He left, collecting his things, never looking back.

Then next day, he'd book himself a ticket off planet, somewhere else. Coming here was a mistake.

/Qar leaves game

"If you needed a plaything rather than a real companion I wasn't a right choice in the first place." He rose. "Perhaps we should have started with something more casual than domination games. I came to this planet because of you, and I've done the bidding, thinking it may get us somewhere. But it lo...

"Nothing much. Raced a bit. You're in hurry, Zee? Need a lift?" He smiled casually as if they'd seen each other only a few hours ago, not weeks.

"When aren't I?" He laughed, not commenting on her riding skills at all. He just got behind her and gripped the armour where it was convenient to grip it. "Ready here."

"Sure. Hop on. Guess you have your schedules." He broke off the reverie and moved back to the bike, giving the large geological mosaic one last glance.

Qar started a walk. If she moved from there, where he was didn't matter. If she didn't, he'd get there eventually.

"See, it's not about the thing itself, but about circumstance. Mundane things can be invaluable if we give them such meaning." He paused, glancing at her. "This is how I try to live, at least. Get enough from the life I have rather than waste myself on seeking one that I don't. A bike ride, a haunti...

"A ripe muja fruit on Krant." He said after a while. "I don't hunt that much. You?"

He gave her a thumbs up back. He didn't seem to be experiencing any anxiety about letting her ride his bike.

"You learn such things by doing them with some frequency. So, wherever there was a race." He returned to his drink. "Congratulations on a sound investment then."

There was a joke there that would be a commentary to her words and would involve a green drink but Qar didn't go that way, remembering what she preferred. He moved to the bar where the shark man was and poured her airag, then returned to his prior place and offered it wordlessly.

"Nice dress." He said with a small smirk. "A drink?"

"You go a long way with your house rules for your guests to feel comfortable." He shrugged, his opinion reserved to his gaze as the tone remained humorous. Then it didn't. He faced her directly. "I comprehend what you're saying but I'm not a thrall, Iris. If you want me to just sit and watch, that's...

"I am looking for the right word for the kind of hospitality I am experiencing from you." He mused with some humour, though to say his inner tension went away would be too much. He had seen lushness before, though for someone born on Mirial views like this always registered as something between awe ...

"I'll humour you..." He said with calm still, though there was something sharper underneath, just like you get the rock when you till too deep. It'd be gauche and silly to levy threats now, but he hoped she was aware that were she to transgress him, it'd strain whatever working relationship they had...

He would remain calm through both the personal search and stripping; all she got was a lighter, bike keys, a stimpack, cred wallet, and a pack of cigarettes. He didn't mind her being handsy, in fact he found it amusing. Fortunately, he wasn't too ticklish, at least not where she'd got so far. "Looks...

He did as much without hesitation or rush, his body maintaining an open, relaxed stance, his eyes on her eyes rather than on her hands. It was a conscious manifestation of a credit of trust he was giving her, with neither yielding, nor the pursuit of control. "You're more than welcome." He replied i...

The place was truly random. A crossing of minor streets with a signpost dented by some banging with heavy objects and painted over so that its original purpose was lost. An overflowing bin. A revolutionary leaflet sticking by its grease to a window, having apparently hosted some sandwich in not too ...

"Everyone's an amateur first." He chuckled, agreeing. "Okay, let me show you the ropes." He leaned in to instruct what triggered what and what sequences should be followed, touching the switches and then asking her to find them herself. It was both simple and not, as timing mattered, but his explana...

"Thanks for the company." He didn't turn when she was leaving, having shrugged at her comment. He'd leave after he'd finish the drink.

/exit