Ask Side Hustles

[Altair Din]

This time of year was always exciting and dynamic on Indupar. Cities boasted dazzling lights and displays, festivals and markets open for the crowds from all over the galaxy. Stalls lined both sides of a wide street in Dahonis City. It was the main square celebrating the new year and there was all sorts of entertainment and food on display. A planet known for its robust and wide selection of food, jewelry and trinkets, every stall was packed with visitors. Merchants from all over the galaxy were selling their wares.

Altair, like most Devaronian men, liked to wander different planets whenever he had down time from the academy. Unlike padawans, acolytes more or less had leeway provided they managed their own budget. And that was exactly why he was currently hustling to make more crowns.

Having picked it up as a side hobby as an extension of his Matukai training, Altair decided to capitalize on his skills. Sandwiched between several stalls was an empty patch of duracrete. There was a speaker blasting some music with a street performer entertaining on the duracrete.

There was a modest crowd gathered to watch the horned male performing a series of very complex spins and acrobatic moves all to the beat of the song. Altair sprang up to balance his body on one hand, holding it in place like that before switching to the other hand in a spin. He sprang back to his feet before swinging a leg up and doing a complete bicycle kick to flip backwards through the air and land back on his hands.

Altair moved effortlessly, balancing on his hands and spinning his torso around while bending and leaning to show the precise control he had over his body. The crowds were cheering him on, and there was a hat on the ground that had accumulated some crowns and coins already.

@Altaris

 

[Darth Tempest]

It had been quite some time since Vahliri was back on Indupar. Despite growing up on the planet, it was a place that she typically avoided since being shipped off and inducted into the Sith academy on Dromund Kaas – and the strained relationship with her mother had no small part in that decision. Nevertheless, the half-Sephi couldn’t deny feeling a bit homesick – especially now that the festivals were in full swing. The music, the fragrant aroma of spices and the endless hustle and bustle of street vendors. It was all something she craved far more than she would ever admit.

Moreover, the current festival lined up perfectly with a bit of downtime she was granted from her training at the Academy. It was an near-perfect opportunity that she was loathe to miss, and she didn’t deliberate for very long before making the journey back to the Mid Rim. She deliberately made no announcement to her family that she was back on the planet, and she didn’t really expect any of her half siblings to be wandering the streets of Dahonis City amongst the middle and lower classes.

The half-Sephi casually strolled through the busy streets, humming along to the traditional music that filled the air. She was dressed in simple pair of jeans and white blouse, alongside a leather jacket pulled over the top. She wore a few gold bracelets on her wrists, while her black hair was pulled away from her face and into a long braid draped across one of her shoulders – flaunting the traditional Sephi tattoos ran up the bridge of her nose and stretch out across the top of her brows.

As she flicked her gaze across the various stalls and merchants, Vahliri’s tawny eyes lingered on one jewelry stall in particular – settling onto an aurodium bangle that was set with multiple small gemstones. She took a couple steps towards the stall, leaning in to inspect the piece closer.

Within moments, the proprietor – a particularly plump Induparan merchant – noticed the half-Sephi eyeing his wares. He flashed her a wide grin, gesturing to the bracelet in question as he walked up to greet her. “Ahh, welcome, welcome! You like this one?” He pointed, and one could practically see the crown signs glinting in his eyes. “One of my finest pieces. You won’t find more beautiful aurodium work in all of Dahonis City.”

Vahliri was silent through that statement, picking up the bracelet and beginning to rotate it in her hands – inspecting the intricate engravings and filigree that had been meticulously hand-worked.

“You see the detailing?” He exclaimed proudly. “Some of my pieces have even reached the private collections of the royal court.”

“Riiggghtttt..” She finally said in response, almond-shaped eyes narrowing with heavy suspicion. “How much?”

He rubbed his hands together. “Ahh, for a lovely lady like yourself? Only two-hundred crowns.”

“That’s absurd.” She cut in curtly, not at all looking amused by the price that was set. As an acolyte, the half-Sephi had limited crowns as it was – having been effectively cut off from any allowance from her family. Buying anything was a bit of splurging, but she certainly wasn’t going to get ripped off.

“One hundred and twenty.”

“One seventy.”

“One hundred and twenty.” She repeated.

“The lowest I will go is one fifty. Final offer.” He crossed his arms over his chest.

Vahliri sighed, placing the bracelet back down where it had been displayed. She stuffed her hands into her jacket pockets, turning on a heel as she gave the merchant a shrug. “Forget it.” With that, she proceeded to stride away from the stall – continuing down the busy festival street.

After a few moments of walking, Vahliri paused once more – fluted ears twitching ever-so-slightly as she picked up on the different style of music amongst the traditional Induparan tunes. Her eyes scanned the horizon before settling upon the patch of duracrete where the Devaronian was performing. Tawny eyes followed the athletic, horned man as he effortlessly bounded from one hand to the other – performing complex spins and backflips as without so much as breaking a sweat.

She couldn't help but stare for a few seconds, remaining in place in the middle of the busy street. After a few moments, Vahliri strode forward - weaving through the crowds that had gathered to watch and deliberately putting herself at the front of the group.

"Nice moves," She called out to him over the music, her lips barely twitching upwards towards a grin. After a few more moments of watching, Vahliri reached into her pockets and stepped towards the hat that had been put out, dropping a generous amount of crowns inside.

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair was in his groove, moving to the music and performing all kinds of tricks. He heard a girl shout out to him over the music and glanced over at her, dropping right into a jazz split as he gazed at her. He offered her a grin, revealing a row of pointed teeth before he pulled himself up back to stand in one, almost impossibly fluid motion with his sneakers gliding across the duracrete. The crowd shrieked and screamed at that as he continued gliding his feet to skate backwards smoothly before continuing the dance.

The song came to an end and he was about to prepare for the next when a voice in the crowd shouted out from the back.

“Yeah but can you move to Induparan music?!”

Violet gaze looked over the crowd as Altair eyed the skeptical man in the back. His face betrayed nothing, but he silently walked over to adjust a few things on his stereo. Moments later, a different song began to play, one almost all the locals would recognize from a very popular Holomovie.

Altair walked back to the center of his ‘stage’, gazing out at the crowd. He moved to the opening beat of the music, arms and legs moving in sync to the percussion beats that rapidly highlighted the beginning. When the melody began, he swayed from side to side briefly before breaking out into the full dance. His hips swayed and circled smoothly as he hooked his thumbs through his belt loops. He gyrated his hips in a full circle before jumping into a rhythm with his feet, his entire body moving to the beat. Every limb was moving in concert to display a perfectly choreographed performance.

