Ask Serenno Dining with Blindfolds

[Carrick]

He kind of understood what she meant by the first part of her answer. There was always an expected answer based on who, or what, you were and that was the expected answer of a Mando. He'd had the same kind of questions asked of him back when he was still a Jedi, the kind that people only asked you because they thought you were going to agree with them. The kind of question that he got really annoyed about honestly but whatever.

"Not a bad answer but not, I think, strictly yours." he noted with a smirk, "Which, I'll admit, I'm far more interested in."

Nothing to like about it huh?

Well if that wasn't a conversation started he didn't know what was. He could understand where she was coming from about it being a lot more about the shades of grey than it was about the black and whites that people seemed to think of it as being. Chuckling a little bit at the end, he shook his head slightly.

"Nothing wrong with that answer at all - even if it does give me the impression that you can think circles around me." he would have winked but, well, blindfold, "Nothing to apologize for at all."

Though at her next comment he laugh a little bit, more than the coy chuckles from before and more open. He did like people who were forthright and she was damned near blunt with that one!

"Well I like some blunt questions and honesty so you got both of those in spades!" he declared happily, "I like a woman who isn't afraid to be herself. Not take any kark from me or anyone else... and being blasterproof likely would help since I often find myself getting shot at."

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Reiel Mal Crowholde]

Reiel was all smiles as Carrick took notes of her responses and made comments here and there as well. She would not call herself a good conversationalist, but the exchange was the perfect motivation for her to keep going – more so when the person she was engaged with was good with words and could keep the conversation going.

"I'm usually good at answering questions, you know. But, see, I'm reduced to talking in circles when I'm dazzled by someone," she retorted with a playful smirk. "I should've asked you to tone down the gorgeousness first before responding!"

She covered her mouth with her hands to muffle her giggling, composing herself, before continuing.

"But really, to give your question a proper answer – I like the job because it gives me purpose. Providing for the covert is not an easy thing. Bounty hunting isn't easy as well, but it's much better than staying where I was before I became a Mandalorian."

At his more open laughter, Reiel felt her heart skip a beat. Her face turned red, not from embarrassment, but from pleasure at hearing the sound as well as his answer. Smiling widely, the Mandalorian forced to calm her wildly beating heart before opening her mouth to speak.

"Well, I'm glad I met those standards. More so the blasterproof part – donning the heavy armor hasn't been for naught, after all!" she replied, her smile turning into an impish grin. Reiel would then glance at the door before picking up her blaster pistol and placing it on the table. "Let me break our fun off a bit for a simple concern – who will bring our food here? A person or a droid? Because if it's the former, I might be liable by Creed to shoot 'em before they could catch a glimpse of my face."

Then, leaning forward once more, she would stretch out a hand to touch – more like poke with her finger – Carrick's cheek.

"Because I'd rather have my date see my face first and not let a waiter steal the opportunity. Don't you agree, mesh'la?"

@Nefieslab

 

[Carrick]

Purpose.

Purpose was a funny topic to bring up around Carrick really. He'd lived life as a Jedi Knight and he had been lectured over and over again about how having the Force meant that his purpose was to be a Jedi Knight and help maintain the balance of the Force, the Light. But that had never been a choice he made and it had rankled for years before he got enough self-confidence and believe to actually make it out on his own instead.

To try and find his own purpose.

"I'm glad you found your purpose." he admitted with an easy grin, "Most people go their whole lives without ever truly finding it. Maybe they get told what their purpose is often enough that they fool themselves into thinking they really did find it but not many actually do."

Smirking ever so slightly, Carrick reached up with his hand and caught her finger gently. Just a little reminder that he could, actually, see things just find from how he was currently. Pulling at her finger slightly, he teased going for a kiss against the back of her hand before he let it go.

"Same droid as before - I didn't think that a killing would make for a good first date. Memorable? Certainly. Good? Not so much."

The droid in question entered the room with their food, Carrick could smell it.

"Is it weird that this is the first date I've actually ever had?" he admitted with a shrug, "I've gone to a dance with someone but she left pretty quickly after we arrived."

Well... he'd paid to have her shot so he could heroically rescue her and get her father's credits behind him in the future but still technically true.

