Ask The Fast and The Mischievous

[Leon Baudelaire]

Leon Baudelaire had taken the weekend off, well kinda, following a conversation with Hera, he found himself wondering how to moonlight as a Jedi. If Hera could own a whole freaking mercenary group, then it made sense for him to start thinking about his future as well. Tirsa, the planet he was on, was known throughout the galaxy for its industrial prowess. The place was a blue-collar wonderland, but Leon wasn’t interested in getting forklift certified.

The roar of a speeder engine brought a smile to his lips. When he’d decided to take a break from the dangerous life of a Jedi, he hadn’t thought of trading shootouts and lightsaber fights for street races, but Komie could be surprisingly convincing when she wanted. If he was being honest, he was excited to see her. It was nice to know someone who wasn’t tied down by The Order and he couldn’t wait to just hang out for a bit.

He spotted the location she’d told him to meet her at and cocked an eyebrow. The Viktoriaous Vixen was a full on club. He frowned but shrugged, it’s had been literally years since he’d been able to have a whisky. For just a second he wondered what the drinking age was on Tirsa, but promptly decided that the force owed him one and that he’d get a damn whisky if he wanted it.

A few minutes later he was sitting at the bar waiting for his drink. The club music thumped in the background and he found himself bobbing along with the beat. Scantily dressed beings of every gender and species filled the place. It was surprisingly popular for a bar on a planet like this, but I guess everyone had to drink somewhere.

His drink arrived and Leon took a sip. Ahhhhhh, sweet sweet bourbon. Now all he needed was Komie, and this would be a perfect start to a dope ass weekend.

@Tulos

 

[Koemi]

Life had a funny way of tossing curve balls in people’s paths. One minute, Koemi was dreading another day of dullness and boredom and within mere minutes she was introduced to what very well may be the most interesting person she had ever met. And she had met more than her share of interesting people since abandoning the orphanage on Raxus.

Ithor had been something of a gift. At first, all she could think about since landing was the horrors she had witnessed on Chandrila and how quickly things had escalated into a fit of pure madness. Days spent in bed, staring at the wooden ceiling, as she unintentionally recounted the disparity that inflicted those who had been victim to the horrors that took place. Yet at the base of it all, despite everything that had transpired, she couldn’t help but be relieved that it had brought her to Leon. A Jedi, sure. A troublesome young man who colored outside the lines, assuredly. Someone she could associate with, undoubtedly.

Before the chaos, before the air show, there were clues of street races on Chandrila and such an event was difficult for her to simply pass up. She had done so in the moment but now Leon owed her an evening of thrill. And with the universe as her witness, she would not let him return home without paying the debt.

”You’re classier than you look,” Koemi teased as she snuck up to Leon’s rear, glowing martini in hand, as she leaned over the back of the booth. She didn’t know Tirsa in the slightest but the Vixen had a reputation that was not disappointed. ”It must be past your bed time. You’re sure Mama Hera isn’t gonna come chasing after you to set you straight?” she teased, the lip of her drink floating next to her own before taking a sip, blue eyes locked on Leon’s hazels. ”I’d hate to get you in trouble,” she finished, sarcasm oozing in every syllable.

@Zay​

 

[Leon Baudelaire]

Leon was dressed in his going out clothes. A simple outfit that accentuated the muscle he’d added since devoting himself to the Emryc Thorne routine. Of course, Leon himself was totally oblivious to his appearance, he wasn’t the type to get caught up on that kind of thing, that was until Komie snuck up behind him.

He turned at the sound of her voice, his mischievous little smirk settling in on his expression. “I’ve had some help,” he joked thinking about how often Dash fussed over his clothing choice or lack thereof. He lifted his glass to hers and clinked them together, “Cheers, it’s good to see you, Komie.” his smirk spread into a smile as he gestured for her to join him.

Leon took a sip and nearly spit it back out when Komie asked if it was past his bedtime, “First, I need you to know I refuse to acknowledge that you just called my Master, Mama Hera. Second, yes, it is past my bedtime, you should feel honored by my personal sacrifice. Third, I think we both know I’m here to get into trouble.”

The DJ was crushing the playlist in this club and Leon found himself still bobbing to the rhythm. Ever since Berchest, he’d found his threshold for dancing was basically non-existent, and anytime there was good music he just had to move. “So, what in the hell have you been up to since you left Ithor?” Then with feigned hurt he added, "Oh, thanks for leaving without saying bye. By the way."

