After Party

[Roona Osmari]

The music began to play.

It seemed that the party was in full swing. Roona turned slightly to see that couples were now pairing off and making their way to the dance floor. Still perched on the barstool, she glanced down at the ice cubes that floated in her drink. Next to her, Colonel [member="Valkren Calderon"] was also enjoying a drink at the bar. Sea-green eyes chanced a glance to the side at him, and as her gaze shifted beyond him – she could see others down the line at the counter. It seemed that there were a few present that knew the Colonel, but it wasn’t the case for Roona. Aside from the Raiders, there were very few that knew her. As her eyes focused on Valkren again, she offered him a small smile and then glanced away to take a sip.

In the closer quarters at the bar, her arm brushed gently against his as she brought her glass up. Blinking, she shifted ever slightly to keep from disturbing him. Though her expression betrayed little of what she was feeling, her heart skipped a nervous beat. Glancing out at the dance floor, she watched the elegant figures move in concert with the music. Some danced far better than others, but it seemed that everyone was having a good time. There were smiles on every face that danced past. Roona guessed that some pairs were friends, and there were probably a few budding romances present as well.

The lights dimmed slightly.

After taking a rather hearty gulp from her glass, she set the drink down on the bar. Looking over at Valkren, she started to open her mouth to speak… but pressed her lips closed again. Roona didn’t really want to admit that she did want to dance with the Colonel, very much so in fact. But should she ask or should she wait for him to ask her? These matters of protocol made her a bit anxious.

But to her surprise, she didn’t even need to speak. Seemingly on cue, the two Antarian Rangers left the bar and moved out to join the others dancing. Roona gently placed her palms atop Valkren’s broad shoulders, and let him begin to guide her. She lingered close to him, but not too close. If there were any fellow Radama Raiders present, she was sure there would be some playful teasing to look forward to. It was an enjoyable experience, but Roona had to admit that this perhaps was just not their style.

“You’re a good dancer,” She said quietly, looking up to meet his gaze. “And it’s not that I don’t want to keep dancing, but by chance, do you…” Roona paused briefly, “Want to get out of here?”

 

[Valkren Calderon]

Valkren wasn't used to this, not at all.

He had left behind his flirtatious days and memories of constant courtship back during his stint in the Galactic Republic marines and Republic special forces. It wasn't that he was old now, infact he was still rather young for his rank and position. Posting the proud age of twenty-nine, he was one of the youngest special forces officers on the battlefield.

Was he really thinking of age at a time like this?

Yeah, it was a lot easier with the few people he knew down the line of barstools himself and Roona had occupied, breaking away some of the awkward tension that he had expected this whole time. Talk' stuck a finger inbetween his neck tie and dress shirt, giving himself some leeway to breath, but also ruining the neatness of the tie in the process. Soon after he made this movement, he'd take a sip from the corellian whiskey that was before him. He wanted to knock it all back together, but had figured that it wasn't quite classy enough.

In fact, he'd much rather prefer to knock back three of the same drinks. It would make the situation a lot smoother, after all.

The young colonel caught Osmari's glance, returning the smile before she turned away, taking a heavier gulp afterwards due to the stupid feeling that flushed through his body. He felt his face go red, this was not good at all. Suddenly, he felt her arm brush up against his. There it was again, physical contact. Something about it seemed oh so right, but he wasn't sure. He hadn't had much contact with any woman since his days in the republic unless it came to sparing or assisting his teammates in combat.

Come on, Calderon. Brother and Dad are probably rolling over in their graves at how bad you're doing right now!

He knocked the rest of his drink back suddenly, almost out of habit. He wasn't sure if she had witnessed him in the process, but he couldn't help it. He was used to being surrounded by those that most people here would call 'heathens.' Valkren couldn't tell if it was the whiskey getting to him, or just the atmosphere, but he soon found himself grasping Roona by the hand. The two making their way out onto the dance floor with the rest of them. His hands went to her sides, and then to her hips as he tried to ease into the comfort once more of dancing.

Suddenly, Lieutenant Harris snaked his way around the dance floor, a cocktail waitress in one arm as he made his way past Valkren. With his free hand, he'd wind up and slap the colonel on the rear, snaking back off and laughing rather audibly. Valkren's face only went red for a moment as he looked back to where the LT had disappeared to. A smile tugged at his lips, it was nice to know they weren't the only ones of their 'nature' here tonight.

