Ask By The Books

[Dr Ilana Morata]

She was just beginning to savor the last bite, enjoying his own nodding reaction. After all, hadn't she told him as much about her personal life? Surely a few more details hadn't been remiss; she had just enjoyed the last taste of noodles, before the table clattered and she flinched slightly back in surprise, eyes snapping up to meet his widely. It was only then that the real scope of his emotions hit, and her face paled.

Someone special... she swallowed, the taste from the meal suddenly chased from her senses as she gently set down her chopsticks delicately, gaze lowered to the now-empty wok. Someone special. She wasn't. Not to any value of her mother's, really, apart from... alliances. Connections. A way to further a bloodline, if only using her Arkanian genetics and not her tainted other genes. Once again, the cold matriarch of Morata loomed, cold and impassive, at the forefront of her mind, and a small frisson of unease slithered down her back. A cold voice, low and soft but no less devastating, echoing in an empty hall.

"You've been a valuable mistake of genetics, Darling," she intoned passively, not even looking at her but away, at some more interesting shadow. "But I was displeased at your manners; you do not speak to them. They are beneath even you. You are a doll to them; do not forget that they are mere puppets."

"I'm..." she hesitated, fidgeting in her seat slightly. She wanted to get out all of a sudden. There was a weight in her stomach and a constriction in her throat, and she felt like she wanted to escape those words, that eagerness. Was her mother's life something special? Perhaps it was.

Pretty golden bars for a pretty, small bird. She had tried to be special, but even now there was no approval. No special treatment after all.

"I'm really not," she finally protested quietly, forcing herself to meet his gaze. She saw and felt the wonder, the excitement, and wondered if he thought she belonged in that world, the world of empty halls and cold rooms. "I was just... Hers," she finally finished, swallowing hard. "Until I wasn't. Then, I could do what I wanted." It was the best she could explain, but there was unmistakeable sudden tension in the doctor. Her shoulders went stiff, brows dented slightly.

"I'm not like you... you're someone special," she continued quietly, then rose to pick up her plate.

As she moved, her hand shook ever so slightly. Even after all that time, and all that distance, Mother still affected her. Still brought a feeling of dread to lay heavy in her chest. She knew he was trying to figure her out, to be sweet, but it still ached to think about. Perhaps she could share some of that past, but she had to brace herself first.

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

Even before the doctor across from him spoke, a cold presence seemed to descend upon them both. An icy feeling that enshrouded Ilana and drifted towards Corran on its own. The cold didn't feel like her. It wasn't calming or comforting. It felt oppressive. Corran's initial excitement and child-like wonder slowly drained some his face. As much this frigid energy affected the usually sunny young man, it was apparent its powerful embrace was enshrouding Ilana. His eyebrows dented as the she refused being anything unique or special. Normally, a whole stream of protests would rush into his mind to counter such a clear falsehood but something was different this time. The way she fidgeted. The way her amber eyes simultaneously seemed to be staring into him but also somewhere else far away. This gave the off-duty Ranger pause, especially at the way she said Hers. He tilted back slowly, as if giving her space. A noticeable tension had gripped the Arkanian; her body language seemed to warn him to go away. To change the topic. He never got the chance to consider, as she took the liberty to do so anyway. A self-deprecating deflection. That Ilana Morata wasn't special, but in fact he was the special one. If not for the seriousness of the situation, the young man might have scoffed. He didn't have a reply just yet, so he chose to remain politely silent - only replying with a calm stare.

As Ilana rose and reached for her plate, blue eyes followed her every move obediently. Her snow-white hand trembled as it lifted the plate away. A trained medical doctor, a profession that demanded a steady hand, and one who had seen the worst of the worst in the underworld was physically shaken. Corran would have suppressed his curiosity in the past. Let sleeping hounds lie. But his investigative tendencies had been awakened and more importantly, that very same weight of responsibility he felt earlier was compelling him to help. To do that, he would have to know more. The blond youth gathered his own dirty dishes and stood up to follow after his companion. Smoothly, he took the plate from Ilana's hand as he caught up to her. "Here, let me take that. You cooked. It's only fair that I clean." The intentions were honest, but came with a secondary advantage. Ilana wouldn't be able to brush off further conversations with busy work.

