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Mara
nothing worth anything ever goes down easy
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Feb 9, 2010 19:06:53 GMT -5
Post by Mara on Feb 9, 2010 19:06:53 GMT -5
(((Okay, this is just for Kaiven's Mando and Ambria, but if you'd like to do another thread with her, or jump in this one, just post in HERE for more information and to sign-up.))) [... from the Passing of a Legend] Ambria Arcane, lieutenant in the Mandalorian special operations had had to get out of the barracks, get off base. The return from Shogun had been a few days prior, but still she hadn't gotten used to the events that happened as a result as their assault on the Republic bases there. All in all her mission had been a success--her team had disabled the communications center and allowed for the drop of many other soldiers to help take the planet. They had also rescued those of their own who had been held hostage by the Republic dogs. The other team, Bravo, had been successful, too, but at a much greater loss. She still couldn't believe that Mandalore was dead. And Mal and others were presumed dead. As the team's medic, she had done all she could to save the great man, but it was too late. All Ambria could do was lay his body down somewhere as respectfully as possible during the flight back. The memorial service for him upon their return had been beautiful. More Mandalorians than she had ever seen in one place before had come to Concord Dawn to pay their respects. She had briefly looked to see if there was any she could recognize from the planet Mandalore's delegation, but her family was not among them. For the best. She wasn't sure if she was ready to face them yet after leaving them over ten years ago. Especially since the service for Mandalore, Solus'ad, had been a raw spot for her. Ambria's own husband had died, the reason for her leaving so quickly. Without saying any good-byes, without paying any respect to her husband's family. It was one of the highest of betrayals in her mind. But there was nothing else she could have done. She knew she had needed a fresh start. To run away from the pain and the heartbreak. Yet it was all still there, hidden beneath the walls she had put up in her mind. It had all rushed up when she was sparring with another soldier, before the mission to Shogun. And Ambria felt she was beginning to deal with her loss, no longer hiding it. But there was only so much she could do on her own. Until she could trust someone else with her pain, though, it would be her burden to bear. A burden packed heavier with the death of Mandalore. And so she found herself leaving the Special Ops HQ and base behind and going into the nearby town, dressed in her civilian clothes, simple leggings and boots, dark green tunic. She needed some space, some quiet time. The firing range had always been a calming place for her, but right now all her rifle brought to her was memories of Solus'ad. And of Turin. No, the more distance she could put behind her from her military life the better. At least for a few hours. Not normally a big drinker, the dark-skinned young woman stopped in front of a small bar and cantina, her emerald eyes looking but not seeing. Her mind was everywhere except for the decision-making area of her brain. She stood there in the street, wondering what she was doing there. Wondering if she should go in or continue on. Wondering if she would ever feel whole again.
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Bones
The Wizard of AUS
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Feb 9, 2010 23:31:31 GMT -5
Post by Bones on Feb 9, 2010 23:31:31 GMT -5
The news that the Mandalore had been killed in action hit the planet of Mandalore hard. Generally there was greiving for the loss of such a respected and powerful leader, but in some cases, others saw an opportunity. Fighting started in a few locations over who the new Mandalore should be. The Mandalorian Army destroyed these splinter groups as easily as a man stood on a bug. However, there were more pressing issues at hand.
The Funeral.
The delegation from the planet of Mandalore had requested an escort from the Army, and the Army obliged. So that was how Zarik found himself standing at the funeral ceremony of the Mandalore, his eyes scanning the crowd from behind the T-visor of his helmet, completely hidden from the view of others. His eyes were searching for another's, for they'd been told to be wary of people seeming disinterest, for assassins were suspected to be present.
That was how he noticed her, staring at the Mandalorian delegation. From his position off to the side a bit, he knew that she wouldn't notice him. His thumb flicked, clicking off the safety of his blaster rifle, just in case. "Third row back, 4th from the left. Do not take action, just monitor. Repeat, do not take action." He whispered into his helmet comm-link, knowing his voice was heard in each helmet of the rest of his unit.
The funeral ended without any event, and the Army unit were led to a spare barracks at the small Army base that they could use. Zarik stared out the window as he took his armour off, looking up at the Spec-Ops base in the distance. He sighed, knowing where he would rather be. He showered and changed quickly now, preferring to wear black combat pants and a black singlet tight over his powerfully built muscles. He smirked, running a hand through his short black hair, before walking out the door.
There had to be something good in the town nearby. It was a thought that gave him hope as he walked through the sand towards the town. The climate made him feel thirsty, and he immediately knew what it was that he desired out of the town. It was time for a drink.
He found the bar easily, but someone out the front caught his attention. He looked at the woman for a moment before saying from a distance, "Hey! Buy you a drink?