As Valkren turned back, he was caught staring directly into Roona's eyes. She almost had him in a trance with those green eyes.

"You know I don't like it when you lie, Osmari." He stated this after she offered the compliment about his dancing, lifting her hand over her head momentarily to spin her, mirroring several other pairs that were doing it at the same time, as he was still having trouble getting back into the 'swing' of things.

Once his hands returned to her sides, he perked up slightly at her question. He had been waiting to hear that all night. No matter where they would go, or what they would do, he knew that they could find a party better than the one they danced at now.

Or at least make one.

Valkren suddenly took her hand once more, turning to lead the sergeant away from the ball and all its fanciness. With his free hand, he'd snag two flutes of champagne from a waitress wandering by, spilling some in the process, but the alcohol was needed no matter what.

[member="Roona Osmari"]

 

[Roona Osmari]

With Valkren’s hand wrapped around her own, she followed his lead. As they made their way briskly to the exit, she was pleased to see him snatch up two flutes of champagne for the road. Roona instantly felt better as the cool night air fell against her skin. Slipping a glass of champagne from the Colonel’s hand, she brought it to her lips. A brow arched thoughtfully, it wasn’t so bad the second time around. Now that they had separated from the party, they seemed to have the whole of the courtyard to themselves. But the sound of music could still be heard outside.

Still at Valkren’s side, she turned slightly to look up at him.

What were they going to do now? Caught up in the excitement of making their escape, she hadn’t given much thought to the next part of their evening. A slow smirk formed on her lips, and she finally broke the silence. “I wasn’t lying,” She said, letting the corners of her lips pull up into a very rare and elusive smile. “You are a good dancer.” Maybe it was the champagne, but her tone was much warmer than usual. Roona let her attention drift up towards the sky for a moment, it was mottled with clouds, but there were still stars to be seen.

“I’ve heard the boys talking about a new pub. I think it’s called the Rolling Log. It’s down near the river, by the settlement.” Her green orbs shifted back to Valkren, noticing that he’d tugged his necktie a bit loose again, pulling her attention back to the conversation, she continued. “Want to go? I think we can borrow a speeder bike, it’ll be a short ride.” Based on what the others had said, it was a pretty rustic hangout. And it was lively, too. Some of the Rangers had even rented small cabins nearby to ensure that they reached the base safe and sober the next morning.

Her high heels clicked against the pavement as the pair began to walk towards the Landing, where the bikes were parked. As they approached, Roona reached down to gather up the length of her skirt. However, she paused a few steps away from the speeder bike. Looking down, she realized that she would have to hike her dress up a bit to ride properly. Roona probably would have done it in a shot where she alone, but tonight she wondered if she should at least make an attempt to be ladylike.

“I, uh…” She released her skirt, letting it billow around her feet. “Can’t drive in this get-up.” The Ysannan admitted sheepishly, her cheeks coloring slightly in defeat. “You drive.” She said, adding a small smile as she hopped onto the back of the bike to ride side-saddle.

[member="Valkren Calderon"]

 

[Valkren Calderon]

Valkren felt the cool air, it was especially soothing now that his neck tie was slightly loose, still appearing somewhat presentable but allowing the air to flow between his dress shirt and tattoo'd skin. The courtyard was rather peaceful, aside from the occasional intoxicated couple that would wander back and forth between the festivities and the emptiness that surrounded Silvers Rest.

He cocked a brow as she spoke up, taking a gulp from his own glass, doing his best not to smile against the mouth of the flute as she spoke of his skills as a dancer. He failed miserably, as the smile was apparent, accidentally spilling some of the champagne onto the corner of his collar.

Valk' gently pulled the glass away from his mouth, leaning over slightly to avoid getting any more of the luxury drink on his suit. After letting out a chuckle, he'd look over to his date.

"You're not so bad yourself out there."

His features seemed to brighten up once more at the suggestion of this new 'spot,' and if their team members had mentioned it, it had to be the place to be during after-hours. Roona seemed to know just what to say, it almost seemed too good to be true. He nodded in agreement, walking along with her to the location of the speeder bikes.

"Roona, If I ever turn down an offer like that, I want you to put me down." Valkren would state this jokingly, of course, knowing all too well that she certainly had the abilities to take down the special forces officer.

Eventually, they'd reach the speeders, and the young soldier knew from the start the obstacle that Osmari was facing. This only gave more fuel to the smirk that he held on his face. Taking his seat on the speeder, he placed his dress shoes against the stands, rather uncomfortably at that. He was used to having combat boots or his armor on, especially when on a bike.

