The Best Date Ever! (Keira & Kyber)

[Miss Blonde]

Patricia had been coming off the excitement of her very successful auction, she has raked in two point one million with it and while that was just a drop in the bucket of what Spaarti produced and made it was successful in other manners. She was securing contracts, contacts, and increased business revenue and that was partially due to [member="Keira Ticon"]. Patricia may or may not have auctioned a date off with her for a credit, but hey on the bright side she sold for one point two million credits and that would be a confidence booster for any woman. Well not that Keira was any woman, but she'd go on the date for a cut of the profits. Wasn't like Patricia paid her all that much anyways, old criminal tendencies died hard. So Patricia got on the phone and dialed up Keira, it rang a few times then went to an automated voice message.

"Typical." Patricia said with a frustrated sigh afterwards before the system beeped and allowed her to send her message.

"Hey Keira, this is Patricia. Listen girl I'm gonna need a favor, Spaarti held an auction and the people I had in charge of it thought it would be funny if they auctioned off a date with you for one credit." Patricia paused for a moment.

"Now hold on! Here's the cool thing, the date sold for One point two million credits! And of course I'm willing to give like at least half of that or more." She said with another pause.

"Now I know what you are thinking, this is just like Dilbert! But it's kind of different! A little, sort of, you get money! So the guys name is [member="Kyber Salurra"] and he's the head of some kind of security for the Union, either way since he paid for the date I figured the loser could pick the destination. Just please please please try not to kill this guy, I've forwarded him your burner number and he should be sending you information soon, I'm also sending you his contact number. I'll see you later and also Lusk says hi, he's here for a few days with the new borns, but yes don't kill him." Patricia said and shortly hung up afterwards.

Now all that was left was to let the two adults work things out for themselves.

 

[Kyber Salurra]

Kyber had never been on a date before, so saying he literally had no idea what he was doing was an understatement. He took the various parties he'd been to as a kind of reference and began some research on where he should take [member="Keira Ticon"]. He figured out that the theme of all the parties he'd been to was three-fold. Fancy setting, good food, and plenty of alcohol. So, he found a nice fancy restaurant on Roon and contacted Keira;

>://New_Message
_Subject: Dinner Date
Message: I've found a Restaurant on Roon that I think is suitable. I'll leave the date and time to you.

>://attached_file: coordinates//[dwnld]

 

[Keira Priest]

There were many things Keira had done in her life that would challenge the average individual, rather mentally or physically, not to mention offer their own sort of shock and surprise. That had inevitably included taking life on more than one occasion and otherwise surviving situations that would torment anyone else day in and day out. Things like that were nothing new to her, and oftentimes welcomed over anything more trivial. It meant it was something she knew rather than another alien scenario. So when the call came through from Patricia that she was going on what had tallied up to be the second blind date in her life (Force knew why these things kept happening to her), it was understandable as to why she was so unwilling.

Besides, this wasn't even a traditional date to begin with. For starters, she had been auctioned off for the event and not made aware of the fact to boot. At least some money had been made of it, not that credits overly concerned her. Larger figures had been glimpsed at in her time with the Ravens, and she would likely end up saving it all somewhere anyway. The fact that she would be privy to half of the profit gained from this didn't help bribe her in the least. Unlike most, she wasn't one to be bartered with traditionally. Not when it came to trivial matters like this that she would have much rather avoided completely in the long run. It would take some convincing for her to even so much as consider accepting the idea.

What didn't help the case at all was the fact that this [member="Kyber Salurra"] belonged to the Techno Union, known allies of the One Sith and therefore public enemy number one in her books. She would be hard-pressed to treat him with any sort of excessive respect, going only as far as what was minimal to keep up appearances. After all, she didn't owe him anything, least of all this date. He should be thankful to be alive and uninjured by the end of the night, if such a thing was to come to pass. There would be no mercy dealt on her part under any circumstances. Hopefully he knew the right things to say. Which was to say, none of the cliched compliments usually put forth. Typically she didn't take to those all too well.

The message that had been sent was fairly simple, nondescript and straightforward, all three traits she could get behind. There was no reason to beat around the figurative bush when you could simply say everything that needed to be put forth and be done with everything. Unfortunately she knew this date wouldn't follow much of that same trackline. Conversation had never been a talent of hers, and neither had interacting with others on a personal level. If he considered himself underprepared and socially inept she could no doubt match him and raise that assumption twofold. There was a reason she was more comfortable on the battlefield than she ever would be in any formal setting.

_Incoming transmission///:
<Re: Dinner Date>

Tonight works for me.

