The Cold Grip {Talau}

[Zarkan]

Sunomi slowly drank from her wine glass as Jade spoke. "Actually after spending so much time on warships and muunlist I find this world quite refreshing though I doubt it would last long." She smiled at him as she leaned back to speak to him. "Besides who doesn't like returning home?" she finished her wine as she waited for jade's reply.

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

Jade blinked slightly and narrowed his eyes. The first part of her answer he'd partially expected; the second part, he hadn't.

Is this your home planet then? I wasn't given any information on any one in your team, so I know next to nothing about any of you.

He said, his expression a mixture of curiosity and something that could only be deemed embarrassment.

[Zarkan]

"Mhh, I would have thought bajr would have told you at least something about us." She gave jade a nervous smile. "Yes, this is the world I was born on though my mother and I left after my father died, after all the slaves go where the master wishes them to go. Sunomi could still remember those the smile slipped from her face. "I'm sorry can we speak about something else?" she had just filled her wine before she swallowed the whole down before summoning up a warm smile back to her lips. "So how well does this place to the correllian scene?"

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

Jade put a cool hand over hers. He hadn't intended for the conversation to take this kind of turn. As she asked to talk about something else and downed her wine, he sighed and shook his head slightly. It was a shame she'd grown up in such a situation, and for a moment he pitied her, but the feeling vanished as soon as it appeared. He doubted she would want the pity he'd felt, so he brushed it aside. Things happened for a reason after all...or so the Jedi taught, and he wasn't completely adverse to the idea. At her next question, he glanced around and sighed slightly.

It's close enough to be a reminder of the planet....

...a reminder of what I've lost...he mused. It did remind him of home, though, not so much of what he was used to.

This is typical of the majority of the planet, and many would find it quite comfortable...though...I wasn't raised like the majority of the planet.

He stated thoughtfully. Only then did he realize he'd not removed his hand from hers, and despite his mind's warnings, he didn't feel the need to remove it now.

[Zarkan]

Sunomi shivered when is hard touched her it was very cool she reasoned with herself as she diverted her eyes and quickly her face. She looked at a small painting of some kind of freighter she didn't recognize as she listened quitely to jade speaking in front of her. She looked over to jade as he finished hoping the blush had left her cheeks or at least died down. "What do you mean you weren't raised like a Correllian where your parents from another world?"

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

He simply smiled and shook his head, the chuckle he wanted to let out remaining in his mind. Her blush was attractive to say the least, but he couldn't bring himself to make her blush even more. At her question, he debated on what to tell her.

No...they were very much Corellian. Perhaps more so than most...I come from a strict military family...and one of the oldest still around. This being true, I was raised as most nobles on the planet were raised.

He paused a moment, allowing this new information to sink in.

One of my former commanders, and one of my closest friends was a member of the royal family....therefore it's quite easy to understand that I was raised in a way that was different than most others on the planet.

Jade sighed slightly and shook his head thinking about how his parents had reacted when he'd told them he was leaving the royal navy, never mind going to be gone for who knew how many years, and he couldn't help but wonder how they would react should they learn the truth of the situation.

[Zarkan]

"Ah, a prince charming." she said with a rich laugh. "There was a time I dreamed of being a princess." Sunomi looked at him and chuckled "The dreams of children, I can't fathom how boring it would actually be to be a noble. Sunomi sighed to herself. "Speaking of children's dreams did you always want to be a admiral?"

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

Jade laughed then, yes, actually laughed. A rich sound that almost didn't seem to fit him...almost.

I'm hardly a prince charming considering that I'm certainly no prince, and I'm far from charming. However, I do agree that most times it's a rather tedious business being a noble. Most would think it all fun and games...and I suppose for some it is...but my family took the rank to be quite serious.

He paused for a moment, thinking over his answer, though it didn't take long.

Yes, actually...well, perhaps not as specific as admiral, but I have always wanted to be in the navy...my father was, and his father was part of the Republic Army after a stint in the Corellian Navy. I'd always looked up to them, and wanted to follow in their footsteps, so...

He shrugged mildly as if the topic didn't bother him...though in fact it did. The whole thing was rather a touchy subject with him these days, but he had decided already that the best way for him to get over it was to allow himself to talk about it as if nothing had happened. Perhaps then he would find it less painful. In some small way it worked, but for the most part, Jade simply put on a good face and pushed through the painful memories and thoughts that came with his new position.

[Zarkan]

Sunomi lowered her eyes as Jade finished. "I hope their still proud of your the empire is full of honorable warriors" She said trying to cheer him up despite the fact she knew it was more or less a lie. She set there and awkwardly looked at the table for several minutes until their food arrived. "Ah, food." she took a big bite out of the pie and winked at jade with her mouth full.

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

Jade raised an eyebrow at her statement. He doubted greatly that the empire was "full of honorable warriors," but who was he to judge? As she took a bite of the food and winked at him, Jade raised the other eyebrow and chuckled again before patting her hand lightly and returning to his own food.

Don't let the topic make you feel awkward Sunomi. It shouldn't. It's a part of my life, and despite what happens I can't undo the decisions I've made, so there's no reason for myself or anyone else to avoid the topic or try to soften the situation.