Water flowed from the faucet in the kitchenette sink. Did the Quad Five model have a bigger sink than the YT-1300? Something about that seemed unfair. As he scrubbed one plate clean, lathering it thoroughly and drenching it under running water, the young man debated how best to approach the thoughts that clung to him. Memories recent and old began to come together like a puzzle. Ilana being tight-lipped when Corran mentions his family and especially her mother. How the Arkanian doctor's life seemed to only begin when she entered medical school - anything before it almost nonexistent. Only mentioned in vague, hushed words at best. But the investigative persona was slowly being overpowered by something else. The want to know being conquered by the want to comfort. He placed a plate onto the drying rack and started on the other. Knowing what made Ilana shake wasn't nearly as important as being there for her as she shook. Or better yet, defeat what made her shake together.

Utensils and plates sat in the drying rack and water stopped flowing into the sink. "I'm humbled you think I'm special, you know," Corran said softly as he dried his hands on a nearby cloth towel that hung nearby. He turned around and folded his arms below his chest. "I'm also glad that you think you found freedom. Something like independence." The young man's face still remained serious, but there was a softness to it. An affectionate patience. "But... I don't think you're as free as hoped." Corran unfolded his arms and approached the Arkanian with measured steps. He'd stop just inside her personal bubble. Endearing eyes would look into her lambent stare before glancing down to her hand and back up again. If she allowed, he'd take it into his own warm grip. "I think, when you're ready, we should talk about what bothers you." He was speaking with a nurturing, gentle voice. "Your childhood. Your family. Upbringing. Whatever it is, I will be there with you. We can take it on together." Corran searched the wintery woman's face for some reaction. Some nonverbal response. "I promise." An oath made is an oath kept.

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

Instead of pressing for more information, he gave her time and space. He took the plate from her numb fingers, but for once she was grateful he didn't pursue the question. She wasn't ready just yet to answer any of his questions, as personal as they felt. But she nodded once, and followed him back to the sink, leaning against the counter as he washed. At his first words, though, her eyes flicked back up to his, and she exhaled slowly.

She felt her shoulders relax as he talked; he was giving her time, space, a chance to sort her own thoughts before pursuing the conversation thread. And through it all, a feeling of warmth that emanated from the Ranger. And a look that stilled her. Endearment. Care. They all touched lightly on her mind, gentle assurances she didn't know she needed. She exhaled slowly as he approached, but didn't move, and let him take her hand, all the while still keeping silent.

His touch was soothing, warm, the perfect antithesis to the chill her own body seemed to emanate. And the same with his temperament, slowly undoing her carefully constructed walls, unthawing her one small moment at a time. She leaned forward, further into the warmth, into him, a soft sigh slipping from her lips almost before she even thought about it. But she stayed there for a moment, gathering her thoughts.

"...Just give me time," she answered quietly, voice muffled by the shirt. When she tilted her head again, amber eyes searched his features, but he seemed genuine, heartfelt. "My upbringing... it wasn't like yours. When you talked of your mother, the bond you have... it's special in a way I wish I had. When I have the will to..." her hand lightly squeezed his own, "I'll tell you everything. Just not tonight... or at least, not right this moment. And..." she leaned up, lightly resting her other hand on his chest, over his heart.

"You're special to me. And perhaps to other people as well... don't undervalue that. But... thank you." Her eyes softened, giving his hand another squeeze. "For giving me time." She would have the courage, but later.

Perhaps after they would get back to Coruscant.