He could feel the sergeant against his back where she was seated, sending shivers down his spine at the contact once more.

He engaged the ignition, the speeder bike lifting the pair off of the ground.

"And here I thought you were wanting to race."

[member="Roona Osmari"]

 

[Roona Osmari]

With Valkren sitting so close, she felt her heart begin to beat faster. Without even realizing it, she drew in a breath and held it for a long moment. As the bike lifted off, her arms instinctively looped around the Colonel’s middle. And now she was thankful that he was unable to see the bright blush that had found her. Exhaling as smoothly as she could, she managed to find her voice again to respond.

“Race?” She felt the corners of her mouth lift up, “Perhaps another time.”

As the Colonel drove, Roona enjoyed the sights. Though she’d been on Kashyyyk for some time now, she’d found little opportunity to simply explore here. It was vastly different from her home on Ossus, the trees here were tall and evergreen, and the climate far less humid. A quiet smile found her face as she rode; it was something of an oddity to be riding off to a dive bar dressed as they were. Still, there was something inside Roona that liked this very much.

The life of a soldier wasn’t glamorous, and the sergeant lived her life accordingly. When other women were off mingling with friends, she was often found training. And many other ladies would think nothing of getting dressed up and going out with a man, to Roona this was a rare occasion. In a way, it was nice to enjoy something that others likely took for granted.

“Almost there, I think.” She called forward, “Just around this bend.”

As they pulled up to a rather rustic settlement, there were wooden structures that fit in quite well with the wilderness. A river ran to the far side, where there were mountains that towered in the background. It was almost like something out of a story – a quaint little spot. Hopping down from the speeder, she straightened out the skirt of her dress. The forest floor was littered with twigs and she could feel her pointed heels sinking down into the soft dirt. Grabbing hold of Valkren’s arm to keep herself steady, she blinked up at him.

Inside, there was a roaring fire in the hearth and a rowdy crew already present. There was singing, some of it very off-key. And there was the distinct impression that much of the furniture in this establishment had been broken and repaired at least once. In fact, some of the 'seats' at the bar were not seats at all -- but old barrels that had been re-purposed. Upon entering the tavern, they were met with many stares. Roona noticed immediately that there were some women in here already grinning at the Colonel. And so, she kept her hand on his arm as they walked in.

[member="Valkren Calderon"]

 

[Valkren Calderon]

This was more like it.

The atmosphere fit the couple just right, and Valkren couldn't have been happier to be there. As Roona gripped his arm tighter, another shiver went up his spine. He still couldn't pin it down properly. Even if it hadn't been recently, the young soldier had still been on plenty of dates, courted plenty of women..Yet, here he was, stumbling over his own thoughts trying to find the right things to say to this woman beside him.

As they entered further and approached the bar, he would notice the eyes being drawn to him, and in response he'd move both himself and Roona to one of the few remaining high-chairs at the bar that hadn't been destroyed. With these female eyes upon him, and quite the buzz being caught at this moment, he'd simply lift Roona up onto the stool, taking a standing position directly next to her to wave down the bartender.

In all honesty, he didn't have much idea what he was doing, he just knew that he was sure enjoying the heck out of Osmari being beside him.

He wasn't about to let it slip away.

"So, what's your poison, sergeant?" Valk said this as he turned to make eye contact with her, reaching up to begin to remove his neck tie completely in the process. At this point in the night, calling her by her actual rank felt more like teasing than anything.

[member="Roona Osmari"]

 

[Roona Osmari]

Roona walked alongside the Colonel as they made their way over to the bar. A few glances were drawn in the sergeant’s way, too. But the strong presence of Valkren at her side was enough to make the men turn back to their drinks. As they reached the bar stools, Roona blinked a couple of times as she felt Valkren’s hands upon her waist. And then, he lifted her with ease onto a stool. For the first time, a bashful smile appeared on her face.

Her hand gently tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear, and she watched as Valkren waved down the bar man. As he spoke, Roona let her eyes shift to match his gaze. The corners of her mouth pulled up even more when he addressed her by rank. She would respond in kind.

“Well, sir…” She started in a playful tone. “I think tonight that I would like to drink some Corellian Whiskey.” The bartender was listening, so she turned briefly to him. “Neat – please.” She added.

