Starbound (Benny and Gunner)

[LilGunner]

Starlina Edessa, notorious pirate, Captain of the Fortune's Razor, rolled a red silk garter up her leg to rest high on her taught thigh. In her stateroom she stood in a matching, red silk thong, a tiny bow sitting on her tail bone, and a strapless bra that blended with he caramel shade of her skin. Her thick mane of ebony curls hung loose to her waist, floating behind her as she sat at a small vanity to put on her make up. Not too much, a little mascara and eye liner to make her cocoa eyes brighter and bigger. A touch of rouge and red lipstick. As she lightly blotted her lips a knock sounded at her door. "Enter!" She called out. The door swung open and a young man stormed in. He was lighter in shade than the woman, but with the same almond eyes, neat nose, and dark hair. Poor thing had gotten his father's ears that stuck out a little, which was why he wore is hair down and long to hide them.

"Augh! What the fuck Star?" He hollered, throwing an arm over his eyes. "I'm blinded!" Star scoffed as she slipped the post of fine, gold, hoop earrings into her ear lobes.

"Stop being a baby Brishan. What do you want?" She opened a small drawer that held her collection of perfumes.

Brishan stayed at the far end of the room, arm still over his eyes. "You sure this is a good idea? I mean…sneaking into the ball is bad enough but getting him to help us? What if he kills you? Or tries to arrest you?"

Star rolled her eyes at Brishan as she selected a scent. A soft, almost earthy fragrance with just a hint of sweet summer. "We've been over this…we need help to find that thing and what pirate band are we gonna trust huh? I ain't havin' no murderin', rapin', scallywags on my vessel. At least he's got some honor."

"Puh…same honor that tried to blow us up like…a million times?" Brishan moaned and lamented at the memories. "Most of the time so you could just tweak his nose and and and and flirt."

"Listen," she said as she stood up. Even without heels she was tall for a woman, her limbs long and strong. She took a few strides to stand in front of her brother, reached out to hug him. Brishan resisted at first but finally relented. "This is for us, yeah? All of us. With this score we can retire, comfortably. Maybe you can settled down with-" She was cut off as Brishan wriggled from her grasp.

"Don't bring Gwen into this," he hissed, still keeping an arm over his eyes. The siblings stood in silence for a time. Finally Brishan heaved a sigh. "Fine, fine fine. But if he kills you…I get everything."

Star threw her head back and laughed, a throaty and musical laugh that made her body shake. "Yeah I guess you do. Now get out of here before you actually do go blind. I'll see you later tonight." With that she ushered him out of the room, she had to finish getting ready. A long sparkling dress in a brilliant ruby color. She wriggled into it carefully. It clung to her flat stomach and the dips in her sides, hugged the round swell of her bottom, and clutched at her chest held up by, more than likely, some kind of sorcery. The back dropped low, exposing her tawny flesh all the way to the small of her back. A long slit opened at her left leg, letting the hint of the garter peek through. Finally, a pair of heels, just as brilliant, red, and bejeweled as the dress. She was ready to do battle.

Star strode confidently in her heels, back straight, hips swaying with every movement. It was a short enough walk, even for a woman in heels. The fine establishment, holding a ball, was her target, one for private and public militias. She slowed as she made her approach, scanning for a likely victim. It wasn't hard to find. A gangly youth, all dressed up in his big boy uniform, the golden bar of the lowest ranking officer in the Imperial Navy. His straw colored hair was combed neatly under his cap. Perfect.

She continued walking, adjusting her stride to turn. Star strode right into the youth. She made a show of tilting and wobbling, putting her hands out. While she was the one who grabbed the young ensign, by all accounts it looked like he was the one that caught her. She saw his eyes go wide, drifting up and down her form as he held her. A feigned look of surprise and gratefulness painted her face. "Oh…" she said, putting a hand to the voluptuous swell of her chest, letting her fingers graze down her sternum to continue drawing his eye. "My what a gentleman," she purred softly. Her other hand rested behind the kid's head, fingers brushing at the nape of his neck. "Thank you for the rescue."

"Oh…huh…uhm…y-you're welcome?" The young man stammered. Ever wild dream of any young man was suddenly coming true. Coming true for him. The woman dropped out of seemingly no where, ever for grateful for a rescue.

Star took her time, eyeing the young man, making a show of her 'appreciation' for him. "A man in uniform, I should have guessed. Are you heading into this ball?" Her eyes lifted to his, though remained slightly hooded.

"Ye-yes ma'am," he replied, slowly standing to right both of them. Though even standing Star kept her hand on the back of his neck. She stood eye to eye with the lad.

"Ma'am, you don't have to be so formal with me. I'm Gwen. You know, I was heading in myself, care to escort a lady?" She leaned in, giving him a small peck on the cheek.

