Nar Shaddaa

Zeno is working in his kitchen, preparing a meal for his two guests. His fiery haired paramours. He peaked at the datapad once in a while to make sure he was still good with the directions. A bottle of wine was open and chilling on the table, and a half full glass at hand for himself. As he worked some classic rock played.

Asra is the first to arrive, knocking at the door and waiting for his say so before entering with a smile, sniffing the air a little as she does. "Afternoon... it smells wonderful in here."

When she is let in she can see three places set. "Thanks."

He comes from the kitchen for a moment to greet her, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her into a kiss. "You look beautiful, as always Asra."

He then releases her so he can move back to his work. "Pour yourself a drink."

For once, she's actually wearing her hair down out of her standard braid for the dinner, falling in coppery-crimson waves down to her hips. She returns the kiss before heading over to find the wine chilling, pouring herself a glass. "You're looking rather handsome yourself. I hope your day has gone well until now."

"It's been okay. Much better now." He smiles at her for a moment before focusing back on his work. "Your hair looks nice like that."

With the wine poured, she sidles in curiously to see what he has in mind. "Thank you. I've been told I should wear it like this more often, but it's not really feasible in the military. Soon, though."

"I have certain opinions about how I'd like to see you dressed all the time that are not really feasible," he teases.

He seems to be finishing up some sort of reduction or sauce on the stove top. There is a savory scent coming from the oven. Some kind of seasoned meat. There is also a mixed vegetable dish in a pot. After a bit he takes the sauce from the pan he was prepping with and puts it into a bowl with a lid.

"Now we just have to wait for the stuffed chops," he says as he moves to her with his glass. He takes her hand in his and leads her to the table sitting down and pulling her into his lap.

She leans over once she's in his lap and, after taking a sip of the win, sets her glass down and runs a hand over his cheek and then under his jaw, lifting his chin to kiss him softly. "There's things to recommend waiting," she stated with a grin at him, her small body perched lightly on his lap. "I'm sure we can find time those forms of dress." She felt a little more confident down.

He smiles at her, one hand running through her hair slowly, while the other draws lines on her leg. "How has your day been?"

"Pretty quiet so far, which isn't too bad, though it is making me a bit stir crazy," she replies with a smile, half closing her eyes with his fingers running through her hair. It was so rare that it was down and could be played with.

"I know what you mean, though not today. So much going on for me today with the acklay hunt and meeting with my father," he says, his hand continuing to play with her hair.

"An acklay? How did both of those go?" She asked curiously. She turns toward him, shifting so she's straddling his lap, fulling facing him, her hands finding his hair and running through it. "You mentioned 'okay', but that is a bit vague."

"It went. It was a favor for someone else, but just as much just for the thrill. And my father has a mission for me to perform for the house. I'll let you know if I could use a hand if your up for it," he says.

She nods, running her fingers through his hair again. "Whenever you need."

"Thanks, Asra," he says smiling at her, as the datapad starts beeping in the background. "Sounds like the chops are ready."

He pulls her tight against him and kisses her before standing up so she doesn't just fall off, then sets her down. He gives her hiney a playful spank before moving to the kitchen again, and pulling the chops out to make sure they're done. "I'm sure we can start without Shai for now and she can join us if she shows up."

To that he starts bringing the different parts of the meal over and and plating them.

She slips from his lap and a smile, taking up one of the places at the table. "That's fine. Things happen. Hopefully she'll be here."

After all the prep, he covers Shaisha's place to keep it warm for a while, before taking a spot and smiling at Asra. He drinks from his wine glass. "I hope you enjoy it."

"I'm sure it will be," she assures. She cut into the food, taking a few bites. She closes her eyes to focus fully on the flavors and textures, smiling as she does. Once she's finished with the first couple of bites, she gives her assessment: "Delicious."

He similarly starts on his own food, stopping only to thank her for the compliment. "I am glad you like it."

Despite her enjoyment of the flavors, she was a military person, used to eating quickly in tough situations. It doesn't take her long to get through it... also the fact that she didn't tend to eat much helped. She doesn't rush the wine, at least, savoring it. "Definitely," she finally says. "Sylvain wants me to come back and serve him after the tour is up, too. At least it's nice to feel wanted, I suppose. Even if it feels strange."

He nods at that. "Not a bad thing. He's a good guy," Zeno says with a smile. "But he wants you to serve him. I'm looking for someone to work with, not for me. I'd prefer that we help each other achieve goals we both want. If you're content with that I'd wish you all the best, but I'd love to see you chase your own aims and would be glad to be by your side as much as I'd want you to be by mine."

"That was the unappealing part for me," she agreed, shaking her head. "I can appreciate his goals, but... I've served nearly to the breaking point twice now. It would be nice to not feel like I'm just trading sets of chains again."

"That's what I want for you. To see you grow without chains. To see what you can become, not just be what you are," he says with a nod, before finishing off his own plate. He refills the glasses.

"For now, I'm just an insatiable sniper. But in the moment, I think that should be acceptable," she said with a smirk. She was still rather wound up, and being around Zeno period tended to wind her up more.

"I want to see that from you, too. I know what you mentioned for your own development... I'm curious what you want for the world around you."

"I want to see people succeed with their own merits. I want to see others rise from their lot in life and stop being herd animals that kowtow to greater powers. To live their lives by their own merits. Just as I am trying to do. To improve myself. To see the Republic stop coddling it's people and let them rise to the occasion. Take and earn their way of life rather than have it handed to them on the backbreaking work of others. Those that earn their way deserve respect and those that simply ween off of others contribute nothing."