Above The Clouds

[Arekk]

The Outlander Club, Uscru District, Coruscant​

"Love is making a shot to the knees of a target 120 kilometers away using an Aratech sniper rifle with a tri-light scope."
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[member="Tava Del Nove"] ​

​

"Show me."

Tava's demeanor had changed drastically in the course of a few seconds as soon as some overweight goons donning security outfits from a bank entered the establishment, her eyes told a thousand stories. His realization came when Tava made a small but very important gesture on his empty goblet that they used during difficult situation as kids, giving her an acknowledging nod.

Killing off his cigarette inside the ashtray, Ar'ekk wrapped his arm around Tava's shoulders and walked with her towards the main and only exit to the club in an attempt to pass by the goons inadvertedly. Hopefully they wouldn't fix their attention on the two of them simply because they needed a target to scream at and identify, the slicer was aware that if things got messy then they'd have to get the hell out of there quick.

"Excuse me, fellas."

Luckily for them the exit was not being covered by anyone so it was a matter of seconds before they were gone and away from danger.

​

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[Tava Del Nove]

That was close.

"How's that for a welcome home?" Tava colored their reunion with a little humor, laughing softly against his shoulder. Dark humor, but still humor. The smell of metal and cigarra clung to him and she inhaled and leaned closer during their escape. There's a cabbie two streets due North. Don't take all night. It was still too soon to answer him.

With a pat against his cheek, Tava finally answered what was asked right before they dipped. "I have a stop to make first, if you're tagging along?" The com specifically. It wasn't long before the long stretches of leg ate up those two streets and as foretold, there a cabbie sat. It wasn't a regular cab, but it was.

You are not bringing him here.

"I bet you just thought you were gambling tonight, huh?" She glanced up to [member="Arekk"] while reaching for the cab handle, heart pounding in her ears.

 

[Arekk]

Coruscant, Uscru District, The Core Worlds​

"Love is making a shot to the knees of a target 120 kilometers away using an Aratech sniper rifle with a tri-light scope."
——————————————————————​

[member="Tava Del Nove"] ​

​

Too close for their own comfort.

"Just like how I imagined it."

Her joke was met with another one, cheeky as ever. Coruscant had not changed one single bit and that made him chuckle and shake his head in disbelief while walking in the opposite direction of the club towards a cabbie parked on the side of the road. All too convenient for them, though.

"Sure. I will not take my eyes off you tonight."

With that out of the way, Ar'ekk reached for the cab handle first and opened the door for Tava to go inside first. Quite the gentleman. Flaring his nostrils in a good sense, his piercing gaze met with the girl's and he nodded, clearly seeing the positive side of things. What a night it was.

"I didn't even think of coming here tonight. But a job is a job and I'm glad that I took it."

​

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[Tava Del Nove]

With a sharp exhale, Tava glanced his way and began the small, but intimate task of removing the com from her ear upon being shut into to the cab. It was a form of undressing in a way, revealing nothing and everything. She swallowed with a sheepish smile and glanced to her lap. There may have been other things on her person, however, the woman only exposed one more.

The same handheld device from the den appeared in her palm once more, it's screen immediately lighting up. Numbers and letters scrolled rapidly, appearing to never end. Tava gave it a small tap and then looked back up to [member="Arekk"] . There were things she wanted to, maybe needed to explain... It wasn't the time yet. Especially since Boon was still tapped into to everything.

"I think I should be the one saying those things," smiling, her golden hand reached for his in the cramped area they shared.

The ride was near another ten minutes and she was betting the silence was going to drive her crazy. Was he here on business...plea- Tava winced and veered her eyes out the window.

 

[Arekk]

Coruscant, Uscru District, The Core Worlds​

"Love is making a shot to the knees of a target 120 kilometers away using an Aratech sniper rifle with a tri-light scope."
——————————————————————​

[member="Tava Del Nove"] ​

​

Just business.

"Mmm. Probably."