Glancing quickly around the room, she noticed that most of the other women had already turned back to their conversations. However, there were still a few eyes upon the pair. A strange feeling tugged at her, one that was protective and even perhaps a bit possessive. Her more feral nature was beginning to come through. Roona offered one of the other women a very subtle narrow-eyed stare, as if to say ‘try it.’ She decided that she wouldn’t be getting into any slap-battles with other women tonight.

Roona would simply deck them out cold.

As their drinks were delivered, she took a sip from her glass. Immediately, she felt the warmth of the alcohol flow through her. Though her posture remained straight, her shoulders relaxed slightly.

“Tell me, how did you find your way to the Rangers?” She asked, realizing that she knew very little about the Colonel on a personal level. It was small talk, but she was genuinely curious about the man.

[member="Valkren Calderon"]

 

[Valkren Calderon]

Valkren tipped back his own drink, his tie loose around his neck, but still present at this point with his shirt unbuttoned at the top two locations. There was a visible stop in his motions momentarily when Roona asked him about his presence with the rangers. However the young officer attempted to disguise the stop in his motion, turning it into an awkward cough. He had hoped it was good enough cover to fool the special forces operator, but a part of him doubted it.

He finished the drink, before waving down the bartender again. There was another moment of silence before he spoke up, turning to make eye contact with Echo once more as the server went to tend to his order.

"I'm not sure when you joined up with the rangers, but our old grandmaster, Yune." He looked down to the dark whiskey that was slid into his hand soon after, a soft smile formed on his lips as he thought back.

"She was a Knight, back when I was just a marine in the Galactic Republic. She fought beside me back when I had my first stint in the Republic's SOF program. And well..When the Republic fell, she found me."

The smile disappeared suddenly. Valkren was fighting back a tear at this point, flashing back to his time receiving the news of his close friend perishing at Mirial. Watching as Valae struggled to tell the soldier that he couldn't go search for her. How did this night get turned around suddenly?

He wouldn't let it get turned around, he did his very best and held in said tear. His voice and posture straightened momentarily as he began to raise the glass back to his lips, talking before placing the mouth of the cup to his lips.

"So, she put in a good word for me, and here I am."

[member="Roona Osmari"]

 

[Roona Osmari]

Over the top of her glass, she saw the Colonel pause for a moment after she had posed her question. Of course, there was very little that went unseen by her sharp eyes, but she said nothing. She took a long drink from her glass, wondering if perhaps this question was troublesome. But before the doubt could truly set in, she felt the warmth of the Corellian Whiskey. As Valkren downed the contents of his glass, she did the same, and nodded to the tender as he pointed to her empty cup.

Their gaze met once more, and Roona listened as Valkren spoke. His tone seemed different this time, and she spotted the smile on his lips as he mentioned Grandmaster Yune. Thinking back, Roona recalled having seen the woman a time or two, but as far as she could remember, she hadn’t had any interactions with her. However, she had heard of the Yune’s heroism and bravery in battle. And she did recall the events of Mirial, and the time she’d spent in the Colonel’s quarters before leaving for Kashyyyk.

Of course, this was still a tender spot.

Roona noticed the shift in Valkren’s demeanor, and she was sorry for having prodded him. As their second set of drinks was delivered, she took a heavy swig from the glass. Squeezing her eyes closed for a moment, she let out a breath. A hand gently came to rest atop his on the bar.

“I’m glad she put in that good word,” She said, voice softer than before. “She has my thanks.”

There was a tone of respect in her words. Then, standing from her barstool, she slipped her arm around the Colonel’s. “C’mon,” She whispered, nodding towards a dark corner of the tavern. Away from most of the crowd, there was a booth in the back – crafted in a semi-circle, so that the two could sit side by side. Sliding onto the seat first, she moved over to allow room for Valkren to join her. There was a fireplace nearby, the dim light flickered and offered a bit of warmth. Glancing sidelong at him, Roona couldn’t help but notice the way his features were lit by the fire.

“This is cozy, isn’t it?” She asked, taking another sip. “I like going out with the others…they are quite a lot of rowdy fun.” She started, the words simply slipping out now. “But this is nice, just the two of us.”

Suddenly realizing that she was speaking aloud, a heavy blush appeared on her cheeks.

[member="Valkren Calderon"]

 

[Valkren Calderon]

Valkren suddenly looked down from his glass to the hand that rested on hers. He couldn't help his face flooding with red, having not had this much contact with another person aside from sparing in quite some time. Osmari's statement gave him more warmth than the whiskey that ran through his body.

