Ask Corellia Walking a Fine Line

[Dr Ilana Morata]

A good guy and a gentleman. A faint spark of amusement flickered to life before she shut it down with a slight nod, watching him and his hands intently. While he was doing this, he'd notice she seemed cooler than the normal being. She was perfectly content to sit in silence, watching and wincing as the ice cold pack touched her skin, but little else flared to life on the good Doctor's expression. Until he started talking.

She blinked when he mentioned Scipio, then shook her head subtly. At first she didn't answer... but then her voice came out quietly, almost a whisper. "Paqualis III. I haven't been since..." she faltered, and would have shrugged, but it was hard. When he mentioned force users, however, her attention snapped to his eyes once more, keenly focused. "Really? They can heal you just like that? What kind of force user..." she faltered again, then glanced away, clearing her throat. "How handy," came the low mutter, brow furrowing.

After more silence, she registered he asked a question. "There should be a tab on the end..." She lifted a hand, then gingerly lifted her arm to put it in place.

Then, she lightly rested her hand lightly against his shoulder, her gaze meeting his again with intensity. Just what emotion, would perhaps be unclear, but she leaned forward slightly, her voice low in the still room.

"I don't say this often, but thank you."

Everything still hurt like hell, but she wasn't going to linger much longer if she could help it. Even though it was unlikely, she didn't want her past mistake of those goons catching up to this man; but the galaxy never worked in anybody's favor, so she'd stop that before it darkened his doorway. She never really had much respect for the galactic law, but there was something to be said for elements of physical attraction.

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

Her answers had been half-replies and it wasn't like Corran to leave loose ends. Before he ever got the opportunity to follow up however, Dr. Mortana stunned him into silence. The golden eyes. The plump lips, even with their dried blood. The soft voice that felt genuine. He felt embraced somehow, even if only her hand faintly rested on his shoulder. His sky-blue eyes swam in hers, searchingly. "Ilana..." Corran began gently, until he blinked a few times and turned his head away, "Dr. Morata, I mean. I was... happy to be of service."

The Ranger rose from his knee and smoothed out the wrinkles his shirt. He turned away from her, not rudely or abruptly, but to give her some semblance of privacy now that the bandages had been applied. Corran folded his arms and cleared this throat, "I suppose with the wrapping done, you're looking to get off world as soon as possible?"

It wasn't intended to sound like a yearning request for her to stay, but some might take it that way. In truth, Corran still thought the best course of action was to go to a hospital, get some bacta applied to the wounds, and file a police report. But she wouldn't do that. No, he got the feeling that Dr. Morata liked her privacy and was independent as an Outer Rim colonist. Even now, there was a tug-of-war inside his chest that the young man couldn't quite understand. Discipline was his creed and yet... Ilana had a way of cutting through it like a light-saber. Corran's jaw visibly shifted, as if he was chewing stone.

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

Huh.

Guess he wasn't as immune as she thought. Perhaps being friendly to a Ranger could be helpful... the other one still didn't seem to like her too much, not that it really mattered at the end of the day. Seeing him move away, though, her voice was still quiet, but a bemused undercurrent laced under her voice when she replied.

"Trying to kick me out so soon?" she rasped, perking a white brow. "No, I do still have patients... and medical files to update. Regardless of some thugs, I have a job to do, and I'm not going to let some mouth-breathers stop me from doing what I do best." She wasn't going to comment on the thing he probably wanted her to do most, file a report, but honestly, what was the point? The gangsters she refused to treat weren't the staying kind; more likely as not they wouldn't hesitate to hustle if they felt their territory had a splash of good ol' blue mixed into the local populace.

Still, he was visibly troubled, even without the waves of senses through the air it was obvious. Her stare was focused on the back of his head, amber eyes thoughtful.

"Do I bother you?"

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

The wall, bare and dull eggshell white, kept Corran's gaze as if it was a complex puzzle. Even if it seemed like his attention was directed forward, his ears listened. They listened to every word she said. Even in the face of danger - abuse too - Ilana wouldn't be deterred. Her work, patients in her care; all that mattered more. He respected that a great deal. In a selfish way, it reminded him of his own head-strong determination. To his oaths and creeds. Trying to kick me out so soon?