The Padawan had been on a litany of missions. Each more dangerous than the last and on the same hand more fulfilling than he’d possibly imagined. He reached up and brushed the “X” shaped scar on his cheek. If he were being honest, he was still struggling after his encounter with the Sith Master, but this wasn’t the time. He stole a glance at Komie as she got distracted by something on the dance floor. He wasn’t the only one who’d classed it up. She was a stark contrast to the funny tour guide he’d met on Chandrila.

@Tulos

 

[Koemi]

Koemi couldn’t contain the chuckle that followed Leon’s behavior following her comment about ‘Mama’ Hera, so instead she simply held the drink by her mouth to conceal the devilish smile behind it.

”Well, thank you so very much,” she finally replied over the loud music. ”What ever would I have done had you not decided to grace me with your presence,” she continued teasingly. Let’s be real; she’d be bored out of her damn mind and while she was being coy, she actually was thankful that the Padawan had reached out. The two of them were cut from the same cloth, after all. Whether or not that was a good or a bad thing remained to be seen but the night would likely reveal the truth of the matter.

Shooting Leon a sarcastically exhausted side glance with a roll of her eyes, Koemi caught herself smiling again. ”Oh please. Like you even would have had time for me if I had seen you before I left,” she chuckled, leaning in slightly so as to not need to shout over the music. ”Being a Jedi is a busy lifestyle, right? You said it yourself! I should be grateful I even get to see you now!”” As she spoke, and as Leon made the extremely obvious pull of attention to the scar on his cheek, Koemi took a careful examination of it. Part of her wanted to ask where it had come from but a much larger part knew she likely wouldn’t enjoy the answer.

”Scars suit you,” she would say instead with a smile as she took a sip from her drink. It was then that she noticed a young Mikkian woman speaking to a bouncer, pointing in her direction with her head tendrils as she spoke to a rather burly Rodian bouncer. Then she recognized her. Being that Koemi often didn’t have a credit or crown to her name, the martini in her hand had obviously been… well, she didn’t pay for it. As the Rodian began making his way in their direction, instinct took after and Koemi snagged Leon’s hand and began to pull him out into the dancefloor. She needed to hide and what better way than in a mob of moving bodies?

@Zay​

 

[Leon Baudelaire]

Leon took a flourishing bow in the booth as Komie thanked him for his time. Which was a ridiculous thing to thank him for, but he wasn’t going to stop her adulation. “Tirsa may never know,” he started, “I just managed to squeeze you in between, juggling rocks with the force and a research paper on how Taanab established it’s agricultural superiority along the Perlemian Trade Route.”

“Oh, I’m not letting you blame me! You had free lodging, you left because you didn’t like me anymore. That’s why you didn’t tell me!” He teased her back, then he did something stupid and told the truth, “Ha-Ha,” he said dripping with sarcasm as she threw his point back in his face. Damn she was good.

Leon’s hand fell from his face as she complemented his scar. Adumarian culture revered scars on warriors, but he just thought they hurt. He’d collected a good amount in his adventures since they’d last met, but she’d have to work pretty hard if she wanted to see the rest. He could feel his face flush and tried to hide it behind a sip of whiskey, but he doubted it worked.

He delighted in her gaze a moment forgetting he was supposed to say something back. Leon snapped too, “Uh, thanks, hopefully I—Whoa!”

Before he could finish his thought Komie had taken his hand, which he suddenly hoped wasn’t a gross pool of sweat, and dragged him toward the dance floor. He slammed the rest of his drink then— with the force— placed it back on the table as they strode out onto the dancefloor. Undulating bodies pressed in all around them. The infectious rhythm of the music was playing the patrons like an electronic pied piper.

Leon could feel himself moving unconsciously to the beat and as they reached the middle of the dance floor, he tugged Komie’s hand, spinning her around and bringing them close. Like really close, Close enough to feel her breath on his neck, and that’s when he saw the look in her eye. It was the same expression she’d had in the cab. Realization dawned on him, but he decided to draw it out a bit. It was fun watching her squirm, but obviously he wouldn’t be a creep about it.

Still inches away Leon asked, “So, do we have time for a dance, or do I need to beat someone’s ass now?”

@Tulos

 

[Koemi]

Adrenaline. It feeds people's actions. It determines who a person is when events go beyond their control. Physical or mental, it defines who a person is when things begin to look dire. Koemi was used to being on the run. Used to being a target. Used to being a stain on the garment of society.