"Oh, hum, yes I-I'd be delighted Gwen. I'm Arnold," he said, offering her a quaking arm. Star beamed at him the way a cat beamed at a mouse. She released her hold on the back of his neck and took his arm.

"Lead the way my dear Arnold."

They passed inside easily, Arnold with his invite and Star on his arm. It was resplendent inside. Uniforms crisp and clean, men standing around with women on their arms. Arguably more delicately dressed women. Arnold and Star garnered some looks as they entered. Arnold beamed with pride as he strode in, a real man with a woman on his arm. Not just any woman either. A woman that drew sneers from other women and slightly slack jaws from men. Star gave her cloud of hair a light flip as though she hadn't a care in the world. Now to find her real prey.

 

[BennyQ]

The Imperial Ball taking place above the radiant green and blue world of Vides was supposed to be an exclusive event, catering to the nobility, officer, and aristocratic class of fourteen major sectors of colonized space. It was located high in orbit aboard one of the Paradise-world’s many space platform, operated by the local rich and wealthy, with spacious chambers and halls decked in opulence and pomp. Here, everyone from technocrats to private military to industrialists who owned entire moons, and everything in between, would rub elbows, discuss new deals, and sip fine wines imported from Earth.

It was not Captain Trevjona Bevell’s first foray into such a function. A bloated museum of archaic tradition and self-importance, it was also a necessary gathering that pushed the boundaries of the United Earth Dominion’s controlled space across the Orion Arm of the Milky Way Galaxy. Though, it was only recently that Trevjona would be announced as a singular entity among the grandiose list of names, rather than some adjutant or assistant to some other officer. And he had earned it. Fifteen years he served as a naval officer, straight to the Academy at sixteen, serving aboard capital ships by twenty, and soon acquiring his own command and vessel just two years prior. He was one of the youngest commanders in naval history to acquire the command of a capital ship, surpassed only by a handful of others.

The daughter of one whom was now in attendance, though Trevjona did not yet know it.

Dominion space was far too vast and far flung to be adequately governed by a centralized military, so that while officers and crew were trained in select academies, most of the patrol and garrison duties were distributed to the purview of local rule. Capital ships were constructed in vast foundries and dockyards by the ruling government of Earth, but they were in turn leased or outright sold to local rulers in various sectors, to be employed in whatever manner was deigned fit. Many commanders thus found themselves, if they could not purchase or own their own vessels outright, at the service of planetary governors and elites with little to no purview from the governing councils of Earth. Some were employed in honest, protective services. And others…were outright used as privatised military, used against whatever and whomever should cross the local governor’s mood.

Trevjona, with his familial “old-money” background, was one of the few commanders who not only owned his own vessel, but could also choose which contract he might take for his next term of service, for whatever sector or governor could appeal to him. That was the primary reason for why he attended this Ball above Vides Prime. Someone here would be offering to Trevjona and his crew a lucrative assignment to take for the next few years. Just…which one of these self-important aristocrats of the stars could appeal to him and his sense of…morality and honour. That pool seemed to shrink every year. Everyone was looking to carve out their own fiefs while making it seem like they still adhered to the Imperial friendship and cooperation between all human polities now stretching across this arm of the galaxy.

So far, after a hour at this abysmal Ball, the pickings were looking rather slim and terrible. He might just go into business for himself. Like a pirate or marauder. Not a few Imperial Captains went rogue every year, the Imperial propaganda machine decrying them as rebels and scoundrels, but the rumour mill within the Imperial Navy whispered quietly of dishonours done to them, unethical commands issued to them, or exhaustion with corruption by their civilian governments as the reasons cited for their betrayal.

Elegant music swayed down to them from unseen balconies above, the ceiling vaulted several dozen stories above, which on any space ship or platform would be considered a massive waste of space. But the elite and rich did not have that problem. In fact, they could even afford actual musicians, not merely robots or loudspeakers to source it in from elsewhere. The wine was claimed to be from vineyards on Earth but Trevjona could not tell the difference. And he was from Mars.

Trevjona was accompanied only by his Executive Officer, Cato Metelus, who like his Captain was dressed in a sharp dark blue uniform and black trousers. While at the Academy everyone had dressed in Imperial grey, once one was distributed to their distant commands essentially each vessel designed and operated it’s own uniform. This was merely Trevjona’s look, aboard his flagship, the Parthian.

The splendid and intricate doors to the grand ballroom opened and in entered another guest, with a woman in red upon his arm. Trevjona at first had his back to the entrance, engaged in conversation with some uniformed magistrates from the industrial world of Icroth. The magistrate was promising Captain Bevell all manner of upgrades and maintenance for the Parthian if he were to accept a contract for his Sector. ”…our technicians can work with anything, Captain. Even with a bucket of cooking grease and roofing nails!” The magistrate jested about the capabilities of his work crews, laughing boisterously and confidently.

