Ask Royal Pains

Altair Din

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Altair couldn’t help but smile at the way her ears swiveled towards him in full attention. What the hell was it with these pointy eared chicks that always gave him the warm and fuzzies? He focused his attention back on the task at hand, his tail almost waving out of control briefly before he settled it down. Altair looked around at the building once more, pondering to himself, “Why don’t we turn this place into a garden again? I know the kinda shit that would grow real nice here all year ‘round without too much care.”

He patiently let her try the grip release over and over again till she finally got it, “Yay!” He clapped cheerfully, genuinely happy to see her succeed. Altair grabbed her wrist again to let her try again - it was one of those things that you got down if you managed it just once. He paused briefly when she spoke, surprise on his face. Altair shook his head with a grin, “I love fightin’,” He explained, “I ain’t ever gonna be mad that someone got me on the ground. In fact, I give mad props for it.”

Altair stepped back, “Now let’s try a kick. Kick with the ball of your foot as an offensive kick towards my stomach,” He pointed to his torso, “In this spot called the solar plexus. You kick someone there, it knocks the wind outta 'em and folds 'em in half,” Altair looked back at her, “Pretend you’re kicking down a door or aim at a target through me to gather up the oomph you need,” She wasn’t Force sensitive, so he had to get creative with the terminology, “Kick with the foot you have in the back in your stance for maximum damage,” Altair held his palm up to catch her kick.

“Don’t worry, I won’t let you land a nut shot this time,” He said with a teasing grin.

@llamallove
 

Reyna Vernize

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Dark eyes scrutinized the warehouse, lingering on the soiled concrete pad, the stripped metal walls, and the skylights—the majority of which were cracked or completely shattered. "Do you really think we could?" she questioned, not completely convinced. There was a gleam in her eye at the suggestion, imagining the building restored to the glory it had once known, just as it had been when she was a little girl.
To look around, her mother's legacy was dead, the impact she'd had on the citizens of Onderon forgotten to time and hardship. Even Weylin, her own flesh and blood, never talked about her anymore. But Altair, with his casual confidence, gave her hope. The half-Sephi's gaze settled on him, unwavering. "You'd do that?"

A stranger. An off-worlder, at that. The last few months had been full of disappointments, and in her loss and grief, her faith had wavered. Daily, crying alone in her room, she wondered if the gods had turned their backs on her. Forsaken her, left her alone, and punished her for her misdeeds. Nevertheless, Altair was like a guardian angel that had swept into her life. Father, and Cassian, too, for that matter, would've balked at the suggestion—an angel with black wings and four great horns instead of a halo. Altair was not surrounded in aureole or adorned in a robe of pure white as sacred artwork would suggest. Reyna understood that he was an ordinary man, but she also trusted. Trusted that through ordinary men the gods that watched over Onderon worked their providence. They'd sent him to protect her, to guide her, and to revive her hope.

It was naïve, perhaps, to tie her hopes to a man she had only met a week ago. A man that was too good to be true. Anyone else she might have accused of trying to get her into bed, of sneaking their hands into her pocketbook, but Altair had made no advances. Even when he could've tried, that night at the tavern. Foolish even, perhaps, but what choice did she have? Her brother would've tried to stop her. Onderon couldn't know. The free worlds would never band together. The Jedi had refused to train her because she wasn't force-sensitive. The only person she could trust right now was herself, and anyone willing to help her along the way.

Altair was willing. More than willing. In a week's time he'd given her much and asked for little. Did he realize just how much that meant to her? Staring into his violet eyes, she knew that the answer was no. He couldn't possibly understand. Not one to leave words left unsaid, she sought his hand and clutched it in both of hers, with all the intensity and the earnest of two friends that hadn't seen one another in years. "The gods sent you to me, Altair. I pray that I will be able to repay the kindness you've shown me."


Just as quickly as she had grabbed ahold of him, her hands slipped away, and her eyes bounced around the room. She could already imagine what it would look like. "We could put a fountain there, in the center!" she pointed, ears bobbing. There'd been a fountain there when she was a child, before the nobleman that had donated it had his servants steal it away in the night.

Back in position at last, but her mind still elsewhere, she raised her right leg, ready to kick, and teased right back, "You better hope not. You don't have any to spare now." @Sreeya

 

Altair Din

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Altair caught her staring at him with a faraway look in her eyes. What was it about offering to build up the garden again that struck her so? He stared right back, his tail swishing back and forth almost out of control.

“Why’s it a big deal?” He asked, genuinely surprised at her reaction. He saw the look on her face and his gaze briefly panned over to the broken flower pots and soil left over. Altair stared at it, his own mind traveling far away for a moment. Eventually, a warm smile appeared on his face as he continued staring in that direction, “...because it’s a bit of home,” He said barely above a whisper. He didn’t know if he was speaking for himself or her, but it felt right all the same.

