Ask Dantooine What's Cookin'?

[Amira Din]

"I'm surprised you don't blurt it out more often then," she grinned, yellow eyes glistening over the rim of her wineglass. "Getting excited around me is a habit of yours." Not that she was complaining aout that.
A moment of silence passed between them, the air inexplicably and unbearably heavy all of a sudden. The dark look that flashed across the Firrerreo's face puzzled her, and for a moment, she wondered if he was hiding something from her other than trade secrets. Of course he had secrets—they both did, for that matter. There was still a lot they didn't know about each other, but there was time for that. Or maybe not. Some secrets were better kept hidden, never to see the light of day, never to face exposure. There were things that she'd never told anyone, that she couldn't imagine opening up to anyone about, as much as she wanted to. Edin, doubtless, had secrets like that, too. Especially in his line of work.

For now, Amira would enjoy this moment. It was one of the happiest of her life. "I wouldn't worry about that if I were you," she said in a gentle voice, hoping to break the trance he'd fallen into. One hand reached out, dark fingers sliding up the length of his arm and squeezing every muscle. "I'm pretty sure I could handle Basilisk."

The Tiefling cuddled up next to Edin, melting into his side the moment his warm wrapped around her. How could she possibly go back to sitting on the couch alone after this? "A holomovie sounds like fun," she grinned, wiggling her eyebrows at him as she reached for the remote. "We can test your resolve." But, just in case his resolve lasted longer than she wanted, she laid her legs across his lap. @Sreeya

 

[Edin Frost]

Edin only smiled when she mentioned she could handle the Basilisk, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. He focused away from the topic and instead on how warm she felt curled up against him. Edin focused briefly on the screen before suggesting a spooky movie. It was a classic move, but hopefully would lead to more cuddles.

As she laid her legs across his laps, Edin reached down towards her feet and began to knead and massage along them, “May as well take care of you after you’ve spent all day slaving away in a kitchen,” He winked at her as he gave her the massage. The movie began with eerie music and some dialogue that he only half listened to.

After a moment, his hands began to travel further up along her leg, though his eyes remained on the movie pretending as if he didn’t notice what he was doing. He had just finished massaging her calves and was moving up towards her knee when he heard a distressed bleating in the distance followed by silence. Edin paused what he was doing and sighed, knowing he was being interrupted yet again.

“I don’t think your buddy Vincent is too pleased to be out there..” Edin remarked as he glanced over. Something about the noise the goat made was still strange and enough to make the Firrerreo stop what he was doing.

@llamallove

 

[Amira Din]

"A spooky movie? Are you sure you're old enough for that, mister?" the Tiefling teased, tracing a fingernail along Edin's jawline. "Alright, but don't blame me when you can't sleep tonight." A wide, knowing grin spread across her lips, eyes lit with undisguised mischief. "Although, on second thought, I guess I will be the reason you can't sleep tonight." Albeit for an entirely different reason, and one that she knew the Firrerreo would be able to pick up on rather easily.
While the opening credits began to roll and Edin started massaging her feet, Amira settled in and rested her head against his shoulder. Well, as much as she could without poking one of his eyes out with her long horns. One of the only disadvantageous to the horns. "That feels wonderful," she muttered, turning to smile up at him. "Careful. I might just decide to keep you around." It was a statement more than a suggestion or a remark, her tone a little too serious.

One hand snaked its way under the Firrerreo's dress shirt—such an oddity for him—and rested against his stomach. Amira focused on the rise and fall of his body with every breath he took. Her yellow gaze, fixed on the monitor across from them, was simply a red herring. "Have you ever seen this one before?" she asked idly, as if she was even paying attention to the plot. She wondered if he had downtime in his line of work to relax and watch mindless movies, or if this was a rarity for him. Either way, she'd make this experience a memorable one.

Before she could, however, the cries of a desperate, bleating goat drifted through the open window. "And just when things were beginning to get interesting," she smiled at the Firrerreo, and she wasn't referring to the movie. Reluctantly, the Tiefling slipped out of Edin's grasp and crossed the room to peer out the window, fully expecting to see Vincent caught in the fence or his water trough like usual. Instead, the goat was being drug across the yard by four or five men in dark clothing and thrown into the back of a repulsorlift vehicle.

