Ask Who Dunnit

[Altair Din]

Altair was surprised when she grabbed him and yelled right back. She would see his eyes change from glaring to widening in surprise, his body limp against her fierce grasp. He had entirely underestimated her and he thought she let her fears govern her. Her fiery demeanor was surprising and he had no words left to counter with. Altair said nothing as he waved the saber like a beacon and heard the airspeeder coming towards them.

The rumble of the building caused panic to streak through him and he glanced in time to feel Celeste grasp him again. This time he turned to face her, his face mimicking the fear he felt. The roof began to vibrate and rumble beneath their feet and there was nowhere else to go. Altair didn’t hesitate to wrap an arm around her lithe waist, tugging her close as he managed a faint smile. He knew there was no use focusing on doom and gloom. He had been in dark places before and each time felt like the last.

“I’m just sorry we can’t get that drink,” He said quietly, his other hand coming up to brush aside strands of burnt hair away from her face. His palm brushed along her cheek, his thoughts jogging through everything that led them here. Altair pulled her close as the edge of the roof behind her began to collapse and rapidly move closer to them to break apart under their feet.

That was when he heard the engines of the airspeeder draw closer and a crazy thought crossed his mind. Altair looked at Celeste, never taking his eyes off her, “But you’re too damn stubborn to die here,” He said simply as he hugged her to his chest and bolted backwards. Coiling the Force around them both, he leapt off the roof, sending them launching into the air as the entire building crumbled and collapsed behind them.

The tiefling pivoted mid-air while still clutching Celeste fiercely, spotting the airspeeder. He landed with a heavy thud in the backseat, his soldiers piloting it. The Imperials looked completely shocked at the landing but they didn’t question it, quickly zooming away from the scene and back towards the capital.

Altair was seated next to Celeste, heaving a sigh of relief and still processing what happened. He tilted his head to look at her. For a moment he said nothing and then he abruptly began to chuckle to himself, “You gotta be the feistiest politician I ever met,” He said with a grin, genuinely happy to have her there and with them both alive. Altair took the saber hilt he used for the beacon and slipped it back into her hand. Except he didn’t withdraw his hand away from hers even after passing it, his gaze still on hers as the speeder cut through the open air.

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

It was as if time stood still for a moment. If it weren't for her heartbeat that was vehemently pounding in her chest, it would have been hard to tell for her whether time was actually passing, or whether they were just frozen. They couldn't die. Not here, not this way. This was not what he deserved. He may have carried out actions under the banner of the Empire just like she did, but why was this planet trying to punish them this way? Altair had talked about having killed under that banner, but his soul had to be protected at all cost. His mistakes did not define him. He had repeatedly proven what he was and this planet, or rather this obsessive cult that had originated in the resistance movement was in no position to judge either of them.

From his reaction she could tell that he wasn't angry anymore as his expressions softened as well. Yet it unsettled her strongly that he was just as frightened as she was when the building began to rumble again. She wanted to protect him from any possible harm so badly, yet it felt like she was utterly powerless.

She had no idea what kind of battle was raging on down below, but she assumed that this crazy head was somehow trying to screw with the horde of the infected, apparently either not knowing or caring about the Siths' presence on the roof. This couldn't be the end...she was truly trying to remain optimistic, but if this transport wouldn't arrive in time, they would soon meet their end.

There were a thousand things on her mind and she somehow wanted to express them, but his cheeky remark put her off her stride for a moment. A smirk immediately crossed her lips as she shook her head for a moment. "Altair...you are so special and I can only hope we go out for a drink soon. I-" she began softly as he touched her cheek, her own hand finding it's way up to his jaw, but she was suddenly interrupted by the ground that began to collapse right behind them. Their tender moment was once again destroyed and they were forced to move instantly, but since her body was still rather numb and her mind fogged, she was lucky to have Altair take seize their last chance.

The Tiefling suddenly pressed the blonde senator tightly to his chest and her eyes widened as she understood what crazy and risky thing he was trying to do. She held on tight, closing her eyes as his words echoed through her head. She breathed in, literally praying that he would be right. She had been in similar situations and she had always believed that this was somehow true. She was clinging to her life and she had not intended to lose it on a presumable diplomatic mission that had turned into a nightmare.

She had no idea whether they would make it, but as she could feel them pivoting mid air and soon landing in the airspeeder with a heavy thud, she opened her eyes excitedly. The adrenaline was suddenly stirred up by the endorphins that came rushing in. Those positive emotions completely overwhelmed her in the very second they landed in the speeders backseat. She let out a massive sigh of relief, not fully able to grasp that they had made it off this roof.

Her heart was still pounding in her chest while she turned her head to look at him, mind spinning and her head dizzy from all the commotion. She was so overflodded with joy that she barely managed to keep it together, but even if she was usually always so concerned about remaining in control, she could not have cared less now and so she let go, only focusing on her raw insticts.

The moment his hand touched hers, she reached up with her free hand, placing it softly, yet somehow passionately around his neck while she pulled him close, her lips brushing against his. She couldn't quite understand where this sudden impulse came from, but after everything they had survived today, it somehow felt right. She didn't care about what the startled Imperials in front of them would think, all that counted was this moment of relief and joy and she just wanted to be close to him as her lips melted against his,

However, no matter how Altair reacted to that, the moment wouldn't last long. They would both not just hear, but also sense that something big was fired, Altair probably more than her since her senses were still dulled. They were no longer gliding into safety, but the unmistakable sound of a homing missile could be perceived.

Celeste broke the soft contact between their lips and glanced downwards in shock, realizing that a concussion missile was indeed coming their way. She had no idea who had fired it or why, but they had barely left the city's district and it seemed like they were being shot from the sky.

Once again, this special moment between the two of them had been destroyed and it seems like they once again found themselves on the brink of their existence. This planet wanted to kill them, one way or another and this time Celeste felt like there was nothing to be optimistic about now.