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Mara
nothing worth anything ever goes down easy
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Feb 10, 2010 18:01:33 GMT -5
Post by Mara on Feb 10, 2010 18:01:33 GMT -5
She blinked, not realizing right away that someone was speaking to her. Shaking her head out of her daze, she turned around to look for the origin of the voice. A young man with black hair was standing behind her. Muscled and tall. Why those words came to her mind, Ambria didn't know. She hadn't thought anything remotely to that nature in almost a decade. Maybe a drink really would help her sort things out, or at least stun her a bit and get her head cleared up.
His words finally registered to her, and she nodded. There was no harm in it, she figured. She needed the drink, and it was better not to drink alone, where there was no one to keep her accountable for her actions. Ambria knew conversation would keep her from becoming a babbling drunk in a few hours, if left to her own devices. "Yes. Thank you."
Now that she was thinking a bit more straight and no longer in the hazy mist of her painful memories Ambria could study this man a bit more passively. Well-built, young. Generic black clothing. He could be anyone, really. Not many options for someone on Concord Dawn, but there were still quite a few who came there who were not Mandalorian, military or no. But the ease with which he walked towards her told her of some kind of formal training. More so than a traditional Mandalorian, and that was all he could be, for she saw his tattoo as he got closer. So army then; she knew just about everyone in the small band of special operations.
When he got closer to her, she nodded again. "I'm Ambria." Despite any preconceived notions she might have about who he was, she wasn't about to go all formal on him with her military rank. Right now she just wanted to relax and hide away the things she rather not think about for a few hours.
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Bones
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Feb 11, 2010 11:17:24 GMT -5
Post by Bones on Feb 11, 2010 11:17:24 GMT -5
Now that he came closer, he allowed himself to examine her more closely. Her short hair framing those bright green eyes. They seemed to shine as bright as his own blue ones. He looked at her for a moment, registering her name to memory, "Pleased to meet you, Ambria. I'm Zarik." He said simply, his eyes tracing over the rest of her body quickly. Definitely healthy and powerful, but not powerful in the same way he was. He looked at her for a moment, going over the possibilities.
He led her inside, choosing a small, round table furthest from the door. He slid one chair out for her, before sitting in another off to the side a bit. He looked around the dimly lit room, weighing up the rest of the patrons. He let his muscles relax when he finally allowed himself to believe there was no threat. He beckoned to the bar staff, calling for two ales.
"I hope ale is fine. It's all we drink in the barracks back on Mandalore." He said simply, "Se tell me about yourself, Ambria. What are you doing here on Concord Dawn?"
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Mara
nothing worth anything ever goes down easy
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Feb 12, 2010 18:04:55 GMT -5
Post by Mara on Feb 12, 2010 18:04:55 GMT -5
"Likewise, Zarik," she nodded at him politely. Ambria felt something very strange coming over her, and perhaps it was just being in the company of someone in a more relaxed environment. As a soldier, she was nothing but confidence. But here now, standing in front of this cantina next to this young, attractive, man, she felt herself forgetting how to behave properly in public. Which was quite evident by how she was speaking, she thought. Was she trying to overcompensate for any jitters by being overly proper with this man?
Ambria was glad then when he left her side to enter into the bar, and she was content to walk behind him, glad that for a few moments those blue eyes wouldn't be staring into her soul, as she felt they were just a few minutes earlier out in the street. On the way through the crowded room she gave herself an inner pep talk, convincing herself this was just a friendly drink. She was, after all, trying to have some fun or, at least, get away from all the tension going on at the base following the Mandalore's funeral. When she couldn't go to the firing range or run till she almost dropped, this way was better than most to relieve stress or settle her emotions.
Emotions... the word rolled around inside her head. They were a fickle thing. Was she feeling some kind of emotion for this man? she thought as she sat down in the proffered chair. Well, of course, her inner voice said. It was hard not to feel anything. That was all part of being an intelligent sentient being. Ambria conceded this to her inner self. She just had to figure out what kind of emotion she was experiencing. Contentment? Relief? Could it be, happiness that someone had offered her a drink, despite all her firm intentions in the last decade to never have more than a platonic or work relationship with anyone? Yes, she had thought it; it was out in the open in her mind. Was she scared that she might be replacing Turin or ruining her memory of him? Could that be all that she was feeling right now, fear?
She probably would have kept on being introspective for hours on end if she hadn't heard something that interrupted her. A voice. His voice. Her eyes refocused and she looked at him. All Ambria could do was nod and smile. Ale would be fine. Something not too strong but enough to relax the tension she was obviously experiencing with so many thoughts fighting for attention within her mind. "Thank you," she said, finally finding her voice.
What was she doing on Concord Dawn? Her sensible side of her told her to wait to explain to him what she was doing. To be general about it. But something about this man made her want to be completely honest. Plus, she had nothing to gain by lying to him. He would no doubt figure it out eventually. All notice she had had of him mentioning her home planet of Mandalore was gone for the moment.