"VINCENT!" Amira bellowed at the top of her lungs, half of her hanging out the window. "LET HIM GO, YOU MUDSCRUFFERS! I'LL KILL YOU—I SWEAR I'LL KILL YOU!" The men piled into the vehicle, Vincent still screaming his head off, and drove off. Amira tore through the living room, past Edin as her lightsaber glided into her hands, and out the front door. @Sreeya

 

[Edin Frost]

One moment Edin was getting real comfortable, especially with her hand slipping under his shirt, and the next she was out of his grasp to go check on the stupid goat. A part of him kicked himself for even saying anything. He wondered why he even did - normally he was the type to put himself first. In this case he knew she was attached to her farm animals and he didn’t like the thought of her being upset for any reason. Damn, he was going soft. Edin shook his head, remaining on the couch for a few seconds even as she screeched at the top of her lungs. The Firrerreo reached for the second glass of his wine, taking a sip as he watched her storm into the room, grab her saber, and storm back out.

Edin sighed as he quietly sipped from his wine, tilting his head back to stare at the ceiling, “Yes, dear,” He muttered very quietly under his breath to himself. He threw back the rest of the wine and got up to stand, his shirt slightly disheveled from her weaving under it. The Firrerreo walked over, grabbed his blaster, and calmly strode out of the house. He could see the speeder quickly darting away and Amira rapidly running towards it from the side.

Edin didn’t move too far from the entrance, leveling his blaster as he tilted his head and took careful aim. It was dark, the speeder was moving, and he had a very specific target. However he took the shot nonetheless. To his delight, the bolt not only tore through the single thruster he was aiming at, but it ripped through the second one as well. As a result, the back of the speeder abruptly popped down and the entire thing was an immobile brick. The men attempting to steal the goat were completely stranded. The fact that they were stealing a goat meant they weren’t exactly armed. They began to seriously panic as they attempted to get the speeder to move, but it didn’t budge whatsoever.

The Firrerreo stayed where he was, putting his blaster away as he drew out a cigarra to have a smoke. Amira was no damsel in distress - she could take it from here. Edin would simply enjoy the show, blowing out a cloud of smoke into the Dantooine night air.

Dice: 19/20 for shooting totaled from the +2 mod

@llamallove

 

[Amira Din]

Once the kidnappers realized the repulsorcraft wouldn't budge, they scurried out like exposed cockroaches. Only the driver remained, hunched over the wheel of the vehicle. He was unconscious, blood oozing from the gash across his forehead. Without a getaway vehicle, Amira was able to overtake the others within a matter of seconds. She closed her eyes, and two hands were drawn together in one practiced motion, exactly as she had done a hundred times in the past. This had been one of Master Roth's more favored techniques, a little contrivance he'd pull out any time he wanted to daze an enemy.

A flash of light burst from her hands, brilliant and blinding. Its luciform effects wouldn't last long, just a few seconds. But a few seconds was all she needed. One hand closed around the hilt of her lightsaber, while the other extended toward the closest thief. An invisible hand coiled around his neck, cold and unfeeling. He struggled in vain against its tightening hold, squeezing the breath of life itself from his lungs. The others were still reeling, tripping over their own feet as they stumbled amongst the grass. Amira wrenched a second man toward her, skewering him on the red blade that hummed to life in her hands.

The last survivors scrambled to their feet, hurtling toward the forest with all the grace of two one-footed flamingos. Amira didn't bother giving chase. She knew exactly where they were headed, and she intended to finish this stupid feud once and for all. With the press of a button, her blade was deactivated, and she rounded on the repulsorcraft. Vincent was still screaming his head off, but that was to be expected. His back leg was bleeding, cut in the kidnapper's haste to shove him into the black of their speeder. Some people had no respect for animals.

"Come on, buddy. Let's get you home." The Tiefling picked him up with all the tenderness and love one might expect from a mother caring for her sick child. She grunted beneath the weight, adding as she set him down, "And remind me to put you on a diet." Vincent scrambled toward the house, the snap of the unconscious driver's neck drowned out by the goat's continued bleating.
As soon as the Champion was within earshot of Edin, she grinned, "Nice shot, handsome." Amber eyes unapologetically ran the length of him, up and down, lingering on the blaster than hung from his waist. She never would have been able to catch up with the racing speeder on foot, not even with the force to enhance her movements. Thanks to Edin and one well timed blaster bolt, she didn't need to. "Marksmanship worthy of Basilisk. That's the second time you've impressed me with your aim."