The crowd, not having expected him to take on the challenge, was now louder than ever. Several girls clamored to get to the front, almost knocking the half Sephi on her face. By now, many more locals stopped to watch, not used to foreigners picking up their complex dances.

@Altaris

 

[Darth Tempest]

Even after dropping a few crowns into the hat, Vahliri lingered at very front of the group that had gathered around that patch of duracrete, men and women alike cheering and screaming as Altair grooved and performed tricks to the upbeat music. The constant shrieks of the crowd made the half-Sephi all the more thankful for the pair of earbuds that was stuffed into her fluted ears.

While still loud, the earbuds helped to dampen her ultra-sensitive hearing and made the loud noises at the very least tolerable.

Vahliri watched as he dropped into a split and flashed a grin, her own lips faintly pulled upwards towards a sideways smirk in response. Tawny eyes lingered on those vibrant violets for several long seconds, breaking away to glance towards the voice that issued that challenge.

In an instant, the half-Sephi figured that would be the end of it. Induparan dances weren’t as well known to the wider galaxy and were notoriously complex, and she immediately guessed that a foreigner here for the festival wouldn’t know the first thing about it.

Of course, she couldn’t help the way her eyes widened ever-so-slightly when he adjusted the stereo, immediately recognizing the song from a HoloMovie she’d seen dozens of times in the past. With renewed interest, the half-Sephi watched as Altair began to gyrate and move fluidly to music – moving in perfect step with the well-known choreography. Each precise movement of his hips and sway of his arms displayed a perfect control over his body, and it was enough to keep the half-Sephi’s attention the entire time.

As a result, she was thoroughly not expecting the rush of clamoring fangirls that suddenly tried to claw their way to the front. A loud squeak escaped from the half-Sephi’s lips as one dark-haired woman in particular crashed right into the back of her, causing Vahliri to stumble forward a few steps before catching her balance. Her eyes narrowed into harsh slits, nostrils flaring a bit as she stared at the woman who’d nearly caused her to eat shit.

As if to make matters worse, the sudden of people meant that they were all packed in like sardines around that patch of duracrete - with multiple people looming right against the half-Sephi’s shoulder. A loud, adoring shriek from one girl in particular – right against her ear - was enough to cut through the protective measures that Vahliri had taken, and she couldn’t help but wince at the sound.

Vahliri huffed out her annoyance and continued to watch the horned man’s dancing for a few more moments, lightly tapping her foot along to the music – that frequent itch to dance suddenly tugging at the half-Sephi. After a few moments, an idea struck she didn’t hesitate for even a moment to follow through. Without a word of warning, Vahliri took a few steps forward and began to make her way past the crowds and towards that patch of duracrete – opting to join Altair in his practiced choreography.

As she made her way into place, the half-Sephi nonchalantly shoulder-chucked the Induparan woman from earlier – a bit of petty revenge that nearly caused the girl to faceplant just as she had moments ago. Vahliri’s face didn’t betray that it was intentional nor that she was entirely pleased with herself at that moment – even as that same girl proceeded to glare daggers into the back of the half-Sephi’s skull.

She stepped onto the duracrete and positioned herself directly to the left of Altair, giving the Devaronian a smirk before her entire body began to the beat – picking up in the middle of the routine. Her hips swayed and gyrated fluidly to the music, rapidly picking up to match the movements of Altair. Her hands lifted from her sides and rose high above her head, balling her fists as she did so. As she began to swirl her hands in a clockwise circle above her head, so too did her hips sway and rotate in a circle – her entire body spinning in a half circle before she stopped, snapping back to face the crowd. Several of the same girl who had clamored to the front were glaring directly, though Vahliri barely seemed to notice – or simply didn’t care if she did.

As she continued the routine, Vahliri leaned her torso back to the left, one arm raising high into the air while the other hang at her thigh – her hips shimming forward in short bursts “Dancing to this solo would be a crime.” She said in the middle of the performance, tawny eyes briefly flicked over to Altair before turning back to the crowd.

Much to the horned man’s likely pleasure, their duo cheorgraphy only served to gather a larger crowd to watch the display – the cheers and shrieks of the crowd growing louder. With the additional people came an increased stream of happy donations – with audience members frequently stepping forward to chuck crowns into the hat.

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

To say that Altair was caught off guard when the half Sephi woman shoved her way onto the duracrete stage was an understatement. It began as booing since she intervened, but it soon became clear she knew what she was doing. Altair clapped along and watched her for a moment before he performed right alongside her, gazing out at the crowd. He was perhaps a bit too shy to take her hand and do the partner choreography from the movie, but he was perfectly in sync with her moves.

“I hope you’re not expecting me to share the tips,” He called out to her as he spun to face her for a moment, giving that same fanged grin from earlier. There was a glint in his unnatural, amethyst eyes. He allowed his gaze to linger just a moment longer before spinning again and swaying his entire torso with a serpentine wave.

The downside of the half Sephi joining him meant that all the other girls thought it was fair game to barge in as well. Especially the woman who was shoulder checked. As the music continued, the young teen girls rushed forth to swarm Altair. The Devaronian felt overwhelmed at once, the distress reflecting on his face. While he attempted to play it off by laughing along and dancing, he knew his performance was effectively over.

By the time the song ended, the crowds were begging to keep going. However, Altair walked over and switched off his stereo, picking up his hat of whatever crowns he earned for the day. No one would pay to just see random groups in the crowd wildly dancing. The Devaronian looked over the girls, eyeing the half Sephi. He grinned at her, shaking his head.

He said nothing else, giving a dramatic bow to the crowd before he turned and left the space. His cash was in his pocket and his hat was back on his head. He was either done for the day, or he would find another empty spot to set up shop again.

@Altaris

 

[Darth Tempest]

Vahliri strode confidently as she joined Altair on the duracrete stage, looking completely unconcerned with the boos that she received from the crowd. Their disapproval of her entrance quickly grew quiet when the half-Sephi proved that she knew what she was doing, and there was an entirely smug expression on her face when she turned to face those who had voiced their displeasure.

The half-Sephi spun to face the Devaronian just as he spoke, flashing him a faint, sideways grin in response. She couldn’t help but linger on the glint in those amethyst eyes, drawing her attention for a few seconds before she continued to move to the music – hands rising above her head while her torso and hips gyrated in circles fluidly.