”I have seen your crime stats in your annual report to the UED’s Justice Ministry.” Trevjona responded drily. ”Not a lot of space lane incidents in your Sector, Sir. What kind of work do you expect me to be conducting?” And he already knew the answer. Breaking up strikes, arresting trade unionists, overall just oppressing the masses so that they kept the continental sized factories running and operating at full tilt.

”Surely a man of your talent and experience might enjoy a few years off the front line. I know your father will appreciate it.” The Magistrate responded with an air of wisdom, with his various fellows and colleagues wagging their heads like it was the utmost piece of truth Trevjona would ever hear. Closer to the Core meant closer to high promotion. But it also meant…laxity. And softness. Soft living did not make a man.

”…thank you, Sir. I appreciate the words. Please leave your details with my Executive Officer. You know I must weigh up every offer I am to receive today but I’m sure yours will be the most enticing.” Trevjona said neutrally, gesturing to Metelus, and bowing his head respectfully to the magistrates from Icroth before he turned, and rolled his eyes so tiredly, and made his way to the drink table. It was his stalling technique. Sure, Metelus could take down all the information and terms of a possible contract but Trevjona was not going to read it. It was…too slothful. And it wouldn’t bring him anywhere near where he needed to be.

Trevjona, hands folded behind his back, and broad shoulders squared, made his way to the drink table to pour himself a much needed cup. He didn’t care for vintages and he stared at the server so very drily as a dozen fine sounding labels were read off. Any will do and a delectable red was poured into a fine glass goblet. It was then that he noticed another flash of red, so very nearby. Others were murmuring too at the woman’s beauty, of which there were not a few in the hall, but this one seemed to be making waves. And so, taking his cup, he raised it to his lips, and stole a peek.

And froze.

It was…her. Here. In this hall. At this party. No doubt planning some scandal or scoundrel scheme. What the hell was she doing here? Trevjona paused in the act of drinking and was immediately no longer thirsty. Did no one else see this? Did none of these rich fools know who was among them? She must be planning some…robbery, or attack. Well, it wasn’t going to happen on his watch. He put the untouched cup back on the drink table, causing the server to frown at the waste of liquor, but Trevjona ignored him and proceeded to walk in a roundabout way, to approach that woman from the flank and rear. Unseen.

And as he passed by the dessert table, in a swift sleight of hand move, he plucked a knife and held it upwards along his sleeve, concealed behind his arm. She was in a small circle, with an Imperial officer, and some other individuals. She got them all in huh? No checks or screening to determine who she really was? Outrageous.

What the hell was Captain Edessa doing here? And Captain was a far stretch of the label she truly was, pirate, criminal, scum… He approached from the rear, unseen, until he was a handful of paces from her, peering upon her back and ravenous hair. And then he spoke, announcing himself into her space.

”They just let anyone in here, don’t they.” He commented drily on her presence.

 

[LilGunner]

Arnold was as radiant as a star, no puns intended, as he strolled the room with his new 'date.' He simply couldn't stop grinning as Star held to his arm as they walked. Friends from the academy stared enviously. His grades and scores had been good enough to get him a commission, but he wasn't ever top at anything. Not until a chance encounter just outside the ball. As they moved he could feel the sway of her hips occasionally bumping into him, the softness of the side of her breast against his arm. She sure held close to him. All the better! They strolled by a drink table, each taking up flutes of sparkling wine.

"Cheers to you," Star said in a low purr, placing a soft kiss on the side of Arnold's head before clinking her glass against his. The boy turned as red as her dress, unable to stop grinning. "Yeah, same to you," he managed to reply. They walked some more, sipping the wine and talking. Star feigned absolute interest in the dull academy stories he had to tell. His small amount of time on ships and his flight simulators. She remembered those days well and let him talk. Star laughed when it was appropriate, obviously he was the funniest man alive. She gasped in excitement as he regaled her with tales. All the while her verdant eyes scanned the room. It wasn't long before she found him. Crisp, stately, oh so pompous.

Eventually she found herself in a small group. Two were compatriots of Arnold, the others business types of one sort or another. Star stayed quiet, happily playing the role of arm candy for her escort. His use was nearly finished. A sweet enough lad, she hoped his dreams wouldn't be crushed under the boot of imperial dominance. It would, of course, but she could hope.

She saw the men across from her raise their eyes, looking at something, or someone, behind her. When a voice announced his presence Star stilled. Not from fear, no, far from it. Her tongue ran along the line of her teeth, savoring the sound. How she did love to rile him up. Slowly she turned, just enough so she could peer around her cloud of hair. A green eye crinkled with a smile for the captain. She turned further, just enough to face him while still holding Arnold's arm. Her gaze drifted down to his toes, then back up to his eyes. She had to give him credit, he cut a fine figure. Shame about the personality.

