R&R

[Billbo Swaggins]

Location: Luxury Cruiser - Bar/Lounge
​

Anri sighed contentedly as she leaned back into a couch. Times were good, all of her companies were finding profitable business and the pork was coming in quick. She had been scurrying back and forth throughout the galaxy conducting business deals almost non-stop, and eventually she just decided to take a break.

So here she was, on a luxury cruise through a beautiful sector of space, with several noteworthy nebulae, stars, and planets to see. Taking a sip of her drink, she smiled politely as a man sat next to her. Eyeing her, he spoke up,

"So what's a beauty like you doing sitting alone in a lounge?" She groaned inwardly, yet another man trying to get inside her pants. She paid little attention to his flirtations, only halfheartedly responding to his prompts. In the meantime, he eyes roamed the lounge, looking for something interesting to watch or join.

Eventually, she found something interesting. Her eyes rested upon a young man in his mid-twenties, with brown skin and handsome eyes. But that wasn't what attracted Anri's attention to him, instead, what attracted Anri's eyes was his focus.

Unlike the man sitting next to her (who had thankfully given up trying to hit on her and moved to another woman) and most other people on the cruise, this person practically exuded purpose. Strange, considering the fact that most people went on a cruise to do nothing and be purposeless. Anri only was able his purposefulness because of her vast experience in the business sector - she had learned when someone was intent of doing something and when they were not.

'Interesting, I wonder what he want's to accomplish on a luxury cruise in the middle of nowhere.' Anri mused, 'Well, let's find out, shall we?'

She stood from the couch, bidding her suitor farewell, and gracefully walked towards the young man, who was sitting at the bar. Taking a seat next to him, she gingerly placed her hand on his and spoke up in a sweet voice,
"Well, what's a strapping young man like you sitting here all alone for?"

OOC: Please let @The Prophet post before you do, if you wish to join.

 

[The Prophet]

Aizahk sat upright, clutching a glass of wine in his hand. It was more for show in lieu of true thirst; he had to blend in carefully. His mission was simple enough. Pinpoint and assess potential 'business partners' for the Conclave, then report back to headquarters with their names. Coursing through space on a luxury cruise-ship, there was an abundance of targets. From politicians officials and even decorated soldiers, to merchants and ordinary (albeit rich) vacationers, the cruise appeared to have attracted quite a diverse clientele. A little spoiled for choice, Aizahk decided to spend a fair amount of time deliberating. There was no rush. After all, observation was the name of the game.

The avid swordsman didn't necessarily expect to find himself relishing in the relaxation the ship provided. He adored stellar phenomena, and quickly came to realise that he'd never had an opportunity to truly appreciate them in such a way. Somewhat at risk of becoming enraptured by his surroundings, Aizahk took extra care to remain focused on his goal, scanning the room diligently. Though, as though the force itself was doing everything in its power to snatch away his concentration, another distraction promptly emerged. One perhaps as beautiful as the view outside.

His muscles tensed instinctively, as though he'd been discovered midway through some heinous act; it appeared that he wasn't entirely used to the stealthy approach. Though, after noticing the delicate touch of a woman's hand, and the soft voice that accompanied it, he relaxed again, thinking himself foolish for expecting an issue. Before him stood a crimson-haired woman, with bright eyes not unlike his own. Turning to her with a friendly grin, Aizahk briefly marveled at her beauty, thinking himself lucky to have been approached. After setting his drink on the table, and standing tall, he lightly took the woman's hand and gently brought it to his lips. "By all means, feel free to join me." He smiled. Gesturing to where he was previously sat, he offered her his seat, before sitting back down himself. He acted natural, fully expecting that he could still perform his duty, even with company. "I've spent most of the evening networking. I thought I'd take a break and relax. Perhaps 'gaze upon the wonders of the universe!'" He chuckled, mocking the cruise company's slogan, maintaining eye contact with the fiery-haired beauty all the while. "What about yourself?"

 

[Billbo Swaggins]

Anri smiled slightly as the young man placed a soft kiss on her offered hand, taking the offered seat, listening to his explanation.

When he was done, she looked towards the barkeep, signaling her want for a drink of his choice. The barkeep started pouring the drink.

She chuckled with him at his little joke and responded to his question,
"Oh, not much. I've decided to give myself a little break from all the work that I've assigned myself. Although I must admit that I have spent a little too much time doing business on this trip that I intended to." She smiled wryly. It was true, although she had fully intended to enjoy herself and relax on the cruise, she simply wasn't able to resist networking with her fellow (wealthy) passengers.

