Ask Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts

[Vander]

What about Tempest. Zara certainly wasn’t the first person to ask that question and she wouldn’t be the last. The Dark Lord of the Sith was just a big question mark at this point. Missing and - in Vander’s opinion - probably dead at this point. He was pretty sure she’d only not been declared dead so Arcanos could use her memory to keep the Sith from falling apart further.

“That’s a great question. She’s missing, probably dead,” he said. They’d all heard the stories about the confrontation between the Razelings and Tempest. He shrugged.

“Thule it is,” he said. He could guess that probably wasn’t where she was from originally, but… well, maybe?

He walked on and she walked behind him and it itched at the back of his mind. Ironically enough, Vander really didn’t like having someone walking behind him and as he turned to say something he noted how her eyes were cast down to the floor. It was realization that it wasn’t some nefarious reason she walked behind him but something far more depressing and upsetting.

“Come on, walk next to me,” he said, motioning her forward before realizing it sounded like a command. “Please,” he added. A word that she probably didn’t hear often.

“Are you from Thule originally?” he asked her, wondering if she’d find it strange that he took an interest in her. Granted, his eyes were still sweeping the crowds and he was like 90% brood, but there were… questions in his mind that needed answering. Questions that were baked into his soul in a way that was probably foolish.

 

[Zira Suvan]

Probably dead? Zira almost stopped walking at that. Everyone thought it of course, but no one had been bold enough to say it, “Why do you think Arcanos hasn’t…done anything to take over then?” She asked cautiously, genuinely curious. From what she knew of the Sith, everything was a power struggle and everyone liked snagging up powerbases. If Tempest was presumed dead, why wouldn’t the leading contender just take her spot?

She blinked in surprise when he abruptly asked her to walk next to him, followed with a please. Her tail swished tentatively, but she didn’t protest, taking a few steps to walk beside him, “Just a habit,” She said with a faint smile, “I am accustomed to walking behind my masters,” Zira explained, though he probably figured it out by now.

When he asked where she was from, she shook her head, “I believe I was born on Zygerria. I have always been a slave and changed Masters many times,” She explained, “I was sold shortly after Darth Arcanos and the Sith took over the planet, so I suppose I escaped the worst of it,” Zira said with a shrug, “How about you, Corax?” She asked, “How did you find yourself among the Sith?”

 

[Vander]

Vander just shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m sure he’s got a reason. I could speculate but it’d be just that. Maybe he knows something I don’t,” he said before snickering. “Okay actually he definitely knows a lot of things I don’t but I mean specifically about Tempest,” he amended.

He guess Arcanos was biding his time, but he would only make so many verbal speculations that could get him in trouble.

“Well, I’m not your master. We’re equals as far as I’m concerned,” he said. “And anyone who says differently can…” he trailed off, not finishing the statement about sucking his you know what but stopped and realized that might not be very appropriate given the situation “…well, they can just piss off,” he said. Was there a hierarchy in the galaxy? Sure, but that didn’t mean what many people thought it meant. Nothing was simple.

He listened to her story and so much more made sense as her heard it. Zygerria was one of those places that somehow managed to continue existing. It shouldn’t be surprising, though as many pockets of the galaxy still have an alive and well slaving market. Maybe that was where he should have focused his violent efforts. The fact that she had never even known anything else - and she was probably close to the same age as him - was horrible.

“Born into it. Or just about anyway,” he said. “Been a Sith as long as I can remember,” he said. He nearly commented about how “unusual” his master had been but held off, realizing that was certainly not the kind of information he needed getting out. It had gotten his master killed, after all.

He was about to ask her a follow up question when something tickled the back of his mind. A sensation of danger caused him to stiffen up slightly although he saw no one nearby.

“Be ready, something’s wrong,” he said. He didn’t know who or what it was that was after them, but he knew something was off. I swear if it’s the Hag again… this was not how I thought today was going to go…

It became quickly apparent what Vander had sensed. Up ahead were a pair of police officers, and from the looks of things they were looking very closely at everyone who passed by on the street.

His eyes flicked to a nearby club and he found himself wondering if they could duck inside to avoid the patrol. Ewww… clubs.