Once Tava removed the small earpiece Ar'ekk understood what was going on but did not comment or even went as far as dwelling on it. Sometimes you just had to do whatever it takes to survive the cold and mean streets of the underworld and she surely was capable of doing that and more. Smart, cunning, strong. She was all of that and beyond.

Just like the old days, his heart began to pound heavily once the girl grabbed his hand and he stroked it gently. The ride to their destination was quiet but not awkward yet something lingered in the air, something that told him that she could be in some sort of trouble. Maybe her contact on the commlink would be angry at her for going there with him or who knows, so Ar'ekk caressed the soft skin of her hand to make those dark thoughts vanish.

"Where are we going?" He asked with a quizzical glance on his face, looking past Tava as her gaze was fixed on the exterior. "Somewhere nice, hopefully."

On Coruscant? Pffffsht!

​

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[Tava Del Nove]

A smaller thumb, in comparison to his, brushed over the skin of his knuckles. Tava repeated the gesture, hoping to quell anxiety...her anxiety. This particular job caused a lot of strife. It was personal, very personal. Drawing in a ragged breath, she turned her neon-lit up browns to @Arekk. Instead of answering immediately, the lady slicer brought his left hand to her mouth and placed a chaste kiss just at the bend of his wrist.

Tell me, are you just getting by?

While business was good, the crusade she found herself on took most of her energy and her profit. Everything came back to it... and now, just as quickly as a high would hit, emotions were not one maelstrom, but two now. For the first time in a over a year, it was not solely directed at an enemy. Del Nove's focus lingered on a set of hazel-blue eyes. It could mean many things. It could mean nothing at all. But her heart thudded, skipped beats within her chest nonetheless.

Thin, pianist akin digits of her free hand slipped into the soft mass of her chocolate tresses and matte red lips sunk into a half-smile. "Soon," Tava answered as the cab came to a slow stop. The scenery had changed, bright signs were replaced with streets littered with lights; some worked, some did not and the low covering clouds gave the night a very eerie glow. Very few Coruscanti could be seen, except for the numbers shadowed within their windows in the buildings that read of an older part of the metropolis- a part kindly forgotten- and those that spent their life on the corners.

A slow drop from her lithe shoulder to her lap, and a near inaudible click filled the silence. That click being the safety release to her blaster that decorated a holster wrapped about her thigh. Tava leaned and barely pressed her lips to his, maybe only close enough so that their breath mingled.

"I'll be back," and her glance shot to the driver-less front seat and to his right arm. The look read, if I'm not, hack the cab's system. Finally and albeit begrudgingly, the criminal slipped from the vehicle and into a shadowed doorway.

 

[Arekk]

Coruscant, Uscru District, The Core Worlds​

"Love is making a shot to the knees of a target 120 kilometers away using an Aratech sniper rifle with a tri-light scope."
——————————————————————​

[member="Tava Del Nove"] ​

​

His fingers intertwined with Tava's as he could sense her anxiety building up as they came closer to their destination, hoping that the gesture could give her some peace of mind before stepping out of the cab. The kiss to his wrist warmed up the man's heart and her neon-lit up eyes were met with his own and a smile that could revive anyone or anything just by staring.

Living just fine, even better now that you are here.

"Counting on it."

Ar'ekk laid eyes on the most impressive bit of tenement squalor he had seen in a long time. There's few streetlamps here, and what light there is flickers with uncertainty. Most of the buildings are damaged and tagged. The smell of old, rotting trash mixed with you-don't-want-to-know is overwhelming.

It's no wonder people living here turn to BTLs. Anything's better than this. The Better Than Life chip is the newest drug on the market. You don't need a good life - you can slot someone else's, live through them, and wreck your brain in the process.

His eyes fell on Tava's blaster and nodded firmly at that, understanding the whole situation now. A small peck found its way to his lips loosely and he continued to bop his head while staring into the slicer girl's with a "You will be fine" look on his face. Every single facial expression made by her was understood and acknowledged even though they spoke no words, it had always been this way.

