Johnathan Castle [Retired]
The Organization
Machines got ta talkin'. I got ta listenin'. Ever since then, I've been fixin'.
Posts: 157
Affiliation: Draykon Crew Mechanic/Bartender Extraordinaire/Organization Mechanic
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Post by Johnathan Castle [Retired] on Oct 7, 2016 20:04:58 GMT -8
Castle listened to her as he filled his face with whatever it was he could fit in his mouth. It all tasted so good. The bread was fresh and fluffy. The meat spiced just right and succulent. And the crackers were salted just right. At this moment, he could have quite literally died and he would have been completely okay with it. Trying hard to still be respectful, but consume as much as he could, he listened intently over the sound of his own chewing. Once he was finally able to swallow what he had shoved in his mouth, he spoke.
"You've never had Wasaka Berry Pie? Seriously?"
He merely stared at her for a few moments, unable to speak. He finally found his voice, trying to find the best way to describe what Wasaka Berry pie tasted like.
"Okay, picture your most favorite thing ever, add the most intense, pleasant sensation you've ever experienced and multiple that by like ten. It is quite literally that good."
Castle shot her a grin, took a few more bites of meat, then answered her question.
"We should go for a walk, let the food settle. Then we can go back inside..."
This time, it was Castle's turn to shot Rianon a sly grin. She had done it to him before, it was only fair he did it back.
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Rianon Kardama
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Affiliation: 'Serenity' Crew Medic
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Post by Rianon Kardama on Oct 7, 2016 20:15:34 GMT -8
Rianon smiled back at Johnathan. He obviously had the same thing on his mind as she did.
"That sounds good to me. The food isn't going to disappear, you know. You can slow down. I don't want you getting sick. It would ruin all the fun."
She reached for another piece of cloud bread and had some soft cheese with it. Seeing Johnathan enjoying the food so much made her happy. At least she knew that there was one thing about this trip that he liked. Hopefully seeing the gardens would bring him some joy as well.
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Johnathan Castle [Retired]
The Organization
Machines got ta talkin'. I got ta listenin'. Ever since then, I've been fixin'.
Posts: 157
Affiliation: Draykon Crew Mechanic/Bartender Extraordinaire/Organization Mechanic
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Johnathan Castle [Retired] on Oct 7, 2016 20:29:26 GMT -8
At Rianon's comment, Castle slowed his pace a bit. He knew the food wasn't going to disappear. And she did have a good point. But having real food laid out before him was wonderful. He hadn't eaten this well in a long time. Regardless, he was looking forward to walking around the gardens. It had been quite some time since he had actually taken time to enjoy nature. Maybe sometime during their time away from the ship, they could go visit the Coronet City Zoo. He had always wanted to go there. But living on Agamar and not being able to travel had made that incredibly difficult. So, as he finished the his next bite of food, he popped the suggestion to Rianon.
"So, I was wondering something? Maybe while we are on leave from the ship we could go to the Coronet City Zoo? I've always wanted to see a Nexu up close...never really had much of an opportunity to do so growing up...if that is something you'd be interested in doing, of course."
He watched her, trying to gauge her reaction. He wasn't exactly sure if that was something that would interest her or not. Despite having shared some deep secrets with each other and having lived together for the last year or so, he still didn't know what her true interests were.
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Rianon Kardama
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Posts: 94
Affiliation: 'Serenity' Crew Medic
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Post by Rianon Kardama on Oct 8, 2016 9:07:11 GMT -8
Rianon laughed when Johnathan mentioned the Coronet City Zoo.
"I haven't been there since I was little. I always wanted to take the animals home with me. My father wanted to buy me a Wolf-cat, but my mother threw a fit. They've always fascinated me. I used to spend so much time there that the zookeepers all knew who I was. I think going to the zoo would be a good day trip. Maybe tomorrow after Kenan leaves. It would be nice to have something fun to do after dealing with him."
She liked his idea a lot. The Coronet City Zoo had been one of her favourite places to go as a child. So many happy memories happened there. It was one of the places that her mother would join Rianon and her father.
"My father would take me there almost every week. And once a month my mother would join us. I'd love to go again."
She smiled at Johnathan and ate some more fruit. He was surprising her. She hadn't thought that a zoo would be of interest to him. But now that she knew that he grew up around animals, it made more sense. Showing him the gardens and going to the zoo. Her two favourite childhood pastimes. Johnathan was proving to be an excellent companion. Even more than she had imagined.
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Johnathan Castle [Retired]
The Organization
Machines got ta talkin'. I got ta listenin'. Ever since then, I've been fixin'.
