Ask Tin Star

[Carrick]

The big day.

After working on the planet for months at this stage, Carrick was finally in a position to assume the role he had been aiming for. The senatorial seat for Tinnel IV in the senate for both the New Republic and the wider Galactic Senate. He was ready to be announced as the voice of the planet of serial liars and cheaters.

Oh if only the Jedi who had taught him could see him now, about to stand at the top of the pile of scum and villainy. Not as one of them, no, but as their representative. With enough political power and the, frankly, unfair advantage of the Force and Jedi training to ensure that his control of the planet would be beyond merely representation.

Already the head of local security (the head of the local police) was in his pocket, having using his and Reiel’s success in the assault on the former senator’s home to pin the blame for corrupt SWAT officers on his predecessor. And if there was one thing the people of Tinnel IV couldn’t stand? It was incompetence in their corruption.

None of them cared that their officials were corrupt; they cared if they were incompetent and being exposed as corrupt? Well that was a sign of incredible incompetence to them. It was probably going to come as a shock to them that Carrick wasn’t corrupt in the same way that they usually expected from their politicians.

He sighed a little bit as he stood in the dressing room they had given him, adjusting the tie he was going to wear in the mirror. A knock at the door sounded before it opened to allow one of the guards to lean in.

“Sir, there’s a Mandalorian here. Says she’s with you?”

Carrick smiled a little bit and nodded.

“She’s with me.” He confirmed, “She’s my personal head of security.”

Other things too but he wasn’t going to announce that to people he knew were likely to accept bribes to try and undermine him in the relatively near future.

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Reiel Mal Crowholde]

Tinnel IV was a godsawful planet, home to liars, cheaters, and the corrupt lowlifes in the galaxy but if it weren't for a special, certain someone who waited for her arrival Reiel wouldn't have even bothered thinking of coming nor staying here.

At least this world had given her something perfect and wholesome to remember it by, and if there was someone who could be blamed for that then she would gladly point a finger towards Carrick. She should be cursing this planet to kingdom come for what it was known for and yet her sorcerer's presence – let alone the position of power he now held in the palm of his hands made her stay on Tinnel IV tolerable.

Who would've thought that she had been one of the people who helped the ex-Jedi reach his goals into becoming not just a senator, but also the representative of a planet whose denizens were known for corruption? The small Mandalorian would've laughed out loud at the thought if it weren't for the guard's sour expression, most probably intimidated and bewildered as to why someone from the notorious warrior race had asked to be taken to where the newly-elected senator was. This was a big day for Carrick, and Reiel swore that she would be on her best behavior today.

And by that she meant being on a much higher alert for early assassination attempts. Or something that barely passed as such.

Grey beskar gleaming under the lights, the small Mandalorian followed the guard in silence, her helmet's perpetual impassivity belying the sudden wave of bashfulness that hit her when she heard Carrick's voice from within the dressing room. Biting her lower lip as she stepped inside the room once the guard made way for her, Reiel fought the urge to comment at the sight of her sorcerer clad in a suit. Damn it– stars, he–

Fecking stars, he looks so good.

Face burning underneath her helmet, Reiel surprised herself when her voice came out level and composed when she greeted him in a manner befitting her station as the new senator's personal head of security.

Kriff, she ought to punch him for that. Then kiss him senseless, of course.

Where the hell are all these thoughts coming from?

Reiel tipped her head at Carrick in greeting. "Good day, Senator," she said, tone professional and painfully calm and cool. "I've made the necessary rounds outside and within the vicinity. Just simple routine checks to make sure that nothing untoward happens during your big day."

And she had done so. But if something or someone slipped past her scrutiny and the network of loyal guards she had wrangled up? Reiel would've had a field day raining down blaster fire and destruction to whoever would be stupid enough to attempt to harm her sorcerer.

@Nefieslab

 

[Carrick]

While he might be currently decked out in an armored suit, complete with a matching tie, Reiel was back in his armor and he could completely understand it. They weren’t alone so he didn’t get the chance to look her in the eyes while they were waiting around for his time to speak on the podium. Half the event’s security were terrified of Reiel and the other half were torn between being impressed and making short jokes.

Judging by the fact that those same security guards still lived, he would say that Reiel hadn’t heard their comments herself.

He chuckled a little bit at her very professional report, especially once the door to his dressing room was closed and locked again by the security guard outside. Carrick made sure to give his Mando a quick wink as he continued to mess around with his tie, at this point finding he was getting it rather hopelessly knotted and not in the half-Winsor knot he wanted either.

“Reiel – you don’t need to stand on ceremony when we’re alone.” He assured her with a smirk, “Besides, I’m only a senator when I am sworn in and that’s not for…”

He made a show of checking his watch.

“Another seven minutes.”

Sighing a little bit, he glared down at his tie before raising an eyebrow.

“Nerves I’m afraid – I don’t suppose you know how to knot a tie?” he asked hopefully, tugging at the knotted fabric for a moment with a scowl, “Else I’m going to go without, try and pass it off as intentional.”

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Reiel Mal Crowholde]

Unlike her dashing, sinfully charismatic sorcerer, Reiel hadn't heard the jokes made about her just yet and thus spared the guards who were either foolish or brave enough to poke fun at her height. Shots would have already been fired, bones broken, or worse getting hit by a durasteel-toed boot where the sun didn't shine. Luck seemed to be favoring said guards so far, with the small Mandalorian too preoccupied with monitoring the area to hear nor notice the smirks and words intended for her.

