Closing up

[Dragonflower]

Tali ran a quick finger over the fabric of the suit, picked up once piece of jewel turning it in her hands putting it down again and so went through the things that caught her interest. ”Looks like it was a beautiful ceremony” not really sure what else to say about it. It has all been a lot to take in, going from knowing nothing to being told his deepest secrets, and on top of it all finding out that his to mothers had ended up getting married.

”We should properly do this over a few days” she said suddenly.
Tali leaned abit back on her heels and took a deep breath, running a hand over her head and all the way along her right head-tail. She looked at the few trunks they had been through and then at all those they still needed to go through. They were not even one third of the way, but she already felt her head was about to explode.
”I don’t think I can take in all of this at once… and if you wanna visit the brewery today too without opening too late, we should properly get to it” she said with a small grin.

[yosticaltari]

“It was beautiful… You should’ve been there… The place was packed; people had come from everywhere…” Chanda stared off happily in remembrance. As he closed up the trunks, he turned to her as she spoke suddenly. He then realised how overwhelmed she was. Chanda smiled and bowed his head slowly. “Of course, my dear…”

She was up on her feet now, so Chanda followed her example. He dusted off his knees and took a step. A sharp pain emanated from his thigh, making Chanda hiss. “Keep forgetting about that…” He whispered, more to himself than her. He caught sight of his pained expression in the copper plate of his ship. The expression was instantly gone. It was then Chanda heard her mention the brewery. “Oh, yes, of course…” Chanda waved dismissively.

“How about we use the ship?” Chanda asked, grinning. “The ship needs a test run, and what better to use it for, than to collect some alcohol?We could head out to dinner too if you like? It’s not every day your boss offers to take you out to dinner, is it?” He grinned. “And if you’re good, I’ll let you bring the toy boy…” Chanda teased, heading towards the ship, grinning broadly to himself.

[Dragonflower]

Tali looked abit from Chanda to the ship ”You think you can still fly that thing?” she asked with the slightest hints of doubt in her voice. She knew he had been able to once, but judging from the dust that had covered it the day before, that would have been a long long time ago.
She chuckled slightly as he ‘asked her out’. ”A date with the boss huh? That’s certainly something I haven’t tried before!” she grinned ”But do leave my ‘boy toy’ out of it, will you? Wouldn’t want to give him any ideas… more than he already got that is” she added and rolled her eyes at him. Chanda was never going to drop it Tali was sure. He would bother her about it for eternity! Or at least until she found herself another man he could bother her about.
But she DID have a man in her life. Just because no one knew about him, it still counted!

Talis eyes fell on the ship again, and not without some concern. She had traveled one time before going to Sukiliti, and she had to admit she hadn’t enjoyed the hole in and out of atmosphere that much. The going though space was fine, but she really hadn’t cared much for the rest of the travel.

[yosticaltari]

As she asked him whether he could still fly the ship, he was stuck with two options. He could fake offense, or tease her about the possibility of not being able to fly the ship. He thought for more seconds than he should have, instead just smiling and turning to her. “You’ll just have to trust me…” Chanda smiled as the ships door opened and the steps descended. Chanda took a step, knowing the ship was in full working order. He went up and into the ship.

He laughed as she called it a date. “Please Tali, if I was going to take you on a date, dinner is hardly something I would choose to woo you… Besides, I’m not entirely sure that would be effective on you anyway.” Chanda wandered into the cockpit and found his seat. He pulled the monitor in front of him and tapped the engine controls.

“Oh come on Tali… I can’t help but find it cute. He reminds me a little of my younger days… though if that was me in his place, I’d have won by now.” The confidence was clear on his face, as he tapped the screen like it was keys on a piano. An arm came down from the ceiling, holding a pair of goggles. Chanda smiled and took them up, placing them on his head. The glasses were made from copper, with green tinted lenses. As he put them on, an interface appeared on the glasses. It was clear the glasses were aids for flying. Chanda remembered what she had told him, and he realised she was nervous about flying. They were staying in the atmosphere; it was just a trip to the brewery and to a restaurant, all in the same city. Chanda knew there was only one remaining restaurant of class in the city. He knew the owner well, a little too well, in Chanda’s personal opinion. But, that would wait for now.