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair wasn’t entirely sure why he didn’t withdraw his hand away or why he looked at her the way he did. There was exhaustion in his features and also the exhilaration of being alive. His eyes widened in surprise as she threw an arm around his neck and closed the distance between them. Altair was too startled to react immediately, feeling her warm lips against his own. However, he recovered quickly enough, deciding he wanted to give into it. The surge of desire was mixed with the exhilaration he felt, and he acted accordingly. Altair tilted his head and kissed her back, his arm wrapping around her.

He didn’t care what the Imperials thought - they were minding their business driving. The storms had slowed down, but there was still a drizzle that soaked them both. He didn’t care about any of it. Altair’s other arm, snaked around Celeste, easily tugging over to him so she straddled his lap while facing him right there in the speeder. His muscled frame could easily move her around, positioning her so her legs were on either side of his own. There was shameless possessiveness in the way he gripped her close, getting his fill of the taste of her.

It was short-lived, however, as she drew back. For a moment he eyed her with concern, wondering if they had crossed any lines. However, he soon realized the Imperials were yelling about a missile lock. Altair didn't have time to move Celeste off his lap and he tilted his head to look past her towards the Imperials, “Hard bank! HARD BANK! 90 DEGREE TILT!”

“THAT’S TOO RISKY!”

“WE HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE, THAT’S AN ORDER!”

Altair gripped the side of the speeder with one arm, grimacing as the entire craft harshly and abruptly banked completely to the side. It would put them into a completely slanted tilt that threatened to spill everyone out. The Imperials were strapped in, but of course Altair and Celeste weren’t. Instead, he simply anchored himself down and wrapped his tail around her body to keep her held down.

There was a huge jerk of the speeder as the missile miraculously just barely missed them. The speeder abruptly shifted back upright, the Imperials marveling at their luck. Altair exhaled the breath he didn’t even realize he was holding. He didn’t move for a moment, staring at Celeste in shock.

“We’re…erm.. Arriving sir,” One of the Imperials said after a moment, clearing his throat.

Altair was quickly rattled to reality again, his face heating up as he gingerly helped Celeste off his lap. Where did all that come from?! Damn that was impulsive. He fixed up his uniform as well as he could considering a lot of the fabric was missing from his chest. Altair cleared his throat awkwardly, “Y-You okay?” He asked Celeste quietly as the speeder finally landed in front of the building where they originally arrived. They would have to give their official report to the diplomat that met them earlier and call for Sith reinforcements to destroy the splinter cultist group affiliated with the Resistance to close out the investigation. Though he couldn't deny there were a lot of other things on his mind from the way he kept stealing glances at Celeste.

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

It was funny how fast the tides had changed. Celeste's had been severely frightened, angsty and even doubting whether they would somehow make it out of her alive, yet suddenly a whole different impulse had overcome her and she had given it, which was quite unusual for the normally so controlled and professional senator.

Sure, she had always been feisty and strong willed and that was exactly why she had pulled the Tiefling close, yet she was normally not the type for such an assertive hook up. Maybe it was the very fear about their existence potentially coming to a sudden end, or maybe it was the charming young man that had wrapped her around his fingers so quickly...she didn't quite know. All she knew was that he was very special and that he had to survive this madness.

Despite her drowsiness she felt that it took him a moment to give in. It seemed like she had suprised her companion, but as it seemed in a positive manner. Yet their beautiful, shared moment was rudely interrupted by that fatal missile that was headed their way. She hadn't resisted as he had pulled her close, her legs spread and body pressed to his, the passion between them sparking, but suddenly it was about pure survival all over again.

She held on tight as he resolutely yelled the commands and if it weren't for his tail, she would have probably been yeeted out of the airspeeder. The endorphins were once again replaced by pure adrenaline, her heartbeat racing yet another time while her lithe frame was wrapped around the muscular Tiefling.

She met his gaze just as shocked, letting out a breath of relief as they all found themselves back in safety. She didn't budge yet. Not only because she was almost paralyzed by that sudden shock, but also because it felt good tk have him this close. "Altair...I can't believe it. You have saved my life again..." she gasped breathlessly, her gaze softening. She was exhausted, extremely drained even and this mission had definitely been way too much.

She left his lap and strapped herself into her own seat, even though there was a slight reluctance in her movements. It was not just that he had saved her, but he had also ensured that she had somehow managed to keep her calm. "I'm...okay. You?" she replied quietly, staring straight forward for a moment before she glanced back up again. While her impulses and her passion had taken over just a few seconds ago, she now felt not only the deep rooted exhaustion and the remaining dizziness from the drugs, but she was simultaneously right awake.

It had been incredibly hot that he had pulled her over so shamelessly. Even though Celeste was usually a woman that could come across rather dominantly and feistily herself, she loved it when men took charge, and that was why she was almost already craving what had just been a few moments ago. The way he had seized the opportunity and showed this assertive determination, if not even possessive demeanor, had been incredibly attractive and she now saw the young Tiefling in yet another, interesting light.

She cleared her throat, her cheeks heated and they could have even been slightly blushed if the color had already returned to her face (which it fortunately hadn't, thanks to the sedatives) as she tried to regain composure. She was contemplating how he had managed to win her over so quickly, but she knew that they had a mission to finish first.

She was relieved that they had finally made it into safety, yet she would have rather abducted the Tiefling instead of having to report to the diplomats. If she was being honest, she couldn't wait to get off this terrible planet, but she wouldn't be able to find her peace until the group was dealt with.

While they alighted she caught herself glancing up at him again, but the amusing thing was that she also caught him looking back. As their eyes met it was as if this electricity that had started to spark between them was back, yet neither could do something about that tension right now. Before they made their way over to the building, she waited for a moment in which everyone else was out of earshot before she grabbed his hand to make him stop for a moment. "After all this I feel like we should grab this drink after all...". There was something undeniably alluring in her voice and she finished with an inconspicuous wink before she finally managed to smile again. They were alive and this was surely something they had to celebrate.


