Pesktda

"Such are the times we live in, unfortunately. I can guarantee that you'll be safe for the rest of today. After all, you've got a big, bad Imperial Knight protecting you..."

While the last part of this would seem extremely self-centered, Lucien had a feeling Jenia would understand the obvious sarcasm but would feel safer at his reassurance nonetheless. Holding the door open for the admiral, the two of them stepped out of the small customs office together, the evening now in full swing. The previously yellowish shades of the sun had given way to a beautiful gold color that illuminated the stone edifices of the city, almost like a scene out of a dream. The two of them set off at a medium pace down the alley that the customs office opened onto. While at some points, this road would be extremely busy, at this point in time, the road was thankfully devoid of any large glut of traffic, making the journey that much easier. The unique architecture of the planet was said to be certain to impress, and it did not disappoint today. However, Lucien found it difficult to focus on anything else but Jenia herself. She was pretty, sure, but there was something else to it. An illusiveness of some kind. Perhaps it was because her life was so orderly, and his anything but. After all, it was said opposites attract. Putting that aside, for now, the two of them began making their way down the boulevard. After a few moments of awkwardly staring at each other, silently admiring the details of the other's face in the better light, Lucien decided he would try and break the awkwardness that had seemingly engulfed their entire conversation.

"You mentioned earlier you are from Prakith; how is it there?"

"As I said earlier, call me Lucien."

Lucien gave Jenia an understanding look, gently squeezing her hand in a comforting gesture as he did. Such a story was not unfamiliar to him since, in many ways, his life story was very similar. At one point he had been in a similar situation. He had been ripped from his parents at birth by the New Republic during their campaign to wipe the Empire from the galaxy, and he had spent the time after that merely wandering from place to place, not really doing much, before joining the Galactic Alliance's military. At the time, he was certain that he was helping make a positive change in the galaxy, bringing about the order that Jenia spoke of. Now, however, if there was one thing he was certain of, it was that the Alliance did not have the answer.

"Hey, there's no need to apologize. I understand. I was in a similar situation when the Rebellion separated me from my parents through their warmongering. I've only recently rediscovered my father, though I'm afraid it was too late for my mother..."

At this point, the sun had set substantially enough that the clouds had turned a moody color, with the sky still remaining yellow. Thus, the wrought iron lamps lining the park flickered to life, bathing the area in a golden-hued light. As such, the nearby restaurants had begun their dinner service.

"Of course. It's getting to be that time of the day."

The two of them walked into a nearby restaurant which was serving dinner patio style, on an open area in front of the place. The square in which they stood was becoming increasingly lively, with a small group of artists performing by a fountain by the area where the restaurant square spilled onto the street. Sitting down in at a small, semi-enclosed area separated from the rest of the noise in the courtyard, Jenia and Lucien could still hear the faint whispers of music drifting up onto the otherwise deserted balcony, enclosed by a small, wrought iron fence. A waiter came to put a basket of immaculately crisp bread on the table and took their orders, before retreating back into the Beaux-Arts building, leaving the two of them alone once again.

"There isn't any need to apologize... it wasn't your fault."

Still softly holding her hand, he added onto the end of the previous statement.

"Still, I appreciate the sentiment."

Lucien gave her a reassuring look, nodding his head slightly. It was likely that Jenia never had a particularly good experience with romance in the past, as a high ranking officer surrounded by men who likely had less than noble intentions when approaching her. Thus, he could understand the admiral's caution, as she was unlikely to leap into a relationship headlong. A positive trait to have in Lucien's eyes.

"You know, you are truly committed to something larger than yourself. That's more than I can say of most people in the galaxy. You deserve some time to rest."

Following this comment, Lucien looked deeply into Jenia's eyes, and she looked back at him with a slight sparkle playing along her iris. Within his eyes, Jenia would be able to read a look of understanding, since both of them had shared a similarly adventurous life up to this point. Hell, he had spent the week before this one being hunted by the First Order and the Galactic Alliance alike. In many ways, this outing was proving to be a badly needed escape from reality for both of them. So there they sat, with Jenia's hands firmly clasped by Lucien's in a comforting gesture. The waiter returned silently with a bottle of wine and two glasses, but neither of them dared move yet, for fear of spoiling the moment.