The door was locked behind her but she couldn't find it in herself to remove her helmet – at least not yet – despite the minimum chance of one of the security walking in on her with her face exposed. Reiel might have broken off with the Way of the Mandalore to follow the true meaning of the Resol'nare, but there was no way in hell she would let someone else other than those she trusted and loved to see her face. She still preferred the anonymity offered to her by her helmet, thank you very much!

At Carrick's assurance, the small Mandalorian finally allowed herself to relax, shoulders slumping, as she closed the distance between them. She returned his smirk with her own, the heat on her face creeping down her neck.

"Alright, if you say so," she teased him. "I guess I can wait for seven more minutes before I'm finally given the honor to relentlessly refer to you as dearest Senator or esteemed Representative."

It was fun to watch the unflappable senator-to-be struggle with his tie, but Reiel had to supress her mounting amusement at his admission. It was normal to be nervous, she wanted to tell Carrick, but she decided to comfort him in a way that didn't seem a little preachy nor repetitive.

Reiel pulled Carrick by the hand and made him face her. She gently brushed his hand off of the offending piece of fabric and took over, going over what she remembered how to make a decent knot judging from what she'd observed from a few of her previous clients and what she'd seen from holonovelas. She undid the knot and started over, going for the half-Windsor he seemed to be having a little trouble with.

"Well, I would've said I don't, given that Mandalorians don't usually go wearing suits," Reiel joked in an attempt to ease her sorcerer's nerves. "But you pick up some stuff while doing jobs, hm? And this," she said, finishing up and tightening the final knot but not too much to cause discomfort, "is one of them."

His tie done, Reiel smoothed whatever tiny creases she could find on his top and nodded approvingly when she felt that the suit itself was armored. As expected from her sorcerer. Now, if only she could tuck a vibroknife or two into the folds of his coat...

She chuckled at the thought, helmeted head tipping up to give him an affectionate smile.

"Here you are, about to be sworn off as Senator," she murmured, one hand reaching up to tenderly cup his cheek. "I'm proud of you, cyarir. So damn much."

Another chuckle, this time back to teasing.

"Although, I guess I should've congratulated you first, huh?"

@Nefieslab

 

[Carrick]

She was toying with him, teasing him with titles he hadn't actually got yet but he couldn't hold it against her. He had been looking forward to those titles for so long at this point and Reiel had been by his side for so many of the steps taken to actually have them within his grasp. Carrick wasn't about to say things had all gone according to plan but he was happy enough with how things had gone to move on to the final stages. Some steps had even been skipped since he had such a reliable enforcer and protector in the form of Reiel.

Of course she was more than either of those things but, well, they were still technically in public so probably best to hold off on too many PDAs.

"Yes - I'm sure you'll find whichever title suits you best." he teased her with back with a wink as he finally allowed her to reach up and try her hand at salvaging his tie, "Well I'll have to send a thank you note to whichever contractor forced you to pick up such a skill."

He shot her a wink.

"Bet I look better than ever now."

Proud of him hmm? That was... oddly sincere and something he wasn't really used to experiencing. His uncle wasn't even proud of him for achieving this step of their plan so quickly because, apparently, this was expected. He was expected to excel and any delay or hesitation was abject failure to his Uncle. To Reiel? To Reiel this was a triumph and he knew which opinion he valued more in the moment.

Reaching out, he grasped her helmet lightly before pulling her close enough for him to lay a kiss against it's surface.

"I couldn't have done it without you, Reiel."

Nowhere near as well or as quickly but... it wasn't far from the truth at all.

"And I'm glad I didn't have to."

And that?

Was nothing but the truth.

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Reiel Mal Crowholde]

"Looks like you're gonna have to send four or five notes, then," she said with a grin. "And one that just says 'kark you'. One of them's a complete kriffer. Handsy bastard."

And it was true. The client was a rich man who needed a bodyguard for one of his excursions, and he thought that he could have Reiel do more than her duties as a guard. It would've been flattering if he had been nice about expressing his admiration but between subtly lewd comments and the client's hands straying too far from her pauldrons for her liking, the small Mandalorian nearly finished the job with an odd accident that left the client with a broken arm or wrist.

Reiel had lost count of how many times Carrick had made her face red with just a simple wink, and to be fair she must have stopped counting sometime between the Incident back in her father's ship and–

The hands on her helmet immediately halted her thoughts, and Reiel willingly went with the pull. She would've felt dismayed that he hadn't taken her helmet off but the kiss he gave her was enough to placate her. The small Mandalorian shyly ducked her head at Carrick's honest words, gloved hands clenching on her sides as she physically restrained herself from either wrapping her arms around him or ripping her helmet off to sneak in a kiss or two. Reiel settled for returning his kiss with a gentle keldabe.

"You look better, yes," she agreed with his earlier teasing, a slow smirk crossing her flushed face as she ran a hand down from his neck to give his chest a light pat. "But maybe the best look you have so far in my books is when this," she lightly plucked at his top "is off."

Her face burned brighter at her own teasing and she slowly pulled herself away from him, taking one of his hands to press a kiss to his palm before letting it go.

Standing at attention once more, Reiel shot Carrick's watch a pointed look. "Looks like our time's almost up. Senator Carrick."