@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair paused when Celeste grasped his hand and mentioned that drink. There was no chaos now and the mission was complete as soon as they exposed the activities on the planet and offered Sith reinforcements to root it out. This would bring the planet over to the Sith as the diplomats would trust in the support. The resistance had shot itself in the foot by taking such aggressive measures, but not every branch of it was pacifistic in their approach like the jedi.

For now, Altair saw the glint in Celeste’s eye. She was older than him and she carried herself with confidence. She knew what she wanted and it was something he always found exhilarating as a trait in women. Instead of brushing off what she said, Altair stepped a bit closer to her, towering over her from where he stood.

While his gaze remained on her, his tail snaked up slowly up along the back of one of her legs. The pointed tip of it grazed against the fabric of her dress, sliding up along the back of her thigh and up towards her hip. From there, the point of it pressed just a bit against the bottom of her spine and dragged up to where it would almost feel as if the tail was cutting through the back of her dress. However, he had a strict measure of control the entire time so she would be left with nothing more than a tingling sensation crawling up her spine.

Altair gave her a half grin as he gazed at her, “Sure,” He murmured quietly, “Just a drink,” He returned her wink before finally drawing his tail away. He left her like that without another word, stepping into the diplomatic building to finish their report.

—

In truth, he actually did contact her about getting that drink - but he wanted to change into presentable attire instead of his damaged armor. The planet was secure and their military forces were handling the clean up. This meant the two of them could get away from the chaos and actually enjoy themselves and celebrate a successful mission.

He had done some research and found a lounge in the noble district in Livien Magnus, the capital city on the planet. It was a slightly classy joint, but not over the top. It gave him an excuse to dress up a bit and take Celeste out. She was a diplomat and an older woman, he wouldn’t take her to some trashy joint. He wore a nice black leather jacket, form fitting pants and neat white shirt beneath it. He even styled his normally unkempt hair. Altair selected a place that had a variety of local drinks and also had a dance floor and performers.

The tiefling found a corner table where he waited for her to join him. He couldn’t help but allow his mind to run through a lot of the details earlier that evening. Altair was surprised at how impulsive he had been, but he felt utterly confident about sweeping her into his lap. He was ready to take it further right there as the airspeeder was zooming through the sky in the storm. Altair laughed to himself at the thought, shaking his head. There was something alluring about the way she was so good, kind and proper but it only made him want to draw out the fiery and challenging side of her. The sides she didn’t want the galaxy to see. He knew it was there buried like treasure waiting to be discovered.

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

The meeting with the diplomat was rather fast. After all, they didn't have much to discuss. This rogue, so called resistance branch had to be dealt with and diplomatic discussion were rather off the table, especially when considering that they had chosen extreme, violent measures to spread fear and terror throughout the city.

The citizen were intimidated and frightened and so the reinforcements had to act quickly. Lucky for Celeste and Altair they didn't have to stay around much longer. Their mission was completed, even though nothing had went as planned. Celeste felt exhausted and her system was still completely overflowed with toxins.

She knew she needed rest, yet the idea of grabbing that drink with Altair was alluring...Especially now that the Tiefling became more and more confident and determined. The little, yet incredibly sexy dance he had conducted with his tail suprised her and she had to control herself in order not to lose her composure yet again.

It left her thirsty...thirsty for more. The way his tail graced her skin send sparks of electricity through her whole body and for a moment the sedatives were forgotten. She reached up, seductively twirling a loose strand of hair around her finger while the other hand caressed his muscular, still halfway exposed arm. "Just...a drink" she had reassured him just as cheekily as he did before they had been forced to part ways for a bit.

-------------

As his message came, she immediately answered it with a smirk on her lips. She had used the time to rest, freshen up and change into something new and undamaged. While chaos was still raging on the planet, they still had the chance to enjoy the night off and Celeste-now feeling much better again- couldn't wait to take her mind off things for a while.

She was curious to find out what would happen that night. She was definitely open to various possible outcomes, even though she would have never thought that everything between them would change so quickly. But then again nothing about this day had been usual or expected, but now she was indeed positively excited to see how this interesting mission would come to and end.

The dress she wore was red, a rather deep, alluring red and it flattered her toned shape and curves. She was not trying to be provocative or anything, but she did like dressing up for places like the one Altair had chosen.

After drinking liters of water it felt like the majority of the toxins were now out of her system and even though she wasn't sure whether alcohol was the best idea, she wouldn't say no to a drink. She was also in the mood for dancing or simply having a good time while talking, so once she approached the Tiefling her lips were graced with a genuine, charming smile.

"Oh what a coincidence. Never thought I'd run into you here..." she began, playfully teasing Altair as she gracefully slid in the seat next to him. Her eyes immediately found their way back up to him and she had to admit to herself that even if the military uniform had been quite sexy in retrospective, the leather jacket might have even suited him better. "Look at you all dressed up. I do like what I see.". Of course he wasn't dressed in anything formal, but it seemed like this was exactly his style and the compliment was honest. She could see that his looks now weren't just corresponding to his usual style, but it was rather that bolt confidence she found extremely attractive, especially because it was quite a contrast to how she had met him this morning.

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

It wasn’t Altair’s style to dress up overly formal, and he usually opted for a cleaned up rugged look. It worked for him and he stuck to it. However, he couldn’t help the way his gaze lingered when he spotted Celeste, almost doing a double take because he wasn’t sure it was her or not. Seeing her go from the grime and injuries to this was night and day, and for a moment he could only gawk. The dress flattered every curve and he had to remind himself to be good and not let his eyes flick down to the dangerously low drop of the front of her dress or the way her slender leg was revealed thanks to the slit in the gown.

He couldn’t help but grin at her words, “You’d be right - I’m only here because a classy lady like you deserves nothin’ less,” Altair quipped back almost immediately, drawing out her seat for her. He felt underdressed next to her, but he had enough confidence to where it didn’t bother him, “You look stunning,” Altair said with a smile, genuine in his assessment of her choice of attire.

A server droid came by and Altair turned to regard Celeste, “Since you’re lookin’ like a tall glass of Corellian Merlot right now, I recommend that for you,” He gave her a wink as he lifted his own drink in cheers before taking a sip. She could go with it or order her own, he wasn’t fussed either way.