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

A wintery head laid against the blond youth’s chest as a chilly grip took hold of his hand. He knew what he had asked of her was heavy. There was a certain pride that he could stand when she could not. In plenty of situations, the roles were reversed. The Ranger had leaned on the Doctor. It was this equal partnership; this mutual care for one another that helped them overcome great challenges. Patient as ever, he waited in the silence with Ilana to see if she wanted to try to take on one more. A muffled urge for time. Golden eyes turned upwards to look into his face. Corran's face softened to one of some remorse. He had known the bond with his mother was something special. Their messages to one another were cherished and their rare time together even more so. He hadn't considered the upbringing of others though. How many people were not so lucky to have a parent who funneled all the goodness of the galaxy to their children. How the Arkanian talked and looked, it would be too painful to even broach without preparation. The young man nodded; an agreement to wait for a time in the future. He had always been patient with her. This would be no different.

Ilana's tenderly placed her other hand over his heart and this caused the young man to briefly furrow his brow, glancing between the touch and her face before she captivated him with sweet kindness. It was a rare appreciation and a second squeeze of his hand punctuated all she said. Corran's heart warmed in that affectionate way. That feeling of truly internalizing the endearing comments of another. A warm grin appeared on his face as blue eyes looked back appreciatively. "You're welcome. We'll get to it when you're ready. Together." The Ranger slid his other arm around her waist and gave her a similar squeeze to the ones she had given his hand. It really wasn't such a bad thing - to move the conversation to the unforeseen future. That meant a future with Ilana. Another time and place with her. If that was the bargain being offered, he'd take it without regret.

While a deep and tough conversation about family might have been in the far future, something much more fun might have been more immediately at hand. "But you know," Corran began, a clear hint in his voice of playful intent, "I really should make it up to you." A blond eyebrow twitched and that affectionate grin shifted into a boyish smirk. It appeared like a shark fin for mischief. "A fantastic dinner followed by delving into uncomfortable topics... I need to both apologize and thank in equal measure." The young man began to sway a little bit, like dancing with a girl to a slow song in middle school. "Come star gazing with me. We lay a blanket out on the roof of the ship and try and find constellations we recognize. Who knows, maybe we'll have to cuddle for warmth." A glint flashed in his eye. "What do you say?" He had mentioned it before, but Ilana could turn him down. She could be tired, emotionally or physically, or simply just not find such a past-time interesting. It was one of Corran's earliest interests and he'd do it himself if she did decline. It's a rare opportunity to star-gaze under an unfamiliar sky. Still, that made having a companion along for such an adventure that much more enticing.

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

Just the fact that he was willing to wait was heartwarming enough. Most people wouldn't have meant it, impatient to press the pains of the Doctor or to puzzle out why she felt this strongly. But there was a future here; just how far, she wasn't certain, but she hoped to deserve it.

She hoped to deserve him.

When his arm wrapped around her waist she smiled, and moved with him when he swayed slightly. Lips tilted to a small smile in return, a white brow perking at his sly commentary to even cuddle for warmth... the irony considering her own body temperature was lower than his even on a hot day. He asked her before, and the answer was still the same, even now.

"I said yes, didn't I?" she chuckled quietly, a replying smirk quirking on her lips and glimmering in her eyes. But there was a look of something else to touch the sweetness of the moment; a want to be close. Much closer even than what they were already. "I'll grab a couple blankets; see you up top in five?"

Not even waiting for an answer, she pecked him on the cheek, and would try to back off to grab the blanket. The only thing that would stop her would be him, if he wanted to continue holding her. But stargazing seemed to mean so much for him... she hadn't done such a thing since childhood.

It was also nice to sustain the illusion that they had time alone together before obligations and the galaxy came back, after all... surely it couldn't hurt to linger with him for just one more night?

