Ask Tuesday

[Xim Zhan]

The late afternoon sun hung heavily in the quickly clouding skies over Concorde Dawn. It looked like rain. Rain was not a bad thing. In fact, judging by the thirsty stalks of green crops that stretched outward from the well-worn dirt path Xim was occupying, rain was a welcome arrival.

That did not stop the Mandalorian from a nigh-continuous stream of grumbling as he lay flat on his back beneath a broke-down aged skiff with a spilled load of hat bales rolling off into the crop line. The man had been using the skiff to haul hay up the hill to his waiting herd of nerfs. “I would REALLY like it if just one time I could get the herd fed BEFORE it started raining! Is that too much to ask? One time. One time!!! But nooo, you gotta go and throw a rod or a bolt or something and come to a stop half-way up the hill. I have half-a-mand to replace you with a bantha. At least they don’t throw temper tantrums when you give them subpar fuel!”

Xim’s hand shot out from under the craft, blindly searching for one of a half dozen tools scattered about the dirt-packed path. Only that is not what he found, as he slammed his hand into the Mandalorian sword that usually hung from his hip and now lay in the dust. “Ow!!!” He growled yanking his hand back in pain.

Truth be told, it had been months since Xim had been able to return home to the modest homestead and sprawling acres of his deceased parent’s farm. The small wood framed single story one-bedroom home had been covered in dust; but the herd and crops had been dutifully attended to by his neighbors in Xim’s absence. It was a simple life and, despite first appearances, one Xim treasured. If he could, he would return here permanently; but for now, the man had to contend himself with the times he could get away from his duties within the Watch, stash his ship in the spare barn, and come home to his happy place and relax.

Well, sort of . . .

“Bleah!” The man cried as he shoved hinself backward out from under the skiff, whateger he had been mettling with had suddenly sent a deluge of oily liquid across his face and beard and was already soaking into his hair and already stained coveralls. The only signs of his Mandalorian heritage were the beskad dragging behind at n awkward angle in the dust and a small blaster that was sitting on the dash of the ancient skiff.

@Maeve

 

[Maeve]

So admittedly, Maeve had fucked up a little...

Maeve hated getting into heated situations the moment they turned unpredictable, and screwing a local Rodian crime boss here on Concord Dawn had been...a potential mistake. But she couldn't have known about all of their connections and that they had really small hidden cameras on their stupid club...

Well, now Maeve was feeling from his thugs, a whole pack of bountyhunters were on the lookout for her too after she had cashed in the bounty that had been on the Rodian's head, and her freaking transport had gotten blown up. It hadn't been her ship, but just a 'borrowed' piece of junk, but she needed to get off this place quickly.

Before that, she didn't just have to shake them off, but also take those out who knew too much of what she had done...first things first though! She obviously remembered that a certain Mandalorian she had met on that shitty spacestation had insisted on being a nerf herder too and obviously, finding a Mandalorian on a nerf farm wasn't that hard - people always talked.

So after she had been hiding in a public restroom for two hours, she had managed to make her escape out of the city (admittedly, with a stolen speeder, but she had made sure that it wasn't traceable) and now she was enroute to this farm. It was slightly raining, the speeder was open, and she hated everything right now.

She was somewhat drenched and slightly shivered from the soaked fabric as a farm did finally come into sight, but someone she still doubted the Mandalorian lived here. It was worth a try though...maybe it would at least offer some cover for a bit, but it was hard for her not to scowl right now.

She skidded to a halt with the speeder, and immediately jumped off, looking perhaps a little desperate. She still smoothed her hair back and her ocean gaze roamed the area for a moment, before she found a man on the ground, sticking out from under an old skiff...was that, him? "Surprise visit!", was all she called over, her voice relatively lighthearted even if she immediately turned her head and checked for possible followers in the distance, but for now, everything seemed fine.

@The Mad Hammer

 

[Xim Zhan]

The hum of the approaching speeder should have been a clue, but the soft patter of rain mixed with the distant rolls of thunder that promised an ever increasing downpour only further soured Xim’s already sour demeanor. The dirt packed road quickly became muddy and he remained half buried beneath the skiff muttering loudly about how much cleaner it was fighting Hutt thugs on distant Tatooine, not to mention drier! And so, Xim was completely oblivious as he cranked on a hydrospanner and a voice called out over the drumming of the rain.

Xim flinched at the surprise of the voice. It was not one he recognized offhand, and yet he felt he maybe ought to. In flinching, the hydrospanner slipped and tumbled with gravity right down into the man’s forehead. “Gah!” he bellowed as his hands both flew up instinctually to cover his already oily dirt-caked face should anything else fall.