Altair was used to grungy or clubby scenes, and this had a blend of club and class. The music certainly warranted intimate and slightly more skilled dancing than just the usual bump and grind. He wondered if Celeste would even frequent seedy clubs like the ones he usually did, an image he found rather amusing.

Once her drink arrived, he clinked his glass against hers, “To a successful mission in the end!” Altair said before he took a sip, “So… do the bold sides of you only come out in a crisis or do you always have a fun side you keep on lockdown under the prim and proper?” Altair grinned at her, his gaze briefly flicking over to the dance floor behind her before back to her. He leaned back in his seat and took another sip, his tail playfully flicking back and forth as he eyed her.

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

The look he had given her did surely not go unnoticed, but it only made her charming smile a little wider. It was funny how not only their outfits, but also their dynamic had changed. Not that she would complain, but it seemed like after their terrible, shared experience, the Tiefling was not seeing her as the professional diplomat anymore, which was clearly a good thing.

Celeste was not usually that controlled, composed, pragmatic woman. Under that fassade there was much more hidden and it seemed like he was surely about to meet the real her. He had already seen her fight and after his attempted sacrifice he had also found himself confronted with her fire, but what she also couldn't deny, was that she had enjoyed the tender moments they had shared on that couch.

Right now, however, it was also that confidence he was radiating that enthralled her. The way his violet eyes rested on her also told quite a story about his inner thirst, perhaps even the longing and the passion, and she couldn't help but to answer that with a smirk. "Oh, I thank you kindly" she replied with a genuine gratitude concerning the compliment and his chivalrous gesture while she elegantly crossed her legs, her gaze not leaving him.

His remark made her chuckle amusedly as she had never heard such a comparison before. "I trust your taste, so why not? A Corellian Merlot it is" she replied into the direction of the droid, before she directed her gaze back at him, head playfully tilted. "I'm neither picky nor complicated, but I do like your choice. It looks like we can surely have some fun here..." she added with a flirty wink, before the droid was already back with her drink.

She clinked the wine against his glass before she took a sip, the soft, sweet flavor leaving a pleasant taste in her mouth, before she couldn't help but to raise an eyebrow at his remark. "Is that what you call successful? Perhaps I should reconsider accompanying you on further missions..." she playfully teased before he added something really cheeky that immediately made her laugh."Me? Prim and proper? Oh I can surely keep up my fassade for hours, but I can assure you that the real me is completely different. In fact, you have already caught glimpses, but there is much more" she took another sip before she set her glass down and grabbed his hand without hesitation. "Dance with me" she suggested, even though it was almost an order. The smirk on her lips widened as she heard the current song already fading to an end, and she somehow had a feeling that the next one would be just as passionate as the old one. Even though this day had been long and exhausting she was in a very good mood, and she was definitely not saying no to a few hot dances. She was not doubting Altair would be willing to follow her, but with her hand assertively grabbing his, he didn't even have much of a choice.


@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair could see she wasn’t shy about flirting, a trait he admired in women. It was another one of those things girls closer to his age lacked - confidence and a casual brazenness that made them all the more appealing. The tiefling would have been flustered before, but he slowly began to pick up the art himself over time, “If it put you on my lap, I’d say that’s a success,” He flashed her a playful wink before throwing back his drink. Altair didn’t protest as she took him by the hand, allowing himself to be tugged along behind her to the dance floor. His tail swished from side to side, his mood improving drastically from earlier in the day.

He let her lead the initial steps as he glanced over to quickly pick up on the style. Altair was used to not having to do much at clubs and it was mostly the girls bumping and grinding. However, he was open enough to try and pick up some new moves. Soon enough, he took the lead and did the box steps to the rhythm of the song, his hips swaying in turn. He raised his hand to spin her every now and then, watching the vibrant dress twirl along with her graceful frame. She was breathtaking to behold and his gaze lingered on her as if she was the only woman in the center of the galaxy.

Altair spun her again and turned her so her back faced him. He tugged her close so her back pressed against his chest. He lingered there for a moment, his arms loosely hugging her from behind as they danced. His hips continued to sway as his feet moved, but he kept his lazy grasp on her. Altair leaned in close to her shoulder from behind, his lips just barely brushing along the bare skin of her shoulder and towards her neck. She would feel his hot breath teasing against her as his lips traveled closer to her ear to riddle her with goosebumps, “And how else is the real you different?” Altair asked with a quiet murmur as his fingertips dug a bit deeper against her hips in his hold.

He would let her answer, but he spun her again after that, turning her to face him. There was a glint in his eye, the vibrant lighting in the club illuminating his purple orbs to where they almost looked ethereal. He didn’t release her just yet, a lazy grin lingering on his face as he looked at her.

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

It was clearly a good thing that almost all the numbness had left her body as she could now enjoy that pulsating feeling of the bass and the music in her body. It somehow electrified her and raised her mood even more, even though it had already been great the moment she had stepped into that club and her gaze had landed on her handsome date. His sweet, bold remark echoed through her head for a whole while, a cheeky smirk on her lips. "Oh trust me...not many men have managed that before, especially in such a short period of time..." she flashed him a teasing wink while she glanced up to him again.

They quickly made their way over to the dance floor and Celeste confidently dragged the Tiefling along, half walking, half swaying her hips already. Just as expected, the next song was just as passionate and so she wasted no time before pulling him close. She was surpised that he let her lead first, but it seemed like he wanted her to set the tone and so she did.

She began moving her hips to the hot rhythm, a thousand lights dancing around them while music filled the air while she guided him for a little while. Her passionate gaze was not leaving his deep violet eyes while she enjoyed the music and this pleasant feeling of lightheartedness. It had been quite a while since she had felt that free and she really savored the moment while she gracefully placed her steps.

It didn't take long until Altair was taking over and she let herself be led with pleasure. She was truly impressed by his moves and she followed his lead contentedly. It had indeed been quite a while since she had last enjoyed herself like that and once he spun her again, just to softly press himself against her from behind, a small gasp escaped her lips.