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

Ordinarily when Corran had his arms wrapped around the beautiful, white-haired Arkanian woman, he was hesitant to let her go. The departing, even if only for a short while, always felt like it should have been postponed. Not this time, though. He didn’t want to cause any delays for something he’d been looking forward to for a long time. After she gave a well-received peck on his cheek that caused a mildly bashful grin, the blond youth released the quickly departing Ilana to go fetch some blankets for the night air. “See you in five,” he confirmed back to her. Even after she had left the room, Corran stood staring at the space where he had last glimpsed her in the common area before leaving his view. With hands on his hips, he gave his head a light shake with that bashful grin still present. It was… unbelievable how happy she could make him with the smallest things. How happy they could be in this place. This circumstance. A single laugh escaped him. Will wonders ever cease? With that, he left for the ship ramp.

Boots hit wet sand and they froze there, much like they had right after the crash. Corran had intended to merely climb up the rungs to the roof of the vessel but the view already gave him pause. The day cloud-cover had departed much of the sky, but a few puffs remained. A seemingly large moon stood defiant in the night air, reflecting stunningly off the pristinely still mountain lake. Other countless stars reflected from the glass-like water alongside the orbiting lunar body. Everything was still. Not even the tiny birds from the nearby forest made a sound. It was… picturesque. A stunning visual of untouched nature shimmering with the glow of the heavens. The young man could have stood there for a long while admiring the impossible beauty, but he didn’t want to ruin the surprise of Ilana stumbling upon it for himself. Just standing on the beach in front of the exit would spoil a bit of the spontaneous wonder. A devious thought even considered the two taking a swim later.

The metal rungs were cold to the touch; chilled by the night air. Corran peered over the edge to scout out the best spot. There really only was one option. Dead center, where the two engine nacelles extended outward from the main body of the craft. It was the widest area for people to lay out and it also happened to face the lake. He hauled himself up and stood near the top of the rungs. There was almost no breeze at all. It’s like the very planet had stopped turning. Only a subtle nip in the air could be felt against his skin. It felt brisk. Glancing skyward, the stars were vast and unknown but bright. Uninterrupted by light pollution, they were incredible to behold. When Ilana arrived, the blond youth would kneel down and offer to take the blankets from her, “Here; pass those up to me. Should make it easier to climb.” After all, he didn’t want her to struggle and fall into the sand below. Corran wanted nothing but a breath-taking night under the stars with her.

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

Finding two blankets wouldn't take her five minutes, but honestly she needed a few moments to recover from the emotional whiplash from earlier. Her hand lightly clenched over her chest as she calmed her breathing, eyes closing as she exhaled one last time. There would come a time he would want to hear of Ilana's family, and being patient wouldn't work anymore. Even just thinking of that woman made her feel cold inside, and empty. But he was willing to give her time. Willing to be patient... she sighed, rubbing at the base of her throat to ease the anxious knot there.

One day. Just not tonight... she didn't want to spoil the night.

Snagging two plain extra blankets she kept with her, she made her way back to the ship, taking care to dim the lighting and save on power. "R-2, cancel the help signal," she commented to the small unit still in the cockpit, making basic repairs of their own. A sassy whistle followed her as she descended down the ramp...

She paused to stare once her own boots hit wet sand, amber eyes widened as the ramp quietly hissed closed behind her, clutching the blankets as she exhaled quietly. She had never seen nature this pristine before, even on Naboo, and the sheer untouched beauty of it brought some words Corran had said earlier. Someplace this beautiful was...

Someplace to set my roots.

She paused just a beat longer, savoring the sight of it. No one else here, just a moonlit lake and quiet solitude... she took a deep breath, feeling the coolness touch her cheeks, her throat. Her hair had been released from its' low ponytail, and she slid a few strands away from her face to glance better. It was only then she registered Corran said something. Nodding, she stretched up on her toes to hand the first one, then the second one up, and then make her way up the rails. The chill from the rails, the atmosphere and then the ship itself made her tremble slightly, but she gave him a warm, small smile, rubbing her hands up and down her arms. "The air is so clear here... it's almost too perfect. I'm not even sure which constellations are which." An odd, almost wondering light lit her eyes as she glanced up at the stars briefly... then back to him, head tilted slightly. "Give me a hand setting up the blankets? I'm getting a little chilly."

