your name. This is Johnny. He'll be taking good care of you both."

 

[Arturo Solus]

"Hmm. Excuse me if I start praying,"

he replied slyly, a strong hand taking hold of his wrist, beckoning him to pick up the pace. He still couldn't figure out if this was for practical or personal reasons; the lines continued to become muddled the more he thought about it. He decided, eventually, to just let it rest, following as Cory led them through a network of streets and side-alleys. He still couldn't quite believe she was out of armor. Like a mirage, he could barely discern whether this was all real. The irregularity of it all, Cory was like a whole new woman. Arturo found himself liking this new Cory; she was far more open with her emotions, and appeared to be in a state of euphoria. She looked happy, and that happiness was contagious. To hell with the fact I'm a stone-cold killer, this is...nice. And so it was.

A few minutes ticked by, Arturo content to follow along -for multiple reasons- as Cory navigated the way to the docking bays. When they got there, Cory finally decided to release his wrist. Arturo flexed his fingers, surprised that the circulation hadn't been cut off in the Mandalorian woman's mad dash. 'What, don't trust me?' He felt like saying, until he noticed the blue skin and...uh, 'stylish' apparel of a certain Twi'lek. Kaylee Tamara? No, wait. Kae'Leigh Talian? Nope. Not that either. He focused on figuring out the name as his comrade did the greetings, vowing to appraise everything but the shapely form of the woman who would be lending them a ship for the foreseeable future.

And what a ship it was! A Mynock Series Freighter sat in the middle of the bay the group was in. It's durasteel hull looked every bit intimidating as the tracker'd hoped, though, it was no Destroyer. The last time he'd seen one of these was when he, C, and a fellow Mandalorian named Burkhart had ventured out to Contruum in search of pirates. The redhead had been the only one to have the pleasure of flying in it at the time; Arturo been flying a much nimbler, much less shielded MM8 he'd borrowed from the clan. They'd survived that confrontation. It was also the place where Cory's apparent love for ships had come into play; since that day she'd hardly spoken a word that didn't involve star travel or the mentioning of ships.

Arturo turned back to his two compatriots as a KLT Droid rolled into their midst. He let out a sigh of relief as Kaylee said her piece, mercifully revealing that the bot would do the bulk of the flying. Thank the Gods! Arturo mused, grinning from ear to ear before he considered present company. He cleared his throat. "Good to hear. Thank you for this, K. You'll have her and the little one here back in no time." He said, watching as the droid about faced and rolled away, up the ramp and into the ship. Well, Mandalor awaits. Let's get this done.

He turned to Cory, a glint of humor in his eyes. "Shall we?"

@EmilyHuene

 

[Corrine Solus]

"Real cute," she'd say sarcastically to his comment about praying. "Since when are you religious?"

Once inside the ship the blue skinned Twi'lek came to them and explained that the ship as in prime condition. Corrine smirked wildly and gave Arturo a playful shove to show she was excited. And finally the truth was revealed. She wouldn't be piloting at all. As much as she wanted too. She'd just enjoyed screwing with the Mandalorian too much.

"You bet! This'll be a quick trip and we promise not to let anything happen to your baby."

Corrine would say her goodbye to Kae'Leigh and then follow Arturo up the ramp. She closed the door behind her with the push of a button, shutting out the sight of the young woman. Corrine hand't known much about her, other than that she was a friend of Vu'thari's and apparently an expert slicer. If they ever needed her for that kind of mission she'd be the first one she'd call. Especially after being so kind to offer her ship up just like that.

Following into the ship behind her Mandalorian brother she set down her suitcase full of her armor and weapons. The droid have already moved to the cockpit and was plugging in to handle the in flight procedures. Kae'Leigh hadn't explained this to them, but she'd already pre-coded the navi-computer to get them to their destination and then set up a flight path for the way back too. The only thing Johhny was actually doing was getting them off Nar Shaddaa and onto Mandalor. Corrine watched the droid getting set up and then headed to the common area to check out the rest of the ship.

The mynock-series brand was a capable ship perfect for just about any mission. But smugglers were their preferred buyers. The cargo hold could carry up to 20 tons of goods as still fly with ease at its normal speed. But they weren't interested in that today. Corrine had only one thing in mind, where she was going to sleep. The ship had capabilities to cover four passengers. One bed was clearly Kae'Leigh's and decorated with flower decals and all sorts of other cute animations she was not familiar with. Corrine almost though the bed was a daughter or small child's. Not her knowledge, she didn't have any kids though.