Posts: 157
Affiliation: Draykon Crew Mechanic/Bartender Extraordinaire/Organization Mechanic
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Johnathan Castle [Retired] on Oct 8, 2016 9:40:07 GMT -8
Castle finished eating his twelfth slice of meat and bread before he allowed himself to lean back in the chair and relax. Now he was content. He wasn't sure why Rianon laughed when he mentioned the Zoo, but she seemed to like the idea, so that was a good sign. He was sort of envious of the fact that she used to frequent the Zoo so often, but living and growing up on Corellia did give one the option to do that. A name came up as she spoke and that caught his interest. Kenan. He had no idea who this person was, but now he was curious. Taking another slice of meat and chewing it thoughtfully, he asked her.
"You mentioned someone named Kenan? Who is that and why do you have to deal with him?"
Something about the way she had said his name had hinted at the fact that she had some kind of issue with this guy. Normally Castle was the type to stay out of personal affairs, but if this Kenan was to interrupt their leave from the ship, he was going to involve himself, with or without Rianon's permission. It wasn't anything to do with the fact that she couldn't handle herself. Castle was fairly certain that if push came to shove, she could throw down the the best of them. No. If Castle involved himself, it was because his time being spent with Rianon was being interrupted, and it was causing her to be unhappy. He would stay out of it until she seemed to be unhappy, then, if the siutation called for it, he'd step in.
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Rianon Kardama
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Posts: 94
Affiliation: 'Serenity' Crew Medic
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Post by Rianon Kardama on Oct 8, 2016 9:59:57 GMT -8
Rianon frowned when Johnathan mentioned Kenan. It wasn't a subject she wanted to talk about, but she had brought it up.
"He's my brother-in-law. Malak's younger brother. He's an entitled little pissant who just wants his family's mansion so women will like him. We never got on."
She shook her head and reached for another piece of cheese.
"He's actually why I chose to come home now. He's been bombarding me with messages ever since the funeral. Even though he knows that I wasn't able to sign over the house for five years after the death of the house's Lord. It's an old law that rarely comes up. Usually the widow stays in the house. But it was a cold place. And Kenan has been living there since the funeral. It just isn't legally his yet."
Rianon nibbled on the cheese, trying to calm herself down. She didn't want to be angry. She laughed a little as the next though crossed her mind.
"He's been threatening to 'take it by force.' Which I don't understand. It's a house that he lives in. And the documents can't be signed under duress. He's not very smart."
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Johnathan Castle [Retired]
The Organization
Machines got ta talkin'. I got ta listenin'. Ever since then, I've been fixin'.
Posts: 157
Affiliation: Draykon Crew Mechanic/Bartender Extraordinaire/Organization Mechanic
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Johnathan Castle [Retired] on Oct 8, 2016 10:36:47 GMT -8
Castle studied Rianon as she spoke of her brother-in-law. It was very evident that she did not care for him. At all. Castle chuckled.
"Yeah, there were a few of those back home. They all seem like the got a large stick up their pigu. More annoying than anything else. I wouldn't worry too much about it. He seems like he's just a bag full of hot air..."
Castle slid his plate further onto the table, indicating he was currently done filling his face. He would wait for Rianon to finsh, however. He didn't want to be rude, or make her feel like she needed to rush.
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Rianon Kardama
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Posts: 94
Affiliation: 'Serenity' Crew Medic
Traffic Light: Orange
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Post by Rianon Kardama on Oct 8, 2016 10:48:01 GMT -8
Seeing that Johnathan was done Rianon stood. She had been idly picking for the last couple minutes.
"he's a fairly big man. And has the temperament of a three-year-old. He'll throw a fit if he doesn't get his way. He can be violent. But I'm ready for him this time. No one is going to make me feel small and insignificant ever again."
Her eyes flashed at her last comment. It hadn't been until her parents died that Rianon really discovered her abilities. They came in handy with unruly patients. Being able to hold them down with out touching them was a useful skill.
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Johnathan Castle [Retired]
The Organization
Machines got ta talkin'. I got ta listenin'. Ever since then, I've been fixin'.
Posts: 157
Affiliation: Draykon Crew Mechanic/Bartender Extraordinaire/Organization Mechanic
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Johnathan Castle [Retired] on Oct 8, 2016 11:23:05 GMT -8
Castle noticed Rianon's eyes flash at her last comment, but didn't think much of it. He stood and stretched, feeling everything pop and crack.
"No need to worry about him. He won't try nothing while I'm here. If there was ever anything the old man could teach me, it was respect. Especially when it came to striking a woman. I've never done it unless I am in danger. But usually there is no need for it. Course, assassins and mercenaries don't really fall into that category...
Castle turned and looked out over the lavish gardens. He breathed in deeply, still enjoying the fresh outdoor air. He took any chance he could to enjoy it. Being cooped up on a ship most of the time, made getting an actual breath of fresh air a rare treat. And out here, Corellia's air quality was perfect. No smog or smoke. Just fresh, clean air.