Her drink arrived, she took ahold of it and took a slight sip, her eyes never leaving his. Once again, she was struck with the sheer purpose in them, even though his gaze rested firmly on hers, she could not help but feel that he had a reason for being here that wasn't simply relaxing or being social.

Putting her drink down, she once again extended her hand towards his, this time for a handshake.
"I'm Anri. Anri Astora, it's a pleasure to meet you."

Damn. There was her business side again. Anri was fully aware that shaking hands with a formal greeting really was only conducted at the beginning of a meeting, instead of the friendly self-introduction she had intended to provide. After the handshake, she shrugged her shoulders slightly and offered a sheepish smile,
"Sorry, now you know what I meant by conducting more business than I thought I would."

@The Prophet

 

[The Prophet]

Aizahk found himself fully engaged as he listened to the woman's reply. And, as far as he could discern, it appeared that she was also. Whilst the pair's golden gazes continued to clash, he spied a glimmer of curiosity in her captivating stare. Equally intrigued, he was drawn in further at the mention of her name. "Astora?" He thought to himself, noting a familiarity in the name as he shook her hand. "...and a pleasure to meet you as well, Miss? Astora. My name is Zarai. Zarai Tariku." He spoke with a questioning inflection on how he should address her, in the hopes she would hint at her availability. "Believe me, Anri, it's fine. I know what it's like. Business is a way of life I suppose. When you live and breathe it every day, and as you continue to climb that ladder, it definitely gets tougher to separate work from play." He quoted his uncle, a shrewd business owner back on his homeworld, almost verbatim, without a thought. Though he was amused by Anri's words, Aizahk's laugh was partly tinged with surprise at the ease with which he lied. It was a little deceptive, but Aizahk's precautious nature told him to stay on his toes. After all, the Conclave was quite clear about their members remaining discreet about their identities. "I have to ask though, your name does sound familiar. Could it be possible that I've heard it before? You mentioned business, what line of work are you in?"

 

[Billbo Swaggins]

Anri smiled in amusement when she heard Zarai's well worded question, replying with a self-depreciating joke,
"Miss Astora indeed, although please call me Anri. Do I look like someone who would be alone?"

Joke aside, business had always prevented her from enjoying a long term relationship with another person, although Anri had never really minded it. And she had to admit, she was finally beginning to enjoy herself a little. The trip so far had basically only been her making business connections to follow up with on a later date, and it was frankly quite draining. However, now she had found someone with a wit to match hers, she had started to enjoy herself at last, up to the point where she had let her original goal in speaking to the man slip from her mind.

At Zarai's inquiry towards her name, her eyebrows rise slightly in surprise,
"I'm with Astora Corp., although I must say that I'm surprised that you've heard of it. It's the holding company for AstoraArms and AstoraSec, among others." While her company was successful, it wasn't exactly widely known about due to its focus on non-commercial products like weapons and PMCs.

What an interesting man...
Anri's curiosity once again flared. Tilting her head a bit, she leaned in slightly as she posed her own question,

"What about you? I'm assuming you don't work with just any random organization since you've heard of mine."

 

[The Prophet]

"Not someone who could possibly stay alone for very long, surely?" He flashed a grin, taking a sip of his own drink as she continued. Anri's surprise at the mention of her name's familiarity, and her inquisitive retort, caught Aizahk for a second. Had 'Zarai' already fallen at the first hurdle? No... Not yet. He hung on her words carefully, ensuring that he was fully prepared to answer convincingly. "Astora Corp... A family business? Or perhaps your own handiwork?" The mention of 'Astora Arms' served to solidify Aizahk's interest further. It appeared that, not only was Anri good company, she might prove useful to his mission as well.

Aizahk rested his chin on his fist, as he feigned recollection, before answering her question. "Well. I was in stockbroking until recently. Buying, selling, advising stubborn old fools how not to sink their businesses, all that fun stuff." He rolled his eyes with a chortle. "Judging by the fact that you're here on this ship, and by the looks of that dress... It'd be hard to believe that you're not successful. I'm fairly sure that I must have come across the name that way. It's a shame we never had the opportunity to do business..." He edged a little closer. "Though I suppose there's still time." Having barely taken his eyes off of her since they began speaking, Aizahk couldn't help but find himself somewhat bewitched by the woman that sat before him. "It's part of the mission..." He snickered internally. It was certainly a good excuse.

 

[Billbo Swaggins]

"My own work, it's been a lot of effort but its taken off well."