"Captain Bevell," Star purred softly. "What an unexpected pleasure to see you here." For anyone else it sounded perfectly sincere. It was a pleasure to see him, but hardly unexpected. "If I remember right…I did promise you a dance, have you come to collect?" She turned to Arnold. "You don't mind, right sweetling?" The young man looked between Trevjona and Star. He clearly did mind but he quelled at the presence of a captain. "No…of course not," he said, trying his best not to sound dejected. Star leaned over and kissed his forehead. "Good boy." She put her empty flute in his hand and turned to take Trevjona's arm. "Smile my dear, you wouldn't want to cause a scene would you?" She said to him as she started leading him away to the dance floor.

 

[BennyQ]

She was standing with a plethora of young junior officers. Trevjona could not recognize their uniforms or heraldry, which meant that…they didn’t know. They didn’t know who Edessa was. Not from around his or hers Sector of space. She had those young, handsome idiots eating out of the palm of her hand most likely. How pathetic. He’d never be caught doing that! Right? In any case he outranked them, in more ways than one, and he was about to do them a huge favour. Nobody’s career was going to get wrecked over this. He’ll take care of this…She-Devil.

Trevjona stood rigid, hands, and knife, concealed behind his back. He watched her face, especially as her eyes roamed over his figure in that sultry way. Who said you could look? She always had a unique way of pronouncing his name. Like a feline predator savouring a fresh kill it felt like. This kind of dance was certainly not the type that had been promised, but he had the means of correcting that. He was just…so on edge. Furiously. But it was a cold, focused rage. He was so close too. So close to achieving his goal.

You don’t mind, right sweetling? She asked the clueless junior officer, who assented. Trevjona fixed him with a look and pursed his lips and shook his head. You helpless idiot. Good boy indeed. Then Edessa did a most strange thing. A…lady like thing. She stretched out her hand, expecting, like a gentleman, that he would offer his! Trevjona peered down at her hand, as if expecting there to be gadgets of mass destruction hidden under her slender forearm. And he only had a knife. He reluntanctly offered up his arm, discreetly transferring the knife in a quick sleight-of-hand technique behind his back, out of sight, to the other hand, while offering his dominant arm.

And together, they began to walk away, towards the dance floor.

He did not smile. He gazed at her the entire time she walked. This was the first time he had seen her in person. It was always behind a screen or monitor. And always the neck up. She had a wonderful side profile herself, feminine curves so outlined. He would have called her beautiful, if he didn’t already guess that she used her beauty only to cause distress. After a moment, pausing at the edge of the dance floor, he let himself scoff at her chiding.

”All the scenes you have caused and you’re telling me not to?” Trevjona reiterated. ”Maybe a scene is exactly what I want to cause. All these witnesses…this is one frying pan you are not going to get out of, Edessa.” He said, addressing her by her surname. Perhaps reminding her too, that she used to be like everyone else in here, and therefore…was a shame to his uniform and all of theirs. Or maybe because using her personal name would humanize her and make it harder to do what he was about to do.

Various couples swirled and danced before them. Men and women, men and men, women and women, there was no distinction. They were all free to indulge. And equal…in that they were the officer and aristocratic class. ”I take it you came here to enjoy one last soirée before you turned yourself in like a good girl.” Trevjona noted, a most miniscule prospect that was less likely to happen than the stars themselves changing hue. His boots remained anchored at the edge of the floor, not advancing with her to join the other couples. One of his arms stayed folded behind his back, in precise military posture. Holding the pastry knife.

”You obviously weren’t invited, and I don’t think you would have attended even if you were. You must have known how many people here would be gunning for you if they knew your identity. Yet you still came. Because…you’re up to something.” Trevjona reasoned out slowly, watching her expression closely for any hint to what that might be.

 

[LilGunner]

So rigid. The corner of her red lips quirked as they walked arm-in-arm. Star could feel his gaze on her. Not for a moment did she fool herself into think it was with anything but malice. Oh she had a way of turning men into putty, like that poor young Arnold. She was still conscious about how they walked. Her hips swayed becomingly, brushing against his side with every other step. Star made each step just a little jarring, a little hard, that sent small ripple across her barely contained breasts. Her other arm rested across her stomach, hand on his bicep. Her brows lifted briefly, her hand giving and appreciative squeeze. My my. What lay below that stiff and starched uniform?

