Rylee smiled, though it was lop-sided due to the recently acquired raspberry lollipop in her mouth, the stick moving across to one corner of it. Even if he did seem uncomfortable, Ranger Severino was certainly doing his best to overcome it and Rylee respected that a great deal. The discussion about nicknames seemed to ease the three into a common ground for conversation.
"I like the sound of Ranger Grump, it gets the message across and is maybe more palatable than Rude Bastard" chuckled the Pantoran. On being asked about her own nickname by Bast, she replied, "Well, actually yes, my nickname has been Hearts ever since I signed up to the military back home. It's a little embarrassing really... the other cadets gave me the name because they found out I had a crush on one of the other recruits I'd signed up with..."
Rylee's voice had gone from jovial to quite wistful on talking about her nickname. She was telling them both the truth, but neither Poet or Bast knew that the cadet she was referring to had perished before the Pantoran had ever gotten to tell him how she felt about him. Sure, they'd spent some years fighting together in the same squadron before it happened, but the memory and regret still hurt all the same.
"Over the years the name has taken on so many different meanings, it seems to change depending on the people I meet. Maybe someday it'll mean something unique to the both of you" she said sincerely. The Pantoran felt oddly vulnerable talking about her nickname. It had been part of her identity for years now, and everybody back home knew how and why she got it. It was strange to explain it to new people, but the rangers had welcomed her and she was sure she could trust them. In time perhaps they would fill the void left by her old squadron.
"Make that two of us" said Rylee, following on from Bast's comment about therapy, "But I'm not sure you want to listen to tales of heartache at a party. Now is a time to have fun."
@Forsythe Crowholde @Kestrel
"I like the sound of Ranger Grump, it gets the message across and is maybe more palatable than Rude Bastard" chuckled the Pantoran. On being asked about her own nickname by Bast, she replied, "Well, actually yes, my nickname has been Hearts ever since I signed up to the military back home. It's a little embarrassing really... the other cadets gave me the name because they found out I had a crush on one of the other recruits I'd signed up with..."
Rylee's voice had gone from jovial to quite wistful on talking about her nickname. She was telling them both the truth, but neither Poet or Bast knew that the cadet she was referring to had perished before the Pantoran had ever gotten to tell him how she felt about him. Sure, they'd spent some years fighting together in the same squadron before it happened, but the memory and regret still hurt all the same.
"Over the years the name has taken on so many different meanings, it seems to change depending on the people I meet. Maybe someday it'll mean something unique to the both of you" she said sincerely. The Pantoran felt oddly vulnerable talking about her nickname. It had been part of her identity for years now, and everybody back home knew how and why she got it. It was strange to explain it to new people, but the rangers had welcomed her and she was sure she could trust them. In time perhaps they would fill the void left by her old squadron.
"Make that two of us" said Rylee, following on from Bast's comment about therapy, "But I'm not sure you want to listen to tales of heartache at a party. Now is a time to have fun."
@Forsythe Crowholde @Kestrel