Of course, the half-Sephi didn’t exactly consider that her own entrance to the ‘stage’ would invite the entire swarm of teenaged fangirls to follow her lead. Vahliri couldn’t help but narrow her eyes slightly as they all closed, and her gaze narrowed into harsh slits when she spotted the girl that she had shoulder checked earlier making an entrance. The two hadn’t said a single word to each other yet the glares of utter distrain were mutual.

Much to Vahliri’s dismay, her arch-nemesis actually knew what she was doing. While the rest of the crowd danced wildly and was completely out of step, the shoulder-checked girl moved with practiced precision, rolling her torso with hypnotic grace as her shoulders shimmied to the beat. Just as the Induparan girl spun around to the music, she purposefully whipped her flowy dupatta around – swiping it right across Vahliri’s face.

It was a subtle enough move to be played off amongst the crowd, but the half-Sephi knew it to be entirely deliberate and entirely petty. There was a faint twitch of Vahliri’s left eye, and her fluted ears flattened a bit against the sides of her skull. Instead of lashing out immediately, though, the half-Sephi continued on with her dance – attempting to keep step with Altair before the song was derailed completely.

Once more, the half-Sephi rose both hands above her head and began to rotate them in a clockwise circle, her hips moving in sync. This time, however, there was a subtle curling of Vahliri’s fingertips as she reached out with the Force, coiling her grasp around the hem of the skirt the Induparan girl was wearing. It was subtle, though it manifested as a clear pulse that Altair would feel from amongst the crowds.

When the girl went to perform her next spin, she immediately went wide eyes as her foot caught and tangled in her own flowy garment – letting out a sheepish squeak as she unceremoniously tumbled. Externally, Vahliri barely acknowledged the incident – proceeding to step over the top of the collapsed girl and continue on with the dance routine, moving in perfect sync with Altair. Nevertheless, anyone looking directly at the half-Sephi would notice the faint smirk that tugged at her lips.

As the song ended, it was becoming abundantly clear that there was no salvaging the performance. She watched as Altair proceeded to pick up his stereo and hat, pocketing the Crowns that had been collected thus far. She spotted the grin from Altair, flashing him one of her own in response.

With the music over and Altair making an exit, the rest of the crowd quickly started to disperse. Naturally, Vahliri gave her arch-nemesis one last smug glance before following suit – stepping off the duracrete platform and disappearing back into the crowd.

Vahliri took a moment to scan the horizon – allowing eyes flicking once more across the stalls of jewelry vendors and street food sellers alike. With Altair’s music off, she quickly picked up on another Induparan classic that was filling the air – likely playing off of the speakers from one of the endless stalls that lined the streets.

Her tawny gaze once more flicked over in Altair’s direction, watching the Devaronian for a few moments just before he disappeared entirely. She hadn’t the slightest clue whether he was done for the day or if he was just relocating, but the half-Sephi couldn’t help that she was intrigued by the horned dancer.

Fuck it.

Without another word, Vahliri stuffed her hands back into the pockets of her jacket and followed right after Altair – weaving through the crowds of festival goers as she casually strode up from behind. She reemerged only a few moments later, very casually deciding to walk right alongside the dude as if he was an old-time friend.

“Y’know,” She began, glancing out of the corner of her eye towards him. “I can confidently say that I am responsible for at least.. A good portion, of those tips.” Given the fact that she only joined at the tail end of the dancing, that probably wasn’t an exactly accurate statement. But the tips had increased since she joined him on the stage – for however brief it was. So there was that.

“So if you aren’t going to share those,” She said, walking right alongside him. “How about a name?”

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair was well on his way down the market street, carrying the stereo in one hand while the other was loosely in a jean pocket. He dressed in a simple blank tank top and jeans, his wrist sporting beads back from his village on Bandomeer. They were crudely made, as if clearly designed by children, but jewelry he had been wearing for years. His violet gaze flicked to the side as he spotted a kebab stall, smelling the delicious aromas coming from a distance.

He looked to the side when he realized the girl from earlier caught up to him. He blinked at her, scoffing at her words, “More like responsible for me not making a single crown more and ruining my stage,” Altair said quite bluntly, “Now if you started doing some more magic tricks like the little incident with the girl’s skirt, maybe you’d bring in some cash,” He said with a wink, making it obvious that he didn’t miss her Force use. It didn’t take a genius to sense it, see the subsequent victory smirk and put two and two together.

“Altair,” He said as he kept walking towards the kebab stall, “Yours?”

Altair forked over some of his tip money to grab some kebab on a stick. He glanced over at the girl, “Where’d you learn to dance?” His gaze flicked down and up, noting her expensive attire, “Taught by a governess?” He grinned, walking over towards a nearby table to have a seat. If she chose to join him, she'd be witness to his very predatory way of eating which involved biting into the kebab with his pointed teeth. It was methodical and precise, putting his very flashy fangs on display.

@Altaris

 

[Darth Tempest]

Vahliri kept her hands stuffed into the pockets of her leather jacket, humming along to the distant music as she strode alongside the Devaronian. She immediately picked up on the mouth-watering aroma emanating from the kebab stall, and her gaze began to drift between it and the stalls adjacent. She turned to look at Altair when she spoke, rolling her eyes at his assessment of her contributions. “Excuse you,” She corrected him. “Dancing to that song by yourself is a crime. It’s not my fault every other in Dahonis city decided to intrude.”

Of course, she said all this as if she, herself, hadn’t just intruded on Altair’s performance.

“On the bright side, you very briefly had a fantastic dance partner. So you lucked out in the end.” She flashed him a sideways grin. Of course, it was immediately wiped off when Altair nonchalantly called her out on her Force use.

“How did you?—” She blurted out, her mouth opening and closing a few times whilst staring directly at Altair. The half-Sephi was positive that she’d been subtle about her subtle manipulation, though that was probably overconfidence on her part. The fact that Altair had connected the dots that quickly immediately sparked her suspicion, and that fact was clearly reflected on her expression.

She eyed him curiously for a few more seconds before giving a slight shrug of her shoulders. “Bitch had it coming.” Vahliri said flatly. After that catty dupatta slap, the half-Sephi felt absolutely zero shame in causing the Induparan girl to tumble off the stage. The fact that her arch-nemesis could dance equally well, and Vahliri had no desire to be outdone, probably had something to do with it as well.

