Fandom Star Wars: Demesne [Closed]

[Lucyfer]

Eli nodded. “Which days do you work? So I know when not to bother you, or at least wait until evening,” he explained, before indicating, “My own schedule is a bit…tricky. If the Grand Admiral needs me, I have to go, regardless of schedule.”

That was true of anyone on the Chimaera, of course, but no one quite like Eli. Eli was, after all, Thrawn’s aide. It was expected he would be called away from tasks more often, and for that reason, he did not often have as much assigned – or as stable of a schedule. “While we’re in Coruscant, I’ll likely be taking some hours late morning or early afternoon to run through supply lists, as well as go through ship logs.”

He would note any oddities of movement, be it of supplies, or personnel movement in the ship. Droid movement in the ship. Timestamps. Anything unusual. He was often better at finding it than the ISB agent assigned to their ship, a point of pride. “I have a few personal projects that I can work on at any time. I usually do those in the evening hours.”

When he could be in his room and poke away at them. Things Thrawn assigned him, things to look into. Right now it was a lot with doonium shipments.

~***~

Eira knew Thrawn’s commentary was well-intentioned in regards to hiding things from her training, and the thought amused her. Of course, she could do just that, and likely her trainer would never know the difference unless she got ridiculous about it. Which, was unlikely. Eira was still naturally inclined to discipline.

Yet when he stated that he disapproved of her being waifish? She couldn’t quite help the flush, startled by it, and uncertain how to take the comment. Was it a compliment to her current appearance? Was it simply for her own health? ‘Both?’ Well, she was certainly arguing on matters of health.

“I appreciate your own discipline in the matter,” Eira noted, “and I hope you understand why I won’t lie to my trainer for that reason, even if I could,” a bit of a cheeky smile, the small suggestion of ‘I am an actress’ in the tone, “She has my success in mind, and my health, even if sometimes my health and my roles are at odds. I am going to try and make sure it isn’t damaged too terribly by this role. If I need to drop a name…I will.”

It might work.

It might not, but at least the flush was fading a bit. Perhaps the gelato was helping, the cool flavor taking away some of the heat. “And I do appreciate your concern, as I appreciate your own understanding that both mental and physical health have to be maintained.” Usually people picked one, rather than both. “What is it you do to maintain your mental health?”

 

[cleopat]

“I figured your schedule would be difficult to plan around, given how hectic working with the Grand Admiral could be some days.” But Cora wondered how exciting it must be, to be sent on a mission at a moment’s notice, to leave the ship and see other worlds.

“My next shift cycle starts in two days, so after that, I’ll be working for those five days.” And in her days off, she still didn’t know what she would do. More than likely work on her side project, if Eli didn’t ask her to do something with him. Or if he had to work.

Though he seemed to have his own assignments in his spare time. Ship logs and supply lists didn’t exactly sound interesting to Cora, but she knew that’s what Eli liked. “What kind of personal projects are you working on? If you don’t mind me asking.”

~~

Thrawn took notice of the way her face flushed after he vocalized hi concerns for her health. Was she embarrassed by it in some way? Did he say something wrong? He still couldn’t understand human society at times, but she didn’t seem to take offense to his words, so he assumed everything was alright.

“Of course,” he nodded. Eira knew more about this situation than he did. It was part of her job after all, and Thrawn always relied on himself for his physical fitness. “I will trust you to make the decisions needed.” He quirked the corners of his mouth at the slight suggestion of her dropping his name.

A part of him wanted her to do that.

“Mental health is very important to make sure we’re both doing our jobs the best we can, and to make the right decisions.” Which is important in his case, now as the Grand Admiral. “Sometimes I myself will play a game of holochess, as I find it help relaxes my mind, although I’ve noticed the game doing quite the opposite on my opponents.”

Nearly everyone he played ended up frustrated. “And what about you?”

 

[Lucyfer]

Eli took note of her schedule. She was off for these two days, and then back on. Convenient, at least, for the moment. It would allow him to use time immediately following the party on Thrawn’s behalf to get to know her, before there was a break in it. He could work with that, build on a relationship that could carry over to the next breaks.

So long as Thrawn didn’t send him to do too much.

At her question, he did smile, but there was a touch of regret, “I don’t mind you asking, Cora, but unfortunately I cannot tell you,” it was not to be mentioned what he was looking into, not to anyone. Thrawn didn’t need others aware of his interests, or what he was watching.

It wasn’t espionage on the Empire, exactly.

But it also wasn’t exactly something they would want Thrawn to be looking at. That much, Eli knew, even without Thrawn saying it.

It would be expected that superior officers would have things they couldn’t talk about, though, so he didn’t expect much further question on it.

~***~

Holochess was not a surprising activity for him. Thrawn was notorious for his ability to strategize and move around his opponents. Though Eira was not as familiar with that as some, she was aware enough to know she should be wary. “I admit, I find holochess rather stressful. I’m more inclined to the older version, Shah-tehz,” wary enough not to say that, but then again, the name of her group wasn’t common knowledge.

