Take Me If You Dare

After running errands for a couple of months for her cousin, Vic had needed a vacation. That was how she had ended on the Selara's Wings, a renowned space cruise for those who didn't have or didn't want to throw a fortune for decent lodging, food, and entertainment. The redhead found the casino boring but if she wasn't trying to seduce or con someone, she wasn't a casino kind of girl in the first place. The few eateries were better than she had expected so that was a definite bonus. Granted, she had spent enough of her life in seedy areas to have standards way lower than her royal surname could indicate. She was glad that the galaxy was vast and that Starfallen wasn't that original. When the Tainar system was a quiet but fruitful blip on the map, things had been easier. Of course, Varyan had ambitions for their home world and they were now entangled with some more prominent galaxy players. She still wasn't sure what she thought of this, but people seemed happy and it had brought greater trade opportunities for the system, so that was overall good.

She just wanted to make sure she continued to fly under the radar with little effort.

The redhead crossed her legs as she adjusted her position on the bar stool she had been perched for the past thirty minutes. She had hoped for some illicit substance to float around more freely but so far the couple of dealers she had found sold real bad shit. She wasn't against some illegal fun of all kinds, especially for so many worlds that were tight-assed compared to her home world, but she had some standards where it mattered.

She was snacking on some pastry while she eyeballed the barmaid mixing whatever was today's special. She had fallen in love with the baked goods from one of the food stalls before this bar, that was one of the three main attractions of Selara's Wings, with its large windows that showed their current location, or hyperspace white lines as was the case right now.

Humming along the song playing in the background, she looked around, enjoying some people-watching. For a vacation it had been fairly tame so far, which made her a little restless. She knew how to have fun and she loved a good vacation, but between not having her ship as it was undergoing maintenance back home, and having found no one interesting enough to make a pass, she was a little frustrated.

A little? Fine, she was quite frustrated. Vacations were supposed to provide enough entertainment for her generous appetites.

He'd pooled his shore leave days, and made the request for an official bout of time away with little fanfare. It had been approved, and Jeremy was more than happy to step away from his normal duties for a spell. Ferrying Captain s'Ilancy about was never too difficult, but even shuttle pilots needed a break every now and then. And so he'd taken his time off and booked a week-long cruise aboard the Selara's Wings. Nothing ostentatious or expensive, it seemed more of 'the working man's cruise liner'. Something that those who weren't obscenely wealthy could afford. Besides, a being didn't need gold-tipped crystal glasses to drink from, or silken curtains on either side of a stargazing window. Just the window, and just a normal drinking glass.

Ambling along a corridor and out into a main observation deck, complete with kiosk bars and other enjoyable time-wasting places, Jeremy meandered his way to one of the counters, with a lovely number behind the bar. She was busy tipping a few different ingredients into a steel cup. A quick grab of a smaller metal cup, and she jammed the two together before giving the whole thing a vigorous shake.

A woman that handles a Bothan Shaker like that...

Still working the drink, she looked at him as he sidled up, positioning himself next to a redhead.

"What can I do you for?"

"Old Rebellion, Ma'am."

"Anything special?"

He shook his head. "Just the normal way."

She gave a nod, and Jeremy let out a long breath as he let his gaze go to the massive viewing windows. Even with the starlines of the hyperlane, it was still so beautiful.

Vic was no fancy Force wielder, but keeping track of her surroundings was deeply ingrained in her. And years dealing with court intrigue from afar and assorted scum across the galaxy had honed those skills. She didn't like being caught by surprise and while she wasn't particularly paranoid, she liked her life and people watching looked innocent enough aboard a leisure spaceship.

The man who took the stool next to hers was definitely easy on the eye. Her tastes were eclectic but he definitely fell in the "appealing" category. She could still remember how Varyan and Alice used to tease her when they were younger and that in the Starfallen family, she was the definition of "ravenous liege in the making," which was ridiculous. It wasn't as if she'd ever end on the throne, thank the maker!

She caught sight of the interaction between the stranger and the barmaid. She chuckled softly, taking a sip from her drink. She shifted on the seat as the man looked towards the viewport.

"Nice view, even without the barmaid's magic hands," she whispered.

Anyone skilled with their hands usually proved a worthy mattress partner, or back alley partner, or...

Anyway, she had caught the way he had looked at the barmaid, and small talk could be fun.

A knowing grin, and Jeremy turned slightly on his stool to afford himself a better look at his bar-partner. She was attractive, had a mischievous glint in her eye, and was more than like a prime candidate for 'getting-oneself-into-trouble'. Which was a breath of fresh air, he had to admit. The trip itself had been a planned event, but the other passengers were most definitely not.

Still though, a pretty face and a stiff drink often led to a shared evening. It wasn't a fate that he was entirely against.

"Magic hands make the best drinks," he grinned.

His eyes left her then, to return to the pinwheel of streaking starlines.

"And a view like this, well, makes a proper evening, don't you think?"

Vic chuckled at the stranger's words about magic hands. She lifted her drink with a mischievous wink and took a sip of the strong cocktail. That was one of the benefits of space, it was always a good time to drink. What was time in space anyway? At least, that was one of her favorite excuses and she was unapologetic about it.