“Magic tricks or not, we might actually make a good team if your fangirls don’t barge in.” She quipped, a grin tugging at her lips hen the Devaronian finally introduced himself, committing the name to memory.

“Vahliri,” She said in response to the introduction, following him over to the food stall to eye the kebabs. “Nice to meet you.”

While Altair grabbed some meat on a stick, Vahliri turned her attention to some of the adjacent stalls. Desiring something a bit more fresh and light, her attention naturally turned to the fruit vendor just a few steps away. After a quick exchange of crowns, Vahliri walked away from the stall with small bowl of tropical fruit salad sprinkled with red chili powder and a cup of a very popular Induparan, yoghurt-based drink – opting for the sweet, mango variety.

With her snacks in hand, the half-Sephi followed Altair over to the nearby table. She blinked a few times, once more caught off guard by the accurate assumption that she was of higher class. Of course, a quick glance at her nice clothes and the aurodium bracelets on her wrists was enough for Vahliri to connect the dots. “I’ll have you know I learned that dance on my own.” She said, not exactly denying that her overall dancing knowledge was taught by a governess so much as disputing that routine in particular. "I watched the music video enough to memorize the choreography just like everyone else.”

Vahliri paused, taking a moment to stare at the predatory and carnivorous way that Altair torn into the kebab with his pointed fangs. By contrast, the half-Sephi reach a fork to stab into a piece of kiwi, which was promptly popped into her mouth. “And you?” She mused, throwing the dancing question right back at him. “Breakdancing, Induparan.. Got any other tricks up your sleeve?”

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair said nothing as the girl refused to admit her part in ending his performance. He simply smiled to himself and rolled his eyes, shaking his head. He wasn’t entirely surprised - it was typical noble and rich girl behavior. It wasn’t his first time on the planet, and he had been around Dahonis City enough to see the class differences. He usually earned his money here and then found quarters in the poorer districts.

He flashed another grin as she further betrayed she used the Force earlier. His call out was successful in piecing that final puzzle together. He quirked a brow as he looked at her when she took a seat across from him.

“A good team?” He asked skeptically, “I’m doing this to get my next meal. You popped in there for fun and will go back to your cozy little mansion with your servants, princess,” Both brows rose, “Pardon me if I want to keep this a solo business,” He gave her a smile before taking another bite from the kebab. There was no denying she was stunning to behold, but it didn’t change that she came across as a bossy rich girl.

When she asked her question, his violet gaze lingered on hers briefly. He then broke away to see if anyone was watching before turning to her, “Yeah,” He said simply in response. With that, a small strawberry she was about to dig into flew from her plate into his palm. He casually popped it into his mouth.

“DEMON!” A voice shrieked nearby. Altair glanced over to see an old lady pointing at him as she walked by. There were little children with her and they all looked terrified as they glanced over at him and his horns, “Begone, creature of the nether world! You defile this festival with your presence!”

Altair appeared entirely unfazed by the words, clearly used to this kind of treatment. He gently set his kebab stick down and turned to look at the lady and children. Without warning, he widened his eyes and opened his mouth to reveal his rows of sharp teeth, sticking his tongue out to extend it way further out of his mouth to wiggle it around like a lizard.

The sight caused a collective scream from the old lady and all the children, sending them all running. Altair slipped his tongue back in and began to chuckle, exploding out into a small laugh before he shook his head. Finished with his kebab, he wiped off his mouth with napkins and rose to stand, grabbing his stereo and litter.

“Well I’m sure you have a spa appointment to get to instead of wasting time with a devil like me,” He grinned wide at her as he leaned over the table, moving closer to her face, “Daddy wouldn’t approve,” He gave her a wink before withdrawing back.

@Altaris

 

[Darth Tempest]

Vahliri’s eyes narrowed when Altair called her princess. While he wasn’t entirely wrong about her rich and noble background, that wasn’t really the case as of recently. Since being inducted into the Sith academy, she had effectively no contact with her Induparan family and had no intention of reaching out anytime soon – no matter how little crowns were in her pockets.

She simply shook her head in response to his words, scoffing. After a moment of silence, she blinked a few times. “Don’t call me that.”

Vahliri didn’t miss the way that Altair cautiously glanced around festival street to ensure that no one was watching them. She arched a brow in response, eyeing him suspiciously just as she went to take another bite from her fruit salad. The half-Sephi couldn’t help but go slightly wide-eyed as the strawberry she’d been targeting suddenly was pulled from her bowl – barely missing the prongs of her fork as it flew towards Altair’s open palm.

She blinked a few times, though a sly smirk slowly but surely worked its way onto her face. She was already suspicious of how quickly Altair had caught onto her Force usage, and his own display served as confirmation of one possible explanation she had gravitated towards. “I knew you were full of surprises.”

Before Vahliri could say anything else, her attention was drawn towards the shrieking of the old lady. The half-Sephi glanced between the elderly woman and the children that accompanies her, listening to the slurs and xenophobic comments that were shamelessly lobbed at the Devaronian. Her eyes narrowed into harsh slits in response, just as her ears flattened to the sides of her skull – clearly irritated by words.

Just as Vahliri opened her mouth to say something in response, she was cut off by the sudden display by Altair. She watched with wide eyes as the Devaronian extended his tongue outwards in an almost reptilian manner, proceeding to utterly terrify the grandmother and children and send them running. At that moment, Vahliri couldn’t contain her amusement – giggles under her breath soon turning into a small laugh – her ears swiveling a bit as she attempted to regain her composure.

The half-Sephi turned back to look at Altair as he finished his kebab, watching as the Devaronian rose up from his seat and gathered his belongings. Her eyes narrowed once more at his words. “I don’t need anyone’s approval.” She fired back curtly.

With that, the half-Sephi rose up from her own seat – picking up the now empty bowl of fruit and her still half-full cup of Lassi. She casually walked to drop the bowl into a nearby bin before walking back towards Altair.

“I am free to waste my time however I please,” She said, leaning in close to his face. Her own brown eyes locked onto those unnatural amethysts, maintaining contact for several long seconds. “So you can either tell me to fuck off if that is what you want,” She shrugged “Or don't."

The half-Sephi flashed him a sideways smirk, lingering there for a moment before taking a step backwards, gesturing back to the busy festival.

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair’s eyebrows rose when she sternly told him not to call her princess. However, his face relaxed and he nodded, “All right, I won’t,” He said, his tone genuine.