Suddenly, it was her pulling the colonel along instead of the other way around. The soft smile appeared once more on the young officer's face. Oh how things had changed in just a matter of hours, from him pulling her away at the ball..And now.

He followed Roona and slid down next to her, feeling the warmth on him almost immediately from the fire. He listened to her words and acknowledged them, but somehow he simply wasn't paying attention. He was stuck staring at her. He meant to ask her how she had found her way into the rangers..Yet he just couldn't.

Perhaps it was all the whisky and champagne from the hours of being out at the ball and then here, or maybe it was just the right thing thing to do, but Valkren suddenly lifted his hand up to Roona's red cheek, moving it gently underneath her ear with his finger tips on the back of her neck ever so slightly. In a matter of moments Valkren had leaned forward, his eyes closed as he attempted to press his lips to hers.

The red flags about protocol and fraternization had yet to go off yet, and he was taking full advantage of this moment of peace in his mind.

[member="Roona Osmari"]

 

[Roona Osmari]

With the silence that followed her awkward confession, Roona’s blush only deepened. She turned the glass of whiskey in her hands, contemplating another sip. However, this thought was quickly pushed aside. As Valkren’s hand gently found the side of her face, her lashes fluttered. Though her heart was pounding within, she remained quite still, save for tilting her chin up slightly.

Letting her eyes close, she leaned in to meet him, their lips pressed into a soft kiss.

One hand let go of her drink and slid up onto the Colonel’s strong shoulder. And when the kiss broke, she lingered there, the tip of her nose next to his. Roona kept her eyes shut; there was part of her that was afraid to open them again, as if the moment would somehow be ruined. But after another moment, she looked up into his eyes. She knew that she should probably move away, but she couldn’t move a muscle.

Maybe it was the alcohol, but there was a hint of a feeling that told her it could be more. Roona didn’t want to get ahead of herself; she wasn’t sure where this night would lead them. All she knew is that she didn’t want to leave his side right now.

“I’ve been wanting to do that for… a while now.” Roona finally admitted, hand squeezing his shoulder. “You have, too?”

No matter how she liked to keep up a tough front, the whiskey was beginning to work its magic to reveal a softer side – one that was even a bit playful. It was a side of her that she did not like to show very many, only a small chosen few. Glancing down at the drink in her hand, she brought it up and downed the contents. Squeezing her eyes shut for a moment, she felt the burn of the alcohol. Triumphantly dropping the glass onto the table, she grinned at Valkren and then leaned over him slightly to signal the bar man to bring them another round.

[member="Valkren Calderon"]

 

[Valkren Calderon]

When the kiss ended, it felt as if a lifeline was just severed. He wanted it again almost immediately. It felt..Amazing,

It felt dangerous..

Then, there went the red flags. Valkren knew all too well the protocol when it came to fraternization, especially with an NCO. He himself had signed off on several suspension recommendations from superiors and reports from squad members in different divisions. He knew the consequences, and they were monumental for him. Luckily enough, due to their unusually fancy get-up they were rather difficult to spot as Antarian rangers, opposed to wearing their fatigues or armor.

Yet he didn't seem to care..And this time it wasn't because of the alcohol, at least he thought.

When the server approached the pair in the corner, Valkren was still long gone in the kiss that had happened moments before, however her voice seemed to pull him back to reality. A reality where a pretty lady was still sitting beside him, one where the lights of the flames flickered at her features just so perfectly. He'd raise a hand to stop the server, turning to look up at him to say "Tequila?"

Shots, every ranger loves shots..As long as it was strong enough.

After arranging a new set of drinks for the couple, Valkren would return his gaze to Roona, finally answering her question. "You have no idea, sweet thing." His slight-drawl came out on this one, which was rare. It was usually only heard when back working on his family's farm on Alderaan, where his accent was once strongest with some local cultures, or around those he felt comfortable with. Valkren's hand fell from the side of her cheek, to her leg. Making it casually enough to be comfortable for the both of them, as he was still turned in her direction.

[member="Roona Osmari"]

 

[Roona Osmari]

With a new set of drinks or rather… shots sitting on the table, Roona felt a smile tug at her lips. The sound of Valkren’s drawl was unexpected. She had to wonder, had she heard hints of this accent before? She didn’t think so, but it was a very charming new development. Gently biting her lip as his hand moved to her leg, she had it in mind to keep his palm there… but they did have drinks waiting.