\\\_End transmission

And so it was at the specified restaurant she currently waited, clad in a black dress and dark flats, an ensemble that shouldn't have surprised much of anyone if they knew her well enough. Her cybernetic arm was on full display, as were a myriad of scars now visible given her different choice of outfit. Had he done enough research he would no doubt have heard of some of her past exploits, not that she necessarily expected to have any sort of reputation when it came to the wider galaxy. At the end of the day she was just another soldier fighting to end a war that she hadn't originally had any part in. And now, for some reason, she was on a date. Well, no one could deny that she cleaned up well.

 

[Kyber Salurra]

Kyber hoped he cleaned up well, too. After all, he spent a lot of money just to get a shot at having a nice night, which was a welcome change of pace for him. His new position as Director of Security for the Techno Union was a big step up from his days as a Sgt. in the Republic Military. At least he had his repair shop, a lovely distraction in a lifestyle that might just be a bit too hectic for Kyber's liking; but without his connections and status he may never have received this opportunity. That's something to be thankful for.

As Kyber was on his way back to Roon he needed to figure out what exactly he would wear. His armor wouldn't do (obviously), so he opted for his not-too-formal attire for the occasion to pair with his ever necessary blacked-out flash goggles. Kyber couldn't help but chuckle a bit as he inspected his finished ensemble in a mirror. "The flash goggles worn indoors ought to be a good conversation starter...", he quipped to himself as he finished adjusting his tie. He sighed lightly before heading over to the cockpit, ready to relax in a hammock he scrounged up by tying an old cloth to two pipes at opposite ends. For now he just relaxed as his ship sailed along through the black sea of space.

. . .

When Kyber finally landed on Roon he made his way over to his repair shop to break out his little pet project; A BARC Speeder from way back when in the history books. He fired it up with relative ease and made his way over to the restaurant, probably breaking more than a few speed laws on his way over. He knew he was gonna be late, so at this point he was just trying to make sure his date didn't leave on him. Just as he thought, Kyber arrived around 15 minutes passed the designated time, unfortunately having spent a good portion of that just trying to find parking. Things never seemed to work out exactly as he planned, but he made it to the place in one piece, so that was a plus. Kyber entered the restaurant with a bit of confusion on his half-visible face, trying to figure out what he was supposed to do. The employees must of picked up on the confused look on Kyber's face, because after standing around aimlessly for a good few minutes, the host made his way over to him; "May I help you, sir?"

The petty superiority in the host's voice was clear, but Kyber just shrugged it off. He knew better than anyone he was a fish out of water in this kind of place, and it's not like he really cared for some restaurant worker's opinion. "I'm looking for a [member="Keira Ticon"]? She should be here by now...", replied Kyber in a fairly rough and overwhelmed tone, not really knowing what he should be feeling at this point. Anxiety? Excitement? Nervousness? Lust? Too many thoughts raced through his head and Kyber hated it.

As the host blazed a trail through the ocean of tables and patrons Kyber followed absentmindedly. He wasn't all there, so-to-speak. He'd begun practicing a mental trick he picked up from his surrogate parents that was supposed to make a wookie's mind tranquil after a bout of rage consumed them. Yeah, wookie rage. It didn't take too much of a stretch of the imagination to determine the effect it had on humans.

When Kyber finally reached their table he had to break himself out of the self-induced trance and put on a smile for the woman, trying not to sound completely dazed as he introduced himself; "Hey... Keira I take it? Kyber Salurra. Pleasure to finally meet you."

 

[Keira Priest]

In truth, Keira wasn't entirely certain what to expect from the evening's company. Her experience with the Techno Union had been limited to a meeting with a few of their higher-ups on behalf of the Red Ravens, and even that had been years ago. The only real opinion she had developed was that the group was far too overbearing in their professionalism most times, when often it was simpler to either state things as they were or let them transpire organically with no outside interference. Instead they saw it fit to intervene in any scenario that could possibly turn beneficial for them. Or at least, that was how it had seemed when it came to their interactions with a criminal syndicate. Once again, that relationship with the One Sith didn't help to paint a brighter picture.

The man that arrived exhibited none of the aforementioned traits, but then she supposed he wasn't one of the business executives of the Union. From what she could glean he was rough around the edges in a similar manner to herself, at a loss for what to do in such a formal environment. If she had to guess he likely played a less involved role in the Union than those she had met with previously. It was better than meeting with one of those actually in charge, and it meant that conversation would be a little less stuffy and altogether boring. And he wasn't looking to be a repeat of what had happened with Dilbert either. It was the silver linings, at this point, and she was thankful in some way for that one facet.