He dumped his litter and was about to turn and leave with his stereo when she approached him. He froze in place, staring at her as his eyes widened. With her moving in and in such close proximity, he could feel the heat rise up against his cheeks though it was difficult to tell through his gray skin. He could only focus on her honeyed gaze and the vibrant tattoos on her face. For all his air of confidence, he was very clearly taken off guard by her bold move. When she drew back, he couldn’t help but allow a grin to grace his face.

He looked back towards the festival where he could see the granny from earlier telling other festival goers about the ‘devil’ and pointing back towards him. Altair turned to look at Vahliri again, hooking one of his thumbs in his pockets.

“Well, we are known for playing with fire,” He said with a flashy smile, “Meet me at Karma at 11. I’ll wait exactly 10 minutes before I go in.”

Altair said nothing more before he took a step backwards and then another, tilting his head to the side as he smiled at her. After a few more steps, he turned and strode off in the opposite direction, throwing up a peace sign with his fingers as he left.

—​

Karma was a very popular danceclub, but it was definitely in one of the sketchier districts of Indupar. It was filled with university age guests that were especially loud and obnoxious, but the music was great and the drinks were cheap. Altair, of course, had a fake ID that belonged to his older brother as a gift for his 16th birthday under penalty of death if their parents ever found out. Beyond the occasional question about his addition of hair, it always passed the glance check.

As promised, Altair was waiting outside near the entrance of the club. He could already hear the thumping bass from inside. Karma was known for featuring a variety of remixes of Induparan and Basic music, all of it sporting a strong rhythm and bass. He was dressed in a white v neck shirt that nicely showed off his golden tattoo. He wore a black leather jacket on top of it with black, form fitting pants and boots. His normally wild hair was actually styled neatly and it was clear he had actually put some effort into his appearance.

Unfortunately it didn’t stop some of the locals looking at him as if he were a freak. A few drunk girls stopped by a few times asking if he was the devil, others asking to touch his horns. Rolling his eyes, Altair checked his chrono.

Five more minutes and he would walk in. There was no way that bougie girl was going to show in a poor district like this.

@Altaris

 

[Darth Tempest]

Vahliri couldn’t help but stare at Altair, more than a bit surprised by his agreement to not call her princess. In truth, she was completely expecting him to brush off her words and reiterate the nickname often and smugly, and his genuine tone was something that completely caught her off guard. She blinked a few times, but otherwise said nothing about it.

The moment she got in close, the half-Sephi didn’t need to see the heat against the Devaronian’s cheeks to know that she had caught him off-guard – that fact betrayed enough by his widened eyes and the way that he froze in place like a statue. In that moment, Vahliri couldn’t help but stare into those vibrant violet eyes that had initially caught her attention back at that duracrete patch, lingering there for far longer than was necessary before eventually stepping back.
Her brown eyes briefly flicked back towards the granny, her ears twitching ever-so-slightly before turning her attention back to Altair. A sly smirk spread across her lips as she listened, placing a hand against her hip. “Karma it is,” She repeated. “See you then,”

She watched as he took a few steps backwards and spun around. It wasn’t until the Devaronian had his back turned that Vahliri allowed herself to smile a bit wider, watching as he strode off in the opposite direction. The half-Sephi brought a hand up from her side, idly twirling and playing with a loose strand of hair that had fallen out of her braid.

After a few moments, and once Altair had vanished into the crowd, she herself turned on a heel and started to depart her own way - tucking that strand of hair behind her ear as she went.

---​

“Heyyy! Has anyone ever told you that you’re ears really look like—"

“Yes. And no, we aren’t related.” Vahliri cut back very bluntly, shaking her head as she walked right past the second person so far who had commented about her ears since arriving in the poorer district. Truth be told, the half-Sephi hadn't been to the popular danceclub, but that certainly didn't mean she was going to be a snob about it. At exactly 11:07, With a fake ID in hand, she confidently strolled down the busy street - making a beeline for the neon-lit entrance of the nightclub.

She had gone the extra mile to dress for the occasion, sporting a A sleeveless, tight-fitting black and gold dress which hugged her lithe body - alongside a pair of narrow high heels. Her outfit was accessorized with a few gold bracelets on her wrists and a pair of hoop earrings. Her black hair was left out of its usual braid, wavey black locks styled loosely.

Her honeyed gaze roamed the crowds for a few moments before she finally spotted Altair - which, given his horns, wasn't particularly difficult. The moment she did, the half-Sephi couldn't help but stare. Her eyes traveled across his attire for the night, lingering the v-neck shirt that flaunted his golden tattoos and well-muscled chest. She clearly noted his neatly styled hair as well, taking a moment to appreciate just how nice the Devaronian looked. She blinked after a few moments upon catching herself outright staring.

Vahliri weaved through the crowds of university students, making her way towards Altair. "Don't look so surprised," She quipped as she strode up to him, flashing a half smirk. "And with three minutes to spare." She was under no illusion that Altair probably thought of her as nothing but a snooty rich girl, and there was an undeniable sense of satisfaction that came with his inevitable shock upon actually seeing her show up.

"You clean up nice," She said, tilting her head to the side. "Especially the hair." With that, Vahliri began to make her way towards the club entrance - the sound of a very popular Induparan song already audible - especially for Vahliri - before they actually got inside. The first obstacle in their way?

The very grumpy Orcolan bouncer at the entrance.

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair had all but given up on Vahliri ever showing. He wasn’t too bummed since he had expected this. He shook his head and grinned to himself, checking his minty fresh breath again before he looked at a group of girls that looked closer to his age. He began to take a step in that direction when he heard a familiar voice from the side. Altair was caught like a deer in the speeder lights, blinking a few times as he spotted Vahliri. Surprise was exactly what was reflected on his face as his violet gaze took in sight of her.

There was a flush to his face when she complimented him, one of his hands moving up to idly brush against his hair when she mentioned it. His gaze remained fixed on her, marveling at the cascading hair that pooled over her shoulders.

“You look..” He began, an almost sheepish smile crossing his features while his face remained hot, “You look really good, Vahliri,” His tone was entirely sincere and tinged with a hint of shyness. Altair shifted from one foot to the other, entirely caught off guard by her appearance and bothering to show up at all.

It would take a bit of nudging for him to shake his head and walk towards the club entrance. While he would have had to wait in line for ages, having a girl meant he could get in almost instantly. He handed over his ID and the orcolan glared at it. The man looked up, down, then up and back down. Altair began to feel a bead of sweat forming until the orcolan gave a vague grunt and let him pass. He got a wrist band instead of a bright neon tag that said he was underage.