"Be careful."

His body slumped against the seat and his leather jacket made the only noise in what could be the most uncomfortable silence to date until he decided to jump on the cab's front seat and remove the computer panel entirely to slice the controls and gain complete access. A couple of taps on his portable datapad and some other intricate slicey stuff, Ar'ekk managed to turn the vehicle into their own and made sure the geolocator was turned off.

She better be here in five minutes or I will go there.

The K-16 blaster pistol stirred nervously in the depths of his jacket, his trigger finger was already seeking some exercise. Call it the longest wait of his life...

​

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[Tava Del Nove]

Coruscant Slums | Boon's​

• [member="Arekk"] •​

It didn't look like much. Didn't look like much at all, but very well defined that appearances could be deceiving. One would never guess what the guts of this particular building looked like; not with the outside appearing as shoddy as it did, with a tagged and chipped exterior and blacked out windows. The inside was...lavish once you moved past the second security door.

Tava was greeted with the bright lighting of computer screens that took up nearly eighty percent of the walls and the buzz of technology seemed to replace all but the air after moving through the third with a retina scan. From here, she was allowed to move more freely, but with less privacy lining the pale gray walls. It was bright in a different way- sterile in feeling, like a hospital would be. The slicer moved quickly and accessed the lift to drop into the bowels of Coruscant, ergo The Underworld. With the press of her thumb, an audible hiss from the sliding metal door announced her entrance into the lower levels.

"Firrerro," he said.

Even though the woman was no sensitive of The Force, she felt Boon's being. She felt like a organism under a scope. Lithe shoulders were set though and her posture was spot on with deep amber eyes that played the part. Stilettos click-ticked over the duracrete ground, their sound resounding... a little imposing.

"I explicitly asked you not to bring him."

When silence ate the dark again, Tava spoke, "It was the best option."

Boon growled, pushing from the wall and walked until he was just outside her space. "The best, really?" he bit the words out like slugs.

"Yes," the response was clipped and she emptied the com device into his much larger hand. With a shrug of his shoulders, he turned away and to the massive security system monitors. "If you mess this up."

"If I mess this up, it's on me. My gig, my arse. No skin off your back. Lay off," It was a big job. Huge. Tava wouldn't mess it up. It meant to much and if she couldn't finish the job...well, she was find someone who could. The woman could delegate when necessary.

"Always a pleasure doing business, T."

Snorting, the woman moved away and the clicks revealed her departure by the fainter they got. It seemed to take less time to reach the doors to the outside, even though many of the same security measures were in place. Within, what seemed a handful of seconds, the moist air of the city smacked her face, whipping her dark hair around. Tava couldn't get in the cab faster and her gaze flickered, noting his remodel.

"Ar'ekk..." she said softly, "I missed you."

 

[Arekk]

Coruscant, Uscru District, The Core Worlds​

"Love is making a shot to the knees of a target 120 kilometers away using an Aratech sniper rifle with a tri-light scope."
——————————————————————​

[member="Tava Del Nove"] ​

​

The wait was killing him but once she eventually got out it was like a heavy weight was lifted off his shoulders, a sigh escaping him almost instantly as he reached over to open the passenger side door for Tava. His eyes lingered on the direction that she came from to make sure nobody was tailing them or had any ill-intentions after her short but heart racing meeting with this mysterious contact, little rain drops beginning to splash against the windshield in a gentle manner while the sound inside the vehicle was replaced with hushed tones of sorts.

"I missed you too." he responded with a sincere smile, "You were always in my dreams, even after all these years."

Their reunion reaffirmed his belief in the Force even further than ever before despite having small fallouts with it, blaming some very important life occurances on it in blind rage. Perhaps it was destined that their paths would cross again because that's what the Force wanted or maybe it was simple destiny, one could never know in reality but Ar'ekk was glad that they did. She could not feel that gift the way he did but her emotions were strong and palpable which gave him a warmth of heart in return.

