Flying Free (MA, D8)

[Elaranu]

"Interesting. Well, I shall try to not over employ it then."

Her eyes followed his to the hull of his ship, and she just watched him silently for a moment, wondering what he was thinking about.

[Djanik]

After a long quiet, he offered, "You know, you're an interesting mirror, in some ways."

Elaborating, he continued, "You show me the things I say and do without thinking, and make me wonder why it is, precisely, that I do them."

Chuckling, he concluded, "It's... challenging. In a good way. It forces me to be more thoughtful."

[Elaranu]

"Good. A welcome challenge is better than an unwelcome one.''

She looked back at his ship, "Is there anything else you want to take a look at? I am pretty satisfied with my quick look under my own ship's panels."

[Djanik]

"Apart from you? I can see the rest pretty well from inside a cockpit, but you're better viewed up close."

Pulling a face, he added, playfully, "That was flirting, by the by."

Swinging his feet into his own cockpit, he slid down into the Z-95.

"Well, 'blue-9', ready to head back to base... I should probably make a name for this squad..."

[Elaranu]

Watching him get into the cockpit, she waited a moment before actually following him up using the mounting step, leaning in to the cockpit so her face was inches away from his before he could put on his helmet.

"You are good at coming up with names, no? This was already established before. But is this close enough, by the way? Flirting or no.''

[Djanik]

That made him flush a bit, and he chuckled, "So close, I can hardly turn to look."

Glancing sideways, he met her gaze steadily, and added, "You have beautiful eyes. Though it is hard to tell what you are thinking - because they are so unique, compared to other near-humans... Are mine equally hard to read for you, compared to Chiss?"

[Elaranu]

"Yes. They do not... fade correctly. That is what makes them interesting though."

[Djanik]

"Well, I'm glad you agree on that..."

He drifted closer an inch, and then away an inch.

His expression seemed torn.

"You are, I confess, testing my self-restraint... is this your intent?"

His voice as a little faint, as if his thoughts were muddled.

[Elaranu]

"Not exactly. An experiment, of sorts. And I thought, perhaps, some help."

Backing away she patted his ship's nose, "I shall not test you then and head back to my ship. Better to concentrate on flying than ponder mysteries that have no answers, no?"

[Djanik]

Djanik looked very torn, and then rose out of the sight, closing the distance again, and said, softly, "I don't dislike it.. I only... do not wish to overstep."

"Yet I cannot help but seek answers."

Then he leaned forward, to kiss her gently on the forehead.

Pulling back slowly, he searched her face, wondering if he had gone too far.

[Elaranu]

Her reaction was not very drastic. In fact, her face was largely dispassionate. The reaction that eventually came was for her to lean in and kiss his forehead back.

"Keep seeking answers then, Djanik. That is the most admirable thing you could do."

With that she hopped off the rung, turning and starting to walk towards her own Headhunter.

[Djanik]

Sinking back into his seat, he rubbed at his forehead with a baffled expression, trying to make sense of what he had experienced.

She was remarkable. So intriguing.

So confusing.

He thought perhaps he loved her.

Shaking his head, he settled back in the chair, waiting for her to fire up her own ship - he'd not be first to leave. Old fashioned chivalry, beaten into him like a second nature...

[Elaranu]

Climbing into her cockpit, Ela put her helmet on, giving him a thumbs up as her engines came to life and the cockpit canopy lowered.

[Djanik]

With a returned wave, he powered up his own craft, ready to return to base.

[Elaranu]

/sc3n3 y0