[Dragonflower]

Tali didn’t comment Chandas need for ‘trust’, but just followed him inside the ship with cautious steps. It was weird how the ship suddenly seemed so fragile now she was going to actually fly in it. Before when it had just been Chandas ‘project’ she had had no trouble moving around inside the ship, but now she seemed overly careful not to touch or bump into anything.

As she found her seat she seemed to calm down ”You? Not entirely sure? Now I’ve heard it all!” she gave back with a grin. Coming from a man she had thought was always sure of everything, it was certainly a surprise. ”So what would work?” she asked with a mix of interest and teasing.
A joyful laugh escaped her as his confidence shined though, like the sun on a clear sky. ”Keep dreaming Chanda, keep dreaming!” she said shaking her head slightly at him. One thing was for sure, he was certainly just at sure of himself as Timothy had ever been.

[yosticaltari]

Chanda turned to look at her, and as he did so, the interface vanished off the glasses. He watched her find her seat and then looked away, pushing the monitor back towards the windshield. He then leaned over and took her hand. “Tali, I’d never put you at unnecessary risk. Never ever, I promise you that. No matter what. If I knew this ship was faulty, I wouldn’t even get in it myself. I’ve lived in this ship. I’ve felt joy in this very seat; and I’ve also had my heart broken right here. But not once have I ever feared for my life whilst being behind this console.” The words of pure and blessed truth swept from his lips almost as if it was spoken from a deity. He looked her in the eyes, to assure her that he meant what he said. Not that he needed to, but he made sure to do it regardless.

With that done, Chanda turned to the console, the interface flashed up instantly on the glasses. The ship door closed and the steps receded into the compartment. The engines coughed once, expelling the dust in one gust of steam and then purred into life. It had little effect on the ship itself, the vibrations were minuscule. Chanda glanced over to Tali and smiled. She was talking about how he wasn’t sure for once in his life. Chanda chuckled. “Considering our relationship over the time you’ve been with me, not once have I ever thought of you in a romantic fashion…” He lied. Of course he had, he’d been alone for a very long time. When a woman comes into a man’s life, the mind wanders, even if it is impossible. Despite never wanting to act on it, Chanda knew exactly what he would do to woo her. Not that he’d ever admit to it.

She asked him what would work on her, and Chanda chuckled. “Well… If I told you, and I ever decided to actually date you, it wouldn’t have the effect I wanted it to, you’d expect it my dear! I can’t have that!” He teased back. The ship began to move. The grace and elegance of the ship was proven as it moved through the air like a bird. The underground tunnel lit up as the ships lights lit it up. There was an underground river, passing beneath them. It was full of fish swimming down the warm underground current. Chanda leaned forward a bit to look at them. “Pirates of old thought these were souls of the dead, going to hell. See the fish glow in complete darkness. I would take the ship lights off to show you, buuut you wouldn’t agree to that…”

[Dragonflower]

Tali jumped abit with surprise when he took her hand, but didn’t move it. She met his eyes and was so surprised by his genuine words that she could only nod her consent. She still wasn’t too sure of the hole flying part, but all doubts about Chandas abilities to fly the old ship had vanished like dew before the sun. Regardless, she still buckled up and double checked it was done properly.

Tali raised an eyebrow slightly at Chandas next words, but didn’t bother to comment them. She knew it was a lie. She knew human men were attracted to Q’Sik women like bees to honny, every single one of them. It didn’t matter if they were single loners or happily married the thought would cross their minds sooner than later and some were more discrete about it than others.

“Well… If I told you, and I ever decided to actually date you, it wouldn’t have the effect I wanted it to, you’d expect it my dear! I can’t have that!”

