[D3 LE, Niall's Room] Galaxy Commando Saves the Evening

[Alysele Cortess]

Lay lay down on the couch, her gaze lacking focus. "You were alwys good to me Niall." It was rare for her to use his full name.

She extended her right hand, holding the back of his head, dragging him down, her lips searching for him hungrily, her blonde hair, usually in a braid, was now spread out in a mess.

[Niall Organa]

Niall paused for a moment, looking down at her. Even with her blonde hair all disarrayed, she looked lovely. Perhaps even especially because of the disarray. "Alysele." He echoed her, smiling. "I always will. I promise."

He let her drag him to her. And for a time, there were no more words. Instead, Niall did his best to keep the promise he'd just made.

/ftb

[Alysele Cortess]

/fade back in

Te movie was on a loop it seemed, as Ja'red Foekiller was just recruiting Catnip when Aly seemed to realize there is a world around them. She was snuggled in close to Ni, their combined body heat seemed to make the room a boiling cauldron.

She was happy... and confused, and a whole lot of things. Strangely, relieved as well.

She was silent, unsure of what to say.

[Niall Organa]

Niall lay there, breathing slowly in and out. Later, perhaps, he might begin to worry about the consequences of what they had just done, and what it might mean for each of them. But that time had not yet come. For the moment, he was truly happy. And, for the first time in as long as he could remember, he didn't feel the weight of his responsibilities.

His arm was around her, gently cuddling her to him. He could feel her, warm against him, as he was warm against her. With his chest bare, a star-shaped scar could be seen, a soft red in color, about half the size of a fist, near the center of his chest. It seemed likely that if whatever wound had caused it had penetrated deep, it certainly would have at least grazed his heart, perhaps worse.

He turned his head, looking at her, his grey eyes warm. "Well. As I recall, we kissed when we watched the first Galaxy Commander." He said with dry humor, smiling at her.

[Alysele Cortess]

"Yes. I remember now. Thank you for reminding me." She giggled as well, just plain happy. Her body had a few small scars, not prominent, but all of them obviously from previous cuts.

She leaned into him, her hair all over the place. "This... this was good. Thank you Ni."

[Niall Organa]

Softly, Niall kissed her forehead. His hand came up, stroking through her hair, trying to corral it somewhat. It was hopeless, of course, but he enjoyed the task nonetheless.

"Yes." He agreed, his voice soft. "It was good. I don't remember ever feeling this good before." He kissed her forehead again. "Thank you, Aly. For this, and for everything. For being here, and for being you."

[Alysele Cortess]

She let out a soft laugh. "Me neither. Not that I... this was my first." Flustered Aly is new Aly to everyone involved.

Instead, she leaned further into him, squashing her left shoulder. There was a small grunt involved.

"So... you know. I never knew if I will be able to live my life freely. Or just do my duty."

[Niall Organa]

Niall cleared his throat. "Ah, actually... mine too. There was never time. Or something." Niall's cheeks colored just a little at that as well.

He shifted a little, letting their bodies fit together more comfortably, keeping her from hurting her arm further.

"Yes?" Niall said, his voice gently encouraging. "If it helps, I've never known either. I may not be a Jedi, but being a noble has its chains, as you know. Serving the Republic adds a few more of them." He sighed, his chest rising and falling.

[Alysele Cortess]

"Are you sure? You are the kind of guy women and man hunt for." She raised a hand to caress his cheek. "Handsome, nice, pays for the bar tab..."

She welcomed the new change in position. "Mhm.... our lives are so alike, and yet so different." She sighed. "Sometimes I wonder if I would have been better off without the Force. Or... not being discovered. It happens, did you know that? Someone is Force Sensitive, spends their whole life with that knowledge, but never get picked up!"

[Niall Organa]

Niall chuckled softly. "Yes, I'm sure. That's the sort of thing I would remember." His eyes closed as her fingers brushed across his cheek.

At her words, Niall nodded, sighing softly. "That... sounds very similar to thoughts I've had before. How things might have been different if fate had been different, or if certain choices had been different." Niall's arm tightened around Aly just a little more, holding her almost protectively. "I suppose that we just experienced a small taste of that, just now."

He sighed again. "But can you imagine yourself without the Force? It seems like such a part of who you are."

