Party Shark [Closed, Expecting]

[Phroth Lissken]

"And that's why you have to vet your hunting rifles. Spend all the credits you want on something that looks wizard, but the moment it misfires, might as well have brought a pop gun." The few enlisted men and women he had found from the Outer Rim systems laughed with him, and he hated the way he had to force his own.

It was for the greater good. He had to keep reminding himself. There was that infrasonic frequency to his voice that kept the edge of danger there. He tried not to squeeze his glass to tightly, chatting about the game from peoples various homeworlds, ans the dangers therein.

[Meiyokashi]

All around him were the villains of countless tales across the Empire, a veritable see of those who profit off the misery of others. Yet, even here there was always.. conflict, it was easy to hate everyone in this room but then maybe not everyone was as horrible as they appeared.

A thought which has crossed his mind recently for one to be sure, as a bare hand lay softly down on his bicep to grab his attention. Looking toward it he'd first see an offered glass with whatever drink the tray had been serving, it was a light pink color and bubbly. With the hand offering it concealed by a long velvet sleeve the woman who held it said simply, "Good to see you standing, join me for a drink or two?" she said warmly, and the voice was all too familiar.

[Phroth Lissken]

"How could I refuse?" He excused himself from the cadre of soldiers, turning to more fully face the Inquisitor. There was an instinctive flex of muscle as she touched his arm, before he relaxed.

Though relaxed would be a loose term. He was on edge, and that his weapon was gone, held him there. His eyes met the woman's, taking the offered drink.

"You seem well." His eyes fell to the long sleeve. "For what it's worth, I am sorry."

[Allura]

Allura wore a conservative but sleek velvet dress, black lipstick and a warm smile. Her brow quirked, "For?" and realization dawned, "Oh, yes.. I was rather attached to the other one," she held up the sleeved arm and moves it- the movements were natural and had a level of grace to them despite the condition she and he knew all too well.

"But.. this will suffice," she collects a drink from another waitress walking by and leads him over toward the glass window as they speak. "Have you healed well after we last spoke? I was ever so worried you'd try and get yourself into trouble again.." there's that lingering to her voice every time she speaks, like she had him on a lead.

[Phroth Lissken]

"A little soreness still. Nothing a little visit to a doctor can't help." He nodded to her, following her lead to the window. He stood tall before her, watching her features.

"I'd say I'm deep in it right now, Allura." The glass was raised. "What are we drinking to?"

[Allura]

"Good thing I brought you to one.." she smirks behind a fresh glass pressed against her lips. Reading him from over the rim, "You know.. I should not have shared my name when we first met. I suppose.. we are both deep in it right now. Me failing my charge and you.." she shakes her head, a small motion side to side to erase that angle of conversation.

"To the hunt, to survival," she thinks a moment, "To the opportunity to dance again?" shaking her head, then a smile, "To good doctors," and she raises her glass, a soft clink and drink.

[Phroth Lissken]

"I should have been more careful, as well." There was a smile, though soft. Even sad. Then it brightened, clinking their glasses together. "To good doctors." He turned, more to look out the window, standing a bit closer to her.

He didn't say anything for a moment. Trying to not stand awkwardly there. Phroth looked to the Inquisitor, then back out the window. "I'm the only one on this system. In case you're wondering."

[Meiyokashi]

[Roll Deception vs 2eC + 1eD]

[Phroth Lissken]

Lying about number of Jedi: 3eA+2eC+1eD 2 failures, 1 Despair


The Karkarodon was many things. A liar? Not so much.

[Allura]

With the lie her brows furrowed, looking to the droplet covered window and out over the city at large. Within the reflection her frown could be seen within the glass. A raise to her arm that slackened a little, looking down. Stepping forward toward the glass she looked back to herself, Phroth's reflection, and then Phroth himself as she turned.

Bringing up her sleeved arm he could feel the stiffness there, the cold metal underneath brushing his cheek, "You only confirm what I already knew Phroth, there are others- and not just a few, but.." she continues to brush along the side of his face, looking to his eyes with a sadness, "I'm just disappointed. I have not once lied to you."