Tali raised a small laugh, but it quickly died again as the ship ’suddenly’ started moving. Though elegant, the ship still moved a lot more than the big cargo ship that had transported her to the planet. She grabbed abit at her seat, but still followed Chandas example and tried to catch a glimpse of the river. ”Maybe some other time…” she answered. But then again maybe it would be better if she couldn’t see how terrifyingly close the walls where?

[yosticaltari]

The ship seemed almost built for the tunnel. It fit in perfectly, and needed very little manoeuvring on Chanda’s part. Chanda’s fingers danced on the monitor. He still had all the swagger and confidence, but there was something else to him now. He almost looked at home within the belly of a star ship. Every now and then, he looked over at her and gave her a smile. She was unusually quiet. He had really gotten her out of her comfort zone, Chanda was somewhat amused by that fact, but he didn’t let it play on his face. Instead he focused on her uneasiness, and slowed down a bit.

“I wonder how Tim will try to charm you today…” Chanda teased, aiming to take her mind off it. “I can see him bring you some flowers… Maybe asking you to try some special alcohol they brewed… Then again... He doesn’t know we’re coming.” There was a mischievous glint in his eyes. “You’ll make his day!”

The tunnel opened up into a huge underground cave. There were abandoned buildings dotted about, with debris everywhere. It looked like it had once been a hideout for the old pirates. Chanda stopped the ship suddenly, making it hover in the air and then pressed more buttons. The ship began to ascend. Both Chanda and Tali couldn’t see it, but there was a crack in the cave’s ceiling, which allowed Chanda to reach the surface. As the ship reached the surface, sunlight entered the cockpit an lit up the room as it bounced off the shiny metal inside.

“Is this any better, Tali?”

[Dragonflower]

Tali shook her head abit at Chanda. ”Oh I’m sure I will. But hopefully he will be way too busy finding what you need to do anything stupid!” she gave back with a slight grin and sat somewhat easier in her seat. It was working. ”If we’re really lucky, he’s not even there today! Then you’ll be able to get what you need without risking to die of laughter!” she added and sounded more fresh.

Tali were normally not a person you shook easily, but she really didn’t like not having contact with solid ground. The calm marshland waters of her home had never caused her trouble either, but the entire idea of moving at the will and capability of big pieces of metal was just strange to her.

Tali blinked her eyes against the sudden sunlight. She used her hand shield her eyes from the sun, and as her eyes grew costume to the light, they opened wide at the scenery that unfolded beneath them. Seeing the world from above like that was just..

”It’s beautifull”

[yosticaltari]

Chanda grinned devilishly. “That is… if I don’t decide to have a card game with Mister Franco…” Chanda smirked. Oh how he liked to tease her about it. As he spoke he set a course for the brewery on the other side of the city. Chanda laughed at her comment. “Ohhh that would be a pity… Where on earth would I get a laugh from then?” He chuckled.

As they flew, Chanda smiled looking out into the distance. “It really is… Especially at night. I kind of miss this sight. I used to see it a lot, back when I was a- never mind…” Chanda trailed off, shaking his head. Their destination appeared through the gaps in the buildings. It was an older building than most of the others, besides the bar Chanda owned. Chanda slowed the ship a little as they hovered over the street. He was looking for a clear landing area. It was then he saw the loading platform behind the brewery and the surrounding stores. Chanda had usually gotten it delivered, due to not publically owning a vehicle. After activating the landing gears, the ship went down to land and touched down like a butterfly. Chanda powered down the engines, and then turned to her. “That wasn’t so bad, was it?”

[Dragonflower]

”Well, then you wouldn’t make your dinner appointment!” Tali answered, but didn’t pay much attention to what he said. Her eyes and attention were caught by the landscape beneath them. She had never imagine the city could be so beautiful as it was up there from the sky.