“The rules are similar enough that I’ll sometimes confuse them or get things mixed up when I shift between the games. Neither are particularly calming, but I think they help all the same,” even she appreciated sharpening her mind, “but I prefer to play music to maintain my own mental health.”

She could make new music. Play old songs. Both required creativity and skill. Memory. Not to mention figuring out how to follow sounds was a strategy of sorts, in and of itself. How to make the song go the way one wanted, how to make it evoke the desired emotions. Her opponent was anyone listening, but usually, she would play for herself when she wasn’t working. That was more calming. She could experiment more on her own, too.

There was also meditation, martial arts…but that was dangerous ground to mention. “I’m sure you could have guessed that about me, though.”

 

[cleopat]

Cora felt immediate disappoint in that Eli couldn’t tell her what he was working on. “Oh,” she responded lamely. It made sense, in hindsight, but after showing him her own project, she had hoped he similarly would share something with her.

“Of course. I’m sure it relates to some top secret Grand Admiral stuff, doesn’t it?” She gave him a smile to indicate her understanding, even if some part of her still remained disappointed.

The music was still playing, which Cora had just realized. As they were no longer dancing, she found no reason to keep the music going, so she walked over to her datapad to turn it off. “Was there something else we had talked about for today?”

She didn’t know if Eli wanted to do anything else, or if he grew tired of her company and wished to do something else for now. Cora hoped for the former, but wouldn’t get her hopes up too much for it.

~~

Someone finding holochess stressful wasn’t surprising or unexpected. Most people did, and as he noticed in the past, especially when they played against someone who was quite skilled. Like himself. He wondered, would Eira indulge him in a game of holochess? Or would she likewise find that a game against him would be frustrating?

She went on to mention her inclination for a game called Shah-tehz. It wasn’t one he was overly familiar with, but the same did sound familiar. “Maybe one day we should challenge each other to a game of Shah-tehz,” he commented. If the rules were similar enough, then he shouldn’t have to worry about learning how to play.

Music helped calm her. That did not surprise him in the least. Music didn’t provoke the same reactions in him as it did for her, but he could appreciate it all the same. “Is it the act of singing or listening that helps you relieve stress?”

Thrawn imagined both, if she enjoyed music enough to make a career from it.

 

[Lucyfer]

Eli could hear the disappointment in Cora’s tone, and he felt regret for mentioning he even had a project. He probably could have never said it, and she’d never feel shunted out. Still, he gave a nod at the question of the Grand Admiral, “Yeah,” that much was true, after all. It was also why it wasn’t his project to talk about.

Otherwise, he probably would have.

She moved away, adding more distance, and asked if there was anything else they had planned. He thought he may have screwed up further now, “No—no this was all kind of just spur of the moment, anyways,” they hadn’t even planned to meet that day, at that time, “I know we’ve talked about games, and sparring,” he said.

He wasn’t sure if offering to leave would make things better, or worse.

He didn’t want to leave, but he knew sometimes it was better than hanging around when someone was annoyed. People worked through things well on their own, or with someone they weren’t annoyed with. Not Thrawn. But Thrawn was a weird exception. “Was there anything you wanted to do?” That sounded like the safer way to find out if she wanted him gone.

~***~

Eira liked the thought of playing Thrawn at shah-tezh. Of playing holochess with him. She thought she might fare better at shah-tezh, but it’d certainly be interesting, “Both, I think, would be fun. I’m getting familiar with Malvern’s style,” which made it easier, even if Malvern was no slouch.

He was also better at holochess than shah-tezh, but that was the case with most. Holochess was more common, after all. People seemed to be thrown off by shah-tezh and its physical board, physical pieces. It was archaic – a decoration, at best, for most.

The thought occurred that Thrawn might actually enjoy it for that same reason, for the craftsmanship that went into each piece. She would indeed have to challenge him, if only to see him examine each piece.

She wasn’t sure which she’d enjoy more, playing him, or watching his fascinating with the old game’s art. And she had a good set, too. One of the few splurges – something she’d commissioned, after setting on her path.

Still, she let that slide for now. She wasn’t going to be inviting Thrawn to her residence anytime soon, and she’d just have to remember to bring it with her, some day.

“It’s both, although when I am playing for relaxing, I usually stay to instrumentals, and let the music follow my thoughts. Singing…singing dictates the thoughts. It’s not as free-flow, for me,” and so, not as relaxing as simply working with an instrument, where her fingers translated thought to sound.

Singing was enjoyed more by the masses, and she certainly enjoyed it, too. It was more the way to make money. Instrumentals and solos didn’t make as much.

 

[cleopat]

Cora had expected for Eli to answer that this was all he had planned for their meeting, and leave it at that – so he could leave. But he didn’t, instead adding on that they had talked about other activities.