 

[Zira Suvan]

Zira’s eyes narrowed slightly when Corax said they were equals. That was when she did stop walking, meeting his gaze if he turned to look, “We are not equals, Corax,” She said, her voice actually stern for the first time. It was as if she was offended by the suggestion, “We will never be equals,” She reminded him. Zira knew her place and she wouldn’t let anyone try to make it sound any different.

The tiefling kept walking after that, but she remained at Corax’s side this time instead of behind him. Zira paused when he said something was wrong, prepared to bolt if needed. Her brows furrowed at the sight of the authorities, “Do you think they might suspect us of what happened at the manor?” She asked, catching Corax looking nervous.

When he glanced towards the club, Zira shrugged and started to walk towards it. With her provocative attire, they had no problem getting in for free. She had been to such establishments many times so she was desensitized to it all. The bass thumped and everyone was drunk and dancing, the smell of sweat and perfumes in the air.

“I’m surprised you wanted to hide from them,” She mused, “Can’t you..” She waved her hand around similar to what she had seen with mind trick gestures, “..to the cops?”

 

[Vander]

Vander was more than a little caught off guard by her response, a reminder that in truth he really didn't know her that well. She was a stranger to him and he probably should be more wary.

He turned to look at her as she spoke forcefully and pondered to himself about it. I guess it kind of makes sense. Maybe what I said diminishes what she's been through, he thought. Or maybe she was worried this was some test. He really wasn't sure. There were many angles he could see that response coming from and guessing people's thoughts and intents was never his strongest suit. What was clear was that he had hit a nerve. For a moment considered arguing with her. Considered challenging what she had said and planting seeds of... well, probably for the best he didn't. Not now. There were far too many unknowns.

He almost said "we'll see" but stifled the statement. Instead held his hands up, palms outward and inclined his head in relent.

My mistake, he said.

She got them inside the club without any difficulty at all and Vander was just... ugh, being touched by so many people. There were so many bodies in here. It was downright ripe for being stabbed. Granted, the odds of anyone actually being in here at this moment finding him were beyond slim. He still didn't like it.

I guess I could have, he realized, not really... having a great explanation for why he didn't. Somehow felt more risky to him than not. His mind lingered a moment on the fact that she knew the motion of a mind trick, wondering how many times she had seen it over the years.

I don't know, didn't really think about it, he finally admitted, surprisingly honest.

Eventually, they made their way through the club and the remainder of the short distance back to the Maverick where Vander popped the boarding ramp and climbed aboard, motioning for her to come along behind him.

Alright, we need to get out of here. Bart, get us to Thule! he shouted up toward the cockpit as he slapped the controls for the ship's ramp and airlock to close.

Us!? a robotic voice called out from the cockpit. What do you mean, "us?!"

On the way, Bart! he shouted again and the ship began to lift off almost immediately, shuddering as the ship jolted and carried them toward the atmosphere.

What a cluster, he thought to himself. He probably should have gone back inside, but maybe a different day. Maybe he'd have to try to infiltrate when things died down. Surely someone would tell Arcanos, right? Well... okay, Vander would tell him.

He just kind of stood there in silence for a few moments, almost forgetting that he actually had a guest with him as it was... highly unusual these days.

Right, sorry... umm, yeah do you... I don't know, want something to drink or something? he asked. That was what hosts did, right?

 

[Zira Suvan]

The club provided a perfect route to avoid facing any authorities and returning to Corax’s ship. She still had enough funds to get herself back to Thule on public transport, but she knew the fighting at the manor complicated things. The tiefling followed behind Corax as they entered his ship and she took a moment to look around and survey her surroundings.

When he asked about a drink, she blinked a few times, “I would enjoy a drink, yes,” Zira said, “However if you would like to sleep with me, I will have to ask my master if it is permitted,” She said with a flat, even tone. It would be abundantly clear that this was a perfectly normal transaction expected from a pleasure slave like her. And it would also be clear how dissociated she was from the idea of it, “Would you like to contact them? They may consider it a reward for extracting me from danger.”

Since Corax wasn’t a target set by Iymril, she wouldn’t go through the fake flirting and charming to seduce him. Instead, it was treated more as a business exchange.

 

[Vander]

As Zira looked around the entryway she would find that most everything in the ship's initial room was practical but also relatively nice. Not the lavish, extravagance of many Sith but a practical comfort.

Multiple couches and chairs were littered around the "living space" of the entryway, and he motioned for her to take a seat if she would like as he headed over to grab himself a Bubly.