She chuckled along with him at his little joke about his business, then replied,
"Yes... I suppose there is always still time." She was about to launch into a little speech about why he should invest but stopped herself. I really need this break.

It was as if a bubble had formed around the two, as both paid the utmost amount of attention to the other. Anri herself had almost never taken her eyes off of Aizahk, his toned body and intriguing personality seemed to be sucking her in. However, all good things must come to an end eventually, and the bubble was popped when a group of drunk men laughed loudly at an inside joke of theirs.

Shooting a frown at the rowdy group, Anri turned back towards Aizahk, smiling slightly and softly taking hold of his hand,
"How about we go to my suite? We can... discuss business in private there."

Although to be honest with herself, Anri didn't actually want to talk business. Not with Aizahk at least. She just wanted to spend more time with the interesting man in front of her, without any disturbances.

 

[The Prophet]

Raising an eyebrow, after being jarred from he and Anri's conversation by an eruption of boisterous laughter, Aizahk furrowed his brow in the direction of the men's group. He noticed a few others nearby who seemed disrupted by their raucous behaviour. But the men, fully absorbed amidst their own revelry, seemed oblivious.

Anri's offer came as no surprise to Aizahk. Direct and straight to the point, there was no doubt that she was business minded. Agreeing that it was a good idea to continue their conversation elsewhere, and hoping to see where their discussion might lead, Aizahk took Anri's hand and stood. "Of course." Moving around beside her, he offered her his arm with a smile. "By all means, lead the way."

 

[Billbo Swaggins]

Anri slipped her arm through his as she led him through a series of corridors towards her suite. It was one of the smaller ones, but had still cost a hefty sum of money. Said money net her a medium-sized room with a large bed, a couch, a table, and a large viewport showing the vastness of space.

Entering the room, she directed him towards the couch gestured for him to take a seat with a graceful wave of her hand. Sitting down next to him, she remained silent for a while, staring into his eyes. The intensity had never left throughout their entire conversation, in fact, Anri thought that the spark in his eye may have even grown brighter.

She inhaled to begin to speak, then realized she had nothing to say. Normally, she would talk about something related to her business, but the mood just didn't seem to fit that kind of conversation. So she exhaled and let silence reign, turning her head towards the viewport and staring into the abyss that was space and falling into thought.

Eventually, she spoke up,
"Do you ever find it amusing? That we, the inhabitants of the galaxy, often think of ourselves as the rulers of the galaxy." A sad smile crossed her face, her mind wandering towards memories of her past, "We really don't know how little control we have. Doesn't matter what kind of person one is: rich, poor, righteous, evil, people seem to all believe that they are in control of the galaxy, that things will go their way."

She snapped back to reality,
"Sorry, just reflecting on some of my memories from the past. I... wasn't always this well off, and I was just thinking about how lucky I actually am to have gotten this far, even though at the time I thought my success was due to my efforts alone."

She let out a small laugh, slightly embarrassed to be telling a stranger of her self-doubts, then continued to think aloud despite her embarrassment,
"So many things could have gone wrong: my parents could have died, I could have been kidnapped by criminals, the company could have failed immediately... So many things. But here I am."

Turning to Aizahk, she asked,
"Do you know what I mean? To look back at your accomplishments and realize that it was just luck, not your efforts?"

 

[The Prophet]

Aizahk removed his jacket, as he entered the room, following the flow of Anri's movements before sitting down on the couch. Draping the jacket over the arm of the chair, he turned to face her, matching her deep stare once again with his own. Though the intimate setting might have perhaps prompted him to make a move, instead, he waited on her short moment of introspection, intrigued by what she was preparing to say.

The woman's words took Aizahk by surprise; they resonated with him deeply. He felt a twinge of guilt at his deceit, as she poured out her soul, voicing her insecurities, wondering all the while how he could respond as sincerely as possible. "Anri..." Taking her hand in his as he responded, he also stared into the abyss of space with her, before fixating his eyes on hers again. "What you say... it's true. We style ourselves as lords, kings and emperors; we lay a divine claim to lands that care not for who tread them, and it is all born of fear Anri. Deep down we all know that we are lost in infinity. That we are less than grains of sand in the vastness of space, and a mere drop in an ocean of time. Those delusions of grandeur are all that can truly spare us from a universe that constantly seeks to remind us of that fact." He sighed. "We have a saying back on my homeworld. 'All waves were once a ripple. And all tsunami's, a wave.' Though we may appear insignificant, everything we do will ripple through time and space until it becomes a wave. The universe knows where we are headed, and it remembers who we are, and it remembers everything that we have done, no matter how small. Everything is intertwined." He bit his tongue for a moment, desperately wanting to tell her about the force, and how it guided him. "To tell you the truth, I'm not sure I believe in luck Anri. Something tells me that there is a plan for each of us. Perhaps many plans, many roads, and many paths... we simply have to choose which one to walk. I'm sure of it. I have a feeling that those of us who walk the hardest paths, make the largest ripples in the eyes of the universe." He rested his hand on her face, drawing ever nearer as he spoke. "Cast 'luck' aside. Don't allow the universe nor fear to manipulate you. Instead, use them to inform the path that you choose." Embroiled in the intensity of the moment, Aizahk brushed Anri's hair behind her ear and awaited the crimson-haired beauty's cue.