What she wasn’t used to was having someone literally hand in hand in her adventures.

Sure, Leon was once again a victim of her escapades. He didn’t choose to be here now, running through a crowd of inebriated citizens with a young woman who had little care for law and order. Perhaps he expected as much from her but as she pushed through the crowd, her hand in his, she didn’t even consider his thoughts.

Not until he stopped her and pulled her in. Her heart stopped for a moment as she glanced upwards, locking eyes with the Padawan. For a moment, she even forgot to breath. What a weird occurrence.

”I-” she paused, looking around for the bouncer. She wanted to take him up on his offer of a dance. Of course she did. She wanted to have fun, not flee trouble. Blue eyes scanned the crowd, finally locating the bouncer as he searched for his target on the opposite side of the club. What an idiot. ”Make it quick?” Koemi replied with a devilish smirk, her hand squeezing Leon’s tighter. Once the Rodian inevitably found them, they’d have no choice but to move on. Until then? Well… Force only knows.

@Zay​

 

[Leon Baudelaire]

Time slowed to a crawl as their eyes met. He could feel her panic, but he could also feel her excitement. His mischievous smirk spread across his face as he slid his free hand around her side to the small of her back. "If I have too," he quipped.

Leon Baudelaire was full of surprises, but his natural ability to dance was by far the most impressive he had up his sleeve. Naturally, he slipped into the rhythm of the beat, his hips guiding hers as they moved across the dancefloor. He intertwined his fingers with hers only to give her a playful push and spin her away before spinning her back. He was very aware of the intense malice drawing closer to them. It was like they were swimming in open water and the dark intent was a circling shark. Too bad there was always a bigger fish.

As he and Komie danced he couldn’t help but smile. He hadn’t danced since Berchest and he was surprised at how good it felt. “You’re a natural!” he said taking more than a little time to drink her in as he let her take the lead.

Over her shoulder he spotted a Rodian that was laughably muscular. The thin black tank top he was wearing was basically see through and Leon frowned as he noticed the guy had, like, really long nipples. Like, The Rodian’s nipples basically mirrored his long face. Leon hated that he’d noticed because now all he was going to be able to think about was the guy’s nipples. It was gonna really ruin this dude’s intimidation factor. Oh, well…

“Heads up, mean looking Rodain giving us the eye,” he glanced behind, never missing a step in their dance, he spotted the emergency exit sign, “Found a way out, c’mon!”

It was his turn to lead her and of course he brought her in for one more close maneuver before turning and heading for the door, her hand still in his.

@Tulos

 

[Koemi]

Koemi didn’t exactly know what she had expected but as Leon took the lead, his body moving in near perfect synchrony to the booming music, she realised it wasn’t that he would actually know what he was doing. By comparison, she’d have expected to be a bumbling and fumbling newborn fawn had it not been for his guiding hand (and hips). Who knew Jedi actually did know how to have fun beyond charging into chaos? She certainly didn’t.

For an instant, however brief it was, she had actually forgotten that she was on the verge of being tossed out of the Vixen. She was swallowed by the moment, her senses of her surroundings both heightened and dulled simultaneously as the Padawan guided her into a spin before pulling her back into his grasp.

”You probably realised this about me by now but I’m pretty spectacular at almost everything,” Koemi boastfully teased as they continued to move through the crowd, their movements mirroring one another as the song seamlessly shifted to a new tempo. Again she allowed herself to be consumed by the moment, pushing her body tighter against his before the inevitable time to call things short arrived.

”Fuck, I forgot about him,” Koemi scowled as she looked across her shoulder, spotting the bouncer. Were it not for the buggy green eyes and complexion, his demeanor reminded her a great deal of that famous actor from the holos… what was it again? Oh, right! Sin Weasel! No, that wasn’t it… was it?

Yet as she stared absently, trying to recall the actors name, her eyes met his and in pale comparison to the sensations that came from meeting Leon’s, her anxieties skyrocketed as she snapped back into the moment. Leon began to pull her towards an exit, already three steps ahead of their pursuer, but as Koemi’s heart raced, something unexplainable happened. As they pushed through the crowd, the fire sprinkler systems above the dance floor activated by some sort of miracle, soaking not only the patrons but the long nippled Sin Weasel, causing the Rodian to slip and smack the back of his head on the dance floor, losing them both.