That lingered in Corran's mind. Did he want Dr. Morata to leave? Yes and yet... no. She was just a galactic citizen he aided in his professional duty. There wasn't any bond there. They just met today. The acceptable thing to do would be to take her back to her place of dwelling or contact CorSec to provide the escort. But... he liked Ilana being here. She was fascinating but dangerous. The doctor challenged his durasteel discipline in the line of duty. No; not challenged. Tempted. Tempted, on some level, to shirk off the badge and just be Corran Velt. They just met today. Others, mostly Rangers, had worked, served, and bled alongside him to meet the care-free nomad of the hyperlanes that stood behind the badge. Corran didn't hide his true self; he had nothing to fear. It was a code. A pledge to not be the frontier gunslinger who bent the rules and abused the authority and responsibility of the badge for their own gain. Not to be the hard-drinking and uncaring detective. Being a Sector Ranger needed to be more than that, to earn the trust of the galaxy and yet... Ilana brushed right past it all.

How?

The young man had felt like he aged a decade since Outpost Blue, even though it was not long ago. He hadn't slept much since then either. From visiting Bast Emblai in the hospital, to the funerals, to Corellia. The Ranger just kept going and following orders. That was what was expected of him, not by just his superiors but by himself. Was he lonely? Is that why he wanted Ilana around? A temporary weakness, perhaps. Susceptible to a beautiful, yet bruised, woman. Maybe something as simple as wanting the social company of an attractive girl, like a boy in high school. Corran scoffed lightly under his breath.

"Do I bother you?"

The young man turned his head and looked over his shoulder at the woman sitting on the bed, "No. No, you don't bother me." That was the truth, at least. Corran faced forward again and ran a steady hand through his hair and rubbed the back of his head. He chuckled uncomfortably, "I didn't want to be impolite. You know, while you're undressed."

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

Ah, fair enough then.

She slid the shirt back on, hissing out another breath of pain at the movement twinging along her ribs. One of them had to be cracked; it hurt to even bend too far, so she was careful in her movements, slow even. But it seemed like she did disturb him, in some way, and on a very clinical level it was intriguing. It wasn't innocence per se that made things interesting, but the fact that he treated her like a living being, like someone of actual value rather than just another face, another box ticked off for the galactic count.

And that intrigued her. Not many saw her as a person, but as her profession. But here he was, even after knowing she was a doctor... treating her like she deserved privacy and respect.

"Is it really so strange to be perceived as attractive, even on an unbiased level?" she asked directly, tilting her head slightly. "Though... you interest me, Corran. And not many people gain my interest." Being blunt and direct was far more effective than playing a coy role; she despised acting and beating around the bush anyways, far preferring cutting to the heart of the matter first.

After all, the worst he would do would be to toss her out, and it wouldn't have been the first time either.

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

A pang of guilt echoed in Corran’s chest as he listened to the wounded woman struggle. There wasn’t really a good option to help her with pulling the shirt over her head without being a little demeaning and he didn’t want to give her any more discomfort than necessary. The Ranger had his own discomfort to account for as well.

Dr. Morata asked if it was strange to be perceived as attractive on an unbiased level. Unbiased. As if something as personal as attraction could be boiled down to the scientific method. Was she talking about the young man before her… or herself? Corran shrugged weakly; maybe it applied to both. He felt he was average, plain, approachable.

A word stupefied him. Interest. Ilana was interested in him. It was fortunate Corran was facing the wall as his eyes shot wide open and he blinked in disbelief, mouth pursed tight. What she meant by interest was anyone’s guess. Like a researcher finds a petri dish interesting or an artist finds a landscape interesting.

The Ranger turned around to face Dr. Morata but took a moment to glance at his jacket on the mattress, the badge laying exposed. It had been awhile since it wasn’t close to his heart. Where did the disciplined and proud professional end and Corran Velt begin? He had been ‘on the clock’ so long now.

“You interest me too,” Corran faced her directly now and placed his hands on his hips, “… Even if I don’t know why or even if I should.”

The whole truth. What that admission meant now was a mystery.

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

She smiled up at him.

It wasn't a faint grin or a bemused smirk, but an actual smile, amber eyes thoughtful. She'd forgotten his jacket was on the bed, head still tilted to regard him. No doubt he had many questions; perhaps she could humor him with some answers, at least he was forthcoming on his own interest as well. There were only two alternatives to what could go on now; she could stay for a little while, or leave, and let him and their mutual curiosities be.

She was never a coward, she faced things head on.