And they did. And Cora had hoped that Eli would suggest one of those activities instead of leaving.

So when he did ask if there was something she wanted to do, Cora refrained from smiling. “Well, I taught you something, maybe you could do the same for me?” She shrugged and took a step back over to Eli.

“If you don’t mind, I would like to brush up on sparring.” An excuse for them to stay close, and an excuse to see how Eli would be as a teacher.

~~

Thrawn tried not to frown at Eira’s casual mention of Malvern. Of course she would mention him, they were together after all. He stuck a spoonful of the gelato in his mouth as Eira continued on.

“Well, one day I will have to play you and see for myself.” Would she prove to be just as interesting a holochess or shah-tezh partner as she is in conversation? He would be able to learn more about her through the strategy game. They will be in his territory, after all.

He nodded at her relaxation explanation. It...sort of made sense for him. Only because he didn’t quite understand music. Not in the way he could understand art. But he tried to use what he knew of art and applied it in her case.

“I think I understand, but, in a way, isn’t the voice just another instrument?” Another scoop. The gelato was almost gone, an observation he was very aware of. Commander Vanto would be thrilled to hear of my enjoyment of this treat.

 

[Lucyfer]

Eli hadn’t expected another physical activity so soon, but he nodded to that assessment and went to go get his glass of water, “I guess that’s fair,” and he wasn’t upset with it, “but not here. Let me show you to one of the training rooms. I…wouldn’t want to accidentally damage something in here.”

There wasn’t a great risk of that with dancing, but with sparring? He couldn’t be certain. Fighting, even just sparring, could bring out unpredictable things. Unpredictable reactions. And he hardly knew Cora well enough to be certain that they’d be able to contain themselves to a space.

It wasn’t like when he and Thrawn fought, where they had literally practiced staying in a space, even if they had plenty of space around them. They had to be prepared for being closed in to areas and make sure they could maneuver in them.

“Have you been to any of the training rooms on the Chimaera yet at all?” Eli would ask as he moved to the door to leave this laboratory behind. He worked between a few different ones. They weren't all created equal - that'd be hard, even on a ship this size. Some were better for lifting, others for aerobics, and some, naturally, better suited for sparring.

~***~

Eira gave a nod to that question, “It is, but most of us seek meaning in the sounds that come from the voice,” the Empire was something of an exception, the bitter thought of Wookiees briefly returning to mind. How they had stripped them of sentience and put them on the level of animals…but even animals made sense.

Their sounds carried meaning.

“It isn’t that the instruments themselves lack meaning in the sounds they produce, but,” she leaned back, bit her bottom lip as she tried to think of how to explain it in a way that Thrawn might understand, “I suppose it may be like looking at a portrait, and looking at an abstract image. With a portrait, you do not question what it is, while with an abstract design, you are guided to create meaning from it. At least, that seems to be the case, from the murmurs I’ve heard in galleries when people claim to see all number of things in abstract designs.”

No one questioned that a portrait of a person, or a landscape, were just those things. They may question the expression on their face, or the items included along with the person – but not what it was. The way a word could not be argued as being meaningful. Its meanings were known, though the context could be questioned for its use. “I find it easier to let the free flow of sounds I don’t have to translate immediately help to relax me.”

She could work on its understanding later, as each note hit her and drew her forward.

 

[cleopat]

“Of course not here. Not only the risk of damage is high, but there’s hardly any padding on the floor.” Cora resisted the smile that threatened, but she couldn’t deny her excitement.

She grabbed her glass of water as well, which remained largely untouched, but would be needed once they started sparring.

She followed behind Eli. “I have.” While sparring may have been something she hadn’t touched much since her academy days, she still kept up in shape, despite her sedentary job. Or maybe it was because of her sedentary job.

“I mainly use the training rooms for cardio and lifting.” Anything she could do to keep her stamina and muscle tone.

~~

Thrawn nodded along to her explanation. Her attempt in explaining her meaning through an art metaphor was appreciative and helpful. Through that, he was able to understand better. “I’ve heard that as well, concerning the abstract art.”

It was a bit more puzzling to him than art with an actual subject, or a piece of a cultural item. He learned to appreciate some, and even found a way to glance inside the mind of the person who created it, and thus from there learn more about who they were, and what their home was like.

It was all still a giant puzzle piece for him.

“Yes, I think that makes sense,” he ultimately decided, after Eira finished. “There is not a huge demand to necessarily think as much when just creating this sound, is there? You just create whatever comes to mind.”

 

[Lucyfer]

Cora did know at least where to find some of the training rooms, and had used some. A hum of approval rumbled in his throat as he led on. At least she wasn’t getting too caught up in isolating for research or anything like that, which was good.

It was still a good walk from the laboratory to get to the training room that Eli wanted, and once he stepped in, he moved to set his water down, before he started to undo his tunic top. It’d hardly be good to sweat through that, which he knew he ran the risk of. Or getting it dirty.