The tiefling shook himself out of his thoughts as he looked back at her, his eyes widened at her words. They were profound words, something he hadn’t expected from her or had ever heard. Altair had often felt guided towards his actions in many ways, and he liked to consider it the will of the Force. He couldn’t share that out loud with Zelle, but her words humbled him nonetheless. He didn’t protest when she took his hand, his limb heavy in her grip as he started to process what she was saying and doing.

“You don’t owe me nothin’,” Altair said after a moment, his face turning purple from the intense way it heated up. He wasn’t used to people outright suggesting he was a good person or hearing that someone actually wanted to do something for him. Such mentalities didn’t exactly exist within the Sith. A part of him felt guilty for not revealing what he was, but he kept reminding himself that this little chapter would close in a few days. He would finish teaching her, they would part ways, and that would be the end of it.

He followed her gaze, smiling at the vision she had for the building. His eyes lingered on her ears instead of looking at the direction she was pointing, “With ceilings like these, you can have it be a birdbath fountain,” Altair explained as he looked around, “Could line rows of perennials over there. You got some offshoot cousins of purple king’s crown we can plant there,” He pointed elsewhere. For the next few minutes, he excitedly mapped out what a garden would look like complete with lots of trivia about the types of flora and how to care for them.

Altair finally returned to the training, waiting for her to kick. He only scoffed at her remark before she kicked him. He took the hit with his palm, catching her foot there, “Good, now stay balanced,” He said while holding her foot. She would likely wobble around, but he wouldn’t let go, “Center yourself. You don’t wanna topple over anytime you kick. When you do, snap your leg back quickly or you risk overextendin’ and gettin’ hurt,” Altair finally released her leg to let her try again.

After they practiced for another hour or so, he paused briefly to look at her. She was drenched in sweat and her movements were starting to get sloppy. Unlike him, she didn’t train for hours each day and wasn’t accustomed to combat. Altair wouldn’t say any of this aloud, “Man, I’m starvin’,” He declared as he stretched out his limbs, “Wanna get some grub?”

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Reyna Vernize

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"A bit of home," she hummed to herself, echoing the sentiment Altair had just expressed. A bit of home. A bit of her mother. A bit of the unattainable past. A bit of the future and brighter days that she hoped laid ahead of Onderon.
She didn't notice the way the Tiefling's face all but turned purple with embarrassment as she praised him, but if she had, she would have found him all the more endearing for it. An arrogant man full of his own virtues and goodness never blushed, far too preoccupied looking down on everyone and everything around him to notice when someone looked up to him.

"You're wrong," she disagreed in an airy voice, as light as the dead leaves that fell from trees outside the windows of the warehouse. "I owe you more than you will ever know." At least she hoped he would never know. He was young and full of life, and that was a burden that was not his to carry. It was hers. "And I will repay you." No matter what he said.


A birdbath fountain. He'd taken her idea and made it even better. It brought a real, genuine smile to her lips that even reached her eyes as she listened to him lay out all of his plans in detail. "That sounds beautiful," she said as soon as he'd finished, her mouth dry. "I can't wait to get started. When can we get started?" She stared at him bright eyed, expecting an answer. She had no intention of letting him do all of the work himself. She would follow in her mother's footsteps, at least in this. She rambled on, "I'll furnish us with everything we need if you will provide me with a list. There she'd have to watch her step. Pour too much money into the project, and he was liable to get suspicious. "I have some... friends that would love to see this warehouse restored. I'm sure they'd be willing to assist us, financially."

When he suggested they call it a day, she breathed a secret sigh of relief, and her ears perked up at the mention of food. She hadn't eaten anything since breakfast. "I'm famished," she agreed, gathering her shoes and pulling the leather jacket back on over her drenched tank top. Out of necessity she'd taken it off, but now, walking out into the chill autumn air, she'd wear it again.

They walked in no particular direction—the only destination Reyna had in mind was the tavern outside of the walls. She wasn't sure where else to go. Anywhere else, and she risked being recognized. She made conversation as they walked, hoping he wouldn't pick up on her dilemma. "Am I your first pupil?" He'd mentioned he loved fighting, and he was proficient. It was possible that this was how he made his living.

A horrible, ear splitting sound interrupted their conversation. An engine sputtering to life, vibrating as metal shook and scraped against metal. It was a miracle it didn't fall apart before their very eyes, smoke spilling out of all of its welded joints. It was attached to a rundown food truck that floated overhead, cruising the streets and looking for customers. A man with a big, unkempt beard and a half burnt cigarra hanging out of his mouth stuck his head out the window. "HEY!" he called out in a booming voice, waving them over. "Want some vittles?"

Vittles? That was a new word, and whatever it was, it sounded extremely unappetizing. Reyna looked away immediately, not wanting the man to recognize her, and to Altair, so that—without context—he might assume she was looking at him for permission. @Sreeya

 

Altair Din

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Her excitement was infectious, and it was a topic Altair was actually passionate about. However, his smile visibly dampened when she asked when they could get started. With his new roles and titles, he didn’t have as much freedom to whimsically do whatever he pleased. Sometimes he missed those days and he knew they would become even rarer the further up he went in rank. However, he wouldn’t completely squash his free time, “Tell ya what,” He said cheerfully, “Let’s do a little bit of work in here each morning before I train ya. I can be back on the planet uhhh a few weeks after that to do some more work.”

