Above The Clouds

[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."
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[member="Tava Del Nove"] ​

"I saw you with Mr. Important down at the Sabacc table, don't you lie to me." He mused with another smirk, leaning forward to playfully pinch Tava's leg. "Wait, many?"

His heart, oh my! That really did sting at first but knowing her good enough Ar'ekk realized she was playing him for a fool, she always did that. Always the jokester and he liked that when it didn't involve such personal things, specially when it was about love. Reaching for the box of noodles and popping it open, the slicer used the chopsticks to slurp.

"Don't twist this against me, sweetheart." The man said with a mouthful, trying to deflect the question with a giggle. "I haven't exactly found anyone yet. I mean, I did find someone not long ago."

Real smooth, Ar'ekk. Really.

"Boyfriends my butt!" A somewhat bitter yet half-joking tone overtook him, sparing Tava a stranged glance. "You're just messing with me."

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[Tava Del Nove]

"That was strictly business," Tava leered, nose giving a twitch after giving a squeak to his pinch. "I'll tell you about it...soon." That man, that beautiful man was a monster. The thought nearly made her lose her appetite. As things go though, her gaze was diverted to the fire and her hand tousled her different color waves. It didn't last long and [member="Arekk"] slurped. The sound caused her stomach to growl, the puff having not been enough.

With a cheeky smile, Tava used both hands and procured the chop sticks and box of noodles he had within his grasp while he spoke. "You're deflection game has gotten weak, Ar'ekk," she said, stuffing noodles in her mouth. "Who is she?" After a few more helpings, she handed them back with a nod saying thanks.

The worst was over, right? Tell me he is not here looking at me like this, talking like this when he has someone. Tava shook her head, not wanting to think about it. Besides, if that were the case, Boon would surly let her know when it suited him. She pursed her lips and scrunched her nose, licked the sauce off her thumb, "What...you think I couldn't get boyfriends?!" She kind of teased back and ground out a sigh with a glance behind her shoulder, at the city.

"I could definitely get boyfriends."

 

[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."
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[member="Tava Del Nove"] ​

"Deflection game? Hah. You underestimate me, Tava Del Nove." He said while slurping the remainder of his noodles until they were taking away, pouting because of that. "I will let you decypher what I said."

After all these years he was willing to leave everything and anything behind for Tava. Nobody knew or understood him as good as she did and they were always loyal to each other, there had to be something in the future in store for both right? It just had to. Too many things to think about. Ar'ekk responded to her nod with a wink, scooting closer on the couch and reducing that gap that had formed between the two temporarily.

"No, I don't want you to have boyfriends. Plural or singular." He said while gently taking the chopsticks from Tava's hand and slurping some more noodles, eyes piercing each other for a moment and their noses almost nuzzling. "I would hate that."

The former Jedi followed up the slicer girl's eyes to see the skyline of Coruscant and released a comforting sigh that allowed all that built up stress to finally release. It was getting late and surely Tava needed some sleep to which he was definitely sure that leaving for the night was the right thing to do, right?

"I don't wanna bother your night, though. You might want to get some sleep so I bet you want me out of here to do that, I can sleep on a hotel nearby."

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[Tava Del Nove]

"Oh, I do, do I?" she lifted her chin a fraction in defiance when he pouted, browns glittering with mischief, "We're speaking in code, are we?"

It had been quite some time since Tava relaxed, or acted herself. Her real self. It was only around Rena that she could breathe, and even their time had been less and less, save the walks in the early hours of morning. Before the sun peeked above the clouds and the air was still dewy. Other than that, everything was business and given the hunt she was on, it afforded her little time to herself.

There were no rest for the wicked.

And as such, no rest for her. Tava ran on the ring's schedule and usually only allowed a few naps scattered throughout her day. The massive bed with its dozen pillows and metal accents had looked the same for nearly two weeks now as the slicer usually took her reprieve on the couch next to the fire. She never really made it to her bedroom. It was a waste really, all this space.

[member="Arekk"] moved closer and she leaned in habitually, "Max is still around, you know..." but she stopped. They had been rivals back in the day and now... she was sure the Jedi turned slicer wouldn't appreciate knowing the other man's efforts. She smiled sheepishly, lightly rubbing his nose against hers. Tava followed up with, "Rena almost took his leg." Then, her brows wagged.

Those next words made her eyes widen and her head tilt in mild confusion, "Sleep..." Tava mused and continued, "Don't be absurd! I'll not have you staying at some hotel...unless you really want to? There are four rooms, a couch... You're welcome to any of them."

 

[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."
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[member="Tava Del Nove"] ​

"Mhm. You're smart enough to figure it out."