[Alysele Cortess]

"Not only now. Remember how I was able to convince you and Arsele to do everything as I asked? Apparently I used the Force back then too." She let out a small laugh at the memory.

"You know... I remember. From an early age, I was taught that my house is the most important part of my life, and that my parents will tell me how to live. Ten came the Jedi, who taught me the Force is the most important part of my life, and that my masters will teach me how to live. And now... now, I feel like I am being used. When can I decide how to live my life?"

She turned to Niall and kissed him. "Well, I can decide how, right now."

[Niall Organa]

"Really?" Niall lifted his head for a moment, surprised. He laid it back down, his lips twisting, amused. "And here I just thought it was because you were charming." He grinned at her.

As she spoke, Niall hand gently stroked down her back, comfortingly. "It does sound as though you had rather few choices. I've always felt compelled, but it's largely been up to me. I could always refuse, like Arsele did." He sighed. "Although I don't know if it's in me to do so."

"Mmm." He murmured into the kiss as their lips met. He smiled at her after, his grey eyes warm. "I like the sound of that. What have you decided, then?"

[Alysele Cortess]

"Me too! When I was told, I didn't know to be happy or disappointed. You know... I'm a special girl now! Well, more special." Her expression was that of excitement... perhaps the first time she could be seen excited about the Force and any other association with it. Back then, it was just a marvel!

"It always seems I have to earn my choices... but I never do." She frowned. "And then, I am a knight now, no questions asked, and they let me out in the wind. You know what the masters told me about yesterday's fight, and how should I follow up?"

[Niall Organa]

Niall laughed softly, caught up in her excitement. "More special, yes." He agreed softly, kissing her forehead again.

"Do you not have a bit more freedom as a Knight?" Niall asked. "But, please, tell me what they said. I met a Master Lorne yesterday. He was..." His lips pursed thoughtfully as he searched for adjectives. "Imposing." He finally decided.

[Alysele Cortess]

"I wass told that it is my destiny to face him again, so I should go on and just... follow up the investigation." She let out a huff. "I'm happy to do that, but... I would appreciate some resources. Not 'destiny!'" She was almost yelling at that point.

"Lorne? He was the one who told me that. He's... a nice guy. I guess. But.. .destiny." It seemed Aly was hung up on that.

[Niall Organa]

"Hey hey, Aly, I'm right here." Niall said softly. His hand gently brushed her cheek, trying to calm her. Of course, the movie was still playing in the background; perhaps she was just talking over the explosions.

"Destiny?" Niall frowned thoughtfully. "I don't know that that means. What does destiny mean to you?"

"And even if they wouldn't help you, it doesn't mean you have to do it alone." Niall said, his voice growing softer still. "Like when you and the Lieutenant helped me with Ranye's killer. And even Shaisha." He reached out, taking her right hand. "You can always count on me, you know. And I'm not afraid to fight. See?" He guided her hand to the scar on his chest. His heart beat could be felt beneath, solid and steady.

[Alysele Cortess]

"The sith aave a strike force, and I get destiny?" She was positively huffing now.

Slowly, she amanged to calm down. Slowly. Deep breaths, and all. "I'm blind here, reliant on the sith, and they're all so.... aggravating."

She let out a deep sigh, looked into Niall's eyes and raised a hand. "Thank you, but... I don't want you hurt. If you were to get hurt or worse while helping me..." Her hand crled into a fist. "I would hunt down each and everyone responsible, and live my life in misery. I... want to know that you're safe. I need to know."

[Niall Organa]

Niall's lips twisted at that. "The benefit of a completely unified military, I suppose. But if you'd like support, I can assign you some. Or put the Lieutenant on it." He smiled. "But I'll leave that decision entirely up to you."

His grey eyes grew wide as Alysele spoke. Slowly, he reached up, taking her fist into his hand. He uncurled her fingers one by one, then softly kissed her palm. "I'll be safe. I promise. I don't want you to live your life in misery." His hand tightened on hers, worry flashing in his grey eyes. "You be safe too, okay? It seems like every time I see you a different one of your limbs is hurt. If anything happened to you because I couldn't help you..." He trailed off, gritting his teeth. After a moment, he pressed his lips to her hand once more.

[Alysele Cortess]

"I... I'll see. If the Order doesn't see it fit for me to have help, I'll sort it out." She let out a sour smile.