Clearing her throat, she smiled at him again. And with a sip of the ale that was placed in front of her, she felt her old self again. Any fear or uncertainty washing away. The clear-headed soldier was back. "I'm based here. In the special ops for the Mandalorian army." A little bit of pride entered her voice at that; her heritage was one of the things she still could claim after leaving her family behind.
"And what about you?" It wasn't that she wasn't comfortable talking about herself--she would, to a certain extent; Ambria just felt conversations should be a bit of give and take and not just one-sided. Plus, something was tickling the back of her mind about what he had said earlier. Yes, there it was, Mandalore. "Perhaps I should ask why you are so far from your barracks?" A smile accompanied this question, her green eyes watching his face.
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Bones
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Mar 1, 2010 1:48:45 GMT -5
Post by Bones on Mar 1, 2010 1:48:45 GMT -5
His bright eyes scanned over her as she spoke. They lingered on her lips for a moment as she spoke. Special Ops. He smirked for a moment, although he hid it by taking another drink from his glass of ale. He lowered his glass, allowing it to fall a little way onto the table top with a light clunk. He looked at her for a moment, trying to find words to describe what he was about to do. "Well, I was in the Army. I'm a Pyrotechnics specialist. I came over here as part of the armed escort for the delegation from Mandalore." He stopped for a moment before saying quietly, "But....uh.... I'm being transferred to a sub-division of Spec-Ops." He looked down for a moment, knowing the reputation that the Blood Pack had. It wasn't something he would go bragging about.
He looked over her body once again, taking in more detail now. His attention, however, kept drawing to his eyes. He looked away, waving for another two glasses of ale, trying not to allow himself to get lost in his opposite number's.
"I get my job done efficiently. That's what got the powers that be to transfer me. It's just, sometimes how I do my job got me into this particular group." He said quietly, taking an extremely large drink from his glass as he finished talking. Why was he being so open? Of course, he blamed it on the ale. Everyone knew that alcohol loosened lips.... But one drink? At his size? It confused him greatly.
(( OOC: Sorry it took so long, and sorry it's not the best post ))
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Mara
nothing worth anything ever goes down easy
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Mar 9, 2010 17:43:38 GMT -5
Post by Mara on Mar 9, 2010 17:43:38 GMT -5
((No worries; I've been a bit busy myself))
The easy-going nature of the conversation along with the ale had definitely relaxed her and she no longer felt squeamishly uncomfortable sharing a table in a cantina with this man. If she had, Ambria would have noticed him staring at her a little bit too much. Good that her mind was now occupied with something more important, conversation with a fellow soldier, and the promise of recent news from her home planet. A finger ran up and down her ale glass idly as she waited for his answer.
She nodded at him. They had had similar vocational paths then. Both starting out in the army and eventually being transferred to a higher position, more prestigious. Though, she was unaware that special operations had a subdivision. Ambria knew that could be due to her also being somewhat new to the spec ops or perhaps that this sub group was also new. Either way, she still counted the soldier drinking across from her as a fellow. Spec ops was an elite group, sub-group or no.
Ambria wanted to be able to ask him about Mandalore the planet, to get more information about what was going on over there... news of her family in particular, but she didn't know how to broach the subject. Instead, she remained silent, waiting for him to continue, as she could tell by reading his face that he had more to say about his new assignment. And was somewhat uncomfortable about it. She merely sipped from her ale and waited. No amount of pushing from her would make him resume any more quickly. Plus, if she couldn't ask about her parents at the moment, the least she could do was learn more about this new subdivision of spec ops that now had her curiosity piqued.
Though she had no idea what this group was or what they did, Ambria was a little confused at this soldier's nervousness. He had been in the army for a while now; a transfer to spec ops should be something to celebrate, not be afraid of. She could understand a little nervousness but this man almost seemed... embarrassed of his position. Or perhaps his job and skills. As gently as she could she asked, "And you're not proud of that?"
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Bones
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Apr 17, 2010 7:34:25 GMT -5
Post by Bones on Apr 17, 2010 7:34:25 GMT -5
"To be moved to the elite of the Mandalorian Military, culture, and in the end, race? Of course I am proud." He told her simply, his blue eyes flicking upwards again, catching the polar opposite green eyes looking back at him. "They put me into the Blood Pack. I'm not sure if you've heard of them, but they're essentially the freaks. Psychotic, but talented." He looked down again, before saying quite bluntly, "But there's the problem. I'm not a freak. I'm not psychotic."
He sat upright again, taking a large drink from his glass. "Security for the Mandalorian delegation was my last task in the standard army. After Concord Dawn, I leave to go and join the freaks wherever they send us."
