[D2, LE, around the corner, expecting]

[Korvin Hikarrin]

Korvin's hand is quick to find hers, and he leans back as much as he can to look at her as they're talking. He gives her hand a gentle squeeze.

"Mostly being anxious about the race... and seeing you," he confesses with an embarrassed smile. "Helped some friends with, ah, a project. Argued with Brodish, one of the old racers. But mostly I remember the race, and feeling so happy when I saw you."

[Dhelih Dotaivi]

Shifting sideways, knee bent to touch the back of the bench, foot tucked beneath the other knee, Dhel laughs. "Lots of projects lately. Petra keeps dragging me off to help her clean stuff. You know what really helps get some community spirit for that kind of thing? Snacks. But no..." Shaking her head, her disappointment with the lack of planning is apparent.

She squeezes his hand, 'but why is seeing me all anxious-making? I'm nowhere near as dangerous as a race," she says with a teasing grin that tries to imply at least a _little_ danger.

[Korvin Hikarrin]

"I know right!" He enthusiastically agrees about the snacks, then realizes belatedly that this probably means Dhel's been helping with the same work he has. With a nod, he makes a mental note.

But when the topic shifts to Dhel and racing, the resistance efforts fly from Korvin's mind. At her grin, he smiles, so happily it almost looks goofy.

"Well, races are dangerous, but I've done plenty of races. I mostly know what to expect, generally keep my cool. You, on the other hand," he says, bringing his other hand to also encircle hers. "You are... maybe less dangerous?" He plays to be thinking about the question, but his eyes give away the joke throughout.

"I don't even know if I'm competitive in the race for Dhel," he says candidly, smiling but also vulnerable.

[Dhelih Dotaivi]

"Aww, it's not a race, kiddo," Dhel ducks her head. "It's fun...this is fun right? And I only bite if you ask nicely...so definitely less dangerous." Her fingers lace through his, the blunt almost-claws denting the back of his hand, nestled gently between the bones there. "And that's a whole different sort of fun," she adds with a bit of growl behind her words as she looks up through her lashes with a grin full of promises for later.

[Korvin Hikarrin]

Korvin exhales with a little intensity. Had he been holding his breath there?

"I'm definitely having fun," he says with a roguish smile. "Looking forward to more." He lifts his hand along with hers, gently kissing one of the fingers that had laced through.

[Dhelih Dotaivi]

"Good, because there is plenty more. An entire night of more and then some." As plates clunk to the table, she reluctantly pulls her hand free as the server asks if they need anything else.

For her part, Dhel shakes her head in answer, though mutters something about 'only a nice dark alley to slip off to,' with a grin hidden by her hair from the server's point of view.

She'll wait a proper few moments after that to ask "So how _did_ you get into racing?" Before digging into her pile of blue ice.

[Korvin Hikarrin]

Korvin had turned toward the table as the plates arrived, but his eyes flicked sideways at Dhel as he thought he heard what she muttered. He definitely sees the Bothan's grin, and a small grin comes to his face as well.

Looking up innocently at the server he says confidently, "We're doing great here."

He's quick to get bites of food into his mouth, but after the question about racing he pauses to respond: "Well, when you grow up with rich kids, who have plenty of opportunities to do pretty much whatever they want, you kind of have to find your niche early or lose the chance to be your own person. Speeder bike racing, especially street racing and its dubious legality, aren't really an option for kids whose parents want to move up in the imperial order and such. Not being a fan of stuck-up human kids already acting like they're big imperial officers, even though they have no real skills... Ok, the draw of racing was that it basically was the opposite of what was 'cool' for the people I didn't like. If it was beneath them, too risky or came into contact with too many 'common' people.. Yeah, there was no other choice."

Realizing he'd gotten a rather angry grip on his fork from talking about all that, he quickly started eating again, but with a slightly apologetic look in his eyes.

[Dhelih Dotaivi]

If Dhel's bothered by the outpouring, she doesn't show it as she works on her desert. "Mmm. So straight up contrary, eh? And now?" She taps the edge of her bowl lightly with the spoon. "I don't think you're out there polishing Ruby just to piss some other kids off."

[Korvin Hikarrin]

Korvin goes quiet for a bit, setting down his fork.

"It maybe wasn't a real thoughtful choice at the time," he admits, "but it was my choice. And when you have something that's yours... Like, it's really important, in this thing where I'm not just 'the Hikarrin kid,' that I take it seriously and do well. Make something out of this opportunity to be my own person. You know?"

He looks at her, unsure if he's really making sense with how he's explaining this idea.