The club was crowded, but there was still room to move. Most of the college girls were in tiny, tight dresses and there was no denying that some of them caught his gaze. Navigating crowds was a curious challenge for someone with massive horns, but most people gave him a wide berth.

“Hey big boy!” A very drunk girl called out to him, “You make me sooooo horny!” She began giggling at her own joke. If Altair had a crown for every time he heard that one, he'd be richer than President Thorne. For all intents and purposes, the Devaronian appeared as if he didn’t hear her. This had the reverse effect of catching the girl’s attention even more. She threw her drink back and started navigating her way over slowly.

Altair focused on the music, turning to face Vahliri. His amethyst eyes glinted unnaturally under the occasional strobe light as he gazed at her. He smiled as he began to move his shoulders, swaying his body from side to side to the beat of the song. He followed up with his feet stepping to the rhythm before he extended his hand to take hers. If she accepted, he would tug her close while keeping the dance going. His entire body was fluid in how it moved, his hips and torso swaying and waving with practiced grace.

@Altaris

 

[Darth Tempest]

Vahliri didn’t miss the way that Altair brushed his hair upon being mentioned, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. There was no denying that the Devaronian was downright fine as hell and the half-Sephi allowed her honeyed gaze to linger on his exposed muscles and violet eyes for several seconds.

There was an undeniable flush to the half-Sephi’s face when Altair complimented her, her smile tugging wide. Unlike Altair, the flush against Vahliri’s cheeks was prominent and easily visible – crimson hues rapidly spreading across her normally bronze skin and olive undertones. Perhaps more noticeable, however, was the distinct way her ears swiveled at the words – moving entirely differently from how they’d flattened multiple times before.

The half-Sephi idlly combed her fingers through her cascading black hair, looping her finger around one of the natural waves to twirl and play with it for a moment. “Thanks,” She said, glancing up towards those violet eyes once more. Rather than nudging the Devaronian to get him moving, Vahliri opted to just hook her elbow around his own, tugging him towards the entrance until he finally started to move his ass.

She breathed out a sigh of relief when the Orcolan bouncer gave Altair the go-ahead, proceeding to present her own ID fake whilst internally crossing her fingers. She had scored the ID off of a friend, and the only real sticking point was the lack of facial tattoos on the picture.

After a few seconds of scrutiny, the bouncer gave a nod and Vahliri too was granted a wrist band.

As they walked into the club together, Vahliri reached into the pocket of her jeans – popping in a pair of eyebuds to dampen the thumping music. While she thoroughly enjoyed both the music and environment, the earbuds meant that it wasn’t nearly as overwhelming and uncomfortable to sit through. The half-Sephi didn’t have much difficulty navigating through the crowds, not least of all because Altair effectively cleared a wide pathway in front of her.

She glanced up at the Devaronian, blinking a few times. Her honeyed gaze flicked across the room, following his own to one of the college-aged girls in a small, tight dress. Her ears flicked ever-so-slightly before Vahliri turned back ahead, exhaling through her nostrils.

Of course, the half-Sephi didn’t get far before she picked up on the awful joke from some drunken sorority girl. Her almond-shaped eyes narrowed harshly in the woman’s direction, especially when she threw back her drink and started to make a beeline for Altair. In that moment, Vahliri very seriously considered repeating the move she’d pulled back at the festival.

It wouldn’t have been difficult to snap the woman’s heel with the faintest flick of the Force, and she had no doubt that the unceremonious fall and subsequent embarrassment would be enough to send the woman with her tail between her legs. The half-Sephi stared for a moment, waiting for her to get just a bit closer, more into the center of the room with more people watching, before pulling over her silent ambush.

Before she could execute on her plan, her attention was drawn back to Altair – watching as the Devaronian began to move his body to the music. The college-girl was largely forgotten as the half-Sephi marveled at Altair, taking in the sight of his fluid and graceful movements, from the way his shoulders swayed to the way his hips undulated.

The moment his hand was offered, Vahliri gladly accepted and felt herself tugged close – immediately falling into the music and beginning to dance right along with him. Notably, she kept a hold of his hand and kept her body close to his own, staring right up at him the entire time. Her other hand rose up into the air, gently waving with the rest of her body while her torso began to sway and weave to the beat. Her hips moved with a hypnotic grace, languid and serpentine before abruptly snapping up and dropping with practiced movements ever-so-often. She spun around on her heeled boots, briefly dancing with her back turned to Altair – brown eyes turned out towards the crowds.

Within a moment, she turned once again to face him – flashing a smile as she gazed into those striking amethysts. “Still convinced you’re better off dancing alone?” She mused, a bit of amusement lacing her words.

Of course, the fact that Vahliri’s gaze was on Altair meant that she completely neglected to notice the college-girl from before cutting through the crowd just a few feet away.

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair was always caught off guard by her ear twitches and swivels. The sight drew out a goofy grin on his face. He hadn’t met Sephi before, but he had seen enough President Thorne posters and speeches to decide he and Vahliri were the same species. However, he never saw the President’s ears move and hers were actually expressive.

His focus was entirely on Vahliri by the time they were dancing. It was obvious he was entirely comfortable with his body and moving it to the rhythm. He smiled at her when she took his hand, allowing him to pull her close. For a moment, he kept moving with her, his gaze following her hand that rose up and the hypnotic way her hips and torso moved. He looked over the intricate tattoos, the fiery gaze in her eyes and the strands of hair that went on forever.

Altair felt her spin around as the music changed to something more downtempo, but an Induparan song. The Devaronian moved in closer to Vahliri, keeping his fingers clasped with hers. He reached down to grasp her other hand, entwining their fingers. Altair danced behind her, moving in rhythm to the slow beat of the song. He swayed and rocked his hips, tilting his head to lean in close to the side of her head. He was careful to angle his head to avoid getting his horn caught anywhere. He raised both their interlocked hands slowly up as he swayed with her, moving her hands up over her head before slowly working them back down again.

He was lost in the warmth of having her against him, the scent of her perfume and the locks of hair brushing against him. He felt his heart thundering against his chest, his face heating up once again. Altair danced like that for a bit before she turned to face him again, much closer this time. She would notice the almost dazed expression on his face until he quickly recovered to look at her.