Lowering the breaks, Ar'ekk ignited the cab without a key and drove away from this grimey location back into Coruscant's "good side", waiting for Tava to give him directions. It had been a while since he traveled through the many streets of his homeworld, most visits were cut rather short and straight to the point which did not give him much time to take in the sights.

"How did it go?"

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[Tava Del Nove]

A slight rush of adrenaline ran through her veins and apparently out of her mouth, "Did you? Was I smiling?" She laughed before he could answer. "It went pretty well. Better than I expected even," Tava answered quickly, eyes flashing to his all lit up. Both knees were brought to her chest and then collapsed outward, folding into a more meditative sitting position. Slender hands came to rest just over her ankles that were mostly tucked beneath her, fingers flicking at the near purple fabric of the cab's interior.

Tava's head tilted just so and her naturally two-toned tresses cascaded over her shoulder, watching him. The actions breathed giddy, child-like, and full of a sort of wonder- this shown in her deep amber eyes when she looked at him. "So," began the woman, leaning back into the door, "we're headed downtown. Do you need to make a stop? I hate to be interrupting a job..." That was a lie if there ever was one and her soft lips tugged in to a sheepish smile as result of it.

"Anyways, follow the narrow ten blocks, take a right and then a left."

Moments after, the small handheld data pad made its way into her palm again and her honeyed voice quickly ordered food to be delivered. Moving to set it down, seemingly done, a voice came through and she sighed, "Acuta, yes...yes... extra sauce." The device darkened and her attention fell solely on [member="Arekk"] and some of the changes to his appearance.

 

[Arekk]

Coruscant, Uscru District, The Core Worlds​

"Love is making a shot to the knees of a target 120 kilometers away using an Aratech sniper rifle with a tri-light scope."
——————————————————————​

[member="Tava Del Nove"] ​

​

The windshield reflected the neon-lit billboards as they drove through many landmarks that Coruscant had, most of them Ar'ekk hadn't seen in more than a decade which left him in awe for a moment as he took everything in. He had come to Coruscant countless of times before but never stopped to look around and roam the streets freely, everything had changed but for the worse or the better?

Who knew.

"Of course!" a very excited response was given with that contagious smile of his, "That's good, you had me on edge for a second. I would've gone guns blazing if something happened."

His gaze was mostly focused on the road and driving yet he spared Tava some side glances from time to time as they engaged in conversation, unable to wipe that stupid smile off his face. That's what true happiness does to a man, it changes him in the blink of an eye and my oh my Ar'ekk had a reason to be happy. Because of her, of having reunited after all these years and that everything just felt the same.

"No stops for my, darling. I came here to play some Sabacc." he paused for a moment, "Quite odd, huh? To return to this damn place just to gamble."

Hazel-blue eyes fell on Tava's datapad momentarily as he followed the quite difficult to get at first directions given and watched her order food, stomach growling almost instantaneously as per act of magic at the mention of delicious nutriment. The man's appearance had changed quite drastically since they last saw each other at the age of fifteen, both had alreay gone beyond their teenage years but the personality remained the same between the two. Their dynamic and overall chemistry was pretty much still alive as well.

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[Tava Del Nove]

Coruscant's marvelous skyline crept into view, or more of their details did. From where they were previously, it was buildings off in the distance and the pollution was so thick, the fog heavy from the rain that it offered nothing like they were seeing now. Tall buildings glittered with various splashes of light against the dark of night, billboards danced into view, showcasing burlesque, casinos, hotels, and the high rise apartments under construction by the river. It tantalized the senses of all- from the dapper upper class to the lowliest of scum and the moon that hung just off promised of ethereal adventure.

So close, one could feel the magnetizing nature and reach to possess it.