She had to admit that he was good, not just with the dancing. Men like him were indeed rare and he was not just considering his smooth moves. He was just wholesome and she really appreciated his company. It was refreshing and just fun to be around him, which truly made her happy.

As his lips traced her skin, pure sparks were sent across her bare skin. She placed her hands on his while she seductively continued to sway her hips, each and every swing a soft promise. She slightly tilted her neck backwards into her neck while one hand wandered up, her fingernails softly, yet assertively tracing along his neck while his hot breath brushed against her ear. She sideways glanced at him, her lips curled into yet another smirk before he spun her again.

He soon spun her again, so that she was facing the confident and obviously willing Tiefling again. She had not replied yet. Instead, she was enjoying to tease him a little by letting him wait. She raised a brow, her gaze still intensely lingering on her incredibly attractive dancing partner."Oh I'm sure you are about to find out" she then answered, leaving her reply vague on purpose, because even though she was usually a woman who preferred words, she was convinced that actions spoke louder now.

His inhumane, fascinating eyes literally put a spell on her and she couldn't resist that attraction. Truth was, she could have resisted, but she simply didn't want to. She wanted to enjoy that night and she was definitely having fun and she was not planning on stopping here. She was going with the flow, and their vibe was just enthralling and so she gave in. While she still moved her hips, her body grazing his, she got on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around his neck, slighlty pulling him nearer so that she could softly let her lips brush against his, hopefully leaving him even thirstier for more. The heat between them was immense and the passion ran deep in the blonde and she was about to take what she wanted.

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair felt a jolt go through him as her nails grazed along his neck when she reached behind herself. He wasn’t sure who was taking the lead, and the back and forth drove him wild. His tail betrayed him in the way it eagerly swayed during their dance, sometimes accidentally tapping other patrons that shot him glares. But he didn’t care - his focus was solely on the woman in his arms. He noticed she opted not to answer him immediately, wrapping her arms around his neck. Altair leaned down towards her height, grinning at her teasing promise.

Her lips brushed against his and that little tug of war began again. He could give in, he could drink from a kiss and savor it all over again. In the end, he decided to tease her right back by leaning in close. Instead of kissing her, he softly bit into her lower lip, tugging on it a bit to nibble just for a moment before releasing again, “Oh I intend to find out all right,” He said with his lips still against hers. He said nothing more, abruptly grasping her hand to twirl her out of his grasp again. Altair grinned at her before continuing the dance, spinning her again and moving across the dance floor while taking the lead.

Every now and then he glanced over at how others were dancing. He wasn’t as skilled as them, but he trusted in his abilities to move Celeste around and lead her on the floor. And he was certainly musically gifted enough to stick to the rhythm and music. As the music reached a peak point, Altair’s hand lowered down to Celeste’s lower back and he gracefully dipped her. His other hand casually lifted her exposed leg under her thigh, hooking it around his own thigh while he kept her dipped. He twirled her around like that, allowing her to gaze up at the ceiling lights to the music and seeing a kaleidoscope of colors.

The tiefling had a smile on his face as he slowly lifted her from the dip, but he had leaned forth as well. His lips dragged along her chest, tracing up right between her curves and towards her collarbone as he brought her up. It was an exquisite experience, and he drew in the scent of her and the slightest taste of her skin that left him craving more. He kept going along her jawline and towards her lips, but like before he didn’t kiss her, drawing back just then to continue the dance.

After a while, the dance came to an end and he tugged her close again. His arms were loosely around her waist as he looked at her. He kept swaying from side to side, “Maybe I’ll find out somewhere a bit more private,” He said with a wink before jutting his chin towards the door to leave. If she agreed, he would close out the tab and walk out with her.

Perhaps to her surprise, he would lead her towards where it was quieter and away from the buzz of the city. It was a beautiful landscape with a bridge crossing over a lake. There was the occasional street performer playing tunes here and there, but it wasn’t a crowded and packed club anymore. The air was cool and crisp and it was just the two of them. Altair didn’t even notice that he still hadn’t let go of her hand since leading her out.

“I was here a few years ago,” Altair explained after a moment, “I’m not a big fan of cities and like the lowkey spots more,” He said as he gazed out towards the lake and the stars shimmering above them. He tilted his head to look at her again, “‘Sides I haven’t had a chance to just have you all to myself yet,” He gave her a playful wink as he kept walking.

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

It was as if the Tiefling could read her like an open book. She knew exactly that he teased her back on purpose and she couldn't help but to smirk. She was playing the same game she did and that was indeed driving her crazy. She was thirsty, thristy for more and she somehow couldn't shake the feeling that they would get to know each other much better. The night wasn't exactly young and their day had been long and exhausting, yet she felt more awake then ever.

They continued their little play on the dancefloor, Altair being just as cheeky as herself while he kept teasing her. It was as if she got lost on his violet eyes while his tail wasbalmost hypnotizing her. She began to assume he was reading her thoughts as the passionate lip bite was the exact thing that almost made her lose her mind just here.

Her nails dug into the soft, dark skin at his neck while she briefly closed her eyes, simply savoring the moments and the feelings he was evoking inside her body. He was devious as he left her longing for more while his lips softly trailed along her skin, sending a pleasant shiver down her spine, before they continued her dance.

Celeste kept moving her hips seductively, passion seemingly running high in both of them. It was funny how she suddenly craved him, his proximity and the continuation of what they had started. She followed his lead and during the graceful dip she took a moment to take it all in. She was truly grateful. Grateful to be alive but also grateful for this night and the mysterious ways of the Force that had brought the two of them in such a situation.

Once the song came to an end, she still hadn't taken her eyes of him. As he suggested leaving the bar behind, she immediately answered him with a mischievous smile. "Oh gladly", she softly breathed before she followed him, the dancing lights of the club reflecting in her eyes. There was a mixture of positive excitement and genuine happiness in her eyes, but Altair could probably tell that there was something else on her mind...