She walked towards the door just as it slid open. Reiel stood to the side to make way for him, pride and joy shining in her honey brown eyes.

"This way, please."

@Nefieslab

 

[Carrick]

Hmm the idea of someone touching Reiel in such a way without her permission sent a spark of annoyance through Carrick in a way he had not been expecting in the slightest. He hadn't even known her back then and they hadn't been in any kind of relationship back then - and she said it as though it didn't matter to her. So why was the spark of annoyance still something that felt as though it was earned to him?

Curious and curiouser.

Still, with himself made all presentable, Carrick grinned a little bit at Reiel, giving her a sly wink when she tried flirting with him. He could imagine how her face looked when she flirted from underneath her helmet now and it amused him to think of her making such faces while trying to act the part of the stoic Mando.

"My dear, please try not to think of me shirtless too much - we'll never get any work done."

He was teasing, of course, since he had entertained ideas of her without her armor and managed to get through some otherwise boring meetings using it as a meditation technique. One of these days he was going to take his terrible sexual appetites to the next level and modify her armor to vibrate or something. That was an interesting thought actually - definitely something to make into a joke later when he wanted to see her flustered.

Carrick grinned a little bit as he left the room, making his way through the corridors with her by his side.

"I wasn't joking about you being my head of security." he explained seriously as they walked, "If you want? I would like you by my side through this whole thing."

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Reiel Mal Crowholde]

Reiel bit her lip at his teasing in an attempt to stifle a laugh, the only indication of her amusement was the brief and subtle shake of her pauldrons. Perhaps it was for the best that she was blissfully ignorant of whatever Carrick might have felt when she mentioned that one perverted client, and while she would surely find it funny it was also something she didn't want him using to tease her with – more so if she'd let slip about planning to purposefully injure said bastard for being such a handsy kriffer.

Letting her client come to harm just because her dislike for him was justified? That was bad for her reputation.

The small Mandalorian fell in step beside her sorcerer, back straight and helmeted head focused forwards, the T of her visor an ever impassive facade. The face beneath was the complete opposite, however, honey brown eyes growing wide and her lips parting in surprise at Carrick's following comment.

He was... He was being serious about making her the head of his security detail?

A stable job, a steady source of income unlike her usual bounty hunting gigs and offering her services as either a hired gun and a bodyguard. Reiel wouldn't... she wouldn't have to worry about the credits she could send to the clan both as support and contribution as required of her by the Resol'nare. She wouldn't have to make unsavory dealings with crime families–

Carrick's follow-up had Reiel ill-disguising the way she choked on air with a slight cough. Talking about making her the head of his security was one thing, but this? She didn't know what to say, really. Should she tell him that she was flattered? Honored? Happy?

"Haar'chak," the small Mandalorian muttered, awfully surprised both by the offer and whatever he meant with wanting to have her by his side through this whole thing. She blinked once, twice, helmeted head tilting upwards to look at him.

He was serious.

Face turning red as she tried to suppress the sudden surge of happiness she felt, Reiel made a show of shrugging nonchalantly before she faced forward once more.

"Sorry about that; I... that caught me off guard, truth be told," she offered lamely, tone bordering on sheepish and near-diffidence. What was there to say? That she would think about it? Could she even consider saying that–

"That's–" Maker, she'd never felt this wanted by anyone outside of the clan "–great."

How could those words have this much effect in her?

"Normally, I-I'd say I'll think about it, but..." Reiel swallowed the lump in her throat, the corners of her lips tilting upwards in a bright smile that reached her eyes. "Ni vorer. I accept."

It was easy to remind herself that she wasn't the only one benefitting from this. Her loyalty, after all, lay with Clan Crowholde first. As for who held the second spot?

"Vor entye, Carrick."

@Nefieslab

 

[Carrick]

He didn't imagine that Reiel had expected something like this from him and he could see why. It was the kind of thing that he liked to pull on opponents, a surprise right before something important to throw them off their game. The only difference was that he wasn't actually trying to throw her off of her game because he didn't see her as an adversary. Instead he was trying to make it a nice surprise for her and to see what her true feelings were on the matter.

As far as Carrick was concerned, people showed their true emotions when they were caught by surprise. Someone who didn't expect something didn't know how or why to school their features so didn't. With a Mandalorian in full helmet? Well it was a little bit harder but considering the amount of time he spent with her both with and without the helmet? He was pretty confident that he knew her reactions well enough.

And she was flustered but not displeased.

"I was trying to catch you off guard." he told her with a cheeky grin, "I thought it best to try and catch you off guard so I could get your most honest answer."

Of course he wasn't done surprising her just yet. He was happy that she had accepted and was ready to share a little surprise he had been working on for, well, months by this point.

"Nayc, Vor entye ner cyar'ika."

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Reiel Mal Crowholde]

It was amusing to have him attempt to catch her off guard, and while Reiel was trained to anticipate and counter nearly all kinds of aggression she simply wasn't prepared for Carrick's proposal. It wasn't much of an aggression, really, and a trained Mando caught unawares by a job offering?

A surprise, but a welcomed and pleasant one. And besides, there was no need to tell the head of the clan about her reaction when she returns home to get his blessing, right?

"There are only a few people whom I can't lie to and you know you're one of them, right?" she retorted, tone equal parts teasing and honest. The small Mandalorian could easily tell that he knew she must be blushing underneath her helmet, and her smile turned into a tiny grin.