What would you like to drink? he asked, letting out a heavy breath as some of the tension of their narrow escape faded away.

And that was when she dropped the bombshell of a question on him.

I'm sorry, what?! he blurted out before even thinking, the words just kind of flopping out of his mouth as he turned to look at her with clear surprise etched on his face.

No, absolutely not. That is not why you're here, and I would not like to talk to your master, he said. For more reasons than one he added mentally.

I... uh... no, just no, he continued to mutter as he grabbed her whatever drink she asked for. As he did, his mind quickly raced through a variety of thoughts. First it was offense that she had thought him so scummy as to think that, but such selfish and foolish thoughts were quickly swept away by something else. The realization that that was just what she was accustomed to. That was how her life had unfolded and the routine she had been subjected to. It saddened him, then it sickened him, and then it made him furious.

He shoved the rage down inside, letting it fester no doubt to rear its violent head at some later time.

He brought the drink back over to her, and wondered to himself if she had ever felt safe anywhere in her life. He was a man of profound paranoia, but he - usually - felt safe aboard his ship. A place where he could let down his guard and simply exist in comfort. He doubted he could create that for her because ultimately they were headed back to Thule where she would be treated as property once again. It made his blood boil within him.

The trip to Thule will take a while. You're welcome to make yourself at home in the guest room. I'm sorry it's a bit of a mess. I don't host many guests, he said.

And if you'd like, there are some clothes in the closet that might fit you, although the person they belonged to didn't have a tail, he said. Probably more comfortable, though, he said. He guessed - unfortunately - that she was probably used to being very exposed, but should she so choose, there were other options available to her.

If she ventured into the room, she would find that there was a bed inside that was comfortable although the mess he had referred to was the fact that the desk was covered in a variety of painting supplies and small miniature figurines in various states of being painted.

As it turned out, Vander's rather nerdy hobby was collecting, painting, and wargaming with clone wars era miniature figurines and if he was honest he was just a little bit embarrassed by it, but few people ever saw it these days.

Off to the side, she would find her own small bathroom and in the closet were a mixture of clothes of red and black that were in various styles of Nightsister robes. Clearly someone else had once spent a great deal of time in this room, but it had not-so-recently been converted into something of a hobby room, it seemed, though some lingering bits of the previous occupant seemed unable to be fully removed, likely out of sentimentality.

 

[Zira Suvan]

Zira shrugged at his question about a choice of drink, “Whatever you wish to give me,” She said simply, unaccustomed to being asked her preference. Zira had never given it much thought and wasn’t even sure she had a preference. Drinks served as a means to dissociate for her and it never meant more than that to her.

His abrupt response to her suggestion caused her to blink. He didn’t want to talk to her master? Did that mean he was just going to forcefully have his way? Zira took a step back, panic briefly flashing in her eyes. However, after a moment it finally registered he simply found the idea disturbing, “I am that unpleasant?” She asked with a smirk.

She ventured into the crew quarters, rifling through some of the clothing. Skipping past all the intricate robes Zira opted to throw on a t shirt and sweatpants, spinning around and smiling at herself in the mirror. It was the coziest and most wonderful clothing she wore in a while. Perfectly bland clothes and it brought nothing but a brief spark of joy.

Zira spotted the miniatures and paint sets. She found it all fascinating, emerging a while later with a few blank miniatures, “May I…paint these?” She asked shyly, holding up a few figures. Zira blinked for a moment, “Would you like to paint with me?”

 

[Vander]

Left with not but to make a choice for her, she, also, got a Bubly. The fact that she had specifically wanted something alcoholic would end up being lost out on in his ignorance, unfortunately.

As she made her way into the guest room, Vander stepped into his own room, making an absolutely speed round of changing into something more comfortable, glancing at his chrono and seeing that he changed all of his clothes in 68 seconds flat before emerging again in a looser set of joggers, lightsaber still strapped into the holster on his back.

He had no idea if she would emerge again or simply remain in her room all night. He had seen the look of fear in her eyes as he mentioned not wanting to talk to her master and he realized she lived her entire life in fear. Perhaps she'd simply enjoy the solace of her own room and the relative safety that it afforded.

For his part, Vander would stay out here, his inborn suspicion of people unrelenting in that he didn't want someone poking around outside of the common room and guest quarters too much.