That glow tore her eyes from the sky scrapers and from his hazel-blues for a moment. Tava never did want to capture it, but always wondered what it looked like without the blaze of the city and she sighed wistfully at the thought. It brought her to a time long ago, when [member="Arekk"] and herself would sit on the roof top of the old brewery and that was the closest the slicer would ever gaze upon it without the buzz of artificial light. That was not something she did often anymore. As a matter of fact, it had been over a decade; which just happened to be the last time she saw his face. That memory nearly made the Firrerro immediately turn to him, but she elected to keep that emotion tucked away. "Guns blazing...Gambling, yes, odd..." voice far away.

Nar Shaddaa had been an experience for the mind and for the heart. It never had been something she wanted to remember and Tava had not recalled it in some time. Until now and she smiled wanly, bringing her hand to casually cover her mouth. The smoke was so thick, a menagerie of hues and the lights were near not bright enough to pierce it. The players gambled on anyways- a game, she was supposed to join- but he was there. It had been the first glances of his Sabacc celebrity and a woman dressed his side. A beautiful woman and... her nose flared at the way he pressed his lips to hers, heart bursting into a million little pieces at the way he looked at her. That night she had seen him, watched from the shadows of death stick residue at the bar and yet, she did not exist in his world any longer.

Boon took her from there and then sat in her stead at the Sabacc table too. While their business relationship had only just begun, it flourished after that, even as her heart broke. It wasn't love...it was redirection. If the man was anything, he was proficient in at least that. Tava owed him for that, owed him a lot.

The aftertaste of the memory burned and she swallowed the heat that managed to climb up her throat. "There!" she exclaimed, nearly missing the parking garage to the left adjacent to the second tallest scraper in the city. Her head shook in attempt to rid the memory before they parked. The smell of him curled up her nose and different memories surfaced. For once, she was glad for it. "All the way to the top, love."

 

[Arekk]

Coruscant, Uscru District, The Core Worlds​

"Love is making a shot to the knees of a target 120 kilometers away using an Aratech sniper rifle with a tri-light scope."
——————————————————————​

[member="Tava Del Nove"] ​

​

His fingers held tight to the steering wheel of the beat up and sliced cab as they drove through the narrow streets of Coruscant, eyes lingering on many buildings that once were places that held a big reputation and now everything that remained were the ruins of bygone eras of success. Everything had changed in the blink of an eye but for the worse or the best?

"I got it!" Ar'ekk took the left turn into the garage before missing it as soon as Tava told him, "Going up."

Nar Shaddaa was rough to deal with between the constant conflicts with the remnants of old gangs in his newly controlled districts and the intrusion of the local corrupt law enforcement agency trying to bring down his business ventures but the former Jedi had it under control for a while with the backing of the Bareesh Kajidic and most importantly Gorba the Hutt's blessing.

"Here we are." The car came to a sudden stop once parked properly and his eyes shifted between Tava and the magnificent skyline of Coruscant's lights and buildings in the horizon. It was breathtaking and nostalgic at the same time, countless of memories came in a flood and nearly made him choke right there and then. Those beautiful moments spent with the girl sitting right next to him on top of the old brewery, eating candy outside the holoflicks theater or Ar'ekk playing with his adoptive brother outside their home.

"It's beautiful."

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[Tava Del Nove]

"It is," echoed the native, unable to look at [member="Arekk"] just yet. Her heart was beating way too fast and now that they were parked, Tava found that without the motion, she felt it hard to breath. Before thinking any further, her small hand clasped his shoulder lightly as she darted outside the cab. She inhaled deeply of the moist air of the open lot and held it for what seemed like forever and let it out in a whoosh. With a smoothing down her dress, the Coruscanti moved to the driver's side, but gave him berth enough to climb from the vehicle's confines.

A long stretch of metal nestled between the building, high from the streets of downtown to commute away from traffic for residents. It was lit in a soft blue, the sides and the continuous moving belt appearing like electric plasma that ferried forms. There were two platforms, one to go to the skyscraper and the other to the parking garage. Her heels offered no sound upon stepping into its motion that propelled her closer to home. They would still need to use the lift though, as the stories of the building exceeded that of where they would be let off.