Out in the street, both likely quite drenched from the miraculous distraction, Koemi belted out a laugh of relief. ”Sorry about that,” she managed to force out as she glanced back at the door to be sure they hadn’t been followed, though the crowd soon spilled out into the alley. ”We should probably get the hell outta here though,” she added, still holding Leon’s hand as she nodded in the direction of the street. Despite the excitement, she was let down the time at the Vixen was so short but as always, she had none to blame but herself.

@Zay​

 

[Leon Baudelaire]

”Suuuure you are,” Leon teased as he shook off the water from the sprinklers inside. Luckily, he’d been just about out of the door before they went off, but Komie on the other hand looked soaked. The denizens of the club started to pour out and Leon noticed she still had his hand. A small smile slipped across his face as he let her lead him toward the main strip.

Tirsa was surprisingly pretty at night. The constant flow of large haulers and freighters of all shapes and sizes adorned the space above as they walked from street light to street light. The area they were walking through shifted from mercantile to residential. Minimalist apartment buildings lined the way, it was kinda disorienting because they all looked identical.

Komie was still moving like she was being hunted and Leon gave her hand a squeeze, “What’s the rush? We’re safe now.”

For a moment he wondered if that was just how she lived. Always on the move, always running. His heart broke for her. He didn’t pity her, she’d probably kick his ass if he said anything, but he didn’t understand why she hadn’t come to The Order. At least there she’d be guaranteed food and shelter. Then again, that wasn’t much of a trade for what it asked of you. He resisted the urge to trace his scar as they rounded a corner.

“When ya gonna ask me to show you how to use the Force?”

@Tulos

 

[Koemi]

As she continued to aimlessly lead the way through the unfamiliar city streets, Koemi hardly had any care that her clothes were soaked. It was only water, after all. She couldn’t care that she likely couldn’t show her face at the Vixen again for some time. For the first time in awhile, she felt… happy.

As Leon squeezed her hand to bring her to a halt, Koemi slammed on the brakes and spun on one heel to face the Padawan, a strand of blond hair falling from the toque adorned on her head.

”Safe, sure,” Koemi began as she tried stepping backwards, tugging Leon along with her. ”- but if you haven’t noticed, there’s not a whole hell of a lot happening here, now is there?” she teased. ”There’s bound to be something going on. Just gotta keep looking,”

The next question Leon posed was what finally succeeded in bringing her to a complete stop, her smile fading ever so slightly.

”Use the Force,” she mocked playfully but beneath the surface, she couldn’t help but feel a sliver of pain. Did Leon invite her to Tirsa to put more pressure on making her decision? ”And just what is it you’d show me exactly?” she continued, not wanting to believe her initial train of thought. She had seen Leon and Hera perform incredible feats on Chandrila certainly, but she was entirely in the dark about just what a Jedi was truly capable of.

@Zay​

 

[Leon Baudelaire]

Baudelaire tittered as she pointed out why they were still moving and he replied, “Yeah, but we don’t have to run.”

He frowned when she stopped. Confused by her reaction to what he thought was a harmless question. Leon watched the strand of hair and had to stop himself from reaching out and tucking it behind her ear. Honestly, he was caught flat footed. He couldn’t fathom why she wouldn’t want to learn about something that was a part of her, but he decided to say, “Uh, I dunno, whatever you wanted.”

Leon searched her face as he spoke and was frustrated to see he couldn’t tell what she was thinking at all. Normally, he could read people like datapads, but Komie’s mood shift had him shook.

“We can also just forget it, I wasn’t trying to upset you,” he said suddenly, finding it hard to look her in the eye. He reached out with the fore and plucked a tulip from the manicured sidewalk, and offered it to her. “Forgive me?” he asked, flashing an apologetic smile.

Man he was such an idiot sometimes. He heard the roar of a speeder in the distance and he found his footing.

“I’ve got a better idea, forget the force stuff, let’s go!” his face lit up all insecurity neatly tucked behind his mischievous smile.

@Tulos

 

[Koemi]

As Koemi watched Leon’s eyes tilt down and away from hers, she wondered if maybe her impression indeed was wrong and it was simply intended to be a conversation topic. She was glad she didn’t voice her train of thought, given what she believed now. That while Leon was as charismatic as much as he was a delinquent, he was still an awkward young man. She’d be lying if it didn’t come across as unbearably adorable watching him back pedal, her smile growing again as he avoided her eyes.