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Reiel Mal Crowholde]

"Purpose is a funny thing, you know," she added, shrugging. "And I've been told that if you can't find your purpose, then why not make one for yourself?"

Reiel was still far from being the sage Mandalorian like her father, but the least she could do was to pass on whatever wisdom she'd learned from her elders. It was, after all, the Way.

She smiled when he caught her finger, biting her lip when his touched her skin. It was odd, baring her face to another living being – albeit Carrick was blinded. Had she been raised by her father with the same extremely traditionalist view of the Mandalorian Creed and Way, none of this wouldn't happen. Going out with the politician, having, perhaps, one of the best times in her life as of yet...

She wanted him to see her face, but Reiel was still on the process of getting acquainted with the idea of adopting the much looser side of the Way. The thought brought her back to his comment about maybe letting her see any more of those weapons underneath his robes, an amused chuckle escaping from her lips at the pun. Alright, maybe on the third date – if that ever happened.

"That's good. Wouldn't want to explain to the management why they're suddenly one waiter short."

She still tensed when the door opened, though, gaze piercing as the droid served them their meal.

Her eyebrows shot up at the admission. "It is weird, to be honest. A handsome, charming politician, having his actual first date with a Mandalorian?" She laughed, but not at his expense. "The way you're handling things fooled me into thinking that you've been in a lot."

Not really knowing the story behind that dance, Reiel shrugged again before taking his hand in hers. "Well, it's her loss, I say. Here's a date who won't ditch you like you're chopped liver."

"And you're not alone, actually. This is my first real date as well – I can't technically count the one I've had before. Fellow Mando. The date... didn't end well. Wide-eyed old me got tricked, not my proudest moment. Suffice to say, anger is a great motivator for beating a man twice my size into a crying mess."

True story, though. And she hoped that that would be the last time that any man would even think about fooling her. Reiel would be more than glad to feck shite up for the offending party.

@Nefieslab

 

[Carrick]

Well weren't they getting into rather heavy topics for their first date? He was sure that some of his ettiquite coaches would be having fits over having such heavy subject matter so casually discussed at the dinner table but those lessons had really been more like guidelines than actual rules. And his date was a Mando not wearing her helmet - so rules were being broken all over the place anyway!

"Yeah I get that a lot. Ever hear the expression 'fake it until you make it'?" he smiled a little bit more, "People think a lot of things about me because I try and project a lot of confidence like I told you before - that I have experience with romance is one of them."

He chuckled a little bit, finding some amusement in the irony of the statement.

"I don't think she was really my speed." he agreed with a flash of white teeth, "Hopefully this one doesn't end up like your first date either - I'd prefer to not know what it feels like to be beaten bloody by a Mando."

Carrick paused as he felt his emergency com buzz against his thigh. It was loud enough and insistent enough that she would be able to hear it. Hearing the tone, he knew it was the emergency one and he frowned slightly.

"... I'm sorry, I may have to see what this is. It's my emergency line from the security company that I have keeping a long distance eye on me. So sorry about this - would you mind? I won't move until you're ready. Or you could read the message?" he would offer the com to her, "They only give out really important information."

If she read it, she would clearly see the message in bold writing.

Bounty of one thousand credits added to your head - get out, now!

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Reiel Mal Crowholde]

Fake it until you make it, indeed. It had helped her as a bounty hunter, and she was nothing short of pleased to know that he had employed the tactic as well – even in the uncharted (to her, anyway) realm of romance. And the act was most certainly convincing. That, or Carrick was using the Force to use the Jedi mind trick she had been taught about months ago.

Reiel concentrated for a moment, searching her mind for any intrusive thoughts that weren't hers. None. She was safe – her date really was just projecting confidence, as he claimed. Not that she would accuse Carrick of tricking her, no. A gentleman wouldn't do that.

She grinned at him, feeling rather pleased. "I'll take that as a compliment," Reiel commented. "Not everyone would openly admit to not wanting to be the receiving end of a Mandalorian's–"

The sudden insistent beeping of a commlink cut her off and Reiel cocked her head to the side, intrigued as to what the emergency Carrick was talking about might be. One of her hands found her helmet, ready to put it back on while he checked the message.