The pants would just suffer, but he could spare the top. He wore a tanktop under it anyways, white.

Still, he spoke while removing his tunic, “Do you prefer with or without weapons?” He asked, not certain if she had a preference or a way she’d like to begin. Since he would be the one teaching, he thought it better to work with her preferences.

~***~

Thrawn seemed to understand what Eira was saying, and Eira was glad she hadn’t sounded too insane. She was able to nod agreeably at his deductions, “Precisely. It’s also what I learned first, so I think it may come easier, as well,” less thought. Of course, she had sung has a child, but there was a difference.

She hadn’t cared much about key, pitch, notes, or things like that. She learned to match those later, but as a child she’d just sung, carefree. She was told she was a good singer, but it was careless.

It did make her wonder, “Is holochess so common where you are from, or is it something you have picked up since joining the Empire?” She did wonder how much Thrawn had known about the galaxy, prior to coming into the Empire. How much they did share, and how much was different for him.

There would be similarities, but it was hard to imagine holochess would be one of those things.

 

[cleopat]

Once inside the training room, Cora moved to put her water down as well, and once she straightened back up, she was greeted by the sight of Eli removing his tunic top.

She froze and could only hope that he didn’t see the blush that colored her cheeks.

It made sense though to remove the tunic for sparring. So she removed hers as well, as she had a tank underneath. Not only sparing her from the sweat, but the lack of tunic would give her more freedom of movement.

“Let’s try without weapons this time.” She wanted to gauge his style and teaching methods before introducing something that could potentially injure them both.

~~

Eira’s logic made sense. Something she knew since childhood would be easier to pick up on when exhausted and in need of a break. It would be second nature for her. As far as he could tell, at least.

Then she further asked about his interest in holochess. If it was something he picked up back on his home world. “We have something similar back home, so picking up the rules of holochess had been simple enough.”

He didn’t understand why so many people had issues with learning holochess. His strategic mind picked it up easily enough, but he knew not everyone had their gifts in strategic planning.

But he was at least trying to teach Eli Vanto.

"I am always looking for a new opponent to play," he would offer with a slight smile. The possibility of a future match had already been established, but he wanted assurance.

 

[Lucyfer]

Eli definitely saw the blush, and admittedly, he took some small pride in it. It was what he anticipated, but it seemed that Cora had not. As such, he didn’t have such an obvious reaction when Cora followed suit; he had anticipated it, but he still appreciated the new view all the same.

He just made sure his gaze didn’t venture down, much. Not more than a quick glance, a quick once over.

Totally just to assess her physical condition, as he followed that with a nod, “All right, no weapons,” he would allow, as he moved out onto the matted floor and gestured for her to follow. He’d slip into a stance now too familiar, lowering himself a bit, knees bent, but relaxed. Limber.

“Come at me first,” he told her. “I want to assess your attacking strategy a bit,” he was pretty sure he could keep up with dodging and blocking. If not, he’d learn something that way, too.

~***~

Again, Thrawn brought up the thought of playing her, not so overtly this time, and Eira chuckled. She couldn’t help it. It was almost cute that he asked again for reassurance. Rather than answer, or even suggest someone else entirely, she reached for her datapad. The gelato was mostly finished by both of them, after all, and they had a flat surface.

With a couple of taps, she brought up a holochess board between them. “You can just say you’d like to play a game now, Grand Admiral,” a light tease.

Holochess was still strange to her, in that one could choose what creatures they wanted to put on the board, but only up to four. Shah-tezh had more pieces than that, and the two players had the same pieces, in the same areas, each time.

So long as Thrawn didn’t seem opposed, she would pick her own team of four; the choices would be hidden until they had both locked in their choices, so there’d be no advantage to locking it in sooner, or later.

 

[cleopat]

Her fluster and blush now gone, Cora followed Eli onto the padded mats. She hid any proof of nervousness. What was there to be nervous about? Nothing. He was just showing her how to spar, as she showed him how to dance. They’ve touched before. Nothing new.

And she certainly paid no attention to the reveal of his lean muscles.

Cora copied his stance, the form familiar from her training. Beyond that, she was less confident. It had been so long since a sparring class. And he wanted her to attack first.

She nodded, shifting her stance as she ran her eyes over his. To see any visible weak spots. Not seeing any in her untrained eyes, Cora lunged forward, seeking to unbalance him through the midsection.

~~

Thrawn shot her a questioning glance when she reached for her datapad. Did she grow bored by his presence? Was she calling for someone to pick her up? Not that he cared, he was just naturally curious.

But it was soon made clear with the appearance of a holochess board. He flustered a bit by her statement, not expecting her to actually indulge him at the moment.

He smiled from the unexpected gesture. “This is much appreciated, Miss Eira,” he couldn’t help the polite title that slipped his lips.