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

As usual, she was right about things. The caldera air was near perfect. Corran was a sucker for autumn-like weather anywhere and tonight captured that feeling exactly. At the mention of constellations, the former space trader looked upward. He too wasn't sure what patterns in the sky were there. This far out in the Outer Rim was unfamiliar to him and the stars were different on every planet. They'd just have to discover them all together. Returning his eyes to the ground, a golden gaze captured his immediate attention. The icy Arkanian was looked cold with her arms wrapped around herself. "Gladly," the blond youth agreed to the request to set the blankets. Having both been handed to him earlier, it was pretty trivial to get started. The spot picked out earlier was just behind where the engine nacelles extended from the hull of the ship. It was wide enough for two and the view wasn't obscured by anything extending from the ship. A nice, unexpected benefit was that the lake also shimmered in view as well, but only if one sat up from laying prone.

Corran shook out the first blanket with a snap of his arms causing it to flutter in the air before settling down in a ruffled, but recognizable square. He then knelt down to smooth out some of the corners. Taking a moment to study his work, the young man nodded with satisfaction and sat down on the fabric. With the second blanket under his arm, he motioned for Ilana to join him, "Take a seat. You'll be toasty in no time." There was nearly a certainty that the blond youth's body heat alone could be warm enough for the both of them. When she joined him, Corran would cover them both with the second blanket and lay close to her. Obstinately for heat, but really because any excuse to be close to her was a worthy endeavor.

With a blanket underneath and atop them, a companionable silence settled as the off-duty Ranger watched the motionless sky. He slid his arm behind his head and rested it there. Above where countless stars, only obscured by a wisp of a cloud moving out of a view or partially blocking the moon before departing. Among the dark void of the sky, tiny specs of light twinkled and blinked or remained unflinching in their blue hues. So far, none of them seemed to make any images or patterns that Corran recognized. That meant they truly were some place he'd never been. In another way, that was thrilling. On Commenor, he practically could navigate his way home by the constellations visible from his homeworld. Many other worlds had shapes he had grown to like during his travels. Maybe they'd see something unseen by any others. What would they name a new constellation, he wondered?

There was always one universal light house once out from the core, however. Corran glanced to the woman beside him. The moonlight seemed to reflect off her white hair, giving it an almost silver look. A metal gleam secondly only to the beautiful gold that was her eyes. Fitting imagery for a woman who was valued beyond measure. "I don't know about you, but I don't see a lot of recognizable constellations up there," he admitted, glancing between her and the sky. A warm hand brushed her arm under the blankets before freeing itself to the cold air. "There always is one constant in the galaxy though. A guiding light for all wayward spacers." A raised finger pointed upward and began slowly moving tracing a line across their view. It stopped on a bright white star, flickering every few seconds. "The Coruscant system. It's so filled with ships and artificial light that you can see it all the way out to the Rim. Miscalculate a hyperspace jump and you can guess your location by where that star winks at you." What was curious to the novice historian in him was that those flickering lights were from starships and people thousands of years ago. In a poetic way, it was the galaxy remembering them and their stories and sending them out into the cosmos.

The guiding hand tucked back under blanket for warmth. Stars of all kinds reflected back into the sky blue eyes of the young man. Something like childlike wonder had overcame him and a grin rested on his face. His stare darted around from one grouping of stars to the next. No matter how many times Corran had looked up at the night sky from the Crimson Venture, from countless worlds, and from his youth... the night sky was always a mysterious beauty to behold. It captured him in a way nothing else could. He blinked once and subtly tilted his head to look at Ilana. Well, that previous claim was untrue. She captured him in a way that the night sky couldn't. He was just happy he could enjoy them both at once. The blond youth cleared his throat. "Star gazing is... one of my favorite past times. Since I was a kid. Most people find it boring." He was quiet; speaking a shy admission. "I like the peacefulness of it. What... do you think?"