Struggling and wiggling on the ground, Xim flailed in the mud as he wormed his way backwards out from under from the skiff and into the overcast rain. “Why on tarnation is someone out in the middle of my fields in this weather?” He muttered without even looking up to the source of the voice. His eyes were first drawn to the now soaking hay bales. “Just look at this. Look at it. Soaking wet.” The soft grunts of nerfs in the background cut through what should have been a peaceful rain seemingly accenting the whole ordeal.

Finally turning his eyes to the source of the voice, Xim began to speak before catching sight of Maeve and drawing to an abrupt stop, “Now. Whats going o . . .” He began before instinctively grabbing for the holster that was not there, his eyes widening in shock. “You!” The muddy Mandalorian nearly stumbled as he took a step back instinctively. When one was afraid one might die in a cold pirate-filled space station, one is not tend to forget who was in the same side. “Wha-what are YOU doing HERE?” He stammered, his eyes darting from the rain-soaked Corellian to the speeder just behind her and back. “You actually came?” It was a statement of surprise more than a question. “Nobody ever comes out here.”

“But, but why?”

In the distance, another peal of thunder rolled across the darkening sky and the cried of the nerf herd over the hills becamw louder as the animals panicked at the sense of worsening weather.

@LadyRen

 

[Maeve]

Given that she was more than a little stressed, she was breathing a little faster while her heart pounded in her chest. This was in fact a farm, a nerf farm...and he was in fact the same pretty faced Mandalorian who had almost died with her on that station...he hadn't lied, yet she couldn't help but being confused - it was simply absurd that he actually doubled as a nerf herder...

But she had other things to worry about and questions to raise. Also, she was drippingly wet and annoyed with how all this shit had enfolded and she was thus indescribably grateful that she found herself on his nerf farm...what a perfect place to hide in. "Well...I said I'd come, didn't I?", she said with a smirk, taking a deep breath to keeping the really bad mood at bay.

"And you really...herd nerfs". Unbelievable. But okay. "Are you...busy or can we have a little chat inside?". She wanted out of this terrible weather, especially now that the storm grew worse and she needed to disappear from the open for a bit. He had something on him too, something that wasn't water, but given that he had worked on the skiff, she wondered whether it wasn't just simply oil.

@The Mad Hammer

 

[Xim Zhan]

Xim offered a lopsided grin as the rain made a strand of his escaped hair stick to his face. Wiping the oily water mixture away, mostly with one swipe, he chuckled. “I told ya so! We can chat alright; but first,” he gestured vaguely at the load of sopping straw behind him. “Could I load as much as we could on your speeder? The ladies don’t need to bed down wet AND hungry. Besides,” he winked, “we can park your shiny heap in the barn after I pick up my tools.”

Not wanting to stand out in the rain anymore than they already would have to, Xim stooped down and began to gather up the random hand tools scattered in the mud. Carefully, he began to wipe away what he could from each on his pant leg before tucking them each into their assigned pockets of an equally wet roll of cloth. As he began, he continued to talk, “The ol’ skiff broke down, again. Always seems to at the most inopportune times; but your ride should be able to handle a good chunk of the load. Then we can go inside, get dried off, and warm up with a warm glass of milk, or” he paused before adding, remembering their first meeting place, “something stronger.”

The Mandalorian found it somewhat hard to believe that Maeve had showed up on his doorstep, a Mandalorian on a predominantly Mandalorian planet, out of social necessity; but he kept the thought to himself. He was glad of the company. At least she was not here to kill him, he hoped. Maybe it was better to say she was not actively trying to kill him. For the moment, he was thankful for the answered prayer of a functioning speeder.

@LadyRen

 

[Maeve]

HE WAS SO CALM. So infuriatingly calm while her last days had been a sheer hurricane. He couldn't know...but wasn't it obvious that she wanted to get inside, far away from prying eyes and dry?! He asked her to use her speeder and she was about to explode from the inside while a perfectly faked smirk was planted on her lips.

"Of course". Fucking kriff, no! But what was she supposed to do? Knock him out and drag him inside? Paint yet another target on her back?! It was hopeless. "Let's just hurry", she refrained from yelling, screeching, crying or whatever. He received a perfectly polite reply while she tried to mimick what he was doing - gathering stuff, wiping it, storing it for later or whatever. She just wanted to get this over with.