What caught her even more off guard than Leon’s sheepishness was the now hovering tulip presented before her. Like the petals on the flower, her heart fluttered slightly as this was something entirely new. Never before had she been given flowers, her cheeks glowing in a soft red under the street light. Tenderly she plucked the flower from the air, observing the pollen covered anthers at it’s center with a gentle inhale of it’s sweet scent.

”There’s nothing to be forgiven for,” Koemi replied, carefully tucking the flower in the chest pocket of her coat before a sly, playful grin of her own was offered. ”But I accept the apology anyway. I’ll bank it for whenever you do eventually need to give me one,”

As Leon led them towards the sounds of roaring speeder engines, Koemi found herself excited again. Rounding a corner, she could see them all lining the curbs of the street. People of all shapes and sizes littered around them, observing the mods each had received from their driver. Now this was more like it.

”Look! Look! That’s a JG-8! You don’t see those anymore!” Koemi elated to Leon as they got nearer the crowd. Running ahead, she would stand over top of the engine compartment and inspect the meticulous mechanic work that had gone into making the speeder show-ready.

”Yeh? You like it, eh? Maybe I could take ya for a ride along on my next race. You’d like that too, wouldn’t ya?” A Twi’lek offered as he emerged from the small crowd on the sidewalk.

@Zay​

 

[Leon Baudelaire]

”Oh good, I’ll be sure to take advantage once I’ve stocked up a few extra lives,” he teased, relieved the tension had passed.

On Chandrilla they’d missed out on a chance to see a street race, and now they were racing toward one. No Mama Hera here to stop them this time. They cut up off the main strip and dropped a few blocks down. As they rounded the corner, Komie lit up and started gushing over a dope ass looking speeder. “I know nothing about speeders, but that thing is a beauty,” he remarked as she practically dove into the hood.

The driver made a pass at her and a flash of anger rippled through Leon. The response was surprising. The Adumarian checked his ego. Komie was her own person. If she wanted to go for a ride, who was he to stop her? For now he decided to ignore the situation. His eyes slipped to a sleek M-8 speeder. The driver was a Zeltron with fuchsia skin, midnight blue hair, and a sultry smile. Their eyes met and she turned her smile on him. Leon felt his ears get hot, he smiled back sheepishly and looked away.

“Alright you goons!” bellowed a bothan with a jet black pompadour and a cigarra hanging out of his mouth, “It’s time for tonight’s main event!”

The crowd began to push toward the MC and Leon glanced in Komie’s direction. The Twi’lek laughed, “Well, you riding or not?”

@Tulos

 

[Koemi]

As the crowd began to move towards the MC of the event, music echoing through the street from the numerous bass-blaring sound systems installed in many of the speeders, Koemi looked to the Twi’lek driver and met his violet eyes. She wasn’t even going to begin to lie to herself that she did want to leap into the seat, strap herself in and experience the adrenaline that came from tearing through city streets at blinding speeds. After all, who in their right mind didn’t want to risk life and limb for a surge of euphoria?

Quickly, she cast a glance back at Leon. She didn’t want to just leave him on the sidelines as a spectator. He was, after all, the entire reason she had come to Tirsa. Yet it seemed an exotic young Zeltron had caught his eye and she could feel the burning pit of jealousy in her stomach. She wasn’t angered or upset so much as envious of the brief fit of attention he had offered this strange woman. She didn’t even notice the deadpan expression but as Leon turned back to look to her, she quickly caught herself and smiled before turning back to the Twi’lek.

”Hell ya, let’s do this!” she laughed as she jumped into the speeder before the words had even finished being spoken. An arrogant grin formed on the Twi’lek as he moved smoothly through the open door and into the driver’s seat and hitting the ignition. The engine roared to life as he looked back to Leon.

”No worries, bruv! The girl is safe with me!” he taunted the Padawan before rolling towards the starting line. His arrogant behavior was wildly off putting, his demeanor greasy and gross, but the experience was worth it in her eyes. She only hoped Leon wouldn’t be upset with her abandoning him on the street. Or that she wouldn’t see him with that Zeltron broad when she got back.

“Oy! Oy! Listen up!” the Bothan hollered, motioning with his hands that the crowd needed to settle down. “Pulling up on the line! Faster than a greased gizka! More ruthless than a wild Nexu! Coming in on a three win streak! Who’s gonna stop him?! You? You?” he began motioning from driver to driver, many bowing out and averting their gaze when his met theirs. “C’mon! Someone’s gotta want to dethrone Loots! So who’s it gonna be?!” As his name was said, the Twi’lek stood up in his seat and waved at the crowd with a cigarra hanging from his lip. Already Koemi’s heart raced with anticipation as the knuckles of her hand pressed against the tulip in her pocket, her eyes searching the crowd for Leon. Now where did he go?