"The helmet doesn't really help me hide anything from you anymore, really," Reiel added in a whisper only he could hear. They walked down the hallway, with the security detail beginning to be more visible as they neared their destination. Already she could hear the masses outside, and her shoulders tensed.

Of course ever ounce of self-control nearly slipped past her grasp when she heard Carrick speak to her, and her mind almost had trouble processing that he wasn't speaking in Basic. Her helmeted head whipped up to look at him, honey brown eyes wide behind the T of her visor.

No, thank you, my darling.

The pronunciations were near perfect, and it sent a jolt of happiness in her chest. Reiel nearly stopped on her tracks at the first word he uttered in Mando'a but by the will of the Old Gods she found the strength to keep putting one foot in front of the other, to match his pace as they walked.

She wouldn't ask how long he had been trying to learn the language, nor where he learned it. Reiel had been speaking a lot of her people's language around him to know that Carrick already caught some words and their meaning. It was still honestly and pleasantly surprising to hear him speak a full sentence, and as much as Mandos didn't really take kindly to aruetiise speaking their language Reiel was more than glad to make him an exception.

"B-Ba'gedet'ye," she mustered, feeling all the more flustered than being offered to be the head of his security detail.

@Nefieslab

 

[Carrick]

He had wanted to shock her with the revelation that he had learned Mando'a for her and it seemed that he had done so rather well, all things considered. It amused him greatly that he could tell that she had basically turned bright red and have almost stopped. Even with her full armor on he could read it in the way she carried herself, the Force also helpfully providing him with information on her emotional state.

Carrick liked to surprise people - just so happened that Reiel was on the very short list of people he liked to surprise in a friendly way. Others he preferred to surprise them and have the revelation be their undoing. He turned to her as they reached the doors.

"Urcir te tenn, ner cyar'ika. Aran ni pirusti."

The doors opened and Carrick and Reiel stepped out onto a prepared stage with a podium in the middle. In front of the podium was a cadre of press officials, all with microphones and cameras raised. At the sight of the two of them, questions started immediately and Carrick stepped up to the podium and smiled. It was wide, it was fully of bright teeth and it was as fake as a two-credit paper note.

"Good afternoon, thank you all so much for your patience. As has already been released in a public statement earlier today, the previous senator for Tinnel IV was found to be corrupt and was killed when resisting arrest in his home." he reiterated what had been announced via press release earlier, "What I am able to happily say is some new news; the council of our esteemed local government have seen fit to name me as his replacement. I am overjoyed to announce to you all that I am now your senator."

A clamoring of additional questions came, as they obviously would, and Carrick smiled and tried to convince himself that the whole experience wasn't annoying. He gestured to one reporter.

"This is more of an announcement than a press conference but I have some time for questions. Yes, you miss?"

One reporter stood straighter as he addressed her directly.

"Is it true that you had a role in the uncovering of corruption by the previous senator?"

Carrick nodded along with the question.

"It is, indeed, true that I had some limited involvement. Knowledge of our previous senator's misconduct came into my possession and I worked tirelessly with our local law enforcement to make sure that justice was done. I felt it was my duty."

He also helped his case by linking it to the ongoing investigation into the corruption of the chief of police by the captain he had thrown his weight behind. When said captain was successful, Carrick would have the head of local law enforcement indebted to him. Corruption was only a problem to Carrick if he didn't benefit from it. He gestured to another reporter.

"Senator Carrick, who is the Mandalorian with you? Sources claim she's seldom left your side - some kind of bodyguard?"

This time his smile was more genuine.

"Would you like to introduce yourself?"

He was going to pay for it later but oh well.

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Reiel Mal Crowholde]

Reiel had to convince herself that she wasn't dreaming or letting her imagination run wild with fantasizing about Carrick speaking more Mando'a but the noises of the crowd behind the doors reminded her that yes, she was wide awake and he was indeed talking to her in her people's language yet again. He sounded so confident and it carried with every syllable spoken, the language sounding fluid and almost natural on his tongue that it made her heart skip maybe a beat or two.

At least she had gotten over her initial surprise because her reply came out calmer than earlier.

"Of course, Mister Senator," she assured him with a smile, her face turning warmer at the possibility of her sorcerer talking to her in Mando'a in private. The press quickly clamoring for Carrick's attention proved more than enough for Reiel to veer her thoughts away from the gutter and she now focused on her task at hand, keeping close to him but leaving a good enough space between them.

While he was delivering the announcement, Reiel checked in on the security guarding the perimeter. She asked for anything or anyone suspicious regardless of the level of concern. Tiaff Quinne might already be dead, but who knew if he had staunch followers who were simply waiting for the right moment to strike and take revenge towards the person responsible for the exposure of his crimes. The small Mandalorian couldn't afford to be distracted, not right now when there were so many gathered sentients around and that anyone could be harboring malicious intent towards her sorcerer.

But just because she was doing her newfound duty as the head of his security detail did not mean that Reiel was tuning out the announcement, the reporters' questions, and his responses. Utilizing her helmet's full advantage, the small Mandalorian was left fighting the urge to laugh when he glazed over the details of Quinne's arrest, more so the part about the late senator's resistance.

More like underestimating her and Carrick's response to Quinne buying off more than half of the SWAT team to hopefully silence those who sought to remove him from office, but that was something the public shouldn't need to know in the immediate future as far as she was concerned, huh?