Thrawn carefully picked out his own creatures, carefully chosen by what he surmised her strategy could be based on what he knew of her, and locked in those choices. “Would you care to go first?” he offered with a slight wave of his hand.

 

[Lucyfer]

Eli observed her, as he’d been taught to do. He watched how her weight shifted on her feet, until he knew what she was going to do before she did it. She spent too much time analyzing, and when she came with a lunge – he returned the favor. He’d learned already that running from it was hardly a good idea.

He may have been able to feint one direction or the other, but the recovery from the move may not be as quick.

Few people expected to be met on the offensive – and Eli knew he’d be able to over power Cora with strength alone, so he wasn't worried about that as he might be with Thrawn. His shoulder would collide with the middle of her chest first, propelling her back, possibly down, but he wouldn’t make a point to follow or strike.

He was there to get an idea, after all, and so if he wasn’t grasped at or held, he’d step back to give Cora space to re-orient herself.

~***~

“Just Eira,” the actress reminded him, as she locked in her own choices, even if it was less flustering this time. Their monsters appeared on the board – Eira’s selection of Ghhhk, Kintan Strider, Ng’ok, and the Molator manifesting on her side, at the same time as Thrawn’s pieces did. Eira glanced over them, but denied going first.

“Chance shall decide that,” she indicated, letting the game itself pick. It did end up choosing her, and she followed through. “Well, well…I hope you do not mind that I won’t just throw the game?” a light smile.

If she lost, she lost, and she would accept it, but she wouldn’t just give the victory to him.

Most of the pieces only had movesets of one or two spaces at once, but the houjix and molator had up to four. That said, that wasn’t how she moved the molator, but she did move it two spaces closer to the Ghhhk and Kintan Strider, which were nearer to the front of the group she had placed on the board, before giving a nod to let Thrawn take his own turn, her piece locked into its new place.

But once it was his turn, her gaze would lift from the board to him. She wouldn’t watch the pieces – she’d watch him, and how his eyes flickered across it. What he assessed. What he considered. She wouldn’t read his thoughts, no – but she knew how to read people with that.

 

[cleopat]

Cora expected Eli to evade her attack, or to even overpower her and bring her down. She didn’t expect his shift to cause his shoulder to collide with the middle of her chest.

She stumbled back, clutching her chest as she gasped for air. It only took a moment for Cora to regain her bearings, and once she did, she moved with one arm extended, seeking to collide with his head.

Not so willing to admit it to anyone other than Eli, Cora did not know much of what she was doing. She attacked in form of what she could remember from the academy, and that was why she knew she was lacking. She couldn’t remember much of what she learned, although some maneuvers came back slowly as she tried to attack Eli.

~~

“Of course, Eira,” he responded with a smile. His choices were locked in, and the monsters appeared on the board: the Grimtaash, Kintan Strider, Mantellian Savrip, and Houjix.

The moment Eira’s pieces appeared, Thrawn already began strategizing how to overtake them. His mind geared into action even as he listened and responded to her. She was going first. “Just be sure to give me a good game.” A light smirk crossed his lips.

The first pieces moved. His crimson gaze focused on the pieces, as he contemplated which to move first. His mind swiftly moved through every scenario he could think of in the moment.

After a moment, he moved the Mantellian Savrip forward.

Thrawn signaled his turn was over, but he would lift his gaze back to Eira. “Maybe we should make this game more interesting. A bet, if you will.”

 

[Lucyfer]

The step back was enough for Eli, and staying at a distance, he was able to see her straighten up, and cock her fist back, before moving forward. ‘All right.’

He would not meet this with violence. Besides the difficulty of trying to reach her first with a kick, he also didn’t really enjoy hurting her and he already felt bad for the grimace he’d seen cross her face. So, this time, Eli turned and stepped left, letting the punch miss him.

That wouldn’t be the end, though. He reached out to attempt to catch her wrist before she could draw it back, more to see if she could evade it than anything, but if she didn’t, he’d work to try and pin it behind her back so she could get an idea of a holding technique.

~***~

Thrawn’s eyes didn’t sweep much of the board, but it was clear he was working through his thoughts and what to do all the same. When he settled on moving the Mantellian Savrip, Eira didn’t even hesitate.

The Ng’ok was moved to join the cluster of her others, rather than advance towards his side of the board, or work towards engagement.

“Perhaps,” Eira lifted her gaze back up from the board to him, not agreeing readily. “What did you have in mind?” She couldn’t just agree to anything, after all, but she was curious what Thrawn hoped to win from the game, beyond the enjoyment of the play. For, certainly, he hoped to win and now claim a prize.

That could be good.

That could be bad.

 

[cleopat]

Cora nearly huffed when her fist missed its mark, though it wasn’t unexpected. Eli had more experience in sparring than she did. He was likely able to read cues her body gave off of how she would attack next in ways she had yet to learn how to do on others.