Instead, he started typing up a report to send off to Darth Arcanos about what had transpired tonight. The ongoing saga of the hunt for Cailix had its next lead, and Vander would continue to pursue like a hound on the scent.

He turned when Zira's door opened, surprised when he saw her emerge. It was almost like seeing a ghost to see her wearing Talia's clothing, but he quickly pushed the thought aside, drawn instead with surprise to the miniatures in hand. He certainly wouldn't have pegged her for any sort of interest in that. There was a moment's hesitation in his mind only before he smiled.

Yeah, sure, of course. I'd love to, he said, motioning back to the room and grabbing a chair to pull up to the painting desk, letting her have the comfier office chair.

It took a bit of effort for him to contain his nerdiness as he started popping open all the various types of paint and pulling a few brushes out for each of them. He started walking her through all the steps before grabbing one of the figures for himself, almost entirely consumed as he started painting in intricate detail every curve, groove, and mark onto the figure. Each one could take him many hours to complete.

You are not unpleasant, he said out of the blue, eyes fixated on the figurine and not breaking as he thought of what she had said earlier. He wasn't sure if it had been a joke from her smirk, but he also had no interest in the fact that it might not have been. He said nothing further before continuing on as if he'd said nothing.

Do you know anything about the Clone Wars? he asked. Or maybe I should ask if you have any interest in it, he said with a snicker, perhaps the first time she'd seen him do anything akin to laugh. It was clear from the many different ordered units of clones around the room that he was something of a nerd in his own way.

He felt the ship jolt as it jumped to hyperspace and no less than a minute later, Bart appeared in the doorway.

Who is this "us"!? Bart quickly asked, not waiting for an answer.

My name is Bart and I am the captain of this ship. She is my baby and I must know everyone who comes aboard her!

 

[Zira Suvan]

She blinked as he appeared to hesitate for a moment. Did she say something wrong? Did she choose clothing that was inappropriate? Zira was about to return to the room and put the figurines back when he said he would join. Zira listened to every word as he described the painting process and she asked countless follow up questions as a result. He would find she was entirely unfazed by his hobby and found it fascinating.

“Tell me about the clone wars,” She said in response to his question as she began to work on a tiny clone trooper. She looked at the reference art and began to gingerly work on the model, taking great care to delicately paint. Zira was completely focused on what she was doing, even grabbing a magnifying glass at one point to see the intricate details better to paint them.

The tiefling pouted when the ship lurched to hyperspace and she smeared the paint on a helmet. As she began to correct the error, the droid from earlier barged in. Zira gave the droid a smile, “Hello, I’m Zira. You have a very nice ship, Captain Bart,” She said as she returned to painting. She found the action oddly peaceful and cathartic and it was clear she could do this for hours.

“I would have a lot in common with a clone trooper,” She said as she painted the visor, “Fuzzy on where I’m from..my purpose in life defined by someone else..only knowing how to do one thing,” Zira’s brows furrowed, “What did they do when the war ended?” She glanced up at Corax, “Were they afraid? Did they crumble and fall apart without a purpose or direction?”

 

[Vander]

Vander proceeded to further nerd out for a bit as he told her about the Clone Wars and the various clone corps, regiments, and commanders. He seemed to brighten up from his normally somewhat drab and dreary demeanor as he talked about it.

Bart, you... he said before just shaking his head. There was no point in trying to reason with Bart. He had given up trying a long time ago, but Bart at least seemed relatively content with her answers.

Yes, well welcome Zira! I look forward to your continued patronage aboard the Maverick! he said, whirring around the room a bit for no particular purpose except - Vander suspected - to spy on them a little.

His attention turned away from Bart and even the clone he was painting and back to Zira as she spoke, listening with weight to what she said.

Her questions were... difficult to answer. Many of the clones had struggled in the years after the war for various reasons.

A lot of them never really got a choice after the war. Those that did went a variety of different ways. Some stayed with the Empire, some went into private business, some joined the rebellion, he said.

Do you ever... his voice trailed off a moment. Where would you go? If you had a choice? he asked. He didn't know if the question was one he shouldn't broach - a painful wound he was opening. He hoped not. So many "what-ifs" began to drift through his head and he wondered what if he'd never been born a Sith? Been born without the Force? What if she'd been born in the Core rather than Zygerria? What if she'd had a single decent person every drift into her life to help her? What if, what if, what if. None of it mattered, though, did it?