 

[Billbo Swaggins]

Listening to Aizahk speak, Anri felt something she hadn't felt since her childhood: safe. She supposed that part of what had been pushing her so hard to build a great company was simply her own fear. She wanted to build something that would keep her safe and to convince herself that she wasn't just a single speck among billions of stars and planets and people.

A single tear rolled down her cheek as she leaned into Aizahk,
"Thank you, I needed to hear that." She looked up towards his face, "No one else is willing to anymore, they're all too afraid of my getting angry at them."

Her parent's hadn't been exactly approving of her career path. They had argued that weapons manufacturing wasn't the business a person like Anri should get into. That had been the last time she saw them in person - after she had become successful, she had put them up in a luxurious house and left them there.

With that, all reasoning melted away as she kissed him.

 

[The Prophet]

A rush of ecstasy flooded Aizahk's body as he caressed Anri's porcelain skin, and felt the warmth of her ruby kiss. He slowly ran his fingers through her velvety locks, then moved swiftly along the length of her body, gently gliding his hands along the contours of her slender physique. Clutching her with strong arms, he kissed at her neck, taking in the fragrant aroma of her womanly scent, gradually working his way back up towards the succulent taste of her cherry lips; ambrosia. Pulling away for a moment, he took her delicate hands in his. And, without wasting a second more, he stood tall. Aizahk lifted her hands up with him, and placed them upon the buttons of his shirt. Resting one of his own hands at the back of her dress, he slowly began to pull the zipper down, hoping that it would prompt her to follow suit. All the while he stared her down with ravenous eyes, hoping soon to set them upon her true form...

 

[Billbo Swaggins]

Anri groaned in pleasure as Aizahk showered kisses upon her body. His eyes, the part of him which had attracted her initially, now showed a different kind of intensity, passion. As he started to undress her, she did the same to him, unbuttoning each button with precision, all the while marveling at his built-up physique. The man was a warrior, and it was clear to see now that his clothes were being removed.

Soon enough, both of the two lovers were fully in the nude, and Anri slowly pulled him into the bed nearby. Embracing him in her arms, she again brought their lips together in a long, passionate kiss. She laid back in the bed, wrapping her legs around his waist and exploring every inch of his toned body with her hands.

For the time being, she was his, and he was hers.

 

[The Prophet]

Not unlike how he basked in the heat of battle, Aizahk fully surrendered to the most primal of dances. He flowed like waters of a rushing river, winding and meandering as Anri's body dictated. His every sense had become awash with euphoria; his touch, as he caressed her ivory skin; his taste, as he savoured her sweet kiss; his sight, as her body writhed and contorted with pleasure; his smell, as her redolent scent permeated the air; and, most of all, he revelled at the sound of her rapturous moans.

Aizahk's hunger only grew with every movement of his hips, the fire in his eyes growing bright with each gyration. He pulled her close, pressing his chest tightly against her breast. It was in that moment, that Aizahk realized his facade was void. Though he dared not speak the truth, he knew that, so close, Anri could feel what laid below the surface. However, now so deeply intertwined in their carnal waltz, he cast all thought to the wayside. Instead, he focused solely on his partner for the night. Only him, only her. Only the dance...

 

[Billbo Swaggins]

As Aisahk brought them close, Anri wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling his face towards hers and embracing his lips with hers in a fit of passion. This man, this passion, could not stem from a simple stockbroker. No, this was a man with a higher cause.

Anri pushed those thoughts aside, now wasn't the time for speculation, now was the time to revel in each other's bodies, to share each other in a night of passion, dancing, and love.

[Rolled back per @Arclight 's request :)]

When Anri awoke in the morning, she was initially surprised of the presence of another person in her bed. Then, the memories of their lovemaking last night returned to her and she smiled, raising and hand and brushing a stray hair from Aizahk's face. As he slumbered, none of the usual intensity was noticeable on his face, and he looked serene as he rested.