What was unexpected was the grab at her wrist. Her eyes widened some, but in an attempt to escape his grip, she reacted by sweeping out one foot to knock Eli off-balance and let her go.

She didn’t purposely seek to harm him, as he attempted the same to her (unbeknownst to her). Cora instinctively reacted with what was taught to her, and how her mind reacted in a fight-or-flight situation.

In a way, they were dancing again, but as Eli didn’t know proper form in the dance she taught him, Cora didn’t know the proper forms of sparring properly.

~~

She moved the Ng’ok. Thrawn lightly hummed at her choice, and settled on moving the Grimtaash one space. He picked up on more potential strategies of hers in that one move, and after his piece moved forward, he lifted his focus back on Eira.

“Nothing of great loss. Simply another outing like today, when neither one of us are working.” One hand rested under his chin.

If she did enjoy his company today, Thrawn didn’t imagine it would be of great hesitance on her part to agree to his deal, and from what he had observed, she enjoyed their time.

He wouldn’t offer an alternative if she were the one to win. He would give her a chance to offer her own stipulation, if she so chose to do.

 

[Lucyfer]

Eli could see the move, but he didn’t let her go to avoid it. His progress had been to move forward anyways, and he decided to keep that, even as he knew he was going to lose balance. There was, after all, another advantage to his strength that he could play on. He didn’t think Cora was going to be a great grappler.

This was another lesson.

And so as he lost balance with his forward momentum, it would push against her. He reached to grab her other hand in the fall, intending to pin both once they hit the ground. It’d be easier from there to actually fully pin her with his weight, if she couldn’t struggle or push against him with his hands. Legs would be easier to handle once that worry was settled.

~***~

The Griimtaash was a potentially difficult piece to Eira’s plans, and she acknowledged that. Thrawn may or may not have figured out why, but it was not the piece that concerned her most, all the same. His choice to move it didn’t go unnoticed, but it wasn’t going to influence her strategy too much.

Not yet.

“Are you concerned I would have said no if you had asked otherwise?” Her smile was light, “Perhaps instead, the winner gets to decide where, given another outing is likely,” Eira offered, so he wouldn’t think he had to fall back on a game.

Rather, he’d simply get to set the location, if he won. And she would do the same, if she won.

The Strider was moved two paces forward, breaking from the group.

 

[cleopat]

Cora should’ve expected that she would go down with him.

And she did, after she had kicked out her feet. A second too late, did she realize this.

She fell to the floor with Eli’s forward momentum. He grabbed her other hand in their fall, and she hit the floor with a sharp exhale of air leaving her lungs.

Then Cora realized their position. Eli had her pinned to the floor with each wrist, and he was nearly laying on top of her. Even if she thought about struggling, she couldn’t in the moment her mind went blank and the flush crept up her neck.

~~

Thrawn smiled at Eira’s addition to the bet. As if he hadn’t thought of it to begin with, but wanted to make sure she was comfortable with the decision and not meeting him simply because she had to.

And with the expected addition of where they would meet laid out, Thrawn would ensure he won and picked a location he was more comfortable in and could have the advantage.

“I’d say that sounds fair,” he commented, eyes momentarily flickering to the board to move a piece. He moved the houjix away from the group.

“And perhaps the loser will pay for the outing? Of course, we would have to come to an agreement of nowhere outlandish.” He was thinking something similar to the gelato place. Cheap and something they both enjoyed.

 

[Lucyfer]

Eli Vanto went down, but he wasn't rolled or bucked. He was able to restrain Cora as he leaned over her. His knees planted on the ground to stabilize his balance, though his weight was still held down. It was only after he'd mentally gone through his checklist that he realized one consideration that wouldn't have crossed his mind to care about in an actual fight: Cora was beneath him.

And flushed.

And he was very close to her right then, leaning over to keep her arms down.

He had a thought to kiss her, before his face went scarlet and he released her hands, scrambling off of her and pulling himself to the side. He wasn't sure if an apology was in order or not, but it spilled from his lips anyways, "S-sorry!" That wasn't by any means an inappropriate move in a fight, but his thoughts had not been appropriate. "Are you okay? You didn't hit your head too hard, right?"

Sure. That was what he was apologizing for.

~***~

Eira chuckled at Thrawn's comment of nowhere outlandish, "Well, if you insist." She doubted, for one, that he'd truly be able to hurt her wallet with one outing, although that would be impressive. "I suppose I can behave if I win. I know a few more places besides here."

Given she really wasn't all that into lavish spending, it was no hardship, but Thrawn could learn that. She had images to maintain. Her wealth was mostly used for charity, from a certain point of view...but most would never learn that by how she appeared, blissfully unaware how much people like herself got things as gifts.

Free advertisement.