 

[Zira Suvan]

Zira had been asked this question before, but in truth her answer hardly changed. She gave a vague shrug, “I don’t care too much about where I go…but I would love a life where my body was my own,” She said as she kept painting, “Where no one gets to touch me unless I say so,” Zira explained. It seemed like a very basic state of being most civilians she saw had, but it seemed unobtainable for her.

“Maybe a place with lots of ice cream,” Zira said with a smile as she started painting a blaster, “I tried it once and I’ve been hooked,” She said, remembering that time with Milo where she tried an ice cream cone for the first time. She looked up at Corax, “I don’t need to ask you where you’d be, it seems like you already are,” She glanced around at the ship, “I would love to live on a ship. Go wherever I want anytime..not have to live by any rules,” Zira smiled at the thought.

“Thank you for giving me a ride back to Thule,” She said with a nod, “I’m sure my master will be pleased to have me returned.”

 

[Vander]

Vander thought about her answer for a moment in silence. He wondered where she had ever been in the galaxy. Zygerria and Thule clearly, but she... she carried a prison with her wherever she went and he wondered what it would take to free her from it.

He nearly offered her a safe place to stay here, but even as the words were about to leave his mouth, he realized how foolish they were. She had no say in her body or her life, she wouldn't be allowed to just wander off and spend time with another Sith "just because."

Vander was not a normal Sith. His values and views were incompatible with those of so many of the other Sith.

What... would it take for that to become reality for you? he asked. Obviously it would require someone to release her, but he realized even as he said it it probably wasn't an okay question to ask. It was in a way asking how much she cost. It was a dumb, stupid question and he felt foolish for asking it immediately.

Can you earn your freedom? Or... what if your master passes on? he asked, deciding those clarifying questions were... maybe a little better. Not great. Too late now.

Well, maybe we can get some ice cream when we need to stop for fuel. The Maverick won't have enough fuel for the whole trip, he said. And, he went on. My ship's faster than public transport. I don't want to get you in any trouble, but if your master isn't expecting you back until a certain date then maybe we have time to stop somewhere, he said, though even as he said it he realized she would probably want to be calling them again any moment. They were no longer in Zeltros space so there was no concern for the information being tapped. Probably shooting his own idea in the foot.

Oh whoops, the ship broke down, he thought to himself. Yeah, like that'd fly, he thought. No one would buy that.

 

[Zira Suvan]

“Earn my freedom?” Zira asked before she started to giggle, “This isn’t the movie Warrior,” She said with a grin, “In real life we’re never free…unless our master does something so cruel as to just…let us go,” She said, “My life may not be my own, but I am clothed and sheltered in my role. Who knows what would happen if I was just..cast out into the galaxy,” She shuddered at the thought. It was clear that slavery was normalized for her and brought a sense of security. The same anxiety reflected on her face at the prospect of her master passing. Where would she go? Where would she stay? “I hope my master never passes..” She muttered quietly.

As he mentioned getting ice cream to refuel, Zira’s tail swished happily, “I would love that!” She chirped in excitement before quickly curbing her enthusiasm, smiling sheepishly, “Refueling is okay, but I’m not sure my master would permit me to be out much longer than that unless you ask them,” She said with a downcast gaze, “If I am not returned on time, they will punish me.”

After a moment, she held up the completed clone trooper with every bit painted, “What do you think?” She asked, “I used a bit of wire to give him a tail,” She said with a grin, “A little tiefling trooper.”

 

[Vander]

There was a completely blank look of shock on Vander's face that he just completely failed to hide. There were a lot of things that he might have expected her to say, but none of those were the things she expected. He... viscerally wanted to argue with her, but that wasn't right. He was poking at... things he didn't know how she would respond to.

Well in a job you get paid and the money from that goes to... clothes and shelter, he said.

I hope my master never passes, the words stuck in his head for a moment, but watching the way she lit up when they spoke of getting ice cream drew his mind away. He watched her tail flick in excitement. It brought a rare and genuine smile to his lips that felt almost out of place.

He quickly held up a hand as she mentioned being punished. No, we won't stop anywhere then. I don't want you to get into any trouble, he said. It was... strange. In many ways she was almost like a child. An abused child, which made it all the more heart breaking... or was the word infuriating. Was it foolish of him to get so worked up over this? Maybe, but he was a Sith and he could do whatever the kriff he wanted. If he couldn't do what he wanted then what was the point? His chains weren't broken yet.