The mention of that name had him flaring his nostrils, just thinking of Tava being with another person just made him feel powerless and frustrated. If Max had dared to make moves on her and most impressively still be around then he would meet a far worse end than anticipated. That guy had been Ar'ekk's nemesis ever since their childhood and always seemed to be getting in scuffles for petty reasons.

"Good girl, that's what she should keep doing." His hazel-blue pools laid on Tava's, exchanging steamy glances for a second as their noses touched. "That wermoh."

Surely she had some rest after difficult nights out working, one had to recharge batteries if they were in that type of life otherwise it would simply eat you. Knowing Tava though Ar'ekk was more than sure she did not even touch her bed and instead crashed on the couch most of the time, just like he did. With the wagging of brows came his flourishing personality, the one that would always captivate you with a simple smile.

"Where do you sleep?"

So bold.

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[Tava Del Nove]

Close enough to smell the worn leather, the lingering scent of soap, and the bite of alcohol- Tava nearly closed her eyes, tugging on the smoke that spiraled from his lips in the bar. That was there too, even though nothing was lit, along with the sweet-spicy allure of noodles. It was a distant, but familiar intoxication to her heightened senses and the slicer allowed herself a moment to soak it in.

Between the intimate glances shared and the crackling of fire on the cool Coruscant night, the woman found herself reaching to dust her fingers through his hair. It was an affectionate gesture and her dry pout twisted into a half-smile. Sometimes time and tribulations had no bearing on the heart. It had no bearing because there was no line of thought attached to it.

It was merely a beating timed with, in sync with another's. Much like a soul that was magnetized to certain things and other souls, forever drawn in to the mythical compass of the universe. Tava didn't know where she was going, the girl was being culled.

Maybe it was the stars in his eyes. Could it be that, that was her map...her Hydian Way?

"Suppose that hinges on where you're sleeping," she replied to [member="Arekk"] just as boldly.

 

[Arekk]

Coruscant, Tava's Apartment, 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."
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[member="Tava Del Nove"] ​

"Of course."

He shivered as her fingers gently slid across his hair and instinctively reached out to hold Tava's free hand, caressing the side with his thumb. There had always been something so captivating in the girl's eyes or perhaps it was the way she spoke to him so sweetly. Words that entered his ears and left a big mark after all these years, the same old glances of their teenager days that had him in trance all the time.

Setting the box of noodles and fizzy pop aside, Ar'ekk leaned forward to gently caress the side of Tava's cheek and move away a brand of hair that had gotten in the way. Piercing steaming glances continued to be shared with ragged breaths and coy smiles inbetween. Was this how heaven felt like? To find something you thought you had lost for so long and to come and find it by pure coincidence.

Or perhaps it was destiny?

"That's a good question."

You. Just you.

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[Tava Del Nove]

More code speak? Tava offered a curt nod to his response and stood, "It is." With that, her hand dropped to her side, then bent at the elbow behind her back. The adroit fingers of that hand curled around the forearm of her other and the former girlfriend, childhood friend of Ar'ekk's stood there for a heartbeat. It was long enough to decide that she needed fresh air.

About the time she made it to the panoramic windows, the small device Del Nove had earlier lit up on the arm of the couch. The color of the screen was a deep violet, near black- no name or image bled through and were it any darker, it could go unnoticed. She glanced at it from across the room, appearing to look as if debating with her dark brow lightly arched. Eventually, the lithe slicer turned to stare out at the city once more, ignoring it and motioning for the door to open out to the veranda.

The rain had stopped and the air was a little warmer, speckles of lights blurry in the distance. "Have you decided, Ar'ekk?" Tava pitched her voice over her shoulder at [member="Arekk"] - thoughts everywhere.

 

[Arekk]

Coruscant, Tava's Apartment, 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"] ​

"Decided what?" He felt the urge to ask a stupid question, though it was clear what the answer was. "If you want me to be a little more obvious..."

There it was. That same doubtful glance had governed her eyes again and Ar'ekk recognized it once more, the smart thing to do would inquire about what was going through her mind but instead the slicer sat there like a total idiot. Did he do something wrong that provoked this?

I mean, if you include the "absent for a whole decade and you've seen me with someone else" part into the equation, then yes you did.

His hands slid into the inner pocket of his leather jacket and retrieved the last two cigarettes from his pack, offering one to Tava as he kicked his feet in motion towards the veranda. A lighter quickly ignited the end of his cancer stick and hopefully the girl's as well, should she decide to take one.

Blowing smoke out of his nostrils and let it vanish into the thin air, Ar'ekk laid eyes on her once more and seemed to have over a thousand questions running through his mind.