Speeders zoomed below and small craft zinged above.

Reaching out, fingertips touched his leather wrapped elbow in attempt to gain his attention only to smile at him. They had been here before, though it was still in the process of being erected at that time. Just once though and Del Nove's expression deepened, cheeks flushing a light pink. "Do you remember?" she asked, finally sliding to a still, paved landing just outside the entrance. Footfalls clicked then, as if coming alive and the well oiled doors slid open to allow them access after her wrist nonchalantly grazed the sensors.

The turbo lift was down the hall, second from the right of the three. A single digit pressed the monochrome P and again, Tava let her wrist be scanned. They were closed up again and she swallowed, struggling not to take in too much of Ar'ekk's scent. While they were not pheromones, it behaved in the same manner when it concerned her. Her russet glance moved to his lighter one though and the bell dinged, signaling their arrival.

 

[Arekk]

Coruscant, Uscru District, The Core Worlds​

"Love is making a shot to the knees of a target 120 kilometers away using an Aratech sniper rifle with a tri-light scope."
——————————————————————​

[member="Tava Del Nove"] ​

​

The sound of his leather jacket pressing against the seat as he clambered out of the car sent a shiver down his spine, evoking a pleasing sensation to that particular sound, metallic door closing behind him shortly after. His gaze moved around and took in the massive skyscraper and the skyline one moment at the time as the memories came flooding instantly, little pieces of forgotten moments quickly coming back to him.

Ar'ekk followed the Coruscanti girl suit with his hands concealed inside the warm pockets of his jacket, coming to a sudden stop as their glances clashed for a moment before he decided to look away and see beyond with a quizzical look on his face.

"I remember. We were going to live here one day, that's what we said."

Their walk down the hall was rather short and thankfully were greeted by the turbolift being empty ready to be used, Ar'ekk allowing Tava to enter first because of obvious courtesy. A smile surfaced once more as they seemed to be 'trapped' within the confines of a very tight spaced lift, going up a considerable amount of flights in the sky while trying to keep their composure in check.

It was difficult...

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[Tava Del Nove]

There was only one, long hall decorated in deep navy and bronze and it curved, denoting that the space was cylindrical instead of rectangular. At the end of each were wide, dark metallic doors- though one of these doors could not be seen. The lighting was just bright enough and gave a gold glow as opposed to stark white. It was gorgeous, but breathed money. The type of money that was likely old. Surely not suitable, nor affordable by a lowly slicer. No matter how lucky she was. Either way, Tava called it home for now. "Once upon a time..."

Here they were though, great metal entrance looming over their more diminutive frames. Tava looked to [member="Arekk"] then and sighed before placing her hand atop a scanner panel on the wall. Faint beeps resounded in the corridor and red and purple lights scanned her fingers first, then her palm. When the door's lock clicked and slid, she calmly removed her hand and gave a nod to her guest. It opened to a brighter interior of soft white and light gray, but shared the same bronze accents and installments.

Coruscant night life appeared a panoramic picture on the wall, with the stunning line of massive windows strewn neatly there. As she watched him- maybe for approval...acceptance- the door slid shut and locked behind them. Tava led him further still, past the plush mahogany leather couches artfully surrounding a fireplace. They didn't make it much further before being greeted with clicks of nails on the polished floor. "Rena..." she reached, immediately having her hand licked by the fairly large, mangy looking canine.


"Oh," hand coming to her mouth with a Cheshire grin. "You remember Drax..." her voice caught in her throat then, suddenly overtaken with emotion. Tava's hand found his and used the man's contagious smile to force one of her own. "I mean, he...he is no longer with us," it was something meant to be happy, their old pup's offspring and it took a turn, then it wasn't. Her hand waved past her visage as if to mean 'nothing'. It was though.

Ar'ekk had found Drax, cold and wet- which was the very picture of Tava most days back then- and he had said to her...
"I found your soul mate...couldn't have been a better match! What luck..." Then, he laughed with that dorky smile and ushered the ball of wild, sopping fur towards her.