She grinned gleefully underneath the cover of her helmet when Carrick talked about his limited involvement. Was that something she would use to tease him with in private? Most likely, but Reiel didn't count of being able to use it for long. He had the uncanny ability to out-tease her, and she knew she'd pay one way or another for her measly attempts.

Her helmeted gaze would shift to the reporter who raised a question about her. The T visor, as inscrutable as ever, hid the surprise she felt at being addressed to answer the question by means of introducing herself. Reiel hated being put under the spotlight so suddenly and without prior consultation and preparation. And why were they even asking a question like that? Sure it was harmless, but having sources claim that she had hardly left his side? Who the hell were those sources?

Reiel didn't bother stepping forward nor looking at Carrick before opening her mouth to respond. No need to feed the press any unwanted gossip they might squeeze out of that singular glance.

"Bodyguard," she simply replied, helmeted gaze firmly fixed on the reporter. "Hardly counts being one if I leave my employer's side. Correct?"

That answer, straight to the point and would brook no further follow-ups, should suffice. There's no need to wave around her title as a security head, more so the extent of her... relationship with said employer. Judging by the reporter's expression, however, they might have been expecting something more substantial but Reiel knew well enough how the press worked so she wouldn't give them the satisfaction of elaborating on her job.

As for her sorcerer? Oh, he was going to pay for what he did.

Her thoughts were ripped away from deciding whether to punch the ever loving kark out of him or something else entirely when her commlink chimed. One of the security guards hurriedly reported about finding one of them unconscious.

"How long?"

"Less than five minutes ago. I've commed him to give a status update but he didn't respond, so I moved in to check–"

"You should have told me the first time he didn't respond," she hissed at the guard, patience instantly snapping at whoever the poor sod was at the end of the comms.

Reiel moved on instinct, closing the distance between her and Carrick and she would put herself in front of him. The small Mandalorian's hands would find his shoulders and would push him down on the process just as a singular sniper bolt pinged against the back of her helmet that would send her nearly crashing on top of Carrick.

The impact made her head ring, and while she fought to regain most of her senses she would yell a command to the other security personnels, her voice loud and clear amid the panicked shouts and terrified screams of the audience and the press as they scattered.

"Did you see precisely where the shot came from?" she yelled into her comm as she moved to pull herself up in a sitting position, wincing when the ringing in her ears refused to stop. The shot had made her head jerk forward so hard her nose practically kissed the transparisteel of her visor... and not very gently at that, with blood starting to steadily drip down the rim of her helmet.

"Affirmative, ma'am! A team is already on their way to ambush and capture the assailant!"

Reiel huffed, trying to keep her head steady as she swiveled around, blaster raised, to look for any other possible threats around them. The other guards were quickly congregating around the platform in a protective circle, their own weapons primed to shoot and raised. The small Mandalorian glanced over her shoulder at Carrick.

"Can you get up, sir? We have to get you out of here until the threat is secured," she would tell him, offering him her hand and gesturing for him to stay low and close to her in case the sniper tried their luck again.

@Nefieslab

 

[Carrick]

Carrick almost smirked a little bit at the way that Reiel clutched to the title of bodyguard as though it were a lifeline. She likely didn't want to go on record with the full extent of their relationship. To be fair, he didn't want to go on record with it either - he might be a politician but he liked certain aspects of his life to remain entirely private. His romantic relationships were something he was going to keep playing close to his chest for as long as he possibly could.

She even managed to get it out there in such a way as to subtly rebuke the reporter in question for asking something that was clearly rather obvious. A bodygard was, naturally, very close to the person they were meant to be pretending; shocking headline that. In other news, water... wet!

Unlike Reiel, his comlink was attached to his belt and he ignored it when it pulsed in favor of continuing his current focus. He smile brightly to the assembled reporters.

"Thank you for your questions everyone, is there anything more pressing about something more relevant to my political career rather than my choice of bodyguard?" he caught a few chuckles around the room, "Maybe a question about my policies? Really, I'm just teasing, I know that's not exactly exciting news either."

Spotting Reiel moving toward him, the Force flared up with alarm but it was too late for him to actually move himself out of the way of the danger he could only just begin to see unfolding in front of him. The shot pinged off of Reiel before he was fully aware that they were in motion, himself being dragged down into cover.

Well... he had made a joke about the questions not being too exciting so he supposed part of the blame was on him. He nodded to Reiel, reaching up to touch where the shot had impacted her armor for a second before nodding.

"I'm fine - we'll need to make sure you are too." he fussed slightly before nodding once more, "Lead the way, bodyguard of mine..."

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Reiel Mal Crowholde]

Her bleeding nose and anger at one of the security guards aside, Reiel had to suppress a grin at Carrick's concern. The way he reached out to touch where the shot hit was also impossible to miss, and despite herself the small Mandalorian's face flushed red as she busied herself with the task as hand.

"Just got my bell rung a little, Mister Senator," she assured him, but boy did her ears still ring a bit. She needed to know what type of sniper rifle the assassin used – the bolt came in with quite a punch but without a proper visual she was left listing off a few that might have been in the assailant's possession.

Reiel turned to the guards. "Clear the way, we're taking Senator Carrick to safety."

They were quick to comply as expected, two guards heading off to open the doors they have just walked out of while the rest stuck close, shielding the new Senator from any other possible attempts to his safety. Reiel stepped back, taking the rear, and she made to contact the other guards outside of the building.