"You're okay?"

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[Tava Del Nove]

"I'd rather you be sure," she replied to his comment and not his question, feeling [member="Arekk"] at her back when she spoke. The man seemed to radiate a sort or warmth that radiated around his being; the proof was still the heat held in her cheek where he, moments ago, had caressed. When a person seen that same star struck gaze given freely to another, it lost some of its appeal. Or maybe a little of its meaning.

How could she be sure?

Tava couldn't. Who really could? It was just one of those things you took a leap of faith for regardless of wings.

With a pinch of two fingers, she slid his offered cigarette between her own middle and fore and lofted it betwixt her lips. A spark and then a flicker of a flame- that was when her brown eyes found his again, glancing from under lashes and the thin haze of smoke. Tava pulled the lit stick away, silver twirls dripping from her mouth in an exhale before dissipating, "I'm not, but I will be."

 

[Arekk]

Coruscant, Tava's Apartment, 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."
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[member="Tava Del Nove"] ​

"Kiss me."

She had a good reason to be doubtful of Ar'ekk's feelings and he did not blame her for that at all. After so long you start to see things clearly and Tava had laid eyes on someone that stole his heart too but it wasn't herself. That definitely hurt more than being stabbed or shot at and there was nothing he could do to amend that, it just simply happened. Her choice was there to make and if making him walk out that door was the right one then he would oblige albeit rather sadly.

"Or you don't have to." He countered back with, eyes lingering on hers for a moment before toking on his cigarette. "It's your choice."

Leaning against the veranda, Ar'ekk took in more of Coruscant's skyline and exhaled deeply while trying to keep himself composed. The man was more than willing to make sacrifices for her but if that's not what she wanted then what else was there to do? He was lost and unable to think of the next move, of what to say to make her doubts dissipate.

"I know you will."

That arrogant smile surfaced once more but was quickly replaced by the cigarette being tucked inbetween his dry lips and a lost glance.

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[Tava Del Nove]

More than one drag was inhaled, then exhaled before she answered. Before she dare move or taste words. Smoke clung to her lightly upturned lips, curling in small circles within larger ones. Tava watched him through the haze or curtain the death stick offered, Coruscant skyline lighting that darker gaze of hers up. There were many options to be had here, not just the two [member="Arekk"] voiced.

However...

Did it make sense that even though her chest was heavy, she could breath better? That she felt as if a ginormous weight had been lifted.

The cylindrical bad habit was then lightly smooched between the thumb and forefinger of her right hand, one last draw before it hung in that grip. Tava moved in, one leg assumed position between the fallen Jedi's knees so that she could be more... personal. The smoke that tumbled from his mouth whispered to her own lips that were now not far from his own. Both hands framed his face, her soft palms against the prickly flesh of his jaw- one still cradling the lit cigarette and the other free to stroke his cheek.

With her heart beating erratically, those dry, but velvet lips swept over his. Just barely, more flutter-like and urging movement of his own when her lids closed over her eyes. Tava answered, but not with any words.

You only lived once.​

 

[Arekk]

Coruscant, Tava's Apartment, 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."
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[member="Tava Del Nove"] ​

Smoke curls emanated from his nostrils and his lit cigarette was quickly discarded by being thrown into nothingness, absorving Coruscant's skyline for one last moment before concentrating on Tava.

They said that actions spoke louder than words and all his questions were answered in such a bold yet emphatic manner that left the fallen Jedi literally wordless. Soft lips brushed against his dry ones tenderly, loose palms settling on the girl's cheeks as the kiss deepened. His heart beated like a swoop bike burning gasoline during a race at full speed which was perfectly the right answer.

Ar'ekk enjoyed, savoured and cherished this beautiful moment after fantasizing it for so long in his dreams. No buts, no what ifs, just a clear answer to everything. All the answers to her questions would come soon enough...

You only lived once.

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[Tava Del Nove]

Steady, cool drops of rain began to fall until they appeared thin spider-silken streams from the heavens.

It was tempered, steady and knowing. If she were to cry, letting the emotion of a decade spill over her cheeks, the weather would have rescued her and his lips arresting the sounds before they came. What began as chaste soon flowed, slick lips moving over his with adept passion that came only from learned experience on the same terrain. Tava aimed to claim them and sunk into the open confines of the leather jacket [member="Arekk"] donned, surrendering to the moment and the storm.

Thoughts and heartbeats boomed like thunder, each equally loud and clashing as the lightening danced in the sky.