Lifting the two shots, she placed one in the Colonel’s hand, and kept the other for herself.

“To us,” She said, letting her shot glass ‘clink’ against his. With that, her eyes slid closed and she downed the contents like any good soldier. To her delight, it was quite strong.

Feeling pleasantly light-headed, she set her empty glass down on the table and turned back to Valkren. Maybe it was the booze, or the dim-lit atmosphere, but she found herself craving more. Roona’s hands slid up the front of his shirt, until they found the two sides of his necktie that hung loosely. Sea green eyes locked with his, lost momentarily in the color of his blue orbs.

They were walking a very fine line.

Of course, there was nothing in the rules that prohibited the two from forming a friendship. But what if things took a more romantic turn? This was the sort of thought that would normally have kept Roona from acting at all. However, at the moment she was more inclined to ignore them. For once, she would set foot over this line… and she would enjoy it.

Gently pulling him closer by way of his tie, she smiled darkly.

“Another round?”

She might have been talking about drinks or…

[member="Valkren Calderon"]

 

[Valkren Calderon]

Valkren removed his hand from her leg, almost with hesitation as she handed him the drink. He wasn't exactly sure what he was going for, asking for a stronger set of shots. Maybe it was much easier for him to talk to Roona when the alcohol was in his system..Maybe he needed the burn as punishment for what he was doing.

Maybe it was just how they had fun. After all, they were soldiers.

"To us, the strangest ones out there." He knocked back the strong liquor soon after. He wasn't kidding when he said this. Atleast when it came to Valkren, he felt more normal working on a farm or in a foxhole then relaxing on the couch. Not that he didn't mind time away from combat and deployments, R&R was nice, it just wasn't normal for him.

However, a bar was much more 'normal.'

The tequila burned as it went down, almost enticing a grimace from the colonel's facial features. But he wasn't about to show that bit of weakness to Roona, knowing all too and well he'd never hear the end of it from her if she could end up beating him in a shot-for-shot race. As he placed down the glass and opened his eyes, he'd come face to face with Osmari again, well confirming now that he was not in fact in a glorious dream.

It certainly seemed like it: good alcohol and a beautiful woman who happened to be one of the best shots he had ever seen. Was he positive this wasn't a dream? Had he blacked out at the bar at Silvers Rest? Or had he never left his bunk on Kashyyyk in the first place?

Only one way to find out, and it seemed like things were lining up perfectly to that way. The sergeant had pulled him closer by his loosened neck tie, a power move..He liked it. The look in her eyes and the devious smile said it all, and it was exactly what he was wanting. He only had to lean in slightly this time, his hand going back to her leg as his lips began to press against hers in an instance. This kiss seemed smoother, not just because this was their second time around, it seemed like the pieces were fitting together just right. Valkren would open his mouth against hers ever so slightly, just for that hint of passion, and well..He was starting to feel the alcohol.

The bartender brought yet another round to the couple, before leaving them to their corner in a quick hurry before things became awkward. He figured they'd just add it to the tab.

[member="Roona Osmari"]

 

[Roona Osmari]

As their lips met once more, Roona returned the kiss with equal passion. Her arms wound around Valkren’s neck, pulling him even closer than before. This kiss did not seem to break like the last, their lips seemed to linger this time. Pulling away just slightly, she took a deep breath, staring the Colonel right in the eyes. Her fingertips slid along the edge of his collar; there was just a thread of self-control there to keep Roona from ripping his shirt open then and there.

The sober version of Roona would have balked at the idea of this kind of public display of affection.

However, the thoughts and worries that usually filled her mind were gone. Right now there was only a desire that she wanted to explore. Though their corner of the bar was dim, it seemed that the couple was beginning to attract some glances. Peering out of their booth for a moment, Roona had a thought.

“Be back in… a minute.” Roona murmured next to Valkren’s ear, and then proceeded to climb over him to exit the booth. Before leaving, she noticed the new shots on their table and then downed one of them. She squeezed her eyes closed and swayed on the spot for a moment; her hand gripped the edge of the table. The tequila was kicking in. With that, she flitted off to the bar – some of her grace and poise absent as she struggled to stand atop her heeled shoes.

“Karkin’ heels.” She muttered as she arrived, and she promptly kicked her shoes off.

Leaning forward, she began whispering to the barman.