Pointing it out to Arturo she would ask, "So you want this one then...? It's totally your type."

 

[Arturo Solus]

"It is my type! You know me so well."

Arturo replied in a deadpan tone so unsarcastic, he wondered if it would take the Eldar woman by surprise. That was the intention, anyway.

Nothing gets by her though, I should know that by now. Taking his duffel from across his shoulders, Arturo turned away from the bed. He had seen other bunks as they entered the common area, and that was where he slung his bag, the lack of pressure allowing him to rub a knot from his shoulders as he plopped himself down on one of them. "I've already made enough sacrifices," he said, glancing over at the redheaded Mandalorian, a half-smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Your friend's ship, your mission. You get the bed."

The freighter rumbled as the droid went about the pre-flight checks, the kick of the engines making the floor quake beneath the warrior's boots. It wouldn't be long before they were ready to go; Cory had the final say, the droid programmed to listen to her and Kae'Leigh's instructions alone. Regardless, there was no way in hell Arturo was taking the Twi'lek's bed for his own. Nuh-uh, nope! Not for a million credits. He was rather happy with the lodgings he'd chosen. Cory could make up her own mind as to where she slept; there were a couple free bunks left, and a comfortable-looking couch up against one wall that was quite tempting.

He kicked back as an automated beeping sound came over a speaker hidden somewhere. The droid, he assumed. He relaxed back as the beeping cut off, using his duffel as a makeshift pillow. All his gear was stowed inside: A disassembled A-10, one of the two Shrill pistols he carried with him, a change of clothes, some hygiene stuff he'd bought down at the markets. Even his Beskar'gam had fitted into the holdall. He had decided long beforehand that he would don it once they reached Mandalor. The decision had left him with a choice he didn't often make: What clothes to wear instead.

Surprisingly, it hadn't taken him long to decide. Black combat pants, and the boots to match. A black Vee-Neck Tee and -again- a hoodie to match. His garb suited his needs perfectly; the clothes were comfortable, and most importantly of all, they left people confused as to whether he was heading to the local cantina for a drink, or going to kick the kriff outta' some poor insurgents somewhere. Yep. Perfect!

An irritant beeping awakened him from his doze, pale blue eyes seeking out those of his friends. "Looks like the droid's calling for you, Skipper. Might wanna go get us underway before he blows a circuit or something. I'll be here if you need me."

---
​

@EmilyHuene

 

[Corrine Solus]

To throw Corrine completely off her game Arturo would reply to her comment so seriously she in fact did believe him. At least so much to second guess what he was saying. "Wait....what?" Looking back at all the crafty looking stickers and decorations she had to do several double takes, looking back to Arturo and then to the bed and then back to him. "You're messing with me. Ha ha. Very funny."

There was no way she'd believe him. But now in the back of her mind she was actually starting to think "Well....maybe he did? And you'd just laughed at him because of it. Way to go, moron." Now she felt bad. She wanted to say something, but somehow she couldn't find the right words to bring the subject back up. She didn't want him to think she judged him in any aspect of his life. No matter....what choices he made. She'd watch him choose a different bunk and she turned away to throw her smallest bag up to the bunk just above Kae'Leigh's. As she reached up, just enough of her hoodie came up so he'd see the nape of her back.

She'd then turn back around and dust off her hands, even though they were neither dusty nor dirty. "I'm gonna go watch us take off," and she'd awkwardly scoot away from him to follow after Johhny.

In the other room she took the co-pilot chair even though the main seat was open and empty. Johhny was plugged into the console between the seats so there would have been plenty of room if she'd wished to squeeze by. But something felt awkward about sitting there if she wasn't actually the one flying the thing. Plus, that was Kae'Leigh's seat. Even if she wasn't here it just felt wrong to sit in it. The ship rumbled and would begin to take off, going through all the motions Corrine had been through hundreds of times. She watched the hanger doors open above them, and the world of Nar Shaddaa come into view. The ship began a slow ascent to make sure it wouldn't crash with any other ships coming or going their way. And then they were headed off into the great black of space and that was it. The world she knew and ...loved wasn't the right word for how she felt about that slime pit. But that's how the expression went.