Your chains, huh? What about her chains? he thought to himself, letting the thought wash away. The last thing she likely wanted to him showering pity on her. Or maybe she did? He wasn't really sure, but he determined to do what he had said before: to treat her just like anyone else because she deserved it.

It's excellent. Captain... what should we name him? he asked, leaving it up to her and making a small place at the head of one of the companies for their new tiefling Captain.

Coming up on The Wheel refueling station, the voice of Bart said from the cockpit and Vander straightened up.

Ever been to the Wheel before? Bart can get us fuel and we can grab some ice cream and do... whatever else for a little bit while we wait, he said, grabbing a jacket and throwing it on to cover his lightsaber. He probably should have thrown on real clothes instead of his joggers, but... well, they were going to get ice cream. It'd be fine.

 

[Zira Suvan]

Zira chuckled at his response, “I know how jobs work..I had one for a bit..” She said as her mind wandered back to the time on Kuat. However, her expression changed and it was clear she didn’t want to speak on the topic further. Zira looked at the figure and pondered for a moment, “Captain Taramir of the Clone Rangers,” She declared proudly before setting him down on the desk, “Always doomed to live in the shadow of his far more famous older brother,” Zira added with a sagely nod after she was satisfied with her little backstory.

As they descended, Zira had her face plastered against the window, “I’ve never seen anything like that before,” She said with a gasp as she took in sight of the Wheel. There was a lot more she wanted to see and do than just ice cream there, but she politely nodded, “Sounds wonderful, Corax,” Zira said with a smile, her tail swishing happily.

The tiefling stepped out with him, her head on a swivel as she looked at all the neon signs, billboards and crowds.

“I’ve never been on a space station before,” Zira admitted, “How do they prevent people from just..floating off?” She asked with wide eyes.

 

[Vander]

Vander felt a little dumb and worried she would be insulted that he had explained how a job worked and that thought was quickly replaced by wondering if she knew how a job worked then why wouldn't she want to be free. He just... didn't understand. So much confusion grabbed at his mind.

Captain Taramir it is, he said, setting him in position at the head of the company.

As she looked out and marveled at the station, he smiled faintly behind her, watching the excitement and the way her tail flicked around in excitement.

They disembarked a few moments later as Bart got the ship fueled up, walking down the street, Vander shoved his hands in his pockets and rather than drive where they went, he just hung back and followed her.

It was a strange thing in that moment. The two of them just looked like any two other college students wandering the station. Both around twenty and just living life and enjoying themselves. Not abused slave and neurotic, hyper-paranoid Sith. It was just a boy and a girl.

The station has artificial gravity generators just like ships. As for the hangars. Those are held in place by magnetic fields. Usually you can find big old generators off to the sides of hangars if you take a look, he said. It didn't need saying that the primary reason he knew about magnetic field generators was so that he could turn them off and suck people into the vacuum of space to kill them. Normal people things.

The scent in the air grew thicker and Vander gave a couple of tentative sniffs of what smelled like some juicy, skewered steaks. A mixture of chicken, vegetable, steak, and other varied meats could be ordered from the small food-stall style "restaurant."

I'm starving, he said, angling off toward the skewer place, popping out his wallet. I'll have two steak skewers, and whatever she'd like, he said, motioning to Zira.

He popped down the Crowns for the food and began to munch. Randomness was the only reason he could do it. No place where he would meet someone or travel with someone who was a threat would he eat public food, but here... well, there was literally no way someone could predict him stopping here and then ordering food from that stall and then poison it before it was in his hand. Again, normal people things to think about. That part of Vander's brain just... never turned off.

Oh, and does anywhere around here have ice cream? he asked, spinning slightly on his heel back to the man they had just bought from.

Yeah, down the hall and around the corner to the left, the Ithorian said. Ithorians. Wonder if he supports the Jedi, he thought to himself, a fleeting thought.

Alright Zira, the station's your oyster. There's casinos, restaurants - sorry I already kind of picked lunch or at least a snack here - shopping, couple of sports events, movie theaters, or just a plain old bench looking out into the vast emptiness of space that threatens to envelope us all. What'll it be? he asked.

After ice cream, of course, he said.