[Phroth Lissken]

"Maybe I wanted to have you after me, all to myself." His voice sank. Head dipping down somewhat. "Can't blame me for wanting to protect others, it's who I am." A half step closer, as the cool metal touched his scales.

Why did it bother him, that tone in her voice? They should be adversaries. He couldn't hate her, no. But she was everything he wasn't. What could have happened if he just gave in to rage and despair.

"I don't know what to say to you. I don't know how to talk to you." There was a confession there.

[Allura]

"We both know that's not completely true, nor possible," she gives him a brief smile. Eyes measuring him in the moment she raises her shoulder a little and rests the edge of her glass and hand against him slightly.

"I couldn't blame you anymore than I could blame my former self. Though it yet pains me to see it.." a pause, a breath. A leading nature to her tone, "I find it is difficult to communicate when you are acting as another, as not the truest version of yourself. There is a lack in resolve to muster the words that feel right because you do not have the ability to place your heart in them. Have you.. considered if this really is who you are?"

[Phroth Lissken]

"It is." His smile was equally sad. "And I don't think you're as sure of your path as you say, either." Tentatively, he took a drink, savoring the taste while reflecting.

"You could have left me exposed to the elements. While you took... part of my soul, you brought me back." He set his glass down, boldly taking her hand. "Dance with me." This time he was taking the lead, looking to the open area of the floor.

[Allura]

Allura's eyes glance down at the thought, considering a moment. "And make a fool of myself in front of all these dignitaries? With no music?" she asks with some incredulity, looking to him with the barest smile. "Please," she nods toward an open space in the floor and quickly sets aside her glass- forgotten.

[Phroth Lissken]

"I think easier when I'm moving." He spoke softly, leading her out. When they reached a point, he pulled out his commlink, finding a local music frequency. An armed slipped around her waist, webbed hand at the small of her back, the other at her waist. He towered over her, eyes never leaving hers.

Pulling her close against him, making it easier to speak softer. "Where do we go from here."

[Allura]

"As do I," she smirks, watching him set up the commlink and setting the frequency. Pleasantly watching while he made the selection and then pulled her in closer, a gentle touch from her as she settled into her place for the dance. Returning his gaze without a care for whatever surrounded them.

"Eventually.. I change your mind or you change mine, equally as unlikely as we stand now.." her thought lingers, "or one dies and the other lives- which, mind you, I would consider a mark in favor of my point of view regardless of which of us survives that duel. You.. worried me with your skill, which only proves my appraisal of you Phroth, you are.. so much more."

"But.. perhaps you mean simply for tonight?"

[Phroth Lissken]

"I'll be honest, I'd rather it not come to that. I..." he paused, "... Though I was prepared and at peace, if it had come to my end. The galaxy would be a little less, if you had fallen." His color changed slightly in his cheeks, forehead to hers as they moved with the music. They would look an odd pair, certainly, but it kept others away and allowed them some semblance of privacy.

"I didn't mean just tonight. The thought had occurred to me before the cliff."

[Allura]

For a few steps she thought as they moved, glancing down to follow the thought. Then without looking to him directly as she had she returned to the dance, enjoying it in peace for the remainder of the song that was playing from his comm. Returning her gaze upward she renewed her position in the dance and offered the briefest of smiles, before glancing beyond him. Leaning up she kissed him just to the side, by the corner of his mouth, "Wait for me after the party, hmm?"

"I need.. a few more drinks, and this conversation would be better without onlookers," she glanced around, a few military men taking interest in the display. "Take the time to think of where you would like to take me," she smiles, and then steps back.

[Phroth Lissken]

"Yeah. I'll wait." The moment passed quickly, but he focused on it. On her. He watched her step back, still slightly reeling from the kiss to the corner of his mouth. The amber eyes focused on her eyes, returning the smile.

This was a monumentally bad idea. It seemed the both of them knew that, but... it was best to just live each moment.

"Do you like camping?" It was almost blurted out, as if processing where he could take her was happening in real time.

[Allura]

"Camping?" she gazes over him for a moment with a subtle smile rising. A small nod, and with that lingering feeling of something more to be said she walks away. Looking back to Phroth after a few steps before disappearing into the crowd.