That intensity drew Tava away and had her peering up into his hazel-blue eyes from under a wet curtain of raven lashes still within the shadow of his outwear. The cigarette had long since been out, likely having fell to the same demise as Ar'ekk's and it was that hand that came between them, thumb brushing away the hair stuck to his face. It then moved across his rain-soaked lips.

"Ar'ekk..."

 

[Arekk]

Coruscant, Tava's Apartment, 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"] ​

Their embrace was cozy and snuggly, its relaxing warmth provided by both was too irresistible to break away. Hazel-blue eyes met her sienna pools as rain droplets fell on their curved cheeks, lips parting ways for what seemed to be an enternity yet were mere seconds.

Every moment cherished like it was the last, that was the true key to a happy life. As soon as the rain came pouring over their heads like a gentle brush Ar'ekk felt like being transported back on Ethos City where secrets ran galore. It didn't make him miss home. He felt in the right place for once, no more running around. No issues.

His big blue hazel-eyes lingered on her's for another minute again, offering a warm half-smile while at it as she took her time to speak again. Time seemed to slow down.

"Tell me..."

Anywhere, anytime.

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[Tava Del Nove]

"Stay..." she breathed into the night, the rain hushing her words.

The clouds, the lights... was a mere backdrop and were there moments to capture, it would have been one. Even with the rain falling and silken raven hair plastered against a cheek that slid against his equally drenched one. Her hand found his upon her face, just barely sinking her fingers in the spaces between his. What am I to do?

They were their own natural disasters.

You're all I need. And it was a casual thought as storm kissed lips pressed just past his brow. Sweet, affectionate gestures that could run deeper than any ocean. Tava jumped into those uncertain depths of emotion, albeit willingly to drown, so long as [member="Arekk"] was there. Her eyes closed once more, her more diminutive frame dripping with the down pour slid against him, mouth nearing his ear, "Can I keep you?"

 

[Arekk]

Coruscant, Tava's Apartment, 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"] ​

Decisions, decisions.

That lingering thought of another secret kept from Tava continued to run in his mind like a tape stuck in eternal repeat, her words captivating enough to make him wish to stay all the way. So many sacrifices made on their lives that it was time to appreciate the prize handed to them but how could Ar'ekk start enjoying such when he hadn't told her the entire truth?

If they were going to do something, it had to be based with trust and honesty. "I want to." Really. All the way, forever. But he had to speak the truth first, it was difficult.

"I have always been yours..." The beating of his heart had reached his throat, hands beginning to feel sweaty despite being dampened by the rain. His lips gently pressed againt Tava's forehead and looked directly into her eyes with big bright ones, moon reflecting on them as clear as the rain. "But there's something more you need to know. After that you can decide."

Fingers intertwined with the Coruscanti's girl and Ar'ekk cleared his throat before eventually speaking. I'd never lie to you.

"Athena. When Jyn was still alive, I started working on an AI that would hopefully aid her with some duties that were usually related to housekeeping and other very intricate tasks, she was able to convey her own thoughts and independency like any human being despite being a simple computer program. After Jyn passed away, the idea of transfering Athena's mind, sort of speak, to a real body became more and more a great idea to keep me company. "

A sigh finally escaped him as if he felt a huge relief disappearing from his shoulders.

"She became more human than human and with that... We ended up together in time, like any other real person. But she's not human."

So strange, so sad. But that was it plain and simple, without skipping any details. Would she want him after this? Should he give up? End up going or staying?

"That's what you needed to know. I would never lie to you, I promised you that fifteen years ago. But if your choice is not to keep me, I will go. I will understand."

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[Tava Del Nove]

Through drought and famine...

The mood had changed, ambiance more like a caged heartbeat ricocheting in survival mode. All the breath felt like it left her or was smuggled to another destination beside her lungs. Perhaps it was that very thing suffocating her heart, the blood pumping through near collapsed veins. Tava's face fell as the rain washed down her cheeks as if poured. The entirety of her smaller frame froze next to him. He must have felt her body's reaction being so close.

Don't you love it when I come around...​

Though it was painful, her wide eyes held his. Searching. The truth hurt and she struggled for a response, to will words to climb past, what felt like a closed throat. Thoughts were a maelstrom of emotions, of reasons... What was he telling her? What did it mean? There was the obvious: that he missed his lost loved one; Jyn. [member="Arekk"] missed a ghost and in many ways, Tava could relate. Only her ghost had manifested on this cold, rainy Coruscant night and he had attempted and succeeded at recreating his in the form of cybernetics wrapped in the flesh. Where did that leave her... There were no competitions - the two were too different for that to be. Where did she stand...