The world she knew and "had lived at for many years" was now behind her. The droid would beep at her while Corrine just stared into the black of space. It had to visibly turn it's head and beep louder for her to realize it was trying to speak with her.

"Huh? What? Oh sorry, little man. I don't speak Droid. Uh....You're logged in right? To the computer. Just read it to me on the display."

Johhny would relay the information on the screen and Corrine read it aloud, "The ship is ready for hyper space. Please buckle up." Then she'd loudly make a sound of recognition, "OH!" Corrine laughed and called back to Arturo. "Going into light speed. Hold on tight!"

Strapping herself into the seat she'd give Johhny a thumbs up and then the ship would lurch forward before falling into a steady speed. The blue light of the stars whooshed past them as they entered into the iconic blue tunnel of light, otherwise known as hyper speed. Corrine waited another moment before unbuckling herself and would pat the KLT droid on the dome.

"Thanks, little man. I'll be around."

And with that the droid would power down and go into rest mode until otherwise called upon. Corrine headed back to see Arturo still laying in his bunk. He seemed asleep, but she knew he very well could have just been resting his eyes. She wouldn't bother him either way. Her eyes took a moment to undress him as he was now out of his Beskar'gam. A black v-neck shirt cut just so perfectly to show off his defined body. He was muscular. She liked that in a man. Not just for looks but for the thought behind it. A strong man could protect his home and family. That's what any Mandalorian girl looked for. Her thoughts went to Malagith, her husband whom she'd not seen in months. It wasn't a pleasing thought.

Trying to distract herself she'd then say softly, "What's there to do on this bucket?"

The Twi'lek....well there was no better way to put it, was a hoarder. Boxes and crates were everywhere. Corrine had no idea what was inside them all. But it was mind blowing to see. Corrine, as well as several Mandalorians, didn't exactly keep lots of things. They were used to traveling and making their home wherever they set up camp. It was rare for them to live in one place for more than a few years, and that was pushing it. Corrine herself had changed apartments three times since coming to Nar Shaddaa. But that had a lot more to do with loud neighbors than anything else.

Even still, she barely owned anything. Sentimental feelings were not in her lifestyle and she had to be ready to leave on a moment's notice. Plus there was always the chance that she'd never end up returning to that place one day. Whether it due to death or safety. In the likelihood of death though, she didn't want to leave various items and trinkets that her friends or relatives had no use for and was now their responsibility to figure out what the hell to do with them. It seemed rude to think about.

Kae'Leigh clearly didn't have this problem. In one box alone she found a dozen different Sabaac decks -why did someone need more than one?!- and coins galore for betting and gambling. She wondered if they had any value when she realized they were all fake based on the lightweight material they were made out of. Practice coins? Or maybe something more? She didn't know. But she also found more parts and greasy engine bits than she knew what possible reason Kae'Leigh could have for keeping them. She could build her own ship with all the junk lying around here.

Corrine continued to search through Kae'Leigh's junk, now more so of a hunt to simply see what she could find. It was like a game of hidden treasure. Kae'Leigh would probably be super ticked off that she was doing it, but hey...not if she never found out. Corrine just couldn't help herself. She'd now gotten into the box that contained all of Kae'Leigh's headdresses and would put one on. Although she didn't have lekku like the Twi'lek did, they still looked fairly decent on her head.

"Arturo!" she'd call over her shoulder. "Come check out all this stuff!"

 

[Arturo Solus]

Arturo faded into a light slumber as the Mynock Class Freighter lifted off, the gentle rocking as they ghosted out into open space oddly soothing to the Mandalorian. It spirited him away to a land of half-remembered memories and impossible dreams, and before long he was out of it. He didn't hear as the droid bleeped a message over the ship-wide comms, and was barely even aware that they'd left Nar Shaddaa behind until a second, louder noise -Cory's warning- woke him up a few minutes later. The split-second it took his eyelids to flutter open was all it took for them to enter light speed, or so it seemed at the time. Sleep still clouded his vision, and Arturo braced as the trademark

jolt that accompanied entering light speed shook the ship, nearly throwing him from his bunk. He held tight, unseen forces push-pulling in a bid to displace him. And then, as if someone had flipped a switch somewhere, the room settled down.