Her eyes stayed on the man on the nearby stool before her attention returned to the hyperspace beautiful lines.

"Agreed. It always feels different to see space from a spaceship that is not yours. Refreshes the perspective."

She had had many opportunities to get a new ship, but she was loyal to her beloved Flamboyant Siren, including its over-the-top name.

That comment made him pause, as though she had somehow - magically through the Force - guessed his occupation. He loved his old nu-Class shuttle, but she was absolutely right in that space was just... different when you weren't aboard your own boat. When you weren't the one having to worry about hyperspace coordinates or making sure the landing was as smooth as possible so that your captain didn't lose her lunch in the passenger hold. When you didn't have to do the maintenance to keep the bird spaceworthy. Not that tending to an old Clone Wars-era Republic shuttle was unenjoyable - in fact, it had become a rather lovely craft to care for once the larger kinks had been smoothed out. A bank of new repulsor blocks to replaced the cracked ones had been the largest repair, and the most beneficial.

"Where are my manners," he finally remembered, turning back to her.

"Name's Jeremy."

In a show of geniality, he held out his hand for a gentle shake.

Vic wasn't always in the pilot's seat aboard her ship, especially when she and other crew mates needed a last minute pickup after getting in trouble, but she had also flown alone a bunch of times. The Flamboyant Siren was still her ship, no matter what. Hell it had taken her years to accept someone else could pilot her.

She looked back to the man, Jeremy, as he introduced himself. Her manners were obviously lacking too. With a warm smile, she accepted and returned his handshake.

"Pleasure to meet you, Jeremy. I'm Vic."

Grinning, she tilted her head to the side. "That's probably the most conversation I've had since boarding the Selara's Wings."

Chuckling, she polished her drink. "I like a vacation like the next vaguely sane person, but I'm still not sure what to think about this ship save for the drinks, and some of the eateries."

She had danced a lot a couple of nights but she'd shake her hips on top of a crappy table in a seedy bar, finding a beat in any half-assed tune she'd hear.

Vic.

With a smile, he settled himself a bit more comfortably on his stool, and as the bartender slid his drink to him, he lifted it up in a genteel salute of sorts as a thank you.

"Well, Vic, I have to admit that Selara's Wings is a shade fancier of a ship than I'm used to."

He took a first sip, letting the taste roll over his tongue. Not bad.

"In fact, it's about the swankiest cruise liner I've been on. Of course... " he couldn't help but chuckle to himself, "... it's also about the first one I've ever been on."

An admission he wasn't worried over. He was having an enjoyable time; the drink was good, the food was lovely, and the view was absolutely stellar. As if to punctuate this, he took his eyes from her once more to gaze at the kaleidoscope of starlines. He took another level from his drink, and went on.

"The viewing deck has been a lovely place to relax, though. I don't get to see the hyperlane that often, so seeing it now is a treat. I did try that Chandrilan bistro on level 12 yesterday, and I have to admit I was impressed. Their cooks can poach a nuna egg so tender that you'd think it was a work of art."

Vic grinned to Jeremy lifting his glass to hers. She did the same, and downed the rest of her glass before placing it back on the counter. The redhead retrieved the bag with her other small pastries.

"It's less seedy than a bunch of places I've been to, for sure," she jested. While she had been in the upper circles and benefited from a certain kind of prestigious education back on Albaryn, she was still a corsair rather than a lady no matter how some of her relatives had bemoaned that fact.

Her face lit up at the mention of the viewing deck and she nodded as her mouth was full of delicious flaky almond-flavored goodness.

"Hang on," she quirked a brow at him and finished swallowing her bite, licking the bit of sugar she felt at the corner of her mouth.

"I missed this Chandrilan bistro. And you totally had me at nuna egg. Darn it, I will have to try it now!"

With a chuckle, she handed the bag in his direction.

"If you have a sweet tooth, you should try them. They're from a tiny stall not far from the bar, but you really have to investigate to find that amazing baker."

Ever grateful for offered sweets, Jeremy grinned and gave a grateful nod as he took the bag from her. Almost daintily, he pulled one of the treats out with two careful fingers and handed the bag back to Vic.

"Much thanks," he got out before quickly popping the small snack into his mouth. Chewing, he nodded in satisfaction.

"Not bad, not bad."

He swallowed.

"Can definitely tell that baker knows a thing or two about sweets."

Another sip from his drink, and Jeremy allowed himself to swivel slightly in his seat, so that he faced her a bit more fully.

"So, Vic, what sort of life is it that you're vacationing from?"

"You're welcome," she replied with a flutter of eyelashes and a graceful nod. Her cousin often joked how she could be a violent minx one moment and display royalty the next. That always sent Vic roaring in laughter.

Her gazed remained fixated on Jeremy's mouth as he tried the sweet, even with the awkward angle. Drat, she really was starved it seemed. Granted, she wasn't the kind of woman to apologize for her appetites, and he was quite charming, and he had handsome hands.

She schooled her expression - a little bit - as he returned the bag to her and swiveled on his seat so they looked at each other better.

"Trouble, lots of it," she deadpanned at his question.