They paused at the dance floor. She watched as pairs whirled by in a quick waltz. They glittered and glimmered like jewels in a sunset. Star continued watching them as Trevjona spoke. Control, always so controlled, even as he mocked and threatened. How she'd love to see him lose that control, even just once. Well, perhaps not while he was chasing her ship. There were people to protect after all. The smirk on her lips only grew as he tried to goad her. "Why would I turn myself in captain? I've done nothing wrong that's provable," she said, her voice as thick and sweet as honey. While completely untrue she preferred to feign her innocence. The truth of it would shatter his illusion of her and she certainly couldn't have that.

His reasoning was correct enough. She was certainly up to something. Finally she turned her gaze to meet his, her raven hair falling back so her golden hoop earrings could glint in the light. "You've always been such a…clever man," she cooed up at him. The soft, pregnant, pause was more complimentary rather than mocking. Though the addition but not clever enough hung in the air. She was always a step ahead of him and, oh, how she loved how it rankled him. The music drifted to a close. Bows and curtsies from the dancers and polite applause for the musicians. "Shall we then?" She asked as some couples cleared the floor, some stayed, and new pairs joined.

Everyone set up as the intro for the tune began. A slow, romantic waltz. Star stepped close to Trevjona. Her chest pressed to his, hips colliding, one hand reaching out and held to his while her other laid softly on the back of his neck. So close, so warm. She could smell the gentle scent of him. Her own perfume, an oil for her cloud of black hair, wrapped around him. Jasmine and vanilla. A soft, womanly scent, at utter odds with her profession. As if pulled by invisible strings the couples began to move. Star was light on her feet as she and Trevjona moved around the floor.

"As a matter of fact," she began, gazing up at him as they glided around the floor. "I do have an errand here, but not one as…mmmm…salacious as you might think. One that I think even you could be interested in." Holding his hand she twirled away, her dress flying as she spun, lifting to give a grand show of her long, caramel, legs. She spun back to him, pressed again against his warmth. "And no, it isn't theft. Well, actually it is…but from other, shall we say, high risk traders." Her grin was cheeky. A fine, gentile, way to describe pirates.

 

[BennyQ]

Provable? Trevjona had plenty of proofs. He had logs, he had recordings, of her voice and face, he had sightings of her vessel. Sure, maybe the pictures were grainy and short, always captured as her vessel blipped away safely before being recognized or caught or shot at, but he knew it was her. He could vouch for it. He just needed…a little more proof. To turn her into a galaxy wide fugitive. And here she was, acting so coy and silly, like it was no problem at all for her.

But…he had never seen this side of her. She was garbed in a sultry red dress, one very perfectly formed thigh peering out, and as she walked perched on his arm, her hips occasionally bumped against his. She squeezed at his muscular bicep and he almost growled like a guard dog at her agitation. Stop that. He was trying to focus. He certainly wouldn’t survive if his eyes darted down beneath her lips. But when she stood in front of him, calling him so clever, Trevjona just couldn’t help it. His eyes flickered down, just as she beckoned him to dance…and stepped towards him, as if teasing him. It could all be his, that soft valley his to explore and conquer.

His eyes flickered up. People were watching them. They were holding up the line! Trevjona’s lips twitched in a near snarl and he took her hand, while he concealed the knife within the large sash around his waist that formed a belt, accentuating his lean physique. Holding her hand in his gloved one, he walked with her to a nearby opening on the floor, where he used his grip on her hand to heave her before him, his other hand capturing her upon her hip. Face to face, eye to eye, he began to gracefully move with her through the steps of this particular waltz, something he had learned and drilled in since he was a kid on his familial estate on Mars.

And somehow she knew the steps too! No mishaps, no stutters, no tripping. They danced. She was here on an errand. He knew it. Saying it wasn’t salacious didn’t alleviate his suspicions. What sort of work could they even possibly share? He raised her hand up high to twirl her, in unison with everyone else and the tune. Another flicker of his eyes down and he saw those long legs, so sturdy and lean. Okay so what, this pirate was cultured a little. Anyone could learn a dance. Put a few bolts of silk around her too. Still didn’t make her what she was trying to be. What was her game? She told him.

Not theft, so it must be… ”A collection, then. Are you asking me to be a glorified scavenger?” Trevjona scoffed, as he held her in his hands, one hand conjoined and the other on her hip. He could really feel how slender she was. He gave a little shake of his head and rolled his eyes incredulously. ”You want me to repossess something from your pirate rivals and give it to you? You think I’m an amateur like your…clown over there?” He said in reference to poor Arnold, waiting on the other side for his chance at a dance with Edessa.

There was another twirl coming in the dance and Trevjona again raised her hand high in preparation, though he heaved her arm in a way that he forced her to spin, more rapidly than usual, so that she was returned to the front facing position a half-second before all the other couples completed their twirls. A half second of frozen, still, motionless peering, from him to her. Then he resumed the steps.