"Why not?" she asked, leaning back against the bedframe. "Mutual interest isn't such a terrible thing..." She braced herself, then stood, gritting her jaw out of sheer spite of showing any weakness, calmly regarding him. "And I'm sure you have questions. So why not..." she offered out one slim white hand, voice quiet.

"Explore those interests?"

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

Ilana’s smile was disarming. Not because it was scheming or conniving or alluring. It was just a smile. Corran couldn’t help himself and smiled back shallowly. Despite her injuries, Ilana lithely sat up and rose from the bed and offered an ethereal hand to the young man. The word interest covered things as small as coins to things as large as empires. The interests the two had could differ a great expanse or sit neatly next to each other. The doctor could be playing a long-game and want access to Ranger files and he was merely to be the patsy. She could be seeking to use Corran to strike at a rival or enact revenge on the criminal underworld. Even something as small as a pen-pal in the universe or using his ship to relocate her medical practice. So many unknowns that needed to be discovered.

Corran glanced down at her hand, then snapped his eyes to firmly meet hers, “One rule then. We will be just two adults talking. You as Ilana and me as Corran. I don’t want any of that doctor-patient power imbalance or analysis, just as I won’t be interrogating you as a Ranger.”

Sounded simple enough, but in a galaxy of personas and danger, putting down the titles to be two people talking about each other… seemed so hard. If Ilana agreed, Corran would softly take her hand and ask, “What interest do you have in me? Business or personal?”

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

It seems he was more of an astute study of others than she first assumed; perhaps he'd keep her on her toes, conscious of the law that always breathed down her back. And he even smiled back, an unusual stimulus response. Perhaps before, she would write a study paper about bonding... but for now, she would hold off.

After all, he asked nicely.

"Agreed," she replied, then stepped closer, provided he didn't step back to maintain distance. The pain was still there, but her mind was focused elsewhere. Not often was someone taller than her; it was nice to have to tilt her head up slightly to regard him, a faint grin still touching the corners of her mouth.

"Personal," came the quiet reply, amber eyes regarding his own gaze with a calm, almost anticipatory look in golden eyes. If he would look close enough, even the corneas of her eyes would be tinged with the amber coloration, almost akin to an Arkanian. Perhaps he would put two and two together... but at this moment she didn't care about that too much. Her focus was on someone else for the time being.

"And what about you, Corran?"

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

As Ilana drew near, Corran stood his ground. Too invested to retreat, but too uncertain to advance. Even though the doctor was slightly shorter than him, her presence felt towering or imposing. If charisma were a physical force, she was exerting it with ease and grace. Corran dipped his chin to look down into her upwardly gaze. Her grin seemed reassuring, in a way.

"Personal."

A faint, shallow gasp escaped the young man's lips. Like when an unexpected chill brushes the back of the neck. In some recess of his thoughts, the Ranger was certain that this was a ploy. Some way to be protected, gain access, or trick law enforcement. But Ilana agreed to speak as equals and so far he couldn't puzzle out how she was misleading him, despite all the scenarios that ran through his head. That meant... she wasn't. Ilana was so close now. The young man's senses seemed more alert and attentive. The smooth, soft skin. The voluminous, snowy hair. The eyes. Those emotive, enrapturing eyes. It was only now Corran understood she wasn't human. Paqualis III - near Arkania. His own memories of voyages through the Colonies region suggested she was Arkanian of some kind. But the only thought more powerful than that was how much it didn't matter; not compared to what his other senses were showing him.

"And what about you, Corran?"

The young man's lips provided only a sliver of an opening, as if waiting for his own voice to answer for him. Nothing immediately came. Clear sky-blue eyes seemed both curious and poised as they seekingly peered into their amber counter-parts. If you had asked him an hour ago, the Ranger would have said his interest was purely business. To look after and aid someone in need, as his duty. Now it was more...

"Personal." The word was a mere whisper, but confident and committed to its existence. The acceptance seemed to embolden Corran's body language, as if he stood taller and more broad-shouldered. He tried to think of an intelligent question. Something to drill down further - to discover motive. This time his voice betrayed him and it spoke in a breath, "What do you want?"

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

It was like his own gaze was trying to find an answer through her own mind. As far as she was aware, this Corran was not Force-sensitive, but the pulses of curiosity in his own mood seemed to indicate he was just as keen to figure out her motives. Though there were some, yes, perhaps it was also a need to be distracted from thoughts that had plagued for the last month, memories whose ghosts refused to let her go even in the darkest nights. Just as keenly as he watched her, her gaze watched his.