She had no idea where he was leading her, yet she refrained from asking and rather enjoyed the suprise. It didn't take long until they found themselves in a completely different, yet unbelievably beautiful spot far away from all the hustle and the bustle. "Wow...that place is amazing" she marveled at the scenery, her hand still in his while she glanced around.

There was something deeply romantic about this scenery and she wondered how he had stumbled upon such a spot, yet he already gave her an answer. "I love that you keep surprising me...you're much more similar to me than I had first assumed..." her voice softly trailed off as he'd attention was briefly called by the moonlight that reflected in the lake. There was not a single cloud in sight and a thousand stars graced the nightsky. She glanced back up to him as they kept walking. "Oh believe me...I'm happy we are on our own now". She slowed down a bit, wanting to take it all in while she was also quite curious now. "Where did you grow up?" Perhaps an unexpected question, but she wanted to learn more about him. She was quite sure that after everything she knew by now, he had not grown up in an urban area, but perhaps there were even more surprises.

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair was thrilled to see that she liked the change of scenery. She very well could have been the city girl type as were most Sith. He slowed down his pace to keep at her side as they walked, a smile appearing on his face as she suggested they were similar, “Well to be honest you been surprising me too,” He said quietly as he glanced at her, “Didn’t think someone like you would look twice at me,” Altair said a bit nervously. He didn’t fit the profile of a typical handsome human male and most human women didn’t find him too appealing even without the stigma attached around his race, “Figured it was all ‘cause we were caught up in life and death adrenaline rush,” While that may have been true at the time, he doubted she would have come out or suggested getting a drink if that was all it was.

He was pleasantly surprised by her question and he pondered on it for a moment before answering, “I’m from Bandomeer. I grew up on a farm,” Altair said, “It’s why I got the accent,” He grinned at her, “I come from a big family - got nine other siblings and we raise animals and crops. Real humble life,” There was a fondness on his face as he spoke about his family life, “I didn’t come to the Sith till just a few years ago so I’m still learnin’ a lot.”

Altair looked at her again, “And you?” He asked, “What made you wanna go into diplomacy and which planet you wanna get involved in?”

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

The further they walked, the calmer it got and she enjoyed the tranquility very much. The nightsky was still stunning and the air rather mild, a soft wind graced her bare skin. She raised an eyebrow as he mentioned he was surpised too, because now she was extremely intrigued to find out what he has assumed at first. The smile never left her left while she continued walking alongside him, her light blue eyes resting on his violet orbs.

As he went on, she couldn't ignore the hint of nervousity in his voice. Her facial expressions softened as it almost hurt her how he placed his words. Celeste had always been good at reading people, but she hadn't noticed the insecurity behind his confident fassade earlier. To be fair, he was quite good at hiding it and it seemed like she had mistaken his initial reserve this morning.

She couldn't help but to smirk as she came to a halt. She softly reached up and cupped his cheek with her right hand while she softly ran her thumb across his skin. "Why wouldn't I? You're a wonderful person, Altair" she began softly, "I do, however, feel like our shared experience was like a catapult start. It was the very reason for us starting to open up so quickly". She was completely honest...Celeste had found him interesting from the very first second, yet their mission's goal had been inbetween them. She had enjoyed the tender, beautiful moment they had shared on the couch and she had wanted to spend more time with him to meet the real Altair. She was overly happy that she got that chance now.

She listened to him attentively as he explained his story, the smirk forming into a warm smile."Wow...that sounds amazing. I always wanted a big family...I've met your sister on the ball on Serenno, but I don't believe I have met any other siblings of yours she slightly tilted her head to the side, her smile widening. She enjoyed opening up to him and she was happy that he did the same. "What animals did you raise? And what crops did you grow?". She was hoping he wouldn't mind her curiosity, but she was fascinated by his story. It was also interesting to learn that he hasn't been with the Sith for such a long time though.

When he returned the question, she was truly curious about his reaction. "It's funny how my background is basically the complete opposite. I grew up on Kalist IV, my parents have been loyal followers of the Empire and were leading a company that was producing weapons and ships. They died when I was five, so my uncle raised me and since he was a Sith, I soon joined the academy on Dantooine and completed my training there. Once a champion, I returned to Kalist and started running the company...yet that was never truly fulfilling. All my life has been about business and I've always questioned our code in a way. I never believed that violence and brute demonstration of strength is the way...I was always convinced diplomacy is possible" she paused for a moment, her gaze still not leaving him. She was not planning on getting lost in her own story, but it was definitely complicated to keep it short. "And well how I ended up on Rattatak...that's a crazy story. You could sum it up like this: I was on a business mission which was also supposed to be about peaceful negotiations, but I ended up being thrown into a fighting pit and I wasn't exactly pleased, do we ended up overthrowing the warlord in charge of this place. I couldn't deal with this injustice and i had to do something about those slavers...I haven't stopped since" she grinned up at him, already sorry that she had drifted off like that, but now he knew her story.

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair paused when she stopped walking, turning to face her as she cupped his face. Her touch was tender against his rough skin, “Most are afraid of me,” He said with a quiet sigh, “Devaronian and tiefling are prejudiced against in the galaxy. People look at me and think I’m a monster, a demon, a devil,” He didn’t like admitting any of this to her, but they had been honest with one another so far, “I guess Sith was the only place where it didn’t matter what I looked like. It only matters what I’m capable of and my merits.”

He was further surprised when she asked more about his farm life - he figured it sounded dull and boring to others. This was a far cry from club dancing or the steam they had between one another. There was something different about genuine curiosity and a desire to learn more about each other that caught him off guard, “Nerfs, chickens and goats,” He explained, “All kinds of fruits you can think of! Bith bean, kebroot, legumes, and so much more. We sell our harvest at the town market and every year we have a festival to showcase our biggest produce and competition. I enter my pies,” Altair said, “And my pies have won every year, mind you,” He said brightly. After a moment, he smiled sheepishly, deciding he was rambling a bit about silly things. He ran his fingers through his hair and cleared his throat. Somehow all this wasn’t as easy as just twirling her around on a dance floor or flirting. The more shy parts of him were surfacing through the cracks.