Perhaps Lucien should have anticipated such a response, from someone such as Jenia. She had likely in the past been faced with superiors who, for the most part, discarded her arguments, and gave no heed to who she was as a person, only as to how much she could serve to bolster the power of their fleet. Or what she would look like gracing their bedsheets.

"Well, you know how it is. A little attacking the rebels here, some defending the Empire there... it's an adventurous life and not one for the faint of heart or mind."

Lucien still wore the previous expression for the most part, but there was some subtle confidence playing across his face. Nothing to signal overconfidence, but rather steadiness. Understanding but his capabilities and his limitations. It was at this point that the waiter returned and, seeing as the wine had not been poured yet, opened the bottle and filled the two glasses with the chilled, dark liquid, as well as setting their dinner onto the table.

Lucien couldn’t help but to chuckle a bit at Jenia’s dry sarcasm. It certainly wasn’t what he was used to, fighting for the Rebels, but it seemed to be the standard fare among the Empire, among those who had a sense of humor at all. Still, though, it was evident that Kasalle was not used to these sorts of interactions. Indeed, he wouldn’t have been surprised if it was the first time she had taken to truly relax in months. Evidently, she needed to spend some more time away from the cold, echoey, monotonous corridors of Star Destroyers and spend some more time on herself.

“Ms. Kasalle, if you are one of the most boring fleet admirals of all, then the Imperial Navy must be one very lively show. I can’t even imagine what those you consider ‘interesting’ would be like.”

Even though these words were very clearly a joke, there was a seed of truth that shined through, as evidenced by the twinkle in Lucien’s eye. She may have considered herself to be “boring”, but the reality was, in Lucien’s mind, that she had simply allowed herself to see herself as boring, and that the seeds of liveliness were buried deep down in her. Indeed, her very coming with him to dinner this evening proved that fact.

“Sure, the job has its dull bits, but when all’s said and done, you’ve got some good men, hell, several planets worth of men, that you fight to keep safe. Where others simply place words, you take action. And in my book, that makes you more glamorous than any other person in the galaxy.”

Evidently, she was somewhat amused by his teasing, even if she tried to hide it. Her continuation of the subject proved that point. With a slight twinkle in his eye, he decided to continue this little jest.

"Why, Miss Kasalle, I don't have to imagine anything, you look lovely right now. In fact, I am quite positive that you would look glamorous regardless of what you were wearing."

With a wink, he appended a statement onto the end of his comment.

"Except maybe for a helmet. No point in it if you are hiding your face."

Lucien feigned being hurt by putting his hand on his heart, and the crossing of a seemingly sour expression; however, it did not take an ISB Officer to see the smile playing on the edge of his lips, and the twinkle in his eye.

“Miss Kasalle, you should know by now, I’d never forget where your eyes are.”

Her final comment raised his eyebrow, as he considered her statement. She was clearly skilful at this sort of thing, and he was playing a dangerous game. There were certainly easier pursuits, but for some reason or the other he had chosen Jenia. It might have been the force’s doing; the entity always had a habit of never making things quite so simple as one might have liked.

“I’ve heard wonders of your tactical successes, and I respect them, even though I may not fully understand them. Never really had a mind for large-scale tactics...”

However, he was quite fond of duels of wordplay, and this last statement filtered into this very well.

“And I’d encourage it, I’d hate to see a good argument go to waste...”

“I have to learn about Imperial Tactics from somewhere, and I’d rather it be from you then from some instructor who has a stick so far up how back, he probably couldn’t relax in a chair even if he wanted to.”

He contemplated for a moment, before deciding to append something to his previous remark about tactical discourse.

“Besides, an instructor would likely not know the first thing about practical battlefield tactics, what with how concerned he’d be about following some manual or another. No... I’m partial to hearing it from you.”

There was of course, the unspoken “because you’re quite beautiful”, but there was no need for that. Both he and she understood that very well. But he wasn’t lying when he said he’d prefer hearing it from Jenia. No doubt, the way the Empire operated tactically was likely very different from the Rebellion, and there was probably some sort of handbook or manual several volumes long about the topic. He was used to hearing strategies told by the person who executed them, and he much preferred that. Added a more... insightful element into the commander’s thought process.

By this point, both of them had finished their meals and were now just staying out for the fun of it. Not that Lucien minded; it had, admittedly, been a long time since he had had any meaningful female company.