She didn't care about the skiff story, but she gained certainty about how he was truly a nerf herder. "Let's load it up". Feeding nerfs...she had come a long way. But he promised they'd go inside then and so far, no one seemed to be on her tail. She was still furious...her clothes were soaked, she continously shivered while the mud around slowly seemed to attempt swallowing her by covering more and more.

She'd still do whatever it took - help loading the hay and eagerly drive wherever be wanted it to be while she made light conversation, hoping to soothe her nerves. "So how long have you been...herding nerfs?".

@The Mad Hammer

 

[Xim Zhan]

Xim offered a warm smile back. He hefted a wet bale of hay from the skiff through the mud onto the speeder. Pondering her question, Xim could practically feel the judgement that dripped off her overly pleasant voice. Returning for a second bale, he finally spoke, “It really is so much more than that. Look around you. This was my parents’ farm,” Xim grunted as he heft the waterlogged bale to his shoulder and grabbed a second in an effort to speed things along. “after they moved us here from Corellia.”

Xim began to trudge back through the mud to deposit his load, thr arthritis in his hands crying out silently. Dumping his load, Xim looked Maeve up and down. “So I grew up here, with the Mandalorians.” He shrugged as he trod back toward the skiff. he continued to move the bales making idle chat about the farm, how he managed to grow a few different crops and maintain a small herd of nerfs. “It is a simple life; but when the time calls for it, I leave here and go fulfill my destiny among the stars.”

Once about 10 bales were loaded, he waved Maeve toward the speeder. “You wanna drive? I’ll open the gates and the barn. We can offload in there. Least it’ll be dry and warm.” He chose to leave out the earthy scent of farm that inevitably made up the ambiance of the barn they’d head to. Truth be told, the rain was starting to get cold as it soaked his clothes, which in turn clung uncomfortably to his frame. Grabbing his holstered gun off the skiff, Xim clamored into speeder to await Maeve.

“You haven’t told me what you are doing here?” He said, the statement more of a question as he pointed her down the road turning his eyes to watch her face, “Up there on the left. We’ll drive through the paddock. With any luck all the nerfs will have herded themselves to try and get out of the rain,” ‘or they’ll smell really ripe!’ He neglected to add that last part.

@LadyRen

 

[Maeve]

Her smile widened a little, even if it was still a forced one, but that it was his parents' farm originally was cute. The smile, however, immediately faded as he mentioned Corellia and she looked back just in time as she went for a second bale of hay. Corellia. She kept those memories well repressed, usually, but as it hit her unexpected, it took a moment for her to regain composure.

"You were born on Corellia?", where was Mira, her current alias born? For a moment, she didn't even remember, but she figured it didn't even matter...maybe she'd go with something else here anyway. "That's oddly poetic still...the Mandalorian nerf herder", she remarked, a more genuine grin this time tugging at her lips before she almost slipped in a muddy puddle.

She caught herself in the very last second, her whole pants where still splashed with the dirty water and she hated everything just a little more again. "Sure". She fucking couldn't wait to get in, but for now she was driving hay bales...what a shit show. At least she wasn't followed, and he owed her something now obviously.

Maneuvering the hay wasn't hard, but she deliberately hurried. She was fully shaking, the wet tight fabric sticking to her like a cocoon that would soon threaten to suffocate her if she didn't get out of them soon. "Oh, I was just in the area", she replied with a grin, obviously keeping it vague and not alluding to her whole chaos.

She followed his instructions without hesitation and would only slow upon reaching the paddock, hoping these nerfs wouldn't stink if they still had to load off the hay. She really hoped they were waiting inside and not causing more drama as it was getting hard to keep the steering wheel straight with how much she was shaking, regardless of how much she tried to repress it.

@The Mad Hammer

 

[Xim Zhan]

Hoping from the speeder, Xim opened the paddock gate to allow Maeve to drive through. In the shadowy distance beside the barn several large bulky shadows seemed to emerge accompanied by the grumbling of the less-than-happy beasts. Xim swung the gate back shut and they were off the short distance to the large corrugated barn. Here Xim forcibly pushed the arching heavy doors open as they rattled on their tracked sliders before hurriedly gesturing for Maeve to drive in as the hefty nerfs tried to buffalo their way past the speeder and out of the rain, “Don’t worry,” Xim shouted over the ruckus. “They’re happy to see you too!” His jest betraying his gratitude and happiness at seeing Maeve again. The life of a Mandalorian was one of a lot of first time meetings and very few secondary.