Really, he couldn't have been more right... as loyal and protective as Dax had been. Slender fingers found the dog's soft, floppy ears. "Hey, girl. This is Ar'ekk, Ar'ekk, Rena," she spoke softly and slowly to the animal, as if it were her child and grasped his left hand so that Rena could sniff him. The grayish white snout did just that and a moment later, licked his fingers. After another stroke of fur, she padded away and disappeared around the corner.

Not even knowing if he cared, because well, he left them both to the artificial wilderness of Coruscant. The dog had been special to her though and Tava harrumphed, tugging his hand to lead him to the couch deciding to tell him whether he wanted to know or not. Whether he cared or not. She had not even been able to sit before a light jingle played over the apartment's com system.

Food.

"Sit, be comfortable. The food is here. You must be starving," half-smiling, Tava sauntered out of the living room and towards the door to retrieve it.

 

[Arekk]

Coruscant, Uscru District, The Core Worlds​

"Love is making a shot to the knees of a target 120 kilometers away using an Aratech sniper rifle with a tri-light scope."
——————————————————————​

[member="Tava Del Nove"] ​

​

Warm and cozy.

Tava's home was magnificent and the panoramic view of Coruscant was breathtaking, much like the one he had back on Lithios except there were less fog and rain in this case. Much to his surprise, a beautiful puppy padded its way to greet them in most ways that canines do which was licking their fingers and asking for rubs of all sorts to which Ar'ekk bent his knee and obliged with Rena.

"Hey there, Rena. Hi, you beautiful thing." His voice took a tonality that was commonly used to address babies and pets alike which he didn't mind to do. "Drax? You two were a perfect match, I still remember that old furry oaf. Loyal."

Having a pet wasn't something that the slicer had the luxury of owning back on Lithios so this was more than a welcome sight to have, feeling utterly comfortable with Rena's presence as she gave some more life to the place. Within the confines of Tava's home was that sensation of safety and coziness that he had missed and wanted to experience long ago, living alone in a ecumenopolis bigger than Coruscant and Nar Shaddaa itself really took a toll on oneself.

The man's hand held to hers gently as she took him around the apartment to eventually plop down on the couch, slouching deeper into the comfy seats and feeling a relieving pressure off his back. He wanted to know about her, to show that after all these years he really cared and that he had not forgotten what they had. To explain why he left all of the sudden without warning and why he couldn't come back.

"Thank you. Don't fuss, take your time." A warm smile was given in return, a vigilant look followed her to the door.

Everything was perfect.

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[Tava Del Nove]

Rounding the corner, food in hand, "Oh...haha...she's the last of the pack..." a shadow of a smile flickered, "Darla was her mother, Drax's mate... she..." her voice trailed off when she neared the couch, sitting just next to @Ar'ekk and giving him elbow room. "She's gone too." Tava set the food down, moving to pull the disposables out first and then the drinks, finally the food. Dark eyes stared for a long while before she spoke again, canting her head in his direction, "Noodles, spiced mynock wings, pepper pretzels... and puffcakes."

As per usual, she opted for the puffcake first and pinched a small piece off to pop in her mouth. Tava glanced down then and soured her face with a frown, "Excuse me...again," she smiled apologetically before setting the pastry down on a napkin and closing herself behind a door. It wasn't, perhaps, but a few minutes and she emerged in something more casual; a rose colored tank stretched over her torso and loose gray pants hung from her waist. Heels were also forgotten and bare feet padded across the floor.

Not yet. Del Nove wouldn't tell him about Drax yet, deciding after they ate was best. She bent, sinking into the deep brown of the cushions again and swiping her cake. Almond shaped eyes watched him, curious. "So," biting off a piece and chewing, "where have you been...why..." Near chocolate brows scrunched and the woman leaned closer, "where did that scar come from?" Or maybe it was scruff and it made her think of how much she missed of his life... Half of it.