Third, if she was being honest, but she'd never concede that sniper shot on Ankus. That would provide the Firrerreo with far too much satisfaction. "...among other things," she added, joining him on the steps. "You know those things will kill you." Her tail tapped twice on the cigarra perched between his lips. Good thing he'd lit it outdoors, otherwise she might have just knocked it away without so much as an explanation. She closed the distance between them, dark fingers tracing his torso before curling around his shirt collar. At that moment Edin might have expected her to kiss him or whisper some flattery into his pointed ears, but Amira did neither. She ducked inside and asked over her shoulder, "Want to help me clean Vincent's cut?" @Sreeya

 

[Edin Frost]

Edin watched as Amira got to work on the would-be kidnappers. While a lot more effort than he would have invested, it only spoke to how attached she was to the damn goat. He calmly puffed on his cigarra until she walked over. When she tapped on the cigarra, he took it from his lips and put it out, “I work in a dangerous field,” He shrugged, “Possibility of death is always around the corner.”

Even as she curled her fingers up along his torso, Edin knew better than to fall for it. She prided herself in being a tease and he strongly doubted this was any different. As a result, the Firrerreo simply stared at her when she leaned in, his sensitive nose already picking up the copper scent of blood from the goat. Edin rolled his eyes when she inevitably walked past him and into the house.

“I’ll hand you stuff, but I’m not touching that thing,” He declared. He despised most animals and pets and farm animals were the worst. He could smell the goat’s stench even from here. All thoughts of an intimate evening forgotten, Edin helped gather the bandages or salves necessary to get the goat patched up.

“Who were those people?” He asked after a moment, “Are there more of them?” Was it normal to come under ‘attack’ like this on Dantooine? They didn’t seem armed but perhaps this wasn’t the last of them.

@llamallove

 

[Amira Din]

"Fine," the Tiefling rolled her eyes, tugging Vincent inside. Edin was a total city boy, and apparently his disdain for animals extended beyond just roosters. "You can just stand there and look pretty."
The geodome was totally dark except for the lamp beside the couch and the reflection of the television set, but Amira trusted that Edin would have no difficulty following her to the bathroom. She'd heard something once about Firrerreos possessing infrared vision, but she didn't know if it was actually true or not. Inside the bathroom, a light switch was turned on, and Vincent was hoisted onto the sink. He bleated, awkward and out of place as he stood there. A drawer swung open, a small stash of medical supplies inside, and Amira fished out a pair of scissors.

It was natural for Edin to have more questions. After all, how often did you see a group of men try to kidnap a goat? Even on Tatooine, probably never. "They're some fanatical group that worships the cathar. I guess I should say what's left of the cathar," she answered chewing on her lip as she began clipping away the tufts of blood soaked hair around Vincent's cut. The goat stirred, but she tried to keep it still with one arm. She considered holding him with force stasis but ultimately decided against it. The poor thing that already suffered enough trauma tonight. "And they routinely sacrifice livestock and pets to the few cathar that are left out on the plains. They meet in an abandoned building out in the woods, not far from here."

Amira tilted her head toward the drawer, still open. "Would you hand me that salve? Thanks." She accepted the bottle, opening it and scooping the clear substance out with two fingers. One arm still around the goat to hold it in place, she began to apply the antibacterial salve to its wound. "This is going to burn, but hold still—ouch!" Vincent bleated and bucked, the blunt side of one of his horns striking Amira on the nose. At least now she knew how that felt.

"Kriff, Vincent!" she groused, pressing her wrist against the nostril to contain the bleeding until she could get a tissue. Vincent scrambled off the counter, clumsily knocking into the bathroom door and some of the furniture before running from the house. His cut needed to be wrapped, but the Tiefling was in no mood now. She'd check back in on him tomorrow.