The small herd of nerfs were happy to be inside and while the odor was pungent, it was overwhelmed, mostly, by the natural smells of stowed seed, drying fruit, and wet hay. Stepping inside the warm barn, Xim fumbled for a switch in the dark before the buzz of several antiquated overhead lights added to the natural din and bathed the length of the barn, save for the shadowy lofts and stalls and stowage areas beneath, in warm yellowed light. Standing there in the doorway, silhouetted by the storm, Xim smiled, a wide genuine smile as the nerfs, content to be in their familiar warm home began to crowd the speeder clamoring for the hay.

“Well,” he shrugged his shoulders, as he saw her shivering, “I don’t know the rental policy on your speeder, or if you care,” he added thinking back to the station the two of them had detonated, “but if you don’t mind if they lick the paint off getting the hay, we can go inside.” As he spoke, Xim walked across the worn duracrete floor that was covered in layers of dirt and straw to a worn bank of lockers. Reaching in, he withdrew a coarse heavy brown blanket. “Otherwise, you can sit over there and I’ll offload the hay and you can warm up.” He gestured to an old wooden three-legged stool before draping the weighty blanket around her shoulders.

Either Xim would begin to offload the hay or if Maeve voices wanting to go into the house, he’ll shut up the barn and they can make a dash through the sloppy field to the small wooden house.

@LadyRen

 

[Maeve]

This was so not up her alley and yet she was a professional when it came to adapting to new situations. She bitterly remembered the time she had been locked into a bantha she'd and how the massive animal had liked her a little too much, but was a little more careful now that she knew such big creatures had long and sticky tongues...

She thus dutifully drove the hay in before she got out and just shrugged. The speeder was stolen anyway, they could lick him as much as they wanted to, but she absolutely didn't intend another meeting with slimey tongues again, so all she could focus on was leaving. The smell inside was bad, too, and thus she waved off his concerns about the speeder.

She was still shivering severely, so the blanket he suddenly draped over her was also a pleasant surprise. "It's fine...let's just get inside and warm up". She wrapped the blanket around her before she waited for him to close the door before she then started bolting to his house.

Once inside, she still couldn't immediately stop shaking as her clothes were still fully soaked and her hairs as well. "Thanks for letting me come in...I needed a place to warm up in", she said to him, her voice grateful as she took a look around. If it weren't for first or rather secondary impressions, she would have just slipped out of her clothes, but for now she remained civilized.

@The Mad Hammer

 

[Xim Zhan]

Seeing Maeve make a break for the house, Xim gave a wave to the herd and ran after her, his own coveralls wicking away the majority of the raining moisture. Overhead the thunder rolled noting the increasing intensity of the storm with a bolt of lightning that seemed to illuminate the sky for a moment.

Reaching the heavy wooden door, Xim leaned into it as it swung open. Inside it was dark, save for the slim bits of light that careened through the windows. The bare wooden beams that stretched up into the lofted ceiling were visible against the gloom and as Xim found the light, a solitary lamp atop a table adjacent a large bantha leather couch draped in furs, the rest of the single room became visible. A large stone hearth and stack of wood nestled beside it; a worn wood plank table with a trio of chairs beneath a single decorative metal-wrought light overhead; worn red Corellian carpets across a solid wood floor; a meager antiquated kitchen by galactic standards with barely enough room for a sink, a cooking oven, and a refrigeration unit. On the opposite side of the room a pair of sliding doors stood. One was open revealing a framed bed drenched in a wrinkled blue blanket, a dresser, and a stand upon which hung Xim’s Mandalorian flight suit sans helmet; which was overturned on the table in the main room. The second door was closed but led to an equally antiquated refresher unit complete with a tall metallic tub for soaking one’s bones after a hard day’s work.

Xim moved from window to window pulling the shades of the pair of windows that framed the fireplace and those that were opposite it. It was not like anyone could see with how isolated the farm was, and the storm; but it was force of habit. As he moved, Xim turned The few other lamps on and spoke, “It isn’t a luxury suite by any means, but you’re welcome to change out in the bedroom,” he pointed to the open door, having noticed how much she was shivering and shaking, “I think there should be some clean tunics hanging in the closet. Otherwise a warm shower is right in that next room over. I’ll get a fire going so you can warm up.” He pretended to not care or see how her wet clothes clung to her body beneath the blanket or her hair framed her face; but it was hard to not notice. The poor lady looked shapely but miserable though and he hated to see it; especially in his own home.