"I don't mind," she would tell him, until he requested for her to read the message in his stead. The young Mandalorian took the proferred commlink, feeling as if she was intruding on something that was supposed to be private. "You're really trusting me with something important? I feel privileged. And very pretty."

Joking aside, she looked at the commlink to read the message, her eyes instantly narrowing at the words. There's a bounty on her date's head?!

"Huh. What a way to spice things up."

Without relaying the message, Reiel proceeded to swiftly put her gloves and vambraces back on. She retrieved her weapons and utility belt, putting the items back on their respective places before taking her helmet. She capitilized on the message's urgency to (hopefully) take Carrick by surprise, getting up from her seat and approaching him. One hand would find his cheek, fingers trailing down his chin to make him turn to look up at her, the other already jamming the helmet back on her head – but leaving the lower half of her face exposed for him to see the devious smile that tugged the corners of her lips upwards.

Reiel would remove her fingers from Carrick's chin and swiftly but carefully tugged the blindfold off of him, not giving the politician enough time to react. Here's hoping he would like what he sees – even if it's just literally half of my face.

She was not breaking the Creed by doing so. Her father might have been a Mando traditionalist, but he didn't teach her to walk the same path he did in adhering to the Way. It was a choice he'd given her, something she never gave much thought about until now. And besides, Carrick would not even see her whole face. Not yet, anyway.

"'Bounty of one thousand credits added to your head,'" she told him, relaying the message word for word. "'Get out. Now.'"

The smile turned into a smirk, and Reiel pulled down her helmet fully. The T of her visor remained trained on his face, however. She felt disappointed that their date was technically disturbed and thrown out of the picture with that message, but she would be lying if she denied the excitement that rushed through her veins at the discovery. Not that she would be capturing her date and turning him into her own acquisition – she only dealt with criminals. But she was too intrigued and amused to let disappointment eat at her entire being.

"Mind telling me why there's a bounty on your head while we get out of here, mesh'la? Promise, I won't judge."

Things just got more interesting, and her excitement at the new development was almost sinful.

@Nefieslab

 

[Carrick]

Carrick couldn't help the chuckle that slipped through when she said she felt privileged and very pretty because he had let her read his message. Unless he was about to be set upon by a clan on Mandalorians he didn't see any harm in letting her be the one to read the message. It was an emergency line com - it didn't even have enough data to hold a calendar let alone anything else.

Glorified pager really.

"Well I only let the prettiest of Mandalorians read my messages." he teased her slightly before raising an eyebrow, "Spice things up? Is there a demonstration near the spaceport or something?"

Then there were sounds and 'sights' through the Force of Reiel getting herself geared back up. He wanted to rip his blindfold off and read the message but he refrained from doing so. Instead he sat very still and reached out with the Force, trying to see if it was trying to warn him of something. He couldn't feel anything immediately around them but that didn't mean much.

Carrick himself hadn't moved much so when she approached him it took him off guard for a moment, causing him to jolt in his seat slightly. He let her guide his head and closed his eyes tightly when he felt the blindfold coming off. He paused for a second before peeking enough to see her with her helmet half on.

"Huh so that's what your lips look like."

Ah he'd said that aloud.

Best to move on.

Moving on became a very good idea when she revealed the problem. A thousand credits put on his head? That seemed... actually he wasn't sure if that was a lot or not. Being a Jedi meant he hadn't had credits when he was younger and once he was no longer a Jedi, well, his uncle was rather wealthy. So it was hard to judge currency for him.

"You know?" he stood up, straightening himself up a little bit as he did so with a smile, "I haven't the foggiest actually. Exciting though right?"

He grinned a little bit as he stepped back from the table and made sure to put the power cell securely in the lightsaber he openly carried.

"Would you be so kind as to escort me to my ship, my lady? I fear I must dash to avoid our lovely restaurant becoming a crater."

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Reiel Mal Crowholde]

It went without saying that Reiel deeply appreciated the fact that Carrick refused to look at her. Still respectful of her culture, and only taking a peek since she was silently asking for it.

Why must he be so nice on top of being so respectful? Reiel was weak against that combination!

Amused laughter escaped her lips at his comment. It seemed like it was something that he wasn't supposed to say out loud and yet he did. Boy, wasn't she pleased that she'd taken him by surprise. But beside amusement came the return of her earlier disappointment, and suffice to say the new situation put a damper on the quiet yet fun-filled night the young Mandalorian had looked forward to.

