The Star Wars Iconic Characters and the Lords of the Expanse: Hunting Grounds...

[Valara]

Valara looked at Arani curiously when the girl held onto Dorn's well-muscled shoulders, but she looked away quickly with a sigh. The noble woman's sitting next to her did draw the jungle girl's attention though, and at the question she broke eye contact with her, letting out an even longer sigh.

"It did not go as well as expected, I injured him with a kick... I broke his nose. I...I thought that he knew how to fight, he sounded so confident. He tried to tackle me, so I kicked out. But I think, he really only meant to tickle me." Valara answered lookong directly at Arani again.

 

[Pbartender]

But in his secret heart of hearts he revels in the attention from the gathered students.

The attention of the gathered students, which consequently attracts the attention of the lecturing instructor.

He is a tall, slim, rakish looking fellow with curly black hair and a dazzling smile. He stands at his leisure, leaning on the butt of a finely made rapier. The ramshead crest of House Barnaba sits upon the left breast of his padded tabard.

"Well, well, well," he raises his voice to regain his students. "It appears we have a visiting guest. An illustrious padawan of the venerable Jedi Order." He bows with flourish, and not unkindly.

"Are you but an observer today, Sir Padawan?" he asks. "Or would you deign to assist a humble master in a tutorial display for the benefit of my attentive pupils?"

 

[Arani Korden]

"It did not go as well as expected, I injured him with a kick... I broke his nose. I...I thought that he knew how to fight, he sounded so confident. He tried to tackle me, so I kicked out. But I think, he really only meant to tickle me." Valara answered looking directly at Arani again.

"I'm no warrior, Valara. But it sounds to me like Set was careless, and you weren't. It's not your fault."

Arani sets her datapad aside for the moment.

"You've learned quite a lot since we first met you, Val. From me, from Sia-Lan, from Set. But never forget that you have a great deal to teach us as well. I'm going to need your help during the upcoming hunt - I need you to teach me so that I don't dishonor my House. And it sounds like you've already taught Set a valuable lesson about letting down his guard.

Set's nose is already healed, isn't it? I'm sure his pride has been injured as well, but you and I have seen Set in combat when all our lives depended on it. He's very skilled. He'll be able to prove that again soon enough, and even his pride will recover."

 

[Dorn Tavers]

The door to the suite opens, and Arani strolls in. She looks around the room. Kaz and Kel still in one peace, Dorn keeping the peace, and Valara reclining in the comfy chair, apparently freshly bathed.

She crosses directly over to Dorn, stands behind him, and puts her arms around his shoulders. "Finish your game," she says, "And I'll try and get some work done. I'll be right here when you're done, okay?"

Dorn's features break into that blissful smile again as Arani's arms go around his shoulders, and he affectionately rests a hand on her forearm, relishing even the briefest moments of closeness they get to share.

"I won't be long. For some reason, I suddenly feel like wrapping this game up quickly."

He grins at Arani and reluctantly moves his hand from her arm as she pulls away. As she walks over to Valara, Dorn takes a deep breath and turns back to Kaz and Kelko, that almost unbearably happy smile still in place. He doesn't even seem to notice the cards in his hand as he randomly starts shifting them around, just waiting for Kaz and Kelko to make the next move.

 

[Kelko]

"Anyway, you two just seem tense. Maybe you should go for a walk. It did wonders for me, let me tell you."

Kelko glances over at Kaz Lo for a moment before shuddering violently. "No thanks, Tavers. Though I am a bit wounded that you think you need to be Marshalling me around. Must be the innocent child-like eyes... everyone was always babying me back home, and it figures it wouldn't stop even after I was long gone from home."

The Rodian sighs, then looks at his cards and shuffles them again.

 

[Rorworr]

Rorworr takes several wild swings at Vor'en, but doesn't seem too hopeful of them connecting.

Hmm, he's faster than he looks. Mental note: In future, don't accept challenges from professionals...

 

[Valara]

Valara shrugs at Arani's answer, she couldn't realy explain it, "Its not his pride I was worried about, not really, well, it is, and it isn't. You know how you feel about Dorn? Thats how I want Set to feel. Its just that I doubt he will feel that way about someone who has hurt him." She shakes her head softly, her wet hair swaying with the motion.

At the though of the hunt she merely nods, "Of course I will help you hunt, its what a friends do. But only if you promise to help me do well enough at the ball to make Set want me as I want him."

 

[Arani Korden]

"Its not his pride I was worried about, not really, well, it is, and it isn't. You know how you feel about Dorn? Thats how I want Set to feel. Its just that I doubt he will feel that way about someone who has hurt him."

Arani frowns. "I wish I had something wise to say to reassure you. but I don't. I'm pretty new at this 'love' business myself. I don't think Set's the kind of man to let a little kick to the face keep him from what he wants, but I don't know. I've known Set for a while now, but I've never been able to get past his defenses the way you have."

At the though of the hunt she merely nods, "Of course I will help you hunt, its what a friends do. But only if you promise to help me do well enough at the ball to make Set want me as I want him."

"I'll do what I can."

 

[Vor'en Kurn]

Vor'en ducks the wild attacks of the Wookie, and follows the most basic combo, one he knew long before formal training- jab with left, uppercut with right. The battle seemed like a foregone conclusion, however, and Vor'en can tell that his opponent is thinking the same thing. According to some people, the battle was already over, when the opponent gives up. Personally, Vor'en thought that the battle was over when the opponent couldn't get up. But to each their own. He just hopes that the famous "Wookie rage" doesn't come up. He didn't particularly look forward to that.

If he manages to come out of the exchange untouched, he says "We can stop any time you want," in a voice that indicates he wouldn't mind either way.

 

[Valara]

"Then I shall do all that I can for you in the hunt, though truthfully, I would anyway. Hunting is my favorite thing, or one of them at least." she says grinning, "But I am not truly used to hunting with a blaster pistol, maybe Kaz Lo can improve upon it while he is working on Sia's hover board."