"We have a sniper on the loose. Block all exits, and take anyone suspicious into custody. You all know what to do."

They wouldn't be doing a very good job if they didn't – and Reiel would have to start pounding it into their heads again if she had to. It was hard to screen those who would be loyal to their employer, and she would very much like to keep the security group she had under her for the time being. It would be tedious to make another background check should she and Carrick end up hiring new guards – and while one had just recently made a blunder, majority of them were still competitive enough to gain the small Mandalorian's approval.

Instead of leading Carrick to one of the conference rooms, the group escorted him past the halls and through one of the emergency exits where a shuttle awaited them. Before one of the guards could gesture for the Senator to get in, Reiel shook her head before making a sweeping motion with her free hand.

"Check for bombs," was her curt command, and without waiting for the other security she would make the sweep herself, cycling her HUD to thermal vision just in case she missed something. Two other personnels joined her while the rest remained ever alert around Carrick. Reiel's comm chimed as one of the guard's checked the shuttle's interior, still keeping an ear on his questions to the crew.

"We have a visual on the sniper, Ma'am," one of the security on pursuit informed her. The sound of blaster fire could be heard on the background, and judging from the orders she could hear from the other guards it seemed that they have successfully cornered the assailant. "We've pursued and trapped them in the building's east wing."

"Good. I want them alive. The Senator will want to know who sent them."

Of course she would be there to help her sorcerer make the sniper talk. That would be fun.

"Shuttle's clear, Ma'am. Senator."

Well now, that she could clearly see for herself. She turned to Carrick, absently wiping a hand on the rim of her helmet and frowning at the blood on her glove. At least her nose was starting to stop bleeding, but kark did it hurt. Whoever that sniper might be, she would surely return the gesture and break their nose.

If they had one, that is.

"Sir," she called out to Carrick, closing the distance between them but not quite holstering her blaster yet. "Would you want for us to escort you out of here or would you rather stay here and wait until the assassin is captured?"

@Nefieslab

 

[Carrick]

He kind of figured that she was alright - shots to the head either had you concussed, dead or they didn't accomplish anything. That she was neither slurring her words or splattered all over him had given him all the information he really needed. But he had reached out to touch her helmet just to make sure. It wasn't for any logical reason he touched her helmet, he knew, but for emotional reasons.

Carrick smiled softly.

"Alright - so long as you're alright."

And strangely he meant it - he meant it more than he thought he would have ever meant the sentiment about someone he wasn't related to. Carrick allowed himself to be led away from the podium toward safety. He was a former Jedi but he could respect the need for others to defend him, especially in such a public manner.

Heading to the shuttle was the best move in case the assassin was still around. If they were captured he could come back out without issue and it he wasn't then they could fly off to a safer area. Carrick was going to be the first to admit that he hadn't thought someone would try and kill him on his first official day. He had expected assassination attempts, sure, but he expected he would have had to have actually done something as senator for that to happen.

Honestly?

Carrick had toyed with the idea of hiring an assassin himself to make the attempt in a really half-arsed kind of way. People liked to see their political figures as people who survived against all odds and came out looking strong. In the end he'd not actually got the idea out of the planning stages but still. He frowned ever so slightly as he waited and listened to the update of the situation.

"... get me on the com with this assassin." he demanded of his security detail, Reiel included, "Toss him one for all I care - I want to speak to this son of a kriffer myself."

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Reiel Mal Crowholde]

The assassin was already cornered and Carrick was safe – but why did Reiel feel as if she had failed on some level? She knew it was the rest of the security detail's responsibility to make sure that the building was secure and that no hostiles could ever enter, but the fact that someone had just taken a shot to take out the former Jedi meant that all of them fell short of their duties.

Being made the head of the new senator's personal security meant that this was on her, even if she was not the one posted on every entry and exit point the assassin might have used to get in the building. Jaw clenched in mounting anger, the small Mandalorian repeated Carrick's demand to the team who had managed to corner the assassin.

"Copy that."

She couldn't stay here. She had to do something more substantial than taking hits for Carrick. Mind made, she turned to the other guards and barked out a command.

"Keep the Senator safe," she told the group sternly, her expression hard underneath her helmet. "You all know what to do."

Ignoring the sound of Carrick's own commlink pinging, the small Mandalorian stormed back inside the building and missing the assassin greeting the former Jedi rather cheerfully and condescending for someone who was cornered.

"You must be feeling relieved to have that piece of beskar block the shot meant for your heart, Senator," they spoke, their voice modulated as if they were talking though a helmet. "Heard from your dogs that you want to talk to me, so talk."

—

Reiel marched down the hallways, focused solely on getting to the building's east wing. With the building cleared save for the security, it did not take her long to stop by one hall where a team of four guards were congregated, all alert and gazes and weapons trained on a particular conference hall. The TL was quick to inform her that the assassin was trapped inside and didn't seem to want to risk jumping out the window to attempt an escape. She knew the assassin wouldn't, it was now crawling with more guards and a team of local police who were alerted by civilians below.

"Give me a visual of the perp," she demanded, her anger getting the better of her. But it was like Mandalore all over again, the ire in her veins clearing her mind instead of clouding her judgement. Reiel had learned long ago that anger was a good motivator, and while it had been destructive for others it gave her focus – and that focus was currently intended on capturing this assassin who dared to harm someone important to her.