She wouldn't pry if Carrick did not want to reveal the reason for having a bounty on his head. Rarely did targets not know that someone out there were putting up prices for their capture, dead or alive. Maybe it was politics-related? An opposition against his campaign, perhaps?

Reiel drew her blaster and focused on the task at hand. There was no point falling into supposition. And besides, he was right. They have to leave before any hunter who might be on his tail came bursting through the doors. Blasters blazing, who knew. There were civilians out there, and Reiel hated the kind of collateral damage the fighting might cause – not material, but loss of life.

"Mesh'la, you need not ask," she replied playfully, shooting him a wink he would not see. "After me, my darling politician."

Reiel would then proceed to the door, letting it slide open. On high alert and eyes on the way forward, she almost missed one hunter – disguised as a patron – pulling up his own blaster and firing once she stepped out. The shot hit her squarely on the chest, knocking her backwards. The young Mandalorian remained upright, however, and returned the shot, her blaster set to stun. Killing a fellow hunter while they were on legitimate(?) guild business would hurt her reputation.

The exchange soon sent the whole establishment into utter chaos. Looked like Carrick was right. Things just got even more exciting.

 

[Carrick]

He was a Former Jedi Knight and currently a damned politician - he should know well enough how to keep his own mouth damned well shut but he had managed to somehow let his inner thoughts slip out. Which was slightly embarrassing since it had been the thought about her lips. In most courtships, as he understood them, talking about someone's lips was akin to asking them to kiss you.

Though that last part might have been the old romance holo novelas he watched when his ship was busy in hyperspace.

Carrick was grateful that Reiel didn't ask why he had a bounty on his head because, as he had said before, he honestly didn't know why it had been placed there. That had been a truth; trouble was that he had some guesses but far too many were linked to things he wasn't about to tell the Mandalorian. Because he was a Former Jedi? Unlikely.

Because he was a politician? Slightly more likely but not by much considering he was only just starting out.

Because he had arranged the attempted assassination of his date to the ball on Naboo? Because he had infiltrated a company's facility with a rep from Blackwell Technology to rip them off? Both of those were much more likely to result in bounties but neither of them he was really willing to admit to. Upon reflection, it seemed more likely that the company was the ones responsible.

It would make it a quieter affair so they wouldn't have to publicly admit that two men had gotten past all of their levels of security.

"I shall try not to get distracted following behind you." he joked lightly as they stepped out of their private room, "It shall be difficult I assure you."

The hunter had taken a shot at her but Beskar proved it's worth and she was alright. His grip on his lightsaber tightened ever so slightly as he narrowed his eyes. They had gotten so close to them without him sensing them... had he really been that distracted? He moved up to the front of the restaurant and glanced out the door as the civilians ran.

He could tell who the hunters were because they didn't move to join the panicked crowd at the sound of blaster fire, instead keeping their attention squarely on the front of the restaurant. Examining the street, he leaned back round.

"Alright I can see two more out on the street - so assume there's another two just to be on the safe side." he muttered as he tightened up the seals on his lightsaber, "There's a landspeeder parked to the right as we leave the doors; about twenty yards away. It's gonna be an eventful walk to the speeder dear..."

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Reiel Mal Crowholde]

She clicked her tongue at the information, but more so out of exhilaration than dismay. Walking towards the felled hunter, Reiel searched him for any proof that he and his pals outside were in legitimate guild business and frowned at the confirmation. The fob was soon crushed beneath her booted foot – not that it would help their case, really. The constant beeping just irked her.

With a grin, the young Mandalorian gestured at the lightsaber on Carrick's hand. "You never used that thing last time," she commented lightly. "Guess I'll finally witness you wield a lightsaber, huh?"

Coast clear from fleeing civilians, Reiel switched her helmet's thermal vision on. The nearest heat signature was, of course, her date. She took a step forward, gaze sweeping the now empty street. The two hunters he mentioned were out there, stationary, waiting for them to get out of the restaurant before striking. A quick sweep up confirmed the presence of two others, perched on the roof of an establishment across the restaurant. They were all concealed in the dark, making it difficult to make out what kind of weapons they were packing. With their distance, it was safe to assume that the hunters on the street carried blaster pistols and those above, blaster rifles.