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

One price of having a career like her own was that she often didn't have moments to herself to just be, and to relax; to lay there and watch the stars was such a luxury, she almost felt ashamed at it. There was always something that needed to be done or needed her attention, always something that needed her time and her thoughts. Out here, under a dark, star-speckled sky, she felt herself relax. Thoughts settled, stilled; there was no need to guard herself from the emotions of thousands, if not millions, no constant stress or endless cycle of giving in to others' wants and needs. It was just... him.

Stretched out as he laid beside her, one hand settled, palm up, over her head, the other one close to his; as he touched her arm, a spark of awareness flared to life, and she glanced over at him, catching and meeting his gaze. She hadn't gotten a good look at his face since they were in the ship, but now that her vision had adapted to the darkness, her heart for a moment stilled at the sight.

Blond hair touched with sheens of silver, muted in the moonlight. The strong curve of his jaw, the silver mellowing sky-blue to an almost steely color as he talked, and she found herself smiling for no reason. She couldn't quite explain it, but there was a queer ache in her chest, seeing him this bashful and excited. In many ways, he was still very much a youth, full of exuberance for simple pleasures and the beautiful parts of the galaxy. And yet, superimposed on this brilliant soul was an image that flashed before her eyes, of him older, and for a moment she was pierced with a feeling of intense longing and a bit of almost sorrow.

Would she get to see him older? Would he be around her then, still with this lurking enthusiasm for the most surprising things? Perhaps it could be practically banal that he found beauty in the stars, but it was part of what made him such a good man in her own mind; he had a gift for finding the good and the beautiful, and making it seem beautiful. She felt uncertain; did she even deserve that glimpse? Her heart resumed its' beat, but her eyes remained on his for a moment, the stars temporarily forgotten as she was fixated on him. His shifting expressions, his obvious happiness, his nostalgia.

When he pointed to the winking of the Core, she nodded once. It was disconcerting, in a way, to think that the light there was ancient, with a blinking of lives who probably stared at this same planet as a star and that both their existences weren't even a blink of an ancestor's eye.

A soft voice interrupted her thoughts. Blinking, she came back to earth, tilting her head up to meet his gaze, lips parted slightly as she exhaled in thought. "I know what you mean," she answered quietly, and slowly, shyly, her hand nestled against his. But she wasn't focusing on this mostly unwitting touch, but on his eyes, his face. A need to understand and an understanding were given; though there wasn't a smile on her lips, her golden eyes were soft, lambent in silvery light and shadow. Her voice, too, was soft, as though hesitant to break the stillness of the deep space beyond.

"I felt the same about gardening... about being connected to something, to experience something unknown and... though it may seem mindless, it's beautiful. It's... my way of keeping still in a galaxy that's never stopped moving."

Then, she did something consciously. She laced her fingers through his, and gave a faint smile, her voice hushed.

"It's peaceful, and beautiful I think. Not boring at all."

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

Kindred spirits were hard to come by. Even in a galaxy of trillions. Ilana and Corran could not be more different in many ways but were so alike in others. Their professionalism and dedication to duty. Their mutual understanding of order. Now he discovered another similarity: she understood what made star-gazing meaningful. As she related the blond youth’s childhood joy to her own love for gardening, he became enraptured by her whole aura. The softness and sincerity of her voice. The amber eyes stood out like the stars above in the dark, lake air. He didn’t even notice the unwitting brush of her hand pressing against his own. His lips parted subtly, eyes wide, as the same wonder he held for the stars seemed to grip him. Ilana had the power to keeping the galaxy still.