His name was unfamiliar, but she didn't exactly keep tabs on those she would consider enemy in any other locale. But she would offer him the same sort of treatment she expected to receive in return, even if she wasn't the best with words by any means. "Keira Ticon. It's nice to meet you as well." Standing, she offered her hand to shake, entirely unfazed by his being late. Sometimes it was better to be kept waiting, and after facing all that she had when it came to far more threatening scenarios it was nice to be subjected to the sheer normalcy of everyday life, even if it could be mundane at times. It was this sort of interaction that had been missing from her life, and the change was nice to behold.

At first glance he didn't seem the sort to have more than one million credits to spend on nothing more than a simple date, but she knew better than most that appearances could be deceiving. Besides, how he'd come into his wealth wasn't of a concern to her. How the rest of the night would go was. At least he hadn't said anything that was commonly in-character for the men she had encountered in the past. That was a start. "Mind if I ask what had you so interested in a date with me that you were willing to spend more than a million credits for one night?" The slight smile that found her lip undermined the otherwise cutting undertones of that inquiry. "Most people tend to walk the other way when it comes to me, is all."

In short order the man that had led him to the table returned with two menus for each of them. "I'll take a whiskey on the rocks to start." Some may have considered her relatively harmless when it came to nothing more than first impressions, but she would be quick to prove them wrong when given the opportunity. The warning given by Patricia about not killing him flashed through her mind, and she didn't see a reason why that would come to pass so long as he didn't step too far out of line. Of course, she couldn't say the same for her own behavior just yet. Oftentimes she took what others expected of her in terms of volatility and amplified it tenfold. She had always been good at shattering expectations.

[member="Kyber Salurra"]

 

[Kyber Salurra]

Kyber didn't necessarily 'shatter' expectations. He was on the other side of the spectrum, usually not meeting up to them. Fitting this fashion he shook her hand firmly before sitting down and giving a large yawn as he stretched out his arms, segmented cracking of each of them as well as his back could be plainly heard throughout the process. Afterwards he rested his arms on the table with a light smile to try and seem open and friendly while she asked her first question; "Mind if I ask what had you so interested in a date with me that you were willing to spend more than a million credits for one night?"

Kyber chuckled lightly to himself at the question, but he stopped himself and raised a brow as she added in; "Most people tend to walk the other way when it comes to me, is all."
"Well..." Kyber began, "At first I thought it'd be a good idea. I've never been on a date before so I thought if the woman had no choice but to come it'd be good practice. As for the 'walk the other way' thing, I've never heard of you before, so," Kyber ended the sentance with a shrug before turning his head to the man that led them in. After Keira stated her drink choice Kyber cleared his throat and began his, "I'll take a bourbon mist with an orange lace in a tall glass and a shooter on the side."

Kyber gave the man a slight nod as he was leaving to fetch the drinks before turning back to Keira and inspecting her behind the security of his flash goggles. He quickly glanced from scar to star, a genuinely curious smile of admiration washed across Kyber's face as he determined in his head what he thought the cause of all her scars were. Kyber barely knew the woman but already he was painting a picture in his head of the battles she must've fought in and the hardships she must've conquered. Kyber didn't take to women who didn't know how to defend themselves, but this woman obviously did, and Kyber's smile only grew wider and larger the more his eyes darted across her attractive exterior.

Noticing there was a sort of silence between them from his (albeit a little creepy) examination of her various scars, he adjusted himself in his chair and leaned in a bit and pointed to her left arm with his right hand; "I noticed your arm, obviously." He lifted the same hand and formed a fist before he knocked slowly on his own left shoulder, a metal 'clank' resounding with each hit. "I have a some cybernetics, too. On my left arm, in fact. Got most of my shoulder blown off on a bounty. What happened to your arm?"

The question was straightforward and obviously rude, but it's not like Kyber knew any better, and even if he did it's not like he'd care. Kyber's surrogate parents always taught him that scars were not marks of failure, rather marks of success. They each told tales of one's own struggle of survival, and Kyber wished to hear Keira's story.

// [member="Keira Ticon"] //

 

[Keira Priest]

Well, he was straightforward, at the very least, sparing no expense in his explanation without so much as an attempt to gloss over his motivations. That could be appreciated while at the same time despised, but Keira would have much rather heard the blunt truth rather than a more fanciful interpretation of events. His addition as to never having heard of her earned nothing more than a nod of understanding. Never had she gone out of her way to obtain any kind of notoriety, and it was best that he not know her by name, as the opposite likely would have garnered a bad reputation anyhow. It was rare that her meetings with others ended beneficial for both parties. Rarer still did interactions like this come to pass in the first place.