"A lightsaber can deflect blaster bolts, correct?" Reiel asked as she sashayed towards the entrance, completely in her element and fingers itching to pull her pistol's trigger. "There are two hunters up on the roof across the restaurant. They'll be gunning for headshots, and as much as I'd love to I can't cover that pretty head. Take them out – I'll deal with the guys on the street. Would that be alright?"

Taking your date's consideration was key to endear you to them, right?

@Nefieslab

 

[Carrick]

And the aware for most eventful first date went to them for sure at this point! Carrick wasn’t surprised in the slightest but there was still an undercurrent of amusement that he got from it all, even if there was now a risk of death or dismemberment. If an Ex-Jedi and a Mando could have a ‘normal’ date it would probably require more planning to make sure the Galaxy wasn’t going to do it’s best to ruin it.

The tracking fob was irritating because it meant people would always be able to follow him; his medical data had been held on Naboo but if the Guild had legitimate business against him they would give it up to them. He chuckled a little bit as he ignited the blade, the glow illuminating him in a harsh blue as he did so.

“Guess I had better live up to your estimations of the Jedi.” He joked with a wink, “I’ll try and make you think well of magic space monks.”

So they were above too?

That was a smart of them but he wasn’t about to just roll over because they put some effort into trying to bag and tag him. He didn’t doubt that they were willing to kill him if he put up too much of a fight – the old bounty hunter joke about being brought in warm or cold came to mind actually. He nodded to Reiel with a small smirk.

“Kind of you to ask, my dear.” He gave her a wink, “Shall we step outside for some fresh air? Given the circumstance I’m not sure if letting the lady step out first is a courtesy or not…”

This kind of thing never got brought up at etiquette school.

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Reiel Mal Crowholde]

"I already think well of you, mesh'la. I think my poor heart would burst if you exceed my expectations of you any further. And not just as a former Jedi, mind you – but as for who you are right now and who you choose to be."

He had his reasons for leaving their Order, and Reiel would not ask what – just as she refrained from asking why he had a bounty on his head. She wasn't rude enough to pry on his personal business and secrets, more so his past. There's always the right time to discuss things like that and besides, they have more pressing matters to attend to at the moment.

Trust the galaxy to try and ruin her date with an "enemy" sorcerer.

She eyed him appraisingly, still not (and maybe could not ever be depending on this night's outcome) tired of that wonderful dark hair and beard, those warm pair of eyes now reflecting the blue light of his saber, and possibly – highly likely – kissable pair of lips. Carrick's slip up about her own was still fresh in Reiel's mind and she could only grin wickedly at the errant thought that followed.

If this was one big romantic holonovela, she was sure that this episode would not end without an explosion and a kriffing kissing scene.

It's a shame this was the real life. Oh, well.

"Consideration is key on dates like this, yanno," she replied with a light chuckle. "Fresh air sounds good to me. And given the circumstance, let's make do with that 'lady's first' stuff, okay?"

Reiel lifted her free hand to chuck him under the chin before stepping outside, blaster trained at one of the hunters down the street. She expected that they were prepared, that they were going to put up a decent fight against their target – whether or not they knew that he was an ex-Jedi. She expected as well that they knew that he was currently accompanied by a Mandalorian.

Plus points to them for doing their homework, really.

Blaster still set on stun she fired at one of the pair ahead of her, eyes narrowing as they both ducked for cover. A blaster bolt from above hit her left pauldron and Reiel could only feel sorry for the poor bloke.

"Lovely evening we're having. How about we go for a ride, darling? Speeder looks ready for us."

The young Mandalorian quickly crossed the distance between her and the two hunters on the street. She wouldn't let the pair above to get a lucky hit on the spaces her beskar'gam could not cover. They're in Carrick's mercy after all and, like she thought earlier, she really felt sorry for them. Who in their right mind would want to be on the receiving end of a sorcerer's wrath?

Fools, that's who.

@Nefieslab

 

[Carrick]

Reiel was being adorable again but Carrick didn't really have the time to engage in some tit-for-tat in terms of adorable teasing. As much as both of them were trying to act casual, the fact of the matter was that they were being shot at, a lot, and that would result in a bad time being had by all if they weren't careful. He still chuckled a little bit at the last part about ladies going first.

