Nar Shaddaa

A lot of song seemed to be coming to Asra's mind lately. Mostly ones she'd heard from her parents when she was young and whatnot. She hummed one of those tunes to herself as she walked along, scanning for a decent place for food. Her hands were in her pockets and she was really more lost in thought than making a real effort to find a spot at the moment.

Zeno was making his way from the spaceport with similar thoughts. He was hungry, but in high spirits. When he notices Asra cross his path he approaches the woman and offers a greeting. "Good afternoon, beautiful. How are things?"

"... hmm-hmm-hmm-mm-mm... you've got to walk it by yourself..." She turns and smiles toward him brightly, the soft almost murmur of a song stopping abruptly so she could greet him. "Hey there. They're going. Not much work for me at the moment, so just looking for lunch. You?"

"Same," he says, before leaning over to kiss her, not really caring about being in public. "Let's go get something to eat then."

She leans up to meet his lips, her hand finding its way to the back of his neck. She lowers herself back fully onto her feet after a moment. Now wasn't time for being worried. "Sounds like a plan. Any suggestions on that front?"

"I like the random option. Try something new. Make an adventure out of it." He chuckles at that. "If you're not having an adventure then you're wasting your time no?"

"A whole lot of people not having adventures is part of what keeps things running, no?" She chuckles, putting her hands in her pockets. "But when you get down to it, I definitely agree."

Smelling something that seems appetizing he, turns his head to look to a restaurant. He points it out and changes direction to enter the place.

"That's why I'd love to have you by my side Asra. You're opening up to adventure and excitement. We could have many together, all across the galaxy," he says with a smile. "Peace or not, there is plenty we could do and accomplish together."

She follows along with him, smiling back. She nods thoughtfully as she listens. "Who doesn't want adventure and excitement in their lives to some degree or another? You're certainly make an appealing case for it," she admits, looking like she's still a little surprised. "You seem really intent about this."

"And why should I not be? You are strong, capable and beautiful. You're wouldn't just be an asset like you are to the military. You'd be an ally and a friend," he says. "And adventures are more fun with friends."

Apparently the type of place where you seat yourself, he guides Asra to a booth and lets her slide in before sitting down next to her rather than across from her.

"I think we have many more things we can do together. Both for the Empire and each other. Both business and pleasure."

She leans against the wall the booth ends on so she could look toward him more fully. He sure knew how to get under her skin. "That does sound... really appealing. I admit, I'm tired of being treated like a simple tool. Or an unfortunately necessary attachment to my weapon," she admits. "There would always be a bit of an uneven power dynamic hanging over it, it's worth noting." Such things were often on the mind of those on the lower end of the scale.

When there server comes around he orders the special.

"The person is the weapon. A blaster, a lightsaber, a knife... none has intent or conscience or choice. My Deathwrights are not their ships. And I'm more concerned for the person in the cockpit than I am for the cockpit."

"You would not be a rifle to me. You would be Asra. And as for the dynamic... the system is what it is. It does not mean that I need to observe it. Unlike most Sith, most of my best friends are pilots and mechanics, astrogation engineers and commanders. And if other Sith have a problem with that, fuck 'em."

She let out a laugh at that. "Fair enough. You're your own person, who can choose to act as he sees fit," she acknowledges with a nod. That's just it, though. You'd be Asra. You'd never hear your own name again if you lied, and you'd probably be discovered, and if he knew you were Luth, he'd hate you.

Well, it didn't mean she couldn't enjoy her time right now. "Same as me, I suppose. I'll probably step away from official duty once this tour's up, if possible."

While they wait, he takes her hand, softly caressing the back of it with a thumb. "Whatever you need Asra. I won't force you, your life is your own. But I believe you'd find your time with me to be both exciting and rewarding. And you'd be appreciated for being yourself rather than being a soldier. You don't need to make a decision right away."

She looks down to their hands and rearranged hers a little to slide her fingers between his, nod. "Thank you. I'll need some, anyway. I need to think about what I want for my own life, rather than just following a path laid before me. I'm curious what that is for you - What do you really want, Zeno?" She raises the joined hands, kissing the knuckles lightly, teeth tracing lightly and deliberately over the skin before lowering them back to the table.

"I want to challenge myself, learn and grow. And to spend time with people I enjoy being around. Life is not a solo endeavor. Serving the Empire gives me many opportunities to do so. The last time the Jedi assaulted the empire, my ancestors laid down their lives to defend those escaping. Others joined those escaping to defend them on their long journey. It would be shameful not to do what I can. But their sacrifices were made all the more potent by our house's long time devotion to becoming the best. I will become the best version of myself and risk my life for my family and empire just like all those that came before me. And that means finding and facing challenges so that I am ready."

"It shouldn't be a solo endeavor, anyway," she adds. "We aren't built for a lonely existence. You've mentioned your house before, but I don't know many details. You're definitely devoted to them."

"I am. The Deathwrights have been serving the empire for 1000 years. And we hold two things above everything else. Skill and loyalty. Not sure how many non-sith there are in the empire that have a Sith willing to fight for them, on their behalf, personally. But since my graduation and subsequent promtion, every Deathwright has had a Lord willing to," he says witha smile.

"I know many of them would likely never ask, because it's better for the family if I am able to grow my power and use it to aid them. But it doesn't change my heart. I would fight for any of them and they would fight for me. Albeit, on personal level... we still have our chain of command." He seems very enthusiastic when talking about them.

"Next year is the combat flight tournament we host near our space station. It's mostly Deathwrights participating, but there are invitations to others that we feel have potential they haven't quite lived up to. One of the ways we add new blood and skill to the house and determine who is suited for leadership and training roles."

She smiled as she listened to him talk enthusiastically, then looked curious. "You bring in new blood that way?"

"Many ways. We invote those pilots that prove their skill in space combat. Those that have talent, but are unproven can get into the tournament with an invitation. There's a limited number of those though and the tournament is held every three years. Those who have fought beside a Deathwright in space combat can also be recommended. Some come in through marriage. Many of our number choose to marry to skilled pilots in their own right with the hope of having gifted children. Leadership of the family isn't by blood. It's by merit. My mother was literally the most capable in the family when it came time to choose who would follow her predecessor. But blood does not account for drive and ambition when it comes to self improvement. That's why you may see aliens bearing the Deathwright patch. If a person can fly well and devote themself to the family then they are worth our effort and loyalty."

She nods slowly. Well, she wasn't a pilot so that was pretty much out. "I do like that approach. It's unfortunate to see skilled people ignored for reasons wholly unrelated to whether they can do their job properly."

Zeno smiles, and reaches to grab a salt shaker from the table and starts fiddling with it. "It breeds strength. And is more in keeping with the ideals of the Sith code," he agrees with a nod.

With the shaker sealed off so it wouldn't spill, Zeno tossed it at Asra without warning, curious as to how quickly she'd respond. Someone with good trigger discipline and reflexes shouldn't have any problem with it.

"I can-" She plucks it out of the air without her eyes following it directly, as if it had just been hanging in the air still, waiting for her hand. She did look surprised. "I'm guessing there's a reason you're suddenly trying to give me a concussion..." She looked ready to react again.

"You have the natural reflexes. You could train to fly if you wanted to," he says with a smirk, before leaning over and kissing her.

"One has to, to do what I do- mm..." She's cut off by the kiss, closing her eyes and return it. They had to part soon, though, as the food arrived. "I could. I've done a little flying, but not much. I know enough to start getting deeper into it."