Altair couldn’t help but snicker when she said she was famished. It was another one of those terms he didn’t hear in everyday speech except from wealthier people. He noticed she began to walk back towards the tavern and he was a little surprised. While the food was decent, it was certainly no place he would return to every day for a meal. Nevertheless, he was easygoing and didn’t care either way.

“Naw,” He said, almost blurting out too much about his Sith life, “My school had a combat sports team and I was captain. So I taught a lot of people,” Altair grinned, “You were one of only a handful that landed a crotch shot though, and definitely the only one that landed it first lesson,” He didn’t elaborate too much on his life beyond that. Sometimes he despised having to keep his Sith affiliation lowkey. In most cases he wore that title openly, but he knew Onderon’s history with Sith and he was in no rush to burst Zelle’s bubble.

When the man in the food speeder asked about vittles, Altair perked up, “Now we’re talkin'!” He said, looking over to see Zelle looking at him nervously. Altair quirked a brow, “Oh come on, it’s better than Millie’s cookin’. 'Sides I increase the chances of her poisonin' me with each meal I have at the tavern,” He said as he reached into his pockets for some credits, “Hook me up with two kebabs on a stick and slather on summa’ that special sauce, chief!”

It was unclear what the meat was from and Altair didn’t bother to ask. He grabbed a stick and handed one to Zelle, both looking greasy and extremely questionable. He smiled before taking a bite, “Oh daaaamn this is exquisite,” He said happily. It was incredibly spicy, but of course it suited Altair just fine as he came from a family of spicy cooking. How would Zelle fare?

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Reyna Vernize

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Every morning before they trained. It was a start. A good start. "Sounds like we'll be spending a lot of time together then," she stated, ears bouncing as she walked. "I like that." If everyone had an Altair in their life, the galaxy wouldn't be able to find it in themselves to harbor prejudice against Tieflings. She was sure of it.
The captain of his combat team. At least that explained his prowess when it came to hand-to-hand combat. He wasn't one of those underground fighters after all. "I guess I should be proud then," she chuckled, more out of habit than authenticity. "But I feel more guilty than proud. I hope it doesn't hurt anymore."

Altair appeared to be excited about "vittles"—whatever those were. Reyna, on the other hand, was wary. The food truck didn't look the least bit sanitary, and it didn't look like it had ever seen water a day in its life. In fact, it looked as if it had lived many lives—the scrap pieces of various repulsorcrafts pulled from junk yards and welded together into a hideous amalgamation. She could only imagine what the inside looked like.

"I'll... I'll wait over here," she told the Tiefling, her face still tuned away from the vendor. Running a hand over her hair to smooth an errant strand that had slipped from its ponytail while training, she added as the first excuse that came to mind, "I must look a sight." She probably did, too, after that work out, so she didn't feel the least bit of guilt over the deception.


Shoving her hands into the pockets of her leather jacket, the half-Sephi wandered over a bench bolted to the sidewalk underneath a sycamore tree that hadn't been trimmed in years. Its branches hung low and rustled in the breeze. A few squirrels ran up its trunk as she approached, disappearing into the foliage overhead. She sat down, the bench creaking under her weight, and waited, pointed ears listening in to Altair's conversation with the driver.

Special sauce? She didn't even want to know what that meant. When the Tiefling joined her, she graciously but reluctantly accepted the kebab he handed her and said, "Thank you," but didn't take a bite. She just stared at it, turning it over to examine each side. Grease practically dripped from it, and the kraft paper at the base of the stick was already soaked.


"Are you sure this is safe to consume?" she questioned, giving it a skeptical sniff. Seeing that Altair had already taken a bite and was going on and on about how "exquisite" it was, she decided to take the plunge and sunk her teeth into the meat. She chewed, her expression entirely neutral and unmoved until her eyes began to water, and she coughed. "It's spicy!" she spluttered, waving a hand in front of her tongue. @Sreeya

 

Altair Din

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Altair wasn’t sure why she was so intent on anyone not seeing her, but he began to notice it more and more even with her excuses. Altair had entirely too many siblings and knew too many Sith not to spot bullshitting from a mile away. He almost asked about it, but he stopped himself. Duh! She recently had a bunch of thugs jump her. No doubt she was still processing the trauma and on edge around people. Altair made a mental note to avoid crowds whenever they walked anywhere together.

“Well, it’s a pretty nice sight I think,” He gave her a grin, walking over as he handed her the food. If she paid attention, she would notice that his tail swished around each time her ears wiggled, an involuntary action from them both.

Altair shrugged vaguely when she asked if it was safe, “I mean, I doubt Jim Bob o’er there is trynna poison his customers. The lawsuits would put him out on the streets worse than he already is,” He took another bite, satisfied with his sound logic. When he saw her reaction, Altair couldn’t help but chuckle at her reaction, “Oh come on, what kinda food do you eat anyway?” He eyed her kebab, “You can take the sauce off and it ain’t so bad then. Or you could gimme yours. But don’t throw it away!” Wasting food was pretty much a crime in the Din household.