"They're wearing armor and helmet, sir."

There was a hint of hesitation on the TL's voice, making the small Mandalorian turn her gaze to him. The man made a vague gesture at her own armor, the scowl concealed by her helmet turning dark.

"Mando armor. It's hard to mistake the T-visor for something else."

A Mandalorian hitman? Or someone posing as a Mando? One way to find out.

Holstering one blaster and the other raised, Reiel barged inside the conference room and quickly found herself at a stand off with the assassin. True to the team leader's description the armor looked distinctively Mandalorian, but there was one equally distinct way to ascertain this bastard's real identity.

"Meg sada gar at hiibir nynir?"she butted in while they spoke to Carrick, her gaze hard. The assassin had the gall to look surprised, their spine straightening at the sight of her.

"Druk it," they blurted out. "Guess you're a real Mando, huh?"

"And I can see you're not," she snapped, taking one step forward while the assassin stood their ground. Both set their blasters to kill, and Reiel had no plans to be the one to drop dead. Already she could see weak spots on the cuirass, and where to shoot to injure. Between them she was the one clad in heavy armor, and if this assassin was smart enough they would either kill themself on the spot to avoid capture or surrender if only to avoid a sound beating and a quick but meaningless death.

Reiel's eyes darted briefly down the case by the assassin's feet. PER-11 – so that was why they had managed to smuggle their weapon inside the building. Wearing Mando armor wasn't exactly illegal, and one could avoid suspicion since the full set of armor could be considered as religious clothing. She had to give it to this hitman, but the armor they wore was clearly an imitation. No self-respecting Mandalorian would wear armor riddled with imperfections in the craftsmanship.

Her eyes hurt just by looking at this bastard.

"Stand down, or I'll drop you."

She didn't hear what the assassin and Carrick talked about when she was making her way here, and a part of her wouldn't have cared if she didn't see the value of capturing the former alive. Her voice was loud enough for her sorcerer to hear on his end, and if he did not object on the latter option?

The space between the rim of the assassin's helmet and his chestplate was a nice spot to put a blaster bolt or two.

@Nefieslab

 

[Carrick]

Carrick was glad that Reiel was willing to let him talk to the assassin - he honestly wouldn't be surprised if his head of security would have tried to talk him out of it. In the end she didn't and he was left with a com-link that had a connection to the assassin who had tried to kill him. Most people would probably feel some kind of anger about that kind of thing but Carrick was more amused than anything at the moment.

He nodded to Reiel as she moved away - likely to go and do something violent toward the assassin. Carrick wished her speed on just that journey. Moving over to one side, Carrick answered the call from the assassin with a smile on his face.

"Oh it's less of a talk and more of a series of statements." Carrick replied with the smile still firmly in place, "You're going to die here, today. No no no - shut up. I'm speaking and you're listening."

His smile was incredibly fake at this point.

"Before you die, I'm going to use the Force to batter aside every insignificant shread of willpower you have and I'm going to turn your brain into my own, private, playden." he assured the assassin coldly, "And when you've spilled every secret? When you're begging for death? Then I'll have you handed over to be processed by the legal system."

Carrick smirked.

"After all - I'm an honest man and I stand by the institutions of Tinnel IV. I'll be seeing you soon."

He didn't let the other man get a word in before ending the call and connecting, instead, to Reiel. What he was planning was... likely to make the Mando squirm. But the Force was a part of who he was and she would have to get used to seeing him use it, even the parts that made people uncomfortable like the use of the Force to pull secrets from people's minds. He connected to Reiel and grinned.

"Stun him, Reiel. I want him alive."

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Reiel Mal Crowholde]

Beneath the cover of their helmet the assassin frowned at Reiel's warning. This new senator, Carrick, he didn't even let them speak nor gave them the chance to taunt him. He just plowed on about using the Force against them before turning them in to the authorities. But those weren't really interesting stuff, no – what piqued the fake Mando assassin's attention was a genuine Mandalorian working for a Force-sensitive.

Didn't Mandos harbor a great dislike for these sorcerers, no matter their allegiance?

"Honestly, Mando? I don't give a damn if you kill me right now," said the assassin nonchalantly, shrugging as they lowered their own weapon. "In fact, I'd be grateful! Death is much better compared to what your boss has in store for me."

Reiel's blaster remained trained on them, her helmeted head tilting slightly to the side in a show of confusion. Her own comm pinged and from Carrick's tone of voice alone she could tell that he was either smiling or grinning. She didn't respond, instead she kept the line open so he could hear the exchange between her and the assassin.

"What do you mean?" she asked, curiosity lacing her voice. Reiel took one slow step forward, grip on her blaster tightening as the fake Mandalorian began to chuckle.

"Your boss told me he's gonna scramble my mind using the Force. What were those words again? Oh, right," they were gloating now, and she could tell that they were trying to goad her. Maybe even scare her? "Your boss, the senator, he said some lovely stuff about battering aside every, and I quote, 'insignificant shread of willpower you have and I'm going to turn your brain into my own, private, playden'." They chuckled again. "Ain't that pretty freaky?"

Raising their hands, they approached Reiel and let the muzzle of her blaster brush against their chestplate. Lowering their helmeted head to hers, the assassin smirked until the light sounf of beskar meeting durasteel could be heard as the two's helmets connected in a poor imitation of a keldabe.