There wasn't a casual answer to his question that wouldn't deliver at least some amount of surprise, but much like him she didn't see the point in sugarcoating things. It was better to give nothing less than the truth, even if it wasn't always pleasant. "I used to be a member of a criminal syndicate." To most, that would have sufficed as a response by itself. But there was always more to the story. "We had a sort of fight club set up, where people would put in notes if they were looking for a match. Long story short, fighting a Gen'Dai isn't easy." She would spare him the exact details of that particular fight, given that he hadn't asked for the entirety of it. Even she was capable of exercising common courtesy when she so chose.

Perhaps some kind of elaboration was required when it came to her offhanded comment about others not choosing to keep her company. "It's not about my reputation. It's about the literal battlefield and what I've done before." With 'before' referring to the time she had spent fighting against the very Republic she now defended, when she still would have allied herself with and dubbed those that belonged to the Techno Union friend. Those had been times of struggle, even for someone who was so well-adapted to combat. But now she was better for it, having driven the majority of that inner darkness away to make way for the tarnished but still functioning light that shone through beneath. Now she was balanced. Whole.

His gaze had lingered on the various other scars that were visible, even the flash goggles not managing to disguise the curiosity inherent in such an examination. Her head tilted slightly to one side, the corners of her mouth quirking upwards slightly. "I can explain the origin of the others as well, if you'd like. Those are the more interesting stories." And the stories where she nearly lost her life on more than one occasion, but that was beside the point. If he truly wished to know she would elaborate, though some of the more painful memories would go unspoken. She may have been willing to share certain facets of her past, but she was very far from being an open book. Not in a place like this, and not with someone she barely knew.

It was then their drinks arrived, and she took only a sip of hers, setting it down in front of her shortly after. The alcohol elicited a cool burn as she swallowed, and the thought absently crossed her mind as to how frowned upon it would be if she asked for a cigarette. Eventually she decided against it, knowing it was best to at least pretend to be civil in certain scenarios. Even if her sentiments were halfhearted most times, it was worth the effort and making some kind of decent impression. "If you have any questions of your own, I'm willing to answer." A beat passed, and she considered her response briefly. "Most of them." It was best to put that specific in there before things went too far.

[member="Kyber Salurra"]

 

[Kyber Salurra]

Kyber held no sentiment towards his battles, and therefore had no 'figurative' scars (he did have plenty of regular ones though). Maybe it's because he never had someone to call friend? He remembered some man named Slate being on a lot of missions with him when he fought with the Republic. He was the closest thing Kyber would consider a friend, and he didn't even know if he was remembering his name correctly. As Kyber tried to remember anyone he would consider 'close', he nodded slowly along to Keira's story. A criminal syndicate? That sounded pretty interesting.

When she got around to clarifying her previous comment of why folks usually go in the other direction, Kyber just shrugged once again before adding in; "Judging someone for what they've done on a battlefield isn't very fair. Plenty of us have done things." After that Kyber took a sip of his freshly arrived drink before picking up his shooter and dropping the little glass right in the tall glass, a few drops splashing out onto the tablecloth (a lot less than what would've without that first sip, though). He let it stir for a bit as watched her take a sip of her own drink, then finally taking a large chug of his own.

Kyber released a sigh of relaxation as the drink settled in his stomach, definitely enjoying the drink wholeheartedly. He made a small mental note of asking the host the name of this place before he left, he'd surely come back for another drink sometime. It was just as he finished this thought that Keira began again; "If you have any questions of your own, I'm willing to answer." Hm, what questions did Kyber have? He definitely wanted to learn more about her scars, but he could guess what most of them were from just from studying them well enough. The great thing about scars is that they told their own story to whomever had the will to examine them long enough.

After a short time of mulling it over Kyber gave a toothy smile; "I don't really know how these social settings are supposed to go, but since we both seem to have a few questions, why don't we take turns? I had my question. So, ask away." Kyber ended the suggestion with a slight nod, feeling a bit proud of himself for actually thinking up something like that on the spot. He had no idea if that was the social norm or if it made him look weird, but that didn't phase him. Kyber was just happy that he could even speak to another of his species someplace other than a battlefield.

// [member="Keira Ticon"] //

 

[Keira Priest]

At least they were both mutually inept in social scenarios. It really was the little things. Keira could count on one hand the number of truly proper conversations she'd had in her life on one hand and still have plenty of fingers left over. So long as he was in the same boat she didn't feel quite as self-conscious about not quite knowing what to say or do next. Not that she necessarily cared to begin with. The only factor that had consistently mattered in her life was her ability in combat. Everything else was secondary, and that included interactions with others. Maybe the two of them were alike in more facets than they were willing to see or admit. That wouldn't really surprise her.