As he, too, started to awake from his dreams, she spoke up.
"Good morning, handsome."

 

[The Prophet]

Aizahk's eyes shot open with a glimmer of gold, as Anri's voice stirred him from his rest. There was often a short burst of uncertainty when one awakened in an unfamiliar bed. However, after years of wandering the galaxy, drifting from planet to planet, Aizahk had become somewhat dull to the sensation. Perhaps during another liaison he would have seen himself out, slipping into the night before his partner arose. However, this time, something compelled him to stay.

Staring up at the ceiling for a moment, he eventually turned to face Anri with a warm smile. "Good morning, beautiful." He uttered sincerely, happy to find her staring back. He took her in his arms once again, shuffling closer until their noses touched, and planted another kiss on her lips. "I have to say, Anri. That was the best business talk I've had in a long time..." He flashed a cheeky grin as he gently caressed her face.

 

[Billbo Swaggins]

"Mmm, yes, I am inclined to agree." She returned the kiss and smiled in satisfaction as he caressed her face.

However, her smile turned into a slight frown as she remembered something,
"Somehow I doubt you're a mere stockbroker." She poked him in his toned stomach, "Your abs gave it away."

She wasn't angry, not really. She supposed that deep down she had already known he was something more: something special. Yes, ever since she had seen the intensity in his eyes, she had known.

Her customary sly smile returned to her face,
"So, what do you actually do, Mr. warrior?"

 

[The Prophet]

Aizahk simply stared at Anri for a moment, pondering as to whether or not he should come clean. No. He refused to compromise the mission. Or his true identity for that matter. However, he expected that a shred of truth might do well to placate the suspicious woman. "What makes you think that I'm not just a gym rat, Anri? Everyone has hobbies..." He eventually sighed, rolling onto his back. "You're right Anri, I was a soldier once. In many ways I still am. There was once a time that my name carried weight in a great war. A war that has plagued this galaxy for a long time. So long and so turbulent that my name will have long been forgotten by most. I thought that I was going to make a change. That I was a force for good in the struggle against evil. However, I know now that I was naive. Sometimes things aren't as black and white as they seem... Either way, it doesn't matter now, that was the past. I was Zarai the Soldier, then Zarai the Stockbroker, and now I am just Zarai. That's all."

Whilst it wasn't entirely the truth, Aizahk hoped that peppering in enough would ease her concern. It's wasn't that he didn't trust Anri. In fact, he liked her. But for now, discretion was still necessary. It irked him. He hated lying as much as he hated liars. However, the irony of it all was that he excelled at it. For now, he would concede the day to pragmatism, and allowed it guide his actions with a careful hand.

 

[Billbo Swaggins]

She giggled and shrugged,
"Zarai the Storyteller as well, you sure know how to make your life sound dramatic." Tracing the defined lines of his muscles with the tip of her finger, she continued,
"Oh, I don't doubt that you were a soldier all right. You were Zarai the Soldier, then Zarai the Stockbroker..." She imitated the tone of voice he had used, "and now you are just Zarai? No title anymore?"
The intensity had returned to his eyes, something that made her curious to no end. She wanted to know why this man seemed to driven. Not even a former soldier, who he seemed too young to be anyway, could have that kind of intensity. If anything, he looked like a soldier on a mission.

Not that she cared about his past, really. She was just curious. Much like he claimed, she wanted to focus on making things right in the present.

 

[The Prophet]

"Dramatic? Tsk!" Amused out of his moment of austerity by Anri's mocking tone, Aizahk flipped his pillow onto her face with a hearty laugh. Swiftly sliding out from underneath the bedsheets he stood tall and stretched, turning his attention to the wide window of the room. Something was off. Although the depths of space often did well to skew the perception of time, Aizahk was almost sure that he'd been asleep for hours. However, for some reason, it appeared that the cruise was still in the same region. Whilst it puzzled him as to why they'd stopped, the reason was very likely benign; perhaps it was down to a minor technical issue. So instead he sauntered across towards his clothes. Feeling around, he double-checked his jacket pockets. Whilst he had no reason to suspect Anri of anything thus far, he was in the habit of being precautious. There was nothing in particular that would incriminate him necessarily, however he feared that his lightsaber would have perhaps been an alarming find. Spying the golden sheen of Astra's hilt in the depths of his inside pocket, he laid his jacket down again, and reached for the rest of his clothes, that were strewn across the floor.