Amira said nothing, reaching for a tissue. Then she turned to Edin, amber eyes searching for his. "So here's the thing," she admitted, "I kind of stole Vincent from them a couple of weeks ago." As if she expected him to chastise her or something, she instantly defended herself. "They were just going to sacrifice him! I mean, the way I see it—cathars are apex predators. They can go out and find their own food." @Sreeya

 

[Edin Frost]

Edin’s face scrunched up at the sight of a goat in her sink. If there was one thing that smelled worse than a goat, it was a wet goat. His refined Firrerreo senses were on fire as the goat was washed. The goat, also able to sense the very predatory features of a Firrerreo, bleated and was extra erratic around Edin. As a result, the assassin kept a respectable distance, standing at the doorway with a moody expression on his face. He half kicked himself for even coming here. That uglier, selfish side of him began to creep up in his mind. Would his entire time be this? Tending to her stupid farm animals or pacifying her cat? Speaking of which, where the hell was that demon? Any second and it would attack his ankle.

The goat darted out of the house and he half expected her to chase after it or ask him to. To his surprise, neither happened. The sink was covered in fur and remnants of blood and the stench was unbelievable. Edin had no doubt it would waft over into her bedroom, the thought almost making him gag.

“You did what?” He practically hissed, unable to keep the irritation from his tone just then. He pinched the bridge of his nose, considering the series of events. He exhaled after a moment, “You know you sound more like a Jedi than a Sith,” He said with a faint grin. Her lifestyle sounded far more complicated than his carefree one hopping from one dwelling to another. He had no responsibility to anyone but himself. Sometimes it felt lonely, but he couldn’t imagine it any other way. Edin said nothing for a moment as he leaned into the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest. He wanted to make up some excuse to leave as was in his usual nature, but he sighed.

"Come on, let me take a look," He said as he stepped in, gingerly tilting her head so he could inspect the wound. Edin opened up the medkit in the bathroom, "That fucker got you good," He remarked as he gathered up some bacta. The Firrerreo was clearly not queasy at the sight of blood when it wasn't smelly farm animals, and he took the time to gently dab away until the wound was cleaned and the bleeding was staunched. After that, he carefully applied a bit of bacta, rolling up a little bit of bandaging into her nostril, "You'll sound like a flute for a bit, but it should heal up by tomorrow," He said, his face very close to hers.

Edin stepped back after a moment, shaking his head, "Can we not have more farm animal shit for the rest of the night? Please?"


@llamallove

 

[Amira Din]

Amber eyes flit to meet Edin's, the Tiefling more than a little taken aback by the sudden and unexpected irritation in his voice. All of this hostility, just because she'd saved her goat from kidnappers? Tended to her goat's wounds? "A Jedi would never have killed those men," was her only immediate reply, brow furrowing. A trivial statement, really, but one that highlighted the marked difference between she and the Jedi. For a brief, passing moment, he'd sounded just like her old master. The same impatience. The same disappointment. The same anger.
The Tiefling redirected her gaze away from the Firrerreo, to nowhere in particular. Ginger fingers tilted her head back, and she allowed the gesture, her focus torn between his tender touch and her own introspection. Darth Roth had tended to her wounds, too. Cleaning away the blood, whispering to her—sometimes words of encouragement, and sometimes words of disapproval at her failings, her shortcomings. There was one major difference between the two men, however. Master Roth, both the inflictor and the healer of her wounds, and Edin, who hadn't laid a finger on her. And yet here he lingered. Cleaning up the mess, tending to her needs like he was somehow responsible.

"Ouch," the Champion hissed, a single hand darting toward the hand that applied the bacta. She never had gotten used to its sting, not even after all these years and all these scars. Her eyes met Edin's, still focused on her injury, and she relaxed. Her face softened. Instead of pulling his hand away, her own hand closed around it. Staring into his piercing blue eyes, she could almost forget about her past, about the future she feared awaited her. She'd felt safe in his arms earlier, dancing in the living room like neither of them had a care in the world. More than anything, at that exact moment, she wanted to experience that feeling again.

"Does it bother you?" she asked suddenly, her voice quiet as he rolled up the bandage. "The smell?" As much as she'd been focused on Vincent, she couldn't help but pick up on his expressions. The way he kept his distance, the way his face scrunched up. Amira knew practically nothing about the Firrerreo species and, frankly, had never cared. But suddenly, she wanted to know everything. Every little detail, every insignificant characterisitc and preference.