Making his way to a cupboard built into the wall, Xim pulled the pistol he was carrying free and tucked it amongst the towels contained within. He then withdrew a towel and turned to offer it to Maeve with a smile. “Would you like soup or steak madam?” He winked playfully trying to lighten the girl’s sour look.

@LadyRen

 

[Maeve]

Once inside, Maeve's gaze roamed across a perfect symphony between a bachelor's patch and what his family had presumably left behind. She followed him in, watching him close the blinds while she familiarized herself with the insides - it surely wasn't a bad place to lay low in and so far, it looked fairly comfortable.

He continued by offering her to change and or shower, and a warm smile tugged at her lips before it turned into a smirk as mischievous lit up in her gaze. "Thank you, that's very kind of you to offer". It wasn't hard to tell he was avoiding to let his gaze roam over her wet, now even tighter clothes, but it was something she was versed in reading.

So far, he had proven to be quite the gentleman, but this didn't mean he was necessarily prude, right? "You're also drenched...might also join me in the shower", she thus offered, half expecting him to freeze in place and meet his gaze. What he'll find in her features was seriousness despite the obvious playfulness in her suggestion.

She still obviously wouldn't mind the company, but regardless of whether he'd follow or not, she'd slowly move over into the direction of the bathroom before she'd stop at his next offer. "Soup sounds awesome..."and it would be just what she'd need to warm up from the inside. She gratefully accepted the tower, but her offer still stood, so the cheeky offer glistened in her oceanic eyes.

@The Mad Hammer

 

[Xim Zhan]

Xim smiled, slightly taken aback by the forward suggestion the woman proposed. He cocked his head to the side as he pondered how small the refresher on his house truly was; but the mere thought of what she proposed was one that had been playing within his own mind. He would be damned to not accept such an invitation. “I mean,” he began, as he slipped his boots off with his feet his eyes focused on her form as she walked away, “it would be just plain unwelcoming to leave a lady in such wet clothes. Might catch cold or something.” Stooping over, he slipped his socks off and laid them afross the stone bench that made up a portion of the hearth before padding after Maeve.

“You know,” he said as she slid the door to the room open to reveal the cramped unit within, a small counter, a mirror, the tub, shower, and a toilet; not a lot of room was an understatement. “I was planning on just sleeping on the couch tonight.”

Xim slipped his suspender straps from his shoulders, allowing his bulky coveralls to drop to the floor revealing his soaked shorts and shirt and his sunlight deprived legs. Kicking them off, the man slid into the room behind Maeve, taking the coarse blanket from her and flopping it out onto the wooden floor; their bodies forced into one another by the smallness of the room if nothing else. He felt a rush of blood to his midsection as he was pressed into her backside and he smiled even wider if that was possible. He regarded her reflection with his stormy sea blue eyes.

Taking ahold of the hem of her jacket, Xim reached around and unzipped it the rest of the way before tugging at the ends of the sleeves to help her pull herself free, hopefully without getting an elbow to the face. He breathed heavily on the nape of her neck, the edge of his beard brushing against her damp skin, inhaling the smell of fresh rain, her hair and wet cloth.

“What is the name you were given by your parents?” Xim whispered in Maeve’s ear, his lips brushing against it as he found the hem of her shirt and began to tug it upward, to pull it from where it mercilessly clung to her body. The large man knew the power of a name. It was half of what made Mandalorians Mandalorian, and if things progressed, he hoped to connect with this woman on a deep level; to know her for who she truly was. He had already seen her in combat, so he tingled with anticipation at what she was capable of. His eyes never left the mirror before them as he watched the woman’s face and her slowly revealing form, his eyes burned with desire and his body tensed with anticipation

The only problem was, well, one of physics. The tub was deep and meant for soaking; the shower an added after effect. It would be cramped by any stretch of the imagination. Not that that was entirely a problem; but comfort was always nice, especially where arthritic joints were concerned.

And as her shirt came off, revealing her goose-pimpled skin, Xim ran the back of his calloused hand along her side, across her hip and up along her ribs the length of her torso. He held his breath as he did so, exhaling at last as he came to her shoulder and slid a hand forward. He sighed the lines of an old poem, his tone one of amazement and wonder, “Like the glistening tower of Ka’rael, her shields shone in splendor . . .”

@LadyRen

 

[Maeve]

As she heard his steps behind her, her lips immediately curled into an even wider, mischievous smirk. Bingo. This was about to get interesting. Quite the gentleman, he explained that he had opted for the couch, which was when she threw him a glance over her shoulder. "Oh really? Sounds like you've been raised well...", she softly remarked, before she teasingly added, "what if I'd prefer you wouldn't?".