It seemed the young man already considered her higher than him, or at least beyond his league, and for what reason she wanted to puzzle out. Perhaps she was bored, in need of a distraction, or lonely... though the last part would never be admitted, even if she were alone on her own ship, thousands of parsecs away from this place. He was a Ranger, after all, and maybe eventually he'd figure out her own past, and her present line of occupation beyond getting bodily tossed by street thugs.

For a moment, an emotion flickered in the depths of amber eyes as he also confirmed being personally interested, similar to relief. But it was subdued... almost as though it was a surprise to not be the only one curious. Her eyes lowered, panning over his face before flicking back up to meet light blue eyes, the hushed question hanging almost intimately in the air. The smile was gone from her lips, but her eyes were not quite as cold as they were before.

She closed the distance just a little more, her own voice just as low, a murmur in the small space left. "I'm not sure," she admitted honestly, head tilted ever so slightly. "I want you, though... and I want to figure out why I'm drawn. What about you?" It was almost like a game of chicken, seeing who would back away first, giving space, but she knew one thing for certain.

Though the distraction of looking the Ranger in the face was enough to hold at bay the tattoo of pain still pulsing in her bones, it couldn't be forgotten, and eventually would catch up on her. And the last thing she wanted was to faint on this man again... perhaps that hospital visit wouldn't be such a bad shot after all. But not yet. There were still answers waiting.

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

Ilana’s expressions, as far as Corran had seen, were subdued. Often private; unreadable. But now, the Ranger noticed the subtle changes in her features. They conveyed relief and was that…warmth? No, he had not cracked the code but for the moment, he could translate. The barely noticeable shifts in expression gave him courage.

Corran took a half-step closer to Ilana. Only the slimmest gap now separated them. Any movement forward and they would collide. It was at this intimate range that Ilana murmured her answer to his involuntary question. The answer felt like a binding as the young man’s chest grew tight with passing word. She wanted him and didn’t even know why. That feeling was mutual in an unspoken, but clearly felt, way.

His hands felt a natural compulsion to grab her waist, but his heart and mind knew that would wound. She was an icicle reflecting the setting sun. Radiant, but the slightest touch could shatter. The young man only now remembered he was holding her hand. Something as innocent as that almost caused a sensory overload. He wanted to remove his touch but his hand refused to obey.

"I'm... not certain either," Corran began with with a quick glance away but his gaze felt compelled to return, "I want to be near you, Ilana, and to understand how that's... possible." It was clear the Ranger's rigid and calculated speech had left him. There was no manual, text book, or set rules to follow when it came to people expressing themselves. Especially when one such as he was so rusty or really expressing something akin to this for the first time. "Where do we... begin?"

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

Strange, how high-stress situations could change things. But this was entirely new; not being physically attracted to someone, it was true he was physically appealing in a rugged sort of way; she was sure in a different line of work he could be a heartbreaker. But attraction was simply pheromones, chemicals with pleasant side effects. The only problem with attraction could come the possible risk of emotion, and that itself was a messy, rather tasteless affair. She avoided attachments at all costs, not only for her work, but for her own peace of mind. And pursuing attraction was a dangerous path; she'd already been bitten by that risk before.

So it seemed he was as confused as she was, and she loathed confusion. She loathed feeling like she was floundering, without any real step forward, and that he had the advantage, so she listened. She waited.

But when he asked how to begin, she blinked.

"...There's a way to be close," came the low murmur, closing the distance. "Perhaps... we can find answers that way?" Her other hand rested lightly on his chest, head tilted. The reason was two-fold; to ease back the twinge of pain from abusing her time to be upright was just better leaning slightly into someone, and perhaps being physically close would provide some peace of mind for them both.

But then, a thought did occur to her.

"You can touch me, you know," she rasped, perking a white brow slightly. "I'm not made of glass. Just... be gentle."

The ice to her side did good work at least alleviating the edge of the pain, but for once she wouldn't be pursuing. She would wait for him to come up with his own conclusions, whether it would be closing the gap or giving them both room. But for once, she was content to sit back and wait.

She had all the time in the galaxy for now.

