An Aur Diamond in the Rough [Kinsey]

[Rune Shamalain]

Was it just a jacket? Rune wondered...

The lean caught his attention, drawing a calm, blue gaze down to the smaller woman and nodding at her observation. He followed her back to the booth, taking a seat across from her and giving the view a respectful survey. Sure was busy here, did it ever sleep?

"Is that..." he narrowed his eyes, peering down across the water park, "a zoo?"

Sure was. He could see a tuskcat from where he sat giving rides to tourists. He frowned, brows furrowing.

"Never liked zoos."

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

The adventurer followed Rune’s gaze.

And so it was. Next to the water park. Ugh. Kinsey’s grip tightened slightly on the menu.

“Why’s that? And is it more or less than space travel?”

A waitress came over for their orders. Kinsey ordered a burger and chips with a chocolate milkshake. Considering not eating at Lord Umber’s and their time in space, she realized how famished she was. Hadn’t even had tea. Or cafe.

 

[Rune Shamalain]

"Mm, hot tea," Rune ordered.

"Nothing else for you Sir?"

"No, thank you. Just tea," there was nothing on that menu that appealed to him at the time. His current hunger could not be sated in a diner. As the Waitress left he turned a sharp eye on the woman across from him, noting the hint of mischief there in her blue eyes.

He chuckled, "More, I think. Space travel is much a necessity. Zoos..." a sigh, he drummed his fingers on the table, "no one really needs zoos. Locking up animals and beasts for the amusement of civilized people never sat well with me."

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

Hopefully, Kinsey wasn’t becoming too comfortable around Rune. The quips and teasing were coming more easily. Naturally.

“Rune Shamalain. Animal rights activist,” she mused. Kinsey didn’t disagree with him, though. She preferred to explore worlds, including animals, in their natural habitats. The waitress came back quickly with their drinks. There was a bright red and white swirly straw in hers.

She frowned at Rune’s tea.

“You must be starving. You’re not getting any meat?”

Straw found its way between her lips and she took a slurp.

Heaven.

 

[Rune Shamalain]

The man's gaze passed up and to the side at her picking though a small smile did form on his lips, "Maybe I am."

He wasn't, not really. Much as he disliked the idea of zoos and even pets, he wasn't one to make a fuss. One man wasn't going to end the industry across the galaxy.

Tea arrived, quiet hands took hold of the mug and curled around it, soaking in the warmth while the tea steeped. The smile dissappeared for a frown at her question, "No. I ah, still not quite recovered from before..." a wayward glance at her, "stomach isn't quite settled yet."

It wasn't the truth, but he also wasn't about to tell her that the meal he needed couldn't be ordered at any restaurant. Though he did suspect it could be ordered through other means. Time to change the subject.

"May I ask, Miss Kinsey, why is it you hide yourself?"

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

Brows crinkled in concern at his admission. She’d really done a number on him. She couldn't be sure if it was because she’d been dreaming about Sage or if she’d sensed...something else.

Rune reminded her a little of the tuskcat. Powerful. And certainly not safe.

Even in a zoo.

Elbows propped on the table and she leaned forward, curved shoulders tensing at his question. Voice lowered considerably. “You mean with the force?”

The waitress came back and Kinsey eased back uncomfortably, making room for the plate of food that was set down.

 

[Rune Shamalain]

He held her gaze, understanding the delicacy of the subject at hand, and drew his first drink from his mug as her meal was served. Rune waited for their server to take her leave before continuing.

"Yes," he replied, having little need to lower his own voice considering how soft spoken he usually was, "I mean not to pry..."

Yes he did.

"...if you do not wish to speak of it."

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

Kinsey munched on a chip to buy herself some time.

It wasn’t much.

She knew she trusted Rune. And she doubted anyone in this place could hear them or were even actively listening to their conversation. She just didn’t like talking about it because it was all about him. Sage. And she didn’t want to give him more power over her life than he already had.

She leaned forward again.

“The simple answer is fear. The longer answer is.” She paused, giving another glance, though unnecessary, around. “Someone from my past is trying to find me and he has a lot of allies. He could sense me if he was ever near enough and so, it’s not worth the risk.”

Shoulders shrugged as she returned her attention to her food, clearly trying to pass off the situation as something she could handle and was very much in control of.

“Is it hard for you to control your anger and fear?”

It was a tactical question.

 

[Rune Shamalain]

A coward he never suspected Kinsey Starchaser to be, but he of all people knew that the galaxy had its monsters. He knew the power held by the few used to control the many. Fear was a Sith's tool - he knew nothing else of this alleged person hunter on her heels, but already it stank of the Darkside.

Her question caused his line of sight to break, dropping in consideration to his mug presently warming his hands. Rune did not need a chip to buy himself time, he needed only time to contemplate a proper response. The lines of a frown ghosted across his features, "Sometimes it is," the admittance was not a difficult one, but of course things were never really black and white. Lots of gray in this galaxy.

"But I endeavor not to let them control me."

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

She nodded silently.

And he did. She could see that. From experience.

The cool of the milkshake felt good on her split lip. She’d left her hair loose and untied to help cover up the bruise blossoming on the side of her face. That and some quickly applied concealer before they’d left the ship. No need to draw any unwanted attention here.

Kinsey remembered when she and Dax had gotten some carbon grease and smeared it around each others eye. They’d thought it had been the funniest thing even when they realized the grease wouldn’t come off after a week. Their parents hadn’t thought it was so funny.

She began finishing her burger and noticed a trio of teen-looking girls whispering and staring over at them.