A quiet, dry chuckle was her only response to his assurance that her deeds were easy to dismiss. That was easy for a fellow soldier to say, even easier if he'd committed his own share of atrocities. But in the eyes of the common people and any others she knew she wouldn't be viewed in such a favorable light. "I've fought for people and ideals that I'm not proud of and witnessed things that would leave most people traumatized and incapable of functioning. It isn't just about people judging me. In some cases their sentiments are deserved." That had turned far too serious for her liking, but just like him she wouldn't bother disguising the truth. The words simply flowed naturally.

Genuine thought overtook her for a moment as she considered the man sitting across from her, truly considered him and all that he was. As much as she wanted to delve into the more serious and oftentimes darker topics of conversation, she knew when her typical habits weren't appreciated, and this scenario was no doubt one of those. As curious as he was, she didn't think he wanted to know everything there was to discover. Rarely did anyone. "You mentioned that you gained your cybernetic from a bounty. Who was it that you were hunting?" An innocent enough question, but it could reveal much about an individual's character if the answer was gauged in the right light.

The host returned again, this time to take their orders for the main dish. Civilized meals were new to her, but she had made her decision regardless. "Smoked nerf with a side of csolcir, if you would." Both traditional foods of Corellia, her homeworld, a planet that had been in rubble for years now. Like most of her people she had her moments where she truly did miss where she had hailed from, even if they were rare on her part. This was a chance to remedy that, if just for the moment. "And don't worry, I'm a stranger to situations like this as well. Regardless of whether anyone says something out of turn, I'm sure neither of us will pay much attention to it."

[member="Kyber Salurra"]

 

[Kyber Salurra]

The last thing Kyber was at the moment was worried. With a healthy combination of mental stillness, alcohol, and a beautiful woman, Kyber was feeling just fine. He wasn't socially adept enough to be worried that he wasn't socially adept enough. It was a nice --albeit weird-- balance that was comfortable for him. At the moment the only opinion he even remotely cared about was Keira's, and he seemed to be doing a good job so far, at least in his own mind.

And on top of that, he just made her laugh. That's a good sign, right? Well, it was kind of a laugh. Sort of. Kyber leaned back a bit and gave a slight nod as he listened to her rebuttal; "I've fought for people and ideals that I'm not proud of and witnessed things that would leave most people traumatized and incapable of functioning. It isn't just about people judging me. In some cases their sentiments are deserved."

Hm, seems the woman across from him had a bit of self-loathing in her. That seemed obvious even for Kyber. Alright, he could handle cheering her up right? Yeah, he should be able to handle it. When Kyber responded you'd think he'd have put onsome voice or acted out some fake gesture to try and cheer her up, but his face was serious and his body unmoving. He was being nothing less than plain in his response, and it was fairly obvious. Kyber wasn't that hard to read when he actually spoke.

"What's past is past. If people judge you that's their problem.", Kyber stated quite matter of factly before giving a genuine smile as an attempt to cheer her up. The way he spoke, you didn't even need the force to realize that was the truth in his eyes and he meant it wholeheartedly. Why would someone focus on the past, anyway? Use it to help you learn from it, but dwelling on it or holding grudges about it didn't make sense to him, at least not at this point in his life.

After that Kyber went for another drink of his alcoholic concoction. It wasn't the smoothest drink but boy did it pack a punch. Growing up on Kashyyyk shaped him in many ways, but one of the most apparent was definitely his resistance to alcohol. Wookies really knew how to make the strong stuff, and this was nothing in comparison. Just as he put down his drink she cut in again about his arm, so Kyber gave a slight nod and a smile as he replied; "Some drug lord or chemical manufacturer. Can't remember his name. I took a risk and got half my shoulder blown off. I killed him, though. So, it worked out."

Just as he finished the host came by again to take their orders. He stayed silent as Keira ordered first, not really knowing what to get himself. "I'll just have what she's having." He said plainly to the host before turning back to Keira. It was a little out of character for Kyber, but since this was meant to be a sharing experience I guess Kyber felt the need to elaborate at least a little. "It was one of the last bounties I took before joining the Republic Military's ranks. It was for a lot of credits so I took the job, even though it was sketchy. My gut was right and the whole thing went to poodoo real fast. The risk I took was trying to save this other Bounty hunter on the same job. Never learned her name, but she left there alive so the hole in my arm was worth it, I suppose."

Kyber finished off explaining his situation with another drink of his bourbon mix and a smile. He wasn't used to explaining himself, but its not like it's a foreign concept, so he thought he did just fine. "And don't worry, I'm a stranger to situations like this as well. Regardless of whether anyone says something out of turn, I'm sure neither of us will pay much attention to it." After Kyber heard that he felt much better about adding in his little explanation and was less resistant about asking his next question "Well, that's good to know, but as for my question." He smiled with a bit of curiosity as he prepared the next segment of his inquiry, feeling such curiosity wasdefinitely a new experience for him. "What do you do now? You said you weren't with that Syndicate anymore, so I'm a little curious as what it is you do."