"Of course - shall we step outside?"

He let her go out the door first but he was right behind her, stepping out onto the pavement with his saber in a high guard. Automatically, instincts driving him, he blocked a blaster bolt from across the street. It had been aimed at his chest but he doubted they meant to kill him.

Shame he felt no real issue about killing them.

Reaching out with the Force, he grabbed one of the hunters on the building above and Pulled. The hunter let out a strangled yell as they fell from the rooftop, slamming into the roof of a parked speeder, denting it inward and not moving again. From what he could tell in the Force, they were alive. In immense pain and unlike to be getting up without medical assistance but, well, alive.

He walked with Reiel, covering her back and from on high as they headed to the speeder. Carrick appreciated the commentary they had going when people were trying their best to stop him from breathing free air.

"Oh I heartily agree - it looks like the speeder is primed and ready for us to go." he spared the time to flash her a wink, "I hope it's not presumptuous of me to assume we are heading for my ship, hmm?"

Not for that reason but because he was the one who needed to make a break for it, not Reiel so much.

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Reiel Mal Crowholde]

She might have missed how Carrick blocked the first blaster bolt that went straight for him, but Reiel caught a glimpse of red flying forward to strike anywhere but its intended target. A shot that pinged off her chestplate prevented her from making any witty remark, and so Reiel granted the hunters the attention they desperately sought.

One of the hunters on the street was either brave or stupid enough to jump out of his hiding spot and charge forward towardd her, presumably to catch the young Mandalorian off guard. Reiel was quick to lift one arm to block the downward swing of a vibroblade, the weapon meeting beskar as she shot the hunter on the chest. Damn kriffer was lucky her blaster was only set to stun. The man crumpled in a heap before her and she was a little too glad to kick him out of her way.

The walk to the speeder was eventful indeed, but when a Mando and an ex-Jedi was in the picture it still looked a little like a walk in the park. Well, as much of a walk in the park as it could get with bounty hunters shooting at them in the picture. It was hilarious to think that they expected that bagging a politician would be a relatively easy job. But when the politician was an ex-Jedi and spending the evening with a heavily-armored Mandalorian, it wasn't really surprising when the word "easy" escalated into something more... shocking? Disturbing? Possibly fear-inducing, with a few creative curses thrown in the mix?

Her laughter rang clear and bright amid the sound of blaster fire when one of the hunters on the roof fell victim to Carrick's use of the Force. Reiel's blaster was aimed again at the remaining hunter on the street's direction, waiting for the latter to get up and shoot her. The moment they peered at her from their cover the young Mandalorian knocked them out with a stun shot to the face.

"Presumptuous? Aw, cyar'ika, not at all!" she told him with a laugh, catching the wink he sent her way. Reiel hopped on the speeder, blaster now trained at the remaining hunter on the roof. She considered sliding into the driver's seat, but if the hunter pursued she would very much like to put a blaster bolt – still set on stun, she reminded herself – between their eyes to let them know that they would likely never be forgiven for disrupting her first proper date.

The image of their untouched food flashed in her mind's eye, and Reiel could only thank the stars that her stomach didn't grumble too loud to be heard through the din of blaster fire and the hum of Carrick's lightsaber. A shame she wouldn't get to eat fancy, "rich people" food tonight.

"I hope it's not too awkward to ask about this now, but do you have food in your ship? If you do, then it's another thing to look forward to – getting you out of here is still the priority, though." Godsdamn it she was fecking hungry, and facing off bounty hunters certainly did not help! She shot him a cheeky grin hidden by her buy'ce.

"You up for driving us to that ship of yours? Or would you prefer this hot piece of beskar to take the wheel?"

Did she really say that last part out loud? Oh, blessed Manda. No taking the words back, though.

@Nefieslab

 

[Carrick]

Maybe people forgot that he was a former Jedi? Or maybe they assumed he must have left his lightsaber when he left the Order? Honestly he couldn't think of any other reason, aside from maybe suicidal thoughts, that would push these bounty hunters to try such a frontal assault.

Well a plus side was that he got to fight alongside a Mando who wasn't busy secretly hating him for the fact that he could use the Force. It was rather fun to fight alongside her all things considered, even if it had come at a cost of the ending to their date.