The man rolled his eyes, and shook his head a couple of times. But a moment later he was handing over a set of keys to one of the cabins out back. Roona grinned and watched as the man stalked off into the storeroom. This was her chance. Reaching over the bar, she pulled a random bottle out and then high-tailed it back to their table. Pausing briefly next to Valkren, she jingled the keys in front of his eyes and then shook the bottle of booze.

“Want some?” She asked with a grin.

Roona didn’t even give him the chance to answer… she knew he did. So, she took a couple of steps towards the back exit before looking over her shoulder. “You will have to catch me first!”

With that, the sergeant went running outdoors – bare feet and all.

[member="Valkren Calderon"]

 

[Valkren Calderon]

Everything seemed to move fast for a rather intoxicated Valkren. Roona broke away and crawled over him with haste. Usually he would have stood up and let the pretty lady out of the booth, but she made the first move on this one.

He watched as she stood up and knocked back the last shot. His hands shooting up behind her when she wobbled slightly, but retreating back when the sergeant regained her balance only to kick her heels clean off. This brought another smile to his face, seeing her outgoing demeanor and outlaw style as she reached behind the bar for a bottle. Maybe it was just the alcohol, or maybe underneath her hard demeanor Roo’s ‘going out’ self was better than any of the other rangers.

Valkren knew that the bartender for this joint would hate seeing the pair walk back in those doors, especially when he saw that she hadn’t exactly snatched the cheapest bottle of booze. Yet, his train of thought was run short as his attention was taken to the keys in her hands. She dangled both in front of the young colonel, not giving him any time to response as she took off out the doors in her dress and bare feet. What a sight.

With a stumble, Calderon finished off his own shot, collected the woman’s heels, and quickly followed her out in hopes to catch up. The cold air on his skin was the most refreshing thing he could have asked for, besides a glass of water. Terrified of the hangover they would wake up with, he moved his drunk mind from the thought by focusing on the marksman ahead of him, running off in all her glory with a room key and bottle of booze in hand. Eventually, even with her speed, Valkren caught up and wrapped her up from behind with his arms. He didn’t know if they were outside of the cabin or simply yards away from the bar, he was just focused on her. After planting a kiss on her neck, Valk would follow up with a whisper.

“We never paid the tab..”

[member="Roona Osmari"]

 

[Roona Osmari]

After having burst out into the nighttime air, Roona sprinted easily towards the cabins nestled in the woods. Even though the environment here was vastly different, something about running wild in the outdoors made her feel at home. It was something she had done many times in the jungles of Ossus as a child. The booze sloshed in the bottle, and the keys jingled as she ran. But even with her grace and speed, she could hear the footsteps of the Colonel gaining on her.

The competitive spirit that most of the Raiders had started to kick in and the thought crossed her mind to keep running. However, her senses were dulled some by the many drinks she’d consumed tonight. A moment later, she felt Valkren’s strong arms catch her around the waist. Roona laughed aloud, a sound that was rarely heard. As she felt his lips against the side of her neck, she began to sink into his embrace.

Indeed they had left the bartender quite empty handed.

With the Colonel’s arms still around her, she turned to face him. A slow smile found her face as she took in his rugged and handsome features in the moonlight. Taking the bottle and keys in one hand, she let her arms slip around him. Moving close, she let her lips linger next to his ear.

“We will leave behind a generous tip for barman.” She murmured, smiling.

Giving him a small squeeze with her arms, she leaned in for another kiss – one that started slowly and seemed to smolder. Pulling away very gently, she opened her eyes and fixed her gaze on Valkren. Her free hand reached for his, and she nodded towards the cabin. They were but a few steps away from the small porch, and there would surely be warmth waiting for them inside.

“Shall we go inside?” She asked, the same mischievous smile she’d given him before reappeared.

[member="Valkren Calderon"]

 

[Valkren Calderon]

Valkren could only return the passionate kiss at this moment, melting away as he almost stumbled back away from the cabin on accident. His grip around her seemed to keep him upright, but almost pulling her down along with him. After keeping himself upright, he'd look down at her devilish smile. The sight of that facial expression alone from the usual stone-cold shooter brought another smile to Calderon's face.

"Sounds like a great idea." And with that, Valkren grasped her hand and followed her inside.

The next morning wasn't nearly as fun as the party-for-two they had that night. Valkren awoke to be half naked, body only covered up by a mess of blankets that kept the morning cold away.