Later, she'd clean up the mess in the bathroom. For now, she wanted to get away from it. To get him away from it, somewhere where they could dance again. Or kiss. Or talk the night away. Or whatever he wanted to do. It didn't matter, so long as they were together. "Come on. I want to show you something." She stepped toward the door, still holding his hand. It was a light touch, and one that he could easily slip out of. If he wanted, he could leave right now, and she wouldn't stop him. But she wanted him to stay, hoped he would stay. @Sreeya

 

[Edin Frost]

Edin couldn’t remember the last time he had helped clean someone’s wound. His thoughts dwelled back years ago when he was a boy. There had been an incident where his mother hadn’t been able to complete a task and was beaten for it. He recalled dabbing away the blood, the tender way she gazed at him and the emotions he felt. He was no longer that boy, but this simple gesture took him back. Perhaps because it was the last time he had cared about another person beyond his self interests. Edin felt Amira grasp his hand abruptly, and his gaze met hers until she let him continue.

When she asked if the smell bothered him, he said nothing for a moment. After a few seconds he finally nodded, “I have a very heightened sense of smell and hearing,” He explained. Firrerreo were not exactly an abundant species and most people didn’t know about them. Edin could tell her thoughts were far away as he watched her, seeing the look in her eyes.

When she grasped his hand, Edin glanced down at it before he entwined their fingers, “Okay,” He said simply, allowing her to lead the way.

@llamallove

 

[Amira Din]

Amira squeezed the Firrerreo's hand, a silent thank you for staying. He could have left if he'd wanted, in spite of his earlier promise, but he didn't. There was no enthusiasm in his voice or animation to his features, but he was still there. For now, that was all that mattered. His presence. She led him out of the geodome, closing the door behind her. The kidnappers wouldn't return, not tonight. Once Edin had left, she'd deal with them. In the meantime, she led him toward the forest.

Neither of them spoke for a while, silent as they walked along dirt pathways and climbed over fallen trees. Only their intertwined hands connected them, Amira's grip strengthening with every step, as if she was afraid he wouldn't be there when she turned around. "What about my hair? Does it bother you?" she asked out of nowhere. Perhaps it was a strange question, but she was genuinely curious. Curious about his species and curious about whether or not he liked the way she smelled. "It's jasmine." He probably already knew that, if his sense of smell really was heightened.
After that, she fell silent again until they reached their destination. A narrow river that wounds its way through the forest, with a burbling waterfall at one end, clear waters rippling over the surface of the rocks. Moonlight filtered through the canopy of trees overhead, reflecting on the surface of the water. Massive oak trees arched across the river, leaves swaying with the breeze.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Amira observed, voice quieter than normal. It couldn't be compared to the waterfalls of Naboo or the hot springs of Muunilinst, but it was peaceful. Untouched and untroubled. A safe haven from the outside world. Even a big-city boy like Edin could appreciate its simplistic beauty. Maybe he could appreciate it more than most. "I like to come here and think."

The Tiefling crouched down beside the bank, brushing her fingertips through water. "And sometimes I go skinny dipping," she added with a partial smile for his benefit, trying to lighten the mood. Something heavy had settled over the two of them, some invisible barrier that had descended the moment she'd joined him on the steps earlier. Amira hated it. Hated that for a single, solitary moment back in that bathroom Edin had reminded her of the man she wanted nothing more than to forget. Of the mistakes she regretted and wanted to forget. She felt alone, just as she had when he'd left her standing in that alleyway on Takodana, and yet he was standing right there beside her. Amira stared up at the Firrerreo, amber eyes hixed on his. "Do you like it?" @Sreeya

 

[Edin Frost]

Edin couldn’t help but smile when she asked about her hair. That was when he actually tugged her by the hand to make her briefly stop walking. He turned her to face him, “I like everything about you,” He admitted quietly as he gazed into her golden eyes, “Even the bits that make no fucking sense,” Edin smiled at her then, always revealing the familiar points of his fangs that was a subtle contrast to the tenderness he displayed.

The Firrerreo walked with her the rest of the way, already sensing the crisp air that was so much cleaner than anything he breathed in cities. Edin took in sight of the waterfall and the stunning landscape before him, pausing to marvel at it for a while. He didn’t see sights like this often and it certainly caught his attention.