[Dhelih Dotaivi]

"Who makes thoughtful choices all the time?" Dhel shrugs off concern about that. "Dyed myself orange when I was 10 becaaaause...it seemed neat at the time?" She bumps her shoulder into his. "Anyway, can't help but be your own person right?" At least she can't imagine some other way to be.

"But you're kind of stuck being 'the Hikarrin kid' on this world, even if that's not all you are, eh?" Setting the spoon down, she drops her hand to his knee, giving it a squeeze. "And if I'm your opportunity to have a cute middle city girl to go along with the fast bike and adrenaline? Like I said, I'm having fun."

She lets her hand slide up his thigh a bit before returning to eating her frozen pile of sugar and hydration.

[Korvin Hikarrin]

Korvin smiles, both at her words and the other encouragement. He puts his arm around her shoulders and gives a quick squeeze. "Best girl in the whole city," he says confidently. His arm lingers for a moment, but then he returns to eating, knowing he's got quite a bit to eat to finish when Dhel does.

[Dhelih Dotaivi]

He does. Because Dhel, with the skill of someone who doesn't always know where meals are coming from, is working through her bowl with surprising speed. And she's not going to contradict him, that'd be ridiculous.

"Think you'll race professionally? Or just a hobby to hang onto when you pick up family business?" she asks curiously.

[Korvin Hikarrin]

"Mmmmh," he mumbled, finishing a rather large bite. "Family business is more Kerrsa's thing. My sister," he classifies after a beat, realizing he hadn't really talked about her before. "I mean, the company's big enough, I'm sure there's room for me, but I... I always wanted to do my own thing. So I better figure out what that's going to be."

Korvin makes a slightly worried face, then says, "You know, if you keep asking me questions, I'm never going to get through all this." He points at the food with a grin, though he's made a pretty strong impression on the plate already.

[Dhelih Dotaivi]

"Oh? In a hurry?" Dhel grins, reaching to pluck a bit of seared vegetable from his plate. "I'll help, then." She's certainly not averse to sharing plates, and will keep her chatter geared more toward commentary on the recent race and local gossip as they finish.

[Korvin Hikarrin]

Korvin smiles at the amiable solution, especially when it leads to any increase in Dhel entering his space. But he also puts a good effort into making sure he gets most of the food he planned to eat, wrapping up their meal in a very reasonable time.

Korvin looks self conscious for a moment as he pays for the food, but the bill is quickly settled and then he's leading Dhel by the hand, out the door and back to Ruby. "I'd say," he declares, "that I feel better now that I've eaten..." He stops beside Ruby and turns to Dhel, voice lowering to be just for her: "But I was with you when I got here, and how can I feel better than just being with you?" His smile and eyes are almost glowing with affection.

[Dhelih Dotaivi]

The Bothan notes the moment of self consciousness, filling it away for consideration since the cause wasn't apparent.

"Flatterer," Dhel chuckles. "Not that I mind. But there's nothing wrong with noticing that a full belly makes even good things better." She steps closer, pulling him into an embrace. "mmm, but yep, you're feeling pretty good about now," she adds with a bit of a purr to her tone as she pauses, dark eyes intent and warm.

"Pretty sure we'll both be feeling even better soon enough," she says, the words felt as much as heard as her breath brushes his lips. 'Yeah?"

[Korvin Hikarrin]

There's a heavy breath from the Pantoran, as his eyes meet hers. "Mmm," he sounds like he's thinking--for about one heartbeat. "Yeah," he says emphatically. He leans in to kiss her lightly, then playfully leans out to give her a grin.

"I'd like to take you back to my place, but I feel like we both might be a little... impatient," he whispers, his hands drifting slowly down to her hips and hinting at going past.

[Dhelih Dotaivi]

"A _little_" Dhel purrs, rising onto her toes to chase a more substantial kiss, rising into his wandering hands. "Pretty sure a bit of passion up against the wall goes really well with the fast rides you're chasing down here." Her tone says she's more than happy to play her role in that entire mental image.

[Korvin Hikarrin]

Korvin happily gives a deeper kiss, his hands happy to support her as she draws into him. There's a rumble of a happy groan as he gets lost in the kiss for a time.

It finally breaks through to him that they're not in any privacy at all, and he unhappily breaks the kiss to say, "Ah, we, um..." Coherency takes a moment longer. "Actually, how about..." With a quick sweep of his arms, Korvin is carrying Dhel sideways in his arms, making a beeline for an alley two doors down from Cafe Sol. His posture is very much man on a mission, though he's got a fairly proud smile on his face.

[Dhelih Dotaivi]

Dhel squeaks in surprise, then clings to his shoulders laughing as they,

/ftb