@Zay​

 

[Leon Baudelaire]

It took a lot for Leon to remain impassive as Komie practically jumped into the guys arms at the mention of a ride. The veneer of his smirk plastered there as a defense mechanism. The Twi’lek’s sneer nearly sent him over the edge, but his jealousy was selfish. It was now clear to him that they were friends. Maybe? I mean who just bails on someone? All Leon managed in response was a frustrated nod of his head. He glowered at the speeder as it came to life and drifted away.

Baudelaire didn’t wait for them to be out of sight, he turned and stalked away. He felt stupid, embarrassed, and—AND, well really hurt. Luckily, he knew how to mediate his current emotions, unluckily, he lacked the discipline to use what he’d learned.

“Hey,” said the Zeltron.

Leon slowed and looked her way. She nodded for him to come over, but he just shrugged and stalked away. He’d come here to hang out with Komie, not some random hot chick. It just wasn’t as fun. The crew next to the Zeltron looked mean. The kind of mean you cross the street to avoid. A Rodain with a teardrop tattoo spat to the side, and said in huttese, “That fucking bastard needs to drop, today. Who’s taking him?”

A Dug stepped forward, lips curled back in a wicked smile, a black leather jacket, and tinted glasses, “I’ll put him down.”

The Dug’s voice was deep and gravelly which Leon found comical given the being’s small stature. At least he would have found it comical had that not meant Komie was now in danger. Couldn’t he just have a normal experience? Couldn’t he wallow in his chidded love like a normal teenager for a fucking minute?

“Fucking Force—” muttered Leon as he looked around for the most distracted driver he could, “fucking moving—” he looked back at the Zeltron woman, “—in fucking mysterious ways!” he finished as he watched the driver directly across from her, step away from his vehicle and toward hers.

Leon moved fast. He didn’t run, but he might as well have. He crossed the path and slipped behind the line of cars dropping down until he was behind the abandoned vehicle. The Driver and the Zeltron were locked in conversation. The padawan pulled the door and to his surprise it opened. Leon’s mischievous smile returned in earnest.

“Oh! What’s this? It seems we have a challenger!” proclaimed the Bothan. The crowd cheered as the Dug pulled up beside Loots. The Twi’lek took a drag off his cigarra, “Well, Roach it’s been a while, sure you got what it takes?”
The Dug sneered, “You’ve gotten two cocky Loots, that’ll end today.”
“Oh ye—” started Loots when the MC cut across him.

“I don’t believe it! We have a third racer!”

The crowd bellowed it’s approval as Leon pulled up on the other side of Loots. He glanced over and could see Komie, “Didn’t like being left out of the fun,” he said.

Loots laughed harshly, “Well lookie here! Lover boy is a driver? Roach, get a look at the pup!”
The Dug’s sneer soured, “You just made a big mistake, asshole.”

Loots’ laugh grew wild. Leon looked forward, his heart was starting to race. He didn’t give a shit about this race, but he couldn’t leave without making sure Komie was alright. A scantily clad Twi’lek sauntered into the center of the track, she stepped onto a circular plate and it rose into the air above the speeders. Above her a solid red light appeared in the air. The bothan’s voice amplified as he called the crowd to order.

“Racers, on your mark!”
The light blinked once.
“Get set!”
The light blinked again. Leon’s hands tightened on the steering wheel as he revved his rental’s engine.
“GO!”
The light flashed to green and all three speeders shot off at nearly the same time!

@Tulos

 

[Koemi]

The idling engine of Loots’ speeder was violent and powerful, but Koemi hardly noticed as she kept scanning the crowd for that head of brown hair. When she realised that he had vanished, her stomach sunk. Part of her leaping into this speeder on a whim was to try and stoke the embers of jealousy in the Padawan but perhaps she had played the wrong card and instead chased him away. Normally this wouldn’t bother her; people come and people go. This time it felt different. Regretful.