Edin stood on the edge of the water, listening to the rushing waterfall and the distant sounds of forest critters. He glanced over when Amira mentioned skinny dipping followed by asking his opinion on the sights, cracking a grin, “Absolutely gorgeous,” He remarked, but he kept his eyes on her the entire time. His gaze lingered there for a moment before he looked back towards the water.

“Why did you flinch when I tried to clean your wound?” Edin asked very quietly after silence, “Are you…afraid of me?”

@llamallove

 

[Amira Din]

Unbidden, a flush crept over the Tiefling's dark cheeks. Not even the brisk night air could allay its heat. Everything? Did he truly like everything about her? Could he, if he knew it all? Probably not. And maybe it was best that he didn't. At least, not yet. Maybe not ever. She didn't want to lose him, didn't want to lose this—whatever it was. Still, it made her smile, and she would tuck his words away, a memory that she could and would dwell on in the future. Probably far more often than she ought.

Beside the water, she stared up at him. "I agree," she said, pleased to hear that he liked it here just as much as she did. Realizing that he was staring at her as he said it, she looked away. No matter how many times she swallowed, she couldn't get rid of the lump that had suddenly lodged itself in her throat. Men's compliments were a dime a dozen, blandishments that she took in stride. They didn't typically go to her head or her heart, but something about Edin was different. Ever since he'd put his arm around her in that booth on Ankus, she'd been blushing like a tomato fresh off the vine. It wasn't in her nature. She hadn't acted or felt like this since she was a teenager, when everything was brand new and exciting.
"I'm not afraid of you," she answered solemnly, nettled with herself that he even had to ask. The Tiefling studied the water trickling by, fingers fidgeting with a loose string on her pants. "I never have liked bacta. It stings." Tonight, in more ways than one. Yellow eyes drifted to her wrists, to the scars scored across each one. Edin had already seen all of her scars back on Ankus, and she his. Neither of them had minded, at least not then.

"You'd think I would be used to it by now, but... I guess some things you never do get used to. Tonight, what happened in the bathroom, it just brought back memories. That's all." She looked at him one again, amber eyes full of emotion. "But I'm not afraid of you." She thought back to Takodana and to Ankus, to the night they'd shared together and the memories they'd made. "You must know I'm not." Her lips parted, as if she wanted to say more, but she fell silent. What else could she say? I think I have feelings for you? For a moment you reminded me of the man that gave me these scars? Hardly. @Sreeya

 

[Edin Frost]

Edin wasn’t even sure why he asked, it was a far deeper question than he expected from himself. However, the way she flinched or grasped his hand bothered him more than he would admit. When she answered, he could tell she was genuine and being honest. He followed her gaze to the scars she had - scars he didn’t ask about. They both had them on themselves. He had his from being punished as a slave. They all told stories, but they came out with time.

The Firrerreo said nothing after she spoke, noticing that she appeared to want to keep talking. However, she abruptly stopped herself, her golden gaze appearing as if she feared overstepping. Edin gazed into her eye for a moment before he cracked a half smile, “Good,” He said at last, “You’re scary enough for the both of us,” He quipped, lightening the mood, “Especially with bandaging rolled up your nose.”

Without a word, he began to fiddle with his clothing, “I’m going to have to assess the skinny dipping potential of this place myself,” He declared as he casually slid his pants off. His shirt followed soon after before the last remnants of his clothing. Edin was clearly not shy around her, his lean and athletic body fully on display briefly before he splashed right into the water.

He disappeared for a moment before popping out of the water again, treading it as he gazed at her, “A little cool, but so far so good,” He flashed her a fanged grin before floating on his back to glance up at the moonlight that cut through the trees.

@llamallove

 

[Amira Din]

Amira rolled her eyes. The bandage rolled and stuffed up one nostril had completely slipped her mind. Slender fingers tugged at the gauze, delicately at first, to make sure the bleeding had stopped. Once she was sure it had, she pulled the rest of it out, realizing that she never had thanked the Firrerreo for helping her. What other man would have stuck around to help save a kidnapped goat? To tend to her wound? Probably not many. And none of the quite like Edin.