Altair walked over to a nearby bench and sat down. He took a few more bites before he looked at her, “So where you from, Zelle?” He asked, “Somethin’ tells me you don’t have a permanent residence at that tavern.”

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Reyna Vernize

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”You really think so?” she asked, ears noticeably peeking up. As a princess, she was accustomed to receiving compliments from male admirers. Even Cassian’s courtship and the rumors that circulated about them didn’t deter suitors, and they had continued to shower her with compliments and gifts. All of the attention had been exciting at the beginning as a young, flourishing girl coming into womanhood with great expectations and even greater impulses, particularly whenever those masculine blandishments produced a jealous reaction in Cassian and stirred the Zeltron to action.
Over time, however, the excitement of it all faded. The overtures, the gifts, the endearments whispered in her ear while dancing—it didn’t satisfy. She’d wanted something real. Something lasting. Something Cassian had always held back. Since his death, men had either come onto her with no subtly or walked on eggshells around her. Altair did neither. He wasn’t trying to trifle with her affections. He wasn’t coming onto her, and he wasn’t making up sweet sounding lies to tickle her ego. He was simply giving her a compliment. Nothing more, nothing less. A genuine compliment with no strings attached and no expectations.
”I conjecture that we make quite the picture then, sitting here under this great tree with the leaves around us,” she began with upturned ears. ”Because you’re a pretty nice sight, too.”


Dark eyes settled on him after that, studying his face as he ate. She noticed the way his tail whipped back and forth and remembered what he had told her that night in the tavern. ”You told me that your tails is indicative of your thoughts. Does that mean you’re happy?”

Reyna would have thrown the kebab away in the nearest trash receptacle, but Altair’s adamant reaction to that idea made her hesitate and think better of it. So long as he didn’t mind eating after her, of course he should have it. Judging by the way he ate the first, he needed it a lot more than she did. ”Perhaps you’d better,” she said, handing him the kebab. ”I’m not used to such…niche flavors.” She didn’t know what else to say without sounding rude. Hands held out, she looked around for a napkin, but the vendor hadn’t given them any. She wasn’t about to wipe them off on her pants, as her mother had raised her better than that. She would just have to wait.

”I was born and bred here in Iziz,” she said, still determined not to lie to him if she could avoid it. ”I’ve lived here all my life.” She imagined she always would, so long as the Sith didn’t take over the planet. ”And what about Altair? Where was he born? You’re not from around here. I can tell by your accent.”

 

Altair Din

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Altair had a very unattractive response to her very sweet compliment. As soon as she said the words, he seemingly choked on his kebab, coughing a few times as his eyes turned red and watered. After a moment, he finally recovered, his face once again turning purple from embarrassment. Altair smiled sheepishly at her, “My bad.. I ain’t use to…people bein’ so honest,” It was a lot at once - first the compliment and then asking about his tail. His gaze flashed to her ears, the swiveling and perking up revealing that she meant every word.

“Thank you, Zelle,” He said quietly, “And I do think so. There ain’t no way you ain’t called pretty every day in your life,” Altair smiled at her. Without the hood and the cover of darkness, it was much easier to see her face and admire her beauty. He looked over at his own tail briefly, “I….yeah, it does mean I’m happy I guess,” He stared at it, thinking about how it acted on its own most of the time, “You’re easy to be around, so that helps,” Altair looked at her again, his gaze flicking to her ears, “Same with your ears,” He added with a knowing smile.

He took the proffered kebab after he finished his own, “Well, we’ll have to stop at another place so you don’t go hungry,” Altair declared as he began to work on her kebab too.

He wasn’t surprised to hear she was from Iziz, but he had hoped she would be a bit more specific. He wasn’t the probing type, so he didn’t ask further. When it came to his own story, Altair decided to be honest, “Bandomeer,” He said. It wasn’t always a Sith world, and quite frankly, a lot of people didn’t even know about the planet, “You ain’t heard ‘o the town I’m from,” Altair said with a laugh, “It’s farmers and poor people.”

He quirked a brow as he gave a teasing smile, “And what’s wrong with my accent?” He asked, putting on a particularly thick accent, “Ain’t all of us can’t be goin’ aroun’ soundin’ like we royalty,” Altair said with a laugh, finding it humorous since he technically was royalty. The fact that he was sitting across the princess of Onderon hadn’t even crossed his mind.

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Reyna Vernize

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The look on Altair’s face said it all. He coughed and turned the deepest shade of purple. How disheartening it was, that those in his acquaintance did not speak candidly with him. How often she had wished that those in her own inner circle would have spoken openly with her, in no uncertain terms—of their intentions, their hopes, and their emotions. Father had never failed to shower her with gifts and praise, but he’d never let her in on the important matters of his heart, of his state—the real things that he said didn’t concern a princess. Weylin hadn’t opened up to her in years. Not since mother had died. And Cassian. Cassian, with his secrets and his lies. If Altair had faced a similar experience in the galaxy, he had her sympathy.