"Tell me everything," no... everything but her. I don't want to know about her, she thought. Not yet.

 

[Arekk]

Coruscant, Uscru District, The Core Worlds​

"Love is making a shot to the knees of a target 120 kilometers away using an Aratech sniper rifle with a tri-light scope."
——————————————————————​

[member="Tava Del Nove"] ​

​

A pout rose as she mentioned the fate of the other beloved puppies, somewhat saddened about their passing but knowing it was inevitable. That's just how life was.

"I'm sorry." He compassionately countered with, broadening a child-like smile to lighten up the mood. "Oh, wow. You really remember what I love to eat, don't you? Thank you."

The male slicer's stomach growled angrily as the scent of the delicious food impacted against his nostrils, mouth almost drooling because of it as well. His hands reached out to grab the noodles and the soft drink of choice first, unpacking everything on his lap carefully to not spill anything on himself or Tava's beautiful couch. Hazel-blue eyes went back and forth between the nutriment and his companion for that cold evening, though it was warm inside the apartment, and couldn't ask for a better person to spend it with.

"Oh, go ahe--" The last sentence was cut off as she had already made way toward her room to change, coming back in a very cute outfit that Ar'ekk appreciated very much with a simple facial gesture. She always looked beautiful. "So.."

"Where do I start?" Ar'ekk said with a sigh while slurping his noodles with the chopsticks, talking with a mouthful. "The scar? Oh, I will tell you after. Long story."

Shuffling on the deep brown cushions to find that sweet comfortable spot, the former Jedi laid eyes on Tava once again and pondered heavily for a few seconds before eventually speaking. So many things to tell and explain that they would definitely spend all night talking about it. Nothing would be easy but he was sure they'd be okay. It was always like that between the two.

"Why did I leave all of the sudden? Left you. That's the million dollar question. It's not because I wanted but because I had to. A Jedi Grandmaster found me one day at the local market and saw through me with this... clarity. Remember what I told you about my gift? That I could levitate things with my mind? She told me it was the Force and that someone like me needed to be trained so that power, sort of speak, didn't fall on the wrong hands. She offered me to leave and become a Jedi in Yutan, the Galactic Republic's capital. I was obviously torn between staying here and going. One side was staying here and living a life of crime forever and the other was the opportunity of a life time. And I think a lot about the opportunity that I took and ponder if it was worth it. I lost Sodden and mom and most of all I lost you. Then myself."

This would be a long conversation.

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[Tava Del Nove]

"A Jedi?" Tava looked incredulous, swiping and then popping open the moon fruit fizzy pop. She held it for a moment, appreciating the coolness in her hand and then took a long swallow. "I suppose that sounds right..." sighing into the drink, the Coruscanti half-smiled, "you were always saving people... me...a lot. Especially me." She swallowed, but not the drink this time and set the container down and looked up at him.

Bare, lithe shoulders curled in, "Wh-...what did I do..." She looked confused, unsure. "Why would you not tell me? We told each other everything, Ar'ekk, always. You could have told me. I might'a not have understood, but I would have known at least. Known you weren't dead...or..." Tava didn't finish that part. As with any anxiety, she diverted her focus and instead, picked at the puffcake almost half gone and went silent. The criminal couldn't blame him. Not really. It didn't change how much it hurt though. Didn't take away the pain. "I loved you...I..." Still do, but she didn't finish that statement either. Instead, she swiped a spicy wing, nibbling it. Thus, preventing her from saying anything else stupid for a little while.

Shut up. Shut up. [member="Arekk"] brought up his family and Tava cracked.

"Was it?" she stared at him, liquid amber to his hazel-blue, "Was it worth it?"

It was a silly thing: being upset and still caring in the same line. She reached back with her free hand, idly scratching at her shoulder. "I'm sorry..." lids closed over her eyes and her head shook, knees drawing in towards her chest. "Ohhh....Ar'ekk..."