"Oh good - I would hate to assume."

He smirked a little bit as he extinguished his lightsaber and slid into the driver's seat. The keys were in the ignition but, well, the Force was a really useful tool. He twisted and the speeder started up with a purr of engines. Carrick took the time to adjust the rearview mirror, moving his head to the right to avoid a blaster bolt as he did so.

... Force he hoped she'd seen that because that probably looked really cool.

"I've got something aboard." he admitted with a wide smirk and a wiggle of his eyebrows, "Enough to satisfy this hot piece of beskar? Well we'll have to see."

He didn't let her get too comfortable before he gunned the engines, speeding them toward the spaceport and away from the hunters. It seemed they had pinned their hopes on being able to successfully ambush them... their loss he supposed.

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Reiel Mal Crowholde]

She was busy keeping track of the remaining hunter on the rooftop but being a bounty hunter meant that one had to be spatially aware. As such, when she glanced around to check on him, it did not escape Reiel's notice how Carrick dodged the blaster bolt aimed at him without looking.

"Kandosii!" she exclaimed loudly, unabashed in her admiration. Realizing that she had slipped into Mando'a, she followed up with the word's translation. "Nice one!"

It was really impressive. Wicked, even. Reiel was always eager to witness Force-sensitives use their powers unlike her brethren, and it was both for educational purposes and to satisfy her own childish curiosity. Perhaps it made her less of a Mandalorian in other people's eyes – they're supposed to hate and mistrust enemy sorcerers, right? – but she simply didn't give a shit. Never gave her any form of benefit hating on someone who did her nor her clan no fault, and for caring for what irrelevant people thought of her.

But she couldn't help but wonder again what it was like to harness the powers the Force offered. It would greatly help a beroya like her if only she had been blessed with the opportunity.

A shot pinged against her left pauldron. Oh, well. No point in thinking about what could have been's at the moment. They're still getting shot at, remember?

She didn't bother hiding the wild giggle that escaped her at his response to her question. Her embarrassment at her earlier comment transformed into unfettered glee, a slightly squeaky "oops!" slipping past her lips when the speeder moved. She remained upright, one knee planted on the passenger seat and free hand braced on the back of the seat. Her blaster was still aimed at the direction where the blaster bolts came from, snickering at the sight of the last hunter as they made their foolish and futile attempt to chase after them by running and jumping from roof to roof.

The hunter didn't make it quite far and gave up halfway, not really bothering to continue any further. A wise decision, really. They would've ended up not being as lucky as their companions.

Reiel slid down the passenger seat, facing forward and holstering her blaster.

"Good to hear! Those hunters really didn't give us the chance to get even a single bite of our meals." She turned to shoot Carrick a cheeky grin. "Looks like we're moving from fancy food to easy-to-cook ship meals. If that's what you have onboard, though."

Looked like being raised in a farm and then becoming a Mandalorian enforced the "I'm not a picky eater" trait.

The drive to the spaceport was uneventful unlike their walk towards their transport. Reiel held her hand out to Carrick with a smile.

"Made it to the port in one piece. Would you mind showing this warrior lady your ship, gorgeous?"

@Nefieslab

 

[Carrick]

She'd seen him do that? Fantastic - that meant he never had to try something so incredibly dangerous ever again. Honestly it had almost been by accident and it was at least half luck that he had managed to avoid having his skull blasted apart. His former Jedi Master would have had his hide for even thinking about it but he wasn't going to apologize for trying to live his best life.

Of course she chose this point to not be embarrassed by him getting dirtier in his flirting... it was enough to make his own cheeks slightly red and she had taken it in stride? Well he was just going to have to up his game he supposed.

Well now he was glad he had stocked up actually - though he had never really thought he would be entertaining on his ship.

"Well there's some good on board but I do have to warn you..." he smirked a little bit, "My ship is quite a tight fit."

He pulled the speeder up to the side of his ship at the spaceport and it was obvious that he hadn't been joking about that last part. His ship was a scout ship because he needed to move about the Galaxy fast and it's hyperdrive was rather good. It wasn't a luxury ship by any means and he felt a little bit self-conscious about showing it to her actually. He looked off to the side slightly even as he took her hand to help her out of the speeder.