”You shouldn’t be surprised,” she said, patting him on the back as he coughed. It was emblematic more than it was helpful. ”That you’re handsome, I mean. I’ve told you before that I think so, and it wasn’t because I was… inebriated.” Heat crept up her neck at the embarrassing memory. Embarrassing not because she’d given him a compliment, but because she’d been drunk. She never said anything she didn’t mean, and she never regretted anything she meant. ”It doesn’t bother you, does it? Me being so straightforward?”

As if on cue, her ears perked up when he gestured to them, and one hand reached up to touch them. ”My ears?” She arched an eyebrow. ”You can differentiate their movements?” It was an odd and inarticulate way to phrase the question, but his comment had surprised her. She had only met a few non-Sephi and non-Anyfynn that knew how to read them.

Bandomeer. He was right. She’d never heard of it, and she’d never been there, but it did paint a bigger picture for her. It explained his accent, for one thing, and for another—his knowledge of plants. ”That’s how you knew just what the greenhouse needed,” she rapped, eyes bright. ”Is it beautiful? Your homeworld?”

At the mention of royalty, it was her turn to cough and splutter, and did so she did until she realized it was an off-hand comment, not an indication that he knew her identity. She looked at him, watching the wind tousle his hair. ”There’s not a thing wrong with your accent.” His grammar could use a little work, but she was surprised to find that she really didn’t mind. It was almost charming. @Sreeya

 

Altair Din

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“Naw, I like when people are straightforward,” Altair admitted, though he wasn’t entirely too straightforward himself. All it managed to do was get him in trouble or cause issues. He nodded when she asked about the ears, “I know.. A fair amount of Annfyn, but you ain’t one. I think you’re half Sephi like President Thorne!” He said excitedly. It would be obvious right away that Altair was a fan, though he wasn’t in the fanclub.

“My homeworld’s got beautiful parts of it,” Altair said with a smile, “Where I live…we ain’t got big cities or towers like here,” He looked ahead at the Iziz cityscape, “It’s very rural and there’s lotsa green with rivers and mountains. Life’s real simple. Less credits, less problems I guess,” Altair shrugged, staring off for a moment. It was clear he was homesick. The further up the ranks he went, the further Bandomeer felt. Now that he elevated his family to royalty, it was only a matter of time before it became unsustainable to remain on the farm. Had he accidentally turned his family’s life into hell?

Altair drew back from his thoughts, focusing on the now and the girl next to him. It felt so easy to talk to her. It felt so simple to want to flirt with her and keep this breezy little chemistry going. It almost made him nervous. As he looked at her and saw those ears, he couldn’t help but feel a pang. As if he were overstepping boundaries. In some ways he felt as if he belonged to Clove, as if he were being unfaithful. But he knew that wasn’t the case - he wasn’t her boyfriend and he wasn’t bound by any rules. How long would he keep himself within the prison of his own making? One he kept himself in for over a year now?

“Well my accent wouldn’t be good enough to score a date with you, would it?” He asked as he rose up and faced her, “If you don’t got a rich, fancy man already,” Altair chuckled to himself, clear that this was all lighthearted and nothing too serious. He would be out of Onderon’s orbit in a week either way.

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Reyna Vernize

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He was right, of course. It wasn’t all wax and no wick after all, that talk about being able to read her ears. She was impressed—and amused. ”An Emryc Thorne fan, are you? My father tried to marry me off to Emryc Thorne once,” she said, before realizing how bizarre that must have sounded to Altair, who had no idea that she was a princess, for a commoner to try and form a union between his daughter of no name and the President of the ISC. It hadn’t mattered to her father that she’d been in love with Cassian or that the President never would have given her a second glance. He was one of the wealthiest and most influential men in the galaxy. Handsome, to boot, he’d said. Kicking Cassian to the curb in the race for his daughter’s hand in marriage was just the icing on the cake as far as her father had been concerned.
Less credits, less problems. She’d never considered that. In fact, she’d always considered the opposite to be true. Looking at her own life, however—at the losses she’d experienced, the loneliness that persisted every night—she had to concede that the Tiefling wasn’t entirely wrong. Father, Cassian—they’d been targeted because of their positions of power on Onderon. Had they been the average Joe on the street, the Dark Lord Raze probably would have never spared them a second glance. Because they’d been King and Consul, he’d crushed the trachea of the man that had raised her and driven a sword through the heart of the man she loved. The memory almost made her shiver.

”No fancy man,” she replied, a faraway look in her eyes as she watched a leaf drift down from the tree behind Altair. Not anymore. Perhaps not ever.


Reyna wasn’t looking for someone to replace the love she had lost. Cassian had given his life so that she might live to see the next sunrise, had ordered the guards to drag her away while he stood face to face with death. She had a debt to repay. A life to honor. She couldn’t just move on with her own life.