“I’m still not entirely convinced you can keep up,” He said with a fanged smile as one of his hands boldly came down to snake around her waist. Altair kept moving and swaying to the beat until his gaze briefly flicked past her to the drunk woman finally emerging closer by. From the looks of it, she intended to grasp Vahiliri by the hair and yank her back. However, the hand on Vahliri’s waist had a few fingers lift the slightest bit and jerk to the side. There was a shriek as the girl promptly toppled and fell right on her face, shattering her drink glass and completely eating it.

Altair didn’t stick around, his fingers pressing back onto Vahliri’s waist as he simply offered her a smile before guiding her back from the commotion. He kept dancing and swaying the entire time, never missing a beat. While the half Sephi didn’t see it all happen, she would put it all together soon enough.

"Bitch had it coming," He said simply, repeating her earlier words as he winked.


@Altaris

 

[Darth Tempest]

In that moment, Vahliri was entirely focused on Altair. She had completely forgotten about the college-girl from before, and the mutually exchanged dead-glares that the pair had exchanged for a few brief moments were so far from her mind may as well not have been there at all. No, the half-Sephi kept her attention entirely upon the man in front of her.

The half-Sephi was entirely at ease when she danced – especially to music and songs that were familiar to her own homeworld - and it shone through with her graceful and precise movements. For a few moments, Vahliri too time and take in the Devaronian - her honeyed grace traveled across the nice-looking attire and well defined muscles before snapping back up to stare at those piercing violet eyes before turning around – dancing with her back against Altair.

There was a noticeably flush – or in Altair’s case, he probably wouldn’t se it – of red against the half-Sephi’s cheeks, feeling as Altair reached down to grasp both of her hands. The half-Sephi tilted her, nestling her cascade of fragant-smelling hair against the Axcolyte’s shoulder blade.

When she spun around once more, she clearly noted the dazed expression on his face at that moment, and the sight of it immediately bring a flush to her own. Vahliri would easily feel her own heart pounding against heast fest at the moment.

Of course, with her attention on Altair, Vahliri was completely oblivious to the assassination attempt being hatched out by the Sorority girl from earlier. It wasn’t until Altair reached out with the Force that Vahliri eyed him suspiciously, immediately feeling that pulse that brushed against her psyche. And of course, the half-Sephi heard the outright commotion of the girl as the Devaronian began to move them. She glanced back behind her, though the crowds had already condensed and – unfortunately for Vahliri, who would’ve paid her entire academy allowance a week of janitorial duties to see the look that Sorority girl’s face – they blocked the view in the process.

Nevertheless, she knew what Altair had did and it immediately brought a sly grin to her lips. “Damn right,” She muttered confidently. If the Devaronian hadn’t done it, the half-Sephi was prepared to start an all out brawl with whoever was stupid enough to grab her by the hair.

“Looks like I’ve got some convincing to do,” She muttered simply, giving the Devaronian a wink. Without another word, the half-Sephi took a step backwards and broke away from Altair – giving him a playful shove in the chest to exaggerate the distance.

Once she reached an open space on the dancefloor, Vahliri spun around so that she was back to facing Altair. That defiant and rebellious streak burned in her honeyed gaze, and there was a sly grin plastered across her lips as the half-Sephi began to move her body to the music.

Beginning her solo routine, the half-Sephi leaned her torso back and to the left – her upper half rolling and waving fluidly to the music, creating a wave of movement that started at her chest and rippled down to the way she swayed her hips. Vahliri brought her hands up from her sides, hovering them at her midsection horizontally – the fluid rise and drop of her shoulders causing her arms by extension to sway slightly at her sides.

After a few moments, the half-Sephi raised her hands slightly only to snap her arms downward – moving in sync with the wave-like rolls of her body. Immediately, she shifted her weight onto her opposing leg and leaned to the right, repeating the routine while never breaking eye-contact with Altair. Each swipe and snap her hands caused the bracelets on her wrists to shift, sliding from her wrists and along her forearm with a light clink of metal as they made contact.

The half-Sephi spun around ever-so-often, dancing from a distance with her back turned to Altair - her hips rising and falling short, practiced bursts. With each and every spin and fluid movement, the half-Sephi’s black hair moved with her – cascades of wavey hair whipping through the air and splashing against her shoulders and back.

After a few moments of dancing alone, Vahliri began to make her way towards Altair once again – not so much as slowing her dance movements - slowly but surely beginning to step in that direction. As she stepped in towards the last two feet between her and Altair, the half-Sephi abruptly spun on a heel – once more positioned to face away from the Devaronian. It was only then that Vahliri took a step backwards, once more pressed with her back against the man. She reached down with one hand, finding the Devaronian’s hand and intertwining their fingers once more and allowing their hands to raise above their heads.

Her other hand, meanwhile, reached up to gingerly brush against the Devaronian’s cheek. ‘Think I’ve successfully made my case?”

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair stared at her as she nudged him away, but the smile on her face let him know it was all part of her act. The Devaronian watched her every move, violet gaze never leaving her. The dress perfectly accented every curve, but his mom had always harped on him and his brothers about never staring like a creep. And so, he kept his gaze on her eyes alone. He broke away only to see the sway of her hands, watching the way she moved with hypnotic grace. As this point, others paused to stare.

The lights and flashes in the club illuminated her features, highlighting her brilliant tattoos. For all the way he was taught by his mother, Altair couldn’t help but stare at Vahliri. He watched the bracelets sliding along her arms, all becoming a part of the show. At some point, there was a smile on his face, his head tilted slightly to the side as he watched her.

Altair didn’t move, even as he watched her smoothly spin on her heel and press her back against his chest. He felt heat rise to his face when Vahliri intertwined their fingers again, but it was nothing compared to the thundering of his chest when she grazed her fingers against his cheek. The Devaronian leaned in close, allowing himself to press against her.

“You’ve certainly made the case for me to buy you a drink,” He murmured in a low, husky voice. Altair drew back from her, leading her by the hand towards the bar. The bar area was completely packed, but the Devaronian stood out with his horns.

A college frat boy came up close to Vahliri and nudged her, “Heyyy, what’s a gorgeous girl like you doing with a freak like that?” He chuckled as he looked at Altair, who was oblivious and attempting to flag over the bartender, “You’re way out of his league. Dude looks like a bantha! We have a VIP table, you wanna come by?” He glanced over his shoulder and pointed back at a table with several girls and guys all waving at her and raising bottles of guaranteed free drinks.