Altair listened carefully as she shared her story, his eyes widening as she explained about being thrown into a fighting pit. This lined up with all the different experiences she had up until then outside of just diplomacy. Altair thought about her choices and how she deviated from the family path - much like he had from a lifetime of farming, “What’s gonna happen to your family’s business then?” He couldn’t help but ask. With her parents gone, who was running what they had built? And would it be used against her one day?

“I never been to Rattatak,” Altair confessed, “Sounds like chaos,” He said with a grin. Altair came to another pause as they arrived on the bridge and he looked over the side and towards the shimmering waters below. It was just the two of them here, the stars dotting the skies and reflecting against the dark river.

“I meant what I said, you know,” He said quietly after a while as he looked at her, “You really are worth ten of me. You’ll change things in the galaxy,” His smile fell for a brief moment as he looked back towards the river, “I just ain’t lookin’ forward to when we gotta be on opposite sides. Maybe you'll still remember me as a Bandomeer farmboy."

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

His reply hit her hard...it wasn't just unbelievably sad, but also terribly cruel. If Celeste hated one thing besides injustice, it were prejudices. As a Sith, she was used to getting confronted with plenty of prejudices from unreflected, small minded people who tended to see things in black and white, even though there were a thousand shades of grey.... "I'm terribly sorry, Altair. That's awful...Such superficial, perhaps even superstitious notions make me truly speechless...and furious" she began sympathetically, her voice soft while she was almost worriedly frowning as she could see how difficult expressing the truth was for him. "I'm glad that you have found your place though, and that you have been welcomed there. It is, however, hard to grasp that people are afraid of you. You are literally the complete opposite of a monster". She slightly shook her head as she went on, a slight sigh escaping her. Oh yes...people could be cruel.

She noticed that her curiosity and interest must have been unexpected as he looked quite surpised when he explained what his life had been like after she had asked for details. His outline, however, immediately brought a warm smile to her lips. "That sounds absolutely lovely..." she went on while her hand slowly slid down his shoulder and arm until it reached his hand. "Is that an invite? Because I'm intrigued...I'd love to try one of your delicious pies..." she then cheekily added with a smirk, softly placing her hand in his before she couldn't help but to chuckle. Why was he so nervous out of a sudden? Perhaps deep conversation were something the Tiefling didn't share with others as often.

It seemed like he was just ask curious as she was, since he was also asking further questions. "Oh, my uncle takes care of it. I haven't left Rattatak since the incident and I am still quite busy there, so I plan on staying. It doesn't surpise me that you haven't stopped by though...after all it's quite remote and it's not the most tourist friendly planet. The chaos is slowly getting under control and if you would love to see it, you're cordially invited" she said to him with a grin, noticing that they were now found themselves all on their own.

The scenery was still breathtaking, but even with such an amazing view her gaze was not leaving him."Excuse my language, but that's straight bullshit" amusedly shaking her head before she rolled her eyes,"please don't talk about yourself like that. Your heart is at the right place, Altair, and we shouldn't talk about opposite sides. Why do we need to draw any lines? Even if I were about to join the Jedi Order, why should we consider ourselves enemies? It's about the people, the individual behind the banner and I'm generally hoping that existing, intergalactical tensions will get resolved sooner or later. Nothing will change that for me. I see you for what and who you are, and not as a Sith, so even if I would cut myself off from the Empire, you would still be the same, lovely Altair to me". The mood had changed...he had somehow made it much more serious and even sad with that statement. Even if they would part ways tonight or tomorrow, this was no goodbye, so this was not the time to get melancholic. She could understand his worries though, but she was hoping that he would understand her perspective.

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair chuckled at her comment about his pies, “Maybe if you earn it,” He gave her a wink, “I don’t make ‘em for just anyone, you know,” It was true - though he cooked often for others, his pies were reserved for truly special people and occasions. His gaze flicked briefly down to where her hand slid down his arm and towards his own. There was a comfortable familiarity to her touch and he desired more of it.

“I’d be happy to visit Rattatak,” He said with a smile, “Maybe help keep any warlords in line if there is an uprising,” The tiefling had heard of the planet before even if he hadn’t been. He had fought in fighting rings before, but he did it for enjoyment. If a test of physical prowess was in their culture, he would fit right in.

Altair looked back at her when she defiantly spoke out against being on opposite sides. He couldn’t help but open his mouth a few times to argue, but he said nothing. Instead, there was just a smile on his face as he shook his head. He imagined a thousand scenarios in his head - situations where he could potentially be sent in to lead a charge against her planet or somewhere else she wanted to defend. What then? Would he be able to do his duties? Would she? Fortunately, that wasn’t the case right now. It was a quiet, beautiful evening under the stars with soft music lingering from afar.

Altair turned to face her and tugged her close to himself, his arms loosely wrapping around her waist while his back pressed against the edge of the bridge railing. His tail brushed up along her leg almost affectionately. He had an amused smile on his face as he looked at her, “Are you always so damn stubborn?” His smile widened as he remembered back when they were being chased by infected and she refused to leave him behind. His gaze lingered on hers, lost in the sapphires tinged with teal that somehow seemed even more vibrant now.

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

After quickly savoring the the breathtaking view again, her light blue eyes flicked back up to his ethereal, violet orbs, a grin crossing her lips. "To earn it? Oh wow...that challenge is accepted". Celeste admired that the Tiefling was apparently reserving his exquisite delicacies for only those worth his time. She wasn't sure where their now much more intimate meeting would lead to, yet the challenging grin on her lips proved that she was definitely trying to make it worth his time. She was not following any concrete plans and all she knew so far was that she was enjoying his presence just like she was enjoying their intimate, honest exchange.