She burst in laughter a few seconds later. "Not just that though...."

Trailing off, she leaned forward and gently swiped the corner of his mouth, before licking off the bit of sugar she had caught.

"You had some powdered sugar there."

Grinning, she sat upright again, carrying on.

"I'm a corsair, and I've had to behave properly for most of these past weeks and play nice with politicians. You?"

A corsair, eh? He couldn't help the smile-lines crinkling at the outer edges of his eyes. Even as she had reached forward to remove the slight dusting of sugar from the corner of his mouth, he found her rather forward nature endearing. She seemed an honest sort, and he quite liked that.

"Oh, nothing so glorious. Just a shuttle pilot who needed some time away from his posting."

He leaned one elbow on the bartop, taking another level from his drink. Swallowing, Jeremy gave another look around, always drawn to the view of the hyperlane.

"I love my old nu-class, but a soul has to have some time away, just to recharge the batteries and all," he gave a wink then, "... can't be all work and no play."

It was still early evening - late afternoon, even - but the sabacc cards were starting to lay themselves out on the table.

Still though, one had to be sure.

"You know, I saw a small restaurant on level 10, that specializes in Eriadu cuisine, if you'd be interested in dinner later this evening. That is, unless I'm being presumptuous and you're vacationing with someone else... ?"

The way he didn't mind her mild intrusion of his personal space made Vic quite happy. As much as she was the kind of woman going for a quick and heated tryst in a back alley, she did like talking, like normal talking not just the dirty kind. Fine, dirty talking was very enjoyable, but letting her hair down every once in a while with new people was nice. She could be a deadly bitch, but she could be warm when she felt like it, and she very much did right now.

She burst into an almost girly laughter when he called her work glorious.

"My crew and I prefer low-key missions rather than pompous stuff, but... Our people are lucky to have a decent leader so I'm happy to help."

Varyan was a good man and while she cared little for the intricacies of politics, she had to admit he had been doing well for their people.

"Old nu-class? Oh those were good. I only flew aboard one once. Her captain had patched and upgraded that ship quite nicely."

She returned his wink and downed the rest of her drink.

"Play is important," she purred knowingly.

The redhead beamed at Jeremy's next words. She found that lovely that he clarified, and she liked honest and upfront people. One could have a lot of fun without playing frustrating mind games.

"I am vacationing alone indeed. I think my crew would have lost their remaining marbles if we had to take a group vacation!"

Also, he had her at the mention of the Eriadu restaurant, because she had never had it!

"I'd love to have dinner with you, Jeremy. I always like trying new cuisines."

Tilting her head, she held his gaze.

"I take it you are also vacationing alone?"

Hell, even if he wasn't, she'd be curious about who he may be traveling with.

Their eyes were locked, but it was the sort of look that was level and measured. There was a bare beginning of a spark, but it was very small right now. She was vacationing alone, and that was good news for him. Vic was beautiful, and she was full of life and excitement. By contrast, he had to admit that he was a bit of a... stick in the Dagobah swampmud. He was a shuttle pilot, he collected antique chronos, he enjoyed naps, he took a particular delight in old classic holo movies with those long-dead actors and actresses from so many decades ago. He had a particular affinity for the old Mandalorian flicks, with the lone warrior stories that went hand-in-hand with redemption arcs.

"That I am," he couldn't help but grin while sipping.

"It's certainly not what some would think of as normal, but getting away with no other body but your own gives a being certain... freedoms."

This he said with a glint of mischief in his eyes, and and after a pause, Jeremy lifted his glass up ever so slightly in a toast.

"To vacationing with adventure in mind."

Jeremy was growing on her. Of course, Vic had a reputation for having a very wide range of tastes, but she liked comfortable banter with a whiff of the unknown. While her cousin would taunt her about her craziest escapades, it didn't take that much spice for her to get excited.

She caught the glint of mischief in her unexpected companion's eyes when he confirmed he was vacationing alone. Granted, if he had been vacationing in company, she would have been fine meeting said company.

"Mmmm, freedoms indeed," she added with a slight purr in her voice and a wide grin.

She clinked her glass against his at the proposed toast.

"Cheers to that," she replied without hesitation.

Right before she took a sip from her drink, she tilted her head as she heard a faint argument further in the room behind Jeremy. She narrowed her eyes at a man arguing with a younger woman who was visibly uncomfortable with whatever was going on. She wasn't the biggest mother hen in the galaxy, but she couldn't stand assholes.

She let it go for the time being and returned her attention to Jeremy.

"Can't help it. Seen too many overbearing dicks not to have my radar go off for potential crap."

She took a generous sip from her glass. "I like a good brawl but other adventures are currently higher on my list."

Her attentions being drawn away momentarily only drew his own eyes to the slightly distant disagreement, and he couldn't help but invest a small amount of interest into the muted altercation.

"No no," he soothed, lifting one hand to place over hers in solidarity.

"... I'm curious about this."

He slid from his seat, slowly pulling her with him, to guide them both to a table closer to the couple in question.

"I think a safe haven might be needed," his drink in one hand, Jeremy pulled out a chair from a table that was much closer, offering it to Vic with a genteel nod.

"... just in case."