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Rianon Kardama
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Affiliation: 'Serenity' Crew Medic
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Post by Rianon Kardama on Oct 8, 2016 11:52:54 GMT -8
Rianon looked out over the gardens. It had been over a year since she had seen them. Everything was in bloom, wafting their sweet scents on the breeze.
"It's early yet, so the gardeners will still be around. They'll disappear as we get close though. Unless you have questions about the plants. Then they'll randomly pop out to answer your question. They used to scare me with it as a kid."
She laughed airily and moved toward the path.
"This path leads through the centre of the gardens. It ends at the maze. In the centre of the maze is the mausoleum for my parents. It was my mother's favourite place in the garden. I'll stop there on my own later to pay me respects. But i want to show you my father's tree. I think you'll like it."
She offered him her hand and waited at the path's edge. She smiled happily around herself and took a deep breath.
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Johnathan Castle [Retired]
The Organization
Machines got ta talkin'. I got ta listenin'. Ever since then, I've been fixin'.
Posts: 157
Affiliation: Draykon Crew Mechanic/Bartender Extraordinaire/Organization Mechanic
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Johnathan Castle [Retired] on Oct 8, 2016 12:10:49 GMT -8
Castle stepped forward and accepted Rianon's outstretched hand. He was going to enjoy this.
"I love being outside. So, since you are my guide, lead on."
Castle threw her a lopsided grin and allowed her to lead him down the path. The gardens were incredibly beautiful. But what made it even better was the fact that he was spending his time wandering with Rianon. She seemed to really enjoy showing him everything to do with her childhood. And he enjoyed learning and watching her face light up when she began sharing something she had obviously enjoyed a lot as a kid.
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Rianon Kardama
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Posts: 94
Affiliation: 'Serenity' Crew Medic
Traffic Light: Orange
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Post by Rianon Kardama on Oct 8, 2016 13:34:21 GMT -8
Rianon pulled Johnathan forward into the gardens.
"The stables are down the path to the left and to the right is where Mr. and Mrs. Baird live. Mr. Baird is the head gardener and he was a good friend of my father's. He build them a house when they got married so that they could have some privacy. Their son, Tomas, is only a couple years older than I am. He's a butter in training and does pretty much everything. You'll probably meet him later. I think the two of you will get along. This way."
She pulled him down a path to the left. They passed under an arch and into the rose garden. Roses of every colour grew up and around the trees and marble arches. A fountain dominated the centre of the space. Carved marble roses ringed its edge. Rianon plucked a white rose from a nearby bush and sat on the edge of the fountain. She broke off the stem and floated the rose in the fountain's lowest pool.
"There's something I want to show you. But I'm not sure how you'll handle it. I've told you so much of my life already, but this might be a little harder to take in."
She wanted to show him what she could do. Not to scare him, but so he would understand. She swished her hand in the water and waited for him to answer her.
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Johnathan Castle [Retired]
The Organization
Machines got ta talkin'. I got ta listenin'. Ever since then, I've been fixin'.
Posts: 157
Affiliation: Draykon Crew Mechanic/Bartender Extraordinaire/Organization Mechanic
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Johnathan Castle [Retired] on Oct 8, 2016 13:55:08 GMT -8
Castle let her beautiful voice just wash over him. He listened as she spoke, and followed the gently tugging of her hand if he happened to slow down at all. As she released his hand and moved to the fountain, he watched her with a more serious face.
"I'm pretty sure you can show me or tell me anything at this point. We've pretty much told each other our entire life stories. I feel confident and comfortable enough with you that I can take whatever it is you need to show me."
Castle leaned up against a tree and continued to watch Rianon as she played in the water of the fountain.
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Rianon Kardama
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Posts: 94
Affiliation: 'Serenity' Crew Medic
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Post by Rianon Kardama on Oct 8, 2016 14:12:18 GMT -8
Rianon smiled at Johnathan as he leaned against a tree.
"Don't cut yourself on a thorn. I don't want have to heal you while we're on vacation. Watch the rose."
She took a deep breath and focused on the rose. It floated gently out of the fountain and over to where Johnathan stood. It hovered a foot away from him at eye level. She watched him carefully.
"I don't used my Force abilities often. It tends to scare people. But it comes in handy with unruly patients. I didn't find out that I had these abilities until after my parents died. And I didn't know the extent of them until the slave ship."
She eyed him warily and didn't move. She didn't want to appear threatening in any way.
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Johnathan Castle [Retired]
The Organization
Machines got ta talkin'. I got ta listenin'. Ever since then, I've been fixin'.
Posts: 157
Affiliation: Draykon Crew Mechanic/Bartender Extraordinaire/Organization Mechanic
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Johnathan Castle [Retired] on Oct 8, 2016 14:20:05 GMT -8
Castle chuckled at her remark about patching him up while they were on vacation. He had no intentions of hurting himself. He began to watch the rose, as she had said. And as it floated out of the fountain, his grin faded. He stiffened up as it floated closer to where he stood.