"And really, Mando, ask yourself this: What's stopping your boss from doing the same to you if he doesn't need your services any longer?"

The prospect was admittedly frightening, if that was what the assassin wanted her to think and feel. Unfortunately for them, Reiel's relationship with Carrick exceeded that of employer and employee. And even before she had met him the small Mandalorian possessed this certain thirst for knowledge with regards to the Jedi and their use of the Force. She'd crossed one line by befriending Knight Fiach Dubh when she jumped to the latter's aid back on Tatooine – more so when the Knight entertained her questions about the Force. What's one more line to cross by learning about the Force from Carrick's perspective and what capabilities her sorcerer could use with it?

Biting her lower lip to prevent herself from laughing out loud at the assassin's attempt to frighten her by revealing Carrick's plan, Reiel made a show of pulling away as if scared, making sure to breathe loudly and unevenly as a sign of panic.

"H-He won't do that," she denied in a faux fearful tone. The small Mandalorian wouldn't begrudge her sorcerer if the thought of the assassin getting to her would cross his mind. "Senator Carrick p-protects those who are loyal to him!"

Maker, maybe she could have been an actress if she didn't become a Mandalorian.

The assassin laughed derisively as they let her retreat, obviously delighting in her apparent distress. Reiel took the moment to discreetly set her blaster to stun. "How sure are you?" they asked her, shoulders shaking with mirth as they placed their hands over her pauldrons. "A Mando, working for a Forcie? That's not gonna last! Why not join me instead? We could take them all out!"

Unable to contain her own amusement any longer, Reiel allowed herself to be pulled by the assassin and lifted her blaster to the rim of their helmet and onto their jaw.

"A generous offer, but I can take him out on my own, thanks," she whispered with enough malevolence to halt the fake Mandalorian's laughter. Then, she began addressing her sorcerer, voice still a hushed whisper so no one else but him and the assassin could hear, "How would you like that, mesh'la? Me taking you out... to dinner?"

Her finger had already pulled the trigger before the assassin could react and they dropped on the floor, unconscious. Smirking, she stepped out of the room and ordered the other guards to restrain the assassin. Once done, the group – stunned and unconscious assassin now in tow – followed Reiel as she made her way down the halls and back outside the building to meet Carrick.

"We've apprehended the assassin, Senator," she told him in clipped tones, all business-like once more. "They will be ready for questioning once they regain consciousness."

@Nefieslab

 

[Carrick]

Carrick nodded to the guards who had stuck around with him before making his way into the building. They went ahead of him and they trailed behind him – he didn’t say anything about it. They didn’t need to know that he didn’t need their protection, they didn’t need to know that their boss was actually fully capable of cutting them limb from limb if the fancy took him.

They knew of his past as a Jedi because, well, it wasn’t something that he was trying to hide. He had been open and frank about his time with the Jedi Order and, more importantly, very frank about his difference of opinion with the Order that led to him leaving. Being a Force Sensitive was jut something he was and he wasn’t going to hide it because it might smooth over some ruffled feathers.

He would just break the wings off anyone who tried it instead.

Carrick met Reiel halfway and smiled widely at her. He hadn’t given her a response when she had made the comment about dinner but now?

“Fantastic work, Reiel.” He praised her before giving her a sly wink that likely only she actually caught, “I believe I can make my private dinner… you’ll be by my side, won’t you?”

No need to advertise precisely what their relationship was when there were others lingering around to his mind. Let them think what they wanted; Reiel and he knew the truth and that was enough for him for now.

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Reiel Mal Crowholde]

Reiel tipped her helmeted head in response to his praise, but Carrick's following words were enough to make her feel terribly flustered. The last time he'd made dinner, the two of them ended up abandoning the food in favor of doing something... else. The fact that he had also seen more than her face did not help, the small Mandalorian's heart sent aflutter simply by remembering the warmth of his touch and the sounds he made–

"Of course, Senator."

It was nothing short of a miracle how she managed to speak without stuttering nor stumbling over her words. The wink he sent her way only made her face warmer than it already was.

Biting her lower lip briefly to ground herself back on the present, she gestured at the unconscious assassin – face still concealed by their helmet – and regarded her sorcerer with a contemplative tilt of her head.

"Senator, if it isn't too much to ask," she began, watching her fellow guards adjust their grip on the fake Mandalorian. "But would you allow me to join you in the interrogation of this... bastard? There are a few things I would like to ask this individual – particularly the reason why they are adorned with this armor."

Of course Reiel already knew that she didn't need to ask, that Carrick would be more than accomodating and glad to have her by his side while they pried information out of the presently unconscious assailant. However, she needed to make it clear to the guards around them that the assassin parading around as a Mandalorian was something she strongly went against. She had spent most of her life as a Mandalorian being lumped in together with her people rather than being treated as herself.

She wasn't just a Mandalorian. She was Reiel of Clan Crowholde, and it made a difference. To her, anyway.

With a sweep of her hand, the guards would then begin to lead them out of the building. If they were to interrogate the individual who attempted to take the new senator's life, a public setting wasn't an ideal place to start discussing about how they were going to pry information out of the assassin. After all, no one would willingly want to come near Reiel when she had a knife gripped in one hand for the sole purpose of torturing information out of someone.

She'd done it on Mandalore, and what she did there would be rather bland compared to what she had in mind right now.

@Nefieslab