"Thanks, by the way. For this." She held up the bloody bandage, stuffing it into her pocket. "It's been a long time since I've had someone around to mend me." Physically or emotionally. The Tiefling hadn't seen her parents since she was a teenager, and instinctively, she had kept the Peacekeepers of Eriadu at arm's length. Those last words had just slipped out, involuntarily. She glanced at Edin but found that, whatever his reaction might be, she didn't regret saying it. "And for shooting the thrusters out," she added, dipping her head.
The Tiefling watched Edin undress, cheeks flushing scarlet once more. Heat crept up the back of her neck, both ears turning red. What was it about him that got under her skin? She cleared her throat, swatting away a fly that buzzed by. "I'm surprised you can swim after all that food you ate," she laughed after he'd jumped in, scooting closer to the water's edge. Amira kicked her shoes off and slipped both feet into the river, wiggling her toes. Confidence returning, she asked, "Well? You going to help me? Or am I supposed to just sit back and enjoy the view from a distance?" @Sreeya

 

[Edin Frost]

Edin was serenely floating around when she took the time to thank him and list off everything he had done. He didn’t miss how it was difficult for her to get the words out, and he remained silent for a few seconds before he turned upright and treaded water. The Firrerreo grinned up at her, “Well what do you know,” He quipped with a smile, “Turns out I don’t need to be a big, beefy guy to still be your knight in shining armor after all,” He added a wink as he swam towards her, recalling back to the multiple comments she had made about his size when they first met.

“What, you can’t undress yourself, Empress?” He teased as he moved closer towards her. Goosebumps lined his skin as he emerged from the water. Edin leaned in close to her, his hands almost teasingly against her skin as he began to undo her clothing, letting the articles fall away. He wouldn’t stop until she was as bare as he was. Edin’s eyes, however, remained on hers. For a moment, it appeared as if he would lean in to kiss her.

However, he abruptly picked her up with a surprising amount of strength and bodily tossed her into the water behind him. Edin chuckled to himself before splashing backwards into the water himself. He would find her again, smiling widely and thoroughly pleased with himself and paying her back double for all the teasing she had been doing to him all evening.

@llamallove

 

[Amira Din]

Amira's breath hitched somewhere in the back of her throat at the sight of the Firrerreo emerging from the water. He was like something out of a dream. A dream she didn't want to wake up from. She watched every movement, golden eyes glued to his slender frame as she allowed her gaze to wander wherever it wanted. "Of course I can," she grinned, not bothering to hide the excitement he produced in her.
Dark fingers reached up to play with his hair, disheveled and sopping wet. She thought back to Ankus and that clawfoot tub, and she leaned in closer. There was something about his hair, wet and tousled, that transfixed her. She was drawn to it, like a moth to a flame. "I don't even have to lift a finger, if I don't want to. Every self-respecting Empress has a manservant for all that... manual labor."

Her grin tugged wider, one eyebrow raising in challenge. "The position is open, actually, if you're interested," she murmured, trying to get under his skin. The Tiefling leaned forward, amber eyes bouncing between Edin's eyes and lips, as if she couldn't decide which she wanted to drown in more. She closed her eyes, lips parted in anticipation, but the kiss never came. She was swept off her feet and sucked under the water, all in one fail swoop.

"Edin!" she squealed. The Champion resurfaced, spluttering and treading water. She was completely soaked, her bun, already a mess, now a disaster. "I'll get you for that," she vowed, her growl transforming into a deep laugh. The Tiefling threw her head back, shaking her hair free from the tie that held it in place. This time she pressed against him, slender arms wrapping around his neck to hold him in place. No escaping this time, not unless he really wanted to. "You know perfectly well that you're beefy in all the right places," she whispered into his ear, nibbling on the lobe before moving downward, to trail along his neck with kisses. @Sreeya

 

[Edin Frost]

Edin grinned at her as she threatened retaliation for what he had done, “I’m counting on it,” He quipped back as he moved closer to her. He felt her arms wrap around his neck and he eased into that familiar touch. His own hands found her hips, a gentle nudge allowing her legs to wrap around his waist beneath the water. He closed his eyes as she spoke, the subtle nibble against his ear sending jolts through his spine. He sighed contently as she traced kisses along his neck, his grip on her firming.