 

[Keira Priest]

The past was the past, that much was true, but Keira knew there were some things she'd done that were well beyond forgiveness. Had she concerned herself with any sort of deity she may have been far more concerned. Most would have considered her damned beyond redemption, but she was on her way to proving them wrong and finding herself again. His assertion that she didn't have anything to worry herself with brought a grateful smile to her lips, and she only nodded her thanks, always uncertain as to what to do when it came to any amount of praise, whether sincere or otherwise. That he actually meant all that he said with a conviction she could sense only alienated her more.

His story of the bounty taken and the inevitable integration of cybernetics diffused the awkwardness of the situation, and for that she was thankful. Combat was something she was intrinsically familiar with, and so she could lose herself for a few moments in an attempt to recreate the scenario in her head as he wove the tale. Even with such little information she was able to ascertain that it had been quite the fight, given that he appeared to be such a warrior. Without the Force she could detect this in nothing more than how he moved and the way in which he carried himself. It took one to know one, and in this case such a phrase had never been more undoubtedly correct.

This time the quiet laugh drawn from her was far more genuine, her amusement found in the fact that there was no proper, traditional answer to his question, as she didn't hold what most would be consider a job. It was an assignment, sure, and quite the task at that, but it wasn't really a job, perse. The intricacies of the syndicate she had once affiliated with were much easier to simplify, and so she deigned to touch on them first in order to give herself more time to formulate a proper response. "The syndicate I used to work with might be familiar to you, given that you work with the Techno Union." Or maybe not, but there had been a partnership of sorts burgeoning those years ago. "Ever heard of the Red Ravens?"

Her fingers drummed absently on the table, and she took another sip of her drink before deciding to respond to what he really wanted to know. "I don't really have much of a job in that I get paid to do something with regular hours every day." Nor would she ever. There were too many things to do in the galaxy to just spend your life in an office day in and day out. "I command an army and do what I can to bring down the Sith. Guess you could call me some kind of Jedi, but I don't like that word." That might have been a sore subject to touch on, given his allegiances, but she would spare no expense in her honesty. What she wouldn't do, however, was mention the army she led was the clone army of the Galactic Republic in some manner or another. That was best left under wraps.

It wasn't the greatest of explanations, but it sufficed. Maybe this conversation thing wasn't too difficult after all. "How about yourself? Do you still work in the bounty hunting business, or have you found yourself something a bit different?" That was two parts curiosity and one part wanting to know exactly what sort of position he held within the Union, if he was willing to reveal such information. She wouldn't prod any deeper than what he cared to touch on, but it never hurt to know one's enemy, even if you haven't met on opposite sides of the battlefield just yet. If there was ever a time to impromptuly prepare for any eventuality, this was it, no matter if she was supposed to be on a date.

[member="Kyber Salurra"]

 

[Kyber Salurra]

Kyber definitely wasn't acting the part. He kept his composure solidly, but he definitely didn't seem like he knew what he was doing, but it also didn't seem like it bothered him. The air about him was that of tranquility and peace, which directly clashed with not only his appearance, but his whole persona. He gave off an aura of death just like any other soldier, but it was as if he not only embraced this deathly aura, but had made it a part of himself so wholly and completely that it didn't even matter anymore. The shroud of death was but merely a footnote in the tranquil- no, in the mere content aura he radiated. There was no getting around it. The ever so slight smile, the relaxed posture, and the matter-of-fact speech. It all culminated to form a sense of mystery about him and his adventures, but at the same time there was no way one could feel hesitant about asking him anything. It's as if he was a closed book, but the cover was so enticing that one couldn't help but be drawn in anyway.

Did Kyber personally craft this aura himself? Of course not, it's just the way he is. No one can craft the way another will feel about them on the basest of instinctual levels. One could have the whole galaxy fooled of their kindness, but deep down, every sentient being had that gut feeling. That scraping at the door that told them the truth. That force that etches into their mind the true reality of another. This 'gut-feeling' could not be fooled, seduced, nor tampered with. It was a natural feeling that all beings had towards one another under the natural collective that was known as sentience. So how did Kyber manage to make one feel so at ease yet still retain his personal mystery? How could one create such a juxtaposition of two so very different forces? How could such an amalgamation be possible? The only way such a fusion could ever be achieved is simple in concept, but one of the hardest tasks to put into action. This achievement could only be attained through accepting oneself. So simple yet so hard to accomplish. To accept oneself for all they are completely and utterly, accepting of the outcome no matter what, and still have an effortless smile on your face. That is how one attains such a nature. Anyway, enough with the existential jargon- this is a date after all, right?