He hadn't lied about the unit being tight, but she didn't mind the contact at all. Quite the contrary, she felt an immediate rush washing over her as he wasted no second to free her of her jacket and soon felt his beard against the light, sensitive skin of her neck. An immediate gasp escaped her just as her skin was laced with a new layer of goosebumps.

Even if she had been freezing formerly, she was feeling much warmer with every steamy second that passed. The damp clothes still clung to her skin, leaving little room for imagination already. Her breaths grew more shallow as he continued with her top, utterly liking where this was going.

She closed her eyes for a moment as she tilted her head backwards, focusing on how he slowly peeled the shirt of and then traced across her bare skin, leaving her to shudder. "Kate...", she merely breathed as she opened her eyes, meeting his mesmerizing eyes in the mirror as her lips curled into a smirk again. She spun a moment later, confidently facing him as she shamelessly as she reached for the hem of his shirt and pulled it over his head.

Her gaze then roamed his muscular torso, hungry, craving, passionate. How lucky she had gotten that he had given her this location..."That's beautiful", she softly whispered against his neck as she leaned in, plating a short, hot kiss against the damp, cool skin before she wandered further downwards, tracing her lips across his skin and planting more kisses every here and there. "Continue..". While he'd do that, she obviously wouldn't stop underneath the belt line - instead, her hands made short work of the damp boxers and freed the path further downwards while she'd listen to his poem.

@The Mad Hammer

 

[Xim Zhan]

Xim let out a startled gasp, if he had been forward in return to her request, she was not one to be outdone; well, outdone except for from her clothes it seemed. His mind went blank in the moment as he was overcome with anticipation.

Leaning back against the wall, the Mandalorian tried to give her what space he could in the cramped room. Even as let his head roll back to the wall, he closed his eyes as he took in the sensations, the site of the petite woman in her soaked jeans burned into his mind as he let the moment take him; and yet, the corner kf his mind seemed stuck on her trying to position herself to get more comfortable in the small room. Still, for the moment he really tried to put that thought from his mind, to be in the moment and to enjoy it. “Kate,” he whispered, his voice fast and elevated as his body reacted to the stimuli it was receiving, his back arching as he pushed himself forward. His hands found the woman’s wet hair and slid down to her shoulders as he felt her moving beneath his touch.

With hesitancy, Xim gently ran his hands down her frame as far as he might be able to reach, lingering before he gently tugged under her shoulders and pulled her up so that she was leaning against his chest. He met her eyes with his own intensive gaze as his hands snaked around the small of her back and down to her waist. Leaning forward, Xim’s lips met Maeve’s as his tongue crossed her lips and sought her own as his hands continued to meander beneath her cold wet jeans. He grabbed firmly as he pulled her even closer. Her skin was cold beneath his grasp.

Slowly, Xim’s hands kneaded her backside before they worked their way beneath the tight jeans to her hips, searching out the button that held them in place. Pulling back from her moist lips, Xim cold still feel the coolness of the storm that had drenched her. Hr exhaled passionately. “There is more room next to the fire,” He stared longingly into the woman’s turquoise eyes as a smile tugged at his mouth. “Take a shower,” he whispered firmly, “I’ll get the fire going.”

Gently, and without enthusiasm, Xim slid himself free from the cramped room; his hand lingering on her arm. He watched her as he slipped away. Walking toward the fireplace, he would not take his eyes off the woman as he drank in her movements, her figure, her essence.

Slowly, Xim’s hands began to fish branches and logs from the pile by memory as he expertly arranged them in the hearth. Grabbing a box of matches from the mantle, Xim lit one with the his of a born flame and set the kindling alight. Within a few minutes the fire was a living being all it’s own casting warmth and light across the room.

Standing, the naked man crossed the room to shut off the electric lights, leaving the room bathed in shadows and flickering light as a peal of thunder crashed and rumbled outside. Carefully, Xim pulled the small coffee table off the thick worn red Corellian styled carpet. Pulling the thick Bantha hide from the couch, Xim spread it across the carpeted floor, the soft thick fur rippling with every movement and shimmering in the firelight.

Xim was going to be prepared when his guest exited the bathroom. Glancing at the still open door, Xim smiled. It was a passionate moment; one he hoped to continue and rekindle in a more comfortable setting. As he waited, Xim made his way to a foot cupboard along the wall. He pushed aside the Mandalorian blade that he had stashed there. That was not what he was after. Instead, he fished out a small old harp-like instrument engraved with a variety of Old Corellian runes. It had been his father’s, one of the few treasures that had come with their family when they fled into the cosmos.