“I think,” she tried to contain an amused laugh. “You have a fan club.”

He was definitely being ogled.

 

[Rune Shamalain]

He recognized the distant look in her eyes as she thought on memories and found himself holding back the question of what. To learn the stories of this woman was becoming something of an interest to him. More than what she seemed - but wasn't everyone?

No, he reminded himself. Most people weren't.

"Hm?" the man sipped his tea, content with the silence between them, and followed her gaze back towards the gaggle of young women giggling together. One of them flashed a bright smile and waved as she caught his attention. Rune felt his brows raise, slowly turning back towards Kinsey, pale face mildly flushed, a faint look of discomfort and confusion growing there.

"Have I done something?"

Why were they staring at him?

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

Head shook and her palm came down to rub gently down the front of her face.

Of course he of all folk wouldn’t understand the public crush of three teenage girls. Too busy meditating. When her palm uncovered her face, there was a smile beneath.

“Beyond existing? No.”

Blues narrowed as she took Rune in. “You DO wear well-tailored clothes. Your eyes are very striking. And your muscles are...” voice trailed off as she realized what she was saying. Throat cleared.

“They just have a crush.”

 

[Rune Shamalain]

Rune didn't attend a public school as a child. Not even close.

His first girlfriend hadn't been attained until he was studying abroad - a research partner. Needless to say, he couldn't recall ever being gawped at by a group of women before.

It was very disconcerting. Fingers drummed along the sides of his mug, blue eyes glancing down at himself as Kinsey described the reasoning. "They cannot see my muscles..." really, of all the things. His muscles. Did they have x-ray vision? Doubtful. The only one here that had seen him even partially unclothed was Kinsey.

...

He eyed her suspiciously. There may have been a glint of amused realization there.

"Well ..." his fingers drummed on the mug again, eyes glancing from Kinsey down to her mostly clean plate. Still some chips left.

"They do not look particularly appealing," the chips, not the girls. Well, he hadn't given the girls a long enough look to really know.

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

Brows lofted as she followed Rune’s gaze. She was barely keeping her sabaac face on. Lip twitched. And if she wasn’t careful, the blush she was barely keeping in check would blossom.

The waitress came by and Kinsey blurted.

“The check. Yeah. We’re ready for it, thanks.”

Smiling innocently at Rune, Kinsey finished off her shake as the waitress returned with the bill.

“Thank you. For a very filling meal.”

And entertaining.

“Are you feeling any better?” She was worried about his stomach still being off. If she was starving, she could only imagine how famished Rune would be once his stomach settled.

 

[Rune Shamalain]

"You're very welcome," he took the bill fold and clipped his credit bar into the slot, setting it at the end of the table for pickup.

Finishing off his tea, Rune's attention shifted back to Kinsey with a nod, "A little." Not an untruth - tea was a tonic for mind, body, and soul. Though he would need quite a few other things to feel back to normal, of which he would not be discussing with Kinsey.

"I have allergies to certain foods, some of which I suspect may have been part of Lord Umber's cuisine. Hard to say..." his gaze trailed off, following the line of lights along the ceiling, fingers tapping at the table. Any effort that could be spared to make Kinsey feel less guilty about Force-Lighting him half to death he would take.

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

The waitress took the cred-card and came back quickly. Standing, Kinsey ignored the teens still giggling and followed Rune out. She was full and happy. Well, happier that she was full.

"Not sure if you want to go back to the room and rest? I've got some work back at the ship. I know you mentioned teaching me some of that gambling mumbo-jumbo. Not sure if you're up for losing that many credits."

She offered a scoundrel's grin, fully expecting Rune to wave her off back to the hangar.

 

[Rune Shamalain]

Rest was sounding good, and Rune had a fairly clear idea of where he'd take up some relaxation.

"I think some rest would do me well -" he lofted a brow at her mention of gambling and offered a wane smile, "Dejarik. I would like to teach you how to play..." looking pensive, he wondered just how much work on the ship needed to be done. How much did Kinsey want to hermit herself in there.

"How long will your work on the ship take?" The day was young here. She could work, he could rest, and there was still a night to be had.

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

She shrugged, arms crossing.

"I dunno..."

She did know.

"Maybe couple'o hours."

More like an hour - tops.

The grin was still on her face. "Depends how helpful Pibs is." It didn't, really. The thing was? Maybe Rune was getting to know her too well and she didn't know it yet. That's what happened when sharing close quarters with someone halfway across the 'verse. Didn't hurt that it was an attractive someone who she was...

She blinked.

"I can come check in when I'm done."

She wasn't lying about hat.

 

[Rune Shamalain]

The man's eyes narrowed in vague suspicion, easy smile persisting. He pressed his hands into the pockets of his jacket, gaze tracing the lines of traffic in the open air between the contained metropolis. He flagged down a passing taxi speeder with a raised hand, stepping to open the door for Kinsey.

"Sounds like a plan. Why don't you call my comm when you're headed over."

 

[Kinsey Starchaser]

About two hours later, Rune's comm would get a single message flashing across the screen. Kinsey still felt bad about the whole...almost killing him thing. And putting him, them, within the dangers Avirr had to offer.

Even though there had never really been another alternative.

So, as much as she'd like to hermit the rest of their stay in her ship, she decided to make good on her word. Opening her comm, she sent a message to Rune.

'Headed your way. Should see you in the next ten minutes. - K'

A speedercab would take her back to the hotel he booked in the station. Maybe she'd knock on his room first. Or maybe she'd just ask around to see where he went if she didn't hear back.