Speaking of effortless smiles, it wasn't too hard for Kyber to put one on as he listened closely to what Keira was saying. He enjoyed his laid back attitude, but for once he felt the need to lean in a bit closer as she described her situation. Not wanting to interrupt her he merely nodded along as she asked about his knowledge of the Red Ravens, remembering them briefly from attending one of their formal occasions. "I command an army and do what I can to bring down the Sith. Guess you could call me some kind of Jedi, but I don't like that word." Kyber actually smiled a bit as he heard that one. Who would of thought that they had so much in common? Commanding an army was definitely not something that just everyone could say was their profession.

"How about yourself? Do you still work in the bounty hunting business, or have you found yourself something a bit different?" He'd expected this question to be next, seemed like the obvious choice, and it wasn't too difficult a question to answer, so with a quick sip of his drink he gave it another shot; "No, I've given up on the Bounty Hunting business. Wasn't my favorite line of work. I own my own repair shop here on Roon now, though. We deal with broken down or damaged ships, vehicles, weapons, you name it. It's a lot of fun for me. But, I also have a second job as Director of Security for the Techno Union. A wookie I'd known for a long time had the job, so when he died in action I found out he had set me as his recommendation for a replacement. Seemed like a way to fight my boredom, so I took it." Kyber paused momentarily to take another sip of his drink before continuing with an amused smile, "So I guess that means we both lead an army."

Kyber chuckled quietly for a few brief moments before stopping himself as their food came. Just as he was about to dig in he hesitated for a brief moment, almost forgetting to ask his next question. He allowed himself to smile just a bit more as he thought of his next question. He didn't know if she'd answer truthfully, but he thought he might as well give it his best shot. Who knows, right?

"So, what do you think of me and this date so far?"

// [member="Keira Ticon"] //

 

[Keira Priest]

There was a familiarity there, one withholding of its own disassociation that so closely resembled that which Keira had experienced before. And maybe she found a sort of kindred within it, a sort of solace bridging a connection between the pair. But she would refuse to acknowledge it being the superficiality discerned on the surface, as always. "I don't think it's quite the same." The edge her smile took on was a touch more secretive in nature. "Confidentiality doesn't allow me to give you the specifics, but the army I head is millions strong." And forever growing, with the cloning technology that Spaarti was in possession of and wouldn't be relinquishing anytime soon. "But I'm sure you have more experience leading than me."

Typically she would have given his question the pleasant answer that was expected and moved on, but instead she considered it for a few moments longer. Honesty was always the best policy, even if the concept remained foreign to her. "I'll level with you and say that I'm not really the type that goes out of their way to arrange events like this. Social settings aren't my forte by any means." Nor would she ever learn how to appreciate them, no matter how convenient they could be for other means. "But I am enjoying this date and your company so far, if that's worth anything. I don't usually get the chance to just sit and talk with someone. It's a nice change of pace."

For a few moments she pushed the food around on her plate absently, finally managing a slight smile. "It's nice to talk, even if we'll probably be on opposite sides of a battlefield eventually." If that were to come to pass every interaction that had taken place here would be forgotten in favor of the greater good and eliminating the threat that was the Sith and their allies. It wasn't as if it was anything personal. Business, after all, was just that, and war was unforgiving. No quarter would be given to any enemy, and she expected none in return. That was the natural order of things. And it was that train of thought which left her better suited for combat than any kind of social encounter.

"How about your own thoughts? You can be brutally honest. I can take it." No doubt she had heard worse in her life as well. While waiting for him to speak she began to eat, taking a few bites before having another sip of her drink. This was the second date of any sort she had been on, but it was the first one she had properly enjoyed. Perhaps it hadn't been as bad an idea as it had originally seemed, but the mere concept was still uncalled for. No matter how much she was able to relax, Patricia would still be hearing from her after the fact. For now, however, she would live in the moment. This was a date, after all.

[member="Kyber Salurra"]

 

[Kyber Salurra]

Even if this was a date Kyber had no reservations when it came to being himself or being totally honest. It wasn't in his nature to unnecessarily sugarcoat things and it definitely wasn't in his nature to be something he wasn't. As for Keira, when she spoke Kyber couldn't help but listen intently. He got the feeling this woman had as much experience as him with the wide variety of poodoo spewing out of people's mouths these days, and he got the feeling that she wasn't just another person adding to that problem. As he listened in he began eating, seeing no point in waiting for the food to get cold. Kyber gave a light smile and a small chuckle to himself as she mentioned his supposed experience with leading millions of men. The reason for the behavior was the mere fact that Kyber had zero experience in leading entire armies, and he knew he didn't. He left that to the Generals and Admirals, Kyber just focused on the big picture as best he could, as well as trying to get his boots wet as often as he'd want.