Or was it the afternoon? He wasn't quite sure. It was bright out, that much was clear to him as the blinds in their room were parted ever so perfectly to where a beam of light rested right on his eyes. Valk's head pounded as he attempted to open his eyes, but with no success at battling the light, he pulled the covers directly over his head. Rolling over in the strange bed, he'd suddenly come witness to a female body also underneath the covers. His eyes wide, the colonel began to ponder if he had made some kind of mistake. Painfully, he'd pull his head up above the blankets and into the sunlight once more, only to recognize Roona beside him.

The memories flooded back to him in bits and pieces, the previous night coming back to him as he sat up more. His ink-covered upper body now visible, Valkren took another glance around the room.

Was Roona really the first to successfully drink Valk' under the table?

After rubbing his hands over his face to momentarily console his throbbing head, he'd shift his gaze back over to his drinking partner from the previous night. She he wake her? Should they go grab food. What time did they need to be back on base? Should they be seen going back together?

His mind was racing with different thoughts as he tried to grasp the situation.

[member="Roona Osmari"]

 

[Roona Osmari]

Sleeping on her side, Roona’s arm dangled over the edge of the bed. She’d been quite tired the night before, with very good reason… and had fallen asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow. And now, the light of day had found its way into the room and threatened to pull her from sleep. Her eyes squeezed shut, refusing to open and greet the day just yet.

However, movement at her side caused her to stir.

Rolling over, her eyes fluttered open, only to be met with piercing pain. It seemed that there was a quite a strong hangover waiting for her. She blinked once and found that there was the form of a man sitting up in bed next to her, and Roona blinked harder to bring him into focus. It was none other than Colonel Valkren Calderon. Suddenly sitting up, her lips parted in a small gasp of surprise.

The sheets slid away, revealing that she was indeed mostly nude.

Quickly gathering up the sheets and blankets, she pulled them up to cover herself, even though Valkren had seen all there was to see the night before. There was a trail of clothing that led from the door to the bed they had shared. The memories came back; the two had enjoyed some much needed stress relief, and had shared a very passionate night together.

Without a word, she settled to sit more comfortably, her back against the headboard. The side of her arm was against his, and her head tilted back to rest against the wall, her eyes closed. Had she made a fool of herself? Had she done anything terribly embarrassing? Roona was ready to throw her defenses back up, but there was something inside that told her not to go cold yet.

Now that she could see his tattoos in the light, she had to silently admit that waking up to this sight wasn’t bad at all. However, she could certainly have done without the hangover. Roona rubbed her eyes and let her palm slide down the side of her face. Her eye makeup from the night before was smeared slightly, and her hair was tousled and messy.

“Good morning,” She murmured, opening her eyes just slightly to see Valkren.

[member="Valkren Calderon"]

 

[Valkren Calderon]

Valkren couldn't help but crack a smile through the agonizing pounding in his head. As Osmari rested her head back on the wall behind them and attempted to nurse her hangover, he couldn't help but think at how her usual intimidating manner was now rather cute.

"Good morning, you." Calderon stated, a chuckle slipping out after this on accident, the young officer wincing in pain as the sudden motion hurt. His body ached.

Valk only continued to smile, his hands rubbing at his temples to try and ease some of the pain. Despite the rarity of this painful hangover they both possessed, he had to admit that the situations he could recall from last night were some of the best memories he's had in awhile. The colonel did want to tell Roona that, how much fun she had made his night from the time their fun started at the ball. Yet, it seemed somewhat odd to say. It atleast seemed awkward to say before something like, 'so what should we do about this?' or, 'are we going to tell the brass?'

Yet, he didn't even want to deal with that red tape yet. All he could think about was making it out of the bed, and getting the pair a bottle of water.

And to focus on how much last night took his mind off of his work.

Suddenly, the prospect of time and work came to him as he glanced to the left and out the partially open blinds next to their bed. What time was it? When did they need to make it back to the base, was Roona signed up for duty today? Was Valkren?

He shifted his gaze to the timepiece that sat on his bedside table.

'At least I was sober enough not to lose anything.'

The thought ran through Valk's head as he leaned away from Osmari for a moment to look at the time.

"Sithspit." This curse came after he saw the time and alert on the watch, the colonel leaning back over and falling directly over where Roona's legs would be covered at. The blanket still somewhat wrapped about his inked half-naked body, he laid there for several quiet moments with his forearm covering his eyes.

"We missed formation by at least two hours."

[member="Roona Osmari"]