”You know I could just impound your ship at the end of the party. Doesn’t matter what charge. It’ll take weeks or months to clear up. I wonder, what sort of war chest you have, that you can pay and maintain your idle crew in the meanwhile…or if they will split up and find other gainful employment, leaving you all alone.” Trevjona mused as he swayed with her, watching her expression carefully now to see how that might sit with her. She made a mistake getting this close to him. She was lucky he was a gentleman or he might have used the knife on sight. He may yet. If she tried to run.

Or maybe he threatened her to get her to reveal more about this…errand.

 

[LilGunner]

Star would be hard pressed to admit it to Trevjona, after all it was far more fun to tease him, but she enjoyed the flow and sway of their bodies. When they pressed together she felt the hard, taught muscles below that starched uniform. Tantalizing, what acres of fine flesh lay below? This was not the man she had imagined from the screen, certainly. She needed to focus on the mission, not the way his body moved against hers as they turned about the floor.

"Captain Bevell, you wound me," she said somewhere between a purr and a pout, though her eyes still sparkled with amusement. Her thin fingers curled around his, lightly stroking the back of his hand. While other couples held their hands with open palms, these two seemed to grapple theirs. It was not the sweet, curling grasp of lovers. No, two birds of prey clawing for supremacy. With a turn she spied Arnold across the floor. Poor thing, little dejected puppy. "Of all the men in this room you are the furthest from a clown." They continued in their steps, moving away and out of sight of poor Arnold.

Star spun again, her arm jerked with his pull. Bared leg rose, the edge of her garter peaking out as she spun faster on her toes. Her front collided with his at her return. For that brief second her mask dropped, her free hand held up at her shoulder like one might in surrender. Surprise flashed in her eyes that locked with his, a flushed heat creeping up her neck. A resounding pulse echoed low in her stomach, crackling lightening shooting across her body. It made her chest heave, her breath catch, all in that one moment of stillness. Then they moved again. Her mask slid back into place as she snapped herself back into control. A sultry smirk played on her lips. Her free hand reached forward, fingertips grazing his sharp jawline, down his neck, to rest back on his shoulder. "Naughty boy," she murmured softly, her voice low and teasing.

His musing of her ship garnered little response but for that continued smirk. "Darling, do you wish to have me alone so terribly? If that's all you wanted you could just ask nicely." Her tone was low, suggestive, only emphasized as she stepped in closer, letting their hips bump together. Just a moment, a brief moment that, in any other circumstance, could be taken for an accident. "But no, I would not dare to relegate you to my errand boy, however delightful that might be." Her tone turned serious, the playful smirk diminishing. "We got word that the LRS Kreshnia was carrying some very interesting cargo from the Procyon sector to the Kingdom of Lorenus." She let those hang in the air a moment. The Procyon sector tended to be an epicenter of new, radical, inventions. Always buzzing with new items, new research. Lorenus was an incredibly wealthy kingdom, the sector had control of the richest mineral deposits in known space. The king of Lorenus was an old man with but one heir, a sickly child. There had been whispers that he funneled a great deal of money to Procyon.

"A med bed," she said, a glint returning to her eyes. "One the king paid handsomely for and would be desperate to get back." She let that sit with him as the she turned out again, though the end of this spin brought her backside into him. Her back arched as she leaned into him, head resting against the front of his shoulder, her bottom pressed to his groin. Their joined hands rested on her shoulder. His hand that would go to his hip she lightly guided forward, letting it rest below her navel. Such large hands, he would but have to spread his fingers to brush the center of her body. A brief interlude before turning again, resetting to their original position. "Such a powerful man could be beneficial to people he was thankful towards."

 

[BennyQ]

The Captain was indeed stiff beneath his uniform. Not just with tension at being face to face with the enemy, but he was also a man who groomed and took care of his body. Under her hand on his shoulder, he was a hard ball of muscle. Tendons rippled in his arms with every little action in their dance. Even in his neck. There was a lot of sedentary idleness on ships. Trevjona made sure to maximize every moment with some sort of activity. His warship was a weapon. His body was a weapon.

And her body? That was a weapon too. And it was getting to him.

More than a few people were looking. It actually added to Trevjona’s prestige. Look at the gorgeous woman he was with. No one could glimpse the inner battle and history they had. He had ordered his ship to fire upon hers before, almost sending her to a cold, dark end in the vacuum of space. He had a knife tucked behind him. He may yet accomplish that. She was a criminal. A thief. A pirate. A deserter. And then the front of her body, and chest, brushed against his and though his mind acknowledged those facts about her…his heart did not follow in making him feel the spite and hatred he should be feeling. Instead he rippled with something else.