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

Even though her tone of voice was soft, even welcoming, Ilana was daring the Ranger. With her elegant hand on his chest, there could be no mistaking that his heartbeat had quickened. A trained doctor would have no issue recognizing the pulse. Corran held some doubts. About the situation. About himself. About her condition. Even with being thise close, he feared any movement would express something he did not intend or worse, reapply pressure to a numbed injury. That is… until she gave him permission, if only gently. Corran released Ilana’s hand and gently placed both of his on the her hips. His grip wasn't tight or rough, but bracing. The young man leaned in, his eye lids only half-open.

In his life, Corran was methodical, organized, precise. Rules and laws provided guard-rails to avoid danger or prevent failure. Risks were to be avoided if all possible. There might have been a small irony in his chosen line of work. But right now – a risk was the only thing he wanted.

The young man took a shallow breath and took the risk. Corran kissed Ilana, his lips intertwining with hers. It lingered, but not too long. The young man pulled back rather sharply and turned his head to look away from her. "I'm sorry," Corran said stiffly, "I shouldn't have..." his voice trailed into silence. He released his hands from her hips and brought them to his sides, his fingers forming into lose, ashamed fists. The Ranger looked very much like a scolded cadet.

@Killa

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

She hadn't expected that.

A soft breath escaped when his lips found hers, and for a moment, her eyes closed. She didn't know why; she avoided kissing, anything intimate for the very reason that it was emotional. It was personal in a way that she wasn't, and couldn't be. But when he broke away, she was aware of the space, of the time, and then... the pain that came lancing back with the breath.

She hissed in a breath, grimacing. There was no other place to lean but against him, and when she heard him apologize, she blinked. If anything, she should have apologized, grabbed her bag, and made a break for it. "It's fine," she replied, voice muffled as she tried to will it away.

Finally she leaned back on her heels, her voice quiet. "I offered. I thought about it, myself..." she paused, then sighed, giving a faint grimace as the movement hitched along her ribs and spine again. "But there's nothing to be ashamed of."

She hesitated... then turned away, limping back to her bag. "If you want this to end, you can take me to the hospital..." she sighed, sitting back on the edge of the bed. "And I won't stop you. But I can't deny..." here she leaned forward, gazing up at him with calm amber eyes, "wanting to know you. If you don't mind my intruding."

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

There were two likely possibilities: a return of affection or a slap across the face. Corran was unsure of what would happen next when he kissed her; both seemed equally plausible. He received… neither. Instead, Ilana wheezed “It’s fine” but leaned against him. The young man wasn’t sure what to make of that. If it was a rejection, it was rather muted.

When Ilana finally peeled herself from Corran’s chest, she at least confirmed that it was on her mind as well. That was a relief. At least the feelings, in the moment, were mutual. Dr. Morata’s face contorted in pain as she grabbed her bag and limped towards the bed. The young man had temporarily forgotten, for a brief moment of indulgence, the wounds she carried. Corran frowned with remorseful and empathetic eyes.

The offer to end the conversation and take the injured woman to the hospital was presented. Corran felt Dr. Morata even considering going to the hospital a small victory, considering the resistance from earlier. By her own volition, though, Ilana wanted to stay and get to know the Ranger. The doctor was even sitting down. By all indications, she still wanted to talk.

By his own admission, Corran had wanted to discover more about the snowy-haired doctor. Besides, escorting Ilana out now would be equal parts rude and a betrayal of his own actions. “I’ll yield to my curiosity,” Corran replied with a playful grin, “But only for a little while. I have concerns about your condition and the sooner a hospital can address them, the better.” He gestured to her rib with the ice pack.

The Ranger sat on the floor across from her, back to the wall. The temporary apartment bedroom was so small that the Ranger had to draw his knees closer to his chest and even then, his boots could touch the tips of Ilana’s shoes. Even sitting across from one another, they were not far apart. Corran rested his forearms on his knee-caps and looked up at the doctor with searching eyes. Even if they had shed their professional personas, the two adults still had plenty of unknowns about each other.

"We'll trade questions and answers," he suggested, "I'll go first. Is your practice on Corellia or do you move around a lot?"

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

Huh.

Odd that he was even concerned; most didn't even bother going that far with the Doctor. It was... intriguing. She was unused to being the one treated, rather than answering a house call. Even odder still, he was a Ranger; her previous experience with these people usually involved guns blazing or attempting to tough her down to names of key bosses. Names she held in confidentiality with her oath as a doctor.