“I always knew that,” He said with a fanged grin, “Just needed you to arrive at the same conclusion.”

He finally opened his eyes again, glancing at her briefly. Her eyes seemed to glow of their own accord in the dark with only the moon illuminating their surroundings. Her hair was shimmering silk, draped against the charcoal skin that he couldn’t get enough of. Edin tilted his head and finally leaned in to close the distance, capturing her lips with his.

For all the ways he was a city boy, he was learning to appreciate the slow pace of country more and more. There was no sound of industry or churning of machines or the zooming of speeders. It was nothing but the gentle ripples in the water, the songs of the night critters and the two of them. He sank against the warmth of her skin and melted away from the cool water, remembering all the reasons he had traveled far across the galaxy for this girl and all the ways she managed to sink her hooks into him past the countless barriers he put up.

@llamallove

 

[Amira Din]

The Tiefling smiled, a knowing look in her eyes as she stared up at Edin, gaze deep and prolonged. "I arrived at that conclusion the minute I walked in to that bar on Takodana," she admitted. Not to mention in that little inn on Ankus, where her fantasy wandered even now. "Why do you think I sat by you?" One arm still hung around his neck, while the other wandered across his left shoulder, sampling and savoring every muscle and curve as it tracked its away down his arm. The Firrerreo was lean but no less hefty, especially with each and every disciplined muscle on full display.
There were a lot of men larger and bulkier, but Amira would lay odds that the sharpshooter could horsewhip any of them. And not just because she was prejudiced in his favor. "I thought I was going to have to vie for your attention with that redheaded belle." Fortunately, the redhead had hightailed it out the front door as soon as the first shot was fired. Even if she had stayed, Amira would have had her way. She never let a little competition get in the way of what she wanted. "I'm not blind." As if to emphasize those words, her golden gaze explored and suggested before Edin closed the distance between them. Finally. Amira deepened the kiss, her grip on the Firrerreo growing more possessive.

All distractions disappeared, nothing more than background noise. The cold, rushing water; Vincent's kidnappers; and the invisible barrier that had settled between them earlier faded away, and nothing was left was Edin. "You know," she said as soon as they had pulled apart, breathless and voice ragged. Both legs tightened around his waist, just to make sure he couldn't move away. Their lips might not have been touching, but that didn't mean she didn't want every other inch of them to. "We could stay here all night. I bet you make for a drop dread gorgeous prune."

Her smile tugged wider into a grin at that. Heart pounding, she pulled him further into the water, conveying her need and desire for him. @Sreeya

 

[Edin Frost]

Edin chuckled at her words, always admiring how quick she was to retort to everything. As an assassin, he could recall every detail from the night they met down to what the other patrons were wearing. The Firrerreo grinned when Amira admitted she was worried about the redheaded competition, “While I do have a soft spot for redheads..” He lingered on the sentence for a moment with a teasing grin before he continued, “The only distraction that night was the man with the bounty on his head. He made me a nice sum of cash.”

He melted against her as she deepened the kiss, his grip on her tightening as he pulled her close. Edin didn’t need her to say anything to convey how much she desired him, and the feeling was entirely mutual. The Firrerreo moved as she tugged him close until her back was gently pressed against a smooth boulder on the edge of the water. He gazed down at her briefly, marveling at the way her eyes glinted in the moonlight.

“I’d like nothing more,” Edin murmured softly before leaning in to kiss her again, his hands slipping beneath the surface of the water to explore her in all the ways he had desired since they had been apart.

—​

As expected, his skin was definitely more wrinkled by the time they finally made it out of the water. Edin was feeling particularly lazy, and he plopped down on his back right there on the grass, tugging Amira down with him. The stars were still high up in the sky and the view was magnificent. They could even see other planets in the far distance because the sky was so clear. One of his arms was loosely wrapped around Amira, his hair still damp and a comfortable exhaustion setting in.

He said nothing for a few moments, his mind far away. Edin was still gazing up at the stars when he tugged Amira even closer against his chest, “Do you ever regret being a Sith?” He asked quietly after a long while. He wasn’t sure where the question came from, but he knew he wanted to learn her answer. Was he so different in his line of work?

@llamallove