He couldn't understand his willingness to be so open with the woman that he had only just met. It was a sense of comfort, of being able to talk to another professional killer. He looked straight into her eyes before saying, "I'm not meant to have told you that."
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Mara
nothing worth anything ever goes down easy
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May 7, 2010 19:00:32 GMT -5
Post by Mara on May 7, 2010 19:00:32 GMT -5
(((Sorry for the wait.... )))
Her glass of ale forgotten for the moment, Ambria's attention was wholly on her companion's face, wanting to listen to what he had to say. Why he seemed to be a sitting contradiction, at once both proud and seemingly embarrassed of his promotion. And that was something she couldn't comprehend. All Mandalorians should be proud to serve in any capacity possible. A step up just meant that one could better serve the cause. Even a non-Mando could understand that.... even those Republic less-than soldiers. Her interest was piqued.
Ambria listened quietly as Zarik explained the reasoning for his earlier comments. She had been wrong that he was embarrassed of his job and his position. No, he seemed to be ashamed of the team it was all attached to, this Blood Pack. He was right that she had never heard of it before. But again, this was probably due to her being newly transferred as well. She didn't think it was a new group, though, with him seeming to know this Blood Pack's reputation. Another guess, though.
She couldn't understand why such a team would have been formed in the first place. Couldn't understand why Mandalorians would even admit that they had 'freaks' among them. None of this made sense to her. If events ever led to something like this, to Mandos being singled out for their mental status, she would have thought they would be denied military duty instead of put into a division of spec ops. She loved her heritage, her nationality, her people, but... it just seemed a bit dangerous to her. Throwing these wild cards all together in one group. It would be much better to spread them out, if they were still to serve in an official capacity.
Emerald eyes softened as she heard his words. She was feeling sorry for him. Normally she would have encouraged someone with a similar story to just buck up and take it. That serving the Cause was the best thing a Mandalorian could do. And to be promoted to a higher position, all the better. She never would have thought to tell someone to disobey orders, or to discline an offer like this Zarik had been offered. But now... she was considering whether now this was a gray line and not so black-and-white.
The possibility that he was one of these psychopathic 'freaks' quickly left her mind. As far as she could tell, in the few minutes she had known him, there was nothing crazy about him. Though Ambria knew that some insane beings could hide it well, she didn't get the vibe off of this man that he was one of them. He genuinely appeared to be what one would classify as normal. Perhaps a little more willing than others to share information, perhaps a little more outgoing than most men she had met, but definitely not a freak.
Any previous thoughts she had had about getting information from him regarding her home planet was gone. Now she just wanted to help him. Manda help her for what she might do or say. "Your secret's safe with me." She smiled warmly. Ambria then removed one of her hands from her forgotten glass of ale and reached over across the table to lay a dark-skinned hand on his wrist. "Is there no way you can prove that you don't belong in this--this Blood Pack? I don't mean to be forward, or to sound unpatriotic..." A muscle twist and her mouth turned into a wry smile. "But you should be allowed to decline a position. Even Mandalorians don't force anyone into serving." Ambria prayed she wasn't put her foot in her mouth with what she just said. At least, in her experience the military didn't do anything of the sort. She had always been very proud at her promotions and transferals. But she also knew that if she couldn't serve, they would not force her to stay.
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Bones
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Jun 8, 2010 11:14:11 GMT -5
Post by Bones on Jun 8, 2010 11:14:11 GMT -5
"But you see, I don't want to decline. While I don't understand or agree that I belong in the Blood Pack, I do see the honour and prestige in it." He looked straight at her, feeling his pride and cockiness welling up inside him. "The Blood Pack exists, because when the Mandalore needs a job done, and can't trust anyone else to do it, that's when we're called in. Spec-ops is the best. We're the best of the best. But we're also expendable." He shrugged, drinking the last of his glass of ale, his eyes still locked on her form.
His mind was racing, and he was sure he knew why. He was trying to impress this woman. His heart was racing. His blood pressure was rising. He knew there was only one possible explanation to it, and it was sitting right infront of him. He found her incredibly attractive, and his drinking rate was doing nothing to control his reactions to that fact.
He waved to the barman, ordering another round of drinks before saying, very abruptly, "You know, Ambria, you are far too pretty to be stuck here on Concord Dawn." Internally, he cringed, thinking that he was going to get a negative reaction. He did, however, hope that the reaction he got was far from what he expected.