She shook her head slightly, eyeing him contemplatively. "I go where my patients need me," she rasped quietly, the younger man's tight stance in a seated position causing her to shift. "The bed isn't that small; you can sit without crunching into a cube." She sighed, amber gaze distant on a spot on the wall. "I move frequently; not by choice. Most don't want a non-human doctor." The last part was spoken with a small trace of bitterness, but in the scheme of things it was an old pain. She was used to the vague animosity she got every now and then with her odd appearance.

Just enough to not be human, and not human enough.

Her gaze drew back, then tracked back over to him, lips parted slightly as she contemplated her own words, her own questions. At first, none were forthcoming, but finally something clicked into place. "What about you? Do you have a home place, so to speak?" Somehow, she felt like she met someone who also knew what it meant to be homeless. There was the ship, sure, but there was no need beyond that. Every now and then she wanted a place of her own, but the more time passed, the more it seemed juvenile to want a place to belong.

That was the lie she told herself every morning.

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

Where her patients needed her. So she traveled often. In a big galaxy, that likely meant the chances of them running into each other - even under better circumstances than today - would be microscopic. And yet... they had met today, entirely by cosmic chance. Corran wasn't sure if he should praise Lady Luck or curse her. At Ilana's beckoning, the young man stretched out his legs but ended up with the front of his boots nearly underneath the bed frame and one of his feet between both of hers with the other to the right of her left. "I like sitting in front of you though," Corran retorted, "Easier to look at you." She was right. He could sit on the bed more comfortably, but he really did like taking in her entire appearance without craning his neck.

The doctor's admission of moving frequently did not surprise him, but the reason why made the young man subtly recoil. Speciesism. Oh how he loathed it. Growing up near bustling starports and travelling the hyperlanes for years proved that every specie and creed covered the spectrum of moral and immoral. The individual character mattered more than anything else. Even as a human, by nature of his birth, who benefited from Humanocentrism, Corran detested how his own species could look down upon those who were just as good as they were. The inquisitive sky-blue eyes of the Ranger looked over Ilana once more. Her especially. How could anyone look at her and see... less?

"I know you're a good doctor," Corran replied in a low voice. That wasn't exactly a declaration on Galactic Rights, but the simplicity of the sentence implied, what he felt, a more powerful truth. There needn't be any clarifications. No 'for a woman.' No 'for an alien.' Ilana Morata, along with acknowledging all the things that made her unique and different, could be recognized as the equal (if not better) of any human doctor. The young man stared at her with intensity, as if to punctuate his statement.

Silence filled the air for a few moments. Corran tilted his head when the doctor seemed hesitant to speak. When Ilana finally asked her questions, Corran chuckled with a smirk on his face. "You're going to judge me, but I live on a freighter. Well, it's more a relic than a starship. It has a bit more character than this place." The young man vaguely gestured at the empty and spartan walls. The smirk began to recede and the man's face grew somber. His eyes drifted down to his own feet. "I guess my home would be Commenor. Because my mom's still there. It's been awhile since I've seen her. I try and send messages often, to tell her I'm okay and that I miss her." More silence as thoughts or memories clearly danced behind the Ranger's eyes. In defiance of his reflective stare, a grin crept across his face. Corran chuckled lightly and looked up at Ilana, "I think she'd like you. If we had you over, she would talk your ear off and tell such embarrassing stories about me. Bring out the family recipes for dinner." He looked down, chuckled one last time and shook his head slowly. A quick sniffle indicated he had gotten something off his chest, perhaps unintentionally. Corran rubbed the back of his head with a free hand and then rested it on the back of his neck. The young man looked up to try and read the doctor's face before asking, "Do... you have any family?"

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

Her eyes lowered at his statement of wanting to see her better; she was used to stares, to ogling, to lewd glances, and even to glares and open hostility. But wanting to be seen better... perhaps it was to gauge her reactions better, to see her face and body language. At least, this is what was rationalized, but really..

She just didn't know how to process that without getting an odd feeling in her chest. And she dented her brows slightly, trying to will that niggling feeling away. Hearing him call her a good doctor only made her shift more, feeling that sensation intensify. "I hold my role as a purpose," she spoke quietly, gaze flicking back to his own and half-way shrugging. "If I wasn't good, why bother? But..." she hesitated, frowning absently. Her palms pressed together between her knees, her voice hushed.