Her Strider wouldn't chase the piece that Thrawn moved, but continue on to where the majority were. Her own strategy of keeping the others grouped together to allow for healing was decent enough, save for the fact that one of Thrawn's creatures had a ridiculous amount of hit points. It was the only reason she would have considered the stunning beast but alas, she hadn't played it.

The game would go to Thrawn.

 

[cleopat]

All Cora could focus on in the moment was the feeling of how Eli’s body pressed against hers, how he firmly held her down with his hands. Her flush occurred with simultaneous thoughts of the little distance between the two closing, but soon enough Eli scrambled to his feet.

Stuttering apologies as he stood up.

Cora cooled down from the distance, yet she yearned for that closeness once more. Snap out of it. She stood up and brushed herself off. “No, I’m fine, nothing hurt.” Except maybe my pride with how fast you scrambled up.

“Should we try again?” With the question, Cora lowered into a fighting stance, knees slightly bent and hands raised.

~~

“I think I would be disappointed if you did behave,” Thrawn would say with a knowing grin. He could afford any outing she chose, he surmised, but the quips were entertaining enough.

The game unfolded before them, and Eira proved to be a worthy adversary for Thrawn. In the end though, Thrawn came out victorious, as he expected. He was pleasantly surprised though with how well Eira played. It only proved to him how they needed to meet again for future matches and shah-tezh.

“It seems that I need to choose somewhere for our next outing,” he said after his winning move. “I hope you don’t mind if I don’t immediately think of a place.” He wanted some small time to think it through. Would it be terribly cliché of him to choose one of the many art galleries on Coruscant?

 

[Lucyfer]

Cora wasn’t hurt, which was a relief. His embarrassment was cooling his own flustered heat, and he hesitated a moment as Cora dropped back into stance. She wanted to keep going? Well, he supposed he wasn’t going to deny her, only this time, as he dropped into stance, he said, “I’m going to mimic what you did.”

The lunge.

“I want you to stop me.” Either the way he did, or some other way. She might not have the strength to stop a lunge in the same way, but there were other methods, and he offered, “A good straight kick or side kick to the chest can be effective, if timed right,” it was all about timing in that; done wrong, he might have time to catch her leg.

“Anyone who lunges expects you to back-up, or move away.”

A truth, in almost all cases, that Eli found, “So let me know when you’re ready.”

~***~

Eira would take her own mental notes for Thrawn’s strategy. Defensive playing was not going to work too well, if this was his norm. She’d have to try a more aggressive strategy next time and see how it all fell. Different creatures – even if she so preferred to use the ghhhk to most others. It was rather fun to heal creatures back to full, after all.

She wasn’t upset to lose, and even maintained an easy smile, “Yes, yes you do – I do not envy you that task, even if it seems I’ll be covering this outing,” she reached to her datapad to dismiss the game. “You can take your time to figure it out,” she allowed, “though I will need some warning. I cannot always drop what I am doing.”

In some ways, he had been lucky. A new script always required a read-through, and that allowed her ample reason to just call the day, so that everyone had time to get familiar with things before practicing. “And, of course, I am busy this Saturday.”

Though she’d see him there. No need to make that their actual outing. Malvern would be far from pleased with that.

 

[cleopat]

Cora nodded. She could stop him. Maybe. Would her attempt result in a similar situation they had just found themselves in? “Okay, I can do that.”

She readily took in his advice. So don’t move away from the lunge. She had to go on the offensive and attack right back. Cora could do that. While her upper body strength needed more work, even despite the lifting, her lower body strength was commendable.

When not caught off-guard with an attractive officer straddling her with her wrists pinned.

“Okay, I’m ready.” And when Eli lunged at her, Cora would retaliate with a swift side kick to the chest, in hopes to knock him on the floor.

~~

Thrawn nodded at her stipulations for the next outing. “Of course. I understand that you are a busy woman, and I will be sure to take your own hectic schedule in mind next time I ask for a chance to meet.”

And his reason for hastily asking to meet with her escaped his mind in the moment. As he so easily took in her charming smile without thought of what she herself could be thinking.

“I may already have a location in mind, but I shall let you sit in anticipation. We are, after all, seeing one another again on Saturday, as you mentioned.” It wouldn’t be quite an outing like today, but they would see each other, and more than likely converse for some time.

Or so he’d imagine.

But there was the issue of that guy she was seeing. “And how does the Count feel about your talking to me?”

 

[Lucyfer]

Knowing what could happen was a slight deterrent to wanting to go through with his own plan. ‘It won’t be that bad.’ He had to psyche himself up a bit, before Cora said that she was ready. He took a breath, and then lunged forward.

Cora timed it well enough. Eli could have lessened the blow to himself a bit, knowing it was coming, but he didn’t. He took the kick to the chest and stumbled backwards. He didn’t fall, but a hand definitely went to move over the wound. It hurt. That was undeniable, but he still smiled in spite of that.

“See?”