Sitting down on the edge of the fireplace’s raised hearth, the Mandalorian felt the heat as it permeated the stone and filled his still cool frame with warmth; a warmth that only drew his eyes to the shower where hope and fire awaited.

Carefully, he began to adjust the strings on the harp, it’s soft tones floating on the rapidly warming air.

@LadyRen

 

[Maeve]

So the Mandalorian wasn't just a secret nerf herder, but turned out he had other skills as well. And a tease...but he also knew how to enjoy himself. Maeve gave him quite a good time down there as the temperatures inside the small room seemed to rise.

Her hands slowly wandered up his cold, damp legs, her fingernails tracing across his bare skin while she rhythmically moved, taking her sweet time, before he motioned for her to come back up. His lips then immediately melted against hers, his tongue skillfully teasing her while his beard brushed against the skin above her soft lips.

He wandered downwards to her pants and her desire just intensified as he suddenly pulled back, intensely meeting her hungry gaze. There was a certain reluctance in him as he suggested she took the much needed shower and she was literally disappointed he didn't plan to join her.

For a moment, she considered arguing, but he seemed really pressed on making it all more comfortable for the two of them, so while her lips parted, she didn't say anything. Instead, they curled back into a smirk as she said, "I'll be right back then". She did enter the shower soon and immediately switched it to burning hot. It was just what she needed after the exhausting day and the cold that had followed after.

In the shower though, she was almost overwhelmed by the anticipation that still lingered and her cravings for him growing with every moment that passed. She did wash herself thoroughly, so that in the end, her skin was burning and the bones deep inside her finally warm again, but while she quickly dried herself with the towel, she immediately dropped it after, stepping out shamelessly naked and curious for what he had prepared.

She was not only met by pleasant sounds of a harp, but by a a mesmerizing, cozy atmosphere the fire and flames caused. Now that was surely a sight to behold. She drank it in a moment before her gaze locked onto his muscular frame, the flaming hues of firelight dancing across his well formed torso which attracted her immediately. She couldn't wait any longer, but he had literally exceeded her expectations.

She slowly approached him, her gaze sensual and her walk elegant, like a predator cat approaching her prey. "Now that is a way to host a guest...", she softly whispered as she sat down next to him, soon running her fingers through the thick, soft bantha fur before her other hand reached for his neck.

She'd possessively tug him closer, her lips immediately finding its way back to hers as her body moved against his, bare skin meeting bare skin. Hers was still much more heated, so that his, however, gave an exhilarating contrast as she expected him to drop the harp for now and let her push him to the ground, if he didn't resist, so that she would be on top of him. "You know how to create an atmosphere...".

@The Mad Hammer

 

[Xim Zhan]

As the towel dropped, the notes of the harp dying off as they wafted through the heavy warm air. Xim’s eyebrows shot up as he turned to regard the creature that walked toward him, silhouetted by the light of the refresher behind her. Each step drew his eyes to another part of her form. He inhaled “Wow. You sure know how to make an entrance!” He breathed remembering when she had slid uninvited to his booth in deep space. Never would he have thought that moment would have led to this. And yet, it had and it excited him, visibly so.

As she sat beside him, the Mandalorian balanced the ornate instrument on his opposite knee, his free hand finding her knee as it brushed against his own leg. Slowly, he ran his fingers along her smooth leg, the heat from the shower radiating from it as he gently drug his fingertips up the inside of her thigh. His eyes smiled as they met the dancing reflection of flames
in hers. They mimicked the passions that stirred within his own chest and the one he hoped she carried in her own as well.

Speaking of, he gently slid the harp to the warm stone bench, twisting his body to slide both of his hands up from her naval. He would have continued with his explorations of her person had she not gently slid herself to the thick warm furred surface, pulling him willingly along with her so that he was twisted, his back meeting the fur as she pressed herself atop him. The touch of her smooth skin against his chest was invigorating as he allowed himself to be taken in the moment, his left hand running along her arm to her right as he found her hand and intertwined his fingers with her own. Their lips met and he felt the passion of her touch, her desire, as she caught her prey like a primal huntress. With his free hand, Xim ran his hand along her spine and through her hair letting the chestnut locks fall and hang limp and damp to brush playfully against his own.