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Mara
nothing worth anything ever goes down easy
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Aug 3, 2010 17:51:45 GMT -5
Post by Mara on Aug 3, 2010 17:51:45 GMT -5
(((Erm, I know we mentioned trying to get Zarik into spec ops briefly before he fully joined the Blood Pack, but Ambria kind of ran the other way... Maybe I can steer it that way later. ))) She had to nod at his answer. Ambria supposed that even if she had been in his situation, she probably would have accepted her role, maybe not with relish, but with ease. There would be a time that she would wonder why she had been given that role and assignment, but after a while she would just become a working member of the team. Despite her earlier thoughts that any soldier, even Mandalorian, should be able to decline an offer, a soldier should also, by the same right, be ready to take any promotion in stride and do his or her fullest in that capacity. It was a bit of a push and pull, that one. However, she didn't really like the thought that there was this Blood Pack team out there that was supposed to be even better than the special operations. She was apart of the spec ops, and an officer, too. Feeling that there were others out there, albeit it just a few, that were more highly regarded than her (besides those above her rank in spec ops) was just... well, it rankled her a bit. And adding to that was the realization that she didn't even know this special sub-ground existed. Despite Zarik's earlier comments about the members of this new secret team, Ambria was a little jealous, strangely, and a part of her wanted to be a part of the best of the best. Though she loved her current team, she couldn't help but wonder how much greater she would fight if she were in this Blood Pack. Ambria removed her hand from his and sat back in her seat, contemplating all this. And now realizing that she had no right to even assume that he didn't want his position or would even think of wanting to decline or remove himself from it. It was just her closed=mindedness of her own team, thinking that they were the best and everyone aspired to be a part of the Mandalorian army spec ops. She nodded at him again. "I understand." Ambria couldn't really think of anything else to say to him. Who was she to judge his decisions or those of his superiors? She had come here to forget her earlier feelings after leaving Mandalore's funeral feast, not recruit for the spec ops. There was a bit of an uncomfortable silence then, as the current train of conversation just died with her remark. Zarik was still looking at her in a rather strange way, and she had no idea why. Perhaps it had to do with her pretty awkward question about the Blood Pack, her insinuation that he was better off in the spec ops where people would appreciate him more. Which was stupid, since Mandalorians appreciated everyone, no matter their role. She turned back to her glass of ale then, still half full, and noticed that her companion was rather going through his quite quickly. And she was still not done with her first. And so she was more than just a little surprised when he spoke again. She had thought he was drinking a lot because of his recent news of promotion, not because of anything else... like nervousness, which she could see now. Ambria had to choke down the sip of ale she was in the process of enjoying, trying to recover from the close call of almost spitting it all over the table. She coughed then, clearing her throat before focusing back on what Zarik had said. Her, pretty? No one had ever thought she was pretty, or even good-looking. Not since leaving the planet Mandalore, anyway, and those were always from her family or... or Turin. A quick recovery was needed, and so she smiled at him, not a large one, but still genuine. She thought quickly, a skill learned of years in the army. "Thank you. But I'm not really stuck here. Just waiting for my next assignment." After she had said it, she knew it sounded lame. She had basically just taken his compliment and shoved it in a cannon to fire back at him, not taking it gracefully as she should have. Ambria turned to her glass, glad to keep her head down for a moment to hide any slight reddening in her dark features. What was going on?
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Bones
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Aug 30, 2010 4:17:06 GMT -5
Post by Bones on Aug 30, 2010 4:17:06 GMT -5
Zarik nodded at her words, locking his lips tight in thought as he did so, thoughts racing through his head, chastising himself over his directness. He looked at her for a moment, before saying quietly, and sincerely, "I'm sorry if it came across wrong." Apologies were not something that Zarik did often, or felt entirely comfortable with. But he had to know why an honest compliment had just been shoved back down his throat, taking his heart down to sit in his stomach along side it.
"Let me guess, already taken? Promised? I really am sorry, I shouldn't have just blurted it out. I hope I didn't seem disrespectful, I'm nothing but respectful for you, you're special ops, you deserve nothing but respect...." He went quiet for a moment, realising that he was rambling. He had to admit to himself, that being shut down so sharply did knock him pretty hard.
He looked across at Ambria for a moment, looking deep into her eyes before saying, "Perhaps... Perhaps ale isn't the best thing for either of us tonight. Walk?" He motioned to the door as he spoke, sliding off the bar stool, pushing it back in under the table. "Perhaps you should show me around this place? I haven't been here before."
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Mara
nothing worth anything ever goes down easy
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Sept 1, 2010 10:19:40 GMT -5
Post by Mara on Sept 1, 2010 10:19:40 GMT -5
Ambria was still staring down in her glass of ale, feeling utterly stupid for how she responded to Zarik. Obviously she had not been prepared to be complimented like that, and had just tossed it aside, as if he were asking more about her being stuck on planet, than actually calling her pretty. She knew it had to be the opposite, though, with the way she was feeling, and the bit of silence that passed between them.