This offer, unlike the advances of influential Onderonian aristocrats and, more often, their sons, was no offer of matrimony. It was no callous, mendacious offer of love or even attraction. It was just a date. A single, solitary date with no strings attached and no expectations for the night that followed. A night to cut loose and have a good time—just as they had in that tavern a week ago. To forget her problems for a little while, not move on from them. To make the night a little less lonely and a little more bearable. He enjoyed her company, and she enjoyed his. That was all there was to it.

The half-Sephi looked up at Altair, his sudden movement stirring her from her thoughts, and her ears swiveled toward him with her decision. ”I think you already know my answer is yes,” she told him, pointing to her ears. Remembering how nervous Cassian has been the first time he’d asked her out, she smiled for the Tiefling’s benefit and added, ”Thank you, Altair, for asking me out. An evening together would be nice—especially one where he didn’t get hit or kicked or cut open for a change. @Sreeya


 

Altair Din

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Altair burst out laughing at the suggestion that her father tried to marry her off to Emryc Thorne, “Pretty sure every dad tried that for their daughter,” He snickered, though he had no clue how realistic of a scenario it actually was for Zelle, “I do his workout program, but that’s it. I ain’t in his fan club or whatever - that shit’s a bit too whack for me,” He laughed at the thought. The man had an obsessive following that Altair couldn’t understand.

He could see the gears turning in her head after he asked his question. He had thrown it out so nonchalantly and with confidence. And yet, the slight hints of anxiety simmered beneath the surface. His tail swished back and forth as he waited for her answer. It occurred to him right then how long it had been since he had done this - since he had bothered to casually ask someone out. He had done his party hookups or it was the same old multiple year drama. But it was very different from an actual date with a girl he was just getting to know.

Altair smiled when she finally answered, having taken her time. His posture visibly relaxed, and he smiled as she pointed to her ears, “Still like hearing it,” He quipped back. When she thanked him, he paused for a moment, eyeing her curiously, “Thank you?” Altair asked, “I ain’t ever been thanked for askin’ someone out,” He smiled again, “You’re real nice, Zelle,” He said, his tone genuine, “I’d happily take a few punches for ya,” He chuckled as they started walking again.

Altair thought for a moment, “There’s a Life Day lightshow and concert goin’ on tonight,” He recalled, mainly because he was considering performing for tips, “Wanna meet up in the evening for that?”

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Reyna Vernize

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"I can tell," Reyna observed, dark eyes dancing over the Tiefling's muscled physique, arresting in only a tank top and athletic pants. Her gaze was fleeting, as she never allowed it to remain fixed on one person for longer than decorum demanded. Well, almost never. Altair wasn't eye candy, and, thanks to her mother's strict but loving upbringing, she wasn't the kind of woman whose eyes explored and suggested every man she happened to find attractive.
They walked alongside each other, the unpleasant churning of the food truck's engine fading into the distance. Nothing more than background noise. The half-Sephi's limbs felt light, her entire body suddenly weightless—as if it would drift away on the next current of wind that blew up the leaves. Her body swayed unostentatiously with every step that she took, her ears straight up and bouncing.

Happiness. Relief. Call it what you want—she hadn't felt it in a long, long time. She knew it would be gone tomorrow. As faithless as the warmth of the sun on a dreary winter day, but she would enjoy it while she had it. She looked over at Altair, just long enough to study his face.

He'd never been thanked for that before? Was that not normal? Thanking someone for asking you out? She didn't know. She wasn't accustomed to being asked out. Not like this. Not in this way. "Hopefully you won't have to," she spoke, in response to his offer to take a few more punches for her. "However, if you should ever come to my rescue again, I hope that then you will allow me to clean your wounds." Not that she would know what she was doing.


The pair came to a stop at the edge of the sidewalk, at a quiescent four way stop with a blinking yellow light that hung lopsided from two exposed wires. It was a miracle it worked at all. Reyna stared up at the Tiefling, her shoulders straight but her posture relaxed. "I will see you tonight, Altair," she said, adding as they parted ways, "I'm excited!"

 

Altair Din

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Altair was on time and waiting for Zelle as scheduled. He actually brought his guitar along in case she stood him up. He wasn’t the type to get riled easily and would simply perform like he originally intended. The tiefling dressed casual, but it was several leagues above his normal over the top baggy attire. While the average citizen wore jackets and layers due to the chill in the air, his tiefling blood ran hot and he dressed light.

He would glance up as soon as Zelle arrived, offering her a smile. Altair extended a single stem flower towards her - a brilliant blue orchid. It was a very rare flower, found only in the courtyards surrounding the royal palace. Of course, Altair used the Force to sneak one out but she didn’t need to know that. He simply wanted to impress her by getting her an exceptionally rare bloom, having no clue that it came from her own backyard.

“It ain’t a perennial,” He said as he gave her the flower, “But it sure is pretty like you,” Altair was certainly not afraid to be a sap when the situation called for it. His tail was already happily swaying around.