Naughty boy. How could she know? Get her alone though? Yes. Yes! Get her alone and he could put an end to this nightmare. But she did not continue in that vein, again trying to lure him with this suggestion of working together on an errand. But when she mentioned that ship, to that Sector, he could not help but let the astonishment show on his features a moment. The cargo of the LRS Kreshnia and it’s disappearance were the thing of legend in space-farthing circles. What it had been carrying seemed almost mystical. And it’s lost and disappearance were tragic. Like the whole galaxy had been set back another millennia from the loss of technology. The first ever med-bay, using rare sciences, to heal and revert the body to a state of perfection and vigor.

So what was she saying? That she knew where it was? That she had a clue? The King of Lorenus was a piece of shit, but his love and devotion to his son was tragic and redeeming. Though he was deep in thought, he still went through the dance steps elegantly, by muscle memory alone. He spun her but only halfways, as she turned away, then pressed back into him, her whole backside coming into contact with his. Her curvy rear, so taut and firm, pressing to his groin. Her head to his shoulder, hands linked, her big brown eyes peering up at his. The King would be so generous to the ones who brought it back. So generous to him.

She could be so generous to him as well.

”You lie.” Trevjona said at first, but his voice was low and it almost cracked, his whole body and senses momentarily bedazzled by her actions and body. The song was ending, allowing them to separate – slowly. Almost mournfully. Like he didn’t want her to go. But he was quick to follow up on his accusation. ”Tell me what you know then. No-“ he then added, then interrupted himself again. ”Not here. If what you say is true, which I doubt, that information in the wrong hands could be dangerous. Walk with me.” He said and took her hand, a little forcefully, intertwining their fingers to make sure she couldn’t so easily pull away. It was almost…intimate.

So he took her, and began to walk from the dance floor and through the crowds, one hand clutching hers, another folded behind his back. Near to the concealed knife. There were many corridors that led in and out of the main hall, back into the space platform, along the hull where massive windows looked down upon the jewel that was the world of Vides. There were already a few groups and couples nearest to the party hall, so Trevjona walked Edessa a ways, until they found a corridor and viewing screen that faced away from the planet below. But they were alone.

He used his conjoined hand to gently heave her before the window, while he stood in front of her. Anchoring and trapping her, in place. ”Talk, then.” He ordered her, breaking the silence between them. One hand moved to her shoulder, to keep her pressed back to the window. And his other…dug into the sash at his back, where it took hold of the knife handle. The first sign of treachery or trickery…

 

[LilGunner]

Star lifted her hand from her shoulder, lightly placing it on her chest, letting her fingers trace down to the very top of the soft valley between her breasts. She gave him a look offended surprise, though the dancing sparkle in her brown eyes belied any actual offense. "Lie? Dear, sweet, captain. I would never," she said softly. Stretch, bend, twist, or blur the truth perhaps. She had, in fact, done so oh so many times. The song came to an end. Starlina curtsied low before Trevjona, perfectly away of the fine sight as she leaned forward at the waist. He spoke as they stood back up, halting himself. Then again. A coy, amused, smirk stretched her red lips. Walk with me. She permitted his firm grasp on her hand. Their fingers laced together, the soft material of his white gloves tickled her bare hands. For only an instant she wished those damned gloves didn't exist. Star followed him, walking right at his side. In the distance a young ensign watched, a forlorn longing painted on his youthful face.

Star changed the way she walked just a little. A bit bouncier, a bit eager. Her heels clicked on the hard floor with each jaunty stride. Not the walk of people off on a clandestine discussion. More like the excitable walk of a young lover, off to a more private rendezvous. Of course, Trevjona's walk was anything but that of a young man in the giddy throes of love. She glanced over at him as they walked, hand in hand, that sly smirk never leaving her lips. So very serious. Not for the first time she wondered what he might be like without that rigid countenance. How musical was his laugh? How sweet was his smile? How primal was his roar in the throes of passion?

The further they drew from others the louder her heels clacked on the floor. The thudding echo of his fine boos the only other accompaniment. Finally they reached a place devoid of others. Star didn't resist him as he turned her, heaving her against a large window. It was gentle, her back collided with the warm glass with the barest of thumps. His order only made her smirk darken with sly amusement. "Mmm so bossy," she said as his hand pressed to her shoulder. The hand he released rested against the window near her head. She noticed his other hand remained at his back but gave no indication of it.

"Rumor has it," she began, letting the hand by her head slide down to her side. "That an old pirate captain, thought to be retired, has begun sailing the celestials again." Slowly, carefully, her hands lifted towards his hips. The leg that poked from the slit in her dress raised, brushing against the outside of his leg. "Old Captain Sewell is out there again. We had a run in with him a month or so ago," she said with a conspiratorial raise of her dark brows. All the while her hands brushed his hips, her leg still raising. Her voice lowered, only encouraging him to follow her lead and lean in closer. "Where the Kreshnia disappeared is the second old Sewell was fond of haranguing, his son had taken over his crew. Strange isn't it?"