Force abilities!?! She was using the Force!
He continued to eye up the rose, but spoke, his voice unsteady at first, but he regained his usual cadence as he spoke.
"I..uh...well this is completely out of left field...didn't see that one coming..."
He had no idea how to proceed from here. First he pours his heart and soul out to this woman and now she reveals she's got the mystical powers to move stuff with her mind. He was at a loss for words. He had never encountered a Force User before. Sure he had heard of Jedi and Sith and the multiple offshoots of their religions, but he had never encountered one. He didn't believe they actually existed, to be honest. Just myth and legend...this was big. This was starting to freak him out as well...
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Rianon Kardama
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Posts: 94
Affiliation: 'Serenity' Crew Medic
Traffic Light: Orange
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Post by Rianon Kardama on Oct 8, 2016 14:31:32 GMT -8
She let the rose drop to the ground. She could tell that he was seriously unnerved by what just happened.
"I'm sorry. I just didn't want to be hiding something. The Captain knows some of what I can do, but you know that he'd never say anything unless I told him he could. It just didn't seem like anyone's business. I don't want to scare you. I'm sorry for this. But it's part of who I am. It's all of me or none of me. I wanted you to know who I was before you got too attached. If this is too much for you, feel free to leave. I can have a ship take you back to Serenity.
She stood but stayed where she was. She didn't want to press her luck.
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Johnathan Castle [Retired]
The Organization
Machines got ta talkin'. I got ta listenin'. Ever since then, I've been fixin'.
Posts: 157
Affiliation: Draykon Crew Mechanic/Bartender Extraordinaire/Organization Mechanic
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Johnathan Castle [Retired] on Oct 8, 2016 14:55:05 GMT -8
As the rose dropped, he instinctively reached out and caught it. He was spooked. But she made a good point. There were no grey areas. It was either all or nothing. And he know Nathan well enough to know he wouldn't say anything, unless she was a threat to the crew. Clearly she wasn't. And he wanted to be with her. Swallowing hard and pushing past his fears, he took a tentative step forward. When she remained rooted near the fountain, he found his footing and slowly walked over to her.
"You and I both know it's gone beyond getting too attached..."
As he approached her, he lifted his left hand and tucked her hair behind her ear. With his right, he brought the rose up and managed to get it to sit in her hair, just above her ear. And then he slid his right hand to the back of her head, his left reached for her face and he pulled her in close, holding her tightly as he planted a kiss on her lips...
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Rianon Kardama
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Posts: 94
Affiliation: 'Serenity' Crew Medic
Traffic Light: Orange
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Post by Rianon Kardama on Oct 8, 2016 15:19:24 GMT -8
As Johnathan walked closer Rianon's heart sped up. She wasn't prepared for what happened next, however. She melted into the kiss. She grabbed his shirt and pulled him closer. After what seemed like hours she pulled back and put her right hand on the side of his face. She kissed him again then stepped back slightly while still staying in his arms.
"That wasn't the reaction I was expecting. But I like it."
She smiled up at him, wanting to savour the moment as long as possible.
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Johnathan Castle [Retired]
The Organization
Machines got ta talkin'. I got ta listenin'. Ever since then, I've been fixin'.
Posts: 157
Affiliation: Draykon Crew Mechanic/Bartender Extraordinaire/Organization Mechanic
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Johnathan Castle [Retired] on Oct 8, 2016 15:23:55 GMT -8
He hadn't expected her to react in such a manner. But if she had wanted him as badly as he wanted her, then this was certainly long overdue. He kept his arms wrapped around her, holding her slender frame against his. At that very moment, he was perfectly content with life. Everything was right. Nothing was going to ruin that moment. He heard her speak and smiled, but refused to say anything. Instead he just enjoyed the moment, savoring it for as long as he could. Eventually they would have to leave this exact spot, but for now he was truly feeling bliss. It was one of those rare moments in life where one could actually admit it. And right now, he could.
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Rianon Kardama
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Posts: 94
Affiliation: 'Serenity' Crew Medic
Traffic Light: Orange
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Post by Rianon Kardama on Oct 8, 2016 15:40:58 GMT -8
She put her arms around his neck. She ran one hand through his hair and pulled him down for another kiss. The sound of footsteps and someone clearing their throat broke them apart. Rianon frowned and turned to face their intruder.
"What is it, Andrew?"
"My apologies, Milady. Mr. Crowley is here. And he looks mad. I told him your appointment was tomorrow, but he insisted on seeing you."
"He probably has someone to impress. We'll be in shortly."
She turned back to Johnathan.
"Of course Kenan would ruin our perfect moment. Let's go deal with him so we can get back to more enjoyable things."
She winked at him and offered her hand.
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