“Let’s go!” He said cheerfully, leading the way towards where the festival started. It was set up like a winter wonderland - lots of large ornaments, lights, music playing everywhere. There were several stands for hot cocoa, snacks, cider and other trinkets all dedicated to Life Day.

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Reyna Vernize

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Reyna didn't date much. Not in the traditional sense of the word. She didn't go out to the movies on a whim, meet up for coffee at the corner coffee shop just to chat and catch up, and she didn't have the luxury of walking into any restaurant she chose at random just because she wanted to share a meal with someone. Everything was planned in advance, her schedule filled in months in advance sometimes. Socially and professionally.

Tonight was an exception to the rule. The half-Sephi had attended light shows and Life Day festivals before but always in an official capacity as the Princess of Onderon. Glad-handing, waving, and putting on a good face for the public. Usually in a designer dress, her hair and makeup meticulously arranged by her personal stylists. Tonight she was just like everyone else, and she didn't have a clue how everyone else would dress. She'd wasted the better part of the afternoon in two of her walk-in closets, debating on what she should wear and how she ought to arrange her hair. It reminded her of her teenage years, when she'd been so preoccupied with that first foray into the world of courtship and physical attraction.

Eventually, she had decided on a baroque print blouse and black pants, and after dinner she'd slipped out just as she had so many nights before. Just as Cassian had shown her so many years ago. The four strand braid she'd sported earlier that day was gone, with half of her hair pulled into an updo at the back of her head, the other half loose and cascading down her back.

Altair already stood waiting for her when she arrived, and if he was paying attention to her ears at all, he would realize that she was excited and pleased to find him so punctual. She took the flower he proffered in an even-tempered manner, pressing its petals to her nose and breathing in its sweet scent. It wasn't the reaction of a woman swooning over a romantic gesture, but she was appreciative, even if she didn't show it, and tucked it behind her ear. There she intended it to stay for the rest of the night. Briefly, she even considered pressing it into a book and keeping it forever, as a reminder that there was still happiness to be found in the world, for however long it might last. It wasn't all behind her.

"Thank you," she said in a composed voice, looking up at him. "It's beautiful." She would have recognized the flower instantly, even if he hadn't identified it as an annual. A blue orchid. A flower that only bloomed in Onderon within her own gardens. She contemplated how to ask her next question without revealing too much about herself. "It isn't native to Onderon... It must have been difficult to find?"

Regardless of his response, she would let him hid lead the way, a little out of her element with all of this freedom. She'd brought a winter cap that didn't go with her outfit at all, just in case she needed to pull it low over her face if they got too close to people. Hopefully it would be enough. Usually she stuck to the shadows when she snuck out. "So," she began, making conversation as they walked along, "Do you always bring a guitar on dates?" She pointed to the instrument, the corners of her lips beginning to tug upwards. "Should I expect to be serenaded later tonight?" @Sreeya

 

Altair Din

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Altair perked up when she noticeably liked the flower. When she asked about the difficulty, he shifted from one foot to the other, his tail swishing back and forth, “Well…it wasn’t easy, that’s for sure,” He said with a sheepish grin. He didn’t say beyond that because it wasn’t relevant, but he certainly left a guard or two confused at the sight of a floating flower. No one would believe them anyway and it could be explained away by the wind.

The tiefling walked alongside her, finding his gaze shifting to her every now and then. She looked incredible with her attire and her hair cascading down her back like that. Altair made a point not to openly stare, however, training his gaze forward again. When she asked about his guitar, he simply chuckled, “I always bring one to these things in case I wanna perform for tips,” He said with a shrug, “Old habits I guess.”

Altair quirked a brow at her, “Do you want me to serenade you? ‘Cause that can be arranged,” He flashed her a playful wink as they arrived near a few stalls. One was selling some hot cocoa. Altair stopped in front of it, the man selling it cheerfully greeting everyone. He eyed Altair with suspicion for a moment, startled to see a tiefling. However, he went to work making the drinks. His eyes fell on Zelle next, “Season’s greetings to-” He squinted slightly as he looked at her, “You.. look real familiar..”

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Reyna Vernize

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Altair didn't explain how the blue orchid had come into his possession, and Reyna decided that she would not press him for details or answers, even if she was curious and would stay up late that night wondering. Either he'd had the flower shipped on world for the express purpose of presenting it to her or somehow, and beyond her comprehension, he had managed to steal one from the palace gardens.

"Perform?" she asked, looking up at him, ears straight up. "Are you a performer? A musician? Then my answer is yes." She hummed, resisting the urge to brush her shoulder against his in that same playful manner she had once shared with Cassian. "I want to be serenaded. I expect you to sing for me the best song in your repertoire."

That would be another first tonight—being serenaded. Unless you counted VIscount Musgrove, who'd stumbled out onto the patio directly beneath her terrace one night after a charity ball. Inebriated, he'd forgotten to leave with his wife and belted out what he could remember of the second verse of All the Way, all while his black toupee gradually slid from his polished head and into the coy pond. He'd joined it soon after, and it had taken several attendants to fish him out.