Del Nove knew better, perhaps more than most when concerning the Force sensitive slicer, that not being human meant little to nothing. It was a large detail that mattered less in the grand scheme of things. He was integrated with tech, moreso than her. So to have a companion as the very thing you breathed?

BADUM. BADUM.

With her other hand, she shoved him, causing their intertwined fingers to loose and their hands to part. "How dare you..." honeyed vocals attempted to rise, but lacked the air to carry higher barely more than a whisper. Tava shoved him again and towards the windows of the penthouse, both of her hands pressed to his leather jacket. "How dare you come to me and...and say these things? Kiss me like that..."

To appreciate honesty and to accept the reality were two different things entirely. "How...how...tell me how you have always been mine?" Tears the size of the raindrops fell and mingled with them, masking her emotional outrage. Both hands clenched at her sides, lacquered nails biting her palms.

Fills you up, then I take you down.

"How have you ever not been..." she choked, sucking in a mouthful of the damp air. Having already made that leap of faith, it was on her shoulders... this heartache. The slicer turned from him, body swaying near the ledge and her glance crept just over it for a distraction. Water fell in droves over her thin, bare shoulders and her clothes heavy from the storm. Her eyes closed, having wished that she did drown in that bottle just then. "I made my decision," it had never really been up for debate for Tava.

The heart of the criminal had irrevocably always been his. An albeit dangerous place to put such a fragile thing. "But it seems..." Tava glanced
to Daesharacor with the entire weight of her emotions swirling in her liquid sienna pools, "you have to want to be kept, Ar'ekk..." voice trailing off, she peeled her eyes from his and let it linger on the bustling nightlife below. "It's always been yours...it's always been you." Sure, she had been in relationships- a fair few- but it had never been that and Del Nove couldn't give to another what she didn't have.

Boy, you lead me to...paradise.​

 

[Arekk]

Coruscant, Tava's Apartment, 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"] ​

He deserved it.

Tava's reaction was justified in every single way without a drop of doubt, an emotional response that Ar'ekk could only respond by not doing anything. Shoved around, smacked around... He had broken her heart in a million pieces back then and so did he now with that revelation nobody wants to hear after years of being missed. Pressed against the window and only being able to look at her in the eyes was the sole option the slicer had in that instant.

Even spewing something out felt wrong, did he really deserve to be talking to her righ now after this? "Tava..." A faint whisper left his mouth while trying to collect his thoughts and attempt to say something meaningful.

"I-I...." He choked just as her, unable to construct a single phrase for her to hear, trapped in his own play while the rain dampened him from head to toes as if the almighty Gods decided to take a piss on him angrily. "I know."

Sliding his fingers across his wet hair, Ar'ekk heavened a deep sigh while leaning over the ledge to catch sight of Coruscant. Too many things going at once inside his head would drive him crazy but he had to make a choice and stop playing with people's hearts. It was the most awful thing a person could do to another and the slicer didn't want to be that kind of person.

"It's my option to make." He parroted once more while trying to come up with the answer, going over and over through countless memories and situations shared. Follow your heart and not your mind, whatever it tells you. "But I think I already decided a few minutes ago."

After a decade of being gone, Ar'ekk was there with Tava. Overlooking the skyline of neon infested lights and billboards just like when they were teenagers, the good old times running away from dimestore criminals after pulling off their "small heists" to get away together in the future. Save a little money and disappear into the mist.

"I'm here."

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[Tava Del Nove]

"Did you really decide, Ar'ekk..." she chimed in after a moment of forcing herself to breath evenly. "Or do you just like the idea of it?"

Was she scorned? Yeah, it seemed as much. Anger radiated from her and as the heaven's deemed it so, Tava was no Force User, so no lightening crackled from her fingertips, no throw of power. Just a girl with the stars swimming in her eyes with their red rims from her crying. [member="Arekk"] however, he could have pushed her... he could have done a number of things in that moment to stop her. He didn't- he just took it.

Say something... Fight back.

There was a silent conversation done with their eyes and no words. Words couldn't explain or justify. When you knew someone...when you were connected, sometimes it was the best route of communication. Her brown gems studied him and even after everything that had transpired, there was still the soft glow of love. Past the tears and the lips turned down in to a frown, that fervent emotion's flame flickered. Wavered even. But never snuffed out.

Force be with me, Tava internalized, I can't let go.

Turning to him, the native wrapped her slender arms about her middle in attempt to stave off the chill that had possessed her poorly dressed frame given the weather. Her bare foot took a step forward, only one. The stakes were high. So high and the female gambler spoke, already all in, "Prove it." Do something.

Every time I look into your eyes... I see it.​