"...Thank you."

"I live on my ship as well," she commented dryly at last, grateful for the change in topic. That previous conversation felt... too personal, too close to intimate. "But not a freighter anymore... though there's no shame in it. Plenty of room."

Of course he was close to his mother. And spoken with such tenderness... a thin sliver of envy pricked at the back of her mind, and she pushed it down, ignoring the thorns of it prickling at her throat. She shifted again at his mother possibly liking her. A faint flush touched her cheeks before she could even suppress it, and she laced her fingers tightly together, unsure of what to say.

An image of a tall, imposing woman. Slender, regal, with icy white eyes. Cold, sharp features, lips that never smiled as long as Ilana could remember. A soft, quiet voice, cool and calm as she stood on a verandah, close to the ocean of the Chateau. Talking precisely in the right words to stab her deeply, the very things and inadequacies of her daughter that even she could not address herself. She inhaled slowly, then exhaled, gritting her jaw.

"A mother," she rasped quietly, staring down at her hands, white hair slipping past to curtain her face. "And I had a brother, once... but there's no one else. It's too busy a life to have any other family."

Her words were stark, clinical statements, a bare truth but no story to fill it out yet. She wasn't sure she wanted to just yet, either.

"So, next question... how familiar are you with the galaxy, beyond Corellia?" she tilted her head slightly, peeking am amber eye past the white veil of her hair. An old habit; she often wore it back now, but perhaps it was a silent testament to how much things had changed already.

How much she had changed since first becoming a Doctor.

@TerranSteel

 

[Corran Velt]

Ilana had been quite skilled at hiding, or at least screening, her emotions and expressions. Corran got the feeling that everything shown to him was consciously chosen or allowed to be seen. While, for the most part, it had all been pleasant, it wasn’t necessarily ‘open’ in the sense of interaction. It was only now the Ranger felt things were slipping through. If he only knew that they meant. A twitch of her brow; the gentle clasping of her hands between her knees. Corran noticed these things and felt a boyish curiosity in them. He listened intently, never wanting to interrupt her. At the least, he understood the doctor accepted his compliment on her talents. That was enough for him.

At least Ilana understood the space nomad lifestyle. Not many people were. By the sound of it though, she had acquired something better than a freighter. That piqued Corran’s interest. A little fantasy played in his head of the snowy-haired maiden piloting a sleek, silver Nubian starship.

The shallow glow of pink in Ilana’s white cheeks caught Corran’s attention almost immediately. He felt a juvenile desire to see her blush more. It was both appealing and humanizing in a way he relished. He had spoken from the heart and maybe something had touched hers in a way the young man didn’t anticipate. A twitterpated thought wondered if Ilana would ever meet his mom.

Speaking on Dr. Morata’s own family bonds was less jovial and touching. In fact, it seemed remote and neutral. Her voluminous hair formed a physical barrier to her face, hiding all expression. Corran sat up straight, trying to give her space in the tiny apartment room. Curiosity begged to inquire more on the matter of family, but respect for her privacy held firm. Even if she feigned indifference to familial bonds, her brother was clearly dear to her.

The line of questioning shifted from personal to practical. Corran pondered if he had accidentally touched a nerve. His hand clenched the fabric on his pants, worried that hurt her in some way. Only a golden eye peaking from behind her hair’s white wall gave some relief that she wasn’t insulted. There was a compelling urge to brush her hair back behind her ear, but the Ranger shook it off by clearing his throat.

“I know the galaxy better than I do Corellia,” Corran replied, “I could travel the Hydian Way and Perlemian Trade Route asleep at the controls. The others I probably would need to be awake for." The young man rhythmically tapped his fingers on his thigh and exhaled quickly before continuing, "In my time with the Rangers, I've been to some real backwaters, including truly wild worlds. Places a bulk hauler would never set down. I could probably be a reasonably skilled guide from the Colonies to the Mid Rim." He frowned in one corner of his mouth for a moment before returning a look of seeking reassurance, "Did that answer your question?"

Corran rubbed his cheek for a beat as he dwelled on what to ask in return. A spark lit up in his eyes as if he discovered riches. He leaned forward and pointed at Ilana. "Why did you become a doctor?" The Ranger asked in a genial tone. Satisfied, he sat back against the wall and casually slouched his shoulders.

@Killa