For someone who was so confident on the battlefield or on the rifle range, a military lieutenant, she was doing an awful job here in the social arena. Perhaps she was just getting rusty, avoiding situations like this as she had since joining up. Always afraid of what anything might mean. But there she was again, making more of this than she should have. Having drinks with a man wouldn't sully her memory of Turin. And she knew she wasn't ready for anything else, if the dreams were anything to show for.
Finally at peace with herself, for the moment, she looked up then, just in time to see his face as he spoke again. Ambria could see the hurt there. Quickly she shook her head, as if to say that, no, she wasn't offended. That she had just been taken aback by what he had said. But she couldn't actually say the words out loud, not trusting her voice at the moment. She hoped he would go on, not draw out another uncomfortable silence. Perhaps turn the conversation back to their jobs, the military. Something she was comfortable talking about.
But no, he continued on the same train of thought, thinking she had shut down his compliment because she was already with someone. She knew deep down it was the truth, in a way, but Turin was no longer among the living, ten years gone now. And in the present, she was single in the world's way of thinking. Ambria just wasn't sure how to respond to Zarik, though, not really wanting to get into the details of her life with someone who was still mostly a stranger to her.
She got her voice back and reiterated what her shake of the head had meant to convey earlier. "No, no. I was just... surprised, is all. I--" Ambria paused, not sure how to phrase what she was going to say, or how much she was going to reveal. Perhaps it was better to keep it simple. She shrugged and smiled at him wryly. "I don't really get out much. Military life is fairly encompassing for me." Even though she was making her life so, knowing full well she would have time for some social and personal time if she would just make the time. But he didn't need to know that.
A bigger smile crossed her face as he mentioned leaving the bar. Suddenly fresh air felt a lot better to her, and she nodded at Zarik, well aware that she hadn't actually answered him about whether she was single or taken. She as hoping he wouldn't notice. Or if he did, she would have the time to prepare a better answer for him. Ambria let go of her half-empty glass of ale and stood up. "Yes, that sounds great."
When he mentioned her playing tour guide to him, she had to laugh, a small chuckle. Though she had been in the army for almost ten years now, she had only been on Concord Dawn a few months, not even a full year yet. And most of her time had been spent on base. "I could show you around HQ, but that's about it. This is the most time I've spent in town in since I've arrived, saving another visit or two." Ambria was happy that Zarik had seemed to drop his earlier train of speaking for the moment. And she was glad to move on as well. Even if she couldn't really show him around, at least it would be out in the air, not in the stuffy cantina.
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Bones
The Wizard of AUS
409 posts
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last online Apr 1, 2019 3:42:35 GMT -5
Knight
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Dec 6, 2010 21:42:35 GMT -5
Post by Bones on Dec 6, 2010 21:42:35 GMT -5
Zarik emptied his glass of ale quickly, putting the empty glass back on the table, upside down. He placed some coins down as he stood, sliding away from his stool. He looked at her for a moment before saying, "Yeah, I guess it'd be hard, being in the Spec Ops and all. You'd be always on the move. Always doing something. I can't wait for that to be my life. Better than sitting around all day at a guard post." He smirked at the thought that he wouldn't have to do any of the mundane standard army jobs again. He was really living now.
He stepped out into the street, immediately being hit by the wind that had picked up. He looked around for a moment, before looking at Ambria, "I think it'd be best if we found somewhere to hold up. This wind is crazy." He turned his head away from the wind and the sand it was flicking up, "Any suggestions?"
OOC: Sorry it's short and took so long. I just haven't been able to get in touch with Zarik lately.
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Mara
nothing worth anything ever goes down easy
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last online May 2, 2022 22:30:17 GMT -5
Master
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Dec 21, 2010 20:07:12 GMT -5
Post by Mara on Dec 21, 2010 20:07:12 GMT -5
She looked at the man standing next to her as he paid. Boy, was he quite a puzzle. At the same time as he was speaking about her military life and how it must be hard, he was saying that he couldn't wait for his life to be exactly the same, once this Blood Pack group he had mentioned got going. Ambria was a little confused at this, but didn't let it show on her face. Yes, there was something to the feeling of not really having anywhere to call home, always coming across new experiences. She loved her life and couldn't think of doing anything else. But hard? And wanting a hard life? She couldn't think of anyone in recent memory who actually wished for a harder life than what he or she already had. Yeah... this Zarik was quite an enigma.
Not really thinking his comment needed a reply, she remained silent, only nodding in response, and followed him out of the cantina and into the street. Though the fresh air felt good, she couldn't help but feel a little exposed now. The stuffy cantina had been a bit of a comfort zone. They had just been two soldiers having a drink, discussing military life. But now... now anything could happen. And Ambria really disliked the unknown, preferring to prepare things steps in advance so that there were no surprises. And yet, everything since she had run into this man had been one surprise after another. And she had no idea whether this was a good omen or not.