“You ready for this?” Loots asked as he draped his arm around the headrest of her seat, a smile of pointed, jagged and yellowing teeth flashed in her direction. Despite his creepy and off-putting demeanor, she wanted to be excited but all she could offer in return was a sheepish smile as she sunk in her seat, focusing her attention back on the road ahead. If she was lucky, the adrenaline would wash away her remorse. If not, maybe she’d get really lucky and Loots would slam into a wall in a fiery explosion and she wouldn’t have to worry about feeling like this ever again. The typical overreaction of youth.

Then things took a turn as Roach pulled up at Loots’ side, the exchange short but Koemi didn’t need Jedi powers to know there was bad blood there. Everything about Loots’ tone told her he was an ignorant moron and Roach was here looking for more than just to dethrone the champ. Instinct reared it’s head, telling the girl to get out of the speeder here and now. That maybe she didn’t want to wind up in a flame riddled accident after all. Her fingers wrapped around the seatbelt clasp but as she tried to undo it, she found the button to be stuck. Likely a safety feature that made little sense in her eyes but nonetheless, she couldn’t undo the belt unless Loots’ hit the safety switch. For a brief moment, she panicked.

Then there he was. He hadn’t gone. He’d done something that, if she was being entirely honest with herself, she was very likely to have done as well. Seeing the green eyes sat behind that speeder offered a wave of relief. ”Leon! Where the fuck did you get that!?” she asked but before he could answer, the countdown was on.

All three speeders launched off the line like a herd of blurrgs on cocaine, Koemi getting slammed back into her seat as a hand shot up to hold the hat on her head. Loots, still ignorant and laughing because of it, started to pull ahead of the pack as he pushed the craft into the next gear. The streets echoed with roaring engines, lights in some houses flashing on as the residents were shook awake by the commotion. Cheering faces on the sides of the streets were nothing but a blur as they sped by. Only when Loots slowed down to slide his speeder through a curve did Koemi get a chance to breath.

“What’d I tell ya?! Hahaha!” the Twi’lek cheered as he started to accelerate on the other side of the turn. “Can’t catch me, you gon’ see! Off the line in one, two, three!”

”Great…” Koemi groaned as she held on to the brace handle by the door. ”Of course he fucking raps,” she kept grumbling quiet enough he wouldn’t hear. ”Badly,”

@Zay​

 

[Leon Baudelaire]

Leon white knuckled the steering wheel as he bearly made it through the first turn. Roach’s speeder slammed into his and the only thing that saved Leon was dying a firey death was the force. Baudelaire managed to break just enough to miss the brunt of the slam that would have sent him careening into the wall. He was in dead last and Roach was slowing him down.

The Padawan kissed his teeth in frustration, “Fuck off, dude!”

Just beyond Roach he could see Loots pulling away. Now, was Leon Baudelaire, a hot blooded Adumarian who up until a year ago was a professional athlete, competitive?

Do Sith swing red lightsabers?

He threw the throttle forward and smiled as he felt his body sink into the seat. He couldn’t explain it, but he could feel the vehicle around him. It was like he was integrated into the speeder. He faked to the left, Roach over compensated and Leon went right. He slipped past the Dug, who managed to fling obscene gestures at him as he passed.

Now, Leon was caught in the middle. On one hand he was stoked because Roach would have to go through him to take out Loots. On the other— Leon swerved to the right then back to the left, then faked left and went right, as he began slipping attacks from both sides. His jaw hurt gritting his teeth in tight focus. One false move, one wrong choice, and he was done.

@Tulos

 

[Koemi]

Koemi winced as she looked over her shoulder, watching as the other racer slammed his speeder into Leon’s stolen ride. The entire air that surrounded this race was tainted by hostility that went beyond competition. There was something personal between Roach and Loots, Koemi and Leon now caught in the middle. As always, she had bit off more than she could chew and now they may have to pay the price.

”What’s that guys deal??” Koemi shouted over the sounds of the race at the rapping Twi’lek, not peeling her eyes off the exchange between Roach and Leon for a second as her heartbeat raced in unison with the three speeders. ”Fucking asshole!” she hollered back at the Dug as he continued to try to slam Leon into the wall after the Padawan had pulled ahead.

“Eh, Black Sun Spice dealer who likes to think he runs the neighborhood,” Loots laughed, carefree in demeanor as he maintained his lead. There was no denying that the man was one hell of a driver. “I might owe him some cred. That’s probably not helping his mood,” he added before taking a final drag off his cigarra before flicking it out into the street. Only then did Koemi finally turn to face the alien with a look of terror.

”You owe him drug money?!” she exclaimed, entirely aware of how these kinds of things had a tendency of going down. ”For how long?!”