Arturo relaxed back, a wave of nausea making him lie still, temples throbbing, head resting on the makeshift duffel-pillow. Yeah, best try and stay awake, he thought, content to just rest his eyes as Cory wandered back into the room. He tried, and failed to keep his eyes sealed shut as the woman traversed the room looking for something to do. How many times have I called Malagith a lucky calyarnr now? Seven-...eight times? Arturo couldn't quite remember; he had been off kilter since the word 'Go!'. And all for one reason: Cory's attire.

He decided to put it to the back of his mind as the girl in question discovered a proverbial treasure trove of junk. Junk that, presumably, belonged to Kae'Leigh. Arturo tried not to be too nosey, opting to roll onto his side, leaving him admiring one of the common room's four durasteel walls as Cory entertained herself. He sighed, noting the first tentative touch of curiosity as it took hold of his thoughts, its claws sinking deep. He couldn't defeat human nature, he s'posed, no matter how hard he tried. It was a fight he couldn't possibly win; he fought the urge regardless, and, as expected, lost. He hated himself for that, but hey! It was harmless fun. Kae'Leigh didn't seem the vindictive sort, and he would at least forbid himself from taking anything. He wasn't a thief.

Rolling to his feet, Arturo walked over to where the redhead stood searching through a stack of crates and boxes, and he whistled his surprise as he laid eyes on the 'treasures' his comrade had dug up. Sabaac decks, antique -yep, fake!- coins, ornate regalia, and more spare parts than someone could possibly find use for. "And I thought Vala was bad," he would mutter in a quiet aside to his friend, staring down at the dragon's horde in utter bewilderment. What use could someone have for all this...junk? There was only one person who knew the answer to that question, and she was back on the Smuggler's Moon.

Shooting a sideways glance at Cory, Arturo would say, "You look different. Have you done something with your hair?" He let the joke fall between them, shaking his head in disbelief and amusement as he bent forward, a Sabaac deck and a stack of gambling chips catching his interest. "Fancy a game?" He asked, a playful challenge issued. "Or are you afraid I'll clear you out...again."

@EmilyHuene

 

[Corrine Solus]

As she showed him the headdress over her head he'd make some fake question about her styling her hair differently. Corrine giggled and then held one up to him. "Maybe you'd like to wear one. You being a fan of all that girly stuff and all?"

She'd continue giggling and then toss it back in the box while he picked up a deck of cards she'd ignored. His offer to play was intriguing, until he reminded her that she would lose horribly. That was the problem with Corrine. She sucked at cards. But then again, Sabaac wasn't really a game of drawing the better hand. It was knowing when to trade cards in and when to fold. Experienced players could count the cards well enough to know when a good hand was coming or had already passed. Thus giving them a reason to fold.

Unless of course they were good at faking it, that was the bluff. Corrine had an awful poker face. She let her emotions get to her even before she started betting. One could practically see it in her eyes when she drew a good hand and knew when not to challenge her for the pot. So she'd win a slight gamble and then the next round she'd go in hot thinking her luck had changed and lose it all and then some. Sabaac was not her game.

"Oh you're on!"

But she couldn't say no. Four hours later and she'd lost just about every one of Kae'Leigh's fake coins to Arturo. She was sitting now with her arms and legs crossed furiously. How could she have lost?! She had a near perfect Sabaac!? But he had better. And once more Arturo cleaned her out. If she could be thankful for anything it was that she'd elected to not play with any real credits. She was saving up for this ship after all and she'd be damned if he was going to buy it for her with her own money. It was a pride thing.

Much of the next few days lasted like that. Corrine's luck hadn't changed much. But her mood got better with each day and the more time she spent with Arturo the better her mood seemed to get. She didn't know why but she could really open up to him. He was just so trustworthy. Dio was too. But Dio was always too uptight about work, or money, or his family. He wasn't too much fun to be around in extended periods of time. Arturo was different.

Finally the droid would chime in letting them know that they were leaving hyperspace and the ship experienced a slight tug once more as they came out of light speed. It wasn't near as bad as when they entered it, so neither would feel like they'd fall over. Corrine headed to the cockpit to check out the scene and there she saw the beautiful Mandalore orb staring at them. Corrine sighed and looked over her shoulder at Arturo who joined her.

"We're home," she'd say with a smile.