 

[BennyQ]

She would never lie? All she spoke was lies. She was a habitual liar. No criminal could ever not be. If they were capable of truth, they would not have gone down the dirty path they chose for their career. She was lying now in her very presentation, pretending to be a woman of virtue and beauty in this crowd, when in fact Edessa was nothing but a con-woman and a trickster. But he had her now, pinned to the wall, the infinite backdrop of stars behind her. He could, so very easily, put an end to her lies…

But still Edessa went on, lying, though there was truth to her words even he could not deny. He knew about Captain Sewell, constantly in and out of jail and hunts, though he was presumed dead a year ago. But Edessa had encountered him last month and it wasn’t out of the ordinary for a criminal to fake one’s death to escape for a time the eye of the law. Or just to retire. Or when in possession of the ultimate treasure. That’s what made it so unbelievable. Because it had all the hallmarks of a legendary treasure hunt across the stars. Finding this old artifact or this lost probe or this paradise world.

Her leg began to raise, sultry, brushing alongside his thigh and hip. His brow furrowed and he used his leg to bump her leg, ordering it back to where it was. Meanwhile, his hand behind his back gripped the knife and began to draw it out. ”Not strange at all.” Trevjona said, his voice low and quiet, so full of intent, his eyes flickering between each of her orbs. One last look perhaps? Before he drained the life out of them?

Because he struck, his hand on her shoulder moving to clench her slender neck, while his other hand swung out, bringing the blade against her throat above his grip. His eyes were suddenly wide with murderous intent and his nostrils flared like some dragon. He could just… ”Your lies end here, Edessa. I know you’re full of shit. The coordinates to some old pirate’s stomping grounds, really? You think that was going to impress me?” Trevjona said, leaning in towards her face, until they were an inch apart.

”I will not eradicate your rivals for you so you can have an easily time of looting up and down the star lanes. Oh, but I will, only after you go first. Lead by example, right…Captain?” He said to her, speaking the title now with disdain and a scoff. Is that all you really got? Give me one good reason not to cut your throat and watch you bleed out on the bulkhead. Just one…! His heart, strangely, had one reason. Of how mournful the stars would be for taking out such a beauty from the cosmos. But his heart didn’t call the shots here. His logic and duty did. And he would get another medal for bringing to an end such a notorious pirate.

A med-bay, hah. Though…his father was sick and dying. But it was just a fantasy.

 

[LilGunner]

The mask dropped once again. Star's head tilted back suddenly, her head colliding with the window and making it shudder. His warm, strong, hand easily encased her throat. The cold chill of the tiny knife a striking contrast. Trevjona didn't squeeze, not quite. The hold was firm, powerful. For that brief second she was startled, rattled, maybe even a little frightened. Her raised leg, never deterred from his pushing, froze where it was, hugging tight to his knee. In all her time teasing, taunting, goading Captain Bevell she had never seen him like this. Wild, dangerous, perhaps even a little unhinged. His accusations hissed through his teeth like a coiled viper just itching for an excuse to strike. Trevjona's face came down, so close to her own. The smell of him tickled her nose, so warm and masculine, clean, inviting.

The startled surprise melted away to a devious, sparkling grin as he continued to hurl insults and accusations her way. Have mercy but oh how she loved to hear him, see him, so ferocious. It sent tendrils of electric excitement through her, arcing between his fingers that held her neck so tightly. Harder. The thought drifted briefly through her mind, soft and scintillating. "Dear, sweet, captain," she purred, her leg drifting again. Up and up. More of her thigh bared. Her hands tightened their grip on his hips, urging him closer. "I wouldn't dare try and set you against my rivals. You're anything but a dog on a leash." Still higher her thigh climbed, slow and steady. "Even though you're such a good boy."

In one swift movement Star risked it all. Her legs snapped up, wrapping around his waist. The flap of skirt fell away, revealing the entirety of her leg. She pulled him into her, pressing him flush against her body, fully pinning her to the glass. His hips were fully encased between her legs, pulled forward with an urgency. Star's leg held tight, pulling his groin right against her warm core. Her breasts pressed firmly against his chest. Carefully, and only so slightly, she tilted her head and pressed her lips to his. A low, desirous, moan reverberated against his lips. His smell, his taste, all invaded her senses. Better than she could have ever imagined. A fire ignited in her, unbeckoned. Not at all part of her coy plot she ground her hips against his, a sudden and urgent need bubbling within her.

She was slow to rein herself in, nearly having to force herself to stop and release him from the kiss. Though she couldn't help flicking her tongue against those hard, unyielding lips. "Maybe put that knife down and put your hands to…better use," she murmured against his lips. Taunting. Teasing.