At the rear of the pack, enraged by Leon’s superior maneuvering, Roach reached over to his passenger seat and wrapped his stubby fingers around the grip of a heavy blaster. Koemi and the Padawan were innocent and uninvolved in the spat between the Dug and the street racer but now they were nothing more than obstacles that needed to be overcome. Resting the blaster on the side mirror for a better shot, he would take aim and fire two rounds at the thrusters of Leon’s ride before switching targets and repeating the process against the lead speeder.

The blaster bolts would fly over head but neither Koemi nor Loots missed their existence. As the girl ducked, the whipping breeze pulled the tuque from her head and sent it spiralling in the air behind them. Only then did the Twi’lek switch from cocky to afraid. “Uhh, apparently that long!” he wailed as he pushed the speeder to its limits, breaking from the set course in his attempt to flee.

@Zay​

 

[Leon Baudelaire]

How was life going for Leon Baudelaire? Oh everything was just freaking peachy! The maniac behind him had opened fire so now not only did Leon have to dodge two asshole drivers he had to avoid blaster fire from the one he’d just passed, and honestly it wasn’t going great. One of the two bolts Roach fired slammed into his back, and the speeder's main console lit up with warning lights.

“Why can’t we just have a nice little illegal speeder race without everything going to shit? Is that really too much to ask?”

As much as he’d love to sink into that little line of introspection in a quiet meditation chamber on Ithor, but he didn’t have time. As soon as he was getting the rhythm of his attackers, Loots shot up a street and took the race out of bounds. Even with the Force’s assistance, Leon wasn’t able to follow. All he could do was drive by and watch Komie and Loots disappear down the alley. Roach stopped firing and managed to slam his breaks and drift around the corner. The side of his mean looking speeder slammed into the wall, but it just bounced off and kept going.

Great, all that work for nothing…

Baudelaire managed to make the next turn. He gunned the throttle looking down each crossway as he passed in hopes of catching sight of Loots or Roach. Then gradually the other two speeders came into view, “Huh, kinda looks like one of them old ass flipbooks,” he muttered keeping the pedal to the metal.

The three speeders burst out from the alley and into oncoming traffic!

“SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT!!!” screamed Leon.

Leon managed to even out without dying. Loots made it just barely, but Roach wasn’t so lucky. The Dug was clipped and sent spinning into a building. In Leon’s rearview he could tell the gangster wouldn’t be chasing after them any time soon. Finally, he could focus on catching Loots and saving Komie!

@Tulos

 

[Koemi]

Buildings zipped by faster than Koemi could register, their momentum so strong that the speeder’s repulsors weren’t strong enough to keep it in the air as it slipped across city streets from the alley Loots had detoured through. She could feel the impact as the speeder bottomed out, sparks flying behind them. The adrenaline and the fear of what had transpired caused the young girl to crouch in her seat, blonde hair whipping in the wind as she tried to avoid catching a blaster bolt with the back of her head. She already missed that damn hat…

”Stop the speeder! I want out!” Koemi demanded of the Twi’lek but in his panic, he completely missed her words. Turning in her seat to face him directly, she lifted a leg up and planted the sole of her shoe firmly into his ribs.

“Hey! Fuck off ya little bitch!” he hollered, his expression a mixture of pain, fear and anger.

”I said stop the fucking speeder!” she hollered once again, her face growing red with anger of her own.

“No fucking chance! You do understand we’re being chased right now, right?!”

”No! You’re being chased! I’m just caught up in this shit!”

Koemi and Loots would continue to scream at one another until finally they came back out on a busy city street, the Twi’lek sliding across three lanes of traffic and narrowly missing numerous other vehicles. Shouts of anger came from the other drivers but all that could be heard in their own craft was Koemi’s scream. Neither of them noticed that Roach had been taken out of the race nor did Loots care. All he wanted to do was reach the safehouse and hide out until the heat had cooled. Yet off to their side, ”Leon!” Koemi called out in a panic.

It was time to go, and if Loots wasn’t going to stop and let her out… Reaching over to the Twi’lek’s belt, Koemi spotted and unsheathed a knife he had clipped on before proceeding to slice through the safety restraints to free herself. She would try to climb and position herself to leap from the speeding craft but Loots quickly reached over and grabbed her by the back of her shirt.

“Are you fucking crazy?! Get in here! You’re gonna kill yourself!”

@Zay​