Private Better the Devil You Know

[Zoraya Ives-Ayres]

It was a rare occasion that she returned home due to her unpredictable lifestyle. However, she had been frequenting the minimalist apartment more recently after changing branches in the ISB and spending more time in the Iron Capital, though it was hardly a home. For all intents and purposes, it was where she kept her personal belongings, not much more. The apartment was devoid of any life or character, a blank slate with minimal furniture and no decorations but she didn't care enough to change it.

Dressed more like someone who was returning from their 9-5 job rather than an officer, she approached the apartment door and typed in the pin code on the pad, stepping inside once the door slid open. Her expression immediately contorted into a frown upon noticing the lights were on. Had she left them on that morning? It quickly became apparent that the lights weren't the only indication that she wasn't alone as she heard the sound of movement. Cautiously, she walked around the corner, having already drawn a blaster into her hand.

Perhaps she was being paranoid, after all, it could have been one of her parents or her psychotic cousin who was borderline insane but was no harm really. However, her trust in others had recently reached an all time low. Now she held little to no trust in those who she worked alongside, with only few superiors and one other agent receiving her trust and ironically - a Jedi. She at least knew where he stood which was more than could be said for some of her colleagues.

Still, it paid to be sceptical. As she would soon learn.

 

[Jas Katis]

His work as a mercenary was really getting better with each job completed. From petty work all the way up to anonymous contractors hiring him to take out an ISB agent of the New Imperial Order. He couldn't not be proud of his progress after all this time. It was what he was good at, and now it paid better than the Sith Empire ever did. Things were actually going good for him now. He could even afford to play around a little with some jobs.

Such as this one.

He felt the woman approach her apartment as he fussed about in the kitchen. His helmet rested on the kitchen counter as he worked on marinating a few chicken breasts, while rice was steaming away nearby in a pot. This woman seriously needed to work on her luxuries. Sure, he couldn't exactly comment all that much, given his own spartan lifestyle and minimalist fashion sense. But this was ridiculous. She didn't even have a proper cooker for her rice or anything. At least he could respect her readiness for survival in the event she was stranded in the middle of nowhere. Those were always useful skills to have.

When she finally entered with a pistol at the ready, his helmet was back on and the chicken breasts were laid into the pan. The amazing sizzle started immediately, much to the Pureblood's satisfaction, which he expressed as he held a finger up at her to savour the sound. "Such an amazing sound, isn't it?" He asked rhetorically as he turned to face her with a smile beneath his helmet. "Apologies for the rude intrusion. I hope you don't mind garlic, I personally love adding a bit to this recipe." He casually talked with a cordial and calm tone, though his weapons were all within quick reach... he was going to need them.

His employer didn't tell him that she was Force Sensitive. At least his own signature was masked.

Zoraya Ives-Ayres

 

[Zoraya Ives-Ayres]

Upon seeing the stranger in her kitchen, her expression shifted into one of confusion but she didn't raise her weapon to threaten him yet, though it remained firmly in her hand. It was not always wise to shoot first and ask questions later, even if she had every right to.

He had the first word as he commented on whatever it was he was cooking in what appeared to be a rather peculiar display. "Excuse me, what?" She asked incredulously as she approached him. Her gaze shifted to his hands as they moved about cooking before moving back to the visor of his helmet, still as confused as before.

"Why are you in my apartment?" She played through possible scenarios in her head but she figured she would find out soon enough anyway. Despite the natural instinct of reaching for her weapon, she didn't seem overly threatened and with a sigh she placed it in the waistband of her trousers while she reached for a wine glass and a bottle of wine, not extending the same hospitality towards the uninvited visitor.

"I hope you're planning on washing those." She gestured towards the pans he was using with the hand holding a half-full wine glass.

Jas Katis​

 

[Jas Katis]

Leaning against the counter, he briefly looked over his shoulder at the chicken breasts before giving her a thumb up. "You're excused, one moment." He quickly turned to flip the breasts while his target poured herself a glass of wine... he didn't even notice that when he looked around. After flipping the chicken breasts one more time, he turned to face her once more.

"I'm not that good of a liar, so I'll just say that I am actually a mercenary who has been hired to end you by an anonymous client. And don't worry about the dishes, I'm a very good house guest, believe it or not." He reassured her with a smile behind his helmet. The temptation was getting a little heavy for him as he looked at her glass and then at the bottle. "Do you mind if I help myself to a glass?" He asked her quite politely as he reached for a glass and poured some wine for himself as well. Now it was time for things to get interesting. He set the glass aside and removed his helmet, idly brushing his hair back as he set it aside.

The tall Pureblood flashed her a smile before taking a long sip of his wine. "But don't worry, I'm in no rush and I imagine you aren't either. So we can gladly enjoy the meal and exquisite wine before things get busy." He spoke as he shifted his weight to another leg and took another sip. "Do you have any food allergies, by any chance? This is a fairly basic recipe, though I just want to make sure." He asked with a hint of concern along his features as he set his glass aside.

Zoraya Ives-Ayres

 

[Zoraya Ives-Ayres]

The pair remained rather nonchalant despite the unusual situation they found themselves in. Perhaps they were both self-assured enough to not feel threatened or in Zoraya's case she was using the time she had to size him up since she expected that they would descend into violence, whether she provoked it or not.

Her suspicions were confirmed by his candid answer which didn't prompt any surprise from the agent. "Yeah, thought as much." She replied, taking another long sip of her drink. It had already been a long enough day without an attempted assassination.

"By all means." She gestured towards the bottle for him to freely pour himself a drink. Maybe it was time to start keeping poison around, she pondered, but it was too late for any paranoid thoughts now. Instead, she watched his movements carefully, ready to anticipate any sudden offensive movements he might make but it seemed he had other plans.

"It's been a long time since someone's cooked for me." She told him, seemingly agreeing with his proposition which was confirmed when she took a seat at the table. "Oh, no. No allergies." She confirmed, flippantly brushing off the question and its irony in a relaxed manner. There was still the question of who would strike first but it seemed he wanted to have dinner first and it was an offer that was too good to refuse.

Jas Katis​