Chilly fingers interlaced with his own. Corran glanced down at the touch, although the blanket obscured the contact completely. Raising his eyes just as quickly, a small smile greeted him. The final sentence uttered by the Arkanian woman gave the young man pause. He gazed at her, as if studying her features; processing the hushed words. Slowly, his fingers curled around hers and their hands locked together. Corran blinked twice before a tiny smirk pulled at the corner of his mouth. Blue eyes flicked away, attempting to hide the thought that forced its way to the front of his mind. He rolled onto his side to face the woman beside him more directly. “Peaceful. Beautiful. Not boring at all,” the blond youth said with some subdued anticipating in his voice, “Funny. That sounds like we are talking about you.” A blond eyebrow twitched and his eyes became half-lidded in a face of boyish satisfaction at his juvenile flirtation.

A mix of emotions played in the young man’s chest. A powerful part of him wanted to kiss her full, tempting lips. No setting could be more perfect. Wrapped together under warm blankets, watching space pass by. Another part didn’t want to spoil the intimate conversation – it felt special. A smaller desire bubbled a want to transition the intimate conversation to something more… wordless. Corran wondered if the empath could feel such things battling for influence inside him. It was rarely a debate between to be affectionate or not; More so it was a decision on how best to be affectionate. At least here, when it was just them.

Where was “here,” exactly? That question mixed with his intention's rather well. Corran used his free hand to raise a finger and gesture to the space around them. "Tell you what? Help me come up with a name for this place and I'll fill out the Settler Claim documents. If it's clever enough, I might also add on a little surprise for your wit." The later part of the offer was spoken in a voice that was dark as tinted glass. It wouldn't take an empath to guess the range of 'surprises' that were now on the table. It seemed that the bruises from earlier were becoming less of an obstacle. Regardless if the name for the mountain caldera was brilliant or dull, the off-duty Ranger would accept whatever reward, or lack there of, she chose. He felt so entranced and... and... happy, that it didn't really matter. Securing this place, officially, felt just as important as anything else on his mind.

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

At his flirtatious words, a soft huff parted her lips, almost a laugh, as she perked a brow at him and nearly rolled her eyes. "I think you're a bit biased there, cowboy," she replied quietly, giving a light pressure to his hand. But the emotions he felt... she knew some of them. Desire, a need for closeness... but something more. An edge of sweetness, anticipation. She wanted to reciprocate; indeed, it would have been easier to close the distance, to wrap her arms around him and be lost for a while with him in their own corner of the galaxy. But yet... she hesitated. It would be easy, to sink into the role of a lover; how often she used it to keep people at an emotional distance, knowing her yet not. And yet... there would be plenty of time that they could share being lost to each other.

Just not yet... she wanted to be with him in this state of anticipation and wonder for just a moment longer.

Gaze breaking from his own, she looked up at the stars he pointed at, the dark velvet sky, the silvery moon that gave everything the dimmest pearlescence. At his words however, she glanced back. A soft smirk tilted on full lips, amber eyes glimmering with something. Hunger. A warmth, a want to close the distance. And yet again... it was his time to approach the distance, to be bold. His voice was alluring when it dropped in pitch like that, pulling her focus even from the mystery of the stars.

"A name..." she murmured huskily, then hummed, nibbling on her lower lip, gazing up at him as she turned her head to look at him, slanting him a sideways, coy look.

Once more staring at the stars, there was a beat of silence. Then two. Her voice slowly spoke up then, as she once again dragged her attention to his, slowly. Taking in the bredth of his shoulders, the shirt moving with every breath. His arms, throat, jaw. Eyes on his lips for a moment, before looking up into his eyes, her own voice quiet, but with a smile hidden in them. A challenge for him to step up to his implication, if he dared.

"Starfall."

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

Reciprocated teasing, displayed subtly and alluringly with a bite of the lip or glint in the eye, acted as meat to a carnivore. It lacked the same powerful aroma as Ilana’s earlier cooking, but it had a similar desirous effect on him. As tempting as she was, Corran could restrain himself. This was nothing but a test of his discipline and resolve. A deal was a deal and once committed, he never went back on his word. All the Arkanian needed to do was supply a good name to their alcove in the galaxy. Given her own sharp wit, it was entertaining enough to see what she wanted to call this place.