She slowly relaxed at his touch. Slowly. His closeness, his warmth helped. "Okay... okay. I'll be safe. I might be banged up,, but I'm still walking away." She smiled. "I'm good at this. Besides... wounded limb bingo is a fun game."

[Niall Organa]

Niall couldn't help but laugh, muffling it by burying his face in Aly's hair. After a few moments, he lifted his face again. "Fine, yes, there's a cheerful game to play. Which of your limbs will be wounded when I see you next. Do I get a prize if I guess right? I'm very curious to know." His expression grew a bit playful at that.

But only for a moment. His grey eyes met hers, intense and serious. "In which case, my guess is none of them. Because you are good at this. I have every confidence in you, Aly." He paused a moment to kiss her again.

When their lips parted, his expression was playful again. "Still. Come by tomorrow night, let me make sure?"

[Alysele Cortess]

Niall couldn't help but laugh, muffling it by burying his face in Aly's hair. After a few moments, he lifted his face again. "Fine, yes, there's a cheerful game to play. Which of your limbs will be wounded when I see you next. Do I get a prize if I guess right? I'm very curious to know." His expression grew a bit playful at that.

But only for a moment. His grey eyes met hers, intense and serious. "In which case, my guess is none of them. Because you are good at this. I have every confidence in you, Aly." He paused a moment to kiss her again.

When their lips parted, his expression was playful again. "Still. Come by tomorrow night, let me make sure?"

"Why yes, you do get a prize. You get to nurse me back to health. How does that sound?" She let out her own laugh, and started tickling him with her right hand.

"I'll see if I can. I need to get some things done, but hopefully I can come over. No promises though!"

[Niall Organa]

Niall smiled warmly. "That sounds... argh!" He broke off, laughing helplessly as she tickled him. It took him a few moments to bring his limb advantage to bear, securing her hand with both of his. "It's no fair. You still remember all of my weakness." His eyes glinted at her. "Don't forget, though, I still remember all of yours."

He nodded easy acceptance of her words. "Okay. If you can't make it, just send me a message." His lips twisted wryly. "And I quite understand. Duty doesn't stop just because we've... discovered 'us'." Whatever that meant.

He went on. "On the other hand, I've been giving my all to duty for as long as I can remember. And so have you, clearly." His arm slid around her once more, gently pulling her against him. "I think we're allowed a little something to ourselves."

[Alysele Cortess]

Niall smiled warmly. "That sounds... argh!" He broke off, laughing helplessly as she tickled him. It took him a few moments to bring his limb advantage to bear, securing her hand with both of his. "It's no fair. You still remember all of my weakness." His eyes glinted at her. "Don't forget, though, I still remember all of yours."

He nodded easy acceptance of her words. "Okay. If you can't make it, just send me a message." His lips twisted wryly. "And I quite understand. Duty doesn't stop just because we've... discovered 'us'." Whatever that meant.

He went on. "On the other hand, I've been giving my all to duty for as long as I can remember. And so have you, clearly." His arm slid around her once more, gently pulling her against him. "I think we're allowed a little something to ourselves."

"Uh oh." Was her response as she smiled. "Us... yeah. Whatever, us is." Or if there is an us. "Oh? We're allowed, you think?" She gave him a small peck.

"Mhm... probably. It never feels like that though. There's always... something. Always." She sighed. Still... this is good."

[Niall Organa]

"I think there's always been an us." Niall answers Aly's unspoken question, just as they sometiems had when they were younger. "And there always will be. It's just a matter of finding out what that means.

He grinned at her, the touch of her lips still thrilling him. "And of course we're allowed. And we're both good at making things happen. Especially good things."

"Noooooooooooooo..." Jo'ren Foekiller threw his head back and yelled.

Niall glanced back over his shoulder at the holovid, chuckling. "We've almost made it through a second time." He looked back to Aly, his grey eyes bright in the dim light. "Why don't we go to bed? And as long as we're trying things a second time..." His tone grew playful at the end. He sat up, offering her a hand.

[Alysele Cortess]

"Making things happen?" She poked at his chest. "Like this thing." She sighed. "You're right. Like often. You would be so annoying if you were less handsome." She gave him another peck.

She glanced at the movie. "Poor Wookie...."

She smirked and giggled. "Well... I am feeling a bit tired. Perhaps we can retire...."