The wind buffeted her, her tunic ruffling, but her hair barely moved, so shortly cropped it was. It actually felt good, almost like a reminder that she was alive. And that no matter what came of this meeting and conversation, she would still be Ambria, a lieutenant in the army spec ops of the Mandalorians. And she would be able to confront anything that came her way, even surprises. The woman was trained for such things. Perhaps if she just treated this as any other military situation, she would survive just fine.
But Zarik was right; the wind was increasing, and despite the good feeling, it would soon blow into something more than a pleasant wind burst. She nodded at him in agreement. "Yes, that might be best." She paused, thinking. Ambria really didn't know the city very well, and it would be a bit of a walk back to the base. Knowing that these windstorms were unpredictable, it might be best to find somewhere else in town. Though they were still nearby the cantina, by now a lot of citizens had noticed the weather change as well, and the place was now standing-room only.
"Well... your guess would be as good as mine." Her dark emerald eyes flickered around, as the storm built, darkening the sky, somehow emphasizing even more the darkness of her skin. She pointed, seeing something. It wasn't the first place she saw, but the most appropriate of the places nearby. And it didn't look full up of patrons yet. "Hungry? There's a small cafe over there."
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Bones
The Wizard of AUS
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last online Apr 1, 2019 3:42:35 GMT -5
Knight
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Jun 1, 2011 4:09:49 GMT -5
Post by Bones on Jun 1, 2011 4:09:49 GMT -5
Zarik turned, putting his back to the wind. He could feel the coarse sand brushing over his exposed skin as he looked around. It was completely different to what he was used to, and probably vastly different to what he was going to go to. Mandalore to Concord Dawn to... Haestrom. He smiled quickly. At least the company on Concord Dawn was better than he was used to.
He followed her pointed finger to the small building. "Yeah, I think some food would go down well." He only just realised how hungry he felt. He tried to think about how many hours it'd been since he had something to eat. He walked with her to the door, placing a hand on her back to guide her through the door before him. He could feel the warmth through her clothing. It was an innocent gesture, but it gave him a thrill straight away.
"So, what'll it be, Ambria?" He asked, looking straight at her.
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Mara
nothing worth anything ever goes down easy
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Master
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Jun 15, 2011 2:29:37 GMT -5
Post by Mara on Jun 15, 2011 2:29:37 GMT -5
Part of her hoped that he would decline the offer of something to eat; maybe they would just part ways here or ride out the storm somewhere else. The prospect of this simple moment of catching a drink with a soldier turning into dinner, and consequently giving said soldier the wrong idea, was something that threatened to tie her stomach in knots. And threatening to loosen her firm grasp on the situation and remove her control.
But the other part of her hoped that he would accept the offer, not because of any implications having dinner might have, but because first of all, she was hungry. And having some food to go along with the drinks of earlier was always a bonus; she had wondered earlier if the alcohol had been affecting her more than it usually did. Perhaps it was a side affect of her earlier minor concussion suffered back on Shogun. The main reason, however, was that she felt being inside of the cafe was a bit more of a public place than if they just ended up huddling in an alley for protection from the wind. Something that definitely could lead somewhere she didn't want to go.
So it was with mixed feelings, but mostly with relief, that she offered up a polite smile as he agreed with her suggestion of the cafe. Ambria was thankful the first sign she had laid her eyes on wasn't a fine dining establishment--odd for Concord Dawn but not entirely impossible--or a motel. A cafe was innocent enough, especially so near a military base. Though they were not dressed in their uniforms, but she knew they both had a bearing about them as they walked that would scream soldier. Perhaps this wouldn't be so bad, after all.
That is until she almost swallowed her heart as it jumped into her throat feeling a touch on her back as she moved towards the cafe's entryway. It took all of her years of military training to retain her composure and not scream, leap out of her skin, or at the very least, flinch. As it was, she stopped in her tracks briefly, her fight or flight response activated. Neither would serve her very well at the moment so she merely took a deep breath and moved inside the building without glancing back at the man behind her. It would give herself a chance to get a hold of her features before having to face him again.
Once inside the very public confines of the cafe, Ambria allowed herself to turn her emerald gaze to Zarik, finally in control of herself again, at least for the moment. Nothing remained of her earlier discomfort or embarrassment; she was a soldier again, having a bite to eat with another soldier who just happened to be male and good-looking. She was a lieutenant now; it wouldn't be all that strange. "Well..." Ambria let her gaze wander the half-full room before turning back to Zarik and then to the hostess. The Kiffar with floral tattoos looked at them expectantly. "How about a table by the window?"
Not seeing any quick rejection from either of them, the Kiffar woman led the two to an empty table by one of the front windows. Ambria had picked such a spot for multiple reasons. One was that she enjoyed the view outside of the blowing wind and sand; perhaps it was a reminder of the dusty farmland of her childhood, perhaps just a calming visage. But the second and most important was that she wanted to keep herself in plain view, with lots of light, and not stuck in a dark corner somewhere, as unlikely that may be in the small cafe.