He stated, pulling out a fork full of the creamy mixture of potato, meat and veggie. Taking a bite, he smiled slightly. It wasn't as good as his mothers, but it certainly held up to his standards, and he wondered vaguely if the owners of this establishment were from Corellia. Mentally shrugging off the thought, Jade swallowed and turned his attention back to Sunomi.

All of that aside...you really do look good Sunomi. It almost makes me wonder what you'd look like in a dress....almost.

He stated, a cat-like smile on his face, showing something of his mischievous thoughts.

[Zarkan]

Sunomi admitted that the pie concoction certainly tasted better than her normal fare. Sunomi quickly bit her tongue as he patted her hand and spoke a moment before taking a bite hoping she could avoid a stupid statement. "I'm afraid I didn't bring a dress with me though I imagine I could find one if your would really like to see me in one." she kept her voice playful, but she found the statement flattering and felt a surge of a warm feeling rush though her. "Thank you for your complement though."

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

Chuckling for a moment, Jade simply took another bite of his food. Part of him was tempted to take her up on the offer, but he soon thought better of it and kept the statement to himself. It wasn't long, however, until he noticed the thought flitting through his mind once again and he wondered just how she WOULD look in a dress...or out of it for that matter.

Well...I might be tempted to take you up on that offer one of these days.

He mused, sounding mildly intrigued by the idea. Jade was surprised that he'd managed to only sound mildly interested, since he was most certainly more interested than that. Re-adjusting a glove, he sighed slightly and took another bite of his food to keep himself from saying anything he might regret later...which there were quite a few things tumbling about in his mind that, if said, he might regret later.

[Zarkan]

"The offer will always be open to you Jade." she said with a wicked little smile. "This pie is quite good thank your for pointing it out to me." She took another slow bite of the the concoction before ordering her third glass of wine. "So, what do you plan to do when we get back to the ship?"

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

Jade hmmed slightly and thought over his answer. He knew very well what his answer would be, but for some reason he just didn't want to think that he would be spending yet another night with his work. Typically he didn't mind doing such, but for some reason lately, especially tonight, he felt as if something were missing...something was wrong.

[Zarkan]

Sunomi waited silently for Jades reply as she began eating more delicately. Already she was attempting to think of how she would drag him off the Pendragon again assuming she remained long enough to try again. Maybe a club? No, that wouldn't work.[/i] She finally resolved to cope out and simply ask what jade enjoyed as soon as the opportunity arose.

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

Well...more than likely it will be work. There's little else for me to do beside read and work anyway.

He stated with a mild shrug, finally answering her question. Finishing his last bite of food, he took another sip of his wine and sighed slightly.

I've noticed, Sunomi, that I know very little about you, yet I'm certain that Admiral Barj has sent you as much information on me as he could...so would you mind telling me a bit about yourself?

I mean, beside the fact that your home world is Nar Shaddaa....

Jade added casually, taking yet another sip of the deep red wine that was so close to the color of his eyes.

[Zarkan]

Sunomi nodded as he answered her original question she had expected as much really. Her eyes twitched wider at the edges in surprise before she pressed it down. "Umm, of course your welcome to ask questions though I reserve the right to refuse any of them. she swirled her food around before looking back up and gaining a humorous tilt to her voice. "That is after all the ladies prorogation." she was happy to that he was finally showing interests that's why she couldn't figure out why she was nervous about him asking. Over all she was glad her wine showed up then at least she had something to play anything embarrassing she said on, and the rising blush.

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

Jade smiled slightly and blinked at her. He had rather been hoping that she'd offer some information rather than him feeling like he was interrogating her, but...oh well...one did what one must.

I was hoping you might divulge some of this information on your own, but if we must do this the hard way...

He stated, then sat quietly for a moment, mulling over what he should ask her first.

Well...I suppose I should start simply, no? Do you have a favorite color? Or are you fond of all of them?

Jade felt it must have been the stupidest question in the history of questions, but for the moment he couldn't think of anything else to ask. This was beginning to be a problem around her, him not thinking clearly...or perhaps it was the wine? No, it couldn't have been the wine, he was far to used to it, and he'd not even finished his first glass yet...so why then was he unable to think of anything useful to ask? Honestly, it frustrated him.

[Zarkan]

Her smile became nervous with his first statement taking a long drought of wine in a attempt to hide it while he found a question. "Well, hmm, I would say white though it's a horror to actually wear. she laughed at that before continuing "Though this uniforms light grey isn't much better." she finally decided that she would have to say somethings on her own just not delicate or depressing ones. "Since we're on the topics of favorites my favorite world so far was Datooine open grass, no people just fresh breezes with the smell of green. I think if I ever retire I'll do it there."

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

Jade nodded quietly, listening to what she had to say. So, white was her favorite color? An interesting choice...one that held all colors, yet appeared to be none. Her second statement, however, caught him off guard. Dantooine? Yes, he supposed it was a nice enough planet, but really? What did it have that Corellia didn't? Corellia too had open plains and rolling hills, beaches, forests, farms....the majority of the planet was like this actually...it was quite beautiful.

Hmph...Dantooine is nothing compared to Corellia's....ah, never mind. I doubt you would understand Sunomi...

At first he sounded upset, but at the end he deflated and shook his head quietly sighing as he did so.

Forgive me...I spoke out of turn. I let my love of the planet dictate my reaction. I truly am sorry Sunomi.