@LadyRen

 

[Maeve]

There was something in his eyes she was used to. An effect she could cast without much effort and yet, what she appreciated about this all was that he had put plenty of efforts in continuing this the right way. The firelights glistened in her ocean eyes as she took it in just a moment longer, before her gaze was all on him.

It was an intense, passionate moment they shared as he touched her, gently at first, then his desires taking over. He didn't resist when she guided him backwards, slowly letting him make himself comfortable in a horizontal position with her above. Her damp hairs fell forward, barely grazing him down below before she leaned down, exchanging another passionate kiss.

Her one hand was in his, fingers intertwined, while the other gently ran along the side of his face and then his neck. Her heart was beating much faster while her body was literally glowing, not just from the remains of the hot shower, but mainly due to the insatiable fire within her.

-

There was an unspoken understanding between the two as they spent the next while together in the most intense way, and once they had both gotten their share, she'd find herself on the comfortable Bantha fur, still breathing somewhat heavier, one arm lazily wrapped around him and a satisfied smile on her lips.

"After almost having died at our last encounter, this is a pleasant change...", she softly said, looking up to meet his gaze. "Maybe this would have been a better first meeting...or actually, who knows? Maybe it was just right", she then mused, realizing that what helped was to learn that she could rely on him in such a dire situation.

"This might be the right time to ask for payment though, isn't that right?", she then couldn't help but tease, an amused smirk crossing her lips as she hinted at what he had first assumed of her.

@The Mad Hammer

 

[Xim Zhan]

The storm outside seemed to grow in intensity matching that within the simple farmhouse; or perhaps they simply matched the boiling intensity building outside all around them. Irregardless, the passion beside the fire continued to rise as the two devoted themselves completely to memorizing every tantalizing line and sweat-soaked curve of the other.

-

As the storm crescendoed outside, the passions of both Corellian-born reached their zenith. The thunder rolled shaking the house to it’s very foundations. And as it’s rumbling echoed off into the distance, Xim rolled to the soft fur beside Maeve as he fought to draw breath; gasps of exhilaration as his physical body struggled to draw his very soul back from the brink and return it to reality.

When his ragged breathing finally calmed, Xim turned himself to face the enchantress beside him. He reached out to brush a strand of hair from her face, before tickling his fingers down her arm coming to rest on her soft shapely behind.

Xim smiled as she reminded him of their first meeting. “Certainly safer,” he agreed with a playful smile. “Well, except for, well,” he shrugged his shoulders, “ya know,” he toyed, giving her a playful squeeze as he smiled affectionately and drank her in.

Xim laughed out loud as she reminded him of his first assessment of her. His face and chest flushed pink with embarrassment. “Uhhhh, yeah . . .” Xim’s eyes darted around the room as the flames slowly danced behind him. Sitting up, he grabbed a nearby blanket within reach and pulled it over the pair’s adjacent bodies, cocooning their passion enflamed bodies against the cool touch of the fire-warmed air. “Would you settle for the rest of that verse and something a little more sustainable than soup?” He asked hopefully as his eyes settled on her relaxed visage; desperate to assuage his own painful awkwardness at his past comments; embarrassed and shy.

“The real question, Kate, is, when your mother raised you did you ever think that you would be here? In such a state? With a nerf herder?” He smiled as he brought his hand back up beneath her arm along her ribs.

@LadyRen

 

[Maeve]

She was obviously just teasing, but she didn't miss how he was at least somewhat embarrassed after she had brought that back up. It had amused her then, and it was even more amusing now, and she softly chuckled as he started negotiating. "Well well...alright", she dramatically paused before she replied and kept a straight face for at least a moment, before her lips curled back into an amused smirk.

She was in a fairly good mood and hence when he asked for what her mother had intended for her, it didn't hit her at all. Speaking about her actual past was potentially dangerous terrain, but thanks to the company, she wasn't in a vulnerable state. "In such a state?", she repeated amusedly, one brow raised. "I'm not sure what you're talking about...this is rather fine I'd say", she playfully teased back as she gestured between the two of them, her body now thoroughly warmed and her mind fully taken off today's struggles.

"A nerf herder and badass space warrior...could be worse I guess", she then reminded him as she traced across his muscular arm, her gaze still holding his. Even back in that space bar she had noted the striking hue of his eyes and in this very moment they offered a mesmerizing contrast to the warm firelight.

"Have you been raised to blatantly seduce ladies that happen to pass by?", she then playfully quipped back, her ocean eyes still somewhat mischievously glistening while she did have to admit that this was quite a welcome change.

@The Mad Hammer