"Sorry it's a bit... plainer than you might have expected."

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Reiel Mal Crowholde]

Thank the stars, Hod Ha'ran, and even the Force for sending him a man who kept his ship stocked with food! Not that she had been with anyone in the past – too busy providing for the clan, taking up odd jobs here and there, all that jazz. She shot Carrick a quizzical look when he mentioned the ship in question.

The way he slightly averted his gaze as he helped her out of the speeder and led her to his ship – a little self-conscious, perhaps? – was adorable. It took almost all of Reiel's willpower not to giggle at the sight, allowing herself a smirk hidden by her helmet instead.

"Pathfinder-class...?" she commented, eyeing the scout ship and nodding her head in approval. "To be honest, I was kind of expecting a starfighter and the like. But this is a good ship, though,from what I've heard– easy to maintain, has a decent hyperdrive, reliable if you want to travel fast..."

Reiel blinked, realizing that she sounded like she was beginning to make a sales pitch. To herself, most likely, who was yet to procure a ship of her own. She had been saving up for either a starfighter or a scout ship – or maybe a light freighter, perhaps? Too many options, but she guessed she had to sort out the specifications a bounty hunter like her might need before settling for a craft that would suit her lifestyle.

You're not prospecting, she reminded herself. And her hand still locked with Carrick's was a good reminder to take her mind off of ships for the time being.

"It's gonna be a tight fit, indeed," she observed, teasing underlining the faux innocence in her voice. "But we won't see just how much exactly of a tigh fit it would be if we keep standing here, huh? Best to check how much of this bulky old thing–" she slapped a hand on her chestplate, pauldrons shaking with barely suppressed mirth "–can fit in there with you!"

Gloved hands squeezed gently around his fingers, the grin on Reiel's face bright and mischievous.

@Nefieslab

 

[Carrick]

Well she seemed to be into his ship and that was... nice? Yeah it was nice that she wasn't going to be giving him a hard time about the fact that his ship was barely big enough for him to stretch out in. He wasn't the kind of guy to make jokes about size being important but he kind of did want to upgrade his ship.

This might end up being the reason he ended up getting a bigger ship actually... hopefully once he had won the local election he could justify having a small number of staff to help him fly the thing because he didn't want to upgrade to something like a freighter going forward either.

A diplomatic craft would probably be for the best.

"It's always served me rather well." he admitted with a shrug, "Saw me through my Jedi days and well into my start on the journey to become a sell-out politician."

He winked at the last part to make it seem like a joke - but he had already sold out. Selling out was a requirement when it came to getting elected and staying in position. He smirked ever so slightly, eyeing her armoured form rather easily without having to hide that he was looking.

And only maybe for why he was looking.

"Might be an idea to take off some of the bulky armour - I have to fly so you're going to have to make yourself comfy on my lap if you want a ride."

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Reiel Mal Crowholde]

She hummed a little while he spoke to let him now that he still had her attention despite being unable to stop herself from continuing to silently appraise his ship. She perked at the briefest mention of his past as a Jedi and let out an amused chuckle at the following comment about his status as a politician.

Better leave that last part alone if she didn't want to make a fool out of herself. What did she know about the intricacies of politics, anyway? Well, nothing, and like she always did with regards to things she barely had proper knowledge about she wouldn't pretend to know.

Reiel looked back at Carrick, face heating up at how he was eyeing her. The following comment did not help, and her only saving grace was the helmet that hid the fierce blush that had once again crept on her cheeks. So that's how it was going to be, huh? The young Mandalorian was flustered, but managed a smirk at the mental image prompted by his words.

"My, my, that's as close as to asking a Mando in full gear to undress," she said, trying to be as nonchalant as she could manage. "And on the first date, too? Oh, dear."

She gestured at his ship, smirk turning into a mischievous grin.

"You're offering me the comfiest seat in your ship as well? Carrick, why do I feel like you're spoiling me?"

She had been toeing the line ever since agreeing to this date. What's the harm of crossing one foot over? It's not like she was breaking the Creed or committing outright murder of an innocent individual.

"Are you gonna show me inside or are we staying out here to admire the stars? Either way works for me, mesh'la, but if I'm being honest I'd rather have the former."

@Nefieslab