The sun had already set, and there was a chill in the air. Overhead, the sky was teeming with stars, stipplings across a black canvas, just waiting to be filled in. She looked over at Altair and almost smiled, wondering how they would fill the blank canvas that laid ahead of them this evening. Relaxing Life Day music drifted on the wind from speakers set up around the stalls and some of the light displays, but Reyna's pointed ears picked up on other chords—strident but distant. Live entertainment, somewhere beyond this first row of vendors.

When the hot cocoa salesman stared directly at her, the half-Sephi wanted nothing more than to vanish right then and there. "I just have one of those faces," she replied, accompanied by a quick, high-pitched laugh that she hoped sounded casual. After that, she panicked, although it never showed on her face, and she reached out and grabbed one of the cups of hot cocoa, pressing it to her lips in one swift motion to hide the bottom half of her face. The piping hot liquid burned her tongue, and she thought her throat would go up in flames as she gulped the chocolate down. Trying not to grimace, she seized Altair's hand without warning and pulled him away from the stall. @Sreeya


 

Altair Din

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“I mean, I got a NoiseNebula, so I guess I’m a bit of a musician,” Altair said with a grin. He looked back at the salesman after Zelle responded to him, “Ayo, can you add some extra marshmall-” Altair was distracted when Zelle hastily grabbed his hand and tugged him away. He almost spilled his drink right there, but he wasn’t going to say no to a cute girl holding his hand.

Altair wasn’t known for being super perceptive, so Zelle bullshitting the man and almost dying from choking on her hot cocoa went largely unnoticed, “Maybe the dude was trynna hit on ya,” He said with a grin as they kept walking. Several people were already dancing and he was in a great mood. Altair smiled as he watched the performers, “You come out to this festival every year?” He asked as he glanced at her. He didn’t make any move towards tugging his hand away from hers, deciding he would let it happen as long as she wanted.

The tiefling finished up his cocoa and ditched the cup, “Life Day is my favorite holiday after harvest festivals,” He said fondly, “Every year Pa cuts down a tree and my siblings and I haul it in. We’d all decorate and lift our little sister up to put the star on top. We'd have a sweater for all ten of us kids in our favorite colors and then Ma would cook us the biggest meal ever,” Altair said as he gazed off at nothing in particular. It had been years since he had helped drag a tree in, but his parents still managed. A pang of guilt shot through his chest.

“You got any Life Day traditions you do, Zelle?” He asked as he looked at her.

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Reyna Vernize

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NoiseNebula. Reyna had heard of it before, but now she had a reason to make an account. At the suggestion that the hot chocolate salesman had set his cap at her, she said, "I doubt that." Then she coughed twice, throat and tongue still aflame. She already regretted gulping down hot chocolate as if it was a refreshing cup of ice cold lemonade on a hot summer day, but she hadn't had a choice. It was the only diversion she could think of, and it had worked. At least, she thought it had. Once or twice she stole a glance over her shoulder, just to make sure the salesman hadn't matched a name to the familiar face.
Altair hadn't noticed either, happily sipping his hot chocolate and admiring the lights. First the key at the tavern, and now this She was getting good. Pleased with herself, she looked down and realized that she still held the Tiefling's hand. Dark eyes darted to meet his violet, but he was talking about some of his favorite Life Day traditions with his family. A comfortable warmth settled on her face, and she said nothing about it for the time being.

He recalled the memories with more fondness and merriment than she had ever seen him exhibit, and even to her—a relative stranger—it was evident that he shared a close bond with his family. It sounded like fun, gathering around the tree to decorate it with your family. Nothing like the holidays she had experienced hitherto. The servants did most of the decorating, and she supervised and coordinated. She'd certainly never cut down a tree before. "You cut down your own tree? Is it difficult?" Clearly, she didn't know anything about it. Blinking, she added, "Wait. Did you say ten?"


They walked a little way, Reyna's gaze bouncing between the light displays and Altair's bright eyes. She kept her distance from the rest of the crowd whenever she could. "On Life Day Eve, my mother would always make wassail and Yesternight cake." To Altair, that probably didn't sound like a big deal. From his brief description, she was quite the cook. Reyna's mother, however, rarely cooked or baked anything. She didn't have the time, between royal duties and attending to the household needs. "It's a ring-shaped cake with a bean baked inside. A tradition here on Onderon," she explained to Altair, "Whoever finds the bean will have good luck in the new year. For us, it meant there would be an extra present waiting for us under the Life Day tree." To small children, promises of a bright future meant little. Boxes wrapped in shiny wrapping paper and bows were far more enchanting.

The Princess' gaze settled on a vender nearby selling jewelry. One curio in particular caught her eye, and she turned to Altair. "Wait here for me?" Ducking into the stall, she'd slide the credits required onto the table as soon as the vender was preoccupied with another customer, and then she returned to Altair with a necklace in hand. For him. A small boon of gratitude. "Bend down," she said softly, ears swiveling toward him as she held the necklace out to place it around his neck and explain the significance of it. @Sreeya

 
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