It was one thing to take with her, one very useful thing to recall for fights – don’t play into what was expected. Of course, he wouldn’t want to practice that all die. That’d get painful. But it would help Cora defend herself if she was ever in such a situation. “You’ll usually have time to follow up from that, or run, depending on the situation,” he said as he straightened up again, and dropped his hand from covering that spot on his chest.

~***~

‘What have I done?’ Eira was almost amused with her own thought as Thrawn spoke on, hoping to let her sit in anticipation of their next meeting. Planning to see her Saturday. And then right away asking about Malvern. Oh, his intent was only too plain, if only because Eira had grown familiar with dismissing people once she realized it.

Malvern was a good shield. A perfect gentleman.

Almost a pity in this scenario, but Thrawn’s infatuation would wane. He would get tired of hearing about Malvern. Eira just had to hope that it wouldn’t be the only thing that held his attention – she did enjoy him. ‘And were it not for….’ But she didn’t let that thought finish as she shook her head, laughing smile on her lips, “Why, Grand Admiral, should he think anything amiss of this?”

It was an easy tease. She and Malvern never played at being jealous or possessive. “Besides your political differences, I doubt he minds terribly. He has more reason to be annoyed with the men and women I act alongside than with you, but he knows how much socializing with others is a part of not only my job, but simply what I enjoy, as well. Just as I know it is a part of his career to socialize.”

No jealousy. No possession. Simple confidence and trust in each other to live their own lives.

 

[cleopat]

Cora visibly winced when she watched Eli rub his chest at the point of contact. She knew it had to hurt on some level, even if he smiled through that pain. A foot in the chest wasn’t the most pleasant sensation to experience.

“Okay, yeah, seems simple enough. Kick and run.” She grinned and shifted her weight to readjust her stance. If they were to continue, Cora imagined she would have to suggest something that didn’t end with a foot in his chest. Or anything equally painful for him. Or her.

“How about if someone is coming at me in close range, and I have no time to ready a kick or anything else like that? Almost like grappling,” she inquired. Although the possibility of ending back up on the floor like before was significant, grappling seemed like an important skill if she were ever attacked unexpectedly.

Plus that particular lesson could take them several sessions to get down, like Eli with the additional dance maneuvers.

~~

Thrawn shrugged at her question. Humans could be fickle creatures, from what he learned. “I know humans tend to get jealous of their significant other, and I needed to make sure the Count would not get jealous over our conversations.”

Not that they were talking about anything warranting jealousy. Just simple talks over gelato and holochess. And, in the future, art.

Your political differences. Malvern’s office had been decorated in separatist memorabilia. He still had to make a note for the Empire to keep an eye on him, as a potential person of interest against the Empire, even as both Malvern and Eira denied any potential conflict.

He didn’t expect the guilty to admit their crime until caught in the action. Likewise, he wouldn’t expect it of Malvern until further research was done. “Of course I will keep all of this in mind. Please do let him know I hope to be able to talk to him on Saturday. Nothing serious, mind you, but simple conversation.”

 

[Lucyfer]

Eli laughed a bit at her determination to run away rather than stand and fight. He would not criticize it, of course. Technically speaking, none of them were meant to be soldiers. They were in the naval branch for a reason, and that reason was fighting with starships, not fists. That was for the Stormtroopers and the generals. Still, being able to defend against assault, in the case of being boarded or simply being taken by surprise, was useful.

So, he wouldn't deny her request to consider other possibilities, and he stepped closer, close enough so that when he reached out to lay his hands over her shoulders, his elbows had to bend a bit. "This close?" He figured a straight arm distance might be enough time to plan something.

"Generally speaking, this is when you make use of the knee and certain, ah, sensitive areas, or the elbow if your combatant has a softer chest, but I'd really rather not feel a knee today." His nervous chuckle said it all. Playing dirty would not be agreeable, in this circumstance.

His hands slid off her shoulder and he lifted one, elbow bent, "You can also throw a mean elbow into someone's throat if the height is good. Basically this is the range for elbows and knees to do the most damage, unless you can catch and flip someone."

Eli always considered that a little too precise to train for in most instances, but he was capable of it.

~***~

Eira shook her head, "No, he won't get jealous." Eira promised, "Neither of us could deal with jealousy in our careers - I kiss too many people for that," it came with a light laugh at that truth.

Stars knew she'd learned that, and seen plenty of it. Arguments between significant others over things as petty as a stage kiss. They were meaningless. She wouldn't be able to tolerate someone who got jealous over every little interaction or false show of affection.

It was also a small dissuasion on her part. Most people were terribly jealous, and didn't consider these things at first thought when the initial infatuation took hold.

"I will him know, though." Eira promised, "I'm sure he'd enjoy learning a little more about you; he's always curious about non-humans in the Imperial ranks. It would help him to see another side, and even just to learn simple things would help him to relate to you, before getting any deeper. The Count certainly has a respect for many cultures. You two may share some similar interests."