@Altaris

 

[Darth Tempest]

With every sway of her hands and hips, Vahliri looked entirely within her element. Dancing was something the half-Sephi had a passion for since a young age, and she dedicated every ounce of her attention to the shoe that she was putting on.

Through the performance, the half-Sephi couldn’t help but stare at those vibrant violet eyes whenever she glanced in that direction - getting lost in the hues that seemed so much more striking within flashing club lights. Even when her back was pressed against Altair and they danced close, the half-Sephi glanced back at him - never looking away for long.

There was a distinct flick of the half-Sephi’s ears when Altair leaned close and muttered on his husky voice. She tilted her head back against him, lingering there for a few moments before he drew back. She couldn't the wide smile on her lips as she followed Altair towards the bar, keeping her grasp on his hand as she made her way into a stool beside him - largely not paying attention to any looks they received from others.

Of course, that all changed when someone physically got her attention. She blinked a few times, glancing over when the frat boy tapped her on the shoulder. “Huh?”

She listened to the dude, and her ears almost immediately flattened to her skull at his words - her eyes narrowing harshly. It wasn’t the first time that she had been witness to the xenophobic and downright cruel comments that people seemed to throw at Altair wherever he went, and it caused a spike of irritation to swell within her entire body. As a half-Sephi, she was no stranger to being ostracized for who she was - never quite accepted by her noble, Induparan family, and seen as an abomination by her Sephi relatives.

Seeing that same bigotry directed towards others caused her blood to boil.

“Excuse me?” She snapped back at him, venom dripping from her every word. Within a split second, the half-Sephi had pushed off her stool and proceeded to get right up in the frat boys face. It didn’t matter that she was several inches shorter. “Who the hell do you think you are?!” She hissed, jamming her index finger into his chest and giving him a shove. “I am so sick and tired of you assholes acting like complete bigots. Who the fuck are you to say a damn word about him - or to tell me who I should or shouldn’t be around.” She glared.

“Who exactly is in my league? You?” She looked him up and down, scoffing. “In your fucking dreams.”

“I think Altair is a sweeter, hotter looking guy than you will ever be. So you can take your VIP table and your cheesy pickup lines and shove them up your ass.” The half-Sephi once more shoved his chest and turned her back to him, making her way back to her seat.

“Go find one of your frat-bro’s to jack you off and get lost.”

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair just got two drinks in his hands when he heard Vahliri’s stern voice. The Devaronian turned to see her right up in some dude’s face. The frat boy looked mortified, throwing his hands up. Altair’s eyes widened as he shoved past the crowd to get closer to see what was happening. There was a surge of anger that coursed through him as he immediately suspected that the man had done something inappropriate. Altair was prepared to headbutt someone, but he froze when he heard Vahliri. He only heard the bits complimenting him.

The frat boy looked around, smiling awkwardly at everyone else giving them weird looks, “Okay, okay, you like freaks, sorry, god damn!” He blurted out before shuffling away. Altair was still rooted in place, jaw slack as his face grew hot from everything she said. He watched as she returned to her seat, blinking a few times. Altair gazed down at the drinks in his hands - cheap drinks, the only kind he could afford with his tip money, for a girl used to to the best luxuries. He thought about what she said, his nostrils flaring a bit. Altair closed his eyes and exhaled softly before walking over to her. He gently set the drinks down in front of her.

“You don’t have to lie for me, Vahliri,” He said quietly, “That was nice of you, but I don’t need it. I’m used to it and I own what I am.”

Altair knew he looked different than most humanoid species. He couldn’t be considered ‘attractive’ in the traditional sense. At most he had been found attractive by other horned or reptilian species that could look past his differences. A girl like Vahliri? It was true. She was in a completely different league. She could never see him the same. And it made her big spiel sting all the more. What the hell was he even doing here? For her this was just a fun little outing with some demon freak she could tell her friends about over brunch the next day.

“I’m… gonna get some air,” He mumbled to himself, leaving both drinks to begin making his way outside. He intended to leave the club and disappear.

@Altaris

 

[Darth Tempest]

Throughout her entire heated rant, Vahliri never budged an inch – pushing right up into the frat boy’s personal space and looking as if she was prepared to eat the dude alive. Something about the casual way the boy lobbed insults and acted the bigot completely set her off, and the half-Sephi was markedly unconcerned with whatever attention she had gathered from the rest of the clubgoers, keeping her eyes strictly onto the frat boy – watching all that confident and bravado melt away.

After a few moments, Vahliri’s gaze flicked over to the VIP table where he’d just come from – catching sight of the way half of his peers were completely dumbfounded and the other half glared daggers in her direction. Her honeyed gaze lingered in that direction for a few moments, before snapping back to the frat boy, narrowing her eyes at his last comment. “Say one more thing and I’m going to shove my heel so far up ass..” She growled, watching as the dude started to shuffle away awkwardly. She briefly considered escalating things further before shaking her head and making her way back to her seat.

Her gaze immediately turned towards Altair, exhaling softly as she saw him walk over. “Can you believe that ass—” She paused, blinking several times at the words that came from the Devaronian. There was an immediate shift in the half-Sephi’s expression – all of that confidence and fiery energy melting away when he assumed she had just been lying.

For a few moments, the half-Sephi simply stared at the Devaronian – a frown immediately spreading across her features when he declared needing some air. Her honeyed brown eyes flicked over to the drinks he had brought. She knew that they weren’t top shelf by any means, and yet the fact that he had bought them – knowing that he was strapped for cash – causing the faintest swiveling of her ears.

The half-Sephi only lingered for a few moments before pushing from her seat, weaving through the crowds after the Devaronian.

By the time Altair reached the entrance of the bar, Vahliri had finally caught up to him. She carefully shifted both drinks to be carried in her left arm against her chest – attempting to avoid spilling them and wisely not leaving them unattended. As soon as Altair was within reach, Vahliri didn’t hesitate to reach out with her free hand, grabbing him by the wrist.

“Stop,” She said, giving his arm a yank in order to get the Devaronian to face her - that same frown was still etched into her features.

“I am not going to lie for you or anyone else.” She stated flatly, staring directly into those vibrant violet eyes. “If I say something, I mean it – it is as simple as that.” The half-Sephi released his wrist, plucking the drink from her arm and extended it out to him. “You shouldn’t have to be used to it.” She huffed. “No one should have to be used to it. It’s nothing but cruel bullshit.” Vahliri shook her head.

“I didn’t say it to be nice or because you needed it. I said it because I meant it and because that dude was an asshole."

@Sreeya