Thalkyr

Aittera turned into a corridor on her way to meet Ragious in his quarters and caught sight of his younger son, Thalkyr, speaking in hushed tones with one of the bridge officers. It appeared they'd just finished sparring; his force pike was held across his back by a simple leather strap draped over his shoulder, his hand was clasped with the pretty blonde's, and they were both in loose workout clothing. The woman leaned up to kiss the Pureblood with a finger on his chest and turned to leave, nodding politely to Aittera as she passed her.

Aittera had been keeping to herself for the most part on the rare occasions like now that she was not at Kol's side - if only to minimize the chance that she might cause unneeded issues between him and his subordinates - and now, she intended to continue on her way with a simple nod of acknowledgment should Thalkyr even look in her direction at all. As she reached him, however, it became quickly apparent that he was not about to allow the opportunity to speak with her alone pass so easily. He slipped the force pike from his shoulder and held it across her path to block her progress.

"Why are you here?"

An amused smile crossed the spacer's lips before she could stop it as the gesture reminded her of the proverbial bully trying to intimidate the new kid. Aittera looked at him with sharp blue eyes that readily met his yellow gaze with confidence and challenge. "Hello, Thalkyr. How nice to run into you again."

"I wasn't sure it would happen with how you and my father can't seem to leave each others presence for more than a moment or two at a time."

"You couldn't just join us for lunch some time?"

"To do so would validate your presence here. Don't misunderstand - I am sure you are a lovely person, and that my father is interested in more than your ample breasts and large hips, but your very presence is an insult to my family."

Ah, so that was it. She took a step to turn to face him more fully in what she hoped was a show of respect, resisting the urge to look down at her hips and make a joke. This was obviously the time for diplomacy. "I was hoping you might view it as a sign of good faith. I made a deal with your brother to end hostilities between myself and your family. I'm here at your father's invitation."

"My brother is a soft idiot, and my father treating you the way he does is a betrayal of my mother. So I ask again, why are you here, Aittera? Do you think you and my father have some future?"

"Why do you think I'm here, Thalkyr?"

"Considering your last two trips to a ship named the Avenger ended in disaster - once for you, and once for the ship - I wouldn't want to wager a guess."

Aittera merely grinned. She was never really good at being a diplomat anyway. "It does seem to be a fifty-fifty shot when you put it that way, doesn't it? Whatever will you put your credits on?"

With that, she ducked under his Force pike to continue down the corridor, putting a little unneeded emphasis on the sway of her supposedly sizable hips.

"Just remember, my father won't protect you forever. And my mother knows where you two have been, and what you have been doing."

She didn't break stride or look back, but Thalkyr's parting words were enough to give Aittera the emotional equivalent of a punch to the gut. She had been operating under the assumption that Kol was making sure the nature of their relationship would not be getting back to Kiabe anytime soon while they worked out....what exactly? This was quickly moving further than she'd thought it would back when they'd agreed to spend a little time in each others worlds.