Tali smiled as Chanda stopped himself. Rumor had it that he had been either a pirate, or working for the government and in both cases that would have brought him above the sky. ”Was a? Come on, I’m gonna find out sooner or later” she grinned. He sure was a strange man. Walk her through the trunks of his life, sure, but just tell her plainly? Nooo that was too easy!

As they landed Tali could help but let out a slight sigh of relief. It really hadn’t been that bad, but she was still glad to be back on solid ground again! ”Could’ve been worse!” she admitted. Hell, at one point she had almost enjoyed it!

[yosticaltari]

“Oh where is the fun in telling you my secrets out loud? Where’s the mystery in that? Oh no, I couldn’t do that! No, no, no!” Chanda waved his hand and placed the pilot glasses into his shirt. He took one last look around, before giving a sigh. “Let’s get inside…” Chanda smiled.

Bouncing to his feet, Chanda walked out of the cockpit, and then opened the door. A sweet smell filtered into the ship, coming from the brewery, they were in the process of making something. Chanda took a deep breath and made a small noise of pleasure. “Now I remember why I shouldn’t drive before coming here…”

The middle aged Mister Draco was stood at the door, whipping his hands with a while cloth. He had anticipated their arrival, but hadn’t expected the ship, and was staring at it, like a child at Christmas. The two men greeted each other, almost like rather and son, with an awkward man-hug to follow. They exchanged a few quiet words. Mister Draco then turned and stomped into the brewery. Chanda then followed him inside, turning once to call in Tali. “Tali, I don’t believe your man is here right now… You’re safe.”

[Dragonflower]

Tali shook her head at Chanda once again as she got up and followed him out. When it came down to it, it would seem that he was nothing more than a big drama queen at least when it came to his past.
A grin appeared on Talis face ”I’m sure you can leave the ship here in Mr. Dracos care if you get too drunk”.
As Chanda went to greet Mr. Draco, Tali stayed a bit behind. Her legs were shaking ever so slightly, and she prayed they would stop before Chanda noticed. When he turned and called for her, she was stretching slightly, her legs almost felt normal again. ”Be right there” she called back with a smile. She waited a few seconds, and when she was sure her legs would obey her again, she quickly caught up with them and greeted Mr. Draco properly.

[yosticaltari]

Chanda waited for her by the door. He had indeed noticed her legs shaking, and as she got to him, Chanda grinned a bit. There was a lot of things Chanda could tease her about over legs, but he didn’t. Instead he just waited until she had greeted Mister Draco. Once the brewer had vanished into a backroom, Chanda looked at her, with a bit of concern. “Is everything okay Tali?” Chanda looked her a bit.

The brewery’s main room had many large vats along the back wall. There was a backroom in one corner, which served as Mister Draco’s business office, although Chanda and Draco often played cards in there. Currently there were boxes of fruit from far and wide stacked high in the corner. They were obviously about to use them in creating something. Brewery assistants were busy with their work, leading their boss to talk with Chanda. Mister Draco came waltzing into the room with a crate of bottles, ready for tasting. He sat the box on a table, and then headed to a cabinet. He took out a few glasses and set them down on the table. “This is our new batch… I’m sure you’ll enjoy it… I’ll have four barrels done by tomorrow morning, and I have a couple to give you today…” Mister Draco smiled, pouring out a glass for the two.

[Dragonflower]

Tali nodded ”I’m good” she answered truthfully. She was fine now anyway even if it had been quite another matter a minute earlier. Silently she prayed that Chanda would leave the ship at the brewery so they didn’t have to fly back. She doubted she would ever really get comfortable with flying.

When Mr. Dracon passed her one of the glasses, she took it with a polite nod, and threw it a bit around the glass, taking in the scent. It was a rich, fresh smell and Tali had no doubts that Mr. Draco had done it once again. But this wasn’t a pleasure visit, it was business. ”Hmm I don’t know” she took a slight sip and wrinkled her nose. It was good, very good indeed, but she couldn’t let it show. If they seemed too eager to buy it would be impossible to get a good price.