Almost immediately after the Kiffar left and they were seated, Ambria picked up the plasticine-covered flimsi menu and began looking it over, trying to avoid looking at her companion. Now, finally, she allowed herself to focus on what was becoming an almost unavoidable hunger, and she scanned the small listings for something filling yet inexpensive. As an afterthought, she looked for beverage list, especially focusing on anything non-alcoholic. For the moment Ambria was content in the silence, letting Zarik break it if and when he desired.
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Bones
The Wizard of AUS
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Sept 18, 2011 22:51:39 GMT -5
Post by Bones on Sept 18, 2011 22:51:39 GMT -5
He let the waitress lead them both to the table near the window. The menus were put down, and the Kiffar left them to their silence. He smirked to himself, looking across the table at Ambria. How many times had people waited for him to break the silence? Too many. One too many. He wasn't much of a conversationist. He was a farmer, and a fighter, not a talker.
He perused the menu, before deciding on something light - a wrap. He wasn't real hungry, he was only here because of the woman across from him. She intrigued him to no end. There she was, in the very unit he himself wanted to be in.
"So how did you come to find yourself in the Spec Ops, Ambria?" He asked simply. Atleast it was breaking the silence that seemed to be trapping them in.
((So sorry it's short. My inner Zarik is being a pain and not letting me post))
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Mara
nothing worth anything ever goes down easy
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last online May 2, 2022 22:30:17 GMT -5
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Sept 30, 2011 22:29:04 GMT -5
Post by Mara on Sept 30, 2011 22:29:04 GMT -5
She let the relative quiet wash over her as she scanned through the menu. The café was fairly buzzing with other groups of beings that had chosen the establishment to get out of the sandstorm, but between the two of them, the silence was relaxing. Ambria even felt herself loosening up a little, settling more comfortably into her seat. It wasn’t close to a slouch, but she was no longer ramrod straight either. Despite her military rank and bearing, she was far from base and didn’t feel any strong need to completely act the part. Of course, she could easily slip back into it if necessary. She hoped she wouldn’t, but it would all depend on how this meal went with Zarik.
Having already chosen something to order, Ambria found herself still holding her menu, using it as a barrier. She knew that if she put it down, it would be an invitation for Zarik to speak to her. And right now she was content in their current situation. After deciding on her food fairly quickly, she had the time now to be alone with her thoughts. Which in hindsight perhaps was not a good idea, after all. So many confusing and conflicting emotions were jumping all around her mind. In the brief time since she had met this fellow soldier, so much had happened, and her world had been turned upside down, upright, and back upside down again. Ambria didn’t know what to think about all this, let alone do about it.
Various possibilities and outcomes of this casual dinner together ran into her thoughts, mingling with the others. They were certainly things she didn’t even want to consider, except for the one outcome that would mean they would never see each other again after today. For Ambria, this was the best case scenario. It wasn’t that she didn’t enjoy this man’s company. She did. But she also knew that anything but the best case would just not end well, at least in her way of thinking. Even if she allowed herself a brief glance far into the future to the small chance that this meeting led… well, somewhere, she could see nothing but trouble.
Swirling around with her roiling emotions and thoughts of various consequences of bumping into Zarik, were the unbidden thoughts of Turin. Perhaps the most awkward time for her to think of him. Not only because she had been trying to keep him sealed away since coming to Concord Dawn, but because of the situation she found herself now in. Ambria could almost see him hovering nearby, judging her. Not thinking about why she did it, she flicked her green eyes up over the menu. But instead of seeing her dead husband, all her gaze ran into was Zarik’s face. Quickly, she looked away. Why would her mind, now of all times, dredge up the past?
Thankfully, from certain points of view, her companion broke into her thoughts and allowed her to think of something else. All else got shoved back away, and she made sure to add some extra bricks to Turin’s enclosure inside her brain. What she did not need right now was a breakdown like she had had a while back during her spar with the Togruta Mandalorian. She could only imagine how Zarik would react if that happened, let alone herself. And it was not something she wanted to remotely explore. Best to forget everything else and focus on the present. In the past, and future, lay danger.
Ambria set down her menu, folding her hands together on the tabletop. She looked back to her companion, this time thinking about nothing else but his question. “Well, I was recruited, I suppose. I had been regular army up until a few months ago. My work must have gained Bane’s—I mean, General Haseful’s, now Mandalore’s, attention.” Hoping Zarik wouldn’t grasp on too much on her slipup of calling their exalted leader by his first name—something she never did to his face, so she thought it odd she would now—and pressed on, trying to lighten things up. “Or perhaps they just really needed a medic, or a sniper.” She smiled.
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