 

[Arturo Solus]

Arturo enjoyed the few days spent in hyperspace with Corrine, though, he tried not to let it show. Time seemed to lose meaning, stretching and distorting as they flew further and further away from Nar Shaddaa, getting closer to Mandalor every second they talked, sparred, and played Sabaac. There was never a lack of things to do; every so often he would venture into the cockpit to fly manually, or visit the small armory to make a few modifications to the lackluster arsenal that he was sure Kae'Leigh would approve of. He kept himself busy: he ate, slept, exercised, played eye-spy (that grew dull, fast) and after a time, began to genuinely -despite his best attempts at the contrary- enjoy himself. He figured it was mostly due to the company he kept. Mostly.

Time returned to normal as they finally reached their destination. The droid's chirping warned him that they were about to leave Hyperspace, and Arturo climbed to his feet as the ship shook. He had never liked flying, and the slight disturbance reminded him of past nausea as he followed Cory from the common room to the cockpit, his finger tips brushing the corridor walls as they walked, boots clunking against the durasteel grating at their feet. Cory knew of his innate hatred for space travel, though, she knew not the reason why and Arturo was adamant in keeping it that way. Still, he couldn't help but feel like that one was one of the main reasons she'd invited him in the first place. Sure, she trusted him; he trusted her, and had her back through thick and thin.

Most of all though, he reckoned she just wanted to see him suffer...

He had a grin on his face as they walked into the cockpit. The grin faded, a smile taking its place, heartfelt and real and surprising. Ah, Mandalore. It hadn't changed much; the same landmasses stood out, bold and daring, and predominantly desert. Arturo had grown up here as a kid, just like many of his ancestors had, and their ancestors before them. It didn't matter that he wasn't born on Mandalore. It didn't matter that he was a war orphan adopted and raised by warriors. Mandalore was home, and would continue to be until the day he died. But most of all... "Home isn't a place. It's people," he replied, his thoughts turning to his clan.

He drew up short as he realized he'd said that aloud, turning to Cory, horrified of being labeled sentimental or soft. He quickly changed the subject, backing out, turning towards the common room. "Let's get prepped. Bolts there can take us on in. Won't be long now till you're off this tub and on one of your own." He grinned, tilting his head to see if she was following. "How exciting."

@EmilyHuene

 

[Corrine Solus]

"Yeah..." she'd argue. "But I'd rather be here with my family than on Nar Shaddaa with my family."

She shrugged her shoulders and tilted her head, giving him a "you know I'm right" kind of look. And even though he hadn't intended on her hearing that, she didn't think of him any less because of it. There was nothing wrong with being sentimental about family and loved ones. She also wouldn't notice his sudden change of conversation. At best, she chalked it up to him just being in a hurry to set foot on his homeland again.

He'd then explain that she'd soon own her own vessel to which she'd reply, "Well yeah, sure. But you're coming with me right?"

She'd leave the cabin where "bolts" would stay plugged in and pilot them down to one of the hangers. In the hallway with their beds, Corrine would set out her gear from the suitcase she'd brought and lie everything across the bunk. Showing no shame in her body, she tossed her shirt she was wearing aside and then did the same with her pants. She was now -with her back turned to him- dressed down to her undergarments. She was only in them for half a minute as she began tugging on the tight fitting, spandex unitard she wore under her armor. But that thirty seconds would be enough for him to get an eyeful if he so chose to glance.

In only a couple minutes she had gone from a skinny redheaded chick to a fully decked out armored warrior. Her guns were checked, and rechecked, and she internally slapped herself from doing so twice. That was something Arturo did. He was religious about doing it. Corrine didn't ever go back and check her gear. It's not that she was doubting herself, but that he'd instilled it subconsciously in her that she felt she needed to double check. She blushed as she realized the fact and also that she hoped Arturo had not.

The ship would then come to land as Corrine walked to the common room with her helmet cradled in the crook of her elbow. "All set?" she'd ask with a smile.

The ramp would open and the duo would depart the Silver Bullet and look around with the smell of the Mandalor air hitting them with the breeze. Corrine smiled. It felt good to be back, to be home. She wondered if her family would be around, but she doubted it. They all owned their own homes at this point. Maybe she should have called and let them know she'd be in town? Too late now. Well, sorta. She supposed Arturo wouldn't mind too much if they spent another day planet side.

"So. Where should we go first?"

There were plenty of options on Mandalor to get a ship. And she knew that being a true Mandalorian would make sure no one tried to con her. This being opposed to her being someone friendly to their faction but not initiated into their bloodlines, clans, or houses. Even still, Corrine wanted to get the best of the best. Settling just would not do.