A few moments of silence went by, with golden eyes momentarily skyway. His own sky-blue ones glided over her features. White hair, given a glint of silver from the moon, sloping over her gentle shoulders. Her face radiantly outlined by the dark night of the lightless caldera. The thick blanket over them couldn’t even fully hide the shapely curves that defined her physique. Even after everything they had been through so far together, she still seemed forbidden. Untouchable. Yet she drew him in. The doctor’s precise eyes returned from gazing at the stars above and stared at him. They seemed to express a wily grin that she rarely did. Corran cocked an anticipatory eyebrow, trying to elicit her thoughts.

Starfall. The cocked eyebrow lowered before settling into a furrowed look. His mouth slowly opened agape in astonishment. Starfall. “How did you….?” The blond youth muttered, not really expected a reply. He looked upward at the night sky, then the mountains that circled the caldera, and finally the lake before them. It was clear he was piecing it all together. His gaze lingered on the lake for a moment before an amused chuckle escaped his lips. Tilting his head back towards Ilana, the young man had that cocksure boyish grin she was so use too. “Starfall. That’s pretty good. Really good, in fact.” Warm fingers loosened from Ilana’s grasp and they glided to her waist. Corran slid closer, leaning his entire body against her. His breath was shallow. Low in anticipation. “I always keep my promises." With only a brief, half-lidded glance between lambent eyes and her full lips, he would lean in to kiss her. A deep, lingering one that expressed a whole range of emotions. The most obvious - a hunger. A desire. A passion. But also gratitude and thankfulness. Even something tender and sweet. A wholesome feeling of affection. Something that was beyond the primal attractions between adults. If Corran felt reciprocal feelings or physical touch, he would draw as close as possible.

He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but this felt different. Playfulness, want, passion. They were all there, but suppressed. Pushed to the background. What stood at the fore was something more intimate than the young man had ever felt before. He didn't understand it... but he liked it. The cool mountain air, the dim moonlight, the twinkling stars, and a shimmering lake. They provided a mirror to what he felt, entwined with Ilana Morata. A calming, chilled brace. A want to never leave. A rightness. Here and now mattered and Corran wanted to take it with him. A little speck of stardust in the form of connection between two people who, at least, had tonight.

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

When it came to being with others, there was a detachment, an intimacy only skin-deep and meant to distance herself by investing in desire for brief moments of time with another person. But the first time with him on Nar Shaddaa was different from the first; he treated her with a kind of awe, a hesitancy like he couldn't believe his luck. That alone threw her off her own mental track, bringing her in to the mind and emotions of him. There was always passion, yes, some care... but when he coiled an arm around her just now, and hesitated, staring into her face, she stared back. And found that waiting was the best decision she had made all night. The looks alone brought anticipation to shiver at the base of her neck, until he leaned against her.

Passion, desire, care, affection... all of it, matching her own, until she couldn't tell which were her feelings and which were his. It was a soundless repercussion and answer as he pulled her close, basking in the moment that was all of him, here, now. Around Corran, the rest of the galaxy faded away from her senses, and her arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer. Every thought and action was threaded with an equal want, but there was more to it; an almost hesitation, to savor the new feeling that warmed her, a closeness that was more than physical, more tangible than simple affection.

She wanted to savor this feeling as much as possible. Seeing him in this light, wrapped up with her, feeling his arms around her and being close, it felt right. He felt right. It was them, just them, and nothing else mattered, nothing but feeling him against her and forgetting, at least for tonight, that there was anything else in the galaxy.

Tomorrow came with obligations, paperwork. But none of it mattered when she had him there. He thought he was fortunate.. but really, being wrapped up with him, she was the lucky one.

Tomorrow had its' own complications, but all she wanted, and desired, was right here. On their discovery... Starfall.

//End Thread.