"I would love to receive you there. Showing you around would be fun...I'm pretty sure you would find it interesting, but I'm also confident your help could come in handy..." she softly replied with a wink, her mind quickly drifting off to the scenes earlier that day. He had surely impressed her with his Matukai skills, especially because they were so rare, but if he was truly about to visit her, she wouldn't just involve him in a mission. She'd rather show him around and let him meet the people, especially because she was sure they wouldn't mind his tail or his horns. The Rattataki were tough and sometimes brutal, but they wouldn't just judge any book by its cover. Especially not in his case...Celeste was even assuming that they would be incredibly curious and if he started to demonstrate them his fighting skills, they would immediately love him anyway.

After this sudden mood change Celeste watched him attentively. She could see that he was clearly struggling to fight the right words, but in the end he even decided to remain silent and leave that uncommented. Instead, he affectionately pulled her closer, his tail caressing her legs while he set the next cheeky comment loose. She wasn't complaining about that at all, yet it bugged her that he was not commenting on that any more."Oh trust me....I can get worse" she playfully teased, even though there was indeed a deep truth behind statement. She had always been a woman driven by unrelentless ambitions and the strong-willed blonde had never been accepting of biased attitudes. She resisted the urge to continue this discussion for now though and focused only on him again, her hands softly wandering up before she loosely wrapped them around his neck. "Thank you Altair...not just for saving my life a couple of times today, but also for taking me out like this and being so honest and open. Thank you for being you". It was true...he was simply wholesome and sweet and she wasn't quite sure why someone like him had to overplay his insecurity with confidence. This night had been lovely from the very first second and the time spent with them unbelievably refreshing. She found herself drowning in this vibrant violet, even the beautiful scenery around them was almost forgotten while her gaze was still melting in his.

@Sreeya

 

[Altair Din]

Altair knew the topic of them being on opposite sides would come up again. While he didn’t parade around like a very obvious villain like Darth Raze, Altair had a strong sense of loyalty to the Sith. They had accepted him and allowed him a place to grow. And they were the ones that saved him when he had been imprisoned. It hadn’t been the Jedi - the self professed good guys of the galaxy. While he didn’t harbor vehement hatred for the Jedi, he wouldn’t hesitate to cut them down without remorse if they crossed his path or got in the way of his objective.

But he didn’t want to see the flames of war when he gazed into Celeste’s eyes. He didn’t want to envision blood smearing her pale flesh, he didn’t want to envision her followers strewn around on the ground dead as a result of his doing. Even though every single bit of that was within the realm of possibility. Being Sith meant unapologetically shouldering the responsibilities and weights of one’s actions, no different than the path Celeste would choose.

Altair gazed at her as she thanked him, feeling her wrap her arms around his neck. It was a sensation he was getting used to and one he sank into. He gave her a faint smile at her words, “And thank you for not leaving me behind even though I told you to. I hope you always keep that fire in you alive,” He held her a bit tighter.

He kept his gaze on her a bit longer before he finally leaned in to close the distance between them. She had captured his lips before, but there was no chaos or panic this time. Altair took his time as he kissed her this time, tender and gentle desires manifesting as he enveloped her in his arms. One of his hands came up to gingerly brush into her hair, tugging her close as he lingered there. It felt like one of those Holomovie scenes with the perfect backdrop of stars and the river with just them on the bridge.

There was no cult on his mind, no Jedi or Sith philosophical debate, nor any questioning or wondering of how they even got here. He melted against her and got lost in the taste of her lips. It was a different passion than the sultry gestures back at the club and this was no life or death moment. Altair took his fill before he finally drew back slightly, keeping his forehead against hers.

“I suppose this is where we part ways..” He whispered quietly, his eyes still closed. Her gratitudes to him had sounded like goodbyes and he wouldn’t stop her. Even so he made no move to release her just yet, though the grip was loose enough for her to pull away easily. Realizing what he was doing, he finally allowed his arms to draw back as he finally looked at her again.

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

Celeste was uncertain for a moment. She contemplated whether they should indeed discuss this topic further, but in the end she figured that it wouldn't help for now. Altair had shown her that he wanted to skip that topic for now by repeatedly opening his mouth without actually saying another word and so she let it be for now.

The curiosity still remained though. Would he even consider carrying out direct orders against her if they would ever find themselves on opposite sites? Celeste herself was sure that she would never find herself in the midst of this meaningful war. Even if she would fully leave the Empire, she wouldn't go on bad terms. For her it was about a conflict of interests, but she would never claim that the Sith were bad in any way...

She had closed her eyes for a moment, savoring every last but of this tender moment before his remark brought the smile back to her lips."There is no need to thank me. Leaving you was never an option". She softly ran her thumb across his neck, "but yes. I can promise you I will never lose that fire" she then softly reassured him before he pulled her even tighter.

As he leaned in, she did the exact same thing, her fingers softly buried in his hair while she pressed her body against his. For a moment, it was as if the galaxy stood still. There were just the two of them, there was no war and there were no factions. Her lips melted against his, the kiss passionate yet gentle, before her own desire grew.

When she was younger, she used to love to read romantic stories, and this moment couldn't have been any dreamier. They still found themselves all alone underneath the beautiful nightsky, a thousand stars brightly shining above them. The air was still pleasantly warm and a gentle breeze danced around them, letting her hair softly dance in the air, while the peaceful surface of the lake reflected multiple colors.

The moment that had felt like an eternity passed as he pulled back, yet he didn't fully break the contact. She reopened her eyes, a genuine happiness in her gaze as her light blue eyes met his ethereal, violet orbs. What he said next surpised her, as this wasn't a goodbye for her yet."I don't have any more plans for the night...so if you want, we could still continue our little adventure" she suggested with a wink, a slightly seductive grin forming, even though what she said was not meant in a necessarily sexual way.

She could literally spent countless more hours just talking to him, curiously listening to stories from his past and his family, but she also couldn't deny that deep rooted longing. His proximity felt amazing and she even found herself craving the taste of his lips already, even though they had barely left one another. She was convinced that they would find a nice hotel or a different place to stay not far away and she had never felt more alive. The exhaustion was forgotten and her heartbeat was even slightly accelerating again while she waited for his reply. She definitely didn't want to say goodbye here and she was also sure that the same applied to him...


@Sreeya