 

[Zira Suvan]

“But…can’t someone just turn them off?” Zira asked, her eyes widening in horror. She decided she liked being on solid ground far more where a punch of a button couldn’t send her careening into the vacuum of space.

Zira opted to also partake in the steak skewers. She nibbled at it, “This is delicious,” Zira said happily, “My master is vegan so I’ve been missing meats and roasts,” She said with a sigh. Iymril was the first master she had that was strictly vegan and it made her sorely miss cooking roasts and different succulent meats. She didn’t purchase food for herself, only for them, so at most she snuck a sandwich here and there so it wouldn’t be an added cost.

As he rattled off all the things to do, Zira looked dismayed, “That’s…too many options..” She mumbled. All of it was overwhelming and she was not accustomed to choices, “Please don’t make me choose..it…makes me a little uncomfortable,” Zira muttered, “I haven’t done any of those things so I will follow where you lead.”

Fortunately ice cream was at least something familiar. She picked out chocolate like she had last time. This time there was no brain freeze and she was able to get through an entire cone without incident. Her mind briefly drifted to Milo, a faint smile touching her lips, but it was fleeting. It couldn’t be any more than that. Her life didn’t allow the luxury of lingering on any chapters of her past.

“Why are you doing this?” Zira asked abruptly after a moment, “Why are you spending…this time with me?”

 

[Vander]

Well, yes, but it's not as easy as pushing a button. The button's aren't just lying around, he reassured her.

He smiled as she nibbled at her skewer, wondering what it was like to be completely bound to the will of another. Sure, Vander's master had been harsh and there were many parts of his life he had had no say about, but it paled in comparison to what she experienced.

Ah... sorry, he said, feeling his cheeks heating up just a tiny bit. He was absolutely excellent at sticking his foot in it, so to speak. Still, he did his best, and although he would apologize, he wouldn't stop.

How about... he said, thinking about the best option. A movie was dark and provided no room for conversation. Dinner was kind of already spoiled, and a trip to the store to shop might provide... undue questions from her master.

Ever been to a casino? he asked. He was guessing "no" and he would certainly be wary of how much money he proceeded to lose tonight, starting to head off for one of them. All the flashing lights and dinging bells were designed to simply draw people in.

We'll do that. New experience for both of us, he said. He had never actually done anything more than pass through a casino before, usually in the effort of tracking someone.

They stopped for ice cream and Vander got a cone for himself, deciding the odds of it being poisoned were also minuscule and that it would be fine. Cookie dough for him. In truth, he seldom got sweets for himself either, so it was a welcome treat for him as well, though about halfway through his cone he had had his sweet tooth mostly sated and tossed the remainder in a bin as they passed.

Her question caught him off guard after a moment, and he wasn't sure how to answer. Why are you doing this? It's obviously not a very good idea and can probably only end badly. What are you going to do, kill her master? Probably. And then what? How are you even going to free her? She doesn't even want to be free. Why do you even care, he thought. He knew the answer to the last part. Cruelty and violence were parts of their business, but there were cruelties that just didn't need to be.

Because you're a pleasant person, he finally said. It was a simple, probably stupid answer. It was probably all selfishness on his part. He wasn't a nice or good person, after all.

Pleasant people are a rarity, he added. He had no idea if this answer would satisfy her, and he had no idea if it was the entire truth but it was... logical.

I feel like you deserve a nice day off, he said with a shrug.

 

[Zira Suvan]

When he asked if she had been to a casino, she nodded, but didn’t elaborate beyond that. He could likely guess she wasn’t there to gamble, but brought along for entertainment purposes. Zira was desensitized to such establishments and it didn’t bother her one way or another, “I will watch you gamble,” She said with a polite smile. After all, she wasn’t going to use her Master’s money in casino games.

When he said she was a pleasant person, she blinked in surprise, pondering what to make of that answer. What a curious reason to be spending this much time with a slave. The tiefling walked in silence as they headed to the casino.

“You are as well,” She said after a moment out of the blue, “A pleasant person,” Zira clarified with a faint smile. Not that her opinion mattered, but she felt safe enough to offer it anyway.

The casino was packed and full of people from all over the galaxy on various casino games and slot machines, “I’ve never been to one this large before,” She said with wide eyes as she looked at the multiple levels of entertainment, “What are you going to try first?” Zira asked Corax curiously.