Kyber did have to interject as she mentioned one thing however: "It's nice to talk, even if we'll probably be on opposite sides of a battlefield eventually."

Kyber's first reaction was a raised brow before he gave her a dismissing wave and shake of the head "Nah, I don't think so. I like you, so I won't fight you. Fighting against someone I've had a nice conversation and a meal with just because my boss told me to? Why? I'd just not do it, or leave." Kyber stated pretty matter-of-factly, as if it was the obvious answer. He wouldn't fight against someone he was friends with just because he got some order or his faction told him to, that made no sense. Fancy titles and high ranks don't mean anything in Kyber's eyes anyway, it's not like leaving would be that big of a deal. As Kyber thought to himself about the preposterous suggestion he'd take another sip of his drink before shaking the thought off and returning to his food. This was only a quick bite though, knowing she was about to ask her next question. Kyber swallowed his food and wet his mouth one more time before she did ask her question, "How about your own thoughts? You can be brutally honest. I can take it."

Brutally honest, huh? That shouldn't be too hard at all. "To be honest I haven't had the chance to have a nice conversation like this in years. I didn't expect how good this would feel." Kyber gave a toothy and albeit slightly goofy smile before taking off his flash goggles. He'd blink rapidly while looking down to adjust to the light as he continued: "I can tell just from the way you talk that you're an honest person and won't be overly nice for the sake of it." As Kyber's eyes finally adjusted he looked up at her with a smile, his mismatched eyes peering into her own. "All in all I'm having a lot of fun and definitely appreciating your company. I'm no expert on people, but tonight you seem to be kinda hating on yourself, but I don't see where all of that comes from. You seem perfectly alright to me, so, uh... feel better, I guess?" He'd give one last smile before the ever-shifting lighting in the restaurant would become too much for him and he'd be forced to put on his blacked out glasses again.

Kyber wouldn't ask a question this time, leaving off on that and hoping for a response as he began to pick at his food again. He hoped he hadn't overreached there, but Kyber didn't think she was the type to get offended by that kind of stuff, which is mainly the reason he liked her so much. She seemed honest and didn't have an ego. A rare combo in the galaxy these days, and one he was grateful for.

// [member="Keira Ticon"] //

 

[Keira Priest]

While far from the sort to disguise anything about herself, Keira was open in a different manner that oftentimes constituted being less honest than she had been previously, however strange that came across. It was difficult for her to be entirely genuine about every facet of her personality at once, but she had become highly talented at exhibiting only select traits at any particular moment. Such was the case here, though it was anyone's guess as to just what she was truly revealing about herself and what else was being held carefully under wraps. Sometimes even she was unaware of just what emotions were currently taking their toll. Then it really was up in the air.

Unfortunately for him, she wasn't quite so generous when it came to the field of battle. If a mission, fight or life was on the line and he hung in the balance, chances were she would more than likely deal the killing blow. It wasn't out of any personal disrespect or intolerance, but simply because she had learned both to flick off her emotions at the flip of a switch and to undervalue any individuals that she wasn't intrinsically close to in some manner. No matter how many dates the two went on, the chances of those feelings developing for him were slim. Despite these private thoughts, however, she wouldn't make such a thing known. "I don't think you would find that decision winning much favor with your boss, whomever that might be. People like me aren't well-loved by anyone involved with the Sith."

Pleasant conversation was a welcome change for her as well, as even her nicest with those she called friend still contained a pointed barb every now and again. But maybe that was just how she demonstrated her own security in their presence. Without hesitation she met his mismatched gaze with her mottled own, able to glean the sheer truthfulness of his words from nothing more than that action. That he had pinned her as the honest sort wasn't an assumption that was completely incorrect, nor did it find its roots entirely in the truth either. While most times she was blunt and callous, not everything she said was necessarily honest in nature. Most times, in fact, it was merely devised to provoke an enemy.

Everything was much more complicated than simply feeling better, but she appreciated the genuine well-being behind his words nonetheless. It was nice to talk to someone that meant every word they said with a conviction that was becoming all the rarer. "I'll do my best. I'm getting there. Believe it or not, this is a step up from where I was a year ago." A year ago she had been a slave to The Primeval and completely enveloped in an ever-entangling web of darkness that had poisoned her very essence to the core. Her next smile seemed to have more of a warmth behind it than any of those shown previously. "It's nice to talk to someone that means everything they say. Thank you."

[member="Kyber Salurra"]